I pledge allegiance to the Republic for which it stands, one
nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
» [clears throat] >> A moment of silence to remember the
service and sacrifices of the armed service members who protect our nation
and the first responders who protect our neighborhoods.
» [snorts] >> Council
Council member Salberg. Here. Council member Wojtowicz.
» Here. Council member Freelander. Here.
Council member Royack. >> Here. Council member Fureyday. Here.
Council member Quinn. Here. Council member Kelly. Here. Council Vice
President Sackett. >> Here. Council President Morrison. Here.
Adequate notice of this meeting was provided to the Daily Record and the
official newspapers for the Township of Rockaway. Notice was posted on the
official bulletin board of Rockaway Township, Township website. And notice
was filed in the office of the Township Clerk.
Approval of the minutes from the March 10th Township Council meeting. Can I
have a motion? So moved. Second.
Clerk, please take the roll. Council member Salberg.
» Yes. Council member Wojtowicz.
» Yes. Council member Freelander. Yes. Council member Royack. Yes. Council
member Fureyday. Yes. Council member Quinn. Yes. Council member Kelly. No.
Council Vice President Sackett. Yes. Council President Morrison. Yes. Eight
yeses, one no, motion carried. We are going to do the open to the
public portion.
Before opening the public portion of this meeting, I want to remind everyone
of the rules that apply to anyone who wants to address the Council. Any member
of the public wishing to address the Council will have 3 minutes to do so.
While an extension of time may be requested, it should not be assumed that
an extension of time will be granted. While addressing the Council, Council
members of the public may not address or question any
individual Council member. If anyone addressing the Council violates these
rules or conducts themselves inappropriately, their speaking
opportunity will be terminated and they will be instructed to return to their
seat. A refusal to comply will result in a removal from the room.
Members of the public in attendance may not make comments from the audience
without recognition by the chair. Persons doing so will be subject to
removal from the room. As Council President, I have tremendous
respect for my fellow Council members and the public who take the time and
effort to attend Council meetings. These rules are necessary to protect and
respect, but also to permit the Council to do its business in an orderly and
professional manner. As a reminder, when you come up to the
microphone, uh please state your name and address for the record. And there is
a 3-minute time limit.
Michael Alardi.
Michael Alardi, 19 Westbrook side drive. I see um 02613 on the agenda for um
salaries. There's several minimum salaries that are below these New Jersey
minimum wage. I don't know if that's an oversight or if there is a reason for
that. Um also, there's lots of rocks and stuff
on Mount Hope Ave and on the interchanges of Route 80.
I I know they have a street sweeper that they come down and do it, but they don't
do it often enough and they're either overloading the trucks or not cleaning
off the trucks when they get loaded because it's any day you go down that
road or on and off of Route 80 off of Mount Hope, there's rocks everywhere.
Uh there's also a ton of dirt in the air. I don't know if anyone looks at
their car in the morning, but I don't know if it's from Tilcon or
from Picatinny, but especially if there's a little
drizzle overnight, the cars are filthy with dirt.
So, when they do their blasting, I don't know if they're not
wetting it down or keeping the dust down, but if something could be looked
into for that, cuz I know people's houses are filthy and the cars are
filthy every morning. You can wash your car the night before and they're filthy
in the morning. Also, I know there was a request for
Council reports to be handed in prior to the meeting and I see there's three
included tonight. Um if something comes up from the public
or during discussion that a Councilman would want to address during their
report, I'm assuming that can't happen until the next meeting now because the
report needs to be handed in. But there are sometimes things get
brought up that would be nice to get an answer during somebody's report if we
could. Thank you. Thank you.
Mr. Alardi, was that Mount Hope Ave? Was that Mount Just Mount Hope Ave with
the rocks and everything you were talking about?
All right. Mr. Wikilski.
Eric [clears throat] Wikilski, 120 Richard Street.
I'm missing a hearing here, but I think Mike just mentioned one of the things
that I wanted to discuss and that is the public portion of the meeting right
now is at the beginning of the meeting. So,
anything that transpires afterwards through your input,
it gets deferred by the public, any questions they have,
2 weeks down the road, if not further. And so, I'm just wondering if there's an
opportunity and if not, why we couldn't bring that open to the
public back to the end of the meeting, which
I think it used to be that way. And I think that's pretty common
practice in other municipalities.
Um code enforcement,
that a situation, many situations on my street in Richard Richard Street, there
are issues there, most recently behind your house, Susan, uh pole barn or
whatever it was called, still in violation. I think there was going to be
uh something issued, but if not,
that pole barn was to be taken down and as of today, it's still standing there.
