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SET.[I. PUBLIC MEETINGS STATEMENT ]
ALRIGHT.I CALLED THE ORDER OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF METFORD TOWNSHIP COUNCIL AUGUST 11TH, 2026.
THIS MEETING IS CALLED IN PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS LAW.
THIS MEETING OF AUGUST 11TH, 2026 WAS POSTED ON THE WEBSITE AND THE BULLETIN BOARD IN THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING ON JULY 13TH, 2026.
IN ADDITION, A COPY OF THIS NOTICE IS AND HAS BEEN AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC IS ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL CLERK.
PLEASE RISE FOR THE PS I PLEDGE TO THE BY OF THE UNITED STATES AMERICA.
FOR WHICH ONE? NATURE UNDER DOUBT.
INVIS WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR.
OKAY, MS. WICKER ROCO, PLEASE.
[IV. Communications, Scheduling Matters, Council Agenda, Presentations and Any Amendments to the Agenda]
WE HAVE NO SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS.I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO INTRODUCE MARTY BUCKLEY, OUR ATTORNEY WITH THE DITY LAW FIRM.
UM, AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO, UM, WE HAD SOME COMMUNICATIONS, I BELIEVE IT WAS FROM THE STATE ON OUR FOURTH ROUND OF COMPLIANCE.
UM, WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE THAT SIR DOBY? SURE.
SO, UH, MR. VARGA HAD INFORMED US EARLIER TODAY THAT, UH, IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF DETACHMENT MEDFORD AND, UH, COUNTY BURLINGTON, FOR OUR, UH, CONSENT ORDER, UH, WE RECEIVED OUR CONSENT ORDER.
FINAL COMPLIANCE TODAY THAT WE'RE IN COMPLIANCE, WE WILL NOT BE SUBJECT TO A BUILDER'S REMEDY LAWSUIT FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS AS PART OF, UH, ROUND FOUR.
UM, AND, UH, I GUESS AT THE LAST MEETING THERE WAS SOME, WHAT WAS IT, THE MEETING BEFORE I GET CONFUSED, BUT, UM, THERE WAS, UH, SOME DELINEATION BETWEEN THE RDA FEE AND DONATION AMOUNTS, AND I JUST ASK THAT MR. BUCK, THAT'S THE LAST MEETING, LAST MEETING.
I ASK THAT MR. BUCKLEY, UH, KINDLY REVIEW THE NUMBERS FOR US.
SO, MR. UH, VARGA GAVE ME A REPORT, SO IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'M JUST GONNA READ THAT.
UH, IN TERMS OF THE RDAS, THE TOTAL AMOUNT RECEIVED FROM THE RECREATION AND COMMUNITY BENEFIT CONTRIBUTION IS 1,876,250.
AND THAT'S CALCULATED BY, UH, MULTIPLYING $1,750 TIMES THE, UM, 1067 UNITS.
UM, AS EVERYBODY MAY KNOW, UH, THE REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS HAD A FINANCIAL STRUCTURE, WHICH INCLUDED TWO KEY COMPONENTS.
THE FIRST WAS A REDEVELOPER FEE TOTALING 3 MILLION, EQUALLY SPLIT BETWEEN THE THREE FOURTH ROUND SITES.
THE SECOND IS THIS RECREATION AND COMMUNITY BENEFIT FEE, WHICH IS THAT, UH, $1,876,250 THAT I MENTIONED, UH, MAKING A TOTAL FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION FROM THE REDEVELOPER AT $4,867,250.
TO GIVE MORE BACKGROUND, UH, FIRST IS THE REDEVELOPER FEE AS PART OF THE COORDINATED FUNDING STRUCTURE ACROSS THE THREE FOURTH ROUND SITES, WHICH ARE THE REVERSE, OR, OR SORRY, THE RESERVE AT IRON BRIDGE.
THE LANDINGS AT KIRBY'S MILL AND THE INGER STONEBRIDGE, A TOTAL REDEVELOPMENT FEE OF $3 MILLION WILL BE PHASED AMONG THESE THREE PROPERTIES WITH 1 MILLION ALLOCATED TO EACH FOURTH ROUND SITE.
THE FEE WILL BE PAID ON A PRORATED BASIS BY THE NUMBER OF UNITS AT THE TIME OF THE CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCIES ARE ISSUED.
THE MON THIS MONEY UPON RECEIPT WILL BE DEPOSITED INTO THE APPROPRIATE ACCOUNT MANAGED BY THE TOWNSHIP.
UH, AND AS DIRECTED BY THE MANAGER AND CFO AT THE TIME OF ITS RECEIPT, THE MONEY IS TO BE USED BY THE TOWNSHIP IN ITS SOLE DISCRETION.
SECOND, WITH RESPECT TO THE RECREATION AND COMMUNITY BENEFIT CONTRIBUTION, UH, THIS IS THE ONE TIME PAYMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,750 PER RESIDENTIAL UNIT AT THE TIME OF THE CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY, UH, PER RESIDENTIAL UNIT.
ACROSS THE FOUR DEVELOPMENTS FROM THIS CONTRIBUTION, $492 AND 3 CENTS WILL BE DEPOSITED INTO A DEDICATED ACCOUNT FOR PURPOSES OF ISSUING GRANTS BY THE TOWNSHIP OF MEDFORD BASED, UH, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.
THE TOTAL CONTRIBUTION SHALL NOT EXCEED 525 MILLION OR $525,000.
ASSUMING ALL RESIDENTIAL UNITS ARE CONSTRUCTED ACROSS THE FOUR SITES.
THE REMAINING BALANCE OF $1,257 AND 97 CENTS SHALL BE DEPOSITED
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IN, INTO A DEDICATED MUNICIPAL YOUTH RECREATION FUND AND REMITTED TO MYAA WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE RECEIPT OF PAYMENT.AGAIN, THIS IS NOT, UH, PAID BY THE DEVELOPER UNTIL THEY APPLY FOR THE CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY FOR RE FOR EACH RESIDENTIAL UNIT.
THE TOTAL OF THIS PORTION OF THE CONTRIBUTION SHALL NOT EXCEED $1,342,250.
AT THAT TIME, THE TOWNSHIP WILL ADOPT A RESOLUTION ALLOCATING THESE FUNDS TO MYAA AS FOLLOWS.
UH, THE FIRST IS SOFTBALL IN THE AMOUNT OF $237,000, UH, TO THE BASEBALL ORGANIZATION AND THE AMOUNT OF $211,000 TO THE FOOTBALL ORGANIZATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $211,250, UH, TO THE BASKETBALL ORGANIZATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $211,000.
UH, THE SOCCER ORGANIZATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $211,000, UH, LACROSSE WOULD BE ALSO $211,000.
AND THEN FINALLY, A, UH, SCHOLARSHIP FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $50,000 TO BE MANAGED AND DISPERSED AT MY A'S, UH, DISCRETION, UH, AS A CONDITION OF RECEIVING THE FUNDS OF MYA, UH, AS A CONDITION OF RECEIVING THE FUNDS.
MYAA WILL BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE AN ANNUAL ACCOUNTING OF ALL EXPENDITURES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SCHEDULE ADOPTED AND CONTROLLED BY THE TOWNSHIP.
UH, AND MR. MAYOR, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THE GIST OF THE, UH, RDAS.
I THINK THAT CLEARS UP ANY QUESTIONS, THE TOTALS AND HOW THEY'RE ALLOCATED AND DISTRIBUTED.
UM, AT THIS TIME, ANY, UH, COMMUNICATIONS FROM MEMBERS OF COUNCIL? I WOULD JUST LIKE, UH, THANK CHIEF DUN LEVY AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR A FABULOUS, UH, NATIONAL NIGHT OUT LAST WEEK.
THAT WAS ABSOLUTELY GREAT TIMES.
UM, THERE IS A RESCHEDULED SHREDDING EVENT THAT WILL TAKE PLACE ON, UH, OFF OF BRADLEY HOLLOW ROAD ON THE 15TH OF THIS MONTH.
IT'S OPEN TO MEDFORD RESIDENCE ONLY, AND MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND AT THE WEBSITE.
AND OUR, OUR MONTHLY, UH, THURSDAY NIGHT FOOD TRUCKS IS NOT THIS THURSDAY.
UM, SO I HOPE TO SEE EVERYBODY OUT THERE.
UH, NEXT WE HAVE SCHEDULING ITEMS. OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2026.
THAT WILL BE A REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING RIGHT HERE AT THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING AT SIX 30.
AND THEN WE HAVE A SEPTEMBER 22ND, UH, 2026 TOWN HALL MEETING AT THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING AT SIX 30.
THIS MEETING WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 15TH.
AT THIS TIME, THERE ARE NO APPROVAL OF MINUTES.
[VI. DISCUSSION ITEMS ]
ARE ON DISCUSSION ITEMS AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO CHIEF FOR THE DISCUSSION ITEMS. UH, YES, MR. MAYOR, WE'LL OPEN THIS EVENING, UH, WITH THE 2025 AUDIT PRESENTATION, UH, BY OUR TOWN, BY OUR AUDITOR.SIR, WILL YOU BE USING THE PROJECTOR? NO.
I'M FROM, UH, PKF O'CONNOR DAVIES.
UM, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE 2025 AUDIT REPORT.
UM, I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THERE ARE NO AUDIT FINDINGS IN THIS YEAR'S AUDIT.
UM, IT'S A REAL TESTAMENT TO THE FINANCE STAFF AND EVERYTHING.
THERE'S A LOT OF COMPLIANCE THAT GOES INTO NEW JERSEY REGULATIONS AND, AND THINGS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE TO COMPLY WITH.
SO, I MEAN, IT'S A TESTAMENT TO HOW GOOD YOUR FINANCE STAFF IS, THAT THERE ARE NO FINDINGS.
UM, YOU WERE GIVEN AN YES, YOU WERE GIVEN AN EXIT CONFERENCE REPORT.
UH, IT JUST BRIEFLY GOES OVER, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT GO INTO THE AUDIT AND, YOU KNOW, THE THINGS THAT WE DO DURING THE COURSE OF OUR AUDIT.
UM, I'LL BRIEFLY DISCUSS, UH, FUND BALANCE.
SO, UH, FUND BALANCE FOR 2025 IS, UH, UP TO $2.9 MILLION UP FROM $1.6 MILLION LAST YEAR.
UM, OF THAT 2.9, 2.1 WAS UTILIZED IN THE 2026 BUDGET.
UM, SO YOU USED JUST OVER 70% IN SUPPORT OF THAT.
UM, THE 2027 BUDGET IS SHAPING UP TO BE WHAT COULD BE A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT IN THIS YEAR'S, UM, BECAUSE OF THE, UM, FUND BALANCE THAT WE EXPECT TO BE REGENERATED.
UM, A KEY, A KEY, UM, SOURCE OF REPLENISHMENT FOR FUND BALANCE IS THE LAPSING OF THE PRIOR YEAR BUDGET.
UM, IN THE AUDIT REPORT, WE LAPSED $1.6 MILLION IN 2025.
SO THAT BASICALLY HELPED TO INCREASE YOUR FUND BALANCE.
UM, THE LAPSE FOR 2026 IS ONLY GONNA BE AROUND $500,000.
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YOU, AS YOU, AS THE BUDGET GETS TIGHTER, THERE'S LESS THAT LAPSES BACK TO FUND BALANCE.SO BEF YOU KNOW, THE REVENUE IS GOING TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN WHAT WE EXPERIENCED IN 2025.
SO WE DO KIND OF EXPECT FUND BALANCE TO DROP DOWN A LITTLE BIT, WHICH, YOU KNOW, DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH YOU UTILIZE IN YOUR 2027 BUDGET, WELL IS GOING TO DIRECTLY IMPACT YOUR 2027 BUDGET.
UM, RIGHT NOW WE'RE HO THE MANAGEMENT HOPES THAT THE FUND BALANCE AT THE END OF 2026 WILL BE AROUND $2 MILLION.
SO JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT IMPACT THAT'LL HAVE ON THE BUDGET, YOU UTILIZE ABOUT 70% OF YOUR AVAILABLE FUND BALANCE.
SO IF YOU MAKE IT TO $2 MILLION, THAT MEANS YOU'LL ONLY BE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU KEEP THE SAME PERCENTAGE, 75%, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO USE $1.5 MILLION.
THE UTILIZATION OF FUND BALANCE OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS IS, HAS BEEN RELATIVELY HIGH FOR THE TOWNSHIP.
UM, GENERALLY, YOU KNOW, RATING AGENCIES AND THINGS THAT LOOK AT NEW JERSEY AND THE RATING AGENCIES HA PLAY A BIG PART IN HOW MUCH INTEREST YOU PAY ON YOUR DEBT.
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU ROLL YOUR NOTES, WHEN YOU ISSUE BONDS, THEY LIKE TO SEE, YOU KNOW, UTILIZATION OF FUND BALANCE A LITTLE BIT LOWER, GENERALLY IN THE 50% RANGE.
SO, I MEAN, IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE TOWNSHIP SHOULD WORK TOWARDS TRYING TO BUILD UP ITS RESERVES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, I ACTUALLY PULLED THE RATING INFORMATION FROM THE LAST TIME WE TALKED TO THE RATING AGENCY, WHICH WAS SEPTEMBER OF 2025.
UM, THEY SAID, UM, FACTORS THAT WOULD LEAD TO AN UPGRADE WOULD BE SUSTAINED RES GROWTH IN RESERVES UP TO 35%.
AT THE TIME OF THAT REPORT, YOU WERE AT ABOUT 21%, SO YOU WERE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE.
UM, FACTORS THAT WOULD LEAD TO A DOWNGRADE WOULD BE A DETERIORATION OF FUND BALANCE TO 15% OR LOWER.
SO YOU'RE RIGHT IN THAT MIDDLE.
SO, YOU KNOW, THE RATING AGENCY IN ORDER TO GET A BETTER RATING IS LOOKING FOR MORE RESERVES AND THEY WOULD BE HESITANT, YOU KNOW, CONCERNED IF, IF FUND BALANCE CONTINUED TO DROP.
SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL NEEDS TO TRY TO MANAGE AND MAINTAIN AND TRY AND BUILD UP THAT SURPLUS A LITTLE BIT MORE.
SO AS YOU WORK ON WORK TOWARDS NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, YOU KNOW, IN THE COMING MONTHS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING YOU SHOULD CONSIDER AND KEEP IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND AND JUST DO WHAT YOU CAN.
I KNOW MANAGEMENT HAS IMPLEMENTED SPENDING FREEZES TO TRY AND REDUCE AND HOPEFULLY HELP TO BUILD UP THAT FUND BALANCE IN THE FUTURE.
THE PROBLEM IS, YOU KNOW, SPENDING, CUTTING, SPENDING IN 26, YOUR 2026 BUDGET WILL STAY OPEN IN 2027 TO PAY ANY PAYABLES AND THEN LAPSE IN, YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF 2027.
SO, YOU KNOW, EVEN, YOU KNOW, CUTTING SPENDING NOW REALLY DOESN'T HELP FOR 2027.
IT'LL HELP INTO THE FUTURE, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, THE TOWNSHIP NEEDS TO CONSIDER.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE BUDGET MAY BE A LITTLE BIT TIGHTER NEXT YEAR THAN IT WAS THIS YEAR.
UM, ONE THING THAT DURING, I DID SAY THAT THERE WERE NO FINDINGS IN THE REPORT.
THERE ARE A COUPLE THINGS THAT CAME UP, UH, DURING THE COURSE OF OUR AUDIT.
YOU KNOW, UM, YOU, YOU JUST WANNA BE CAREFUL ABOUT, UM, THE ISSUING OF RAISES BEFORE THE BUDGET'S IN PLACE.
UM, IT COULD, IT REALLY HANDICAPS WHERE THE BUDGET NEEDS TO GO AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
YOU KNOW, GIVEN, YOU KNOW, THE RESERVES AND, YOU KNOW, THE POSSIBLE DECREASE OF REVENUES.
YOU'VE, YOU IN THE PAST, YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO USE ONE TIME REVENUES TO HELP SUPPORT THE BUDGET.
I, YOU KNOW, THAT MAY NOT BE A POSSIBILITY NEXT YEAR.
SO, YOU KNOW, YOU MAY WANT TO TRY AND IN THE PAST, YOU, THE RAISES HAVE BEEN ISSUED EARLIER IN THE YEAR, YOU KNOW, YOU MAY WANNA HOLD BACK BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, THE BUDGET I FEEL FOR 2027 IS GONNA BE RELATIVELY A LOT TIGHTER THAN WHAT, THAN WHAT YOU'VE HAD IN THE PAST.
SO, UM, THAT'S JUST ONE THING TO WATCH OUT FOR AND TO HELP MANAGE, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GUYS ARE MAKING BUDGET DECISIONS, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T WANNA BE COMMITTED TO THINGS TO, YOU KNOW, SPENDING AT CERTAIN LEVELS BEFORE, EVEN BEFORE YOU MAKE A BUDGET DECISION.
MR. GREG, AND, AND FOR CLARIFICATION'S SAKE, YOU'VE BEEN THE AUDITOR NOW FOR HOW MANY YEARS? I'VE BEEN THE AUDITOR IN MEDFORD FOR TWO YEARS, BUT I'VE BEEN BUT YOUR FIRM HAS BEEN THE AUDITOR FOR, FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
THIS IS AN ITEM THAT YOU SAW, IT JUST STARTED IN 2025, CORRECT? IT WAS NOT A PRACTICE PRIOR TO 2025.
CORRECT? YEAH, WE, A IT WASN'T ANYTHING WE NOTED BE BEFORE.
THE PRIOR I, YEAH, I WORKED WITH THE PRIOR AUDITOR.
IT WAS NOTHING THAT WE NOTED BEFORE.
UM, AND THEN, UM, ANOTHER ITEM THAT WE DID NOTE, UM, YOU KNOW, I JUST, YOU KNOW, UM, THE MONITORING OF CONTRACTS AND MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S PROPER LEGAL REVIEW OVER CONTRACTS.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, CONTRACTS GO THROUGH THE PROPER LEGAL REVIEW AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
LIKE I SAID, IT'S NOT A FINDING, IT'S NOT A RECOMMENDATION IN THE REPORT, BUT IT, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NOTED DURING OUR REVIEW OF CONTRACTS AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, MANAGEMENT AND COUNCIL SHOULD BE AWARE OF AND, AND JUST MONITOR MR. GREG, ARE THEY EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO OR? YEAH, IT, SO UNION CONTRACTS AND, AND, AND NON-CONTRACT, NON-CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO JUST MAKING SURE THEY GO THROUGH THE PROPER CHANNELS AND LEGAL REVIEW AND, YOU KNOW, SO, UM, EVERYTHING'S, YOU KNOW, REVIEWED FOR, YOU KNOW, CONFLICTS, YOU KNOW, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
DID YOU, DID YOU NOTICE ANY, KNOW ANY CONFLICTS DURING YOUR REVIEW? YEAH, THERE WAS, THERE, THERE WAS ONE, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A CONCERN THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, A PERSON WAS,
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UM, YOU KNOW, NEGOTIATING A CONTRACT AND IT WAS TIED TO THEIR CONTRACT ALSO.SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT TO BE AWARE OF AND JUST WATCH OUT FOR.
YOU KNOW, EVEN IF THERE IS NO CONFLICT OF INTEREST, EVEN THE PERCE THE PERCEPTION OF A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, YOU KNOW, IS SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU SHOULD WATCH OUT FOR.
AND, YOU KNOW, PROPER LEGAL REVIEW WOULD MAKE SURE THAT THAT WOULDN'T NECESSARILY HAPPEN.
UM, DO MR. GREG, DO WE BELIEVE THAT LEGAL REVIEW WAS ACTUALLY TAKING PLACE IN THE MATTER THAT YOU, SO, UH, SO IN, IN THE, IN THE, IN THE ONE CONTRACT THAT WAS APPROVED, THERE WAS NO ATTORNEY PRESENT.
AND I DON'T BELIEVE IT, THE ATTORNEY, THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE THAT THE ATTORNEY HAD REVIEWED IT PRIOR.
I, UM, IS THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING I CAN ADDRESS WHILE I'M HERE? YEAH, I DO HAVE A QUESTION.
SO, UM, IN MY REVIEW OF, OF YOUR, UH, FORGIVE ME EXIT CONFERENCE REPORT.
UM, YOU NOTED A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN FEDERAL AND STATE GRANTS BETWEEN 2024 AND 2025, CORRECT? YEAH.
SO THE, THE DIFFERENCE WAS IN 2024, UM, WE REALIZED WE, WE, UM, REALIZED $2.9 MILLION IN REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES IN, IN NEW JERSEY, MUNICIPAL ACCOUNTING, YOU BUDGET FOR THE REVENUE AND THE EXPENSE WHEN YOU DO EITHER CHAPTER ONE 50 NINES OR IN YOUR BUDGET PROCESS GENERALLY, BESIDES THE OCCASIONAL GRANT THAT MAY HAVE A MATCH, YOU KNOW, REV GRANT REVENUES AND GRANT EXPENDITURES.
SO, UM, THERE WAS A DIFFERENCE OF $1.2 MILLION IN RE IN GRANT REVENUES AND, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, AND $1.2 MILLION IN GRANT EXPENDITURES.
THAT WASN'T BASICALLY YOU, YOU KNOW, APPLY, YOU APPLY THOSE GRANTS AND THEY MOVE INTO THE GRANT FUND WHERE YOU MAKE THE APPLICABLE SPENDING.
AND, AND AM I CORRECT THAT IN 2025, WE EITHER APPLIED FOR AND OR RECEIVED $1.2 MILLION LESS IN GRANTS? YES.
AND I BELIEVE THAT ANSWERS WE DID NOT APPLY.
WE DID NOT APPLY FOR THOSE GRANTS, CORRECT, YEAH.
WHETHER THERE WAS LESS GRANTS AVAILABLE OR, YOU KNOW, YEAH.
LESS, LESS GRANTS APPLIED FOR, YOU KNOW, THE, THE TOWNSHIP REALIZED $1.2 MILLION LESS OF GRANT FUNDS.
CAN I JUST MAKE A COMMENT ON THAT? YES, SIR.
THE PREVIOUS YEAR OR TWO BEFORE THAT, WE RECEIVED THREE VERY, UH, LARGE GRANTS MM-HMM
SO THAT MIGHT HAVE AN IMPACT ON WHY IT WAS LESS BECAUSE WE HAD A GRADE INCREASE A COUPLE YEARS BEFORE THAT.
I JUST WANT, UH, IF YOU COULD ALSO JUST SPEAK JUST A LITTLE MORE JUST FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS ABOUT THE LAPSING OF THE FUND BALANCE, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REALIZE THAT AS WE'RE GOING INTO 2027, WE'RE ALREADY BEHIND, YOU KNOW, 600 TO A MILLION DOLLARS BASED ON WHAT WE'RE PROJECTING FOR THIS FUND BALANCE.
AND BASED ON WHAT WE KNOW IS GONNA BE LAPSING AT THE END OF THIS CALENDAR YEAR VERSUS, YOU KNOW, WHAT LAPSED IN 2025.
SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT REGENERATING FUND BALANCE, GENERALLY IN NEW NEW JERSEY MUNICIPAL ACCOUNTING, THERE'S THREE WAY, THREE MAJOR WAYS THAT FUND BALANCE REGENERATES.
EITHER YOU RECEIVE MORE REVENUES THAN YOU BUDGETED FOR, UM, YOU LAPSE THE PRIOR YEAR BUDGET.
SO, YOU KNOW, IN NEW JERSEY YOU SPEND YOUR 2026 BUDGET THIS YEAR, AND THEN IT REMAINS OPEN FOR 2027.
YOU KNOW, YOU GENERALLY, THERE'S NO SPENDING AFTER THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THE YEAR, BUT, YOU KNOW, ANY ACCOUNTS PAYABLE INVOICES THAT COME IN AFTER YEAR END, YOU KNOW, THEY ALL GET CHARGED THROUGH THE 26 BUDGET EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE IN 2027.
SO ANYTHING THAT'S LEFT OVER FROM THAT BUDGET EVENTUALLY LAPSES BACK TO FUND BALANCE.
AND THEN THE ONLY OTHER THING IS REVENUES THAT ARE NOT ANTICIPATED, COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS, UH, MYRNA OR MISCELLANEOUS REVENUES NOT ANTICIPATED.
GENERALLY, THE TOWNSHIP OVER THE PAST COUPLE YEARS, THEY'RE, YOUR NON-BUDGET REVENUES HAVE BEEN RELATIVELY SMALL, 165,000 IN 2025 AND 157,000 IN 2024.
GENERALLY, YOU GOT, IF YOU HAVE A REVENUE, YOU GENERALLY USE IT IN SUPPORT OF YOUR BUDGET.
SO, YOU KNOW, MYRNA IS NOT NECESSARILY A WAY THAT YOU'RE GONNA REGENERATE A LOT OF SURPLUS.
UM, THIS UNEXPECTED BALANCE OF APPROPRIATION RESERVES, THE LAPSING OF THE PRIOR YEAR BUDGET, YOU KNOW, 2025 WAS 1.6 MILLION.
WE'RE EXPECTING SOMEWHERE IN FIVE OR 600,000, YOU KNOW, UNDER $600,000 IN THE 2026.
SO WHILE THE 600,000 WILL HELP TO COME SUPPORT BACK THE FUND BALANCE, YOU UTILIZE 2.1 MILLION.
SO WE'RE STILL TALKING ABOUT 1.5 MILLION, YOU KNOW, A FUND BALANCE THAT NEEDS TO BE REGENERATED FROM VARIOUS SOURCES.
SO I, I JUST THINK IT'S, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT I THINK IT WAS IN, UH, 2023 OR 24, APPROXIMATELY 90% OF FUND BALANCE WAS USED AS SUPPORT, I BELIEVE THE 24 BUDGET, IF NOT MISTAKEN, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY.
UM, AND THAT, BUT HISTORICALLY IT'S ROUGHLY BEEN AROUND 70% OF FUND BALANCE.
UM, AND AS, AS YOU INDICATED PRACTICE WOULD BE THAT THE AUDITORS WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS AROUND 50%.
SO I THINK IT'S JUST IMPORTANT TO, TO REMEMBER AS WE GO INTO 2027, AND AS WE DISCUSSED THIS PAST YEAR WITH, WITH THE BUDGET, UH, DEVELOPMENT THAT, THAT WE'RE, THAT WE'RE BASICALLY SOME DIFFICULT TIMES FINANCIALLY AS A COMMUNITY YEAH.
OVER THE, SOME TOUGH, DIFFICULT
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DECISIONS MAY HAVE TO BE LOOKED AT AS WE, AS WE MOVE, AS WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD.I MEAN, OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, FUND BALANCE UTILIZATION HAS BEEN 70%, 83%, 90%, 79%, AND 72%.
SO WITH FUND BALANCE POTENTIALLY GOING DOWN, YOU KNOW, EVEN IF YOU USED 72%, AGAIN, YOU'RE STILL LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, $600,000 LESS THAN WHAT YOU USED AS REVENUE IN SUPPORT OF YOUR 26 BUDGET.
SO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE WAYS TO MAKE UP FOR THAT, WHETHER IT'S CUTTING EXPENDITURES, YOU KNOW, APPLYING FOR MORE GRANTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S GOING, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE UP FOR SOME DECENT REVENUES AND YEAH.
TO, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, ON TOP OF ALL THAT, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO DEAL WITH HEALTH INSURANCE HAS CONTINUED TO INCREASE OVER, YOU KNOW, YOUR PENSION BILLS WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE.
YOU KNOW, ALL OF THOSE EXPENDITURES ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE.
SO, AND AS THE BUDGETS HAVE GONE TIGHTER, IT'S BECOMING MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT TO REGENERATE THAT FUND BALANCE AS, AS WE'RE GOING FORWARD.
YOUR BUDGET, YOUR BUDGET UTILIZATION HAS INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY, RIGHT? YEAH.
WHERE, LIKE I SAID, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ONLY $500,000 OF YOUR BUDGET, YOU KNOW, LAPSING BACK THE FUND MILL.
SO, DID, DID YOU, DID, AND I APOLOGIZE IF I MISSED IT, BUT DID YOU TOUCH ON THE BUDGET UTILIZATION? WHAT THAT PERCENTAGE? UH, I DON'T, I DON'T HAVE THAT PERCENTAGE, UM, IN FRONT OF ME.
I CAN, I, I CAN SEND IT TO YOU, BUT LIKE I SAID, THE PICTURE OF, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH, HOW MUCH BUDGET WAS REMAINING, YOU KNOW, WITH ONLY 500,000 EXPECTED TO LAPSE, YOU KNOW, I, YOU'RE, UH, YOU'RE, YOU'RE VERY IN THE HIGH NINETIES.
AND, UH, MR. GREG, IT SHOULD BE IMPORTANT, NOT JUST FUND BALANCE, BUT ALSO ONE-TIME REVENUE SOURCES.
THE 2025 BUDGET WAS SUPPORTED BY A $400,000 SALE OF A LIQUOR LICENSE.
THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, 250,000 IN SELLING OF THE LIBRARY.
THESE ARE NOT ITEMS THAT WOULD RETURN IN, IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS.
SO IT'S NOT JUST FUND BALANCE, IT'S LOOKING AT OVERALL, AND I THINK THERE'S ALSO ONE TIME REVENUE SOURCES ALSO LIQUIDATIONS INNER FUNDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
YOU KNOW, THOSE THINGS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO RETURN.
THEY'RE ONETIME SOURCES OF REVENUE.
UM, LIKE I SAID, YOU'RE GONNA, THE BUDGET'S GONNA BE TIGHTER THIS YEAR.
AND, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, FOR VAR FOR VARIOUS REASONS, THERE'S GONNA BE REVENUES THAT NEED TO BE MADE UP.
AND ONE OF YOUR, UH, SECTIONS HERE, I'M TRYING TO FLIP IT BACK TO IT.
YOU HAD, YOU HAD NOTED THE INTERACTION BETWEEN STAFF AND, AND YOUR FIRM.
SO, UH, I MEAN, I, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE JUST, WE, WHEN WE MET YESTERDAY, YOU KNOW, UM, ME, MEDFORD IS A VERY EASY AUDIT TO DO.
THE, THE STAFF IS VERY FRIENDLY AND VERY RECEPTIVE.
YOU KNOW, EVEN, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE'RE IN THERE, WE REALIZE, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S DIFFICULT.
YOU, THEY HAVE TO GET THEIR JOB DONE AND THEY HAVE, YOU KNOW, THREE, FOUR OR FIVE AUDITORS IN THERE.
WE HAVE A VERY GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FINANCE STAFF.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE CFO'S IN CONTACT, YOU KNOW, REGULARLY.
YOU KNOW, WE LET, I ALWAYS TAKE THE APPROACH.
I'D RATHER HELP OUT NOW AND HELP IT, YOU KNOW, GIVE THE ANSWERS YOU NEED AND GET YOU GOOD INFORMATION TO WORK OFF OF IN, IN THE MOMENT RATHER THAN, YOU KNOW, THE AUDIT'S NOT A ONE TIME THING FOR ME.
WE, WE STAY IN CONTACT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND WE'RE ABLE TO HELP AND ASSIST ANYWAY.
AND LIKE I SAID, THE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN REGULAR COMMUNICATION, YOU KNOW, AND I FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, IT HELPS YOU GUYS WORK UNDER GOOD ASSUMPTIONS AND GOOD INFORMATION AND, YOU KNOW, HELP TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS POSSIBLE.
UM, ANYTHING ELSE? WELL, I, NO, YOU'VE ADDRESSED ALL MY QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS.
FROM THE PROFESSIONALS? NO, SIR.
I, I, I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS AN ITEM THAT WAS NOT PUT ON THE AGENDA.
UM, I DO BELIEVE, OH, YES, THAT COUNCIL SHOULD, UM, SHOULD I AMEND THE BUDGET NOW TO PUT THE STANDARD AUDIT ACCEPTANCE RESOLUTION ON? I WOULDN'T PUT IT UNDER CONSENT AGENDA.
I WOULD PUT IT UNDER, UM, REGULAR RESOLUTIONS.
YOU WOULD NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO, UM, PLACE IT ON THE AGENDA.
AND THEN AT THAT, UH, POINT IN THE AGENDA, YOU WOULD VOTE ON THAT.
SO NOW WE MOTION, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THAT MOTION TO ACCEPT THE AUDIT.
THE RESOLUTION TO CERTIFY RECEIPT OF THE 2025 ANNUAL AUDIT HAS BEEN ADDED TO STANDARD RESOLUTIONS, WILL DEEM THAT RESOLUTION 1 55, 20 26.
AND I, I WOULD NOTE FOR THE PUBLIC, I THINK THE PUBLIC IS USED TO AUDITS ARE TYPICALLY PRIOR TO THE, UH, DATE EXTENSION, UM, THAT OCCURRED.
UM, THE AUDIT IS TYPICALLY DUE ON JUNE 30TH FOR OUR CALENDAR, UH, YEAR MUNICIPALITIES.
UH, THE, UH, AUDIT WAS EXTENDED TO AUGUST 31ST BY, UH, STATE RULE.
AND SO WE ARE STILL WITHIN COMPLIANCE, UH, AND, UH, THE AUDIT WOULD BE SUBMITTED NOW.
THAT THE, UH, PRESENTATION HAS BEEN GIVEN AND THEN THE RESOLUTION OF REVIEW, UH, IS POTENTIALLY
[00:25:01]
AUTHORIZED LATER ON IN, JUST TO CLARIFY, IT WASN'T NECESSARILY AN EXTENSION FOR MEDFORD, IT WAS AN EXTENSION FOR HOL STATE.AND AS THE CFO JUST INFORMED ME, THE AUDIT, UH, FULL DOCUMENT WILL BE AS REQUIRED BY LAW ON THE TOWNSHIP WEBSITE, UNDER THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT FOR RESIDENTS TO REVIEW, UM, ONCE AN ACCEPTANCE HAS BEEN, UH, OCCURRED BY COUNCIL.
CAN YOU GUYS HEAR HIM IN THE BACK? YEAH.
CAN YOU GUYS HEAR HIM IN THE BACK? ALL RIGHT.
I JUST WANTED TO BE SURE BECAUSE THERE WAS SOME ISSUES THE OTHER WEEK.
UH, CHIEF ONTO THE DEBT SERVICE.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE, UH, DEBT SERVICE PRESENTATION BY C MR. MBO.
YOU DON'T WANT IT DOWN ABOVE MY HEAD, SO I I'M GONNA MOVE OVER.
AS WE WAIT FOR THE SLIDE, UH, POWERPOINT TO COME UP, UM, WE, I, I AM JOINED BY THE TOWNSHIP, CFO, UM, AND THE TOWNSHIP'S FINANCIAL ADVISOR, ANTHONY AND SSO FROM PHOENIX ADVISORS.
UM, I'LL GIVE THE PRESENTATION AND THEN WHEN CERTAIN ITEMS WE WILL JUMP IN.
MAYOR, IF YOU CAN PULL THAT DOWN JUST A LITTLE MORE, A LITTLE.
THIS PRESENTATION IS NOT A NORMAL PRESENTATION THAT'S TYPICALLY DONE IN MEDFORD.
IT WAS A REQUEST, UH, I BELIEVE THREE MEETINGS AGO, UM, WHEN THE TOWNSHIP ADOPTED ITS 2026, UH, MUNICIPAL, UH, DEBT OR, OR MUNICIPAL CAPITAL ORDINANCES FOR BOTH THE CURRENT FUND AND THE UTILITY FUND FOR, UM, THE CAPITAL ITEMS THAT WERE DISCUSSED THEN AND, UH, UM, CONTEMPLATED DURING THE 2026 BUDGET PRESENTATION.
UM, SO AS I EXPLAINED A FEW MEETINGS AGO, THE TOWNSHIP, WHEN YOU PASS A CAPITAL ORDINANCE THAT IS AUTHORIZING THE, UH, THE BUDGET FOR THAT CAPITAL ITEM, IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT IT IS A FUNDED ITEM AT THAT POINT, UNLESS YOU STATED IN THE ORDINANCE THAT IT WAS FULLY FUNDED BY THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND, OR MOST LIKELY THE ORDINANCE STATES THAT YOU WOULD FUND IT THROUGH A BAN, A BOND ANTICIPATION NOTE, WHICH IS A SHORT TIME FI UH, FINANCING ITEM, WHICH A BOND, WHICH IS A LONG TIME, UH, FINANCE ITEM.
SO WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE? UH, BANS? A BOND ANTICIPATION NOTE IS CONSIDERED SHORT-TERM DEBT.
IT'S USUALLY MATURES IN A YEAR OR LESS AND CAN ROLL FOR THREE YEARS WHILE ONLY PAYING INTEREST ONLY PAYMENTS ANNUALLY BY THE FOURTH YEAR, YOU WILL CON YOU CAN CONTINUE TO ROLL IT.
UM, BUT THE STATE REQUIRES, UH, UH, STATUTORY PRINCIPAL PAYMENTS.
UH, IN ADDITION TO THOSE INTEREST RATES OR INTEREST PAYMENTS USING, UH, YOU, YOU WOULD UTILIZE THIS TO PROVIDE INTERIM FINANCING, UM, UNTIL PERMANENT BONDS CAN BE ISSUED.
UM, TYPICALLY, AS YOU WILL SEE THROUGHOUT THE SLIDE, MEDFORD'S PRACTICE WAS ANYWHERE BETWEEN TWO TO THREE YEARS.
