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Okay. Mayor, I'd like to call to order

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the regular meeting of the Elwood Park

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Mayor and Council for August 20th, 2026

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to order at 7:00 p.m. On roll call, we

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have council members

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>> here.

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>> Oswald

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>> here,

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>> Samson

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>> present.

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>> Sheridan

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>> here.

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>> Troy here,

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>> Council President Peline

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>> here,

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>> Mayor Kleti

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>> here.

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>> We have a quorum.

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>> Thank you. Good evening, ladies and

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gentlemen, and welcome to our council

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public meeting. [sighs and gasps]

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Uh, I give you all credit for coming out

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this evening in that rainstorm. Where

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did that come from? It just out of

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nowhere and it was a downpour that was

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tremendous. But like I always say, and

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I'm not a weatherman. You must some

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people out there must say, "What's he

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think he's a a weatherman?"

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Water is good and it's it creates life.

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And out west they wish they've been

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getting rains like this. That me dam is

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the lowest it's been in uh in existence.

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They got gonna have problems out there,

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Las Vegas and all all that area. But

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that's enough of the weather report. If

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you'd all be so kind and rise for our

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prayer and flag salute.

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Oh God, our father, we ask you to bless

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our meeting, which we entrust to your

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fatherly care and protection. Please

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remove all selfishness and prejudice

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from our hearts and implant therein a

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keen sense of justice and a greater love

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for you and our neighbors. guide us in

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our deliberations so that our decisions

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will always please you and bring your

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peace and happiness to our community.

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Amen.

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>> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the

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United States of America and to the

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republic for which it stands, one nation

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under God, indivisible, with liberty and

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justice for all.

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>> Please be seated.

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Whereas chapter 231 of the public laws

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of the state of New Jersey require at

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the commencement of every meeting a

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statement of compliance be read by the

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presiding officer. Now therefore be

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advised that the meeting requirements

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for this meeting have been met by

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publishing a special notice in the

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record and Herald News and by posting

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such notice in the office of the burough

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clerk as well as in a public place

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within this building and also by

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notifying interested citizens. Said

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notice was posted and transmitted on

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January 2nd, 2026 and published on

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January 8th, 2026.

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[clears throat] Terry

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Yes, mayor. I'm I move that we go into

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executive session to discuss a personal

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attorney client matter.

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>> Okay. Council, we're going to second

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that motion. Second motion.

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>> Okay. All in favor?

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>> I.

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>> Whereas the Open Public Meeting Act PL

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1975, Chapter 231 permits the exclusion

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of the public from a meeting in certain

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circumstances. And whereas this public

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body is of the opinion that such

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circumstances presently exist. And

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whereas the governing body wishes to

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discuss attorney client privilege

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information and personnel minutes will

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be kept and once the matter involving

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the confidentiality of the above no

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longer requires that confidentiality

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then the minutes can be made public. Now

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therefore it be resolved that the public

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be excluded from this meeting.

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» Can I have a motion to open back to the

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public?

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>> Second.

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All in favor?

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>> I I

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>> Okay. At this time, I would like to

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reestablish a quorum for the regular

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meeting of the Emerald Park Mayor and

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Council for August 20th, 2026. On roll

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call behalf, council members

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>> here,

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>> Oswald

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>> here,

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>> Samson

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>> present,

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>> Sheridan

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>> here,

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>> Troy

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>> here,

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>> council president

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>> here,

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>> Mayor Kleti

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>> here.

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>> We have reestablished a quorum. At this

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time, we have the recognition of the

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2026 summer interns. I will turn the

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meeting over to Councilman Fisola.

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>> Thank you, Shana, and thank you, Mayor.

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Uh, good evening, everyone. Tonight, I'm

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very proud to uh that we have the

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opportunity to recognize three

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outstanding young people who

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successfully completed our burough's

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summer youth internship program. When we

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put this program together a few years

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ago, the goal was to give young

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residents more than just something to do

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during the summer. We wanted to give

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them a meaningful opportunity to step

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inside their local government, work

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alongside our employees, and see

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firsthand how the burrow serves its

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residents every day.

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Nala Lanin, who interned in the clerk's

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office, Anthony Rio Sanchez, who

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interned in the building department, and

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Sophia BJO, who interned in the finance

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and tax office, each had the opportunity

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to experience a different part of

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municipal government. Over the course of

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the program, they gained real world

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experience, learned the importance of

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professionalism and responsibility, and

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saw that even the work that happens

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behind the scenes plays an important

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role in keeping a community running. But

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just as importantly, they showed up,

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they learned, they asked questions, and

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they represented the young people of

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Emwood Park extremely well. One of the

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things I believe strongly in is giving

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our young people opportunities right

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here in our own community. When we

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invest our time and energy in them,

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we're investing in the future of Elwood

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Park. Nala, Anthony, and Sophia, I hope

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you leave this program with new skills,

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great memories, and a better

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understanding of local government. And I

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hope this is just the beginning of the

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many great things you'll accomplish.

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Congratulations to all three of you.

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We're very proud of you and thank you

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for being part of our summer youth

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internship program and thank you for

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sticking around because it during the

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summer it's very hard to complete the

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whole program with different people

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going on vacation and stuff. So I give

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them let's give him a round of applause

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for actually completing it and going

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through [applause] it.

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So I'm going to come down there now with

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the mayor. We're going to give them a

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little surprise and we're also going to

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give them their certificates of

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completion.

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» [clears throat]

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» So when I just come up and I'll hand you

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a certificate and then stay up here so

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we can uh take a picture

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on the floor. [applause]

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CONGRATULATIONS.

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[applause]

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Tell us a little about your experience.

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Speak out now. Stick out. Honestly, uh I

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really loved it. I got to learn from a

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lot of new people and I had more of an

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idea. Originally, I wanted to join this

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program just because I wanted to learn

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more about the burrow and everything

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that we do. And the opportunity that I

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got was really appreciated by me

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and I personally worked in the building

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department. I got to translate to people

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who didn't speak English and honestly it

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was a really good experience overall. So

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for this opportunity

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[applause]

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you always got to fold back. You could

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be a politician if you want.

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Very nicely done.

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And so you guys

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[applause]

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going to tell us a little about your

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experience?

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» I worked in the finance department and

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it was a great experience. I kind of

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went into this and it was just something

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keep me busy for a month, but I worked I

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walked out of there, you know, meeting

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so many great people from town and learn

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so many things and it was great time

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[laughter]

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and it was a great experience.

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[applause]

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» All right, nice job.

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>> Thank you.

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>> Let's take a picture. As you guys come

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down, take a picture, too.

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That's

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going out.

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» [applause]

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» I can

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>> I'll call.

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>> Thank you.

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» Okay. Okay, next on the agenda, we have

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the community service recognition. I'm

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going to turn the meeting over to our

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veterans liaison,

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Frank Doc.

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>> Shoot

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[applause]

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and the certificates are over there,

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right?

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>> All right.

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» So, good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

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>> Good evening.

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So this was a very special thing that

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came up kind of unexpectedly

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um in the Miller area park. But after

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this you had some young kids take it

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upon themselves just to try to brighten

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up some of the residents day. They drew

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just these adorable and inspiring

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letters and pictures and they put them

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in mailboxes. They handed them out. Uh

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Mr. Councilman Oswald actually came

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across

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as well. And when I noticed what was

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going on, I said, "Hey, this is

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something that needs to be encouraged.

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This is something very positive." So, I

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came to the mayor and I spoke to the

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chief and we decided that we're going to

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do something just to congratulate these

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young folks. I see you. if you keep

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asking.

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[laughter]

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» So, what I'm gonna do now is I'm just

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gonna off [clears throat] some of those

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names and I'm going to parent I just

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want to come up as well. We have two set

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of certificates. One set of certificates

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from the town and one for my own

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nonprofit, the New Jersey Veterans

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Network. We just want to take a moment

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to honor these young people and make

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sure that this is something that's

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positive moving forward. Somebody give

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me a hand as I have two sets. Thank you,

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ran off the same list. Let's do it.

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So, we have Brooklyn.

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[applause]

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» Congratulations.

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Royal Martinez.

281
00:11:36,927 --> 00:11:42,710
[applause]

282
00:11:42,720 --> 00:11:44,800
» Good job.

283
00:11:44,800 --> 00:11:46,720
>> Thank you so much.

284
00:11:46,720 --> 00:11:48,720
>> Congratulations,

285
00:11:48,720 --> 00:11:51,338
>> Savannah.

286
00:11:51,338 --> 00:11:56,470
[applause]

287
00:11:56,480 --> 00:11:59,120
But her mom's here on her behalf.

288
00:11:59,120 --> 00:12:05,083
>> Congratulations.

289
00:12:05,093 --> 00:12:05,748
[cheering]

290
00:12:05,748 --> 00:12:30,310
[applause]

291
00:12:30,320 --> 00:12:34,310
» Good job.

292
00:12:34,320 --> 00:12:36,320
Thank you so much.

293
00:12:36,320 --> 00:12:39,200
>> Congratulations. So, also since we're a

294
00:12:39,200 --> 00:12:40,880
town that likes to encourage things like

295
00:12:40,880 --> 00:12:43,600
that, myself and Councilman Oswalt, we

296
00:12:43,600 --> 00:12:45,440
went out and we spoke to some of the

297
00:12:45,440 --> 00:12:48,320
local stores and businesses and we were

298
00:12:48,320 --> 00:12:49,839
able to get a couple of gifts for these

299
00:12:49,839 --> 00:12:52,253
nice. What do you guys say about that?

300
00:12:52,253 --> 00:12:57,110
[applause]

301
00:12:57,120 --> 00:13:00,480
Pizza, my favorite pizza.

302
00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:04,079
was able to do two free pizzas for this

303
00:13:04,079 --> 00:13:05,839
great group of kids. So now we have

304
00:13:05,839 --> 00:13:09,990
pizza party

305
00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:13,600
» and grianas and a nice snack for them

306
00:13:13,600 --> 00:13:17,789
earlier today.

307
00:13:17,799 --> 00:13:28,069
[applause]

308
00:13:28,079 --> 00:13:29,680
Um, yeah, I just actually want to say

309
00:13:29,680 --> 00:13:32,800
one thing. Um, before I met any of these

310
00:13:32,800 --> 00:13:35,680
folks, um, I was just walking my dog and

311
00:13:35,680 --> 00:13:37,839
my daughter down the street, uh, just

312
00:13:37,839 --> 00:13:40,240
being in public and I find these two

313
00:13:40,240 --> 00:13:42,399
children chasing me with papers in, oh

314
00:13:42,399 --> 00:13:45,680
no, are you processors? Um, but no, it

315
00:13:45,680 --> 00:13:47,760
turns out they they saw me walking my

316
00:13:47,760 --> 00:13:50,000
dog. They handed me a handwritten

317
00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:51,519
letter. I believe it was a marker or

318
00:13:51,519 --> 00:13:53,839
crayon. um that just said, "I hope you

319
00:13:53,839 --> 00:13:56,399
have a great day." And they just that's

320
00:13:56,399 --> 00:13:57,839
all they wanted. They weren't asking for

321
00:13:57,839 --> 00:14:00,639
anything. The altruism of these children

322
00:14:00,639 --> 00:14:02,800
is astronomical. And I'm so proud of

323
00:14:02,800 --> 00:14:04,480
them. And I'm so proud of all the youth

324
00:14:04,480 --> 00:14:06,320
of Elwood Park because this is the model

325
00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:08,000
that we have set. The mayor knows this

326
00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:09,839
better than anybody else. Elwood Park

327
00:14:09,839 --> 00:14:12,160
does it right. If you saw Junior Police

328
00:14:12,160 --> 00:14:14,079
Academy yesterday, you would know Park's

329
00:14:14,079 --> 00:14:16,749
kids, they're on the right side.

330
00:14:16,749 --> 00:14:22,870
[applause]

331
00:14:22,880 --> 00:14:25,519
Karen from our way of actually here with

332
00:14:25,519 --> 00:14:30,069
some free

333
00:14:30,079 --> 00:14:37,045
back to school.

334
00:14:37,055 --> 00:14:54,150
[applause]

335
00:14:54,160 --> 00:14:55,920
You guys have a pizza party. You guys

336
00:14:55,920 --> 00:15:09,795
have to save us.

337
00:15:09,805 --> 00:15:19,350
» [laughter]

338
00:15:19,360 --> 00:15:22,320
» Let me pass my camera.

339
00:15:22,320 --> 00:15:23,519
>> Wait, hold on. Hold on. Hold on one

340
00:15:23,519 --> 00:15:44,510
second. One second. One second.

341
00:15:44,520 --> 00:15:50,069
» [applause]

342
00:15:50,079 --> 00:15:52,639
» a great job. Thank you so much. Thank

343
00:15:52,639 --> 00:16:05,910
you. Have a great night.

344
00:16:05,920 --> 00:16:07,519
Doc has one more thing he wants to get

345
00:16:07,519 --> 00:16:11,590
out.

346
00:16:11,600 --> 00:16:16,389
» Are they leaving?

347
00:16:16,399 --> 00:16:18,240
» Oh,

348
00:16:18,240 --> 00:16:20,399
to them.

349
00:16:20,399 --> 00:16:25,269
>> Oh,

350
00:16:25,279 --> 00:16:27,839
» so ladies and gentlemen, I do have I'm

351
00:16:27,839 --> 00:16:30,880
the business. So now I've been working

352
00:16:30,880 --> 00:16:34,800
with Clark for about a year as a

353
00:16:34,800 --> 00:16:38,160
opportunity to work with

354
00:16:38,160 --> 00:16:41,040
>> and um I've seen a lot of people go

355
00:16:41,040 --> 00:16:42,959
above and beyond.

356
00:16:42,959 --> 00:16:46,160
>> Yeah, I see you guys in the clos

357
00:16:46,160 --> 00:16:47,839
>> I think my voice jacks enough. Can you

358
00:16:47,839 --> 00:16:50,480
guys hear me? Okay,

359
00:16:50,480 --> 00:16:53,199
>> I could hear you and I'm half death.

360
00:16:53,199 --> 00:16:55,839
>> What? [laughter]

361
00:16:55,839 --> 00:16:57,519
So, I did get an opportunity to work

362
00:16:57,519 --> 00:17:00,399
with a lot of great people in this room.

363
00:17:00,399 --> 00:17:02,480
So, seeing as I have the floor for a

364
00:17:02,480 --> 00:17:03,440
couple of minutes and you're not

365
00:17:03,440 --> 00:17:05,439
dragging me off yet, I just wanted to

366
00:17:05,439 --> 00:17:06,880
take a moment to honor some of those

367
00:17:06,880 --> 00:17:08,720
folks that I've been working with and

368
00:17:08,720 --> 00:17:11,520
they're just not aware that. So, the

369
00:17:11,520 --> 00:17:13,839
first person I want to make sure that I

370
00:17:13,839 --> 00:17:16,880
honor is Joseph Oswald. Councilman, you

371
00:17:16,880 --> 00:17:19,360
come up here for a moment.

372
00:17:19,360 --> 00:17:24,150
So [applause]

373
00:17:24,160 --> 00:17:26,480
yeah, I know you didn't know, huh? So

374
00:17:26,480 --> 00:17:28,240
Joe has worked with us quite often in

375
00:17:28,240 --> 00:17:30,400
the veteran community. He's come out.

376
00:17:30,400 --> 00:17:32,400
He's literally got his hands dirty. We

377
00:17:32,400 --> 00:17:34,000
were just renovating the American

378
00:17:34,000 --> 00:17:37,360
Legion. He gloved up, got into some mud

379
00:17:37,360 --> 00:17:40,000
and some dirt as we were creating a new

380
00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:42,320
Elwood Park Veteran Service Resource

381
00:17:42,320 --> 00:17:46,720
Office. He actually came over for free

382
00:17:46,720 --> 00:17:48,799
cleaning the entire American Legion.

383
00:17:48,799 --> 00:17:50,799
outside the building just so he could

384
00:17:50,799 --> 00:17:53,360
come and help out our veteran community.

385
00:17:53,360 --> 00:17:55,520
Stuff like this is just extra stuff that

386
00:17:55,520 --> 00:17:57,200
a lot of people don't often know

387
00:17:57,200 --> 00:17:59,280
happens. I just want to make sure that

388
00:17:59,280 --> 00:18:01,440
he got recognized for that. So on behalf

389
00:18:01,440 --> 00:18:03,520
of the New Jersey Network, I'm

390
00:18:03,520 --> 00:18:05,039
presenting you with a certificate of

391
00:18:05,039 --> 00:18:07,679
accommodation.

392
00:18:07,679 --> 00:18:09,440
We was presented to Joe in recognition

393
00:18:09,440 --> 00:18:11,280
of the support of veterans and homeless

394
00:18:11,280 --> 00:18:13,520
community. Joe has provided enhance

395
00:18:13,520 --> 00:18:15,120
assistance and provided direct support

396
00:18:15,120 --> 00:18:17,520
to veterans community programs. Joe

397
00:18:17,520 --> 00:18:19,200
provided valuable assistance in the set

398
00:18:19,200 --> 00:18:21,280
of Elmer Park veterans resource office

399
00:18:21,280 --> 00:18:23,520
and also supports veterans defense. Joe

400
00:18:23,520 --> 00:18:25,360
leads veteran face to face during these

401
00:18:25,360 --> 00:18:27,280
events and always offers kind words and

402
00:18:27,280 --> 00:18:29,200
encouragement to our veteran community.

403
00:18:29,200 --> 00:18:30,799
Thank you for your ongoing support to

404
00:18:30,799 --> 00:18:32,857
our veterans

405
00:18:32,857 --> 00:18:42,789
[applause]

406
00:18:42,799 --> 00:18:50,310
coming up here.

407
00:18:50,320 --> 00:18:52,960
Now, Miss Pan often comes to our veteran

408
00:18:52,960 --> 00:18:56,880
events and also gets her hands. Just

409
00:18:56,880 --> 00:18:59,120
last Sunday, she surprised us and she

410
00:18:59,120 --> 00:19:00,880
sat there just meeting veterans,

411
00:19:00,880 --> 00:19:02,799
supporting veterans, same kind words to

412
00:19:02,799 --> 00:19:05,280
veterans, serving pizza to the veterans.

413
00:19:05,280 --> 00:19:07,280
But we had a rough launch recently in

414
00:19:07,280 --> 00:19:09,200
the heat.

415
00:19:09,200 --> 00:19:12,320
was there on the back of our mouth truck

416
00:19:12,320 --> 00:19:14,000
handing out water to veterans in that

417
00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:16,080
intense heat. You know why she does it?

418
00:19:16,080 --> 00:19:18,720
Because she's great and she loves So I

419
00:19:18,720 --> 00:19:20,080
just wanted to take a moment to thank

420
00:19:20,080 --> 00:19:22,320
you.

421
00:19:22,320 --> 00:19:25,039
I appreciate you so much. So I just want

422
00:19:25,039 --> 00:19:26,559
to make sure that I presented you with

423
00:19:26,559 --> 00:19:28,559
the certificate of commendation

424
00:19:28,559 --> 00:19:30,640
presented a recognition of the support

425
00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:33,120
to veterans and park community has

426
00:19:33,120 --> 00:19:35,280
provided hands-on assistance and direct

427
00:19:35,280 --> 00:19:37,919
support to veteran community programs.

428
00:19:37,919 --> 00:19:39,520
often supports veteran events and

429
00:19:39,520 --> 00:19:41,120
volunteers both set up concerning

430
00:19:41,120 --> 00:19:43,600
veterans with kindness and patience

431
00:19:43,600 --> 00:19:45,200
veterans face to face during these

432
00:19:45,200 --> 00:19:46,799
events and always offers kind words and

433
00:19:46,799 --> 00:19:48,799
encouragement to our veteran community.

434
00:19:48,799 --> 00:19:50,320
Thank you for your ongoing support to

435
00:19:50,320 --> 00:19:52,960
our veterans. Let me say when I went

436
00:19:52,960 --> 00:19:54,880
through a tough time earlier this year,

437
00:19:54,880 --> 00:19:56,480
Pam was there with me every step of the

438
00:19:56,480 --> 00:19:59,360
way to ensure I was. So if anybody in

439
00:19:59,360 --> 00:20:01,280
this town ever says that she's not there

440
00:20:01,280 --> 00:20:02,880
supporting veterans, we got to get it

441
00:20:02,880 --> 00:20:04,480
past.

442
00:20:04,480 --> 00:20:07,178
I'm so proud of you.

443
00:20:07,178 --> 00:20:13,909
>> [applause]

444
00:20:13,919 --> 00:20:17,029
» Lorine,

445
00:20:17,039 --> 00:20:19,120
» I know you don't like to be surprised,

446
00:20:19,120 --> 00:20:22,889
but

447
00:20:22,899 --> 00:20:29,909
[clears throat]

448
00:20:29,919 --> 00:20:33,200
» Yeah, I'm sneaking

449
00:20:33,200 --> 00:20:37,520
>> now, Miss Lorine. every step of the way.

450
00:20:37,520 --> 00:20:39,520
I often have veterans who are having a

451
00:20:39,520 --> 00:20:41,760
difficult time. Surprises can come up,

452
00:20:41,760 --> 00:20:43,919
emergencies can come up, and one of

453
00:20:43,919 --> 00:20:45,280
those emergencies should never be a

454
00:20:45,280 --> 00:20:48,080
veteran family with no food. That

455
00:20:48,080 --> 00:20:49,840
doesn't happen because if I have an

456
00:20:49,840 --> 00:20:52,559
emergency come up, call Lorraine and she

457
00:20:52,559 --> 00:20:54,799
supports and assists me every single

458
00:20:54,799 --> 00:20:57,760
time over and over and over. A lot of

459
00:20:57,760 --> 00:21:00,080
people never hear about.

460
00:21:00,080 --> 00:21:01,760
So,

461
00:21:01,760 --> 00:21:04,559
I can't tell you how great it is that I

462
00:21:04,559 --> 00:21:06,799
know that I have that resource so close

463
00:21:06,799 --> 00:21:10,000
by veterans. No veterans should go their

464
00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:13,039
families and children. Am I right guys?

465
00:21:13,039 --> 00:21:15,360
>> So this reads certificate of

466
00:21:15,360 --> 00:21:17,440
commendation honoring Lorraine Code

467
00:21:17,440 --> 00:21:18,960
presented to Lorraine in recognition of

468
00:21:18,960 --> 00:21:20,799
her support to veterans in the home park

469
00:21:20,799 --> 00:21:22,640
community. The range assistance has

470
00:21:22,640 --> 00:21:24,559
provided direct support and relief to

471
00:21:24,559 --> 00:21:26,159
veterans facing homelessness and food

472
00:21:26,159 --> 00:21:28,960
insecurity. She often takes time to come

473
00:21:28,960 --> 00:21:31,280
support veteran events veterans face to

474
00:21:31,280 --> 00:21:32,559
face and offers kind words and

475
00:21:32,559 --> 00:21:34,640
encouragement to our veteran community.

476
00:21:34,640 --> 00:21:38,879
Thank you for your support to our

477
00:21:38,879 --> 00:21:46,789
[applause]

478
00:21:46,799 --> 00:21:54,149
» chief. Yeah, you weren't expecting that.

479
00:21:54,159 --> 00:21:57,039
» I work with a lot of law enforcement I

480
00:21:57,039 --> 00:21:59,200
have a statewide program and I work with

481
00:21:59,200 --> 00:22:01,440
a lot of different municipalities and

482
00:22:01,440 --> 00:22:07,909
leaders and um chief

483
00:22:07,919 --> 00:22:10,320
I'm still impressed by

484
00:22:10,320 --> 00:22:12,880
I I met the chief about a year and a

485
00:22:12,880 --> 00:22:14,480
half ago when there was a homeless

486
00:22:14,480 --> 00:22:16,320
veteran driving around here in town who

487
00:22:16,320 --> 00:22:17,840
had nowhere to go. Sleeping in a parking

488
00:22:17,840 --> 00:22:20,720
lot, sleeping in a truck. Situations

489
00:22:20,720 --> 00:22:23,600
like that have no playbook. Sometimes

490
00:22:23,600 --> 00:22:25,280
veterans have different things going on.

491
00:22:25,280 --> 00:22:27,200
In his case, he had a dog in his car and

492
00:22:27,200 --> 00:22:28,799
no hotel loans, which means he couldn't

493
00:22:28,799 --> 00:22:30,400
be accepted to any programs that were

494
00:22:30,400 --> 00:22:33,280
available at the time. I remember, you

495
00:22:33,280 --> 00:22:35,120
probably don't, but I remember he's

496
00:22:35,120 --> 00:22:38,159
saying, "If we can't find something,

497
00:22:38,159 --> 00:22:40,320
we'll figure something out." And that's

498
00:22:40,320 --> 00:22:42,799
what a leader says because you can

499
00:22:42,799 --> 00:22:45,200
always say, "Oh, hey, I didn't have the

500
00:22:45,200 --> 00:22:46,799
time. I don't know what to do." Pass the

501
00:22:46,799 --> 00:22:49,200
bus. That's not what the chief did. He

502
00:22:49,200 --> 00:22:50,720
moved forward. And then we've worked

503
00:22:50,720 --> 00:22:53,039
together several times after that. We

504
00:22:53,039 --> 00:22:55,200
did a program where we had veterans come

505
00:22:55,200 --> 00:23:00,000
out had a box. Chief doesn't mean break

506
00:23:00,000 --> 00:23:01,600
and we've continued to work together

507
00:23:01,600 --> 00:23:03,360
ever since. Every time I come to the

508
00:23:03,360 --> 00:23:04,960
chief and I ask him for help when it

509
00:23:04,960 --> 00:23:07,039
comes down to a veteran, he never says

510
00:23:07,039 --> 00:23:08,720
no.

511
00:23:08,720 --> 00:23:12,880
You too, man. You're pretty awesome.

512
00:23:12,880 --> 00:23:14,960
I say to him to come up because first of

513
00:23:14,960 --> 00:23:16,320
all, he's my right-hand man, but I wish

514
00:23:16,320 --> 00:23:17,520
I could have the whole department up

515
00:23:17,520 --> 00:23:19,440
here because we're a team and we do this

516
00:23:19,440 --> 00:23:21,679
together and that's the team, too. So

517
00:23:21,679 --> 00:23:24,640
not just me and thank you but this this

518
00:23:24,640 --> 00:23:28,559
council department all the employees we work together so thank you

519
00:23:28,559 --> 00:23:30,559
>> I didn't ask to come up because I'm

520
00:23:30,559 --> 00:23:32,960
intimidated by

521
00:23:32,960 --> 00:23:35,520
this reads as

522
00:23:35,520 --> 00:23:37,200
representative Michael in recognition of

523
00:23:37,200 --> 00:23:38,880
the support to veterans and the

524
00:23:38,880 --> 00:23:41,039
community provided hands-on assistance

525
00:23:41,039 --> 00:23:42,720
and direct support to veteran community

526
00:23:42,720 --> 00:23:45,760
programs Michael supports veteran events

527
00:23:45,760 --> 00:23:47,200
resource assistance veterans in the

528
00:23:47,200 --> 00:23:49,200
veteran community show support for

529
00:23:49,200 --> 00:23:53,146
veteran programs

530
00:23:53,156 --> 00:23:56,549
» [applause]

531
00:23:56,559 --> 00:23:59,200
» some military tradition and sometimes I

532
00:23:59,200 --> 00:24:01,440
feel like it's to what police do because

533
00:24:01,440 --> 00:24:02,960
we all go out there and we risk our

534
00:24:02,960 --> 00:24:07,360
lives in a very way to give a challenge.

535
00:24:07,360 --> 00:24:08,640
So, I'd like for you to have this

536
00:24:08,640 --> 00:24:11,520
challenge for me as well.

