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This meeting to order.
Please rise and salute the flag.

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» I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America, and to the

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republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and

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justice for all.

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» Roll call, please.
>> Mr. Meen.

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» Here.
>> Mr. Wakielski.

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» Here.
>> Miss Castoni.

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» Here.
>> Miss Devenezia.

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» Here.
>> Mr. Balin is absent. Miss Mazie.

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» Here.
>> Miss Lopez.

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» Here.
>> Mr. Weisman.

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» Here.
>> Mr. Lynch.

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» Here.
>> Mr. Plasternak.

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» Here.
>> Mr. Henry.

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» Here.
>> And Miss Bonswich is here.

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» Notice of this meeting has been provided
to resolution adopted by the mayor and

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council on December 15th, 2025 as
regular meeting of of the mayor and town

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council at the Boonton Town Hall, 100
Washington Street, Boonton, New Jersey,

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and by electronic mailing to the
citizens of Morris County and the Daily

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Record newspapers, through posting on
the town website, and by filing copy of

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the same with the town clerk.
Members of the public were also

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permitted to submit written comments
prior to the meeting via mail or email,

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which may be summarized or read in their
entirety during the public comment

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period. All public comments, whether
during the public portion of the meeting

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or submitted beforehand, shall be
limited to no greater than 3 minutes in

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duration.
Now, we'll move on to our

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administrator and committee reports,
starting with Town Administrator Neil

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Henry.
>> Thank you, mayor. Highlights from the

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administrator's office for the time
period of June 1st through today that

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are not included on your agenda are the
following. I've begun the transition

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planning on all projects being handled
by the current town administrator to the

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new incoming town administrator. I did
have the occasion to attend a mandated

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court appearance last week on a personal
matter.

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I would like to announce the
installation of 14 safety sticks on Main

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Street beginning in July. This is new
equipment being tested to help enforce

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parking laws already in place.
The safety sticks are solar

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solar-powered with radar technology to
detect and document vehicles illegally

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parked in no parking zones. Photographic
evidence of each violation will be

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reviewed by the Boonton Police
Department personnel and if warranted, a

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violation will be mailed to the
registered vehicle owner.

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Safety stick personnel will not have
access to the Department of Motor

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Vehicles DMV records.
Any DMV record searches necessary for

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enforcement purposes will be conducted
slowly by authorized Boonton Police

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Department personnel and tomorrow
morning we will begin sharing the safety

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stick information on our website. Phase
two of the town's veteran banner program

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is now complete. I'm happy to report
there are over 100 banners that are up.

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Phase three will commence in January for
the next round.

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And this afternoon I our new
superintendent Eric Orr, our new DPW

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superintendent Eric Orr and I met with
members of the OEM team to update each

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other on best practices moving forward
on storm management. That concludes my

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report this evening.
>> Thank you. Any comments or questions for

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Mr. Henry?

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Seeing none, we'll move on to finance
and personnel.

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» Council member Weisman.
>> Thank you, Mayor. In our last couple of

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meetings we've gone over a number of the
change orders that are in this agenda as

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well as continuing work on closing out
the last budget issues

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including salary. There's some in this,
there'll be some other additional salary

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ordinances in our next at our next
meeting. And continuing some of the

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other projects that the committee is
working on, but our most our most timely

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stuff we really been focused on lately
is all represented in this agenda, these

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change orders that we take.
>> Thank you. Any comments or questions

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from Council member Weisman? Seeing
none, we'll move on to police committee.

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Council member Cascone.
>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

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Police Committee met on June 9th. We had
a wonderfully productive meeting.

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We can confirm that the camera project
for Boonton has been funded. This will

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provide cameras in
um

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areas such as Canalside Park, Peabe Park
and Main Street. The speed signs for

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Washington Street, Morris Avenue,
Vreeland and Oak Street are being

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installed this week. So, keep an eye out
for those.

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Um
There was an accreditation board meeting

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last week on the 11th with Chief Patanik
um

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and uh Captain Lamandri went to or
Oh, Lieutenant Mondino.

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Um
and

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it was it went well.
It went well? That's fantastic. That's

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what we want to hear.
Uh [laughter]

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Uh there was a discussion about the Tone
Road and

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287 North intersection to see if we can
um

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remediate some of the issues that have
had with the residents of Tone Road. I

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can confirm that the street painting for
287

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that indicates that 287 ramp is not
visible. It is gone.

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So, that needs to be redone.
Um but that is something that we are

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taking seriously and looking into. Um
There was a discussion about

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um left-hand turn issues for Division
and Main. This is also being looked into

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and we will have further information
later. Um one last thing is there is a

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summer camp that is being um
held for the sixth graders of John Hill

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School. This is being run by Officer
Hopkins. We have about 26 sixth graders

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that will be attending and I'm sure that
they will have

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week.
And that concludes.

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» Thank you. Any comments or questions for
Councilwoman Scotto?

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» I have a comment. I just want to also
reinforce what um Neil said about the

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safety sticks. Um just want to make sure
we have this documented and recorded.

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So, installation of the safety sticks
will be um

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going on Main Street beginning of July.
This is new equipment, but just reminder

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that it's new equipment, but it's it's
it's being installed to enforce the

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already laws that have been in place.
Safety sticks will be solar-powered with

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radar uh with uh radar technology
to detect um

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to detect the vehicles who which are
illegally parked. Um photograph evidence

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will be sent to the Boonton Police and
will be reviewed and warned

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and will be warranted
if a vio- if if there is a violation

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will be mailed to the um
the offender.

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Safety stick personnel will not have
access to DMV records and any DMV

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records searches necessary for
enforcement purposes will be conducted

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solely by authorized Boonton Police
Department department.

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And tomorrow morning, like Neil said, we
will be sharing this information on our

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web- website. So, take a look if you're
interested in finding out more

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information on
this new enforcement. Thank you.

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» Thank you.
Moving on, I'm Planning Board,

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Councilwoman Mazur.
>> Yes, thank you, Mayor. So, the Planning

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Board met on June 10th
and there was a discussion to revise uh

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the process of expedited waivers of site
plan.

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So, just so I can explain this to you,
it it's called an ES- a EWSP and it's a

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process which an ordinance does support,
26-21,

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and it's allowed to expedite any kind of
site plans for the B-1 district, which

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is the business district in Buellton at
that would be Main Street. Um this

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expedite this expedited site waiver
allows for B1 owners to make changes

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from their commercial uh businesses to
residential or mixed-use.

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Um what the planning board wanted to be
able to do is possibly have some

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oversight on this if that is possible
because currently EWSPs are becoming

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more and more frequent. I believe we
have three uh that that a committee has

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um taken in to take a look at to make
sure that there are going to be no

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structural changes done to the outside
of the building. It would be all done on

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the inside.
So the question was should we have the

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planning board
be an oversight committee for something

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like this. So that is that is something
that the

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planning board is kind of tossing around
and we're trying to figure that out. Um

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and the reason for that is is when
you're going from a commercial space to

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a residential space, they want to make
sure that there's no tiny living spaces.

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They want something appropriate if there
is going to be residential.

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Uh the mayor did make a comment at that
particular meeting and said residential

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businesses on Main Street are really not
beneficial to our commercial

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um
to our commercial businesses.

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The resi- the residential. Am I correct
in saying that?

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» I said that.
>> All right.

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I Okay.
>> I'm happy to make a comment when you're

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done.
>> Okay, that's fine. I didn't I didn't

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want to I didn't want to speak for the
mayor, but I I thought there was

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something like that. So
um that's that is what's happening right

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now. There was a memo that was asked to
be written

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um
uh by Chris Colley. He works for

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topology and he'll be uh
um addressing some of those concerns in

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moving commercial spaces into
residential spaces with these types of

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applications.
And that concludes my report.

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» Okay, I'll fill in a little bit. This uh
process is pretty unique to Boonton.

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There's very few other towns that offer
this and it was designed to streamline

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if if there's a commercial enterprise
and they want to switch from one type of

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commercial enterprise to another type of
commercial enterprise. So, they didn't

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have to go to planning board and take
them months perhaps and and all kinds of

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fees. So, it was designed to streamline
that. Uh in the last couple of years,

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there have been no additional
residential units permitted other than

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ones that were grandfathered and they're
now permitted. So, now we're seeing some

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changes from what was commercial space
to residential space and we want to uh

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perhaps revisit, you know, what the
residential standards are on our our

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Main Street and perhaps exclude the
residential conversions from this

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process. We don't want to slow it down
for commercial enterprise because if,

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you know, if there's a vacancy and it
was a you know, a a deli and now it

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wants to be a restaurant, we want to you
know, that to be as quick as possible.

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So,
>> That Maybe that

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» That was the correct comment. That was
the correct comment. My my mistake.

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» Yes.
>> So,

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» Sorry.
>> Yes.

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» Clarify um
that um these residential conversions

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are are restricted to second floor and
above spaces. It's not street level,

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correct?
>> It's not street level or or basement, I

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don't think. So, I think it's
>> It I think one actually was

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semi-basement. It was basement in the
front but walk out in the back. So,

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we're trying to have planning board uh
review, you know, for years and years,

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probably decades, you couldn't do any
additional residential. But now that we

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changed that, you know, perhaps this one
fell through the cracks and we're going

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to make sure that there's planning board
review or or that's a proposal, you

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know, has to come before this board for
change in ordinance but we'd like to

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have uh planning board approval when it
converts from commercial to residential.

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» And then that would come to this to the
the governing body.

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» it's an ordinance, so yes, yeah.
>> So, I think

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» But I think it's going to initiate as a
uh recommendation from the planning

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board.
But we've seen three so far this year.

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Okay. Any other comments or questions?
>> I'm sorry. What was the name of this

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» That's you.
>> [laughter]

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» expedited waiver.
>> Yes, an expedited waiver site plan.

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And there is a currently a committee of
three, I believe, that that oversee this

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right now, and that's where those plans
get looked at.

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You know, to make sure that they conform
with zoning and things like that. But,

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to the mayor's point, we want to be able
to possibly have oversight on it as a

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council.

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Anyone else?
You have another question? Sure.

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» So, this would um
expedite commercial to commercial,

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commercial to resident, and
>> No, no, no. It right now it allows, you

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know, if you meet certain criteria
and there's no changes

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I don't know if change is the right
word. Uh if you want to go commercial to

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commercial, you can do whatever you
want. Right now, if you want a

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commercial to uh residential I assume as
as long as whatever the the the code is

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for residential, you can do that. But, I
think the planning board would like to

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have some oversight when it goes
commercial to residential. But, we still

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want to have it be as streamlined as
possible for commercial to commercial.

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Good?

