1 00:40:50,990 --> 00:41:08,690 The notice requirement provided for the open public meetings law has been satisfied. Notice was properly given, said notice has been properly transmitted to the courier, news on Monday, August 17th, 2026, as well as posting on the bulletin board in city hall. Clerk, can I please have a roll call? 2 00:41:08,690 --> 00:41:10,130 Council members, Brigadier Owens. 3 00:41:10,390 --> 00:41:10,650 Present. 4 00:41:11,070 --> 00:41:11,210 Graham. 5 00:41:11,490 --> 00:41:11,730 Present. 6 00:41:12,270 --> 00:41:12,550 Craig. 7 00:41:13,010 --> 00:41:13,790 Is it? 8 00:41:13,950 --> 00:41:14,710 Councilman Wyatt. 9 00:41:15,570 --> 00:41:16,430 Councilman Durham, roll call. 10 00:41:16,630 --> 00:41:17,390 Councilman Sussan. 11 00:41:17,610 --> 00:41:17,790 Present. 12 00:41:18,030 --> 00:41:18,990 Vice President Hockiday. 13 00:41:19,450 --> 00:41:19,710 Present. 14 00:41:20,170 --> 00:41:20,930 Councilman President Cherry. 15 00:41:21,310 --> 00:41:21,550 Present. 16 00:41:22,110 --> 00:41:23,290 Six members, present and call. 17 00:41:24,050 --> 00:41:24,550 Thank you. 18 00:41:25,210 --> 00:41:27,470 So we now move on to public comment. 19 00:41:27,690 --> 00:41:31,070 Limited to resolutions and ordinances are being heard tonight. 20 00:41:36,400 --> 00:41:39,180 Comments are limited to resolutions only third being heard tonight. 21 00:41:39,520 --> 00:41:42,000 A total of 30 minutes has been allocated for public comment. 22 00:41:42,000 --> 00:41:46,820 limited to resolutions, e-speaker will be given three minutes. 23 00:41:47,600 --> 00:41:50,640 When you come to the mic, please state your name and municipality. 24 00:41:51,520 --> 00:42:00,460 If you'd like to call in, please dial area code 309-205-3325. 25 00:42:00,460 --> 00:42:11,220 5, the meeting ID is 9, 9, 2, 9, 6, 3, 5, 7, 3, 9, 8. 26 00:42:12,240 --> 00:42:13,920 The floor is now open. 27 00:42:16,990 --> 00:42:21,610 Council President, if I could just note that this is a special meeting and we can only 28 00:42:22,110 --> 00:42:25,030 have comments on the resolutions being discussed this evening. 29 00:42:25,170 --> 00:42:27,590 There is no general public comments for this meeting. 30 00:42:28,730 --> 00:42:29,430 Thank you. 31 00:42:29,710 --> 00:42:30,030 You're welcome. 32 00:42:30,030 --> 00:42:34,630 Okay, well, I don't know if this contains me or not, but I'm gonna go for it 33 00:42:34,630 --> 00:42:38,690 So just to give you a little background. I was born and raised in Plainfield 34 00:42:39,650 --> 00:42:45,290 For about 40 what's your name? Nicole Johnson and what municipality? Where do you look? I'm on Leeland Avenue 35 00:42:45,290 --> 00:42:47,830 Yeah, I've had two homes here in Plainfield 36 00:42:48,350 --> 00:42:54,490 I recently what was it years ago? What resolution are you referencing tonight? I'm represented taxes 37 00:42:54,490 --> 00:42:59,010 This is my first time and I just wanted to know as far as well 38 00:42:59,010 --> 00:43:01,450 I came back recently after six years, 39 00:43:01,470 --> 00:43:04,530 I purchased a home that my parents left me. 40 00:43:05,330 --> 00:43:07,810 And I'm just curious as to what exactly, 41 00:43:08,010 --> 00:43:09,890 I just see so many apartment buildings 42 00:43:10,590 --> 00:43:12,430 being raised in Plainfield. 43 00:43:13,030 --> 00:43:14,590 I don't know if that has anything to do 44 00:43:14,590 --> 00:43:19,450 with what your resolution is, but I'm curious as to what 45 00:43:20,290 --> 00:43:22,850 Plainfield is beginning to look like, the taxes 46 00:43:22,850 --> 00:43:27,150 that this increase has been increased 47 00:43:27,150 --> 00:43:33,630 because of all these apartment buildings, is this the New New York that I'll come back to 48 00:43:33,630 --> 00:43:38,830 that I've recently purchased a home man. So I was wondering if anyone could give me some type 49 00:43:38,830 --> 00:43:45,270 of idea. I mean, every street I go down, it's a new apartment building being built. The rent is 50 00:43:45,270 --> 00:43:54,210 high. Okay, I was waiting for somebody's reaction, but it's high. It's not affordable. So what is the 51 00:43:54,210 --> 00:43:57,950 plan. What is what does the future look like for Plainful based upon this? Can 52 00:43:57,950 --> 00:44:01,650 somebody just kind of give me an idea of somebody that came back to Plainfield 53 00:44:01,650 --> 00:44:03,910 after being after leaving for six years? 54 00:44:06,520 --> 00:44:07,820 Nicole will gather your questions 55 00:44:07,820 --> 00:44:10,620 and we'll have somebody from the administration to answer. Okay. 56 00:44:12,740 --> 00:44:13,400 Oh, then I 57 00:44:13,400 --> 00:44:17,860 going answer now. No, no. You have a total of three minutes. Okay. I guess that's 58 00:44:17,860 --> 00:44:23,560 my three minutes. So that was my biggest biggest question I have to ask. Thank 59 00:44:23,560 --> 00:44:25,260 you Nicole. Okay. All right. Thank you. 60 00:44:28,700 --> 00:44:29,360 Good evening. 61 00:44:36,000 --> 00:44:48,020 I was born and raised in Plainfield for 32 years. Plainfield had been my home. I also worked at the Plainfield Public Library, but tonight I am speaking for myself as a Plainfield resident. 62 00:44:48,520 --> 00:44:55,380 First, I want to acknowledge that the city has historically funded the library above the legally mandated minimum. I am generally grateful for that. 63 00:44:55,380 --> 00:44:57,400 tonight I am asking you to continue 64 00:44:57,400 --> 00:44:59,400 the commitment and fully fund the library. 65 00:45:00,000 --> 00:45:28,760 My heart is with my colleagues, especially the 10 employees who have so far received individually off notices. But tonight, I want to focus on what these reductions can mean for the point of community. Not accounting for civil service, bumper rights, local history could be reduced to one employee, you services to two and a half employees, circulation to two employees, tech desk eliminated, team librarian gone, and the list goes on. Those aren't just numbers on a spreadsheet. Those are people who open the doors. 66 00:45:28,760 --> 00:45:41,120 The people who help residents use computers, apply for jobs, find information, get library cards, access literacy services, bring their children to programs, or simply find a safe place to spend a few hours. 67 00:45:41,640 --> 00:45:46,100 I don't know what the library's future operation plans will be, but I can do basic math. 68 00:45:46,580 --> 00:45:51,420 If you don't have enough people to staff circulation reference, you can't adequately open to the public. 69 00:45:51,720 --> 00:45:55,400 If you don't have enough staff to safely operate the building, something has to give. 70 00:45:55,400 --> 00:46:01,020 that could mean fewer services, fewer programs, reduce hours, most likely all three. 71 00:46:01,620 --> 00:46:06,020 When I accepted the job at the library four years ago, I took roughly 80% pay cut. 72 00:46:06,380 --> 00:46:07,900 I didn't take the position for the money. 73 00:46:08,060 --> 00:46:11,600 I did it because I love playing field, and I want to give back to the community that raised 74 00:46:11,600 --> 00:46:11,780 me. 75 00:46:12,280 --> 00:46:16,000 A public library is one of the few places left where you can walk through the door without 76 00:46:16,000 --> 00:46:17,400 being expected to buy anything. 77 00:46:17,740 --> 00:46:20,040 You can simply be a human who needs something. 78 00:46:20,500 --> 00:46:23,120 And none of these services happen because we have a beautiful building. 79 00:46:23,120 --> 00:46:26,240 They have been because there are people inside the library provided them. 80 00:46:26,740 --> 00:46:30,580 We have invested a great deal into the Plainfield Public Library as a physical space. 81 00:46:30,980 --> 00:46:33,900 We need enough staff to keep that space accessible to the community. 82 00:46:34,460 --> 00:46:37,240 The legal funding minimum should be the floor, not the goal. 83 00:46:37,620 --> 00:46:40,300 Plainfield has historically recognized that and I thank you for it. 84 00:46:40,680 --> 00:46:44,440 The library is crucial to the health of our community and need it more now than ever. 85 00:46:44,780 --> 00:46:48,580 Tonight I am acting you to fully fund the Plainfield Public Library, protect the investment 86 00:46:48,580 --> 00:46:51,400 we made, and protect Plainfield residents access to the library. 87 00:46:51,700 --> 00:46:52,180 Thank you. 88 00:46:57,150 --> 00:47:04,430 Good evening, council, mayor, members of the public, my name is Andrea Jeanette, I work 89 00:47:04,430 --> 00:47:11,970 at the children's department at the library, I'm a member of IEPTE, Union Council 8, 90 00:47:12,850 --> 00:47:18,750 and we provide so many services to the public, we provide our literacy to the youth of 91 00:47:18,750 --> 00:47:24,250 playing field, access to information, universal access to information, anybody can come find 92 00:47:24,250 --> 00:47:31,970 out about anything at our library. We have, we help people with job searching, we preserve 93 00:47:31,970 --> 00:47:37,810 the local history of playing field, and we provide free programs to families, to veterans. 94 00:47:38,350 --> 00:47:45,170 If somebody has a court appointment, they need access to Zoom. We help them out. Sometimes 95 00:47:45,170 --> 00:47:52,010 they have issues, let's say, with technical issues with a computer. Now the whole tech 96 00:47:52,010 --> 00:47:57,150 help team is gone. If you have a senior, somebody that's having issues with social security, 97 00:47:57,550 --> 00:48:03,070 navigating a website of the government. If you have an issue with someone that is applying 98 00:48:03,070 --> 00:48:09,790 for a job or an issue of unemployment, now that help is gone. And so is our team librarian. 