[0:04] Welcome to the mayor and council.

[0:11] » Good evening. Welcome to the mayor and council meeting. Please take notice that

[0:14] in accordance with the open public meetings act NJSA10

[0:17] 4-1 at SEC. the notice of this evening's meeting time, date, location, and

[0:22] agenda. Fulfills requirements by sending a copy to the newspapers officially

[0:26] designated for 2026. Filing a copy in the Burough Clerk's office and posting

[0:31] it on the Burough Building Bulletin board. Burough Bagota will hold a public

[0:35] meeting at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 5, 2026 to address such matters as

[0:40] business as may be brought before the mayor and council. This meeting will be

[0:43] held with Burough Council Chambers, 375 Large Avenue. Please rise for the

[0:47] pledge. And we'll have Councilman Mitchell Leiance

[0:53] to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it

[0:57] stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice

[1:02] for all.

[1:07] » Good evening. Please call the role.

[1:11] here. >> Council person

[1:13] » here. >> Council member Carpenter

[1:14] » here. Council member >> here. Council member Mel

[1:17] » here. >> Council member Mitchell

[1:19] » here. >> Council member here

[1:23] » for attorney um William Bish >> here.

[1:27] » Administrator Omari >> here

[1:29] » and myself W. Clint >> Danielle. Thank you. Diana just texted

[1:33] me she can't make the meeting. She's at work. She's okay. She's stuck. So

[1:38] council member is absent. Thank you.

[1:42] Okay. So, before we go into citizen remarks, I want do want to make a remark

[1:45] about telephones on the desk. Um, I would ask the cell phones be put away. I

[1:51] mean, it's very good that we got information from council woman regara,

[1:54] but I ask that cell phones be put away. I ask that we don't quote scores. I ask

[1:58] that we don't report anything we see on our cell phones. To the extent that we

[2:02] can leave them away, please put them away. That goes for open session and

[2:06] close session. Um, when it comes to responding to citizens remarks, I would

[2:11] ask that the council uh respond if they wish to. If we want the administrator or

[2:16] the attorney to answer, we'll direct them to do so. Keeps it a little bit

[2:21] more orderly. So now, do we have a motion to go for citizen remarks?

[2:24] » Motion. >> Motion by Mitchell.

[2:26] » Second by Carpenter. All in favor? >> Okay. Now is the time for citizens come

[2:30] forward. All you need to do is state your name.

[2:36] Sorry, I moved I moved that for a wedding.

[2:45] » Hello. >> It doesn't project.

[2:48] » Okay. Uh for the town council, uh assuming that Connie approves of it, are

[2:55] there going to be up any updates on Richfield Park and the transfer the

[2:59] rescue squad there? Uh, I'm assuming that there's also a

[3:04] change of status and that it's not going to any longer be referred to as a merger

[3:10] but an elimination uh from the council.

[3:15] Uh, Mr. Mitchell, uh, sent you an email yesterday

[3:20] and I was wondering if you could set up a date that we can all get together.

[3:24] » I'll take a look at that. >> Okay.

[3:27] And again, how many fines have been issued involving the new garbage

[3:31] ordinance? There's also a rumor going around now

[3:35] that one of the Bagota H firehouses is going to be closed. Uh if this is true,

[3:40] when is this being done and why is it being done? Okay. What cost savings has

[3:46] uh resulted from the closing of the rescue squad?

[3:50] What is the budget for the training of the fire department personnel to assume

[3:55] those roles that uh the rescue squad used to hold? What is being done with

[4:02] the Kennedy building? And my wife would like to discuss the

[4:07] terms of her new job uh in the town. Uh, I don't think she's being paid enough to

[4:13] be the head bus driver, but I think that uh, you know, maybe doubling what she's

[4:18] getting now is is appropriate. She's been listed as being the senior bus

[4:22] driver.

[4:32] Um, Rebecca Foster, I want to comment on last week's meeting when our seventh

[4:39] council person, Mr. Bettish, decided to speak out of turn um, and say something

[4:46] in regards to the Boda Rescue Squad being taken over by Ridgefield Park. And

[4:51] that in fact is not the case. Um, I do have a document here from Mirfield Park

[4:58] that I would like to read to set the record straight

[5:04] and it states

[5:08] February 2nd, 2026, change of membership status. Dear Ascar

[5:13] Misra, he is the liazison to the rescue squad in Metro Park. We are writing to

[5:18] inform you of a change of membership status effective January 29th, 2026 for

[5:23] the following applicants to be made probationary members of Richville Park

[5:27] Rescue. Danielle Fiti, Jim Fessel, Mike Leong, Rob Foster, Rebecca Foster, Wayne

[5:35] Sourge, Adil Khan, and Pete Pellet. If you have any questions, contact Chief

[5:40] Rich Shields. All the best. Oicier will be your interim secretary. Um, this list

[5:48] has somebody who I don't know on it who's never served on the Boda Rescue

[5:51] Squad and it eliminates I think maybe 13 volunteers who did not choose to come

[5:59] over with us. Um, the burough attorney, his role is to

[6:04] advise so to not get six of you and the mayor in any legal trouble. His role is

[6:11] not to speak out of turn. His role is not to comment. His role is to advise.

