[0:00] We're Thursday, July 11th, 2026.
[0:03] June.
[0:04] June. Sorry.
[0:06] We'll have the pledge of allegiance at the regular council meeting.
[0:11] Roll call, please.
[0:13] Council President Bilotta?
[0:15] Here.
[0:16] Councilman Cummings?
[0:17] Here.
[0:17] Councilman Howell?
[0:18] Here.
[0:19] Councilman Miller? He's not going to be here this evening. Councilman Wilkinson?
[0:23] Present.
[0:24] Councilman Scratis?
[0:25] Here.
[0:26] Mayor Miller? Here. Also present with us this evening, Solicitor
[0:30] Howard Long.
[0:31] Here.
[0:31] Administrator Anne Marie Miller?
[0:32] Here.
[0:34] I am present.
[0:35] Thank you.
[0:36] You're welcome.
[0:38] We'll move on to...
[0:41] If you guys don't mind, we have
[0:43] Luciano's here to talk about-
[0:46] Okay ... so we'll let him go first before the-
[0:48] Yeah ... before the meetings. Good? All right.
[0:52] Yeah. You
[0:52] want
[0:57] to come up? Yeah. Just, yeah, you can go to the
[1:00] podium if you'd
[1:03] like. Yeah.
[1:07] Yeah.
[1:08] We know who you are, but could you state, we don't need an address, just a name for
[1:12] the record, please.
[1:13] Luciano Lamberti.
[1:15] And sir?
[1:17] Keith Ludwig.
[1:18] Mr.
[1:20] Ludwig.
[1:24] Anyone else? Not
[1:27] here. Now is not the time to be shy, gentlemen.
[1:30] To talk now?
[1:30] Say what's on your minds.
[1:31] Is that what I'm doing? Okay. I have his Pasta Vino,
[1:36] pretty much sold to somebody. Well, the business end of it, not the building,
[1:40] because he doesn't own the building, to a place called The Dugout in
[1:43] Philadelphia. Very successful sports bar.
[1:46] They're going to maintain the same concept here.
[1:49] They do a lot of sandwiches and wings, things like that.
[1:53] They bring a lot of ball players from the Phillies and Eagles and
[1:57] all that around to watch the games with.
[2:00] And they actually do a
[2:02] podcast out of their one over there, which, of course, they're going to replicate
[2:06] here.
[2:07] Has the landlord been, has the property owner been-
[2:09] I've been talking to Kim.
[2:10] Okay, because they're trying to sell it, because we put a condemnation order in.
[2:15] Yeah.
[2:16] So I don't know what the plans are for the building. Have they...
[2:21] Well, the last time I spoke to her, she said to me that the
[2:25] one side was not going to
[2:28] be affected-
[2:29] Okay
[2:29] ... from the plans that were approved back in the day.
[2:32] Okay.
[2:33] With the townhouses and apartments.
[2:37] Okay.
[2:37] Which would be only the front side.
[2:39] So they're intending to keep the restaurant and the-
[2:41] Correct.
[2:42] The strip side. Yeah.
[2:43] And they had, I think, two pad sides out front.
[2:45] I don't know if that still stands.
[2:49] Okay.
[2:51] And
[2:52] the winter was not really that kind to the building.
[2:55] It has a couple of broken pipes, things like that, and he needs to
[3:00] replace the two 12 and a half ton units up on top in order
[3:04] for the other two gentlemen to move in.
[3:06] Mm-hmm.
[3:07] It's going to take about 60 to 90 days to get the units.
[3:11] I don't know if you know there's a shortage.
[3:13] Yeah.
[3:14] And other than that, that's exactly where he's at.
[3:18] Yeah.
[3:22] In August of 2024, the law changed on
[3:26] pocket licenses.
[3:28] I know.
[3:28] And I believe you closed sometime in '23, which means you applied for
[3:32] '24, it's fine, '25, and you've applied again for
[3:35] '26.
[3:39] So they used to be able to carry on forever.
[3:42] Now the municipality,
[3:45] if they go two full cycles when they're in pocket for two years, which I think
[3:49] you've completed,
[3:50] the third one
[3:52] is not an automatic renewal. You have to ask the
[3:56] municipality to extend an additional year.
[3:59] And so in order to do that, we just want
[4:03] some assurances that it just... When it's not sitting there, when we have a
[4:07] liquor license that's sitting in pocket, which means it's not being
[4:11] used, you're not generating revenue, we're not generating
[4:15] more of a tax base and income for the municipality,
[4:19] because they have value, right?
[4:21] Right.
[4:21] Liquor licenses have value. So while they could approve it this
[4:25] time,
[4:26] I got to tell you, if you come back next year in the same position,
[4:31] they don't have any options. It's just going to lapse at that point.
[4:34] And then if it goes eight years in pocket,
[4:38] then the town can actually just take it back and sell it itself so that it
[4:42] can be reused. So there's been a lot of changes in the law.
[4:46] But they really have given you to August,
[4:50] I believe, of 2028.
[4:53] Right. I think it says-
[4:54] I think that's the date
[4:57] for you to comply with it, and for the mandatory rules to come into
[5:01] effect. But we can only keep passing this along
[5:05] so every...
[5:09] Our ability to just continue ad infinitum is no
[5:13] longer based upon the change of law.
[5:15] So this would be the last one that you could get.
[5:17] So I know-
[5:18] And the compliance is based on an open and operating under the guidelines
[5:22] of the license at the location.
[5:24] Yeah. And we-
[5:24] Okay
[5:24] ... what we want to know b- basically is, how quick can we
[5:28] turn around we're going to see a business in there using the license?
[5:32] I would think that-
[5:33] Go ahead.
[5:33] Do you want to answer?
[5:34] Go ahead.
[5:34] I would think that you're probably looking at September for football season,
[5:39] because he's got some renovations to do in there, because he's not going to be an
[5:42] Italian restaurant. Everything is based on that right now.
[5:45] He's been in the facility three or four times.
[5:49] He's actually bringing another
[5:50] engineer regarding the deck
[5:54] outside or in the patio outside. He wants to enclose that in order to
[5:58] have parties and things there. And I think that would be a big
[6:02] attribute to your township.
[6:04] I don't know if you know the place. It's a very, very busy bar
[6:09] They handle a clientele that's more
[6:12] middle-aged. It's not
[6:15] like there's going to be dances there or anything like that.
[6:17] No.
[6:18] What's the name of them?
[6:19] The Dugout.
[6:23] Yeah. If-
[6:24] I understand
[6:25] ... we're standing here a year from now, we're going to be-
[6:28] No, I think it'll be done by then.
[6:30] Let me help you.
[6:31] The minimum we're going to have to wait is August for the
[6:35] units to be placed up on the roof. And some of the roof needs to be repaired as
[6:39] well.
[6:39] Do you have it under contract with The Dugout yet?
[6:42] Not yet.
[6:42] Not yet. We're getting there. We're negotiating the price.
[6:46] But they definitely want it.
[6:48] They've been my client for 15 years.
[6:52] So anyway.
[6:54] Yeah. Any questions?
[6:56] Hurry up.
[6:58] Hurry up. Okay.
[6:59] Yeah. Thanks for coming in and-
[7:01] Wait till you see the roast beef thing. It's a big thing. It really is.
[7:05] Any questions of us?
[7:08] You guys are good?
[7:09] The only compliance is that it opens and operates as a bar under the license that's
[7:13] there now.
[7:13] Yes.
[7:14] What is it, a broad C?
[7:15] It's cool. It's-
[7:17] Yeah, it's consumption.
[7:18] Yeah, packaged goods too on that license, right?
[7:21] Yes.
[7:23] All right. Thank you.
[7:23] Okay. Do you have any other questions?
[7:25] No, that's it. Just want to make sure that's the plan in place.
[7:27] Very good. Let's push it forward.
[7:28] I'll be in touch.
[7:29] Okay.
[7:29] You know?
[7:29] I appreciate it.
[7:30] Yes.
[7:30] Yeah, keep us informed.
[7:31] Absolutely.
[7:31] It's always helpful to know-
[7:32] Absolutely
[7:32] ... when we know that, what's going on. Thank you.
[7:35] Yeah.
[7:35] All right.
[7:35] All right. Appreciate it, John.
[7:36] Thank you.
[7:36] Thanks for coming out.
[7:37] Thank you.
[7:37] Thanks.
[7:38] Have a good weekend.
[7:40] Appreciate it. Thanks, you too.
[7:41] Thanks, guys.
[7:42] No problem.
[7:44] Councilman Balogh, do you have anything for the workshop meeting?
[7:46] No, I don't. They aren't pulled up till the regular meeting.
[7:50] Okay. Councilwoman Cummings?
[7:51] Nothing till the meeting, except-
[7:52] Okay.
[7:53] Archie?
[7:54] Councilman Holley?
[7:55] Nothing for the workshop. I'm fine.
[7:58] Councilman Miller's not here. Councilman Wilkinson?
[8:01] Yeah, just a couple things. On the resolutions for the regular
[8:05] meeting, that's going to be a consent?
[8:08] Yeah. If there was one you wanted to pull out and vote separately or question-
[8:12] Well, personally, I
[8:15] feel like I'd like to understand why
[8:19] the fire department needs another Tahoe.
[8:22] So I'm inclined to vote no on that one.
[8:28] Which number was that?
[8:29] That's- It's the bottom of page four, I think. It's D.
[8:34] Section 8.
[8:35] 8D, Mayor.
[8:36] Okay.
[8:38] Well, my only
[8:41] rationale is
[8:43] when it comes to lighting for
[8:46] the baseball field so Berlin kids can have games at
[8:50] night, I'm told, "Don't have the money for that.
[8:53] Don't have the money for that." Yet, then I see a Tahoe, and
[8:57] I
[8:58] guess I don't quite understand the
[9:03] administrative structure of the fire hall.
[9:07] It seemed to have grown exponentially.
[9:10] And I don't know that we really have a say in that. I don't know why we don't.
[9:16] I think we should, if money's being paid out to people.
[9:19] I just think there needs to be a little more oversight over what goes
[9:23] on there.
[9:26] It's like they want to operate as a volunteer organization, yet they want to
[9:30] get paid and have all this equipment, too. So I don't know.
[9:33] Anyway, I'm just bringing that up,
[9:38] because like I said, I'm inclined to at least have a conversation
[9:42] about why-
[9:43] Okay
[9:43] ... they need
[9:44] it,
[9:46] if for no other reason. And then
[9:50] on the roads program,
[9:54] I had a conversation with Key Engineers this week about maybe
[9:58] putting Central in there,
[10:01] and maybe taking out Atlantic for the
[10:04] 2026.
[10:06] Okay.
[10:09] I think John feels like that would be
[10:13] better to do, and I'm inclined to agree with him only because
[10:18] it
[10:19] would affect a lot more people on
[10:23] Central than would Atlantic, South Atlantic anyway.
[10:29] I guess
[10:31] I'm always open to hear other people's opinion on that.
[10:35] I guess John the engineer would know better than I. Sure.
[10:39] I don't have my... I didn't bring my
[10:43] iPad. Are the streets mentioned in the resolution?
[10:47] Yeah.
[10:47] The street timings.
[10:48] Because it's why it's for the-
[10:50] Yeah
[10:50] ... they need the resolution.
[10:51] Because that resolution is on here.
[10:53] Okay. So we would just change the
[10:56] streets. We'd vote on changing the street names?
[10:58] We can do that.
[11:01] Well, we have to apply for, we have to-
[11:03] When's it due by?
[11:04] They wanted it for this meeting.
[11:06] Yeah.
[11:06] But they said that you could. Penney's done July before, but he's
[11:10] asked, requested that the resolution be
[11:12] confirmed at that because they're applying for the grant.
[11:17] Hal, what are your thoughts on this?
[11:18] So there's two streets we have in the resolution.
[11:21] A possibility of swapping a street out. We have flexibility.
[11:24] We have to decide that tonight.
[11:27] Is it streets identified to be paved? Is that what you're talking about?
[11:30] Yeah.
[11:31] There's two, and the engineer's recommending...
[11:33] Well, I'm inclined to listen to the engineer and the head of DPW.
[11:37] Okay.
[11:37] So I'm inclined-
[11:38] Yeah
[11:38] ... to swap it out.
[11:39] You can do whatever it is you want to do. That's their recommendation.
[11:42] The problem you have is, I assume they did a needs list
[11:46] from worst to best, and they rate them.
[11:49] Mm-hmm.
[11:49] So if you skip one that needs it to another that needs it,
[11:53] we're getting to them. You could get a lot of people coming in saying,
[11:57] "How come they got moved up the list?
[11:59] My street didn't get moved up the list."
[12:01] Of course.
[12:02] That's the only thing. That's why they do those five-year plans where they
[12:06] evaluate your roads and determine from worst to best where you
[12:10] should be working.
[12:11] So that there's some sort of objective criteria that goes into
[12:15] it?
[12:16] I don't know.
[12:16] Otherwise, everybody's going to want the road-
[12:17] I certainly don't understand that.
[12:19] I know that they have some kind of robotic system that's used.
