1 00:00:00,060 --> 00:00:03,220 We're Thursday, July 11th, 2026. 2 00:00:03,340 --> 00:00:04,590 June. 3 00:00:04,590 --> 00:00:05,060 June. Sorry. 4 00:00:06,880 --> 00:00:09,480 We'll have the pledge of allegiance at the regular council meeting. 5 00:00:11,940 --> 00:00:12,800 Roll call, please. 6 00:00:13,760 --> 00:00:14,930 Council President Bilotta? 7 00:00:15,300 --> 00:00:15,559 Here. 8 00:00:16,200 --> 00:00:17,040 Councilman Cummings? 9 00:00:17,080 --> 00:00:17,200 Here. 10 00:00:17,780 --> 00:00:18,560 Councilman Howell? 11 00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:19,160 Here. 12 00:00:19,540 --> 00:00:22,980 Councilman Miller? He's not going to be here this evening. Councilman Wilkinson? 13 00:00:23,740 --> 00:00:24,140 Present. 14 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:25,460 Councilman Scratis? 15 00:00:25,660 --> 00:00:25,820 Here. 16 00:00:26,380 --> 00:00:30,200 Mayor Miller? Here. Also present with us this evening, Solicitor 17 00:00:30,300 --> 00:00:30,760 Howard Long. 18 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:31,260 Here. 19 00:00:31,540 --> 00:00:32,660 Administrator Anne Marie Miller? 20 00:00:32,980 --> 00:00:33,129 Here. 21 00:00:34,340 --> 00:00:34,900 I am present. 22 00:00:35,820 --> 00:00:36,280 Thank you. 23 00:00:36,580 --> 00:00:37,040 You're welcome. 24 00:00:38,220 --> 00:00:38,980 We'll move on to... 25 00:00:41,740 --> 00:00:42,540 If you guys don't mind, we have 26 00:00:43,860 --> 00:00:45,190 Luciano's here to talk about- 27 00:00:46,100 --> 00:00:47,500 Okay ... so we'll let him go first before the- 28 00:00:48,440 --> 00:00:52,320 Yeah ... before the meetings. Good? All right. 29 00:00:52,330 --> 00:00:52,840 Yeah. You 30 00:00:52,860 --> 00:00:56,710 want 31 00:00:57,060 --> 00:01:00,880 to come up? Yeah. Just, yeah, you can go to the 32 00:01:00,900 --> 00:01:03,180 podium if you'd 33 00:01:03,200 --> 00:01:07,120 like. Yeah. 34 00:01:07,410 --> 00:01:07,410 Yeah. 35 00:01:08,620 --> 00:01:12,110 We know who you are, but could you state, we don't need an address, just a name for 36 00:01:12,140 --> 00:01:12,940 the record, please. 37 00:01:13,100 --> 00:01:14,280 Luciano Lamberti. 38 00:01:15,620 --> 00:01:16,380 And sir? 39 00:01:17,640 --> 00:01:18,420 Keith Ludwig. 40 00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:19,259 Mr. 41 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:20,200 Ludwig. 42 00:01:24,020 --> 00:01:27,650 Anyone else? Not 43 00:01:27,650 --> 00:01:30,300 here. Now is not the time to be shy, gentlemen. 44 00:01:30,380 --> 00:01:30,850 To talk now? 45 00:01:30,890 --> 00:01:31,780 Say what's on your minds. 46 00:01:31,860 --> 00:01:35,320 Is that what I'm doing? Okay. I have his Pasta Vino, 47 00:01:36,060 --> 00:01:40,000 pretty much sold to somebody. Well, the business end of it, not the building, 48 00:01:40,060 --> 00:01:43,680 because he doesn't own the building, to a place called The Dugout in 49 00:01:43,740 --> 00:01:46,160 Philadelphia. Very successful sports bar. 50 00:01:46,620 --> 00:01:48,640 They're going to maintain the same concept here. 51 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:52,420 They do a lot of sandwiches and wings, things like that. 52 00:01:53,220 --> 00:01:57,080 They bring a lot of ball players from the Phillies and Eagles and 53 00:01:57,120 --> 00:01:59,960 all that around to watch the games with. 54 00:02:00,500 --> 00:02:01,700 And they actually do a 55 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:06,040 podcast out of their one over there, which, of course, they're going to replicate 56 00:02:06,100 --> 00:02:06,340 here. 57 00:02:07,080 --> 00:02:09,489 Has the landlord been, has the property owner been- 58 00:02:09,521 --> 00:02:10,680 I've been talking to Kim. 59 00:02:10,980 --> 00:02:14,940 Okay, because they're trying to sell it, because we put a condemnation order in. 60 00:02:15,420 --> 00:02:15,560 Yeah. 61 00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:20,260 So I don't know what the plans are for the building. Have they... 62 00:02:21,060 --> 00:02:24,920 Well, the last time I spoke to her, she said to me that the 63 00:02:25,020 --> 00:02:27,360 one side was not going to 64 00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:29,040 be affected- 65 00:02:29,100 --> 00:02:29,109 Okay 66 00:02:29,109 --> 00:02:32,480 ... from the plans that were approved back in the day. 67 00:02:32,540 --> 00:02:33,140 Okay. 68 00:02:33,180 --> 00:02:36,940 With the townhouses and apartments. 69 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:37,780 Okay. 70 00:02:37,840 --> 00:02:39,420 Which would be only the front side. 71 00:02:39,450 --> 00:02:41,690 So they're intending to keep the restaurant and the- 72 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:42,140 Correct. 73 00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:43,010 The strip side. Yeah. 74 00:02:43,030 --> 00:02:45,540 And they had, I think, two pad sides out front. 75 00:02:45,660 --> 00:02:47,480 I don't know if that still stands. 76 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:51,440 Okay. 77 00:02:51,560 --> 00:02:51,810 And 78 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:55,090 the winter was not really that kind to the building. 79 00:02:55,180 --> 00:02:58,940 It has a couple of broken pipes, things like that, and he needs to 80 00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:04,180 replace the two 12 and a half ton units up on top in order 81 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:06,380 for the other two gentlemen to move in. 82 00:03:06,900 --> 00:03:07,080 Mm-hmm. 83 00:03:07,900 --> 00:03:11,360 It's going to take about 60 to 90 days to get the units. 84 00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:13,260 I don't know if you know there's a shortage. 85 00:03:13,500 --> 00:03:14,100 Yeah. 86 00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:17,560 And other than that, that's exactly where he's at. 87 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:20,160 Yeah. 88 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:26,700 In August of 2024, the law changed on 89 00:03:26,740 --> 00:03:27,740 pocket licenses. 90 00:03:28,120 --> 00:03:28,420 I know. 91 00:03:28,520 --> 00:03:32,380 And I believe you closed sometime in '23, which means you applied for 92 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:35,860 '24, it's fine, '25, and you've applied again for 93 00:03:35,870 --> 00:03:36,600 '26. 94 00:03:39,080 --> 00:03:42,000 So they used to be able to carry on forever. 95 00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:43,680 Now the municipality, 96 00:03:45,180 --> 00:03:49,100 if they go two full cycles when they're in pocket for two years, which I think 97 00:03:49,140 --> 00:03:50,040 you've completed, 98 00:03:50,880 --> 00:03:51,680 the third one 99 00:03:52,760 --> 00:03:56,340 is not an automatic renewal. You have to ask the 100 00:03:56,400 --> 00:03:58,700 municipality to extend an additional year. 101 00:03:59,560 --> 00:04:03,480 And so in order to do that, we just want 102 00:04:03,520 --> 00:04:07,460 some assurances that it just... When it's not sitting there, when we have a 103 00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:11,080 liquor license that's sitting in pocket, which means it's not being 104 00:04:11,180 --> 00:04:14,940 used, you're not generating revenue, we're not generating 105 00:04:15,480 --> 00:04:18,800 more of a tax base and income for the municipality, 106 00:04:19,421 --> 00:04:21,041 because they have value, right? 107 00:04:21,110 --> 00:04:21,110 Right. 108 00:04:21,120 --> 00:04:25,020 Liquor licenses have value. So while they could approve it this 109 00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:25,400 time, 110 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:29,690 I got to tell you, if you come back next year in the same position, 111 00:04:31,340 --> 00:04:34,580 they don't have any options. It's just going to lapse at that point. 112 00:04:34,680 --> 00:04:38,220 And then if it goes eight years in pocket, 113 00:04:38,940 --> 00:04:42,780 then the town can actually just take it back and sell it itself so that it 114 00:04:42,820 --> 00:04:46,120 can be reused. So there's been a lot of changes in the law. 115 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:49,560 But they really have given you to August, 116 00:04:50,460 --> 00:04:52,420 I believe, of 2028. 117 00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:54,270 Right. I think it says- 118 00:04:54,280 --> 00:04:55,660 I think that's the date 119 00:04:57,680 --> 00:05:01,570 for you to comply with it, and for the mandatory rules to come into 120 00:05:01,660 --> 00:05:04,980 effect. But we can only keep passing this along 121 00:05:05,580 --> 00:05:06,220 so every... 122 00:05:09,200 --> 00:05:12,940 Our ability to just continue ad infinitum is no 123 00:05:13,020 --> 00:05:14,980 longer based upon the change of law. 124 00:05:15,080 --> 00:05:17,920 So this would be the last one that you could get. 125 00:05:17,980 --> 00:05:18,460 So I know- 126 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:22,500 And the compliance is based on an open and operating under the guidelines 127 00:05:22,560 --> 00:05:24,340 of the license at the location. 128 00:05:24,440 --> 00:05:24,880 Yeah. And we- 129 00:05:24,890 --> 00:05:24,890 Okay 130 00:05:24,890 --> 00:05:28,840 ... what we want to know b- basically is, how quick can we 131 00:05:28,880 --> 00:05:31,700 turn around we're going to see a business in there using the license? 132 00:05:32,120 --> 00:05:32,840 I would think that- 133 00:05:33,440 --> 00:05:33,600 Go ahead. 134 00:05:33,610 --> 00:05:34,200 Do you want to answer? 135 00:05:34,780 --> 00:05:34,790 Go ahead. 136 00:05:34,880 --> 00:05:38,390 I would think that you're probably looking at September for football season, 137 00:05:39,360 --> 00:05:42,160 because he's got some renovations to do in there, because he's not going to be an 138 00:05:42,200 --> 00:05:44,900 Italian restaurant. Everything is based on that right now. 139 00:05:45,580 --> 00:05:48,620 He's been in the facility three or four times. 140 00:05:49,060 --> 00:05:50,360 He's actually bringing another 141 00:05:50,440 --> 00:05:54,340 engineer regarding the deck 142 00:05:54,380 --> 00:05:58,240 outside or in the patio outside. He wants to enclose that in order to 143 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:01,740 have parties and things there. And I think that would be a big 144 00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:03,620 attribute to your township. 145 00:06:04,520 --> 00:06:07,760 I don't know if you know the place. It's a very, very busy bar 146 00:06:09,344 --> 00:06:11,304 They handle a clientele that's more 147 00:06:12,404 --> 00:06:13,824 middle-aged. It's not 148 00:06:15,024 --> 00:06:17,564 like there's going to be dances there or anything like that. 149 00:06:17,864 --> 00:06:18,004 No. 150 00:06:18,024 --> 00:06:19,164 What's the name of them? 151 00:06:19,194 --> 00:06:19,864 The Dugout. 152 00:06:23,264 --> 00:06:24,844 Yeah. If- 153 00:06:24,924 --> 00:06:25,324 I understand 154 00:06:25,364 --> 00:06:27,844 ... we're standing here a year from now, we're going to be- 155 00:06:28,844 --> 00:06:30,404 No, I think it'll be done by then. 156 00:06:30,434 --> 00:06:31,424 Let me help you. 157 00:06:31,444 --> 00:06:34,104 The minimum we're going to have to wait is August for the 158 00:06:35,564 --> 00:06:39,404 units to be placed up on the roof. And some of the roof needs to be repaired as 159 00:06:39,464 --> 00:06:39,554 well. 160 00:06:39,574 --> 00:06:41,704 Do you have it under contract with The Dugout yet? 161 00:06:42,064 --> 00:06:42,364 Not yet. 162 00:06:42,564 --> 00:06:45,404 Not yet. We're getting there. We're negotiating the price. 163 00:06:46,644 --> 00:06:47,764 But they definitely want it. 164 00:06:48,584 --> 00:06:50,784 They've been my client for 15 years. 165 00:06:52,964 --> 00:06:54,404 So anyway. 166 00:06:54,584 --> 00:06:55,804 Yeah. Any questions? 167 00:06:56,744 --> 00:06:57,264 Hurry up. 168 00:06:58,074 --> 00:06:59,103 Hurry up. Okay. 169 00:06:59,304 --> 00:07:01,294 Yeah. Thanks for coming in and- 170 00:07:01,604 --> 00:07:05,204 Wait till you see the roast beef thing. It's a big thing. It really is. 171 00:07:05,664 --> 00:07:06,504 Any questions of us? 172 00:07:08,284 --> 00:07:09,284 You guys are good? 173 00:07:09,424 --> 00:07:13,384 The only compliance is that it opens and operates as a bar under the license that's 174 00:07:13,404 --> 00:07:13,674 there now. 175 00:07:13,724 --> 00:07:14,124 Yes. 176 00:07:14,184 --> 00:07:15,504 What is it, a broad C? 177 00:07:15,704 --> 00:07:16,624 It's cool. It's- 178 00:07:17,304 --> 00:07:18,044 Yeah, it's consumption. 179 00:07:18,104 --> 00:07:20,444 Yeah, packaged goods too on that license, right? 180 00:07:21,184 --> 00:07:21,444 Yes. 181 00:07:23,104 --> 00:07:23,624 All right. Thank you. 182 00:07:23,704 --> 00:07:25,124 Okay. Do you have any other questions? 183 00:07:25,424 --> 00:07:27,174 No, that's it. Just want to make sure that's the plan in place. 184 00:07:27,224 --> 00:07:28,414 Very good. Let's push it forward. 185 00:07:28,424 --> 00:07:29,124 I'll be in touch. 186 00:07:29,304 --> 00:07:29,464 Okay. 187 00:07:29,564 --> 00:07:29,804 You know? 188 00:07:29,944 --> 00:07:30,424 I appreciate it. 189 00:07:30,744 --> 00:07:30,754 Yes. 190 00:07:30,764 --> 00:07:31,674 Yeah, keep us informed. 191 00:07:31,864 --> 00:07:31,874 Absolutely. 192 00:07:31,874 --> 00:07:32,784 It's always helpful to know- 193 00:07:32,874 --> 00:07:32,874 Absolutely 194 00:07:32,874 --> 00:07:35,044 ... when we know that, what's going on. Thank you. 195 00:07:35,214 --> 00:07:35,214 Yeah. 196 00:07:35,244 --> 00:07:35,414 All right. 197 00:07:35,414 --> 00:07:36,474 All right. Appreciate it, John. 198 00:07:36,474 --> 00:07:36,764 Thank you. 199 00:07:36,904 --> 00:07:37,504 Thanks for coming out. 200 00:07:37,824 --> 00:07:37,994 Thank you. 201 00:07:37,994 --> 00:07:38,084 Thanks. 202 00:07:38,804 --> 00:07:39,804 Have a good weekend. 203 00:07:40,304 --> 00:07:40,904 Appreciate it. Thanks, you too. 204 00:07:41,624 --> 00:07:42,064 Thanks, guys. 205 00:07:42,564 --> 00:07:43,384 No problem. 206 00:07:44,184 --> 00:07:46,224 Councilman Balogh, do you have anything for the workshop meeting? 207 00:07:46,884 --> 00:07:49,264 No, I don't. They aren't pulled up till the regular meeting. 208 00:07:50,294 --> 00:07:51,144 Okay. Councilwoman Cummings? 209 00:07:51,784 --> 00:07:52,684 Nothing till the meeting, except- 210 00:07:52,804 --> 00:07:53,004 Okay. 211 00:07:53,544 --> 00:07:53,924 Archie? 212 00:07:54,184 --> 00:07:54,784 Councilman Holley? 213 00:07:55,584 --> 00:07:58,384 Nothing for the workshop. I'm fine. 214 00:07:58,844 --> 00:08:00,944 Councilman Miller's not here. Councilman Wilkinson? 215 00:08:01,464 --> 00:08:05,264 Yeah, just a couple things. On the resolutions for the regular 216 00:08:05,324 --> 00:08:07,504 meeting, that's going to be a consent? 217 00:08:08,144 --> 00:08:11,604 Yeah. If there was one you wanted to pull out and vote separately or question- 218 00:08:12,684 --> 00:08:14,624 Well, personally, I 219 00:08:15,504 --> 00:08:19,064 feel like I'd like to understand why 220 00:08:19,684 --> 00:08:21,804 the fire department needs another Tahoe. 221 00:08:22,404 --> 00:08:26,144 So I'm inclined to vote no on that one. 222 00:08:28,824 --> 00:08:29,624 Which number was that? 223 00:08:29,884 --> 00:08:33,704 That's- It's the bottom of page four, I think. It's D. 224 00:08:34,024 --> 00:08:35,324 Section 8. 225 00:08:35,334 --> 00:08:36,184 8D, Mayor. 226 00:08:36,284 --> 00:08:36,524 Okay. 227 00:08:38,244 --> 00:08:41,004 Well, my only 228 00:08:41,084 --> 00:08:42,764 rationale is 229 00:08:43,605 --> 00:08:45,744 when it comes to lighting for 230 00:08:46,784 --> 00:08:50,684 the baseball field so Berlin kids can have games at 231 00:08:50,704 --> 00:08:53,224 night, I'm told, "Don't have the money for that. 232 00:08:53,284 --> 00:08:56,884 Don't have the money for that." Yet, then I see a Tahoe, and 233 00:08:57,904 --> 00:08:57,924 I 234 00:08:58,944 --> 00:09:02,004 guess I don't quite understand the 235 00:09:03,864 --> 00:09:06,784 administrative structure of the fire hall. 236 00:09:07,024 --> 00:09:09,224 It seemed to have grown exponentially. 237 00:09:10,764 --> 00:09:14,664 And I don't know that we really have a say in that. I don't know why we don't. 238 00:09:16,324 --> 00:09:19,224 I think we should, if money's being paid out to people. 239 00:09:19,504 --> 00:09:23,384 I just think there needs to be a little more oversight over what goes 240 00:09:23,484 --> 00:09:24,344 on there. 241 00:09:26,244 --> 00:09:30,024 It's like they want to operate as a volunteer organization, yet they want to 242 00:09:30,064 --> 00:09:33,184 get paid and have all this equipment, too. So I don't know. 243 00:09:33,924 --> 00:09:35,984 Anyway, I'm just bringing that up, 244 00:09:38,704 --> 00:09:42,554 because like I said, I'm inclined to at least have a conversation 245 00:09:42,584 --> 00:09:43,233 about why- 246 00:09:43,744 --> 00:09:43,784 Okay 247 00:09:43,804 --> 00:09:44,144 ... they need 248 00:09:44,984 --> 00:09:45,064 it, 249 00:09:46,424 --> 00:09:49,354 if for no other reason. And then 250 00:09:50,924 --> 00:09:52,104 on the roads program, 251 00:09:54,384 --> 00:09:58,184 I had a conversation with Key Engineers this week about maybe 252 00:09:58,244 --> 00:09:59,894 putting Central in there, 253 00:10:01,324 --> 00:10:04,684 and maybe taking out Atlantic for the 254 00:10:04,864 --> 00:10:05,744 2026. 255 00:10:06,144 --> 00:10:06,924 Okay. 256 00:10:09,224 --> 00:10:12,684 I think John feels like that would be 257 00:10:13,504 --> 00:10:17,364 better to do, and I'm inclined to agree with him only because 258 00:10:18,564 --> 00:10:18,584 it 259 00:10:19,484 --> 00:10:23,464 would affect a lot more people on 260 00:10:23,544 --> 00:10:27,064 Central than would Atlantic, South Atlantic anyway. 261 00:10:29,324 --> 00:10:29,664 I guess 262 00:10:31,204 --> 00:10:34,224 I'm always open to hear other people's opinion on that. 263 00:10:35,704 --> 00:10:38,484 I guess John the engineer would know better than I. Sure. 264 00:10:39,024 --> 00:10:42,864 I don't have my... I didn't bring my 265 00:10:43,844 --> 00:10:46,494 iPad. Are the streets mentioned in the resolution? 266 00:10:47,564 --> 00:10:47,664 Yeah. 267 00:10:47,724 --> 00:10:48,304 The street timings. 268 00:10:48,344 --> 00:10:50,104 Because it's why it's for the- 269 00:10:50,444 --> 00:10:50,584 Yeah 270 00:10:50,724 --> 00:10:51,244 ... they need the resolution. 271 00:10:51,284 --> 00:10:52,884 Because that resolution is on here. 272 00:10:53,004 --> 00:10:55,104 Okay. So we would just change the 273 00:10:56,024 --> 00:10:57,964 streets. We'd vote on changing the street names? 274 00:10:58,684 --> 00:10:59,364 We can do that. 275 00:11:01,244 --> 00:11:02,784 Well, we have to apply for, we have to- 276 00:11:03,244 --> 00:11:03,744 When's it due by? 277 00:11:04,344 --> 00:11:05,834 They wanted it for this meeting. 278 00:11:06,344 --> 00:11:06,544 Yeah. 279 00:11:06,554 --> 00:11:10,404 But they said that you could. Penney's done July before, but he's 280 00:11:10,484 --> 00:11:12,504 asked, requested that the resolution be 281 00:11:12,624 --> 00:11:16,304 confirmed at that because they're applying for the grant. 282 00:11:17,064 --> 00:11:18,504 Hal, what are your thoughts on this? 283 00:11:18,644 --> 00:11:20,364 So there's two streets we have in the resolution. 284 00:11:21,284 --> 00:11:24,524 A possibility of swapping a street out. We have flexibility. 285 00:11:24,564 --> 00:11:25,544 We have to decide that tonight. 286 00:11:27,324 --> 00:11:30,524 Is it streets identified to be paved? Is that what you're talking about? 287 00:11:30,624 --> 00:11:30,784 Yeah. 288 00:11:31,884 --> 00:11:33,684 There's two, and the engineer's recommending... 