1
00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:05,520
benefit of public notice as required by
the open public meetings act. Madame

2
00:00:04,400 --> 00:00:07,440
clerk, please call the role.
>> Mr. Parabelli

3
00:00:06,400 --> 00:00:10,440
» here.
>> Here

4
00:00:10,800 --> 00:00:18,000
» please rise for the salute to the flag.
>> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the

5
00:00:15,759 --> 00:00:23,680
United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands. One nation

6
00:00:20,880 --> 00:00:26,560
under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all.

7
00:00:25,199 --> 00:00:29,560
» Please remain standing for the
invocation.

8
00:00:30,080 --> 00:00:36,640
Dear God, as we gather to conduct the
business of Hamilton, we humbly ask for

9
00:00:34,880 --> 00:00:40,160
your guidance, wisdom, and discernment,
we give thanks for the residents of the

10
00:00:38,239 --> 00:00:43,440
township, for our family, seniors,
veterans, business owners, first

11
00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:47,760
responders, healthcare workers,
educators, public employees, and many

12
00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:52,480
other volunteers who dedicate and
service stren and strengthen our

13
00:00:49,920 --> 00:00:57,360
township each day. May our work this
evening reflect respect for one another

14
00:00:54,640 --> 00:01:02,225
and a commitment to the common good. We
ask all these things in your name. Amen.

15
00:00:59,440 --> 00:01:05,040
» Amen.
[laughter]

16
00:01:03,280 --> 00:01:08,159
» Madame clerk, please proceed with the
agenda.

17
00:01:06,479 --> 00:01:12,080
» If you want to read changes,
>> I will do that right now. Uh there has

18
00:01:10,320 --> 00:01:16,880
been an amendment to the agenda since it
was posted to our website. Uh there have

19
00:01:14,320 --> 00:01:24,080
been additions to the website. Um I'm
sorry, to the agenda. CA1526-334

20
00:01:21,600 --> 00:01:29,280
is a resolution approving uh first
change order number one to contract

21
00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:35,040
24-327
awarded to Edward H Craig Incorporated

22
00:01:32,320 --> 00:01:39,520
for annual traffic signal maintenance
emergency repairs installation of rapid

23
00:01:37,520 --> 00:01:46,320
flashing beacons and driver feedback
signs for on behalf of the department of

24
00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:53,880
community and economic development uh
increase of 47,41 $31.56.

25
00:01:50,880 --> 00:01:53,880
CA1626-335

26
00:01:55,360 --> 00:02:01,920
is a resolution approving the first
change order number one to contract

27
00:01:59,680 --> 00:02:07,680
26-251
awarded to WJ Gross Incorporated for the

28
00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:12,720
purchase and installation of door access
control systems for the new municipal

29
00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:18,640
building located at 1750 White Horse
Mercerville Road utilizing the Camden

30
00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:24,560
County Educational Services Commission
co-op purchasing program

31
00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:33,640
number 66 CCPS
contract number FY23-01.

32
00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:33,640
This is an increase of $187,355.

33
00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:38,440
CA1726-336

34
00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:45,280
is a resolution authorizing the
settlement of a tax appeal Harris

35
00:02:42,560 --> 00:02:50,200
Hamilton Holdings LLC versus Township of
Hamilton docket number 007734-2021

36
00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:54,680
005826-2022

37
00:02:55,760 --> 00:02:59,239
and 005900-2023

38
00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:08,200
004323-2024
4 010095-2024

39
00:03:09,519 --> 00:03:12,519
005788-2025.

40
00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:23,280
That's for block 1520 lot 11.02 O2
CA1826337

41
00:03:21,519 --> 00:03:28,560
is a resolution authorizing the
execution of a memorandum of

42
00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:32,720
understanding with unity to improve
services and outcomes for victims and

43
00:03:30,640 --> 00:03:36,000
survivors of do domestic violence and
sexual violence and their companion

44
00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:41,760
animals.
CA19 is 26-338

45
00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:47,440
is a resolution authorizing the
execution of a representation agreement

46
00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:54,159
for professional legal services with the
firm of Gustiffson

47
00:03:50,560 --> 00:03:58,799
Gluick PLLC as part of a class action
litigation

48
00:03:56,400 --> 00:04:02,879
arising from injuries and damages
related to and caused by firetruck

49
00:04:00,879 --> 00:04:07,519
manufacturers and other defendants
unfair and anti-competitive

50
00:04:05,519 --> 00:04:12,239
business practices in violation of
antitrust laws. Can I please have a

51
00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:18,400
motion to the amendment of the agenda?
Uh, Council President, I move that we

52
00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:21,199
adopt the um changes to the agenda. I'll
second that, Madam Clerk.

53
00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:23,600
» On the motion, Mr. Carol,
>> yes.

54
00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:27,040
» I
Yes.

55
00:04:25,280 --> 00:04:31,440
» For your consideration, we have the June
16th regular council meeting.

56
00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:36,720
» Council President, I'll make a motion to
approve the June 16th uh 2026 council

57
00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:38,080
minutes. I'll second that.
>> Mr. Caribelli.

58
00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:39,759
» Yes. Mr.
>> Tai, yes.

59
00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:42,960
» Mr. Pero,
>> yes.

60
00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:47,680
» Next, we have communications uh for
proclamations for the month of August.

61
00:04:44,720 --> 00:04:52,320
We have overdose awareness day, which is
August 31st, and Women's Equality Day,

62
00:04:50,240 --> 00:04:56,720
which is August 26th.
>> Thank you, Council President. I move uh

63
00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:59,199
communications C1.
>> I'll second that.

64
00:04:58,240 --> 00:05:00,240
» Mr. Caravelli.
>> Yes. Mr.

65
00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:04,320
» Ty. Yes.
>> Mr. Pera.

66
00:05:01,199 --> 00:05:08,639
» Yes. is Miss Margarita Lehey of the
Mercer Council on Alcoholism and Drug

67
00:05:06,160 --> 00:05:10,400
Addiction. Is she here today? Hi, ma'am.
>> Hi.

68
00:05:09,039 --> 00:05:14,160
» I know you would like to speak. Can you
please come to the microphone?

69
00:05:12,240 --> 00:05:16,800
» Don't worry. I signed it under three
minutes.

70
00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:20,680
» The floor is yours.
>> Good evening, Council President.

71
00:05:20,880 --> 00:05:24,960
» Should be red.
>> Should be red.

72
00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:27,199
» Good. Four talking. We'll see if we get
picked up.

73
00:05:25,360 --> 00:05:31,840
» Good evening, Council President, members
of Hamilton Township Town Council, and

74
00:05:29,680 --> 00:05:35,039
community members. Thank you for giving
me Council on Alcoholism and Drug

75
00:05:33,440 --> 00:05:39,120
Addiction the opportunity to be here
tonight for recognition of this

76
00:05:36,560 --> 00:05:42,639
proclamation. I'm Elgarita Ley, the
executive director, and I'm here tonight

77
00:05:40,560 --> 00:05:46,800
with two of my staff, Victoria McCain.
She's the regional coalition coordinator

78
00:05:44,880 --> 00:05:50,720
here in Mercer County, and Caitlyn
Allen. We are grateful for this

79
00:05:48,800 --> 00:05:54,479
proclamation recognizing International
Overdose Awareness Month and for

80
00:05:52,720 --> 00:05:58,639
Hamilton Township's continued
partnership and commitment to our

81
00:05:56,240 --> 00:06:03,440
community. Tonight's proclamation is an
important opportunity to recognize why

82
00:06:01,039 --> 00:06:08,400
this day matters and to invite our
community and municipal leaders to join

83
00:06:05,600 --> 00:06:12,800
us. Your support is a powerful reminder
that no one should face the impact of

84
00:06:10,560 --> 00:06:16,479
overdose alone. Whether you come to
remember a loved one, support someone in

85
00:06:14,960 --> 00:06:21,360
recovery,
serve our community, or simply stand in

86
00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:26,720
solidarity, you are an important part of
this movement. This year's global theme

87
00:06:24,240 --> 00:06:31,600
is still needed. It reminds us that
while progress has been made for

88
00:06:28,479 --> 00:06:36,400
overdose deaths and they are declining,
the work is not finished. We are still

89
00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:41,199
needed to educate our community members.
We are still needed to reduce stigma. We

90
00:06:39,280 --> 00:06:46,479
are still needed to support individuals
and their family members affected by

91
00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:50,720
substance misuse. And we are still
needed to make sure that people know

92
00:06:48,160 --> 00:06:54,639
there's hope, recovery, and support
available. For more than a decade,

93
00:06:53,039 --> 00:06:58,960
Mercer County has proudly observed
International Overdose Awareness Day

94
00:06:56,400 --> 00:07:04,000
because every life matters. Every loss
leaves a lasting impact and every act of

95
00:07:01,680 --> 00:07:08,080
compassion makes a difference. We are
especially thankful to Hamilton Township

96
00:07:05,840 --> 00:07:12,400
for continuing to partner with us as the
host of this event at Veterans Park. We

97
00:07:10,639 --> 00:07:16,960
truly appreciate the township's support
and dedication. A special note of

98
00:07:14,639 --> 00:07:21,360
gratitude goes to the grounds crew,
police officers, first responders, and

99
00:07:19,360 --> 00:07:25,120
township staff who helped make this
gathering possible through their

100
00:07:23,120 --> 00:07:29,120
assistance and hard work. This
partnership is a wonderful example of

101
00:07:26,880 --> 00:07:33,919
how municipal government and community
organizations can come together to serve

102
00:07:31,280 --> 00:07:38,160
our residents. So tonight, we'd like to
extend an invitation not only to the

103
00:07:35,759 --> 00:07:45,039
council, but to all the town township
residents to join us on August 27th at

104
00:07:41,280 --> 00:07:49,599
5:30 p.m. uh to at Veterans Park for
this event. Come to remember those we

105
00:07:47,759 --> 00:07:54,800
have lost. Come and support those in
recovery. Come and stand beside families

106
00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:59,840
who have been impacted. Come learn,
connect, and be part of a community that

107
00:07:56,879 --> 00:08:04,080
believes every person deserves dignity,
compassion, and an opportunity for

108
00:08:01,680 --> 00:08:07,840
recovery. Thank you again to the council
for this proclamation, for your

109
00:08:06,160 --> 00:08:12,560
continued partnership, and for
recognizing that this issue affects all

110
00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:17,039
of us as a community on August 27th. We
hope you will join us because we are

111
00:08:14,720 --> 00:08:19,919
still needed and together we can make a
difference. Thank you so much on our

112
00:08:18,879 --> 00:08:24,879
behalf.
>> Thank you. We thank you for all the good

113
00:08:21,680 --> 00:08:24,879
work that you DO AS WELL.

114
00:08:33,279 --> 00:08:39,039
I MAKE A QUICK COMMENT. OKAY.
>> UH, Margarita and your team, thank you

115
00:08:37,599 --> 00:08:42,800
so much for coming tonight. Thank you
for your support. Um, I know most of us

116
00:08:41,279 --> 00:08:47,200
in the room can attest that
unfortunately, you know, including my

117
00:08:45,360 --> 00:08:51,279
family, we've been impacted with
individuals in in in our um in our

118
00:08:49,760 --> 00:08:57,839
family that have been, you know, that
have uh gone down the path of um drugs

119
00:08:54,880 --> 00:09:03,680
or alcoholism and and um it's not a
final final uh say. There's there's a

120
00:09:01,040 --> 00:09:06,959
there's definitely a tomorrow. uh and
through your support and your team

121
00:09:05,040 --> 00:09:13,880
support and individuals like you that
give of your time and uh effort um you

122
00:09:09,760 --> 00:09:13,880
make a difference. So, thank you.

123
00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:18,880
» Madam Cler, please proceed with the
agenda.

124
00:09:17,279 --> 00:09:28,160
» Yes. Next for your consideration is
consent agenda items CA1 through CA19.

125
00:09:24,160 --> 00:09:34,800
» Just to run through um we do have a
couple uh reappointments uh to uh

126
00:09:31,360 --> 00:09:40,320
positions. We have uh line item that was
added for an opioid settlement uh in the

127
00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:46,480
amount of $46,000.
Um pedestrian safety improvements around

128
00:09:43,120 --> 00:09:50,440
Clockner. Um large item uh that was
awarded to us for $869,000.

129
00:09:50,720 --> 00:09:59,920
Uh grant application for $14,000
as well. Uh shared services agreement

130
00:09:57,839 --> 00:10:06,399
with Robinsville for the ecological
center. uh pond restoration project. Uh

131
00:10:03,920 --> 00:10:10,240
if you remember that's at Saiyan. Uh
that money was already approved. Half uh

132
00:10:08,480 --> 00:10:13,920
is from the grant and half comes from
us.

133
00:10:11,760 --> 00:10:19,600
Uh one-year extension for emergency
repairs for WPC.

134
00:10:17,440 --> 00:10:24,560
Um
prof service professional service

135
00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:29,920
agreement uh transferred from uh one
person to another one company to another

136
00:10:26,800 --> 00:10:37,120
rather. uh our various uh rental and
cancellation uh refunds of events and uh

137
00:10:33,519 --> 00:10:42,640
tax overp payments. Um an exciting one
is the uh municipal building furniture.

138
00:10:39,920 --> 00:10:49,360
Uh the deis uh that's just one gets us
one step closer. And um I'll leave it

139
00:10:45,839 --> 00:10:53,279
there and if my council colleagues uh I
know Ricky you were in the agenda

140
00:10:50,560 --> 00:10:57,519
meeting. If you have any thing to add to
uh our consent agenda items and then

141
00:10:55,279 --> 00:11:04,480
Councilman Caribella can follow up.
>> I'm just u glad to be partnering with

142
00:10:59,920 --> 00:11:11,399
Unity uh to improve the services and
outcomes for the uh victims and

143
00:11:07,279 --> 00:11:11,399
survivors of domestic violence.

144
00:11:13,040 --> 00:11:19,839
I'll just mention briefly um on the on
the consent agenda the council president

145
00:11:17,440 --> 00:11:23,600
um and you mentioned that you know uh
establishing the ongoing shared

146
00:11:21,920 --> 00:11:26,560
agreement shared services agreement with
Robinsville that you know our

147
00:11:25,120 --> 00:11:31,440
cooperative relationship with our
neighboring um municipality. I'd love to

148
00:11:28,959 --> 00:11:36,000
see that. Um
and then also

149
00:11:33,839 --> 00:11:44,240
I I had one question for Kathy. Kathy,
regarding the um the uh CA7 the contract

150
00:11:41,440 --> 00:11:48,560
with Kevin Downs Tree Service, this is
this is all part of the work that we're

151
00:11:47,040 --> 00:11:51,680
doing. I know that part of it's funded
by a grant. Council President mentioned

152
00:11:50,079 --> 00:11:56,160
that part of it funded by capital
dollars, but this is just not only are

153
00:11:54,160 --> 00:12:00,399
we fixing the pond, but we're also
taking down I guess removing trees and

154
00:11:58,320 --> 00:12:04,399
putting in trees. How what can you give
me? part of a whole plan that they've

155
00:12:02,160 --> 00:12:10,720
done to for restoration, but most of it
is the restoration of the pond itself,

156
00:12:06,720 --> 00:12:15,680
which is a very specific type of work.
Um, and so we've gone out to bid for

157
00:12:13,360 --> 00:12:21,600
this to get the best that we can for
that, but it also needs to be uniquely

158
00:12:18,800 --> 00:12:26,560
qualified companies and individuals that
we end up choosing. And this one is. And

159
00:12:24,399 --> 00:12:30,560
so we're really looking forward to we've
been waiting to kind of kick off this

160
00:12:28,880 --> 00:12:33,040
project because it's a big one
>> and uh but it'll be beautiful when it's

161
00:12:32,480 --> 00:12:38,440
all done.
>> Excellent. Okay, that was all

162
00:12:41,360 --> 00:12:48,639
» any other questions or comments from
council on the consent agenda items. So

163
00:12:46,320 --> 00:12:51,760
at this time uh we will take people from
the audience that wish to speak and

164
00:12:50,160 --> 00:12:56,560
remember this is only on the consent
agenda items uh on the agenda. Uh if you

165
00:12:55,279 --> 00:13:00,800
would like to speak please raise your
hand. We'll call you up. You'll have

166
00:12:58,000 --> 00:13:04,639
four minutes to speak and um please
remember this is at this time it's not

167
00:13:02,639 --> 00:13:07,839
public comment. This is only on consent
agenda items.

168
00:13:06,664 --> 00:13:13,600
[snorts]
Yes sir. When you come up, please state

169
00:13:10,720 --> 00:13:16,560
your name uh and uh what town you live
in for the record. And you have four

170
00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:21,839
minutes.
>> Sure. Kevin, Hamilton Township.

171
00:13:18,639 --> 00:13:26,800
» Um I have a question regarding CA142633.
The $102,000

172
00:13:24,320 --> 00:13:31,360
$12,6121
we're spending on a podium and deas

173
00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:35,320
furniture for the new council chambers.
What are we getting for $102,000?

174
00:13:36,079 --> 00:13:42,160
» That's a maximum that we're allowing to
be spent. And that's for the furniture

175
00:13:39,839 --> 00:13:46,399
for the new council chambers.
>> I mean, $102,000 worth of furniture

176
00:13:45,120 --> 00:13:48,240
sounds like an awful lot of furniture
for a day. I

177
00:13:47,920 --> 00:13:50,800
» it
>> I I know we're excited about the new

178
00:13:49,680 --> 00:13:54,480
building and the new chambers and
everything, but that just seems I mean,

179
00:13:52,959 --> 00:13:56,800
I've never bought Deis furniture or
podium.

180
00:13:55,279 --> 00:14:03,279
» I haven't I haven't either, so I can't
say whether it's a lot or not a lot.

181
00:13:58,800 --> 00:14:09,519
» Uh CA14 uh 333. It ju it just seems like
a a a really really significantly high

182
00:14:06,800 --> 00:14:14,320
number for for deis furniture in a
podium. Um I know we're excited about

183
00:14:11,519 --> 00:14:18,480
the new building. Um but this kind of
feels like you know we're we're just

184
00:14:16,639 --> 00:14:23,920
spending a lot of money and we feel like
you know we we want some nice new stuff.

185
00:14:20,399 --> 00:14:28,959
So we're we're maybe just approving some
some really big numbers for some maybe

186
00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:33,839
not so necessary things. And uh I think
the council should probably take a

187
00:14:31,600 --> 00:14:37,959
closer look at that because that seems
very excessive.

188
00:14:34,720 --> 00:14:37,959
» Thank you.

189
00:14:38,079 --> 00:14:45,625
» Understood.
>> Anyone else? Sir, come on up.

190
00:14:43,605 --> 00:14:45,625
[laughter]

191
00:14:45,920 --> 00:14:50,240
» Just your name and what town you live in
for the record, please.

192
00:14:48,560 --> 00:14:52,240
» Uh Andy Casmer Hamilton.
>> Thank you.

193
00:14:50,560 --> 00:14:56,399
» I would just like to follow up with this
gentleman. What are we doing with the

194
00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:59,519
furniture we already have here? I mean,
that's going to get transferred over to

195
00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:02,800
the new building, I would assume.
>> Yeah, that and the wallpaper we're going

196
00:15:00,959 --> 00:15:06,480
to take to the Smithsonian. [laughter]
>> Well, all the chairs you're sitting in,

197
00:15:04,639 --> 00:15:11,120
and that was a very smart answer that
you just gave. I hate to say that to

198
00:15:08,399 --> 00:15:15,120
you, but all the things that are here
aren't going to just get thrown out. I

199
00:15:12,959 --> 00:15:18,800
would assume. I would think you're
taking some of this. I just wanted to

200
00:15:17,360 --> 00:15:23,199
know what's happening with everything
that's here. We talk every meeting about

201
00:15:21,279 --> 00:15:27,120
the furniture in here and the wallpaper.
That's why it's it's a joke to everybody

202
00:15:25,040 --> 00:15:30,320
that comes to every meeting because we
talk about the wallpaper that's been up

203
00:15:28,639 --> 00:15:32,399
for so long. Wasn't taking a shot or
being a wise guy.

204
00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:34,000
» It sounded like it.
>> Okay. Well, I wasn't.

205
00:15:33,440 --> 00:15:37,000
» Thank you.
>> Welcome.

206
00:15:37,970 --> 00:15:43,440
[laughter]
>> Hello. Um, I'm kind of new to Hamilton,

207
00:15:41,600 --> 00:15:47,760
so I just want to introduce myself. My
name is Ma Honey. I live on Sundance.

208
00:15:46,399 --> 00:15:50,959
» Yeah, somebody recording the meeting.
Did we get permission to do so?

209
00:15:50,399 --> 00:15:54,320
» I'm sorry.
>> Yeah, you're not. We have there's uh

210
00:15:52,800 --> 00:15:58,880
rules. You're not just allowed to record
any meeting. You have to put a written

211
00:15:56,000 --> 00:16:03,759
re response in.
>> You have to put a written request in for

212
00:16:00,320 --> 00:16:07,360
that prior to the meeting. Thank you.
>> I'm sorry. Your name again?

213
00:16:05,040 --> 00:16:11,920
» Esma Elhouni. Yes. So, I wanted to
introduce myself. I'm sorry. I have not

214
00:16:09,199 --> 00:16:15,920
been in meetings in the past. Um I've
been pulled by a lot of ICE activity.

215
00:16:14,240 --> 00:16:19,759
So, it's been keeping me away from
actually coming to the meetings. Um but

216
00:16:17,759 --> 00:16:25,120
I also have a question in related to the
same topic. Uh I just wanted to know how

217
00:16:21,920 --> 00:16:27,839
you came up with this number 102,000. So
if you could please answer that for the

218
00:16:26,639 --> 00:16:31,360
public as well.
>> Okay.

219
00:16:28,480 --> 00:16:38,000
» So there's so there's going to be a dis
built uh similar to this. It's custom

220
00:16:34,639 --> 00:16:43,759
for the room. Uh so there it's it's a
relatively high expense item because

221
00:16:40,880 --> 00:16:48,480
it's being built custom for that room.
Um and then the entire room needs to be

222
00:16:46,560 --> 00:16:52,639
filled with furniture. Uh it's going to
cover all the furniture in that room.

223
00:16:50,320 --> 00:16:57,519
It's going to be a larger room uh than
this room to provide more comfort to the

224
00:16:55,279 --> 00:17:02,720
members of the public in the future uh
who will hopefully continue to uh join

225
00:17:00,079 --> 00:17:08,959
us at our meetings. Uh there is a a
breakdown. It's um there are flip top

226
00:17:06,319 --> 00:17:15,839
council dis tables.
Each one of those units is a little bit

227
00:17:11,280 --> 00:17:25,039
under $8,000. There are 12 of those. Um
there's uh council podiums, two of those

228
00:17:19,760 --> 00:17:31,840
like that. Um about 35 3,800 each. So
right there, that gets you to $102,000.

229
00:17:29,440 --> 00:17:36,799
» And it's important to remember too that
this is also shared with another

230
00:17:34,320 --> 00:17:42,240
governing body. So the board of ed is
also you utilizing this room. So the

231
00:17:39,039 --> 00:17:47,520
room is going to be utilized almost all
the time when the new building is open.

232
00:17:44,640 --> 00:17:52,559
So it's really outfitting that and it's
it's the sound system that's within the

233
00:17:49,679 --> 00:17:58,400
deis as well. So that adds uh money to
it as well. So you know it's uh

234
00:17:55,520 --> 00:18:02,960
construction prices have gone up in the
last time I looked at them. But this is

235
00:18:01,200 --> 00:18:08,080
bid like everything else that we're
required to do. So, this was the lowest

236
00:18:05,520 --> 00:18:12,880
responsive bid that we got for the
outfitting of the day room.

237
00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:17,760
» Thank you. And Kathy, just uh in
answering that uh gentleman's question

238
00:18:15,280 --> 00:18:20,960
um regarding the property that we have
here,

239
00:18:18,799 --> 00:18:24,640
» some of it it will go over to the new
building, but some of it will also be

240
00:18:22,799 --> 00:18:29,200
auctioned, I'm assuming. Right. for all
of the files. Um, and in all of the

241
00:18:27,520 --> 00:18:36,240
offices here, we're taking all of the
file cabinets um to move them to the new

242
00:18:33,360 --> 00:18:42,480
building. Other furniture is not being
taken. It's old enough. We haven't

243
00:18:38,960 --> 00:18:48,400
replaced furniture in many years here
knowing that we were going to have uh a

244
00:18:45,600 --> 00:18:54,000
new building at some point. And so we
did not spend money on things like

245
00:18:50,559 --> 00:18:59,600
building upkeep and and um the furniture
within. However, because we're a public

246
00:18:56,000 --> 00:19:04,799
entity, we're required to auction off
anything that we don't use in the new

247
00:19:02,480 --> 00:19:10,799
building. So nothing will just be left
here. We'll have to inventory it and um

248
00:19:08,240 --> 00:19:14,559
and then auction it off sometime after
we vacate this building.

249
00:19:12,720 --> 00:19:18,480
» Thank you.
>> Anybody else? Lisa, come on up.

250
00:19:21,600 --> 00:19:26,360
We're just going to take a timeout while
they sign.

251
00:19:31,039 --> 00:19:36,640
» H.
>> Yeah, they're just signing their names

252
00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:40,440
for the next part. Yeah,
>> I have Lisa first.

253
00:19:41,679 --> 00:19:47,120
» Well, we're I called Lisa up. We're just
waiting, giving everybody an opportunity

254
00:19:45,200 --> 00:19:50,120
to sign in and then we'll do the consent
agenda.

255
00:19:52,080 --> 00:19:57,080
» It's okay. Yeah, we'll just give him a
minute.

256
00:20:06,523 --> 00:20:12,480
[laughter]
>> What is the sign in for?

257
00:20:09,600 --> 00:20:16,640
» The sign in is to to speak uh over here.
The sign in is to speak during uh public

258
00:20:14,799 --> 00:20:22,039
comment which would be the open part of
the meeting. This is about the consent

259
00:20:18,320 --> 00:20:22,039
agenda right now.

260
00:20:22,899 --> 00:20:24,919
[snorts]

261
00:20:29,449 --> 00:20:31,469
[laughter]

262
00:20:32,000 --> 00:20:36,600
» Are you there?

263
00:21:06,240 --> 00:21:13,280
All right, we're going to reconvene the
meeting, Please.

264
00:21:09,679 --> 00:21:16,559
» Good evening. Williams Hamilton.
>> It's okay. It's the same topic. They're

265
00:21:14,880 --> 00:21:21,280
probably bored by it by now. So, how
many bids did we get on the the

266
00:21:19,039 --> 00:21:26,760
» Please give the speaker the attention.
>> How many bids did we get for the Das

267
00:21:23,760 --> 00:21:26,760
furniture?

268
00:21:27,840 --> 00:21:32,400
» Do you know there was there was only one
bid submitted.

269
00:21:30,559 --> 00:21:36,640
» So, we got the lowest of one.
>> 15 prospective bid biders viewed the

270
00:21:34,720 --> 00:21:39,600
bid, but only one submitted a bid.
actually submitted a bid.

271
00:21:38,159 --> 00:21:41,360
» So, we got the only bid. We don't know
if there's a better deal because nobody

272
00:21:41,039 --> 00:21:45,120
else
>> Well, there was 15 people viewed it, but

273
00:21:43,039 --> 00:21:49,760
only Sorry, Rick. Go ahead.
>> Right. You only got one bid package. So,

274
00:21:47,919 --> 00:21:53,919
we said we got the lowest bidder. We got
the only bidder. So, there might have

275
00:21:52,080 --> 00:21:57,679
been a cheaper person if somebody wanted
to get involved and maybe if they could

276
00:21:55,440 --> 00:22:03,280
fix it. I just think there's been a lot
of public unhappiness on social media

277
00:22:00,320 --> 00:22:08,000
about our tax bills. So, I think that we
need to be very careful about every

278
00:22:05,520 --> 00:22:13,600
dollar we spend. And while this is being
shared with the school district when

279
00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:17,919
there was that meeting at um the senior
center in the beginning of the process,

280
00:22:15,600 --> 00:22:22,240
even the mayor said that the reason that
we were building, the town was doing the

281
00:22:20,000 --> 00:22:26,240
building with the school district
because the school district couldn't as

282
00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:31,360
easily do it. And it's all the same
taxpayers. So all the same taxpayers, no

283
00:22:28,880 --> 00:22:36,320
matter how you slice this, are paying
for every single thing and people are

284
00:22:34,159 --> 00:22:40,000
struggling. Our tax increases, whether
you want to call it the municipal side,

285
00:22:38,080 --> 00:22:43,679
school district, or the county side,
were high. The school district would not

286
00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:46,320
have gotten the authority to build the
would not have passed a referendum to

287
00:22:45,280 --> 00:22:50,320
build the buildings primarily
administration. Are we taking the TVs

288
00:22:48,640 --> 00:22:55,200
and electronics with us or are we
auctioning all of that off too? I know

289
00:22:53,039 --> 00:22:58,720
this is just for this the furniture, but
people need to be careful. There are

290
00:22:56,799 --> 00:23:02,640
people in this town struggling and they
don't qualify for senior freeze because

291
00:23:00,480 --> 00:23:08,159
they're not 65 and they make
significantly less than $172,000 cut off

292
00:23:05,679 --> 00:23:15,360
of a senior freeze applicant right now.
>> So So the answer is yes. We are taking

293
00:23:12,400 --> 00:23:20,559
things like that, right? We have cameras
and things that are are part of our our

294
00:23:18,000 --> 00:23:23,840
video systems and all of that. Those are
coming with us. We're not replacing

295
00:23:22,159 --> 00:23:28,480
those and we're not auctioning those
off. And in fact, some of the say the

296
00:23:26,799 --> 00:23:31,840
camera systems, some of those have been
purchased recently, but we make sure

297
00:23:30,320 --> 00:23:35,840
they're portable so that we can just
take them and bring them with us.

298
00:23:33,280 --> 00:23:38,080
Nothing here is done permanent anymore
because we want to be able to bring it

299
00:23:37,520 --> 00:23:41,360
with us.
>> Okay. Thank you.

300
00:23:39,440 --> 00:23:43,600
» So, there's only one bit.
>> Yes,

301
00:23:41,840 --> 00:23:46,600
» there was one responsive bidder. That's
correct.

302
00:23:47,520 --> 00:23:50,520
» Yes.

303
00:23:51,191 --> 00:23:56,320
[clears throat]
>> Juliana Carella, Hamilton resident. same

304
00:23:54,159 --> 00:23:59,840
topic. Um, only because you mentioned
the speakers. Is this also going to

305
00:23:57,760 --> 00:24:02,240
include potentially the live streaming,
you know, capacity, whatever we were

306
00:24:01,360 --> 00:24:05,760
talking about last meeting?
>> I don't know that I don't know the

307
00:24:03,679 --> 00:24:06,880
answer to that. That's an idea, but we
can find out.

308
00:24:06,159 --> 00:24:09,880
» Okay, perfect.
>> Right.

309
00:24:11,600 --> 00:24:21,159
» Were you raising your hands? Yeah. Oh,
I'm sorry. Anybody else that would like

310
00:24:16,480 --> 00:24:21,159
to speak on the consent agenda items?

311
00:24:22,480 --> 00:24:28,799
Okay, seeing none,
>> council president, seeing,

312
00:24:27,440 --> 00:24:31,679
sorry about that. Second,
>> uh, seeing no members of no additional

313
00:24:30,480 --> 00:24:36,080
members of the public wishing to
comment, I move that we close the public

314
00:24:33,600 --> 00:24:41,840
comment portion and move consent agenda
items CA1 through CA18

315
00:24:40,240 --> 00:24:44,799
» through CA19, excuse me.
>> I'll second that.

316
00:24:43,120 --> 00:24:47,039
» I have a motion, Mr. Carelli.
>> Yes. Mr.

317
00:24:45,840 --> 00:24:50,039
» Yes. Mr.
>> Yes.

318
00:24:50,240 --> 00:24:57,360
Ordinance 126-026
is an ordinance adding and amending

319
00:24:54,799 --> 00:25:03,279
supplementing the code of the county
part three land use legislation chapter

320
00:24:59,840 --> 00:25:08,559
550 land development article one section
550-8 detention centers caral facilities

321
00:25:06,880 --> 00:25:12,480
correctional facilities jails and
prisons is the second reading of public

322
00:25:10,400 --> 00:25:17,120
hearing
>> questions or comments from council

323
00:25:14,080 --> 00:25:19,919
» no uh we're expressly prohibiting uh
these types of facilities with disorders

324
00:25:18,799 --> 00:25:23,200
ordinance
>> agreed.

325
00:25:21,600 --> 00:25:30,440
Uh, you have anything to borrow?
>> No. Questions or comments from the

326
00:25:25,760 --> 00:25:30,440
public on ordinance 126-026?

327
00:25:30,752 --> 00:25:32,772
[laughter]

328
00:25:34,080 --> 00:25:38,120
» Yep. Ordinance number one.

329
00:25:38,960 --> 00:25:43,960
Seeing none, can I Okay.

330
00:25:45,600 --> 00:25:50,320
» Hi. I want to say thank you so much for
actually having an ordinance that would

331
00:25:49,200 --> 00:25:52,159
ban detention centers.
>> Ma'am,

332
00:25:51,039 --> 00:25:54,559
» can you just state your name and what
time?

333
00:25:52,720 --> 00:26:00,240
» Walk Charlene Walker. Thank you.
>> And um I serve the city of Hamilton

334
00:25:58,720 --> 00:26:02,640
among other locations. Thank you.
>> I'm the executive director of Faith in

335
00:26:01,840 --> 00:26:05,679
New Jersey.
>> Thank you.

336
00:26:03,360 --> 00:26:11,200
» Um I want to applaud you for actually
having an ordinance to ban detention

337
00:26:08,320 --> 00:26:13,679
centers, but I do would I would like you
to strengthen it just a little bit.

338
00:26:13,360 --> 00:26:18,480
Okay.
>> Can you please add in administrative

339
00:26:15,600 --> 00:26:24,960
offices um that support those detention
centers because there is a widpread

340
00:26:21,840 --> 00:26:28,880
um thing that's happening where people
are like well we can't build a detention

341
00:26:26,720 --> 00:26:34,240
center here but we can put an office
here or or checkin and that is also part

342
00:26:32,240 --> 00:26:38,720
of the detention center pipeline. So
repeat repeat your request

343
00:26:35,760 --> 00:26:42,080
» to add in any administrative offices
>> that support

344
00:26:39,679 --> 00:26:46,960
» that support detention
jail and deportation.

345
00:26:44,960 --> 00:26:54,799
» Uh would that be would that already be
covered in the the uh legal terms

346
00:26:50,320 --> 00:26:58,240
» included in carc carceral activities?
>> Not technically.

347
00:26:56,480 --> 00:27:00,400
» We're not interested in having those
places.

348
00:26:58,960 --> 00:27:05,440
» To add again
>> any offices that support those systems.

