[0:00] responders who protect our
neighborhoods. Mr. Mayor.
[0:03] » Yeah, I also like that the community
lost uh
[0:07] uh since our last meeting Alan Hattman
who had lived in Rockaway Township and
[0:10] White Meadow Lake 55 years. Um he was a
planning board attorney for over 10
[0:15] years and he served in various uh
volunteer type capacity positions within
[0:20] the Township. He's also our health
director Peter Tabbot's stepfather. So,
[0:25] um
he we lost him since last meeting. So, I
[0:27] wanted to add that.
[0:30] » And if I could just
>> Yeah, yeah, yeah.
[0:32] » Yeah, uh and also uh Mayor
uh Mrs. Hattman uh Phyllis was our
[0:36] planning administrator
who also was a very uh
[0:39] wonderful component to Rockaway Township
preservation of um our planning and
[0:43] zoning and helping applicants as well as
uh
[0:46] the Township's and attorneys on their
applications, too.
[0:49] Thank you.
[0:57] » Clerk, please take the roll.
[1:00] » Councilwoman Salzberg.
>> Here.
[1:02] » Councilwoman Wojtecki.
>> Here.
[1:04] » Councilwoman Friedlander.
>> Here.
[1:07] » Councilwoman Ryak.
>> Here.
[1:09] » Councilwoman Frayday.
>> [snorts]
[1:11] » Councilwoman Quinn.
>> Here.
[1:13] » Councilwoman Kelly.
>> Here.
[1:15] » Council Vice President Sackett.
>> Here.
[1:19] » Council President Morrison.
>> Here.
[1:21] » Adequate notice of this meeting was
provided to the Daily Record, the
[1:24] official newspapers for the Township of
Rockaway. Notice was posted on the
[1:27] official bulletin boards of Rockaway
Township, Township website, and notice
[1:30] was filed in the office of the Township
Clerk.
[1:34] Approval of the minutes for the July
14th Township Council meeting. Can I
[1:38] have a motion?
>> So moved.
[1:39] » Second.
>> Clerk, please take the roll.
[1:44] » Councilwoman Salzberg.
>> Yes.
[1:47] » Councilwoman Wojtecki.
>> Yes.
[1:49] » Councilwoman Friedlander.
>> Yes.
[1:52] » Councilwoman Ryak.
>> Yes.
[1:54] » Councilwoman Quinn.
>> Yes.
[1:56] » Councilwoman Kelly.
>> No.
[1:58] » Council Vice President Sackett.
>> Yes.
[2:01] » Council President Morrison.
>> Yes.
[2:03] Seven yes is one no, motion carries.
>> Mr. Morrison, just uh one quick request.
[2:07] Could you please provide um the reason
to the public as well as myself
[2:12] why we canceled the August 11th
uh 2026 and August 25th council meeting.
[2:17] » Uh we didn't cancel the August 11th, we
postponed it to today for scheduling
[2:21] conflicts.
>> And we're canceling the August 25th
[2:24] meeting for what reason?
>> That's been on the agenda for over a
[2:26] month now.
>> What's the reason for the cancellation?
[2:29] » Mr. Kelly, it's irrelevant.
>> Thank you.
[2:33] » Uh before opening the public portion of
the meeting, I want to remind everyone
[2:36] of the rules that apply to anyone who
wants to address the council.
[2:39] Any member of the public wishing to
address the council will have 3 minutes
[2:42] to do so. While an extension of time may
be requested, it should not be assumed
[2:47] that an extension of time will be
granted.
[2:49] While addressing the council,
members of the public may not address or
[2:53] question any individual council member.
[2:57] If anyone addressing the council
violates these rules or conducts
[2:59] themselves inappropriately, their
speaking opportunity will be terminated
[3:03] and they will be instructed to return to
their seat. A refusal to comply will
[3:06] result in removal from the room. Members
of the public in attendance may not make
[3:10] comments from the audience without
recognition by the chair. Persons doing
[3:14] so will be subject to removal from the
room.
[3:16] As Council President, I have tremendous
respect for my fellow council members
[3:19] and the public who take time and effort
to attend council meetings. These rules
[3:23] are necessary to protect and respect but
also to permit the council to do its
[3:27] business in an orderly and professional
manner.
[3:29] When I call your name, please approach
the microphone, state your name and
[3:33] address for the record, and you will
have 3 minutes.
[3:37] Dan Trillo.
[3:43] » Uh Dan Trillo, 53 Megan's Road.
I just want to bring to you guys'
[3:47] attention back in February, uh my
daughter was on Green Pond Road,
[3:51] stopped behind a school bus waiting for
kids to get on or off.
[3:55] She was then rear-ended by another
school bus.
[3:58] Uh she was 8 months pregnant.
My granddaughter was on the on the car,
[4:02] excuse me. She's 1 and 1/2.
And uh totaled her car.
[4:08] Driver of the bus was 81 years old.
Okay? Wasn't given a ticket, nothing.
[4:13] So uh everybody's telling me sue, sue,
sue, sue. But
[4:17] we have insurance. We assume Rockaway
has insurance.
[4:21] And uh
so things were filed.
[4:24] So um they submitted it to Rockaway.
Rockaway refused it because they said
[4:28] they have immunity
because of they are public entity.
[4:32] So
now my daughter had to She was okay,
[4:36] nobody got hurt. She was okay um
now she has to pay a $500 deductible.
[4:41] She has to pay the rental fee for the
car out of her pocket. And she also has
[4:45] to pay she paid
2,500 to get into a new car.
[4:50] If we would have contacted a lawyer, it
would have probably been another three
[4:53] grand.
So we're sitting
[4:56] legally doing something right, getting
rear-ended,
[5:00] totaling her car,
she's out a couple grand.
[5:04] And Rockaway, we've
contacted them twice and both times they
[5:08] just said the
immunity thing just takes precedence, so
[5:12] just wanted you guys to know that. I
think it's kind of sad that you know,
[5:16] you're resident, you pay taxes. She
lives here, she bought a home here.
[5:20] I have lived here since '92.
And uh it's just sad that this has to
[5:24] happen. So just wanted to get my point
across.
[5:27] » Just to clarify, is that a I'm sorry. Is
I don't know if you answered
[5:30] [clears throat] it now. Is that a town
or is that a Board of Ed?
[5:32] » It's Board of Ed.
>> Okay.
[5:34] » Yeah, but
we tried the Board of Ed, so I just
[5:36] figured
I'd come here and let you guys know.
[5:39] » Okay.
>> I know nothing's going to happen.
[5:41] » No, no, I just want to
>> I just wanted to bring it because I
[5:43] think it's silly law.
>> Okay.
[5:46] » You know,
to to somebody that did
[5:48] » Right.
>> put out of pocket like that.
[5:50] » Council President, would it be too much
if we were to ask maybe administration
[5:54] that maybe could guide him with contacts
to the school in order to assist
[5:57] » that it's not a council matter and I
think the gentleman's already addressed
[6:01] that.
Gina Fico.
[6:12] » Gina Fico, 2 U Place.
I wanted to start off by saying a few
[6:17] days ago
I had a
[6:19] reminder of just how amazing Rockaway
Township is when it comes to crime. I
[6:25] was driving through not planning on a
really rough neighborhood in New Jersey
[6:31] and you know, feeling really anxious and
just hoping that I would make it home
[6:35] safe.
And it just made me think about how
[6:38] fortunate living here almost 30 years I
am to be able to live in such a safe
[6:43] community. However, we know that no town
is completely immune from crime and from
[6:49] some really horrible occurrences
happening. That's why I stand today
[6:53] before the council to um
support Flock cameras. I know this has
[6:59] been a matter that's been up for debate
in many councils across New Jersey and I
[7:04] definitely see people's concerns about
privacy.
[7:09] However, after doing my research, I feel
that the pros
[7:14] outweigh the cons.
Uh this is amazing technology that has
[7:19] assisted with technology, which we all
know can be very useful to help police
[7:25] officers solve crimes faster, to help
locate missing people and you know,
[7:32] people that are in these vehicles that
are up to no good in the area. While
[7:36] privacy remains a concern, I think that
we need to really look and educate the
[7:41] public on those. So, you know, I
understand people are concerned. Maybe
[7:46] we can like hold an info session. You
know, I'm a big believer in that to
[7:50] educate people on flock cameras, but I
just wanted to share a few statistics
[7:57] that I came across.
Um they assisted in over a million
[8:01] criminal incidents and investigations,
and they helped locate um 10,000 people
[8:07] approximately a year. So, that's about
27 per day. They help with efficiency.