289 00:11:33,724 --> 00:11:37,004 Well, I'm inclined to listen to the engineer and the head of DPW. 290 00:11:37,464 --> 00:11:37,474 Okay. 291 00:11:37,544 --> 00:11:38,044 So I'm inclined- 292 00:11:38,084 --> 00:11:38,224 Yeah 293 00:11:38,544 --> 00:11:39,094 ... to swap it out. 294 00:11:39,264 --> 00:11:42,664 You can do whatever it is you want to do. That's their recommendation. 295 00:11:42,694 --> 00:11:46,504 The problem you have is, I assume they did a needs list 296 00:11:46,644 --> 00:11:49,364 from worst to best, and they rate them. 297 00:11:49,524 --> 00:11:49,724 Mm-hmm. 298 00:11:49,964 --> 00:11:53,384 So if you skip one that needs it to another that needs it, 299 00:11:53,784 --> 00:11:57,234 we're getting to them. You could get a lot of people coming in saying, 300 00:11:57,704 --> 00:11:59,284 "How come they got moved up the list? 301 00:11:59,384 --> 00:12:01,204 My street didn't get moved up the list." 302 00:12:01,634 --> 00:12:02,224 Of course. 303 00:12:02,274 --> 00:12:06,264 That's the only thing. That's why they do those five-year plans where they 304 00:12:06,304 --> 00:12:10,204 evaluate your roads and determine from worst to best where you 305 00:12:10,224 --> 00:12:11,054 should be working. 306 00:12:11,564 --> 00:12:15,384 So that there's some sort of objective criteria that goes into 307 00:12:15,484 --> 00:12:15,604 it? 308 00:12:16,044 --> 00:12:16,163 I don't know. 309 00:12:16,204 --> 00:12:17,454 Otherwise, everybody's going to want the road- 310 00:12:17,524 --> 00:12:19,264 I certainly don't understand that. 311 00:12:19,564 --> 00:12:23,044 I know that they have some kind of robotic system that's used. 312 00:12:24,184 --> 00:12:24,544 And I don't- 313 00:12:24,554 --> 00:12:24,944 Yeah, I don't know either 314 00:12:25,084 --> 00:12:28,294 ... I don't know how they determine South-- I don't even know how South Atlantic 315 00:12:28,294 --> 00:12:28,303 even got on that list. 316 00:12:28,364 --> 00:12:32,164 I've seen it many times, but I never asked that question, how do you-- German 317 00:12:32,184 --> 00:12:33,004 now, forget they just- 318 00:12:33,524 --> 00:12:34,984 Was the South Atlantic because that the, 319 00:12:36,124 --> 00:12:36,344 um- 320 00:12:36,484 --> 00:12:38,224 Well, would it be South Atlantic? Because I 321 00:12:39,104 --> 00:12:42,544 think according to the key engineers, they would still do 322 00:12:42,684 --> 00:12:45,804 Union. And they're not saying that they wouldn't get to that. 323 00:12:46,664 --> 00:12:48,304 I think- 324 00:12:48,444 --> 00:12:51,464 Was that brought up though because of the gas company work that was on there? 325 00:12:51,784 --> 00:12:54,364 Is that the road that got torn up? Or is that, I think of something different. 326 00:12:55,024 --> 00:12:55,994 No, it's not. 327 00:12:56,044 --> 00:12:56,623 Is that East Atlantic? 328 00:12:56,664 --> 00:12:57,904 South Atlantic. 329 00:12:58,084 --> 00:12:58,094 No. 330 00:12:58,094 --> 00:13:00,324 South Atlantic is down by Union and Laurel. 331 00:13:00,424 --> 00:13:01,864 North Atlantic. Okay. It's different way. 332 00:13:01,904 --> 00:13:03,044 That's the other side. 333 00:13:03,244 --> 00:13:04,804 That's closer to South Atlantic. 334 00:13:05,384 --> 00:13:05,394 Okay. 335 00:13:05,404 --> 00:13:07,954 This is the one behind the Foot Creek, correct? 336 00:13:07,954 --> 00:13:08,044 Correct. 337 00:13:08,074 --> 00:13:10,104 It's the Atlantic behind the Foot Creek. 338 00:13:10,284 --> 00:13:10,924 Okay. Got you. 339 00:13:12,744 --> 00:13:16,244 I'm inclined to take the recommendation of the engineers. 340 00:13:16,724 --> 00:13:20,164 Well, that's how I feel about it, and that's what I conveyed 341 00:13:20,284 --> 00:13:22,204 to the engineer. 342 00:13:23,264 --> 00:13:25,824 So we're going to ask unless anybody has an objection, 343 00:13:26,724 --> 00:13:28,624 we'll swap the streets out. 344 00:13:28,664 --> 00:13:29,304 Objection. 345 00:13:29,324 --> 00:13:32,024 And then we'll just make the correction on the resolution when we- 346 00:13:32,354 --> 00:13:32,354 All right. 347 00:13:32,384 --> 00:13:32,584 Okay. 348 00:13:33,704 --> 00:13:34,704 Just make a note of that. 349 00:13:34,744 --> 00:13:35,584 Yeah. 350 00:13:37,264 --> 00:13:37,404 Well, 351 00:13:38,344 --> 00:13:38,784 I would 352 00:13:40,104 --> 00:13:43,964 suggest that tomorrow give the key engineers a call, 353 00:13:45,124 --> 00:13:49,064 rather than going off of me right here, right now. 354 00:13:49,524 --> 00:13:50,724 I would definitely second that. 355 00:13:53,324 --> 00:13:56,884 Greg did reach out to me and asked if, because I guess he was here in 356 00:13:56,964 --> 00:13:59,204 January. I didn't recall 357 00:14:00,104 --> 00:14:00,924 that recommendation. 358 00:14:02,004 --> 00:14:05,364 He said that that was the recommendation at the time, and I know he spoke to you, 359 00:14:05,544 --> 00:14:06,304 John. So 360 00:14:07,524 --> 00:14:09,824 I know the engineer is recommending that. 361 00:14:10,024 --> 00:14:10,604 Yeah. 362 00:14:12,404 --> 00:14:14,084 So I take it was Atlantic. 363 00:14:16,184 --> 00:14:16,404 What? 364 00:14:16,704 --> 00:14:17,404 I'll follow 365 00:14:19,064 --> 00:14:19,613 up with him. 366 00:14:20,524 --> 00:14:21,244 Yes, ma'am. 367 00:14:21,264 --> 00:14:22,164 Here, I'll tell you. It was, 368 00:14:27,864 --> 00:14:31,124 Central. 369 00:14:32,924 --> 00:14:34,964 Yeah, because Central, that's a pretty big span. 370 00:14:35,024 --> 00:14:37,963 That would run from Thacker Avenue all the way to Leewah. 371 00:14:38,124 --> 00:14:40,304 It'd be Union and Central would be the two streets. 372 00:14:40,464 --> 00:14:40,804 Correct. 373 00:14:41,884 --> 00:14:43,944 Not Union and South Atlantic. 374 00:14:44,184 --> 00:14:44,544 Yeah. Well, 375 00:14:46,384 --> 00:14:49,924 Central, that's a pretty long run. 376 00:14:50,844 --> 00:14:51,144 Okay. 377 00:14:51,564 --> 00:14:53,204 Okay. We'll make that adjustment. 378 00:14:55,624 --> 00:14:56,064 Anything else? 379 00:14:56,504 --> 00:14:57,204 No, sir. 380 00:14:57,464 --> 00:14:58,024 Great. Thank you. 381 00:15:00,144 --> 00:15:01,264 On to council Mascaras. 382 00:15:02,064 --> 00:15:04,554 All right. Two topics, but probably stick more- 383 00:15:04,624 --> 00:15:05,264 Correct 384 00:15:05,504 --> 00:15:05,534 ... main. 385 00:15:05,564 --> 00:15:08,304 Okay. All right. I don't have anything for the workshop. 386 00:15:08,924 --> 00:15:09,834 Solicitor, do you have anything for workshop? 387 00:15:09,884 --> 00:15:12,744 No, Mayor. Just as you go through, we have a number of second reading on 388 00:15:12,804 --> 00:15:16,164 ordinances. I'll just give a brief explanation before you 389 00:15:17,004 --> 00:15:20,864 start taking public comment, if there is any, as to what the actions 390 00:15:20,904 --> 00:15:21,264 are doing- 391 00:15:21,424 --> 00:15:21,544 Okay 392 00:15:21,614 --> 00:15:23,444 ... or putting those ordinances into effect. 393 00:15:25,094 --> 00:15:26,153 Perfect. Administrator, anything? No. 394 00:15:26,153 --> 00:15:26,184 No. 395 00:15:26,644 --> 00:15:26,834 All right. 396 00:15:27,704 --> 00:15:30,204 Can I have a motion to adjourn the workshop meeting? 397 00:15:31,504 --> 00:15:31,594 Motion. 398 00:15:31,594 --> 00:15:32,024 All in favor? 399 00:15:32,824 --> 00:15:32,834 Aye. 400 00:15:33,844 --> 00:15:37,644 I'd like to call to order the council meeting for Thursday, June 11th, 401 00:15:37,904 --> 00:15:38,534 2026. 402 00:15:40,224 --> 00:15:42,764 Pledge allegiance. 403 00:15:42,804 --> 00:15:46,414 To the flag of the United States of America, and to the 404 00:15:46,464 --> 00:15:50,324 Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, 405 00:15:50,744 --> 00:15:53,424 indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. 406 00:16:05,224 --> 00:16:07,804 Notice of this meeting has been provided to the Courier Post and the Philadelphia 407 00:16:07,824 --> 00:16:11,044 Inquirer, and is posted on the Borough Hall bulletin board stating the time, date, 408 00:16:11,064 --> 00:16:13,344 and place of the meeting. Can I just have a roll call again, please? 409 00:16:13,624 --> 00:16:14,704 Council President Bartolotto. 410 00:16:15,044 --> 00:16:15,264 Here. 411 00:16:15,604 --> 00:16:16,544 Councilwoman Cummings. 412 00:16:16,584 --> 00:16:16,764 Here. 413 00:16:17,044 --> 00:16:17,764 Councilman Ewing. 414 00:16:18,004 --> 00:16:18,184 Here. 415 00:16:18,424 --> 00:16:19,084 Councilman Miller. 416 00:16:19,284 --> 00:16:20,064 He's not here this evening. 417 00:16:20,784 --> 00:16:21,644 Councilman Wilkinson. 418 00:16:22,064 --> 00:16:22,384 Present. 419 00:16:22,704 --> 00:16:23,544 Councilman Mascaras. 420 00:16:23,664 --> 00:16:23,804 Here. 421 00:16:24,264 --> 00:16:24,744 Mayor Miller. 422 00:16:24,884 --> 00:16:25,044 Here. 423 00:16:25,404 --> 00:16:27,564 Also present this evening, Solicitor Howard Long. 424 00:16:27,724 --> 00:16:27,924 Here. 425 00:16:28,224 --> 00:16:29,903 And our administrator, Amerie Miller. 426 00:16:30,644 --> 00:16:30,744 Here. 427 00:16:30,924 --> 00:16:33,524 Great. Thank you. And our municipal clerk, Rachel 428 00:16:33,564 --> 00:16:35,024 Waterhouse. 429 00:16:35,044 --> 00:16:35,224 Here. 430 00:16:36,004 --> 00:16:36,944 Did we get these working? 431 00:16:37,424 --> 00:16:37,604 Yeah. 432 00:16:37,664 --> 00:16:37,853 Well, 433 00:16:38,864 --> 00:16:40,134 I don't know why that one's not- 434 00:16:40,134 --> 00:16:40,264 Okay 435 00:16:40,274 --> 00:16:40,714 ... I don't know. Maybe I have to turn on- 436 00:16:40,724 --> 00:16:42,824 It was on before. Maybe it just went to sleep. 437 00:16:44,404 --> 00:16:47,104 So before we get rolling into the meeting, I just want to acknowledge we had some 438 00:16:47,144 --> 00:16:47,804 changes with the 439 00:16:49,504 --> 00:16:51,764 Library Board of Trustees. Deanna Schudeman 440 00:16:52,804 --> 00:16:54,804 chose to step down, take care of... 441 00:16:58,484 --> 00:16:59,984 She decided to step down. I don't want to say too much. 442 00:17:01,224 --> 00:17:05,065 The board, we gave her the title of Emeritus, so 443 00:17:05,104 --> 00:17:06,805 she's still going to be able to attend meetings. 444 00:17:07,864 --> 00:17:08,724 The library 445 00:17:10,884 --> 00:17:14,524 had their meeting on Monday, and they gave her a plaque and acknowledged her 446 00:17:14,604 --> 00:17:18,004 contributions to the library. And in her place, I have the honor of 447 00:17:18,484 --> 00:17:22,204 filling her vacancy with Betty Vealey, who's in the audience 448 00:17:22,244 --> 00:17:25,884 tonight. So Betty will take over for Deanna and 449 00:17:26,424 --> 00:17:28,604 run through her term through the end of the year. 450 00:17:29,344 --> 00:17:29,504 So 451 00:17:30,524 --> 00:17:33,414 Betty's been a staple at the library for many years, and- 452 00:17:33,824 --> 00:17:34,604 Perfect choice 453 00:17:34,764 --> 00:17:37,184 ... yep. So I think she knows what she's doing. 454 00:17:37,544 --> 00:17:38,804 Like it fits like a glove. 455 00:17:38,884 --> 00:17:41,104 Yep. So congratulations, Betty. 456 00:17:41,634 --> 00:17:48,904 Thanks. 457 00:17:51,164 --> 00:17:52,744 Now on to the approval of the minutes. 458 00:17:52,844 --> 00:17:56,824 Can I please have approval for the May 14th, 2026 workshop 459 00:17:56,864 --> 00:17:57,744 and regular meeting minutes? 460 00:17:58,084 --> 00:18:00,364 Motion. 461 00:18:00,404 --> 00:18:01,024 I'll second. 462 00:18:02,344 --> 00:18:02,924 All in favor? 463 00:18:03,284 --> 00:18:03,853 Aye. 464 00:18:04,464 --> 00:18:04,474 Aye. 465 00:18:04,504 --> 00:18:04,784 Thank you. 466 00:18:05,404 --> 00:18:07,804 Do I have to be-- I wasn't here. Do I have to be in abstention? 467 00:18:07,824 --> 00:18:08,624 Abstention, yes, sir. 468 00:18:08,804 --> 00:18:10,024 Do I have to be in abstention? 469 00:18:10,484 --> 00:18:10,804 Yes. 470 00:18:12,904 --> 00:18:13,284 Got it? 471 00:18:15,404 --> 00:18:17,414 On to council reports, buildings, 472 00:18:17,804 --> 00:18:21,304 grounds, parks, and recreation. Councilman Palada. 473 00:18:24,084 --> 00:18:26,064 Did you do approval of the regular meeting? 474 00:18:26,324 --> 00:18:26,984 I did them together. 475 00:18:28,524 --> 00:18:29,164 Okay. Just checking. 476 00:18:30,724 --> 00:18:32,304 Good evening, everyone. Thanks for coming. 477 00:18:33,244 --> 00:18:35,564 Yeah, I have a few things to go over. 478 00:18:36,744 --> 00:18:39,684 As you know, the 4th of July is right around the corner, and 479 00:18:40,844 --> 00:18:44,704 DPW's getting ready to paint the railing that goes 480 00:18:44,784 --> 00:18:47,624 all along the outer brick wall, along the sidewalk. 481 00:18:49,664 --> 00:18:50,244 And 482 00:18:51,724 --> 00:18:52,344 also, 483 00:18:55,264 --> 00:18:55,724 there's a 484 00:18:57,884 --> 00:18:58,764 signpost 485 00:18:59,944 --> 00:19:02,364 that's in front of the Berlin 486 00:19:03,364 --> 00:19:07,124 Marie Fletcher Library that hasn't had a sign on it, if not 487 00:19:07,204 --> 00:19:11,164 15 years, 20. So I reached out 488 00:19:11,244 --> 00:19:11,504 to 489 00:19:12,504 --> 00:19:16,454 Michelle Seacrest from Seacrest Designs, and she designed 490 00:19:16,564 --> 00:19:18,044 a sign for the library. 491 00:19:19,044 --> 00:19:22,964 And I'm getting a quote now from American Signs, who did a lot of 492 00:19:23,004 --> 00:19:26,334 signs around the borough, like the entrance and the parking lot, 493 00:19:27,064 --> 00:19:29,404 some things around the municipal building. 494 00:19:30,084 --> 00:19:30,264 And 495 00:19:31,504 --> 00:19:35,144 it's really going to look good. And hopefully, that's going to be up by 496 00:19:35,524 --> 00:19:37,304 the 4th of July also. 497 00:19:38,964 --> 00:19:40,104 And the other thing is 498 00:19:41,684 --> 00:19:44,264 the flower beds around the library. 499 00:19:44,284 --> 00:19:47,454 I know the library has someone who goes over there and cuts the grass, but I'm 500 00:19:47,464 --> 00:19:49,884 going to get the DPW to go through the flower beds, 501 00:19:51,094 --> 00:19:54,874 and there's small maple trees growing, and bushes, and things like that, so they're 502 00:19:54,884 --> 00:19:56,844 going to clean that up also. 503 00:20:02,284 --> 00:20:06,124 The other thing is, I did speak, if you recall, Greg Fusco 504 00:20:06,164 --> 00:20:10,004 was here about a couple months ago and was going over what we could 505 00:20:10,084 --> 00:20:10,804 do for the 506 00:20:12,064 --> 00:20:15,304 White Horse Pike property that we're trying to get redeveloped there. 507 00:20:15,924 --> 00:20:19,644 And I spoke to him last week, and we have a 508 00:20:19,664 --> 00:20:23,634 resolution on the agenda tonight, and hopefully we're going 509 00:20:23,664 --> 00:20:26,964 to pass this. And he said if everything goes 510 00:20:26,984 --> 00:20:27,684 accordingly, 511 00:20:28,704 --> 00:20:32,644 he will be willing to come to the July 9th council meeting 512 00:20:33,144 --> 00:20:36,524 to present his proposals to council for the property. 513 00:20:38,284 --> 00:20:40,844 And what else do I have? The banners I had spoken about. 514 00:20:40,904 --> 00:20:44,804 Oh, just a question on that. Would that be to lease 515 00:20:44,824 --> 00:20:48,684 the property or to buy the property and develop? 516 00:20:48,693 --> 00:20:50,434 No, to propose what we're going to put on the property. 517 00:20:50,924 --> 00:20:51,904 To go out to 518 00:20:53,804 --> 00:20:56,444 bid for developers to bid on the property. 519 00:20:57,004 --> 00:20:57,564 Oh, okay. 520 00:20:57,624 --> 00:20:57,824 Okay? 521 00:20:58,524 --> 00:21:00,444 Yeah. Just, that's true. 522 00:21:00,564 --> 00:21:03,364 So we're planning on building something on that property? 523 00:21:03,824 --> 00:21:04,224 Not us. 524 00:21:05,024 --> 00:21:08,604 Okay, so whatever developer that wins the bid is going 525 00:21:09,104 --> 00:21:09,334 to build. 526 00:21:09,364 --> 00:21:09,804 Build, yeah. 527 00:21:11,264 --> 00:21:14,524 All right, so are we securing any type of business 528 00:21:15,124 --> 00:21:19,054 or franchise to start the approval process on the White Horse 529 00:21:19,054 --> 00:21:19,324 Pike? 530 00:21:19,344 --> 00:21:23,294 The developer would do all. The developer would find the tenants and 531 00:21:23,304 --> 00:21:24,004 all that to 532 00:21:26,124 --> 00:21:27,264 put the property on the lease. 533 00:21:27,364 --> 00:21:30,044 Okay. Do we have any idea of what we want over there? 534 00:21:30,524 --> 00:21:34,504 That's what Greg's put-- Greg's going to put together a plan to present to us so 535 00:21:34,524 --> 00:21:38,484 that we can decide if we like that plan, and we want to do something else. 536 00:21:41,144 --> 00:21:44,744 And the other thing is, I spoke about the banners at the last meeting. 537 00:21:44,844 --> 00:21:48,304 They'll be up for the 4th of July all along the Lake Coast in 538 00:21:48,404 --> 00:21:48,864 town. 539 00:21:49,404 --> 00:21:50,104 Thank you. 540 00:21:50,364 --> 00:21:51,324 Let's see. 541 00:21:52,524 --> 00:21:56,464 Also, again, in the next few weeks, I want to get 542 00:21:56,504 --> 00:22:00,444 some quotes on, we had repaired the brick wall that goes around our property 543 00:22:00,504 --> 00:22:00,704 and 544 00:22:01,984 --> 00:22:03,704 right to the flower beds in the front. 545 00:22:05,264 --> 00:22:09,244 I want to get some quotes on the brick that's right when you walk out 546 00:22:09,264 --> 00:22:12,864 the door here. That's going to need some maintenance and repair also. 547 00:22:13,284 --> 00:22:14,824 So I want to get some prices on that. 548 00:22:16,904 --> 00:22:20,404 Tuesday night, I went to a historic society and a historic 549 00:22:20,444 --> 00:22:22,084 preservation commission meeting, 550 00:22:23,024 --> 00:22:24,544 and they're going to be having a 551 00:22:26,584 --> 00:22:30,004 motor home decorated in the 4th of July parade, and they're going to be giving 552 00:22:30,184 --> 00:22:33,004 pamphlets out on historic buildings in town. 553 00:22:34,103 --> 00:22:37,544 And the other thing is, they're trying to work on 554 00:22:38,404 --> 00:22:42,284 the HBC, the Historic Society, and hopefully the Marie Fletcher Library, 555 00:22:43,504 --> 00:22:46,164 for an event in August to celebrate the Berlin Hotel. 556 00:22:46,264 --> 00:22:47,744 It's going to be 200 years old. 557 00:22:48,964 --> 00:22:52,644 And believe it or not, I'm still pulling teeth with Atlantic City 558 00:22:52,704 --> 00:22:55,704 Electric to try to get some funding or some 559 00:22:55,764 --> 00:22:57,404 trees. And 560 00:22:58,244 --> 00:23:01,964 Alexander Wickenschuck, who is the rep that we deal with, 561 00:23:02,144 --> 00:23:06,064 after months, finally got to speak to 562 00:23:06,084 --> 00:23:09,904 her on the phone today, and she's going to check into it again and see what she 563 00:23:09,984 --> 00:23:13,164 can do. I don't know if you recall, but it was a year ago where myself, 564 00:23:13,904 --> 00:23:14,624 Anne Marie, 565 00:23:15,764 --> 00:23:16,204 met with 566 00:23:17,584 --> 00:23:21,124 two representatives from Atlantic Electric, and we went over a list that we 567 00:23:21,184 --> 00:23:21,924 had. And 568 00:23:23,244 --> 00:23:27,164 it was to paint the poles, get us some trees, or get reimbursed 569 00:23:27,204 --> 00:23:28,714 for, because I think it was, 570 00:23:29,664 --> 00:23:31,764 I don't know, four or five years ago, maybe six, 571 00:23:33,144 --> 00:23:34,704 when Chris Cavallaro was there. 572 00:23:36,284 --> 00:23:40,224 We were able to get a contribution of $1,500 that 573 00:23:40,264 --> 00:23:43,444 they gave to the borough. And then the following year, they did the same thing, 574 00:23:43,524 --> 00:23:46,364 $1,500. And then there was nothing for a year. 575 00:23:47,144 --> 00:23:47,364 And, 576 00:23:48,364 --> 00:23:52,164 myself and Anne Marie tried to squeeze out getting reimbursed for our 577 00:23:52,224 --> 00:23:56,024 DPW that's got to go down the pike right around now, 4th of 578 00:23:56,084 --> 00:23:59,384 July, and paint the bases of the lights that get all chipped. 579 00:23:59,544 --> 00:23:59,784 So, 580 00:24:00,924 --> 00:24:04,183 I want to hopefully we'll get something going. 