AND THAT COINCIDES WITH THE INSURANCE ONLY RATE, UH, ALLOWANCE OF UP TO THREE YEARS OF PAYING INTEREST ONLY.
UM, AND THEN YOU WOULD MATURE, UM, THOSE CLUSTER OF YEARS INTO A BOND.
UM, I'LL EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT LATER, UM, HOW WE'VE KIND OF DEVIATED FROM THAT AND, AND HOW WE'RE GONNA MOVE BACK TO TOWARDS THAT PRACTICE.
UM, INTEREST RATES ARE GENERALLY LOW BECAUSE THEY ARE SHORT TERM, UH, MATURE MATURITY.
UM, BUT THE, THE, THE ITEM IS YOU HAVE COST FOR ISSUANCE.
IT'S A LOWER COST THAN A BOND, BUT THEN YOU HAVE THAT COST ANNUALLY BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO ROLL THE BAN ANNUALLY.
UM, WHEN YOU LOOK AT PERMANENTLY FINANCING BONDS, THIS IS CONSIDERED MORE LONG-TERM DEBT.
IT MATURES OVER 10 TO 30 YEARS AND IS USED TO PROVIDE LONG-TERM FINANCING FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS.
THE 10 TO 30 YEARS IS BASED OFF OF THE USEFUL LIFE OF WHAT YOU ARE BONDING.
SO, UM, TYPICALLY, UH, A VEHICLE DEPENDING ON WHAT TYPE OF VEHICLE, WE'LL, WE'LL TALK LATER ON HOW THE TOWNSHIP, UH, BETWEEN 24 AND 25, UH, TOOK, PUT TWO ORDINANCES TOGETHER TO BUY A $2.1 MILLION LADDER TRUCK, UM, FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO REPLACE THE AGING LADDER TRUCK THAT WE HAVE.
UM, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING ALONG A 20 TO 25 YEAR USABLE LIFESPAN.
WHEN YOU TAKE AN ORDINANCE AND YOU HAVE MULTIPLE ITEMS IN IT, THE BOND COUNT AND THE FINANCIAL ADVISOR WILL DO AN A, AN AVERAGE OF THE USEFUL
[00:30:01]
LIFE.AND THAT'S THE EXTENT OF HOW LONG THAT PERMANENT FINANCING CAN BE.
IT HAS TO BE WITHIN THE ACTUAL LIFESPAN OF WHAT YOU'RE, UH, PROVIDING DEBT FOR.
INTEREST RATES ARE FIXED FOR A TERM AND ARE GENERALLY HIGHER THAN PREMIUMS. HOWEVER, THE COST OF ISSUING A BONDS, UM, WOULD BE ONCE ANNUALLY, UM, UH, OR ONCE VERSUS ANNUALLY.
AND THE, THE INTEREST IS SPREAD OVER INSTEAD OF YEAR TO YEAR.
IT'S SPREAD OVER THE PERIOD OF THE BOND.
UM, BONDS ARE VIEWED AS MORE STABLE FINANCING FOR MUNICIPALITIES SO THAT YOU CAN PLAN FOR FUTURE BUDGETS AND SET DEBT SERVICE, UH, NUMBERS.
UM, THE NEXT SLIDE, UM, IN MEDFORD TOWNSHIP, OUR GENERAL IMPROVEMENT AND GENERAL CAPITAL DEBT SERVICE IS FUNDED THROUGH THREE SEPARATE TOWNSHIP BUDGETS.
THERE IS THE CURRENT FUND BUDGET, THAT IS THE BUDGET THAT IS SUPPORTED BY TAXATION, UM, AND OUTSIDE REVENUE SOURCES.
THE OPEN SPACE FUND THAT IS SUPPORTED BY THE OPEN SPACE TAX THAT THE TOWNSHIP COLLECTS, THAT WAS, UH, APPROVED BY REFERENDUM, UH, DECADES AGO.
AND THE WATER AND SEWER FUND, WHICH IS SUPPORTED BY RATE PAYERS, THAT WOULD NOT BE THE ENTIRE TOWN.
ONLY A CERTAIN PORTION OF THE TOWN IS, IS COVERED UNDER OUR WATER AND SEWER, UH, UH, UTILITY.
SO THE NEXT THREE SLIDES, I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT THE CURRENT FUND.
THIS IS PERMANENT DEBT SERVICE.
SO THIS IS A DEBT SERVICE THAT HAS BEEN, UH, ACQUIRED FOR LONG-TERM DEBT.
UM, AT, AS YOU MIGHT RECALL FROM THAT PRIOR MEETING, A FEW, UH, FEW MEETINGS AGO, I TALKED ABOUT HOW THE TOWNSHIP LOOKS AND MOST TOWNSHIPS LOOKS AT THE EBB AND FLOW OF YOUR, OF YOUR, UM, UH, DEBT SERVICE AMATEURIZATION.
AS IT GOES, UH, FORWARD, YOU TRY AND FIND A SWEET SPOT WHERE THERE'S A, A DIP, AND THEN YOU FILL IT IN.
UM, I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT LATER ABOUT WHY WE SHOULD HAVE UTILIZED THE DIP A LITTLE BIT BETTER, BUT THIS IS OUR PERMANENT DEBT SERVICE.
SO THIS IS DEBT THAT HAS, THAT EXISTS ON THE BOOKS THAT, UM, WE HAVE PERMANENT PERMANENTLY FINANCED AND IS NOT IN A BAN.
THE NEXT SLIDE IS DEBT SERVICE.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS TO POINT OUT, THE TOWNSHIP HAS NOT ROLLED BANS INTO A BOND SINCE 2022.
SO IT'S BEEN OVER FIVE YEARS OF NOT ROLLING.
UM, THIS WAS A MANAGE MANAGEMENT DECISION.
UM, IT TYPICALLY, MEDFORD HAS SEEN, LIKE I SAID, ROLLING OF OUR BONDS IN BETWEEN TWO TO THREE YEARS.
UM, SO WHAT YOU SEE IN THIS GREEN IS EVERYTHING PRIOR TO THE 2026 ORDINANCE.
UM, I WOULD CONTEND AND I WILL TALK LATER ON, THAT 2025 WAS PROBABLY THE SWEET SPOT OF PERMANENTLY FINANCING OUR, OUR DEBT UP UNTIL THAT POINT.
UM, AND FOR VARIOUS REASONS, AND THAT WOULD'VE PROBABLY PROVIDED A LITTLE BIT OF A SMOOTHING OUT OF THIS.
UM, BUT WE TRY TO SEE A SMOOTHING OUT.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THE DEBT SERVICE KIND OF TAILS OFF IN 2033.
AGAIN, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THIS IS CURRENT FUND BUDGET, SO WATER AND SEWER UTILITY AND OPEN SPACE ARE NOT, UH, ATTRIBUTED INTO THIS.
THIS IS THE 2.938 MILLION OF DEBT SERVICE THAT WAS ADDED THIS YEAR.
UM, SO I WILL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT HOW YOU EXTRAPOLATE OUT THAT 2.9 MILLION.
UM, BUT THIS IS, UH, LOOKING AT THE, UH, OVERALL COURSE OF ACTION THAT THE TOWNSHIP IS CURRENTLY LOOKING AT, UH, TO, TO DO WHEN IT COMES TO OUR CURRENT FUND DEBT AMATEURIZATION.
THE, UH, OVERALL PLAN IS, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE NOT, WE HAVE ROLLED BANS, IT IS BETTER FOR US TO ROLL THE BAN THIS YEAR AND PERMANENTLY FINANCE IN 27.
I'LL EXPLAIN IN A SECOND WHY THAT IS THE CASE.
UM, BEFORE I MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE, ANYTHING THAT I HAVE MISSED SO FAR? YEAH, I JUST WANNA JUST, UH, HERE, SORRY,
YEAH, BECAUSE OTHERWISE THAT CHAIR DOESN'T COME OUT.
I COULD, I'LL JUST, I'LL JUST HOLD THIS.
UM, IF YOU GO BACK TO THAT SLIDE, ACTUALLY, YEAH.
SO I JUST WANNA CLARIFY THAT THE ORANGE BARS ON THE TOP THERE ARE, THAT REPRESENTS IF WE WERE TO FINANCE THE ORDINANCE THAT WAS ADOPTED THIS YEAR, THE 2026 ORDINANCE, THE 2.9 MILLION, THAT'S WHAT THE DEBT SERVICE WOULD LOOK LIKE ON THAT.
UM, AND IT WOULD BE, IF WE WERE TO FINANCE THAT, THAT HAS NOT YET BEEN FINANCED.
SO, UM, IF YOU GO BACK, SORRY, GO BACK TWO SLIDES ACTUALLY.
SO AS, AS BRANDON MENTIONED, THIS IS WHAT YOUR DEBT SERVICE CURRENTLY LOOK CURRENTLY LOOKS LIKE FOR ANY BONDS THAT HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY ISSUED.
AND THEN THE NEXT SLIDE IS, UH, JUST TO, TO ADD A LITTLE BIT MORE COLOR, ANY ORDINANCES BEFORE 2026 THAT HAD BEEN ADOPTED BY THE TOWNSHIP, IF WE WERE TO FINANCE THOSE, THOSE ARE ALL CURRENTLY IN BOND.
UH, WELL, NOT ALL, BUT MOSTLY CURRENTLY IN, UH, BOND ANTICIPATION NOTES.
UH, IF WE WERE TO PERMANENTLY FINANCE THAT ISSUE, BONDS FOR THAT, THAT'S WHAT THE GREEN BARS REPRESENT.
SO YOU COULD SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE DEBT SERVICE, YOU KNOW, IT GOES UP A LITTLE BIT, BUT IT'S, IT'S
[00:35:01]
PRETTY STEADY, UH, IN, IN RELATION TO WHAT YOU CURRENTLY HAVE.AND IT WOULD TAKE CARE OF, UH, ORDINANCES PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED, UH, BY THE TOWNSHIP IN PREVIOUS YEARS.
SO THOSE ARE PROJECTS THAT, YOU KNOW, WERE, ARE IMPORTANT TO THE TOWNSHIP THAT HAVE BEEN AUTHORIZED.
UH, MANY ARE, ARE, UH, IF NOT ALL, ARE MOVING FORWARD.
UH, SO IT'S, IT'S LIKE A CREDIT CARD.
YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU HAVE A, SOMETHING YOU WANNA BUY, UH, YOU BUY, YOU PAY FOR IT LATER ON.
SO IT'S, UH, SO THIS WOULD BE THE FINANCING OF THAT.
AND THEN ONCE AGAIN, THE NEXT SLIDE IS THE ORANGE REPRESENTS JUST THE, UH, 2026 ORDINANCE AND WHAT THE DEBT SERVICE WOULD LOOK LIKE IF WE WERE TO FINANCE THAT.
UM, THE LINE ON TOP, THAT'S, IT'S PROBABLY HARD TO SEE THE NUMBERS, BUT, UH, WHAT THAT LINE REPRESENTS IS, UM, THE, UH, PORTION OF YOUR, YOUR TAX RATE THAT'S REPRESENTED BY DEBT.
UH, CURRENTLY IT'S ABOUT 10 AND A HALF CENTS, WE'LL CALL IT.
UM, AND THEN, UM, THE MAXIMUM BASED OFF OF THESE PROJECTIONS THAT WOULD GO UP, IT WOULD BE TO 12 CENTS.
SO IT'S ABOUT A PENNY, WE'LL CALL IT A PENNY AND A HALF.
UM, SO FINANCING, ONCE AGAIN, FINANCING ALL THE ORDINANCES THAT HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED BUT ARE NOT IN BONDS YET.
PLUS THE 2026 ORDINANCE WOULD RESULT IN THIS STRUCTURE.
SO WE PROVIDE THIS, UH, UH, SLIDE TO SHOW YOU THAT WE ARE NOT DOING THIS, SO IT WOULD BEHOOVE THE TOWNSHIP POTENTIALLY TO, TO GO OUT TO PERMANENT FINANCING, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO, UM, THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE ARE GOING TO ROLL A BAN FOR NEXT YEAR.
AND I'LL TALK ON THE NEXT SLIDE ABOUT THE, THE IMPACT.
SO AS OUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR SAID, IF WE WERE TO PERMANENTLY FINANCE THE DEBT THIS YEAR, THAT WOULD BE, UH, UH, 1.50 CENTS OF AN INCREASE TO THE OVERALL DEBT SERVICE NUMBER.
MOVING TO THE KEY FACTORS AROUND THE CURRENT FUND DEBT SERVICE.
SO, DEBT FINANCING, AS I STATED BEFORE, THE LAST TIME MEDFORD PERMANENTLY FINANCED A BAN, UM, OR PERMANENTLY FINANCED ITS BANS, UH, WERE WAS 2022 TO MAKE IT A BOND.
UM, HISTORICALLY THAT IS NOT THE CASE.
WE WOULD ROLL IT IN THREE YEARS.
ONE OF THE CHIEF FACTORS WHEN LOOKING AT THE, UH, THE DEBT SERVICE FOR THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY IN IS THAT IN 2025, THE TOWNSHIP PREPAID 2.1, OR I'LL SAY THE WHOLE THING, $2,128,356 AND 83 CENTS FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT LADDER TRUCK NOT SCHEDULED TO BE DELIVERED TO THE MUNICIPALITY UNTIL 2028.
THIS PREPAYMENT RECEIVED A REPORTED SAVINGS OF $250,385 AND 85 CENTS.
SO THAT 2.1 WOULD'VE BEEN MORE IF WE DIDN'T PREPAY.
I CONTEND THAT PREPAYMENTS IS NOT PERMITTED UNDER NEW JERSEY PUBLIC CONTRACTS LAW.
IT'S NOT YOU ISSUE A PO YOU, YOU PASS AN ORDINANCE THAT GIVES YOU THE ABILITY TO ISSUE A PO, YOU ISSUE THE PO, YOU WAIT TILL THE GOODS ARE RECEIVED, THEN YOU SEND PAYMENT THE TOWNSHIP.
UM, AND, AND SO THERE'S VARYING WAYS WHY, WHY YOU DO THAT.
BUT, UM, HAD THE FUNDS REMAINED INVESTED AT APPROXIMATELY 3.3%, THAT'S OUR INTEREST RATE AT THE BANK, UM, WE WOULD HAVE EXCEEDED THE SAVINGS YIELDED.
SO CONVERSELY, WHAT THE TOWNSHIP ACTUALLY DID IN THIS CASE IS WE DEFERRED BORROWING THE FUNDS.
SO WE PASSED AN ORDINANCE, WE HAD $2.1 MILLION IN CAPITAL RESERVES IN OUR FUND BALANCE, AND WE TOOK THAT $2.1 MILLION AND, AND SENT IT TO THE, TO THE VENDOR.
UM, SO LIKE I SAID, CONVERSELY, WHAT THE TOWNSHIP DID DEFERRED THE BORROWING OF THE FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE PURCHASE WHILE USING CAPITAL FUND BALANCE RESERVE TO FLOAT THE PAYMENT.
THIS REDUCTION IN CAPITAL FUND BALANCE RESERVE CAUSED THE REDUCTION IN THE FUND TO THEN NOT GAIN INTEREST ON YOU DON'T HAVE LESS MONEY, YOU'RE NOT GAINING INTEREST IN THE BANK, UM, THEREFORE REDUCING THE CAPITAL, UH, UH, CAPITAL FUND BALANCE RESERVES CAUSED, OH NO, SORRY, I'M REPEATING MYSELF.
THEREFORE, IF THE DECISION WAS TO PREPAY THE TRUCK, THEN THE FUNDS SHOULD HAVE BEEN PERMANENTLY FINANCED IN 2025 INSTEAD OF DEPLETING THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT, UH, FUND BALANCE RESERVES.
THE OTHER COURSE OF ACTION THAT THE TOWNSHIP COULD HAVE DONE, AS I STATED EARLIER, IS WE COULD HAVE DEFERRED THE PAYMENT AND ALSO DEFERRED THE, UH, PERMANENT FINANCING ON THE TRUCK, LEFT THE FUND BALANCE IN RESERVE, AND WE WOULD'VE GAINED, UH, GREATER INTEREST OVER THE FOUR YEAR PERIOD AT 3.3%.
SO IT'S ABOUT 30,000 MORE THAN WHAT WE YIELDED.
THERE'S A REASON WHY STATE LAW DOES NOT ALLOW YOU TO PREPAY THINGS, BUT IF WE DID, IF WE DID PERMANENTLY FINANCE THIS, WE WOULDN'T BE IN THAT PREDICAMENT BECAUSE WE WOULD STILL HAVE THE $2.1 MILLION IN THE RESERVE FUND IN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND WE WOULD'VE PERMANENTLY FINANCED.
I'LL CONTEND THAT THIS, ALONG WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER THINGS THAT I WILL ADDRESS LATER, IS THE REASON WHY THE TOWNSHIP SHOULD HAVE PERMANENTLY FINANCED ITS BANS IN 2025.
SO LET'S LOOK AT HISTORIC DEBT COST, UH, OVER
[00:40:01]
THIS PAST YEAR IN THE BUDGET AND THREE YEARS PRIOR.SO IN 2023, IT WAS $3.3 MILLION TOTAL DEBT SERVICE TO THE CURRENT FUND IN 20 24, 3 0.5 IN 20 25, 3 0.5.
AS I TALKED EARLIER, NOT ONLY THE FIRETRUCK NECESSITATING THE PERMANENTLY FINANCED THE DIP BY $200,000 IN PERMANENT DEBT SERVICE, UH, WOULD NECESSITATE THAT WE PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE WENT OUT FOR PERMANENT FINANCING LAST YEAR.
AS I STARTED EARLY, YOU LOOK FOR THE PEKIN VALLEY AND FOR YOUR NEW DEBT, YOU TRY AND FUND IT IN TO AMATEURIZE IT OUT.
A FIRE TRUCK IS A 20 YEAR USEFUL LIFE.
INSTEAD OF PAYING INTEREST, WHICH WE'RE NOT PAYING BECAUSE WE DIDN'T GO OUT AND GET THE MONEY, WE COULD BE MAKING INTEREST, BUT IF WE DID PERMANENTLY FINANCING IT AS THE OPTION NOT ROLLING IT IN A BAN, WE ARE NOT GONNA ROLL IT IN A BAN.
WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO ROLL BANS AND PERMANENTLY FINANCE THE FIRETRUCK AND OTHERS NEXT YEAR.
AND, AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT COST.
THE 2026 ORDINANCE, UM, IT'S $2.9 MILLION OF THAT $1.2 MILLION IS ROAD IMPROVEMENTS.
UM, BECAUSE THE TOWNSHIP IS APPROXIMATELY ONE TO TWO YEARS BEHIND SCHEDULE IN THESE PROJECTS.
MR. NOLL, I THINK WE'RE THE 2025 BUDGET.
THE ONLY THING YOU'VE DONE SO FAR IS HIMALAYA, AND THEN WE'RE OUT TO, YEAH, I WOULDN'T SAY WE'RE BEHIND SCHEDULE, BUT I WOULD SAY THAT BY THE TIME IT'S PART OF THE SCHEDULE, WHAT WE DO, IT'S PART OF THE SCHEDULE.
BY THE TIME THE ORDINANCE IS APPROVED IN JULY AND THERE'S A 20 DAY ESTOPPEL PERIOD, AND WE DO THE ENGINEERING, IT'S THE FOLLOWING YEAR BEFORE YOU GET OUT TO BID AND DO THE WORK.
SO RIGHT NOW WITH OUR ROAD PROGRAM FROM 2025, HEMLINE ROAD'S GONNA BE PAVED IN THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO, BUT THE OTHER ROADS WILL BE PAVED LIKELY AT THE END OF THE FALL, END OF THIS YEAR OR, OR SPRING OF NEXT YEAR.
YEAH, SO 2025 BONDS, AS MR. NOEL SAID, THOSE ARE ITEMS BY THE TIME THE BOND ORDINANCE HAPPENS IN, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SUMMER, BY THE TIME YOU DESIGN AND EVERYTHING ELSE YOU GET TO THE WINTER PERIOD, IT DOESN'T BEHOOVE US TO PUT IT OUT TO BID.
SO YOU WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT PROCEEDING YEAR.
SO AGAIN, I SAY BEHIND, IT'S BY NATURE OF THE DESIGN OF THE SCHEDULE FOR DEBT SERVICE.
UM, SO WHAT'S THE TOWNSHIP GONNA DO? WE ARE NOT GOING TO FUND THAT 1.2.
UM, WE WILL FUND THE REMAINING ITEMS IN THE BAND ROLLOVER THAT WE DO THIS YEAR, UM, SO THAT WE WILL NOT HAVE TO PAY INTEREST ON THE 1.2 BECAUSE WE WILL NOT NEED THAT, THOSE FUNDS UNTIL NEXT YEAR.
I WOULD ALSO CONTEND THAT, UM, WHEN WE START LOOKING AT THE WATER AND SEWER FUND THAT I, I WOULD PROBABLY RECOMMEND TO THE TOWNSHIP THAT THE 2027 BOND YEAR WOULD BE A BREAK IN CURRENT FUND DEBTS, UH, UH, CAPITAL ITEMS. THAT WOULD BE A DECISION YOU HAVE TO MAKE AS YOU GO THROUGH THE 27 BUDGET.
BUT I DO THINK WE HAVE A NUMBER OF OLD ORDINANCES THAT WE NEED TO LIQUIDATE.
THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS BROUGHT UP IN THE AUDIT.
UM, AGAIN, SEVERAL YEARS ARE LEFT OPEN.
UM, SINCE WE ARE LOOKING AT NOT, WE HAVEN'T PERMANENTLY FINANCED SINCE 2022, THERE IS THE POTENTIAL BEFORE WE PERMANENTLY FINANCE THOSE ORDINANCES BETWEEN 22 AND PRESENT.
IF WE WANT TO CAPITALIZE THEM AND THEN CANCEL 'EM REAPPROPRIATE TO ANOTHER PROJECT, WE COULD OR WE CAN CANCEL THEM AND REDUCE THE OVERALL DEBT SERVICE BEFORE WE PERMANENTLY FINANCE.
SO THERE'S ARE TWO OPTIONS THAT THE TOWNSHIP CAN LOOK AT.
SO AS I STATED, YOU SAW THAT PEAK IN VALLEY IN THAT THIRD SLIDE.
SO THE TOWNSHIP'S CURRENT PLAN IS GOING TO BE TO ROLL THE BANS FOR ANOTHER YEAR UNTIL WE CAN PERMANENTLY FINANCE THEM NEXT YEAR.
BY DOING THAT, INSTEAD OF THIS 1.50 CENT IMPACT TO THE TAXPAYER, IT WOULD BE $55 SPLIT OVER A THREE YEAR PERIOD.
SO IT'S ROUGHLY A POINT A HALF OF A PENNY IMPACT THAN A 1.5 IMPACT.
UM, WE DO BELIEVE INTEREST RATES ARE GONNA BE BETTER NEXT YEAR.
UM, AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT MOST TOWNS ARE LOOKING AT.
UM, AND SO WE ARE GONNA TAKE ADVANTAGE OF, OF THOSE ITEMS. SO MOVING ON OPEN SPACE.
SO NEXT ONE I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IS THE OPEN SPACE FUND.
THIS IS A DEDICATED FUND TO PRESERVE OPEN SPACE AND THE MAINTAIN OPEN SPACE.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST ITEMS HERE TO, TO HIGHLIGHT IS THE ORANGE PORTION.
THE ORANGE PORTION IS OUR DEBT SERVICE FOR CALPOINT.
YOU ALL LONGTIME RESIDENTS KNOW CALPOINT WAS SLATED TO BE A LARGE DEVELOPMENT.
THE TOWNSHIP BOUGHT IT AND MADE IT FOR OPEN SPACE.
THAT DEBT SURFACE DOESN'T COME OFF OUR BOOKS UNTIL 2033, BUT THAT'S WHAT THAT ORANGE PIECE IS.
YOU SEE THAT IT'S, IT'S CONSISTENTLY FLAT.
UM, WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF ITEMS WE HAVE ONLY ADDED IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
ONE ORDINANCE, I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN THE NEXT SLIDE AND ONE SPECIFIC ITEM.
UM, BUT OUR OPEN SPACE FUND HAS BEEN SOMETHING OF A STABLING FACTOR AND, UH, CAN UTILIZE, UH, FOR FUTURE FUNDS AND TO START PREPARING AS WE GET TO THE END OF 2035.
THERE WILL BE A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF DEBT SERVICE AVAILABLE TO THE TOWN.
UM, THIS IS NOT BY, YOU KNOW, LACK OF
[00:45:01]
DESIGN.WE ALL KNOW THAT THE STATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING WILL GO FOR FOURTH ROUND, GOES TO 2035.
SO HAVING FUNDS AVAILABLE TO POTENTIALLY BOND TO POTENTIALLY THEN PRESERVE PROPERTIES AHEAD OF THE NEXT ROUND WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT I WOULD RECOMMEND TO THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE AND, AND FOR, UM, THE RESIDENTS, UH, AS WE LOOK AT FUTURE BUDGETS TO LOOK AT THAT AND, AND SAY THAT WE CAN UTILIZE THAT THERE.
NEXT, UM, YOU MIGHT REMEMBER IN 2025, UM, THIS IS ANOTHER REASON WHY I WOULD SAY THAT WE SHOULD HAVE PERMANENTLY FINANCED IN 2025.
UM, THE ONE ITEM THAT WE APPROVED IN THE 2025 CAPITAL ORDINANCE WAS THE DECK HOCKEY RINK AT A COST OF $655,690.
IF YOU REMEMBER, THE MYA HAS AN AGREEMENT WITH THE TOWN THEY ARE TO COVER THE ENTIRE COST.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND IF WE GAVE A DEBT SERVICE AMORTIZATION TO THE MYAA, WHY, THEN WE DIDN'T THEN AMATEURIZE THE DEBT.
NOW YOU'RE NOT GONNA JUST AMATEURIZE 655,000.
THAT'S A LOT OF ISSUANCE OF BOND COSTS JUST FOR THAT SMALL OF A FIGURE.
BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TOTALITY OF DEBT SERVICE, WE WOULD'VE ROLLED IT WITH THE CURRENT FUND, THE UTILITY FUND.
AND THIS, IT MAKES SENSE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE DID IT IN 25.
UM, SO WHEN LOOKING AT THIS, THE OTHER ITEM THAT I FOUND IS THAT WHEN PRIOR MANAGEMENT PUT TOGETHER, UH, THE TOWNSHIP'S BUDGET, THE FIRST PAYMENT, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BE COMING IN TO THE OPEN SPACE FUND, ACTUALLY WENT IN AS A REVENUE SOURCE IN THE CURRENT FUND.
THAT'S NOT WHAT IT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED.
UM, SO PRIOR MANAGER PUTTING THAT IN AS A REVENUE SOURCE INSTEAD OF PUTTING IT INTO A REVENUE SOURCE TO THE OPEN SPACE FUND WOULD BE IMPROPER.
AND ALSO BY US NOT PERMANENTLY FINANCING, WE GAVE A DEBT SCHEDULE TO THE MYA THAT MIGHT NOT BE THE SAME DEBT SCHEDULE BY THE TIME WE FI WE PERMANENTLY FINANCE.
THESE ARE THE TWO ITEMS. I DO APOLOGIZE.
I TRIED TO GET IT AS BIG AS POSSIBLE.
THIS I, I WILL EXPLAIN IT A LITTLE BIT, UH, IN THE NEXT SLIDE.
THIS IS, UM, THE MYA, SO THE DECK HOCKEY PAYMENT SCHEDULE THAT I TALKED ABOUT EARLIER.
UM, DEBT AMORTIZATION ALL THE WAY TOTAL $905,686 WHEN YOU TAKE AN INTEREST PLUS THE, UH, THE $655,690 OF PRINCIPLE.
UM, ALL OF THAT IS PAID FOR BY THE MYA AND THEY HAVE THIS SCHEDULE ACCORDINGLY.
WE HAVE TURF FIELDS IN THE TOWNSHIP.
THAT, THAT BLUE SECTION THAT YOU SAW BACK HERE, THAT BLUE SECTION, PART OF THAT BLUE SECTION IS TURF FIELDS DEBT SERVICE, UH, FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO TOWNSHIP OWNED PROPERTIES THAT, UH, DEBT SERVICE IS SUPPORTED BY 60% OF THE TURF FIELDS.
UH, COST IS PAID FOR BY THE M-U-A-M-Y-A-A AND 40% OF THAT COST IS PAID FOR BY THE TOWNSHIP.
SO, WRAPPING UP THE CURRENT FUND, SAME AS OR OPEN SPACE FUND, SAME AS, UH, THE CURRENT FUND.
WE HAVE NOT PERMANENTLY FINANCED ANYTHING SINCE 2022.
HOWEVER, THERE'S ONLY ONE ITEM THAT'S THE DECK HOCKEY RINK THAT, UM, I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND.
IF WE ISSUED A PAYMENT SCHEDULE, WHY THAT WOULDN'T HAVE NECESSITATED, UM, US PERMANENTLY FINANCING THE PRIOR MANAGER PLACED THE MYAA 2026 PAYMENT, IT, UH, INTO THE CURRENT FUND'S BUDGET, UM, RATHER THAN THE OPEN SPACE BUDGET AS REQUIRED BY THE AGREEMENT, THEIR AGREEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2040.
UM, CAL POINT, AS I STATED, UM, THAT ORANGE SECTION, UH, REPRESENTS THE DEBT SERVICE THAT IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO, UM, CALPOINT AND THE PRESERVATION PROJECT THAT WAS DONE THERE.
THAT DEBT SERVICE WILL BE COMPLETELY PAID OFF IN 2033.
THE TURF FIELD DEBT SERVICE, UM, IS SPLIT 60 40, 60% WITH MYAA.
LOOKING AT THIS YEAR'S FUNDS THAT AMOUNTS TO $101,684 AND 38 CENTS.
UM, CONTRIBUTIONS IN 27 WILL BE A HUNDRED THOUSAND $625 AND 14 CENTS.
UM, 28 90 $9,487 AND UH, 45 CENTS.
AND THEN IN 2029 AND SO FORTH, $99,055.
UM, HISTORICALLY THE DEBT SERVICE LOOKING AT THIS YEAR WAS 833,000, UH, $757 IN 25, IT WAS 882,502, UM, IN 24 893, 3 27.
AS I SAID, IN THE CURRENT FUND, YOU SEE THAT DIP COMING OFF OF 25 INTO 26.
AGAIN, ANOTHER CHIEF FACTOR THAT STATES WE PROBABLY MANAGEMENT SHOULD HAVE PROBABLY FROM PERMANENTLY FINANCED, UM, THOSE ITEMS. UM, SO WE WILL ROLL A BAN, UM, TO HAVE A VERY, VERY MINIMUM IMPACT ONTO THE, UH, ONTO THE, UM, DEBT SERVICE TO THE OPEN SPACE.
WE'LL PERMANENTLY FINANCE THE, UH, DEBT HOCKEY R AND WE WILL ENSURE THAT PAYMENTS MADE BY THE MYA SIMILAR TO THE 60% PAYMENTS THAT THEY DO ON THE TURF FIELD, GO TO THE CURRENT FUND, NOT THE, OR GO TO THE OPEN SPACE
[00:50:01]
FUND, NOT THE CURRENT FUND.NEXT IS WATER AND SEWER UTILITY.
THIS IS AN AREA THAT IS, UM, IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD LOOK TOWARDS.
WE STILL, IT STILL FALLS THE SAME METHOD.
WE HAVEN'T PERMANENT, UH, FINANCED THINGS FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS, BUT YOU CAN SEE THE VALLEYS THAT ARE GOING TO HAPPEN AS WE CONTINUE, UH, TO LOOK AT, AT THE ITEMS. RIGHT NOW, WHAT YOU SEE, THE DIFFERENCE IS THE BLUE IS PERMANENT DEBT.
THE GREEN IS THOSE FIVE YEARS OF BANS.
UM, AS, AS WE SEE THIS TAIL OFF IT COMES, YOU WILL SEE 26, 27, 28.
I WOULD CONTEND THAT THE, UH, AGAIN, 2025 PERMANENTLY FINANCED PROBABLY WOULD'VE EVEN THAT OUT A LITTLE, LITTLE MORE, UM, WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT THE 26TH DEBT.
BUT YOU WILL START SEEING THAT VALLEY GO DOWN AND THAT WILL ALLOW FOR PROJECTS TO THEN COME ON BOARD FOR MAINTAINING THE CURRENT SYSTEM.
THIS DEBT SERVICE IS TO MAINTAIN THE CURRENT SYSTEM.
I CAN'T REITERATE THAT ENOUGH.
THE DEVELOPER FOR THE FOURTH ROUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THE THIRD ROUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS THE REDEVELOPMENT PLAN AND AGREEMENT STATES, THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE UTILITIES THAT THEY'RE PUTTING IN, UH, FOR THAT COMMUNITY.
SO THIS DEBT SERVICE MAINTAINS OUR CURRENT SYSTEM.
NEXT IS, UM, IS THE, UH, 2026 ORDINANCE.
UM, I'LL GO OVER THE VARIOUS PROJECTS THAT IT, IT, THAT IT ENTAILED.
UM, YOU CAN SEE, UM, AGAIN, THIS IS PERMANENTLY FINANCING.
UM, THIS IS JUST TO SHOW YOU IF WE DID GO AND PERMANENTLY FINANCE THAT WOULD SEE THAT PEAK UP FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
AND THEN THE DRASTIC DROP THAT COMES IN.
UM, THIS IS JUST SHOWING YOU THAT IF WE FOLLOW THE TOWNSHIP'S NORMAL SCHEDULE TO GET BACK TO PERMANENT FINANCING, THIS IS WHAT WE WOULD SEE.
WE ARE MAKING THE PRUDENT DECISION TO ROLL THE BAN FOR ONE MORE YEAR SO THAT WE CAN GET TO A, A LEVELING OFF EFFECT.
SO LOOKING AT THE CHIEF FACTORS AFFECTING THE WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT, AGAIN, SAME AS THE OTHER TWO FUNDS, WE HAVE NOT PERMANENTLY FINANCED SINCE 2022.
UM, THE DEBT SERVICE CURRENTLY FUNDED THROUGH BANS, UM, AMOUNTS TO $6.798 MILLION, UM, OF DEBT FUNDED THROUGH BANS, UM, WHICH IS SHORT TERM FINANCING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CAPITALIZED IN 2025.
UM, WHEN YOU LOOK IN 2026, IT'S $2.7 MILLION OF DEBT SERVICE IN 2025, IT WAS 2.9.
IN 2024 IT WAS 2.8 AND 2023 WAS 2.6.
AGAIN, THAT VALLEY THAT HAPPENED IN 25 ALSO NECESSITATES WHY WE SHOULD HAVE DONE A PERMANENT FINANCING.
THEN THE 2026 DASH 14 ORDINANCE, AS I STATED, 4.875 MILLION OF THAT 4.55 MILLION IS IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SEWER PLANT, WHICH CONSISTS OF REPLACING OF GRINDERS, SLUDGE PUMPS, RBC BEARINGS IN ADDITION TO SLIP LINING OF SEWER LINES, IMPROVEMENTS TO THE WATER SYSTEM, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE REHABILITATION OF WELL, 3 6 14 15 16 17, REPLACEMENT OF LEAD SERVICE LINES, REPLACEMENT OF WATER METERS, AND THE CONTINUING OF UPGRADES OF THE WATER AND SEWER MAINS AND THE STREETS THAT CORRESPOND, UH, TO THOSE MAIN REPLACEMENTS OF THE PAVING, UH, ITEMS. AGAIN, DUE TO THE NATURE OF PASSING THE ORDINANCE AND OTHER PROJECTS THAT ARE IN PLACE AT THIS POINT, AND SPEAKING TO MR. NOLL, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE LION'S SHARE OF THESE ITEMS WILL COME INTO EFFECT UNTIL 2027.
SO WE WILL NOT FUND THROUGH THE BAN ROLLOVER THE MAJORITY OF THESE ITEMS. WE WILL NEED SOME ENGINEERING COSTS THAT, UH, FUND BALANCE OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND IN THE WATER AND SEWER CAN NECESSITATE.
UM, BUT WE WOULD NOT PUT THAT IN UNTIL WE PERMANENTLY FINANCE IN 27.
SO OUR CURRENT PLAN, UM, THE CURRENT PLAN WOULD BE TO ROLL THE BANDS SIMILAR TO THE OTHER TWO FUNDS AND PERMANENTLY FINANCE NEXT YEAR.
THE PROJECTED IMPACT OVERALL, UM, TO THE DEBT SERVICES, $86,399 IN 2027, AND THEN A HUNDRED THOUSAND $135 IN, UH, A HUNDRED THOUSAND $135 IN YEAR 2028.
AS WE THEN LEVEL THAT OFF AND YOU SEE THAT AFTER 28, 29 COMES DOWN.
SO THAT IS IN REVIEW OF KIND OF WHERE DEBT SERVICE HAS BEEN IN THE PAST AND WHERE WE ARE LOOKING AT, UH, AS WE NAVIGATE THE WAY FORWARD.
I, AS I STATED BEFORE, I WOULD RECOMMEND, UM, A POTENTIAL PAUSE IN 27 ON THE CURRENT FUND I WOULD, UH, IN, IN FUTURE CAPITAL PROJECTS IN JUST THAT YEAR.
SEE WHERE WE'RE AT WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT PROJECTS.
SEE IF WE'RE GONNA CANCEL, IF CANCELLATION YIELDS ENOUGH SAVINGS THAT WE CAN CANCEL IT OUT AND NOT ROLL IT INTO PERMANENT FINANCING.
