[3:19] from the health department, to our fire department, to our police department, human services, and more.

[3:26] And it's really supposed to give you an opportunity and give our community an opportunity to engage

[3:30] with us outside the bounds of a regular council meeting and also just to engage with community

[3:36] members in your area. So we're very grateful to have everybody here today. We're also joined

[3:41] at the table by, uh, we have Sean Schmidt, who's the director of DPW. We have, uh,

[3:48] uh, sorry, Paulie Sink, who is our, uh, engineer. I have Chief Lou Venizia from the Fire

[3:54] Department, Anthony Desenzo, who is our Township Administrator. I have Chief George Richie

[3:59] from the Police Department, and I have Saga as well from our Health Department. So, um, thank

[4:04] you all for coming as well. We appreciate it. Um, and then, of course, we have a couple of other

[4:09] elected officials with us tonight, I do see Councilman Nick Joano here and Councilwoman

[4:14] Jill Fishman are here as well. And I see a couple other folks from some of our boards

[4:18] and committees, and I'm probably going to forget one or two of you, but I saw Lorana Vega

[4:22] from our Board of Health, I do see Ryan Wagner and Ray McCarthy, former Mayor Ray McCarthy

[4:28] here today from our zoning board. And I think Robin Jones from our historic preservation

[4:35] So lots of folks here who are engaged in the community and can also help answer questions about specific things so we're very grateful for you as well.

[4:46] I just want to make sure everybody can hear me.

[4:49] Thank you.

[4:50] No, can you hear on this side?

[4:51] You can't hear.

[4:52] Okay.

[4:52] I'll speak a little bit louder.

[4:55] How's that?

[4:56] A little bit better?

[4:57] Okay.

[4:57] Great.

[4:58] So what we're going to do tonight is councilwoman Gonzalez and I are going to go around the room and just

[5:05] I'm sorry, we're going to give an update on a couple of town events and then we're

[5:11] going to share some important information about the community.

[5:14] So with that, I'm actually going to turn it over to Councilwoman Gonzales.

[5:24] Great.

[5:25] Can everybody hear me okay?

[5:27] Okay.

[5:27] I tend to talk low.

[5:29] Okay.

[5:30] So it's going to sound like I'm reading a lot and I will give you a lot of information,

[5:35] but it's a lot of really good information.

[5:37] So, you know, we have February's here and it is Black History Month and our Juneteenth

[5:44] Committee works really hard to put on amazing events.

[5:48] We have a Zumba fundraiser coming up that will proceed to go to Juneteenth Committee.

[5:54] We did that last year for the first time.

[5:57] That was tons of fun, so that will be held at Watson School, if I'm not mistaken.

[6:03] and we have Black History Month open mic.

[6:06] Last year again, amazing Black History Month community social.

[6:11] And you can see these flyers at the table.

[6:13] So please take a moment after this to go

[6:14] and take pictures, take flyers home.

[6:17] And excited again for Ramadan celebrations beginning mid-month.

[6:23] So Bloomfield will celebrate its first crescent lighting

[6:26] in partnership with Marie School with community partners.

[6:30] This is going to be February 11th at 5 p.m. at the Marief School on Hoover Avenue, and

[6:38] you'll see more information also online.

[6:41] So let's see here, we have, and just so you know, the community, iftar organized by

[6:47] the Bloomfield Public Library and community members.

[6:50] So this is a second annual event which will take place on the 26th at sunset at the Civic

[6:56] Center.

[6:56] And again, that was beautiful last year that we attended.

[7:00] So, and this is really exciting, also on the beautification committee, so we have our

[7:08] save the date for the townwide cleanup.

[7:10] It's April 25th, so market calendars, there'll be different days, times that date to sign

[7:17] up for.

[7:19] So, and then lastly, we have, not lastly, we have a whole lot more information, but we did

[7:24] launch our mayor on your block, which is an excellent way, you know, to just

[7:29] really have your mayor, you're going to have town officials, you're going to have

[7:34] town experts who will just come, you know, if you have issues, if you have

[7:38] praises, you know, just arrange that and we're happy to come to whatever

[7:43] location and have the mayor on your block and we can discuss anything that needs

[7:48] improvement, anything that's just going fantastic. So we'd love to hear that.

[7:58] Thank you.

[8:00] We also want to draw attention to our Clean and Strong initiative.

[8:03] So the Clean and Strong portal is an initiative we started last year.

[8:08] It is a way for community members to notify the township of quality of life issues.

[8:16] And then you also can, when you do it, you sign up and you'll get status updates on any

[8:22] reports that you make.

[8:23] So it really helps us organize, keep our departments informed, everybody is accountable

[8:30] that way, we don't lose track of complaints that come in and it really helps us address

[8:35] concerns efficiently.

[8:37] So if you have a community concern, please go online to the Clean and Strong Portal, it's

[8:42] right on the website and fill out a form and you will get information back there.

[8:47] You can also report snow concerns there, which we are encouraging folks to do and we will

[8:51] give us no update a little bit later in the program as well.

[8:56] And then we'd also like to encourage everybody to make sure that you were signed up for

[9:00] Township Alerts.

[9:01] So, if you go over to the Township Table, you'll see a form that looks like this, you can

[9:09] scan the QR code with your phone, it has been both English and Spanish, and you can sign

[9:13] up for community alerts.

[9:15] And this includes things like emergency alerts for the community and other alerts as well.

[9:21] So it's really one of the best ways for you to get information from the township

[9:26] So we would really like everybody to sign up for it and also tell your friends so we can keep getting good communication out to everybody

[9:34] Councilman Gonzalez would you like to continue?

[9:42] Okay, so this is information on the fire department. So the department offers free smoke detector installation

[9:50] for seniors in owner occupied single-family homes

[9:55] monthly car seat checks

[9:57] The first Saturday of every month from 9 to 12,

[10:00] and there's no appointment needed to show up

[10:03] and get your car seat checked.

[10:05] And also, please announce that the Fire Department

[10:07] will begin ambulance services as a backup

[10:10] to Bloomfield EMS on February 9th

[10:13] when the Fire Department staffing is available.

[10:17] Now, a little bit about the police department,

[10:19] so we're gonna continue the walk to school program in April.

[10:23] That's always exciting, and it's adorable to watch.

[10:25] The picture is posted online with all the kids walking with the cops.

[10:29] They really enjoy it.

[10:30] The neighborhood watch program is available for residents and coffee would a cop, community

[10:36] engagement events, additional information will be available at the police department table,

[10:42] so please stop there as well.

[10:44] Now our human services, also another really important table to stop on your way out.

[10:50] residents experience hardships are always welcome to contact human services and

[10:55] I want to emphasize that they are there they're amazing and they are there to

[11:00] help you they are resources so please please contact them so we have let's see

[11:06] expanded our senior programming is taking place at Oakside and it's going to

[11:11] include new recreational offerings like let's see if I could say this right because

[11:15] I've never played this game.

[11:17] Matt John?

[11:18] Matt John.

[11:19] OK.

[11:20] So I may have to stop by and learn.

[11:23] And then our health department is offering

[11:26] a full array of health initiatives.

[11:28] And you'll see that we post a lot of that online.

[11:31] But we'll continue to do that.

[11:33] So that's including oral health services.

[11:37] We have children's dental health awareness.

[11:41] And those will be presentations at the library.

[11:43] We have nursing services, including monthly blood pressure checks and screening and heart disease, nutrition, disease prevention, and can go on and on, so a lot of great resources there.

[11:59] There is also, I just want to emphasize also with homebound immunization, so that's a service that is available.

[12:05] And then moving on to parks and recreation and cultural affairs.

[12:08] So the registration for the community garden plots start on Monday, which started already.

[12:16] For beds at Oxide, there's Mill Bank and Polesky Park.

[12:20] So they are limited spots, they are $50 a plot for rent, and they are free for veterans.