So, I don't know what kind of protocol code enforcement has on something like
that. I certainly would like to understand
that a little little better. Um
I apologize, I missed the budget meeting, but I did watch it.
Um and correct me if I'm wrong, one of the
things that was spoke talked about was the reserve fund and how important that
is to cover things like snow storms and the
associated expenses with that, um
manpower, materials and so forth. And then fast forward to the PD section,
I think there was 300 some odd thousand of overtime allocated.
And this is the part I don't know, is any portion of that overtime
that's accrued during storms and events like
that, is that part of what the reserve fund is for? And if it is,
then should we be reducing that line item on the overtime?
Um the last item that's been frustrating for me for a while,
» [clears throat] >> I had
opportunities last year to call in to both engineering
and um to the CFO. And I learned at that time
that when when you're when you the the voicemail clicks on, all you get
is you've reached extension 2102.
So, I would leave a message who I am, uh misses a message for so-and-so.
Um I had some conversation with that. I'm sorry. If I can just finish.
» out of time, but finish your thought. And it's confusing to me on why there's
a hesitancy or resistance
to uh put your name on their voicemail. I
work for a company, anybody that works in corporate America has a
responsibility or that has a designated phone line, you'll typically call them
and you'll say you've reached the you've reached the the office of Howard
Morrison, so-and-so and so-and-so, leave a message after the beep. If you
call into the engineering department or the CFO in the administration, what you
get, and I just checked it on the way over today,
is you've reached the engineering department.
You've reached the finance department. I think the public deserves to know,
especially if they're calling, um that they've reached they want to
talk to the person Allison as an example in engineering, then don't let Allison's
name should be on their their voice. You've reached Allison Fronte, whatever
her title is, of such and such engineering department. I'm not here
right now, leave a message or uh I'm out of town or I'm on vacation.
Um you know, please leave a message or you can contact so-and-so.
Um I don't know what the aversion is to that happening or
but you know, the administration in particular
um services us the taxpayers.
Um it's common in business. I'm not sure why it's not here.
Thank you. Thanks. Council President, I'd like to answer some of Mr.
Wikilski's >> I'm going to ask you to hold off on
that. Um so, just a couple things, um cuz I think
you brought up some good questions, so I'd like to take the opportunity to
address some of them. The public portion,
we used to have it at the end, right? So, the thought process there is by the
time we get to the end, voting's done, right? So,
what's done is done, you know, so it by putting it before, and again, we
publish the agenda, you have time to digest it and give your you know, give
your two cents before we vote on it, right? So, I see both sides. I'd rather
give the public the opportunity to speak on things
for the council people to consider before we vote on it.
If that makes sense. Um
What? We have one on each end. Uh Uh yeah, we'll think about it. Um
as far as the uh the general fund, and correct me if I'm wrong here, there's a
certain percentage I think that's recommended. The point is is with when
you have a certain amount in the fund, it
it our bond rating is better, which lowers interest rates. Correct. Okay, so
that's it's actually a taxpayer benefit. It's a benefit, but we also he was
asking about the um the overtime. So, um what we do is anything that is left
unexpended in the snow and ice um line item within the budget, if there's
any money left over, I move that into the trust to build those reserves. Same
thing with police overtime. If there's any overtime that is unspent, it will go
into that trust to be used for a future snowstorm or any any type of storm. It's
So, it's not lost. No, no, it's not lost. Okay.
Um and then I I like the point about the
voicemail. I think it's valid. And again, I don't want to answer for you. I
just when you're reaching engineering, there's so many people that check that
voicemail, it's just my guess. We are in the process of trying to correct that.
Those those complaints are heard and loud and clear. So, we are we are
working to um to resolve that matter. >> She's working on it now. They had been
working on that before. I I don't know.
Okay. He also had a notice of violation question.
» And Mr. Kelly, we're we're done. Um okay. Uh introduction of the 2026
municipal budget. Uh before we do this again, I want to thank administration
for the copious amount of work that they put into here. I want to thank the
council for their due diligence, excellent questions, and work on the
budget. Ordinance O-2608, ordinance to exceed
the municipal budget appropriation limits, and to establish a cap bank. Can
I have a motion? So moved. Second. Clerk, please take the roll.
Councilwoman Salberg. Yes. Councilwoman Wojtowicz.
» Yes. Councilwoman Freelander. Yes. Councilwoman Royek. Yes. Councilwoman
Freda. Yes. Councilwoman Quinn. Yes. Councilman Kelly. No.
Council Vice President Sackett. Yes. Council President Marosan. Yes. Eight
yeses, one no, motion carries. Um okay, so for the next resolution, I
do have to read something into the record.
Uh it is a little bit lengthy, but I will try to get through it. Um and it's
a requirement for again for the next resolution to introduce the budget.
