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I CALL[I. PUBLIC MEETING STATEMENT]
THE ORDER THE SPECIAL MEETING OF MEDFORD COUN TOWNSHIP COUNCIL, JULY 7TH, 2026.THIS MEETING IS CALLED PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS LAW.
THIS MEETING OF JULY 7TH, 2026 IS POSTED ON THE WEBSITE AND THE BOLTON BOARD IN THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING ON JUNE 25TH, 2026, AND HAS REMAINED CONTINUOUSLY POSTED AS REQUIRED UNDER THE STATUTE.
IN ADDITION, A COPY OF THIS NOTICE IS AND HAS BEEN AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AND IS ON FILE THE OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL CLERK.
PLEASE WRITE US FOR THE FLAG SALUTE.
I PLEDGE ALL, ALL TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[IV. EXECUTIVE SESSION]
LIKE A MOTION TO GO INTO, UM, EXECUTIVE SESSION RESOLUTION E ES OH 7 0 7 20 26.SPECIAL MEETING MATTERS RELATED TO CONTRACT NEGOTIATION LITIGATION.
SO AT THIS TIME WE ARE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE PLAN ON BEING IN THERE UNTIL AROUND 6 25.
I WOULD, I WOULD SAY, SINCE YOU HAVE ONE COMMENT THAT YOU COME OUT WITH THAT LIKE SIX 20 TO JUST MAKE SURE.
UM, SO WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO CLOSE OUT MEETINGS.
SO WE'LL BE UH, AN HOUR RECONVENING THE PUBLIC SESSION HOUR AN HOUR AND 15.
AND THAT'LL GIVE TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT DURING THIS SPECIAL MEETING.
BUT WE WILL ALSO HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT DURING THE REGULAR MEETING AND IT STARTS AT SIX 30.
UM, AT THIS TIME I'LL BE RECONVENING THE OPEN PORTION OF THE SPECIAL MEETING THAT WE JUST HAD OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR.
UM, WE DISCUSSED THE MATTERS ON THE AGENDA FOR THE EXECUTIVE SESSION, NO ACTIONS WERE TAKEN.
[V. PUBLIC COMMENT]
PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING, THE FIVE TO SIX 30 MEETING.THERE WILL BE ANOTHER PUBLIC COMMENT DURING THE REGULAR MEETING THAT, THAT SHOULD HAVE STARTED AT SIX 30.
UM, SO AT THIS TIME IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, UM, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
STATE YOUR NAME, ANY PORTION OF YOUR DRESS YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH.
UM, AND CHIEF IF YOU'D LIKE TO KEEP THE TIME.
AGAIN, UM, THIS IS PUBLIC COMMENT, BUT THERE'S A SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION TONIGHT IN THE REGULAR MEETING.
SEEING, NO, SEEING NONE FOR THIS PUBLIC COMMENT.
CAN I ASK THIS CORRECTLY? YOU, YOU CAN COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
UH, MAY I ASK DIRECTLY WHAT THE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE SPECIAL PORTION IS DIRECTED TO? SURE.
UM, UM, MARION HOLLOWAY, JUST FOR THE RECORD, HOLLOWAY, SO WE'RE REQUIRED BY STATUTE TO HOLD A PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION ON EVERY AGENDA.
SO THIS IS, WE HAVE TO DO THIS JUST FOR AGENDA'S SAKE.
UM, BUT THE ONLY REAL ITEM ON THE MEETING THAT JUST THAT IS ABOUT TO CONCLUDE IS THE SPECIAL EXECUTIVE MEETING THAT WE JUST HAD AND WAS THE SPECIAL EXECUTIVE MEETING.
AND I'M SORRY I DID READ THIS.
WAS IT EXPLAINED IN DETAIL? NO, IT WAS LISTED AS A MATTER RELATED TO CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS AND LITIGATIONS.
SO MAY I KINDLY A ASK IN ORDER TO GIVE PUBLIC COMMENT, WHAT EXACTLY WOULD THE PUBLIC BE COMMENTING ON? WHAT WAS IT? GREAT QUESTION, PAT.
SO DURING PUBLIC COMMENT YOU CAN COMMENT ON ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE REGARDING ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING.
BUT IN TERMS OF WHAT, IF YOU'RE ASKING WHAT WAS SPECIFICALLY DISCUSSED IN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION, THERE WILL BE A PRESENTATION ON IT IN ABOUT FIVE MINUTES ONCE WE'RE DONE WITH PUBLIC COMMENT AND WE START OUR SIX 30 MEETING.
HOW DO YOU HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT? IT'S ON SOMETHING THAT BRANDON, I UNDERSTAND.
BUT IT'S, IT'S A LOGICAL COMMON SENSE QUESTION.
YOU'RE ASKING FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON SOMETHING THAT HASN'T BEEN DISCUSSED YET.
SO WE CAN'T COMMENT 'CAUSE IT HASN'T BEEN DISCUSSED.