[12:27] So registration for senior citizen spring programming through recreation starts tomorrow Wednesday the 4th at 9 AM.

[12:35] That's in person or in line.

[12:37] registration for peppermint, softball, and suburban traveling softball.

[12:42] Grace 3 to 8 starts tomorrow Wednesday 4 at 9 a.m. as well online or in person.

[12:48] So we also have registration for track and field that starts next month Wednesday the

[12:53] 4th of March at 10 a.m.

[12:58] Sorry, guys.

[12:59] I'm almost done here.

[13:00] There's a lot of information, but it's good information.

[13:03] So registration for traditional cultural affairs programming starts next month as well.

[13:08] Our department is finalizing details on our summer camp, so I know a lot of people depend on that, so that will be up soon, so you can start making your plans.

[13:16] It should be available in the next couple weeks.

[13:19] So registration will start on May 6th at 10 a.m.

[13:23] As soon as the information is finalized, we post it on the website, you'll get down the e-buzz, so it'll be pretty much everywhere.

[13:31] Township engineering, do I want to go on?

[13:33] Okay, so township engineering, township is actively planning, planning stage for road

[13:40] resurfacing for 2026. I know, I guess I'm excited about that, using real data collected

[13:46] through AI technology. Engineering is reviewing streets throughout the town, all wars will be

[13:51] creating the priority of streets. So, you know, you can, again, clean and strong, utilize

[13:57] that. That's definitely taking some consideration. This will be made available to the public

[14:02] as soon as it unfolds, and then just note that resurfacing is a budget dependent

[14:07] with 185 miles of road, so in Bloomfield. So it costs about a million a mile,

[14:14] which is insane, but we're doing our best to address that. The world is as

[14:19] fast as possible within the next couple of years, maintaining, just being

[14:23] physically responsible. Collaborating with Essex County on some departments

[14:28] transportation project. This is really exciting. So I'm just going to list some of the areas

[14:33] that they are focusing on. Franklin Street and North Avenue and Bloomfield. Obviously

[14:39] we'll fill Franklin Street and GSP Northbound Ram. Franklin Street, GSP Southbound Ram.

[14:47] Franklin Street, Municipal Plaza, Montgomery Street. Belville Avenue and State Street.

[14:52] Bell will have new and broad street and then we also have major storm and

[14:57] sanitary projects that's on James

[15:00] Chief, I'm going to be on the next level. I will be there for the first, and for the next three, third river bank stabilization, the Walnut Street bridge repair which I'm personally really excited about because I used to just walk there with my kids so I'm really excited to see that being taking care of soon. So repairs and cleaning on Washington Street and JFK quarter, and of course the library repairs, which you'll see. You've seen the library in action. So as soon as this weather lets up, that'll continue as well.

[15:25] So, and

[15:32] thank you, Councilwoman.

[15:34] I also want to talk a little bit through DPW and then talk about give everyone a snow

[15:39] update, because I know that is on everybody's mind these days.

[15:44] So I do want to acknowledge that DPW continues to offer full services throughout town, with

[15:49] keeping parks clean, helping to fill pop holes, managing water main breaks.

[15:53] We've had a few this week, unfortunately, expanded drop-off hours for recycling.

[15:58] the compost program and in the works we have a firewood program, so more on that to come.

[16:04] But the main events, of course, I'd like to just acknowledge the DPW course for working

[16:11] around the clock since we have the snow storm. And we really thank them for their hard work

[16:17] throughout this challenging storm season. The weather unfortunately has not cooperated with us

[16:22] to allow most of the snow to melt, which is part of what we really like to see happen.

[16:28] So in the past, and I think the last storm that we had was maybe 2021, in 2021 we had a big storm

[16:35] like this, but it was 45 degrees the next day. So that's part of how we were able to clear roads more

[16:41] quickly when the snow melts. Well, it's been very cold as you may have noticed, and I do hope everybody

[16:46] is keeping warm. So that does present some other challenges.

[16:51] But to this, at this point, the primary roadway plowing has been completed and crews are

[16:56] now focused on clearing intersections and crosswalks throughout the town. Priority areas

[17:01] do include locations around schools, public safety facilities, business districts, parks

[17:07] and county roadways, intersection and crosswalk clearing expanded outward from school areas

[17:12] as following established alternate side of the street parking routes to ensure safe pedestrian

[17:16] travel for students walking to and from school.

[17:19] In limited cases, the DPW has cleared sidewalks on private property where pedestrian access

[17:25] had not been addressed and solely to maintain safe and continuous walking routes and

[17:29] critical school zones.

[17:31] And I do want to point out to that our code enforcement and health department have been out

[17:35] issuing summons to folks who have not cleared their roads, I'm sorry, cleared their sidewalks

[17:41] because it is generally the responsibility of the owner of the property that is adjacent to

[17:46] that sidewalk. In addition to that, following the storm, DPW assisted the Bloomfield Board of

[17:52] Education with snow removal at Franklin School, Fairview School, and other school locations to improve

[17:57] pedestrian safety. This work included widening the roadways to restore parking, clearing sidewalks

[18:03] on school grounds when needed and ensuring intersections

[18:05] and crosswalks are fully cleared.

[18:08] We know that there are still some that we're working through.

[18:10] So, please keep that in mind.

[18:12] And again, I'll refer folks back to the Clean and Strong Portal.

[18:15] If you see something that you feel like needs attention,

[18:18] please report it there and we will get to it as soon as possible.

[18:21] Crews are also clearing parking lots and pathways

[18:23] in township parks, so residents can continue

[18:26] to safely use these facilities.

[18:28] Once pedestrian areas and other critical access points

[18:30] are addressed, DPW work continue working throughout town as conditions allow.

[18:35] As temperatures rise, so we hope, I was just talking to somebody earlier that it was a

[18:39] BAMI 35 degrees today, so that was really helpful to us.

[18:43] DPW will reassess areas where additional widening cleanup can be safely performed.

[18:49] They do remain in close contact with public safety officials, thank you to everybody to ensure

[18:53] emergency access is maintained at all times.

[18:56] So if you need an ambulance, if the fire truck needs to get to, they can get to you.

[19:02] So in this area, of course, I'm happy to announce that cleanup efforts are continuing.

[19:10] Tomorrow, we'll be focusing primarily on clearing intersections and crosswalks.

[19:15] Wednesday morning, crews will begin the work in the Fairview School area focusing on Montgomery

[19:21] Street to Belleville Avenue between JFK Drive and Belleville Ave.

[19:24] And on Wednesday afternoon, pending completion of that work, the Department of Public Works

[19:30] will shift operations to the area around Franklin School, where we are right now, covering

[19:34] the area from Essex Avenue to Ridgewood Avenue between Hoover and James Street.

[19:39] So we do thank everybody for their patience.

[19:42] We do thank DPW for their hard work.

[19:44] They've been working really hard to clear out the snow.

[19:46] Unfortunately, it's hard for us to clear the snow.

[19:49] There's not a lot of places to put it right now, but we'll continue to work for it and make

[19:53] sure that everybody is safe and secure. And just a moment or two, we will open the floor

[19:59] for questions, but I did want to address one other thing because I know that and I really

[20:06] want to acknowledge that a lot of our residents are fearful at the moment in particularly in response

[20:14] to recent federal immigration activity in our area. So these feelings are real and they absolutely

[20:21] deserved to be met with clarity, facts, and calm.

[20:24] So I take my responsibilities very seriously in the situation, and the best that I can

[20:30] do for you, and we'll continue to do for you, speak plainly about what we know, what we

[20:35] are doing, and what is within our local authority.

[20:38] Bloomfield has long affirmed its commitment to being a fair and welcoming community, and

[20:44] we have reiterated that commitment publicly when our town was explicitly targeted in federal

[20:49] rhetoric.

[20:49] The Township Council unanimously passed a resolution supporting the New Jersey Immigrant

[20:54] Trust Act, which would have codified and expanded protections ensuring that all residents

[20:59] can have access to public services without fear of deportation or family separation.

