[0:00] I pledge allegiance
to the Republic for which it stands, one
[0:05] nation under God, indivisible, with
liberty and justice for all.
[0:13] » [clears throat]
>> A moment of silence to remember the
[0:15] service and sacrifices of the armed
service members who protect our nation
[0:19] and the first responders who protect our
neighborhoods.
[0:29] » [snorts]
>> Council
[0:32] Council member Salberg. Here.
Council member Wojtowicz.
[0:35] » Here.
Council member Freelander. Here.
[0:38] Council member Royack.
>> Here. Council member Fureyday. Here.
[0:42] Council member Quinn. Here. Council
member Kelly. Here. Council Vice
[0:46] President Sackett.
>> Here. Council President Morrison. Here.
[0:50] Adequate notice of this meeting was
provided to the Daily Record and the
[0:53] official newspapers for the Township of
Rockaway. Notice was posted on the
[0:57] official bulletin board of Rockaway
Township, Township website. And notice
[1:00] was filed in the office of the Township
Clerk.
[1:04] Approval of the minutes from the March
10th Township Council meeting. Can I
[1:07] have a motion?
So moved. Second.
[1:10] Clerk, please take the roll.
Council member Salberg.
[1:13] » Yes.
Council member Wojtowicz.
[1:15] » Yes. Council member Freelander. Yes.
Council member Royack. Yes. Council
[1:20] member Fureyday. Yes. Council member
Quinn. Yes. Council member Kelly. No.
[1:24] Council Vice President Sackett. Yes.
Council President Morrison. Yes. Eight
[1:28] yeses, one no, motion carried.
We are going to do the open to the
[1:32] public portion.
[1:36] Before opening the public portion of
this meeting, I want to remind everyone
[1:39] of the rules that apply to anyone who
wants to address the Council. Any member
[1:43] of the public wishing to address the
Council will have 3 minutes to do so.
[1:46] While an extension of time may be
requested, it should not be assumed that
[1:49] an extension of time will be granted.
While addressing the Council, Council
[1:53] members of the public
may not address or question any
[1:56] individual Council member. If anyone
addressing the Council violates these
[2:00] rules or conducts themselves
inappropriately, their speaking
[2:02] opportunity will be terminated and they
will be instructed to return to their
[2:05] seat. A refusal to comply will result in
a removal from the room.
[2:10] Members of the public in attendance may
not make comments from the audience
[2:13] without recognition by the chair.
Persons doing so will be subject to
[2:17] removal from the room.
As Council President, I have tremendous
[2:20] respect for my fellow Council members
and the public who take the time and
[2:23] effort to attend Council meetings. These
rules are necessary to protect and
[2:26] respect, but also to permit the Council
to do its business in an orderly and
[2:30] professional manner.
As a reminder, when you come up to the
[2:33] microphone, uh please state your name
and address for the record. And there is
[2:37] a 3-minute time limit.
[2:41] Michael Alardi.
[2:45] Michael Alardi, 19 Westbrook side drive.
I see um 02613 on the agenda for um
[2:51] salaries. There's several minimum
salaries that are below these New Jersey
[2:57] minimum wage. I don't know if that's an
oversight or if there is a reason for
[3:01] that.
Um also, there's lots of rocks and stuff
[3:05] on Mount Hope Ave and on the
interchanges of Route 80.
[3:09] I I know they have a street sweeper that
they come down and do it, but they don't
[3:14] do it often enough and they're either
overloading the trucks or not cleaning
[3:18] off the trucks when they get loaded
because it's any day you go down that
[3:22] road or on and off of Route 80 off of
Mount Hope, there's rocks everywhere.
[3:28] Uh there's also a ton of dirt in the
air. I don't know if anyone looks at
[3:31] their car in the morning,
but I don't know if it's from Tilcon or
[3:35] from Picatinny,
but especially if there's a little
[3:38] drizzle overnight, the cars are filthy
with dirt.
[3:42] So, when they do their blasting, I don't
know if they're not
[3:45] wetting it down or keeping the dust
down, but if something could be looked
[3:49] into for that, cuz I know people's
houses are filthy and the cars are
[3:52] filthy every morning. You can wash your
car the night before and they're filthy
[3:56] in the morning.
Also, I know there was a request for
[3:59] Council reports to be handed in prior to
the meeting and I see there's three
[4:03] included tonight.
Um if something comes up from the public
[4:07] or during discussion that a Councilman
would want to address during their
[4:12] report, I'm assuming that can't happen
until the next meeting now because the
[4:16] report needs to be handed in.
But there are sometimes things get
[4:20] brought up that would be nice to get an
answer during somebody's report if we
[4:23] could. Thank you.
Thank you.
[4:26] Mr. Alardi, was that Mount Hope Ave?
Was that Mount Just Mount Hope Ave with
[4:30] the rocks and everything you were
talking about?
[4:33] All right. Mr. Wikilski.
[4:38] Eric [clears throat] Wikilski, 120
Richard Street.
[4:42] I'm missing a hearing here, but I think
Mike just mentioned one of the things
[4:47] that I wanted to discuss and that is
the public portion of the meeting right
[4:53] now
is at the beginning of the meeting. So,
[4:57] anything that transpires afterwards
through your input,
[5:01] it gets deferred by the public, any
questions they have,
[5:05] 2 weeks down the road, if not further.
And so, I'm just wondering if there's an
[5:10] opportunity and if not, why
we couldn't bring that open to the
[5:14] public back to the end of the meeting,
which
[5:18] I think it used to be that way.
And I think that's pretty common
[5:21] practice in other municipalities.
[5:27] Um
code enforcement,
[5:30] that a situation, many situations on my
street in Richard Richard Street, there
[5:37] are issues there, most recently behind
your house, Susan, uh pole barn or
[5:43] whatever it was called, still in
violation. I think there was going to be
[5:48] uh
something issued, but if not,
[5:52] that pole barn was to be taken down and
as of today, it's still standing there.