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» [laughter]
>> All right. So, if if I have a commercial

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um on the second floor, and I now want
to move that to residential, that's what

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we're speaking to.
>> You're permitted to, but we're trying to

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uh the what the planning board board
would like to do is perhaps have

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planning board review before it's just
automatic.

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» Got it.
>> And I think we also want to review the

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the standards for residential, because
when we allow residential, we didn't

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address what minimum standards might be.

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Okay.
You can go yet.

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All right.
>> You're fine.

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» So, I want you to understand.
>> So, and what was the So, what is the

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process now? Like, if I want to do
commercial to residential, it's just

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like a like I to planning board, it has
to

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» No, to
>> not currently. Not currently. We're

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trying to remove the commercial
residential to have that come before the

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planning board.
>> Okay.

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» For years and years and years you
couldn't go to you couldn't add any

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additional residential on Main Street.
>> Got it.

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» And then we we passed the change the
ordinance maybe 2 years ago that

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permitted that.
But

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this expedited
>> waiver waiver

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» Yes.
>> [laughter]

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» wasn't existing before. So these
commercial residential got caught up in

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00:13:55,200 --> 00:13:58,160
that and I don't think that was the
intent.

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00:13:57,240 --> 00:14:01,040
» Okay.
So Louisa, there's still a committee

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that reviews this.
>> Yes.

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00:14:01,360 --> 00:14:04,040
» It just doesn't come before the planning
board.

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00:14:03,160 --> 00:14:05,720
» Okay.
Okay.

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00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:10,000
I think I got it.
>> I'm just going to give you a quiz so

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00:14:08,440 --> 00:14:12,480
Next up
Board of Education, Council member

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00:14:11,160 --> 00:14:16,400
Cascone.
>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

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00:14:14,200 --> 00:14:20,760
Uh Board of Education met on June
evening of June 8th.

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00:14:18,200 --> 00:14:23,040
Um
Let's see.

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00:14:22,240 --> 00:14:29,720
Uh
We wanted um was the uh last meeting

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00:14:26,840 --> 00:14:33,880
that the uh student representatives um
from Boonton High School and John Hill

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00:14:31,440 --> 00:14:39,640
School were presenting to the Board of
Education. So we'd like to congratulate

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00:14:35,839 --> 00:14:45,040
Nicholas Fava and Ivana Rebello um for
presenting um for John Hill School and

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00:14:43,120 --> 00:14:48,480
Boonton High School respectively
um all year. They did a fantastic job.

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00:14:47,240 --> 00:14:53,000
It was
and they got um little plaques. It was

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00:14:50,080 --> 00:14:56,120
very nice for them to be um recognized.
>> Good.

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00:14:53,640 --> 00:15:01,960
» Um there was an AVID accomplishment
presentation. So um I don't know how

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00:14:58,600 --> 00:15:05,080
many people are aware of the um AVID
um

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program that goes on within John Hill
School and Boonton High School. Um

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Booton uh Booton is actually a national
demonstration school for this program.

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00:15:13,839 --> 00:15:20,800
So we have other schools that come to
and other um board members from other

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00:15:18,360 --> 00:15:26,800
districts that come to our school to see
how to implement this program. So, out

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00:15:24,040 --> 00:15:31,040
of um the schools in New Jersey,
specifically for Boonton High School,

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Boonton is one of three total national
demonstration schools within the state

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00:15:32,640 --> 00:15:38,760
of New Jersey.
Within the entire United States, we're

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one of 207.
This is

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honestly
a a something

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00:15:43,520 --> 00:15:49,760
that should be screamed from the
rooftops for Boonton. We are, you know,

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00:15:47,680 --> 00:15:54,800
we we are a demonstration school for
this fantastic program that a lot of the

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00:15:51,840 --> 00:15:56,840
students like to be in. It gives them
um

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better understanding of how to work
within colleges and to move forward with

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00:16:04,080 --> 00:16:09,400
their greater academic
um

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accomplishments. They learn how to take
better notes. They

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00:16:14,880 --> 00:16:22,360
they learn how to interview with people.
They are interviewed by board members

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00:16:19,720 --> 00:16:28,040
and how they like the AVID program and
they are quite articulate. And our board

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00:16:24,720 --> 00:16:32,400
members were extremely extremely proud
of the students that were uh that taken

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00:16:30,400 --> 00:16:36,560
part of the last demonstration that came
to our school.

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00:16:33,600 --> 00:16:39,600
Um so
um

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00:16:38,240 --> 00:16:44,839
There wasn't there wasn't a whole lot of
this meeting. It was winding down for

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00:16:41,280 --> 00:16:49,440
the school year. Um
And there was a a bunch of personnel

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00:16:47,520 --> 00:16:52,960
changes. That's all within the agenda.
It's too much to mention here, but that

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00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:58,360
agenda can be found on the Boonton Board
of Ed website. Um I highly suggest that

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00:16:56,880 --> 00:17:02,480
everyone take a look. It's very
informative. Their meetings are also

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00:17:00,040 --> 00:17:06,000
open to the public and on Zoom.
So, if anybody has any questions,

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00:17:04,480 --> 00:17:08,240
they're there as well.
And

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00:17:07,319 --> 00:17:14,839
um
We they had their HIB self-assessment

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00:17:11,680 --> 00:17:18,079
for the state. Each building scored a 77
out of 78 and the state has accepted

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00:17:16,880 --> 00:17:19,199
those ratings.
>> Thank you.

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00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:21,640
» So.
And that's it.

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00:17:20,480 --> 00:17:26,400
» Any comments or questions?
>> I just one question which is when is

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00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:29,560
graduation? Do you know?
And if you don't

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00:17:28,040 --> 00:17:33,720
I apologize.
>> It's on Monday for John Hill.

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» 23rd?
>> Week tomorrow.

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00:17:34,320 --> 00:17:37,720
» For John Hill or for the high school is
different, right?

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00:17:36,640 --> 00:17:40,720
» Are they both the same day usually?
>> Oh, is it the same day?

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00:17:41,920 --> 00:17:46,400
» Anyone else?
Okay, next up Boonton Holmes Library.

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00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:51,680
May be Mayor Lunch.
Uh there was a meeting uh last Tuesday.

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00:17:49,320 --> 00:17:55,680
Uh rather quick meeting that followed
the the grand opening for the teen room,

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00:17:53,680 --> 00:18:00,320
which was funded by a I believe about a
$20,000 uh bequest from a member of the

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00:17:58,200 --> 00:18:03,880
Cerbo Lumber family and they used
basically all of it for the uh

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00:18:02,560 --> 00:18:08,880
for the teen room.
Um they're rolling out a potentially

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00:18:06,720 --> 00:18:14,280
discount membership for our neighboring
towns. Uh presently I think for $250 you

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00:18:11,760 --> 00:18:18,080
can have access to all the uh county
libraries all the municipal county

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00:18:16,120 --> 00:18:22,800
libraries and Boonton uh Holmes Library
is considering I I believe uh working on

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00:18:21,120 --> 00:18:25,600
the plans to roll out perhaps Boonton
Township doesn't have their own library

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00:18:24,040 --> 00:18:29,480
for for a lesser fee just to use our
library and our programs.

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00:18:27,440 --> 00:18:33,240
And their audit's complete. Uh a couple
minor uh things that the auditors found

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00:18:31,920 --> 00:18:36,040
but nothing significant. So I think
they're pleased with that.

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00:18:34,640 --> 00:18:40,280
And that's my report. Any comments or
questions?

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00:18:37,720 --> 00:18:45,040
» Uh I would like to say that um Thea and
I attended the ribbon cutting for the

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00:18:42,720 --> 00:18:48,960
teen room and it is it was lovely.
>> It was a wonderful event. The space is

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00:18:46,800 --> 00:18:54,760
fantastic. I love what they've done.
It's it was really well done.

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00:18:50,920 --> 00:18:57,360
» Almost 100% funded by a a bequest from a
former resident.

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00:18:57,560 --> 00:19:01,840
Moving on, Parks and Rec. Councilwoman
Meaney.

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00:19:00,080 --> 00:19:05,520
» Thank you, Mayor. Um unfortunately we
were not able to meet in June. We did

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00:19:03,600 --> 00:19:08,960
not um have a quorum. A number of people
were out of town. So uh no major

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00:19:07,640 --> 00:19:13,840
updates.
Our resident uh Rec Director Tracy Prior

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00:19:11,520 --> 00:19:19,560
is also our resident weather guru. She
was uh quick on the draw of canceling

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00:19:16,360 --> 00:19:24,040
last uh or rescheduling last Friday's uh
movie. It's going to be moved to next

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00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:27,720
week on the 24th. So, it'll be at Grace
Lord Park. Come on out.

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00:19:25,800 --> 00:19:31,400
Enjoy a good time. Um some work has been
done up at Peppy. The uh gazebo was

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00:19:30,120 --> 00:19:34,800
power washed, some of the holes were
filled.

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00:19:32,480 --> 00:19:37,880
Um so, it's freshly redone. So, that's
going to be look nice. Uh

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00:19:36,760 --> 00:19:42,560
there's some gate issues go up there
that's underway and um

303
00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:47,040
Councilmember Cascone, I love hearing
that the cameras are finally going up in

304
00:19:44,320 --> 00:19:50,680
Canalside Park and Peppy. Um there's a
lot of work, a lot of expenses that are

305
00:19:48,440 --> 00:19:55,800
going up there and having some eyes on
it to slow down, prevent vandalism would

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00:19:52,760 --> 00:19:57,800
be go a long way. So, all good news.
Thank you.

307
00:19:56,640 --> 00:19:59,920
» Thank you. Any comments or questions,
Councilmember Mean?

308
00:19:58,680 --> 00:20:04,640
» I have a question for Councilmember
Mean. The uh misting flowers in Peppy

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00:20:02,600 --> 00:20:09,840
Park, I understand that they were not
winterized correctly and are currently

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00:20:08,600 --> 00:20:15,360
inoperable?
>> That's correct. I Tracy, would do we

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00:20:11,720 --> 00:20:15,360
have a plan to get those fixed? Did

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00:20:16,520 --> 00:20:23,080
» Okay.
>> Uh it is not going to be replaced.

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00:20:21,800 --> 00:20:27,920
There was something happening during
winterization, I believe. Uh that's kind

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00:20:25,640 --> 00:20:33,040
of the word and the answer I'm getting.
So, unfortunately, we're in the process

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00:20:30,400 --> 00:20:36,080
of finding someone that can come in and
fix that.

