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Uh, roll call, please.

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Mr. Lerner.

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Here.

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Ms. Dolan.

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Here.

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Mrs. Jeffrey.

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Here.

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Mayor Morgan.

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Here.

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Mr. Kamisky.

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Here.

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Mrs. McKnight.

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Here.

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Mr. Gardner.

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Here.

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Let's salute the flag.

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I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America,

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and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with

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liberty and justice for all.

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This is a public meeting of the Borough Council of New Providence, County of Union,

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State of New Jersey, and proper notice has been given in accordance with P.L.

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1975, Chapter 231, with the annual notice of revision to the act.

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Okay.

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We have a presentation from Chief Sidner Bell about amending ordinances.

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All right. Good evening, everyone. Good evening, Mayor and Council.

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Thank you for having me tonight. It is a wet one out there, and it has been quite a

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day.

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It has.

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But so tonight I'm here to present a presentation regarding

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our ordinance revision proposal for Chapter 51 and 155, which I'll

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explain in some detail here. So I have a few slides to go through.

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Please, if you have any questions, feel free to stop me.

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I'm happy to answer whenever I can. So without further ado, I'll go right into it.

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Just a little bit of background on why I'm here and why we're proposing this.

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So, this has kind of been a multi-year journey.

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It started under my predecessor before I became chief, with the fire officers at

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the time. We had a recognition that we needed to start to evaluate and put

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together some type of plan for the sustainability of our volunteer fire department

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for the future years to come. Traditional recruiting campaigns

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are steady but slow. It is getting more difficult. This is a national problem.

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This is not a New Providence problem.

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Volunteerism is on the decline, and it is harder in all agencies

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to have that pipeline that once was.

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So we started to evaluate different options that departments have looked at or have

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implemented both in New Jersey and nationally.

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And we kind of found certain ones check certain boxes, other ones check others, but

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nothing was really our fit. And we finally found it in a department close by

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that had successfully implemented a plan with similar challenges that we did.

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They were probably six to seven years into their journey at that point.

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And this plan, once we met with them, we quickly discovered that it checked all our

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boxes. So we pursued it more, we researched more, we met with them

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further, and then we started to design it around New Providence.

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I don't want to say it was perfectly plug and play.

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Every plan has its differences that fit us the best.

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But like I said, this checked all the boxes, and then we began to design it and

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present it to the Public Safety Committee as we saw best fit for the borough.

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So fast-forward from 2025 to 2026, we've gone through multiple revisions, multiple

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research, multiple presentations with public safety to get it in a good place where

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we feel comfortable with our proposal to the greater council here tonight on these

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proposed changes in a way to sustain the fire department for the future.

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So a little bit of background for the fire department, and I've paralleled on the

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slides. I could have made it bigger, I admit but under the Fire Department and

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Bureau of Fire Prevention coinciding to the ordinance changes.

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So you have Chapter 51 and you have Chapter 155 are the two ordinance proposed

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changes in front of you. On the operations side, that is what everybody probably

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knows and recognizes with the fire department.

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That is our 100% volunteer fire department providing 24/7 fire and rescue services

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to the borough and neighboring communities. We have all hazards capability.

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We have a team of fire officers and dedicated volunteer personnel that dedicate an

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incredible amount of time and effort to making sure that the community is safe.

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And we cover all those in the final bullet there under operations.

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We cover all those areas. What's lesser known is under Chapter 155, which

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governs the Bureau of Fire Prevention, which is a bureau within the fire

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department. So these are related to code enforcement and enforcing that code from

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the uniform fire code within New Jersey as well as the borough ordinances that we

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have. So that code basically covers all occupancies other than one or two-family,

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owner-occupied, single-family dwellings.

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So anything else is covered and enforced within that bureau.

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As well as public education, and you'll hear me say community risk reduction a lot

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tonight. That is another major piece that this bureau is intention on doing.

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So why are we here? Why are we here and going back to the slide I just presented,

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keep both of those areas in mind as I start to get into our current and emerging

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challenges within the fire department because a lot of the high-level topics are

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applied to both areas. So it's no secret that the borough has increased

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development. We're seeing increased multiple housing dwellings, multiple housing

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units come aboard here in New Providence. We know we have plans for more.

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And with that, there's just general growing demand.

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Not only are these developments coming into New Providence, but they are more

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complex developments. We have multi-story apartment buildings.

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We have healthcare facilities, and quite frankly, we have healthcare facilities

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within multiple story apartment buildings.

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Any area of the code that can be covered is certainly seen in the developments

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we've seen in the past 10, 15 years.

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So once again, that comes to our growing demand and increasing requirements both on

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the Bureau of Fire Prevention and the Fire Department side.

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It takes 325 to 350 hours to get a volunteer through the door through basic fire

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one and two at this point. It's an incredible amount of time it takes just to get

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to that point. And then you have fire officer requirements that are coming through

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the state. You have continuing education courses that are now required on both the

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bureau and the fire department side. So there's more training.

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All the challenges that are pretty well documented nationally on the fire service

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we're feeling very much. So with all of these current and emerging challenges, we

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basically have the same volunteer fire department, more or less, that we've had for

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the past 125 years.

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Fire prevention resources, very similar.

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They have operated under the same bandwidth of personnel for probably the past 20

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to 25 years. So our supply is what it

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is, and our demand continues to grow year after year.

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And that was our recognition that it's just not sustainable.

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You have two arrows going in opposite directions, it becomes unsustainable after a

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time. So we're looking, and that's why we evaluated from a proactive posture, an

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option to preserve our volunteer fire department.

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So like I said, we have a strong foundation, but it becomes difficult to sustain.

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I have an incredible core group of volunteers here that are giving it their all.

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They are giving every moment they have away from their jobs and their families and

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all that life throws at us in the current age to this department.

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But like I said, they reach a ceiling and the demand continues to exceed it.

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So again, we're trying to mitigate against both our current and future demands and

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a future crisis by putting a proactive solution in place.

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Choosing to not do a proactive solution is certainly an option, but the reactive

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options, as you could imagine, become disruptive to the community and frankly much

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more expensive and cost prohibitive than the plan we have proposed through these

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ordinances. So that is something that needs to be known.

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That reactive is a different choice.

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And this is all about just putting in a bullet there, responsible and proactive

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investment to preserve the volunteer fire department.

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I think if there's one key takeaway, it's that we want to preserve what we have.

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We just need to augment it a little bit with some strategic investment.

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Okay, so fire off more challenges.

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I've talked about some of these, but I do want to go into a few of them.

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Fire officer succession challenges.

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So what does that mean in the bandwidth for administrative responsibilities?

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I kind of touched on that earlier, that the administrative responsibilities when it

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comes to reporting and plan reviews and all the things that we're required as fire

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officers to accomplish for the operations of the fire department is increasing.

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And to get someone now through training, so get a volunteer in the door now, get

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them through training, now get them experienced after a few years.

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Now ask them to take on more as a volunteer from a fire officer perspective.

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Teach them that, get them experience in that.

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It takes many years, and our succession challenges are becoming very apparent to us

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as our officers continue to meet and discuss and evaluate these options.

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And incident volume with broader incident types.

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I talked about being that all hazard agency.

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It's no secret, we're going to floods, we're going to fires, we're going to gas

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leaks. Everything is increasing, and when you need help, most of the time

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it's falling to the fire department, frankly, when you think about some of those

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non-mundane calls. So,

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our daytime volume is specifically our weekday daytime volume is our busiest time.

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So, I do have a metric about that. I looked at incidents per weekly hour.

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So basically, what I did was I took, you think about your 9:00 to 5:00, 40-hour

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workweek. You look at that block of time, and then you look at all others, nights

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and weekends. And you say, how many incidents in the past four or five years have

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we done in those two blocks of time?

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And what it has yielded is we're doing about 21 incidents per weekly hour in our

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9:00 to 5:00 period, if you will, and we're doing about 13 incidents per hour in

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the nights and weekends period block of time.

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So that metric is directly showing us that we are busiest during our most

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challenging manpower periods of weekday daytime.

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And then general call volume. For 10-year period, we're up 59% from 2015 to

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2025. That is significant, and it was approximately 12% in the 10-year period from

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2005 to 2015. So, it is no secret that we are a busier department,

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and it used to be the volunteer fire department does, oh, a call a day, seven calls

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a week, or something like that. I mean, we've just did four today alone, and we're

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on September 1st. So, we are a busier department, and we are busier during our

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challenging times. So parallel to that, what about the Fire Prevention Bureau?

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Where are their deficiencies? It's the same thing. It's their nature of their work.

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They have an increased workload because of these complex occupancies.

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There's more code to enforce. They're bigger buildings.

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There's more people living in there.

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There are higher life hazards,

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and yet they're operating basically with the same staffing over the past 25 years.

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And, I talked about community risk reduction.

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I would speak a little bit in detail on that.

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We've had to suspend or reevaluate some public safety programs.

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We used to help older adults with fire prevention reviews and emergency planning of

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their homes. One of my elementary school memories is the fire department

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coming and doing fire prevention week.

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We've had to scale that back to just doing a weekend open house for people to come

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to us because the bandwidth has gotten incredibly hard, and the people that were

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once involved and had maybe some of that bandwidth to do that have moved on.

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And so, that community outreach is important to us.

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We value ourselves as a community partner, and when we have to come short or

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augment that in different ways, it becomes challenging.

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And I think most importantly, the third bullet here, lacking ability to pre-plan.

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Complex environments that I've talked about and complex occupancies, we need to

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know from fire department perspective how to go in and manage an incident in those

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areas. If there's a fire on the seventh floor, the fifth floor, the underground

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parking garage below grade, whatever the incident may be, maybe it's not a fire,

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maybe it's some type of medical assist or gas leak or anything, that all hazards

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approach. That requires pre-planning.

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And that takes an incredible amount of bandwidth and something that makes the

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community safer and the fire department safer, our volunteers safer.

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And, we're struggling to do that, and we want to do that for all of the reasons

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I just discussed. And I talked about the increasing training responsibility on the

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previous slide, with the hours and continuing education.

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So, I've outlined the challenges. Now it's the how. What is our proposed plan?

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So like I said, we want to preserve the volunteer fire department by investing in

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administrative bandwidth to just catch up to where we're falling short and then

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become proactive in our operations.

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So, the investment in the Fire Prevention Bureau is to expand the workforce, to add

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hours and inspectors, to be able to accomplish all of the things that I've talked

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about that were in areas that were falling short for that bureau.

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And then synergizing that bureau back to the fire department.

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We want those fire prevention inspectors that are volunteers of our volunteer fire

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department to be working in New Providence doing fire prevention inspection

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activities. And when there is a call during the weekday in our challenging time, we

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want them to be able to drop and go volunteer with us.

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We want to synergize these two departments to make it safer and improve public

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safety. So, this allows us a new operational foundation.

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If we're able to synergize these two pieces, we start fresh, and we're able to

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scale. And I think that is another extremely important part of this, is that our

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community will continue to grow. It will continue to get complex in different ways.

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We hear from you at various meetings about planning board applications and what's

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coming and how things will change.

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Like every one of those applications and approvals, they affect the fire

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department. They affect all of public safety in some way, shape, or form.

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So as we continue with this plan in place, as we continue to see that, we will

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scale to that. We will be able to adopt this plan to scale to those challenges and

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those changes. So, what is our investment, and how are we doing this?

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So, we're combining investment responsibilities for revenue generation to minimize

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our taxpayer impact on this plan. And then we have the investment measures.

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So, I'll talk a little bit about the left side of the slide in revenue to support

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the investment. So, easy low-hanging fruit, we're going to update our inspection

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fees. We did some research on surrounding municipalities that have updated their

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inspection fees in recent years, and we have a benchmark, and we're looking to

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bring our inspection fees up to that benchmark.

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And we're expanding our inspections with a multiple unit dwelling program.

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And when I say multiple unit dwelling, I mean apartment-style complexes,

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where we're going to do a more thorough inspection within these units and within

230
00:15:52,854 --> 00:15:55,554
these complexes, so we ensure that these

231
00:15:57,174 --> 00:16:02,454
complexes are compliant to code and that we're doing it thoroughly for the safety

232
00:16:02,575 --> 00:16:08,454
of the residents within and the volunteers that may be called to answer an incident

233
00:16:08,469 --> 00:16:14,064
there. And on the fire department side, the billing, we have various billing

234
00:16:14,124 --> 00:16:19,945
options as part of this plan. So, insurance billing for motor vehicle accidents.

235
00:16:20,004 --> 00:16:24,729
And I'm going to kind of group one and two because the reason for billing, and even

236
00:16:24,774 --> 00:16:28,748
three, the reason for billing under the first three, so motor vehicle accidents,

237
00:16:28,854 --> 00:16:31,719
hazardous material incidents, and other large-scale cost recovery.

238
00:16:32,454 --> 00:16:36,684
Hazardous incidents, car accidents, they require a decent amount of manpower,

239
00:16:36,864 --> 00:16:42,804
resources, and equipment. There's a price to that for us to bring that back and

240
00:16:42,835 --> 00:16:47,394
restore that once we return from a call from both a personnel and equipment

241
00:16:47,484 --> 00:16:52,854
standpoint. So, we're looking to start, which is not uncommon within Union County

242
00:16:52,884 --> 00:16:53,874
and the state of New Jersey,

243
00:16:55,284 --> 00:17:00,114
billing insurance companies just like the tow company would bill an insurance

244
00:17:00,144 --> 00:17:05,725
company, just like various other agencies will bill for the cost of doing service

245
00:17:05,754 --> 00:17:10,888
to an incident. ... hazardous material even greater, right? It requires resources.

246
00:17:10,932 --> 00:17:16,287
They're usually larger incidents or longer duration events, and that would be a

247
00:17:16,303 --> 00:17:19,842
cost recovery option for us to generate some revenue as well.

248
00:17:20,232 --> 00:17:24,162
And large incident, that could be something more of a commercial basis.

249
00:17:24,583 --> 00:17:27,942
They're kind of synonymous, typically to hazardous material incidents, but it is a

250
00:17:27,972 --> 00:17:31,782
catch-all for other things, again, using bandwidth resource, both personnel,

251
00:17:32,562 --> 00:17:35,592
equipment, and some of our consumables as well.

252
00:17:36,972 --> 00:17:38,652
And reoccurring nuisance alarm billing.

253
00:17:39,252 --> 00:17:45,042
There needs to be accountability for property owners that neglect systems,

254
00:17:45,162 --> 00:17:50,142
that if we're going back to an address for the same issue, that could easily be

255
00:17:50,232 --> 00:17:54,342
fixed by just addressing that issue. That's a burden on our volunteers.

