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[9:59]
Brother,
I don't see the TV being on and all.
[10:04]
We're good.
>> Okay,
[10:08]
it's 700 p.m. I call tonight's council
meeting to order. Roll call.
[10:13]
» Bennett
>> here.
[10:15]
» Leosa here. Mey
>> here.
[10:17]
» Sasso here. Skiara
>> here.
[10:20]
» WKI
>> here.
[10:21]
» Matthews
>> here.
[10:23]
» Please rise and join us in the pledge of
>> allegiance.
[10:27]
To the flag of the United States of
America and to the republic for which it
[10:31]
stands, one nation under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice
[10:36]
for all.
[10:40]
» Adequate notice of this meeting has been
provided by the annual schedule of
[10:43]
regular meetings. Herefore, adopted and
posted on the public bulletin board at
[10:46]
the municipal building. posted on the
official burough website and emailed to
[10:50]
the Herald News, the record in the
gazette and all persons who've requested
[10:54]
the mailing of such since november 17,
2025.
[10:58]
» Approval of the minutes. Have approval
of the minutes for the regular meeting
[11:01]
of May 20th 26.
>> So moved.
[11:04]
» Second.
>> Motion by WKI, second by Sierra. Any
[11:07]
comments?
[11:10]
» Roll call.
>> WKI.
[11:12]
» Yes.
>> Skiara,
[11:13]
» yes.
>> Sasso, abstain.
[11:16]
» Mey,
>> yes. Leosa,
[11:18]
» yes.
>> Bennett,
[11:18]
» yes.
>> Matthews,
[11:19]
» yes.
>> Motion carried.
[11:21]
» Public comment. I now open the meeting
to the public. If anyone desires to be
[11:23]
heard on agenda items, come forward to
the micro and state your name.
[11:28]
» Seeing no one, I entertain a motion to
close public portion of the meeting.
[11:31]
» So move.
>> Motion by Wii, second by Bennett.
[11:35]
» Oh, I didn't get in.
>> All in favor?
[11:39]
» I.
>> Motion carries. We now have a
[11:42]
presentation for the 2026 annual June
environmental program. Horth
[11:47]
Environmental Commissioner Raina Leosa
will take it from here.
[11:52]
» Is she a commissioner?
>> Well, I'll give her
[11:54]
» Good evening everyone. Everyone can hear
me.
[11:57]
» Great. If I could just have Mary come up
with me.
[12:02]
» Oh, actually just going to put him right
here.
[12:04]
» He's there.
>> It's okay.
[12:06]
» He wanted to be a point. Come on.
Hey Mary.
[12:12]
» So we're doing a little bit different um
this year for the annual June
[12:15]
environmental program. We're changing
the format. Um we will be doing our u
[12:20]
recognition of our student here as well
as our green business for 2026. And um
[12:26]
with this program has been going on
since 1988
[12:30]
where it's really a partnership with the
Horththornne school systems and the
[12:33]
board of ed and and us the burrow. and
it's really recognizing the students,
[12:39]
teachers, and all the great
environmental programs that and science
[12:42]
programs, STEM that goes on in the
schools. Um, this year we're doing a
[12:47]
little bit different. We're going to
recognize that person here at council.
[12:51]
And we expanded the program to citizens
and green businesses in 2010. And we
[12:57]
have criteria for the green business um
that we go through and the commission
[13:01]
and green team we decide um what is the
best fit for uh our green business for
[13:06]
Hawthorne. Um so I do want to recognize
we were at the board of ed Mary and I
[13:13]
unfortunately the mayor had an EMT call
so couldn't make it. We want to
[13:17]
recognize Andrea Napano
[13:22]
» Andrea Npalitano. Um she was a Lincoln
Middle School um STEM teacher and we
[13:28]
honored her for her time and effort at
Cell Restoration and volunteers um at
[13:33]
Lincoln Middle School. She coordinated
that. She stayed with us the last
[13:37]
several years and the kids did the
tattoos and the games and we just
[13:41]
couldn't appreciate her enough. And the
other teacher that we recognized at the
[13:45]
bordered um is Teresa Der Manimo. Um she
was the library um media specialist at
[13:52]
Hawthorne High School. huge supporter of
environmental commission. She had a
[13:56]
library crew and um several years ago
her kids made uh a dress out of um old
[14:03]
SAT booklets and discarded books. It was
the upcycle refashion dress and is
[14:09]
actually still in the library. And so we
wanted to recognize her and um and wish
[14:14]
her all the best in her retirement.
So tonight what I would like to do is um
[14:21]
we would like to recognize Emma
Realage. Wait, hold on.
[14:28]
Reg.
How do you say?
[14:32]
» You need the mayor to help you.
>> I had so much practice and I knew I was
[14:36]
going to mess up regal.
[14:41]
» If Emma could come up. Um the school is
so proud. Um, she has been selected to
[14:47]
the Washington Youth Summit on the
Environment hosted in partnership with
[14:52]
the Sysmodian Sis Smithian National Zoo
and Conservation Biological
[14:59]
Institute, the Washington Youth Summit
on the Environment on an interactive
[15:04]
program that provides high achieving
high school students with an interest in
[15:08]
the environment, conservation,
sustainability, and related fields with
[15:12]
a unique experience exploring careers in
areas. Emma will be representing
[15:17]
Hawthorne High School selected students
highly engaged in all 50 states and
[15:23]
around the world. During the summit,
Emmy Emma will gain in the trenches
[15:28]
knowledge through hands-on research and
site visits such as water sample testing
[15:33]
and behind the scenes zoo access while
learning directly from industry leaders,
[15:38]
international conservation experts, and
Washington insiders. Um, we just really
[15:43]
want to honor uh Emma coming down.
>> What was her last name?
[15:49]
» Rick.
>> Rick Leavage.
[15:52]
» Rick.
>> Okay, good.
[15:56]
» I couldn't I couldn't pass that up.
>> I know. Now we know.
[16:01]
» So, we're just honored and proud that
you're representing town of Hawthorne
[16:04]
and the Hawthorne High School as she
embarks on this once in a-lifetime
[16:08]
experience. and we look forward to
hearing about your experience next year.
[16:12]
Um, so mayor, if you can come up.
[16:18]
» Um, but it is at George Madison
University, so she's going to go and for
[16:22]
a week and um, I'll turn the floor if
you want to say anything more.
[16:28]
» I'm just really excited for this
experience and I thank you so much for
[16:31]
recognizing me for this award. Thank you
so much.
[16:36]
» Um, I need a photo.
[16:40]
to hook you up.
Okay.
[16:45]
You're the only woman in New Jersey that
doesn't have a phone.
[16:48]
» Holly, can you take the photo cuz I am
going to be doing a press release um in
[16:52]
the papers.
[17:00]
» She's a junior.
[17:08]
Hey, Bruce.
[17:11]
» Public safety. Are you gonna say
something? Well, I can say a little
[17:15]
something.
>> Go ahead.
[17:16]
» And then you follow up anything that I
miss. Good.
[17:19]
» Yeah.
>> Okay. Thank you so much.
[17:28]
» All right. So
the um 2026 uh green business is going
[17:35]
to go to structural um they've been
created by Peter Emmens in 1976.