IF WE DECIDE TO UTILIZE IT FOR, UH, STOPGAP PROJECTS IN 27, WE CAN DO THAT.
UM, AS WE LOOK AT THE WATER AND SEWER FUND.
I THINK THIS IS THE AREA WHERE YOU SEE THAT THERE ARE WATER MAIN REPLACEMENTS.
MR. KNOLL WILL CONTEST THAT WE HAVE OTHER AREAS THAT WE
[00:55:01]
CAN, WE CAN LOOK AT TO MAINTAIN THE CURRENT SYSTEM.I DO THINK IN 27, IF WE ARE TAKING THAT EFFECT OF SLOWING DOWN THE PROCESS, THAT WE RAMP UP THE PROCESS IN THE WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT IN THOSE AREAS WHERE IF WE SAID IN 27 WE, WE WERE GONNA ALLOCATE THIS AMOUNT FOR, UM, FOR, UH, MAIN REPLACEMENT WITH THE ROADS THAT MAYBE WE TAKE 27 AND 28, BECAUSE BY THE TIME IT COMES ONLINE, IT'S 29.
AND THAT'S WHEN YOU SEE THAT HUGE DIP IN, IN THE, UH, IN THE OVERALL DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS.
AS WE LOOK TO NAVIGATE FUTURE BUDGETS, AS WE SEE THAT THE REVENUE IS, IS LOWER, THESE ARE AVENUES THAT WE CAN DO IT.
WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE DEBT SERVICE ISN'T OUTSIDE THE CAP ITEM.
YOU ARE NOT SUBJECT TO THE CAP WHEN IT COMES TO DEBT SERVICE.
SO THAT OUTSIDE THE CAP ITEM DOES ALLOW YOU TO RAISE.
I WOULDN'T SAY IT INDISCRIMINATELY BECAUSE THAT'S NOT FAIR ON A TAXPAYER, AND I AM A TAXPAYER, SO I'LL SAY THAT, BUT IS TO LOOK AT THAT AND SAY, HOW IS THE EFFECTS OF THE DEBT SERVICE VERSUS THE EFFECTS OF THOSE THINGS THAT ARE INSIDE CAP? THOSE TWO THINGS COMBINED RESULT INTO YOUR TAX INCREASE.
SO AS WE LOOK AT THAT, I THINK IT HAS TO BE SOMETHING THAT HAS HAPPENED TWO, THREE YEARS AGO, PAST DECADES AGO, HAS BEEN LOST ON US PROBABLY IN THE LAST TWO TO THREE YEARS, LOOKING AT THESE THINGS NOT AS SEPARATE UNITS, BUT AS COHESIVE UNITS AND HOW WE MOVE FORWARD AS A FULL BUDGET.
SO WITH THAT, I, I OFFER THAT TO YOU.
UM, I WILL, UH, SEE, ANTHONY, ANYTHING THAT I MIGHT HAVE MISSED, LINDSAY, I WOULD, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, LISTEN, WE PROBABLY HAVE ONE OF THE BEST CFOS IN THE AREA, AND I HAVE TO WORK IN TWO TOWNS.
SO, UM, THAT IS ME NOT DISPARAGING MY CFO IN, IN SOUTHAMPTON, BUT WE HAVE A CFO THAT'S INNOVATIVE, THAT'S LOOKING AT THESE THINGS THAT HAS OFFERED THESE ITEMS TO MANAGEMENT.
MANAGEMENT MAKES THE DECISION.
MANAGEMENT MAKES THE DECISION.
THE CFO CAN GIVE RECOMMENDATIONS ALL SHE WANTS.
THERE ARE EMAILS, THERE ARE DOCUMENTATIONS, THERE ARE THINGS WHERE SHE TALKS ABOUT VARIOUS ITEMS AND WORKS WITH THE PROFESSIONALS AS THE PROFESSIONALS STATED, UH, OUR PROFESSIONALS ARE, ARE GREAT.
WE DON'T RECEIVE A BILL FOR HALF THE STUFF WE CALL THEM ON.
THEY WANT TO BE HERE IN OUR TOWN, UM, AND THEY WANNA HELP OUR TOWN.
AND LINDSAY IS DILIGENT IN COMMUNICATING WITH THEM AND BRINGING A TEAM APPROACH.
IT'S NOT A ONE PERSON THAT THAT'S GONNA FIX THIS PROBLEM.
IT'S THE TEAM APPROACH AND IT'S HER TEAM THAT HAS KIND OF PUT THIS TOGETHER AND HAS WORKED OUT THE VARIOUS ITEMS. THERE WERE RECOMMENDATIONS IN 2025 TO PERMANENTLY FINANCE.
SO, UM, I, I WOULD SAY IT'S AN A TESTAMENT TO THE TEAM THAT WE HAVE.
I THINK OUR AUDITOR IS, IS CORRECT.
UM, WE NEED TO EMPOWER THEM SO THAT WE CAN WORK TOWARDS GETTING OURSELVES OUT OF THIS MESS.
LINDSEY, YOU SAID YOU HAVE NO, MR. MAYER, WE WILL TAKE, UM, QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL IF YOU HAVE.
UM, I, I WOULD JUST LET YOU TAKE MICROPHONE
UM, I'D LIKE TO THANK BRANDON, UM, AND LINDSEY FOR THE TIME YOU SPENT TO PREPARE THIS DEBT SERVICE ANALYSIS.
UM, IT'S NOT, AS BRANDON MENTIONED, THIS IS NOT A STANDARD PRACTICE, BUT DUE THE NATURE OF WHERE WE STAND WITH DEBT SERVICE AND THE QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC, AND I WOULD EVEN SAY QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, UM, IT'S VERY INFORMATIVE TO KIND OF PUT EVERYTHING OUT THERE SO WE CAN UNDERSTAND NOT ONLY AS RESIDENT TAXPAYERS, BUT AS THE COUNCIL THAT WILL NEED TO MAKE DECISIONS ON THESE, ON THIS DEBT SERVICE MOVING FORWARD.
THIS HAS BEEN EXTREMELY HELPFUL.
UM, AND I WILL SECOND BRANDON'S COMMENT ABOUT LINDSAY, UM, AS OUR PREVIOUS AUDITOR HAD MENTIONED, UM, ALL THE ENTIRE STAFF, UH, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, YOU DO A PHENOMENAL JOB IN, IN COMMUNICATING WHAT ACTUALLY NEEDS TO HAPPEN FOR THIS TOWN.
AND I KNOW SOMETIMES THAT'S CHALLENGING, UM, BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR HONESTY WHEN IT COMES TO THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO GET DONE TO GET US OUT OF SOME OF THESE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE.
UM, I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS JUST ON THE DEBT SERVICE ORDER, BUT I'LL, I'LL OPEN IT UP TO THE OTHER MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
FIRST, I, I JUST, JUST A FEW THINGS, MR. MOORE.
UM, I, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT GIVEN THAT THE, UM, THE PAYMENT FOR THE DEC DEC RANK, EXCUSE ME, UH, WAS PUT IN THE CURRENT FUND RATHER THAN THE, THAN THE DEBT SERVICE AND THE OPEN SPACE FUND, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT RATHER THAN 250,000, WE'RE NOW LOOKING AT 290,000 IN ONE TIME REVENUE THAT'S ACCOUNTED FOR IN THIS 26 BUDGET.
SO THAT'S ALREADY 290,000 THAT WE HAD TO LOOK UP TO MAKE UP FOR IN 27, UH, AS WE LOOK TO PERMANENTLY, UH, BOND FOR THE TURF.
REAL QUICK, THE, THE TWO, THE TURF FIELD DID MAKE IT THE TURF.
IT'S ACTUALLY, IT'S JUST THE DECK CUT.
IT'S JUST THE DECK 40, AROUND 40, RIGHT? SAID YEAH, 46 46 ROUGHLY.
THAT, THAT WENT TO THE GENERAL OPERATING RATHER THAN
[01:00:01]
OKAY.SO THAT WE'RE, SO WE'RE STILL AROUND TWO 90.
THAT'S GIVE OR TAKE FOR, FOR ONE TIME REVENUE.
UH, WHEN WE LOOK TO, TO PERMANENTLY BOND, UH, FOR THE TURF FIELD AND THE DECK RINK, UH, WE WILL BE, WE WILL BE ISSUING NEW AMORTIZATION SCHEDULE AT MYAA TO MAY.
IF THERE, IF THERE ARE ANY CHANGES FOR THAT, I, I WOULD HAVE TO, YEAH, I, I THINK IT SHOULD, BUT I HAVE TO CHECK THE AGREEMENT.
I I DID NOT HAVE A CHANCE TO PULL.
I DID NOT HAVE A CHANCE TO PULL.
THE MYA AGREEMENT, I JUST KNOW THAT IT'S LONGSTANDING BECAUSE IT DID START IN 23.
SO WE'VE BEEN RECEIVING DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS.
IT HAS BEEN GOING INTO THE OPEN SPACE FUND.
UM, SO, UM, I THINK THAT'S THE, THE ITEMS THAT IT COMES TO THAT THE DEBT HOCKEY RINK WAS 26.
AS WE GET THAT IN, WE, SORRY, I'M MIXING THE TWO.
WE'RE FOR, FOR PERMANENT LINE.
WE'RE, WE'RE FINE ON, ON TURF HERF FIELDS.
IT'S, IT'S A DECK THAT, THE DECK THAT NEEDS TO GET IN.
I NEED TO SEE IF THIS IS THE STANDARD AND THERE'S NO DEVIATION FROM IT OR IS THERE, IS THERE SOMETHING BECAUSE I, I JUST DON'T WANT TO SEE US AS A TOWNSHIP GETTING PUT ON THE HOOK FOR ANY ADDITIONAL COSTS ABOVE AND BEYOND, GIVEN THAT ANY CHANGES BECAUSE OF PERMANENTLY FINANCING, WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE LAST YEAR.
I MEAN, I WOULD ARGUE THAT IF WE WERE GONNA ROLL BANS, WE SHOULD HAVE PROBABLY PUT IN THE COST OF ABSO ABSOLUTELY.
UM, PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE PUT THE COST OF ISSUANCE IN IN THIS, UH, ITEM IF ONLY WE PERMANENT FINANCE.
AGAIN, ALL THOSE THINGS AS I WAS PUTTING THIS TOGETHER, UM, JUST I COULD NOT, UH, I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO FIND.
MR. MARILYN, I'M GONNA EDITORIALIZE ALSO FOR, FOR A MOMENT, UM, JUST AS, AS A COUNCIL, AS WE'RE, AS WE'RE LISTENING TO THE PRESENTATIONS THIS EVENING, AND AS WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF ACCEPTING AND REVIEWING APPLICATIONS FOR A TOWN, UH, A PERMANENT TOWNSHIP MANAGER.
UH, I THINK BASED ON WHAT WE'VE HEARD TONIGHT AND, AND EVEN BEYOND AS WE'VE GONE THROUGH THE BUDGET PRESENT BUDGET DEVELOPMENT, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO KNOW WE MUST BRING SOMEBODY IN WITH A STRONG FINANCIAL ACUMEN AS WELL AS SOMEBODY WHO'S GONNA WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR CFO TO BE ABLE TO LISTEN AND TAKE HER GUIDANCE AND HER PROFESSIONALISM AS WELL AS A PROFESSIONAL.
SO I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO REALIZE AND UNDERTAKE AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH, AS WE CONTINUE DOWN THE PROCESS OF LOOKING FOR THAT PERMANENT MANAGER.
UM, AND I, I THINK IT, IT, WE SHOULD POINT OUT THAT WHEN I SAY MANAGEMENT, THIS IS A STAFF DECISION.
PERMANENTLY FINANCING OR, OR ROLLING IN BANDS IS DONE INTERNAL.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT COMES TO YOU AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, RIGHT? BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT YOU AS COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOULD UNDERSTAND WHAT IS TRANSPIRING AND TAKE YOU BE, YOU BE ABLE TO HAVE THE INFORMATION TO PROVIDE OWNERSHIP INTO, UM, PROVIDING DIRECTION AND, AND SUPPORT.
SO IF THE CFO IS ASKING TO PERMANENTLY FINANCE THAT COUNSEL IS SUPPORTING THAT, THAT MATTER AS WELL.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING YOU PASS AN ORDINANCE THAT ALLOWS FOR BANNING ITEMS OR BONDING ITEMS THAT THERE'S NO DEVIATION.
YOU DON'T SAY YOU LEAVE IT TO MANAGEMENT TO MAKE THE DECISION.
SO, UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAS GONE INTO PRIOR DECISIONS.
LISTEN, THERE'S A LOT OF CHANGE OF HANDS.
UH, 24 WOULD'VE BEEN THE ACTUAL YEAR.
WHEN YOU THINK OF 22, 23, 24, WE SAID NORMAL PRACTICE WOULD BE TO, UM, ROLL BANDS.
THEN I THINK FROM LOOKING MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACKING THAT 25 WOULD THEN BE, IF I WAS MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK, THAT WOULD BE WHERE I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE DONE IT.
UM, AND NOW LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE, WE COULD SAY, LISTEN, STOP IT AND MAKE PERMANENT FINANCING.
THAT'S WHY WE GAVE YOU THOSE THIRD SLIDES OR THE SECOND SLIDE ON, ON THE OPEN SPACE.
UM, WE ARE NOT DOING THAT ROUTE AND THIS IS THE REASON WHY.
AND WE GAVE YOU THE IMPACT, UM, IN THE CLOSEOUT, UH, OF WHAT WOULD HAPPEN BY US DOING THE BAN AND THEN PERMANENT FINANCING.
UM, SO THERE IS, AS I STATED THREE MEETINGS AGO, IT IS HARD TO SHOW AN AMATEURIZATION WHEN YOU HAVEN'T MADE THE DECISION IF YOU'RE BANNING YOUR BONDING.
THOSE ARE THINGS THAT ARE DONE IN, WE ARE, WE NEED TO MAKE A DECISION BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER.
UM, SO THOSE ARE DECISIONS THAT HAPPENED IN AUGUST, SEPTEMBER-ISH, END OF JULY TO SAY, WHAT IS THE MARKET YIELDING AND WHAT CAN WE DO? SO, AND, AND JUST TO GO OFF OF THAT SAME POINT WHERE WE CAN'T PROVIDE THAT AMORTIZATION.
'CAUSE IN THEORY WE'VE ONLY ALLOWED FOR THE BONDING OR BANDING OF, OF THOSE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS DEPENDING ON THE ACTUAL PURCHASE PRICE.
AND THEN THE FINANCE PIECE, THAT'S WHERE THE AMORTIZATION SCHEDULE WOULD COME IN.
SO I BELIEVE THE DECK HOCKEY RINK, WE'VE ONLY, WE DID PUT IT INTO A BAN FOR THE ROLLOVER, BUT IT WAS JUST THE INTEREST ONLY PAYMENT FOR, FOR THAT ITEM FROM YOUR POWER OR YOUR, UH, EXCEL.
[01:05:01]
YEAH, IT'S IN THE NOTES, SIR.SO, SO CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE IT'S IT'S THE FIRST YEAR OF THE NOTE FOR THE DECK, YOU WOULD'VE MADE AN INTEREST ONLY PAYMENT ALL THE WAY.
AS YOU SEE IN THERE, THERE'S A PRINCIPAL PAYMENT THAT WE TOLD, UH, MYA AND A AND AN INTEREST PAYMENT.
SO, UM, THE AMORTIZATION, UH, NECESSITATES A PERMANENT FINANCING OF WHICH DOESN'T EXIST AT THE PERSONAL.
AND ON THAT PARTICULAR POINT, UM, I, I WILL, UH, SECOND COUNCILMAN COX RECOMMENDATION THAT WE LOOK INTO, UM, THE AGREEMENT SO THAT THE TAXPAYER ISN'T ON THE HOOK FOR ANY DELTA THAT MAY BE CAUSED BY OUR CHOICE IN 25 TO FIND TO PERMANENTLY FINANCE OR NOT.
UM, EVEN TO THE EXTENT IN WHICH, UM, THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT FEES THAT WE MAY BE RECEIVING DUE TO COS FROM THE FOURTH ROUND COULD GO TO OFFSET THAT AS WELL.
UM, YOU HAD MENTIONED, WELL, UH, I WOULD, I WOULD STATE FOR CLARIFICATION FROM THE REDEVELOPMENT PLAN, WE HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE IN AN AGREEMENT THERE.
THE PAYMENT HAS TO GO TO THE MYA AND THEN WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK TO US.
I DON'T THINK, UNLESS THERE'S A SEPARATE AGREEMENT WITH MYAA THAT THEY ALLOW FOR THOSE FUNDS TO GO TO PAY TOWARDS THEIR OBLIGATION OF THE DEBT SERVICE.
CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW, IN THE PARAMETERS THAT YOU HAVE SET IN PLACE THAT DOES NOT ALLOW THE REDEVELOPMENT PLAN IS THE PLAN OR THE REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT IS THE AGREEMENT, AND IT NECESSITATES THAT THAT MONEY HAS TO GO TO THEM, THEN IT CAN COME BACK FOR THE DEBT SERVICE.
I DON'T BELIEVE WE CAN MUDDY THE WATER BY SAYING, HEY, YOU OWE ME A HUNDRED THOUSAND FOR TURF FIELDS.
I'M GONNA, OR THE, THE, THE DEBT DELTA OR THE DEBT DELTA, WHICH IS 46 PLUS 15, UM, PRETTY MUCH EVERY YEAR WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO, TO CALL A WASH.
THERE WOULD NEED TO BE AN AUDIT TRAIL THAT SHOWS MONEY GOING OUT.
UM, YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT, UM, BASED OFF THE, THE PROJECTIONS FOR 2027 THAT A POTENTIAL BREAK IN CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS MAY BE, BE, NEED TO BE NECESSITATED.
AND THEN YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT, AND FORGIVE ME, THE THREE YEAR LOOK BACK ON CAPITAL REVENUES THAT WE COULD CAP, WE COULD RECAPITALIZE NO, I, I PROVIDE THE LAST THREE YEARS TO SHOW YOU THAT IN BO IN ALL CASES, THERE WERE, UM, ISSUES IN THE CURRENT CAPITAL THAT WE AUTHORIZED THAT WOULD'VE, THAT I THINK WOULD'VE NECESSITATED PERMANENTLY FINANCING.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, I WOULD SAY OUR AMATEUR AMATEURIZATION SCHEDULE WOULD ALSO NECESSITATE THAT WE HAD THAT SWEET SPOT.
YOU SAW THE 200,000 DIP IN THE CURRENT FUND AND THE WATER AND SEWER FUND OF PERMANENT FINANCE, UH, FI FINANCE DEBT.
SO WHEN YOU HAVE THAT DIP, YOU THEN CAN WORK WITH YOUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR AND SAY, HEY, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE FIRETRUCK, THAT'S A 20 YEAR YIELD.
IF I ADD THAT TOGETHER WITH ALL THE OTHER ITEMS SINCE 2022, I'M GETTING AN 18 YEAR USEFUL LIFE FOR OVERALL OVER THAT THOSE BONDS.
I ROLL IT OUT FOR THAT 18 YEARS IS, IS THE OPTIMAL CHOICE.
UM, BECAUSE THEN THAT DEBT SERVICE MIGHT BE 200,000 AND YOU DON'T KNOW IT UNTIL, AND, AND COUNCILMAN COX HAS DONE THOSE WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
YOU DON'T KNOW UNTIL YOU DON'T KNOW, OR UNTIL YOU GET THE INFORMATION, UNTIL YOU RUN THE NUMBERS.
UM, PHOENIX ADVISORS PROVIDES A MONTHLY MARKET OUTLOOK FOR BANS AND BONDS.
YOU CAN SEE WHAT, UH, THESE PUBLIC SALES WITH THE TRADING AGENCIES ARE HAPPENING.
UM, YOU CAN SEE WHAT TOWNS ARE YIELDING THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THEY'RE DOING.
YOU FIND THAT SWEET SPOT TO MAKE IT WORK.
UM, ENROLLING BANS, IT'S, IT'S HARD.
IN SOUTH HAMPTON, WE ROLLED A BAN IT FOR LESS.
WE, I ROLLED IT FOR EIGHT MONTHS AND IT WAS THE DECISION TO ROLL IT TO APRIL 15TH.
THAT'S HISTORICALLY WHEN YOU SEE A LOT OF GOOD INTEREST RATES ON DEBT.
UM, THEN WE WOULD POTENTIALLY LOOK TO PERMANENTLY FINANCE.
WE PAID OFF ALL OF OUR DEBT IN SOUTH HAMPTON.
WE HAVE A BAN LEFT, THAT'S IT.
SO THAT TEMPORARY FINANCE, WE COULD AMATEURIZE AND, AND DO THAT.
SO YOU'RE LOOKING AT MARKET BASE AND SEEING WHAT IS GONNA YIELD.
AND THAT'S THE IMPORTANCE OF THE REPORT THAT YOU GET FROM YOUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR.
UM, AND THEN IN, IN, IN PART OF YOUR PRESENTATION, YOU HIGHLIGHTED THE OPEN SPACE FUND DEBT AND HOW CALPOINT, UM, YOU KNOW, VERY VALUABLE INVESTMENT FOR THE TOWN TO BLOCK THE DEVELOPMENT OF THAT AREA.
AND THAT DROPS OFF IN 2035? NO, 28 3 33 33, EXCUSE ME.
SO 33 WILL BE THE LAST PAYMENT.
34 WOULD BE WHEN THERE'S AN AVAILABILITY, I WOULD CONTEND, UM, I KNOW THROUGH THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING SUBCOMMITTEE AND THOSE THINGS, THIS IS A, THIS IS AN ITEM THAT YOU SHOULD LOOK AT, UM, TO, TO LOOK AT FUTURE ITEMS. THERE'S ALWAYS THE, THE POTENTIAL OF INCREASING,
[01:10:01]
UM, THE DEDICATED FUND FOR OPEN SPACE.YOU HAVE TO DO THAT BY REFERENDUM.
SO WE, YOU DID A REFERENDUM BEFORE THAT, THAT BY A PERCENT.
UM, THE STANDARD IS 2% THAT YOU SEE IN MOST TOWNS.
UM, YOU CAN DO THAT, YOU CAN INCREASE IT.
YOU NEED TO ASK THE VOTERS IF THEY'RE WILLING TO INCREASE IT.
UM, I THINK YOU HAVE FLEXIBILITY HERE TO, TO, UM, TO PREPARE, UM, AND, AND TO DO THAT.
SO AGAIN, PERMANENTLY FINANCING A, A, A PURCHASE OF CALPOINT FROM IT WAS 2013, UM, IS 2013.
NUMBERS ARE NOT 20, 33 NUMBERS.
SO, UH, THAT WAS A 20 YEAR BOND CLEARLY.
AND, UH, WE WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING, BUT YOU WOULD HAVE THAT ABILITY IN THE TWO YEARS PRIOR.
UM, I WOULD CONTEND TRYING TO DO IT SOONER, THREE, FOUR YEARS PRIOR.
YOU KNOW, THE DEBT'S COMING OFF, LET'S, LET'S WORK ON IT.
YOU COULD ISSUE A BAN, UM, DO INTEREST ONLY IF YOU HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY, UM, IN THE FUND.
UM, AND THEN ISSUE WITH THE PRINCIPAL.
THAT IS WHAT YOU DID IN, UH, IN CAL POINT.
I BELIEVE IT WAS BANNED FOR TWO YEARS PRIOR TO GOING PERMANENT FINANCING.
CORRECT? I DON'T REMEMBER HOW MANY YEARS, BUT IT WAS, THERE WAS NOTES INITIALLY.
SO, UM, BUT IT, IT WAS MULTIPLE YEARS OF A BAN.
SO THAT NECESSITY, YOU CAN GO A LITTLE BIT SOONER THAN 2033 AS THAT THAT SERVICE IS COMING OFF.
SO KEEP THAT IN MIND AS WE ARE LOOKING AT, AT AREAS THAT THE STATE HAS A GREAT PROGRAM THAT HAS BEEN, THAT'S NEW FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.
THE COUNTY HAS A GOOD PROGRAM.
WE ARE IN, UH, A LOT OF PINE LANDS REGIONS.
THE COUNTY WILL PRESERVE, UH, A FARM A HUNDRED PERCENT WITHOUT A TOWNSHIP, UH, 25%, UH, CONTRIBUTION.
UM, THEY DO 75% IN THE NON PINELANDS TOWNS IN THE PINE OR IN THE PINELANDS AREAS, IN THE PI IN, IN THE NON PINELANDS AREAS.
IN THE PINELANDS AREAS, THEY COVER THE A HUNDRED PERCENT.
SO, UM, THERE ARE VARIOUS WAYS THAT WE CAN LOOK AT THAT, BUT ALSO WE NOW HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY WITHIN OUR FUND IN ORDER TO DO THAT AS WELL.
WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO GET A BREAKDOWN OF THE OLD ORDINANCES THAT ARE CURRENTLY OPEN TO SEE, SO WE CAN SEE WHAT PROJECTS HAVE OR STILL HAVE BALANCES ON THEM, OR, SO WE CAN DECIDE WHAT MAY NOT BE FINISHED OR, YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN REALLOCATE IT? YEAH, SO WE REAPPROPRIATED A LOT OF GENERAL, UM, CAPITAL LAST YEAR.
UM, FROM LIKE, WE WENT BACK TO 2000 ALL THE WAY TO 2023.
UM, UTILITY IS WHAT I'M CURRENTLY WORKING ON, BUT I CAN ABSOLUTELY SEND A LIST OF BOTH, UM, FUNDS, ANYTHING THAT'S OPEN AND REMAINING FOR YOU.
THERE ARE ALSO, ARE SCHEDULES IN THE AUDIT IN GONNA BE A LITTLE BIT STALE? SURE.
DETERMINE 12 31 25, BUT GREAT.
UM, YOU KNOW, THEY GIVE A GOOD PICTURE OF ORDINANCES THAT ARE STILL OPEN, REMAINING APPROPRIATIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
UH, BY ORDINANCE THAT APOLOGIZE.
BUT I CAN SAY, BUT YOU CAN SEND BOTH.
MEMBERS OF COUNSEL, THIS WILL BE ON THE WEBSITE, THE PRESENTATION? YES.
WELL, WE, SIMILAR TO, UH, LINDSAY'S, UH, UH, PRESENTATION, THAT WAS THE STAND IN FOR PRIOR MANAGER.
UM, SINCE THE MANAGER'S RESPONSIBILITY, NICE PRESENTATION.
BRANDON, I LISTEN AGAIN, IT, IT TAKES THE WHOLE GROUP, ALL THE GRAPHS.
THANK YOU TO, UH, ANTHONY FOR PUTTING IT TOGETHER.
UM, I FEEL THAT THINGS ARE BETTER WHEN THEY'RE IN GRAPHS SO THAT YOU CAN UNDERSTAND IT, UM, AND SEE WHAT WE MEAN IN THAT PEAK AND VALLEY THAT WE ARE TRYING TO LOOK AT AND UNDERSTAND AS WE, WE DO THINGS.
SO THANK YOU TO ANTHONY FOR PROVIDING THAT.
UM, I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING, AND COUNSEL, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU, WE SHOULD DO INTERNALLY FOR, FOR YOU, SO YOU CAN SEE IT AS THINGS PROGRESS.
UM, BUT, UH, IF YOU WANT TO ADD THIS TO PRESENTATIONS THAT YOU DO ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, IT, IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK IT PUTS IT FIRST AND FOREMOST INTO YOUR MIND OF, LET'S, LET'S TAKE A, UH, A FRESH LOOK AT THESE THINGS.
AND I KNOW THIS IS GONNA BE A RANDOM QUESTION, BUT TO THAT NOTE, WHEN WOULD A DEBT SERVICE PRESENTATION BEST BE SERVED? I, I KNOW NOW WE, WE'VE, WE, WE NEEDED TIME TO PREPARE.
SO THE ROLLING IS SEPTEMBER 25TH, 24TH.
SO THE ROLLING OF THE BAN WOULD HAPPEN ON SEPTEMBER 24TH.
SO THAT GETS US TO THIS POINT NEXT YEAR.
SO I WOULD PROBABLY SAY, UM, DEPENDING ON THE AUDIT SCHEDULE, UM, DOING THEM TOGETHER I THINK IS BENEFICIAL BECAUSE YOU HAVE BOTH PROFESSIONALS HERE.
UM, WHEN WE DO A POS, UM, FOR, FOR THE, UM, AND I'M SORRY, I DON'T, I, THE POS WHAT IS THE ACKERMAN FOR PRELIMINARY OFFICIAL STATEMENT? PRELIMINARY OFFICIAL STATEMENT.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE, YOU, YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A POS IN.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A POS IN FOR THE ISSUANCE OF, OF SOME BANDS, BUT IT HELPS WITH YOUR INTEREST RATE.
IF YOU HAVE AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT
[01:15:01]
THAT, THAT TALKS ABOUT THE PRACTICES OF THE TOWN, IT HELPS IN GETTING YOU A, A LOWER INTEREST RATE.THAT'S PART OF THAT ISSUANCE OF BONDS, UM, THAT I, AND BANDS THAT I TALKED ABOUT THAT COST.
UM, SO IT'S, IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS, YOU DEFINITELY NEED IT WHEN YOU PERMANENTLY FINANCE BECAUSE YOU, YOU ARE GONNA SEE A CREDIT RATING, UM, REVIEW FROM S AND P OR MOODY'S OR SOMEONE LIKE THAT.
AND THAT RATING, DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU LAND, WILL AFFECT YOUR INTEREST RATE FROM, FROM THE MARKETS THAT WOULD GIVE YOU THAT, THAT, UH, DEBT SERVICE.
I THINK CERTAINLY LIKE THIS TIME OF YEAR OR EVEN SOONER, UM, IT IS, IS GOOD FOR PLANNING PURPOSES.
I MEAN, WE'RE, YOU KNOW, A MONTH IT'S A LITTLE OVER A MONTH OUT FROM WHEN THE NOTES ARE DUE.
LIKE NOW WE'RE, WE'RE, WE HAVE TO START MOVING THINGS FORWARD.
UM, SO YEAH, AT THIS POINT WE, YOU KNOW, THE DECISION IS, IS ALMOST MADE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S STILL SOME FLEXIBILITY, BUT, UM, BUT JUNE, YEAH, PROBABLY JUNE, JULY, AUGUST, I THINK WE CAN, WE CAN TARGET TO KIND OF TRY AND HELP HOPEFULLY MOVE THAT UP.
AND, AND AGAIN, I'M EXTREMELY HELPFUL HERE.
UM, COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? QUESTIONS? NO.
ALRIGHT, TEAM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
UM, WE'LL MOVE NOW TO THE MYA AUDIT PRESENTATION THAT WE HAD REQUESTED.
HOW YOU DOING, SIR? UM, MY NAME'S JOHN MARTINI.
I'M A, I'M A PARTNER SHAREHOLDER IN THE FIRM.
UM, WE ARE THE, THE AUDITORS FOR, UH, MEDFORD, UH, YOUTH ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION.
AND, UH, WE'VE BEEN SO SINCE, UH, WE WERE HIRED IN 2023 TO PERFORM AUDITS FROM 2021 THROUGH 2025.
UM, AND I WAS ASKED BY KRISTEN FITZGERALD TO, UH, COME HERE AND, UM, AND GIVE THE CURRENT STATUS OF THEIR, OF THE YOUTH ASSOCIATION.
SO, UM, FIRST, UH, GIVE A BACKGROUND OF THE YOUTH ASSOCIATION.
IT'S MYA IS A NONPROFIT ASSOCIATION, WHICH IS DEDICATED TO, UH, YOUTH SPORTS FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS, AND IS RUN ENTIRELY BY, BY VOLUNTEERS.
MYAA CURRENTLY PROVIDES OR, UH, ORGANIZED SPORTS OPPORTUNITIES FOR 15 DIFFERENT SPORTS WITH OVER 7,300 REGISTRANTS A YEAR, RUN OVER 700 VOLUNTEERS AND MANAGERS, AND MAINTAINS THE SPORTS FIELDS AT FIVE OF THE TOWNSHIP'S PARKS IN WHICH THEY OPERATE.
MYA IS ALSO GOVERNED BY BOARD, WHICH CONSISTS OF 15 SPORTS COMMISSIONERS AND 10 EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS, WHICH OUR FIRM WORKS CLO CLOSELY WITH.
AND ALSO WITH THE, UM, INTERNAL AUDITORS, PALINE AND SCOUT.
UM, THE CURRENT STATUS, MYA WAS ORIGINALLY ORGANIZED AS A 5 0 1 C3 PUBLIC CHARITY IN OCTOBER OF 1997.
ITS TAX EXEMPT STATUS WAS SUBSEQUENTLY AUTOMATICALLY REVOKED AFTER REQUIRED ANNUAL INFORMATION.
RETURNS WERE NOT TIMELY FILED FOR THREE CONSECUTIVE YEARS.
SO FOLLOWING A LENGTHY REINSTATEMENT AND CLASSIFICATION, CORRECTNESS CORRECTION PROCESS, THE IRS CONFIRMED MM Y'S PROPER STATUS AS A 5 0 1 C3 PUBLIC CHARITY IN APRIL OF 2026.
MYAA HAS SINCE COMPLETED THE REQUIRED FILINGS FOR THE OUTSTANDING PERIODS, INCLUDING THE 2022 RETURN FILED BY CERTIFIED MAIL AND ELECTRONICALLY ACCEPTED RETURNS FOR 20 23, 20 24, AND 2025.
SO EVERYTHING'S CURRENT AND UP TO DATE.
UM, FROM OUR FIRM'S PERSPECTIVE, THE CURRENT MIA'S ADMINISTRATION HAS MADE REGULATORY COMPLIANCE, FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT, AND TIMELY REPORTING A TOP PRIORITY.
THE BOARD HAS WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE, WITH I-R-S-M-Y-A AUDITORS AND OTHER PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS TO RESOLVE OUTSTANDING MATTERS AND HAS STRENGTHENED ITS INTERNAL CONTROL PROCESSES FOR FINANCIAL RECORDING, AUDIT COORDINATION, REGULATORY COMPLIANCE, AND ANNUAL FILING REQUIREMENTS.
THESE MEASURES ARE INTENDED TO PROVIDE GREATER OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND ENSURE NYS REMAINS CURRENT WITH FINANCIAL AND REGULATORY OBLIGATIONS GOING FORWARD.
SO THAT'S MY, UM, PRESENTATION, BUT IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED OR WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE ORGANIZATION, 'CAUSE I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME DISCUSSIONS IN REGARD TO THE DISCUSSIONS REGARDING REGARD THE MS NINE 90 FILINGS AND WHAT HAVE YOU.
WHAT, WHAT, WHAT WAS THE CAUSE FOR THOSE? THE, THE LACK OF FILING? UH,
[01:20:01]
UH, THERE WERE VOLUNTEERS, UH, WARRANTED AND WE DIDN'T, UH, WE DIDN'T GET THE INFORMATION UNTIL 2023.WE FINALIZED EVERYTHING IN, IN 2024 TO GET 'EM FILED.
AND THAT WAS, AND THAT WAS THREE YEARS.
SO THE THREE YEARS THEY 20, THE IRS AUTOMATICALLY REVOKES AFTER THREE YEARS.
SO YOU WERE HIRED IN 23 AND THEN WENT BACK TO 21 FOR AUDIT? YEAH.
AND I, WE DIDN'T FINISH THE AUDIT UNTIL, YOU KNOW, TOO LATE.
SO DID, HAVE YOU NOTED ANYTHING, ANY, ANY LAPSE IN INTERNAL CONTROLS, UM, OR ANY TYPE OF MATH, POSSIBLE MALFEASANCE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? NOT, NOT RECENTLY.
MALFEASANCE OR LACK OF CONTROL? WELL, NO, NO, NOT NO FEES.
THE LACK OF INTERNAL CONTROL IS CORRECT.
BUT THEY'VE BEEN CORRECTED AND UPDATED.
SO WERE THERE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THIS YEAR'S AUDIT? UM, I DON'T HAVE THEM IN FRONT OF ME.
BUT THERE WERE SOME, BUT YEAH, I WASN'T ASKED TO, BUT I, I BELIEVE THERE WERE SOME, YES.
COULD YOU GET BACK TO US ON WHAT THOSE WERE? YES, I CAN.
THEY WEREN'T SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCIES.
ARE WE ALLOWED TO ASK A QUESTION? THE QUESTIONS? UM, AND I, AND I'LL MAKE A STATEMENT ABOUT ALL THE AUDITS THAT WE JUST, UH, WITNESSED.
UM, THE QUESTIONS WILL BE DIRECTED THROUGH THE MANAGER'S OFFICE, BACK TO THE AUDITORS.
UH, AS USUAL, I CAN BARELY HEAR YOU, MIKE, SO I'M HEARING I'LL REPEAT MYSELF.
SO, ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC TO THE AUDITORS THAT AUDIT PRESENTATIONS THAT WERE MADE TODAY, WE WOULD DIRECTED THROUGH THE MANAGER'S OFFICE LATER.
AND THEN THEY, YOU WILL GET US, NOT TONIGHT OKAY.
TONIGHT, BUT AT A PUBLIC DISCUSSION.
YOU CAN ASK THE QUESTIONS, BUT WE WILL TAKE THEM BACK THROUGH THE MANAGER'S OFFICE TO GET YOUR ANSWERS.
I'M NOT, I'M NOT SURE HOW YOU'RE DRIVING THAT BUS, BUT THAT'S OKAY.
