[5:39] Very good.
[10:52] All right. This meeting is called to
[10:54] order. This is the August 11th, 2026
[10:56] mayor council meeting. Uh will the clerk
[11:00] please read the statement of compliance?
[11:02] >> This meeting is being held in accordance
[11:04] with the open public meetings act NJSA
[11:06] 104-6X
[11:09] having been duly advertised and posted
[11:11] in the municipal building in compliance
[11:12] with NJSA 104-8.
[11:15] The meeting will adjourn no later than
[11:17] 10 p.m. unless a majority of the council
[11:19] members present vote to extend the time.
[11:22] >> All rise for the pledge of allegiance.
[11:26] » Would uh Victor German Jr. please lead
[11:28] us in the pledge of allegiance?
[11:30] >> I aliance to the flag of the United
[11:33] States of America and to the republic
[11:35] for it stands one nation under God
[11:39] indivisible with liberty and justice for
[11:41] all. Please remain standing for a moment
[11:43] of silence. Let's
[11:48] also remember Lieutenant James John Gaul
[11:50] Jr. He was a member of the Oakland
[11:51] Police Department. He passed away
[11:52] recently.
[11:55] He was retired.
[12:00] Thank you.
[12:04] » All right. Would the clerk call the
[12:05] role, please?
[12:06] >> Mayor Kamala,
[12:07] >> present.
[12:09] >> Council President Talini
[12:10] >> here.
[12:11] >> Councilman Dumpert
[12:12] >> here. Councilman Eert
[12:14] >> here.
[12:14] >> Councilman Pignatelli
[12:15] >> here.
[12:16] >> Councilwoman Rose
[12:17] >> here.
[12:18] >> Councilman Saliani
[12:19] >> here.
[12:20] >> All right. We have a special occasion
[12:21] today. We are swearing in a new
[12:23] firefighter.
[12:24] >> Uh if you recall last month we swore in
[12:26] Ed McDermott senior. Uh this time we're
[12:29] going to ask Ed to come forward with his
[12:31] son, Ed McDermott the fifth. Correct. Uh
[12:34] this is Ed the fifth. Uh Ed is uh going
[12:36] to be joining the volunteer fire
[12:38] department. Uh Ed also uh graduated high
[12:40] school, served four years in the army.
[12:42] He has since completed his army service
[12:45] and he's currently active in the
[12:46] National Guard. So let's give Ed a
[12:50] [applause]
[13:06] go, Dad. Which way?
[13:13] Are you ready?
[13:14] >> Okay.
[13:16] I, Ed McDermott the 5th,
[13:18] >> I, Ed McDermott the 5th,
[13:19] >> do solemnly swear
[13:21] >> that I will support the Constitution of
[13:23] the United States
[13:23] >> that I will support the Constitution of
[13:25] the United States
[13:26] >> and the Constitution of the State of New
[13:27] Jersey
[13:28] >> and the Constitution of the State of New
[13:29] Jersey
[13:29] >> that I will bear true faith and
[13:31] allegiance
[13:31] >> that I will bear true faith and
[13:32] allegiance
[13:33] >> to the same
[13:34] >> and the governments established in the
[13:36] United States
[13:37] >> and the governments established in the
[13:39] United States
[13:40] >> and in this state
[13:41] >> under the authority of the people
[13:44] >> and that I will faithfully and that I
[13:46] will faithfully
[13:47] >> impartially
[13:48] >> and justly
[13:50] >> perform all the duties
[13:53] >> of the office of firefighter
[13:56] >> according to the best of my ability.
[13:59] >> So help me God.
[14:00] >> Congratulations sir. [applause]
[14:22] Thank you.
[14:29] » Congratulations.
[14:36] >> Thank you for your service.
[14:39] All
[14:40] right, we can take a quick one minute
[14:42] recess. I know there's a lot of
[14:43] firefighters that unless you want to
[14:44] hang out for the meeting, you're welcome
[14:45] to. If not, uh, go
[14:49] [laughter]
[15:45] So, we're up to the mayor's report. Uh,
[15:47] a couple items. Uh, number one, paving.
[15:50] Um, as many people know on the dog on
[15:52] the Dogwood section, uh, they just Lar,
[15:55] the property owner with the condos back
[15:57] there, uh, just completed paving McCoy
[16:00] Road. Uh, that was at no cost to the
[16:02] taxpayer. That was paid for by the
[16:04] developer. and we were able to convince
[16:07] them to pave all the way up to the
[16:08] Franklin Lakes corporate line. So, if
[16:10] you go up there, you'll notice that all
[16:12] the paving is complete on the Oakland
[16:13] side, but when you get to Franklin
[16:14] Lakes, it's only half and there's
[16:15] patches in there. So, they did right by
[16:17] Oakland by uh well, we kind of worked
[16:19] with them to make sure they did that.
[16:21] All right. Oakland's 20 2026 road
[16:24] program. Uh the following roads are
[16:26] going to be paved. Currently, they're
[16:28] working on they started the concrete
[16:29] work. It's going to they're going to be
[16:31] working on it this week and next week.
[16:33] Uh the following areas are going to be
[16:34] paved. The walking path along the
[16:36] Dogwood school for the people with
[16:37] student with children. There's a walking
[16:39] path between Dogwood and Manito that's
[16:41] going to be repaved. That has not been
[16:42] done for 20 years. Harvard Way is going
[16:44] to be repaved. Roosevelt Boulevard from
[16:47] First Street to Truman Soccer Field
[16:48] parking lot's going to be paved. Uh the
[16:51] Veterans Park driveway. West Oakland A
[16:53] where we did all the water main work,
[16:55] that's going to be paved all the way to
[16:56] the Pompson Lakes line, uh where the
[16:59] water man work was done. Acorn is also
[17:02] going to be paved curb to curb. Stony
[17:04] point road, Cheyenne Court, Senica
[17:07] Avenue, Masasoy Trail, Kaunga Drive,
[17:09] Tuscarora Drive, Barber Lane, Winter
[17:12] Street, and Maple Drive. Uh we're also
[17:15] expecting the county to be paving West
[17:17] Oakland A from the McDonald's light all
[17:20] the way to Skyline Drive. That's
[17:22] probably be happening later either late
[17:25] summer, sometime in the spring, but
[17:26] that's going to be paid for by the
[17:27] county.
[17:29] I know there's a problem. Several
[17:31] residents have contacted about the Iraco
[17:33] and Andrew ponding situation. There's a
[17:35] collapsed storm drain in that area. DPW
[17:38] is out there in a regular basis uh
[17:40] pumping out the street. Uh we're
[17:42] currently working with our DPW and our
[17:44] engineer. Uh they have to replace a 20ft
[17:47] section of pipe. Okay. And I know that
[17:50] residents are concerned because we just
[17:51] did a lot of paving up there. The good
[17:53] news is we do not have to dig up the
[17:54] road. It's all going to be all the work
[17:56] is going to be done off the road on a
[17:58] person's property. So that that's work
[18:00] is pending. Should probably take three
[18:01] to four weeks. Also want to congratulate
[18:04] the students that took place in the
[18:06] junior police academy graduation. I'm
[18:07] sure Mr. Saliani is going to have
[18:09] something to say about that. Um
[18:13] streetscape as you know this governing
[18:15] body has been working on the streetscape
[18:17] uh for the downtown area. Uh from the
[18:20] railroad track all the way up to Oak
[18:23] Street. uh our engineers have been
[18:25] working on design criteria as we speak.
[18:27] We hope to have a presentation sometime
[18:29] in either September or October to the
[18:30] governing body uh for input from the
[18:33] residents of governing body as we move
[18:35] forward through this process. Uh the
[18:37] drugstore, I know I've talked a couple
[18:39] times about the drugstore. Um at this
[18:41] time the drugstore, they ran into an
[18:43] issue with the roof. They're working
[18:45] through engineering issues. Uh once
[18:47] that's done, plans should be should be
[18:49] submitted. I'm I said last month, but
[18:51] they're shooting for the end of this
[18:52] month. Let's see what happens once the
[18:54] plans get submitted. We'll start seeing
[18:55] that the Oakland drugs property get
[18:57] rehabilitated into the new Hackinack
[19:00] Health. As far as garbage, I know a lot
[19:03] of people have been stickered. There's a
[19:04] lot of uh uh pain here in town
[19:07] concerning the garbage can size. Uh but
[19:09] uh the DPW has gone around. They have
[19:12] stickered the cans and the last day to
[19:14] use cans over 45 will be August 14th. Uh
[19:18] then you have to have the smaller can.
[19:20] Uh, and the DPW is selling them at a
[19:22] discount rate of $20 per can if
[19:24] anybody's interested. And with that, concludes my report.
[19:33] At this time, I'd like I I invited the
[19:35] affordable housing attorney, Mr. Brian
[19:37] Giblin, at the end of the the Deis. As
[19:40] you know, Oakland is facing a lot of
[19:41] challenges with all this affordable
[19:43] housing with the McBride property uh
[19:45] behind the hardware store and also
[19:46] [snorts] behind the high school. I
[19:48] thought it was only appropriate to have
[19:50] uh Mr. Giblin come forward come here
[19:52] today so they can give us and the public
[19:54] an update on where we are with the
[19:55] affordable housing. I yield to you Mr.
[19:58] Giblin.
[19:58] >> Thank you mayor and I appreciate the
[20:00] opportunity to update the council and
[20:02] the public as to uh what the status is.
[20:05] Um as I'm I'm sure the council and most
[20:07] of the public are aware. Uh after we
[20:09] filed our declaratory judgment action
[20:12] seeking immunity uh from affordable
[20:14] housing litigation, there were four
[20:16] challenges uh three by developers and
[20:19] one by Fairshare Housing Center. Leaving
[20:22] aside fair share because they're not
[20:23] going to settle until all the other
[20:26] developers settle. Uh we have three. We
[20:28] have McBride, Leone, and Robber. Um
[20:32] going in the order uh McBride is uh a
[20:36] site that the uh mayor and council uh
[20:40] adopted zoning that they had requested.
[20:43] The only issue in that case and the only
[20:45] reason we haven't reached a settlement
[20:46] with them is because the mayor and
[20:48] council would not permit access from
[20:50] Paige Drive. Um they subsequently filed
[20:54] a motion. I went to court before Judge
[20:56] Caristen who is handling the case and
[20:58] Judge Carsten said that that decision
[21:01] has to be made by the planning board. So
[21:03] uh they can make an application uh to
[21:06] develop the site. They can have Page
[21:08] Road as a proposed um means of ingress
[21:12] and egress, but the planning board is
[21:14] going to have to approve that after the
[21:16] engineering testimony goes in. So uh
[21:18] we'll have to leave that to them. the
[21:20] Leone site. Um we met with their
[21:24] professionals on a couple of occasions.
[21:26] They u we were advised that the Leone
[21:30] site is essentially a mirror image of
[21:32] the LAR site which is just next door.
[21:35] However, they're requesting some zoning
[21:37] changes to make uh some minor
[21:40] modifications to the zoning at the LAR
[21:42] site. So we've been going through that
[21:44] with uh the burrows professionals to see
[21:46] why those changes are necessary and so
[21:49] far uh most of them have been necessary.
[21:51] Again they're minor in nature and it's
[21:53] because of the different topography on
[21:55] the site that uh requires it. Uh and
[21:59] last is the ropper or roer site. This
[22:02] was an approval from uh the third round
[22:05] was approved I believe in 2018
[22:08] uh in the last round. We're now in the
[22:09] fourth round. Um, and the only thing
[22:14] that's stopping them from developing the
[22:16] site right now is that they don't have
[22:18] sewage. Uh, it was supposed to have been
[22:21] taken care of by the North Northwest
[22:23] Sewer Authority. Uh, they have not put
[22:26] in the infrastructure uh to this point.
[22:29] Uh, we've had communications with them.
[22:32] We recently had a meeting with the um
[22:36] NJD
[22:37] to find out where we could get excess
[22:40] sewage capacity not only for that site
[22:42] but for some other existing sites in the
[22:44] downtown area and uh they were looking
[22:47] for some additional information. our
[22:49] engineers are providing that and we will
[22:51] get uh together with them again and try
[22:53] and work that out so that uh we can
[22:55] provide sewage again not just for the
[22:57] ropper site to be built but also for
[22:59] some existing properties that don't have
[23:01] sewage now and the next time we'll be in
[23:04] court is September 15th in front of
[23:06] Judge Carston.
[23:07] >> Thank you. Does anybody from the council
[23:09] have any questions for affordable
[23:10] housing attorney at this time? if you
[23:13] could just uh stay here till after open to the public in case the residents
[23:17] have any questions.
[23:19] >> At this time, do I have a motion to open
[23:20] the public?
[23:21] >> So moved.
[23:22] >> Do we have a second?
[23:22] >> Second.
[23:23] >> All in favor?
[23:24] >> Anyone from the public wish to address
[23:25] the governing body?
[23:30] » Hello.
[23:31] >> My name is Joan Czech. My address is 18
[23:34] Crosby Lane. Tonight I am um here on
[23:37] behalf of the open first aid squad. I
[23:40] have some things I'd like to bring to
[23:42] the attention of the council, of the
[23:44] town, a frustration that we've been
[23:46] having. Um, we typically in the past
[23:50] have adopted maybe burrow um vehicles,
[23:55] police cars that have been retired from
[23:56] service. Um, part of the problem with
[23:59] that has been that they were retired for
[24:02] a good reason. They the cost of
[24:04] maintenance is high. They are not
[24:06] reliable. things you don't want in an
[24:09] emergency vehicle. Um, so we decided to
[24:13] use squad funds given by our generous
[24:16] donors in town to purchase a new vehicle
[24:19] that had a warranty. And the way the
[24:23] best way for us to purchase it was
[24:24] through a municipal
[24:27] somebody's got to help me with the word
[24:28] here. Co-op.
