[0:00] I call to order the special meeting of
the township committee of the town of
[0:04] Amarus this Thursday, August 27th, 2026.
The time is now 6:01 p.m. This meeting
[0:11] is being held in accordance with the
open open public meetings act and
[0:14] adequate notice of this meeting has been
provided as required by law.
[0:19] Specifically, notice of this meeting was
posted on the Township of Mars website
[0:23] and under legal notices on Monday,
August 24th, 2026 and posted on the
[0:29] bulletin board outside of the clerk's
office. The agenda and resolutions for
[0:34] the meeting are available on marstwp.com
under the agenda center. Certain
[0:40] portions of this meeting may be closed
to the public for the purpose of
[0:44] personnel and/or other matters as
outlined in the sunshine law. Notice to
[0:49] the members of the governing body and
the township staff, any use of
[0:52] electronic devices during this meeting
shall be used solely for the purposes of
[0:57] township business and any communications
are open to the open public records act.
[1:03] Madame clerk, roll call, please.
>> Mr. Gazelle,
[1:07] » I'm here on Zoom tonight.
here. Mr. Janata
[1:11] » here.
>> Mr. Ravitz
[1:13] » here in person.
>> Miss Rothman is absent. Mayor Greglia
[1:17] » here. Just before we stand for the
pledge of allegiance, I just also want
[1:22] to recognize our CFO who's up here on
the days as well for tonight's meeting.
[1:27] Sean Ferguson. Please rise if you can
for the pledge.
[1:32] I pledge algiance to the flag of the
United States of America.
[2:01] in person. We will now open the public
meeting for public comment. We'll hear
[2:06] from those attending in person first and
then we'll go to Zoom. Please raise your
[2:10] hand on Zoom if you would like to speak.
Before speaking, please state whether or
[2:14] not you are a resident or non-resident
for the record. Comments are limited to
[2:19] five minutes per speaker. If you have
questions that you would like answered,
[2:23] you may yield your remaining time for
the purpose of receiving an answer. Is
[2:27] there a motion to open public comment?
>> So moved. Second.
[2:31] » All in favor?
>> I
[2:36] you please approach the podium. Thank
you.
[2:42] » Uh good evening uh mayor and members of
the township committee. My name is
[2:47] Subraman Vasuan and I'm a resident of 10
Victoria Lane
[2:53] Township. Um I'm here because um of the
board of adjustments August 24th
[2:58] approval of an application BA 1026
uh for the neighboring property at 8
[3:05] Victoria Lane. Uh the board approved a
roughly 625 square ft twotory
[3:12] 23 ft high detached garage with a
sideyard setback of about 15.64 ft where
[3:18] 25 ft is ordinarily required. Uh I
objected because of the scale of the
[3:25] structure and its proximity to my
property uh the loss of openness and the
[3:29] neighborhood character and because
runoff already flows from that property
[3:33] towards mine. I was concerned about
adding a substantial new imperous
[3:39] surface um near the boundary line uh and
about the increased storm water runoff
[3:44] into my property. Uh I was also
concerned that near the end of the
[3:48] hearing, the applicant's attorney
inaccurately characterized a private
[3:52] conversation between the applicant and
myself. Uh and that statement entered
[3:57] the record, but I was not given an
opportunity uh to correct it before the
[4:01] board deliberated and voted. Now, I
fully understand that the township
[4:05] committee cannot overturn the board's
decision. Uh I'm asking for four other
[4:09] things and let me just go over those. Uh
first, please ensure that the zoning and
[4:14] construction officials verify this
garage's approved location, setbacks,
[4:18] height, grading, drainage, landscaping,
and every other condition of approval.
[4:22] And any field change should receive the
required formal review. Basically, I
[4:26] have a two-story dwelling between me and
my neighbor as a result of approval. So,
[4:30] it's a huge change to me. So, I'd like
to make sure that um it doesn't become
[4:34] any worse than it already is. Uh second,
when making future board appointments,
[4:40] please consider whether candidates
demonstrate appropriate regard for the
[4:44] purposes of the zoning ordinance,
neighborhood character, and the effects
[4:48] of variances on adjoining homeowners. I
think it's very important. The whole
[4:52] reason I suppose you have a zoning board
is to make it apolitical so they can
[4:56] really stand for the law and it
shouldn't just be granting variances,
[5:00] you know, um to anyone who asks for one.
