[39:16] That's what I mean.
[45:21] I heard that
heard.
[45:28] » How are you?
>> That's my team.
[45:31] » Hey, how you doing?
[45:38] Yeah, that's right.
[45:42] [laughter]
[45:51] » Somebody mine.
>> I had an ink.
[45:54] » I had somebody touch it.
[46:00] » Got to go. We got to start.
>> Ready.
[46:02] » Thank you. Ready?
[46:08] » No.
[46:26] Make sure my phone is on. Ringer on
to the Apple store.
[46:51] Does that not bother you? Right.
>> Okay. If it do, just let me know. That's
[46:56] all.
[47:03] Good evening. This is a conference
meeting of the municipal council of the
[47:07] city of Orange Township held at City
Hall, 29 North Day Street, Orange, New
[47:11] Jersey, on Tuesday, June 16th at 7:02
p.m.
[47:19] » Roll call. Councilman Coley,
>> present.
[47:21] » Councilwoman Een,
>> here.
[47:22] » Councilwoman Hilbert is absent. Council
Vice President Mig.
[47:26] » Councilman Ross,
>> present. Councilwoman Sims Johnson is
[47:29] absent. Council President Wooten here.
>> Also, President Trisha Cypio, Chris
[47:33] Hartwh, business administrator. Derek
Brown, fire chief. Now, Clemens, fi CFO,
[47:38] Brian Mooney, police chief,
Aaron, Miss Rahee, deputy city attorney,
[47:44] and Marlon G. Town's legislative
research officer.
[47:50] We'll now observe a moment of silence.
Is there any council person who would
[47:55] like to dedicate this moment to
something or someone?
[47:58] » Yes,
>> I do too.
[48:00] » Okay. Moment of silence. I attended a
funeral today from Orange High um David
[48:08] Marshall
>> from Orange High School uh class of 19
[48:14] uh 77
and he had he had it today
[48:19] unfortunately. one of my friends
>> and also council president uh um a uh a
[48:27] friend church member of Bethle Baptist
Church long long serving member uh she
[48:34] turned 100 years old not too long ago uh
Miss Ruth Brown and we would like to
[48:40] include her in this moment of silence.
>> What's her name again?
[48:44] » Ruth Brown.
>> Thank you.
[48:46] » Yeah.
And also for me is Miss um Emma Gaskins,
[48:51] longtime resident in the city of
Orangetown. She big family. Um she lives
[48:55] in the East Ward. Um she passed
recently. Yeah. 400 open.
[49:02] » And to
Walter Pewight who was a graduate of
[49:07] Orange High and a
star in the community teaching all the
[49:12] young kids how to swim. and we next
meeting I hope we will have a
[49:16] proclamation available for him. I'm
waiting for his obituary.
[49:22] » Thank you
so much for those. David Marshall, class
[49:26] of 77 Orange High School. Uh Ruth Brown,
100 years old. Emma Gins, who passed
[49:33] away, Emma, and Walter Peanut Wright.
Let's have a moment of silence.
[49:45] Thank you all.
Please be apprised. Anyone wishing to
[49:49] discuss agenda or general items shall
sign their name on the comment signup
[49:53] sheet and will be allowed a maximum of 3
minutes to interact with council.
[49:57] Sunshine law. The requirements of NJSA
10 col4-9s
[50:02] sunshine law has been met. A notice of
this meeting was sent to the Star Ledger
[50:06] and published in the record transcript
on Thursday, July 10th, 2025, posted on
[50:12] the bulletin board in city hall and
council's website, the city's website,
[50:17] and filed in the office of the city
clerk.
[50:23] Matters for discussion, we have none. um
legislation. The resolutions and
[50:30] ordinances to be presented at tonight's
meeting are listed on the attached
[50:35] regular meeting agenda. If any council
member wishes to discuss any resolution
[50:40] or ordinance, it may be discussed at
this time. Before we um go on, I would
[50:47] like to let council members know to
check their desk. There are two
[50:52] amendments that I want to present to
you. The fair ordinance
[50:59] 16-2026.
[51:04] If you go through there are strikeouts
and highlights for um for that
[51:11] ordinance.
Starting on the first page, you'll see
[51:15] the the word attached was removed twice.
on the third page and firefighting was
[51:22] deleted. Deputy police safety director,
chief of uh chief of chief of was
[51:29] removed. Emergency management was added.
Letter H was removed.
[51:36] Emergency management was added to J
by the direction of the mayor or
[51:42] business administrator was removed from
K.
[51:46] Number nine was removed. And on the last
page,
[51:50] um, the first line was removed. You you
should see all of the, uh, amendments
[51:55] inside on your desk. The second one is
ordinance 27.
[52:02] And on this
uh, the last page, it adds, you'll see
[52:10] the the additions added on the last page
for police chief, fire chief, and public
[52:15] safety director. Do all council members
see where the changes are, the
[52:19] amendments are?
>> Yes. Can I just make just one note to
[52:22] that?
>> Um, the fire director and police
[52:25] director should be stried out as well.
>> We have to do that in a separate
[52:32] ordinance after we abolish the position.
>> Okay. All right.
[52:41] Is there any
legislations that pieces of legislation
[52:47] that uh any council member would like to
discuss at this time?
[52:53] I have an amendment
for resolution 326 2026.
[53:00] And if you flip over to the second page,
[53:06] » the seventh recital.
>> 336.
[53:10] » 326.
>> 326.
[53:15] The seventh recital. It should read
Central Avenue and Carterette, please.
[53:21] Is that
[53:30] » Central Avenue and Carter instead of
Essex? Instead of Es
[53:39] » the seventh recital
>> and it shouldn't be S6.
[53:42] » You said 336 or 326?
>> 326.
[53:45] » Where was it?
number seventh recital down
[53:53] » on the second page.
And you see Central Avenue, we should
[53:58] say Central Avenue to to uh Carterette
instead of Essex.
[54:16] » Any other council members?
[54:24] » Anyone else?
>> That's it.
[54:25] » Sure. Okay. Can I have a motion to
adjurnn?
[54:28] » Motion to adjurnn.
>> Second.
[54:32] » Motion to adjurnn by councilwoman Tincy
Een. Second by council vice president
[54:37] Welen Mu the third. On the motion. All
those in favor vote by saying I.
[54:43] » Any opposed? We stand adjourn at 7:10
p.m.
[54:52] Okay.
[54:56] This is a regular meeting of the
municipal council of the city of Orange
[54:59] Township held at city hall 29 North D
Street, Orange, New Jersey on Tuesday,
[55:04] June 16th following the conference
meeting. Could we please all stand for
[55:08] the pledge of allegiance? Who would you
like to be led by? Council President,
[55:11] » Councilwoman Ty East, please.
[55:18] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the
[55:23] republic for which it stands. One nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and
[55:30] justice for all.
>> With liberty and justice for all.
[55:33] » Liberty and justice for all. She
>> Thank you, ma'am.
[55:39] Roll call. Councilman Coley,
>> present.
[55:41] » Councilwoman Een,
>> here. Councilwoman Hillbot is absent.
[55:44] Council Vice President Wel the third
>> present.
[55:46] » Councilwoman Ross here. Councilwoman
Summers Johnson is absent. Council
[55:49] President Wooten
>> here.
[55:51] » Also present is Trisha Cypio. Chris
Hartwark, business administrator. Derek
[55:55] Brown, fire chief. Now Clemens, CFO,
Brian Mooney, police chief,
[56:02] Aaron Ms. Rahee, deputy city attorney,
and Marlon G. Town's legislative
[56:08] research officer. The requirements of
NJSA 104-9 SSA Sunshine Law has been
[56:14] met. A notice of this meeting was sent
to the star ledger published in the
[56:17] record transcript on Thursday, July
10th, 2025, posted on the bulletin board
[56:22] at city hall, the the council's website,
the city's website, and filed in the
[56:26] office of the city clerk. First on the
agenda, approval of meeting minutes,
[56:30] June 3rd,
2026 conference meeting minutes. The
[56:36] councilwoman Summers Jasa was absent and
still absent today. So, uh, can I get a
[56:41] motion to approve? Motion
>> second Ross.
[56:45] » Motion by Councilman Mu the third.
Second by Councilman Ross. All those in
[56:50] favor vote by saying I.
>> I.
[56:52] » Any oppose? This has been approved.
[56:58] Uh June 3rd regular meeting minutes.
Is there a motion?
[57:04] » Motion. Coley.
>> Second. Monty.
[57:09] » Third.
Motion by Councilman Kohley, second by
[57:13] Councilman Vice President Montyu the
third. All those in favor vote by saying
[57:17] I. I.
>> Any opposed?
[57:20] » This has been approved. Um budget
hearing minutes for May 28th, 2026.
[57:27] Council member Ross was absent and
should abstain. Is there a motion?
[57:31] » Motion Coley.
>> Second E.
[57:34] » Motion by Councilman Kohley. Second by
Councilwoman Een. on the motion.
[57:42] Roll call. Councilman Coley,
>> yes.
[57:44] » Councilwoman Een,
>> yes.
[57:46] » Councilman Woman Hilbert is absent.
Councilman Muy the third,
[57:50] » yes.
>> Councilman Ross,
[57:51] » abstain.
>> Councilwoman Summer Champson is absent.
[57:54] And Council President Wooten,
>> yes.
[57:57] » That is four years, two absent, one
abstain. This is approved.
[58:03] June 11th, 2026 budget hearing minutes.
Councilman Ross was absent and should
[58:10] abstain. Is there a motion?
>> Motion Coley.
[58:14] » Second. Een.
>> Motion by Councilman Coley. Second by
[58:18] Councilwoman Een on the motion. Roll
call. Councilman Coley.
[58:22] » Yes.
>> Councilwoman Eston.
[58:23] » Yes.
>> Councilwoman Hilbert is absent.
[58:25] Councilman Monu the third.
>> Yes.
[58:27] » Councilwoman Ross
>> abstain.
[58:29] » Councilwoman Summers Johnson is absent.
And Councilwoman Council President Wen.
[58:33] » Yes.
>> That's four ys. One abstain. Two
[58:36] absence. This has been approved.
Department revenue collections for the
[58:40] month of May 2026. The Department of
Community Services collected $18,483.
[58:45] Park and meters $11,73124.
[58:49] Department of Planning $60,461.
Department of Public Works $19,853.
[59:01] Citizen comments. Members of the public
wishing to address the council may do so
[59:05] during this portion of the meeting.
Speakers must sign their name on the
[59:09] comment comment signup sheet and
approach the microphone when called
[59:13] upon. To allow maximum public
involvement, each speaker is permitted
[59:17] one three-minute period to interact with
the council and must provide his or her
[59:20] name and street address prior to
beginning any remarks. Visual aids are
[59:25] not permitted. Speakers are reminded to
be courteous and mindful of other
[59:29] individuals. Each person has a right to
speak on any subject, but is responsible
[59:34] for the abuse of that right. The city
bears no liability for any comments made
[59:39] by the public and maintains discretion
to remove any person engaging in an
[59:43] obscene or disruptive conduct. The
council will consider all comments and
[59:47] questions and will respond if and when
appropriate, which may or may not be
[59:51] during this me meeting. Council
President
[59:55] Darnell Gibbs
[1:00:06] Good. Okay, cool. How's everybody doing?
>> Good.
[1:00:10] » Thanks. So, I'm going to talk about the
same thing I talked about last meeting
[1:00:14] on June 3rd, but I just want to bring
sign up real fast on I'm sorry, Darnell
[1:00:18] Gibbs, One Hope Drive.
Um on the June 3rd meeting it said that
[1:00:22] the
final reading for ordinance number
[1:00:27] 23-2026
and 24-2026
[1:00:32] was on it was going to be July 1st. So
is that still happening? No. I just
[1:00:39] wanted to make sure I was right. So it's
being done today, right? [cough]
[1:00:43] » It was it was written on the agenda but
it was announced that it would be today.
[1:00:48] » Okay, cool. Okay. So for this developer
for 23-2026
[1:00:56] the last project that you guys approved
for them was ordinance number 66 20223
[1:01:02] from that ordinance built inside of all
these tax abatements. They say that they
[1:01:07] shall they should make a good faith
effort to hire qualified residents and
[1:01:12] then it states how to go about it. It
states that they will seek the
[1:01:15] assistance from human resources or the
great township of Orange to help
[1:01:19] facilitate this. So my question is with
this developer Vanta Development Group
[1:01:25] for their ordinance 66 2023 when was
their workshop and how many residents
[1:01:31] was hired if you know
[1:01:38] » they held a workshop. I don't know the
date and I don't have the numbers with
[1:01:42] me on who was hired. Okay, good enough.
So, I'll ask for it next meeting. So,
[1:01:47] you bring it.
>> I can get it to you before that.
[1:01:49] » Perfect. Sounds good. And then other
thing that I had, same question I had
[1:01:53] from last meeting. How do we go about
coming up with a number for these tax
[1:01:58] abatements? Like I said, last meeting,
I'll bring up the same exact thing this
[1:02:01] time. Ordinance number 23, 2026 is
building a 457 unit apartment building.
[1:02:08] To my understanding, none of these units
are low income. Correct.
[1:02:12] » That's correct. and they're getting a
23-year tax abatement. Ordinance number
[1:02:16] 24-2026
is building 104 units, no low income
[1:02:22] housing units for that one, too.
Correct.
[1:02:25] And they're also receiving a 23-year tax
abatement. So, I'm just astonished on
[1:02:30] how a project that's offering 104 units
is getting the same tax abatement as a
[1:02:36] project that's offering 457 units.
[1:02:44] No, no answer.
>> I didn't know it was a question.
[1:02:48] » That was a question. I'm trying to
figure out the calculation or formula
[1:02:50] that is used.
>> Calculation is based on annual gross
[1:02:53] revenue and cost analysis. The cost
analysis on a 104 unit is less than a
[1:02:59] 457 unit and the annual gross revenue is
greater.
[1:03:05] » The annual gross revenue is going to be
greater for the 104 unit.
[1:03:08] » 157 unit building. the annual gross
revenue is greater. So when you do the
[1:03:12] calculations of gross revenue versus
costs,
[1:03:15] » yes,
>> the actual number of years for the
[1:03:18] abatement can be very similar.
>> Even though we're going to get less
[1:03:22] money from the 104 unit than we're going
to do the 4,
[1:03:25] » it's going to cost less to build.
>> It's going to cost less to build. So
[1:03:28] they're going to still get the same tax
abatement.
[1:03:30] » Correct. Okay.
>> Alicia Rodriguez.
[1:03:43] Um, Trisha, could you just move that
paper to my left, please? Thank you.
[1:03:50] Uh, Lisa Rodriguez, 487, Mountain View
A. Um, I would like to speak regarding
[1:03:55] several ordinances before you tonight
and ask for clarification on how these
[1:03:58] decisions are being justified. First,
regarding Ordinance 272026, Orange is
[1:04:03] approximately 2.2 2 square miles with
about 35,000 residents. The ordin
[1:04:07] ordinance ordinance references
municipalities such as East Orange,
[1:04:10] Irvington, Planefield, Atlantic City,
and Hillside. Many of these communities
[1:04:14] are significantly larger in population,
geographic size, and governmental
[1:04:17] demands. And some of them are not even
in Exus County. For example, East Orange
[1:04:22] has 70,000 residents, Arrington has
60,000, Planefield has 55,000, and
[1:04:26] Atlantic City is not even in our region.
My question is, who selected these
[1:04:29] municipalities, and what methodology was
used to justify these comparisons? If
[1:04:33] residents cannot challenge their
property taxes by pointing to a similar
[1:04:36] home in another municipality, why should
we elected salary? Why should we have
[1:04:40] salaries be justified um for places that
are nowhere near orange? Regarding
[1:04:45] ordinance 24 and 18206
concerns about the city's proposed
[1:04:50] $150,000 contribution towards
infrastructure um improvements connected
[1:04:54] to a private redevelopment project. If
the redeveloper is already obligated to
[1:04:59] complete project related improvements,
what specific infrastructure work is the
[1:05:03] city funding? What why was this
improvement requested by a developer or
[1:05:08] was it an existing city need? What
percentage of the overall project cost
[1:05:11] is being contributed to the by the
developer? And what is the city's
[1:05:14] expected return on the investment? Also,
2426 requires that the investor does
[1:05:19] improvements to the sidewalks, to the
roads. So, I'm confused why we're taking
[1:05:23] out $150,000 additional even though
they're responsible for these things
[1:05:26] already in the contract. I would also
appreciate clarification regarding the
[1:05:30] term substantial completion. Does that
mean the tax abatement period begins
[1:05:34] only after construction is completed? If
so, what taxes or revenues are being
[1:05:38] paid to the city during the
construction? Orange continues to
[1:05:42] approve new residential developments and
tax abatements based on the needs for
[1:05:45] additional housing. What data is being
used to support the need after nearly
[1:05:48] eight years of redevelopment activity?
Are these buildings reachable? Um, are
[1:05:53] these buildings reaching sustainable
occupancy levels? And what measures the
[1:05:56] city use to determine whether rents are
affordable or at least attainable for
[1:05:59] Orange residents? If many of these
projects don't include affordable
[1:06:02] housing, what public goal is being
achieved through these tax incentives?
[1:06:06] Um, do agendas and information have to
be available to the public prior to any
[1:06:11] public meeting, and if so, how long is
the notice required?
[1:06:16] Lastly, ordinance 1626. Why wasn't this
file available for public review?
[1:06:22] And I'm a little bit confused. Are CPAs
being voted on tonight because they
[1:06:26] weren't on the agenda.
[1:06:30] » Those are my questions.
>> Are which one?
[1:06:35] » My last question.
>> Last question.
[1:06:36] » Are CBAs being voted on tonight? Because
I didn't see any on the agenda.
[1:06:41] » The community benefit agreements were
voted on at the last meeting
[1:06:44] » for first reading. Yeah.