[24:30] >> And part of the rules of those co-ops is
[24:32] that it has to be registered to the
[24:34] town. I believe it's for a year. I
[24:37] didn't participate in this purchase, but
[24:40] it's usually for a year. The town has to
[24:42] have it licensed to them for a year. Um,
[24:45] we bought that vehicle in I think the
[24:48] beginning of 2024 was when it was
[24:50] finally paid for. Um, and then it was um
[24:55] I probably due to our fault as much as
[24:58] anybody else's last year, we never
[25:00] bothered getting the that transferred.
[25:02] I'm kind of a p detailed person
[25:05] accountant type. Um, so I decided when I
[25:08] became chief, which is the beginning of
[25:10] this year, I would see to it that that
[25:12] title would be transferred because it's
[25:15] a little bit problematic. I mean,
[25:17] theoretically, the town could sell it or
[25:19] repaint it as a police car if they so
[25:21] desired at this point, which is really
[25:23] not what we're in the business to do.
[25:25] We're 501c3 with our mission. Our
[25:29] mission is to provide first aid care,
[25:30] not to buy vehicles for Oakland. So, you
[25:33] know, we we have a great deal of trust
[25:35] in the town, but on the other hand, like
[25:37] I said, I'm a detailed person. I want to
[25:39] see stuff buttoned up. I'm sure you can
[25:41] appreciate that as an attorney. Um, it
[25:44] you you don't just leave it even if you
[25:46] trust the individuals. And so, this
[25:49] year, around February or March, I began
[25:51] speaking to people. People in Burough
[25:53] Hall have been very responsive, very on
[25:56] top of things. Um, it seems to be
[25:58] stalling with the attorney. At first, I
[26:01] was told that the that they needed to go
[26:03] to the attorney to find out how to
[26:05] transfer it. And then I kept calling and
[26:09] asking. And then I heard that we were
[26:11] waiting to have the um the motion
[26:15] >> resolution [laughter] I I may be a
[26:18] detailed person. I'm not a word person.
[26:20] Um have that written for the council um
[26:23] to vote on. And that was sort of the end
[26:26] of June. I was very disappointed to see
[26:28] it not show up on the July agenda. And
[26:32] then I heard I happened to run into
[26:34] Wendy and she was on top of it. She said
[26:36] to me, "It should be on this agenda.
[26:38] We're still waiting for the wording."
[26:40] And then the agenda came out and it
[26:41] wasn't there. And I have questions at
[26:45] this point about why that's so
[26:47] complicated and and why is this taking
[26:50] so long? Because we've done this
[26:51] numerous times in the past. granted with
[26:54] old junky cars, but you know, we have
[26:56] done this. It nobody's had an issue
[26:58] doing it. And in any case, um I was
[27:02] hoping possibly tonight if it's a simple
[27:04] thing that maybe Mr. Gilson would be
[27:07] able to come up with something that
[27:09] could be voted on. And you know, if not,
[27:12] or if there if it's not just going to be
[27:14] a straightforward transfer of title for
[27:16] the vehicle that we paid for and there's
[27:19] something else that's try they're trying
[27:20] to get written in there, I would like
[27:22] the opportunity to speak to them and I
[27:24] will provide you with my contact
[27:26] information after this. Um, and that's
[27:29] pretty much all I have to say. You know,
[27:32] um, we need to get this moving. We need
[27:34] to get this done because if the year
[27:35] ends without me getting it done, I'm
[27:36] going to be very sad.
[27:38] >> Thank you. Thank you.
[27:39] >> Thank you.
[27:44] Danny Dia, 7 form Road.
[27:47] Uh, a couple [clears throat] things
[27:48] tonight. First, a very important thing.
[27:52] Uh, we must never forget this September
[27:54] 11th [clears throat] will be 25 years
[27:56] since the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and
[27:58] a fourth plane headed to Washington DC,
[28:01] where courageous patriots took control
[28:03] of the plane and crashed it in field in
[28:06] Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
[28:08] On Friday, September 11th at 6 PM, the
[28:11] community of Oakland will hold a
[28:13] remembrance ceremony for the 25th
[28:14] anniversary of 911 in Veterans Park.
[28:17] While the residents and businesses are
[28:20] invited to attend, afterwards, there
[28:22] will be refreshments available at Pond's
[28:24] Church. Let's never forget that day that
[28:27] changed America. One month from tonight,
[28:30] February, Friday, September 11th, at 6
[28:33] p.m. in Veterans Park. All are invited
[28:36] and welcome to please attend this
[28:37] important moving ceremony. Let's make it
[28:41] it's something that never should be
[28:42] forgotten and it's getting forgotten by
[28:45] a lot of people. So just remember
[28:47] Friday, September 11th, 6:00 Veterans
[28:50] Park. It's going to be a real nice
[28:51] ceremony. We're still working on it.
[28:54] We've had two meetings. We got another
[28:55] two meetings coming up and it's going to
[28:59] be good. All right, a couple other
[29:01] things.
[29:03] sidewalk along 202 South between the
[29:06] cleaners
[29:08] and the Exxon station. All right.
[29:10] There's two white lines that used to be
[29:12] painted there. They're faded. All right.
[29:14] They used to be painted every year.
[29:17] There's a restaurant in that parking lot
[29:20] has valet parking.
[29:23] the valet parking on Friday, Saturday
[29:25] nights, sometimes Sunday nights,
[29:27] sometimes Thursday nights, they park
[29:28] them right out to 202,
[29:31] right out to the edge of 202. People
[29:33] walking either they got to weave through
[29:35] the cars or they walk in 202.
[29:39] Uh it's amazing nobody got hit yet.
[29:42] >> All right, so I think we should go back
[29:43] to painting those lines and maybe
[29:47] enforcing no parking on the sidewalk.
[29:50] >> All right, at that place. And even if
[29:52] you had to get an emergency vehicle in
[29:54] there, you're parked on 202. You're
[29:56] blocking 202 with emergency vehicles.
[30:00] All right. Uh what two other things I
[30:03] see under the paving list is Senica A.
[30:07] Why are we paying for Senica AB when
[30:09] public service ripped it up?
[30:12] >> Mr. Cos,
[30:13] >> did we do some trading? I think that was
[30:15] one of the ways that we swapped off with
[30:17] another road or you know full um curb to
[30:21] curb on another road if memory.
[30:23] >> Yeah. So it just it seemed weird that
[30:26] public service came in and paved all the
[30:27] roads they dug up.
[30:28] >> Right. So what we do is we do horse
[30:30] trading on the back end so we can get
[30:32] more bang for the buck.
[30:33] >> Fine.
[30:33] >> All right. And then the last thing I got
[30:37] All right. Uh last meeting there was
[30:39] resolution number 233 on the agenda. It
[30:42] was introduced by you Mr. mayor and it
[30:45] was not brought the motion was made and
[30:47] it wasn't brought forward. All right.
[30:50] Now,
[30:51] >> I can't bring a resolution forward.
[30:53] >> Right. The council didn't bring it
[30:54] forward.
[30:55] >> All right. Now, looking at the gender,
[30:57] it's for $83,500.
[30:59] Looking at the agenda for this meeting,
[31:02] it's back on as resolution 248.
[31:05] It's the same resolution as 233 with
[31:08] some word changes.
[31:10] Is this a new way that we do stuff here
[31:13] to spend $83,500
[31:15] that if it don't work it don't pass the
[31:18] first time, we keep try try again after
[31:21] every meeting for the next couple of
[31:23] meetings. Totally. See if it passes. I
[31:25] don't think that's a good way to spend
[31:27] taxpayer money. All right. Thanks.
[31:33] » Next person.
[31:35] You go. Okay. [clears throat]
[31:40] Everybody, Will Lensetti, 23 Chickasaw.
[31:43] I want to talk a little bit about value,
[31:45] what we get from savings. When I was,
[31:47] you know, I sometimes have a little bit
[31:49] of a long commute and I think too much,
[31:51] but some of this sort of bothered me.
[31:52] $250 a year savings per household.
[31:56] That's for over the life of the
[31:58] contract. That's 6250 a year. That comes
[32:02] out to like we're saving a$120 with this
[32:05] new garbage contract.
[32:08] So that also got me thinking, you know,
[32:09] when my kids were little, they learned a
[32:11] lesson about value. You know, when
[32:13] they're no gave them some money, you
[32:16] know, we took them to the dollar store.
[32:17] I would always say thinking like, no, we
[32:19] shouldn't do this. But then I'm thinking
[32:20] like, no, let them learn because some
[32:21] things you can't teach. They need to
[32:23] learn. So when they bought these toys
[32:25] for a dollar and they broke and they
[32:27] cried, it didn't take them long to
[32:29] realize that some things are worth value
[32:31] and that there is a value to the dollar.
[32:33] So for a $120 thinking maybe maybe the
[32:36] mayor and council in the DBW instead of
[32:39] driving around looking at people's trash
[32:41] bins to see if they were oversized maybe
[32:43] they should have gone to the dollar
[32:44] store first. I mean looking saying, "Oh,
[32:46] this one's too big. This one's just
[32:48] right." Like some sort of garbage can
[32:50] Goldilocks looking around here. I I mean
[32:52] really. So
[32:55] what is value? Like are we getting a
[32:57] value from this for the service? Also
[33:00] knowing that a third of the town now
[33:02] needs to buy new cans. You know, that's
[33:05] what that's what you all said. 30% of
[33:07] the town needs to buy new cans. So, are
[33:10] we getting the value for that? I'm not
[33:13] sure. I'm not sure we are or not. But
[33:16] when I also looked at it, and I'm
[33:17] thinking about this from the value
[33:18] perspective, like people have cans of
[33:21] different sizes. Everyone's got a
[33:22] different size can. You know, some are
[33:24] oversized. Lay down the street from me.
[33:26] She's got huge cans. didn't seem to
[33:28] bother the other guards, man.
[33:31] Sorry, I'm just making some fun on this
[33:33] for what it is. But, you know, we can
[33:35] take it a little further. Let's let's educate our kids. Let's start a
[33:39] web page about value and then we can get
[33:42] all the cost savings, the old contract,
[33:45] the new contract, the interimm contract,
[33:47] what the actual costs are. Let's put
[33:50] them on the page and let's outweigh them
[33:52] with what people spent on garbage cans
[33:55] initially, the ones that they're
[33:56] throwing out, what they're spending on
[33:58] new garbage cans, and what the savings
[34:00] are. You know, maybe we call it, you
[34:02] know, kids corner with kumala and coons
[34:05] and cans. You know, we could have you
[34:07] guys in like [applause] Compton
[34:09] regulation cans, but you can't be green.
[34:11] I think there's some copyright
[34:12] infringements there. But we could talk
[34:14] about that. We can give the lessons on
[34:16] values. And then speaking of green,
[34:18] let's talk about what are we doing with
[34:20] all these old cans. I mean, you all told
[34:22] them to throw them out. I mean, Christ
[34:24] sakes, plastic is the OG forever
[34:26] chemical. You know, that's they're now
[34:29] in garbage bins. They're they're they're
[34:31] in waste. They're in landfills.
[34:34] >> You know, why? Why?
[34:36] >> You know, it just doesn't make sense to
[34:38] me. You know, at the end of the day, I
[34:41] think what really bothers me about this
[34:42] more is more and more between the police
[34:46] not having a contract for over a year,
[34:49] it's like 14 months or something like
[34:50] that with this garbage deal with Pmpton,
[34:54] you know, with the fact that it seems
[34:56] like we can't manage development in our
[34:58] town that all we do is we bring people
[35:01] in to tell us what we can't do. Like,
[35:04] why don't we bring people in to tell us
[35:05] what we can? I mean, that's what we
[35:08] really need.
[35:09] You know, end of the day, that sign's
[35:11] going to once say, you know, once there
[35:13] was trees all over this place
[35:16] after, you know, the thing by by hills.
[35:18] I mean, that that's a debacle. It's a
[35:20] monstrosity. It's it's an abomination
[35:22] what they did to these that piece of
[35:24] land. I'll be honest with you, that 30-
[35:26] foot high retaining wall. How many trees
[35:28] did they cut down? You know, I cut a
[35:30] tree down in my yard and I have Ranger
[35:32] Rick from the the shade tree on my ass
[35:35] to pay $250 to plant a new tree.
[35:38] you know, where were all the trees from
[35:40] there? I mean, they should be replaced,
[35:42] right? Unless you're considering the
[35:43] lumber they used to build. Well, that
[35:45] was a tree
[35:47] >> really. I mean, you know, at the end of
[35:48] the day, too, you know, I want to talk
[35:50] what really bothers me about this. Look,
[35:53] I'm all for savings and all that, but to
[35:55] be honest, taxes. Like, my taxes are
[35:58] estimated to go up 13 and a half%. The
[36:01] majority of was from what this council
[36:03] passed. That budget increase was from
[36:06] what that my tax has gone up. I'm going
[36:08] to save $62.50 a year. You know what? Am
[36:11] I going to get a Mickey D gift card?
[36:14] How am I going to get that money back? I
[36:16] tell you, 13.5% of my taxes a hell of a
[36:19] lot more than 6250 a year. So, I really lack confidence in this
[36:23] council, in this administration. I think
[36:26] people need to be held accountable. You
[36:28] know, you all be thinking people saying
[36:29] out there, people at home saying, "Who's
[36:31] this guy talking trash?" You know, well,
[36:33] I'm not. I think a lot of people at home
[36:36] believe in what I say. They're they're
[36:37] nodding their heads. They're agreeing
[36:39] with me. They're saying that this town
[36:41] is going in the wrong direction. So, I
[36:44] think people need to be held
[36:44] accountable. So, I think to start Mr.
