[0:00] Okay, good evening. I want to welcome you to our Ladies and Township Committee of

[0:05] September 8th. We just came out of our executive session, and what I'd like to do

[0:11] is report on that. But first, I'd like a salute to the flag.

[0:14] So if you could stand,

[0:18] please.

[0:18] I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic

[0:24] for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and

[0:30] justice for all.

[0:36] Thank you. All right. Thank you. I'm Yuri Wozwisz.

[0:39] I'm your township mayor, your open space advisory chair.

[0:45] My fellow committee members are here. I'm going to ask Vinny, Mr.

[0:49] Panico, just a report on our exec, of course.

[0:52] Sure. So we covered a number of items. I want to say it was nine.

[0:57] We'll go through one at a time. There'll be some motions on some of them, but not

[1:00] all. The first matter was personnel police.

[1:05] These are more matters of just for normal things.

[1:10] So Greg Wester has completed his probationary period as police sergeant, which

[1:15] means that he becomes a permanent police sergeant.

[1:17] So I'm going to make a motion to approve the resolution appointing Greg Wester as a

[1:22] permanent police sergeant.

[1:23] Second.

[1:24] Okay. Roll call, please.

[1:25] Mr. Abney? Yes. Mr. Haller? Yes. Mr. Muller?

[1:28] Aye.

[1:28] Mr. Panico?

[1:29] Yes.

[1:29] Mayor Wozwisz.

[1:30] Aye.

[1:31] The second item we discussed under this heading was the fact that one of our Class

[1:36] III officers, these are the officers that are in the schools, had taken a position

[1:41] with a different township. So we are backfilling that officer.

[1:45] So I will make a motion to approve the resolution appointing Lawrence Goldstein as

[1:50] Special Law Enforcement Officer Class III.

[1:52] Second.

[1:53] Roll call, please.

[1:54] Mr. Abney? Yes. Mr. Haller? Yes. Mr. Muller?

[1:58] Aye.

[1:58] Mr. Panico?

[1:58] Yes.

[1:59] Mayor Wozwisz.

[1:59] Aye.

[2:01] In the second section, which was personnel administration, we discussed the

[2:06] candidates that were coming in for one of our vacancies here, and we looked at how

[2:10] that fits into the operations of the township, but there's no action

[2:16] items for that heading. The third option or the third heading is contract

[2:22] negotiations, dental insurance. This actually shows up later in the agenda.

[2:26] I believe it's I-two. That is the introduction of an ordinance establishing some

[2:31] dental insurance regulations now that we're self-insured.

[2:36] So that was a simple discussion.

[2:39] Number four is contract negotiations, building demo.

[2:42] We have some public space here in town that has some dilapidated buildings on it.

[2:47] It's off Old Highway 28 on the north side up there.

[2:51] So we discussed the quotes that we received for that and the funding.

[2:54] There's no action to take on that yet. It'll be at a future meeting.

[2:58] Number five is contract negotiations, professional services.

[3:01] Believe it or not, this took up a lion's share of our discussions.

[3:06] We review at a high level the professionals that we have here in the township.

[3:10] So everybody from the attorney and the engineer down to the dog catcher and

[3:16] different consultants that we have throughout as we prepare for what we're going to

[3:20] do in 2027. Are we going to go to RFP for them? Are we not?

[3:24] And how is that all going to come together?

[3:26] So it was a really high-level discussion, and we're going to have another follow-up

[3:30] at the next meeting as well. Number six is litigation police.

[3:34] Obviously, this is a matter of litigation.

[3:36] I was hoping it was going to be wrapped up by now, but it hasn't. So that stays in.

[3:40] Number seven is attorney-client privilege.

[3:42] The executive session minutes August 3rd, 2026, and August 17th, 2026.

[3:47] This is just the approval of the minutes for previous executive sessions.

[3:50] So I will make a motion to approve for content only.

[3:52] Second.

[3:53] Roll call, please.

[3:54] Mr. Abney? Yes. Mr. Haller? I need to abstain on August 3rd. Yes for August 17th.

[4:01] Mr. Muller?

[4:02] Aye.

[4:03] Mr. Panico?

[4:03] Yes.

[4:04] Mayor Wozwisz.

[4:04] Aye.

[4:06] The number eight was potential litigation, affordable housing.

[4:09] There was no discussion that happened on that topic. That is all, sir.

[4:14] Okay. Thank you very much. That's the report on the executive session.

[4:18] Next is E on the agenda, which is comments from the public for items listed on the

[4:23] agenda only.

[4:25] We'll also have separate comments for ordinances that follow later in the session.

[4:31] So

[4:32] and what we'll do, because we have a lot of people, there may be comments at

[4:36] various points. We'll probably just ask you to speak for three minutes or less as

[4:41] we go through various topics.

[4:44] Okay?

[4:45] If you'd like to speak, you just need to come up.

[4:48] If this is regarding I-one. No, never mind. Sorry. You can go ahead.

[4:53] H-one is where we have a special talk.

[4:55] Come on

[4:59] up.

[5:05] Hi, my name is Anne Rettino. I'm with the local chapter of the Daughters of the

[5:09] American Revolution,

[5:11] and we own the Revolutionary War-era cemetery that's right over at the corner of

[5:16] 523 and Route 22.

[5:20] I'm speaking on behalf of my chapter, and we just wanted to say that

[5:27] we are looking for the best interest for our cemetery on a historic level.

[5:34] We are not a political organization.

[5:36] We are a genealogical, historical organization, and that's where our interests lie

[5:42] is with preserving history. And so whatever helps that cemetery

[5:48] stay nice and have a good long

[5:52] future that looks good and is serving the community,

[5:56] however that is best served based on the affordable housing that's considered going

[6:01] in next to it. We would just like to say that we hope everybody thinks about that

[6:06] when that comes to a vote, because that's what we do.

[6:11] So thank you.

[6:14] Thank you, Anne.

[6:15] Okay.

[6:30] Hello, my name is Liz Retell.

[6:32] Wilmington faces unprecedented development pressure due to the state-mandated

[6:37] affordable housing requirements.

[6:40] Special interests and developers are positioning themselves to capitalize on our

[6:45] community, threatening the rural character that generations have worked so hard to

[6:50] protect.

[6:52] In order to preserve our quality of life, we need to manage responsible growth

[6:57] while respecting local zoning, planning, and maintaining our ethical standard.

[7:03] The wrong approach is pursuing huge mega-developments like a Propheta

[7:09] development, which are inclusionary and only have a small percentage of units

[7:15] as affordable housing, while the majority of the units are market rate.

[7:21] Paul Propheta is a wealthy developer, and he is funding the politicians and

[7:26] political candidates who support the proposed project.

[7:31] The wrong approach is if the township committee votes to allow only massive

[7:37] inclusionary developments into affordable housing plan to reach our state mandate.

[7:43] It is obviously the wrong approach for the township as it would have long-term

[7:49] negative impact on emergency services, taxes, schools,

[7:55] roads, and infrastructure.

[7:58] For the proposed Propheta project alone, the township would allow at least

[8:03] 1,400 units on rich farmland spanning 370 acres.

[8:09] This rich farmland is located in planning area four with no sewer and is not zoned

[8:15] by the state or locally for such a massive development.

[8:20] The right approach is pursuing small-scale, 100% affordable developments.

[8:25] 100% affordable means all the units within the development are affordable units,

[8:31] meaning the total number of units is kept relatively low.

[8:35] Using this approach, the total number of units would be less than half

[8:40] compared to the inclusionary approach while satisfying our affordable housing

[8:45] mandate from the state. A real-time example of this responsible development is a

[8:50] proposed small-scale, 100% affordable development at 101 Main Street.

[8:56] This development is intended to include special needs residents, which means the

[9:01] township receives double the number of credits.

[9:04] We would receive 40 credits By building only 20 units, whereas a

[9:10] large inclusionary development would require 200 units to be built to reach 40

[9:16] credits. The township is using a responsible approach to maximize our credits,

[9:22] build housing for special needs, veterans, and seniors, all while building the

[9:26] lowest number of units possible to reach our state mandate.

[9:30] I support small-scale, fiscally responsible development, not large inclusionary

[9:35] developments built by developers like Propeta and from the politicians that support

[9:40] their projects. Redington can reach the affordable housing requirements with a

[9:45] fraction of the total number of units, all while being fiscally responsible.

[9:51] Thank you.

[10:06] I'm Julia Allen.

[10:10] Our common goal is to minimize the impact of the township's affordable housing

[10:15] mandate. The state gives us options we could use that would help us achieve

[10:21] that goal.

[10:23] Our obligation is 504 credits.

[10:28] 25% of this number can be met by a plan that qualifies for allowable

[10:35] bonus credits.

[10:38] By hoping to create 100% affordable projects, we get one bonus credit for each

[10:44] affordable unit built.

[10:47] In Three Bridges, the 80-unit townhouse under construction gave Redington 80

[10:53] bonus credits, for a total of 160 credits for the project.

[11:01] A 60-unit senior building on an existing senior site on Greenwood Road would

[11:06] qualify for 60 bonus for a total of 120

[11:12] credits.

[11:14] With group homes, special needs housing is advisable because each bedroom in a

[11:19] home is a unit adding a bonus credit.

[11:23] A single veterans group home could add as much as 20 credits with the allowable

[11:29] bonuses.

[11:32] In addition, there's a strategy referred to as extension of controls.

[11:38] This possibility exists because affordable housing units in both Lake Pushtunt

[11:43] Woods and at Hunter's Crossing in Three Bridges have affordable deed

[11:48] restrictions dating back 30 years, which are now expiring.

[11:53] The township has an option to use housing trust fund money to extend these controls

[11:58] for an additional 30 years. No new

[12:01] housing would be required.

[12:09] What we should not be doing is inclusionary development,

[12:15] and putting that in our plan, unless we are specifically ordered for a specific

[12:21] project by the court.

[12:23] With the inclusionary development, developers are allowed to build huge

[12:27] high-density developments with a ratio of five to one.

[12:31] With over 100 new homes built, the yield is three affordability units created.

[12:38] Meeting our affordable housing this way for a 500 unit, 440 unit

[12:43] obligation leads to huge developments that change the very character of our

[12:47] township and drive up our taxes with increased need for services. Thank you.

[13:03] Good evening, everybody. My name is Michael DeSocio.

[13:05] I am the owner of 24 Washington Drive.

[13:08] I'm here to talk on behalf of the 101 Main Street proposed project.

[13:12] A couple of things I do want to put out for public record and I'd like addressed at

[13:16] this evening's meeting for the record.

[13:20] Number one is the impact to neighboring homes.

[13:23] By putting in a 20-plus unit facility on Main Street, what is that going to do to

[13:28] neighboring homes? All those homes run on well water.

[13:32] That property borders a flood zone on my property, so how will that, the less

[13:37] permeable land, impact my property at the end of the day?

[13:41] All things the town hasn't considered.

[13:43] That property is a flood zone A, and that borders 101 Main Street.

[13:47] I'm not sure if the township has known that.

[13:50] A couple of other portions I'd like clarified for the record at some point this

[13:54] evening is clarifications on mappings have been posted to public forums by public

[13:58] officials here.

[14:01] I have-

[14:02] I missed. I was trying to understand what you said.

[14:04] Yeah. Clarifications on mappings posted by public officials.

[14:07] Oh, mappings. All right. Sorry. I was-

[14:09] So,

[14:11] with this proposed project, number one, it's going to put a greater impact and toll

[14:16] on Washington Drive as a whole. So, any plans to either, one, update that road or

[14:22] bring any other kinds of services to that.

[14:24] Number two is that based on these mappings, it looks like the proposed project does

[14:30] want to cut across

[14:32] my property on 24 Washington Drive, between mine and the DAR.

[14:37] These mappings have been put out by officials in a public forum,

[14:42] and I'd like clarification at tonight's meeting about plans for lower Main Street

[14:47] and official mappings of where this will be done, how it will be done, how it's

[14:51] going to comply with not just township ordinance.

[14:54] I know there's going to have to be rezoning done.

[14:57] There's been a lot of discussion around that property over the last year or two

[15:00] that has been shot down.

[15:04] And other impacts throughout the township.

[15:07] If those mappings are incorrect,

[15:11] I'd like to put on the record that there are issues from a DNO perspective from the

[15:16] board here by posting incorrect items from a miles perspective and willful

[15:21] misconduct.

[15:24] I'll leave it at that, and I hope to hear more by the end of the meeting.

[15:27] Your property is not included in the acquisition of 101 Main Street.

[15:31] You are property block 24, lot two, correct?

[15:35] Correct.

[15:36] That is not on the agenda for tonight, or do I believe it's even being ever

[15:41] considered.

[15:42] I'm addressing the mappings that have been posted actually by you, Mr. Mayor.

[15:46] That's correct.

[15:48] And it's based off of the available NJMap.com, which are not entirely accurate.

[15:55] I can show you that after everything's left.

[15:57] Yeah.

[15:57] I can show you exactly where that came from.

[15:58] So, your property was included on that map?

[16:01] Yes.

[16:03] Okay.

[16:03] And I actually have real attorney fees to show for this.

[16:06] Wow.

[16:07] Yeah. So, yes it will be.

[16:10] Yeah.

[16:10] So, I'm going to leave it at that. Hope to hear more. Thank you.

[16:20] Okay, no more comments for now. We'll move on. Next is F, payment of bills.

[16:24] We have the September 8th payment of bills. Do I have a motion?

[16:28] So, I'll make a motion to pay the bills.

[16:31] Second.

[16:32] Okay. Roll call, please.

[16:34] Mr. Abney?

[16:35] Yes.

[16:36] Mr. Heller?

[16:37] Yes.

[16:37] Mr. Muller?

[16:38] Aye.

[16:38] Mr. Panico?

[16:39] Yes.

[16:39] Mayor Hucklebush.

[16:40] Aye. Okay, next on the agenda is H, consent agenda, and all

[16:46] items listed with an asterisk are considered to be routine by the township

[16:50] committee and will be enacted by one motion.

[16:54] No separate discussion of these items unless a committee member or a citizen

[16:58] requests,

[17:00] in which event the item will be removed from the general order of business and

[17:04] considered in its normal sequence on the agenda.

[17:07] So, there are a total of 12, I believe, routine matters, but let me ask the

[17:12] township committee, does anyone want to hold an item?

[17:18] Okay, does anyone in the public want to hold an item on the consent agenda?

[17:24] Okay, do I have a motion to approve the consent agenda?

[17:26] I'll make a motion to approve the consent agenda.

[17:28] Second.

[17:29] Roll call, please.

[17:30] Mr. Abney?

[17:31] Yes.

[17:32] Mr. Heller?

[17:33] Yes, but I abstain from item one.

[17:36] Okay, thank you. Mr. Muller?

[17:37] Aye.

[17:38] Mr. Panico?

[17:39] Yes.

[17:39] Mayor Hucklebush.