[5:59] So, I don't know what kind of protocol
code enforcement has on something like
[6:04] that.
I certainly would like to understand
[6:08] that a little little better.
Um
[6:12] I apologize, I missed the budget
meeting, but I did watch it.
[6:17] Um
and correct me if I'm wrong, one of the
[6:20] things that was spoke talked about was
the reserve fund and how important that
[6:25] is
to cover things like snow storms and the
[6:29] associated expenses with that,
um
[6:34] manpower, materials and so forth. And
then fast forward to the PD section,
[6:41] I think there was 300 some odd thousand
of overtime allocated.
[6:46] And this is the part I don't know,
is any portion of that overtime
[6:52] that's
accrued during storms and events like
[6:56] that, is that part of what the reserve
fund is for? And if it is,
[7:01] then should we be reducing that line
item on the overtime?
[7:06] Um the last item that's been frustrating
for me for a while,
[7:12] » [clears throat]
>> I had
[7:14] opportunities last year to call in to
both engineering
[7:19] and um to the CFO.
And I learned at that time
[7:24] that when when you're when you
the the voicemail clicks on, all you get
[7:30] is you've reached extension 2102.
[7:35] So, I would leave a message who I am, uh
misses a message for so-and-so.
[7:40] Um I had some conversation with that.
I'm sorry. If I can just finish.
[7:45] » out of time, but finish your thought.
And it's confusing to me on why there's
[7:51] a hesitancy
or resistance
[7:54] to
uh put your name on their voicemail. I
[8:00] work for a company, anybody that works
in corporate America has a
[8:04] responsibility or that has a designated
phone line, you'll typically call them
[8:09] and you'll say you've reached the you've
reached the the office of Howard
[8:12] Morrison, so-and-so and so-and-so,
leave a message after the beep. If you
[8:18] call into the engineering department or
the CFO in the administration, what you
[8:22] get, and I just checked it on the way
over today,
[8:25] is you've reached the engineering
department.
[8:29] You've reached the finance department.
I think the public deserves to know,
[8:34] especially if they're calling,
um that they've reached they want to
[8:39] talk to the person Allison as an example
in engineering, then don't let Allison's
[8:44] name should be on their their voice.
You've reached Allison Fronte, whatever
[8:48] her title is, of such and such
engineering department. I'm not here
[8:52] right now, leave a message or uh I'm out
of town or I'm on vacation.
[8:57] Um you know, please leave a message or
you can contact so-and-so.
[9:02] Um I don't know what the aversion is to
that happening or
[9:06] but you know, the administration in
particular
[9:09] um
services us the taxpayers.
[9:13] Um it's common in business.
I'm not sure why it's not here.
[9:18] Thank you. Thanks. Council President,
I'd like to answer some of Mr.
[9:21] Wikilski's
>> I'm going to ask you to hold off on
[9:23] that. Um
so, just a couple things, um cuz I think
[9:27] you brought up some good questions, so
I'd like to take the opportunity to
[9:30] address some of them.
The public portion,
[9:32] we used to have it at the end, right?
So, the thought process there is by the
[9:36] time we get to the end, voting's done,
right? So,
[9:42] what's done is done, you know, so it
by putting it before, and again, we
[9:47] publish the agenda, you have time to
digest it and give your you know, give
[9:53] your two cents before we vote on it,
right? So, I see both sides. I'd rather
[10:00] give the public the opportunity to speak
on things
[10:04] for the council people to consider
before we vote on it.
[10:07] If that makes sense.
Um
[10:10] What? We have one on each end. Uh
Uh yeah, we'll think about it. Um
[10:16] as far as the uh the general fund, and
correct me if I'm wrong here, there's a
[10:21] certain percentage I think that's
recommended. The point is is with when
[10:25] you have a certain amount in the fund,
it
[10:28] it our bond rating is better, which
lowers interest rates. Correct. Okay, so
[10:32] that's it's actually a taxpayer benefit.
It's a benefit, but we also he was
[10:36] asking about the um the overtime. So, um
what we do is anything that is left
[10:41] unexpended in the snow and ice um
line item within the budget, if there's
[10:46] any money left over, I move that into
the trust to build those reserves. Same
[10:50] thing with police overtime. If there's
any overtime that is unspent, it will go
[10:55] into that trust to be used for a future
snowstorm or any any type of storm. It's
[10:59] So, it's not lost. No, no, it's not
lost. Okay.
[11:02] Um
and then I I like the point about the
[11:04] voicemail. I think it's valid. And
again, I don't want to answer for you. I
[11:08] just when you're reaching engineering,
there's so many people that check that
[11:11] voicemail, it's just my guess. We are in
the process of trying to correct that.
[11:15] Those those complaints are heard and
loud and clear. So, we are we are
[11:18] working to um to resolve that matter.
>> She's working on it now. They had been
[11:21] working on that before.
I I don't know.
[11:27] Okay. He also had a notice of violation
question.
[11:29] » And Mr. Kelly, we're we're done.
Um okay. Uh introduction of the 2026
[11:36] municipal budget. Uh before we do this
again, I want to thank administration
[11:41] for the copious amount of work that they
put into here. I want to thank the
[11:44] council for their due diligence,
excellent questions, and work on the
[11:47] budget.
Ordinance O-2608, ordinance to exceed
[11:51] the municipal budget appropriation
limits, and to establish a cap bank. Can
[11:55] I have a motion? So moved. Second.
Clerk, please take the roll.
[12:00] Councilwoman Salberg. Yes.
Councilwoman Wojtowicz.
[12:03] » Yes. Councilwoman Freelander. Yes.
Councilwoman Royek. Yes. Councilwoman
[12:09] Freda. Yes. Councilwoman Quinn. Yes.
Councilman Kelly. No.
[12:14] Council Vice President Sackett. Yes.
Council President Marosan. Yes. Eight
[12:19] yeses, one no, motion carries.