[17:41]
Structural preservation systems LLC has
been performing the restoration of
[17:46]
concrete structures. The company opened
an office in New Jersey in 1983 and
[17:52]
moved to Horththornne in 2005 and which
has been a proud community member for
[17:56]
the last 21 years.
structure embodies the message think
[18:01]
locally act globally as the Hawthorne
specific office has partaken in many
[18:06]
community events with its build program
as well as completing restoration
[18:10]
projects throughout the country in
regards to thinking locally. Structural
[18:15]
has partnered with the township annually
to perform both the restoration of the
[18:19]
community garden as well as various
trail cleanups throughout the years.
[18:24]
Structure also hosts an annual blood
drive in which both company employees
[18:27]
and community members attend to support
others in need. Structure frequently
[18:32]
utilizes local businesses for company
outings, in-house events, and recently
[18:37]
renovated our office. Through the
renovation of our office on a structure,
[18:42]
they're on Utter. They utilize Fifth
Avenue landscaping to create green areas
[18:47]
in front of our property, which the
paved areas pitch towards acting as a
[18:51]
rain garden. Structural renovation also
included the installation of motion
[18:56]
sensor energy efficient light fixtures
in 120th Avenue building to reduce the
[19:02]
electronic draw. And I just really want
to welcome um Tony Ferrer who's the
[19:06]
regional administrative manager and Eric
Larson, division manager to come on up
[19:12]
for your award.
[19:25]
Okay. And I would like to have Tony and
and and Eric speak about a case study
[19:30]
that they shared with me as well. So
>> So before I hand it over to Eric, I just
[19:37]
want to say thank you to the Hawthorne
Environmental Commission for this
[19:40]
recognition. On behalf of everyone at
structural, we are honored to be
[19:43]
recognized as a green business in our
community. We believe that being
[19:47]
environmentally responsible is not only
good for the planet, but also as an
[19:51]
important part of being a good neighbor
and a community partner. We are grateful
[19:54]
for the work the commission does to
promote sustainability throughout
[19:58]
Hawthorne and we are proud to play a
small part in those efforts. Thank you
[20:02]
again for the recognition. We truly
appreciate it. I'll hand it over to Eric
[20:05]
now.
>> Thank you everyone. Thank you board. We
[20:09]
appreciate it. I'm going to talk a
little bit just quickly about a case
[20:12]
study that we did on Eisenhower barracks
which is part of the West Point
[20:16]
University. So the work we did at
Eisenhower Barracks along with Lean
[20:20]
Sherman as well as Bradley Barracks
involved the restoration. So instead of
[20:25]
knocking down historical landmarks, the
company performed restoration of these
[20:28]
buildings. The reason we bring this up
as a green initiative was because the
[20:33]
amount of CO produced from the
restoration opposed to knocking down and
[20:37]
rebuilding was drastically less. And on
top of that, the case study as well as
[20:41]
the work performed had lead initiatives,
meaning it was to use local businesses
[20:45]
to the West Point area to reduce carbon
footprint, local concrete manufacturing
[20:50]
plants, as well as low VOCC coatings and
waterproofings on the structure itself
[20:55]
to once again prevent as much emissions
as possible into the environment.
[20:59]
structural itself has also worked on
projects throughout the country in which
[21:03]
they've done research towards the
restoration such as the World Trade
[21:07]
Center uh condo buildings and garages of
the effects of being able to restore and
[21:12]
preserve for communities opposed to
knocking down and building buildings.
[21:16]
Thank you so much again.
[21:46]
had to chirp a little.
[21:52]
» I got one.
should have gone with a tic tac.
[22:08]
» Thank you, Reena. Um, the adoption of
ordinances. We have none tonight. All
[22:13]
business. Joe will start your way.
>> Mike,
[22:18]
» no old business.
[22:21]
Bruce.
>> Um, yeah, just uh update on the pan
[22:25]
chemical site. The heavy equipment has
been removed, but there's still one or
[22:30]
two piles of rubble left there. So,
that's the latest status as of this
[22:37]
morning. Okay,
Anna Marie,
[22:40]
» just wondered if we had an update on
Franklin Field,
[22:45]
» the improvements that we
>> Okay, they have it in my report.
[22:49]
» Under your report?
>> I have it in my report.
[22:51]
» No problem. Thank you.
>> And um if I may, uh Councilman Bennett,
[22:56]
the uh on the pan chemical site, I'm
working with uh Michael. We had a
[23:02]
meeting just a little while ago about
reaching out to the LSRP and the
[23:06]
developer and trying to find out what's
going on there. Okay, good. Look forward
[23:11]
to hearing your schedule.
[23:17]
» Uh Dominic.
>> Dominic, I have nothing.
[23:21]
How about new business?
>> My Oh, new. Yeah. Michael, any any
[23:26]
update? This is old business on Diamond
Bridge. I'm sorry. Old business. I have
[23:31]
really no update. We have uh gotten
everything set so that there will be
[23:36]
scheduled court dates. I don't know if
they're on the books yet or not, but the
[23:41]
matters will be tried here before Judge
Miola.
[23:44]
» Oh, good.
>> And uh we're going to line up and try
[23:47]
all of them uh that were originally sent
to Prospect Park and then we're going to
[23:52]
try all the ones that we issued as well.
Um, we took a brief moratorum on the
[23:59]
issuance of tickets to get dispatched
scheduled and then we go back to ticket
[24:04]
writing because the situation there is
of course not getting better and Mr.
[24:10]
Spoiler doesn't do anything to
voluntarily comply. So, we will keep
[24:14]
prosecuting and prosecuting and
prosecuting.
[24:18]
» Thank you. Ironically, I was covering a
race in Bealsville, Pennsylvania last
[24:24]
night. And who do I run into but his
former nextdoor neighbor who was was
[24:31]
asking
>> was asking about, you know, why it's
[24:35]
taking so long and why it's getting
worse. And I told him that's the court
[24:41]
system. We're doing whatever we can and
it's just got to take place. But he's a
[24:45]
very happy camper that he's moved. Yeah,
he has a string of ex neighbors who uh
[24:52]
many of whom moved out of the
neighborhood because of him. He somehow
[24:55]
doesn't believe that to be a true
statement, but I know that to be true
[24:59]
from having spoken to a number of them.
So,
[25:03]
» I'm sorry, Michael. I'm sure the
residents are concerned. We know that we
[25:07]
had to send this out of the town for a
very specific reason. Is that no longer
[25:12]
on the table? Because that's certainly
our prayer. I know.
[25:15]
» We believe that there's no reason why
the cases cannot be tried here.
[25:18]
» Wonderful. Thank you.
[25:23]
» I have no new.
>> You have no new.
[25:25]
» I'm good. Thank you.
>> Not tonight.
[25:30]
» Nope.
>> Joe,
[25:31]
» not tonight.
>> Okay, we're moving on. Turn to
[25:35]
administrative agenda presented by Mayor
Lane.
[25:40]
» Thank you, Mr. President. Um, we have uh
a reappoint and and an and an
[25:46]
appointment uh tonight for advice and
consent.
[25:51]
» Uh well, can I have a motion for Chris
Deella? A motion to approve.
[25:56]
» So move.
>> Motion by Bennett, second by Sasso.
[26:02]
Any discussion?
>> Roll call.
[26:05]
» Bennett,
>> yes.
[26:06]
» Leosa,
>> yes.
[26:07]
» Mey,
>> yes.
[26:08]
» Sasso,
>> yes.
[26:10]
» Skiara,
>> yes. WKI
[26:12]
» H.
>> Yes.
[26:15]
» Matthews.
>> Yes.
[26:16]
» Motion carries.
>> And can I have a uh motion to record for
[26:20]
deployment of Gary Montroy as our
housing code official?
