[0:03] Good evening.
[0:05] » This meeting is being held in accordance
[0:08] with the New Jersey Open Public Meetings
[0:10] Act. Annual notice of this meeting was
[0:13] published in the Union County Local
[0:14] Source and a New York ledger. Said
[0:17] notice was posted in the municipal
[0:21] um building. A copy is on file in the
[0:23] burough clerk. Fire exits are located in
[0:26] the directions I am indicating. If you
[0:29] are alerted for a fire, please move in a
[0:32] calm, orderly manner to the nearest
[0:34] smokefree exit. The burough clerk is
[0:37] directed to include this statement in
[0:40] the minutes of the meeting.
[0:42] » Mr. Clerk, the roll call, please.
[0:44] » Councilman Petroski
[0:44] » Here.
[0:45] » Councilman Johnson here.
[0:46] » Councilman Robbina
[0:47] » Here. Councilwoman Lions here.
[0:48] » Councilman Patel here.
[0:49] » Councilman Castellins
[0:50] » Here.
[0:51] » Mayor Signarella.
[0:52] Mr.
[0:53] » Clark, greet us in the opening prayer
[0:54] followed by the pledge of allegiance.
[0:56] » You're here, right?
[0:59] Eternal God, grant us thy help. In all
[1:01] our duties and perplexities, we ask for
[1:02] thy guidance. Give us thy protection. In
[1:04] our dangers and sorrows, grant us thy
[1:06] peace. Amen.
[1:09] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
[1:11] United States of America and to the
[1:13] republic for which it stands, one nation
[1:16] under God, indivisible, with liberty and
[1:18] justice for all.
[1:23] » There are no communications for review
[1:25] this evening. There are no proclamations
[1:27] or presentation this evening. May I have
[1:30] a motion that the minute meetings be
[1:33] approved?
[1:34] » Mayor so moved.
[1:36] » Second.
[1:37] » Is there any discussion?
[1:40] All in favor?
[1:41] » I.
[1:41] » Thank you. I have a motion that the
[1:44] bills and payrolls not be read and pass
[1:47] for payment.
[1:48] » So moved.
[1:49] » Second.
[1:50] » Any discussion?
[1:52] All in favor? I
[1:54] » I
[1:55] » Have a motion to to I have a motion to
[1:59] open the public portion of the agenda
[2:00] items only.
[2:01] » So moved.
[2:02] » Second.
[2:02] » All in favor?
[2:03] » I
[2:04] » I
[2:08] like to speak, please come forward to
[2:10] the microphone.
[2:12] Please state your name if you would like
[2:13] to be included in the record.
[2:36] We are going to purchase it for 1.2.
[2:40] So my question is why are we spending
[2:43] close to 400,000 more for a property a
[2:46] few months a few months later?
[2:53] Mr. Mayor, I'm happy to answer your
[2:54] question if you want to just do your
[2:56] questions and then we'll um we'll tackle
[2:59] at the end of your time.
[3:00] » Well, proper procedure is to go through
[3:01] the chair as bylaw.
[3:04] » Mr. Ramirez, I'm happy to answer your
[3:06] question. If you want to finish your
[3:07] questions, then I'll answer at the end
[3:08] of your time.
[3:08] » So, this is how we're doing this. We're
[3:10] not going to you have to wait for me.
[3:13] » Are you done with any more questions?
[3:14] » I've got a few more questions, but
[3:16] » Well, go ahead. Why don't you finish the
[3:17] questions?
[3:19] Well, I mean, you can't answer this
[3:21] question for now and then we can
[3:22] continue.
[3:24] » The mayor is just asking that you read
[3:26] all your questions and then they can
[3:28] answer them in turn.
[3:29] » Well, last time he had a problem
[3:31] answering one question. So, before we
[3:33] continue going mo asking multiple
[3:35] questions.
[3:36] » You have so many minutes. Answer your
[3:38] questions and we'll answer you.
[3:40] » Okay. So, you don't want to answer more
[3:43] than one question at once.
[3:44] » Well, m Mr. Chair may uh Mr. Ramirez, we
[3:48] happy to, but we're trying to respect
[3:49] your time. Since you have a finite
[3:50] amount of time, we'll allow you to ask
[3:52] everything you want. And then at the
[3:53] end, since we don't have that
[3:54] limitation, we'll answer. If you want me
[3:55] to occupy your time, I'm happy to do so.
[3:58] » But it's probably best if you get your
[3:59] questions out since you have the
[4:01] opportunity now.
[4:02] » If you disagree, I can do that.
[4:03] » I'm asking the mayor. I'm not talking to
[4:05] you. I'm talking directly.
[4:06] » I spoke through the chair and he granted
[4:07] me the ability to speak to you. So,
[4:09] » You heard the council. I'm asking the
[4:10] mayor. Listen, you heard the councilman.
[4:13] » You want a question answered? He might
[4:15] take six minutes to answer it. Then your
[4:17] time will be up. Do you understand?
[4:19] » Okay. Well, last time you had a problem
[4:21] answering one question.
[4:21] » I don't I I don't recall what you're
[4:23] asking, but finish your questions.
[4:25] » Why are you changing the uh the way that
[4:27] we used to deal with this?
[4:28] » Finish your questions and then we'll
[4:30] answer you.
[4:30] » So, I mean, I've been attending a lot of
[4:32] these meetings, and this is the first
[4:34] time that you've actually changed the uh
[4:36] way that this is run. I mean, even the
[4:39] uh slimy piece of [ __ ] mayor that we had
[4:42] before was able to answer the question.
[4:44] So, why are we
[4:46] » Why are we doing this now?
[4:48] » You know, chair,
[4:49] » Is this something that you made a
[4:51] decision on?
[4:53] » So, is this something that you made a
[4:54] decision on or somebody told you to
[4:57] answer it this way? I'm not
[4:59] » Okay, go ahead. You have two minutes in
[5:01] 19.
[5:01] » I do have two minutes. Thank you.
[5:03] » Yeah, you're disrespectful.
[5:05] » You are disrespectful.
[5:06] » It's okay. I have the choice to be where
[5:08] » Do you want to be respected?
[5:10] » That's why we're in this beautiful
[5:12] country.
[5:13] » You want to be respected.
[5:15] » If you find the facts disrespectful,
[5:17] then that's your problem.
[5:18] » It's not facts. You're you're you're
[5:20] disrespectful.
[5:21] » You're calling names. The what you just
[5:23] did disrespectful. The only thing you
[5:25] guys are doing and and hi Mike, how are
[5:28] you? The rage bait that you cause and
[5:30] what you're doing, that's the only thing
[5:32] you're getting my time. Disrespectful.
[5:35] » Getting back to my time. Let it go. You
[5:36] got you have a finish your time.
[5:38] » So my question is let's deal let's start
[5:40] with this one. Why are we spending last
[5:43] year around November December we were
[5:45] going to purchase the lot on East
[5:47] Westfield Avenue for 875 plus they were
[5:51] going to give us 18,000 a year for
[5:54] either two or three years. Now we're
[5:57] spending 1.2 million on a lot. And I
[6:01] remember last year you said that the
[6:02] reason we're doing this is because you
[6:04] weren't able to find parking when you
[6:07] wanted to get a haircut. We have 50
[6:10] parking spots at the huge sixstory
[6:13] parking garage for Meridia. Nobody's
[6:16] bothered to label it. The residents
[6:19] don't even know it exists. If we were so
[6:21] desperate for parking, we would be
[6:23] taking care of that issue first before
[6:26] we spend 1.2 million on a lot. So my
[6:30] question is why are we spending that
[6:31] money?
[6:40] » Mr. Chair, may I uh may I speak?
[6:42] » Uh why don't you wait till the 40
[6:44] seconds?
[6:45] » Go ahead. I'm done. I'm done. You can
[6:46] start.
[6:47] » Thank you. You may take your seat and
[6:49] I'll uh
[6:49] » No, I can stay here. This is still my
[6:50] time.
[6:51] » Sure. For 28 seconds. Um so uh first and
[6:54] foremost uh what's on the agenda tonight
[6:56] is an allocation for a bond ordinance.
[6:59] Um it's not saying that we're actually
[7:01] going to purchase a lot for for 1.2. Um
[7:03] the contract price remains at 875. Uh so
[7:07] it that hasn't changed. Um there's an
[7:09] allocated amount that got into
[7:11] consideration um closing costs and
[7:14] potential
[7:16] um issues or last time there was some
[7:19] beginning of due diligence that um
[7:22] indicated that there might be tanks. So
[7:24] what we're going to plan on doing is
[7:26] having that tested to make sure there's
[7:27] no contamination before the burrow is
[7:29] even going to do anything about that. So
[7:31] what you see as 1.2 is uh kind of like a
[7:33] worst case scenario number when you're
[7:35] budgeting for for these things. you kind
[7:37] of put like your max and then what it
[7:38] ends up being, there'll be a separate
[7:40] ordinance for that uh with the final
[7:42] number. So, uh as far as your question,
[7:44] why is it 1.2 as opposed to 875? It it's
[7:47] intended to remain as 875. The number is
[7:49] a margin uh so that we don't have to
[7:51] amend that and come back twice. So,
[7:54] that's the answer to that.
[7:55] » So, you're adding a $400,000.
[7:57] » Your time is expired, sir.
[7:58] » It's okay. I can still talk.
[8:00] » Oh, you can't. The time is up, sir.
[8:02] » I just did. Thank you.
[8:04] » Thank you. Have a good evening.
[8:09] Anyone else want to come speak?
[8:19] My name is Joseph Verdon.
[8:22] I live at 336 Bender Avenue, Rosel Park.
[8:25] I'm also the commander of the American
[8:28] Legion Post 60 in Rosel Park. I'm here
[8:31] to speak to the veterans of the town if
[8:34] they need any assistance with the VA or
[8:37] any other paperwork to come to the
[8:40] Legion and we will help you out as long
[8:43] as you bring in your DD214
[8:46] and that's that. Now, I would like to
[8:48] talk about that lot across the street
[8:50] from the uh post.
[8:54] I counted the spots on one side is 22
[8:58] spots and the other you can't park
[9:00] because they have the, you know, the
[9:03] drive-thru, but you could put another 20
[9:05] around 50 spots that will take. What I'm
[9:08] saying is we have night life here at
[9:11] Rosel Park Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Uh
[9:15] Dowlings busy, Costa is busy. We have uh
[9:20] affairs going on upstairs and nobody can
[9:24] park. You got to keep going around and
[9:26] around. So, I'm in favor of whatever
[9:28] you're going to do with it. I don't care
[9:30] how much it costs. The town needs it.
[9:33] And that's why I'm here to support
[9:35] whatever you want. I'm with you 100%.
[9:39] And that's that. No bickering, no
[9:42] nothing. Just get it done. Thank you so
[9:44] much.
[9:46] » Uh
[9:47] » Thank you. While I'm here next week, I'm
[9:49] doing a uh fundraiser barbecue at the
[9:52] Legion on Saturday and I want to give
[9:55] you complimentary tickets all of you to
[9:57] come. Okay. Thank you.
[9:59] » Thank you, Commander.
[10:01] » Chair May.
[10:03] » Yes,
[10:04] » Commander. Thank you so much. Um
[10:06] when we're examining this is exactly
[10:08] what you're talking about. Economic
[10:09] development requires parking. So, thank
[10:11] you so much. Appreciate that.
[10:14] » Thank you, sir.
[10:23] That's okay.
[10:26] » We got good.
[10:30] » Thank you.
[10:31] » Thank you. [laughter]
[10:33] » Thank you so much.
[10:43] I want to take Mr. Verdun's time. Pock
[10:45] is clear.
[10:46] » Now you get a new five.
[10:47] » I get a new five. You know me. I don't
[10:49] need five minutes.
[10:52] » So, uh, Russell Olden, formerly 526
[10:56] Roosevelt Street, Rosell Park. Moved out
[10:57] of town about 15 years ago, reinvested
[11:00] into the town, opened my restaurant,
[11:02] Dallas Irish Pub and Restaurant 13 years
[11:05] ago. 1500 square feet. We're currently
[11:07] 4,500 square feet. have uh
[11:11] put a lot of money into the downtown.
[11:13] Appreciate everything you guys have
[11:15] always done for me. I grew up in this
[11:16] town. I love to see this town move
[11:18] forward. Um I understand um Mr.
[11:22] Ramirez's concerns upon pricing and the
[11:26] right times to buy things and and such.
[11:29] But for years, for 13 years, I I tried
[11:32] to keep my restaurant here. I tried to
[11:34] keep my business in town. We were
[11:36] flooded with IDA. I was presented with
[11:38] an opportunity to move to another town,
[11:41] bring my business there. Very, very good
[11:44] opportunity. My partner and I sat back
[11:47] and decided, no, this is my town. This
[11:49] is where I grew up. We spent the money.
[11:51] We invested in the town with the promise
[11:54] of the town um mayor and council over
[11:58] years that we want to build the
[12:00] downtown. We want to make it better. We
[12:02] want it to thrive. We decided to invest
[12:04] in town. I will um
[12:09] second Mr. Verdun's comments. I won't
[12:12] speak on behalf of other restaurants,
[12:14] but I will tell you the downtown is
[12:16] starting to pick up a little bit with
[12:18] the Meridia Apartments. As a restaurant,
[12:21] we're seeing people coming into town and
[12:23] staying in town. There's a coffee shop
[12:25] two doors down from me that's doing very
[12:27] well. There's a gym directly next door
[12:29] to me that's doing well. That's all a
[12:32] result of the development that's being
[12:34] down that's being done downtown on the
[12:37] fact of buying a property. I am not a
[12:40] financial guy. I don't sit up there with
[12:42] you guys. I'm not Andrew.