581 00:24:05,044 --> 00:24:06,584 That's all I have. Thank you. 582 00:24:06,784 --> 00:24:08,664 The banners are up. The banners that- 583 00:24:08,784 --> 00:24:09,614 Oh, yeah. There's the banners. 584 00:24:10,504 --> 00:24:11,624 We got them up the other day. 585 00:24:13,824 --> 00:24:17,764 Great. Thank you. On to public works, streets, and roads. 586 00:24:17,924 --> 00:24:18,644 Councilman Wilkinson 587 00:24:22,108 --> 00:24:22,788 I'm sorry. Is that- 588 00:24:23,188 --> 00:24:23,508 That's you 589 00:24:23,518 --> 00:24:24,128 ... Mayor? I'm sorry. 590 00:24:26,648 --> 00:24:27,708 I'll run off down the 591 00:24:30,128 --> 00:24:31,268 statistical data 592 00:24:32,288 --> 00:24:34,048 for the Department of Public Works. 593 00:24:34,448 --> 00:24:37,628 36 tons of single stream recycling, 594 00:24:38,088 --> 00:24:39,648 300 tons of trash, 595 00:24:40,608 --> 00:24:43,968 310 tons of trash, 600 pounds of electric waste. 596 00:24:44,748 --> 00:24:48,528 I guess they get a lot of that during the bulk week 597 00:24:48,588 --> 00:24:50,918 when people put out their washers, dryers, and whatnot. 598 00:24:51,808 --> 00:24:55,288 Three tons of baled cardboard, 10 tons of street 599 00:24:55,408 --> 00:24:56,368 sweeping debris 600 00:24:58,988 --> 00:24:59,988 last month. 601 00:25:01,748 --> 00:25:04,368 I have on my report, well, 602 00:25:05,288 --> 00:25:09,078 we're still waiting to find out what we're doing with the building for the 603 00:25:09,148 --> 00:25:10,408 Department of Public Works. 604 00:25:10,908 --> 00:25:11,608 Is there an update on that? 605 00:25:12,248 --> 00:25:12,708 No, I've not. 606 00:25:12,768 --> 00:25:13,648 No. Okay. 607 00:25:18,228 --> 00:25:18,588 The-- 608 00:25:19,528 --> 00:25:21,088 I submitted to you all the 609 00:25:22,448 --> 00:25:23,608 engineer's report. 610 00:25:26,788 --> 00:25:29,288 And for streets and roads, 611 00:25:31,048 --> 00:25:32,368 do I need to rehash that 612 00:25:33,228 --> 00:25:35,028 for this meeting about the- 613 00:25:36,488 --> 00:25:37,368 The resolution change? 614 00:25:37,928 --> 00:25:39,768 The resolution change. 615 00:25:40,628 --> 00:25:41,028 Yes. 616 00:25:41,388 --> 00:25:42,448 I think we're good. Yeah. 617 00:25:44,028 --> 00:25:45,048 However, for the 618 00:25:49,028 --> 00:25:49,888 2027, 619 00:25:50,908 --> 00:25:54,708 is there a resolution on for that too, for the 2027 program? 620 00:25:56,868 --> 00:26:00,688 The roads still have to be determined, but the grant application deadline is 621 00:26:00,708 --> 00:26:01,788 July 1st. 622 00:26:02,338 --> 00:26:03,488 Correct. That's what we're talking about. 623 00:26:03,508 --> 00:26:04,228 That's the one we're talking about. Yeah. 624 00:26:04,408 --> 00:26:07,488 That is the one that we talked about with the Union and- 625 00:26:08,608 --> 00:26:12,528 I'm pretty sure that the Union, Atlantic, Heights, and Laurel were 626 00:26:12,648 --> 00:26:12,948 on 627 00:26:14,268 --> 00:26:17,808 2026's program. Yeah, that one went out to bid, so we're accepting that 628 00:26:17,888 --> 00:26:21,408 bid. Right. That's part of how that's on. Right. 629 00:26:21,448 --> 00:26:25,408 That's accepted for- The 2027, we haven't picked any roads yet for the 630 00:26:25,588 --> 00:26:26,608 2027 program. 631 00:26:28,428 --> 00:26:31,708 I have to pull up the resolution. There shouldn't be. 632 00:26:31,947 --> 00:26:34,207 If there was, I haven't been notified of them. 633 00:26:34,728 --> 00:26:35,928 Oh, so you were talking about '26? 634 00:26:36,048 --> 00:26:38,208 I was talking about the 2026. 635 00:26:40,108 --> 00:26:40,608 Is that 636 00:26:41,628 --> 00:26:42,208 the right year on 637 00:26:43,508 --> 00:26:44,688 Resolution 6-13? 638 00:26:46,308 --> 00:26:47,008 6-1-13. 639 00:26:48,808 --> 00:26:49,588 The one that 640 00:26:50,668 --> 00:26:53,268 has to go out for the deadline of July 1st. 641 00:26:53,808 --> 00:26:55,048 They're having- What number is that? 642 00:26:55,708 --> 00:26:57,328 That's eight, or one oh 643 00:26:58,188 --> 00:26:59,288 eight. 644 00:27:06,568 --> 00:27:07,457 Except this is the- 645 00:27:08,528 --> 00:27:11,468 You work faster at that than I. What more do I know, I'm not sure. 646 00:27:12,128 --> 00:27:15,188 And then the trader. Why is it 647 00:27:15,208 --> 00:27:16,248 2025? 648 00:27:19,068 --> 00:27:21,408 Can you read that? Do you need me to make it bigger still? 649 00:27:21,628 --> 00:27:23,248 Yeah, that's the South Atlantic and Union. 650 00:27:23,568 --> 00:27:27,308 Yeah. That's 2026. That is the Union and Atlantic. 651 00:27:27,388 --> 00:27:28,708 That's the one I was talking about. 652 00:27:29,728 --> 00:27:31,698 That's the one they were talking about swapping out. 653 00:27:31,708 --> 00:27:33,788 That's under 27. 654 00:27:33,828 --> 00:27:35,888 That's under-- That's next year. That's under 27. 655 00:27:36,448 --> 00:27:40,208 They're always kind of like a year- They are a year behind. Right. 656 00:27:40,218 --> 00:27:41,808 But- So it's going to be for 2027. 657 00:27:41,908 --> 00:27:43,468 Ann Marie, can you jump to- 658 00:27:43,948 --> 00:27:45,058 I can jump to this one 659 00:27:45,188 --> 00:27:46,017 ... 113, please? 660 00:27:46,168 --> 00:27:46,648 Yeah. 661 00:27:50,288 --> 00:27:51,648 Because that says 25 on the 662 00:27:53,668 --> 00:27:54,148 agenda. 663 00:27:58,508 --> 00:28:01,088 The 2025 was the Woods development. 664 00:28:02,248 --> 00:28:05,528 Or no, I'm sorry, that's Parker, White, and Ridgewood. 665 00:28:05,968 --> 00:28:06,528 113. 666 00:28:09,568 --> 00:28:12,148 I'm getting there, sorry. Don't want to get everyone dizzy. 667 00:28:14,188 --> 00:28:14,948 113. 668 00:28:18,548 --> 00:28:19,728 Yeah, that one says 25. 669 00:28:22,608 --> 00:28:23,208 Is that correct? 670 00:28:27,128 --> 00:28:27,268 I 671 00:28:27,328 --> 00:28:33,588 think 672 00:28:33,608 --> 00:28:35,338 I've got the right one. It's the 25. I can go grab it. 673 00:28:35,338 --> 00:28:38,848 I'd have to double-check with my proposals. 674 00:28:38,927 --> 00:28:40,728 Do you want me to go grab it and double-check? 675 00:28:40,867 --> 00:28:41,487 Yeah, if you don't mind. 676 00:28:41,547 --> 00:28:42,288 Yeah. That's it. 677 00:28:45,648 --> 00:28:46,668 Does that say the streets on there? 678 00:28:48,908 --> 00:28:50,168 No, I'll grab it. It's all on my- 679 00:28:50,388 --> 00:28:52,628 Okay. I just want to make sure we do it correct. 680 00:28:55,868 --> 00:28:56,848 Where is the... 681 00:28:59,248 --> 00:29:00,358 Sorry, I can't do my computer. 682 00:29:00,408 --> 00:29:01,548 I apologize. 683 00:29:12,048 --> 00:29:13,888 Anything else, Councilman, while we're waiting there? 684 00:29:15,028 --> 00:29:15,368 No. 685 00:29:16,648 --> 00:29:20,148 I mean, the roads part, that was pretty much it. 686 00:29:21,568 --> 00:29:22,768 Sure. I'll give you a minute. I'm just giving this 687 00:29:22,868 --> 00:29:26,268 away. 688 00:29:26,348 --> 00:29:27,108 But I apolog- 689 00:29:27,328 --> 00:29:28,988 You 690 00:29:30,328 --> 00:29:33,288 all right? 691 00:29:34,668 --> 00:29:36,028 The 2026. 692 00:29:40,068 --> 00:29:41,538 You would want one something, but- 693 00:29:41,688 --> 00:29:42,998 Yeah. We'll move on to 694 00:29:45,868 --> 00:29:47,298 Councilman Hoying, and then when 695 00:29:48,248 --> 00:29:49,148 Ann Marie gets back, we'll- 696 00:29:49,968 --> 00:29:50,108 Sure 697 00:29:50,288 --> 00:29:50,898 ... jump back in. 698 00:29:50,928 --> 00:29:51,288 Want me to run through my report? 699 00:29:51,368 --> 00:29:52,218 Yeah, just while we- 700 00:29:52,688 --> 00:29:53,588 Sure. Happy to. 701 00:29:53,668 --> 00:29:54,668 No, and we'll come back. We're- 702 00:29:55,088 --> 00:29:55,508 Yes, sir. 703 00:29:56,508 --> 00:29:59,768 Okay. Thank you, Mayor and Council, and borough residents. 704 00:30:00,528 --> 00:30:01,548 Happy to be here as always. 705 00:30:02,888 --> 00:30:05,848 For May of 2026, our police reports 706 00:30:06,948 --> 00:30:10,848 stats are 3,041 calls for service 707 00:30:10,908 --> 00:30:13,748 compared to 2,778 in April. 708 00:30:14,848 --> 00:30:17,608 We had 309 summonses compared to 185. 709 00:30:18,208 --> 00:30:22,188 Very busy month. It appears here that they click it to ticket program 710 00:30:22,468 --> 00:30:23,928 helped with that. Right, Chief? So- 711 00:30:24,588 --> 00:30:25,328 Yes, sir 712 00:30:25,468 --> 00:30:28,468 ... good news there. 34 arrests compared to 33 in April. 713 00:30:28,708 --> 00:30:30,888 22 motor vehicle crashes compared to 28 714 00:30:31,816 --> 00:30:35,456 260 traffic stops compared to 134 in April. 715 00:30:36,916 --> 00:30:40,716 And directed patrols are Rutgers Boulevard and Westbury 716 00:30:40,776 --> 00:30:44,516 Drive for speeding and stop sign violations, resulting in nine directed patrols 717 00:30:45,076 --> 00:30:47,516 with heavy traffic observed but no violations. 718 00:30:48,336 --> 00:30:51,916 The Greenwood Inn Suites due to influx of housing by the Department 719 00:30:52,496 --> 00:30:56,296 of Parole. So that's always ongoing, directed patrols. 720 00:30:57,116 --> 00:30:58,616 58 Harbor Road, 721 00:30:59,816 --> 00:31:03,756 Suite 11, AutoHauluck, for noise complaints, speeding vehicles, resulting 722 00:31:03,776 --> 00:31:07,656 in eight directed patrols, two calls for service, citations issued for 723 00:31:07,756 --> 00:31:09,536 operating without the mercantile license. 724 00:31:10,256 --> 00:31:13,596 Jackson Road and Washington Ave for speeding and stop sign violations. 725 00:31:13,656 --> 00:31:14,236 Radar cart 726 00:31:15,316 --> 00:31:17,256 deployed to assist with the speeding complaint. 727 00:31:17,736 --> 00:31:20,076 Patrols are ongoing through the month of June. 728 00:31:20,836 --> 00:31:23,286 Our tag readers are down significantly this month, 729 00:31:23,476 --> 00:31:27,336 356,000 compared to 680,000. And what's the 730 00:31:27,396 --> 00:31:29,616 reason for that, Chief? Any explanation? 731 00:31:29,716 --> 00:31:31,476 They're all functional. It's 732 00:31:32,296 --> 00:31:32,656 traffic. 733 00:31:32,856 --> 00:31:34,246 How about that? Wow. 734 00:31:34,256 --> 00:31:36,656 We haven't had any issues as far as our operations. 735 00:31:36,775 --> 00:31:36,915 Yeah. 736 00:31:37,055 --> 00:31:38,276 There's not as many vehicles. 737 00:31:38,316 --> 00:31:42,026 Wow. That's a huge drop from what our normal numbers are, usually about a half a 738 00:31:42,026 --> 00:31:43,676 million plus. 739 00:31:43,686 --> 00:31:44,736 It's all backed up at the lights. 740 00:31:45,096 --> 00:31:45,496 Yeah. 741 00:31:46,716 --> 00:31:50,506 20 search vehicles for involved in criminal 742 00:31:50,576 --> 00:31:54,356 activity compared to 20 in April. 14 summonses issued for tag reader hits 743 00:31:54,396 --> 00:31:58,096 compared to 18, and 11 traffic stops related to tag reader hits 744 00:31:58,156 --> 00:32:00,496 compared to 12 in April. So pretty common numbers there. 745 00:32:01,016 --> 00:32:05,006 Community policing, we had Patrolman Palma and K9 Clyde read books 746 00:32:05,036 --> 00:32:07,676 to the children for the Marie Fletch Library on May 2nd. 747 00:32:07,736 --> 00:32:09,496 They had a lot of activity this month. 748 00:32:09,676 --> 00:32:13,596 Police week conducted on Our Lady of Mount Carmel BCS from May 19th to May 749 00:32:13,736 --> 00:32:17,536 21st. Our Lady of Mount Carmel field day on May 22nd. 750 00:32:17,996 --> 00:32:21,736 Memorial Day sermon on May 25th, obviously along with the fire department, 751 00:32:22,256 --> 00:32:25,096 EMS, and members of council as well for that. 752 00:32:25,596 --> 00:32:29,296 BCS field day on May 29th. The Junior Police Academy is 753 00:32:29,316 --> 00:32:33,276 scheduled, coming up for June 22nd to June 26th, soon, 754 00:32:33,376 --> 00:32:35,036 couple weeks here. A senior safety 755 00:32:36,076 --> 00:32:38,756 seminar is scheduled for June 25th at Our Lady of Mount Carmel. 756 00:32:39,336 --> 00:32:43,216 National Night Out is scheduled for August 4th, and the K9 car 757 00:32:43,296 --> 00:32:45,556 show is scheduled for August 11th at the farmers market. 758 00:32:46,656 --> 00:32:50,036 K9 Clyde attended his mandatory in-service training on May 759 00:32:50,056 --> 00:32:54,046 19th. Four total deployments during motor vehicle stops resulting in 760 00:32:54,056 --> 00:32:57,945 three arrests of possession of narcotics, including methamphetamines, 761 00:32:57,996 --> 00:33:01,416 heroin, crack, cocaine, cane, and drug paraphernalia. 762 00:33:02,556 --> 00:33:04,336 Lastly, miscellaneous, we have Patrolman Angelo 763 00:33:05,156 --> 00:33:07,256 Balestamo was named Officer of the Month. 764 00:33:08,336 --> 00:33:11,436 And then we had Borough police 765 00:33:12,336 --> 00:33:16,196 participation in the Click It or Ticket grant sponsored by the division of New 766 00:33:16,256 --> 00:33:20,056 Jersey Highway Traffic Safety Patrol from May 18th to the 31st. 767 00:33:20,516 --> 00:33:24,116 And Chief Shearer and Lieutenant Smith met with the State Chiefs 768 00:33:24,156 --> 00:33:28,056 Accreditation Commission on June 11th to review the onsite assessment 769 00:33:28,116 --> 00:33:30,876 report to achieve the accreditation status. 770 00:33:31,676 --> 00:33:34,076 We were in attendance of that and it went extremely well. 771 00:33:34,536 --> 00:33:38,096 Save the final award on that for yourself next month if you'd 772 00:33:38,116 --> 00:33:40,776 like. Right? Final outcome. And then 773 00:33:41,836 --> 00:33:44,336 last, we have Lieutenant Smith was unable to assist 774 00:33:45,736 --> 00:33:48,316 with the Our Lady of Mount Carmel with the security enhancement. 775 00:33:48,876 --> 00:33:52,666 Excuse me, not unable, was able to assist with the Our Lady of Mount Carmel 776 00:33:52,696 --> 00:33:56,036 security assessment for all windows and doors at the school by obtaining monetary 777 00:33:56,076 --> 00:33:59,976 donations. The school is now equipped with a thick durable security film 778 00:34:00,036 --> 00:34:03,656 on all entries and exit door windows, making them significantly more difficult to 779 00:34:03,696 --> 00:34:06,056 penetrate. So that's a great accomplishment there. 780 00:34:06,576 --> 00:34:07,976 Do you want me to finish up or do you want to go back? 781 00:34:08,296 --> 00:34:09,096 Yeah, just finish more. 782 00:34:09,176 --> 00:34:12,736 Okay. I got a couple more things here. Moving on to the fire department. 783 00:34:13,616 --> 00:34:17,357 We had the crews continue to volunteer staff daytime duty crews 784 00:34:17,676 --> 00:34:20,236 during the work week from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. 785 00:34:20,357 --> 00:34:23,886 overnight in station duty crews and when personnel are 786 00:34:23,917 --> 00:34:27,877 available. Members completed the forcible entry training. 787 00:34:27,917 --> 00:34:31,437 Members completed live fire training at the Camden County Fire Academy. 788 00:34:32,076 --> 00:34:35,766 Members completed NFPA 1040 drills and 789 00:34:35,996 --> 00:34:39,897 relay pumping training. Members attended the Memorial Day services in Berlin, 790 00:34:39,976 --> 00:34:41,736 West Berlin, and Waterford Township. 791 00:34:42,377 --> 00:34:46,096 On 6/2/26, members respond to Pine Hill for a working 792 00:34:46,176 --> 00:34:49,275 dwelling with people trapped. 793 00:34:50,196 --> 00:34:54,036 Quint 21-1 secured a secondary water supply 794 00:34:54,046 --> 00:34:57,386 while the crew assisted with exterior fire attack and 795 00:34:57,436 --> 00:35:01,246 overhaul. Fire and police 21-1 assisted Pine Hill Park 796 00:35:01,246 --> 00:35:05,106 Police with detouring traffic. Total calls for May were 797 00:35:05,176 --> 00:35:07,876 77. The total calls for the year, 585. 798 00:35:08,356 --> 00:35:12,056 The average calls per month is approximately 117, so a little bit less than 799 00:35:12,096 --> 00:35:15,256 normal there. And then finally, real quick on the EMS numbers, 800 00:35:16,676 --> 00:35:19,816 about average, about 270 calls over the course of the month. 801 00:35:20,196 --> 00:35:23,645 52% being in the borough itself, 32 in the 802 00:35:23,716 --> 00:35:27,196 township, and the residual were in Clementon, 803 00:35:27,316 --> 00:35:30,496 Lindenwold, and Waterford, respectively. Thank you. 804 00:35:31,076 --> 00:35:31,576 Appreciate it. 805 00:35:32,536 --> 00:35:32,816 Good. 806 00:35:34,416 --> 00:35:34,936 Great. Thank you. 807 00:35:35,896 --> 00:35:39,796 We'll pivot back. I want to apologize to the madam clerk for giving her a heart 808 00:35:39,836 --> 00:35:42,476 attack because we thought the dates were wrong. They were in fact correct. 809 00:35:42,556 --> 00:35:42,606 Yeah. 810 00:35:42,766 --> 00:35:45,376 And you can breathe again. So I apologize. 811 00:35:45,896 --> 00:35:47,466 So 2025 is what we're, 812 00:35:48,376 --> 00:35:49,636 that the proposal was just for. 813 00:35:49,696 --> 00:35:50,196 Everything's correct. Yeah. 814 00:35:50,236 --> 00:35:54,196 2026 has the Harger, and 2027 is what they're putting in for 815 00:35:54,236 --> 00:35:56,206 the grant with those two initiatives. So all good. 816 00:35:56,206 --> 00:35:57,356 We didn't doubt you for a second. 817 00:35:57,976 --> 00:35:58,486 We're all good. 818 00:35:58,486 --> 00:35:59,826 It's weird when you're in twinsets, huh? 819 00:36:00,296 --> 00:36:03,576 I know. When you're working with grants, you're one year, two years. 820 00:36:03,656 --> 00:36:04,556 We are all good. 821 00:36:04,776 --> 00:36:08,456 It's taken me forever to understand these grants, 822 00:36:09,096 --> 00:36:11,686 the years and the grants. And I'm like, yeah. 823 00:36:11,696 --> 00:36:14,715 Another 30 seconds, her shirt was going to match your shirt. 824 00:36:15,356 --> 00:36:15,366 It did. 825 00:36:15,396 --> 00:36:17,496 And it is right here. It is 2025. 826 00:36:18,596 --> 00:36:22,476 Apologies. And I also want to apologize to Councilwoman Cummings 827 00:36:22,496 --> 00:36:25,116 for skipping her. Just all flustered all around. 828 00:36:25,356 --> 00:36:25,756 It's all good. 829 00:36:26,996 --> 00:36:29,316 We'll pivot back to water and sewer, please. 830 00:36:30,116 --> 00:36:31,636 We are together. It's all good 831 00:36:33,168 --> 00:36:33,528 Your turn. 832 00:36:34,088 --> 00:36:34,248 Yeah. 833 00:36:34,728 --> 00:36:36,568 You all done? Yeah, I think we're done. 834 00:36:36,678 --> 00:36:39,568 Let's go back to yours. There we go. Look at that nice little table. 835 00:36:39,728 --> 00:36:40,828 Thanks, good evening, everyone. 836 00:36:40,928 --> 00:36:41,508 Nice looking at little table. 837 00:36:42,028 --> 00:36:45,918 For the water and sewer reports, this past Monday on the 8th, we did have 838 00:36:45,968 --> 00:36:49,508 a water main break on Wayside Road in Centennial Square Development, 839 00:36:50,248 --> 00:36:54,228 with minimum disruption. We dispatched our crew, and that was handled 840 00:36:54,848 --> 00:36:56,638 fairly quickly. We did 841 00:36:57,888 --> 00:37:01,328 seven service orders for meter repairs, and replacements were completed. 842 00:37:01,608 --> 00:37:03,448 Two meters were replaced during that time. 843 00:37:03,968 --> 00:37:05,968 88 utility mark-outs were completed. 844 00:37:06,668 --> 00:37:10,628 We also completed all of our monthly maintenance at both water plants, and 845 00:37:10,668 --> 00:37:14,068 the rehab project at the plant number one over here, 846 00:37:15,128 --> 00:37:15,788 Park and 847 00:37:16,828 --> 00:37:20,688 Cross Keys, is completed. The plant has passed all of our NJDEP 848 00:37:20,828 --> 00:37:24,208 testing. The plant is back online now, and the 849 00:37:24,268 --> 00:37:27,208 contractor's continuing to just do equipment renewal. 850 00:37:28,228 --> 00:37:31,568 In the sewer, we've completed all our routine monthly maintenance on the 10 851 00:37:31,708 --> 00:37:35,468 stations, as well as the 10 emergency backup generators in the 852 00:37:35,548 --> 00:37:37,748 sewer plant. That's it for my report. 853 00:37:37,987 --> 00:37:38,108 Great. 