Um okay, so for the next resolution, I
[12:24] do have to read something into the
record.
[12:27] Uh it is a little bit lengthy, but I
will try to get through it. Um and it's
[12:32] a requirement for again for the next
resolution to introduce the budget.
[12:37] Resolution R-26-67,
a resolution to introduce the 2026
[12:41] municipal budget of the Township of
Rockaway in the County of Morris.
[12:46] Be it resolved by the Township Council
of the Township of Rockaway in the
[12:49] County of Morris, State of New Jersey,
that the following statements of
[12:52] revenues and appropriations shall
constitute the municipal budget for the
[12:55] year 2026.
Municipal budget
[12:59] is under revenues.
General revenues, uh $12,487,873.33.
[13:09] Local tax for municipal purposes,
$31,186,027.16.
[13:16] Minimum library tax, $2,261,055
[13:21] even.
Total general revenues, $45,934,955.49.
[13:29] Appropriations, municipal purposes,
$42,644,955.49.
[13:37] Reserve for uncollected taxes,
$3,290,000.
[13:41] Total [clears throat] general
appropriations, $45,934,955.49.
[13:48] Water operating budget.
Revenues, rents, fees, and
[13:52] miscellaneous, $3,363,004.
[13:56] Appropriations, general expenses,
$3,363,004.
[14:02] Open space, recreation, farmland, and
historic preservation trust fund
[14:06] revenues, amount to be raised by
taxation, $459,685.70.
[14:13] Appropriations for general expenses,
$459,685.70.
[14:18] Be it further resolved that said budget
be published on the official website at
[14:22] www.rockawaytownship.org
[14:25] on March 30th, 2026, together with a
public notice that the public hearing
[14:29] will be held at the municipal building
on April 28th, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. or soon
[14:35] thereafter as the matter can be
conducted by the Township Council.
[14:39] Point of order, uh Council President?
Not recognized. Uh Point of order again,
[14:44] Council President. There's not a matter
of you recognizing. Uh
[14:47] you are not recognized.
I have a question, uh Council President.
[14:51] » I clearly said you were not
>> about the introduction of the budget.
[14:55] » Mr. Kelly, you are not recognized. That
is four times I've said
[14:59] you are not recognized.
Resolution R-26-67, a resolution to
[15:04] introduce the 2026 municipal budget of
the Township of Rockaway
[15:07] » to debate under 2-5.1. Can I have a
second? Second. Clerk, please take the
[15:11] roll.
[15:15] Councilwoman Salberg. Yes.
Councilwoman Wojtowicz. Yes.
[15:20] Councilwoman Freelander. Yes.
Councilwoman Royek. Yes. Councilwoman
[15:25] Freda. Yes. Councilwoman [clears throat]
Quinn. Yes. Councilman Kelly. No.
[15:31] Council Vice President Sackett. Yes.
Council President Marosan. Yes. Nine uh
[15:35] eight yeses, one no, motion passes.
Resolution R-26-68, resolution for
[15:41] self-examination of the 2026 municipal
budget. Can I have a motion?
[15:44] » So moved. Clerk, please take the roll.
Second.
[15:48] I need a second. Who seconded?
I did. I'll second. Okay. I'm sorry. Go
[15:53] to the second it.
[15:57] Councilwoman Salberg. Yes.
Councilwoman Wojtowicz. Yes.
[16:01] Councilwoman Freelander. Yes.
Councilwoman Royek. Yes. Councilwoman
[16:06] Freda. Yes. Councilwoman Quinn. Yes.
Councilman Kelly. No. Council Vice
[16:10] President Sackett. Yes. Council
President Marosan. Yes. Eight yeses, one
[16:14] no, motion carries.
All right, resolution R-26-72.
[16:19] Um I want to just for the uh benefit of
the public and the rest of the council,
[16:23] uh there there's a lot to unpack here,
so I just like to uh
[16:27] go over a couple of things. So,
uh we received an email on March 19th
[16:32] from Councilman Kelly uh with this
lengthy resolution,
[16:36] um
which mandates uh early public release
[16:39] of of what we commonly refer to as the
budget fund,
[16:42] uh with all materials um significantly
prior to the budget meeting.
[16:47] Um
procedurally, notwithstanding the uh
[16:52] the the meat of it, um procedurally, um
it was not following our ordinances. So,
[16:58] according to our ordinance,
uh or ordinances, a resolution shall be
[17:02] drafted by or receive the approval of
the Township Attorney as to form and
[17:06] legality. Obviously, that kind of makes
sense. We want our legal counsel to keep
[17:10] the town out of part harm's way.
Um
[17:14] Mr. Kelly did not follow the procedure
in this
[17:16] » Yes, I did.
Yes, I did.
[17:18] » not recognized.
>> I'm well, I'm correcting you. You're
[17:21] incorrect.
Even the clerk was notified to notify me
[17:25] immediately of any edits to my
resolution by you or the Township
[17:28] Attorney. With the submission of that
resolution, there was also edits made to
[17:32] that resolution that was put on the
agenda
[17:34] » of order. You're out of order.
So, you're lying to the public right
[17:37] now.
>> you are out of order.
[17:39] Debate.
No debate.
[17:42] You have to debate under 2-5.1. You
know, you're violating the
[17:44] administrative code. Which
administrative code are you referring
[17:47] to? 2-5.1.
[17:55] Regarding objections to Mr. Council
President.
[18:01] I object
>> Questions of order, methods of
[18:03] organization, and the conduct of the
business uh shall be determined by the
[18:06] Council President.
Continue it.
[18:10] Unless there's an objection to a
determination, in which case a matter is
[18:12] shall be determined by majority vote of
council member. You continuing to block
[18:15] my objection and have it went to a vote,
and for the reason of the objection. So,
[18:19] the reason for the objection is
>> you a chance not to vote. We're we're
[18:22] not there yet. So, you're interrupting
>> an objection. Mr. Kelly, I'm going to
[18:26] you're interrupting me, and I'm not
giving you the floor at this time.