>> No. Community benefit agreements are
[1:06:47] resolution. They only require one.
>> Got it.
[1:06:55] » I frankly couldn't keep up with all your
questions. So,
[1:06:57] » 30 minutes is not easy.
>> Um I caught a few of them. Uh with
[1:07:03] respect to
um ordinance 16,
[1:07:09] um
you asked why it wasn't available.
[1:07:13] » Yeah. Um to my knowledge it was posted
on the website.
[1:07:16] » It was not okay.
>> Um with respect to
[1:07:22] um when we have to provide notice of the
agenda, it's supposed to be 48 hours in
[1:07:29] advance to the extent known
and it can be changed between that 48
[1:07:34] hours added to or subtracted from.
[1:07:40] » Yeah.
With respect to your other questions, if
[1:07:42] you send them to me, I'll answer them.
[1:07:48] » Jada Audri.
[1:07:59] » Good evening.
>> Good evening.
[1:08:01] » Good evening.
>> I'm Jada Arri. I'm actually from East
[1:08:04] Orange.
Um, this is more of an introduction. Um,
[1:08:09] I work as a economic development
strategist and I attended last c the
[1:08:14] last council meeting. I understand that
the orange residents want more
[1:08:18] responsible developers that benefit the
community and as the orange population
[1:08:23] is rapidly growing, we want to keep the
dollars within the community. So
[1:08:29] therefore, I would like for my firm to
work cohesively with UEZ and developers
[1:08:35] here to develop a vibrant business
landscape, create more community
[1:08:40] programming and opportunities for Orange
residents.
[1:08:46] Thank you.
>> Thank you, Miss Aman,
[1:08:51] » Gloria Boseman. I know um Dr. Dr.
Boseman will but when you approach the
[1:08:58] it's okay Dr. Boseman please make sure
that you're speaking loudly so that that
[1:09:02] the public can hear you. Thank you.
Before we we begin I have a question for
[1:09:07] some clarity in terms of when I can
speak to the ordinances and when I can
[1:09:12] speak to general comments because as I
see on this it appears as though you can
[1:09:17] speak to each one of the second reading
of the ordinances. Is that correct?
[1:09:21] That's correct.
>> So we're not there yet.
[1:09:24] » All right then. and I'm ready.
>> Okay. Good evening. Gloria Boseman, 345
[1:09:29] Orcott Street. Um, I come for several
reasons, but I'll start with this one
[1:09:34] since I'm going to talk to general
issues first. Every month, we watch this
[1:09:38] council approve redevelopment plans and
pilot agreements for multi-million
[1:09:41] dollar developers. Yet, the residents
living next to these projects have zero
[1:09:46] input on how the community development
funds or the benefits are assigned. The
[1:09:50] current process behind closed doors
leaves much of the public input out of
[1:09:55] the actual consideration in its
entirety. To fix this gap in
[1:09:59] transparency, I'm proposing to the
council a residentled Orange Community
[1:10:04] Redevelopment Advisory Board. This
independent board will not cost the
[1:10:08] taxpayers a dime. Instead, it will be
made up of uncompensated everyday
[1:10:12] residents from all wards, maybe local
businesses and other community
[1:10:15] advocates. Their sole job will be to
review the developer agreements. to hold
[1:10:19] independent public hearings to ensure
that the neighborhood improvement funds
[1:10:22] are assigned transparently via an
objective scoring system. We are tired
[1:10:27] of playing catch-up with these meetings
after developers deals are already
[1:10:31] finalized. We need an institutional seat
at the table before the contracts are
[1:10:36] signed. I'm asking for tonight for the
council members to give this
[1:10:39] consideration and to sponsor an
ordinance in forming this board. Give
[1:10:43] the people of Orange a real oversight of
the future of our neighborhoods and the
[1:10:48] development. This isn't about trust. I
trust all of you, but we'd appreciate
[1:10:52] some structural transparency if the
funds are going to be handled perfectly.
[1:10:56] The administration should welcome an
independent resident board to review,
[1:11:00] verify, and celebrate the success
publicly. So, I'm going to add I been to
[1:11:05] a meeting on this, but I don't remember
getting any feedback with regard to it.
[1:11:09] If I had my brothers, some of these
things that we might be able to consider
[1:11:12] would be modern uh weather turfs or all
weather turfs for our our public parks.
[1:11:17] I would consider resil resilient safety
surfacing. I would consider secondary
[1:11:23] playground spaces that are echofriendly.
I would consider sensory playgrounds
[1:11:28] that are available to our uh our our ch
I won't say challenge but those who fall
[1:11:33] on the sensory deficit continuum. I'd
also look for my sensory not sensory but
[1:11:39] my senior playground. I want to play. Um
I would also look for multi-generational
[1:11:44] hubs that sponsor career development.
that sponsor educational development
[1:11:49] that sponsor social activity and
community cohesiveness. I hope that you
[1:11:55] will consider this. Don't make me run.
Anyway, nevertheless, I thank you. I
[1:12:00] think my time is up for this. So, that
means that I will be able to come back
[1:12:03] on second second readings. Am I correct?
Thank you so much.
[1:12:07] » Thank you, Dr. Bose.
>> Anthony Burke. [applause]
[1:12:20] Good evening, Anthony Burke, 4 477
Hillside Avenue.
[1:12:25] Um, regarding
ordinance 16 uh 2026, the public
[1:12:31] regarding the public safety director on
position, the council previously voted
[1:12:36] against creating this public safety
director on separate occasions. What are
[1:12:41] the circumstances that have changed now
that justify creating this position?
[1:12:47] What specific operational need exist
that cannot be addressed by the current
[1:12:51] fire department and police department
leadership structure?
[1:12:56] What duties and responsibilities will be
assigned to the public safety director?
[1:13:00] What certifications are required for
this pos uh this position? What license
[1:13:05] are required for this position? What's
the minimum education and experience
[1:13:10] requirements required for this position?
Has the job description been finalized?
[1:13:16] If so, can we have a copy of it?
If yes, where was it advertised? On what
[1:13:24] date was it posted? How long will the
posting be remain open? And what's the
[1:13:30] applica? What's the application
deadline? What's the salary range, the
[1:13:35] benefits package, the total anticipated
annual cost of this position?
[1:13:40] And
was any study, staff analyst, uh,
[1:13:45] analyst, consultant report, or
efficiency review conducted to support
[1:13:49] the creation of this position? If so,
can you please provide some
[1:13:53] documentation for that? And last and not
least, regarding the conversation that
[1:13:59] came up, uh I don't remember what the
resolution was, but it's regarding the
[1:14:03] the monies for the Washington Street uh
fire station, the renov the renovation
[1:14:09] of it. Was there engineering,
architectural, or facilities assessment
[1:14:14] conducted to support the estimate
estimated renovation cost of
[1:14:19] approximately $1.8 million for the
firehouse located at 261 Washington
[1:14:24] Street?
If such study exists, who performed it
[1:14:28] and when was it completed? Can the
public review the report estimates or
[1:14:33] supporting documents used to arrive at
the $1.18 million figure?
[1:14:39] What specific repairs, upgrades, or
renovations are included in this
[1:14:44] renovation?
[1:14:50] » So, I'll address the firehouse issue
first. Um the responsibility for the
[1:14:56] engineering, architectural, and
construction drawings is with the
[1:14:59] developer. That's part of the
development agreement. [snorts] Um there
[1:15:04] has been a couple of contractors that
we've had walk through the facility to
[1:15:10] get a ballpark figure. We think it's
less than the $1.8 million, but we won't
[1:15:14] know that until we have actual
architectural drawings. Um it's early in
[1:15:19] the process. The building still has some
environmental remediation to do. Um the
[1:15:25] community benefit agreement requires
them to come with a conceptual rendering
[1:15:29] of an architect um within 6 months of
signing the agreement. Um and then
[1:15:36] within
uh
[1:15:41] another 12 months they have to begin
construction once we accept the uh
[1:15:48] conceptual renderings and the budget for
the project.
[1:15:53] So a lot of the things that you're
asking for in terms of architectural
[1:15:58] engineering construction those are all
part of the agreement under the
[1:16:03] community benefits agreement.
So, how does that $1.8 million fall into
[1:16:10] that?
>> It was easy. We took the number of units
[1:16:13] and multiplied it by $4,000
[1:16:17] and made it similar to all of the other
community benefit agreements that we
[1:16:21] have from a cash perspective. We're just
applying the cash to a different
[1:16:24] project.
>> When you say units, I don't understand
[1:16:26] what you mean by units.
>> So, the community benefit agreement
[1:16:30] applied to 50 Maine. There are 457
living units at 50 Maine. We took the
[1:16:37] 457 units, multiplied it by $4,000 per
unit, and came up with the $1.28
[1:16:43] million.
>> Okay.
[1:16:47] » Anything else regarding the public
safety director, please?
[1:16:50] » So, um I'm not aware of other uh
attempts to create a public safety
[1:16:57] director. Maybe it was before I was
here. Um there's been discussion of it,
[1:17:03] but there's been no ordinances uh
introduced as far as I can recall. Um
[1:17:10] but [snorts]
the the ordinance lays out that um
[1:17:14] whoever is considered for the position
has to have 10 years of law enforcement
[1:17:20] experience, a minimum of 10 years of law
enforcement experience.
[1:17:24] Um,
there is no job search or criteria
[1:17:28] because no one there's been no
advertisement. The position hasn't been
[1:17:32] created yet. Um, and it would be silly
to advertise or create a job description
[1:17:39] until the position is actually created.
>> I thought there was a ordinance that was
[1:17:43] already passed um
>> previously about the position.
[1:17:50] » The ordinance was introduced. this
ordinance was introduced. I don't
[1:17:54] believe there was ever an ordinance
passed. And in terms of the
[1:17:59] efficiencies, there are two titles on
the salary guide, the director of police
[1:18:06] and the director of fire. Those would
both be eliminated. The structure would
[1:18:10] be that the public safety director would
take charge of the budgeting and
[1:18:15] administration of those two departments
along with emergency services or
[1:18:20] emergency management.
um and would have the uh administrative
[1:18:27] support u of one person as opposed to
the current structure which has two
[1:18:34] director on paper two directors
um and four support staff.
[1:18:39] » Okay,
>> that's all the time I have.
[1:18:43] » Okay, thank you. Corum rhymes.
[1:18:53] » Good evening. Thank you, Council
President. Council members,
[1:18:56] » speak up a little bit for me there.
>> Sure.
[1:18:58] » Thank you.
>> Thank you, Council President. Um,
[1:19:00] council members and other officials in
the city of Orange. Um, I come before
[1:19:05] you, um, just to recognize Councilwoman
Tensson East. I had the privilege of
[1:19:10] serving with her from 2000 to 2008 uh
which ended my term. During that time I
[1:19:17] and up to present able to witness u a
transformation that she has made into a
[1:19:23] leadership role um within the city, the
county and she's recognized um
[1:19:28] statewide.
I um also like to thank her for her
[1:19:32] support. Um, I'm involved with
organization called BDPA, which is Black
[1:19:35] Data Processing Associates, and she over
over the years has been able to
[1:19:39] recommend students to us, especially
when we're giving out the free laptops.
[1:19:43] Um, but it was just helpful um for her
guidance to to be there. So, just wanted
[1:19:48] to um bid her uh a
well do rest and thank her for her her
[1:19:56] service. Thank you.
>> Thank you,
[1:20:00] Bashier.
[1:20:10] Good evening. Good evening. Good
evening. How's everybody doing? Do I
[1:20:14] need a microphone? Am I good?
>> You're great. Thank you.
[1:20:18] » Giving honor to God to be here. Thank
God to see council president
[1:20:23] » Wooten
>> and
[1:20:26] so many of you I haven't seen in years.
Our great fire chief, Mr. Brown, my
[1:20:32] police chief, Mr. Moody,
>> I'm so sorry,
[1:20:35] » but would you do me with one favor
first? State your full name and your
[1:20:38] address first.
>> Rashier McGran,
[1:20:41] 308 North Walnut Street, East Orange,
New Jersey.
[1:20:44] » Thank you.
>> So, for over the past probably 30 years,
[1:20:49] a lot of people would probably know I've
been working in the community of Orange
[1:20:53] for years.
I'm here today because I want to
[1:20:57] acknowledge someone who has been very
dear to my life,
[1:21:04] very dear to my mentor program, and very
dear to all of the work that God has
[1:21:09] allowed me to be in the center of.
>> Uh [clears throat] when I moved to
[1:21:14] Orange in the early 2000s,
I opened up a barber shop called Boys to
[1:21:20] Men Barber Shop.
When I opened that barber shop, I didn't
[1:21:25] know anybody in Orange at the time.
I met Tensy Een.
[1:21:32] We had a great conversation about work
she wanted to do in the North Ward.
[1:21:37] I felt her spirit. I felt her desire. I
felt her passion.
[1:21:43] She introduced me to her great family.
And she decided that I was going to be
[1:21:48] somebody that she would support. So,
I've done a lot of work in the city of
[1:21:53] Orange. And today, I'm here to honor
Tensy Een with a gift just to say thank
[1:22:00] you for all of the work that you've done
in my life, for all of the things that
[1:22:06] I've accomplished
over the past 25 years. If it wasn't for
[1:22:10] you, I wouldn't have been standing here
uh acknowledging that. So, I'm just
[1:22:16] going to ask briefly if everybody could
stand, if you don't mind.
[1:22:20] and give a round of applause.
[1:22:26] [applause]
[1:22:29] And I would like to present I would like
to present this to Tency
[1:22:34] and I'll read it. It says to
councilwoman and former council
[1:22:40] president Teny Een, congratulations and
thank you for your years and decades of
[1:22:46] outstanding service in the state of New
Jersey and the city of Orange. We are a
[1:22:51] great community because of you and we
love you.
[1:22:57] [applause]
[1:23:04] And this is a card.
[1:23:10] » Thank you guys very much.
>> God bless you all.
[1:23:13] » God bless you.
[1:23:21] » Yarro Wilman. I can't read the last
name.
[1:23:26] » Sorry.
>> Oh, no problem.
[1:23:27] » Yeah. Yara Wilman. Cole.
>> Say it one more time for me.
[1:23:31] » Wilman Cole. Yeah. 1549 Vauxh Hall Road.
Um I am here to testify in support of
[1:23:37] Councilwoman Hilbert's resolution to
urge the state to fully fund and expand
[1:23:41] our child care assistance program. I
work as the workplace justice director
[1:23:45] at New Jersey Citizen Action and we
convene a New Jersey uh child care for
[1:23:49] all organizing table and collectively we
represent thousands of low and moderate
[1:23:54] income workers including childare
workers across New Jersey and in Orange
[1:23:58] who are impacted by the lack of
affordable quality child care. To give
[1:24:02] you some brief background, some of you
may be aware, but the state budget
[1:24:06] didn't adequately fund the child cap
child care assistance program known as
[1:24:09] CCAP. And the program was frozen from
August till May. So that meant for nine
[1:24:13] months, thousands of low-income families
were prevented from accessing this vital
[1:24:17] support. Without child care, working
families and early child care educators,
[1:24:23] child care centers are pushed to even
more precarious situations than they
[1:24:27] were previously. My shirt says it all.
Our economy runs on child care and our
[1:24:32] state must invest in it to make it more
affordable and accessible for all. More
[1:24:36] than 40% of New Jerseyians are
struggling to make ends meet. One in
[1:24:40] nine of our children live in poverty and
many families spend an average of 19% on
[1:24:45] their monthly budget on child care.
Access to affordable child care is
[1:24:49] critical not only as a key affordability
issue for our families, but also because
[1:24:53] it's an important educational and
developmental support for growing
[1:24:56] children's hearts and brains. A parent
who lives here in Orange was unable to
[1:25:01] join us but wanted to share her story.
She loved her work as an early childhood
[1:25:06] worker but not the pay. She managed to
get by and was looking into continuing
[1:25:10] her studies and early childhood
development until she had her first
[1:25:14] child. She knew child care was expensive
but she was unable to find a child care
[1:25:19] spot that she could afford while she
continued to work in the field. And she
[1:25:23] was unable to access CCAP because the
program was frozen from new applicants.
[1:25:28] She was fortunate to be able to continue
to live with her family while she
[1:25:32] figured out work and care, but um it
made it so that she was destabilizing
[1:25:36] her financial security and her career
path. She would love to come share her
[1:25:40] person her story in person and make sure
others understand that this is an issue
[1:25:44] not a personal failure that they can't
get ahead but a structural and systemic
[1:25:48] one that we can change. So we urge you
today to pass the resolution because the
[1:25:53] city of Orange should stand with working
families, childare workers and children
[1:25:58] to ensure that our state budget reflects
our values, pri prioritize child care
[1:26:03] funding to put our families first, lower
cost and provide stability for child
[1:26:07] care providers and strengthen our child
care system, which also helps employers
[1:26:12] and our economy overall. So together, we
want to urge you to pass this resolution
[1:26:16] so that we can build a more affordable
New Jersey. and we thank you so much for
[1:26:20] giving us this opportunity here in
Orange.
[1:26:22] » Thank you.
[1:26:30] » I think the last name is Castellian.
[1:26:35] [clears throat]
>> What's the first name? Got to come to
[1:26:38] the mic first.
[1:26:56] I'm going to help to translate into
English. Um, so I don't know how you
[1:27:01] want to go if she say the statements.
>> First, state the name and address first.
[1:27:07] » Yeah, she said it already.
>> Okay. So, you translated in English.
[1:27:10] Okay. To English. Her name is Ingri
Castong and she live in the 37572
[1:27:15] Mechanic Street here in Orange.
[1:27:34] Jersey. Okay, we are here in support of
resolution 329. And she say like um dear
[1:27:41] or orange township council member, thank
you so much for the opportunity to share
[1:27:45] my testimony around issues that affect
hund families in our community and
[1:27:50] throughout the state of New Jersey.