[8:13] You all know that human error is a
thing. So, what these technologies do is
[8:18] allow to kind of work through the cracks
of what people might miss. And they also
[8:23] help us determine if people see these
big cameras, they're less likely, you
[8:29] know, to do something really bad in the
area. So, I just wanted to, you know,
[8:34] bring that up today. I'm not trying to
change anybody's mind or say that this
[8:38] is, you know, the best idea ever.
There's definitely, you know, situations
[8:43] we have to look into, but when it's all
is said and done, there's a lot of
[8:46] benefits. And I just want you to think
about what we can do to keep this town
[8:51] amazing and safe for more time to come.
Thank you.
[8:55] » Thank you.
[8:59] Gary Del Greco.
[9:08] » Hi, my name's Gary Del Greco, 18 Edith
Drive.
[9:12] I'm here tonight just to inform
everybody of Red, White, and Blue. This
[9:16] is our 29th year
to honor first responders. I know many
[9:21] of you have attended, so
and I hardly get time to talk to any of
[9:25] you because I'm running back and forth
while it's going on. But this year it's
[9:29] September 20th,
and you're all welcome to attend at
[9:33] Faith Family Fellowship.
And
[9:37] it's just that we honor
all the responders. We give them a
[9:41] breakfast. The special speaker this year
is Dan
[9:45] Sunshine, which is his real name.
That's what he told me.
[9:50] But he's a retired police officer from
New Jersey. I live in Tennessee now.
[9:54] He'll come up. He'll be our guest
speaker.
[9:56] And we'll have a lunch and afterwards,
which is supplied by all the restaurants
[10:01] around this area. They give us a their
main dish they're noted for. And then we
[10:06] we have a fellowship hall with you know,
you come, you eat, and we give a gift to
[10:11] all the responders.
So, just
[10:15] telling you to please come if you can.
>> What time is it at?
[10:18] » What time is it at? It starts at 9:00
with breakfast. It goes through till
[10:22] whenever everybody goes through.
>> Okay.
[10:25] Thanks, Mr. President. I just Gary and
his wife duty run this for years. I've
[10:28] been to many of them and it's really
inspirational how they recognize, you
[10:33] know, EMS, fire, police, everybody. And
I think the first responders that attend
[10:37] are very appreciative of what you do.
So, thank you.
[10:40] » Thanks, Mr. Director.
Dana Tabaddor.
[10:45] » [clears throat]
[10:55] [clears throat]
[10:58] » With the meeting being canceled uh next
week, I was wondering if I can get an
[11:02] extra minute possibly.
>> Uh no. Everybody has three minutes.
[11:07] » Dana Tabaddor, 31 Omaha Avenue.
I would like to know what is the revenue
[11:12] for Rockaway Township has received for
the cannabis businesses operating in the
[11:16] Township.
When these dispensaries were discussed,
[11:19] one of the primary benefits presented to
the public was additional tax revenue.
[11:23] I'd like to know what the tax revenue
has been collected from the Township.
[11:27] The amount that was collected current
year-to-date. Where the revenue appears
[11:31] in the municipal budget, is this money
dedicated for a purpose? How is this
[11:36] money benefiting the Rockaway Township
taxpayers and residents? Has any of this
[11:41] information been made available for the
public and where can I find it? My
[11:45] second concern involves the language
used in the Township Council meeting
[11:49] minutes. Meeting minutes are official
government records. They should
[11:52] objectively document the actions taken,
the subjects discussed, and significant
[11:58] events that occurred. They should not
include subjective descriptions of
[12:01] persons' attitudes, emotions, or
behavior. For example, I saw language in
[12:05] the Township minutes stating that the
exchange became contentious. That's an
[12:09] interpretation and this is not a soap
opera. It does not tell the public what
[12:13] was actually said or objectively
occurred. One person may consider the
[12:17] the discussion contentious, while
another person may view it as a
[12:21] legitimate disagreement. I've also seen
the council refuse to correct minutes if
[12:26] the correction has not been sent in
advance. I'm asking that you review um
[12:31] for future minutes to ensure that these
minutes uh
[12:34] become factual, impartial, and
consistent. I'm also asking that the
[12:37] existing minutes that contains
subjective characterization be reviewed
[12:41] and amended correctly through the formal
process.
[12:45] Lastly, I'd like to address what
occurred when a young person in our
[12:47] community recently came before this
council to give a presentation. She took
[12:51] responsibility seriously. I understand
prior to the meeting she made two trips
[12:55] to town hall to test everything in
advance. She brought her own laptop. She
[12:59] purchased a special cable so she could
connect to the Township's audio visual
[13:03] system and project her presentation for
the screen for the council and the the
[13:07] public to see. During these tests,
everything worked properly, but the
[13:10] night of the presentation it did not.
The Township clerk made no effort to
[13:14] assist her and she was left to scramble.
Mr. Morrison did eventually try to help.
[13:19] Thank you.
If you review the archive footage, some
[13:22] of the other council members can be seen
laughing and joking behind her. I'm not
[13:26] saying that the council members were
speaking about her, but imagine her
[13:30] stress
while hearing you guys laughing.
[13:33] Eventually, an unknown member of the
audience fixed the problem, which he
[13:36] deserves much credit. I do understand
that technology can fail.
[13:40] The issue is that when it failed, the
township clerk should have made a
[13:42] reasonable effort to help, whether by
checking the connection, contacting
[13:46] someone who could assist, to help
identify another way for the
[13:50] presentation to be displayed. From
memory, during the budget meeting, I
[13:53] believe we pay someone extra for these
meetings to help with our equipment.
[13:57] Again, the township and its officials
have a responsibility to make reasonable
[14:00] efforts to ensure members of the public
can participate meaningfully in public
[14:04] meetings. That responsibility is
important
[14:12] » Aaron DeCourt.
[14:16] » Yeah.
>> If I could just respond to that tax
[14:20] revenue for the cannabis for
quickly.
[14:23] » Okay.
>> Um, I don't have the exact revenue that
[14:27] we collected in 2025.
However, we do anticipate that revenue
[14:32] in the 2026 budget is included in the in
the um in the revenue portion of the
[14:36] budget. I can come back to you with
figures at the next meeting. Um,
[14:41] that money that comes in goes into the
general fund to help offset taxes.
[14:45] That's its sole purpose.
>> Okay.
[14:47] Thank you.
[14:53] » Right. That's that's the revenue we're
speaking on. We collect 2% of the
[14:57] » So, it's a ratable plus 2%.
>> It's it's the Yes, it's their it's their
[15:00] revenue and we receive 2% of that
revenue and it goes into the town's
[15:03] general fund. It's anticipated as a
revenue in our budget and it's used to
[15:07] offset the taxes.
>> Good.
[15:09] Okay. I'm sorry.
>> Mr. DeCourt.
[15:15] » It's nice to get an answer, so that's
good. Uh, Aaron DeCourt, 16 Algonquin.
[15:20] Uh, I'm just here uh real quick. Again,
I got another notice that our tax are
[15:25] taxes are yet again being reassessed.
I've lived in the town for 19 years. My
[15:31] taxes have gone up more in the last five
reassessments than they did in the first
[15:35] 14 years I lived here.
And I've also been put on notice that
[15:39] I'm one of the 25% that's going to have
them come to my house to make sure that
[15:43] they're assessing properly.
I understand that the council is the one
[15:47] that votes for reassessment, and we seem
to be voting for or you guys seem to be
[15:51] voting for reassessment every year. And
I don't really quite get it. Um, just
[15:56] talking to other town councils and town
council members,
[16:00] our taxes, um, in New Jersey are based
on our assessed value. Um, I know that
[16:06] this council has voted not to increase
how much, um, the percentage is based on
[16:12] the town, but that doesn't affect the
county, that doesn't affect, um, the
[16:17] schools. So, um, it's just a comment,
and I don't really understand how we
[16:23] keep being reassessed year after year
after year, where in the past you might
[16:27] go through a reassessment once every
five years. So, that's that's all I've
[16:32] got.
>> Thanks. Miss Palmieri, the council does
[16:36] not set assessments.
>> The council
[16:41] The council does not know. The assessor
>> Right.
[16:44] » will Um, and as she said that the, um,
the assessments are are The assessor
[16:48] sets it, but our um, our tax rate goes
down as a result of those assessments
[16:53] going up, but as you said, we can't
control the school and the county.
[16:56] » So, who who decides that we're going to
be reassessed year after year?
[17:01] » The council will discern determine
whether we're going to hire a
[17:04] reassessment firm to come in every year.
And it's the intention of the
[17:08] administration to take a pause in 2027.