256
00:17:54,402 --> 00:17:56,112
It's a burden on the bureau and the taxpayer.

257
00:17:57,612 --> 00:18:00,582
Going out every time that fire truck rolls out the door, there's a cost to that,

258
00:18:00,642 --> 00:18:05,803
right? So, under certain conditions, nuisance alarms will be enforced by the code,

259
00:18:05,996 --> 00:18:08,172
and we will be able to bill in cost recovery to that.

260
00:18:09,822 --> 00:18:15,192
What I want to make sure is clear on the billing side is that this is not turning

261
00:18:15,222 --> 00:18:15,553
into a

262
00:18:16,932 --> 00:18:21,222
billing service for residents. We are not going to start going out to single-family

263
00:18:21,252 --> 00:18:26,412
dwellings for fire alarms or for fires or any incidents for people in our community

264
00:18:26,428 --> 00:18:30,162
and hand them an invoice two days later. That is not what this is about.

265
00:18:30,222 --> 00:18:35,982
This is strategic revenue-generating activity that we feel is best suited to

266
00:18:36,087 --> 00:18:37,932
offset some of the investments that we want to make.

267
00:18:39,522 --> 00:18:41,053
So, what are the investment measures, right?

268
00:18:41,202 --> 00:18:42,972
So there's three main components to this.

269
00:18:43,932 --> 00:18:46,513
One and two have to do with the Bureau of Fire Prevention, right?

270
00:18:46,572 --> 00:18:50,532
Like I spoke about, increase the amount of fire inspectors and their hours to

271
00:18:50,592 --> 00:18:53,652
address our personnel challenges and our fire prevention challenges, right?

272
00:18:54,042 --> 00:18:58,452
By having these fire prevention inspectors within the bureau and having the fire

273
00:18:58,513 --> 00:19:03,402
official the bandwidth to implement components of this proposed plan and the

274
00:19:03,432 --> 00:19:08,053
revenue generation components of this proposed plan, we now have more volunteers

275
00:19:08,112 --> 00:19:12,777
available to handle incidents during our most challenging times, because the

276
00:19:12,792 --> 00:19:16,347
working hours for fire prevention inspectors are going to be during those times.

277
00:19:17,022 --> 00:19:20,772
And then the appointment of a full-time chief of department is the third investment

278
00:19:21,013 --> 00:19:24,102
measure that we would take as part of these proposed ordinances.

279
00:19:24,882 --> 00:19:29,263
And this addresses basically everything that I've talked about in challenges,

280
00:19:29,352 --> 00:19:33,342
right? It's personnel. It's another volunteer that's here to answer the call during

281
00:19:33,372 --> 00:19:38,412
weekday hours. It's taking all of that administrative responsibility that is

282
00:19:38,442 --> 00:19:42,957
currently spread among all the fire officers, and it's bringing it up to that

283
00:19:42,972 --> 00:19:46,617
appointed full-time chief of department to handle, and it allows the other fire

284
00:19:46,662 --> 00:19:51,852
officers to focus on training our members and training themselves to make a more

285
00:19:51,882 --> 00:19:53,832
efficient and safer fire department, right?

286
00:19:54,207 --> 00:19:59,142
All of my officers, we get so caught up in the administrative duties just to keep

287
00:19:59,263 --> 00:20:01,842
up, that sometimes you neglect the things that you shouldn't, right?

288
00:20:01,992 --> 00:20:04,122
Just to keep up with deadlines and things that you have to.

289
00:20:05,472 --> 00:20:09,342
We want to reorganize that, and we want to be able to put our people in a good

290
00:20:09,402 --> 00:20:10,482
position with that.

291
00:20:12,702 --> 00:20:13,872
Just a-

292
00:20:13,932 --> 00:20:14,007
Yeah.

293
00:20:14,322 --> 00:20:15,252
Under the,

294
00:20:17,772 --> 00:20:20,592
you talk about expanding inspections within multi-unit dwellings.

295
00:20:20,891 --> 00:20:21,057
Mm-hmm.

296
00:20:21,207 --> 00:20:25,992
I believe there is a state mandate on those inspections. Is there like a minimum...

297
00:20:26,053 --> 00:20:27,041
Sorry, Alan.

298
00:20:28,303 --> 00:20:28,932
You talked about

299
00:20:31,272 --> 00:20:33,822
expanding inspections for multi-unit dwellings, right?

300
00:20:33,852 --> 00:20:33,867
Mm-hmm.

301
00:20:33,882 --> 00:20:38,666
Is there a state mandate? Is there a minimum amount of inspections?

302
00:20:39,492 --> 00:20:44,412
And if the answer is yes to that, just expand a little bit on what you mean by

303
00:20:44,472 --> 00:20:45,763
expanding those inspections.

304
00:20:45,972 --> 00:20:51,852
Sure. So right now within the fire code, the enforcing agency, the

305
00:20:51,882 --> 00:20:56,053
local enforcing agency, which is our Bureau of Fire Prevention, under that code,

306
00:20:56,292 --> 00:20:59,952
they should be going into the apartments.

307
00:20:59,982 --> 00:21:04,632
The code encourages that they review all of the dwelling units within that

308
00:21:04,647 --> 00:21:10,182
apartment complex. Right? Now, under our current state, there's no way that our

309
00:21:10,272 --> 00:21:14,082
current bandwidth and labor force within the Bureau of Fire Prevention could cover

310
00:21:14,112 --> 00:21:15,942
that in addition to all the other needs, right?

311
00:21:16,182 --> 00:21:19,602
We've already talked about stuff that they've had to scale back, never mind trying

312
00:21:19,662 --> 00:21:24,492
to cover that. So it does allow that, and we want to bring that back to allow for

313
00:21:24,553 --> 00:21:28,032
the hours to be there for the increase in inspectors.

314
00:21:28,452 --> 00:21:33,642
And then part of the ordinance proposal is actually creating that cyclical time,

315
00:21:33,732 --> 00:21:38,397
right? So I think we set it at, for multiple unit dwellings specifically, it would

316
00:21:38,442 --> 00:21:44,292
be every 24 months. Right? So our ordinance sets the frequency, and that's part of

317
00:21:44,322 --> 00:21:47,412
the proposal within that. I think that hopefully that answered your question.

318
00:21:47,532 --> 00:21:52,752
I think what you're really saying is that there is so much high

319
00:21:52,767 --> 00:21:56,772
density going to be built in the next five years,

320
00:21:57,972 --> 00:22:01,647
we don't have the capacity to do all this unless we make these changes.

321
00:22:02,277 --> 00:22:07,542
And I do want to be proactive in this, because we're seeing it, I've seen it time

322
00:22:07,572 --> 00:22:13,392
and time again. Things aren't done until it becomes a problem.

323
00:22:13,482 --> 00:22:19,212
I want to get ahead of a problem. And we look right at where the Boyd property is.

324
00:22:19,602 --> 00:22:23,832
There's 192 extra units right there.

325
00:22:25,272 --> 00:22:30,972
And I don't know how long it takes for an inspection, but I got to think it's about

326
00:22:31,002 --> 00:22:31,782
a half hour.

327
00:22:32,472 --> 00:22:37,932
Yeah. And I'm glad that you actually brought that complex up because, we haven't

328
00:22:37,962 --> 00:22:39,372
even taken that complex on, right?

329
00:22:39,402 --> 00:22:39,416
Right.

330
00:22:39,432 --> 00:22:41,682
They just started occupying this year.

331
00:22:41,772 --> 00:22:45,342
But next year, that now falls to the other side of the code book.

332
00:22:45,402 --> 00:22:47,742
That's going to fall to the Bureau of Fire Prevention to handle.

333
00:22:47,817 --> 00:22:52,572
So right off the bat, 192 units that they now need to support, Bureau of Fire

334
00:22:52,602 --> 00:22:53,172
Prevention now needs to support.

335
00:22:53,202 --> 00:22:55,632
And I was just notified today that

336
00:22:58,002 --> 00:23:03,852
121 Chanlin over there and up on 100 Mountain,

337
00:23:03,987 --> 00:23:08,952
that they're looking to start construction, so-

338
00:23:09,312 --> 00:23:11,112
Mm-hmm. Now it's-

339
00:23:12,492 --> 00:23:13,572
We've had this discussion.

340
00:23:13,722 --> 00:23:16,047
Yeah. No, it's the reality. And that-

341
00:23:16,212 --> 00:23:16,632
And we,

342
00:23:17,892 --> 00:23:22,602
I understand we have to do something, and I think that your plan that you

343
00:23:23,562 --> 00:23:27,252
stole from Scotch Plains is probably the best one.

344
00:23:27,582 --> 00:23:28,332
Collaborated.

345
00:23:28,452 --> 00:23:30,312
Collaborated. Thank you.

346
00:23:30,672 --> 00:23:32,232
You know what? You don't have to

347
00:23:34,031 --> 00:23:35,053
remake the wheel.

348
00:23:35,382 --> 00:23:35,667
We created it.

349
00:23:36,342 --> 00:23:36,763
And

350
00:23:38,263 --> 00:23:43,303
now I know John, you and Vinnie have been looking throughout the country, looking

351
00:23:43,362 --> 00:23:44,263
for hybrids.

352
00:23:44,412 --> 00:23:44,638
Mm-hmm.

353
00:23:44,862 --> 00:23:50,772
And, we're trying to find the most cost-effective way to do it and

354
00:23:50,832 --> 00:23:52,332
still maintain service.

355
00:23:53,382 --> 00:23:57,192
How long has Scotch Plains been implementing this new program?

356
00:23:57,792 --> 00:24:00,822
I would say they're probably coming up on eight or nine years at this point.

357
00:24:01,303 --> 00:24:05,772
Have you spoken to them about any sort of hiccups or bumps in the road from this?

358
00:24:06,102 --> 00:24:10,513
Yeah. So when we initially met with them on their journey through this, which is

359
00:24:10,572 --> 00:24:15,102
not exactly the same as our journey, but like I said, it's parallel enough that it

360
00:24:15,132 --> 00:24:20,532
checked all our boxes. We actually questioned them on what we

361
00:24:20,592 --> 00:24:22,602
anticipated were maybe some hiccups, right?

362
00:24:22,662 --> 00:24:28,452
Like how will a property owner react to a multiple dwelling program like that?

363
00:24:28,513 --> 00:24:33,882
We would assume that there's a cost incurred to that, that probably no one likes

364
00:24:33,942 --> 00:24:39,417
increased costs, right? And honestly, they came back and said in some cases they

365
00:24:39,462 --> 00:24:43,122
actually prefer it because you're offsetting CCOs and there's a whole science to

366
00:24:43,182 --> 00:24:47,053
that, that is a little bit beyond the scope of this discussion right now.

367
00:24:47,082 --> 00:24:50,727
But they're used to it in other municipalities, right?

368
00:24:50,742 --> 00:24:53,263
This is not something that is just done there.

369
00:24:53,352 --> 00:24:58,287
It's done in typically larger city or urban environments already, that they may

370
00:24:58,303 --> 00:25:01,796
have properties in that they're used to, and they have a way of working within

371
00:25:01,842 --> 00:25:04,992
that, that they're already used to. So they say, "Oh, okay.

372
00:25:05,022 --> 00:25:08,277
That's similar to our other property in another municipality."

373
00:25:08,277 --> 00:25:09,462
So it's a win-win for everybody.

374
00:25:09,522 --> 00:25:09,642
Yeah.

375
00:25:09,732 --> 00:25:13,182
What I also like is that you're bringing up the insurance companies.

376
00:25:13,272 --> 00:25:14,772
Everybody else is billing.

377
00:25:14,892 --> 00:25:15,027
Mm-hmm.

378
00:25:15,372 --> 00:25:20,922
They're charging the insurance companies for the labor that you have to provide.

379
00:25:21,013 --> 00:25:23,352
I know rescue squads do it all the time.

380
00:25:23,412 --> 00:25:23,562
Mm-hmm.

381
00:25:24,763 --> 00:25:30,147
If you're not, New Providence Rescue Squad doesn't charge anything, but everybody

382
00:25:30,192 --> 00:25:33,402
else does, and they take a certain rate.

383
00:25:33,492 --> 00:25:39,268
So, unfortunately, it's a cost of doing

384
00:25:39,283 --> 00:25:44,787
business. And my main focus has to be the

385
00:25:44,832 --> 00:25:47,472
safety of our people in town.

386
00:25:48,117 --> 00:25:48,117
Mm-hmm.

387
00:25:48,132 --> 00:25:51,342
And these inspections have to be done in a timely manner.

388
00:25:52,257 --> 00:25:55,692
And it's not something that you can just shy away.

389
00:25:55,813 --> 00:26:01,542
And the mandates that come down are so much greater than they were 20

390
00:26:01,572 --> 00:26:07,513
years ago. So I really appreciate you going out there and doing your due diligence.

391
00:26:08,172 --> 00:26:10,872
And looking at all the options.

392
00:26:10,962 --> 00:26:11,172
Mm-hmm.

393
00:26:11,832 --> 00:26:15,852
John, have you thought about how many fire inspectors

394
00:26:17,112 --> 00:26:17,127
you would need?

395
00:26:17,127 --> 00:26:17,742
Yeah. So

396
00:26:19,092 --> 00:26:24,643
as part of the proposal, we've started to look at how would we... Oh, sorry.

397
00:26:24,972 --> 00:26:26,697
No, I'm sorry. Microphone.

398
00:26:26,832 --> 00:26:29,292
I was going to just so that Alan can hear me.

399
00:26:29,322 --> 00:26:29,682
Oh, sure.

400
00:26:30,252 --> 00:26:33,462
I asked about how many fire inspectors we would need.

401
00:26:33,643 --> 00:26:34,842
Yeah. No, that's a great question.

402
00:26:34,902 --> 00:26:38,533
So what we've started to do as part of the workforce plan, and that would be built

403
00:26:38,592 --> 00:26:44,052
into the implementation of this proposal, is take a look at how many hours we're

404
00:26:44,112 --> 00:26:47,652
doing now, right? And then kind of, all right, where's that bridge, right?

405
00:26:47,772 --> 00:26:50,533
And I do want to say that there's ramp-up time to this.

406
00:26:50,982 --> 00:26:54,582
If we do decide to move forward with this plan as a governing body, you decide to

407
00:26:54,612 --> 00:26:58,617
move forward with this plan as a governing body, it's not going to happen at the

408
00:26:58,662 --> 00:27:03,402
click of a finger. We expect a 12 to 18-month implementation time, right, for fee

409
00:27:03,462 --> 00:27:07,362
cycling and to get more inspectors trained and up.