Resolution R-26-67, a resolution to introduce the 2026
municipal budget of the Township of Rockaway in the County of Morris.
Be it resolved by the Township Council of the Township of Rockaway in the
County of Morris, State of New Jersey, that the following statements of
revenues and appropriations shall constitute the municipal budget for the
year 2026. Municipal budget
is under revenues. General revenues, uh $12,487,873.33.
Local tax for municipal purposes, $31,186,027.16.
Minimum library tax, $2,261,055
even. Total general revenues, $45,934,955.49.
Appropriations, municipal purposes, $42,644,955.49.
Reserve for uncollected taxes, $3,290,000.
Total [clears throat] general appropriations, $45,934,955.49.
Water operating budget. Revenues, rents, fees, and
miscellaneous, $3,363,004.
Appropriations, general expenses, $3,363,004.
Open space, recreation, farmland, and historic preservation trust fund
revenues, amount to be raised by taxation, $459,685.70.
Appropriations for general expenses, $459,685.70.
Be it further resolved that said budget be published on the official website at
www.rockawaytownship.org
on March 30th, 2026, together with a public notice that the public hearing
will be held at the municipal building on April 28th, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. or soon
thereafter as the matter can be conducted by the Township Council.
Point of order, uh Council President? Not recognized. Uh Point of order again,
Council President. There's not a matter of you recognizing. Uh
you are not recognized. I have a question, uh Council President.
» I clearly said you were not >> about the introduction of the budget.
» Mr. Kelly, you are not recognized. That is four times I've said
you are not recognized. Resolution R-26-67, a resolution to
introduce the 2026 municipal budget of the Township of Rockaway
» to debate under 2-5.1. Can I have a second? Second. Clerk, please take the
roll.
Councilwoman Salberg. Yes. Councilwoman Wojtowicz. Yes.
Councilwoman Freelander. Yes. Councilwoman Royek. Yes. Councilwoman
Freda. Yes. Councilwoman [clears throat] Quinn. Yes. Councilman Kelly. No.
Council Vice President Sackett. Yes. Council President Marosan. Yes. Nine uh
eight yeses, one no, motion passes. Resolution R-26-68, resolution for
self-examination of the 2026 municipal budget. Can I have a motion?
» So moved. Clerk, please take the roll. Second.
I need a second. Who seconded? I did. I'll second. Okay. I'm sorry. Go
to the second it.
Councilwoman Salberg. Yes. Councilwoman Wojtowicz. Yes.
Councilwoman Freelander. Yes. Councilwoman Royek. Yes. Councilwoman
Freda. Yes. Councilwoman Quinn. Yes. Councilman Kelly. No. Council Vice
President Sackett. Yes. Council President Marosan. Yes. Eight yeses, one
no, motion carries. All right, resolution R-26-72.
Um I want to just for the uh benefit of the public and the rest of the council,
uh there there's a lot to unpack here, so I just like to uh
go over a couple of things. So, uh we received an email on March 19th
from Councilman Kelly uh with this lengthy resolution,
um which mandates uh early public release
of of what we commonly refer to as the budget fund,
uh with all materials um significantly prior to the budget meeting.
Um procedurally, notwithstanding the uh
the the meat of it, um procedurally, um it was not following our ordinances. So,
according to our ordinance, uh or ordinances, a resolution shall be
drafted by or receive the approval of the Township Attorney as to form and
legality. Obviously, that kind of makes sense. We want our legal counsel to keep
the town out of part harm's way. Um
Mr. Kelly did not follow the procedure in this
» Yes, I did. Yes, I did.
» not recognized. >> I'm well, I'm correcting you. You're
incorrect. Even the clerk was notified to notify me
immediately of any edits to my resolution by you or the Township
Attorney. With the submission of that resolution, there was also edits made to
that resolution that was put on the agenda
» of order. You're out of order. So, you're lying to the public right
now. >> you are out of order.
Debate. No debate.
You have to debate under 2-5.1. You know, you're violating the
administrative code. Which administrative code are you referring
to? 2-5.1.
Regarding objections to Mr. Council President.
I object >> Questions of order, methods of
organization, and the conduct of the business uh shall be determined by the
Council President. Continue it.
Unless there's an objection to a determination, in which case a matter is
shall be determined by majority vote of council member. You continuing to block
my objection and have it went to a vote, and for the reason of the objection. So,
the reason for the objection is >> you a chance not to vote. We're we're
not there yet. So, you're interrupting >> an objection. Mr. Kelly, I'm going to
you're interrupting me, and I'm not giving you the floor at this time.