854 00:37:38,148 --> 00:37:38,448 Thank you. 855 00:37:38,588 --> 00:37:42,408 Thank you. On to youth athletics and community events, Councilman Mascarenhas. 856 00:37:43,928 --> 00:37:46,688 Good evening, Mayor, council members, residents of Berlin Borough. 857 00:37:47,888 --> 00:37:51,648 Tonight I stand before you not just as a councilman, but as a father, a neighbor, a 858 00:37:51,748 --> 00:37:54,758 taxpayer, someone who deeply cares about the future of the community. 859 00:37:56,628 --> 00:37:59,028 We're discussing something much bigger than baseball fields. 860 00:37:59,808 --> 00:38:03,688 We're discussing whether Berlin Borough will plan for the future or simply 861 00:38:03,768 --> 00:38:04,848 react when it's too late. 862 00:38:06,488 --> 00:38:10,108 The reality's clear. The baseball fields 863 00:38:11,088 --> 00:38:12,708 of our children are currently not owned by 864 00:38:13,608 --> 00:38:17,478 Berlin Borough. They are located on Borough of Education 865 00:38:17,568 --> 00:38:19,448 property, or Board of Education property. 866 00:38:20,108 --> 00:38:23,988 As the community grows, the Board of Education has already discussed the 867 00:38:23,998 --> 00:38:25,758 possibility in the future of expansion. 868 00:38:26,748 --> 00:38:30,238 If that expansion occurs, those fields could be reduced, 869 00:38:30,428 --> 00:38:32,628 relocated, or potentially disappear altogether. 870 00:38:33,868 --> 00:38:37,448 The question is simple. If we lose those fields tomorrow, what's our plan? 871 00:38:38,708 --> 00:38:39,868 Where do our children go to play? 872 00:38:40,788 --> 00:38:42,108 Where will the leagues go to play? 873 00:38:43,167 --> 00:38:45,048 Where are the future generations going to gather? 874 00:38:45,988 --> 00:38:49,428 Tonight, we have the opportunity to forge some answers to those questions before it 875 00:38:49,448 --> 00:38:53,128 becomes a crisis. Berlin Borough owns land that is currently 876 00:38:53,228 --> 00:38:57,188 sitting unused, land that belongs to the taxpayers, land that can be 877 00:38:57,228 --> 00:39:00,848 used to transform into something extraordinary, the destination for recreation, 878 00:39:01,448 --> 00:39:04,468 community pride, economic development, and youth 879 00:39:04,508 --> 00:39:06,268 opportunity. 880 00:39:07,268 --> 00:39:11,248 This proposal is not asking us to build a 881 00:39:11,368 --> 00:39:15,248 sports complex tomorrow. The proposal is asking for us to take the first 882 00:39:15,288 --> 00:39:16,188 responsible step. 883 00:39:17,428 --> 00:39:21,228 It allows the development of a concept plan, engineering analysis, 884 00:39:21,548 --> 00:39:24,788 rendering, and feasible studies so we can understand 885 00:39:24,828 --> 00:39:28,768 exactly what is possible and what the opportunities exist. 886 00:39:29,368 --> 00:39:30,208 Without a plan, 887 00:39:31,088 --> 00:39:33,428 there can be no grants. Without a plan, 888 00:39:34,888 --> 00:39:38,737 we can't go for state funding. Without a plan, we can't 889 00:39:38,768 --> 00:39:42,718 apply for federal funding. Without a plan, there can 890 00:39:42,718 --> 00:39:44,648 be no meaningful discussion about the future. 891 00:39:45,988 --> 00:39:48,788 You cannot apply for assistance if you have nothing to show. 892 00:39:52,508 --> 00:39:53,828 You cannot attract investments 893 00:39:54,748 --> 00:39:58,568 if we don't have a vision. You cannot build tomorrow if you refuse to plan 894 00:39:58,608 --> 00:39:58,908 today. 895 00:39:59,908 --> 00:40:03,588 This project is not simply an expense, it's an investment. 896 00:40:03,598 --> 00:40:07,108 An investment in our children, an investment in the public health, an investment in 897 00:40:07,168 --> 00:40:10,878 recreation, an investment in property values, an investment in the 898 00:40:10,968 --> 00:40:13,168 future of the identity of Berlin Borough. 899 00:40:14,268 --> 00:40:17,988 And unlike many expenditures, the investment has potential to 900 00:40:18,048 --> 00:40:18,948 generate revenue. 901 00:40:19,848 --> 00:40:21,948 Regional tournaments bring visitors. 902 00:40:22,548 --> 00:40:24,748 Visitors spend money in local restaurants. 903 00:40:25,368 --> 00:40:28,828 Visitors purchase fuel. Visitors support local businesses. 904 00:40:29,448 --> 00:40:33,048 Visitors create economic activity that benefits the entire community. 905 00:40:34,708 --> 00:40:38,588 Field rentals create revenue. Tournament hosts create revenue. 906 00:40:39,848 --> 00:40:43,688 Special events create revenue. Most importantly, they create opportunities 907 00:40:44,148 --> 00:40:44,868 for our residents. 908 00:40:45,728 --> 00:40:49,288 But even if the project generates $0, I would support it 909 00:40:50,028 --> 00:40:53,788 because the return on investment is measured in children learning teamwork. 910 00:40:54,608 --> 00:40:57,608 It's measured in families spending time together. 911 00:40:57,688 --> 00:41:01,348 It's measured in teenagers staying active instead of staying home. 912 00:41:01,908 --> 00:41:03,508 It's measured in community pride. 913 00:41:03,858 --> 00:41:06,228 It's measured in memories that last a lifetime. 914 00:41:06,628 --> 00:41:09,428 The value of these things cannot be calculated on a spreadheet. 915 00:41:11,848 --> 00:41:15,348 Years from now, no children will remember the feasible study costs. 916 00:41:16,728 --> 00:41:18,268 They will remember the fields that they played in. 917 00:41:19,048 --> 00:41:20,768 They will remember championships they won. 918 00:41:21,308 --> 00:41:22,868 They will remember friendships they made. 919 00:41:23,568 --> 00:41:26,888 They will remember that someone cared enough to invest in them. 920 00:41:28,308 --> 00:41:29,528 Council has a choice tonight. 921 00:41:30,708 --> 00:41:32,688 We can generate a plan ahead, 922 00:41:33,628 --> 00:41:34,708 or we can generate 923 00:41:36,228 --> 00:41:39,648 for the generations that ignored the warning signs 924 00:41:40,308 --> 00:41:43,548 and left residents scrambling when it's needed 925 00:41:44,388 --> 00:41:45,368 and could have been avoided. 926 00:41:46,428 --> 00:41:50,208 Leadership is not about solving today's 927 00:41:50,248 --> 00:41:54,128 problem after they arrive. Leadership is about preparing for them before they 928 00:41:54,188 --> 00:41:54,348 do. 929 00:41:55,468 --> 00:41:58,868 The land is here. The need is here. The opportunity is here. 930 00:41:59,088 --> 00:41:59,808 The vision is here. 931 00:42:00,728 --> 00:42:02,988 Now we need the courage to take the first step. 932 00:42:03,488 --> 00:42:06,028 I respectfully ask my fellow council members 933 00:42:06,948 --> 00:42:10,808 to support the proposal that is being processed of securing the 934 00:42:10,868 --> 00:42:13,368 future of the recreation of Berlin Borough. 935 00:42:14,128 --> 00:42:17,848 Because it's not about the fields, it's about the future. It's about our children. 936 00:42:17,908 --> 00:42:21,528 It's about Berlin Borough better than we've had back. 937 00:42:21,588 --> 00:42:24,688 It's about leaving Berlin Borough better than the way we found it. 938 00:42:26,088 --> 00:42:27,688 If we can find the money 939 00:42:29,288 --> 00:42:33,148 to fix problems when they happen, surely we can find money 940 00:42:33,188 --> 00:42:37,156 to prevent them before it happens The question tonight is not whether 941 00:42:37,216 --> 00:42:39,716 Berlin Borough can afford to plan for the future. 942 00:42:40,116 --> 00:42:43,216 The question is whether we can afford not to. 943 00:42:44,176 --> 00:42:47,656 The proposal before council is not for construction. 944 00:42:48,236 --> 00:42:52,056 The professional planning concept, developing renderings, 945 00:42:52,896 --> 00:42:53,156 and 946 00:42:54,176 --> 00:42:58,126 engineering work is necessary to determine the feasibility and position of 947 00:42:58,176 --> 00:43:01,456 Berlin Borough for grants and future funding opportunities. 948 00:43:02,016 --> 00:43:05,476 The total estimate of the cost is $43,000. 949 00:43:08,776 --> 00:43:10,956 I've handed each one of the council members 950 00:43:13,636 --> 00:43:13,776 the 951 00:43:16,156 --> 00:43:18,676 proposal from Colliers. 952 00:43:19,636 --> 00:43:21,356 Section one is service scopes, 953 00:43:22,256 --> 00:43:26,076 section two is business and terms and conditions, section three, technical 954 00:43:26,216 --> 00:43:30,076 staff, hourly rates, schedule of reimbursement, expenses, and 955 00:43:30,116 --> 00:43:33,176 section four is client contract authorization. 956 00:43:35,396 --> 00:43:39,395 The final page is the pictures that are other towns in the state 957 00:43:39,416 --> 00:43:41,976 of New Jersey, what their sports complexes look like. 958 00:43:43,336 --> 00:43:47,186 There's an opportunity for us to turn around 959 00:43:47,316 --> 00:43:51,156 and make an impact on the baseball fields, soccer fields, 960 00:43:52,476 --> 00:43:54,416 hockey, all the sports for the kids. 961 00:43:55,966 --> 00:43:59,866 $43,000 is being asked for the plans to be drawn up so I can 962 00:43:59,876 --> 00:44:03,696 work diligently and aggressively as I am on getting funding for the 963 00:44:03,736 --> 00:44:05,416 process and the program. 964 00:44:07,436 --> 00:44:10,956 I've had many meetings with Steve Nakovitch, who runs the AAA, 965 00:44:11,716 --> 00:44:15,536 and they're very frustrated with the fact that at any time the 966 00:44:15,596 --> 00:44:18,856 school board decide to expand, they have no say in it. 967 00:44:18,866 --> 00:44:21,556 If the school board decides to expand, we don't have a say in it either. 968 00:44:22,796 --> 00:44:25,696 So if we plan for the future, we can turn around and work with it now. 969 00:44:26,316 --> 00:44:29,656 The cost is $43,000 for the plan, then we can go at it at a pace 970 00:44:30,296 --> 00:44:34,275 instead of scrambling at the last minute when the kids don't have any place to go. 971 00:44:35,756 --> 00:44:39,696 On that, I will close for that topic and open it up 972 00:44:40,016 --> 00:44:42,096 to everyone to discuss and see where they are. 973 00:44:42,456 --> 00:44:44,135 But I'd like to get approvals for those plans, 974 00:44:45,296 --> 00:44:48,476 and to get them generated so I can start working on it to get funding. 975 00:44:49,396 --> 00:44:51,696 And I don't want to see this coming out of taxpayers' money. 976 00:44:51,705 --> 00:44:53,816 I want to see it coming from grants, state and federal. 977 00:44:56,136 --> 00:44:59,015 And then I'll have one more thing after the discussion to discuss. 978 00:45:00,196 --> 00:45:00,656 Mayor? 979 00:45:02,376 --> 00:45:04,996 Is this an approval to 980 00:45:06,376 --> 00:45:09,636 spend $43,000? Is that what you're saying? 981 00:45:09,776 --> 00:45:09,956 Yes. 982 00:45:10,476 --> 00:45:10,816 So moved. 983 00:45:12,676 --> 00:45:12,916 No. 984 00:45:15,916 --> 00:45:19,736 I would suggest that we take the money for a Tahoe that the fire company 985 00:45:19,756 --> 00:45:23,396 probably doesn't need immediately, and we spend that money on this. 986 00:45:24,356 --> 00:45:27,606 That's capital. 987 00:45:28,556 --> 00:45:31,956 Yeah, I understand. The problem is it's different allocations. That's capital. 988 00:45:31,996 --> 00:45:32,836 I get it. I know. 989 00:45:33,246 --> 00:45:36,976 And then my only real reservation is we just passed the budget 990 00:45:37,356 --> 00:45:41,116 last month, and we only have $80,000 in engineering for the whole 991 00:45:41,236 --> 00:45:42,136 year for everything. 992 00:45:43,036 --> 00:45:46,456 I'm not opposed to moving forward and looking at a 993 00:45:46,516 --> 00:45:47,096 concept. 994 00:45:48,016 --> 00:45:49,696 I'm just nervous we're going to run out of funds for 995 00:45:50,696 --> 00:45:53,976 other projects, streets and roads, water and sewer, things like that. 996 00:45:54,436 --> 00:45:57,416 We are six months into the year and we're almost seven months into the year. 997 00:45:59,216 --> 00:46:00,556 Yeah, but the $80,000 is for 998 00:46:01,356 --> 00:46:02,276 the whole year. 999 00:46:04,976 --> 00:46:08,876 Is it possible to just have the concept plan at this point and not the 1000 00:46:10,016 --> 00:46:12,636 3D drawings and the video walkthroughs and things like that? 1001 00:46:13,856 --> 00:46:14,956 Or 1002 00:46:16,016 --> 00:46:19,496 wait a few months and see where we're at with our engineering budget, if there's 1003 00:46:19,516 --> 00:46:20,156 some room in there. 1004 00:46:21,976 --> 00:46:25,036 If we get further throughout the year and there's going to be money left over, then 1005 00:46:25,796 --> 00:46:27,096 go and do it. 1006 00:46:28,236 --> 00:46:32,056 That's entirely up to council. I'm asking to do so 1007 00:46:32,156 --> 00:46:36,146 this way, you've never known me to look back and have grass growing 1008 00:46:36,236 --> 00:46:39,916 under my feet. So I want to get on it and go forward and get aggressive with going 1009 00:46:39,976 --> 00:46:41,876 after money, because money's not going to sit around. 1010 00:46:41,956 --> 00:46:45,576 If we don't grab federal funding and state funding, somebody else 1011 00:46:45,696 --> 00:46:46,436 will. 1012 00:46:46,516 --> 00:46:46,816 Sure. 1013 00:46:46,846 --> 00:46:49,396 And if you go to Gloucester Township, there are beautiful fields. 1014 00:46:49,626 --> 00:46:49,626 Yeah. 1015 00:46:49,636 --> 00:46:51,036 If you go to Voorhees, beautiful fields. 1016 00:46:51,296 --> 00:46:53,216 As a matter of fact, if you go to Gloucester Township, there's more than just one 1017 00:46:53,276 --> 00:46:55,175 field. There's more than one complex. 1018 00:46:55,615 --> 00:46:59,396 And I drive by it every day and see these gorgeous places, and I'm wondering, 1019 00:46:59,876 --> 00:47:00,766 why doesn't Berlin have it? 1020 00:47:00,976 --> 00:47:03,556 Well, I'll be at Rabennwood's field in a little bit. 1021 00:47:04,216 --> 00:47:08,136 Do we have to spend the $43,000 in order to establish 1022 00:47:08,536 --> 00:47:09,176 a plan? 1023 00:47:09,896 --> 00:47:13,816 It's not only to establish a plan, but also to establish the information that we 1024 00:47:13,876 --> 00:47:17,456 need to go after grants and also solicit outside funding, 1025 00:47:17,776 --> 00:47:19,656 whether private or government. 1026 00:47:21,256 --> 00:47:25,156 Because if I can turn around and secure a company like a Coca-Cola to turn 1027 00:47:25,176 --> 00:47:27,106 around and come in, by all means I'm going to go after it. 1028 00:47:27,156 --> 00:47:31,056 I have a very unique position with a very close friend that works 1029 00:47:31,076 --> 00:47:34,816 for franchise companies. He also has a lot of contacts with those type of 1030 00:47:35,056 --> 00:47:38,886 level people. So I'm going to pursue every avenue of every friend that I've 1031 00:47:38,916 --> 00:47:40,226 ever met and 1032 00:47:41,376 --> 00:47:42,676 money for money for the town. 1033 00:47:45,036 --> 00:47:48,476 Do we know what the cost would be to have just a report that would make 1034 00:47:48,536 --> 00:47:51,736 the information that Chris would need? 1035 00:47:51,756 --> 00:47:53,286 $43,000 would be report and get everything together. 1036 00:47:53,416 --> 00:47:54,636 It's a certain process to do it right. 1037 00:47:54,686 --> 00:47:57,866 I'm not just going to turn around and go back and bring you the pieces, which will 1038 00:47:57,866 --> 00:47:59,676 in turn guarantee failure. 1039 00:48:01,336 --> 00:48:04,836 And this is redeveloping the current fields that are at the school? 1040 00:48:05,016 --> 00:48:08,576 No. That's owned, as I said earlier, by the Board of Education. 1041 00:48:08,876 --> 00:48:11,736 We have no control at all. The money that we just spent on 1042 00:48:11,776 --> 00:48:13,736 the signs and everything- 1043 00:48:13,896 --> 00:48:14,006 Mm-hmm. 1044 00:48:14,316 --> 00:48:17,146 If the school board want to turn around and cancel, we have to go get an 1045 00:48:17,176 --> 00:48:18,396 electrician to take our signs down. 1046 00:48:18,736 --> 00:48:18,956 Mm-hmm. 1047 00:48:19,536 --> 00:48:20,686 So we have zero control there. 1048 00:48:20,736 --> 00:48:22,196 So this proposal is for- 1049 00:48:23,456 --> 00:48:24,446 Well, for property that's owned by the- 1050 00:48:24,506 --> 00:48:26,796 ... property for the Simone Preserve? 1051 00:48:27,436 --> 00:48:27,596 No. 1052 00:48:27,896 --> 00:48:28,676 Yeah, exactly. 1053 00:48:28,756 --> 00:48:30,046 I didn't say it was Simone Preserve. 1054 00:48:30,236 --> 00:48:30,296 No. 1055 00:48:31,676 --> 00:48:32,176 There is land- 1056 00:48:32,296 --> 00:48:33,116 The community center? 1057 00:48:33,496 --> 00:48:34,666 Right by the community center, there's- 1058 00:48:34,816 --> 00:48:35,796 On both sides 1059 00:48:35,816 --> 00:48:39,186 ... I believe at least 18 acres that we can turn around and build a nice complex on 1060 00:48:39,196 --> 00:48:39,446 there 1061 00:48:41,172 --> 00:48:44,752 And that's just an eighth lot of land. 1062 00:48:44,832 --> 00:48:48,342 So we have seven lots of land in Berlin Borough, and then when we turn around and 1063 00:48:48,352 --> 00:48:52,312 discuss where the best position is, and that's why the engineer will look at 1064 00:48:52,332 --> 00:48:56,032 all the Berlin Borough property it owns and say, "This is the best 1065 00:48:56,212 --> 00:48:57,572 spot for this complex." 1066 00:48:58,792 --> 00:49:02,722 It's not my decision, it's professional engineers that look at it 1067 00:49:02,732 --> 00:49:04,032 on a grand scale fashion. 1068 00:49:06,372 --> 00:49:09,932 So this fee is for Colliers, is 1069 00:49:10,012 --> 00:49:11,222 basically what you're saying? 1070 00:49:11,442 --> 00:49:15,352 Right. Colliers is charging $43,000 to get soup to nuts and package it 1071 00:49:15,432 --> 00:49:17,172 so I can turn around and start selling. 1072 00:49:17,772 --> 00:49:17,872 And 1073 00:49:21,052 --> 00:49:21,692 it's a lot of money. 1074 00:49:22,772 --> 00:49:23,252 Yeah, it is. 1075 00:49:23,472 --> 00:49:26,852 Is there any way that Anthony could sharpen his pencil a little bit? 1076 00:49:27,172 --> 00:49:29,792 I tried to choke him out a couple times on it, and 1077 00:49:30,832 --> 00:49:34,672 he literally said, " engineers are coming to you with a solid number." 1078 00:49:36,712 --> 00:49:40,552 Not saying that Howard can't go over there and give him his municipal boss 1079 00:49:40,652 --> 00:49:42,162 and shake him up a little bit, but. 1080 00:49:42,172 --> 00:49:43,072 I don't have any mean looks. 1081 00:49:43,352 --> 00:49:44,632 Yes, you do. I've seen it. 1082 00:49:46,011 --> 00:49:46,872 And it's scary. 1083 00:49:47,072 --> 00:49:47,492 I defer- 1084 00:49:47,832 --> 00:49:48,092 No 1085 00:49:48,372 --> 00:49:50,072 ... I defer to Miller because I just get going. 1086 00:49:50,132 --> 00:49:52,972 It's just old, Councilman. It's all it is. 1087 00:49:54,452 --> 00:49:55,142 You got scary eyes. 1088 00:49:55,152 --> 00:49:57,992 The long story short is, for years, 1089 00:49:58,852 --> 00:50:02,672 AA has been running on their own and working with a small budget, 1090 00:50:02,752 --> 00:50:06,592 if any budget at all. They've been working their a*s off, excuse me, 1091 00:50:07,232 --> 00:50:10,722 but this is not for them. This is for the kids. And you know what? 1092 00:50:10,752 --> 00:50:13,462 Our population is growing in town. We are going to have more children. 1093 00:50:13,492 --> 00:50:16,032 We are going to have places that they need to go. 1094 00:50:16,092 --> 00:50:19,472 If not, they'll be in your backyard taking your motorcycle out of your 1095 00:50:20,332 --> 00:50:20,892 garage. 1096 00:50:22,172 --> 00:50:25,482 So it's either one thing, we either invest in the kids, or we turn around and 1097 00:50:25,492 --> 00:50:27,072 invest in all these apartments here. 1098 00:50:30,472 --> 00:50:33,152 So I guess the choice is yours. Does anybody have any other questions? 