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00:20:34,120 --> 00:20:39,240
But, they they will be done. They are
working on it. I

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00:20:37,840 --> 00:20:41,760
can't tell you how quick it's going to
get done now, but I expect it to be

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00:20:40,840 --> 00:20:44,920
done.
It's going to take some time.

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00:20:43,400 --> 00:20:47,789
» Okay.
Thank you.

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00:20:45,960 --> 00:20:49,809
» It'll be done in time to winterize them.
>> [laughter]

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00:20:49,920 --> 00:20:52,520
» Anyone else?
>> Thank you.

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00:20:51,480 --> 00:20:55,720
» Okay, moving on. Fire Department,
Councilmember DeVaney.

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00:20:56,480 --> 00:21:00,800
» Fire Department, let me find my notes
here.

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00:20:58,920 --> 00:21:03,400
Um
Uh

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00:21:01,560 --> 00:21:08,880
So, the Boonville Fire Department
celebrated their 135th anniversary with

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00:21:05,960 --> 00:21:13,520
a picnic and a group photo on the 31st
of May. I will tell you I was not able

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00:21:10,400 --> 00:21:15,760
to attend that, but boy it smelled good.
Um

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00:21:14,680 --> 00:21:20,840
uh
in the month of May they responded to 38

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00:21:18,240 --> 00:21:26,880
calls of varying types for an additional
14 of mutual aid. Um two of note uh that

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00:21:25,520 --> 00:21:31,040
are outside of the month of May is
earlier this month uh in the middle of

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00:21:28,920 --> 00:21:36,280
the night our fire department was called
out with three alarm fire in Denville uh

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00:21:33,280 --> 00:21:39,680
which seriously damaged a cafe
on West Main Street. Um there were a

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00:21:38,240 --> 00:21:43,720
number of other departments that were
called out to that fire and and you

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00:21:41,560 --> 00:21:48,520
know, it's just an example of of how
important mutual aid is in in in all

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00:21:46,080 --> 00:21:52,640
these towns that that um have volunteer
fire departments in addition. Um they

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00:21:51,320 --> 00:21:56,640
were called out to a fire in Mountain
Lakes just yesterday, a house fire. Um

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00:21:55,080 --> 00:22:00,080
you know, that was knocked down fairly
quickly and thankfully no serious

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00:21:58,960 --> 00:22:06,080
injuries considering that there was a
party going on at the house at the time.

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00:22:02,280 --> 00:22:08,920
Um and uh
there was one other thing that I was

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00:22:07,040 --> 00:22:14,800
going to say and now it's on my brain.
So, that concludes my report and uh

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00:22:13,120 --> 00:22:18,760
Oh yeah, there there
Nope, it's

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00:22:16,440 --> 00:22:22,760
word up, you know, uh
mark your calendars for the Labor Day

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00:22:20,040 --> 00:22:26,520
parade and the carnival.
>> Are there any comments or questions for

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00:22:23,840 --> 00:22:29,720
Council member Devenezia?
Seeing none, we'll move on

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00:22:28,440 --> 00:22:33,200
to tonight's [clears throat] main event,
presentation from Boonton Main Street on

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00:22:31,880 --> 00:22:35,760
the the work they're doing at Town
Square Park.

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00:22:42,920 --> 00:22:46,760
» There's a microphone that may or may not
be on.

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00:22:47,640 --> 00:22:50,400
Do we have an easel?

349
00:22:57,080 --> 00:23:00,200
» There's a mic in front of you too,
Frank.

350
00:22:58,680 --> 00:23:03,840
» Okay.
You said You said it was at the bottom

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00:23:01,600 --> 00:23:03,840
of the note.

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00:23:04,400 --> 00:23:06,920
It's possible that

353
00:23:07,120 --> 00:23:11,880
» All right. Okay.
I want

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00:23:12,080 --> 00:23:16,320
» Everybody
Hello.

355
00:23:14,760 --> 00:23:18,960
» You can take the mic out if you want to.
>> Sure.

356
00:23:18,000 --> 00:23:23,000
Okay.
My name is Mandy DeNezio. I'm a resident

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00:23:21,000 --> 00:23:27,640
of Boonton and I'm here with my team who
I'll introduce shortly. We were asked to

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00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:31,720
give a informational overview of the
project that we're doing at Canal Side

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00:23:29,160 --> 00:23:34,800
Park. So, that's what we're here for.
Um we really have just prepared a

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00:23:33,040 --> 00:23:38,360
general presentation. So, if there are
questions or things that kind of go

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00:23:36,840 --> 00:23:42,800
outside of that scope, we'll just ask
that we can get back to you with any uh

362
00:23:40,880 --> 00:23:46,120
formal responses, but this is supposed
to be like an informal informational

363
00:23:44,920 --> 00:23:50,920
overview.
Um so, what it is Um if you could go to

364
00:23:49,040 --> 00:23:54,960
the next slide and my friend Neil's
going to be There we go. Um so, it's an

365
00:23:53,160 --> 00:23:59,000
effort spearheaded by the Boonton Main
Street Design Committee to reclaim the

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00:23:56,640 --> 00:24:04,280
green spaces of Canal Side Park and
convert them into stunning native and

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00:24:01,280 --> 00:24:09,480
non-invasive gardens. So, where? The
area in uh scope of the project is along

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00:24:07,160 --> 00:24:12,640
the Main Street side of the park within
the stone retaining wall. You can see

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00:24:11,040 --> 00:24:16,120
part of it here.
Thank you, Frankie. That you can see

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00:24:14,440 --> 00:24:20,960
zone one there. It's the area that's
inside the retaining wall.

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00:24:18,120 --> 00:24:25,000
Um it's going to be divided into zones.
Um we're going to complete one zone at a

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00:24:22,560 --> 00:24:28,880
time cuz it's a really long park.
Um and why are we doing it? The park is

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00:24:27,080 --> 00:24:32,920
currently overgrown with invasive
species, which is both bad for the

374
00:24:30,640 --> 00:24:37,560
environment and bad for Boonton,
creating beautiful natural seasonal

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00:24:35,480 --> 00:24:41,640
displays will draw visitors and
revitalize interest in this incredible

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00:24:39,640 --> 00:24:46,640
park while restoring areas targeted by
the whole Highlands Coalition and

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00:24:43,880 --> 00:24:50,080
providing a healthier ecosystem. So,
when?

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00:24:47,880 --> 00:24:55,000
Starting in summer 2025 and running
through at least 2028. The park has a

379
00:24:52,720 --> 00:24:59,720
very long footprint. It's a It's about a
thousand linear feet. So, as I said,

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00:24:56,920 --> 00:25:03,640
we're going to work on it in zones, and
the idea is that we can kind of focus

381
00:25:01,920 --> 00:25:07,400
and deliver
like zone by zone

382
00:25:05,640 --> 00:25:11,040
to the residents of Boonton year after
year, so it's like something happening

383
00:25:09,680 --> 00:25:15,680
every year.
Um so, the goal for 2026 is to

384
00:25:13,680 --> 00:25:20,520
reclaim the area of the park adjacent to
the Plane Street parking lot, which we

385
00:25:17,400 --> 00:25:24,520
are referring to as zone one. And who
So, I'm Madigan Easy. I'm the leader of

386
00:25:22,320 --> 00:25:28,680
the Boonton Main Street
um design team. I've got Frankie

387
00:25:27,120 --> 00:25:31,800
McDonald's here, who's a design
committee member and a Main Street

388
00:25:30,320 --> 00:25:37,080
business owner.
Um our subject matter expert, Daryl

389
00:25:34,800 --> 00:25:42,720
Jones, he is a former Boonton resident
and um Morris County park employee. And

390
00:25:40,440 --> 00:25:47,160
um our another subject matter expert is
Kyle DeVecchio. He's a Boonton resident

391
00:25:45,080 --> 00:25:51,680
and a landscape architect. So, you can
see we've got a lot of brainpower and um

392
00:25:50,080 --> 00:25:55,520
I also want to give a huge thank you and
recognition to Natalie Spingold, who's

393
00:25:53,560 --> 00:25:59,560
the leader of the Boonton Main Street
and has given us a tremendous amount of

394
00:25:57,360 --> 00:26:04,040
support. And a thank you to Tracy Prior,
who has enabled us to do this project.

395
00:26:03,200 --> 00:26:07,480
Um
So,

396
00:26:05,760 --> 00:26:11,200
how uh this is going to be a
volunteer-led effort, so BMS design

397
00:26:09,800 --> 00:26:16,240
committee will take responsibility to
secure all the resources that we need.

398
00:26:13,640 --> 00:26:20,640
We had an initial budget of $5,000 from
BMS and have been awarded 3,000

399
00:26:18,520 --> 00:26:27,120
additional dollars from the Highland
Coalition, allowing us to continue in

400
00:26:23,520 --> 00:26:32,200
2026. Um we received permission from the
town via Tracy Prior on June 10th of

401
00:26:29,560 --> 00:26:35,960
last year, and we have a certificate of
insurance in place and have been working

402
00:26:33,920 --> 00:26:39,720
ever since. So, here's an overview of
the project and what we've accomplished

403
00:26:37,680 --> 00:26:44,120
in just over a year.
So, if you could scroll a little bit,

404
00:26:41,400 --> 00:26:46,600
yeah. So, step one, I'm going to turn it
over to Daryl.

405
00:26:45,200 --> 00:26:49,560
» Sure.
Thank you.

406
00:26:47,680 --> 00:26:53,440
Uh
Yeah, um

407
00:26:51,200 --> 00:26:56,800
So, uh I came into this as a natural
resource manager for the Morris County

408
00:26:55,200 --> 00:27:02,040
Park Commission. So, we have some nearby
properties, Tourne County Park, Pyramid

409
00:26:59,040 --> 00:27:07,640
Mountain, just up the road. Um invasive
species management is a um

410
00:27:04,800 --> 00:27:12,480
growing effort and a necessary part of
manage managing our natural areas. Um

411
00:27:10,600 --> 00:27:17,440
and there's been an increased
importance on managing those spaces in

412
00:27:14,280 --> 00:27:22,840
between urban parks, green spaces, and
really any opportunity that we can um to

413
00:27:20,640 --> 00:27:27,800
eliminate emerging invasive populations
and promote native plants specifically,

414
00:27:25,680 --> 00:27:31,840
um you know, is why I really came on
board here. So,

415
00:27:29,400 --> 00:27:37,480
uh when we came into this project, um
the first step was kind of identifying

416
00:27:33,640 --> 00:27:43,040
which species were on site. Um coming up
with a a schedule, um different ones

417
00:27:40,560 --> 00:27:48,440
require a different timeline for control
methods um to give us the best chance to

418
00:27:45,680 --> 00:27:52,800
economically kind of um set the stage
for the native plants and the

419
00:27:50,160 --> 00:27:57,520
wildflowers and um beautification that
we want to do following up. So,

420
00:27:54,960 --> 00:28:02,240
uh we could go to the next slide there.
Um so, we identified a list of uh

421
00:28:00,000 --> 00:28:05,880
species in zone one. Uh there are some
additional species that we've identified

422
00:28:04,320 --> 00:28:10,160
further down the line that will will
update this list as we go. Um I won't go

423
00:28:08,480 --> 00:28:13,720
through all these, obviously, but uh
I'll just highlight a couple.