410
00:27:07,572 --> 00:27:11,953
It's going to take time, but we believe we can phase in those hours, right?

411
00:27:12,013 --> 00:27:17,382
And it's more about the total hours as kind of a pot that we have, that we can then

412
00:27:17,502 --> 00:27:19,902
look at what workforce we're able to hire, right?

413
00:27:20,022 --> 00:27:24,297
So we may have a tier of an inspector may

414
00:27:26,442 --> 00:27:30,388
be employed to do an eight-hour a week tier, or a 16-hour a week tier, or a

415
00:27:30,462 --> 00:27:33,492
four-hour a week tier. And we're still kind of figuring out those details, but

416
00:27:33,552 --> 00:27:37,152
that's where we feel that the workforce plan is heading to be able to, again,

417
00:27:37,572 --> 00:27:42,522
accomplish the goals of fire prevention in their increased scope, but also

418
00:27:42,582 --> 00:27:43,152
volunteer.

419
00:27:43,453 --> 00:27:49,377
Mm-hmm. And is this position something that sort of already

420
00:27:49,453 --> 00:27:52,272
exists, or is it something that's going to be kind of created?

421
00:27:52,332 --> 00:27:52,587
Because it sounds-

422
00:27:52,602 --> 00:27:53,621
The fire prevention inspector?

423
00:27:53,652 --> 00:27:54,432
Yeah, it sounds like-

424
00:27:54,582 --> 00:27:54,597
No

425
00:27:54,597 --> 00:27:58,167
... it's part inspector, part firefighter, part admin, part-

426
00:27:58,212 --> 00:28:02,277
No. The fire inspector is a current role that the bureau currently has.

427
00:28:02,352 --> 00:28:03,897
And they do all of these things?

428
00:28:04,092 --> 00:28:07,813
Yeah. They are currently inspectors of the bureau enforcing the code.

429
00:28:07,842 --> 00:28:09,552
They have an inspection schedule.

430
00:28:09,597 --> 00:28:13,932
They're under the auspice of the fire official, right, who's the administrative

431
00:28:14,052 --> 00:28:19,317
oversight and authority, which is also a position currently in the Bureau of Fire

432
00:28:19,362 --> 00:28:23,172
Prevention that oversees them. And they go out, and they enforce the code currently

433
00:28:23,188 --> 00:28:26,188
in our business. It is operating under that now.

434
00:28:26,232 --> 00:28:29,188
We're just increasing that, and we want to increase that with volunteers of the

435
00:28:29,263 --> 00:28:30,581
department so they're able to answer calls.

436
00:28:30,612 --> 00:28:32,741
And add the billing aspect.

437
00:28:32,832 --> 00:28:33,283
What was that?

438
00:28:33,342 --> 00:28:34,632
And add the billing aspect too.

439
00:28:34,692 --> 00:28:38,667
Yeah, the billing, a lot of the billing I spoke to with the motor vehicle accident

440
00:28:38,802 --> 00:28:41,412
stuff, that's really more on the fire department side, right?

441
00:28:42,072 --> 00:28:44,922
Billing for motor vehicle accidents is not found in the fire code.

442
00:28:44,982 --> 00:28:49,122
That is something of a revenue-generating activity that we're looking to, again,

443
00:28:49,212 --> 00:28:54,162
augment the investment options of this plan, rather than passing that burden onto

444
00:28:54,192 --> 00:28:55,842
the taxpayer in a certain fashion.

445
00:28:56,563 --> 00:28:59,922
John, did you say, what is our current number of inspectors that we have now?

446
00:29:00,402 --> 00:29:02,862
We currently have one fire official and two fire inspectors.

447
00:29:04,182 --> 00:29:05,953
And that's a lot considering all those units.

448
00:29:06,342 --> 00:29:06,703
Yeah.

449
00:29:06,763 --> 00:29:12,057
Yeah. And in addition to, we were just talking about the 192 units, that doesn't

450
00:29:12,132 --> 00:29:15,313
include the common areas you also have to inspect.

451
00:29:15,342 --> 00:29:15,822
That's correct.

452
00:29:15,867 --> 00:29:19,122
So it's all the units. So think about the two big apartment buildings that are up

453
00:29:19,152 --> 00:29:23,472
at Bard. You have to do all those units in there, plus the common area.

454
00:29:23,862 --> 00:29:25,932
And there's a lot of common area for those big buildings.

455
00:29:25,992 --> 00:29:27,822
Under this proposed plan, yes, that would be-

456
00:29:27,942 --> 00:29:27,987
It's a lot

457
00:29:27,987 --> 00:29:31,962
... it would be both. And right now, the bandwidth allows for them to do the common

458
00:29:31,992 --> 00:29:34,662
areas, which is obviously one of the most important parts, right?

459
00:29:34,692 --> 00:29:34,783
Yeah.

460
00:29:34,932 --> 00:29:35,953
Yeah, that's where I was going with the-

461
00:29:35,982 --> 00:29:36,117
Exactly

462
00:29:36,162 --> 00:29:39,402
... when you mentioned you were expanding it, that's where I was going was kind of-

463
00:29:39,672 --> 00:29:42,013
The multiple unit dwelling part is the expansion.

464
00:29:42,072 --> 00:29:44,352
The common areas is really what they're accomplishing now.

465
00:29:44,533 --> 00:29:48,147
Right. And if you could, I'm just kind of looking ahead a little bit and-

466
00:29:48,252 --> 00:29:48,372
Sure

467
00:29:48,822 --> 00:29:51,582
... I'm sure you were going to touch on this, but just want to mention,

468
00:29:53,022 --> 00:29:57,763
what's the difference between going fully paid versus

469
00:29:59,563 --> 00:30:04,122
staying volunteer, and what would be the ramifications of staying volunteer

470
00:30:05,922 --> 00:30:09,552
in our existing state? So those are two of the things that we could kind of touch

471
00:30:09,612 --> 00:30:14,412
on. And again, I know you kind of have some benefits at the end here, but.

472
00:30:14,742 --> 00:30:20,067
Yeah. So if I understand your question, it's more of where would we get to if we-

473
00:30:20,082 --> 00:30:20,742
So let's start with this.

474
00:30:20,922 --> 00:30:21,042
Yeah.

475
00:30:21,432 --> 00:30:26,922
What is the difference if we had to go, and I know you know this, so don't answer.

476
00:30:27,132 --> 00:30:31,422
I'd like them to answer for me. What's the difference of going to a paid

477
00:30:33,252 --> 00:30:33,717
system, right?

478
00:30:33,732 --> 00:30:35,143
From a financial perspective?

479
00:30:35,203 --> 00:30:37,902
Yeah. He knows the answer because you're talking.

480
00:30:37,977 --> 00:30:40,362
Are you talking about the fire chief specifically?

481
00:30:40,422 --> 00:30:41,412
No, no. So-

482
00:30:41,563 --> 00:30:43,122
You're talking about fire department.

483
00:30:43,362 --> 00:30:45,013
We can start, let's back up a second.

484
00:30:45,102 --> 00:30:45,222
Yeah.

485
00:30:45,283 --> 00:30:48,612
Okay. Let's talk about currently we're in a volunteer state.

486
00:30:48,703 --> 00:30:48,897
Mm-hmm.

487
00:30:49,182 --> 00:30:49,783
Fully.

488
00:30:49,842 --> 00:30:50,006
Mm-hmm.

489
00:30:50,712 --> 00:30:56,322
And if we stay in this volunteer state, okay, you're foreseeing a lot of

490
00:30:56,382 --> 00:31:01,092
issues with the department and being able to do that. So I want to touch on that.

491
00:31:01,272 --> 00:31:01,436
Mm-hmm.

492
00:31:01,783 --> 00:31:02,502
And from that,

493
00:31:03,792 --> 00:31:05,967
switching to this hybrid, which is what we're talking about now.

494
00:31:06,252 --> 00:31:06,297
Mm-hmm.

495
00:31:07,092 --> 00:31:11,727
And then compare to if we don't, and if we can't stay as a volunteer, and we have

496
00:31:11,742 --> 00:31:15,552
to go fully paid department-wide.

497
00:31:15,567 --> 00:31:15,567
Mm-hmm.

498
00:31:15,672 --> 00:31:18,042
Right? What does that mean? So I just want to make sure that that's something that

499
00:31:18,072 --> 00:31:22,992
we touch on. So I know Al's talked about this, we've talked about this from an

500
00:31:23,022 --> 00:31:26,967
administrative perspective, but I really think it's important to mention those

501
00:31:26,982 --> 00:31:27,283
things.

502
00:31:27,672 --> 00:31:33,537
Yeah. So, if we choose to stay fully volunteer and maybe not

503
00:31:33,582 --> 00:31:39,283
implement this plan, right, I think that our challenges will continue to diminish

504
00:31:39,313 --> 00:31:41,217
the integrity of the volunteer fire department, right?

505
00:31:41,263 --> 00:31:46,992
The burnout that we're feeling at the officer level and at the volunteer level, and

506
00:31:47,022 --> 00:31:48,537
the call volume will continue to go up.

507
00:31:48,582 --> 00:31:53,158
That all those challenges that I've outlined are just going to keep layering on

508
00:31:53,172 --> 00:31:58,842
each other and exponentially compound to where we're in a reactive state where the

509
00:31:58,872 --> 00:32:02,772
bureau will need to make a decision, right? So now jumping to the next one, right?

510
00:32:02,832 --> 00:32:07,962
Going to this plan, we stop, we make strategic investment on this plan.

511
00:32:08,592 --> 00:32:12,732
We recreate our foundation with our volunteer fire department, right?

512
00:32:12,763 --> 00:32:16,842
We just augment them to feel less burned out by taking some of that administrative

513
00:32:16,962 --> 00:32:21,432
off. We create a way to do it while increasing public safety, right, with all the

514
00:32:21,462 --> 00:32:25,992
measures of the bureau, and we do it at a very cost-efficient,

515
00:32:26,472 --> 00:32:30,132
revenue-generating to offset vehicle.

516
00:32:30,492 --> 00:32:30,777
Mm-hmm.

517
00:32:31,722 --> 00:32:37,453
Fully paid, right, or more of a paid option is a seven-figure number probably.

518
00:32:38,442 --> 00:32:43,152
So that is something that would be a taxpayer burden.

519
00:32:43,662 --> 00:32:45,042
That's what it would be.

520
00:32:46,302 --> 00:32:50,322
You're going to be hiring a numerous amount of firefighters for a numerous amount

521
00:32:50,337 --> 00:32:50,862
of shifts.

522
00:32:50,908 --> 00:32:51,237
Mm-hmm.

523
00:32:51,283 --> 00:32:57,042
And the administrative personnel anyway to implement that plan.

524
00:32:58,122 --> 00:32:59,442
But that price tag is-

525
00:33:00,313 --> 00:33:01,962
Exponentially higher

526
00:33:02,112 --> 00:33:02,472
... exponentially higher. Yeah.

527
00:33:04,302 --> 00:33:04,902
Perfect. Thank you.

528
00:33:05,832 --> 00:33:10,242
So could you give us that number again, the percentage for call volume increase

529
00:33:10,692 --> 00:33:11,712
over the last 10 years?

530
00:33:12,342 --> 00:33:12,882
59%.

531
00:33:12,942 --> 00:33:15,268
59%. So, this is

532
00:33:17,292 --> 00:33:20,592
in response to an incredible increase in call volume.

533
00:33:21,117 --> 00:33:21,117
Mm-hmm.

534
00:33:21,162 --> 00:33:25,632
It is the fiscally responsible thing to do. It is the proactive thing to do.

535
00:33:25,692 --> 00:33:30,852
But the thing that, and one of your chiefs mentioned this to me, and that I can't

536
00:33:30,882 --> 00:33:34,241
get away from, is the people who volunteer for this department, they want to

537
00:33:34,302 --> 00:33:39,222
volunteer to help people. These are people who volunteer to run into burning

538
00:33:39,313 --> 00:33:43,182
buildings, right? They don't volunteer for the administrative overhead.

539
00:33:43,602 --> 00:33:49,002
So what I love about this plan is that it puts the administrative tasks on paid

540
00:33:49,092 --> 00:33:52,332
staff, and it lets the volunteers do what they signed up to do.

541
00:33:53,292 --> 00:33:55,902
Exactly. Exactly. Very well said.

542
00:33:57,552 --> 00:33:58,242
John, you want to add?

543
00:33:58,992 --> 00:34:00,462
I think it shut down on me. Yeah.

544
00:34:01,992 --> 00:34:02,427
You shut it down?

545
00:34:02,427 --> 00:34:02,622
Yeah. It shut down.

546
00:34:02,712 --> 00:34:03,283
We got the gist.

547
00:34:05,052 --> 00:34:07,692
That was the final slide. It was up there in the slide.

548
00:34:07,783 --> 00:34:08,457
That's what.

549
00:34:09,342 --> 00:34:13,602
Actually, my final slide was thank you, and I was going to use my 10, 15 minutes of

550
00:34:13,632 --> 00:34:18,268
fame. I had the NPFD recruiting email address, and that we are accepting

551
00:34:18,342 --> 00:34:21,522
applications for volunteers. So that was actually my final slide.

552
00:34:21,552 --> 00:34:23,007
I was going to use my moment of fame for-

553
00:34:23,143 --> 00:34:25,797
NPFDrecruiting@gmail.com.

554
00:34:25,873 --> 00:34:26,743
That is it, yes.

555
00:34:26,832 --> 00:34:27,192
Yep.

556
00:34:28,272 --> 00:34:32,592
Everybody's been wondering, we had a serious fire today.

557
00:34:32,682 --> 00:34:33,072
We did.

558
00:34:34,783 --> 00:34:37,482
Can you just give us a little background on what happened?

559
00:34:37,812 --> 00:34:38,052
Sure.

560
00:34:38,143 --> 00:34:40,123
Because I know they have questions.

561
00:34:41,172 --> 00:34:46,692
Yeah, sure. So earlier today at around 9:30, I don't remember the exact time off my

562
00:34:46,707 --> 00:34:51,432
head, it's been quite a day. I'll say around 9:30 AM this morning, we were alerted

563
00:34:51,552 --> 00:34:54,432
for a commercial structure fire at a downtown business.

564
00:34:56,106 --> 00:35:00,067
Myself and Deputy Chief Naso were on scene within the first four minutes, confirmed

565
00:35:00,096 --> 00:35:04,236
a working fire, and transmitted what we call a second alarm, which brings in

566
00:35:04,656 --> 00:35:05,976
numerous neighboring communities.