99 00:48:10,390 --> 00:48:15,570 We are supposed to get, I guess we're in the middle of getting some funding for the new team room. 100 00:48:15,970 --> 00:48:21,190 Now we don't have anybody to manage that team room because she's going to be gone. It's like so 101 00:48:21,190 --> 00:48:28,130 many wonderful staff co-workers of mine. And I think it's a shame that we are, that 102 00:48:28,130 --> 00:48:34,210 MAP, Mayor MAP, your administration has chosen to defund so many essential services for 103 00:48:34,210 --> 00:48:41,290 this town that we need. And I think it's really a travesty. I don't think we have to 104 00:48:41,290 --> 00:48:49,210 fund beyond the minimum. The minimum, like my colleague said, is just the floor. And we 105 00:48:49,210 --> 00:48:53,670 shouldn't be taken from the endowment. That money is not meant for operations and 106 00:48:53,670 --> 00:48:59,210 salary. It's physically responsible for an administration to be taken from that fund. 107 00:48:59,710 --> 00:49:06,350 That fund is for materials and for other things. So I think we can take this into consideration. 108 00:49:07,150 --> 00:49:13,670 We know that this institution is a cornerstone for the city. And I think there are other places 109 00:49:13,670 --> 00:49:19,130 to cut. I know there are other individuals in the city administration that have high 110 00:49:19,130 --> 00:49:26,990 salaries that have rental car space by taxpayers and there are other avenues for cutting if we really want to but let's not 111 00:49:26,990 --> 00:49:36,070 Defund programs for the youth if for our seniors and for veterans if we really love the library like everybody does love is in 112 00:49:36,070 --> 00:49:43,750 The budget we need to fund that library now with the minimum but with the best for playing field residents. Thank you so much. 113 00:49:43,750 --> 00:49:47,610 Thank you on this. Thank you for your comment. 114 00:49:48,770 --> 00:49:53,970 Hi, my name is Patricia Fleming. I live on Sweetly Hollow Lane, and I'm on the board of the library. 115 00:49:54,510 --> 00:50:01,330 My question has to do with the difference between the public notice, which said it was going to be a general discussion of the budget, 116 00:50:01,930 --> 00:50:06,930 and the agenda, which seems to have very specific dollar amounts and departments. 117 00:50:06,930 --> 00:50:13,310 So, I appreciate the fact that you're letting us talk about other things, but I just was 118 00:50:13,310 --> 00:50:17,390 wondering why the discrepancy between the public notice and the agenda. 119 00:50:20,240 --> 00:50:20,880 Thank you, Patricia. 120 00:50:24,550 --> 00:50:25,330 Good evening, everybody. 121 00:50:26,810 --> 00:50:29,030 Juan H. Ambles Plainfield, New Jersey. 122 00:50:29,890 --> 00:50:30,910 I'm glad that I made it. 123 00:50:31,050 --> 00:50:31,850 I'm out of breath. 124 00:50:32,030 --> 00:50:40,130 I hopped over here very quickly because I just left our public library where I am a GED 125 00:50:41,330 --> 00:50:43,530 and I tutor in the math department. 126 00:50:44,190 --> 00:50:47,310 So we just finished practicing the equations of a line 127 00:50:47,310 --> 00:50:49,330 and the various formulas that we need to, 128 00:50:49,410 --> 00:50:51,950 but because I'm dedicated to my students, 129 00:50:52,050 --> 00:50:54,970 I took a risk of not being able to come to the microphone tonight 130 00:50:54,970 --> 00:50:58,390 because the volunteers at the library are very important. 131 00:50:58,850 --> 00:51:02,710 The majority of the people that come to get that GED tutoring 132 00:51:02,710 --> 00:51:05,750 must do so after they leave work. 133 00:51:06,450 --> 00:51:08,250 They're coming to get their GED 134 00:51:08,250 --> 00:51:11,870 so they can better their lives and better their employment. 135 00:51:12,230 --> 00:51:15,470 Many of them don't get to work a nine to five job, right? 136 00:51:15,870 --> 00:51:17,930 They're working different hours, sometimes they come, 137 00:51:18,210 --> 00:51:19,250 sometimes they can't. 138 00:51:19,630 --> 00:51:23,330 But with the library closing at 6.45 due to cuts, 139 00:51:23,590 --> 00:51:26,210 what happens when people normally get there at 6? 140 00:51:27,530 --> 00:51:30,750 It takes way more than 45 minutes for people to understand. 141 00:51:31,250 --> 00:51:34,910 When you use Y2 minus Y1 over X2 minus X1 142 00:51:34,910 --> 00:51:36,790 or when you use the slope intercept formula. 143 00:51:37,410 --> 00:51:41,270 It takes a very long time to teach them how to look at that and identify what they're 144 00:51:41,270 --> 00:51:46,050 looking at, how to eliminate choices on the test, how to talk through what they're doing 145 00:51:46,050 --> 00:51:48,910 because I don't know if you know it or not, but math is its own language. 146 00:51:49,610 --> 00:51:52,050 You just can't speak English and be able to be good at math. 147 00:51:52,210 --> 00:51:54,730 You must speak math-ish, right? 148 00:51:55,030 --> 00:51:58,490 So it takes a long time to be able to teach my students math-ish. 149 00:51:58,910 --> 00:52:05,990 And if they have a language barrier to begin with, you will find me at home trying to translate 150 00:52:05,990 --> 00:52:11,050 right from English because I have a student who's from Haiti. You'll find me 151 00:52:11,050 --> 00:52:15,490 trying to translate because I have a student who's from South Sin Salvador and 152 00:52:15,490 --> 00:52:21,050 this takes time. So what would normally take maybe an hour of tutoring per night 153 00:52:21,050 --> 00:52:26,590 might take two two and a half and with the library closing at 6.45 how do we do 154 00:52:26,590 --> 00:52:34,670 this? How do we serve those people right? We say playing field is a welcoming city 155 00:52:34,670 --> 00:52:38,810 and we welcome everyone, that means that a lot of the people that we welcome, especially 156 00:52:38,810 --> 00:52:42,950 welcome into the library have many challenges. And I just want to talk about the challenges 157 00:52:42,950 --> 00:52:46,730 of language barrier because I'm just the English language learner doing the best I can 158 00:52:47,290 --> 00:52:52,050 as a volunteer for the library. A lot of times people always say, well, pot lady, what do you 159 00:52:52,050 --> 00:52:56,410 do for the city? Well, the first thing I did for the city when I came here and nobody knew 160 00:52:56,410 --> 00:53:01,090 was I went to the library and I said, I will be a math tutor because nobody wants to tutor 161 00:53:01,090 --> 00:53:02,930 You're in math because some people say math is hard. 162 00:53:03,090 --> 00:53:03,490 I don't know. 163 00:53:03,670 --> 00:53:04,630 It's pretty simple for me. 164 00:53:05,270 --> 00:53:08,070 Speaking other languages is not, but I can speak math language. 165 00:53:08,530 --> 00:53:16,930 So I think that it is very irresponsible, irresponsible for us not to fund the library 166 00:53:16,930 --> 00:53:18,810 at what it was funded at before. 167 00:53:19,210 --> 00:53:25,590 Not even saying go above and beyond, just give what it was given before because our library 168 00:53:25,590 --> 00:53:26,970 offers so much. 169 00:53:27,350 --> 00:53:31,070 I'm such a library nerd that no matter where I go in the world, there's two people. 170 00:53:31,070 --> 00:53:35,890 places I want to go, I want to see their zoo in Aquarium and I want to see the library. 171 00:53:36,870 --> 00:53:40,870 I went all the way to Egypt and all by myself because nobody else wanted to go. 172 00:53:41,450 --> 00:53:45,710 I traveled to Alexandria so I can see the library there. 173 00:53:46,410 --> 00:53:46,730 Thank you. 174 00:53:46,830 --> 00:53:47,890 I'm a library nerds. 175 00:53:47,930 --> 00:53:48,750 Let's fund our library. 176 00:53:49,090 --> 00:53:49,530 Thank you. 177 00:53:49,730 --> 00:53:50,010 Thank you. 178 00:53:56,280 --> 00:53:56,680 Everyone. 179 00:53:57,620 --> 00:53:58,720 My name is Maligreso. 180 00:53:58,780 --> 00:54:00,200 This is my daughter Nina Rutherford. 181 00:54:01,420 --> 00:54:06,460 We're here to talk on behalf of the public library and the unfortunate situation that 182 00:54:06,460 --> 00:54:07,660 that the library is in right now. 183 00:54:08,620 --> 00:54:11,480 As you know, it takes a village to raise a child. 184 00:54:12,100 --> 00:54:14,940 This child has been raised by the wonderful people 185 00:54:14,940 --> 00:54:15,540 at the library. 186 00:54:16,520 --> 00:54:18,980 Some of them are here, some of them we saw earlier. 187 00:54:20,980 --> 00:54:24,540 And I really cannot think or fathom 188 00:54:24,540 --> 00:54:29,300 how I would have done the gigantic task 189 00:54:29,300 --> 00:54:31,460 of raising this daughter without the people 190 00:54:31,460 --> 00:54:33,460 at the library, at the Plainfield Public Library, 191 00:54:33,900 --> 00:54:35,240 holding me in teaching us. 192 00:54:35,240 --> 00:54:41,360 They've held us through grief, through counsel, through cooking classes. 193 00:54:41,600 --> 00:54:45,900 They've made this little person around the person, a great citizen of Plainville. 194 00:54:46,320 --> 00:54:54,020 If she is not the embodiment of the great city of Plainville, because in great part of the library, I don't know what is. 195 00:54:54,680 --> 00:55:00,140 I know a lot of you have never seen at the library unless you're campaigning or at an event. 