537
00:24:11,520 --> 00:24:15,426
And thank you, Chief. Appreciate that.

538
00:24:15,426 --> 00:24:20,549
[applause]

539
00:24:20,559 --> 00:24:23,600
So, I'm out of um commendations, but I

540
00:24:23,600 --> 00:24:26,080
do have just

541
00:24:26,080 --> 00:24:27,200
You didn't think I wasn't going to

542
00:24:27,200 --> 00:24:28,880
recognize,

543
00:24:28,880 --> 00:24:31,679
please come down here.

544
00:24:31,679 --> 00:24:34,400
>> Congratulations.

545
00:24:34,400 --> 00:24:37,830
Now,

546
00:24:37,840 --> 00:24:39,440
We have a lot of great people that I

547
00:24:39,440 --> 00:24:41,679
work with here,

548
00:24:41,679 --> 00:24:44,320
but Terry stands out.

549
00:24:44,320 --> 00:24:47,279
See, Terry is the DFW auxiliary

550
00:24:47,279 --> 00:24:50,480
president, and Terry is always there

551
00:24:50,480 --> 00:24:53,440
helping out with whatever we need. If we

552
00:24:53,440 --> 00:24:55,919
need to set up for an event, she's there

553
00:24:55,919 --> 00:24:58,480
for [snorts] hours before setting up. If

554
00:24:58,480 --> 00:25:00,720
we need help saying hello to the

555
00:25:00,720 --> 00:25:02,240
veterans and greeting them because they

556
00:25:02,240 --> 00:25:03,520
might be a little bit nervous as they're

557
00:25:03,520 --> 00:25:05,679
coming in, that's scary. And I don't

558
00:25:05,679 --> 00:25:08,320
just mean once or twice. I mean every

559
00:25:08,320 --> 00:25:12,240
time. She gives of herself so much her

560
00:25:12,240 --> 00:25:17,200
free time just going to event after event helping veterans. And

561
00:25:17,200 --> 00:25:18,880
just like Pam was on the back of that

562
00:25:18,880 --> 00:25:22,080
truck on that hot day. Terry was too.

563
00:25:22,080 --> 00:25:24,080
And she got off of there and she's

564
00:25:24,080 --> 00:25:25,840
sweating and she hugged me and I was

565
00:25:25,840 --> 00:25:28,132
like, "You're too sweaty."

566
00:25:28,132 --> 00:25:29,919
[laughter] But you know what? She was

567
00:25:29,919 --> 00:25:31,679
happy because she got to go there and

568
00:25:31,679 --> 00:25:33,760
make a difference and see our veterans.

569
00:25:33,760 --> 00:25:36,400
She truly truly loves our veterans and

570
00:25:36,400 --> 00:25:40,880
it shows. So I took a step forward and

571
00:25:40,880 --> 00:25:43,679
Terry, you're receiving

572
00:25:43,679 --> 00:25:46,640
an actual hero award which is kind of

573
00:25:46,640 --> 00:25:48,400
like our highest award that we have for

574
00:25:48,400 --> 00:25:51,120
the New Jersey Veterans Network. You act

575
00:25:51,120 --> 00:25:52,799
like a hero with a lot of veterans and

576
00:25:52,799 --> 00:25:55,120
I'm proud of you.

577
00:25:55,120 --> 00:25:56,960
It reads, "See the gold seal." That's

578
00:25:56,960 --> 00:25:58,240
cool.

579
00:25:58,240 --> 00:26:00,000
>> In recognition of Terry's ongoing

580
00:26:00,000 --> 00:26:01,679
service to the veteran community on a

581
00:26:01,679 --> 00:26:04,240
weekly basis, time and time again, Terry

582
00:26:04,240 --> 00:26:05,520
has gone above and beyond to help

583
00:26:05,520 --> 00:26:06,880
veterans facing homelessness,

584
00:26:06,880 --> 00:26:08,480
depression, and other concerns, giving

585
00:26:08,480 --> 00:26:10,559
over time, and energy to selflessly.

586
00:26:10,559 --> 00:26:12,640
Terry's ongoing dedication, inspiration

587
00:26:12,640 --> 00:26:14,638
is a true testament to New Jersey her.

588
00:26:14,638 --> 00:26:15,679
[clears throat]

589
00:26:15,679 --> 00:26:17,520
We're also going to give Terry, take

590
00:26:17,520 --> 00:26:21,110
this

591
00:26:21,120 --> 00:26:23,440
hero bracelet.

592
00:26:23,440 --> 00:26:24,640
You better make sure you wear this

593
00:26:24,640 --> 00:26:31,003
because it's a military condition.

594
00:26:31,013 --> 00:26:37,440
[applause]

595
00:26:37,440 --> 00:26:41,830
Mayor,

596
00:26:41,840 --> 00:26:45,919
now mayor, I did one I did one to cover

597
00:26:45,919 --> 00:26:48,000
the entire leadership council, but

598
00:26:48,000 --> 00:26:49,760
nobody says leadership council to me

599
00:26:49,760 --> 00:26:51,120
more than you because you're the true

600
00:26:51,120 --> 00:26:53,200
leader here. We have other folks here

601
00:26:53,200 --> 00:26:54,880
that I've worked with often like

602
00:26:54,880 --> 00:26:57,679
Lieutenant Woods. Councilman Falo has

603
00:26:57,679 --> 00:26:59,200
sent me a couple of bills a couple of

604
00:26:59,200 --> 00:27:01,279
times. Eric, we've had a couple of good

605
00:27:01,279 --> 00:27:03,039
conversations over at the BFW when

606
00:27:03,039 --> 00:27:04,720
you've come over to support. I can

607
00:27:04,720 --> 00:27:06,640
honestly say the entire team you have

608
00:27:06,640 --> 00:27:09,279
here is welcome to veterans comes out

609
00:27:09,279 --> 00:27:12,159
and helps out and I appreciate you all.

610
00:27:12,159 --> 00:27:14,320
So, mayor, I do have one more hero

611
00:27:14,320 --> 00:27:21,350
award, and this is going to burrow

612
00:27:21,360 --> 00:27:23,440
living here, the work that gets done

613
00:27:23,440 --> 00:27:25,919
here. I was speaking to another DFW

614
00:27:25,919 --> 00:27:28,400
commander earlier,

615
00:27:28,400 --> 00:27:30,720
>> and he told me about all the troubles

616
00:27:30,720 --> 00:27:33,039
that he has as far as doing veteran

617
00:27:33,039 --> 00:27:34,640
events there. I don't have those

618
00:27:34,640 --> 00:27:36,640
problems here because I have you and

619
00:27:36,640 --> 00:27:38,400
your excellent team here doing what you

620
00:27:38,400 --> 00:27:40,000
do.

621
00:27:40,000 --> 00:27:42,720
So the hero award reads honoring the

622
00:27:42,720 --> 00:27:44,880
burough of Elwood Park, New Jersey in

623
00:27:44,880 --> 00:27:46,559
recognition of Bel Park's ongoing

624
00:27:46,559 --> 00:27:48,240
service to the veteran community. The

625
00:27:48,240 --> 00:27:50,240
Burwood Park and its leadership has an

626
00:27:50,240 --> 00:27:51,760
ongoing record of consistently

627
00:27:51,760 --> 00:27:53,039
supporting the veteran community and

628
00:27:53,039 --> 00:27:55,440
helping veterans in need. The actions of

629
00:27:55,440 --> 00:27:56,880
Park and its leadership is a true

630
00:27:56,880 --> 00:27:59,279
testament to New Jersey heroism. May I'd

631
00:27:59,279 --> 00:28:00,640
like for you to accept that please.

632
00:28:00,640 --> 00:28:07,269
>> Thank you very [applause]

633
00:28:07,279 --> 00:28:09,279
Thank you, Doc.

634
00:28:09,279 --> 00:28:10,880
You're part of the team here. You're

635
00:28:10,880 --> 00:28:16,559
part of this here. So, you could take a swipe of it

636
00:28:16,559 --> 00:28:21,120
>> before you leave. But, uh, this is what

637
00:28:21,120 --> 00:28:23,520
he summed it up. Work as a team and I'm

638
00:28:23,520 --> 00:28:25,120
not too good at receiving these things.

639
00:28:25,120 --> 00:28:27,360
I'm usually giving them out and I'm

640
00:28:27,360 --> 00:28:31,520
probably a little more fluent. But um

641
00:28:31,520 --> 00:28:35,919
this does not happen for me unless all

642
00:28:35,919 --> 00:28:37,760
these components

643
00:28:37,760 --> 00:28:41,120
put together and hand selected. These

644
00:28:41,120 --> 00:28:42,799
people up here are hand selected.

645
00:28:42,799 --> 00:28:45,840
They're workers, not talkers. They're

646
00:28:45,840 --> 00:28:48,080
not walkers. They're they're workers.

647
00:28:48,080 --> 00:28:49,360
And that's the most important thing.

648
00:28:49,360 --> 00:28:51,279
That's why we have a su successful

649
00:28:51,279 --> 00:28:53,360
community starting with our police

650
00:28:53,360 --> 00:28:55,600
department where it's more community

651
00:28:55,600 --> 00:28:58,799
involved and our council all on the same

652
00:28:58,799 --> 00:29:02,960
page. Very very little harsh discussion

653
00:29:02,960 --> 00:29:05,760
goes on between

654
00:29:05,760 --> 00:29:07,919
the the council people and the mayor

655
00:29:07,919 --> 00:29:11,919
except maybe near November.

656
00:29:11,919 --> 00:29:14,159
But that's to be expected. That's the

657
00:29:14,159 --> 00:29:16,799
just the way it's designed. But uh here

658
00:29:16,799 --> 00:29:18,799
we go guys. This is for all of us. All

659
00:29:18,799 --> 00:29:24,630
right. [applause]

660
00:29:24,640 --> 00:29:26,960
» Sure. Sure. However you want to do it.

661
00:29:26,960 --> 00:29:28,640
>> Would that be okay with all of you? All

662
00:29:28,640 --> 00:29:32,230
of us took a picture.

663
00:29:32,240 --> 00:29:40,070
>> Thank you.

664
00:29:40,080 --> 00:29:42,640
» You're want us holding awards?

665
00:29:42,640 --> 00:29:52,090
>> That would be great.

666
00:29:52,100 --> 00:30:02,710
» [snorts]

667
00:30:02,720 --> 00:30:12,310
» I know.

668
00:30:12,320 --> 00:30:44,630
Ready? [snorts] One, two, three.

669
00:30:44,640 --> 00:30:48,470
a lot.

670
00:30:48,480 --> 00:30:50,640
» That was a lot of talk.

671
00:30:50,640 --> 00:30:53,840
>> I don't know.

672
00:30:53,840 --> 00:31:04,230
>> Not a position.

673
00:31:04,240 --> 00:31:06,720
All right. Uh, we're back in council

674
00:31:06,720 --> 00:31:08,080
comments. We'll start off with our

675
00:31:08,080 --> 00:31:10,159
councilman on the left there, Mr.

676
00:31:10,159 --> 00:31:11,760
Oswald.

677
00:31:11,760 --> 00:31:13,360
>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I appreciate the

678
00:31:13,360 --> 00:31:15,520
opportunity. Um, I'm just going to keep

679
00:31:15,520 --> 00:31:17,600
it brief and just say how how grateful I

680
00:31:17,600 --> 00:31:19,760
am um to be sitting up here as a

681
00:31:19,760 --> 00:31:21,440
councilman, as an elected leader in this

682
00:31:21,440 --> 00:31:23,919
town. Um, as Doc had said and as the

683
00:31:23,919 --> 00:31:26,159
mayor often points out that we are a

684
00:31:26,159 --> 00:31:28,399
team, uh, despite anything that you may,

685
00:31:28,399 --> 00:31:30,399
uh, hear otherwise, everyone up here

686
00:31:30,399 --> 00:31:32,080
wants what's best for the town and wants

687
00:31:32,080 --> 00:31:33,440
what's best for everybody sitting in the

688
00:31:33,440 --> 00:31:35,600
audience and at home, anybody watching

689
00:31:35,600 --> 00:31:37,760
back there. Um, and that we always

690
00:31:37,760 --> 00:31:40,000
encourage things like altruism, like

691
00:31:40,000 --> 00:31:41,519
being selfless and going around and

692
00:31:41,519 --> 00:31:42,720
doing something out of the goodness of

693
00:31:42,720 --> 00:31:44,640
your heart, or just for the benefit,

694
00:31:44,640 --> 00:31:46,080
like cleaning up the neighborhood with

695
00:31:46,080 --> 00:31:48,399
the eco warriors or uh, handing out

696
00:31:48,399 --> 00:31:49,919
notes to people just to make them feel

697
00:31:49,919 --> 00:31:51,600
better. There's a lot of animosity in

698
00:31:51,600 --> 00:31:52,799
the world. There's a lot of things that

699
00:31:52,799 --> 00:31:54,399
make people sad, a lot of things that

700
00:31:54,399 --> 00:31:56,320
make people mad, uh, or feel like, you

701
00:31:56,320 --> 00:31:57,600
know, maybe this isn't the world that

702
00:31:57,600 --> 00:31:59,519
they knew when they were growing up. But

703
00:31:59,519 --> 00:32:01,120
when I see things like that, when I see

704
00:32:01,120 --> 00:32:04,399
the the kinds of, um, acts that people

705
00:32:04,399 --> 00:32:06,000
do, regardless of their political

706
00:32:06,000 --> 00:32:08,080
affiliations or their religion or who

707
00:32:08,080 --> 00:32:10,320
they were or are or who they're going to

708
00:32:10,320 --> 00:32:12,960
be, um, everybody seems to understand

709
00:32:12,960 --> 00:32:15,039
that this ship called Earth that we're

710
00:32:15,039 --> 00:32:16,880
all riding on together, we really only

711
00:32:16,880 --> 00:32:18,640
get one chance at it. And we all live

712
00:32:18,640 --> 00:32:20,000
this one life. and I think we're doing

713
00:32:20,000 --> 00:32:22,000
such a good job. Um, and I'm just really

714
00:32:22,000 --> 00:32:23,440
appreciative of those kids of of

715
00:32:23,440 --> 00:32:24,720
everybody, the police force, of the

716
00:32:24,720 --> 00:32:26,640
mayor and council. Um, so thank you all

717
00:32:26,640 --> 00:32:31,269
for for being a part of it.

718
00:32:31,279 --> 00:32:33,120
» Thank you, mayor. U, this evening is

719
00:32:33,120 --> 00:32:34,720
just another example of how strong this

720
00:32:34,720 --> 00:32:36,880
burrow is, how strong this burrow was at

721
00:32:36,880 --> 00:32:39,120
every level and every age group. So, we

722
00:32:39,120 --> 00:32:41,200
saw adolescents that uh, cheer up a

723
00:32:41,200 --> 00:32:43,919
neighborhood. We saw some uh some, I

724
00:32:43,919 --> 00:32:45,919
guess, teenagers that spent some time

725
00:32:45,919 --> 00:32:51,200
here as interns. hopefully um they'll pursue a career in public

726
00:32:51,200 --> 00:32:53,200
service or helping the helping the uh

727
00:32:53,200 --> 00:32:56,000
the public and uh and doing good. We

728
00:32:56,000 --> 00:32:58,480
also of course our veterans. Our

729
00:32:58,480 --> 00:32:59,919
veterans are first and foremost because

730
00:32:59,919 --> 00:33:02,159
we can't sit here. We can't enjoy life.

731
00:33:02,159 --> 00:33:04,720
We can't um celebrate the way we

732
00:33:04,720 --> 00:33:06,480
celebrate or live our life that we do in

733
00:33:06,480 --> 00:33:09,519
America. And all of this proves that uh

734
00:33:09,519 --> 00:33:13,840
we are the leaders of um the government

735
00:33:13,840 --> 00:33:15,840
of the people, by the people, and for

736
00:33:15,840 --> 00:33:18,240
the people. And uh thank you to all

737
00:33:18,240 --> 00:33:20,399
involved. Doc, thank you for all you do

738
00:33:20,399 --> 00:33:24,799
for veterans. Um, and mayor, I kept it

739
00:33:24,799 --> 00:33:30,630
short a little bit. Long night.

740
00:33:30,640 --> 00:33:32,320
» Thank you, Mayor. Yeah, I just want to

741
00:33:32,320 --> 00:33:34,240
reiterate what I said uh about the

742
00:33:34,240 --> 00:33:36,640
interns. Uh, first and foremost, uh,

743
00:33:36,640 --> 00:33:38,320
they gained a lot of good experience

744
00:33:38,320 --> 00:33:40,480
here. Uh, a lot of them came in not

745
00:33:40,480 --> 00:33:42,480
knowing what to do in their future and

746
00:33:42,480 --> 00:33:44,799
their um, and what they want to pursue

747
00:33:44,799 --> 00:33:46,480
once they get into college and and it

748
00:33:46,480 --> 00:33:48,240
kind of solidified certain decisions for

749
00:33:48,240 --> 00:33:50,399
them. uh they were placed uh just to

750
00:33:50,399 --> 00:33:51,519
give you a little background, they were

751
00:33:51,519 --> 00:33:53,840
placed uh in places where they kind of

752
00:33:53,840 --> 00:33:56,799
wanted to uh pursue in college. Uh I

753
00:33:56,799 --> 00:33:58,640
felt it important to place them in those

754
00:33:58,640 --> 00:34:01,039
specific areas uh just so they could get

755
00:34:01,039 --> 00:34:02,720
a feel for how it would be to work in

756
00:34:02,720 --> 00:34:05,200
that specific area uh in the future. So

757
00:34:05,200 --> 00:34:06,799
uh I want to congratulate them for

758
00:34:06,799 --> 00:34:08,399
completing the program, never really

759
00:34:08,399 --> 00:34:11,440
taking a day off um uh throughout the

760
00:34:11,440 --> 00:34:14,159
process uh and gaining that experience.

761
00:34:14,159 --> 00:34:17,919
Uh I al I also want to uh thank Doc for

762
00:34:17,919 --> 00:34:19,599
everything he does for the veterans in

763
00:34:19,599 --> 00:34:21,760
this town and also for our community. Uh

764
00:34:21,760 --> 00:34:22,960
people like that really bring the

765
00:34:22,960 --> 00:34:25,040
community together uh and really work

766
00:34:25,040 --> 00:34:28,800
hard to to give us uh a lot of hope for

767
00:34:28,800 --> 00:34:31,280
the for the future and and hope for uh

768
00:34:31,280 --> 00:34:33,440
people like the veterans who who are

769
00:34:33,440 --> 00:34:35,760
having uh certain issues uh at certain

770
00:34:35,760 --> 00:34:37,919
times. So it's great that we have a tool

771
00:34:37,919 --> 00:34:40,399
like Doc in our community. Uh and

772
00:34:40,399 --> 00:34:43,919
lastly, for the uh the youth that were

773
00:34:43,919 --> 00:34:45,839
going around town cheering people up,

774
00:34:45,839 --> 00:34:48,159
it's a testament to their the way they

775
00:34:48,159 --> 00:34:50,240
were raised uh the community that we

776
00:34:50,240 --> 00:34:52,320
have to honor people like that. So, I'm

777
00:34:52,320 --> 00:34:53,919
really proud of of how this meeting has

778
00:34:53,919 --> 00:34:57,119
gone uh so far um and all the positivity

779
00:34:57,119 --> 00:34:58,400
that that we're bringing into this

780
00:34:58,400 --> 00:35:03,349
meeting. Thank you, Mayor.

781
00:35:03,359 --> 00:35:05,119
» Thank you, Mayor. First of all, I'd like

782
00:35:05,119 --> 00:35:06,800
to say congratulations to all the

783
00:35:06,800 --> 00:35:10,560
interns. Um good luck. I hope everything

784
00:35:10,560 --> 00:35:13,520
works out the way you want it to. Doc,

785
00:35:13,520 --> 00:35:16,480
as far as you go about a year and a half

786
00:35:16,480 --> 00:35:20,320
ago, um I spoke to the mayor, maybe two

787
00:35:20,320 --> 00:35:21,760
years ago, I spoke to the mayor and

788
00:35:21,760 --> 00:35:23,920
said, "We need a veteran lison." Our

789
00:35:23,920 --> 00:35:26,240
first one didn't work out that great.

790
00:35:26,240 --> 00:35:27,760
And when I went up to the mayor and I

791
00:35:27,760 --> 00:35:28,960
said to the mayor, I have somebody

792
00:35:28,960 --> 00:35:31,119
that's really going to make it work. I'm

793
00:35:31,119 --> 00:35:33,520
telling you, you got to be 100% behind

794
00:35:33,520 --> 00:35:37,760
them. and we brought Doc on board and it

795
00:35:37,760 --> 00:35:40,160
was the best decision this council made.

796
00:35:40,160 --> 00:35:43,040
I mean, Doc, you are great. You do

797
00:35:43,040 --> 00:35:45,599
everything for the veterans. There was a

798
00:35:45,599 --> 00:35:48,000
time when you didn't feel good and you

799
00:35:48,000 --> 00:35:50,320
still kept on going and going. You're

800
00:35:50,320 --> 00:35:51,920
like the little Energizer. You just keep

801
00:35:51,920 --> 00:35:53,520
going and going. Whether you're sick,

802
00:35:53,520 --> 00:35:56,160
whether you're not, we were there. You

803
00:35:56,160 --> 00:35:58,560
were here for us. We were there for you

804
00:35:58,560 --> 00:36:02,640
when you needed us. Um, I love you.

805
00:36:02,640 --> 00:36:04,560
Thank you for everything.

806
00:36:04,560 --> 00:36:05,760
That's all I got. Mayor,

807
00:36:05,760 --> 00:36:07,359
>> can I just can I just add one thing to

808
00:36:07,359 --> 00:36:09,680
what Councilwoman Sheridan said um for

809
00:36:09,680 --> 00:36:12,640
Doc? Uh I remember a few times around

810
00:36:12,640 --> 00:36:14,960
the holidays where you ask people in the

811
00:36:14,960 --> 00:36:21,520
council uh to to give you references on kids who just need cheering up. And I

812
00:36:21,520 --> 00:36:25,760
remember uh there was a few kids, one of them being disabled, uh who you

813
00:36:25,760 --> 00:36:27,520
showed up and dressed as Batman and and

814
00:36:27,520 --> 00:36:29,200
brought a Batmobile and and just gave

815
00:36:29,200 --> 00:36:31,280
them toys. and just those little things

816
00:36:31,280 --> 00:36:33,520
that happen in a kid's life uh could

817
00:36:33,520 --> 00:36:35,200
really change the trajectory of of where

818
00:36:35,200 --> 00:36:36,800
they're headed. So, I want to I really

819
00:36:36,800 --> 00:36:38,720
appreciate what you do for not only our

820
00:36:38,720 --> 00:36:47,990
veterans but our youth as well.

821
00:36:48,000 --> 00:36:50,400
» Uh I would like to congratulate the

822
00:36:50,400 --> 00:36:52,640
participants of the intern program. they

823
00:36:52,640 --> 00:36:56,320
took time out of their uh summer to come

824
00:36:56,320 --> 00:36:59,359
and learn about uh the way the burrow

825
00:36:59,359 --> 00:37:03,280
operates and learn um some of the things

826
00:37:03,280 --> 00:37:05,119
that go on behind the scenes. So, we're

827
00:37:05,119 --> 00:37:08,560
super proud of them for that. To the uh

828
00:37:08,560 --> 00:37:12,160
young people who wrote the letters,

829
00:37:12,160 --> 00:37:14,000
um

830
00:37:14,000 --> 00:37:17,680
they show us how very important a small

831
00:37:17,680 --> 00:37:21,119
act of kindness can be. Um, so we're

832
00:37:21,119 --> 00:37:23,280
very proud to have those kids in our

833
00:37:23,280 --> 00:37:27,040
community and um, thank you uh, Doc and

834
00:37:27,040 --> 00:37:30,079
Councilman Oswald for um, recognizing

835
00:37:30,079 --> 00:37:33,920
them and also thank you doc uh, for the

836
00:37:33,920 --> 00:37:36,320
recognition today. I was very touched.

837
00:37:36,320 --> 00:37:38,000
Thank you for all that you do for our

838
00:37:38,000 --> 00:37:44,870
veterans. Thank you.

839
00:37:44,880 --> 00:37:46,560
» Yes. I'm going to start off with Doc

840
00:37:46,560 --> 00:37:48,079
first.

841
00:37:48,079 --> 00:37:50,480
It's amazing to me that you're giving us

842
00:37:50,480 --> 00:37:53,440
awards and you're the true hero in the

843
00:37:53,440 --> 00:37:56,240
room tonight for all that you do for our

844
00:37:56,240 --> 00:37:58,560
veterans. Like Terry said, you don't you

845
00:37:58,560 --> 00:38:01,680
never stop. You never never stop. And we

846
00:38:01,680 --> 00:38:03,520
want you to know that we're always here

847
00:38:03,520 --> 00:38:05,760
for you. You just have to call us and

848
00:38:05,760 --> 00:38:07,599
you have at certain times and we want

849
00:38:07,599 --> 00:38:09,839
you to continue that because we don't

850
00:38:09,839 --> 00:38:11,520
want any veteran to go without. We

851
00:38:11,520 --> 00:38:13,200
wouldn't have our freedom without our

852
00:38:13,200 --> 00:38:16,000
veterans. So please always call us. were

853
00:38:16,000 --> 00:38:18,160
always there for all of them. And as a

854
00:38:18,160 --> 00:38:20,240
military family, my son is serving his

855
00:38:20,240 --> 00:38:23,599
12th year. It touches my heart, maybe on

856
00:38:23,599 --> 00:38:26,000
a personal level, even a little more.

857
00:38:26,000 --> 00:38:28,320
So, it's near and dear to me, and I want

858
00:38:28,320 --> 00:38:30,000
you to know we'll always be here for

859
00:38:30,000 --> 00:38:31,760
you, whatever you need and whatever our

860
00:38:31,760 --> 00:38:34,000
veterans need. But we want to thank you

861
00:38:34,000 --> 00:38:36,079
tonight for all you do, Doc. So, thank

862
00:38:36,079 --> 00:38:40,480
you to the children that wrote kind

863
00:38:40,480 --> 00:38:44,720
letters to the neighbors. That to me is

864
00:38:44,720 --> 00:38:48,079
another situation of being a hero. To

865
00:38:48,079 --> 00:38:50,880
put a smile on someone's face is

866
00:38:50,880 --> 00:38:53,200
precious. If there's nothing more you

867
00:38:53,200 --> 00:38:54,800
can be in this world, the best thing you

868
00:38:54,800 --> 00:38:57,520
can be is kind and show kindness. And

869
00:38:57,520 --> 00:38:59,280
they're learning that at an early age.

870
00:38:59,280 --> 00:39:01,040
And they're changing lives by a simple

871
00:39:01,040 --> 00:39:04,079
smile, a simple letter, whatever it may

872
00:39:04,079 --> 00:39:06,240
be, a simple handshake. But they're

873
00:39:06,240 --> 00:39:08,640
learning this at an early age. And I

874
00:39:08,640 --> 00:39:10,400
know they will continue to be great

875
00:39:10,400 --> 00:39:12,480
people as they grow. So that was

876
00:39:12,480 --> 00:39:14,000
wonderful you acknowledging them

877
00:39:14,000 --> 00:39:16,640
tonight. I thank you for that. And then

878
00:39:16,640 --> 00:39:21,680
our interns, we have wonderful, employees here in our burrow

879
00:39:21,680 --> 00:39:23,520
and I know every year when the interns

880
00:39:23,520 --> 00:39:26,400
come in, they interact so well with our

881
00:39:26,400 --> 00:39:29,119
employees and I'm so happy for them that

882
00:39:29,119 --> 00:39:31,280
they get a chance to see what their

883
00:39:31,280 --> 00:39:33,760
municipality does and how it works on a

884
00:39:33,760 --> 00:39:36,880
day-to-day basis. So I wish them great

885
00:39:36,880 --> 00:39:39,040
luck in whatever they choose to do. But

886
00:39:39,040 --> 00:39:41,920
this is a great program and it's a great

887
00:39:41,920 --> 00:39:45,200
experience for our youth and so another

888
00:39:45,200 --> 00:39:46,880
great applause for everybody here

889
00:39:46,880 --> 00:39:49,520
because all these things tonight just

890
00:39:49,520 --> 00:39:51,760
show what we can do when we work

891
00:39:51,760 --> 00:39:53,280
together and it makes for a better

892
00:39:53,280 --> 00:39:54,800
community. So I just want to thank

893
00:39:54,800 --> 00:39:56,640
everybody and I'm feeling very grateful

894
00:39:56,640 --> 00:39:58,560
and blessed tonight. Thank you.