567
00:35:06,366 --> 00:35:08,946
We had a heavy smoke condition on the first and second floor of that building.

568
00:35:10,506 --> 00:35:14,736
Our volunteers during the weekday went in, stretched a line, and knocked the fire

569
00:35:14,826 --> 00:35:17,526
down and contained it to the general area of origin.

570
00:35:18,186 --> 00:35:21,576
And with the augmented help of neighboring communities such as Summit and Berkeley

571
00:35:21,636 --> 00:35:25,026
Heights and Chatham Township and Springfield and Scotch Plains,

572
00:35:27,216 --> 00:35:28,746
I think I got almost all of them that.

573
00:35:29,766 --> 00:35:33,666
We were able to complete the phases of the fire, knocking down the fire, doing

574
00:35:33,696 --> 00:35:39,006
searches, ventilation, investigative, and that was our morning this morning.

575
00:35:39,786 --> 00:35:39,802
That's amazing.

576
00:35:39,802 --> 00:35:40,026
There were no-

577
00:35:40,326 --> 00:35:41,286
Talk about mutual aid, right?

578
00:35:41,496 --> 00:35:41,616
Yeah.

579
00:35:41,826 --> 00:35:44,450
Yes. Every department needs it. Every department-

580
00:35:44,826 --> 00:35:44,841
Yeah

581
00:35:44,841 --> 00:35:49,177
... has it in place, and we were fortunate there was no injuries to civilians or

582
00:35:49,206 --> 00:35:49,746
firefighters.

583
00:35:50,586 --> 00:35:52,056
Well, thank you, John.

584
00:35:52,341 --> 00:35:52,341
Thank you.

585
00:35:52,416 --> 00:35:57,156
And I want to thank all the firefighters here. You do an incredible job.

586
00:35:57,456 --> 00:35:57,817
Sure do.

587
00:35:58,177 --> 00:36:03,306
Like I said, when it comes to public safety, I trust myself and my family with all

588
00:36:03,336 --> 00:36:05,376
of you. So thank you so much.

589
00:36:05,797 --> 00:36:06,786
Thank you. Well, I appreciate it.

590
00:36:06,846 --> 00:36:07,626
Great job today.

591
00:36:07,656 --> 00:36:08,106
Thank you.

592
00:36:08,226 --> 00:36:08,706
Thank you. Thank you for that.

593
00:36:08,736 --> 00:36:09,876
Thanks, John.

594
00:36:10,026 --> 00:36:13,927
I want to say thank you as well. As a matter of fact, just to add a little personal

595
00:36:13,986 --> 00:36:16,026
story, last week,

596
00:36:17,406 --> 00:36:20,436
the fire department was at my house at 4:00 in the morning.

597
00:36:21,456 --> 00:36:21,471
Nice.

598
00:36:21,516 --> 00:36:27,216
I had woken up to smoke in the house, and we had a steam generator that just went

599
00:36:27,276 --> 00:36:28,491
off in the middle of the night, and

600
00:36:30,396 --> 00:36:33,156
thank God we were home and my wife smelled it, because if we weren't, the house

601
00:36:33,186 --> 00:36:35,616
probably would've burned down. But we called 911.

602
00:36:35,646 --> 00:36:38,061
They were there right away, very professional.

603
00:36:38,136 --> 00:36:42,981
We found the issue, researched the issue, and it wasn't like, "Ah, it's just this.

604
00:36:43,476 --> 00:36:48,547
You guys, you're fine. Let's go home." No, it was, "Let's open up the steam

605
00:36:48,606 --> 00:36:49,927
generator. Let's look in the wall.

606
00:36:49,986 --> 00:36:53,616
Let's make sure there's no issues." And they're just very thorough.

607
00:36:53,706 --> 00:36:55,716
And here's the thing that people just don't understand.

608
00:36:57,006 --> 00:37:01,206
It's 4:30 in the morning on Wednesday. I'm exhausted.

609
00:37:01,386 --> 00:37:05,646
I'm like, "Gonna get up and go to work." These guys got to get up and go to work,

610
00:37:05,736 --> 00:37:11,076
too, right? So, to your point, Al, I trust them with my life because I've had to

611
00:37:11,136 --> 00:37:14,571
use them on multiple occasions, unfortunately, when a car crashed in my house a

612
00:37:14,616 --> 00:37:19,116
couple years ago, right? I see Cap back there. He's one of the first guys on scene.

613
00:37:19,386 --> 00:37:21,486
And he went away and went up 50%.

614
00:37:21,576 --> 00:37:22,026
Yeah.

615
00:37:22,146 --> 00:37:22,266
Yeah.

616
00:37:22,866 --> 00:37:25,806
He's like, "I'm not driving. I just live there."

617
00:37:25,851 --> 00:37:26,556
He was at Mrs. Kominsky's house.

618
00:37:27,636 --> 00:37:30,802
But these guys, he's a teacher in town, and-

619
00:37:31,266 --> 00:37:31,431
He is, yeah

620
00:37:31,431 --> 00:37:32,871
... he's at my house at 2:00 in the morning.

621
00:37:32,946 --> 00:37:36,726
So, I couldn't appreciate you guys more than anything in the world, and I do want

622
00:37:36,741 --> 00:37:41,466
to thank you for everything you've done for my family, for sure. So, appreciate it.

623
00:37:42,096 --> 00:37:43,206
Well, that's part of the trick, right?

624
00:37:43,626 --> 00:37:47,376
Not only is the call volume up, but the technical complexity of what they have to

625
00:37:47,436 --> 00:37:47,856
deal with-

626
00:37:48,067 --> 00:37:48,276
Right

627
00:37:48,291 --> 00:37:53,677
... is just huge. I think you said the other day, back in 1985, there were 18-ish

628
00:37:53,706 --> 00:37:57,486
different types of calls, and now there's 120-some-odd types of calls.

629
00:37:57,547 --> 00:38:01,986
Just in terms of types of things that they have to deal with, it's just crazy, the

630
00:38:02,016 --> 00:38:02,856
technical complexity.

631
00:38:02,886 --> 00:38:05,196
They don't even want to tell you about hazmat.

632
00:38:05,736 --> 00:38:05,991
No.

633
00:38:06,172 --> 00:38:07,746
That's a whole thing in itself.

634
00:38:07,806 --> 00:38:08,315
Yeah.

635
00:38:08,406 --> 00:38:08,677
So.

636
00:38:09,036 --> 00:38:12,276
John, quick question around the training that you guys go through.

637
00:38:13,356 --> 00:38:14,031
You talk about,

638
00:38:15,666 --> 00:38:19,475
is it a year one, year two, or level one, level two, something like that?

639
00:38:20,076 --> 00:38:20,090
Yeah.

640
00:38:20,106 --> 00:38:24,981
Is that overseen at the state level, or are those federal firefighter requirements?

641
00:38:25,506 --> 00:38:29,510
The short answer is it's overseen at the state level, right?

642
00:38:29,526 --> 00:38:34,071
The state division of fire safety sets training and certification requirements, and

643
00:38:34,146 --> 00:38:37,716
then those are passed down through curriculum to the county fire academies, which

644
00:38:37,776 --> 00:38:43,177
is predominantly where we go, various county fire academies, to actually execute

645
00:38:43,206 --> 00:38:44,225
the training for our members.

646
00:38:44,241 --> 00:38:49,986
Mm-hmm. And has the number of hours required to complete these training programs

647
00:38:50,047 --> 00:38:51,547
increased over the years as well?

648
00:38:51,666 --> 00:38:57,516
Yes, significantly. Like I said, basic Firefighter 1, which is Firefighter 101 for

649
00:38:57,576 --> 00:39:02,600
lack of a better term, is up to, I believe, around 200 and something hours now.

650
00:39:03,096 --> 00:39:07,446
I feel like when I did it, it was 100 something. So, it is pretty expansive.

651
00:39:07,836 --> 00:39:09,516
And again, it goes to Brian's point.

652
00:39:09,576 --> 00:39:12,606
There's more in the curriculum because there's more to accomplish, and there's more

653
00:39:12,666 --> 00:39:14,166
to respond to now.

654
00:39:14,226 --> 00:39:14,346
Right.

655
00:39:14,677 --> 00:39:18,276
Different safety measures, building construction, different types of construction

656
00:39:18,306 --> 00:39:22,656
materials, synthetic material that, all these safety and thinking things and

657
00:39:22,927 --> 00:39:26,346
incident command structures that are now built into the curriculum.

658
00:39:27,186 --> 00:39:29,616
It adds up very quickly from an hours perspective.

659
00:39:29,826 --> 00:39:33,696
Sure. Yeah, so anybody who's considering volunteering, it's making a big

660
00:39:33,726 --> 00:39:38,047
commitment. Not only a personal commitment to promoting

661
00:39:39,366 --> 00:39:45,216
public safety on their behalf, but also the time and effort to get trained in-

662
00:39:45,606 --> 00:39:45,756
Yeah

663
00:39:45,846 --> 00:39:45,981
... the business of firefighting.

664
00:39:45,981 --> 00:39:49,297
I equate it to basically going back to college for a semester, right?

665
00:39:49,567 --> 00:39:50,901
Yeah, for sure. Yeah. Okay.

666
00:39:50,916 --> 00:39:52,297
That's pretty much what it equates to.

667
00:39:52,386 --> 00:39:55,956
So, it's very important when you've made that investment to get the training that

668
00:39:56,016 --> 00:39:59,016
you find a way to retain these employees.

669
00:39:59,076 --> 00:40:02,406
Yes. Exactly, because they've invested a lot in us, and we've invested a lot in

670
00:40:02,436 --> 00:40:06,726
them, and retention is probably one of, that's a future challenge that we want to,

671
00:40:06,817 --> 00:40:10,927
again, have that operational foundation as part of this plan to address those

672
00:40:10,986 --> 00:40:12,906
challenges, whatever they may be in the future.

673
00:40:13,386 --> 00:40:18,156
But recruitment and retention, which were once seen as the same, are now very

674
00:40:18,396 --> 00:40:20,315
different, complex challenges.

675
00:40:20,376 --> 00:40:25,866
Mm-hmm. And you mentioned that you've kind of touched on this idea within the

676
00:40:25,896 --> 00:40:26,451
department-

677
00:40:26,526 --> 00:40:26,736
Mm-hmm

678
00:40:27,096 --> 00:40:29,797
... and it's being favorably received?

679
00:40:29,856 --> 00:40:32,871
Yes, it was favorably received. We did bring this to the department prior.

680
00:40:33,216 --> 00:40:33,547
Okay.

681
00:40:33,576 --> 00:40:33,741
Mm-hmm.

682
00:40:34,161 --> 00:40:35,061
Thank you. Good job.

683
00:40:35,076 --> 00:40:35,541
Thank you.

684
00:40:35,541 --> 00:40:40,896
You said something about a tax credit for some of the volunteers.

685
00:40:40,986 --> 00:40:43,326
Yeah, there are some tax credit things in different states.

686
00:40:43,356 --> 00:40:45,336
It's not so much seen in the state of New Jersey.

687
00:40:45,846 --> 00:40:49,746
I would say New York State has a program towards that.

688
00:40:50,166 --> 00:40:51,846
I believe they're actually looking to refine it.

689
00:40:52,116 --> 00:40:55,850
I don't know the specifics off the top of my head related to what they're looking

690
00:40:55,866 --> 00:41:00,786
to bring it to, but there are different credits and stipend.

691
00:41:01,086 --> 00:41:04,311
There are tons of different ways that different-- People have gotten creative,

692
00:41:04,386 --> 00:41:04,896
right? Because-

693
00:41:05,466 --> 00:41:05,556
Yeah

694
00:41:05,616 --> 00:41:09,606
... there's an open book on this. There is no pre-plan, if you will, to the right

695
00:41:09,696 --> 00:41:12,456
answer. So, numerous departments around the country-

696
00:41:12,531 --> 00:41:15,366
We're one of the first ones who adopt the LOSAT program.

697
00:41:15,547 --> 00:41:16,746
Yeah, LOSAT is-

698
00:41:17,106 --> 00:41:18,606
For you in the rescue squad.

699
00:41:18,666 --> 00:41:18,741
Mm-hmm.

700
00:41:18,741 --> 00:41:21,486
John, at some point, no jury duty.

701
00:41:21,906 --> 00:41:23,047
No jury duty, for example.

702
00:41:24,125 --> 00:41:24,651
That's a big one.

703
00:41:24,696 --> 00:41:25,552
It's one of the only benefits left on the list.

704
00:41:25,686 --> 00:41:27,186
LErecruiting@gmail.com.

705
00:41:28,776 --> 00:41:29,196
Thank you.

706
00:41:29,406 --> 00:41:30,096
Thank you, John.

707
00:41:30,366 --> 00:41:30,591
Thank you.

708
00:41:30,591 --> 00:41:32,166
Thank you, John. Well done.

709
00:41:36,276 --> 00:41:36,411
Okay.

710
00:41:36,427 --> 00:41:38,166
Good job, Brian.

711
00:41:38,196 --> 00:41:42,306
We have ordinance 2610. Please read the title.

712
00:41:43,536 --> 00:41:48,230
An ordinance amending and supplementing chapter 257 of the code of the Borough of

713
00:41:48,246 --> 00:41:51,336
New Providence, entitled Vehicles and Traffic.

714
00:41:52,086 --> 00:41:53,151
What this is, is

715
00:41:54,427 --> 00:41:59,286
adopting more handicap parking down by Oakwood Park, by the playground.

716
00:42:00,216 --> 00:42:00,427
And

717
00:42:02,226 --> 00:42:05,286
I think we need it. We saw all the people there wheelie-cutty today.

718
00:42:05,346 --> 00:42:07,297
It was unbelievable. So,

719
00:42:08,856 --> 00:42:12,726
anybody wishing to address council on this ordinance, this ordinance only.

720
00:42:14,256 --> 00:42:19,026
Seeing no-one, I declare the public hearing closed. Roll call, please.

721
00:42:19,942 --> 00:42:21,216
I just get a motion, too.

722
00:42:21,486 --> 00:42:22,236
So moved.

723
00:42:22,266 --> 00:42:22,746
I'll second.

724
00:42:25,476 --> 00:42:25,986
Mr. Lerner?

725
00:42:26,376 --> 00:42:26,616
Aye.

726
00:42:26,976 --> 00:42:27,456
Ms. Dolan?

727
00:42:27,786 --> 00:42:27,966
Yes.

728
00:42:28,086 --> 00:42:30,096
Mrs. Jeffrey? Mr. Kominsky?