[12:44] Congratulations on your last day. Did I
[12:47] jump the gun? Sorry. Um
[12:49] » You guys know what you're doing. If this
[12:51] is what you think is best for the town,
[12:53] it's it's what I feel is best for the
[12:55] town. What I will say is I will echo Mr.
[12:58] Verdon's comments. Fridays, Saturdays,
[13:02] and Sunday nights. I will not speak on
[13:04] behalf of Nola at Costas, and I will
[13:07] speak on behalf of Mr. Verdon because he
[13:09] just said it before me. It is impossible
[13:12] to park in our downtown.
[13:15] » Mr. Ramirez, you make up a good point.
[13:17] The 50 spots that are in the in the
[13:19] Meridia building, it's a good point.
[13:21] People don't know it's there. There's
[13:23] there's no markings for it. It's
[13:25] confused. Is it done? Do you have to pay
[13:27] for it? We could maybe look into, you
[13:30] know, some signage and let people know
[13:32] that it's there. Give them that option.
[13:34] But those spots that close to us are
[13:39] valuable to us. They're of value. I have
[13:42] had 12 to 15 customers park there not
[13:47] knowing that it's a private property and
[13:50] towed out of there. And they come into
[13:53] me and say, "My car is towed. It's it's
[13:57] a private property. You didn't know
[13:59] that. That's that that property there
[14:03] will be used. In my eyes, it will be
[14:06] used by the public. The the the meter
[14:10] system in this town needs to be fixed up
[14:13] a little bit. I think that's been
[14:14] addressed in in, you know, the last
[14:16] couple months. I've heard that there
[14:18] might be, you know, some fixes coming to
[14:20] that. That needs to be addressed. But I
[14:22] will tell you, if you address that issue
[14:25] with the parking meters and such, people
[14:28] will come and stay and shop and and be
[14:31] in our town. And that's what, no
[14:34] offense, I don't live in this town, but
[14:37] I run a business here that supports the
[14:39] Roseell Park Police Department. It
[14:41] supports the fire department, which is
[14:42] really why I'm here, because I'm going
[14:44] to stay for the open public portion. My
[14:47] business supports this town just as much
[14:49] as this town supports my business. We
[14:52] need our customers to have easy access
[14:56] to the businesses and the properties
[14:58] that are here. If you continue to build
[15:01] it and there's nowhere for them to go
[15:03] and there's nowhere for them to park and
[15:05] it's a hassle for them to park, it's not
[15:07] going to work. And I would hate to see
[15:09] you guys waste I got 40 seconds left.
[15:12] Andrew, I did use my full five minutes.
[15:14] I would hate to see you guys waste the
[15:16] last 10 years that I've been doing this
[15:20] and and not see it through. The
[15:22] apartments are filling. The businesses
[15:24] under the apartments are filling. We
[15:26] need places to park. So that's it. I'll
[15:29] echo what Mr. Verdon said. Between me,
[15:32] the American Legion, and the other
[15:34] businesses that are there, I won't speak
[15:36] on their behalf. It's needed. The
[15:38] parking is needed. That's it.
[15:42] » Thank you.
[15:43] I don't have free tickets right now,
[15:45] [laughter]
[15:46] » Mr. Chair. May I?
[15:47] » Yes,
[15:48] » Russ. Um, I wanted to just address a
[15:50] couple comments you brought up. Um, the
[15:52] first thing with the parking at the
[15:53] Meridia garage, um, I spoke with the
[15:55] chief about this. Um, it was brought up
[15:57] before and it's a fair point. We do want
[15:58] it signed. Um, the developer agreed to
[16:01] put up signage. They have not done so at
[16:03] this point. Um, I will follow up with
[16:05] the chief, but that is something that
[16:06] we've requested a couple times over. Um,
[16:08] as regarding the meters, I agree with
[16:10] you. It's it's the flowboard system was
[16:12] terrible. Um, also spoke with the chief
[16:14] about doing something about that. He met
[16:17] with the representatives. They just got
[16:18] bought by another company. I believe it
[16:20] was Park Mobile. And I believe they're
[16:22] in the process of switching over to that
[16:24] which is more the the standard in other
[16:26] municipalities with good downtown. So,
[16:29] we hope that that gets addressed both
[16:31] from a ease of use and secondly from a
[16:33] revenue perspective. Um, the revenue
[16:35] that we brought in last year in parking
[16:36] was atrocious partially because the
[16:37] parking system is just bad. Um, and
[16:40] then, uh, regarding businesses and and
[16:42] the parking, you're 100% right. We
[16:44] cannot develop our economic engine,
[16:47] which is our downtown, without
[16:48] appropriate parking because it gets
[16:50] frustrating. I mean, sometimes if I
[16:51] can't find parking, I got to go
[16:52] somewhere else, and that's just the
[16:53] reality. So, that is the intent here.
[16:55] Uh, and regarding the price of the lot,
[16:58] um, speaking with Wells Fargo's
[17:00] representatives, they essentially they
[17:02] have a a practice of selling below
[17:04] market price when they sell to a
[17:06] municipality. if they were to put it on
[17:07] the market, the price would be higher
[17:08] than what we would be acquiring it for.
[17:10] So, that is uh you know, I guess, you
[17:13] know, we're talking about numbers and
[17:14] whatnot, we're getting a a below market
[17:16] value on it. And due to the revenue that
[17:18] we'll get from the Wells Fargo
[17:19] drive-thru and the metered parking, it
[17:21] will pay for itself based on the the
[17:22] calculations we've seen and give us a
[17:24] benefit. So, just wanted to address
[17:25] those items. Thank you so much.
[17:29] [laughter]
[17:29] » Thank you for your comments.
[17:31] » Yeah, there you go.
[17:37] Anyone else?
[17:44] Uh, good evening, mayor. Good evening,
[17:45] council. I don't give my name. I just
[17:48] take the names of elected officials that
[17:50] uh need to be uh addressed. Um, I don't
[17:53] know what I just walked into, but
[17:55] whatever we're trying to pass here
[17:56] tonight, I'm against the whole thing.
[17:57] I'm against everything. I don't know why
[18:00] we're rolling back this questions the re
[18:03] responding in real time. I I I do not
[18:06] understand that. Here you have an
[18:07] opportunity to do the right thing. You
[18:09] have an opportunity for the world to see
[18:11] you doing the right thing which is
[18:13] communicating with your residents,
[18:14] communicating with people who who bring
[18:16] valid concerns, things that they deem of
[18:19] public interest. So to not have a comm
[18:22] not have communication like that,
[18:23] rolling that back, mayor, I am speaking
[18:25] to you. I don't know why we're doing
[18:27] that. I don't know why you're allowing I
[18:29] don't know why you're giving your balls
[18:31] away like that to be quite frank. I
[18:34] expect a mayor to be the one to run the
[18:36] meeting and make the good decisions. It
[18:38] doesn't even seem like it's your
[18:39] decision. It it just doesn't feel like
[18:41] it is. And through the chair to
[18:43] Councilwoman Lions, I don't know what
[18:44] that comment was. I know what you guys
[18:46] are doing. I don't know. I don't
[18:47] understand what you're saying. I come
[18:49] here. I film these meetings. I told you
[18:51] guys I was going to be coming to these
[18:52] meetings, right? We've we've entered a
[18:54] relationship. I'm in a relationship with
[18:56] Rosel Park right now. So, I'm going to
[18:58] be here and I will encourage all
[19:01] residents to come up and ask questions.
[19:02] The camera should never be an
[19:04] intimidating factor. It should never be
[19:06] an intimidating factor. If you're a good
[19:08] elected official, this is a chance to be
[19:10] highlighted, to be a good elected
[19:11] official to show that you care about
[19:13] public service and you're dedicated to,
[19:15] you know, your role. You know, I'm not
[19:17] really sure what the what the what that
[19:19] remark was about. You know, and for the
[19:21] record, you know, I have not given my
[19:24] name. And I know you weren't attempting
[19:25] to be intimidating by saying my name,
[19:27] saying Mikey. I know that. I'm not going
[19:29] to make a claim here and say that you
[19:31] were attempting to intimidate me. But at
[19:33] the last meeting, the lawyer did in
[19:35] fact, when I said, "Why is the lawyer
[19:37] getting involved?" Because he's the one
[19:38] who was screwing up the entire process
[19:39] of the meeting. Totally getting involved
[19:41] when he shouldn't be. And I counted at
[19:43] least four or five times where he was
[19:44] out of order. Wasn't following Robert's
[19:46] rules of order. He wasn't getting the
[19:48] permission from the chair to speak. just
[19:49] just decided to speak and as if he's
[19:51] running the meeting. That's a problem.
[19:53] That's a big problem. But what he said
[19:54] when I said, "Why is the lawyer getting
[19:56] involved?" He said, "Because I'm giving
[19:58] legal advice, Michael." It's a it's an
[20:01] effort to to be intimidating like as if
[20:04] like we're we're looking into you. You
[20:06] know that that's the kind of stuff
[20:07] that's abusive. That's abusive is what
[20:10] that is. I have come here. I have not
[20:12] given my name. So I don't think we
[20:14] should be saying, "Oh, I know who it is.
[20:16] It's Michael. It's Michael." you. I
[20:18] don't don't think that I don't think
[20:19] that that it it's it's not encouraging
[20:22] to see that at all. I didn't know it was
[20:24] your last day, Andrew. I think this
[20:26] council is in serious trouble without
[20:28] you. When the other guy, Kleinman, is
[20:30] here, these meetings are are a mess.
[20:32] Absolute mess. Complete mess. You run
[20:35] the show. You're the one who knows
[20:36] what's going on around here. But I don't
[20:38] see Robert rules of order being properly
[20:40] followed either. I haven't seen that.
[20:42] I've seen that uh be neglected. And I I
[20:46] can kind of tell you're trying to brush
[20:47] up on it a little bit and I appreciate
[20:49] that because you know rules and
[20:50] procedures and these things they do
[20:52] matter. Um but I don't appreciate like
[20:55] what what that even was what that remark
[20:57] was. Here I come to film these meetings
[21:00] and what if you would mind explaining
[21:02] what like what was that remark all
[21:04] about?
[21:04] » May I go ahead?
[21:06] » So um first off is just uh regarding um
[21:11] the respect factor. um if you want to
[21:15] rewind the tape and uh like I said to
[21:18] him um which I appreciate your respect
[21:22] and I res I respect your demeanor and
[21:26] the way you approach us that to me means
[21:29] more than anything. Now if you come in
[21:31] in upset or if someone comes in upset
[21:33] that's fine but the remarks that were
[21:36] being done is it that's intimidating
[21:39] that's bullying
[21:41] » For just because we sit up here we don't
[21:43] we don't get abused sir
[21:46] » So and I apologize if I said your name
[21:48] but you are a public entity correct
[21:51] » So if I follow you I I don't follow you
[21:54] but I may one day um but I appreciate
[21:56] you I like you I know your name so
[21:59] everyone knows knows your name cuz you
[22:00] post with your name. You don't post
[22:02] under
[22:04] » Donald Duck.
[22:05] » Correct. Correct. Although I could. Um
[22:07] um but the point
[22:08] » And I and again with all due respect I
[22:10] say that I would I will never do that
[22:12] again. I apologize.
[22:13] » But I I like I
[22:15] » I said it in a way of just
[22:16] » Exactly. That's why I'm not trying to
[22:17] make
[22:18] » I didn't even want to say guys and you
[22:20] guys are doing that. I'm just saying in
[22:21] in the overall thing because I do
[22:23] appreciate you coming. I do appreciate
[22:25] you challenging people to come out. This
[22:27] is open. We want people to come. We want
[22:30] to see the faces. We want to see the
[22:32] business owners. We want to hear the
[22:34] input. But we also want to be able to be
[22:38] freely to speak and say the truth
[22:42] manipulation in the residents want to be
[22:44] able to speak freely. They want to be
[22:46] able to have a communication, a
[22:47] conversation because the problem is, and
[22:49] this isn't just a Rosel Park problem.
[22:50] Now it's a Rosell Park problem, but this
[22:52] is all over the state. When you guys
[22:54] answer after the person has used their
[22:56] public comment time, then we don't get a
[22:58] chance to respond. Then you have to wait
[23:00] two weeks to come back for a followup.
[23:03] That is not good for public service.
[23:05] What we're talking about with a back and
[23:06] forth, which you guys were doing, is
[23:08] also known as a conversation
[23:11] to take the time out of your day. Right
[23:13] now, I was late because I had work. I
[23:14] have a full-time job. I've never once
[23:16] went to a meeting where I didn't go to
[23:17] work that day, you know? So, I apologize
[23:20] for, you know, not being dressed better
[23:21] and being a little late, but I mean, you
[23:24] know, I just I don't know what to say
[23:26] other than these conversations, they're
[23:29] there. It's it's very important that the
[23:30] public has the right to be heard like
[23:32] that, to be able to have a conversation.
[23:34] Mayor, I expect you to take a step
[23:36] forward, not to stay in line, not to
[23:38] fall in line. I expect I expect you to
[23:41] take a step forward. These are your
[23:42] meetings. These are your meetings to
[23:44] run. These meetings belong to the
[23:46] public. Let's not let's not make a
[23:47] mistake in that. comment, sir. When
[23:49] you're ready, I'll comment,
[23:51] » Please.
[23:51] » So, look, I've I've not missed a meeting
[23:54] in close to six years. The five minutes
[23:57] to three minute rule, we've had
[24:00] different ways we've been doing it,
[24:01] right? Some people like I'm going to
[24:04] say, earn the respect when they come to
[24:06] the mic. Okay? And then sometimes we
[24:09] don't know how many questions somebody's
[24:11] asking to stay within the five minute or
[24:14] the three minute rule. In the past,
[24:17] we've asked finish your comments, put
[24:20] down your three questions, we'll we'll
[24:23] we'll answer the questions. We can't get
[24:26] into a going from a five minute to a 12m
[24:29] minute back and forth. So, that is some
[24:32] kind of we're trying to keep a control.
