1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:07,160 People need to hear you. Welcome to the Blairestown Township Committee meeting 2 00:00:04,799 --> 00:00:12,320 for March 26, 2025. We have an opening roll call, 3 00:00:09,519 --> 00:00:17,840 please. Kristen, Mrs. Mayber here. Mr. Lman, here. Mrs. Lance here. Deputy 4 00:00:14,960 --> 00:00:24,160 Mayor Orcott. Mayor Morhead here. Can we please rise to salute the flag? 5 00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:28,960 I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the 6 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:35,040 republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and 7 00:00:31,439 --> 00:00:38,559 justice for all. Adequate notice of this meeting has been 8 00:00:37,040 --> 00:00:44,399 provided in accordance with the open public meeting act 1975 chapter 231 9 00:00:42,160 --> 00:00:48,160 setting forth the time date place and purpose of this public meeting for a 10 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:52,960 legal notice published in the New Jersey Herald andor the express times following 11 00:00:51,039 --> 00:00:57,600 the township's annual reorganization meeting at which the 2025 meeting 12 00:00:54,879 --> 00:01:03,039 schedule was adopted. Good evening everyone. We got a really full house 13 00:00:59,359 --> 00:01:07,840 here tonight. I mean this our budget meeting we had Lorraine, right? She she 14 00:01:06,080 --> 00:01:12,640 was walking in and I said uh she goes, "There aren't many cars here." I said, 15 00:01:09,439 --> 00:01:17,200 "You're in. You're in." You were, but always good to have you. Uh we will uh 16 00:01:15,439 --> 00:01:23,040 we'll start our meeting tonight with the uh our public comments. Any public 17 00:01:19,560 --> 00:01:28,200 comments? Tara, I kind of I well expected this. But I bought a friend 18 00:01:29,119 --> 00:01:32,600 and I'll explain. 19 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:42,720 Good evening. Good evening. Um, Tara, um, I guess wearing the I8 to 611 20 00:01:39,520 --> 00:01:46,119 pendant NJOT hat, which is shifted a little bit because we're taking 21 00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:52,799 advantage of an opportunity because uh, granted us 22 00:01:49,439 --> 00:01:59,520 because the Explore Act was passed into law in January. So, I'm going to um 23 00:01:56,720 --> 00:02:06,079 speak to the resolution you have on the agenda uh for tonight and see if you 24 00:02:02,960 --> 00:02:11,039 have any questions about it. So, uh the reason for this resolution is 25 00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:16,080 specifically to request support for inclusion of the Delaware Watergap 26 00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:21,280 Recreation Area Local Communities as a gateway community pilot program under 27 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:28,760 the Explore Act. So, I do want to read what the Explore Act is. The Explore 28 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:37,280 Act, Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experience Act, Explore, was 29 00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:42,640 signed into law in January um of 2025. It seeks in part to foster and encourage 30 00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:47,440 responsible recreation on federal and state recreational lands and waters with 31 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:53,280 an emphasis on enhancements to recreation areas, long-distance bike and 32 00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:59,360 hiking trails, high volume nonfederal public lands, and by mitigating negative 33 00:02:55,920 --> 00:03:04,239 visitor impacts on infrastructure and local communities by quote providing 34 00:03:01,680 --> 00:03:09,599 financial or technical assistance to gateway communities under an existing 35 00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:15,440 program or entering into public private partnerships, cooperative agreements, 36 00:03:11,200 --> 00:03:19,920 memorandum of understandings and such um in our 37 00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:26,080 communities. So that's in general what the explore act is out to do. There's a 38 00:03:23,599 --> 00:03:30,720 provision in there rel regarding gateway communities which is what we are just 39 00:03:28,640 --> 00:03:37,280 like Hardwick, just like Nolton, all of us on both Jersey and Pennsylvania. Um 40 00:03:33,840 --> 00:03:43,760 we are communities where in order to get to these places they have to travel 41 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:48,239 through our our resources and we provide resources to those visitors 42 00:03:45,599 --> 00:03:56,720 accommodations, hospitality and whatnot. Um but we're also impacted by those 43 00:03:51,200 --> 00:04:02,519 visitors. So this is required by law is they're going to identify 10 gateway 44 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:08,640 communities to participate in a pilot program that will 45 00:04:04,599 --> 00:04:12,680 be if nothing else quantifying how many visitors actually visit. You know are we 46 00:04:10,799 --> 00:04:18,000 not the most complicated conglomerate of access 47 00:04:15,840 --> 00:04:22,960 points to one of these? you know what's really a visitor when who's traveling on 48 00:04:20,560 --> 00:04:27,280 80 and traveling on 611 which of those are really considered a visitor. So the 49 00:04:24,639 --> 00:04:32,240 quantify visitors um I do believe this will quantify um the visitor quantify 50 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:37,280 the visitor use impacts on our communities and impacts in particular. 51 00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:42,240 You'll see Eric back there. You know I was at Hardwick's meeting where Eric was 52 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:47,280 up there talking about um ambulance being up on the mountain 22 times last 53 00:04:44,639 --> 00:04:53,680 year. you know, when when our fire and rescue who were really created for the 54 00:04:50,560 --> 00:04:57,759 to serve the communities are up on the mountain, they're less available to the 55 00:04:56,320 --> 00:05:04,120 local communities for which they were created. Um, so just one example of 56 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:08,560 impacts um that hopefully will get quantified. So, it looks like it's a 57 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:14,479 5-year program, looks like it's federally funded. um it doesn't create 58 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:20,080 exactly what does that all look like because it's new. Um, so my the hope is 59 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:24,639 that by participating in this program, we have the seat at the table to be a 60 00:05:22,320 --> 00:05:29,720 part of creating this national program. And by having that seat at the table, we 61 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:38,160 can ensure hopefully that our complicated jurisdictional situation 62 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:41,360 um will also serve others as this hopefully will roll out as a national 63 00:05:39,840 --> 00:05:45,479 program. So other people in our situations, we can serve. We can take 64 00:05:43,199 --> 00:05:50,160 care of our needs. Um, for example, in your resolution is the 65 00:05:47,919 --> 00:05:53,199 mention that um, you're you reaffirm that the township's commitment to 66 00:05:51,600 --> 00:05:57,840 maintaining the long-standing designation of the Delaware Watercap 67 00:05:55,039 --> 00:06:02,320 National Recreation Area as a national recreation area. By having that seat at 68 00:06:00,240 --> 00:06:06,720 the table, you can ensure that that's important to Blairestown. Um, that that 69 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:12,000 designation doesn't change, that you can put in a plug for that every step of the 70 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:16,639 way. So, this is really calling on our federal legislators to reach out to the 71 00:06:14,400 --> 00:06:22,400 Secretary of Interior and request that our our Delaware Waterg area um 72 00:06:19,520 --> 00:06:27,360 communities are included in one of these 10. Uh Warren County took the initiative 73 00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:31,360 to set this off. Uh they did that into February. Congressman Kane had a letter 74 00:06:29,199 --> 00:06:35,759 ready to go and that letter was sent immediately. So, that letter is in the 75 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:39,280 hands of the Secretary of Interior um with our request. word is kind of 76 00:06:37,280 --> 00:06:44,639 catching up on the support that we anticipated would be there. Um so before 77 00:06:42,319 --> 00:06:49,479 I um let you know why my friend Christine is here, I want to ask what 78 00:06:47,120 --> 00:06:54,560 questions you might have about this question I have is wouldn't they 79 00:06:51,919 --> 00:07:02,319 consider all of the towns that are that surround that area as part of it anyway? 