[21:07] And while we are limited in the actions we can take at the municipal level to monitor federal

[21:13] activity, oversight and notification must be led by the state.

[21:17] And this is why we are actively coordinating with the governor's office.

[21:21] I am in fact on a call with the governor's office tomorrow, and

[21:24] this is one of the topics that we will be discussing.

[21:27] I have reached out to the governor's office also separately to express

[21:31] fulfilled support for efforts to increase transparency and accountability around federal immigration enforcement,

[21:37] including proposed tools that would allow residents to report concerns safely and responsibly.

[21:44] We need to take the state's lead though here, and Governor Cheryl has committed to developing

[21:49] a system for that, and we are looking forward to working with her.

[21:53] Our police department, thank you to our police department here, just for clarity's sake,

[21:58] they do not participate in federal immigration enforcement.

[22:01] This is guided by the New Jersey Attorney General's Immigrant Trust Directive.

[22:06] Their role is always to protect public safety, respond to crime, and serve residents regardless

[22:12] our list of an individual's immigration status.

[22:14] That separation is intentional and essential

[22:17] to maintaining trust between the community

[22:21] and our local government.

[22:23] Bloomfield police officers do not inquire

[22:25] into an immigration status.

[22:27] They do not conduct civil immigration arrests,

[22:30] and they do not assist with immigrant detainers

[22:33] beyond what the law requires.

[22:36] This protects residents' constitutional rights,

[22:38] and it absolutely strengthens overall community safety.

[22:42] I do want to address a couple questions that have come up as well and come my way, so

[22:47] I'm going to take that opportunity to do that as well.

[22:50] So I've had questions about whether Bloomfield shares information with ICE, and I want to be

[22:55] clear that the township does not voluntarily share immigration status information with federal

[23:00] authorities.

[23:01] Any information sharing that occurs is governed strictly by legal requirements.

[23:06] questions have also been raised about safeguards for civil liberties during federal activity.

[23:12] While we do not oversee federal enforcement, we do ensure that our own personnel, so

[23:17] that means our police department, et cetera, act lawfully and do not facilitate violations

[23:22] of constitutional rights.

[23:24] This is, and I'm sure that the chief would agree with me something in a responsibility that

[23:29] we take extremely seriously.

[23:32] In terms of information that we can get out to the community, if you go over to the human

[23:38] services table, if you go over to the townships table, we are providing flyers and printed

[23:44] materials with noir rights information and verified resources. These materials are meant

[23:50] to be practical, accurate, and legally grounded, and they are meant to empower residents, not

[23:55] to allow them. Bloomfield will continue to update and maintain a centralized list of immigrant

[24:01] rights resources. This includes legal services providers, know your rights guidance and information

[24:07] on how to respond if someone believes their rights have been violated. And we do have a town,

[24:12] we do have that listed on our town website, which we will continue to advertise and let people

[24:19] know that it is there. With resources we are also continually updating it. We updated it again

[24:23] and today with additional resources

[24:25] that were verified and stressed for thee.

[24:28] And if you're looking for other ways to help,

[24:31] although your local government, although the police,

[24:34] although others sitting up here are very limited,

[24:36] not very limited, but limited in what we can do,

[24:39] residents who want to help, I want to encourage them

[24:42] to focus on providing right now mutual support

[24:45] for your neighbors and your greater community.

[24:48] This includes checking on neighbors who may be fearful,

[24:50] sharing accurate resources and supporting local nonprofits engaged in legal aid or social services and again

[24:57] I will refer back to the

[25:01] resources that are posted online on the Township website

[25:06] and frankly I also went or a general one to rely on official state county and township communications for verified updates

[25:14] Please be sensitive to the fact that many of our neighbors are living with fear and uncertainty and

[25:20] and refrained from spreading unverified information

[25:22] that could be harmful even when it is well-intentioned.

[25:26] Most importantly, I believe that strongly,

[25:28] and I'm sure everybody in this room agrees

[25:30] we have to look out for each other.

[25:32] So thank you for allowing me to give that update.

[25:35] And now I would like to open the floor to any residents

[25:37] here who would like to ask a question.

[25:39] If you'd like to ask a question,

[25:40] you're welcome to come up to the podium.

[25:53] I think it's for sitting this up.

[25:54] Just had a couple of questions.

[25:56] Oh, sorry, my Ryan Wenger, first word resident.

[26:00] Just a couple of questions, we all saw the PSE&G were kind of up into the edge of Ward

[26:06] 1.

[26:07] I'm guessing that's not the end of it.

[26:09] Do we know when that's going to continue or if it's going to continue?

[26:14] That's known yet?

[26:15] I'm going to touch that over.

[26:16] I think to Anthony or Paul, if you've been in touch with them, we do, and I'll just preface

[26:21] that by saying that we do try to work closely with PSE&G because we have been having regular

[26:27] meetings with them to try to get information from them. We are expressly telling

[26:32] them that if they are required to remove trees, we are demanding that they be

[26:39] replaced. And in fact, I think they have to replace them at least two or threefold,

[26:45] if I recall, per our ordinance. So we are working with them to do that. Of course,

[26:49] if they're taking a tree down right now, I want to be clear. It's winter. They can't

[26:54] plant new ones, but we are absolutely staying on top of it. We've

[26:57] multiple meetings advocating to make sure that it's the case, but I'm going to pass it over.

[27:03] Yes, I'm sorry, and roadway repairs. So that's the other thing that we hear about,

[27:08] too, is that we know. So PSNG is only required to pave the part of the road that they've dug up.

[27:14] So if they dig up half the road, they will only repave half the road. So that's why sometimes you see

[27:20] on our streets that half the road is done, and the other half is not, we do try to coordinate

[27:25] with them to make sure that's not happening, it does not always happen in the way that

[27:29] we want it to and I'm sorry I just threw that talk to more than I had planned on. I

[27:45] don't

[28:07] know

[28:07] will give us a plan. We try to roll that into our capital, and if we're doing a road, let's

[28:13] say at the capital, you can get credit because that will give public service so they can take

[28:18] that half into a whole portion of the road that they're doing. So we try our best to

[28:24] coordinate so that we don't get too many votes, and our halfway done. I mean public service

[28:30] There's a private entity from the private entity we work as much as possible within.

[28:38] With this project particularly they've been pretty helpful, pretty agreeable to do something.

[28:45] So I'll try it.

[28:47] Hello.

[28:48] There we go.

[28:50] I don't want to make anybody dead.

[28:53] So we've been doing a lot of work with them to try to ease the whole situation,

[28:58] particularly with the roads to make sure that when they're done you know we

[29:03] get the whole road paved. I mean we're not at verse basically they use a lot

[29:09] of the same co-op companies we do for paving so we're not at verse the working

[29:15] with them under their contracts to get these roads done completely at the end

[29:20] of the project. It's just a matter of time and you know what's going to be

[29:26] done anywhere.

[29:31] So just in terms of, so what I'm worried about, it was like, uh, I used to

[29:35] work, I used to cross nutty like about five years ago, they dug out like half the town. We are

[29:39] the engaging or planning anything like that similar because they're putting a large pipe in there.

[29:44] It's what I'm wondering about. If that's planned in the future, high pressure or. They will be

[29:50] replacing, they've been upgrading the piping and move fields for the last two or three years and

[29:56] and I anticipate they're going to do more of that.

[29:59] They typically put it in.

[30:00] We have scheduled around this time is to which streets you're going to do. But yeah, they're basically replacing the old metal lines in the street with a newer plastic line. But yeah, that is coming because the main goal that they have, which we all have, is to make sure we win the gas leaks and the older pipes are getting old and they leak.

[30:20] And I've been on the receiving end of that surprise, is it for PSUG?

[30:24] Well, that's not yet. That's a moment.

[30:27] The other question I have is about the public safety.