[24:35] That's why if you see something
[24:37] different, it's never been one way. It's
[24:40] been a numerous way. Mr. Ramirez if he
[24:43] would asked three or four questions and
[24:45] just said I've had people and prior
[24:48] mayor I'm yielding my time and we would
[24:50] answer but we didn't want to go within
[24:53] 10 minutes. So look you and Councilwoman
[24:56] Lions went back and forth. We're we're
[24:58] past the five minutes. I'm give you
[25:00] that. I'm not going to give you 20. You
[25:02] respectfully you understand that. I
[25:04] don't see anybody else lining up. No, I
[25:06] appreciate we're we're trying to do that
[25:08] to just answer the questions and if
[25:10] somebody through the chair wants to
[25:12] answer the comment, we'll try to do
[25:13] that. We're trying to stay within the
[25:15] five minute limit.
[25:16] » I understand and I do I I truly do
[25:18] appreciate that response. But the
[25:19] problem that I had at the last meeting
[25:21] was the mayor the lawyer is getting
[25:22] involved and saying don't answer
[25:24] questions right now. Wait till everybody
[25:26] else has has done went through public
[25:28] comments. If you get to answer after the
[25:30] person has spoken, maybe the next person
[25:32] can have more information so they can
[25:34] have a more valuable input.
[25:36] » We're going to try to wrap this up, but
[25:37] you're right. Sometimes there's stuff
[25:38] that are in books and people try to
[25:41] oblige and go to it. Look, some things
[25:44] are written and that's way maybe he
[25:45] wanted to follow it. And we do have we
[25:48] have policies we want to follow, but
[25:50] there's also wiggle room, right?
[25:51] » He needs to follow you. That lawyer
[25:53] needs to follow you. Thank you.
[25:54] » Thank you, sir.
[25:55] » Thank you. Anyone else want to come home
[25:58] to speak?
[26:02] Seeing no one further, may I have a
[26:03] motion to close the public portion on
[26:05] agenda items only?
[26:06] » So moved.
[26:06] » Second.
[26:07] » All in favor?
[26:08] » I.
[26:10] I have a motion to accept the reports of
[26:12] department heads as submitted.
[26:14] » So moved.
[26:15] » Second.
[26:17] » All in favor?
[26:18] » I.
[26:20] » Mr. Clark read ordinance 2862 by title.
[26:25] » Yes, mayor. Ordinance 2862 is an
[26:27] ordinance for second reading and public
[26:28] hearing an ordinance amending chapter 10
[26:30] section 4 subsection 4.1 of the code of
[26:32] the bur of Rosal Park entitled
[26:33] recreation fees enumerated.
[26:37] » I have a open have a motion to open a
[26:40] public hearing on ordinance 2862.
[26:42] » Mayor so moved.
[26:43] » Second.
[26:44] » All in favor? I
[26:45] » I
[26:47] » If you like to speak speak about
[26:49] ordinance 2862, please come forward to
[26:53] the microphone and state your name if
[26:54] you like it and include it on the
[26:56] record.
[26:59] » George Ramirez uh ordinance 2862. So I
[27:03] remember either last year or two years
[27:05] ago this came up to a vote to increase
[27:10] uh I believe it was about 900 to a,000
[27:14] and Mr. Johnson I think made a motion to
[27:17] see if you guys can give a discount to
[27:21] first responders and veterans if I'm not
[27:23] mistaken. And now
[27:26] a year or two later, we're now
[27:29] increasing it to 1,500 a year for the
[27:33] afterare if I'm not mistaken for
[27:35] individual,
[27:39] which basically means within two years
[27:41] or three years max, you guys are
[27:44] increasing it roughly 600. So that's
[27:47] what 66% of what it used to be. Why are
[27:51] we increasing it that much? And have you
[27:53] guys considered giving a discount to
[27:56] first responders or veterans now that
[27:59] it's 1,500 a month?
[28:02] That's it.
[28:09] » Councilman Johnson, you want to
[28:10] » Well, um, Mayor, the only thing I I
[28:12] could say is uh about this because I'm
[28:15] I'm not going to talk about the prices.
[28:18] I'll leave that for you. Uh, but um, Mr.
[28:21] Ramirez, the 20% uh discount is still
[28:24] in. If you look at a lot of the things
[28:27] uh the changes are where the crossouts
[28:30] are and so it's not crossed out at this
[28:32] time. If you look like under on page
[28:34] seven of of 41, it still states the 20%
[28:38] discount for the first responders are is
[28:40] in place.
[28:40] » But as far as the the percentage rage,
[28:43] uh I would leave that to one of you
[28:46] guys. This is not my uh this is not my I
[28:50] didn't sponsor this
[29:03] » I can can this for the budget reasons
[29:06] right can you speak
[29:11] » This is uh this was presented by the uh
[29:13] recreation director to uh enable to run
[29:17] all the programs. Uh I think he might be
[29:19] increasing some. They're looking to
[29:21] expand it to uh include uh prek this
[29:25] year. So uh there's going to be some
[29:27] additional cost in that end with um
[29:31] [clears throat] having to have more
[29:32] counselors with the younger children.
[29:38] » Okay. Thank you.
[29:45] See, seeing no fur, anyone else would
[29:48] like to speak on this ordinance.
[29:53] » Can we ask Ken, what's the percentage uh
[29:55] increase right now? I didn't get a
[29:57] chance to to do
[29:59] » Councilman,
[30:00] » Do we know I'm from last year?
[30:05] » Right now, it says uh 1350 to,500 just
[30:08] uh just so I could just have an
[30:10] estimate. It doesn't have to be totally
[30:11] uh spot on. Just
[30:22] Okay.
[30:25] » See, no one no one further. May I have a
[30:27] motion to close the public hearing on
[30:29] ordinance 2862?
[30:31] » So moved.
[30:32] » Second.
[30:32] » All in favor? I.
[30:36] » Mr. Clark, please read ordinance 2864 by
[30:40] title.
[30:40] » You need to you need to adopt. My bad.
[30:46] » Oh, did I skip that? No, I didn't.
[30:48] » Oh, yeah, I did.
[30:49] » You need a Yeah. Yeah. Surprise. Last
[30:52] meeting. [laughter]
[30:54] » A motion to adopt it.
[30:55] » May I have a motion to adopt ordinance
[30:59] 2862?
[31:00] » So moved.
[31:01] » Second.
[31:02] » All in favor?
[31:03] » You got to do a roll call. Any
[31:06] discussion?
[31:07] » Any discussion?
[31:10] » Roll call, please. Councilman Petroski.
[31:12] Yes. Councilman Johnson,
[31:13] » Yes.
[31:14] » Councilman Robbina,
[31:15] » Yes.
[31:15] » Counciloman Lions,
[31:16] » Yes.
[31:16] » Councilman Patel,
[31:17] » Yes.
[31:17] » Councilman Castellin,
[31:18] » Yes.
[31:19] » Six in affirmative. Mayor, the ordinance
[31:21] is adopted.
[31:26] » Mr. Clerk, please read ordinance 2864 by
[31:29] title.
[31:30] » Yes, mayor. Ordinance 2864. I told you
[31:32] I'd give you a surprise last week.
[31:34] [laughter] Ordinance 2864 is an
[31:35] ordinance for introduction ordinance
[31:36] amending chapter 7 section 17 subsection
[31:39] 17.2 two of the code of the bur of Rosal
[31:41] Park entitled preferential parking zones
[31:43] locations and hours.
[31:47] » I have a motion to approve ordinance
[31:49] 2864
[31:51] for introduction and fix the date for
[31:53] second reading public hearing on August
[31:56] 20th 26.
[31:58] » So moved.
[31:59] » Second.
[32:00] » Any discussion?
[32:02] » Yes, mayor. I could just highlight what
[32:04] this is about. It's uh Horth Street and
[32:06] Rosewin Street. We had a couple of
[32:08] residents reach out um since
[32:10] Horththornne and Rosen both start permit
[32:12] parking at 400 p.m. till 4:00 a.m. They
[32:15] had trouble when they had guests coming
[32:17] over. So, we are changing the time from
[32:20] 4:00 p.m. uh instead of 4 p.m. we're
[32:23] doing 12:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. every day
[32:26] uh for both of the streets.
[32:28] » Councilman, thank you very much. I know
[32:30] I got an inbound on this, too, but
[32:32] thanks for steering this. This is
[32:34] probably something we should have done a
[32:35] while ago. It's just uh kind of
[32:37] universal throughout the that side uh
[32:40] with West Clay with other streets that
[32:42] are they have the same timing now.
[32:44] » Thank you.
[32:45] » Yep.
[32:46] » Any other discussion?
[32:50] » Please. Uh Mr. Clark, please call the
[32:51] RO.
[32:52] » Council Petroski.
[32:52] » Yes.
[32:53] » Councilman Johnson. Yes.
[32:54] » Councilman Robin. Yes.
[32:55] » Counciloman Lions. Yes.
[32:56] » Councilman Patel. Yes.
[32:57] » Councilman Castellins.
[32:58] » Yes.
[32:58] » So, six votes in the Affirmative. Mayor,
[32:59] the ordinance is introduced.
[33:02] » Mr. Mr. Clark, please call. Please read
[33:05] ordinance 2865 by title.
[33:07] » Mr. Mayor Ordinance 2865 is a bond
[33:09] ordinance to authorize the making of
[33:11] various public improvements in the
[33:12] acquisition of new additional or to
[33:14] replacement equipment and machinery, new
[33:16] information technology equipment, new
[33:17] communication and signal systems
[33:19] equipment and new automotive vehicles
[33:21] including original apparatus and
[33:22] equipment in by and for the Bur Rosal
[33:24] Park in the county of Union State of New
[33:25] Jersey to appropriate the sum of
[33:27] $5,14,000
[33:29] to pay the cost thereof to appropriate
[33:30] various grants to make a down payment to
[33:32] authorize the issuance of bonds to
[33:34] finance such appropriation and to
[33:36] provide for the issuance of bonding
[33:37] anticipation notes in anticipation of
[33:39] the issuance of such bonds.
[33:42] » I have a motion to approve ordinance
[33:44] 2865 for introduction fix the date
[33:47] second reading uh and public hearing on
[33:50] August 20th, 2026.
[33:53] » So moved.
[33:54] » Second.
[33:54] » Any discussion?
[33:56] » Yes, mayor. I have a question about the
[33:58] property 30 uh 31 East Westville A. Um,
[34:02] last time when we had the close session,
[34:04] we talked about the property having uh
[34:07] tanks down below. Um, do we know how
[34:11] much I know we we won't know till we
[34:13] actually, I guess, start digging. Um, do
[34:16] you know how much it will cost and
[34:18] what's down there before we even buy the
[34:21] property?
[34:24] » No, I don't know, but Councilman Castle
[34:27] has some inbound to that. We've been
[34:28] talking. He could
[34:29] » Sure. Um
[34:31] I wasn't here when when this was going
[34:33] on last year. My understanding was that
[34:35] um from what the original um due
[34:39] diligence found that there was two
[34:40] houses on the property at some point.
[34:42] They had like traditional um heating uh
[34:46] tanks is what it appeared to be um that
[34:48] were probably decommissioned at some
[34:49] point. Um to my understanding there was
[34:51] no actual diligence done at that point.
[34:54] Everybody just kind of like okay let's
[34:56] walk away. Um, so typically, and this I
[34:58] know from my my real estate experience,
[34:59] typically what we would do is uh take a
[35:01] soil sample first. So you take a boring
[35:03] down to make sure that the soil has no
[35:05] contamination. So they'll do different
[35:07] areas around to make sure that there was
[35:08] no spills. Um, back then, and this
[35:11] happened in my own house, most of the
[35:12] times when people decommissioned these
[35:14] oil tanks, they wouldn't remove them.
[35:15] They would just extract the oil and
[35:16] throw sand in it and then just let it
[35:18] be. Um, if that's the case, uh, which is
[35:21] likely to be the case, uh, an extraction
[35:23] of a tank like that, 550gal fuel tank is
[35:27] about $2,000, uh, per tank. Um, and then
[35:30] whatever the cost of patchwork is,
[35:32] assuming that there's no contamination.
[35:34] If there's contamination, different
[35:35] story, blows it open depending on the
[35:37] extent of it all. Um, I don't believe
[35:39] that anybody here is interested in going
[35:41] that route if there is such a a
[35:43] situation. Um, that's why the due
[35:44] diligence would be done first.
[35:46] » Okay. So if there is contamination, we
[35:48] will be we're not going to go through
[35:50] the sale.
[35:50] » So obviously that's for this board to
[35:52] decide. Um if it's the matter of
[35:54] sometimes it's like a a localized thing
[35:56] that happened decades ago and it could
[35:57] be residual. There's like levels uh that
[35:59] find like parts per million in the soil.
[36:01] If it's a simple thing, then it can be a
[36:04] minor cost. If it's a more serious
[36:06] thing, it's a bigger cost. I don't think
[36:07] anybody would like to proceed at that
[36:09] point. Um from my understanding, but we
[36:11] will know before we decide.
[36:13] » Okay.
[36:13] » Mayor, I do have a question actually.
[36:15] Question for the clerk. Um Andrew, I I
[36:18] remember
[36:20] when this came up um initially, wasn't
[36:22] there money set in escrow by Wells Fargo
[36:25] for any testing or possible remediation?
[36:28] » No.
[36:31] » Did they do any initial sampling at the
[36:33] time or No.
[36:33] » No.
[36:36] » Okay.
[36:38] » They didn't.