>> Yeah, that was a That was a decent part
[17:14] of our budget meeting is we spoke out
against assessments like the constant
[17:18] assessments.
So You know, we Yeah, we certainly don't
[17:23] Listen, everybody here lives in town.
You know what I mean? So, no, the
[17:26] council does not set that and we
we did speak out about that as a concern
[17:31] during the budget meeting.
>> So, the our tax assessor is the one who
[17:35] decides whether or not we're going to be
assessed every year.
[17:38] » She doesn't decide it, but we She works
with our the assessment company as they
[17:42] go from house to house assessing 25% of
the town at a each year. But, it's the
[17:47] » [laughter]
>> it's the council who decides whether
[17:49] we're going to keep this reassessment
program rolling. But, like I said, we're
[17:52] going to take a pause in 2027 for the
2028 tax year.
[17:57] » That's what we voted on.
>> And and uh Council President, we we did
[18:01] vote on that primarily because of the
cost of the service, not so much to stop
[18:05] the assessment.
>> I would rather not
[18:07] » Sure, of course not.
>> put words what you think the reason is.
[18:10] Everybody votes
>> four-year cycle.
[18:12] » Mr. Kelly, you're out of order.
>> 25% of the increase
[18:14] » you're out of order.
>> We did it We didn't do it anymore
[18:17] » you're out of order.
>> Yeah. Yeah.
[18:19] » Mr. Kelly, you're out of order.
>> Just be honest to her.
[18:21] » Mr. Kelly.
[18:25] To to suppose that you know what
everybody is thinking, and again, I know
[18:28] you think you're the smartest guy in the
room, but it's just
[18:31] It's just not the case.
>> You don't need to make me that smartest
[18:33] guy, but you're actually your comments
>> Kelly.
[18:36] Just simple. Stop.
>> You don't even own a home to tax. What
[18:40] are you talking about?
>> All right. So, just for the record, and
[18:43] I'm I know you know this, being a
landlord is uh
[18:46] if you pay rent
>> went up 12,000 this year.
[18:49] » Well, you have how many properties?
>> What's the difference?
[18:51] » Well, is it a conflict of interest for
you to vote on uh
[18:54] » No, not at all.
>> What do you mean, what's the difference?
[18:56] Mr. Kelly, you're out of order.
>> no, no. It's not about taxes. Everybody
[18:58] benefits from that.
>> Mr. Kelly, stop.
[19:00] First of all, you made the insinuation
with Mary last year that renters don't
[19:04] pay taxes. That's completely false. Part
of the rent goes to taxes.
[19:09] » You don't pay taxes. Mr. Kelly.
>> taxes.
[19:11] » Mr. Kelly.
You're out of order.
[19:14] » You're wrong.
>> Mr. Kelly.
[19:16] You're out of order.
>> You're wrong.
[19:17] » Stop trying to be a smart guy.
>> Trying to be right when you're wrong.
[19:20] » So, anybody who has ever rented knows
that on your tax returns you claim a
[19:26] portion for property taxes, right?
Renters do not get off scot-free without
[19:32] paying rent. And you should know that
and I'm I'm a little shocked that you
[19:37] » My My renters pay taxes.
>> Moving on, Dave Broderick.
[19:40] » They don't pay taxes. I pay the taxes.
Okay.
[19:44] » To the public, I I apologize. This is
not the way to conduct this
[19:47] » I apologize for giving false
information.
[19:49] » You're out of order.
To the public, I do apologize. This is
[19:53] not how a council member should be
conducting themselves. Mr. Broderick.
[19:56] » Okay. I'm sorry.
Go ahead. Um yeah, [clears throat] hi.
[20:00] I'm David Broderick. I live at 10
Barrett Place and I'm a retired
[20:05] lawyer and law professor.
And I'm here to discuss the threat to
[20:09] our constitutional rights posed by the
widespread use of surveillance
[20:13] technology such as flock cameras and
automatic license plate readers.
[20:18] 250 years ago, the founding fathers
fought a war to free us from British
[20:22] rule.
One of their major complaints against
[20:24] British rule was that the British
authorities claimed the right to search
[20:27] the colonists' homes and vessels without
obtaining a warrant from a neutral judge
[20:32] after demonstrating that the person
targeted by the search had probably
[20:36] committed a crime,
a standard known as probable cause.
[20:40] 12 years after independence, the states
adopted the Constitution and the Bill of
[20:44] Rights,
including the Fourth Amendment, which
[20:46] protects us all against unreasonable
searches and in general establishes a
[20:50] constitutional right to privacy.
Courts have interpreted the Fourth
[20:55] Amendment to require that before
performing a search, the authorities
[20:58] obtain a judicial warrant after
demonstrating probable cause.
[21:03] Courts Courts have also interpreted the
Fourth Amendment in a way that
[21:06] accommodates the challenges raised by
modern technology.
[21:10] For example, before the police may place
a GPS tracking device on a person's car,
[21:15] they need to obtain a judicial warrant
after demonstrating probable cause.
[21:19] However, at present, there's a gaping
hole in the protection afforded by the
[21:23] Fourth Amendment.
That is, police and other law
[21:26] enforcement authorities may request from
private businesses, which maintain flock
[21:30] cameras or ALPRs, copies of footage and
data targeting specific individuals
[21:37] without the need to obtain a judicial
warrant.
[21:40] So, the police can target any individual
for any reason whatsoever and track
[21:44] their movements in the same manner as
placing a GPS device in their car, but
[21:49] without having to go before a judge to
justify their actions.
[21:53] We are truly living in 1984.
>> [snorts]
[21:58] » It's hoped that the courts or the state
legislatures will close this gap and
[22:02] will require police departments to
obtain judicial warrants
[22:06] before they access the data. However, if
and when this will occur is uncertain.
[22:10] But in the meantime, you, as the
governing body of our town, can take a
[22:14] simple step that will protect the civil
liberties of our residents by requiring
[22:18] that the Rockaway Township Police
Department obtain a judicial warrant
[22:22] prior to accessing footage or data from
any private businesses which utilize
[22:27] these devices.
This is a basic safeguard which provide
[22:30] a measure of protection of our basic
constitutional rights to be safe from
[22:34] unreasonable searches and the rights to
privacy.
[22:38] Uh I would personally be very happy to
assist you and our town's legal counsel
[22:42] in drafting such an ordinance if there
is interest in doing so. Thank you.
[22:46] » Thank you.
>> Can I respond to
[22:48] » No, you may not.
[22:51] Um
Is there anybody from the public that
[22:54] didn't not sign the sheet as Coleman?
[22:59] You don't have to run.
>> Take your time.
[23:01] » Well, I know it's like everyone wants
get out of here. Emily Coleman, 18 Lake
[23:04] Shore Drive. Um, I just wanted to invite
the council over to our library. If you
[23:10] haven't seen the mural that was painted
in the stairway and the beautiful mural
[23:15] that is behind the resource desk. And
um, a very dear friend of mine who's a
[23:20] fabulous artist did it. His name is
Carmelo and I hope that you'll go check
[23:25] it out and support the library. And if
anybody has any other um, areas that
[23:30] could use some fun paintings, um, just
let me know cuz it's really fabulous.
[23:36] Has anybody seen it? Has anybody been
over there?
[23:39] » I have. I I go in there every week.
>> Did you see the mural? Yeah, so check it
[23:42] out. Thank you.
>> Thank you.
[23:46] Anybody else in the public wish to
speak?
[23:50] Okay.
Uh, ordinances for adoption.
[23:56] 026-25
Ordinance providing for municipal
[23:59] building ADA improvements and
restoration in and by the Township of
[24:02] Rockaway in the County of Morris, New
Jersey and appropriating $86,132.81
[24:08] therefore constituting proceeds of a
Community Development Block Grant from
[24:12] Morris County. Motion.
>> Second.
[24:15] » Anybody from the council wish to speak
on this ordinance?
[24:18] » Uh, um,
with the public first or the council?
[24:22] » Is there anybody from the council that
wishes to speak on this ordinance?
[24:25] Um,
No, I just think that maybe we can
[24:28] provide a little bit information about
the ordinance.
[24:30] » Mr. Kelly, the public is more than able
to ask for any clarification.
[24:34] » You're not allowed to give a
>> Mr. Kelly,
[24:36] » a little just
>> Mr. Kelly, clarification.
[24:38] Mr. Kelly, you're out of order. You are
not running this meeting, Mr. Kelly.
[24:42] » Okay.
>> You are not running this meeting.
[24:43] » the floor, sir.
>> You do not.
[24:46] Anybody from the public wish to speak on
this ordinance alone?