[17:40] Aye. And the majority of these were things like veteran tax refunds, requests for

[17:45] refunds of unused soil witness fees, so relatively routine items.

[17:51] Next, we go into H. We have one item. We have a public hearing.

[17:56] So, let me

[17:58] begin that.

[18:03] So first, do I have a motion to close the regular meeting and open the public

[18:06] hearing?

[18:07] So moved.

[18:07] Second?

[18:08] Second.

[18:09] All in favor?

[18:09] Aye.

[18:10] Aye.

[18:10] Okay. Let me read it. This is an ordinance amending a portion of Chapter 96,

[18:16] Section 6, Construction Records Clearance Required, CRC, of the Code of the

[18:21] Township of Redington, County of Hartman, State of New Jersey.

[18:27] This is relatively

[18:31] Routine.

[18:32] Yeah.

[18:33] Jim, do you want to just-

[18:34] The amendments to the existing ordinance,

[18:38] the intent is to cure unabated violations when houses are being sold, and there's

[18:43] also two fee increases. One fee increases from $70 to $75, and another increases

[18:49] from $40 to $100.

[18:53] And those fees are based on how far out the requests are made from the time of the

[18:58] sale.

[19:00] Okay. And what was the first part you were saying, Doug?

[19:03] The unabated violations.

[19:05] Correct.

[19:05] And so open fines that haven't been satisfied.

[19:10] Thank you.

[19:12] Okay. Any questions?

[19:14] You ask.

[19:15] Yeah, but it got it the second time.

[19:16] I was going to ask what the remedy within, right?

[19:19] Because it's new, and we talked about this at the last meeting, a lot of different

[19:23] audience here. What is the remedy, especially because we weren't a full board in

[19:28] that last one. What's the remedy for the unabated penalties?

[19:34] The remedy would be to cure the violation, pay the violation.

[19:37] Okay, so we're now requiring them to be paid.

[19:39] Correct.

[19:40] Thank you. Say that one more time.

[19:42] I used the word cure, and I should've used the word pay.

[19:44] Okay. Just wanted to make sure we had that-

[19:45] Settle the tab.

[19:46] Yeah, exactly. Okay. Any comments from the public on this item?

[19:52] Okay, do I have a motion to close public hearing and open the regular meeting?

[19:55] Do I have a second?

[19:56] Second.

[19:57] All in favor?

[19:58] Aye.

[19:59] All right, do I have a motion to adopt this ordinance?

[20:01] I'll make a motion to adopt the ordinance.

[20:02] Do I have a second? Thank you. Roll call, please.

[20:05] Mr. Almy?

[20:06] Yes.

[20:06] Mr. Heller?

[20:07] Yes.

[20:07] Mr. Muller?

[20:08] Aye.

[20:09] Mr. Panico?

[20:09] Yes.

[20:10] Mayor Hesselbud?

[20:11] Aye.

[20:13] Okay, on the agenda we're now at I, Introduction of Ordinances, and there are two.

[20:17] I'll read the first one. "An ordinance of the Reddington Township Committee

[20:21] authorizing the acquisition of land identified as Block 24, Blocks 10 and 13, known

[20:28] as 101 Main Street, Reddington Township, Hunterdon County, State of New Jersey, for

[20:33] the purchase price of $305,000 to be paid, in part, from the Township's Affordable

[20:38] Housing Trust Fund." And this is ordinance number 21-2026.

[20:48] I have some comments on this one.

[20:52] I prepared something for this. "Turning 101 Main Street into an affordable housing

[20:57] development would be an indefensible misuse of one of Reddington's most

[21:00] historically significant and publicly visible properties.

[21:04] This is not an ordinary development site.

[21:07] It sits at the gateway to White House Station, immediately beside a cemetery that

[21:11] preserves a direct connection to our nation's founding and to the history of the

[21:14] White House itself. The cemetery is located in the White House section of our

[21:19] township, a community named for the White House Tavern, owned by Abraham Van

[21:25] Horn. Van Horn served in the Revolutionary War, and he is one of at

[21:30] least nine Revolutionary War veterans buried in the cemetery, and the Daughters of

[21:36] the American Revolution plaque at his gravesite records that he was, quote, 'host

[21:40] to General Washington at the old White House.'" George Washington visited that

[21:45] building or that current property out there.

[21:48] "This is not simply a neighboring burial ground.

[21:52] It's a historical landscape tied to Revolutionary War veterans, General Washington,

[21:57] and the origins of White House Station.

[21:59] The township should protect that setting, not expose it to a 100% affordable

[22:03] housing development. Once this gateway property is redeveloped in a manner

[22:08] incompatible with its surroundings, the damage to its historic setting cannot be

[22:12] undone. Reddington will be sacrificing a defining piece of community identity and

[22:18] diminishing the dignity of a cemetery containing the graves of men who served in

[22:23] the Revolution. 101 Main Street deserves preservation and a use that respects its

[22:28] unique historic context. It should not be treated as just another parcel available

[22:33] for affordable housing." I will be rejecting this resolution.

[22:38] Did your research indicate how long that building's

[22:44] been abandoned? I'm sorry, Jonathan, you had a-

[22:46] I just asked if his research included how long that building had been abandoned.

[22:50] The history on that property is those are hallowed grounds.

[22:55] Okay. So last year, we rezoned a lot of the township, including this

[23:01] property. This property, that everybody up here was celebrating

[23:07] the rezoning, was changed from seven uses.

[23:12] Now it has 26 potential uses, including, you can now have two different

[23:17] uses on the property. These uses include residential apartments

[23:24] with retail underneath. That's what the zoning change that was celebrated

[23:31] did. It includes fast food restaurant, pharmacy.

[23:37] So if you're going to make that statement,

[23:41] but you had previously changed the zoning just last year,

[23:48] it doesn't jive. I will tell you,

[23:51] there's a item agenda coming up that

[23:56] will select the potential developer of the property.

[24:00] We interviewed different developers. This was one that came in.

[24:04] Without any prompting, they come in, "Here's our thinking.

[24:08] What are your ideas?" They were already aware of the cemetery.

[24:11] They had a plan to care for it and to respect it.

[24:18] I sat down with the Daughters of the American Revolution folks that are here

[24:21] tonight and expressed the same. As the process moves along, there were

[24:27] some comments before about water runoff, et cetera.

[24:31] That all happens during the site plan application at the planning board level when

[24:35] there's an actual development, an actual proposal with drawings and studies and

[24:41] engineering done.

[24:43] So all those things,

[24:46] everybody's aware that the cemetery exists and it needs to be respected. As Mr.

[24:52] Heller said, it's been an empty lot with a building that is now

[24:58] basically dilapidated and condemned with trees growing through it.

[25:03] It is an eyesore for the entrance of the township.

[25:07] The proposal does not prevent the township from asking

[25:13] the developer to put a "Welcome to White House Station" sign, to put a flagpole up,

[25:18] to acknowledge the presence of the cemetery as it

[25:24] exists. Okay? That's about all I have to say on that.

[25:30] I just find it interesting that just a couple of years ago, there was a craft

[25:33] distillery that wanted to come into that property. We had no sewer available.

[25:38] No sewer, can't do it. Small business wanted to come into the town, we told them

[25:42] no. But now we suddenly have enough sewer to put in 20 affordable housing units?

[25:49] I'm not buying it. I'm not buying it.

[25:52] I know there were talks previously about the township acquiring that property to

[25:55] put in a nice little park, a little sitting area, flagpole, monuments, et cetera.

[26:00] Totally support that.

[26:02] 20 affordable, 100% affordable housing units right there? Welcome to Reddington.

[26:07] Here's our beautiful affordable housing. Absolutely cannot get behind that.

[26:11] And while we're on the topic, one of the previous speakers talked about how great

[26:17] 100% affordable housing projects are.

[26:22] I would like to quote something. I'm going to read a little something here.

[26:26] This is interesting.

[26:29] I'm going to skip around here a little, but I'm quoting this directly.

[26:33] "Courts will be very skeptical of a plan that includes three unfunded 100% projects

[26:38] right off the bat, particularly when they are the tool to exclude other developers.

[26:44] Unlike inclusionary developments, 100% affordable developments, by definition, lack

[26:49] the internal subsidy generated through the inclusion of market-rate units.

[26:53] For those reasons, getting them approved by a court carries a higher burden of

[26:57] proof. This includes a pro forma, a construction schedule demonstrating how these

[27:02] projects will be under construction within two years of court approval.

[27:09] In terms of financing, the potential shortfall for these three sites would be tens

[27:14] of millions of dollars."

[27:17] We would have to bond, go into debt to pay for these projects.

[27:21] I would like Committee Member Muller to cease.

[27:25] This is privileged information. Disclosing privileged information-

[27:30] Why? This would be bonding for millions of dollars.

[27:36] Time out.

[27:36] This is what they don't want you to hear.

[27:38] Why can't he talk? Because it's privileged information.

[27:42] We're the-

[27:43] Let him say it!

[27:44] No.

[27:45] We're residents.

[27:46] You can't interrupt him

[27:48] So what about the residents?

[27:50] Tom, we're not taking comments right now.

[27:52] We're discussing this-

[27:54] But what you said, it's privileged information.

[27:59] It's privileged to the township president.

[28:06] Thank you, Dan. Tone it down. Thank you.

[28:10] Our attorney just let me know when we're disclosing information that is not public

[28:15] because we're sometimes in negotiation or discussion.

[28:19] A township committee person is not allowed to disclose privileged information

[28:25] that's under contract. It has nothing to do with transparency or talking to

[28:28] residents. Now-

[28:28] This is not privileged. This is readily available if the residents would look at

[28:33] it. I'm putting this out there so you guys can, on your own, look up these codes

[28:37] and ordinances. Additionally, these projects require PILT agreements, payment in

[28:41] lieu of taxes, right? Meaning not one dime goes to the schools.

[28:45] We're inviting all these people in, and not one dime goes to the schools.

[28:48] Again, could you please listen to the attorney's advice?

[28:53] The document that you just read from says privileged and confidential.

[28:57] That is at issue.

[28:58] That's what he's talking about.

[29:00] The residents deserve to know what this governing body is voting on.

[29:04] It's that simple. They elected us into this position.

[29:08] Not-

[29:08] They deserve to know.

[29:09] Guys, I'm just going to ask, guys. This might be a bit out of here with the gavel

[29:15] whacking and yelling back and forth, but we can't have you guys yelling.

[29:19] There's 55 or 60 of you in this room, and if everybody's yelling, we're going to be

[29:24] in a bad situation. So I'm just asking you guys to maintain a bit of the

[29:30] function of this meeting because it has to happen in a certain way.

[29:33] Right. Thank you.

[29:33] So I'm in an interesting position here because I don't necessarily agree with

[29:39] everybody that's on this board.

[29:42] I made myself abundantly clear in our last meeting, which was the second meeting

[29:47] with the audit, the special meeting that we put on, and I said under no

[29:50] circumstances would I be voting for this 1183 project.

[29:54] This isn't an indicator of what I support, which direction I agree on affordable

[29:58] housing, or opinions on it. I simply look at this project and because of what

[30:04] Mr. Muller said before, we had an applicant come to open a small business on this

[30:08] property with three sewer credits, and they couldn't.

[30:12] They ended up going to, I think, Hackensack.

[30:15] Their business was named because they were planning on opening on this property.

[30:20] We were in discussions not two years ago on doing a joint purchase of this property

[30:26] so we could sort of make half of it a park, and that fell apart.

[30:30] Yet here we are somehow able to muster up $305,000.

[30:35] I don't love that this is the gate to our town. Adam said it. I believe it.

[30:40] This is the gate to our town. I don't want a high-density housing complex

[30:46] to be the first thing you see when you pull in.

[30:50] The other concern that I have, too, is the source of the funding.

[30:52] We're talking about $305,000, which from what I heard in the previous meeting, was

[30:57] coming out of our Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

[31:01] That is money that was allocated during the most recent round of budget

[31:05] conversations, specifically for the extension of controls in many of the

[31:09] properties. You can go back and listen to the record on those meetings.

[31:13] We discussed funding the Affordable Housing Trust Fund specifically for the

[31:18] extensions of controls. Now, less than six months later, we're turning around and

[31:22] spending it on something else. We're not going to have the funding for the

[31:24] extension of controls, and we're just kicking the can on that financial crisis down

[31:28] the road.

[31:30] I do not support 101 Nature. I made that abundantly clear in the last meeting.

[31:34] I will continue to make that abundantly clear.

[31:36] The other projects I'm happy to talk about and work through.

[31:39] This one is a no for me, and I'm disappointed that since our last meeting, nothing

[31:45] more has changed, and I haven't heard from anyone except our affordable housing

[31:50] attorney on this.

[31:51] Okay. All right. Do I have a motion to approve?

[31:56] I make a motion to introduce.

[31:57] Do I have a second?

[31:58] Second.

[31:59] Roll call, please.

[32:01] Mr. Albany?

[32:02] Yes.

[32:02] Mr. Heller?

[32:03] Yes.

[32:04] Mr. Muller?

[32:05] No.

[32:06] Mr. Panica?

[32:07] No.

[32:08] Mayor Hessel blush?

[32:09] Aye.

[32:10] I'll just make one or two comments because I don't think it's one or the other.

[32:14] The zoning that was changed along Route 22 permitted more uses, including

[32:19] apartments and retail in this spot. We do not want to do that.

[32:23] We want to maintain the lowest traffic impact and the lowest footprint we can.

[32:29] I am fully in support, and I've met previously with some of the folks from the

[32:34] organization that we should remove those structures.

[32:38] We should enhance the cemetery. I would like to see, and I can't speak to this

[32:44] because we have to go through a process, but I would like to see a park on that

[32:47] corner. I think we can do that. I think we can affect the look

[32:53] and protection of that cemetery. So that's my goal.

[32:57] So I do support this, and it will eliminate another 80 units that we have to do

[33:03] elsewhere.

[33:05] At minimum.

[33:06] At minimum. So let's-

[33:07] The doorknob comment, I don't love the doorknob comments.

[33:09] We're just voting to approve it. Let's move on.

[33:11] Okay. Numbers-

[33:13] The zoning was-- You can sit here and talk about the increased number of uses in

[33:18] the zoning. That's true, but that was when we were talking about three sewer units,

[33:21] where now we'll apply special zoning and additional sewer.

[33:24] So the zoning conversation is moot.

[33:26] It's like-

[33:27] Okay. All right

[33:27] ... out of the sky being blue.

[33:28] All right. I will accept your comment. Thank you.

[33:31] I just wanted to announce that the public hearing for this ordinance will be on

[33:35] September 21st.

[33:37] Okay. September 21. The second ordinance. I'll read it.

[33:41] An ordinance creating a new Chapter 50 in the Municipal Code of the Township of

[33:45] Readington, entitled Self-Insurance Fund to Comply with the New Jersey Department

[33:51] of Community Affairs Requirements, and this is ordinance number

[33:55] 2226.