[18:31] Um
Just so everybody understands, um
[18:36] Mr. Kelly's asking to, you know, change
established administrative processes.
[18:41] It's not true. Mr. Kelly, you are out of
order.
[18:44] » I'm correcting you. First of all, you
have never spoken to me about this to
[18:47] ask me to have the intent of what my
resolution's for. You are out of order.
[18:51] » better one to decide that, because I'm
the one who drafted it.
[18:54] » So, let me read it.
>> You No, you are not recognized.
[18:57] » Why won't you let me read it? Because
I'm talking right now.
[19:00] » going to have you interpret what I
wrote.
[19:02] » Mr. Kelly.
You do not have the floor. All right?
[19:05] Nobody interrupts you when I object to
what you're doing now. Feel free to
[19:09] object. I'm going to finish my thought,
okay? And then
[19:13] we are going to follow the quorum. But
you're not providing accurate
[19:18] information to the public based on the
resolution that I drafted and submitted
[19:22] to the clerk that all of you, including
the town attorney, reviewed. You are out
[19:26] of order. I'm not out of order. I'm just
correcting you. Okay. I've made multiple
[19:30] objections, and you won't actually
address my objections.
[19:32] » just to make sure people understand,
um
[19:36] what Mr. Kelly is asking for, I mean,
really shouldn't be done in a resolution
[19:40] anyway.
Um
[19:43] he he's asking to change a Township law,
which really should be done again, it's
[19:47] not Mr. Kelly, you're out of order.
You're wrong. Mr. Kelly, you're out of
[19:50] order.
Um
[19:53] So, currently there are two complaints
pending before the Government Records
[19:56] Council. It's called the GRC. Uh the
complaints are identical. Um What's the
[20:00] complaint name?
>> Mr. Kelly, you are out of order. What's
[20:02] the complaint name? Why will you not
respect the quorum of the council? I'm
[20:06] asking you to provide identification of
these alleged complaints. What are the
[20:09] complaint names and what are the GRC
numbers?
[20:11] » [laughter]
[20:13] » There are two identical
complaints filed by the same township
[20:18] resident um
challenging the township's position
[20:23] that the early release of the budget
book is contrary to the quote
[20:27] deliberative process privilege.
In OPRA terms, the privilege translates
[20:31] in what's commonly referred to as the
advisory, consultative, and deliberative
[20:34] exception.
This exception prevents the OPRA release
[20:37] of records that are part of a
deliberative process such as budget
[20:40] drafts, questions and answers concerning
a draft budget, etc. Um
[20:47] The opinion
of our counsel
[20:50] handling our defense against the GRC
complaints complaints is that the
[20:54] privilege should apply in this case.
All right? The proposed resolution
[20:59] Mr. Kelly's proposed resolution is
clearly designed to prevent the township
[21:04] from relying on a legally recognized
privilege.
[21:06] » That's absolutely false.
>> Mr. Kelly, you're out of order.
[21:08] » You are completely lying to the public
right now.
[21:11] » you are out of order.
>> Okay. I'd like to give you a formal
[21:15] warning at this point, Mr. Kelly.
Your goal is to obstruct the business of
[21:19] the council. That's not true. Mr. Kelly,
I object to your decision.
[21:23] » you do not have a floor.
Mr. [clears throat] Morrison, I am able
[21:28] to object to anything that you say that
is contrary to the truth or to what is
[21:32] submitted to this council.
>> Mr. Kelly, listen, I understand your
[21:37] point of view, all right? What is my
point of view?
[21:39] » Mr. Kelly,
I
[21:42] at least me, and I would hope the rest
of the council, all right? would take
[21:46] the advice
of our legal
[21:51] counsel,
okay? As opposed to somebody who has no
[21:54] legal training. I know you fancy
yourself a lawyer, all right? But you
[21:57] are not.
So, I would like to let our our our town
[22:02] attorneys, all right? Provide guidance.
Now, everybody can vote their
[22:06] conscience, all right? This is just
guidance. I'm not refusing to let you
[22:10] put in your resolution. I will, however,
preface it by stating the facts. Okay?
[22:15] You haven't read one fact yet in regards
to my position on any resolution that I
[22:18] drafted.
>> So, And I would you
[22:20] question then, would you allow me to
respond?
[22:22] As soon as we're done.
Okay? As Done at what? Before before the
[22:26] vote, I would want to have a
>> Oh, I'm going to give you a chance.
[22:28] Okay.
Um but again,
[22:31] Mr. Kelly, the the quorum of the council
requires that people take it seriously.
[22:35] And listen, nobody interrupts you when
you talk.
[22:38] This is not about who talks last or who
talks loudest, okay? This is about
[22:43] following procedure and policy and doing
right by the town. I know that you think
[22:48] that you are the only one that is
concerned with our town. That's just not
[22:51] true. Okay? And we're going to follow
the processes. We're going to give the
[22:55] public the due and respect that we owe
them, all right? And we're not going to
[22:59] constantly interrupt.
All right. Now,
[23:03] as far as being not recognized and out
of order, I I lost count at 10 each,
[23:07] okay? Yeah, I I I have I have I have 12
of you not recognizing that these
[23:12] initiative code for where I object.
>> Here's another one, okay? So, I would
[23:16] like to I object.
>> Mr. President,
[23:18] » Mr. Kelly, you're making my point for
me, okay? I would like to
[23:24] officially
give you a warning that should you
[23:27] consider to disrupt the council
processes, all right? I'm going to call
[23:31] for a vote of censure,
all right? Now, should that pass, you
[23:36] will not be permitted to speak on
anything except for the matter of voting
[23:40] yes or no on any vote that requires you
to do so. I object again, Council
[23:45] President. Understood.
>> And I'm going to call a point of order.
[23:47] You have to define that.
>> not Mr. Kelly, Yeah, you can't chill my
[23:51] First Amendment right. Mr. Kelly, Mr.
