[0:06] agenda, August 26th, 20th, 26th, time is now 6.35, I now call this meeting to order and have a, let's rise, have the flat salute and a brief, why is that missing?

[0:24] Invocation by Councilman, Council President Thomas.

[0:41] opportunity and justice for all.

[0:52] Hi, it's us here.

[0:54] Well, we ask you to guide us in to these people.

[0:58] Let us all come to one accord and one of these.

[1:02] We do this a great hope for you to come to a consensus.

[1:07] Well, we ask for you to take all those that have an attention

[1:43] The requirements of NJSA 10 call in 4-6 at the San Sean Law has been met.

[1:48] A notice of this meeting was sent to the Home News Tribune and published in the Union County local stores on December 18, 2025.

[1:56] Posted on the bulletin boards in Barrow Hall and Barrow Hall Annex on the Barrow's website and

[2:01] Father in the Office of the Municipal Clerk.

[2:03] Thank you, Madam Clerk, are you ready to roll call?

[2:07] Councilwoman Sosa, is absent?

[2:11] Councilmember Nair?

[2:12] Here.

[2:15] Councilwoman Grimsley is absent?

[2:20] Councilor McCamary, Zapsent, Councilwoman at large Johnson, Council President Thomas, Mayor Shaw.

[2:30] Here. Councilman, if we can turn your mics on, when you speak.

[2:36] Thank you, Mayor. You got it. This time I'm going to ask for a motion for the approval of the minutes,

[2:41] minutes of Mayor and Council, workshop meeting July 8th, 2026, and the minutes of the Mayor and Council

[2:48] to a regular meeting July 22nd, 2026.

[2:58] So moved.

[3:01] Chair, Michael.

[3:03] It was a motion by Council Member Nair,

[3:05] seconded by Council President Thomas on the motion.

[3:09] I'll hear what you're saying.

[3:11] Seeing none.

[3:14] Council Member Nair.

[3:15] Yes.

[3:18] Councilwoman, Councilwoman, that law is Johnson.

[3:20] Yes.

[3:21] Council President Thomas.

[3:22] Yes.

[3:23] Three years, motion passed.

[3:25] Thank you, Madam Clerk.

[3:26] at this time. Now I'm going to open up the floor for public comments. Those will choose to come to the mic. Please keep in mind you have five minutes, five minutes. Only please state your name as you come to the mic. The floor is now open.

[3:52] Anthony Esposito, 414 East, 3rd Avenue.

[3:58] So it's August 26th. We've almost completed eight months of 2026.

[4:08] and yet we still don't have a budget for fiscal year 2026.

[4:21] I'm not even sure we have our financial report for fiscal year 2025.

[4:29] I missed the last couple of meetings.

[4:31] So,

[4:34] this year, you've been working off last year's budget,

[4:43] which was probably overspent.

[4:48] It's my guess, this year, we're two-thirds into the new fiscal year, and yet we don't

[5:00] have a budget.

[5:01] So, what are you following in your spending?

[5:03] because

[5:08] if you're spending this year like you did in 2025, we're going to have a

[5:15] really big tax hike,

[5:18] maybe 4% from rough calculations that I'm making. So when

[5:27] is the plan to have a 2026 budget? Since two-thirds of it is gone already,

[5:38] how

[5:43] do

[5:44] I pay my taxes on August 1st or else I'd be hit with interest,

[5:52] but yet you have no budget to follow.

[5:57] It's really unjust what you're doing to the citizens of this town.

[6:09] I don't understand why you don't know how much you spent in 2025.

[6:15] Every year, you're supposed to have a financial statement of the spending of the previous year.

[6:23] Usually comes out in January, February.

[6:29] We don't have one

[6:31] Or else not one that was made public.

[6:38] So at what point does DCA

[6:41] Get involved with this city count with this mayor and council here

[6:46] Because according to them

[6:49] their timelines will lay

[6:52] We're very late

[6:56] So when do the fines come for the council people and the mayor?

[7:01] who haven't produced a budget yet.

[7:07] What's the penalty for the CFO, the former CFO and the current CFO?