424
00:28:11,960 --> 00:28:18,800
Uh there's some really aggressive vine
species. So, um

425
00:28:16,360 --> 00:28:22,400
invasive species for those of you who
aren't familiar or just as a reminder,

426
00:28:20,920 --> 00:28:25,920
um they're
uh species that have been been

427
00:28:23,480 --> 00:28:31,120
introduced outside their natural range.
Uh and in terms of plant species, they

428
00:28:28,480 --> 00:28:37,000
can become super aggressive and inhibit
native plant growth and disrupt local

429
00:28:33,520 --> 00:28:42,000
ecosystems. Uh and in this case, um the
invasive vines that are growing in Canal

430
00:28:38,800 --> 00:28:46,640
Side Park really inhibited um zero
native plant regeneration. Uh so, we

431
00:28:44,800 --> 00:28:49,960
really needed to wipe the slate clean
and give us a nice

432
00:28:49,160 --> 00:28:55,160
uh
planting um slate to kind of build off

433
00:28:52,720 --> 00:28:59,120
of. Uh so, black swallow-wort and
Japanese honeysuckle were really the

434
00:28:56,840 --> 00:29:05,720
main targets here that were growing as
one large monoculture across the whole

435
00:29:01,400 --> 00:29:10,640
site um that we really had to uh
uh reset completely. Um so, we'll get

436
00:29:08,720 --> 00:29:13,520
get to how we did that in a second. Uh
and just one other one that I wanted to

437
00:29:12,000 --> 00:29:19,000
note, you may have heard of tree of
heaven or Ailanthus altissima. Um that's

438
00:29:16,800 --> 00:29:23,080
the preferred host tree species for the
spotted lanternfly.

439
00:29:20,640 --> 00:29:26,800
Uh and so, that was growing uh and still
is growing in large number throughout

440
00:29:25,040 --> 00:29:31,200
Canal Side Park and some of the adjacent
properties. Um especially the small

441
00:29:29,600 --> 00:29:36,360
trees that are growing out of that
sloped section can support thousands of

442
00:29:33,880 --> 00:29:40,320
the little nymphs that then will uh
emerge um later on in the summer, grow

443
00:29:38,920 --> 00:29:45,960
into the adults that we see flying
around uh Main Street. So, um so, that's

444
00:29:43,760 --> 00:29:49,880
kind of uh our approach to this uh
invasive species um control that we

445
00:29:48,440 --> 00:29:54,640
started last year.
Uh and if we go to the next slide,

446
00:29:53,520 --> 00:29:58,840
um
so, these are a couple just example

447
00:29:56,440 --> 00:30:04,680
photos of how um
some of these species uh

448
00:30:01,760 --> 00:30:08,920
and we can go to one more slide.
Uh so, really there's usually a a

449
00:30:07,280 --> 00:30:13,840
combination of approaches that you have
to do um when controlling invasives.

450
00:30:12,040 --> 00:30:20,160
Uh usually it's a multi-year effort.
It's always better to be um extra

451
00:30:16,920 --> 00:30:24,560
diligent early on and try to get um
uh exhaust the seed bank that may be in

452
00:30:22,280 --> 00:30:28,920
the soil. Uh so, we really wanted to
spend the whole first year really

453
00:30:26,520 --> 00:30:31,800
removing as many invasives as we could
and introduce a little bit of

454
00:30:30,120 --> 00:30:37,320
competition um
to the space as well. So, uh to minimize

455
00:30:35,400 --> 00:30:42,400
the use of herbicides, we really
emphasized mechanical control methods um

456
00:30:40,000 --> 00:30:47,000
Um, and uh ended up going with a
solarization technique, uh, which I

457
00:30:44,800 --> 00:30:51,120
think we do have a a slide that shows
what that looks like. Um, it consists of

458
00:30:50,160 --> 00:30:56,480
dre uh,
fixing thick plastic clear tarps over

459
00:30:54,080 --> 00:31:01,760
the entire slope after we went through
with hedge trimmers and cut everything

460
00:30:58,440 --> 00:31:07,760
back. Um, this uses the power of the sun
to just basically cook everything even

461
00:31:05,080 --> 00:31:11,680
through the soil and um, and sometimes
it can actually exhaust the seeds that

462
00:31:09,440 --> 00:31:15,920
are underneath. Uh, but again, this is
something that we've had to do two

463
00:31:13,120 --> 00:31:20,480
summers now. Um, we're really taking a a
thorough approach and Frankie has been

464
00:31:18,000 --> 00:31:24,760
instrumental in getting that uh, on on
schedule, so. Um, do we have a slide of

465
00:31:23,600 --> 00:31:29,120
the
next slide? Okay.

466
00:31:27,680 --> 00:31:32,960
Yeah, I don't think I'll pass back to
Amanda for it this point, but

467
00:31:31,200 --> 00:31:37,200
» Thank you. Thank you, Daryl. He's got
all the technical knowledge. Um, and

468
00:31:35,360 --> 00:31:40,560
then as far as then what's next is we
get to plant it up, which is very

469
00:31:38,560 --> 00:31:44,120
exciting. So, I'd like to give a
disclaimer. It's going to look worse

470
00:31:42,240 --> 00:31:48,600
before it gets better. You have to trust
the process. So, we had to, you know,

471
00:31:46,760 --> 00:31:51,600
solarize and add the tarps, which might
not be the most beautiful thing, but

472
00:31:50,080 --> 00:31:56,120
just wait until you see what that
enables. So, if you go to the next

473
00:31:53,760 --> 00:32:01,960
slide, um,
this is our current state. So, we have

474
00:31:59,200 --> 00:32:07,080
we, Frankie primarily, and [laughter] a
few other people have really removed a

475
00:32:04,960 --> 00:32:10,400
lot of the invasive species there and we
all work together to put the tarps on.

476
00:32:08,960 --> 00:32:15,880
The section in the middle what we had
the tarp on all summer last year. And

477
00:32:12,880 --> 00:32:19,640
then once the tarp came off, we were
able to plant rye seeds and what that

478
00:32:17,800 --> 00:32:24,000
does is stabilize the soil so it doesn't
erode and it also blocks some of the

479
00:32:22,200 --> 00:32:27,840
native spe- or invasive species from
coming back. So, right now this is what

480
00:32:25,800 --> 00:32:31,600
it looks like and then we're going to
talk about where it's headed and I'll

481
00:32:29,920 --> 00:32:36,480
have my friend Kyle take us through
that, but go one more slide.

482
00:32:34,280 --> 00:32:40,360
Um, again, yeah, about 90% of the zone
has been at least remediated, so we have

483
00:32:38,400 --> 00:32:44,360
the rye grass growing there now. It's
like a temporary measure, and when we

484
00:32:42,320 --> 00:32:48,800
when we're ready to plant for real,
we'll remove the rye grass.

485
00:32:46,160 --> 00:32:53,320
And then you can go one more.
So, the vision. So, uh what inspired

486
00:32:51,840 --> 00:32:57,400
this all?
Um you can go one more. There's

487
00:32:55,320 --> 00:33:00,680
beautiful public gardens like you see
the one on the left is

488
00:32:59,440 --> 00:33:03,400
um
by Piet Oudolf, who actually Rosemary

489
00:33:02,640 --> 00:33:08,720
has
introduced us to. He's done the um

490
00:33:06,120 --> 00:33:12,640
Highline Highline gardens in New York
that you see up all along the Highline.

491
00:33:10,400 --> 00:33:15,360
He also did um
He didn't do this, actually. Somebody

492
00:33:13,840 --> 00:33:18,880
else did it, but the native plant garden
at the New York Botanical Gardens at the

493
00:33:17,080 --> 00:33:23,040
top right. It's incredible. I highly
recommend you go. Some of the

494
00:33:20,400 --> 00:33:26,600
inspiration for our project. But then we
took that and we handed it over to Kyle

495
00:33:25,080 --> 00:33:31,400
cuz Kyle's actually a landscape
architect, and he's been donating all of

496
00:33:28,720 --> 00:33:34,840
his services for free to design this um
park. So, thank you, Kyle.

497
00:33:35,040 --> 00:33:37,320
» Hi.

498
00:33:37,600 --> 00:33:41,080
» All right. Don't worry, I'll send my
bill later. Um

499
00:33:40,043 --> 00:33:45,280
» [laughter]
>> Uh so, the plan is pretty simple. Uh as

500
00:33:43,200 --> 00:33:49,160
you can see in the aerial photo, uh it's
an area that backs up uh a lot of

501
00:33:47,160 --> 00:33:51,680
community events in the area. Obviously,
that's the farmers market that we're

502
00:33:50,440 --> 00:33:55,240
looking at now.
Uh so, it would be great to get a nice

503
00:33:53,080 --> 00:33:57,840
backdrop for that area. Um
again, like I said, the plan is is

504
00:33:56,760 --> 00:34:02,600
pretty straightforward. We're going to
stick with woodland edge line plantings

505
00:34:00,480 --> 00:34:06,280
along the borders. Uh so, on the left
where the trees are thicker and heavier,

506
00:34:05,040 --> 00:34:11,280
we're going to stick with things that
dwell in the shade, uh tolerate dry

507
00:34:08,760 --> 00:34:14,120
soil, and are are zone hardy.
Uh again, everything we're going to do

508
00:34:12,399 --> 00:34:17,040
is is native planting. That's the big
emphasis right now, which is a nice

509
00:34:15,720 --> 00:34:21,720
change of pace from what I deal with in
my day-to-day life. Uh everybody wants

510
00:34:19,520 --> 00:34:25,320
to design a a hydrangea and boxwood
garden. So, to do something that gets

511
00:34:23,159 --> 00:34:28,919
back to local natives and fauna is
really uh is exciting for me.