[12:24] And I don't-
[12:24] Yeah, I don't know either
[12:25] ... I don't know how they determine South-- I don't even know how South Atlantic
[12:28] even got on that list.
[12:28] I've seen it many times, but I never asked that question, how do you-- German
[12:32] now, forget they just-
[12:33] Was the South Atlantic because that the,
[12:36] um-
[12:36] Well, would it be South Atlantic? Because I
[12:39] think according to the key engineers, they would still do
[12:42] Union. And they're not saying that they wouldn't get to that.
[12:46] I think-
[12:48] Was that brought up though because of the gas company work that was on there?
[12:51] Is that the road that got torn up? Or is that, I think of something different.
[12:55] No, it's not.
[12:56] Is that East Atlantic?
[12:56] South Atlantic.
[12:58] No.
[12:58] South Atlantic is down by Union and Laurel.
[13:00] North Atlantic. Okay. It's different way.
[13:01] That's the other side.
[13:03] That's closer to South Atlantic.
[13:05] Okay.
[13:05] This is the one behind the Foot Creek, correct?
[13:07] Correct.
[13:08] It's the Atlantic behind the Foot Creek.
[13:10] Okay. Got you.
[13:12] I'm inclined to take the recommendation of the engineers.
[13:16] Well, that's how I feel about it, and that's what I conveyed
[13:20] to the engineer.
[13:23] So we're going to ask unless anybody has an objection,
[13:26] we'll swap the streets out.
[13:28] Objection.
[13:29] And then we'll just make the correction on the resolution when we-
[13:32] All right.
[13:32] Okay.
[13:33] Just make a note of that.
[13:34] Yeah.
[13:37] Well,
[13:38] I would
[13:40] suggest that tomorrow give the key engineers a call,
[13:45] rather than going off of me right here, right now.
[13:49] I would definitely second that.
[13:53] Greg did reach out to me and asked if, because I guess he was here in
[13:56] January. I didn't recall
[14:00] that recommendation.
[14:02] He said that that was the recommendation at the time, and I know he spoke to you,
[14:05] John. So
[14:07] I know the engineer is recommending that.
[14:10] Yeah.
[14:12] So I take it was Atlantic.
[14:16] What?
[14:16] I'll follow
[14:19] up with him.
[14:20] Yes, ma'am.
[14:21] Here, I'll tell you. It was,
[14:27] Central.
[14:32] Yeah, because Central, that's a pretty big span.
[14:35] That would run from Thacker Avenue all the way to Leewah.
[14:38] It'd be Union and Central would be the two streets.
[14:40] Correct.
[14:41] Not Union and South Atlantic.
[14:44] Yeah. Well,
[14:46] Central, that's a pretty long run.
[14:50] Okay.
[14:51] Okay. We'll make that adjustment.
[14:55] Anything else?
[14:56] No, sir.
[14:57] Great. Thank you.
[15:00] On to council Mascaras.
[15:02] All right. Two topics, but probably stick more-
[15:04] Correct
[15:05] ... main.
[15:05] Okay. All right. I don't have anything for the workshop.
[15:08] Solicitor, do you have anything for workshop?
[15:09] No, Mayor. Just as you go through, we have a number of second reading on
[15:12] ordinances. I'll just give a brief explanation before you
[15:17] start taking public comment, if there is any, as to what the actions
[15:20] are doing-
[15:21] Okay
[15:21] ... or putting those ordinances into effect.
[15:25] Perfect. Administrator, anything? No.
[15:26] No.
[15:26] All right.
[15:27] Can I have a motion to adjourn the workshop meeting?
[15:31] Motion.
[15:31] All in favor?
[15:32] Aye.
[15:33] I'd like to call to order the council meeting for Thursday, June 11th,
[15:37] 2026.
[15:40] Pledge allegiance.
[15:42] To the flag of the United States of America, and to the
[15:46] Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God,
[15:50] indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
[16:05] Notice of this meeting has been provided to the Courier Post and the Philadelphia
[16:07] Inquirer, and is posted on the Borough Hall bulletin board stating the time, date,
[16:11] and place of the meeting. Can I just have a roll call again, please?
[16:13] Council President Bartolotto.
[16:15] Here.
[16:15] Councilwoman Cummings.
[16:16] Here.
[16:17] Councilman Ewing.
[16:18] Here.
[16:18] Councilman Miller.
[16:19] He's not here this evening.
[16:20] Councilman Wilkinson.
[16:22] Present.
[16:22] Councilman Mascaras.
[16:23] Here.
[16:24] Mayor Miller.
[16:24] Here.
[16:25] Also present this evening, Solicitor Howard Long.
[16:27] Here.
[16:28] And our administrator, Amerie Miller.
[16:30] Here.
[16:30] Great. Thank you. And our municipal clerk, Rachel
[16:33] Waterhouse.
[16:35] Here.
[16:36] Did we get these working?
[16:37] Yeah.
[16:37] Well,
[16:38] I don't know why that one's not-
[16:40] Okay
[16:40] ... I don't know. Maybe I have to turn on-
[16:40] It was on before. Maybe it just went to sleep.
[16:44] So before we get rolling into the meeting, I just want to acknowledge we had some
[16:47] changes with the
[16:49] Library Board of Trustees. Deanna Schudeman
[16:52] chose to step down, take care of...
[16:58] She decided to step down. I don't want to say too much.
[17:01] The board, we gave her the title of Emeritus, so
[17:05] she's still going to be able to attend meetings.
[17:07] The library
[17:10] had their meeting on Monday, and they gave her a plaque and acknowledged her
[17:14] contributions to the library. And in her place, I have the honor of
[17:18] filling her vacancy with Betty Vealey, who's in the audience
[17:22] tonight. So Betty will take over for Deanna and
[17:26] run through her term through the end of the year.
[17:29] So
[17:30] Betty's been a staple at the library for many years, and-
[17:33] Perfect choice
[17:34] ... yep. So I think she knows what she's doing.
[17:37] Like it fits like a glove.
[17:38] Yep. So congratulations, Betty.
[17:41] Thanks.
[17:51] Now on to the approval of the minutes.
[17:52] Can I please have approval for the May 14th, 2026 workshop
[17:56] and regular meeting minutes?
[17:58] Motion.
[18:00] I'll second.
[18:02] All in favor?
[18:03] Aye.
[18:04] Aye.
[18:04] Thank you.
[18:05] Do I have to be-- I wasn't here. Do I have to be in abstention?
[18:07] Abstention, yes, sir.
[18:08] Do I have to be in abstention?
[18:10] Yes.
[18:12] Got it?
[18:15] On to council reports, buildings,
[18:17] grounds, parks, and recreation. Councilman Palada.
[18:24] Did you do approval of the regular meeting?
[18:26] I did them together.
[18:28] Okay. Just checking.
[18:30] Good evening, everyone. Thanks for coming.
[18:33] Yeah, I have a few things to go over.
[18:36] As you know, the 4th of July is right around the corner, and
[18:40] DPW's getting ready to paint the railing that goes
[18:44] all along the outer brick wall, along the sidewalk.
[18:49] And
[18:51] also,
[18:55] there's a
[18:57] signpost
[18:59] that's in front of the Berlin
[19:03] Marie Fletcher Library that hasn't had a sign on it, if not
[19:07] 15 years, 20. So I reached out
[19:11] to
[19:12] Michelle Seacrest from Seacrest Designs, and she designed
[19:16] a sign for the library.
[19:19] And I'm getting a quote now from American Signs, who did a lot of
[19:23] signs around the borough, like the entrance and the parking lot,
[19:27] some things around the municipal building.
[19:30] And
[19:31] it's really going to look good. And hopefully, that's going to be up by
[19:35] the 4th of July also.
[19:38] And the other thing is
[19:41] the flower beds around the library.
[19:44] I know the library has someone who goes over there and cuts the grass, but I'm
[19:47] going to get the DPW to go through the flower beds,
[19:51] and there's small maple trees growing, and bushes, and things like that, so they're
[19:54] going to clean that up also.
[20:02] The other thing is, I did speak, if you recall, Greg Fusco
[20:06] was here about a couple months ago and was going over what we could
[20:10] do for the
[20:12] White Horse Pike property that we're trying to get redeveloped there.
[20:15] And I spoke to him last week, and we have a
[20:19] resolution on the agenda tonight, and hopefully we're going
[20:23] to pass this. And he said if everything goes
[20:26] accordingly,
[20:28] he will be willing to come to the July 9th council meeting
[20:33] to present his proposals to council for the property.
[20:38] And what else do I have? The banners I had spoken about.
[20:40] Oh, just a question on that. Would that be to lease
[20:44] the property or to buy the property and develop?
[20:48] No, to propose what we're going to put on the property.
[20:50] To go out to
[20:53] bid for developers to bid on the property.
[20:57] Oh, okay.
[20:57] Okay?
[20:58] Yeah. Just, that's true.
[21:00] So we're planning on building something on that property?
[21:03] Not us.
[21:05] Okay, so whatever developer that wins the bid is going
[21:09] to build.
[21:09] Build, yeah.
[21:11] All right, so are we securing any type of business
[21:15] or franchise to start the approval process on the White Horse
[21:19] Pike?
[21:19] The developer would do all. The developer would find the tenants and
[21:23] all that to
[21:26] put the property on the lease.
[21:27] Okay. Do we have any idea of what we want over there?
[21:30] That's what Greg's put-- Greg's going to put together a plan to present to us so
[21:34] that we can decide if we like that plan, and we want to do something else.
[21:41] And the other thing is, I spoke about the banners at the last meeting.
[21:44] They'll be up for the 4th of July all along the Lake Coast in
[21:48] town.
[21:49] Thank you.
[21:50] Let's see.
[21:52] Also, again, in the next few weeks, I want to get
[21:56] some quotes on, we had repaired the brick wall that goes around our property
[22:00] and
[22:01] right to the flower beds in the front.
[22:05] I want to get some quotes on the brick that's right when you walk out
[22:09] the door here. That's going to need some maintenance and repair also.
[22:13] So I want to get some prices on that.
[22:16] Tuesday night, I went to a historic society and a historic
[22:20] preservation commission meeting,
[22:23] and they're going to be having a
[22:26] motor home decorated in the 4th of July parade, and they're going to be giving
[22:30] pamphlets out on historic buildings in town.
[22:34] And the other thing is, they're trying to work on
[22:38] the HBC, the Historic Society, and hopefully the Marie Fletcher Library,
[22:43] for an event in August to celebrate the Berlin Hotel.
[22:46] It's going to be 200 years old.
[22:48] And believe it or not, I'm still pulling teeth with Atlantic City
[22:52] Electric to try to get some funding or some
[22:55] trees. And
[22:58] Alexander Wickenschuck, who is the rep that we deal with,
[23:02] after months, finally got to speak to
[23:06] her on the phone today, and she's going to check into it again and see what she
[23:09] can do. I don't know if you recall, but it was a year ago where myself,
[23:13] Anne Marie,
[23:15] met with
[23:17] two representatives from Atlantic Electric, and we went over a list that we
[23:21] had. And
[23:23] it was to paint the poles, get us some trees, or get reimbursed
[23:27] for, because I think it was,
[23:29] I don't know, four or five years ago, maybe six,
[23:33] when Chris Cavallaro was there.
[23:36] We were able to get a contribution of $1,500 that
[23:40] they gave to the borough. And then the following year, they did the same thing,
[23:43] $1,500. And then there was nothing for a year.
[23:47] And,
[23:48] myself and Anne Marie tried to squeeze out getting reimbursed for our
[23:52] DPW that's got to go down the pike right around now, 4th of
[23:56] July, and paint the bases of the lights that get all chipped.
[23:59] So,
[24:00] I want to hopefully we'll get something going.
[24:05] That's all I have. Thank you.
[24:06] The banners are up. The banners that-
[24:08] Oh, yeah. There's the banners.
[24:10] We got them up the other day.
[24:13] Great. Thank you. On to public works, streets, and roads.
[24:17] Councilman Wilkinson
[24:22] I'm sorry. Is that-
[24:23] That's you
[24:23] ... Mayor? I'm sorry.
[24:26] I'll run off down the
[24:30] statistical data
[24:32] for the Department of Public Works.
[24:34] 36 tons of single stream recycling,
[24:38] 300 tons of trash,
[24:40] 310 tons of trash, 600 pounds of electric waste.
[24:44] I guess they get a lot of that during the bulk week
[24:48] when people put out their washers, dryers, and whatnot.
[24:51] Three tons of baled cardboard, 10 tons of street
[24:55] sweeping debris
[24:58] last month.
[25:01] I have on my report, well,
[25:05] we're still waiting to find out what we're doing with the building for the
[25:09] Department of Public Works.
[25:10] Is there an update on that?
[25:12] No, I've not.
[25:12] No. Okay.
[25:18] The--
[25:19] I submitted to you all the
[25:22] engineer's report.
[25:26] And for streets and roads,
[25:31] do I need to rehash that
[25:33] for this meeting about the-
[25:36] The resolution change?
[25:37] The resolution change.
[25:40] Yes.
[25:41] I think we're good. Yeah.
[25:44] However, for the
[25:49] 2027,
[25:50] is there a resolution on for that too, for the 2027 program?