196 00:55:00,140 --> 00:55:17,000 And so I know you probably don't understand the magnitude of the services that will be cut if you do not fund the library, fully fund the library, but even beyond us, even beyond us being selfish and me coming to talk about me, my family and my daughter, 197 00:55:17,480 --> 00:55:22,920 there's many families that depend on all the services and all the people at the library. 198 00:55:22,920 --> 00:55:30,260 people that unfortunately have no homes that can back, that can take bath, that can make 199 00:55:30,260 --> 00:55:34,200 copies, that can eat there, there's always somebody welcoming them. 200 00:55:34,800 --> 00:55:41,240 So I think it's an unfortunate decision that at the moment you are not found in the library 201 00:55:41,240 --> 00:55:48,620 and are even entertaining the thought of them using the same mismanagement of the city and 202 00:55:48,620 --> 00:55:55,900 use their reserves to try to cover the whole the area right now because of that it's terrible 203 00:55:55,900 --> 00:56:02,620 and I just want to say that all of you have run under democratic and be funded in a library 204 00:56:02,620 --> 00:56:08,240 it's just a mega move simply that thank you thank you very much everybody 205 00:56:11,150 --> 00:56:12,510 else hi 206 00:56:18,430 --> 00:56:18,810 everybody 207 00:56:18,810 --> 00:56:25,690 excuse my setting but I have reason tonight good evening my name is Cynthia Smith and I'm here 208 00:56:25,690 --> 00:56:29,690 tonight to speak on behalf of the Plainville Municipal Employees Association. 209 00:56:31,650 --> 00:56:37,770 So I want to start by saying that back on June 4th, all the unions were called into 210 00:56:37,770 --> 00:56:43,490 a meeting and we were told that there was going to be furloughs, layoffs across all the 211 00:56:43,490 --> 00:56:48,150 unions, that the events were being cut and that there was a need to change our health care. 212 00:56:48,150 --> 00:56:50,990 here. Everything is back. 213 00:56:53,930 --> 00:56:57,310 All things were taken off the table. Even the events are back. 214 00:56:57,750 --> 00:57:02,410 We just had one Saturday. That's another one scheduled in September for the House Music Festival. 215 00:57:02,930 --> 00:57:07,850 We were told those things were going to be cut. So now we're left with the employees being 216 00:57:07,850 --> 00:57:15,750 cut. With the exception of two employees that are in DPW, all the rest come from the PMIA. 217 00:57:15,750 --> 00:57:22,670 And they are the people that open the doors for you when you come in, when you call on the phone those are the first voices you speak to. 218 00:57:22,930 --> 00:57:26,550 They are the ones that issue your permits, they are the ones that do the work. 219 00:57:27,070 --> 00:57:36,030 So anytime one of the directors that sit before you, every council meeting has an assignment, they're giving it to those group of people to get the work done. 220 00:57:36,790 --> 00:57:40,310 So when you cut those employees, you're cutting services. 221 00:57:40,830 --> 00:57:46,670 It's too many services is all over the place to name because I can't do it in three minutes, but 222 00:57:48,610 --> 00:57:53,950 With everything being said the one of the biggest things was saying switch to the omni a plan, right? 223 00:57:54,670 --> 00:58:01,330 Change our health insurance. Well the employees of the city of Plainfield have switched in and out of 224 00:58:01,850 --> 00:58:04,790 Health plans to help the city over the years to 225 00:58:05,530 --> 00:58:11,090 Lord of course of health care and the reason why I'm bringing it up tonight is because it was set like we have a rich plan 226 00:58:11,090 --> 00:58:13,310 and it's like the employees never did anything 227 00:58:13,310 --> 00:58:16,330 to help reduce the cost of health insurance. 228 00:58:16,770 --> 00:58:18,490 We've been ending out of the state twice. 229 00:58:19,030 --> 00:58:21,130 We've been on the difference card. 230 00:58:21,170 --> 00:58:22,490 We've been on so many things. 231 00:58:22,950 --> 00:58:25,250 But if you tell us on June 4th 232 00:58:25,250 --> 00:58:27,770 that we need to make a decision by July 1 233 00:58:28,510 --> 00:58:31,350 and there's other plans that you never bought before us, 234 00:58:31,710 --> 00:58:32,830 but you knew since November, 235 00:58:33,030 --> 00:58:36,370 is that the employees fault or whose fault is it? 236 00:58:36,810 --> 00:58:38,990 Because if you were to told us back in November, 237 00:58:39,190 --> 00:58:40,950 you would have enough time to go through all the other 238 00:58:40,950 --> 00:58:46,250 plans to see if it was something else that we could all agree with. It's seven 239 00:58:46,250 --> 00:58:50,750 unions that turned down that plan, not one, but it seems as though the one union 240 00:58:50,750 --> 00:58:56,310 is receiving all the bulk of the cuts is coming from one union. Not the other 241 00:58:56,310 --> 00:58:59,810 unions that was told it was going to be cut as well. Not the furloughs that we 242 00:58:59,810 --> 00:59:05,830 heard about, but let me move on from that. The last thing I want to say about the 243 00:59:05,830 --> 00:59:09,830 insurance plan is that we had open enrollment and during an open enrollment period 244 00:59:09,830 --> 00:59:15,090 you could switch over. I would like to know how many administrators switched to the 245 00:59:15,090 --> 00:59:19,050 army plan. I don't think any of them switched on an open enrollment. So you should leave 246 00:59:19,050 --> 00:59:23,290 by example, if it was so important to switch the army, how many of them switched to the army 247 00:59:23,290 --> 00:59:30,490 point? How doubting. So with that being said, I'll re-spoke about how many people are being 248 00:59:30,490 --> 00:59:36,030 cut. Three minutes. What is that? There's no time. When you have to discuss the cuts and 249 00:59:36,030 --> 00:59:36,830 things in that nature. 250 00:59:37,030 --> 00:59:37,710 Thank you, Ms. Smith. 251 00:59:38,010 --> 00:59:39,470 I'll be back every month. 252 00:59:40,150 --> 00:59:40,750 Thank you. 253 00:59:41,590 --> 00:59:42,550 Anybody else? 254 00:59:47,980 --> 00:59:48,600 Good evening. 255 00:59:49,480 --> 00:59:51,540 Rocca Taylor, citizen playing field. 256 00:59:51,620 --> 00:59:53,120 I'm standing here as a citizen this evening 257 00:59:53,120 --> 00:59:54,920 to speak the reference to the budget 258 00:59:54,920 --> 00:59:56,340 as it pertains to the library. 259 00:59:57,380 --> 00:59:59,780 I'm a former teacher here in the city of playing field. 260 01:00:00,000 --> 01:00:06,140 They are palaces for people. They help build the resiliency of the community, and given the 261 01:00:06,140 --> 01:00:10,680 hostile circumstances that we're living in under the federal mandates of our current leadership, 262 01:00:11,320 --> 01:00:17,680 when people have to make choices about buying gas, buying food, whether to pay the rent. 263 01:00:18,400 --> 01:00:23,660 The first place they go for free events, parts of recreation, and the library, when new people 264 01:00:23,660 --> 01:00:26,800 come to the community, they want to find out what's going on in the community. They come 265 01:00:26,800 --> 01:00:32,580 parts of recreation or they go to the library. People are under pressure to raise their families 266 01:00:32,580 --> 01:00:38,860 here we want them here in Plainfield. We have to make it easier for them. We have to have 267 01:00:38,860 --> 01:00:44,200 services. I don't know if you're aware but we're area eligible for free and reduced lunch. 268 01:00:44,840 --> 01:00:52,120 That means that our families are under certain income. They don't have money to perhaps take 269 01:00:52,120 --> 01:00:55,740 take care, go into New York City and take their kids 270 01:00:55,740 --> 01:00:56,660 made you to the movies. 271 01:00:57,200 --> 01:00:59,020 You know, they get to go, they get to go to the library 272 01:00:59,020 --> 01:01:01,620 because there's three, there's three things there. 273 01:01:02,360 --> 01:01:04,320 And again, everybody can go there. 274 01:01:04,640 --> 01:01:07,080 It's handicapped accessible, you wanna have a community meeting? 275 01:01:07,440 --> 01:01:09,080 You have to put in an application, 276 01:01:09,280 --> 01:01:10,680 you don't have to have insurance, it's free. 277 01:01:11,800 --> 01:01:14,000 I know the challenges, I'm part of the administration, 278 01:01:14,000 --> 01:01:15,760 I work here and I'm certainly not here speaking 279 01:01:16,400 --> 01:01:18,400 out of order to my budget. 280 01:01:18,400 --> 01:01:24,600 But, when you talk to, when you want to know what's important to people in a municipal budget, 281 01:01:24,740 --> 01:01:25,720 it's what they budget for. 282 01:01:26,620 --> 01:01:29,600 It tells, it's very telling what we support. 283 01:01:30,040 --> 01:01:31,820 The library supports everyone. 284 01:01:31,980 --> 01:01:34,180 It's not just a place of depository for books. 285 01:01:35,120 --> 01:01:37,060 It does so much more now. 286 01:01:39,250 --> 01:01:41,950 There's no librarians in schools. 287 01:01:41,950 --> 01:01:44,530 They're now called Media, something or other. 288 01:01:44,770 --> 01:01:44,990 I'm sorry. 289 01:01:45,970 --> 01:01:46,850 Media specialists. 