[30:30] My son loves them. We love the bike, the police.

[30:33] But they did a bike program at the police, Joe Corio.

[30:38] And I'm thinking, he loves it.

[30:42] Is that plan for the spring?

[30:44] And it's hard to think about it.

[30:45] I don't think about something that's not snow-related right now.

[30:48] It absolutely is planned. We don't have the date yet. Obviously, we don't wait.

[30:52] So, whether this weather is just crazy, but once this spring comes, we love them and out with children.

[30:58] We were out there, and I've actually wrote a motorcycle with them last time.

[31:02] So, it's a lot of fun, and we encourage it, and we're definitely going to be there.

[31:07] I'm sorry, I'm not going to lie to you. I have one more question.

[31:10] So, the town is kept keeping up, and I have to be honest with you.

[31:13] I've had it loved Facebook as a late thing, really kind of platform is kind of devolving and very biased.

[31:20] Is the town engaging in something like with using sub-stack or some other sort of unbiased or more to prep form?

[31:29] Yeah, I think so we are actually right now starting to implement a strategic communications plan that we developed last year.

[31:40] So I think actually a talented department has had a whole presentation today, right, so there's a whole presentation for that today.

[31:47] So that is evolving, but I do think one of the things that the communications firm have reflected back to us is that the means by which the

[31:56] the township has been communicating, maybe we are going on a boat race, so we don't know

[32:02] what happens in the meta in the future, we don't know what happens with these other ways

[32:06] of communicating with the future, so they are advising us that we will continue to keep

[32:10] up with communicating in the best way possible, but that does go back to us, especially for

[32:16] emergency scenes, especially for information that we might need to get immediately, please

[32:21] please sign up for the township alerts.

[32:23] We put a lot of stuff out on social media about the bike ride

[32:27] and other things are going to be great.

[32:30] But when you really need information,

[32:32] you can want to be able to get it to you.

[32:34] And the other thing I would say to you

[32:35] is just sign up for the e-buzz, which is a monthly news letter

[32:38] that comes out I think I forgot to mention that before.

[32:41] But it's a monthly news letter that comes out.

[32:43] You can also sign up at that table or even go online

[32:45] right to the website and sign up for those as well.

[32:48] And then information comes to you

[32:49] monthly, so you can see all of those activities in there as well. So we're going to keep fighting

[32:55] that fight to get good communications out to the public.

[33:00] One more question, and last one, I promise. So, just a new mention, ICE, and handling that.

[33:06] So, in terms of our law of law, our law of law enforcement engagement, if we see something

[33:11] that we feel that we think is illegal for some illegal activity, are we still entitled to engage

[33:19] You see anything that you feel is illegal, or you feel is against the law of the criminal

[33:24] and nature.

[33:24] I don't mean it's not that this right away.

[33:27] But I just want to clear about something.

[33:29] So we follow the attorney general's directive on immigration.

[33:32] We do not enforce civil immigration law.

[33:37] And they know that.

[33:39] They won't call us.

[33:40] So there's going to be times.

[33:41] And I'd like to get this out.

[33:43] Click if you don't mind.

[33:45] So, anytime there's a law enforcement operation going on in the field that involves another

[33:51] town, another county throughout the entire state, they notify you.

[33:56] They let me know that we're going to have a team going to X-Y location at this time.

[34:02] We just want to notify you.

[34:04] We don't need any assistance but we just want you to know where our town.

[34:07] So once we gather that information, of course we monitor it, but it's imperative that

[34:12] we could not share that information. I just had a conversation with a resident a couple

[34:18] of years ago. At the quick chat they saw a couple of us in the bees and officers in

[34:24] tactical gear, so right away they thought it was a Department of Homeland Security. It

[34:29] wasn't. It was an agency that was here looking for someone who committed a serious crime.

[34:35] So it's important for us to keep that close to us and the event that it gets out on Facebook

[34:40] where it gets out on any social media that we're looking for a certain person,

[34:44] what happens is it becomes dangerous for the officers, for the public,

[34:49] so the other minute surprises what's there.

[34:52] Getting back to home and security guys, they don't tell us under here.

[34:57] We don't, they know that we can't, that our pretty general's directive does not cooperate with them.

[35:03] So they're not going to tell us.

[35:04] So if you see them and you call us, we're definitely going to pass on that information

[35:11] I hope that answers your question.

[35:16] Absolutely.

[35:17] Appreciate that.

[35:17] Thank you so much.

[35:18] Thank you

[35:45] very, very clear.

[35:47] If someone feels unsafe due to the presence of ICE, regardless of their immigration status

[35:53] and their citizenship status, are they able to call 911 and ask for help?

[35:59] They can.

[36:00] but you have to understand we are very limited on what we can do.

[36:04] We'll respond, of course, but we'll pretty much understand on the side.

[36:10] There are federal agencies, we have no jurisdiction of them.

[36:13] So if they have a reason to arrest someone, it's not for us to be involved.

[36:19] So we have to make sure that public safe, we have to make sure that our officers safe

[36:24] and we have to make sure the person they're taking me to custody is safe, right?

[36:28] So we do everything we possibly can to accomplish that, but we cannot, by law,

[36:35] get involved in federal law.

[36:38] Now, if it's a crime, it's a whole different story.

[36:42] Regardless of the immigration status.

[36:43] If you come into crime, you're going to be placed under arrest.

[36:46] I don't understand that at all.

[36:48] Oh, yeah.

[36:48] That's okay.

[36:49] So I get that institution.

[36:51] Yeah, I think, you know, I have lots of neighbors in this particular area

[36:56] who are very concerned about their safety and their status and I think it's just important

[37:04] for them to know that the town is able to look out for them and it's intending and will

[37:15] work to keep them

[38:05] safe.

[38:07] police officers from coming on to the trauma,

[38:10] and

[38:16] we trying to curtail the kinds of actions

[38:21] that I assist in, racial programming,

[38:27] things like that.

[38:28] It's meant to protect.

[38:32] And I understand that law still needs to be enforced,

[38:36] and that there are,

[38:41] we can address, again, with due process.

[38:46] So what you

[38:51] said earlier, that's

[38:57] being on the sidewalks.

[38:59] How are you defining the unlawful behaviors that would prompt you to actually act and address the unlawful behavior of ICE agents that were seen across the country?

[39:13] When you say unlawful behavior, what do you mean?

[39:16] You may have remarried.

[39:19] They don't need war. Just so you know they don't need war.

[39:23] They need reasonable suspicions to stop someone who takes them out of the custody.

[39:26] So that's, I think of this conception.

[39:31] It's not up to us to check their judicial warrants.

[39:34] It's not up to us to check whether or not there's an administrative warrant.

[39:38] There are federal agencies.

[39:39] So we hope as a federal agency, they know what they're doing.

[39:45] It's not...

[39:45] I don't know that.

[39:47] I don't know that.

[39:48] I don't know that.

[39:48] That's your opinion.

[39:49] So, yeah, the court case has already been.

[39:51] Okay. Well, in Bluefield, that's what we do.

[39:53] We follow the Attorney General's directive to the team.

[39:57] No more?

[39:57] Protect immigrants, right?

[39:59] No more know to protect everyone.

[40:01] To protect everyone.

[40:02] Right, so, yes, we try to protect everyone.

[40:06] Including the ICE agents, it sounds like.

[40:09] Of course.

[40:10] Right.

[40:11] So, at the, I don't know if you're aware,

[40:13] but at the Know Your Rights Training,

[40:15] there was a detective that said that we can call

[40:18] on our local police to come out and verify the identities is one of the issues of ICE is that

[40:24] we don't know if they are actual ICNs or not. Is that something that you are doing or is that

[40:29] misinformation shared by one of your detectives? One of my detectives said that so as far as that

[40:36] is concerned we just got a report from Eric asking me to get it whether or not there was a nice incident

[40:41] that's going on right now. We challenged and there was nothing there. Thank you for doing that. But

[40:46] So, if we do find that, that's what it sounds.