80 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:07,919 No, because like um just like the Wild and Scenic River project that we're 81 00:07:04,479 --> 00:07:13,280 involved in, in order for your segment of the Palm Still to be cons to be 82 00:07:10,080 --> 00:07:17,360 designated, it requires local support. Same thing with this. It sounds like 83 00:07:15,680 --> 00:07:21,280 they're using that similar model. Whereas if a 84 00:07:18,919 --> 00:07:26,479 municipality doesn't want to be part participate in that in that gateway 85 00:07:23,919 --> 00:07:32,319 community then their section or they would not be included. So, it's not um 86 00:07:30,319 --> 00:07:36,880 they're not going to impose this on, for example, the northern communities like 87 00:07:34,240 --> 00:07:41,280 the Sussex County and Pike Sussex Pike. If they don't want this, if they're not 88 00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:45,759 on record um and their needs and their their situation is unique to them, which 89 00:07:43,840 --> 00:07:51,560 is very different than what we have going on in our Delaware Water Gap area. 90 00:07:48,319 --> 00:07:57,520 So, it's I don't um it's not automatic from what I read. So, what are 91 00:07:55,039 --> 00:08:02,960 the positives and the negatives? I don't see I don't I can't um Well, my glass is 92 00:08:00,479 --> 00:08:07,800 always perpetually 90% full, so it's hard for me to see negatives, but I've 93 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:13,840 worked hard on that. Um I I wouldn't be here if I saw negatives. I I don't I 94 00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:17,919 don't see them. Um seat at the table. The positives are what I explained seat 95 00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:24,960 at the table to be a part of of a national program. Um why not? 96 00:08:21,960 --> 00:08:31,120 We're so positive. So fantasize. So the the the fantasy I have with this is um 97 00:08:28,720 --> 00:08:41,039 they want to this is suggesting that they might say okay we have overcrowding 98 00:08:35,120 --> 00:08:47,959 at Dunfield Creek and other fairly local resources that are also state you know 99 00:08:43,200 --> 00:08:55,360 we're unique because we have um the the what's the Warthingington excuse me 100 00:08:52,080 --> 00:08:59,920 we also have a as significant as as the Del Watergap National Recreation Area 101 00:08:57,279 --> 00:09:03,200 that parking lot is really federal I mean safe that's where part of 102 00:09:01,120 --> 00:09:08,399 Warthingington State Forest so when you have overcrowding there for example I 103 00:09:06,560 --> 00:09:12,800 think we would all agree and this is part of the reason I have Christine with 104 00:09:10,160 --> 00:09:17,680 us tonight um I think the Appalachian Mountain Club um and Catfish Pond would 105 00:09:15,519 --> 00:09:22,320 appreciate visitors being diverted to them and I think Blairtown with your 106 00:09:19,600 --> 00:09:26,480 interest in um ecoourism would appreciate visitors coming through 107 00:09:24,160 --> 00:09:31,920 Blairestown and and and using the services of your of our our our 108 00:09:29,040 --> 00:09:38,880 restaurants for example on their way up uh to Moan Outdoor Center. Um so this 109 00:09:35,279 --> 00:09:45,440 act is uh looking to do that kind of thing to to address overcrowding issues 110 00:09:41,920 --> 00:09:52,399 and whatever. So my fantasy is even our fire and rescue, what happens if they do 111 00:09:48,360 --> 00:09:55,760 identify? How do you resolve our what I call Horton here's the who situation? 112 00:09:54,399 --> 00:10:01,680 You know, the reason we can't get attention on 80 and they can't get 113 00:09:58,640 --> 00:10:05,680 attention on 611 is our situation in the gap is so watered down by being two 114 00:10:03,760 --> 00:10:10,399 states, three congressional districts, three different counties. What if all of 115 00:10:07,920 --> 00:10:16,560 a sudden we become some kind of a gateway community and that is recognized 116 00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:21,760 as some kind of an entity and they rec they say okay maybe our fire and rescue 117 00:10:18,560 --> 00:10:27,600 services are taxed because of providing services to the gap maybe maybe there's 118 00:10:24,959 --> 00:10:31,600 a way to compensate for that or maybe if nothing else there's an opportunity for 119 00:10:29,760 --> 00:10:35,120 training for like ropes the the technical rescue training because we 120 00:10:33,040 --> 00:10:40,000 have cliff climbers you know we have to rely on Portland Um, we're not I I don't 121 00:10:38,320 --> 00:10:46,120 believe anybody in our area is certified to do those kind of things. So, I see I 122 00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:50,160 see nothing but opportunity. So, what would they do like 123 00:10:48,320 --> 00:10:53,839 put things together or or whether whatever towns are incorporated into it, 124 00:10:52,079 --> 00:10:58,640 put package together or something so that they can give the people that do 125 00:10:55,519 --> 00:11:03,920 come to the area and come and that would be whatever the group decides to do. I 126 00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:11,600 think that is the open possibility. Yeah. I I think um and by us having that 127 00:11:08,480 --> 00:11:15,200 seat, we get to hopefully craft be a part of crafting. We are the ones with 128 00:11:13,200 --> 00:11:19,079 the problem. We are the ones that can fantasize about solutions. 129 00:11:19,560 --> 00:11:29,519 Yeah, thank you. Anyone else? I let you know why I have Chris with us. You teed 130 00:11:27,040 --> 00:11:35,519 it up very well. So, so I want to introduce my friend Christine who is the 131 00:11:33,279 --> 00:11:41,279 senior hospitality manager of New York and New Jersey for Appalachian Mountain 132 00:11:37,680 --> 00:11:45,040 Club and they on they run the Moheaggan Outdoor Center and since it's in your 133 00:11:42,880 --> 00:11:49,839 resolution and we're friends, I thought it would be only right to let her come 134 00:11:47,839 --> 00:11:53,440 here and just let you know the services that they provide up there for our 135 00:11:51,519 --> 00:11:57,920 community, which I enjoy personally cuz that's my Thanksgiving buffet and I go 136 00:11:55,920 --> 00:12:02,160 up there with my canoe and I love just being able to pull up to their lake, 137 00:11:59,680 --> 00:12:05,680 catfish pond, and dump it in and and paddle around and get my lake experience 138 00:12:04,160 --> 00:12:10,560 since Columbia Lake is no longer available to us. That's another story. 139 00:12:08,399 --> 00:12:15,279 But so I wanted to let if you don't mind, give Christine a moment to say 140 00:12:12,560 --> 00:12:19,200 what what she does up there. Sure. So my name is Christine 141 00:12:16,519 --> 00:12:23,839 Molinsky. I work for Appalachia Mountain Club. I've been there for just under 142 00:12:21,279 --> 00:12:30,760 three years. And one of the things that I am so proud to say to people, anybody 143 00:12:27,360 --> 00:12:36,399 can afford it. You could have absolutely nothing. Our town, this is a place where 144 00:12:33,760 --> 00:12:40,639 our town can go up there. You could swim for free. You could bring your own 145 00:12:38,240 --> 00:12:44,560 kaying canoe. You could bring a lunch. You could sit on the beach and you could 146 00:12:42,160 --> 00:12:48,959 enjoy that water. You could come up to our free music on the mountain. We have 147 00:12:47,279 --> 00:12:53,760 different types of things where people could come up and practice and try to 148 00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:59,279 figure out if they could be an artist or not. We like to explore different 149 00:12:55,760 --> 00:13:03,440 things. We have fishing. Um we partnered with the 150 00:13:00,200 --> 00:13:09,920 NJP. So it's free fishing. You come up there on your on the the day that they 151 00:13:06,000 --> 00:13:14,560 do it and um we hand out the fishing poles to the kid that gets the biggest 152 00:13:12,079 --> 00:13:20,000 fish, the most fish, the first fish, the last fish. They give us all these neat 153 00:13:16,480 --> 00:13:24,800 things to give out to the kids. Then for uh we have the Boy Scouts that come up. 154 00:13:22,240 --> 00:13:29,360 We comp them a cabin so they can come up and they can, you know, explore. They 155 00:13:27,360 --> 00:13:33,600 can camp out. We have camping with a buddy up there. We do all these neat 156 00:13:31,279 --> 00:13:40,240 little programs where people can come up and and really enjoy it. It's it's slow. 157 00:13:37,519 --> 00:13:46,240 It's off the beaten path. We we're the Appalachian