>> Okay. When you speak, I need you to
[1:27:53] speak louder into the mic. Okay. I'm
sorry. They texted me.
[1:28:02] The laundry workers.
[1:28:18] My name Okay. My name is Ingri Caston.
I'm a leading organizer of the
[1:28:24] organization Laundry Workers Center. I'm
also an immigrant women from the
[1:28:28] Salvador and resident of Orange for
seven years with my two teenagers.
[1:28:41] Like many other families in Orange,
child care has always been a great
[1:28:45] challenge. As a single mother, I didn't
understand why the cost is so high and
[1:28:50] unaffordable.
[1:29:02] When I arrive in Orange, I start working
as a kitchen assistant in a restaurant
[1:29:07] where they only pay me $8 per hours.
[1:29:25] I f I feel I I was being exploited. They
impose me more task on my in me than I
[1:29:32] have to do and require me to complete
them in less time which was reflected in
[1:29:36] my income since they pay me few hours.
[1:29:48] However, I have to make full payment of
the pay of the person who take care of
[1:29:53] my children. I'm sorry, this is taking
longer. So, I don't know if you allowed
[1:29:57] her to finish.
[1:30:00] » Because I have to translate. So,
>> and instead of her saying it, can you
[1:30:03] just read it in English?
>> Okay. Or if you can allow us to make
[1:30:09] copies and we give it to each one of the
>> We already provide copies
[1:30:13] » in in this pamphlet, right? Okay. Yeah.
Okay.
[1:30:16] » But can we finish the
>> um how much longer is that?
[1:30:21] » Two paragraphs. One
>> two paragraphs. Okay.
[1:30:35] This is how I have to make the sad
decision to leave my children alone,
[1:30:40] sending them to a school and letting
them to return home unsupervises.
[1:30:54] This situation was not only stressful
for me but also put the wellbeing and
[1:30:58] safety of my children at risk. But I
have no choice.
[1:31:25] My case is not unique to the p to um my
my case is not unique to the past. Hund
[1:31:33] of families have to face the situation
right now. Now as an organizer I visit
[1:31:38] laundry mat workers and it's a systemic
problem that I have seen in the industry
[1:31:42] is that many workers have been bring
their children to the laundromats
[1:31:46] because they cannot afford child care
and bad employers use this as exploit
[1:31:51] the workers do not pay minimum wage or
provide basic needs. We cannot continue
[1:31:56] allow this type of abuse.
[1:32:25] The New Jersey.
[1:32:40] It is essential that all families
regarding the their economy situation
[1:32:44] without distinction have access to free
child care. All children deserve to grow
[1:32:48] in a safe loving environment. A mother
like me need support to be able to work
[1:32:53] and care for our children at the same
time. That's why I'm part of the New
[1:32:57] Jersey Care for all and I strongly
support change in our system. Free child
[1:33:03] care is a right that should be available
for all families. I strongly urge the
[1:33:08] city of Orange to approve this
resolution to continue and join the
[1:33:13] other cities like Newark Precport and
many others.
[1:33:16] » Okay. Thank you so much.
>> Gracias.
[1:33:18] » Thank you. Thank you.
[1:33:24] » Can I have a motion to close citizens
comments?
[1:33:26] » And council members
>> close citizen comments.
[1:33:29] » That was resolution 329 2026
in our packet.
[1:33:34] » Is there a second? Second Ross.
>> Motion to close citizens comments was
[1:33:39] made by council vice president Monty the
third, second by Councilman Ross. All
[1:33:44] those in favor vote by saying I.
>> I. Any opposed?
[1:33:48] » Council uh citizen comments has been
closed. Council comments.
[1:33:54] And I want to announce that uh uh city
attorney arrived at 7:48.
[1:34:02] » Councilman Clifford Ross.
Thank you, Council President. Good
[1:34:07] evening, everyone. [clears throat]
Um, I just want to follow up with a few
[1:34:11] um questions from the BA. U mostly about
um signs. I want to follow up with the
[1:34:18] left turn sign that was requested and
approved um for Scotland Road.
[1:34:25] » You mean by the building on Lincoln and
Scotland? Yes. It's been ordered and so
[1:34:29] have the stansions.
>> It's there. No, I said so have the
[1:34:33] stansions.
>> Oh, it's been ordered. Yes.
[1:34:35] » Okay.
>> Um, what about the followup on the
[1:34:40] autism signs that was passed also?
>> I have to check.
[1:34:47] » And what is the status of the one-way
sign on Clarinet Street?
[1:34:54] [snorts]
[1:34:57] We were changing it. we was changing
Claritin from one direction to the other
[1:35:02] direction.
>> So, we did the engineering study. Um, it
[1:35:06] was reported to the neighborhood. There
are a number of items that have to be
[1:35:10] taken, a number of steps that have to be
taken with NJ DOT and the engineering
[1:35:15] firm in order to move [snorts] forward.
The engineering firm's been instructed
[1:35:20] to take those steps with DOT. And once
those steps are taken and the report is
[1:35:26] submitted, we'll get the okay from DOT
to actually make the change.
[1:35:31] » Okay. Do we have a time frame when this
will be completed?
[1:35:36] » It's DOT.
>> Okay. So, take a while.
[1:35:42] » What is the um status of the parking
garage um by the New Jersey by the train
[1:35:48] station? Have all of that equipment been
in there? Is that ready? And
[1:35:52] » we're waiting for the last software
piece to be installed.
[1:36:00] » And same question I ask every every u
meeting. Status of the parking utility
[1:36:06] and when will it start?
>> So the PATs equipment hasn't arrived
[1:36:10] yet. Um we're ready with the the list of
people who are going to be hired for
[1:36:17] enforcement.
Um their uniforms are already been
[1:36:20] ordered. All their equipment that we
need to order from an outside vendor has
[1:36:25] been ordered. We're just waiting on the
Pat's equipment.
[1:36:29] Okay. [clears throat]
Um
[1:36:35] the official date of the opening of our
parks, pools, and spray parks is Jan
[1:36:40] July 1st,
>> correct?
[1:36:43] » Summer camp also?
>> Yes.
[1:36:45] » Okay. Thank you. Um I have a couple of
announcements. Um the first one is um
[1:36:54] the Junior Public Safety Academy.
And if the um fire chief wants to talk
[1:37:01] about this, he can. But you know, this
is going to be happening on July 13th
[1:37:06] through August 7th, Monday through
Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 400 pm. It's a
[1:37:12] fruit free program. And um how long has
this program been going on?
[1:37:19] [snorts] About
[1:37:25] 20 plus years.
>> How long?
[1:37:27] » About 20 plus years.
[1:37:32] » We got five years.
>> Five years.
[1:37:34] » Derek Brown, fire chief. Orange.
>> Just just let people know what this
[1:37:39] program is about because it's a great
program.
[1:37:41] » Orange Police and Fire have come
together. We have the Junior Public
[1:37:44] Safety Academy. It will be starting July
13th and proceeding into August 7th. We
[1:37:50] do have a component now since the county
has been involved and have uh
[1:37:56] we say granted us funds for the academy
this year. So we have a Olympics this
[1:38:00] year with the county with other
organizations of children having
[1:38:03] Olympics on August 8th. Um the
applications are online that can be
[1:38:08] filled out online if you go to the
police or the fire department website
[1:38:12] and you fill out that information. If
you have any issues with the on-site,
[1:38:17] you can call us at the department at
9739-52-6134
[1:38:22] or 6143. Captain Dawson and Captain
Smith from the fire starter handling
[1:38:27] things. We do have those on the police
side as well. So, applications can be
[1:38:32] filled out. We are accepting
applications and we're looking for a
[1:38:35] great camp this year from police and
fire.
[1:38:37] » Thank you. You're welcome. And while
you're up there, [clears throat]
[1:38:40] fire department has a open house and
recruitment fair coming up on um June
[1:38:46] 27th found on that.
>> So we don't know the date when the
[1:38:50] applications are coming out online for
civil service whether it will be July.
[1:38:54] So in preparation that we preparing
those for that time to fill out the
[1:38:58] applications and the awareness about
what it is to become a firefighter. So
[1:39:01] that will be happening at the fieldhouse
as you have the flyer there coming up
[1:39:05] soon. Um, so we're looking forward to
that on the 27th,
[1:39:08] » correct?
>> Of this month.
[1:39:10] » Thank you, F.
>> You're welcome.
[1:39:11] » Thank you, President.
Can I ask him something while he's there
[1:39:15] if you don't mind?
>> This the last time I'm going to let you
[1:39:18] do this.
>> The last time I [laughter]
[1:39:24] uh I went on the um the website to try
and find the application
[1:39:32] and I couldn't. So, I don't know. Was
that uh is it it's under the fire
[1:39:36] department, right?
>> Yes.
[1:39:37] » So, have you any of you went on it and
>> I have done it? I've coached somebody
[1:39:41] through it as well. So, like I said, any
issues with getting online, you can give
[1:39:46] us a call at the fire department. I give
you my direct line as well, 9739526132.
[1:39:54] So, just call me direct. I'll coach you
right through those things to get online
[1:39:57] and fill out that application.
>> Yeah, because I'm quite sure some of the
[1:39:59] residents are having the same issues I
have.
[1:40:01] » Okay. We'll we'll further look into it
now, but I couldn't find the
[1:40:05] application.
>> Okay.
[1:40:07] » Yeah. All right.
>> We'll look into it now. Thank you so
[1:40:09] much. And uh Council Me, thank you so
much for your time here with the city
[1:40:13] and everything that you've done here in
your career as as a council woman and
[1:40:17] council president from the fire
department. We say thank you. We love
[1:40:20] you very much. So, you're going to be
greatly missed, but you're always here
[1:40:23] for you. Thank you so much for all
you've done for the city of Orange.
[1:40:26] » Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Jesus.
>> [applause]
[1:40:32] » Thank you. Um, one more announcement.
The city of Orange um is going to have a
[1:40:37] gospel festival
on Saturday, June 27th at Monty Irving
[1:40:43] Orange Park um from 12 to 6:00 p.m.
Enjoy a day of music, praise, bouncy
[1:40:51] house, trivia, and raffles. It's a good
time. So, please come out if you can.
[1:40:56] And um before I close, I would just like
to take a moment to recognize and wish
[1:41:02] all the fathers a very happy father's
day this coming Sunday.
[1:41:08] Um a father is more than a title.
A father is a provider, a protector,
[1:41:15] [snorts] a teacher, a mentor, and a role
model.
[1:41:19] He is someone who makes sacrifices often
without recognition to ensure his family
[1:41:24] is cared for, supported, and given every
opportunity to succeed. Fathers help
[1:41:30] shape the values, character, and future
of their children through their love,
[1:41:35] guidance, and example. As a proud father
myself, I can say that being a dad has
[1:41:41] been one of the greatest blessings of my
life, and I wouldn't have it any other
[1:41:45] way. To all the fathers, stepfathers,
grandfathers, and father figures who
[1:41:52] lead with strength, compassion, and
commitment. Thank you all that you do.
[1:41:57] Thank you all for all that you do. And
happy Father's Day to you all. Thank
[1:42:03] you, Council President.
>> You're welcome,
[1:42:06] » Councilman Montigue.
[snorts and clears throat]
[1:42:09] » Good evening, everyone.
I just want to um let everyone know I
[1:42:15] think I let everyone know about this a
lot of times.
[1:42:18] Um we're having a kids summer camp.
We're taking them this the second annual
[1:42:25] to Lebanon, Pennsylvania from July 19th
to July 24th. They get an opportunity
[1:42:34] outbound games, drawing and painting,
swimming,
[1:42:39] uh nature walks,
you know, all kinds of stuff. A a
[1:42:44] beautiful program, well supervised.
So,
[1:42:49] we need we need more people or we're
going to have to open it up to other
[1:42:54] communities. I think we we have like 11
or 12 people from Orange, but everybody
[1:43:01] from East Orange, different areas, I
keep telling them, "No, you have to be
[1:43:06] from Orange." So, if you know any kids
that barely go on vacations, never leave
[1:43:13] the city of Orange, and they want to,
it's like the fresh air fun when I was
[1:43:18] young. You getting the opportunity to
leave the city.
[1:43:22] Please give me a call at 9734768384.
[1:43:30] This is so organized and so safe. Uh
Clifford Ross and myself, we drive with
[1:43:36] the kids up there.
So, it's a it's a beautiful camp. You
[1:43:42] know, a lot of kids all they do is go
from park to park to park. Let's give
[1:43:46] them something that they can remember.
Okay? So please give me a call.
[1:43:52] Councilman Montigue
973476
[1:43:58] 8384.
Thank you.
[1:44:04] » That's it. Council.
>> Well, yeah. I have one more thing.
[1:44:07] » Oh, okay.
>> What am I going to ask you?
[1:44:10] » Was the status of the rec center?
>> Yes.
[1:44:14] » In the hospital.
Um, we're getting ready to reissue the
[1:44:20] RFP and we're in discussions with three
developers already to get some sense
[1:44:27] from them as to whether or not they'd be
interested in pursuing the project.
[1:44:31] » Now, please, let's definitely not turn
the Y into an apartment building. That's
[1:44:38] not what we want in Orange. Please. So,
are they still are we going to still
[1:44:44] have the rec center there?
>> Yes. Okay, long as we have that. All
[1:44:48] right,
I'm gonna I'm gonna defer to my council
[1:44:52] colleagues to the great Tennessee Een.
>> Is that who you was going to call?
[1:45:00] » No, I was not, but go ahead. [laughter]
>> Okay. Did you I'm done. Thank you,
[1:45:05] Council President.
>> Councilman Coley.
[1:45:08] » Thank you, Council President. I'd be
real brief. Um
[1:45:12] I
I know that everyone who um have cars um
[1:45:18] you know deser and deserve a place to
park. Um, but we have uh a lot of people
[1:45:26] around the city who u make illegal
driveways in front of the house. And
[1:45:32] again, like I said, I know people, you
know, deserve to have somewhere to park.
[1:45:36] And being that uh those illegal
driveways are uh not being um enforced
[1:45:43] by uh you know, giving out summones when
people are jumping the curb uh tearing
[1:45:48] up the sidewalk. uh we should um uh
govern that. we should do something to
[1:45:55] govern that. and and and if that's going
to be the case, um change the zoning um
[1:46:01] laws and uh have them, you know, um you
know, uh pay for the um you know, um
[1:46:08] whatever it is that they're doing for
the parking because we have so many
[1:46:12] people that's jumping the curb, tearing
the curbs up and and parking and and
[1:46:19] like I said, I understand people need to
have somewhere to park, but it should be
[1:46:23] regulated in some way, shape or form,
you know. Um,
[1:46:30] and I've seen
um many cases where people um jumped the
[1:46:38] curve
in these illegal parking spaces and then
[1:46:42] someone pulled up and blocked them in
and now you have this whole situation
[1:46:47] about um um I'm blocked in and no, you
shouldn't have been there in the first
[1:46:53] place. So we should regulate it in some
way, shape or form, you know, um, you
[1:46:58] know, just to combat that and and um
just to, you know, just either we're
[1:47:04] going to do it or we're not going to do
it. is gonna be enforced or not gonna be
[1:47:08] enforced,
you know, and and um and we was it you t
[1:47:15] um a few years back we had the uh
commercial vehicle um ordinance pass
[1:47:22] where um like commercial vehicles that
uh park on a um city street um
[1:47:32] » yeah we did you know but that's that's
something that we need to um again I I
[1:47:38] understand people are working and and
they need to have somewhere to park, you
[1:47:42] know, but if we're going to have an
ordinance on on the books and it's not
[1:47:45] being enforced, either we're going to
take it off the books or we're going to
[1:47:48] enforce it. And if we do enforce it, you
know, um I don't want to say that we
[1:47:53] just start beating people side the head,
you know, but maybe create a flyer or
[1:47:57] something and the vehicles that are in
violation. Um just kindly remind them
[1:48:04] that uh you are in violation of whatever
ordinance number it is. And at some
[1:48:11] point in time, uh, we're going to, um,
start, um, enforcing this and that will
[1:48:17] help ease some of the, uh, uh, parking,
um, around the city. Um, I'm going leave
[1:48:22] it right there. And I just want to, um,
thank um, my friend,
[1:48:29] Councilman N, um, for all your years of
service. It has not been easy. Um it has
[1:48:37] been um up and down but uh one thing I
can say it's been constant. Um you have
[1:48:43] always been here um leading, guiding and
directing and never backing down on what
[1:48:51] you believe and I thank you for that.
I'll leave right there. Thank you,
[1:48:57] » Councilwoman E.
>> Yes. First before I let me just make two
[1:49:02] announcements or one announcement
and easy pickings is closing.
[1:49:09] » It's been here for eons.
>> So I hope we have some place somebody
[1:49:13] going in that spot because that's on a
major corner. Can you hear me? Can you
[1:49:18] hear me? Okay.
>> And I want to announce that on July the
[1:49:21] 10th the division of motor vehicle
mobile unit will be at St. Matthew's
[1:49:27] Church from 10 to 2.
The appointment schedule opened up
[1:49:32] today. So, if you want to come and make
an appointment,
[1:49:37] the link is online or you can get the
link through St. Matthew's Church, but
[1:49:43] it is open. If you go on the motor
vehicle site, you can see the link. You
[1:49:46] have to have an appointment to be there
and it lists all of the services that
[1:49:51] it's going to offer on that day. you
don't need appointment if you want to
[1:49:56] drop off your license plates
uh and some of the other things. So, you
[1:50:00] can just come in and drop off your old
license plates.
[1:50:05] Uh the other thing I want to talk about
is I want to thank you all for being my
[1:50:11] council colleagues,
you know, and say what I say.
[1:50:17] I'm sad about leaving. I'm sad and happy
because now I can do some other things
[1:50:23] that I wanted to do. And I just want to
say the counselor was just a title. I am
[1:50:29] still Mrs. E. I will still be here. I
will still be in my award because you
[1:50:33] all know I love the North Ward. So I
will make sure the North Ward is taken
[1:50:37] care of even though I don't have the
title anymore.