I JUST WAS CURIOUS, MA'AM, WE'RE IN THE, WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE.
YOU'RE GONNA ASK ANY QUESTIONS.
YOU SEEM LIKE YOU'RE NOT GONNA, WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PRESENTATION OF, HE ASKED AT THE END, HE SAID, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? MR. OBA IS PREPARED TO ASK A QUESTION AND COUNCILMAN COX IS ASKING QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW.
SORRY, WE'RE NOT GOING FAST ENOUGH FOR YOU.
I WAS ASKED TO GIVE THE CURRENT STATUS.
YEAH, I APPRECIATE, I APPRECIATE IT.
UH, IN TERMS, IN TERMS OF THE, UM, CURRENTLY ADOPTED INTERNAL CONTROLS, HAVE THEY BEEN PROVIDED TO THE IRS FOR REVIEW OR THAT JUST INTERNAL REVIEW? NO, NOTHING'S BEEN BROUGHT TO THE IRS FOR REVIEW.
THAT HASN'T BEEN SO REAL, REAL QUICK, YOU SAID YOU'RE NOT REQUIRED TO, RIGHT.
YOU SAID COMPLIANCE REESTABLISHED IN 2023.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN? YOU, THE COMPLIANCE WITH THE IRS WAS REESTABLISHED IN 2023? YES.
APRIL, APRIL OF 26, CORRECT? YES.
BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENED, THEY HAD A LENGTHY, THE, THE RETURNS WERE FILED, THE RETURNS WERE ALREADY FILED WHEN THEY, WHEN THEY WERE REVOKED, YOU WERE HIRED IN 20? YEAH.
WHEN THEY WERE REVOKED, THEY WERE, THE, THE CHARTER WAS REVOKED AND THEN THEY, THEY HAD TO REIN, REAPPLY FOR IT, BUT THE, WHEN THEY REAPPLIED, THEY GOT REINSTATED AS AN INCORRECT CLASSIFICATION.
SO WE FILED THE RETURNS AND THEY ALL GOT REJECTED.
THEN WE HAD TO FILE 'EM AGAIN.
THEN WE GOT, HAD TO APPLY AGAIN TO GET A, THE CLASSIFICATION REVISED IN 2026.
AND WE FILED AGAIN AND THEY ALL WERE ACCEPTED AND CLASSIFICATION WAS ACCEPTED.
AND WE WERE, 'CAUSE WE WERE A PRIVATE FOUNDATION, INSTEAD, THEY HAD US CLASSIFIED AS A PRIVATE FOUNDATION INSTEAD OF A PUBLIC CHARITY.
AND, AND THAT, THAT ERROR? YES.
HOW WAS THAT ERROR? HOW DID THAT ERROR HAPPEN? THAT HAPPENED WITH THE INITIAL REVOCATION.
THE, THE IRS JUST CLASSIFIED 'EM INCORRECTLY.
SO THEN THERE WAS THIS PROCESS THAT YOU JUST DESCRIBED YES.
THE PROCESS TO RECLASSIFY AS THE CORRECT STEPS? YES.
AND THEY'VE BEEN A PUBLIC CHARITY SINCE 1997.
SO THEY'VE BEEN A PUBLIC CHARITY SINCE 1997.
AND THEN THEY GOT IT REVOKED AND THEY GOT IT REINSTATED AS A PRIVATE FOUNDATION.
SO IT TOOK TIME TO GET ALL THAT RESOLVED.
AND THAT, THAT MISCLASSIFICATION THAT OCCURRED IN 26 ALSO, THE, THE FOR AS A PRIVATE CHARITY OR PRIVATE NO, NO, 2025.
BUT I GUESS I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHEN, AT WHAT POINT WHEN THEY FILED, WHEN YOU FILED, AND THEN THEY WERE, THEY WERE RECI WITH THE WRONG CLASSIFICATION, WHAT YEAR DID THAT OCCUR? UM, I BELIEVE THE LETTER FROM THE IRS WAS DATED MARCH OF THIS YEAR.
APRIL, WHEN THEY SAID, WE'RE HAPPY TO APPROVE YOU APRIL, APRIL WAS REINSTATED.
APRIL, THAT'S WHEN THEY WERE REINSTATED AS A 5 0 1 C3? YEAH, IT WAS, UH, LET ME SEE THE ORIGINAL, BUT WHEN WERE THEY, WHEN WAS IT, WHEN WERE THEY RECLASSIFIED AS A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION? WHEN IT, WHEN THEY OH, WHEN, OR, YEAH, THAT WAS IN 20, LET ME SEE.
[01:25:05]
IF YOU HAVE TO GO BACK TO THAT'S FINE.IT HAD TO BE, UH, YEAH, 2023 AND 20 WERE FILED IN JULY OF 2025.
SO IT HAD TO BE IN 20, BE IN IN THAT AREA IN 2025 AREA.
SO MY SPECIFIC QUESTION, YOU AUDIT THE BOOKS FOR THE MYA? YES.
YOU CAN CONFIRM 'CAUSE I'VE ALREADY STATED IT, IT SHOULD BE STATED AGAIN, THE TOWNSHIP DOES NOT GIVE PAYMENTS TO THE MYAA, WE JUST GIVE REIMBURSEMENTS.
AND HOW WERE THOSE REIMBURSEMENTS SENT, TRANSMITTED? WHAT'S, WHAT'S THE PROCESS THERE? I'LL, I'LL LET, I DON'T HAVE THE ACTUAL YEAH.
SO THE MYAA SUBMITS RECEIPTS TO, UM, MYSELF AS EXPENSES ARE INCURRED.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, KRISTEN WILL SEND ME AN INVOICE FOR STAR SPRINKLER, UM, FOR IRRIGATION REPAIRS OR MINE STRIPING OF THE FIELDS.
UM, AND BASICALLY THERE'S AN AGREEMENT THAT WAS PASSED BY COUNSEL THAT WE REIMBURSE UP TO $20,000 E ANNUALLY FOR THEIR EXPENSES AT THE TOWNSHIP PROPERTIES.
AND WE HAVE TO CONFIRM THAT IT'S IMPROVEMENTS OR ITEMS DONE TO THE TOWNSHIP PROPERTIES.
RIGHT? IT'LL SAY, UM, IT'S NOT WHICH LOCATION FORMS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.
IT'S, A LOT OF IT IS STAR SPRINKLER, HONESTLY.
UM, AND IT WILL SAY, WHICH FIELD WAS ADDRESSED RIGHT ON THE INVOICE.
UM, AND IT SAYS WHEN IT WAS PAID, ALL OF THAT, UM, ONCE IT'S BEEN PAID BY MYA, THEY SUBMIT IT TO ME, I CUT THE CHECK TO, UH, OR ADD IT TO THE BILL LIST, UM, FOR THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.
AND THAT'S REIMBURSEMENT CHECK IS SENT TO MYAA AND IT'S ALLOWED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
I ASK HER TO WAIT UNTIL THE BUDGET'S PASSED.
UM, SO THEN I CAN AFFORD THOSE, UM, OR WE CAN AFFORD THOSE REIMBURSEMENTS, BUT IT'S UP TO $20,000 ANNUALLY FOR IMPROVEMENTS AT THEIR FIELDS.
AND SIR, IF JUST IF WE COULD YEAH.
UM, IN YOUR PRESENTATION, YOU MENTIONED THAT THE MYA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING AND IMPROVING FIVE OF THE TOWNSHIP PARKS.
AND THAT, AND THAT'S WHERE THEY'RE GETTING REIMBURSED FOR EXPENSES TO MUNICIPAL PROPERTY, THOSE PARKS, THOSE SPECIFIC PARKS FACILITIES? YES.
UH, LINE STRIPING SPRINKLERS, ANYTHING AT THE FIELD? SEEDING, FERTILIZE, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
BUT YEAH, NO, UM, UNIFORMS OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE AT ALL.
I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT TO SAY THAT IT IS TIED TO PROPERTY THAT WE ALREADY OWE.
SO WE, WE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING THAT, FOR THAT MAINTAINING, YEAH.
UM, WHERE IT WOULD COME OUT OF THE OPEN SPACE FUND, BUT THERE'S AN AGREEMENT, I DON'T KNOW IT'S WHY THAT AGREEMENT PLACE.
UM, BUT THAT'S INSTEAD OF THE TOWNSHIP GOING THROUGH PUBLIC CONTRACT LAW, THINGS LIKE THAT, PUTTING OUT THE BID OR QUOTING OUT SERVICES, THINGS LIKE THAT.
IF THESE ARE BEING HANDLED BY THE ORGANIZATION, THERE'S WAS THAT AGREEMENT CAPPING IN AT $20,000.
UM, BUT THOSE ARE EXPENSES THAT WOULD MOST LIKELY BE INCURRED BY THE TOWNSHIP TO MAINTAIN THE PROPERTY, UM, AS, AS PART OF, UH, US RUNNING A SYSTEM IF WE RUN THE SYSTEM.
AND SIR, DO YOU HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE EXPENSES INCURRED BY MYA TO MAINTAIN THOSE FIVE PARKS, OR COULD YOU GET THOSE DOWN? YEAH, I COULD GET THOSE.
'CAUSE I KNOW I GET THEM WE'RE REIMBURSED.
I, I, I REMEMBER READING THE MOU, IT'S UP TO 20,000 FOR PREVIOUSLY PAID EXPENSES AS WE JUST DISCUSSED.
I'M JUST MORE CURIOUS, HOW MUCH DOES NYA SPEND TO MAINTAIN OUR FIVE PARTS? I, I THINK IT SHOULD BE NOTED.
SO IF, IF YOU'RE CONTINUING AS THE AUDITOR MM-HMM
OR MYA, WE HAVE THREE SEPARATE REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS MM-HMM
THAT REQUIRE THAT YOU'RE NOW GOING TO HAVE TO GIVE US AUDITS OF, OF MONEY, UM, THAT WOULD BE YIELDED.
UH, THAT WAS TALKED ABOUT BY THE, UH, ATTORNEY AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS MEETING.
UM, THERE IS A REQUIREMENT FOR, FOR THAT TO BE DONE, UM, ON AN ANNUAL BASIS NOW.
SO THAT WOULD BE AN INCREASED, UH, COST.
IT CANNOT BE DONE BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF MY.
IT HAS TO BE DONE BY A CERTIFIED, UH, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER.
AND IN YOUR, UM, AUDIT PRACTICES OF MYAA, DO, DO YOU FIND THAT YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT THERE'S, THEY'RE ALL VOLUNTEER BASED.
ARE THERE ANY FEES OR, OR SALARIES ASIDE FROM PROFESSIONALS THAT ARE NO INCURRED? OKAY.
SO I'LL GO, THAT'S, THAT'S, UH, USUALLY THAT'S A LOT OF TIMES THAT'S AN ISSUE WITH NONPROFITS AND GETTING TIMELY INFORMATION.
THAT'S A, A LOT OF TIMES THAT'S A, THAT'S A PROBLEM WITH NON-PROFITS AND THAT EVERYBODY'S VOLUNTEER AND IT'S, IT'S SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO GET INFORMATION.
FROM A COMPLIANCE STANDPOINT, IT'S VERY CHALLENGING.
I WAS, I WAS ASKING MORE ABOUT, BUT NOW IT'S MORE, YEAH.
AND YOU WERE, AND YOUR TRACKING OF MYA, ARE ANY, YOU HAD MENTIONED ALL VOLUNTEER.
[01:30:01]
NOTED NO.AS, AS PART OF, UH, OF THE CONCERN THAT WAS RAISED BY THE RESIDENTS, MYAA DID SHARE THE, YOUR AUDIT LETTER WITH US.
UM, AND I KNOW THERE WAS SOME QUESTION ABOUT THE TIMELINE.
THEY HAD THE TIMELINE IN HERE.
SO 2021 TO 2023, THE ANNUAL FORM NINE 90 FILINGS WERE NOT FILED IN A TIMELY MANNER THAT CAN LEAD TO DO AUTOMATIC REV REVOCATION.
AS HE SAID, IN APRIL 3RD, 2025, IRS ISSUED A REINSTATEMENT LETTER UNDER REVENUE PROCEDURE 20 14 11.
UM, THE IRS REINSTATEMENT AND STATED THE EXEMPTION WAS RETROACTIVE TO THE DATE OF, UH, REVOCATION.
UM, ALSO APRIL 3RD, THE IRS REINSTATEMENT LETTER INCORRECTLY CLASSIFIED THE ORGANIZATION, AS HE SAID, AS A PRIVATE FOUNDATION.
SO THEN JULY 18TH, 2025, THE 2024 FORM NINE 90 WAS ACCEPTED FILING HISTORY SHOWS RETURN TYPE NINE 90 AND IRS ACCEPTANCE ON JULY 18TH AND OCTOBER 3RD, 2025, THE IRS APPROVED PUBLIC CHARITY CLASSIFICATION.
AND THEN JUNE 25TH, 2026, LATER FORM NINE 90 FILING WAS ACCEPTED FILING HISTORY SHOWS RETURN TYPE NINE 90 US AND ACCEPTANCE ON JUNE 25TH, 20, UH, 2026.
SO THEY DID PROVIDE US A TIMELINE.
THEY ALSO PROVIDED US, UM, SOME CONCLUSIONS.
THE MYA, UH, FEDERAL TAX EXEMPT STATUS WAS REINSTATED.
UM, THE REINSTATEMENT WAS APPROVED UNDER REVENUE PROCEDURE.
2014 DASH 11 WAS STATED BY IRS TO BE RETROACTIVE TO THE DATE OF REVOCATION.
UM, THE IRS HAS CORRECTED THE ORGANIZATION'S CLASSIFICATION AND UPDATED ITS RECORDS AND THE ACCEPTED, UH, FILING, UH, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS REVIEW SHOW FORM NINE 90 FILINGS ACCEPTED AS U AS NINE 90 US RETURNS, INCLUDING THE 2024 FORM, UM, AS OF JUNE 25TH, 2026.
AND THEN GOING FORWARD, THEY JUST SAID, FILE THE APPROPRIATE NINE 90 FORMS, UM, EACH YEAR ON TIME.
UM, AND THEN MAINTAIN SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC CHARITY STATUS.
SO, UM, MYA WAS VERY GENEROUS IN PROVIDING US THAT LETTER, UM, VIA EMAIL.
AND THEN ALSO ALLOWING MR. MARTINI TO COME TONIGHT AND SPEAK TO US, UM, TO, YOU KNOW, CLEAR UP ANY, ANY CONCERNS THAT RESIDENTS OR ANYBODY MAY HAVE.
I JUST HAVE A REALLY QUICK QUESTION BECAUSE IT'S COME UP IN THE TOWN, YOUNG PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T, OR THE FAMILIES DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY OR WHATEVER TO SO THAT THEY COULD PARTICIPATE.
DID MYA SU SUPPORT THEM OR IS THAT A DIFFERENT CHARITY OR THAT, UH, YEAH, I, IT WOULDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE AUDIT.
I'M NOT, YEAH, I'M NOT CERTAIN ABOUT THAT.
I, I DEF I DIDN'T DO THE ACTUAL AUDITING, SO I'D HAVE TO ASK MY COLLEAGUES.
UM, COUNCILWOMAN, UM, A AS, OH, I'M SORRY.
PREVIOUS MEMBER OF THE MYA BOARD, I, I CAN POTENTIALLY ELABORATE ON YOUR QUESTION.
UM, SO THERE IS A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM SET UP THROUGH MYA FOR ANY FAMILIES THAT ARE IN NEED TO, FOR, THEY DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS TO REGISTER THEIR CHILDREN.
UM, OF WHICH I BELIEVE IN THE RDA, THERE WAS AN ADDITIONAL PAYMENT MADE TO THAT FUND.
UM, SO THAT'S AN OVERALL MYA PRACTICE, BUT EACH INDIVIDUAL SPORT HAS THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL FUND THAT THEY REFERENCE AS THE SUNSHINE FUNDS, WHERE IF THAT INDIVIDUAL NEEDS CLEATS OR PAYMENT OF A JERSEY OR THINGS OF THAT NATURE, UM, MONIES COLLECTED FOR THAT SPORT SPECIFICALLY ARE GO TO OR GOES TO THOSE FAMILIES TO COMPENSATE THEM FOR, AND SOCCER BALLS OR BATS OR GLOVES OR THINGS OF THAT, OF THAT NATURE.
SO, UM, JUST AGAIN, KNOWING THAT ORGANIZATION, I DO KNOW THAT THEY HAVE NOT ONLY A SYSTEM TO COVER REGISTRATION FEES THAT NEED TO BE COVERED, BUT ALSO EQUIPMENT USES THAT NEED TO BE COVERED AS WELL.
PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW THAT BECAUSE THIS IS A REALLY GOOD THING.
UM, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL? NO PROFESSIONALS? NO.
UM, SIR, WE CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR COMING TONIGHT AND PREPARING, UM, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE CONCERNS THAT OUR RESIDENTS HAVE, AND I THINK WE WERE ABLE TO ADDRESS THE, THE MATTERS AT HAND.
AND I, I THINK, UH, ALL THIS INFORMATION IS REALLY GREAT TO KNOW.
UM, SO BEFORE WE MOVE TO THE MANAGER'S REPORT, I, I JUST WANNA MAKE A, A GENERAL STATEMENT THAT, UM, WHILE WE ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE A 2025 AUDIT PRESENTATION AS WE DID, THAT WAS OUR FIRST PRESENTATION OF THREE THAT WE JUST SAW, NOT YOU'RE REQUIRED TO READ IT INTO THE RECORD THAT YOU, BUT FIVE OF YOU HAVE, HAVE RE-READ IT, UM, SPOKE ABOUT IT, UNDERSTAND IT, AND THAT IT CAN THEN BE FILED WITH THE STATE.
YOU'RE NOT OBLIGATED TO A COLOR PRESENTATION.
UM, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THIS BOARD REQUESTED.
I THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
SO, TO EVEN FURTHER THE POINT THAT I WAS MAKING, WHICH I APPRECIATE THAT, 'CAUSE I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT, UM, THE DEBT SERVICE PRESENTATION AND, UM, THE MYA
[01:35:01]
PRESENTATION THAT WE JUST SAW ARE NOT REQUIRED.UM, THESE ARE ACTIONS THAT THIS BOARD REQUESTED AND OUR PROFESSIONALS WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND TO PROVIDE THE INFORMATION, NOT ONLY TO US.
I THINK IT, IT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE TO US.
UM, SO WE CAN, IT CAN HELP US MAKE BETTER DECISIONS WITH YOUR TAX DOLLARS, BUT I THINK IT ANSWERS A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT THE PUBLIC MAY HAVE.
AND IT ALSO GIVES YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK US MORE QUESTIONS, UM, AS WE GO FURTHER SO WE CAN ALL MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS TOGETHER.
SO TO THAT POINT AND TO THE COMMENT PREVIOUS, UM, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE AUDIT PRESENTATIONS, WE DO ASK THAT YOU DIRECT THEM TO THE MANAGER'S OFFICE MANAGER@MEDFORDTOWNSHIP.COM.
UM, JUST STATE YOUR QUESTIONS, UM, NO QUESTION IS TOO SMALL OR, UM, TOO OBSCURE.
WE WANT TO, WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT QUESTIONS ARE COMING OUT OF THIS SO WE CAN THEN PRESENT THEM BACK AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING SO THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC CAN HAVE THOSE ANSWERS AS WELL.
[VII. MANAGER’S REPORT ]
THIS POINT, WE'LL MOVE TO THE MANAGER'S REPORT.I KNOW THERE WAS, THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT THE, UM, DO OR HARDSHIPS SCHOLARSHIPS, UM, LAST YEAR, UH, MYA GAVE ABOUT $8,000 IN HARDSHIP SCHOLARSHIPS.
UM, SO I DIDN'T WANNA GET THAT ANSWERED, UH, FOR, FOR EVERYBODY THIS EVENING.
UM, UH, MR. MAYOR, BEFORE WE MOVE TO THE MANAGER'S REPORT, UM, I'M JUST GONNA HAVE MR. UMBA ADDRESS THE CONCERNS RAISED REGARDING THE SHARED SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH LUMBERTON AND THE FLYING W.
UM, HE, HE IS VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS, SO I WILL ASK THAT HE, UH, HE ADDRESSED THOSE, THOSE CONCERNS.
SO, AS, AS MEMBERS OF COUNCIL KNOW, I WAS THE ADMINISTRATOR IN LUMBERTON FOR SIX YEARS.
UM, AND THEN, UM, THE TOWNSHIP WENT FORWARD WITH A, A NEW UPDATED AGREEMENT.
THESE ARE ITEMS THAT WERE APPROVED FEBRUARY, UM, OF 2026.
AND THEN THERE WAS AN ADDENDUM THAT WAS DONE ON IN APRIL, UH, OF, OF 2026, THE OUTLINE OF THE AGREEMENT THAT WAS PUT IN PLACE.
THE, THE REASON WHY IT WAS NECESSITATED WAS, UM, BOTH COMMUNITIES, UM, MR. CAVE, I, I CAN TELL YOU THIS, FROM BEING THE ADMINISTRATOR AND IN LUMBERTON, THERE WAS LITIGATION 20 YEARS AGO.
MR. K WANTED TO DEVELOP THE FLYING W BACK THEN.
HE WON HIS LITIGATION AGAINST LUMBERTON, HOWEVER, IT REMAINED STAGNANT.
AND THEN, UM, AS PART OF THIS DEAL BETWEEN THE TWO TOWNS, THE LITIGATION KIND OF WENT AWAY AND, AND, UM, SOME, UH, ITEMS CAME ABOUT.
SO WHEN FROM THE LUMBERTON SIDE, LUMBERTON IS GONNA YIELD A LIQUOR LICENSE, UM, BECAUSE IT'S NOT PART OF THE HOTEL PORTION, IT'S AN ACTUAL, UH, LIQUOR LICENSE ISSUED OUT.
UM, AND THERE'S A NUMBER OF OTHER THINGS THAT ARE OUTLINED.
SO IN THE AGREEMENT, UM, IT TALKS ABOUT, UM, UH, IT'S SEPARATED INTO MULTIPLE PARTS.
SO PUBLIC WORKS TRASH COLLECTION WILL BE DONE BY LUMBERTON TOWNSHIP, AND THIS IS ON THE LUMBERTON SECTION.
AND THE MEDFORD SECTION, BULK TRASH COLLECTION WILL BE DONE BY LUMBERTON TOWNSHIP.
RECYCLING IS HANDLED AS WE KNOW BY THE COUNTY.
UM, SIGNS AND MARKERS WOULD BE LIMITED TO THE RESPECTIVE MUNICIPALITIES WHERE THESE PROPERTIES, UH, LIE, UH, AND WHERE THE STREETS LIE.
EMERGENCY SERVICES WOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF, UM, UH, WOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF BOTH TOWNS.
POLICE, FIRE AND EMS WOULD HANDLE THOSE AREAS.
OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE A MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TWO MUNICIPALITIES SINCE WE BORDER EACH OTHER.
UM, BUT THEY WOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THOSE, UH, FIRST RESPONDERS.
UH, FOR THE, THE JOINT COMMUNITY CONSTRUCTION, THE INITIAL PERMITS, INSPECTIONS AND CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY FOR THE STRUCTURES TO BE CREATED WILL BE HANDLED BY THE INDEPENDENT CONSTRUCTION OFFICES FOR THE INDIVIDUAL MUNICIPALITIES, WHERE THOSE STRUCTURES WILL LIE.
HOWEVER, THE ENGINEERING INSPECTIONS ALL BONDING ESCROW, SUPERVISION OF THE PLAN DESIGN AND ALL THOSE ITEMS WILL BE DONE BY THE MEDFORD TOWNSHIP ENGINEER.
UM, SO IF IT'S IN LUMBERTON OR IN MEDFORD, THE OVERALL PROJECT WAS APPROVED AND AND REVIEWED BY OUR ENGINEER.
IT'LL BE OUR ENGINEER THAT DOES THOSE ITEMS. AND THE ESCROW WOULD PAY FOR THOSE ITEMS THROUGH THE DEVELOPER.
UM, HOMEOWNER ASSOCI ASSOCIATION RESPONSIBILITIES, UH, THEY, UH, PARTIES RECOGNIZE THAT DEVELOPERS SHALL ESTABLISH, UH, THE PROPERTY, UH, SHALL ESTABLISH THIS.
PROPERTY OWNERS SHALL MAINTAIN, UM, HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS, UH, THE, UH, FOR INDIVIDUAL NEIGHBORHOODS, RESPONSIBILITY FOR MAINTENANCE CARE, UPKEEP
[01:40:01]
OF PRIVATE STREETS, CLUBHOUSE, RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, PARKING AREAS ASSOCIATED WITH SUCH STORMWATER MANAGEMENT BASIN, STREET LIGHTING, OPEN SPACE AREAS, AND LANDSCAPING.ALL THOSE ITEMS TO BE HANDLED BY THE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION THAT WOULD BE ESTABLISHED.
ROLLBACK TAXES, I KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CAME UP ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
ROLLBACK TAX TAXES ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PROPERTY OWNER, THE CURRENT PROPERTY OWNER, AND WILL BE DUE BACK TO BOTH LUMBERTON AND MEDFORD.
SO WHAT, YOU KNOW, IF THE ROLLBACK TAXES IS FOR PROPERTY IN MEDFORD, IT GOES TO MEDFORD ROLLBACK PROPERTY, UH, TAXES ON THE LUMBERTON SIDE GOES BACK TO LUMBERTON.
ANNUALLY, PROP ANNUAL PROPERTY TAXES WILL BE PAID TO THE RESPECTIVE MUNICIPALITY WHERE THE RESIDENCE RESIDE RESIDES.
SO IF IT'S ON THE LUMBERTON SIDE, THEY'RE PAYING TAXES TO LUMBERTON.
IF THEY ARE ON THE MEDFORD SIDE, THEY'RE PAYING, UH, TAXES TO MEDFORD.
IF YOU'RE ON THE LUMBERTON SIDE, YOU'RE PARTICIPATING IN THE LUMBERTON VOTING DISTRICT THAT'S OVER THERE.
IF YOU'RE ON THE MEDFORD SIDE, YOU'RE PARTICIPATING IN OUR VOTING DISTRICT PAYMENTS FOR SERVICES PROVIDED BY LUMBERTON.
UM, IN THE, UH, IN THE AREAS OF MEDFORD, LUMBERTON, MEDFORD SHALL PROVIDE, UH, $275 PER PROPERTY PER CALENDAR YEAR, WHICH WOULD COVER THE COST OF TRASH COLLECTIONS, TIPPING FEES, BULK COLLECTION, LEAVE COLLECTION, BRUSH COLLECTION.
WE ARE REQUIRED UNDER THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES ACT TO PROVIDE THAT FOR RESIDENTS THAT RESIDE IN OUR TOWN.
THAT IS BEING PICKED UP BY LUMBERTON AS PART OF THIS AGREEMENT.
BUT WE NEED TO PAY THEM A FEE.
UM, SO THE TAXES GAINED FROM THE PROPERTIES IS THE, THE RESULTING FACTOR OF PAYING FOR THE FEE AND THAT WE WOULDN'T PROVIDE THE SERVICE.
UM, ANNUAL FEE, UH, SHALL COMMENCE AT THE CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY.
UM, AND, AND THERE'S A BREAKDOWN OF HOW THAT WOULD WORK.
UM, TERMS, UH, FULL FORCE IN EFFECT, 15 YEARS OR AT LEAST 80% OF THE LUMBERTON PROPERTIES HAVE BEEN INITIALLY SERVED.
AND THAT'S A, A NO MATTER, UH, ABOUT SEWER.
SO I, I, I LOOKED AT THIS, UM, THERE WAS DISCUSSION ABOUT SEWER BECAUSE NOW THERE'S, UM, THE ADDENDUM OF, JUST TO CLOSE OUT THE ADDENDUM.
THE ADDENDUM TALKS ABOUT, UM, SNOWPLOWING, UM, AND THE PARTIES RECOGNIZE THAT IF, UH, RES, IF LUMBERTON IS PROVIDING THAT SERVICE, IF THERE'S, UM, UM, MEDFORD SHALL PROVIDE, UH, LUMBERTON WITH A REIMBURSEMENT.
UM, SO BASED OFF OF THE SNOW, THE, AND THEN, UM, WHILE, AND, AND THEN WE PUT IN, WHILE LUMBERTON IS NOT PRIVATIZED TRASH COLLECTION, THERE'S A CLAUSE IN HERE IF THAT WERE TO REOPEN, UM, TALKING ABOUT THE, YOU KNOW, THE COST AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT, THAT OCCUR.
UM, THERE WAS A QUESTION ON SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT THE SEWER.
NOWHERE IN THIS AGREEMENT COULD I FIND THAT.
SO I NEED TO DO A LITTLE MORE RESEARCH, UM, ON THAT BECAUSE MY UNDERSTANDING FROM, FROM IT, AND MR. NOLL PROBABLY COULD, UH, EXPAND ON THAT.
THE SEWER SERVICE AREA FOR LUMBERTON DOES NOT EXTEND TO THAT PART OF LU LUMBERTON.
UM, IT ENDS AT BELLA ROAD, BELLA AND MAINE.
UM, SO IT DOESN'T CONTINUE PAST THAT.
THAT IS WHAT MR. CAVE SUED LUMBERTON ABOUT.
SO WHAT KIND OF, JUST GIVE A LITTLE HISTORY LESSON REAL QUICK.
THE TOWNSHIP OF LUMBERTON DID THE TRANSFER DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS PROGRAM.
ONLY TWO TOWNS THAT WERE SUCCESSFUL.
IT WAS US AND THEN NORTH JERSEY, I THINK IT WAS CHESTERFIELD OR MANSFIELD, IT WAS ONE OF THEM THAT HAD A, A SUCCESSFUL TRANSFER DEVELOPMENT RIGHT PROGRAM.
WHEN WE DID THE TRANSFER DEVELOPMENT RIGHT PROGRAM, THERE WAS A RECEIVING AREA AND ASCENDING AREA.
SO YOU PRESERVE FARMLANDS, UH, AND GOT CREDITS FOR PRESERVING THOSE FARMLANDS.
AND THEN THERE WAS A RECEIVING AREA TO BUILD THE HOUSES.
SO COVENTRY GLEN, THE 5 41 HOUSING PROJECT THERE, MEDFORD LEE'S OF LUMBERTON, UM, THAT AREA THEN THE SECTION THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT, RIGHT? THAT OR THAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW OFF OF AIRS TOWN ROAD TRANSFER DEVELOPMENT.
PHASE ONE SUCCESS TRANSFER DEVELOPMENT, RIGHT.
PROGRAM PHASE TWO, WHICH WAS THE AIRS TOWN ROAD.
BOBBY'S RUN DEVELOPMENT NOT SUCCESSFUL.
THE LAW SAYS THAT THERE'S A STAGNANT, UH, GROWTH OF THE PROGRAM IN 10 YEARS.
SO WHAT MR. CAVE ARGUED WAS PRIOR TO THE TRANSFER DEVELOPMENT RIGHT PROGRAM, IT WAS A TWO ACRE LOT MINIMUM TO BUILD WITH WELL IN SEPTIC, WHEN THEY DID THE TRANSFER DEVELOPMENT RIGHT PROGRAM, THEY UPPED IT TO FIVE ACRES.
AND THEN WHEN THE TDR PROGRAM WENT AWAY, IT WENT BACK DOWN TO THE TWO ACRE MINIMUM.
AGAIN, THAT'S ONLY ALLOWING FOR WELL AND SEPTIC, NO SEWER WAS CONTEMPLATED.
AND THE COURT JUDGE SWEENEY, IN HIS SETTLEMENT DISCUSSION WITH THE
[01:45:01]
PROPERTY OWNER, MR. CAVE AND LUMBERTON STATED THAT HE WOULD ONLY ALLOW FOR A FORCE MAN TO GO TO THE GOLDEN PHEASANT, UH, COUNTRY CLUB AND UH, UH, SOME ANCILLARY ITEMS AROUND THAT COUNTRY CLUB.IT WOULD NOT, HE WOULD NOT ALLOW FOR A SEWER MAIN TO GO TO THE FLYING W UM, THE FLYING W WOULD ONLY GET IT FOR THE RESTAURANT.
THE RESTAURANT WOULD BE TIED IN.
IT HAD TO GO THROUGH, THERE WAS ENVIRONMENTAL CONSTRAINTS.
IT HAS TO GO THROUGH THE RAIN COOK CREEK.
LONG STORY SHORT SEWER SERVICE AREA WAS NOT PERMITTED IN THAT SECTION OF LUMBERTON.
SO THE APPLICANT HAS TO THEN SEEK A SEWER SERVICE EXTENSION FROM THE MEDFORD FACILITY TO THE LUMBERTON FACILITY.
MY UNDERSTANDING FROM LOOKING AT THE REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS PAID BY THE DEVELOPER AND IT WOULD FALL SIMILAR TO HOW WE'VE LOOKED AT THE, UM, THE CONSTRUCTION PERMITS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
IF YOU'RE IN THE LUMBERTON SIDE, YOU ARE PAYING MEDFORD FOR THE SEWER SERVICE.
YOU WILL BE PART OF THE SEWER SERVICE AREA OF MEDFORD, AND YOU WILL BE SUBJECT TO THE RATES AS ESTABLISHED THAT ALL OF OUR OTHER RESIDENTS HAVE.
SO INFRASTRUCTURE PUT IN BY THE DEVELOPER RATES THAT ARE PAID QUARTERLY, PAID FOR BY THE END USER, UM, IN, IN, UH, IN LUMBERTON IN THAT CASE.
AND, AND THE MEDFORD PIECE OBVIOUSLY IS RIGHT, REGARDLESS OF THE MUNICIPALITY THAT THAT RESIDENT EX RESIDES IN, THEY'RE A RATE PAYER OF THE MEDFORD UTILITY UTILITY.
'CAUSE THE ONLY AVENUE TO DO THAT WOULD BE TO EXTEND THE MEDFORD SERVICE AREA FOR, FOR SEWER ONLY.
FOR SEWER ONLY BECAUSE IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT, UM, FEASIBLE OR PERMISSIBLE, UM, FOR THE MOUNT HOLLY M UUA TO EXTEND THEIR SEWER SERVICE AREA BEYOND, UM, UH, WHERE THEY ARE CURRENTLY, WHICH IS BELLA AND MAINE.
AND, AND THE, UM, THE PROCESS YOU DISCUSSED WHERE LUMBERTON SEWER UTILITY WAS NOT ABLE TO CONNECT, AND THEN THE ADDING OF MEDFORD SEWER THROUGH THE DEVELOPER TO LUMBERTON RESIDENCE, THAT WAS ALL WORKED OUT APPROXIMATELY WHEN THE SEWER, IT WAS DISCUSSED WHEN I WAS THERE.
SO YEAH, IT'S BEEN WORKED ON FOR A QUITE A WHILE.
THAT'S WHY I THINK THAT THE SEWER PART IS ACTUALLY A SEPARATE AGREEMENT.
I'M JUST SPEAKING TO AN AGREEMENT THAT HAPPENED THIS YEAR.
THE RE THAT WAS, THAT WAS A DISCUSSION ON SOCIAL.
YOU, YOU HAD A FEBRUARY AROUND ISH AND THEN I, I DON'T THINK WE DID IN APRIL.
I THINK YOU DID IN MAY, BUT THE SEWER PIECE AGAIN, I THINK WAS AN EARLIER THE SEWER, THE SEWER SERVICE AMENDMENT APPLICATION HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE STATE AND IT'S BEEN REVIEWED AND IT'S, IT WILL THE STATE, THEY STATED IT'S GONNA BE ISSUED.
AND THAT'S FOR THE HUNDRED AND SOME UNITS THAT ARE IN THE, ON THE LUMBERTON SIDE OF THE FLYING W ALL PAID FOR BY THE DEVELOPER? CORRECT.
I'LL, I'LL PROVIDE, I'LL DO THE SEARCH TO GET MORE INFORMATION, BUT THE WHAT WAS AVAILABLE FROM WHAT WAS SPOKE ON SOCIAL MEDIA WAS THIS SPECIFIC AGREEMENT.
I PULLED THIS AGREEMENT, UM, UH, BEFORE TONIGHT'S MEETING SO THAT I COULD, UH, KIND OF REFRESH MY MEMORY.
I, I WILL LOOK, THERE IS SOMETHING IN REGARDS TO THE SEWER.
UH, JUST TO UPDATE COUNSEL ON BRUSH, WE DID HAVE A DEPARTMENT MEETING TO A HEAD MEETING THIS MORNING.
UM, DPW ARE FINISHING ZONE FOUR THIS WEEK.
UM, THEY HAVE STAFF CURRENTLY IN ZONE FIVE, UH, WHICH WOULD BE LIKE, WHO AL THAT AREA OFF OF TAUNTON BOULEVARD.
AND THEY'RE EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN ZONE FIVE BY AUGUST 28TH.
UM, DPW STAFF WILL THEN MOVE BACK INTO ZONE ONE AND TWO.
UH, AND AGAIN, BRUSH PICKUP CONTINUES TO REMAIN A PRIORITY.
UM, WE DID DIRECT THEM, UH, THE, THE STAFF TO, UM, FOCUS ON, UH, HITTING THE, OUR MAIN CONNECTING ARTERY ROADS AND THEN, AND WORK THEIR WAY IN FROM THERE, UH, TODAY.
SO THEY WERE DIRECTED FOR THAT.