895
00:39:58,560 --> 00:40:01,760
>> Thank you council.

896
00:40:01,760 --> 00:40:05,040
you see uh how much we appreciate

897
00:40:05,040 --> 00:40:07,839
u everything that went on this evening

898
00:40:07,839 --> 00:40:10,560
uh from the children accepting awards to

899
00:40:10,560 --> 00:40:13,520
the adults accepting awards uh to having

900
00:40:13,520 --> 00:40:17,119
a having a a fellow like the doc with us

901
00:40:17,119 --> 00:40:20,000
in town right now uh who's renowned

902
00:40:20,000 --> 00:40:23,359
throughout the state with the VFWs and

903
00:40:23,359 --> 00:40:26,000
have him working hand inand with us and

904
00:40:26,000 --> 00:40:30,240
we are very as he knows very high on VFW

905
00:40:30,240 --> 00:40:32,480
to start off with. It's a very unique

906
00:40:32,480 --> 00:40:34,320
situation and people gravitate to each

907
00:40:34,320 --> 00:40:37,520
other that they know that other person

908
00:40:37,520 --> 00:40:40,320
is is being true to themselves and to

909
00:40:40,320 --> 00:40:43,040
their heart. So, uh we are blessed that

910
00:40:43,040 --> 00:40:46,320
way. Uh we can say it a thousand times,

911
00:40:46,320 --> 00:40:48,960
right? Uh and it probably will lose some

912
00:40:48,960 --> 00:40:50,800
of its value. But doc, I want to know

913
00:40:50,800 --> 00:40:54,240
this corn you gave me. Is it can I go to

914
00:40:54,240 --> 00:40:56,319
Dunkin Donuts and get coffee with it?

915
00:40:56,319 --> 00:40:57,599
>> Yes, you can, sir.

916
00:40:57,599 --> 00:40:58,800
>> Okay. [laughter]

917
00:40:58,800 --> 00:41:00,480
Beautiful thing though. Thank you very

918
00:41:00,480 --> 00:41:02,720
much. All right, moving along, we'll

919
00:41:02,720 --> 00:41:07,750
turn the meeting over to Terry.

920
00:41:07,760 --> 00:41:10,720
» Thank you, mayor. I move that we amend

921
00:41:10,720 --> 00:41:14,800
resolution R-283-26

922
00:41:14,800 --> 00:41:20,160
to the following. Resolution 283-26

923
00:41:20,160 --> 00:41:24,319
approve firefighters rec resignation

924
00:41:24,319 --> 00:41:27,040
in lie of determination.

925
00:41:27,040 --> 00:41:29,440
Wherefore, Elwood Park fire company

926
00:41:29,440 --> 00:41:31,760
number one brought discipline charges

927
00:41:31,760 --> 00:41:35,520
against firefighter Melissa Morirano and

928
00:41:35,520 --> 00:41:38,000
voted to remove her from the fire

929
00:41:38,000 --> 00:41:40,720
company number one at the Elwood Park

930
00:41:40,720 --> 00:41:42,800
Fire Department.

931
00:41:42,800 --> 00:41:46,000
And whereas the Elmer Park Fire Board

932
00:41:46,000 --> 00:41:50,640
met to hear Mrs. Marinette's apply

933
00:41:50,640 --> 00:41:54,800
appeal of her removal.

934
00:41:54,800 --> 00:41:57,119
Whereas after considering the evidence

935
00:41:57,119 --> 00:42:00,319
and test testimony presented, the fire

936
00:42:00,319 --> 00:42:03,040
board decided that the charges were

937
00:42:03,040 --> 00:42:06,640
substained and upheld. Mrs.

938
00:42:06,640 --> 00:42:10,319
Marinero remove removal.

939
00:42:10,319 --> 00:42:16,480
Wherefore the fire board submitted this

940
00:42:16,480 --> 00:42:19,680
uh Wherefore the fire board submitted

941
00:42:19,680 --> 00:42:21,680
this determination for the mayor and

942
00:42:21,680 --> 00:42:24,640
council's approval pursuing to burrow

943
00:42:24,640 --> 00:42:28,630
code 2-28-6.

944
00:42:28,640 --> 00:42:31,920
Whereas Mrs. Marinero submitted written

945
00:42:31,920 --> 00:42:35,359
correspondence to the bureau on August

946
00:42:35,359 --> 00:42:38,720
20th today, 2026, requesting that the

947
00:42:38,720 --> 00:42:42,880
mayor and council accept her resignation

948
00:42:42,880 --> 00:42:46,640
in of her removal. Now therefore to be

949
00:42:46,640 --> 00:42:49,359
resolved by the mayor and council of the

950
00:42:49,359 --> 00:42:54,079
bureau of Elwood Park that Mrs. Morano

951
00:42:54,079 --> 00:42:56,480
resignation from the Elwood Park Fire

952
00:42:56,480 --> 00:43:01,359
Board is accepted of the removal action

953
00:43:01,359 --> 00:43:04,000
and be forward resolved that the barrel

954
00:43:04,000 --> 00:43:07,040
records be updated to reflect the

955
00:43:07,040 --> 00:43:07,920
resignation.

956
00:43:07,920 --> 00:43:09,280
>> You want to you want to speak?

957
00:43:09,280 --> 00:43:12,240
>> Can I have a second?

958
00:43:12,240 --> 00:43:13,839
>> We're looking for a second. Yeah, I'll

959
00:43:13,839 --> 00:43:15,440
second that.

960
00:43:15,440 --> 00:43:19,510
>> Any discussion?

961
00:43:19,520 --> 00:43:21,040
Okay.

962
00:43:21,040 --> 00:43:24,960
>> Amend resolution R-283-26

963
00:43:24,960 --> 00:43:27,599
amended by Councilwoman Troy, I mean

964
00:43:27,599 --> 00:43:29,680
Councilman Sheridan, second by

965
00:43:29,680 --> 00:43:31,680
Councilman Samson. On roll call, we have

966
00:43:31,680 --> 00:43:33,119
Council Member Swisso.

967
00:43:33,119 --> 00:43:35,119
>> I recuse.

968
00:43:35,119 --> 00:43:36,400
>> Oswald,

969
00:43:36,400 --> 00:43:37,200
>> yes.

970
00:43:37,200 --> 00:43:38,240
>> Samson,

971
00:43:38,240 --> 00:43:38,880
>> yes.

972
00:43:38,880 --> 00:43:39,760
>> Sheridan,

973
00:43:39,760 --> 00:43:40,400
>> yes.

974
00:43:40,400 --> 00:43:43,040
>> Troy, I recuse.

975
00:43:43,040 --> 00:43:44,480
>> Council President Peline,

976
00:43:44,480 --> 00:43:45,040
>> yes.

977
00:43:45,040 --> 00:43:49,349
>> Motion carries.

978
00:43:49,359 --> 00:43:51,839
At this time we are moving on to our

979
00:43:51,839 --> 00:43:54,950
ordinances.

980
00:43:54,960 --> 00:43:57,715
We have ordinance

981
00:43:57,715 --> 00:44:00,390
[clears throat]

982
00:44:00,400 --> 00:44:03,040
resolution R-257-26

983
00:44:03,040 --> 00:44:05,839
introduce ordinance number 26-20. First

984
00:44:05,839 --> 00:44:08,079
reading be resolved that an ordinance

985
00:44:08,079 --> 00:44:10,240
entitled bond ordinance to appropriate

986
00:44:10,240 --> 00:44:13,520
an additional sum of $135,000

987
00:44:13,520 --> 00:44:15,280
for the construction of a replacement

988
00:44:15,280 --> 00:44:17,200
salt shed at the department of public

989
00:44:17,200 --> 00:44:19,280
works facility in buying for the burrow

990
00:44:19,280 --> 00:44:21,599
of Elwood Park in the county of Bergen,

991
00:44:21,599 --> 00:44:23,680
New Jersey to make a down payment to

992
00:44:23,680 --> 00:44:25,440
authorize the issuance of bonds to

993
00:44:25,440 --> 00:44:27,440
finance such additional appropriation

994
00:44:27,440 --> 00:44:29,119
and to provide for the issuance of bond

995
00:44:29,119 --> 00:44:31,040
anticipation notes in anticipation of

996
00:44:31,040 --> 00:44:33,200
the issuance of such bonds be passed and

997
00:44:33,200 --> 00:44:35,280
adopted on first reading and be It

998
00:44:35,280 --> 00:44:36,720
resolved that a final hearing on said

999
00:44:36,720 --> 00:44:38,400
ordinance will be heard in the municipal

1000
00:44:38,400 --> 00:44:40,880
building on Thursday, September 3rd,

1001
00:44:40,880 --> 00:44:44,240
2026 at 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter

1002
00:44:44,240 --> 00:44:46,079
as same can be heard at which time any

1003
00:44:46,079 --> 00:44:47,839
persons interested in set ordinance can

1004
00:44:47,839 --> 00:44:49,680
be heard. Be it further resolved that

1005
00:44:49,680 --> 00:44:51,440
the burough clerk be and she is hereby

1006
00:44:51,440 --> 00:44:53,599
authorized to advertise a notice of

1007
00:44:53,599 --> 00:44:55,440
introduction and final hearing as

1008
00:44:55,440 --> 00:44:57,680
required by law.

1009
00:44:57,680 --> 00:44:59,520
>> I have a motion on the ordinance. So

1010
00:44:59,520 --> 00:45:01,839
>> move.

1011
00:45:01,839 --> 00:45:04,640
>> I need a second. Second

1012
00:45:04,640 --> 00:45:06,480
discussion.

1013
00:45:06,480 --> 00:45:08,079
Mr. Figgno, would you break this down

1014
00:45:08,079 --> 00:45:09,040
for us, please?

1015
00:45:09,040 --> 00:45:11,520
>> Yes, Mayor. Uh, this is a uh

1016
00:45:11,520 --> 00:45:14,319
supplemental to the initial bond uh that

1017
00:45:14,319 --> 00:45:16,560
was passed for the salt shed that is

1018
00:45:16,560 --> 00:45:19,119
necessary at the DPW. This is a

1019
00:45:19,119 --> 00:45:21,280
three-year-old project and the price uh

1020
00:45:21,280 --> 00:45:23,920
the bid came in substantially higher uh

1021
00:45:23,920 --> 00:45:25,680
because it was 3 years old. So, the

1022
00:45:25,680 --> 00:45:27,359
prices have gone up. So, this is to

1023
00:45:27,359 --> 00:45:29,440
complete that project. And just for the

1024
00:45:29,440 --> 00:45:31,839
record, uh, I've personally inspected

1025
00:45:31,839 --> 00:45:34,480
this building and is in dis disrepair

1026
00:45:34,480 --> 00:45:36,240
and needs to come down and a new one

1027
00:45:36,240 --> 00:45:38,880
needs to go up.

1028
00:45:38,880 --> 00:45:40,880
>> Any further discussion?

1029
00:45:40,880 --> 00:45:41,680
>> Yes, Mr. Mayor.

1030
00:45:41,680 --> 00:45:42,079
>> Yes.

1031
00:45:42,079 --> 00:45:43,920
>> Um, I just want to clarify for the

1032
00:45:43,920 --> 00:45:45,839
record though, this is an additional

1033
00:45:45,839 --> 00:45:49,200
$135,000 on top of the nearly 600,000 we

1034
00:45:49,200 --> 00:45:50,880
approved. So now we're talking about a

1035
00:45:50,880 --> 00:45:53,599
salt shed that's going to cost us

1036
00:45:53,599 --> 00:45:55,359
$735,000.

1037
00:45:55,359 --> 00:45:58,560
and that this specific $135,000 was

1038
00:45:58,560 --> 00:46:02,560
approved back in 2023. And in line with

1039
00:46:02,560 --> 00:46:04,480
the corrective action that the report

1040
00:46:04,480 --> 00:46:07,200
provided by the auditor and the CFO,

1041
00:46:07,200 --> 00:46:09,920
there are approximately 5 years worth of

1042
00:46:09,920 --> 00:46:12,640
unencumbered or unfunded projects that

1043
00:46:12,640 --> 00:46:14,160
have been approved over the past 5

1044
00:46:14,160 --> 00:46:16,640
years. Obviously, this is one of them.

1045
00:46:16,640 --> 00:46:18,720
Is there any inclination as to how many

1046
00:46:18,720 --> 00:46:21,520
more of these popup expenditures we're

1047
00:46:21,520 --> 00:46:23,599
going to see that were passed in the

1048
00:46:23,599 --> 00:46:26,319
past and are now going to be attached to

1049
00:46:26,319 --> 00:46:28,560
the current budget even though we just

1050
00:46:28,560 --> 00:46:30,800
passed it and raised taxes on people. I

1051
00:46:30,800 --> 00:46:32,319
just I would like to know how many more

1052
00:46:32,319 --> 00:46:34,319
of these we're going to see.

1053
00:46:34,319 --> 00:46:37,119
>> So could you just clarify the question?

1054
00:46:37,119 --> 00:46:39,040
>> Yes. So according to the corrective

1055
00:46:39,040 --> 00:46:41,040
action report issued by the CFO in the

1056
00:46:41,040 --> 00:46:44,400
last audit for 2025, there was a part of

1057
00:46:44,400 --> 00:46:46,720
the report issued said that there's been

1058
00:46:46,720 --> 00:46:49,839
a approximately a 5-year period, so back

1059
00:46:49,839 --> 00:46:53,599
to almost 2020 2021 where this council

1060
00:46:53,599 --> 00:46:55,200
uh in its various iterations has

1061
00:46:55,200 --> 00:46:57,839
approved uh expenditures that never

1062
00:46:57,839 --> 00:47:00,640
ended up being either fulfilled or spent

1063
00:47:00,640 --> 00:47:03,760
or bonded. Um which is a problem that

1064
00:47:03,760 --> 00:47:05,680
had occurred several times in the past.

1065
00:47:05,680 --> 00:47:08,560
It disappeared in 2023 and is now

1066
00:47:08,560 --> 00:47:11,040
resurfaced. So, I am trying to get on

1067
00:47:11,040 --> 00:47:13,119
the record a clarification or at least a

1068
00:47:13,119 --> 00:47:15,920
promise of a clarification that these

1069
00:47:15,920 --> 00:47:17,440
kinds of expenditures, this is a

1070
00:47:17,440 --> 00:47:18,720
three-year-old expenditure, this

1071
00:47:18,720 --> 00:47:20,560
$135,000.

1072
00:47:20,560 --> 00:47:22,160
How many more of these do we expect to

1073
00:47:22,160 --> 00:47:24,319
see considering we have 5 years worth

1074
00:47:24,319 --> 00:47:25,599
according to the CFO?

1075
00:47:25,599 --> 00:47:27,440
>> That's a very good question. Uh, I'd

1076
00:47:27,440 --> 00:47:29,760
have to be a some type of mind reader in

1077
00:47:29,760 --> 00:47:31,440
order to answer that. I think we just

1078
00:47:31,440 --> 00:47:32,880
have to wait and see and hopefully there

1079
00:47:32,880 --> 00:47:35,599
aren't any. But there are the CFO

1080
00:47:35,599 --> 00:47:37,040
pointed them out. There's 5 years worth,

1081
00:47:37,040 --> 00:47:37,760
Mr. Mayor.

1082
00:47:37,760 --> 00:47:40,480
>> Okay. Well, then your question should be

1083
00:47:40,480 --> 00:47:44,560
directed directly to the CFO.

1084
00:47:44,560 --> 00:47:49,270
>> Moving along.

1085
00:47:49,280 --> 00:47:51,359
» I guess we're going to have a call. Call

1086
00:47:51,359 --> 00:47:52,720
the RO.

1087
00:47:52,720 --> 00:47:54,560
>> First by Council President Pellegrine,

1088
00:47:54,560 --> 00:47:56,480
second by Councilman Samson. On roll

1089
00:47:56,480 --> 00:47:58,560
call, we have Councilman Bristool.

1090
00:47:58,560 --> 00:47:59,440
>> No.

1091
00:47:59,440 --> 00:48:00,240
>> Oswald.

1092
00:48:00,240 --> 00:48:00,960
>> No.

1093
00:48:00,960 --> 00:48:02,319
>> Samson.

1094
00:48:02,319 --> 00:48:04,000
>> Yes. Sheridan,

1095
00:48:04,000 --> 00:48:04,560
>> yes.

1096
00:48:04,560 --> 00:48:06,079
>> Joyce,

1097
00:48:06,079 --> 00:48:10,480
>> since this is a safety issue, my vote is

1098
00:48:10,480 --> 00:48:12,000
yes.

1099
00:48:12,000 --> 00:48:13,599
>> Council President Pel Green,

1100
00:48:13,599 --> 00:48:14,480
>> yes.

1101
00:48:14,480 --> 00:48:15,520
>> Motion carries.

1102
00:48:15,520 --> 00:48:17,520
>> Just want to emphasize to the audience

1103
00:48:17,520 --> 00:48:20,640
that uh there is a safety issue here and

1104
00:48:20,640 --> 00:48:23,040
that becomes beyond our control. If

1105
00:48:23,040 --> 00:48:25,280
we're aware of it, a safety issue now,

1106
00:48:25,280 --> 00:48:27,119
it's our job to move on that safety

1107
00:48:27,119 --> 00:48:30,079
issue. Moving along. Next, we have

1108
00:48:30,079 --> 00:48:32,800
ordinances on second reading. Resolution

1109
00:48:32,800 --> 00:48:35,760
R-258-26

1110
00:48:35,760 --> 00:48:38,480
introduce ordinance number 26-9 on

1111
00:48:38,480 --> 00:48:40,079
second reading. Whereas a public notice

1112
00:48:40,079 --> 00:48:41,520
has been given by the burough clerk that

1113
00:48:41,520 --> 00:48:43,839
an ordinance entitled bond's ordinance

1114
00:48:43,839 --> 00:48:45,440
to authorize the undertaking of

1115
00:48:45,440 --> 00:48:46,720
structural improvements to the

1116
00:48:46,720 --> 00:48:48,480
recreation center and buy and for the

1117
00:48:48,480 --> 00:48:50,400
burrow of Elwood Park in the county of

1118
00:48:50,400 --> 00:48:52,079
Bergen, New Jersey to appropriate the

1119
00:48:52,079 --> 00:48:54,000
sum of $265,000

1120
00:48:54,000 --> 00:48:56,000
to pay the cost thereof to make a down

1121
00:48:56,000 --> 00:48:57,599
payment to authorize the issuance of

1122
00:48:57,599 --> 00:48:59,920
bonds to finance such appropriation and

1123
00:48:59,920 --> 00:49:01,359
to provide for the issuance of bond

1124
00:49:01,359 --> 00:49:03,200
anticipation notes in anticipation of

1125
00:49:03,200 --> 00:49:05,040
the issuance of such bonds was

1126
00:49:05,040 --> 00:49:06,559
introduced and passed at a meeting held

1127
00:49:06,559 --> 00:49:09,040
on Thursday, August 6, 2026. ICS and

1128
00:49:09,040 --> 00:49:10,400
that for the consideration of this

1129
00:49:10,400 --> 00:49:11,839
ordinance will be taken up at this

1130
00:49:11,839 --> 00:49:13,760
meeting and whereas all persons

1131
00:49:13,760 --> 00:49:15,200
interested in said ordinance were given

1132
00:49:15,200 --> 00:49:16,800
an opportunity to be heard concerning

1133
00:49:16,800 --> 00:49:18,880
the same. Now therefore, it be resolved

1134
00:49:18,880 --> 00:49:20,160
by the mayor and council of the bureau

1135
00:49:20,160 --> 00:49:21,440
of Elwood Park that an ordinance

1136
00:49:21,440 --> 00:49:23,599
entitled by an ordinance to authorize

1137
00:49:23,599 --> 00:49:25,119
the undertaking of structural

1138
00:49:25,119 --> 00:49:27,520
improvements to the recreation center in

1139
00:49:27,520 --> 00:49:29,280
buy and for the burrow of Elwood Park in

1140
00:49:29,280 --> 00:49:31,119
the county of Bergen, New Jersey to

1141
00:49:31,119 --> 00:49:33,760
appropriate the sum of $265,000 to pay

1142
00:49:33,760 --> 00:49:35,680
the cost thereof to make a down payment

1143
00:49:35,680 --> 00:49:37,359
to authorize the issuance of bonds to

1144
00:49:37,359 --> 00:49:39,280
finance such appropriation and to

1145
00:49:39,280 --> 00:49:40,480
provide for the issuance of bond

1146
00:49:40,480 --> 00:49:42,319
anticipation notes in anticipation of

1147
00:49:42,319 --> 00:49:44,319
the issuance of such bonds passed on

1148
00:49:44,319 --> 00:49:46,240
final reading.

1149
00:49:46,240 --> 00:49:48,160
just for the edification of the

1150
00:49:48,160 --> 00:49:51,680
ordinance outside. Uh

1151
00:49:51,680 --> 00:49:54,079
the situation here with this building in

1152
00:49:54,079 --> 00:49:57,760
the corner is collapsing. It's um we've

1153
00:49:57,760 --> 00:50:00,000
repaired it once before, but it seems to

1154
00:50:00,000 --> 00:50:04,640
be an ongoing some type of uh situation

1155
00:50:04,640 --> 00:50:07,119
subterranean problem, but this time

1156
00:50:07,119 --> 00:50:10,400
we're going to go with extens extensive

1157
00:50:10,400 --> 00:50:13,599
repair to it with a underpinning and um

1158
00:50:13,599 --> 00:50:15,200
that should should cure the problem

1159
00:50:15,200 --> 00:50:16,400
hopefully. And that's what the engineers

1160
00:50:16,400 --> 00:50:18,720
had told us. Uh may I have a motion to

1161
00:50:18,720 --> 00:50:20,559
open to the public on this issue?

1162
00:50:20,559 --> 00:50:21,040
>> So move.

1163
00:50:21,040 --> 00:50:21,599
>> Second.

1164
00:50:21,599 --> 00:50:23,760
>> Anybody for the public hear talk on this

1165
00:50:23,760 --> 00:50:25,440
issue and this issue alone? This

1166
00:50:25,440 --> 00:50:28,079
ordinance rather?

1167
00:50:28,079 --> 00:50:31,440
>> If not, I will close the public portion.

1168
00:50:31,440 --> 00:50:32,800
May I have a motion to adopt the

1169
00:50:32,800 --> 00:50:33,599
ordinance?

1170
00:50:33,599 --> 00:50:35,760
>> Some second.

1171
00:50:35,760 --> 00:50:37,359
>> Call the role, please.

1172
00:50:37,359 --> 00:50:39,119
>> First by Council President Peline,

1173
00:50:39,119 --> 00:50:40,800
second by Councilman Folo, and roll

1174
00:50:40,800 --> 00:50:42,880
call. We have council members Folo. I

1175
00:50:42,880 --> 00:50:44,880
just want to clarify this issue right

1176
00:50:44,880 --> 00:50:46,720
here as the mayor just said is the

1177
00:50:46,720 --> 00:50:50,000
actual um safety issue not the salt

1178
00:50:50,000 --> 00:50:52,400
shed. So yes

1179
00:50:52,400 --> 00:50:53,599
>> Oswald

1180
00:50:53,599 --> 00:50:54,319
>> yes

1181
00:50:54,319 --> 00:50:55,599
>> Samson.

1182
00:50:55,599 --> 00:50:56,559
>> Yes.

1183
00:50:56,559 --> 00:50:59,200
>> Sheridan.

1184
00:50:59,200 --> 00:51:02,319
>> Yes. Troy.

1185
00:51:02,319 --> 00:51:04,800
>> I'm going to clarify they are both a

1186
00:51:04,800 --> 00:51:08,880
safety issue. My vote is yes.

1187
00:51:08,880 --> 00:51:10,960
>> Council President Pellegrine.

1188
00:51:10,960 --> 00:51:13,440
>> Yes. And I'd like to say I they are both

1189
00:51:13,440 --> 00:51:16,720
safety issues. So yes. Okay. Motion

1190
00:51:16,720 --> 00:51:19,680
carries.

1191
00:51:19,680 --> 00:51:22,640
Okay. Moving on to the consent agenda.

1192
00:51:22,640 --> 00:51:24,960
We have the following resolutions.

1193
00:51:24,960 --> 00:51:27,839
Resolution R-259-26

1194
00:51:27,839 --> 00:51:31,280
approval of payroll. R-260-26

1195
00:51:31,280 --> 00:51:34,800
approval of bills list. R-261-26

1196
00:51:34,800 --> 00:51:38,720
capital budget amendment. R-262-26

1197
00:51:38,720 --> 00:51:53,430
resolution to refund the shop rate.

1198
00:51:53,440 --> 00:51:56,000
Okay, thank you.

1199
00:51:56,000 --> 00:51:58,000
R-263-26

1200
00:51:58,000 --> 00:52:00,480
resolution to refund taxes veteran.

1201
00:52:00,480 --> 00:52:02,480
R-264-26

1202
00:52:02,480 --> 00:52:04,880
resolution to refund overpayment.