[7:14] The former CFO, you let work a couple hours a week,

[7:18] and I'm using the word work loosely because apparently he wasn't keeping track of the spending

[7:26] because you don't have a financial report.

[7:31] Maybe that's your responsibility.

[7:34] You are the administration.

[7:36] This is your administration, you are supposed to make sure things are getting done.

[7:45] So most of all this falls in your lap.

[7:50] So I would suggest that you talk

[7:55] with your council people and I mean all of the council

[7:59] people, not just the ones you like and get it done.

[8:07] Thank you.

[8:08] Thank you.

[8:25] I'm just going by the last council meeting, and so one of the things I wrote up was because

[8:34] the councilman Frieden was talking to the niece about the bike path thing, and he wrote

[8:43] up the fact that they had already received, what was it, a million two, or something to do it?

[8:51] And they were looking, he was looking for another grant to add to it.

[8:57] And he was wondering what it was for and what the expenses were.

[9:03] And then they mentioned something about tearing up the tracks.

[9:07] And I'm old enough to remember that they tore up the tracks in Rozil on 2nd Avenue.

[9:13] I used to live on second year, a few years ago, but they tore them up because of the war they needed the medal.

[9:23] And I don't see why the tracks have to be torn up for a bicycle path.

[9:28] And that was supposed to be one of the edit expenses.

[9:32] And I also don't see why you need solar lighting and benches and everything else

[9:39] for people to ride around at night on some path with a bicycle.

[9:45] This is a nice thing to have, but is it really necessary?

[9:51] And I still haven't figured out where it's going to be.

[9:54] They keep saying from Chestnut to St. George,

[9:57] I don't know where they're talking about,

[10:00] is it going to go along the railroad or what?

[10:04] And I also, these grants, I don't know,

[10:08] it seems like if you're having lighting and seating and you have to clear the path, it's

[10:15] going to be cool as maintenance problems. You're going to have to keep the grass down

[10:19] and whatever along this path. My son got elected to the council down in Point Pleasant Beach.

[10:29] And one of the reasons he won was he said everybody wants all these nice things for their town.

[10:34] They want to have entertainment.

[10:37] They want to have bicycle pairs.

[10:39] They want to have free concerts and all this stuff.

[10:44] But you have to stop at what you can afford.

[10:48] And it seems like there's more and more money going out

[10:51] for this is a nice thing to have, but it's not necessary.

[10:56] I mean, if they didn't have a bicycle pair at the town,

[10:58] I don't think anybody would really care,

[11:00] except maybe a few bicycle enthusiasts that go on this thing and I can't see why it has to be opened at night either.

[11:10] It seems to me that it's going to be dark unless you have street lights and stuff and solar lights.

[11:16] They don't give that much light and you know I've seen the people across the street have solar lights.

[11:22] It's not very bright you know around their house and the other thing I came to the workshop.

[11:28] meeting. I only stayed a little while because you had a closed session at the end. And then I didn't

[11:35] feel I can interrupt that. And I saw the ex-pleased chief in the hallway and he said he's back. Is he back?

[11:43] Because there was nothing on that, nothing said about it at the meeting. I didn't hear anything about it.

[11:50] I haven't heard anything about it in any place. And I understand he won his case in court and I think

[11:58] you should at least say that we have a different police chief back and what

[12:03] happens to the other one that was temporary, you know, where is he, what is he

[12:09] being paid and this has to be, I think the public should know who the police

[12:14] chief is regardless of whether you like the decision or not. I personally I always

[12:23] like him. I thought he was very good. I did a job and he was had 31 years in that's a

[12:29] long time. And to get fired over something that maybe should have been a two week suspension

[12:37] like some of my kids made mistakes when they were on the department and they gave them two

[12:42] weeks off without pay. You know, there's things you can do without firing people. So I also

[12:51] So I was asking when the Board of Education meeting is.

[12:54] I don't know when they have meetings

[12:56] because this school thing is coming up

[12:57] and I hear it's going to be very expensive.

[13:01] So I would like to go to a meeting

[13:04] and see what they're coming up with.

[13:07] And I still think these public comments should be made

[13:10] after you've had a few discussions

[13:13] because at the last meeting Denise and Brandon

[13:16] were talking about the bicycle thing.