Kelly, you do not have the right, all
[23:56] right? To disrupt
>> disrupting the meeting.
[23:59] I'm only correcting you, Council
President, from the four false truths
[24:01] that you mentioned to the public. You
know that as well as I do.
[24:05] Okay. Anyway,
so regarding
[24:09] regarding Mr. Kelly's resolution,
uh it is our legal counsel's
[24:16] recommendation. There are a couple ways
that we can proceed.
[24:20] Any council member can make a motion to
withdraw the proposed resolution from
[24:24] the agenda, all right? That motion will
require a second and a second it proceed
[24:28] to a vote.
The resolution can remain on the agenda
[24:32] and move for a vote. A second it voting
would proceed as usual, all right? I am
[24:36] not pulling the resolution,
all right? I am merely giving background
[24:41] and pointing out what our paid
legal counsel recommends.
[24:49] Now, Can I read the resolution?
>> Watch this. I'm going to give you the
[24:53] floor and I will not interrupt you.
Three minutes. Go ahead. Uh for the
[24:58] introduction of the resolution? No, no,
no. The you could say you got to have
[25:02] three minutes to say your peace and then
we will introduce the resolution. You
[25:05] can introduce it just by again, like any
other resolution reading the resolution
[25:10] as what's on the agenda.
>> Council President, just to make sure the
[25:12] same thing that with Mr. Sackett under
2651 and then under my resolution 2662,
[25:19] you allowed me to read it entirely and
then provide a a cause for the
[25:23] resolution.
I understand that the resolution is
[25:26] » little bit lengthier than the other one,
so it would take a little bit longer.
[25:28] » the resolution is in the public domain.
It's in the agenda packet.
[25:31] » not going to let me read it like you did
with Mr. Sackett? I am giving you three
[25:34] minutes. You can use it however you
choose, starting now.
[25:39] So, that before this uh governing body
and as well as the members of the
[25:42] public, we had a budget meeting on the
14th of March. And just like we have a a
[25:47] meeting today, there are documents
presented for the uh public to review
[25:51] prior to any action that the council
would take. So, the March 14th uh budget
[25:55] meeting that we had, we had a budget
meeting with the budget books. We had
[25:58] action that took place.
Um we had votes, things passed, things
[26:02] didn't pass.
But the public was not had the ability
[26:05] to actually participate with accurate
knowledge regarding to what we were
[26:09] looking at. So, this resolution 2672
clearly follows statutory process. Um
[26:16] under 40A:69
uh 40E, it is the mayor's duty to
[26:21] provide a budget for the council to
review. And it's also mirrored in our
[26:24] ordinance 231I. In addition to that, we
have following under 40A
[26:29] uh colon 4-5 and 4 of a time frame when
it has to go in front of the budget for
[26:35] us to vote upon. And then we also have
47:1A1, which is OPRA, the Open Public
[26:40] Meeting Act, I mean Record Act, for
documents that people would want to
[26:44] review to
get some information prior to any action
[26:47] taking place.
What's puzzling to me is that through
[26:51] that whole entire process that we had
all that action and it was 7 hours in
[26:55] front of the public,
our council here, Council President
[26:59] Morrison, doesn't want the public to
review any of the documents leading to
[27:03] the introduction of it as well as the
adoption of it. He only wants you to
[27:06] review it after the adoption
in a different format. In 2018 and 19,
[27:12] we had no problem publishing all this
information on the website prior to the
[27:16] adoption of our budget. Nobody was
harmed. There was no issue.
[27:19] OPRA is not mandatory and there is
nothing in any of the provisions that
[27:23] are in this
resolution presented to you
[27:26] that says we cannot provide the
documents. Even if Mr. Yacovano was to
[27:31] be successful in the OPRA complaints,
which he hasn't even identified them,
[27:35] all that is is under OPRA if somebody
were questioning it. Nothing bars us
[27:39] from providing information to the public
to review. And if the administration is
[27:44] so confident on those numbers that they
give us
[27:47] and this council is so confident of the
action that we took place on the 14th of
[27:50] the budget meeting, why wouldn't they
want the the members of the public to
[27:54] review to see where our money is going,
the savings and the spendings?
[27:58] They don't because it's reckless on how
they spend. There's a lot of meat that's
[28:01] inside there and we could have cut to
benefit the taxpayers. Instead, Mr.
[28:06] uh Morrison believes that he is some
type of a therapist and he can read the
[28:11] minds of others and give somewhat of an
interpretation of what the intent was.
[28:15] This was only to be transparent,
allow the public to review the same
[28:20] documents that their elected leaders
look to review. Perhaps you may have
[28:24] some suggestions from the audience. You
may oppose some of the spending that's
[28:28] there. You may have some other concerns
of some of the moneys that was being
[28:32] dispersed in different directions. You
don't because we don't provide it to
[28:35] you.
We only provide it after the fact, never
[28:38] before. So, the intent of this is only
to provide the public with access Mr.
[28:42] Kelly,
>> documents that we have. I can finish the
[28:45] thought, right? You have the floor.
The same access to the documents that we
[28:48] review that are public documents.
Salaries, you can go on Data Universe
[28:53] and get the same salary information
that's in the budget. You can get the
[28:56] expenditures that we have on there for
materials, for services, for contracts,
[29:00] for agreements.
But they don't want you to have this
[29:03] prior to. And that's something that I'm
passionate about for the public to
[29:07] review the same documents that we have
to see what we're looking at when we
[29:10] make our executive vote. We're the
leader legislative branch of government.
[29:14] We create laws.
>> please And we also are the purse strings
[29:17] for the taxpayers.
Okay.
[29:20] So, I make a motion [clears throat]
No, no, hang on. No, I make a motion to
[29:25] move resolution 26-72.
Move? What do you mean?
[29:33] You got to move it. You got to We're
going to You're going to vote on it.
[29:36] You're making a motion for it. Yeah.