[36:47] Couns being the mastermind of that uh
[36:49] that deal, you know, I think you should
[36:51] be canned. Yeah.
[36:54] >> And then, you know, come November, let's
[36:55] see what the voters figure out what to
[36:57] do with garbage.
[36:58] >> Thank you.
[37:00] [applause]
[37:07] Uh Steve Penosian,
[37:09] Oakland, about to say my address. I
[37:11] can't remember.
[37:13] >> Glen Greg. Got it.
[37:14] >> Okay. Glen Gray. Um before I start my
[37:17] dissertation, I uh have a document that
[37:20] I'd like to give to Wendy.
[37:22] >> Mr. Mayor, it's okay. I'd like this to
[37:25] be entered into the minutes. And then uh
[37:27] there's a lot of questions here and I'd
[37:29] like to have a followup
[37:31] >> from the town on who I can sit with to
[37:33] go through everything.
[37:39] » I do have a couple of comments and a
[37:41] couple of questions. So I hope I can do
[37:43] it under three minutes.
[37:45] Um I wasn't here for about a month. Um
[37:49] and I apologize if I'm bringing
[37:51] something up that may or may not be
[37:52] popular, but uh I've done the last
[37:56] um public statement. I I think it's
[37:59] appropriate. While I was gone, I had to
[38:02] make arrangements with family and
[38:04] neighbors to take my garbage out. And um
[38:07] I do have a monitor cam that I can see
[38:09] things going on. And uh all I can say is
[38:13] my garbage and recycle pickup experience
[38:15] um whether it was remotely or last week
[38:18] and this week has been positive. I
[38:21] haven't had a problem, but I must say
[38:25] that we're among the people, and I've
[38:27] lived here for 40 years, that we didn't
[38:29] have a problem with the container size.
[38:31] We complied. We just simply complied.
[38:34] Um, we followed that directive or that
[38:37] guideline for the 40 years that we've
[38:39] lived here.
[38:40] >> Last week, I I placed furniture in a
[38:43] mattress and it followed the guideline
[38:45] and it was picked up. So, you know, I
[38:48] got to thank whoever um nothing changed
[38:52] in our in our experience and um uh the
[38:56] only opinion that I have is um my
[38:58] observation uh the pickup people were young. They appeared energetic and
[39:03] um I went out to say hello and they're a
[39:06] very respectful team.
[39:09] Regarding the third of the town that was
[39:11] frustrated with the service transition,
[39:13] clearly uh I understand from listening
[39:16] to Mr. Coons. Um I think it was the last
[39:18] meeting. You explained what the
[39:20] objective was and I think it went over
[39:22] everybody's head or maybe everybody
[39:24] understood it but didn't want to accept
[39:25] it including one of the council people.
[39:29] A third of the town was frustrated with
[39:30] the service transition. Clearly the
[39:33] primary objective was to save money. But
[39:35] I think what everybody has overlooked is
[39:38] that
[39:40] twothirds of the town over the last 10
[39:42] years, the $30,000 average increased
[39:47] based on 300% increase over the last 10
[39:49] years. We've been subsidizing and paying
[39:51] for the liberties or whatever you want
[39:54] to call it, the out of compliance people
[39:56] or residents in our town with cans that
[39:59] were oversized.
[40:01] It's it's a perspective, but that's the
[40:03] way I look at it. I had to pay for it
[40:05] and that the other twothirds of the town
[40:07] had to pay for that and I got a
[40:09] different perspective on it that'll come
[40:11] up easily.
[40:13] The unsustainable 30% average cost to
[40:15] year the past contractor I my opinion
[40:19] working in a world where
[40:22] negotiation even after a contract
[40:25] agreement continued. this $60 per
[40:28] household. I believe that was debate
[40:31] that was an offer to get us to go in and
[40:35] now argue about was it worth saving $60
[40:38] a year. It isn't $60 a year. That was
[40:40] debate. My opinion the switch would have
[40:43] been after if we would accepted that. We
[40:46] would have slowly seen over the next
[40:47] couple two, three, four, five years, it
[40:50] would have crept up to double digit
[40:52] increases, no different than it had for
[40:54] the last 10 years. I don't care what
[40:56] anybody says. Excuse me. Supposed to be
[40:58] directing it at you. So that that is uh
[41:02] a a fact that I look at and the other
[41:04] simple one, one bidder. I don't know if
[41:08] that's a problem with with everybody,
[41:10] but that's that that's the telltale uh
[41:13] of this whole issue. So here's my
[41:15] questions and and this is the
[41:17] conclusion. I would like to know what
[41:20] the cost and ranking of the removal
[41:21] service line as an expense to the town
[41:24] and if it can be translated to an
[41:26] average household cost per property
[41:30] taxpayer of of that what is the removal
[41:35] budget
[41:38] per household as a percentage of of the
[41:40] total. So, example, if I pay $1,000 a
[41:44] year in taxes, um, and the, um,
[41:50] it's 50 bucks or 60 bucks, that that's
[41:52] 5%. I I'd like to understand as a line
[41:54] item for the total town budget, if it's
[41:56] 23 million, I don't know what it is. I
[41:58] think I know what it is, but I want it
[42:00] here uh, officially on record what it is
[42:03] and what percentage is is the disposal
[42:06] service uh, uh, as a percentage. The
[42:09] second cost and ranking is of our town's
[42:13] budget. What is the total to lease total
[42:18] police line item as a ranking and a
[42:21] percentage of the town's annual budget?
[42:24] And that could be with or without uh
[42:26] healthcare. And I understand we treat
[42:28] healthcare a little differently, but I
[42:31] want to know if that's number one. I
[42:32] think it's the first highest one. and if the average
[42:37] forget about what I think it is. I want
[42:38] to hear what the answer is and if it's
[42:40] the number one top expense
[42:42] and then where does that go? I got two
[42:44] uh additional comments
[42:49] in the spirit of um
[42:52] transparency.
[42:54] If it's assumed that the number one line
[42:56] item cost is the police expense
[43:01] and it's a good chunk of change. So, if
[43:04] I pay $10,000 in taxes and 30% goes to
[43:07] town and that's 3,000 bucks and if
[43:11] $1,100 of that is it goes to the police
[43:14] uh department budgeting.
[43:16] Um spending whatever it is $85,000 a
[43:21] year, $83,000 a year by the total number
[43:23] of households. It's a couple of bucks to
[43:26] make sure that we have a third-party uh
[43:29] review of the way our police department
[43:33] operates and and I'm I 100% support our
[43:38] police department. I would just like to
[43:40] know that everything that we have in
[43:42] place today organizationally, process,
[43:45] procedures,
[43:47] uh before we hire anybody or install a
[43:50] new police chief, I think we ought to
[43:52] align on uh what's expected today and
[43:55] looking down the road two, three, four,
[43:57] five years so we make the right hires
[44:00] and and put the right job descriptions
[44:03] or objectives uh that we would want to
[44:05] support uh our new police chief. And it
[44:08] kind of echoes what you have said, Mr.
[44:10] Mayor. Um, and out of the corporate
[44:13] world, I've worked for two Asian
[44:14] companies, one Sony, 15 years, and
[44:17] Samsung, 24 years. I'm sure everybody
[44:19] knows they're worldclass corporations.
[44:21] They were way ahead of the curve on many
[44:24] things.
[44:26] And I got to tell you, um, we always,
[44:29] and I I always worked at senior
[44:30] management to help reorganization,
[44:32] re-engineering, and process improvement.
[44:35] And we always laid these things out and
[44:38] did reviews before we made a change so
[44:41] that we would then backfill uh all these
[44:45] new uh job wrecks and then also all the
[44:48] new processes to improve everything
[44:50] about the organization to meet our
[44:52] overall objectives and that was to uh
[44:55] build the business and and do it
[44:56] profitably. And then the last comment
[44:59] that I would make in the spirit of
[45:01] transparency, which is a word that I
[45:03] can't stand because it's so misused, but
[45:06] it also works both ways. Transparency
[45:08] and our expectation of a governing body,
[45:10] and I've said this to the board of ed as
[45:12] well, uh to Ramipo. Um but there needs
[45:16] to be transparency on the public side
[45:19] too. What is your motivation? What's
[45:22] really behind what you're doing? Are you
[45:24] here to ruffle feathers and and stir the
[45:27] pot the wrong way and create issues? I
[45:29] think we've got a great town. There's no
[45:31] nothing negative about it and a past
[45:34] council person said it best. I think in
[45:36] an interview that's online
[45:38] um that we do great when we all work
[45:41] together. So, in the spirit of this
[45:43] transparency and supporting our police
[45:45] department, I hate like hell to put one
[45:47] of the councilman on on the spot here,
[45:49] but I got a ton of other questions, but
[45:51] I just simply want to know
[45:53] If you're 100% and you ran on supporting
[45:56] the police and there's signs all around
[45:58] in the town supporting our police
[46:00] department to support our police, why
[46:03] would you vote no on the contract?
[46:08] And I'd like to hear the reason why.
[46:14] And that vote note occurred at the last
[46:17] mayor and council meeting back in July.
[46:19] Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
[46:20] >> Thank you.
[46:22] No traffic, right?
[46:25] >> Good evening. My name is Phil Murphy.
[46:28] I'm 40-year resident. I live in 28
[46:30] Saratoga Drive. Um, former head coach at
[46:33] Indian Hills [clears throat] for 15
[46:34] years. Been involved in a lot of things
[46:37] in town. In fact, I ran for council in
[46:39] 1992. I lost. Thank God. Um,
[46:43] >> it gets tough at times.
[46:44] >> And I and I appreciate what you guys do.
[46:47] I really do. Um, I love this town. I
[46:49] don't plan on going anywhere. Um, so I'm
[46:51] very happy here. You guys got a tough
[46:53] challenge. I think you guys made a big
[46:55] mistake. Okay, you heard two people
[46:58] already mention one gentleman went
[47:00] online. I'm not going to talk too much
[47:01] about it, but I'm so angry about this
[47:04] issue with the garbage that you just
[47:06] have no idea. Um, it has changed my life
[47:10] dramatically, even though it's a simple
[47:11] thing. I work all week. I come home. I
[47:14] take care of my own lawn. I throw a lot
[47:16] of pride in my house. How it looks. It's
[47:17] got a flag. It's beautiful. This is what
[47:21] happens when you have new garbage
[47:22] people. They leave your cans so they
[47:25] burn your lawn.
[47:26] >> Nice.
[47:27] >> Okay. That never happened in all the
[47:30] time we had roselli. They were amazing.
[47:34] Okay. They change the time they pick up
[47:36] the grass. The grass gets picked up on
[47:39] Thursday. How many of you own a pool?
[47:43] Two of you, right?
[47:44] >> Yeah.
[47:44] >> When do you get it cleaned?
[47:47] >> On Monday. Tuesday.
[47:50] >> Friday.
[47:52] [clears throat]
[47:53] My grass sits in my cans and I want to
[47:55] know which one of you guys is going to
[47:57] come over to my house after they've
[47:59] emptied it and clean them out. It is a
[48:03] pain in the ass. So, my wife with a
[48:06] great idea. She said, "Well, why don't
[48:07] you buy the PL? Now I got to buy paper
[48:09] bags to put my garbage in, my grass
[48:13] clippings in, so I can throw them out
[48:15] and not have to clean my garbage cans
[48:17] for 10 minutes on a Thursday night in
[48:18] the dark. The timing of their pickup is
[48:21] terrible. We used to have our garbage
[48:23] picked up by the time I left for work at
[48:25] 7 a.m. I go to work every day at 7 a.m.
[48:27] By the way, I buy and sell businesses
[48:29] for a living. I'm an M&A specialist.
[48:31] It's what I do for a living. And to save
[48:33] a million4 over five years is peanuts.
[48:38] I pay $27 a month for Netflix and it's
[48:41] $6 a month for the savings that we have
[48:44] for a major quality of life issue. I
[48:46] don't know who thought about this,
[48:48] really thought about this issue, but I
[48:51] have to tell you it was really not well
[48:53] thought out because I'm more than happy
[48:55] to pay $6 to have my trash picked up.
[48:58] I've already now had to go on a s on a
[49:00] Saturday to drop off my grass clippings.
[49:03] Last Saturday, I kind of snuck in
[49:05] because I didn't have my my decal. I'm
[49:07] not even sure how to get it yet.
[49:09] Probably get it right there. But this is
[49:11] a real quality of life issue for a very
[49:13] small savings that does not any way
[49:16] compensate us. I actually spend more. I
[49:19] spend $8 a month for my bags and I save
[49:23] six. Where's the math in that? It's just
[49:25] a It's just a bad move. And somebody
[49:28] please, you have to either go back to
[49:30] these people with this contract and say
[49:33] we have to be fair about what our at
[49:35] least our delivery of the service is
[49:37] when we get pickups if it can move
[49:40] around. It sounds to me and I haven't
[49:41] looked at this too deeply, but it sounds
[49:43] to me like Pomp and Lakes got the better
[49:45] end of this that they get their pickup
[49:48] when they want theirs. We got the scraps
[49:51] or at least if we can modify this so we
[49:54] all share in the bad days and we have
[49:56] some good days. If I have to do this
[49:58] through through Thursday stuff much
[50:00] longer. I'm pretty upset about it. I
[50:02] haven't been to a council meeting. I
[50:04] can't remember.
[50:05] But I got off my run to come here
[50:07] tonight just to tell you that. And I
[50:10] appreciate the comments that you
[50:11] gentlemen made. There's a couple of you
[50:13] that made comments about this. And based
[50:15] on based on the social media on this
[50:17] issue, I waited six weeks to see what
[50:19] would happen. This was the last draw.