512
00:34:27,360 --> 00:34:32,320
Uh same goes for the right side of the
project. You'll note that there's a a of

513
00:34:30,280 --> 00:34:35,600
shade coming off of a a structure over
there. So again, it's going to

514
00:34:33,760 --> 00:34:39,040
accommodate a more
shade heavy planting. As we move towards

515
00:34:37,960 --> 00:34:42,679
the middle of the project, there's going
to be two main swaths. Everything is

516
00:34:40,879 --> 00:34:47,520
going to be planted in in mass. So
there's going to be, you know, figure 5,

517
00:34:44,280 --> 00:34:50,200
10, 15 of each plant to generate a zone
of interest. Um

518
00:34:49,000 --> 00:34:54,360
And we've worked really hard to make
sure that everything that we plant is

519
00:34:52,320 --> 00:34:57,040
going to bloom at a different time. So
we're going to have constant interest

520
00:34:55,520 --> 00:35:00,640
throughout the year. Even when we get to
the fall and winter months, we'll have

521
00:34:58,520 --> 00:35:03,920
things like the fragrant sumac, which
even though it doesn't

522
00:35:01,960 --> 00:35:07,320
give off the most beautiful flowers, it
does have a beautiful red foliage. So

523
00:35:06,120 --> 00:35:10,840
things that are going to constantly go
off. You know, we'll go from one flower

524
00:35:08,680 --> 00:35:14,360
to the next and generate more interest.
But to get back to the the central

525
00:35:12,200 --> 00:35:18,080
layout, we're going to move from sort of
a grassland area,

526
00:35:16,120 --> 00:35:22,640
which will be, you know, swaths of
beautiful grasses, some tall things like

527
00:35:19,840 --> 00:35:29,040
goldenrod, things that support local
wildlife, lots of butterfly uh

528
00:35:26,120 --> 00:35:32,240
loving plants or vice versa, butterflies
that love the plants.

529
00:35:30,360 --> 00:35:36,720
Uh and then as we move over to the to
the right side of it, we're going to do

530
00:35:34,080 --> 00:35:39,920
specifically sort of a butterfly garden.
Uh we also envision an area along the

531
00:35:38,560 --> 00:35:43,680
road where we might be able to get
sculptures maybe from Broadfoot and

532
00:35:41,240 --> 00:35:47,480
Maine or some local artists who we can
display in that area as well.

533
00:35:45,640 --> 00:35:52,640
I think it's a great opportunity for,
you know, the community to to come

534
00:35:48,800 --> 00:35:52,640
together and enjoy the space.

535
00:35:53,440 --> 00:36:00,320
» You can keep going.
Did a very, you know, general idea of

536
00:35:58,680 --> 00:36:04,000
what it might look like. This is the AI
generation, so please don't hold us to

537
00:36:02,520 --> 00:36:08,360
it exactly.
Um but you get the idea of it's a little

538
00:36:05,640 --> 00:36:12,520
bit wild, it's a little bit like
um carefree. It's not like a structured

539
00:36:10,360 --> 00:36:16,800
garden, you know, that you see in
everyday homes. It's it's got a lot of

540
00:36:14,480 --> 00:36:20,520
life to it and a lot of natural quality
to it.

541
00:36:17,880 --> 00:36:25,760
You can keep going.
Just another look at the same idea.

542
00:36:23,800 --> 00:36:29,960
You can keep going.
And then again, just want to reiterate,

543
00:36:27,600 --> 00:36:34,400
it takes time. These species are very
stubborn, so we might be going back over

544
00:36:32,480 --> 00:36:36,960
things a year later and then a year
later.

545
00:36:35,400 --> 00:36:41,400
Um so, we do expect it to take several
years.

546
00:36:38,240 --> 00:36:45,760
And then the next slide, please. Um
after we complete that, we want to keep

547
00:36:43,280 --> 00:36:51,880
going. The goal is to just do the entire
thing. So, we will take this area and it

548
00:36:48,920 --> 00:36:56,800
might not be exclusively natives, but it
will all be non-invasive plants. And you

549
00:36:55,080 --> 00:37:03,080
can go ahead and go forward, Neil. We
want to turn it into like an evergreen

550
00:36:59,480 --> 00:37:09,080
spring blooming forest. So, imagine
not hydrangeas. You got that in my head.

551
00:37:05,680 --> 00:37:13,520
Rhododendron, mountain laurel, azaleas,
um things that all bloom in the spring,

552
00:37:10,960 --> 00:37:18,000
but also stay green all year, so that is
just always something beautiful, but

553
00:37:14,920 --> 00:37:22,760
there's this like burst in like May to
really generate interest. So, that would

554
00:37:20,000 --> 00:37:26,880
be, you know, 2027 and beyond. We
haven't quite gotten there.

555
00:37:24,440 --> 00:37:30,560
And then next slide.
And then so, how are we going to do it?

556
00:37:28,280 --> 00:37:35,080
We do have a team. Um we have at least
five or six core members and then we're

557
00:37:33,560 --> 00:37:39,200
definitely gaining a lot of interest
along the way. We do have monetary

558
00:37:37,120 --> 00:37:44,120
support from BMS Main Street, so thank
you for that. We have our $3,000 grant

559
00:37:41,920 --> 00:37:48,080
from the NJ Highlands Coalition and we
just completed our application to get

560
00:37:46,280 --> 00:37:51,560
another one, so we're hoping, fingers
crossed, they like the progress and

561
00:37:49,600 --> 00:37:55,640
they'll fund us again.
Um Kyle has been working on actually

562
00:37:53,640 --> 00:38:02,160
obtaining water access from Boonton
Sewer and Water, so that's part of what

563
00:37:57,720 --> 00:38:05,520
we want to um curry your support for is
they've offered to give us a meter on

564
00:38:03,960 --> 00:38:09,760
the hydrant that's down there, so that
we can use it to water the gardens.

565
00:38:08,400 --> 00:38:13,400
Um
we're looking for support from you guys,

566
00:38:11,480 --> 00:38:18,800
just really from
a a

567
00:38:14,680 --> 00:38:22,440
not emotional us you know, just support
generally and like the goodwill of so

568
00:38:21,080 --> 00:38:27,720
that you guys feel like you're in the
know and like wanting to be a part of it

569
00:38:24,640 --> 00:38:31,360
or and things like that. And just
patience because it is going to take

570
00:38:29,320 --> 00:38:34,800
time. It It's going to take several
years to get through it, but we think

571
00:38:32,720 --> 00:38:39,840
it'll be really cool at the end. So,
that's what we have.

572
00:38:37,200 --> 00:38:39,840
» Thank you all.

573
00:38:42,600 --> 00:38:48,040
Any questions?
How's that questions?

574
00:38:45,320 --> 00:38:50,440
» I I just have maybe one or two.
>> Let's go for it.

575
00:38:49,040 --> 00:38:55,040
» Um
Question Question number one I think is

576
00:38:53,240 --> 00:38:56,360
Kyle, is that your name? I I'm blanking
on people's names.

577
00:38:55,760 --> 00:39:00,520
» That's okay.
>> Um

578
00:38:58,120 --> 00:39:04,440
how much maintenance is this going to
take it while it's getting established?

579
00:39:02,560 --> 00:39:08,720
I understand once it's once it's firmly
rooted that probably that maintenance

580
00:39:06,120 --> 00:39:14,040
requirement comes down, but you know, as
as we're starting this off, you know,

581
00:39:11,600 --> 00:39:17,160
» That's you know, I think yep. Off the
bat, I'm sure that there's going to be a

582
00:39:15,520 --> 00:39:19,440
lot of mechanical hand weeding that's
going to have to take place

583
00:39:18,040 --> 00:39:24,520
unfortunately once the solarization is
done and we've we've knocked out figure

584
00:39:21,200 --> 00:39:28,560
95% of the weeds, it's going to require
our dedicated team to continue to go out

585
00:39:26,080 --> 00:39:32,280
there and and maintain from a weed
perspective. From a watering

586
00:39:30,040 --> 00:39:35,280
perspective, you know, our goal is to
plant mostly in the fall to minimize the

587
00:39:34,400 --> 00:39:39,360
amount of water that we're going to
need. Plants can establish their root

588
00:39:37,520 --> 00:39:42,680
systems over the winter and then usually
by the time the spring comes back around

589
00:39:40,920 --> 00:39:46,760
they'll need minimal intervention if
any. If we end up with an exceptionally

590
00:39:44,800 --> 00:39:49,360
dry spring, then it will of course
require a little bit more assistance,

591
00:39:48,400 --> 00:39:52,560
but
you know, our plan is to be as

592
00:39:51,200 --> 00:39:57,280
straightforward and economical about
this and well thought out as possible to

593
00:39:55,080 --> 00:40:00,320
minimize impact to the town and
to the plants of course.

594
00:39:58,400 --> 00:40:04,080
» Well, it's certainly an improvement over
what's there now, so

595
00:40:02,080 --> 00:40:08,960
» To be fair, a dumpster fire might have
been an improvement, too, but

596
00:40:06,520 --> 00:40:12,480
» Um
I have an idea for the area by the

597
00:40:10,520 --> 00:40:16,360
waterfall, but that that we can take it
offline.

598
00:40:13,440 --> 00:40:16,360
» Sounds excellent, yeah.

599
00:40:16,720 --> 00:40:22,720
» Okay.
>> Um the one it looks great. Is

600
00:40:20,880 --> 00:40:26,440
is there opportunities or do you need
volunteer help from residents and how

601
00:40:25,240 --> 00:40:29,960
how would you envision that and how can
we get that going?

602
00:40:27,760 --> 00:40:35,120
» Thank you for asking. So we have our
Instagram BMS design team. So we're

603
00:40:32,720 --> 00:40:38,840
encouraging people to go through there.
For anybody who doesn't have Instagram,

604
00:40:36,720 --> 00:40:41,760
I can share my email with everybody
after the meeting.

605
00:40:40,280 --> 00:40:47,800
So you would just reach out to me and
I'll get you get anybody set up with

606
00:40:44,680 --> 00:40:50,880
There's plenty to do. So yes, thank you.
Yep.

607
00:40:49,920 --> 00:40:55,320
» Yeah, that's about the size of it. So
there is volunteer portal on there which

608
00:40:53,040 --> 00:41:00,360
goes directly to me and then BMS did it
through BMS for them and

609
00:40:58,120 --> 00:41:04,200
so just go to the BMS website and you
can volunteer. We have a volunteer sheet

610
00:41:02,000 --> 00:41:08,280
on there now. And so they will be put to
the pot to be put to this.

611
00:41:06,520 --> 00:41:11,320
» I have one other question.
In addition to the funding from Boot and

612
00:41:10,080 --> 00:41:15,680
Main Street and from the Highlands
Coalition, is there an opportunity for

613
00:41:13,160 --> 00:41:19,120
private citizens to donate or or help
fund this project?