[26:23]
» So move.
>> Motion by WKI.
[26:25]
» Second.
>> Second by Leosa. Any discussion?
[26:31]
» Roll call.
>> MKI.
[26:32]
» Yes.
>> Skiara.
[26:33]
» Yes.
>> Sasso.
[26:34]
» Yes. Mey
>> abstain.
[26:37]
» Leosa.
>> Yes.
[26:38]
» Bennett.
>> Yes.
[26:39]
» Matthews. Yes.
>> Motion carries.
[26:42]
» Thank you, Mr. President.
I'd like to wish
[26:46]
Cora Vandenberg a happy 104th birthday
today. Today's her birthday. I remember
[26:53]
going there when she was uh when her
when she reached a hund and I gave her a
[26:58]
proclamation in her home and uh this
very uh very touching because she goes
[27:04]
back a long long way in the burrow of
Horththornne with her entire family and
[27:09]
Ka enjoy your day today uh and stay
healthy.
[27:15]
Uh the enforcement on Fairview Avenue
has been updated and there is more
[27:20]
enforcement now than there has been in
the past for the trucks coming down
[27:25]
Fairview A. I would like to thank our
neighbors nor North Hilden Police
[27:29]
Department for stopping the trucks in
their community and issuing summones to
[27:33]
the trucks and the drivers so that they
do not continue into Horththornne by
[27:38]
going down a hill. The collaboration of
both departments is helping our
[27:42]
community and our neighbors for their
safety.
[27:46]
I'd like to share a report by officer in
charge Captain Joe Carr regarding
[27:50]
Fairview Avenue.
Following the tragic fatal motor vehicle
[27:56]
crash on on Fairview A last year, the
Horththornne Police Department has
[28:01]
continued to take proactive steps to
address traffic safety concerns in the
[28:05]
area. Since that incident, additional
traffic control measures have been
[28:10]
implemented, including the installation
of new signage. These improvements were
[28:15]
made to enhance traffic control and to
increase driver awareness throughout the
[28:20]
corridor. From an enforcement
perspective, the police department has
[28:24]
conducted numerous targeted traffic
enforcement detail focused on commercial
[28:29]
trucks and overweight trucks violation.
These enforcement efforts occurred at
[28:35]
various times throughout the day with a
particular emphasis on the morning rush
[28:40]
hour period when commercial vehicles
actively
[28:44]
is most prevalent. In April, officers
conducted 29 dedicated enforcement
[28:50]
details in that area followed by 33
additional details in May. These
[28:56]
enforcement initiatives resulted in
enforcement action being taken against
[29:00]
violate violators through the issuance
of summons and warnings. In addition to
[29:05]
these dedicated enforcement details,
officers assigned to the west west
[29:11]
patrol zone have been directed to
monitor truck traffic as part of their
[29:17]
regular patrol responsibilities
throughout the entire west side of the
[29:21]
burrow. As a result of these ongoing
efforts, officers have reported a
[29:26]
noticeable reduction in the frequency of
overweight trucks utilizing the area.
[29:31]
The traffic bureau has also provided
guidance and training to patrol officers
[29:36]
regarding commercial motor vehicle
enforcement, ensuing that officers are
[29:41]
fairly are fair with both applicable
state statutes and local bureau
[29:47]
ordinances that can be utilized to
address truck related violations. The
[29:52]
Hawthorne Police Department remains
committed to monitoring conditions in
[29:56]
the area and utilizing the combination
of engineering, education, and
[30:00]
enforcement measures to promote the
safety of all the motorists and
[30:04]
residents.
Now that the summer months are here, I
[30:08]
just want to remind everyone of your
just a couple of things regarding air
[30:14]
conditioners. Plug in air conditioner
units directly into the dedicated wall
[30:19]
outlet. Avoid using extension cords if
possible. Keep area clean and do not
[30:25]
store combustible materials per ha paper
products, books, anything that can be
[30:30]
easily burned or catch fire close to the
air conditioning unit. Examine wiring.
[30:36]
Check for frayed wires or loose
connections. And if you smell any type
[30:41]
of burning, shut off the unit
immediately and call the fire
[30:44]
department. Also, please ensure that
your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
[30:50]
are working properly by testing units.
It this is easily done by pushing the
[30:55]
test button on the unit.
I want to thank Valley Health for
[31:00]
hosting a free familyfriendly health
fair at our library last Saturday, June
[31:05]
6th, as part of the mayor's wellness c
uh program.
[31:10]
We we are so thankful that over 300
people were able to attend and get
[31:15]
information on their health from the
doctors and nurses from Valley. At the
[31:20]
request of many of our residents, we
will be we will partner once again with
[31:24]
Valley Health in the fall to bring
another fair to the residents.
[31:29]
Congratulations to our seniors at
Horththornne High School, Hawthorne
[31:33]
Christian Academy, and P County
Technical Institute who are graduating.
[31:37]
We are all very proud of you and wish
you the best in the future endeavors.
[31:43]
Beginning Friday, the pool will be open
full-time on weekdays 10:00 a.m. to 8:00
[31:48]
p.m. The first hour is adult swim and on
weekends 11 to 8 8:00 p.m.
[31:55]
The Horththornne Fire Department ladies
auxiliary are doing a fundraiser. Let's
[31:59]
turn Hawthorne red, white, and blue.
Order orders are due by June 25th. So
[32:05]
you can call 973-670382
[32:09]
for details and these are flags
regarding the cars parking in the pool
[32:14]
parking lot. Cars have been ticketed and
there and cars have been towed. The
[32:20]
burrow offices will be closed on Friday,
June 19th in observation of Junth. Junth
[32:26]
known as Junth was officially recognized
as a federal holiday by President Biden
[32:32]
in 2021. The state of New Jersey
observes Junth as an official state and
[32:37]
public holiday.
And that concludes my report and I'll
[32:42]
turn it over to Michael, our our uh
attorney.
[32:45]
» Thank you, Mayor. Uh much of what I was
going to speak about has already been
[32:49]
spoken of to spoil the matter. I have
nothing to report on affordable housing
[32:54]
because guess what? We concluded and got
our certificate that we are immune from
[33:00]
liability for any builder's remedy
lawsuits for the next 10 years. Um, good
[33:06]
news for those who were following. You
know that we uh passed a resolution
[33:10]
opposing a Senate bill that would have
created a new category of affordable
[33:17]
housing uh for which would allow
nonprofits
[33:22]
and uh religious organizations to build
affordable housing.
[33:29]
uh one story higher than the zones
permit at densities from 39 units to an
[33:36]
acre on up. Just a an insanely un uh
thoughtout bill. The good news is it has
[33:45]
not made it way to the agenda for the
exterm that ends uh the next couple of
[33:52]
weeks. So, good news there and everybody
will continue to oppose that kind of
[33:58]
legislation which is reckless. Um,
Banshell. But first of all, before I get
[34:04]
to the Banshell, I don't know you're
going to speak about this Joe. I know
[34:07]
you will, but I I just want everybody to
know Joe will speak about the St.
[34:11]
Anony's feast. I just want to talk about
Joe because Joe
[34:15]
» We talk about him all the time.
>> Yeah, I know. And it's time somebody
[34:18]
says something good about him. So Joe
shows up at the St. Anony's feast every
[34:26]
single morning, 8:00.
He makes breakfast for everyone who's
[34:31]
there. He cooks all the food that we're
going to serve that night. He then works
[34:36]
in the kitchen until 11:00 or midnight
every night. He works takes off from
[34:42]
work the whole week and works four
16-hour days. It's amazing to watch.