Okay. Right? You would support
[29:39] transparency for the public, wouldn't
you?
[29:40] » See, the thing is is you're you're
trying to Here's the deal.
[29:43] » you want the public to review the same
documents that we have?
[29:45] » I don't know why you can't control
yourself and let other people speak. You
[29:48] know, the thing is is you throw things
out there that are just completely not
[29:52] true. No, no, no. That's a mis- You're
describing yourself now, Mr. Morrison.
[29:57] Okay, is there a second for the motion?
[30:01] This council is against transparency.
Thank you.
[30:04] » Again,
you put the council in an impossible
[30:08] situation. You have Mr. Kelly
Please, we're not on the school yard.
[30:12] Please let people talk. Look, I
understand Mr. Kelly. There you go.
[30:17] Yeah, I mean if you would have a
you would have a regular debate Mr.
[30:20] Kelly, maybe we can get a better
understand-
[30:23] » of a debate. You cannot let anybody
speak. I think it's the other way
[30:26] around, cuz it's president.
>> [snorts]
[30:29] » I'm sorry, Mr. Yashpona, did you have
something to add? Okay. I I just want to
[30:32] add that, you know, I can confirm that
whatever the council president just
[30:36] said, meaning that there was legal
advice from our attorney, is 100%
[30:40] factual. So,
and I don't want this to seem like it's
[30:43] a back and forth that, you know, council
president says one thing, Council
[30:46] McKelvey says another. There was
definitely legal advice given to, I
[30:49] believe, all the council members. I
mean, I think we were blind copied, but
[30:52] we all received it, and that was the
advice of the council, and that's why
[30:56] we're we're following through.
>> But But in all
[30:58] Mr. Kelly, you're done. There was no
legal basis, there was no citations.
[31:03] Mr. Kelly, you are not recognized. So,
that's poor legal advice.
[31:06] » Mr. Kelly, you are not recognized.
[31:12] O-26-09
bond ordinance appropriating $4,248,890
[31:18] and authorizing the issuance of
$3,268,595
[31:23] bonds or notes of the township for
various improvements or purposes
[31:27] authorized to be undertaken by the
Township of Rockaway in the County of
[31:29] Morris.
Can I have a motion? So moved.
[31:33] » Second. Clerk, please take the roll.
[31:37] Council member Salberg
>> Yes.
[31:39] Council member Wojtowicz Yes. Council
member Freeland er Yes.
[31:43] Council member Ryak
>> Yes. Council member Fraytak Yes. Council
[31:47] member Quinn Yes.
>> Council member Kelly Yes. Council vice
[31:51] president Sackett Yes. Council president
Morrison Yes. Nine yeses, motion
[31:55] carried.
O-26-10
[31:59] bond ordinance appropriating $1,730,000
and authorizing the issuance
[32:04] excuse me, of $1,690,000
bonds or notes of the township
[32:09] for various improvements or purposes
authorized to be undertaken in and by
[32:12] the Township of Rockaway in the County
of Morris, New Jersey, for the water
[32:15] supply and distribution system of the
township. Can I have a motion?
[32:19] » So moved.
Clerk, please take the roll. Council
[32:21] member Salberg
>> Yes. Council member Wojtowicz Yes.
[32:25] Council member Freeland er Yes. Council
member Ryak Yes. Council member Fraytak
[32:30] Yes. Council member Quinn Yes. Council
member Kelly Yes. Council vice president
[32:34] Sackett
Yes. Council president Morrison Yes.
[32:38] Nine yeses, motion carried.
Ordinance providing for improvement of
[32:42] various roads in and by the Township of
Rockaway in the County of Morris, New
[32:45] Jersey, and re-appropriating $750,000
therefore from proceeds of obligations
[32:50] of the township heretofore issued and
funds available under ordinance of the
[32:55] township heretofore adopted.
>> Motion.
[32:58] Second. Clerk, please take the roll.
Council member Salberg Yes. Council
[33:02] member Wojtowicz Yes. Council member
Freeland er Yes. Council member Ryak
[33:07] » Yes. Council member Fraytak Yes. Council
member Quinn
[33:10] » Yes. Council member Kelly Yes. Council
vice president Sackett
[33:15] Yes. Council president Morrison Yes.
Nine yeses, motion carried.
[33:19] O-26-12 an ordinance fixing the salaries
of various officials and contractual
[33:23] employees of the Township of Rockaway in
the County of Morris. Yeah, I have a
[33:27] question on this though, Mr. Morrison.
Just because there's some additions that
[33:30] were from the previous ordinance in
O-25.
[33:34] Yeah.
Mrs. Palmieri
[33:37] Um on uh on 26-12,
what what are the ones that are added on
[33:42] that we didn't have before as far as
title?
[34:00] We didn't have everybody clerk three, so
[34:08] On this one? Okay.
And there was there a reason why?
[34:12] » [snorts]
[34:15] » Okay. Thank you.
[34:18] Can I have a motion? So moved. Second.
Clerk, please take the roll.
[34:23] Council member Salberg Yes. Council
member Wojtowicz Yes. Council member
[34:27] Freeland er Yes.
Council member Ryak Yes. Council member
[34:31] Fraytak Yes. Council member Quinn Yes.
Council member Kelly Yes. Council vice
[34:36] president Sackett Yes. Council president
Morrison Yes. Nine yeses, motion
[34:41] carried.
O-26-13 an ordinance fixing the salaries
[34:44] of various officials and non-contractual
employees of the Township of Rockaway in
[34:48] the County of Morris. Same question,
Council president. Mrs.
[34:52] Palmieri
I don't believe any were added to this
[34:54] one. This was not one that included the
an assistant engineer?
[34:59] I believe the assistant engineer was in
last year's. That was in it? Okay.
[35:04] Can I have a motion? [clears throat] So
moved.
[35:07] I'll second.
Clerk, please take the roll.