[24:51] Okay, clerk, please take the roll.
>> Council member Salberg.
[24:54] » Yes.
>> Council member Wojtowicz.
[24:56] » Yes.
>> Council member Freeland?
[24:59] » Yes.
>> Council member Royack?
[25:01] » Yes.
>> Council member Quinn?
[25:03] » Yes.
>> Council member Kelly?
[25:05] » Yes.
>> Council Vice President Sackett?
[25:08] » Yes.
>> Council President Morrison?
[25:10] » Yes. Eight yeses, motion passes.
026-26
[25:15] an ordinance amending chapter chapter 54
entitled land use and development of the
[25:19] code of the Township of Rockaway
adopting the new zoning map and
[25:22] relocating specific ordinance sections.
>> Can I have a motion?
[25:25] » Motion.
>> Motion. Second.
[25:27] » You guys got it.
Anybody from the council wish to speak
[25:30] on this ordinance?
>> Uh Council President, again, I just
[25:33] asked if you can add some clarity to the
members of the public who are unaware
[25:36] what this ordinance is.
>> Okay. Anybody else from the council has
[25:39] any comments?
It's not a no, Mr. Kelly. It's a
[25:43] affirmation that the public is grown up
and should they wish for further
[25:48] information, they have the opportunity
to do so.
[25:51] Anybody from the public
have any comments about this ordinance
[25:54] along?
Clerk, please take the roll.
[25:58] » Council member Sackett?
>> Yes.
[26:00] » Council member Wojtowicz?
>> Yes.
[26:02] » Council member Freeland?
>> Yes.
[26:04] » Council member Royack?
>> Yes.
[26:06] » Council member Quinn?
>> Yes.
[26:08] » Council member Kelly?
>> Yes.
[26:10] » Council Vice President Sackett?
>> Yes.
[26:13] » Council President Morrison?
>> Yes. Eight yeses, motion carries.
[26:17] Consent agenda. Council President, can
we remove R-26-127 just for separate
[26:22] vote and discussion? We just got new
information today on the DAS.
[26:25] » Uh just go ahead and make the motion.
>> Well, we don't require a motion on that
[26:29] and I know you're going to vote no on
it, so that's why
[26:31] » Would you like to make a motion to
remove it? Please do so.
[26:33] » I'm asking you to
>> Mr. and I Mr.
[26:34] » Mr.
Is it required to make a motion to
[26:36] remove it from the agenda?
[26:41] » Yeah.
>> You you serve the whole entire council.
[26:43] » what is the hold up? If you look at
precedents, every meeting we've had, if
[26:46] you want to remove something, make a
motion to remove it.
[26:49] » Just because you've been doing it wrong
all along doesn't mean we have to
[26:51] continue that.
>> I'm going to give you 5 seconds to make
[26:54] your motion.
>> I'm going to make a motion.
[26:54] » I'm going to let you make the motion or
I'm going to move on.
[26:56] » I make the unnecessary motion to remove
R-26-127 for further discussion in a
[27:00] separate vote because I'm voting no
against it.
[27:03] » I will second it. Okay. Clerk, please
take the roll. Just follow procedure,
[27:07] man.
>> It's not a procedure that's required.
[27:09] » Again, you're not the smart guy in the
room.
[27:11] » Neither are you.
>> Council member Salberg.
[27:13] » Yes.
>> Council member Voytovich.
[27:16] » Yes.
>> Council member Freelander.
[27:18] » Yes.
>> Council member Royer.
[27:20] » Yes.
>> Council member Quinn.
[27:23] » Yes.
>> Council member Kelly.
[27:25] » Yes.
>> Council Vice President Sackett.
[27:28] » No.
>> Council President Morrison.
[27:30] » Yes. Seven yeses, one no, motion
carries.
[27:33] » So let's Did we get
Did we get this email yesterday?
[27:36] » We did.
>> Okay. Cuz you said today.
[27:38] » No, I know. I said on the dais today.
>> I know. We got it. We did.
[27:40] » Well, it's on the dais today. It doesn't
mean you didn't get it yesterday.
[27:43] » Email.
>> Okay.
[27:46] But John, I said I didn't get it on the
dais today.
[27:48] » You're sorry.
>> So let's move forward with R-26-128,
[27:52] R-26-129, and R-26-130.
Can I have a motion?
[27:56] » So moved.
>> Second.
[27:57] » Clerk, please take the roll.
[28:00] » Council member Salberg.
>> Yes.
[28:02] » Council member Voytovich.
>> Yes.
[28:04] » Council member Freelander.
>> Yes.
[28:06] » Council member Royer.
>> Yes.
[28:08] » Council member uh
Council member Quinn.
[28:11] » Yes.
>> Council member Kelly.
[28:13] » Yes.
>> Council Vice President Sackett.
[28:15] » Yes.
>> Council President Morrison.
[28:17] » Yes. Eight yeses, motion carries.
>> Okay.
[28:21] Uh Mr. Kelly, go ahead. 3 minutes.
>> Um so we have this ordinance here
[28:25] regarding the cannabis that's going on.
And it's somewhat confusing because it
[28:29] has reference to 16 Green Pond Road.
However, I believe the subject matter is
[28:33] 701 Ford Road. Is that correct?
[28:37] Anybody?
So uh Mrs. Ferrante
[28:44] So well, Mr. Ferrante, I have a couple
of questions that you can answer them
[28:47] all in one shot if that's okay.
[28:54] Just ask your questions.
What are we doing here?
[28:57] » Just ask your question.
>> All right, I want my time that's
[28:59] reclaimed up for all that, all right?
So,
[29:02] Mrs. Fronte, if you recall,
we had Steven's Trucking Repair that was
[29:07] an illegal operation that was over at
701 Green Pond Road. That was also built
[29:12] with a structure inside the well fields
that are there.
[29:14] Currently on this property
I'm sorry, 701 Ford Road.
[29:19] We also have numerous um
tree companies that are in the back of
[29:25] those this building. We have a
solid waste debris collection agency
[29:30] that's there.
We have
[29:33] motor and freight companies that are
independent from the building that are
[29:36] there.
These are all uses that I don't see any
[29:39] COs or approvals for, but yet we're
doing an approval for another business
[29:45] without making sure that the other areas
of this structure and use is compliant.
[29:51] Um one other concern I have is that it
does say that provided a complete lease
[29:55] agreement. However, I don't see exhibit
A that was included as it's mentioned in
[29:58] this lease agreement
um for this establishment.
[30:03] So, before we go any further,
shouldn't we make sure that this use and
[30:07] location is compliant before we add an
additional use and approve it to this
[30:12] council tonight?
Mr. Perrone?
[30:16] » I I don't make I don't make policy
decisions for
[30:20] I do know what happened here relative to
the state that's on this notice.
[30:27] » Yeah.
[30:32] » David Novack.
And this letter is is is not significant
[30:37] at this point because it's a letter that
goes to the state, not to the council.
[30:42] All right, this is just a this is just a
letter that tells the state that the
[30:45] that the application is compliant with
our zoning ordinances, basically.
[30:51] » So, it's a typo that doesn't
substantially change the
[30:54] » that where I think they took it this
>> The point is is the typo doesn't change
[30:59] the substance of the ordinance or
anything else.
[31:01] » is
>> is the regarding.
[31:04] » The typo is Pine Kush Rockaway Township
LLC.
[31:09] » It's interesting
>> Pond Road. What happened What happened
[31:12] was
when I when I saw the typo today, I
[31:16] called
>> You didn't get it yesterday? Hang on a
[31:18] second. Mr. Mr. Mr. Sackett, didn't he
get it yesterday?
[31:22] Hang on a second. Everybody stop. Mr.
Perone
[31:26] Mr. Perone Interesting. None of these
guys either.
[31:29] Stop. Mr. Kelly, stop. We're We're done.
You're looking for something that's not
[31:33] there.
>> I am. You're not answering because it
[31:36] doesn't comply with what we're voting on
tonight on
[31:38] R 26-127.
>> No, I I do not have a complete lease to
[31:41] review.
>> You don't know the total amount of money
[31:43] for the lease agreement that's there.
>> I understand what you're saying that we
[31:47] have
[31:51] Mr. Kelly, you're out of order.
I understand your concern that the
[31:55] entire administration and legal
department that we employ, you know
[31:59] better than them. Okay, I understand
that you feel that. However,
[32:02] » How does that imply that, Mr. Perone?
I'm questioning about illegal uses that
[32:05] are on that property.
>> on. Is there anybody else in the council
[32:07] there to discuss this?
Anybody else?