[6:17] With that being said, this is not the first time Mr. Bettish has decided to

[6:21] interject. I believe it was in 2021. I'm actually digging through the minutes now

[6:26] when a resident on high place requested a handicap parking spot and the police

[6:34] approved it. Sergeant Cole approved it. Chief May approved it. It came here for

[6:37] resolution and Mr. Vet said that he decided he needed to do a Google Earth

[6:42] look up to see if that person actually needed a spot where they had a driveway,

[6:47] but he did not understand that the resident had a grown son and a grown

[6:52] daughter, both with special needs, who needed assistance in and out of that

[6:56] car. And doing that in that driveway, in that tight driveway, was practically

[7:00] impossible. And anybody who knows anything about High View Place, as I've

[7:04] lived there, it's a steep hill. Again,

[7:09] it's to advise not to comment unless the council asks for it. That shows

[7:16] transparency.

[7:21] » Sorry. Anybody else wishing to come forward?

[7:24] » Seeing no one motion close. >> Second. Motion closed by second by

[7:27] Carpenter. All in favor? >> I

[7:30] I'll address the uh the fines for the garbage. There has been none

[7:34] » for the simple reason is it's unfair to find anybody if they don't know about

[7:38] the law and they don't know about it yet. So

[7:44] » so Pat it's practice to provide a warning. Have people been provided

[7:48] warnings and it's practiced to provide warning?

[7:50] » No. >> You can't warn anybody when they don't

[7:52] know anything about it. He hasn't he hasn't done anything yet until we put a

[7:56] letter out and let people know. >> I mean it's not fair.

[7:59] » Yeah. And then also as enforcement practices to issue warnings and then if

[8:04] the warning is not heated then >> okay I'm sure we can put that on the

[8:08] next uh newsletter >> calendar

[8:12] that should be placed on the calendar so people would know that we have it is on

[8:16] the calendar it is on a lot of people don't

[8:22] » as for the other thing I don't know why you directed anything to me with regards

[8:25] to Richmond Park because I have no idea about Richmond Park nor do I there. Um,

[8:30] no, you can't. You can do this in the next slide. Um, but I have nothing to do

[8:34] with Richfield Park. Uh, with regards to the other stuff, I'm just wondering if

[8:38] you operate them because we don't have that information here. Uh, I don't know

[8:43] what kind of information actually that you're looking for. So, if you operate

[8:46] it, then we can try to answer that questions for you. If unless somebody

[8:51] else already did, okay, I'm sure. >> Did we hire a bus driver?

[8:56] » Yeah, but that was my next. Did we hire somebody?

[8:59] » We did. We did not. Joe, I'm wondering if that was And you're going to have to

[9:02] wait to answer, but I'm You could just shake your head. Was that a clerical

[9:06] error on the website or or something like that?

[9:08] » It's there. >> Okay. So, I'll make sure I fix that for

[9:11] for Mary. I apologize. >> Unless she wants to be the most voter.

[9:14] » I don't think so. >> We need a second check.

[9:18] » She has a CD. Hello.

[9:22] » All right. So I I would like to just take a second to respond here because

[9:26] » well so I did ask that you don't really I mean

[9:28] » well I I I am going to address what was raised. I mean as as the attorney in the

[9:33] past when a resident has asked a question I I have when there's

[9:38] information relevant to that question answered it. Um, there was questions

[9:43] that were asked by the fire chief, a number of questions having to do with

[9:47] the rescue squad, having to do with membership, and I

[9:52] did my best to address those those uh to answer those questions. Certain answers

[9:56] weren't given by members of the council. So, I took it upon myself to answer

[10:00] those questions since I had information that I thought was relevant to the

[10:03] question. Um, you know, since I've been here. Um, when a resident asks a

[10:09] question, sometimes questions come up regarding Oprah. Sometimes questions

[10:12] come up regarding other legal matters. Um, I've made it a point to answer those

[10:17] questions when I'm able to. And I don't think that I was out of turn answering a

[10:25] resident's question. So, I mean, again, think it was relevant information

[10:32] for the for the question and that was why I answered it.

[10:37] Washington. >> Well, I I'm just going to say something

[10:40] about that because this is ridiculous that that this was even brought up. I've

[10:44] gone to so many meetings either covering another area or working in three

[10:50] different uh districts. Attorneys answer questions all the time

[10:57] for exactly for that. So then they can protect the town or the council. You do

[11:03] not have to ask the attorney or tell the attorney you can speak now. That's

[11:08] ridiculous. It's never happened before. And maybe somebody should start going to

[11:12] other meetings in other towns so you can see how a council is

[11:19] how they work, how they what the process is. This is not the first time that's

[11:24] happened. If a question was answered and he can answer it for us, what's the

[11:29] difference? I've never heard of that. Uh I I remember going to meets when you

[11:34] were sitting both out there and sitting on the de. Um Murphy used to answer

[11:41] questions all the time. >> Murphy

[11:43] » all the time. >> Not sorry. Monahan.