290 01:01:49,590 --> 01:01:54,770 research skills, library skills are entwined in the core curriculum standards, where people 291 01:01:54,770 --> 01:01:59,570 supposed to learn that. If you go to that library any evening, even for summer reading 292 01:01:59,570 --> 01:02:04,150 lists, where do you think these young people will access these books so they can meet the 293 01:02:04,150 --> 01:02:09,230 mandate so we can have a literate community? It's the library. We want, we want to build 294 01:02:09,230 --> 01:02:13,830 a nation of readers, you have to have a place for them to read. A safe place for them to 295 01:02:13,830 --> 01:02:20,230 go. I'm just asking you, I know you fully can't fund it, but a good will, consideration, 296 01:02:20,910 --> 01:02:24,890 show the community that you understand, you can't do it all, but you can do a little 297 01:02:24,890 --> 01:02:30,870 bit more so the doors can stay open. Otherwise, you're going to have kids, our students, 298 01:02:30,890 --> 01:02:35,390 whether they go to charter or playing for public schools, not being able to do their work. 299 01:02:35,950 --> 01:02:40,150 I know if you're aware, everyone don't have internet access. They go to that library for 300 01:02:40,150 --> 01:02:47,370 access. You know, people who we have access to it, they don't. Again, ask for your consideration 301 01:02:47,370 --> 01:02:49,110 and thank you. Thank you, Stella. 302 01:02:57,400 --> 01:03:00,240 Hello, everyone. My name is Cynthia Slade. I live at 303 01:03:00,240 --> 01:03:06,040 1309 Clushing Road in Plainfield. And I am the president of the Board of Trustees at the library. 304 01:03:06,420 --> 01:03:11,820 I wasn't going to say anything at first because I felt that two weeks ago everything was that needed 305 01:03:11,820 --> 01:03:18,800 to be said was said, but I am so, so proud of the community how they came out and talked 306 01:03:18,800 --> 01:03:25,100 about what we mean to them. The services that are provided here at the library are second 307 01:03:25,100 --> 01:03:33,320 to none. We have a facility that people are in awe of, and our plan was to not only continue 308 01:03:33,320 --> 01:03:38,520 to do the services that we currently have, but to expand them as well. And we have great 309 01:03:38,520 --> 01:03:44,080 plans to do that. We have a great facility to do that. As was said before, you know, you 310 01:03:44,080 --> 01:03:51,280 can come to the library, you can, it's free, you can, you can also have all kinds of 311 01:03:51,280 --> 01:03:55,960 events at the library for free. You don't have to pay a fee, you don't have to have insurance, 312 01:03:56,280 --> 01:04:00,980 you can come there and have a job there and all other things that you would like to have 313 01:04:00,980 --> 01:04:07,740 there. So, the people that come there, you have to see them. If you've not come to that 314 01:04:07,740 --> 01:04:10,820 library, you have to see the people that come there. Some of them don't have any place 315 01:04:10,820 --> 01:04:18,700 to go, but they come there, they take advantage of the services, they come in from the 316 01:04:18,700 --> 01:04:23,560 coal, come there on the winter, on the winter day, they come in from the coal, and we have 317 01:04:23,560 --> 01:04:29,480 to make sure that they're okay, that they have services, and they're learning, even though 318 01:04:29,480 --> 01:04:32,720 they come there to get out of the coal, they're learning different things because they're 319 01:04:32,720 --> 01:04:40,240 have taken advantage of our services. I can't even say it as eloquently as the people 320 01:04:40,240 --> 01:04:48,500 who have already talked about it because they live it. I'm asking you to re-evaluate 321 01:04:48,500 --> 01:04:54,440 the deep cuts that you have had in our library budget. Ten people are going to be affected. 322 01:04:54,440 --> 01:05:00,780 10 people, we've not even been able to, at this point, to rehire. 323 01:05:01,040 --> 01:05:07,820 So we have a tremendous reduction in staff, which means that we have a reduction in hours, 324 01:05:08,100 --> 01:05:12,100 which means we have reduction in services that will be provided to the community. 325 01:05:12,640 --> 01:05:19,740 We are a jewel in the crown of the Queen City, and guys, you've got to treat us that way. 326 01:05:19,740 --> 01:05:25,380 Okay, you know, we'll do as much as we can, but you have got to treat us like you, like 327 01:05:25,380 --> 01:05:28,800 we're the crown, the jewel that we are. 328 01:05:29,420 --> 01:05:33,340 So I'm asking you to take a, I don't know where you are in the budget process. 329 01:05:33,560 --> 01:05:40,680 At this point, if you have taken what we have asked of you two weeks ago, if you've evaluated 330 01:05:40,680 --> 01:05:46,240 it, if you've made adjustments, if you have, thank you so much, if you haven't, please take 331 01:05:46,240 --> 01:05:53,520 Take a look and to reevaluate and to go ahead and to furnish our budget 100%. 332 01:05:53,520 --> 01:05:54,980 Thank you so much. 333 01:05:57,180 --> 01:05:57,940 Thank you. 334 01:06:00,880 --> 01:06:01,460 Good evening. 335 01:06:01,920 --> 01:06:02,560 Good evening. 336 01:06:05,040 --> 01:06:05,700 Good evening. 337 01:06:05,840 --> 01:06:06,900 My name is Asha McRae. 338 01:06:07,740 --> 01:06:08,680 I need my address. 339 01:06:08,940 --> 01:06:09,140 I don't know. 340 01:06:09,440 --> 01:06:10,460 Just a municipality. 341 01:06:10,880 --> 01:06:10,960 Oh. 342 01:06:11,600 --> 01:06:12,320 They claim furniture. 343 01:06:12,580 --> 01:06:12,660 Is it? 344 01:06:13,620 --> 01:06:15,520 The burning question is, how did we get here? 345 01:06:15,940 --> 01:06:20,260 Several months ago, during the state of the city, everyone was told that finance is 346 01:06:20,260 --> 01:06:25,500 of the city were strong, they gave false hope for the residents, due to zero tax increase 347 01:06:25,500 --> 01:06:32,580 and employee employees, due to all the increases instead, some being paid at the top of their salary 348 01:06:32,580 --> 01:06:38,400 guide, who wouldn't believe the finances were strong, with no official hire or freeze or 349 01:06:38,400 --> 01:06:47,020 promotion still taking place, but our chosen may, choices made substance, the councilman 350 01:06:47,020 --> 01:06:51,840 should look closely closely at the things you vote for and they have last name 351 01:06:51,840 --> 01:06:55,600 consequences. We can't continue to do the same things and expect different 352 01:06:55,600 --> 01:06:59,200 results. High entry level salaries, 353 01:07:01,660 --> 01:07:07,660 statements, etc. They all matter. I read that for someone and I also want to 354 01:07:07,660 --> 01:07:11,820 speak on the library my child seven years old and she has been a girl scout for 355 01:07:11,820 --> 01:07:16,300 the library for the last three years. She loves going to the library. She loves 356 01:07:16,300 --> 01:07:20,380 their events that they have and if they don't have Girl Scout the library where are we going 357 01:07:20,380 --> 01:07:26,100 to host them. They can't sit outside. They do Girl Scout going to Wednesday time. We need 358 01:07:26,100 --> 01:07:31,240 the library. We need the Girl Scout and stuff to keep going and we need just the facilities so 359 01:07:31,240 --> 01:07:36,940 if not the library where because we don't have a why even. Thank you. Thank you. 360 01:07:36,940 --> 01:07:38,180 Nancy 361 01:07:44,870 --> 01:07:48,450 Pivovar, long time resident playing field. 362 01:07:49,030 --> 01:07:55,610 My concern is a couple of the young men spoke about using the reserves and the endowments 363 01:07:55,610 --> 01:08:03,750 of the library and you're going to put the library in a sticky liquid if they have to 364 01:08:03,750 --> 01:08:11,350 use the endowments or the reserves because under the law's own New Jersey the state attorney 365 01:08:11,350 --> 01:08:17,410 general has to step in and make sure that donor intent and prudent spending 366 01:08:17,410 --> 01:08:23,330 limits are followed. That's what happened with Milenberg. I know that Mr. 367 01:08:23,550 --> 01:08:29,610 Munchello and I were at court about the Milenberg endowments many years ago. So 368 01:08:29,610 --> 01:08:34,090 I just question the use of the endowments to make sure that the library is aware 369 01:08:34,090 --> 01:08:39,170 that the state attorney general depending on how much funding is involved may 370 01:08:39,170 --> 01:08:42,810 have to weigh in on that. Thank you. Thank you, Mrs. 371 01:08:52,690 --> 01:08:53,930 Maureen. Is anyone online? 372 01:09:00,400 --> 01:09:00,840 No, come on. 373 01:09:01,200 --> 01:09:09,500 Okay. So you're naming me Nisipali. Pamela Dunn playing field. I'm here about the library. 374 01:09:10,040 --> 01:09:16,620 My granddaughter goes the library all the time. She was a little upset when the renovations 375 01:09:16,620 --> 01:09:20,840 was going on. But once it came through she was really excited. Now y'all talking 376 01:09:20,840 --> 01:09:25,460 about not funding it. Where are these kids gonna go if you don't fund a library? 377 01:09:25,660 --> 01:09:29,500 We don't have a community center. We don't have a why. So where are they going? 378 01:09:30,420 --> 01:09:35,920 That's all I want to know. She loves the library. I hate to have to tell her we 379 01:09:35,920 --> 01:09:40,400 don't have a library in Plainville. It doesn't make any sense. You all need to figure 380 01:09:40,400 --> 01:09:41,600 it out. Please. 381 01:09:51,260 --> 01:09:52,000 Everybody else? 382 01:09:58,110 --> 01:09:59,890 Good evening everybody. My name is 383 01:09:59,890 --> 01:10:07,610 to Rocky Gilbert. I am a proud, proud employee of the Plainville Public Library. I work now 384 01:10:07,610 --> 01:10:15,110 in youth services. Youth services, we basically service from newborn to 18 years now. 385 01:10:17,930 --> 01:10:18,730 When 386 01:10:18,730 --> 01:10:25,150 I started at the library, basically, I started under the management of misgenies people. 