729
00:42:30,366 --> 00:42:30,876
Aye.

730
00:42:30,936 --> 00:42:31,567
Mrs. McKnight?

731
00:42:31,896 --> 00:42:32,136
Yes.

732
00:42:32,256 --> 00:42:32,916
Mr. Gardner?

733
00:42:32,976 --> 00:42:33,276
Yes.

734
00:42:34,236 --> 00:42:37,716
Okay, need approval of minutes of August 11th, please.

735
00:42:38,106 --> 00:42:38,571
So moved.

736
00:42:39,276 --> 00:42:39,666
Second.

737
00:42:41,166 --> 00:42:45,306
Al, can I just ask one question? About the temporary parking restrictions that

738
00:42:45,366 --> 00:42:49,986
were, I guess, on Park Place in Oakwood. Are those signs going to be removed?

739
00:42:50,226 --> 00:42:50,946
They're not temporary.

740
00:42:51,216 --> 00:42:51,711
Not temporary.

741
00:42:51,711 --> 00:42:55,956
So, well, it says you can't park on Saturdays, so that will remain?

742
00:42:57,576 --> 00:42:57,906
Okay.

743
00:42:58,056 --> 00:42:59,015
Yeah, just to give you-

744
00:43:00,156 --> 00:43:00,172
We'll get Dr. Kominsky

745
00:43:00,172 --> 00:43:01,297
... Well, just to give you feedback.

746
00:43:02,376 --> 00:43:08,047
We used to have exit on Passaic for our DPW, but Union County came in and said no

747
00:43:08,136 --> 00:43:12,996
more exiting there. So now all of our DPW, anybody in and out, has to go through

748
00:43:13,056 --> 00:43:16,326
Park Place. So, the street's not wide enough.

749
00:43:16,626 --> 00:43:16,776
Okay.

750
00:43:17,047 --> 00:43:19,656
I know where you're going. I still have the same thing.

751
00:43:19,716 --> 00:43:21,111
It's like we have a beautiful park.

752
00:43:21,186 --> 00:43:24,156
It's going to be very, very crowded, especially on Saturday mornings.

753
00:43:26,286 --> 00:43:27,156
I'm talking Oakwood.

754
00:43:27,396 --> 00:43:27,606
It's

755
00:43:29,586 --> 00:43:30,427
an inclusive park.

756
00:43:32,376 --> 00:43:38,226
And we've made parking only for playground at that section.

757
00:43:38,256 --> 00:43:39,621
There's like seven spots, believe, there.

758
00:43:39,636 --> 00:43:40,911
Plus now this-

759
00:43:41,076 --> 00:43:41,317
Sure

760
00:43:41,331 --> 00:43:45,696
... spot. So hopefully people that aren't using the fields won't park there, right?

761
00:43:45,726 --> 00:43:49,866
They'll leave that open for the playgrounds. But yeah, it's tough.

762
00:43:49,896 --> 00:43:54,951
And I was kind of fighting that one as well originally because it's going to be a

763
00:43:54,966 --> 00:43:56,766
crowded park, which we hope, right?

764
00:43:56,916 --> 00:43:56,931
Mm-hmm.

765
00:43:57,276 --> 00:44:01,896
But at the end of the day, if you drive on that street, if you park on the street

766
00:44:01,927 --> 00:44:03,995
and are driving down the street, you can't get out.

767
00:44:04,206 --> 00:44:04,221
Mm-hmm.

768
00:44:04,567 --> 00:44:06,396
So I kind of had to let that one go.

769
00:44:06,966 --> 00:44:07,596
Yeah.

770
00:44:08,340 --> 00:44:08,491
Okay.

771
00:44:10,020 --> 00:44:13,680
Correspondence from Assemblyman Alex Saucy.

772
00:44:16,500 --> 00:44:20,520
I have another one for New Jersey League of Municipalities, a audit report.

773
00:44:21,060 --> 00:44:24,330
A fire department resignation for Grayson Budish.

774
00:44:25,920 --> 00:44:28,500
Board of Adjustment hearing for 18 Porter Place.

775
00:44:29,430 --> 00:44:35,310
New Jersey Transportation Safe Routes to Schools, and Providence Fire

776
00:44:35,370 --> 00:44:36,059
Department

777
00:44:37,980 --> 00:44:40,290
resignation letter for Hunter Riley.

778
00:44:41,130 --> 00:44:47,070
About this time of the year, a lot of the juniors that were in there, they

779
00:44:47,310 --> 00:44:48,390
put in resignations-

780
00:44:48,420 --> 00:44:48,585
They're gone

781
00:44:48,585 --> 00:44:49,500
... to go back to college.

782
00:44:52,800 --> 00:44:53,460
Any comments?

783
00:44:53,820 --> 00:44:54,000
No.

784
00:44:54,210 --> 00:44:57,000
Seeing none. We'll go to council business. Nadine.

785
00:44:57,269 --> 00:45:02,910
Thank you, Mayor. Administration, so Resolution 2026-294

786
00:45:03,480 --> 00:45:09,300
is a resolution approving requisition R2601790 for

787
00:45:09,450 --> 00:45:13,680
KC Sign & Awnings in an amount not to exceed

788
00:45:13,695 --> 00:45:15,510
$8,395

789
00:45:17,190 --> 00:45:22,875
for municipal annex sign, through the co-op. Number 24, 25 through 38.

790
00:45:23,520 --> 00:45:29,310
So if anybody was here last meeting, we had this resolution on for the

791
00:45:29,400 --> 00:45:33,060
sign, which we had discussed, and we were not comfortable with the price.

792
00:45:33,960 --> 00:45:39,721
So thankfully, our administration and our building department got back together and

793
00:45:39,750 --> 00:45:44,340
came up with this alternative. We're not losing any value on the sign, but we got a

794
00:45:44,370 --> 00:45:49,905
much better price for it. So again, we're very responsible with the budget and

795
00:45:49,980 --> 00:45:53,280
trying to make sure that we handle this budget like it's our own.

796
00:45:53,760 --> 00:45:56,460
So thank you to the administration and the building department for that.

797
00:45:58,680 --> 00:46:01,830
Okay. Affordable housing, Nadine.

798
00:46:01,890 --> 00:46:07,515
Okey-dokey. Resolution 2026-295 is a resolution of the Borough of New

799
00:46:07,590 --> 00:46:11,940
Providence, County of Union, State of New Jersey, endorsing the amended Housing

800
00:46:12,120 --> 00:46:17,085
Element and Fair Share Plan. So this resolution is a formal approval

801
00:46:17,280 --> 00:46:22,305
endorsement of the latest version of the borough's affordable housing plan that

802
00:46:22,320 --> 00:46:27,030
preserves the borough's ability to revise it if the final court or settlement

803
00:46:27,060 --> 00:46:32,099
determination reduces the borough's 201 unit obligation.

804
00:46:32,130 --> 00:46:35,700
So just something that we need to do to continue the process of round four.

805
00:46:37,500 --> 00:46:39,450
Okay. Community activities, Matt.

806
00:46:44,160 --> 00:46:49,140
Resolution 296 is a resolution appointing Ingrid Rowe as part-time program

807
00:46:49,230 --> 00:46:51,885
coordinator for the Community Activities Department for the Borough of New

808
00:46:51,900 --> 00:46:56,760
Providence. So we are hiring Ingrid as a part-time coordinator, and she's a

809
00:46:56,820 --> 00:47:00,030
replacement for a recent retiree.

810
00:47:00,870 --> 00:47:06,660
So we want to welcome Ingrid to one of the best recreation departments in

811
00:47:06,750 --> 00:47:08,580
all of Union County, if not New Jersey.

812
00:47:11,880 --> 00:47:16,935
Number two and three, we have an authorization to solicit proposals for basketball

813
00:47:16,980 --> 00:47:21,599
instruction services and an authorization to solicit proposals for bus

814
00:47:21,780 --> 00:47:23,160
transportation services.

815
00:47:27,900 --> 00:47:32,520
Our basketball program is actually very, very good. It sells out every time.

816
00:47:33,960 --> 00:47:36,390
And of course, we need our bus transportation for all of our

817
00:47:39,120 --> 00:47:42,330
team venture camps and other activities and things of that nature.

818
00:47:42,390 --> 00:47:42,570
So

819
00:47:44,070 --> 00:47:47,730
good luck to Allison with those.

820
00:47:47,910 --> 00:47:50,400
You might as well keep on going with engineering.

821
00:47:50,670 --> 00:47:56,370
Okay. Engineering is an authorization to bid NJDOT Maple Street

822
00:47:56,460 --> 00:48:01,710
Phase 2 improvement project. As you know, the Maple Street project we've been

823
00:48:01,741 --> 00:48:07,351
discussing for quite some time. We received a grant from NJDOT

824
00:48:08,670 --> 00:48:09,991
to improve Maple Street from

825
00:48:12,420 --> 00:48:15,601
Mountain Avenue to Central Avenue, and

826
00:48:17,221 --> 00:48:19,590
we have designed

827
00:48:21,450 --> 00:48:25,440
some improvements on that road over the last couple of years.

828
00:48:25,471 --> 00:48:29,670
We've worked with residents to make those improvements

829
00:48:30,960 --> 00:48:34,380
as best we can in terms of their impact.

830
00:48:36,000 --> 00:48:41,760
And our plans have been approved by NJDOT, so now we are able to go out to bid.

831
00:48:43,080 --> 00:48:43,410
And that

832
00:48:45,120 --> 00:48:49,080
grant was required, just so everyone's aware, to be

833
00:48:50,310 --> 00:48:54,900
bid by the end of October of 2026, and that is after two six-month

834
00:48:55,320 --> 00:49:01,230
extensions. So the timeline on that will be this authorization

835
00:49:01,290 --> 00:49:06,870
will probably go out to bid in early October for approval mid-October.

836
00:49:09,000 --> 00:49:14,280
Okay. Resolution 297 is a resolution approving requisition

837
00:49:14,430 --> 00:49:20,010
R2601894 for Argent Contracting Company for HVAC

838
00:49:20,070 --> 00:49:23,430
replacement at the municipal annex in an amount not to exceed

839
00:49:23,460 --> 00:49:28,920
$18,708.91. And the

840
00:49:30,000 --> 00:49:34,305
police moved into the annex. I went over there as they were moving in, and their

841
00:49:34,351 --> 00:49:38,325
windows and doors were open, and I was like, "You guys have all these windows and

842
00:49:38,340 --> 00:49:40,635
doors open as you're moving in because you didn't feel like opening them and

843
00:49:40,650 --> 00:49:46,290
closing them? It's hot in here." And they said, "No, the AC broke." So this is a

844
00:49:46,320 --> 00:49:48,360
replacement for that.

845
00:49:49,860 --> 00:49:50,340
And that's it.

846
00:49:50,790 --> 00:49:52,800
Okay. Finance, Lisa.

847
00:49:53,340 --> 00:49:55,710
Thank you, Mayor. We have Resolution 298.

848
00:49:56,491 --> 00:50:01,560
It's a resolution providing for the insertion of any special item of revenue in the

849
00:50:02,640 --> 00:50:07,950
2026 budget pursuant of NJSA 48-4-87,

850
00:50:08,670 --> 00:50:13,544
Chapter 159, PL 1948. This is the National Opioid Settlement.

851
00:50:14,280 --> 00:50:17,400
As you know, we've been getting

852
00:50:19,080 --> 00:50:22,710
small stipends from this settlement through the course of the year.

853
00:50:23,640 --> 00:50:28,590
So this is an additional one for $2,819.86.

854
00:50:29,805 --> 00:50:34,200
We have Resolution 299, which is the resolution authorizing payments of the

855
00:50:34,260 --> 00:50:37,455
attached bills payable list. The total amount is

856
00:50:37,455 --> 00:50:43,275
$7,502,296.31. Some of the more

857
00:50:43,290 --> 00:50:46,590
significant items are Union County for

858
00:50:46,605 --> 00:50:52,471
$3,825,248 for the third

859
00:50:52,620 --> 00:50:57,255
quarter 2026 purpose tax and open space.

860
00:50:58,260 --> 00:51:04,110
We have the New Providence Board of Education for $1,589,392.

861
00:51:04,680 --> 00:51:07,440
This is the September school tax levy.

862
00:51:08,310 --> 00:51:13,800
Ben Shafer for $565,060. That's for Oakwood Park.

863
00:51:14,670 --> 00:51:20,610
Horizon Healthcare, $170,133 is our August healthcare bill.

864
00:51:21,510 --> 00:51:25,231
The New Providence Library for $119,967.

865
00:51:25,320 --> 00:51:27,810
That is their September appropriation.

866
00:51:28,740 --> 00:51:34,170
We have CRT Contracting for $53,225, and that is for the

867
00:51:34,260 --> 00:51:40,110
EMS roof repairs, and then Suburban Disposal for $50,500,

868
00:51:40,201 --> 00:51:42,330
and that is our July garbage bill.

869
00:51:43,500 --> 00:51:43,830
Okay.

870
00:51:44,070 --> 00:51:47,596
Just because you mentioned Oakwood, the $500,000 sounds like a lot for Oakwood, but

871
00:51:47,641 --> 00:51:48,360
that was grant money.

872
00:51:48,540 --> 00:51:49,155
Grant money, yeah.

873
00:51:49,201 --> 00:51:50,971
And we're getting that check-

874
00:51:51,030 --> 00:51:52,320
We have to pay it out to get it back.

875
00:51:52,334 --> 00:51:53,805
We have to pay it, and then we get it back.

876
00:51:53,851 --> 00:51:59,250
In and out, but that was Oakwood Park definitely got a lot of

877
00:51:59,940 --> 00:52:01,050
grant funding, for sure.

878
00:52:01,110 --> 00:52:01,530
Yep.

879
00:52:01,590 --> 00:52:07,231
Yeah. Okay. Resolution 300 is appointing crossing

880
00:52:07,290 --> 00:52:12,780
guards at a rate of $25 per hour starting September 1st

881
00:52:12,870 --> 00:52:15,750
to December 31st.

882
00:52:17,731 --> 00:52:21,750
Ordinance 11 and 12 are repealing the

883
00:52:25,141 --> 00:52:31,050
Chapter 51 of the fire code, and the other one is Chapter 155, which we just all

884
00:52:31,080 --> 00:52:32,460
went over. So

885
00:52:35,820 --> 00:52:36,481
we'll go to

886
00:52:38,130 --> 00:52:39,150
committee reports.