[35:10] Council member Salberg Yes. Council
member Wojtowicz Yes. Council member
[35:14] Freeland er Yes. Council member Ryak
Yes. Council member Fraytak Yes. Council
[35:19] member Quinn [clears throat] Yes.
Council member Kelly Yes. Council vice
[35:23] president Sackett
Yes. Council president Morrison
[35:27] Yes. Nine yeses, motion carried.
Okay, moving on.
[35:31] » Council president, on the consent
agenda, remove R-26-66 for separate
[35:35] discussion and vote. I'll second that.
Clerk, please take the roll.
[35:40] I wasn't making a motion. I was just Do
we do it by motion? That's not the law,
[35:44] though.
I understand you Again, you think you're
[35:46] a lawyer, but we're going Provide me
with the law that requires this. Clerk,
[35:49] please take the roll. Council member
Salberg Yes. Council member Wojtowicz
[35:53] Yes. Council member Freeland er Yes.
Council member Ryak Yes. Council member
[35:58] Fraytak
Yes. Council member Quinn Yes. Council
[36:02] member Kelly Yes. Council vice president
Sackett No.
[36:07] Council president Morrison Yes. Eight
yeses, one no, motion carried.
[36:11] Okay, we're we'll do the rest of the
consent agenda first.
[36:14] R-26-63, R-26-64, R-26-65,
R-26-69,
[36:21] R-26-70,
R-26-71.
[36:25] Can I have a motion?
>> So moved. Second. Clerk, please take the
[36:27] roll.
Council member Salberg Yes. Council
[36:31] member Wojtowicz Yes. Council member
Freeland er Yes. Council member Ryak
[36:35] Yes. Council member Fraytak Yes. Council
member Quinn Yes. Council member Kelly
[36:40] Yes. Council vice president Sackett
Yes. Council president Morrison Yes.
[36:45] It's nine yeses, motion carried.
All right, if we're going to have
[36:49] discussion on R-26-66,
again, I'd like to keep it to three
[36:53] minutes
per council person.
[36:56] You made the motion, Mr. Kelly, you have
one.
[36:59] Uh in regards to the the resolution,
we're we're rescinding two additional
[37:04] resolutions.
One, what would be the reason for the
[37:07] rescinding of those resolutions?
[37:11] Mr. Yashpona
[37:16] My understanding is that we're talking
about the same property and two and
[37:21] three successive
cannabis
[37:24] retailers who wanted to use the same
property uh one after the other, they
[37:30] fell apart in terms of their ability to
lease the property and uh this is the
[37:35] survivor who apparently had the
wherewithal to do it.
[37:41] So, the reason for rescinding the two
would be you wouldn't want
[37:45] two
uh contradicting resolutions on on the
[37:50] record?
[37:53] Basically correct, yes. So, we we as a
council, like we we couldn't keep
[37:58] a resolution that would contradict
another resolution on the books.
[38:03] I'm just making sure that I'm
understanding you.
[38:05] » the proper procedural approach
is to rescind or vacate prior
[38:12] resolutions
that should no longer be active for any
[38:15] purpose. That's what this is about. And
what would happen if we didn't do this?
[38:18] So, the public knows that's why we're
doing it.
[38:20] » Mr. Kelly, I'm not here to be a fortune
teller. I gave you my answer. Mr.
[38:23] Yashpona, I just need to remind you that
you are legal counsel for this council.
[38:26] So, I don't think you select what you
want to do or Mr. Kelly, that's exactly
[38:30] what we're paying him for. Please don't
admonish our council. You're you're
[38:33] paying him not to give us advice? Mr.
Kelly, you're asking him to make
[38:37] suppositions
>> on his cell phone, he'll give you advice
[38:38] all day long. You were I asked him at a
meeting, he won't even answer my
[38:41] question. Is it possible for you to have
a discussion without throwing out barbs
[38:44] and insults? Is it a barb? Where's the
insult?
[38:48] Mr. Kelly
I am more apt to take the advice of our
[38:54] legal counsel.
All right? Over quite frankly, you.
[38:58] You're asking him to for suppositions of
things he could not possibly answer that
[39:02] may [clears throat] happen in the
future. And to frame it as him not
[39:07] wanting to answer is
little
[39:10] silly.
I don't think so, Council president. And
[39:13] what we have here is
R-25-53 and R-24-169.
[39:19] And again, it's it's interesting that
we've had prior motions
[39:24] that weren't rescinded that oppose
motions following.
[39:29] And what he just answered to me
was that we can't do that. We can't
[39:32] leave resolutions on the books that
oppose one another.
[39:37] Right? You would agree with that. I'm
not agreeing with anything you're
[39:39] saying, because again, Well, he said
that. I'm just I'm just reiterating what
[39:42] he said.
That's not what he said. So, So, then
[39:45] Mr. Yachefano
>> Can you clarify that then, Mr.
[39:46] Yachefano, since I seem to be
>> a second, cuz you're
[39:50] You have 10 seconds left to finish.
>> been interrupting me on all of that
[39:53] time. Finish your Finish your thought.
Mr. Yachefano, could you just correct
[39:56] that again then?
[40:01] So, you can only answer to me
if Mr. Morrison says it's okay?
[40:05] Mr. Kelly. Um he's pointing to you.
You know, we we can see the script here.
[40:11] Uh if if you listen carefully at council
meetings, it's always the same thing.
[40:16] It's like a a loop. Where are your
citations? Where are your cases? What
[40:20] are you doing? I don't believe your
advice. Okay?
[40:24] It's simple. It's honest. It's
straightforward.
[40:28] Two prior
entities who sought
[40:34] to rent this property for cannabis
cannabis purposes
[40:39] didn't qualify in terms of the property
owner for a lease.
[40:45] The protocol as I understand it was that
they need the approbation of the
[40:52] approval, excuse me, of the council in
order to complete the process with all
[40:56] the rules, regulations, etc.
One failed, the other failed shortly
[41:01] after. The council did its job, which is
the same job it's being asked to do
[41:05] tonight
based upon the evidence that's been
[41:08] submitted.