[25:56] The roads still have to be determined, but the grant application deadline is
[26:00] July 1st.
[26:02] Correct. That's what we're talking about.
[26:03] That's the one we're talking about. Yeah.
[26:04] That is the one that we talked about with the Union and-
[26:08] I'm pretty sure that the Union, Atlantic, Heights, and Laurel were
[26:12] on
[26:14] 2026's program. Yeah, that one went out to bid, so we're accepting that
[26:17] bid. Right. That's part of how that's on. Right.
[26:21] That's accepted for- The 2027, we haven't picked any roads yet for the
[26:25] 2027 program.
[26:28] I have to pull up the resolution. There shouldn't be.
[26:31] If there was, I haven't been notified of them.
[26:34] Oh, so you were talking about '26?
[26:36] I was talking about the 2026.
[26:40] Is that
[26:41] the right year on
[26:43] Resolution 6-13?
[26:46] 6-1-13.
[26:48] The one that
[26:50] has to go out for the deadline of July 1st.
[26:53] They're having- What number is that?
[26:55] That's eight, or one oh
[26:58] eight.
[27:06] Except this is the-
[27:08] You work faster at that than I. What more do I know, I'm not sure.
[27:12] And then the trader. Why is it
[27:15] 2025?
[27:19] Can you read that? Do you need me to make it bigger still?
[27:21] Yeah, that's the South Atlantic and Union.
[27:23] Yeah. That's 2026. That is the Union and Atlantic.
[27:27] That's the one I was talking about.
[27:29] That's the one they were talking about swapping out.
[27:31] That's under 27.
[27:33] That's under-- That's next year. That's under 27.
[27:36] They're always kind of like a year- They are a year behind. Right.
[27:40] But- So it's going to be for 2027.
[27:41] Ann Marie, can you jump to-
[27:43] I can jump to this one
[27:45] ... 113, please?
[27:46] Yeah.
[27:50] Because that says 25 on the
[27:53] agenda.
[27:58] The 2025 was the Woods development.
[28:02] Or no, I'm sorry, that's Parker, White, and Ridgewood.
[28:05] 113.
[28:09] I'm getting there, sorry. Don't want to get everyone dizzy.
[28:14] 113.
[28:18] Yeah, that one says 25.
[28:22] Is that correct?
[28:27] I
[28:27] think
[28:33] I've got the right one. It's the 25. I can go grab it.
[28:35] I'd have to double-check with my proposals.
[28:38] Do you want me to go grab it and double-check?
[28:40] Yeah, if you don't mind.
[28:41] Yeah. That's it.
[28:45] Does that say the streets on there?
[28:48] No, I'll grab it. It's all on my-
[28:50] Okay. I just want to make sure we do it correct.
[28:55] Where is the...
[28:59] Sorry, I can't do my computer.
[29:00] I apologize.
[29:12] Anything else, Councilman, while we're waiting there?
[29:15] No.
[29:16] I mean, the roads part, that was pretty much it.
[29:21] Sure. I'll give you a minute. I'm just giving this
[29:22] away.
[29:26] But I apolog-
[29:27] You
[29:30] all right?
[29:34] The 2026.
[29:40] You would want one something, but-
[29:41] Yeah. We'll move on to
[29:45] Councilman Hoying, and then when
[29:48] Ann Marie gets back, we'll-
[29:49] Sure
[29:50] ... jump back in.
[29:50] Want me to run through my report?
[29:51] Yeah, just while we-
[29:52] Sure. Happy to.
[29:53] No, and we'll come back. We're-
[29:55] Yes, sir.
[29:56] Okay. Thank you, Mayor and Council, and borough residents.
[30:00] Happy to be here as always.
[30:02] For May of 2026, our police reports
[30:06] stats are 3,041 calls for service
[30:10] compared to 2,778 in April.
[30:14] We had 309 summonses compared to 185.
[30:18] Very busy month. It appears here that they click it to ticket program
[30:22] helped with that. Right, Chief? So-
[30:24] Yes, sir
[30:25] ... good news there. 34 arrests compared to 33 in April.
[30:28] 22 motor vehicle crashes compared to 28
[30:31] 260 traffic stops compared to 134 in April.
[30:36] And directed patrols are Rutgers Boulevard and Westbury
[30:40] Drive for speeding and stop sign violations, resulting in nine directed patrols
[30:45] with heavy traffic observed but no violations.
[30:48] The Greenwood Inn Suites due to influx of housing by the Department
[30:52] of Parole. So that's always ongoing, directed patrols.
[30:57] 58 Harbor Road,
[30:59] Suite 11, AutoHauluck, for noise complaints, speeding vehicles, resulting
[31:03] in eight directed patrols, two calls for service, citations issued for
[31:07] operating without the mercantile license.
[31:10] Jackson Road and Washington Ave for speeding and stop sign violations.
[31:13] Radar cart
[31:15] deployed to assist with the speeding complaint.
[31:17] Patrols are ongoing through the month of June.
[31:20] Our tag readers are down significantly this month,
[31:23] 356,000 compared to 680,000. And what's the
[31:27] reason for that, Chief? Any explanation?
[31:29] They're all functional. It's
[31:32] traffic.
[31:32] How about that? Wow.
[31:34] We haven't had any issues as far as our operations.
[31:36] Yeah.
[31:37] There's not as many vehicles.
[31:38] Wow. That's a huge drop from what our normal numbers are, usually about a half a
[31:42] million plus.
[31:43] It's all backed up at the lights.
[31:45] Yeah.
[31:46] 20 search vehicles for involved in criminal
[31:50] activity compared to 20 in April. 14 summonses issued for tag reader hits
[31:54] compared to 18, and 11 traffic stops related to tag reader hits
[31:58] compared to 12 in April. So pretty common numbers there.
[32:01] Community policing, we had Patrolman Palma and K9 Clyde read books
[32:05] to the children for the Marie Fletch Library on May 2nd.
[32:07] They had a lot of activity this month.
[32:09] Police week conducted on Our Lady of Mount Carmel BCS from May 19th to May
[32:13] 21st. Our Lady of Mount Carmel field day on May 22nd.
[32:17] Memorial Day sermon on May 25th, obviously along with the fire department,
[32:22] EMS, and members of council as well for that.
[32:25] BCS field day on May 29th. The Junior Police Academy is
[32:29] scheduled, coming up for June 22nd to June 26th, soon,
[32:33] couple weeks here. A senior safety
[32:36] seminar is scheduled for June 25th at Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
[32:39] National Night Out is scheduled for August 4th, and the K9 car
[32:43] show is scheduled for August 11th at the farmers market.
[32:46] K9 Clyde attended his mandatory in-service training on May
[32:50] 19th. Four total deployments during motor vehicle stops resulting in
[32:54] three arrests of possession of narcotics, including methamphetamines,
[32:57] heroin, crack, cocaine, cane, and drug paraphernalia.
[33:02] Lastly, miscellaneous, we have Patrolman Angelo
[33:05] Balestamo was named Officer of the Month.
[33:08] And then we had Borough police
[33:12] participation in the Click It or Ticket grant sponsored by the division of New
[33:16] Jersey Highway Traffic Safety Patrol from May 18th to the 31st.
[33:20] And Chief Shearer and Lieutenant Smith met with the State Chiefs
[33:24] Accreditation Commission on June 11th to review the onsite assessment
[33:28] report to achieve the accreditation status.
[33:31] We were in attendance of that and it went extremely well.
[33:34] Save the final award on that for yourself next month if you'd
[33:38] like. Right? Final outcome. And then
[33:41] last, we have Lieutenant Smith was unable to assist
[33:45] with the Our Lady of Mount Carmel with the security enhancement.
[33:48] Excuse me, not unable, was able to assist with the Our Lady of Mount Carmel
[33:52] security assessment for all windows and doors at the school by obtaining monetary
[33:56] donations. The school is now equipped with a thick durable security film
[34:00] on all entries and exit door windows, making them significantly more difficult to
[34:03] penetrate. So that's a great accomplishment there.
[34:06] Do you want me to finish up or do you want to go back?
[34:08] Yeah, just finish more.
[34:09] Okay. I got a couple more things here. Moving on to the fire department.
[34:13] We had the crews continue to volunteer staff daytime duty crews
[34:17] during the work week from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
[34:20] overnight in station duty crews and when personnel are
[34:23] available. Members completed the forcible entry training.
[34:27] Members completed live fire training at the Camden County Fire Academy.
[34:32] Members completed NFPA 1040 drills and
[34:35] relay pumping training. Members attended the Memorial Day services in Berlin,
[34:39] West Berlin, and Waterford Township.
[34:42] On 6/2/26, members respond to Pine Hill for a working
[34:46] dwelling with people trapped.
[34:50] Quint 21-1 secured a secondary water supply
[34:54] while the crew assisted with exterior fire attack and
[34:57] overhaul. Fire and police 21-1 assisted Pine Hill Park
[35:01] Police with detouring traffic. Total calls for May were
[35:05] 77. The total calls for the year, 585.
[35:08] The average calls per month is approximately 117, so a little bit less than
[35:12] normal there. And then finally, real quick on the EMS numbers,
[35:16] about average, about 270 calls over the course of the month.
[35:20] 52% being in the borough itself, 32 in the
[35:23] township, and the residual were in Clementon,
[35:27] Lindenwold, and Waterford, respectively. Thank you.
[35:31] Appreciate it.
[35:32] Good.
[35:34] Great. Thank you.
[35:35] We'll pivot back. I want to apologize to the madam clerk for giving her a heart
[35:39] attack because we thought the dates were wrong. They were in fact correct.
[35:42] Yeah.
[35:42] And you can breathe again. So I apologize.
[35:45] So 2025 is what we're,
[35:48] that the proposal was just for.
[35:49] Everything's correct. Yeah.
[35:50] 2026 has the Harger, and 2027 is what they're putting in for
[35:54] the grant with those two initiatives. So all good.
[35:56] We didn't doubt you for a second.
[35:57] We're all good.
[35:58] It's weird when you're in twinsets, huh?
[36:00] I know. When you're working with grants, you're one year, two years.
[36:03] We are all good.
[36:04] It's taken me forever to understand these grants,
[36:09] the years and the grants. And I'm like, yeah.
[36:11] Another 30 seconds, her shirt was going to match your shirt.
[36:15] It did.
[36:15] And it is right here. It is 2025.
[36:18] Apologies. And I also want to apologize to Councilwoman Cummings
[36:22] for skipping her. Just all flustered all around.
[36:25] It's all good.
[36:26] We'll pivot back to water and sewer, please.
[36:30] We are together. It's all good
[36:33] Your turn.
[36:34] Yeah.
[36:34] You all done? Yeah, I think we're done.
[36:36] Let's go back to yours. There we go. Look at that nice little table.
[36:39] Thanks, good evening, everyone.
[36:40] Nice looking at little table.
[36:42] For the water and sewer reports, this past Monday on the 8th, we did have
[36:45] a water main break on Wayside Road in Centennial Square Development,
[36:50] with minimum disruption. We dispatched our crew, and that was handled
[36:54] fairly quickly. We did
[36:57] seven service orders for meter repairs, and replacements were completed.
[37:01] Two meters were replaced during that time.
[37:03] 88 utility mark-outs were completed.
[37:06] We also completed all of our monthly maintenance at both water plants, and
[37:10] the rehab project at the plant number one over here,
[37:15] Park and
[37:16] Cross Keys, is completed. The plant has passed all of our NJDEP
[37:20] testing. The plant is back online now, and the
[37:24] contractor's continuing to just do equipment renewal.
[37:28] In the sewer, we've completed all our routine monthly maintenance on the 10
[37:31] stations, as well as the 10 emergency backup generators in the
[37:35] sewer plant. That's it for my report.
[37:37] Great.
[37:38] Thank you.
[37:38] Thank you. On to youth athletics and community events, Councilman Mascarenhas.
[37:43] Good evening, Mayor, council members, residents of Berlin Borough.
[37:47] Tonight I stand before you not just as a councilman, but as a father, a neighbor, a
[37:51] taxpayer, someone who deeply cares about the future of the community.
[37:56] We're discussing something much bigger than baseball fields.
[37:59] We're discussing whether Berlin Borough will plan for the future or simply
[38:03] react when it's too late.
[38:06] The reality's clear. The baseball fields
[38:11] of our children are currently not owned by
[38:13] Berlin Borough. They are located on Borough of Education
[38:17] property, or Board of Education property.
[38:20] As the community grows, the Board of Education has already discussed the
[38:23] possibility in the future of expansion.
[38:26] If that expansion occurs, those fields could be reduced,
[38:30] relocated, or potentially disappear altogether.
[38:33] The question is simple. If we lose those fields tomorrow, what's our plan?
[38:38] Where do our children go to play?
[38:40] Where will the leagues go to play?
[38:43] Where are the future generations going to gather?
[38:45] Tonight, we have the opportunity to forge some answers to those questions before it
[38:49] becomes a crisis. Berlin Borough owns land that is currently
[38:53] sitting unused, land that belongs to the taxpayers, land that can be
[38:57] used to transform into something extraordinary, the destination for recreation,
[39:01] community pride, economic development, and youth
[39:04] opportunity.