614
00:41:17,000 --> 00:41:24,840
» Yes, I think along the same lines on the
BMS website, we do have a portal to

615
00:41:21,800 --> 00:41:24,840
donate directly.

616
00:41:25,320 --> 00:41:29,160
» Um we've
had that happen

617
00:41:27,480 --> 00:41:32,080
before and then and we'll just make sure
because

618
00:41:29,880 --> 00:41:36,320
I I see it all it all comes directly.
>> Yeah, it's all coming through BMS. Yeah.

619
00:41:35,240 --> 00:41:39,760
Thank you.
>> But there would be a way to earmark that

620
00:41:37,720 --> 00:41:43,000
donation specifically for this project.
>> Yes. Yes, so we have actually our own

621
00:41:41,200 --> 00:41:45,760
bank account within BMS.
>> Perfect. Thank you.

622
00:41:46,280 --> 00:41:50,920
» Anyone else?
This may be something they could perhaps

623
00:41:48,720 --> 00:41:55,200
partner with green team.
>> Yeah, I've spoken to Missy DeSalvo.

624
00:41:53,280 --> 00:41:59,000
She's interested in getting our teams
together as well.

625
00:41:56,720 --> 00:42:02,440
The green team, right? Yeah.
>> Well, thank you all for stepping up and

626
00:42:00,760 --> 00:42:06,800
trying to make our town more beautiful.
>> Thank you. Appreciate it. Thank you for

627
00:42:04,160 --> 00:42:06,800
your time.

628
00:42:10,200 --> 00:42:13,520
We can leave these here if you guys want
to look at them.

629
00:42:12,160 --> 00:42:15,720
» I don't need that.
>> Okay.

630
00:42:16,120 --> 00:42:18,760
» Thanks very much.

631
00:42:20,160 --> 00:42:26,120
Moving on to consent agenda, resolutions
26-145

632
00:42:24,120 --> 00:42:28,640
through 26-171,
can I get a motion to open this up for

633
00:42:27,280 --> 00:42:30,680
council discussion?
>> Move.

634
00:42:30,240 --> 00:42:32,560
» Second.
>> Ms. Cascone.

635
00:42:31,880 --> 00:42:33,840
» All in favor?
>> Aye.

636
00:42:32,800 --> 00:42:39,800
» Aye.
>> I have a one quick comment. Uh 26-151

637
00:42:36,640 --> 00:42:43,960
will be pulled. It was uh to fill a uh
position that the um person who had

638
00:42:42,200 --> 00:42:47,720
accepted no longer was interested in the
full-time position. So, we will not be

639
00:42:45,600 --> 00:42:49,200
voting on 26-151.
Other than that, do we have any comments

640
00:42:48,840 --> 00:42:51,960
or questions?
>> Yeah, just one, Mayor. Um

641
00:42:50,840 --> 00:42:55,200
although on the advice of council,
although it's not required, just because

642
00:42:54,000 --> 00:42:58,280
of my leadership role in the Boot and
Saddle Club, I'm going to recuse on just

643
00:42:56,760 --> 00:43:01,840
26-165,
which I'll do when we do the roll call

644
00:42:59,440 --> 00:43:01,840
vote.

645
00:43:01,880 --> 00:43:04,400
» Anyone else?

646
00:43:04,880 --> 00:43:11,200
Then I would close council discussion
and call for motion to adopt

647
00:43:09,760 --> 00:43:14,120
consent agenda.
>> So moved,

648
00:43:14,720 --> 00:43:19,680
Second, what?
>> Uh Mr. Weisman.

649
00:43:16,920 --> 00:43:22,760
» Okay. Only one bite each, please.
Um can we get a roll call, please?

650
00:43:21,480 --> 00:43:25,920
» Ms. Allen.
Ms.

651
00:43:23,360 --> 00:43:28,120
Cascone, sorry. Ms. Cascone.
>> Yes.

652
00:43:26,960 --> 00:43:29,680
» Ms. Devenezia.
>> Yes.

653
00:43:29,000 --> 00:43:31,440
» Ms. Horton.
>> Yes.

654
00:43:30,680 --> 00:43:33,000
» Ms. Eagan.
>> Yes.

655
00:43:32,200 --> 00:43:34,800
» Mr. Kermian.
>> Yes.

656
00:43:33,680 --> 00:43:39,280
» Mr. Weisman.
>> Uh recusing on 26-165,

657
00:43:37,440 --> 00:43:40,440
yes on the others.
>> Mr. Miller.

658
00:43:39,960 --> 00:43:41,840
» Me?
>> Yes.

659
00:43:41,000 --> 00:43:45,240
» Mayor Merrill.
>> Yes.

660
00:43:43,720 --> 00:43:49,560
Moving on to unfinished business,
ordinance 17-26, an ordinance amending

661
00:43:48,000 --> 00:43:52,880
the revised general ordinances of the
town of Boonton and providing for

662
00:43:50,800 --> 00:43:56,040
licensing and regulation of massage,
bodywork, and somatic therapy

663
00:43:54,680 --> 00:44:00,040
establishments.
Can I get a motion to open this up for

664
00:43:57,400 --> 00:44:00,040
public hearing?

665
00:44:00,680 --> 00:44:03,600
» Second, Megan.
>> All in favor?

666
00:44:02,600 --> 00:44:06,560
» Aye.
>> Any members of the public wishing to

667
00:44:05,160 --> 00:44:09,680
come forward to discuss just this
ordinance, please do so. step forward.

668
00:44:08,480 --> 00:44:14,000
The microphone's here for 3 minutes.
Just introduce yourself and make

669
00:44:11,040 --> 00:44:14,000
whatever comments you like.

670
00:44:15,800 --> 00:44:20,920
Seeing none, I will close the public
hearing and call for motion to open this

671
00:44:19,000 --> 00:44:24,440
up to town council discussion.
>> So moved, Divinagracia.

672
00:44:23,280 --> 00:44:25,720
» Second, Mian.
>> All in favor?

673
00:44:25,240 --> 00:44:28,040
» I.
>> I.

674
00:44:26,560 --> 00:44:31,440
Any members of the council have comments
or questions on this ordinance?

675
00:44:31,920 --> 00:44:36,280
» I just want to thank our health
inspector who worked very really closely

676
00:44:34,520 --> 00:44:39,840
after we tabled this. You know, we
worked very closely to get this back

677
00:44:38,440 --> 00:44:42,400
together and I think it's a it's a
really strong ordinance. I appreciate

678
00:44:41,080 --> 00:44:46,280
very much his time.
>> And the um

679
00:44:44,240 --> 00:44:48,840
local business that was concerned
happy with this?

680
00:44:49,240 --> 00:44:52,280
» Yep.
>> Anyone else?

681
00:44:51,280 --> 00:44:55,480
» And dare I say I think this will be a
model for some of the other uh

682
00:44:54,160 --> 00:44:58,200
» Okay.
Any other comments?

683
00:44:56,840 --> 00:45:01,360
Then I will call for motion to move the
ordinance 17-26.

684
00:44:59,840 --> 00:45:04,880
» So moved, Weisman.
>> Second, Divinagracia.

685
00:45:03,960 --> 00:45:06,680
» Roll call, please.
>> Ms. Castiglione?

686
00:45:06,040 --> 00:45:08,520
» Yes.
>> Ms. Divinagracia?

687
00:45:07,760 --> 00:45:09,920
» Yes.
>> Ms. Lopez?

688
00:45:09,320 --> 00:45:11,920
» Yes.
>> Ms. Mazzei?

689
00:45:10,800 --> 00:45:12,880
» Yes.
>> Mr.

690
00:45:12,240 --> 00:45:14,560
» Yes.
>> Mr. Weisman?

691
00:45:13,760 --> 00:45:16,120
» Yes.
>> Mr. Okilski?

692
00:45:15,440 --> 00:45:18,640
» Yes.
>> Mayor Wind.

693
00:45:17,040 --> 00:45:23,880
» Yes.
>> Next up, ordinance 18-26.

694
00:45:21,560 --> 00:45:26,400
An uh for introduction and title only, I
believe.

695
00:45:25,120 --> 00:45:30,480
An ordinance updating within the town
code of the Town of Boonton chapter 27,

696
00:45:28,120 --> 00:45:36,680
article 4, Fire Department, and chapter
36, Length of Service Award Program.

697
00:45:33,600 --> 00:45:41,440
Can I get a motion to introduce this?
>> I'll move it, Okilski.

698
00:45:38,920 --> 00:45:44,040
» Second Castiglione.
>> Can we get a roll call, please?

699
00:45:42,920 --> 00:45:45,880
» Ms. Castiglione?
>> Yes.

700
00:45:44,760 --> 00:45:47,400
» Ms. Divinagracia?
>> Yes.

701
00:45:46,480 --> 00:45:48,760
» Ms. Lopez?
>> Yes.

702
00:45:48,040 --> 00:45:50,160
» Ms. Mazzei?
>> Yes.

703
00:45:49,400 --> 00:45:51,680
» Mr. Mian?
>> Yes.

704
00:45:50,760 --> 00:45:53,440
» Mr. Weisman?
>> Yes.

705
00:45:52,440 --> 00:45:54,960
» Mr. Okilski?
>> Yes.

706
00:45:54,000 --> 00:45:58,120
» Mayor Wind.
>> Yes.

707
00:45:56,440 --> 00:46:02,000
» Next up, town council members,
administrator, and town attorney

708
00:45:59,320 --> 00:46:08,240
comments. Um I'm going to start.
Um, as has been my uh uh

709
00:46:06,200 --> 00:46:12,520
principles uh
uh my process during uh

710
00:46:10,800 --> 00:46:16,880
my 2 and 1/2 year terms as mayor is to
recognize meritorious service. Uh this

711
00:46:14,640 --> 00:46:20,360
is our administrator's last meeting for
a proclamation. Please join me.

712
00:46:30,920 --> 00:46:36,880
I pledge allegiance to the I pledge
allegiance to the flag.

713
00:46:33,600 --> 00:46:36,880
Town of Boonton proclamation.