[34:02] Jen, who would you have to speak on this?

[34:04] Our CFO is here if you want her to make a comment on it.

[34:06] Yeah. Kim?

[34:07] Or I'd rather pretty high represent-

[34:09] I thought the mayor mentioned this was a topic when we carried over from executive

[34:13] session.

[34:15] Do you want me to comment on what this is and why we're doing this?

[34:18] I think it'll be a little less controversial.

[34:21] No. This just pertains to our dental insurance, where we did a resolution a couple

[34:27] of meetings ago saying we were going to be self-insurance, managing it ourselves.

[34:31] This is just the ordinance required from the DCA to move forward with that.

[34:35] Because they want an ordinance, not a resolution, correct?

[34:38] Correct.

[34:38] Okay. So this is basically what we did a couple of weeks ago.

[34:41] It's just an ordinance, not a resolution.

[34:43] Yes.

[34:44] Thank you, Miss. Appreciate it.

[34:45] You're welcome.

[34:45] Thank you.

[34:47] I'll make-

[34:48] No

[34:48] ... I'll make a motion to introduce the ordinance.

[34:51] All right. Do I have a second?

[34:52] Second.

[34:53] Okay. Roll call, please.

[34:54] Mr. Albany?

[34:55] Yes.

[34:56] Mr. Heller?

[34:56] Yes.

[34:57] Mr. Muller?

[34:58] Aye.

[34:58] Mr. Panica?

[34:59] Yes.

[34:59] Mayor Hessel blush?

[35:01] Aye.

[35:01] The public hearing for this ordinance will be September 21.

[35:05] Okay, September 21. The next on the agenda is resolutions, and we have a number

[35:10] similar in similar categories. I'll go through this as quickly as I can.

[35:15] First resolution is a resolution acknowledging the annual audit for the year

[35:20] 2025.

[35:25] We've all received that, looked at it. Any comment?

[35:30] I would again defer to the CFO if she would like to review the two findings that

[35:33] were made.

[35:34] That's on the next item, actually.

[35:36] Yeah. Why don't we-

[35:37] We can do it right now while we're doing the audits. We can do it all at once.

[35:41] Well, let's do this one first, if we can.

[35:43] Do we have a motion

[35:45] to approve the first resolution?

[35:48] So moved.

[35:49] Second.

[35:50] Roll call, please.

[35:51] Mr. Albany?

[35:52] Yes.

[35:52] Mr. Heller?

[35:53] Yes.

[35:53] Mr. Muller?

[35:54] Aye.

[35:55] Mr. Panica?

[35:55] Yes.

[35:56] Mayor Hessel blush?

[35:56] Aye. And number two is a resolution accepting and approving the corrective action

[36:01] plan for the 2025 township audit.

[36:07] Thank you.

[36:09] So our 2025 audit had two recommendations, two findings, conditions.

[36:15] First one was the general ledger not being maintained in a timely fashion.

[36:19] Multiple funds reflected interfund balances at the year-end that should be

[36:23] liquidated.

[36:25] The recommendation was internal control policy procedure should be developed to

[36:28] properly maintain a timely and accurate general ledger system.

[36:34] We developed that process last year.

[36:35] Part of this was not receiving our final audit for the prior year until November.

[36:41] So we've already started liquidating all of our interfunds for this year.

[36:46] The second finding was the grant fund reflected an over-expenditure.

[36:51] There was a small grant that we received that did not get Chapter 159'd, had to be

[36:55] raised in the budget this year. It's already been taken care of.

[36:59] Okay.

[37:01] Thank you very much. Any questions?

[37:03] I will just say, I think one of the hardest jobs that happens in this town is the

[37:10] management of this money. It is incredibly challenging to do, and then the auditors

[37:14] come in and do a pretty invasive inspection. It's always challenging.

[37:17] I'll just read a couple of things here.

[37:19] The first one is, "We encountered no significant difficulties dealing with

[37:23] management and performing to complete our audit." They also say in here, "We are

[37:27] pleased to report that no disagreements arose during the course of our audit." And

[37:32] there was one other one. Generally, they're happy.

[37:35] I think the corrective actions that they've recommended weren't egregious, in my

[37:40] opinion. I've seen some egregious ones. These weren't egregious.

[37:44] So I'm pleased with the position of

[37:47] the health of our financial workflows, and I can say our budget.

[37:51] I'm pleased with the health of our financial workflows and especially with how far

[37:55] they've come over the past couple years. Thank you.

[37:57] Thank you.

[37:57] The only question I have, is this the right timing for this review of this 2025

[38:03] audit? Is it normally in September

[38:07] that we would see this, or is this just a unique timeframe?

[38:11] We had a lot to kind of catch up on last year. We were very late.

[38:15] This year, we're a little earlier.

[38:16] Next year, the hope is to be even earlier, but we are within the appropriate

[38:19] timeframe.

[38:20] Okay. So it might be earlier next year, or-

[38:23] Yes.

[38:23] Okay. You'll let us know.

[38:25] Mm-hmm.

[38:25] All right. Thank you very much.

[38:26] You're welcome.

[38:28] Motion?

[38:29] I'll make a motion to approve the corrective action plan.

[38:31] Do I have a second?

[38:33] Second.

[38:34] Roll call, please.

[38:35] Mr. Albany? Yes. Mr. Haller? Yes. Mr. Moller? Aye. Mr. Panico?

[38:39] Yes.

[38:39] Mayor Hostetler?

[38:40] Aye. Number three, resolution requesting permission for the dedication by writer

[38:45] for police donations required by New Jersey Statute 485-29.

[38:52] Jim?

[38:54] From time to time, the police department receives donations from generous residents

[38:59] or business owners, and this just permits the acceptance of those donations.

[39:03] Okay.

[39:04] Formalizes the acceptance. It's not for each donation, but it allows for a

[39:09] process.

[39:10] Okay. Any comment? Okay. Do I have a motion?

[39:13] So moved.

[39:14] Second.

[39:15] Roll call, please.

[39:16] Mr. Albany? Yes. Mr. Haller? Yes. Mr. Moller? Aye. Mr. Panico?

[39:20] Yes.

[39:20] Mayor Hostetler?

[39:21] Aye. Number four, resolution authorizing acceptance of open space

[39:26] acquisition grant.

[39:30] I believe this is a grant from the county, April of this year. Is that correct?

[39:34] Yes.

[39:35] Okay.

[39:37] And this is for a grant that we requested for a property in the Chambers Brook

[39:42] watershed, which follows as the next resolution.

[39:46] So I think this just enables the county to provide that grant. Any questions?

[39:52] So the grant is for $136,000,

[39:58] correct?

[40:01] Correct.

[40:02] I'm asking Eric.

[40:03] County contribution request of $136,000.

[40:06] Yep.

[40:07] Okay.

[40:09] Thank you.

[40:15] I'll make a motion to accept the grant.

[40:17] Second.

[40:18] Roll call, please.

[40:20] Mr. Albany? Yes. Mr. Haller? Yes. Mr. Moller? Aye. Mr. Panico?

[40:24] Yes.

[40:24] Mayor Hostetler?

[40:25] Aye. Next resolution is a resolution authorizing insertion of a special item of

[40:30] revenue and appropriation into the budget for the Hunterdon County Open Space

[40:35] Acquisition Federal Grant of $136,000.

[40:40] I'm assuming this is the same grant, given it's the same amount, correct?

[40:44] Correct.

[40:44] Okay. So before it was the acceptance of the grant.

[40:46] This is us actually putting it into the budget, correct?

[40:49] Yes.

[40:50] Okay.

[40:50] That's my understanding.

[40:51] I'll make a motion to authorize the special insertions.

[40:55] Second.

[40:56] Roll call, please.

[40:57] Mr. Albany? Yes. Mr. Haller? Yes. Mr. Moller? Aye. Mr. Panico?

[41:01] Yes.

[41:02] Mayor Hostetler?

[41:03] Aye. I'll just make a note on this one.

[41:05] This is for a parcel in the Chambers Brook watershed. This is a 31.5 acre piece.

[41:12] This is the third acquisition we've done in the Chambers Brook in the last eight

[41:16] years, a total of about 90 acres. First one was a donation, 35.5 acres on

[41:21] Ridge Road, which now has a trail on it.

[41:24] The second one was a 28.5 acre piece on Connington, which now

[41:30] has a trailhead on it. And this piece is a natural piece of land between Connington

[41:35] and Railroad Lane, and we will continue to preserve land in this watershed.

[41:41] Good thing about all three of these is they were all paid by county and Green

[41:46] Acres, with the exception of the one we're talking about, because for the first

[41:50] time, we're going into federal funds.

[41:52] Readington is now part of the Federal Highlands, which allows us to ask for federal

[41:58] money. So in some cases in future, we will ask for Green Acres money from the

[42:02] state. In some cases, we'll ask for federal money in the Highlands.

[42:06] The intent is always to have all of that paid by external sources, county, state,

[42:11] federal. So we don't use our taxes to purchase open space.

[42:16] We go in with a plan to preserve it with funds from those sources.

[42:20] So it's been very successful. And what I'd like to see in future is we connect some

[42:25] of these parcels with easements or connections, and then we do what we do with

[42:30] Readington Middle School. We have open space and trails near the school.

[42:34] Maybe someday we'll have something for White House School, and we can get kids into

[42:38] a natural area, something like that.

[42:41] So anyway, that's a little background on what we're talking about.

[42:44] Next, six, resolution authorizing acceptance of national opioid-

[42:51] Opioid

[42:51] ... opioids. Thank you. English is my second language. German is my first language.

[42:56] Sorry. Settlement funds. Any-

[42:59] So back when there was all the lawsuits around opioid

[43:04] addictions and abuse, there were some settlements that were made by large

[43:09] pharmaceutical companies, which required them basically to make payments to towns.

[43:14] So this is an annual thing that we see, where we accept some money from each one of

[43:20] the major pharmaceutical companies on the national opioid settlement.

[43:24] So what you're going to see here is item six is the acceptance of the settlement

[43:29] funds. Then items seven, eight, nine, ten are the insertion of those into the

[43:35] budget. So similar to what you just saw on the open space grant.

[43:38] Once we accept the funds, we have to make the modifications to the budget to be

[43:42] able to bring it into our books and then pay back out.

[43:45] So that's what these next several are going to be.

[43:47] It's going to seem kind of like a machine as we roll through them, but they're all

[43:50] related.

[43:51] Okay. Do I have a motion for number six?

[43:52] I'll make the motion to accept the funds.

[43:54] Do I have a second?

[43:56] Second.

[43:56] Roll call, please.

[43:56] Mr. Albany? Yes. Mr. Haller? Yes. Mr. Moller? Aye. Mr. Panico?

[44:00] Yes.

[44:00] Mayor Hostetler?

[44:01] Aye. Number seven, resolution authorizing insertion of a special item of revenue

[44:05] and appropriation to the budget for the New Jersey Attorney General's Office, and

[44:10] this is for settlement TEVA payment four in the amount of

[44:15] $3,250.23. Do I have a motion for this one?

[44:19] I'll make a motion.

[44:20] Second.

[44:21] Roll call, please.

[44:22] Mr. Albany? Yes. Mr. Haller? Yes. Mr. Moller? Aye. Mr. Panico?

[44:26] Yes.

[44:26] Mayor Hostetler?

[44:27] Aye. Number eight, resolution authorizing the insertion of a special item of

[44:31] revenue and appropriation into the budget for the New Jersey Attorney General's

[44:35] Office, CVS payment four in the amount of

[44:40] $5,924.70. Do I have a motion?

[44:44] So moved.

[44:45] Second.

[44:46] Roll call, please.

[44:47] Mr. Albany? Yes. Mr. Haller? Yes. Mr. Moller? Aye. Mr. Panico?

[44:51] Yes.

[44:51] Mayor Hostetler?

[44:52] Aye. Number nine, resolution authorizing insertion of special item of revenue

[44:57] appropriation to the budget for New Jersey Attorney General's office, and this is

[45:02] the Allergan payment number four in the amount of $3,351.57.

[45:08] So moved.

[45:09] Second.

[45:09] Roll call, please.

[45:10] Mr. Albany? Yes. Mr. Haller? Yes. Mr. Moller? Aye. Mr. Panico?

[45:14] Yes.

[45:15] Mayor Hostetler?

[45:16] Aye. Thank you. Number 10, resolution authorizing the insertion of a special item

[45:21] of revenue and appropriation into the budget for the New Jersey Attorney General's

[45:24] Office. This is Janssen payment number six in the amount of

[45:28] $1,643.57.

[45:33] So moved.

[45:34] Second.

[45:35] Roll call, please.

[45:35] Mr. Albany? Yes. Mr. Haller? Yes. Mr. Moller? Aye. Mr. Panico?

[45:39] Yes.

[45:40] Mayor Hostetler?

[45:41] Aye. Thank you.

[45:42] The total amount for those four, for those keeping track, were $14,170.07.

[45:48] Okay. Now we have a series of resolutions also similar into extending

[45:54] some

[45:56] revenue items, or not revenue items, but budget items. So I'll read it.

[46:01] Number 11, resolution amending Resolution

[46:04] R2026-127 to increase the not to exceed amount

[46:10] for SSP Architects

[46:14] Any discussion?

[46:15] Jim, just in general, for all of these, do we have the budget to increase these

[46:20] fees, these passes?

[46:22] I'll ask our CFO that same question, but specifically SSP, the increase was due to

[46:26] the federal grant, the US Department of the Grant.

[46:27] Right. How was the grant, but specifically the other ones?

[46:32] Yes. So as Administrator Curry said, SSP is funded by grants.

[46:37] The next one, do you want me to go through all of them, or wait?

[46:41] Sure, go through all of them.

[46:41] So the, oh, God, I have to say the whole thing.

[46:45] Savo, Shalck, Corsini, Warner, Gillespie, and Rudnick and Fisher.

[46:51] That comes from our legal line that we do have funds in that.

[46:55] Same thing for

[46:57] item 13. 14 is funded through several funding sources.

[47:02] So it's a combination of escrow and operating and things

[47:08] like that. And Clark, Keating, Hince is funded by operating budget and our

[47:12] affordable housing.

[47:15] So you're saying we have money.

[47:17] You're saying we have the money.

[47:18] Yes.

[47:18] You're recommending these motions.

[47:22] We don't have a choice.

[47:24] Okay. It is required.

[47:27] Okay. All right. Yeah, I'll just add this color.

[47:31] Basically, when we approve all these vendors, and I think this is the first year we

[47:34] did it, we hit a cap on our spending, because we're just trying to have a good,

[47:37] broad overview of how much we're spending.

[47:39] We don't hit the cap with these five, so we're just moving the cap up.

[47:42] It's just some internal controls just to make sure that we're aware of our

[47:46] spending.

[47:46] Yes.

[47:46] But that's all it is. So I'll make a motion to increase the NTE for SSP.

[47:52] Okay. Roll call, please.