[39:07] This proposal is not asking us to build a
[39:11] sports complex tomorrow. The proposal is asking for us to take the first
[39:15] responsible step.
[39:17] It allows the development of a concept plan, engineering analysis,
[39:21] rendering, and feasible studies so we can understand
[39:24] exactly what is possible and what the opportunities exist.
[39:29] Without a plan,
[39:31] there can be no grants. Without a plan,
[39:34] we can't go for state funding. Without a plan, we can't
[39:38] apply for federal funding. Without a plan, there can
[39:42] be no meaningful discussion about the future.
[39:45] You cannot apply for assistance if you have nothing to show.
[39:52] You cannot attract investments
[39:54] if we don't have a vision. You cannot build tomorrow if you refuse to plan
[39:58] today.
[39:59] This project is not simply an expense, it's an investment.
[40:03] An investment in our children, an investment in the public health, an investment in
[40:07] recreation, an investment in property values, an investment in the
[40:10] future of the identity of Berlin Borough.
[40:14] And unlike many expenditures, the investment has potential to
[40:18] generate revenue.
[40:19] Regional tournaments bring visitors.
[40:22] Visitors spend money in local restaurants.
[40:25] Visitors purchase fuel. Visitors support local businesses.
[40:29] Visitors create economic activity that benefits the entire community.
[40:34] Field rentals create revenue. Tournament hosts create revenue.
[40:39] Special events create revenue. Most importantly, they create opportunities
[40:44] for our residents.
[40:45] But even if the project generates $0, I would support it
[40:50] because the return on investment is measured in children learning teamwork.
[40:54] It's measured in families spending time together.
[40:57] It's measured in teenagers staying active instead of staying home.
[41:01] It's measured in community pride.
[41:03] It's measured in memories that last a lifetime.
[41:06] The value of these things cannot be calculated on a spreadheet.
[41:11] Years from now, no children will remember the feasible study costs.
[41:16] They will remember the fields that they played in.
[41:19] They will remember championships they won.
[41:21] They will remember friendships they made.
[41:23] They will remember that someone cared enough to invest in them.
[41:28] Council has a choice tonight.
[41:30] We can generate a plan ahead,
[41:33] or we can generate
[41:36] for the generations that ignored the warning signs
[41:40] and left residents scrambling when it's needed
[41:44] and could have been avoided.
[41:46] Leadership is not about solving today's
[41:50] problem after they arrive. Leadership is about preparing for them before they
[41:54] do.
[41:55] The land is here. The need is here. The opportunity is here.
[41:59] The vision is here.
[42:00] Now we need the courage to take the first step.
[42:03] I respectfully ask my fellow council members
[42:06] to support the proposal that is being processed of securing the
[42:10] future of the recreation of Berlin Borough.
[42:14] Because it's not about the fields, it's about the future. It's about our children.
[42:17] It's about Berlin Borough better than we've had back.
[42:21] It's about leaving Berlin Borough better than the way we found it.
[42:26] If we can find the money
[42:29] to fix problems when they happen, surely we can find money
[42:33] to prevent them before it happens The question tonight is not whether
[42:37] Berlin Borough can afford to plan for the future.
[42:40] The question is whether we can afford not to.
[42:44] The proposal before council is not for construction.
[42:48] The professional planning concept, developing renderings,
[42:52] and
[42:54] engineering work is necessary to determine the feasibility and position of
[42:58] Berlin Borough for grants and future funding opportunities.
[43:02] The total estimate of the cost is $43,000.
[43:08] I've handed each one of the council members
[43:13] the
[43:16] proposal from Colliers.
[43:19] Section one is service scopes,
[43:22] section two is business and terms and conditions, section three, technical
[43:26] staff, hourly rates, schedule of reimbursement, expenses, and
[43:30] section four is client contract authorization.
[43:35] The final page is the pictures that are other towns in the state
[43:39] of New Jersey, what their sports complexes look like.
[43:43] There's an opportunity for us to turn around
[43:47] and make an impact on the baseball fields, soccer fields,
[43:52] hockey, all the sports for the kids.
[43:55] $43,000 is being asked for the plans to be drawn up so I can
[43:59] work diligently and aggressively as I am on getting funding for the
[44:03] process and the program.
[44:07] I've had many meetings with Steve Nakovitch, who runs the AAA,
[44:11] and they're very frustrated with the fact that at any time the
[44:15] school board decide to expand, they have no say in it.
[44:18] If the school board decides to expand, we don't have a say in it either.
[44:22] So if we plan for the future, we can turn around and work with it now.
[44:26] The cost is $43,000 for the plan, then we can go at it at a pace
[44:30] instead of scrambling at the last minute when the kids don't have any place to go.
[44:35] On that, I will close for that topic and open it up
[44:40] to everyone to discuss and see where they are.
[44:42] But I'd like to get approvals for those plans,
[44:45] and to get them generated so I can start working on it to get funding.
[44:49] And I don't want to see this coming out of taxpayers' money.
[44:51] I want to see it coming from grants, state and federal.
[44:56] And then I'll have one more thing after the discussion to discuss.
[45:00] Mayor?
[45:02] Is this an approval to
[45:06] spend $43,000? Is that what you're saying?
[45:09] Yes.
[45:10] So moved.
[45:12] No.
[45:15] I would suggest that we take the money for a Tahoe that the fire company
[45:19] probably doesn't need immediately, and we spend that money on this.
[45:24] That's capital.
[45:28] Yeah, I understand. The problem is it's different allocations. That's capital.
[45:31] I get it. I know.
[45:33] And then my only real reservation is we just passed the budget
[45:37] last month, and we only have $80,000 in engineering for the whole
[45:41] year for everything.
[45:43] I'm not opposed to moving forward and looking at a
[45:46] concept.
[45:48] I'm just nervous we're going to run out of funds for
[45:50] other projects, streets and roads, water and sewer, things like that.
[45:54] We are six months into the year and we're almost seven months into the year.
[45:59] Yeah, but the $80,000 is for
[46:01] the whole year.
[46:04] Is it possible to just have the concept plan at this point and not the
[46:10] 3D drawings and the video walkthroughs and things like that?
[46:13] Or
[46:16] wait a few months and see where we're at with our engineering budget, if there's
[46:19] some room in there.
[46:21] If we get further throughout the year and there's going to be money left over, then
[46:25] go and do it.
[46:28] That's entirely up to council. I'm asking to do so
[46:32] this way, you've never known me to look back and have grass growing
[46:36] under my feet. So I want to get on it and go forward and get aggressive with going
[46:39] after money, because money's not going to sit around.
[46:41] If we don't grab federal funding and state funding, somebody else
[46:45] will.
[46:46] Sure.
[46:46] And if you go to Gloucester Township, there are beautiful fields.
[46:49] Yeah.
[46:49] If you go to Voorhees, beautiful fields.
[46:51] As a matter of fact, if you go to Gloucester Township, there's more than just one
[46:53] field. There's more than one complex.
[46:55] And I drive by it every day and see these gorgeous places, and I'm wondering,
[46:59] why doesn't Berlin have it?
[47:00] Well, I'll be at Rabennwood's field in a little bit.
[47:04] Do we have to spend the $43,000 in order to establish
[47:08] a plan?
[47:09] It's not only to establish a plan, but also to establish the information that we
[47:13] need to go after grants and also solicit outside funding,
[47:17] whether private or government.
[47:21] Because if I can turn around and secure a company like a Coca-Cola to turn
[47:25] around and come in, by all means I'm going to go after it.
[47:27] I have a very unique position with a very close friend that works
[47:31] for franchise companies. He also has a lot of contacts with those type of
[47:35] level people. So I'm going to pursue every avenue of every friend that I've
[47:38] ever met and
[47:41] money for money for the town.
[47:45] Do we know what the cost would be to have just a report that would make
[47:48] the information that Chris would need?
[47:51] $43,000 would be report and get everything together.
[47:53] It's a certain process to do it right.
[47:54] I'm not just going to turn around and go back and bring you the pieces, which will
[47:57] in turn guarantee failure.
[48:01] And this is redeveloping the current fields that are at the school?
[48:05] No. That's owned, as I said earlier, by the Board of Education.
[48:08] We have no control at all. The money that we just spent on
[48:11] the signs and everything-
[48:13] Mm-hmm.
[48:14] If the school board want to turn around and cancel, we have to go get an
[48:17] electrician to take our signs down.
[48:18] Mm-hmm.
[48:19] So we have zero control there.
[48:20] So this proposal is for-
[48:23] Well, for property that's owned by the-
[48:24] ... property for the Simone Preserve?
[48:27] No.
[48:27] Yeah, exactly.
[48:28] I didn't say it was Simone Preserve.
[48:30] No.
[48:31] There is land-
[48:32] The community center?
[48:33] Right by the community center, there's-
[48:34] On both sides
[48:35] ... I believe at least 18 acres that we can turn around and build a nice complex on
[48:39] there
[48:41] And that's just an eighth lot of land.
[48:44] So we have seven lots of land in Berlin Borough, and then when we turn around and
[48:48] discuss where the best position is, and that's why the engineer will look at
[48:52] all the Berlin Borough property it owns and say, "This is the best
[48:56] spot for this complex."
[48:58] It's not my decision, it's professional engineers that look at it
[49:02] on a grand scale fashion.
[49:06] So this fee is for Colliers, is
[49:10] basically what you're saying?
[49:11] Right. Colliers is charging $43,000 to get soup to nuts and package it
[49:15] so I can turn around and start selling.
[49:17] And
[49:21] it's a lot of money.
[49:22] Yeah, it is.
[49:23] Is there any way that Anthony could sharpen his pencil a little bit?
[49:27] I tried to choke him out a couple times on it, and
[49:30] he literally said, " engineers are coming to you with a solid number."
[49:36] Not saying that Howard can't go over there and give him his municipal boss
[49:40] and shake him up a little bit, but.
[49:42] I don't have any mean looks.
[49:43] Yes, you do. I've seen it.
[49:46] And it's scary.
[49:47] I defer-
[49:47] No
[49:48] ... I defer to Miller because I just get going.
[49:50] It's just old, Councilman. It's all it is.
[49:54] You got scary eyes.
[49:55] The long story short is, for years,
[49:58] AA has been running on their own and working with a small budget,
[50:02] if any budget at all. They've been working their a*s off, excuse me,
[50:07] but this is not for them. This is for the kids. And you know what?
[50:10] Our population is growing in town. We are going to have more children.
[50:13] We are going to have places that they need to go.
[50:16] If not, they'll be in your backyard taking your motorcycle out of your
[50:20] garage.
[50:22] So it's either one thing, we either invest in the kids, or we turn around and
[50:25] invest in all these apartments here.
[50:30] So I guess the choice is yours. Does anybody have any other questions?
[50:34] Any estimates on the other options, Carl?
[50:37] There's none that they have to do. So if I turn around and give you a number-
[50:40] Yeah
[50:40] ... it'd be just something I'm pulling out of the air, and I won't do that.
[50:43] It's not fair.
[50:51] So you have my ask. I can turn around and get your name so I can
[50:55] actually get to work. I'd truly appreciate it.
[51:00] I, obviously, my goal would be yes.
[51:02] How much money now for the
[51:06] capital already at that price?
[51:11] It's not capital.
[51:14] Well, I definitely want to see a sports-- I want to see
[51:17] something like this in our town for the kids.
[51:21] For sure.
[51:23] And
[51:25] we've done nothing but kick the can around.
[51:28] So are you looking for somebody to second a motion on something?
[51:32] Because like I said, I'm looking at like a $60,000 car that I
[51:36] don't think we need right now. I'd rather spend that money on
[51:40] this. So are we putting this in the form of a motion?
[51:43] I'll make a motion to turn around and have a vote on it
[51:46] next week.
[51:49] Is that
[51:51] how we can roll with this?
[51:53] That happen now, Howard, or do I-
[51:54] Or should we...
[51:57] What's the question?
[52:00] Council wants to walk on a proposal.
[52:03] Sure.
[52:04] To go now or wait till we get the resolutions?
[52:06] Whenever you want to.
[52:07] Okay. I was just doing now.
[52:09] Well, I'll second it if he's putting it in the form of a motion.
[52:12] Okay.
[52:13] So the question is the proposal to award a contract to Colliers
[52:18] for an amount
[52:20] of $43,000 for the services set
[52:24] forth in their June 3rd, 2026 proposal.
[52:29] We have a motion and a second. If there's no questions, we can go to a roll
[52:33] call. Madam Clerk.
[52:35] Is this subject to approval by the CFO?
[52:38] Every spending of money is subject to availability of funds by your
[52:42] CFO.
[52:43] Okay.
[52:43] Has it been discussed with our CFO?
[52:46] Yeah, his concern is one, there's only $80,000 in the general budget.
[52:50] That's all.
[52:53] So he needs to certify the funds are available.
[52:55] And that's not just for this, it's for any time we spend money.
[52:59] So even if we wanted to do it, we can't.
[53:01] No, that's not what I'm saying.