[32:10] » And you're all going to vote in favor of
it without knowing any information.
[32:12] » Mr. Kelly, you don't know more than
everybody. You have a whole
[32:14] administration here
>> I'm not asking questions. I get answers,
[32:17] Mr. Morrison. And you're not allowing me
to ask about a typo. No, I'm not talking
[32:21] about a typo. I'm talking about the
illegal uses on this property.
[32:23] » You know what? You got this the same
time everybody else did.
[32:27] So, it's not
>> What's that unbelievable, Mr.
[32:29] » Mr. Kelly, Mr. Kelly
Stop.
[32:32] » I said illegal usage.
>> Mr. Shalberg
[32:35] » Okay.
Mr. Kelly, Stop. You don't interrupt
[32:38] him. Mr.
>> Didn't I just interrupt him?
[32:42] » Good God, man. Anybody else from the
council wish to speak?
[32:45] » Yeah, just one thing. This resolution's
only we're voting on it to let the state
[32:50] know that it's compliant with the
current ordinance, right? If this
[32:53] business wants to open up, its business
still going to have to go through
[32:58] all the permitting and everything else,
correct?
[33:00] » Well, but yeah, they have to get
>> That's not 100%.
[33:02] » Mr. Kelly.
>> It's not accurate.
[33:03] » And and just and they have to get
licensing [clears throat]
[33:06] » Right.
>> that specific location.
[33:09] » Right.
>> Okay.
[33:09] » But Mr. Perone, Mr. Kelly, it's not your
time. It's a follow-up question. Be
[33:13] quiet.
>> Don't give me that look like that.
[33:16] » That's all you want to say?
>> Jesus Christ.
[33:18] » Be quiet.
>> There's a separate letter that is sent
[33:22] by our planner to the state to advise
the state that there that that
[33:27] particular zone would allows for that
use. That's basically what this letter
[33:32] says.
I think Dave took the
[33:35] the letter basically it's a form letter
with a different ray on it and he he did
[33:40] the letter quickly because he got back
in town recently. And then today he
[33:45] today he did correct it.
And I and I I'm looking for it and I
[33:48] found it on my email and I'll send it to
everybody
[33:52] so that you have it, but it's not
relevant to your vote
[33:54] » I know.
>> because this is a separate
[33:56] » everybody knows that. We're not voting
on the letter.
[33:58] » Mr. Kelly, you're out of order. It's not
your time.
[34:04] Clerk, please take the roll.
[34:13] » Council member Shalberg.
>> Yes.
[34:17] » Council member Voytovich.
>> Yes.
[34:20] » Council member Freelander.
>> Yes.
[34:22] » Council member Ryak.
>> Yes.
[34:25] » Council member Quinn.
>> Yes.
[34:28] » Council member Kelly.
>> Uh no.
[34:32] » Council Vice President Sackett.
>> Yes.
[34:36] » Council President Marson.
>> Yes, seven yes, zero no, motion carries.
[34:40] Um and again, before we move on
to the public
[34:45] » Here we go.
>> It's
[34:46] I wish and he's not going to be able to
go 3 minutes. I'll even give myself 3
[34:50] minutes.
He will not be able to go 3 minutes, I
[34:53] promise you, without breaking in, okay?
And this is what I want to project out
[34:57] there.
This is not how
[35:00] the council and township should be run.
All right, it's a collaboration.
[35:05] Right?
Eight of the nine council members
[35:09] collaborate all the time.
Right? We talk, we have adult
[35:13] discussions, right? We don't break into
each other's conversation. We also
[35:17] understand that we aren't the experts.
Right?
[35:21] Mr. Kelly thinks he's the expert, right?
Because he happens to do a couple septic
[35:25] systems, doesn't make him an expert on
septic systems, right? Even things like
[35:29] he makes the comment that renters don't
pay taxes. It's completely false.
[35:35] Right? So, rent is based on the amount
of property taxes, guys. Please.
[35:41] Your rent is based on what the property
taxes are. When I file my taxes, I get
[35:45] to put in whatever percentage of my rent
is income tax uh property tax.
[35:49] All right?
Talking about, you know, uh a marijuana
[35:53] growing operation. We have
a excellent administration
[35:58] that crosses their t's and dots their
i's.
[36:01] Right? We have excellent legal
representation who goes over all of this
[36:06] before the council gets it.
Right?
[36:09] But, Mr. Kelly thinks he's an expert.
Right? He's not an expert. None of us
[36:15] are experts.
Right? We were
[36:18] part-time council people.
All right? It's a collaboration, people.
[36:23] It's embarrassing.
Right? To everybody else who's really
[36:27] trying to do what they're supposed to
do. I sincerely
[36:30] apologize.
Coming to a council meeting should not
[36:33] be confrontational.
Yet, it is.
[36:36] Council members should not be
threatened. Yet, we are.
[36:40] Okay? We're just trying to do the best
we can for the town. Thank you.
[36:48] Okay.
[36:51] Uh Shade Tree Commission. Um this is a
mayoral appointment. Does not require a
[36:56] vote.
[37:03] All right.
Um Aaron DeCourt
[37:07] Beverly Ferrand
John Mauer
[37:10] Linda Zekert
Ryan Faros
[37:14] Emily Coleman
Susan Royak
[37:18] Uh
Again, mayoral appointment doesn't
[37:21] require a
>> Yeah. So, everybody good stand. I We had
[37:24] a great meeting Lisa and I with the
library board. Um and one of the things
[37:29] they talked about and asked about was
re- reigniting the Shade Tree
[37:33] Commission. Right? They They
identified Yeah. These These people
[37:39] actually identified want to be part of
it. So, we really appreciate that. And
[37:42] Councilman Royak wants to be part of it.
So, I'm looking forward to your
[37:46] contributions. So, thank you. Thank you
all for volunteering. THANK YOU.
[37:51] » [applause]
[37:58] » OKAY. UH
DIOGO Cassano full membership Fire
[38:02] Company number five Jordan Nigro full
membership Fire Company number four
[38:08] I'd like to make the motion. Can I have
a second?
[38:12] » That's like eight.
>> The whole crew.
[38:14] » Clerk, please take the roll.
>> [laughter]
[38:17] » Councilman [clears throat] Salberg
>> Yes.
[38:19] » Councilman Voytovich
>> Yes.
[38:21] » Councilman Freelander
>> Yes.
[38:23] » Councilman [clears throat] Royak
>> Council member Quinn?
[38:26] » Yes.
>> Council member Kelly?
[38:28] » Yes.
>> Council Vice President Sackett?
[38:32] » Yes.
>> Council President Larson?
[38:34] » Yes. Eight yeses, motion carries.
Congratulations.
[38:37] » Council President, we passed new
business.
[38:41] » It's all new business.
>> Oh, we didn't get We're still on.
[38:44] » Yeah, we're still on.
>> Yep, that's all part of new business.
[38:47] » We're still on.
>> All right. I'm sorry if you feel
[38:50] slighted. We haven't gotten to that yet.
Um
[38:54] Is there any new business from the
council? I do.
[38:56] Three minutes.
>> could just pass that along to everybody
[38:58] there.
>> Council President, I just want to make
[39:01] awareness to the members of the public.
Um in November of 2023 into December
[39:08] one of my properties that I had uh as I
was tearing down and doing a demo, I
[39:13] actually found uh
a late 1700, early 1800 log cabin inside
[39:19] the structure that I have there.
Um we've had numerous amount of
[39:24] uh historians, some local historians,
uh out of state, Pennsylvania, um but
[39:30] from Virginia down DC area. I've had
people from New York, uh Columbia
[39:34] University.
Everybody that was really involved where
[39:37] this was actually potentially
constructed pre
[39:41] the incorporation of Rockaway Township
in 1844.
[39:44] Um it looks like it appears like there
was a residency, there was a second
[39:47] story on the inside.
And the dolls that you see were actually
[39:51] dolls that were embedded in the wall
that was a false wall built in front of
[39:56] that window. That window was not exposed
inside the house. Again, this was really
[39:59] just the kitchen area of of the the
larger ranch that was there.
[40:03] So, um unfortunately, I had uh succumbed
to a pretty heavy injury at the time on
[40:08] site.
Um
[40:10] some emergency surgery and and fixed a
lot of things that were broken on me.
[40:14] And a couple of delays, but it's getting
to the point where it's time to come
[40:19] down.
Um
[40:21] so I wanted to give the public there's
some documentation in the far corner
[40:26] down there of these pictures for
everybody to see. I don't know if Bob,
[40:29] can you zoom in on that by chance?
Just so that the public can see it on
[40:33] the video.