349
00:27:03,360 --> 00:27:09,600
So like Geog Group will open an office
in this township and it would be for

350
00:27:07,520 --> 00:27:14,000
check-ins, it will be for processing, it
will be for paperwork, it will be for a

351
00:27:11,279 --> 00:27:18,159
whole host of things and that also
contributes to

352
00:27:15,840 --> 00:27:21,200
» relating to prisoners and check-ins and
that type of thing. I would I would feel

353
00:27:19,919 --> 00:27:26,200
pretty confident that that would fall
under uh carceral activities.

354
00:27:27,200 --> 00:27:33,200
» I'm going to have to look at that as a
lawyer.

355
00:27:31,679 --> 00:27:36,559
not opposed to
>> Yeah, I just I need to look more into it

356
00:27:35,200 --> 00:27:39,120
and see, you know, now that we have
this,

357
00:27:37,440 --> 00:27:42,720
» we'll see where we go because, you know,
if it just

358
00:27:41,440 --> 00:27:44,480
» I need to look into it more.
>> Okay.

359
00:27:43,360 --> 00:27:48,840
» Please reach reach out.
>> Yeah. All right.

360
00:27:45,679 --> 00:27:48,840
» Thank you.

361
00:27:49,039 --> 00:27:57,600
» Hi again. It's me. Um I also wanted to
state uh we bought our first house here,

362
00:27:54,960 --> 00:28:01,200
so I'm actually going to stay here. I'm
super super happy about that. So, I

363
00:27:59,360 --> 00:28:05,520
definitely want to make Hamilton as safe
and great. And I also wanted to say I'm

364
00:28:03,200 --> 00:28:10,240
so happy to see this. This is makes me
feel really like my heart is still warm

365
00:28:07,679 --> 00:28:14,799
by this. And I wanted to know as people
who make sure that our immigrant

366
00:28:12,799 --> 00:28:19,440
community feel welcome here. If you'll
also also add something in there to

367
00:28:17,120 --> 00:28:24,080
ensure that our police department aren't
handing people over to ICE through our

368
00:28:21,919 --> 00:28:27,279
jail systems through detainers. So, if
you don't know, I'll just explain this

369
00:28:25,520 --> 00:28:32,559
really quickly. I know that we see some
confused faces. Um so basically in the

370
00:28:29,840 --> 00:28:35,679
constitution it says um innocent until
proven guilty, right? There's something

371
00:28:34,000 --> 00:28:39,120
called due process that everyone is
afforded. Correct? Everyone understands

372
00:28:37,600 --> 00:28:45,200
that part so far?
>> So if you accuse me of a crime, so say

373
00:28:41,600 --> 00:28:50,320
you say I um assaulted someone and I get
arrested simply by this accusation and I

374
00:28:48,240 --> 00:28:54,559
get arrested. I didn't see a judge yet.
If you are an immigrant in the

375
00:28:52,960 --> 00:29:00,320
department in the municipality of
Hamilton, the police department can hand

376
00:28:57,760 --> 00:29:03,919
you over to ICE. And so what I'm asking
is just to make sure the constitution

377
00:29:02,080 --> 00:29:11,120
applies to everyone. And can you just
ban detainers without judicial warrants?

378
00:29:07,360 --> 00:29:14,559
So judicial warrant says you have ICE,
we're not going to hand you over like

379
00:29:12,720 --> 00:29:17,520
ICE has to have that person with a
judicial warrant. But most of the

380
00:29:16,000 --> 00:29:21,200
detainers is just like I said, people
get arrested. They're not they never see

381
00:29:19,360 --> 00:29:26,640
a judge. They're never found guilty and
they're handed over to ICE. So, I would

382
00:29:23,200 --> 00:29:30,159
like to add um banning detainers without
judicial warrants. So, if there's a

383
00:29:28,480 --> 00:29:33,120
judicial warrant, no problem. Hand them
over to Ice. But if there isn't a

384
00:29:31,520 --> 00:29:37,360
judicial warrant for the safety of
everyone, for equity, we um we hope that

385
00:29:35,600 --> 00:29:40,640
we can add that. So, I'd love to speak
more with you all about that if that's

386
00:29:39,039 --> 00:29:43,520
okay as well.
>> We could talk offline about that.

387
00:29:42,000 --> 00:29:47,520
» All right. Thank you.
Is it okay if I just like hear any like

388
00:29:45,840 --> 00:29:50,159
opinions you guys have? And
>> I have questions for our attorneys on

389
00:29:49,200 --> 00:29:54,159
that same topic.
>> Wonderful. And may I hear um everyone's

390
00:29:52,080 --> 00:30:00,320
opinion just on the fact that immigrants
are being handed over to um ICE uh

391
00:29:58,320 --> 00:30:05,440
without ever seeing a judge? Do you have
an opinion on that? And without ever

392
00:30:02,240 --> 00:30:09,200
actually having been um found guilty of
anything, just being accused.

393
00:30:07,039 --> 00:30:14,399
» So, we're going to stick to what we're
doing here. Um, yes. So, this is a

394
00:30:11,520 --> 00:30:19,200
zoning law that we're and and part of
our protocol is to stay on topic. So,

395
00:30:17,279 --> 00:30:23,679
we're we're talking about a zoning law.
At the end of the meeting, if you want

396
00:30:20,720 --> 00:30:26,159
to come back up and and readress this
issue, okay,

397
00:30:24,799 --> 00:30:28,480
» and we can talk about it more at that
time.

398
00:30:26,880 --> 00:30:31,200
» Yeah. I was actually connecting it to
the deta detention centers that you have

399
00:30:30,480 --> 00:30:32,480
here.
>> Yeah.

400
00:30:31,600 --> 00:30:37,279
» So, yeah.
>> Yeah. What what I think my question is,

401
00:30:34,880 --> 00:30:41,360
which will help you understand where I'm
coming from, does that apply to this or

402
00:30:40,080 --> 00:30:45,840
would it need to be passed with
something else, right? Is that because

403
00:30:43,760 --> 00:30:50,240
we are I know law enforcement in New
Jersey already has orders from the

404
00:30:48,399 --> 00:30:57,919
governor's office on how this is going
to happen and not happen. So would that

405
00:30:54,559 --> 00:31:02,880
would what is being requested
apply to this ordinance or would it be

406
00:31:00,559 --> 00:31:06,080
something separately because I
understand your purpose.

407
00:31:04,720 --> 00:31:07,039
» Totally understood. Totally respect
that.

408
00:31:06,559 --> 00:31:11,039
» Yeah.
>> However, does it go right? Are we trying

409
00:31:09,600 --> 00:31:15,760
to just shove it in with something else
or does it have to be done separately or

410
00:31:12,960 --> 00:31:19,120
is that even our body of law? And I'll
let you answer that.

411
00:31:16,559 --> 00:31:23,360
» So two things. It is governed by
attorney general state. Am I on? Yes. It

412
00:31:22,000 --> 00:31:30,320
is governed by the attorney general of
the state. So we can't we can't overstep

413
00:31:27,840 --> 00:31:32,960
what are the directives from from
>> You can't hear me? Yeah.

414
00:31:31,520 --> 00:31:37,200
» I'm sorry.
>> I mean that's really unusual that people

415
00:31:34,960 --> 00:31:43,039
can't hear me. [laughter] That's
>> um so what I was saying is that it is

416
00:31:40,960 --> 00:31:45,840
it's governed by the state of New Jersey
and the attorney general's office. There

417
00:31:44,320 --> 00:31:50,000
are directives coming straight down from
that. So that's one question. Number

418
00:31:48,000 --> 00:31:54,399
two, it is not attached to this
ordinance. Um, and it can't be part of

419
00:31:52,799 --> 00:32:00,000
this ordinance. We would have to do
something. We would have to figure out

420
00:31:57,039 --> 00:32:06,799
» if we wanted to if if we could if there
was a way to to to do something more.

421
00:32:02,559 --> 00:32:09,919
But I think it's actually uh
it's

422
00:32:08,000 --> 00:32:13,279
» really controlled by the right at this
time by the state government and and the

423
00:32:12,159 --> 00:32:14,240
directors of the attorney general's
office.

424
00:32:13,760 --> 00:32:18,080
» Okay.
>> If I may, thank you. So now I'll

425
00:32:15,919 --> 00:32:22,640
introduce myself as my actual position.
My name is Esini and I'm uh a community

426
00:32:20,559 --> 00:32:26,559
organizer with Resistencia and Axion. So
we do immigration work. We actually

427
00:32:24,559 --> 00:32:30,159
advocated for this law to pass. So we
actually sat with people who passed it.

428
00:32:28,880 --> 00:32:36,399
And just wanting you which
>> law this recent law that says that um

429
00:32:33,840 --> 00:32:41,039
police can't um you know work with ICE,
right? And and other things like shared

430
00:32:38,480 --> 00:32:45,440
data, etc., etc., right? And so um
actually the law states that the state

431
00:32:43,519 --> 00:32:49,039
law is the floor. In fact, if you look
at the video where it passed, we have

432
00:32:47,519 --> 00:32:53,440
legislators who stood up on the floor
and said, "This is the floor. We expect

433
00:32:51,200 --> 00:32:56,399
local municipalities to go above that to
protect their community." So, we're

434
00:32:54,960 --> 00:33:02,000
asking you to do that. So, it's
absolutely in your discretion to decide

435
00:32:59,200 --> 00:33:05,120
not to hand people over to ICE just
because they're accused of something.

436
00:33:03,600 --> 00:33:10,080
So, basically, just for you to know,
it's it's an administrative request. So,

437
00:33:07,919 --> 00:33:11,679
it's not a judicial warrant. So, that's
why

438
00:33:10,399 --> 00:33:14,640
» No, I understand the difference between
the administrative warrants and and the

439
00:33:13,120 --> 00:33:18,159
judicial warrants. Yes. So yeah, I I
advise you to just watch the the video.

440
00:33:16,240 --> 00:33:21,120
I know a lot of lawyers aren't like
haven't really looked into the law, but

441
00:33:19,760 --> 00:33:24,640
because this is what we do, our
executive director is here. She can talk

442
00:33:22,720 --> 00:33:28,159
a little bit more about that. Uh but
this is literally what we do. So that's

443
00:33:26,240 --> 00:33:33,039
why we studied this law. Faith and
action with was with was with us as well

444
00:33:30,240 --> 00:33:37,440
to pass this law. We're happy about the
law, but it's it's not strong enough.

445
00:33:35,600 --> 00:33:41,519
And as the legislator said, it's the
floor because immigrants are still not

446
00:33:39,039 --> 00:33:44,480
being protected and they're still being
Yeah.

447
00:33:42,640 --> 00:33:47,440
I I apologize, but what was your name?
>> Asma Elhuni.

448
00:33:45,919 --> 00:33:53,039
» It's very nice to meet you. We'll be
happy to talk to you. Uh right now,

449
00:33:49,279 --> 00:33:56,880
we're going to focus on this uh on this
uh ordinance, which is about the actual

450
00:33:55,679 --> 00:34:00,960
facility.
>> That process we can talk to you about,

451
00:33:58,960 --> 00:34:05,360
no problem. But let's focus on this
getting this passed to ban the

452
00:34:02,399 --> 00:34:09,200
facilities or if it passes, I can't say
which way everybody's going to vote, but

453
00:34:07,200 --> 00:34:12,560
um let's get this going and then let's
have a conversation. um more than happy

454
00:34:10,960 --> 00:34:13,919
to sit and talk with you and hear what
you have to say.

455
00:34:13,280 --> 00:34:16,879
» Thank you so much.
>> Um but let's get this passed and and

456
00:34:15,599 --> 00:34:21,599
then move on to the next fight.
>> I appreciate it. Thank you.

457
00:34:17,760 --> 00:34:25,599
» You're welcome. Thank you.
>> Yes, it is.

458
00:34:22,639 --> 00:34:32,599
» Okay.
>> Yes, ma'am. You are correct.

459
00:34:29,599 --> 00:34:32,599
Council

460
00:34:32,720 --> 00:34:38,480
President, seeing no further comments
from the public on ordinance number

461
00:34:35,919 --> 00:34:43,599
126-026,
uh, which is on second reading, um, I

462
00:34:40,639 --> 00:34:47,280
look to move, uh, this ordinance, um,
and bring it before our council body.

463
00:34:45,520 --> 00:34:49,760
» I'll second that.
>> On the motion, Mr. Harvelli,

464
00:34:49,200 --> 00:34:53,119
» yes.
>> I Mr. Pero,

465
00:34:52,320 --> 00:34:59,839
» yes.
>> I must answer for you. [laughter]

466
00:34:55,359 --> 00:35:05,680
» 30 or 26 027. Sorry. Recommending the
code of New Jersey

467
00:35:02,720 --> 00:35:11,599
legislation chapter 273 jewelry precious
gems secondhand goods dealer section

468
00:35:09,040 --> 00:35:14,960
273-6 dealer's responsibilities
requirements and record keeping

469
00:35:13,359 --> 00:35:17,359
establishing a 10-day waiting period
before we second reading of public

470
00:35:16,800 --> 00:35:21,920
hearing
>> and madame uh attorney if you could just

471
00:35:20,000 --> 00:35:26,880
uh refresh my recollection this is uh
establishing a waiting period to uh

472
00:35:24,079 --> 00:35:29,760
coincide with law uh to update our local
ordinances correct

473
00:35:27,839 --> 00:35:33,440
» that's correct so what we were just this
is just more of a cleanup than anything

474
00:35:31,520 --> 00:35:39,599
because our ordinance didn't actually
state how many days you had to um hold

475
00:35:37,280 --> 00:35:44,320
the items. So this is just making it
very clear in our state in our

476
00:35:41,920 --> 00:35:48,480
ordinances to match what is said in the
state.

477
00:35:46,320 --> 00:35:52,040
» Perfect. Thank you. Any questions or
comments from council?

478
00:35:52,800 --> 00:36:01,520
» Okay. Anybody that would like to comment
on this ordinance only, 26028 number

479
00:35:57,599 --> 00:36:05,200
three, I'm sorry. Uh I apologize. 26027
number two. Uh if you would like to

480
00:36:03,359 --> 00:36:11,000
comment, please raise your hand. We'll
call you up and you have your minute.

481
00:36:07,760 --> 00:36:11,000
Four minutes.

482
00:36:12,000 --> 00:36:17,920
President uh seeing no members of the
public wishing to comment, I move that

483
00:36:15,359 --> 00:36:23,280
we close the public comment portion and
move ordinance 226 26-027

484
00:36:22,240 --> 00:36:26,480
on second reading.
>> I'll second.

485
00:36:25,599 --> 00:36:31,359
» Yes.
>> Yes. Mr.

486
00:36:27,599 --> 00:36:34,720
» Yes. Order 326-28.
An ordinance amending and supplementing

487
00:36:32,720 --> 00:36:41,839
the code of the town of town jury sector
485 traffic article 2 parking section

488
00:36:38,240 --> 00:36:44,839
485-9 handicap is establishing a
handicator

489
00:36:50,720 --> 00:36:58,280
questions or comments from the public on
ordinance 3 uh 26028

490
00:37:01,359 --> 00:37:06,240
Council President, seeing no further
comments from the public on this, I'd

491
00:37:04,160 --> 00:37:10,880
look to close the public close the
public comment portion and move on

492
00:37:08,000 --> 00:37:13,280
ordinance 326-028.
>> I'll second that.

493
00:37:12,240 --> 00:37:15,200
» Mr. Farell,
>> yes.

494
00:37:14,000 --> 00:37:20,119
» Yes. Mr.
>> Yes. 3 ordinance 42-029

495
00:37:24,160 --> 00:37:31,599
chapter 485 traffic 2 parking section
485-9

496
00:37:29,920 --> 00:37:37,119
parking prohibited at all times on
certain streets establishing no parking

497
00:37:33,839 --> 00:37:42,079
zones on Randle Avenue and the Avenue.
So, ordinance 3 was uh establishing a

498
00:37:40,320 --> 00:37:47,760
handicap parking spot and the difference
here is ordinance 4 26029

499
00:37:45,359 --> 00:37:55,040
is establishing no parking zones on two
specific areas. Um, questions or

500
00:37:50,480 --> 00:38:01,320
comments from council on ordinance port.
>> Oh, do you know why we need no parking

501
00:37:57,599 --> 00:38:01,320
zones on these streets?

502
00:38:02,880 --> 00:38:07,359
» This where the school is. Yeah. Oh, this
is where we were talking about doing a

503
00:38:06,400 --> 00:38:10,720
oneway.
>> No, no, no, no,

504
00:38:08,640 --> 00:38:14,079
» no. That's Kickstart. This this is this
is a school. It's creating problems

505
00:38:12,240 --> 00:38:20,079
where people are parking.
>> Okay, got it.

506
00:38:17,680 --> 00:38:25,320
» Questions or comments from the public on
ordinance 4 uh 26029.

507
00:38:26,281 --> 00:38:29,440
[snorts]
Seeing none,

508
00:38:27,920 --> 00:38:34,400
» council president. See no members of the
public wishing to comment, I'll move uh

509
00:38:32,160 --> 00:38:37,599
ordinance
426-029

510
00:38:36,720 --> 00:38:39,839
on second reading.
>> I'll second that.

511
00:38:39,119 --> 00:38:42,240
» Mr. Carav.
>> Yes.

512
00:38:40,720 --> 00:38:46,000
» Yes. Mr.
>> Yes.

513
00:38:43,839 --> 00:38:51,839
Ordinance 526
ordinance authorizing

514
00:38:47,920 --> 00:38:57,920
property designated as 21102
located in the town of Fountain County

515
00:38:54,720 --> 00:39:02,000
and Mercer state of New Jersey.
>> Alless do you want to go ahead? You have

516
00:39:00,160 --> 00:39:07,520
anything on this? Well, the the one
thing that I would say is uh the

517
00:39:04,079 --> 00:39:14,240
township owns dozens of very small
parcels of property uh throughout uh the

518
00:39:11,119 --> 00:39:19,200
township. It creates a an added burden
on public works to have to maintain

519
00:39:16,320 --> 00:39:26,079
these properties. We have an opportunity
uh to sell this particular parcel very

520
00:39:22,160 --> 00:39:30,640
small uh less than a tenth of an acre uh
to the neighboring property owner. uh

521
00:39:29,119 --> 00:39:36,000
that'll get it off of our books so
they'll put it back on the tax rolls and

522
00:39:34,160 --> 00:39:39,040
um and be less work for
>> and it'll be au it's going to be

523
00:39:37,280 --> 00:39:43,200
auctioned so it won't just be given to
one person they'll have the opportunity

524
00:39:41,119 --> 00:39:47,760
uh equal opportunity to purchase it
>> anyone else and we according to the

525
00:39:46,240 --> 00:39:52,160
statute we have to get the fair
basically what it's worth the fair

526
00:39:49,200 --> 00:39:55,760
market value so the lowest bid is that
number so we're not giving away the

527
00:39:53,680 --> 00:39:59,920
property for
less than what it's worth 26,000 assumed

528
00:39:59,040 --> 00:40:02,000
what's the number?
>> Yeah.

529
00:40:00,320 --> 00:40:06,880
» Yeah. So much uh much like it was
brought up uh with the excess uh

530
00:40:04,560 --> 00:40:10,960
furniture or material we just did uh the
excess mulch those things those items go

531
00:40:09,280 --> 00:40:15,599
up for auction. This is done with a
similar way. So similar to how stuff

532
00:40:12,800 --> 00:40:20,880
will be done here uh that property is
going to be auctioned off the same way.

533
00:40:17,680 --> 00:40:26,720
Alyssa, um, is there, and I should know
this, but I I forget, is do the

534
00:40:23,760 --> 00:40:31,599
neighbors, uh, get notified? Is it
something where they'll get a specific

535
00:40:28,160 --> 00:40:34,880
notification that goes out to them? And,
um, but it's an auction for anyone who

536
00:40:33,599 --> 00:40:39,520
is wishes
>> this spec there's different statutes

537
00:40:37,839 --> 00:40:40,560
depending on the type of property that's
being sold.

538
00:40:40,160 --> 00:40:45,920
» Okay.
>> In this situation, the property is not a

539
00:40:44,000 --> 00:40:50,640
buildable buildable lot, right? we have
no public use for it. And so there's a

540
00:40:48,079 --> 00:40:54,480
specific subsection in the statute that
pro that dictates how this how we can do

541
00:40:53,040 --> 00:40:59,599
the auction and to whom we can auction
the property to. In this specific type

542
00:40:56,880 --> 00:41:04,960
of situation, since it's less than a
buildable lot, um there are neighbors on

543
00:41:01,839 --> 00:41:08,800
either side. It only can be auctioned
and we have no public use for it. We can

544
00:41:06,720 --> 00:41:12,319
only be auctioned to the two neighbors
on either side. It turns out we actually

545
00:41:10,800 --> 00:41:14,640
own a piece of property behind, but
we're not going to bid on our own

546
00:41:13,680 --> 00:41:18,480
property, obviously.
>> Okay. Um, so it's there's three

547
00:41:16,640 --> 00:41:24,079
contiguous property owners, two
neighbors that are separate entities

548
00:41:21,280 --> 00:41:28,319
plus us. So we're not bidding. So those
those two and they have a choice whether

549
00:41:27,200 --> 00:41:30,400
» they're the only two that can bid on
this.

550
00:41:28,720 --> 00:41:36,160
» Correct. And and and they're not forced
to bid on it if they don't want to

551
00:41:31,599 --> 00:41:41,520
» want to. Okay. Makes sense.
Rick, you have anything? Okay. Uh,

552
00:41:38,960 --> 00:41:44,520
anyone wishing to comment on ordinance
526030?

553
00:41:45,040 --> 00:41:51,040
Second reading and public hearing.
>> Council President, seeing no further

554
00:41:49,760 --> 00:41:55,920
comments from the public, I'd look to
close the public comment portion and

555
00:41:52,560 --> 00:41:58,240
move on ordinance 526-030
on second reading.

556
00:41:56,880 --> 00:42:00,240
» I'll second that.
>> On motion, Mr. Parelli,

557
00:41:59,680 --> 00:42:03,240
» yes.
>> I

558
00:42:05,040 --> 00:42:12,079
Okay. So, just to give an explanation, I
know we have a lot of um newer people to

559
00:42:09,359 --> 00:42:16,400
the meeting. Uh at this time, this is uh
public comment. So, you're more than

560
00:42:14,800 --> 00:42:22,000
welcome to talk about something on the
agenda or you can come here with an

561
00:42:18,880 --> 00:42:29,359
issue that you had if whatever it may
be. Um, during this time, uh, we ask to

562
00:42:26,720 --> 00:42:35,359
everybody be respectful to one another,
right? Whoever has the floor has the

563
00:42:31,280 --> 00:42:38,720
floor. Don't shout, don't belittle them,
show them the same respect we give

564
00:42:36,880 --> 00:42:42,800
everybody else, including that we want
for ourselves. Um, they get four

565
00:42:41,200 --> 00:42:45,520
minutes. Everybody here is going to get
four minutes. If you don't want your

566
00:42:44,240 --> 00:42:50,000
four minutes, then you don't have to
take a full four minutes. You can say,

567
00:42:47,200 --> 00:42:52,880
"I'm done." Uh, after we go through the
whole list the first time, if you want

568
00:42:51,359 --> 00:42:56,560
to come back up a second time, you can
come back up for additional 2 minutes to

569
00:42:54,800 --> 00:43:01,200
talk about the same thing or you can
bring up something new, whatever it is

570
00:42:58,160 --> 00:43:06,400
you want to talk about. Everybody good?
So, we're going to go through the list.

571
00:43:03,839 --> 00:43:13,440
We have a lot of people signed up. I
apologize if I screw up names. Some of

572
00:43:09,599 --> 00:43:18,640
the handwriting is not as clear as
I would like it to be.

573
00:43:16,400 --> 00:43:23,839
So, uh I mean I am going to do my best.
I will get everybody up here and uh we

574
00:43:21,760 --> 00:43:28,560
try to keep the same order the second
time, but if we go out of order, we just

575
00:43:26,160 --> 00:43:33,119
try to make sure, like I said, give your
neighbor the same respect that you asked

576
00:43:30,000 --> 00:43:36,880
for and everything works out okay. We're
not always going to get alone. We're not

577
00:43:35,200 --> 00:43:40,800
always going to agree, but we need you
to come here because we don't hear

578
00:43:38,319 --> 00:43:44,560
things unless you tell us.
>> Fair.

579
00:43:42,560 --> 00:43:48,720
» All right. Now, my eyes are not 20 years
old anymore. They're almost 50. So, I'm

580
00:43:47,200 --> 00:43:51,920
going to try and read some of this.
>> You're a baby.

581
00:43:50,480 --> 00:43:55,359
» I'm going to try and read some of uh
Reverend looks like um Eric.

582
00:43:54,640 --> 00:43:59,680
» Yes, sir.
>> Sir, you are up first. You are first on

583
00:43:57,119 --> 00:44:01,440
the list. I apologize. I cannot read um
your last name. If you could state your

584
00:44:01,040 --> 00:44:04,880
name.
>> Absolutely, sir. And you don't have to

585
00:44:02,800 --> 00:44:08,079
state your address for the record. We
don't ask that. We allow that privacy.

586
00:44:06,319 --> 00:44:09,200
But your town, if you from here,
>> where I'm at,

587
00:44:08,720 --> 00:44:13,359
» that's okay.
>> Uh my name is Reverend Eric Cusman. I

588
00:44:11,440 --> 00:44:17,920
serve as lead pastor of St. Bartholomew
Lutheran Church on South Clinton Avenue.

589
00:44:16,319 --> 00:44:21,680
» Um
I'm here to uh I'm representing a

590
00:44:19,760 --> 00:44:28,880
coalition of folks in a family right now
over uh the failure of the Arrive

591
00:44:24,319 --> 00:44:36,000
Together program. Uh on July 27th there
was a call of a crisis uh suicidal son

592
00:44:33,119 --> 00:44:41,040
which was met with police violence.
>> Can you pause this time for one second?

593
00:44:39,359 --> 00:44:42,000
» If you see us Yeah. pause this time not
the recording.

594
00:44:41,680 --> 00:44:46,319
» Sorry.
>> If you see us looking down and not we're

595
00:44:44,400 --> 00:44:49,520
not being disrespectful. We're not not
listening.

596
00:44:47,440 --> 00:44:52,800
» And take notes because there's a lot of
speakers and it's very difficult to

597
00:44:51,040 --> 00:44:55,599
remember everybody what they say. So
take notes. If you see us looking down,

598
00:44:54,400 --> 00:44:58,400
I promise we're not being
>> No, that's that's fine. That's cool.

599
00:44:56,800 --> 00:45:01,040
» Just want to, like I said, we have a lot
of new new faces and I don't want people

600
00:45:00,319 --> 00:45:04,560
thinking that we're not
>> a lot of folks in this room are a part

601
00:45:02,319 --> 00:45:06,000
of that coalition also. So concerned
community.

602
00:45:04,880 --> 00:45:09,280
» That's why I'm trying to be upfront and
clear. I swear we're not playing games.

603
00:45:08,480 --> 00:45:10,319
We're literally thinking about
>> I got you.

604
00:45:09,920 --> 00:45:14,319
» Thank you, sir.
>> So you see me looking down. I have some

605
00:45:11,599 --> 00:45:18,720
notes and I'm going to read tomato
tomato. You know, [laughter]

606
00:45:15,920 --> 00:45:21,599
» you can pull a chair up.
>> You can continue, sir.

607
00:45:19,760 --> 00:45:25,359
» Yeah. So, I I I would assume that you
all are familiar with the Arrive

608
00:45:23,040 --> 00:45:30,079
Together Act. Uh, if I'm correct,
Hamilton Township was the pilot program

609
00:45:28,000 --> 00:45:35,040
which pairs a a police officer with a
mental health professional in times of

610
00:45:31,599 --> 00:45:40,400
crisis. I'm highlighting the failure of
this program in the township of

611
00:45:36,560 --> 00:45:43,920
Hamilton. Um,
as we know, there's been a lot of issues

612
00:45:42,000 --> 00:45:47,280
with the failure of this just all around
the state right now between Sebrooks

613
00:45:46,240 --> 00:45:50,079
and Patterson. And there was a
grandmother in New Brunswick that was

614
00:45:48,640 --> 00:45:57,800
shot by police officers mental health
crisis. Thank God this wasn't that.

615
00:45:54,240 --> 00:45:57,800
But um

616
00:45:57,920 --> 00:46:05,040
these incidents are highlighting the
widespread failing of a system that

617
00:46:02,240 --> 00:46:08,640
relies on its militarized police force.
Police have come in with aggression

618
00:46:06,800 --> 00:46:13,280
looking for perpetrators without having
the proper training and care to help

619
00:46:10,480 --> 00:46:17,920
those in need. Uh, I'm going to
highlight putting handcuffs on a

620
00:46:15,440 --> 00:46:23,280
17-year-old that slit his wrist is not
okay. That's technically illegal.

621
00:46:21,760 --> 00:46:27,200
They're supposed to treat the wound in a
mental health crisis.

622
00:46:25,359 --> 00:46:32,960
Um,
instead of deescalation, officers met a

623
00:46:30,000 --> 00:46:37,200
family on July 27th with aggression,
left a five and 11year-old unattended

624
00:46:35,839 --> 00:46:40,319
while they arrested the rest of the
family in the house, and charged them

625
00:46:38,800 --> 00:46:44,240
with an exuberant amount of charges. is
that is ridiculous.

626
00:46:42,240 --> 00:46:49,839
I've seen house footage. I've seen
cameras. The way your township's

627
00:46:47,119 --> 00:46:54,560
officers behaved was borderline racist
because it was a Spanish family. There's

628
00:46:51,680 --> 00:46:58,240
comments and videos that I've heard.
This is not okay. This is not who we

629
00:46:56,880 --> 00:47:02,240
are. I have a lot of respect for the
township of Hamilton and the community

630
00:46:59,599 --> 00:47:05,520
here. A lot of my members in my in my my
congregation are from the township of

631
00:47:03,839 --> 00:47:09,839
Hamilton
and this family are members of my

632
00:47:07,760 --> 00:47:17,520
congregation.
So, I'm not going anywhere. Okay. But

633
00:47:15,200 --> 00:47:20,640
let me just highlight
the family called for help during a

634
00:47:19,200 --> 00:47:26,480
mental health crisis. And that's the
main point, right? They deserved care,

635
00:47:23,920 --> 00:47:32,880
safety, and support. And ex and and
instead they experienced force, arrest,

636
00:47:29,760 --> 00:47:36,400
separation, and further trauma.
We are asking the council to use the

637
00:47:34,480 --> 00:47:42,319
authority it has now to stand with the
family, pursue accountability, and

638
00:47:39,040 --> 00:47:46,240
change the systems that failed them.
So, number one, we're requesting an

639
00:47:43,920 --> 00:47:50,079
independent investigation.
We demand the council pass a resolution

640
00:47:48,319 --> 00:47:53,760
formally requesting an independent
investigation by the Mercer County

641
00:47:51,680 --> 00:47:58,400
Prosecutor and where appropriate, the
New Jersey attorney general and to the

642
00:47:55,760 --> 00:48:02,160
police response to this family. The
investigation should examine the use of

643
00:48:00,000 --> 00:48:06,000
force, arrest, deescalation, treatment
of family members, disability

644
00:48:04,000 --> 00:48:10,400
consideration, supervision, and
compliance with law and policy. And we

645
00:48:08,720 --> 00:48:15,200
ask that findings be made public to the
fullest extent allowed by the law.

646
00:48:12,880 --> 00:48:20,000
Number two, investigate what failed
inside Hamilton. We demand that council

647
00:48:18,079 --> 00:48:23,760
examine Hamilton's systems and decisions
surrounding that in this incident. How

648
00:48:22,240 --> 00:48:28,640
the family's calls for help were
received and dispatched, what officers

649
00:48:26,000 --> 00:48:34,000
were told, what why police were sent,
why deescalation was not attempted, what

650
00:48:32,240 --> 00:48:38,240
role supervisors played, and what
happened after the family was arrested

651
00:48:35,520 --> 00:48:41,680
and separated from their son.
I also want to remind you when they took

652
00:48:39,839 --> 00:48:46,079
the son finally to a hospital, they did
not notify what hospital the child went

653
00:48:44,240 --> 00:48:50,640
to.
>> That's not acceptable and I hope that's

654
00:48:47,920 --> 00:48:55,839
not acceptable with anybody here.
Um,

655
00:48:52,800 --> 00:48:59,440
we demand the council pass a resolution
supporting the family's call. Is that my

656
00:48:58,800 --> 00:49:02,000
time up?
>> You finish finish the thought there?

657
00:49:01,280 --> 00:49:05,119
» Yes,
>> please.

658
00:49:02,880 --> 00:49:08,240
» Um, we demand public reporting of at
least three years of Hamilton mental

659
00:49:06,720 --> 00:49:11,359
health and disability related police
encounters, including calls for

660
00:49:09,599 --> 00:49:17,760
assistance, arrest, use of force,
injuries, complaints, crisis service

661
00:49:13,520 --> 00:49:21,119
referrals, repeat calls, and outcomes.
>> You can come up for your additional two

662
00:49:19,520 --> 00:49:22,880
minutes. I want to get through everybody
on the list.

663
00:49:21,680 --> 00:49:27,319
» Yeah. Yep. Absolutely. You're more than
welcome.

664
00:49:24,160 --> 00:49:27,319
» Thank you.

665
00:49:33,734 --> 00:49:35,754
[applause]

666
00:49:37,200 --> 00:49:43,599
Next up is a minister and I do not want
to uh butcher your name.

667
00:49:42,480 --> 00:49:45,920
» It's okay.
>> Say say for the record and say it for my

668
00:49:45,280 --> 00:49:49,920
own knowledge.
>> Hello everybody. My name is Minister

669
00:49:47,280 --> 00:49:57,280
Arane Janto. I come with the St.
Balonian church in Trenton in solidarity

670
00:49:54,240 --> 00:50:00,880
with the Arkal family who were beat,
mishandled,

671
00:49:58,880 --> 00:50:04,880
and had their constitutional rights
violated by the Hamilton Police

672
00:50:03,119 --> 00:50:14,559
Department.
Officer Atbury, Officer Hammond, Officer

673
00:50:08,880 --> 00:50:21,200
McCullen, Officer Kenna are all cowards
for choosing to mishandle a family and

674
00:50:18,000 --> 00:50:27,599
for being unable
to handle a mental health crisis when a

675
00:50:24,559 --> 00:50:32,240
son tries to kill himself.
And all the officers in this police

676
00:50:29,760 --> 00:50:38,960
department who have not checked and who
have not confronted their fellow

677
00:50:33,839 --> 00:50:43,680
officers are also cowards, too.
More than likely, this behavior that we

678
00:50:41,280 --> 00:50:49,000
saw at Hamilton Police Department, it's
been happening longer than this video

679
00:50:45,760 --> 00:50:49,000
came out.