UM, THERE WAS, UH, AN ISSUE BROUGHT UP BY OUR TAX OFFICE.
I WANTED TO BRING TO COUNCIL'S ATTENTION, SIR, I'M SORRY, BEFORE YOU GO FORWARD.
UM, WE'RE STILL WITHSTANDING THE AGREEMENT YES.
AS A RESIDENT MENTIONED THE LAST MEETING, THE USE OF THE CALL PROVIDES, IT JUST TAKES A LITTLE BIT LONGER.
BUT WE'RE STILL IN, WE'RE STILL ABSOLUTELY.
AND IN FACT, I, I SPOKE TO ONE OF THE, UH, TRUCK OPERATORS TODAY AND HE SAID, UH, ONE OF THE BIG ISSUES HE RAN INTO WAS ONE OF THE HOMEOWNERS HAD HAD SPREAD THE BRUSH OUT ALONG THE WHOLE FRONT OF THEIR PROPERTY.
SO IT TAKES ALMOST 45 MINUTES FOR HIM TO PICK UP THAT ENTIRE PILE BECAUSE HE'S GOTTA PICK IT UP, MOVE, PICK IT UP, PUT THE OUTRIGGERS OUT, MOVE WHERE HE IS.
LIKE IF THEY COULD PILE IT INTO ONE BIG PILE, HE CAN JUST GRAB IT WITH THE CLAW, PUT IT IN THE TRUCK, AND THEN MOVE TO THE NEXT ONE.
SO, UM, DO LIKE THOSE SMALLER PILES? THEY CAN, YES.
UM, BUT LIKE I SAID, THAT WAS ONE THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT ONE OF THE DRIVERS, UM, DRIVER OPERATORS BROUGHT UP TODAY THAT THEY RAN INTO.
AND IT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S 45 MINUTES OF BASICALLY IN FRONT OF ONE HOUSE MAKING A PICKUP FOR AN EXTENDED PILE.
[01:50:01]
QUESTIONS ON BRUSH? NO.UM, BIRCHWOOD LAKES, UM, OUR TAX ASSESSOR BROUGHT THIS TO OUR ATTENTION.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE RECEIVING SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.
THE BIRCHWOOD LAKE SPECIAL, UH, ASSESSMENT.
I BELIEVE THIS GOES BACK TO THE DAMS IN 2004.
SO JUST TO BRING EVERYBODY UP TO SPEED, UH, FROM OUR TAX ASSESSOR.
WITH REGARD TO THE WIP SYSTEM, IT'S BEEN BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION.
THAT'S SPECIFIC SPECIAL ASSESSMENT INFORMATION USED TO BE ACCESSIBLE ON THE WIP AND IT HAS NOW BEEN LIMITED TO ONLY SHOWING THE ORIGINAL LEVIED AMOUNT WITH A PAID STATUS.
SO, UH, REGARDLESS IF THERE IS, UH, ARE STILL INSTALLMENTS DUE OR TO BE BILLED.
SO OUR TAX COLLECTOR HAS REACHED OUT TO OUR SERVICER TO SEE IF THIS CAN BE RECTIFIED.
HOWEVER, UH, THEY WERE ALSO MADE AWARE OF SOME MISINFORMATION RE WITH REGARD TO THE SPECIAL ASSESSMENT PAYOFFS AND INTEREST CALCULATIONS THAT, UH, SHE WANTED TO CLARIFY.
UH, WHEN A PROPERTY SELLS THAT HAS A SPECIAL ASSESSMENT, IT IS CONSIDERED A PARAMOUNT LIEN AND IT IS TO BE SATISFIED AT CLOSING, NOT TO BE TRANSFERRED TO THE NEW OWNER.
SO WHILE SOMETIMES THIS HAPPENS WHEN STIPULATIONS ARE MADE AT SETTLEMENTS, ET CETERA, THAT IS NOT PROPER PRACTICE.
WITH REGARD TO THIS SPECIAL ASSESSMENT ITSELF, THE INSTALLMENT RUNS THROUGH, UH, 2028 BEING DUE IN JAN BEING DUE JANUARY 6TH ANNUALLY.
AND THEY'RE BASED OFF THE PRE-CALCULATED LEVY FOR EACH PROPERTY, INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY.
ALL OF THESE WERE PRE-CALCULATED TO THE FINAL DATE OF ONE SIX OF 2028.
SO THIS SPECIAL ASSESSMENT WILL COME DETERMINE 2028, UH, WITH INTEREST INCLUDED IN THE ORIGINAL LEVY WHEN IT IS PAID OFF EARLY.
THE INTEREST IS LESS DUE TO THE PAYOFF TAKING PLACE PRIOR TO THE 2028 DATE.
UM, SPECIAL ASSESSMENT BILLS WILL BE GENERATED AND MAILED OUT IN NOVEMBER AS DONE ANNUALLY WITH THE DUE DATE OF ONE SIX OF 2027.
SO, SHOULD THEY HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS THEY'RE ASKING? UM, OUR TAX ASSESSOR WAS ASKING, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT THE TAX COLLECTOR'S OFFICE.
BUT SHE WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT BECAUSE, UH, SHE SAID THERE WERE, THERE WERE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF RESIDENTS THAT HAD THAT QUESTION.
THE ONLY OTHER THING I HAD WAS AN APPROVAL FOR A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER, UH, JOHN COGAN TONIGHT FROM COUNSEL.
UM, IF I CAN JUST SPEAK TO THAT.
UM, AS WE GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW ALL VOLUNTEERS THAT COME ACROSS OUR DESK, UM, I'D JUST LIKE TO MAKE SPECIAL NOTE THAT YOU KNOW, THIS RESIDENT IS METFORD RESIDENT.
UM, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, THE FACT THAT INDIVIDUALS SUCH AS HE ARE INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING THEIR TIME TO HELP OTHERS, I, I THINK IT'S VERY ADMIRABLE.
AND CHIEF, IF YOU COULD PASS ON, YOU KNOW, OUR WORDS TO, TO THE STAFF ON, ON ALL THEIR EFFORTS, ESPECIALLY THE VOLUNTEERS.
UH, WE NEED A VOICE VOTE FOR APPROVAL.
UM, CHIEF, UM, JUST I WANT TO, YOU ARE, ARE COMPLETE OF YOUR PORTION OF THE MANAGEMENT REPORT.
IF, IF I COULD ASK THAT MR. NOLL, BRING US UP TO DATE SURE.
ON SOME OF THE ROAD PROGRAMS. SO, UH, THREE ITEMS, UH, MR. MAYOR ON THE, UH, TOTON BOULEVARD, UM, SPEED HUMPS.
WE GOT A PLAN FROM THE COUNTY AS FAR AS SUGGESTED LOCATIONS FOR THREE SPEED HUMPS.
THEY'RE AT THE, UH, CROSSWALKS OF CHEST CHESTNUT, UH, LOCUST, AND A FUTURE LOCATION AT FALLS ROAD.
SO, UM, THE COUNTY HAS BASICALLY AGREED TO ALL THIS.
THEY'RE, THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T HAVE ANY ISSUES DUE TO, UH, THE REGULATIONS.
IF IT'S MORE THAN 3000 VEHICLES PER DAY ON A ROAD, DO YOU HAVE TO GET THE DOT COMMISSIONER'S APPROVAL? I DON'T THINK THAT'LL BE AN ISSUE TO, TO GET THAT.
UM, AND THE TOWNSHIP TYPICALLY, WHEN THEY PUT A SPEED HUMP IN WILL SURVEY THE RESIDENTS COUPLE HUNDRED FEET ON EITHER SIDE JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW IT'S COMING.
'CAUSE THERE COULD BE SOME NOISE ISSUES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN AND THEY'RE OKAY WITH IT.
UM, I'M SORRY, SIR, BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD TO YES.
UM, SO ON THAT MATTER, SO THIS WAS A, AN ITEM BROUGHT UP AT THE TAUNTON SUBCOMMITTEE LINE SUBCOMMITTEE, AND, YOU KNOW, IT WAS A DREAM OF THOSE RESIDENTS TO HAVE SPEED CONTROL MEASURES PUT IN.
YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT THE, THE NEW CROSSWALK AT CHESTNUT WILL NOW BE A YES.
UH, THE CURRENT CROSSWALK AT FALL LOCUS LOCUS, I'M SORRY, LOCUST.
LOCUST, THE CENTER THAT WE ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE TURN RIGHT.
AND THEN THERE IS NOT CURRENTLY A CROSSWALK AT FALLS, ALTHOUGH THAT WAS ONE THAT RIGHT.
THAT WOULD BE A, A FUTURE CROSSWALK AND A FUTURE SPEED UP.
WE HAVE TO WORK THAT OUT WITH THE COUNTY AS FAR AS, 'CAUSE THERE WAS ISSUES WITH SIDEWALKS, ET CETERA, AND ACCESS TO THAT CROSSWALK.
SO, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE EFFORT TO KIND OF MAKE SOME OF THESE DREAMS COME TO FRUITION HERE.
IT'S BEEN A, DO WE NEED ANY, IT'S BEEN A LONG ROAD.
DO WE, UM, DO WE NEED TO SUBMIT TO THE DOT COMMISSIONER OR THE COUNTY WILL? THE COUNTY WILL.
THE COUNTY WILL TAKE CARE, ALL OF THAT.
THEY'VE BEEN VERY COOPERATIVE.
AND MR. WE DON'T KNOW A TIMELINE YET THOUGH, ON THAT.
HOW QUICKLY DOES THAT TYPICALLY MOVE? UM, IT DEPENDS ON THE COMMISSIONER.
I THINK WE'LL GET BACK TO THE, TO THE COUNTY AND TELL THEM THAT IT'S, THAT WE'RE
[01:55:01]
IN AGREEMENT IF EVERYBODY IS IN AGREEMENT.I THINK WE'RE STILL ALL PROCESSING, BUT, OKAY.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO LET ME KNOW RIGHT NOW.
AND THEN, UH, WE'LL GET THE COUNTY TO SUBMIT TO THE DOTI MEAN, ALL THE PAPERWORK IS READY.
SO I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING REALLY THAT'S GONNA TAKE LONG AND, UH, WE'LL, I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THE DOT TAKES FOR THESE THINGS.
DO WE NEED TO TAKE ANY ACTION AS A COUNCIL, LIKE ASKING A RESOLUTION? NO, NOT YET.
UM, IN WHAT THE COUNTY SENT ME WITH THE, UH, THE MAP SHOWING THE LOCATION MM-HMM
HE ALSO SENT ME A, A DRAFT, UH, SHARED SERVICES AGREEMENT.
SO WE CAN GET, IF EVERYBODY'S IN AGREEMENT WITH THE PROCESS AND THE PROCEDURE, THEN WE'LL GET THAT ON THE AGENDA AND THEN YOU CAN PASS THAT.
I MAY 2ND ITEM IS, UH, MAIN STREET PARKING.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR A WHILE WITH THE, YOU HAD THE SUBCOMMITTEE AND WE'VE PREPARED A, UH, PARKING SPACE LAYOUT FOR MAIN STREET.
UH, HAD A COUPLE VERSIONS AND WENT BACK AND FORTH WITH THE COUNTY.
WE HAD IT AS AN ALTERNATE TO OUR HIMALAYAN ROAD PROJECT.
AND, UH, I TALKED TO THE CONTRACTOR, UH, LAST WEEK.
HE SAID THEY'RE READY TO DO IT BEFORE THE END OF AUGUST, BUT HE HAS TO GET APPROVAL FOR TRAFFIC CONTROL PLAN THROUGH THE COUNTY.
UH, I DON'T THINK THAT'LL BE AN ISSUE.
'CAUSE THE STRIPING COMPANY DOES THIS ALL THE TIME.
SO, SO I'LL, BUT I THINK IT, UH, IF IT DOES, IT'S SOMEBODY END OF AUGUST, I THINK THAT'LL BE GREAT.
I CAN'T GUARANTEE IT'S GONNA BE DONE BY THE END OF AUGUST, SO YEAH.
AND, AND, AND JUST TO REITERATE, SO YOU'RE SAYING THAT WE DON'T WANT TO DO IT IN CONJUNCTION WITH HEMAL LINE, RIGHT? WE DON'T WANT TO JEOPARDIZE THE NO, I'M JUST SAYING NO, WE PUT THEM AT IN AS AN ALTERNATE TO THE HEMAL LINE ROAD PAVING CONTRACT, AND WE ALREADY AWARDED IT.
SO IT'S ALL UNDER CONTRACT, AWARDED EVERYTHING.
AND WILL, DURING THE STRIPING PROCESS, WHICH I'M NOT SURE HOW LONG THAT WOULD ACTUALLY TAKE IT, WE'RE SHUTTING IN THE WHOLE ROAD OR HALF HALF, HALF AT A TIME.
UH, AND THEY, THEY SAID THEY COULD DO IT IN ONE DAY.
UM, WE'LL SEE, I THINK TWO DAYS.
AND WITH ALTERNATING TRAFFIC, BUT WE'LL SEE.
I THINK IT'S A TWO DAY JOB, BUT WE'LL SEE.
UM, THE THIRD ITEM IS, UH, HEMLINE ROAD.
UH, SOUTH JERSEY GAS HAS FINISHED ALL THEIR GAS WORK ON HEMAL LINE BETWEEN STOKES AND HARTFORD.
THEY'RE STILL WORKING ON MILL STREET AND TRIMBLE.
UM, BUT WE'RE READY TO PAVE HEMAL LINE ROAD.
SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY AND FRIDAY, BUT THERE MAY BE A, A DAY DELAY ON THAT, BUT IT'LL BE NEXT WEEK AT THE LATEST MM-HMM
AND IT'LL GO FROM THE INTERSECTION OF HARTFORD TOTTON ALL THE WAY TO STOKES AND GULF VIEW, OR STOKES STOKES.
SO WHAT HAPPENED WAS THE, IF YOU RECALL, THE COUNTY PAID FROM GOT VIEW TO STOKES.
AND SOUTH JERSEY GAS, THEY SAID THEY WERE DONE WITH EVERYTHING.
SO NOW THEY'RE GONNA PAVE IT AGAIN.
SO, AND HOW MUCH WOULD MILL STREET, WOULD ANY, THE, THE INTERSECTION MILL STREET.
MILL STREET WILL BE REPAVED, BUT WE HAVE A SETTLEMENT TIME, SO WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT FOR THAT.
AND WE'RE LOOKING AT, UH, PROBABLY THANKSGIVING, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND THERE'S A SHORT SECTION ON HARTFORD NORTH OF, UH, HEMAL LINE.
THAT CONCLUDES THE MANAGER'S REPORT.
UM, THERE IS NOTHING ON THE AGENDA FOR CLERK'S REPORT.
[VIII. PUBLIC COMMENTS]
THE PUBLIC COMMENT.UM, EVERY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WILL GIVEN, WILL BE GIVEN FIVE MINUTES.
YOU'LL GO FIRST, UM, WITH THE, UH, INFREQUENT EXCEPTION OF AN ADDITIONAL MINUTE.
UH, WE'LL ASK CHIEF DOBY TO HOLD THE TIME.
UH, I, I KNOW THIS COUNSEL IS TRYING TO ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO HAVE TIME.
WHAT LAST MEETING TRANSPIRED WAS PROBABLY THE WORST OF MY 12 YEARS.
THE CIVILITY OF, OF RESIDENTS.
THE FACT THAT WE HAD TO ASK TWO RESIDENTS GO TO THE LOBBY AT ESCORT BY OUR POLICE CHIEF.
I, IT'S, WE, THE RESIDENTS NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GIVE THEM A, YOU KNOW, TIME TO GET THEIR STUFF OUT.
BUT THEN, IF YOU'RE GONNA MAKE A MOCKERY OF THE PROCESS, THIS IS A GOVERNMENT MEETING TO TRANSACT GOVERNMENT BUSINESS.
EVERYONE MAKE COMMENTS AND THEN THEY LEFT AND THEY DIDN'T SAY FOR THE GOVERNMENT BUSINESS, EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO SPEAK.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU, BUT DON'T MAKE A MOCKERY OUT OF OUR MEETING.
[02:00:01]
WE ARE HERE TO HEAR FROM YOU.WE ARE HERE TO GET CORRECT INFORMATION OUT TO THE PUBLIC.
BUT MAKING A MOCKERY OF A GOVERNMENT PROCEEDING LIKE THE LAST MEETING IS, IS UNCALLED FOR AND SHOULD NOT BE TOLERATED.
I COMPLETELY CONCUR, MARY, IF I MAY.
MY SON IS SERVING IN THE ARMY.
AND AFTER THE MEETING TWO WEEKS AGO, HE TOOK THE TIME TO CALL ME AND SAID, MOM, I'M WILLING TO DIE FOR THIS COUNTRY.
WHAT I WATCHED ONLINE WAS UNFAIR.
HE IS WILLING TO DIE FOR YOUR RIGHT TO SPEAK.
YOU DID NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO SAY SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE SAID TWO WEEKS AGO.
AND THAT WAS ONE PERSON IN REFERENCE TO ME PERSONALLY.
BUT I WOULD SAY TO YOU ALL, PLEASE KEEP THAT IN MIND.
THE THING THAT MAKES MEDFORD THE MOST SPECIAL PLACE ON EARTH IS THAT WE'RE NOT JUST NEIGHBORS.
WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
AND THAT IS NOT HOW WE SPOKE TO EACH OTHER TWO WEEKS AGO.
IT IS DEFINITELY NOT HOW A CERTAIN PERSON SPOKE TO ME.
SO I WILL ASK YOU, PLEASE DO NOT GIVE MY SON A REASON TO CALL ME FROM SOUTH KOREA AND SAY THAT HE WAS MORTIFIED TO STAND UP FOR US.
UH, SO AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN IT UP.
I DO HAVE ONE PERSON THAT'S WILLING TO SPEAK.
UM, I, IT'S MIGHT BE CHALLENGING FOR ME TO KEEP TRACK OF THE HANDS, BUT I DID SEE YOUR HANDS, SIR.
AND THEN YOU'LL BE NUMBER THREE, AND THEN WE'LL ROLL FROM THERE.
CHRISTINE VALENTINE, FIVE LIBERTY LANE FOR 41 YEARS.
MR. NOLL AND I KNOW ARE NO WAY BACK.
FIRST OFF, I WANNA KNOW WHEN I AM GOING TO GET MY NEW TAX STATEMENT.
WE, WE'LL ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
UM, DO YOU WANT TO ANSWER IT NOW? LIKE NO, I, I'LL GIVE YOU YOUR FIVE MINUTES AND THEN WE'LL ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.
MYAA, I'VE BEEN HERE 41 YEARS.
THE TOWNSHIP ASKED ME TO BE THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE TOWNSHIP TO MYAA.
I HAVE TO STILL BELIEVE THAT THEY'RE SAME.
MY QUESTION IS, HOW CAN YOU GIVE MONEY FROM THE DEVELOPER TO MYAA BEFORE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, BEFORE YOU EVEN LOOK AT THE PLANS OUTSIDE OF WHERE THE DEVELOPMENTS ARE? WE HAVE ISSUES ON THE NORTH SIDE.
MY NEIGHBOR PERSONALLY DID THE SIDEWALK FROM LARO LANE TO ARIS TOWN ROAD.
WHY WE COULDN'T WALK ON THE ROAD.
PEOPLE GO 70, 80 MILES PER HOUR.
A LOT OF ACCIDENTS IN THAT INTERSECTION.
I'M GONNA TALK TO CHIEF ABOUT THAT TOO.
YOU NEED SIDEWALKS CONNECTING THESE DEVELOPMENTS.
THE KIDS AND PEOPLE JUST DON'T WALK IN THEIR OWN DEVELOPMENT OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
THEY WALK TO OTHER DEVELOPMENTS THAT THE KIDS BIKE TO OTHER DEVELOPMENTS.
HOW ARE THEY GONNA GET FROM POINT A TO POINT B? THESE ARE, THESE ARE ROADS THAT HAVE NO SHOULDERS.
YOU CAN'T WALK ON THOSE ROADS.
THE ADULTS ALL RIDE BIKES ON THE ROAD.
BUT YOU HAVE TO STOP AND LET THEM RIDE.
YOU CAN'T, THERE'S NO MORE ROOM.
THERE'S ANOTHER CAR COMING THE OTHER WAY.
SO I CAN'T IMAGINE CONNECTING ALL THESE DEVELOPMENTS.
IT'S A CHILD'S DEATH WAITING TO HAPPEN.
HOW AND WHY YOU ARE EVEN ALLOWED TO GIVE MYA THE MONEY.
BUT I SAW NOW WHY IT HELPS WITH OUR MONEY AND OUR BUDGETS.
YOU GIVE ROB PETER TO PAY PAUL.
SO THEY'RE GONNA GET, YOU KNOW, PAY A PERCENTAGE OF THE TURF FIELDS THAT WE HAVE BEFORE THE TOWNSHIP ALWAYS MAINTAINED THE FIELDS.
IT'S NOT M YA'S FIELDS, I'M IMAGINING, I'M HOPING IT'S STILL THE SAME.
IF A SCHOOL NEEDED TO BORROW A FIELD, THEY COULD USE A FIELD.
THEY DON'T GO THROUGH MYA, THEY GO THROUGH THE TOWNSHIP.
AM I CORRECT? THAT STILL HOLDS BECAUSE MYAA HAS A LOT OF POWER, ESPECIALLY THE FOOTBALL PROGRAM.
[02:05:05]
UM, THE MYA PRESENTATION QUESTIONS, I JUST TOOK OFFENSE TO IT BECAUSE YOU'RE TRYING TO MAKE YOURSELF LOOK RIGHT.ABOUT GIVING THE MONEY TO AM YA AND ALSO, LET ME TELL YOU, I HAVE WRITTEN TO THIS DATE ABOUT THIS WHOLE FIASCO, AND I WILL BE TALKING TO THEM SOON TO SEE IF IT'S EVEN LEGAL, WHAT YOU DID, TO SEE IF IT'S APPROPRIATE TO SEE IT, TO BENEFIT THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE.
MYAA DOESN'T BENEFIT PEOPLE IN WINGATE.
M-Y-A-A-A DOESN'T, YOU KNOW, ALL THESE SO HOW, HOW MANY KIDS DID THEY SAY WERE IN MIA? 1900.
SO THAT'S THE REASON WE'RE DOING IT.
NO, YOU ASKED ME HOW MANY I OVER, BUT I'M JUST SAYING, BUT I'M JUST, I'M TRYING TO SAY, WHAT WAS THE REASON THAT YOU MADE THE DECISION FOR MYAA TO GET THIS MONEY FROM THE DEVELOPER? WHOSE DECISION ARE YOU COMPLETE WITH YOUR STATEMENT? I'M, I'M ASKING A QUESTION.
WE JUST DIDN'T WANNA USE YOUR TIME.
WHO, WHO, WHO MADE THE DECISION? WAS IT JUST THE FIVE OF YOU? AND WE'RE JUST MAKING SURE THAT YOU'VE STATED ALL YOUR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BEFORE YOUR TIME.
OH, SO YOU'RE GONNA WAIT TILL THE END? NO, I'M GOING TO WAIT TILL YOU'RE DONE TALKING.
SO, UM, MA'AM, YOUR, YOUR TIME IS UP.
UM, WE'LL DEFER TO, SO I WROTE DOWN, I WROTE DOWN A QUESTION.
SO THE TAX BILL, UM, ISSUE, THE TAX RATE WAS STRUCK BY THE COUNTY.
THAT'S THE REASON WHY YOU CAN SEE YOUR CURRENT TAX BILL ON THE WIP PAYMENT ONLINE.
UM, WE USE A MAIL HOUSE, CORRECT.
UH, FOR MAILING OUR TAX BILLS.
SO THE, UH, MAIL HOUSE HAS THE TAX BILLS.
I WOULD SAY THAT WAS LAST WEEK.
THEY'RE THEY'RE ALREADY IN THE MAILBOXES OR THEY'RE ALREADY OUT.
SO THEY WOULD BE GOING OUT THIS WEEK.
UM, AND SHOULD BE HITTING MAILBOXES SOON.
SO THAT'S THE ANSWER TO TAX BILLS.
UM, IN REGARDS TO THIS, THE TOWNSHIP CANNOT ISSUE A TAX BILL UNTIL WE GET A TAX RATE FROM THE COUNTY TAX BOARD.
UM, THAT'S USUALLY TAKES SOMEWHAT OF SOME TIME.
THE STATE HAS TO PASS ITS BUDGET ON BEFORE JUNE 30TH.
UM, THE COUNTY, THE SCHOOLS AND US HAVE TO HAVE THEIR BUDGETS IN PLACE AND THEN CERTIFY THROUGH GCA IN ORDER FOR US TO GET A RATE.
SO THOSE ARE THE PROCESSES THAT TAKE, THAT'S USUALLY WHY THE THIRD PERIOD, UH, THIRD, UM, QUARTER TAX BILLS ARE GIVEN A GRACE PERIOD EXTENSION BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT ISSUED ON TIME.
UM, AS IT RELATES TO, UM, WHY MYA IS MAKING PAYMENTS, UH, ON THE FIELDS, THEY'RE MEANT NOT MAKING PAYMENTS FOR THE FIELDS.
THERE WAS A REQUEST, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING AND READING THE AGREEMENTS, THERE WAS A QUEST BY MYA TO CREATE TURF FIELDS.
SO THE TOWNSHIP MAINTAINS REGULAR FIELDS, BUT TURF FIELDS, UM, WERE WHAT WAS REQUESTED.
AND THAT'S THE REASON WHY MYA SINCE THE REQUEST CAME IN, THEY'RE MULTI VERSATILE THINGS OF THAT SORT.
I, I, I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE TIME OF WHAT WAS THE REASONING, BUT THE TOWNSHIP AT THE, AT THE TIME SAID, IF YOU WANT TURF FIELDS AND YOU WANT US TO DO THE DEBT SERVICE FOR IT, YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR 60%.
THE TOWN PAYS FOR 40% 'CAUSE IT'S STILL IN TOWNSHIP PROPERTY.
UM, AS IT RELATES TO THE TYING IN THE TYING IN QUESTION, UM, HER SIDEWALKS, WAS IT YEAH.
UH, I BELIEVE YOU WERE REFERRING TO THE DEV, THE NEW DEVELOPMENTS.
THE SIDEWALKS, THE SIDEWALK ISSUE, THE NEW DEVELOPMENTS IS WHAT YOU WELL, I MEAN, I LIVE, UM, OFF LA IN LA RU LANE.
SO MY NEIGHBOR BUILT THE SIDEWALK FROM LA LANE TO AIR TOWN ROAD, AND IT'S THE MOST TRAVELED SIDEWALK, ALWAYS VISIBLE.
AND YOU'RE ASKING ABOUT CONNECTIVITY FROM, FOR THE WHOLE AREA, NOT JUST THE DEVELOPMENTS BEING BUILT IN THE FOURTH ROUND, BUT SAY THE, SAY THE DEVELOPMENT THAT'S GOING IN BACK OF BROOKSIDE.
AH, THEY, THEY HAVE, THEY'RE NOT OBVIOUS.
THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO RIDE THROUGH BROOKSIDE TO GET OUT.
THERE'S, THERE'S A BUFFERING REQUIREMENT, UM, THAT, UH, I COULD TURN IT OVER TO MR NO TO, TO KIND OF TALK A LITTLE BIT.
I MEAN, I CAN TELL YOU THAT PLEASE, THERE BE A LOT.
BUT THE CONNECTIVITY OF, OF BIRCHWOOD TO THAT FACILITY WAS NOT, THERE'S NO, UM, UH, THERE'S NO, UH, SIDEWALKS THAT CONNECT THE TWO COMMUNITIES.
UM, THERE'S ARTERIAL SIDEWALKS THAT ARE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
[02:10:01]
UH, UH, TINGER AREA.THERE'S AN EXTENSION OF THE COUNTY'S BIKE PATH, UH, ROUTE THAT THEY, UH, THE DEVELOPERS REQUIRED FOR CONNECTIVITY TO, UM, THE COUNTY'S OVERALL TRAILS MAPPING THAT THEY'RE LOOKING TO DO.
UM, AND THEN THERE IS, UH, REQUIREMENTS WITHIN THE PLAN, UH, FOR OFF TRACK, UH, UM, SIDEWALKS, UH, ALONG 5 41.
AND, AND, UM, I DON'T BELIEVE ALL THOSE JUST FIVE 40 FALLS WENT DOWN.
SO THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE THE ISSUES THAT WERE ADDRESSED WITHIN THE PLAN.
UM, AND THEN THE, THE REASONING THAT WAS GIVEN, UM, AT THE LAST MEETING, UH, WITH REGARDS TO THE DEVELOPER B, UM, I BELIEVE IF, IF WE MAY, IF WE COULD JUST REPHRASE, IT'S, IT'S A DONATION.
SO THERE'S A ENTITY THAT MADE A DONATION TO A NONPROFIT THAT IS TIED TO THE REDEVELOPMENT.
I, IT'S, SO, I, I BELIEVE COUNCILMAN COX AND DEPUTY MAYOR BEFORE HE CAN KIND OF TALK TO IT.
YOU, YOU ARE THE ONES WHO RECEIVED THIS.
THERE WAS PARAMETERS PUT IN PLACE, UM, AUDITS BEING PUT IN PLACE.
THE, THE ISSUE IS THAT UNDER THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING LAW IS THAT RECREATION NEEDS TO BE PROVIDED.
THE PLAN ONLY ALLOWED FOR LIMITED, UH, AREAS TO HAVE RECREATIONAL PURPOSES.
SO THEN, SINCE THE TOWNSHIP DOES NOT HAVE A RECREATION DEPARTMENT, UM, THAT RUNS RECREATION WITHIN THE TOWN SINCE THE FAILED REFERENDUM 15 YEARS AGO, UM, RESULTED IN THE RECREATION DEPARTMENT GOING AWAY, IT WAS THEN, UH, TRANSFERRED OVER TO THE MYA, AS YOU SAID, WHEN YOU WERE INVOLVED WITH, SO MYAA IS GONNA BE PART OF THE TOWNSHIP.
THEY'RE NOT PART OF THE TOWNSHIP.
THEY'RE CONTINUING TO, TO DO THEIR ROLE TO RUN RECREATION IN THE TOWN.
UM, AND THAT'S MAKE A MISTAKE.
AND ALSO, I FOUND THE PROPERTY THAT MIA'S FOOTBALL FIELD'S ON FOR $200,000.
I SHOULD HAVE NEVER TOLD THE TOWN.
I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR PUTTING US IN THIS HELL HOLE.
THERE WAS THE ONE QUESTION, SORRY, MR. MAYOR, ABOUT RENTING OF THE FIELDS OR WHO YOU HAVE TO ASK FOR? UH, I DON'T, IS IT THE TOWN OR IS IT, 'CAUSE WE HAVE A FIELD USAGE APPLICATION, SO YEAH, I WAS GONNA SAY YOU HAVE TO COORDINATE FOR THEIR SCHEDULE, RIGHT? YEAH, I WAS GONNA SAY, I BELIEVE IT DEPENDS ON THE, ON THE FIELDS THAT YOU'RE REQUESTING.
LIKE FOR INSTANCE, FREEDOM PARK WOULD GO THROUGH, UM, YOUR ANGELA, ANGELA, OUR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS COORDINATOR.
BUT I BELIEVE USE OF WHAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED THE MYAA BASEBALL FIELDS, DECK HOCKEY, THAT KIND OF STUFF WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH MYAA FOR USAGE.
DURING THEIR SEASON TO NOT OVER, NOT CONFLICT.
UH, THAT'S ALL WHAT I HAD FOR QUESTIONS FROM THURSDAY.
I'M AT 2 72 CHURCH ROAD IN MEDFORD.
I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE COUNCIL AND DR. HORTON FOR THE POSITIVE SPIN THAT THEY PUT ON.
THEY PUT FORTH ON THE FOURTH HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS, HIGH DENSITY HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE PUT UP.
THEY EVEN ABLE TO CONVINCE THE PINELANDS TRIBUNE TO WRITE A POSITIVE ARTICLE ABOUT EMPHASIZING ALL THE GOOD THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO HAPPEN FROM THESE FOUR DEVELOPMENTS.
THE DONATION FROM E FROM, UH, DR. HORTON OF $1.8 MILLION AND GRANTS TO VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP.
THE OPEN COOPERATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN THE CITIZENS AND THE COUNCIL, THAT WAS OUTSTANDING.
AND HOW THE FOUR DEVELOPMENTS ARE GOING TO ENHANCE EFFORT, UH, NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE.
AND THE FACT OF LIMITING THE TRAFFIC ON TAUNTON BOULEVARD WITH CONSTRUCTION TRUCKS.
BUT LET'S GET REAL, LET'S LOOK AT REALITY.
IS GOLY GOING TO GROSS OVER A HALF A BILLION DOLLARS ON THESE PROJECTS? THAT'S A MINIMUM AMOUNT BASED ON CURRENT MARKET VALUE.
THE, THE BUILDINGS THAT ARE GONNA BE BUILT BY THESE FOUR DEVELOPMENTS PROBABLY WON'T BE COMPLETELY FINISHED FOR MAYBE FIVE YEARS OR MORE.
SO THAT NUMBER COULD GO UP 50 TO A HUNDRED PERCENT.
[02:15:01]
SO WHEN YOU'RE TALKING 500 MILLION TO A, TO A BILLION DOLLARS, THE DONATION OF 1.8 LOOKS A LITTLE SLIM MEDFORD IS GOING TO BE PICKING UP FOR A CONCESSION DONE BY THE BUILDER OF PAYING FOR THE SEWER HOOKUPS FOR THE LOW INCOME HOUSING.WHY, WHY ARE THE TAXPAYERS OF MEDFORD GOING TO DO THAT? HORTON IS MAKING ENOUGH MONEY THAT THEY CAN DO IT.
AND I GOTTA ADMIT, COUNCIL HAS BEEN OPEN.
YOU HAVE LISTENED TO THE CITIZENS OF MEDFORD.
THIS COUNCIL HAS DONE THAT, AND I CONGRATULATE YOU FOR THAT.
THERE'S COUNCILS IN THE PAST THAT WOULDN'T EVEN LET YOU TALK.
NOW, THE LIMITING OF TRUCKS ON TAUNTON BOULEVARD, I DON'T KNOW WHAT GOOD THAT'S GONNA DO ON THAT SIDE OF TOWN.
THE CONSTRUCTIONS OVER HERE ON THE SOUTH SIDE AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WEREN'T BROUGHT UP AND ALL THESE POSITIVE THINGS THAT WERE TALKED ABOUT IN THE NEWSPAPERS AND IN THE MEETINGS AND IN THE, IN THE ACTUAL DOCUMENT THAT YOU PASSED, IT DOESN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE $35 MILLION EXTRA IT'S GONNA COST FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS BECAUSE OF THESE FOUR DEVELOPMENTS.
I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING IN THERE ABOUT THE ADDITIONAL $15 MILLION IT'S GONNA COST FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF MEDFORD.
I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING ABOUT THE INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC THAT THESE THINGS ARE GOING TO COST.
AND THEN ABOUT THE, THE WATER FLOW AND THE FLOODPLAIN.
THERE'S NOTHING MENTIONED ABOUT THE INCREASED WATER FLOW IN FLOODPLAINS IN THE LOWEST ELEVATION IN MEDFORD, WHERE MOST OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS ARE TAKING PLACE.
THE BOTTOM LINE, THESE DEVELOPMENTS ARE GONNA COST THE CITIZENS OF MEDFORD ADDITIONAL TAX DOLLARS WHILE LOWERING OUR PROPERTY VALUE.
SO EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE LISTENED AND YOU'VE BEEN OPEN, NOTHING HAS CHANGED.
WE CAN ADDRESS MR. WENDY'S CONCERNS.
UH, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS IN THAT, BUT IN THE CONCERNS OF INFRASTRUCTURE, THINGS LIKE THAT, AS IT STATES IN THE REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, THE DEVELOPER IS SUBJECT TO THE APPROVALS OF BOTH THE MEDFORD PLANNING BOARD AND THE, UH, COUNTY PLANNING BOARD.
THOSE REQUIREMENTS FOR, UM, OFF TRACK IMPROVEMENTS.
UH, UM, O OBVIOUSLY THE INTERIOR IMPROVEMENTS ARE COVERED UNDER OUR AGREEMENTS AND THINGS OF THAT SORT.
BUT THOSE ITEMS COME IN THAT, UH, AREA WHEN IT COMES TO MANAGING STORMWATER.
WHEN IT COMES TO WETLAND DELINEATIONS, THOSE ITEMS, THOSE ARE ADDRESSED AT THE BOARD LEVEL.
UM, THERE ARE CERTAIN AREAS, AS WE NOTED WITH THE FLYING W UM, THE YIELD THAT WAS ORIGINALLY PUT IN PLACE WITH THE PLANTS, SINCE THIS IS A THIRD ROUND SITE.
UM, AND OBVIOUSLY WE ALL KNOW THE THIRD ROUND OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING HAS WHAT WAS SUPPOSEDLY SUPPOSED TO END 2025.
UM, BUT THIS PROJECT HASN'T STARTED YET.
UM, I WOULD, UH, CONTEND TO SAY THOSE ITEMS HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED AT THE BOARD LEVEL.
FLYING W SAW 100 UNITS GET DROPPED OFF BECAUSE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS THAT WERE ALREADY ADDRESSED THROUGH THE STUDIES THAT NEED TO BE PUT IN PLACE.