I'M REQUIRED BY LAW TO PROVIDE A PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION IN, ON AN AGENDA.
WE HAD AN AGENDA THAT STARTED AT FIVE, WAS SUPPOSED TO END AT SIX 30.
UM, THIS IS NOW REQUIRED TO HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION FOR THIS AGENDA.
SO ANYTHING ON THE AGENDA? YOU COULD, YOU COULD SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE AGENDA, THE WEATHER, THE SOCCER, WHATEVER YOU'D LIKE TO SAY.
THERE ARE TWO MEETINGS HAPPENING TONIGHT.
THERE WAS A SPECIAL MEETING ADVERTISED FOR FIVE TO SIX 30.
THEN THERE IS A SECOND MEETING THAT IS ABOUT TO CONVENE.
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THAT AT ANY PUBLIC MEETING, A PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION HAS TO HAPPEN.SO IF THE PUBLIC WANTS TO COMMENT ON ANYTHING, THEY CAN, IF THEY WANNA COMMENT ON THE FACT THAT THE TOWNSHIP WENT INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PRIOR, I THINK THE MAYOR'S MESSAGE CLEARLY OUTLINED WHY THE TOWNSHIP DECIDED TO DO IT THIS WAY SO THAT WE COULD GIVE THE PUBLIC TIME TO REVIEW.
AND SO THAT THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE HAD TIME TO REVIEW THE ITEMS THAT THEY'RE ABOUT TO DISCUSS IN THEIR PUBLIC MEETING, WHICH IS THEIR REGULAR MEETING.
WE'RE TRYING TO CONCLUDE THE SPECIAL MEETING RIGHT NOW.
SO I'M GONNA ASK A GENERIC QUESTION BECAUSE I KNOW I'M GONNA BE TOLD THAT YOU CAN'T COMMENT BECAUSE IT MIGHT BE IN REFERENCE TO LITIGATION.
SO EVIDENTLY, AND OBVIOUSLY UNDER L 1 71 25 THERE'S LITIGATION THAT'S BEEN ONGOING.
THERE'S BEEN MOTIONS MADE BY DEVELOPERS, THERE'S BEEN MOTIONS MADE, THERE'S BEEN AN INTERVENER BY DR. HORTON.
THERE'S BEEN A MOTION TO INTERVENE BY DR. HORTON, BUT THE JUDGE HAS NOT RULED ON IT, NOR HAS DR. HORTON PURSUED THE ADMISSION OF IT.
SO I I DON'T WANNA PUT ANYBODY ON THE SPOT 'CAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU CAN ANSWER OR NOT ANSWER.
AND RESPECTFULLY, I DON'T WANNA BE NOT TALKING LOGICALLY OR, OR RIGHT.
SO WITHOUT GETTING INTO SPECIFICS, BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE YOU CAN'T, WHAT WOULD THE PUBLIC BE COMMENTING ON? SO WOULD IT BE THAT THE EXECUTIVE SESSION IS BASED ON LITIGATION ON THAT PARTICULAR CASE ON 1 71 DASH 25? THERE IS NO RESTRICTION ON WHAT YOU'RE ALLOWED TO TALK ABOUT.
SO IF YOU'RE ASKING WHAT TOPIC SHOULD WE PROVIDE YOU TO TALK ABOUT, WE CAN'T GIVE YOU ONE.
IT'S WHATEVER YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT DURING PUBLIC COMMENT.
THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF PUBLIC COMMENT AND IT'S REQUIRED BY THE OPEN PUBLIC'S MEETINGS ACT TO BE PROVIDED.
SO LET ME ASK ADDRESS A QUESTION ABOUT 1 21 25 AND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ABOUT DR. HORTON AND THE INTERVENER AND ON THE OUTCOME OR CONCLUSION.
UM, I DON'T THINK YOU CAN ANSWER IT.
I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO SAY IT THAT YOU COULD ANSWER IT AS THIS PROGRESSES AND IT EVOLVES.
UM, I DID READ THAT, UM, IT LOOKS LIKE THE FOUR SECTIONS OF FOUR SUBDIVISIONS ARE MOVING FORWARD AND IT LOOKS LIKE THAT'S PART OF WHAT'S GOING ON TONIGHT.
AS 1 71 EVOLVES, TE HORTON DID FILE AN INTERVENER AND I WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED THAT THE TOWN HAD ASKED FOR $19 MILLION.
I WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED IN SOME OF THE ACTIONS THAT WERE TAKEN.
IT SEEMS AS IF THERE'S A SHIFT IN THAT PROJECTION AND THE WAY THAT YOU GUYS ARE MOVING FORWARD AND IT SEEMS THAT YOU'VE BACKPEDALED.
SO AM I CORRECT? YOU'RE, YOU'LL HEAR A FULL PRESENTATION TONIGHT OF WHAT THE REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS CONSIST OF AND HOW WE GOT THERE.