[34:49]
It's my privilege to be his uh second in
command because the hours he puts in as
[34:55]
a volunteer in this town. Uh forgetting
about the other work he does as a
[35:00]
volunteer. What he does at the church is
amazing. Um we raise an awful lot of
[35:05]
money. We serve 5,000 people a night and
it's all Joe. So you all should
[35:11]
recognize him for the outstanding work
he does. So thank you Joe.
[35:15]
» Thank you. Um it really is well done. Um
July 11th, big day, opening day at the
[35:23]
band show. We have a patriotic themed
music presentation, food trucks, and
[35:29]
courtesy of our good friend Dominic
Millie, council member and shadow member
[35:34]
of the committee. It looks like we're
going to have some afterhour
[35:39]
entertainment as well. will be lighting
up the skies with a laser show that will
[35:46]
also honor our 250th anniversary in this
country. So, it's a big night. We're
[35:52]
really looking forward to ringing in the
cesa centennial and celebrating 250
[36:01]
years in this great nation with again a
band that will be performing American
[36:07]
classic standards and patriotic themed
music followed by a laser light show. Uh
[36:13]
because we did hear from Frank Riley, by
the way, Dominic. Um trying to get
[36:18]
drones or fireworks is absolutely
impossible for the 11th, but the laser
[36:24]
show is going to be awesome. So, we look
forward to that. We have a full
[36:29]
schedule. I told Lee Sloopmaker, who
will be celebrating a milestone birthday
[36:36]
uh between now and our next meeting
along with uh well, Bruce's got a
[36:40]
birthday coming up, too. Um but uh we
will be posting the official schedule
[36:46]
for the band shell tomorrow so that
everybody will be able to see the
[36:51]
schedule of events. Basically though
after the concert on July 11th every
[36:57]
Sunday there'll be a different show all
the way to the end of August. So be
[37:02]
there. Thank you. That concludes my
report. Mayor,
[37:05]
» there was a number of people on Facebook
looking for the schedule and someone
[37:09]
seems to posted something. So, I don't
know where they got that from if you
[37:12]
didn't release it, whether it's old or
or not.
[37:15]
» They may have made their own up. I don't
know.
[37:17]
» No, it was it was your normal flyer. So,
I have a feeling it might be an old one.
[37:21]
» It could be, but we're going to get the
official one out
[37:23]
» on the Burough Banshell site and the
Burough website.
[37:26]
» We will have it on the burrow website.
We will have it on the Banshell site,
[37:30]
and we will get it out everywhere. We
will uh also print copies for
[37:35]
distribution at the library, at some of
the local delies, uh restaurants. I
[37:40]
usually go around and uh put stacks of
them in different places
[37:45]
um where people can pick them up.
That'll be in my Friday letter.
[37:49]
» Can I may I also make a suggestion? Uh
we have a relationship with tap into uh
[37:53]
put a press release out for it.
>> We will.
[37:59]
» Okay,
>> that concludes my report. Mayor,
[38:01]
» I'll turn it over to P10K, our engineer.
>> Thank you, mayor, and good to see
[38:05]
everybody on the council. Um I'll give a
brief report from Joe that the um regard
[38:11]
to the 202425 local aid uh road program
which is Hawthorne and a half a
[38:16]
Westervelt north watch Grand View. Uh as
you're aware uh there's a we found a gas
[38:22]
man underneath the guide rail and North
Watches Wong Avenue. Uh public service
[38:27]
has logged that in and their engineering
uh department is working on that uh
[38:32]
relocating that gas man. Paving along
Westervelt um is scheduled to begin
[38:38]
after school ends which is shortly and
we're scheduling a date with a
[38:42]
contractor to have them start work. The
galvanized service line removal phase 4
[38:47]
project is completed with the accept of
some restoration of driveways and
[38:51]
sidewalks at certain properties.
uh the public service gas and service
[38:56]
line project. Um they're planning their
uh paving the timeline or the paving
[39:02]
operations to finalize the the project.
Um the full width of Keith Court will be
[39:08]
paved using u uh the credit because we
traded streets with them as you're
[39:12]
aware. Uh it'll hopefully be paved this
summer to complete the local aid
[39:17]
project. And that concludes my report.
>> Thank you, Peter. And now I'll turn it
[39:21]
over to our administrator, Vince Cerso.
>> Thank you, Mayor. Uh, first up, uh,
[39:27]
regarding Franklin Field, uh, Bill
Hafler, our DPW director, will be
[39:33]
starting SAD replacement on, uh, June
25th. Um, so next week we're going to
[39:39]
start replacing the SAD as a uh, a
measure to get the field ready. Uh we've
[39:45]
met with the recreation sports leaders
and developed a plan to avoid using the
[39:50]
field before the start of football. Um
so we're going to try real hard to get
[39:57]
uh the grass in good shape for the
football season to start. Um, I've also
[40:02]
started soliciting some concept designs
for potential turnover to a synthetic
[40:08]
turf field and we met with one company
this past week, myself, the mayor, DPW,
[40:14]
and uh, head of recreation.
Uh, the preservation program. I met with
[40:20]
the community this past week and we're
moving forward with the new pavilion uh,
[40:24]
project at the library. We also made
some selections and amenities such as
[40:28]
benches and tables to accompany the
pavilion area. Uh the pavilion itself is
[40:34]
currently in the manufacturing stage and
site preparation should start sometime
[40:40]
uh within the next couple weeks or
midsummer.
[40:44]
Jennifer and I met with the uh VA agency
regarding our GIF renewals for our
[40:48]
insurance for our liability. Um, we
completed inventory of our facilities
[40:53]
and equipment as well as the staffing um
getting ready for our new policy.
[40:58]
Uh, as you know, our labor contracts all
expire at the end of this year, and I've
[41:03]
started early negotiations with the
unions, myself and the mayor, uh, which
[41:08]
includes the PBA just this past week,
and we've been in contact with the white
[41:13]
collar and DPW union labor negotiations
representative as well, trying to get a
[41:18]
head start on working to get them
settled by the end of the year prior to
[41:21]
their expiration.
And last but not least, um today I was
[41:27]
just telling the mayor we had a um
pretty significant water main issue at
[41:33]
uh the corner the intersection of
Florence and Second Avenue. I know
[41:38]
Councilman Mey was there as well as the
mayor stopped there today. Um, I've
[41:45]
all the years that I've been in this
business, most of the time you see uh
[41:50]
those type of things dealt with as
emergency work and there, you know, it's
[41:55]
done with a contractor um, you know,
coming in and charging emergency rates
[42:00]
to get that done. And I have to say the
entire project from start to finish was
[42:05]
all inhouse. Our DPW, our water
department, they did everything. Um they
[42:11]
had all all their new equipment out
there that we you guys have given them.
[42:15]
Um the new excavator, another new truck
was out there and um you know as as
[42:20]
Dominic was there, he he knows they uh
they did a really good job. So kudos to
[42:25]
them and and Doug and uh I'm sorry, Dave
and uh and Bill. They did a really good
[42:32]
job and it's it's great to see that a
municipality can save a lot of money
[42:38]
doing something like that. So, it's it's
all it's all good and that's my
[42:41]
environment party.
>> Thank you. Now, we'll answer any
[42:44]
questions the council may have.
>> Questions? Joe, we'll start your way.