Trail runs right through my 158 00:13:42,320 --> 00:13:51,760 camp. um where New York, my other camp, they trip on the business and it 159 00:13:48,720 --> 00:13:57,440 obviously helps them. So Moheakin could definitely use a lift to keep something 160 00:13:55,040 --> 00:14:02,240 like this going. We lease the property from National Park Service. So um you 161 00:14:00,560 --> 00:14:07,040 know, we go into like these 10-year leases or whatever. So I would love to 162 00:14:04,880 --> 00:14:12,800 keep that going. you know, when people come through. We have a trail marshall 163 00:14:10,320 --> 00:14:17,519 that's going through Straburg right now showing like how the hikers usually go 164 00:14:15,600 --> 00:14:23,440 through. He he might be doing more of a pub crawl than most, but um but these 165 00:14:20,959 --> 00:14:27,360 hikers, they come through and you know, they'll they'll call the the limo 166 00:14:25,680 --> 00:14:33,720 service to get a ride down to do their laundry. They'll go over. We get groups 167 00:14:29,760 --> 00:14:40,800 that come up there and they do um they they have reunions and uh the the other 168 00:14:38,480 --> 00:14:44,160 Blair I can't think of all the different names of the different groups. We get 169 00:14:42,240 --> 00:14:50,480 different schools and stuff like that and then um reunions and they'll go over 170 00:14:46,959 --> 00:14:56,160 to uh the the brewery and they'll go down to Blaires Town and so they they 171 00:14:53,760 --> 00:15:01,279 are frequenting you know the the different stores and everything. So, it 172 00:14:57,920 --> 00:15:05,760 is helping the community and we we just want people to come up and enjoy it as 173 00:15:02,959 --> 00:15:10,880 much as we do. We're up there, you know, living their life. And, you know, we get 174 00:15:08,320 --> 00:15:17,760 we get some kids that come in, you know, from Philadelphia or from from New York 175 00:15:14,880 --> 00:15:22,480 and uh they come in a little bit, you know, hardened. They because that's the 176 00:15:20,240 --> 00:15:28,880 life they live. And when they come up there, they don't have to be tough. They 177 00:15:25,440 --> 00:15:34,079 don't have to be mean. They could just There's a there's a porcupine, you know, 178 00:15:31,279 --> 00:15:39,839 and oh my god, like how cool is this? So, we get to see another side and we 179 00:15:36,480 --> 00:15:43,920 offer something to people that it's it's just 180 00:15:41,639 --> 00:15:49,199 unmatched. That's what we do up there. So, I imagine 181 00:15:46,800 --> 00:15:57,839 and a Blair Town res. Yes, I am. And a North Warren student. 182 00:15:52,800 --> 00:16:02,240 So that's fantastic. And Mr. Mayor, may I ask a question? If 183 00:16:00,079 --> 00:16:05,360 there has flyers and stuff, would you like to send them to me so maybe we can 184 00:16:03,920 --> 00:16:12,399 post them on our Facebook page? Absolutely. I love that. Anything we can 185 00:16:08,480 --> 00:16:18,000 do to promote the cause? Thank you. It's a It's a neat place. And I've seen 186 00:16:15,360 --> 00:16:20,880 your I've seen your your passion on Facebook as well. A little bit 187 00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:26,079 everywhere. So, it's it it's good stuff, you know. I 188 00:16:23,600 --> 00:16:32,079 So, I grew up in Bloomfield and we just didn't have, you know, this beauty here, 189 00:16:29,600 --> 00:16:36,800 you know, that pond is is amazing, you know, and people can go up there with 190 00:16:33,759 --> 00:16:40,320 their own boat. They can go for free and and we rent them 15 bucks or four hours 191 00:16:38,880 --> 00:16:45,920 if they want to go up and pay, but you don't have to. So, we get we get mom uh 192 00:16:43,600 --> 00:16:50,639 the stay home rooms that come up there and they go up there and and we let them 193 00:16:48,240 --> 00:16:55,519 just use the space. We have a little nature center and kids come up with the 194 00:16:53,279 --> 00:17:00,880 bones and the furs and stuff like that. It's it's a cool little space and and it 195 00:16:58,800 --> 00:17:04,400 would be nice to keep it going. I think we saw on Facebook or somewhere you have 196 00:17:02,320 --> 00:17:09,039 a lot of events, you know. Yes. And you see the haunted trails that we had. That 197 00:17:06,640 --> 00:17:15,039 was a big thing. If you have We're not crazy about that. It's It's really good. 198 00:17:12,160 --> 00:17:19,280 Interfere with our uh That's okay. 199 00:17:16,880 --> 00:17:24,240 No, but there was a lot of cooperation there. Well, yeah, we actually were 200 00:17:21,679 --> 00:17:29,440 advertising for each other. Yeah, we were telling people at ours to 201 00:17:26,319 --> 00:17:38,400 go down to yours and we were telling you stand. Yes. Yes. So, thank you. 202 00:17:33,919 --> 00:17:42,640 Thank you. Thank you. Very good. Thanks for all your work. You're 203 00:17:39,840 --> 00:17:49,160 welcome. So, um I trust you'll let me know if you needed anything else. 204 00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:49,160 Thank you. 205 00:17:51,840 --> 00:18:00,240 Any other public comment before we move on? Seeing none, we will go to our 206 00:17:58,160 --> 00:18:05,200 department head reports for the month of February. We got Claire'stown Ambulance 207 00:18:02,160 --> 00:18:08,400 Corp, Claire'stown uh Fire Department Company number one, Department of Public 208 00:18:06,559 --> 00:18:13,039 Works, Police Department, Tax Collector, Township Clerk, and vacant and abandoned 209 00:18:10,919 --> 00:18:18,640 properties. We have a motion to accept the February department head reports. So 210 00:18:15,120 --> 00:18:25,360 moved. Second. All in favor? I. All opposed. All right. 211 00:18:21,640 --> 00:18:32,400 Um have some minutes to approve February 26, 2025. Our public session meeting 212 00:18:29,080 --> 00:18:36,080 minutes. Any discussion? I just wanted to make a comment that I 213 00:18:34,240 --> 00:18:40,080 would like you to put in the minutes that the reason why I objected is 214 00:18:38,400 --> 00:18:45,120 because I wanted to wait until the budget discussions. Could you please put 215 00:18:42,160 --> 00:18:45,120 that in advance for 216 00:18:45,240 --> 00:18:51,640 me on the uh on the open space? 217 00:19:01,280 --> 00:19:09,320 Do we have a motion to accept as amended? I'll make that motion. Second. 218 00:19:05,760 --> 00:19:15,160 All in favor? I All opposed. Okay. And uh we have a 219 00:19:12,280 --> 00:19:21,039 proclamation tonight. May you see here? Can you see 220 00:19:18,000 --> 00:19:27,200 it? I I can see it. Yes, I wore my wor my seeing glasses. Uh it's child abuse 221 00:19:24,400 --> 00:19:31,919 prevention month. It's April 2025. Whereas children are our nation's most 222 00:19:29,360 --> 00:19:36,240 vulnerable members as well as our nation's most valuable resources helping 223 00:19:34,400 --> 00:19:41,840 to shape the future of New Jersey. And whereas positive childhood experiences 224 00:19:39,200 --> 00:19:46,000 like loving caregivers and safe, stable, and nurturing relationships can help 225 00:19:43,760 --> 00:19:50,320 mitigate trauma and the negative impact of adverse childhood experiences to 226 00:19:48,640 --> 00:19:54,559 promote the social, emotional, and developmental well-being of children. 227 00:19:52,080 --> 00:19:59,120 And whereas childhood trauma can have long-term psychological, emotional, and 228 00:19:56,960 --> 00:20:03,840 physical effects throughout individual's lifetime and impact future generations 229 00:20:01,600 --> 00:20:08,080 of their family. And whereas childhood trauma including abuse and neglect is a 230 00:20:06,559 --> 00:20:12,320 serious problem affecting every community in the US and finding 231 00:20:10,080 --> 00:20:17,760 solutions requiring input and action from everyone. And whereas children you 232 00:20:15,520 --> 00:20:24,240 live in families with I don't think that's written correctly um with access 233 00:20:20,799 --> 00:20:28,400 to concrete econ economic and social supports are less likely to experience 234 00:20:26,640 --> 00:20:32,320 abuse and neglect. And whereas prevention is possible because of the 235 00:20:30,080 --> 00:20:36,000 partnerships created between families, prevention advocates, child welfare 236 00:20:34,159 --> 00:20:39,440 professionals, education, health community, and faith-based 237 00:20:37,280 --> 00:20:43,520 organizations, business, law enforcement agencies, and local, state, and national 238 00:20:41,520 --> 00:20:47,280 governments. And whereas we acknowledge that in order to solve the public health 239 00:20:45,200 --> 00:20:53,360 issue of abuse and neglect, we must work together to change heres and mindsets 240 00:20:50,640 --> 00:20:57,919 through storytelling and sharing center the needs of families, break down bias 241 00:20:55,520 --> 00:21:03,440 and barriers, and inspire action from expected and unexpected partners in 242 00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:08,320 