UM, AS REGARDS TO THE TIMELINE, UM, AS STATED BY THE RESIDENTS, UH, UH, I WOULD SAY IT'S MORE LIKE 10 YEARS THAN FIVE YEARS, UM, FOR COMPLETION.
UM, YOU ARE NOT, I KNOW IT'S BEEN ATTRIBUTED BY SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, UM, IN THE PAST THAT THIS IS ALL GONNA HAPPEN AT ONCE.
UM, THERE'S NO WAY THAT, UH, EACH INDIVIDUAL, UH, UM, DEVELOPMENT WOULD THEN MAKE IT TO THE PLANNING BOARD, MAKE IT THROUGH AND, AND GO THROUGH IT WILL BE PHASED.
UM, IT JUST, THAT'S JUST HOW IT'S, UM, AND THAT'S, THAT'S WHY THE FOURTH ROUND SITES ARE UNDER THE STATE CO LAW 2025 TO 2035 FOR, FOR BUILDING.
THE OTHER QUESTION HE HAD WAS ABOUT THE SEWER HOOKUPS.
THAT WAS THE FIRST QUESTION, I BELIEVE, RIGHT? THE WAIVING OF THE AFFORDABLE SEWER HOOKUPS.
SO THE WAIVING OF AFFORDABLE, UM, IS, IS A REQUIREMENT.
UM, UNDER THAT THEY GET A PILOT.
[02:20:01]
THOSE ARE, YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO MAKE A, THE, THE ITEM AFFORDABLE.UM, WE DID WAIVE WATER AND SEWER, UM, CONNECTION FEES TO THE FLYING W UH, FACILITY COMPLETELY BASED OFF OF THE FACT OF THE LOSS AND DENSITY.
UM, BECAUSE THERE WAS THE POTENTIAL OF LOSING THE PROJECT ALTOGETHER, WHICH THEN WOULD RESULT US IN NON-COMPLIANCE.
UM, SO IN THE END, THE JUDGE HAS TO WAIVE THE FULL COMPLIANCE PACKAGE THAT IS PUT IN FRONT OF HIM.
OBVIOUSLY, A JUDGE ISN'T GONNA SIGN AN ORDER IF THERE'S SOMETHING ILLEGAL IN IT, THAT THE STORE FEES WERE ALSO WAIVED IN BECAUSE OF, UH, CHANGING THE MARKET RATE UNITS FROM FAMILY TO, TO SENIOR.
THANK YOU MR. FOR THE FLYING W FOR THE FLYING W.
SO WE HAVE, I'M SORRY, LOWER DENSITY AND SENIOR YES.
SO YOU, ALL THOSE SENIOR UNITS WILL BE PAYING SCHOOL TAXES BUT NOT GETTING ANY SERVICES FROM THE SCHOOL.
SO, AND THEN AS FAR AS THE FLOODPLAINS AND THE WATER FLOW, WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THE DEP REGULATIONS, THE DEP ISSUES, THE FLOOD HAZARD, UH, PERMIT, AND ALSO THE WETLANDS PERMITS.
UM, AND ALSO MR. RDE HAS TWICE SAID THAT IT'S GONNA COST THE TOWN $15 MILLION FOR UTILITIES.
I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT HE'S REFERRING TO, AND I'VE SEEN NOTHING THAT STATES THAT.
SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT THERE TO THAT POINT.
UM, AND JUST IF I'M MAKING INCORRECT STATEMENTS, PLEASE CORRECT ME.
UM, WE'VE MADE MANY COMMENTS ABOUT THE $1.8 MILLION DONATION FROM DR. HORTON TO LOCAL NONPROFITS.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, AS OUR ATTORNEY STATED, THERE'S A $3 MILLION FEE THAT WILL BE GIVEN TO THE TOWNSHIP.
AND I BELIEVE THE IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE HELP, WILL BE PAID FOR BY SPECIAL ASSESSMENT BONDS UP TO $10 MILLION.
IS THAT CORRECT FOR ALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS THAT MAYBE NEEDED OFFSITE RIGHT.
THE TOWN'S NOT PAYING FOR ANY, WE'RE NOT PAYING FOR ANY OF THAT.
UM, AND THEN, UM, AND, AND IT SHOULD BE NOTED, MR. MAYOR, 'CAUSE I I KNOW THERE'S SOME TALK ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
NOWHERE IN ANY OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS HAS A FIVE BEDROOM UNIT EVER BEEN APPROVED, NOR HAS THE TOWN EVER ENTERTAINED A FIVE BEDROOM UNIT.
SO ANYONE STATING THAT IS NOT STATING THE FACTS.
THE PLANS ARE ON THE TOWNSHIP WEBSITE.
UM, THEY, UH, TALK ABOUT THE AREAS, UM, THAT ARE IN QUESTION.
NOWHERE IN IT DOES IT STATE A FIVE BEDROOM HOUSE, UM, OR UNIT, SO TO SPEAK, WOULD BE PUT IN THE DATA SUBMITTED BY THE DEVELOPERS.
ENGINEER GIVES THE BEDROOM COUNT.
'CAUSE WE NEED THAT TO DEFINE HOW MUCH SEWER'S GONNA BE GENERATED.
AND FOR THE SEWER SERVICE AREA AMENDMENTS, FIVE BEDROOMS ARE NOT MENTIONED ANYWHERE.
AND THEN AGE RESTRICTED AND, AND AGE, AGE RESTRICTED, THEN THREE AND FOUR.
AND THEY ALL HAVE DIFFERENT FLOW AGE.
THERE'S NO FIVE BEDROOMS LISTED AT ALL.
UM, AND AS BROUGHT UP BY MR. RANDY AND, AND SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, UM, IF WE CAN ADDRESS THE SCHOOL ISSUE AND THE DELINEATION BETWEEN THE DONATION THAT WAS MADE BY MYAA TO, I'M SORRY, BY D HORTON TO MYAA, UM, AND FUNDINGS FOR THE SCHOOLS.
IS THAT, IS IT, IS IT, SORRY, MR. ME, COULD YOU SAY THAT AGAIN? YEAH, NO, UH, WE JUST, UH, AS MR. RANDY HAD HAD ASKED, UM, HE HAD MENTIONED, WHY HAVE WE NOT DIRECTED MONEY TOWARDS THE SCHOOLS? UM, AND HOW IS THE DONATION BEING MADE BY D HORTON GOING TO MYAA? SO, SO THERE WAS A DISCUSSION WITHIN THE LUMBERTON COMMUNITY CHATS THAT TALK ABOUT THE DONATION LEGISLATION THAT IS THERE.
UM, THERE IS LEGISLATION, UH, THAT WAS RECENTLY DONE TO POSSIBLY THREE YEARS AGO THAT TALKS ABOUT PILOTS.
UM, AND PROVIDING A PILOT TO INDIVIDUAL HOMES, UM, WITHIN A, UH, SERVICE AREA THAT THEN COULD BE SPLIT OUT, UM, IN A PERCENTAGE THAT WOULD YIELD A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
UM, THAT WOULD THEN NECESSITATE THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO GO TO REFERENDUM FOR THE BOND ISSUANCE IF IT WOULD BE FULLY PAID FOR BY THE PILOT AGREEMENT.
THESE THINGS WERE INVESTIGATED BY THE TOWNSHIP.
THE ISSUE IS, IS THAT THIS TOWNSHIP WAS DILIGENT IN SEEKING PRETTY MUCH CLOSE TO 50% OF THE FOURTH ROUND OF THE TOTAL, UH, FOUR SITES THAT THEY ARE SENIOR RESTRICTED.
UM, AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT A SENIOR RESTRICTED HOME, THE OFFERINGS OF TAX INCENTIVES THAT THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY OFFERS, THE SENIOR FREES.
SO YOU FREEZE YOUR TAXES AND ANY OVERAGE THAT YOU PAY TO THE TOWN THEN GETS REIMBURSED BY THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
THERE IS, UH, FROM OUR PROFESSIONALS, FROM OUR BOND COUNSEL, FROM OUR LEGAL COUNSEL, THAT THE POTENTIAL OF NOT BEING ELIGIBLE FOR THAT A PILOT IS A PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES.
THEY WOULD STILL BE PAYING TAXES ON THE LAND.
'CAUSE THAT IS A REQUIREMENT UNDER THE LAW.
BUT THE PILOT IS FOR THE IMPROVEMENT.
UM, ADDITION NJ STAY NJ FREE OR NJ, UH, PROP, UH, NJ ANCHOR THESE ITEMS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
[02:25:01]
UM, THERE IS SIMPLY TOO MUCH OF AMBIGUITY INTO THE LAW TO, TO YIELD.IF A SENIOR WHO HAS THE AVAILABILITY OF THESE THREE PROGRAMS WOULD WANT TO STAY IN A PILOT, A PILOT IS NOT MANDATED ON A RESIDENTIAL UNIT.
THEY ARE FULLY AWARE OF THAT, THAT'S FULLY WRITTEN INTO THE LAW.
IF THEY DECIDE A YEAR IN, HEY, I COULD BENEFIT BETTER FROM THESE STATE PROGRAMS THAN THIS PILOT THAT I'M GETTING, THEY CAN VOLUNTARILY PULL OUT.
AND AT THAT POINT, THEY, AT THAT POINT, THERE WOULD BE A POTENTIAL DEFAULT ONTO THE SCHOOL WHEN IT COMES TO THE REFERENDUM THAT THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE TO HAVE PASSED.
BUT THE ORDINANCE THAT THEY PUT IN PLACE, FULLY FUNDED BY THE PILOT, ADDITIONALLY, THE SALT DEDUCTION ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL, IT'S, UH, IT HAS NOT BEEN PROVEN TO BE THAT A PILOT, BECAUSE MOST OF THE TIME YOU SEE PILOTS TO COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES THAT A PILOT TO A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY WOULD BE ABLE TO, TO DEDUCT AS PART OF THE 40, UH, THOUSAND DOLLARS IN, UH, SALT DEDUCTIONS FOR YOUR INCOME TAX EVERY YEAR, THAT YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO USE THE PILOT PAYMENT AS A, A POTENTIAL DIS UH, DEDUCTION.
ALL THOSE FACTORS WERE PUT IN PLACE AND, AND I THINK THE TOWNSHIP COUNCIL, YOU WERE VERY EMPHATICAL THAT YOU WERE NOT GONNA ENTERTAIN PILOTS, BUT YOU SAID TO THE SCHOOL, WE WILL DO THIS.
UM, I KNOW I BELIEVE DEPUTY MAYOR WARES, UH, COUNCILWOMAN SANMAR, YOU WERE AT THE COUNCIL MEETING WHERE IT WAS ATTRIBUTED THAT WE SCHOOL BOARD, UH, SCHOOL BOARD OR THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, THAT IT WAS ATTRIBUTED THAT THEY FELT BLINDSIDED AND ALL THESE THINGS WITH US.
WE HAVE HAD AN OPEN AND HONEST DIALOGUE.
I KNOW CHIEF, YOU TALK TO KIRA A LOT.
UM, THAT OPEN AND HONEST DIALOGUE WILL CONTINUE.
UM, THE SAMOS PROPERTY IS UNDER LITIGATION.
THE SAMOS PROPERTY DOES NOT HAVE AN APPROVAL FOR FOUR TO FIVE BEDROOM HOUSES.
AGAIN, MR NO, I ALWAYS GO BACK TO YOU.
500, 5 39, 5 39 SEWER ONLY PERMIT CONNECTIONS, WATER SEWER ONLY PERMIT CONNECTIONS OF WHICH OUR ATTORNEY WAS HERE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEING IN LITIGATION FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES.
I KNOW, UM, UM, MS. BELL AND I HAVE TALKED IN THE MANAGER'S OFFICE ABOUT THE TRICKY SITUATIONS OF MS. NEIGHBOR OF THE PROPERTY.
UM, WE ARE STILL IN LITIGATION.
WE ARE STILL TRYING TO WORK OUT THAT, THAT PROBLEM THAT SPANS THREE DECADES.
UM, SO TO ATTRIBUTE ANYTHING OTHER THAN THAT IS FALSE AND, AND WOULD BE A FABRICATION OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED HERE.
ALL THE DOCUMENTS ARE FOUND ON OUR WEBSITE AND THE JUDGE JUST SIGNED OUR ORDER.
ALRIGHT, SIR, YOU WERE NUMBER THREE.
JOE BURGO, UH, LIVERPOOL WAY IN MEDFORD ONLY BEEN HERE 11 YEARS, SO I'M A NEWCOMER COMPARED TO ALL OF YOU.
UM, THANKS FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR THE TOWN, BUT I, I GOTTA TELL YOU, I AM HEARTBROKEN THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS PLAN IS MOVING FORWARD, UH, IN, IN SUCH A SMALL RADIUS OF AN AREA.
I MEAN, I'VE ONLY BEEN HERE FOR 11 YEARS, BUT I KNOW THE AREA VERY, VERY WELL.
AND, UM, IT, IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THE MEETING STARTED, WE'VE GOT, WE GOT A LETTER FROM SOMEBODY.
WE'RE 10 YEARS OFF THE HOOK NOW, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE NOT GONNA BE SUED BECAUSE WE'VE SIGNED OFF ON THIS DEAL.
AND IT SEEMS TO ME, AS AN OUTSIDER, JUST TRYING TO GET INFORMED, THERE'S BEEN A HELL OF A LOT OF SERIOUS BUSINESS GOING DOWN IN THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS THAT IN MANY WAYS HAVE COMPROMISED OUR TOWN.
AT LEAST THE NORTH END OF TOWN.
WE'RE TALKING A THOUSAND NEW HOMES IN A THREE MILE RADIUS.
IT'S IN, ISN'T IT INCONCEIVABLE TO YOU THAT WE WOULD BUILD A DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE STREET FROM KIRBY'S BILL? I MEAN, ISN'T THAT INCONCEIVABLE, LET ALONE THAT'S JUST ONE WE KNEW FLYING WS COMING TINGER.
BUT YOU KNOW, AS TOM POINTED OUT, IT'S A 500 TO BILLION DOLLAR DEAL AND WE'RE GETTING A COUPLE MILLION BUCKS IN DONATIONS WITH THE DO.
IT'S JUST, IIII I'M JUST HARD.
I MEAN, WHAT, WHAT'S THE RATIONALE IN DOING ALL OF THIS IN SUCH A SMALL RADIUS? THAT THAT'S ONE QUESTION.
SECOND QUESTION WOULD BE, UH, HOW AND WHY DR. HORTON NATIONAL BUILDER? OBVIOUSLY WE KNOW THE DEAL, YOU KNOW, THEY BUILT, UH, THE ONE ON HARTFORD ROAD.
I WOULDN'T SAY, UH, THAT COMMUNITY, UH, AESTHETICALLY IF YOU'RE DRIVING DOWN HARTFORD, UM, YOU KNOW, WAS ONE THAT PEOPLE THOUGHT WAS TOO EXCEPTIONAL.
AND YET WE'VE SOLD OUT THE DR HORTON, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE BOUGHT SPOT LOTS ACROSS MEDFORD.
I'VE SEEN, NOW THERE'S WHICH DEVELOPMENT ARE YOU REFERRING TO? UH, HAWTHORNE ESTATE.
UM, I SEE THEY BOUGHT SPOT LOTS NOW.
[02:30:01]
THEY'RE POPPING UP MILLION DOLLAR, $1.1 MILLION PROPERTIES IN AREAS THAT, YOU KNOW, MAY, MAY HANDLE, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.BUT THE HOUSE IS MUCH BIGGER THAN THE SURROUNDING HOMES.
SO IT, IT'S JUST, IT'S VERY UNSETTLING.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE FACT THAT THIS IS ALL IN A COUPLE MILE RADIUS, CLEARLY OUR QUALITY OF LIFE ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS WILL CHANGE DRAMATICALLY.
THAT, THAT GOES WITHOUT SAYING.
BUT THAT'S WHY I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW IT COULD ALL BE COMMITTED TO SUCH A SMALL GEOGRAPHICAL AREA.
SO AGAIN, HOW AND WHY DH HORTON? UM, AND THEN SOMETHING ELSE, UH, AS PART OF, YOU KNOW, MR. MAYOR, YOU PUT OUT A 16 PAGE PIECE.
I THINK THE DAY BEFORE THESE, UH, REDEVELOPMENT PLANS WERE EXECUTED, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN JULY 7TH.
BUT, UM, AS PART OF THAT 16 LETTER OR 16 PAGE PIECE, IT SAYS, A FISCAL IMPACT ANALYSIS IS REQUIRED BY DR. HORTON BEFORE PRELIMINARY AND FINAL APPLICATIONS.
SO I'M INTERESTED TO FIND OUT WHAT ARE THOSE FISCAL IMPACT ANALYSIS GOING TO INCLUDE.
MR. MAY, I CAN ADDRESS THE QUESTIONS, IF YOU WOULD.
UM, YEAH, ARE YOU DONE? SORRY, ARE YOU COMPLETE WITH YOUR QUESTION? I JUST, I HAVE ONE MORE.
YOU KNOW, SINCE, UH OH, OH, AND THIS IS JUST GENERAL MEDFORD FINANCES BECAUSE THE AUDITOR WAS HERE, UH, I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR MY TAX BILL.
I, I WAS HOPING A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, 70% OF OUR TAXES GO TO THE SCHOOLS.
AND THE FACT THAT THE STATE HAS INCREASED FUNDING THIS YEAR, I WAS HOPING AT LEAST MAYBE THEY'D BE FLAT, POSSIBLY EVEN DOWN A TOUCH.
WELL, THE TAXES ARE UP 3.2% THIS YEAR, UH, ACCORDING TO, 'CAUSE I CALLED TODAY AND GOT THE NUMBER FROM THE TAX OFFICE.
SO I'M JUST WONDERING, YOU KNOW, WHAT I READ IS THAT EDUCATIONAL FUNDING INCREASED BY 6% FROM THE STATE.
IF THAT'S 70% OF OUR TAX BILL, WHY ARE OUR TAXES STILL GOING UP? AND, AND I KNOW IT'S A COMPLICATED ISSUE.
THERE'S MAYBE NO SIMPLE ANSWER, BUT IF THERE'S A COUPLE AREAS THAT ARE REALLY BANGING THE NUMBERS, BE INTERESTED IN HEARING IT.
THIS IS, YOU KNOW, VERY COMPLICATED BUSINESS.
BUT TO ME IT'S JUST INCREDIBLY HEARTBREAKING AT WHERE THINGS HAVE FINISHED.
AND IF I MAY JUST BEFORE YOU GO, UM, SORRY, I, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING UP AND SPEAKING.
UM, IT, IT, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
IT'S EXTREMELY COMPLICATED STUFF.
UM, WE'RE RESIDENTS JUST LIKE YOU.
UM, WE WANT TO ANSWER, WE'RE GONNA ANSWER ALL YOUR QUESTIONS.
UM, BUT I JUST WANNA GIVE YOU SOME KUDOS FOR COMING TO THE MEETING AND, AND SPEAKING YOUR QUESTIONS AND, AND YOUR CHA YOUR CONCERN TO US.
AND I'VE REALLY BEEN TRYING SINCE THE MIDDLE OF MARCH TO COMES OFTEN AS POSSIBLE.
AND I DID HAPPEN TO HEAR THE LAST MEETING ONLINE.
I HAD PLANNED TO BE HERE AND COULDN'T BE.
AND YOU KNOW, MY HEART GOES OUT TO YOU.
SO, UM, MR. UMBA, IF YOU COULD ADDRESS SOME OF THE, SO THE THAT I'LL, I'LL WORK BACKWARDS, SIR.
UH, AND I DIDN'T GET YOUR NAME, SORRY.
UM, SO THE TAX BILL, UM, IT, LIKE I SAID EARLIER, IT IS SUBJECT TO THE TAX BOARD GIVING US A RATE.
WE CAN'T ISSUE BILLS UNTIL THAT HAPPENS.
WE COULD ISSUE AN ESTIMATED TAX BILL FOR THE THIRD QUARTER TO KEEP, UM, THE AUGUST 1ST DUE DATE WITH THE EXTENSION TO AUGUST 10TH.
BUT THE COST TO THE TOWN TO MAIL OUT AN ESTIMATED AND THEN THAT MAIL OUT THE FULL TAX BILL FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER IS JUST, IT DOESN'T BEHOOVE US.
AND OUR CASH FLOW POSITION, UM, ALLOWS US TO CONTINUE TO KEEP OPERATIONS GOING WHILE WE'RE BASICALLY A MONTH BEHIND.
UM, THE EXTENDED DATE IS NINE THREE, UM, WHICH IS THE EXTENSION FOR PAYING, UH, TAXES FOR, FOR RESIDENTS.
UM, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE SCHOOL FUNDING FORMULA.
YES, 6% DID GO UP, BUT IT IS SUBJECT TO THE SCHOOL FUNDING FORMULA.
UM, IT GOES TO EACH INDIVIDUAL DISTRICT.
UM, I WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK THROUGH, UM, AND REVIEW WHAT LEPE AND MEDFORD DID RECEIVE, UM, IN THE PRESENTATION THAT, UH, OUR CFO GAVE AS PART OF THE, THE BUDGET DISCUSSION.
SHE DID TALK ABOUT THE, UM, THE OVERALL IMPACT OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS OF THE SCHOOL FUNDING FORMULA, LEPE AND, UM, MEDFORD, NOT SO MUCH MEDFORD LOCAL, WE, WE HAVE SEEN A HIT, THEY, THEY HAVE SURVIVED A LITTLE BIT BETTER, BUT THE LEPE REGIONAL SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS BEEN HIT PRETTY HARD IN THE SCHOOL FUNDING FORMULA.
SO I, I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE INDIVIDUAL BUDGETS, BUT I CAN SAY YES, FUNDING WAS UP, BUT IT THEN IS BASED OFF OF THE FORMULA AND, AND WHAT DISTRICTS, UH, GET WITH, UH, FROM THE FORMULA.
UM, YOU HAD STATED ABOUT THE 16 PAGE ITEM THAT THE MAYOR HAD HAD PUT OUT.
TYPICALLY THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT IS PUT OUT.
UM, A REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT IS NOT A SIGNED SEALED AGREEMENT UNTIL IT IS SIGNED AND DELIVERED.
[02:35:01]
HEARD, UM, THE DEPUTY MAYOR AND COUNCILMAN COX WERE STILL ENGAGED WITH THE DEVELOPER AS A MONDAY MORNING.THAT'S WHERE THE DONATION, UH, PIECE CAME ABOUT, UM, IN THAT NEGOTIATION.
UM, SO WHEN WE PUT IT OUT, UH, I BELIEVE THE MAYOR WANTED, AND I ACTUALLY THINK IT WENT OUT ON FRIDAY 'CAUSE WE WANTED IT OUT BEFORE THE WEEKEND, UM, WHEN THE, UH, WHEN THE DRAFT AGENDA WAS PUT OUT.
UM, AND THEN WE STATED AT THE MEETING THAT THERE WERE UPDATES TO, TO WHAT WERE, WERE PUT TOGETHER.
IT IS NOT A REQUIREMENT THAT WE PUT THAT OUT THERE, BUT FOR TRANSPARENCY'S SAKE, WE WANTED TO GIVE THE PARAMETERS OF THE AGREEMENT, BUT NOT WHAT WE COULDN'T PHYSICALLY GIVE THE AGREEMENT BECAUSE IT WAS AN IN DRAFT FORM.
AND, AND HONESTLY, THE COUNCIL COULD APPROVE IT.
AND, AND THEN MAYBE SOMETHING CHANGES, UM, NEGOTIATION'S STILL GOING ON.
SO THE 16 PAGES, UM, WAS KIND OF PUT OUT IN THAT FASHION TO KIND OF JUST MAKE SURE THAT THE RESIDENTS WERE AWARE OF WHAT WAS GONNA BE DISCUSSED TO, TO FACILITATE A, A PROPER DISCUSSION.
UM, HOW AND WHY WAS DR. HORTON SELECTED WAS ONE OF YOUR QUESTIONS.
THE, THE ISSUE IS THE TOWNSHIP IS OBLIGATED TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THE TOWNSHIP DOES IT, IT DOESN'T STATE THAT THE TOWNSHIP HAS PROPERTY TO THEN AFFORD TO THEN DO THAT.
UM, IF THE TOWNSHIP HAD PROPERTY, YOU WOULD GO AND POTENTIALLY DO A 100% AFFORDABLE UNIT ON, ON A PROPERTY.
UM, THESE THINGS, THE TOWNSHIP MUST FACILITATE THE MEANS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE FOURTH ROUND AND HAVE AN ASSIGNED AGREEMENT THROUGH THE JUDGE.
BUT THE DEAL IS BETWEEN THE LANDOWNER AND THE DEVELOPER.
SO THE LANDOWNER IS THE, THE PERSON WHO PICKS, UH, THE DEVELOPER.
UM, AND THE REASON WHY YOU'RE SEEING IT CLUSTERED, LISTEN, I MOVED TO MEDFORD AND MOVED TO THE CLUSTERS OF TURTLE CREEK, YOU KNOW, EIGHT YEARS AGO.
UM, SO I I I, I UNDERSTAND THE NORTH SIDE BECAUSE I WORKED IN LUMBERTON AND I WANTED TO BE CLOSE, BUT I DIDN'T WANNA LIVE IN LUMBERTON.
UM, AND THAT AREA IS NORTH OF 70.
EVERYTHING NORTH OF 70 TO US IS OUTSIDE THE PINELANDS, THE PINELANDS COMMISSION HAS RIGHTFULLY SO.
WE WANT TO PRESERVE OUR PINELANDS.
WE WANT TO PRESERVE THE NATURAL FEEL.
IT'S, UH, OF SOUTH JERSEY THAT IS THE QUINTESSENTIAL, UH, PART OF SOUTH JERSEY.
UM, BUT NORTH OF 70 IS NOT IN THE, THE PINELANDS FOR US.
UM, AND SO THAT'S WHERE THOSE PROPERTIES, UM, ENDED UP HAPPENING.
SINCE YOU HAD STATED THAT YOU WEREN'T, YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO EDUCATE YOURSELF, THERE WAS A PARCEL, UH, OF, UH, CONSIDERED BY THE TOWN, BUT THE PROPERTY OWNER DROPPED OUT OF, OF THE PROGRAM IN THE MIDDLE OF NEGOTIATIONS, AND THEN ANOTHER SITE WOULD NEED TO BE FOUND.
SO IN THAT, THAT'S HOW RICK'S AUTO BODY ENDED UP HAPPENING.
'CAUSE I KNOW YOU TALKED ABOUT KIRBY'S MILL.
UM, IT WAS THE LAFFERTY FARM THAT WAS ORIGINALLY, UH, INTENDED.
WE CANNOT TELL A PROPERTY OWNER WHAT TO DO WITH THEIR PROPERTY, BUT WE HAVE TO FACILITATE THE, THE REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE COA LAW.
UM, NEXT, UH, YOU TALKED ABOUT RADIUS AND, AND THAT'S WORKED.
IT'S SIMILAR TO THE ANSWER THAT I JUST GAVE YOU.
THE, THE ISSUE ARISES TO A DEVELOPER OUTSIDE OF PINELANDS IS, IS A DIFFERENT ANIMAL THAN INSIDE THE PINELANDS.
UM, AND SO, UH, WHEN I SAID EARLIER, THESE REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO THE PLANNING BOARD APPROVAL HERE LOCALLY, THE COUNTY PLANNING BOARD APPROVAL, IT WOULD THEN ALSO BE SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF, OF THE PINELANDS COMMISSION.
UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE SPEAK ABOUT THE SAMOS LITIGATION, THAT IS STILL ONGOING.
THE SAMOS PIECE, AS YOU REMEMBER, YOU ARE 11 YEAR RESIDENT.
THIS IS, UH, SOMETHING BEFORE THAT.
UM, SECOND ROUND, UH, IS REALLY, YOU KNOW, WHEN PEOPLE REFER TO THE SAMOS PROPERTY, IT IS NORTH END, SOUTH OF 70.
IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THIS BIG TOWN CENTER.
IT WAS EV THE, THE TOWNSHIP FOUGHT IT.
UM, SO, UH, THERE WILL BE RESTRICTIONS ON THE SOUTH OF 70 THAT THEY, THAT THE DEVELOPER WOULD HAVE TO, IF, IF A POTENTIAL DEVELOPER CAME FORWARD, WOULD HAVE TO MEET THE PINELANDS REQUIREMENTS AS WELL.
SO THAT'S, I I HOPE THAT ANSWERS KIND OF WHY YOU SEE IT IN THE CERTAIN RADIUSES AND, AND WHY, UM, THE TOWNSHIP MUST HAVE AN ACCEPTABLE PLAN IF WE DO NOT HAVE AN ACCEPTABLE PLAN TO THE COURT SYSTEM.
WE ARE NOW GOOD, UM, FOR 10 YEARS.
BUT, UM, I, I WOULD NOT TO SPEAK FOR COUNSEL, I WOULD SAY I, I DON'T, NO ONE WANTS THIS, BUT YOU HAVE TO, YOU HAVE TO COMPLY WITH IT.
PUTTING OUR HEAD IN THE SAND AND SAYING, YEAH, NO, WE'RE NOT GONNA DEAL WITH IT, WOULD BE A BUILDER'S REMEDY SUIT THAT, THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA LIKE WHAT WE SEE WHEN WE GET IT.
UM, SIR, CAN, CAN YOU SPEAK TO, UM, WHY DR. HORTON, HOW IS DR. HORTON SELECTED THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS? AS I STATED BEFORE, IT WAS THE PROPERTY OWNERS, UM, FOR, FOR THOSE PROPERTIES, THEY SELECT, UM, THE, UH, ITEM.
UM, MR. STALL HAS, UH, IS ONE OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS HE HAS ATTRIBUTED PUBLICLY HERE.
UM, THAT HE DID GO THROUGH A, A PROCESS AND LOOKED AT, I BELIEVE IT WAS EITHER THREE
[02:40:01]
OR FOUR BUILDERS, UM, THAT HE, HE STATED PUBLICLY ON THE RECORD HERE AT A MEETING.UM, I, I HAVE NO REASON TO DOUBT HIM, BUT THAT IS A PROCESS THAT THE TOWNSHIP IS NOT INVOLVED IN.
UM, THAT IS THE PRIVATE LANDOWNER WITH A DEVELOPER WORKING THAT OUT.
WHAT WE HAVE TO BE INVOLVED IN IS ENSURING, ONE, IT'S AN AREA NEEDED REDEVELOPMENT.
SO WE HAVE MORE CONTROL OVER WHAT GETS PLACED THERE AND THE BUFFERING AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
WE HAVE STRICTER GUIDELINES AND STRICTER PARAMETERS ON SITE SUITABILITY AND, AND THE STRUCTURES.
UM, BUT THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO, TO CH PICK AND CHOOSE WHO, WHO THEY BRING TO THE TATER.
I THINK THE ONLY THING WE MISSED WAS HE ASKED IN REFERENCE TO FISCAL IMPACT ANALYSIS.
WHICH IS IT ACTUALLY, I I THE 16 PAGES AND I DIDN'T PUT THAT ON FISCAL 'CAUSE I WAS WRITING CATCH.
SO YOU HAD MENTIONED UNDER THE 16 PAGE THERE'S A FISCAL ANALYSIS STUDY THAT'S REQUIRED.
IN THE PLAN IS WHERE THE REQUIREMENT HAPPENS.
SO THE TOWNSHIP PASSED THE PLAN, THEN THEY PASSED THE AGREEMENT.
THE PLAN STATES THAT THAT IMPACT STUDY HAS TO BE PRESENTED AS PART OF THE FILINGS TO THE LAND DEVELOPMENT BOARD.
SO, OR SORRY, SPEAKING SOUTHAMPTON, WE HAVE A LAND DEVELOP PLANNING BOARD.
SO HERE IN TOWN WE HAVE A PLANNING BOARD.
THE SUBMITTAL NEEDS TO BE GIVEN TO OUR PLANNING BOARD AS PART OF THE OVERALL PACKET THAT IS PUT FORTH FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT.
AND THEN I DO BELIEVE THAT IT ALSO TALKS ABOUT THE OVERALL IMPACT, CORRECT? YES.
SO THERE WILL BE AN INDIVIDUAL PIECE AND THERE WILL BE AN, AN OVERALL ASPECT OF, OF THAT.
UM, WE DO NOT HAVE IT YET BECAUSE NO BOARD SUBMITTALS HAVE HAVE HAPPENED AS OF YET.
WELL, IT'LL BE VERY INTERESTING TO SEE THOSE IMPACT STUDIES.
AND SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
LIKE TO JUST MAKE ONE COMMENT.
UH, MR. BOGGO MIGHT NOT BE AWARE, BUT HE, HE LIVES IN WINGATE, WHICH WAS, UH, ROUND TWO OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
ALL PART OF THE WHOLE PROCESS.
SO IN WINGATE WE HAVE 257 HOMES.
IT'S DENSITY, YOU KNOW, IT DEN WITH THE EXCEPTION OF TINGER, THIS IS A DISASTER BECAUSE OF THE DENSITY.
AND WINGATE IS NOTHING LIKE THAT.
I JUST POINTING OUT THAT IT'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING PLAN.
THERE WAS AN OPEN FARM FIELD PRIOR TO BEING DEVELOPED.
JUST LETTING YOU KNOW, UH, IN THAT, I MEAN, BECAUSE WE JUST STATED THE NUMBERS, IT WAS OVER THE PERCENTAGE.
THAT WAS, THAT WAS THERE, UM, BETWEEN THE 20% MATCH, UH, ITEM, UH, BASED OFF OF, OFF, OFF OF WHATEVER THE AGREEMENT WAS AT THE DAY FOR THAT ROUND TWO SITE.
I, I, I HAVE THREE HANDS UP, MR. WILSON, MR. PEREZ, UH, LEWIS AND THEN MARIAN HOLLOWAY, ZACH WILSON, 51 NORTH MAIN STREET.
UM, JUST, I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UM, BUT JUST FOR THE FUTURE, 'CAUSE I'M AGAIN JUST FOCUSED ON ROUND FIVE THAT IT'S GONNA COME KNOCKING BEFORE WE KNOW IT.
UM, AND WHAT I'VE ASKED ABOUT AROUND ROUND FOUR IN THE PAST, AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE'VE ACTUALLY MADE PROGRESS ON IT, IS A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IS GOING, WE TALK ABOUT FINANCIAL IMPACT ANALYSIS, RIGHT? WHAT IS, AND WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE FINAL COST TO THE TOWNSHIP IN TERMS OF INCREASED INFRASTRUCTURE COST IN INCREASED SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS, ET CETERA.
AT THE END OF ALL OF THIS, SO THAT WE UNDERSTAND WHEN ROUND FIVE COMES AROUND, DOES IT MAKE MORE SENSE TO GET A BOND BY ONE OF THESE PROPERTIES OURSELVES AND PUT IT UP VERSUS WAITING FOR PRIVATE LANDOWNERS TO WORK WITH THE DEVELOPERS TO COME IN WITH HIGH DENSITY HOUSING AND DO THIS INSTEAD OF US JUST GOING OUT PURCHASING A PROPERTY OF A HUNDRED ACRES OR WHATEVER IT IS, OR 50 ACRES AND PUTTING THE 170 THAT WE NEEDED ON THERE THEN, BECAUSE MY GUESS IS IT'S GONNA BE ABOUT EVEN, OR MAYBE EVEN WE BREAK, WE WE'RE BETTER OFF.
UM, AND THE FASTER WE GET TO THAT ANALYSIS, THE FASTER WE'LL BE PREPARED TO WORK THAT INTO THE LONG TERM, UH, UH, DEBT SERVICE SO THAT WE'RE READY FOR THAT WHEN IT COMES.
UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK I ASKED THAT ABOUT FIVE MONTHS AGO AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE'VE MADE ANY PROGRESS, BUT AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S TOO PRELIMINARY TO MAKE THOSE STEPS, BUT JUST ANOTHER POKE AT YOU GUYS TO GET THAT ONE GOING SO THAT WE CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN IN 10 YEARS TIME.
UH, THE OTHER THING THAT I WANTED TO COME UP HERE AND ASK ABOUT IS GIVEN ALL OF OUR ISSUES WITH FUNDING, UM, AND OUR FINANCIAL STATUS RIGHT NOW, I, I WANNA UNDERSTAND THE TOWN, THE, THE COUNCIL'S MOTIVE HERE, OR, OR REASONING FOR RECOMMENDING THREE PROPERTIES FOR PRIVATE PROPERTIES IT LOOKS LIKE FOR,
[02:45:01]
UH, UH, DESIGNATION OF AN AREA IN NEED OF REDEVELOPMENT.UH, IT'S ON THE AGENDA LATER ON TODAY.
UM, THESE ARE THREE PROPERTIES IN THE AREA OF CHURCH AND MEDFORD, MOUNT HOLLY ROAD.
ONE OF THEM IS FOR, ONE OF THEM IS CURRENTLY OWNED BY FELLOWSHIP ALLIANCE CHURCH.
AND I'M NOT SURE WHY WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT DESIGNATING THAT AS AN AREA IN NEED OF REDEVELOPMENT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE GAINING ANYTHING COMMERCIALLY FROM THAT.
BUT AT 1 99 CHURCH ROAD IS FELLOWSHIP.
THEY'RE GONNA BE SELLING IT TO, TO WAWA.
UM, WHY ARE WE DOING THIS WHEN WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE MARKET WILL BEAR AS WE BRING IN ALL OF THESE NEW, ALL OF THESE NEW HOUSES, THERE'S GOING TO BE VAST AMOUNTS OF INCREASED DEMAND FOR THINGS.