[40:36] » It Send them the attachment. I'm sure we
could also put it in the uh
[40:40] » Uh well, that here's the problem now and
this is what's disappointing and I'm
[40:43] going to mention it. I did reach out to
the to the administration with the mayor
[40:47] and Joe, unfortunately, you were not
willing to put it on our website or our
[40:50] social media Facebook. I have the emails
following that. And even sadder than
[40:54] that, Mr. Freelander, we had a
conversations when you were ill when I
[40:58] talked to you in the hospital
on this issue where uh two of the
[41:03] historic uh volunteers refused to even
put in the minutes of the meeting when
[41:08] it was discussed and do anything about
it. So I've never had any of the
[41:11] township approach me, though I've
reached out to them to document the
[41:15] history,
some explore or even potentially save it
[41:19] with moving it over the Ford Fairlane
property or whatever the case may be. So
[41:22] that was sad that I believe politics
politics got a little bit in the way on
[41:26] this one.
Um and I did try to keep and preserve it
[41:29] and
dismantled it by hand once I found the
[41:32] area here for people to enjoy it. So um
because of the lack of interest of this
[41:37] administration,
um however, other people did enjoy it.
[41:40] I'm going to give it another 2 weeks and
hopefully
[41:43] uh more people will come before I take
it down by the holidays that are coming.
[41:47] So again, um anybody that wishes to come
and inspect it and see it, please reach
[41:52] out to me. 973-886-8417
is my cell. You can Google my name.
[41:57] There is a story of this. It also made
it six pages in Weird New Jersey. Um so
[42:02] it was an interesting thing
um where other people thought it was
[42:06] interesting outside of our
administration. Anybody else on the
[42:09] council I new business?
[42:13] Okay, uh council reports. I'm sorry, did
you have something, Jack?
[42:16] » Yes, I did.
>> For new business?
[42:19] » For new business, on the clarifying
statement that was made about the
[42:24] cannabis
facility
[42:26] » You're out of order.
>> and lease agreement.
[42:29] » We're we're past that at this point.
We're already past
[42:31] » in our package. Just so everybody
>> today is not in the package.
[42:34] » Stop. You do not have to
>> A one is, but not a two.
[42:37] » Kelly, you're out of order.
>> Can't miss it.
[42:39] » [clears throat]
>> Yeah.
[42:41] » So, I understand it's in the package.
It's not on the agenda, Mr. Kelly. Just
[42:44] correct. You're out of order.
He's got it right there. It was in the
[42:48] packet. You could have seen it if you
wanted to.
[42:50] » Mayor.
>> Mr. Kelly.
[42:52] » Read the amount for me.
>> You're out of order.
[42:53] » It's right here.
>> Mr. Quinn.
[42:55] Nothing.
If you want to see it, you could see the
[42:58] same papers that everybody else has.
>> I have it. Just Show me where the rent
[43:00] is. What page is it?
>> you don't. Okay, moving on to reports.
[43:04] Uh
[43:07] Why not? Mr. Kelly, you have 3 minutes.
>> Uh hold on.
[43:10] » One second.
>> Yes.
[43:12] » Um um two things. One,
uh we had a a phenomenal employee that
[43:17] just retired on August 1st, Kevin
Miller. Uh Kevin Miller was a
[43:21] dial-a-ride operator.
And Kevin Miller
[43:24] was by far one of the most dedicated
employees serving his passengers, uh the
[43:29] senior citizens of Rockaway Township.
Not only did he do it while he was on
[43:32] the clock, he did it even outside of
that.
[43:34] And uh I just [clears throat] wish him
the best on his retirement. He's got a
[43:37] wonderful son, also named Kevin Miller,
who's a police officer in town, who's a
[43:41] mirror image of his dad, just a
wonderful person.
[43:44] Um I had a concern. We had a discussion
last time about uh new business and
[43:48] third party.
And I want to read a section here
[43:52] uh from an email on the 19th of June.
And it's to sworn personnel. To all
[43:56] personnel, please be advised that the
safety and security of our Rockaway
[43:59] Township community is a prior
priority for us as Rockaway Township
[44:03] police officers. Therefore, at the
unwillingness to fulfill overtime
[44:06] shifts, all third party will be
suspended indefinitely.
[44:10] I have a police chief who wrote this to
the personnel that's there threatening
[44:13] retaliation financially against these
sworn police officers below chief and
[44:18] down.
This is a problem.
[44:20] We already lost this township through
you guys uh one particular time with a
[44:25] retaliation against Greg Alberts,
sergeant, which ended up costing us
[44:28] what, Mr. Pron, 400 grand?
For attorney fees and everything else
[44:31] that was there?
So, I make a motion
[44:35] that we create an investigatory
committee, an HOC committee to
[44:38] investigate this statement that's made
of a retaliation against police officers
[44:42] by our chief of police
to create a a committee.
[44:46] I would want you on the committee. I
would like Mr. Witovich on the committee
[44:49] and myself. I'll even allow you to be
chair.
[44:51] Can I get a second for that motion?
>> It's not in our jurisdiction to do that.
[44:54] We have a human resources department.
>> I am asking I have a motion on the
[44:58] floor.
>> We can do it.
[44:59] » You're doing you're making a motion to
investigate Mr. Sackett.
[45:02] » Is there a second for Mr. Kelly?
>> I got something.
[45:06] » What? You're interrupting me. I have the
floor.
[45:07] » something?
>> Go ahead. You I have the floor.
[45:09] » a personnel matter.
>> That's what I'm saying.
[45:11] » someone accusing someone in public
without a rights notice.
[45:16] » Yeah.
>> A personnel violation.
[45:17] » Yeah, but he doesn't care.
>> Well,
[45:19] » I'm reading a public record.
>> my I'm submitting to you
[45:23] this this conversation should end right
now.
[45:26] » I agree.
>> My second thing that I want to let
[45:29] everybody know uh tax quarter had just
come up for the third quarter with our
[45:33] new tax amount.
And everybody is going to the tax
[45:37] collector. They are nice people. They
are not the ones that increased your
[45:41] taxes. It was the fiscally incompetent
eight people to the left of me that
[45:45] increased your taxes. They didn't work
with the school boards. They had
[45:48] opportunities to make additional cuts to
minimize any expenses that were
[45:51] increased on your end. So, don't blame
anybody else.
[45:55] Blame these people next to me to the
left. I voted no on all that stuff. They
[45:59] don't care cuz they get paid. Each one
of these people get paid 10 grand. I
[46:02] think the council president gets a
little bit more. They don't care about
[46:04] any increases. And the council president
isn't paying taxes even to complain
[46:07] about. So, remember that everybody. It's
not a lie. It's those people eight votes
[46:12] yes to increase your amount of money
along with the school.
[46:15] I'm done.
>> All right. Again,
[46:18] folks, I'm sorry that this is turning
into a electioneering.
[46:22] » It's not.
>> But, it's patently false. It's extremely
[46:27] false.
Um
[46:29] everybody on the council, again, worked
very well together
[46:34] uh with the uh with the budget. Um I
went through the the entire minutes of
[46:41] the budget. And just just to show that
it's not one self-proclaimed man
[46:47] standing against all.
Uh there were 46 motions made by Mr.
[46:52] Kelly that day.
Uh
[46:54] » All over the taxes, right? Plus three
maybe to increase?
[46:56] » 46 motions were made.
23 of them passed
[47:01] with the agreement of the rest of the
council.
[47:04] With the rest of the eight of us
incompetent council, as he says. So, 23
[47:10] of them passed.
Uh 20 failed.
[47:13] And
three were withdrawn.
[47:17] Okay?
>> What were the ones that passed? Council
[47:19] President.
>> Uh
[47:20] » And how much were they for the request
for reduction?
[47:23] » Well, again, it's irrelevant.
>> how much it was. It's not irrelevant.
[47:26] » Because you can again
>> voted against.
[47:28] » Mr. Kelly.
[47:31] It's irrelevant. Mr. Kelly.
>> overtime for police.
[47:34] » Mr. Kelly.
>> 110%.
[47:36] » Mr. Kelly, you're out of order.
>> Be quiet. Be truthful.
[47:41] » Okay. So, if we're going to bring up the
reduction that
[47:44] » Guys,
please.
[47:46] » the motion that Mr. Kelly made to reduce
police overtime.
[47:50] Okay? It's a budget that is afforded to
the police department when necessary to
[47:57] extend overtime to the officers when
situation warrants, right? Now,
[48:03] the other thinking is is well, let's say
we didn't have the overtime and we just
[48:07] hired another officer.