1203
00:52:04,880 --> 00:52:07,119
R-265-26

1204
00:52:07,119 --> 00:52:09,760
resolution to issue duplicate tax sale

1205
00:52:09,760 --> 00:52:12,559
certificate. R-266-26

1206
00:52:12,559 --> 00:52:14,640
resolution to issue duplicate tax sale

1207
00:52:14,640 --> 00:52:17,359
certificate. R-267-26

1208
00:52:17,359 --> 00:52:19,599
resolution to issue duplicate tax sale

1209
00:52:19,599 --> 00:52:22,480
certificate. R-268-26

1210
00:52:22,480 --> 00:52:26,480
award of bid burrow salt shed. R-269-26

1211
00:52:26,480 --> 00:52:28,400
award proposal for professional services

1212
00:52:28,400 --> 00:52:30,400
alignment group for the recreation

1213
00:52:30,400 --> 00:52:34,240
center structural improvements. R-270-26

1214
00:52:34,240 --> 00:52:36,160
award proposal for professional services

1215
00:52:36,160 --> 00:52:39,680
alignment group for the FY2026 NJDOT

1216
00:52:39,680 --> 00:52:42,160
program Mola Boulevard Hillman Drive to

1217
00:52:42,160 --> 00:52:45,359
Route 46 R-271-26

1218
00:52:45,359 --> 00:52:47,280
award proposal for professional services

1219
00:52:47,280 --> 00:52:50,640
alignment group for the FY2025 NJ dot

1220
00:52:50,640 --> 00:52:53,040
program Mola Boulevard Lynon Avenue to

1221
00:52:53,040 --> 00:52:56,400
Hill Hillman Drive R-272-26

1222
00:52:56,400 --> 00:52:58,079
authorized purchase of equipment

1223
00:52:58,079 --> 00:52:59,920
r-273-26

1224
00:52:59,920 --> 00:53:01,520
approved Elma Park fire department

1225
00:53:01,520 --> 00:53:03,040
stipen program second quarter

1226
00:53:03,040 --> 00:53:06,079
compensation R-274-26

1227
00:53:06,079 --> 00:53:07,920
authorized release of road opening

1228
00:53:07,920 --> 00:53:11,040
performance bond R-275-26

1229
00:53:11,040 --> 00:53:12,960
authorized retirement payout department

1230
00:53:12,960 --> 00:53:16,319
of public works R-276-26

1231
00:53:16,319 --> 00:53:18,319
appoint full-time laborers department of

1232
00:53:18,319 --> 00:53:21,440
public works R-277-26

1233
00:53:21,440 --> 00:53:23,119
appoint part-time labor department of

1234
00:53:23,119 --> 00:53:26,000
public works R-278-26

1235
00:53:26,000 --> 00:53:28,079
appointment of counselors for the 2026

1236
00:53:28,079 --> 00:53:30,319
2027 school year [snorts] morning care

1237
00:53:30,319 --> 00:53:32,720
and afterare after school program

1238
00:53:32,720 --> 00:53:34,720
recreation department

1239
00:53:34,720 --> 00:53:36,880
R-279-26

1240
00:53:36,880 --> 00:53:39,680
resolution to enter into a interlocal

1241
00:53:39,680 --> 00:53:41,680
service agreement for special three law

1242
00:53:41,680 --> 00:53:43,280
enforcement officers with the board of

1243
00:53:43,280 --> 00:53:45,200
education of Elwood Park and the burrow

1244
00:53:45,200 --> 00:53:48,000
of Elwood Park R-280-26

1245
00:53:48,000 --> 00:53:49,680
resolution to enter into a shared

1246
00:53:49,680 --> 00:53:51,119
service agreement with the township of

1247
00:53:51,119 --> 00:53:54,079
Little Falls. R-281-26

1248
00:53:54,079 --> 00:53:56,480
appoint crossing guards for the 2026

1249
00:53:56,480 --> 00:53:58,960
2027 school year police department.

1250
00:53:58,960 --> 00:54:00,880
R-282-26

1251
00:54:00,880 --> 00:54:03,599
award quote for paving at Veterans Park.

1252
00:54:03,599 --> 00:54:05,839
R-283-26

1253
00:54:05,839 --> 00:54:08,240
approve firefighter resignation in lie

1254
00:54:08,240 --> 00:54:11,599
of termination. R-284-26

1255
00:54:11,599 --> 00:54:13,839
approval to submit and execute a grant

1256
00:54:13,839 --> 00:54:16,640
application. R-285-26

1257
00:54:16,640 --> 00:54:18,720
approve handicap parking space Elm

1258
00:54:18,720 --> 00:54:21,280
Street. R-286-26

1259
00:54:21,280 --> 00:54:23,280
approve handicap parking space Philip

1260
00:54:23,280 --> 00:54:26,480
Avenue. R-287-26

1261
00:54:26,480 --> 00:54:28,160
resolution approving redevelopment

1262
00:54:28,160 --> 00:54:29,760
agreement between the burl of Elwood

1263
00:54:29,760 --> 00:54:33,040
Park and Meridia Elwood Park 871 Urban

1264
00:54:33,040 --> 00:54:35,440
Renewal LLC and designated Meridia

1265
00:54:35,440 --> 00:54:39,359
Elwood Park 871 Urban Renewal LLC as

1266
00:54:39,359 --> 00:54:41,280
redeveloper for the property known as

1267
00:54:41,280 --> 00:54:46,000
871 River Drive in 79 and 15 Norris

1268
00:54:46,000 --> 00:54:51,200
Street block 16002 lots 2 3 4 and 26

1269
00:54:51,200 --> 00:54:53,200
R-288-26

1270
00:54:53,200 --> 00:54:55,200
approve Approve annual municipal audit

1271
00:54:55,200 --> 00:54:58,960
report for the year 2025. R-289-26

1272
00:54:58,960 --> 00:55:00,880
adopt corrective action plan for the

1273
00:55:00,880 --> 00:55:04,559
2025 municipal audit. R-290-26

1274
00:55:04,559 --> 00:55:06,319
appointment of special officers.

1275
00:55:06,319 --> 00:55:08,559
R-291-26

1276
00:55:08,559 --> 00:55:10,720
authorize online auction of surplus

1277
00:55:10,720 --> 00:55:13,520
property. And R-292-26

1278
00:55:13,520 --> 00:55:14,960
resolution to approve the consent

1279
00:55:14,960 --> 00:55:16,079
agenda.

1280
00:55:16,079 --> 00:55:18,720
>> Take a deep breath, Chen.

1281
00:55:18,720 --> 00:55:20,160
That was a long one.

1282
00:55:20,160 --> 00:55:21,520
>> Mhm.

1283
00:55:21,520 --> 00:55:22,880
May I have a motion on the consent

1284
00:55:22,880 --> 00:55:23,599
agenda?

1285
00:55:23,599 --> 00:55:25,760
>> So move.

1286
00:55:25,760 --> 00:55:28,319
>> I need a second. So I second.

1287
00:55:28,319 --> 00:55:33,359
>> Any discussion? Call the vote, please.

1288
00:55:33,359 --> 00:55:35,839
>> First by Council President Peline,

1289
00:55:35,839 --> 00:55:38,319
second by Councilwoman Chroy. On roll

1290
00:55:38,319 --> 00:55:40,559
call, we have Council Members Folo.

1291
00:55:40,559 --> 00:55:45,119
>> I'm going to recuse on 272-26,

1292
00:55:45,119 --> 00:55:47,680
273-26,

1293
00:55:47,680 --> 00:55:50,079
and 283-26.

1294
00:55:50,079 --> 00:55:51,599
Yes to the rest.

1295
00:55:51,599 --> 00:55:52,720
>> Oswald,

1296
00:55:52,720 --> 00:55:55,839
>> it's going to be a no on R-268-26

1297
00:55:55,839 --> 00:55:58,160
and yes to everything else.

1298
00:55:58,160 --> 00:56:00,000
>> Samson,

1299
00:56:00,000 --> 00:56:01,040
>> yes.

1300
00:56:01,040 --> 00:56:02,160
>> Sheridan,

1301
00:56:02,160 --> 00:56:03,119
>> yes.

1302
00:56:03,119 --> 00:56:05,200
>> Troy,

1303
00:56:05,200 --> 00:56:08,559
>> I'm going to recuse from R-273-26

1304
00:56:08,559 --> 00:56:11,440
and R-283-26.

1305
00:56:11,440 --> 00:56:12,400
Yes to the rest.

1306
00:56:12,400 --> 00:56:14,960
>> Chen, can I um also clarify my vote on

1307
00:56:14,960 --> 00:56:16,880
268 would be no.

1308
00:56:16,880 --> 00:56:17,359
>> 26.

1309
00:56:17,359 --> 00:56:19,440
>> 268-26.

1310
00:56:19,440 --> 00:56:23,589
Okay.

1311
00:56:23,599 --> 00:56:25,680
Should we see? Council President Peline.

1312
00:56:25,680 --> 00:56:27,280
>> Yes.

1313
00:56:27,280 --> 00:56:29,599
>> Motion carries. Moving on to

1314
00:56:29,599 --> 00:56:31,680
departmental reports. We have the zoning

1315
00:56:31,680 --> 00:56:34,400
board meeting minutes from June 24th,

1316
00:56:34,400 --> 00:56:36,319
2026.

1317
00:56:36,319 --> 00:56:40,549
>> Motion, please.

1318
00:56:40,559 --> 00:56:43,359
» No motion. So move.

1319
00:56:43,359 --> 00:56:46,400
>> Need a second. Second.

1320
00:56:46,400 --> 00:56:47,280
>> Okay.

1321
00:56:47,280 --> 00:56:49,119
>> Any discussion?

1322
00:56:49,119 --> 00:56:50,559
All in favor?

1323
00:56:50,559 --> 00:56:51,920
>> All in favor?

1324
00:56:51,920 --> 00:56:53,599
>> I

1325
00:56:53,599 --> 00:56:56,400
departmental reports have been accepted.

1326
00:56:56,400 --> 00:56:58,160
At this time, mayor, this concludes my

1327
00:56:58,160 --> 00:56:59,680
portion of the meeting. I will turn it

1328
00:56:59,680 --> 00:57:02,000
over to you for council reports.

1329
00:57:02,000 --> 00:57:03,760
>> Okay. Thank you. Let's start off with uh

1330
00:57:03,760 --> 00:57:06,480
Councilman Fellow.

1331
00:57:06,480 --> 00:57:08,799
>> Thank you, Mayor. Um I think we said a

1332
00:57:08,799 --> 00:57:11,520
lot tonight about the the positivity of

1333
00:57:11,520 --> 00:57:15,760
um of um everything that that went on in

1334
00:57:15,760 --> 00:57:17,920
the meeting in the beginning. Uh, so I

1335
00:57:17,920 --> 00:57:20,799
want to stay positive with that. Um, I

1336
00:57:20,799 --> 00:57:22,720
just want to clarify what me and

1337
00:57:22,720 --> 00:57:27,040
Councilman Oswald um and it have have

1338
00:57:27,040 --> 00:57:28,880
been saying about the salt shed issue.

1339
00:57:28,880 --> 00:57:33,359
The salts issue, we had um money budget

1340
00:57:33,359 --> 00:57:35,920
allocated for this project already. Uh

1341
00:57:35,920 --> 00:57:38,480
when we decided to do this after 3

1342
00:57:38,480 --> 00:57:42,000
years, um the price came in about

1343
00:57:42,000 --> 00:57:43,599
$135,000

1344
00:57:43,599 --> 00:57:46,720
more. Uh there was a civil discussion. I

1345
00:57:46,720 --> 00:57:48,079
got to give credit where credit's due.

1346
00:57:48,079 --> 00:57:50,400
It was a civil discussion on whether we

1347
00:57:50,400 --> 00:57:53,520
should rebid it and [clears throat] and

1348
00:57:53,520 --> 00:57:54,960
have maybe have it come back more

1349
00:57:54,960 --> 00:57:56,480
expensive, maybe come back have it

1350
00:57:56,480 --> 00:58:00,160
coming back um cheaper. Uh but that's

1351
00:58:00,160 --> 00:58:02,319
where the that's where the issue was. We

1352
00:58:02,319 --> 00:58:04,880
all agreed that the salt shed should be

1353
00:58:04,880 --> 00:58:08,000
done. Uh but the price tag was just way

1354
00:58:08,000 --> 00:58:11,440
too high in this time for me and I and I

1355
00:58:11,440 --> 00:58:12,960
hopefully I can speak for Councilman

1356
00:58:12,960 --> 00:58:15,280
Oswald for us to accept. We wanted to

1357
00:58:15,280 --> 00:58:18,319
rebid it. Uh that was the only issue. Um

1358
00:58:18,319 --> 00:58:22,160
the division between uh the two of us.

1359
00:58:22,160 --> 00:58:24,319
>> Um just to clarify that a little bit.

1360
00:58:24,319 --> 00:58:24,640
Yes, ma'am.

1361
00:58:24,640 --> 00:58:26,000
>> I'm done with my report.

1362
00:58:26,000 --> 00:58:28,400
>> Okay. Just to clarify that we've taken

1363
00:58:28,400 --> 00:58:31,280
many a bids. That's what elongated this

1364
00:58:31,280 --> 00:58:34,079
whole procedure uh along the way. And

1365
00:58:34,079 --> 00:58:35,839
now it's time we have to get off the

1366
00:58:35,839 --> 00:58:40,160
potty so to speak and uh get get this u

1367
00:58:40,160 --> 00:58:41,920
project done.

1368
00:58:41,920 --> 00:58:45,040
Uh, any more discussion on that matter?

1369
00:58:45,040 --> 00:58:47,599
>> I I'd like to make a comment. I

1370
00:58:47,599 --> 00:58:50,240
>> I would have been open to a rebid, but

1371
00:58:50,240 --> 00:58:53,599
for the possibility of it coming back

1372
00:58:53,599 --> 00:58:57,200
even higher if we were to refuse this.

1373
00:58:57,200 --> 00:59:01,839
>> Um, so we we risked um, you know, paying

1374
00:59:01,839 --> 00:59:04,799
even more for the repair.

1375
00:59:04,799 --> 00:59:05,280
>> That's

1376
00:59:05,280 --> 00:59:08,160
>> Thank you, Councilwoman. All right.

1377
00:59:08,160 --> 00:59:10,880
Mayor, what I would like to say is that

1378
00:59:10,880 --> 00:59:13,520
um we obviously there's been a couple

1379
00:59:13,520 --> 00:59:15,760
references to safety. The safety matter

1380
00:59:15,760 --> 00:59:18,799
is multiffold or or several fold.

1381
00:59:18,799 --> 00:59:20,880
There's the al the overall safety of the

1382
00:59:20,880 --> 00:59:22,799
condition of the building and our

1383
00:59:22,799 --> 00:59:24,720
employees that travel in our vehicles in

1384
00:59:24,720 --> 00:59:26,240
and out of that salt shed loading it

1385
00:59:26,240 --> 00:59:28,720
during the winter. There's the the uh

1386
00:59:28,720 --> 00:59:31,280
safety factor of being able to deliver

1387
00:59:31,280 --> 00:59:33,680
salt in a timely manner during a winter

1388
00:59:33,680 --> 00:59:35,520
weather event. And there's also the

1389
00:59:35,520 --> 00:59:37,760
matter of what happens if that salt that

1390
00:59:37,760 --> 00:59:39,839
salt shed current salt shed becomes

1391
00:59:39,839 --> 00:59:42,880
unable to be used completely and our

1392
00:59:42,880 --> 00:59:45,599
inventory the value of our inventory

1393
00:59:45,599 --> 00:59:48,799
gets uh destroyed or um decimated and

1394
00:59:48,799 --> 00:59:50,480
what what do we do with additional salt

1395
00:59:50,480 --> 00:59:52,160
and where do we get additional salt from

1396
00:59:52,160 --> 00:59:54,319
so the safety matter is not just general

1397
00:59:54,319 --> 00:59:56,799
safety those are the safety items that's

1398
00:59:56,799 --> 00:59:58,640
why I voted yes I understand it's

1399
00:59:58,640 --> 01:00:00,160
expensive but it's something that we

1400
01:00:00,160 --> 01:00:01,680
have to have in this bureau thank you

1401
01:00:01,680 --> 01:00:02,079
mayor

1402
01:00:02,079 --> 01:00:03,680
>> thank you thank you you know councilman

1403
01:00:03,680 --> 01:00:06,000
I understand your concerns. Uh maybe you

1404
01:00:06,000 --> 01:00:07,440
should take a trip down there and take a

1405
01:00:07,440 --> 01:00:08,160
walk through.

1406
01:00:08,160 --> 01:00:09,280
>> I actually did, mayor.

1407
01:00:09,280 --> 01:00:10,720
>> And what' you see?

1408
01:00:10,720 --> 01:00:12,720
>> I think it could wait, but that's you

1409
01:00:12,720 --> 01:00:13,280
know, it's your

1410
01:00:13,280 --> 01:00:14,319
>> You think it could wait?

1411
01:00:14,319 --> 01:00:16,160
>> Yeah, I think it could wait. Mayor, we

1412
01:00:16,160 --> 01:00:18,079
have a budget crunch. We're telling us

1413
01:00:18,079 --> 01:00:20,319
not to spend money. We're Listen, that

1414
01:00:20,319 --> 01:00:21,440
we're not going to beat this to death.

1415
01:00:21,440 --> 01:00:26,559
It passed. You spent $135,000 more than what we had budgeted. But listen,

1416
01:00:26,559 --> 01:00:28,480
I'm not complaining about it. I'm just

1417
01:00:28,480 --> 01:00:30,319
telling you that was our disagreement

1418
01:00:30,319 --> 01:00:33,440
was whether to rebid it or to do it. I

1419
01:00:33,440 --> 01:00:34,880
wanted to rebid it. That's where it was.

1420
01:00:34,880 --> 01:00:36,240
I'm not complaining that you guys did

1421
01:00:36,240 --> 01:00:38,799
it. I'm just saying that that was my

1422
01:00:38,799 --> 01:00:40,640
opinion was to rebid it. But I

1423
01:00:40,640 --> 01:00:43,040
understand the reason why you guys

1424
01:00:43,040 --> 01:00:45,599
passed it. That's fine.

1425
01:00:45,599 --> 01:00:49,200
>> Moving along. Uh, Councilman Samson,

1426
01:00:49,200 --> 01:00:52,240
your council report. Just as a reminder

1427
01:00:52,240 --> 01:00:54,079
where we're at. [laughter]

1428
01:00:54,079 --> 01:00:57,200
>> Thank you, Mayor. Uh, as my colleague,

1429
01:00:57,200 --> 01:01:00,400
Mr. Folo said um I spoke um excuse me at

1430
01:01:00,400 --> 01:01:01,760
length about the strength of this bureau

1431
01:01:01,760 --> 01:01:03,280
and the people that we awarded this

1432
01:01:03,280 --> 01:01:04,720
evening and uh that just proves what

1433
01:01:04,720 --> 01:01:06,880
this bureau is made of and um like I

1434
01:01:06,880 --> 01:01:08,160
said government of the people by the

1435
01:01:08,160 --> 01:01:10,400
people and for the people. Uh as far as

1436
01:01:10,400 --> 01:01:12,720
my activities are concerned our EMS uh

1437
01:01:12,720 --> 01:01:15,440
program is strong and continues to forge

1438
01:01:15,440 --> 01:01:18,960
ahead. We do uh probably approximately

1439
01:01:18,960 --> 01:01:20,960
175 aided calls. That's what I refer to

1440
01:01:20,960 --> 01:01:23,440
as aids. Whether it's our ambulance

1441
01:01:23,440 --> 01:01:25,680
coming in or our police hand helping a

1442
01:01:25,680 --> 01:01:27,520
residents or mutually aid coming from

1443
01:01:27,520 --> 01:01:30,160
the county, um we can get an ambulance

1444
01:01:30,160 --> 01:01:32,640
to your house in less than 5 minutes

1445
01:01:32,640 --> 01:01:34,960
typically. That's stunning. Those

1446
01:01:34,960 --> 01:01:37,040
numbers are stunning. Uh new ambulance

1447
01:01:37,040 --> 01:01:38,799
is being built. I look forward to that

1448
01:01:38,799 --> 01:01:40,640
finally coming in. There is a long lead

1449
01:01:40,640 --> 01:01:43,520
time for it. I'm uh I'm with the chief

1450
01:01:43,520 --> 01:01:46,720
and our uh sales rep from PL Custom Body

1451
01:01:46,720 --> 01:01:48,160
and we're going to get this done and get

1452
01:01:48,160 --> 01:01:52,240
it here as soon as we can. Um, finance.

1453
01:01:52,240 --> 01:01:54,480
I met with the finance committee led by

1454
01:01:54,480 --> 01:01:56,559
Councilwoman Troy. We we paid the bills,

1455
01:01:56,559 --> 01:01:59,280
the bureau's bills. Um, that went well

1456
01:01:59,280 --> 01:02:03,270
and um

1457
01:02:03,280 --> 01:02:05,520
that's about it. Summer's winding down.

1458
01:02:05,520 --> 01:02:07,280
Let's enjoy it. Oh, the summer concert

1459
01:02:07,280 --> 01:02:09,920
series, complete success. McCartney, one

1460
01:02:09,920 --> 01:02:12,079
of my favorite singers. He was uh

1461
01:02:12,079 --> 01:02:14,880
tributed this past Tuesday. Loved it.

1462
01:02:14,880 --> 01:02:17,359
Love his uh his work, his songs, and

1463
01:02:17,359 --> 01:02:19,280
that band did a great job replicating

1464
01:02:19,280 --> 01:02:20,960
them. So, mayor, thank you for that

1465
01:02:20,960 --> 01:02:23,280
concert series. Uh, you and Jimmy Demo

1466
01:02:23,280 --> 01:02:24,480
are doing a great job working together

1467
01:02:24,480 --> 01:02:26,799
to get that done. And we as a team are

1468
01:02:26,799 --> 01:02:28,720
also delivering a great product to our

1469
01:02:28,720 --> 01:02:30,880
burough residents. Again, enjoy the

1470
01:02:30,880 --> 01:02:32,960
summer. Be safe.

1471
01:02:32,960 --> 01:02:35,680
God bless America. That credit goes to

1472
01:02:35,680 --> 01:02:38,559
the mayor and council as far as the the

1473
01:02:38,559 --> 01:02:39,520
concert series goes.

1474
01:02:39,520 --> 01:02:42,400
>> That's a refer to the team. Thank you.

1475
01:02:42,400 --> 01:02:46,319
Moving along, Councilwoman Shepardan.

1476
01:02:46,319 --> 01:02:50,000
>> Thank you, Mayor. Um I have my um fire

1477
01:02:50,000 --> 01:02:53,040
report for um the month of July. We had

1478
01:02:53,040 --> 01:02:57,599
58 emergency incidents, 430

1479
01:02:57,599 --> 01:03:01,040
firefighter respond manh hours, 12

1480
01:03:01,040 --> 01:03:04,640
training drills, one department meeting,

1481
01:03:04,640 --> 01:03:08,079
uh, three special assignments, 710

1482
01:03:08,079 --> 01:03:11,119
volunteer service hours, mind you the

1483
01:03:11,119 --> 01:03:13,200
word volunteer,

1484
01:03:13,200 --> 01:03:17,680
16 fire smoke alarms, six citizen um,

1485
01:03:17,680 --> 01:03:20,799
assists, five standby assignments, four

1486
01:03:20,799 --> 01:03:23,760
gas leaks, two odor investigations,

1487
01:03:23,760 --> 01:03:26,240
three motor vehicle collisions, and

1488
01:03:26,240 --> 01:03:29,359
three carbon monoxide alarms.

1489
01:03:29,359 --> 01:03:32,799
Um, we also had 12 training training

1490
01:03:32,799 --> 01:03:36,880
drills with 216 firefighters

1491
01:03:36,880 --> 01:03:39,119
uh for the manh hours. Mind you, our

1492
01:03:39,119 --> 01:03:42,559
fire department is all volunteer. So, if

1493
01:03:42,559 --> 01:03:44,319
you know anybody that wants to sign up,

1494
01:03:44,319 --> 01:03:46,799
we're more than welcome to have them.

1495
01:03:46,799 --> 01:03:49,119
Um, Sunday we had the pre-party at the

1496
01:03:49,119 --> 01:03:53,920
American Legion. Um, with Doc. Um, we

1497
01:03:53,920 --> 01:03:55,359
had it over at the American Legion. We

1498
01:03:55,359 --> 01:03:57,119
had pizza, we had desserts, we had

1499
01:03:57,119 --> 01:04:01,280
giveaways. We had 70 veteran families

1500
01:04:01,280 --> 01:04:04,799
that went to Hawthorne um, Doc and the

1501
01:04:04,799 --> 01:04:07,200
New Jersey uh, Veterans Network. Thank

1502
01:04:07,200 --> 01:04:09,599
you so much for everything you guys do.

1503
01:04:09,599 --> 01:04:13,839
They took 70 um veteran families to the

1504
01:04:13,839 --> 01:04:17,200
movies to see the new Spider-Man.

1505
01:04:17,200 --> 01:04:19,959
Um they had the soda, they got

1506
01:04:19,959 --> 01:04:22,000
[clears throat] popcorn. I mean, we gave

1507
01:04:22,000 --> 01:04:24,720
them a lot. We gave a lot out. And I

1508
01:04:24,720 --> 01:04:27,599
just want to tell um Doc, thank you for

1509
01:04:27,599 --> 01:04:29,680
everything. Thank you to the New Jersey

1510
01:04:29,680 --> 01:04:32,880
Veterans Network. I mean, if it wasn't

1511
01:04:32,880 --> 01:04:34,880
for you guys, our veterans would be

1512
01:04:34,880 --> 01:04:37,119
really lost. So, I just want to give a

1513
01:04:37,119 --> 01:04:39,520
big shout out to you guys, your veterans

1514
01:04:39,520 --> 01:04:41,920
network. Thank you. Everybody had a

1515
01:04:41,920 --> 01:04:46,400
great time. Um, the concerts, as um,

1516
01:04:46,400 --> 01:04:48,720
Councilman uh, Samson said, Tuesday

1517
01:04:48,720 --> 01:04:51,119
night was Pure McCartney. Next week's

1518
01:04:51,119 --> 01:04:54,000
our last concert. Everybody come on out.

1519
01:04:54,000 --> 01:04:57,520
It's 60s. Um, after next week, I'm going

1520
01:04:57,520 --> 01:04:58,960
to be bored on Tuesday night, so I'm not

1521
01:04:58,960 --> 01:05:01,119
going to have anything to do, but I'm

1522
01:05:01,119 --> 01:05:03,280
sure I'll figure something out. Um, I

1523
01:05:03,280 --> 01:05:05,680
also want to give a thank you, Chief. I

1524
01:05:05,680 --> 01:05:07,920
want to thank you for the crossing guard

1525
01:05:07,920 --> 01:05:09,599
that you put out in front of the rec

1526
01:05:09,599 --> 01:05:13,119
center. There is no crossing zone there.

1527
01:05:13,119 --> 01:05:14,799
Okay. But when that concert's over

1528
01:05:14,799 --> 01:05:16,240
between everybody coming out of the

1529
01:05:16,240 --> 01:05:18,240
parking lot, people trying to get across

1530
01:05:18,240 --> 01:05:20,160
the street, that was a good move on your

1531
01:05:20,160 --> 01:05:23,280
part. Thank you very much. Um, thank you

1532
01:05:23,280 --> 01:05:27,440
to the police department, and um,

1533
01:05:27,440 --> 01:05:28,720
that's all I have, Mayor.

1534
01:05:28,720 --> 01:05:31,200
>> Thank you, Councilwoman. Uh, we're going

1535
01:05:31,200 --> 01:05:32,640
to shift back over to this side.

1536
01:05:32,640 --> 01:05:34,160
Councilman Oswell.

1537
01:05:34,160 --> 01:05:35,680
>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I knew you

1538
01:05:35,680 --> 01:05:37,920
wouldn't forget about me. It's okay. Um,

1539
01:05:37,920 --> 01:05:40,319
I just have I'm going to do a couple of

1540
01:05:40,319 --> 01:05:41,520
things. Just some things I've been

1541
01:05:41,520 --> 01:05:42,880
working on the past couple weeks since

1542
01:05:42,880 --> 01:05:44,240
our last work session. I just wanted to

1543
01:05:44,240 --> 01:05:47,599
bring up. Um, the first is that I would

1544
01:05:47,599 --> 01:05:49,839
I every time I look through the um

1545
01:05:49,839 --> 01:05:51,680
packets that were given, I I like to go

1546
01:05:51,680 --> 01:05:52,960
through some of the line items in the

1547
01:05:52,960 --> 01:05:54,720
budget and see where we're spending

1548
01:05:54,720 --> 01:05:56,640
money, even if it's just small amounts.