[11:47] » Oh yeah. >> Answer questions all the time.

[11:49] » All the time. So I I remember sitting here when Lanigan was the mayor and all

[11:53] the time. It it happens everywhere. >> Every attorney's answer. So, I just

[11:57] don't see why this was brought up to bring up something that's not necessary.

[12:04] » Just it's I think it's it's constant >> bringing up stuff that doesn't need

[12:09] » but I think the reading of the text, you know, I already have made made my point

[12:13] about that. Let's just not bring outside information into this council chamber

[12:16] about what's going on in other texts. >> But the question was,

[12:20] » wait, wait, wait, wait. What' you say? I cannot bring up stuff that goes up in

[12:24] others. >> I didn't say you

[12:26] » but the question was we we were talking about um membership and resignations and

[12:31] all that that that's been an ongoing issue with emails and everything else

[12:35] » question. >> Everyone's been asking that question.

[12:37] Did anyone resign? And I mean so >> with that

[12:41] » he answered he answered. They're now in Rich Hill Park. That's it.

[12:45] » So that's not >> it doesn't matter. He he just informed

[12:48] us it. I'm not even going to discuss it because it it is kind of silly. I'm not

[12:52] I'm not going to go into just to make the element clear.

[12:55] » A person can be a volunteer in multiple towns.

[12:59] » We have firefighters that are volunteers in multiple towns. No one's saying that.

[13:03] No one's saying it. >> Well, if there is an issue if they're

[13:05] not coming to the to the now Bod Fire Department, okay, they're not doing

[13:11] both. They're not doing BOD and Richill Park. So, that's an issue. There's

[13:16] insurance on the members. Okay. So, either you're going to join the fire

[13:19] department or you're not. or you're going to resign. Like when are you gonna

[13:23] get an answer? I mean, you're stringing along, which is fine. You want to string

[13:26] along, fine. >> So, I bet I'm not gonna

[13:28] » You don't have to comment. You're You just made a statement and I'm making a

[13:31] statement. >> So,

[13:32] » it's either you're resigning or not. Then then tell or Jif and tell everybody

[13:36] else what you're doing because we're right now they're still members. Okay.

[13:40] They're members. >> Nobody members.

[13:43] » Okay, that's great. >> The answer I gave wasformational. It

[13:47] wasn't gossip. It was a matter of public record stated at another public meeting

[13:52] was relevant to the question that was asked.

[13:54] » It's all good. >> I I have a question. My my only my only

[13:59] point was the information was obtained in the middle of a meeting and I would

[14:01] really like everybody to focus on the meeting and not be looking at their cell

[14:04] phones. That's all I'm asking. >> That's all I'm asking. But mayor, as far

[14:09] as as far as bill responding to questions from the public, if it's if

[14:12] it's regarding something legal, I mean, you know, I would I would prefer I think

[14:16] the council would in some case I think you would prefer that bill. We defer to

[14:21] them. Every public hearing council, please summarize this. Council, please

[14:26] answer that. I just >> That's all.

[14:28] » Okay. I'd like to bring up something that was brought up at the last meeting

[14:31] also. It was a question that was never answered. Um, and I know Bill did say

[14:36] that you can operate, but as council members, um, I would like it tomorrow.

[14:43] Tomorrow, whoever it supposedly over the, um, information, the email that was

[14:51] sent from um, the chief, right? It was the chief's mail. Oh, no. Um, Mr.

[14:57] Bruce's Alex Bruce's email. Whoever opened for a copy of his email, I would

[15:02] like to see it. Can >> Yeah, that's what I'm saying. I'm

[15:05] letting her know this. So, tomorrow I'd like to see who opened Alex Bruce's

[15:13] email, please.

[15:17] Finish now. Okay. So, no discussion, no

[15:21] correspondence. The first item is introduction of ordinance

[15:25] 1655, the 2026 salary ranges for certain non-union and supervisory personnel. Do

[15:31] I have a motion to introduced by Mitchell, second by Carpenter? Since

[15:36] it's introduction, are there any uh comments, questions, or do you want to

[15:40] proceed to the uh

[15:44] Okay. So then uh please call the council president.

[15:50] » Yes. >> Council member Harington.

[15:52] » Yes. >> Council member.

[15:54] » Yes. >> Council member Met.

[15:56] » Yes. >> Council member Mitch.

[15:58] » Yes.

[16:02] Now moving on to public hearings and adoption of ordinances. We have

[16:05] ordinance 60 16 sorry 1653 amending chapter 3 of the beagota code entitled

[16:11] police regulations increase snow removal penalty around fire hydrants. Do we have

[16:16] a motion to go into public hearing? >> Motion by Mitchell. Second. Second by

[16:20] Kohl's. All in favor? I. Now is the public hearing on ordinance 1653

[16:25] regarding increased snow removal penalties on fire items. Anybody like

[16:29] forward do so? >> Seeing no one. I have a motion to close.

[16:34] » Second. >> Motion to close by carpenter. Second by

[16:36] male. All in favor? >> I. Okay. Do we have a motion to motion

[16:39] to pass? >> Motion to adopt by Carpenter. Second.