[47:54] Mr. Abney?

[47:55] Yes.

[47:55] Mr. Heller?

[47:56] Yes.

[47:56] Mr. Moller?

[47:57] Aye.

[47:57] Mr. Panico?

[47:58] Yes.

[47:58] Mayor Hostetler?

[47:59] Aye. And number 12 resolution.

[48:01] I'll make a motion to exceed the NTE for Savo.

[48:04] Second.

[48:05] Okay. Roll call, please.

[48:06] Mr. Abney?

[48:07] Yes.

[48:07] Mr. Heller?

[48:08] Yes.

[48:08] Mr. Moller?

[48:09] Aye.

[48:09] Mr. Panico?

[48:10] Yes.

[48:10] Mayor Hostetler?

[48:11] Okay. 14?

[48:12] I'll make a motion to increase the NTE for Syria.

[48:16] Second.

[48:17] Roll call, please.

[48:18] Mr. Abney?

[48:19] Yes.

[48:19] Mr. Heller?

[48:20] Yes.

[48:20] Mr. Moller?

[48:21] Aye.

[48:21] Mr. Panico?

[48:22] Yes.

[48:22] Mayor Hostetler?

[48:23] Aye. Thank you. 14?

[48:25] I'll make the motion to increase the NTE for Van Cleef.

[48:28] Second.

[48:29] Roll call, please.

[48:30] Mr. Abney?

[48:31] Yes.

[48:31] Mr. Heller?

[48:32] Yes.

[48:32] Mr. Moller?

[48:33] Aye.

[48:33] Mr. Panico?

[48:34] Yes.

[48:34] Mayor Hostetler?

[48:35] Aye. 15 is, I'll make the motion to increase the NTE for

[48:41] CCH.

[48:42] Second.

[48:43] Roll call.

[48:43] Mr. Abney?

[48:44] Yes.

[48:45] Mr. Heller?

[48:45] Yes.

[48:46] Mr. Moller?

[48:46] Aye.

[48:47] Mr. Panico?

[48:47] Yes.

[48:48] Mayor Hostetler?

[48:48] Aye.

[48:50] Okay, number 16, unless you're going to speak to this, I'll read it first.

[48:54] A resolution authorizing and directing the Planning Board of the Township of

[48:58] Readington to undertake a preliminary investigation of Block 21.05,

[49:03] Lot 2. The study area, 200 Van Horn Road, pursuant to New Jersey Redevelopment and

[49:09] Housing Law. A classification as an area in need of redevelopment and directing the

[49:15] Planning Board to prepare a study investigating whether the study area qualifies as

[49:20] a condemnation area in need of redevelopment.

[49:24] I believe this is a technical, legal update on something we have previously

[49:30] discussed and approved. So let me-

[49:32] Yeah, that's it. Well, we have to come back to the Planning Board with their

[49:36] recommendation.

[49:38] What is the Planning Board going to be studying?

[49:41] So this is the

[49:43] Morilla Senior Center and expanding Morilla Senior Center from 60 units to 100

[49:49] units.

[49:50] And this is part of our affordable housing plan, correct?

[49:54] Correct.

[49:54] I don't think this hit the Planning Board yet, did it?

[49:56] No.

[49:56] Because this is directing the Planning Board to review it. Yeah.

[49:59] Then we'll come back up.

[50:01] And so to restate it, it is taking the existing Morilla senior residents

[50:07] and looking at doubling it to adding another 60 units onto it, correct?

[50:12] Correct. Down below Van Horn Road.

[50:16] We'll get more on that.

[50:17] Okay.

[50:18] Make a motion to approve the resolution.

[50:20] Second. Roll call, please.

[50:22] Mr. Abney?

[50:23] Yes.

[50:24] Mr. Heller?

[50:24] Yes.

[50:25] Mr. Moller?

[50:26] No.

[50:26] Mr. Panico?

[50:27] Yes.

[50:28] Mayor Hostetler?

[50:29] Aye. Thank you.

[50:33] And this will go to the Planning Board on the 14th or what's the timing?

[50:39] Do they-

[50:39] So what this is doing is directing the planner, locate Hince to conduct a study to

[50:45] bring to the Planning Board for feedback and eventual

[50:51] funding.

[50:52] Okay. So it'll be a future meeting at some point.

[50:54] I don't know if they-

[50:56] Okay. Thank you.

[50:59] Yes.

[50:59] Number 17, resolution designating the property identified as Block 4, Lot 18 on the

[51:05] tax map of the township of Readington as an area in need of redevelopment, not

[51:10] condemnation, pursuant to the New Jersey Local Redevelopment and Housing Law.

[51:17] Okay. Mr. Mayor,

[51:21] this property was purchased using open space trust fund money.

[51:24] How is this being included in our affordable housing plan?

[51:33] This is-

[51:35] The property was purchased with open space trust fund.

[51:38] By state law, it has to be held in trust.

[51:41] This is the property on Route 22 West.

[51:45] This property was purchased with open space trust funds.

[51:48] Counselor, I believe you had an opportunity to review that ordinance.

[51:52] Would you concur?

[51:53] You, yes.

[51:54] Well, the thing I'll tell you is that's not true.

[51:58] It was purchased by the direction of the administrator, and it was not-

[52:04] This was purchased, the ordinance 29 out of 2021.

[52:08] Adam, can I speak?

[52:09] Go ahead.

[52:10] It was originally pulled from open space trust, and I believe within six months, I

[52:16] don't know the period of time. We need to check, but it was repaid so that

[52:22] it was not an open space parcel. It was not using open space money other than

[52:28] maybe for the original purchase. I'm pretty sure of that. That was Richard.

[52:32] This was carried in our 2021 financial statements as such.

[52:39] So I do not believe we should be proceeding ahead with this-

[52:44] Okay

[52:44] ... resolution with these open items.

[52:47] This was clearly purchased with open space money.

[52:51] Alicia, can you, I don't know if you can do it right now, can you verify the source

[52:56] of the funding?

[52:58] I have everything here. Alicia, if you'd like to take a look.

[53:03] Yeah. No, the money was paid back to the open space trust.

[53:09] That's what we need to verify. Not the original- That's what they were doing right

[53:12] by, too. Not the original,

[53:15] maybe, resolution.

[53:19] Because this isn't carried on the roster, it's not part of the open space.

[53:23] It never has been.

[53:24] If it was purchased with open space funds, it cannot be included in affordable

[53:28] housing. It can't. It legally cannot.

[53:31] Even if you're telling me that a year later we switched funds, there's a process

[53:35] for doing that. There's a diversion protocol that we have to follow to do that.

[53:42] So either we did it wrong or we didn't do it.

[53:45] But either way, the property was purchased with open space money.

[53:49] We can't do what we're doing.

[53:50] Tell you what, Adam, we will ask the CFO to research and advise on that.

[53:56] I make a motion to table this ordinance or this resolution.

[54:00] Second.

[54:03] She's not going to get the answer in the next two weeks.

[54:06] We don't want her to get both the answers that way.

[54:10] No.

[54:11] Let's take proper time, do it appropriately.

[54:14] So I'll second the-

[54:16] Yeah, I second it. So when there's a motion and a second, there's usually a

[54:20] discussion. I will say, I gave feedback on this specific piece of property.

[54:27] I had said that my want with this was to look at using

[54:33] some of the resources that we had talked in the past around making this veterans

[54:36] housing. When our previous administrator was here, we went pretty far down this

[54:40] road. We had vendors and funding sources lined up.

[54:44] We had a lot of conversation around it.

[54:47] In our second meeting in August, I made it very clear that I would use the land to

[54:52] see the exploration into that, have a look at it.

[54:58] Not that I'm aware of.

[54:59] Okay.

[55:00] But your message was passed along to see if it was a viable

[55:05] opportunity.

[55:07] Yeah, I mean, my message was passed along because I called Laura Schroeder-

[55:10] I sent her

[55:10] ... and put her in touch with the person.

[55:12] We sat in Jim's office. We sent me the information, and I immediately passed it

[55:16] along to this affordable housing subcommittee before the session.

[55:19] Okay.

[55:20] Yeah.

[55:20] We'll discuss this after.

[55:23] Okay.

[55:23] Can I do a roll call on that?

[55:26] There's a motion and a second.

[55:28] Mr. Abney?

[55:29] Yes.

[55:30] Mr. Heller?

[55:31] Yes.

[55:31] Mr. Moller?

[55:32] Aye.

[55:32] Mr. Panico?

[55:33] Yes.

[55:33] Mayor Hostetler?

[55:34] Aye.

[55:36] Okay, let me move on. Number 18, resolution authorizing the execution of a

[55:42] memorandum of understanding with FBC Trading.

[55:47] This is referred to as the Kitchen property, number 22. Is that correct?

[55:53] Correct.

[55:54] Okay.

[55:54] So, it's another part of our affordable housing plans to allow for 48

[56:01] units, all senior designation,

[56:06] 55 plus.

[56:08] That's not what the MOU says. The MOU says 48 apartments, 12

[56:13] units would be affordable, 36 would be market rate.

[56:17] The intention,

[56:21] and it's stated. I mean, I'd say it was-

[56:23] Can you talk about sort of the framework of these MOUs?

[56:26] What does it mean when at this point we're signing an MOU with a developer?

[56:30] If you could educate folks on that, John, that'd probably be pretty helpful.

[56:33] Well, on that front, so I defer to Chris on explaining the meaning exactly.

[56:38] Begins the process, moving down the path towards eventually having a partnering

[56:43] with these individuals, groups, and one of them is having a new development.

[56:46] So we're working with another town through the process.

[56:49] So what are the terms for what comes next?

[56:52] How did we pick these developers, right?

[56:54] This is the first time I'm seeing FBC Trading LLC, and I'm really interested in

[57:01] how this came about, what the process was to us getting to the selection of these

[57:06] developers.

[57:07] So the property owner came forward and identified themselves as interested in

[57:11] participating in the process.

[57:14] We met with them. At one time, Pat and I met with them, and then they come

[57:20] in front of the Affordable, from the folks from the Kitchen.

[57:23] We were on the video, and I was in town with them.

[57:28] And we had a conversation. What do you think?

[57:32] For these folks, it was a lot of understanding the process.

[57:37] What does it all mean? How does it work? Et cetera.

[57:40] And then they come into the Affordable Housing Subcommittee, and there's another

[57:45] conversation that goes on, and it winds up putting all of those conversations

[57:50] together in an MOU.

[57:53] So this is a developer that the property owner has chosen, and we've bought the

[57:58] property.

[57:59] Yeah, I don't know if they created an LLC for this purpose.

[58:02] I don't know what FBC stands for.

[58:03] Okay. Anyway, this is brought forward by the property owner.

[58:06] This isn't one that the township went out and selected, is what I'm saying.

[58:09] No.

[58:10] Okay.

[58:10] No, if you're asking is this a designated developer-

[58:14] Mm-hmm.

[58:15] No.

[58:16] Okay.

[58:16] Will our township professionals have any expenses associated with this?

[58:23] Of course.

[58:25] Will they be refunded, though? Wouldn't they be refunded for escrow?

[58:29] You can ask for money.

[58:30] Yeah.

[58:30] You can. It's very common.

[58:32] Yeah. So if there's expenses, they can be escrowed, or paid for escrow with the-

[58:37] We can set up escrow for it

[58:38] ... with the offset.

[58:40] Yeah. Actually a conditional approval.

[58:42] Okay. Do I have a motion?

[58:45] I'll make the motion to approve, with the escrow

[58:50] language added.

[58:53] And I defer to the attorney on what that is with the-

[58:56] You'd have to talk to Mike Edwards.

[58:57] Yeah.

[58:58] The key we have.

[58:59] Yeah. I defer to Mike Edwards on the recommended amount of language.

[59:02] But I'll make the motion with the escrow language added.

[59:06] Okay. Do I have a second?

[59:08] Second.

[59:10] Okay. Roll call.

[59:12] Mr. Abney?

[59:13] Yes.

[59:14] Mr. Haller?

[59:14] Yes.

[59:15] Mr. Muller?

[59:16] No.

[59:16] Mr. Panico?

[59:17] Yes.

[59:18] Mayor Hostetler.

[59:19] Aye. Thank you. Number 19, resolution authorizing the execution of a memorandum of

[59:24] understanding between the township of Readington and Weeds Work Properties Urban

[59:29] Renewal LLC.

[59:35] In this case, we're talking about the Main Street property, is that correct?

[59:38] This is the Main Street property, and it's a property that the township owns that's

[59:45] out on the border of Ranch Burr, can't see it from the road.

[59:48] It's where the new Kingdom Hall is built. There's an existing structure there.

[59:54] It's a house that used to be occupied in the most part, used

[1:00:00] for affordable housing. It's been vacant for a while, so developer is interested.

[1:00:05] This is a small-scale developer, doing 20 units.

[1:00:08] And then they're also interested in building two houses, three

[1:00:13] homes on that property that's out on the border of Ranch Burr, and that gets

[1:00:19] us eight credits towards our obligation.

[1:00:23] Okay, so this is near County Line Road on the north side of 22. Is that correct?

[1:00:27] Correct. It's on the west-bound side.

[1:00:30] So this MOU is saying the township would be responsible for,

[1:00:37] what is this, $2 million? $2

[1:00:41] million, or that, I might be reading this wrong because it's mentioning two

[1:00:45] properties. No, it's a million, $1,020,000 out of our affordable housing

[1:00:50] trust fund. Do we have $1,020,000 in our trust fund, CBO? We do not.

[1:00:57] So where's that money going to come from?

[1:01:01] Our pockets, people. Our pockets.

[1:01:03] We're going to bond, and you're going to get taxed on it. That's how this works.

[1:01:08] Mm-hmm.

[1:01:10] That this is what we're talking about here that no one up here wants to talk about.

[1:01:13] I don't want to live that long anymore.

[1:01:15] And this agreement also specifically talks about a pilot agreement,

[1:01:21] a payment in lieu of taxes. So the township gets a one-time infusion of cash, and

[1:01:25] then-

[1:01:27] One time per year

[1:01:28] ... one time per year, well below market rate.

[1:01:31] So-

[1:01:31] Mr. Abney, can you please speak into the microphone?

[1:01:35] And none of that money goes to the schools, which is about 70% of your tax bill.

[1:01:39] So keep that in mind, too. So your school taxes are going up, too.

[1:01:45] Highly unlikely that group homes generate students.

[1:01:49] We can't hear.

[1:01:49] Just speak up, John.

[1:01:51] Sorry. It's highly unlikely that group homes are going to generate students.

[1:01:57] Also, in pilot agreements, the municipality can

[1:02:03] dedicate some of the pilot money to schools if they choose to do so.

[1:02:06] Have we ever done that?

[1:02:08] Doesn't mean that we can't.

[1:02:09] We've never done it. Ever.

[1:02:15] Okay.

[1:02:16] It's important you folks attend these meetings. Hear what's going on.