Um third uh please review whether the
[5:06] ordinance adequately controls the
height, size and placement of large
[5:10] accessory structures in residential
neighborhoods. Um if it does not
[5:14] adequately protect uh adjoining
properties, they should be strengthened.
[5:18] If you go to Victoria Lane now and
imagine the addition of this of this
[5:21] additional structure, you have like 100
ft between the first two properties, 100
[5:25] feet between next two, 100 ft and then
suddenly down to like you know 45 ft
[5:31] between my property and the one for
which this approval has been given and
[5:34] that's just really not that changes the
character of the neighborhood. Uh I'm
[5:38] not saying that this is good or bad.
Each neighborhood has its character and
[5:41] each neighborhood is great. But I think
when you when you buy a place in a
[5:45] certain neighborhood, you expect that
character to be maintained. Uh lastly,
[5:49] um you know, uh this h put into the
attorney's comments. Uh please review
[5:54] the recording of the August 24th hearing
and establish a clear procedure ensuring
[5:58] that when an applicant or attorney
attributes a material statement to an
[6:03] identified resident, that resident
receives a brief opportunity to correct
[6:08] the record before deliberations. So here
what happened is the attorney was
[6:12] allowed to close. They made a statement
characterizing my my earlier position
[6:17] and then the board voted. There was no
uh chance given to me to comment on the
[6:24] charact the characterization of my
position or my conversation with the
[6:28] applicant uh because I had spoken before
and that's a sequence there. That
[6:32] sequence needs changing in my opinion.
Uh and also um the township should give
[6:37] participating residents a simple written
explanation of when they may question
[6:41] witnesses offers sworn comments and
respond to statements. Most of us don't
[6:45] come to the committee or these boards
you know more than once every few years.
[6:50] So it'd be good if we up you know told
up front what the procedures are. I
[6:53] [snorts] mean
um so finally just a comment I mean we
[6:58] we residents rely on zoning rules when
purchasing and investing in our homes. I
[7:01] mean I consciously decided I'm going to
retire here in New Jersey and like every
[7:06] one of my colleagues you've all like you
know high tales of Florida. Um but it's
[7:10] so we're here for a reason. We have a
beautiful neighborhood uh here and I'd
[7:15] like to see that maintained. You know
variances can be justified but there
[7:18] should be genuine exceptions. Um I mean
I know everyone who buys a property you
[7:24] know you know would want to expand it
and make it bigger. Um but I think let's
[7:28] please maintain the character of this of
this township. Thank you. Uh
[7:33] » thank you very much for your comments
and we did receive your email as well.
[7:37] So um also just want you to understand
at your one of the last comments and
[7:42] then I'm going to turn it over for any
other comments. Um I do know uh on a
[7:47] planning board um that typically it is
explained to the people who are there in
[7:53] the room when they can speak what their
opportunity is. So again we'll make sure
[7:58] that you know that's true that if you're
coming in brand new and you might not
[8:02] realize how it works but typically I'm
I'm on the planning board so I know
[8:06] there they do turn and say this is your
opportunity. This is when when you can
[8:11] speak. So
>> my my concern specifically was I
[8:15] understand he made it a that being a
quasa judicial body they should have
[8:20] immediately got it this like a you know
whatever report somebody else's
[8:24] statements and therefore that person
should be allowed to clarify whether or
[8:27] not
>> I understand Mr. Quinn
[8:30] » and we've also reviewed your your
concerns with the board of adjustment
[8:34] attorney um as part of that also. Um but
as you know as you said the board of
[8:40] adjustment is a it's an autonomous
board. Um
[8:45] the governing body here does appoint the
members but that is pretty much their
[8:48] role with it. Um most of those members
have been on for many many years here a
[8:53] number of different cases. um they are
volunteers of the community that do go
[8:58] through some extensive training and
other things for that. Um and they also
[9:02] have the um our professionals the the
attorneys, the planners and the
[9:07] engineers to guide them if they have
questions or procedure and those kinds
[9:11] of things. So they do do that as part of
it. Um,
[9:16] you know, the ones that are between
neighbor to neighbor are often very
[9:19] difficult um in their decision-m
um and as I said, they go through a
[9:24] process like you were sworn in um last
night to give testimony um and and your
[9:30] comments. Um you do have an
administrative remedy as you probably
[9:33] know that you do have the right to then
appeal that decision up to superior
[9:38] court. Um and I would you know if you