[50:22] So, I hope you guys will take my
[50:24] comments and do something with them
[50:26] because this has to change. It's just
[50:28] not a good deal for anyone. And as far
[50:31] as I'm concerned, the quality of life
[50:32] issue for Oakland, we all lost. It's too
[50:35] bad. You guys do a great job. This one
[50:37] was a loser. Thank you very much.
[50:40] [applause]
[50:46] Eric Hotch, 26 Rugies Drive.
[50:50] I'm here today to tell you that I don't
[50:53] think there's any savings that uh the
[50:56] old company that they picked up the
[50:58] [clears throat] day after a holiday.
[51:00] They're not picking up now the new
[51:02] company after a holiday. Also, there are
[51:05] more additional holidays that they are
[51:07] taking. So there's probably at least
[51:08] another 15 days in a year that we're not
[51:11] getting pickup. There's your savings if
[51:14] not no savings at all. So we're missing
[51:17] out. Number two, when they pick up
[51:19] garbage, I have one of those flip top
[51:21] lids. All they need to do, the other
[51:23] company always close the lid. They leave
[51:25] them open or they leave it not laying
[51:27] down on the floor. If it's raining that
[51:29] day, I got to tip over that pail and
[51:32] empty out the water.
[51:34] That never happened before. Mhm.
[51:36] >> Also, the fact with these smaller cans,
[51:39] if you use them, the lids are not
[51:40] attached. On a windy day, you got to go
[51:43] chase your uh lid four or five houses
[51:46] down. The smaller pales are also round.
[51:48] They roll all the way down the block.
[51:51] That's why I bought the bigger cans. Two
[51:54] years ago, I bought two big cans. Now,
[51:57] they're almost like $90 to $100 a can.
[52:00] I'm out that money. Now, you're telling
[52:01] me I got to spend more. That's not
[52:04] right. It's also cleaner because they
[52:07] don't blow down even during the wind.
[52:11] So, you're not going to have your
[52:12] garbage floating down the street and the
[52:14] animals to eat them. Now, these animals,
[52:17] they could just even the birds, they fly
[52:19] right in because you don't have the lid
[52:20] because I don't want to chase my uh
[52:22] garbage all the way down the block and
[52:24] they're picking the garbage out and the
[52:26] squirrels and the raccoons.
[52:28] >> I haven't had bears, but I'm sure
[52:30] they're there, too.
[52:32] That's it. Thank you, Mr. [applause]
[52:39] » Kathy Graph. Um, we're talking about
[52:40] savings.
[52:41] >> I'm sorry. What is your name, ma'am?
[52:42] >> Kathy Graph.
[52:44] >> Um, we're talking about savings and I'm
[52:46] wondering, um, who's paying for our DPWs
[52:50] overtime that they're putting in so much
[52:52] overtime doing
[52:53] >> the other work. So, where is that
[52:55] savings coming from? And someone said to
[52:57] me when I said I was coming tonight,
[52:59] they said they saw um a garbage truck
[53:02] that wasn't the ones that we bought.
[53:04] They're going through Oakland. How did
[53:06] they get there? And what are they doing?
[53:07] >> You mean they were
[53:08] >> They said they said it wasn't the usual
[53:10] garbage trucks that the men are using.
[53:12] >> So they said, you know, how did that
[53:13] come [clears throat] into effect? I I I
[53:15] didn't see it myself. This is someone
[53:16] else.
[53:17] >> I'm just trying to understand the
[53:17] question.
[53:18] >> Yeah. No, I didn't see it. My main my
[53:19] main question is who's paying the money
[53:22] for the DPW when they go out and they're
[53:24] doing the jobs that isn't being
[53:25] performed by the original contract, you
[53:27] know, the the garbage people. Who's
[53:29] paying for that? And where's the savings
[53:31] in that? Especially in overtime,
[53:39] » Elizabeth Buchcci,
[53:41] I have a couple things to say. I always
[53:43] have a couple things to say.
[53:44] >> What street do you live on?
[53:46] >> I live on Valley View Avenue. Thank you.
[53:48] >> Okay. Um,
[53:52] my first thing is nothing to do with
[53:54] anything that's been talked about here.
[53:55] I was wondering how we are proceeding.
[53:58] You know, is anything proceeding with
[53:59] the Tangle property? Are we still
[54:01] interested? Did they sell it to somebody
[54:03] else or is that still moving forward?
[54:06] >> Yeah.
[54:06] >> Perfect. Okay.
[54:09] Um, at the last meeting, Mr. Coons said
[54:13] that he was going to be talking to
[54:15] Compton about moving that rubbish day.
[54:18] >> How far have we gotten on that?
[54:19] >> So, we're going to take let everybody
[54:20] speak and then he's going to be able to
[54:21] address the questions.
[54:23] >> Um,
[54:26] my biggest complaint is the optics.
[54:33] As council people, I know it's not an
[54:35] easy job and it's not one that I would
[54:37] want to do, but sometimes you seem to
[54:40] miss the whole boat on listening to
[54:43] people.
[54:45] For every person that's going to
[54:47] complain about the garbage, you're going
[54:48] to have somebody who has a good
[54:49] experience. My area of town, we have no
[54:52] problem. So, I don't know if it's maybe
[54:53] a Heights area or Manito area, but I,
[54:56] you know, I I live off of West Oakland.
[54:58] We've had no issues. And as far as the
[55:01] lids and not lids, I half the time
[55:03] they're in the street, half the time
[55:04] they're on my lawn. The lids, I can't
[55:06] tell you how many times the garbage have
[55:08] taken them. One time they even took my
[55:10] whole garbage can. I had to replace it.
[55:11] And you know, it happens. It's
[55:14] everybody's either going to have a good
[55:15] bad experience.
[55:17] But at the last meeting,
[55:20] Matt said he was going to look into
[55:22] having the town use your power to see
[55:28] about buying garbage cans that we can
[55:30] purchase.
[55:31] That's great, except that you didn't
[55:34] listen to what was being asked. We're
[55:37] not asking for those dumb ass um cans.
[55:41] We're asking to replace something that
[55:43] will function. We want a 45gallon. We
[55:46] want it with wheels. We want it that the
[55:48] lids go up and down. Not that can. That
[55:51] is a horrible thing. And I was really
[55:54] pissed off
[55:57] at being getting the snotty emails that
[55:59] have gone come out with it. And I'm
[56:01] sorry the tone on those emails. I don't
[56:03] know who's proofing those emails, but
[56:05] you really should have somebody looking
[56:06] at them. They're a little snotty. It's
[56:09] not a reminder if you've never told us.
[56:14] Nobody knew that the DPW was selling
[56:17] garbage cans. We knew about the recycle
[56:19] cans, but not garbage cans. I went down,
[56:22] I took a picture, I told them. I put it
[56:24] online.
[56:26] I shouldn't have to do that. And to then
[56:28] for the next day, the town would come
[56:30] out and say, "It's a reminder." It's not
[56:32] a reminder. You never told us.
[56:35] Okay? I said, "Spoon feed us. Give us
[56:38] optics. Give us graphics.
[56:41] I think we'll be happy if you just
[56:44] listen to what we're asking.
[56:48] Our website is a disaster. Half the
[56:51] links on that don't work. I know they
[56:53] said we're going to be doing something,
[56:54] but I I was looking at a business plan
[56:56] that is on there from Mayor Zbo. Why?
[57:00] Though, I have to say I did like his
[57:02] vision. It looked really nice. But why
[57:05] is it still on the website? How many
[57:07] mayors ago was he? You know,
[57:10] um
[57:11] >> three more things. Three quick things.
[57:14] Uh, this hasn't brought up here, but it
[57:16] was brought up at the last meeting. And
[57:17] again, I'm saying optics.
[57:21] There's been more and more of people
[57:22] asking for that. So, second public
[57:25] session, speaking session. I don't see
[57:29] why it was removed. I don't see what
[57:31] skin off the council's nose for letting
[57:35] the people that come here have a second
[57:37] time to speak up if they have a
[57:39] question. Now, I do realize that at
[57:40] times we've had people who have
[57:41] questioned, you've opened it up, they've
[57:43] asked their question, and we've closed
[57:44] it again. But from many times that I've
[57:47] come when that second session's around,
[57:49] more often than not, nobody's nobody's
[57:51] getting up to talk. So, why remove it?
[57:53] Let us be happy. Give us that second
[57:55] session so that we feel like you're
[57:57] listening to us. Okay? And that goes
[58:00] into my third thing that I'm talking
[58:02] about. The last meeting, that anilotti
[58:05] contract went nowhere. Why is it back on
[58:08] the docket? It should not be there. I
[58:13] know we're getting a new police chief. I
[58:15] don't know if he's been appointed, not
[58:16] appointed. The town never tells us
[58:18] anything. I didn't even know we lost the
[58:19] old chief. Um,
[58:22] but why not let him come in and see
[58:25] what's going on before we second guess
[58:28] and undermine what he's doing? That
[58:30] contract. Honestly,
[58:33] you talk to people, and I know I
[58:35] probably shouldn't say this, but you're
[58:37] hearing that there's a taint with
[58:38] McCann. People don't like it. They don't
[58:41] like him. I think they spoke very well
[58:43] when voting him out. There was a lot of
[58:45] objection to him, and it smacks that
[58:48] he's behind that contract. It's a lot of
[58:51] money for the town to pay out for an
[58:53] assessment that may not be needed. Let's
[58:55] let the new chief come in, see what's
[58:58] going on, and a year from now, you'll
[58:59] look at it and see what's going on.
[59:02] And my last point, see I made notes
[59:04] today. Um, I'm with the Oakland
[59:06] Historical Society and we are doing lots
[59:10] of programs. We have a new board.
[59:12] There's a lot of uh programs,
[59:14] presentations,
[59:15] things going on. Uh, Saturday we will be
[59:18] having our membership meeting at the
[59:20] library downstairs. We would like to
[59:22] have the public come join us, see what
[59:25] we're doing, see how you can help. Um,
[59:27] the town will be celebrating 125 years
[59:30] next year. We really would like to have
[59:31] a nice celebration. The society is also
[59:33] celebrating its 60th year and we're
[59:36] doing a retrospective to see how the
[59:38] society has served the town in those 60
[59:40] years. So that's my plate. Thank you.
[59:42] >> Thank you, Mr. Duch.
[59:45] Anybody else?
[59:46] >> I thought I was done. Okay.
[59:49] >> Have you say my name again?
[59:50] >> Yep.
[59:51] >> Kirk Cotch, 26 Rockies Drive.
[59:54] Also, the fact I looked up garbage size
[59:57] cans on uh Google and it says that a
[1:00:01] 35gallon can is good for a small it's is
[1:00:05] considered small and it's good for one
[1:00:06] to two people in a household.
[1:00:10] Okay. Then it leaves out between 35 and
[1:00:13] 45. But med medium is 64 to 65 gallon.
[1:00:16] And that's considered mid-range or
[1:00:18] standard. And it's the option for the
[1:00:21] average family. I think we're all
[1:00:22] average families here.
[1:00:24] >> Not small, maybe large, but maybe not
[1:00:27] too large, but you could get another
[1:00:28] camp for them if you're large. And then
[1:00:30] the large is what you described at last
[1:00:33] council meeting where you said that was
[1:00:35] a municipal that has a lift and
[1:00:36] whatever. They're considering that 95 to
[1:00:39] 96 gallons. So that statement was to me
[1:00:42] wasn't correct
[1:00:44] according to this.
[1:00:47] Also, you said that you followed the
[1:00:49] garbage trucks after or during their uh
[1:00:54] pickup.
[1:00:55] You ever see their recycling where they
[1:00:57] pick up the bottles and the cans when
[1:00:59] they dump it and it's full and they're
[1:01:02] ready to get that crusher, the
[1:01:04] hydraulic, they take the pales that they
[1:01:06] just emptied, both of them, and they try
[1:01:08] to hold the stuff back into the truck
[1:01:11] because the compactor would push it out.
[1:01:14] and I actually saw garbage fallen to the
[1:01:16] ground. There's bottles in there.
[1:01:18] There's glass. And then they went and
[1:01:20] picked it up. So, they're talking about
[1:01:21] safety when they reach into a pale and
[1:01:23] they might get cut. I think there's a
[1:01:25] greater chance of them getting cut when
[1:01:26] they're picking up the glass from the
[1:01:28] street if they pick it all up.
[1:01:30] >> Thank you.
[1:01:35] » I'm going for
[1:01:39] rolling thunder now.
[1:01:40] >> You made the effort. Rolling Thunder.
[1:01:43] 780 Rama Pabelli Road. Andrea Lee, I got
[1:01:47] two things. Since we don't have the
[1:01:49] second time to come up here and share, I
[1:01:52] will share uh from the arts committee.
[1:01:54] Just something to get out there. We do
[1:01:55] have a concert this Saturday. Yay.
[1:01:58] Right. Thank you. Uh from 3 to 8:00 p.m.
[1:02:01] So, I I do hope that the community comes
[1:02:03] out and to support because really if we
[1:02:06] don't get the support from the
[1:02:07] community, it's gonna go away. We're not
[1:02:09] going to do it anymore. So tell your
[1:02:11] friends, tell everybody who's out there.
[1:02:13] Come out to Great Oak Park. It's a
[1:02:15] fantastic place. We do really nice stuff
[1:02:17] there. There's great concerts there. Um
[1:02:19] people picnic and have fun and it, you
[1:02:22] know, just a nice vibe overall. So I I
[1:02:24] encourage you to do that. I also
[1:02:26] encourage you to come out to the uh
[1:02:29] outdoor market that we hold. It's not
[1:02:30] this Saturday, but but we hold them
[1:02:33] about two to three times a month. And
[1:02:34] again, if we don't get the traffic
[1:02:36] coming in from town, we're we're not
[1:02:39] going to do it anymore. Um, so if you
[1:02:41] guys want it, there has to be support.