387 01:10:25,150 --> 01:10:29,990 and she said and always stressed that every class that came through the most 388 01:10:29,990 --> 01:10:35,670 important word in Plainfield Public Library is public. Public from here to 389 01:10:35,670 --> 01:10:43,310 here and beyond. There is no place name it if you can. There is no other place 390 01:10:43,310 --> 01:10:51,670 that anybody can go and do the things in the library that we provide okay of all 391 01:10:51,670 --> 01:10:58,130 ages. We talk about partnership with the community. I see the police. We partner with them. I see the 392 01:10:58,130 --> 01:11:05,310 fire department. We partner with them. I see EMT. We partner with them. I see city council. We partner 393 01:11:05,310 --> 01:11:14,950 we are. We are a community partner. We are more than just a cut and a number. We are a resource 394 01:11:14,950 --> 01:11:23,750 and we are resource without prejudice. We honor everybody's position in life, whether 395 01:11:23,750 --> 01:11:30,910 creed, color, whatever the economic status, we don't ask any questions. Okay? We don't 396 01:11:30,910 --> 01:11:40,170 ask anything. All we do is serve this to the best of our ability. In the time now, it's 397 01:11:40,170 --> 01:11:45,850 interesting that this is happening on the cusp of a new school year. And many of us have 398 01:11:45,850 --> 01:11:54,490 grown up in the plainfield school system where libraries have changed. Okay. So this would be a 399 01:11:54,490 --> 01:12:01,610 big change and a big detriment to our students who are now entering into a new year and to the parents 400 01:12:01,610 --> 01:12:09,950 that work beyond five o'clock that must come later. And we can all amen to that because I'm sure 401 01:12:09,950 --> 01:12:15,810 So we've all worked a position where services had to be rendered and we ran to the library 402 01:12:15,810 --> 01:12:19,210 and had to make it before we closed and put the lock to the door. 403 01:12:20,250 --> 01:12:22,670 So I want you all to think about that. 404 01:12:23,270 --> 01:12:28,430 I want you to think about it hard and I'm going to just pull on your emotional co-tales. 405 01:12:28,990 --> 01:12:34,790 I want you to really think that we knew needed the library the most and was there when you 406 01:12:34,790 --> 01:12:37,050 turn the door and when you walked in. 407 01:12:37,050 --> 01:12:44,270 if it was good and if it's not I want you to think about that too when it's not 408 01:12:44,270 --> 01:12:48,690 able to when the door is not able to be open and folks need us and we're not 409 01:12:48,690 --> 01:12:56,130 there so God bless and I hope whatever you decide you decided with yourselves 410 01:12:56,130 --> 01:13:00,970 in mind and the public in mind all 411 01:13:14,990 --> 01:13:16,570 right thank you all 412 01:13:22,170 --> 01:13:23,270 right thank you everyone 413 01:13:23,270 --> 01:13:28,010 Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Taroca, for that. Anybody online? 414 01:13:30,280 --> 01:13:33,460 All right, B.A., would you like to answer any of those questions? 415 01:13:35,980 --> 01:13:39,720 Council President, is the public comment closed before we provide the way? 416 01:13:39,880 --> 01:13:42,040 I have a motion to close public comment. Thank you, cooperation. 417 01:13:42,240 --> 01:13:42,680 So moved. 418 01:13:42,680 --> 01:13:44,360 And Council 419 01:13:48,840 --> 01:14:00,440 President Azmer, I will begin to provide a response on behalf of my administration. 420 01:14:03,680 --> 01:14:13,840 First, most of what was said by the speakers, I agree with when it comes to the value of 421 01:14:13,840 --> 01:14:15,800 in the library to the community. 422 01:14:16,600 --> 01:14:19,120 I don't think anyone can argue with that. 423 01:14:19,980 --> 01:14:25,600 And I said the same at the August 10th meeting as well. 424 01:14:26,700 --> 01:14:30,540 That a library is a tremendous asset to the community. 425 01:14:31,660 --> 01:14:34,240 And we have always seen it as such. 426 01:14:34,960 --> 01:14:38,000 And we've always gone above and beyond 427 01:14:38,000 --> 01:14:45,480 to provide resources to our Plenty library that none of the other libraries 428 01:14:45,480 --> 01:14:52,020 around the state are privileged to get from their governing body. 429 01:15:00,000 --> 01:15:13,400 We've always gone way above and beyond. And so facts do matter. And I believe that it was Mark Twain, 430 01:15:13,660 --> 01:15:21,160 who said that I like and make its way around the world, halfway around the world, before the 431 01:15:21,160 --> 01:15:27,480 truth has had an opportunity to put issues on. And the reason that is important is because 432 01:15:27,480 --> 01:15:38,880 facts do matter. The library has not, and I repeat has not, been defunded. That is false. 433 01:15:39,400 --> 01:15:48,220 There's no truth to that notion that the library has been defunded. And the library had not been 434 01:15:48,220 --> 01:15:55,740 close by this administration or by anyone else. The library remains open as an 435 01:15:55,740 --> 01:16:01,960 asset to this community. We have eight departments within city government 436 01:16:01,960 --> 01:16:12,180 all of which made a request to the BA to my administration for a certain 437 01:16:12,180 --> 01:16:20,780 number of dollars that they would have liked to have to run their individual 438 01:16:20,780 --> 01:16:30,270 departments this calendar year, 2026. They all submitted their wishlist and 439 01:16:30,880 --> 01:16:38,350 none of them got what they wanted. They were all significantly slash because in 440 01:16:38,350 --> 01:16:46,490 budget, you never get what you want. And so the library is no exception. But the claim 441 01:16:46,490 --> 01:16:53,590 that the library will defund it is totally and absolutely false. There is no truth, not 442 01:16:53,590 --> 01:17:03,170 once in tell of truth, to that notion. And so I should further state that when it comes 443 01:17:03,170 --> 01:17:12,250 to layoffs. The library supposedly has laid off ten hours contemplating. The city has 444 01:17:12,250 --> 01:17:13,770 laid off fourteen people. 445 01:17:15,980 --> 01:17:21,880 The city has a budget of a hundred and nineteen million and has 446 01:17:21,880 --> 01:17:31,340 a surplus of only two hundred thousand dollars. Now anyone with a math background can simply 447 01:17:31,340 --> 01:17:35,160 We do the percentage and you see that that would not even register. 448 01:17:35,980 --> 01:17:47,400 We have $200,000 of surplus on a budget of $118,190 million and the standard is that your 449 01:17:47,400 --> 01:17:56,160 surplus, the correct work is fund balance, should be about 10% of your operating our budget. 450 01:17:56,160 --> 01:18:01,760 And so we had $200,000 on a $1,819 million budget. 451 01:18:02,380 --> 01:18:13,940 The library was, whose budget is about $2.5, has a surplus, a fund balance of $765,000. 452 01:18:14,300 --> 01:18:19,820 And as a percentage, that is roughly 26, 27%. 453 01:18:19,820 --> 01:18:36,840 Now, further to that, the Library in 2025 received a toll of $3,884,000 from the City of 454 01:18:38,150 --> 01:18:52,970 1,462 was the required statutory minimum and then on top of that was a million and 91 455 01:18:52,970 --> 01:19:04,430 and then there was 1,331,000 that we provided for health benefits, for our total 3,884. 456 01:19:04,430 --> 01:19:18,350 In this 2026 budget, the library had been given 1,632,000 as the statutory minimum. 457 01:19:18,990 --> 01:19:31,570 We added another 693,000 and then there is $2,489,000 of health insurance for a total 458 01:19:31,570 --> 01:19:45,490 of $4,814,000. So in 2026, the library has been provided with $4,814,000 in total compared 459 01:19:45,490 --> 01:19:58,650 to 2025 of $3,884. That is an additional $930,000 that we have provided or are provided 460 01:19:58,650 --> 01:20:01,110 into the library in this budget. 461 01:20:02,370 --> 01:20:03,650 And so facts do matter. 462 01:20:04,510 --> 01:20:09,790 And we are not, you know, the valuing on the library, 463 01:20:09,790 --> 01:20:11,130 the library is significant. 464 01:20:11,730 --> 01:20:14,190 I have repeated that over and over again. 465 01:20:14,570 --> 01:20:16,890 And we value what the library provides. 466 01:20:17,750 --> 01:20:22,910 But to say that the library had been defunded is totally false. 467 01:20:23,510 --> 01:20:24,950 That's not true. 468 01:20:24,950 --> 01:20:33,890 We have increased the amount that we have in this budget to provide for the library statutory 469 01:20:33,890 --> 01:20:41,250 minimum plus some plus the health insurance that we pay on the library's behalf, as well 470 01:20:41,250 --> 01:20:47,590 as other services that we provide to the library, such as the processing of payroll, such 471 01:20:47,590 --> 01:20:54,870 is security such as maintenance, all of those costs that are not passed on to the library. 