[13:18] But then you couldn't get up and say anything about it.

[13:21] I had a wait for now.

[13:23] And I did go, oh, okay.

[13:25] Thank you.

[13:34] Good afternoon.

[13:35] Mario Corneco, 137 Dennis Street.

[13:38] I'd like to talk about the area of Raritan Road

[13:42] and Wishi Road.

[13:43] Couple years ago I came here asking for help for that area.

[13:48] Nothing happens.

[13:50] It's been a couple years

[13:51] and we still have the same issues there.

[13:55] You know, there's people speeding in that area

[13:57] All everybody knows that when the kids from

[14:01] race will day comes out of the school,

[14:06] that area right there, that little triangle

[14:08] where Ryerson wrote and Wishi wrote is,

[14:12] that's where the kids actually kind of gathered together.

[14:15] And in the past, we had some issues with the fighting

[14:20] and stuff like that.

[14:22] We have asked for crossing guards

[14:27] in that area because it's dangerous. There's no stop signs. There's no signals there.

[14:34] You guys put a signal there with a solar panel. That thing doesn't work. It worked for a couple

[14:39] weeks or a couple months and it doesn't work. The other issue is between

[14:44] which we wrote in this developing, what's the name of this big developing, the park.

[14:58] So for years the people

[15:00] People in this area had to deal with the noise of construction, with the trucks. Saturday, since early in the morning, and it was, you know, it was all good because we knew that it's good for the community. Now they finished their project, and from right and road to the entrance of the park, the area, the street is all messed up. I'm going to invite you guys to go in that area and see how

[15:29] how it is. It's awful. I have some aerial shots of that that I'm going to post it soon

[15:35] so you guys can actually see it.

[15:39] And it's really concerning because what they did is they

[15:44] actually fixed that area just from the main entrance of the development all the way to

[15:51] the next street. But that area from the entrance, from the first entrance of the park to

[15:57] which you wrote is all messed up.

[16:00] Not just the street itself, but the areas around.

[16:05] I've seen senior people that cannot even walk

[16:09] around this area, they have to cross the street

[16:11] because of how that area is all with halls and really messed up.

[16:24] Like I said, I'm gonna pose some pictures

[16:26] So you guys can actually have an idea how bad that that area it is and the reason because I'm here is a neighbor came to my house

[16:35] Asking for help. I told them that I'm not

[16:40] I'm not yet in in chair and it's gonna happen, you know next year, but still people are coming and complaining about you know, these

[16:49] These area and isn't really bad shape. So I'm gonna ask you guys to please take a look of this thing now

[16:55] But I saw a poster that you sent saying that you're going to go around the the city, and I'm going to invite you to go to that specific area and see what I'm talking about.

[17:05] So we need signals, we need stop signs, and we need to take care of that specific area.

[17:13] The other thing is let's put the priorities where we really need to put priorities.

[17:19] So for me the priorities are the kids. The kids are everything. I don't know about you guys, but for me the kids are the future, the kids are the present and there, there should be a priority in the time.

[17:30] So when we go to the parks around this area, like the park in Warner Street, that is a beautiful park, really nice done, but if you go around the area, there's no stop sign.

[17:47] there's, there's keep playing there. There's kids who, kids are kids. I mean, they just

[17:53] cross the streets without, you know, any, any, any concerns. And there's no, there's

[17:59] not an stop sign. There's no, no signals at all. The other park, the park in, that is close

[18:05] to Saint George Avenue.

[18:09] I drive there all the time. That park is unfortunately is empty.

[18:13] There's really no communication with the people, there's a lot of people who don't know that the park exists, and for the few people that know that the

[18:21] knows that the park is there, if they want to walk to the park, it's really difficult, they have to go to the street because once again, I'm going to invite you to guys go and walk that area, there's not

[18:33] but citing books in order to get to that part.

[18:39] You'll have to go to San George Avenue to go that part.

[18:41] Thank you.

[18:42] Thank you.

[18:47] Home terrace, home terrace,

[18:50] the park that was vandalized.