Um Just so everybody understands, um
Mr. Kelly's asking to, you know, change established administrative processes.
It's not true. Mr. Kelly, you are out of order.
» I'm correcting you. First of all, you have never spoken to me about this to
ask me to have the intent of what my resolution's for. You are out of order.
» better one to decide that, because I'm the one who drafted it.
» So, let me read it. >> You No, you are not recognized.
» Why won't you let me read it? Because I'm talking right now.
» going to have you interpret what I wrote.
» Mr. Kelly. You do not have the floor. All right?
Nobody interrupts you when I object to what you're doing now. Feel free to
object. I'm going to finish my thought, okay? And then
we are going to follow the quorum. But you're not providing accurate
information to the public based on the resolution that I drafted and submitted
to the clerk that all of you, including the town attorney, reviewed. You are out
of order. I'm not out of order. I'm just correcting you. Okay. I've made multiple
objections, and you won't actually address my objections.
» just to make sure people understand, um
what Mr. Kelly is asking for, I mean, really shouldn't be done in a resolution
anyway. Um
he he's asking to change a Township law, which really should be done again, it's
not Mr. Kelly, you're out of order. You're wrong. Mr. Kelly, you're out of
order. Um
So, currently there are two complaints pending before the Government Records
Council. It's called the GRC. Uh the complaints are identical. Um What's the
complaint name? >> Mr. Kelly, you are out of order. What's
the complaint name? Why will you not respect the quorum of the council? I'm
asking you to provide identification of these alleged complaints. What are the
complaint names and what are the GRC numbers?
» [laughter]
» There are two identical complaints filed by the same township
resident um challenging the township's position
that the early release of the budget book is contrary to the quote
deliberative process privilege. In OPRA terms, the privilege translates
in what's commonly referred to as the advisory, consultative, and deliberative
exception. This exception prevents the OPRA release
of records that are part of a deliberative process such as budget
drafts, questions and answers concerning a draft budget, etc. Um
The opinion of our counsel
handling our defense against the GRC complaints complaints is that the
privilege should apply in this case. All right? The proposed resolution
Mr. Kelly's proposed resolution is clearly designed to prevent the township
from relying on a legally recognized privilege.
» That's absolutely false. >> Mr. Kelly, you're out of order.
» You are completely lying to the public right now.
» you are out of order. >> Okay. I'd like to give you a formal
warning at this point, Mr. Kelly. Your goal is to obstruct the business of
the council. That's not true. Mr. Kelly, I object to your decision.
» you do not have a floor. Mr. [clears throat] Morrison, I am able
to object to anything that you say that is contrary to the truth or to what is
submitted to this council. >> Mr. Kelly, listen, I understand your
point of view, all right? What is my point of view?
» Mr. Kelly, I
at least me, and I would hope the rest of the council, all right? would take
the advice of our legal
counsel, okay? As opposed to somebody who has no
legal training. I know you fancy yourself a lawyer, all right? But you
are not. So, I would like to let our our our town
attorneys, all right? Provide guidance. Now, everybody can vote their
conscience, all right? This is just guidance. I'm not refusing to let you
put in your resolution. I will, however, preface it by stating the facts. Okay?
You haven't read one fact yet in regards to my position on any resolution that I
drafted. >> So, And I would you
question then, would you allow me to respond?
As soon as we're done. Okay? As Done at what? Before before the
vote, I would want to have a >> Oh, I'm going to give you a chance.
Okay. Um but again,
Mr. Kelly, the the quorum of the council requires that people take it seriously.
And listen, nobody interrupts you when you talk.
This is not about who talks last or who talks loudest, okay? This is about
following procedure and policy and doing right by the town. I know that you think
that you are the only one that is concerned with our town. That's just not
true. Okay? And we're going to follow the processes. We're going to give the
public the due and respect that we owe them, all right? And we're not going to
constantly interrupt. All right. Now,
as far as being not recognized and out of order, I I lost count at 10 each,
okay? Yeah, I I I have I have I have 12 of you not recognizing that these
initiative code for where I object. >> Here's another one, okay? So, I would
like to I object. >> Mr. President,
» Mr. Kelly, you're making my point for me, okay? I would like to
officially give you a warning that should you
consider to disrupt the council processes, all right? I'm going to call
for a vote of censure, all right? Now, should that pass, you
will not be permitted to speak on anything except for the matter of voting
yes or no on any vote that requires you to do so. I object again, Council
President. Understood. >> And I'm going to call a point of order.
You have to define that. >> not Mr. Kelly, Yeah, you can't chill my
First Amendment right. Mr. Kelly, Mr. Kelly, you do not have the right, all
right? To disrupt >> disrupting the meeting.