[16:45] » Second by Kohl's. Could you please call the RO?

[16:49] » President Kohl's. >> Yes. Council member Parker.

[16:52] » Yes. Council member. Council

[16:55] » member. Yes. And council member. >> Yes. Okay, I'll have uh council

[17:00] president preside over ordinance 1654. I he didn't note that I left the desk.

[17:07] Okay. Um ordinance 1654 amending chapter 2 of the

[17:12] BOD code entitled administration modify the purposes section of the BOD fire

[17:17] department.

[17:20] » Motion second. >> Yeah. If anybody from the audience

[17:24] public hearing

[17:33] as I did on this morning. I did raise in the introduction that the

[17:43] shall respond to all emergency situations when requested uh doesn't say

[17:47] by requested by who the former ordinance said but police

[17:54] department. So that's

[17:58] the purposes of the rescue squad as you're rescue squad

[18:04] and assigned to other departments including the fire department not

[18:09] completely transferring all the responsibilities

[18:13] fire department um I witnessed last meeting that the

[18:18] firemen really just want to put up fires um they want to be left alone they don't

[18:22] want to be micromanaged and they don't want to handle task. So we don't proceed

[18:28] but the records.

[18:34] Thank you.

[18:37] » Seeing no motion to close

[18:43] » a motion to adopt ordinance 165. >> So moved.

[18:47] » Second. >> Can you call the roll, please?

[18:50] » Council President Kohl's. >> Yes.

[18:52] » Council member Carter. >> Yes. Council member

[18:55] » excuse. >> Council member M.

[18:57] » Yes. >> And council member Mitch.

[18:58] » Yes. >> Thank you. Can I make a comment on the

[19:01] record please for the BOD fire department?

[19:05] They came here last week and they did not ever say that they were never going

[19:09] to take over any duties that the Lakota rescue squad did. And I'd like to know

[19:16] who said they weren't going to do any of the duties and what duties did they say

[19:20] they were not going to do. As far as I know, they stated that they were there

[19:24] to do everything when called for. So, can you please stop making things up

[19:30] like that because that was not and they're not m they it's not that they

[19:34] don't want to be micromanaged, >> but they are because you have you know

[19:39] you're invested in the rescue. So, you're micromanaging.

[19:42] » I haven't talked to them in two weeks. >> Okay. In two weeks since the meeting.

[19:45] Okay. That's fine. Before that, before that. So, again,

[19:48] » I'd be happy to share the email. Please do not say that they are not they do not

[19:52] plan on doing any anything that they're needed for because that never came out

[19:56] of any one of them. >> They're volunteers and when they're

[19:59] called they'll do what they need to do. Okay.

[20:02] » You were copied on the emails where they said

[20:03] » well I'm just saying do not say that they will not do anything that they're

[20:07] called for. When that bell goes out they'll do what they need to do like

[20:11] they've always done. >> Okay.

[20:13] » Look at the emails and speak forms. >> I don't care about the emails. I care

[20:16] about what you just said. >> They speak for themselves. Okay. I just

[20:18] heard what you just said. Okay. >> Okay. Fine.

[20:22] » Okay.

[20:25] Next uh item on the agenda is the >> Excuse me, Danielle. Can you please tell

[20:29] these two please stop talking? I didn't hear. Okay. Thank you.

[20:33] » I heard a cough. I apologize. >> Uh

[20:37] the next item is on the consent agenda. We have 20 26 81 82 83 84 85 and 86. Do

[20:45] we have a motion? Motion. Motion by Mitchell. Second by Carpenter. Could you

[20:49] please call the RO? Council >> President.

[20:51] » Yes. On everything except for 2026-86. I refuse.

[20:58] » Council member Parker. >> Yes.

[21:00] » Council member. >> Yes.

[21:02] » Council member. >> Yes.

[21:04] » And council member. >> Yes.

[21:06] » Okay. Next. A resolution to be voted on separately. Uh 202687 authorizing the

[21:11] sale of 13 East Fort Le. >> Motion by Mitchell. Second by Horurn.

[21:17] Is there any discussion? I just want to call

[21:19] » back.

[21:23] » Yes. >> Council member Parker.

[21:25] » No. >> Yes.

[21:28] » Council member M. >> Yes.

[21:30] » Council member Mitchell. >> Yes.

[21:34] » Great. >> Thank you. Uh moving on to the payment

[21:37] of claims. Payment of claims 26-04. Payment of claims. Motion by Carpenter.

[21:41] Second. >> Second by Mitchell. Can you please call

[21:43] the role? >> As a clause.

[21:45] » Yes. on everything. I recuse myself on anything pertaining to the Bagota DPW or

[21:50] Superintendent Gordon Carpenter.

[21:53] » Yes. >> Yes. Recuse anything pertaining to fire

[21:58] department.

[22:01] » Yes. >> Council member Mitchell.

[22:04] » Yes.

[22:08] » Uh next on to approvals. The approval of the regular meeting minutes of February

[22:11] 19th. >> Motion.

[22:12] » Motion by second. Second by calls. Can you please call roll?