[1:50:41] But I want to thank my good friends that
came in tonight to say thank you. I
[1:50:46] appreciate you guys. I love you and I
love the city of Orange and I'm going to
[1:50:50] continue to work in the city of the only
difference is now I have an opportunity
[1:50:55] to say a lot of things I couldn't say as
a council woman so I can dispel a lot of
[1:51:00] the negativity of the things that are
coming up that are not true untrue and
[1:51:05] people making comments that are not
true. Um
[1:51:10] but before I finish my comments, one
other thing um through our um business
[1:51:14] administrator Lakeside and
uh Cleveland Street, there's a vacant
[1:51:19] lot.
>> Okay.
[1:51:21] » Is that a possibility we could turn that
into city parking and charge a fee for
[1:51:27] people to park their cars there? I mean,
you have cars and there could be
[1:51:31] cleaning up. The reason I say that is,
and Councilman Coley can attest to this,
[1:51:36] when I brought up the booting the other
council meeting, you guys laughed me
[1:51:41] often, remember?
But it has spread like wildfire.
[1:51:48] A lot of the private owners are hiring
these contractors, these towing trucks,
[1:51:55] and they're booting cars. They're
starting in the parking lots of the
[1:51:59] buildings.
So, one of the buildings has now
[1:52:04] enforced one space for each apartment.
So, if you got two cars, they won't give
[1:52:11] you another space.
So, over there by three corner deli, we
[1:52:16] don't have the luxury of the big
apartment buildings that's got the
[1:52:19] parking garages where people can park
and they can go in and rent a space. So,
[1:52:25] I'm wondering if we can make Lakeside
and Cleveland. Could we look at that a
[1:52:30] parking lot is city owned property and
we probably could legislate it and
[1:52:34] charge a fee so people have a second
option to park those cars.
[1:52:41] So could you make a note I will follow
up with you in the next coming weeks to
[1:52:45] make sure that we make that happen.
>> Okay.
[1:52:48] » Yeah. But I I want to talk a little bit
about real talk. Orange Wheel talk
[1:52:55] that started out being a positive site
and then has become a negative site. And
[1:53:01] I just want to say a lot of the comments
that's on there are untrue. People don't
[1:53:06] give the facts. And I want our residents
that's online to understand that that is
[1:53:11] not a site you go to get the facts.
That's a site where you go to get an
[1:53:15] opinion. And people are being very
negative. And I just want to talk about
[1:53:20] what the
policy is. If you want to be on a board
[1:53:25] or an organiz or a committee, all you
have to do is call your council person,
[1:53:30] give them your name, and tell them
you're interested. As we walk this city,
[1:53:34] and my council colleagues can say, we
always ask, do you want to get in the
[1:53:38] minutes of government? Do you want to
get on a board? Just let us know. We
[1:53:42] take names and we follow through. So for
someone to get up there and say that we
[1:53:47] are doing things underhanded,
undermining, that is totally not true
[1:53:53] because everything we do is transparent
and if you have a concern, you can
[1:53:58] always b it with your council person,
with the mayor or with our business
[1:54:01] administrator. So, I just want to and
I'm hoping and I'm praying as we go
[1:54:07] through with new development that we
bring in positive people that want to
[1:54:11] build on what we built in this city. And
please guys, don't let us lose ground
[1:54:16] and go backward because the people that
are talking only represent a small
[1:54:21] number. We have over 30,000 people in
this city and you know how many show up
[1:54:27] at council meeting because the rest of
them they address their concerns when
[1:54:31] we're walking. We're talking to them. So
I'm just praying that as you guys
[1:54:36] and when people talk about pilots a lot
of because they really don't understand
[1:54:40] what a pallet really is. You know they
get a lot of what I'm say on [snorts]
[1:54:45] the street information. they don't get
the facts and they put it up like it's
[1:54:49] the facts because we do make money
eventually on those ballots and it helps
[1:54:53] the taxpayers. So guys, please stay
positive. I will be here. I'm not going
[1:54:59] anywhere. I love my ward. I love my city
and I want to thank the residents for
[1:55:04] the opportunity to serve them for 24
years. So I'm not sad about leaving.
[1:55:12] I need some rest.
>> I need some time off.
[1:55:16] But I'm still your friend.
>> Thank you.
[1:55:20] » Thank you, Council. [applause]
Council President, can I just add on Can
[1:55:24] I add on one thing that um she brought
up the uh the towing services and I may
[1:55:30] have mentioned this before. I may have
mentioned this before. Um we should uh
[1:55:36] create some legislation um regulating
and um and and uh how the towing
[1:55:44] services on on these private um uh uh uh
properties are handled. They just
[1:55:52] because now they can just come in any
towing service can come in to your
[1:55:56] vehicle or boot your vehicle and hold
your vehicle hostage. you know, it
[1:56:00] should be some kind of um ordinance
created where um you have to come in um
[1:56:06] you know, uh uh you know, do whatever,
you know, um registration it is. Um so
[1:56:12] we can know exactly um who these towing
services are, you know, because now
[1:56:17] anyone can just come in um um do these
services, boot your vehicle, tow your
[1:56:22] vehicle, hold your vehicle hostage and
uh and and and it's just a nightmarish
[1:56:27] uh uh situation. I think we need to
create some type of um ordinance
[1:56:32] governing the um uh uh towing services.
Council President, could I just
[1:56:38] » Council Acol, we're step ahead of you.
Our city attorney, Aaron Mitsrai, is
[1:56:44] already doing that. We should have it in
the next couple of days. He's putting
[1:56:50] together the guidelines for the police
department, how they operate for those
[1:56:54] touring that's being contracted by
private owners.
[1:57:00] So, they should have it in the next
couple of days because I found out
[1:57:06] this weekend they do have to register
with the city in order to operate even
[1:57:12] though they're contracted by a private
owner and that is going to be
[1:57:17] reinforced. And I guess Chief Mooney, if
you want to talk to uh Detective
[1:57:23] Richards
uh and um our attorney, they're already
[1:57:28] working on that. so that they can give
you guys some guidelines to use so that
[1:57:33] our officers are not out there on
Saturday and Sunday not knowing how to
[1:57:38] handle those situations. So, it's
already in the works.
[1:57:41] » Thank you very much.
>> Okay.
[1:57:43] » Thank you. So, before I speak, I would
like to bring up the Orange Police
[1:57:46] Department.
[1:57:55] » Thank you, Chief Moon.
>> Good evening. And yes, Mr. CE, that that
[1:57:58] is correct. met with Sergeant Richards
today and uh I know he was having some
[1:58:01] meetings today and I'm going to get an
update on but uh that's a concern and uh
[1:58:06] I know they're putting some things
together to correct some of that problem
[1:58:08] with these out out of town and the uh
some of the stuff that's going on on
[1:58:12] private property.
>> Yeah. Just to say your captain is still
[1:58:14] at work even though he's retiring.
>> Oh, absolutely. So, thank you council
[1:58:19] president for bringing me up for an
opportunity to speak on behalf of the
[1:58:22] men and women of the Orange Police
Department. Uh, Councilwoman Een, uh, on
[1:58:26] behalf of them, I just want to say thank
you. Thank you for the years. I think
[1:58:30] most of my career, you've been in your
position. Thank you for the opportunity.
[1:58:33] Always a fair conversation. Good times
and bad. We've had some wonderful
[1:58:38] moments over my career, and we've had
some some lousy ones, some officer
[1:58:41] deaths, and some bad moments when you're
always there. And you gave us a fair
[1:58:44] opportunity when there was um things
where the the Orange Police Department
[1:58:48] was being questioned, and sometimes it
was it was rightly so. but you gave us
[1:58:52] an opportunity to speak and explain
ourselves to the the citizens and and
[1:58:56] your constituents and we're uh we're
thankful and grateful for that. I I
[1:59:00] loved our dialogue. I know when the
phone rang and it was going to be a
[1:59:03] serious conversation about what was
going on whether it was when I was in
[1:59:06] enforcement or community service or no
matter where I worked, it was going to
[1:59:10] be that, you know, this is serious and
you always thought of your citizens
[1:59:13] first and how, you know, it could be
better and the police department could
[1:59:16] serve them better. So, I I just want to
say thank you for the men and women um
[1:59:21] for always giving us a chance uh for
standing up when we needed someone to
[1:59:25] stand up and question us when we needed
to be questioned. And uh I always
[1:59:28] brought uh enjoyed that transparency and
I wish you nothing but the best. I know
[1:59:32] you said it. I know your fire is still
burning and that's not going to change.
[1:59:36] So, from that perspective, I expect to
hear from you in the future. So, I wish
[1:59:39] you nothing but the best and good luck.
>> I give your father-in-law my best.
[1:59:44] » Absolutely.
[1:59:49] So, I want to start off by talking about
Saturday in the city of Orange Township.
[1:59:54] Saturday was a great um day. It was an
exciting day. It was a long day,
[1:59:59] Councilman. Um Monty, you and I were out
there. So, we started off Saturday
[2:00:03] morning in College Park with the girls
flag football team, which there was a
[2:00:09] phenomenal game. I regret to say we
lost, but that's okay. Um, but we, you
[2:00:16] know, had a good time, good conversation
with the coach from East Orange. And
[2:00:20] what we're going to do is take our
girls, um, to have some scrimmage games
[2:00:24] with them. We're going to set up
something where they can go over and
[2:00:27] play games and they can come over and
play games. But that was a really good
[2:00:30] game. Really good to see young ladies
out there playing football. It was
[2:00:34] absolutely amazing. Then from Flag
Football, we popped over to the um
[2:00:41] what's that thing where they throw the
paint um
[2:00:46] » Orange Park.
>> Mhm.
[2:00:47] » Orange Park, right?
>> It was the I I can't remember the name
[2:00:50] of but but it's where the young people
have these paint packets and they color
[2:00:55] run. That's what it is. Yeah. So, we
left Flag football. We went over to
[2:00:59] Orange Park. There was a color run. So,
believe me, I stayed out of the color
[2:01:03] room, but people were pink and purple
and all different [laughter] colors. It
[2:01:06] was the end of orange week for the board
of education, which we had tennis last
[2:01:10] week.
>> We left there and we went um to Orange
[2:01:15] Park where a young man um I knew him as
Cowboy. Um he passed away a couple of
[2:01:21] weeks ago, but the seniors, it was about
50 or 60 seniors in the park. They had a
[2:01:27] memorial service for him, which was
absolutely beautiful. It was absolutely
[2:01:32] amazing. There were seniors there from
268, 300, 400 and all over town. Then we
[2:01:38] popped back to um the park, college park
where there was a scrimmage baseball
[2:01:45] game and and welder councilman Monteu
was there with the young men which was
[2:01:50] absolutely phenomenal. Y'all know that
baseball is my favorite sport. It was a
[2:01:54] good game. And who was the team we we
were playing?
[2:01:57] » Elizabeth.
>> We played Elizabeth. We beat them too,
[2:02:00] right?
>> Yes,
[2:02:00] » we did. We did beat them. Um so sports
are alive in the city of Orange
[2:02:06] Township. Um, we popped over to the
pool. The pool has been open on
[2:02:10] weekends. Only the central pool. All of
the other pools are ready to be open
[2:02:14] right on July 1st. So, that's a great
thing as as well. Um, resolution 392026,
[2:02:22] the resolution um supporting the New
Jersey Child Care Assistance Program is
[2:02:28] something that um y'all know I work for
Senator Timberlake is a piece of
[2:02:32] legislation that she's worked on. um
with that legislation and also with the
[2:02:38] laundry workers center. She's also
worked with them on some legislation. So
[2:02:42] um this is a piece of legislation that
I'm going to be proud um to support. And
[2:02:47] then I want to talk a bit about um 319
2026.
[2:02:52] There was a power outage in Orange on
Oakwood Avenue um on June the 7th. A
[2:02:59] tree fell. It knocked out just about all
the buildings on Oakwood Avenue. who I
[2:03:03] think it knocked out some homes on all
it and knocked out that entire church
[2:03:07] St. Matthew's church. Um but we had
people in our community who um thought
[2:03:14] it not robbery to go over and check on
our seniors and deputy chief Nelson
[2:03:20] Rivera of two or two was one of those
people. So he went over that morning and
[2:03:25] he purchased, you know, out of his
pocket food for the seniors in the three
[2:03:29] senior buildings. And um Deputy Chief
Rivera has gone into his pocket several
[2:03:37] time in the city of Orange Township. He
did it with the sneakers one day,
[2:03:40] Councilman Monty, he did it with um
rental insurance for people. So he's
[2:03:45] always
>> the bikes. Remember he did the bikes.
[2:03:47] » The bikes as well.
>> The bikes.
[2:03:49] » Uhuh. but he's always somebody that we
can count on and he does it unsolicited.
[2:03:54] So, I wanted to write this piece of
legislation um for him to um just say
[2:04:00] thank you. Um we have a great fire
department, we have a great police
[2:04:04] department, but I just want to say thank
you, a special thank you to Deputy Chief
[2:04:08] Nelson Rivera. [snorts] Also want to
talk about Junth. We all know about
[2:04:13] Junth. Um there are several several
events going on in the city of Orange
[2:04:20] Township. Charge you to go to one of
[snorts] those events. We all know what
[2:04:24] the history is behind Junth. I'm going
to make you laugh. We put out a flyer
[2:04:28] that said this event is going to happen
on Junth. And people started calling and
[2:04:33] we're like, well, when is Junth? And I'm
like, oh my god. Like you don't know
[2:04:38] that it's June 19th. But you know, you
had to just explain it to a few people.
[2:04:42] But um that's something that we
celebrate. I've been celebrating that as
[2:04:45] a child, but I grew up in the south and
I don't know if it was something that
[2:04:49] was celebrated up here in the north. Um
but that's a very um special holiday
[2:04:54] talking about our freedom and talking
about when we were emancipated as black
[2:04:57] folks. I do want to end up to speak
about um
[2:05:04] kind of what Councilwoman East was
talking about, but I want to talk about
[2:05:09] something from the point of view of
Fanny Liu Hamer. And of course, you all
[2:05:13] knew who she is. Um
Adam Clayton Pal Jr., we all knew who he
[2:05:20] was.
um just people who were in our community
[2:05:26] who were advocates and who fought for
people. And I just want you to look at
[2:05:33] those people and see how they were in
our neighborhoods and look at the
[2:05:37] statements that they made and see how
they did things with class and poise.
[2:05:42] And then I want you to look at the
advocates that we have today. And that's
[2:05:48] all I'm going to end with that.
Um to Councilwoman Een, you are
[2:05:53] definitely going to be missed, but you
know, I will come over there to your
[2:05:57] house and we will sit in that backyard
and sit on that front porch and talk
[2:06:02] about um good times and bad times. I
know that you are solid cuz you are a
[2:06:07] woman of God and you know God places you
certain places in your life. So, and he
[2:06:13] doesn't make any mistakes. So, I know
that you're all good with that. You are
[2:06:18] definitely definitely definitely going
to be missed and thank you for all your
[2:06:21] service to the city of Orange Township.
That's from me and my family and anybody
[2:06:27] else who wants to tag along. But thank
you so much. You're going to be missed.
[2:06:35] We'll move the agenda.
Ordinance on second reading.
[2:06:42] Ordinance 11-2026.
It's an ordinance to amend the code of
[2:06:46] the city of Orange Township chapter 200
section 200-10.2
[2:06:53] entitled residential permit parking zone
A to update the hours of parking on
[2:06:59] Nassau Street sponsored by council
member Jamie B. Summers Johnson. Are
[2:07:04] there any citizens who wish to comment?
[2:07:10] today.
>> Motion to close.
[2:07:15] » Second.
>> Okay.
[2:07:17] » Second.
>> Motion to close. Citizens comments were
[2:07:21] m was made by councilwoman Een. Second
by council president Wooten. All those
[2:07:27] in favor by saying I.
>> I.
[2:07:29] » I.
>> Anyh
[2:07:34] » on the motion?
>> Nope. Not yet. Motion to adopt.
[2:07:38] » Move is uh since the comments is closed
now. Is there a motion
[2:07:44] » on motion to adopt? Motion to adopt or
or whatever or postpone. Do you want to
[2:07:48] postpone it?
>> I would like to postpone it because I
[2:07:51] know um that's Nassau Street and
Councilwoman Summers Johnson was going
[2:07:56] back and forth with the residents
regarding the time. Some people wanted
[2:08:00] to change the time to 3 pm. Some people
didn't want to change it to 3 pm. I
[2:08:05] think she was talking about us changing
whatever time we're going to change it
[2:08:09] to to make like one time across the
board so we don't have the police
[2:08:13] officers jumping over here at 4:00, here
at 3, here at 2. So, um, if we could
[2:08:18] just postpone it and then bring it back
next week.
[2:08:22] » So, can we have a motion? Wouldn't it be
a motion to table?
[2:08:26] » Most motion to postpone till the next
meeting.
[2:08:29] » Okay.
[cough]
[2:08:32] » All right. So, we we were in a motion.
Are we
[2:08:36] » Yeah, cuz I was
>> That's what I'm saying. She has to to
[2:08:39] resend her. I'll resend my motion and
make a motion to postpone this.
[2:08:46] » Attorney, you don't need to do that.
Just It's a mot. There's a motion on the
[2:08:49] table, right? Just change it to You want
to postpone it?
[2:08:51] » Just change the motion.
>> Just postpone. Just make a mo. Yeah.
[2:08:54] Vote to postpone it.
>> She just did. Yep. Okay. Now I need a
[2:08:57] second.
>> Second.
[2:09:00] » Motion by Councilwoman E. Second by
Council Vice President Monica the third
[2:09:05] to postpone to the next meeting. On the
motion. Roll call. Councilman Coley.