[42:48]
» Just one. Uh, is there a plan I know I
brought this up in the past for the
[42:52]
trees in the beautifification of
downtown area. They're now touching the
[42:57]
wires and I'm just concerned that as
Blunt's going to come in and because
[43:01]
they're touching the wires,
do something horror. Yeah, we I've we
[43:08]
had a meeting with Kevin Alberta um and
I asked him to go down Lafayette Avenue
[43:15]
to look at all the trees that were
planted uh and come back with a report.
[43:20]
He did that and he also did the last No,
this is the first the the first phase of
[43:26]
trees.
They were straight up trees as opposed
[43:31]
to trees that blossomed. And those
especially if you look uh by if you look
[43:37]
especially by the movie theater.
>> That's what I'm getting at.
[43:40]
» Those were those were two times ago.
>> The new ones are right here.
[43:44]
» That's what I'm getting at.
>> Okay.
[43:46]
He went down Lafayette Avenue all the
way to when the project started and put
[43:53]
down the trees that were trees and the
trees that were bushes, not trees
[44:00]
because and he also took some major
pictures with regard to vehicles parked
[44:07]
at the curb legally and the branches are
right into the vehicle or into a car or
[44:13]
into a truck, a van or whatever.
So, we're going to be meeting with
[44:18]
Boswell to find out what's going on and
uh have it corrected. Uh take the the
[44:24]
the bushes out because there's there's
not one stalk coming up and then it it
[44:31]
it blossoms out. It's many different
stalks coming up and the leaves are on
[44:37]
it. Uh and and it's it's it's not right.
It's going to we're going to have a
[44:42]
problem with it uh very very soon if not
now because of the ones that were
[44:48]
planned last year and the year before
that. So that's already been worked on
[44:54]
Joe and we we have a report and we're
going to be meeting with Boswell uh B
[44:59]
Joe Burns on vacation as soon as he
comes back on Monday. Then we're going
[45:03]
to meet and and go over everything and,
you know, get the contractor back here
[45:07]
because there's a lot of them where the
the the water bags are empty. The
[45:13]
contractor is supposed to fill them.
He's not or they're not. And the trees
[45:17]
are dying and it we're not going to
tolerate it. I held back Boswell's
[45:22]
bills. We're not paying them until the
project is correct.
[45:26]
» All right, you're on it. I got nothing
else,
[45:28]
» Mike. Thank you. Um, couple things.
First, I want to thank Vinnie for at
[45:33]
least giving us a nice update on the the
issue that we had and also kudos.
[45:38]
Excellent job by our DPW
uh the whole the whole kitten
[45:43]
kaboodleoodle. Thank you so much. Great
job. Um couple other things, Michael,
[45:46]
let me ask you on this bill that is
pending on this rel now is that anybody
[45:52]
that is, you know, has a religious
group can now claim this if the bill
[45:58]
goes through? I mean, obviously
>> it's it's not just religious, it's
[46:01]
nonprofits,
>> but just a nonprofit.
[46:04]
» Yeah. It's
>> it's and oddly, they're allowed to build
[46:09]
80% market rate, 20% affordable, which,
you know, begs a question, how is a
[46:15]
nonprofit making profit to begin with?
So, there's so many flaws with this
[46:22]
bill. It's really hopeful that our
people in Trenton thought to to say this
[46:29]
goes too far.
>> Yeah.
[46:31]
» Yeah. And
>> let's hope that it
[46:32]
» I hope that it does. This this one this
is not the kind of bill where you know
[46:37]
you could fix this little thing here and
that thing there. This one you take a
[46:41]
sledgehammer to not a scapula. There is
a um a a property development in
[46:49]
Belleville that had nonprofit and
they've been doing it for 5 years. It's
[46:54]
not complete yet. So, it's it's a mess.
It's a mess. So, let's just hope that
[46:58]
this doesn't go through. Thank um the
other thing um the pool park. Uh Mayor,
[47:03]
thank you for giving us an update. I
want to share with you something that
[47:06]
was told to me over the weekend. a
resident of Hedges
[47:12]
um shared what his what the problem is.
He goes, "There's two issues. The the
[47:17]
the overflow from the gym, they're
taking residence parking spaces."
[47:24]
So, a resident said, "I park in the pool
parking lot to 9:00 and then I go bring
[47:30]
my car back because then it's empty
enough to go." And they also told me
[47:34]
that transfer people that taking the
trains, they don't want to pay you the
[47:38]
commuter parking. True.
>> So they're parking there, too. So I
[47:42]
don't know if there's anything we can do
cuz it is private property. But I want
[47:46]
to at least give you that information
that that's what's going on that it's
[47:50]
the overflow from the gym. They're
taking, you know, residents from hedges
[47:55]
parking spaces. They have nowhere to go.
And then also commuters are also taken
[48:00]
out so they don't have to pay for you
know the small fee we charge for out of
[48:04]
town is or you know even people in town
it's ridiculous but um that's some of
[48:09]
the things little more information and I
don't know if you can do anything about
[48:12]
it but at least there it is. Well, we I
believe we can we can contact the owner
[48:18]
of the property and tell them that uh if
there's cars parked
[48:24]
uh in the in his lot or their lot uh
that is not uh their residence or
[48:31]
someone visiting one of their stores or
the gym. Uh they should be a we should
[48:36]
be able to give them tickets under under
him under the owner,
[48:40]
» right? Um or I don't know how he code if
he has signs that say, you know, tenant
[48:46]
parking only.
>> Well, doesn't he have planning board
[48:48]
approval for x amount of parking spaces?
>> He he does. He he he's
[48:53]
» No, no, no. For the residents, not the
gym.
[48:56]
» No,
>> no, it's all combined.
[48:57]
» It's all combined.
>> All combined.
[48:59]
» Yeah. There was there was more people
using the gym than I guess they
[49:02]
» they anticipated. They thought
>> we may want to implement a resident
[49:07]
sticker to differentiate the two
parkers. If you go down there like 8:00,
[49:13]
9:00,
you can't there's not not a not a
[49:16]
parking space to be had,
>> right?
[49:19]
» And you know, I will I will I'll I'll
talk to the own to the owners,
[49:24]
» right? I'm just making you aware because
it's going to be a shame that a resident
[49:28]
of Hawthorne that rents out of Hedges
cannot park in in his space uses the
[49:34]
pool parking lot
>> temporarily and then has to leave there
[49:37]
and know he has to move the car when it
becomes available. I It's disappointing
[49:42]
that you know and let's see if uh if the
you know the owner of the property was
[49:48]
willing to do something with it cuz it's
disappointing for
[49:50]
» I'm sure he will. Mayor, I'll give you
one more misuse of the property. I spoke
[49:55]
to somebody this weekend who is a
patient at the PT place next to the gym.
[50:00]
A Hawthorne resident
uh that goes to the PT facility can't
[50:06]
find parking over there, so they park
over in the pool parking lot. I said,
[50:09]
"Well, you might not want to do that."
She goes, "But there is no place to park
[50:13]
to go to PT." So throw that on the list
of So maybe like Ann Marie said, uh
[50:20]
maybe we need to think about a
Horththornne resident sticker or
[50:24]
something.
>> Well, that would hedge your sticker.
[50:26]
» Yeah, that would be on the property
owner, but also those tenants can have
[50:30]
» going to PT there,
>> right?
[50:32]
» And they can't find parking in the
facility for the PT area. So
[50:39]
» John had originally said, "Well, we want
to make sure we try to don't give people
[50:42]
from Horththorn the ticket if, you know,
they're using it inadvertently for
[50:45]
sleepover or somebody, you know, doing
their driveway.