472 01:20:55,410 --> 01:21:01,850 So I just want to put things in proper perspective in terms of the total that's being given 473 01:21:01,850 --> 01:21:11,630 to the library in 2026 versus 2025, and to try to just dispel this notion that the 474 01:21:11,630 --> 01:21:17,010 library had been defunded. And when it comes to fully funding, 475 01:21:19,440 --> 01:21:21,980 the notion on the part of 476 01:21:21,980 --> 01:21:29,840 some people that fully funded means given a person what he or she wants, that's not the 477 01:21:29,840 --> 01:21:36,760 definition of fully funding. If we fully funded every department in the city, all eight of them 478 01:21:36,760 --> 01:21:43,960 Would have gotten what they asked for and the budget would be on bearable in terms of the tax increase 479 01:21:43,960 --> 01:21:47,860 That would have had to be passed on to the property owners in the city 480 01:21:47,860 --> 01:21:56,940 So fully funding does not mean what you ask for and so we have done everything we possibly could to provide 481 01:21:56,940 --> 01:22:02,660 The library with dollars and with other resources and those are the facts 482 01:22:02,660 --> 01:22:11,080 those are the facts. And so, I wanted to make sure that that is on the record in terms 483 01:22:11,080 --> 01:22:20,120 of what the library is being given in 2026 versus what it was given in 2025. Thank you. 484 01:22:20,640 --> 01:22:26,420 Thank you. Mayor, quick question. The 765, 765,000. Where did you get that number from? 485 01:22:28,900 --> 01:22:30,980 675 is the surplus is the fund 486 01:22:30,980 --> 01:22:32,380 data. So if I say to step in 487 01:22:32,380 --> 01:22:33,920 something I misspoke. OK, so 488 01:22:33,920 --> 01:22:37,560 75 is the library's fund 489 01:22:37,560 --> 01:22:39,720 balance. Thank you. I 490 01:22:39,720 --> 01:22:41,460 transpose the numbers. Thank 491 01:22:41,460 --> 01:22:43,720 you. Any questions? 492 01:22:46,060 --> 01:22:46,620 Any 493 01:22:46,620 --> 01:22:47,260 other questions from my 494 01:22:47,260 --> 01:22:51,260 colleagues? Sure. Yeah, can 495 01:22:51,260 --> 01:22:54,700 I ask questions? Yes. So from 496 01:22:54,700 --> 01:22:57,380 library representatives, I'm 497 01:22:57,380 --> 01:23:22,260 aware that with the number that has been introduced from the administration is short of what you requested, and in reaction there has been some threats, not threats, but there's been proposed library closures, layoff notices have been issued, etc. 498 01:23:24,100 --> 01:23:32,820 I'm wondering if there is a possibility of undoing any of that or all those decisions final 499 01:23:32,820 --> 01:23:33,500 at this point. 500 01:23:33,640 --> 01:23:40,020 We haven't passed a budget yet, but I know some of those things have already in motion. 501 01:23:40,760 --> 01:23:52,240 So I'm wondering what the library's flexibility is to keep its door open as much as possible. 502 01:23:52,240 --> 01:24:04,100 or to lay off less or no employees is that something that's in stone, or is it already a done deal? 503 01:24:06,130 --> 01:24:09,570 With the chair of the library, come up and speak on behalf of the library. 504 01:24:10,410 --> 01:24:16,530 And before we even have you answer that, do you want to have her answer that question? 505 01:24:16,690 --> 01:24:16,710 Yes. 506 01:24:16,710 --> 01:24:17,950 Because I know there's hardly other questions. 507 01:24:18,790 --> 01:24:25,920 So I think I understand what you were saying is there's some flexibility who asked the question and that. 508 01:24:26,620 --> 01:24:31,180 So what has taken place is in accordance with the civil service rules, 509 01:24:31,500 --> 01:24:39,980 we did have to notify the universe that was being affected and also the individuals of the titles that were being affected. 510 01:24:40,240 --> 01:24:47,400 So we had to do that. There was a 45-day rule that you had to adhere to. 511 01:24:47,400 --> 01:24:48,800 So that has taken place. 512 01:24:49,320 --> 01:24:50,840 The employees have been notified. 513 01:24:51,500 --> 01:24:53,300 The flexibility that you were talking about 514 01:24:53,300 --> 01:24:56,320 is probably what we were talking about on the 10th. 515 01:24:56,320 --> 01:24:58,380 I think our representatives came up, came. 516 01:24:59,120 --> 01:25:00,440 And we're redoing some things. 517 01:25:00,440 --> 01:25:02,040 I think we talked about the chiller. 518 01:25:02,480 --> 01:25:03,880 We went through that whole thing. 519 01:25:06,160 --> 01:25:10,180 The $600 and some $1,000 that the mayor is talking about 520 01:25:10,810 --> 01:25:12,560 is that we had for our fund. 521 01:25:13,320 --> 01:25:16,860 Was funds that we have on the books 522 01:25:16,860 --> 01:25:21,900 folks that we had an agreement before in the past, the way that we operated in the past, 523 01:25:22,360 --> 01:25:29,360 was to pull down money for capital operations that we needed to, capital improvements that 524 01:25:29,360 --> 01:25:30,060 we needed to make. 525 01:25:30,740 --> 01:25:34,800 And those things are very expensive, so we pull them down, we hold on until we pull them 526 01:25:34,800 --> 01:25:38,100 down until we have enough money to do exactly what we needed to do. 527 01:25:38,460 --> 01:25:40,840 So we do have the money to do the chiller. 528 01:25:41,320 --> 01:25:45,780 We talked about that on the 10th, I wasn't here, but I know that we talked about it. 529 01:25:45,780 --> 01:25:47,420 But we know how much that costs. 530 01:25:47,740 --> 01:25:54,820 We have to have it because we need to be prepared for the summer that's coming up in the 531 01:25:54,820 --> 01:25:55,120 past. 532 01:25:55,300 --> 01:25:59,020 We've had to close down days because of the air conditioning unit. 533 01:25:59,620 --> 01:26:08,100 We're going to be in, we're into conversations with PSE and G to see if we can have a program 534 01:26:08,100 --> 01:26:14,680 where they can take part of it, pay for part of it, and then we kind of, we match it. 535 01:26:14,680 --> 01:26:16,660 So that's what we're in the process of doing. 536 01:26:17,120 --> 01:26:18,880 So we need to have some of that money aside. 537 01:26:19,100 --> 01:26:20,000 It's not a surplus. 538 01:26:20,700 --> 01:26:24,620 It's money that we need to have in order to operate. 539 01:26:25,620 --> 01:26:27,860 Man, you gave a lot of different numbers and whatnot. 540 01:26:28,020 --> 01:26:30,800 My head was spinning around because many of those numbers, 541 01:26:30,840 --> 01:26:32,880 I've not heard before or seen before. 542 01:26:33,720 --> 01:26:36,780 But I do know that we do do a lot. 543 01:26:38,240 --> 01:26:41,960 We pay our electric bills, we do our maintenance. 544 01:26:42,220 --> 01:26:43,880 All of those things we do ourselves, 545 01:26:43,880 --> 01:26:45,440 and you don't do, okay? 546 01:26:45,580 --> 01:26:47,420 And that's okay because with the partnership, 547 01:26:47,900 --> 01:26:50,920 you do some things, we do some things to keep it running. 548 01:26:51,580 --> 01:26:54,120 So we do to answer your question, we do, 549 01:26:54,380 --> 01:26:56,280 and we're looking to have some latitude 550 01:26:56,900 --> 01:27:02,960 in trying to make this less harsh on our employees. 551 01:27:03,420 --> 01:27:04,000 And so we do. 552 01:27:04,180 --> 01:27:07,840 We don't hopefully, you'll help to give us something 553 01:27:07,840 --> 01:27:09,120 to help us as well. 554 01:27:09,760 --> 01:27:10,820 But yes, we do. 555 01:27:10,820 --> 01:27:16,300 Okay. Councilor President, I have a point of order. We have a legal concern. 556 01:27:17,540 --> 01:27:23,360 Okay. So excuse me, excuse me, excuse me, excuse me. Give me one second, please. 557 01:27:23,580 --> 01:27:28,140 Councilor President, we are here tonight under a special meeting. The rules, the statutory rules, 558 01:27:28,180 --> 01:27:33,660 regarding special meetings are very, very clear. The only items that can be discussed are the items 559 01:27:33,660 --> 01:27:38,840 that are specifically noticed on the agenda. Correct. There are two items on the agenda. We've 560 01:27:38,840 --> 01:27:46,720 now had sort of a presentation from the library and there's been somewhat of a negotiation 561 01:27:46,720 --> 01:27:47,720 with regard to their budget. 562 01:27:48,240 --> 01:27:53,360 I would caution, just counsel, that although the budget is an item, the continuing of 563 01:27:53,360 --> 01:27:59,720 the questioning of the members of the library board and their personnel falls outside the 564 01:27:59,720 --> 01:28:04,900 scope of this very specific meeting, which is a special meeting under the 48-hour rule. 565 01:28:05,320 --> 01:28:05,560 Thank you. 566 01:28:05,560 --> 01:28:15,380 So, Corporation Council, I'm going to push back on that and ask the question because if there's an amendment that we'd like to make tonight, that is part of the budget conversation. 567 01:28:15,900 --> 01:28:16,040 Correct? 568 01:28:17,700 --> 01:28:20,740 No amendments were noticed for this evening, whatsoever. 569 01:28:21,300 --> 01:28:35,000 The budget is presented or you can either vote up or down on the budget or you can vote to extend the temporary budget so that the administration is able to make payroll for the next payroll. 570 01:28:35,000 --> 01:28:37,500 Those are the only items that can be done this evening. 571 01:28:37,820 --> 01:28:40,940 If you wish to make amendments, amendments can be done at the next regular meeting. 572 01:28:41,520 --> 01:28:46,140 But no amendments were made available to the public, and therefore it wasn't noticed and 573 01:28:46,140 --> 01:28:47,240 cannot be voted on this evening. 574 01:28:50,110 --> 01:28:50,890 Mr. President. 575 01:28:51,590 --> 01:28:51,970 Yes, ma'am. 576 01:28:52,630 --> 01:28:57,530 I would like to add for the benefit of the library and the public as well as for the government 577 01:28:57,530 --> 01:29:06,750 body, that the numbers that I recited earlier can be found on sheet 20 of the legal 578 01:29:06,750 --> 01:29:12,190 So line item budget, which each member of the government body has a copy of. 579 01:29:12,890 --> 01:29:17,330 And which it is also on the city's website. 