680
00:50:49,040 --> 00:50:56,079
And we're not surprised that more than
likely some of these officers are aiding

681
00:50:53,440 --> 00:50:59,839
and abetting ICE
or violating other people's

682
00:50:58,480 --> 00:51:05,440
constitutional rights in town,
especially in the border towns because

683
00:51:02,079 --> 00:51:10,559
in 2020 in 2016 when they released the
use of force case, Hamilton Township

684
00:51:08,079 --> 00:51:16,319
Police Department was ranked higher than
over 364 police departments in the state

685
00:51:13,520 --> 00:51:22,400
of New Jersey. That's excessive. And
this video today is nothing new.

686
00:51:19,280 --> 00:51:28,319
Members of the council and mayor,
it's a shame that you did not suspend

687
00:51:24,319 --> 00:51:32,880
the officers without pay.
We don't know why somebody violates

688
00:51:31,119 --> 00:51:36,640
people's constitutional rights,
handcuffs somebody trying to kill

689
00:51:34,559 --> 00:51:42,400
themselves and your response is
absolutely nothing. Burying behind an

690
00:51:39,760 --> 00:51:46,880
attorney. Are you afraid of the police
unions? Are they your friends? Remember,

691
00:51:44,880 --> 00:51:51,200
you are elected to represent the
community and the community needs to

692
00:51:48,880 --> 00:51:57,800
know that their elected officials stands
with them and not side with the police

693
00:51:54,000 --> 00:51:57,800
and those in power.

694
00:51:59,839 --> 00:52:06,880
To the members of the community, you do
not have to tolerate any of this. If you

695
00:52:03,839 --> 00:52:12,079
feel that your rights and are vi being
violated, you have a right to file a

696
00:52:09,359 --> 00:52:17,920
report. And I stand with the family in
the community today to demand that all

697
00:52:14,640 --> 00:52:23,359
charges be dropped against a family that
had their rights violated. That there be

698
00:52:20,319 --> 00:52:27,839
an independent investigation
that you fire these officers. They do

699
00:52:26,000 --> 00:52:33,440
not need to be in this police
department. We've seen it time after

700
00:52:30,559 --> 00:52:39,040
time and people have lost their lives in
this same situation.

701
00:52:35,680 --> 00:52:46,680
and Officer Atbury, Officer Hammond,
Officer Mullen, and Officer Kenna. They

702
00:52:42,319 --> 00:52:46,680
need to be fired. Thank you.

703
00:52:46,961 --> 00:52:48,981
[applause]

704
00:52:54,319 --> 00:53:01,426
» I'm going to call up next uh on the list
number three, Chris and Anna Janello.

705
00:52:59,406 --> 00:53:01,426
[cough and clears throat]

706
00:53:02,800 --> 00:53:09,920
» As as stated, my name is Chris Janello.
this and my wife Anna, we're the

707
00:53:06,880 --> 00:53:14,160
homeowners on uh 199 Applegate Drive.
Since October 2025, my wife and I have

708
00:53:12,319 --> 00:53:18,559
endured an ongoing pattern of
harassment, trespassing, stalking,

709
00:53:16,240 --> 00:53:22,559
vandalism, and intimidation from a group
of juvenile individuals. Over the past

710
00:53:20,960 --> 00:53:27,920
10 months, these individuals have come
onto our property at least 18 times,

711
00:53:25,920 --> 00:53:33,119
often late at night, repeatedly banging
on our door, stalking us, verbally

712
00:53:30,160 --> 00:53:36,960
harassing us, and damaging property. The
incidents have continued to escalate,

713
00:53:34,720 --> 00:53:41,520
including one particular alarming event
in which a large mortar firework was

714
00:53:38,960 --> 00:53:46,079
shot intentionally at our house. All
right. Off a huge drive.

715
00:53:44,079 --> 00:53:49,440
Throughout this process, there has been
little measurable progress made by the

716
00:53:48,000 --> 00:53:53,040
police department beyond the evidence
that my wife and I have provided and

717
00:53:51,359 --> 00:53:58,400
gathered.
We have personally provided 30 videos

718
00:53:56,079 --> 00:54:01,400
and pictures across eight police
reports.

719
00:54:02,287 --> 00:54:07,119
» [snorts]
>> In addition, we have what we believe is

720
00:54:04,880 --> 00:54:14,079
indisputable evidence
um of a juvenile linked to events on

721
00:54:10,000 --> 00:54:17,200
January, March, and this past Sunday. We
have p you would think it's the same

722
00:54:15,920 --> 00:54:21,440
exact picture. There three different
incidents. We are informed by juvenile

723
00:54:19,760 --> 00:54:26,160
detectives that following that March
incident, confessions had been obtained

724
00:54:23,760 --> 00:54:30,400
from several individuals. That same
juvenile who continues to be involved

725
00:54:27,760 --> 00:54:34,960
today was connected to those events and
should be identifiable either through

726
00:54:32,400 --> 00:54:39,359
those confessions or by the individuals
who provided their confessions. This

727
00:54:37,440 --> 00:54:43,359
individual has also been linked to the a
black pickup truck involved in the

728
00:54:40,960 --> 00:54:48,240
firework incident along with the eggings
that happened all over George this past

729
00:54:45,440 --> 00:54:52,480
weekend.
We were further told by the juvenile

730
00:54:50,160 --> 00:54:55,599
detectives, the juveniles who confessed
in March were advised that if additional

731
00:54:54,319 --> 00:54:59,760
incidents occurred, they would be
questioned again. Since the latest

732
00:54:57,680 --> 00:55:03,520
events this weekend, we have repeatedly
asked that detectives follow through on

733
00:55:01,440 --> 00:55:08,079
that commitment. However, despite our
request, we have only been informed that

734
00:55:05,839 --> 00:55:11,119
no meaningful progress has been made.
I'd like to understand why this matter

735
00:55:09,760 --> 00:55:15,440
does not appear to be receiving the
level of attention that it severity

736
00:55:13,200 --> 00:55:19,760
warrants. Why, after 10 months of
documented incidents, identified

737
00:55:17,599 --> 00:55:24,079
suspects, video evidence, witness
statements, and prior confessions, has

738
00:55:21,839 --> 00:55:27,839
there been so little progress made? Why
is a family that has been repeatedly

739
00:55:25,599 --> 00:55:32,400
target left feeling as though we must
investigate these matters on our own? My

740
00:55:30,400 --> 00:55:36,559
wife is currently 7 months pregnant and
has been subjected to a tremendous

741
00:55:33,920 --> 00:55:40,240
amount of stress throughout this.
We have invested thousands of dollars in

742
00:55:38,480 --> 00:55:44,640
security cameras and other protective
measures, taken multiple days off from

743
00:55:42,559 --> 00:55:48,480
work to meet with law enforcement,
provide evidence, and we spent count

744
00:55:46,800 --> 00:55:52,079
countless hours documenting and putting
this all together.

745
00:55:50,480 --> 00:55:56,160
At this point, we're simply asking for
accountability, followthrough, and

746
00:55:53,599 --> 00:56:00,000
protection. We deserve to feel safe in
our own home. I'd appreciate an

747
00:55:57,920 --> 00:56:05,520
explanation of what actions have been
done, what obstacles are in the way, and

748
00:56:03,200 --> 00:56:09,520
what are we going to do to resolve this.
Thank you for your time. Any comment or

749
00:56:07,520 --> 00:56:14,880
we can talk offline is fine.
>> Uh we will talk. However,

750
00:56:11,520 --> 00:56:18,160
» um we need to
do some homework on that especially if

751
00:56:16,640 --> 00:56:24,319
the
individuals are known and they're not

752
00:56:22,720 --> 00:56:28,160
10 months police reports.
>> Chris, is it is it just your home or

753
00:56:26,720 --> 00:56:32,400
it's multiple homes along?
>> We are being targeted. They walk past

754
00:56:30,160 --> 00:56:38,400
every other house and come right to our
door in mask. multiple kids banging on

755
00:56:35,040 --> 00:56:42,400
her door. She walks outside. She has
four kids in mass with aggression on it.

756
00:56:40,880 --> 00:56:45,839
They're trying to take down our door.
They're shooting fireworks at us.

757
00:56:44,079 --> 00:56:50,480
They're harassing us. We have videos of
them driving by yelling at us. They're

758
00:56:48,319 --> 00:56:54,799
hiding in Sand Garden Parks telling me
to come get them, going outside, and

759
00:56:52,480 --> 00:56:58,000
just seeing if there was any damage.
>> For the record, we don't work in the

760
00:56:56,160 --> 00:57:01,920
school system. We have no relation to
any of the high schools here. Um, we

761
00:56:59,920 --> 00:57:07,559
don't have kids yet and we would have no
relation for why it would be targeted.

762
00:57:03,359 --> 00:57:07,559
» We have absolutely no idea why.

763
00:57:07,839 --> 00:57:12,359
» But I'll be talking with the chief
tomorrow.

764
00:57:12,480 --> 00:57:15,359
» Do we They have your contact information
obviously.

765
00:57:14,880 --> 00:57:18,359
» Oh, yeah.
>> Okay.

766
00:57:20,099 --> 00:57:22,119
[laughter]

767
00:57:25,280 --> 00:57:36,760
» Next on the list looks like Charlene.
Is Charlene, am I saying it wrong?

768
00:57:32,720 --> 00:57:36,760
» Did I finish writing that?

769
00:57:39,599 --> 00:57:45,680
» Um, once again, good afternoon. My name
is Charlene Walker. I serve as executive

770
00:57:43,359 --> 00:57:49,520
director of Faith in New Jersey, the
largest powerbuilding vehicle that is

771
00:57:47,599 --> 00:57:54,240
statewide for people of faith and share
values. To build a beloved community, we

772
00:57:52,640 --> 00:57:58,559
have leaders that live right here in
this beautiful community. one of our

773
00:57:56,559 --> 00:58:05,280
most powerful leaders you probably walk
past in the grocery store that has four

774
00:58:01,359 --> 00:58:09,839
beautiful children and you don't realize
how she shows up in the world as a

775
00:58:07,200 --> 00:58:14,720
powerful woman of God. Outside of being
a mom, she organizes to end gun

776
00:58:11,839 --> 00:58:19,440
violence, serves as a coordinator to the
food pantry, serving hundreds of

777
00:58:16,480 --> 00:58:27,040
families, and shows up for those that
are being kidnapped in our streets.

778
00:58:24,160 --> 00:58:31,280
She may be the person that we that you
walk past, but I want you to know my

779
00:58:29,440 --> 00:58:37,040
grandmother always told me that angels
walk amongst us. And if Kristen isn't an

780
00:58:34,960 --> 00:58:41,920
angel, she's a reminder that divine
dwells within all of us. So, you can

781
00:58:39,839 --> 00:58:46,880
imagine how our hearts across the state
broke when we learned she had called for

782
00:58:44,240 --> 00:58:52,319
help when her baby was bleeding from the
wrist. and her family

783
00:58:50,079 --> 00:58:58,400
and her scared child with developmental
disabilities was met with force, with

784
00:58:55,359 --> 00:59:03,440
handcuffs, with arrest. And then her
child was actually disappeared,

785
00:59:01,280 --> 00:59:08,240
not to be found.
I can't imagine the terror that she

786
00:59:05,520 --> 00:59:15,200
felt. I can't imagine the terror that he
felt or that he's feeling right now.

787
00:59:10,799 --> 00:59:21,280
He's been shoved into a
juvenile detention center, an act of

788
00:59:17,920 --> 00:59:24,720
further harm by the state.
I have a background in mental health and

789
00:59:23,200 --> 00:59:30,000
crisis response for people with
intellectual and developmental

790
00:59:25,920 --> 00:59:37,119
disabilities. There's never a reason to
meet crisis with force. There isn't.

791
00:59:34,720 --> 00:59:42,400
I've taken knives from 300 pound men
that are 600 six foot something. There's

792
00:59:40,720 --> 00:59:47,359
no reason.
I speak to a lot of councils

793
00:59:45,119 --> 00:59:50,400
that quickly will say, you know what,
this might not be our responsibility.

794
00:59:48,880 --> 00:59:54,559
I'm not quite sure what we can do. We
have the police chief. We have the mayor

795
00:59:52,400 --> 00:59:56,880
that has this position. But I want to
remind you that you actually have a

796
00:59:55,760 --> 01:00:01,280
responsibility and there's some things
you can actually do. So our demands

797
00:59:58,960 --> 01:00:07,040
actually are actionable steps that you
can do as your in your body. One, the

798
01:00:04,960 --> 01:00:10,720
independent investigation. You can
actually set one up. You can have a

799
01:00:08,720 --> 01:00:14,880
committee. It can look into actually
what happened. That independent

800
01:00:13,280 --> 01:00:20,000
investigation by the Mercer County
Prosecutor or the AG can be done. We can

801
01:00:18,480 --> 01:00:24,000
talk about deescalation, all the things
that Reverend Eric and I will give you

802
01:00:21,680 --> 01:00:28,720
the list of demands that are thorough.
You can investigate yourself what

803
01:00:25,839 --> 01:00:33,760
happened and what failed in Hamilton. I
would like you to actually hold hearings

804
01:00:31,440 --> 01:00:37,599
to ask those officers what happened.
Figure out look at that police cameras

805
01:00:35,920 --> 01:00:42,960
and everything and find out why
deescalation was not there. You can

806
01:00:40,319 --> 01:00:48,240
stand with the family. You can say
through a resolution that you support

807
01:00:45,280 --> 01:00:52,799
their call for actual charges to be
dropped and for that son to be returned

808
01:00:50,240 --> 01:00:57,200
home. to be returned home with the
behavioral care that he actually

809
01:00:55,040 --> 01:01:00,960
deserves, the educational needs being
met, and any form of community- based

810
01:00:59,280 --> 01:01:06,880
supports.
You I know you can't dismiss the charges

811
01:01:03,280 --> 01:01:11,280
personally, but you you can give this
level of support.

812
01:01:09,119 --> 01:01:16,960
Also, I'd like for you to show us the
data. We demand public recording

813
01:01:14,799 --> 01:01:21,920
reporting of at least the last three
years of Hamilton mental health and

814
01:01:19,520 --> 01:01:26,799
disability related police encounters
including calls for assistance, arrest,

815
01:01:24,480 --> 01:01:31,920
uses of force, injuries, complaints,
crisis service, referrals, repeat calls,

816
01:01:29,599 --> 01:01:36,400
and outcomes.
I asked for this because our last thing

817
01:01:34,720 --> 01:01:41,280
is that we believe that you need to
build a nonp police path to care because

818
01:01:39,680 --> 01:01:47,520
according to the attorney general's use
of force reporting for Hamilton Township

819
01:01:44,079 --> 01:01:54,400
this year of the 49 people that force
has been used on 19 of them had mental

820
01:01:50,319 --> 01:02:02,000
health concerns. And of those 19 10 of
them were arrested.

821
01:01:56,720 --> 01:02:07,599
» Wow. We passed the law to have a nonp
police response in this state. It's

822
01:02:04,240 --> 01:02:12,000
possible and I know you can do it.
>> So, please stand with Kristen and the

823
01:02:09,920 --> 01:02:16,880
rest of your community.
Will you

824
01:02:13,839 --> 01:02:21,119
actually put together a motion to make
these actions possible?

825
01:02:19,359 --> 01:02:26,043
» Thank you.
Was there

826
01:02:24,023 --> 01:02:26,043
[applause]

827
01:02:29,119 --> 01:02:37,599
I'm not familiar with the case. Was
there a complaint filed with the PDA?

828
01:02:34,880 --> 01:02:40,319
» I don't know about
>> internal

829
01:02:38,240 --> 01:02:44,400
» I don't I don't know about but I believe
something is within internal affairs.

830
01:02:42,079 --> 01:02:49,520
Yes. So I believe somebody did file a
complaint with them. So that would still

831
01:02:46,720 --> 01:02:55,680
be under investigation I'm sure. But I
think there was, you know, again, it

832
01:02:52,240 --> 01:02:58,880
hasn't been communicated to all of us um
really very well at all. So, and maybe

833
01:02:57,359 --> 01:03:02,480
they're waiting for the investigation. I
don't know. But

834
01:03:00,240 --> 01:03:06,880
» um I can ask questions.
>> Okay. Thank you,

835
01:03:05,288 --> 01:03:09,880
[gasps]
>> Jules.

836
01:03:13,040 --> 01:03:16,799
Feel like I should wait. [laughter]
>> If you want to wait till the end, we can

837
01:03:16,160 --> 01:03:19,920
go out of order.
>> Yeah, let's go out of order.

838
01:03:19,043 --> 01:03:24,039
» [laughter]
>> I'm just here to talk about the shelter.

839
01:03:26,248 --> 01:03:28,268
[laughter]

840
01:03:29,680 --> 01:03:36,799
» Okay. I have a name that I apologize. Uh
I cannot I cannot pronounce and I cannot

841
01:03:34,720 --> 01:03:44,880
understand the writing. Uh last name
looks like P A D U

842
01:03:40,160 --> 01:03:48,559
M A R T H Y Parthy.
Sir, if you can uh just give us the

843
01:03:46,720 --> 01:03:52,480
correct pronunciation so we can address
you properly.

844
01:03:49,920 --> 01:03:58,480
» Absolutely, sir. Uh I'm Kyash. My first
name is Kyash. My last name it is a

845
01:03:55,680 --> 01:04:01,619
little bit hard to pronounce it.
>> Kyash. That's okay. Thank you.

846
01:04:00,000 --> 01:04:04,960
» Kash.
[clears throat] Kash.

847
01:04:02,400 --> 01:04:09,280
» Kash. Yep. Thank you.
>> Uh pleasures.

848
01:04:06,400 --> 01:04:12,880
» Yeah. Um we live in the new community
here. The new community is called as a

849
01:04:11,039 --> 01:04:17,920
chapel bridge community here.
>> Okay. and um uh it's a new community and

850
01:04:15,920 --> 01:04:21,359
they have elected me over there and I'm
an elected so-called member on that on

851
01:04:20,559 --> 01:04:25,359
that committee. Can
>> you uh I just want to interrupt if you

852
01:04:23,119 --> 01:04:28,240
just move the microphone right now so
>> sure hear you a little better.

853
01:04:26,720 --> 01:04:31,599
» So here are some of the concerns what we
would like to address. Bring it to your

854
01:04:30,079 --> 01:04:34,880
the notice of the council here sir. I'll
read them.

855
01:04:32,799 --> 01:04:38,960
» Uh please excuse me for my language. Uh
>> it's okay just just take your time and

856
01:04:37,119 --> 01:04:44,799
if you have questions it's okay.
>> Sure. Um the Chapel Bridge community

857
01:04:42,160 --> 01:04:49,200
concerns the property taxes the property
taxes are too high. All the residents

858
01:04:47,520 --> 01:04:53,760
are complaining that we are not
receiving Hamilton city services

859
01:04:51,520 --> 01:04:58,880
proportionately to the taxes that we are
paying as a community. We need reduction

860
01:04:56,480 --> 01:05:03,920
of a property taxes.
Regarding the property taxes, the tax

861
01:05:00,640 --> 01:05:08,480
assessment is too high as we are in a
new construction. That's the first

862
01:05:06,079 --> 01:05:12,880
concern what we are having.
The second concern is a little bit more

863
01:05:10,079 --> 01:05:18,720
serious that is a speed breakers.
We are having children, toddlers,

864
01:05:15,680 --> 01:05:24,240
elderly citizen walking on the streets.
The traffic from Hamilton Avenue and the

865
01:05:21,520 --> 01:05:28,319
W Avenue, they are bypassing because
there are three traffic signals and

866
01:05:25,839 --> 01:05:33,680
they're very very sluggish.
>> We need speed breakers installed on the

867
01:05:30,480 --> 01:05:38,720
roads of Misty Meadow Lane. We are just
>> What What road are you asking for the

868
01:05:35,359 --> 01:05:41,680
speed bump? Misty Meadow Lane.
>> What? Which one?

869
01:05:40,079 --> 01:05:43,760
» The Chapel Bridge Community.
>> Right. I know.

870
01:05:42,720 --> 01:05:46,480
» Misty Meadow Lane
>> off word.

871
01:05:45,680 --> 01:05:50,720
» Okay. [clears throat]
>> I know. Sure, sir. Thank you. Um the

872
01:05:48,720 --> 01:05:55,599
speed breakers installed on the roads of
the Mystery Me lane. We are just one

873
01:05:53,039 --> 01:05:59,599
step closer to a mishap and a very
serious accident. I have seen and I

874
01:05:58,000 --> 01:06:03,440
warned the traffic coming in there and
then they're showing very obnoxious

875
01:06:01,520 --> 01:06:06,240
symbols there. And when I'm asking to
slow down and they're showing very very

876
01:06:05,599 --> 01:06:09,839
bad,
>> children are playing all around there.

877
01:06:07,760 --> 01:06:13,119
Sir, just wanted to let you
>> I just want to make sure I understand

878
01:06:10,960 --> 01:06:18,079
the street ward. You said ward
>> the ward Ward Avenue and Hamilton

879
01:06:16,480 --> 01:06:24,119
» they are just a cross-section and it is
a bypass over there just like Hamilton

880
01:06:20,400 --> 01:06:24,119
Avenue is the new one.

881
01:06:24,640 --> 01:06:30,400
» Um
uh the third one is a road and winter

882
01:06:28,240 --> 01:06:34,640
services.
We as a chapel bridge community did not

883
01:06:32,640 --> 01:06:40,640
receive proper winter services during
the hard winter what we had there are

884
01:06:38,240 --> 01:06:45,280
pregnant women there are toddlers out
there and they did not receive proper um

885
01:06:43,280 --> 01:06:48,720
treatment of the winter services so
there was no plow over there on the

886
01:06:46,880 --> 01:06:53,359
culdeac and that's a bigger problem what
we had

887
01:06:51,440 --> 01:06:57,760
» no that's a secondary street
>> the road wasn't plowed

888
01:06:55,280 --> 01:06:59,599
» uh not the road but the the the snow was
not been plowed

889
01:06:59,039 --> 01:07:03,119
» right
>> the Snow was not plowed.

890
01:07:00,720 --> 01:07:07,119
» Plowed and there was there was a a thick
ice over there and there are some

891
01:07:04,960 --> 01:07:12,079
pregnant women toddlers on that. Did
notice a proper services on that.

892
01:07:08,720 --> 01:07:17,680
» So I know that at least missing meadow
that's a secondary road. So especially

893
01:07:14,559 --> 01:07:24,079
we had a pretty rough winter as well. So
um we do all of our work first on the

894
01:07:21,520 --> 01:07:29,119
main arteries. Then we do roads around
the schools and other public buildings

895
01:07:26,240 --> 01:07:34,160
to get them open as quickly as possible.
and then they start on the secondary

896
01:07:31,440 --> 01:07:38,640
road. So, they may never have gotten to
that in a timely manner or whatever or

897
01:07:36,720 --> 01:07:42,400
even been able to get to some of them,
especially if it's a culde-sac and all

898
01:07:40,240 --> 01:07:47,039
of that. But, I'm sure that the main
road ward and even at the other end on

899
01:07:45,119 --> 01:07:51,599
Hamilton Avenue when that comes through
over there, those get cleared. But, you

900
01:07:49,680 --> 01:07:55,119
know, it's it's really tough, especially
with the backtoback snowstorms that we

901
01:07:53,839 --> 01:07:58,880
ended up having and it was some
significant snow. So

902
01:07:57,119 --> 01:08:03,680
» sure. Thank you very much. Z and the
zero degree weather those that string at

903
01:08:01,440 --> 01:08:07,200
zero degree days it made it hard
>> kept it all

904
01:08:05,520 --> 01:08:12,000
» and the next thing is that regarding the
sweepers if there are any sweepers

905
01:08:09,039 --> 01:08:17,679
coming around just once in a while
>> I am warning and I'm taking my

906
01:08:14,559 --> 01:08:22,799
responsibility to to tell uh and to
remind every resident that as a as a as

907
01:08:20,960 --> 01:08:27,520
a responsible citizens that we should
not throw the plastic debris etc even

908
01:08:25,679 --> 01:08:32,000
after the cleaning and try to do our due
diligence and putting it into the bins

909
01:08:29,199 --> 01:08:36,719
though I do not want all this debris to
clog our waterways and that's a very big

910
01:08:34,960 --> 01:08:42,000
serious issue as an engineer I know that
one how hard it is and the fourth last

911
01:08:40,159 --> 01:08:46,560
one is there what I'm having right now
consensus regarding the schools

912
01:08:44,560 --> 01:08:51,920
we are no less than in the New Jersey is
the top rated school district in the

913
01:08:48,239 --> 01:08:57,199
world in in in the US as well uh next to
Princeton uh the residents are expecting

914
01:08:55,199 --> 01:09:03,679
the house the school ratings to go
higher Yeah, for that um we are we are

915
01:09:01,440 --> 01:09:08,799
requesting uh the schools and also the
teachers there are a little bit of

916
01:09:05,279 --> 01:09:12,960
concerns like a high zine etc. Uh and uh
we wanted to have uh the schools to be

917
01:09:11,279 --> 01:09:18,719
at a higher rating as well. That is one
of the concerns what they bringing it up

918
01:09:15,920 --> 01:09:21,199
here.
>> Thank you. Thank you

919
01:09:19,600 --> 01:09:24,759
» so kind of you sir. Thank you very much
and for entertaining.

920
01:09:28,960 --> 01:09:33,319
» Uh, looks like Cristiano Lewis.

921
01:09:40,480 --> 01:09:46,960
» Hello, my name is Cristiana. She they
pronouns. I'm here for the community in

922
01:09:44,719 --> 01:09:50,480
Trenton. In 2020, I lived in North
Trenton for the better part of the year.

923
01:09:48,719 --> 01:09:54,800
During that time, my house was raided by
police due to a false claim placed to my

924
01:09:52,400 --> 01:09:58,719
roommate. First, I noted that they asked
for identification for everyone in the

925
01:09:56,480 --> 01:10:02,320
household besides myself being the only
white person there. Then, I witnessed

926
01:10:00,800 --> 01:10:07,520
Trenton police officers arrest my
roommate unjustly, use excessive force

927
01:10:04,880 --> 01:10:11,600
against her by pulling her hair, sorry,
using excessive force against her sister

928
01:10:09,520 --> 01:10:15,600
by pulling her hair, and then arresting
her. Almost a month later, a detective

929
01:10:14,080 --> 01:10:19,920
with Torrenton police reached out to me
for an interview. What I didn't know was

930
01:10:17,760 --> 01:10:24,000
that until I gave my statement, my
roommate was being held in jail for over

931
01:10:21,600 --> 01:10:28,520
a month. Until a white woman gave her
testimony, she would not be released.

932
01:10:28,560 --> 01:10:33,440
Sorry.
>> Okay, take your time.

933
01:10:31,360 --> 01:10:37,360
» That is that is just one example of
corruption Mercer County and police

934
01:10:35,280 --> 01:10:40,880
departments as a whole perpetuate across
this country. We need deep

935
01:10:39,280 --> 01:10:45,520
investigations gone into the police
force. We need excessive deescalation

936
01:10:43,440 --> 01:10:50,400
training. And if that doesn't work, we
need to fire the violent and incompetent

937
01:10:47,679 --> 01:10:55,280
officers. Our community shouldn't fear
beatings and deaths due to police bias.

938
01:10:53,360 --> 01:11:00,080
If you are actively trying to protect
your township and serve the serve the

939
01:10:57,600 --> 01:11:05,199
public as a public servant, the people
will remember that. I would also like to

940
01:11:02,560 --> 01:11:10,320
say if you fear being recorded in public
in a public funded building by the

941
01:11:07,760 --> 01:11:13,760
public I sorry [laughter] if you I'll
say that again. I'd also like to say if

942
01:11:12,000 --> 01:11:18,400
you fear being recorded in the public
building by the public funded, you

943
01:11:16,239 --> 01:11:23,804
cannot claim to serve the public. Do
better for our people. Thank you.

944
01:11:21,784 --> 01:11:23,804
[applause]

945
01:11:29,120 --> 01:11:32,920
» Next up, Kia Henderson.

946
01:11:33,574 --> 01:11:35,594
[clears throat]

947
01:11:41,679 --> 01:11:49,199
Hello. Uh, my name is Kia Henderson. Um,
I am two years now in this community. I

948
01:11:48,000 --> 01:11:52,719
just wanted to come up and kind of
clarify some of the things that my

949
01:11:50,480 --> 01:11:56,800
neighbor said. A few of us are here. We
found out about the council meeting. So,

950
01:11:54,239 --> 01:12:00,800
we said, "Let's come out and see." Um,
we are a brand new community. Some of us

951
01:11:58,800 --> 01:12:07,520
have been here longer, but there are 44
homes there. And being 44 homes now,

952
01:12:04,880 --> 01:12:11,440
everybody is starting to gather and have
community and talk to each other, which

953
01:12:09,120 --> 01:12:16,239
is great. But we're also experiencing
some other issues, too, that we'd like

954
01:12:13,280 --> 01:12:20,080
to address. One of them being the taxes
there. You know, as we look, it seems

955
01:12:18,560 --> 01:12:23,840
that our community may be paying the
highest taxes in Hamilton. We know we're

956
01:12:22,159 --> 01:12:27,440
a brand new community. We know it's new
construction and how that goes, but we

957
01:12:25,679 --> 01:12:32,159
really like someone to take a look, a
hard look at what we're paying for our

958
01:12:29,280 --> 01:12:36,159
taxes there and how that's allocated.
Um, second, the highest allocation on

959
01:12:34,400 --> 01:12:38,880
most of the taxes is for the schools,
right? Which we agree with, right? We

960
01:12:37,600 --> 01:12:44,000
want our schools, we want schools for
kids. However, the zoning for uh Misty

961
01:12:42,400 --> 01:12:47,280
Meadow Lane. So, there's Misty Meadow
Lane, there's Ward, and there's

962
01:12:45,280 --> 01:12:51,440
Fletcher. And we're in between. There's
a few houses on Ward and Fletcher on

963
01:12:49,360 --> 01:12:55,679
Fletcher. The main houses are all on
Misty Meadow. It's not a culde-sac. It

964
01:12:53,600 --> 01:12:59,040
does go through. So when he was asking
about the speed bumps and things like

965
01:12:57,679 --> 01:13:02,320
that is because they come right off a
ward and they swing right around on

966
01:13:00,239 --> 01:13:07,920
Fletcher and they go out, right? But
more importantly, our kids, the schools

967
01:13:05,040 --> 01:13:14,159
that our kids attend and the hard times
we're having um originally, uh I was one

968
01:13:10,960 --> 01:13:17,760
of the newer residents, so my daughter
was put in school and then they said

969
01:13:16,000 --> 01:13:20,800
when I went they said everyone goes to
anybody can go to any school. And I

970
01:13:19,600 --> 01:13:24,239
said, "Well, how is that? because you
want your kids to kind of have a

971
01:13:21,840 --> 01:13:27,440
community and be in the schools and um I
think it was Dr. Adabello at the time,

972
01:13:26,000 --> 01:13:31,600
he's not here anymore. Is there someone
new said they could go anywhere? And we

973
01:13:30,159 --> 01:13:35,600
just want to understand what that is
like. Why do they go anywhere? Why are

974
01:13:33,679 --> 01:13:40,480
they pushed anywhere? Why do some kids
go to Greenwood, some kids go to Kruzer,

975
01:13:37,840 --> 01:13:43,840
some kids go to uh Mercerville? They're
they're all over the place. And we just

976
01:13:42,000 --> 01:13:47,360
kind of want to understand that and be
able to zone them, especially because

977
01:13:45,520 --> 01:13:52,640
the majority of our taxes are going for
the schools, right? And then lastly,

978
01:13:49,760 --> 01:13:56,239
when he was speaking about um we just
felt like we were kind of forgotten

979
01:13:54,159 --> 01:13:59,760
because we were new as far as the
weather and stuff because even after and

980
01:13:58,480 --> 01:14:03,280
we're talking about weeks after
everything else was clear, we still

981
01:14:01,600 --> 01:14:06,560
weren't. You know, there was ice. We
couldn't get through. It was really

982
01:14:04,400 --> 01:14:11,360
hard. The kids were having a hard time.
Um and if the kids do go to Greenwood,

983
01:14:09,120 --> 01:14:14,960
there's no bus because of where we are.
They have to walk through that. There's

984
01:14:12,960 --> 01:14:18,960
no sidewalk on board for them to walk
to. So, it's kind of dangerous for them.

985
01:14:17,520 --> 01:14:22,159
So, those are I just wanted to kind of
clarify. I was going to pass once he

986
01:14:20,800 --> 01:14:26,159
came up, but I just wanted to give a
bigger picture of the large community

987
01:14:24,000 --> 01:14:31,199
that we have, what we're facing, and
kind of what we're asking for.

988
01:14:27,920 --> 01:14:37,040
» Okay. Don't don't go anywhere. Um, so
her um request for

989
01:14:34,880 --> 01:14:41,199
um can that go to public works, please,
to make sure uh with the sne Look,

990
01:14:39,360 --> 01:14:47,040
nobody wants summer to be over, but it's
coming. So, uh, let's get make sure that

991
01:14:44,880 --> 01:14:53,440
that's an area that is not forgotten.
Number one, uh, her other comment, um,

992
01:14:50,640 --> 01:14:54,719
Miss Henderson, you brought up, uh,
taxes.

993
01:14:54,239 --> 01:14:58,000
» Yes.
>> Um,

994
01:14:56,320 --> 01:15:02,080
if she would like to file a tax appeal
or anybody else in the audience, uh, is

995
01:14:59,920 --> 01:15:06,800
that process online or who does she
speak to? Can you put that out?

996
01:15:04,320 --> 01:15:11,840
» You can find something online from the
tax assessor's office.

997
01:15:08,239 --> 01:15:17,520
» Okay. However, for 26, right, the tax
rate is done, right?

998
01:15:14,000 --> 01:15:23,520
» So, my suggestion would be you wait in
January, you get a um a postcard

999
01:15:21,600 --> 01:15:29,360
» from the tax assessor's office that
indicates what your assessed value is

1000
01:15:25,679 --> 01:15:35,600
and what your taxes at the current rate
would end up being. And then you have a

1001
01:15:32,159 --> 01:15:38,320
time period of uh until April 1st,
right, to file an appeal if

1002
01:15:37,237 --> 01:15:41,280
[clears throat] you'd like to file an
appeal for to get that assessment

1003
01:15:40,480 --> 01:15:45,120
reduced.
>> Okay. So, I think the big surprise for

1004
01:15:43,199 --> 01:15:50,159
us is that we moved in with one thing
and now those taxes have exponentially

1005
01:15:47,440 --> 01:15:52,080
increased about $6 to $8,000 for some of
us

1006
01:15:50,560 --> 01:15:56,159
» and and that's why I brought up the
possibility of an appeal. So, uh you can

1007
01:15:54,320 --> 01:15:59,040
maybe check online for that.
>> Get some information. This way in

1008
01:15:57,520 --> 01:16:00,960
January when you get that card, you're
prepared to move forward on that.