1549
01:05:56,640 --> 01:05:58,240
One of the things I'd like to see going

1550
01:05:58,240 --> 01:06:00,640
forward um with this council, no matter

1551
01:06:00,640 --> 01:06:02,799
who is there next year, is that we

1552
01:06:02,799 --> 01:06:04,799
potentially either create ordinances,

1553
01:06:04,799 --> 01:06:07,039
resolutions, or direct departments to do

1554
01:06:07,039 --> 01:06:09,200
more local spending to send uh money

1555
01:06:09,200 --> 01:06:10,960
back to our local businesses rather than

1556
01:06:10,960 --> 01:06:13,280
going to other towns uh to go bowling or

1557
01:06:13,280 --> 01:06:15,280
to go to parties and stuff where it's

1558
01:06:15,280 --> 01:06:16,640
reasonable. I'm not saying it's a, you

1559
01:06:16,640 --> 01:06:18,400
know, a hard mandate, but you know, I

1560
01:06:18,400 --> 01:06:20,400
see a lot of purchases at Amazon, a lot

1561
01:06:20,400 --> 01:06:22,880
of purchases at places out of town where

1562
01:06:22,880 --> 01:06:24,480
we have businesses in Elma Park that

1563
01:06:24,480 --> 01:06:26,079
provide those services. And I just think

1564
01:06:26,079 --> 01:06:27,440
that we could every once in a while

1565
01:06:27,440 --> 01:06:31,039
consider um that as a um a reason to go

1566
01:06:31,039 --> 01:06:32,960
somewhere rather than just where we feel

1567
01:06:32,960 --> 01:06:36,720
like. Um the I every time we go through

1568
01:06:36,720 --> 01:06:38,960
to these agendas, we often approve a lot

1569
01:06:38,960 --> 01:06:40,960
of these handicap spaces. One of the

1570
01:06:40,960 --> 01:06:44,559
things I do um when I go shopping is um

1571
01:06:44,559 --> 01:06:45,839
I I know a lot of people with

1572
01:06:45,839 --> 01:06:47,839
disabilities and I know how hard it is

1573
01:06:47,839 --> 01:06:49,760
to walk through a parking lot with a lot

1574
01:06:49,760 --> 01:06:51,359
of cars driving around and and on rainy

1575
01:06:51,359 --> 01:06:54,000
day like today when I went to shop right

1576
01:06:54,000 --> 01:06:56,160
um I notice often and I'm I'm thankful

1577
01:06:56,160 --> 01:06:57,520
to our police department for being so

1578
01:06:57,520 --> 01:07:01,119
responsive um but how often people park

1579
01:07:01,119 --> 01:07:03,200
in handicap spots that have no right to

1580
01:07:03,200 --> 01:07:05,520
be parking in them. Um they park in fire

1581
01:07:05,520 --> 01:07:07,119
zones and loading zones and that make

1582
01:07:07,119 --> 01:07:08,559
people very uncomfortable walking around

1583
01:07:08,559 --> 01:07:10,240
and parking. I just want a public

1584
01:07:10,240 --> 01:07:11,680
service announcement. Those handicap

1585
01:07:11,680 --> 01:07:13,520
spaces are for people with handicap

1586
01:07:13,520 --> 01:07:16,319
plates and placards. I call every week I

1587
01:07:16,319 --> 01:07:18,880
call in um and ask them to do a patrol

1588
01:07:18,880 --> 01:07:20,319
around the parking lots and thankfully

1589
01:07:20,319 --> 01:07:22,000
they do. Sometimes they issue a ticket,

1590
01:07:22,000 --> 01:07:23,680
sometimes people leave, but just be

1591
01:07:23,680 --> 01:07:25,280
mindful that that's a it's a pretty low

1592
01:07:25,280 --> 01:07:26,799
thing to do to take a handicap space,

1593
01:07:26,799 --> 01:07:30,799
especially in a rainy day. Um we have a

1594
01:07:30,799 --> 01:07:32,720
lot of things that came from our audit

1595
01:07:32,720 --> 01:07:34,720
that I found were interesting um

1596
01:07:34,720 --> 01:07:38,480
budget-wise. Um, one just as a anecdotal

1597
01:07:38,480 --> 01:07:40,880
fact, the population of Elwood Park, uh,

1598
01:07:40,880 --> 01:07:42,880
over the past 5 years since 2020 has

1599
01:07:42,880 --> 01:07:45,440
increased by 154 people. In the previous

1600
01:07:45,440 --> 01:07:47,520
10 years, it had increased by over 2,000

1601
01:07:47,520 --> 01:07:50,240
people, but we sit at around 22,000

1602
01:07:50,240 --> 01:07:53,599
people. In the past 3 years, the uh,

1603
01:07:53,599 --> 01:07:56,559
municipal budget has gone up by $9

1604
01:07:56,559 --> 01:07:59,359
million. $9 million. We're talking about

1605
01:07:59,359 --> 01:08:02,319
salary and wage increases of 29% over

1606
01:08:02,319 --> 01:08:04,079
the past 5 years. operating budgets

1607
01:08:04,079 --> 01:08:06,400
increased by 62%.

1608
01:08:06,400 --> 01:08:09,440
And not that there's a direct link that

1609
01:08:09,440 --> 01:08:11,200
we just because we haven't had a big

1610
01:08:11,200 --> 01:08:12,480
population increase that these

1611
01:08:12,480 --> 01:08:15,200
expenditures uh aren't warranted. But

1612
01:08:15,200 --> 01:08:17,279
one of the things I am intent on

1613
01:08:17,279 --> 01:08:19,279
following up with is the September 1st

1614
01:08:19,279 --> 01:08:20,880
deadline for making sure that some of

1615
01:08:20,880 --> 01:08:22,640
the corrective actions that were issued

1616
01:08:22,640 --> 01:08:24,640
actually get taken place. Uh such as

1617
01:08:24,640 --> 01:08:26,159
moving us over to the correct accounting

1618
01:08:26,159 --> 01:08:28,400
system, getting us off of Excel. I would

1619
01:08:28,400 --> 01:08:29,920
really love and now that the CFO is

1620
01:08:29,920 --> 01:08:32,159
here, I will send an actual email

1621
01:08:32,159 --> 01:08:33,920
request, but I would like um some

1622
01:08:33,920 --> 01:08:35,839
further information uh regarding some of

1623
01:08:35,839 --> 01:08:39,040
these uh unencumbered or um unspent un

1624
01:08:39,040 --> 01:08:40,880
uh appropriations over the past 5 years

1625
01:08:40,880 --> 01:08:42,560
that were found in the audit. I would

1626
01:08:42,560 --> 01:08:44,640
like to know what the total amount

1627
01:08:44,640 --> 01:08:46,640
outstanding is that we may be

1628
01:08:46,640 --> 01:08:48,560
potentially expected to budget for this

1629
01:08:48,560 --> 01:08:51,520
year or next. And I would like to know

1630
01:08:51,520 --> 01:08:53,199
uh which departments have experienced

1631
01:08:53,199 --> 01:08:56,159
the most increase um in their actual

1632
01:08:56,159 --> 01:08:57,839
budgetary process because according to

1633
01:08:57,839 --> 01:09:00,719
the audit, we've had a relatively flat

1634
01:09:00,719 --> 01:09:06,880
increase in um certain things like the the budget 18% tax increase, but the

1635
01:09:06,880 --> 01:09:09,040
actual budget itself was only a 4%

1636
01:09:09,040 --> 01:09:12,239
change. Why the water fund lost 34%.

1637
01:09:12,239 --> 01:09:15,440
We're talking $1.6 million down. And I I

1638
01:09:15,440 --> 01:09:16,400
suppose we're tapping into some

1639
01:09:16,400 --> 01:09:18,319
surpluses, but um there's a lot of

1640
01:09:18,319 --> 01:09:19,440
people that are in the audience today.

1641
01:09:19,440 --> 01:09:20,319
They're going to be asking about their

1642
01:09:20,319 --> 01:09:21,839
taxes, asking about where their money is

1643
01:09:21,839 --> 01:09:24,400
spent. And I would encourage everyone to

1644
01:09:24,400 --> 01:09:26,960
do their due diligence, read the audit,

1645
01:09:26,960 --> 01:09:29,520
read the report, um and and then look up

1646
01:09:29,520 --> 01:09:31,520
that information, decide what you feel

1647
01:09:31,520 --> 01:09:34,080
is appropriate um as a response. I know

1648
01:09:34,080 --> 01:09:36,159
that a lot of people want to complain or

1649
01:09:36,159 --> 01:09:38,080
to suggest that they were treated

1650
01:09:38,080 --> 01:09:40,239
unfairly by our tax assessor. I wholly

1651
01:09:40,239 --> 01:09:42,480
disagree with that um idea. I believe we

1652
01:09:42,480 --> 01:09:44,480
have an incredibly fair and um

1653
01:09:44,480 --> 01:09:46,960
experienced tax assessor and team. No

1654
01:09:46,960 --> 01:09:48,960
one's trying to hurt anybody. I believe

1655
01:09:48,960 --> 01:09:50,400
one of the things I'd like to clarify

1656
01:09:50,400 --> 01:09:52,880
though is that people that do have an

1657
01:09:52,880 --> 01:09:54,640
issue, you have every right to say

1658
01:09:54,640 --> 01:09:56,080
something about it, but I'd like us to

1659
01:09:56,080 --> 01:09:57,600
remain respectful and to please make

1660
01:09:57,600 --> 01:09:59,679
sure you actually follow processes like

1661
01:09:59,679 --> 01:10:01,600
setting up a meeting, asking someone the

1662
01:10:01,600 --> 01:10:02,880
question ahead of time rather than

1663
01:10:02,880 --> 01:10:05,520
making um claims that might not be

1664
01:10:05,520 --> 01:10:07,600
substantiated by empirical facts, even

1665
01:10:07,600 --> 01:10:08,960
though they might feel good emotionally

1666
01:10:08,960 --> 01:10:11,840
to say. Um, so I will be keeping up on

1667
01:10:11,840 --> 01:10:13,600
top of the corrective action and I

1668
01:10:13,600 --> 01:10:15,040
really hope to see that some of those

1669
01:10:15,040 --> 01:10:17,840
reports um, uh, don't show up in the

1670
01:10:17,840 --> 01:10:21,840
2026. And I really think that this the

1671
01:10:21,840 --> 01:10:23,280
amount of money that we have been

1672
01:10:23,280 --> 01:10:24,719
increasing the budget over the past 5

1673
01:10:24,719 --> 01:10:26,960
years is unsustainable. The per capita,

1674
01:10:26,960 --> 01:10:29,760
we're talking the past 5 years, $600 per

1675
01:10:29,760 --> 01:10:32,480
person increase in taxes with not as

1676
01:10:32,480 --> 01:10:34,880
noticeable increases in services. So,

1677
01:10:34,880 --> 01:10:36,640
um, that being said, I do appreciate

1678
01:10:36,640 --> 01:10:37,920
everybody taking their time to come out.

1679
01:10:37,920 --> 01:10:39,600
Thank you for listening to us and all

1680
01:10:39,600 --> 01:10:40,800
the things we did. Thank you to all the

1681
01:10:40,800 --> 01:10:42,480
people who did the volunteer work. Thank

1682
01:10:42,480 --> 01:10:44,560
you to Doc for your commendations today.

1683
01:10:44,560 --> 01:10:46,960
They were unexpected but very warmly

1684
01:10:46,960 --> 01:10:49,040
welcomed. And for everybody that um

1685
01:10:49,040 --> 01:10:50,880
participates in this process, thank you

1686
01:10:50,880 --> 01:10:52,239
for coming out. That'll be all, Mr.

1687
01:10:52,239 --> 01:10:53,760
Mayor.

1688
01:10:53,760 --> 01:10:56,400
>> Some uh incredible questions there and I

1689
01:10:56,400 --> 01:10:58,640
compliment you on it. Uh but keep in

1690
01:10:58,640 --> 01:11:02,000
mind that u that $9 million you're

1691
01:11:02,000 --> 01:11:04,239
talking about is unsustainable.

1692
01:11:04,239 --> 01:11:06,960
uh basically uh that was out of our

1693
01:11:06,960 --> 01:11:09,360
control and I've received some

1694
01:11:09,360 --> 01:11:12,560
information today that uh out of the 70

1695
01:11:12,560 --> 01:11:16,239
communities in Bergen County uh 60 of

1696
01:11:16,239 --> 01:11:19,840
them have uh registered uh their tax

1697
01:11:19,840 --> 01:11:24,080
situation and Elwood Park is the fifth

1698
01:11:24,080 --> 01:11:26,960
lowest out of 60 communities, the fifth

1699
01:11:26,960 --> 01:11:28,640
lowest. So what that's telling me is

1700
01:11:28,640 --> 01:11:32,239
that if you separate the costs that were

1701
01:11:32,239 --> 01:11:34,880
out of our control based on the budget

1702
01:11:34,880 --> 01:11:37,920
that we we dealing with and and during

1703
01:11:37,920 --> 01:11:40,480
the course of the year our spending we

1704
01:11:40,480 --> 01:11:42,800
were flat if not maybe just a slight

1705
01:11:42,800 --> 01:11:45,520
increase and that is a tribute to this

1706
01:11:45,520 --> 01:11:48,480
mayor and council. Moving along

1707
01:11:48,480 --> 01:11:52,320
councilwoman Tracy.

1708
01:11:52,320 --> 01:11:55,679
>> Thank you mayor. Um,

1709
01:11:55,679 --> 01:11:58,800
yes, we had tax increases three years in

1710
01:11:58,800 --> 01:12:02,640
a row and the majority of those

1711
01:12:02,640 --> 01:12:05,520
increases increases can be directly

1712
01:12:05,520 --> 01:12:09,360
attributed to the employee health care.

1713
01:12:09,360 --> 01:12:12,159
We have seen year-over-year

1714
01:12:12,159 --> 01:12:14,640
uh double-digit increases

1715
01:12:14,640 --> 01:12:17,440
um with this year I think being the

1716
01:12:17,440 --> 01:12:22,080
highest we've seen yet um about 35%.

1717
01:12:22,080 --> 01:12:25,040
It is absolutely unsustainable and that

1718
01:12:25,040 --> 01:12:29,840
is why I have been uh lobbying for the

1719
01:12:29,840 --> 01:12:32,480
burrow to look at alternative health

1720
01:12:32,480 --> 01:12:36,159
care plans for our employees and we are

1721
01:12:36,159 --> 01:12:39,120
doing that. So hopefully we will see

1722
01:12:39,120 --> 01:12:41,920
some relief in those doubledigit

1723
01:12:41,920 --> 01:12:45,280
increases year after year. Um I'm just

1724
01:12:45,280 --> 01:12:47,440
going to proceed with my uh council

1725
01:12:47,440 --> 01:12:51,120
report uh wreck update. Just a reminder

1726
01:12:51,120 --> 01:12:52,960
that the school year program

1727
01:12:52,960 --> 01:12:55,679
registration closes on Monday, August

1728
01:12:55,679 --> 01:12:57,440
the 24th

1729
01:12:57,440 --> 01:12:59,679
and or until it reaches capacity,

1730
01:12:59,679 --> 01:13:02,560
whichever uh happens first. The spray

1731
01:13:02,560 --> 01:13:04,320
park will close for the season on the

1732
01:13:04,320 --> 01:13:07,600
30th. Uh first day of school is

1733
01:13:07,600 --> 01:13:09,840
September 2nd.

1734
01:13:09,840 --> 01:13:12,400
Um, we wish all the students returning

1735
01:13:12,400 --> 01:13:18,000
to the for the 2026 2027 school year um

1736
01:13:18,000 --> 01:13:22,080
uh a year filled with learning and uh

1737
01:13:22,080 --> 01:13:24,640
friendships.

1738
01:13:24,640 --> 01:13:26,480
The Elwood Park Police Department

1739
01:13:26,480 --> 01:13:28,640
backpack and school supply giveaway will

1740
01:13:28,640 --> 01:13:32,400
be held Sunday, August 23rd from 12:30

1741
01:13:32,400 --> 01:13:35,360
to 3:30 on Mhola Boulevard between 16th

1742
01:13:35,360 --> 01:13:38,159
A and Elwood Terrace. There'll be bounce

1743
01:13:38,159 --> 01:13:41,199
houses, music, seesburgers,

1744
01:13:41,199 --> 01:13:44,159
and I'd like to also congratulate all of

1745
01:13:44,159 --> 01:13:47,920
the um participants in the Junior Police

1746
01:13:47,920 --> 01:13:50,320
Academy who graduated yesterday. I'd

1747
01:13:50,320 --> 01:13:52,560
like to thank Chief Aligno and his staff

1748
01:13:52,560 --> 01:13:54,640
for hosting such a wonderful program

1749
01:13:54,640 --> 01:13:57,520
that's been growing every year. And then

1750
01:13:57,520 --> 01:14:02,719
on uh on August the 9th, myself and 24

1751
01:14:02,719 --> 01:14:05,040
other residents teamed up with a company

1752
01:14:05,040 --> 01:14:08,480
called Eco Clean Guardians. They're an

1753
01:14:08,480 --> 01:14:12,159
environmental nonprofit group. And in

1754
01:14:12,159 --> 01:14:18,239
103° weather, we removed uh 1,420

1755
01:14:18,239 --> 01:14:25,040
lbs of trash from our streets uh in 6.3

1756
01:14:25,040 --> 01:14:28,000
miles of roadway.

1757
01:14:28,000 --> 01:14:31,920
It was difficult, but it was rewarding

1758
01:14:31,920 --> 01:14:34,960
work. And I just like to thank the

1759
01:14:34,960 --> 01:14:38,159
residents who gave up their Sunday to do

1760
01:14:38,159 --> 01:14:40,800
that in the heat to make Elwood Park a

1761
01:14:40,800 --> 01:14:44,800
better place to live. Um and then uh

1762
01:14:44,800 --> 01:14:46,080
just want to make an announcement that

1763
01:14:46,080 --> 01:14:47,840
Elwood Park girls softball will be

1764
01:14:47,840 --> 01:14:50,560
hosting a carnival

1765
01:14:50,560 --> 01:14:52,880
uh September 10th through the 13th and

1766
01:14:52,880 --> 01:14:56,320
it'll be at 41 Slater Drive.

1767
01:14:56,320 --> 01:15:01,750
That's all I have. Thank you, Mayor.

1768
01:15:01,760 --> 01:15:04,080
The woman

1769
01:15:04,080 --> 01:15:05,679
Uh,

1770
01:15:05,679 --> 01:15:08,239
council president.

1771
01:15:08,239 --> 01:15:10,320
>> Yes. Thank you, Mayor. My board of

1772
01:15:10,320 --> 01:15:12,480
health update. Save the date. They will

1773
01:15:12,480 --> 01:15:14,560
be having their 6th annual Elwood Park

1774
01:15:14,560 --> 01:15:16,400
celebrate senior event. The date is

1775
01:15:16,400 --> 01:15:18,960
October 10th. The time is 11:00 a.m. to

1776
01:15:18,960 --> 01:15:22,080
300 p.m. Location our recreation center,

1777
01:15:22,080 --> 01:15:24,719
500 Muller Boulevard in Elwood Park.

1778
01:15:24,719 --> 01:15:26,640
Their next regular meeting will be held

1779
01:15:26,640 --> 01:15:29,440
on September 14th at 7:00 p.m. right

1780
01:15:29,440 --> 01:15:31,920
here in Burough Hall. All are welcome to

1781
01:15:31,920 --> 01:15:33,520
attend.

1782
01:15:33,520 --> 01:15:35,199
Chamber of Commerce update. The New

1783
01:15:35,199 --> 01:15:36,960
Elwood Park Chamber of Commerce and the

1784
01:15:36,960 --> 01:15:38,719
Elwood Park Police Department will be

1785
01:15:38,719 --> 01:15:40,880
having their second annual Elwood Park

1786
01:15:40,880 --> 01:15:44,239
charity car show Sunday, September 27th

1787
01:15:44,239 --> 01:15:47,440
from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the

1788
01:15:47,440 --> 01:15:50,320
American Legion Post 147, One Legion

1789
01:15:50,320 --> 01:15:52,960
Place in Elwood Park. This year's event

1790
01:15:52,960 --> 01:15:55,199
will benefit two local families affected

1791
01:15:55,199 --> 01:15:57,600
by tragedy. Please come out and support

1792
01:15:57,600 --> 01:15:59,679
this event. It will be a day of great

1793
01:15:59,679 --> 01:16:03,040
cars, music, vendors, raffles,

1794
01:16:03,040 --> 01:16:06,640
and awards and charitable giving. The

1795
01:16:06,640 --> 01:16:08,480
next regular meeting will be held on

1796
01:16:08,480 --> 01:16:11,040
September 15th at 6:00 p.m. at Burough

1797
01:16:11,040 --> 01:16:12,960
Hall in our allpurpose room. Any

1798
01:16:12,960 --> 01:16:18,310
questions, you can call 551507810.

1799
01:16:18,320 --> 01:16:20,400
Residents assistance program update.

1800
01:16:20,400 --> 01:16:22,239
Come join us for our stopout hunger

1801
01:16:22,239 --> 01:16:25,440
event Sunday, September 13th, 100 p.m.

1802
01:16:25,440 --> 01:16:27,280
Location starting point will be the

1803
01:16:27,280 --> 01:16:29,760
corner of Lincoln A and Mhola Boulevard

1804
01:16:29,760 --> 01:16:32,080
and Elwood Park. Will we be marching

1805
01:16:32,080 --> 01:16:35,199
together to our pantry on Thalmoth A.

1806
01:16:35,199 --> 01:16:37,120
Please help us to stock our pantry

1807
01:16:37,120 --> 01:16:39,840
shelves. Items we need are peanut

1808
01:16:39,840 --> 01:16:42,239
butter, pasta, juice, tuna, cereal,

1809
01:16:42,239 --> 01:16:46,080
rice, honey, coffee, tea, canned soups.

1810
01:16:46,080 --> 01:16:48,560
We appreciate all your anticipated help.

1811
01:16:48,560 --> 01:16:50,560
Let's fight hunger and work together to

1812
01:16:50,560 --> 01:16:52,960
feed our residents in need. For any

1813
01:16:52,960 --> 01:16:57,510
questions, please call 2011-7961457

1814
01:16:57,520 --> 01:17:02,400
extension 2015 or 2013. This is a great

1815
01:17:02,400 --> 01:17:04,320
event where the whole community comes

1816
01:17:04,320 --> 01:17:06,640
together. It's only a few blocks. We

1817
01:17:06,640 --> 01:17:09,199
march. People bring bags of food. Our

1818
01:17:09,199 --> 01:17:11,760
police are on hand to collect that, put

1819
01:17:11,760 --> 01:17:14,000
it in the trailer. They march with us.

1820
01:17:14,000 --> 01:17:15,760
They're a big help. We closed the street

1821
01:17:15,760 --> 01:17:17,920
down. So, I encourage everyone, please

1822
01:17:17,920 --> 01:17:19,840
come out and be a part of this. We don't

1823
01:17:19,840 --> 01:17:22,000
want anyone ever in our community to be

1824
01:17:22,000 --> 01:17:24,080
hungry. So, I thank you in advance for

1825
01:17:24,080 --> 01:17:26,560
that. Couple upcoming events that we

1826
01:17:26,560 --> 01:17:28,480
have. The shredding event will be held

1827
01:17:28,480 --> 01:17:31,520
September 26th from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00

1828
01:17:31,520 --> 01:17:33,679
p.m. Location behind the municipal

1829
01:17:33,679 --> 01:17:36,000
building, 182 Market Street.

1830
01:17:36,000 --> 01:17:38,000
Confidential and sensitive material

1831
01:17:38,000 --> 01:17:40,560
only. No need to remove paper clips,

1832
01:17:40,560 --> 01:17:42,880
staples, or paperboard covers. For any

1833
01:17:42,880 --> 01:17:47,110
questions, call 2011-796-1457

1834
01:17:47,120 --> 01:17:50,800
extension 3000. And then the annual

1835
01:17:50,800 --> 01:17:53,120
townwide garage sale will be September

1836
01:17:53,120 --> 01:17:56,480
19th and 20th. No permit needed. Your

1837
01:17:56,480 --> 01:17:58,400
address must be registered to be on the

1838
01:17:58,400 --> 01:18:00,560
participation list. Call the recycling

1839
01:18:00,560 --> 01:18:02,560
coordinator for all questions and

1840
01:18:02,560 --> 01:18:05,440
register. 2019

1841
01:18:05,440 --> 01:18:09,920
1457 extension 3000. And lastly, um,

1842
01:18:09,920 --> 01:18:11,760
last evening we had the Junior Police

1843
01:18:11,760 --> 01:18:14,880
Academy graduation. It was a really

1844
01:18:14,880 --> 01:18:16,960
beautiful event. We want to congratulate

1845
01:18:16,960 --> 01:18:19,679
all the participants and really we want

1846
01:18:19,679 --> 01:18:22,159
to thank Chief Fully and his team. It

1847
01:18:22,159 --> 01:18:25,920
was their 16th graduating class. We've

1848
01:18:25,920 --> 01:18:28,480
been to several. And to sit there and

1849
01:18:28,480 --> 01:18:31,040
watch the youth interact with our police

1850
01:18:31,040 --> 01:18:34,320
officers is such a wonderful thing. They

1851
01:18:34,320 --> 01:18:37,679
get so much out of this program. And I'm

1852
01:18:37,679 --> 01:18:39,920
just so proud of our police department.

1853
01:18:39,920 --> 01:18:42,320
The kids years ago

1854
01:18:42,320 --> 01:18:44,719
as I'm older, they used to be afraid to

1855
01:18:44,719 --> 01:18:46,960
uh approach a police officers. Now when

1856
01:18:46,960 --> 01:18:49,440
I go to events, these kids, they run up

1857
01:18:49,440 --> 01:18:51,280
to them and they hug them and they're so

1858
01:18:51,280 --> 01:18:53,440
happy to see them. And that just warms

1859
01:18:53,440 --> 01:18:55,440
our heart because that's what we want.

1860
01:18:55,440 --> 01:18:57,360
Community working together, community

1861
01:18:57,360 --> 01:18:59,440
knowing our police officers by name.

1862
01:18:59,440 --> 01:19:01,280
It's just a wonderful, wonderful thing.

1863
01:19:01,280 --> 01:19:03,199
And I want to thank you, Chief Belgno,

1864
01:19:03,199 --> 01:19:05,440
and your entire team for what you do for

1865
01:19:05,440 --> 01:19:07,760
our youth and for our entire community.

1866
01:19:07,760 --> 01:19:08,480
Thank you.

1867
01:19:08,480 --> 01:19:11,360
>> Thank you, Councilwoman.

1868
01:19:11,360 --> 01:19:14,080
Uh, I'm going to yield my time to these

1869
01:19:14,080 --> 01:19:16,320
two gentlemen, by the way, that they

1870
01:19:16,320 --> 01:19:18,719
entered a meeting later on. Uh, they're

1871
01:19:18,719 --> 01:19:21,440
not CIA or FBI,

1872
01:19:21,440 --> 01:19:23,920
just so you know. Uh, that's our tax

1873
01:19:23,920 --> 01:19:27,199
auditor and our CFO. Um, Kevin, would

1874
01:19:27,199 --> 01:19:28,880
you like to take the meeting from this

1875
01:19:28,880 --> 01:19:34,310
point? Certainly.

1876
01:19:34,320 --> 01:19:37,990
» Oh, I'm sorry.

1877
01:19:38,000 --> 01:19:39,920
» There we go. Can everyone hear me?

1878
01:19:39,920 --> 01:19:40,640
>> Yes.

1879
01:19:40,640 --> 01:19:43,120
>> Thank you. My name is Kevin Espazito. I

1880
01:19:43,120 --> 01:19:44,880
am your assessor here in Elwood Park for

1881
01:19:44,880 --> 01:19:47,199
the last 16 years. Thank you, mayor and

1882
01:19:47,199 --> 01:19:49,040
councel and administrator for receiving

1883
01:19:49,040 --> 01:19:51,360
me this evening. The Elmwood Park

1884
01:19:51,360 --> 01:19:54,719
residents have been uh in a situation

1885
01:19:54,719 --> 01:19:57,040
where we have been forced to undergo a

1886
01:19:57,040 --> 01:19:58,880
revaluation that was ordered by the New

1887
01:19:58,880 --> 01:20:01,280
Jersey State Division of Taxation. The

1888
01:20:01,280 --> 01:20:03,600
last time Elwood Park had a revaluation

1889
01:20:03,600 --> 01:20:07,120
was tax year 2003. So, it's been 23

1890
01:20:07,120 --> 01:20:09,920
years since our last revaluation.