Well, we don't always need another
[48:10] officer. Never mind that another officer
with benefits and pension and all that
[48:14] kind of stuff is more expensive than
having a reserve for overtime.
[48:19] When we approve overtime, it doesn't
mean that we're going to use it,
[48:23] right? It's there should our extremely
competent police force,
[48:30] the chief and captains down,
should our very competent police
[48:34] department feel the need to have
overtime, more police on duty for
[48:38] whatever reason it may be, that's what
it's there for.
[48:42] Okay? It doesn't get spent immediately.
There's a lot of things that we approve
[48:47] in the budget, okay, that aren't used.
That money comes back into the general
[48:52] fund. All right? So, it's a narrative,
right? He's trying to start to run for
[48:56] election next year. It's a narrative
that he's putting out that the rest of
[49:00] the council is wasteful.
We are not. We are cautious,
[49:04] right? When
years ago,
[49:08] all right? Again, years ago, you know,
when there was a different council,
[49:12] you know, they took millions of dollars
out of the budget. We lowered Mr. Kelly,
[49:16] you're out of order.
But, you lowered it at the expense and
[49:20] the danger of the town.
>> You have no proof
[49:22] » Mr. Kelly,
>> otherwise. You're lying.
[49:25] » Kelly,
>> You are factually lying to the council.
[49:27] » you're out of order. If you can't sit
there and be quiet,
[49:30] » be honest,
>> Mr. Kelly, Mr. Morrison, be quiet.
[49:34] » Be honest.
>> Folks, it's there for anybody to read. I
[49:37] I apologize that this keeps happening,
all right? I really do. It it's shameful
[49:44] that this
council, some of which have been on
[49:47] here, how many years you guys been on?
>> A lot.
[49:50] » That's a shame.
>> A lot. Yeah, that's scary. Mr. Kelly.
[49:54] Yeah.
All right, moving on.
[49:58] Mr. Rutovich, can you
>> [snorts]
[50:01] » take us back in the
>> last last meeting I proposed or
[50:05] asked the administration to maybe reduce
the uh
[50:09] the uh front setback and I just want to
update the public that they've been
[50:13] doing their diligence. It just looks
like we're moving forward and hopefully
[50:15] within the next meeting or maybe two
we'll we'll have something to be to vote
[50:20] on. So, I appreciate that. Uh we had
another National Night Out. Uh the
[50:24] captain might correct me. I think it was
the third one, which was start in
[50:28] Rockaway Township, right? Uh you know,
every year we're improving. I think it's
[50:32] good. Some of the other municipalities
have been
[50:35] doing them for decades. So, a lot of
people go to the other municipalities,
[50:39] but I think uh the Rockaway Township
Police Department's doing a good job and
[50:42] it's getting better every year.
Uh I would also like to address the you
[50:46] know the concern there's a lot of I
think misinformation on social media
[50:50] when it comes to the ALPRs and the uh
flock cameras.
[50:54] Uh I don't know if uh people are aware
that you know, these these uh
[50:59] automated automated automated license
plate readers that officers use are
[51:04] regulated by the New Jersey attorney
general guidelines. And when you talk
[51:08] about the retention of the information,
when the officers could access the
[51:11] information, that's all
uh guided by the guideline and there's
[51:15] an audit system that the department has
to comply with. You know, when
[51:20] when someone does access it illegally,
officers have been charged criminally,
[51:24] fired. So, I think the the benefit of of
that technology outweighs the the
[51:29] concern.
I mean, there's you know,
[51:32] abducted killed kids have been
have been found because of this
[51:36] technology. We have solved uh serious
crimes, you know, stopped terrorist
[51:40] attacks. So, so this technology uh is
really good. And especially in New
[51:45] Jersey, you know, I know somebody
mentioned the fourth amendment, things
[51:48] like that, but in New Jersey, under the
New Jersey constitution, the officers
[51:53] have to comply, they have to take a lot
more steps to access some of that
[51:56] information. So, it's not just available
out there just for anybody. I don't see
[52:00] officers abusing it. It's been used
for over 15 years.
[52:05] And and, you know, and again, it's it's
extremely beneficial to uh
[52:09] to our police department and also to the
public, to the community. So, that's all
[52:13] I have. Thank you.
[52:18] » [snorts]
>> Thank you.
[52:21] Um yes, I also attended the National
Night Out, which was very nice um to
[52:26] support the Rockville Township Police.
Um I went to the Board of Adjustment
[52:30] meeting on the 12th. Uh sorry, I was on
Board of Adjustment. Sorry, Board of
[52:34] Education meeting on the 12th. Um they
talked about the no cell phone policy
[52:39] for the schools in the 2026-2027
year. That's something new. And the
[52:45] superintendent also um is encouraging
people to go on his coffee house chats
[52:50] to ask questions about um
anything they like anything they want to
[52:54] about the Board of Ed.
Um
[52:58] and I also wanted to thank Lisa Palmieri
um for her help when I send my emails
[53:04] with town issues that I'm having with
res- I really appreciate your help.
[53:08] Thank you very much.
Um [clears throat]
[53:10] I think that's it. Thank you.
[53:14] » Councilman McOwen.
[53:17] » Thank you.
Um first, uh
[53:21] I'd like to ask administration
um
[53:24] that big gas tank that we have down at
the senior building, I had sent an email
[53:28] for an update on what when the screening
would be going in and uh cuz I'm getting
[53:35] complaints from residents. I'm also
wanting to know when that tank is going
[53:40] to be operational. I have not heard back
yet.
[53:45] And the senior building,
the staircase has one handrail going
[53:51] down on the right side. If you're coming
up, there is no handrail on those
[53:57] staircase from the lower level. Should
have a handrail seeing I can only
[54:03] utilize one arm
if I use those stairs.
[54:07] Um the other thing is there is a steep
hill.
[54:11] There's no
fence and or rail
[54:16] to prevent kids or seniors from falling
down that hill.
[54:21] Um something that we need to really look
at.
[54:26] Football and cheerleading rally is
September 4th.
[54:30] Hopefully I'll see everybody there.
And um seeing this our last meeting for
[54:35] this this month, um September will be
in full pledge for sports. Thank you.
[54:45] » Councilman Frelander.
>> Yes, thank you.
[54:48] Uh couple of quick notes. Uh
the library met uh we met at Hibernia.
[54:55] If you're going to be interested in
seeing a painted
[55:00] building,
that's going to be going soon and the
[55:04] bids are out, right?
Um cuz we have a grant for that. Got
[55:09] Thank the administration
and the library board for for pushing
[55:13] that.
Uh historical society, we've been having
[55:16] open house on Sundays
uh for August. We did uh Saturdays in
[55:22] July and that's going well. We only got
a couple left. And the building is that
[55:27] is going to be shut down again because
we did get a lot of great money and then
[55:32] they got to go to the next phase and do
the floors and everything else. So
[55:36] that's shut down because obviously you
can you can't have people in there when
[55:40] they're they're working on the floors.
Uh substance abuse uh
[55:44] uh we had a they had a fundraiser at the
Orange Ferry uh
[55:49] and uh by the mall.
Uh went well.
[55:52] Uh they're talking about uh the bingo
fundraiser again.
[55:56] Uh which is in the planning stages.
And uh
[56:01] let's see what else uh with them but
and that's that that's it as far as that
[56:06] goes.
Um
[56:08] everything else is uh pretty quiet.
That's it. Thank you.
[56:13] » Councilman Salberg.
>> Uh yes, no report on uh the county
[56:16] commissioners uh but the Morris County
Municipal Utilities Authority, the
[56:20] MCMUA, uh recently um announced the
recipients of their uh 2026 waste
[56:26] reduction and recycling grant
recipients. Happy to say Rockaway
[56:29] Township uh was one of the recipients.
We're going to be receiving funds uh for
[56:34] improvement to our curbside recycling
trucks. So, that was just recently
[56:37] announced, which is nice.
Uh open space trust fund uh applications
[56:41] did finally come in, so we're going to
be meeting mid-September to start
[56:44] evaluating uh recipients uh of the funds
for this year.
[56:49] » Um next year.
>> Uh for next year, yes. Well, for for
[56:51] 2026.
Uh so for um
[56:54] final thing uh for anyone that might be
interested um in October, there's going
[56:58] to be a benefit uh 5K down at 66 Ford
Road, the Big Hearted 5K.
[57:04] Um more information, it is posted. If
anyone wants to um find out about it, uh
[57:08] you could see it uh at www.4hcm.org.
And again, it's to uh benefit the HCMA.
[57:15] Um it's nice and flat, it's nice and
easy, so hope you can attend. Thank you.