[18:58] Senator, when I was coming to the mic, I called this portion of public comments, and we're going to move right into the committee reports.

[19:05] We're going to begin the reports with new councilman Bruner doing public safety and all the other ad hoc such as.

[19:11] Thank you, Mayor. Starting with Police Department, July stats, there were 3,217 calls for service, 71 motor vehicle accidents, and I will say that was actually a drop. Normally we see 90 to 100, so whatever we were doing in July, let's try and continue that.

[19:30] 1,326 summons issued in July and an average response time of two minutes flat.

[19:38] other things recently out of the police department national night out a couple

[19:41] weeks back went very well great turnout it's always a great event every

[19:47] August we're in the middle of our drive sober get pulled over initiative that

[19:52] runs through labor day so obviously you should not be driving under the influence

[19:58] of anything at any time but we're on specific high alert for it through

[20:02] Labor Day. From the fire department July stats there were 194 fire calls, 245

[20:10] ambulance calls and an average response time at two minutes and 46 seconds.

[20:16] ambulance fees collected in the month were 39,573 dollars. Fire

[20:22] department also came through with the community cooldown last week. That was a

[20:27] fantastic continuation of that event. Great turnout from the community. Lots of

[20:32] giveaways and raffles and just good to see that continuing and you know the

[20:38] support from not only all of the fire department at that event but the police

[20:43] there and similarly at the national night out from the police a lot of support

[20:48] from the fire department and other borough departments. The Firehouse window

[20:56] replacement project is now finished so if you drive by the firehouse you'll see

[21:00] all of the beautiful new windows. That was a long time coming and mostly grant funded.

[21:08] Tower one. We're still looking at a late summer delivery of that. We're excited to see that coming.

[21:18] Free smoke and CO detectors as always are still available through the fire department,

[21:23] so if you need those please get in touch and we'll be happy to provide them.

[21:29] OEM, they're continuing to repair for the Rescheduled House Music Festival, obviously

[21:35] responding during the many recent strong storm events we've had.

[21:39] I will say I think we all are watching every storm we have now.

[21:46] We don't just get rain, we're getting the strong winds pretty much every time it seems this

[21:52] summer.

[21:53] So continue to stay mindful, you know, a little rain has turned into big storms, big trees down, big branches down.

[22:02] So just stay safe.

[22:04] And I do commend DPW for doing all they can to be proactive about maintaining the trees.

[22:11] But also, you know, there's just some instances where they're going to go down in storms like that.

[22:16] And we do what we can to get out there as quick as possible to assess and clean it up.

[22:22] OEM as well as always constantly seeking volunteers, so if you have an interest, please get in touch with us, we'll get you signed up and onboarded with emergency management.

[22:34] The planning board has met twice this month, the first meeting was just to approve memorializing resolutions from the applications approved prior, and then this Monday the board met to review the Woodland Drive redevelopment plan.

[22:50] for the old Smith Mansion property that burned down in the woods in Condo area.

[22:58] The next meeting of the planning board is next Wednesday, September 2nd.

[23:02] The zoning board has not had anything going on and the rent leveling board is in the

[23:09] same situation. We've cancelled the rent leveling board through the summer but I

[23:15] I'll give you the latest max increase on rents is at 4.56% based on the latest inflation data, and that is all for me, Mayor.

[23:28] Thank you.

[23:29] Thank you, Councilman.

[23:30] We're going to move right over to the Council President who will deliver the finance, redevelopment, and governance committee report.

[23:46] Okay, first for academic development, the monthly report, redevelopment, 113-115-Local Street,

[23:56] then a new round of the NJDEP approvals because the code changed again this year and created

[24:04] a new path forward for the project.

[24:06] Thank George Carter, construction project is moving forward, started framing the residential

[24:14] floors and the site inspection continues.

[24:19] New channel avenue two family homes, foundations are set, and the next step is to have the work

[24:26] inspected by the engineers.

[24:28] Buildings, July construction department fees, building permits, electrical plumbing, fire,

[24:35] There are permits, mechanical, DCA, and certificate fees, and CO.

[24:40] Total's $19,000, $4, construction value, $1,862,459, and there was no other fees collected.