I'm only correcting you, Council President, from the four false truths
that you mentioned to the public. You know that as well as I do.
Okay. Anyway, so regarding
regarding Mr. Kelly's resolution, uh it is our legal counsel's
recommendation. There are a couple ways that we can proceed.
Any council member can make a motion to withdraw the proposed resolution from
the agenda, all right? That motion will require a second and a second it proceed
to a vote. The resolution can remain on the agenda
and move for a vote. A second it voting would proceed as usual, all right? I am
not pulling the resolution, all right? I am merely giving background
and pointing out what our paid legal counsel recommends.
Now, Can I read the resolution? >> Watch this. I'm going to give you the
floor and I will not interrupt you. Three minutes. Go ahead. Uh for the
introduction of the resolution? No, no, no. The you could say you got to have
three minutes to say your peace and then we will introduce the resolution. You
can introduce it just by again, like any other resolution reading the resolution
as what's on the agenda. >> Council President, just to make sure the
same thing that with Mr. Sackett under 2651 and then under my resolution 2662,
you allowed me to read it entirely and then provide a a cause for the
resolution. I understand that the resolution is
» little bit lengthier than the other one, so it would take a little bit longer.
» the resolution is in the public domain. It's in the agenda packet.
» not going to let me read it like you did with Mr. Sackett? I am giving you three
minutes. You can use it however you choose, starting now.
So, that before this uh governing body and as well as the members of the
public, we had a budget meeting on the 14th of March. And just like we have a a
meeting today, there are documents presented for the uh public to review
prior to any action that the council would take. So, the March 14th uh budget
meeting that we had, we had a budget meeting with the budget books. We had
action that took place. Um we had votes, things passed, things
didn't pass. But the public was not had the ability
to actually participate with accurate knowledge regarding to what we were
looking at. So, this resolution 2672 clearly follows statutory process. Um
under 40A:69 uh 40E, it is the mayor's duty to
provide a budget for the council to review. And it's also mirrored in our
ordinance 231I. In addition to that, we have following under 40A
uh colon 4-5 and 4 of a time frame when it has to go in front of the budget for
us to vote upon. And then we also have 47:1A1, which is OPRA, the Open Public
Meeting Act, I mean Record Act, for documents that people would want to
review to get some information prior to any action
taking place. What's puzzling to me is that through
that whole entire process that we had all that action and it was 7 hours in
front of the public, our council here, Council President
Morrison, doesn't want the public to review any of the documents leading to
the introduction of it as well as the adoption of it. He only wants you to
review it after the adoption in a different format. In 2018 and 19,
we had no problem publishing all this information on the website prior to the
adoption of our budget. Nobody was harmed. There was no issue.
OPRA is not mandatory and there is nothing in any of the provisions that
are in this resolution presented to you
that says we cannot provide the documents. Even if Mr. Yacovano was to
be successful in the OPRA complaints, which he hasn't even identified them,
all that is is under OPRA if somebody were questioning it. Nothing bars us
from providing information to the public to review. And if the administration is
so confident on those numbers that they give us
and this council is so confident of the action that we took place on the 14th of
the budget meeting, why wouldn't they want the the members of the public to
review to see where our money is going, the savings and the spendings?
They don't because it's reckless on how they spend. There's a lot of meat that's
inside there and we could have cut to benefit the taxpayers. Instead, Mr.
uh Morrison believes that he is some type of a therapist and he can read the
minds of others and give somewhat of an interpretation of what the intent was.
This was only to be transparent, allow the public to review the same
documents that their elected leaders look to review. Perhaps you may have
some suggestions from the audience. You may oppose some of the spending that's
there. You may have some other concerns of some of the moneys that was being
dispersed in different directions. You don't because we don't provide it to
you. We only provide it after the fact, never
before. So, the intent of this is only to provide the public with access Mr.
Kelly, >> documents that we have. I can finish the
thought, right? You have the floor. The same access to the documents that we
review that are public documents. Salaries, you can go on Data Universe
and get the same salary information that's in the budget. You can get the
expenditures that we have on there for materials, for services, for contracts,
for agreements. But they don't want you to have this
prior to. And that's something that I'm passionate about for the public to
review the same documents that we have to see what we're looking at when we
make our executive vote. We're the leader legislative branch of government.
We create laws. >> please And we also are the purse strings
for the taxpayers. Okay.
So, I make a motion [clears throat] No, no, hang on. No, I make a motion to
move resolution 26-72. Move? What do you mean?
You got to move it. You got to We're going to You're going to vote on it.
You're making a motion for it. Yeah. Okay. Right? You would support
transparency for the public, wouldn't you?
» See, the thing is is you're you're trying to Here's the deal.