[22:17] » Council. >> Yes.

[22:19] » Council member Parker. >> Yes.

[22:20] » Council member. >> Yes.

[22:22] » Council member M. >> Yes.

[22:23] » And

[22:27] next item on the agenda is the approval of the close session minutes of February

[22:31] 19th. >> So moved.

[22:32] » Motion by Carpenter. >> Second.

[22:33] » Second by Macau. Can you please call the RO?

[22:36] » Council President Kohl's. >> Yes.

[22:38] » Council member Carpenter. >> Yes.

[22:40] » Council member. >> Yes.

[22:41] » Council member Male. >> Yes. and council member Ring. Um

[22:45] Mitchell. >> Okay. Uh next, um late entry, but

[22:51] important entry, uh boot drive fundraiser for the Pagota Junior Police

[22:55] Academy, Saturday, May 9th, 2026. >> So moved

[22:58] » from 9 to 9:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the intersection of Palisade Avenue and East

[23:03] Main Street. Motion by Carpenter. >> Second.

[23:05] » Second by male. Could you please call the role?

[23:08] » Counc. >> Yes.

[23:10] » Council member Carton. >> Yes.

[23:11] » Council member G. Yes. >> Council member K.

[23:14] » Yes. >> And council.

[23:16] » Yes. >> Is um just as maybe Mike can answer is

[23:20] are you going to have the kids there or is that just going to be your

[23:23] instructors and stuff? >> I think the last time we said the kids

[23:27] can be cheerleaders on the sideline. >> Yeah. I was just just out of curiosity.

[23:30] » Yeah. I have no problem. >> Not in the street.

[23:34] » Um okay. Next, uh, the appointment of Alumi Ojo as a new member of the Bagota

[23:42] Recreation Committee for a three-year term expiring December 31, 2028. This is

[23:46] something that needs council consent as I

[23:49] » motion. Motion by Mitchell. >> Second.

[23:52] » Second by I'll give it to her. Could you please call the role?

[23:55] » Council President. >> Yes.

[23:57] » Council member Carpenter. >> Yes.

[23:58] » Council member. >> Yes.

[24:00] » Council member Max. >> Yes.

[24:01] » And council member. >> Yes.

[24:03] » Okay. Uh now opening up to the second citizen remarks motion. Motion byel

[24:08] second. Second byurn. All in favor. Okay. You can please come forward. State

[24:12] your name. >> Sorry.

[24:16] You guys said there was no question.

[24:22] Um I have it right pulled up and I'm happy to use my five minutes to help you

[24:28] guys remember what actually happened last week. Let's see. Eight

[24:36] 0 seconds.

[24:49] » This was the St. Joe's wanted to report

[25:02] » and then Bill came in with his membership statement. So there was no

[25:06] question you guys had moved on from membership and fire and all the things

[25:11] and that was just interjected from a text spread and possibly shown. I I

[25:16] don't see that on camera on film on tape but it was interjected. It was after

[25:24] we talked about it. It was onto a different subject and it was interjected

[25:28] and it was growing information because the true part didn't take us all.

[25:32] Some of us just

[25:42] want to know why I put up the name. >> Oh, just made your menty

[25:47] hand the phone to show you what was going on in Richmond Park before he

[25:52] spoke. So that's why your name was mentioned.

[25:54] » So you need my permission.

[26:00] When you talk about the Oprah and Oprah, uh, apparently today I found out the

[26:07] hard way from the lawyer that you have to have all specific information. So,

[26:12] you have to know exactly what number is involved.

[26:15] Uh, >> okay. If we are not enforcing the

[26:21] garbage ordinance, uh, why is it there? Obviously, it has been uh sent out as a

[26:27] warning essentially to the whole town and it's not being acted on. So, if

[26:32] we're going to have a dead law in the books

[26:36] and yes, there was a couple questions from

[26:39] the first round that nobody answered. What are the cost savings resulting from

[26:44] the closing the rescue squad? What is the budget for the training of the fire

[26:48] department personnel assuming their role? What's going on with Ken in the

[26:51] building? Thank you.

[26:58] Seeing no one else. Motion to close. >> Motion to close by. Second.

[27:01] » Second by calls. All in favor? >> So Joe, to answer you specifically, um

[27:09] » it's not that we're not enforcing as we said the we are we are giving warnings.

[27:13] We're letting the commercial properties know. um you know some of the apartments

[27:18] just you know we we had two I don't want to say I guess historic

[27:23] snowstorms in the past six weeks. We're we're trying not to go after people

[27:28] right now for for every little thing. Um, you know, I I think that I spoke

[27:33] with Nick this week. Um, and I spoke with Dan Deowski, our health officer,

[27:38] and you know, we are going to attack it more seriously when spring comes, let's

[27:42] say another month. Um, obviously, we came up with this this law for a reason.

[27:46] As you said, we didn't do it for for for no reason at all or to not enforce it.

[27:51] Um, however, we really just got this done just before the end of last year.