580 01:29:17,690 --> 01:29:21,690 But sheet 20 gives those numbers that I cited for it. 581 01:29:31,130 --> 01:29:31,990 All right, Council. 582 01:29:33,750 --> 01:29:36,130 Yeah, so in some, 583 01:29:38,630 --> 01:29:45,010 you know, perhaps I'd like to see an amendment regarding giving the library additional funding. 584 01:29:45,730 --> 01:29:52,670 But the questions that I had matter in terms of what the library is able to do with additional money that I have. 585 01:30:00,000 --> 01:30:29,980 That we are able to give. And, you know, just straight up, like if the library is able to improve its services, retain its employees, then we should try to give them more money. I mean, that would be my position, right? But if the library is in a position where they're unable to make any moves, you know, they're not able to guarantee employees to keep their jobs and the services will continue to be cut. Then, you know, then why shouldn't they 586 01:30:29,980 --> 01:30:35,300 sacrifice like every other department if they are going to do what they're going to do 587 01:30:35,300 --> 01:30:41,000 anyway. So that's just my position. So now we're in a position where you know we don't 588 01:30:41,000 --> 01:30:47,480 have any amendments and it's probably the will of the council to introduce at least one 589 01:30:47,480 --> 01:30:54,200 amendment to bridge the gap with the library. So it's just a blood business. 590 01:30:54,580 --> 01:30:57,980 So in our last meeting corporation council is my understanding that the motion could be 591 01:30:57,980 --> 01:31:02,340 made on the floor for the amendment? 592 01:31:02,660 --> 01:31:03,840 Yes, we're not in advance. 593 01:31:04,440 --> 01:31:05,760 We're not in that meeting anymore. 594 01:31:06,120 --> 01:31:07,600 That meeting, that's a regular meeting. 595 01:31:08,000 --> 01:31:09,760 A special meeting has very different rules. 596 01:31:10,360 --> 01:31:13,900 A special meeting as you can only vote on the items that are presented. 597 01:31:14,620 --> 01:31:16,860 No amendments can be made at this time. 598 01:31:17,200 --> 01:31:21,160 You're certainly able to make amendments at the next regularly scheduled meeting. 599 01:31:21,500 --> 01:31:27,620 But this meeting is either to vote the budget as introduced or to vote to extend 600 01:31:27,620 --> 01:31:36,620 and the emergency temporary appropriations so that the administration is able to keep government functioning. 601 01:31:38,900 --> 01:31:42,120 Those are the only two items that can be voted on because especially on this. Thank you. 602 01:31:42,280 --> 01:31:43,480 Thank you. Any other questions? 603 01:31:44,160 --> 01:31:48,160 No. I'll make a motion that we table the budget. 604 01:31:49,540 --> 01:31:49,860 Second. 605 01:31:49,860 --> 01:31:49,920 Second. 606 01:31:51,480 --> 01:31:52,040 All right. 607 01:31:52,160 --> 01:31:53,240 Clerk, can I please have a roll call? 608 01:31:56,350 --> 01:32:02,890 This would be, this would be Resolution 31426, Motion of Table by Councilman Briggs-Jones, 609 01:32:03,210 --> 01:32:07,650 seconded by Councilman Wyatt, Motion of Table of Councilmembers Briggs-Jones, 610 01:32:10,800 --> 01:32:11,340 Councilwoman 611 01:32:11,340 --> 01:32:12,260 Briggs-Jones. 612 01:32:12,600 --> 01:32:12,840 Yes. 613 01:32:14,040 --> 01:32:14,560 Graham. 614 01:32:14,940 --> 01:32:15,100 Yes. 615 01:32:15,920 --> 01:32:16,260 McCray. 616 01:32:18,300 --> 01:32:18,820 Wyatt. 617 01:32:19,300 --> 01:32:19,480 Yes. 618 01:32:20,060 --> 01:32:20,580 Sessions. 619 01:32:20,840 --> 01:32:21,040 Yes. 620 01:32:22,240 --> 01:32:23,160 Vice President O'Hockaday. 621 01:32:23,380 --> 01:32:23,620 Yes. 622 01:32:23,620 --> 01:32:25,880 Yes, Council President Chary. 623 01:32:26,080 --> 01:32:26,240 Yes. 624 01:32:26,900 --> 01:32:28,940 Six in favor, one opposed. 625 01:32:30,180 --> 01:32:31,560 This resolution's been tabled. 626 01:32:32,240 --> 01:32:32,600 Thank you. 627 01:32:35,680 --> 01:32:38,100 We have resolution 315, 26. 628 01:32:38,760 --> 01:32:39,400 At the tempering? 629 01:32:39,480 --> 01:32:41,340 We're emergency appropriations. 630 01:32:41,860 --> 01:32:43,420 I make a motion and we extend it. 631 01:32:45,390 --> 01:32:46,010 Is that motion to adopt? 632 01:32:46,350 --> 01:32:48,150 Can I have a motion to adopt this resolution? 633 01:32:48,530 --> 01:32:52,670 For our resolutions are 315-26. 634 01:32:53,030 --> 01:32:53,470 So moved. 635 01:32:53,850 --> 01:32:54,230 Seconded. 636 01:32:54,810 --> 01:32:56,050 Clerk, can I please have a roll call? 637 01:32:56,050 --> 01:33:00,290 Roll call resolution 31526, Council members, Briggs Jones. 638 01:33:00,510 --> 01:33:00,670 Yes. 639 01:33:01,190 --> 01:33:01,490 Graham. 640 01:33:01,690 --> 01:33:01,930 Yes. 641 01:33:02,310 --> 01:33:02,530 McCray. 642 01:33:02,830 --> 01:33:03,010 Yes. 643 01:33:03,510 --> 01:33:03,590 Why? 644 01:33:03,830 --> 01:33:04,090 Yes. 645 01:33:04,430 --> 01:33:04,890 Sessoms. 646 01:33:05,090 --> 01:33:05,290 Yes. 647 01:33:05,750 --> 01:33:06,810 Vice President Hockiday. 648 01:33:07,090 --> 01:33:07,230 Yes. 649 01:33:07,750 --> 01:33:08,450 Council President Cherry. 650 01:33:08,770 --> 01:33:08,910 Yes. 651 01:33:09,350 --> 01:33:12,050 Actually, the animus 31526 has been adopted. 652 01:33:12,730 --> 01:33:12,970 All right. 653 01:33:13,130 --> 01:33:13,990 That concludes the resolutions. 654 01:33:14,330 --> 01:33:14,650 Thank you. 655 01:33:14,970 --> 01:33:23,370 Just a note to our Council ahead of our next schedule meeting, CFO, are you asking for a list 656 01:33:23,370 --> 01:33:23,870 of amendments? 657 01:33:24,130 --> 01:33:25,270 How would you like to receive the list? 658 01:33:31,580 --> 01:33:34,020 Well, how would you like to receive the amendments? 659 01:33:36,200 --> 01:33:38,060 Do you want it to be emailed to you? 660 01:33:38,200 --> 01:33:40,420 Do you want it to be sent to the chair? 661 01:33:41,000 --> 01:33:41,980 How would you like that to happen? 662 01:33:42,620 --> 01:33:43,980 You can send them by email. 663 01:33:45,340 --> 01:33:45,740 Individually. 664 01:33:46,460 --> 01:33:46,660 Okay. 665 01:33:47,620 --> 01:33:48,440 Do you mean individually? 666 01:33:49,020 --> 01:33:51,840 By each council person send them individually to you. 667 01:33:52,260 --> 01:33:55,220 You can put them together and you can send an email. 668 01:33:55,660 --> 01:33:55,800 Okay. 669 01:33:56,820 --> 01:33:56,980 All right. 670 01:33:56,980 --> 01:34:03,040 Madam President, can I just ask a clarifying question in terms of process, thank you. 671 01:34:04,440 --> 01:34:10,220 So with regards to amendments, it's my understanding as it was shared with me and 672 01:34:10,220 --> 01:34:12,020 I may have this incorrectly. 673 01:34:12,640 --> 01:34:22,840 Is it the responsibility of council to go through this document and identify the individual line 674 01:34:22,840 --> 01:34:29,400 items we want to take, we want to move money from one to the other, or is it the council 675 01:34:29,400 --> 01:34:34,200 can make a recommendation that we want we would like to have the administration reconsider 676 01:34:36,180 --> 01:34:41,780 appropriations of X amount for X units. So if I could just get clarification on process 677 01:34:41,780 --> 01:34:43,160 that would be helpful. 678 01:34:43,880 --> 01:34:51,040 It can go, it can, is incumbent upon council to identify the lines in which they want 679 01:34:51,040 --> 01:34:57,900 to either reduce or increase. However, if it is done in a more general fashion, it then 680 01:34:57,900 --> 01:35:01,620 falls to the administration. I can't speak to the administration where the administration 681 01:35:01,620 --> 01:35:08,380 will receive that and do it to the council's liking. So the surefire way is to identify 682 01:35:08,380 --> 01:35:11,560 the lines as a body that you want to move. 683 01:35:13,800 --> 01:35:15,500 As far as what the administration would do with 684 01:35:15,500 --> 01:35:19,780 the more general request, I can't, maybe the administration can speak to that, I can't 685 01:35:19,780 --> 01:35:22,640 speak to that, but legally speaking, it would be your obligation. 686 01:35:24,200 --> 01:35:28,020 And man, ask a follow-up question about process. 687 01:35:28,240 --> 01:35:28,380 Sure. 688 01:35:28,660 --> 01:35:38,900 And so if we're asking for reconsideration of the overall budget, that may imply that 689 01:35:38,900 --> 01:35:47,440 the determined tax increase that has already been established may increase based on whatever 690 01:35:47,440 --> 01:36:17,360 ever we are asking for so so I'll just give an example just for understanding so if we said can we give the the library another hundred thousand dollars you know as a good faith effort would the administration then be able to say okay council if that is your wishes and you're not identifying a line item to take that from that five point oh oh whatever it was in terms of taxes is now. 691 01:36:17,360 --> 01:36:19,260 Now I'm going to represent this. 692 01:36:19,560 --> 01:36:21,280 Yes, yes, and that can happen. 693 01:36:21,640 --> 01:36:25,760 Also, I just, for everyone who's thinking about process, once Council makes it amendments, 694 01:36:25,940 --> 01:36:30,140 it then has to be resubmitted to the State for their review before a final adoption. 695 01:36:31,280 --> 01:36:35,380 And, and, and Corporation Council, correct me if I'm wrong, there's a threshold, there's a certain amount 696 01:36:35,380 --> 01:36:40,720 for the, if we increase the budget, that we have to get approval from the State. 