1891
01:20:09,920 --> 01:20:12,000
Elwood Park went through the request for

1892
01:20:12,000 --> 01:20:15,920
proposal process and we selected the uh

1893
01:20:15,920 --> 01:20:18,080
appraisal systems which was the uh

1894
01:20:18,080 --> 01:20:21,040
contract awarded bidder um to do our

1895
01:20:21,040 --> 01:20:23,360
revaluation. Appraisal systems has

1896
01:20:23,360 --> 01:20:25,440
served the state of New Jersey for over

1897
01:20:25,440 --> 01:20:28,239
three decades servicing many Bergen

1898
01:20:28,239 --> 01:20:29,840
County towns as well as other

1899
01:20:29,840 --> 01:20:31,280
communities throughout the state of New

1900
01:20:31,280 --> 01:20:33,760
Jersey. When revaluations are ordered

1901
01:20:33,760 --> 01:20:39,440
and when they occur, traditionally the formula of a third residence or

1902
01:20:39,440 --> 01:20:41,440
third property owners in receiving an

1903
01:20:41,440 --> 01:20:44,640
increase, a third property owners being

1904
01:20:44,640 --> 01:20:47,600
neutral and then a third mate going

1905
01:20:47,600 --> 01:20:49,760
down. That is the traditional formula

1906
01:20:49,760 --> 01:20:52,640
throughout the state. I supervised the

1907
01:20:52,640 --> 01:20:55,199
revaluation. I was in the field on

1908
01:20:55,199 --> 01:20:57,520
numerous occasions supervising the staff

1909
01:20:57,520 --> 01:21:00,080
members of the reevaluation overseeing

1910
01:21:00,080 --> 01:21:02,480
the inspection tactics and process that

1911
01:21:02,480 --> 01:21:05,120
they utilize the data collection process

1912
01:21:05,120 --> 01:21:08,320
as data was accumulated and and put into

1913
01:21:08,320 --> 01:21:09,920
what's known as the computer automated

1914
01:21:09,920 --> 01:21:12,640
mass appraisal system. I supervised that

1915
01:21:12,640 --> 01:21:15,360
process as well. I looked at the sales

1916
01:21:15,360 --> 01:21:17,760
data that they collected throughout the

1917
01:21:17,760 --> 01:21:19,760
uh two-year process of the sampling

1918
01:21:19,760 --> 01:21:22,000
period utilized to establish the

1919
01:21:22,000 --> 01:21:23,600
neighborhood values from within each of

1920
01:21:23,600 --> 01:21:25,840
our value control sector, which is how

1921
01:21:25,840 --> 01:21:28,320
neighborhoods are valued. And at the end

1922
01:21:28,320 --> 01:21:31,600
of the day, I uh was in review of the

1923
01:21:31,600 --> 01:21:33,360
letters that were distributed to each of

1924
01:21:33,360 --> 01:21:36,880
our property owners. I reviewed the uh

1925
01:21:36,880 --> 01:21:38,880
results of the meetings of those of

1926
01:21:38,880 --> 01:21:41,280
those letters. Um, I'm sorry. Many of

1927
01:21:41,280 --> 01:21:43,199
our property owners who met with the

1928
01:21:43,199 --> 01:21:45,920
revaluation firm in council chambers

1929
01:21:45,920 --> 01:21:48,960
here uh last year earlier this year in

1930
01:21:48,960 --> 01:21:51,520
uh March, February and March, I

1931
01:21:51,520 --> 01:21:54,320
supervised that results as well. And

1932
01:21:54,320 --> 01:21:56,000
then our notice of assessment letters

1933
01:21:56,000 --> 01:21:57,600
were sent to our residents along with

1934
01:21:57,600 --> 01:21:59,920
our chapter 75 postcards that were also

1935
01:21:59,920 --> 01:22:01,440
distributed.

1936
01:22:01,440 --> 01:22:02,719
And then we went through the appeal

1937
01:22:02,719 --> 01:22:04,719
process. I'm happy to say that there

1938
01:22:04,719 --> 01:22:06,560
were not many tax appeals filed this

1939
01:22:06,560 --> 01:22:08,159
year in Elwood Park Burough at the

1940
01:22:08,159 --> 01:22:10,800
county level or the state level and the

1941
01:22:10,800 --> 01:22:12,719
results of those appeals were recently

1942
01:22:12,719 --> 01:22:16,000
received. Uh since our tax bills were

1943
01:22:16,000 --> 01:22:18,239
distributed recently, I also have been

1944
01:22:18,239 --> 01:22:21,360
contacted by a good percentage of our um

1945
01:22:21,360 --> 01:22:23,679
municipality property owners that

1946
01:22:23,679 --> 01:22:26,239
received increases. Obviously, in many

1947
01:22:26,239 --> 01:22:29,120
cases, property owners that have made

1948
01:22:29,120 --> 01:22:32,960
repairs over the last 15 to 20 years

1949
01:22:32,960 --> 01:22:35,440
that maybe did not require or maybe did

1950
01:22:35,440 --> 01:22:38,239
not obtain permits may have seen an

1951
01:22:38,239 --> 01:22:39,679
increase greater than the average

1952
01:22:39,679 --> 01:22:42,639
residential increase. And many of those

1953
01:22:42,639 --> 01:22:45,199
property owners were very disappointed

1954
01:22:45,199 --> 01:22:47,199
that their taxes may have increased

1955
01:22:47,199 --> 01:22:50,239
beyond that of their neighbors.

1956
01:22:50,239 --> 01:22:53,360
Typically, when such a long time goes by

1957
01:22:53,360 --> 01:22:56,560
and passes between revaluations,

1958
01:22:56,560 --> 01:22:59,360
specifically 23 years,

1959
01:22:59,360 --> 01:23:01,600
we all have seen property values in

1960
01:23:01,600 --> 01:23:04,800
Elwood Park and throughout New Jersey,

1961
01:23:04,800 --> 01:23:07,760
especially after CO increase at

1962
01:23:07,760 --> 01:23:10,719
doubledigit annual increases.

1963
01:23:10,719 --> 01:23:13,040
23 years ago, you could have bought a

1964
01:23:13,040 --> 01:23:16,159
Cape Cod in the Burrow of Elma Park for

1965
01:23:16,159 --> 01:23:20,080
somewhere between 200 and $250,000.

1966
01:23:20,080 --> 01:23:22,000
There's no such home in Elwood Park

1967
01:23:22,000 --> 01:23:24,880
today. No Cape Cod. You cannot purchase

1968
01:23:24,880 --> 01:23:28,320
any Cape Cod anymore for $250,000.

1969
01:23:28,320 --> 01:23:31,199
Entrylevel Capes are selling well above

1970
01:23:31,199 --> 01:23:34,239
$350 to $400,000 with the average Cape

1971
01:23:34,239 --> 01:23:36,880
selling almost $450,000.

1972
01:23:36,880 --> 01:23:39,280
Our two family homes

1973
01:23:39,280 --> 01:23:42,320
are very, very expensive. So when you

1974
01:23:42,320 --> 01:23:44,480
look at your new assessment card or your

1975
01:23:44,480 --> 01:23:46,480
new assessment,

1976
01:23:46,480 --> 01:23:48,719
you have to be mindful that per the

1977
01:23:48,719 --> 01:23:51,679
letter of the law, the revaluation firm

1978
01:23:51,679 --> 01:23:54,560
is obligated to assess homes at market

1979
01:23:54,560 --> 01:23:56,880
value. A lot of people say, "Well, Mr.

1980
01:23:56,880 --> 01:23:59,199
Espazito, I don't understand. I'm at

1981
01:23:59,199 --> 01:24:02,080
100% of market value." That is the way

1982
01:24:02,080 --> 01:24:03,840
the division of taxation and our

1983
01:24:03,840 --> 01:24:06,239
constitution requires revaluation firms

1984
01:24:06,239 --> 01:24:09,600
to do their job. And when I supervised

1985
01:24:09,600 --> 01:24:11,360
that, I looked at the sales that were

1986
01:24:11,360 --> 01:24:13,440
utilized in each of the neighborhoods.

1987
01:24:13,440 --> 01:24:15,280
And when you compare the average

1988
01:24:15,280 --> 01:24:16,880
assessment in those neighborhoods to the

1989
01:24:16,880 --> 01:24:19,120
sales utilized in those neighborhoods,

1990
01:24:19,120 --> 01:24:21,760
the data is supported. All that data was

1991
01:24:21,760 --> 01:24:23,920
published on the revaluation firm's

1992
01:24:23,920 --> 01:24:26,560
website for our residents to view during

1993
01:24:26,560 --> 01:24:29,760
the reevaluation process and it was

1994
01:24:29,760 --> 01:24:32,080
publicly uh you know out there for

1995
01:24:32,080 --> 01:24:34,000
everyone to look at. Hopefully many of

1996
01:24:34,000 --> 01:24:36,560
our residents viewed that information

1997
01:24:36,560 --> 01:24:38,239
and they had meetings with the

1998
01:24:38,239 --> 01:24:41,920
reevaluation firm. So thereafter there

1999
01:24:41,920 --> 01:24:45,199
is the appeal process. So homeowners if

2000
01:24:45,199 --> 01:24:46,719
they didn't appeal this year and they

2001
01:24:46,719 --> 01:24:48,880
believe that there was an inaccuracy to

2002
01:24:48,880 --> 01:24:50,480
their assessment, they have an

2003
01:24:50,480 --> 01:24:54,080
opportunity to appeal next year. Um

2004
01:24:54,080 --> 01:24:55,920
that would be that and they can also

2005
01:24:55,920 --> 01:24:58,239
contact my office and report any

2006
01:24:58,239 --> 01:25:00,320
discrepancies in their assessment card

2007
01:25:00,320 --> 01:25:02,719
and then we will take a look at that.

2008
01:25:02,719 --> 01:25:05,840
Thank you, Kevin. We appreciate that. U

2009
01:25:05,840 --> 01:25:07,679
before I call for a motion to open to

2010
01:25:07,679 --> 01:25:09,840
the public, I just like the public to

2011
01:25:09,840 --> 01:25:12,639
know that uh because of the many people

2012
01:25:12,639 --> 01:25:14,000
that are here tonight, I don't know how

2013
01:25:14,000 --> 01:25:16,080
many are going to speak on this uh

2014
01:25:16,080 --> 01:25:18,320
tonight. I'm going to limit it to three

2015
01:25:18,320 --> 01:25:20,639
minutes and our attorney will will keep

2016
01:25:20,639 --> 01:25:22,960
a clock so that we keep some order in

2017
01:25:22,960 --> 01:25:25,360
this uh situation. If you have two

2018
01:25:25,360 --> 01:25:28,639
topics, you got six minutes, but one

2019
01:25:28,639 --> 01:25:31,120
three minutes to one each topic. Uh, may

2020
01:25:31,120 --> 01:25:32,800
I have a motion to open the floor to the

2021
01:25:32,800 --> 01:25:33,280
public?

2022
01:25:33,280 --> 01:25:33,840
>> Some move.

2023
01:25:33,840 --> 01:25:35,040
>> Second.

2024
01:25:35,040 --> 01:25:37,199
>> All in favor?

2025
01:25:37,199 --> 01:25:39,520
>> Anyone from the public here to speak on

2026
01:25:39,520 --> 01:25:41,840
any subject whatsoever?

2027
01:25:41,840 --> 01:25:44,960
Please come forth. Give us your name and

2028
01:25:44,960 --> 01:25:46,480
address.

2029
01:25:46,480 --> 01:25:51,030
And the clock is ticking.

2030
01:25:51,040 --> 01:25:55,120
» Uh, name Brian Knoblock. Address 181

2031
01:25:55,120 --> 01:25:55,840
Lincoln Avenue. Is

2032
01:25:55,840 --> 01:25:56,880
>> the mic on?

2033
01:25:56,880 --> 01:25:58,800
>> Mhm.

2034
01:25:58,800 --> 01:26:02,320
>> Can y'all hear me? Okay. Uh, good

2035
01:26:02,320 --> 01:26:03,920
evening, mayor and members of the

2036
01:26:03,920 --> 01:26:07,679
council. As you know who I am already,

2037
01:26:07,679 --> 01:26:09,760
I'm an Elwood Park resident, taxpayer,

2038
01:26:09,760 --> 01:26:31,430
and someone who spent my

2039
01:26:31,440 --> 01:26:32,880
There are people sitting in this room

2040
01:26:32,880 --> 01:26:35,040
who are looking at their tax bills

2041
01:26:35,040 --> 01:26:37,040
wondering how they're going to absorb

2042
01:26:37,040 --> 01:26:40,000
thousands of dollars in additional costs

2043
01:26:40,000 --> 01:26:42,320
into their own household budgets that

2044
01:26:42,320 --> 01:26:44,800
were already stretched thin. We keep

2045
01:26:44,800 --> 01:26:47,920
hearing explanations pontificating and

2046
01:26:47,920 --> 01:26:51,040
bickering from this council.

2047
01:26:51,040 --> 01:26:53,440
We hear about reassessment. We hear

2048
01:26:53,440 --> 01:26:55,679
about rising costs. We hear about who's

2049
01:26:55,679 --> 01:26:58,000
responsible, who isn't. We hear about

2050
01:26:58,000 --> 01:26:59,840
Democrats. We hear about blaming

2051
01:26:59,840 --> 01:27:02,159
Republicans and Republicans blaming

2052
01:27:02,159 --> 01:27:05,679
Democrats. Enough. The taxpayers of El

2053
01:27:05,679 --> 01:27:07,679
Park don't need another explanation of

2054
01:27:07,679 --> 01:27:10,800
the politics. We need you to fix the

2055
01:27:10,800 --> 01:27:14,080
problem. When my taxes go up and I don't

2056
01:27:14,080 --> 01:27:16,400
get to print more money, I have to make

2057
01:27:16,400 --> 01:27:19,600
choices. I have to cut something. I have

2058
01:27:19,600 --> 01:27:22,560
to postpone something. I have to make a

2059
01:27:22,560 --> 01:27:25,280
sacrifice. Why shouldn't we expect

2060
01:27:25,280 --> 01:27:28,400
anything less from our government? What

2061
01:27:28,400 --> 01:27:30,320
exactly are residents receiving in

2062
01:27:30,320 --> 01:27:33,040
return for these increases? More police

2063
01:27:33,040 --> 01:27:36,080
officers, more police vehicles. Yet,

2064
01:27:36,080 --> 01:27:38,639
many residents are asking why we rarely

2065
01:27:38,639 --> 01:27:41,679
see either in our neighborhoods. Have

2066
01:27:41,679 --> 01:27:45,120
you driven on our streets lately? Pretty

2067
01:27:45,120 --> 01:27:46,960
soon, the streets themselves will be

2068
01:27:46,960 --> 01:27:49,040
crumbling and you won't be able to drive

2069
01:27:49,040 --> 01:27:52,960
in cars or police cars on them. more

2070
01:27:52,960 --> 01:27:56,400
giveaways, all which lead to degradation

2071
01:27:56,400 --> 01:27:59,360
of personal responsibility. At some

2072
01:27:59,360 --> 01:28:02,320
point, government has to distinguish

2073
01:28:02,320 --> 01:28:05,600
between what would be nice to have and

2074
01:28:05,600 --> 01:28:09,679
what taxpayers can actually afford. Cut

2075
01:28:09,679 --> 01:28:13,120
the bloat, re-evaluate your spending,

2076
01:28:13,120 --> 01:28:16,400
and stop making promises with other

2077
01:28:16,400 --> 01:28:19,040
people's money that this community

2078
01:28:19,040 --> 01:28:23,440
cannot sustain. And please stop the

2079
01:28:23,440 --> 01:28:27,120
political bickering. Leadership is not

2080
01:28:27,120 --> 01:28:28,960
standing in front of a camera when

2081
01:28:28,960 --> 01:28:31,120
there's a ribbon to cut or a photograph

2082
01:28:31,120 --> 01:28:34,080
to take. Leadership is what happens when

2083
01:28:34,080 --> 01:28:36,800
choices are difficult. When there isn't

2084
01:28:36,800 --> 01:28:39,440
enough money and when saying no might

2085
01:28:39,440 --> 01:28:41,520
make you unpopular.

2086
01:28:41,520 --> 01:28:44,639
That's servant leadership. I know

2087
01:28:44,639 --> 01:28:46,800
something about public service.

2088
01:28:46,800 --> 01:28:49,920
Sometimes it requires sacrifice. I've

2089
01:28:49,920 --> 01:28:51,840
been doing public service for the last

2090
01:28:51,840 --> 01:28:55,520
25 years. Sometimes you inherit problems

2091
01:28:55,520 --> 01:28:58,400
in public service that you didn't

2092
01:28:58,400 --> 01:29:00,400
create. Sometimes

2093
01:29:00,400 --> 01:29:02,000
>> you're at your three minutes, sir. Try

2094
01:29:02,000 --> 01:29:03,520
to wrap it up.

2095
01:29:03,520 --> 01:29:05,360
>> You were elected to solve it. Can you

2096
01:29:05,360 --> 01:29:07,280
take my three minutes?

2097
01:29:07,280 --> 01:29:08,239
>> Doesn't doesn't work that way.

2098
01:29:08,239 --> 01:29:10,560
>> You were elected to solve it. Every

2099
01:29:10,560 --> 01:29:12,719
taxpayer sitting in this room has to

2100
01:29:12,719 --> 01:29:14,320
balance a budget.

2101
01:29:14,320 --> 01:29:16,560
>> We make difficult decisions. Sir,

2102
01:29:16,560 --> 01:29:18,080
there's there's many there's many people

2103
01:29:18,080 --> 01:29:19,840
that want to speak. The time limit is 3

2104
01:29:19,840 --> 01:29:20,719
minutes. You're at your three-minute

2105
01:29:20,719 --> 01:29:23,440
limit. Thank you. It's not transferable.

2106
01:29:23,440 --> 01:29:24,880
>> Yielded to me.

2107
01:29:24,880 --> 01:29:27,199
>> The the burough uh code does not provide

2108
01:29:27,199 --> 01:29:28,639
for time yielding.

2109
01:29:28,639 --> 01:29:30,560
>> Are you close to finishing?

2110
01:29:30,560 --> 01:29:31,199
>> I am.

2111
01:29:31,199 --> 01:29:32,719
>> Okay. Let them finish. Let them finish.

2112
01:29:32,719 --> 01:29:36,709
>> Thank you, ma'am.

2113
01:29:36,719 --> 01:29:38,719
» Every taxpayer sitting in this room has

2114
01:29:38,719 --> 01:29:41,600
to balance a budget every day. We make

2115
01:29:41,600 --> 01:29:44,000
difficult decisions about what we can

2116
01:29:44,000 --> 01:29:46,159
afford. We expect the people we

2117
01:29:46,159 --> 01:29:48,800
entrusted with our tax dollars to

2118
01:29:48,800 --> 01:29:51,840
exercise that exact same discipline.

2119
01:29:51,840 --> 01:29:54,880
Stop pointing fingers. Stop making

2120
01:29:54,880 --> 01:29:57,760
promises that we can't afford.

2121
01:29:57,760 --> 01:29:58,719
Stop [snorts]

2122
01:29:58,719 --> 01:30:00,320
wasting.

2123
01:30:00,320 --> 01:30:03,040
Find the waste. Cut the bloat.

2124
01:30:03,040 --> 01:30:07,120
Prioritize essential services and bring

2125
01:30:07,120 --> 01:30:11,017
our mess under control. And if the

2126
01:30:11,017 --> 01:30:13,199
[clears throat] elected officials and

2127
01:30:13,199 --> 01:30:16,560
appointed officials are unwilling or

2128
01:30:16,560 --> 01:30:18,080
unable

2129
01:30:18,080 --> 01:30:21,440
to make those decisions, then perhaps

2130
01:30:21,440 --> 01:30:24,480
it's time to make room for people who

2131
01:30:24,480 --> 01:30:28,159
will because leadership

2132
01:30:28,159 --> 01:30:32,000
isn't about holding a title. It is about

2133
01:30:32,000 --> 01:30:33,840
accepting responsibility.

2134
01:30:33,840 --> 01:30:34,239
>> Okay.

2135
01:30:34,239 --> 01:30:37,217
>> Thank you very much. Thank you

2136
01:30:37,217 --> 01:30:38,400
[applause]

2137
01:30:38,400 --> 01:30:40,719
for your comments. Uh, who else would

2138
01:30:40,719 --> 01:30:47,030
like to speak? Please come forth.

2139
01:30:47,040 --> 01:30:49,920
» Uh, one of you ladies, you want to

2140
01:30:49,920 --> 01:30:52,400
choose that out? Odds and even. See who

2141
01:30:52,400 --> 01:30:55,760
goes first? No. All right, Glattus,

2142
01:30:55,760 --> 01:30:57,600
you're up.

2143
01:30:57,600 --> 01:30:59,040
A little tough getting out of that

2144
01:30:59,040 --> 01:31:03,830
chair, huh?

2145
01:31:03,840 --> 01:31:05,520
» Take the mic down to yourself. Here you

2146
01:31:05,520 --> 01:31:23,189
go.

2147
01:31:23,199 --> 01:31:24,639
Glattus, try and keep it to three

2148
01:31:24,639 --> 01:31:28,320
minutes, please, if you can. I I might

2149
01:31:28,320 --> 01:31:30,000
stretch it to four, but

2150
01:31:30,000 --> 01:31:33,520
>> Okay. Um, I have a question about my

2151
01:31:33,520 --> 01:31:36,000
taxes. Um,

2152
01:31:36,000 --> 01:31:40,159
I'm the third that went up and I came

2153
01:31:40,159 --> 01:31:43,440
here and I met with a I guess a surveyor

2154
01:31:43,440 --> 01:31:45,600
and he didn't really help me that much.

2155
01:31:45,600 --> 01:31:48,719
um he gave me a number to call and to

2156
01:31:48,719 --> 01:31:50,239
because I didn't let them in the house

2157
01:31:50,239 --> 01:31:53,199
to go through my house. So, you know, I

2158
01:31:53,199 --> 01:31:56,480
was given an an explanation from him

2159
01:31:56,480 --> 01:32:00,320
that my taxes went up oneird because the

2160
01:32:00,320 --> 01:32:03,520
other people were paying too much and

2161
01:32:03,520 --> 01:32:07,440
now so I feel like why am I being um you

2162
01:32:07,440 --> 01:32:11,120
know making an example of like having to

2163
01:32:11,120 --> 01:32:15,350
pay the difference.

2164
01:32:15,360 --> 01:32:18,880
Thank you. And um

2165
01:32:18,880 --> 01:32:20,800
so that's what I want to know. How How

2166
01:32:20,800 --> 01:32:23,600
did I get picked as the third the

2167
01:32:23,600 --> 01:32:25,440
one-third that had to pay the higher

2168
01:32:25,440 --> 01:32:28,400
price?

2169
01:32:28,400 --> 01:32:30,800
Oh, wait. And and I will tell you, I

2170
01:32:30,800 --> 01:32:32,719
decided not to have the assessor come

2171
01:32:32,719 --> 01:32:35,040
in. I'm going I said I'm I the woman who

2172
01:32:35,040 --> 01:32:37,280
called I I left a message that I was

2173
01:32:37,280 --> 01:32:39,199
going to get my own private assessor.

2174
01:32:39,199 --> 01:32:40,800
She called me back and left a message

2175
01:32:40,800 --> 01:32:43,120
and this is exactly what she said. Do

2176
01:32:43,120 --> 01:32:46,080
not do that. She said, "Come down here

2177
01:32:46,080 --> 01:32:48,880
and we will lower the price on our end."

2178
01:32:48,880 --> 01:32:52,080
So that made me believe that they put

2179
01:32:52,080 --> 01:32:54,560
everyone up to the ceiling so that if

2180
01:32:54,560 --> 01:32:56,719
anyone did come in and complain, they

2181
01:32:56,719 --> 01:32:58,159
tried to make you feel a little bit

2182
01:32:58,159 --> 01:33:00,480
better. And I have it. I have it. I took

2183
01:33:00,480 --> 01:33:03,360
a snapshot and I kept it. Please do not

2184
01:33:03,360 --> 01:33:06,560
do that. So I feel like it's shady a

2185
01:33:06,560 --> 01:33:10,390
little bit.

2186
01:33:10,400 --> 01:33:13,280
» Thank you. So, I wasn't a party to that

2187
01:33:13,280 --> 01:33:15,280
conversation or email, so I can't attest

2188
01:33:15,280 --> 01:33:17,440
or answer that specifically. With

2189
01:33:17,440 --> 01:33:19,679
regards to your question about a third

2190
01:33:19,679 --> 01:33:21,760
go up, a third go down, and why are you

2191
01:33:21,760 --> 01:33:24,000
paying? Basically, when revals are

2192
01:33:24,000 --> 01:33:25,760
ordered, they are what are known as

2193
01:33:25,760 --> 01:33:27,840
revenue neutral. Meaning, the Burrow of

2194
01:33:27,840 --> 01:33:30,639
Elman Park doesn't collect a dollar more

2195
01:33:30,639 --> 01:33:32,960
after the reval is completed than they

2196
01:33:32,960 --> 01:33:35,280
did before. The budget is the budget is

2197
01:33:35,280 --> 01:33:37,199
the budget. The net valuation goes up,

2198
01:33:37,199 --> 01:33:40,320
the tax rate goes down. So, it's very

2199
01:33:40,320 --> 01:33:43,679
possible that your home was assessed at

2200
01:33:43,679 --> 01:33:46,639
a lower value all the years and a lot of

2201
01:33:46,639 --> 01:33:48,080
your neighbors who maybe made

2202
01:33:48,080 --> 01:33:50,880
renovations or maybe built a new house

2203
01:33:50,880 --> 01:33:54,080
was set at a very higher standard. Okay?

2204
01:33:54,080 --> 01:33:56,960
So that newer home that might have been

2205
01:33:56,960 --> 01:33:59,600
built 10 years ago or 15 years ago when

2206
01:33:59,600 --> 01:34:01,920
your home was built maybe 50 or 60 years

2207
01:34:01,920 --> 01:34:06,560
ago um that newer home was at a higher

2208
01:34:06,560 --> 01:34:09,840
standard 15 years ago and now it did

2209
01:34:09,840 --> 01:34:12,800
appreciate over that 15-year period but

2210
01:34:12,800 --> 01:34:15,600
it didn't necessarily double in value

2211
01:34:15,600 --> 01:34:17,360
compared to your home. If you look at

2212
01:34:17,360 --> 01:34:18,480
your home, I don't know your home

2213
01:34:18,480 --> 01:34:19,920
individually. I haven't had a

2214
01:34:19,920 --> 01:34:22,560
conversation with you, but let's say you

2215
01:34:22,560 --> 01:34:24,560
have the average Cape Cod that's in town

2216
01:34:24,560 --> 01:34:27,040
that was built in the 40s. Now it's 60

2217
01:34:27,040 --> 01:34:30,000
years old or so or 70 years old. Okay?