[53:02] No, I'm not saying that. I'm saying that the CFO-
[53:04] Would have to certify
[53:06] ... in every attempt that where you spend money in a resolution,
[53:11] he needs to certify that the funds are available to
[53:15] spend to engage and enter into the contract.
[53:19] And a lot of times they do that after the fact.
[53:23] That'll be up
[53:24] to him.
[53:25] I'd like to see it done before the fact.
[53:28] Mm-hmm.
[53:33] So we have a motion on the floor.
[53:36] We have a motion and a second. Let's roll call it.
[53:38] Yep, roll call.
[53:40] Council President Pallalotto?
[53:42] Nay.
[53:43] Councilwoman Cummings?
[53:44] Nay.
[53:45] Councilman Ewing?
[53:48] Nay, pending the outcome of the CFO's determination.
[53:51] Right.
[53:52] Councilman Wilkinson?
[53:53] Aye.
[53:54] Councilman Skradis?
[53:55] Aye.
[53:58] Motion carried.
[54:03] Good.
[54:03] Thank you.
[54:04] Thanks.
[54:04] So the second thing I wanted to say is tomorrow night,
[54:08] movie night on the front lawn. So you should see pictures up.
[54:12] We have a projection screen up. We have our
[54:15] lieutenant did a fantastic job
[54:19] of putting together all of our...
[54:22] We could've never done it without him.
[54:24] Yeah.
[54:25] So putting all the electronics together. We did a test run, and it was awesome.
[54:29] The sound system's incredible.
[54:31] Blankets, lawn chairs, and
[54:34] sit back. I'm going to make popcorn.
[54:36] Starting at 8:00, Carl?
[54:38] The starting time-
[54:39] The movie will kick off closer to 8:30 because it's dusk at 8:30.
[54:42] But you can come and get your spot maybe-
[54:45] So, and if you do come, make sure you bring an umbrella because they said there's a
[54:48] 50% chance of rain between 8:00 and 9:00
[54:51] We're not going to get any contaminated runoff from the property next to us,
[54:55] are we?
[54:58] Actually, that's a total separate entity and then-
[55:00] Oh,
[55:02] heck
[55:02] ... so that's all good to go. So this is going to be our first one, and we're
[55:06] featuring movies,
[55:08] which is an all-time classic.
[55:10] I'm really excited. Then we have on July 10th, we'll be having "Jaws"
[55:14] and "Lilo & Stitch" in August.
[55:17] Oh.
[55:17] And then we haven't announced it, but "Hocus Pocus" for Halloween time.
[55:21] Yeah.
[55:22] So, the staff here,
[55:25] I've been working with the staff and the administration's been fantastic to work
[55:29] with, and we're excited. I think community events
[55:33] should be just exactly that. They should be where we all get together.
[55:36] It doesn't matter if Democrat, independent, or Republican,
[55:40] everybody is a Berlin resident, and we should turn around and all spend
[55:43] time together and bond together. So bringing back the family atmosphere, back to
[55:47] Berlin is what we want. So on that, I
[55:51] close.
[55:52] Great. Thank you so much.
[55:54] Okay.
[55:54] Councilman Miller is not here this evening.
[55:56] I don't think he had anything to report.
[55:57] Matt has worked extra this week, so I'll send him over to you.
[55:59] Okay. But it'll be in the minutes. Yeah.
[56:01] Yeah.
[56:02] Exciting numbers.
[56:03] Yes.
[56:04] Look at them at your leisure.
[56:05] Yes. That's important.
[56:07] Solicitor, anything from this evening?
[56:08] No.
[56:09] I should have asked at workshop, but
[56:12] we never heard back from the company that's doing the streets in the Woods
[56:15] development. They kind of kicked, New Jersey gas came, did some of it, and then
[56:19] sort of-
[56:19] Oh, the roads are still torn up
[56:21] ... sort of and they didn't finish everything.
[56:23] Because they-
[56:23] So I'm working with key engineer.
[56:26] He's demanding some kind of-
[56:28] I saw the emails, but he never responded.
[56:30] Yeah. They never responded.
[56:31] Okay. So just for the public, we're-
[56:33] We're-
[56:33] We're pushing
[56:34] ... we're pushing it.
[56:35] We're pushing. Okay.
[56:35] We know they're still a punch list of things that they need to get done, and we
[56:38] are pushing them to move forward with finishing those last
[56:42] clean up things in the Woods.
[56:43] Okay.
[56:45] And then just for council,
[56:47] unless you think otherwise,
[56:51] Ann Marie's just going to ask DPW to put together the float.
[56:53] We kind of do the same thing sort of every year. It's there.
[56:57] They have all the decorations.
[56:59] Fairgrounds is okay with them. Just kind of decorating the float this year,
[57:03] unless you want to spend-
[57:04] No
[57:04] ... money to it or we could-
[57:05] No, I'll be with the VFW for the parade, but I'll certainly come.
[57:09] I, yeah, I got to do that.
[57:10] Oh, yeah. That's right, that's right.
[57:12] VFW.
[57:13] Do it at the VFW.
[57:13] Yeah, we all could come.
[57:15] But we'll come down.
[57:16] Well, okay. So you'd rather-
[57:18] I'll spend my time. I'll let them do it, and I'll just come up and be part of it.
[57:21] They're going to do it like during the day or whatever.
[57:23] Okay.
[57:24] But we'll-
[57:25] I'll let you know
[57:26] ... yeah, let me know.
[57:26] We'll do it? Okay.
[57:27] Yeah, listen, because we're all Friday, because 4th of July is on a Saturday,
[57:31] so even if anyone, if you do want to come up and put any final touches or anything.
[57:35] If I don't want to play, I'll do it, and everybody can come up if they want.
[57:37] Yeah. Yeah.
[57:37] Okay.
[57:37] If you want to do that.
[57:38] Works. Okay.
[57:39] But I'm excited. America 250.
[57:41] Yeah.
[57:42] So that's our thing.
[57:43] We have the ICCA in the crowd tonight, so-
[57:45] Yeah
[57:45] ... I'm sure we'll hear from them.
[57:47] So that's all I had this evening.
[57:49] Oh, can I add one thing, since you mentioned the ICCA?
[57:52] So I'm excited that we're working with the ICCA in regards to
[57:55] having a location for seniors here on Front in
[57:59] Borough Hall. So I'm going to reach out to Ms.
[58:02] Lilling to see if our DPW senior bus will either pick them up at
[58:06] a general location and/or possibly at their house.
[58:09] The traffic gets a little bit crazy, so we're going to figure out the logistics,
[58:12] then we'll put something out.
[58:15] It came from, well, my mother is a senior, and so are her friends,
[58:19] and they grew up bringing their children to the parade.
[58:22] And unfortunately, sometimes you have to park very far, and they can't walk
[58:26] to a parade spot. So we're looking forward to hosting
[58:30] some seniors on our front lawn this year.
[58:32] That's great.
[58:32] So thank you to the ICCA for-
[58:35] That's a great idea. Thanks
[58:35] ... assisting us with this.
[58:37] Thank you. Thank you for seeing it through. Appreciate it.
[58:42] On to old business. We have a second reading of ordinance number
[58:45] 2026-9. This is ordinance amending chapter 150, article
[58:49] two of the code of the Borough of Berlin to establish after-hours fire
[58:53] inspection fee. Can I please have a motion to open to the public on
[58:57] ordinance 2026-9?
[59:00] Motion.
[59:00] Second.
[59:01] All in favor?
[59:02] Aye.
[59:03] This is a modest modification, came from our fire inspector.
[59:07] Nothing's changing if the request is made for the fire inspection between
[59:11] 8:00 to 4:00, Monday through Friday.
[59:14] Any after-hours expenses, in order for the expenses to equal
[59:17] the fees, the cost to equal the fees we collect,
[59:22] there's a $100 surcharge if it's asked to do the inspection after
[59:25] hours.
[59:26] Okay.
[59:26] That's what this, it's the implementation.
[59:29] That's what this ordinance will implement.
[59:31] Okay. If any members want to come forward on ordinance number 2026-9,
[59:35] please come forward. We will have an open session for the
[59:38] resolutions and also an open session for any topics.
[59:42] So just-
[59:43] Comments limited to this matter.
[59:45] Yep.
[59:47] Seeing or hearing no one, can I please have a motion to close the ordinance on
[59:50] the...
[59:51] I'm sorry, close to the public on ordinance 2026-9.
[59:54] Motion.
[59:54] Second.
[59:55] All in favor?
[59:56] Aye.
[59:58] Can I please have a motion to adopt ordinance number 2026-9?
[1:00:01] Aye.
[1:00:02] Motion.
[1:00:03] Second?
[1:00:05] Second.
[1:00:07] Roll call.
[1:00:08] Council President Bonalato?
[1:00:09] Aye.
[1:00:10] Councilwoman Cummings?
[1:00:11] Aye.
[1:00:11] Councilman Howell?
[1:00:12] Aye.
[1:00:13] Councilman Wilkinson?
[1:00:14] Aye.
[1:00:14] Councilman Scravos?
[1:00:15] Aye.
[1:00:17] Thank you.
[1:00:19] Second reading on ordinance number 2026-10.
[1:00:22] This is an ordinance amending chapter 67 of the Code of the Borough of Berlin to
[1:00:25] establish a new water connection fee.
[1:00:28] Can I please have a motion to open to the public on ordinance number
[1:00:31] 2026-10?
[1:00:32] I make that motion.
[1:00:34] I'll second.
[1:00:36] All in favor?
[1:00:37] Aye.
[1:00:39] Mayor, this matter is the auditor from time
[1:00:43] to time does a calculation on our expenditures in our water department.
[1:00:47] This doesn't apply to anybody that if they turn on the faucet in their home and
[1:00:50] they have water now, doesn't apply to you It applies to new development
[1:00:54] that comes in, so they pay their share of the infrastructure through a
[1:00:58] connection fee for each individual unit,
[1:01:01] because everyone that came before them contributed to that, and new
[1:01:05] construction should as well. So they calculate that.
[1:01:09] It's only for new construction, and it's
[1:01:12] $2,400 per connection.
[1:01:14] Mm-hmm.
[1:01:15] But again, if you have water now, does not apply to you at all.
[1:01:19] And the next ordinance is for the same thing, but for the sewer department, so.
[1:01:22] Correct.
[1:01:23] Can I please have-- I'm sorry, if anyone from the public wants to come forward on
[1:01:26] this ordinance, please come forward.
[1:01:29] Seeing or hearing no one, can I please have a motion to close to the public on
[1:01:32] ordinance 2026-10?
[1:01:35] I'll make that motion.
[1:01:36] Second.
[1:01:38] All in favor?
[1:01:39] Aye.
[1:01:39] Aye.
[1:01:40] Can I please have a motion to adopt ordinance 2026-10?
[1:01:43] I make that motion.
[1:01:44] I'll second.
[1:01:47] Roll call.
[1:01:48] Council President Badalato?
[1:01:49] Aye.
[1:01:49] Councilwoman Cummings?
[1:01:50] Aye.
[1:01:51] Councilman Howelling?
[1:01:52] Aye.
[1:01:52] Councilman Wilkinson?
[1:01:54] Aye.
[1:01:54] Councilman Scranus?
[1:01:55] Aye.
[1:01:58] Thank you.
[1:01:59] Second reading on ordinance number 2026-11.
[1:02:02] This is an ordinance amending section 261-4 of the Code of the Borough of Berlin
[1:02:06] regarding sewer connection permits and fees.
[1:02:09] Can I please have a motion to open to the public on ordinance 2026-11?
[1:02:13] Make that motion.
[1:02:15] I'll second.
[1:02:17] All in favor?
[1:02:18] Aye.
[1:02:20] Aye.
[1:02:20] Anyone from the public wanting to come forward on this ordinance, please come
[1:02:23] forward.
[1:02:25] Same thing, only for flush and sewer.
[1:02:27] Yep.
[1:02:29] Seeing or hearing no one, can I please have a motion to close to the public on
[1:02:31] ordinance 2026-11?
[1:02:34] Motion.
[1:02:36] Second.
[1:02:38] All in favor?
[1:02:39] Aye.
[1:02:41] Aye.
[1:02:41] Motion to adopt ordinance number 2026-11.
[1:02:44] Make that motion.
[1:02:46] Second.
[1:02:47] Roll call, please.
[1:02:48] Council President Badalato?
[1:02:49] Aye.
[1:02:50] Councilwoman Cummings?
[1:02:51] Aye.
[1:02:51] Councilman Howelling?
[1:02:52] Aye.
[1:02:52] Councilman Wilkinson?
[1:02:53] Aye.
[1:02:54] Councilman Scranus?
[1:02:56] Aye.
[1:02:56] Thank you.
[1:02:58] Second reading on ordinance number 2026-12.
[1:03:01] This is a bond ordinance providing for various 2026 sewer utility
[1:03:05] improvements, buying in the Borough of Berlin in the County of Camden, State of New
[1:03:08] Jersey, appropriating 425,000
[1:03:13] and authorizing the issuance of 425,000 of bonds and notes to finance the
[1:03:17] cost of the projects.
[1:03:20] Can I please have a motion to open to the public on ordinance number 2026-12?
[1:03:24] Motion.