[24:56] For code enforcement, a total number of complaints, 85 was 60 abated and

[25:02] 25 still in progress in progress out of 25 in progress five are summons total

[25:10] number of violation six six with two abatements and four still in progress out

[25:17] out of the four in progress two are summons total number of court

[25:22] appearance 29 with 21 FTAs and 8 pay fines and court fees total number of zoning

[25:30] I think Ms. Eight was seven approved and one denial.

[25:33] Total number of zoning violations, one with one abatement.

[25:41] General and personnel, we have been short staff in the building department because of vacations,

[25:49] but they have been working very hard with the short staff.

[25:57] Next I move to file finance report.

[25:59] But our finance order is have completed the 2024 audits.

[26:06] They have worked to clean up the 2025 items in an effort to complete the AFS,

[26:12] which the order should deliver by the end of this week or early next week.

[26:23] In the agenda, we have put together a temporary budget spending for the, excuse me, not in the budget.

[26:31] But a temporary budget spending for all departments have been put in place until the budget is done.

[26:39] And also, I'll see if all is meeting with department heads on their core centers to help them stay in the guidelines of the temporary budget.

[26:52] Item, there's items on the agenda to cancel unused capital, also items on the agenda to cancel budget line items.

[27:01] And that concludes my report, ma'am.

[27:05] Thanks, Council President, at this time, I'm going to ask Councilman at Lodge.

[27:09] Do I have anything for transportation at this time?

[27:11] Not at this time, Mayor.

[27:13] Thank you.

[27:13] Gotcha.

[27:16] Madam B, do you have admin reports for tonight?

[27:22] Yes, we do.

[27:23] Actually, we've experienced technology issues this week on Friday.

[27:28] It was reported that staff didn't have access to their share drive.

[27:32] It's kind of where they store documents and the annex building, it was later discovered

[27:38] that the annex building was having issues with their internet.

[27:42] That was fixed on Monday by CISNet and we're putting measures in place for a greater alert system.

[27:53] And so we've already talked to them about that.

[27:56] Union negotiations have started.

[27:58] We've already met with Blue Collar.

[28:02] We will be meeting again tomorrow with Blue Collar and starting the negotiations with White Collar.

[28:09] The process is running smoothly and I'm hoping for a speedy path towards the next step in the union negotiations.

[28:20] Chessna Street Project, we finished paving the streets.

[28:24] We are waiting for the benches and other items to arrive.

[28:31] The plan is to finish Chesna Street by the end of September, but

[28:37] it also depends on manufacturer delivery on some of the items we're waiting for.

[28:44] From a grants perspective, we're working to kind of draw down on all of our major grants,

[28:49] including the Warren Street Park that came up, which will restore the funds that we spent to build the park.

[28:59] Working with HR to assess our open positions, the needs for them, and

[29:06] a path forward on what we need to keep operations running efficiently and effectively.

[29:14] The other thing is we just got a grant that will do operational.

[29:20] We applied for something that the state is newly offering all of the municipalities.

[29:25] And we were awarded it, it was a grant to hire a consulting firm to come in and

[29:30] just look at your operations and to see how to optimize it.

[29:35] And that's right in line with what the administration is looking at, which is to improve.

[29:41] not only operational efficiencies, but also to improve resident services.

[29:48] Because I think once you improve your operations, the delivery to residents will be better.

[29:54] And so we're quite excited about that.

[29:56] You'll see something soon on the.

[30:02] Just a couple of comments on the, some of the things that came up if I may may. Okay, so just wanted to go down the, the historical lane of budgets and win. No one wants to do budgets later than you are kind of guideline to do, but it does happen. And this is not the first time and this is not the latest that we've ever done it.

[30:29] 2021, we did it in March. We were really good. 2022, it was in June, 2023, and that was about a month and a half late.

[30:39] 2023 was in August. That was about a few months late.

[30:45] 2024, because they're due in April, April 30th, around the end of April.

[30:51] We were in October, early October that we passed it.

[30:56] 2025, we did it in June.

[31:00] In this year, we're four months late.