[40:51] We don't come back, we don't go online, we don't tell everyone, yeah, there are light

[40:55] stages for you.

[40:57] That's not for us to do.

[40:59] Our job is to protect the public, right?

[41:02] And trust that federal agencies that are conducting operations in our township are doing

[41:07] the right thing.

[41:09] There are channels you can go through if you feel they're not on a federal level to make

[41:14] complaint, just like as if you were a police officer at Luvio who would make

[41:17] internal affairs complaint, there are things in place with federal government where

[41:21] you can do that. It's not for the police department to to figure out whether or

[41:26] not they're doing things according to their policy. I get the difficult position

[41:30] that our police are in when it comes to actually regulating other law enforcement

[41:41] hasn't been.

[41:48] There's there's citizens in other states who are losing

[41:56] advocating with the state to be able to figure out what you can do because standing on the

[42:01] sidelines is important. So we know where we can do. We follow the attorney general's directive

[42:06] to a few. Right, but he's don't bother.

[42:11] We argue that do you have the the directive I can

[42:14] get it to you if you'd like to read it? And we do decide to specify anything specific. No,

[42:18] you can read me directly. It's online. You can go online and read the entire directive.

[42:22] If there's anything I misunderstood, please.

[42:26] Well, I just think that you're the impression

[42:28] that the police officer's going to stop my separation.

[42:31] And that's not what's going to happen.

[42:32] No, no, I understand that you can't

[42:36] eviscerate in the same way that residents

[42:37] can intervene in the investigation.

[42:40] As long as that investigation is lawful,

[42:43] and I think that's where the question is, right?

[42:46] When is it lawful?

[42:47] When is it unlawful?

[42:49] And when it's unlawful, it'll always

[42:52] be an impacting public safety.

[42:55] law enforcement needs to also follow laws. And we're coming on you, the police

[42:59] department, to be enforcing that here.

[43:10] Thank you for expressing your concern. I

[43:11] think temperatures right now are very high. We're all very concerned about the safety

[43:18] of our residents, right? I'm just one of clarity. So, you know, but I think the

[43:22] chief did answer your question that they followed. The immigrant trusts directly are

[43:27] please follow me. Sure, so I'm about to the next question.

[43:34] It sounds like we

[43:35] just received information about deciding in a point of time, right? And I

[43:40] understand that there are certain that the LNFs are present necessarily in certain

[43:43] investigations. What has prevented that information from being released? When or

[43:49] when he's the appropriate time for that information to be released so that

[43:53] people then aren't left in the dark about what's happening. So just today we just got

[43:58] Well, if that was a month ago, first of all, okay, we don't share intelligence when it comes to other agencies or our own investigations.

[44:08] There's a reason for it. It's for safe reasons. Okay, so there are some things we're not going to just tell you.

[44:14] And that may be one of them. Okay, and it has nothing to do other than the fact that under police operations, that's the way it has to be.

[44:23] and it has, you know, we're not hiding anything, we're not drawing anything

[44:28] other covers where we can pull them over, there's a matter of safety and that's

[44:33] what we do. This is one of those great areas that it's not a great area, it's

[44:39] clean. It's sex with public trust, right, and the fears currently that are valid

[44:44] about ICE right now, like the mayor himself just acknowledged that, and it's

[45:00] The difference with other municipalities and counties in New Jersey who are passing regulations versus

[45:07] regarding us, keeping them all public properties versus what's happening in the field.

[45:14] I'm not sure what you mean by what's happening. We'll feel the bill is done in number of things to help ensure that

[45:20] our residents are safe regardless of the membership status. I've listed them when I gave that update before.

[45:33] I don't know what the county considers it, it's regulation and I'm just a big word for it but they're preventing I see this from being on public property.

[45:42] Jersey City passed some of the legislation.

[45:45] So all in our opinion, really passed the legislation, there were executive orders issued.

[45:49] And so, in our form of government, I don't actually have the authority to write as a governor like that.

[45:56] So, we don't understand, don't understand, don't understand.

[45:59] So, all lots and lots of municipalities in New Jersey operate under different structures.

[46:08] Our structure is something sort of like the Wagner Act, but it's actually under a special charter.

[46:13] It won't get too far into that but what is required is a vote of the board basically to make any legislation possible.

[46:22] I am asked for some information to explore what's possible.

[46:29] Our attorney is reviewing it.

[46:32] Sometimes there might be an executive order and at the end of the day the federal government could still...

[46:38] So one in Jersey City, right, for example, they could come in, right?

[46:42] The federal government could still come in.

[46:44] They could utilize the city's property.

[46:49] And then it would be a court battle to determine if what Jersey City, by executive order and

[46:54] determine, is actually a force that we're not.

[46:56] So rather than stand here and make false promises to people, I'm actually doing my research first

[47:02] to make sure that if we were to pass something like that, I would be enforceable.

[47:06] the last thing I would want to do would give people false hope by

[47:10] say passing a resolution that said, you know, federal law can't come in and

[47:15] utilize our municipal properties for their activity and then how it

[47:20] happened and people go, why didn't that work, right?

[47:24] And that's a little bit of like where all of us are sitting right now

[47:27] in global government is also why we are collaborating and relying on

[47:32] the state for some violence because there's more strength.

[47:35] and there's more strength than we're going to be in passes as well.

[47:38] So, it's not the case that Bluefield isn't doing things.

[47:41] It is the case that they're trying to approach it in a way that makes sense,

[47:44] and that is informed, and that is data driven,

[47:47] and that it is legally appropriate, so that it is safe.

[47:51] Thank you for that clarification.

[47:53] And it's not to say that you're not doing it all right as a township.

[47:56] We're just residency, other towns doing more.

[48:00] And I'm trying to understand the difference.

[48:02] So, it sounds like you're trying to do your due diligence as best as possible.

[48:07] And it sounds like you have an experience about Jersey City's ability to enforce some of the things that you know.

[48:13] Anyway, anything that gets passed by executive order, anything that gets passed like that is all up for debate about the locality.

[48:20] Again, we wouldn't do it that way. I wouldn't do it that way here.

[48:23] When I asked council members to do it that way here, without us fully understanding the implications of that formal legal basis.

[48:31] That's why we have lawyers who do that, that's why we have discussion about it, right?

[48:36] Thank you. Again, these are the questions that are running through our minds and it's helpful to know

[48:41] how you're thinking about these things. So, I personally would like to embody what have been identified as

[48:48] Bluefield's values, inclusion, respect, and truth, and if not a pair, I go out of my way to seriously protect them.

[48:57] So, on October 20th of last year, the first board councilwoman, Benzales, and you may

[49:07] have passed or apologized, made a joint statement affirming an unwavering commitment

[49:14] to inclusion mutual respect.

[49:17] It further stated similar remarks to what I have expressed in passed-town home meetings

[49:23] that simply say advocating for one's culture should never come at the expense of another.

[49:28] The Council said it dedicated itself in the statement to anti-racism and community of mutual respect and value.

[49:36] A proposal was made last year that I believe satisfies the needs of each culture that this involves,

[49:43] but it did for me unacknowledged by the City Mayor and Council.

[49:46] It left the impression that no actual actions are going to be taken on this, which is unfortunate

[49:55] because it leaves implications of this monument that is still left in the work one, symbolizing

[50:04] genocide and the transatlantic slave trade for many.

[50:07] So I'm here to ask for your thoughts on that matter and to confirm if it is true that no

[50:12] action will be taken.

[50:17] You're being a little vague in your description.

[50:21] You know, recall what I'm okay.

[50:23] I showed up a couple of times to town hall to

[50:25] and regards to the Columbus Monument.

[50:27] That's one thing, word one, our public property.

[50:31] And I made a proposal about this.

[50:33] You're really close.

[50:34] Any discussion regarding removing monuments

[50:37] and keeping monuments in being a committee discussion?