[1:03:24] I'll second.
[1:03:26] All in favor?
[1:03:27] Aye.
[1:03:27] Aye.
[1:03:29] This and the next two, Mayor, are capital ordinances that are prepared in
[1:03:32] conjunction with your budget. Now the budget's been adopted, we can move forward
[1:03:36] with these. This happens every year.
[1:03:38] All right. Thank you.
[1:03:40] Anyone from the public wanting to come forward?
[1:03:44] Seeing or hearing no one, can I please have a motion to close to the public on
[1:03:47] ordinance 2026-12?
[1:03:49] I make that motion.
[1:03:50] Second.
[1:03:52] All in favor?
[1:03:53] Aye.
[1:03:53] Aye.
[1:03:54] A motion to adopt ordinance 2026-12.
[1:03:57] I make that motion.
[1:03:59] Second.
[1:04:01] Roll call.
[1:04:02] Council President Badalato?
[1:04:03] Aye.
[1:04:04] Councilwoman Cummings?
[1:04:04] Aye.
[1:04:05] Councilman Howelling?
[1:04:06] Aye.
[1:04:06] Councilman Wilkinson?
[1:04:07] Aye.
[1:04:08] Councilman Scranus?
[1:04:09] Aye.
[1:04:11] Thank you.
[1:04:12] Second reading on ordinance number 2026-13.
[1:04:15] This is a bond ordinance providing for various 2026 water utility improvements
[1:04:19] buying in the Borough of Berlin, County of Camden, State of New Jersey,
[1:04:23] appropriating $280,000 and authorizing the issuance
[1:04:27] of $280,000 in bonds or notes to finance the cost.
[1:04:32] Can I please have a motion to open to the public on ordinance 2026-13?
[1:04:36] Motion.
[1:04:37] Second.
[1:04:39] All in favor?
[1:04:40] Aye.
[1:04:40] Aye.
[1:04:41] Any members of the public wanting to come forward on this ordinance, please come
[1:04:44] forward.
[1:04:46] Seeing or hearing no one, can I please have a motion to close to the public?
[1:04:50] Make that motion.
[1:04:51] I'll second.
[1:04:55] Roll call, please. Oh, I'm sorry.
[1:04:57] Can I please have a motion to adopt ordinance number 2026-13?
[1:05:01] Motion.
[1:05:02] Second.
[1:05:05] Roll call, please.
[1:05:05] Council President Badalato?
[1:05:07] Aye.
[1:05:07] Councilwoman Cummings?
[1:05:08] Aye.
[1:05:08] Councilman Howelling?
[1:05:09] Aye.
[1:05:10] Councilman Wilkinson?
[1:05:11] Aye.
[1:05:11] Councilman Scranus?
[1:05:12] Aye.
[1:05:14] Thank you.
[1:05:16] Second reading on ordinance number 2026-14.
[1:05:18] This is a bond ordinance providing for various 2026 general
[1:05:22] capital improvements buying in the Borough of Berlin, County of Camden, State of
[1:05:26] New Jersey, appropriating $935,000 and
[1:05:30] authorizing the issuance of $890,476
[1:05:34] in bonds or notes to finance part of the cost.
[1:05:39] Can I please have a motion to open to the public on ordinance number 2026-14?
[1:05:43] I make that motion.
[1:05:44] I'll second.
[1:05:46] All in favor?
[1:05:47] Aye.
[1:05:48] Aye.
[1:05:48] Any members of the public want to come forward on this ordinance, please come
[1:05:51] forward and state your name.
[1:05:54] Seeing or hearing no one, can I please have a motion to close to the public?
[1:05:58] I make that motion.
[1:05:59] I'll second.
[1:06:01] All in favor?
[1:06:02] Aye.
[1:06:03] Aye.
[1:06:04] Please have a motion to adopt the ordinance number 2026-14.
[1:06:09] Make that motion.
[1:06:10] Second.
[1:06:12] Roll call, please.
[1:06:13] Council President Badalato?
[1:06:14] Aye.
[1:06:14] Councilwoman Cummings?
[1:06:15] Aye.
[1:06:16] Councilman Howelling?
[1:06:16] Aye.
[1:06:17] Councilman Wilkinson?
[1:06:18] Aye.
[1:06:19] Councilman Scranus?
[1:06:20] Aye.
[1:06:21] Thank you.
[1:06:23] On to new business. We have the first reading of ordinance 2026-15.
[1:06:27] This is an ordinance amending chapter 111 of the Code of Borough of Berlin
[1:06:30] regarding building and business identification.
[1:06:33] It's my understanding this is to,
[1:06:36] when there's new buildings like townhomes and such, the backs of the buildings put
[1:06:39] numbers-
[1:06:40] Correct
[1:06:41] ... numbers on them so if the firefighters have to go, they can-
[1:06:44] There's been some problems with identification-
[1:06:46] Yeah
[1:06:46] ... and it could potentially cause a safety issue, so we're curing it with these
[1:06:50] changes.
[1:06:51] Yep.
[1:06:51] Yes.
[1:06:51] Is it,
[1:06:53] would these numbers go on the buildings themselves, or?
[1:06:56] The back of the buildings
[1:06:58] I got to be honest, and I think that the chief and the
[1:07:02] fire chief, thank you, would also agree.
[1:07:06] When we had them on the curbing, it makes it so easy as a
[1:07:09] first responder to be able to find a house
[1:07:13] that much quicker.
[1:07:16] Who did
[1:07:17] that?
[1:07:18] My understanding was a lot of volunteers did it.
[1:07:21] Scouts did it.
[1:07:22] The scouts did that?
[1:07:23] Yeah, and then it became a lot of-
[1:07:24] Was it the whole town back then?
[1:07:25] Well, they did the big portion of the town.
[1:07:28] Yeah, it was the scouts that voluntarily did it.
[1:07:32] I'm not going to lie, it was really easy to find houses when you got calls
[1:07:36] for service to certain areas.
[1:07:39] Yeah.
[1:07:39] Yeah, this one's more like volunteers.
[1:07:41] Yeah.
[1:07:42] Oh, I see what you're saying. Okay.
[1:07:43] So it's more like the volunteers-
[1:07:45] All right
[1:07:45] ... when you go behind them, you can see
[1:07:49] 20 or so homes.
[1:07:50] Can I
[1:07:52] have a motion to approve?
[1:07:54] I make that motion.
[1:07:55] I'll second.
[1:07:57] What'd you say,
[1:08:00] Mark?
[1:08:00] Did I?
[1:08:01] Yeah. I thought you said-
[1:08:02] No
[1:08:03] ... I thought you said no. I was like, "Oh."
[1:08:05] Thought you were going to say aye.
[1:08:06] Roll call, please.
[1:08:08] Council President Badalato.
[1:08:09] Aye.
[1:08:10] Councilwoman Cummings.
[1:08:11] Aye.
[1:08:11] Councilman Ewing.
[1:08:12] Aye.
[1:08:13] Councilman Wilkinson.
[1:08:14] Aye.
[1:08:14] Councilman Mascaras.
[1:08:15] Aye.
[1:08:16] Thank you.
[1:08:17] I apologize for my confusion on that.
[1:08:19] No, no problem.
[1:08:21] I'd rather you ask questions now than after we vote on it.
[1:08:24] So we have a consent agenda here,
[1:08:28] resolutions R6-103 to
[1:08:31] R6-119, 2026. Can I open to
[1:08:35] the public for the resolutions, please?
[1:08:38] Open the public. I'll second.
[1:08:42] All in favor?
[1:08:43] Aye.
[1:08:44] Aye.
[1:08:44] If any members of the public want to come forward on any of the resolutions, please
[1:08:47] come forward and state your name and ask your questions.
[1:08:50] Again, we will have another public portion for any
[1:08:53] topic.
[1:08:57] Seeing or hearing no one, can I please have a motion to close to the public
[1:09:01] for resolutions?
[1:09:02] I make that motion.
[1:09:03] Second.
[1:09:05] All in favor?
[1:09:06] Aye.
[1:09:06] Aye.
[1:09:08] And it's my understanding, Councilman Wilkinson, you'd like to pull out
[1:09:12] R-
[1:09:12] Yeah, indeed
[1:09:14] ...
[1:09:14] R6-106?
[1:09:17] Yes, sir.
[1:09:18] Any others?
[1:09:20] Nope.
[1:09:21] Can I have a motion
[1:09:24] to approve that consent, the resolutions for
[1:09:27] R6-103 through R6-119, excluding
[1:09:31] R6-106, please?
[1:09:33] Motion.
[1:09:34] I'll second.
[1:09:37] Roll call.
[1:09:40] Council President Badalato.
[1:09:41] Aye.
[1:09:41] Councilwoman Cummings.
[1:09:42] Aye.
[1:09:43] Councilman Ewing.
[1:09:43] Aye.
[1:09:44] Councilman Wilkinson.
[1:09:45] Aye.
[1:09:45] Councilman Mascaras.
[1:09:46] Aye.
[1:09:48] Mayor, can I ask a question?
[1:09:50] Sure.
[1:09:51] Chief, the purpose for
[1:09:55] the handgun renewals, it's $100 for the borough, correct?
[1:09:59] The renewals?
[1:10:00] Renewals.
[1:10:00] Okay.
[1:10:01] This doesn't affect me because my gun permit is through state, but I think that it
[1:10:05] being a constitutional right instead of a privilege,
[1:10:09] that we should have a fee to renew their right to
[1:10:13] carry a weapon if they go through all the process of getting
[1:10:17] certified, getting all the paperwork in, and doing it legal.
[1:10:21] Can we terminate that fee of $100?
[1:10:25] We'd have to look into that. I know some towns are doing that, but there's been a
[1:10:28] lot of pushback. So I can look into it for you.
[1:10:32] Not comfortable saying yes or no right now.
[1:10:34] Okay. And no excuse of having, because it doesn't affect me at all financially.
[1:10:39] It's just a refutation of the Constitution.
[1:10:42] Well, depending on what the chief gets back, I guess we can address it next-
[1:10:46] Yeah, it'd actually have to be on-
[1:10:47] Address it next month.
[1:10:48] Thank you.
[1:10:49] Okay.
[1:10:50] I know we inquired with the state police about that, and we got some pushback
[1:10:54] from them as well with that.
[1:10:56] So you got pushback?
[1:10:57] On the application.
[1:10:59] How are other towns able to do it, then?
[1:11:01] There's a couple towns up north that are doing it-
[1:11:03] Yeah
[1:11:03] ... from what I understand.
[1:11:05] About six or eight of them, to my knowledge.
[1:11:08] Something that's fairly new.
[1:11:10] Yeah.
[1:11:11] But I know
[1:11:13] Detective Piper looked into it a while back.
[1:11:15] And this is for the concealed carries, right?
[1:11:18] Correct.
[1:11:18] How many applications do we get? Do you have any idea?
[1:11:21] I do. For the conceals-
[1:11:23] Roughly
[1:11:23] ... or overall?
[1:11:25] The conceals.
[1:11:26] Not many.
[1:11:27] No?
[1:11:28] Maybe eight to 10 a month.
[1:11:29] Oh, that's decent.
[1:11:31] Maybe.
[1:11:32] Okay.
[1:11:34] Right around eight, I'd say. 10 would be a lot.
[1:11:38] In a 3.6 square mile town, I don't think that's too bad.
[1:11:42] No.
[1:11:44] No.
[1:11:44] All right. Good.
[1:11:46] Thank you.
[1:11:46] Yep, thanks. Can I please have a
[1:11:49] motion for resolution R6-106, please?
[1:11:54] Motion.
[1:11:56] Second.
[1:11:58] Roll call.
[1:12:00] Council President Badalato.
[1:12:01] Aye.
[1:12:02] Councilwoman Cummings.
[1:12:03] Aye.
[1:12:03] Councilman Ewing.
[1:12:05] Aye.
[1:12:05] Councilman Wilkinson.
[1:12:06] No.
[1:12:08] Councilman Mascaras.
[1:12:08] No.
[1:12:09] Okay.
[1:12:13] Thank you.
[1:12:17] Now on to privilege of the floor. Can I please have a motion to open to the public
[1:12:20] for privilege of the floor?
[1:12:21] Motion.
[1:12:22] Second.
[1:12:24] All in favor?
[1:12:25] Aye.
[1:12:26] Aye.
[1:12:26] If any members of the public want to come forward on any issue, please come forward
[1:12:29] and
[1:12:30] state your name.
[1:12:40] Hello.
[1:12:41] Hello.
[1:12:43] David Angelina, 23 River, Sterling.
[1:12:47] Before we get into this,
[1:12:50] I'm
[1:12:51] speaking from past, I'm not speaking from present, okay?
[1:12:56] I'd love to see something done with those sports fields, okay, and have better
[1:12:59] fields over there. I was school board president
[1:13:04] When we put the last addition on, there was an option to go up, there was an
[1:13:08] option to go out. We picked the option to go out.
[1:13:11] That school could still put a serious addition on, going up without having to go
[1:13:14] out.
[1:13:16] So I spoke to president at the time, and she told me
[1:13:20] that they don't want to go up because they can't go up.