1009
01:16:00,320 --> 01:16:05,360
Perfect.
>> And I would really encourage too talking

1010
01:16:02,880 --> 01:16:10,159
with our tax assessor even before the
card, the the postcard and all of that

1011
01:16:07,440 --> 01:16:14,000
because he can be really good at looking
at it, you know, seeing if there's

1012
01:16:12,159 --> 01:16:18,560
anything that's a miss or that doesn't
look right and and very often being able

1013
01:16:16,719 --> 01:16:21,679
to explain why things were done a
certain way and that type of thing.

1014
01:16:20,080 --> 01:16:26,320
» So, they have to be a a one-on-one
because we have a a group. We have a a

1015
01:16:24,400 --> 01:16:29,840
community chat that all of the residents
are in and it seems to be the most

1016
01:16:28,080 --> 01:16:34,000
common thing that all of us are
complaining about. So, is that a can

1017
01:16:32,080 --> 01:16:36,560
that be a group thing? It's not just me.
>> Absolutely. Can be a group thing. Okay.

1018
01:16:35,679 --> 01:16:39,120
» Fine. Yes.
>> Perfect.

1019
01:16:37,040 --> 01:16:41,840
» And finally, uh you brought up about the
schools. That's something you would have

1020
01:16:40,400 --> 01:16:46,159
to address directly with the school
system. We we stay in our lane when it

1021
01:16:44,080 --> 01:16:51,199
comes to that. That is uh a school
district question and I'm not going to

1022
01:16:48,480 --> 01:16:54,239
attempt to even come up with how they
came up with that formula. Are there

1023
01:16:52,400 --> 01:16:57,199
schoolboard meetings that's posted?
Mainly we came today for like

1024
01:16:55,520 --> 01:16:59,679
information because we don't know all of
us are brand new. So are there school

1025
01:16:58,800 --> 01:17:01,679
board meetings?
>> They they are on their website.

1026
01:17:01,280 --> 01:17:04,960
» Okay.
>> Uh I know we've been talking about the

1027
01:17:03,120 --> 01:17:07,600
new furniture and the big move to the
new building. We'll be sharing the

1028
01:17:06,239 --> 01:17:10,800
building. So those will be posted all
there and all the meetings will be held

1029
01:17:09,520 --> 01:17:14,159
there, right?
>> But for the time being, uh they are

1030
01:17:12,640 --> 01:17:18,480
posted on their website. You can check
their website out and uh feel free to

1031
01:17:16,960 --> 01:17:21,360
attend those meetings. You also could
call their office and maybe set up an

1032
01:17:20,239 --> 01:17:24,640
appointment for a one-on-one
conversation, maybe they can give you an

1033
01:17:23,040 --> 01:17:26,800
explanation or if some of your neighbors
wanted to join you, maybe you could do

1034
01:17:26,239 --> 01:17:29,199
that, too.
>> Great. All right, perfect. Thank you.

1035
01:17:28,000 --> 01:17:32,518
» Any other questions? Just come back.
>> No, that's it. Thank you.

1036
01:17:30,159 --> 01:17:34,538
» You're welcome.
[applause]

1037
01:17:34,560 --> 01:17:41,320
» Is it Victoria McCann?
>> Victoria McCann.

1038
01:17:42,159 --> 01:17:48,239
» It's definitely Victoria. Maybe I'm
saying the last name wrong. Victoria.

1039
01:17:47,840 --> 01:17:51,760
Okay.
>> Yeah,

1040
01:17:49,120 --> 01:17:59,159
» we'll circle her if she comes back. Uh,
Margarita was also here. Uh, Ellen,

1041
01:17:54,960 --> 01:17:59,159
Ellen Coyote, come on up.

1042
01:18:01,360 --> 01:18:07,440
» You know the drill. Uh, you have your
four minutes and please state your name

1043
01:18:05,760 --> 01:18:11,280
and the town you live in for the record.
>> Ellen Coyote Hamilton.

1044
01:18:09,600 --> 01:18:14,719
» Yes, ma'am. I just have one question,
but I'd like to preface it with thanking

1045
01:18:12,960 --> 01:18:19,440
you for the work done to do the major
cleanup and putting up the four no

1046
01:18:16,480 --> 01:18:23,840
dumping signs. Um, but after the last
meeting I attended on April 21st and

1047
01:18:21,760 --> 01:18:28,239
their gas gas lighting present day
present presenting after about two

1048
01:18:26,400 --> 01:18:31,600
weeks, number seven hit me with her
water hose over the fence separating our

1049
01:18:30,080 --> 01:18:35,440
properties. And I know it wasn't an
accident. She knew I was there and I

1050
01:18:33,840 --> 01:18:39,840
just said two can play at that game and
she's like, "Sorry," and they both left

1051
01:18:36,960 --> 01:18:44,880
the back area. Um, there's just other
things I'm done tolerating. All I've

1052
01:18:42,800 --> 01:18:48,880
asked them to do was not allow hunters
back there with rifles, which they

1053
01:18:46,560 --> 01:18:54,400
allowed over a decade ago, and no
dumping. And I put up with them letting

1054
01:18:52,159 --> 01:18:58,480
their dogs run at large, pooping and
defecating all over the place. Going

1055
01:18:56,719 --> 01:19:05,120
through when I my recently tred
driveway, um hanging plants on my fence,

1056
01:19:02,800 --> 01:19:09,360
all mowing down my pack of sandra,
tearing up my ivy with with throwing the

1057
01:19:07,280 --> 01:19:13,360
ball from their yard to my yard with the
other with the these dogs they had. And

1058
01:19:11,840 --> 01:19:19,199
I put up with all of it because I try to
be friends with everybody and get along.

1059
01:19:15,760 --> 01:19:23,120
But it's gotten to So my question is,
uh, so yeah, they they let people back

1060
01:19:21,040 --> 01:19:27,199
there with rifles and I regularly walk
walk those with with other people, too.

1061
01:19:24,800 --> 01:19:33,920
And I said, "No." And I I disabled the
the deer stand and messed around some of

1062
01:19:29,760 --> 01:19:41,440
the the the cornbait. So, as I wrote an
email to um Katherine and the CC, the

1063
01:19:38,400 --> 01:19:45,760
president and Fred from zoning and the
public works director, um since I

1064
01:19:43,679 --> 01:19:49,040
haven't got any response, I was just
wondering why haven't the Hamilton

1065
01:19:47,679 --> 01:19:53,600
residents who have continued to
illegally dump be held accountable and

1066
01:19:51,440 --> 01:19:59,440
made to stop. The woods are continuing
to be damaged as they continually every

1067
01:19:56,800 --> 01:20:03,120
week for years, like decades. And even
this is a sign web. They keep illegally

1068
01:20:01,440 --> 01:20:06,800
dumping these grass clippings and the
two trees. I did more research and

1069
01:20:05,040 --> 01:20:12,159
according to like the department of
environmental protection throwing these

1070
01:20:09,600 --> 01:20:16,000
and I sent you photos around 6:00
dumping these grass clippings around the

1071
01:20:13,920 --> 01:20:20,560
base of these trees. That's why one of
those two trees fell down. And it it's

1072
01:20:18,880 --> 01:20:23,840
it's
uh what's the word? Endangering other

1073
01:20:22,400 --> 01:20:27,760
trees in the area. Plus, they went back
there and dug up some dirt for their

1074
01:20:25,760 --> 01:20:33,199
crop through their garden and exposed
tree roots of trees in endangering them.

1075
01:20:30,320 --> 01:20:38,840
And I asked if I could fix that. So, I
just want to know what's going on and

1076
01:20:34,640 --> 01:20:38,840
how we make these people stop.

1077
01:20:40,000 --> 01:20:44,800
» Ma'am, it's my understanding that the um
everything was cleaned up. Is that not

1078
01:20:43,920 --> 01:20:48,960
the case?
>> So, we have been out there a number of

1079
01:20:46,800 --> 01:20:54,080
times and thank you for recognizing that
they did go out and and do a cleanup.

1080
01:20:51,520 --> 01:20:58,239
And so, look, I I'm sure that it
continues to happen as you say, right?

1081
01:20:56,239 --> 01:21:02,320
They're they may be dumping things back
there, the grass clippings. That seems

1082
01:21:00,320 --> 01:21:07,199
to be most of what they they continue to
dump. Um, it's hard to figure out

1083
01:21:05,120 --> 01:21:11,840
exactly who's doing it. I know that you
may know, but, you know, it's hard for

1084
01:21:09,120 --> 01:21:15,920
us to know that, but when I got your
photos tonight, we didn't get them till

1085
01:21:13,280 --> 01:21:22,159
about 6:00 tonight. So, I've already
spoken to Director Dumont. He's going to

1086
01:21:18,400 --> 01:21:26,960
direct uh his crew to go out tomorrow to
check it out and see what's there and

1087
01:21:24,800 --> 01:21:32,400
even to talk to a few folks out there
just to find out if they're dumping and

1088
01:21:29,600 --> 01:21:34,880
they continue to dump and if so then
we'll we'll take care of it. We'll deal

1089
01:21:34,000 --> 01:21:39,280
with it then.
>> Thank you. I I I I think the

1090
01:21:37,040 --> 01:21:43,199
circumstantial evidence is overwhelming.
I've he dumps I have a video of him

1091
01:21:41,520 --> 01:21:47,600
dumping his bag of grass into the
recycling bucket, but but he waits hours

1092
01:21:45,920 --> 01:21:53,600
to dump it in the back so he won't be
caught. Nobody else is dumping there.

1093
01:21:49,600 --> 01:21:56,320
There's just them. And um something I'm
sorry,

1094
01:21:54,080 --> 01:22:01,040
» but I do think that right the the
property as a whole out there is in much

1095
01:21:59,040 --> 01:22:06,560
much better shape than when we started
talking, you at least a year and a half,

1096
01:22:03,840 --> 01:22:09,520
maybe longer ago. So, you know, it's
working that we're going out and trying

1097
01:22:07,840 --> 01:22:14,639
to keeping it clean. We don't want to
have to do that on a regular basis. Some

1098
01:22:11,760 --> 01:22:20,159
of them do help us, right, by keeping
the perimeters, which is township

1099
01:22:16,560 --> 01:22:22,639
property, not theirs, keeping that
>> shouldn't give them a license to

1100
01:22:21,280 --> 01:22:26,480
illegally dump in the back,
>> but there it seems like that they may be

1101
01:22:24,800 --> 01:22:30,159
taking some liberties with some of their
other things, too. So, we're trying to

1102
01:22:28,320 --> 01:22:35,600
get a hold of that. It's very difficult
because we can't be there 247. But

1103
01:22:32,880 --> 01:22:40,400
again, you you know that we respond when
when you reach out to us the best that

1104
01:22:37,920 --> 01:22:44,960
we can and have folks go out and and
clean it up if it warrants it. And you

1105
01:22:42,880 --> 01:22:49,679
know, I'm hoping that this time if we go
out and we kind of have some chats with

1106
01:22:46,960 --> 01:22:54,159
some of the neighbors that that stops
and gets them to stop or we get them to

1107
01:22:52,480 --> 01:22:58,760
say that they've done it and then we can
take some action there, too. Okay.

1108
01:23:03,040 --> 01:23:11,400
I'm sorry.
>> Does that answer your question or do you

1109
01:23:07,840 --> 01:23:11,400
have more questions?

1110
01:23:11,679 --> 01:23:20,040
» I'm I'm just
trying to think [clears throat]

1111
01:23:16,400 --> 01:23:20,040
straight. Um,

1112
01:23:22,159 --> 01:23:29,520
oh, one at one one of the meetings, past
meetings, a former worker from public

1113
01:23:27,520 --> 01:23:33,040
works said they had cameras. What? Can
you could you just put a camera up and

1114
01:23:31,440 --> 01:23:37,520
do it if they don't admit to it? The
other two dumpers admitted they dumped.

1115
01:23:35,920 --> 01:23:41,360
» Yeah, I don't know. I don't have any
knowledge of anyone that admitted to it,

1116
01:23:39,600 --> 01:23:45,120
but I I take your word for it. This has
been going on for a while.

1117
01:23:42,159 --> 01:23:48,880
» I have body cam police body cam video.
Well, that's that's good that you can

1118
01:23:46,800 --> 01:23:52,800
have that. But again, let us go out
again tomorrow. Let's see what happens.

1119
01:23:50,719 --> 01:23:55,440
I'll touch base with you again after
they go out there tomorrow and I get a

1120
01:23:54,800 --> 01:23:58,639
report back.
>> Oh, yeah. And the parks guy who went out

1121
01:23:57,040 --> 01:24:02,320
said there was no eagle dumping. He
didn't go into the woods and he passed

1122
01:24:00,320 --> 01:24:07,600
mounds. They calling me big mounds or
small hills of decades of dumping. So,

1123
01:24:05,600 --> 01:24:12,320
it's just being looked. I think they
have connections somewhere or something

1124
01:24:09,280 --> 01:24:15,520
and I just I don't have not at least
with the folks that I've been dealing

1125
01:24:13,679 --> 01:24:20,800
with. So, and again, this has happened a
lot a long for a long time and we've had

1126
01:24:18,639 --> 01:24:25,600
we've had different pe folks out there
many different times. So, you know, I

1127
01:24:23,360 --> 01:24:30,080
can't say that that hasn't happened, but
recently I know that we've been keeping

1128
01:24:27,600 --> 01:24:33,280
on top of it as best we can. So, let's
see what happens tomorrow and I will

1129
01:24:32,000 --> 01:24:36,239
reach out to you again tomorrow
afternoon. Okay. And if you want to

1130
01:24:34,639 --> 01:24:37,840
still talk after this meeting, I'm fine
with that.

1131
01:24:36,800 --> 01:24:41,560
» Okay. Thank you very much.
>> All right, Alan.

1132
01:24:38,320 --> 01:24:41,560
» Thanks, Alan.

1133
01:24:49,440 --> 01:24:56,040
Aserna. Is that Am I pronouncing that
correctly? Last name is El Huni.

1134
01:24:56,159 --> 01:25:01,600
» Oh, I apologize.
>> Did I say it? Was I close?

1135
01:24:59,120 --> 01:25:04,000
» Uh, it's Asma.
>> Asma. Yeah.

1136
01:25:02,560 --> 01:25:06,719
» Oh, okay. It look like an R. I
apologize.

1137
01:25:04,560 --> 01:25:09,600
» No problem. It's my handwriting as well.
>> That's okay. I'm fixing it on mine so I

1138
01:25:08,320 --> 01:25:13,840
know how to direct it.
>> Okay. Thank you so much. I I also want

1139
01:25:11,440 --> 01:25:18,880
to start off with you guys have quite a
lot on your hands. Like I would not want

1140
01:25:17,120 --> 01:25:21,120
to be in your seats right now, but
that's why you're

1141
01:25:19,600 --> 01:25:23,360
» You haven't gotten to the animal shelter
yet.

1142
01:25:22,814 --> 01:25:26,360
[laughter]
>> Okay.

1143
01:25:27,040 --> 01:25:32,639
» Oh boy.
Um

1144
01:25:30,239 --> 01:25:36,400
» we're we're here. Look, we we took the
job to help and that's what we're here

1145
01:25:34,159 --> 01:25:42,320
to listen. So you can go ahead and
>> Yeah. I was going to say you're you're

1146
01:25:39,280 --> 01:25:46,320
leaders and um it takes a leader to
really listen to the community and

1147
01:25:44,159 --> 01:25:50,880
really hear our concerns. And so um
there's a lot of emotion today. There's

1148
01:25:48,400 --> 01:25:56,800
a lot of um anger. So I thank you for
being patient with us as we're sharing

1149
01:25:53,280 --> 01:26:01,679
our grievances uh with you. And so I
want to start off with um we believe

1150
01:25:59,440 --> 01:26:09,960
that the action taken by the Hamilton
Police Department on July 27th brought

1151
01:26:05,040 --> 01:26:09,960
violence into our community in Hamilton.

1152
01:26:10,239 --> 01:26:18,239
I cried watching the video. And before I
go further, I just actually want to

1153
01:26:14,960 --> 01:26:23,440
speak to the family, the Aros family and
her mom and the mom and the family. And

1154
01:26:20,639 --> 01:26:26,639
I just want to say I am sorry. I don't
want to look at you to expose you, but I

1155
01:26:25,440 --> 01:26:32,960
know you're in this room and I just want
to say I am sorry for what you and your

1156
01:26:29,760 --> 01:26:37,679
family experienced that day, not only on
that day, but what you continue to face

1157
01:26:35,040 --> 01:26:43,520
today as a consequence of that
particular day, July 27th. So, um, as a

1158
01:26:41,440 --> 01:26:49,760
Hamilton resident, I want you to know
this is not what we as Hamilton will

1159
01:26:46,719 --> 01:26:54,320
accept from law enforcement and we will
demand accountability on your behalf.

1160
01:26:54,560 --> 01:27:01,840
Um, I implore every single one of you
today as city council to do everything

1161
01:26:59,840 --> 01:27:06,000
in your power to hold our police
department accountable, including

1162
01:27:03,920 --> 01:27:11,440
ensuring that any calls that are related
to mental health be addressed by mental

1163
01:27:08,239 --> 01:27:16,400
health professionals and that our police
department should make it absolutely

1164
01:27:13,360 --> 01:27:20,960
clear that this kind of behavior is not
acceptable from fellow law enforcement

1165
01:27:18,480 --> 01:27:27,600
officers. And every law enforcement
officer officer should try to distance

1166
01:27:23,440 --> 01:27:34,080
themselves from accepting such behavior.
As a responsible resident of Hamilton's,

1167
01:27:31,040 --> 01:27:40,080
I try to do my homework about this topic
and this is what I don't understand. Um,

1168
01:27:37,520 --> 01:27:44,960
the New Jersey Attorney General's use of
force policy so that the police

1169
01:27:42,719 --> 01:27:51,280
department has to follow. It literally
says section 2.6 6 says, "Officers

1170
01:27:48,239 --> 01:27:55,679
should generally not use force
immediately when encountering

1171
01:27:53,040 --> 01:28:01,280
non-compliance with verbal directions."
End quote. It further goes on, "Before

1172
01:27:58,960 --> 01:28:05,440
using force, whenever feasible, officers
are supposed to provide clear

1173
01:28:02,880 --> 01:28:10,880
instructions and warnings and attempt to
determine whether the person has a

1174
01:28:07,120 --> 01:28:17,360
special need, mental condition, physical
limitations, developmental disabilities,

1175
01:28:13,920 --> 01:28:24,320
or language barrier. And then section
2.7 spec specifically addresses people

1176
01:28:21,280 --> 01:28:28,080
in behavioral or mental health crisis.
Um it says officers should consider

1177
01:28:26,400 --> 01:28:33,199
conditions including mental health,
developmental disabilities and age that

1178
01:28:30,880 --> 01:28:42,400
affect a person's ability to communicate
or comply. Um so now I'm asking Hamilton

1179
01:28:37,679 --> 01:28:47,440
where was 2.6 that day? Where was 2.7?
Where was the deescalation?

1180
01:28:44,639 --> 01:28:54,320
Hamilton also participates in arrive
program. It was one of the first two in

1181
01:28:49,600 --> 01:28:59,280
Mercer County along with Euing. Um
so we ask for an alternative response to

1182
01:28:57,280 --> 01:29:04,239
reduce the instances of violence and
escalation. We uh are asking for

1183
01:29:02,719 --> 01:29:11,520
accountability
on the um for the police department and

1184
01:29:08,400 --> 01:29:15,360
we ask that we just be better and by
actually making what the family is

1185
01:29:13,280 --> 01:29:20,719
currently going through, they are still
the son is currently in jail now because

1186
01:29:17,920 --> 01:29:25,840
of this last incident. So we have yet to
make the wrongs right. So not only did

1187
01:29:22,960 --> 01:29:29,760
we make a mistake that day, but we
continue to make a mistake by not

1188
01:29:27,280 --> 01:29:33,360
correcting our wrongs. So, I ask that we
be better. Hold the police department

1189
01:29:31,440 --> 01:29:37,120
accountable. Look at the uh video
cameras. I know there's probably going

1190
01:29:34,960 --> 01:29:40,239
to be some court around this, but look
at the body cameras so you could see

1191
01:29:38,560 --> 01:29:43,040
what happened. And we don't want this to
happen to any other resident.

1192
01:29:41,840 --> 01:29:46,880
» We're not going to have access to that
stuff while the investigation is open.

1193
01:29:44,719 --> 01:29:49,440
So, we have to let that take its course.
We can't see that until the

1194
01:29:48,320 --> 01:29:51,679
investigation is done.
>> Okay.

1195
01:29:49,920 --> 01:29:54,480
» Also, just for the record, you don't
have to record the meetings. If you want

1196
01:29:53,120 --> 01:29:59,120
to record the meeting, you just could
submit uh a request and then you are

1197
01:29:57,679 --> 01:30:02,480
allowed to. But all our meetings are
recorded and posted online. So you don't

1198
01:30:01,360 --> 01:30:07,360
have to have the camera in between
chairs where we can't see it or can see

1199
01:30:04,480 --> 01:30:11,120
it. It's okay. All the meetings are
recorded. We're not worried about being

1200
01:30:09,120 --> 01:30:15,440
recorded. You just submit the request
and then you can record any meeting you

1201
01:30:12,800 --> 01:30:20,719
want, but you can keep the cameras down.
Everything is recorded. It's all audio

1202
01:30:17,679 --> 01:30:26,480
and video recorded. Just for the record,
ma'am.

1203
01:30:23,520 --> 01:30:30,560
Thank you. I would just like to um
address the one concern about the

1204
01:30:28,880 --> 01:30:35,920
independent investigation that was
mentioned several times. When incidents

1205
01:30:32,800 --> 01:30:39,840
like this happen, IA takes over. IIA
starts their investigation. Part of what

1206
01:30:38,000 --> 01:30:44,159
they have to do is submit to the
prosecutor's office of Mercer County. I

1207
01:30:42,400 --> 01:30:49,040
have confirmed that it has been
submitted to the prosecutor's office.

1208
01:30:46,560 --> 01:30:54,000
Um, that is all the information that I
will know because I am a civilian, but I

1209
01:30:52,000 --> 01:30:59,120
can state for the record and I did get
permission to state that um that that

1210
01:30:56,400 --> 01:31:04,960
that this incident has been both
reported both from uh Hamilton Township

1211
01:31:01,920 --> 01:31:08,080
IIIA and it has been also uh been
submitted to the Mercer County

1212
01:31:06,800 --> 01:31:11,199
Prosecutor's Office.
>> And what about those police officers

1213
01:31:09,760 --> 01:31:14,560
during this time? Are they still out on
duties?

1214
01:31:12,320 --> 01:31:17,360
» Ma'am, I I don't know the influence. I
don't even know which officers that they

1215
01:31:16,239 --> 01:31:19,760
are. So, I can't
>> They were named earlier.

1216
01:31:18,400 --> 01:31:25,040
» I heard that they were named earlier,
but without me having had that to go to

1217
01:31:22,400 --> 01:31:29,600
see what their status is. I can't answer
that for you right now. Um, all I can I

1218
01:31:28,000 --> 01:31:34,560
can't only thing I know that I can
address at this actual moment is the

1219
01:31:32,320 --> 01:31:40,000
fact that that this incident that
happened July 27th has been submitted to

1220
01:31:38,159 --> 01:31:44,560
the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office.
So I did want to make sure that that was

1221
01:31:42,080 --> 01:31:49,120
clear um so that everyone was aware that
things have happened even it's on the

1222
01:31:46,239 --> 01:31:52,719
back end u things have been moving um
and that that aspect has been taken care

1223
01:31:51,199 --> 01:31:55,120
of. So I did just want to make that
clear.

1224
01:31:52,960 --> 01:32:01,440
» And is there any way uh is it in your
purview or powers to also figure out um

1225
01:31:58,719 --> 01:32:05,199
her son is still uh arrested because of
this last incident. Is there a way to

1226
01:32:03,280 --> 01:32:08,400
look into that and to drop all charges
that the family is facing instead of

1227
01:32:06,719 --> 01:32:13,199
getting help? They're being attacked.
Unfortunately, that that's not something

1228
01:32:10,080 --> 01:32:16,400
that we can do from this end. Um, that
would be something that would happen

1229
01:32:14,639 --> 01:32:20,080
because I'm assuming that there would
have been crim that they were criminal

1230
01:32:17,760 --> 01:32:23,280
charges. And so, that would be something
between I don't know what charges they

1231
01:32:22,159 --> 01:32:27,600
were. I don't know if they're municipal
charges or if they're um indictable

1232
01:32:25,679 --> 01:32:31,280
charges. So, a superior court. That
would be between his attorneys and

1233
01:32:29,280 --> 01:32:34,880
either the prosecutor's office either at
the municipal court or the Mercy County

1234
01:32:33,199 --> 01:32:41,600
prosecutor's office and the judge
involved. We as the attorneys for the uh

1235
01:32:38,560 --> 01:32:48,639
municipality have no jurisdiction, we
have no standing to enter into um that

1236
01:32:45,199 --> 01:32:53,040
type of of uh of a case to be heard on
that matter. So we are not allowed to be

1237
01:32:50,320 --> 01:32:56,320
heard by a judge to have any type of any
anything to do with that.

1238
01:32:54,480 --> 01:33:00,880
» I see. So my understanding is that when
a municipality puts charges on someone,

1239
01:32:59,040 --> 01:33:06,480
» it's not it's not to interrupt you, it's
not the municipality. So the officers do

1240
01:33:03,280 --> 01:33:09,920
it, but it's on behalf of the state. So
and so even though so there's different

1241
01:33:08,239 --> 01:33:14,400
aspects, there's different people. And
then the way that these court

1242
01:33:11,679 --> 01:33:20,159
proceedings work, yes, we represent the
municipality as a whole. We represent um

1243
01:33:17,760 --> 01:33:24,159
the the township, we represent those
that work within the township. And so if

1244
01:33:22,880 --> 01:33:27,520
something comes out of the IIA
investigation, then the township does

1245
01:33:25,600 --> 01:33:31,679
what we need to do on that as far as
administratively. But when it comes to

1246
01:33:29,360 --> 01:33:35,199
these types of criminal charges, we are
not involved in that. That is between

1247
01:33:33,360 --> 01:33:38,880
the state of New Jersey and the
individual that has been charged. So

1248
01:33:37,040 --> 01:33:43,360
that is something that has to be taken
care of in a criminal court which would

1249
01:33:41,120 --> 01:33:47,440
be in the superior court or a quasi
criminal court which would be the

1250
01:33:44,639 --> 01:33:52,400
municipal court. But we as the civilian
municip uh municipal township attorneys

1251
01:33:50,320 --> 01:33:58,560
have nothing to do with that nor can we
inter get be involved in that case.

1252
01:33:54,880 --> 01:34:02,560
» Okay. But with all due respect, um I I I
don't understand how you just told me

1253
01:34:00,560 --> 01:34:07,840
within the sentences that you just said
that you have power over those agencies

1254
01:34:05,679 --> 01:34:11,440
like you are basically their
supervisors, right? No. And so it

1255
01:34:09,920 --> 01:34:14,960
» No, no, I never said I was anyone's
supervisor. I said we represent them. So

1256
01:34:13,600 --> 01:34:17,679
we represent Okay.
>> in court. We

1257
01:34:15,840 --> 01:34:22,880
» You represent us. Is there any way for
you to tell the people that put charges

1258
01:34:20,239 --> 01:34:26,320
on this family that they shouldn't your
your police department should not be

1259
01:34:24,400 --> 01:34:30,159
putting charges on family members who
have a mental ill health?

1260
01:34:27,920 --> 01:34:33,840
» We are over the four minutes. We will
bring you back up for obviously for your

1261
01:34:32,239 --> 01:34:38,800
for your two minutes.
>> Um but the I I do know that some of the

1262
01:34:36,880 --> 01:34:41,280
words right powerful words that people
said tonight was they wanted it

1263
01:34:40,080 --> 01:34:45,280
investigated.
>> It's being investigated

1264
01:34:42,639 --> 01:34:52,320
» and accountability and the prosecutor is
doing it right. So let the process that

1265
01:34:48,719 --> 01:34:56,239
was asked for is happening. I understand
um that the family's loved one is

1266
01:34:54,639 --> 01:35:00,159
incarcerated and that's a separate issue
that again the at their attorney should

1267
01:34:58,320 --> 01:35:06,320
be working on right. I would assume that
their attorney is working on that. Um

1268
01:35:03,280 --> 01:35:11,520
but the process is in place. Let's let
that process work. We can't interfere

1269
01:35:08,320 --> 01:35:16,239
with that process. We can look at it
afterwards, but while that process is

1270
01:35:13,440 --> 01:35:21,679
happening, this body cannot interfere
with that investigation.

1271
01:35:19,040 --> 01:35:27,320
» Okay. Thank you. [clears throat]
>> Um, next up on the list, David Nicholas.

1272
01:35:38,320 --> 01:35:45,679
Good afternoon, council members. My name
is David Nicholas. Hi, sir.

1273
01:35:42,880 --> 01:35:50,400
» Can uh quick question. Is my attorney
allowed to speak on uh before me?

1274
01:35:48,960 --> 01:35:54,639
» Well, you get four minutes and he gets
four minutes. So, you can both speak

1275
01:35:52,639 --> 01:35:57,679
» our order. So, I I can
>> Yeah, I want to give him my go for him.

1276
01:35:57,360 --> 01:36:00,560
» Okay.
>> The batting order is up to you.

1277
01:35:59,481 --> 01:36:05,840
[laughter]
>> Thank you guys. Um, so Kenneth Laauo

1278
01:36:03,679 --> 01:36:09,600
from War, New Jersey, you know, about an
hour and a half north of here

1279
01:36:07,920 --> 01:36:14,960
representing uh David Nicholas and
Prolific Growhouse. So, long story

1280
01:36:12,560 --> 01:36:22,480
short, we just want to, you know, bring
a little bit of attention to the council

1281
01:36:17,840 --> 01:36:26,960
regarding uh my client and his company's
multi-year efforts to try to move

1282
01:36:24,960 --> 01:36:29,280
forward with uh opening a cannabis
dispensary.

1283
01:36:27,600 --> 01:36:33,920
» I'm sorry, what company?
>> Prolific Growhouse. Okay. Um, I mean,

1284
01:36:32,159 --> 01:36:40,960
PIC has been in contact with the town
since 2021 and, uh, you know, at this

1285
01:36:37,360 --> 01:36:48,800
point has invested well over $150,000
into this project. Uh but you know we've

1286
01:36:45,840 --> 01:36:54,320
come to a point where essentially
we're not sure what our next step can be

1287
01:36:51,600 --> 01:36:59,119
because um
effectively you know and we'll present a

1288
01:36:57,040 --> 01:37:03,600
list of dozens and dozens of contact
points we've had over the last two or

1289
01:37:00,960 --> 01:37:08,719
three years. But the current situation
is that we are locked into a long-term

1290
01:37:05,440 --> 01:37:11,520
lease for opening a dispensary by the
Wawwa. And

1291
01:37:10,719 --> 01:37:13,040
» excuse me. Which
>> Wawa?

1292
01:37:12,639 --> 01:37:15,440
» Uh,
>> is that that's a That was a trick

1293
01:37:14,320 --> 01:37:18,080
question, right?
>> I don't look down here. So, I don't know

1294
01:37:17,280 --> 01:37:23,760
where all the
>> You can answer.

1295
01:37:20,239 --> 01:37:26,400
» It's on uh 691 Route 130. Thank you.
>> Yeah.

1296
01:37:24,080 --> 01:37:33,600
» Yeah. So,
uh, dear B caviian, but the the issue

1297
01:37:30,320 --> 01:37:39,199
here is that we've been working with
Fred and the town to try to understand

1298
01:37:36,639 --> 01:37:43,679
what the objections are because we only
entered into this. We basically we

1299
01:37:42,400 --> 01:37:50,159
entered into the lease and signed it and
grabbed it from uh the previous landlord

1300
01:37:47,119 --> 01:37:54,960
um under you know some strict ulti
ultimatum and with you know a $40,000

1301
01:37:52,719 --> 01:37:59,360
deposit at risk on the premise that we
got a zoning letter in 2024 that said

1302
01:37:57,360 --> 01:38:04,080
that the the location was zoned for
cannabis and had some preliminary

1303
01:38:01,360 --> 01:38:09,520
meetings that were promising. Uh, and
you know, given the fact that David is

1304
01:38:07,360 --> 01:38:14,480
from Hamilton and has built one of the
more successful cannabis businesses in

1305
01:38:11,280 --> 01:38:19,440
New Jersey, um, he's been, you know,
looking to bring his business to

1306
01:38:16,800 --> 01:38:26,560
Hamilton and hire local workers and, you
know, uh, has a successful track record

1307
01:38:22,159 --> 01:38:32,320
in the state already. So the what we're
looking for here is basically

1308
01:38:29,520 --> 01:38:37,199
you know a way to understand
what we can do to work with the town

1309
01:38:34,239 --> 01:38:42,159
more to try to realize some return on
this investment or alternatively to at

1310
01:38:40,320 --> 01:38:48,159
least have something to give the
landlord for why his uh location is not

1311
01:38:45,600 --> 01:38:52,800
being permitted to move forward for a
use because the only

1312
01:38:50,960 --> 01:38:58,159
rejection if reason for rejection we've
gotten so far is [clears throat] that,

1313
01:38:55,520 --> 01:39:02,480
you know, um
the town has told us that they don't

1314
01:39:00,480 --> 01:39:08,480
believe there's enough parking spots in
that center, but we've gotten a traffic

1315
01:39:05,520 --> 01:39:13,280
study and presented it to the town to
show that there should be enough spot

1316
01:39:10,560 --> 01:39:20,400
parking spots in the shopping center.
and you know raised the question of if a

1317
01:39:18,639 --> 01:39:25,760
dispensary where you know you have three
workers there and people going in there

1318
01:39:23,520 --> 01:39:31,440
for 10 minutes at a time and coming out
is a use that can't be permitted based

1319
01:39:29,440 --> 01:39:34,960
on the parking in the center. What would
be permitted? Right? Because the

1320
01:39:32,560 --> 01:39:37,760
landlord's question is now like if this
is being rejected for parking and we're

1321
01:39:36,560 --> 01:39:42,400
not even going to be given the
opportunity to go before the planning

1322
01:39:39,360 --> 01:39:47,199
board to uh work out whether or not
there's something we can do, what's

1323
01:39:44,400 --> 01:39:51,280
possible for that for that center and
that empty storefront that's been

1324
01:39:49,440 --> 01:39:56,080
sitting empty for over a year now. So
I'm I am not we're going to let you come

1325
01:39:53,040 --> 01:40:00,480
up. I'm not familiar with uh the reasons
uh why it has not been approved. You

1326
01:39:58,480 --> 01:40:06,000
have to allow us the opportunity to ask
those questions and we will um I would

1327
01:40:04,239 --> 01:40:11,360
definitely like to hear your client. I
like to hear uh we like local success

1328
01:40:09,119 --> 01:40:15,679
stories so we like Hamilton residents
doing good things. So I want to hear

1329
01:40:13,360 --> 01:40:19,440
what he has to say and uh we'll gather
as much information as we can go back to

1330
01:40:17,679 --> 01:40:23,679
our professionals and try to get some
answers. But this is the first we're

1331
01:40:21,119 --> 01:40:26,320
hearing about it. So if uh Mr. Nichols
could come up that would be great.