prevention. And whereas we are committed we are committed to advancing equitable, 243 00:21:05,919 --> 00:21:14,320 responsive and effective systems that ensure all children and families are 244 00:21:10,480 --> 00:21:18,880 health and health and thriving. Whereas we recognize the need to 245 00:21:16,080 --> 00:21:22,840 prioritize kids and invest in more prevention initiatives like home 246 00:21:20,640 --> 00:21:28,159 visiting and family strengthening policies, economic supports and 247 00:21:26,080 --> 00:21:32,320 community-based child abuse prevention programs at the national, state, and 248 00:21:30,080 --> 00:21:35,600 local levels. And now therefore, it be resolved that the Township Committee of 249 00:21:33,679 --> 00:21:40,159 Blairestown Township hereby proclaim April as National Child Abuse Prevention 250 00:21:37,679 --> 00:21:43,760 Month and urge all citizens to recognize this month by holding a narrative of 251 00:21:41,760 --> 00:21:48,320 hope for children and families through collaboration and the creation of an 252 00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:53,720 ecosystem of primary prevention that does not currently exist in this 253 00:21:50,240 --> 00:21:58,960 country. Dated this 26th day of March, 2025. Mayor Rob 254 00:21:56,760 --> 00:22:04,760 Morehead, who should have proof read this. Sorry, 255 00:22:02,320 --> 00:22:12,480 I thought if it was a national thing, I would guess I did. Obviously, it's it's 256 00:22:07,840 --> 00:22:12,480 not reading is fundamental month. 257 00:22:13,480 --> 00:22:21,200 Um, all right. We've got a uh an ordinance uh up for public hearing and 258 00:22:18,159 --> 00:22:21,200 adoption tonight. It's 259 00:22:21,320 --> 00:22:28,400 202502, the ordinance to exceed the municipal budget appropriation limits 260 00:22:25,840 --> 00:22:31,200 for the calendar year 2025 and establish a cap 261 00:22:31,960 --> 00:22:39,720 bank and uh we are at that we're at that limit. We are at that limit. Joan, would 262 00:22:38,799 --> 00:22:44,080 you like to uh like to give us a little overview of 263 00:22:42,080 --> 00:22:48,480 why we have to do this every year? Yeah, we do have a cap limit in in our town. 264 00:22:46,880 --> 00:22:55,120 We're only allowed to welcome up to a certain percentage of our appropriations 265 00:22:50,799 --> 00:22:55,120 and currently we are at 266 00:22:55,240 --> 00:23:08,480 3,874937. The cap tax is 3,8749 total. So we are about uh what is 267 00:23:03,840 --> 00:23:14,240 it 34 cents below our cap limit. So this is just uh an ordinance letting us go up 268 00:23:11,600 --> 00:23:18,960 to that 3 and 10%. Okay, we will uh this is a public 269 00:23:16,960 --> 00:23:24,000 hearing and adoption, so we'll open it up to the public. Any questions, 270 00:23:20,400 --> 00:23:24,000 comments about uh 271 00:23:24,600 --> 00:23:34,720 202502? Seeing none, do we have a motion to adopt? I will make that motion. Roll 272 00:23:31,039 --> 00:23:40,480 call, please. Roll call, please. Mrs. Van Werberg, yes. Mr. Lman, yes. 273 00:23:37,919 --> 00:23:46,080 Mrs. Lance, yes. Deputy Mayor Orcott, yes. Mayor Morehead. Yes. An 274 00:23:43,360 --> 00:23:52,559 introduction of 202503 ordinance to amend section 275 00:23:48,200 --> 00:23:56,880 184-20 stop intersections of code of the township of Blairestown. 276 00:23:55,520 --> 00:24:07,280 Where is this going to be? Is this going to be inside No Road by right be right 277 00:24:02,000 --> 00:24:12,799 at the where you come in from North when you come down from from uh we're 278 00:24:10,240 --> 00:24:16,880 opening road back up. So where road meets the high school meets down below. 279 00:24:15,360 --> 00:24:21,360 Down below. Yeah. That it's going to be a stop sign in there. Need a stop sign. 280 00:24:18,960 --> 00:24:24,400 There isn't one there already. Well there there isn't one for that little 281 00:24:23,039 --> 00:24:28,400 parking lot that's right there. That's the problem. There's a little lot there 282 00:24:25,919 --> 00:24:32,000 that needs a stop sign. There's two there's there'll be two stop signs 283 00:24:29,840 --> 00:24:35,520 there. Eric, we needed it. So, yeah, Eric 284 00:24:33,159 --> 00:24:41,960 Pizza put in the ordinance. Okay, we have a motion to introduce. So moved. 285 00:24:38,000 --> 00:24:47,279 Second. All in favor? All opposed. Move that one 286 00:24:44,440 --> 00:24:55,159 along. Our consent agenda tonight, six items. Uh 202539 resolution releasing 287 00:24:51,360 --> 00:25:00,720 executive session minutes completely unredacted. 202540 288 00:24:58,080 --> 00:25:07,120 uh the governor's council on substance abuses disorder uh the alliance to 289 00:25:03,279 --> 00:25:10,000 prevent substance abuse disorder. 202541 a resolution authorizing the mayor to 290 00:25:08,799 --> 00:25:16,440 execute the agreement between Blairestown TA Township and Celebration 291 00:25:13,400 --> 00:25:24,000 Fireworks. Um 202542 to 2024 tonnage grant application 292 00:25:21,320 --> 00:25:28,480 202543 resolution requesting support for inclusion of Deliver Water Gap 293 00:25:25,919 --> 00:25:33,880 Recreation Area Local Communities as a gateway community pilot program under 294 00:25:30,799 --> 00:25:40,799 the Explore Act and 202544 approving vouchers and claims. 295 00:25:37,279 --> 00:25:46,080 Any uh discussion on consent item consent agenda items 1 through six? 296 00:25:43,840 --> 00:25:50,120 Motion for approval. Nope. I wanted to see if we could pull 297 00:25:48,120 --> 00:25:57,520 out 202541. Uh the fireworks. 298 00:25:54,159 --> 00:26:01,840 Okay. So, I would say I would be okay to discuss everyone, but leave that one 299 00:25:59,200 --> 00:26:06,559 aside. You want to discuss that first? I I would. Okay. Yeah. So, maybe we can 300 00:26:04,880 --> 00:26:13,840 lump it all together. Yeah. Yeah, that's fine. that. So, u my question was um the 301 00:26:11,039 --> 00:26:17,760 contract I think in the past um has been signed by the township but we've been 302 00:26:16,000 --> 00:26:21,279 provided with commitments of the financial backing from other 303 00:26:19,320 --> 00:26:25,200 municipalities and whatever was the fundraising that would be placed towards 304 00:26:23,200 --> 00:26:29,600 that by other businesses and other sponsors and I don't think we have any 305 00:26:27,360 --> 00:26:34,360 of that in place at this point. We are today I didn't receive any of it. Yeah. 306 00:26:35,360 --> 00:26:44,400 I emailed it to you when I got into the office. Thank you. Um, so the question 307 00:26:40,480 --> 00:26:48,640 then becomes it's still half. No, we're on the hook for three grand. Three 308 00:26:45,840 --> 00:26:51,760 grand. So if that's the case, uh, was there any discussion with regard to the 309 00:26:50,159 --> 00:26:56,080 police overtime or any of the other things? Are we are we committed for the 310 00:26:53,679 --> 00:26:59,360 three grand? We we comfortable with that. Yeah. I mean, that's that's what 311 00:26:57,440 --> 00:27:04,080 we do every year. Okay. Whatever they need from other towns or fundraising, 312 00:27:01,919 --> 00:27:07,600 they that's up to them. All right. Thank you very much for providing it to me. 313 00:27:05,919 --> 00:27:12,000 I'm I'm okay combining all of them. Okay. 314 00:27:09,360 --> 00:27:18,320 We have a motion. I emailed it. I just made one copy just in case anyone had 315 00:27:14,000 --> 00:27:23,360 questions so I can make a copy for you. Yeah. Go ahead. We're going to pass it 316 00:27:19,520 --> 00:27:23,360 down here. We're going to pass it down 317 00:27:23,720 --> 00:27:31,760 to No. No. I'm glad. I'm glad. No, it's important though. 318 00:27:30,159 --> 00:27:36,640 Yeah. Okay. So, um, Deputy Mayor Orcott made 319 00:27:34,720 --> 00:27:43,279 the motion to combine them and discuss them as one. 320 00:27:40,799 --> 00:27:46,960 Vote on consent agenda items one through six. So, I second that. Let's vote on 321 00:27:45,200 --> 00:27:54,320 one through six. All right. Roll call, please. Kristen. Mrs. Van. Yes. Mr. 322 00:27:50,559 --> 00:28:02,320 Lman. Yes. Mrs. Lance. Yes. Deputy Mayor Orpot. Yes. 323 00:27:58,440 --> 00:28:06,320 Caveat that I'm not voting on the PCFA. Oh. 324 00:28:04,159 --> 00:28:10,200 Oh, right. Okay. Mayor M. Yes. 325 00:28:11,840 --> 00:28:19,120 Two that need to just little caveat. 