[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.

March 24, 2026 Rockaway Township Council Meeting

Transcript