714
00:46:37,320 --> 00:46:41,480
Whereas Neil Henry is retiring as
business administrator

715
00:46:40,360 --> 00:46:46,000
for the town of Boonton having
faithfully served since May 2017 and

716
00:46:44,000 --> 00:46:49,000
whereas Neil has lauded has been lauded
by the mayor, council, employees, and

717
00:46:47,720 --> 00:46:53,560
residents of Boonton for his selfless
service and valuable contributions to

718
00:46:50,800 --> 00:46:56,520
the town of Boonton and whereas Neil's
Neil's dedication and leadership have

719
00:46:55,160 --> 00:47:01,840
helped guide the town of Boonton over
the past 9 years and whereas throughout

720
00:46:59,520 --> 00:47:07,000
his tenure Neil has provided invaluable
expertise, guidance, and professionalism

721
00:47:04,280 --> 00:47:10,920
in service to the town and whereas Neil
has brought his extensive expertise to

722
00:47:08,920 --> 00:47:14,520
bear as both business
business administrator and qualified

723
00:47:12,440 --> 00:47:18,120
purchasing agent, skillfully guiding
employees,

724
00:47:16,000 --> 00:47:22,200
mayors, council members, and residents
as they work together to shape the

725
00:47:19,680 --> 00:47:25,480
landscape and future of Boonton and
whereas Neil has devoted countless hours

726
00:47:24,120 --> 00:47:28,360
to the review, preparation, and
attendance of meetings and municipal

727
00:47:27,000 --> 00:47:33,360
matters in furtherance of the town's
success and whereas Neil's commitment to

728
00:47:31,640 --> 00:47:37,080
public service often requires
significant personal sacrifice for which

729
00:47:35,160 --> 00:47:41,040
his wife, Leslie, and his children,
Alexandra, Bill, and Ted have shown

730
00:47:39,200 --> 00:47:44,080
unwavering support and understanding.
Now, therefore, I, James Lynch, on

731
00:47:42,800 --> 00:47:47,720
behalf of the governing body and the
people of the town of Boonton, do hereby

732
00:47:45,880 --> 00:47:51,000
extend our deepest gratitude and
appreciation to Neil for his many

733
00:47:49,160 --> 00:47:55,440
contributions to the growth,
revitalization, and continued success of

734
00:47:53,400 --> 00:47:59,360
our community throughout his years of of
service. Be it further proclaimed that

735
00:47:57,600 --> 00:48:02,560
the mayor, governing body, employees,
and residents of the town of Boonton

736
00:48:00,400 --> 00:48:06,040
wish Neil Henry continued health,
happiness, and success in all his future

737
00:48:04,560 --> 00:48:08,280
endeavors.
>> Thank you.

738
00:48:17,040 --> 00:48:22,080
First of all, I'd like to thank the
mayor. I know how you are about

739
00:48:20,120 --> 00:48:27,840
proclamations, so this is a big honor
for me. So, thank you for that. Um

740
00:48:25,520 --> 00:48:31,120
I remember uh growing up over Mendham,
and I knew Boonton for the firemen's

741
00:48:29,600 --> 00:48:36,280
carnival. We used to come up here on
Labor Day. So, when I took the job in

742
00:48:33,320 --> 00:48:39,440
2017, I didn't know much about Boonton,
uh but I've

743
00:48:37,560 --> 00:48:45,320
obviously learned a lot about it. I feel
like this is my second family. I spent 9

744
00:48:42,400 --> 00:48:49,680
years here. I think I can say that
I'm leaving Boonton in a much better

745
00:48:47,280 --> 00:48:54,200
place than what I found it. I will thank
the mayor and the council for the all

746
00:48:51,600 --> 00:48:58,960
all of their unwavering support. Uh I
feel we've got a really great um

747
00:48:57,440 --> 00:49:03,720
employee base.
We've made a lot of accomplishments. Um

748
00:49:01,600 --> 00:49:08,280
so, again, thank you for this.
I am looking for a foursome on July 1st,

749
00:49:06,160 --> 00:49:11,800
so if anybody's interested, you can come
see me. Thank you, everybody.

750
00:49:24,800 --> 00:49:28,480
» Any other uh council members?
>> Uh mayor, if I can make a comment, too.

751
00:49:28,240 --> 00:49:32,720
» Sure.
>> Um I just wanted to make a comment about

752
00:49:30,720 --> 00:49:36,560
the illumination of town hall for the
month of June.

753
00:49:34,160 --> 00:49:41,120
And I wanted to extend my gratitude to
the Boonton LGBTQ+ community and our

754
00:49:39,120 --> 00:49:45,080
Boonton allies. I realize the
illumination of town hall was not the

755
00:49:42,880 --> 00:49:48,400
desired result of proposed ordinance
11-26,

756
00:49:46,880 --> 00:49:52,720
and for that I'm disappointed, but
perhaps we agree that this is a small

757
00:49:50,200 --> 00:49:58,160
progressive step towards acceptance,
unity, inclusion, as well as visibility.

758
00:49:55,960 --> 00:50:03,560
Symbols do have strength and a rainbow
symbol is no exception. In closing, I've

759
00:50:00,880 --> 00:50:08,680
been reminded that we evolve
as understanding humans through

760
00:50:05,600 --> 00:50:12,720
conversation and not by opinion.
So, if anyone wants to start a

761
00:50:10,200 --> 00:50:18,000
conversation outside of this room and
off of this dais, I would be happy to

762
00:50:15,080 --> 00:50:22,120
participate. Just ask. Because this is
an opinion up here that I speak right

763
00:50:20,360 --> 00:50:26,240
now and I really want to be able to have
conversation with community if that's

764
00:50:24,480 --> 00:50:29,480
what it would take to be to gain some
more understanding.

765
00:50:27,960 --> 00:50:35,680
Uh thank you to Boonton for your
support. I am proud to represent this

766
00:50:31,640 --> 00:50:35,680
wonderful community and thank you again.

767
00:50:35,800 --> 00:50:41,280
» Thank you. Any other comments?
>> Yeah, just a couple quick ones for me.

768
00:50:39,480 --> 00:50:44,120
First, you know, thank you. It's really
been a pleasure working with you.

769
00:50:42,880 --> 00:50:48,640
» It's been great working for you, guys.
>> And um I should have noted this probably

770
00:50:45,800 --> 00:50:52,640
in the consent agenda vote, but um I do
want to congratulate Pat Laverty on um

771
00:50:51,120 --> 00:50:56,840
being appointed as town administrator.
It was a very It was a competitive

772
00:50:53,800 --> 00:50:58,720
search. Um the uh the Finance Personnel
Committee we

773
00:50:57,800 --> 00:51:01,840
first
Finance Personnel Administration

774
00:51:00,040 --> 00:51:05,560
Committee, that one. We spent a lot of
time going through this. I'm really

775
00:51:03,040 --> 00:51:08,760
excited um for for the work that you're
going to be doing. You're building on on

776
00:51:07,720 --> 00:51:12,000
everything we've been doing. So, thank
you and congratulations to you.

777
00:51:10,800 --> 00:51:17,520
Um
couple things that uh as well. Coming up

778
00:51:14,520 --> 00:51:21,520
on June 16th, which is this weekend,
tomorrow. It's also known as tomorrow.

779
00:51:19,680 --> 00:51:25,320
Um
I don't know how that's tomorrow, but I

780
00:51:22,800 --> 00:51:30,520
guess it is. Um there's another Narcan
training. Um Hope One, Lauren LoMotion

781
00:51:27,960 --> 00:51:33,960
Live at Lauren's Theater in Parsippany.
Uh I've done it at the Boonton Elks.

782
00:51:32,120 --> 00:51:38,680
It's a really a phenomenal phenomenal
training. Uh there's more information on

783
00:51:36,480 --> 00:51:41,480
uh if you go to LoMotion Live uh social
media, there's a lot more information

784
00:51:39,880 --> 00:51:44,800
there. But, if you haven't done it, I
highly highly recommend it. And thank

785
00:51:43,440 --> 00:51:48,320
you to Lauren, thank you to Hope One,
and I know Sheriff Gannon, this has been

786
00:51:45,960 --> 00:51:53,080
a big a big um push that he's been
doing. It's really terrific. Um

787
00:51:51,400 --> 00:51:56,560
Now I'm afraid to say how many days ago
it was. Two days ago I think it was,

788
00:51:54,880 --> 00:51:59,640
maybe it was yesterday
at the Boonton Elks Lodge was a

789
00:51:58,000 --> 00:52:03,720
fundraiser
for a young girl called Ellie Strong.

790
00:52:02,120 --> 00:52:07,640
It's really remarkable event. Cosmar
Cascone and I were both there along with

791
00:52:05,320 --> 00:52:10,360
Assemblywoman Marissa Sweeney and Ora
Dunn.

792
00:52:08,840 --> 00:52:13,920
It's really this is a family trying to
raise a significant amount of money for

793
00:52:11,840 --> 00:52:18,280
a critical medical van.
I encourage everybody to please go

794
00:52:16,000 --> 00:52:21,920
online just look up Ellie Strong on
social media and if you can to support

795
00:52:20,480 --> 00:52:25,680
this Boonton family and and what they're
trying to do. It's they need to do. It's

796
00:52:24,080 --> 00:52:30,920
it's it's huge. I think it was a
beautiful really a beautiful event.

797
00:52:28,160 --> 00:52:35,840
And the last thing is just a thank you
as well to the Elks and very Elks heavy

798
00:52:33,480 --> 00:52:38,880
I guess today. The Northwest District
Elks. I was the honor of representing

799
00:52:37,600 --> 00:52:42,360
the Boonton Elks
over the yesterday.

800
00:52:40,680 --> 00:52:45,200
Yep, yep that was I know that cuz it's
Flag Day yesterday

801
00:52:44,000 --> 00:52:50,760
up in
Sussex County at the annual Flag Day

802
00:52:47,880 --> 00:52:53,240
ceremony and flag retirement ceremony.
It's really beautiful. It's something

803
00:52:51,840 --> 00:52:56,440
I've loved doing. It's a beautiful
ceremony. We go through the whole

804
00:52:54,360 --> 00:52:59,840
history of the flag, all the different
flags

805
00:52:57,800 --> 00:53:05,440
that have represented this country. It's
extraordinary. And we the Boonton Elks

806
00:53:02,240 --> 00:53:09,520
Lodge we brought up well over 150 flags
that were retired. And I want to thank

807
00:53:07,680 --> 00:53:13,200
my fellow Elk Lisa Ruberto and I she's
you know the two of us spent a great

808
00:53:11,000 --> 00:53:16,480
deal of time folding flags
so that you have them properly folded

809
00:53:15,000 --> 00:53:20,560
for their retirement.
Just remind everybody that at the Elks

810
00:53:18,280 --> 00:53:24,320
we do have a flag drop box. If you have
a flag in need of retirement, please

811
00:53:22,480 --> 00:53:25,800
drop it in there. And that's those are
my comments.

812
00:53:25,280 --> 00:53:29,240
» Thank you.
>> Thank you.