[36:40] » I thought there was a discussion that
[36:41] they were going to Okay.
[36:44] And then are we doing that now though?
[36:47] Are is that going to be put in? You're
[36:49] » Talking to the wrong person. Yes.
[36:51] » Just council. Go ahead. Go ahead.
[36:54] » Uh just to clarify, right, this is um
[36:57] early early stages. The only reason this
[36:59] is here is to appropriate the money in
[37:01] the event that we were to proceed. So
[37:02] there's nothing like we're pretty much
[37:05] trying to pick it up where it was left
[37:06] off of and then do things the right way
[37:09] forward. Um but very early stages. This
[37:11] is just setting aside money. We're not
[37:12] even borrowing this money at this point.
[37:14] What we're authorizing is just having
[37:16] the money aside in case we're going to
[37:17] proceed with it. If we end up saying no
[37:19] as a collective body, we're not going to
[37:20] proceed, then we just don't bond for
[37:22] that.
[37:24] » Council Johnson, do you have something?
[37:26] » No, no, that's fine. I'm I'm I'm all
[37:28] right with uh us bonding because I think
[37:30] last year I think that was one of the
[37:32] concerns that I shared uh with the
[37:34] budget because we was planning on paying
[37:36] outright paying for it.
[37:37] » So, I'm already I'm actually uh okay
[37:40] with that process. Yeah, Councilman, I
[37:42] agree with you. It's it's the more uh
[37:43] financially prudent decision, especially
[37:45] with the revenue that we'll get from it.
[37:46] It'll pay for itself instead of just
[37:48] putting it out of our surplus and
[37:49] putting ourselves in a bad
[37:50] » That's what I was just trying to convey
[37:51] last year. Thank you.
[37:52] » I agree with you.
[37:54] » Anything else over here, folks? You
[37:57] good?
[38:01] » Roll call.
[38:02] » Yeah. Roll call. Yes, sir.
[38:03] » Councilman Petroski?
[38:04] » Yes.
[38:04] » Councilman Johnson?
[38:05] » Yes.
[38:06] » Councilman Robina?
[38:07] » Yes.
[38:07] » Councilwoman Lions?
[38:08] » Yes.
[38:08] » Councilman Patel?
[38:09] » Yes. Councilman Castellins.
[38:11] » Yes. Six hosts in the affirmative.
[38:12] Mayor, the ordinance is introduced.
[38:16] » Mr. Clark, please read ordinance 2866 by
[38:20] title.
[38:20] » Yes, mayor. Ordinance 2866 is an
[38:22] ordinance for introduction, an ordinance
[38:24] amending chapter 22 of the code of the
[38:26] burough roal park entitled fire
[38:28] prevention and protection so as to
[38:29] regulate recreational fires within the
[38:31] burrow.
[38:32] I have a motion to approve ordinance
[38:34] 2866 for introduction. A fix the date
[38:38] for the second reading and public
[38:39] hearing as August 20th, 2026.
[38:43] » So moved.
[38:44] » Second.
[38:47] » Any discussion?
[38:50] Mr. Clerk, please call the role.
[38:51] » Council Petroski, yes.
[38:52] » Councilman Johnson, yes.
[38:54] » Councilman Robin, yes. Counciloman
[38:55] Lions, yes.
[38:56] » Councilman Patel,
[38:57] » Yes.
[38:57] » Councilman Castellins,
[38:58] » Yes.
[38:59] » Six votes in the six votes in the
[39:00] affirmative. Mayor, the ordinance is
[39:02] introduced.
[39:04] » Mr. Clerk, please read ordinance 2866
[39:07] 2867 by title.
[39:09] » Yes, mayor. Ordinance 2867 is an
[39:11] ordinance for introduction. An ordinance
[39:13] amending chapter 28, section 1,
[39:14] subsection 5 of the code of the burough
[39:16] Rosal park entitled placement at curb
[39:18] suitable containers.
[39:21] I have a motion to approve ordinance
[39:23] 28667
[39:25] for induction and fix the second date
[39:29] for second reading and public hearing as
[39:31] August 20th, 2026.
[39:33] » So move
[39:34] » Second.
[39:35] » Is there any discussion?
[39:36] » Yes, mayor. Uh we had spoken just before
[39:39] the meeting with a couple members of the
[39:40] audience, Councilman Patel and I. And uh
[39:43] under section one uh subsection C there
[39:47] is a a mention here plastic bags of any
[39:49] type shall not be utilized as a suitable
[39:51] garbage container for purposes of this
[39:53] chapter. Can we clarify does that mean
[39:55] in the question that members of the
[39:56] audience had does that mean that they
[39:58] can't put plastic bags out? They have to
[40:00] be in actual containers, garbage
[40:03] containers.
[40:04] » Mayor, can I Yeah,
[40:06] » This one I know. Thank you.
[40:07] » That is what that means.
[40:08] » So everybody has to have a container.
[40:10] » Correct.
[40:14] Was there an issue prior? What if
[40:16] somebody doesn't have a container?
[40:17] » This that's an existing part of the code
[40:19] that's not being changed.
[40:20] » That's an existing code.
[40:22] » So that's been enforced.
[40:24] » It has been enforced.
[40:26] » Yes.
[40:29] » Are we talking about black bags?
[40:30] » Yes.
[40:30] » Correct.
[40:31] » Exactly.
[40:31] » Or white bags or blue?
[40:34] » Mayor.
[40:35] » No. All but but black bags, white bags,
[40:37] any any bag. They have to be in a
[40:38] container. That is the
[40:39] » That was the construction. Mayor,
[40:41] [snorts] just uh from my prior
[40:42] experience with a a maintenance task
[40:44] force before, um I think there there's
[40:47] like a thing with raccoons just ripping
[40:48] it open and making a big mess. So that's
[40:50] why a lot of municipalities require it.
[40:53] Rodents, you know, require it in a in a
[40:55] bin. It could be in bags, but in a bin
[40:57] rather than open to feral animals
[40:59] getting
[41:00] » That's correct.
[41:04] » Any other discussion?
[41:06] Mr. Clark, please call the role.
[41:08] » Councilman Petroski,
[41:08] » Yes.
[41:09] » Councilman Johnson,
[41:10] » Yes. Councilman Robbina.
[41:11] » Yes.
[41:12] » Counciloman Lions, yes.
[41:13] » Councilman Patel,
[41:14] » Yes.
[41:14] » Councilman Castellins,
[41:15] » Yes. Six votes. Affirmative. Mayor, the
[41:16] ordinance is introduced.
[41:18] » All matters are listed with an asterct
[41:21] considered to be routine and
[41:22] non-controversial
[41:24] by the council and will be approved by
[41:26] one motion. There will be no separate
[41:29] discussion for these items unless a
[41:31] member of the governor body so requests
[41:34] which the case the item will be removed
[41:37] from the consent agenda and consider
[41:39] this normal sequence on the agenda as
[41:42] part of the general's orders. Mr. Clerk,
[41:44] please read all resolutions by title.
[41:47] » Yes, mayor. Resolution 16126 is
[41:49] accepting the resignation of Ben Scotty
[41:51] from the position of plumbing sub code
[41:52] official and plumbing inspector.
[41:53] Resolution 16226 is appointing Ben
[41:55] Scotty as a part-time covering plumbing
[41:58] subcode inspector. Resolution 16326 is
[42:01] appoint is appointing Angelo Carza as a
[42:03] plumbing as the plumbing subcode
[42:05] official and plumbing inspector.
[42:06] Resolution 16426 is accepting the
[42:09] resignation of Dena Doic from the
[42:11] position of college counselor.
[42:12] Resolution 16526 is accepting the
[42:14] resignation of Olivia Reeri from the
[42:16] position of adult counselor without a
[42:18] teaching certificate. Resolution 16626
[42:20] is promoting junior records clerk Joan
[42:22] Brennan to the position of senior police
[42:24] records clerk. Resolution 16726 is
[42:27] approving the insertion of a national
[42:29] opioid settlement fund grant as a
[42:31] special item of revenue in the 2026
[42:33] municipal budget in the amount of 612
[42:36] $6127.
[42:38] Resolution 1682526
[42:40] sorry hopefully did I mess this up all
[42:43] the way? No, just a few is accepting the
[42:45] 2025 municipal audit report. Resolution
[42:48] 12 16926 is approving the corrective
[42:51] action plan for the 2025 municipal
[42:53] audit. Resolution 17026 is rescending
[42:56] resolution number 9125 awarding a
[42:59] contract to DLS Contracting Inc. for the
[43:01] project 2025 Sidewalk Program in an
[43:04] amount not to exceed $100,000.
[43:06] Resolution 17126
[43:09] is authorizing the purchase of concrete
[43:11] repair systems from Ocean Construction
[43:13] LLC pursuant to Educational Services
[43:15] Commission of New Jersey Co-op contract
[43:17] number 22/23-33
[43:20] in an amount not to exceed $100,000.
[43:22] Resolution 17226 is approving the
[43:25] insertion of a recycling tonnage grant
[43:27] as a special item of revenue in the 2026
[43:29] municipal budget in the amount of
[43:31] $5,55.84.
[43:34] Resolution 17326 is revising the
[43:37] schedule of 2026 regular meetings
[43:39] regular meeting dates of the mayor and
[43:41] council. Resolution 17426 is approving
[43:44] the time due calculation in terms of
[43:46] final payment for William Centenno.
[43:48] Resolution 17526 is approving the timed
[43:50] due calculation and terms of final
[43:52] payment for Andrew J. Casayas.
[43:54] Resolution 17626 is appointing Nicole
[43:57] Vez to the position of recreation
[43:58] secretary/clerk within the Rosal Park
[44:01] Recreation Department. Resolution 17726
[44:04] is appointing Maline Kandro to the
[44:06] position of municipal clerk. Resolution
[44:08] 17826 is urging the state of New Jersey
[44:10] to ban algorithmic rental price
[44:12] software. Resolution 17926 is
[44:14] authorizing the treasur and tax
[44:16] collector to issue a check in the amount
[44:18] of $1,495
[44:20] in corre in connection with erroneous
[44:22] payments applied to property taxes
[44:24] instead of sewer utility fees for
[44:26] various properties. Resolution 18026 is
[44:29] authorizing the tax collector to issue a
[44:31] reduction and or refund on one sewer
[44:33] utility bill in the total amount of
[44:35] $1,944.
[44:38] Resolution 18126 is authorizing the tax
[44:41] collector to issue a reduction and or
[44:42] refund on one sewer utility bill in the
[44:44] total amount of $198. Resolution 18226
[44:48] is authorizing the extension of the
[44:49] grace period for payment of third
[44:51] quarter property taxes for the year 2026
[44:53] until August 31st, 2026. And resolution
[44:56] 18326 is amending the 2026 capital
[44:59] budget.
[45:02] » Do any members wish to have any items
[45:04] removed from the consent agenda?
[45:05] » Mayor, I just have a question and uh
[45:07] Andrew, maybe you can answer it. Um the
[45:10] one where we're amending the the meeting
[45:12] schedule. Is there a specific change
[45:15] because I don't see anything bolded.
[45:16] » So it's uh so that that that reflects
[45:18] the the what the meeting schedule will
[45:20] be. The two changes are the second
[45:23] meeting in November. I'm sorry. The
[45:24] second meeting in September is being
[45:26] moved from the Thursday to the
[45:27] Wednesday. Okay.
[45:28] » And then the second meeting in November,
[45:30] which conflicts with the League of
[45:31] Municipalities, is being moved to the
[45:33] Monday following that meeting. So, the
[45:36] Monday of Thanksgiving week.
[45:37] » Thank you.
[45:41] » I have a motion to approve resolutions
[45:43] remaining on the consent agenda.
[45:45] » So moved.
[45:46] » Second.
[45:47] » All in favor?
[45:48] » I
[45:53] Uh, now we're going to borrow council
[45:56] committees.
[45:59] » You're excused. Have a good evening.
[46:02] Hey, [snorts]
[46:04] Councilman Robbina,
[46:07] mayor. Well, good evening, Mayor,
[46:10] council colleagues, and residents of
[46:11] Rosel Park. First, I'd like to thank our
[46:14] first responders, Lieutenant Koka, and
[46:16] the DPW for their efforts during the
[46:17] severe windstorm on July 3rd.
[46:19] Thankfully, there were no reported
[46:21] injuries and crews worked quickly to
[46:22] clear down trees, roadway obstructions,
[46:24] and restore power throughout the burrow.
[46:27] Also want to thank Director Shaw, Chief
[46:29] Reno, Sergeant Company, Officer Lizo,
[46:31] and Manny from Valentino's for going
[46:34] above and beyond to assist residents and
[46:36] support operations at the Casano Center
[46:39] uh during both the outage and the recent
[46:41] heat waves. Throughout this stretch of
[46:43] extreme weather, keeping residents
[46:45] informed regarding cooling center
[46:46] availability, uh restoration updates and
[46:48] heat safety information has remained the
[46:50] top priority. The Casano Center
[46:52] continues to be an invaluable resource
[46:54] for neighbors uh seeking relief from the
[46:56] summer heat. On Saturday, July 11th, I
[46:59] had the privilege of attending the dual
[47:00] Eagle Scout Court of Honor for Troop 56.
[47:03] I joined family, friends, and community
[47:05] members in celebrating Roosevelt Park's
[47:07] newest Eagle Scouts and future leaders,
[47:08] Noah Seaffort Smith and Declan Kley.
[47:11] Achieving scouting's highest honor
[47:13] requires years of hard work and
[47:14] dedication, and I congratulate both
[47:16] young men on this tremendous accomp
[47:18] accomplishment.