[50:50]
It's not as simple and cut and dry as
saying it's just a hedges problem now,
[50:55]
» right? Well, the hedges can attack it
from two different avenues. Perhaps
[50:59]
residents of Hedges can have a parking
sticker in their car. And then um Hedges
[51:03]
may want to consider having designated
parking spots for each business that's
[51:08]
there so that anybody going to the PT
place, there's three spots with signs in
[51:13]
front of I have a tenant that asked
that. So anybody visiting that business,
[51:17]
there's spots open and anybody else
that's not visiting that business will
[51:21]
get towed.
So, um I think if we talk to the
[51:26]
property owner, have a meeting of the
minds, we can be helpful in giving some
[51:29]
suggestions because obviously it's
spilling over to the town now and we
[51:33]
don't want to hurt anybody that lives
here.
[51:35]
» No, you don't you don't really want
people crossing the street, too.
[51:38]
» No, of course not. It's very busy. Very
busy. So,
[51:40]
» that's the biggest crossing.
>> But as a property owner, he's got a
[51:43]
couple different avenues in which he can
address his issue.
[51:47]
» Yep.
>> Right. If I could just add, Michael and
[51:50]
Dominic, I promised you at the feast I
would not bring up the pool parking lot
[51:54]
and I didn't
[51:59]
» just as another alternative, if there is
like an overflow and they need to use
[52:05]
the pool parking lot because the
residents don't have, do you think maybe
[52:09]
we should possibly entertain about
renting spaces in the pool parking lot
[52:14]
and designated? Well, it's just that you
you do have the intersection. and you're
[52:17]
going to have to do a crosswalk or
something. But
[52:21]
» the problem that could arise from that
is what about the people who are going
[52:24]
to the pool?
>> Well, that's in the summer. So,
[52:29]
» well, yeah.
>> Well, then yeah, you do the fire
[52:32]
department. But I'm just saying
it sounds like the businesses there are
[52:38]
taking more spaces than when they
thought. So now, I mean, do they need to
[52:43]
do a parking garage? I don't think the
gym anticipated this many people signing
[52:48]
up for that gym
>> and they were undersized for parking on
[52:52]
the original application. They didn't
count on them as the need in the parking
[52:54]
calcs.
>> So, we knew they were short to begin
[52:57]
with.
>> Well, maybe they need to think about
[53:00]
some alternatives. Like I know about the
designation, but I mean
[53:04]
» the problem is one for the property
owner to solve, not for us to solve.
[53:09]
Right.
>> Um the only thing we can do is make sure
[53:13]
that we don't become the solution to his
problem by saying go park across the
[53:20]
street. We can't allow that. Um it is
not only used for the pool, but it's a
[53:25]
safety issue. So the issue has to be you
need to fix your problem because it's
[53:32]
now becoming our problem. And that's the
that's it. And if he has to find a way
[53:37]
to create more parking, if he has to
find a way to designate, as Anna said,
[53:43]
um, designate spaces for certain
businesses, there are ways to solve it.
[53:49]
Um, it's going to cost him some money,
but he needs to do it. So,
[53:52]
» I agree 100% with you, Michael.
>> Okay,
[53:56]
» good. Thank you.
>> Any other questions for administration?
[53:59]
Um Pete, I I know you're you're not the
person, but um I just want to make sure
[54:05]
that um we addressed all the concerns
that we had two weeks ago about the
[54:09]
sidewalks and the assessments.
>> I was going to ask Vinnie the same
[54:13]
question because Joe wasn't here.
>> Okay. Well, I'll go to Vince then. Um
[54:17]
because I know that one of the residents
um the one who kept saying her emails
[54:22]
were not getting through, well, they
were being blocked by Boswell. And so
[54:27]
actually Boswell had to talk to their IT
people. So some of the emails were
[54:32]
getting blocked to Boswell, especially
the one resident.
[54:37]
» Did anyone get back to us and say that
we didn't have a meeting with the
[54:41]
engineer like we had asked for that to
occur?
[54:45]
» No, not that I'm aware of. I mean, we've
um we had Chris Casey on some of the
[54:50]
cases um as well as Joe. everything that
uh that person that came here and that
[54:57]
they wrote the thing, they've all been
followed up on.
[54:59]
» Um and as I as of right now, I think
there's solutions to every one of them.
[55:04]
But, you know, of course, we'll get
continued calls.
[55:07]
» Make sure we address them. You know,
even if they didn't like your answer, at
[55:10]
least we did give them an answer.
>> Well, there there when Chris Casey went
[55:13]
out there, there was a number of
sidewalks that he said there's actually
[55:18]
nothing wrong with them.
>> Okay. Well, that's great then because
[55:20]
that's what the people were concerned
>> and that uh
[55:24]
» okay I know some had some spalling or
the aggregate was starting to get
[55:27]
exposed or in a perfect world
>> well there was there was there was one
[55:30]
when the lady was here that you know all
the
[55:34]
» excuse me all of the um cement is like
worn down the rocks that are in the
[55:41]
cement aggregate there's nothing wrong
with them they're they're flush with the
[55:45]
with the sidewalk there's no tripping
hazard at all And um you know, so I mean
[55:51]
I went out there and looked at at it and
Chris Casey went out and he told the
[55:55]
lady basically the same thing I did that
there's no there's no reason for that.
[56:00]
The apron that's different, but the
sidewalk, no.
[56:04]
» Okay, great. Now, I just wanted to make
sure know cuz I was working with some of
[56:07]
the residents, but there was an issue
with the email.
[56:11]
» I'm getting blocked. Thanks,
>> Bruce.
[56:14]
» No, Marie.
>> Just a um clarification, please. And
[56:18]
Pete, it's probably unfair to you
because you're not here all the time.
[56:20]
Maybe um mayor or or Vinnie will have
the answer. The road work that's
[56:24]
happening on Waguar Road. I don't
believe that's the town, but would you
[56:28]
have any information on that? And
>> public service is putting in a new gas
[56:32]
man.
>> That's what I heard.
[56:34]
» And and they're they're they're going
down Wagawa Road. I think the most most
[56:39]
of the main is in but uh then I assume
that they're going to come back and
[56:44]
start the laterals into the homes or
into the businesses.
[56:48]
» It's been painful for the residents and
traffic is horrendous. So do do they I'm
[56:53]
sure they notified the town, right, that
this was happen.
[56:55]
» They have they notified the town. They
notified the police department for cars
[57:00]
to be there to block traffic. They try
to have one lane open at a time.
[57:04]
Sometimes it's difficult, but they
they're they're doing their best. I I
[57:08]
think what compounds it is that our town
or PS&G is doing a gas line. Fairlon is
[57:14]
doing a water line on River Road and
then River Street is being repaved. So
[57:19]
they're written that up.
>> So you're right there in that triangle.
[57:22]
It It's a T where you can't
>> I actually took 208 today because I sat
[57:28]
in traffic forever. So to get to Route
20,
[57:33]
it's it I don't know who planned this,
but it's the perfect trifecta of water,
[57:40]
gas, paving, so it's bad.
>> I blame the state.
[57:45]
» Um, and it's just a hard for everybody.
Do we have any idea when it will end? I
[57:51]
know the answer, but I just have to ask
for anybody listening.
[57:54]
» I know the answer. I don't know.
>> I know. I know. And it's not us. But
[57:58]
residents, if you're listening, it's not
us. So sorry.