[1:02:43] >> Can you just talk about what the music
[1:02:45] what kind of music's going to be this
[1:02:46] weekend?
[1:02:47] >> This weekend is um I would call it uh
[1:02:50] Grateful Dead, Fish, and Originals.
[1:02:53] >> Okay.
[1:02:53] >> Yeah. Just
[1:02:54] >> fun for everybody. Yeah. I mean, it's we've had from this high to that
[1:03:00] high and every age in between and
[1:03:02] everybody's walked away having a nice
[1:03:04] time. So, and it's really for everybody.
[1:03:07] Come on down and check it out. All
[1:03:09] right. And the market, come to the
[1:03:11] market. All different vendors every
[1:03:13] single time, different foods. Um I think
[1:03:16] uh Councilwoman Rose was there this
[1:03:18] week, although I wasn't. Um, I I just
[1:03:21] want to encourage everybody.
[1:03:22] >> Put my earrings on. [laughter]
[1:03:25] >> Said they have jewelry, too. I mean,
[1:03:26] there's really everything there. But, we do need the support of the town
[1:03:30] because these people are coming from,
[1:03:32] you know, local and abroad. And if
[1:03:34] they're not getting the business there,
[1:03:36] they're not going to come back. They're
[1:03:38] just not going to come back. And so, it
[1:03:39] gets more difficult for us to recruit
[1:03:42] vendors to our market because we're not
[1:03:45] getting foot traffic. The foot traffic
[1:03:47] has been really light. And of course, I
[1:03:48] mean, listen, the weather has been kind
[1:03:50] of crappy. I mean, I I'll say that. Um,
[1:03:53] but the reality is we're not getting the
[1:03:56] foot traffic. And if we can't get that
[1:03:57] to pick up, um, I don't know that we'll
[1:04:00] be able to pull it off next year because
[1:04:02] they won't come back. People won't come
[1:04:04] back because of that. They love it here.
[1:04:06] They love the people here. They think
[1:04:07] we're friendly. [laughter]
[1:04:10] Like, they haven't been in here clearly,
[1:04:14] >> you know, and it's a really nice ad to
[1:04:16] our town. Um, people from outside the
[1:04:19] area come to visit Oakland. That's a
[1:04:22] benefit for us. People that come to our
[1:04:25] market go to the stores in town and and
[1:04:28] they buy gas in town and food and
[1:04:31] whatnot, not just at the market. And so,
[1:04:35] we need things like this here. You know,
[1:04:37] we need to attract people to Oakland.
[1:04:39] It's a good thing for us. It's a
[1:04:40] positive thing for us. So, I would like
[1:04:43] to be able to continue this, but without
[1:04:45] the public support, it won't be. I can I
[1:04:47] can tell you that right out of the gate.
[1:04:49] It it won't be. Um, so, so that's
[1:04:54] my spiel. I apologize.
[1:04:56] Shut that off. Um, on on that note, um,
[1:05:00] we also are looking for volunteers for
[1:05:02] the arts committee. Our next meeting is
[1:05:05] next Monday, whatever date that is. It's
[1:05:07] not my brain.
[1:05:09] >> Thank you. um at 7 p.m. at the senior
[1:05:13] center. And we are looking for people
[1:05:15] who would like to support the market,
[1:05:18] who would like to support the concerts
[1:05:20] that we do. And if you have something
[1:05:22] else to bring to the [clears throat]
[1:05:23] table, we welcome that as well. So that
[1:05:26] that's my spiel on the arts. I'm going
[1:05:28] to talk garbage for a minute. We'll
[1:05:30] trash talk for a minute. Um I agree with
[1:05:33] everybody here. I think we made some
[1:05:35] mistakes. I think we're probably all on
[1:05:37] the same page with that. There were
[1:05:39] definitely mistakes made. I know you
[1:05:40] guys are trying to remedy it, but what I
[1:05:42] would like to know is what are you going
[1:05:44] to do
[1:05:47] to get Pompton to do what they're
[1:05:49] supposed to do? What actions are you
[1:05:52] going to take to make sure that they're
[1:05:54] taking all of the garbage out of the can
[1:05:57] and not leaving the last whatever's left
[1:06:00] at the bottom? That matters for
[1:06:03] something. That absolutely matters.
[1:06:05] They're doing a half ass job. Period.
[1:06:10] Okay? And we should not accept that. We
[1:06:12] need to put our fist down in front of
[1:06:14] them and tell them that this is what we
[1:06:17] signed up for. This is what we expect
[1:06:20] and nothing less. Who is doing that?
[1:06:23] That's what I would like to know. I know
[1:06:25] you're not going to answer me, but I'm
[1:06:27] just telling you right now. I want to
[1:06:28] know. I want to hear. I want to see you
[1:06:30] guys write an article about what's going
[1:06:32] on with the garbage and everything
[1:06:34] you're doing to fix it. Okay? It
[1:06:37] shouldn't be us trying to fix it. We
[1:06:38] need you guys to [clears throat] fix it.
[1:06:40] Whatever it takes. Bless you. And I will
[1:06:42] close on that. Thank you.
[1:06:43] >> Thank you.
[1:06:49] [applause]
[1:06:52] Follow that purple.
[1:06:54] Hi, Mari Soul Kazowski. I'm on Barnard
[1:06:57] Drive. Um,
[1:06:59] so first of all, I want to actually echo
[1:07:01] something that both Elizabeth and Andrea
[1:07:03] said. As somebody who's been addicted to
[1:07:04] volunteering a lot in our town, all of
[1:07:06] our organizations absolutely need
[1:07:08] volunteers. Our council members are
[1:07:10] layons to a lot of these groups. Um,
[1:07:12] they can testify to the fantastic job
[1:07:14] that most of these organizations and
[1:07:16] groups are doing. I am wearing an
[1:07:17] Oakland uh green team t-shirt this
[1:07:20] evening. I am no longer a member of the
[1:07:22] green team, but if any of you are saying
[1:07:23] where did styrofoam go, where did our
[1:07:25] volunteers go? because I was out there
[1:07:27] alongside with the mayor on many a cold
[1:07:29] morning stuffing styrofoam into a tank.
[1:07:32] Um, and that's exactly what happens if
[1:07:34] we don't have the volunteers step up and
[1:07:35] if we don't have the community support,
[1:07:37] these things do disappear. Um, I've also
[1:07:39] been a member on the arts committee.
[1:07:40] They're doing a fantastic job. One of
[1:07:42] the things Andrea forgot to mention was
[1:07:44] at the Oakland market this year. We'll
[1:07:45] be for the first time doing an evening
[1:07:47] market in October.
[1:07:49] >> Second time.
[1:07:50] Sorry. Second time. You
[1:07:52] forgot it. I read it wrong. Second time.
[1:07:55] Um, and you might see us there because
[1:07:58] you're going to be signing up. So, um,
[1:08:00] please come out and support it. Um, and
[1:08:02] like everyone else who's come up here
[1:08:04] speaking about trash and garbage, of
[1:08:05] course, I've got to put in my two cents
[1:08:06] as well. Um, in my opinion, what we've
[1:08:09] been seeing since this new company took
[1:08:11] over is a huge variation in consistency
[1:08:16] and in good support. Prior to actually
[1:08:18] signing this contract, I actually
[1:08:20] mentioned that we were going from, as
[1:08:23] someone else mentioned, we were went
[1:08:24] from five days um of no service a year
[1:08:27] to this contract having 17. That is a
[1:08:30] what 300% increase for your numbers
[1:08:32] people um in less time of service. Okay,
[1:08:37] so things like that do matter. They do
[1:08:39] matter to us. Most holidays come up
[1:08:40] when? Oh, the holidays. Um when we have
[1:08:44] a lot of trash and want to get rid of
[1:08:45] it. That is important. I brought it up
[1:08:47] then prior to the vote. I'm bringing it
[1:08:50] up again. Um, what we've seen personally
[1:08:53] on my neighborhood, our trash cans are
[1:08:55] compliant. They have been compliant. We
[1:08:56] didn't get stickered. Our actual
[1:08:59] service,
[1:09:01] one day the can is half empty, one day
[1:09:04] the can is left, one day we have no
[1:09:06] problem, one day there's garbage in the
[1:09:09] street, one day there's glass in the
[1:09:11] street. On two different occasions right
[1:09:13] now, we have had broken glass um damage.
[1:09:16] And I'm not talking about, oh, they
[1:09:18] dropped the can in front of my driveway,
[1:09:20] so it's my tires I have to worry about.
[1:09:21] I'm talking the whole length of the
[1:09:24] street, house after house glass where a
[1:09:29] couple of the residents came out. We we
[1:09:31] call them the boys and their toys, our
[1:09:33] dads in our neighborhood. They came out
[1:09:35] with their brooms and they clean up.
[1:09:37] Okay. Um because and most of them you
[1:09:39] don't see any of them here other than me
[1:09:41] because they just do. They all have
[1:09:43] little kids. We have a number of very small children, new families. We
[1:09:46] adore them in our neighborhood. Um
[1:09:49] couple of sets of twins. They're
[1:09:50] beautiful kids. They should be able to
[1:09:52] play in the street without having to
[1:09:53] worry about glass. My kids didn't have
[1:09:54] to worry about glass. They shouldn't
[1:09:56] have to worry about glass. It's an
[1:09:58] inconsistency.
[1:10:00] I come right off onto Franklin Avenue
[1:10:02] and there have been a couple of mornings
[1:10:04] where I have seen more than a mile of
[1:10:06] traffic in the other direction behind a
[1:10:08] trash truck with these guys not doing a
[1:10:11] good job. And then I've seen other ones
[1:10:13] that are doing a great job and we do our
[1:10:16] due diligence and when I see something
[1:10:18] of grievance like the glass, we call the
[1:10:19] DPW. We were told here to call the DPW.
[1:10:22] I was sitting right here when you guys
[1:10:24] said call the DPW. I was sitting right
[1:10:26] here when you said they have a weight
[1:10:28] issue. You don't want them reaching into
[1:10:29] the cans. Most of the times they're
[1:10:32] reaching into the cans. Just so you
[1:10:33] know, on at least on my neighborhood on
[1:10:35] my block, okay? Um I even said something
[1:10:39] to one of the gentlemen in the morning.
[1:10:40] You know, that's really dangerous,
[1:10:40] honey. You should pick put it up from
[1:10:42] your back because the kid looked he was
[1:10:43] about 20. I'm going to call him honey.
[1:10:45] I'm old. He then went said, "No, IT'S
[1:10:48] OKAY. I GOT IT." And he just put it in
[1:10:50] the in the you know in the truck and
[1:10:51] then I looked down and there was still
[1:10:52] another bag left. Like you forgot. Okay.
[1:10:56] Um, this is what's happening on a
[1:10:58] regular basis. We've gone now what, like
[1:11:00] three or four weeks at least, maybe a
[1:11:02] few more weeks. It's it's been
[1:11:04] inconsistent. Okay. And it it does
[1:11:07] actually worry me the inconsistency of
[1:11:10] it. So, like Andrea, I would like to
[1:11:13] know how you're handling it with
[1:11:16] Pompton. Is anybody from Pompton talking
[1:11:19] to these guys on the trucks? Because,
[1:11:21] like I said, I've seen guys doing a
[1:11:24] great job. I've seen, you know, as
[1:11:25] you're driving around in the morning and
[1:11:27] watching them, some of them are doing
[1:11:28] fine and then others are not. Okay. Um,
[1:11:32] and lastly, I just like to say thank you
[1:11:35] because we know that you guys are
[1:11:36] working hard. We know it's a hard job.
[1:11:38] We know you're trying to do your best.
[1:11:39] Okay. But I really do think that
[1:11:42] prompting got the best of us. Okay. Have
[1:11:44] a great day.
[1:11:53] Frank Furbacher, 56 Walton Avenue.
[1:11:57] [clears throat]
[1:11:58] Uh, good evening and thank you all for
[1:12:00] your service to Oakland. I wanted to
[1:12:02] comment briefly on the proposed $83,500
[1:12:06] police department assessment.
[1:12:09] I believe the burrow should be working
[1:12:11] collaboratively with our police
[1:12:12] department and maintaining a strong,
[1:12:14] productive relationship with the
[1:12:15] officers who serve our community. I'm
[1:12:18] not opposed to an assessment simply
[1:12:20] because [clears throat] it's an
[1:12:21] assessment. If there are legitimate
[1:12:23] operational concerns that need to be
[1:12:25] addressed, then we should address them.
[1:12:29] But I think residents deserve to
[1:12:30] understand what problem we're trying to
[1:12:33] solve before we move forward.
[1:12:36] What specifically prompted this
[1:12:38] assessment?
[1:12:39] What has changed since this was brought
[1:12:41] before council last month and didn't
[1:12:43] receive a motion?
[1:12:45] What exactly will the consultant
[1:12:47] deliver? Will the findings and
[1:12:49] recommendations be made public?
[1:12:52] And how does this assessment differ from
[1:12:54] the accreditation and review processes
[1:12:56] the department already participates in?
[1:13:00] As a resident and as someone asking
[1:13:02] voters for the opportunity to serve on
[1:13:04] this council, I think that's the kind of
[1:13:06] information we should expect before
[1:13:08] making a decision of this magnitude. If
[1:13:11] there's a compelling case for this
[1:13:13] assessment, the ask is that you explain
[1:13:15] it publicly.
[1:13:17] We should be working constructively with
[1:13:19] our police department while making sure
[1:13:20] taxpayer dollars are spent with a clear
[1:13:23] purpose, defined outcomes, and
[1:13:25] accountability. Thank you. Thank you.