326 00:28:17,279 --> 00:28:24,320 Well, then we Yeah, we're not going to not vote on the bill. We're not going to 327 00:28:21,880 --> 00:28:31,760 not. We can go back and vote on it individually. It's like a $100. Should 328 00:28:27,039 --> 00:28:35,679 have made a comment. But it's okay. I don't want you in this four years from 329 00:28:33,440 --> 00:28:38,440 now. Making a campaign issue out of some 330 00:28:37,279 --> 00:28:43,520 unfinished business, our early voting date 331 00:28:41,039 --> 00:28:49,440 extension. Yes. So, at the last meeting, I um stated that our early voting would 332 00:28:46,799 --> 00:28:53,360 be here in the municipal building. Um and it was only going to be for two 333 00:28:50,720 --> 00:28:58,320 days. The next day, well, a few days later, I got an email stating that they 334 00:28:55,919 --> 00:29:05,679 are extending early voting. So, it's now going to be June 3rd um instead of June 335 00:29:02,000 --> 00:29:11,120 6th. So, June 3rd until um Sunday before the election day. That's all. Okay. No 336 00:29:09,279 --> 00:29:17,080 problem. Um and uh GeoWorks just signed that 337 00:29:14,240 --> 00:29:23,200 today for the Walnut Valley Firehouse Remediation. Um few more 338 00:29:20,440 --> 00:29:26,480 tests that's all included in that that hopefully that last check we gave them 339 00:29:24,960 --> 00:29:29,360 and this No, I don't think so. I think there'll be another there's going to be 340 00:29:27,679 --> 00:29:33,200 another bill. No. Yeah, there'll be one another test. 341 00:29:31,760 --> 00:29:38,559 Yeah, they said there was two high salinity in one and it's bad sample one 342 00:29:36,480 --> 00:29:44,880 sample. Yeah, they could pass that first sample the second they had to do second. 343 00:29:42,240 --> 00:29:48,039 Don't ever let anyone test your soil because it will take forever to make it 344 00:29:46,559 --> 00:29:53,760 right. Um, okay. 345 00:29:51,279 --> 00:29:58,480 Yeah. Uh, new business. We've got uh application for facility use uh 346 00:29:56,080 --> 00:30:05,200 celebration of life foundation for June 14th for Quint Bridge Park. 347 00:30:01,880 --> 00:30:09,840 Um, anyone get a chance to look at that? I I have no issue with it. We've already 348 00:30:07,600 --> 00:30:12,880 received the check and the um insurance agent approved their certificate of 349 00:30:11,520 --> 00:30:16,559 insurance. I mean, it's you're not going to need the police or anything. No, it's 350 00:30:14,880 --> 00:30:22,080 like less than They do it every year. They never ask police. 351 00:30:18,600 --> 00:30:26,000 Yeah. Um uh the food shed alliance that's that's 352 00:30:23,760 --> 00:30:31,919 for the uh the use of the parking lot for our farmers market and that is 353 00:30:29,120 --> 00:30:38,240 contingent on um a few certificate of insurance from vendors. Okay. Uh and 354 00:30:35,279 --> 00:30:42,000 then uh Boy Scout Troop 140 using Sycamore Park on the 19th of May. 355 00:30:40,799 --> 00:30:45,520 Everything's good with that with a certificate of insurance. All right. And 356 00:30:44,240 --> 00:30:48,559 excuse me one second though. I was thinking about this. The baseball games 357 00:30:47,120 --> 00:30:55,279 and still aren't going to live longer. They already are um told about it. They 358 00:30:51,520 --> 00:30:58,960 do not have a games that day or soccer. It happens. This is another thing that's 359 00:30:56,799 --> 00:31:01,960 every year. So they they're all aware of it. 360 00:31:07,200 --> 00:31:16,480 The Boy Scout troop is for the uh the retire flags. They retired flags 361 00:31:13,440 --> 00:31:16,480 that day. Yeah. 362 00:31:23,840 --> 00:31:30,399 You know what that is, right? I I can't really read the 363 00:31:28,080 --> 00:31:33,799 It used to be London. Yeah. Now it's 364 00:31:34,480 --> 00:31:42,840 It's kind of hard to read, is it? Yeah. But what is that event? So again, they 365 00:31:40,559 --> 00:31:50,559 do it every year. Um this is the name of the church that does on prayer day May 366 00:31:47,600 --> 00:31:55,760 1st um Pastor Mark Eagle I think his name is Eagle Conceal so sorry um comes 367 00:31:53,760 --> 00:32:02,559 to the municipal building with some other locals um other churches and they 368 00:31:58,720 --> 00:32:07,000 do a prayer around the flag hole. Okay. Again done it every year since I've been 369 00:32:04,640 --> 00:32:13,840 here with the exception of CO. All right. Uh and uh then the the 370 00:32:11,360 --> 00:32:18,640 the Playerstown Youth Softball shed maintenance request. So what do you have 371 00:32:16,159 --> 00:32:23,919 something on that Walter? You were just they're they're going to do it all under 372 00:32:20,480 --> 00:32:28,399 your under your supervision. Sure. Okay. And again, that's all um by the um 373 00:32:27,039 --> 00:32:31,679 insurance agent because they had to have a certificate of insurance. Okay. Do we 374 00:32:29,840 --> 00:32:36,480 need can we vote on these all in their entirety here? I mean really you don't 375 00:32:33,600 --> 00:32:41,360 you requested that I don't put repeats on, right? 376 00:32:38,200 --> 00:32:46,000 However, um I do put it on only because we need to make the public aware of 377 00:32:42,960 --> 00:32:51,840 things. Okay. We just do a That's fine. Nice. All in favor for all of these. 378 00:32:49,679 --> 00:32:57,279 Well, uh celebration of life pays us. So, we don't pay anybody out. So, we're 379 00:32:53,440 --> 00:33:02,559 good. We're good. All in favor. Okay. I'll make the motion to approval. 380 00:33:00,440 --> 00:33:07,760 Fantastic. We have a second. I have a second. All right. All in favor? I. All 381 00:33:05,120 --> 00:33:11,200 post. Great. All right. We love all that stuff. Uh there's a lot of 382 00:33:09,360 --> 00:33:15,679 correspondence. Is there anything in here of note that we need to pull out 383 00:33:13,679 --> 00:33:20,880 and talk about because a lot of it is Mrs. Van or sorry woman van mockenberg 384 00:33:18,080 --> 00:33:24,399 has requested that we um ask Jose Ortiz to come to one of our meetings to 385 00:33:22,399 --> 00:33:27,679 explain what the heck's going on. So with the permission of the committee, 386 00:33:25,919 --> 00:33:31,519 I'll I'll reach out to him and see when he come to the next meeting. Yeah. I'm 387 00:33:30,080 --> 00:33:37,200 sure he's sure he's not going to have much to say. No, I think you'll have a 388 00:33:34,279 --> 00:33:41,200 pack. Yeah, they don't have a a canned response that that's all that the 389 00:33:39,440 --> 00:33:45,360 communication guys do. They don't really they're not the numbers guys, so they 390 00:33:43,360 --> 00:33:49,519 they can't speak too much on billing. But, 391 00:33:46,600 --> 00:33:56,640 uh, it would be nice to hear because my bill has doubled over the past year and 392 00:33:53,919 --> 00:34:02,559 then we have a 20% almost a 20% increase coming up in June. Also, um I don't know 393 00:33:59,600 --> 00:34:09,560 if you want me to have Lisa Hibs come at a different time cuz she's the one that 394 00:34:04,159 --> 00:34:15,119 does the um the IDT, the energy um program. Yes. Did you see the email 395 00:34:13,280 --> 00:34:18,800 that they had said? Yeah, it's in your correspondence. 396 00:34:16,639 --> 00:34:22,800 Yeah, it's it's it's a it's a grim situation with we're all going to be 397 00:34:20,240 --> 00:34:28,320 eating candle light dinner come in today. Walter was there too and uh her 398 00:34:26,159 --> 00:34:34,240 her bill which she said she really never had to win $280 a month is 900 for two 399 00:34:31,679 --> 00:34:40,079 months in a row. Um actually you made a comment to me about tagging the mayor. 400 00:34:36,720 --> 00:34:44,000 Jose responded. Yeah. Instantly you did well I have to get the account number so 401 00:34:42,560 --> 00:34:50,119 so thank you. Yeah they couldn't find her. I think we're going to look her up. 402 00:34:46,800 --> 00:34:54,879 Uh but yeah, it's it's really a it it's going to get to the point 403 00:34:52,560 --> 00:35:02,560 where we're going to be paying more in electric than in taxes. That's how I 404 00:34:58,480 --> 00:35:06,359 those things that must I want to see electric. 405 00:35:10,240 --> 00:35:20,560 Let let us all know please be on that. uh from the township attorney. 406 00:35:17,839 --> 00:35:25,200 Relatively quiet mayor, but I I did note in in the package there's a couple 407 00:35:22,480 --> 00:35:29,440 letters that our zoning officer sent out to property owners 408 00:35:26,839 --> 00:35:35,119 with pictures attached that show quite a bit of junk and debris. Um, I've just 409 00:35:32,480 --> 00:35:40,480 recently been working on some ordinance uh upgrades and amendments and some of 410 00:35:37,520 --> 00:35:44,560 the other municipalities because uh, and I'll check with Dave on this, 411 00:35:42,240 --> 00:35:49,839 but um, a lot of zoning officers are running into a lot of problems enforcing 412 00:35:46,880 --> 00:35:53,720 their summones in municipal court. Municipal court can't issue bench bench 413 00:35:51,760 --> 00:35:58,320 warrants. They can't do trials by absentee. and the word has kind of 414 00:35:56,480 --> 00:36:04,079 gotten out on the street that if you get a zoning something, you can just ignore 415 00:36:00,560 --> 00:36:10,160 it at your leisure. Um, so it's become quite frustrating for zoning officers. 