1099 00:50:34,772 --> 00:50:36,272 Any estimates on the other options, Carl? 1100 00:50:37,052 --> 00:50:39,842 There's none that they have to do. So if I turn around and give you a number- 1101 00:50:40,292 --> 00:50:40,352 Yeah 1102 00:50:40,362 --> 00:50:42,532 ... it'd be just something I'm pulling out of the air, and I won't do that. 1103 00:50:43,012 --> 00:50:43,492 It's not fair. 1104 00:50:51,092 --> 00:50:54,952 So you have my ask. I can turn around and get your name so I can 1105 00:50:55,012 --> 00:50:57,012 actually get to work. I'd truly appreciate it. 1106 00:51:00,812 --> 00:51:02,252 I, obviously, my goal would be yes. 1107 00:51:02,352 --> 00:51:04,672 How much money now for the 1108 00:51:06,312 --> 00:51:09,492 capital already at that price? 1109 00:51:11,512 --> 00:51:12,132 It's not capital. 1110 00:51:14,312 --> 00:51:17,812 Well, I definitely want to see a sports-- I want to see 1111 00:51:17,972 --> 00:51:21,692 something like this in our town for the kids. 1112 00:51:21,892 --> 00:51:22,312 For sure. 1113 00:51:23,892 --> 00:51:24,292 And 1114 00:51:25,232 --> 00:51:27,432 we've done nothing but kick the can around. 1115 00:51:28,812 --> 00:51:32,452 So are you looking for somebody to second a motion on something? 1116 00:51:32,512 --> 00:51:36,382 Because like I said, I'm looking at like a $60,000 car that I 1117 00:51:36,412 --> 00:51:40,092 don't think we need right now. I'd rather spend that money on 1118 00:51:40,132 --> 00:51:43,492 this. So are we putting this in the form of a motion? 1119 00:51:43,592 --> 00:51:46,072 I'll make a motion to turn around and have a vote on it 1120 00:51:46,092 --> 00:51:48,672 next week. 1121 00:51:49,312 --> 00:51:50,692 Is that 1122 00:51:51,552 --> 00:51:52,872 how we can roll with this? 1123 00:51:53,292 --> 00:51:54,472 That happen now, Howard, or do I- 1124 00:51:54,932 --> 00:51:55,792 Or should we... 1125 00:51:57,012 --> 00:52:00,112 What's the question? 1126 00:52:00,392 --> 00:52:02,972 Council wants to walk on a proposal. 1127 00:52:03,752 --> 00:52:04,012 Sure. 1128 00:52:04,072 --> 00:52:05,972 To go now or wait till we get the resolutions? 1129 00:52:06,432 --> 00:52:07,222 Whenever you want to. 1130 00:52:07,252 --> 00:52:08,532 Okay. I was just doing now. 1131 00:52:09,752 --> 00:52:12,512 Well, I'll second it if he's putting it in the form of a motion. 1132 00:52:12,552 --> 00:52:12,712 Okay. 1133 00:52:13,912 --> 00:52:17,212 So the question is the proposal to award a contract to Colliers 1134 00:52:18,172 --> 00:52:19,292 for an amount 1135 00:52:20,392 --> 00:52:24,232 of $43,000 for the services set 1136 00:52:24,272 --> 00:52:27,352 forth in their June 3rd, 2026 proposal. 1137 00:52:29,112 --> 00:52:33,032 We have a motion and a second. If there's no questions, we can go to a roll 1138 00:52:33,132 --> 00:52:34,312 call. Madam Clerk. 1139 00:52:35,952 --> 00:52:38,472 Is this subject to approval by the CFO? 1140 00:52:38,712 --> 00:52:42,532 Every spending of money is subject to availability of funds by your 1141 00:52:42,572 --> 00:52:43,132 CFO. 1142 00:52:43,932 --> 00:52:43,942 Okay. 1143 00:52:43,972 --> 00:52:46,112 Has it been discussed with our CFO? 1144 00:52:46,592 --> 00:52:49,992 Yeah, his concern is one, there's only $80,000 in the general budget. 1145 00:52:50,692 --> 00:52:53,101 That's all. 1146 00:52:53,152 --> 00:52:55,352 So he needs to certify the funds are available. 1147 00:52:55,942 --> 00:52:59,472 And that's not just for this, it's for any time we spend money. 1148 00:52:59,872 --> 00:53:01,472 So even if we wanted to do it, we can't. 1149 00:53:01,891 --> 00:53:02,752 No, that's not what I'm saying. 1150 00:53:02,852 --> 00:53:04,542 No, I'm not saying that. I'm saying that the CFO- 1151 00:53:04,552 --> 00:53:06,952 Would have to certify 1152 00:53:06,971 --> 00:53:10,752 ... in every attempt that where you spend money in a resolution, 1153 00:53:11,132 --> 00:53:14,872 he needs to certify that the funds are available to 1154 00:53:15,032 --> 00:53:17,532 spend to engage and enter into the contract. 1155 00:53:19,472 --> 00:53:21,632 And a lot of times they do that after the fact. 1156 00:53:23,052 --> 00:53:23,432 That'll be up 1157 00:53:24,452 --> 00:53:24,752 to him. 1158 00:53:25,932 --> 00:53:27,612 I'd like to see it done before the fact. 1159 00:53:28,612 --> 00:53:28,742 Mm-hmm. 1160 00:53:33,172 --> 00:53:34,092 So we have a motion on the floor. 1161 00:53:36,332 --> 00:53:38,832 We have a motion and a second. Let's roll call it. 1162 00:53:38,892 --> 00:53:40,052 Yep, roll call. 1163 00:53:40,972 --> 00:53:42,132 Council President Pallalotto? 1164 00:53:42,312 --> 00:53:42,592 Nay. 1165 00:53:43,812 --> 00:53:44,672 Councilwoman Cummings? 1166 00:53:44,952 --> 00:53:45,292 Nay. 1167 00:53:45,872 --> 00:53:46,532 Councilman Ewing? 1168 00:53:48,192 --> 00:53:50,912 Nay, pending the outcome of the CFO's determination. 1169 00:53:51,322 --> 00:53:51,492 Right. 1170 00:53:52,812 --> 00:53:53,532 Councilman Wilkinson? 1171 00:53:53,712 --> 00:53:53,992 Aye. 1172 00:53:54,432 --> 00:53:55,232 Councilman Skradis? 1173 00:53:55,312 --> 00:53:55,572 Aye. 1174 00:53:58,692 --> 00:53:59,652 Motion carried. 1175 00:54:03,012 --> 00:54:03,212 Good. 1176 00:54:03,672 --> 00:54:04,032 Thank you. 1177 00:54:04,352 --> 00:54:04,592 Thanks. 1178 00:54:04,892 --> 00:54:08,672 So the second thing I wanted to say is tomorrow night, 1179 00:54:08,952 --> 00:54:12,152 movie night on the front lawn. So you should see pictures up. 1180 00:54:12,212 --> 00:54:15,172 We have a projection screen up. We have our 1181 00:54:15,182 --> 00:54:18,852 lieutenant did a fantastic job 1182 00:54:19,212 --> 00:54:21,292 of putting together all of our... 1183 00:54:22,692 --> 00:54:23,692 We could've never done it without him. 1184 00:54:24,952 --> 00:54:24,961 Yeah. 1185 00:54:25,392 --> 00:54:29,372 So putting all the electronics together. We did a test run, and it was awesome. 1186 00:54:29,412 --> 00:54:30,732 The sound system's incredible. 1187 00:54:31,752 --> 00:54:34,032 Blankets, lawn chairs, and 1188 00:54:34,912 --> 00:54:36,252 sit back. I'm going to make popcorn. 1189 00:54:36,812 --> 00:54:37,812 Starting at 8:00, Carl? 1190 00:54:38,412 --> 00:54:39,172 The starting time- 1191 00:54:39,532 --> 00:54:42,902 The movie will kick off closer to 8:30 because it's dusk at 8:30. 1192 00:54:42,952 --> 00:54:45,352 But you can come and get your spot maybe- 1193 00:54:45,472 --> 00:54:48,522 So, and if you do come, make sure you bring an umbrella because they said there's a 1194 00:54:48,572 --> 00:54:51,072 50% chance of rain between 8:00 and 9:00 1195 00:54:51,972 --> 00:54:55,742 We're not going to get any contaminated runoff from the property next to us, 1196 00:54:55,952 --> 00:54:56,261 are we? 1197 00:54:58,012 --> 00:55:00,382 Actually, that's a total separate entity and then- 1198 00:55:00,752 --> 00:55:00,782 Oh, 1199 00:55:02,292 --> 00:55:02,952 heck 1200 00:55:02,972 --> 00:55:06,562 ... so that's all good to go. So this is going to be our first one, and we're 1201 00:55:06,872 --> 00:55:07,552 featuring movies, 1202 00:55:08,432 --> 00:55:09,512 which is an all-time classic. 1203 00:55:10,532 --> 00:55:13,892 I'm really excited. Then we have on July 10th, we'll be having "Jaws" 1204 00:55:14,932 --> 00:55:16,852 and "Lilo & Stitch" in August. 1205 00:55:17,172 --> 00:55:17,712 Oh. 1206 00:55:17,792 --> 00:55:21,512 And then we haven't announced it, but "Hocus Pocus" for Halloween time. 1207 00:55:21,952 --> 00:55:22,032 Yeah. 1208 00:55:22,552 --> 00:55:24,692 So, the staff here, 1209 00:55:25,652 --> 00:55:29,392 I've been working with the staff and the administration's been fantastic to work 1210 00:55:29,412 --> 00:55:33,052 with, and we're excited. I think community events 1211 00:55:33,061 --> 00:55:36,042 should be just exactly that. They should be where we all get together. 1212 00:55:36,072 --> 00:55:39,972 It doesn't matter if Democrat, independent, or Republican, 1213 00:55:40,032 --> 00:55:43,892 everybody is a Berlin resident, and we should turn around and all spend 1214 00:55:43,952 --> 00:55:47,832 time together and bond together. So bringing back the family atmosphere, back to 1215 00:55:47,872 --> 00:55:51,452 Berlin is what we want. So on that, I 1216 00:55:51,732 --> 00:55:52,132 close. 1217 00:55:52,452 --> 00:55:53,352 Great. Thank you so much. 1218 00:55:54,332 --> 00:55:54,632 Okay. 1219 00:55:54,692 --> 00:55:56,631 Councilman Miller is not here this evening. 1220 00:55:56,752 --> 00:55:57,872 I don't think he had anything to report. 1221 00:55:57,882 --> 00:55:59,011 Matt has worked extra this week, so I'll send him over to you. 1222 00:55:59,092 --> 00:56:01,412 Okay. But it'll be in the minutes. Yeah. 1223 00:56:01,492 --> 00:56:01,992 Yeah. 1224 00:56:02,032 --> 00:56:02,912 Exciting numbers. 1225 00:56:03,172 --> 00:56:03,412 Yes. 1226 00:56:04,792 --> 00:56:05,552 Look at them at your leisure. 1227 00:56:05,972 --> 00:56:07,242 Yes. That's important. 1228 00:56:07,272 --> 00:56:08,252 Solicitor, anything from this evening? 1229 00:56:08,512 --> 00:56:08,572 No. 1230 00:56:09,752 --> 00:56:11,592 I should have asked at workshop, but 1231 00:56:12,692 --> 00:56:15,782 we never heard back from the company that's doing the streets in the Woods 1232 00:56:15,812 --> 00:56:19,742 development. They kind of kicked, New Jersey gas came, did some of it, and then 1233 00:56:19,742 --> 00:56:19,742 sort of- 1234 00:56:19,742 --> 00:56:20,972 Oh, the roads are still torn up 1235 00:56:21,492 --> 00:56:23,072 ... sort of and they didn't finish everything. 1236 00:56:23,092 --> 00:56:23,362 Because they- 1237 00:56:23,372 --> 00:56:25,692 So I'm working with key engineer. 1238 00:56:26,632 --> 00:56:28,602 He's demanding some kind of- 1239 00:56:28,652 --> 00:56:30,272 I saw the emails, but he never responded. 1240 00:56:30,332 --> 00:56:31,102 Yeah. They never responded. 1241 00:56:31,102 --> 00:56:33,052 Okay. So just for the public, we're- 1242 00:56:33,692 --> 00:56:33,722 We're- 1243 00:56:33,722 --> 00:56:34,152 We're pushing 1244 00:56:34,272 --> 00:56:34,912 ... we're pushing it. 1245 00:56:35,012 --> 00:56:35,022 We're pushing. Okay. 1246 00:56:35,052 --> 00:56:38,472 We know they're still a punch list of things that they need to get done, and we 1247 00:56:38,592 --> 00:56:41,952 are pushing them to move forward with finishing those last 1248 00:56:42,552 --> 00:56:43,672 clean up things in the Woods. 1249 00:56:43,832 --> 00:56:44,092 Okay. 1250 00:56:45,152 --> 00:56:46,632 And then just for council, 1251 00:56:47,932 --> 00:56:49,712 unless you think otherwise, 1252 00:56:51,032 --> 00:56:53,512 Ann Marie's just going to ask DPW to put together the float. 1253 00:56:53,872 --> 00:56:56,612 We kind of do the same thing sort of every year. It's there. 1254 00:56:57,132 --> 00:56:58,592 They have all the decorations. 1255 00:56:59,632 --> 00:57:02,752 Fairgrounds is okay with them. Just kind of decorating the float this year, 1256 00:57:03,432 --> 00:57:04,372 unless you want to spend- 1257 00:57:04,552 --> 00:57:04,712 No 1258 00:57:04,772 --> 00:57:05,692 ... money to it or we could- 1259 00:57:05,712 --> 00:57:09,392 No, I'll be with the VFW for the parade, but I'll certainly come. 1260 00:57:09,692 --> 00:57:10,721 I, yeah, I got to do that. 1261 00:57:10,721 --> 00:57:11,542 Oh, yeah. That's right, that's right. 1262 00:57:12,672 --> 00:57:13,452 VFW. 1263 00:57:13,462 --> 00:57:13,462 Do it at the VFW. 1264 00:57:13,992 --> 00:57:14,792 Yeah, we all could come. 1265 00:57:15,772 --> 00:57:16,432 But we'll come down. 1266 00:57:16,862 --> 00:57:17,792 Well, okay. So you'd rather- 1267 00:57:18,192 --> 00:57:21,232 I'll spend my time. I'll let them do it, and I'll just come up and be part of it. 1268 00:57:21,452 --> 00:57:22,992 They're going to do it like during the day or whatever. 1269 00:57:23,772 --> 00:57:24,632 Okay. 1270 00:57:24,672 --> 00:57:25,132 But we'll- 1271 00:57:25,312 --> 00:57:25,992 I'll let you know 1272 00:57:26,012 --> 00:57:26,482 ... yeah, let me know. 1273 00:57:26,492 --> 00:57:27,172 We'll do it? Okay. 1274 00:57:27,372 --> 00:57:31,212 Yeah, listen, because we're all Friday, because 4th of July is on a Saturday, 1275 00:57:31,692 --> 00:57:35,112 so even if anyone, if you do want to come up and put any final touches or anything. 1276 00:57:35,152 --> 00:57:37,092 If I don't want to play, I'll do it, and everybody can come up if they want. 1277 00:57:37,112 --> 00:57:37,632 Yeah. Yeah. 1278 00:57:37,672 --> 00:57:37,872 Okay. 1279 00:57:37,881 --> 00:57:38,432 If you want to do that. 1280 00:57:38,712 --> 00:57:39,492 Works. Okay. 1281 00:57:39,732 --> 00:57:41,112 But I'm excited. America 250. 1282 00:57:41,392 --> 00:57:41,712 Yeah. 1283 00:57:42,161 --> 00:57:42,732 So that's our thing. 1284 00:57:43,412 --> 00:57:45,072 We have the ICCA in the crowd tonight, so- 1285 00:57:45,372 --> 00:57:45,552 Yeah 1286 00:57:45,872 --> 00:57:46,752 ... I'm sure we'll hear from them. 1287 00:57:47,552 --> 00:57:49,122 So that's all I had this evening. 1288 00:57:49,212 --> 00:57:51,532 Oh, can I add one thing, since you mentioned the ICCA? 1289 00:57:52,352 --> 00:57:55,762 So I'm excited that we're working with the ICCA in regards to 1290 00:57:55,792 --> 00:57:59,692 having a location for seniors here on Front in 1291 00:57:59,732 --> 00:58:02,372 Borough Hall. So I'm going to reach out to Ms. 1292 00:58:02,452 --> 00:58:06,432 Lilling to see if our DPW senior bus will either pick them up at 1293 00:58:06,492 --> 00:58:09,692 a general location and/or possibly at their house. 1294 00:58:09,752 --> 00:58:12,932 The traffic gets a little bit crazy, so we're going to figure out the logistics, 1295 00:58:12,992 --> 00:58:14,212 then we'll put something out. 1296 00:58:15,312 --> 00:58:19,072 It came from, well, my mother is a senior, and so are her friends, 1297 00:58:19,512 --> 00:58:22,472 and they grew up bringing their children to the parade. 1298 00:58:22,542 --> 00:58:26,212 And unfortunately, sometimes you have to park very far, and they can't walk 1299 00:58:26,312 --> 00:58:30,132 to a parade spot. So we're looking forward to hosting 1300 00:58:30,232 --> 00:58:32,112 some seniors on our front lawn this year. 1301 00:58:32,332 --> 00:58:32,542 That's great. 1302 00:58:32,542 --> 00:58:34,412 So thank you to the ICCA for- 1303 00:58:35,112 --> 00:58:35,762 That's a great idea. Thanks 1304 00:58:35,762 --> 00:58:36,872 ... assisting us with this. 1305 00:58:37,112 --> 00:58:39,652 Thank you. Thank you for seeing it through. Appreciate it. 1306 00:58:42,252 --> 00:58:45,672 On to old business. We have a second reading of ordinance number 1307 00:58:45,892 --> 00:58:49,592 2026-9. This is ordinance amending chapter 150, article 1308 00:58:49,672 --> 00:58:53,512 two of the code of the Borough of Berlin to establish after-hours fire 1309 00:58:53,572 --> 00:58:57,381 inspection fee. Can I please have a motion to open to the public on 1310 00:58:57,432 --> 00:58:59,652 ordinance 2026-9? 1311 00:59:00,342 --> 00:59:00,342 Motion. 1312 00:59:00,532 --> 00:59:00,892 Second. 1313 00:59:01,532 --> 00:59:02,072 All in favor? 1314 00:59:02,692 --> 00:59:03,032 Aye. 1315 00:59:03,672 --> 00:59:06,632 This is a modest modification, came from our fire inspector. 1316 00:59:07,952 --> 00:59:11,852 Nothing's changing if the request is made for the fire inspection between 1317 00:59:11,932 --> 00:59:13,352 8:00 to 4:00, Monday through Friday. 1318 00:59:14,012 --> 00:59:17,872 Any after-hours expenses, in order for the expenses to equal 1319 00:59:17,912 --> 00:59:21,252 the fees, the cost to equal the fees we collect, 1320 00:59:22,172 --> 00:59:25,812 there's a $100 surcharge if it's asked to do the inspection after 1321 00:59:25,932 --> 00:59:26,312 hours. 1322 00:59:26,372 --> 00:59:26,612 Okay. 1323 00:59:26,972 --> 00:59:29,092 That's what this, it's the implementation. 1324 00:59:29,352 --> 00:59:31,092 That's what this ordinance will implement. 1325 00:59:31,232 --> 00:59:35,152 Okay. If any members want to come forward on ordinance number 2026-9, 1326 00:59:35,272 --> 00:59:38,892 please come forward. We will have an open session for the 1327 00:59:38,972 --> 00:59:42,072 resolutions and also an open session for any topics. 1328 00:59:42,122 --> 00:59:42,552 So just- 1329 00:59:43,812 --> 00:59:45,211 Comments limited to this matter. 1330 00:59:45,312 --> 00:59:45,512 Yep. 1331 00:59:47,832 --> 00:59:50,232 Seeing or hearing no one, can I please have a motion to close the ordinance on 1332 00:59:50,272 --> 00:59:50,312 the... 1333 00:59:51,232 --> 00:59:54,132 I'm sorry, close to the public on ordinance 2026-9. 1334 00:59:54,252 --> 00:59:54,632 Motion. 1335 00:59:54,992 --> 00:59:55,272 Second. 1336 00:59:55,932 --> 00:59:56,432 All in favor? 1337 00:59:56,772 --> 00:59:57,152 Aye. 1338 00:59:58,052 --> 01:00:01,392 Can I please have a motion to adopt ordinance number 2026-9? 1339 01:00:01,732 --> 01:00:02,892 Aye. 1340 01:00:02,912 --> 01:00:03,211 Motion. 1341 01:00:03,972 --> 01:00:04,272 Second? 1342 01:00:05,412 --> 01:00:05,872 Second. 1343 01:00:07,292 --> 01:00:07,752 Roll call. 1344 01:00:08,572 --> 01:00:09,652 Council President Bonalato? 1345 01:00:09,852 --> 01:00:10,252 Aye. 1346 01:00:10,312 --> 01:00:11,172 Councilwoman Cummings? 1347 01:00:11,272 --> 01:00:11,372 Aye. 1348 01:00:11,652 --> 01:00:12,292 Councilman Howell? 1349 01:00:12,532 --> 01:00:12,812 Aye. 1350 01:00:13,212 --> 01:00:14,012 Councilman Wilkinson? 1351 01:00:14,312 --> 01:00:14,572 Aye. 1352 01:00:14,772 --> 01:00:15,632 Councilman Scravos? 1353 01:00:15,752 --> 01:00:16,012 Aye. 1354 01:00:17,892 --> 01:00:18,212 Thank you. 1355 01:00:19,492 --> 01:00:22,112 Second reading on ordinance number 2026-10. 1356 01:00:22,152 --> 01:00:25,712 This is an ordinance amending chapter 67 of the Code of the Borough of Berlin to 1357 01:00:25,752 --> 01:00:27,492 establish a new water connection fee. 1358 01:00:28,412 --> 01:00:31,032 Can I please have a motion to open to the public on ordinance number 1359 01:00:31,212 --> 01:00:32,532 2026-10? 1360 01:00:32,712 --> 01:00:33,432 I make that motion. 1361 01:00:34,512 --> 01:00:34,952 I'll second. 1362 01:00:36,932 --> 01:00:37,452 All in favor? 1363 01:00:37,972 --> 01:00:38,392 Aye. 1364 01:00:39,412 --> 01:00:43,402 Mayor, this matter is the auditor from time 1365 01:00:43,412 --> 01:00:46,992 to time does a calculation on our expenditures in our water department. 1366 01:00:47,472 --> 01:00:50,672 This doesn't apply to anybody that if they turn on the faucet in their home and 1367 01:00:50,692 --> 01:00:54,588 they have water now, doesn't apply to you It applies to new development 1368 01:00:54,628 --> 01:00:58,288 that comes in, so they pay their share of the infrastructure through a 1369 01:00:58,328 --> 01:01:00,368 connection fee for each individual unit, 1370 01:01:01,248 --> 01:01:04,948 because everyone that came before them contributed to that, and new 1371 01:01:05,288 --> 01:01:08,427 construction should as well. So they calculate that. 1372 01:01:09,308 --> 01:01:12,328 It's only for new construction, and it's 1373 01:01:12,768 --> 01:01:14,508 $2,400 per connection. 1374 01:01:14,768 --> 01:01:15,038 Mm-hmm. 1375 01:01:15,308 --> 01:01:18,108 But again, if you have water now, does not apply to you at all. 1376 01:01:19,088 --> 01:01:22,648 And the next ordinance is for the same thing, but for the sewer department, so. 1377 01:01:22,758 --> 01:01:23,048 Correct. 1378 01:01:23,928 --> 01:01:26,428 Can I please have-- I'm sorry, if anyone from the public wants to come forward on 1379 01:01:26,608 --> 01:01:27,748 this ordinance, please come forward. 1380 01:01:29,908 --> 01:01:32,528 Seeing or hearing no one, can I please have a motion to close to the public on 1381 01:01:32,568 --> 01:01:34,268 ordinance 2026-10? 1382 01:01:35,048 --> 01:01:35,868 I'll make that motion. 1383 01:01:36,388 --> 01:01:36,788 Second. 1384 01:01:38,188 --> 01:01:38,688 All in favor? 1385 01:01:39,228 --> 01:01:39,508 Aye. 1386 01:01:39,557 --> 01:01:39,557 Aye. 1387 01:01:40,528 --> 01:01:43,488 Can I please have a motion to adopt ordinance 2026-10? 1388 01:01:43,968 --> 01:01:44,648 I make that motion. 1389 01:01:44,808 --> 01:01:45,428 I'll second. 1390 01:01:47,448 --> 01:01:47,768 Roll call. 1391 01:01:48,048 --> 01:01:49,148 Council President Badalato? 