[47:21] I would also like to thank the Roso Park
[47:22] Fire Department and police department
[47:24] for their continued partnership during
[47:25] our community cooldown events. Community
[47:27] cooldown is one of my favorite summer
[47:28] traditions in the fifth ward and Tuesday
[47:31] night's kickoff saw an outstanding
[47:33] turnout. It's been wonderful to see many
[47:35] families come together to enjoy
[47:36] themselves and cool off during the
[47:37] summer heat. Our next event will take
[47:39] place this coming Tuesday from 6:30 to
[47:41] 7:30 across from the high school.
[47:44] Additionally, I'm pleased to announce
[47:46] the installation of a new little free
[47:48] library at Aldine Park. With this
[47:50] addition, residents now have access to
[47:52] three Little Free Libraries throughout
[47:53] the fifth ward, helping promote
[47:55] literacy, neighborly connections, and
[47:57] love of reading.
[47:59] As chamber liaison, I continue to
[48:01] encourage residents to support our local
[48:03] businesses and take advantage of
[48:04] networking and grant opportunities
[48:06] available through our regional partners.
[48:09] Looking ahead, the chamber will host its
[48:11] summer social at Kennallworth Hotel on
[48:13] Thursday, August 6th. The event is free
[48:16] to attend and I encourage our local
[48:17] business owners and entrepreneurs to
[48:19] join us. RSVP information is available
[48:21] on my Facebook page and the Greater
[48:23] Union Chambers page. Finally, I want to
[48:26] thank everyone who attended and
[48:27] contributed to this year's Independence
[48:30] Day celebration. This year's event was
[48:32] one to remember as we simultaneously
[48:34] celebrated Roosevelt Park's 125th
[48:36] anniversary and the 250th anniversary of
[48:39] our nation's founding. Thank you to
[48:41] Mayor Signarelloo, my council
[48:42] colleagues, our Union County
[48:44] Commissioners, municipal staff,
[48:46] volunteers, vendors, and most
[48:48] importantly our residents for making the
[48:50] evening such a tremendous success. As a
[48:52] reminder, please join us next Thursday,
[48:55] July 23rd for our family swim night at
[48:57] the Clark Pool. Full details are
[48:59] available on the burough social media
[49:00] pages. Link for Roso Park residents and
[49:02] families to RSVP is on Monday's post. As
[49:06] always, I'm available to assist
[49:08] residents with any questions, concerns,
[49:09] or ideas. Please feel free to reach out
[49:11] to me directly. 862-22360019
[49:14] or by email. Uh email has changed. It's
[49:18] journal.gov.
[49:20] And uh before I conclude, I just wanted
[49:22] to wish Andrew uh well on his future
[49:26] endeavors. Andrew, it's been a pleasure
[49:28] working with you, learning from you. I
[49:29] appreciate how you've always been fair.
[49:31] Uh your guidance and leadership and um
[49:35] thank you so much. Appreciate you.
[49:37] » That's all. Mayor,
[49:38] » Thank you, Councilman. Councilman Patel,
[49:41] » Um no formal uh report, but uh Andrew,
[49:44] thank you. Hopefully, you could build a
[49:46] lot of um skates park in Beyon. We
[49:49] didn't have [laughter]
[49:50] » We didn't I already built one.
[49:52] » Yeah, I know. I know. We That's
[49:54] something one of the kids asked me. So,
[49:56] I remember us talking about it in Rosen
[49:58] Park, but we don't have the space for
[49:59] it, but hopefully you could build more.
[50:02] Um, that's pretty uh the other thing I
[50:04] guess I wanted to talk about is the the
[50:06] property in the downtown the 31 East.
[50:09] Um, originally I was against the buying
[50:13] that property for the amount. Um, but
[50:16] seeing the commander and the business
[50:18] owners coming down and asking us that
[50:20] this is something that they require, uh,
[50:23] made me change my vote. So please come
[50:26] out if you have any suggestions. Uh
[50:28] happy to listen to any opinions uh too.
[50:32] So thank you. That concludes my report.
[50:34] » Thanks Council Patel. Councilwoman
[50:36] Lions.
[50:37] » Good evening Mayor and council and
[50:40] residents of Rosal Park. Um I just
[50:42] wanted to uh just encourage everyone
[50:45] just continue definitely to come out and
[50:47] like uh Councilman Patel said and I said
[50:49] before, we definitely want to hear from
[50:51] you. We want communication. Um, and we
[50:54] want to hear your concerns. Um, and we
[50:57] are here for you. Um, I had a great
[51:00] month so far. Um, I actually was able to
[51:04] uh go to the fireworks July 1st that we
[51:07] did have here. I just want to commend
[51:09] everyone that came out. We had a packed
[51:11] house there and it was hot and everybody
[51:14] came out and was so excited for it. It
[51:16] was just very inspiring. I wasn't able
[51:17] to stay a lot. Um, but it's awesome to
[51:20] see the kids and family and just
[51:22] enjoying summertime fun. Uh, it's always
[51:25] awesome. Um, and I wasn't able to attend
[51:28] the cool down, but that looks so like so
[51:30] much fun. I just commend you for that,
[51:32] uh, Councilman Rebana. That was just,
[51:33] it's so great. Um, I just wanted to
[51:36] actually uh, also acknowledge Anna
[51:39] Feeder Rico. I did speak about her a
[51:42] couple times before. She is uh she
[51:44] turned a hundred this year and um the
[51:48] mayor and myself were able to go to her
[51:50] home and give her a proclamation from
[51:53] Rosal Park just honoring her and
[51:55] spending time with her. Um I am so
[51:58] grateful for residents that did reach
[52:00] out to me, a neighbor of mine, uh Mrs.
[52:02] Bodner. Um she actually reached out to
[52:04] me and said there's a woman in Rosal
[52:06] Park that needs to be honored and I said
[52:08] my pleasure. her and I was able to spend
[52:10] some time with her, give her some some
[52:12] of her favorite food from Costas. Um, we
[52:15] were able to get her some chicken um
[52:18] some chicken cutlets and manotei and uh
[52:21] also some devil dogs. [laughter]
[52:23] Um but yeah, she enjoys that. Um, but
[52:26] she's just a pleasure and um, I did even
[52:29] post some some videos of her and she's
[52:32] an inspiration and her her motto is
[52:34] really just to be nice to people and to
[52:36] be kind because they'll they'll be, you
[52:38] know, it'll come back to you. Um, but I
[52:41] hope to see her soon and I keep in touch
[52:43] with her just so just to make sure she's
[52:45] doing well as as well. Um, and just uh,
[52:48] so last night we did have our summer
[52:50] nights open mic. We went from doing it
[52:53] pretty much all of July to one major uh
[52:57] show uh last night and we were uh we had
[53:01] a storm in the beginning. So, I just
[53:03] want to thank everybody that was on
[53:04] board. We have a team of people that are
[53:06] just communicating and seeing if it was
[53:09] safe to go. Uh we had a storm coming
[53:11] through, literally flying through. We
[53:13] had the fiery sun that's happening right
[53:15] now. We even had a power outage. But I
[53:18] have to say, these kids came out, they
[53:20] sang. Um, we have the bands coming out
[53:23] from Land's Music, which is our music
[53:25] school right here in Rosal Park. And I
[53:26] just want to commend uh Juan. He is just
[53:30] an amazing young man. He um he's
[53:32] self-taught and he literally has a
[53:34] school going and he's inspiring adults
[53:37] and kids to really bring out their
[53:39] giftings. And he set up everything. I
[53:42] just want to thank him. I want to thank
[53:43] uh Rupen Shaw, uh the DPW, our uh Rosal
[53:47] Park PD, uh the mayor, and also uh
[53:50] Councilman Petray for coming out. Thank
[53:52] you guys so much. Um and just for the
[53:55] kids that came out, uh I have to say
[53:57] when the power outage came happened, we
[54:00] tried to actually connect everything.
[54:02] Um, but then we have uh Charlie, if
[54:05] anybody knows Charlie Munz uh Guzman, he
[54:08] actually came with his guitar and he was
[54:10] encouraging the kids because they got
[54:12] upset they weren't able to sing, but we
[54:14] did it in uh by candlelight really. Um,
[54:16] but then he got everything to to work
[54:19] out. Um, but I just want to just applaud
[54:21] you guys and cheering you guys on and
[54:23] just really tell the residents, come out
[54:25] to the events that we have because
[54:26] they're not for us, they're for you. Uh,
[54:28] so please check our schedule and um,
[54:32] yeah, if you need me, rions
[54:33] rosalpark.net or.gov or did we at.gov.
[54:38] [laughter]
[54:39] » Okay, it'll get to the same place. Uh,
[54:41] 9087268773.
[54:44] Thank you.
[54:45] » Thanks, Councilwoman. Councilman
[54:46] Petroski.
[54:48] » Thank you, Mayor. First of all, I want
[54:50] to send my condolences out to Lawrence
[54:53] Smith, Giovani Flecker, and Laura
[54:56] Seaffir.
[54:58] On June 24th, I attended the uh
[55:01] recreation committee's summer kickoff.
[55:04] Uh Tina, great job as usual. Um I was
[55:09] very surprised. We had well over 100
[55:12] kids there. It was packed. Um and then I
[55:16] want to thank Tina uh by talking to her
[55:19] son and we were able to get the fire
[55:21] department to come and wow, it was a big
[55:24] hit. I think every kid got in line. Um
[55:26] they uh sat in the fire truck, went
[55:29] through the apparatuses there. Um again,
[55:32] it was a good very good turnout and I uh
[55:35] I I thank Tina for having it. Um in that
[55:40] on uh June 25th, I had a meeting with
[55:43] the business administrator, Al Marella.
[55:46] Uh we kicked a few things around, talked
[55:48] about a few uh things in town. Um, I
[55:53] personally want to thank you and I I
[55:55] know there was other people involved,
[55:57] but I want to thank you for getting
[55:58] their uh passes for the fire department.
[56:01] I mean, I really appreciate and um, you
[56:04] know, like I said, a couple thank me,
[56:06] but I did let them know it. I you know,
[56:09] you
[56:10] » Idea, Councilman,
[56:11] » I I appreciate and I know you had
[56:13] something to do with it and Don McFino
[56:15] and all that, but I do want to thank
[56:17] you. Um, so I was very happy to hand him
[56:21] over to the chief today and he'll give
[56:24] because you know I go to the fire
[56:26] department meetings every month and
[56:28] that's the first thing they hit me with
[56:29] their passes, their passes and
[56:31] everything. So uh um so I'm I can go to
[56:35] the September meeting and not worry
[56:37] about them. So I do thank you very much
[56:39] for that. Um on July 1st I attended the
[56:43] fireworks. Okay. Oh, going back to the
[56:46] June kickoff. Mayor, I want to thank you
[56:49] for showing up that night and Rosanna, I
[56:52] know you did a walk by, but uh it was a
[56:54] pleasure talking to you that night. Uh
[56:57] um going back to the fireworks,
[57:00] uh it seems it was great. I got a lot of
[57:02] compliments from residents. Um very hot
[57:06] day um and everything. um the two girls
[57:10] that we have singing, they do a f
[57:12] fantastic job um and everything, but uh
[57:15] everything went well. I want to thank
[57:17] the fire department, uh the Roso Park uh
[57:20] police department, the DPW for
[57:23] everything. And uh um like I said, I I
[57:27] thought everything went well with the
[57:28] fireworks. Uh July 2nd, we had a capital
[57:32] budget meeting to go over get ready for
[57:36] the budget. Uh uh this week uh this
[57:40] meeting last night I attended the open
[57:42] mic and uh Rosanna great job. I'm so
[57:46] amazed how these kids perform. Um a
[57:49] former uh councilman and uh a person
[57:52] that used to show up all these mean Jake
[57:55] Majiraa
[57:56] always used to say Roosevelt Park got
[57:58] talent and they proved it last night. I
[58:01] was um it's fantastic um and everything.
[58:05] Um, Andrew,
[58:08] uh, thank you for your many years thing.
[58:11] Um, I can actually say I voted for you
[58:13] the first time.
[58:14] » You're the only one left. [laughter]
[58:15] » I know I'm getting old, I guess. Okay.
[58:18] But, uh, and I'm I hope you don't mind.
[58:21] Uh, back then there was a lot of
[58:24] controversy because you were a
[58:26] Republican.
[58:26] » Still am.
[58:27] » Yeah, I know [laughter] that. Uh but we
[58:30] uh took parties aside and I knew how
[58:33] much he uh growing up in this town and
[58:36] how much he cared about this town and uh
[58:39] I took a chance and voted for him and I'
[58:41] I've been happy every time. I mean
[58:43] anytime I had any issue, you always
[58:45] there for me um and everything. But I
[58:49] can also say uh Maneline I I voted for
[58:52] you also for this one too. So, that's
[58:54] two people I vote. Um, um, uh, council,
[58:59] uh, former mayor Hokasen, I know, uh,
[59:02] me, we voted for Andrew. We got him in
[59:04] and, uh, you did a great job then.
[59:06] » Thank you.
[59:07] » Right to the end. I I appreciate.
[59:09] » Thank you.
[59:10] » Um, if you need to contact me, you can
[59:13] get me at jetrosky rosepark.net
[59:16] 9086667821.
[59:20] And that's my report. Thank you. Thanks,
[59:22] Councilman Petroski. Councilman Castins.
[59:25] » Thank you, Mayor. Good evening,
[59:27] everybody. Um, wanted to cover a couple
[59:30] of things that have happened and, um,
[59:32] talk about some, uh, new legislation
[59:34] that that's, uh, going to impact us. Uh,
[59:37] first of all, uh, thank you everybody
[59:39] for your feedback. Um, Jimmy, for
[59:41] example, now we are going to.gov. Thank
[59:42] you for bringing it up, man. You see,
[59:44] this is we're a responsive council. When
[59:46] when we hear good ideas, we we'll
[59:48] listen. And, uh, there's other things
[59:49] you sent in there that we, uh, we're
[59:51] incorporating. So, thank you everybody.