416 00:36:06,480 --> 00:36:15,040 Um, so and I I know also he's citing a an old privately operated dump 417 00:36:13,359 --> 00:36:18,400 ordinance, which is not really the best way to go about this. It also doesn't 418 00:36:17,119 --> 00:36:22,640 make it sound really good for the homeowner. I think a lot of them take 419 00:36:19,920 --> 00:36:26,880 offense to that. So, um I know but they're we know they're not operating 420 00:36:24,720 --> 00:36:31,520 dumps obviously. Some some of the picks are pretty bad, but um so I think for 421 00:36:29,599 --> 00:36:36,240 next month in advance of the meeting, I'll circulate u perhaps a proposed 422 00:36:34,160 --> 00:36:41,040 revis ordinance for you guys to start digesting. Maybe we can get a little 423 00:36:37,920 --> 00:36:44,720 little handle on these things. Process of trying to implement in some way other 424 00:36:42,960 --> 00:36:47,800 municipalities. I think it's kind of unique across the state, but I think 425 00:36:46,160 --> 00:36:52,079 it's enforceable. It's basically there are statutes that say we 426 00:36:50,240 --> 00:36:56,320 can, you know, if somebody ignores the zoning officer, we can actually do the 427 00:36:54,400 --> 00:37:00,320 cleanup and impose the cost as a lean, but the problem is that can be several 428 00:36:58,560 --> 00:37:05,440 thousand dollar cost. You got to dig in your pocket first and recover. Yeah. um 429 00:37:03,119 --> 00:37:09,680 we can add that permission to to a a proper property maintenance ordinance. 430 00:37:07,280 --> 00:37:14,760 But I also want to go one step further and and instead of having a summon issue 431 00:37:12,240 --> 00:37:18,720 potentially to have a a a notice of hearing. If a notice of violation is 432 00:37:16,960 --> 00:37:23,599 ignored, the next notice would not be a summon be a notice of hearing for 433 00:37:21,320 --> 00:37:27,040 here. And then this would be our due process here for anybody who wants to 434 00:37:25,440 --> 00:37:31,119 contest the nature of the notice violation that they've issued. if they 435 00:37:29,359 --> 00:37:35,440 don't show up, we can still drive them an absence again. And at the end of the 436 00:37:33,280 --> 00:37:39,920 day, if we find that the violation is is appropriate, um instead of cleaning it 437 00:37:37,920 --> 00:37:44,400 up ourselves, we would have our zing offer get a couple quotes, we would 438 00:37:42,320 --> 00:37:49,440 select the lowest responsible quote and certify 439 00:37:45,720 --> 00:37:54,000 that. And I think that I think that's uh it's a bit creative, I think, but I 440 00:37:51,680 --> 00:37:58,560 think it will put some heat back in zoning enforcement. 441 00:37:56,000 --> 00:38:03,839 um because it's not your judge's fault or anything. This is a statewide problem 442 00:38:00,560 --> 00:38:09,359 ever since the municipal court reforms um several years ago. Um but any I 443 00:38:07,359 --> 00:38:12,320 thought that maybe would looking at this we take a look at that maybe get 444 00:38:10,880 --> 00:38:19,440 something to you for the next month on that. Um and I think we also mentioned 445 00:38:15,440 --> 00:38:23,440 the dog the dogs u impound fee stuff. So I think you'll be see I'm working on 446 00:38:20,880 --> 00:38:26,960 that as well and a couple nice with Rob. So, I think you'll see something 447 00:38:24,640 --> 00:38:30,240 probably on that. Okay, very good. Thank you. Other than that, I think we're 448 00:38:28,079 --> 00:38:34,079 pretty quiet. Kristen, you have any reports? Um, just 449 00:38:31,920 --> 00:38:38,560 a reminder, May 16th there's shredding event will be held here in the municipal 450 00:38:35,760 --> 00:38:42,720 parking lot from 8 to 11th and spring cleanup will be May 27th through May 451 00:38:40,560 --> 00:38:49,200 31st with vouchers being handed out April 2. April 10th. April 10th. April 452 00:38:46,800 --> 00:38:54,400 10th. Oh, April 10th. We're having Thank you. We are having um a seminar here in 453 00:38:52,720 --> 00:39:00,480 the municipal building for seniors regarding the new anchor program. Um it 454 00:38:57,280 --> 00:39:07,520 is going to be held um by members of the state and they're also going to um I 455 00:39:03,680 --> 00:39:14,240 guess have a setup to log you on to the program and help you with that. 456 00:39:10,920 --> 00:39:20,079 So now I'm done. Committee woman Falconberg. Okay. All right. Uh, first, 457 00:39:18,560 --> 00:39:23,520 happy birthday, Lorraine. Lorraine's birthday was a couple of days ago. Hey, 458 00:39:21,680 --> 00:39:29,119 Lorraine, happy birthday. Happy birthday. She works really hard on on uh 459 00:39:26,960 --> 00:39:34,400 the seniors. And on March 5th, we had the pre privilege of hosting assembling 460 00:39:31,359 --> 00:39:40,000 the mail uh to speak to our seniors. We had uh seniors from more than our town. 461 00:39:37,280 --> 00:39:43,760 Other towns didn't come in uh for it. Was well attended and they had asked a 462 00:39:42,240 --> 00:39:50,000 lot of questions. He was here over an hour and a half answering answering 463 00:39:46,160 --> 00:39:54,160 questions. He got his money good. He got our money's worried about. Yeah. So that 464 00:39:51,839 --> 00:39:58,800 that was a nice a nice program. On finance, the committee met on March 22nd 465 00:39:56,560 --> 00:40:05,040 at 9:00 a.m. to discuss this year's budget. We're limited to a 3.5 cent uh 466 00:40:02,160 --> 00:40:10,000 increase in appropriations. A 3 and a half cent increase in not on taxes. 467 00:40:08,320 --> 00:40:16,880 Please don't think that that's taxes. percent percentage on the cap on the cap 468 00:40:13,040 --> 00:40:20,640 percent right percent in appropriations uh which became extremely difficult to 469 00:40:19,040 --> 00:40:30,000 maintain since the cost of living over the last 3 years uh 2022 was 8% 2023 was 470 00:40:25,839 --> 00:40:37,200 4.1 and 2024 was 2.9. So this uh consumer price index was not reflected 471 00:40:32,880 --> 00:40:43,760 in our um ability to raise the cap to bring our cost up as as the CPI had gone 472 00:40:41,520 --> 00:40:48,240 up. Um that affected everything from labor to utilities to insurance and 473 00:40:45,920 --> 00:40:54,160 products. And just an example, our cost this year for salt alone the um CFO is 474 00:40:51,440 --> 00:40:57,200 telling me is close to 100,000 already. Is that more than we've ever paid for 475 00:40:55,680 --> 00:41:00,480 salt? That has to be an alltime high. Yes. Well, you know, if you look at the 476 00:40:58,880 --> 00:41:04,640 weather this year, it was very little snow and a lot of ice. Yeah. Lot of lot 477 00:41:03,040 --> 00:41:09,440 of a lot of ice. We went down to five below. Yeah. So, and they were salty 478 00:41:07,760 --> 00:41:14,800 constantly. I think every single storm they have a lot of salt going out. Um 479 00:41:12,240 --> 00:41:18,040 so, um we will be introducing the budget on April 23rd and the public hearing 480 00:41:16,880 --> 00:41:22,240 will be May 28th. Uh as far as shared services are 481 00:41:20,880 --> 00:41:26,040 concerned, we've received three different emails stating that the 482 00:41:23,680 --> 00:41:30,760 salaries from other municipalities are pensionable. Now we just have to work up 483 00:41:28,240 --> 00:41:37,839 our numbers. So yeah. Okay. Um uh the court we're 484 00:41:35,359 --> 00:41:44,319 just exploring possibly bringing the court closer to home. Um all right. In 485 00:41:42,000 --> 00:41:48,720 speaking with our CFO, she had made a couple of suggestions regarding um one 486 00:41:47,200 --> 00:41:54,079 of the things that we should really look at in changing and this is a change in 487 00:41:51,440 --> 00:41:59,119 our employee benefits to the Omni Healthcare only for any new employees. 488 00:41:57,359 --> 00:42:04,160 um the Omni there's a big difference between the Omni Healthare and the other 489 00:42:02,079 --> 00:42:08,480 healthcare that we were providing and she feels that the way things have been 490 00:42:06,079 --> 00:42:13,359 going we could you know everybody else gets grandfathered but any new employees 491 00:42:11,440 --> 00:42:19,040 we would only permit under the Omni Healthcare so I don't know if that would 492 00:42:15,520 --> 00:42:25,599 have to be a resolution as a change to there's a there's a form for that from 493 00:42:21,520 --> 00:42:29,440 from the state the only thing I just to offer the Omni Yeah. Yeah. And I'm not 494 00:42:28,240 --> 00:42:32,640 quite sure you're going to be able to do that to check it then because my 495 00:42:30,960 --> 00:42:36,960 understanding is they have multiple different categories about five. Yes. 496 00:42:34,880 --> 00:42:42,440 The last form I saw I just recently saw this in our municipality they state was 497 00:42:39,119 --> 00:42:47,200 indicating you must provide one in each category like there's an HSA there's a 498 00:42:45,200 --> 00:42:51,760 high level there's one where the omni is. So I I think Chris Christine better 499 00:42:49,920 --> 00:42:56,960 check on that. All right. No I'll talk about that to follow up on that. Uh the 500 00:42:54,720 --> 00:43:02,640 other suggestion that our CFO had made was um increasing the dog fees that uh 501 00:43:00,240 --> 00:43:09,440 possibly going um to you know in