1332
01:40:24,719 --> 01:40:29,520
» Thank you very much. Yeah, because we
were told that you would go to your own

1333
01:40:27,760 --> 01:40:32,560
professionals on the on the parking
issue, but then we've, you know,

1334
01:40:31,040 --> 01:40:35,920
followed up over the last six months and
never got an official

1335
01:40:34,320 --> 01:40:39,360
» under understood this is just the first
we're hearing of it. So, just allow us

1336
01:40:37,600 --> 01:40:42,880
to gather some information and get some
answers.

1337
01:40:40,080 --> 01:40:45,440
» Okay. And uh you know, if I can uh
provide

1338
01:40:44,000 --> 01:40:48,560
» bring them up. Yeah, bring them up. You
can give them to the clerk. She'll give

1339
01:40:46,400 --> 01:40:54,080
them to us. This is uh just a write up
that we prepared in terms of uh you know

1340
01:40:51,360 --> 01:40:58,960
the efforts that we made to contact the
town as well as some letters of support

1341
01:40:56,480 --> 01:41:05,440
that uh and a petition online does
support giving David a chance.

1342
01:41:01,119 --> 01:41:09,199
» Okay. Uh did you want to take one?
I know you're interested in that. So

1343
01:41:07,119 --> 01:41:11,920
» sir, the floor is yours.
>> What high school did you go to?

1344
01:41:10,639 --> 01:41:14,080
» Pleasure everybody. Um
>> sir, what high school did you go to in

1345
01:41:13,600 --> 01:41:18,960
Hamilton?
>> I went to Notre Dame High School

1346
01:41:15,600 --> 01:41:24,239
actually. I went to OS um in on East
State um but I'm a Notre Dame graduate.

1347
01:41:21,679 --> 01:41:27,840
» Okay, congratulations. [laughter]
>> You would have said West.

1348
01:41:26,159 --> 01:41:33,840
» No, we used to meet them in football.
>> Yeah, we know [laughter]

1349
01:41:30,159 --> 01:41:39,600
winners around here. Um but yeah,
pleasure to meet everyone. Uh my name is

1350
01:41:35,679 --> 01:41:43,920
David Nicholas. Um I'm 28 years old. Um
I'm a local. Uh as I mentioned, I

1351
01:41:42,400 --> 01:41:49,119
graduated from uh Notre Dame High
School. Um, I've been holding on to this

1352
01:41:46,480 --> 01:41:54,080
property for about two years now. Uh, if
you guys haven't heard about my company,

1353
01:41:52,000 --> 01:41:59,199
um, Governor Murphy actually came by our
facility uh, about a year and a half

1354
01:41:56,159 --> 01:42:04,560
ago. Um, I am a success story of this
area. Um, I was granted the first social

1355
01:42:02,560 --> 01:42:10,080
equity license in New Jersey to
cultivate. I actually came to Hamilton

1356
01:42:07,199 --> 01:42:15,440
first in 2021 trying to bring my
business here to bring my story to light

1357
01:42:12,159 --> 01:42:18,800
in Hamilton, but I was shut down um then
in 2021.

1358
01:42:17,280 --> 01:42:25,280
2024
uh came around. I found this new

1359
01:42:20,320 --> 01:42:31,119
property and on located on 691 um US30.
Um, I spoke to uh the landlord, had to

1360
01:42:28,639 --> 01:42:38,320
put down a hefty uh deposit which came
out of um some funding that I got and

1361
01:42:34,560 --> 01:42:42,800
I'm still 100% owner of my company. Um
you know, with the funding that we had

1362
01:42:40,800 --> 01:42:48,480
um you know, I started off with nothing.
Uh I had to build that from ground zero.

1363
01:42:45,600 --> 01:42:52,960
Um we've turned around success and with
our business that we have right now

1364
01:42:50,159 --> 01:42:58,080
located um in Hamilton,
I've been draining money. Um, you know,

1365
01:42:55,040 --> 01:43:03,280
I'm feeding over 20 families now that
also live in Hamilton currently that

1366
01:43:00,239 --> 01:43:08,719
work for my cultivation in Mount Holly.
Um, I want to bring more economic

1367
01:43:05,679 --> 01:43:13,760
opportunity to to the fellows uh
residents that that are from this town.

1368
01:43:11,199 --> 01:43:17,600
I've heard uh plenty of cases back here
of those that are dealing with ICE.

1369
01:43:15,920 --> 01:43:22,400
That's another issue that I had to deal
within my company with some of the

1370
01:43:19,840 --> 01:43:27,600
Hamilton residents that work for me.
this has affected like my business as a

1371
01:43:25,360 --> 01:43:33,280
whole. Um, you know, from the ICE
situation to now me dealing with being

1372
01:43:30,400 --> 01:43:37,840
in a hole um in Hamilton from me not
being able to operate. I haven't brought

1373
01:43:35,920 --> 01:43:41,040
any trouble to the state. I don't plan
on bringing any trouble. Actually plan

1374
01:43:39,520 --> 01:43:47,040
on bringing the Haitian community
together, which is where I'm from. Um, I

1375
01:43:44,960 --> 01:43:51,280
think everyone does deserve a chance to
at least voice themselves. Um, you know,

1376
01:43:49,280 --> 01:43:57,600
you guys can see the stories online
about me, about my company, about all

1377
01:43:53,920 --> 01:44:03,280
the good that we've done in New Jersey.
I just want you guys to please just put

1378
01:44:00,719 --> 01:44:08,800
yourselves in my shoes. You know, a
young black man coming from this this

1379
01:44:06,080 --> 01:44:12,639
township doing something successful with
himself, being able to be the first

1380
01:44:10,719 --> 01:44:16,480
person in his family to graduate
college,

1381
01:44:14,239 --> 01:44:20,880
do something bigger than anybody has
ever thought. I'm the first millionaire

1382
01:44:18,159 --> 01:44:25,520
in my family.
I want to keep this going. I don't want

1383
01:44:22,880 --> 01:44:30,719
this to be a one-stop road. I want to be
able to keep providing these jobs and

1384
01:44:28,400 --> 01:44:35,840
opportunities, like I said, to those
that look like me that have been through

1385
01:44:33,119 --> 01:44:40,560
my struggle. I've also been arrested for
this plant. And, you know, I'm trying to

1386
01:44:38,880 --> 01:44:44,719
do something positive and something
that's actually, you know, beneficial

1387
01:44:42,960 --> 01:44:51,520
that's going to help everyone in in this
township. Um, I'm going to end it with

1388
01:44:48,159 --> 01:44:56,000
this. I just want a fair opportunity.
Um, I

1389
01:44:53,600 --> 01:45:02,800
gave you guys the um petition that was
signed off by 52 different um people

1390
01:44:59,679 --> 01:45:07,280
from all across that are shoppers in
Hamilton that come to the Hamilton

1391
01:45:04,239 --> 01:45:10,960
marketplace to shop.
Once again, I'm just asking for a fair

1392
01:45:09,600 --> 01:45:16,560
opportunity.
>> Thank you. Are you sticking around, sir?

1393
01:45:14,480 --> 01:45:18,639
Mr. Nichols, are you sticking around
after the meeting?

1394
01:45:18,239 --> 01:45:24,153
» Yes.
>> All right. Talk to you then. Thank you.

1395
01:45:22,133 --> 01:45:24,153
[applause]

1396
01:45:28,400 --> 01:45:37,080
» I also have Davidson Pierre uh from
Prolific Dispensary.

1397
01:45:33,280 --> 01:45:37,080
» You're floor sir.

1398
01:45:43,748 --> 01:45:46,880
» [clears throat]
>> Pleasure, sir.

1399
01:45:44,880 --> 01:45:51,440
» Okay. Um, good evening, council members.
My name is Davidson Pierre. I'm also a,

1400
01:45:49,600 --> 01:45:57,440
you know, member of Hamilton Township.
Um, pretty hard act to follow after what

1401
01:45:54,719 --> 01:46:03,280
he just said. But, uh, I second that,
but I'm also, you know, I see what

1402
01:46:00,960 --> 01:46:06,560
happens in a lot of the townships and
certain people and certain business

1403
01:46:04,719 --> 01:46:11,600
demographics get treated a little bit
different. And I feel like, you know, we

1404
01:46:08,800 --> 01:46:15,679
have an opportunity here to uh do
something a little different, make

1405
01:46:12,960 --> 01:46:20,159
history probably or just in a sense of
opening doors for different

1406
01:46:18,239 --> 01:46:25,840
opportunities within our own
communities. So, um like I said, I'm

1407
01:46:23,920 --> 01:46:30,560
here on behalf of Prolific Grow House
and I also second what he said and I

1408
01:46:28,719 --> 01:46:36,159
believe that um this is an opportunity
for us to make a change and as we can

1409
01:46:33,360 --> 01:46:40,560
see, it's happening all over. It's not
just here in Hamilton, New Jersey. It's

1410
01:46:38,480 --> 01:46:44,239
not just here in our community. Whether
we like it or not, it's something that's

1411
01:46:42,159 --> 01:46:49,199
going to be around. So, I think that
it's something that can, if done

1412
01:46:46,560 --> 01:46:52,800
correctly, could move forward hand with
the community and the businesses to move

1413
01:46:51,360 --> 01:46:53,679
forward. That's all I have to say. Have
a good night.

1414
01:46:53,360 --> 01:46:57,819
» Thank you.
>> Thank you.

1415
01:46:55,799 --> 01:46:57,819
[applause]

1416
01:46:57,920 --> 01:47:01,960
» Is it Carsonir Paul?

1417
01:47:03,600 --> 01:47:08,159
Okay. that
>> we're going to circle we're going to

1418
01:47:06,719 --> 01:47:14,239
circle him in case he comes back. We'll
get to go at the end.

1419
01:47:11,600 --> 01:47:17,239
» Sorry, my eyes are going. Uh Natalie
Perez.

1420
01:47:19,440 --> 01:47:22,560
» Are you also with Prolific?
>> Yes.

1421
01:47:21,360 --> 01:47:27,920
» Okay, thank you.
>> Good evening. My name is Natalie Perez.

1422
01:47:25,920 --> 01:47:32,639
» Um I'm here as a Hamilton community
member and I'm here to express my

1423
01:47:29,760 --> 01:47:37,360
support for Prolific House. Um, I worked
closely with David for the last three

1424
01:47:34,719 --> 01:47:42,480
years. He's an exceptional person. His
whole mission is to empower his

1425
01:47:40,000 --> 01:47:48,800
community and make it better. Um, I've
seen him go through unreasonable like

1426
01:47:46,080 --> 01:47:52,159
too many delays with your township. And
I want you guys to really listen to him

1427
01:47:50,320 --> 01:47:55,040
and give him the opportunity because
he's bringing something very powerful

1428
01:47:53,760 --> 01:47:57,840
and it's also going to empower your
community that's made of immigrants.

1429
01:47:56,560 --> 01:48:01,520
It's a lot of immigrants in here and
they don't feel heard. They don't feel

1430
01:47:59,119 --> 01:48:05,760
cared for. They don't feel protected. So
bringing someone like him to set the

1431
01:48:03,440 --> 01:48:11,000
example for your community is what you
really need to do.

1432
01:48:06,880 --> 01:48:11,000
» Thank you. Thank you. Thanks for coming.

1433
01:48:12,080 --> 01:48:16,560
» All right, we're through the front page
of the list.

1434
01:48:14,639 --> 01:48:20,320
» Alicia,
is Alicia still here? Also from Misty

1435
01:48:19,119 --> 01:48:24,560
Meadow,
>> come on up, please.

1436
01:48:22,880 --> 01:48:28,719
» Good evening, everyone. Good evening,
council. I guess this is just more so an

1437
01:48:26,480 --> 01:48:33,040
introduction. My name is Elisia Kalist.
um joined with by my neighbors who spoke

1438
01:48:31,360 --> 01:48:36,560
prior, so I won't take up too much of
your time, but just wanted to get on the

1439
01:48:35,119 --> 01:48:40,560
record that we're here. We're a
community and we we want to continue to

1440
01:48:38,800 --> 01:48:43,520
voice our concerns until they're heard
and and addressed and you'll be seeing

1441
01:48:42,560 --> 01:48:47,880
more of us.
>> We appreciate you coming. Thank you.

1442
01:48:49,280 --> 01:48:56,080
» All right, we're through the list of
people that signed up to speak for the

1443
01:48:52,719 --> 01:49:00,719
first time. Before we go into the second
time for everybody to come up,

1444
01:48:59,760 --> 01:49:04,235
What?
>> No, she forfeited her thumb. [laughter]

1445
01:49:05,199 --> 01:49:10,080
» Is there anyone else that would like to
be heard for the first time?

1446
01:49:09,420 --> 01:49:13,080
[laughter]
>> Anybody?

1447
01:49:13,440 --> 01:49:21,000
» You'll go next.
>> I mean, can go first.

1448
01:49:18,000 --> 01:49:21,000
» Wait.

1449
01:49:21,040 --> 01:49:24,199
» Thank you.

1450
01:49:25,280 --> 01:49:32,639
» Okay. I'm here to talk about the
shelter. Um, so first I want to talk

1451
01:49:29,840 --> 01:49:36,239
about my volunteer application because I
still do not have a clear answer about

1452
01:49:34,239 --> 01:49:40,960
why it's being held or when it will be
reconsidered. Uh, Chris, the public

1453
01:49:38,800 --> 01:49:45,679
health officer, told me via email that
per the mayor's conversation with me, it

1454
01:49:42,800 --> 01:49:50,480
would not be considered at this time.
Sorry. But in my one-on-one meeting with

1455
01:49:48,960 --> 01:49:55,840
the mayor, he gave me a much more
specific explanation and he told me that

1456
01:49:52,560 --> 01:49:59,440
the issue was my social media. So, and
that the shelter employees didn't like

1457
01:49:57,360 --> 01:50:04,639
me or my social media posts and there
was distrust around having me volunteer

1458
01:50:01,840 --> 01:50:08,880
there because of my social media. Um, I
did not record that meeting, which you

1459
01:50:07,040 --> 01:50:11,920
know, I told him I wouldn't, but like
things like this are what makes me

1460
01:50:10,159 --> 01:50:15,040
regret not doing that because I hear one
thing in person and then when I ask for

1461
01:50:13,440 --> 01:50:19,679
written explanations, I hear something
completely different. Um, so I really

1462
01:50:17,280 --> 01:50:25,280
like clarification on that. Is it
denied? Is it being hel or held? Who's

1463
01:50:23,280 --> 01:50:30,400
making that decision? And are there
actual written criteria for rejecting or

1464
01:50:27,840 --> 01:50:35,360
holding a volunteers's application? Um
because if it is just my social media

1465
01:50:32,639 --> 01:50:40,560
and my public criticism and commentary,
like I think that's concerning. Um and

1466
01:50:38,400 --> 01:50:46,480
if it is just being held, when will it
be reconsidered? So if there is a

1467
01:50:43,600 --> 01:50:49,840
legitimate qualification or safety or
conduct based reason that I do not meet

1468
01:50:48,239 --> 01:50:55,040
the standards for volunteering, I want
to know what that is.

1469
01:50:51,920 --> 01:50:59,040
I also want to return to Merlin. He's
clearly no longer at the shelter. He's

1470
01:50:56,639 --> 01:51:03,360
thriving in his foster home, but that
does not make the underlying questions

1471
01:51:00,800 --> 01:51:07,040
irrelevant. This entire situation raised
serious questions about how dogs are

1472
01:51:04,960 --> 01:51:11,040
evaluated, coded, and ultimately
handled. In my meeting with the mayor,

1473
01:51:09,280 --> 01:51:15,679
he told me that Laura, the current
trainer, will likely change Merlin's

1474
01:51:12,960 --> 01:51:20,239
color code to blue or yellow, but the
facility that actually evaluated him

1475
01:51:17,600 --> 01:51:24,800
coded him as green. And this was by
Laura's standards. And I can't find

1476
01:51:22,400 --> 01:51:28,560
anything in that report that objectively
supports him being blue or yellow. I

1477
01:51:26,719 --> 01:51:33,679
even put it into AI trying to get it to
like prove me wrong and it couldn't. So

1478
01:51:30,960 --> 01:51:37,840
if Merlin did stay, what would Laura and
the shelter have colorcoded him and why

1479
01:51:36,239 --> 01:51:41,280
and what would support that
classification?

1480
01:51:39,360 --> 01:51:45,920
I think this matters because this entire
situation began with decisions made

1481
01:51:43,360 --> 01:51:50,400
under Laura. And if the township would
override an outside evaluator's green

1482
01:51:48,159 --> 01:51:54,159
classification that was following
Laura's written criteria, I think us

1483
01:51:52,560 --> 01:51:59,040
residents deserve to understand the
objective basis as we're doing that. And

1484
01:51:57,360 --> 01:52:02,800
my last thing I wanted to bring up was
at the last meeting we asked, do you

1485
01:52:01,119 --> 01:52:06,560
believe that the neutral third party
assessment was independent? And I know

1486
01:52:04,960 --> 01:52:10,560
you were instructed not to answer that
during the last meeting.

1487
01:52:08,880 --> 01:52:17,159
And a lot of you hadn't seen it at the
time, but I'm hoping you did and could

1488
01:52:13,119 --> 01:52:17,159
give an answer now.

1489
01:52:17,599 --> 01:52:24,480
» So, I have questions in Victoria answer
our question.

1490
01:52:21,280 --> 01:52:29,199
Um my question is
um as far as the application process for

1491
01:52:27,280 --> 01:52:36,239
volunteers
um

1492
01:52:31,920 --> 01:52:41,040
we had met with um the health department
uh Councilman Whan and I with the mayor

1493
01:52:39,199 --> 01:52:46,239
um for transparency to everybody so
everybody understands how it works. Uh

1494
01:52:42,719 --> 01:52:50,480
we as a council um we are not allowed to
meet more than two of us at a time. that

1495
01:52:48,480 --> 01:52:55,119
would be deemed a violation of Open
Public Meetings Act. So, we can't go and

1496
01:52:53,280 --> 01:53:00,719
sit together and talk about things as a
group because that's not fair, right?

1497
01:52:58,239 --> 01:53:05,520
It's not legal. It's not transparent.
So, uh myself and Councilman Wellan uh

1498
01:53:03,440 --> 01:53:08,960
did go meet with the health department
to start working on some of these

1499
01:53:07,040 --> 01:53:13,599
issues, start getting some answers
because we had questions about how

1500
01:53:10,480 --> 01:53:18,880
things worked. uh during that meeting.
Um one thing and um I see somebody else

1501
01:53:17,199 --> 01:53:21,599
who put an application in uh that I
would like to speak to you uh after the

1502
01:53:20,480 --> 01:53:28,239
meeting also.
>> Um

1503
01:53:24,080 --> 01:53:30,159
we had asked how do people know that you
got their application?

1504
01:53:29,280 --> 01:53:36,239
» Mhm.
>> If there's no bounceback message, right?

1505
01:53:32,800 --> 01:53:39,920
How do we know it was received? So, uh
has that process began that they're now

1506
01:53:38,560 --> 01:53:43,920
getting a bounceback message if they
submit an application? first question. I

1507
01:53:42,159 --> 01:53:47,520
have more questions. So,
>> yes. So, the the short answer is is yes.

1508
01:53:46,960 --> 01:53:51,599
» Okay.
>> So,

1509
01:53:48,400 --> 01:53:55,360
» okay. Uh next have uh I know that we
were getting a uh volunteer and these

1510
01:53:53,760 --> 01:54:00,040
are all easy questions. I just I want to
put it on the record.

1511
01:53:57,040 --> 01:54:00,040
» Um

1512
01:54:00,080 --> 01:54:05,199
» the coordinator. Thank you. Appreciate
that. Yes,

1513
01:54:02,639 --> 01:54:10,159
» that's why we're a team. Um the
coordinator was hired. the coordinator

1514
01:54:08,000 --> 01:54:16,239
uh all the applications were told we
were told that it was put on hold

1515
01:54:13,360 --> 01:54:18,800
because we didn't have a val a volunteer
coordinator. We have a volunteer

1516
01:54:17,840 --> 01:54:24,880
coordinator.
>> We got our choice of who we wanted.

1517
01:54:22,480 --> 01:54:30,480
» Has that process began?
>> Yes, it has begun. And she did as we

1518
01:54:27,840 --> 01:54:38,400
expected. She hit the ground running. Um
I believe at current count there were 72

1519
01:54:34,480 --> 01:54:44,960
open applications that she faced and all
72 have been addressed and are in some

1520
01:54:42,159 --> 01:54:50,239
type of process whether they aren't
interested anymore or they are

1521
01:54:46,960 --> 01:54:53,599
interested. Um she's set up I have to
get this right because I wrote it down

1522
01:54:51,920 --> 01:54:58,960
just to make sure. Sorry.
>> That's okay. So all while you're looking

1523
01:54:55,199 --> 01:55:03,040
for I'll ask another question. Um, so we
save time. Uh, the people that didn't

1524
01:55:01,360 --> 01:55:06,639
get a response when they first submitted
their application before this new

1525
01:55:04,639 --> 01:55:09,599
system, right, tells you that you got
the that was received. Have those people

1526
01:55:08,480 --> 01:55:13,440
all those people at least been
contacted? So that we now know we don't

1527
01:55:12,239 --> 01:55:16,560
have people sitting waiting in the
abyss.

1528
01:55:14,719 --> 01:55:24,400
» Yes, they've all been contacted. Those
are part of the of the 72. And so of the

1529
01:55:20,800 --> 01:55:28,800
72 applications that were addressed um
that she's uh conducted three

1530
01:55:26,639 --> 01:55:34,880
orientation sessions, three different
ones where she signs up various um

1531
01:55:31,840 --> 01:55:41,119
volunteers that want to come and from
that from the 72 so far that have gone

1532
01:55:38,719 --> 01:55:46,480
through um not all of them have gone
through the orientation. We've gotten 13

1533
01:55:44,000 --> 01:55:50,719
solid volunteers from the orientation
session and then six additional

1534
01:55:49,199 --> 01:55:56,400
volunteers
went through the dog handling skills

1535
01:55:52,880 --> 01:56:01,760
training and she's going to conduct
three more orientation sessions

1536
01:55:59,599 --> 01:56:06,560
and two more dog handling skills
sessions by the end of this month. So,

1537
01:56:04,400 --> 01:56:12,480
it's a very aggressive schedule, I
think, to get the those that are

1538
01:56:09,599 --> 01:56:16,719
interested, you know, trained and in the
door and ready to start on on their

1539
01:56:15,440 --> 01:56:20,239
volunteer efforts.
>> Okay.

1540
01:56:17,119 --> 01:56:24,080
» So, and the the automated system is just
a like an email kickback first when you

1541
01:56:22,800 --> 01:56:30,320
first do it.
>> Um recognizing that and um but then that

1542
01:56:28,480 --> 01:56:34,400
it's all addressed after that. They're
keeping track and doing a tracking

1543
01:56:32,000 --> 01:56:36,320
system on the on the application to make
sure.

1544
01:56:34,800 --> 01:56:40,960
» That sounds great because this is what
we asked for. So, um, now to answer her

1545
01:56:39,679 --> 01:56:44,480
questions. Um,
>> why is it on hold?

1546
01:56:42,719 --> 01:56:47,920
» Yeah, her application is currently on
hold.

1547
01:56:45,440 --> 01:56:52,000
» So, I and again, I wasn't privy to your
conversation with the mayor, but from

1548
01:56:49,520 --> 01:56:58,800
what I understand, the mayor's directive
went to uh Chris Hellwig, and that's how

1549
01:56:55,119 --> 01:57:03,360
he responded to you. It is on hold. It
will be reconsidered at some point and I

1550
01:57:01,440 --> 01:57:08,159
think uh from your meeting with the
mayor and from what I understood I

1551
01:57:05,840 --> 01:57:13,440
thought you also agreed that
>> no I did not agree

1552
01:57:10,800 --> 01:57:18,239
» that there's a trust issue there may be
a trust issue and so this might not be

1553
01:57:15,840 --> 01:57:22,960
the good timing yet for you to start
volunteering and I think that's how it

1554
01:57:20,400 --> 01:57:25,599
was put but again I wasn't there so if
I'm saying something that's not accurate

1555
01:57:24,800 --> 01:57:29,280
you can please
>> I mean yeah he said it was distrust

1556
01:57:27,440 --> 01:57:33,840
because of my social media and because
of my social media posts which I'm sure

1557
01:57:31,440 --> 01:57:38,480
many of us have seen are criticizing you
know the management of the shelter but

1558
01:57:36,400 --> 01:57:43,679
every dog that I've posted except one
has been adopted. Every cat I've posted

1559
01:57:41,040 --> 01:57:47,360
except one has been adopted. I've had
new all I I would like honestly take

1560
01:57:45,840 --> 01:57:51,199
credit for most of those volunteer
applications and I think a lot of the

1561
01:57:50,000 --> 01:57:54,880
attention that they're getting is
because of me. So although management

1562
01:57:52,880 --> 01:57:59,840
doesn't like my social media is having a
positive impact and I am a credential

1563
01:57:57,040 --> 01:58:04,239
dog trainer so I don't understand what
qualifications I don't have

1564
01:58:01,040 --> 01:58:07,280
» Jules uh the original reason that I had
remembered

1565
01:58:05,440 --> 01:58:11,520
» from the conversations in the beginning
was about um

1566
01:58:09,920 --> 01:58:13,840
sticking your arms in the cage of the
dog

1567
01:58:12,080 --> 01:58:16,080
» when I asked the mayor that I said is
that the reason he said no that's not

1568
01:58:15,440 --> 01:58:20,560
the reason
>> that was the that was the original

1569
01:58:18,000 --> 01:58:22,800
conversation cuz I do remember the dog
that said do that you tried to hug

1570
01:58:22,560 --> 01:58:24,159
through the
>> cage. Yeah.

1571
01:58:23,760 --> 01:58:27,760
» Okay.
>> No, I I asked him cuz I said, "Is it

1572
01:58:26,000 --> 01:58:32,719
because of that letter?" And he said,
"No, [laughter]

1573
01:58:30,800 --> 01:58:35,199
» she is a dog. She's a dog whisperer."
But

1574
01:58:33,360 --> 01:58:38,080
» that that was the original conversation.
>> Not that dog.

1575
01:58:35,920 --> 01:58:42,000
» Yep. That was the original conversation.
So, anything after that, uh, I don't

1576
01:58:40,639 --> 01:58:47,280
have that answer to.
>> Um, we will work on that. Uh to get to

1577
01:58:45,119 --> 01:58:51,920
the next one, you asked about what code
Merlin would be if he was in.

1578
01:58:50,000 --> 01:58:56,000
» Um
I'm not going to speculate on where

1579
01:58:53,920 --> 01:58:58,560
something would be. Let's hope he never
comes back to the shelter and finds out,

1580
01:58:58,159 --> 01:59:02,480
right?
>> Yeah.

1581
01:58:59,040 --> 01:59:05,840
» But to speculate and try to say where
somebody would be, we would have to take

1582
01:59:04,320 --> 01:59:07,040
the recommendations of whatever that
report was.

1583
01:59:06,639 --> 01:59:10,800
» Yeah.
>> Because that's where it is. However,

1584
01:59:09,360 --> 01:59:14,159
we're not going to speculate and say
where will it be if it comes back or

1585
01:59:12,400 --> 01:59:17,840
where would it be if it wasn't adopted.
The fact that you got you helped get the

1586
01:59:16,159 --> 01:59:21,679
dog where it is. We should just be
celebrating that and not looking

1587
01:59:19,679 --> 01:59:25,520
backwards and saying what if or try to
look into a crystal ball we don't have.

1588
01:59:23,760 --> 01:59:29,280
» I got to just disagree a little bit
because I mean the mayor said, "Oh, Lara

1589
01:59:27,920 --> 01:59:33,599
is probably going to change him to blue
or yellow." And at that point, we didn't

1590
01:59:30,960 --> 01:59:36,320
know that he was going to the rescue and
>> that conversation didn't happen here.

1591
01:59:35,119 --> 01:59:41,920
So, we are
>> Yeah. I just I think it's important for

1592
01:59:39,440 --> 01:59:46,880
you know judging Laura's like criteria.
I want her to read that report and tell

1593
01:59:44,000 --> 01:59:50,080
us is Merlin green by her standards.
>> Okay, your time is up. You can come back

1594
01:59:48,719 --> 01:59:51,360
up for your two minutes and we will
continue.

1595
01:59:50,639 --> 01:59:53,599
» Got it.
>> Thank you.

1596
01:59:52,000 --> 01:59:56,080
» Sorry we not answering the third party
thing.

1597
01:59:54,159 --> 01:59:59,520
» Your third third party question. Do we
believe it was

1598
01:59:56,960 --> 02:00:04,159
» independent as
>> so my own personal opinion. Am I allowed

1599
02:00:01,840 --> 02:00:08,000
to answer this question?
>> Yes.

1600
02:00:04,880 --> 02:00:11,679
» Okay. My my own personal opinion is you
do not have to handle a dog to train a

1601
02:00:10,000 --> 02:00:15,360
dog to judge a dog.
>> If you are handling a dog, I can take

1602
02:00:13,679 --> 02:00:16,639
observations and make a judgment based
on that. Right.

1603
02:00:16,159 --> 02:00:20,719
» Yeah.
>> When if I if if it's baseball practice

1604
02:00:18,719 --> 02:00:23,119
and I'm pitching to you, other people
can evaluate when you're hitting, right?

1605
02:00:22,719 --> 02:00:27,199
» Yeah.
>> So, yes, I do believe it was

1606
02:00:24,400 --> 02:00:30,400
independent. Yes, I do believe a third
person can evaluate a dog without

1607
02:00:29,040 --> 02:00:32,639
actually handling the dog.
>> Yeah.

1608
02:00:30,880 --> 02:00:36,560
» Sometimes the dog needs to be handled.
Sometimes it needs to be observed.

1609
02:00:34,560 --> 02:00:41,040
Sometimes you can see behaviors watching
the dog by not handling it because

1610
02:00:39,119 --> 02:00:42,719
you're not watching the dog come at you.
You're actually watching what's

1611
02:00:42,239 --> 02:00:46,320
happening.
>> Yeah.

1612
02:00:43,360 --> 02:00:50,480
» Is it the perfect Is it the perfect
watch and handling? Is it the perfect

1613
02:00:48,159 --> 02:00:53,760
scenario? Is it the end all be all? Is
every situation the same? No. Because

1614
02:00:52,320 --> 02:00:56,560
every dog is different. Every dog's
mentality is different. So, they're all

1615
02:00:56,000 --> 02:00:59,679
different.
>> Yeah.

1616
02:00:57,040 --> 02:01:05,440
» So, I don't know because I wasn't in
that room watching. But my answer is

1617
02:01:02,880 --> 02:01:09,599
could it be independent? Yes, it could.
But to say yes to something that I

1618
02:01:07,920 --> 02:01:13,679
wasn't there or my colleagues weren't
there, it's very difficult for me to

1619
02:01:11,520 --> 02:01:16,880
just agree or disagree. We weren't
there. I didn't watch that assessment. I

1620
02:01:15,920 --> 02:01:20,159
didn't
>> I never even met the person doing the

1621
02:01:18,560 --> 02:01:23,280
assessment. It's very difficult for me
to judge somebody. I never saw, talk to,

1622
02:01:22,400 --> 02:01:26,800
or heard from.
>> Yeah. I just I just feel like what we

1623
02:01:25,520 --> 02:01:30,400
thought was going to happen was that
Laura was not going to be part of it.

1624
02:01:28,639 --> 02:01:34,480
and even if it was handled by another
person, maybe an animal attendant or

1625
02:01:32,239 --> 02:01:37,360
something that the current trainer
wouldn't be there.

1626
02:01:35,520 --> 02:01:41,599
» So, so moving forward, maybe things
change, but Merlin saved and Merlin is

1627
02:01:39,679 --> 02:01:45,280
not in the shelter. Correct. And I think
that's the part we need to celebrate.

1628
02:01:43,840 --> 02:01:48,239
» You're right. We want to make sure
things like that don't happen. We want

1629
02:01:46,800 --> 02:01:50,719
to try to get all the dogs out.
>> I did pay for a new evaluator to come

1630
02:01:50,000 --> 02:01:55,360
in. So,
>> and yeah, I want to thank you for the

1631
02:01:52,880 --> 02:02:00,800
donations that you've made. Uh, I want
to point out that Merlin was saved

1632
02:01:57,840 --> 02:02:04,800
because of donations made by um
anonymous donors who don't want to be

1633
02:02:02,960 --> 02:02:10,719
named, but members of the public making
donations uh make a big difference. It

1634
02:02:07,920 --> 02:02:16,560
allows uh for the shelter to provide
training that the shelter cannot provide

1635
02:02:13,360 --> 02:02:24,000
without donations. In Merlin's case, he
was categorized a red dog. after 6 weeks

1636
02:02:20,480 --> 02:02:29,599
of intensive one-on-one training, he was
classified by that trainer as green.

1637
02:02:27,280 --> 02:02:34,560
» Uh so it did take some work to get that
dog there. It's work that our shelter

1638
02:02:32,320 --> 02:02:39,840
staff wouldn't have been able to do.
>> So uh it is uh a testament to the

1639
02:02:38,320 --> 02:02:45,199
dedication
um and generosity of folks who have made

1640
02:02:42,159 --> 02:02:49,119
donations like you. So thank you. Thank
you to all the donors. uh and you know

1641
02:02:47,840 --> 02:02:51,679
thank you to all the folks who are
interested in volunteering there as

1642
02:02:50,639 --> 02:02:55,400
well.
>> Thank you.

1643
02:02:52,159 --> 02:02:55,400
» Good perspective.

1644
02:02:59,679 --> 02:03:06,080
» Um Janice is next and then you're up.
She had her hand up. I apologize. You

1645
02:03:03,199 --> 02:03:11,160
can come up next.
>> You can come up to the on deck circle if

1646
02:03:07,679 --> 02:03:11,160
you want to move up. [laughter]

1647
02:03:12,800 --> 02:03:19,040
» Okay. Jin Sonic Cornell Heights. Hold
hold on one second everybody just please

1648
02:03:17,040 --> 02:03:23,679
give uh the respect to the speaker.
Okay. Thank you ma'am.

1649
02:03:22,159 --> 02:03:31,000
» Uh
is Route 33 trying to make a record for

1650
02:03:26,320 --> 02:03:31,000
how many car washes are on one road?