[59:52] Your feedback does not fall on deaf ears
[59:54] here and that's something that I
[59:55] appreciate very much about this body
[59:57] because I've worked in government before
[59:58] and there are bodies who have deaf ears.
[1:00:01] So, thank you so much for uh for your
[1:00:03] suggestion and and happy that we uh we
[1:00:05] transitioned on July 10th. We moved over
[1:00:07] to our.gov. Uh if you email or if you go
[1:00:10] to net, it'll still redirect you. Um but
[1:00:12] we are a.gov site now. Um so that's the
[1:00:15] first thing. The other thing um just
[1:00:16] just quickly touching on economic
[1:00:18] development. Um that is a passion of
[1:00:20] mine. Uh I I chair the special
[1:00:22] improvement district in in Rawway. Um
[1:00:24] it's something that I'm passionate about
[1:00:25] because that's where my business was
[1:00:26] located. Um and looking at a downtown
[1:00:30] parking is always the first thing for
[1:00:32] businesses to thrive. So I'm very happy
[1:00:34] that this council has um has also
[1:00:36] listened and and we're moving forward
[1:00:38] with this. Uh we're a long way from
[1:00:40] getting it done, but it's it's a step in
[1:00:41] the right direction. Uh and after you do
[1:00:43] the development, you have to start
[1:00:44] focusing on the economic part of it
[1:00:46] because without you know, one feeds the
[1:00:48] other. So very excited that we're at
[1:00:50] this part of uh Roso Park. Now, um next
[1:00:53] I wanted to highlight the uh Roso Park
[1:00:54] home improvement program. For those of
[1:00:56] you that don't know, um there are uh
[1:00:59] loans uh they're forgivable 10-year
[1:01:01] loans. Uh believe up to $30,000. They
[1:01:04] can cover important things like roof uh
[1:01:06] redunds, uh to do redo your roof, to uh
[1:01:08] do plumbing work, things like that. Um
[1:01:10] if you follow the guidelines, it is a
[1:01:13] forgivable loan and it's an interest
[1:01:14] free loan. If you are interested in
[1:01:16] that, uh please uh look at our website.
[1:01:18] We have information on there. They're
[1:01:20] administered through uh cgph, but um you
[1:01:22] find all the information at the roso
[1:01:24] park.gov website. Um
[1:01:28] next, I wanted to talk about the uh
[1:01:30] there's two legislations, one's at the
[1:01:32] federal level, one's at the state level,
[1:01:33] and I wanted to bring to council
[1:01:35] attention, and um we're probably going
[1:01:36] to hopefully have more conversations
[1:01:38] about this. The first one is uh 21st
[1:01:40] Century Road to Housing Act. Um, this
[1:01:42] went into law Friday night. Um, it was
[1:01:45] an incredible bipartisan bill. Um, it's
[1:01:48] probably the only thing with such a
[1:01:50] majority to get passed at the federal
[1:01:51] level with Democrats and Republicans
[1:01:53] agreeing on everything pretty much. I
[1:01:55] mean, I think there's like 10% of the
[1:01:56] legislature didn't vote for it. Um, the
[1:01:59] president did not sign it, but he didn't
[1:02:01] veto it. So, statutoily, it went into
[1:02:03] law on the 10th day. Um the 21st Century
[1:02:06] Road to Housing Act does a lot of
[1:02:07] different things, but there is a
[1:02:08] provision on it that incentivizes local
[1:02:11] municipalities uh to take on some of
[1:02:14] that red tape that that happens that has
[1:02:17] been slowing down uh residential
[1:02:18] development. I'm not talking about the
[1:02:19] buildings. I'm talking about more like
[1:02:21] single families, multif two families,
[1:02:23] things like that. Um and the federal
[1:02:24] government is actually incentivizing
[1:02:26] local municipalities to enact some of
[1:02:27] these changes and in return we will have
[1:02:30] access to more funding through CDBG. Um,
[1:02:33] obviously more money for us that we
[1:02:35] don't have to charge our taxpayers for
[1:02:36] is always a positive thing. So, I'd like
[1:02:38] for us to explore that. Um, I'll bring
[1:02:40] this up at the land use board and and
[1:02:42] um, you know, ask about what we can
[1:02:44] integrate if any and we can examine, but
[1:02:46] that is a really really fantastic thing.
[1:02:48] And then there's another piece of
[1:02:49] legislation at the state um, actually
[1:02:52] let me just hit a couple things. uh the
[1:02:54] Road to Housing Act um
[1:02:57] it actually uh I don't know you this
[1:03:00] this would hit the news but it makes it
[1:03:01] so that large investors can't buy single
[1:03:05] family properties anymore. Um which is a
[1:03:07] big thing because we're talking about
[1:03:08] how they were competing with with
[1:03:09] regular mom and pops. Um so that's a big
[1:03:11] thing. It changes rules on manufactured
[1:03:14] uh homes which is going to benefit and
[1:03:16] lower the cost on those. Uh and instead
[1:03:18] of being single stories now those will
[1:03:20] be able to be uh two stories. So, it's a
[1:03:22] hodgepodge of different laws that tries
[1:03:24] to uh modernize our housing and it helps
[1:03:28] with affordability or that's the intent.
[1:03:30] And the last one is um Assembly Bill
[1:03:32] 3877 and Senate Bill 2960.
[1:03:37] Uh they have both passed New Jersey
[1:03:39] legislature and are now at the
[1:03:40] governor's desk for signatures. Uh those
[1:03:43] bills uh in large part are asking
[1:03:46] municipalities to uh call for a special
[1:03:48] re-examination of their master plan um
[1:03:50] and tackle things like two family homes
[1:03:53] and three family homes in certain zones
[1:03:55] as well as accessory dwelling units. Um
[1:03:58] and it actually does a very important
[1:04:00] thing. It incentivizes municipalities by
[1:04:02] giving us more funding for
[1:04:04] infrastructure projects like uh road
[1:04:06] work. Um and there's a provision in it
[1:04:08] that if you do some of these things, you
[1:04:10] can get up to 10% more state aid to the
[1:04:14] school district of the municipalities
[1:04:15] that do this. So, this can benefit our
[1:04:17] schools, which I know um can use the
[1:04:19] extra funding. So, I'm going to be, you
[1:04:23] know, keeping up on all these things as
[1:04:24] soon as it gets passed and hopefully we
[1:04:26] can look at these and see what kind of
[1:04:28] uh things we can adopt. Um and it gives
[1:04:30] us priority for funding for different uh
[1:04:32] projects. Uh they'll rate you
[1:04:34] essentially based on how how much you
[1:04:36] integrated into your master plan that
[1:04:38] the new law requires. um the more you
[1:04:40] do, the higher ranked you will and
[1:04:42] you'll have access to funding from the
[1:04:44] state uh first. So those are all things
[1:04:46] I'm keeping an eye on in in this period
[1:04:48] and I wanted to bring to the council's
[1:04:49] attention and I will be bringing more to
[1:04:51] us here. Uh and then just wrap just to
[1:04:53] wrap up my comments. Um Andrew, thank
[1:04:55] you so much. I know my time with you
[1:04:57] here um on council has been short, but
[1:05:00] we've been on the land use board for
[1:05:01] years and just me dealing with the
[1:05:03] burrow been dealing with you for a long
[1:05:04] time and uh you're a very fair person.
[1:05:06] You're a very smart guy and uh we will
[1:05:08] definitely miss you. So, thank you for
[1:05:09] your time and thank you for your
[1:05:10] service.
[1:05:14] » Okay, Council Lines, you forgot
[1:05:17] something good.
[1:05:17] » I am sorry.
[1:05:20] » 30 seconds. 30 seconds.
[1:05:21] » I have your name right here and I
[1:05:23] didn't, but thank you so much. I I saw
[1:05:25] you out in the hallway, but um just to
[1:05:28] everybody's been saying it and um
[1:05:30] » And nauseous [laughter]
[1:05:32] » With the smoke or Sure, we'll say that.
[1:05:35] » All right. Yeah. But I mean, please keep
[1:05:38] in touch. Um, but just from when I
[1:05:41] started uh here, you were just a huge
[1:05:44] wealth of information and a help and and
[1:05:46] you know, I appreciate you and
[1:05:48] everything that you do and I'm wishing
[1:05:49] you the best and please keep in touch,
[1:05:51] please.
[1:05:51] » Thank you.
[1:05:52] » Thank you.
[1:05:54] » All right. So, I uh en enjoyed the
[1:05:57] fireworks. I think I've been going to
[1:05:59] most of them since 1994 was our first
[1:06:02] year we had the fireworks.
[1:06:04] I think this year was they were awesome.
[1:06:07] I was attending the fire um department
[1:06:10] um function Tuesday night. Well
[1:06:13] attended. I'm glad we didn't have a last
[1:06:14] Tuesday. The kids would have been
[1:06:16] chilly. I open mic was nice last night.
[1:06:18] It was pretty amazing, Councilwoman that
[1:06:20] I think 90% of the kids sung and that's
[1:06:22] when the light the power went out and
[1:06:25] whatever. Uh we got through right. The
[1:06:27] guys got through like you said. We uh we
[1:06:30] saw uh Anna, she was amazing. I told my
[1:06:33] wife that we'd be going there. I'd be
[1:06:35] stopping by for 10, 15 minutes. I came
[1:06:37] home an hour and a half later. It was
[1:06:39] nice. Good time. She was just amazing
[1:06:41] for 100 years old. Um remind everybody
[1:06:44] the farmers market is open. Uh they've
[1:06:46] had two or three uh first couple
[1:06:49] Wednesdays hot, but a couple new vendors
[1:06:51] there this year. Um some pastries and
[1:06:54] donuts. Uh empanadas.
[1:06:58] Um and um the hot dog guys there this
[1:07:01] year. So check out the farmers market
[1:07:04] every Wednesday up to Wednesday before
[1:07:07] Thanksgiving. Um
[1:07:11] um so for everybody on council, remember
[1:07:14] that show, call a friend. Uh phone phone
[1:07:16] a friend. Andrew gives you one call.
[1:07:18] Phone a friend. [laughter]
[1:07:21] Uh and look,
[1:07:22] » I already changed my number. I
[1:07:23] » I'll brief I'm going to briefly talk
[1:07:24] about the parking lot. I do know over
[1:07:27] time that res um excuse me the uh
[1:07:31] businesses in town have uh needed this.
[1:07:34] I think it's a good thing and I think we
[1:07:37] all agree that uh if we find something
[1:07:39] uh we're not going to touch it. This is
[1:07:42] a good thing and let's embrace it and
[1:07:44] and move forward. Other than that um
[1:07:47] that's the end of my report. Uh may I
[1:07:49] have a a motion? Oh, excuse me. Mr.
[1:07:51] Clerk, please read my appointments for
[1:07:53] the record for mayor appointments. Yes,
[1:07:55] mayor. The mayoral appointments this
[1:07:56] evening are as follows. They require no
[1:07:58] confirmation of councel. Appointing
[1:07:59] James Company as class 2 member of the
[1:08:01] municipal land use board effective July
[1:08:03] 20th, 2026 to fill the unexpired term of
[1:08:05] Andrew J. Caias set to expire December
[1:08:07] 31st, 2026. And appointing Jessica
[1:08:10] Bonfonte as a member of the Rosal Park
[1:08:12] Recreation Committee effective
[1:08:14] immediately to fill the unexpired term
[1:08:15] of Sal Campanella set to expire December
[1:08:17] 31st, 2026.
[1:08:20] » Thank you, K. Thank you, Andrew. May I
[1:08:23] have a motion to open the public portion
[1:08:25] on any subject?
[1:08:27] » So moved.
[1:08:28] » Second.
[1:08:29] » All in favor?
[1:08:30] » I.
[1:08:31] » If you'd like to speak, please come
[1:08:32] forward to the microphone. Please state
[1:08:34] your name if you would like it included
[1:08:36] in the record.
[1:08:43] » Good evening. Uh Jimmy Matthews live
[1:08:45] here in Rosal Park. I just wanted to
[1:08:48] bring some attention to something I
[1:08:49] noticed today in the bill list that gets
[1:08:52] published with the agenda. Uh there was
[1:08:54] a
[1:08:56] an item there indicating a purchase of a
[1:09:00] a surveillance camera that's of the type
[1:09:03] that usually is placed permanently in
[1:09:06] some uh traffic monitoring place and it
[1:09:10] continuously records and automatically
[1:09:13] picks up license plates and sends it to
[1:09:14] a a third party company. It's a national
[1:09:17] company that um it's uh they're a cloud
[1:09:23] system where that that's stored. Um so
[1:09:27] my question I guess I just want to make
[1:09:31] sure everyone knows that that's
[1:09:33] happening. I mean it's not really a
[1:09:34] normal kind of surveillance to do in a
[1:09:38] public place like on the road. Um, it's
[1:09:40] $8,500 I think of what it was. And it's
[1:09:44] uh
[1:09:45] I mean I can imagine there are some kind
[1:09:47] of public purposes that are that that
[1:09:51] kind of thing could be used for
[1:09:54] maybe even locally, but it's hard to
[1:09:56] imagine one that would be like a real
[1:09:58] use. And I don't know if that was
[1:10:00] something that u
[1:10:02] was really discussed as like for some
[1:10:05] specific reason like we should have this
[1:10:07] thing. Um,
[1:10:13] I mean it it raises the question of, you
[1:10:15] know, if I decided I wanted to put a
[1:10:17] camera on my lawn that monitored every
[1:10:20] car that drove by because everyone's
[1:10:22] speeds on Fate would have uh and I
[1:10:25] wanted to, you know, write letters to
[1:10:26] them and do do that kind of thing. I
[1:10:28] think I would probably not do that
[1:10:30] because it seems like some kind of
[1:10:32] violation of privacy of the people that
[1:10:33] are driving past, but like that's what
[1:10:36] this system does. I think um I actually
[1:10:40] don't know all that for sure. So, uh I'm
[1:10:43] just going based on the information
[1:10:45] about who the the brand is for that
[1:10:47] company and um
[1:10:50] so I'd be happy to be correct on that.