[50:40] I mean, I appreciate your concern.

[50:43] I appreciate your thought.

[50:44] I appreciate the things I can prove forward with.

[50:45] And it is something we couldn't have a conversation with about, certainly, but I'm not committing

[50:52] to tearing down monuments and not committing to any of that, there's a lot of people that

[50:59] hold onto history here that have voices to and concerns of your members and all.

[51:05] So, of course, having to explore things always, and thank you for expressing your concern.

[51:13] Councilwoman, there's always any thoughts on this yourself.

[51:40] Community speaks, we listen, you know, but there's more than just one person we do, you

[51:48] know, everybody's entitled to course express their concerns and, you know, where you're listening.

[51:53] So, of course, and in no way am I saying yes, you just followed one person's interest.

[51:58] I think this is a shared community commitment, so I look forward to that discussion if I'll

[52:02] email the both of you about that. Thank you very much.

[52:19] First of all, I was actually just question kind of the town center. There's been a lot of

[52:23] work development going on there. I just wondered if the status kind of redeveloped the plan

[52:27] and also the transition.

[52:29] It's not a distinction.

[52:31] Sure. So a couple of things that are dollars that have been designated for New Jersey

[52:37] Transit. I think actually for both of our transitions, I have to figure out what the status is.

[52:42] so both of what's us saying as well as Michael and O'Puzzle,

[52:46] it's in the hands of the Jersey Transit.

[52:49] We sat through in a group presentations by them,

[52:54] and they told us like they're x percent of the way there

[52:58] and they'll come back to us.

[52:59] We do push them on it, because we know

[53:02] that roomfield's train station was in dire shape.

[53:06] And it needs help, and we've been strongly advocating

[53:09] for that actually alongside our assembly representative

[53:12] as well. So they're they're really pushing hard on it too. You know changing

[53:16] administration always makes things a little bit messy, but we're not going to let

[53:20] go. Money was designed for it. So hopefully that answers your question. I'm sorry.

[53:24] I don't have a better update for you, but I will get back. We'll put more

[53:28] information on it, so we have that coming. And then in terms of the center, there's a

[53:34] lot of, so there's zones throughout Bloomfield, right, that we're being out

[53:40] development. And so, in Bluefield Center, that's largely developed with the exception of,

[53:48] like, where I think there's a little theater I want to say. Exactly.

[53:54] We're actively always

[53:56] working to try to push for some cleanup over there and try to push for some new and creative

[54:02] ways to bring in better, maybe better uses of things other than open, you know, unused spaces.

[54:14] So there's conversations that are in the works, but again, it's really up to the interest

[54:19] of developers who come in. We're not building the township, the best that we can do is actually

[54:24] create the environment in which that's welcome to them.

[54:29] Yes, it's interesting. The Washingtonshire area seems to be almost thriving.

[54:33] The patches are also open out.

[54:35] It seems like a dancing social environment.

[54:38] I agree with you.

[54:39] I agree with you.

[54:40] We have a town planner.

[54:41] We do push the owners of those properties to get on whatever their plans are.

[54:45] Pretty actively at this point.

[54:47] We're pushing that.

[54:48] Again, we can't force the developer to develop as much as we can't force the developer not to

[54:53] celebrate.

[54:53] We don't make sort of control of the way that they do it.

[54:57] Thank you.

[54:57] Let's start. Thank you. Thank you

[55:09] all for being here tonight. I'm Cinemoraco. I live in the first ward and I've been pretty active with my previous councilwoman Jenny Mandel, now mayor and with my current councilwoman Rosalie Gonzalez.

[55:23] I'd like to thank the township and all different departments for their active involvement in improving the lives of senior citizens in Bloomfield.

[55:33] field. And one of the best things I think has happened, something I've been very involved

[55:39] with, is a calendar that includes all the different activities and locations and contact

[55:45] information for the seniors. So if you look in the e-buzz and you look through and you find

[55:53] the senior citizen section and you click on the calendar, you'll find all the things that

[55:59] available for seniors. And I'm guessing, but I'm just going to ask. I know there

[56:05] have been some increases in activities recently. At Oakside, we're going to do

[56:12] Monge out now on Tuesdays at the Civic Center. We've added a sewing club on

[56:18] Thursdays. And I'm just hoping that these initiatives and activities

[56:25] programming for seniors is going to continue. So Sue, I'll start with a thing

[56:31] thank you for all your hard work and making a very clear to us and advocating

[56:37] always on behalf of seniors. We have a lot of seniors in town, seniors are very

[56:42] important to us too. And you and I know that there's a whole senior advisory board

[56:47] which you have served on previously and now step decided let some new voices come

[56:51] and you know, we appreciate the feedback

[56:55] that's why we have that group.

[56:57] So, you absolutely have my full commitment.

[57:00] I know it's commitment, I'm gonna cancel 100%

[57:02] to keep these things moving.

[57:05] I know both our recreation department

[57:08] and our Department of Human Services

[57:09] are very, very engaged with seniors

[57:11] and they understand the mission and they get it.

[57:14] Like seeing where you're not gonna be left to science.

[57:18] They will absolutely continue.

[57:19] We have to look forward to hearing more ideas.

[57:22] Thank you so much.

[57:23] Thank you.

[57:24] In

[57:51] communities act.

[57:52] And the Safe Communities act to ensure safe access

[57:56] to essential services, including schools, houses of worship,

[58:01] healthcare facilities, food pantries, libraries, social services,

[58:05] and so on.

[58:07] Okay, so that was passed.

[58:08] It was passed by me, us, the assembly, it was signed by Murphy,

[58:12] that is now law. What does that actually mean when they say these are safe spaces?

[58:20] What happens if ICE chooses to visit those spaces?

[58:31] So there are different types of Lawrence, right?

[58:35] I think that's for an administrative warrant where there's not a judiciary warrant in place.

[58:44] So I think it protects the person from administrative warrants in those places, okay, but if it's a judicial war, it's a total difference.

[58:54] So if they can't go anything, which kinds of signs by a judge?

[58:59] So it means that if there isn't judicial warrants and they're seeking a specific person, they can't go into those spaces.

[59:05] As far as I'm aware, yes.

[59:08] But if it's an administrative warrant, they

[59:16] have to adhere to their laws too, they just can't go in without a warrant.

[59:22] But they do.

[59:24] I think that you're looking for clear-cut answers from us.

[59:30] We're in a same position where you guys are in.

[59:33] Luckily, in Roofield, we haven't had any of those.

[59:35] Yes.

[59:37] Hopefully.

[59:37] Hopefully now.

[59:39] So we really don't know, but again, I think the distinction between an administrative warrant

[59:48] and judicial warrant is where the confusion may lie to.

[59:53] Okay.

[59:54] The other two parts.

[59:55] The other two aspects.

[59:56] Mary, can I add one thing to that?

[59:58] Sure.

[59:58] so

[1:00:00] We rely on grade, obviously. I don't know all the rules to, you know, I rely on, like, our police department, as I write, to enforce the law as they are being told. I will commit, right, to seeking some clarity from both the Attorney General's Office as well as Governor Sheriff's Office. I'm sorry, I don't have a, we don't have, like, a very clear answer on that, but we're also struggling a little bit. That's what I mean when I say municipalities right now, we're all in the same boat.

[1:00:29] I am texting with mayors constantly.

[1:00:32] I was texting with the mayor of Hoboken.

[1:00:33] I'm texting with mayors in other areas, Ray, and they're saying,

[1:00:36] what are you doing in the situation?

[1:00:38] How are you doing this?

[1:00:38] We're sharing information right now, and we'll continue to do that, right?

[1:00:43] But I do want to say, I'm sorry that we don't have a more clear answer on that,

[1:00:49] but we will commit to getting more information.

[1:00:52] And just as an FYI, the other two acts that would not pass them or pass by the Senate

[1:00:56] and the assembly, they were not signed by Murphy,

[1:00:58] although we are working on revising those acts

[1:01:03] and putting them back in process.