[2:09:11] » Yes.
>> Councilwoman Een.
[2:09:12] » Yes.
>> Councilwoman Hilbert is absent. Council
[2:09:14] Vice President Monica the third. Yes.
>> Counciloman Ross. Yes. Councilwoman
[2:09:17] Summers Johnson is absent. Council
President Wooten.
[2:09:20] » Yes.
>> That's five yays, two absent. This is
[2:09:22] approved is postponed to the next
meeting.
[2:09:26] Ordinance 13-2026,
an ordinance to exceed the municipal
[2:09:30] budget appropriation limits and to
establish a cap bank in accordance with
[2:09:35] NJSA4A
4-45.14
[2:09:40] for the calendar year 2026 budget. Are
there any citizens who wish to comment?
[2:09:48] » Yes.
What does this cap budget actually do if
[2:09:52] we don't have a budget yet? How are we I
mean, maybe I'm just not understanding
[2:09:55] the ordinance appropriately, but it's
hard to understand how we are
[2:10:00] establishing a cap to go above our
allowed amount, but we have no budget
[2:10:05] yet. So, I'm confused. Maybe I'm just
not understanding the ordinance.
[2:10:08] » Before we respond, and I didn't want to
interrupt, just put your name and
[2:10:10] address on the record.
>> Alicia, 47 Mountain View.
[2:10:14] » Good evening. So, this ordinance does
two things. one, it increases the total
[2:10:20] appropriation uh limit to 3.5% which is
standard but then the municipality has
[2:10:24] to opt in and in addition to you're
referencing the CAT bank. So on that
[2:10:30] 3.5% say that we have $100,000 that
we're allowed to appropriate and we
[2:10:36] don't that goes into our CAT bank and
it's allowed to be used in a future
[2:10:40] year. So, this gives the municipality
the option to use that 100,000 whatever
[2:10:45] that difference is in between where we
land and where [clears throat] we
[2:10:49] appropriate in a future year. This is
done before the uh budget is adopted on
[2:10:55] an annual basis. Uh it's been sent to
the state so that they can review to
[2:10:59] know where you land as far as the
appropriation uh limits. So, it has to
[2:11:04] be done before the budget is adopted.
So, if I'm understanding correctly, what
[2:11:08] you're saying is,
yeah, that's confusing. Sorry. So, this
[2:11:12] has nothing to do with us exceeding the
allowed budget that we're allowed to
[2:11:16] exceed. You don't have some we have to
submit an application to the state. If
[2:11:19] you go over the allowed amount that you
can increase, this has nothing to do
[2:11:22] with that. This is just saying if you
have extra money, you could put it away
[2:11:26] somewhere. I'm sorry.
>> Correct. This allows you to bank the
[2:11:29] difference of where your budget finishes
for appropriations and where you're
[2:11:33] allowed to appropriate,
>> but it doesn't reflect it doesn't
[2:11:37] actually reflect how much we're actually
going to go over yet.
[2:11:40] » No, that's in the adopted budget.
>> Okay. Thank you.
[2:11:43] » Yes, ma'am.
[2:11:47] Anyone else?
Motion to close citizens comments.
[2:11:52] » Motion to close.
>> Second Coley.
[2:11:54] » Motion to close citizens comments was
made by Councilwoman East. Second by
[2:11:57] Councilman Coley. All those in favor by
saying I. I.
[2:12:00] » Any opposed? Citizens comment is closed.
Is there a motion on the floor?
[2:12:05] » Move. Wooten.
>> Second.
[2:12:07] » Motion by Council President Wooten.
Second by Council Vice President Moner
[2:12:11] the third on the motion. Roll call.
Councilman Coley.
[2:12:14] » Yes.
>> Councilwoman Een.
[2:12:15] » Yes.
>> Councilwoman Hillbot is absent. Council
[2:12:17] Vice President Moni.
>> Yes.
[2:12:19] » Counciloman Ross.
>> Yes. Counciloman Summers Johnson is
[2:12:22] absent. Council President Wooden.
>> Yes. That's five yays, two absence. This
[2:12:25] is approved.
[2:12:29] Resolution, I'm sorry. Ordinance
15-2026,
[2:12:33] an ordinance of the municipal council of
the city of Orange Township, Essis
[2:12:36] County, New Jersey, amending chapter 210
of the municipal code of the city of
[2:12:41] Orange Township, entitled development
regulations to revise off- streetet
[2:12:45] parking, space, size, and access in
accordance with the residential site
[2:12:50] improvement standards codified under the
title 5, chapter 21 of the New Jersey
[2:12:54] administrative code. Sponsored by
council member Welen Montigue the third.
[2:12:59] Are there any citizens who wish to
comment?
[2:13:06] » State your name and address.
>> Aisha Samuel 401 Highland Terrace. What
[2:13:11] exactly is this for? Because we all know
that Orange has parking issues. So what
[2:13:18] exactly is this about? because it's not
very pro it's not very clear like what
[2:13:25] this is for.
>> So there's a state statute called the
[2:13:28] residential site improvement standards
and it sets forth requirements for the
[2:13:34] size of parking spaces. Um
our ordinance is not in conformity with
[2:13:40] that statute. So this ordinance brings
us into conformity with the statute.
[2:13:45] » Okay. Does that mean that now we're
going to have parking spaces painted or
[2:13:50] something or is it just like some legal
lease that has to be changed?
[2:13:56] » Well, eventually you'll have painted
parking spaces and they'll have to
[2:13:59] comply with this ordinance.
>> Okay. Thank you.
[2:14:04] » Anyone else?
[2:14:08] Is a motion to close?
>> Motion to close. Ross,
[2:14:12] » second, Eston.
>> Motion to close. Citizens comments was
[2:14:14] made by Councilman Ross, second by
Councilwoman Een. All those in favor by
[2:14:18] saying I.
>> I. Any oppose? Citizen comments is
[2:14:22] closed. Is there a motion on the floor?
>> Motion to adopt.
[2:14:26] » Second, Coley.
>> Motion to adopt made by Councilwoman
[2:14:29] Een, second by Councilman Coley. On the
motion, roll call. Councilman Coley.
[2:14:35] » Yes.
>> Councilwoman E.
[2:14:37] » Yes.
>> Councilwoman Hilbert is absent. Council
[2:14:38] vice president Monty the third.
>> Yes.
[2:14:40] » Counciloman Ross,
>> yes. Counciloman Sus Johnson is absent.
[2:14:43] Council President Wooten.
>> Yes.
[2:14:44] » That's five years, two absence. This is
approved. Ordinance 16-2026,
[2:14:51] an ordinance amending chapter 18, fire
department and chapter 26 police
[2:14:55] department of the revised code of the
city of Orange Township by creating the
[2:14:59] department of public safety and
providing for the appointment of a
[2:15:02] public director amended. Is are there
any citizens who wish to comment?
[2:15:12] Motion to close.
>> No, we have someone. She's getting here.
[2:15:16] » I'm coming. It takes me a little longer,
but I'm coming. Gloria Boseman, 345
[2:15:21] Alcott Street, Orange. Um, first, a
couple of things uh I want to address,
[2:15:26] but first I want to say to our police
and fire community and the last
[2:15:31] community meeting that they had. Um, the
difference between going to those
[2:15:35] meetings, well, let me put it this way.
Those meetings we ask the same tough
[2:15:40] questions but we get answers. Those
meetings no matter how difficult the
[2:15:45] experience might be they entertain it
try to try to help us clarify certain
[2:15:50] issues and I just want to say I
appreciate them and I appreciate the way
[2:15:53] they receive the community and I
appreciate the way that they've
[2:15:56] enlightened me on a number of instances.
I want to say to those people who come
[2:16:00] to this podium don't be discouraged. uh
Frederick Douglas added to those said
[2:16:05] power doesn't concede without a demand.
Power doesn't concede without a
[2:16:09] struggle. Power does not concede unless
it is confronted. So the fact is that we
[2:16:14] have that opportunity in this free world
to come before. But the public safety
[2:16:18] director I spoke to be I've spoken to
that position before. Let me speak on
[2:16:23] that issue very briefly because my
brother here gave such a detailed and
[2:16:27] informed question experience with regard
to that. I'm hoping those questions
[2:16:32] which will will be answered which will
solve mine. But I want us to make
[2:16:36] certain that we stop ignoring the
comments of people from this community
[2:16:40] including mine with regard to looking at
the public safety director. I don't
[2:16:44] speak from opinion. Everything I want to
find out about I try to go to either
[2:16:49] authorities or to the research to ex to
probably give me some information that I
[2:16:54] may not have had before because I'm not
an expert on all things. A lot of things
[2:16:58] but not on all things. It represents two
departments. We want to be careful. I
[2:17:02] heard you talk about the job
description. I'm going to be looking
[2:17:05] carefully at that job description
because I've looked at other job
[2:17:08] descriptions. Someone told me the reason
this is happening because that these
[2:17:11] positions exist in comparable
communities. Well, sometimes we come to
[2:17:16] the podium and you ask us not to compare
ourselves to other communities. So, when
[2:17:19] it's convenient, we should compare
ourselves to the community. But I want
[2:17:23] to get to the job description that I had
an opportunity to look at because the
[2:17:26] only thing that I heard today is 10
years of law enforcement experience. The
[2:17:30] descriptions I looked at were so much
more and so broad that it allowed for
[2:17:35] people who had expertise not only with
regard to that but with regard to all of
[2:17:40] the disciplines that they represented as
well as the experience of administration
[2:17:44] and the ability to look at issues from a
variety of sides. So I'm going to be
[2:17:48] looking at that. But I'm particularly
going to be looking because once I was
[2:17:51] on a board and they asked me if I would
leave because they perceived that other
[2:17:55] boards that I was on may have a conflict
of interest. It did not. But they did
[2:18:00] not want the community to get the
perception that there could be bias
[2:18:04] introduced. They did not want the
community to get the perception of
[2:18:07] impropriy. And as a result of that they
said we'll bring you at another time.
[2:18:12] And unfortunate unfortunately I have
been brought back to that board as I
[2:18:16] have relinquished other board positions.
So, I'm going to be looking carefully at
[2:18:20] this to make certain that the same
things that we say exist in other
[2:18:24] communities will be fairly represented
by the public and the public I keep
[2:18:28] saying that incorrectly the public
safety director here.
[2:18:36] » Darnell gives one hope drive.
[2:18:41] » I'm good to go. Cool. So, I I had a
question in reference to
[2:18:47] like in reference to actually doing
hiring. Only reason I say that is
[2:18:51] because there's already been studies
where they say officers who are actually
[2:18:55] part of the community, i.e. live in the
community, do a better job within the
[2:18:58] community. So, with this position that
we're proposing, my question is to you,
[2:19:03] would
it even be entertained to possibly let
[2:19:09] one of officers who already worked for
our great city, perhaps in a rank of
[2:19:13] sergeant or above, to actually apply for
this position without the need to
[2:19:17] actually resign from the Orange Police
Department? That's my question.
[2:19:21] » It's possible.
>> Possible. Fair enough.
[2:19:25] Anyone
else? Can I have a motion to close?
[2:19:31] Move. Wooten.
>> Second. Was
[2:19:34] » motion to close. Citizen comments was
made by Council President Wooten. Second
[2:19:37] by Councilman Ross. All those in favor
by saying I.
[2:19:41] » Any oppose?
>> So moved. Can I get a motion on the
[2:19:45] floor?
>> Move. Wooten.
[2:19:49] » Second. Een.
>> Moved by Council President Wooten.
[2:19:53] Second by Councilwoman Een. On the
motion. Roll call. Counciloman Coley.
[2:19:58] » Yes.
>> Councilwoman Een.
[2:20:00] » Yes.
>> Councilwoman Hilbert is absent. Council
[2:20:01] Vice President Moni. Yes.
>> Counciloman Ross.
[2:20:04] » Councilwoman Summers Johnson is absent.
Council President Wooten.
[2:20:07] » Yes.
>> That's five years to nos. This has two
[2:20:11] absences. This has been approved.
Ordinance 18-2026.
[2:20:18] A bond ordinance providing for issuance
of redevelopment area bonds to finance
[2:20:23] infrastructure improvements to a
redevelopment project located at 330
[2:20:27] Main Street, 98 Oakwood Avenue, 50 Main
Street, 18 Oakwood Avenue, 12 Oakwood
[2:20:33] Avenue, and 28 Main Street in the city
of Orange Township in the county of
[2:20:36] Essex, state of New Jersey, the city
appropriating 150,000 therefore and
[2:20:42] authorizing the issuance of 150,000
bonds or notes of the city to finance
[2:20:48] the cost thereof. Are there any citizens
who wish to comment?
[2:20:54] » Alicia 487 Mountain View. These are
questions I asked earlier, but since
[2:20:58] it's relevant, I'm going to ask them
again. Hopefully, I don't have to email
[2:21:00] them. Um, what is other related
improvements projects quote unquote
[2:21:05] entail? Does this refer to streets,
sidewalks, upkeep, replacements, and
[2:21:09] improvement to which Laauana Best would
be responsible for making these
[2:21:12] determinations and suggestions based on
the language in the document. If in this
[2:21:18] because she's a planning um the planning
person, if in this agreement, the
[2:21:22] investor is required and responsible to
do improvements, why are we taking out
[2:21:27] an additional $150,000?
it. In this specific agreement, it says
[2:21:32] that they're responsible to provide
improvements to the road, improvements
[2:21:36] [snorts] to the sidewalks, and add
additional things. So, why the extra
[2:21:41] 150? Um, was there a specific
improvement that needed fixing that was
[2:21:46] determined by Orange and the investor?
[2:21:51] » There are two reasons. Um the first is
that um there are specific improvements
[2:21:59] related to the main street street design
that um we're adding comp some
[2:22:06] contribution to for the main street
street design to make sure that it's
[2:22:10] complete and consistent. Um and the
second reason is that um we often
[2:22:17] include RABS um because the inclusion of
a RAB allows for the aggregate annual uh
[2:22:29] the minimum annual service charge to go
below 10%.
[2:22:34] Without the RAB, the minimum annual
service charge can't go below 10% under
[2:22:38] the statute. So if you have a a project
that doesn't support a 10% minimum
[2:22:46] annual service charge then you can
include a RAB to get it under the
[2:22:51] minimum annual service charge.
>> So the purpose of the bonds probably all
[2:22:55] three bonds is so that then you guys can
collect up to that 10%. It gives the
[2:22:59] ability that's the only I guess the main
benefit
[2:23:02] » below the 10%. Yes. It has to be below
or at sorry
[2:23:06] » the the inclusion of the RAB allows you
to go below the 10% annual minimum
[2:23:13] service charge that the statute requires
>> of the bond
[2:23:17] » of the minimum service charge under the
pilot
[2:23:20] » for whom for the message
>> the pilot that's being paid by the
[2:23:24] project
>> sorry I don't understand the lingual so
[2:23:27] I I don't mean to be redundant um I
think that was the last question oh yes
[2:23:31] and can you explain what substantial
completion is so So, do they have to pay
[2:23:35] a year after their substantial
completion? And then is it what do they
[2:23:40] pay now or until the construction is
done?
[2:23:43] » They pay taxes until the pilot kicks in.
Um, whatever the taxes are on the
[2:23:48] property, that's what they pay. Um, and
substantial completion is a defined term
[2:23:53] under the agreement. It's somewhat
complicated, but basically you have to
[2:23:58] have either a temporary CO or a CO
>> livable.
[2:24:03] » Thank you.
>> Anyone else?
[2:24:12] » Good evening everyone. Tanya Chamaro for
409 Minton please.
[2:24:16] » Say that one more time. I didn't hear
you. I'm sorry.
[2:24:18] » I said good evening everyone. 409 Minton
please New Jersey.
[2:24:22] » And your name? Tamaro.
>> Thank you.
[2:24:25] » You're welcome. Um, so, uh, when it
comes to this, I'm sorry, I just lost
[2:24:30] it. What exactly are we improving
in these areas in Oakwood?
[2:24:40] » The funds will be used for sidewalks,
curbs, and street improvements.
[2:24:45] » Okay. Um when you do do we have like a
specific um time period once this gets
[2:24:52] approved of how long it would take?
>> It's done at the conclusion of
[2:24:56] construction so that the improvements
aren't damaged.
[2:25:00] » Okay. So we we don't have approximately
time.
[2:25:03] » Just the construction schedule that's
all.
[2:25:05] » Okay. Do you do you happen to know how
long that would take? So they have to
[2:25:10] commence construction within 12 months
of the signing of their documents.
[2:25:15] » Uhhuh.
>> Um and construction usually takes about
[2:25:18] 24 to 26 months.
>> Okay. That's quite a long time. Okay.
[2:25:25] Thank you.
[2:25:29] » Anyone else?
[2:25:35] » Are any of these buildings? State your
name.
[2:25:38] » Aisha Samuel 401 Highland Terrace. Are
any of these buildings along the
[2:25:44] scattered sites
or the main street uh replanning
[2:25:50] or whatever y'all want to call it?
>> Redevelopment.
[2:25:53] » Redevelopment. Thank you.
>> These are all part of the
[2:25:59] the Main Street redevelopment plan.
>> Okay. So, if it's a part of the Main
[2:26:03] Street Redevelopment Plan, isn't there
supposed to be a grant for that
[2:26:08] » or a partial grant for that?
>> For the Main Street redevelopment plan,
[2:26:13] » correct?
>> No,
[2:26:17] » I think you're confusing it with the
Main Streetscape
[2:26:20] plan,
>> which is the renovation of Main Street
[2:26:24] from
Scotland Road to the East Orange border.
[2:26:28] And yes, we've applied for grants for
that.
[2:26:32] » So, this is on the other side of Main
Street.
[2:26:38] » It's down, this particular project is
from
[2:26:43] uh Wendy's
to Oakwood.
[2:26:48] » So, that should be among the property
that would be a part of that grant.