1651
02:03:32,719 --> 02:03:39,360
» There are three within 3/10en of a mile.
And then of course capital the high

1652
02:03:37,679 --> 02:03:44,080
society was a little bit down the road
but four of them on one road. and the

1653
02:03:42,719 --> 02:03:49,599
three of them you could walk to each
other, you know. I said, "That's nuts.

1654
02:03:48,159 --> 02:03:52,480
» There must be a lot of dirty cars in
Hamilton. [laughter]

1655
02:03:50,639 --> 02:03:54,800
» It's gonna be interesting to see if they
all stay in business once they get

1656
02:03:54,080 --> 02:03:57,040
rolling."
>> Competition is good for the consumer.

1657
02:03:56,719 --> 02:04:02,639
» Okay,
>> we're looking forward to that.

1658
02:03:58,320 --> 02:04:06,719
» And then what is being built in the farm
place in Mercerville Shopping Center?

1659
02:04:04,960 --> 02:04:08,239
You said the farmers market at the end.
>> Is that Sprouts?

1660
02:04:07,760 --> 02:04:10,800
» Sprouts.
>> Sprouts.

1661
02:04:09,199 --> 02:04:12,320
» What's which is what?
>> Market.

1662
02:04:11,280 --> 02:04:16,400
» Yeah. grocery store.
>> It's supposed to be all natur all

1663
02:04:13,920 --> 02:04:20,880
natural organic type supermarket.
>> Oh, okay. Cuz I was just wondering. I

1664
02:04:18,800 --> 02:04:22,719
hope it wasn't another fancy car wash.
Okay.

1665
02:04:21,360 --> 02:04:27,840
» It's indoor car wash this time.
>> Indoor car wash.

1666
02:04:24,960 --> 02:04:30,840
» Thanks, Janice.
Yep.

1667
02:04:31,599 --> 02:04:39,440
For anybody that doesn't know, uh Janice
rarely misses meetings. Uh I believe she

1668
02:04:36,480 --> 02:04:44,639
went 16 years without missing a meeting.
Um, that's why when the comment came up,

1669
02:04:42,159 --> 02:04:49,119
we routinely joke, uh, we're going to
give Janice a piece of the wallpaper in

1670
02:04:46,960 --> 02:04:54,880
a frame as they did it with the FIFA
World Cup. Um, because it means so much.

1671
02:04:52,560 --> 02:04:58,400
She's been a part of, uh, who we are as
a town and a part of these meetings for

1672
02:04:56,560 --> 02:05:01,840
a very long time and we appreciate her
being here.

1673
02:04:59,360 --> 02:05:04,320
» I got a question,
a wallpaper,

1674
02:05:03,766 --> 02:05:09,840
[laughter]
>> a wallpaper.

1675
02:05:06,960 --> 02:05:15,440
Good answer.
Uh, good evening, Amanda Elely,

1676
02:05:11,760 --> 02:05:21,679
Hamilton, resident. Um, so I'm excited
to report that I am Kathy, based on your

1677
02:05:18,639 --> 02:05:25,679
statistics, one of the 13 volunteers and
one of the six people who went to the

1678
02:05:24,400 --> 02:05:28,719
dog handling class.
>> Congratulations.

1679
02:05:27,280 --> 02:05:34,159
» Yeah.
Um, so first I I I felt kind of silly

1680
02:05:32,000 --> 02:05:38,400
and now I'm like this is completely
appropriate hearing all the things that

1681
02:05:36,239 --> 02:05:42,080
are going to be coming which is really
great news to hear. So at first I want

1682
02:05:40,719 --> 02:05:47,119
to be clear that anything that I'm
saying tonight, any of my comments, none

1683
02:05:44,080 --> 02:05:50,800
is criticism of any shelter staff at
all. Every person I've interacted with

1684
02:05:48,960 --> 02:05:55,280
has been kind, professional, very
welcoming to me. All lovely

1685
02:05:53,440 --> 02:05:58,639
interactions.
So, I want to talk about some concerns

1686
02:05:57,119 --> 02:06:02,320
with the training structure and
procedures for volunteers. Things that I

1687
02:06:00,639 --> 02:06:05,760
think could be really helpful in these
upcoming um orientations and the dog

1688
02:06:04,800 --> 02:06:07,360
handling class.
>> Can I make a request?

1689
02:06:06,719 --> 02:06:10,800
» Sure.
>> When you give us those Can you just slow

1690
02:06:09,599 --> 02:06:14,400
down because we do write these things
down and you're talking fast.

1691
02:06:12,560 --> 02:06:18,880
» Yes, I'll slow down. Sorry.
>> That's all right.

1692
02:06:16,800 --> 02:06:24,719
» There's a bigger crowd tonight. I was a
little nervous. [laughter] Okay. Ah,

1693
02:06:21,679 --> 02:06:28,639
hold on. My phone's messing up now.
Okay.

1694
02:06:26,560 --> 02:06:33,040
So, first I want to say I have more
experience with from having animals of

1695
02:06:31,040 --> 02:06:36,719
my own. So, I recognize that I can feel
more comfortable with handling a dog

1696
02:06:35,040 --> 02:06:40,880
than somebody with very little
experience. And I think that is where

1697
02:06:38,880 --> 02:06:45,440
some of the questions and concerns I'm
bringing tonight are coming from. So

1698
02:06:42,960 --> 02:06:49,440
during the dog handling class, uh Laura
taught us some leash handling

1699
02:06:47,199 --> 02:06:54,960
techniques, including how to hold two
leashes, which is the um the only way

1700
02:06:53,360 --> 02:06:58,800
that you would handle a dog being a
volunteer is to have two leashes, how to

1701
02:06:57,040 --> 02:07:02,800
shorten a leash, and how to different
handle different situations that might

1702
02:07:00,800 --> 02:07:07,280
arise. She demonstrated these
techniques, and we were told as

1703
02:07:04,719 --> 02:07:12,239
volunteers, too, that like certain
things we would never use. For example,

1704
02:07:10,239 --> 02:07:16,000
using a loop leash to put a dog back
inside its kennels. So certain things we

1705
02:07:14,480 --> 02:07:20,719
were shown is not something that we
would ever do. There were techniques

1706
02:07:18,400 --> 02:07:26,320
that I found myself wanting more
specific guidance. For example, we were

1707
02:07:22,719 --> 02:07:31,520
shown where if a dog um had a leash
looped around its paw, how we might use

1708
02:07:29,119 --> 02:07:35,920
a treat to get the leash unwrapped from
the paw. And we practiced doing that.

1709
02:07:33,840 --> 02:07:40,000
And one of my questions to Laura was
what was the preferred way that we

1710
02:07:37,760 --> 02:07:43,440
should offer a treat to the dog because
she did say that lots of the dogs had

1711
02:07:42,000 --> 02:07:47,920
different behaviors and different things
that they were or were not okay with. So

1712
02:07:46,000 --> 02:07:53,599
I was the answer to that was it depends
on the dog. We were also shown a leap a

1713
02:07:51,280 --> 02:07:58,480
leash wrap I apologize that's a tongue
twister for me technique for a dog that

1714
02:07:56,000 --> 02:08:03,199
might pull her on the leash. And the
demonstration involved Laura uh like

1715
02:08:01,119 --> 02:08:08,320
straddling the the fake dog in the
lobby. And I asked, "How is a volunteer

1716
02:08:06,560 --> 02:08:13,280
supposed to recognize whether the
particular dog that they are walking is

1717
02:08:10,880 --> 02:08:18,560
comfortable with somebody doing that
positioning on them?" Um, so I don't

1718
02:08:16,719 --> 02:08:22,400
bring up these examples to criticize the
techniques that she showed us, but I do

1719
02:08:20,320 --> 02:08:27,280
think it illustrates that sometimes a
technique that is being shown is not the

1720
02:08:25,360 --> 02:08:31,840
same as being given enough information
to confidently know when and how to use

1721
02:08:30,000 --> 02:08:35,840
something.
There were six of us in the dog handling

1722
02:08:33,840 --> 02:08:39,760
class. There were no green dogs
available that day and I was aware of

1723
02:08:38,000 --> 02:08:45,760
that going to the training. So I was
curious what we were going to do. And so

1724
02:08:43,280 --> 02:08:49,520
we practiced with Marley who is a bluele
dog. Everybody should know who Marley is

1725
02:08:48,000 --> 02:08:56,239
because he's been there to my knowledge
for 6 years. And we did the training

1726
02:08:53,520 --> 02:09:00,639
with him outside despite there being two
lower level dogs sent him. There are two

1727
02:08:59,119 --> 02:09:04,560
light blue dogs currently in the
shelter. When we took the group walk

1728
02:09:02,639 --> 02:09:10,320
with the six of us and Laura the
trainer, we each took a brief turn

1729
02:09:07,440 --> 02:09:14,239
walking him. Earlier in the training,
Laura had explained to us that the leash

1730
02:09:12,400 --> 02:09:18,719
wrap technique should only be used on a
dog. So, the technique where you

1731
02:09:16,400 --> 02:09:22,560
straddle the dog and put the leash
around him, that that should only be

1732
02:09:20,320 --> 02:09:27,440
used, she said,
when the volunteer has previously walked

1733
02:09:25,280 --> 02:09:32,000
that dog before, when you have like a
rapport and relationship built with the

1734
02:09:29,040 --> 02:09:38,480
dog. And I was left wondering because
when she brought Marley out, he was in

1735
02:09:34,719 --> 02:09:43,520
fact um we walked him with the leash
wrap method. So I was curious how this

1736
02:09:41,679 --> 02:09:47,360
guidance applies when the only dog that
we were available for the hands-on

1737
02:09:45,599 --> 02:09:51,360
demonstration was already being walked
with that technique. And I'm not

1738
02:09:49,520 --> 02:09:55,840
suggesting that he should not have been
used for the demonstration, but I'm just

1739
02:09:53,040 --> 02:09:59,520
saying it does raise a question as to
how volunteers can be given enough

1740
02:09:57,760 --> 02:10:02,400
opportunity to practice.
>> Your four minutes is up.

1741
02:10:01,360 --> 02:10:07,560
» Okay.
>> Great. [laughter] You can come back for

1742
02:10:04,000 --> 02:10:07,560
up for you too.

1743
02:10:11,619 --> 02:10:13,639
[laughter]

1744
02:10:14,000 --> 02:10:18,440
» Come on up.
>> Yeah.

1745
02:10:20,135 --> 02:10:22,155
» [laughter]

1746
02:10:24,239 --> 02:10:29,560
» Is there a party out there?
>> Sounds like it.

1747
02:10:32,800 --> 02:10:35,599
» Hello.
>> Hey.

1748
02:10:33,760 --> 02:10:39,840
» How are we doing tonight?
>> Okay. Good evening, Lorie. Hamilton

1749
02:10:37,920 --> 02:10:44,880
Township President.
>> All right. I want to first off by saying

1750
02:10:41,520 --> 02:10:48,159
that after 74 days, I am officially a
volunteer at the Hamilton Township

1751
02:10:46,320 --> 02:10:52,159
Animal Shelter. Congratulations.
>> Thank you very much. I completed my

1752
02:10:50,719 --> 02:10:56,880
volunteer orientation with Faith on
August 6th

1753
02:10:53,599 --> 02:11:00,480
» and yes, sorry, the dog handling the
class with Laura on August 13th. Uh just

1754
02:10:59,119 --> 02:11:03,440
like Amanda said, both Faith and Laura
and the rest of the shelter staff have

1755
02:11:01,840 --> 02:11:07,360
been very kind, friendly where I've been
there. So, I do appreciate that much and

1756
02:11:05,679 --> 02:11:10,639
I know how much hard work that the whole
staff goes into taking care of the

1757
02:11:08,880 --> 02:11:13,920
shelter. I have had the honor throughout
the walk Bodie, Achilles, Gordon,

1758
02:11:12,400 --> 02:11:17,760
Marley, and I'm excited to walk more
dogs and get to know them. What I am

1759
02:11:16,079 --> 02:11:21,920
bringing you tonight is a continued
concern about the social media regarding

1760
02:11:19,760 --> 02:11:25,520
the shelter. Every time I ask who
specifically runs the shelter, whether

1761
02:11:23,280 --> 02:11:29,040
it be a town council or actually did ask
in my orientation meeting, it's always

1762
02:11:27,119 --> 02:11:33,040
the same answer. The answer is some girl
who works for the mayor's office. My

1763
02:11:30,800 --> 02:11:37,599
questions are, what is her name, her
title, her responsibility? What other

1764
02:11:35,280 --> 02:11:41,440
job responsibilities does she currently
have or is her only responsibility to

1765
02:11:39,360 --> 02:11:45,599
update the social media? Who oversees
that she's doing her job? You want me to

1766
02:11:43,840 --> 02:11:49,040
wait till the end to answer those or?
>> Yeah. Answer all the questions and then

1767
02:11:47,679 --> 02:11:51,040
or ask all the questions and then we'll
answer.

1768
02:11:49,599 --> 02:11:54,719
» All right. Last town council meeting,
Lisa spoke about the bios and missing

1769
02:11:53,199 --> 02:11:59,840
bios and how the township needs to run
like a business. I would like to double

1770
02:11:56,719 --> 02:12:02,480
down on that.
Okay.

1771
02:12:01,661 --> 02:12:05,840
[snorts]
When we think about the purpose of the

1772
02:12:03,920 --> 02:12:10,079
shelter, it's not only to house, walk,
feed, love, take care of the animals.

1773
02:12:07,440 --> 02:12:14,239
It's to sell the animals to good people.
At the end of the day, it is a business

1774
02:12:11,920 --> 02:12:18,159
that's being ran. If you ran a business
in today's world, the virtual world,

1775
02:12:15,840 --> 02:12:22,320
Howie spoke about last meeting, do we
think we'd benefit from clear,

1776
02:12:20,000 --> 02:12:26,560
userfriendly social media techniques, or
old, boring, worn out standard posts? If

1777
02:12:25,119 --> 02:12:29,920
you were selling your home, would you
have someone come take pictures while

1778
02:12:27,840 --> 02:12:33,440
it's raining, a car in the driveway, a
tree that fell over? You don't focus on

1779
02:12:32,159 --> 02:12:36,639
the negatives, you focus on the
positives. I would assume we want a

1780
02:12:34,960 --> 02:12:40,239
picture of a house on a beautiful sunny
day. The first thing that catches a

1781
02:12:38,719 --> 02:12:44,159
user's eye on social media is what they
see, not what they read. When you take a

1782
02:12:42,000 --> 02:12:48,400
look at the website, and I encourage the
people in the audience to do so,

1783
02:12:46,159 --> 02:12:51,520
pictures of Lockwood, Elwood, Blaze, or
Chopper, I think we could all agree that

1784
02:12:50,159 --> 02:12:56,000
we could get better pictures to
advertise and represent these dogs

1785
02:12:53,520 --> 02:13:00,239
better. On the Instagram and Facebook,
posts are put up that say adoption

1786
02:12:58,320 --> 02:13:05,520
spotlight. And there are many, many of
these posts in the same font, format,

1787
02:13:02,960 --> 02:13:09,360
etc. Most people who I speak to who read
this think the wording is odd and I tend

1788
02:13:07,280 --> 02:13:14,159
to agree. When you put adoption
spotlight to the viewer, it makes it

1789
02:13:11,679 --> 02:13:18,000
seem like this animal got adopted.
Here's the spotlight.

1790
02:13:16,239 --> 02:13:21,920
I [laughter] think this is a small but
viable change that can be that can make

1791
02:13:19,840 --> 02:13:26,000
a big difference. I think using more
than the same repetitive pictures will

1792
02:13:23,760 --> 02:13:29,760
help and their videos could do wonders.
Suzanne, who's a volunteer, who I've

1793
02:13:27,599 --> 02:13:34,320
gotten to know slightly, is a single is
single-handedly providing better content

1794
02:13:32,079 --> 02:13:38,560
when she takes these dogs on walks as a
volunteer than a township is providing.

1795
02:13:36,880 --> 02:13:42,239
Another example, so if you guys all want
to put on Instagram, on August 10th,

1796
02:13:40,480 --> 02:13:46,239
there was a post made that says, "Thank
you to our adopters for providing a

1797
02:13:43,760 --> 02:13:51,119
loving home to Tucker, Karen, Adella, G,
Lydia, and Eddie with a picture of all

1798
02:13:48,079 --> 02:13:54,800
them with their new owners." To me as a
viewer, something that would have meant

1799
02:13:52,400 --> 02:13:58,480
a lot is each animal and owner getting
their own post. Throw some music on

1800
02:13:56,639 --> 02:14:02,400
there, tell the story, and make the
person who adopted them feel validated

1801
02:14:00,639 --> 02:14:06,079
in what an amazing moment this really
is. This completes the buyer experience

1802
02:14:04,880 --> 02:14:12,560
and gives the animal their
well-deserving love of a true adoption

1803
02:14:08,639 --> 02:14:16,000
spotlight. Also, Jules using her
platform has been instrumental in

1804
02:14:14,159 --> 02:14:19,760
getting multiple animals adopted, as she
said before, because of the engagement

1805
02:14:17,760 --> 02:14:23,440
she creates. I would also like to say
just as a side note that her not being

1806
02:14:21,599 --> 02:14:27,199
allowed to be a volunteer does not sit
right with me and I'm sure many people

1807
02:14:25,440 --> 02:14:32,239
because all she's been doing is
advocating for animals wanting to see

1808
02:14:29,280 --> 02:14:36,560
them get adopted and just help the way
Chris spoke to her through email

1809
02:14:34,159 --> 02:14:40,560
completely disrespectful and he should
be ashamed that he speaks to residents

1810
02:14:38,400 --> 02:14:45,440
in Hamilton like that and represent
represents this township as a so-called

1811
02:14:42,880 --> 02:14:49,760
leader. The other component I'd like to
speak about is a small but big change

1812
02:14:48,000 --> 02:14:52,880
that can make a difference. If you were
to walk into a store to purchase

1813
02:14:51,280 --> 02:14:56,880
something, how do you know who to ask
questions to? Usually they have some

1814
02:14:55,040 --> 02:15:01,520
identifying item on them that would let
you know. I suggested at my orientation

1815
02:14:59,679 --> 02:15:06,159
that volunteers be given t-shirts or
badges to clearly indicate who works

1816
02:15:03,520 --> 02:15:10,159
there and who volunteers. When I go in,
let's say, to the cat room, for example,

1817
02:15:08,000 --> 02:15:14,560
I have no idea who's there to look at
the cats, help the cats, feed the cats.

1818
02:15:12,400 --> 02:15:18,719
It's confusing. rather than walking the
dogs. It'd be great to know when I see a

1819
02:15:16,159 --> 02:15:22,239
dog ahead that the person has a clear
identifying shirt that they're part of

1820
02:15:20,159 --> 02:15:24,320
the shelter walking a sheltered dog,
especially when we deal with the dog,

1821
02:15:23,440 --> 02:15:27,920
reactive dogs.
>> Lori, you're at your four minutes. You

1822
02:15:26,239 --> 02:15:29,920
can come back up.
>> Okay,

1823
02:15:28,400 --> 02:15:32,920
» I know you're honorable.
>> Okay,

1824
02:15:35,520 --> 02:15:41,679
» any other first- timers that would like
to speak? Mr. Kle, come on up.

1825
02:15:41,088 --> 02:15:47,040
[laughter]
HIS

1826
02:15:43,599 --> 02:15:54,159
hand goes up first.
>> Lori, uh, Lisa, you're going to be next.

1827
02:15:50,560 --> 02:15:58,079
» Uh, Steve Craig, Hamilton Township.
So, nobody's happier than I am that

1828
02:15:55,920 --> 02:16:03,280
Merlin's out of that shelter and he's
been saved from our health officer and

1829
02:15:59,679 --> 02:16:07,760
shelter manager. I disagree though that
we should just celebrate that and not

1830
02:16:04,960 --> 02:16:12,800
look backwards because he should have
never been in that position. He should

1831
02:16:10,079 --> 02:16:18,159
have never been labeled as red. He
should have never been sitting in his

1832
02:16:14,800 --> 02:16:23,360
kennel for months at a time. He never
needed to go on those medications. And

1833
02:16:20,719 --> 02:16:30,239
his evaluation
happened just before we killed Hercules.

1834
02:16:28,159 --> 02:16:35,200
And if you remember, Hercules was
labeled red after growling. The

1835
02:16:32,479 --> 02:16:39,679
emaciated dog growled when they gave him
food and took him away. That was his

1836
02:16:36,559 --> 02:16:46,399
evaluation. and he sat in his kennel for
two years and I stood at this council

1837
02:16:42,479 --> 02:16:51,359
and I asked to walk this dog. Two years
until we finally killed that dog to save

1838
02:16:48,719 --> 02:16:58,800
him from his poor quality of life. So
no, we don't get to just skip by again.

1839
02:16:54,639 --> 02:17:05,599
Blue who was killed after an employee
went into his kennel to provoke this dog

1840
02:17:03,040 --> 02:17:10,080
who then bit his shoe. we were going to
get an answer to that and we didn't

1841
02:17:07,920 --> 02:17:15,519
because we looked forward and not
backwards. We keep coming to this same

1842
02:17:12,639 --> 02:17:19,840
point. Merlin should never have been in
that position.

1843
02:17:17,679 --> 02:17:25,599
So, I'm going to ask we did ask for some
other things. One of them starting with

1844
02:17:22,559 --> 02:17:32,960
Merlin last June was in these
evaluations a plain language statement

1845
02:17:29,200 --> 02:17:38,000
that says this dog is this color because
of these behaviors because we've all sat

1846
02:17:36,080 --> 02:17:43,040
here and looked at Merlin's and nobody
could figure out what the hell that

1847
02:17:39,280 --> 02:17:50,800
evaluation meant and we still don't.
We also asked for video recordings. Has

1848
02:17:46,240 --> 02:17:55,120
that been addressed so that we know
for a fact what happens during these

1849
02:17:52,960 --> 02:17:59,439
assessments.
We can't just skip by this again. I'm

1850
02:17:56,960 --> 02:18:01,120
not going to
>> Can I answer this?

1851
02:18:00,399 --> 02:18:06,719
» Yes, please.
>> I'm going to answer with a question.

1852
02:18:03,679 --> 02:18:11,120
Are uh when a dog is labeled a certain
>> When a dog is labeled a certain color,

1853
02:18:08,559 --> 02:18:16,160
is it stated that the dog is labeled
this for certain reasons? The dog is

1854
02:18:13,920 --> 02:18:21,679
labeled red because A, B, or C? Is that
stated? So I I I don't know what you

1855
02:18:19,040 --> 02:18:26,800
mean by clear language because two
people reading the same evaluation

1856
02:18:24,880 --> 02:18:32,880
might answer that question differently.
Right. I've seen the notes on different

1857
02:18:29,120 --> 02:18:36,639
evaluations and I could, you know, see
why they might have made it that. But

1858
02:18:34,960 --> 02:18:42,000
again, I wasn't present for the
evaluations. I'm not anywhere close to a

1859
02:18:39,439 --> 02:18:47,840
professional. I have a pet. That's the
point of asking for this statement so

1860
02:18:43,920 --> 02:18:52,080
that we all don't have to guess what the
>> assessor was thinking. If if there's a

1861
02:18:50,160 --> 02:18:56,160
scale that says these are the
definitions for the colors and somebody

1862
02:18:54,559 --> 02:19:00,880
does an assessment and comes up with
these behaviors, then they map those

1863
02:18:58,559 --> 02:19:05,840
behaviors to those definitions and
that's not being done. It's just they do

1864
02:19:03,120 --> 02:19:10,399
something. There's no standard process
for these assessments and somebody picks

1865
02:19:08,160 --> 02:19:14,639
a color and then everybody else is left
to debate why is it that color and we've

1866
02:19:13,200 --> 02:19:19,760
gone through this for many many many
many dogs and we've asked different

1867
02:19:17,679 --> 02:19:25,120
trainers directly and could never even
get an answer from them why the dog was

1868
02:19:22,160 --> 02:19:28,479
this color. So it's a simple ask.
>> Can I have it back? Whoever is doing the

1869
02:19:26,639 --> 02:19:33,280
assessment and assigning the color
should be able to articulate why they

1870
02:19:31,280 --> 02:19:39,080
assign that color based on those color
definitions and the behavior they

1871
02:19:34,559 --> 02:19:39,080
observe. This can't be that complicated.

1872
02:19:39,439 --> 02:19:45,359
» Yeah, I don't know what to tell you
other than to discuss with, you know,

1873
02:19:42,880 --> 02:19:48,000
Laura her method of doing the
evaluation.

1874
02:19:46,639 --> 02:19:51,840
» I don't think we're asking for a change.
I know uh Councilman Tai wants a

1875
02:19:50,160 --> 02:19:55,600
comment. I don't think we're asking for
a change. I think we're asking for a

1876
02:19:53,359 --> 02:19:59,680
summary. the dog is read because A, B,
and C. And if the facts of A, B, and C

1877
02:19:58,160 --> 02:20:06,399
are listed in the report, then it should
just be easy to read. It may be that um

1878
02:20:03,439 --> 02:20:13,520
in the every industry has its jargon,
and I'm sure that's true for uh dog

1879
02:20:09,600 --> 02:20:20,479
assessors and dog trainers. Um I wasn't
100% clear on what I was reading with

1880
02:20:16,640 --> 02:20:25,920
that. It would be good if laymen like us
who need to provide oversight on on what

1881
02:20:22,720 --> 02:20:30,359
this report means could understand it or
that it's made a little more clear.

1882
02:20:30,479 --> 02:20:37,760
» Could I So I don't think I still have it
in my folder. So the the definition for

1883
02:20:35,600 --> 02:20:41,520
a red dog I know it's changed now and
there's like four different shades of

1884
02:20:38,960 --> 02:20:47,520
red. The definition for a red dog is he
had an extreme issue or multiple serious

1885
02:20:45,840 --> 02:20:51,520
issues. That was the definition to
assign that color. But for Merlin, we

1886
02:20:49,920 --> 02:20:55,359
could never get what matched that
definition. For a year, I asked that. We

1887
02:20:53,920 --> 02:20:59,200
couldn't get an answer until a year
later.

1888
02:20:57,200 --> 02:21:03,600
We started here and there's more to the
story. He needed to be drugged. He tried

1889
02:21:01,200 --> 02:21:07,680
to bite people. None of those things
were actually supported by the trainer's

1890
02:21:05,680 --> 02:21:11,920
own notes.
We were left with he bites the leash.

1891
02:21:10,800 --> 02:21:16,080
Those were the things we were told
originally. He bites the leash. He's

1892
02:21:13,359 --> 02:21:18,640
jumpy and bouncy. a clear statement in
there.

1893
02:21:17,439 --> 02:21:23,840
» We're gonna have we're going to have to
have discussions uh with um the shelter

1894
02:21:21,760 --> 02:21:27,600
staff with the at the board of health uh
prior to the board of health to get

1895
02:21:25,680 --> 02:21:31,200
answers to that to for ask for more
descriptive terms on there.

1896
02:21:28,880 --> 02:21:35,040
» Okay. And the video recording
>> video recordings

1897
02:21:33,280 --> 02:21:38,960
» I have it down so I'll I'll talk
>> Yeah, that's going to be part of the

1898
02:21:36,000 --> 02:21:41,920
same conversation because I also
agree that it's easier to go back and

1899
02:21:40,399 --> 02:21:45,080
watch something.
>> Thank you.

1900
02:21:47,200 --> 02:21:53,160
ALL RIGHT, WE'RE BACK UP. ANY other
first time? Oh, Lisa, sorry.

1901
02:21:57,920 --> 02:22:04,880
» Lisa Williams Hamilton, I actually
wasn't going to speak tonight. I know

1902
02:22:01,359 --> 02:22:09,520
that's shocking to you guys. Um, I've
been asking for the website to be

1903
02:22:06,720 --> 02:22:14,399
updated. I've commented on multiple of
the township social media posts, whether

1904
02:22:11,920 --> 02:22:18,399
it is the township or the shelter. Can
you please update the website? Can you

1905
02:22:16,560 --> 02:22:23,280
please put all found dogs as found
strays? Not everybody has social media.

1906
02:22:21,359 --> 02:22:26,560
I get some that can't be posted.
Whatever. There's 32 dogs currently on

1907
02:22:25,120 --> 02:22:30,880
the website. As I'm sitting in the back
of the room, we have 36 kennels. One of

1908
02:22:28,960 --> 02:22:34,479
those dogs is a red dog currently at a
foster home. So, I'm not really sure how

1909
02:22:32,479 --> 02:22:38,000
red he is if he's in a foster home. And
I've recently been told where he is.

1910
02:22:36,560 --> 02:22:43,600
foster home with children. Okay, that's
a red dog. So, that gets us down to

1911
02:22:40,800 --> 02:22:48,160
possibly 31. One of the dogs is in a
boarding kennel, so that gets us down to

1912
02:22:45,280 --> 02:22:52,160
32 sitting in kennels. We have two in
cages, so we're down to 28 sitting in

1913
02:22:50,399 --> 02:22:55,200
kennels. We have 36 kennels. So, I guess
we are really in a good place. We're not

1914
02:22:53,920 --> 02:22:59,439
overcrowded because we have so many
empty kennels. Or are we not really

1915
02:22:57,520 --> 02:23:03,600
updated? I don't know. Does anybody know
how many dogs are at the shelter? As a

1916
02:23:00,960 --> 02:23:09,600
week ago, it was 49, but we only had 32
on the website. Then they put Lockwood

1917
02:23:05,280 --> 02:23:13,200
back. Sorry, I'm rambling.
Anybody know how many dogs are in the

1918
02:23:10,880 --> 02:23:17,840
shelter?
We have 47 dogs in the shelter. Nine are

1919
02:23:16,560 --> 02:23:22,800
red rescue only.
>> Okay, so we have four 33 are available

1920
02:23:20,000 --> 02:23:28,640
for adoption or rescue.
Zero need evaluations. Nine are in

1921
02:23:25,359 --> 02:23:33,520
safekeep. One is in a 7-day stray hold.
One is pending adoption.

1922
02:23:30,960 --> 02:23:41,280
Four in foster.
One is available as a foster and three

1923
02:23:37,040 --> 02:23:45,280
are foster to adopt. Um
we have one empty kennel.

1924
02:23:43,600 --> 02:23:48,319
» We have nine safeke keeps. That's the
difference.

1925
02:23:45,600 --> 02:23:53,760
» Eight crates. Um we have eight in
crates. Uh that's the mom and pups in

1926
02:23:51,359 --> 02:23:57,280
one, right? Does that make sense?
>> Yeah, there's six. Mom and pups are six.

1927
02:23:55,920 --> 02:24:00,080
» Okay.
>> All right.

1928
02:23:58,399 --> 02:24:03,120
» Okay. The big difference is the safe
keeps that no one knows. Nobody

1929
02:24:01,680 --> 02:24:08,240
commented. We have we have nine
safekeeps. It's just some not available.

1930
02:24:05,200 --> 02:24:11,280
We'll check. So, we really can't answer.
>> I've commented in the past.

1931
02:24:09,600 --> 02:24:14,560
» Can I interrupt you?
>> We just need to give the the respect to

1932
02:24:13,120 --> 02:24:18,319
the speaker. There's a lot of different
conversations going on. Just I know it's

1933
02:24:16,720 --> 02:24:21,359
a long meeting. We're getting back to
the top of the list. Please give Lisa

1934
02:24:20,560 --> 02:24:24,560
the respect.
>> I'll be quick. I've commented a couple

1935
02:24:23,120 --> 02:24:27,760
of times similar to I'm sorry I don't
remember the new volunteers name that

1936
02:24:25,920 --> 02:24:32,160
commented about adoption spotlight. I've
commented about that on social media as

1937
02:24:29,520 --> 02:24:36,960
well and we still are using it. It makes
people think that dog has been adopted.

1938
02:24:34,080 --> 02:24:42,560
I've suggested that we use adoptable pet
whatever meat whatever and those are

1939
02:24:39,760 --> 02:24:47,200
not. They're just pictures. And while it
was great that there was a volunteer who

1940
02:24:44,479 --> 02:24:50,960
was sharing videos, she also for some
reason has blocked me. And I don't know

1941
02:24:48,800 --> 02:24:54,560
how many other people are blocked. So I
can no longer look at them. I don't even

1942
02:24:52,720 --> 02:25:00,000
speak to this person. I was randomly
blocked a week or two ago. So, I'm

1943
02:24:57,040 --> 02:25:06,399
asking that the township as a public
entity post these videos yourself so

1944
02:25:03,040 --> 02:25:09,840
everyone can see and everyone can share.
>> You were not blocked by the township?

1945
02:25:07,920 --> 02:25:12,960
» No, I was blocked by the volunteer, but
that's like the big thing. And she can

1946
02:25:11,200 --> 02:25:16,720
do whatever she wants. It's her page,
but that's like the big thing. Oh,

1947
02:25:15,040 --> 02:25:19,760
they're great ways to get information
out. and she's sharing it, but not

1948
02:25:18,319 --> 02:25:24,160
everyone's allowed to see it because I'm
not I've been recently blocked just as I

1949
02:25:22,560 --> 02:25:28,000
mean she's in the Boston Found Pets
group that I run. So I can see what she

1950
02:25:26,319 --> 02:25:32,880
posts. I can't even com like I can see
what she says in there because I'm the

1951
02:25:30,560 --> 02:25:37,280
administrator. I can't even comment on
what she says in there. So you have a

1952
02:25:35,439 --> 02:25:41,200
volunteer who has blocked a member of
the public from being able to see these

1953
02:25:39,040 --> 02:25:46,240
videos. They're her personal page. That
is fine. But the shelter should not be

1954
02:25:43,280 --> 02:25:50,160
relying on that scenario to get the word
out because I can't see them. Who else

1955
02:25:48,800 --> 02:25:52,000
can't see them?
>> Thank you.

1956
02:25:50,560 --> 02:25:55,000
» I'll go sit down now. Thank you very
much.

1957
02:25:57,280 --> 02:26:02,160
» All right, we're back. Everybody spoke
one time, right?

1958
02:26:00,479 --> 02:26:05,280
» Oh, come on up.
>> No, come on up. You have your four

1959
02:26:03,600 --> 02:26:06,960
minutes.
>> I just want to make sure we get to the

1960
02:26:06,560 --> 02:26:10,560
second.
>> Hi, I'm Kelsey. I'm a resident of

1961
02:26:08,960 --> 02:26:14,640
Hamilton and also a local business
owner. I'm the one that adopted the

1962
02:26:12,560 --> 02:26:17,200
kittens from Burlington after having the
awful experience at the Hamilton Animal

1963
02:26:16,560 --> 02:26:20,479
Shelter.
>> So, I just wanted to say I'm happy to

1964
02:26:18,640 --> 02:26:22,560
hear that a coordinator was hired and I
respect you guys and appreciate all that

1965
02:26:21,920 --> 02:26:24,960
you do.
>> Thank you.

1966
02:26:22,960 --> 02:26:28,080
» Thank you. I'm sorry you had your
experience.