order to cover our acco rabies clinic our 502 00:43:05,280 --> 00:43:15,280 licensing uh maybe going 20 to 20 and 25 and 10 and 15 for seniors and and um 503 00:43:13,319 --> 00:43:18,800 federalists. So that's something else and that would be an ordinance change 504 00:43:16,960 --> 00:43:23,520 because I believe that's on ordinance the the values money that's there. So, 505 00:43:21,599 --> 00:43:29,200 that's another thing to think about. But, um, we have a lot of dogs in this 506 00:43:26,720 --> 00:43:32,800 in this town and you know, we are paying Well, when you say think about it, what 507 00:43:30,560 --> 00:43:38,800 what would what would spur any action to do with that? I guess a vote to to 508 00:43:36,640 --> 00:43:42,319 change something back in the next year. Yeah, I will. Yeah. I want to just 509 00:43:40,160 --> 00:43:47,400 reconfirm the numbers with Christine. We did raise, you 510 00:43:43,480 --> 00:43:53,040 know, last year. No, last year to 10 to$10 from $6. I think we're still very 511 00:43:50,560 --> 00:43:58,079 much on a lot of other towns. Yeah. We we kept the we kept the seniors and the 512 00:43:54,960 --> 00:44:03,200 veterans the same. We never changed theirs, right? So, we're looking. It's 513 00:44:00,640 --> 00:44:08,599 not a big increase. It really isn't. But, you know, as time goes on, between 514 00:44:06,240 --> 00:44:12,640 the the fees that the state is collecting, right, the rabies clinic, 515 00:44:10,960 --> 00:44:17,440 the licensing, all these different costs, if we can recoup a little bit, 516 00:44:15,280 --> 00:44:22,560 even uh you know, maintaining the dog park and everything, um it may be it's 517 00:44:20,480 --> 00:44:28,079 something's got to happen because do those like surprise vet bills also come 518 00:44:25,040 --> 00:44:32,160 out of that copper? Well, you know what? Every now and then 519 00:44:30,160 --> 00:44:36,599 we'll have the comes out of a dog, right? 520 00:44:39,760 --> 00:44:49,359 All right, that's it. Thank you. Give the name of it. Uh just an update on uh 521 00:44:46,079 --> 00:44:54,800 Walnut Valley septic uh for the field. Um all of the required uh permits were 522 00:44:52,560 --> 00:45:01,359 submitted to the health department. uh they uh our engineers have received back 523 00:44:58,160 --> 00:45:05,359 their uh report. Uh they had some comments that they're addressing. Uh 524 00:45:02,960 --> 00:45:10,200 they're going to check back with them after they resubmit their comments, but 525 00:45:07,119 --> 00:45:19,440 they should have that next week. Cool. Weather's getting warmer. It is. 526 00:45:14,680 --> 00:45:24,800 Um Committee Lance, thank you. Um well, just a couple things. First, I was very 527 00:45:21,839 --> 00:45:29,359 happy to be able to uh work towards uh the budget that's been uh discussed and 528 00:45:27,359 --> 00:45:34,560 will be presented shortly. Um I think the whole thing for that is to 529 00:45:31,280 --> 00:45:39,280 understand that uh the basis of allowing the cap bank to happen is not that 530 00:45:36,720 --> 00:45:44,240 anyone's raising your taxes. Um they they will go up, but the whole point is 531 00:45:41,119 --> 00:45:48,640 to be able to bank the ability to um work within our means. uh there's not 532 00:45:46,400 --> 00:45:51,920 any way that we can we can you know raise more money but that's not the 533 00:45:50,160 --> 00:45:56,160 point. Point is there are so many things that are just contractually obligated 534 00:45:53,839 --> 00:46:00,000 and we're limited to what uh how they're handled and how they're allowed to be 535 00:45:58,000 --> 00:46:04,440 funded. So I was happy to see that we were able to come to a good resolution 536 00:46:01,520 --> 00:46:08,480 for that. Um for we have two grant applications that 537 00:46:07,280 --> 00:46:14,720 we're working on right now for Blairestown Historic. Um, one of them is 538 00:46:12,000 --> 00:46:21,119 a renewal of uh the one from last year for the county um historic uh u sorry 539 00:46:18,319 --> 00:46:26,480 municipal trust and how it's going to work out hasn't been even announced yet 540 00:46:23,119 --> 00:46:29,680 but we're ready. Um the other uh one that we're doing is something through 541 00:46:27,599 --> 00:46:35,359 the state and we're looking forward to presenting some of the same information 542 00:46:31,520 --> 00:46:39,280 that we have towards uh receiving that. Um, in addition to that, there is an 543 00:46:37,359 --> 00:46:44,160 upcoming recreation grant which will be a renewal of the one that we got last 544 00:46:40,960 --> 00:46:47,680 year for the Walnut Valley Field. So, we'll be working on that. Eric, I think 545 00:46:46,480 --> 00:46:51,920 we're going to have to spend some time putting some more numbers together for 546 00:46:49,200 --> 00:46:56,560 our engineer for that. That was 70,000 if I'm not mistaken. Last year, last 547 00:46:53,680 --> 00:46:59,599 year. Um, but I think the the whole bit for that there there's a there was a 548 00:46:58,319 --> 00:47:04,160 limitation. So, what we're really waiting for is what is the number? What 549 00:47:01,599 --> 00:47:07,440 are we allowed to apply for up to? So uh but it's nice to see that that's 550 00:47:05,760 --> 00:47:11,920 progressing. What would you do with that grant? That's Walnut Valley, right? So 551 00:47:10,160 --> 00:47:16,880 it's a recreation grant. So the first grant was there for the uh diagnostic 552 00:47:14,480 --> 00:47:21,280 and planning and some of the different samples similar to the spot that it's 553 00:47:19,359 --> 00:47:26,400 adjacent to which they had all the pollution there from the uh W Valley 554 00:47:24,400 --> 00:47:30,720 Firehouse. So it's immediately adjacent to that. So the concern is that anything 555 00:47:28,720 --> 00:47:35,280 that's there is not going to have had any spread. Uh we're confident so far 556 00:47:32,880 --> 00:47:38,160 that none of it has. The samples that we're going are getting better and 557 00:47:36,720 --> 00:47:43,839 better. So I'm happy for that. The problem is the location and proximity to 558 00:47:41,119 --> 00:47:48,079 the uh uh the body of water that's there. I guess the tributary creek. 559 00:47:46,160 --> 00:47:52,560 Yeah. So that's that's a problem for that. But um it'll be very very nice to 560 00:47:50,319 --> 00:47:56,240 be able to see a functioning uh um septic in that building. That's I'm 561 00:47:54,880 --> 00:48:00,480 thinking I was thinking I'm looking at that picture. I'm thinking of the Borak 562 00:47:57,760 --> 00:48:03,920 property. Oh no no no. Pat would be happy. No, it is nice because the 563 00:48:02,319 --> 00:48:08,160 different facilities that we have should be, you know, top-notch and to be able 564 00:48:05,599 --> 00:48:15,119 to offer uh our residents, uh, you know, that is positive. That's all I have. All 565 00:48:11,920 --> 00:48:20,160 right. Very good. Deputy Mayor Cut, what do you have for us? I have nothing 566 00:48:16,960 --> 00:48:25,440 tonight. Thank you. Is it a full moon or something? Just 567 00:48:22,720 --> 00:48:30,400 keep going there. Are you sure? I'm going to give you Should I get a cap? 568 00:48:28,000 --> 00:48:34,960 Wait, can I We're going to take your time and give it back to me. Yeah, 569 00:48:32,480 --> 00:48:39,119 because Bob Herstat is in the room. Even though I don't have my statistics here, 570 00:48:36,480 --> 00:48:43,040 he does and he has the story to tell. Bob, I'd love to hear. Do you know them 571 00:48:40,880 --> 00:48:46,839 off the top of your head? I have nothing to say. Okay, 572 00:48:45,760 --> 00:48:51,119 I don't think that I 573 00:48:51,480 --> 00:49:02,480 I squad handles the about thousand about 100 calls this month. uh volunteer uh 574 00:48:58,160 --> 00:49:07,599 hours about 768 volunteer hours. We also had most of our calls were grass 575 00:49:04,839 --> 00:49:10,760 town is not the amount. I'll let you ask some questions in a minute when I'm 576 00:49:08,880 --> 00:49:16,000 done. Um we entertain troop 140 on Monday. 577 00:49:14,079 --> 00:49:21,800 They came to our building. We gave them a tour um for all our equipment and what 578 00:49:18,960 --> 00:49:28,319 it cost. For instance, a a Lupus Lupus CPR machine was 579 00:49:25,880 --> 00:49:32,559 $17,000 kind to buy a car for that kind of money and we have three of them that 580 00:49:29,839 --> 00:49:38,319 we need in our rigs. Uh it kind of make them stop to think that what it cost to 581 00:49:35,000 --> 00:49:44,880 run. Uh we let them go in our rigs. We show them how to refill oxygen tanks. Uh 582 00:49:41,680 --> 00:49:48,480 they may have gotten a uh American. I'm not sure. 583 00:49:46,559 --> 00:49:53,760 Probably part of their first name. Yeah, exactly. Um, and let's see. I know you 584 00:49:52,400 --> 00:50:00,400 want to ask my questions. So, if you're not um if you don't ask me 585 00:49:56,040 --> 00:50:06,240 um okay uh regarding uh not SWAT not having u an ambulance, we actually they 586 00:50:03,680 --> 00:50:12,160 still don't. But now Atlantic Health is running a rig out of N. Uh it's not 587 00:50:10,240 --> 00:50:17,280 called 41, which is the township designation number. It's called 1551. 