feel on many of these things that might
[9:43] be you know good for you that you know
that they also are looking for you know
[9:47] both sides when there's an appeal to
come to some type of agreement upon
[9:51] themselves so the judge doesn't have to
make that decision if we can get
[9:55] agreement between the two parties for
that. Um, but I'd like to address your
[10:00] four. I can assure you that our
construction code officials, which is
[10:04] building code, sub code, they'll be
doing inspections. Our engineering
[10:08] inspectors, they follow very closely
that resolution uh that comes from the
[10:13] board of adjustment for compliance. So,
they will be making sure they're very
[10:17] strict um in making sure that that is
done on the you know that it's going to
[10:21] be the right height, it's going to be
the right materials um and they'll have
[10:25] a number of different inspections that
they have to go through. So that is
[10:28] something they do on a regular basis
every single day um on these types of
[10:32] projects whether they're coming out of
the planning board or the board of
[10:35] adjustment. Um they'll also be looking
at the drainage. I think our engineer
[10:39] spoke a little bit about the drainage at
the meeting um the other night, but
[10:42] that's also another component to make
sure that there's not excessive runoff
[10:46] or whatever that's being addressed if
it's um in the resolution that's
[10:50] adopted.
Um on your second one, yes, we I mean
[10:53] the board members, you know, they are
very capable. I said they've been here
[10:57] from for many many years and they do go
through a training process. So um
[11:02] they're selected by um the governing
body but they usually have some type of
[11:07] expertise already that they're bringing
to that position. Um and then you know
[11:11] they learn from the other members of
there. They start off as alternate
[11:14] members. Um and they watch how the
procedure goes and then they turn it
[11:18] over and then eventually they become
regular members. some people step down
[11:21] or they um ask not to be uh reappointed
for whatever because they serve so many
[11:27] years. So there is a you know there I
think we have a very good process in our
[11:30] selection of uh members and making sure
that they do there understand the
[11:36] different codes and you know board of
adjustment is is a challenging one
[11:40] because there's a lot of rules and
regulations they have to follow and
[11:42] that's where they do also seek the
guidance of our professionals.
[11:46] um as to if our professionals, this is
your third one, if our professionals see
[11:52] concerns where they think that the
governing body should take a look at an
[11:56] ordinance um if something needs to be
modified, if they something some kind of
[12:00] new technology comes in or something
that they need to do. So oftent times
[12:05] they will be making recommendations to
the governing body um for a ordinance to
[12:10] either amend modify or [clears throat]
have a new ordinance um something that
[12:15] has come up and they think would be
beneficial for the township as a whole.
[12:18] So that's part of our our regular
process with our land use professionals.
[12:23] Um as far as the hearing is concerned
your concerns there it's called the
[12:28] manual on the land use law mun land use
law. So it's very regulated is how those
[12:34] procedures go. Um and I believe it, you
know, your concern was after her the
[12:40] applicant summation then they they vote
on which is the normal procedure for
[12:44] that. Following that um my suggestion if
you do decide to
[12:50] uh move forward with an appeal that you
know you address that in your appeal
[12:54] would be your best opportunity to do so
on that. Um but again there is it is
[13:01] regulated by the inscellent law how
these proceedings go whether it's the
[13:04] board of adjustment or the planning
board and um that's what guides our
[13:10] attorneys when they are working with the
board to make sure that that's the way
[13:14] our our land use boards are operating.
Um thank you for all those
[13:19] clarifications. you know, I have
retained an attorney and um I'm having
[13:23] him. He also indicated that superior
courts typically defer to um zoning
[13:28] boards. Uh so he was going to look at
the likelihood of my being able to
[13:31] prevail before I actually, you know,
file lawsuit. I mean, I um I felt my
[13:36] $25,000 of property taxes protect me,
but now I'm going to send an equal
[13:40] amount amount of money in court, and it
just seemed like uh kind of not a great
[13:44] use of my my resources. But that's
certainly a direction that I would like
[13:48] to pursue if it looks like it. I have I
have good grounds to
[13:52] » as in the past I've seen sometimes after
an appeal is filed
[13:57] often times that brings both sides to
the table to try and reach a mutual
[14:01] agreement and that gets put on the
record and that could you know modify or
[14:06] reduce some of
>> or try to address some of your concerns.