[1:02:21] Okay. Do I have a-

[1:02:22] Oh, I got one more question on this, actually.

[1:02:25] We had an executive session about a month ago where we specifically talked about

[1:02:31] bonding.

[1:02:34] You need four votes to bond, just to be clear.

[1:02:39] There was not the appetite for four votes for bonding.

[1:02:41] So again, how are we proceeding with any of these projects if you don't have the

[1:02:47] votes to bond?

[1:02:49] So we're basically wasting our professionals' time, your money, having them spin

[1:02:55] their wheels, our lawyers, planners, all these people spinning their wheels

[1:03:00] for projects that you don't have the votes to bond for this.

[1:03:05] That's why we also just increased all of our consultants' fees, guys.

[1:03:15] Okay. Do I have a motion?

[1:03:17] So moved.

[1:03:17] Do I have a second?

[1:03:19] Second.

[1:03:20] Roll call, please.

[1:03:21] Mr. Abney?

[1:03:22] Yes.

[1:03:23] Mr. Haller?

[1:03:24] Yes.

[1:03:25] Mr. Muller?

[1:03:25] No.

[1:03:26] Mr. Panico?

[1:03:27] No.

[1:03:28] Mayor Hostetler.

[1:03:29] Aye.

[1:03:31] Okay. Next is 20, resolution appointing Larry Thode to the Board of Health.

[1:03:36] Fine.

[1:03:39] No resume.

[1:03:42] Jonathan?

[1:03:43] It's a gentleman who showed up at one of the Board of Health meetings, and he's

[1:03:48] recently retired, and he offered his services. He's an engineer.

[1:03:52] He offered his services to come on the Board of Health. There was a vacancy.

[1:03:55] The committee chair interviewed him, as did the rest of the board, and they made a

[1:04:00] recommendation that he be added to the Board of Health.

[1:04:02] Is that a full-time member? Is that a-

[1:04:04] Full-time

[1:04:05] ... full-time? Okay.

[1:04:06] Any questions?

[1:04:09] Is this following the process for appointments and vacancies, Council?

[1:04:14] He submitted an application saying he was interested in joining that board, yes.

[1:04:18] Yeah. Okay.

[1:04:20] I don't know if I... Was that in the packet?

[1:04:26] No.

[1:04:28] It wasn't anything. It was just an application that just had his name and

[1:04:33] information on it. So like-

[1:04:34] A citizen volunteer form? It was or was not the citizen volunteer form?

[1:04:39] It was.

[1:04:40] It was.

[1:04:40] It was?

[1:04:41] Yeah.

[1:04:42] All right. Good. I'll make a motion to appoint Mr. Dowd to the board.

[1:04:47] There you go. Second.

[1:04:48] Second.

[1:04:49] Roll call, please.

[1:04:50] Mr. Alby?

[1:04:51] Yes.

[1:04:51] Mr. Heller?

[1:04:52] Yes.

[1:04:53] Mr. Muller?

[1:04:54] Aye.

[1:04:54] Mr. Panico?

[1:04:55] Yes.

[1:04:55] Mayor Hoffa?

[1:04:56] Aye. Last is number 21, resolution adopting an amended Remington Township

[1:05:02] social media policy. Jim, we've done something similar, but this is an update.

[1:05:07] Could you just highlight what you have?

[1:05:10] Yeah. Since the last update, the police department wanted to migrate because they

[1:05:16] have the ability to administer their own Facebook page and accept comments.

[1:05:21] We removed the Office of Emergency Management site, which hasn't been used for some

[1:05:25] time, limited those who can post to

[1:05:30] employees and committee-appointed volunteers.

[1:05:35] Those are the largest changes to the policy.

[1:05:39] Okay.

[1:05:39] There might've been some other typos, but other than that, there's nothing

[1:05:44] substantial.

[1:05:45] So Jim, in the resolution, it talks about the new webmaster.

[1:05:50] Have you determined who the new webmaster will be?

[1:05:53] We know who that person is. They assist with our site, the website.

[1:05:58] And it also talks about the township administrator's designated appointee.

[1:06:02] Who is that person to be?

[1:06:05] Are you talking for the local township site?

[1:06:07] Right.

[1:06:08] That's one of our employees, Amanda Jessamine.

[1:06:12] Okay.

[1:06:12] She's the administrator.

[1:06:14] And is there also a backup or a second person, or...?

[1:06:19] Each site has...

[1:06:22] I'm trying to think off the top of my head. Right now there is no backup.

[1:06:27] Okay. One of the other concerns is there doesn't seem to be a process as to

[1:06:32] how approval gets made for content.

[1:06:36] Who's actually going to be approving it and placing it on

[1:06:40] the sites?

[1:06:42] So Amanda does that. That's part of her job.

[1:06:46] Her sole discretion?

[1:06:48] She does most of the posting, so everything passes across her desk.

[1:06:52] If she has any questions, she can ask me. I'm the final authority.

[1:06:57] But you're not reviewing everything that goes on the site.

[1:06:58] I don't review every single post, no.

[1:07:05] There's a workflow that's working well today.

[1:07:10] Mm-hmm.

[1:07:10] I don't want to sit here and beat something up if we've got a process that works

[1:07:16] well. I think what this is doing is this is undoing some of the issues that we

[1:07:20] created when we established this policy.

[1:07:23] One of those issues being the police had a lot of information and outreach via

[1:07:28] comments and messages, and those were then disabled.

[1:07:31] So I don't want to over-engineer something when it's a...

[1:07:36] I don't want to create a problem just to find a solution for it.

[1:07:41] Jack?

[1:07:42] My questions and concerns are regarding the previous policy where there was a lot

[1:07:45] of data that was not processed and not placed on those sites when it's

[1:07:51] requested by either a volunteer board or a fellow

[1:07:57] municipal employee, and it was vetted by others and not put on the site.

[1:08:01] That's where my concern is.

[1:08:03] Okay.

[1:08:03] Who's actually making these decisions, and what information is being removed and

[1:08:07] prevented from being placed on there?

[1:08:09] I'm not familiar with anything that was requested to be posted and was not posted.

[1:08:15] I heard from several people it did happen, so.

[1:08:19] Okay.

[1:08:19] Those are my concerns.

[1:08:22] Well, I would think anything, Amanda, if she's the prime on this, finds

[1:08:26] controversial or something, she should, I think she does, go to you or would go to

[1:08:30] you for oversight, right?

[1:08:32] That's correct.

[1:08:32] Yeah, which is appropriate. All right, do I have a motion?

[1:08:37] Well, I got one thing, Mayor.

[1:08:38] Sure.

[1:08:38] I'm going to also just vote against this because of the comment policy alone.

[1:08:43] We do not allow comments on our township page. I fundamentally disagree with that.

[1:08:48] It's a place for our residents to reach out to us, ask questions, and get answers.

[1:08:53] By disabling it, you're not being transparent.

[1:08:57] I do not agree with that one bit. And Jim, in Amanda's

[1:09:02] absence, there should be backup. There should be.

[1:09:09] Okay.

[1:09:09] There'll be backup.

[1:09:10] So those backups are the OEM coordinator.

[1:09:14] Yeah.

[1:09:14] But typically, those messages he's going to post are going to be on road closings-

[1:09:19] Yeah

[1:09:20] ... storm issues, things of those, that nature.

[1:09:22] No, if Amanda's on vacation-

[1:09:23] And the webmaster can also do the posting, but that's going to be strictly Monday

[1:09:28] through Friday business hours.

[1:09:29] Yeah. If Amanda's on vacation for a week, there should be somebody to fill in

[1:09:34] because, for example, last week, there were a lot of things that were not posted

[1:09:37] that probably should've been posted.

[1:09:39] Lane closures, striping, the bridge on Barley Sheep that's going to be down for two

[1:09:43] weeks. There's a couple of big things that were not posted that should've been

[1:09:47] posted. I'm not blaming Amanda. She was on vacation.

[1:09:50] But there should be a backup to ensure timely flow of communication.

[1:09:55] Agreed.

[1:09:56] Thank you.

[1:09:56] All right. I think we'll work on that. All right. Do we have a motion to proceed?

[1:10:02] So moved.

[1:10:03] Do I have a second?

[1:10:04] Second.

[1:10:05] Okay. Roll call, please.

[1:10:07] Mr. Alby?

[1:10:08] Yes.

[1:10:08] Mr. Heller?

[1:10:09] No.

[1:10:11] Mr. Muller?

[1:10:12] No.

[1:10:13] Mr. Panico?

[1:10:17] No.

[1:10:19] Mayor Hoffa?

[1:10:20] Aye.

[1:10:21] Okay, that doesn't pass.

[1:10:23] Okay. All right. We're going on. Next item is

[1:10:29] new business, and we've got two items. We have two special events.

[1:10:34] Special event application for approval, Anytime Fitness grand opening, which is

[1:10:38] Saturday, September 26th, 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM.

[1:10:43] Rain day to Saturday, October 3rd.

[1:10:48] Did that get moved?

[1:10:51] That was supposed to be the 19th, I thought. But the 26th is better for me now.

[1:10:57] I'll make a motion to approve the special event application.

[1:11:00] Second.

[1:11:02] Okay, roll call, please.

[1:11:03] Mr. Alby?

[1:11:04] Yes.

[1:11:04] Mr. Heller?

[1:11:05] Yes.

[1:11:05] Mr. Muller?

[1:11:06] Aye.

[1:11:06] Mr. Panico?

[1:11:07] Yes.

[1:11:07] Mayor Hoffa?

[1:11:08] Aye. Okay, number two, special event application for approval, Ready, Set, Go

[1:11:14] Adventures Jersey Gravel Grinder Bike Race, Sunday, September 27th,

[1:11:20] 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM, and no rain date.

[1:11:23] Okay. I'll make a motion to approve the special event application.

[1:11:26] Second.

[1:11:27] Okay, roll call, please.

[1:11:28] Mr. Alby?

[1:11:29] Yes.

[1:11:30] Mr. Heller?

[1:11:30] Yes.

[1:11:31] Mr. Muller?

[1:11:32] Aye.

[1:11:32] Mr. Panico?

[1:11:32] Yes.

[1:11:33] Mayor Hoffa?

[1:11:34] Aye.

[1:11:36] Okay. That takes us through our general agenda. Now we go into reports.

[1:11:40] First is administrator's report. Jim?

[1:11:45] As Committee Man Muller mentioned, the county bridge that's located on Barley Sheep

[1:11:50] Road, intersection on Pleasant Run, is going to be closed for the next two

[1:11:55] weeks, from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM. It's closed to all traffic, and that's to

[1:12:01] repair steel corrugated decking, guardrail, and the wing wall due to damage from

[1:12:06] motor vehicle crashes. That's all I have, Mayor.

[1:12:10] And that bridge is supposed to be replaced and widened at some time in the near

[1:12:14] future, and then it's going to be down for a lot longer than two weeks.

[1:12:17] It is.

[1:12:17] They were talking about a year of being down.

[1:12:20] That's going to be a major inconvenience.

[1:12:23] Obviously, as the county's doing that, obviously, as we get more information, that

[1:12:26] will be publicized, but just know that that's happening.

[1:12:31] Yeah. All I know is 2027. We'll try to find out more as we can with county.

[1:12:39] Okay. Chris, attorney's report?

[1:12:41] No report from me, Mayor.

[1:12:43] Okay. We do committee reports. First is John Alby's Library Services, Municipal

[1:12:48] Court, Social Services, and Support Housing.

[1:12:50] Nothing from me.

[1:12:52] Okay.

[1:12:54] John Heller, Board of Health, Reading and Lebanon Sewer Authority, Environmental

[1:12:58] Commission, Historic Preservation, Museums.

[1:13:01] Just an update on the Reading and Lebanon Sewer.

[1:13:03] They've had a couple of failures over at the plant.

[1:13:06] The rotor has been inactive since June.

[1:13:10] We've had some issues with our ammonia content.

[1:13:13] That's under control, working with the DEP on that, and it's going to be repaired

[1:13:16] within the next few weeks. And then we recently had a pump failure that we are also

[1:13:21] working around getting that repaired as well.

[1:13:23] But it was indicative of the fact that some of this equipment is very old and needs

[1:13:26] to be updated and upgraded, and that's why some of the increased fees associated

[1:13:30] with our sewer were put in place so that we could be better prepared to handle

[1:13:33] these situations moving forward.

[1:13:37] Okay. For me, Jordan Hulsbosch, Ag Committee.

[1:13:41] I think we have our next meeting on the 16th of this month.

[1:13:45] Open Space Board, we've been doing a number of walks, and we continue to do that

[1:13:49] through the rest of the year.

[1:13:52] I think September 18th, we are at the Dale Haber Greenway by Old 28.

[1:13:58] October, we're going to be at Lochmeir, which is near Redington Middle School.

[1:14:02] November is going to be Rocky Road by Indian Purchase, and December's going to be

[1:14:07] Round Mountain in Stanton. So every month, we have volunteers from our Open Space

[1:14:10] Board. They go out and lead public walks.

[1:14:13] We also had a Girl Scout Troop 8440.

[1:14:18] They did a special walk on Sonds, which is Rockville Mills, and that was to

[1:14:22] culminate from a bridge-building project they did as a group.

[1:14:27] So they did a great job. I heard a lot of feedback on how good the bridges were,

[1:14:32] and I think that was a few weeks ago they ran their walk.

[1:14:38] Parks, we're probably going to look at additional work in October when the weather

[1:14:42] turns, if we can do some additional planting on our parks, our trailheads.

[1:14:47] So I'll be talking to Ron Christie probably in two weeks to find out what's in

[1:14:52] store for the fourth quarter.

[1:14:55] I think I mentioned earlier, we're going to be looking at federal funding.

[1:15:00] I'm working on a tranche of money for Federal Highlands in the next week.

[1:15:04] We need to put an application in by next Wednesday, so that way we can allocate

[1:15:09] money for future projects. So that's in the works.

[1:15:14] I've been working with Fish and Wildlife.

[1:15:16] They are putting up cameras

[1:15:19] at various wildlife locations in town.

[1:15:22] So we have current and future wildlife corridors, and we want to track what's

[1:15:27] there. We've had, I think, indications of bobcats on Lazy Brook.

[1:15:33] We've had bobcats up north, and it's not just things like bobcats or bears, but

[1:15:38] it's looking at everything from wood turtles and endangered species.

[1:15:42] So we're going to try to track more of that throughout Redington.

[1:15:45] So that's it for me. Next, Adam Muller, engineering, roads, building and grounds,

[1:15:51] recycling, construction, code enforcement, emergency services, fire official,

[1:15:55] engineer's report.

[1:15:58] DBW, well, we haven't met in about a month because the way our meeting schedule

[1:16:02] worked, and we've had some pretty wild weather over the last month.

[1:16:05] DBW has been doing a great job keeping the roads clear, all the branches down,

[1:16:10] putting up flood gates when needed. So they've done a great job.