» you want the public to review the same documents that we have?
» I don't know why you can't control yourself and let other people speak. You
know, the thing is is you throw things out there that are just completely not
true. No, no, no. That's a mis- You're describing yourself now, Mr. Morrison.
Okay, is there a second for the motion?
This council is against transparency. Thank you.
» Again, you put the council in an impossible
situation. You have Mr. Kelly Please, we're not on the school yard.
Please let people talk. Look, I understand Mr. Kelly. There you go.
Yeah, I mean if you would have a you would have a regular debate Mr.
Kelly, maybe we can get a better understand-
» of a debate. You cannot let anybody speak. I think it's the other way
around, cuz it's president. >> [snorts]
» I'm sorry, Mr. Yashpona, did you have something to add? Okay. I I just want to
add that, you know, I can confirm that whatever the council president just
said, meaning that there was legal advice from our attorney, is 100%
factual. So, and I don't want this to seem like it's
a back and forth that, you know, council president says one thing, Council
McKelvey says another. There was definitely legal advice given to, I
believe, all the council members. I mean, I think we were blind copied, but
we all received it, and that was the advice of the council, and that's why
we're we're following through. >> But But in all
Mr. Kelly, you're done. There was no legal basis, there was no citations.
Mr. Kelly, you are not recognized. So, that's poor legal advice.
» Mr. Kelly, you are not recognized.
O-26-09 bond ordinance appropriating $4,248,890
and authorizing the issuance of $3,268,595
bonds or notes of the township for various improvements or purposes
authorized to be undertaken by the Township of Rockaway in the County of
Morris. Can I have a motion? So moved.
» Second. Clerk, please take the roll.
Council member Salberg >> Yes.
Council member Wojtowicz Yes. Council member Freeland er Yes.
Council member Ryak >> Yes. Council member Fraytak Yes. Council
member Quinn Yes. >> Council member Kelly Yes. Council vice
president Sackett Yes. Council president Morrison Yes. Nine yeses, motion
carried. O-26-10
bond ordinance appropriating $1,730,000 and authorizing the issuance
excuse me, of $1,690,000 bonds or notes of the township
for various improvements or purposes authorized to be undertaken in and by
the Township of Rockaway in the County of Morris, New Jersey, for the water
supply and distribution system of the township. Can I have a motion?
» So moved. Clerk, please take the roll. Council
member Salberg >> Yes. Council member Wojtowicz Yes.
Council member Freeland er Yes. Council member Ryak Yes. Council member Fraytak
Yes. Council member Quinn Yes. Council member Kelly Yes. Council vice president
Sackett Yes. Council president Morrison Yes.
Nine yeses, motion carried. Ordinance providing for improvement of
various roads in and by the Township of Rockaway in the County of Morris, New
Jersey, and re-appropriating $750,000 therefore from proceeds of obligations
of the township heretofore issued and funds available under ordinance of the
township heretofore adopted. >> Motion.
Second. Clerk, please take the roll. Council member Salberg Yes. Council
member Wojtowicz Yes. Council member Freeland er Yes. Council member Ryak
» Yes. Council member Fraytak Yes. Council member Quinn
» Yes. Council member Kelly Yes. Council vice president Sackett
Yes. Council president Morrison Yes. Nine yeses, motion carried.
O-26-12 an ordinance fixing the salaries of various officials and contractual
employees of the Township of Rockaway in the County of Morris. Yeah, I have a
question on this though, Mr. Morrison. Just because there's some additions that
were from the previous ordinance in O-25.
Yeah. Mrs. Palmieri
Um on uh on 26-12, what what are the ones that are added on
that we didn't have before as far as title?
We didn't have everybody clerk three, so
On this one? Okay. And there was there a reason why?
» [snorts]
» Okay. Thank you.
Can I have a motion? So moved. Second. Clerk, please take the roll.
Council member Salberg Yes. Council member Wojtowicz Yes. Council member
Freeland er Yes. Council member Ryak Yes. Council member
Fraytak Yes. Council member Quinn Yes. Council member Kelly Yes. Council vice
president Sackett Yes. Council president Morrison Yes. Nine yeses, motion
carried. O-26-13 an ordinance fixing the salaries
of various officials and non-contractual employees of the Township of Rockaway in
the County of Morris. Same question, Council president. Mrs.
Palmieri I don't believe any were added to this
one. This was not one that included the an assistant engineer?
I believe the assistant engineer was in last year's. That was in it? Okay.
Can I have a motion? [clears throat] So moved.
I'll second. Clerk, please take the roll.