51 588 00:50:15,440 --> 00:50:23,599 is the rig number. and they've been answering some calls which is terrific. 589 00:50:19,280 --> 00:50:27,440 Um they're staffed which is great. Um and uh we have been going west 590 00:50:25,680 --> 00:50:33,599 fortunately because we take a rig out of town with manpower to go there and this 591 00:50:30,319 --> 00:50:38,960 leaves our county but no one on the call is a second call with we just can't get 592 00:50:35,920 --> 00:50:44,240 it. Fortunately they've taken care of it and let's see what else. Uh, do they 593 00:50:41,359 --> 00:50:50,880 come out of both house or do they keep they come out over 594 00:50:47,240 --> 00:50:50,880 at Milton has an 595 00:50:51,079 --> 00:51:01,599 old need to be updated but everything? Yeah. Uh, and u let me 596 00:50:58,760 --> 00:51:04,960 think. I think I ran out of stuff. Sorry guys. Sorry. No, that's okay. That's 597 00:51:03,599 --> 00:51:10,319 okay. The other thing I wanted to mention is that um we um we were able to 598 00:51:08,240 --> 00:51:15,920 understand uh this past Saturday when we had our our finance uh um our budget uh 599 00:51:13,119 --> 00:51:20,880 discussion that um we're in the market for a new rig um and we are looking for 600 00:51:18,960 --> 00:51:27,119 something in the neighborhood of 300,000 in order to fund that. That's about a 601 00:51:23,200 --> 00:51:31,040 new cost because there's a 19 it's a 20 it's 20 years old 30 years old as a 602 00:51:28,960 --> 00:51:35,160 matter of fact. Uh, it kind of sits there. It has a small old week. We don't 603 00:51:33,040 --> 00:51:43,839 really want EMS calls on it. We put the standbys. However, a new rig 604 00:51:40,040 --> 00:51:49,640 cost $300,000 fully fully equipped. I mean, you can buy a rig for less, but 605 00:51:46,000 --> 00:51:49,640 then you have to have 606 00:51:49,920 --> 00:51:57,200 So, just so you know, we did get the commitment of our u auditor to be able 607 00:51:54,800 --> 00:52:01,280 to sit with us and understand uh the opportunities that we would be able to 608 00:51:59,119 --> 00:52:04,559 present. some of those fees or some cost sharing to some of the neighboring 609 00:52:02,720 --> 00:52:08,720 communities as well since we do serve them. Well, that's very nice. That's 610 00:52:06,160 --> 00:52:12,720 good to know. Speak to my accountant. Excuse me. The squad's account. You 611 00:52:10,160 --> 00:52:16,319 don't want my account. Well, the squad's account. Just the same. I didn't want it 612 00:52:14,559 --> 00:52:22,000 to pass and I apologize for having to call back, but I appreciate No, no. I 613 00:52:19,680 --> 00:52:24,720 appreciate your insight. Thank you everybody. 614 00:52:23,520 --> 00:52:29,920 Thank you everybody. I'll give you a second chance, Debbie. Do you have any? 615 00:52:27,200 --> 00:52:32,920 All right. I just thought something. Okay. 616 00:52:34,720 --> 00:52:45,119 All right. So, uh let's see. Um police over the past month, a few uh few things 617 00:52:41,480 --> 00:52:49,920 occurred. Owner of Simply Day Spa, uh Sun Chang was arrested and charged 618 00:52:48,000 --> 00:52:55,520 with one count of sexual assault, 12 counts of criminal sexual contact for 619 00:52:52,240 --> 00:53:00,960 illegal contact conduct during massages. They're asking for anyone who feels they 620 00:52:57,359 --> 00:53:05,520 may have been a victim uh to contact our police department. And at this time, we 621 00:53:03,200 --> 00:53:11,680 have an additional nine victims who have come forward with more charges pending. 622 00:53:09,200 --> 00:53:16,880 Uh Warren County paving Facebook post and Nixl announcements are forthcoming. 623 00:53:14,079 --> 00:53:21,440 They'll be paving 521 Stillwater Road from Bridge Street to High Street 624 00:53:18,559 --> 00:53:25,200 starting the week of April 21st. Paving will be two days during the elementary 625 00:53:23,200 --> 00:53:29,280 school spring break. One lane will be open during that time. Pipe work and 626 00:53:26,960 --> 00:53:32,880 site prep will begin next week and there will be lane closures. Veil Road and 627 00:53:31,359 --> 00:53:38,079 Mount Herman Road is scheduled to be paved the following week of April 28th. 628 00:53:36,000 --> 00:53:42,559 They will have one lane open and scheduled to take 4 days. And Officer 629 00:53:40,559 --> 00:53:47,359 Dylan completed defensive tactics instructor training. It's a new 630 00:53:44,880 --> 00:53:51,920 requirement for police licensing and it gives us the ability to stay compliant 631 00:53:49,280 --> 00:53:57,680 without sending officers to the police academy every year. As far as uh 632 00:53:55,200 --> 00:54:02,400 Blairestown uh fire department host company number one, they had fairly 633 00:54:00,000 --> 00:54:06,960 light month. They did uh they had 10 members participate in an ice rescue 634 00:54:05,040 --> 00:54:11,760 training exercise with Hope Fire Department. They had 18 calls for 635 00:54:09,280 --> 00:54:17,119 service in February, which is pretty it's on the light side. It's nice. Uh 11 636 00:54:14,160 --> 00:54:22,599 in Blairestown, three in Hardwick, and four mutual aid. And uh I don't think I 637 00:54:21,040 --> 00:54:27,280 have anything else to bring forth. You mentioned you were 638 00:54:25,760 --> 00:54:31,520 talking about the county. That's the county. Yeah. Do they notify the 639 00:54:29,920 --> 00:54:36,839 schools? They do notify. Yeah, they work. That's that's why they're working 640 00:54:33,040 --> 00:54:41,359 with the uh the spring break uh window there. Uh open up the floor again. Any 641 00:54:40,000 --> 00:54:46,240 Joel, do you have anything for us tonight? You just you just wanted us to 642 00:54:44,240 --> 00:54:49,559 I do have something I would like to say. Come on up. 643 00:54:55,200 --> 00:55:02,280 I have to identify myself. I'd like that. Okay. Joel Mc Green, Farm Valley 644 00:54:59,920 --> 00:55:08,800 Lane, Clartown, New Jersey. You don't have many patrons here 645 00:55:05,359 --> 00:55:14,240 tonight. Um or cut or members of the public. And I think one of the reasons 646 00:55:11,319 --> 00:55:19,839 is I would say half of you don't talk into the 647 00:55:16,680 --> 00:55:26,319 microphone, including our esteemed lawyer who I never hear at all. I wear 648 00:55:22,960 --> 00:55:35,119 hearing aids and I sit in the back and most of the time I can't hear you and 649 00:55:29,640 --> 00:55:39,200 um be nice if I could. And uh please try to do that and maybe I'll come back 650 00:55:37,040 --> 00:55:45,839 again. Can you hear me, Joel? I absolutely am I okay? You're fine. And 651 00:55:42,720 --> 00:55:50,640 here I thought you were coming up to thank the quick work of the road 652 00:55:47,839 --> 00:55:55,359 department for fixing the farm your sign at your private 653 00:55:52,760 --> 00:56:00,880 road within hours. I believe it was fixed. That was the second thing I was 654 00:55:58,000 --> 00:56:05,839 going to say. Oh, okay. Stole my thunder. But thank you. Appreciate it. 655 00:56:04,240 --> 00:56:10,160 Thanks for all the work you guys do. Appreciate it. Thank you. Do me a favor, 656 00:56:08,319 --> 00:56:14,960 gentlemen. If you come and and that happens, we we asked Lorine and I asked 657 00:56:13,280 --> 00:56:18,000 somebody else one time that was sitting in the back. Just raise your hand. Yeah, 658 00:56:16,559 --> 00:56:23,440 you can stop it. If you can't hear us, stop us at any time. It's it's it's 659 00:56:20,000 --> 00:56:28,640 fine. There's also you turn towards pinging. There's like a feedback kind of 660 00:56:25,359 --> 00:56:33,040 thing all night. Since you're asking, I don't hear anything. No, I I actually 661 00:56:30,480 --> 00:56:38,000 hear it with my with my miracle ears. I hear it. Bob, do you hear like like a 662 00:56:35,280 --> 00:56:41,680 feedback? Unless it's the supernatural talking to 663 00:56:40,160 --> 00:56:46,240 anybody. I think you have the youngest ears in 664 00:56:43,359 --> 00:56:49,920 the in the audience. So, I'll give you a pass. The only thing we don't hear is 665 00:56:48,319 --> 00:56:54,160 when you actually turn your head to speak to another country person, you 666 00:56:52,640 --> 00:56:58,480 knock us away from the microphone. We don't want that. That's 667 00:56:55,960 --> 00:57:04,240 probably You did not go up to the microphone and I heard nothing. You said 668 00:57:00,799 --> 00:57:08,799 maybe that's your intent. See? Yeah. I'll tell you. I'll tell you now. 669 00:57:07,599 --> 00:57:15,280 Oh, I thought there I thought you guys was going to fight us. 670 00:57:12,079 --> 00:57:23,200 I don't want to hurt. I would love a motion to adjourn. So 671 00:57:18,680 --> 00:57:26,200 move in favor and all oppose. Thank you everyone. 672 00:57:29,600 --> 00:57:32,670 [Music]