[2:26:54] the the public improvements in that area
will be a part of the grant. That's what
[2:26:59] some of this funding would go to to make
sure that it's consistent because they
[2:27:03] won't be done at the same time.
>> So, will this be done before the grant
[2:27:09] time?
>> Depends.
[2:27:16] » Okay. Cuz uh like this is confusing.
So, you don't really have a start date
[2:27:23] for when this is getting done, but you
also don't really have a start date for
[2:27:29] the redevelopment of Main Street, but
you do have some money for the
[2:27:34] redevelopment of Main Street, but this
won't be a part of that redevelopment
[2:27:39] money for Main Street. Is that correct?
>> Yes.
[2:27:43] » Okay. Ain't that
[2:27:48] » anyone else?
[2:27:52] Motion to close.
Move. Wooten.
[2:27:57] » Motion to close. Citizen comments made
by Councilwoman E. Second by Council
[2:28:00] President Wooten. All those in favor
vote by saying I.
[2:28:03] » Any objections?
So carried. Is there a motion?
[2:28:08] » Motion to adopt.
>> Second, Ross.
[2:28:12] » Motion to adopt. Adopt was made by
Councilwoman Een. Second by Council Men
[2:28:17] Ross. On the motion. Roll call.
Counciloman Kohley.
[2:28:20] » Yes.
>> Councilwoman Eastston.
[2:28:22] » Yes.
>> Councilwoman Hilbert is absent. Council
[2:28:24] Vice President Monica the third.
>> Yes.
[2:28:26] » Councilwoman Councilman Ross.
>> Yes.
[2:28:28] » Councilwoman Summers Johnson is absent.
Council President Wooten.
[2:28:31] » Yes.
>> That's five years, two absence. This has
[2:28:34] been approved. Ordinance 20-2026,
a bond ordinance providing for the
[2:28:39] issuance of redevelopment area bonds to
finance infrastructure improvements to a
[2:28:43] redevelopment project located at 410
Main Street and 15-17
[2:28:49] Lincoln Avenue in the city of Orange
Township in the county of Essex, state
[2:28:52] of New Jersey, the city appropriating
150,000 therefore and authorizing the
[2:28:56] issuance of 150,000 bonds or notes to
the city to finance the cost thereof.
[2:29:02] Are there any citizens who wish to
comment?
[2:29:07] Is there a motion to close? Move.
Wooten.
[2:29:10] » Second. Ros.
>> Motion to close made by Council
[2:29:13] President Wooten. Second by Councilman
Ross. All those in favorable vote by
[2:29:16] saying I.
>> Citizens comments closed. Is there a
[2:29:20] motion?
>> Motion to adopt.
[2:29:23] » Second.
>> Motion by Councilwoman Een. Second by
[2:29:26] Council Vice President Monica the third.
On the motion. Roll call. Councilman
[2:29:31] Coley.
>> Yes. Councilwoman Eastston, yes.
[2:29:33] Councilwoman Hilbert is absent. Council
Vice President Moni, yes. Councilman
[2:29:37] Ross, Councilwoman Summit Johnson is
absent. Council President Wooten,
[2:29:40] » yes.
>> That's five years, two absent. This has
[2:29:44] been approved.
Ordinance 23-2026,
[2:29:49] Ordinance of the Municipal Council of
the City of Orange Township to approve a
[2:29:53] tax exemption for a 23-year period and
authorizing the execution of a financial
[2:30:00] agreement between the city and VA 50M
Urban Renewal LLC for the property
[2:30:05] located at 30 Main Street, block 3104,
lot 8, 98 Oakwood Avenue, block 3104,
[2:30:13] lot 1, 50 Main Street, block 310 3104
lot 7 18 Oakwood Avenue block 3104 lot 4
[2:30:22] 12 Oakwood Avenue block 3104 lot 5 28
Main Street block 3104 lot 9 are there
[2:30:30] any citizens who wish to comment
[2:30:36] » Darnell Gibbs one hope drive
cuz I asked BA earlier um in open
[2:30:42] comments so with this particular project
meas is going to get back to me in
[2:30:46] reference to uh this particular
developer if they did the workshop and
[2:30:51] if they hired any residents. Just was
curious if you had an answer for that
[2:30:53] one.
>> Sorry, I couldn't hear you.
[2:30:56] » I was asking with this particular
developer
[2:31:00] as per all the pilots, they state that
they have to host with the assistance of
[2:31:04] the township a workshop to hire local
residents. So remember earlier I asked
[2:31:09] you if it was done, what day was it and
how many residents was hired? You said
[2:31:13] you look into it. wasn't sure if it
would be answered now or later. So
[2:31:16] that's what I was asking. That's my
first question.
[2:31:19] » You trailed off at the end. I still
couldn't hand
[2:31:22] » I'm asking with this particular
developer.
[2:31:25] » Yes.
>> On their last project, it was
[2:31:32] 66 2023. They were supposed to hopes
uh job fair. When was the job fair? How
[2:31:40] many of our great residents were hired?
if you're
[2:31:43] » get you the information.
>> Okay, cool. No problem. I wanted to do a
[2:31:46] quick quote
>> and I know Council Member Culie, prior
[2:31:51] service. Yes.
>> Okay. No problem.
[2:31:54] » Councilman Coley,
>> I'll still say the quote. You prior
[2:31:57] service. Yes.
>> Yes.
[2:31:58] » NCO officer, if you don't mind me
asking.
[2:32:01] » NCO.
>> NCOs's lead the way. Who? So, I'm in my
[2:32:04] 18th year in the military. All right.
I've been deployed to maybe 17 different
[2:32:08] countries with four different combat com
conflicts. All right. During my
[2:32:15] development as a NCL,
I came across a great mentor. And this
[2:32:21] mentor, I had to text him to get the
quote, find out who actually said it.
[2:32:24] So, I'm going to read it to you real
fast. It says, "The trouble with most of
[2:32:27] us is that we would rather be ruined by
praise than saved by criticism."
[2:32:34] And I only say that is because with
being critiqued, you become a better
[2:32:39] version of yourself.
I've always critiqued my children, all
[2:32:44] four of them, to be a better version of
himself. Throughout my military career,
[2:32:48] I've always been critiqued to be a
better NCO than the day I was before. I
[2:32:53] never took any one critique as a
personal attack on me. I took that
[2:32:57] critique as the person giving me tools
and suggestions to be a better NCO, a
[2:33:06] better leader. If anyone feels that any
citizen that they supposed to represent
[2:33:12] critiquing them is a personal attack,
that is not. It's just simply the
[2:33:16] citizen asking for clarity and
understanding. That's all.
[2:33:33] » [snorts]
>> That's hard to follow because it's so
[2:33:36] appropriate, but I will. Nevertheless,
I'm I am urging
[2:33:40] » Name and address. I'm sorry.
>> I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Gloria Boseman,
[2:33:44] forgive me. 345 Oak Street where the
tree fell, but not on my house.
[2:33:48] Hallelujah.
>> Um, for months, citizens have been
[2:33:53] coming to this podium and coming to
these chambers. They've submitted
[2:33:57] petitions. They've repeatedly asked
about these developments and the
[2:34:02] financial strain on our community and
the impact on our community with regard
[2:34:06] to quality of life, infrastructure, and
other things. Yet, we feel as though
[2:34:10] these voices are being ignored. These
tax abatements and long-term tax
[2:34:14] shelters for developers who may be
wealthy are at the direct expense of our
[2:34:19] community. Under this agreement, what
contributions are actually made to us
[2:34:25] that are that are other than the
community development funds which we are
[2:34:29] having some difficulty kind of deciding
where they should go. What developer
[2:34:33] locks in a stable discounted rate for de
decades? And while they do this, regular
[2:34:39] homeowners and small business owners are
forced to shoulder the rising cost via
[2:34:45] our rising taxes. If this project is a
sound investment, let the developer pay
[2:34:51] standard property taxes just like the
rest of us. Listen to your constituents.
[2:34:57] Respect the consistent public
opposition. And finally, say no. I say
[2:35:04] we are continuously approving these
developers, handing out ex even over and
[2:35:09] above the explicit objections of members
of this community. Taxpayers should be
[2:35:16] driving these developments. I know that
you love Orange. I love Orange. But
[2:35:21] gentrification is on the way. I've seen
it in DC. I know it in Harlem. I saw it
[2:35:26] in Jersey City and we saw it in Hobok.
And if a developer needs both an LTE tax
[2:35:33] exemption, which I had to look up, and
an RA bond to make a profit in this
[2:35:38] thriving real estate market. It is a bad
project and it is a bad deal for our
[2:35:45] community. The community has
demonstrated that they want to be heard
[2:35:50] and we will continue to do that in
whatever way we have to do it. And I
[2:35:55] apologize if you consider and that was
so excellent. I got to get that quote.
[2:35:59] If you consider our coming to this
podium negative, this is not the
[2:36:03] position you need to have.
[2:36:13] Just say no. We grew up listening to
that.
[2:36:17] » Oh, Aisha Samuel, 401 Highland Terrace.
We grew up listening to that. We grew up
[2:36:22] watching that. I'm telling y'all, just
say no. I've been telling y'all to say
[2:36:26] no to pilots for the last five years or
however long I've been attending these
[2:36:32] meetings. There is no need for any
company who is making an apartment
[2:36:38] building an apartment building to need a
a pilot. If they have to have Okay, let
[2:36:45] me slow down. If they have to make money
and have to have a pilot to do so, they
[2:36:54] do not need to build in orange. Period.
Just say no.
[2:37:05] Alicia 487 Mountain View. Um, how much
is the cost of this project? And is
[2:37:10] there a
>> Hold on one second.
[2:37:16] » Go ahead.
>> And is there affordable housing included
[2:37:19] in this project?
[2:37:24] » And oh, sorry. Um, do we have
legislation to establish what affordable
[2:37:28] is in Orange?
So there's no affordable included in the
[2:37:33] project. There are
457 units. The project costs
[2:37:39] approximately $200 million
and a little more than that actually.
[2:37:45] And um the definition of affordable is
set by the state. Is it possible for
[2:37:52] Orange to set their own
>> like so that for us to make legislation
[2:37:57] then to establish what affordable
housing is, you know, to probably
[2:38:00] protect ourselves from?
>> I'll defer to the lawyers, but I think
[2:38:03] it's probably um
superseded by state statute.
[2:38:10] » Agreed.
>> What does that mean, supersede by state
[2:38:13] statute?
>> The state once the state speaks, the
[2:38:15] municipality can't.
>> Gotcha. So then we um council can't make
[2:38:19] legislation to establish that in orange.
>> Right. Correct.
[2:38:23] » Got it. Thank you.
[2:38:32] » Fear spends 357.
Um, so I just want to just inform you
[2:38:39] guys um that
the average income household in the city
[2:38:44] of Orange is about 43 to $52,000 a year.
[clears throat] And um with the
[2:38:52] redevelopment that is going up in this
city
[2:38:55] uh you know it's starting at 22 $2500 a
month. So what happens to these
[2:39:04] residents that's been living here for
over the past 25 years is
[2:39:10] you displace them
and then the people that wants to live
[2:39:14] in this city can't even afford it
because they are making the average of
[2:39:18] anywhere from 55 you know to $70,000 a
year. So what you guys should really be
[2:39:26] looking at is
what does the demographic of people and
[2:39:30] where you guys want these people to come
from
[2:39:34] because the closer and closer you guys
get uh you know to developing these
[2:39:38] projects in this 2.2 square mile radius
the more and more crucial it gets for
[2:39:45] you guys too as well. So you just have
to understand what the end results are,
[2:39:49] right? Because uh you know this is a
community that uh you know that is
[2:39:56] familiar with everybody. If you go in
any of our neighboring cities right now,
[2:40:00] South Orange Maplewood, I mean Milbour,
I mean Livingston,
[2:40:05] I not tolerating that stuff, man.
They're not tolerating that. So I think
[2:40:11] you know council I mean we should look
into that stuff too man. I mean we just
[2:40:15] need to be a little bit more
considerate. I mean all of our residents
[2:40:19] I mean especially the lifelong residents
we should be a little bit more
[2:40:21] considerate about this and I mean we
should start talking I mean to the state
[2:40:26] too as well and we need to implement
more of our own legislations in place
[2:40:30] with this. That's what the council body
is here for. I mean not just I mean the
[2:40:34] BA the BA makes a lot of sounds
decisions but the council has to get
[2:40:39] engaged with this. You can't let this
like you just can't let the BA answer
[2:40:42] all these questions and do everything
itself. You know, that's not the way
[2:40:46] this should work. All right. Thank you.
[2:40:57] » Tanya Chamar 49, please Orange, New
Jersey.
[2:41:03] Um, when we talk about a 23-year
exponential
[2:41:09] for the taxes, I think that's just
crazy. Um, if the developers have money
[2:41:15] and investors and everything like that,
so why do we need to give them such a
[2:41:19] big amount of time for a tax exemption
at that point? It makes us the residents
[2:41:26] feel like we should get one, too. We
also need the help. So like I don't
[2:41:31] understand that and we don't have any
help. We have to go outside. We have to
[2:41:35] work and make it happen to pay our taxes
to pay our bills and to be able to live
[2:41:40] in this community. Also following what
um this sir just said um talking about
[2:41:47] the approximately um what is it um what
the minimum wage is for Orange, New
[2:41:54] Jersey. Um I come from I came here when
I was 7 years old. I come from Peru. I
[2:41:59] want to be here to retired. I want my
kids to look at orange and look at it
[2:42:05] like I want to be here as well as my
mother and so for I don't want them to
[2:42:11] have to look for an apartment or a
housing. Well, one we're having so many
[2:42:17] new builds. There's not enough houses in
New Jersey. And if they are, they're
[2:42:22] uprising because of these new bills are
also uprising their rents. Like he said,
[2:42:27] apartments are going up starting at
what, maybe 1,800 and so on and for
[2:42:31] more. Young kids who come out as 21 or
22 from college and they have debts with
[2:42:39] college can't afford that right now. The
prices of um food is going up. The
[2:42:44] prices of taxes is going up. Everything
is going up. Can we really look at the
[2:42:49] future kids that they can afford this
type of like housing in Orange? I feel
[2:42:54] like we're at we're getting at a certain
point that you're going to push us the
[2:42:58] residents out that have been living here
for x amount of time to look into
[2:43:02] somewhere else. And then who was going
to stay in Orange is going to be new
[2:43:06] members, not the old ones that were here
from a long time ago, not I who was here
[2:43:11] when I was 7 years old. And like I said,
I want to be here until I retired. I
[2:43:16] love Orange. I feel like there's so many
possibility in Orange. Orange has
[2:43:20] progressed throughout all these years
since I've been here and I would like to
[2:43:25] continue like that. But if we have new
developments that are asking for 23
[2:43:30] years for a tax exemption, I just don't
see that. And also no affordable
[2:43:35] housing. It's how is that fair to the
residents here? How is that fair to our
[2:43:41] future children that want to move out of
our homes and stay in Orange? So, I just
[2:43:47] wish the council people would take that
in consideration. Thank you.
[2:43:57] » Is there a motion to close?
>> Motion to close.
[2:44:00] » Is there a second?
>> Second. Ross.
[2:44:03] » Motion to close. Citizens comments made
by Councilwoman E. Second by Councilman
[2:44:07] Ross. All those in favor by saying I. I.
>> Any oppose? Citizens comments is closed.
[2:44:12] Is there a motion on the floor?
>> Move. Wooten. Second. Een.
[2:44:17] » Motion by Council President Wooten.
Second by Councilwoman Een. On the
[2:44:21] motion, roll call. Councilman Coley.
>> Yes.
[2:44:23] » Councilwoman Eston.
>> Yes.
[2:44:24] » Councilwoman Hilbert is absent. Council
Vice President Marita the third. Yes.
[2:44:28] » Counciloman Ross. Yes.
>> Councilwoman Summers Johnson is absent.
[2:44:31] Council President Wooten.
>> Yes. That's 5 years, two absence. This
[2:44:34] has been approved. Ordinance 24-2026.
Ordinance of the municipal council of
[2:44:41] the city of Orange Township to approve a
tax exemption for the 23year period and
[2:44:49] authorizing the execution of a financial
agreement between the city and NJT
[2:44:54] 2022-0509
[2:44:57] Urban Renewal LLC for the property
located at 410 Main Street, block 2603,
[2:45:04] lot 8 and 15-17 Lincoln Avenue, block
2603, lot 10. Are there any citizens who
[2:45:13] wish to comment?
>> Alicia, 487 Mountain View. Just one
[2:45:18] question. Um, what is this property
contributing toward taxes right now?
[2:45:23] Maybe Niles could look that up.
[2:45:29] » What's your next question?
>> That's my question.
[2:45:32] » Oh,
so we wait for business to come back.
[2:45:40] H
>> Niles can't see it.
[2:45:43] » Niles, can you see what the what the
taxes are on this property currently?
[2:45:50] » 20
[2:45:53] » and the address is 410 Main Street.
[2:46:18] 2025 they paid $90,876
for property taxes.
[2:46:23] » Thank you.
[2:46:30] » Darno gives one hope drive.
Mr. be a Would you happen to know the
[2:46:37] cost for this particular build for a 23
uh 24-2026?
[2:46:44] » The estimated cost? I know it's not
exact.
[2:46:48] » Uh I think we're looking at about 27 to
$29 million.
[2:46:53] » 27 we we going to make it 30 million.
>> Fine.
[2:46:57] » Okay. So, I just want to make sure I'm
I'm clear.
[2:47:03] The previous project 23-2026
is approximately $200 million and
[2:47:10] they're getting a 23-year tax abatement.
This project 24-2026
[2:47:18] is $30 million and they're getting the
same 23-year tax abatement. Not sure how
[2:47:24] that math adds up.