WHY WOULD WE LOOK AT DESIGNATING A, A PROPERTY AS AN AREA IN NEED OF REDEVELOPMENT POTENTIALLY FOR A WAWA TO COME IN AND BUILD A SUPERSTORE? WHY, WHY DOES NEED A TAX BREAK? SO IF THESE ARE GONNA BE DESIGNATED AS AN AREA IN NEED OF REDEVELOPMENT, ARE THEY GOING TO QUALIFY FOR PILOTS? MY GUESS IS GONNA BE, YES, WE'RE GONNA GIVE THESE, THESE COMPANIES TAX BREAKS.
I WOULD APPRECIATE THE NOT SHAKING THE HEAD UNTIL I'M FINISHED AND THEN YOU CAN ANSWER ME, SIR.
I, IT'S, IT'S, SO I, I DON'T WANT TO INTERRUPT YOU, BUT IT'S NOT AN AREA OF REDEVELOPMENT, IT'S AN AREA NEED OF REHABILITATION.
AREA NEED OF REHABILITATION DOES NOT ALLOW FOR A PILOT.
IT ALLOWS FOR A TAX ABATEMENT OF WHICH THIS COUNCIL HAS STATED THAT THEY WILL NOT PERMIT A TAX ABATEMENT.
SO THERE'S YOU, YOU'RE RIGHTFULLY SO.
IT IS A NON-TAXABLE PROPERTY RIGHT NOW.
IT'LL BECOME A TAXABLE PROPERTY.
THE COUNSEL AND IIII MEAN WE'VE TALKED, UH, WHAT WE CAN RELEASE IS THAT A DEVELOPER HAS COME TO US.
UM, THE, THE RUMOR WOULD BE POTENTIALLY A WAWA, UM, THAT WOULD GO THERE.
YOU SIMILAR TO THE REDEVELOPMENT PLANS FOR THE COA, HAVING A REHABILITATION AREA ALLOWS THE TOWNSHIP TO SET WHAT IT'S GONNA LOOK LIKE.
HOW IT'S GOING TO, HOW IT'S GONNA, UH, TRANSPIRE.
IT'S NOT THE DEVELOPER CAME TO US ASKING FOR AN AREA, NEED A REDEVELOPMENT.
WE BELIEVE IF ANYTHING IT'S A AREA NEEDED REHABILITATION.
UM, I THINK THIS COUNCIL HAS STATED THERE'S A STIGMATISM AGAINST REHABILITATION BECAUSE OF THE MAGNIFIED BREWERY.
PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THAT THEY HAVE ALL STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT WANT, UH, TO ISSUE A TAX ABATEMENT AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT ONE IS GONNA BE SOUGHT.
SO HAVE TO, I'D LIKE TO RECLAIM A, A LITTLE BIT OF MY TIME.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THIS COUNCIL IN THE PAST, NOT, MAYBE NOT THIS COUNCIL HAS SAID ONE THING AND THEN DONE ANOTHER.
SO SAYING THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO WITH TAX ABATEMENT.
UN UNFORTUNATELY IT DOESN'T HOLD A LOT OF WATER RIGHT NOW CONSIDERING WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST AROUND HERE.
UM, THE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT IS THAT NOT WANTING TO DO A TAX ABATEMENT, WHICH IS THE SECOND THING YOU SAID IS MUCH DIFFERENT THAN SAYING THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DO A TAX ABATEMENT, WHICH IS THE FIRST THING THAT YOU SAID.
SO I WANNA JUST COME UP HERE AND POINT THIS OUT NOW.
SO LATER ON, IF COUNSEL DOES IN FACT DESIGNATE THIS AS AN AREA IN NEED OF REHABILITATION, UM, SO THAT WE CAN SAY PILOT VERSUS ABATEMENT SO THAT WE CAN SAY TOMATO VERSUS TOMATO, THAT THIS IS ON RECORD, THAT MR. RUMBA HAS SAID THAT YOU HAVE ADVISED THAT THERE'S NOT GONNA BE A TAX ABATEMENT OR THAT THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT, SO THAT YOU CAN ALL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THAT AND SO THAT WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE, WE CAN COME BACK HERE AND HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE.
UM, SO I'LL STATE FOR THE RECORD THAT, UM, IF PASSED THIS AGAIN PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION INTO THIS REHABILITATION, THAT I WILL NOT APPROVE A PILOT OR AN ABATEMENT FOR THIS PROPERTY.
UM, AND AS WE STATED ON OTHER OPPORTUNITIES WHERE TO HELP FUND THE SCHOOLS, A PILOT MAY BE USED, THAT IS THE ONLY TIME THAT I WOULD ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT, A PILOT AGREEMENT.
AS LONG AS THE SCHOOLS WERE COMFORTABLE WITH THE AGREEMENT, WE ATTEMPTED TO DO THAT THROUGH A PILOT.
AND THE SCHOOLS ON RESIDENTIAL, AS MR. RUMBA SAID, SENIOR AGE RESTRICTED RESIDENTIAL, THERE'S TOO MANY VARIABLES THAT COULD ALLOW THEM TO GET OUT OF IT AND DEFAULT ON THE BOND PREMIUM.
WE DON'T NEED TO RE RELIVE THAT.
BUT IF THE SCHOOLS AND THIS COUNCIL FEELS A PILOT IS NEEDED TO HELP THEM, WE WILL ENTERTAIN THAT.
'CAUSE IT WOULDN'T BE ALLOWED UNDER THIS BECAUSE THIS IS REHABILITATION, CORRECT? NOT CORRECT.
AND I HAVE NO DESIRE PERSONALLY TO ALLOW A TAX ABATEMENT.
SO IF WRITE IT DOWN, IT'S UH, NINE 19 ON WHATEVER DATE IT IS, IT'S RECORDED.
IS IT? I CAN'T READ THAT ANYMORE, I THINK.
UM, BUT, UH,
THE RULE WELL LAW, IT'S A DIFFERENT SECTION OF THE LAW AREA NEED A
[02:50:01]
REDEVELOPMENT.STUDIES ARE A RESOLUTION PASSED BY COUNCIL WHERE YOU DIRECT THE PLANNER TO DO THE STUDY AND THEN REPORT THE STUDY BACK TO THE COUNCIL.
YOU CAN TAKE THE PREMISE OF REDEVELOPMENT AND INSTITUTE THAT, THAT ADDS THE PLANNING BOARD.
YOU ARE DOING THAT YOU ARE PASSING A RESOLUTION OR YOU ARE ENTERTAINING A RESOLUTION THIS EVENING TO FOLLOW THE REDEVELOPMENT PROCESS FOR THE REHABILITATION DESIGNATION.
YOU'RE, YOU'RE PHYSICALLY ADDING AN ADDITIONAL MEETING OF DISCUSSION FOR THE ITEM THAT'S NOT REQUIRED UNDER THE REHABILITATION LAW, BUT YOU'RE DOING IT TO PROVIDE TRANSPARENCY.
THAT WAS THE DIRECTION THAT I WAS GIVEN.
I SPOKE TO, I BELIEVE, FOUR OUT OF THE FIVE OF YOU AFTER IT WAS DISCUSSED.
AND THAT WAS THE ROUTE THAT I WAS INSTRUCTED TO WORK WITH LEGAL COUNSEL ON TO, TO PUT THAT TOGETHER.
SO ON TOP OF THAT IS ADDING THAT, THAT LEVEL OF TRANSPARENCY THAT IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER THE REHABILITATION LAW, BUT IS GONNA BE TAKEN PART IN THIS.
TO REITERATE, AGAIN, REHABILITATION IS NOT ALLOWED TO GIVE A PILOT TO AN AREA.
THAT'S, THAT IS ONE OF THOSE ITEMS. SO, UM, AND, YOU KNOW, UH, OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS CAN SPEAK TO THAT, BUT THE RECORD SHOULD REFLECT THAT PILOTS CANNOT UNDER THE LAW, BE, BE CONSIDERED.
AND JUST, UH, I MEAN TO YOUR STATEMENT AS WELL, THAT YOU STARTED WITH, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
THERE WILL BE A HIGHER DESIRE FOR COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT, ESPECIALLY IN THAT AREA.
AND WE HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN AN END USER.
WE'VE ONLY BEEN GIVEN A DEVELOPER AT THIS POINT.
SO, UM, WHAT THE DEVELOPER CHOOSES TO DO WITH THAT PROPERTY IS SOLELY UP TO THEIR DISCRETION.
IT WOULD BE UP TO YOUR PLAN, I'M SORRY, UP TO, TO OUR PLAN PLANTATION PLAN.
BUT THEY HAVE TO BRING THOSE TO US.
WE'RE AT RETAIL IMPROVEMENT PHASE AT THIS POINT.
WHICH IF, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, THIS PARCEL PREVIOUSLY WAS RETAIL.
SO I BELIEVE IT'S MORE OF A CHANGE OF USE AT THIS POINT THAN, THAN A REDEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE SEEKING REHABILITATION.
UM, LOUIS WAS NEXT, AND THEN MARIAN HOLLOWAY WAS AFTER LUIS LU LOPEZ.
I'M A HIGHLY CITIZEN, UH, IN THE COUNTY OF BURLINGTON, STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
ONE TO THANK THE BERG GRATIFICATION OF FLYING W BUT WHAT'S THE FINAL OUTCOME OF THAT? OF THE POLICE? SOME OF THE BEST THINGS I TALKED TO.
USUALLY THEY NOT APPROVE THE, THE LIMITED SIDE, BUT THE ME SIDE, THEY APPROVE, YOU KNOW, A MIXED CONFLICT.
I'D LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, A FINAL CLARIFY ABOUT THAT SECOND, AS THE PRESENTATION WAS PERFECT, WHERE I, I WAS ABLE TO SEE EVERYTHING.
CANNOT SEE IT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T SEE IT 'CAUSE YOU'RE THINKING.
BUT MY YOUTUBE, THIS VERSION IS YOU CAN SEE EVERYTHING CLEAR TO CLEAR.
4K QUALITY, EVERY DETAIL RECORDED.
AND I, IT'S GOING TO BE, I KNOW, UPLOAD TO, UH, YOU KNOW, I HAVE A YOUTUBE CHANNEL 4K QUALITY NON EDIT.
I JUST UPLOAD FOR DETAIL TO LET EVERYONE KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
IT'LL BE UPDATED TONIGHT IF I CAN SEE.
IT'S GONNA BE POSTED THAT I, THE
IF THEY HAD TIME FOR TWO HOURS, LIKE 25 MINUTES.
AND I WANT SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT, YOU KNOW, FOR THAT CALENDAR.
I WANT THANKS TO RAY FOR LETTING ME KNOW ABOUT THIS MEETING.
AND THE LAST MEETING, I WASN'T HERE, BUT I RECEIVED A VERY POSITIVE COMMENT FROM BOTH PARTY, WHEN I SAY BOTH PARTY DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICAN, I SAID, WE APPRECIATE LEWIS, YOU NOT COMING TO RECORD MEETINGS TO SAY WHAT'S GOING ON.
THE WAY HE DO IS NOT DEMOCRAT, IS NOT REPUBLICAN, JUST FOR THE PEOPLE.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE REVOLUTION.
THAT IS THE PURCHASE OF THE SEWER CLEANER.
SORRY, BEFORE I ASK THAT QUESTION.
SO, UM, RESOLUTION 1 49 DASH 26 IS
[02:55:01]
AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF ONE VECTOR, 2100 I, UH, COMBINATION SEWER CLEANER, UM, FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND MUNICIPAL UTILITY.IT'S COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS A, AS A A JETTER TRUCK OR BACK TRUCK.
UM, AND IT'S USED FOR BOTH THE SEWER AND, UH, STORM WATER.
UM, IT CARRIES A TANK, IT CAN BLOW OUT LINES, IT CAN, UM, UH, IT CAN RECORD LINES AND, AND DO RECORDING OF THOSE LINES.
UM, THIS WAS A CAPITAL ITEM THAT WAS ADDRESSED, UH, AS PART OF THAT $2.9 MILLION.
HALF OF IT IS, IS FUNDED UNDER THE CURRENT FUND, UH, ORDINANCE.
AND THEN HALF OF IT'S IN THE WATER AND SEWER, UM, ORDINANCE BECAUSE IT WOULD BE SPLIT BETWEEN THE TWO FUNDS BE BECAUSE OF THE TWO DEPARTMENTS.
I'M JUST CURIOUS ABOUT TWO MORE QUESTIONS.
HOW BAD IS THE, UM, IDENTITY REGIONAL SCHOOL SYSTEM VERSUS RV SCHOOL SYSTEM? FINANCIALLY? YEAH.
THOSE ARE TWO INDEPENDENT BODIES THAT ARE, THAT ARE, I MEAN, THEY'RE OUTSIDE OF OUR PURVIEW.
AND, UH, THAT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO, TO ANSWER HOW THEY WOULD COMPARE TO ONE ANOTHER.
THEY DO HAVE, UH, POSTED MEETINGS.
I WAS JUST GONNA MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT LEPE VERSUS, OKAY, WELL I KNOW WE LIKE LEPE REGIONAL BETTER.
UM, BUT, UM, BUT YEAH, CHIEF, IF YOU WANT TO TAKE THAT.
I MEAN, I WOULD JUST SAY THAT I KNOW LIKE RANK COOK IS VALLEY REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS ONE HIGH SCHOOL IN THE DISTRICT FOR, I BELIEVE IT'S FIVE SENDING TOWNS.
WHEREAS, UM, LENAPE DISTRICT HAS LENAPE, SHAWNEE, CHEROKEE, SENECA, AND SEQUOIA FIVE, FIVE BUILDINGS FOR SEVEN DISTRICTS.
UM, TWO OF THOSE SENDING DISTRICTS ARE OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND RESIDENTS.
ONE COMBINED BEING MOUNT LAUREL AND HAMM.
THEY'RE ABOUT 55,000 RESIDENTS A PIECE.
SO, YOU KNOW, TO, TO BEGIN TO COMPARE THE TWO, YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE COMPARING APPLES AND ORANGES.
THEY'RE BOTH REGIONAL DISTRICTS, BUT ONE REGIONAL DISTRICT SERVES A SIGNIFICANTLY LARGER NUMBER OF RESIDENTS AND AND POPULATION THAN THE OTHER DISTRICT DOES.
SO I MEAN, I, I WOULD REACH OUT TO THEIR SUPERINTENDENTS OR CHECK THEIR WEBSITES.
'CAUSE I'M SURE ALL OF THEIR INFORMATION WOULD BE ON THERE MEETING THEY COMPARE BOARD NEEDS ARE VERY INFORMATIVE.
AND WHEN I SAY WHAT'S THE STANDARD OF THE OLD METRO LIBRARY, WHAT'S THAT GONNA HAPPEN? THE 39 ALLEN OF THE, UM, AS PART OF THE BUDGET PRESENTATION, THIRD KNIGHT ALLEN WAS, UH, PUT OUT, I BELIEVE THREE BIDS, UM, FOR SALE, UM, OVER A TWO YEAR PERIOD LAST YEAR.
AND THIS YEAR, UM, SORRY, CLEAR.
UM, AND, UH, IT WAS AWARDED AND, AND PUT UNDER CONTRACT, UH, PRIOR TO THE ADOPTION OF THIS YEAR'S BUDGET FOR A, A SALE OF $250,000.
OF WHICH, UM, IS, IS STILL, UM, IT HASN'T FINALIZED BECAUSE PART OF THE CONTRACT SALE WAS DUE, UM, WAS FOR ALL APPROVALS TO BE SOUGHT PRIOR TO, UM, WHATEVER THE END USER IS LOOKING TO DO.
SO, UM, THE, THE PARAMETERS IN PLACE, WE, THERE IS A BUYER, THERE IS A CONTRACT SALE.
IT IS NOT FINALIZED AS OF YET.
AND THE LAST THING IS FOR EVERY WHO LOOK UP MY YOUTUBE JUST A SIMPLE WORD.
LOUIS LOPEZ
THANK, BEFORE YOU GO ON, MAYOR.
I SAID SIR TO HIM AND THEN I SAID I DID.
I BELIEVE WE NOT ANSWER ONE OF YOUR QUESTIONS, ZACH.
UM, HE HAD ASKED WHEN WOULD WE HAVE A ROUGH IDEA OF THE FINAL COST TO THE TOWNSHIP.
I THINK INFRASTRUCTURE HAS BEEN ANSWERED, BUT OVERALL FOR SCHOOLS OR ANYTHING ELSE, IT WOULD ALL BE PART OF THE IMPACT STUDY.
UM, THAT WOULD YIELD, UH, AS THEY'RE PRESENTING TO THE BOARDS.
UM, ANOTHER QUESTION THAT HE ASKED IS THE APPROVAL PROCESS BETWEEN LUMBERTON SIDE AND OUR SIDE.
WE CAN ONLY REALLY SPEAK TO OUR SIDE.
THE FLYING W UM, IS 282 TOTAL UNITS INCLUSIVE OF 90 AFFORDABLE.
UM, THAT'S, THAT WAS WHAT, UH, UH, IT WAS PART OF THE REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT THAT WAS AGREED TO.
UM, AND, UH, THAT IS OUR SIDE OF, OF MEDFORD IN, IN THE MEDFORD PROPERTY.
UM, WHAT IS YIELDED ON THE LUMBERTON SIDE? WE, I'D HAVE TO CHECK THE RECORD FOR LUMBERTON.
UM, 'CAUSE IT WOULD GO THROUGH THEIR APPROVAL PROCESS.
COULD WE LOOK BACK TO THE OTHER ROUNDS WE DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE TWO TOWN ENGINEERS? WE REPRESENT BOTH TOWNS.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE COORDINATING THAT EFFORT BETWEEN LUMBERTON AND AND MEDFORD.
[03:00:06]
THIS IS ONLY GONNA BE UP HERE FOR A MINUTE.CAN YOU HEAR ME? SAY IT AGAIN.
CAN YOU HEAR ME PRETTY WELL? I GET, I GET IN SNUGGY.
I'M JUST USING, I APPRECIATE THAT.
YOU DO REMEMBER EACH WEEK
AND IT'S OBVIOUS THAT IT'S AN ANNOYANCE TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.
MS. HOLLOWAY, I, I MUST HAVE INTERJECTED YOU RIGHT.
FOR UH, 'CAUSE WE TRULY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE.
AND THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE ALSO BROUGHT YOU INTO A D AND I AM GONNA JUST, THAT'S WHY WE ALSO BROUGHT YOU INTO A DCA MEETING WITH US.
SO I I, I WANT, I TAKE EXCEPTION TO YOU TO SAY BACK, NO, LET ME FINISH, BECAUSE I WAS JUST ABOUT TO THANK YOU AND MICHELLE FOR INCLUDING ME.
AND THERE'S THINGS THAT I WANNA GET OUT.
A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAPPEN HERE ARE IN RESPONSE TO WHAT I AM PUTTING OUT TO THE PUBLIC.
IT DOESN'T REALLY BOTHER ME THAT IT'S ANNOYING PEOPLE IF SOME, AND RAY, YOUR SUBSTACK IS EXCELLENT AND IT BROUGHT A LOT OF CLARITY AND TRANSPARENCY.
RIGHT? AND THAT'S WHAT YOU HAD.
AND I'M GONNA ADDRESS SOME STUFF THAT'S IN THERE.
WHEN PEOPLE SAY I AM STATING INCORRECT THINGS, I USUALLY PUT THINGS IN QUESTION FORM AND I'M GONNA SAY SOMETHING.
NOW, THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE 535 HOMES AND THE FOUR TO FIVE BEDROOMS CAME FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD DIDN'T COME FROM ME.
I STATED THAT THAT'S WHERE IT WAS SAID WHEN I INTEND, WHEN I ATTENDED THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING, THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION FELT THEY WEREN'T BEING TOLD THE TRUTH.
THERE IS A, UM, WHEN YOU DEVELOP THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE, IT REQUIRES TWO PEOPLE FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD.
THEY HAVE YET TO BE APPOINTED.
IT DOESN'T REQUIRE, WELL, IT WAS JUST MY WORDS.
I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO BRING THINGS OUT AND ASK QUESTIONS BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THIS CONVERSATION STARTS AND IT BECOMES, AND THINGS HAVE CHANGED BECAUSE OF IT.
AND THINGS ARE GONNA CONTINUE TO CHANGE BECAUSE UNLESS SOMEBODY HAS ENOUGH COURAGE TO COME UP HERE AND TALK AND TRY TO PROTECT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THE CHILDREN, IT'S JUST GOING TO, I KNOW I'M A SPEED BUMP.
I AM NOT IN ANY WAY DELUSIONAL.
BUT IF ONE THING GETS CHANGED TO BENEFIT THOSE CHILDREN, I'LL SLEEP AT NIGHT.
M-Y-A-A-I VOLUNTEERED FOR FOUR TO FIVE YEARS AS A COACH FOR FIELD HOCKEY.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO MY DAUGHTER'S FIELD HOCKEY TEAM? HER, THE COMMISSIONER AT THAT TIME PULLED THE GIRLS FIELD HOCKEY OUT OF NYAA.
THE GIRLS WERE PRACTICING ON, ON SUBSTANDARD FIELDS.
THEY HAD ASKED FOR IT AND TOLD THERE WAS NO MONEY.
AND THEN JUST A MONTH OR TWO LATER, ARTIFICIAL TURF IS BEING PUT IN ON THE FOOTBALL FIELDS.
RAY PUT OUT THE MONEY THAT'S GOING TO THE PROGRAMS. RIGHT.
DO YOU KNOW WHO'S NOT GETTING ANY MONEY? IF YOU ARE CORRECT, THE GIRLS FIELD HOCKEY TEAM, CHEERLEADING.
THERE IS A, THERE IS TRACK AND FIELD ISN'T GETTING ANYTHING.
UM, YOU HAVE A SPORTS UNITY PROGRAM FOR, UH, CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.
WE HAVE, UH, UH, SOME OTHER GIRLS' SPORTS.
THEY'RE NOT SUBJECT TO TITLE IX.
I HAVE THE PASSION IN MY VOICE BECAUSE I GAVE A LOT OF TIME TO MYAA.
I'M NOT UNFAMILIAR AND I HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR THESE PARENTS.
I, I STOOD ALONGSIDE PEOPLE WORKING TWO TO THREE JOBS AND STILL MAKING TIME TO VOLUNTEER.
WHAT WERE YOU PART OF THE COMMISSIONERS WHEN THOSE TAXES WEREN'T FILED? MIKE? I CAME ON, UM, FORGIVE ME FOR NOT KNOWING OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT I WAS ASKED TO BE THE SOFTBALL COMMISSIONER IN 2021 RIGHT WHEN THIS HAPPENED.
SO, UH, BEFORE THAT I WAS, UH, SITTING ON A LAWN CHAIR WATCHING MY DAUGHTERS PLAY SOFTBALL.
SO YOU WERE NEVER PART OF THE, NOT JUST A COACH, YOU WERE PART OF THE MA UH, THE COMMISSIONERS.
[03:05:01]
I WAS ASKED THE PEOPLE RUNNING THE ORGANIZATION.I WAS ASKED TO BE THE COMMISSIONER OF SOFTBALL.
SO THERE ARE SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT HAVE VOTES IN THIS.
DO YOU NEED, DO YOU NEED NO, UM, NO.
WHEN I WAS AT THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING AND SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS CAME UP, ESPECIALLY FOR, UH, FINANCIAL IMPACT STUDIES THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO BE DONE, IT'S BEEN A RECURRING THEME HERE.
MICHELLE AND RAY ALLOWED ME TO PARTICIPATE IN A MEETING WITH THE DCA.
WE BUMPED INTO A BUREAUCRAT THAT TOOK EXCEPTION.
HE DID NOT STATE THE CORRECT ANSWER.
MY TONE OF VOICE MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN GOOD AT THE TIME, BUT EVEN POLITICIANS STARTED TO CALL AND THEY GOT CALLS ABOUT HOW DARE I, RIGHT.
I REALIZED THEN WHEN THE GENTLEMAN GAVE THE INCORRECT INFORMATION, AND HE HAD STATED THAT THE, THE SECTION THAT HE WAS STATING WERE FROM FOR, UM, DEEDS THAT HAD EXPIRED AND THEN WERE GOING TO BE REINSTATED.
THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU WERE DOING.
I REALIZED THEN, UNLESS METFORD WAS GOING TO TAKE A POSITION TO SUE THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, THAT NOTHING I DID WAS GONNA MATTER.
IT WASN'T WORTH IT FOR ME TO KEEP BADGERING YOU GUYS TO DO IT.
MICHELLE AND RAY WENT OVER AND ABOVE WITH THIS RAY PUT OUT WHICH, WHERE THE MONEY'S GONNA BE.
THIS IS A DONE DEAL WITH MIA, ISN'T IT, MIKE? THIS WAS DISCUSSED BETWEEN MICHELLE AND RAY.
I'M ASKING YOU, THIS IS A DONE DEAL WITH MYAA, ISN'T IT, MIKE? IT'S PART OF THE REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
MONEY CAN'T BE REDIRECTED TO THE SCHOOL, CAN IT? NOT AT THIS TIME.
I WOULD, I DON'T WANNA TAKE YOUR TIME.
SO I'LL ANSWER, WE'LL LET YOU FINISH AND THEN WE'LL GO BACK THROUGH.
WE HAVE GIRLS THAT AREN'T GONNA GET ANY MONEY.
WE HAVE SITUATIONS THAT ARE NOT EQUAL.
YOU HAVE MYAA WITH FINANCIAL MISMANAGEMENT.
I HAD A DAUGHTER THAT HER PROGRAM WAS PULLED OUTTA MYA 'CAUSE THEY COULDN'T GET FUNDING.
AND I UNDERSTAND I HAVE SO MUCH MORE THAN I'M COMING BACK THE NEXT MEETING WITH, WITH ANOTHER STATEMENT THAT MR. UMBA MADE.
THERE ARE POINTED DIRECTED STATEMENTS MADE TOWARDS ME THAT I'M DOING THINGS INCORRECTLY.
I'M GONNA STUMBLE ALONG THE WAY, BUT I'M NOT GONNA STOP.
SO IF IT OPENS UP A CONVERSATION AND MAKE SOMETHING BETTER THAN SO BE IT.
BUT THIS CONVERSATION DIDN'T EVEN START UNTIL I GOT INVOLVED.
AND NO MATTER WHO GETS ANNOYED WITH ME, I'M STILL GONNA GO AHEAD.
THERE'S MORE THAT I HAVE, BUT I'M NOT GONNA, I'M NOT GONNA GO AND JUST BE LEGAL THERE.
WE'LL ADDRESS YOUR COMMENTS AT THE, AT THIS TIME.
UM, I THOUGHT THE WAS COULD SEE SOMETHING.
NO, I WAS JUST OH, HOLDING THE TIME.
UM, SO SPECIFICALLY TO THE AGREEMENT, CAN THE AGREEMENT BE AMENDED? THE ANSWER IS YES.
AT THAT POINT, YOUR ORDER FROM JUDGE COOK, I BELIEVE WOULD BE NULIN WOOD.
SO AT THAT POINT, YOU WOULD HAVE A NON-COMPLIANCE ITEM, UM, THAT IS LISTED IN HIS ORDER AS PART OF THE ORDER.
UM, THAT WOULD THEN BE, UH, A NON-COMPLIANCE ISSUE THAT COULD CALL INTO QUESTION THE, UM, THE VALIDITY OF THE IMMUNITY THAT YOU RECEIVED AS PART OF HIS ORDER.
I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT, MARY.
WHEN MISS STATEMENTS, WHEN STATEMENTS ARE MADE, THIS IS, WE'RE NOT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO AGREE WITH IT.
IT'S JUST THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA, WE'RE NOT LITIGATING STATE.
IT'S JUST THAT WHEN IT'S CORRECT ON THE ANSWER AS WELL.
UH, WE WE'RE HERE TO ANSWER YOU.
YOU MADE A STATEMENT BUCKLEY, MR. BUCKLEY.
UM, UNDERSTAND AS MY WIFE ALWAYS STATES, SHE'S THE LAWYER IN THE FAMILY.
SO I WILL DEFER NOW TO THE LAWYER.
IS THE STATEMENT THAT I JUST GAVE BASED OFF MY 12 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AS A TOWNSHIP ADMINISTRATOR DEALING WITH TWO ROUNDS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
IS IT CORRECT FROM A LEGAL STANDPOINT? YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.
I DO NOT FIND MS. HOLLOWAY'S QUESTIONS ANNOYING.
SHE HAS A FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO COME UP AND, AND SPEAK THEM.
BUT WHEN MISINFORMATION GOES OUT INTO THE PUBLIC AND THEN IS SHARED, LISTEN, SOCIAL MEDIA HAS ITS PLUSES AND ITS MINUSES, BUT CREATING HYSTERIA IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD DO.
CREATING HYSTERIA RESULTS IN WHAT WE HAD IN OUR LAST MEETING WHERE TO QUORUM AND, AND, AND ITEMS TRANSPIRE THAT, THAT ARE NOT GOOD FOR A GOVERNMENT PROCEEDING.
[03:10:02]
IS, WHETHER IT'S STATED BY SOMEONE STATED IN AN AREA, UM, I DO APPRECIATE THAT MS. HOLLOWAY STATES THAT SHE BRINGS US FACTS AND THEN WE PROVIDE INTERPRETATIONS OF THOSE FACTS.I WOULD GLAD THEY WANT THINGS IN WRITING.
UM, IT HAS BEEN ATTRIBUTED THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE GOTTEN THIS BENEFIT AND THAT SHE STATED THAT AT THE LAST MEETING I ASKED TO PROVIDE THEM SO WE CAN RESEARCH.
I'M UNAWARE OF DISTRICTS THAT HAVE, HAVE PROVIDED THAT.
UM, AND, AND WHAT WE'VE LOOKED AT, I, I THINK, YOU KNOW, ON THE FACE VALUE, THE TOWNSHIP LOOKED AT ALL PARAMETERS.
YOU WERE DUE DILIGENT IN THOSE ITEMS AND ALL FIVE OF YOU TOOK PART IN THAT PROCESS.
AND IT IS MY DUTY TO ENSURE THAT THE RECORD IS, UH, CLEAR SO THAT THE PUBLIC HAS IT.
AND WHENEVER I SPEAK, I TRY TO PULL UP THE DOCUMENT SO I CAN SPEAK TO IT.
UM, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PRESENT NEED AND THE PERSPECTIVE NEED.
THAT WAS AN ISSUE THAT WAS BROUGHT UP.
I EXPLAINED IT AT THE LAST MEETING, WENT IN, RESEARCHERS PULLED WHAT THE COURT DOCKETS HAVE SAID ABOUT THOSE AND READ THEM INTO THE RECORD THE LAST MEETING.
SO, UM, MY JOB AS, UH, ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT HERE, OR AT AN ADMINISTRATOR IN MY ROLE IN SOUTH HAMPTON IS TO ENSURE THAT THE PROPER INFORMATION IS GIVEN TO EVERY PERSON THAT TAKES PART IN, IN THE PROCESS.
SO THE RIGHT DECISIONS ARE MADE HERE.
I'M JUST A RESIDENT AS WELL TOO.
SO I DO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A BLEEDING HEART WHEN IT COMES TO OUR MATTERS.
AND, AND THAT'S WHY I'M TRYING TO HELP.
UH, I, I DON'T TAKE EXCEPTION TO WHAT SHE SAYS, BUT I DO TAKE EXCEPTION IF MISINFORMATION IS PUT OUT TO THE PUBLIC AND THEN PEOPLE ARE BELIEVING THAT MAY, MAY I MAKE ONE STATEMENT IN REFERENCE? SURE.
UM, MARIANNE, YOU MENTIONED THE, UH, GIRLS FIELD HOCKEY.
AND I WILL SIT HERE AND TELL YOU THAT WHEN I READ THE LIST, MY HEAD DID GO OUT.
SO IT'S NOT JUST GIRLS TEAMS, UM, IT'S BOYS TEAMS TOO.
THERE'S TRACK AND FIELD, THERE'S OTHER SPORTS.
BUT TO YOUR POINT, THERE'S MORE GIRLS TEAM.
SO I WILL TELL YOU FROM THE DAYS THAT I WILL PERSON CALL DR HORTON AND SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING THEY WOULD DO.
I WILL NOT TOUCH THE RDAS FOR THAT.
I, I'M GONNA NOT EVEN TRY TO SAY OTHERWISE, BUT LET'S CALL 'EM AND SEE WHAT ELSE THEY CAN DO FOR THE OTHER GIRLS' SPORTS.
I I THINK IT'S, IT'S WORTH NOTING.
AND LISTEN, I'LL GIVE THE, THE CREDIT TO COUNCILMAN COX WHEN I BELIEVE IT'S THE 500 MR. BUCKLEY.
UM, OUT OF THE 3.8, IT'S FIVE SOMETHING, UH, A HUNDRED THOUSAND.
UM, SO IF YOU COULD JUST LOOK FOR THAT IN YOUR STATEMENT FROM EARLIER.
BUT IT, IT WAS SOMETHING THAT CAME UP AND, UH, COUNCILMAN COX CALLED ME, ASKED FOR MY ADVICE.
AND MY ADVICE BACK TO HIM WAS, LET'S NOT PITCH AND HOLE IT TO CERTAIN NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.
LET'S ALLOW THE TOWNSHIP TO TAKE THAT MONEY AND CREATE AN APPLICATION PROGRAM AND, AND DO BACK, LISTEN, I WOULD'VE PREFERRED THE FULL 1.8 TO BE FOLLOWED IN THAT PROCESS.
BUT THESE ARE LAST MINUTE THINGS THAT WERE BROUGHT TO COUNSEL.
I'M NOT THE ONE NEGOTIATING THE REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
WE ARE REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL.
YOU WORK THROUGH THE COUNSEL TO GET THE BEST DEAL AS POSSIBLE.
UM, BUT I DO THINK IT'S WARRANTED IN STATING THAT COUNCILMAN COX DID, UM, BRING THAT TO THE ATTENTION, STATED THAT HE WANTED TO SEE A SEPARATION, UM, ASKED ME MY ADVICE AND I SAID, MAKE IT FOR ALL.
SO FOR FIELD HOCKEY OR OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, THOSE ORGANIZATIONS CAN, THEY ARE, THEY ARE PART OF THE NONPROFIT MYAA OR I, I, I DON'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE OF IN, IN AND OUT ORGANIZATIONS IF THEY'RE NOT PART OF THE MYA AS, AS MS. HOLLOWAY IS STATING, UM, FROM, UH, HER STATEMENT, THEY, I WOULD ASSUME THAT THEY'RE PART OF A NONPROFIT THAT'S SERVICING RESIDENTS OF, OF MEDFORD.
THEY WOULD QUALIFY FOR THE 500 SOME ODD THOUSAND DOLLARS.
UM, IT WAS, IT WAS 5 25, 525 5,000.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS, IS SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN APPLY FOR THAT'S SUPPOSED TO GO AND BENEFIT ANY NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT IS BENEFITING OUR RESIDENTS.
UM, AND THAT WAS THE DISCUSSION THAT COUNCILMAN COX AND I HAD WOODFORD, UH, CEDAR RUN THE, THE, UH, WILDLIFE PRESERVE.
THEY'VE COME TO US IN THE PAST, UM, OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, UH, DOWNTOWN WHAT ABBY GALLEY AND THAT GROUP DOES TO, FOR FOOD TRUCKS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
THE, THESE ARE OUR WAY TO ENHANCE.
UM, NOT EVERY PERSON IS INVOLVED IN RECREATION.
UM, WE UNDERSTAND THAT RECREATION IS MANAGED BY MYA, UM, FOR US BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE RECREATIONAL PORTION.
THERE COULD BE SOME OTHER ORGANIZATION THAT NEEDS THOSE RESOURCES.
AND THANKFULLY THROUGH SEVERAL MEMBERS OF COUNCIL ARGUING FOR THAT, LEFT IT OPEN-ENDED THAT THIS, THERE WILL NOW BE AN APPLICATION PROCESS FOR THOSE PEOPLE TO GET FUNDS.
UH, JUST BEFORE WE MOVE ON, UH, MS. HOLLOWAY, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR VOLUNTEERING FOR MYA AT WHEN THE TIME WAS APPROPRIATE.
YEARS, UM, YOU KNOW, WE FIND OURSELVES AT THE BEHEST OF OUR CHILDREN'S YOUTH ATHLETICS
AND IT WAS REALLY NICE SITTING ON THE LAWN CHAIR AND IT WAS,
[03:15:01]
UH, VERY PAINFUL TO BE THE COMMISSIONER OR IN YOUR CASE COACH.THERE'S, UM, TALKING ABOUT WORKING TWO OR THREE JOBS DOING THAT.
AND MY OPPORTUNITY TO VOLUNTEER FOR MY CHILDREN, UM, WE SHARE THAT BOND AND I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THAT UP.
'CAUSE WE LOVE OUR TOWN AND WE LOVE OUR CHILDREN.
UM, I JUST HOPE THAT'S WHAT SHINES THROUGH HERE.
UM, SIR, YOU DID HAVE YOUR HAND UP.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO NEXT? MOST OF WHAT I'M GONNA BE ASKED, SORRY.
STONE LEWAY ONE 14 BURN STREET IN MOUNT HOLLY.
WHAT WAS YOUR NAME, SIR? I'M SORRY.
MOST OF MY QUESTIONS OR STATEMENT MORE SO ARE GONNA BE RHETORIC RHETORICAL.