And it just makes simple, common sense.
[41:13] So, just to and just so the public's
aware, what we do is we ask The council
[41:18] gets their packets on the Friday before
the meeting.
[41:21] We ask the council if they have any
specific questions such as this to email
[41:25] administration so we can give we can get
the proper information, right? We
[41:29] generally try to avoid situations like
this, um so as not to, you know, give
[41:35] the view that, you know, one person is
not doing the right thing and the other
[41:38] person is the only one doing the right
thing.
[41:40] Again, the rest of the council, you
know, follows these procedures. Again,
[41:44] just to make sure that we have the
information we need. Now, I did do that
[41:47] on this. Correct me if I'm wrong. The
way that I understood it from what I got
[41:53] was
when a cannabis retailer
[41:57] wants to go into a space,
they need, in order to get their license
[42:02] or their paperwork, they need the
approval of the township council, right?
[42:07] And that is done via a resolution like
this. Now, correct. Because there are
[42:11] two other
uh retailers that tried and failed, the
[42:15] resolution R-24 happened in 2024, and
R-25-53 happened in 2025,
[42:21] these were similar resolutions to the
one that we're doing now. However,
[42:25] because these companies dropped out,
those resolutions no longer stand, and
[42:29] now we support the current person going
for their license.
[42:33] And and the one thing was left out is
that it makes no sense to leave on the
[42:40] books, so to speak, Right. resolutions
that are no longer viable. So,
[42:44] essentially, it's simply procedural.
Yeah. And that's all it is. Okay. Mr.
[42:49] Voitovich, did did you want to speak on
this? I just wanted I'm sorry. Same 3
[42:53] minutes. Yeah.
You know, the resolutions I'm not
[42:57] concerned about revoking the the other
ones. It's It's supporting the
[43:01] cannabis retailer and its location. I
just want to say that, you know, I think
[43:05] there's
way too many, in my opinion,
[43:09] dispensaries in the area. You go north
on Greenpond Road, Route 23 has about
[43:14] three of them. You go to Rockaway
Borough, there's another one there.
[43:18] There's There's way too many um
dispensaries in my mind, and I don't
[43:22] want this to seem like there's a liquor
store on every single corner like some
[43:25] municipalities. So,
uh
[43:28] I would be be against this. The location
and supporting another cannabis retailer
[43:34] in our township.
Is this the Is there a Is this the same
[43:38] Kinkush from Rockaway Borough?
I believe so. I don't know.
[43:41] All right. Does anybody here a patron
there?
[43:46] Mr. Kelly Would there be a conflict if
there was, right?
[43:48] » Mr. Kelly It's irrelevant.
>> [laughter]
[43:51] » Right? Really?
Is there anybody else from the council
[43:54] that wishes Yeah. Is there anybody else
from the council Mr. Kelly Mr. Sun,
[43:59] everybody else, please.
Order.
[44:02] Yeah. Um
Is there anybody else from the council
[44:05] that wishes to speak on this?
I didn't hear a no.
[44:08] Okay.
Um
[44:12] I make a motion for resolution R-26-66
revoking resolutions R-25-53 and
[44:17] R-24-169 and supporting the location and
operation of a Class 5 cannabis retailer
[44:21] by Kinkush Rockaway Township LLC within
the township of Rockaway. Can I have a
[44:26] second?
>> I'll second.
[44:27] Clerk, please take the roll.
[44:32] Councilmember Salberg.
>> Yes. Councilmember Voitovich.
[44:35] » No.
Councilmember Freelander. Yes.
[44:39] Councilmember
Royack. Yes.
[44:42] » Councilmember Royack.
>> Yes.
[44:44] Councilmember Frayday. Yes.
Councilmember Quinn. Yes. Councilmember
[44:49] Kelly. No. Council Vice President
Sackett. Yes.
[44:53] Council President Morrison. Yes. Seven
yeses, two nos. Motion carries.
[45:00] Okay.
Uh
[45:02] Alejandro Jimenez Fontana for full
membership of Fire Company number four.
[45:07] Can I have a motion?
>> So moved. I'll second.
[45:11] Do a choice on that one, Clerk.
Councilmember Salberg. Yes.
[45:16] Councilmember Voitovich. Yes.
Councilmember Freelander. Yes.
[45:21] Councilmember Royack.
>> Yes. Councilmember Frayday. Yes.
[45:25] Councilmember Quinn. Yes. Councilmember
Kelly. Yes. Council Vice President
[45:30] Sackett.
>> Yes. Council President Morrison.
[45:32] Yes. Nine yeses, motion carries.
Congratulations. I have new business
[45:36] too, Council President. Uh no. New
business and reports were to be
[45:39] submitted
>> know. You only had reports that was
[45:41] indicated from your motion. You're not
recognized. I have new business to bring
[45:44] up.
>> Mr. Kelly, you're That would be
[45:46] something that maybe you could help
with. I mean, you could You are not
[45:48] recognized. There was no motion for any
direction on Mr. Sackett made a motion
[45:54] to adjourn. I'll second it. Clerk,
please take the roll.
[45:59] Councilmember Salberg. Yes.
Councilmember Voitovich.
[46:02] » Yes. Councilmember Freelander. Yes.
Councilmember Royack.
[46:06] » Yes. Councilmember Frayday. Yes.
Councilmember Quinn. Yes. Councilmember
[46:11] Kelly. No. Council Vice President
Sackett.
[46:13] » Yes. Council President Morrison. Yes.
Mr. Mayor, I apologize that we could not
[46:19] conduct this meeting. I know you had a
couple statements to make. I do
[46:21] apologize for that. To the rest of the
public, I apologize for the circus that
[46:25] is going on here today. Rest assured
that the majority of the council does
[46:28] not endorse it and wishes it didn't
happen. I vote yes.
[46:31] » I also I apologize for having the
council president lie to this resident.