1392 01:01:49,328 --> 01:01:49,648 Aye. 1393 01:01:49,808 --> 01:01:50,568 Councilwoman Cummings? 1394 01:01:50,648 --> 01:01:50,868 Aye. 1395 01:01:51,088 --> 01:01:52,048 Councilman Howelling? 1396 01:01:52,108 --> 01:01:52,388 Aye. 1397 01:01:52,908 --> 01:01:53,728 Councilman Wilkinson? 1398 01:01:54,108 --> 01:01:54,368 Aye. 1399 01:01:54,588 --> 01:01:55,428 Councilman Scranus? 1400 01:01:55,588 --> 01:01:55,828 Aye. 1401 01:01:58,368 --> 01:01:58,708 Thank you. 1402 01:01:59,528 --> 01:02:02,668 Second reading on ordinance number 2026-11. 1403 01:02:02,708 --> 01:02:06,688 This is an ordinance amending section 261-4 of the Code of the Borough of Berlin 1404 01:02:06,988 --> 01:02:08,968 regarding sewer connection permits and fees. 1405 01:02:09,748 --> 01:02:13,468 Can I please have a motion to open to the public on ordinance 2026-11? 1406 01:02:13,488 --> 01:02:14,288 Make that motion. 1407 01:02:15,188 --> 01:02:15,728 I'll second. 1408 01:02:17,428 --> 01:02:17,928 All in favor? 1409 01:02:18,508 --> 01:02:19,068 Aye. 1410 01:02:20,508 --> 01:02:20,518 Aye. 1411 01:02:20,528 --> 01:02:23,048 Anyone from the public wanting to come forward on this ordinance, please come 1412 01:02:23,108 --> 01:02:23,528 forward. 1413 01:02:25,648 --> 01:02:27,668 Same thing, only for flush and sewer. 1414 01:02:27,748 --> 01:02:27,928 Yep. 1415 01:02:29,108 --> 01:02:31,728 Seeing or hearing no one, can I please have a motion to close to the public on 1416 01:02:31,768 --> 01:02:33,328 ordinance 2026-11? 1417 01:02:34,748 --> 01:02:35,248 Motion. 1418 01:02:36,248 --> 01:02:36,528 Second. 1419 01:02:38,228 --> 01:02:38,848 All in favor? 1420 01:02:39,508 --> 01:02:40,408 Aye. 1421 01:02:41,278 --> 01:02:41,278 Aye. 1422 01:02:41,328 --> 01:02:44,028 Motion to adopt ordinance number 2026-11. 1423 01:02:44,588 --> 01:02:45,248 Make that motion. 1424 01:02:46,108 --> 01:02:46,448 Second. 1425 01:02:47,428 --> 01:02:48,048 Roll call, please. 1426 01:02:48,488 --> 01:02:49,608 Council President Badalato? 1427 01:02:49,768 --> 01:02:50,108 Aye. 1428 01:02:50,148 --> 01:02:51,008 Councilwoman Cummings? 1429 01:02:51,068 --> 01:02:51,388 Aye. 1430 01:02:51,428 --> 01:02:52,148 Councilman Howelling? 1431 01:02:52,388 --> 01:02:52,748 Aye. 1432 01:02:52,788 --> 01:02:53,568 Councilman Wilkinson? 1433 01:02:53,818 --> 01:02:54,128 Aye. 1434 01:02:54,168 --> 01:02:55,028 Councilman Scranus? 1435 01:02:56,448 --> 01:02:56,458 Aye. 1436 01:02:56,488 --> 01:02:56,828 Thank you. 1437 01:02:58,768 --> 01:03:01,428 Second reading on ordinance number 2026-12. 1438 01:03:01,488 --> 01:03:05,348 This is a bond ordinance providing for various 2026 sewer utility 1439 01:03:05,368 --> 01:03:08,788 improvements, buying in the Borough of Berlin in the County of Camden, State of New 1440 01:03:08,848 --> 01:03:12,088 Jersey, appropriating 425,000 1441 01:03:13,088 --> 01:03:16,948 and authorizing the issuance of 425,000 of bonds and notes to finance the 1442 01:03:17,008 --> 01:03:18,488 cost of the projects. 1443 01:03:20,108 --> 01:03:24,008 Can I please have a motion to open to the public on ordinance number 2026-12? 1444 01:03:24,388 --> 01:03:24,488 Motion. 1445 01:03:24,528 --> 01:03:25,088 I'll second. 1446 01:03:26,748 --> 01:03:27,268 All in favor? 1447 01:03:27,688 --> 01:03:27,828 Aye. 1448 01:03:27,868 --> 01:03:28,188 Aye. 1449 01:03:29,488 --> 01:03:32,748 This and the next two, Mayor, are capital ordinances that are prepared in 1450 01:03:32,768 --> 01:03:36,288 conjunction with your budget. Now the budget's been adopted, we can move forward 1451 01:03:36,368 --> 01:03:38,388 with these. This happens every year. 1452 01:03:38,588 --> 01:03:39,428 All right. Thank you. 1453 01:03:40,748 --> 01:03:42,368 Anyone from the public wanting to come forward? 1454 01:03:44,808 --> 01:03:47,188 Seeing or hearing no one, can I please have a motion to close to the public on 1455 01:03:47,248 --> 01:03:49,108 ordinance 2026-12? 1456 01:03:49,968 --> 01:03:50,668 I make that motion. 1457 01:03:50,948 --> 01:03:51,327 Second. 1458 01:03:52,408 --> 01:03:53,388 All in favor? 1459 01:03:53,488 --> 01:03:53,668 Aye. 1460 01:03:53,688 --> 01:03:54,028 Aye. 1461 01:03:54,868 --> 01:03:57,448 A motion to adopt ordinance 2026-12. 1462 01:03:57,988 --> 01:03:58,708 I make that motion. 1463 01:03:59,508 --> 01:03:59,868 Second. 1464 01:04:01,328 --> 01:04:01,708 Roll call. 1465 01:04:02,308 --> 01:04:03,448 Council President Badalato? 1466 01:04:03,648 --> 01:04:03,948 Aye. 1467 01:04:04,028 --> 01:04:04,868 Councilwoman Cummings? 1468 01:04:04,928 --> 01:04:05,248 Aye. 1469 01:04:05,308 --> 01:04:06,008 Councilman Howelling? 1470 01:04:06,288 --> 01:04:06,528 Aye. 1471 01:04:06,708 --> 01:04:07,508 Councilman Wilkinson? 1472 01:04:07,708 --> 01:04:08,288 Aye. 1473 01:04:08,388 --> 01:04:09,268 Councilman Scranus? 1474 01:04:09,297 --> 01:04:09,297 Aye. 1475 01:04:11,088 --> 01:04:11,428 Thank you. 1476 01:04:12,788 --> 01:04:15,488 Second reading on ordinance number 2026-13. 1477 01:04:15,568 --> 01:04:19,308 This is a bond ordinance providing for various 2026 water utility improvements 1478 01:04:19,408 --> 01:04:23,368 buying in the Borough of Berlin, County of Camden, State of New Jersey, 1479 01:04:23,628 --> 01:04:27,468 appropriating $280,000 and authorizing the issuance 1480 01:04:27,588 --> 01:04:30,827 of $280,000 in bonds or notes to finance the cost. 1481 01:04:32,748 --> 01:04:36,428 Can I please have a motion to open to the public on ordinance 2026-13? 1482 01:04:36,488 --> 01:04:36,948 Motion. 1483 01:04:37,948 --> 01:04:38,248 Second. 1484 01:04:39,348 --> 01:04:39,848 All in favor? 1485 01:04:40,108 --> 01:04:40,358 Aye. 1486 01:04:40,358 --> 01:04:40,388 Aye. 1487 01:04:41,728 --> 01:04:44,228 Any members of the public wanting to come forward on this ordinance, please come 1488 01:04:44,248 --> 01:04:45,448 forward. 1489 01:04:46,488 --> 01:04:49,148 Seeing or hearing no one, can I please have a motion to close to the public? 1490 01:04:50,928 --> 01:04:51,508 Make that motion. 1491 01:04:51,668 --> 01:04:52,288 I'll second. 1492 01:04:55,488 --> 01:04:56,488 Roll call, please. Oh, I'm sorry. 1493 01:04:57,368 --> 01:05:00,508 Can I please have a motion to adopt ordinance number 2026-13? 1494 01:05:01,748 --> 01:05:02,388 Motion. 1495 01:05:02,768 --> 01:05:03,108 Second. 1496 01:05:05,008 --> 01:05:05,668 Roll call, please. 1497 01:05:05,928 --> 01:05:07,068 Council President Badalato? 1498 01:05:07,168 --> 01:05:07,448 Aye. 1499 01:05:07,628 --> 01:05:08,388 Councilwoman Cummings? 1500 01:05:08,488 --> 01:05:08,808 Aye. 1501 01:05:08,968 --> 01:05:09,648 Councilman Howelling? 1502 01:05:09,848 --> 01:05:10,068 Aye. 1503 01:05:10,228 --> 01:05:11,068 Councilman Wilkinson? 1504 01:05:11,268 --> 01:05:11,448 Aye. 1505 01:05:11,648 --> 01:05:12,547 Councilman Scranus? 1506 01:05:12,648 --> 01:05:12,948 Aye. 1507 01:05:14,427 --> 01:05:14,788 Thank you. 1508 01:05:16,208 --> 01:05:18,808 Second reading on ordinance number 2026-14. 1509 01:05:18,868 --> 01:05:22,688 This is a bond ordinance providing for various 2026 general 1510 01:05:22,788 --> 01:05:26,618 capital improvements buying in the Borough of Berlin, County of Camden, State of 1511 01:05:26,628 --> 01:05:29,598 New Jersey, appropriating $935,000 and 1512 01:05:30,508 --> 01:05:34,208 authorizing the issuance of $890,476 1513 01:05:34,608 --> 01:05:36,928 in bonds or notes to finance part of the cost. 1514 01:05:39,188 --> 01:05:43,048 Can I please have a motion to open to the public on ordinance number 2026-14? 1515 01:05:43,808 --> 01:05:44,608 I make that motion. 1516 01:05:44,668 --> 01:05:45,248 I'll second. 1517 01:05:46,308 --> 01:05:46,868 All in favor? 1518 01:05:47,268 --> 01:05:47,828 Aye. 1519 01:05:48,778 --> 01:05:48,778 Aye. 1520 01:05:48,788 --> 01:05:51,228 Any members of the public want to come forward on this ordinance, please come 1521 01:05:51,308 --> 01:05:52,168 forward and state your name. 1522 01:05:54,828 --> 01:05:57,568 Seeing or hearing no one, can I please have a motion to close to the public? 1523 01:05:58,488 --> 01:05:59,168 I make that motion. 1524 01:05:59,988 --> 01:06:00,508 I'll second. 1525 01:06:01,768 --> 01:06:02,288 All in favor? 1526 01:06:02,788 --> 01:06:03,328 Aye. 1527 01:06:03,498 --> 01:06:03,498 Aye. 1528 01:06:04,688 --> 01:06:07,788 Please have a motion to adopt the ordinance number 2026-14. 1529 01:06:09,368 --> 01:06:10,028 Make that motion. 1530 01:06:10,708 --> 01:06:11,128 Second. 1531 01:06:12,088 --> 01:06:12,728 Roll call, please. 1532 01:06:13,168 --> 01:06:14,268 Council President Badalato? 1533 01:06:14,448 --> 01:06:14,748 Aye. 1534 01:06:14,808 --> 01:06:15,648 Councilwoman Cummings? 1535 01:06:15,688 --> 01:06:16,108 Aye. 1536 01:06:16,148 --> 01:06:16,828 Councilman Howelling? 1537 01:06:16,988 --> 01:06:17,308 Aye. 1538 01:06:17,428 --> 01:06:18,228 Councilman Wilkinson? 1539 01:06:18,628 --> 01:06:18,908 Aye. 1540 01:06:19,088 --> 01:06:20,028 Councilman Scranus? 1541 01:06:20,228 --> 01:06:20,448 Aye. 1542 01:06:21,808 --> 01:06:22,268 Thank you. 1543 01:06:23,168 --> 01:06:27,108 On to new business. We have the first reading of ordinance 2026-15. 1544 01:06:27,168 --> 01:06:30,348 This is an ordinance amending chapter 111 of the Code of Borough of Berlin 1545 01:06:30,388 --> 01:06:32,628 regarding building and business identification. 1546 01:06:33,088 --> 01:06:34,588 It's my understanding this is to, 1547 01:06:36,068 --> 01:06:39,568 when there's new buildings like townhomes and such, the backs of the buildings put 1548 01:06:39,648 --> 01:06:40,048 numbers- 1549 01:06:40,448 --> 01:06:41,748 Correct 1550 01:06:41,768 --> 01:06:44,218 ... numbers on them so if the firefighters have to go, they can- 1551 01:06:44,228 --> 01:06:46,308 There's been some problems with identification- 1552 01:06:46,408 --> 01:06:46,658 Yeah 1553 01:06:46,668 --> 01:06:50,368 ... and it could potentially cause a safety issue, so we're curing it with these 1554 01:06:50,448 --> 01:06:50,868 changes. 1555 01:06:51,088 --> 01:06:51,228 Yep. 1556 01:06:51,408 --> 01:06:51,588 Yes. 1557 01:06:51,868 --> 01:06:52,068 Is it, 1558 01:06:53,168 --> 01:06:55,968 would these numbers go on the buildings themselves, or? 1559 01:06:56,288 --> 01:06:57,488 The back of the buildings 1560 01:06:58,036 --> 01:07:01,876 I got to be honest, and I think that the chief and the 1561 01:07:02,016 --> 01:07:05,196 fire chief, thank you, would also agree. 1562 01:07:06,116 --> 01:07:09,916 When we had them on the curbing, it makes it so easy as a 1563 01:07:09,956 --> 01:07:13,056 first responder to be able to find a house 1564 01:07:13,935 --> 01:07:14,936 that much quicker. 1565 01:07:16,356 --> 01:07:16,876 Who did 1566 01:07:17,756 --> 01:07:17,996 that? 1567 01:07:18,936 --> 01:07:21,416 My understanding was a lot of volunteers did it. 1568 01:07:21,456 --> 01:07:22,156 Scouts did it. 1569 01:07:22,386 --> 01:07:23,376 The scouts did that? 1570 01:07:23,516 --> 01:07:24,526 Yeah, and then it became a lot of- 1571 01:07:24,526 --> 01:07:25,296 Was it the whole town back then? 1572 01:07:25,916 --> 01:07:28,196 Well, they did the big portion of the town. 1573 01:07:28,456 --> 01:07:31,335 Yeah, it was the scouts that voluntarily did it. 1574 01:07:32,676 --> 01:07:36,556 I'm not going to lie, it was really easy to find houses when you got calls 1575 01:07:36,616 --> 01:07:38,676 for service to certain areas. 1576 01:07:39,376 --> 01:07:39,426 Yeah. 1577 01:07:39,426 --> 01:07:41,476 Yeah, this one's more like volunteers. 1578 01:07:41,516 --> 01:07:41,776 Yeah. 1579 01:07:42,636 --> 01:07:43,505 Oh, I see what you're saying. Okay. 1580 01:07:43,526 --> 01:07:45,056 So it's more like the volunteers- 1581 01:07:45,496 --> 01:07:45,896 All right 1582 01:07:45,976 --> 01:07:48,616 ... when you go behind them, you can see 1583 01:07:49,816 --> 01:07:50,216 20 or so homes. 1584 01:07:50,736 --> 01:07:50,996 Can I 1585 01:07:52,296 --> 01:07:53,196 have a motion to approve? 1586 01:07:54,416 --> 01:07:55,196 I make that motion. 1587 01:07:55,416 --> 01:07:57,886 I'll second. 1588 01:07:57,886 --> 01:07:58,836 What'd you say, 1589 01:08:00,296 --> 01:08:00,796 Mark? 1590 01:08:00,836 --> 01:08:01,276 Did I? 1591 01:08:01,336 --> 01:08:02,336 Yeah. I thought you said- 1592 01:08:02,996 --> 01:08:03,316 No 1593 01:08:03,336 --> 01:08:04,956 ... I thought you said no. I was like, "Oh." 1594 01:08:05,036 --> 01:08:05,416 Thought you were going to say aye. 1595 01:08:06,756 --> 01:08:08,096 Roll call, please. 1596 01:08:08,536 --> 01:08:09,796 Council President Badalato. 1597 01:08:09,976 --> 01:08:10,476 Aye. 1598 01:08:10,576 --> 01:08:11,336 Councilwoman Cummings. 1599 01:08:11,396 --> 01:08:11,596 Aye. 1600 01:08:11,776 --> 01:08:12,516 Councilman Ewing. 1601 01:08:12,716 --> 01:08:12,956 Aye. 1602 01:08:13,116 --> 01:08:13,936 Councilman Wilkinson. 1603 01:08:14,056 --> 01:08:14,296 Aye. 1604 01:08:14,616 --> 01:08:15,476 Councilman Mascaras. 1605 01:08:15,596 --> 01:08:15,836 Aye. 1606 01:08:16,356 --> 01:08:16,776 Thank you. 1607 01:08:17,066 --> 01:08:18,876 I apologize for my confusion on that. 1608 01:08:19,137 --> 01:08:20,337 No, no problem. 1609 01:08:21,297 --> 01:08:23,316 I'd rather you ask questions now than after we vote on it. 1610 01:08:24,996 --> 01:08:27,137 So we have a consent agenda here, 1611 01:08:28,096 --> 01:08:30,956 resolutions R6-103 to 1612 01:08:31,177 --> 01:08:35,076 R6-119, 2026. Can I open to 1613 01:08:35,116 --> 01:08:37,217 the public for the resolutions, please? 1614 01:08:38,516 --> 01:08:40,337 Open the public. I'll second. 1615 01:08:42,356 --> 01:08:42,856 All in favor? 1616 01:08:43,217 --> 01:08:43,436 Aye. 1617 01:08:44,446 --> 01:08:44,446 Aye. 1618 01:08:44,456 --> 01:08:47,196 If any members of the public want to come forward on any of the resolutions, please 1619 01:08:47,217 --> 01:08:49,996 come forward and state your name and ask your questions. 1620 01:08:50,556 --> 01:08:52,576 Again, we will have another public portion for any 1621 01:08:53,376 --> 01:08:53,736 topic. 1622 01:08:57,416 --> 01:08:59,776 Seeing or hearing no one, can I please have a motion to close to the public 1623 01:09:01,137 --> 01:09:01,856 for resolutions? 1624 01:09:02,257 --> 01:09:02,956 I make that motion. 1625 01:09:03,656 --> 01:09:04,116 Second. 1626 01:09:05,036 --> 01:09:05,556 All in favor? 1627 01:09:06,236 --> 01:09:06,446 Aye. 1628 01:09:06,446 --> 01:09:07,016 Aye. 1629 01:09:08,177 --> 01:09:11,246 And it's my understanding, Councilman Wilkinson, you'd like to pull out 1630 01:09:12,456 --> 01:09:12,467 R- 1631 01:09:12,837 --> 01:09:13,337 Yeah, indeed 1632 01:09:14,056 --> 01:09:14,056 ... 1633 01:09:14,876 --> 01:09:16,956 R6-106? 1634 01:09:17,236 --> 01:09:17,696 Yes, sir. 1635 01:09:18,496 --> 01:09:18,976 Any others? 1636 01:09:20,677 --> 01:09:20,837 Nope. 1637 01:09:21,717 --> 01:09:22,297 Can I have a motion 1638 01:09:24,096 --> 01:09:27,137 to approve that consent, the resolutions for 1639 01:09:27,276 --> 01:09:31,056 R6-103 through R6-119, excluding 1640 01:09:31,257 --> 01:09:32,677 R6-106, please? 1641 01:09:33,596 --> 01:09:34,297 Motion. 1642 01:09:34,376 --> 01:09:34,996 I'll second. 1643 01:09:37,536 --> 01:09:37,916 Roll call. 1644 01:09:40,096 --> 01:09:41,196 Council President Badalato. 1645 01:09:41,297 --> 01:09:41,616 Aye. 1646 01:09:41,797 --> 01:09:42,616 Councilwoman Cummings. 1647 01:09:42,656 --> 01:09:43,036 Aye. 1648 01:09:43,076 --> 01:09:43,856 Councilman Ewing. 1649 01:09:43,936 --> 01:09:44,236 Aye. 1650 01:09:44,396 --> 01:09:45,196 Councilman Wilkinson. 1651 01:09:45,337 --> 01:09:45,616 Aye. 1652 01:09:45,736 --> 01:09:46,637 Councilman Mascaras. 1653 01:09:46,797 --> 01:09:47,036 Aye. 1654 01:09:48,416 --> 01:09:50,717 Mayor, can I ask a question? 1655 01:09:50,976 --> 01:09:51,137 Sure. 1656 01:09:51,376 --> 01:09:55,296 Chief, the purpose for 1657 01:09:55,316 --> 01:09:59,156 the handgun renewals, it's $100 for the borough, correct? 1658 01:09:59,196 --> 01:10:00,896 The renewals? 1659 01:10:00,966 --> 01:10:00,966 Renewals. 1660 01:10:00,996 --> 01:10:01,376 Okay. 1661 01:10:01,596 --> 01:10:05,126 This doesn't affect me because my gun permit is through state, but I think that it 1662 01:10:05,396 --> 01:10:09,116 being a constitutional right instead of a privilege, 1663 01:10:09,556 --> 01:10:13,396 that we should have a fee to renew their right to 1664 01:10:13,456 --> 01:10:17,016 carry a weapon if they go through all the process of getting 1665 01:10:17,056 --> 01:10:20,976 certified, getting all the paperwork in, and doing it legal. 1666 01:10:21,196 --> 01:10:24,506 Can we terminate that fee of $100? 1667 01:10:25,936 --> 01:10:28,976 We'd have to look into that. I know some towns are doing that, but there's been a 1668 01:10:28,996 --> 01:10:32,256 lot of pushback. So I can look into it for you. 1669 01:10:32,976 --> 01:10:34,516 Not comfortable saying yes or no right now. 1670 01:10:34,996 --> 01:10:38,976 Okay. And no excuse of having, because it doesn't affect me at all financially. 1671 01:10:39,336 --> 01:10:41,316 It's just a refutation of the Constitution. 1672 01:10:42,936 --> 01:10:45,985 Well, depending on what the chief gets back, I guess we can address it next- 1673 01:10:46,016 --> 01:10:47,096 Yeah, it'd actually have to be on- 1674 01:10:47,616 --> 01:10:48,756 Address it next month. 1675 01:10:48,796 --> 01:10:48,996 Thank you. 1676 01:10:49,136 --> 01:10:49,676 Okay. 1677 01:10:50,216 --> 01:10:54,136 I know we inquired with the state police about that, and we got some pushback 1678 01:10:54,296 --> 01:10:55,936 from them as well with that. 1679 01:10:56,356 --> 01:10:57,836 So you got pushback? 1680 01:10:57,846 --> 01:10:59,056 On the application. 1681 01:10:59,136 --> 01:11:00,756 How are other towns able to do it, then? 1682 01:11:01,216 --> 01:11:02,786 There's a couple towns up north that are doing it- 1683 01:11:03,076 --> 01:11:03,156 Yeah 1684 01:11:03,166 --> 01:11:03,856 ... from what I understand. 1685 01:11:05,656 --> 01:11:08,096 About six or eight of them, to my knowledge. 1686 01:11:08,656 --> 01:11:10,236 Something that's fairly new. 1687 01:11:10,656 --> 01:11:10,836 Yeah. 1688 01:11:11,536 --> 01:11:12,376 But I know 1689 01:11:13,476 --> 01:11:15,636 Detective Piper looked into it a while back. 1690 01:11:15,876 --> 01:11:18,216 And this is for the concealed carries, right? 1691 01:11:18,376 --> 01:11:18,676 Correct. 1692 01:11:18,796 --> 01:11:21,036 How many applications do we get? Do you have any idea? 1693 01:11:21,536 --> 01:11:23,336 I do. For the conceals- 1694 01:11:23,345 --> 01:11:23,696 Roughly 1695 01:11:23,716 --> 01:11:24,535 ... or overall? 1696 01:11:25,176 --> 01:11:26,126 The conceals. 1697 01:11:26,396 --> 01:11:27,156 Not many. 1698 01:11:27,376 --> 01:11:27,636 No? 1699 01:11:28,556 --> 01:11:29,496 Maybe eight to 10 a month. 1700 01:11:29,936 --> 01:11:31,596 Oh, that's decent. 1701 01:11:31,676 --> 01:11:31,976 Maybe. 1702 01:11:32,056 --> 01:11:32,336 Okay. 1703 01:11:34,296 --> 01:11:37,936 Right around eight, I'd say. 10 would be a lot. 1704 01:11:38,936 --> 01:11:42,596 In a 3.6 square mile town, I don't think that's too bad. 1705 01:11:42,696 --> 01:11:42,706 No. 1706 01:11:44,936 --> 01:11:44,946 No. 1707 01:11:44,976 --> 01:11:45,696 All right. Good. 1708 01:11:46,416 --> 01:11:46,676 Thank you. 1709 01:11:46,876 --> 01:11:48,376 Yep, thanks. Can I please have a 1710 01:11:49,876 --> 01:11:53,316 motion for resolution R6-106, please? 1711 01:11:54,876 --> 01:11:55,336 Motion. 1712 01:11:56,776 --> 01:11:57,256 Second. 1713 01:11:58,796 --> 01:11:59,196 Roll call. 1714 01:12:00,796 --> 01:12:01,896 Council President Badalato. 1715 01:12:01,976 --> 01:12:02,336 Aye. 1716 01:12:02,496 --> 01:12:03,216 Councilwoman Cummings. 1717 01:12:03,376 --> 01:12:03,576 Aye. 1718 01:12:03,816 --> 01:12:04,496 Councilman Ewing. 1719 01:12:05,256 --> 01:12:05,756 Aye. 1720 01:12:05,816 --> 01:12:06,656 Councilman Wilkinson. 1721 01:12:06,896 --> 01:12:07,056 No. 1722 01:12:08,016 --> 01:12:08,796 Councilman Mascaras. 