Cool. But anyway, we talked earlier,
[2:47:30] council member Kulie uh talked earlier
about the residents illegally parking. I
[2:47:34] agree with him. No one should have to
illegally park for somewhere they live.
[2:47:39] However, the parking issue has been
raised by many residents as we started
[2:47:45] to adopt these pilot programs to build
these
[2:47:50] luxury apartment buildings. We kept
saying over and over the amount of units
[2:47:54] that they're offering versus the parking
doesn't match. And we kept telling being
[2:47:59] told over and over, parking is not an
issue. And here we are in reference to
[2:48:05] the great council member stating that
people are legally parking on a
[2:48:08] sidewalk.
>> Excuse me, Mr. Gibbs.
[2:48:11] » The comments during a public hearing on
an ordinance have to relate to the
[2:48:15] ordinance
>> specifically. Okay, fair enough. No
[2:48:18] problem. I apologize.
[2:48:23] That was it cuz I was going to say
something else but it's not related.
[2:48:26] That was it. So I just want to make sure
I'm clear so everybody know.
[2:48:32] 2326 $200 million 23 year tax abatement
2024 2026 $30 million same 23 year tax
[2:48:41] abatement.
[2:48:51] Aisha Samuel, 401 Highland Terrace. Just
say
[2:48:58] no
to tax abatements.
[2:49:01] Period. End the story. We should not
have to pay not one dime towards these
[2:49:08] builders at all towards these
developers.
[2:49:12] They already make too much money.
Why are we giving them a tax abatement?
[2:49:18] Why are we lowering our standards
for somebody else to make money off of
[2:49:26] this town?
[2:49:29] How does that make sense?
How do you guys keep on voting for this?
[2:49:35] How do you keep saying yes to this and
then expect us to pat you on the back
[2:49:41] like you did good? because you ain't
doing good.
[2:49:46] Because I really would God, let me calm
down. Calm down.
[2:49:52] I really want to understand what goes on
in your mind because it absolutely does
[2:49:58] not make sense
at all.
[2:50:03] Y'all don't give tax abatements to
homeowners.
[2:50:07] Why should a builder, a developer get a
tax abatement?
[2:50:12] Homeowners are the ones who actually run
this town. All the money comes from the
[2:50:17] homeowners
and y'all giving them money.
[2:50:24] And the CBAs, they not worth anything
because it's a $200 million project and
[2:50:31] y'all getting $100,000. That's a CBA.
How does that make sense?
[2:50:40] And nowhere on God's green earth would
that make sense.
[2:50:46] But somehow here in orange, that's okay.
We've been telling you for years, just
[2:50:54] say no. And yet y'all keep saying yes.
[2:51:00] Y'all just said yes.
And I'mma tell y'all again, say no. And
[2:51:06] I know y'all gonna still say yes, but
I'mma keep on telling y'all no. Y'all
[2:51:10] want somebody to pat you on the back?
Start saying no.
[2:51:20] Is there a motion? Oh, sorry.
>> Motion to close.
[2:51:23] » No, no, no. Sorry. I have one more.
>> I'm sorry.
[2:51:28] » Tanya Chamar 4 and I mentioned Police
New Jersey. Is there any way that we can
[2:51:34] like maybe meet halfway instead of like
23? Can we do 15 18 something? Ba help
[2:51:42] us out.
>> We went from 30 to 23. So fairly
[2:51:46] substantial negotiating process over a
course of several months, actually a
[2:51:53] couple years, the projects don't work
>> at less than these numbers. So at all
[2:52:00] » if if you want to come in and go through
the numbers in my office, I'm happy to
[2:52:05] do that with you instead of standing
here and and guessing about costs and
[2:52:11] revenues.
>> Mhm.
[2:52:12] » But the numbers at 23 years barely work.
>> Okay.
[2:52:17] » They work.
>> So with this, we are profiting from
[2:52:23] this. That's what you're telling me.
We're getting far more revenue out of
[2:52:28] the properties that are being developed
than they're generating currently in
[2:52:32] taxes.
>> Okay. And this is all on paper. If we
[2:52:36] were to look it up if we come to your
office and Okay. What time are you here
[2:52:41] tomorrow?
>> I'm going to look it up.
[2:52:45] » You can call and make an appointment.
>> I can call and make an appointment. Got
[2:52:49] it. Um, but in the future, please
council members, please. We're try,
[2:52:55] we're letting you guys know, there's
plenty of us here right now that we
[2:52:59] don't want this anymore in our
community. 23 years is extremely too
[2:53:04] long. 30 years is I'm 30. Sheesh.
Like, it's ridiculous.
[2:53:11] We work so hard to keep our homes, to
get our homes. Especially as an
[2:53:16] immigrant myself, we work so hard. We
start from nothing, from scratch. We
[2:53:22] don't have investors. We make our own
money and we try to make our own homes
[2:53:26] and keep our own homes. We don't get any
any tax advances. We don't get any tax
[2:53:31] cuts. That is just not it just doesn't
seem fair to us at all. And like I said,
[2:53:37] I'm also thinking about my kids. I want
our kids. I know you guys have home
[2:53:41] here. I know you guys also want your
kids possibly to stay here, too. and
[2:53:46] your grandkids.
Is this really reasonable?
[2:53:50] And I'm looking at all of y'all.
Is this really reasonable?
[2:53:56] Please, guys. Please. I have three kids.
I want them here. I'm a mother. I don't
[2:54:01] want my kids to go to another state, to
another city. Please.
[2:54:06] Thank you.
[2:54:12] Is there anyone else?
Is there a motion to close?
[2:54:17] » Motion.
>> Motion to close.
[2:54:18] » Second, Ross.
>> Motion to close made by Councilwoman E.
[2:54:22] Second by Councilman Ross. All those in
favor by saying I.
[2:54:25] » I. Oppose. Citizen comments is closed.
Is there a motion on the floor?
[2:54:29] » Motion to adopt. Second. W.
>> Motion to adopt made by Councilwoman E.
[2:54:34] Second by Council President Wooten. On
the motion. Roll call. Councilman
[2:54:37] Kohley.
>> Yes.
[2:54:38] » Councilwoman Eston.
>> Yes.
[2:54:40] » Councilwoman Hillwood is absent. Council
Vice President M. Yes. Counciloman Ross.
[2:54:45] Yes.
>> Councilwoman Summers Johnson is absent.
[2:54:47] Council President Wooten,
>> yes.
[2:54:48] » That's five years, two absence. This has
been approved.
[2:54:54] Um, ordinance 25-2026,
an ordinance of the municipal council of
[2:55:00] the city of Orange Township, county of
Essex, state of New Jersey, correcting
[2:55:05] triveners errors within the main street
redevelopment and rehabilitation plan in
[2:55:11] accordance with the local redevelopment
and housing law NJSA48
[2:55:15] col2A-1.
Are there any citizens who wish to
[2:55:21] comment?
>> Alicia, 487 Mountain View.
[2:55:24] [clears throat]
So, can you explain what significant
[2:55:27] change this will have on the plan when
it comes to setbacks, restrictions, or
[2:55:30] permitted uses? What is it allowing or
not allowing right now that a change was
[2:55:35] requested?
[2:55:43] » All this is doing is correcting a minor
scrivener's error.
[2:55:46] » Yeah. What is that?
the writer wrote it wrong.
[2:55:51] In other words, the planner said
something and when they drafted the
[2:55:55] document, they drafted it not in
accordance with what the planner said,
[2:55:59] » which was
>> it has to do with
[2:56:04] use of a facility on the first floor and
having something above it. So it it
[2:56:13] basically said, if I remember correctly,
that you couldn't have, for example, a
[2:56:19] restaurant on the first floor if there
were second and third stories above the
[2:56:24] above the restaurant, and that was not
what was intended by the planner. Right.
[2:56:28] » So that was corrected.
>> No, that answers my question. The word
[2:56:32] the whole thing didn't have any
explanations. Thank you.
[2:56:37] » Any other citizens?
Is there a motion to close citizen
[2:56:42] comments?
>> Motion second.
[2:56:45] » Motion to close citizens comments was
made by council vice president Matthew
[2:56:50] the third. Second by councilwoman Een.
All those in favor vote by saying I.
[2:56:55] » Citizens comments closed. Is there a
motion on the floor?
[2:56:59] » Move it. Ross.
>> Second. Wooten.
[2:57:03] » Motion by Councilman Ross. Second by
council president Wooten. On the motion.
[2:57:08] Roll call. Councilman Coley,
>> yes.
[2:57:09] » Councilwoman N,
>> yes.
[2:57:11] » Councilwoman Hilbert is absent. Council
Vice President Mi Third,
[2:57:14] » yes.
>> Councilwoman Ross, yes. Councilwoman
[2:57:16] Summers Johnson is absent, and Council
President Wooten.
[2:57:22] » Mhm. Council President Wooten.
>> Yes.
[2:57:24] » Thank you. That's five years, two
absence. This has been approved.
[2:57:30] Ordinance on introduction. First
reading. Ordinance 27-2026.
[2:57:35] an ordinance amending ordinance number
21-20 2017 and an ordinance number
[2:57:40] 15-2020
relating to the salaries and certain
[2:57:45] employees of the city of Orange Township
uh sponsored by council member Clifford
[2:57:49] RS amended is there a motion
>> move Wooten second
[2:57:56] » there motion by council president Wooten
second by council vice president Mer the
[2:58:01] third on the motion roll call council
manoli Yes.
[2:58:06] » Councilwoman Eastston.
>> Yes.
[2:58:07] » Councilwoman Hilbert is absent. Council
Councilman Margie the third. Yes.
[2:58:11] » Councilman Ross. Yes.
>> Councilwoman Summers Johnson is absent.
[2:58:14] Council President Wooten.
>> Abstain.
[2:58:17] » Abstain.
[2:58:21] That is four years. One abstain, two
absence. This is approved.
[2:58:27] Consent agenda.
All items listed with an asterisk are
[2:58:33] considered to be routine by the city
council and will be enacted by one
[2:58:38] motion. There will be no separate
discussion of these items unless a
[2:58:41] council member so request in which event
the item will be removed from the
[2:58:45] general order of business and consider
in its normal sequence of on the agenda.
[2:58:51] Are there any council members who wish
to remove a resolution for a separate
[2:58:55] vote?
>> I do.
[2:58:57] » Yes, ma'am. 319
[2:59:03] 329
[2:59:06] 332
[2:59:10] might be it
[2:59:25] 328
Anyone
[2:59:29] else?
>> Yes. Um, council president.
[2:59:33] » Okay.
>> I'm sorry, Councilman Ross.
[2:59:35] » 320.
>> 320.
[2:59:38] » Um, did you say 332?
>> Yes.
[2:59:47] » Anyone else?
>> Okay. The consent agenda consists of
[2:59:53] 321, 322, 323, 324, 325, 326, 327, 330,
331, 333, 334, 335, 336, 337, 338, 339,
[3:00:05] 340, 341, 342, 343, 344, 345, 346, 347,
348, and 349. Is there a motion to adopt
[3:00:14] the consent agenda?
>> Motion to adopt the consent agenda.
[3:00:18] » Second, Coley. Motion by Councilman Maru
the third. Second by Councilman Coley.
[3:00:23] On the motion. Roll call. Councilman
Coley.
[3:00:26] » Yes.
>> Councilwoman Een. Yes.
[3:00:28] » Councilwoman Hilbert is absent.
Councilman Mu the third. Yes.
[3:00:31] » Councilman Ross. Yes.
>> Councilwoman Summers Johnson is absent.
[3:00:34] Council President Wooten.
>> Yes.
[3:00:36] » That's five years, two absence. The
consent agenda has been approved. We
[3:00:41] will go back to resolution 319-2026.
A resolution of the municipal council of
[3:00:47] the city of Orange Township recognizing
and honoring deputy fire chief Nelson
[3:00:53] Rivera tour to city of Orange Township
Fire Department and his outstanding
[3:00:57] generosity and dedicated service to the
to the residents of Orange Township.
[3:01:02] Introduced by Council President Adrien
Wooten. Is there a motion? Move Wooten.
[3:01:08] » Second Ross.
>> Motion by Council President Wooten.
[3:01:12] Second by Councilman Ross. on the
motion.
[3:01:15] » I just stand with what I said earlier
about him giving and always giving to
[3:01:20] our town. Um, and I just want to thank
him and his family and his daughter for
[3:01:25] it. Um, I know it takes a lot to be a
fireman, fire official, and a police
[3:01:29] officer. And they give a lot of time in
his job as well as outside of his job
[3:01:34] for the city of Orange Township. So, I
just want to say thank you. Anyone else
[3:01:38] on the motion?
Roll call. Councilman Coley.
[3:01:43] » Yes. Councilwoman E.
>> Yes.
[3:01:45] » Councilwoman Hilbert is absent.
>> Councilman
[3:01:50] Monu the third.
>> Councilman Ross. Yes.
[3:01:53] » Councilman Summons Johnson is absent.
And council president Wooten.
[3:01:57] » Yes.
>> That's five years, two absence. This
[3:01:59] passes. Resolution 320-2026,
a resolution of the municipal council of
[3:02:04] the city of Orange Township honoring and
celebrating the class of 2026 introduced
[3:02:08] by council president Adrien Wooten. Is
there a motion?
[3:02:12] » Motion. Second, Wooten.
>> Motion by Council Vice President Muy the
[3:02:18] Third. Second by Council President
Wooten. On the motion,
[3:02:21] » on the motion,
>> Councilman Ross.
[3:02:24] » Yeah. I just um would like to extend my
sincere congratulations to the
[3:02:29] graduating class of 2026
for their hard work, their dedication,
[3:02:34] and perseverance.
um as they begin to meet the the next
[3:02:40] chapter of their journey, I wish them
much success, happiness, and endless
[3:02:46] opportunities, and may their futures be
bright and filled with great
[3:02:50] accomplishments. Congratulations to all
the graduates. Thank you, Council
[3:02:54] President.
>> Uhhuh.
[3:02:56] » Anyone else on the motion?
[3:03:00] » Roll call. Councilman Coley,
>> yes.
[3:03:02] » Councilwoman Eston,
>> yes.
[3:03:04] » Councilwoman Hilbert is absent. Council
me the third.
[3:03:08] » Yes.
>> Councilman Ross,
[3:03:10] » yes.
>> Councilwoman Summers Johnson is absent.
[3:03:12] Council President Wooten,
>> yes.
[3:03:15] » That's five days to absence. This
passes.
[3:03:21] Uh resolution
328-206.
[3:03:27] The amendment needs to state that
uh Dr. Fatima Turner will be fulfilling
[3:03:34] the unexpired term of Ashanti Connor
expiring on February 14th, 2029. Is
[3:03:42] there a motion to accept the resolution
as amended?
[3:03:46] » Motion.
>> Second.
[3:03:50] » Motion by Councilman Moni the third,
second by Council President Wooten. On
[3:03:55] the motion, roll call. Councilman Coley,
>> yes.
[3:03:58] » Councilwoman Een,
>> yes. Yes. Councilwoman Hilbert is
[3:04:01] absent. Cap.
>> Councilman Ross. Yes. Councilwoman
[3:04:05] Summers Johnson is absent. Council
President Wooten.
[3:04:07] » Yes.
>> That's five years to absence. This
[3:04:10] passes resolution 329-2026
resolution in support of full and
[3:04:16] expanded funding for the New Jersey
Child Care Assistance Program NJCCAP
[3:04:23] sponsored by Council Member Quantavia El
Hilbert and the Municipal CL Council. on
[3:04:28] the mo uh is there a motion?
>> Move it. Ross
[3:04:31] » second. Wooten.
>> Moved by Councilman Ross, second by
[3:04:36] Council President Wooten. on the motion.
>> I just um wanted to say to the families
[3:04:43] like this is a very important um deal
and I totally um am honored to support
[3:04:52] this legislation and I hope that it um
is raised and I hope um that nothing
[3:05:01] happens where it's stalled. So,
>> Council President,
[3:05:06] » Councilwoman East.
>> Yeah. I And I also want to say to each
[3:05:10] of you, if you have not done so, please
reach out to your legislators, your
[3:05:15] congressmen, your senators, even the
governor, write them letters and let
[3:05:20] them know that you want this because you
need that reduction, the extra money for
[3:05:25] child care. So, make sure you have your
community write letters and flood them
[3:05:30] because then they will pay attention to
what you're trying to do.
[3:05:36] » Anyone else on a motion? Roll call.
Council Kohley.
[3:05:40] » Yes.
>> Councilwoman N.
[3:05:41] » Yes.
>> Councilwoman Hilbert is absent. Council
[3:05:43] Vice President Monica the third.
>> Yes.
[3:05:46] » Councilman Ross. Councilwoman Summers
Johnson is absent. Council President
[3:05:50] Wooten.
>> Yes.
[3:05:52] » That's five yays, two absences. This
passes resolution
[3:05:58] » 3
[3:06:01] uh resolution 332-2026
[3:06:05] a resolution of the municipal council of
the city of Orange Township, Essex
[3:06:09] County, New Jersey, appointing
Christopher L. Murray as municipal tax
[3:06:14] assessor for the city of Orange
Township. Is there a motion?
[3:06:18] » Motion Coley.
>> Second, Wooten.
[3:06:22] Motion by Councilman Coley, second by
Council President Wooten. On the motion,
[3:06:27] » is it all right if if um Mr. Murray
comes up and makes a statement to us?
[3:06:32] Can we do that on the motion?
>> Sure.
[3:06:35] » Yeah.
>> But also, could I just say something
[3:06:38] first? Mr. Murray, would you approach
the
[3:06:40] » up to the podium?
[3:06:47] I just want to say thank you for
everything you do and for always
[3:06:51] returning phone calls
>> and when you in the office you always
[3:06:55] answer your phone. So thank you for
supporting the city of Orange and and
[3:06:59] still being here. Thank you.
>> I enjoy being with you. Really love it.