[1:13:28] [applause]
[1:13:32] » I just have one quick thing. Sarah
[1:13:34] Jensen, Third Street, 73rd Street,
[1:13:37] Oakland, and he just stole my thunder. I
[1:13:40] don't [laughter] really need to say
[1:13:41] anything. [clears throat]
[1:13:42] We have an outstanding police department
[1:13:45] that we all really appreciate and if
[1:13:49] that money is burning a hole in our
[1:13:50] pocket, let's use it some way that is
[1:13:53] supportive of them.
[1:13:55] >> That's all I have to say. Thank you.
[1:13:57] [applause]
[1:13:59] » Anybody else?
[1:14:01] >> Marwell Klosski, Barnard Drive. Again,
[1:14:03] um I forgot to tell you about one
[1:14:04] situation that happened with the garbage
[1:14:06] that is different than everybody else.
[1:14:08] And that situation was we had a
[1:14:10] pres-scheduled donation prior to the
[1:14:11] garbage change for the veterans
[1:14:13] association
[1:14:15] >> and we put out some bright yellow bags
[1:14:18] for donation that were clearly labeled
[1:14:19] veterans association donation. Um and we
[1:14:23] put veterans association do not take not
[1:14:26] garbage on the bags. Garbage guys took
[1:14:28] them.
[1:14:30] >> Um we then called the DPW as per
[1:14:33] directions. The DPW then told us call
[1:14:35] the business administrator. At that
[1:14:38] point, it was my husband. Those of you
[1:14:39] who on the council who know my husband
[1:14:40] know he was not happy to get rerouted to
[1:14:42] another department.
[1:14:43] So, I do apologize if he was a little
[1:14:45] hot. Um, but you know, that's again
[1:14:50] reading is fundamental and they were
[1:14:52] bright yellow [clears throat] bags. They
[1:14:53] were not garbage bags. They were
[1:14:54] donation bags. So, again, this is
[1:14:56] something that we need to clear up with
[1:14:58] them and that's it. Thank you.
[1:14:59] >> Thank you.
[1:15:01] >> Anybody else?
[1:15:04] Not seeing anybody. Do I have a motion
[1:15:05] to close?
[1:15:06] >> Move. Do I have a second? Also,
[1:15:08] >> all in favor?
[1:15:09] >> Is that Bill?
[1:15:10] >> Steve.
[1:15:11] >> Oh, Steve.
[1:15:12] >> Yep.
[1:15:14] >> Okay. All in favor?
[1:15:15] >> I.
[1:15:16] >> Mr. Cers, you want to take some of those
[1:15:17] questions?
[1:15:19] >> Uh, well, I'll just give an update from
[1:15:21] uh,
[1:15:23] you know, from the last meeting. Uh, and one, I know that there's been a lot
[1:15:27] of comments here tonight about
[1:15:29] individual problems people have had. Um
[1:15:32] and and I want to thank you. We did say
[1:15:34] contact DPW. A lot of people have been
[1:15:36] contacting DPW and and and keep doing
[1:15:38] that because the more information that
[1:15:40] we have of those deficiencies of when
[1:15:42] they miss a bag or there's glass in the
[1:15:44] street or anything, uh it provides more
[1:15:47] information for us to go back to Pompton
[1:15:48] and bring those issues to their
[1:15:49] attention so that we can have them
[1:15:51] addressed.
[1:15:53] There was one commenter that made uh the point that it seems to be spotty. I
[1:15:57] think that's the sort of the assessment
[1:15:59] that I've seen as well based on a lot of
[1:16:01] the comments. Uh certain routes, certain
[1:16:03] days are completely fine, no issues.
[1:16:06] Other times, well, you missed this or
[1:16:09] there was this problem or they didn't
[1:16:10] put the lids on. So, it it seems to be,
[1:16:13] you know, rather specific to certain
[1:16:14] crews on certain days. Um, and I know
[1:16:17] Pon Lakes is trying to zero in on that,
[1:16:20] too, in terms of their efforts to uh
[1:16:23] call it direct and guide their workforce
[1:16:25] appropriately. So, um, you know, a a lot
[1:16:29] of this stuff clearly just from a
[1:16:31] service level perspective is is
[1:16:33] unacceptable, right? You have you all
[1:16:35] your garbage should be picked up, your
[1:16:37] lid should be put back on your can, your
[1:16:38] can shouldn't be left in the road, etc.
[1:16:41] It's sort of basic stuff. Uh, that's
[1:16:43] certainly our expectation. That's the
[1:16:45] level of service that they provide. So,
[1:16:47] um, if you continue to have those
[1:16:48] issues, continue to report them so we
[1:16:50] can continue to bring them to Pump and
[1:16:51] Lakes's attention, uh, and hold them
[1:16:53] accountable for what really the the the
[1:16:57] appropriate service level is for this.
[1:16:59] Okay. Um, as to the issue with, uh,
[1:17:03] collection on uh, Route 202,
[1:17:06] uh, they were changing their route. Um,
[1:17:09] I've heard on I'm not sure again how
[1:17:12] consistent that is, but I have been
[1:17:13] hearing that they've been on route 202
[1:17:15] earlier than they were a month ago. Uh,
[1:17:18] so I'm hopeful that that issue has been addressed. U, but if anybody is
[1:17:22] on 202 and they're not experiencing an
[1:17:25] early pickup, let us know about that as
[1:17:27] well. Uh the yard waste is also
[1:17:29] something I know that uh you know people
[1:17:31] of course would prefer to have that
[1:17:33] earlier in the week when they're you
[1:17:35] know there's stuff's there uh from from
[1:17:38] the weekend. Uh Pompton Lakes has not
[1:17:40] committed yet to making any changes but
[1:17:42] they have committed to reassessing it as
[1:17:44] we get a few more months into the
[1:17:46] contract to see if there's a way uh for
[1:17:49] them to adjust their schedule to
[1:17:51] accommodate that. Okay. So, um, that's
[1:17:54] not something that they've closed the
[1:17:55] door on, but I don't have, you know, any
[1:17:57] further commitment on that, uh, at this
[1:17:59] time. Uh, I'm not sure if there's
[1:18:01] anything else you want me to touch on.
[1:18:07] » Are we still Go ahead.
[1:18:09] >> Go ahead, Steve.
[1:18:10] >> Are we still continuing to meet with
[1:18:11] Pontton on a monthly basis, weekly
[1:18:13] basis, or how many times are we talking
[1:18:15] with Pontton about this?
[1:18:16] >> Um, I'm referring complaints. I know DPW
[1:18:18] is referring complaints. I have regular
[1:18:20] conversations with my counterpart over
[1:18:22] there. Um, and I think that, you know,
[1:18:24] after, uh, next week when I'm back from
[1:18:27] vacation, uh, we'll probably
[1:18:28] [clears throat] have another in person.
[1:18:30] >> Okay.
[1:18:31] >> And are there people from Pompton Lakes
[1:18:33] DPW following them around, making sure
[1:18:35] they're doing what they should be doing?
[1:18:38] >> Their supervisor is on the route
[1:18:39] regularly. Okay.
[1:18:40] >> With the guys. Yes.
[1:18:42] >> And I said, but it's still happening.
[1:18:44] That's that's the problem is, you know,
[1:18:45] we have people following them around,
[1:18:46] but we're still having these issues. So,
[1:18:49] you know, to me, what what's being
[1:18:50] resolved,
[1:18:51] >> right?
[1:18:51] >> You know, great you're following them
[1:18:52] around, but
[1:18:53] >> we're not getting anywhere.
[1:18:55] >> I do want to bring one thing out and um
[1:18:57] understanding there's been some services
[1:18:59] against the garbage people. They're not
[1:19:01] they could be doing a better job. We're
[1:19:02] all in agreement on that and we're
[1:19:03] working towards it. There have also been
[1:19:05] some cases where our residents have been
[1:19:06] a little abusive. So, just all any
[1:19:09] complaints, please bring them to us.
[1:19:11] Don't engage don't engage with the the
[1:19:12] employees directly. We've had some
[1:19:14] examples of where uh some of the workers
[1:19:17] were had we'll say heated conversations
[1:19:19] were approached heatedly right there
[1:19:21] their desk they move around they call a
[1:19:23] supervisor comes up just if you have any
[1:19:24] complaints call us so we can deal with
[1:19:26] the supervisors no one should have no
[1:19:27] one should be communicating with the
[1:19:29] garbage man directly just um you know
[1:19:31] we're we're better than that as Oakland
[1:19:32] residents
[1:19:35] thank you
[1:19:38] >> okay we are up to
[1:19:41] approval of minutes anybody else council
[1:19:43] That's the question. Okay. Approval of
[1:19:45] minutes. We got July 14th, 2026.
[1:19:49] >> Do I have a motion to approve?
[1:19:50] >> So moved.
[1:19:51] >> Second. Does anybody have any changes?
[1:19:55] >> Not seeing any roll call.
[1:19:57] >> Council President Talini?
[1:19:59] >> Yes.
[1:19:59] >> Councilman Dumpert?
[1:20:00] >> Yes.
[1:20:00] >> Councilman Eert?
[1:20:02] >> Yes.
[1:20:02] >> Councilman Pignatelli?
[1:20:04] >> Abstain.
[1:20:05] >> Councilwoman Rose.
[1:20:06] >> Yes.
[1:20:07] >> Councilman Zelian.
[1:20:08] >> Yes.
[1:20:09] >> We have July 14th, 2026 executive
[1:20:11] meeting. Approve approval of minutes. Do
[1:20:14] have a motion to approve.
[1:20:15] >> So moved.
[1:20:16] >> Mr. Rose, we have a second.
[1:20:17] >> Second.
[1:20:19] >> Who's got the second?
[1:20:20] >> Bill.
[1:20:21] >> Okay. Does anybody have any changes?
[1:20:24] >> No.
[1:20:24] >> Not seeing any. Roll call.
[1:20:26] >> Council President Talini.
[1:20:27] >> Yes.
[1:20:28] >> Councilman Dumpbert.
[1:20:29] >> Yes.
[1:20:29] >> Councilman Eert.
[1:20:30] >> Yes.
[1:20:31] >> Councilman Pignatelli.
[1:20:32] >> Abstain.
[1:20:33] >> Councilwoman Rose.
[1:20:34] >> Yes.
[1:20:34] >> Councilman Saliani.
[1:20:36] >> Yes.
[1:20:36] >> All right. We have the following special
[1:20:38] announcements. We have a authorized
[1:20:40] social affairs permit for the Elks lodge
[1:20:43] number 2167 for a poker night fundraiser
[1:20:46] supportive lif raft group on September
[1:20:48] 24th, 2026 from 6 p.m. to 11 to 12:00
[1:20:51] a.m. at at 33 Valley Road. We also have
[1:20:55] an authorized raffle license RL1613
[1:21:00] for the Indian Hills parent athletic
[1:21:03] committee for raffle on October 2nd
[1:21:05] 202026 and support of the Indian Hills
[1:21:08] dance team at Indian Hills High School
[1:21:10] located 97 Yo Avenue. And the last one
[1:21:13] we have is authorized raffle license
[1:21:15] RL1614
[1:21:16] for the Reed Foundation for Autism for
[1:21:19] Raffle being held on January 12th, 2027
[1:21:22] in
[1:21:24] January. Okay, I'm just checking the
[1:21:25] date. Supportive programs and services
[1:21:27] for individuals with autism at 25 Pash
[1:21:29] Road, Oakland. Do you have a motion to
[1:21:30] approve?
[1:21:31] >> So move second. [snorts]
[1:21:33] >> All in favor?
[1:21:34] >> I.
[1:21:34] >> Okay, we're up to the following
[1:21:36] resolutions. At this time, I'm going to
[1:21:37] pull out resolution 26248,
[1:21:40] which is the Aelotti group. Doesn't mean
[1:21:42] it's not going to come back again, but
[1:21:43] I'm going to pull it out for today.
[1:21:44] Okay. Uh if we're going to do this as a
[1:21:47] consent agenda, we have 26234 authorized
[1:21:50] recreation refunds. 26235 authorized
[1:21:53] recre recamp counselor hires. 26236
[1:21:57] authorized hire of crossing guards.
[1:21:59] 26237 authorized hire of SEO three
[1:22:03] police officers. 26238
[1:22:06] authorized acrru acred time payout for
[1:22:08] O'Keeffe. 26239
[1:22:11] chapter 159 opioid class settlement
[1:22:14] actions.
[1:22:16] 26240 certify receipt of the 2020 2025
[1:22:20] annual audit. 26241 resolution approving
[1:22:24] the 2025 annual audit corrective plan
[1:22:27] prepared by the CFO in response to the
[1:22:29] findings and recommendations in the 2025
[1:22:32] audit.
[1:22:33] 26242 authorized contract to Boswell
[1:22:36] Engineering for the drainage
[1:22:38] improvements at 39 and 41 Lakeshore
[1:22:40] Drive. 26243 safe routes to school
[1:22:44] engineering contract amendment. 26244
[1:22:47] authorized contract phase 1 and
[1:22:49] preliminary assessment for 279 Ramipo
[1:22:52] Valley Road. 26245
[1:22:55] right-of-way drainage improvements at
[1:22:57] 144 Manito Avenue. 26246 authorizing
[1:23:02] change to title text amount of
[1:23:04] appropriations pursuant to NJSA4A
[1:23:08] 4-85
[1:23:10] and 26247 authorize resolution
[1:23:12] authorizes return of funds for McManis.
[1:23:15] Do I have anybody wish to pull any out?
[1:23:17] >> Yeah. Pull out 240 please.
[1:23:18] >> 240.
[1:23:21] Anybody else?