1723 01:12:08,956 --> 01:12:09,896 No. 1724 01:12:09,906 --> 01:12:09,906 Okay. 1725 01:12:13,646 --> 01:12:13,976 Thank you. 1726 01:12:17,176 --> 01:12:20,276 Now on to privilege of the floor. Can I please have a motion to open to the public 1727 01:12:20,376 --> 01:12:21,156 for privilege of the floor? 1728 01:12:21,356 --> 01:12:21,616 Motion. 1729 01:12:22,916 --> 01:12:23,396 Second. 1730 01:12:24,476 --> 01:12:24,956 All in favor? 1731 01:12:25,596 --> 01:12:26,196 Aye. 1732 01:12:26,966 --> 01:12:26,966 Aye. 1733 01:12:26,976 --> 01:12:29,496 If any members of the public want to come forward on any issue, please come forward 1734 01:12:29,556 --> 01:12:29,686 and 1735 01:12:30,836 --> 01:12:31,556 state your name. 1736 01:12:40,896 --> 01:12:41,176 Hello. 1737 01:12:41,696 --> 01:12:41,956 Hello. 1738 01:12:43,276 --> 01:12:45,896 David Angelina, 23 River, Sterling. 1739 01:12:47,636 --> 01:12:48,536 Before we get into this, 1740 01:12:50,856 --> 01:12:51,116 I'm 1741 01:12:51,936 --> 01:12:54,356 speaking from past, I'm not speaking from present, okay? 1742 01:12:56,016 --> 01:12:59,416 I'd love to see something done with those sports fields, okay, and have better 1743 01:12:59,556 --> 01:13:03,236 fields over there. I was school board president 1744 01:13:04,264 --> 01:13:08,044 When we put the last addition on, there was an option to go up, there was an 1745 01:13:08,124 --> 01:13:10,784 option to go out. We picked the option to go out. 1746 01:13:11,324 --> 01:13:14,804 That school could still put a serious addition on, going up without having to go 1747 01:13:14,864 --> 01:13:15,044 out. 1748 01:13:16,664 --> 01:13:20,324 So I spoke to president at the time, and she told me 1749 01:13:20,364 --> 01:13:23,584 that they don't want to go up because they can't go up. 1750 01:13:23,624 --> 01:13:26,984 And I asked her, I said, "Well, do you have an engineering degree?" And she just, 1751 01:13:27,164 --> 01:13:29,174 they stopped the conversation at that point. I didn't worry about it. 1752 01:13:29,184 --> 01:13:32,724 The only reason we didn't go up is because you'd have to put an 1753 01:13:32,844 --> 01:13:33,844 elevator for ADA- 1754 01:13:35,984 --> 01:13:36,124 Code 1755 01:13:36,134 --> 01:13:39,724 ... compliances, yeah. That's the only reason we didn't go up. We chose to go out. 1756 01:13:40,224 --> 01:13:43,684 The second thing is they need those fields as much as you do. Okay? 1757 01:13:44,284 --> 01:13:48,264 So I would suggest that if you could do something to 1758 01:13:48,324 --> 01:13:51,854 make them state-of-the-art and come across an agreement with them to say, "Hey, 1759 01:13:51,944 --> 01:13:55,744 listen, we'll spend money on them, but they're ours to use for the 1760 01:13:55,804 --> 01:13:57,814 next X amount of years." You know what I mean? 1761 01:13:58,044 --> 01:14:01,364 I approached them with that, and they said absolutely not. 1762 01:14:01,444 --> 01:14:01,454 Okay. 1763 01:14:01,464 --> 01:14:02,984 And that's the only reason why I'm pursuing it directly. 1764 01:14:03,044 --> 01:14:04,024 Okay. That's- 1765 01:14:04,044 --> 01:14:06,044 I tried to go that direction. 1766 01:14:06,164 --> 01:14:06,324 Yeah. 1767 01:14:06,584 --> 01:14:07,174 But no. 1768 01:14:07,204 --> 01:14:10,124 No, I just wanted to let you know the option was to go up, okay, and 1769 01:14:10,324 --> 01:14:13,044 not touch the footprint of the, what do you call it? 1770 01:14:13,064 --> 01:14:13,204 So- 1771 01:14:13,344 --> 01:14:16,264 I think that's great to go up instead because you need more parking anyway. 1772 01:14:16,324 --> 01:14:19,684 Exactly. Yeah. And the problem is, is if they go out, 1773 01:14:20,524 --> 01:14:21,444 they need fields. 1774 01:14:21,464 --> 01:14:21,764 Correct. 1775 01:14:22,004 --> 01:14:25,444 For their playground, for their kids that play baseball and stuff like that. 1776 01:14:25,524 --> 01:14:25,854 So then- 1777 01:14:26,264 --> 01:14:27,744 Right, that's our baseball fields at that point 1778 01:14:27,764 --> 01:14:30,474 Yes. And then they're going to wind up having to play on your fields because 1779 01:14:30,474 --> 01:14:31,804 they've taken their own fields away. 1780 01:14:31,884 --> 01:14:32,024 So, 1781 01:14:33,084 --> 01:14:33,904 that's fine. 1782 01:14:33,984 --> 01:14:34,184 Thank you. 1783 01:14:34,284 --> 01:14:37,904 I don't think our school puts a whole lot of emphasis on youth athletics. 1784 01:14:39,284 --> 01:14:39,604 Not like- 1785 01:14:39,684 --> 01:14:40,724 No, but they still have to. 1786 01:14:40,764 --> 01:14:40,874 They- 1787 01:14:41,784 --> 01:14:43,264 They still need a field to play. 1788 01:14:43,304 --> 01:14:44,444 It's not like other schools do. 1789 01:14:44,454 --> 01:14:44,454 No. 1790 01:14:44,484 --> 01:14:45,564 Let's just put it that way. 1791 01:14:45,624 --> 01:14:49,594 You're absolutely right. Okay. It's atrocious 1792 01:14:49,684 --> 01:14:51,124 what they look like compared to some of the others around them. 1793 01:14:51,134 --> 01:14:51,604 That's correct. 1794 01:14:51,854 --> 01:14:55,164 And that's what I was saying, if you want to put money into those fields and 1795 01:14:55,744 --> 01:14:58,984 upgrade those fields, okay, but only if it was an agreement to say- 1796 01:14:59,024 --> 01:14:59,804 We would love to. 1797 01:14:59,944 --> 01:15:00,084 Yeah. 1798 01:15:00,184 --> 01:15:01,444 Yeah. That was the original quote. 1799 01:15:01,624 --> 01:15:01,754 Yeah. 1800 01:15:01,754 --> 01:15:04,454 That's why we invested in scoreboards and whatnot. We were investing in it. 1801 01:15:04,464 --> 01:15:04,944 Yeah. 1802 01:15:04,984 --> 01:15:08,464 And then we got pushback saying, "We're going to take those fields if we 1803 01:15:08,484 --> 01:15:10,144 expand." It's not a problem. That's not 1804 01:15:11,064 --> 01:15:11,204 my- 1805 01:15:11,704 --> 01:15:11,904 Yeah 1806 01:15:11,924 --> 01:15:13,573 ... strong position. 1807 01:15:13,704 --> 01:15:16,794 Well, like I said, things have changed over the years because that wasn't our 1808 01:15:17,624 --> 01:15:18,824 feeling back then. Okay? 1809 01:15:19,104 --> 01:15:19,273 Thank you. 1810 01:15:20,064 --> 01:15:20,564 Second thing 1811 01:15:21,384 --> 01:15:25,024 from the ICCA regarding your situation with the seniors. 1812 01:15:25,124 --> 01:15:25,384 Okay? 1813 01:15:26,584 --> 01:15:29,124 We've been discussing, we're trying to work a fine-tune it all out. 1814 01:15:30,524 --> 01:15:33,044 We put spot pots and handicap spot pots in 1815 01:15:33,864 --> 01:15:37,404 this parking lot over here. It's our intention to hopefully give you that parking 1816 01:15:37,424 --> 01:15:40,924 lot over there and work with the 5K race. 1817 01:15:41,204 --> 01:15:44,664 Okay? Because they put tents out front for the race that day. 1818 01:15:45,164 --> 01:15:45,173 Okay. 1819 01:15:45,173 --> 01:15:46,724 And then hopefully leave those tents 1820 01:15:47,604 --> 01:15:50,074 for their seniors to be able to sit under and have a sitting area. 1821 01:15:50,104 --> 01:15:52,964 I know. I wanted to go to a meeting last night, but it was my son's birthday. 1822 01:15:52,984 --> 01:15:53,304 That's fine. 1823 01:15:53,314 --> 01:15:54,364 So I will get there next week. 1824 01:15:54,484 --> 01:15:55,144 Well, we're- 1825 01:15:55,173 --> 01:15:56,494 I have some logistics and go from there. 1826 01:15:56,534 --> 01:16:00,524 Well, we had meetings with Knights of Columbus, too, and we had health issues 1827 01:16:00,544 --> 01:16:03,564 there, so we didn't get an approval on it yet. 1828 01:16:03,613 --> 01:16:03,613 Okay. 1829 01:16:03,984 --> 01:16:07,104 But we're working on it. But there will be spot pots there, and we're trying to 1830 01:16:07,144 --> 01:16:09,564 work on having that parking lot reserved for you. Okay. 1831 01:16:11,004 --> 01:16:12,584 Last thing I have is your sign for you. 1832 01:16:13,044 --> 01:16:13,484 Oh, great. 1833 01:16:13,524 --> 01:16:14,844 We'd like to thank you very much for 1834 01:16:15,644 --> 01:16:17,264 supporting the parade and 1835 01:16:18,084 --> 01:16:19,384 everything you guys do to... 1836 01:16:20,664 --> 01:16:23,804 We know it's a big ask for public works, for police department, for everything. 1837 01:16:24,264 --> 01:16:28,164 And we put a lot into this, okay, but we can't do it without the 1838 01:16:28,184 --> 01:16:32,004 support of the towns and the different departments it takes to make it 1839 01:16:32,044 --> 01:16:33,124 happen. So, 1840 01:16:34,384 --> 01:16:38,144 I'd like to, at some given hour, some point, get a picture with you guys. 1841 01:16:38,204 --> 01:16:39,184 Okay. However you want to do it. 1842 01:16:39,224 --> 01:16:39,904 You guys want to do it now? 1843 01:16:40,164 --> 01:16:40,774 Yeah. Let's do it. 1844 01:16:40,774 --> 01:16:41,104 Let's get the- 1845 01:16:41,384 --> 01:16:42,444 You want me to take the picture? 1846 01:16:42,764 --> 01:16:43,113 I'll take the picture. 1847 01:16:43,113 --> 01:16:43,864 You got to be in it. 1848 01:16:44,004 --> 01:16:44,724 Oh, I see. 1849 01:16:45,624 --> 01:16:45,904 Yeah. 1850 01:16:46,304 --> 01:16:47,673 I'll take it. 1851 01:16:47,704 --> 01:16:47,714 Yeah, sure. 1852 01:16:47,764 --> 01:16:48,914 Yeah. I'm going to get- 1853 01:16:49,004 --> 01:16:51,484 I'd like a picture. No, are you kidding? 1854 01:16:52,944 --> 01:16:54,004 Where do you want to go? 1855 01:16:57,704 --> 01:16:58,384 You coming with us or- 1856 01:16:58,484 --> 01:16:58,784 No. 1857 01:16:58,844 --> 01:17:00,084 Howard, you going to be in this? 1858 01:17:00,184 --> 01:17:00,504 You. 1859 01:17:00,904 --> 01:17:01,844 I'll take it. 1860 01:17:03,084 --> 01:17:04,744 Sir. Chief. Chief, come on. 1861 01:17:05,724 --> 01:17:06,404 Come on, Chief. 1862 01:17:07,624 --> 01:17:09,434 It took three months to get a permit for that top thing. 1863 01:17:09,434 --> 01:17:10,324 Bill, you coming in? 1864 01:17:10,384 --> 01:17:11,824 Yes, down the side. 1865 01:17:15,504 --> 01:17:16,224 Good to see you, bud. 1866 01:17:17,224 --> 01:17:18,304 Oh, likewise. 1867 01:17:19,564 --> 01:17:19,884 Steph. 1868 01:17:20,884 --> 01:17:21,904 Hey. How you doing? Great. 1869 01:17:24,023 --> 01:17:25,903 Sorry. 1870 01:17:26,104 --> 01:17:27,223 No, no. Don't film. 1871 01:17:27,584 --> 01:17:28,484 I wasn't. It was that nice. 1872 01:17:29,124 --> 01:17:31,904 Okay. I know. I was surprised to see you out of the sling. 1873 01:17:31,964 --> 01:17:33,274 I'm surprised he's able to hold the 1874 01:17:33,324 --> 01:17:37,144 sign. 1875 01:17:37,214 --> 01:17:37,214 Yeah. 1876 01:17:37,214 --> 01:17:39,024 All right. Ready? One, two, three. 1877 01:17:40,784 --> 01:17:41,444 Thank you very much. 1878 01:17:41,484 --> 01:17:41,803 Thank you. 1879 01:17:41,844 --> 01:17:42,764 Thanks for coming. 1880 01:17:42,784 --> 01:17:44,214 Thank you. 1881 01:17:44,214 --> 01:17:45,783 You're welcome. 1882 01:17:46,644 --> 01:17:46,844 Thanks. 1883 01:17:46,884 --> 01:17:47,264 No problem. 1884 01:17:50,124 --> 01:17:51,004 Put it fast. 1885 01:17:52,904 --> 01:17:53,984 We'll pass you over. 1886 01:17:54,124 --> 01:17:55,644 Right. 1887 01:17:55,764 --> 01:17:58,684 At least we got a picture before we leave. 1888 01:17:58,904 --> 01:17:59,484 Thank you so much. 1889 01:18:01,004 --> 01:18:03,484 Again, thank you very much for letting us all work. 1890 01:18:03,644 --> 01:18:04,004 Thank you. 1891 01:18:04,044 --> 01:18:05,344 And thank you for all your work. 1892 01:18:18,944 --> 01:18:20,184 All right. We all set up? Okay. 1893 01:18:20,194 --> 01:18:21,394 We're on TV now. 1894 01:18:21,394 --> 01:18:21,664 Next? 1895 01:18:27,964 --> 01:18:28,584 Hello, everybody. 1896 01:18:29,424 --> 01:18:31,204 Ed Eaman, 27 Summit Avenue. 1897 01:18:33,244 --> 01:18:36,824 Maybe I should have asked a little bit earlier about second reading on Ordinance 1898 01:18:37,564 --> 01:18:41,104 2026-12 about the sewer mobility 1899 01:18:41,144 --> 01:18:45,044 improvements. But I came down my street, and I saw all the vents for 1900 01:18:45,144 --> 01:18:48,624 the sewer by the street. They're painted green, like a 1901 01:18:49,284 --> 01:18:50,704 bright fluorescent green. 1902 01:18:51,524 --> 01:18:52,804 Color looks nice, but 1903 01:18:54,224 --> 01:18:57,064 I assume you're going to be tearing up the street or doing something or- 1904 01:18:57,164 --> 01:19:01,084 No, correct me if I'm wrong, they're going through, we have a 1905 01:19:01,164 --> 01:19:04,184 GIS system, and they're marking all the 1906 01:19:05,148 --> 01:19:05,488 All the 1907 01:19:06,848 --> 01:19:09,248 connections, like where the connections are. Oh, okay. So they can map them. 1908 01:19:09,308 --> 01:19:12,348 So if there is- Yeah ... the grass grows over them, and then they're out there 1909 01:19:12,408 --> 01:19:16,028 forever trying to find them. So they're going out and they're pinning exactly where 1910 01:19:16,068 --> 01:19:17,808 they are- Okay ... and having it on a map. 1911 01:19:17,888 --> 01:19:21,438 So if there's ever a call and they have to go get to your connection, they know 1912 01:19:21,468 --> 01:19:24,508 exactly where it is. So they're cleaning around and marking them- Okay, cool. 1913 01:19:24,528 --> 01:19:24,718 All right ... and then- 1914 01:19:24,788 --> 01:19:26,688 I'm pretty sure green means toxic, though. 1915 01:19:27,488 --> 01:19:28,108 What's that? Yeah? 1916 01:19:28,128 --> 01:19:29,908 I'm pretty sure green means toxic. 1917 01:19:30,028 --> 01:19:30,278 Yeah. 1918 01:19:30,278 --> 01:19:31,388 Blue means clean. 1919 01:19:31,668 --> 01:19:32,108 Yeah. 1920 01:19:33,668 --> 01:19:35,827 Yeah. They're just mapping where all the connections are for the future. 1921 01:19:35,848 --> 01:19:37,128 All right, cool. All right. 1922 01:19:38,028 --> 01:19:39,588 That's it. Thank you so much. Thanks. 1923 01:19:45,338 --> 01:19:45,888 Anyone else? 1924 01:19:55,428 --> 01:19:55,438 Oh, boy. 1925 01:19:59,588 --> 01:20:01,628 Betty Evili. I think you all know me. 1926 01:20:01,668 --> 01:20:01,748 Yeah. 1927 01:20:02,688 --> 01:20:06,648 I just want to say thank you, Mayor, for appointing me as one of the 1928 01:20:06,668 --> 01:20:08,668 trustees and replacing Deanna. 1929 01:20:09,988 --> 01:20:12,948 But I have to make a statement with regards to the library. 1930 01:20:13,388 --> 01:20:17,308 Millard, your dad was an integral part of the reason why I'm so 1931 01:20:17,368 --> 01:20:21,008 heavily involved. For the 18 years that I've been there, I've 1932 01:20:21,348 --> 01:20:25,248 been to just about every one of the trustees board meetings. 1933 01:20:25,368 --> 01:20:26,888 I think I've missed maybe one or two. 1934 01:20:28,608 --> 01:20:31,228 And it's an honor to be able to be on the board of trustees. 1935 01:20:32,088 --> 01:20:35,468 So your dad was very integral. He insisted that I go to 1936 01:20:35,488 --> 01:20:39,468 trustees webinars, seminars, even though I wasn't a trustee. 1937 01:20:39,828 --> 01:20:43,348 So I have all the background associated with being a trustee. 1938 01:20:44,428 --> 01:20:47,408 And I want to thank all of you for all those times, for all of your support with 1939 01:20:47,428 --> 01:20:48,088 the library. 1940 01:20:49,008 --> 01:20:49,768 On a separate note, 1941 01:20:50,568 --> 01:20:53,228 Fall Fest. I know we're all talking 4th of July 1942 01:20:55,008 --> 01:20:58,448 and it's hot, and it's going to be hot for the next couple of days, and the air 1943 01:20:58,488 --> 01:21:00,288 conditioning obviously is not working. 1944 01:21:00,848 --> 01:21:02,548 So of course, my voice is going. 1945 01:21:04,388 --> 01:21:08,328 I just want to ensure that there are no new resolutions 1946 01:21:08,908 --> 01:21:12,268 that are going to be going into place that would require me to get any 1947 01:21:12,288 --> 01:21:15,988 additional permits or any other things that I typically get. 1948 01:21:16,068 --> 01:21:19,608 I know I notify all of you, and I work very closely with 1949 01:21:19,668 --> 01:21:23,078 the Office of Emergency Management, police, fire, council, 1950 01:21:24,408 --> 01:21:28,068 and ambulance, so if there's anything new with regards to the 1951 01:21:28,208 --> 01:21:30,267 streets that I need to be cognizant of 1952 01:21:32,388 --> 01:21:35,288 coming forward, please don't hit me at the last minute. 1953 01:21:36,068 --> 01:21:36,868 Nope. 1954 01:21:37,498 --> 01:21:38,788 Okay. And you're not going to believe this. 1955 01:21:39,988 --> 01:21:41,788 Voorhees got their own stage. 1956 01:21:42,148 --> 01:21:43,248 Oh, did are you able to use it? 1957 01:21:43,448 --> 01:21:43,457 No. 1958 01:21:43,468 --> 01:21:46,108 So does that mean do you have access to it? 1959 01:21:46,308 --> 01:21:49,928 No. Well, I got an email from Don Knowlesbook today saying 1960 01:21:50,008 --> 01:21:51,648 Voorhees just bought their own stage. 1961 01:21:52,348 --> 01:21:54,498 I said, "Well, maybe next year I'll be able to borrow it since they-" 1962 01:21:54,508 --> 01:21:56,888 What's the MSRP of one of them stages? 1963 01:21:57,868 --> 01:21:58,248 I'm sorry? 1964 01:21:58,728 --> 01:22:00,218 How much does a stage like that cost? 1965 01:22:00,218 --> 01:22:01,618 Well, I don't know what they actually cost. 1966 01:22:01,648 --> 01:22:04,098 I mean, Voorhees has all the money in the world. 1967 01:22:04,188 --> 01:22:06,957 But for me to rent it, the rents went up this year. 1968 01:22:06,957 --> 01:22:07,908 They pay their rental fees. 1969 01:22:10,308 --> 01:22:13,548 Well, maybe we need to raise our inspection fees. 1970 01:22:15,528 --> 01:22:15,768 For 1971 01:22:16,788 --> 01:22:18,968 me to rent it, I went to several agencies. 1972 01:22:19,028 --> 01:22:22,768 The one who I negotiated with last year, who gave it to me for $2,000, 1973 01:22:24,188 --> 01:22:27,228 they're all running an average of $4,000 a year to rent. 1974 01:22:27,758 --> 01:22:27,758 True. 1975 01:22:27,788 --> 01:22:30,468 And I did luck out with one of the guys. 1976 01:22:30,628 --> 01:22:34,088 He said, "Okay, we'll give it to you for 3,500." We went back and forth for a 1977 01:22:34,128 --> 01:22:37,868 couple of hours. I got him down to $2,500. 1978 01:22:37,948 --> 01:22:38,338 So it's 1979 01:22:39,588 --> 01:22:43,528 still a lot of money to get a stage. So hopefully going 1980 01:22:43,628 --> 01:22:47,368 forward, maybe there's something that the borough can 1981 01:22:47,448 --> 01:22:48,168 do with 1982 01:22:49,288 --> 01:22:50,308 affordable stage 1983 01:22:51,508 --> 01:22:53,048 that can be housed somewhere. 1984 01:22:53,148 --> 01:22:56,608 I'll see Mayor Magnonia next week at the Eastern graduation. 1985 01:22:56,628 --> 01:22:57,168 I'll be sure to- 1986 01:22:57,228 --> 01:22:57,237 There you go 1987 01:22:57,237 --> 01:22:59,848 ... yes, you do your thing. But thank you again. 1988 01:22:59,948 --> 01:23:02,708 And Fall Fest is coming, so everybody's going to be 1989 01:23:04,068 --> 01:23:04,558 getting more notices. 1990 01:23:04,588 --> 01:23:06,548 You just have to promise in front of the public you're not going to let your 1991 01:23:06,568 --> 01:23:09,248 trustee duties take away from your Fall Fest. 1992 01:23:10,608 --> 01:23:11,268 I'm kidding. 1993 01:23:12,648 --> 01:23:16,628 They never took away from my library duties or the business association, so. 1994 01:23:16,668 --> 01:23:17,498 Thank you so much, Betty. 1995 01:23:17,568 --> 01:23:17,948 Thank you. 1996 01:23:18,088 --> 01:23:18,468 Thanks, Betty. 1997 01:23:18,548 --> 01:23:19,248 Thank you, guys. 1998 01:23:24,748 --> 01:23:25,388 Steve David. 1999 01:23:26,628 --> 01:23:29,888 A question about, I'll call it Pallet Park next door. 2000 01:23:30,788 --> 01:23:31,008 When 2001 01:23:31,948 --> 01:23:35,348 you went through that project for a few years to get Blaze's torn down, cleaned up, 2002 01:23:35,388 --> 01:23:37,948 it wasn't supposed to cost the borough much money. 2003 01:23:38,988 --> 01:23:42,458 Okay, it's cleared. Somebody approved all those 2004 01:23:42,508 --> 01:23:44,148 pallets standing on their end. 2005 01:23:45,008 --> 01:23:48,888 Mysteriously, they're gone. Somebody approved dumping two dump 2006 01:23:48,908 --> 01:23:51,488 truckloads of tires in a pile. Now they're gone. 2007 01:23:51,968 --> 01:23:54,668 Then we had a big pile of dirt for a month. Now it's gone. 2008 01:23:55,228 --> 01:23:58,628 Now they put a orange fence up. Who's paying for all that, 2009 01:23:59,388 --> 01:24:02,028 and who's responsible for it? Who's in charge? 