887
00:52:41,160 --> 00:52:46,710
Just want to say that the police department made a great

888
00:52:46,830 --> 00:52:49,050
move. The roll-in,

889
00:52:50,250 --> 00:52:55,981
still a few boxes to unpack. It'll take them a while, but there was no disruption

890
00:52:56,010 --> 00:53:00,675
in service, and they seem pretty happy over there right now.

891
00:53:01,951 --> 00:53:07,860
So I was very happy about that, and I want everybody to realize

892
00:53:07,920 --> 00:53:13,740
that Academy Street now will be one way from Elkwood

893
00:53:13,860 --> 00:53:15,930
Avenue to Springfield Avenue

894
00:53:17,298 --> 00:53:23,192
So, I saw a couple people turning in and then turning around today, but

895
00:53:24,258 --> 00:53:29,748
the police are monitoring it, and they just want to educate people

896
00:53:29,808 --> 00:53:35,478
first. But they couldn't start today because of the threat of rain, so they'll be

897
00:53:35,538 --> 00:53:39,829
doing it when they get a dry day. So that's there.

898
00:53:40,398 --> 00:53:46,098
On stormwater, I just want to tell everybody that the pipes

899
00:53:46,308 --> 00:53:51,753
over at Maple Street have been cleaned up by New Jersey Transit, and that they're

900
00:53:51,798 --> 00:53:53,959
expected to... Did they put the grates in yet?

901
00:53:54,378 --> 00:53:54,739
Not yet.

902
00:53:54,829 --> 00:53:56,868
I didn't think so, because it's too wet.

903
00:53:58,788 --> 00:54:04,548
But they're putting up the grates, and with the grates there, it'll be a lot easier

904
00:54:05,179 --> 00:54:09,199
to clean. So hopefully that'll take care of a lot of that.

905
00:54:09,498 --> 00:54:14,658
Paul Hughes is still going around and mapping out pipes, and

906
00:54:15,588 --> 00:54:20,778
so far, so good. With the rain that's come through, we haven't had any major

907
00:54:21,288 --> 00:54:25,728
flooding. So close. Yeah, that one, that was pretty close.

908
00:54:26,088 --> 00:54:31,459
But I take a look at the other part of the county and the state.

909
00:54:31,968 --> 00:54:37,412
They're getting hammered. I mean, Linden and Elizabeth, and

910
00:54:37,489 --> 00:54:41,718
Hoboken and all of that. It was funny,

911
00:54:42,918 --> 00:54:48,468
Bernadette shot me an article. There's 21 towns,

912
00:54:49,308 --> 00:54:55,278
cities in New Jersey that have combined sanitary sewer

913
00:54:55,489 --> 00:55:01,338
and stormwater sewer. So when those towns flood, when they get

914
00:55:01,398 --> 00:55:04,443
a backup, they're getting sewage water now.

915
00:55:04,668 --> 00:55:04,864
Ugh.

916
00:55:07,098 --> 00:55:12,498
Yeah. So when we get a backup like that, it's

917
00:55:13,459 --> 00:55:18,949
rainwater. But they're getting sewage water, Elizabeth, Linden, all them.

918
00:55:19,638 --> 00:55:20,808
So, I

919
00:55:22,518 --> 00:55:27,648
don't know how they get away with that, how DEP lets them get away with that, but I

920
00:55:27,679 --> 00:55:29,688
thought it was an interesting article.

921
00:55:29,778 --> 00:55:34,608
And the other thing is with all this high-density housing coming in,

922
00:55:35,628 --> 00:55:37,548
it's going to be a lot worse. So-

923
00:55:38,329 --> 00:55:39,709
So is it safe to say

924
00:55:41,478 --> 00:55:47,298
that we're not done with our improvements-

925
00:55:47,598 --> 00:55:47,778
No

926
00:55:47,793 --> 00:55:51,949
... but the improvements that we have done and the focus that we have put on it

927
00:55:52,459 --> 00:55:55,098
over the last year have made improvements?

928
00:55:55,489 --> 00:55:55,878
Yes.

929
00:55:57,108 --> 00:55:57,438
Okay, good.

930
00:55:57,858 --> 00:56:01,638
You really don't know until you get that rain where you get-

931
00:56:02,179 --> 00:56:02,673
We've had a lot of rain

932
00:56:02,673 --> 00:56:04,579
... six inches of water

933
00:56:06,378 --> 00:56:10,938
in, what, two hours? I don't think anything's going to hold back.

934
00:56:11,358 --> 00:56:13,429
And I think that's what we're seeing all through the state.

935
00:56:13,638 --> 00:56:13,818
So-

936
00:56:14,658 --> 00:56:15,318
That way, it doesn't-

937
00:56:15,528 --> 00:56:16,699
It's been a tough summer.

938
00:56:17,028 --> 00:56:19,353
We've got a lot of rain, but I don't think we've had rain like we had-

939
00:56:19,443 --> 00:56:19,443
No

940
00:56:19,443 --> 00:56:20,718
... last year in July.

941
00:56:21,108 --> 00:56:22,008
We've been very lucky.

942
00:56:22,068 --> 00:56:22,503
Yes, we have.

943
00:56:22,579 --> 00:56:28,368
Because we're getting, like tonight, we got some heavy rain, but then

944
00:56:28,429 --> 00:56:29,657
it went through fast.

945
00:56:29,718 --> 00:56:30,558
It subsides fast.

946
00:56:30,618 --> 00:56:35,478
So once it stops, the water recedes very quickly.

947
00:56:35,598 --> 00:56:36,558
So,

948
00:56:37,848 --> 00:56:42,378
yeah. But I know surrounding municipalities have been flooded out.

949
00:56:42,648 --> 00:56:42,768
Yeah.

950
00:56:43,248 --> 00:56:49,158
So hopefully that the work that we've done so far has at least

951
00:56:49,278 --> 00:56:49,998
made a difference.

952
00:56:50,118 --> 00:56:52,938
Yeah. A lot of good progress. More to go, but a lot of good progress.

953
00:56:53,058 --> 00:56:55,699
Well, I said it. It's going to take 20 years.

954
00:56:55,758 --> 00:56:55,938
Yeah.

955
00:56:55,968 --> 00:56:56,148
Yeah.

956
00:56:56,239 --> 00:56:57,739
So, okay.

957
00:56:57,798 --> 00:56:58,338
It's a project.

958
00:56:58,352 --> 00:56:58,352
Alan?

959
00:57:00,288 --> 00:57:04,429
Well, we're wrapping up the summer, so not really too much.

960
00:57:04,489 --> 00:57:06,138
We have our Board of Health meeting tomorrow.

961
00:57:06,408 --> 00:57:12,108
I guess the most exciting thing is Recycle Fall for

962
00:57:12,228 --> 00:57:17,778
2026 is September 27th. That'll be in the community pool parking lot from 9:00 to

963
00:57:17,808 --> 00:57:22,699
2:00, last drop-off is 12:00. And that's really all I have.

964
00:57:22,758 --> 00:57:27,679
I did want to say, school is going to be starting on Thursday, so be

965
00:57:27,739 --> 00:57:33,618
mindful. There's going to be a lot more precious cargo on the road, and good luck

966
00:57:33,648 --> 00:57:35,088
to everyone with their new year of school.

967
00:57:35,358 --> 00:57:36,438
Yeah.

968
00:57:36,558 --> 00:57:37,098
Eveline.

969
00:57:38,239 --> 00:57:43,128
Thank you, Mayor. The Diversity Committee had pretty much a hiatus this summer.

970
00:57:44,598 --> 00:57:47,118
Part of that was due to the departure of our co-chairs.

971
00:57:47,538 --> 00:57:50,043
We had two co-chairs, who one of them

972
00:57:51,258 --> 00:57:55,008
actually moved out of New Providence, and the other one has a family issue.

973
00:57:55,848 --> 00:57:59,088
But we are going to persevere. We have a good core group.

974
00:58:00,199 --> 00:58:04,653
And we'll just be regrouping and supporting local events through the remainder of

975
00:58:04,699 --> 00:58:08,418
the year. If you're interested in joining the Diversity Committee, of course, we're

976
00:58:08,478 --> 00:58:13,442
always looking for volunteers. So you can just go to the website, newprov.us, and

977
00:58:13,548 --> 00:58:17,313
search volunteer advisory committees, and you'll find a link to the volunteer

978
00:58:17,388 --> 00:58:21,798
application there. So we definitely encourage you to do that if you're interested.

979
00:58:22,579 --> 00:58:27,648
The New Providence Municipal Alliance is starting back up after they basically keep

980
00:58:27,768 --> 00:58:29,598
in sync with their meetings with the school year.

981
00:58:30,679 --> 00:58:34,908
Their first meeting will be Wednesday, September 9th at 7:00 PM in the Lincoln Room

982
00:58:34,968 --> 00:58:39,558
here in the Municipal Building. Again, this is a good volunteer opportunity.

983
00:58:39,918 --> 00:58:45,498
This group focuses on supporting substance use and abuse education and awareness

984
00:58:46,068 --> 00:58:47,748
activities throughout the school year.

985
00:58:48,408 --> 00:58:49,818
New Providence Community Pool,

986
00:58:51,108 --> 00:58:53,058
happy to say, I think they had a wonderful summer.

987
00:58:53,868 --> 00:58:57,528
They had an increase in membership from the previous year.

988
00:58:58,579 --> 00:59:03,978
And the weather cooperated. It was a very nice, warm, hot summer,

989
00:59:04,548 --> 00:59:06,048
encouraging people to go to the pool.

990
00:59:06,138 --> 00:59:09,798
So I want to thank the pool board and their summer help for making this a

991
00:59:09,858 --> 00:59:10,593
successful year.

992
00:59:12,048 --> 00:59:16,579
The Historical Society just celebrated its 60th anniversary in August.

993
00:59:17,568 --> 00:59:20,028
They do need a new treasurer, so

994
00:59:21,829 --> 00:59:26,449
it's probably not such a difficult job right now with all the apps that are out

995
00:59:26,478 --> 00:59:31,489
there to manage the budget. But if that's something that you would be interested in

996
00:59:31,548 --> 00:59:33,408
supporting, they could definitely use your help.

997
00:59:33,468 --> 00:59:39,153
So again, you can go to their website or their Facebook page, New Providence

998
00:59:39,199 --> 00:59:42,079
Historical Society, to connect with them.

999
00:59:42,858 --> 00:59:47,838
We have initiated negotiations for contract renewals for both the DPW and the

1000
00:59:47,959 --> 00:59:48,647
police department.

1001
00:59:49,848 --> 00:59:54,978
So we expect that to move ahead as anticipated.

1002
00:59:55,008 --> 01:00:00,739
And then just in terms of the Stormwater Task Force, just to emphasize that it is

1003
01:00:00,768 --> 01:00:04,908
important as now leaves are starting to fall a little bit and people are

1004
01:00:05,478 --> 01:00:11,179
doing their fall cleanup, just make sure that the storm drain

1005
01:00:11,239 --> 01:00:14,388
that's near your house is cleared of any debris,

1006
01:00:15,918 --> 01:00:19,848
and get it up off of the street. Because these kinds of rains, they come down

1007
01:00:19,938 --> 01:00:24,588
heavy, and the debris starts to move pretty quickly towards the storm drains.

1008
01:00:24,618 --> 01:00:25,173
And it's

1009
01:00:27,228 --> 01:00:30,888
just an easy five-minute thing for you to go and check that before we have storms

1010
01:00:30,918 --> 01:00:33,228
like this. That's it. Thank you.

1011
01:00:34,038 --> 01:00:34,683
Thank you.

1012
01:00:34,683 --> 01:00:36,858
Okay. Thank you, Mayor. Pretty much the same.

1013
01:00:36,918 --> 01:00:39,949
A lot of the committees are going to be teeing back up now that the school year is

1014
01:00:39,978 --> 01:00:42,933
teeing up. One of which is the Mental Health Committee.

1015
01:00:43,788 --> 01:00:49,503
So we are on September the 1st today, and September is Suicide Prevention Awareness

1016
01:00:49,638 --> 01:00:53,239
Month. We don't have anything planned as a committee.

1017
01:00:53,538 --> 01:00:59,118
But we will be participating or encouraging people to participate in

1018
01:00:59,148 --> 01:01:04,128
Berkeley Heights. They are doing the Kimberly and Wilson 5K.

1019
01:01:05,118 --> 01:01:08,883
The Wilson Foundation has been very instrumental in our Mental Health Awareness

1020
01:01:08,929 --> 01:01:12,933
Month. They're the ones who purchased the big banners that go across this, Lead the

1021
01:01:13,008 --> 01:01:16,968
Way. So I know the committee will be participating in that, and we encourage

1022
01:01:17,058 --> 01:01:21,364
residents to as well. We'll put a flyer up with the video.

1023
01:01:21,408 --> 01:01:26,329
It's on September 20th at 9:30 AM at Veterans Memorial Park.

1024
01:01:27,318 --> 01:01:33,258
And it's really just a good time to be mindful of your

1025
01:01:33,288 --> 01:01:36,679
mental health. It's always something important that we need to take care of, and

1026
01:01:36,768 --> 01:01:38,538
this Suicide Prevention Month,

1027
01:01:39,888 --> 01:01:43,938
we should just take a step back and evaluate and look around

1028
01:01:45,228 --> 01:01:48,798
at our loved ones and make sure that everybody's doing okay.

1029
01:01:48,918 --> 01:01:53,088
So we'll put the flyer out for that walk, and we encourage everyone to support.

1030
01:01:53,298 --> 01:01:56,493
So more to come about mental health as we're going to be starting our meetings

1031
01:01:56,538 --> 01:01:59,658
again. And pretty much the same with the other committees as well.

1032
01:02:00,079 --> 01:02:01,218
So that's it for me today.

1033
01:02:01,788 --> 01:02:06,739
Okay. John, while you're sitting there, when is Open House Fire?

1034
01:02:07,489 --> 01:02:08,748
October 11th?

1035
01:02:08,778 --> 01:02:10,084
Saturday, October 10th.

1036
01:02:10,084 --> 01:02:10,084
10th.

1037
01:02:10,084 --> 01:02:11,868
12:00 to 3:00 PM.

1038
01:02:12,048 --> 01:02:12,348
Okay.

1039
01:02:15,228 --> 01:02:15,558
Matt?

1040
01:02:17,388 --> 01:02:21,768
Okay, so I'd like to start by just saying welcome back to Lamar.

1041
01:02:22,188 --> 01:02:25,337
It's really nice to have you back behind the camera there.

1042
01:02:30,444 --> 01:02:36,144
So, in regards to the PBA DPW negotiations, we did

1043
01:02:36,174 --> 01:02:41,514
receive their first offer, and we threw it away. No, I'm kidding.