[1:01:06] And we're introducing them into the legislature.

[1:01:09] There's the Privacy Protection Act.

[1:01:12] And then there is also the immigrant trust directive,

[1:01:15] which at this point is only a directive.

[1:01:17] And we are looking to get it codified.

[1:01:19] And that is still in process.

[1:01:21] So there's still work to be done.

[1:01:23] The directive doesn't, you know, have as many protections, build into it as it would in actual use of legislation.

[1:01:32] And so, hopefully, we will move things forward with Cheryl on that.

[1:01:37] And as well as privacy protections, that's also very important.

[1:01:42] And I'm just as an FYI, I'm immersed in this stuff at this point.

[1:01:46] And I'm happy to communicate with you many things that I do learn.

[1:01:51] Please do thank you new

[1:01:59] enough. Thank

[1:02:17] you everyone for tonight's

[1:02:20] Question regarding preschool for the town of Millfield

[1:02:27] Progress we may

[1:02:28] I think the

[1:02:39] question is expanded

[1:02:42] Yes

[1:02:42] So the municipal on the municipal end, we don't control that, that's something that has to go before the Board of Education.

[1:02:51] We are, and I've been made it very clear, very open to coordinating with the Board of Education if they're interested in talking about how we might be able to help make it happen, but it is really a Board of Education and the Board of Education issue.

[1:03:06] I'm sorry, I'm sorry, we don't, I can't help it, but I wouldn't, I wouldn't pretend to, yeah.

[1:03:11] No, no, no, it's fine, I just wanted to see if maybe you had any information you would share with us.

[1:03:15] No, but I would, I would take it, I'd take it to the board event for sure.

[1:03:18] Okay, thank you.

[1:03:19] And then my second question is, is related to the recreation space that's in the first board.

[1:03:25] I've been a resident here for 12 years, I have three little ones, so we're very involved in sports.

[1:03:30] I expected with the talent offers, so I think I've noticed that this is not a fit anyway.

[1:03:37] But I've noticed a lot of renovations and upkeeping is more focused on the Clarks lawns

[1:03:43] and Lionsgate, but when it comes to other recreation space, white, plastic park,

[1:03:49] or a growth site, it doesn't seem time to seem time to attention or upkeeping.

[1:03:53] So I wanted to see if there's any progress or renovations or any talks about how we can improve

[1:03:59] of those spaces. The reason I'm right there is because I love being a part of the blue field.

[1:04:04] And I know when we have the sports kind of kick off now, the spring needs to welcome a lot of people

[1:04:10] from all sides of the township when we're playing other towns. And it just kind of affects me in a way

[1:04:17] when I go and I attend these games and the park is not in the best conditions. It's a little embarrassing.

[1:04:22] As far as the city's space for the parents and just there's just a lot of garbage left behind,

[1:04:27] just a lot of overbleweed, and I just think that this area is a kind of left behind, and to me,

[1:04:33] you don't have a clean space that just kind of talks, you know, I just said a lot about the township,

[1:04:38] so I just wanted to see if there's any changes or anything planned for the new spread season as a plot house.

[1:04:45] Yeah, so I agree with you, right?

[1:04:46] I mean, you should get attention throughout town.

[1:04:49] We just had a meeting, actually, with the recreation director.

[1:04:54] I know he'll be able to give you a little more information than I would be right now.

[1:04:58] But we do have a part's improvement plan like the roads, right?

[1:05:03] Like other things that we do in town.

[1:05:04] We have to space it out because it's about dollars, right?

[1:05:07] So it's really budget-dependent.

[1:05:08] So we have more dollars, we get more CDBG money in when we get additional green acres grants

[1:05:15] we're able to do more for those parts.

[1:05:17] Lying Gate was something that actually came together through a series of men's

[1:05:23] amount of work and a lot of grant money that came in because we put a wet

[1:05:26] lantern and there was environmental remediation. So it's a beautiful part but

[1:05:30] it's also because there was willingness to help us put funding toward it, right?

[1:05:35] And it's newer so that one's going to look nicer, right? Pulaski's older has

[1:05:38] been there for a long time, you know, but that I mean we literally just have this

[1:05:43] conversation about, like, sort of the next round of where we're going to get some attention.

[1:05:48] We look here and talking about felt and feel, we're talking about rights, feel, I think

[1:05:52] Pulaski saw the list for some improvements.

[1:05:55] And then sometimes, and again, I'm sure to tell you this more specifically than I can,

[1:05:59] that sometimes he'll do specifically like basketball courts or we'll look at tennis courts

[1:06:06] that need to be upgraded.

[1:06:06] Can we restrict them from pickleball doing all the ones, right?

[1:06:09] So it's not always like a all all over the park. I once but but we do have a plan to make those improvements here

[1:06:19] The other thing I would say in terms of the cleanliness is if you see something tell us right so

[1:06:26] Some of it is that you know dpw goes out they clean on a regular basis like into those things but you know they're not everywhere all the time

[1:06:34] Yeah, so yeah, so if you call we'll absolutely say someone else and I know a lot of it has to do with the community support

[1:06:41] I totally get that not to throw shade on any one of them and I know everybody's going to report

[1:06:46] But I think the community of course also has to do with their report which is being a resident for 12 years

[1:06:51] I kind of see it on an ongoing basis where I thought tonight would be the next time I just kind of get back to the government's attention

[1:06:57] Yeah, absolutely. Thank you

[1:06:59] When the snow is gone

[1:07:01] We can re-evaluate of course, but if you have suggestions if you see something, if there's

[1:07:05] something that you, again, like we want the parts of our community to create, so if you

[1:07:10] want something in a specific park, let us know and we will, like, I've never known Mike

[1:07:15] Sherman not to explore something that wasn't like, you know, offered. He does that all the

[1:07:21] time, so we'll take that information back and we're really happy to do that, and we'd like

[1:07:24] the community to be feedback, because we kind of, we think about it from one perspective,

[1:07:33] I think of it from another perspective.

[1:07:36] Someone might look at it because they want different kinds of walking paths.

[1:07:40] Tell us.

[1:07:41] We'll respond to that.

[1:07:42] That's always on our radar panel.

[1:07:45] Thank you for the feedback.

[1:07:46] Thank you.

[1:07:49] That actually just reminded me of the Roxy Fars.

[1:07:53] Oh, yeah.

[1:07:54] And I think it's another topic part you'll talk about about when I'm in here.

[1:07:58] Is there any update on that?

[1:07:59] Yes.

[1:07:59] So Roxy Flores is one of the things that I'm going to talk about.

[1:08:00] We have finalized, finalized, I think at this point, the design for that.

[1:08:05] And we are in the process of working through two things.

[1:08:10] One is the funding to do that work.

[1:08:13] And then two is really just like getting things out to bed and activating on it.

[1:08:18] So our hope with RoxyForest is that I have it done this year, which feels funny to be

[1:08:23] right talking about the snow on the ground.

[1:08:25] That is like, Ramman, hopefully we can pull that off.

[1:08:28] Um, the other pocket part, uh, yes, the one right, okay, the former heartbreakers say

[1:08:38] if I were gone, yes, um, that was sort of like we put kind of in this side for the moment,

[1:08:44] it's not, you know, you drive by it right now, yes, it will re-explore that, but that would

[1:08:49] have been a bit lower on the primary list for now, given other projects, we'd rather do

[1:08:53] rock c-first, there's some other projects that we want to make sure we're up great, uh, the

[1:08:57] The Children's Library, for example, already just put capital money to that, which is important and well-used, so we'll keep that heartbreakers property, which is now our property in mind, and we'll see you open in the future.

[1:09:11] So thank you for the question.

[1:09:16] Anyone else?

[1:09:36] I have to first say thank you everybody for coming out and going to pull the line and allow me so before to ask questions.