[58:03]
» We
>> What the heck?
[58:07]
» So So for the
>> I'm going to be quiet.
[58:10]
» Could I just jump on this?
>> It's your turn.
[58:14]
» Well, I asked.
>> It's his turn.
[58:16]
» So, uh, mayor, the question either you
or Vinnie might know the answer. Um, how
[58:22]
much advanced notice does public service
give us? because someone whispered in my
[58:27]
ear. It's like you get like a day or two
notice like what this no
[58:31]
» no it's sometimes.
>> So we knew about
[58:33]
» about two weeks sometimes.
>> Yeah. Sometimes even
[58:36]
» okay that we knew about
>> on the type of project
[58:39]
» now and um in its infinite wisdom the
county decided to close Ray Avenue. It
[58:46]
is a county road. Um
>> what happened there?
[58:52]
» Yeah. So please share. No, they they
notified us of the original date and the
[58:58]
day that the day the day that the was of
the original date it rained so they
[59:05]
canled it. Now they they did it here
this last week. They put a sign I call
[59:11]
it a sandwich board in front of the ray
house saying that it's going to be
[59:15]
closed, but they never notified us. So I
called the administrator of the county
[59:20]
and spoke with him and he said, "Didn't
we notify you?" I said, "To me to my
[59:25]
knowledge, not the second time. The
first time you did, but not the second
[59:28]
time."
>> Right.
[59:29]
» So that's where I
>> all the confusion came in.
[59:33]
» No, I I I it's nothing on Hawthorne.
Nothing on you on the administration at
[59:38]
all. I just don't understand. have art
in a park and they have a huge beautiful
[59:44]
park that they have to now take up one
of the roads and I'm struggling to
[59:49]
understand that
>> there was no need to take the road.
[59:51]
» Yeah. This this you could have just put
that this has never happened before.
[59:54]
Correct. In one of the first time ever
we all were like had
[59:58]
» a a stage
uh at least the last time they had it.
[1:00:03]
It was on the other side of the Ray
House on that long stretch of of park.
[1:00:08]
» That makes sense to me. And they had
they had a stage they had the stage
[1:00:10]
there too and they didn't close any
streets.
[1:00:13]
» It makes no sense. Um maybe I if you
think this is this would work call them
[1:00:19]
and say do we really need to cut down
cut off the street when you have such a
[1:00:23]
big beautiful park to put
>> we'll definitely try to make sure that
[1:00:26]
doesn't happen again next year.
>> That would be the only thing because it
[1:00:29]
it's their road. I understand but I mean
it's our community. So thank you.
[1:00:33]
» You're welcome.
>> Anything else?
[1:00:35]
» No thank you. I'm good.
>> No I'm fine. Okay. Uh, Reena mentioned
[1:00:40]
mine. So, any other things you want to
bring up?
[1:00:43]
» That's that's the report on
administration.
[1:00:45]
» Could I have a motion to record the
administrative move?
[1:00:48]
» Motion by Sierra, second by WKEI. All in
favor? I.
[1:00:52]
» Motion carries. Introduction of
ordinances. We have none for this
[1:00:55]
evening. Resolutions. We have consent
agenda R90-26 through R94-26.
[1:01:02]
R90-26 is a liquor license renewals for
2026 2027 term. R91-26 is authorize a
[1:01:09]
grant application and contract for the
2027 NJ dot local aid for first a grand
[1:01:15]
and North 17th Street. R92-26 is
professional services contract with
[1:01:20]
Millennium Services Grant Writers.
R93-26 is a disabled veteran tax
[1:01:26]
exemption. R94-26 is another disabled
veteran tax exemption. You have a
[1:01:31]
motion.
>> Motion by Millie, second by uh BKI. Any
[1:01:36]
discussion?
>> No.
[1:01:39]
» Roll call.
>> Bennett.
[1:01:40]
» Yes.
>> Leosa,
[1:01:42]
» yes. Mey,
>> yes.
[1:01:44]
» Sasso,
>> I recuse abstain from R9026 and yes on
[1:01:49]
all others.
>> Skiara,
[1:01:51]
» yes.
>> Yes.
[1:01:52]
» Matthews,
>> yes.
[1:01:54]
» Motion carries.
>> Courts of special council committees.
[1:01:57]
Joe, we'll start your way.
>> I only have one committee to report on.
[1:02:00]
It's not really even a a true committee.
It's the St. Anony's feast. It was a
[1:02:04]
huge huge success. The pounds and pounds
of ziti and sausage and eggplant and and
[1:02:13]
I cannot thank enough. I'm going to
start with Chris Debella, the fire
[1:02:17]
inspector. We had a gas leak in the
kitchen. Chris came in with his
[1:02:21]
detector, identified where the gas leak
was. We were able to uh secure the gas
[1:02:27]
leak and the feast continued. Then I
want to go to let me start with Dominic
[1:02:34]
Mey. Amazing Dominic. You wowed me even
with your Macaloo chef jacket on at
[1:02:42]
100°.
You worked tirelessly.
[1:02:47]
» Animeie,
>> I can't thank you enough. It was a
[1:02:50]
pleasure working with you Saturday
night. You made it so enjoyable and very
[1:02:55]
talented, I might add.
>> And then lastly, I can't thank Michael
[1:02:59]
Pasqual, the sue chef of sue chefs,
>> with his Fred Flintstone apron. You were
[1:03:06]
amazing and I can't thank you enough.
Thank you all for coming and supporting
[1:03:12]
the St. Anony's feast. Thank you.
>> Thank Thank you. Um, I will also offer
[1:03:19]
congratulations to Councilman WKI,
Councilwoman uh Sasso, and Councilman
[1:03:24]
Mey, as well as our burough attorney
Michael Wasqual, as well as all the
[1:03:29]
volunteers that helped out at St.
Anony's. Job well done. I did indulge in
[1:03:33]
quite a few meals this uh last week. Um,
also I'd like to congratulate all the
[1:03:39]
Hawthorne graduates from all the
schools. um
[1:03:45]
Hispanic Heritage uh committee. We are
having a watch party for the uh USA
[1:03:54]
Australia down at Pagra on Friday. Party
starts at 2:00. Game starts at 3.
[1:04:00]
There'll be a discount buffet if you so
uh so choose to have it. Uh also you can
[1:04:06]
order off the menu and a cash bar. Uh
but uh Robert's been great to work with
[1:04:11]
and he's been a pleasure and uh very
very helpful for us to pull off this
[1:04:17]
event. Um let's see what else we have.
We had a public safety meeting. Uh
[1:04:22]
Dominic Mill, you know, was hard at work
behind the uh behind the stove and the
[1:04:28]
grill
>> is prove it. So, uh, myself and
[1:04:31]
Councilman Bennett did attend, um, and
it was very, very nice to get some
[1:04:36]
updates from our police department about
some of the things that they have going
[1:04:40]
on. First of all, um, one thing they
shared from from the end of May to from
[1:04:46]
January to the end of May, they had
3,700 summones issued and 208 arrest.
[1:04:53]
Um they also talked about their
preparation
[1:04:58]
um with the additional um expectations
of manpower needed because the 250th
[1:05:04]
anniversary, the watch parties that are
in town for the FIFA Cup um uh July 4th
[1:05:10]
and things like that and how they plan
to manage and and have the manpower for
[1:05:15]
that. And I was very impressed with
this. They also talked about the Fair
[1:05:18]
View Avenue like the mayor did. Um they
uh quite a bit of a decrease in our
[1:05:25]
overloaded uh overweight truck traffic.