1044
01:02:41,785 --> 01:02:44,934
We received their offer. We are reviewing.

1045
01:02:46,164 --> 01:02:51,144
I'm new to the process here, but it was actually very interesting to sit with them

1046
01:02:51,204 --> 01:02:52,884
and discuss,

1047
01:02:55,525 --> 01:03:00,054
not discuss, but to go over the labor contracts that we have.

1048
01:03:00,264 --> 01:03:05,394
And the reason why I mention it is, we just wanted to say the relationship that we

1049
01:03:05,454 --> 01:03:08,694
do have with our PBA and our DPW is incredible.

1050
01:03:09,474 --> 01:03:14,334
We have just great guys on our force and our DPW.

1051
01:03:15,204 --> 01:03:20,139
And they've been working with us over the last couple of negotiations that I've

1052
01:03:20,155 --> 01:03:24,459
been here. This is the first time I'm actually sitting at the table, but they have

1053
01:03:24,504 --> 01:03:30,400
been very good. They have a great understanding of

1054
01:03:30,414 --> 01:03:35,544
what it's like to live and work and play in a beautiful town like in Providence.

1055
01:03:35,604 --> 01:03:38,184
And they do care about us, and they do care about the town.

1056
01:03:39,954 --> 01:03:40,134
So,

1057
01:03:41,694 --> 01:03:46,824
more to come on that. As the

1058
01:03:48,474 --> 01:03:53,334
next sessions occur over the next couple of weeks, hopefully we can put this to bed

1059
01:03:53,875 --> 01:03:57,714
and move forward. Ribbon cutting at Oakwood Park today.

1060
01:03:57,775 --> 01:04:03,264
We had a really great, unbelievable turnout. It was over 100 kids, I believe.

1061
01:04:03,354 --> 01:04:03,369
Mm-hmm.

1062
01:04:05,754 --> 01:04:09,625
First kids to go and play on the park, and it was really neat to just walk around

1063
01:04:09,655 --> 01:04:14,754
the park and see all the different types of slides, and the

1064
01:04:15,474 --> 01:04:18,834
really most impressive thing is it's an inclusive park, right?

1065
01:04:18,984 --> 01:04:24,250
So, kids in wheelchairs can access, and there's a merry-go-round that's in the

1066
01:04:24,294 --> 01:04:25,375
ground. So,

1067
01:04:26,634 --> 01:04:27,684
if you're in a wheelchair, you can

1068
01:04:29,125 --> 01:04:32,815
wheel your wheelchair onto the merry-go-round, which is pretty neat.

1069
01:04:32,844 --> 01:04:35,664
I was very surprised, to be honest, at how fast the thing turns.

1070
01:04:36,264 --> 01:04:36,504
But,

1071
01:04:38,514 --> 01:04:41,454
I was watching the kids on it, and the thing was flying.

1072
01:04:41,514 --> 01:04:42,804
But, no, just-

1073
01:04:42,910 --> 01:04:45,655
Me and Amy were talking about the old school ones where-

1074
01:04:45,775 --> 01:04:46,254
Yeah

1075
01:04:46,269 --> 01:04:49,809
... they've just like, I don't know, they just grease like crazy and see how long

1076
01:04:49,854 --> 01:04:50,785
you can hold on for.

1077
01:04:50,844 --> 01:04:52,150
Centrifugal force is crazy.

1078
01:04:52,179 --> 01:04:52,179
Yeah.

1079
01:04:52,194 --> 01:04:53,035
Hold on for dear life.

1080
01:04:53,155 --> 01:04:53,785
Yeah.

1081
01:04:53,815 --> 01:04:58,104
Yeah, the park is beautiful. Yeah, I just wanted to mention it's open.

1082
01:04:58,134 --> 01:04:59,905
It's open for business, so go enjoy.

1083
01:04:59,934 --> 01:05:00,474
Hopefully,

1084
01:05:02,424 --> 01:05:05,815
it's played on by thousands of kids for many years.

1085
01:05:05,829 --> 01:05:08,815
And then just, Oakwood Park in general, I just want to say.

1086
01:05:09,744 --> 01:05:15,190
We moved here 20 years ago, and Oakwood Park was just grass, and there was field

1087
01:05:15,190 --> 01:05:17,244
goal posts and a backstop.

1088
01:05:19,884 --> 01:05:24,054
We've come a long way in all of our parks and fields in town, and

1089
01:05:24,655 --> 01:05:30,625
this council and councils previous have spent enormous time

1090
01:05:30,684 --> 01:05:31,134
and effort-

1091
01:05:31,854 --> 01:05:31,869
Mm-hmm

1092
01:05:31,869 --> 01:05:35,709
... with our borough officials, our recreation, and I believe that we have some of

1093
01:05:35,724 --> 01:05:41,228
the best parks in Union County. When I coached all the

1094
01:05:41,634 --> 01:05:44,693
kids that came to play, whether it was baseball or lacrosse,

1095
01:05:46,164 --> 01:05:48,804
all the other coaches were always just like, "Wow, these

1096
01:05:50,155 --> 01:05:53,708
fields are amazing. You guys really have great fields here." So, I'm really proud

1097
01:05:53,754 --> 01:05:58,824
of that. And I just want to thank Allison, our director of recreation, as well as

1098
01:05:58,854 --> 01:06:04,269
our previous recreation employees, our previous borough administrators,

1099
01:06:04,824 --> 01:06:09,579
Bernadette and all her staff, this council, and all the previous councils who, like

1100
01:06:09,655 --> 01:06:14,934
I said, over the last 10, 12 years, have really made a major effort in making our

1101
01:06:14,964 --> 01:06:16,285
playgrounds some of the best in class.

1102
01:06:16,344 --> 01:06:20,544
So, this playground is really just cherry on top.

1103
01:06:20,994 --> 01:06:21,354
For sure.

1104
01:06:22,704 --> 01:06:27,294
The police building. So, as we've been talking about, the police majority annex.

1105
01:06:27,594 --> 01:06:28,375
So,

1106
01:06:29,724 --> 01:06:33,324
the plans for the new police building are kind of tightening up.

1107
01:06:33,625 --> 01:06:35,484
We're getting down to really

1108
01:06:36,714 --> 01:06:41,275
what I was told, counting the number of outlets, so-

1109
01:06:42,009 --> 01:06:42,009
Mm.

1110
01:06:42,025 --> 01:06:42,474
It's getting

1111
01:06:44,829 --> 01:06:48,354
good. Just want to remind everybody that there's a target completion for that

1112
01:06:48,384 --> 01:06:53,574
building. It's 2028. So it's not going to be any time next year, or in eight

1113
01:06:53,634 --> 01:06:57,714
months, or a year. It's a process. It's a brand-new building.

1114
01:06:57,894 --> 01:06:59,544
So, it's going to take a couple of years.

1115
01:07:02,094 --> 01:07:05,889
In regards to the academy one-way, I did want to just mention that

1116
01:07:07,434 --> 01:07:08,500
I came out of

1117
01:07:12,714 --> 01:07:16,000
Stop & Shop, and made a right and a left, and I didn't even think about it.

1118
01:07:16,000 --> 01:07:19,494
Not today, but a lot of the police were moving in, and I just made this turn, and I

1119
01:07:19,554 --> 01:07:21,954
looked, and I saw the police moving into the building, and I thought to myself,

1120
01:07:21,984 --> 01:07:25,375
"Holy cow. I just made a left turn. I didn't even think about it." I literally

1121
01:07:25,464 --> 01:07:27,504
didn't think about it. I just did it.

1122
01:07:27,565 --> 01:07:30,174
And I realized how it's going to be

1123
01:07:31,584 --> 01:07:36,655
important that people understand that that's a one-way now and you can't do that.

1124
01:07:36,714 --> 01:07:41,304
And I'm not more concerned about people who are on Facebook or people who are on

1125
01:07:41,334 --> 01:07:45,294
our borough website that can see the information that we've been putting out there.

1126
01:07:45,744 --> 01:07:47,125
I'm really concerned about the kids.

1127
01:07:47,304 --> 01:07:52,884
The 17, 18-year-old, and 19-year-old kids who aren't, or aren't paying attention.

1128
01:07:52,944 --> 01:07:56,214
So I really, if you're hearing this message, talk to your kids.

1129
01:07:56,544 --> 01:07:57,309
Mm-hmm.

1130
01:07:57,309 --> 01:08:02,875
Make sure you let your kids know that you can't make that left turn, because like I

1131
01:08:02,905 --> 01:08:07,599
said, we're going to do everything that we can to make sure visually that people

1132
01:08:07,614 --> 01:08:12,025
don't do that. But, in the short term, just want to make sure we get that word out

1133
01:08:12,084 --> 01:08:17,544
to those that aren't maybe seeing it on Facebook and on our website.

1134
01:08:17,604 --> 01:08:20,139
And that's all I have. Yeah.

1135
01:08:20,139 --> 01:08:20,139
Lisa.

1136
01:08:20,139 --> 01:08:23,124
Am I the only one that comes from the other side of town that would be making a

1137
01:08:23,155 --> 01:08:25,644
left onto the academy to get here tonight?

1138
01:08:25,660 --> 01:08:30,474
Yeah, because I almost turned, and then I quickly swerved and went down Jane.

1139
01:08:30,954 --> 01:08:33,144
But you're right, Matt, it's like an auto reflex.

1140
01:08:33,519 --> 01:08:34,584
Easy to remember.

1141
01:08:34,644 --> 01:08:37,854
Something that we're going to have to make an effort to remember.

1142
01:08:39,414 --> 01:08:39,684
So,

1143
01:08:41,364 --> 01:08:45,639
I just want to add about Oakwood Park, that even if you don't have kids or

1144
01:08:45,655 --> 01:08:47,245
grandkids, just go check it out. It

1145
01:08:48,474 --> 01:08:52,733
is so cool. It's so impressive, it really is.

1146
01:08:52,764 --> 01:08:57,775
And the amount of kids that were there at 2:00 today waiting for the opening bell

1147
01:08:57,804 --> 01:09:02,035
was amazing. It was just a fun thing to watch them whoosh-

1148
01:09:02,334 --> 01:09:03,864
It was a stampede.

1149
01:09:03,879 --> 01:09:05,815
Stampede into the park. It was so cool.

1150
01:09:06,655 --> 01:09:09,504
So, just something that we should be really proud of, and we are.

1151
01:09:10,794 --> 01:09:14,860
Other than that, I really have nothing because all of my committees and boards have

1152
01:09:14,874 --> 01:09:16,854
been on summer hiatus.

1153
01:09:17,410 --> 01:09:17,410
Nice.

1154
01:09:17,454 --> 01:09:23,214
But, the work now begins again. So, stay tuned, as we say.

1155
01:09:23,424 --> 01:09:24,775
Good. Brian.

1156
01:09:24,804 --> 01:09:28,194
Well, no need for me to repeat what's already been said, so operation's normal.

1157
01:09:30,414 --> 01:09:30,804
Oh, okay.

1158
01:09:31,150 --> 01:09:33,565
Okay. Bernadette.

1159
01:09:33,684 --> 01:09:38,754
Thank you, Mayor. Just a few things. Paving is complete for the 2026 season.

1160
01:09:39,745 --> 01:09:44,019
We're still waiting on the stripers to come and do the stop bars, any markings that

1161
01:09:44,035 --> 01:09:48,114
were in the street previous to paving, so they'll be probably in the borough in the

1162
01:09:48,144 --> 01:09:50,604
next week or so. The rain is not helping.

1163
01:09:52,104 --> 01:09:55,794
We're waiting on a timeline for the contractor for sidewalk replacement.

1164
01:09:55,854 --> 01:09:59,754
The purchase order is in. We're just waiting for him to fit us into his schedule.

1165
01:10:00,504 --> 01:10:05,019
The tree contractors are also in town taking down borough-owned dead trees around

1166
01:10:05,064 --> 01:10:07,584
the culverts, parks, and neighborhoods.

1167
01:10:07,734 --> 01:10:12,354
And last but not least, the borough invites the community to join us on Friday,

1168
01:10:12,444 --> 01:10:16,674
September 11th, for a memorial service honoring and remembering the lives lost on

1169
01:10:16,704 --> 01:10:20,544
September 11th. The service will begin at 6:00 PM in Centennial Park.

1170
01:10:21,024 --> 01:10:21,654
That's all I have.

1171
01:10:22,554 --> 01:10:25,524
Okay. At this time, we have public comments.

1172
01:10:25,584 --> 01:10:29,004
Anybody wishing to address council, is there anyone to address?

1173
01:10:29,844 --> 01:10:30,054
Yes,

1174
01:10:30,144 --> 01:10:39,759
Alan.

1175
01:10:39,759 --> 01:10:41,724
Alan Swanson, 47 Overhill Road.

1176
01:10:43,854 --> 01:10:49,749
For anyone in the room who's not aware, didn't know that on the 28th of

1177
01:10:49,794 --> 01:10:54,594
August, which was just last Friday, the Trump administration said that they would

1178
01:10:54,669 --> 01:11:00,624
be filing an appeal against the June 29th ruling by the US District

1179
01:11:00,714 --> 01:11:04,164
Court Judge Jeannette Vargas, that the

1180
01:11:05,844 --> 01:11:10,959
President and the Department of Transportation can never remove-

1181
01:11:11,004 --> 01:11:11,694
Can you speak louder, please?

1182
01:11:12,774 --> 01:11:13,329
Can never-

1183
01:11:13,719 --> 01:11:15,849
Just closer to the mic, Alan, please.

1184
01:11:16,044 --> 01:11:19,224
Can never... I didn't hear who was talking to me.

1185
01:11:21,384 --> 01:11:27,024
The ruling was a clarification of the Vargas ruling that

1186
01:11:27,054 --> 01:11:31,524
became necessary with the repeated efforts of the administration to remove the

1187
01:11:31,584 --> 01:11:37,464
funding and, as the President said, terminate the

1188
01:11:37,524 --> 01:11:43,468
project. And without going through a lot of other information about

1189
01:11:43,542 --> 01:11:48,853
that. I really believe it's time for the council to stand up for the citizens of

1190
01:11:48,883 --> 01:11:54,041
New Providence and be another voice to tell the

1191
01:11:54,103 --> 01:11:57,252
administration to drop the continuing effort

1192
01:11:58,722 --> 01:12:04,662
to, as Trump said, terminate the largest, most important infrastructure project in

1193
01:12:04,692 --> 01:12:05,322
the nation.

1194
01:12:06,942 --> 01:12:07,093
So

1195
01:12:08,412 --> 01:12:09,552
I think it's a simple thing.