UM, I APPRECIATE YOUR SON BEING IN THE ARMY.
UM, MY FATHER DID 50 YEARS AND MY MOTHER DID FOUR AND THEY MET IN VIETNAM.
THEY AFFORDED MY, UM, FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO SPEAK AND I'M TAKING EVERY OPPORTUNITY THAT I CAN.
SO LET ME START OFF BY SAYING MAYOR, DEPUTY MAYOR, TOWNSHIP ADMIN, UM, OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS, SOLICITORS AND, UM, OTHER MEMBERS AND MEDFORD TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS.
UM, AS YOU, I JUST SAID, MY NAME IS STONE LEWAY.
UM, AND FROM MOUNT HOLLY, FROM QUESTION EVERYTHING, STAY CURIOUS, FAIL FORWARD, SPEAK UP.
THE WORLD NEEDS YOU AWAKE, THE WORLD NEEDS YOU AWAKE.
IT IMP APPLIES TO EVERYBODY BEHIND ME AS WELL.
UM, VERITAS MINNET, WHICH IS, UM, LATIN FOR THE TRUTH AND INDOORS AND REMAINS WHENEVER WE'RE USING ANY TYPE OF POSTING ONLINE.
I AGREE WITH THE TOWNSHIP ADMINISTRATOR THAT WHEN YOU DO POST ANYTHING, YOU NEED TO USE SOMETHING CALLED CITATIONS.
CITATIONS ARE TO BACK UP YOUR CLAIM.
UH, THIS WAY, WHEN YOU ARE ASKED A QUESTION ABOUT YOUR CLAIM, YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO BACK YOURSELF UP WITH.
UM, THERE IS A RIGHT WAY AND A WRONG WAY TO TALK TO CONSTITUENTS.
DECORUM GOES BOTH WAYS, MAYOR.
UM, WE'RE GONNA IGNORE THAT 'CAUSE THAT IS OUT.
UM, I'D LIKE TO JUST SAY THIS BY FAR IS LIGHT YEARS AHEAD.
YOU'RE ALMOST UP TO, UH, HAY IN SPORT, WHICH DOES A PHENOMENAL JOB IN DECORUM AND HOSTING OR CONDUCTING BUSINESS.
YOU HAVEN'T SEEN MOUNT HOLLY, OR MAYBE YOU HAVE.
THIS IS NOTHING COMPARED TO MOUNT HOLLY GIVING US OR PROVIDING US FIVE WHOLE MINUTES TO TALK.
AND THEN PROVIDING FEEDBACK BY PROVIDING, UM, DEFINITIONS, MUSIC, USING YOUR LAPTOP TO LOOK UP RESOLUTIONS TO PROVIDE, UH, CLARIFICATIONS.
I USE THAT IN HOW I POST THINGS.
THAT'S WHY I WENT TO HAINESPORT TO LET THE CONSTITUENTS AND LET THEIR, UH, TOWNSHIP, UH, MEMBERS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS KNOW THAT I'M NOT A BOT.
I START OFF WITH A ISO, WHICH IS AN INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ORGANIZATION FOR DATE TIME FORMAT, FOLLOWED BY TITLE, SUBTITLE, QUOTATION, UH, A LITTLE BIT OF MEL MEAT AND POTATOES OF WHAT I'M TRYING TO CONVEY, HOW IT RELATES TO ME, HOW IT RELATES TO A LINCOLN REPUBLICAN, BECAUSE I'M A REPUBLICAN.
AND THEN I PROVIDE SOMETHING CALLED AT MENTIONS TO CAST A WIDER NET TO AN AUDIENCE THAT I WANT TO PARTICIPATE.
AND THEN I PROVIDE, UM, CITATIONS, MLA FORMAT.
THERE ARE OTHERS, BUT I USE THAT ONE.
AND THEN I DO HASHTAGS FOR, AGAIN, FOR A DIFFERENT AUDIENCE SPREAD.
BUT I'VE BEEN CALLED A BOT BECAUSE OF HOW I POST.
BUT I WILL JUST SAY THIS, THAT THIS MEETING IS BY FAR ONE OF THE BETTER MEETINGS THAT I HAVE BEEN TO.
AND I APPRECIATE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU UP HERE.
I LIKE HOW YOU PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND YOU AFFORD THEM THE TIME TO ACTUALLY SIT THERE AND GO
[03:20:01]
THROUGH THIS WHOLE PROCESS OF ANSWERING OR PROVIDING FEEDBACK.MOUNT HOLLY, WE DON'T GET THIS.
WE GET FEEDBACK, BUT IT'S MORE OF, UH, CONFRONTATIONAL.
I WENT TO, I WAS IN NEW YORK, UH, FOR THE WEEKEND.
I TRAVELED BACK TO MAKE THE TOWNSHIP MEETING AND THE DECORUM WASN'T THERE.
UM, IT WAS EXTREMELY COMBATIVE FROM OUR MAYOR, UH, WHICH IS A SAD CASE.
UM, I NEVER, I DON'T, IT'S NOT THAT I DISLIKE MY, SORRY, I I DISLIKE MY MAN.
I'M AFFORD AN EXTRA MINUTE JUST TO WRAP UP IF THAT'S SURE.
I DISLIKE THE BEHAVIOR OF HOW THINGS ARE CONVEYED AND IF WE FOCUS ON THE ROOT CAUSE, WE CAN GET HEATED.
WE CAN GET VERY PASSIONATE AS LONG AS IT'S ROOT CAUSE IF WE ATTACK A PERSON OR PERSONS OR MYSELF IN THE ROOM, THE DISCUSSION IS OVER.
DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE DON'T COME BACK, BUT YOU SIMMER DOWN AND THEN WE CAN COME BACK AND WE START THE APPROACH AGAIN.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO ALL OF YOU.
THANK YOU TO THE CONSTITUENTS BEHIND ME.
I REALLY DO APPRECIATE HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU AND, UH, STATING MY CASES HERE.
UM, IF I COULD JUST MAKE ONE CLARIFYING POINT.
UM, MR. RUMBA IS PROVIDING ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT.
UM, BUT WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU SAID AND I'LL PASS ON YOUR, UH, KIND WORDS TO MAYOR DICK IN HAND.
UM, ANY COMMENTS? NO, MR. DUFF.
UM, I WAS, UH, DOING LAUNDRY AND I BASICALLY HEARD A, I THINK IT WAS A MENTION OF ME, UM, BY STATING THE COMMENTS I MADE WERE, UH, SO APPALLING.
IT WAS GONNA MAKE SOMEBODY'S SON COME HOME FROM THE MILITARY.
A I DIDN'T SAY YOUR NAME AND B IT WAS A PHONE CALL.
WELL, WAS IT ME YOU'RE REFERRING TO? IT COULD BE BECAUSE THE REPORTER WHEN HE CALLED ME SAID, YOU KNOW, PATRICK, UM, SOMEONE MIGHT'VE TAKEN YOUR COMMENTS AS A THREAT.
AND I WAS JUST WONDERING IF YOU HAD ANY COMMENTS ABOUT THAT.
AND I ASKED, WELL, WHO WAS THAT? THAT MAY HAVE SAID THAT? AND AFTER YOUR COMMENTS, I BELIEVE IT WAS PROBABLY YOU.
YOU DO REALIZE THAT'S, THAT'S SLANDER.
I DO FEEL THAT WHAT YOU SAID TO ME WAS THREATENING.
SIR, I ASKED YOU IF YOU KNEW WHO I WAS.
YOU, YOU KNOW, I'M AN AUTHOR, RIGHT? DO YOU KNOW I'M AN AUTHOR? I HAVE A BOOK ABOUT YOUR TOWNSHIP.
SIR, WE'RE ABOUT YOUR TOWNSHIP NOW.
DON'T TELL ME TO GO DO ANYTHING.
I'M GONNA KEEP GOING, MR. WE'RE GONNA KEEP THE, THIS IS MY FIVE MINUTES ROBERT'S RULES.
YOU GET TO, YOU DON'T TELL ME NOTHING.
I'M, I'M TAKING MY FIVE MINUTES.
YOU SHOULD BE RECUSING YOURSELF FROM THE ENTIRE DR. HORTON THING.
YOU CAN SAY WHATEVER YOU'D LIKE.
SO HERE, VERY QUICKLY, UM, YOU ADMIT YOU WERE THE COMMISSIONER IN 2021 OF THE NYU'S SOFTBALL.
CORRECT? NOW THE SOFTBALL, WHAT'S INTERESTING IS EACH DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT HAS THEIR OWN BUCKET OF MONEY.
RIGHT? SO YOU WERE IN CONTROL OF THE SOFTBALL'S MONEY FROM 2021 TILL WHEN? 4 20, 24, THE YEARS THAT NO TAXES WERE FILED WITH THE IRS, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
SO NOW WHAT'S EVEN MORE INTERESTING IS THE, THE MOST MONEY IS GOING TO THE SOFTBALL PROGRAM.
260 PLUS THOUSAND DOLLARS COMPARED TO THE $212,000 TO THE OTHERS.
NOW, LET'S SAY THAT THAT SOFTBALL PROGRAM HAD SOMEBODY THAT WAS IN CONTROL OF IT, THAT DIDN'T SPEND WISELY OR EMBEZZLED MONEY.
WELL, COULDN'T THAT MONEY BE ERASED SOMEHOW? THERE WAS, WERE YOU HERE WHEN THE AUDITOR SAID THERE WAS NO EMBEZZLEMENT? YOU'RE THE AUDITOR.
YOU MEAN, YOU MEAN THE MYAA? YOU MEAN THE PERSON WHO DID THE NYS NINE 90 FORMS? THAT WAS THAT PERSON, CORRECT? MYA AUDITOR.
NO, HE WAS THEIR, THEIR ACCOUNTANT.
HE, HE ATTRIBUTED, HE ATTRIBUTED THAT HE WAS BROUGHT ON AFTER THE, THE ISSUE ISSUE IN ORDER TO CLEAN UP THE ISSUE AND HAS REMAINED CORRECT.
SO, SO HE WAS BROUGHT ON AFTER THE ISSUE.
BUT WHAT WAS THE ISSUE? NOBODY EVER ASKED HIM.
WHY DIDN'T THE MYAA FILE FOR THREE YEARS? HE ANSWERED THAT.
WHY? WE DID, IF YOU WEREN'T HERE, THEN
[03:25:01]
YOU CAN WATCH.YOU CAN WATCH THE VIDEO WHEN IT COMES OUT.
HOW IS IT THAT IN THE YEARS THAT, THAT THEY WEREN'T FILING THE COMMISSIONER'S SOFTBALL, WHICH IS GETTING THE MOST MONEY FROM DR HORTON, HAS A VOTE ON DR HORTON BEGAN TO DEVELOPER IN THIS, IN THIS TOWNSHIP.
THAT TO ME, THERE'S A QUESTION OF, OF WHY IT IS NUMBER ONE, SOFTBALL GETS THE MOST MONEY.
WHY DOES M YAS GETTING THE MONEY AT ALL? AND AND NOBODY WOULD'VE ASKED A QUESTION AT ALL.
IMAGINE IF I DIDN'T COME TWO WEEKS AGO AND, AND SAY, HEY, TAKE A LOOK AT THESE FORMS. BY THE WAY, YOUR SOLICITOR STATED THAT THE FORMS DIDN'T SAY THERE WAS A REVOCATION WHEN THE FORM ITSELF WAS A REVOCATION LETTER.
AND THEN SHE CORRECTED HERSELF LATER.
YOUR NEWSPAPER, FOR SOME REASON, CLAIMS I ALLEGE THESE WERE NINE, NINE OR A FORMS SENT TO THE MYAI DON'T ALLEGE NOTHING.
IT'S COMING FROM THE IRS, THOSE FORMS FROM THE IRS.
HE THEN I ASKED FOR A, UH, CORRECTION.
THE PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE THEN DOESN'T EVEN MAKE A CORRECTION.
DOES ANOTHER WORD PLAY ON IT? TO, TO TRY AND ACT AS IF THESE, UH, IF THESE FORMS THAT CAME FROM THE IRS WERE, UH, IMPLIED BY ME.
THE FIRST AMENDMENT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
MAKING LAWS IS LIKE MAKING SAUSAGE.
BUT TO ACT AS IF YOUR SON'S GONNA COME HOME FROM KOREA BECAUSE SOMEBODY CAME UP HERE AND QUESTIONED YOU, YOU NEED TO GET A DIFFERENT JOB LADY.
YOU DON'T TALK TO HER LIKE THAT.
I WILL TALK TO HER JUST LIKE I'D LIKE.
SHE'S A, SEE, THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE.
LISTEN, I ALREADY HAVE, I ALREADY HAVE A TOR CLAIM AGAINST YOUR TOWNSHIP BECAUSE YOUR ATTORNEYS CALLED ME A JERK OFF ON THE RECORD TWICE.
OKAY? HE HERE I WAS THEN REMOVED.
I WAS THEN REMOVED BY YOUR POLICE THE LAST MEETING.
BY THE WAY, THE REASON WHY YOUR DECORUM BROKE IN THE LAST MEETING IS YOU GAVE THE FIRST SPEAKER 29 MINUTES.
YOU SHOULD HAVE CUT HIM OFF AT FIVE MINUTES.
YOU COULD HAVE YOU, DIDN'T YOU THEN LET EVERY SPEAKER GO AFTER THAT? YEAH.
WHAT, WHAT'S THE TIME? FOUR MINUTES, HUH? 20 SECONDS OR LESS.
AND THEN I GET MY EXTRA MINUTE LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.
UM, LISTEN, THE FIRST AMENDMENT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
THE FIRST AMENDMENT GIVES US SEVERAL RIGHTS, RIGHT? GIVE THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF RELIGION, RIGHT? THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH, THE RIGHT TO, FOR THE PRESS, WHICH IS WHY I DO WHAT I DO AND ASK THESE QUESTIONS.
'CAUSE THE PRESS IS OBVIOUSLY BROKEN.
WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A MEDIA UP, SIR.
SO I'M NOT GONNA GET MY EXTRA MINUTE.
SO YOU'RE MR. DUFF, YOU'RE NOT, I'M JUST MAKING SURE YOU'RE NOT PROVIDING THE SAME MR. WORK OF DISCRETION TO THE CHAIR WHO RUNS THE MEETING, SO YOU'RE NOT PROVIDING THE SAME DISCRETION.
PLEASE SIT DOWN BECAUSE I'M QUESTIONING YOU.
MIKE, YOU SHOULD RECUSE HERSELF.
WHAT, WHAT HAPPENED WHEN YOU WERE THE COMMISSIONER? HOW MANY TIMES DO WE HAVE TO SAY THIS? WHAT HAPPENED WHEN YOU WERE THE COMMISSIONER? MIKE? IT'S AMAZING.
YOU'LL LET THIS GUY TALK ABOUT NOTHING.
BUT WHEN YOU'RE BEING QUESTIONED, YOU'RE GONNA HIT THE GAVEL, MR. YOU'RE GONNA, YOU'RE GONNA, YOU'RE GONNA SEE MORE OF ME.
WHAT HAPPENED THOSE FOUR YEARS? MIKE, I'M SO SORRY.
HELLO, MY NAME'S HEATHER HUDSON.
I LIVE AT 13 MILTON DRIVE HERE IN MEDFORD.
UM, I JUST HAVE ONE QUICK QUESTION.
I UNDERSTAND DEVELOPMENT TIMELINES CHANGE AND JUST 'CAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF ANXIETY AND DISCUSSION.
UM, WOULD IT BE REASONABLE TO GET A PROJECTED TIMELINE FOR THE FOUR NEIGHBORHOODS? UM, FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE SHOVEL TO GROUND, UM, WHEN DO FIRST GROUPS MAYBE MOVE IN AND, UM, WHAT THE PHASES MAY LOOK LIKE? UH, ANTICIPATION FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE BUILD OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
UM, AND IF YOU CAN'T DO IT, WHICH IS OKAY IF YOU CAN'T DO IT, BUT WHEN, WHEN COULD THE TOWN MAYBE EXPECT TO GET SOME TIMELINES? THANK YOU.
UM, I COULD, I THINK I COULD PROBABLY HELP WITH MR. HALL.
PROBABLY CAN GO IN, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THE FLYING W HAD A BUILD OUT, UH, TO POTENTIALLY BE DONE BEFORE THE END OF THE THIRD ROUND.
OBVIOUSLY THAT BUILD OUT HASN'T EVEN COMMENCED YET.
UM, SO THERE IS KIND OF PROJECTIONS THAT WE ARE PROVIDED.
AND THEN, UM, UH, OVERALL, UM, ITEMS ARE KIND OF YIELDED THROUGH VARIOUS APPROVALS.
SO, AND MR KNOW IS INVOLVED IN THOSE APPROVALS.
SO THE FIRST, UH, UM, SUBMISSION, UH, WE'VE BEEN TOLD WILL BE THE FINE W AND THAT'S GONNA BE COMING IN SEPTEMBER OR OCTOBER.
I THINK THE OTHER THREE WILL FOLLOW, UM, EARLY NEXT YEAR, LATE THIS YEAR, EARLY NEXT YEAR.
UH, IT'LL PROBABLY TAKE FOUR TO SIX MONTHS TO GO THROUGH EACH
[03:30:01]
ONE OF THEM.WE HAVE TIMELINES THAT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW TOO, SO WE CAN'T, JUST CAN'T KEEP GOING ON IT.
UH, THEN THEY HAVE TO BRING THE PLANS IN CONFORMANCE.
THEY HAVE TO POST BONDS, THEY HAVE TO GET EVERYTHING READY TO CONSTRUCT.
THEY'RE NOT GONNA BUILD 200 UNITS A YEAR.
MAYBE THEY'LL BUILD A HUNDRED A YEAR.
DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? YEAH, I MEAN, UM, I'M SORRY I'M SITTING.
YOU COME BACK YOURSELF SOME TIME.
IT HELPS BECAUSE, BUT JUST WHEN YOU SAY 10 YEARS, IT'S, YOU KNOW, IF YOU SAID FLYING W IS GONNA BE THIS YEAR, POSSIBLY TO THIS YEAR, AND THEN THE NEXT ONE'S LIKE HOW YOU ENVISION THEM, I WOULD SAY IN A LONGER GRAPH, I WOULD SAY, THIS IS IT.
AND I BELIEVE TRIALER KEY WOULD BE NEXT AND EITHER, UH, STALL OPPOSITE AT KIRBY'S MILL.
AND AS THESE DEVELOP, AS THESE THINGS DEVELOP, WE'LL, WE'LL OBVIOUSLY BE ABLE TO GET, PROVIDE YOU MORE ACCURATE INFORMATION.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE STILL IN THIS VERY PRELIMINARY PHASE.
SURE NOT MEAN ABOUT TWO MINUTES.
EARL STAHL 25 FOSTER TOWN ROAD.
UM, MR. NOLL, THE TIMEFRAMES FOR SUBMISSIONS ARE VERY ACCURATE.
UM, KIND OF A TAKEN BACK NUMBER ONE.
MAYBE WE OUGHT TO SAVE ON UTILITY BILL.
I'VE BEEN AWAY FOR A MONTH OR SO, BUT MY GOD, MY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON HERE, BUT, UH, MAYBE WE COULD SAVE A FEW HUNDRED THOUSAND ON THE UTILITY BILL, BUT, UH, CHRIS BEEN HERE 39 YEARS.
HAS THERE EVER BEEN A DEVELOPMENT RELATED TO COA COUNCIL ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE PRIOR ROUNDS THAT HAD A WATER TOWER? WE'LL ANSWER THAT.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S MY FIRST QUESTION.
I'M THE CONTRACT BUYER OF ONE OF THE PROJECTS AND I'M THE OWNER OF THE OTHER.
I PICKED THE R HORTON BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN THAT COMPANY.
I UNDERSTAND WHAT MR. NDI AND EVERYONE'S SAYING NO ONE WANTED THESE HOMES, BUT THEY HAD TO HAPPEN SOMEWHERE.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, 13 MILLION IN SPECIAL ASSESSMENT BONDS FOR WORK THAT DR HORTON'S GONNA PUT IN INTO THINGS AROUND THIS TOWN.
NO ONE TALKS ABOUT, I'M FREEZING, SO I'M GOTTA GET MY BREATH HERE.
THAT'S THEIR DECISION TO MAKE THAT DONATION.
THAT REALLY HAS, YEAH, THE TOWNSHIP ISN'T SAYING YOU GIVE US 1.8 MILLION TO MYAA, THAT'S DR HORTON DECIDING TO WANNA MAKE THAT CONTRIBUTION.
SO THAT'S, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT ARE BEING SAID HERE REALLY AREN'T RIGHT IN ROUND TWO, THREE, OR FOUR HAS ANY DEVELOPER CONTRIBUTED THE KINDS OF DOLLARS THAT THIS COMPANY IS CONTRIBUTING TO THESE OTHER PROJECTS AWARDED WATER TOWER $8 MILLION.
THEY'RE GONNA PRE-FUND AND DEVELOP A WATER TOWER OUT OF THEIR POCKET.
OKAY? AFTER THAT WATER TOWER'S PAID OFF, THERE MAY BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THIS TOWNSHIP TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CAPACITY THAT THAT TOWN, THAT THAT COMPANY IS GONNA BUILD FOR OUR TOWN.
HEY, WE DON'T WANT HOMES, BUT THERE'S GONNA BE AROUND FIVE, THERE'S GONNA BE AROUND SIX, IT'S NEEDED.
IT'S GONNA BE, IT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
WHO DOES THAT? THAT'S WHY I CHOSE DR. HORTON.
[03:35:08]
CHRIS, YOU'RE THE TOWNSHIP ENGINEER.MANY TOWNS OVER YOUR LIFETIME OF SERVICE AS A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER TOWNS THAT YOU KNOW OF, TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS SINCE CO HAS BEEN AROUND THAT HAS HAD A DEVELOPER CONTRIBUTE TO KIND OF DOLLARS THAT DR HORTON IS PLANNING ON CONTRIBUTING? UH, I, I, WE'LL ANSWER.
THAT'S AND LAST THING IS THE FLYING W ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PROJECTS.
THINK ABOUT WHAT THAT COMPANY DID FOR THIS TOWN.
IT WAS A PROJECT THAT WAS NOT AGE RESTRICTED.
IT WAS A MARKET RATE PROJECT THAT HAS 90 AFFORDABLE HOUSES ASSOCIATED TO IT.
THAT SET ASIDE AS NOT EVEN CLOSE TO WHAT WAS REQUIRED IN ROUND THREE.
I KNOW IT'S MAKING SOMEBODY UNCOMFORTABLE HERE, I DON'T KNOW, TAKE IT UPON THEMSELVES TO CHANGE IT TO SENIORS TO HELP THE SCHOOL SYSTEM OUT, BUT YET KEEPS THE 90 AFFORDABLES.
WAIT ONE MINUTE, SIR, THAT ARE REGULAR MARKET RATE OR NOT MARKET RATE.
THEY'RE 90 AFFORDABLES ON A PROJECT THAT IS NOTHING BUT SENIORS.
IT'S ABSOLUTELY TO ME, PEOPLE CAN DISPUTE WHETHER THEY'RE A GREAT BUILDER OR NOT, BUT WHAT THEY'VE DONE AND WHAT THEY WILL DO FOR THIS TOWN IS SOMETHING PRETTY POSITIVE.
UM, SO WE'LL ADDRESS MR. STALLS QUESTIONS? WATER TOWER.
UH, I MEAN, I, I'LL LET MR. NOLL GO FIRST.
HE HAS MORE EXPERIENCE THAN ME, BUT IT, IT'S, I MEAN, I WOULD SAY WE NEED TO LOOK, I MEAN, IT'S A REGIONAL APPROACH.
THERE, THERE ARE THINGS THAT WOULD HAPPEN IN NORTH JERSEY BUT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN IN SOUTH JERSEY.
TO THOSE THAT BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A CENTRAL JERSEY, WHAT HAPPENS IN CENTRAL JERSEY IS NOT GONNA BE THE SAME AS, UH, SOUTH JERSEY.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE'S VARYING ITEMS. I MEAN, THERE'S SPECIFIC ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN TALKED ABOUT.
OUR NEIGHBORS, UM, AND DEALS THAT ARE CURRENTLY BEING WORKED ON.
MOST OF THE DEALS HAVE ALREADY BEEN DONE AND SIGNED AND SEALED BY.
THERE'S PROBABLY A HANDFUL OF TOWNS THAT ARE STILL LEFT.
SO MR. NOLL, SO ON THE, ON THE WATER TOWER, THE, UH, SAMOS DEVELOPMENT WAS, WAS TO REQUIRED TO BUILD A WATER TOWER.
UM, NOT UNDER THE SAME SITUATION AS HERE BECAUSE THE TOWN WAS, UH, CONTRIBUTING SOME TO THAT.
UM, BUT THE WATER TOWER MAKE, JUST TO MAKE IT CLEAR, WE DON'T NEED A NEW WATER TOWER TODAY.
WE'LL NEED A NEW WATER TOWER WHEN THESE DEVELOPMENTS ARE BUILT.
THAT'S WHY THE DEVELOPERS PAYING FOR IT AND HE SHOULD PAY FOR IT.
I HAVE ANOTHER, I REPRESENT PEMBERTON TOWNSHIP.
KHA IS COMING IN, THEY'RE BUILDING A WATER TOWER, THEY'RE PAYING FOR IT.
SO, UM, I DON'T, I THINK THAT'S THE ONLY QUESTION ORLE HAD.
I, I'M NOT SURE WHAT OTHER QUESTIONS HE HAD OR SOMETHING ABOUT HOW MUCH, UH, THE CONTRIBUTION RATES BETWEEN I, I, I'D RATHER NOT TALK ABOUT THAT.
'CAUSE I MAY NOT KNOW WHAT THE OTHER TOWNS DID.
AND, AND WE COULD DEFINITELY LOOK INTO HOW METFORD FARED COMPARED TO OTHER LOCAL TOWNS.
WHEN THIS ALL SHAKES OUT, IT'S, IT'S WHAT WE GAIN FROM, LISTEN, WE'RE NOT TRYING TO COMPARE TOWNS.
IT'S WHAT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE LOOK AT THE TOWNS AROUND US.
NOT EVERY TOWN HAS, UM, THE SAME DEVELOPER THAT IS, IS GOING IN.
UM, I WOULD SAY OUR NEIGHBORS TO THE NORTH ARE, ARE STILL GOING THROUGH THEIR PROCESS.
IT'S, IT'S BEEN REPORTED, UM, ABOUT WHAT POTENTIALLY WOULD BE YIELDED THERE AND, AND WHAT DEALS THEY MIGHT HAVE.
BUT THEN THAT'S CASE SPECIFIC.
IT'S A LARGE DEVELOPMENT THAT'S, THAT'S ON ONE PARCEL.
SO, UM, OURS IS MULTIPLE PARCELS, UH, WITH A LARGE NUMBER.
UM, AND SO WHEN LOOKING AT THOSE, IT'S, IT, IT, IT TO WHAT MR. KNOWLES SAID EARLIER, IT CAN'T HAPPEN ALL AT ONCE.
UM, BUT IT NEEDS TO GO THROUGH APPROVAL PROCESSES, IT NEEDS TO DO THAT.
AND WE CAN, WE CAN GET FIRMED UP NUMBERS AND, AND TIMELINES FROM, UM, FROM THE, UH, THE PROPERTY OWNERS WHO HAVE THE CONTRACT WITH THE, UH, WITH THE DEVELOPER TO, TO TRY AND UNDERSTAND HOW IT'S GONNA BE ROLLED OUT.
BUT IT'S NOT EVEN WHEN MR. NOEL STATED, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY
[03:40:01]
FLYING W COMING IN FOURTH QUARTER OF THIS YEAR FOR SUBMITTAL, IT STILL NEEDS TO BE REVIEWED.THEN IT GOES ON AND APPROVED, THEN IT GOES TO THE COUNTY PLANNING BOARD, AND THEN THERE'S, YOU KNOW, VARYING VARIATIONS.
IT, IT'S, THEY STILL HAVE TO GET DEP PERMITS FOR DEP PERMITS FOR WATER EXTENSION, SEWER EXTENSION, THAT'S ALL THAT TAKES TIME.
SO ALL OF THAT IS GONNA TAKE TIME, UM, BEFORE SHOVELS IN THE GROUND.
SO, UM, WE ARE REALLY 30% DONE A PROCESS, UH, UH, FOR A FOURTH ROUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, MAINLY FOURTH ROUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UH, TOPIC.
SO THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ITEMS FROM THE APPROVAL PROCESS THAT COULD NECESSITATE A DIFFERENT BUILD OUT STRUCTURE.
UM, BUT WE'LL, WE'LL, WE WILL ENTERTAIN AND SEE WHAT WE CAN GET FROM, FROM THAT AND, AND PUBLICLY REPORT THAT TO THE, TO THE TOWN SO THAT THEY, THEY HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING.
AGAIN, MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE KNOWS THAT IT IS SUBJECT TO THOSE BOARD APPROVALS AND, AND GRANT AND, AND THE STATE AGENCIES GIVING THEIR PERMITS.
WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK DURING PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING NONE.
RIGHT NOW WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE CLERK'S REPORT THAT WE DON'T HAVE ONE.
UM, ON THE BILLS LIST, WE HAVE
[X. BILL LIST ]
TWO BILLS LIST.WE HAVE AN AUGUST 5TH, 2026 BILLS LIST AND AN AUGUST 7TH, 2026 BILLS LIST.
ANY QUESTIONS OR QUESTION, UH, OR COMMENTS ON THE BILLS LIST? MOTION TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED.
ALL IN FAVOR A AYE, BILLS TO START APPROVED NOW WE HAVE CONSENT.
[ XI. CONSENT AGENDA RESOLUTIONS ]
RESOLUTIONS, RESOLUTION 1 47 20 26 AUTHORIZING CANCELLATION OF 2026.PROPERTY TAXES ON PROPERTIES OWNED BY QUALIFIED TOTALLY DISABLED EXEMPT VETERANS RESOLUTION 1 48 20 26 AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF ONE ELGIN BROOM BEAR STREET SWEEPER FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND MUNICIPAL UTILITIES.
HAVE I GOT THAT RIGHT? UH, RESOLUTION 1 49 20 26 AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF ONE VECTOR 2100 I COMBINATION SEWER CLEANER FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND MUNICIPAL UTILITIES RESOLUTION 1 50 20 26 ESTABLISHING THE METFORD TOWNSHIP MASTER PLAN STEERING COMMITTEE RESOLUTION 1 51 20 26 AUTHORIZING BOARD OF CONTRACT FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL BILLING SERVICES, RESOLUTION 1 52 20 26 AUTHORIZING MILFORD TOWNSHIP TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH BURLINGTON COUNTY FOR THE COOPERATIVE PARTICIPATION IN THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 1974 AND RESOLUTION 1 53 20 26 AUTHORIZING A SHARED SERVICE AGREEMENT FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLE MAINTENANCE SERVICES WITH MOUNT LAUREL FIRE DISTRICT NUMBER ONE.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON, ON THE CONSENT AGENDA RESOLUTIONS? I, I DO HAVE, MAY I SAY SOMETHING? YES, SURE.
I WAS GONNA TALK ABOUT RESOLUTION 1 50 20 26, UM, MEDFORD, SHIP MASTER PLAN STEERING COMMITTEE.
UM, WE'RE INSTITUTING THAT, NOT BECAUSE WE FEEL WE HAVE TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT.
'CAUSE I I THINK WE ARE TRANSPARENT ALREADY.
OF COURSE, WE COULD ALWAYS BE MORE SO, BUT TO INCLUDE MORE OF OUR CITIZENS, OUR RESIDENTS IN WHAT WE'RE DOING SO THEY CAN, WE WON'T HAVE THESE KIND OF ARGUMENTS WHILE YOU'RE DOING THIS.
HOPEFULLY YOU'LL UNDERSTAND THAT MANY TIMES OUR HANDS ARE TIED.
WE HAVE TO LIVE IN THE CONSTRAINTS OF THE LAW AND, AND POLITICIANS.
AND HOPEFULLY IF WE GET TOGETHER AND HAVE DIFFERENT PEOPLE FROM VARIOUS PARTS OF THE COMMUNITY GET TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE DECISIONS TOGETHER.
UM, ANOTHER THING I WANTED TO SAY, AND IT JUST AS EVERYBODY WAS SITTING HERE IS TALKING ABOUT ALL THESE HOMES, AND I DON'T WANT THEM HERE EITHER, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN HERE FOREVER.
BUT, UM, IT'S ALSO GONNA BE A, A SHOT IN THE ARM FOR THE ECONOMY ACROSS THE STATE.
THERE'LL BE NEW JOBS FOR, AND WE'RE COMPLAINING OUR KIDS CAN'T FIND JOBS.
THERE'LL BE JOBS IN THE COMMUNITY.
THEY'LL BE MORE, UH, RATEABLES.
THEY'LL BE JUST, IN A WAY IT'S NEGATIVE, BUT IN ANOTHER WAY IT'S POSITIVE AND ANOTHER WAY IT'S THE FUTURE.
AND I HAVE ONE MORE THING TO SAY TO MARYANNE JUST ABOUT TIME.
UM, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE GIRLS SOFTBALL TEAM.
MY HUSBAND AND I WAY BACK, UM, INSTITUTED THE FIRST GIRLS SOCCER TEAM.
AND AT THE TIME THERE WAS NO GIRLS' SOCCER.
AND I COACHED, I NEVER PLAYED SOCCER MYLA FOR REALLY ANY SPORT EXCEPT BADMINTON.
WE STARTED A TEAM, WE HAD TO PLAY TRAVELING TEAM.
AND LOOK WHERE IT'S COME TODAY.
THE GIRLS ARE EQUAL TO BOYS AND A KICK IN BUTT.
SO, UM, I UNDERSTAND WHAT MIRIAM WAS SAYING.
WE HAVE TO LOOK OUT FOR ALL THE KIDS.
I I JUST WANNA SAY THAT I, I APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS TO, TO GET US TO THIS POINT WHERE WE HAVE A RESOLUTION AND IT IS, I MEAN, WE, WE'VE, WE TALKED ABOUT HOW WE CAN GET THE PUBLIC MORE INVOLVED.
THERE'S NOTHING MORE SIGNIFICANT THAN THE MASTER PLAN.
AND THIS, THIS COMMITTEE WILL REALLY HELP GUIDE HOW MEDFORD OPERATES
[03:45:01]
OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS.THE GUIDELINES, THE PLANNING BOARD FOLLOWS AND SUCH.
SO I WANT, I DO WANNA THANK YOU FOR THAT.
WELL, WE'LL ALL WORK TOGETHER, HOPEFULLY.
UH, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON CONSENT AND AGENDA RESOLUTIONS? NO.
GREAT CONSENT AGENDA RESOLUTIONS ARE APPROVED.
WE WILL NOW MOVE TO, UH, WE'LL TAKE THESE ONE AT A TIME.
[ XII. RESOLUTIONS ]
AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE METFORD TOWNSHIP PLANNING BOARD TO CONDUCT A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION OF PROPERTIES WITHIN THE OF THE METFORD TOWNSHIP COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL ZONE ZONING DISTRICT IN THE AREA OF THE INTERSECTION OF CHURCH ROAD AND MEDFORD, MOUNT HOLLY ROAD, BURLINGTON COUNTY, ROUTE 5 41 FOR THE POTENTIAL DESIGNATION AS AN REHABILITATION AREA.UM, THIS IS THE DESIGNATION OF 2 0 3 METFORD MOUNT HOLLY ROAD, 1 99 CHURCH ROAD AND 2 0 5 METFORD MOUNT HOLLY ROAD.
IT'S MEANT TO ENCOURAGE PRIVATE INVESTMENT TO CREATE NEW RATEABLES AND NEW JOB OPPORTUNITIES.
ANY QUESTIONS? NO MOTION TO APPROVE.
MY, MY VOICE IS GOING FROM TALKING
WHERE THAT RESOLUTION IS NOW PASSED.
AND NOW WE ARE MOVING ON TO RESOLUTION 1 55 20 26, WHICH WE ADDED TO THE AGENDA BACK DURING THE DISCUSSION ITEMS. THIS RESOLUTION IS CERTIFYING RECEIPT OF THE 20, UM, SORRY, OF THE 2025 AUDIT, ANNUAL AUDIT.
UM, MS. SAN? YES, MR. COX? AYE.
THAT RESOLUTION IS NOW PASSED AND WE WILL MOVE TO EXECUTIVE
[ XIII. EXECUTIVE SESSION ]
SESSION RESOLUTION ES OH 8 1 1 20 26 MATTERS RELATED TO ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE.LITIGATION MATTERS RELATED TO CONTRACT NEGOTIATION, LITIGATION AND MATTERS RELATED TO PERSONNEL.
THIS TIME WE'LL GO TO EXECUTIVE.
I WOULD EXPECT WE, WE WE'RE GONNA NEED SOME TIME, AN HOUR, HOUR PLUS AND A HALF, UM, ACTION TAKEN.
UM, BUT I DO SUSPECT THAT DISCUSSION WOULD BE ABOUT HOUR, HOUR, HOUR, HOUR AND A HALF.
UH, YOU CAN, YOU'RE WELCOME TO STAY, UH, WE'LL RECONVENE YOU OPEN PORTION AT THAT TIME.
I WILL RECONVENE THE OPEN PORTION PUBLIC MEETING.
UM, WE DISCUSSED ALL THE MATTERS ON THE EXECUTIVE SESSION RESOLUTION AND NO ACTIONS WERE TAKEN.