Um and it just goes to show you with um
[1:05:32]
it's just not a sign because we realize
that people don't read signs as though
[1:05:35]
we much the best of intentions but with
better signs and better enforcement uh
[1:05:41]
we're we're getting to where we need to
be. So great job by them also and
[1:05:46]
administration. And I think that
concludes my report. Yes, it does. Thank
[1:05:50]
you.
[1:05:53]
» Um just thanking everyone who came out
tonight for the annual June environment
[1:05:57]
program. We'll be getting a press
release out. Um we're actually going to
[1:06:01]
be working on getting the green fair
which is September 13th at the farmers
[1:06:05]
market. Um so we'll be working on that.
Thanks.
[1:06:11]
I just to add to uh Mike's report, the
most eye-opening statistic I found at
[1:06:17]
the meeting was between January 1st and
as he said May 31st,
[1:06:23]
the police department answered a total
of 17,367
[1:06:30]
calls.
So if you wonder what your tax dollars
[1:06:35]
are doing in terms of protection for the
community, there's your answer.
[1:06:42]
Yeah,
>> absolutely.
[1:06:45]
Marie,
>> I only have the board of ed this evening
[1:06:47]
and they would like to wish all of their
middle school graduates which took place
[1:06:51]
this evening and tomorrow night is the
high school graduation. They wish them
[1:06:55]
all the best in their future endeavors
and they know they're going to continue
[1:06:58]
to make Horththornne proud. Um and to
all the students that are just going
[1:07:03]
from year to year, they want to wish
them the best summer and uh they look
[1:07:07]
forward to seeing them back again in
September. And also to remind all the
[1:07:11]
residents that you don't necessarily
have to go if you don't have a graduate.
[1:07:14]
Both um graduations are live stream on
Horththornne Public Schools YouTube
[1:07:19]
page. And I of course concur and
reiterate those wonderful um wishes to
[1:07:24]
all the graduates and students. And of
course, I have to thank Chief Joe WKI
[1:07:30]
and uh Mike Pasqual. They were wonderful
leaders in the kitchen and I had a great
[1:07:35]
time. It was really my honor to be able
to um fill in for wonderful friends and
[1:07:40]
I'm in next year, coach, if you want me.
>> That concludes my report.
[1:07:47]
» Thank you, Dominic.
>> As usual, we talked about the DPW guys.
[1:07:54]
They did a great job. Everybody had a
job to do. Nobody runs around, you know,
[1:07:58]
like their chicken head cut off.
Everybody had a great job to do and they
[1:08:01]
did it. And no overtime to the burrow,
nothing. And that's the normal job. And
[1:08:06]
the pipe was 100 years old and they they
they fixed it. That's all I can say.
[1:08:10]
They did a great job. And they deserve
all the credit that they don't get all
[1:08:14]
the time. Thank you.
>> Okay. Well, let's put this thing.
[1:08:20]
» My reports. The planning board meeting
last evening was cancelled,
[1:08:24]
but the chamber of commerce wants
everyone to come celebrate 80 years of
[1:08:28]
music with the Horththornne Cabillos.
80 years. Uh it'll be the Hawthornne
[1:08:33]
Cabillos and the alumni corps. I've been
asked to hold up their flyer. It's
[1:08:38]
Saturday, June 20th at the Horththornne
High School Field from 5 to 8. Flavio
[1:08:43]
Romeo will be the MC. There's food
available for purchase and
[1:08:49]
I hope Lisa got that. And the next one
is Chamber of Commerce. It's their
[1:08:56]
market starts uh June 21st and the car
show will be on August 16th. And there's
[1:09:01]
multiple events on here for Find the
Bee, the craft show, classic car show,
[1:09:06]
the green fair as Raina mentioned,
another craft show in the Halloween dog
[1:09:10]
costume. So come on down until October
25th and that's all I have to report on
[1:09:19]
correspondence. We have none but we have
bills. Have a motion to approve the
[1:09:23]
bills and forward them to the treasurer
for payment.
[1:09:25]
» So move.
>> Motion by
[1:09:28]
» not me.
>> Skier. Second by me.
[1:09:31]
» Any discussion?
>> Roll call.
[1:09:34]
» Wii.
>> Abstain on the fire department. Yes. On
[1:09:37]
all others.
>> Skiara.
[1:09:38]
» Yes.
>> Sassa.
[1:09:39]
» Yes. Mey. Yes.
>> Leosa.
[1:09:42]
» Yes.
>> Bennett.
[1:09:43]
» Yes.
>> Matthews.
[1:09:44]
» Yes.
>> Motion carries.
[1:09:46]
» Public comment. Now open the meeting to
the public. Anyone desires to be heard?
[1:09:49]
Come forward to state your names for the
record.
[1:09:58]
» Well, Mike, you do everything here
tonight. You know, taking pictures, do
[1:10:02]
this,
vegetables,
[1:10:05]
cooking,
>> making omelets.
[1:10:11]
Rocky Robert
[1:10:15]
is my name. Um,
Street 19 Van Winkle. Uh, I just want to
[1:10:21]
say I'm very impressed with all the work
that uh we've heard about tonight. Um,
[1:10:26]
especially the work that's being done to
make our streets safer. Um, I heard the
[1:10:32]
mayor, I think it was, mention the
tragic fatality that took place on Fair
[1:10:37]
View. Yeah, that was about a year ago,
the 13th, I think.
[1:10:40]
» I just want to say there was a person
there. It was Johnny Azar. I wanted to
[1:10:43]
say his name here in front of us all. I
don't know whether there's a a lawsuit
[1:10:48]
involved that we can't say his name,
>> but then I just want to say it was
[1:10:52]
Johnny Azar whose life was lost there.
And we've we've seen his family here uh
[1:10:56]
sharing their grief. I'm sure it's not
over yet. No.
[1:10:59]
» Um so I'm I I know that the town shares
that sense that it was tragic and we
[1:11:05]
really do grieve with them. So that's
why I'm here.
[1:11:08]
» Okay. Thank you. Anyone else wish heard
[1:11:27]
Kathy Sarapin 148 North? I just have a
stupid question, but uh last weekend I
[1:11:34]
asked the guy at pool, you know, that
walks around with
[1:11:38]
walk around the pool and I said, "Is the
pool open next Friday because the kids
[1:11:41]
don't have school?" No, I'm running to
10 minute dissertation by the pool going
[1:11:45]
to be open on Friday. So, just want to
make sure. Is the pool really open on
[1:11:49]
Friday?
>> Aler, I believe so.
[1:11:53]
» Believe so, too.
[1:11:58]
» That's who we're going to have to call.
Yeah, I think it is open Friday.
[1:12:02]
» Some of our teachers were still going to
have work to do and blah blah blah. They
[1:12:05]
don't come. They're not the lifeguards.
>> No, because it opened usually the day
[1:12:09]
after school after graduation.
>> Yeah.
[1:12:13]
» Thank you.
>> Enjoy your pool day.
[1:12:17]
» Seeing no one else, I entertain a motion
to close the public portion of second.
[1:12:21]
» Motion by Scar, second by WKI. All in
favor?
[1:12:24]
» I.
>> Motion carries. Our next council meeting
[1:12:26]
is Wednesday, July 8th at 2026 at 7 p.m.
Have a motion to adjurnn. So moved.
[1:12:34]
» Motion by WKI, second by Scara. All in
favor?
[1:12:37]
» I.
>> Motion carries. We're journal.