[1:13:23] And I asked her, I said, "Well, do you have an engineering degree?" And she just,
[1:13:27] they stopped the conversation at that point. I didn't worry about it.
[1:13:29] The only reason we didn't go up is because you'd have to put an
[1:13:32] elevator for ADA-
[1:13:35] Code
[1:13:36] ... compliances, yeah. That's the only reason we didn't go up. We chose to go out.
[1:13:40] The second thing is they need those fields as much as you do. Okay?
[1:13:44] So I would suggest that if you could do something to
[1:13:48] make them state-of-the-art and come across an agreement with them to say, "Hey,
[1:13:51] listen, we'll spend money on them, but they're ours to use for the
[1:13:55] next X amount of years." You know what I mean?
[1:13:58] I approached them with that, and they said absolutely not.
[1:14:01] Okay.
[1:14:01] And that's the only reason why I'm pursuing it directly.
[1:14:03] Okay. That's-
[1:14:04] I tried to go that direction.
[1:14:06] Yeah.
[1:14:06] But no.
[1:14:07] No, I just wanted to let you know the option was to go up, okay, and
[1:14:10] not touch the footprint of the, what do you call it?
[1:14:13] So-
[1:14:13] I think that's great to go up instead because you need more parking anyway.
[1:14:16] Exactly. Yeah. And the problem is, is if they go out,
[1:14:20] they need fields.
[1:14:21] Correct.
[1:14:22] For their playground, for their kids that play baseball and stuff like that.
[1:14:25] So then-
[1:14:26] Right, that's our baseball fields at that point
[1:14:27] Yes. And then they're going to wind up having to play on your fields because
[1:14:30] they've taken their own fields away.
[1:14:31] So,
[1:14:33] that's fine.
[1:14:33] Thank you.
[1:14:34] I don't think our school puts a whole lot of emphasis on youth athletics.
[1:14:39] Not like-
[1:14:39] No, but they still have to.
[1:14:40] They-
[1:14:41] They still need a field to play.
[1:14:43] It's not like other schools do.
[1:14:44] No.
[1:14:44] Let's just put it that way.
[1:14:45] You're absolutely right. Okay. It's atrocious
[1:14:49] what they look like compared to some of the others around them.
[1:14:51] That's correct.
[1:14:51] And that's what I was saying, if you want to put money into those fields and
[1:14:55] upgrade those fields, okay, but only if it was an agreement to say-
[1:14:59] We would love to.
[1:14:59] Yeah.
[1:15:00] Yeah. That was the original quote.
[1:15:01] Yeah.
[1:15:01] That's why we invested in scoreboards and whatnot. We were investing in it.
[1:15:04] Yeah.
[1:15:04] And then we got pushback saying, "We're going to take those fields if we
[1:15:08] expand." It's not a problem. That's not
[1:15:11] my-
[1:15:11] Yeah
[1:15:11] ... strong position.
[1:15:13] Well, like I said, things have changed over the years because that wasn't our
[1:15:17] feeling back then. Okay?
[1:15:19] Thank you.
[1:15:20] Second thing
[1:15:21] from the ICCA regarding your situation with the seniors.
[1:15:25] Okay?
[1:15:26] We've been discussing, we're trying to work a fine-tune it all out.
[1:15:30] We put spot pots and handicap spot pots in
[1:15:33] this parking lot over here. It's our intention to hopefully give you that parking
[1:15:37] lot over there and work with the 5K race.
[1:15:41] Okay? Because they put tents out front for the race that day.
[1:15:45] Okay.
[1:15:45] And then hopefully leave those tents
[1:15:47] for their seniors to be able to sit under and have a sitting area.
[1:15:50] I know. I wanted to go to a meeting last night, but it was my son's birthday.
[1:15:52] That's fine.
[1:15:53] So I will get there next week.
[1:15:54] Well, we're-
[1:15:55] I have some logistics and go from there.
[1:15:56] Well, we had meetings with Knights of Columbus, too, and we had health issues
[1:16:00] there, so we didn't get an approval on it yet.
[1:16:03] Okay.
[1:16:03] But we're working on it. But there will be spot pots there, and we're trying to
[1:16:07] work on having that parking lot reserved for you. Okay.
[1:16:11] Last thing I have is your sign for you.
[1:16:13] Oh, great.
[1:16:13] We'd like to thank you very much for
[1:16:15] supporting the parade and
[1:16:18] everything you guys do to...
[1:16:20] We know it's a big ask for public works, for police department, for everything.
[1:16:24] And we put a lot into this, okay, but we can't do it without the
[1:16:28] support of the towns and the different departments it takes to make it
[1:16:32] happen. So,
[1:16:34] I'd like to, at some given hour, some point, get a picture with you guys.
[1:16:38] Okay. However you want to do it.
[1:16:39] You guys want to do it now?
[1:16:40] Yeah. Let's do it.
[1:16:40] Let's get the-
[1:16:41] You want me to take the picture?
[1:16:42] I'll take the picture.
[1:16:43] You got to be in it.
[1:16:44] Oh, I see.
[1:16:45] Yeah.
[1:16:46] I'll take it.
[1:16:47] Yeah, sure.
[1:16:47] Yeah. I'm going to get-
[1:16:49] I'd like a picture. No, are you kidding?
[1:16:52] Where do you want to go?
[1:16:57] You coming with us or-
[1:16:58] No.
[1:16:58] Howard, you going to be in this?
[1:17:00] You.
[1:17:00] I'll take it.
[1:17:03] Sir. Chief. Chief, come on.
[1:17:05] Come on, Chief.
[1:17:07] It took three months to get a permit for that top thing.
[1:17:09] Bill, you coming in?
[1:17:10] Yes, down the side.
[1:17:15] Good to see you, bud.
[1:17:17] Oh, likewise.
[1:17:19] Steph.
[1:17:20] Hey. How you doing? Great.
[1:17:24] Sorry.
[1:17:26] No, no. Don't film.
[1:17:27] I wasn't. It was that nice.
[1:17:29] Okay. I know. I was surprised to see you out of the sling.
[1:17:31] I'm surprised he's able to hold the
[1:17:33] sign.
[1:17:37] Yeah.
[1:17:37] All right. Ready? One, two, three.
[1:17:40] Thank you very much.
[1:17:41] Thank you.
[1:17:41] Thanks for coming.
[1:17:42] Thank you.
[1:17:44] You're welcome.
[1:17:46] Thanks.
[1:17:46] No problem.
[1:17:50] Put it fast.
[1:17:52] We'll pass you over.
[1:17:54] Right.
[1:17:55] At least we got a picture before we leave.
[1:17:58] Thank you so much.
[1:18:01] Again, thank you very much for letting us all work.
[1:18:03] Thank you.
[1:18:04] And thank you for all your work.
[1:18:18] All right. We all set up? Okay.
[1:18:20] We're on TV now.
[1:18:21] Next?
[1:18:27] Hello, everybody.
[1:18:29] Ed Eaman, 27 Summit Avenue.
[1:18:33] Maybe I should have asked a little bit earlier about second reading on Ordinance
[1:18:37] 2026-12 about the sewer mobility
[1:18:41] improvements. But I came down my street, and I saw all the vents for
[1:18:45] the sewer by the street. They're painted green, like a
[1:18:49] bright fluorescent green.
[1:18:51] Color looks nice, but
[1:18:54] I assume you're going to be tearing up the street or doing something or-
[1:18:57] No, correct me if I'm wrong, they're going through, we have a
[1:19:01] GIS system, and they're marking all the
[1:19:05] All the
[1:19:06] connections, like where the connections are. Oh, okay. So they can map them.
[1:19:09] So if there is- Yeah ... the grass grows over them, and then they're out there
[1:19:12] forever trying to find them. So they're going out and they're pinning exactly where
[1:19:16] they are- Okay ... and having it on a map.
[1:19:17] So if there's ever a call and they have to go get to your connection, they know
[1:19:21] exactly where it is. So they're cleaning around and marking them- Okay, cool.
[1:19:24] All right ... and then-
[1:19:24] I'm pretty sure green means toxic, though.
[1:19:27] What's that? Yeah?
[1:19:28] I'm pretty sure green means toxic.
[1:19:30] Yeah.
[1:19:30] Blue means clean.
[1:19:31] Yeah.
[1:19:33] Yeah. They're just mapping where all the connections are for the future.
[1:19:35] All right, cool. All right.
[1:19:38] That's it. Thank you so much. Thanks.
[1:19:45] Anyone else?
[1:19:55] Oh, boy.
[1:19:59] Betty Evili. I think you all know me.
[1:20:01] Yeah.
[1:20:02] I just want to say thank you, Mayor, for appointing me as one of the
[1:20:06] trustees and replacing Deanna.
[1:20:09] But I have to make a statement with regards to the library.
[1:20:13] Millard, your dad was an integral part of the reason why I'm so
[1:20:17] heavily involved. For the 18 years that I've been there, I've
[1:20:21] been to just about every one of the trustees board meetings.
[1:20:25] I think I've missed maybe one or two.
[1:20:28] And it's an honor to be able to be on the board of trustees.
[1:20:32] So your dad was very integral. He insisted that I go to
[1:20:35] trustees webinars, seminars, even though I wasn't a trustee.
[1:20:39] So I have all the background associated with being a trustee.
[1:20:44] And I want to thank all of you for all those times, for all of your support with
[1:20:47] the library.
[1:20:49] On a separate note,
[1:20:50] Fall Fest. I know we're all talking 4th of July
[1:20:55] and it's hot, and it's going to be hot for the next couple of days, and the air
[1:20:58] conditioning obviously is not working.
[1:21:00] So of course, my voice is going.
[1:21:04] I just want to ensure that there are no new resolutions
[1:21:08] that are going to be going into place that would require me to get any
[1:21:12] additional permits or any other things that I typically get.
[1:21:16] I know I notify all of you, and I work very closely with
[1:21:19] the Office of Emergency Management, police, fire, council,
[1:21:24] and ambulance, so if there's anything new with regards to the
[1:21:28] streets that I need to be cognizant of
[1:21:32] coming forward, please don't hit me at the last minute.
[1:21:36] Nope.
[1:21:37] Okay. And you're not going to believe this.
[1:21:39] Voorhees got their own stage.
[1:21:42] Oh, did are you able to use it?
[1:21:43] No.
[1:21:43] So does that mean do you have access to it?
[1:21:46] No. Well, I got an email from Don Knowlesbook today saying
[1:21:50] Voorhees just bought their own stage.
[1:21:52] I said, "Well, maybe next year I'll be able to borrow it since they-"
[1:21:54] What's the MSRP of one of them stages?
[1:21:57] I'm sorry?
[1:21:58] How much does a stage like that cost?
[1:22:00] Well, I don't know what they actually cost.
[1:22:01] I mean, Voorhees has all the money in the world.
[1:22:04] But for me to rent it, the rents went up this year.
[1:22:06] They pay their rental fees.
[1:22:10] Well, maybe we need to raise our inspection fees.
[1:22:15] For
[1:22:16] me to rent it, I went to several agencies.
[1:22:19] The one who I negotiated with last year, who gave it to me for $2,000,
[1:22:24] they're all running an average of $4,000 a year to rent.
[1:22:27] True.
[1:22:27] And I did luck out with one of the guys.
[1:22:30] He said, "Okay, we'll give it to you for 3,500." We went back and forth for a
[1:22:34] couple of hours. I got him down to $2,500.
[1:22:37] So it's
[1:22:39] still a lot of money to get a stage. So hopefully going
[1:22:43] forward, maybe there's something that the borough can
[1:22:47] do with
[1:22:49] affordable stage
[1:22:51] that can be housed somewhere.
[1:22:53] I'll see Mayor Magnonia next week at the Eastern graduation.
[1:22:56] I'll be sure to-
[1:22:57] There you go
[1:22:57] ... yes, you do your thing. But thank you again.
[1:22:59] And Fall Fest is coming, so everybody's going to be
[1:23:04] getting more notices.
[1:23:04] You just have to promise in front of the public you're not going to let your
[1:23:06] trustee duties take away from your Fall Fest.
[1:23:10] I'm kidding.
[1:23:12] They never took away from my library duties or the business association, so.
[1:23:16] Thank you so much, Betty.
[1:23:17] Thank you.
[1:23:18] Thanks, Betty.
[1:23:18] Thank you, guys.
[1:23:24] Steve David.
[1:23:26] A question about, I'll call it Pallet Park next door.
[1:23:30] When
[1:23:31] you went through that project for a few years to get Blaze's torn down, cleaned up,
[1:23:35] it wasn't supposed to cost the borough much money.
[1:23:38] Okay, it's cleared. Somebody approved all those
[1:23:42] pallets standing on their end.
[1:23:45] Mysteriously, they're gone. Somebody approved dumping two dump
[1:23:48] truckloads of tires in a pile. Now they're gone.
[1:23:51] Then we had a big pile of dirt for a month. Now it's gone.
[1:23:55] Now they put a orange fence up. Who's paying for all that,
[1:23:59] and who's responsible for it? Who's in charge?
[1:24:02] So the DVRC, they were going to put on,
[1:24:06] I guess, concerts there.