[1:23:24] With the exception of 26 240. Do I have
[1:23:26] a motion to approve? So move.
[1:23:28] >> Mr. Councilman Tal uh Pnatelli, do you
[1:23:31] have a second?
[1:23:31] >> Second.
[1:23:32] Mr. Eert. Roll call.
[1:23:35] >> Council President Talamini.
[1:23:37] >> Yes.
[1:23:38] >> Councilman Dumpbert.
[1:23:39] >> Yes.
[1:23:40] >> Councilman Eert.
[1:23:41] >> Yes.
[1:23:41] >> Councilman Potatelli.
[1:23:43] >> Yes.
[1:23:43] >> Councilwoman Rose.
[1:23:45] >> Yes.
[1:23:45] >> Councilman Saliani.
[1:23:47] >> Yes.
[1:23:48] >> All right. We've got 26240 certified
[1:23:50] receipt of 2025 analyt. Mr. Salani. I
[1:23:52] just wanted to pull that out to uh call
[1:23:55] out what a great job that um our CFO
[1:23:57] David Young did along with Bur
[1:23:59] Administrator Coons. Um we did review
[1:24:02] that in the finance committee meeting.
[1:24:03] Supposed to be a pseudo update on the
[1:24:04] finance committee. Um audit results were
[1:24:07] fantastic and I just wanted to call out
[1:24:08] what a great job that uh both of them
[1:24:10] did on our with our work last year with
[1:24:12] their work last year. Just that simple.
[1:24:15] >> Would you like to introduce
[1:24:17] >> approve? Sure.
[1:24:18] >> Motion.
[1:24:19] >> Who's got the second?
[1:24:20] >> Second.
[1:24:20] >> Miss Rose. Roll call on 26240.
[1:24:23] >> Council President Telini,
[1:24:25] >> yes.
[1:24:25] >> Councilman Dumpert,
[1:24:26] >> yes.
[1:24:27] >> Councilman Eert,
[1:24:28] >> yes.
[1:24:28] >> Councilman Pigotelli,
[1:24:30] >> yes.
[1:24:30] >> Councilwoman Rose,
[1:24:31] >> yes.
[1:24:32] >> Councilman Saliani,
[1:24:33] >> yes.
[1:24:34] >> Uh, we have no ordinance, but we do have
[1:24:35] a work session, the 2027 calendar. I
[1:24:37] know it's been provided to all the
[1:24:38] members of the governing body. Uh, this
[1:24:41] really needs to get done now because
[1:24:42] they also have to print the calendars.
[1:24:44] Uh, does anybody I know you've all had a
[1:24:47] chance to look at it. Does anybody have
[1:24:48] any comments on this at this time?
[1:24:50] >> I appreciate it. not falling on my
[1:24:52] birthday.
[1:24:52] >> That's it. [laughter]
[1:24:55] So, everybody's comfortable with this to
[1:24:56] move forward. Okay. Very good. Uh, does
[1:24:59] everybody have any new business?
[1:25:02] >> New business, Mr.
[1:25:03] >> Sure. I want to thank Mr. Coons. Uh, I
[1:25:07] had contact with him late last week and
[1:25:10] early this week about the the cyber
[1:25:12] attacks that we've seen around this
[1:25:14] country against critical infrastructure
[1:25:15] and against the water systems. It is it
[1:25:18] is no secret that the water system here
[1:25:20] in Oakland is an absolute piece of
[1:25:22] critical infrastructure and should it
[1:25:24] come down uh would be catastrophic for
[1:25:26] our town, our burough, our people and
[1:25:27] our visitors. Um so I've asked Mr. Mr.
[1:25:29] Coons and others to to kind of pull
[1:25:31] together and assess where we are, what
[1:25:34] we've done historically and are we
[1:25:36] poised to uh defend against such cyber
[1:25:38] attacks, including those that are
[1:25:40] sponsored by nation states. Uh one of
[1:25:42] the things we know about this space is
[1:25:44] that uh attacks like this around the
[1:25:46] country are often considered boundary
[1:25:48] probing activities where tests will be
[1:25:51] taken, intelligence will be gathered and
[1:25:53] then the more refined plan will come out
[1:25:55] of uh the the the boundary probe. So the
[1:25:58] adversaries when they take down a water
[1:26:00] system like they've done around the
[1:26:01] country and they've attacked several in
[1:26:03] New Jersey are learning lessons. They're
[1:26:05] learning what our defensive posture
[1:26:06] looks like. They're learning what our
[1:26:08] cyber preparedness is. uh and at the the
[1:26:10] local and municipal level. Uh there's a
[1:26:12] lot of commentary nationwide that it's
[1:26:14] one of the things that is often
[1:26:15] overlooked. So I've asked Mr. Coons and
[1:26:17] thank you sir for for pulling together
[1:26:19] and uh we're going to look into this
[1:26:20] deeply and I think it's a a good use of
[1:26:22] time, a good use of money uh and we'll
[1:26:24] ultimately safeguard the burrow. So I I
[1:26:26] look forward to digging into that
[1:26:27] further.
[1:26:30] >> Anybody else?
[1:26:31] >> Uh yeah, there's one thing I wanted to
[1:26:33] bring up. Um
[1:26:34] >> yes,
[1:26:34] >> we have a you know a situation with uh
[1:26:37] somebody with the shade tree committee.
[1:26:40] Um you know he wants to appeal having to
[1:26:44] pay the fine and everything. So I was
[1:26:46] going to ask both sides to come to the
[1:26:48] next meeting to discuss it.
[1:26:50] >> Okay.
[1:26:50] >> I just wanted to make sure everybody was
[1:26:52] okay with that and
[1:26:55] >> Okay.
[1:26:55] >> Very good.
[1:26:57] >> Anything else? All right. Does anybody
[1:27:00] have any old business?
[1:27:02] Not seeing any. Uh we're up to committee
[1:27:04] liaison reports. Um Mr. We'll start with
[1:27:07] you.
[1:27:07] >> Oh, thanks, Mayor. Um actually, Andrea,
[1:27:10] you basically did my whole report with
[1:27:12] the uh [laughter] with the arts. They uh
[1:27:14] they did have their their market this
[1:27:16] past weekend. It was it was a little
[1:27:17] slow, but it still had a good turnout.
[1:27:19] Um the next one scheduled for the 22nd.
[1:27:22] And then the uh like you said, the the
[1:27:24] concert is is this coming weekend, and
[1:27:26] it is Steve Leonard with the Funky
[1:27:27] Warlocks, and they start at 3:00. Um and
[1:27:30] that's that's about it. Like I said, the
[1:27:32] only thing I really want to say is is I want to apologize for the garbage
[1:27:36] fiasco that's going on. Um, you know, I was a part of that vote and I have to kind of own it. Um,
[1:27:45] given the the information that that was
[1:27:47] presented to me, I thought it was going
[1:27:49] to be a good deal. Um, obviously not,
[1:27:52] but I just want you know, we we are
[1:27:54] working on it. We are trying to make it
[1:27:55] better. And um I mean I take it
[1:27:57] personally. So don't think that you that
[1:28:00] all your concerns aren't being taken
[1:28:02] seriously because they are.
[1:28:03] >> Yeah, we all take it. Yeah, we're all
[1:28:05] taking it. Like I said, I just want to
[1:28:07] apologize to everybody that it it did
[1:28:08] not go the way we planned, but we're
[1:28:10] trying to make it better.
[1:28:11] >> All right. So that's it, Mr. Mayor.
[1:28:15] [applause]
[1:28:17] » That's all I got.
[1:28:18] >> Thank you, Councilwoman.
[1:28:19] >> Okay. Thank you. Um
[1:28:22] so for the 911 committee um we have a 25
[1:28:25] memorial uh service. It's scheduled for
[1:28:28] Friday, September 11th at Veterans Park
[1:28:31] on refreshments to follow at Pawns
[1:28:33] Church and all are welcome to attend and
[1:28:35] it should be you know an event that's uh
[1:28:40] that definitely people should remember.
[1:28:42] Um it's affected all of us and we were
[1:28:44] all a part of it um back then. uh shade
[1:28:48] tree met. Um the forester had issued 22
[1:28:52] permits. Um 57 trees were removed, seven
[1:28:55] to be replaced. Hazardous trees. Um you
[1:28:58] know, we do have a committee that looks
[1:29:00] for hazardous trees in the area. If
[1:29:03] anyone sees a tree within the burough
[1:29:04] right of way that is deemed hazardous,
[1:29:06] um please notify the committee so it can
[1:29:08] be addressed. Um there's also a
[1:29:11] discussion that was had about the tree
[1:29:12] of heaven which is a very invasive tree
[1:29:16] that actually attracts the spotted
[1:29:18] lantern flies. Um so it is a tree that
[1:29:20] people should look to see you know about
[1:29:24] trying to contain it especially when
[1:29:26] it's small tree not like mine that got
[1:29:29] too big. Um anyway, um so anyone
[1:29:33] interested in signing up for the adopted
[1:29:35] tree program should also email the um
[1:29:37] committee. Um this is a program that's
[1:29:40] gotten very much uh recognition um and
[1:29:43] has been very popular and I happen to
[1:29:45] say I love my tree in front of my yard
[1:29:47] now. So um and you know we're it's a
[1:29:51] great committee. All of our committees
[1:29:53] in Oakland are wonderful and we always
[1:29:55] could use volunteers. And that's all I
[1:29:57] have to say. Thank you, Councilman
[1:29:59] Saliani. Oh,
[1:30:01] >> real quick from the fire department. Um
[1:30:04] the fire department for the month of
[1:30:05] July had 29 calls with a total of 184
[1:30:09] volunteer hours and um they also
[1:30:12] partnered with the junior police for
[1:30:15] safety that safety and academy drills
[1:30:17] over at the firehouse and then provide
[1:30:18] refreshments to the junior police
[1:30:20] academy [snorts]
[1:30:21] and um and mut mutual aid meeting of 365
[1:30:25] hours and so so far for mutual aid of so
[1:30:30] far for August they've had 16 calls
[1:30:33] So again, that's another group. Um I
[1:30:35] every time I talk to Chief Inavilia,
[1:30:37] he's always asking, can we please just
[1:30:39] looking for volunteers? I know we had in
[1:30:40] the last two meetings, we had the Mcder
[1:30:42] family join the volunteer fire
[1:30:43] department. So anyone who's interested
[1:30:45] in helping out, please um consider
[1:30:47] joining the volunteer fire department.
[1:30:50] They are uh Monday nights. They drill
[1:30:52] every Monday night at 7:30 on Yapo
[1:30:54] Drive. Please go in, introduce yourself
[1:30:56] if you're interested. For recreation, um
[1:30:59] there's there was not a recreation
[1:31:00] meeting this month. Just want to say a
[1:31:02] quick thank you. Uh our rec summer camp
[1:31:04] has officially is officially done and uh
[1:31:07] it was a very successful camp for the
[1:31:09] summer. So it was a great job by
[1:31:10] everybody. Uh we'd like to thank the
[1:31:12] camp staff who helped out uh and make it
[1:31:14] season possible for the local families.
[1:31:17] Also want to recognize the camp director
[1:31:19] Emily Swansonsky who will be stepping
[1:31:21] down this year for her years of
[1:31:22] leadership and dedication to Ryan Rec
[1:31:24] camp. Truly appreciate what she's done
[1:31:27] for campers and families and towns
[1:31:29] people over the last couple years. That
[1:31:30] was the direct quote from the uh rec
[1:31:33] chair uh Megan Ratundo. And then for the
[1:31:36] OC,
[1:31:40] another group looking for volunteers. Uh
[1:31:42] OC volunteers are needed for the tele
[1:31:44] for the telecom, the television,
[1:31:46] bulletin board, and welcome welcome
[1:31:49] website social media committees. If
[1:31:51] you're interested in volunteering,
[1:31:52] please email occ.gov
[1:31:56] and fill out a volunteer form. Um, as a
[1:31:59] reminder, uh, the OC can be seen on
[1:32:03] Oakland TV channel 77 and be watched
[1:32:06] 24/7 via the Oakland TV app in both
[1:32:08] Android and Apple devices. Just go to
[1:32:10] your local store to see that.
[1:32:13] And then the Oakland and then the um,
[1:32:16] Friends of the Oakland Communications
[1:32:18] Commission is still looking for we'll be
[1:32:20] having their first fundraising event in
[1:32:22] Oakland. And if you have time and
[1:32:25] interest, please email info at friendsof
[1:32:30] at friendsofoc.org.
[1:32:33] And please consider following social
[1:32:35] media accounts and signing up for the
[1:32:36] quarterly newsletter, Voices of Oakland
[1:32:39] Communications with their quarterly
[1:32:41] newsletter and to lean and to learn
[1:32:44] what's going on. The next the next um
[1:32:47] Friends of Oakland Committee meeting is
[1:32:49] September 30th at 6 PM and the next OC
[1:32:53] meeting will be September 14th right
[1:32:55] here in council chambers. And just to
[1:32:58] piggy back off what uh Councilman
[1:33:00] Holland said, we everyone on this board
[1:33:03] was trying to do the best thing
[1:33:04] possible. We understand there's some
[1:33:05] hiccups and there's going to be
[1:33:07] continued conversations going. Is it
[1:33:09] going to be the exact same service? I I
[1:33:12] don't know, but we're going to do our
[1:33:13] best to get to where it was. And please
[1:33:15] hold us accountable and keep coming to
[1:33:17] meetings and having these conversations.
[1:33:21] >> Thank you, Councilman Dumpert.
[1:33:23] >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. U most meaningful
[1:33:26] updates from DPW. The fields in town,
[1:33:28] the recreck fields are being restriped
[1:33:30] to support the fall football. So, that
[1:33:32] is an indication that summer is coming
[1:33:33] to an end. I'm sorry to be the bear of
[1:33:35] bad news. Uh the road resurfacing, Mr.