CAN YOU STATE IF THE $19 MILLION IS INCLUDED? NO.
AND YOU'LL, I HEAR A FULL PRESENTATION AS SOON AS THE NEXT MEETING STARTS.
HOW MUCH TIME IS REMAINING? TWO MINUTES.
SO AFTER YOUR PRESENTATION, THERE'LL BE ANOTHER PUBLIC SPEAKING OR IS CORRECT? YES.
BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE THE WAY THIS ALWAYS GOES IS WE SPEAK FIRST, YOU PRESENT SECOND.
AND I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THAT IS NOT THE CASE.
UM, I'VE BEEN VERY VOCAL ABOUT ALLOWING THE PUBLIC NOT ONLY TO COMMENT, BUT TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS.
SO ON THE NEXT AGENDA THAT WE'D LIKE TO START AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, THERE'S AN ITEM LISTED FOR DISCUSS.
THERE'S NO ITEMS LISTED FOR DISCUSSION.
I WILL BE ADDING A REVIEW BY PAT VARGA OF THE REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS.
YOU WILL THEN HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT, WE'LL PROCEED WITH MANAGER REPORT BILL LIST CONSENT AGENDA RESOLUTIONS.
AND THEN THERE ARE FOUR INDEPENDENT RESOLUTIONS LISTED PERTAINING TO THE REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS.
SO YOU'LL HAVE AMPLE TIME BEFORE THIS BODY VOTES ON THOSE FOUR REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS TO COMMENT AND PARTAKE IN PAT'S REVIEW OF THEM.
I WAS VERY INTERESTED TO KNOW IF THIS COUNCIL AND THE PROFESSIONALS, I'M TRYING TO SEE HOW I CAN GET AN ANSWER BECAUSE I DON'T THINK I CAN CAN ANSWER THE PUBLIC ON WHAT PROCEEDED THE HOUR AND A HALF MEETING THAT PROCEEDED MM-HMM
WHAT THE PUBLIC CAN BE AWARE OF.
SO THERE'S NOTHING WELL YOU, I I THINK I, I'LL RE-ANSWER YOUR QUESTION AGAIN.
WE ALL PAY, I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT DO YOU, PAT BAR GOT A LOT OF MONEY AND HE'S GONNA DO A GREAT JOB EXPLAINING TO US WHAT JUST HAPPENED IN THERE.
I UNDERSTAND, BUT DID YOU UNDERSTAND MY QUESTION? I THINK I JUST ANSWERED IT TWICE, BUT YEAH, I, ALRIGHT.
THE COUNSEL'S NOT, SO THERE'S NOTHING THAT YOU CAN SAY PRIOR, THE COUNCIL'S NOT ALLOWED TO DISCLOSE EXECUTIVE SESSION, BUT YOU'LL BE HEARING A PRESENTATION
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AT NUMBER FOUR OF DISCUSSION IN THE NEXT, NEXT MEETING OR EVERYTHING THAT WAS REVIEWED AND WHAT THEY'RE, I'M NOT TAKING UP ANY MORE TIME 'CAUSE I DON'T THINK I'M GONNA GET AN ANSWER.ANYONE ELSE? I THINK IT'S DISINGENUOUS MAYOR, TO, TO STATE IT IS TYPICAL UNORTHODOX THAT THE TOWNSHIP WOULD RELEASE AGREEMENTS PRIOR TO YOU VOTING ON THEM.
HOWEVER, THIS BODY HAS PUT OUT AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY TO THE RESIDENTS EXPLAINING WHAT IS ABOUT TO OCCUR.
SO TO SAY THAT THIS BODY CAN'T SPEAK.
YOU'VE ALREADY SPOKEN THROUGH THE MAYOR'S MESSAGE YESTERDAY MORNING WHERE YOU PUT OUT A SYNOPSIS OF THE DOCUMENT THAT YOU'RE THERE.
'CAUSE WE ARE NOT LEGALLY ALLOWED TO RELEASE THE AGREEMENT UNTIL IT SIGNED.
SO I, I THINK FOR THE THEATER THAT HAS JUST HAPPENED.
I'M, I'M SIR, I, I APPRECIATE WE'VE ALREADY, I'M SORRY YOUR TIME HAS BEEN, YOUR TIME IS UP.
IS IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK DURING THIS? JUST ONE SECOND.
I, I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE A WHOLE NOTHER FIVE MINUTES AT THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION.
ONCE ME GIVE YOU WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR.
I JUST WANNA ADDRESS ONE THING.
THAT'S WHY I WAS ASKING THE QUESTIONS.
THERE'S NO THEATER, THERE'S JUST DIRECT QUESTIONS.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO THE PUBLIC MEETING, BUT WE'RE, DO THOSE DIRECT QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
THERE IS NO THEATER, MR. UMBA.
FINAL CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT DURING THIS FIVE TO SIX 30 MEETING THAT IT'S NOW 6 45.
I MOTION TO ADJOURN THIS SPECIAL MEETING.