[1:16:14] If you see them out and about, please give them wide berth.

[1:16:17] They're also still cutting the grass on the side of the road, so please slow down

[1:16:20] and just be careful.

[1:16:25] White House Fire has a new Facebook page.

[1:16:28] Their old one was hijacked, if any of you followed it.

[1:16:33] But they got a new Facebook page, and they're back, and they post some pretty good

[1:16:37] content on calls and stuff that they go on. So pay attention to that.

[1:16:41] They also took delivery of their new truck.

[1:16:45] I think it's getting

[1:16:47] final-- They brought it back, but now they're getting some final bells and whistles

[1:16:52] put on it, and they're going to be having some kind of little ceremony when they

[1:16:56] get that new engine in.

[1:16:58] So that is great. And last thing on my agenda is hunting starts this

[1:17:04] Saturday, September 12th,

[1:17:08] for fall bow. So pay attention. A lot of our properties are hunted.

[1:17:13] I imagine our social media page and website will be updated with all that

[1:17:18] information. So pay attention. All of our open space properties are still 100%

[1:17:24] available, open. Just wear bright colors and walk around.

[1:17:28] You should not even see a hunter.

[1:17:31] If you see them, they're doing their job.

[1:17:33] So just know that hunting starts this Saturday, and it runs until

[1:17:39] mid-February.

[1:17:40] And the timing during the week for Sundays, there is-

[1:17:43] There's no hunting on Sundays on municipally owned property.

[1:17:47] Okay.

[1:17:49] So, yeah.

[1:17:50] Thank you. Vincent Panico, planning board, zoning, police, traffic safety, finance.

[1:17:57] I think you guys heard a lot about finance tonight, so that we're moving forward,

[1:18:01] kind of unpacking funding sources for the rest of the year.

[1:18:06] We're beginning to look at next year's budget and how that's going to start coming

[1:18:10] together with some of the appropriations that we've basically committed to and what

[1:18:14] appropriation capture will look like. So hopefully, that process gets started soon.

[1:18:20] Planning and zoning have looked at the Block 418 property, but that's all

[1:18:25] been in your packets. On the police side, a couple of things.

[1:18:30] One, the new cars are in. Three of the new cars are in.

[1:18:34] So we have three Tahoes that are sent out for upfit.

[1:18:38] So if you've seen the one Tahoe out on the road, we have three more that are going

[1:18:42] to be similar to that. Likely we'll have a light bar on top.

[1:18:45] That's just a money-saving method right there.

[1:18:49] But they're coming in, and we're waiting on delivery of the Durangos as well

[1:18:54] because we should have some of those on the way.

[1:18:57] As a reminder, school is back in session, so make sure you are abiding by

[1:19:03] the school bus laws. You wouldn't believe how often we get people who run school

[1:19:09] buses. Last year was over 100. There's 180 days in a school year.

[1:19:13] We had over 100 people run

[1:19:16] the school buses. Our school buses are equipped with cameras.

[1:19:19] So just because you don't get stopped in the moment doesn't mean a ticket doesn't

[1:19:23] come in the mail. I will tell you, they take it very seriously.

[1:19:28] Not only do our police department take it seriously, our judge takes it seriously,

[1:19:33] and this entire government body takes it very seriously because it is the safety of

[1:19:36] our students. So if you see a school bus that is orange, don't try to beat it to

[1:19:42] red. It is not like a traffic light. So be mindful of those.

[1:19:47] If you're interested, the police department did post their annual, sorry, their

[1:19:51] monthly statistics that we saw a summer softness.

[1:19:55] So when we look at the kind of calls for duty, when we look at the traffic stops,

[1:20:01] those have been trending in a great direction, especially now that we have a

[1:20:06] traffic enforcement team that's dedicated to the hours when traffic is happening

[1:20:10] most frequently. But like I said, it was August. There was some softness.

[1:20:14] People are on vacation. People are sort of slowing down, taking it easy.

[1:20:18] So we'll see as the trends return here in September.

[1:20:21] Okay, thank you. Next item on the agenda is comments from the public.

[1:20:27] Yes, sir.

[1:20:30] Daniel Dorff,

[1:20:33] 1206 Mountain Road,

[1:20:36] Lebanon, which is right down the road, White House-

[1:20:40] We don't need the address.

[1:20:42] Okay, whatever. Either way, I just-

[1:20:46] It's all good. It may be complicated for us because what we have to do is if

[1:20:48] there's certain people that we can't have their address out there.

[1:20:51] Hey, I'm going to make it real simple.

[1:20:53] I just want to say I'm the commander of White House American Legion.

[1:20:58] Our American Legion baseball team won the states, won the regionals.

[1:21:04] We went to the World Series, and I want to thank-

[1:21:13] I want to thank the support that Adam Muller and

[1:21:19] our candidates,

[1:21:23] Eric and Trevor, showed in the state tournament,

[1:21:29] and it's pretty sad that there was no other

[1:21:36] people recognition from the township committee.

[1:21:42] Thank you so much. Have a great night.

[1:21:44] I'll speak to that real quick. There'll be a resolution on the

[1:21:50] agenda.

[1:21:52] Resolution? Confirmation.

[1:21:53] Confirmation, okay. On the agenda to be worked out at the next

[1:21:59] meeting.

[1:22:02] I was away in August when this all happened. I watched all the games.

[1:22:06] My son has a very good friend on the team.

[1:22:09] I know other kids on the team as well, and my son plays for the Flemington American

[1:22:14] Legion team. So certainly rooting for them.

[1:22:18] Paid for the ESPN+ package to watch the games, all that business.

[1:22:22] When I came back, I talked to

[1:22:25] Jim, and he asked me to put together some language that we can include in the

[1:22:30] resolution. Sent that over. There's going to be a presentational, I guess,

[1:22:35] PowerPoint type thing out on the TV there.

[1:22:38] I sent some photos over today for that as well.

[1:22:41] So unfortunately, you didn't hear that, but

[1:22:45] that'll be the next-

[1:22:48] The other thing of that, too, which is pretty interesting, is the starting pitcher

[1:22:52] in the final game was actually from Redington.

[1:22:53] So just because it was the White House American Legion, there were folks from kind

[1:22:57] of the greater White House area. It wasn't like literally limited or confined to

[1:23:00] this town. But the starting pitcher in the final game was from Redington.

[1:23:04] So great work for those kids.

[1:23:06] Thank you.

[1:23:08] Bob Schoenfeld.

[1:23:10] I have a couple of things. This 101 Main Street

[1:23:16] proposal,

[1:23:18] as far as I'm concerned, is not in keeping with rural

[1:23:24] White House Station or White House, as it may be, and that goes

[1:23:30] back as far as my involvement

[1:23:36] in, it was probably 2005,

[1:23:42] when the local rescue squad had acquired the

[1:23:48] funding for a new building since they had outgrown what

[1:23:53] existed, and had still outgrown. But they had

[1:23:59] acquired funding,

[1:24:02] so that it would not cost the township or the residents anything

[1:24:08] to put up a new building. They were refused by the township

[1:24:14] for the reason that the new building was not in

[1:24:19] keeping with the appearance of White House

[1:24:25] Station.

[1:24:27] What is affordable housing going to look like?

[1:24:32] Beautiful.

[1:24:34] Have things changed that much in 20 years?

[1:24:40] And if you look at the fire department, that building

[1:24:46] was new,

[1:24:49] and that was not unsimilar to what the rescue squad

[1:24:55] was proposing. Is that in keeping with White House

[1:25:00] Station historically? No, not in my opinion.

[1:25:06] Or the post office.

[1:25:09] That's what the township committee at that time said

[1:25:15] fit or did not. So what is

[1:25:22] however many unit on the corner, which is where we were also

[1:25:28] at that time looking to relocate the rescue squad.

[1:25:35] But regardless of all that, the bottom line is,

[1:25:41] what is White House Station going to look like with affordable housing

[1:25:48] on Route 22 and Main Street?

[1:25:53] Never mind what it does to the neighbors, the cemetery, the traffic

[1:25:59] flow.

[1:26:01] That's what I meant. I do request in

[1:26:07] the agendas as has been

[1:26:13] done at some point, that addresses be associated with the

[1:26:19] block and lot numbers.

[1:26:22] Half of them on tonight exist there, half don't.

[1:26:32] It's just very difficult to look up the block and lot numbers.

[1:26:37] Okay.

[1:26:39] And

[1:26:44] as far as the

[1:26:49] development

[1:26:52] goes on the corner,

[1:26:56] then if the township has no design to see

[1:27:01] affordable housing in that particular location,

[1:27:07] why don't they then change the zoning back to what it was?

[1:27:21] Can I get a response to that?

[1:27:25] No.

[1:27:25] Just comment.

[1:27:27] Okay.

[1:27:28] Is it possible to do the address? Is that something we can incorporate into future?

[1:27:33] Okay, that's a very good point. We will look to do that, so we have addresses for

[1:27:38] what block, so you can find things easier.

[1:27:41] Appreciated. I've been trying to do that for several years.

[1:27:45] Okay.

[1:27:46] And last

[1:27:48] that I have is regarding the sewers and the increase in the

[1:27:54] bill. Please bear with me because I was not able to

[1:28:00] attend the other meetings. At this point, I ran some figures,

[1:28:06] and my understanding was that last year's sewer deficit was

[1:28:11] $62,000. Well, as near as I can

[1:28:17] tell, we have roughly 6,500 homes

[1:28:23] in Reddington Township. So that $62,000

[1:28:30] comes out to $9.54 per home.

[1:28:36] So the adjustment was roughly, and I know it

[1:28:41] varied, but roughly $220 per household,

[1:28:47] which then said

[1:28:52] it would've been...

[1:28:56] I'm sorry.

[1:28:59] That brings it to

[1:29:02] $1,000,368

[1:29:08] additional being collected,

[1:29:12] minus the $62,000 deficit leaves $1.3

[1:29:17] million.

[1:29:20] Where is that going? Okay, if it's not going to build sewer

[1:29:26] or

[1:29:28] whatever utilities necessary for this affordable housing,

[1:29:34] where is that $1.3 million going?

[1:29:38] Okay.

[1:29:40] I can't answer that, though Vincent did a good job.

[1:29:43] But we have other folks that are more involved in the sewer, so maybe we get a

[1:29:48] comment. But thank you.

[1:29:53] Adam or Jonathan, any comment on

[1:29:57] the increase or something?

[1:29:59] The deficit was much larger than $62,000, and the additional cost is partly

[1:30:05] in anticipation of the additional cost due to our 50-year-old system that is now

[1:30:09] showing wear, and two of the failures we've already had are planned or direct

[1:30:14] result of that, and that's why we're trying to do that.

[1:30:16] But the $62,000 is not the accurate number for the shortage last year.

[1:30:20] And I don't want to get into this whole, we'll respond to some things but not

[1:30:24] others.

[1:30:26] The

[1:30:29] multiplier is incorrect as well because it's not all 6,500 properties

[1:30:35] across Reddington. It's only the ones in the sewer service area that are paying

[1:30:40] based on the sewer credits. So the revenues are significantly less than the numbers

[1:30:44] we have in there.

[1:30:45] Good, thank you.

[1:30:47] I would just like to comment-

[1:30:48] Can I get your name, please?

[1:30:49] Oh, I'm sorry. You going to get all p****d with me if I guess my name?

[1:30:53] No, we can try it. I don't know.

[1:30:55] Betty Anne Fort.

[1:30:57] Thanks, Betty Anne.

[1:30:58] I'm

[1:31:00] troubled by the irony of the gateway to Reddington

[1:31:06] concept because some of the people who are screaming loudest

[1:31:12] about gateway to Reddington were the same people who rezoned the gateway to

[1:31:17] Reddington for fast food restaurants, among other things, after a group of us had

[1:31:23] done a very careful zoning of what would and wouldn't work there.

[1:31:28] And a fast food restaurant was never mentioned on that corner.

[1:31:31] But

[1:31:33] nobody's talking about the other gateway to Reddington, which is on 202.

[1:31:39] And you come up 202 through farmland and widely spread businesses,

[1:31:45] and you come to beautiful farmland and a very cute little red overpriced food

[1:31:51] store,

[1:31:53] and all of that land, and that's a gateway too.

[1:31:57] And that's probably our more beautiful gateway because it has been preserved and

[1:32:03] has been carefully tended to. So along

[1:32:08] 22, I think- I think it is a gateway.

[1:32:12] I think it's one that we have to be careful of.

[1:32:14] I, having sat for what seems like about 30 years, but it was probably only about

[1:32:19] eight, on the Affordable Housing Subcommittee, know that it is possible to

[1:32:25] make affordable housing attractive.

[1:32:29] Take, for example, Nelson Street.

[1:32:33] Of course, the committee considers-- We would go through

[1:32:39] presentations from architects and say, "Well, that could work if they just..."

[1:32:45] We became sub-architects in all of this.

[1:32:49] It is possible to make something of that size look attractive, minimize

[1:32:55] some of the traffic craziness, and certainly some that it was zoned for,

[1:33:00] and use the further lot in, make a sort of pocket park with a

[1:33:06] flag, directions to the cemetery and all of that, and make it a very nice

[1:33:13] gateway to Reddington, one that we could all be proud of.

[1:33:17] I don't think we have to yell at people to have discussions.

[1:33:22] And I also think people need to think about

[1:33:26] how

[1:33:28] there are a lot of gateways into Reddington, and we all have an obligation to take

[1:33:33] care of them and make them attractive.

[1:33:36] But I don't think putting 1,400 housing units on

[1:33:41] 202 and Pleasant Run Road, where we serve, is not the best way to have a

[1:33:47] gateway into Reddington. Now, those of you who ever drive through

[1:33:53] the golf course

[1:33:56] and drive out,

[1:33:58] I don't know, the road that goes out to Drayhook, past their package treatment

[1:34:02] plant, know that when the wind is blowing wrong, you know it's there, and that's

[1:34:07] nowhere near 1,400 houses. So I'm not wishing on all those people

[1:34:13] who live in my favorite Reddington four-bedroom central hall colonials along all

[1:34:18] those subdivisions along Pleasant Run Road to have to live with that across the

[1:34:24] street from them, and the smell, and the congestion, and all of that. So thank you.

[1:34:29] But the irony is-

[1:34:39] Hi, Renee Bell. I'm speaking as a private citizen. I'm not representing a board.

[1:34:44] I think when it comes to affordable housing, we can all agree on three different

[1:34:48] things. Our assigned 540 units is just too high.

[1:34:53] We all want what's best for Reddington, and the builder's remedy would be the

[1:34:57] worst-case scenario.

[1:35:00] We're months overdue for our affordable housing plan.

[1:35:04] Do our committee members think fighting over these locations make it less or more

[1:35:08] likely that we're going to have lawsuits filed against us?

[1:35:13] And do you think going back and forth between the plans makes it more or less

[1:35:16] likely we end up with builder's remedy? Do we want builder's remedy?