[1:09:47] I'm daughter of the eighth grade. She gets at the middle school bus stop on Belville app right by the forest hills.

[1:09:54] I have a bus stop there. It's a day in the civil section. I have more respect than the world for the crossing grounds.

[1:10:01] from way back with Jerry DeVarca and Charlie Osco.

[1:10:06] I don't think I remember that part back.

[1:10:09] But big thing, my kids lives on one medication.

[1:10:13] There was a mere accident during the other day

[1:10:15] where the car wasn't looking, wasn't stopping,

[1:10:17] trying to get around to the right,

[1:10:19] heading eastbound, down the land.

[1:10:24] And the kids were in danger of it.

[1:10:27] I know it's kind of a game of intersection

[1:10:28] because it's a Canada road

[1:10:30] and the light doesn't always work up by the gun condominants.

[1:10:33] But the crossing noise also put it yourself at risk at a moon tonight like this when it's dark

[1:10:40] when some of the kids get up to late, but she don't always see her.

[1:10:44] I know she ended up getting a sign that had some lights on the stop sign,

[1:10:49] but it was the only way to better mark the intersection or to better put some reflective beam

[1:11:01] So that one light has been this function, so it's out of date, we cannot get parts for it.

[1:11:10] We're scheduled to get a new light there, so we're waiting on a county.

[1:11:16] I guess when the weather gets a little better, is that right, Bill?

[1:11:21] Yeah, the county has plans to completely redo that intersection and make it more,

[1:11:27] like a standard intersection with a brand new traffic signal, I have to check on the time frame

[1:11:34] for this night to see initial concept plans. That's going to be completely redone.

[1:11:38] In the meantime, would it be possible to get Ms. Monica some kind of better safety or better

[1:11:45] protection as she does with child crossing the kids?

[1:11:47] So we constantly check on our crossing guards. That spot especially with the snow has made

[1:11:54] it really difficult for her. We've had a police officer out there, but as you know, every

[1:11:59] place, lots of police officers, so we kind of like go to where it's most needed and that

[1:12:06] intersection being one of them. But we constantly are out there and monitoring it. I actually

[1:12:13] was out there myself personally speaking with her because of all the snow. I actually

[1:12:17] She's actually, of course, the kids in the street

[1:12:19] and contacted Sean at D.P.W.

[1:12:22] and he sent the front-motor there right away

[1:12:24] and cleaned it up for her.

[1:12:26] So we are aware of it and we're on top of it

[1:12:28] and we're doing everything we can to keep her safe.

[1:12:30] She's a rock star.

[1:12:31] She's great.

[1:12:32] Thank you for noticing.

[1:12:33] And one other thing for us, like safety,

[1:12:37] outside Holyfield, I've had it.

[1:12:40] I'm more than one occasion.

[1:12:41] People mention about lighting better

[1:12:44] on the Kennedy Boulevard side of the field.

[1:12:46] not just for after school events at the field, but also for some of the

[1:12:52] businesses like the Toe Truck Place or the Landscape Place, they all believe that

[1:12:57] it could be better lighting when they turn it back into their driveways and traffic

[1:13:01] is coming down to 40 miles an hour. People come racing around that corner like

[1:13:05] you know they're in the NASCAR or something.

[1:13:10] I know that's a thing with PSE and

[1:13:12] G and PSEG would have to, like I'm sure the ratepayers between the school

[1:13:17] doesn't have businesses on the block, I'm sure they would be, you know,

[1:13:24] willing to pay

[1:13:25] for that bill, but PSUG should put better lighting on the fully-fueled on JK.

[1:13:31] So, Tom, there's a couple of things we can do. We can take that feedback back to the representative

[1:13:37] that we work with from PSUG. It's an easy do for that. But the other thing I would encourage

[1:13:44] to do actually is you can request a street link on the PSUNG website. And we have found

[1:13:50] sometimes there's more power in it if residents do that. So I'd encourage every... we will ask,

[1:13:57] right? No problem on that end. But it's helpful if people actually go to that site too and request

[1:14:05] the street link. I actually have the numbers of each poll on the block. That's the event that are

[1:14:11] And if you want to share them with us, if you want to send us an email, we will also ask, but also do it, too, because they seem to respond better with more people who are plugging it into their service.

[1:14:25] Thank you very much. I appreciate you doing coming out.

[1:14:30] Excuse

[1:14:41] me, Mayor?

[1:14:42] Yes.

[1:14:42] I just wanted to make a clarification on the transcript.

[1:14:47] Bloomfield has 85 miles of roadway, not 1805, because it's a typo.

[1:14:53] Sorry, it feels like 1805.

[1:14:59] I'll see you in the next video.

[1:15:07] Okay.

[1:15:18] If we're allowing ICE to enter schools. So, one, that's something that the DOE would need to respond to. I do think that what Sherry has spoken about before, which is the SAVE Community Act, thank you. Does put some protections into place, but we'll seek some clarity around that. We are not letting ICE into schools.

[1:15:43] If ice goes into schools, you know, I think actually it's a very fair question to ask the board of education.

[1:15:52] And they can get sincerity on that as well.

[1:15:55] Thank you.

[1:15:55] On that note, I just want to invite anyone who is interested in coming to the next school board meeting.

[1:16:02] That is Tuesday, next Tuesday.

[1:16:04] I think it's 7 o'clock. I don't have to double check the time.

[1:16:07] But I'll be there and maybe I'll see some of you there too.

[1:16:10] Thank you.

[1:16:15] Any other questions?

[1:16:21] I just want to say thank you to everybody for coming.

[1:16:24] Thank you as always to our departments for being here and being supportive of our community

[1:16:29] you are every day.

[1:16:31] But showing up in a moment like this is, we're especially grateful for you for doing that work.

[1:16:37] Thank you to everybody sitting up here for the good answers to questions.

[1:16:41] I know my business card is up at the town table as this Councilwoman gives all this business

[1:16:47] card.

[1:16:47] You can reach any of your elected officials on through the, if you go on the Township

[1:16:52] website, all of our emails are there.

[1:16:54] And like I said, please go online, go sign up for alerts, try to get good information from

[1:17:00] us.

[1:17:00] We encourage you to follow good source of information.

[1:17:04] You know, right now it's really easy for anyone to say anything online.

[1:17:08] And so we're trying to combat the spread of bad information,

[1:17:12] just really in an attempt to keep our community safe and secure and stronger.

[1:17:16] So we're very grateful for you.

[1:17:18] And thank you, of course, to all the residents who came out tonight.

[1:17:20] Thank you for asking excellent questions.

[1:17:22] If you have more, we encourage you to ask us any time we're here for you.

[1:17:27] Can someone do you like to see something?

[1:17:30] So I just, I also want to thank everyone for being here.

[1:17:33] I know I'm personally sitting here for the scene,

[1:17:35] so I've been shaking this whole time.

[1:17:36] So I really appreciate you sitting through this, everybody watching online and asking questions.

[1:17:43] I want to second that, I can't even emphasize how important it is, sign up for your alerts.

[1:17:50] There's so many resources out, there's so many ways to reach us, to reach town, so utilize those

[1:17:57] avenues. You know, we thank you for your patience to, you know, sometimes we wish we could just fix

[1:18:05] everything with a snap of a finger and that's just not how it always works but that doesn't

[1:18:09] mean that we don't care, that doesn't mean that we're not listening, but it is important

[1:18:14] for you to take the proper channels, you know, email us, you have our cards, go on our website,

[1:18:19] sign up for eBuds, use that clean and strong link that's really important because that's tracked

[1:18:25] and there's accountability there. So, and thank you and thanks for your patience, you know,

[1:18:32] just encourage you to continue to just reach out to us, you know, we want to hear you,

[1:18:37] we want to see you, and that's what community is, so thank you for being here.

[1:18:43] And thank you for everybody out in the department at this stage.

[1:18:48] Thank you.

First Ward Community Resource Mtg: February 2026

Transcript