Council member Salberg Yes. Council member Wojtowicz Yes. Council member
Freeland er Yes. Council member Ryak Yes. Council member Fraytak Yes. Council
member Quinn [clears throat] Yes. Council member Kelly Yes. Council vice
president Sackett Yes. Council president Morrison
Yes. Nine yeses, motion carried. Okay, moving on.
» Council president, on the consent agenda, remove R-26-66 for separate
discussion and vote. I'll second that. Clerk, please take the roll.
I wasn't making a motion. I was just Do we do it by motion? That's not the law,
though. I understand you Again, you think you're
a lawyer, but we're going Provide me with the law that requires this. Clerk,
please take the roll. Council member Salberg Yes. Council member Wojtowicz
Yes. Council member Freeland er Yes. Council member Ryak Yes. Council member
Fraytak Yes. Council member Quinn Yes. Council
member Kelly Yes. Council vice president Sackett No.
Council president Morrison Yes. Eight yeses, one no, motion carried.
Okay, we're we'll do the rest of the consent agenda first.
R-26-63, R-26-64, R-26-65, R-26-69,
R-26-70, R-26-71.
Can I have a motion? >> So moved. Second. Clerk, please take the
roll. Council member Salberg Yes. Council
member Wojtowicz Yes. Council member Freeland er Yes. Council member Ryak
Yes. Council member Fraytak Yes. Council member Quinn Yes. Council member Kelly
Yes. Council vice president Sackett Yes. Council president Morrison Yes.
It's nine yeses, motion carried. All right, if we're going to have
discussion on R-26-66, again, I'd like to keep it to three
minutes per council person.
You made the motion, Mr. Kelly, you have one.
Uh in regards to the the resolution, we're we're rescinding two additional
resolutions. One, what would be the reason for the
rescinding of those resolutions?
Mr. Yashpona
My understanding is that we're talking about the same property and two and
three successive cannabis
retailers who wanted to use the same property uh one after the other, they
fell apart in terms of their ability to lease the property and uh this is the
survivor who apparently had the wherewithal to do it.
So, the reason for rescinding the two would be you wouldn't want
two uh contradicting resolutions on on the
record?
Basically correct, yes. So, we we as a council, like we we couldn't keep
a resolution that would contradict another resolution on the books.
I'm just making sure that I'm understanding you.
» the proper procedural approach is to rescind or vacate prior
resolutions that should no longer be active for any
purpose. That's what this is about. And what would happen if we didn't do this?
So, the public knows that's why we're doing it.
» Mr. Kelly, I'm not here to be a fortune teller. I gave you my answer. Mr.
Yashpona, I just need to remind you that you are legal counsel for this council.
So, I don't think you select what you want to do or Mr. Kelly, that's exactly
what we're paying him for. Please don't admonish our council. You're you're
paying him not to give us advice? Mr. Kelly, you're asking him to make
suppositions >> on his cell phone, he'll give you advice
all day long. You were I asked him at a meeting, he won't even answer my
question. Is it possible for you to have a discussion without throwing out barbs
and insults? Is it a barb? Where's the insult?
Mr. Kelly I am more apt to take the advice of our
legal counsel. All right? Over quite frankly, you.
You're asking him to for suppositions of things he could not possibly answer that
may [clears throat] happen in the future. And to frame it as him not
wanting to answer is little
silly. I don't think so, Council president. And
what we have here is R-25-53 and R-24-169.
And again, it's it's interesting that we've had prior motions
that weren't rescinded that oppose motions following.
And what he just answered to me was that we can't do that. We can't
leave resolutions on the books that oppose one another.
Right? You would agree with that. I'm not agreeing with anything you're
saying, because again, Well, he said that. I'm just I'm just reiterating what
he said. That's not what he said. So, So, then
Mr. Yachefano >> Can you clarify that then, Mr.
Yachefano, since I seem to be >> a second, cuz you're
You have 10 seconds left to finish. >> been interrupting me on all of that
time. Finish your Finish your thought. Mr. Yachefano, could you just correct
that again then?
So, you can only answer to me if Mr. Morrison says it's okay?
Mr. Kelly. Um he's pointing to you. You know, we we can see the script here.
Uh if if you listen carefully at council meetings, it's always the same thing.
It's like a a loop. Where are your citations? Where are your cases? What
are you doing? I don't believe your advice. Okay?
It's simple. It's honest. It's straightforward.
Two prior entities who sought
to rent this property for cannabis cannabis purposes
didn't qualify in terms of the property owner for a lease.
The protocol as I understand it was that they need the approbation of the
approval, excuse me, of the council in order to complete the process with all
the rules, regulations, etc. One failed, the other failed shortly
after. The council did its job, which is the same job it's being asked to do
tonight based upon the evidence that's been
submitted. And it just makes simple, common sense.