1967
02:26:26,720 --> 02:26:30,960
» Yeah, we apologize for the bad
experience, but we're happy you were

1968
02:26:29,200 --> 02:26:34,560
able to help somewhere else. So, thank
you.

1969
02:26:32,720 --> 02:26:40,681
All right, we're back. Everybody first
time.

1970
02:26:36,240 --> 02:26:46,680
Anybody? Anybody come on up.
[laughter]

1971
02:26:42,160 --> 02:26:46,680
» She's she's easily influencable.

1972
02:26:47,439 --> 02:26:53,920
» Andy Kasmmer Hamilton. I have a couple
of issues. I'm going to completely

1973
02:26:51,040 --> 02:26:58,720
change the direction of the meeting for
a few minutes. Anyway, it's okay.

1974
02:26:55,760 --> 02:27:02,800
» Um the fact about the warehouses, we
have so many of them. the one on Kuzzer

1975
02:27:01,120 --> 02:27:08,080
Road that's being built. There are some
of them um I don't even know the name of

1976
02:27:05,600 --> 02:27:11,760
the street that comes out of near Locust
Hill and you connects back to

1977
02:27:10,080 --> 02:27:15,439
» cab.
There's a couple empty ones there and

1978
02:27:13,359 --> 02:27:21,200
yet we're still building more warehouses
and it just seems like it's a waste of

1979
02:27:19,359 --> 02:27:27,600
really good space that we could be using
for other things. Second issue, the

1980
02:27:24,479 --> 02:27:32,160
warehouse on Sloan Avenue has grass that
is at least 2 ft high. If they can get

1981
02:27:30,399 --> 02:27:36,319
public works out there to take care of
the grounds by that warehouse, that

1982
02:27:34,319 --> 02:27:39,319
would be appreciated. Thank you.
>> Yep.

1983
02:27:40,720 --> 02:27:46,359
Okay, last call. Any other first-
timers?

1984
02:27:48,399 --> 02:27:53,200
All right. If if you haven't spoken a
first time and we start going with the

1985
02:27:51,439 --> 02:27:56,720
second timers, you can still come up and
speak for a first time. We're just going

1986
02:27:54,880 --> 02:28:03,520
to try and go in the same order just to
uh be respectful. Um Reverend, you like

1987
02:28:00,080 --> 02:28:07,120
to speak for a second time?
>> You both can go. Whoever wants to go

1988
02:28:05,200 --> 02:28:11,120
first, it's it's
batting order is on you guys. All right.

1989
02:28:09,600 --> 02:28:15,439
Well,
I might want to adopt a dog now. Yep.

1990
02:28:13,920 --> 02:28:19,359
Just everybody is advised, don't start
his clock yet because that's not fair.

1991
02:28:17,439 --> 02:28:23,359
Uh, everybody does get two minutes on
the second time that they do come up.

1992
02:28:21,040 --> 02:28:28,800
Please be uh advised of that. Maybe
speak a little faster. [laughter]

1993
02:28:26,080 --> 02:28:33,680
» So, sir, you you heard of a lot of
community members and faith leaders and

1994
02:28:30,479 --> 02:28:37,520
our concerns? Um, just based on just a
lot of responses and concerns. So,

1995
02:28:35,200 --> 02:28:41,760
you're telling me that the Hamilton
Council has no control over the police

1996
02:28:39,680 --> 02:28:46,640
department because that's the message I
got. So if you there's known four

1997
02:28:44,800 --> 02:28:50,080
officers that were named that could have
some shady conduct to them. They're not

1998
02:28:48,399 --> 02:28:53,359
sat down for review like other townships
and municipalities in the state of New

1999
02:28:51,600 --> 02:28:58,399
Jersey
or does the family have to fear

2000
02:28:54,880 --> 02:29:02,080
retaliation from these four officers?
And if they have another mental health

2001
02:28:59,840 --> 02:29:06,720
crisis, who can they call if 911's doing
the drivebys and Jay-Z would say? Who

2002
02:29:04,640 --> 02:29:12,319
are they going to call? That's my
question is to you.

2003
02:29:09,600 --> 02:29:17,600
My belief from what you told me tonight
is the process is underway. Internal

2004
02:29:14,640 --> 02:29:23,600
affairs is investigating them. Correct.
That is the process that is followed.

2005
02:29:21,840 --> 02:29:28,319
It's directed to the prosecutor's
office. If it goes up from there, I

2006
02:29:26,160 --> 02:29:31,600
guess it would go. Is it going to go to
not to cut you off? Yeah. I understand

2007
02:29:30,080 --> 02:29:34,319
that the clock's running here.
>> There's a process. How long has this

2008
02:29:32,960 --> 02:29:36,800
process take when these officers are on
the streets that can potentially do

2009
02:29:35,680 --> 02:29:41,439
something else to the family to
intimidate them, which is known to

2010
02:29:38,560 --> 02:29:43,920
happen? That's my concern. What what
what if we don't know if they have a

2011
02:29:42,399 --> 02:29:48,240
squad car parked outside the house or
they're outside their their their street

2012
02:29:46,240 --> 02:29:52,479
watching and observing? Cops do this.
This is documented fact in the state of

2013
02:29:49,680 --> 02:29:56,080
New Jersey. My concern is the safety of
the family. My concern is if they're

2014
02:29:54,560 --> 02:29:59,280
calling for help, who can they call for
help if they can't trust the Hamilton

2015
02:29:57,439 --> 02:30:05,000
Police Department?
That's the concern. I would like that

2016
02:30:01,200 --> 02:30:05,000
addressed before I leave.

2017
02:30:06,080 --> 02:30:12,479
» It's again the IIA uh investigation.
>> We're going back to the IA again. No,

2018
02:30:10,560 --> 02:30:15,760
no, I understand. You keep saying IA.
You keep saying prosecutor's office. I

2019
02:30:14,160 --> 02:30:21,920
understand what you're saying. That's a
process. But you know, you have four

2020
02:30:17,920 --> 02:30:23,840
officers on the streets right now.
>> I am.

2021
02:30:22,399 --> 02:30:29,439
» So you can do nothing.
>> Is our is our division. Okay. They just

2022
02:30:27,760 --> 02:30:32,319
provide the report to the prosecution
officers in the police station too and

2023
02:30:31,040 --> 02:30:36,640
their buddy buddy and they say I saw
them joking around the IIA.

2024
02:30:34,080 --> 02:30:40,880
» That's not fair. It's an IIA and and
that's the process that we go through.

2025
02:30:38,720 --> 02:30:45,760
If we got anything from IIA that
indicated that we had an immediate

2026
02:30:42,960 --> 02:30:50,000
concern with any employee, then that
would be addressed by the chief's office

2027
02:30:48,640 --> 02:30:54,000
» with our public safety director
>> on the streets. I understand.

2028
02:30:52,560 --> 02:30:55,840
But you know, did you also know this
that they

2029
02:30:54,720 --> 02:30:57,680
» Sorry, you have to come up to the
microphone because it's the only way

2030
02:30:56,960 --> 02:31:01,120
it's recorded.
>> Common knowledge. Did you know Hamilton

2031
02:30:59,280 --> 02:31:03,920
Township is the national uh the state
headquarters for the Proud Boys? And I

2032
02:31:02,720 --> 02:31:07,200
know where their address is if you did
not know that. And we do know we do know

2033
02:31:06,080 --> 02:31:11,960
some of your officers could be
affiliated with that. Thank you. Have a

2034
02:31:08,720 --> 02:31:11,960
nice day.

2035
02:31:20,160 --> 02:31:23,600
» Minister, you're up next.

2036
02:31:23,840 --> 02:31:31,840
We've heard time after time that uh it
was sent over to the county prosecutors.

2037
02:31:29,200 --> 02:31:38,240
The state of New Jersey literally passed
an independent prosecutor bill because

2038
02:31:35,200 --> 02:31:43,439
officers were not being held accountable
by the county prosecutors. And this is

2039
02:31:40,800 --> 02:31:47,120
why when an officer is involved in a
police shooting, it doesn't go to the

2040
02:31:45,280 --> 02:31:51,280
county prosecutors because the
relationships were too tight between the

2041
02:31:49,280 --> 02:31:55,840
unions and family members and friends
and people they grew up with. So that's

2042
02:31:53,760 --> 02:31:59,920
why they had an independent process
where it goes to the state and the state

2043
02:31:57,520 --> 02:32:05,840
would then dish it out to another county
to do those investigations. So when we

2044
02:32:02,240 --> 02:32:10,880
hear you say it's going to the county,
you're literally describing a process

2045
02:32:07,680 --> 02:32:17,840
that does not work in New Jersey.
And so for me, I just have a problem

2046
02:32:14,640 --> 02:32:21,120
when we talk about holding officers
accountable

2047
02:32:19,439 --> 02:32:27,280
and we continue talking about the
process that exists when you have the

2048
02:32:24,080 --> 02:32:32,800
power. The whole point of all of this is
how are you showing the community that

2049
02:32:29,840 --> 02:32:37,359
you have their back? And right now, zip
zero, we don't see it at all. You

2050
02:32:35,359 --> 02:32:43,359
haven't even done the basic which is
release a soft statement that says we

2051
02:32:40,160 --> 02:32:47,760
stand against any injustice and we're
praying for the families of anywhere.

2052
02:32:46,000 --> 02:32:53,680
You could have did the basic statement.
You didn't even do a basic statement.

2053
02:32:49,680 --> 02:33:00,160
And then on third thing is you have the
power to suspend an officer.

2054
02:32:57,920 --> 02:33:03,840
You didn't use that power. You could
have suspended them with pay without

2055
02:33:02,000 --> 02:33:07,760
pay. You could have spent this per
pending investigation, appending the

2056
02:33:05,760 --> 02:33:12,000
attorney general, appending the county
prosecutor. You didn't even do that. And

2057
02:33:09,920 --> 02:33:17,439
my point is saying, you're trying to
ensure people that they can live in

2058
02:33:14,479 --> 02:33:24,160
Hamilton, that we can get justice. And
for this case, when a kid slits his arm

2059
02:33:21,600 --> 02:33:30,080
and is about to die, the officers who
were told to call 911 are the ones that

2060
02:33:27,600 --> 02:33:35,760
are the purveyors of injustice. And for
me again, I know this is tough because

2061
02:33:33,760 --> 02:33:38,240
in politics you worry about unions, you
worry about re-elections, you worry

2062
02:33:36,960 --> 02:33:43,120
about family members, the community
people think, but there has to be a

2063
02:33:39,840 --> 02:33:48,359
moral stance, especially today in 2026.
And that's the leadership that we're all

2064
02:33:44,560 --> 02:33:48,359
looking for all of y'all.

2065
02:33:50,240 --> 02:33:53,560
You want to comment

2066
02:33:55,040 --> 02:34:01,200
if you want to. You going to give a
comment?

2067
02:33:59,359 --> 02:34:05,200
» Listen, I I appreciate the comments that
have been made. I appreciate the folks

2068
02:34:02,800 --> 02:34:11,040
that have come out. This is the first
time that I ever heard of this incident.

2069
02:34:08,319 --> 02:34:15,840
So I I So I never heard of this incident
at all.

2070
02:34:13,600 --> 02:34:20,640
» Never heard of it. Never heard of it. I
I I've never heard of the incident. How

2071
02:34:17,439 --> 02:34:24,640
am I going to make a judgment on on
against our police officers, our

2072
02:34:22,800 --> 02:34:30,240
Hamilton Township police officers, when
I haven't even heard this case before?

2073
02:34:27,600 --> 02:34:34,160
So, you made an assumption. You came up
here and made an assumption. I'm telling

2074
02:34:32,319 --> 02:34:36,800
you that I've never heard the case
before.

2075
02:34:34,640 --> 02:34:39,600
» And sir, I'm with you. You're you're
paying a salary based on tax.

2076
02:34:39,040 --> 02:34:45,760
» Sit down,
>> sir. You have to make sir. So, your two

2077
02:34:43,280 --> 02:34:50,240
minutes is up. You made you made your
comments. you have to allow us to at

2078
02:34:47,040 --> 02:34:54,720
least to respond.
>> I I you know I don't know when this this

2079
02:34:52,399 --> 02:34:58,080
press conference took place or when this
I was away for vacation over the last

2080
02:34:57,040 --> 02:35:01,520
week and a half,
>> but

2081
02:34:59,040 --> 02:35:03,920
» was that was not knowing in your own
city?

2082
02:35:01,920 --> 02:35:08,560
» I I never heard of this incident before.
So So So you're bringing it to the table

2083
02:35:06,479 --> 02:35:11,680
tonight. The first time I ever heard of
it.

2084
02:35:09,280 --> 02:35:15,040
» So what do you expect me when when when
allegations are made? There's a process

2085
02:35:13,280 --> 02:35:19,840
that's being followed. It is being
followed. The allegations are taken very

2086
02:35:17,600 --> 02:35:23,040
seriously. The officers are being
investigated. It's out of the

2087
02:35:21,520 --> 02:35:27,760
department's hands and in the county
prosecutors, which is done through the

2088
02:35:25,439 --> 02:35:32,000
attorney general's process. This is the
direct way it's supposed to be done.

2089
02:35:29,920 --> 02:35:36,800
When it is done, if it needs to be
raised up to the attorney general's

2090
02:35:33,520 --> 02:35:43,319
office, then they will take it. We have
to at least trust the process and allow

2091
02:35:39,840 --> 02:35:43,319
them to investigate.

2092
02:35:43,600 --> 02:35:50,560
And even if you don't trust the process,
we still have to follow the process,

2093
02:35:47,600 --> 02:35:56,080
right? So we we have to give the pro
Hold on. Hold on. We have to give the

2094
02:35:53,439 --> 02:36:03,280
process a chance to work. We haven't
even had enough time to uh get it get

2095
02:36:01,280 --> 02:36:07,760
full information about this. We're
hearing from you today. We are taking

2096
02:36:05,840 --> 02:36:13,280
what you have to say about this
seriously. Uh there's nothing that

2097
02:36:10,800 --> 02:36:19,280
anyone up here has said that indicates
otherwise. We're taking it seriously. I

2098
02:36:16,640 --> 02:36:24,399
am concerned by what I've heard from the
public today and I can tell you I'm

2099
02:36:22,080 --> 02:36:28,880
going to be, you know, having further
discussions and looking into it further.

2100
02:36:26,560 --> 02:36:35,680
I don't have enough information to come
to a conclusion.

2101
02:36:31,680 --> 02:36:42,160
So I am concerned. We hear you. we take
you seriously and you know let's let's

2102
02:36:39,680 --> 02:36:48,080
follow the process. Let's get more
information and let's see.

2103
02:36:46,560 --> 02:36:50,399
» Next speaker is going to be Chris and
Anna Janello if you wish to comment

2104
02:36:49,920 --> 02:36:53,880
again.
>> Okay,

2105
02:36:50,640 --> 02:36:53,880
» you're finished.

2106
02:36:56,080 --> 02:37:02,338
» Next up, uh Charlene, if you'd like to
comment again. [laughter]

2107
02:37:03,280 --> 02:37:08,479
» Hey y'all. So, I'm going to help you out
a little bit. There are some things that

2108
02:37:06,160 --> 02:37:12,800
you can actually do, right, that are
actually happening concurrently while

2109
02:37:10,560 --> 02:37:17,240
there's an attorney investigation that's
happening. You can

2110
02:37:17,680 --> 02:37:23,680
um actually apply actually request that
the attorney general actually assign an

2111
02:37:21,920 --> 02:37:29,520
independent county prosecutor. You have
that right. As a council, you can launch

2112
02:37:27,040 --> 02:37:34,240
a concurrent legislative investigation
into Hamilton's systems, policies,

2113
02:37:32,000 --> 02:37:38,319
supervision, and decisions surrounding
this incident. How the family calls

2114
02:37:36,399 --> 02:37:42,080
when, all of that you can do as the
council, and it happens concurrently.

2115
02:37:40,399 --> 02:37:51,680
And I have the town codes for it.
Hamilton Township Code uh 512 section A,

2116
02:37:47,280 --> 02:37:56,880
NJSA 4069. I will email the whole thing.
Um, you can stand with the family by

2117
02:37:53,760 --> 02:38:01,680
sending out a resolution that supports
the family's call for a just resolution

2118
02:37:59,280 --> 02:38:05,200
of the charges for their son and for
their son to return home with

2119
02:38:03,040 --> 02:38:09,120
appropriate disability, educational,
behavioral health, and community based

2120
02:38:07,439 --> 02:38:14,560
supports. You can do that as the
council. Also, we all know that the

2121
02:38:12,000 --> 02:38:20,160
mayor is the person that the police
chief is supposed to report to. You can

2122
02:38:17,520 --> 02:38:24,319
actually call the mayor here, question
him, have hearings as to what is the

2123
02:38:22,479 --> 02:38:30,000
process that is occurring within the
police department. You can call for all

2124
02:38:26,880 --> 02:38:33,439
the data from Hamilton to look and see
what are the trends that are actually

2125
02:38:31,439 --> 02:38:39,040
occurring within the police department
to make sure this does not happen again.

2126
02:38:35,680 --> 02:38:43,439
You can also work to build the non-p
police path and start um hearings and

2127
02:38:41,840 --> 02:38:48,800
meetings with people. These are all
things the council can do concurrently

2128
02:38:45,920 --> 02:38:51,724
while there is a IIA investigation.
Thank you.

2129
02:38:49,520 --> 02:38:51,724
» Thank you. [laughter]

2130
02:38:56,160 --> 02:39:00,640
» Jules, you were Jules, you were next up,
but you deferred till the end. Do you

2131
02:38:59,520 --> 02:39:05,520
want to speak now or do you want to
wait?

2132
02:39:03,359 --> 02:39:11,640
» Okay.
Mr. uh Ky Lash, I believe he I saw him

2133
02:39:08,640 --> 02:39:11,640
leave.

2134
02:39:13,120 --> 02:39:20,720
Um, Cristiana Lewis, did she also
believe she left also?

2135
02:39:18,720 --> 02:39:24,280
» Oh, you're here. [laughter]
>> Sorry, I didn't say

2136
02:39:26,560 --> 02:39:33,920
» I would just like to say, right, you
guys sitting here have so much more

2137
02:39:30,960 --> 02:39:37,120
power than anybody back here. So if you
want to sit here and say that you don't

2138
02:39:35,520 --> 02:39:41,200
have control over the police department
or you don't know what's going on within

2139
02:39:39,200 --> 02:39:45,600
your police police department that you
have control over, that's the problem

2140
02:39:43,439 --> 02:39:49,920
clearly, right? You need to address
that. You need to address what has been

2141
02:39:47,920 --> 02:39:54,240
going on and why people continuously get
abused by your police department. And

2142
02:39:52,160 --> 02:40:00,160
like Charlene said, you can call a
hearing. So at this point, the ball is

2143
02:39:58,000 --> 02:40:04,000
in your court. Call this hearing. We
need it and we need it now. So, I just

2144
02:40:02,319 --> 02:40:08,560
want to take exception to one thing you
said about uh people continuously being

2145
02:40:06,399 --> 02:40:13,439
abused by our police department. I've
heard of one instance where there are

2146
02:40:11,040 --> 02:40:17,120
serious allegations and I'm concerned
about what I've heard about it. There's

2147
02:40:15,040 --> 02:40:19,680
one instance. I haven't heard of
instances of continu

2148
02:40:18,319 --> 02:40:22,880
» I just came up here and told you about
an instance in 2020.

2149
02:40:21,359 --> 02:40:27,200
» That was in Trenton. You lived in North
Trenton at the time of that incident.

2150
02:40:24,160 --> 02:40:30,479
» Mercer County covers Trenton. You have
to use force or

2151
02:40:29,120 --> 02:40:33,359
» we're not gonna we can't take comments
from the public.

2152
02:40:32,319 --> 02:40:36,600
» Okay. Thank you.
>> You're welcome.

2153
02:40:40,000 --> 02:40:46,280
» Kia Henderson.
>> She left.

2154
02:40:49,120 --> 02:41:00,920
Uh Mercer Council both left.
Uh, Ellen Coyote,

2155
02:40:56,720 --> 02:41:00,920
you have two more minutes. Come on up.

2156
02:41:02,640 --> 02:41:10,319
» Hi. I just wanted to add that um the
Mercer County Mosquito Control was

2157
02:41:08,479 --> 02:41:15,040
called out by number seven again in the
last 3 weeks or so and number 24 Shaunie

2158
02:41:13,439 --> 02:41:19,120
was told to remove all his personal
property from township property. He

2159
02:41:16,960 --> 02:41:23,760
removed it from the woods but not in on
the grass area that's cut there. So, and

2160
02:41:21,680 --> 02:41:29,040
so they had to go down to him and for
the dozen tenth time or so tell him to

2161
02:41:26,880 --> 02:41:33,359
not have containers where water
accumulates that mosquitoes breed. And

2162
02:41:31,359 --> 02:41:37,359
he supposedly drilled holes and some
handles that were doing that. But

2163
02:41:35,200 --> 02:41:41,359
there's I don't understand why too he's
still allowed to store his personal

2164
02:41:39,359 --> 02:41:45,040
property on his personal property on
township property. Okay.

2165
02:41:42,880 --> 02:41:49,520
» Okay. And I just like on another matter,
if ever comes to a proposal to the

2166
02:41:47,040 --> 02:41:55,560
township to have a data center, please
deny it. No data setters in Hamilton.

2167
02:41:52,399 --> 02:41:55,560
» Thank you.

2168
02:42:02,880 --> 02:42:06,120
» Ask me.

2169
02:42:08,000 --> 02:42:14,000
» Okay. So, I do want to give you the
benefit of the doubt. I do believe you

2170
02:42:12,160 --> 02:42:18,479
when you say you didn't know what
happened. Um, but now you know. You're

2171
02:42:16,479 --> 02:42:22,240
informed. You heard the story. You heard
the the pain that families are holding.

2172
02:42:21,200 --> 02:42:27,439
You heard that there are still
consequences that families are facing

2173
02:42:24,640 --> 02:42:33,120
now because of what our police
department did in July. Um, but also,

2174
02:42:30,720 --> 02:42:38,399
um, I think you said, uh, this was the
only use of force that you're aware of.

2175
02:42:35,760 --> 02:42:41,280
I just want to give you statistics. Um,
>> that wasn't what I

2176
02:42:39,520 --> 02:42:43,040
» Oh, that's not what you not exactly. I
apologize.

2177
02:42:41,680 --> 02:42:49,200
» But that's okay. Go ahead. Continue.
>> Oh, okay. So, uh, basically this is, uh,

2178
02:42:45,760 --> 02:42:55,040
the latest report between 2012 and 2016.
Hamilton police reported, so total use

2179
02:42:52,560 --> 02:42:59,760
of force, 742.
Use of force incidents per 10,000

2180
02:42:57,280 --> 02:43:06,080
arrests, 42.3.
Um, so, and then it says Hamilton's use

2181
02:43:02,640 --> 02:43:10,000
of force at a higher rate than 364 New
Jersey police departments. So like I

2182
02:43:08,319 --> 02:43:14,160
just want to share like this is not the
only one. Um so now that you heard from

2183
02:43:12,399 --> 02:43:18,319
us and like I said we want to give you
the benefit of the doubt. We're bringing

2184
02:43:15,600 --> 02:43:23,359
this to you for the first time. Will you
take on some of the suggestions that we

2185
02:43:20,479 --> 02:43:27,600
have said including um meeting with
groups to discuss what can be done so

2186
02:43:25,680 --> 02:43:33,359
that we can ensure that our police
department is not going to ever do this

2187
02:43:31,439 --> 02:43:36,560
again because when people call and
there's mental health crisis they

2188
02:43:34,800 --> 02:43:42,000
shouldn't be going out right. we should
have um specific people who can deal

2189
02:43:39,120 --> 02:43:46,080
with that particular case and also about
what we can do to assure our community

2190
02:43:44,479 --> 02:43:50,319
that we're not okay with what just
happened because that's I'm hearing from

2191
02:43:48,640 --> 02:43:54,479
everyone you're hearing from everyone
that we don't feel that we we hear you

2192
02:43:52,640 --> 02:43:59,920
listening to us but you're not doing
anything about it. So what can you do so

2193
02:43:57,359 --> 02:44:04,800
you can reassure us that one this is
unacceptable and will you take steps

2194
02:44:02,319 --> 02:44:08,080
further uh moving forward to ensure that
this doesn't happen again?

2195
02:44:05,920 --> 02:44:13,040
» To answer your question yes um since
this mayor and council have taken over

2196
02:44:10,399 --> 02:44:18,000
uh we've made it uh a purpose to meet
with um groups anybody that would like

2197
02:44:16,319 --> 02:44:23,680
to talk to us. We've had faith-based
groups. Uh we've had community groups.

2198
02:44:20,560 --> 02:44:27,760
Um when George Floyd uh the George Floyd
incident happened, uh the first thing we

2199
02:44:26,000 --> 02:44:32,399
did was bring in some community groups.
We brought the then prosecutor in to

2200
02:44:30,000 --> 02:44:38,560
come in and explain how the process
worked, what happened um how our our

2201
02:44:36,640 --> 02:44:44,399
process is different from that that
happened

2202
02:44:40,080 --> 02:44:47,920
um in Minnesota. We do listen. We will
listen. If you want to have uh

2203
02:44:46,240 --> 02:44:52,160
conversations, then you should email us
and the mayor and have conversations.

2204
02:44:50,319 --> 02:44:56,160
» We we are definitely open to listening
and and hearing concerns because

2205
02:44:54,319 --> 02:44:58,720
» love to sit and talk with you.
>> The only way we hear of things

2206
02:44:57,760 --> 02:45:02,319
happening.
>> I mean, look, you heard a lot of

2207
02:45:00,399 --> 02:45:07,359
different things in tonight's meetings,
right? Ring ranging from uh this

2208
02:45:04,720 --> 02:45:09,760
incident to a wide variety of things.
>> Yeah.

2209
02:45:07,920 --> 02:45:13,680
» And the only way we know about some of
those things is if people come to us and

2210
02:45:11,439 --> 02:45:20,160
tell us. So hearing the problems,
hearing it's definitely uh deserving of

2211
02:45:16,640 --> 02:45:24,479
a conversation, right, to listen and
exchange ideas and figure out where to

2212
02:45:22,319 --> 02:45:27,920
go forward. And I just want to
>> So yes, the answer is yes. I I just want

2213
02:45:26,640 --> 02:45:32,800
to
>> uh express my agreement with uh what our

2214
02:45:30,319 --> 02:45:37,520
council president just just said. Uh
yes, I want to get more information. And

2215
02:45:35,120 --> 02:45:44,560
yes, I want to have conversations
um and um figure out what the best

2216
02:45:41,279 --> 02:45:51,279
course of action is um and let's there
is action being taken and to be fair uh

2217
02:45:48,560 --> 02:45:56,720
I want to see uh but I also need to
learn more. So yes, I'm I'm looking

2218
02:45:54,640 --> 02:45:59,680
forward to having those conversations.
>> Okay, thank you so much.

2219
02:45:57,600 --> 02:46:04,880
» I like what we said.
>> Great. And uh any comments from Jennifer

2220
02:46:03,120 --> 02:46:07,920
or Katherine?
>> Well, we're your we're your elected

2221
02:46:06,880 --> 02:46:11,600
we're your elected
>> Okay, good. Just three.

2222
02:46:09,600 --> 02:46:16,080
» There are five two
>> just happens to be two that are absent

2223
02:46:13,520 --> 02:46:20,080
tonight, but uh these the three of us
are elected officials. Okay.

2224
02:46:17,840 --> 02:46:22,720
» Um our business administrator, our
township attorney, our deputy township

2225
02:46:22,240 --> 02:46:25,439
attorney.
>> Great.

2226
02:46:23,279 --> 02:46:30,640
» So, I just also want to say um just like
you, we love our community. So, this is

2227
02:46:28,240 --> 02:46:34,399
an important issue for us. So um I'm
coming today and we're coming today

2228
02:46:32,399 --> 02:46:39,120
kindly because it's our first meeting.
Um and we hope the next meeting we would

2229
02:46:36,479 --> 02:46:44,560
have something substantial from you all.
Um and and so that we can yeah continue

2230
02:46:41,840 --> 02:46:48,600
to be in community together. So thank
you so much.

2231
02:46:45,439 --> 02:46:48,600
» Thank you.

2232
02:46:50,240 --> 02:46:58,120
» Is David still here? Come on up. Sorry.
Did you want to speak again?

2233
02:46:55,120 --> 02:46:58,120
» Okay.

2234
02:46:58,319 --> 02:47:03,120
Ken, are you in the same or did you want
to speak?

2235
02:47:00,640 --> 02:47:06,399
» I was gonna say uh
>> come to the microphone, state your name

2236
02:47:04,560 --> 02:47:09,520
just for so we have everything on the
record.

2237
02:47:07,600 --> 02:47:15,920
» Kenneth Leo representing Philip Crow
House from War New Jersey. So, you know,

2238
02:47:13,760 --> 02:47:20,000
just as a parting comment, appreciate
the opportunity to that you agreed to

2239
02:47:17,760 --> 02:47:24,800
speak with us later and uh look forward
to, you know, working with the town

2240
02:47:22,560 --> 02:47:31,920
because uh we're very invested in the
town, David, back to the community and

2241
02:47:27,920 --> 02:47:37,240
uh you know, looking forward to uh bring
some jobs to the town.

2242
02:47:33,600 --> 02:47:37,240
» Thank you. Thank you,

2243
02:47:40,399 --> 02:47:46,000
» David S. Pierre. Did he leave? Did all
your all your colleagues leave?

2244
02:47:45,680 --> 02:47:49,279
» Yeah.
>> Oh, no.

2245
02:47:47,920 --> 02:47:51,040
» No. Natalie, do you want to be heard?
You're next.

2246
02:47:50,000 --> 02:47:54,070
» No.
>> All right. [laughter]

2247
02:47:56,479 --> 02:48:05,680
Just gone down the list so I don't
forget anybody.

2248
02:48:00,560 --> 02:48:12,880
Uh Alicia, she left also.
She was um from the neighborhood

2249
02:48:07,840 --> 02:48:12,880
community. Uh Amanda, you're next.

2250
02:48:14,080 --> 02:48:21,920
Uh, you want to go? I thought I thought
you said you wanted to go last. Sorry.

2251
02:48:20,319 --> 02:48:25,840
» Okay. Juliana Carella, Hamilton
resident. Um, I want to follow up

2252
02:48:24,080 --> 02:48:29,520
something else I talked about in my
meeting with the mayor, which is what

2253
02:48:27,760 --> 02:48:33,680
are the repercussions when a township
employee violates the township trademark

2254
02:48:31,520 --> 02:48:38,160
policy? He told me he would have to
check with legal and Kathy, but I never

2255
02:48:35,520 --> 02:48:41,439
heard an answer back on that. Um, I
raised this because the shelter manager

2256
02:48:39,680 --> 02:48:45,840
appears to be using township logo,
seals, and uniforms to promote her

2257
02:48:43,279 --> 02:48:49,279
independent photography business. I
specifically opra requested the forms or

2258
02:48:47,840 --> 02:48:53,680
records that would show that she had
permission to use it and it came back as

2259
02:48:51,200 --> 02:48:57,760
no responses. So, I took that as she
didn't have the permission to do it. So,

2260
02:48:56,240 --> 02:49:03,200
the question is just what are the
consequences for that? Um, my other

2261
02:49:00,720 --> 02:49:06,960
question is, is there an update on the
third-p partyy evaluator that I paid

2262
02:49:05,520 --> 02:49:11,120
for? Cuz that was like a week and a half
ago and I just want to know where we're

2263
02:49:08,240 --> 02:49:15,760
at in that process. And then we bypassed
Justine speech, but I just wanted to

2264
02:49:12,720 --> 02:49:20,080
summarize it a little bit. Um, we now
have over 2,000 signatures. The majority

2265
02:49:18,000 --> 02:49:24,160
are Hamilton residents who are asking
for answers to that list of questions we

2266
02:49:22,080 --> 02:49:27,279
submitted. And just like what do we have
to do to get any of those answers?

2267
02:49:25,680 --> 02:49:32,000
because now this is the third meeting
that we're bringing it up. And we also

2268
02:49:29,439 --> 02:49:35,760
went through some of the past meetings
um where you guys on council asked

2269
02:49:34,160 --> 02:49:42,240
questions like at the last one you
wanted a written explanation for why the

2270
02:49:37,439 --> 02:49:47,040
bios weren't done. Um in the 519 meeting
we or council president asked why

2271
02:49:44,880 --> 02:49:51,760
Merlin's evaluation got pushed back 5
months. Um, at the 55 meeting, Lisa

2272
02:49:49,680 --> 02:49:55,279
brought up the food budget and what the
budget was for the animals ordering food

2273
02:49:53,600 --> 02:49:58,640
and why it wasn't being ordered timely.
And we said, you guys said that we would

2274
02:49:56,640 --> 02:50:02,479
find out answers. And even if you can't
give me the answers, did you guys ever

2275
02:50:00,240 --> 02:50:08,960
get the answers that you requested?
>> I got the answers I requested.

2276
02:50:04,640 --> 02:50:14,319
» We did meet with um
uh the director, the health officer. Uh,

2277
02:50:11,920 --> 02:50:21,600
as I had stated, um, I did get the
answers why those weren't done. um some

2278
02:50:17,120 --> 02:50:26,560
of them um and I don't recall which
which were which I got all my answers

2279
02:50:23,920 --> 02:50:32,080
those I was satisfied with my answers uh
also uh the big part of that meeting was

2280
02:50:28,880 --> 02:50:37,520
about the uh application process the
adoption process those things uh all of

2281
02:50:34,960 --> 02:50:42,640
my questions that day were answered um
the other questions you asked were

2282
02:50:40,479 --> 02:50:46,399
» um what was the first question
>> the trademark policy

2283
02:50:43,760 --> 02:50:48,800
» trademark policy I don't have
informationational.

2284
02:50:47,120 --> 02:50:53,600
» Could you expand on that at all?
>> Yes. So, as we know, the shelter manager

2285
02:50:51,359 --> 02:50:59,200
runs her own photography business and if
you go to her website on her homepage,

2286
02:50:56,160 --> 02:51:02,479
she has pictures of the ACOs in uniforms
promoting that she does head shot. And

2287
02:51:01,040 --> 02:51:06,720
then if you click onto that page,
there's a subpage with multiple more

2288
02:51:04,640 --> 02:51:11,200
photos with them in uniform where you
can clearly see the township seal and

2289
02:51:09,040 --> 02:51:14,560
logos and stuff like that. And it was my
understanding that that is not allowed.

2290
02:51:13,279 --> 02:51:17,760
» All right. Thank you.
>> You're welcome. And then just how do we

2291
02:51:16,399 --> 02:51:21,760
get answers to the questions we
submitted for?

2292
02:51:19,840 --> 02:51:24,560
» Did you submit an actual list of
questions?

2293
02:51:22,160 --> 02:51:28,240
» Yeah, I handed it to Chris and it's also
in the petition online which he's also

2294
02:51:26,960 --> 02:51:29,840
seen.
>> Okay.