[1:24:08] That was their stuff, the pallets, and the tires.
[1:24:11] It was going to be part of their setup for the concerts.
[1:24:14] And the condition of them using the property was that it was usable
[1:24:18] because we had some environmental cleanup there.
[1:24:22] So we were told by the engineers and everything else it was going to be cleaned up
[1:24:25] by the end of May. So they were middle of May, whatever the
[1:24:29] date was. So that's why they planned on having them around
[1:24:33] May 29th or whatever the date was. In the meantime, found out,
[1:24:37] I guess, where they were taking it to, they were backed up.
[1:24:40] They couldn't get rid of it, so they had to cancel the event.
[1:24:44] Then we were told by the engineers that they need a certification,
[1:24:48] and that process won't be till the end of August.
[1:24:50] So because all that stuff was out there, we got a lot of complaints about the stuff
[1:24:53] out there. So we removed it, and it's over in DPW yard,
[1:24:57] so it's not a mess out there. So there was no dumping.
[1:25:00] It was their materials that they were going to use for the site.
[1:25:04] No cost to the borough. It was-
[1:25:05] No cost to the borough
[1:25:05] ... it was all them. It was all volunteers.
[1:25:07] The reason it was all that kind of stuff was-
[1:25:10] There was no cost. They got the pallets donated.
[1:25:13] They were working with some local businesses.
[1:25:15] A
[1:25:17] solar company and a landscaping company was kind of giving them those
[1:25:21] materials to help build out their
[1:25:24] setup if you will.
[1:25:25] They're students from Eastern High School for the most part, I think.
[1:25:28] Yeah.
[1:25:28] I don't think they were trying to do
[1:25:32] anything that was harmful, but I don't think they
[1:25:36] took much appreciation for the fact that the stuff they wanted to use
[1:25:40] probably wasn't
[1:25:43] appropriate or would meet the codes that the state
[1:25:47] of New Jersey likes to impose on people.
[1:25:49] I appreciate Carl asking for some money
[1:25:53] for the parks and all, and you're very conscious about every dollar.
[1:25:57] But when I see so much stuff going on there, I'm just wondering who's paying for
[1:26:01] it.
[1:26:01] Yeah, that was all free.
[1:26:02] Oh.
[1:26:02] And as far as the cleanup, we got grants through NJDEP to
[1:26:06] clean up the property. So that grant money was being used to clean up.
[1:26:10] The dirt that was out there was from part of the cleanup.
[1:26:12] They had to do some testing on it before they could remove it.
[1:26:15] That's why that was out there.
[1:26:16] Will it be safe to stand there on the 4th of July, or is it still going to be
[1:26:19] cordoned off with the orange fence?
[1:26:20] Well, the only reason we put the fence up was to make sure that the property is
[1:26:23] safe until we get clearance. That's why the fence went up there, so that nobody
[1:26:26] goes on the property, just as abundance of caution.
[1:26:29] Okay.
[1:26:29] Yeah.
[1:26:29] Thanks.
[1:26:30] Yeah. Thanks.
[1:26:31] Otherwise, we'll have to paint it green.
[1:26:34] Yeah.
[1:26:36] Otherwise, we'll have to paint it green.
[1:26:44] Good evening. I'm Charlene Galiano, 265 Route 30.
[1:26:49] Ms. Betty, thank you for all you do.
[1:26:50] You might want to reach out to the county for the stage they have given it in the
[1:26:53] past.
[1:26:54] I was the person that gave it to you.
[1:26:55] They gave it to us for free before.
[1:26:57] They haven't done it for several years.
[1:26:58] Ah, sorry. Thought it might help you.
[1:27:01] It was just okay for the first one. I still have a large box.
[1:27:04] Oh, very good. So good evening, Mayor and Council. Thank you for your time.
[1:27:07] I'm here tonight regarding the property at 71 South Woodhorse Pike.
[1:27:11] First, I appreciate that action has now been taken.
[1:27:13] The soil pile has been removed, orange fencing has been placed around
[1:27:17] the property, and signage appears to be back up.
[1:27:20] I'm glad to see those steps. I also feel for the volunteers and committee
[1:27:24] members who have worked hard to create something positive for Berlin.
[1:27:28] I hope they do not give up, and I hope this process takes less than the eight
[1:27:32] weeks that have been mentioned. My concern is not with the volunteers.
[1:27:35] My concern is about process, communication, documentation, and
[1:27:39] trust going forward.
[1:27:41] When a community event was being planned at or near this property, I asked for
[1:27:45] records showing whether the property or any portion of it had been cleared or
[1:27:48] approved for public or community use while remediation was still
[1:27:52] active. The documents I received included grant records,
[1:27:56] LSRP retention records, underground storage tank records,
[1:28:00] confirmed discharge information, and environmental investigation documents.
[1:28:04] What I did not see was an RAO, a no further action letter,
[1:28:08] written public use clearance, event use approval, or similar
[1:28:12] document showing that the property was cleared for community events.
[1:28:16] I was later told that no such responsive record exists.
[1:28:21] The timeline is part of why I am concerned.
[1:28:24] On May 26th, I sent my OPRA request asking for the RAO.
[1:28:29] On May 27th, I received confirmation that my request had been
[1:28:32] received. On May 29th, Downtown Berlin announced that the
[1:28:36] event was canceled or postponed because of the contaminated soil.
[1:28:41] On May 30th, which was supposed to be the first scheduled event, I contacted New
[1:28:45] Jersey DEP, the non-emergency police line, and finally a
[1:28:48] council member to ask that the contaminated soil area be covered,
[1:28:53] since it had been partially covered.
[1:28:54] And I guess the strong winds that day, the material appeared to be blowing
[1:28:58] around. On June 1st, I received 11 PDF documents
[1:29:02] in response to my OPRA request. That same day, Downtown Berlin
[1:29:08] posted that after speaking with the borough and the engineer, that they were
[1:29:11] confident that all systems are a go for the June 6th event.
[1:29:16] On June 2nd, I followed up asking where the RAO or written public use
[1:29:19] clearance was. On June 3rd, Downtown Berlin
[1:29:23] canceled the upcoming events, and I also received confirmation from the
[1:29:27] borough that they did not have the requested documentation showing public or
[1:29:31] community use clearance.
[1:29:34] From a resident's point of view, that was confusing.
[1:29:37] I understand there may still be records or answers pending,
[1:29:41] and that this is why I'm asking these questions publicly tonight.
[1:29:45] Who determines when a property involved in an environmental cleanup is
[1:29:49] appropriate for public use? Who is responsible for making
[1:29:52] sure the environmental documentation is complete before an event
[1:29:56] is advertised? And can the borough clarify who
[1:30:00] authorized the fencing, warning signs, or access restrictions
[1:30:04] to be removed in the first place, since fencing and signage now appear
[1:30:08] to still be needed?
[1:30:11] Will the borough be making an official public statement about the status of the
[1:30:14] property and the steps being taken going forward, or should residents
[1:30:18] expect communication to only come through DBRC?
[1:30:22] I am also asking Mayor and Council to review DBRC's charter,
[1:30:27] authority, and approval process
[1:30:30] so there are clearer checks and balances for public events, temporary uses,
[1:30:34] pop-up parks, vendor activity, and property improvements.
[1:30:38] This is not meant to attack anybody on DBRC or any of
[1:30:42] its volunteers. I want to be clear, I support community events
[1:30:46] and downtown revitalization. My concern is not to stop
[1:30:50] progress. My concern is making sure progress is done with clear
[1:30:53] documentation, public communication, and safety checks from
[1:30:57] the beginning. That matters because Berlin has other
[1:31:01] major projects and property concerns coming, including the area
[1:31:05] near former Owens-Corning factory and the old Kmart property.
[1:31:10] If we have confusion over a contaminated soil pile located directly
[1:31:14] next to the municipal building parking lot, then it is fair for
[1:31:18] residents to ask what checks and balances will be in place for larger
[1:31:22] and more complex projects. Berlin deserves community events and
[1:31:26] revitalization. We also deserve clear documentation, good
[1:31:30] communication,
[1:31:32] and safety checks before the public is invited in.
[1:31:36] No one should allow corners to be cut when it comes to the health and safety of our
[1:31:39] families, our friends, and our neighbors. Thank you.
[1:31:43] Thank you.
[1:31:45] And I'm waiting for my OPRA request, so thank you.
[1:31:53] Anyone else?
[1:31:59] Can I have a motion to close public portion, and I'll make a statement about the-
[1:32:03] I'll make that motion.
[1:32:05] Second.
[1:32:06] All in favor? Or roll call.
[1:32:07] Roll call?
[1:32:09] Did you want roll call?
[1:32:10] Yeah.
[1:32:12] Roll call. So just quick-
[1:32:13] You already make a statement
[1:32:15] Yeah, but I just want... So the
[1:32:17] DBRC asked us
[1:32:19] probably a year and a half ago if they could use the property.
[1:32:21] We said yes, contingent upon it's safe and clean.
[1:32:24] We have an engineering firm, Pennoni, that is doing the grants.
[1:32:28] The grant is actually through the DEP.
[1:32:30] We were told through the engineer that the property would be clean on, whatever
[1:32:33] that date was, two or three days before
[1:32:36] their event.
[1:32:41] We didn't tell them to go ahead, and their separate organization having
[1:32:44] our only involvement was allowing them to use the property.
[1:32:47] So they went ahead and announced it.
[1:32:48] In the meantime, we found out they didn't have
[1:32:50] a liquor license, a few other things, so we weren't comfortable even from that
[1:32:54] standpoint of them moving forward.
[1:32:56] You raised some good questions, and we didn't have the clearance, so
[1:33:00] the event was canceled. They took it upon themselves to figure
[1:33:04] that we thought it was going to be cleared the next week.
[1:33:07] They took it upon themselves to announce they were going to have it.
[1:33:09] After speaking with the engineer, I believe after you had
[1:33:13] contacted DEP,
[1:33:15] the engineer didn't feel comfortable issuing whatever certifications were needed,
[1:33:19] and that's where this date from August 1st happened.
[1:33:21] As far as the fence and the sign,
[1:33:24] the engineer, when we told them about the
[1:33:27] tarp being blown over, they discovered the sign.
[1:33:29] I don't know if someone stole the sign or took it down, but it was never authorized
[1:33:32] to be taken down. And again, as an abundance of caution, we put the
[1:33:36] orange fence all the way around the property just so nobody
[1:33:40] can get on it. So we're still waiting for clearance from, I
[1:33:44] guess, the DEP or the-
[1:33:45] The engineering firm
[1:33:46] ... the engineering firm. So we're working with Pennoni.
[1:33:48] We're working with an engineering firm.
[1:33:50] There was no corners cut.
[1:33:52] Again, we're working through the DEP with the grant to do the cleanup.
[1:33:56] So as the property stands now, we're waiting to get clearance
[1:34:00] on the property before anything can happen on there.
[1:34:02] Again, the DBRC did not have
[1:34:06] clearance to use the property before they announced their dates.
[1:34:09] So that was kind of some of the timing there.
[1:34:13] Terry, I just want to add that we had a decaying, abandoned gas station
[1:34:17] where nothing was happening. We acquired it for a dollar.
[1:34:21] We received grants to do the cleanup, and we're in the process of that.
[1:34:25] We've been very proactive, so it's not something that we should be
[1:34:29] apologizing for. The safety protocols were in place.
[1:34:34] We don't control the other organizations,
[1:34:37] but as you indicated, as an abundance of caution,
[1:34:40] it's underground storage tank and there was some leakage.
[1:34:44] That was cleaned up. Now that's petroleum hydrocarbons on the scale of
[1:34:48] one to 100. That's not one of the ones that are really scary.
[1:34:52] However,
[1:34:53] when it comes to kids and people being on lands that may be
[1:34:57] questionable, better safe than sorry.
[1:35:00] So I think that's the approach that we took in my conversations with the
[1:35:03] administrator,
[1:35:06] and her conversations with the engineer.
[1:35:08] We wanted to make
[1:35:10] absolutely clear that there were no prohibitions for using that
[1:35:14] property before we allowed the public to start to use it.
[1:35:18] And when it became apparent that that was not going to come before the
[1:35:21] first event date, we called it off. Simple as that.
[1:35:25] Great. Thank you.
[1:35:27] If nothing else for the good of the order-
[1:35:29] Well, to be fair, they've been coming, as far as their
[1:35:33] event schedule, they didn't come and ask any dates.
[1:35:38] I only found out personally
[1:35:41] from the flyer that they posted online.
[1:35:44] So I don't ever recall them actually asking-
[1:35:47] I think we all did. I
[1:35:49] don't remember them-
[1:35:50] I don't ever remember them ever coming in here and asking for a date-
[1:35:53] They may be-
[1:35:53] ... or applying for a permit to use the property for a specific
[1:35:56] date.
[1:35:57] As far as dates, there may have been a meeting you maybe you were absent, I think.
[1:36:01] All right.
[1:36:04] Can I have a motion to adjourn?
[1:36:05] Motion.
[1:36:06] Second.
[1:36:07] All in favor?
[1:36:08] Aye.
[1:36:08] Meeting adjourned.