[1:10:53] So, um, the flight camera.
[1:11:07] » Yeah, Mayor, that was a recommendation
[1:11:08] of the police uh, chief to put that on
[1:11:10] the agenda and put that bill is. There's
[1:11:12] license plate readers, you know,
[1:11:14] throughout the state that just help with
[1:11:17] policing. That's all it is. Thank you.
[1:11:22] » George Ramirez, 500 East Clay. First of
[1:11:24] all, chairs. Nice. Thank you, Mr. Duck.
[1:11:28] Uh, so I just want to start off by
[1:11:30] saying that the my questioning about the
[1:11:32] parking lot isn't that we shouldn't buy
[1:11:34] it. It was why we're
[1:11:38] have on the books now 1.2 compared to
[1:11:41] the 875
[1:11:43] uh just a few months ago. Uh, second of
[1:11:45] all, I'd like to say that respect is
[1:11:47] earned and trust and trust is earned.
[1:11:50] All right. I've been attending these
[1:11:52] meetings for two months, two years I
[1:11:54] should say, and there have been a lot of
[1:11:58] instances where the public is told one
[1:12:01] thing and you guys do something
[1:12:03] completely different. You know, I could
[1:12:06] name a handful of things. You know, the
[1:12:08] DPW was told that there was no issue
[1:12:11] with the DPW lot. Meanwhile, it's super
[1:12:14] contaminated with cancer-causing
[1:12:17] chemicals as well as super elevated uh
[1:12:20] levels of mold. Uh, I questioned if
[1:12:24] there were any uh dumping that we didn't
[1:12:27] know about at the DPW yard and the
[1:12:29] attorney, the previous attorney told me
[1:12:32] that every
[1:12:33] uh
[1:12:35] dump was basically had a bill of
[1:12:37] lighting and it turns out that the EPA
[1:12:40] just a couple months later determined
[1:12:42] that there was illegal dumping going on
[1:12:44] there. Uh, what else? We were told that
[1:12:46] the pilot programs, all of these
[1:12:49] apartments were going to be paying
[1:12:50] paying their fair share towards the
[1:12:52] schools. And even a gentleman here
[1:12:56] that's in the crowd was told that the
[1:12:59] schools would be getting money from it.
[1:13:01] Last year, they got zero from it. Uh
[1:13:04] what else? You guys approved three
[1:13:07] marijuana dispensaries, but it didn't
[1:13:08] mean that three dispensaries were going
[1:13:10] to go up. Meanwhile, they did go up. Two
[1:13:13] of which are in miscount. uh Miss Lion's
[1:13:17] ward. Um there's a handful of things. I
[1:13:21] mean, we have uh Mr. Castelins's over
[1:13:23] here who had a meeting at a uh property
[1:13:26] on a Sunday that was never disclosed to
[1:13:29] put a board of ed building there. So,
[1:13:31] there's a lot of issues going on in town
[1:13:34] by you guys that doesn't represent the
[1:13:37] people of Rosal Park. You keep telling
[1:13:40] people, "Yeah, call me. We'll have
[1:13:42] coffee." or you know we hear you but
[1:13:44] when there are people here and there's a
[1:13:47] packed house for instance for the DPW
[1:13:50] yard or for the marijuana
[1:13:54] you guys just do whatever you want and
[1:13:56] not what the people want. So that is the
[1:13:59] issue that I have all right
[1:14:03] and uh let's see just keep going on
[1:14:06] trust Mr. Castelins, last year around
[1:14:11] April, you promoted your Panthers
[1:14:14] Promise that you described as a
[1:14:17] registered 501c3
[1:14:20] uh nonprofit and you solicited money
[1:14:23] from people to help out with that
[1:14:25] nonprofit. Do you have an IRS
[1:14:28] determination letter from that?
[1:14:34] And that's it. I'll forfeit the rest of
[1:14:36] my time for an answer to that question.
[1:14:43] » Sure, Mr. Chair.
[1:14:44] » Yeah.
[1:14:45] » Yeah. Um yeah, so I uh I started a
[1:14:47] scholarship program through my business
[1:14:49] uh at first to seek for a um nonprofit.
[1:14:53] So I whatever you found and I'm pretty
[1:14:54] sure it says on there uh soon to be
[1:14:56] registered. We were uh working on that
[1:14:58] and we actually registered.
[1:14:59] » No, it definitely didn't say that. Um, I
[1:15:01] gave out uh two scholarships from my
[1:15:04] business to uh two high school graduates
[1:15:06] from Rosa Park High School. Continue to
[1:15:08] do it every semester and I'm doing it
[1:15:10] through my business at this time until
[1:15:12] we get around to actually doing it. We
[1:15:13] never collected any donations uh because
[1:15:15] we never finalized the registration, but
[1:15:17] I have been paying that out of my
[1:15:18] business as a contribution to to Roso
[1:15:21] Park graduating seniors and I intend to
[1:15:23] finish that at some point when I have
[1:15:24] some time. But I do continue to make the
[1:15:26] payments.
[1:15:26] » Okay. Well, you advertised on Instagram,
[1:15:29] Facebook, and YouTube that it is is a
[1:15:32] registered 501c3 organization. I have
[1:15:35] videos and posts. So, you're saying
[1:15:39] that's not true?
[1:15:40] » Correct.
[1:15:40] » Okay. Thank you.
[1:15:55] Bill Cross at 412 Galloping Hill Road.
[1:15:57] First, Andrew, I wanted to thank you for
[1:16:00] all your help through the years. Anytime
[1:16:02] I sent you an email or called you, you
[1:16:04] you were right on the spot. I appreciate
[1:16:07] it. Wish you the best wishes for your
[1:16:10] next position.
[1:16:11] » Thank you.
[1:16:11] » Um, I understand the reason that you
[1:16:14] gave for garbage containers.
[1:16:18] However, I can put garbage out in a
[1:16:21] container. If there's no top on it,
[1:16:23] that's not going to do any good. The
[1:16:26] raccoons, the rats, the possums, they're
[1:16:30] still going to get to the garbage if
[1:16:32] they want to. So, it makes no sense. All
[1:16:34] you're going to do is have more than
[1:16:36] half the town go out and buy garbage
[1:16:39] cans and get Walmart and Home Depot
[1:16:41] richer than they already are.
[1:16:45] The next question I have is in the past
[1:16:50] there's been a couple of times where
[1:16:51] I've hit the time limit and have been
[1:16:54] informed your time's up. Same with
[1:16:57] George. He's been informed his time is
[1:16:59] up. Yet a gentleman comes in who's not
[1:17:02] even from the town and runs overtime
[1:17:05] constantly
[1:17:07] and his big thing at the last meeting
[1:17:09] was let's get a be better chair. So he
[1:17:12] starts moving furniture around. It's
[1:17:14] disrespectful. Disrespectful to you.
[1:17:17] Disrespectful to all of us sitting out
[1:17:19] here watching.
[1:17:21] That's all I got.
[1:17:34] » Got four this time. Got four minutes.
[1:17:39] » Probably not going to use them all.
[1:17:41] Russell Holden. Again, not a Roseell
[1:17:43] Park resident, owner of Downy's Average
[1:17:45] Pub and Restaurant 17 Chest Street,
[1:17:47] Roseell Park. So, I try to come to
[1:17:49] meetings every once in a while. Um, I
[1:17:51] stayed for this public portion because I
[1:17:53] I had a couple thank yous that I haven't
[1:17:55] gotten out in the past. Um,
[1:17:58] about two months ago, we had our uh 7th
[1:18:02] annual Rosel Park Police Department golf
[1:18:04] outing. I just wanted to give a couple
[1:18:06] thanks to uh Officer Thompson and
[1:18:09] Officer Gaylord who helped me run it
[1:18:11] this year. Every year I have a couple
[1:18:13] volunteers that help us with it. Uh we
[1:18:15] raised over I believe $15,000. Don't
[1:18:18] quote me on it. I I don't know it
[1:18:20] exactly. So, but it was somewhere in
[1:18:22] that vicinity.
[1:18:24] I guess I'll secondly I'll keep the uh
[1:18:26] Andrew Casayas congratulation parade
[1:18:28] going. Andrew on behalf of businesses in
[1:18:30] town, you've always you've always been
[1:18:32] there for us. you you've you've always
[1:18:34] done the right thing. You've sat me down
[1:18:36] and said, "No, you can't do this." And
[1:18:38] I've said, "Andrew, but I've lived in
[1:18:40] this town. I have a business here." And
[1:18:41] you said to me, "That's great, but you
[1:18:43] can't do that. You have to do it this
[1:18:45] way. You have to do it that way. These
[1:18:47] are the proper ways to do it. And I
[1:18:48] appreciate you always doing that for me
[1:18:50] and and you know, giving me the guidance
[1:18:52] in town for to to get things done."
[1:18:55] [snorts] On that point, I'm here to not
[1:18:58] be last minute Russ as I always am. I
[1:19:01] wanted to let mayor and council know
[1:19:03] that next agenda meeting I'm going to
[1:19:06] put forward my letter for our closure of
[1:19:10] William Street. It's probably the 15th
[1:19:12] time we've done it since we've opened.
[1:19:14] It's our uh 13-year anniversary. Don't
[1:19:18] quote me on that. This year we're
[1:19:21] looking for local businesses in town
[1:19:24] council come in, speak to us, understand
[1:19:27] what we're doing, why we want to do it.
[1:19:29] And this year, in honor of the 125th um
[1:19:32] anniversary of our local fire
[1:19:34] department, we're going to look to run a
[1:19:36] 50/50 with the Joseph Nan Association,
[1:19:39] which is one of the uh oldest Irish
[1:19:41] organizations in the state on behalf of
[1:19:45] my uh uncle Greg Powers that passed
[1:19:47] away, who is a longtime Rosal Park
[1:19:50] resident and fireman. I know many of you
[1:19:52] up there know him personally. Um, so
[1:19:55] that 5050 that we're going to run at the
[1:19:58] event as well as hopefully a little
[1:20:00] while after that would benefit the Rosel
[1:20:03] Park uh fire department in his name. So
[1:20:05] I just wanted to let you guys know I
[1:20:06] will be putting that letter in and
[1:20:08] asking for approval. If you have any
[1:20:10] questions or concerns, please come and
[1:20:13] see me. Everybody knows where I am
[1:20:14] hopefully. But that's pretty much all I
[1:20:17] wanted to say. Appreciate it.
[1:20:33] Carl Hoginson, 318 Hemlock Street,
[1:20:35] Rosell Park, New Jersey. It feels good
[1:20:37] to be on this side of the fence this
[1:20:39] time. Uh, a couple quick things. Um,
[1:20:43] [snorts] going back to the parking lot,
[1:20:45] uh, as you know, I'm a retired police
[1:20:46] officer from Rosal Park and back in the
[1:20:49] days about 30 years ago, the state of
[1:20:51] New Jersey gave me local municipalities
[1:20:53] the right to for parking on municipal
[1:20:56] streets and so forth and so on.
[1:20:59] For years, we had parking spots 11t from
[1:21:02] a crosswalk, so forth and so on. So,
[1:21:06] this time when this when the burrow
[1:21:08] redid Chester Street and everything,
[1:21:09] they did it underneath title 39. Right.
[1:21:11] So now you can't park 25 ft, so forth
[1:21:14] and so on. Actually, when they did that,
[1:21:17] you lost parking spots.
[1:21:20] Okay, it's about 11 or 12 that I can
[1:21:23] think of off the top of my head that
[1:21:24] when I used to walk the beat, they were
[1:21:26] there. Now they're not. You also know
[1:21:29] that on the weekends, nights, I go out
[1:21:31] collecting for my veterans, I go to
[1:21:33] different municipalities, different
[1:21:34] areas, and a lot of people I talk to is
[1:21:38] the problem is parking. It always has
[1:21:40] been and always will be. Okay. Uh you
[1:21:44] have the uh we talked about the uh
[1:21:46] marijuana places that are opening up.
[1:21:49] The one that's right on Chestnut and
[1:21:50] Westfield. If I want to go there,
[1:21:53] there's technically no parking. Okay.
[1:21:55] So, that lot I think would be a safety
[1:21:57] factor for the people. But now, uh you
[1:22:01] actually lost parking when you did on
[1:22:03] under title 39, which is now legal,
[1:22:06] which is fine. And uh last but not
[1:22:09] least, uh I had the honor of many uh
[1:22:12] eight, 10, 12 years ago
[1:22:15] uh to hire him. Um there's not many
[1:22:18] things I mean there are quite a few
[1:22:20] things that I could say I was happy that
[1:22:22] I did as mayor and one of the things was
[1:22:26] uh Andrew. Uh he was my right-hand man.
[1:22:30] Uh, yes, there is times that they should
[1:22:32] call him mayor because he does um he I
[1:22:37] would have given him more money as as
[1:22:39] more like a babysitting type thing. Um,
[1:22:42] he takes care of he needs to get done
[1:22:45] what has to get done. He knows his
[1:22:47] rules. He knows how to work with people.
[1:22:50] He knows how to talk to people. So, I
[1:22:52] was privileged and honored and Andrew,
[1:22:56] uh, good luck going over to to Bayona
[1:22:58] every morning on the turnpike, but
[1:23:01] [laughter] I appreciate your time and
[1:23:02] service in the in the communications
[1:23:04] that we've had back and forth over the
[1:23:06] last years. So, God bless.