[14:10] So that that does I'm not saying it's
going to happen in this case, but I've
[14:13] seen it happen in other cases where you
know they try and the two the applicant
[14:19] and the objector try and work something
out again and and really through their
[14:24] respective attorneys
>> and and on the zoning um rules that they
[14:27] currently stand. I just imagine Victoria
Lane just driving down it. If I just
[14:33] applied the variances given here to
every other dwelling, we'd essentially
[14:37] have the neighborhood destroyed. Uh
essentially looks like the rules or with
[14:42] variances allow homes to be separated
half as much or maybe even less than
[14:47] they currently are.
>> Right. And that's that's a scary
[14:50] thought. Um
so but I I thank you. I mean I um I was
[14:56] kicking myself after the meeting for not
proposing a remedy. Uh but then later I
[15:00] just went to chat GPT and it said the
remedies are supposed to be constructed
[15:04] by the by the uh zoning board. Uh I can
only state what I I I s I saw as a
[15:10] potential impact on me. Um there were
certainly two gentlemen who seemed very
[15:13] informed and they tried to move in that
direction but I didn't see adequate or
[15:18] serious consideration of that proposal
by uh by the chair. Um so so one one
[15:24] individual in fact just said looks like
the garage is really big. Um um you know
[15:29] can we consider making it smaller? And
then the chair said well maybe an F-150
[15:34] will you know needs to fit in it and so
let it be that way. I mean that did not
[15:37] sound right at all to me. Um so those
are specifics and they can get it
[15:44] somewhere else. But
>> I'm sure if you do hire an attorney
[15:46] he'll get a recording and a transcript
of the proceeding for you know for when
[15:51] he files. I I I've sought that. Yeah.
And thank you very much for your
[15:54] comments and your clarifications. I
really appreciate it.
[15:57] » You're welcome. Thank you for bringing
your concerns to us. Appreciate it.
[16:02] Is there anybody on Zoom who would like
to speak?
[16:07] Seeing no hands raised, is there a
motion to close public comment?
[16:11] » So moved. Second.
>> All in favor?
[16:14] » I.
>> Yes. Oh, Jeff, I'm sorry. [laughter]
[16:19] We have two resolutions on tonight's
agenda and before I turn this over, I
[16:23] just want to for those who are listening
or here in the room, um they have to do
[16:28] with bond anticipation notes. So,
especially um just like our residents
[16:33] said, sometimes people come in or are
listening and don't really So, I'm just
[16:36] giving a basic um understanding of what
bond anticipation notes are. And very
[16:42] simply, they're a way for the
governments to get fast funding for
[16:46] projects while waiting for bigger
long-term funding. If we need money for
[16:51] a project, but we won't receive those
funds from a larger bond sale until
[16:56] later, we issue these bond anticipation
notes, which will provide immediate
[17:02] cash. So, it's technically like
borrowing money now with a promise to
[17:06] pay it back with future funds. And again
with our AAA rating and the anticipated
[17:11] premium I believe like all the prior
years we'll do very well um when we go
[17:16] to auction. So that at this time I will
turn it over to Mr. Quinn and Mr.
[17:21] Ferguson.
>> Yeah. Thank you, Mayor. It uh something
[17:26] that we do annually until we get uh
favorable um interest rates. Um interest
[17:32] rates are still up around 4% if we went
to long-term debt. Um so we speaking
[17:38] with our financial advisors um which are
our financial advisor, our bond council,
[17:43] our auditors and our CFO um we look at
what is the best for the township and um
[17:49] it was determined that we should do bond
anticipation notes for another year um
[17:54] for this. Normally we would do this at
the regular meeting as our these are
[17:58] one-year notes that expire at the end of
September. Um but in discussion with our
[18:02] professionals um there is a possibility
that interest rates could rise at the
[18:08] September 15th Federal Reserve meeting
um which would put us in a precarious
[18:12] position when we go out to for that note
sale. So we've asked for the special
[18:16] meeting tonight to authorize the sale.