2218
01:34:30,000 --> 01:34:32,080
Um

2219
01:34:32,080 --> 01:34:35,199
those homes have gone up considerably

2220
01:34:35,199 --> 01:34:37,520
since our last reevaluation as I stated

2221
01:34:37,520 --> 01:34:41,199
previously. Okay? So, because your home

2222
01:34:41,199 --> 01:34:44,719
may have doubled in value and some of

2223
01:34:44,719 --> 01:34:48,080
the other homes only went up by 30%,

2224
01:34:48,080 --> 01:34:49,920
40%, because they were built 10 years

2225
01:34:49,920 --> 01:34:52,159
ago, or maybe they were assessed 10 or

2226
01:34:52,159 --> 01:34:53,840
15 years ago because if a homeowner

2227
01:34:53,840 --> 01:34:55,840
pulled a permit and did an addition on

2228
01:34:55,840 --> 01:34:58,480
their property, we do added assessment

2229
01:34:58,480 --> 01:35:00,080
work every single year. We pick up at

2230
01:35:00,080 --> 01:35:02,239
least 100 or so properties typically on

2231
01:35:02,239 --> 01:35:04,639
any given calendar year. CO was the

2232
01:35:04,639 --> 01:35:06,320
exception because obviously we weren't

2233
01:35:06,320 --> 01:35:08,480
going out into the field. We couldn't we

2234
01:35:08,480 --> 01:35:09,840
couldn't have people go out into the

2235
01:35:09,840 --> 01:35:11,679
field during COVID, but we did what we

2236
01:35:11,679 --> 01:35:14,400
could to get them on the books. Um they

2237
01:35:14,400 --> 01:35:17,040
were picked up the next year. Sometimes

2238
01:35:17,040 --> 01:35:19,120
if people do work without a permit, we

2239
01:35:19,120 --> 01:35:20,960
don't know about that. It's very

2240
01:35:20,960 --> 01:35:22,800
difficult, you know, we don't find out

2241
01:35:22,800 --> 01:35:24,480
about that and we find out about during

2242
01:35:24,480 --> 01:35:27,040
reval. So in your case, to answer the

2243
01:35:27,040 --> 01:35:29,120
question about your potential increase,

2244
01:35:29,120 --> 01:35:30,880
your home may have gone up much more

2245
01:35:30,880 --> 01:35:33,199
than the average residential assessment.

2246
01:35:33,199 --> 01:35:36,320
As far as the comment on come and talk

2247
01:35:36,320 --> 01:35:38,719
to us, I can't really give an answer. I

2248
01:35:38,719 --> 01:35:40,719
wasn't a party to that conversation. I

2249
01:35:40,719 --> 01:35:43,040
can only tell you that I did not observe

2250
01:35:43,040 --> 01:35:44,880
any reductions that weren't warranted.

2251
01:35:44,880 --> 01:35:46,639
Many of the residents who did make an

2252
01:35:46,639 --> 01:35:49,440
appointment, they either allowed an

2253
01:35:49,440 --> 01:35:51,520
inspector into their property or the

2254
01:35:51,520 --> 01:35:54,239
Reval firm also offered video

2255
01:35:54,239 --> 01:35:56,960
inspections, okay? where they would have

2256
01:35:56,960 --> 01:35:58,880
a homeowner walk through their home on

2257
01:35:58,880 --> 01:36:01,120
their handheld phone or their laptop PC

2258
01:36:01,120 --> 01:36:02,560
and they they took notes of that

2259
01:36:02,560 --> 01:36:04,080
inspection. So,

2260
01:36:04,080 --> 01:36:07,760
>> well, my um my appraisal did go down

2261
01:36:07,760 --> 01:36:09,600
$40,000,

2262
01:36:09,600 --> 01:36:13,199
but I'm still paying $1,700 more in my

2263
01:36:13,199 --> 01:36:16,000
taxes, but my thing is 23 years is too

2264
01:36:16,000 --> 01:36:18,480
long because you're hitting these senior

2265
01:36:18,480 --> 01:36:20,960
citizens that cannot pay it and they

2266
01:36:20,960 --> 01:36:23,280
have to pay that senior fees upfront.

2267
01:36:23,280 --> 01:36:25,360
That's going to be hard for them, you

2268
01:36:25,360 --> 01:36:27,520
know. Um, I thought it was every 10

2269
01:36:27,520 --> 01:36:29,360
years by law it had to be done.

2270
01:36:29,360 --> 01:36:31,760
>> Well, I'll be honest with you. There is

2271
01:36:31,760 --> 01:36:34,000
no law that determines. It's the is

2272
01:36:34,000 --> 01:36:35,840
there are number of steps that require

2273
01:36:35,840 --> 01:36:37,840
revaluation and there's number of tests

2274
01:36:37,840 --> 01:36:40,239
that are required when a municipality's

2275
01:36:40,239 --> 01:36:43,199
ratio falls below 85%. That is one of

2276
01:36:43,199 --> 01:36:45,119
the indicators. It's also based on the

2277
01:36:45,119 --> 01:36:47,679
volume of appeals, the coefficient of

2278
01:36:47,679 --> 01:36:50,560
deviation. So there are basically 13

2279
01:36:50,560 --> 01:36:52,800
steps that have to be met before a

2280
01:36:52,800 --> 01:36:54,480
county or the state would order a

2281
01:36:54,480 --> 01:36:56,000
revaluation.

2282
01:36:56,000 --> 01:36:58,320
So that's why our ratio was holding very

2283
01:36:58,320 --> 01:37:02,159
strong precoid and then co came and

2284
01:37:02,159 --> 01:37:04,159
things started going up. Prices started

2285
01:37:04,159 --> 01:37:06,239
gradually increasing and then a few

2286
01:37:06,239 --> 01:37:08,080
years after co we've had doubledigit

2287
01:37:08,080 --> 01:37:10,320
increases in real estate values and as I

2288
01:37:10,320 --> 01:37:11,840
said previously you can no longer get a

2289
01:37:11,840 --> 01:37:14,480
Cape Cod in Elwood Park anymore for

2290
01:37:14,480 --> 01:37:18,080
$250,000 is is out the window. Um, I can

2291
01:37:18,080 --> 01:37:20,560
assure you that we will never see

2292
01:37:20,560 --> 01:37:23,440
another revaluation order that drags on

2293
01:37:23,440 --> 01:37:25,520
for 23 years. You will probably see them

2294
01:37:25,520 --> 01:37:27,760
more frequently every decade or so. Now,

2295
01:37:27,760 --> 01:37:29,920
most of Bergen County, a lot of

2296
01:37:29,920 --> 01:37:31,520
municipalities do what are known as

2297
01:37:31,520 --> 01:37:33,520
annual reassessments.

2298
01:37:33,520 --> 01:37:36,239
Um, and that's also

2299
01:37:36,239 --> 01:37:38,480
something we could explore if there is a

2300
01:37:38,480 --> 01:37:40,560
correction in the market. Specifically,

2301
01:37:40,560 --> 01:37:43,199
if I see valuation trending downward

2302
01:37:43,199 --> 01:37:45,440
because of potentially uh an economic

2303
01:37:45,440 --> 01:37:48,000
crash of the real estate market, I would

2304
01:37:48,000 --> 01:37:49,600
encourage the mayor and council to

2305
01:37:49,600 --> 01:37:52,159
consider a reassessment down the road in

2306
01:37:52,159 --> 01:37:54,560
the future. Um, but the annual

2307
01:37:54,560 --> 01:37:56,719
reassessment program that a lot of

2308
01:37:56,719 --> 01:37:58,960
municipalities enter into shifts that

2309
01:37:58,960 --> 01:38:00,719
number and that burden on an annual

2310
01:38:00,719 --> 01:38:02,800
basis. So, a lot of homeowners aren't

2311
01:38:02,800 --> 01:38:04,719
necessarily in favor of that either

2312
01:38:04,719 --> 01:38:06,480
because you see that mix taking place

2313
01:38:06,480 --> 01:38:08,239
every single year. So,

2314
01:38:08,239 --> 01:38:10,480
>> right. Thank you. And just for the mayor

2315
01:38:10,480 --> 01:38:14,560
and council, um I just read for 2027

2316
01:38:14,560 --> 01:38:17,280
health care for the teachers is going up

2317
01:38:17,280 --> 01:38:19,040
34%.

2318
01:38:19,040 --> 01:38:22,560
13% for the local government. How do we

2319
01:38:22,560 --> 01:38:26,400
ever get out of an 18% increase?

2320
01:38:26,400 --> 01:38:28,880
>> Yeah. Well, here's here's the thing.

2321
01:38:28,880 --> 01:38:31,520
Where do we point the figure? To me, I

2322
01:38:31,520 --> 01:38:34,480
like to know what my state legislators

2323
01:38:34,480 --> 01:38:36,719
and assembly people are doing because I

2324
01:38:36,719 --> 01:38:38,800
know if I had that position, I'd be in

2325
01:38:38,800 --> 01:38:41,840
Trenton that for my term, two-year term

2326
01:38:41,840 --> 01:38:44,000
or four-year term as a senator, I would

2327
01:38:44,000 --> 01:38:47,199
just focus on that one point and drive

2328
01:38:47,199 --> 01:38:54,320
it home until it it was fixed. That's where I think we have to push

2329
01:38:54,320 --> 01:38:56,480
because we're talking the health system,

2330
01:38:56,480 --> 01:38:59,280
which is a state program, state-run

2331
01:38:59,280 --> 01:39:01,679
program.

2332
01:39:01,679 --> 01:39:03,440
and uh they can't do anything about

2333
01:39:03,440 --> 01:39:05,360
>> 30%. I would just get my own private

2334
01:39:05,360 --> 01:39:07,600
insurance at that point.

2335
01:39:07,600 --> 01:39:09,600
>> But you know, my husband works for the

2336
01:39:09,600 --> 01:39:11,679
hospital. There's thousands and

2337
01:39:11,679 --> 01:39:13,600
thousands of employees. We have the

2338
01:39:13,600 --> 01:39:16,159
crappiest insurance, too. We had good

2339
01:39:16,159 --> 01:39:17,840
insurance, then it went to the middle,

2340
01:39:17,840 --> 01:39:20,159
and then it went to the bottom. So, I

2341
01:39:20,159 --> 01:39:21,360
mean, I don't know what the answer is,

2342
01:39:21,360 --> 01:39:24,159
but I can't see this budget coming down

2343
01:39:24,159 --> 01:39:24,880
ever.

2344
01:39:24,880 --> 01:39:25,199
>> Okay.

2345
01:39:25,199 --> 01:39:25,840
>> With um

2346
01:39:25,840 --> 01:39:28,159
>> it's it's beyond our control. It really

2347
01:39:28,159 --> 01:39:32,159
is. I mean a protest to the you know to

2348
01:39:32,159 --> 01:39:34,480
Trenton. I mean something's got to give

2349
01:39:34,480 --> 01:39:37,040
because you know this is this was always

2350
01:39:37,040 --> 01:39:39,360
considered a bluecollar town

2351
01:39:39,360 --> 01:39:41,679
>> and we have hard workers and we don't

2352
01:39:41,679 --> 01:39:43,920
they don't make hundreds of thousands of

2353
01:39:43,920 --> 01:39:45,679
dollars you know which you really need

2354
01:39:45,679 --> 01:39:48,000
that to live here today.

2355
01:39:48,000 --> 01:39:49,040
>> Thank you for your time.

2356
01:39:49,040 --> 01:39:54,320
>> Yeah Glattus there's no panacea that will just rectify the situation. I

2357
01:39:54,320 --> 01:39:56,400
wish I wish I had the answer for you.

2358
01:39:56,400 --> 01:39:58,159
time that well. You're exactly three

2359
01:39:58,159 --> 01:39:59,360
minutes.

2360
01:39:59,360 --> 01:40:01,199
>> Moving along. Anybody else care to

2361
01:40:01,199 --> 01:40:04,390
speak?

2362
01:40:04,400 --> 01:40:08,880
» We please have your name and uh your

2363
01:40:08,880 --> 01:40:14,229
address.

2364
01:40:14,239 --> 01:40:17,360
» Lenora Matrao 92 Echo Place, Elwood

2365
01:40:17,360 --> 01:40:20,239
Park. First, and this isn't part of the

2366
01:40:20,239 --> 01:40:22,480
three minutes. I'd like to congratulate

2367
01:40:22,480 --> 01:40:26,159
all the hard-earned

2368
01:40:26,159 --> 01:40:28,560
young people that were part of any

2369
01:40:28,560 --> 01:40:31,840
program that participated in Elwood Park

2370
01:40:31,840 --> 01:40:34,800
with any department this year.

2371
01:40:34,800 --> 01:40:35,440
I'd like to

2372
01:40:35,440 --> 01:40:38,400
>> touche I'd like to thank the chief and

2373
01:40:38,400 --> 01:40:40,320
his department for everything that they

2374
01:40:40,320 --> 01:40:42,639
did.

2375
01:40:42,639 --> 01:40:44,639
And I'd like to apologize that my

2376
01:40:44,639 --> 01:40:46,480
computer didn't save any of the changes

2377
01:40:46,480 --> 01:40:49,119
that I made to this. So, I'm going to

2378
01:40:49,119 --> 01:40:55,189
try my best to um figure it out.

2379
01:40:55,199 --> 01:40:56,880
Everybody's talking about the tax

2380
01:40:56,880 --> 01:41:00,400
assessment. Okay, back when we had the

2381
01:41:00,400 --> 01:41:03,760
assessment, Mr. Espazito basically

2382
01:41:03,760 --> 01:41:06,560
forced himself that he had to come into

2383
01:41:06,560 --> 01:41:10,159
my house, which finally I had to agree

2384
01:41:10,159 --> 01:41:12,159
and I had to let him in my house to do

2385
01:41:12,159 --> 01:41:16,000
the assessment. Okay, fine. Now, the

2386
01:41:16,000 --> 01:41:18,400
Elmwood Park specifically says that in

2387
01:41:18,400 --> 01:41:21,040
2006, reevaluation was intended to

2388
01:41:21,040 --> 01:41:23,520
create a uniformed and equitable

2389
01:41:23,520 --> 01:41:27,360
assessment base and the re-evaluation is

2390
01:41:27,360 --> 01:41:30,400
revenue neutral. Neutral, I don't think

2391
01:41:30,400 --> 01:41:33,440
so. Now, I looked up some lots and

2392
01:41:33,440 --> 01:41:36,320
blocks. Don't take this personal. I just

2393
01:41:36,320 --> 01:41:38,719
grabbed a bunch of different addresses

2394
01:41:38,719 --> 01:41:42,800
that were given to me. Block uh 1803,

2395
01:41:42,800 --> 01:41:45,679
lot six. the land assessment. I'm not

2396
01:41:45,679 --> 01:41:47,040
talking about the building, Mr.

2397
01:41:47,040 --> 01:41:49,679
President. I'm talking about the land.

2398
01:41:49,679 --> 01:41:52,000
50 by 100. And I brought this up at the

2399
01:41:52,000 --> 01:41:55,280
work meeting. 50 by 100 is 50 by 100.

2400
01:41:55,280 --> 01:41:57,360
Dirt is dirt no matter how you look at

2401
01:41:57,360 --> 01:42:02,320
it. I'm being charged on my property $62

2402
01:42:02,320 --> 01:42:04,880
per square foot.

2403
01:42:04,880 --> 01:42:08,400
Felmouth Avenue 50 by 100.

2404
01:42:08,400 --> 01:42:11,520
They're being charged 4242 for a 50 by

2405
01:42:11,520 --> 01:42:13,280
100 lot.

2406
01:42:13,280 --> 01:42:16,400
Here's a 75 by 100 lot being charged

2407
01:42:16,400 --> 01:42:18,880
4466.

2408
01:42:18,880 --> 01:42:21,520
They're being charged less money than

2409
01:42:21,520 --> 01:42:24,320
I'm being charged on my lot. Dirt is

2410
01:42:24,320 --> 01:42:26,320
dirt no matter how you look at it.

2411
01:42:26,320 --> 01:42:28,080
Square footage is square footage no

2412
01:42:28,080 --> 01:42:31,360
matter how you look at it. My land is

2413
01:42:31,360 --> 01:42:34,800
being approximately 46% more square

2414
01:42:34,800 --> 01:42:36,960
footage than Falmouth Avenue or the

2415
01:42:36,960 --> 01:42:40,560
other places. Why is the land component

2416
01:42:40,560 --> 01:42:44,480
of my property $62 a square foot while

2417
01:42:44,480 --> 01:42:48,320
the others are less? Also

2418
01:42:48,320 --> 01:42:51,440
on the other properties there's

2419
01:42:51,440 --> 01:42:54,639
is in my corner mine is a corner lot.

2420
01:42:54,639 --> 01:42:56,480
One of the other ones is a corner lot.

2421
01:42:56,480 --> 01:42:58,320
So there's no justification for the

2422
01:42:58,320 --> 01:42:59,760
difference in the property being a

2423
01:42:59,760 --> 01:43:02,000
corner lot. The other one the larger

2424
01:43:02,000 --> 01:43:07,590
property is an internal lot.

2425
01:43:07,600 --> 01:43:08,719
answer those questions.

2426
01:43:08,719 --> 01:43:10,159
>> No, I'm going through this whole thing

2427
01:43:10,159 --> 01:43:12,239
before my three minutes is up because I

2428
01:43:12,239 --> 01:43:14,400
can't figure it out.

2429
01:43:14,400 --> 01:43:17,920
Appraisal systems. I couldn't have the I

2430
01:43:17,920 --> 01:43:20,239
couldn't find the time. I worked for an

2431
01:43:20,239 --> 01:43:23,600
attorney. There was no time. No, no way.

2432
01:43:23,600 --> 01:43:25,840
No time. I just kept getting stickies on

2433
01:43:25,840 --> 01:43:28,080
the door. They didn't even have those

2434
01:43:28,080 --> 01:43:30,320
little stickies in there properly

2435
01:43:30,320 --> 01:43:33,760
labeled. It had bathroom. It had living

2436
01:43:33,760 --> 01:43:36,639
room. Didn't even list bedrooms on it.

2437
01:43:36,639 --> 01:43:39,199
nothing to check off. Now, somebody that

2438
01:43:39,199 --> 01:43:41,040
I know who I don't know who their

2439
01:43:41,040 --> 01:43:42,719
appraisal system was, but they had

2440
01:43:42,719 --> 01:43:45,280
somebody come in their house. They told

2441
01:43:45,280 --> 01:43:47,840
them that if you didn't let them in the

2442
01:43:47,840 --> 01:43:50,480
house, they were going to charge you as

2443
01:43:50,480 --> 01:43:55,199
assess you the highest amount they could

2444
01:43:55,199 --> 01:44:00,560
as if you re remodeled the entire house.

2445
01:44:00,560 --> 01:44:02,239
Okay, that's what was told.

2446
01:44:02,239 --> 01:44:04,320
>> You're at the the three minute mark.

2447
01:44:04,320 --> 01:44:09,119
Could you please sum up

2448
01:44:09,119 --> 01:44:09,679
and

2449
01:44:09,679 --> 01:44:11,600
>> the land is not being

2450
01:44:11,600 --> 01:44:12,800
>> the land question? I think that's

2451
01:44:12,800 --> 01:44:15,360
>> the land press question is not being

2452
01:44:15,360 --> 01:44:18,159
charged properly to any of I have given

2453
01:44:18,159 --> 01:44:20,719
the entire council some of the doc some

2454
01:44:20,719 --> 01:44:23,199
of the people that I've I've done in

2455
01:44:23,199 --> 01:44:25,600
fact one of my neighbors is being

2456
01:44:25,600 --> 01:44:28,480
charged his assessment went up in fact

2457
01:44:28,480 --> 01:44:32,719
one of the properties went up $447,000

2458
01:44:32,719 --> 01:44:35,840
their taxes only went up $156.

2459
01:44:35,840 --> 01:44:39,920
How could that be? How could that be?

2460
01:44:39,920 --> 01:44:42,880
While some people had their assessment

2461
01:44:42,880 --> 01:44:45,360
go up $300,000

2462
01:44:45,360 --> 01:44:48,080
and their taxes went down on a single

2463
01:44:48,080 --> 01:44:50,080
family house.

2464
01:44:50,080 --> 01:44:53,119
>> I mean, come on. What happened here is

2465
01:44:53,119 --> 01:44:55,520
not right. It's not neutral. It's not

2466
01:44:55,520 --> 01:44:57,440
fair.

2467
01:44:57,440 --> 01:44:58,080
>> Fix it.

2468
01:44:58,080 --> 01:44:59,760
>> Miss Espazito, would you like to answer

2469
01:44:59,760 --> 01:45:01,280
some of those questions for that lady?

2470
01:45:01,280 --> 01:45:02,719
>> I'd be happy to.

2471
01:45:02,719 --> 01:45:04,800
>> Madrick Kim off. I believe that many

2472
01:45:04,800 --> 01:45:07,520
years ago you are correct. You did file

2473
01:45:07,520 --> 01:45:11,760
multiple appeals and I was required to

2474
01:45:11,760 --> 01:45:14,080
inspect your property. I never forced

2475
01:45:14,080 --> 01:45:16,480
myself or upon you to inspect your

2476
01:45:16,480 --> 01:45:19,119
property. In Bergen County, if a

2477
01:45:19,119 --> 01:45:21,280
resident or property owner files a tax

2478
01:45:21,280 --> 01:45:24,159
appeal, assessors are required to

2479
01:45:24,159 --> 01:45:25,920
inspect the property to confirm the

2480
01:45:25,920 --> 01:45:28,400
accuracy of the property record card

2481
01:45:28,400 --> 01:45:30,960
before any decision is made by the

2482
01:45:30,960 --> 01:45:34,239
burrow assessor to grant the reduction

2483
01:45:34,239 --> 01:45:36,400
or by the the comm the county

2484
01:45:36,400 --> 01:45:38,400
commissioners to grant the reduction.

2485
01:45:38,400 --> 01:45:41,600
So, I never was forceful in any way. It

2486
01:45:41,600 --> 01:45:44,159
is a requirement. That requirement still

2487
01:45:44,159 --> 01:45:45,760
exists. You can confirm that with the

2488
01:45:45,760 --> 01:45:47,679
Bergen County Board of Taxation if you

2489
01:45:47,679 --> 01:45:50,719
choose to do so. With respect to land

2490
01:45:50,719 --> 01:45:53,920
assessments, property owners do not have

2491
01:45:53,920 --> 01:45:56,400
the ability or authority to appeal just

2492
01:45:56,400 --> 01:45:59,520
a portion of their assessment. They can

2493
01:45:59,520 --> 01:46:01,679
appeal their entire assessment because

2494
01:46:01,679 --> 01:46:03,679
that's the way the computer automated

2495
01:46:03,679 --> 01:46:06,960
mass appraisal system works. Revaluation

2496
01:46:06,960 --> 01:46:10,639
firms value land in communities based

2497
01:46:10,639 --> 01:46:13,119
upon the zoning approval and then they

2498
01:46:13,119 --> 01:46:14,960
use what's known as the front foot

2499
01:46:14,960 --> 01:46:17,520
method and the depth factor method.

2500
01:46:17,520 --> 01:46:21,119
Okay. So that is how they come up with

2501
01:46:21,119 --> 01:46:24,159
the base for valuation for each site in

2502
01:46:24,159 --> 01:46:27,360
the community and then each property has

2503
01:46:27,360 --> 01:46:30,320
a site value attributed if there is a

2504
01:46:30,320 --> 01:46:32,800
prop a home erected on that site because

2505
01:46:32,800 --> 01:46:34,880
if it's just a vacant lot and there are

2506
01:46:34,880 --> 01:46:37,360
no improvements there. It doesn't become

2507
01:46:37,360 --> 01:46:39,920
a site until utility is granted.

2508
01:46:39,920 --> 01:46:42,719
cleaning there is there is a water

2509
01:46:42,719 --> 01:46:45,280
connection there is a sore connection

2510
01:46:45,280 --> 01:46:47,199
then that vacant lot becomes a

2511
01:46:47,199 --> 01:46:48,800
construction site and then when the

2512
01:46:48,800 --> 01:46:51,040
improvements are made then it is a

2513
01:46:51,040 --> 01:46:53,600
dwelling and the total assessment is

2514
01:46:53,600 --> 01:46:56,239
placed on a property with respect to

2515
01:46:56,239 --> 01:46:58,800
your question about how could a property

2516
01:46:58,800 --> 01:47:01,840
go up by $300,000 and only have an

2517
01:47:01,840 --> 01:47:04,320
increase of hundred or two dollars

2518
01:47:04,320 --> 01:47:06,800
>> $440,000

2519
01:47:06,800 --> 01:47:09,840
>> okay well if you look at the last

2520
01:47:09,840 --> 01:47:10,639
assessment

2521
01:47:10,639 --> 01:47:13,360
>> unless

2522
01:47:13,360 --> 01:47:16,560
>> I doubt it. It's possible if you got the

2523
01:47:16,560 --> 01:47:18,480
records off of the county website or you

2524
01:47:18,480 --> 01:47:23,040
got them off of our website, they're probably accurate. Okay, I can

2525
01:47:23,040 --> 01:47:25,520
confirm that with you. But the reality

2526
01:47:25,520 --> 01:47:28,080
is is it depends on how far away their

2527
01:47:28,080 --> 01:47:29,920
prior assessment was from the average

2528
01:47:29,920 --> 01:47:32,880
assessment. If the average assessment

2529
01:47:32,880 --> 01:47:34,960
prior to the revaluation was in the

2530
01:47:34,960 --> 01:47:36,480
$230,000

2531
01:47:36,480 --> 01:47:40,480
range and their assessment was double or

2532
01:47:40,480 --> 01:47:42,880
triple that

2533
01:47:42,880 --> 01:47:46,320
and now their assessment is maybe only

2534
01:47:46,320 --> 01:47:49,760
20% higher than the average assessment.

2535
01:47:49,760 --> 01:47:53,600
The delta would dictate the increase. So

2536
01:47:53,600 --> 01:47:57,760
they did go up by a a number, but they

2537
01:47:57,760 --> 01:47:59,840
didn't go up as much as everyone else

2538
01:47:59,840 --> 01:48:01,440
because they were at a much higher

2539
01:48:01,440 --> 01:48:03,840
standard than everyone else pre-reval.

2540
01:48:03,840 --> 01:48:05,920
So when you say how could some people go

2541
01:48:05,920 --> 01:48:07,920
down, that is the reason they were

2542
01:48:07,920 --> 01:48:10,320
paying more than their fair share based

2543
01:48:10,320 --> 01:48:12,320
upon the fact that they may have had a

2544
01:48:12,320 --> 01:48:15,840
newer home, a more or more renovated

2545
01:48:15,840 --> 01:48:18,159
home than the average home from within

2546
01:48:18,159 --> 01:48:21,360
the community. about the assessment.

2547
01:48:21,360 --> 01:48:25,520
>> Well, as I stated, you cannot pick and

2548
01:48:25,520 --> 01:48:28,000
choose how you want to do.

2549
01:48:28,000 --> 01:48:30,719
>> Well,

2550
01:48:30,719 --> 01:48:32,960
I understand your point and I respect

2551
01:48:32,960 --> 01:48:36,239
your opinion, but I'm not a lawmaker.

2552
01:48:36,239 --> 01:48:38,000
Those laws are made in Trenton and set

2553
01:48:38,000 --> 01:48:40,159
by the Constitution.

2554
01:48:40,159 --> 01:48:42,719
>> Well, like any law that you challenge,

2555
01:48:42,719 --> 01:48:44,000
you'd have to talk to your elected

2556
01:48:44,000 --> 01:48:45,600
officials at a higher level than in

2557
01:48:45,600 --> 01:48:46,880
Elwood Park.

2558
01:48:46,880 --> 01:48:49,280
>> Okay. So,

2559
01:48:49,280 --> 01:48:51,199
>> okay. Thank you. Thank you for answering

2560
01:48:51,199 --> 01:48:53,360
those questions. Uh, let us move along,

2561
01:48:53,360 --> 01:48:54,639
please. Yes, ma'am.

2562
01:48:54,639 --> 01:48:57,040
>> Um, Martha Hayes, do you hear me? I

2563
01:48:57,040 --> 01:48:57,520
don't know if

2564
01:48:57,520 --> 01:48:58,480
>> Yeah, we can hear you.