1196
01:12:11,412 --> 01:12:13,932
I would ask that you just pass a resolution that

1197
01:12:15,282 --> 01:12:20,622
states that you're in support of the Gateway Tunnel project,

1198
01:12:22,272 --> 01:12:27,492
and that you would hope that the administration would discontinue their

1199
01:12:27,552 --> 01:12:33,252
efforts to, again, as Trump has made it clear, that he wants

1200
01:12:33,312 --> 01:12:36,552
to terminate this project.

1201
01:12:40,272 --> 01:12:43,002
So that's basically what-- And

1202
01:12:44,232 --> 01:12:49,062
for those who bring up that it's not a political issue, or it is a political issue,

1203
01:12:49,512 --> 01:12:54,762
it's not a political issue. There are plenty of Republicans who

1204
01:12:55,482 --> 01:13:01,272
live along all of the New Jersey Transit lines that depend on the

1205
01:13:01,302 --> 01:13:07,093
tunnel, and we know what happens when the tunnel is out.

1206
01:13:08,292 --> 01:13:10,633
Sandy is the best example of that some time ago.

1207
01:13:12,222 --> 01:13:17,622
And there have been recently a lot of troubles with the electrical systems related

1208
01:13:17,652 --> 01:13:21,702
to New Jersey Transit. It's a separate issue, but it points to

1209
01:13:22,962 --> 01:13:25,062
how really disruptive

1210
01:13:26,802 --> 01:13:32,082
it can be to the economy of our state and the people

1211
01:13:32,112 --> 01:13:37,603
here that live in this town and other towns along the routes when these

1212
01:13:37,662 --> 01:13:40,902
disruptions occur. And so honestly,

1213
01:13:42,672 --> 01:13:47,922
I don't get it, the notion that we need to terminate, and it is unfortunate that

1214
01:13:48,672 --> 01:13:49,347
it appears that

1215
01:13:51,312 --> 01:13:55,152
there are political reasons that there's been that effort.

1216
01:13:55,843 --> 01:14:01,722
But I just would like to think that this is one issue that you could go

1217
01:14:01,782 --> 01:14:07,332
ahead and take a stand for the citizens of the town who really

1218
01:14:07,392 --> 01:14:12,822
rely on New Jersey Transit and are going to rely on that tunnel, and

1219
01:14:12,883 --> 01:14:15,343
disruptions in its construction aren't going to help anything.

1220
01:14:15,372 --> 01:14:18,792
It's not scheduled to be finished till 2035.

1221
01:14:20,982 --> 01:14:26,082
So I'm just asking if you would just go ahead and consider that, and I would even

1222
01:14:26,112 --> 01:14:26,802
help you write it.

1223
01:14:27,282 --> 01:14:28,812
Thank you for your comments.

1224
01:14:30,072 --> 01:14:30,762
Anyone else?

1225
01:14:32,353 --> 01:14:37,107
So how would I-- No one's responding, you're just-- So then I would just note that-

1226
01:14:37,752 --> 01:14:38,397
Well, I-

1227
01:14:38,397 --> 01:14:43,722
... when asked, the council would not respond to a request to support

1228
01:14:44,892 --> 01:14:45,972
the continuation of the tunnel.

1229
01:14:46,017 --> 01:14:47,742
I, myself, am not getting into

1230
01:14:49,093 --> 01:14:52,152
issues with Donald Trump or Washington.

1231
01:14:52,182 --> 01:14:54,912
I'm just talking about doing it, Alan, and I know you-

1232
01:14:55,332 --> 01:14:55,796
This is-

1233
01:14:55,796 --> 01:14:57,672
... bring this stuff up all the time.

1234
01:14:57,762 --> 01:15:01,992
I'm worried about paving our roads, getting playgrounds open.

1235
01:15:02,052 --> 01:15:03,883
I'm worried about stormwater.

1236
01:15:03,942 --> 01:15:06,853
So you're not worried about the tunnel not being completed?

1237
01:15:07,242 --> 01:15:11,202
You said 2035, it's supposed to be completed.

1238
01:15:12,432 --> 01:15:17,337
If the construction stops tomorrow, it will not be completed, ever.

1239
01:15:17,353 --> 01:15:20,383
The construction's still underway. The construction has not stopped.

1240
01:15:20,772 --> 01:15:22,497
There's not a stoppage in the construction. It's going.

1241
01:15:22,512 --> 01:15:23,277
There is a point.

1242
01:15:23,292 --> 01:15:23,622
But we're not going to-

1243
01:15:24,103 --> 01:15:29,022
The point is that there is an appeal that is being filed by the

1244
01:15:29,052 --> 01:15:33,462
administration to discontinue the funding.

1245
01:15:35,622 --> 01:15:36,103
Okay.

1246
01:15:36,147 --> 01:15:38,306
After it's discontinued, you're-

1247
01:15:38,682 --> 01:15:39,897
Where's the appeal that says?

1248
01:15:39,972 --> 01:15:43,332
We'll see how that goes. The construction is underway. Thank you.

1249
01:15:45,612 --> 01:15:45,822
Yes,

1250
01:15:45,883 --> 01:15:51,747
Rosemary.

1251
01:15:51,747 --> 01:15:55,242
Rosemary Barnett. I prefer not to give my address, if that's okay.

1252
01:15:55,422 --> 01:15:56,593
You can come to me after.

1253
01:15:56,652 --> 01:16:01,843
I'm really sorry, but Alan, I don't even understand what that was about.

1254
01:16:02,442 --> 01:16:08,157
We could sit here and go back and forth regarding any national issue, and I could

1255
01:16:08,202 --> 01:16:11,202
ask the council how they feel about those issues.

1256
01:16:11,802 --> 01:16:14,008
So I don't even see what the point- It's not a national issue.

1257
01:16:14,052 --> 01:16:18,612
But this is-- Rosemary, you have to address the chair.

1258
01:16:18,642 --> 01:16:20,232
Alan, sit down, please.

1259
01:16:20,322 --> 01:16:25,093
I don't see the point of why these things are brought up to the council.

1260
01:16:25,572 --> 01:16:28,512
Your job is to take care of our town.

1261
01:16:29,442 --> 01:16:32,772
I don't give a crap about what's going on nationally.

1262
01:16:32,892 --> 01:16:35,052
Your job is to take care of the town.

1263
01:16:35,322 --> 01:16:36,987
It's an issue that affects- That is all we are interested in ...

1264
01:16:37,002 --> 01:16:40,662
residents of the town. Oh, okay. But the residents of the town need to be

1265
01:16:40,722 --> 01:16:45,357
interested in the town. They are not in control of what's going on with the federal

1266
01:16:45,462 --> 01:16:49,242
government. How could they control that? That's not in their control.

1267
01:16:49,272 --> 01:16:51,883
It's not a question of control. It's a question of making our voices heard.

1268
01:16:52,212 --> 01:16:57,252
So should I sit here and ask each of you how you feel about issues that I know

1269
01:16:57,312 --> 01:17:00,552
concern me? I'd be happy to chat about it. But that's ridiculous.

1270
01:17:00,612 --> 01:17:04,062
That's not your job. Happy to chat with you. Your job is to take care of the town.

1271
01:17:04,932 --> 01:17:04,947
Perfect.

1272
01:17:05,802 --> 01:17:06,702
It's a non-issue.

1273
01:17:07,032 --> 01:17:08,187
This is a public meeting and-

1274
01:17:08,187 --> 01:17:11,232
You're making issues, but you're making issues out of things that aren't an issue.

1275
01:17:11,622 --> 01:17:17,008
Why would you have people coming up here to put them on the spot about national

1276
01:17:17,142 --> 01:17:20,142
issues that have absolutely nothing to do with them?

1277
01:17:20,442 --> 01:17:21,642
People can say whatever they like.

1278
01:17:21,853 --> 01:17:22,603
It's a public meeting.

1279
01:17:22,692 --> 01:17:24,161
They can say whatever they want.

1280
01:17:24,252 --> 01:17:26,562
Amy said thank you for your comments.

1281
01:17:26,802 --> 01:17:27,192
That's right.

1282
01:17:27,282 --> 01:17:28,527
And that's it.

1283
01:17:28,902 --> 01:17:31,512
It's ludicrous. It's a waste of time.

1284
01:17:31,722 --> 01:17:32,758
Yes, we can address it.

1285
01:17:32,892 --> 01:17:34,633
I'm sitting here listening, I'm like, "Wow, what a waste of time."

1286
01:17:35,022 --> 01:17:35,216
Okay.

1287
01:17:35,593 --> 01:17:37,242
It's ludicrous. It's insulting.

1288
01:17:38,442 --> 01:17:39,162
Sorry. That's it.

1289
01:17:39,252 --> 01:17:40,542
That's okay, Rosemary. Thank you.

1290
01:17:41,532 --> 01:17:43,392
Anyone else? Yes, Brian.

1291
01:17:47,322 --> 01:17:49,572
So to the woman behind me, I don't know her name.

1292
01:17:49,587 --> 01:17:50,412
Name and address, please.

1293
01:17:50,802 --> 01:17:53,502
Brian Haas, 49 Bradford Street.

1294
01:17:54,806 --> 01:17:54,837
Thank you.

1295
01:17:54,853 --> 01:17:59,052
She complained that it was a waste of time, but one could say that her standing up

1296
01:17:59,622 --> 01:18:01,452
and speaking was also a waste of time.

1297
01:18:02,232 --> 01:18:05,412
So it's kind of the same thing, and it's kind of hypocritical.

1298
01:18:07,661 --> 01:18:11,696
Yes, it is a national issue, but it does affect people in New Providence, and there

1299
01:18:11,712 --> 01:18:15,642
are many people that feel that things that affect the residents of New Providence,

1300
01:18:17,082 --> 01:18:20,172
that the people that represent New Providence might want to

1301
01:18:21,522 --> 01:18:22,662
weigh in on those things.

1302
01:18:23,502 --> 01:18:27,672
I understand what you're saying, but you have to understand, there's a lot of

1303
01:18:27,732 --> 01:18:30,702
people in New Providence that don't feel the same way.

1304
01:18:30,732 --> 01:18:31,002
Mm-hmm.

1305
01:18:31,452 --> 01:18:36,732
And when we sit up here, it's a balancing act, and for us to get

1306
01:18:36,792 --> 01:18:42,642
entangled in national issues like this, it doesn't benefit the town for

1307
01:18:42,702 --> 01:18:44,892
us to get involved.

1308
01:18:45,012 --> 01:18:45,312
Right.

1309
01:18:45,402 --> 01:18:49,633
And we represent the entire community.

1310
01:18:49,722 --> 01:18:50,142
I understand.

1311
01:18:50,262 --> 01:18:55,077
Not just a handful that come up and don't like what Donald Trump wants.

1312
01:18:55,182 --> 01:18:59,952
Right. A week from Friday will be the 25th anniversary-

1313
01:19:00,672 --> 01:19:00,762
Yes

1314
01:19:00,792 --> 01:19:04,317
... of 9/11. That was a national tragedy.

1315
01:19:04,392 --> 01:19:05,577
I think we all agree on that,

1316
01:19:06,792 --> 01:19:08,412
and it affected New Providence.

1317
01:19:08,593 --> 01:19:09,402
Yes, it did.

1318
01:19:09,462 --> 01:19:10,062
And I think-

1319
01:19:10,272 --> 01:19:12,042
We lost six people.

1320
01:19:12,582 --> 01:19:15,897
Right. So these national things do affect our town.

1321
01:19:15,942 --> 01:19:19,812
But that impacted this town directly.

1322
01:19:21,432 --> 01:19:26,022
And I think this would impact our town directly, too, if this funding was to be

1323
01:19:26,082 --> 01:19:26,593
delayed.

1324
01:19:27,387 --> 01:19:30,942
But you're missing the point. Not everybody feels that way in town.

1325
01:19:31,093 --> 01:19:31,302
Right.

1326
01:19:33,012 --> 01:19:36,987
There's probably not everybody in town feels the same way about anything, right?

1327
01:19:37,062 --> 01:19:39,462
There may be people that didn't like the playground, right?

1328
01:19:40,843 --> 01:19:41,127
Well.

1329
01:19:41,172 --> 01:19:41,907
That's not true.

1330
01:19:43,062 --> 01:19:48,552
And there's no comparing 9/11 to New Jersey Transit. There's a very big difference.

1331
01:19:49,002 --> 01:19:50,052
Yes, there is a big difference.

1332
01:19:50,157 --> 01:19:50,157
Yeah.

1333
01:19:50,202 --> 01:19:54,012
But it was a national tragedy, and it impacted New Providence.

1334
01:19:54,312 --> 01:19:54,972
Directly.

1335
01:19:56,892 --> 01:20:01,032
And if that tunnel doesn't get built, that will affect New Providence directly.

1336
01:20:01,722 --> 01:20:03,942
And the construction's underway. Thank you.

1337
01:20:08,142 --> 01:20:08,922
Anyone else?

1338
01:20:11,262 --> 01:20:16,542
Seeing no one, I declare the public hearing closed, and let's go to formal action,

1339
01:20:17,022 --> 01:20:18,162
items one through 12.

1340
01:20:19,962 --> 01:20:20,682
So moved.

1341
01:20:20,742 --> 01:20:22,152
Second, sorry. Second.

1342
01:20:23,232 --> 01:20:24,103
Roll call, please.

1343
01:20:26,412 --> 01:20:27,072
Mr. Lerner?

1344
01:20:27,252 --> 01:20:27,672
Aye.

1345
01:20:27,762 --> 01:20:28,212
Ms. Dolan?

1346
01:20:28,482 --> 01:20:28,782
Yes.

1347
01:20:28,947 --> 01:20:29,502
Mrs. Jeffrey?

1348
01:20:29,562 --> 01:20:29,802
Yes.

1349
01:20:30,133 --> 01:20:30,853
Mr. Kamisky?

1350
01:20:31,603 --> 01:20:31,887
Aye.

1351
01:20:32,502 --> 01:20:33,282
Mrs. McKnight?

1352
01:20:33,552 --> 01:20:33,883
Yes.

1353
01:20:34,062 --> 01:20:34,633
Mr. Gardner?

1354
01:20:34,812 --> 01:20:35,082
Yes.

1355
01:20:37,542 --> 01:20:38,652
Motion approved.

1356
01:20:38,682 --> 01:20:39,883
So moved, second.

1357
01:20:39,897 --> 01:20:40,302
Any favor?

1358
01:20:40,872 --> 01:20:41,172
Yes.

1359
01:20:41,322 --> 01:20:42,072
So said.