[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.

Township Committee Special Meeting - August 27th 2026

Agenda

Transcript