Um notice will go out to the biders on
[18:22] September 2nd and we'll have the sale on
September the 9th. Um and we hope that
[18:27] we do very well as we have in past years
and looking at recent uh ban sales and
[18:33] also you know going out to full uh
authorized debt their numbers are pretty
[18:38] much where they were last year where we
think we're going to be below well below
[18:42] 3%
um for the bond anticipation notes for
[18:46] the one year but I will turn it over to
Mr. Ferguson who'll get the details on
[18:50] the sale
[18:54] » as uh Mr. when it's covered. Uh the sale
itself,
[18:59] we normally go out to bid or the sale is
usually done towards the end of the the
[19:05] month. Uh which we can usually cover
these resolutions during our our normal
[19:09] committee meetings. And uh we're looking
to just have these resolutions approved
[19:16] for the, you know, earlier for the
special meeting in order to go out for
[19:20] sale in, you know, on September 9th. Uh,
we're looking to go out for sale for
[19:28] 2 million
[19:32] » 5,000 [laughter]
23 million $5,000
[19:36] uh which covers um both
uh General Capital swimming pool and we
[19:45] do have some sewer utility that are
carrying over from last year.
[19:52] » Okay.
>> Yep. Thank you, Madame Clerk. Please
[19:55] read the title of resolution 183-26 into
the record.
[20:00] » Resolution providing for combination of
certain issues of notes
[20:05] of the township of Morris into a single
bond anticipation note aggregating
[20:09] $23,5,000
in principal amount.
[20:14] » Are there any questions or comments from
the committee?
[20:18] Seeing none, may I have a motion to
approve resolution number 183-26?
[20:23] » Second.
>> Madame Clerk, may I have a roll call
[20:26] vote, please?
>> Mr. Rabbitz,
[20:28] » yes.
>> Mr. Janata,
[20:30] » yes.
>> Mr. Gazelle,
[20:32] » yes.
>> Mayor Geriglia,
[20:34] » yes. Madame Clerk, please read the title
of resolution number 184-26
[20:40] into the record. Resolution 18426,
resolution determining the form and
[20:46] other details of a 23,5,000
bond anticipation note of the township
[20:52] of Morris and providing for its sale.
>> Any questions or comments?
[20:57] » Just a just a quick comment on on both
of these from a general perspective. Uh
[21:01] to the residents of the township who
might be listening or watching this down
[21:06] the road, this is a prudent use of
taxpayer money. We're going out there
[21:10] looking for, you know, better interest
rates before, you know, we think that
[21:14] interest rates are going to be rising as
Mr. Quinn had said, uh, at the next Fed
[21:19] meeting later on in September. So, uh,
this actually, um, is going to be
[21:24] hopefully saving taxpayers money in the
long run, and this is why we're doing
[21:29] this as, uh, as we are today.
>> Thank you. [clears throat]
[21:34] May I have a motion to approve
resolution number 184-26?
[21:38] » So moved. Second.
>> Madame clerk, may I have a roll call
[21:41] vote?
>> Mr. Ravitz?
[21:44] » Yes.
>> Mr. Janata?
[21:45] » Yes.
>> Mr. Gazelle?
[21:46] » Yes.
>> Mayor Griglia?
[21:49] » Yes.
>> The time is now 6:23 p.m. May I have a
[21:53] motion to adjourn the special township
committee meeting?
[21:57] » So moved.
>> Second.
[21:59] » Second.
[laughter]
[22:02] » All in favor?
>> I.
[22:04] » I. The next regular township committee
meeting is Wednesday, September 16th,
[22:08] 2026 at 7 p.m. in the municipal building
at 50 Woodland Avenue. Uh just a couple
[22:14] other dates wanted to just get out there
for people who are listening. Um on
[22:19] September 1st, 2026, 6:30 to 7:30, uh
there's a meeting at the Madison Hotel
[22:25] on the Madison Avenue development. On
September 9th, 2026, it's the 25th
[22:31] remembrance of 911 here at Town Hall.
And on September 13th is Mars County's
[22:37] remembrance of the uh county 911 site.
>> It's at Ginty
[22:44] » at Ginty
>> near the gazebo.
[22:46] » Near the gazebo. Thank you.
>> Other than that, everybody have a great
[22:51] night and thank you for being here.
>> Good night, everybody.