[27:55] And I, you know, I didn't feel it was appropriate to uh necessarily be going

[28:00] and attacking everybody as soon as, you know, that's not how we how we govern

[28:03] here. We're not, we don't put a law out and then see if people caught up to it

[28:06] yet. You know, we give them some time to um to make sure that they understand why

[28:10] we made these changes. And and as the mayor said, you know, there's we try to

[28:14] warn everybody first. Everybody gets a warning. um you know to but at the end

[28:18] of the day the the goal is compliance and education to get compliance. Um

[28:23] however I I can promise you Joe uh if we start seeing the uh bags piling up that

[28:29] aren't allowed uh on Main Street Palisades Queen Anne you know and and

[28:35] other places obviously around the burough we're going we're going to start

[28:38] penalizing people for sure this this spring into summer. So, um, you know, as

[28:43] you saw, there was a, uh, a fire hydrant update on there. Um, that was a problem

[28:50] during these past storms. Uh, you know, the fire department and, uh, fire, you

[28:55] know, Danny and fire prevention, Nick Burice, we spoke with, uh, our attorney,

[28:59] Bill Fetish. Um, you know, that's where we've uh addressed a lot of our

[29:03] attention in the past few weeks with that is to, you know, come up with this

[29:06] plan to make sure that we're um keeping the town safe by holding people with

[29:10] fire hydrants in front of their properties accountable because that's

[29:13] that's the ordinance. Um, we're also looking into um also uh uh updating and

[29:20] Bill can correct me if I'm wrong. I think might be the same ordinance or or

[29:23] or in the same group of ordinances. Um we're looking to do um you know corner

[29:28] cleans for people because we got a lot of complaints about that this year that

[29:32] people who live on corners were not cleaning them and excuse me every other

[29:37] municipality um that I've spoken to that's that's what their ordinance reads

[29:41] is that the uh corner property is responsible to clean off a corner onto a

[29:46] crosswalk and the ADA ramp. Um, so that is probably going to be our next uh

[29:51] action when it comes to updating ordinances is is to make sure that's

[29:54] done so that we're prepared for next year's snow season. Luckily, we got it

[29:57] through we got through it this year without having a real, you know, major

[30:00] incident. But, um, you know, we're we're trying to improve every day. But, uh, as

[30:05] far as with the specifics with the garbage, I I promise you, Joe, you'll

[30:08] see a difference this spring. Um, and, uh, and I and I hope you hold me

[30:12] accountable for it. Um, as far as the other ones, um, there are some

[30:16] legalities revolving around, um, this entire fire and, uh, rescue process. So,

[30:21] I'm not going to get into specifics, but we don't have any set plans for the

[30:26] Kennedy building at the moment. This wasn't a cash grab to move that property

[30:30] off of our books. Um, you know, we'll we'll have to see what unfolds. That's

[30:34] all I'll say. Um, and I I I don't believe I can speak to any of the the

[30:39] other questions you asked um at the moment. So, thank you.

[30:43] » Well, Conno, I think uh there's no way right now we just merged

[30:49] » correct >> in January for for us to answer how much

[30:52] have we saved in two months, >> right? There's

[30:56] » is a ridiculous question >> and we're working on the budget right

[30:58] now. So, I could probably get back to you in about a month with

[31:00] » No, I would say more at the end of the year.

[31:03] » Put Well, no, I meant put aside for training for the fire department. Um I

[31:07] I'll try to get you that answer, Joe. Uh because I know that's the one you asked

[31:10] as well. Um, but again, right, as as Connie said, we are kind of in the

[31:14] process of these things. So, uh, hopefully I can get you an answer later

[31:17] in the year to some of those things. >> Also, Connor, we just, uh, approved last

[31:21] meeting, uh, for Pam Durr, who's going to be going through the training for

[31:27] the fire, the firefighter for the rescue,

[31:32] » right? >> So, we already have one person there.

[31:34] Just to touch base though on the garbage real quick is that it you can't hold

[31:39] it's tough to hold people accountable for an ordinance that we did that

[31:42] they're not necessarily aware of. So obviously it just went out on the

[31:44] calendar and this is obviously a problem that getting information out to our

[31:49] public right that you know ordinances that are been updated changed and stuff

[31:53] like that. And you know we talked about signage we talked about multiple things.

[31:58] we might want to go back to a quarterly newsletter because we're if we want to

[32:04] disseminate more information to our public and you know have updated

[32:07] ordinances we have to get it a better way out there and I get it we did it as

[32:11] a cost savings I'm assuming because it was done prior to me getting on but we

[32:15] might want to go back to a quarterly newsletter so we can basically educate

[32:19] the public on what ordinance has been changed and basically gives us the

[32:23] ability to enforce them but you're right we can't enforce something that they

[32:27] don't know about But if we go to a quarterly newsletter or find a better

[32:30] way of getting that information out, then we can enforce it as it needs to

[32:33] be. >> So when we had the um

[32:37] issues with recycling and people were putting the recycling in a plastic bag,

[32:42] » there is a yellow orange sticker. >> Yeah. That

[32:46] » was put on saying we're not picking that up. Unfortunately, you can't do that on

[32:51] a bag of garbage that the garbage people are going to pick up. Right. But that we

[32:54] that was a very effective. >> We're not picking up your recycling

[32:58] because it's in a plastic bag. Here's a yellow orange sticker telling you so.