[1:33:37] Mayor, as you indicated, is is well
[1:33:39] underway with uh with the
[1:33:42] worst condition streets being tackled
[1:33:45] first. That's one of the things before I
[1:33:47] assumed this uh position I wasn't aware
[1:33:49] of, but there's a rank order uh for the
[1:33:51] general public's edification. There's a rank order of streets in town
[1:33:56] and they're assessed throughout the year
[1:33:57] and those that are in the poorest
[1:33:58] condition are the ones that get
[1:34:00] resurfaced first. Are there streets that
[1:34:03] need resurfacing that don't get
[1:34:04] resurfaced? Yes, probably. Um, but the
[1:34:07] worst streets in Oakland get tackled
[1:34:09] first and so we exhaust the funds for
[1:34:11] the resurfacing program. So, that was
[1:34:13] helpful. Uh, and I wanted to pass that
[1:34:14] along. Uh, while they're doing this
[1:34:16] work, uh, while they're doing the
[1:34:18] concrete work around the storm drains,
[1:34:20] around the curbs, uh, they're also
[1:34:22] testing for leaks so that there's no
[1:34:24] hidden leaks, which would require them
[1:34:26] to open the streets up again uh, after
[1:34:29] it's paved. So, they are the DPW is
[1:34:31] doing uh, the proper steps. It may take
[1:34:34] a a second or two longer to pave the
[1:34:36] streets as a result of those types of
[1:34:37] studies, but it is an exercise of due
[1:34:39] diligence. The last thing we want to do
[1:34:41] is freshly repave and then have to
[1:34:42] reopen because there are unexpected or
[1:34:44] unidentified leaks. Um, and then the
[1:34:46] last thing is uh they're actively
[1:34:49] filling the potholes that were that that
[1:34:51] still uh ravage our town. There's an
[1:34:53] ongoing list of potholes that need to be
[1:34:55] addressed. If you see them, if you hit
[1:34:58] them,
[1:35:00] please notify DPW. We'll put it on the
[1:35:03] list. We'll get to it as soon as
[1:35:05] possible. The more eyes and ears we have
[1:35:06] out in the community reporting these
[1:35:08] things back to us, the better, the
[1:35:10] quicker, and the faster we can address
[1:35:11] them. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
[1:35:13] >> Councilman Potatelli.
[1:35:16] >> Thank you, Mayor.
[1:35:19] I have to echo what Councilman Iser
[1:35:22] said. Initially looking at the garbage
[1:35:25] uh uh
[1:35:28] contract with Pumpton Lakes, we knew
[1:35:31] couple of things weren't going to be the
[1:35:33] same. Uh we thought in the long run that
[1:35:37] um the savings would be beneficial to
[1:35:40] the burrow. Uh would also allow us to
[1:35:44] comply with some of the 2% cap law that
[1:35:47] we have on on expenditures.
[1:35:50] I've been in town for 52 years. I've had
[1:35:54] with Roselli, my garbage can taken, my
[1:35:56] garbage can lid taken, garbage not taken
[1:35:59] completely, uh recycling not taken
[1:36:01] completely. I had a border fence that I
[1:36:05] take out when they cut the lawn. They took that. I've had to replace it.
[1:36:10] No, Roselli. Not the new people, the old
[1:36:13] people. Okay. So, they're not completely
[1:36:16] liy white and clean either. I can tell
[1:36:19] you that. I don't complain about every
[1:36:21] little thing, but there were complaints
[1:36:24] I had about them, too.
[1:36:26] The thing that really, really hurts me
[1:36:29] the most
[1:36:31] is that people have said they're going
[1:36:33] to do things to the garbage to hurt the
[1:36:36] [clears throat] garbage man.
[1:36:39] These are people out there making a
[1:36:41] living, okay?
[1:36:43] and you're going to do something to the
[1:36:45] garbage so that the garbage man gets
[1:36:47] hurt. That's atrocious.
[1:36:51] And let me tell you something, who's
[1:36:53] ever done that? You better be careful
[1:36:55] what you're doing. Some things like that
[1:36:57] break the law. But for for residents who
[1:37:01] do that,
[1:37:04] post slurs against people on the
[1:37:06] council, slurs against their spouse,
[1:37:10] that that because of garbage, you're
[1:37:12] going to do that, harm people, cast
[1:37:15] dispersions against our family members.
[1:37:19] We didn't do this to make your life
[1:37:22] miserable. We didn't. We thought we were
[1:37:25] doing the right thing.
[1:37:28] I believe we will address them. We might
[1:37:30] not correct every one of them, but I'm
[1:37:33] sure we will address it. We're just
[1:37:35] trying to
[1:37:38] make our finances a little bit easier to
[1:37:40] bear. Look, you go to the store, prices
[1:37:43] are up four, five, 6, 10%.
[1:37:47] Some of the garbage contracts were 39%
[1:37:50] higher
[1:37:52] than what we are paying now. So, please,
[1:37:57] you want to come and and holler at me
[1:37:59] for voting at it, please do. Don't do
[1:38:02] something to hurt these poor people
[1:38:04] trying to make a living. It's atrocious
[1:38:07] that they did that. That's not what
[1:38:10] Oakland residents represent. And please
[1:38:14] don't do that. That's just beyond
[1:38:18] acceptability to me. I'm sorry. I
[1:38:22] apologize for getting upset about that,
[1:38:25] but I just can't see people getting
[1:38:27] harmed for trying to do their job.
[1:38:32] From the uh senior center, um our new Tech Tuesday clinic saw such a
[1:38:39] positive response that we're now
[1:38:40] offering it every Tuesday from 1 to 3
[1:38:43] p.m. Meet with a volunteer to get help
[1:38:46] with your technology. I'd probably take
[1:38:48] every minute that guy's got to offer
[1:38:50] over there.
[1:38:52] such as phones, laptops, and tablets.
[1:38:55] Please make an appointment with the
[1:38:57] senior center by calling 2011 4057731.
[1:39:02] There's still opport still time
[1:39:04] [clears throat] to RSVP for our hot dog
[1:39:07] days of summer on Thursday, August 20th
[1:39:10] at 12 p.m. The cost is $5 and can be
[1:39:13] paid by cash or check. RSVP can be made
[1:39:17] at the senior center.
[1:39:20] We will be hosting a presentation on
[1:39:22] Betsy [clears throat] Ross as part of
[1:39:24] our America 250 programming on Thursday,
[1:39:28] September 3rd at 1 PM. There is no fee,
[1:39:32] but we do ask for your RSVP. Light
[1:39:35] refreshments will be served. If you have
[1:39:38] any questions, you can call the center.
[1:39:40] Thank you very much, Mayor. Thank you,
[1:39:41] >> Councilman Vicatelli. I just want to
[1:39:43] talk about this serious
[1:39:46] issue that you brought forward.
[1:39:49] Two weeks ago, I was contacted by the
[1:39:51] Ponttokes mayor
[1:39:53] about the fact that their employees are
[1:39:55] big threat. It rose to the point where
[1:39:57] we had to call in the Oakland police and
[1:39:59] have conversation with the B
[1:40:01] administrator, myself, members of
[1:40:03] governing body and the mayor of Pton
[1:40:06] Lakes and the UPW.
[1:40:08] Oakland's better than that. You can yell
[1:40:10] at us till you blew in the face. Do not
[1:40:13] make threats against any employee that's
[1:40:16] trying to do the best they can.
[1:40:19] I think you can bring us home.
[1:40:22] >> Yeah. Hi. Uh just the green team. They didn't meet this month, but uh
[1:40:27] really the green team. I was so happy
[1:40:29] when I saw your your shirt. The green
[1:40:31] team is an amazing group of people. They
[1:40:33] do so much. Please uh volunteer. We
[1:40:36] always need help. there. Uh um and in
[1:40:39] fact uh we decided that uh uh when the
[1:40:43] weather permitting, we're going to meet
[1:40:45] in the in the community garden from now
[1:40:48] on because uh we might as well get the
[1:40:50] use out of it. It's there. It's really nice. Um so weather
[1:40:53] permitting, we'll be meeting in the in the community garden. Um they just do so much. It's a it's a a
[1:41:02] great a great organization. um uh the garbage. Look um um
[1:41:10] we're like like everyone said, we're we're trying to to to do our best.
[1:41:15] Um $1.4 million. I don't know. That's a
[1:41:18] lot of money. I you could come up here,
[1:41:20] you could tell me it it's it's
[1:41:22] [clears throat] nothing. I If you got
[1:41:23] $1.4 million, I'll take it. Um if you sitting up here can can save the
[1:41:30] town $1.4 4 million and doesn't do it,
[1:41:33] they don't belong up here. $1.4 million.
[1:41:36] And that's just this contract. Going
[1:41:38] forward, we're going to it's going to
[1:41:40] we're going to save more because because
[1:41:43] the increase won't be on on on the on
[1:41:46] the higher contract. We'll save more
[1:41:48] money. Do are they doing the the best
[1:41:50] job in the world? No, they're not doing
[1:41:52] the best job in the world. They're going
[1:41:53] to do the job that they can do. Um can
[1:41:55] it be better? Sure, it can be better.
[1:41:57] Um, we'll make sure that that Compton
[1:42:00] stays on on on their tail. We'll be on
[1:42:02] their tail making sure that they do it.
[1:42:05] I don't know. My garbage cans when I
[1:42:07] come home I and I I don't even want When
[1:42:10] I come home, my garbage cans are like
[1:42:12] soldiers. I I can't believe how good my my garbage cans. I'm embarrassed by what by what everybody by by what
[1:42:19] everybody's saying. And I it's it's it's
[1:42:21] amazing how nice my garbage they've
[1:42:23] never been that that that good. Um, and
[1:42:26] these are all just anecdotal things. You
[1:42:29] know, everybody's got good ones, bad
[1:42:30] ones. Um,
[1:42:32] there's going to be a a transitional
[1:42:35] process. Um, to to me, it it it brings
[1:42:40] it's it's like diapers. When when I when
[1:42:43] I started wi with uh with with my
[1:42:46] family, uh, we we we had pampers. We had
[1:42:49] to have pampers for my first kid. God
[1:42:51] forbid you've had any other bit you you
[1:42:53] know I'd call you a bad person a bad
[1:42:55] parent that that you wanted something
[1:42:57] other than pampers. Um the second kid
[1:42:59] comes around. You know what? We got to
[1:43:02] save some money. Uh Pampers is a lot of
[1:43:04] money. Let's try the storeboard once. We
[1:43:05] tried the storeboard once. Were they as
[1:43:07] good as Pampers? Maybe not. You know,
[1:43:09] couple couple accidents here, a couple
[1:43:10] accidents there. I got a rug that's
[1:43:12] still complaining about the the accident
[1:43:14] that we had. But but okay, we got
[1:43:17] through it. But now we save we saved the
[1:43:19] money on the diapers. Now by the time we
[1:43:21] get to the third kid, all right, we're
[1:43:22] still diapers, diapers, diapers.
[1:43:24] Finally. Okay, we're out of diapers. Oh,
[1:43:26] look, I'm going to save so much money.
[1:43:28] I'm not paying for diapers. I wish I was
[1:43:31] paying for diapers. I'm I'm I'm now I'm
[1:43:33] paying for college. And because because
[1:43:36] I saved the money on the diapers back
[1:43:38] then, I could pay for the college. It it helps. And it's that's the whole
[1:43:42] thing. You can't and you can't come to
[1:43:44] the to to the meetings and and complain
[1:43:46] that that the taxes are high, but then
[1:43:49] when we save on on the other end, you
[1:43:52] can't have it both ways. We're we're trying. Um $1.4 million. I I don't I don't Anybody in here? One
[1:44:02] $1.4 million. If if you can get us $1.4
[1:44:05] million, we'll take it. We'll take it.
[1:44:07] $1.4 million just on this one contract.
[1:44:11] All right. It's It's a lot of money. You
[1:44:12] could you could you could poo poo it all
[1:44:14] you want. Uh but but it's a lot of
[1:44:17] money. And and to say that it's not is ridiculous. And and and like I said,
[1:44:24] if if you have a chance to save the town
[1:44:27] $1.4 million and you don't do it, you
[1:44:30] don't belong up here.
[1:44:32] >> Thank you. That's it.
[1:44:35] >> All right. We are up to bills to be
[1:44:38] paid. Councilwoman,
[1:44:39] >> yes. Bills to be paid is $829,541.77.
[1:44:46] So moved.
[1:44:47] >> Do I second Mr. Sy? Any discussion?
[1:44:51] >> Not seeing any. Roll call.
[1:44:52] >> Council President Talamini.
[1:44:54] >> Yes.
[1:44:55] >> Councilman Dunbert.
[1:44:56] >> Yes.
[1:44:56] >> Councilman Eert.
[1:44:57] >> Yes.
[1:44:58] >> Councilman Pignatelli.
[1:44:59] >> Yes.
[1:45:00] >> Councilwoman Rose.
[1:45:01] >> Yes.
[1:45:01] >> Councilman Saliani.
[1:45:03] >> Yes.
[1:45:04] >> Do we have a motion to adjurnn? [cough]
[1:45:06] >> So moved. Council
[1:45:07] >> Pnatelli. Do you have a second?
[1:45:08] >> Second. Councilman Rose.
[1:45:10] >> All in favor?
[1:45:11] >> I
[1:45:13] >> All right. The next pro council meeting
[1:45:14] will be held on Tuesday, September 8th
[1:45:16] at 7 p.m. here at the council chamber.
[1:45:18] Thank you everybody. Have a good night.
[1:45:19] Meeting a journ.