[1:23:07] » Thank you.
[1:23:13] [applause]
[1:23:18] » Seeing no one further. Oh.
[1:23:21] » Oh, I'm sorry.
[1:23:22] » You've done that to me almost every
[1:23:25] meeting. You've done that to me.
[1:23:27] » Um, that's why you should ask, is
[1:23:29] anybody else want to speak? Simple
[1:23:31] stuff, you know. Um,
[1:23:32] » You are correct.
[1:23:34] » To the one resident who's upset that I
[1:23:36] gave
[1:23:37] the people a first class chair and he
[1:23:40] can't win over everyone. Um, to the
[1:23:43] other resident who said, "Sweet, I'm in
[1:23:45] a nice chair." You know, I guess we're
[1:23:47] back to even, you know, you can't make
[1:23:49] everybody happy in life, but, you know,
[1:23:51] the more things that uh make the public
[1:23:53] feel like an equal, I think, are
[1:23:55] important. It's nice to be comfortable.
[1:23:57] I'm shocked that one of that this chair
[1:24:00] was sitting over there and not one
[1:24:02] person thought to themselves, well,
[1:24:03] maybe let's give the speaker a nice
[1:24:05] chair, too. I truly am shocked by that
[1:24:08] stuff, you know? Um, just sitting right
[1:24:11] over there just waiting to be
[1:24:14] comfortably sat in. Um,
[1:24:17] it's little stuff like that. It's like
[1:24:19] just can It's a disregard for the public
[1:24:23] in my opinion. Have an extra chair.
[1:24:26] Let's give the public the chair to sit
[1:24:28] in.
[1:24:29] It seems like a no-brainer. Um,
[1:24:33] every town's a little different with the
[1:24:35] way they run their meetings in terms of,
[1:24:37] um, I noticed in Rosel Park we don't let
[1:24:40] the public speak during the introduction
[1:24:43] phase.
[1:24:44] I think that's abominable. I think
[1:24:46] that's the time that the public should
[1:24:48] be giving input,
[1:24:50] not when it's time to adopt it, when
[1:24:53] we've already figured out how we're
[1:24:54] going to move forward with it, you know,
[1:24:57] because at that point, your decisions
[1:24:58] are kind of pretty much made up, you
[1:25:01] know. Um, if the public has an
[1:25:03] opportunity to speak during the
[1:25:05] introduction phase, I think it would be
[1:25:07] great because then you could have the
[1:25:08] two weeks to consider the things that
[1:25:10] the public said and maybe it would feel
[1:25:13] and actually be an impact that people
[1:25:15] come out and show up, you know. Um, I
[1:25:18] appreciate the two gentlemen back here
[1:25:21] because I've been to four meetings and
[1:25:22] they were both at three of them. I love
[1:25:24] that. I love that residents take part.
[1:25:27] Um, I agree with the speaker Jimmy on
[1:25:29] these flock cameras. Uh, this isn't
[1:25:32] good. This is just this is surveillance
[1:25:33] state. We live in just live in a police
[1:25:36] state. It's all it is. You know, it's
[1:25:40] unconstitutional to be taking all of our
[1:25:42] information like that and doing of
[1:25:44] course the police. Of course, it was the
[1:25:46] police's idea to do that. I mean, why
[1:25:50] wouldn't it be? And who's it for? Who's
[1:25:52] it for? Domestic
[1:25:54] people, right? Just like Homeland
[1:25:57] Security. Who's it for? It's for us.
[1:26:01] It's for us. There's no reason to do
[1:26:03] that. It really degrades what police
[1:26:05] work is supposed to be. It It's a It's a
[1:26:08] far cry from what it used to be going
[1:26:10] doortodoor knocking and being able to
[1:26:13] investigate things because now what's
[1:26:15] happening with these systems is and
[1:26:18] especially with the AI stuff, they're
[1:26:19] like arresting people based off of um
[1:26:23] these these things that'll say, "Oh,
[1:26:25] it's 85% chance that it's this guy." and
[1:26:27] they go arrest that guy and he spends
[1:26:29] two months in jail, loses his job,
[1:26:33] can't pay rent, all because of an error,
[1:26:36] systematic error because we refuse to do
[1:26:39] old school police work. So that's a
[1:26:42] disgrace.
[1:26:43] That's a disgrace. I am very much
[1:26:45] interested in the what the resident
[1:26:49] George said about the 501c3
[1:26:52] because usually when residents speak in
[1:26:54] that manner they looked like he was
[1:26:55] about to maybe show proof of what he was
[1:26:58] talking about. So that interests me.
[1:27:00] That gives me the feeling that you're
[1:27:02] just lying
[1:27:03] just directly lying to the public.
[1:27:09] No, no, I'm I'm still talking. But I
[1:27:12] would be I would be eager to want to
[1:27:13] answer that as well because if you are
[1:27:15] stating that there is no record or no
[1:27:18] post or whatever the gentleman said,
[1:27:20] you're lying
[1:27:23] to all these people.
[1:27:26] You're lying.
[1:27:29] You're a liar is what that means.
[1:27:33] If if so, you know, I make these videos,
[1:27:36] we have a chance to highlight good work
[1:27:38] and we have a highlight to get rid of
[1:27:40] the people who lie to the public
[1:27:43] and abuse their role in public service.
[1:27:46] » Mr. Mayor, may I?
[1:27:47] » Thank you, sir.
[1:27:48] » Thank you,
[1:27:49] » Councilman.
[1:27:50] » Yeah. Um, no. So, I announced uh last
[1:27:54] year that from my real estate business,
[1:27:56] I would be doing a donation to a Roso
[1:27:58] Park graduating senior of a $500 per
[1:28:01] semester scholarship, total of $4,000.
[1:28:04] Um, last year, I wanted to make sure I
[1:28:06] got it done in time. So, when I started
[1:28:08] advertising this, I said, "This is a
[1:28:10] soon-to-be registered 501c3
[1:28:12] organization." I never took any
[1:28:14] donations. I put out a uh what's called
[1:28:16] like a donation pledge like hey if
[1:28:17] you're interested in donating to this
[1:28:18] once we form it as a 501c3 register your
[1:28:21] information and once we're formed we'll
[1:28:22] reach out because of the timing of
[1:28:24] everything I paid that first uh
[1:28:28] scholarship from my own business account
[1:28:30] out of my pocket um and this is the
[1:28:32] second year I've done two graduating
[1:28:34] seniors every check has been coming out
[1:28:36] of my business account as a donation
[1:28:38] from my myself um so I guess my the
[1:28:42] point is like okay it's a soon to be
[1:28:44] rich But but my question is what are I
[1:28:46] mean you're highlighting that I'm
[1:28:47] donating money and that's wrong or or
[1:28:50] like lying. I I I understand the lie
[1:28:52] would be the Well, the wrong thing would
[1:28:55] be and what I would agree Yeah. Yeah.
[1:28:57] What I would agree is if Well, hold on
[1:28:59] one second. What I would agree would be
[1:29:01] wrong is if I collected donations to a
[1:29:03] organization that isn't registered. That
[1:29:05] would be wrong. So it's no back and
[1:29:07] forth. I'm just stating what it is.
[1:29:10] » So yeah, and I'm not lying. So
[1:29:12] » But he let you speak. Sure.
[1:29:13] » Give him the same respect.
[1:29:15] » I can show you the checks I've cut to
[1:29:17] the graduating seniors. How is it that
[1:29:19] if I make a donation from my business to
[1:29:21] graduating seniors out of my money
[1:29:23] personally to them, how is that a bad
[1:29:26] thing?
[1:29:26] » All right. So, yeah, that's what it is.
[1:29:31] » Sure. That's all.
[1:29:32] » Rage bait. Rage bait.
[1:29:35] » Anybody else?
[1:29:37] » I'm going to do it.
[1:29:39] » Okay. The last time a clerk did this,
[1:29:41] somebody got sued. [laughter]
[1:29:44] » Did you research?
[1:29:48] » How much time you get? [laughter]
[1:30:00] same grace as everyone else. And I know
[1:30:02] the Bayon Council President's watching.
[1:30:04] Hi, Melissa.
[1:30:05] » As long as you started out nice.
[1:30:07] » We'll see. I got a lot of problems with
[1:30:09] you people. Been here a while.
[1:30:11] » You get more with sugar than salt.
[1:30:14] » Andrew Casayas, uh, formerly 166 Berwin
[1:30:17] Street, Rosal Park. Currently resident
[1:30:19] of Planefield. Currently the clerk. Uh,
[1:30:22] good evening everybody. Uh, I I I'm
[1:30:24] doing this I I very much appreciate
[1:30:26] everybody's comments. Um, I kind of
[1:30:29] wanted to do this because this is where
[1:30:30] I started. Um, uh, the fact the first
[1:30:34] person that I saw when I ever came into
[1:30:35] this room was former Councilman Jake
[1:30:38] McGera who came over to me and said,
[1:30:40] "Who are you and why are you here?" Um,
[1:30:43] former councilman then and God bless
[1:30:45] him, he's uh, he's since passed, but he
[1:30:46] was the first person. And actually that
[1:30:48] meeting I came here and I wrote down my
[1:30:50] address because I couldn't I was so
[1:30:52] nervous I couldn't remember it.
[1:30:54] Um, so the the context of it's
[1:30:57] intimidating. Uh, this seat is much
[1:30:59] lower than you. I'm realizing this now.
[1:31:02] Um, but I came to actually complain. Uh,
[1:31:05] and I made a complaint that year because
[1:31:06] the burrow didn't put the flags at half
[1:31:08] staff for 9/11. Um, and what struck me
[1:31:12] and kind of what kept me coming back is
[1:31:14] the mayor at the time, Mayor Dior, I'll
[1:31:15] give him credit, um, said that he was
[1:31:18] wrong and it was an oversight. And every
[1:31:21] council member got off the deis after
[1:31:22] that meeting and apologized.
[1:31:25] Um,
[1:31:26] and that's incredible, right? It really
[1:31:28] is an incredible thing, especially for a
[1:31:29] young person who was nervous to say
[1:31:31] their name. Um, it was a great thing.
[1:31:34] Man, the clock goes fast when you're on
[1:31:35] this side. Um, I want to say thank you
[1:31:38] to Mayor Hoginson who, you know, it's
[1:31:40] been already been said, uh, did the hard
[1:31:44] right thing, not just because it was me
[1:31:45] getting hired, but, uh, I know that it
[1:31:48] was a hard thing to do for a new,
[1:31:50] relatively new Democratic majority to
[1:31:52] hire a former Republican councilman to
[1:31:55] be the clerk. But my goal every day was
[1:31:57] to prove whatever critics are out there
[1:31:58] wrong. And that's what I take to every
[1:32:00] role that I'm in and what I will take
[1:32:02] when I go to Bayon because there will be
[1:32:04] a lot of critics. But we will we will
[1:32:05] work we'll work it, Melissa. We will
[1:32:07] work it. Um and uh I want to thank all
[1:32:11] the council members I've ever worked
[1:32:12] for, including this group. Um it's been
[1:32:14] an honor. Um I thought I brought a
[1:32:17] little bit of a unique perspective
[1:32:19] having been a council member. I tried to
[1:32:21] impart that on all of you. Um now my
[1:32:23] experience is not everybody's
[1:32:25] experience, but I could tell you that uh
[1:32:27] outside of this job that I've done the
[1:32:29] last 10 years, being a council member
[1:32:31] was tremendous. It's the best job I will
[1:32:34] ever have had. Uh, and I truly believe
[1:32:36] that as time goes on. Um, and then I
[1:32:39] just want to say something about the
[1:32:41] clerk's role. Um, it's something that's
[1:32:45] very close to me. You know, out of
[1:32:47] college I I went for the classes or
[1:32:49] actually in college I went for the
[1:32:50] classes. Uh, when I was a councilman
[1:32:52] here, I went for the classes. I got
[1:32:53] certified. Um, and there's statutory
[1:32:56] duties of the clerk, right? There's
[1:32:58] there's I think there's five. Um, but
[1:33:01] one of the ones that's very interesting
[1:33:02] is you're the keeper and the custodian
[1:33:03] of the seal, right? And I view the seal
[1:33:09] as kind of the keeper of the soul of the
[1:33:12] town, right? Um, this is crazy because
[1:33:15] I'm usually very sarcastic. Um, so it's
[1:33:17] it's hard to be a little bit emotional,
[1:33:19] but um I want to thank the town, right,
[1:33:22] the people in Rosal Park for letting me
[1:33:25] do this cuz I got to keep a piece of the
[1:33:28] soul for all this time. Um,
[1:33:32] and I thank you for letting me do that
[1:33:35] cuz it's truly been an honor and a
[1:33:38] privilege. And I did this in under four
[1:33:40] minutes [laughter]
[1:33:42] and I didn't cry. But uh, thank you.
[1:33:45] Thank you all very much.
[1:33:48] [applause]
[1:33:56] [applause]
[1:34:03] » All right, let's
[1:34:05] » All right. No one I see see uh seeing no
[1:34:08] one further, I have a motion to close
[1:34:11] the public portion on agenda. Uh wow.
[1:34:15] on uh agenda items only and uh
[1:34:18] » No any on any subject any you got me
[1:34:21] there's another
[1:34:22] » Res you didn't [laughter] put that in
[1:34:23] there right yeah
[1:34:25] » Moved
[1:34:26] » Second
[1:34:26] » Second
[1:34:27] » All in favor
[1:34:28] » I
[1:34:28] » I
[1:34:30] » Uh there's no matter for close session
[1:34:34] have a motion to adjurnn
[1:34:36] so moved
[1:34:37] » Second all in
[1:34:38] » Favor I I see August 20th