[57:20] » Thank you.
Council Vice President.
[57:22] » Uh Councilman Salberg, will you be
participating in that, Breeze?
[57:26] » Okay. Okay.
>> I won't say how long it's going to take
[57:28] me, but I will.
>> Okay. Okay. Thank you. Uh thank you,
[57:30] Council President. Um
I guess I'll go back to July. Couple of
[57:35] things. We had the Whiteman Lake
Festival weekend and the parade, which
[57:38] was a a great, well-attended weekend. I
also attended, um,
[57:43] the Marcella Community Club versus
Sponsors Picnic and Pig Roast. Very well
[57:47] attended, as well. Rained a little bit
that day.
[57:49] And, uh, Mr. Kelly was there. It was a
nice, uh, good spread over there. They
[57:53] did a great job.
>> He took some stuff in a plastic bag
[57:56] back, too.
>> Hey,
[57:57] » Mom has to eat.
>> Um, I attended the National Night Out in
[58:02] Rockaway. It was, I think, second or
third one, like Councilman said, and
[58:05] it's growing every year. So, it was
great. After that, I stopped by Our
[58:09] Neighbors in Rockaway Borough. It's it's
a say hi to the mayor and check them
[58:13] out. And, um, they've been doing it for
a long time. So, um, it's nice to always
[58:18] see our other communities and see what's
going on. Take some you know, tips back
[58:22] for us and everything.
And, um,
[58:26] you know, since I was one of the eight
that, uh, is raising our taxes, I just
[58:31] want to talk briefly about the budget.
Because I made quite a bit of motions
[58:36] that day to cut our taxes. I also I also
cut
[58:41] our council raises. I cut those all out.
>> Hey, I cut them $300 a person.
[58:46] » up my salary. Mr. Kelly, it's not
>> You actually She did give up her salary.
[58:50] » Mr. Kelly, it's not your time.
>> Mr. Kelly, that is not true.
[58:53] » I don't get to talk.
>> Mr. Kelly, can you just be quiet?
[58:55] » You gave your salary to a different
department. Yeah, we're still paying it.
[58:58] The taxpayers are still paying it.
>> The salary's going to
[59:00] » Mr. Kelly, but they're still paying it.
>> I mean,
[59:04] » zero salary. I'm saying you can take
zero dollars.
[59:06] » I know, we're the
>> That would save the taxpayers.
[59:08] » Don't let him tell you that.
>> are still paying. So, um, we did save
[59:13] quite a bit of money that day. We
worked, you know, all eight of the
[59:16] members did work very well that day at
the budget meeting. Um, that's all I
[59:20] got. Thank you.
>> Thanks.
[59:27] » Uh, I'm going to be quick. Uh
it's the kids are going back to school
[59:31] uh last week of August, which is earlier
than I ever remember it
[59:35] um
being really, really early.
[59:38] Um
some of us have kids that are heading
[59:41] off to college for the first time.
Um that happened really fast. Uh
[59:48] so uh I got two heading off to college
um and I know that
[59:53] Council Vice President's daughter got
picked up by a D1 soccer team. Uh
[59:56] congrats. So uh
>> [applause]
[1:00:02] » I'm going to put a bid in for
uh NIL.
[1:00:06] » We're already working with some people,
but thank you.
[1:00:08] » But uh it's uh it was I was talking to
Mr. Sackett. It was a really cool story,
[1:00:12] you know, so she went up uh from what a
D3 to a D1.
[1:00:16] » D1. She uh she
came play for Rockway Township Wreck
[1:00:20] through the ranks, Rockway Township
Wreck, and then we moved on after
[1:00:23] travel, played for a few club teams, and
played for Rutgers-Newark last year,
[1:00:28] Division III, started half the season in
goal, and now she's at Division I Seton
[1:00:33] Hall. Exactly your dad, so
>> She does.
[1:00:36] » That's it. Well, he's a good coach.
>> Hopefully we'll uh
[1:00:39] » Thank you.
>> Hopefully she'll be in here to uh talk
[1:00:41] about her national championship.
So uh
[1:00:45] that's it. Just be safe, guys, you know,
uh people are going to be out there
[1:00:48] again, buses will be out on the road.
Um it's going to it's here before you
[1:00:52] know it, so just be careful.
>> [snorts]
[1:00:56] » Anybody from the administration have a
report?
[1:00:58] » Yeah, I'll I'll go through. I'm going to
go through some things. But I just want
[1:01:01] to first address I'm not going to get
into personnel items. There's a lot of
[1:01:03] campaigning going on tonight in general.
>> It's all true. It's all truth, John.
[1:01:07] » the
Our police officers for third-party work
[1:01:13] get paid time and a half of the highest
pay scale, not of their base pay. So a
[1:01:19] first-year officer is getting paid of
what an officer at the top of their pay
[1:01:22] scale is getting. So, I'm going to ask
Council member Wojtowicz because I think
[1:01:26] he's the only one that's in law
enforcement. He's been in law
[1:01:29] enforcement for over 30 years. When you
were younger in law enforcement, if you
[1:01:33] had an opportunity
to make your base rate
[1:01:37] and a half
to work overtime in the town to protect
[1:01:41] and serve the community, or you had an
opportunity to get third-party work and
[1:01:45] make [clears throat]
time and a half of the highest base
[1:01:48] rate, which one would you pick?
>> Two of duty job, that third-party.
[1:01:51] » And and does So, if you have overtime
work that's not getting filled,
[1:01:57] » [snorts]
>> does that hurt public safety?
[1:01:59] » Absolutely. I mean, I think that's the
administration's, you know, the
[1:02:02] leadership's position to, right? They
got to respond to
[1:02:05] » Would you be upset the chief took away
your
[1:02:06] » Mr. Kelly, it's not your time.
>> Would you be upset of that?
[1:02:09] » Mr. Kelly, can you control yourself?
>> I'm asking him a question like the mayor
[1:02:12] did.
>> And it's not your time.
[1:02:14] » Yeah.
>> So, you got your time.
[1:02:17] Um we got a letter uh one of the
attorneys that works for our planning
[1:02:20] board uh is closing her office, so she
sent a very complimentary letter um
[1:02:24] talking about our zoning officer Shelly
Kahn, our clerk uh Aaron Murray, um
[1:02:29] bunch of people on the planning board,
zoning board, just that very
[1:02:33] complimentary things to talk about how
she worked with them over the years and
[1:02:37] how great they've been to her. So, we
wish her luck. Um
[1:02:42] got a nice letter on our fire director
Mr. Heitzelmann uh from a member of the
[1:02:48] uh Fox Hills community as president of
the Ruesch Building at Fox Hills
[1:02:51] complex. On behalf of all our residents,
I want to thank you and all the
[1:02:54] volunteers for your quick response
Wednesday in the 12th. The volunteers
[1:02:57] are truly admired by all of us for the
time and effort they give to Rockaway
[1:03:01] Township. Please convey my thanks to
them.
[1:03:04] Um
talked about Adam already covered the
[1:03:07] grant. Um I want to mention that um
September is ovarian cancer awareness
[1:03:13] month. Ovarian cancer is one one the
deadliest cancers impacting women, yet
[1:03:17] it remains one of the most underfunded
and least understood. Over 21,000 women
[1:03:21] in the United States will be diagnosed
this year and 12,450 will lose their
[1:03:26] lives, a staggering 64% mortality rate.
More than 75% of women are diagnosed at
[1:03:31] advanced stages due to vague symptoms
and lack of reliable early detection
[1:03:36] tests. The 5-year survival rate remains
below 50% and tragically that number has
[1:03:40] not significantly improved in decades.
This disease has no standard of care, is
[1:03:45] chronic and carries an 85% recurrence
rate. Many women with um
[1:03:50] LGSC lose their ability to have
biological children with no time or
[1:03:55] guidance to preserve fertility. Ovarian
cancer steals dreams. To increase
[1:03:59] awareness in September um
we're going to hopefully participate in
[1:04:03] illuminating our municipal building in
teal and we'll post useful links in our
[1:04:07] social media platforms. Together as a
community, we hope to shine a light on
[1:04:12] the gravely overlooked disease and give
hope to women and families who need it
[1:04:15] the most.
>> Thank you, mayor.
[1:04:21] » And that's all I have for tonight. As
I've been doing historically,
[1:04:26] all the department heads will be posting
a report on Facebook for to share with
[1:04:29] everybody for August reports.
>> Thank you.
[1:04:33] Anybody else in administration have a
report?
[1:04:37] Make a motion to adjourn by consensus.
All in favor?
[1:04:39] » Aye.
>> Meeting adjourned.