697 01:36:41,680 --> 01:36:43,560 I'll turn to my finance director on that one. 698 01:36:48,720 --> 01:36:53,500 So whatever changes to me, I would still have to send to the state, but there is a 699 01:36:53,500 --> 01:37:01,260 potential where we would have to have a public area and then work on it and then but what 700 01:37:01,260 --> 01:37:06,620 ever changes in it, I said, what the state has approved would have been changed, so the 701 01:37:06,620 --> 01:37:08,280 state needs still needs to be notified. 702 01:37:09,220 --> 01:37:09,400 Okay. 703 01:37:09,960 --> 01:37:10,860 There's an answer for me. 704 01:37:10,900 --> 01:37:11,380 Yes it does. 705 01:37:11,540 --> 01:37:11,840 Thank you. 706 01:37:11,840 --> 01:37:14,340 Let's go ahead, come to President Ledney. 707 01:37:14,500 --> 01:37:14,860 Hold on, Mayor. 708 01:37:15,620 --> 01:37:16,100 Sorry. 709 01:37:18,380 --> 01:37:19,260 What's the duration? 710 01:37:20,780 --> 01:37:21,700 It's the passing of the budget. 711 01:37:22,460 --> 01:37:25,440 So if we pass the template, we pass the template budget tonight, 712 01:37:25,440 --> 01:37:26,780 that is good for how long? 713 01:37:27,000 --> 01:37:28,200 That's good through September. 714 01:37:28,600 --> 01:37:29,700 September, what? 715 01:37:30,240 --> 01:37:31,580 The end of September. 716 01:37:31,820 --> 01:37:32,380 That's already it. 717 01:37:32,760 --> 01:37:32,880 Yes. 718 01:37:33,180 --> 01:37:36,700 So then at the next meeting, I will be here again, 719 01:37:37,320 --> 01:37:38,420 with another template. 720 01:37:39,160 --> 01:37:39,520 Understood. 721 01:37:39,820 --> 01:37:40,240 Thank you, Mayor. 722 01:37:40,240 --> 01:37:40,360 I think. 723 01:37:40,860 --> 01:37:42,360 And just a note for the council. 724 01:37:42,480 --> 01:37:44,340 I'll be reaching out to each one of you individually 725 01:37:44,940 --> 01:37:46,400 and receiving your amendments. 726 01:37:46,400 --> 01:37:48,680 If you have, and we may have a special meeting, 727 01:37:48,800 --> 01:37:50,520 or we may present at the next council, 728 01:37:50,780 --> 01:37:51,340 what are the other? 729 01:37:53,040 --> 01:37:53,760 Council President. 730 01:37:54,680 --> 01:37:55,960 I'm sorry, the mayor did have the floor. 731 01:37:56,500 --> 01:37:56,840 Yes. 732 01:37:57,740 --> 01:38:01,660 I want to clarify that at this point, 733 01:38:02,200 --> 01:38:05,720 this budget was presented to you by the administration. 734 01:38:06,300 --> 01:38:08,320 It was approved by you on introduction. 735 01:38:08,320 --> 01:38:16,660 It is your budget and changes can be made by you, by way of amendments. 736 01:38:17,380 --> 01:38:24,880 So that's totally up to you and any impact on property taxes would be based on the decision 737 01:38:25,320 --> 01:38:26,140 that you make. 738 01:38:26,420 --> 01:38:26,860 Thank you, Mayor. 739 01:38:26,940 --> 01:38:27,360 We are aware. 740 01:38:28,280 --> 01:38:29,020 Thank you. 741 01:38:29,340 --> 01:38:29,740 Councillor? 742 01:38:30,260 --> 01:38:30,640 Yes. 743 01:38:31,080 --> 01:38:31,680 A few things. 744 01:38:31,880 --> 01:38:33,040 One is a point of clarification. 745 01:38:34,180 --> 01:38:36,740 So tonight we were not able to make any amendments at all. 746 01:38:36,740 --> 01:38:38,780 this was the agenda. Hold on, Councillor. 747 01:38:39,480 --> 01:38:41,400 I just want to make sure that you're being heard. 748 01:38:42,620 --> 01:38:44,060 I was about to say I didn't even start it. 749 01:38:46,000 --> 01:38:48,060 So we could not make any amendments tonight. 750 01:38:48,500 --> 01:38:50,700 So time is our most precious asset. 751 01:38:50,940 --> 01:38:52,720 So why do we have this meeting tonight? 752 01:38:52,880 --> 01:38:56,640 There was no deliberation with the administration and the council about any changes whatsoever. 753 01:38:57,280 --> 01:39:02,380 We just presented the same budget and resolutions that we presented the last time. 754 01:39:02,500 --> 01:39:03,380 So why are we here tonight? 755 01:39:04,180 --> 01:39:05,960 I can answer that. 756 01:39:08,030 --> 01:39:17,590 The reason why we're here is because if you did not choose to either adopt the budget 757 01:39:18,470 --> 01:39:25,290 or pass the temporary emergency appropriation, you would have opted to shut the city down. 758 01:39:25,990 --> 01:39:32,830 And so we came here tonight with that knowledge and to give you an opportunity to do the right 759 01:39:32,830 --> 01:39:38,410 thing by either pass and adopt in the budget as with approved by the state of New Jersey 760 01:39:38,990 --> 01:39:46,470 or pass in a resolution to increase the temporary emergency appropriation. 761 01:39:46,870 --> 01:39:48,690 That is why we hear this evening. 762 01:39:49,250 --> 01:39:57,910 As of this evening, the council has yet to provide any amendments to the budget as approved 763 01:39:57,910 --> 01:39:58,670 by the state. 764 01:39:58,670 --> 01:40:05,450 And so the administration, we were of the firm belief given the fact that you have not 765 01:40:05,450 --> 01:40:10,410 made amendments and the state approved a budget that you would adopt this budget. 766 01:40:11,010 --> 01:40:15,930 And so we remain very disappointed that the budget has not been adopted. 767 01:40:15,930 --> 01:40:16,310 Thank you, Mayor. 768 01:40:16,370 --> 01:40:16,730 Okay. 769 01:40:17,290 --> 01:40:17,630 Thank you. 770 01:40:17,950 --> 01:40:21,850 We were talking about the tax vows as well. 771 01:40:22,410 --> 01:40:27,550 Do we have to certify tax rate because the bills appear to be higher than anticipated? 772 01:40:30,190 --> 01:40:34,350 How can you have a certified tax rate if you don't have an adopted budget? 773 01:40:34,970 --> 01:40:36,190 So why do we have higher bills then? 774 01:40:37,910 --> 01:40:48,850 The statute allows the tax collector to provide an estimated bill to the taxpayers of the 775 01:40:48,850 --> 01:40:49,950 city of Plainfield. 776 01:40:49,950 --> 01:41:01,390 And that is why taxpayers receive estimated tax bill because we needed to have the cash flow in order to pay bills. 777 01:41:02,050 --> 01:41:13,030 And so the bill that our property owners receive is an estimated tax bill allowed under the statute. 778 01:41:13,030 --> 01:41:18,550 And that estimated tax bill would be true up once this budget is adopted and 779 01:41:19,070 --> 01:41:23,890 Proper owners would receive the final tax bill upon the adoption of the budget. 780 01:41:24,270 --> 01:41:31,230 Yes, thank for the lesson. We received it in the mail. It says estimated tax bill. This year was higher than those in the past 781 01:41:31,230 --> 01:41:34,190 So that's the why I asked the question. What was the certified tax bill? 782 01:41:34,790 --> 01:41:39,090 Secondly, we talked about Dylan and facts. So tonight in this room, we talked about the library 783 01:41:39,530 --> 01:41:42,990 We talked about the cuts, we talked about how important a library was to our community. 784 01:41:43,450 --> 01:41:48,510 But there's also people in this room who work very hard for the city who receive layoff notices. 785 01:41:49,310 --> 01:41:50,970 And no longer have jobs. 786 01:41:52,350 --> 01:41:53,770 I don't know why we were smirkin' about that. 787 01:41:56,260 --> 01:41:59,040 I don't know what on the corporation, hold on, thank you. 788 01:41:59,400 --> 01:42:02,720 I know this personnel issue, we don't want to dive in, just please don't say anyone's names. 789 01:42:03,140 --> 01:42:05,340 Okay, I don't have to say anyone's name, but they're in the room. 790 01:42:05,920 --> 01:42:07,660 You can stand since we're doing the facts. 791 01:42:07,660 --> 01:42:15,180 If you were impacted, if you had to go, if you were laid off, if you had to receive a salary decrease, 792 01:42:15,820 --> 01:42:18,760 these are facts, so decisions that we make when we put these things forward, 793 01:42:19,040 --> 01:42:21,860 it's not just, oh, we're dealing with facts, this is what it is, you have to pass it. 794 01:42:22,180 --> 01:42:23,080 These are people's lives. 795 01:42:25,320 --> 01:42:26,940 Councillor Cousin, we're violating this special moment. 796 01:42:26,940 --> 01:42:27,280 Thank you. 797 01:42:28,740 --> 01:42:30,480 Any other comments from my council colleagues? 798 01:42:31,080 --> 01:42:37,300 Just one more question, Madam Finance Director, can you tell me with this budget as present it, 799 01:42:37,300 --> 01:42:43,260 What does it remind me? What does the tax rate increase? What's the percent that the taxes would go to? 800 01:42:43,320 --> 01:42:47,480 The budget before you has 5.4, 2 percent increase. 801 01:42:49,740 --> 01:42:53,160 Okay. And that's based off of the assessed value of the home. 802 01:42:57,920 --> 01:43:01,320 That's this. That's a 5.4 percent increase. 803 01:43:02,020 --> 01:43:05,320 Thank you. I'll follow up with my questions offline. Thank you. 804 01:43:07,620 --> 01:43:08,920 All right. Any other questions? 805 01:43:10,800 --> 01:43:11,280 Thank you. 806 01:43:11,280 --> 01:43:12,920 Can I have a motion to adjourn? 807 01:43:13,140 --> 01:43:13,680 So moved. 808 01:43:14,120 --> 01:43:14,740 Sure, thank you. 809 01:43:15,320 --> 01:43:15,960 Thank you, everyone. 810 01:43:16,080 --> 01:43:16,580 Have a good evening. 811 01:43:25,970 --> 01:43:26,190 Thank you. 812 01:43:28,470 --> 01:43:29,430 What's your health? 813 01:43:31,450 --> 01:43:32,070 That's it. 814 01:43:32,590 --> 01:43:35,290 The latest reason does not allow the budget not. 815 01:43:35,370 --> 01:43:36,710 It's an additional judge. 816 01:43:36,970 --> 01:43:37,770 Let me just say the police. 817 01:43:38,190 --> 01:43:38,450 Sorry.