[1:35:23] Maybe some of us do. But let's not play political games with the town.

[1:35:29] I'm also concerned about the Darragh Cemetery near 101 Main Street.

[1:35:34] And I'm wondering if we can require the developer to fence off the cemetery to

[1:35:40] protect it.

[1:35:42] If we could request that.

[1:35:46] And the last thing I want to say is, "Drive My History" on

[1:35:52] PBS actually had an episode, 30 minutes, about Taylor's Mill, and it

[1:35:58] was called "Following the Flower." And if you haven't seen it, I hope you watch it.

[1:36:02] It was fantastic. They did a great job. Thank you.

[1:36:06] There's a presentation on Taylor's Mill at Bones Stickney on the 26th.

[1:36:10] Yes.

[1:36:11] 2:00 PM.

[1:36:12] 26th, 3:00 PM, correct?

[1:36:14] It's a Saturday.

[1:36:15] I have to check.

[1:36:16] I made a mistake.

[1:36:20] 3:00.

[1:36:21] 3:00 PM.

[1:36:21] 3:00 PM. But the 26th, I think.

[1:36:23] The 26th. Yes, 3:00 PM.

[1:36:27] Right.

[1:36:27] And we'll have more information about that out later. Okay, thank you.

[1:36:37] Yeah.

[1:36:39] Hi, my name is Barbara Nastro. I'm here tonight concerning the situation

[1:36:45] for the families who received letters, 45 letters at random, who live along

[1:36:51] the Pulaski and Solberg Airport area, letting us know that

[1:36:59] our wells could be contaminated by PFAS.

[1:37:05] Mayor, I believe you received a copy of that letter letting you know back on

[1:37:10] Memorial Day weekend?

[1:37:13] I think we all received the same information.

[1:37:16] Mayor, yes.

[1:37:17] Okay, so we are at the point where we need help.

[1:37:22] My husband and I stepped out of the group and we tested our well, and we found out

[1:37:28] that we have PFAS.

[1:37:30] My neighbors, some of them chose to go along with their

[1:37:36] regulation of having the well tested in July, and they still have not

[1:37:42] heard anything from the Department of Environmental Protection.

[1:37:48] I've already applied for the spill fund, and my husband and I still have

[1:37:54] not heard anything from them. So they found out in March

[1:38:00] because a home was sold on Forty Oaks and Solberg Road.

[1:38:07] Many people may not know that in order to sell your house these days, you have to

[1:38:12] have your well tested. They had the well tested, and they found out that they had

[1:38:17] PFAS.

[1:38:19] So what that did was trigger the Department of Environmental Protection to

[1:38:25] find out from other neighbors if they have PFAS.

[1:38:29] For justice.

[1:38:30] Okay.

[1:38:31] Thank you.

[1:38:31] So

[1:38:33] my husband and I paid the $500. We stepped out of the group, and we found out that

[1:38:39] we do have it.

[1:38:42] They're not moving on this, the Department of Environmental Protection, okay?

[1:38:48] So what that means is, I am fortunate enough to have one tap in my

[1:38:53] house that has reverse osmosis, okay?

[1:38:57] You're allowed to take a shower. You can wash your clothes, but they

[1:39:03] highly recommend that you do not drink the water.

[1:39:08] So I have one faucet in my house that has reverse osmosis on it. So what do I do?

[1:39:13] I take it up to the bathrooms of my houses.

[1:39:17] If I have guests, I have to buy bottled water, and I'm very

[1:39:23] vigilant. We have neighbors all around us that have very

[1:39:29] young children in their homes who should be made aware that this could be a

[1:39:33] possibility for them as well.

[1:39:37] And I want to know what the township is doing to-- I know you guys were notified,

[1:39:42] but

[1:39:46] what about that tap?

[1:39:47] Do you know off the top of your head the roads again?

[1:39:50] I'm sorry?

[1:39:51] Do you know off the top of your head the roads?

[1:39:52] Forty Oaks and Solberg Road.

[1:39:56] Thank you.

[1:39:56] The Environmental Committee has been in contact with DEP.

[1:39:59] We are getting exactly the same information you're getting. Nothing.

[1:40:03] We've asked for information. We've asked for follow-up.

[1:40:05] We've asked for them to expand the testing area, and it's crickets.

[1:40:10] So, we've worked with the DEP on other projects. We still have E.

[1:40:15] coli issues on the Rockaway Creek and on

[1:40:19] Lake Hopatcong. The county and the DEP are not interested in working with us on

[1:40:24] that. So I don't have an answer for you.

[1:40:27] I know I had Barbara Bacon Doyle do an article in "The Chronicle" and the tap-in,

[1:40:31] and we were hoping that maybe some publicity would help.

[1:40:34] That may be an avenue that you can pursue.

[1:40:37] The DEP is not required to give us information.

[1:40:40] It's private information based on each individual's home.

[1:40:43] But we would like to get general information that shows what it is.

[1:40:46] The Raritan Headwaters Association has done testing as well, and they found quite a

[1:40:52] bit of PFAS in the Raritan tributary area.

[1:40:55] So it's a problem that I think most people should be proactive like yourself and do

[1:41:01] something. The DEP is not moving on this, and there really isn't any official

[1:41:06] policy from the state as to how they're going to handle this.

[1:41:10] That's not the answer you want to hear, but-

[1:41:11] I don't want to hear that because everybody sitting here, this is a drop in the

[1:41:15] bucket of people that live in this area, and-

[1:41:20] We could all be drinking contaminated water.

[1:41:25] I think that the town should be doing a lot more.

[1:41:28] I'm only getting to the point where I applied for a spill fund.

[1:41:32] Only 45 people at random were selected for this test.

[1:41:37] So,

[1:41:39] the word has to be put out that there's a problem in our town.

[1:41:46] It's not just in our town. It's throughout the state, and quite frankly, throughout

[1:41:49] the country as well. There's a lot of problems-

[1:41:51] Well, I know

[1:41:52] ... with PFAS in different locations.

[1:41:53] Can you say that word again? What is it called?

[1:41:55] PFAS.

[1:41:56] PFAS.

[1:41:56] P-F-A-S.

[1:41:57] Oh, yeah.

[1:41:57] It's an acronym for a very long technical name that I could give to you.

[1:42:02] But you should not be drinking the water. You should have your wells tested.

[1:42:06] Sure.

[1:42:06] Everybody should have their well tested to see if you're drinking...

[1:42:10] The standard is, I think it's 0.13, and you should see

[1:42:16] what your levels are for this PFAS in your water.

[1:42:20] We live near Solberg Airport. I live off of Pulaski Road,

[1:42:25] and the contaminated home was on 40 Oaks and also Berg Road.

[1:42:31] And this is another reason why-

[1:42:36] ... I'm not for any expansion or whatever.

[1:42:39] The people at the airport need to be monitored for whatever they're using to

[1:42:47] de-ice their planes or whatever they're putting into the system into the soil.

[1:42:52] It's not restricted to this area where I live, but

[1:42:58] I'm very concerned. This is another reason for concern about the airport.

[1:43:02] Reading Township is working with the Raritan Headwaters Association.

[1:43:05] We're having a well testing in October this year.

[1:43:09] You can get the test through Raritan Headwaters or through Reading Township.

[1:43:13] Okay, I just want to say again-

[1:43:14] And free bridges

[1:43:15] ... they found the problem in March.

[1:43:18] We received, along with this other test sample of 45 people, in

[1:43:24] Memorial Day weekend. My husband and I immediately did the test.

[1:43:29] We notified them July 2nd. We confirmed that they received

[1:43:34] our application for the spill fund on August 13th.

[1:43:40] It's now September 8th, and

[1:43:46] nothing. I still haven't heard anything.

[1:43:49] We're in our third year of trying to get the DEP to respond to the E.

[1:43:53] coli in the Rockaway Creek, and it's a frustrating process.

[1:43:58] What they keep saying is they don't have the funds to do additional testing.

[1:44:01] They wanted us to test it. We tested it, but it goes outside of our township

[1:44:05] boundaries, and at that point, we're not able to do anything.

[1:44:07] So it is a frustrating process working with the DEP.

[1:44:12] Thank you.

[1:44:14] Okay, thank you.

[1:44:15] 350 affordable housing units on Solberg Road aren't going to help the problem

[1:44:19] either.

[1:44:20] That's correct.

[1:44:27] Good evening, Trevor Esell. In regards to your

[1:44:34] ordinance 19 for the 101 Main Street, it says, "To be paid in part from

[1:44:40] township's affordable housing."

[1:44:42] Where does the other part come from?

[1:44:44] Capital.

[1:44:53] I'm disappointed that three members up here tonight

[1:44:58] were trying to pass Block 4, Lot 18, when the three of

[1:45:04] you sat on the board

[1:45:07] when that

[1:45:09] ordinance was passed in 2021. You being the board, the open spaces are,

[1:45:16] you were one of them. You sat there as mayor

[1:45:21] in 2021, and you sat there that whole night until the whole thing, board, that it

[1:45:24] was purchased through

[1:45:30] some other funding.

[1:45:32] But it turns out it was purchased with open space.

[1:45:35] I think what I said was it's not in the open space inventory.

[1:45:39] No.

[1:45:39] It never was.

[1:45:40] That's not what you said.

[1:45:41] What's that?

[1:45:41] That's not what you said.

[1:45:44] Oh, okay.

[1:45:44] Video at 20 minutes.

[1:45:46] I stand corrected.

[1:45:47] No, I'm good.

[1:45:49] We obviously-

[1:45:50] It's very disappointing because we

[1:45:52] believe in developer-funded projects, not taxpayer-funded projects.

[1:45:58] You already raised our taxes pretty substantially,

[1:46:02] and now you're talking about bonding and doing all this and using open space

[1:46:07] funding for these purchases. You knew what you were doing back then.

[1:46:12] So, I know you're not going to be honest, so thank you. Have a good night.

[1:46:23] My name is Lisa Rutell. I want to address some of the points that were discussed,

[1:46:28] mainly concerns regarding bonding using the Affordable Housing Trust Fund for

[1:46:32] affordable housing. And as we are working towards implementing the development of

[1:46:38] 100% affordable housing, as well as small-scale developments for special needs

[1:46:44] veterans, senior residents, this is ultimately still the most financially

[1:46:50] responsible approach. Usually, tax credits from the state are used,

[1:46:55] especially in comparison to alternative large inclusionary developments.

[1:47:01] If the inclusionary strategy is used, it would add over 1,000 additional units,

[1:47:07] which would add tremendous long-term recurring expenses.

[1:47:11] There would be tremendous negative impacts in the long run for our taxes,

[1:47:16] roads, schools, and infrastructure. Thank you.

[1:47:27] I'm sorry, but with everything she just mentioned, it's still going to come with

[1:47:31] all these little pocket developments.

[1:47:36] And you're adding kids to the school.

[1:47:45] That was me.

[1:47:46] My name is Tom Orianna. Addressing the Solberg property issue,

[1:47:53] as far as I'm concerned, the property does not appear to meet the criteria for

[1:47:57] affordable housing.

[1:48:00] I did a little bit of research on that, and the given setback requirements of the

[1:48:05] adjoining properties,

[1:48:09] there are building height limitations.

[1:48:13] The number of individual structures needed for 350

[1:48:18] apartments, parking lot location for 350 apartments,

[1:48:23] location of the recreation area, and garbage containers.

[1:48:28] For this to happen, the project would have to encroach into the air safety zone.

[1:48:36] Building in the air safety zone would require approval from the Commissioner of

[1:48:41] Transportation. I doubt any commissioner would ever jeopardize the safety

[1:48:48] of 350 families. I think it's pretty much impossible

[1:48:55] for this approval

[1:48:57] at this site

[1:48:59] to occur. It's not going to happen.

[1:49:15] Hello, again. My name is Anne Rotundo.

[1:49:18] I'm with the Daughters of the American Revolution at the Old White House, General

[1:49:22] Frelinghuysen and Colonel Lowry chapter.

[1:49:25] I just wanted to add that

[1:49:27] obviously we want to do what's best for the cemetery, and whether it's

[1:49:34] a park or whether it's affordable housing there or not affordable housing there,

[1:49:40] if it is chosen to be affordable housing, my question is, it's only

[1:49:46] an acre and a little. I don't even know if it's an acre and a half.

[1:49:49] And if it's that small of a piece of property that can afford 20 units

[1:49:56] of affordable housing, surely in Readington, there's another acre that's

[1:50:01] not next to our historic cemetery, that's not the entrance to or a gateway

[1:50:07] to White House Station, that could be purchased so that it doesn't

[1:50:14] affect our cemetery. Thank you.

[1:50:22] Hi. Al Grotz.

[1:50:25] I have a random question for you, Mr. Mayor.

[1:50:27] So the

[1:50:29] NJ Wildlife, I guess it's the WMA that is on Route 22 westbound,

[1:50:35] which is adjacent to the, I don't know what the block lot is, 3488 maybe

[1:50:41] is probably the number. The sign's no longer there.

[1:50:46] Is there a reason why that wildlife management reserve, that sign always comes up

[1:50:50] and down? Any idea? I'm sure it was under your purview in some capacity.

[1:50:54] No, you would have to check with the state DB.

[1:50:57] Got you. Okay.

[1:50:58] I've done the same where they hadn't signs on the one on the south ranch and

[1:51:02] requested it, and they put a sign up.

[1:51:04] So,

[1:51:06] things like that, let us know and we can follow up.

[1:51:09] Yeah. It's adjacent to the affordable housing complex that you had on the docket,

[1:51:13] so I thought maybe we replaced it.

[1:51:15] You said the sign goes up and down?

[1:51:17] Well, it's there and disappears. I don't know if it's up and down.

[1:51:20] Oh.

[1:51:20] It's literally-

[1:51:21] On and off.

[1:51:22] Yeah. It's happened multiple times in the past several months, so I didn't know if

[1:51:27] something was happening.

[1:51:28] Been a while.

[1:51:28] Very bizarre, yeah.

[1:51:29] We need a quick check, but I-

[1:51:32] It's not there right now. It may be back tomorrow.

[1:51:36] Yeah. So, the only other thing that I would like to make one comment is, it's a

[1:51:41] great sadness that we're here trying to spend an hour and a half,

[1:51:46] debating whether or not

[1:51:50] business uses or small business uses on many of our parcels on Route 22, and zoning

[1:51:56] is a bad thing or a good thing versus affordable housing being a bad thing or a

[1:52:00] good thing on the same parcels, which is kind of a wild sentiment.

[1:52:05] I'm of the perspective that when we have high-value pieces of property on

[1:52:11] Route 22, i.e., literally the epicenter at the junction of our

[1:52:16] business corridor and our small business corridor, that

[1:52:22] debating what could have maybe been there or not via zoning is even a valid

[1:52:27] argument in any capacity. But that affordable housing is somehow a good idea.

[1:52:31] It

[1:52:34] boggles my mind that we're in this place.