[3:07:03] » I want to say the same thing like thank
you for whenever there's a question for
[3:07:07] a senior freeze or anchor or anything
like that and a resident sends us sends
[3:07:11] us an email and I email you. Thank you
for emailing me back with all of the
[3:07:16] attachments that we can also send out to
the residents. I really really
[3:07:21] appreciate it. And I see the work the
work that y'all do um with the state
[3:07:26] when it um as it pertains to the school
board um those taxes. I don't know the
[3:07:31] exact name of it, but I see the work
that you and a city attorney does and
[3:07:34] totally appreciate that too. So, thank
you so much for that. You're
[3:07:38] » welcome. Appreciate it.
>> Um yes. on the motion.
[3:07:42] » Um Chris,
you've been doing a great job. I
[3:07:47] appreciate everything you've done and
will continue to do. But um for full
[3:07:52] transparency, you know, for folks that
don't know you, you know, could you just
[3:07:56] tell us a little bit about what a tax
assessor does and what your department
[3:08:00] does? Um what accomplishments you have
made and what compliments you attend to
[3:08:06] fulfill in the future?
>> Of course. So the role
[3:08:09] » step up to the mic because can't hear
you.
[3:08:12] » Sorry. Uh the role of the tax assessor
is we're we determine um assessments for
[3:08:17] property tax. So in the state of New
Jersey, we have an advorum tax system.
[3:08:20] So you're basically taxed based on
property value. So when we determine an
[3:08:25] assessment, we have to do a market
analysis. So we look at sales in a
[3:08:28] particular sampling period and and
basically comp it out just like an
[3:08:30] appraisal. And also which complicates
the issue a little bit more is we have a
[3:08:35] um a ratio to deal with. So we have to
kind of keep our assessments in uniform
[3:08:39] because we don't reassess every year. So
if we determine an assessment
[3:08:43] hypothetically in 2026, we have to kind
of keep it in line with when we did the
[3:08:46] reval in 2022. So we have to apply the
ratio to that market value. Um regarding
[3:08:52] accomplishments, um council president
touched on it. Our biggest uh feats that
[3:08:57] we've done was uh successfully sue the
division of taxation and get um
[3:09:02] overrides in our ratio. those increases
in the the ratio help save um the
[3:09:08] residents here in county taxes towards
the county and it's it's pretty
[3:09:12] substantial the four times we've done it
accumulatively if we've saved roughly $3
[3:09:18] million but that's just based off of the
the first year you have to keep in mind
[3:09:22] when we do um a county aortionment it
kind of like we we're resetting it back
[3:09:28] to the base hypothetically if we have to
contribute $10 million to the county um
[3:09:32] we challenge the ratio we bring it down
85 so like $8 million just for their
[3:09:36] example like that would be our new base
versus not challenging it then our
[3:09:40] county aortionment would be 10 million
so every year it keeps going up we're
[3:09:44] kind of like delaying like that increase
um future goals for the department it's
[3:09:50] just you know transparency and just
giving um the residents you know
[3:09:55] information about the real estate market
I'm really real estate based I really
[3:09:58] don't do too much with like property
taxes but if anybody has any questions
[3:10:01] about the real estate market, you know,
um sales in their neighborhood or what's
[3:10:06] just going on across the the board. Like
I'm a really good source of information
[3:10:10] for and I can give spreadsheets. I love
spreadsheets. I give spreadsheets to
[3:10:13] everybody. Um if they just, you know,
just ask for it, I'll give it to them.
[3:10:17] Yeah.
>> Thank you. And you have my full support.
[3:10:21] » Thank you.
>> Absolutely.
[3:10:24] » Anyone else on a motion?
>> Roll call. Councilman Coley.
[3:10:29] » Yes.
>> Councilwoman E.
[3:10:30] » Yes. Councilwoman Hbert is absent.
Council Vice President Wati,
[3:10:35] » yes.
>> Counciloman Ross, yes.
[3:10:36] » Councilwoman Summers Johnson is absent.
Councilwoman, Council President Wooten,
[3:10:40] » yes.
>> That's five years, two absent
[3:10:44] » and another
from the audience. This passes. Thank
[3:10:49] you so much,
>> Council Councilwoman E. It was a
[3:10:53] pleasure working with you and I hope you
have, you know, enjoy the next chapter
[3:10:56] of your life and travel. Travel as much
as you can. [laughter]
[3:10:59] » Absolutely. Thank you.
>> Okay, council members, on your desk, you
[3:11:07] have
uh three walk-ons.
[3:11:12] Three
out of order here. Got my out of order.
[3:11:18] One sec.
Okay.
[3:11:24] Resolution 350-2026
WOO. A resolution honoring the life and
[3:11:29] legacy of David Marshall, sponsored by
council member Welen and Maru thei and
[3:11:34] the city of Orange Township Municipal
Council. Um, resolution 351-2026WO,
[3:11:42] a resolution allowing the city of Orange
Township to deposit 446,000
[3:11:48] into an A NJ Transit building department
escrow account for payments that will be
[3:11:54] due to NJ
Transit for their work on the city of
[3:12:00] Orange Township's Highland Avenue train
station. Resolution 352-2026
[3:12:07] WO, a resolution of the municipal
council at the city of of the city of
[3:12:11] Orange Township, county of Essex, state
of New Jersey, authorizing and directing
[3:12:15] the planning board to study the scatter
sites redevelopment area in order to
[3:12:19] determine whether it should remain
designated as an area in need of
[3:12:23] redevelopment and further directing the
planning board to hold a public hearing,
[3:12:28] report to the municipal count municipal
council and prepare any proposed
[3:12:33] amendments. ments to the scattered sites
redevelopment plan as deemed
[3:12:37] appropriate. Can I get a motion to walk
these three resolutions on to the
[3:12:42] agenda?
>> Motion
[3:12:45] » to walk these on.
>> Motion to walk on these three
[3:12:49] resolutions to the agenda was made by
council vice president Migu the third.
[3:12:53] Second by council president Wooten. On
the motion
[3:12:57] all those in favor vote by saying I.
>> I.
[3:13:00] » Any opposed?
This has been adopted. The three
[3:13:04] resolutions have been walked onto the
agenda. I'm going to take one vote to
[3:13:10] I'll read them again to the record
so we can take a vote on them.
[3:13:17] » Yeah, I need to talk.
>> Okay, no problem. We'll do them. We'll
[3:13:22] do them separately. Yes, ma'am.
>> No problem. Okay. Uh resolutions
[3:13:29] 350-
[3:13:36] Motion
[3:13:41] » Monty
>> and second
[3:13:44] » Een.
>> Thank you. Motion by Council Vice
[3:13:46] President Mu. Second by Councilwoman
Een. On the motion.
[3:13:50] » Roll call. Councilman Coley.
>> Yes.
[3:13:52] » Councilman Councilwoman Een.
>> Yes.
[3:13:55] » Councilwoman Hilbert is absent.
Councilman Maria the third.
[3:13:58] » Yes.
>> Counciloman Ross. Yes. Councilwoman
[3:14:00] Summers Johnson is asking. Council
President Wooten,
[3:14:03] » yes.
>> That's five years, two absences. This
[3:14:06] has been approved. Resolution
351-2026WO.
[3:14:16] a resolution allowing the city of Orange
Township to deposit $46,000 into a New
[3:14:21] Jersey Transit building department
escrow account for payments that will be
[3:14:25] due to New Jersey Transit for their work
on the city of Orange Township's
[3:14:29] Highland Avenue train station. Is there
a motion?
[3:14:32] » Movement Ross.
>> Second, E.
[3:14:35] » Moved by Councilman Ross, second by
Councilwoman Een on the motion. Roll
[3:14:40] call. Counciloman Coley,
>> yes.
[3:14:42] » Councilwoman Een,
>> yes. Yes. Councilwoman Hill Hilbert is
[3:14:45] absent. Councilman Mari the third. Yes.
Councilman Ross. Yes.
[3:14:49] » Councilwoman
Summers Johnson is absent. Council
[3:14:53] » Council Council President Wen.
>> Yes. Thank you, ma'am. That's five
[3:15:00] years, two absences. I got hot. This
passes. Resolution
[3:15:06] 352-2026
WOO. a resolution of the municipal
[3:15:10] council of the city of Orange Township,
County of Essex, state of New Jersey,
[3:15:13] authorizing and directing the planning
board to study the scatteriz
[3:15:16] redevelopment area in order to determine
whether it should remain designated as
[3:15:20] an area in need of redevelopment and
further directing the planning board to
[3:15:24] hold a public hearing, report to the
municipal council, and prepare a any
[3:15:29] proposed amendments to the scattered
sites redevelopment plan as deemed
[3:15:33] appropriate. Is there a motion?
>> Move it.
[3:15:36] » Second.
>> Second to you. Moved by Councilman Ross,
[3:15:39] second by Council Vice President Marty
the third. On the motion.
[3:15:42] » On the motion.
>> Just me.
[3:15:47] » Yeah. Um I'm fully in agreement with
this u Mr. BA, but can we put some time
[3:15:52] restrictions on this?
>> Well,
[3:15:56] [clears throat]
[3:15:59] it has to be directed to the planning
board and there are certain procedures
[3:16:02] they have to follow. So, I can ask them
to move it as quickly as possible, but I
[3:16:07] don't think you can put time
restrictions on another body's um
[3:16:12] deliberations.
[3:16:15] » Okay. And and I only say that because,
you know, we had a conversation today.
[3:16:19] You know, there's other properties
that's on this list that, you know, is
[3:16:24] trying to do development as we speak.
And, you know, I'm trying to avoid that.
[3:16:28] So that's [clears throat] why I asked
for some time frame or some time
[3:16:32] restrictions so that this can get you
know um done.
[3:16:36] » Yeah. I think um what we'll do is
for any that have not already gone
[3:16:44] through the TRC process. Um,
we will probably discourage people who
[3:16:51] come in with proposals to develop before
they go through the process and let them
[3:16:58] know that we're looking at making
amendments to the plan.
[3:17:02] » Okay. Okay.
But we you so you we can't put like 60
[3:17:07] days 90 days on
>> Okay. Thank you.
[3:17:14] So my question is, and this is a BA
question. It might be um attorney
[3:17:20] Montilus's question. So I'm
along with some of my colleagues
[3:17:27] proposing an ordinance to look at the
setbacks
[3:17:33] um as they relate to all development,
but specifically scattered sites.
[3:17:40] So how would that coincide? because this
is a resolution and I know once I do the
[3:17:45] ordinance, the planning board will have
to get back to me in about 35 days with
[3:17:50] an answer and they're going to look to
see if it's
[3:17:53] » at the um the um what's
[cough and clears throat] the big plan?
[3:17:57] » M
>> the master plan, right? So,
[3:18:01] how would that ordinance
coincide or be affected with this if
[3:18:07] they're already going to be looking at
scattered sites?
[3:18:11] because we we don't want anyone to have
a piece of property where the setbacks
[3:18:17] are zero
and a high-rise building is built zero
[3:18:22] at someone's property. So, we want to
possibly change the setbacks, but we
[3:18:29] looking at doing it like percentage-wise
instead of saying like 20 ft or 10 ft.
[3:18:35] Cuz if you do percentage wise, then you
can give the property owner the best
[3:18:42] outcome. Does it make sense?
[3:18:48] » [laughter]
>> I I've never seen setbacks set by
[3:18:53] percentage. So, I'd have to look into
that.
[3:18:56] » I can come to your office and explain
it. Okay. You're probably going to make
[3:18:59] all
>> I mean,
[3:19:00] » um, but we just don't want like what
happened on Lindsley place to happen
[3:19:05] again. So, we probably are going to look
at changing the setbacks, but also like
[3:19:12] for example,
say you have a house on ABC Street and
[3:19:18] and a house that lives said Daffy Duck
lives here and Donald Duck lives right
[3:19:24] beside Daffy and something happens to
Donald Duck's house. We don't want a
[3:19:29] developer to buy that as a scattered
site and then come and build a fourstory
[3:19:34] building when all of the houses on the
streets are two stories.
[3:19:39] » So, we want to do an ordinance
to minimize those things, but how would
[3:19:46] that
coincide or how would that affect this
[3:19:51] or how would this affect an ordinance
which will be ready for the next council
[3:19:55] meeting? So, um,
[3:20:01] if you're looking solely at scattered
sites,
[3:20:05] » you won't look at all
>> and you want to look at all the
[3:20:07] redevelopment claims.
>> It's not going to be as simple as doing
[3:20:11] an ordinance.
>> Um, because that would be an amendment
[3:20:16] to each redevelopment plan going
forward,
[3:20:20] » right? But it would still be an
amendment to each redevelopment plan.
[3:20:23] » Um,
>> and a master plan possibly.
[3:20:27] » I don't even think you can amend the
master plan.
[3:20:29] » Chris, Chris,
>> can we quick question based on and I
[3:20:34] guess Mont I don't know. I think I
understand what you understand what
[3:20:39] council Wooten is saying but in all of
the experiences of being I think that
[3:20:43] needs to be discussed with the planning
board of attorney because of the simple
[3:20:49] reason that there are variances that you
can request that can be approved. So I
[3:20:56] think that should something that should
be brought up to the planning board have
[3:21:00] their attorney in land use and zoning to
look at that to see if it's possible for
[3:21:06] the council to legislate that because
keep in mind land use comes from the
[3:21:10] state. So
I think you might want to get that
[3:21:15] question offer that question to that or
Mr. Hazel who is
[3:21:22] but Mr. Hazel probably could give you
some guidance on that also.
[3:21:26] » So this is what I would I would
recommend. Um
[3:21:32] you move forward with this resolution
and I huddle up with the law department
[3:21:38] and the planning board attorney and the
planning department to see how we best
[3:21:42] accomplish what you want to accomplish
which is a revisitation of all of the
[3:21:48] setback requirements in every
redevelopment plan. Can can So at that
[3:21:54] some point could councilman Ross and I
sit down with
[3:21:58] » Can't hear you.
>> I said at some point would could
[3:22:01] councilman Ross and I sit down with I
guess the planning board or whomever we
[3:22:05] need to sit down with regarding this is
and another council member. So would it
[3:22:10] be three of us?
>> Yeah. I think I I don't think it needs
[3:22:14] to be the planning board. I think it
needs to be the internal working group
[3:22:19] that we put together so that we can come
up with a process that will achieve what
[3:22:25] you want to achieve.
>> Okay.
[3:22:28] » Cuz I think there's going to have to be
a referral to the planning board.
[3:22:32] » Mhm.
>> And there's going to have to be notice
[3:22:35] » to property owners for the change in
zoning
[3:22:39] » if I'm remembering correctly. and and
you know, don't take me at at
[3:22:46] gospel
>> a week. [laughter]
[3:22:52] » So, that's how I think you should
proceed
[3:22:55] » and we can set that meeting up, you
know, this week if we need to.
[3:23:01] » What are you thinking, Council Ross? You
look like you got
[3:23:05] » Yeah, I like the idea and we need to sit
down and talk about it and hash this
[3:23:09] thing out so it can make we can make it
happen. So, sure.
[3:23:14] » Okay. So, still go forward with the
ordinance, but go forward with this
[3:23:18] tonight.
[3:23:22] » Go ahead.
>> Okay.
[3:23:25] » Anyone else?
>> Anybody else on the motion?
[3:23:28] » Roll call. Councilman Coley.
>> Yes.
[3:23:30] » Councilwoman E.
>> Yes. Councilwoman Hilbert is absent.
[3:23:34] Council Vice President Moni,
>> yes.
[3:23:36] » Councilman Ross,
>> yes.
[3:23:38] » Councilwoman Summer Johnson is absent.
Council President Wooten,
[3:23:42] » yes.
>> That's five years, two absences. This
[3:23:46] passes. There are there's no old
business. Is there anything else for the
[3:23:50] record for?
>> Okay.
[3:23:53] » Before you close,
>> one one second. Councilman Ross
[3:23:57] » was first. I'm sorry. Just want to say
again thanks to all of you. Um
[3:24:02] appreciate you and I want to let them
know our CFO that we appreciate him
[3:24:06] also. Thank you for always being there
that I come sit in your office and and
[3:24:12] to our business administrator.
It's been great working with you. You
[3:24:18] know I'm not going away. So we'll be
talking. And to
[3:24:23] turn my tell I think you play soccer
today. You look like you played soccer.
[3:24:26] Did you? [laughter]
What?
[3:24:29] » I didn't play. I just watched soccer
court.
[3:24:31] » I just watched.
>> Thank you for uh always taking my phone
[3:24:36] calls. Thank you also. Just continue to
be a good team. Big good team.
[3:24:41] » Yeah. And I just wanted to give you this
from the council. This is a small token
[3:24:46] of our appreciation for all that you
have done for us. All you what you have
[3:24:51] done for the city and especially the
north ward. You know we're going to miss
[3:24:55] your big mouth. Okay. So, we love you
and we support you and best of luck in
[3:25:02] your next chapter of your life.
>> And I have some cupcakes for everybody.
[3:25:07] So, don't leave. Have some cupcakes and
you know, you can continue to say
[3:25:11] goodbye to her if you like to.
>> Do we have champagne?
[3:25:14] » No.
>> Call it chambers.
[3:25:22] » Anyone else?
Is there a motion to adjurnn?
[3:25:26] » Motion to adjurnn.
>> Motion to adjurnn by Councilwoman Een.
[3:25:30] Second by
>> Second Coley.
[3:25:32] » Second by Councilman Kohley. On the
motion, all those in favor vote by
[3:25:38] saying I.
>> Any oppose? We stand adjourned at 9:41
[3:25:43] p.m. The next scheduled municipal
council conference meeting and regular
[3:25:48] meeting will be held on Wednesday, July
1st, 2026, following inauguration and
[3:25:52] reorganization meeting at Monte
[3:25:57] at the Monty Irving Comedy Community
Center in Orange Park. Thank you and
[3:26:02] have a wonderful night.