2010 01:24:02,248 --> 01:24:05,168 So the DVRC, they were going to put on, 2011 01:24:06,328 --> 01:24:07,268 I guess, concerts there. 2012 01:24:08,508 --> 01:24:11,068 That was their stuff, the pallets, and the tires. 2013 01:24:11,128 --> 01:24:13,908 It was going to be part of their setup for the concerts. 2014 01:24:14,848 --> 01:24:18,748 And the condition of them using the property was that it was usable 2015 01:24:18,868 --> 01:24:21,148 because we had some environmental cleanup there. 2016 01:24:22,388 --> 01:24:25,708 So we were told by the engineers and everything else it was going to be cleaned up 2017 01:24:25,768 --> 01:24:29,718 by the end of May. So they were middle of May, whatever the 2018 01:24:29,728 --> 01:24:33,208 date was. So that's why they planned on having them around 2019 01:24:33,588 --> 01:24:36,928 May 29th or whatever the date was. In the meantime, found out, 2020 01:24:37,968 --> 01:24:40,408 I guess, where they were taking it to, they were backed up. 2021 01:24:40,468 --> 01:24:43,648 They couldn't get rid of it, so they had to cancel the event. 2022 01:24:44,428 --> 01:24:48,148 Then we were told by the engineers that they need a certification, 2023 01:24:48,608 --> 01:24:50,188 and that process won't be till the end of August. 2024 01:24:50,748 --> 01:24:53,228 So because all that stuff was out there, we got a lot of complaints about the stuff 2025 01:24:53,288 --> 01:24:57,118 out there. So we removed it, and it's over in DPW yard, 2026 01:24:57,368 --> 01:25:00,428 so it's not a mess out there. So there was no dumping. 2027 01:25:00,468 --> 01:25:03,888 It was their materials that they were going to use for the site. 2028 01:25:04,128 --> 01:25:05,218 No cost to the borough. It was- 2029 01:25:05,248 --> 01:25:05,918 No cost to the borough 2030 01:25:05,928 --> 01:25:07,248 ... it was all them. It was all volunteers. 2031 01:25:07,288 --> 01:25:09,678 The reason it was all that kind of stuff was- 2032 01:25:10,512 --> 01:25:13,092 There was no cost. They got the pallets donated. 2033 01:25:13,592 --> 01:25:15,592 They were working with some local businesses. 2034 01:25:15,672 --> 01:25:15,772 A 2035 01:25:17,712 --> 01:25:21,332 solar company and a landscaping company was kind of giving them those 2036 01:25:21,512 --> 01:25:23,692 materials to help build out their 2037 01:25:24,692 --> 01:25:25,092 setup if you will. 2038 01:25:25,132 --> 01:25:28,472 They're students from Eastern High School for the most part, I think. 2039 01:25:28,732 --> 01:25:28,742 Yeah. 2040 01:25:28,772 --> 01:25:30,452 I don't think they were trying to do 2041 01:25:32,092 --> 01:25:35,972 anything that was harmful, but I don't think they 2042 01:25:36,052 --> 01:25:39,812 took much appreciation for the fact that the stuff they wanted to use 2043 01:25:40,612 --> 01:25:41,622 probably wasn't 2044 01:25:43,332 --> 01:25:47,192 appropriate or would meet the codes that the state 2045 01:25:47,232 --> 01:25:49,752 of New Jersey likes to impose on people. 2046 01:25:49,872 --> 01:25:53,852 I appreciate Carl asking for some money 2047 01:25:53,932 --> 01:25:56,852 for the parks and all, and you're very conscious about every dollar. 2048 01:25:57,332 --> 01:26:01,292 But when I see so much stuff going on there, I'm just wondering who's paying for 2049 01:26:01,312 --> 01:26:01,392 it. 2050 01:26:01,532 --> 01:26:02,252 Yeah, that was all free. 2051 01:26:02,342 --> 01:26:02,342 Oh. 2052 01:26:02,352 --> 01:26:06,212 And as far as the cleanup, we got grants through NJDEP to 2053 01:26:06,272 --> 01:26:10,152 clean up the property. So that grant money was being used to clean up. 2054 01:26:10,192 --> 01:26:12,312 The dirt that was out there was from part of the cleanup. 2055 01:26:12,892 --> 01:26:15,292 They had to do some testing on it before they could remove it. 2056 01:26:15,372 --> 01:26:16,372 That's why that was out there. 2057 01:26:16,712 --> 01:26:19,572 Will it be safe to stand there on the 4th of July, or is it still going to be 2058 01:26:19,612 --> 01:26:20,402 cordoned off with the orange fence? 2059 01:26:20,402 --> 01:26:23,402 Well, the only reason we put the fence up was to make sure that the property is 2060 01:26:23,432 --> 01:26:26,272 safe until we get clearance. That's why the fence went up there, so that nobody 2061 01:26:26,312 --> 01:26:28,252 goes on the property, just as abundance of caution. 2062 01:26:29,192 --> 01:26:29,442 Okay. 2063 01:26:29,512 --> 01:26:29,692 Yeah. 2064 01:26:29,952 --> 01:26:30,202 Thanks. 2065 01:26:30,352 --> 01:26:30,842 Yeah. Thanks. 2066 01:26:31,512 --> 01:26:33,152 Otherwise, we'll have to paint it green. 2067 01:26:34,662 --> 01:26:34,692 Yeah. 2068 01:26:36,952 --> 01:26:38,592 Otherwise, we'll have to paint it green. 2069 01:26:44,072 --> 01:26:47,732 Good evening. I'm Charlene Galiano, 265 Route 30. 2070 01:26:49,012 --> 01:26:50,692 Ms. Betty, thank you for all you do. 2071 01:26:50,972 --> 01:26:53,892 You might want to reach out to the county for the stage they have given it in the 2072 01:26:53,992 --> 01:26:54,392 past. 2073 01:26:54,492 --> 01:26:55,612 I was the person that gave it to you. 2074 01:26:55,652 --> 01:26:57,092 They gave it to us for free before. 2075 01:26:57,372 --> 01:26:58,771 They haven't done it for several years. 2076 01:26:58,852 --> 01:27:00,872 Ah, sorry. Thought it might help you. 2077 01:27:01,192 --> 01:27:04,052 It was just okay for the first one. I still have a large box. 2078 01:27:04,352 --> 01:27:07,412 Oh, very good. So good evening, Mayor and Council. Thank you for your time. 2079 01:27:07,492 --> 01:27:10,662 I'm here tonight regarding the property at 71 South Woodhorse Pike. 2080 01:27:11,192 --> 01:27:13,792 First, I appreciate that action has now been taken. 2081 01:27:13,832 --> 01:27:17,722 The soil pile has been removed, orange fencing has been placed around 2082 01:27:17,752 --> 01:27:20,192 the property, and signage appears to be back up. 2083 01:27:20,552 --> 01:27:24,312 I'm glad to see those steps. I also feel for the volunteers and committee 2084 01:27:24,352 --> 01:27:27,272 members who have worked hard to create something positive for Berlin. 2085 01:27:28,492 --> 01:27:32,012 I hope they do not give up, and I hope this process takes less than the eight 2086 01:27:32,072 --> 01:27:35,712 weeks that have been mentioned. My concern is not with the volunteers. 2087 01:27:35,812 --> 01:27:39,501 My concern is about process, communication, documentation, and 2088 01:27:39,552 --> 01:27:40,612 trust going forward. 2089 01:27:41,412 --> 01:27:45,012 When a community event was being planned at or near this property, I asked for 2090 01:27:45,092 --> 01:27:48,912 records showing whether the property or any portion of it had been cleared or 2091 01:27:48,972 --> 01:27:52,772 approved for public or community use while remediation was still 2092 01:27:52,872 --> 01:27:56,132 active. The documents I received included grant records, 2093 01:27:56,652 --> 01:28:00,542 LSRP retention records, underground storage tank records, 2094 01:28:00,612 --> 01:28:04,212 confirmed discharge information, and environmental investigation documents. 2095 01:28:04,772 --> 01:28:08,501 What I did not see was an RAO, a no further action letter, 2096 01:28:08,872 --> 01:28:12,012 written public use clearance, event use approval, or similar 2097 01:28:12,032 --> 01:28:15,712 document showing that the property was cleared for community events. 2098 01:28:16,472 --> 01:28:19,692 I was later told that no such responsive record exists. 2099 01:28:21,552 --> 01:28:24,212 The timeline is part of why I am concerned. 2100 01:28:24,952 --> 01:28:28,772 On May 26th, I sent my OPRA request asking for the RAO. 2101 01:28:29,592 --> 01:28:32,872 On May 27th, I received confirmation that my request had been 2102 01:28:32,892 --> 01:28:36,772 received. On May 29th, Downtown Berlin announced that the 2103 01:28:36,812 --> 01:28:40,332 event was canceled or postponed because of the contaminated soil. 2104 01:28:41,232 --> 01:28:45,061 On May 30th, which was supposed to be the first scheduled event, I contacted New 2105 01:28:45,112 --> 01:28:48,972 Jersey DEP, the non-emergency police line, and finally a 2106 01:28:48,992 --> 01:28:52,572 council member to ask that the contaminated soil area be covered, 2107 01:28:53,012 --> 01:28:54,531 since it had been partially covered. 2108 01:28:54,852 --> 01:28:58,712 And I guess the strong winds that day, the material appeared to be blowing 2109 01:28:58,792 --> 01:29:02,692 around. On June 1st, I received 11 PDF documents 2110 01:29:02,712 --> 01:29:06,552 in response to my OPRA request. That same day, Downtown Berlin 2111 01:29:08,232 --> 01:29:11,752 posted that after speaking with the borough and the engineer, that they were 2112 01:29:11,832 --> 01:29:15,251 confident that all systems are a go for the June 6th event. 2113 01:29:16,112 --> 01:29:19,912 On June 2nd, I followed up asking where the RAO or written public use 2114 01:29:19,972 --> 01:29:23,712 clearance was. On June 3rd, Downtown Berlin 2115 01:29:23,772 --> 01:29:27,672 canceled the upcoming events, and I also received confirmation from the 2116 01:29:27,732 --> 01:29:31,592 borough that they did not have the requested documentation showing public or 2117 01:29:31,672 --> 01:29:33,412 community use clearance. 2118 01:29:34,292 --> 01:29:36,692 From a resident's point of view, that was confusing. 2119 01:29:37,272 --> 01:29:40,632 I understand there may still be records or answers pending, 2120 01:29:41,452 --> 01:29:44,472 and that this is why I'm asking these questions publicly tonight. 2121 01:29:45,172 --> 01:29:48,972 Who determines when a property involved in an environmental cleanup is 2122 01:29:49,032 --> 01:29:52,872 appropriate for public use? Who is responsible for making 2123 01:29:52,912 --> 01:29:56,732 sure the environmental documentation is complete before an event 2124 01:29:56,792 --> 01:30:00,452 is advertised? And can the borough clarify who 2125 01:30:00,512 --> 01:30:04,372 authorized the fencing, warning signs, or access restrictions 2126 01:30:04,452 --> 01:30:08,392 to be removed in the first place, since fencing and signage now appear 2127 01:30:08,432 --> 01:30:09,272 to still be needed? 2128 01:30:11,152 --> 01:30:14,892 Will the borough be making an official public statement about the status of the 2129 01:30:14,972 --> 01:30:18,692 property and the steps being taken going forward, or should residents 2130 01:30:18,732 --> 01:30:22,152 expect communication to only come through DBRC? 2131 01:30:22,972 --> 01:30:26,652 I am also asking Mayor and Council to review DBRC's charter, 2132 01:30:27,052 --> 01:30:29,172 authority, and approval process 2133 01:30:30,272 --> 01:30:34,152 so there are clearer checks and balances for public events, temporary uses, 2134 01:30:34,272 --> 01:30:38,252 pop-up parks, vendor activity, and property improvements. 2135 01:30:38,292 --> 01:30:42,152 This is not meant to attack anybody on DBRC or any of 2136 01:30:42,192 --> 01:30:46,172 its volunteers. I want to be clear, I support community events 2137 01:30:46,232 --> 01:30:50,022 and downtown revitalization. My concern is not to stop 2138 01:30:50,092 --> 01:30:53,692 progress. My concern is making sure progress is done with clear 2139 01:30:53,732 --> 01:30:57,692 documentation, public communication, and safety checks from 2140 01:30:57,732 --> 01:31:01,472 the beginning. That matters because Berlin has other 2141 01:31:01,532 --> 01:31:05,352 major projects and property concerns coming, including the area 2142 01:31:05,432 --> 01:31:09,132 near former Owens-Corning factory and the old Kmart property. 2143 01:31:10,792 --> 01:31:14,692 If we have confusion over a contaminated soil pile located directly 2144 01:31:14,752 --> 01:31:18,572 next to the municipal building parking lot, then it is fair for 2145 01:31:18,632 --> 01:31:22,492 residents to ask what checks and balances will be in place for larger 2146 01:31:22,552 --> 01:31:26,492 and more complex projects. Berlin deserves community events and 2147 01:31:26,552 --> 01:31:30,472 revitalization. We also deserve clear documentation, good 2148 01:31:30,532 --> 01:31:31,372 communication, 2149 01:31:32,472 --> 01:31:34,772 and safety checks before the public is invited in. 2150 01:31:36,032 --> 01:31:39,512 No one should allow corners to be cut when it comes to the health and safety of our 2151 01:31:39,552 --> 01:31:42,712 families, our friends, and our neighbors. Thank you. 2152 01:31:43,112 --> 01:31:43,392 Thank you. 2153 01:31:45,112 --> 01:31:47,272 And I'm waiting for my OPRA request, so thank you. 2154 01:31:53,052 --> 01:31:53,552 Anyone else? 2155 01:31:59,652 --> 01:32:02,552 Can I have a motion to close public portion, and I'll make a statement about the- 2156 01:32:03,632 --> 01:32:04,592 I'll make that motion. 2157 01:32:05,052 --> 01:32:05,532 Second. 2158 01:32:06,312 --> 01:32:07,772 All in favor? Or roll call. 2159 01:32:07,952 --> 01:32:08,412 Roll call? 2160 01:32:09,192 --> 01:32:10,332 Did you want roll call? 2161 01:32:10,452 --> 01:32:10,752 Yeah. 2162 01:32:12,092 --> 01:32:13,532 Roll call. So just quick- 2163 01:32:13,872 --> 01:32:14,832 You already make a statement 2164 01:32:15,131 --> 01:32:16,672 Yeah, but I just want... So the 2165 01:32:17,712 --> 01:32:18,692 DBRC asked us 2166 01:32:19,592 --> 01:32:21,352 probably a year and a half ago if they could use the property. 2167 01:32:21,392 --> 01:32:24,012 We said yes, contingent upon it's safe and clean. 2168 01:32:24,772 --> 01:32:27,392 We have an engineering firm, Pennoni, that is doing the grants. 2169 01:32:28,112 --> 01:32:29,352 The grant is actually through the DEP. 2170 01:32:30,452 --> 01:32:33,372 We were told through the engineer that the property would be clean on, whatever 2171 01:32:33,392 --> 01:32:36,672 that date was, two or three days before 2172 01:32:36,732 --> 01:32:38,352 their event. 2173 01:32:41,212 --> 01:32:44,072 We didn't tell them to go ahead, and their separate organization having 2174 01:32:44,872 --> 01:32:46,992 our only involvement was allowing them to use the property. 2175 01:32:47,492 --> 01:32:48,512 So they went ahead and announced it. 2176 01:32:48,612 --> 01:32:50,052 In the meantime, we found out they didn't have 2177 01:32:50,972 --> 01:32:54,432 a liquor license, a few other things, so we weren't comfortable even from that 2178 01:32:54,492 --> 01:32:55,712 standpoint of them moving forward. 2179 01:32:56,972 --> 01:33:00,792 You raised some good questions, and we didn't have the clearance, so 2180 01:33:00,992 --> 01:33:04,632 the event was canceled. They took it upon themselves to figure 2181 01:33:04,652 --> 01:33:06,592 that we thought it was going to be cleared the next week. 2182 01:33:07,272 --> 01:33:09,052 They took it upon themselves to announce they were going to have it. 2183 01:33:09,972 --> 01:33:13,782 After speaking with the engineer, I believe after you had 2184 01:33:13,792 --> 01:33:14,692 contacted DEP, 2185 01:33:15,512 --> 01:33:19,392 the engineer didn't feel comfortable issuing whatever certifications were needed, 2186 01:33:19,432 --> 01:33:21,332 and that's where this date from August 1st happened. 2187 01:33:21,972 --> 01:33:23,472 As far as the fence and the sign, 2188 01:33:24,532 --> 01:33:26,472 the engineer, when we told them about the 2189 01:33:27,992 --> 01:33:29,712 tarp being blown over, they discovered the sign. 2190 01:33:29,832 --> 01:33:32,762 I don't know if someone stole the sign or took it down, but it was never authorized 2191 01:33:32,792 --> 01:33:36,112 to be taken down. And again, as an abundance of caution, we put the 2192 01:33:36,312 --> 01:33:40,092 orange fence all the way around the property just so nobody 2193 01:33:40,132 --> 01:33:44,052 can get on it. So we're still waiting for clearance from, I 2194 01:33:44,092 --> 01:33:45,512 guess, the DEP or the- 2195 01:33:45,812 --> 01:33:46,552 The engineering firm 2196 01:33:46,562 --> 01:33:47,672 ... the engineering firm. So we're working with Pennoni. 2197 01:33:48,152 --> 01:33:49,392 We're working with an engineering firm. 2198 01:33:50,392 --> 01:33:51,572 There was no corners cut. 2199 01:33:52,372 --> 01:33:55,312 Again, we're working through the DEP with the grant to do the cleanup. 2200 01:33:56,412 --> 01:33:59,272 So as the property stands now, we're waiting to get clearance 2201 01:34:00,772 --> 01:34:02,412 on the property before anything can happen on there. 2202 01:34:02,972 --> 01:34:04,932 Again, the DBRC did not have 2203 01:34:06,052 --> 01:34:09,712 clearance to use the property before they announced their dates. 2204 01:34:09,912 --> 01:34:11,952 So that was kind of some of the timing there. 2205 01:34:13,452 --> 01:34:17,292 Terry, I just want to add that we had a decaying, abandoned gas station 2206 01:34:17,392 --> 01:34:20,492 where nothing was happening. We acquired it for a dollar. 2207 01:34:21,892 --> 01:34:25,872 We received grants to do the cleanup, and we're in the process of that. 2208 01:34:25,932 --> 01:34:29,412 We've been very proactive, so it's not something that we should be 2209 01:34:29,612 --> 01:34:33,452 apologizing for. The safety protocols were in place. 2210 01:34:34,452 --> 01:34:36,272 We don't control the other organizations, 2211 01:34:37,192 --> 01:34:39,672 but as you indicated, as an abundance of caution, 2212 01:34:40,872 --> 01:34:43,832 it's underground storage tank and there was some leakage. 2213 01:34:44,832 --> 01:34:48,772 That was cleaned up. Now that's petroleum hydrocarbons on the scale of 2214 01:34:48,872 --> 01:34:52,212 one to 100. That's not one of the ones that are really scary. 2215 01:34:52,652 --> 01:34:53,092 However, 2216 01:34:53,992 --> 01:34:57,912 when it comes to kids and people being on lands that may be 2217 01:34:57,972 --> 01:35:00,112 questionable, better safe than sorry. 2218 01:35:00,612 --> 01:35:03,932 So I think that's the approach that we took in my conversations with the 2219 01:35:03,972 --> 01:35:04,632 administrator, 2220 01:35:06,232 --> 01:35:08,152 and her conversations with the engineer. 2221 01:35:08,792 --> 01:35:09,472 We wanted to make 2222 01:35:10,472 --> 01:35:14,232 absolutely clear that there were no prohibitions for using that 2223 01:35:14,292 --> 01:35:17,972 property before we allowed the public to start to use it. 2224 01:35:18,012 --> 01:35:21,952 And when it became apparent that that was not going to come before the 2225 01:35:21,992 --> 01:35:25,432 first event date, we called it off. Simple as that. 2226 01:35:25,752 --> 01:35:26,432 Great. Thank you. 2227 01:35:27,392 --> 01:35:29,272 If nothing else for the good of the order- 2228 01:35:29,352 --> 01:35:33,172 Well, to be fair, they've been coming, as far as their 2229 01:35:33,552 --> 01:35:37,372 event schedule, they didn't come and ask any dates. 2230 01:35:38,072 --> 01:35:39,732 I only found out personally 2231 01:35:41,012 --> 01:35:43,912 from the flyer that they posted online. 2232 01:35:44,832 --> 01:35:47,001 So I don't ever recall them actually asking- 2233 01:35:47,001 --> 01:35:48,172 I think we all did. I 2234 01:35:49,932 --> 01:35:50,892 don't remember them- 2235 01:35:50,932 --> 01:35:53,112 I don't ever remember them ever coming in here and asking for a date- 2236 01:35:53,172 --> 01:35:53,182 They may be- 2237 01:35:53,182 --> 01:35:56,872 ... or applying for a permit to use the property for a specific 2238 01:35:56,932 --> 01:35:57,192 date. 2239 01:35:57,252 --> 01:36:00,332 As far as dates, there may have been a meeting you maybe you were absent, I think. 2240 01:36:01,212 --> 01:36:01,691 All right. 2241 01:36:04,192 --> 01:36:05,072 Can I have a motion to adjourn? 2242 01:36:05,752 --> 01:36:06,152 Motion. 2243 01:36:06,652 --> 01:36:07,052 Second. 2244 01:36:07,392 --> 01:36:07,872 All in favor? 2245 01:36:08,252 --> 01:36:08,812 Aye. 2246 01:36:08,852 --> 01:36:09,832 Meeting adjourned.