[1:52:36] So,

[1:52:38] I would hope that on a go-forward basis, we understand the value in growing

[1:52:44] and aiding the business community up and down that stretch, because it's the only

[1:52:47] stretch we really have. And every time in those meetings, it's like, it's just

[1:52:53] no business bad, even if it's the rejuvenation of an existing structure, and it's

[1:52:58] always bad right up until the moment that we want to put affordable housing.

[1:53:03] At which point, we can always make an argument why, and it won't be that bad, and

[1:53:07] it will just be, and it's a sorry state of affairs when we can't find the middle

[1:53:13] ground and do the right thing early on, because then those properties could have

[1:53:16] been rehabbed and rejuvenated and be nice now, and we wouldn't be having an

[1:53:20] affordable housing conversation because there'd be some net valuable goods and/or

[1:53:25] services being rendered to the community by the community in the same spots versus

[1:53:30] importing rental units, which is effectively what we're going to do.

[1:53:34] So, I would hope that the next few properties we can discuss on the corridor are

[1:53:39] for net positive small business growth, not affordable housing complexes that we've

[1:53:43] got to pay for. So, thank you.

[1:53:55] All right. I'm just going to say this because-

[1:53:57] Sorry.

[1:53:57] Sorry, go along. Reddington. I'm just going to say this because it's driving me up

[1:54:02] the wall.

[1:54:04] No matter what, we have the affordable housing requirement.

[1:54:09] No matter what, we have to deal with this requirement.

[1:54:12] At minimum, 378 units or 504 credits.

[1:54:18] We have to put it somewhere. Okay? I'm really, really worried that all of this

[1:54:24] back and forth is just going to get us to builder's remedy, and then the first

[1:54:29] developer that goes to the state and says they're not putting a plan in action is

[1:54:34] going to get to do whatever they want.

[1:54:39] Whether it's 1,400-plus units on 202 or who knows

[1:54:45] what on the north part of Reddington.

[1:54:49] It's over a year overdue. Can we please come together and make a

[1:54:55] plan that is actually viable? Not lots that you know won't work,

[1:55:01] that a state will never approve, and not some massive property

[1:55:06] that will raise the total number of units in

[1:55:13] the town over 20%. 20%. It's actually more than

[1:55:18] 21%. So, can we all please agree that builder's remedy ain't the thing?

[1:55:25] Thank you.

[1:55:35] Yeah, I'm Jim Horvik. I live at Pleasant Road. Can you see that Horvik?

[1:55:39] I live on Pleasant Road. And Pleasant Road is a very country road.

[1:55:44] Nice homes, trees, a babbling brook.

[1:55:49] And I can't envision the township is going to, at the beginning of Hogan Road or

[1:55:55] Headington, Craig Road, are going to permit massive buildings,

[1:56:00] four stories high, through the fields of this 370 acres.

[1:56:06] It's going to be such an eyesore, not counting the drain on our resources, that

[1:56:12] the water table may drop. Well, my well will go dry because they're tapping

[1:56:18] 300,000 gallons a day for 1,400 units, and there's no sewer.

[1:56:24] So, where is the sewer going to go? You're going to put it in the ground, so people

[1:56:29] will just flush the toilet and put Clorox in there.

[1:56:32] They don't care if there's bacteria in the

[1:56:36] system. Then they use Drano. People who have serious septic systems,

[1:56:43] we don't do those things because you need bacteria to keep the system healthy.

[1:56:48] These people, 1,400, they're going to say, "It's not my problem.

[1:56:52] I'm going to clean my drain." And they're going to put Drano and Clorox, and it's

[1:56:56] going to foul up the septic systems, and then it's going to leach into the soil,

[1:57:01] and it's going to go into our wells that we all live around there.

[1:57:05] We are the same. I've been there for 45 years.

[1:57:10] I've been a police officer of Reddington for 31 years. I retired here.

[1:57:15] I love this place, and I can't envision this massive wall of

[1:57:20] buildings on Pleasant Road. It just doesn't belong there.

[1:57:26] That's what I think.

[1:57:46] Okay.

[1:57:46] If you all come from this area, you know the road-

[1:57:49] What was your name, please?

[1:57:50] Marian Horvik.

[1:57:51] Okay.

[1:57:51] Yeah.

[1:57:55] Do you know Craig Road, everyone? Can you see 3,000 people going down that little

[1:58:01] bridge? We can't even do it now. We have to stop and

[1:58:07] take turns. How is this even envisioned in everyone's mind?

[1:58:13] The traffic pattern. The motorcycles come from the top of the hill,

[1:58:19] zoom down, and come from that side, from Craig Road, and go the other way.

[1:58:25] The traffic there, we can't even get on the highway now as it is.

[1:58:32] If each 1,400, you're going to figure a spouse,

[1:58:37] so we double that, children driving.

[1:58:41] The whole area would just be destroyed.

[1:58:45] Totally destroyed. And I don't think Reddington

[1:58:50] is really what you started it as.

[1:58:55] A beautiful country area that we came to live here for.

[1:59:07] All right. I never was going to stand up in here, but I grew up on Craig Road,

[1:59:10] which anybody really wants to know history.

[1:59:12] If you recognize me-

[1:59:14] Could you give your name for the record?

[1:59:15] Mark Hanna.

[1:59:16] Thanks, Mark.

[1:59:17] And it used to be Moon Road. And when they did change that, when she's talking

[1:59:21] about traffic, anybody who lives on there knows how kind of shaky that bridge is.

[1:59:25] And I still try to farm on there, but Reddington Township, over the years, has

[1:59:30] kicked all the farmers out of this town. Let's face it.

[1:59:34] It used to be a farm country. It's not anymore. And it's just going to be more.

[1:59:38] When I was young, it always used to be farm there.

[1:59:40] It was a pond, a big horse farm, and cows.

[1:59:43] We got to do something, maybe, but it doesn't need to be there.

[1:59:46] And I still try to drive a tractor on Craig Road once in a while,

[1:59:52] and the traffic's terrible. People are stupid. I'm not going to lie.

[1:59:56] I agree with you 100% the way people are, but I didn't like the way you were kind

[2:00:01] of making faces to want somebody up here or that. I don't go for that.

[2:00:05] But getting back

[2:00:07] Maybe we need this somewhere. It doesn't need to be there.

[2:00:10] What about out in your parkland on maybe a two-way up to over at Colin Sons?

[2:00:16] He owns all that land everywhere, and if anybody knows the history of this guy,

[2:00:20] look him up, what a kind of landlord he was.

[2:00:23] I have a little bit of background with that, and I won't even go there.

[2:00:28] So, all right? God bless you, country.

[2:00:37] Hi. Lisa Mossy. I live on Craig Road, too.

[2:00:41] I've only been there for eight years, and for the past 15 months, we have a little

[2:00:47] farm, about 12 acres. I was arguing back and forth with the zoning person,

[2:00:53] my favorite person, for a 10 by 12 farm stand that they were having trouble

[2:00:58] at the end of my driveway with. I have hundreds of people going to my little

[2:01:04] farm stand, little kids, big kids, old people, teenagers,

[2:01:10] buying little things at that farm stand.

[2:01:13] The speed limit's 30 miles an hour, but a lot of people go faster than that.

[2:01:19] But I'm here for the first time looking at the politics up here, and I don't like

[2:01:24] it. I moved here to Reddington. I was a nurse for 30 years.

[2:01:29] I love this little farm. We planted 4,000 berries, peach trees, grapes, everything,

[2:01:35] and I love the farm. I love seeing Mark on his tractor.

[2:01:40] People try to run over my husband on his tractor.

[2:01:43] You can't have 1,400 units at the end of Craig Road. You can't do it.

[2:01:48] Every month, someone gets into an accident on that little bridge head-on

[2:01:55] because they play chicken on that road.

[2:01:57] You can't have an additional 1,400 units with God knows how many people

[2:02:03] on that road. I don't care how you do it. You can't do it.

[2:02:07] So I don't know what the politics are.

[2:02:10] I don't know how this decision gets made, but we have to have more people

[2:02:16] in on the whole thing, just like the block and lot and the address.

[2:02:20] That's all important for people to understand the process of this whole thing.

[2:02:26] So I'm going to be sitting back and watching this, but I hope everybody else has

[2:02:31] something to say about that. You can't do that. You just can't.

[2:02:45] Okay. Any comments from the-- Oh.

[2:02:52] My name's Connie Merchant. I promised my husband I wasn't going to say anything

[2:02:56] tonight-

[2:02:58] ... but I'm fired up.

[2:03:01] And

[2:03:03] we've lived here 38 years, so we're not rookies to Reddington, and we've lived

[2:03:09] here. We love living here. We live not far from off of Pleasant Run Road.

[2:03:15] The idea of putting in that number of units on that

[2:03:21] location is ridiculous on multiple levels.

[2:03:26] Environmentally,

[2:03:29] economically,

[2:03:31] socially, it's wrong for Reddington.

[2:03:36] And I will say this, if people are so riled up about

[2:03:41] affordable housing, get figured out how you can address it at the

[2:03:47] state level.

[2:03:49] The town has to do what it's been mandated at the state level.

[2:03:55] If you hate it, get busy telling your state legislators, if you can

[2:04:01] find them all, that you don't want this.

[2:04:07] There's also an undercurrent that makes me a little embarrassed,

[2:04:12] an undercurrent of, "We don't want them," whoever them is.

[2:04:17] Anybody who has aging parents or 30-year-old kids who still have to live at home

[2:04:22] because they can't afford to live in Reddington know we have an affordable housing

[2:04:27] crisis in Hunterdon County and all over New Jersey.

[2:04:32] So let's figure out how to deal with that at the upper levels.

[2:04:35] Here in Reddington, people come here and stay here because of the quality of life.

[2:04:42] We are bound to do something that the state has required, but the

[2:04:47] solution on Pleasant Run Road is ridiculous.

[2:05:01] Okay, I'll close there and just ask if there's comments from the governing body.

[2:05:06] Yes, Mr. Mayor, there's a couple of items I forgot to mention before.

[2:05:09] On Sunday the 13th, 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, the 1776 Hooked Rug Exhibit and a visit

[2:05:15] with Soldier Deborah Sampson will be sponsored at the Bowman's Pickney Farm by the

[2:05:20] Museums Committee. And once again, the 3:00 PM at the Bowman's Pickney, the

[2:05:25] Taylor's Mill, the mill that fed Washington's troops will be displayed on the 26th.

[2:05:30] And also on October 24th at 11:00 AM will be the Liberty Pole

[2:05:35] celebration in Reddington Township.

[2:05:38] I hope we get a strong turnout for that, celebrating our 250th anniversary.

[2:05:47] Good.

[2:05:47] We might not all agree, but I appreciate everyone showing up and listening.

[2:05:52] That is the best way to get involved and stay informed.

[2:05:56] That said, with affordable housing, we have two options.

[2:06:00] Either the taxpayer is going to pay for it or a developer's going to pay for it.

[2:06:04] Pay to play. That is what this entire conversation is about.

[2:06:10] That is not true.

[2:06:12] Okay.

[2:06:12] The taxpayer's going to pay no matter what.

[2:06:13] We can't do a back and forth shout-

[2:06:15] You know what? You're smart.

[2:06:16] Because we can't do a back and forth shout-

[2:06:18] Because nobody-

[2:06:18] We can't do a shout.

[2:06:19] You're smart.

[2:06:20] We can't shout.

[2:06:22] Let's finish with John.

[2:06:23] It's still my time. So I would also like to say, we've got a lot from Craig Road,

[2:06:28] so that's great.

[2:06:30] You should listen to the residents on the north side of town, where all affordable

[2:06:34] housing has been shoved, with the exception of Three Bridges. Okay?

[2:06:40] It's all being shoved on Route 22. Okay? It is.

[2:06:45] And it's all being shoved-- and there's a second development proposed in Three

[2:06:49] Bridges. You probably don't know that yet, right?

[2:06:52] There's a second development proposed in Three Bridges right next to the other one.

[2:06:56] So I understand, not in my backyard. I understand. Trust me, I get it.

[2:07:02] But

[2:07:06] I appreciate you all showing up and speaking your mind. It's that simple.

[2:07:09] Ultimately, the courts are going to decide, and we are quickly down a path to

[2:07:14] having the judge decide this for us. So.

[2:07:17] Vinnie?

[2:07:18] I have nothing more to say, sir. Just pretty much done.

[2:07:21] Okay.

[2:07:21] All right, I've got one comment.

[2:07:24] I would agree with most of you, and I-

[2:07:27] Guys, can we please stop with the back-and-forth conversation? Thank you.

[2:07:32] Thank you. I would agree, I think most of us are opposed to affordable housing the

[2:07:36] way the state of New Jersey is imposed on townships.

[2:07:40] This is my third stint as mayor.

[2:07:43] Did I want to be mayor during a year where we have to deal with affordable housing?

[2:07:47] No. My day job is preserving land, farms, and open space.

[2:07:52] By the next two weeks, I think I've got about 600 acres of land

[2:07:57] preserved over eight years. That's what I spend my time doing.

[2:08:01] So like all of us, we're really opposed to this.

[2:08:05] I'm opposed to the fact that the State of New Jersey exempts urban areas from

[2:08:09] affordable housing, and they move it into suburban areas or wherever they think

[2:08:15] appropriate. It's just not fair. We're still fighting the 504 number that was given

[2:08:20] to us a year and a half ago. I think we're on appeal. We don't like that number.

[2:08:25] We don't like that many units. So this is like we're all in it together, and we're

[2:08:31] trying to work out the best we can, and hopefully, we can continue and have a

[2:08:37] small-scale footprint and not have all the consequences of traffic,

[2:08:44] services, all the things that are negative, I think we're all in agreement on.

[2:08:49] This is not what we want, but it's very hard to fight the state of New Jersey.

[2:08:53] So I think Connie's comment about

[2:08:56] that's where the ultimate responsibility lies, it's with the state, and we're

[2:09:02] trying to implement something as best we can from our different perspectives.

[2:09:06] So I agree with that, and I appreciate everybody's engagement.

[2:09:10] This is not an easy thing. So

[2:09:14] thank you very much. And one more last thing.

[2:09:16] There was a township town hall that occurred on March 30th.

[2:09:21] So for people that are new to this topic, we had our professionals, planner, and

[2:09:27] affordable housing attorney do about a one-hour briefing on the mechanics of what

[2:09:33] this is, how it works, the whole process, and they laid it out in about 45 minutes.

[2:09:39] It's on tape, it's on video. I think you could take a look at it, and that might be

[2:09:44] a way to educate you and neighbors about what we're facing.

[2:09:48] So that was March 30th of this year. So anyway, with that, I'll close.

[2:09:53] I want to thank you all for participating.

[2:09:55] Motion to adjourn.

[2:09:56] Second.

[2:09:56] All in favor?

[2:09:57] Aye.

[2:09:58] Thank you.

TC 09-08-26

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