2295
02:51:28,560 --> 02:51:33,359
» I I can send them again.
>> Could you send them to me so that I make

2296
02:51:31,760 --> 02:51:36,319
sure that we have them because I thought
you meant you submitted them to the

2297
02:51:34,720 --> 02:51:38,479
perks office and when I checked with the
perks office.

2298
02:51:36,800 --> 02:51:40,399
» No, I gave them direct I hand them
directly to Chris.

2299
02:51:39,200 --> 02:51:42,560
» It was the night of the um
>> the board of health meeting.

2300
02:51:41,279 --> 02:51:44,399
» Board of health meeting. Okay.
>> Thank you.

2301
02:51:42,880 --> 02:51:48,200
» You get them to me. I'm sorry you had to
do it again, but yeah.

2302
02:51:49,163 --> 02:51:51,183
[applause]

2303
02:51:54,403 --> 02:51:58,840
[clears throat]
>> Amanda, you're up.

2304
02:52:03,439 --> 02:52:12,160
» Amanda Erie, Hamilton resident. Okay, so
I was talking about Marley. We went to

2305
02:52:08,080 --> 02:52:16,319
the training and okay, so I was less
wondering how the guidance for how to

2306
02:52:14,720 --> 02:52:20,880
appropriately walk a dog would apply
when the demo that we were given on

2307
02:52:18,000 --> 02:52:26,160
Marley was used with the leash wrap
method. So there was no actual time for

2308
02:52:23,200 --> 02:52:31,359
us to practice using a non leash wrap
method. Okay.

2309
02:52:29,600 --> 02:52:34,560
So after I passed the class, I'm allowed
to walk green level dogs. When I came

2310
02:52:32,880 --> 02:52:38,960
for my first dog walk though, there were
no green dogs available. So with staff

2311
02:52:36,960 --> 02:52:43,439
approval, I was allowed to walk a light
blue color dog, which I felt comfortable

2312
02:52:41,600 --> 02:52:48,960
and I appreciated them allowing me to
do. Since then, they have allowed me to

2313
02:52:46,640 --> 02:52:53,439
walk specific bluele dogs. So not light
blue, the step up when the lower level

2314
02:52:51,279 --> 02:52:56,479
dogs are not available.
I think the progression and the

2315
02:52:55,040 --> 02:53:00,800
opportunities to develop these skills
could be more clearly explained in the

2316
02:52:58,800 --> 02:53:05,040
training and how to get from level to
level and what qualifications we kind of

2317
02:53:02,800 --> 02:53:08,640
need to achieve that. When I left the
training, I felt like some practical

2318
02:53:06,560 --> 02:53:12,240
questions were left unanswered. Like
where should we walk the dogs? How long

2319
02:53:10,319 --> 02:53:16,880
should the walk be? Are there preferred
roots or areas in the neighbor of the

2320
02:53:14,240 --> 02:53:21,680
neighborhood to avoid especially if uh
there's a pet in the neighborhood and we

2321
02:53:19,040 --> 02:53:25,279
have are walking a reactive dog and
what's the best way to even like manage

2322
02:53:23,439 --> 02:53:30,319
the two leash method? Because we're told
to use our two hands. So when the dog

2323
02:53:28,240 --> 02:53:34,640
goes to the bathroom, what is the
guidance on what to do with the leashes?

2324
02:53:32,640 --> 02:53:39,840
So little things like that I think could
be really helpful for people who have a

2325
02:53:37,439 --> 02:53:44,000
lot less experience with an animal.
After we walked Marley, we went to the

2326
02:53:41,760 --> 02:53:48,080
fencing yard behind gate one where she
said the volunteers can bring dogs to

2327
02:53:45,760 --> 02:53:52,880
spend additional time outside of their
kennel. Um

2328
02:53:51,200 --> 02:53:56,479
she gave us directions for not putting
our face in the dog's face and things

2329
02:53:54,800 --> 02:54:00,479
like that. I appreciated her guidance,
but I wonder how can we make the time

2330
02:53:58,240 --> 02:54:04,880
outside of the kennel more meaningful.
So I the last part I want to talk about

2331
02:54:02,319 --> 02:54:10,240
is just social socialization of the
dogs. Um Laura referenced that this was

2332
02:54:08,319 --> 02:54:13,520
like a super important experience for
the dogs to have outside of the kennel

2333
02:54:11,920 --> 02:54:16,880
and sometimes part of the routine is
that the dogs aren't receiving

2334
02:54:15,040 --> 02:54:21,600
socialization and love and affection
that they really need to become

2335
02:54:18,319 --> 02:54:25,840
adoptable. So I have a question like how
can volunteers be able to provide more

2336
02:54:23,680 --> 02:54:29,120
human interaction for the dogs who may
not be eligible for regular walks? I'm

2337
02:54:27,680 --> 02:54:33,680
thinking like a red dog who might not
get out of their kennel except for once

2338
02:54:30,640 --> 02:54:38,160
a month or multiple months not outside
of a kennel. So if they are a redle dog

2339
02:54:36,319 --> 02:54:41,840
for a specific walking behavior, let's
say, but they're affectionate and they

2340
02:54:39,680 --> 02:54:45,920
like people, how can we have
appropriately trained volunteers spend

2341
02:54:43,840 --> 02:54:50,640
time with the dog without just taking it
for a walk? How can we make these

2342
02:54:47,760 --> 02:54:56,160
animals more adoptable and social?
Because in the couple experiences I've

2343
02:54:53,439 --> 02:55:00,800
had, I am noticing that the lower level
dogs, even down to the light blue dogs,

2344
02:54:58,560 --> 02:55:04,240
are not interested in socializing with
humans that they are with. And that was

2345
02:55:02,640 --> 02:55:07,760
something that she noted about Marley,
who's a level blue, that they're not

2346
02:55:06,160 --> 02:55:13,120
really interested in interacting with
humans. And part of what makes them

2347
02:55:09,359 --> 02:55:19,200
adoptable is being able to interact with
human people. Um, so part of the

2348
02:55:16,800 --> 02:55:24,520
socialization goal is that I'm I'm at
time. Okay, no problem. Thank you,

2349
02:55:26,399 --> 02:55:29,399
» Lori.

2350
02:55:32,521 --> 02:55:38,160
[laughter]
Oh my god, it's so late.

2351
02:55:35,760 --> 02:55:42,640
» Okay.
>> All right. Just Lori Sarnney Hamilton

2352
02:55:40,560 --> 02:55:45,760
Township. Uh just to be clear, I went
over who runs the social media and all

2353
02:55:44,319 --> 02:55:48,640
that. I was talking about how just
simple things like getting t-shirts. So,

2354
02:55:47,120 --> 02:55:53,359
if I'm walking a dog and Amanda's
walking the dog, I could see her. And if

2355
02:55:50,080 --> 02:55:56,720
I have a dog reactive, I can move. I I
don't think the township has to pay for

2356
02:55:54,640 --> 02:55:59,520
it. The people gladly spend $10 to $20
on a shirt if it meant it helps get

2357
02:55:58,080 --> 02:56:02,479
animals adopted. I know it sounds silly,
but it's true. I know someone's a

2358
02:56:00,960 --> 02:56:06,560
t-shirt business. I'm sure they would be
happy. Um, this may seem silly, but

2359
02:56:05,120 --> 02:56:09,520
think of someone brand new walking into
the shelter and to going to look at the

2360
02:56:08,319 --> 02:56:13,120
animals. People would feel more
comfortable asking questions if they

2361
02:56:10,960 --> 02:56:16,640
knew who to actually ask the questions
to. It makes for a better experience for

2362
02:56:14,800 --> 02:56:20,240
the buyer which can lead to more
successful results. The last thing I

2363
02:56:18,560 --> 02:56:24,160
want to speak about is the playyard for
the dogs. I think asking the public for

2364
02:56:22,479 --> 02:56:27,920
help whether that be donations or
volunteering to put I don't know

2365
02:56:25,600 --> 02:56:32,160
artificial grass more enrichment for the
dogs to be able to play and exercise

2366
02:56:29,680 --> 02:56:36,800
could be better pictures we can taken
and so on. The people in the town want

2367
02:56:34,800 --> 02:56:40,880
to help. So why are we so afraid to
accept it as a town? And I I Amanda was

2368
02:56:39,840 --> 02:56:44,399
speaking. And it just kind of like came
in my mind for the people in the

2369
02:56:42,160 --> 02:56:48,240
audience. Like when we think about these
colored dogs when I go to walk dogs,

2370
02:56:46,319 --> 02:56:53,200
it's like I always use the teacher as an
example. It's like I'm only teaching the

2371
02:56:51,680 --> 02:56:56,479
smart kids, the kids who need help, you
just ignore them and let them suffer.

2372
02:56:54,960 --> 02:56:59,760
And I feel like we just have to figure
out a better way to give these dogs a

2373
02:56:58,560 --> 02:57:04,080
chance. And the whole thing with the
social media, we we have to do better.

2374
02:57:02,399 --> 02:57:08,399
Like anyone looking on Instagram or
Facebook, it's just like it's subpar. We

2375
02:57:06,399 --> 02:57:12,399
could do better. And the goal is to sell
these animals to loving people. And

2376
02:57:10,800 --> 02:57:17,520
ultimately the goal is to clear the
shelter. So I I feel like that's all we

2377
02:57:14,960 --> 02:57:21,920
want and that's all I would just like to
if you have the answers to the questions

2378
02:57:19,279 --> 02:57:27,960
about who runs the social media. I would
love to know that. Does anybody know

2379
02:57:24,479 --> 02:57:27,960
like a name?

2380
02:57:28,240 --> 02:57:35,600
I mean we'll get all your comments and
it's okay

2381
02:57:33,200 --> 02:57:38,880
to come
work very hard to make it much better

2382
02:57:37,439 --> 02:57:44,399
than it was and that it has
>> I agree. I think we can also just be

2383
02:57:40,640 --> 02:57:48,000
honest that um sometimes if you're not
doing your job well enough there's

2384
02:57:45,680 --> 02:57:51,760
someone else who could do better. And I
think that we need to take a pause and

2385
02:57:49,920 --> 02:57:55,680
look at oursel as if stop being
complacent. I don't know how much money

2386
02:57:53,200 --> 02:58:00,800
she's getting paid, but like I said
about Jules, she got a lot of engagement

2387
02:57:59,040 --> 02:58:04,880
by just speaking about the shelter and
constantly posting, posting, posting. I

2388
02:58:03,040 --> 02:58:08,880
don't see that happening. And it's we're
here to help. And again, I need to say

2389
02:58:07,600 --> 02:58:11,920
one more thing about Jules not being
accepted as a volunteer. My dad always

2390
02:58:10,640 --> 02:58:14,560
told me, Mark Twain quote, "You're never
wrong doing the right thing." So, if the

2391
02:58:13,279 --> 02:58:17,040
shelter is not doing anything wrong, I
don't know what they're worried about

2392
02:58:15,439 --> 02:58:22,279
Jules coming to volunteer and walk some
dogs at. Thank you very much.

2393
02:58:25,200 --> 02:58:34,720
So, I know Steve, Lisa, Janice,
uh, Andy all did not, uh, sign up. The

2394
02:58:32,800 --> 02:58:38,640
last name I have is Kelsey. Did you want
to speak again?

2395
02:58:36,399 --> 02:58:41,680
» Okay. Um,
anybody else that spoke the first time

2396
02:58:40,160 --> 02:58:44,160
that wants to speak again a second time?
If you spoke, if you didn't speak yet

2397
02:58:43,120 --> 02:58:51,359
and you want to speak, you're more than
welcome to speak also.

2398
02:58:47,600 --> 02:58:54,560
» Um, I'm I would like her to speak.
You didn't have your first chance yet.

2399
02:58:52,800 --> 02:58:56,000
You're more than welcome to come up.
>> Okay.

2400
02:58:55,120 --> 02:59:02,880
» Yeah.
>> Good evening. I'm Anna Pao. I'm with the

2401
02:58:59,359 --> 02:59:08,160
Resistencia and Aion. We serve Hamilton
uh Mercer County in general. I'm also uh

2402
02:59:06,399 --> 02:59:13,840
I lived in Mercer County for a long
time. I live really close to Mercer

2403
02:59:09,920 --> 02:59:17,760
County now. And I wanted to come up to
talk about a couple of things just

2404
02:59:15,439 --> 02:59:22,479
sitting here observing as a human,
right? I wanted to give the chance to

2405
02:59:19,840 --> 02:59:28,640
the people who are living in Hamilton
and who have seen what is happening to

2406
02:59:25,359 --> 02:59:36,880
the family and to the situation in in
general. Um I want to mention that

2407
02:59:33,439 --> 02:59:42,319
law enforcement like ICE right now and
police collaboration with ICE is

2408
02:59:39,520 --> 02:59:49,200
happening and it's becoming violent and
what is happening is that the community

2409
02:59:44,399 --> 02:59:53,600
is no longer trusting police. We have
many women who have come to our

2410
02:59:51,279 --> 03:00:01,040
organization saying that they cannot
call police because they're scared of

2411
02:59:56,880 --> 03:00:07,279
going to be given to ICE because they
have maybe an abusive partner or that

2412
03:00:04,080 --> 03:00:12,960
they have something happening uh with a
neighbor or a landlord that is like

2413
03:00:09,040 --> 03:00:19,279
threatening them to to hit them to abuse
them. And so what what are we doing now

2414
03:00:16,399 --> 03:00:24,240
here is not listening and not protecting
a family, let alone the ICE connection

2415
03:00:22,080 --> 03:00:31,359
that I'm making just because of our
work. So it is crucial that we don't

2416
03:00:28,399 --> 03:00:37,520
just sit here and listen. Think about
this as if you were

2417
03:00:34,800 --> 03:00:42,640
part of the family or you knew them or
it was a family member for your from

2418
03:00:40,160 --> 03:00:49,439
your family circle that was going
through this that called for help and

2419
03:00:45,279 --> 03:00:54,479
then they were arrested, put charges,
abused physically,

2420
03:00:51,920 --> 03:01:01,760
and then not given any help. It's been a
month now. I personally had to make

2421
03:00:57,760 --> 03:01:07,439
calls to have a a therapist and therapy
for the family. Why do we as

2422
03:01:05,120 --> 03:01:14,080
organizations or individuals have to
pick up the pieces of what the

2423
03:01:10,000 --> 03:01:19,760
government and city councils can do? Why
is this just looked at noninately and

2424
03:01:17,279 --> 03:01:26,880
said, "Oh, I never knew about this." Or,
"Oh, uh, we we need to investigate." I

2425
03:01:23,040 --> 03:01:31,279
urge you, I urge you just as a human to
make this a priority tomorrow morning,

2426
03:01:29,279 --> 03:01:37,279
like all the other priorities that we
have, please investigate. And we need to

2427
03:01:34,479 --> 03:01:41,920
put protection for the family. Not
calling them out in here, but it could

2428
03:01:39,120 --> 03:01:47,359
be any family who the police is going to
maybe well, we already know the son is

2429
03:01:44,640 --> 03:01:52,319
in detention right now, but what what
can happen if they're investigating the

2430
03:01:49,279 --> 03:01:57,520
family? This is why there's a lack of
trust with police and community and we

2431
03:01:55,120 --> 03:02:04,000
don't want to foster that. We want to
make sure that people are being heard

2432
03:02:00,319 --> 03:02:08,000
and that our tax dollars are being used.
So please take into consideration what

2433
03:02:05,840 --> 03:02:13,160
everyone has said and make this a
priority tomorrow. Thank you.

2434
03:02:09,920 --> 03:02:13,160
» Thank you.

2435
03:02:18,800 --> 03:02:21,920
» Janice, come on up.

2436
03:02:27,200 --> 03:02:34,479
Oh, the mic's at the right size. Wow.
All right. A short person before me.

2437
03:02:31,200 --> 03:02:39,120
Fantastic. Okay. Janice Lana Cornell
Heights. You guys definitely have a lot

2438
03:02:36,640 --> 03:02:45,359
of homework to do from listening to all
these people and I must say you did an

2439
03:02:43,200 --> 03:02:49,279
outstanding job, Mr. President.
>> Thank you. giving people the leniency

2440
03:02:47,439 --> 03:02:53,120
and the timing, how you called
everybody, made sure everybody had their

2441
03:02:50,720 --> 03:02:58,240
second chance. Very well done. You
should be proud of yourself and I didn't

2442
03:02:55,439 --> 03:02:59,840
know we had the gap still in existence.
Okay. [laughter]

2443
03:02:59,439 --> 03:03:03,200
» Thank you.
>> So, but you did a very good job and

2444
03:03:01,600 --> 03:03:07,439
giving everybody their fair shot and
giving them the extra time even you kind

2445
03:03:05,279 --> 03:03:10,319
of let the time run a bit and you gave
them their extra time to finish and

2446
03:03:08,880 --> 03:03:15,666
everything. That was very good of you
and you did a very nice meeting.

2447
03:03:12,080 --> 03:03:15,666
» Thank you. Appreciate it. [laughter]

2448
03:03:17,600 --> 03:03:20,600
Lisa

2449
03:03:26,080 --> 03:03:32,960
» Lisa Williams Hamilton. I'm going to
start with I too like Councilman

2450
03:03:30,160 --> 03:03:37,760
Carabelli did not know about this
situation that the family experienced in

2451
03:03:35,520 --> 03:03:41,439
July with our police department. So I
want to start with that. I am sorry to

2452
03:03:39,200 --> 03:03:45,359
hear that this is going on in our town.
No person, no resident, no visitor of

2453
03:03:43,680 --> 03:03:52,160
our town should be afraid to call the
police or call 911 in a mental health

2454
03:03:47,600 --> 03:03:57,200
emergency. So, I didn't know either. And
I think I'm sort of aware, but I I guess

2455
03:03:54,800 --> 03:04:01,680
I'm not. So, I just want to say that I
don't think anyone should be afraid and

2456
03:03:59,680 --> 03:04:05,760
I feel for this family. I mean, I
sometimes live in fear with stuff that I

2457
03:04:03,600 --> 03:04:09,359
have spoken out about and my property
has been vandalized and I have had

2458
03:04:07,840 --> 03:04:13,200
terrible things said to me and I have
gone to the police department and

2459
03:04:11,040 --> 03:04:17,840
sometimes not gotten help either in
situations in the past, say, six years.

2460
03:04:15,680 --> 03:04:21,200
So, nothing like these people have dealt
with. So, I don't want to run out of

2461
03:04:19,439 --> 03:04:24,800
time. I just want to say I feel for
them. I feel for you guys. I have

2462
03:04:22,800 --> 03:04:27,439
cameras on my house as well because of
stuff that has happened on my property

2463
03:04:26,160 --> 03:04:30,560
and I don't live far from you. I've
walked past your house a million times.

2464
03:04:29,200 --> 03:04:34,240
I am sorry for what you are going
through. Um I also never got an answer

2465
03:04:32,640 --> 03:04:38,160
on how much money is in the budget for
sorry shifting to the shelter for food

2466
03:04:35,840 --> 03:04:42,080
at the shelter. The list of questions I
believe Jules is referring to was a

2467
03:04:39,600 --> 03:04:46,880
meeting Kathy that you weren't here. Um
your assistant attended that meeting

2468
03:04:44,080 --> 03:04:50,160
that members of council saying giving
questions. We want answers. That's what

2469
03:04:48,560 --> 03:04:53,760
I think she's referring to. I'm going to
try to be fast. I know social media is

2470
03:04:52,160 --> 03:04:56,960
better than it was for people who are
new to the shelter situation. They don't

2471
03:04:55,439 --> 03:05:01,200
know that there was never anything and
I've brought it up for years. But again,

2472
03:04:58,800 --> 03:05:05,359
it wasn't until Jules got involved that
we got movement on that. The fact that

2473
03:05:03,279 --> 03:05:08,880
it took Juliana on social media to get
help for the shelter really makes me

2474
03:05:07,120 --> 03:05:12,000
question like seriously, if there's
anybody that should be able to volunteer

2475
03:05:09,920 --> 03:05:15,279
at the shelter, it's Juliana Carella.
Because without her, the movement would

2476
03:05:13,680 --> 03:05:19,359
not have happened. And now she's not
because people don't trust her because

2477
03:05:16,880 --> 03:05:22,880
she speaks up and isn't afraid to. I
know I spoke up for years. You sit there

2478
03:05:20,800 --> 03:05:26,240
and shake your head, Mr. Ty, but I've
raised the same issues for for years.

2479
03:05:24,800 --> 03:05:31,040
Same three issues. not allowed to stick
your hand inside the cage. That's that's

2480
03:05:29,120 --> 03:05:34,080
my understanding of what the issue was.
>> She's been told she can't.

2481
03:05:32,080 --> 03:05:38,160
» Let's not pretend she's being persecuted
for having an effective social media

2482
03:05:36,399 --> 03:05:42,080
» and other people stick hands in cages.
So my point is there would be no

2483
03:05:40,319 --> 03:05:46,560
movement forward on that shelter if it
were not for Juliana Carella in the past

2484
03:05:44,160 --> 03:05:51,279
couple of months. Thank you Juliana. I
have raised the exact same three issues

2485
03:05:49,120 --> 03:05:54,800
every board of health meeting, every
council meeting for years. I rewatch the

2486
03:05:53,279 --> 03:05:59,760
meetings. I'm tired of watching myself
say the same thing. So, thank you to you

2487
03:05:58,000 --> 03:06:03,160
people who have spoken up. I'm going to
sit down now.

2488
03:06:05,680 --> 03:06:09,000
» You're up next.

2489
03:06:14,479 --> 03:06:22,399
» Steve Clay, Hamilton Township. I'm gonna
um echo Lisa's statement about the uh

2490
03:06:20,880 --> 03:06:26,720
whatever this incident was that happened
in July. I had no clue and I'm kind of

2491
03:06:24,720 --> 03:06:31,200
shocked.
But as I'm sitting here listening to it,

2492
03:06:28,960 --> 03:06:35,760
I know there's a lot that is a a
criminal prosecution process that you

2493
03:06:33,359 --> 03:06:39,600
guys cannot interfere in. But I believe
some of the things they asked for was

2494
03:06:37,359 --> 03:06:45,279
some information
um from our use of force or whatever

2495
03:06:43,279 --> 03:06:49,120
they had asked for that may show if
there is or is not a pattern of this

2496
03:06:47,600 --> 03:06:54,960
type of thing happening. And I think
that of all they asked for is something

2497
03:06:51,760 --> 03:06:59,760
that we should be able to provide
>> quickly. Um

2498
03:06:57,439 --> 03:07:03,760
or andor have the police chief here at
the next meeting to give some

2499
03:07:01,439 --> 03:07:10,479
explanation of of those patterns if they
exist or do not exist. Um

2500
03:07:07,760 --> 03:07:15,200
and I will also echo Lisa's statement on
Juliana's application for uh

2501
03:07:13,279 --> 03:07:22,000
volunteering.
Sorry, nobody at that shelter has any

2502
03:07:17,920 --> 03:07:26,479
basis to deny a volunteer based on
trust. [laughter]

2503
03:07:24,160 --> 03:07:31,359
Um, and I could spend about the next 45
minutes here going into that and I

2504
03:07:28,000 --> 03:07:35,920
won't, but that is nonsense. If she made
a mistake or broke a rule as a member of

2505
03:07:33,040 --> 03:07:42,240
the public, she would just like every
other volunteer sign her agreement as a

2506
03:07:38,880 --> 03:07:45,920
volunteer that that would not happen. So
none of that adds up. Whether it be

2507
03:07:44,319 --> 03:07:49,760
trust for her social media or her
sticking a hand in the cage just doesn't

2508
03:07:48,000 --> 03:07:53,389
wash. Thanks.
>> Thank you. [applause]

2509
03:07:56,319 --> 03:08:01,000
» Andy, did you want wish to speak again?

2510
03:08:02,160 --> 03:08:08,880
» All right. So, we made it through the
list twice. Um, we'll close the public

2511
03:08:06,800 --> 03:08:13,120
comment portion with that said and move
the council comments. Uh you either one

2512
03:08:11,680 --> 03:08:20,560
of you want wish to start. I
>> I'll kick it off. Yeah. Um

2513
03:08:16,080 --> 03:08:24,160
so I appreciate everyone coming out. Um
we,

2514
03:08:22,399 --> 03:08:28,800
you know,
tonight we've heard a lot of really

2515
03:08:27,200 --> 03:08:34,960
concerning
uh information uh from members of the

2516
03:08:31,520 --> 03:08:39,600
public. I'm disgusted by the behavior uh
that we learned about uh that this

2517
03:08:36,960 --> 03:08:46,399
family's being put through. Um, I want
to get more information about that,

2518
03:08:41,439 --> 03:08:51,600
Kathy. Uh, about what response, what's
being done. Um, anything that we can

2519
03:08:48,960 --> 03:08:57,279
learn about any investigation that's
being conducted. Um, I'd like I'd like

2520
03:08:54,640 --> 03:09:04,640
more information about that. Um, no
family should have to go through that.

2521
03:08:59,279 --> 03:09:08,319
Um, same thing with the um, you know,
I'm disturbed by

2522
03:09:06,960 --> 03:09:15,040
this notion that someone committed
suicide, 911 was called, and now that

2523
03:09:10,240 --> 03:09:18,960
person's in jail behind that. That's
that doesn't add up. I need more

2524
03:09:16,640 --> 03:09:24,720
information about how that happened. I
need to know what the justification was

2525
03:09:21,279 --> 03:09:29,760
for that. So, um, perhaps we can have a
conversation tomorrow. Well, I don't

2526
03:09:27,600 --> 03:09:34,479
think we're frivy to any of the details
of anything with regards to that case

2527
03:09:32,240 --> 03:09:38,960
until it's through its investigation. We
cannot interfere with the investigation,

2528
03:09:36,160 --> 03:09:42,319
meaning we can't even know the details.
>> So, um

2529
03:09:40,000 --> 03:09:46,640
» there there's apparently video that
members of the public have access to.

2530
03:09:44,479 --> 03:09:50,880
» Again, it's if it's video, it's a public
video that I mean or from somebody from

2531
03:09:49,040 --> 03:09:55,040
the public that we don't have privy to.
If they want to provide it to us, I'd be

2532
03:09:52,479 --> 03:10:00,720
happy to to take a look at it. And of
course there's a process. The process

2533
03:09:57,920 --> 03:10:07,359
has to play out. Um but I'm I'm
concerned and um I am willing to meet

2534
03:10:04,160 --> 03:10:13,279
with members of the public uh leaders of
any community groups that want to sit

2535
03:10:09,040 --> 03:10:16,720
down. Um Councilman Pero talked about uh
we can't have a quorum when we have

2536
03:10:14,960 --> 03:10:23,840
these meetings outside of our regular
schedule. So, one or two of us uh could

2537
03:10:20,240 --> 03:10:27,760
attend a meeting um along with, you
know, any concerned citizens who want to

2538
03:10:26,080 --> 03:10:35,840
uh sit down and and talk about this
further. Um so, I appreciate everyone's

2539
03:10:31,520 --> 03:10:41,040
input. Um the
shelter, uh we continue to talk about

2540
03:10:38,240 --> 03:10:47,920
the shelter a lot. Um,
you know, we're we're talking about the

2541
03:10:45,439 --> 03:10:53,439
color coding system, uh, and there are
valid criticisms of that. I just want to

2542
03:10:50,640 --> 03:10:58,880
remind everyone that system didn't exist
before, uh, we got on to council. That's

2543
03:10:56,560 --> 03:11:05,359
something that was put into place to
provide more transparency and more

2544
03:11:01,520 --> 03:11:09,920
accountability around, um, decisions
that are being made about the animals

2545
03:11:07,200 --> 03:11:14,080
that come into the shelter. And so a
part of that accountability is

2546
03:11:11,760 --> 03:11:18,399
discussions like this. This is a result
of a better process being put in place

2547
03:11:16,880 --> 03:11:23,840
where now we have a level of
transparency where questions can be

2548
03:11:20,640 --> 03:11:28,720
asked. Prior to the color-coded system
uh being put in place, prior to there

2549
03:11:26,080 --> 03:11:32,640
being a committee uh making decisions
around the animals, uh there was no

2550
03:11:30,960 --> 03:11:39,680
accountability to that. That didn't
happen until this council uh came into

2551
03:11:36,479 --> 03:11:47,439
office. Um, you know, we we've talked
about how we can improve uh the social

2552
03:11:43,520 --> 03:11:51,920
media strategy. Um, that is something
that

2553
03:11:49,120 --> 03:11:57,439
has improved and can stand improvement.
I'm hopeful that perhaps we can utilize

2554
03:11:54,640 --> 03:12:01,040
some of the volunteers who may be
>> happy to,

2555
03:11:58,399 --> 03:12:07,359
» you know, better positioned to do that
um in order to more effectively get

2556
03:12:03,600 --> 03:12:13,520
these animals out of our shelter. Uh
which I think, you know, needs to be a

2557
03:12:10,800 --> 03:12:18,880
focus at that facility. Uh and we've
talked about that, right? Like delays in

2558
03:12:16,479 --> 03:12:24,800
responding to folks who want to adopt
animals. Um,

2559
03:12:21,920 --> 03:12:31,040
you know, the Burlington shelter can
adopt a cat same day. Why can't we? You

2560
03:12:28,399 --> 03:12:37,200
know, so these are questions and I know
we've made improvements and we're making

2561
03:12:32,720 --> 03:12:44,240
improvements. I know we are. Um, but
why is that that another shelter can do

2562
03:12:40,720 --> 03:12:51,600
something same day and we can't? I I'd
like to understand that. So,

2563
03:12:47,520 --> 03:12:57,680
um, people raised valid questions. Um,
Jules, I didn't mean to single you out

2564
03:12:54,240 --> 03:13:01,840
for any, uh, criticism. I I think the
work that you're doing is good. You

2565
03:13:00,399 --> 03:13:06,000
know, I think that everybody has to
follow the rules when you go into a

2566
03:13:03,520 --> 03:13:10,640
shelter. There's a public safety issue
in a facility like that. We have had

2567
03:13:08,319 --> 03:13:14,960
people get injured by some of these
animals. That's why we have a coding

2568
03:13:12,560 --> 03:13:20,720
system. uh the effort is to keep the
public safe. So,

2569
03:13:18,560 --> 03:13:25,520
I appreciate everyone's concerns on all
the issues that have been raised. Uh

2570
03:13:22,800 --> 03:13:31,600
some really serious issues uh that we've
talked about today. Um and we do, uh

2571
03:13:30,239 --> 03:13:37,800
Janice is right, we do have our
homework, uh to do after this meeting.

2572
03:13:33,840 --> 03:13:37,800
So, thank you everyone and good night.

2573
03:13:39,279 --> 03:13:44,960
» Thank you, Councilman Thai. Um, I'll
just since you ended with the uh animal

2574
03:13:43,600 --> 03:13:50,800
shelter, I'll just continue with that
theme and just say um that um you know I

2575
03:13:49,200 --> 03:13:56,880
was happy to hear that the volunteer
coordinators uh on staff right now and

2576
03:13:54,080 --> 03:14:01,600
that you know process the processes uh
processes are in place to uh and and

2577
03:13:59,680 --> 03:14:04,720
some of our volunteers happen to be here
uh tonight. So that's some some really

2578
03:14:03,359 --> 03:14:09,600
good news. I think there still could be
improvements regarding the social media

2579
03:14:06,239 --> 03:14:13,680
if we can. And I I I do agree with uh
some of Lor's comments uh about the

2580
03:14:11,760 --> 03:14:18,960
volunteer t-shirts and things like that.
I think that's I mean they're easy ones.

2581
03:14:15,760 --> 03:14:24,880
We should have that in place. Um just
from the public safety issues that have

2582
03:14:20,560 --> 03:14:29,680
been brought up tonight. Um I definitely
very concerning uh what we've heard this

2583
03:14:27,200 --> 03:14:34,239
evening. Um like I said, it was the
first time I've ever heard of this

2584
03:14:31,680 --> 03:14:38,720
situation. Um, and I guess I got a
little bit heated there because of the

2585
03:14:36,000 --> 03:14:42,640
idea of like jumping jumping to a
conclusion tonight on having a separate

2586
03:14:40,560 --> 03:14:48,080
investigation when I I don't even have
any information on this uh other than

2587
03:14:45,279 --> 03:14:52,319
what was brought up this evening. Um, so
I do echo what Janice has said and what

2588
03:14:50,479 --> 03:14:57,600
Councilman Tai said. We got to do some
uh uh homework on this. I I'm more than

2589
03:14:55,040 --> 03:15:01,120
willing to meet with individuals um and
different organizations that are

2590
03:14:58,880 --> 03:15:07,200
involved in this process. Um, I'm sorry
that you're dealing with uh this

2591
03:15:04,000 --> 03:15:12,319
incident. Um um it's actually not too
far from where I live, so I I I'm very

2592
03:15:09,760 --> 03:15:19,120
familiar with that area. Um and you
know, hopefully we can come to uh some

2593
03:15:14,960 --> 03:15:23,279
um some viable solutions that make sense
uh and are appropriate for all. Uh so I

2594
03:15:21,920 --> 03:15:26,239
appreciate you coming out. That's why
it's important that you come out to the

2595
03:15:24,560 --> 03:15:30,000
meetings, bring up these issues, voice
these concerns, and we'll um we'll go

2596
03:15:28,640 --> 03:15:31,520
from there. We have two meetings in
September or one

2597
03:15:30,960 --> 03:15:37,040
» one
>> one meeting in September. So uh stay

2598
03:15:33,600 --> 03:15:42,000
tuned for that for that date. Thank you.
>> Thank you uh to both my colleagues.

2599
03:15:39,040 --> 03:15:46,560
Thank you to my team. Uh to the people
that have been here for the first time.

2600
03:15:44,160 --> 03:15:52,640
Uh you can see that we deal with a wide
variety

2601
03:15:48,160 --> 03:16:01,439
uh broad range of um issues, topics uh
across the whole spectrum. Um it was uh

2602
03:15:58,479 --> 03:16:08,319
very uneasy listening to some of the
things that uh have happened, some of

2603
03:16:03,840 --> 03:16:11,520
the things that were said. And um
our uh retired teacher back there was

2604
03:16:10,239 --> 03:16:17,040
right. We there's some homework to be
done. There's some uh facts to be dug

2605
03:16:13,279 --> 03:16:22,720
up. And um [laughter] I look forward to
uncovering uh some of this because

2606
03:16:20,160 --> 03:16:28,160
um it's not acceptable in the community
and uh we have some work to do. So uh

2607
03:16:25,920 --> 03:16:32,560
our next meeting uh I believe is the
second week in September. Um

2608
03:16:31,840 --> 03:16:39,680
» 22
>> 22nd of September. Um

2609
03:16:36,239 --> 03:16:47,279
let's see what uh uh facts we uncover uh
by that point. And um I hope everybody

2610
03:16:42,720 --> 03:16:51,239
has a good night and um yes we will uh
be adjourned for the night.