2565
01:48:58,480 --> 01:49:01,600
>> Uh, 259 Fencaca Park. I have a question

2566
01:49:01,600 --> 01:49:04,239
because this is a a substantial um

2567
01:49:04,239 --> 01:49:06,560
increase for me and I am, you know, just

2568
01:49:06,560 --> 01:49:09,520
me paying this. So, I was wondering, did

2569
01:49:09,520 --> 01:49:11,360
it have to be applied all at once or

2570
01:49:11,360 --> 01:49:13,679
could it been incrementally applied over

2571
01:49:13,679 --> 01:49:16,950
years?

2572
01:49:16,960 --> 01:49:18,159
I'll let you go through any other

2573
01:49:18,159 --> 01:49:18,480
questions.

2574
01:49:18,480 --> 01:49:20,080
>> Oh, no. That's that's really the only

2575
01:49:20,080 --> 01:49:21,760
question that I had. Thank you.

2576
01:49:21,760 --> 01:49:25,040
>> Certainly, unfortunately,

2577
01:49:25,040 --> 01:49:27,600
we have to comply with the guidelines

2578
01:49:27,600 --> 01:49:30,960
set by the Division of Taxation. And

2579
01:49:30,960 --> 01:49:34,000
when revaluations or reassessment occur,

2580
01:49:34,000 --> 01:49:36,560
there is no phase in period over two or

2581
01:49:36,560 --> 01:49:38,719
three years. I wish there were because

2582
01:49:38,719 --> 01:49:40,239
then it would make it that much more

2583
01:49:40,239 --> 01:49:43,360
palatable, especially when so many years

2584
01:49:43,360 --> 01:49:46,560
pass. I feel your pain. I understand it.

2585
01:49:46,560 --> 01:49:48,880
I am also a victim of revaluation in my

2586
01:49:48,880 --> 01:49:51,840
community as everyone in the state is.

2587
01:49:51,840 --> 01:49:55,840
Okay? And again, unfortunately, and it's

2588
01:49:55,840 --> 01:49:59,360
by no fault of mine or anyone up here or

2589
01:49:59,360 --> 01:50:01,600
any of our residents that 23 years have

2590
01:50:01,600 --> 01:50:04,560
passed since our last reevaluation. We

2591
01:50:04,560 --> 01:50:06,719
are a victim of circumstances. Our ratio

2592
01:50:06,719 --> 01:50:09,280
declined at a point a few years ago

2593
01:50:09,280 --> 01:50:11,760
where the reevaluation was ordered. We

2594
01:50:11,760 --> 01:50:14,560
never denied and we never stalled the

2595
01:50:14,560 --> 01:50:16,880
reevaluation process. As soon as we got

2596
01:50:16,880 --> 01:50:19,440
the order, the administrator, the CFO

2597
01:50:19,440 --> 01:50:20,960
and I brought it to the mayor and

2598
01:50:20,960 --> 01:50:23,119
council and they immediately embraced it

2599
01:50:23,119 --> 01:50:24,960
and said, "Okay, we want to get ahead of

2600
01:50:24,960 --> 01:50:27,360
this project." We went ahead, we put an

2601
01:50:27,360 --> 01:50:30,320
RFP out. We got the process rolling. As

2602
01:50:30,320 --> 01:50:32,480
you all know, last year booths were on

2603
01:50:32,480 --> 01:50:34,159
the ground. We had people in the street

2604
01:50:34,159 --> 01:50:36,080
looking at the properties. I supervised

2605
01:50:36,080 --> 01:50:39,119
it. It was funded by the municipality,

2606
01:50:39,119 --> 01:50:42,000
but unfortunately there is no provision

2607
01:50:42,000 --> 01:50:44,159
in the law that would allow a phase in.

2608
01:50:44,159 --> 01:50:46,960
So sadly, if there were that option, we

2609
01:50:46,960 --> 01:50:48,400
would have explored that to make it

2610
01:50:48,400 --> 01:50:49,920
easier for residents like you and

2611
01:50:49,920 --> 01:50:50,639
everyone else.

2612
01:50:50,639 --> 01:50:54,390
>> Okay. Thank you.

2613
01:50:54,400 --> 01:51:00,149
» Anyone else care to speak?

2614
01:51:00,159 --> 01:51:02,560
» Yes, sir. Your name and your address,

2615
01:51:02,560 --> 01:51:05,119
please.

2616
01:51:05,119 --> 01:51:07,520
Make sure the button on the It's on.

2617
01:51:07,520 --> 01:51:08,320
>> Oh, no it's not.

2618
01:51:08,320 --> 01:51:08,960
>> There you go.

2619
01:51:08,960 --> 01:51:12,320
>> Yeah. Um about assessments again. I was

2620
01:51:12,320 --> 01:51:14,000
told the same thing that if I don't let

2621
01:51:14,000 --> 01:51:17,199
the guy in the they're going to charge

2622
01:51:17,199 --> 01:51:19,040
us as much as they want, whatever the

2623
01:51:19,040 --> 01:51:23,040
highest rate. Why Why do you guys care

2624
01:51:23,040 --> 01:51:25,600
what's inside of my house?

2625
01:51:25,600 --> 01:51:27,360
Why? Like

2626
01:51:27,360 --> 01:51:29,280
>> I'll let you ask all the questions and

2627
01:51:29,280 --> 01:51:30,480
when you're done. No, that's my only

2628
01:51:30,480 --> 01:51:32,800
question cuz Yeah, because it's so

2629
01:51:32,800 --> 01:51:35,600
annoying that in a free country, I have

2630
01:51:35,600 --> 01:51:37,840
to open my door to some guy so he can

2631
01:51:37,840 --> 01:51:40,480
decide how much my house is worth

2632
01:51:40,480 --> 01:51:43,199
inside. I Why do you care what my

2633
01:51:43,199 --> 01:51:45,119
kitchen looks like or that makes no

2634
01:51:45,119 --> 01:51:47,599
sense to me? Okay, I'll answer that.

2635
01:51:47,599 --> 01:51:50,800
Those are very good questions. Okay.

2636
01:51:50,800 --> 01:51:53,360
At the end of the day, when revaluations

2637
01:51:53,360 --> 01:51:56,400
occur, it is to make sure that all

2638
01:51:56,400 --> 01:51:58,880
assessments are fair and uniform to

2639
01:51:58,880 --> 01:52:02,080
everyone. Okay. The reality of the

2640
01:52:02,080 --> 01:52:04,480
situation is that

2641
01:52:04,480 --> 01:52:07,440
if they don't get inside to see

2642
01:52:07,440 --> 01:52:10,320
amenities like a kitchen or a bathroom,

2643
01:52:10,320 --> 01:52:12,400
we all know how expensive those things

2644
01:52:12,400 --> 01:52:14,800
are to renovate and maintain and improve

2645
01:52:14,800 --> 01:52:18,719
in a home. And obviously, if you have a

2646
01:52:18,719 --> 01:52:21,119
newer kitchen or a newer bathroom and

2647
01:52:21,119 --> 01:52:22,960
you go to sell your home, you're going

2648
01:52:22,960 --> 01:52:24,880
to ask a lot more because you may have

2649
01:52:24,880 --> 01:52:28,320
spent $50,000 or more on a new kitchen

2650
01:52:28,320 --> 01:52:31,679
and $25,000 or more on a new bathroom.

2651
01:52:31,679 --> 01:52:33,599
So, at the end of the day, that's the

2652
01:52:33,599 --> 01:52:35,520
reason why, and by the way,

2653
01:52:35,520 --> 01:52:38,639
>> the New Jersey State Assessor's Handbook

2654
01:52:38,639 --> 01:52:41,760
and the Appraisal Manual require

2655
01:52:41,760 --> 01:52:43,840
interior inspections. Now, if a

2656
01:52:43,840 --> 01:52:45,199
homeowner didn't want to let an

2657
01:52:45,199 --> 01:52:46,960
inspector in their property, and we have

2658
01:52:46,960 --> 01:52:48,880
many people that have compromised immune

2659
01:52:48,880 --> 01:52:50,639
systems or are concerned about the

2660
01:52:50,639 --> 01:52:53,840
safety of their family and and and such,

2661
01:52:53,840 --> 01:52:56,480
so they offered a video inspection to

2662
01:52:56,480 --> 01:53:00,400
accommodate that. And in addition, with

2663
01:53:00,400 --> 01:53:02,000
respect to your question about the

2664
01:53:02,000 --> 01:53:05,119
statement made, why did they say my home

2665
01:53:05,119 --> 01:53:06,719
would be set at the highest standard

2666
01:53:06,719 --> 01:53:08,560
possible? Because the division of

2667
01:53:08,560 --> 01:53:11,599
taxation basically says if interior

2668
01:53:11,599 --> 01:53:14,400
access is not permitted,

2669
01:53:14,400 --> 01:53:16,320
assume that the attic and basement are

2670
01:53:16,320 --> 01:53:18,080
finished, then assume that the interior

2671
01:53:18,080 --> 01:53:20,639
is in overall good condition. And then

2672
01:53:20,639 --> 01:53:22,560
if the homeowner says, "Hey, I don't

2673
01:53:22,560 --> 01:53:24,080
have a finished basement or a finished

2674
01:53:24,080 --> 01:53:25,760
attic, and I don't have an updated

2675
01:53:25,760 --> 01:53:28,239
kitchen or an updated bathroom," they

2676
01:53:28,239 --> 01:53:30,960
can either prior to the reval being

2677
01:53:30,960 --> 01:53:32,560
completed,

2678
01:53:32,560 --> 01:53:34,080
have an informal meeting with the

2679
01:53:34,080 --> 01:53:36,000
revaluation firm, which we had those

2680
01:53:36,000 --> 01:53:37,840
conducted here. And by the way, for

2681
01:53:37,840 --> 01:53:40,080
residents that worked, they did evening

2682
01:53:40,080 --> 01:53:41,679
appointments and they did Saturday

2683
01:53:41,679 --> 01:53:43,360
appointments through the reevaluation

2684
01:53:43,360 --> 01:53:45,440
process, okay? Because we understand

2685
01:53:45,440 --> 01:53:47,199
it's a bluecollar community and I wanted

2686
01:53:47,199 --> 01:53:48,800
to make sure that our residents were

2687
01:53:48,800 --> 01:53:52,239
afforded the best options possible.

2688
01:53:52,239 --> 01:53:55,920
I'm a firm believer in the golden rule.

2689
01:53:55,920 --> 01:53:57,520
I treat people the way I want to be

2690
01:53:57,520 --> 01:54:00,159
treated in life. That's important. So, I

2691
01:54:00,159 --> 01:54:02,560
wanted to make sure after 16 years of

2692
01:54:02,560 --> 01:54:04,080
serving our residents and knowing that

2693
01:54:04,080 --> 01:54:06,000
the hardships that many would face,

2694
01:54:06,000 --> 01:54:08,159
especially in the economic conditions

2695
01:54:08,159 --> 01:54:11,040
that exist at this time, I wanted to

2696
01:54:11,040 --> 01:54:12,639
make sure that everyone had every

2697
01:54:12,639 --> 01:54:15,280
opportunity possible. Okay. So, with

2698
01:54:15,280 --> 01:54:18,719
that said, it is required if you didn't

2699
01:54:18,719 --> 01:54:21,360
comply to let them in to assume that

2700
01:54:21,360 --> 01:54:24,639
those items are renovated. And it's for

2701
01:54:24,639 --> 01:54:26,560
the fairness of everyone else who did

2702
01:54:26,560 --> 01:54:29,760
allow an access and an inspection.

2703
01:54:29,760 --> 01:54:31,199
Okay.

2704
01:54:31,199 --> 01:54:33,599
>> Yeah. But sounds like a communist

2705
01:54:33,599 --> 01:54:36,239
country. I mean, I lived there, so I

2706
01:54:36,239 --> 01:54:40,400
know. I I just I hate someone comes into

2707
01:54:40,400 --> 01:54:42,560
my house. I just I don't get it. Look at

2708
01:54:42,560 --> 01:54:44,639
what site, do whatever you want. You got

2709
01:54:44,639 --> 01:54:46,239
all the permits. You know what's inside

2710
01:54:46,239 --> 01:54:49,280
the house. It just makes no sense. In my

2711
01:54:49,280 --> 01:54:52,880
many years of serving p the public,

2712
01:54:52,880 --> 01:54:55,760
I will say that I have addressed many

2713
01:54:55,760 --> 01:54:57,599
residents who've moved here from other

2714
01:54:57,599 --> 01:55:00,400
countries, okay? Specifically communist

2715
01:55:00,400 --> 01:55:02,400
countries and they have a fear of

2716
01:55:02,400 --> 01:55:04,080
government and I respect and understand

2717
01:55:04,080 --> 01:55:06,880
that. But in the United States, we are

2718
01:55:06,880 --> 01:55:09,760
much different than communism. Okay? And

2719
01:55:09,760 --> 01:55:11,599
at the end of the day, these rules are

2720
01:55:11,599 --> 01:55:14,080
in place here not to hurt or to

2721
01:55:14,080 --> 01:55:16,560
weaponize to hurt individual people, but

2722
01:55:16,560 --> 01:55:17,599
to

2723
01:55:17,599 --> 01:55:20,159
>> but to make sure that fairness is met

2724
01:55:20,159 --> 01:55:24,790
and uniformity is met.

2725
01:55:24,800 --> 01:55:26,800
» But remember, it's based upon market

2726
01:55:26,800 --> 01:55:29,199
conditions and you can you can look at

2727
01:55:29,199 --> 01:55:31,119
the value of your home today and compare

2728
01:55:31,119 --> 01:55:32,800
it to your assessment. And I think

2729
01:55:32,800 --> 01:55:36,000
>> realize like if you have taxes, I mean

2730
01:55:36,000 --> 01:55:37,760
stocks, you're not paying taxes on

2731
01:55:37,760 --> 01:55:39,760
underrealized

2732
01:55:39,760 --> 01:55:41,440
dividends, whatever. It's the same thing

2733
01:55:41,440 --> 01:55:44,320
with the house. It's only about it just

2734
01:55:44,320 --> 01:55:46,960
makes no sense. You guys are charging us

2735
01:55:46,960 --> 01:55:48,719
and you guys raising everything, paying

2736
01:55:48,719 --> 01:55:51,119
for everything. And

2737
01:55:51,119 --> 01:55:53,840
if I don't make enough money, I I can't

2738
01:55:53,840 --> 01:55:56,000
just raise money from someone else. You

2739
01:55:56,000 --> 01:55:57,679
guys just

2740
01:55:57,679 --> 01:56:00,880
>> I I understand, but there is there are

2741
01:56:00,880 --> 01:56:03,040
guidelines and regulations

2742
01:56:03,040 --> 01:56:04,719
>> and we have to comply.

2743
01:56:04,719 --> 01:56:07,520
>> Anyone else care to speak from the

2744
01:56:07,520 --> 01:56:13,270
audience?

2745
01:56:13,280 --> 01:56:15,199
Hello everyone.

2746
01:56:15,199 --> 01:56:18,560
>> Welcome your name and your

2747
01:56:18,560 --> 01:56:22,320
>> Rodriguez 14th place Elwood Park. Hello

2748
01:56:22,320 --> 01:56:23,199
Kevin.

2749
01:56:23,199 --> 01:56:25,360
>> How are you sir?

2750
01:56:25,360 --> 01:56:28,960
>> Uh first thing is the

2751
01:56:28,960 --> 01:56:31,360
marina. Oh, yes. You have to turn.

2752
01:56:31,360 --> 01:56:33,520
>> I called the parks department and asked

2753
01:56:33,520 --> 01:56:34,880
them, please.

2754
01:56:34,880 --> 01:56:36,480
>> I asked them if they can move the

2755
01:56:36,480 --> 01:56:37,440
portaotty.

2756
01:56:37,440 --> 01:56:39,280
>> Where's the button on the mic?

2757
01:56:39,280 --> 01:56:41,119
>> The red. There you go.

2758
01:56:41,119 --> 01:56:41,679
>> Hey,

2759
01:56:41,679 --> 01:56:44,000
>> now we can hear you if they can move

2760
01:56:44,000 --> 01:56:46,639
that porta potty because uh going in is

2761
01:56:46,639 --> 01:56:49,280
no problem. But when you come out, it

2762
01:56:49,280 --> 01:56:52,320
obstructs my vision. It's hard to get

2763
01:56:52,320 --> 01:56:54,560
out without it. But when you go look to

2764
01:56:54,560 --> 01:56:56,880
the left, it's right there. If they can

2765
01:56:56,880 --> 01:56:59,599
move it out of the way. Uh that's the

2766
01:56:59,599 --> 01:57:01,440
one thing. And then this the second

2767
01:57:01,440 --> 01:57:04,320
thing is about the taxes.

2768
01:57:04,320 --> 01:57:06,880
I talked to Kevin

2769
01:57:06,880 --> 01:57:09,360
uh week and a half ago.

2770
01:57:09,360 --> 01:57:13,679
>> And uh he's a nice guy. He mentioned uh

2771
01:57:13,679 --> 01:57:16,560
look at my square footage

2772
01:57:16,560 --> 01:57:18,880
and uh compare it to other houses that

2773
01:57:18,880 --> 01:57:21,760
are sold that are less, you know, to try

2774
01:57:21,760 --> 01:57:25,040
to appeal this thing.

2775
01:57:25,040 --> 01:57:28,560
My question to you, Kevin, is

2776
01:57:28,560 --> 01:57:31,199
what if I look at houses that are have

2777
01:57:31,199 --> 01:57:34,320
more square footage and our houses are

2778
01:57:34,320 --> 01:57:40,950
worth more? Could I use that to appeal?

2779
01:57:40,960 --> 01:57:42,080
» Are you done with the question?

2780
01:57:42,080 --> 01:57:44,400
>> Yes. Just

2781
01:57:44,400 --> 01:57:45,840
you understand my question, right?

2782
01:57:45,840 --> 01:57:48,239
>> I completely understand your question.

2783
01:57:48,239 --> 01:57:51,679
When you provide comparable sales to

2784
01:57:51,679 --> 01:57:55,360
your specific house, you want to select

2785
01:57:55,360 --> 01:57:58,719
the most similar. Okay, look at it.

2786
01:57:58,719 --> 01:58:01,040
Let's say you were going to refinance

2787
01:58:01,040 --> 01:58:03,360
your home. The bank would hire a

2788
01:58:03,360 --> 01:58:05,040
licensed or certified appraiser to look

2789
01:58:05,040 --> 01:58:07,119
at your property. There are guidelines

2790
01:58:07,119 --> 01:58:09,440
that Fanny May and Freddy Mack, the

2791
01:58:09,440 --> 01:58:12,320
larger lenders backed by the government,

2792
01:58:12,320 --> 01:58:14,960
they have requirements. And when you do

2793
01:58:14,960 --> 01:58:17,199
an appraisal, you want to compare apples

2794
01:58:17,199 --> 01:58:19,840
to apples. So if you have a 1,200 ft

2795
01:58:19,840 --> 01:58:21,840
home, you don't want to compare it to a

2796
01:58:21,840 --> 01:58:24,560
3,000 foot home. You want to compare it

2797
01:58:24,560 --> 01:58:28,239
to a home in size of maybe 13, 14,

2798
01:58:28,239 --> 01:58:32,800
maybe,500 ft² because a 4bedroom 3,000

2799
01:58:32,800 --> 01:58:35,679
foot home has much different market

2800
01:58:35,679 --> 01:58:39,679
appeal than a,200t home. So, or if you

2801
01:58:39,679 --> 01:58:42,239
had a two-bedroom condo, you wouldn't

2802
01:58:42,239 --> 01:58:44,239
come on use that as a comparable either.

2803
01:58:44,239 --> 01:58:45,840
You would probably be doing yourself a

2804
01:58:45,840 --> 01:58:49,360
disservice. Okay? So, when you look for

2805
01:58:49,360 --> 01:58:50,800
your comparable sales, you want to look

2806
01:58:50,800 --> 01:58:54,000
for something that's similar.

2807
01:58:54,000 --> 01:58:58,080
All right? So, if I have 2200 square ft

2808
01:58:58,080 --> 01:58:59,760
of living space

2809
01:58:59,760 --> 01:59:03,760
>> and there's a house that with 2,900

2810
01:59:03,760 --> 01:59:06,000
with 3,000,

2811
01:59:06,000 --> 01:59:08,560
I can't use that. Well, you can submit

2812
01:59:08,560 --> 01:59:10,480
anything that you want. Okay. Whether

2813
01:59:10,480 --> 01:59:12,560
it's not whether it's going to be

2814
01:59:12,560 --> 01:59:16,400
comparable or not is the question.

2815
01:59:16,400 --> 01:59:19,040
>> Can I see you uh Wednesday and talk

2816
01:59:19,040 --> 01:59:20,480
about this?

2817
01:59:20,480 --> 01:59:23,599
>> I'm always available. Okay. If you call,

2818
01:59:23,599 --> 01:59:25,599
you can you can come to see me on an

2819
01:59:25,599 --> 01:59:27,119
individual basis. I'd be more than happy

2820
01:59:27,119 --> 01:59:29,040
to discuss this.

2821
01:59:29,040 --> 01:59:30,960
>> All right. I'm going to leave it at

2822
01:59:30,960 --> 01:59:31,679
that.

2823
01:59:31,679 --> 01:59:32,800
>> You're happy?

2824
01:59:32,800 --> 01:59:35,040
I'm not happy, but uh I want to talk to

2825
01:59:35,040 --> 01:59:36,639
Kevin and

2826
01:59:36,639 --> 01:59:37,199
>> Okay.

2827
01:59:37,199 --> 01:59:38,960
>> I'll discuss it further with you. All

2828
01:59:38,960 --> 01:59:39,599
right.

2829
01:59:39,599 --> 01:59:41,280
>> Thank Thank you.

2830
01:59:41,280 --> 01:59:44,000
>> Anyone else care to speak on any subject

2831
01:59:44,000 --> 01:59:44,960
whatsoever?

2832
01:59:44,960 --> 01:59:48,320
>> I just have a comment that Mr. Espazito

2833
01:59:48,320 --> 01:59:50,080
just made.

2834
01:59:50,080 --> 01:59:52,239
>> I'm going to allow you to second second

2835
01:59:52,239 --> 01:59:53,840
term, but that'll be it. Go ahead,

2836
01:59:53,840 --> 01:59:56,159
Lenar.

2837
01:59:56,159 --> 01:59:56,960
You just

2838
01:59:56,960 --> 01:59:59,920
>> how come the mic let you got to speak to

2839
01:59:59,920 --> 02:00:01,520
them

2840
02:00:01,520 --> 02:00:07,589
to us.

2841
02:00:07,599 --> 02:00:10,560
» You just told this gentleman

2842
02:00:10,560 --> 02:00:12,880
basically not to take a condo into

2843
02:00:12,880 --> 02:00:14,639
consideration.

2844
02:00:14,639 --> 02:00:16,800
But when I spoke to your appraisal

2845
02:00:16,800 --> 02:00:19,920
person, whatever the company is, he

2846
02:00:19,920 --> 02:00:22,400
said, I asked him about the condos

2847
02:00:22,400 --> 02:00:23,920
because they're across the street from

2848
02:00:23,920 --> 02:00:27,199
me devaluating my parity. He said, "We

2849
02:00:27,199 --> 02:00:31,599
treat condos as a single family home."

2850
02:00:31,599 --> 02:00:34,239
So, if that person is telling me that

2851
02:00:34,239 --> 02:00:36,800
they treat condos as a single family

2852
02:00:36,800 --> 02:00:39,199
home, why are you telling him he can't

2853
02:00:39,199 --> 02:00:42,709
use a condo?

2854
02:00:42,719 --> 02:00:43,119
» Please,

2855
02:00:43,119 --> 02:00:44,800
>> are you completed? I'm done.

2856
02:00:44,800 --> 02:00:48,080
>> Okay. Was this a field inspector?

2857
02:00:48,080 --> 02:00:51,199
>> It was an inspector from the appraisal

2858
02:00:51,199 --> 02:00:52,960
company that this

2859
02:00:52,960 --> 02:00:55,679
>> a field inspector who came to your home.

2860
02:00:55,679 --> 02:00:57,840
>> No, I called him. I spoke to him on the

2861
02:00:57,840 --> 02:00:58,960
phone.

2862
02:00:58,960 --> 02:01:00,800
>> Oh, because you said when he was at your

2863
02:01:00,800 --> 02:01:02,639
home, the he referenced the condo across

2864
02:01:02,639 --> 02:01:03,599
the street.

2865
02:01:03,599 --> 02:01:05,840
>> Did I say that?

2866
02:01:05,840 --> 02:01:07,199
>> I thought you did.

2867
02:01:07,199 --> 02:01:09,360
>> I'm mistaken. Okay. So, it was a

2868
02:01:09,360 --> 02:01:11,280
conversation that you had with someone

2869
02:01:11,280 --> 02:01:12,880
from Appraisal Systems.

2870
02:01:12,880 --> 02:01:15,520
>> Correct. Okay, I don't know. I'm not a

2871
02:01:15,520 --> 02:01:17,920
party to that conversation, okay? But I

2872
02:01:17,920 --> 02:01:20,159
can tell you that if you had a

2873
02:01:20,159 --> 02:01:22,719
conversation with me, your assessor,

2874
02:01:22,719 --> 02:01:27,920
okay, I would tell you that condos are

2875
02:01:27,920 --> 02:01:29,599
much different than a single family

2876
02:01:29,599 --> 02:01:30,080
residential.

2877
02:01:30,080 --> 02:01:31,199
>> Well, then you better talk to the

2878
02:01:31,199 --> 02:01:33,119
appraisal company.

2879
02:01:33,119 --> 02:01:34,400
>> I'm just telling you that's the

2880
02:01:34,400 --> 02:01:36,159
conversation he had with me.

2881
02:01:36,159 --> 02:01:38,719
>> I wasn't a party to that conversation.

2882
02:01:38,719 --> 02:01:39,119
So, I

2883
02:01:39,119 --> 02:01:40,159
>> There's something wrong with that

2884
02:01:40,159 --> 02:01:42,480
company. Yeah,

2885
02:01:42,480 --> 02:01:44,560
>> I wasn't a party to that conversation

2886
02:01:44,560 --> 02:01:47,599
and at the end of the day the reality is

2887
02:01:47,599 --> 02:01:48,080
that

2888
02:01:48,080 --> 02:01:50,960
>> anyone else anyone else care to speak on

2889
02:01:50,960 --> 02:01:53,599
any subject whatsoever?

2890
02:01:53,599 --> 02:01:55,760
>> If not I will close the public portion

2891
02:01:55,760 --> 02:01:57,360
but before you go I just want you to

2892
02:01:57,360 --> 02:01:59,040
know one thing that the mayor's taxes

2893
02:01:59,040 --> 02:02:03,109
went up $2,000.

2894
02:02:03,119 --> 02:02:04,960
» Can I I need a motion to go into

2895
02:02:04,960 --> 02:02:05,920
executive.

2896
02:02:05,920 --> 02:02:07,440
>> No executive.

2897
02:02:07,440 --> 02:02:09,760
>> We do not have executive. We don't have

2898
02:02:09,760 --> 02:02:11,840
executive and I need a motion to

2899
02:02:11,840 --> 02:02:12,400
adjurnn.

2900
02:02:12,400 --> 02:02:13,520
>> Yes.

2901
02:02:13,520 --> 02:02:14,400
>> Motion.

2902
02:02:14,400 --> 02:02:16,000
>> All in favor?

2903
02:02:16,000 --> 02:02:18,880
>> Thank you.

2904
02:02:18,880 --> 02:02:20,880
Oh,

2905
02:02:20,880 --> 02:02:25,159
>> I think you have to find this