[33:02] And I think that was a really effective form of educating public. I don't know

[33:06] how we're going to place a sticker on a pack of garbage.

[33:09] » Yeah, it's I mean it's difficult. >> We're just going to have to troubleshoot

[33:14] it and figure out something, you know? I mean,

[33:18] » again, we find we find people that are violating and, you know, we have that

[33:22] conversation with them. I mean, some people are going to disregard either

[33:25] way, but um I think the biggest problem that myself and the CFO tried tackling

[33:29] is it's just it's it's becoming so expensive to send letters out for every

[33:33] ordinance. Um you know, with the amount of households in in town, you know,

[33:38] we're talking thousands of dollars every time we want to send out a onepage

[33:41] ordinance. So, which as everyone here knows, I think most of our ordinances

[33:45] are in one page. Um so, we're trying to pick and choose. We're trying to be

[33:48] creative. Um, we thought about this year with budgeting, but you know, with with

[33:53] how many updates we do, we, you know, uh, we've been updating, you know, our

[33:56] ordinances that have been in much need of updating, you know, for the past, I'd

[34:02] say at least two years. Um, you know, few a few a meeting. So, um, we're we're

[34:07] going to work on that, Joe, and we're going to work to try and get that stuff

[34:09] out there to the public better. But, uh, right now, you know, it's just very

[34:14] costly when when we do it, uh, the oldfashioned way, which I know a lot of

[34:17] towns still do through, uh, USPS. Um, but, uh, but we'll we'll continue to

[34:22] improve on that. >> Can we just drop something in their

[34:24] mailbox? Like say like our we can't >> you we could you could you can put for

[34:29] temporarily in in >> put in the door

[34:31] » online. No, online >> on our web.

[34:33] » Well, we do we put the stuff up there on the web.

[34:36] » Set up door knockers. Let the kids >> You mean like a card they can shove in

[34:38] the front door? something, you know, and then, you know, we could the DPW sees

[34:42] something, they could log the address, it gets forward to Nick, and Nick can

[34:46] drop it. >> DPW is not picking up the garbage, so

[34:47] you almost need to have like Nick go around the

[34:50] » Well, yeah. I mean, getting our Yeah, absolutely. But the tough part is I've

[34:54] even spoke to Gordon, but it's hard. You know, we we have a smaller DBW in in

[34:58] other towns sometimes, I don't know if this

[35:02] » is legal, but they'll they'll have the guys as they're picking up garbage slide

[35:06] into, you know, like like the door jam, they'll they'll slide it.

[35:10] » As a private vendor, they're not going to do it,

[35:12] » of course. And you're not doing this at every house. You're doing this as just

[35:16] for garbage. If we did this on our recycling days with the DPW, we could

[35:21] probably Well, I've talked to Gordon. It would be very tough because again, we

[35:24] only have so many guys and >> well perhaps perhaps perhaps Nick says,

[35:29] "Okay, this week I'm going to do these three streets and shoves them in the

[35:33] doorway." But it doesn't necessarily like if say during recycling happens,

[35:38] they can just radio into Gordon an address, Gordon logs it and then then

[35:43] you know the following day if Gordon or Nick or whatever goes there and puts the

[35:48] blackard there. Hey, listen on this date this was done incorrectly. This is your

[35:53] your warning. You know what I'm saying? And in there you could put this goes for

[35:57] recycling and trash, you know, so this is what needs to be done. But as long as

[36:01] you're logging the addresses, you can go back at a later time. And as long as

[36:05] you're the date, hey, on this date, this was observed,

[36:09] » you know? I mean, I we got to get creative because like you said, it we

[36:13] can't just keep on mailing out stuff. It's just

[36:16] » Yeah, it's expensive. >> It's not going to be cost effective.

[36:18] We're working right now towards your point. Um

[36:21] » Nick Nick actually started this for us. Um getting every other department

[36:25] involved. Um we are starting basically a welcome package for people in town. that

[36:30] is um going to have some of these ordinance that are most pertinent to us

[36:34] and our operations. Um we're also going to have um you know uh almost almost

[36:40] like frequently asked questions for each department and their answers. Um plus

[36:45] you know I'm going to ask the clerk's office to help with putting together

[36:48] something that shows for when people move into town, you call Violia for your

[36:52] water, PSEG for this that you got to go through this to do this. And that way,

[36:56] you know, I I'm hoping we you know, the one thing we started this with was we

[37:00] wanted to get stuff out to the apartments because those people are

[37:03] probably the farthest from our reach. Um uh uh you know, as far as communication

[37:08] because a lot of them don't have a big presence in town on a regular basis.

[37:12] They come, they go, they you know, a lot of them work in the city or elsewhere.