So, just to and just so the public's aware, what we do is we ask The council
gets their packets on the Friday before the meeting.
We ask the council if they have any specific questions such as this to email
administration so we can give we can get the proper information, right? We
generally try to avoid situations like this, um so as not to, you know, give
the view that, you know, one person is not doing the right thing and the other
person is the only one doing the right thing.
Again, the rest of the council, you know, follows these procedures. Again,
just to make sure that we have the information we need. Now, I did do that
on this. Correct me if I'm wrong. The way that I understood it from what I got
was when a cannabis retailer
wants to go into a space, they need, in order to get their license
or their paperwork, they need the approval of the township council, right?
And that is done via a resolution like this. Now, correct. Because there are
two other uh retailers that tried and failed, the
resolution R-24 happened in 2024, and R-25-53 happened in 2025,
these were similar resolutions to the one that we're doing now. However,
because these companies dropped out, those resolutions no longer stand, and
now we support the current person going for their license.
And and the one thing was left out is that it makes no sense to leave on the
books, so to speak, Right. resolutions that are no longer viable. So,
essentially, it's simply procedural. Yeah. And that's all it is. Okay. Mr.
Voitovich, did did you want to speak on this? I just wanted I'm sorry. Same 3
minutes. Yeah. You know, the resolutions I'm not
concerned about revoking the the other ones. It's It's supporting the
cannabis retailer and its location. I just want to say that, you know, I think
there's way too many, in my opinion,
dispensaries in the area. You go north on Greenpond Road, Route 23 has about
three of them. You go to Rockaway Borough, there's another one there.
There's There's way too many um dispensaries in my mind, and I don't
want this to seem like there's a liquor store on every single corner like some
municipalities. So, uh
I would be be against this. The location and supporting another cannabis retailer
in our township. Is this the Is there a Is this the same
Kinkush from Rockaway Borough? I believe so. I don't know.
All right. Does anybody here a patron there?
Mr. Kelly Would there be a conflict if there was, right?
» Mr. Kelly It's irrelevant. >> [laughter]
» Right? Really? Is there anybody else from the council
that wishes Yeah. Is there anybody else from the council Mr. Kelly Mr. Sun,
everybody else, please. Order.
Yeah. Um Is there anybody else from the council
that wishes to speak on this? I didn't hear a no.
Okay. Um
I make a motion for resolution R-26-66 revoking resolutions R-25-53 and
R-24-169 and supporting the location and operation of a Class 5 cannabis retailer
by Kinkush Rockaway Township LLC within the township of Rockaway. Can I have a
second? >> I'll second.
Clerk, please take the roll.
Councilmember Salberg. >> Yes. Councilmember Voitovich.
» No. Councilmember Freelander. Yes.
Councilmember Royack. Yes.
» Councilmember Royack. >> Yes.
Councilmember Frayday. Yes. Councilmember Quinn. Yes. Councilmember
Kelly. No. Council Vice President Sackett. Yes.
Council President Morrison. Yes. Seven yeses, two nos. Motion carries.
Okay. Uh
Alejandro Jimenez Fontana for full membership of Fire Company number four.
Can I have a motion? >> So moved. I'll second.
Do a choice on that one, Clerk. Councilmember Salberg. Yes.
Councilmember Voitovich. Yes. Councilmember Freelander. Yes.
Councilmember Royack. >> Yes. Councilmember Frayday. Yes.
Councilmember Quinn. Yes. Councilmember Kelly. Yes. Council Vice President
Sackett. >> Yes. Council President Morrison.
Yes. Nine yeses, motion carries. Congratulations. I have new business
too, Council President. Uh no. New business and reports were to be
submitted >> know. You only had reports that was
indicated from your motion. You're not recognized. I have new business to bring
up. >> Mr. Kelly, you're That would be
something that maybe you could help with. I mean, you could You are not
recognized. There was no motion for any direction on Mr. Sackett made a motion
to adjourn. I'll second it. Clerk, please take the roll.
Councilmember Salberg. Yes. Councilmember Voitovich.
» Yes. Councilmember Freelander. Yes. Councilmember Royack.
» Yes. Councilmember Frayday. Yes. Councilmember Quinn. Yes. Councilmember
Kelly. No. Council Vice President Sackett.
» Yes. Council President Morrison. Yes. Mr. Mayor, I apologize that we could not
conduct this meeting. I know you had a couple statements to make. I do
apologize for that. To the rest of the public, I apologize for the circus that
is going on here today. Rest assured that the majority of the council does
not endorse it and wishes it didn't happen. I vote yes.
» I also I apologize for having the council president lie to this resident.