813
00:53:26,520 --> 00:53:32,440
» Anyone else? John.
>> Thank you. Um

814
00:53:30,800 --> 00:53:35,680
I would like to congratulate all the
residents that are graduating middle

815
00:53:34,000 --> 00:53:39,240
school and high school, whether it's
Boonton,

816
00:53:36,920 --> 00:53:42,120
John Hill, Lumen Academy,
um

817
00:53:40,240 --> 00:53:46,800
Morris Catholic and so on. It's a big
day. Hope all the families enjoy that. I

818
00:53:44,560 --> 00:53:50,480
should be very proud having raised four
kids that graduate through the Boonton

819
00:53:48,000 --> 00:53:54,680
school system. It's a big day. So,
congratulations to all those graduates.

820
00:53:52,640 --> 00:53:59,000
And Neil, thanks to you.
This I've never been involved in

821
00:53:56,880 --> 00:54:01,760
politics before. You have an You had an
open door. I appreciate it. I learned a

822
00:54:00,560 --> 00:54:06,040
lot.
You're going to be missed. And Pat, you

823
00:54:04,160 --> 00:54:08,800
got some big shoes to fill.
So, thank you.

824
00:54:09,320 --> 00:54:12,400
» I have a comment.
>> Sure.

825
00:54:11,120 --> 00:54:17,040
» Uh yeah,
to piggyback off of what Councilwoman

826
00:54:15,320 --> 00:54:21,360
Meen said, congratulations to all the
graduates this year. My son is one of

827
00:54:19,560 --> 00:54:24,160
them. He's graduating eighth grade.
Straight A student four marking periods

828
00:54:23,000 --> 00:54:27,600
in a row.
So, very proud of him.

829
00:54:26,240 --> 00:54:31,107
And
that's only because I offered him a

830
00:54:28,840 --> 00:54:33,127
bonus at the end of the year.
>> [laughter]

831
00:54:33,440 --> 00:54:38,560
» So,
so congratulations

832
00:54:36,120 --> 00:54:42,040
to the graduates. And also, thank you
Neil for all the work you've done for

833
00:54:40,160 --> 00:54:47,240
this town. I know we've only worked a
short amount of time, but you have made

834
00:54:44,200 --> 00:54:50,760
my transition to Council member fairly
easy and and like very less

835
00:54:49,080 --> 00:54:52,440
intimidating. So, thank you. You will be
missed.

836
00:54:51,200 --> 00:54:56,652
» Thank you.
>> Um that's it for me.

837
00:54:54,080 --> 00:55:00,240
» Okay. Mr. Mayor, one one more for Neil.
>> [laughter]

838
00:54:57,760 --> 00:55:04,520
» Neil, you know, having having been up
here longer than almost anyone except

839
00:55:02,200 --> 00:55:09,160
perhaps Sy. Definitely Sy.
Um

840
00:55:06,520 --> 00:55:14,120
I just I want to thank you for your your
guidance at the beginning, your your

841
00:55:11,400 --> 00:55:17,720
fortitude in the middle, and and I will
miss working with you.

842
00:55:15,520 --> 00:55:22,600
» Thank you, Murray.
>> I would also like to

843
00:55:19,640 --> 00:55:26,480
send my thanks, Neil. I appreciate
Louisa said your open door policy, your

844
00:55:24,440 --> 00:55:31,280
willing to take phone calls and crazy
questions

845
00:55:28,360 --> 00:55:35,680
to you know, to help both in this new
endeavor in

846
00:55:33,400 --> 00:55:40,120
our lives. So, it is greatly greatly
appreciated.

847
00:55:36,600 --> 00:55:43,158
» Thank you, Daniel. I'm glad it helped.
>> Ditto, Neil. What everybody else said,

848
00:55:42,200 --> 00:55:45,920
ditto.
>> [laughter]

849
00:55:45,000 --> 00:55:48,160
» Sid, do you have something you want to
say?

850
00:55:56,360 --> 00:55:59,080
Thank you, Sid.

851
00:56:01,160 --> 00:56:08,560
All right. I think I said my piece.
All right. Uh moving on.

852
00:56:06,960 --> 00:56:12,560
Uh meeting open to the public. Any
members of the public wishing to raise

853
00:56:10,880 --> 00:56:17,280
uh any topic they like, please step
forward, introduce yourself. The

854
00:56:13,800 --> 00:56:17,280
microphone's yours for 3 minutes.

855
00:56:24,920 --> 00:56:27,640
He's pulled off.

856
00:56:29,320 --> 00:56:36,360
» Hi, my name is Teresa Keyser. By this
time, you know me. I'm

857
00:56:33,000 --> 00:56:41,760
living at 219 Mechanic Street.
I'm here to congratulate Patrick

858
00:56:39,080 --> 00:56:46,720
on his recent appointment as our town
administrator.

859
00:56:43,440 --> 00:56:51,800
I also want to personally
thank him for his responsiveness and

860
00:56:49,640 --> 00:56:56,120
professional courtesy that he has
extended to

861
00:56:53,400 --> 00:57:01,240
the Keyser family.
Patrick, uh

862
00:56:57,880 --> 00:57:05,880
you have a new job, and we wish you
success.

863
00:57:03,920 --> 00:57:12,040
But the person who follows you is going
to have to have another pair of shoes.

864
00:57:09,520 --> 00:57:18,080
I also want to ask Patrick
where we're going to celebrate tonight

865
00:57:14,080 --> 00:57:18,080
because he's responsible.

866
00:57:20,760 --> 00:57:26,760
You have to push it.
Uh Patrick's already stepping up.

867
00:57:32,240 --> 00:57:34,520
Anyone

868
00:57:37,400 --> 00:57:42,760
» Good evening, Rob Murray, 697 Booton
Avenue. I just wanted to thank

869
00:57:40,440 --> 00:57:46,840
Administrator Henry. I congratulate you
on your impending retirement. I wish you

870
00:57:44,760 --> 00:57:51,160
nothing but the best. During our brief
time together, I can echo the thoughts

871
00:57:48,800 --> 00:57:55,840
of the other other board members how
professional and accommodating you were.

872
00:57:52,800 --> 00:58:00,240
And good luck. Patrick, good luck. You
got big shoes to fill.

873
00:57:57,400 --> 00:58:00,240
» Thank you for your comments.

874
00:58:10,240 --> 00:58:16,480
» I'm Cliff Keyser. I live down on
Mechanic Street.

875
00:58:13,600 --> 00:58:21,320
I can't pass up this opportunity to
thank the town administrator.

876
00:58:18,400 --> 00:58:24,320
Who has been a very uh
close friend to me.

877
00:58:24,880 --> 00:58:32,240
Terrific follow-through.
And he'll be missed. So, thank you.

878
00:58:29,280 --> 00:58:32,240
» Thank you for your comments.

879
00:58:35,720 --> 00:58:43,160
» Ryan Vent, 217 Crown Road. Neil,
good luck.

880
00:58:41,000 --> 00:58:46,760
You made this this town a better place.
You made my family a better place.

881
00:58:45,200 --> 00:58:50,360
And for that, we you definitely going to
be missed. Hopefully, we see you in the

882
00:58:48,320 --> 00:58:54,600
Acme parking lot and could say hi. And
on behalf, and I thought this was

883
00:58:51,520 --> 00:58:58,350
actually pretty freaking This is funny.
My family and myself

884
00:58:56,240 --> 00:59:00,370
got you a bonsai tree.
>> [snorts]

885
00:59:11,960 --> 00:59:14,320
» Thank you.

886
00:59:15,800 --> 00:59:18,400
» Anyone else?

887
00:59:19,000 --> 00:59:24,920
» You were the letter man.
>> Seeing none, we'll close the public

888
00:59:22,520 --> 00:59:27,520
comment and ask our um
clerk to read a um I believe it may

889
00:59:26,840 --> 00:59:28,600
email
>> Yeah.

890
00:59:28,000 --> 00:59:32,440
» comment.
>> Okay. Um

891
00:59:30,120 --> 00:59:36,880
» from Susanna Pittman. Dear Town Council,
thank you for illuminating Town Hall in

892
00:59:34,400 --> 00:59:41,120
rainbow colors in recognition of Pride
Month. It is my understanding that this

893
00:59:38,720 --> 00:59:44,040
effort was a result of a collaborative
process that involved many

894
00:59:42,520 --> 00:59:48,120
conversations.
I appreciate everyone who took the time

895
00:59:45,960 --> 00:59:52,040
to engage in those discussions.
Conversations around complex and deeply

896
00:59:50,320 --> 00:59:56,560
felt issues are not always easy to
navigate, but they are often where the

897
00:59:54,080 --> 00:59:59,760
most meaningful progress is made.
Public comment and council member

898
00:59:58,080 --> 01:00:04,360
remarks during Town Hall meetings
provide important opportunities for

899
01:00:02,360 --> 01:00:08,480
expressing opinions, which is essential
to the democratic process. However,

900
01:00:06,680 --> 01:00:13,680
these forums are not always well suited
for the kind of dialogue that requires

901
01:00:11,120 --> 01:00:16,840
openness, vulnerability, curiosity, and
active learning.

902
01:00:15,120 --> 01:00:21,480
Over the years, I have invited council
members to have those conversations

903
01:00:19,560 --> 01:00:25,400
outside of public meetings, and several
council members from across the

904
01:00:22,840 --> 01:00:29,560
political spectrum have accepted that
invitation. In most cases, those

905
01:00:27,600 --> 01:00:34,840
discussions led to a greater sense of
understanding, appreciation, and unity.

906
01:00:33,160 --> 01:00:38,960
With that in mind, if you choose to
reach out to community members whose

907
01:00:36,640 --> 01:00:43,760
perspectives differ from your own, I
encourage you to first ask whether they

908
01:00:41,080 --> 01:00:48,120
are open to having that conversation.
As we have seen during public comment,

909
01:00:45,920 --> 01:00:52,240
these issues can be deeply personal and
emotionally charged, and for some

910
01:00:50,240 --> 01:00:57,840
individuals, those emotions may be
connected to past experiences or trauma.

911
01:00:56,000 --> 01:01:02,920
Approaching these conversations with
consent, empathy, and caring can help

912
01:01:01,160 --> 01:01:07,960
create the conditions for genuine
dialogue and mutual respect. Thank you

913
01:01:05,800 --> 01:01:12,600
again for this gesture of recognition,
and as always, thank you for your

914
01:01:09,840 --> 01:01:17,120
service to our town. Warm regards, Dr.
Susanna Pittman.

915
01:01:14,720 --> 01:01:17,120
» Thank you.

916
01:01:17,280 --> 01:01:21,640
Seeing no other comments, I'll call for
a motion to adjourn.

917
01:01:22,680 --> 01:01:26,800
» Second. You have a nice day.
>> All in favor?

918
01:01:24,640 --> 01:01:26,800
» Aye.