[37:16] And we see it with um you know, parking parking during storms and whatnot. There

[37:20] were a lot of violators with some of our older apartment buildings. And we want

[37:24] to make sure that the landlords there or the building managers are getting these

[37:29] people this information that hey, we get it. You rent. This might only be

[37:32] temporary, but we want you to adhere to our rules and and help us make our

[37:35] operations as smooth as as we can for um you know, for residents. So, we started

[37:40] with that. We're trying to build off of it and kind of throw in there the idea

[37:44] of like the uh the the quarterly newsletter where we're getting this

[37:47] information out and we hope that um I'm going to get a price for that to be

[37:50] printed and then we hope from there that if if it's successful, if it works, if

[37:54] we hear good feedback from from you guys, from the public, from our frequent

[37:58] visitors here, that um maybe we take that next step to looking as you said

[38:02] back into doing that quarterly and updating and and new messages from you

[38:07] guys and whatnot. So, we're we're definitely working.

[38:11] is a good idea. How would you plan to disseminate that like as a we do a co

[38:16] maybe like just drop it off with the CO and like hey can you give this to the

[38:19] new tenant you know kind of thing. >> We were going to have them in every

[38:22] department. I asked Nick uh to make sure that we print stacks and we literally

[38:27] hand them to every prop like a commercial property owner so that

[38:31] they're aware. But as you said like we'd like to have some in the clerk's office,

[38:35] the tax office when people come in for that. Um and and again, you know, we we

[38:39] haven't we'll look at a price to see. We we were having the same internal

[38:43] conversation. Can we have somebody go in door door to door, slide it in the door,

[38:47] something like that, you know, what would this all cost? But right now,

[38:50] we're just trying to work together to put together the information and

[38:54] hopefully in in maybe another month, we we will be at the point where I can

[38:57] report back to you guys and say, "Hey, this is what we found. This is what

[39:00] we're looking at as far as pricing if we do it this way." Um, but again, it's

[39:04] just as you guys know, the cost of everything is just going up.

[39:07] » Take a look at Richfield Park. I believe they have a welcome package on their

[39:09] website. >> I'll do that, man.

[39:11] » Not that that's the only way, but one way and the realtors are another way.

[39:16] And just >> Yeah, absolutely.

[39:18] » Um, I'd like to go back to one of the statements were made before because

[39:23] » to be honest with you, I was not given that report that I asked for because the

[39:28] lazy for police department said he was going to look into it, which I know you

[39:32] did. So, if we can give the update to the rock throwing incident that

[39:36] happened. >> You know,

[39:40] I basically forgot about >> Okay. All right.

[39:46] » We'll circle back up. >> The next meeting. Thank you.

[39:49] » Okay. >> Well, before is the timeline.

[39:51] » Okay. Okay. So, we can move on to um executive

[39:55] » want to tell everybody that we'll have a recycling day at the county on Saturday.

[39:59] » Please do. >> You can do announce it.

[40:02] Well, there's a hazardous waste day on Saturday. So, if you guys have any

[40:05] waste, bring it over to the county. We'll take it

[40:08] » where community or >> it's over at Little.

[40:13] » Thank you. Okay. Um, going on to close session or resolution

[40:20] 202688C, close session. The matters are

[40:24] litigation and personnel. Um, action may or may not be taken. Do we have any idea

[40:28] how long this will be? So I don't I think those are updates. So 30

[40:36] minutes. >> Okay. Approximately 30 minutes. Uh do I

[40:39] have a motion to go into close? Motion by Mitchell, second by Carpenter. All in

[40:43] favor? >> Okay.

[40:59] Life

[41:15] Okay. >> All right. It's working.

[41:18] » Okay. Welcome back from close session. Uh do we have a motion on promotions?

[41:24] » Yes. So now you have to say what the motion is.

[41:26] » Um I'd like to um so I start with the first one. Correct. Okay. I'd like to

[41:31] make a motion to promote John Gallupi to the rank of sergeant.

[41:38] » Is there a second? >> I'll do I'll give a second to

[41:41] Commissioner Male.

[41:45] The motion by Paul, second by Muel. Would you please call the RO?

[41:49] » Council President Kohl's. >> Yes.

[41:51] » Council member Carson. >> Yes.

[41:53] » Council member, >> yes.

[41:55] » Council member Muel, >> yes.

[41:57] » Council member Mitchell, >> yes. and counc.

[42:02] » Thank you. Congratulations. >> Congrats.

[42:05] » Is there um >> I'd like to make a motion to make Ryan

[42:09] Ward >> um to the rank of sergeant.

[42:14] » Motion by motion by Cole, second by Carpenter. Would you please call the

[42:17] roll? >> Council President Kohl's.

[42:20] » Yes. >> Council member Carpenter.

[42:22] » Yes. >> Council member member G.

[42:23] » Yes. >> Council member M.

[42:25] » Yes. >> And council member Mitch.

[42:27] » Yes. Council member absent motion pass. >> Okay. Congratulations to Mr. Ward. Um

[42:35] next I guess would be a motion to adjurnn. Correct.

[42:37] » So moved. >> Motion by Carpenter.

[42:39] » Second by male. All in >> favor. Good evening.

[42:58] There's always a tough week here.

Bogota Mayor and Council Meeting - March 5, 2026

Transcript