[31:02] We don't want to be, but I think the important part for us is to try to do what we can to

[31:07] reduce, to clean up, put us on a strong foundation, and then also to reduce where we can, and that

[31:16] That is kind of what is taking so long.

[31:18] And the foundational piece of the AFS is also what we're waiting for to get that done.

[31:24] So I just wanted to set the frame of reference on the historical activity around passing the final budget.

[31:34] The next thing is the, just to talk about the Ravit and Road and We Chief,

[31:40] We definitely agree that safety in those areas are really important.

[31:48] We have a set, and I've been talking about them at several of our council meetings that

[31:53] we are working on, you guys remember, that we're working on traffic safety improvements.

[32:00] We have, within that package, along with regular streets, there is also a set of changes that

[32:06] will be done around all of our schools as well as the normal parts of the neighborhood.

[32:14] And so we will be implementing traffic safety measures that will affect where our children are going.

[32:20] The reason it's not on this day is tonight is because we're working out where we can apply the HUD funds to.

[32:28] And we think we kind of sort of nailed that down, but we needed to confirm the pricing for that because we want to stay within the grant where we can.

[32:36] and then supplement the cost where we need to.

[32:41] So we agree with the Councilman in elect that, you know, this is important to all of us.

[32:46] The Weacheeb and the Park Apartments and the Street pavement.

[32:51] I think we talked about that a couple of meetings ago about paving on the street and a grant

[32:55] to do that, and so we too want to see that.

[32:59] I think there's a discussion of whether they do it or we use the grant to do it, but we are

[33:04] we're definitely looking to pay that.

[33:06] The traffic safety measures also have elements that include,

[33:10] Ravinen Road, they will be there as well.

[33:14] And we're looking at some of the things that the owner needed to deliver post the project.

[33:19] Their project, the original five phases are done, but they're not done with construction.

[33:26] So they have, we asked them to add a hundred parking spaces to their complex,

[33:30] because residents were saying that the parking overflow was a lot, they decided to do that project.

[33:36] They're doing that and extending their clubhouse.

[33:39] So that will really be the end of construction once those things are done.

[33:44] Home terrace park, I agree more people.

[33:47] When we started Council Amendment like, we did not even know that that park existed.

[33:52] But once we found out, we fixed it, and we also want to make sure that we drive people to it.

[33:59] It's for the people in that area and hopefully they use it more and we'll post something mayor, if you don't mind.

[34:06] I'll post something tomorrow morning to just remind people that home terrace is there and it's ready to be used.

[34:13] Thank you so much, ma'am.

[34:15] Thank you, Fayette, report and comments.

[34:19] Are we going to move right into the introduction and consideration passage of ordinances?

[34:23] And we have an ordinance on for first reading and introduction, ordinance number 2817-26 and ordinance

[34:31] amendment chapter 523, the borough of Roselle code to designate a handicap parking space, reserve for a specific person in front of a certain

[34:42] and residents, 761 B. Eastern Avenue.

[34:48] And at this time, we're gonna ask for a motion to adopt.

[34:52] So moved.

[34:54] Thank you.

[34:55] That's a motion by Council President Thomas,

[34:58] seconded by Council Member Nair, on the motion.

[35:01] Seeing the Council Member Nair.

[35:04] Yes.

[35:07] Councilwoman L. Johnson.

[35:09] Yes.

[35:10] Council President Thomas.

[35:11] Good.

[35:11] That's three A's, motion passed.

[35:14] Thank you.

[35:15] Ordnance on first reading, an introduction.

[35:17] Ordnance number 28, 18-26.

[35:21] Ordnance of the borough of Rosal,

[35:23] amending Article 1, ordnance section 14-2C to increase

[35:29] lending Rosal's social authority members' compensation.

[35:33] Can I get a motion to adopt?

[35:35] So a moment.

[35:38] Second.

[35:41] That's motion by Council President Thomas, seconded by Council Member Nair on the motion.

[35:46] May I may I ask a question on the motion.

[35:50] Okay, the ordinance for the Lyndon Roselle sort of authority, who's the members, I'm sorry, I'm going to speak into the microphone.

[35:57] Who's the members that's designated to that and then also what's the increase that they're looking to increase?

[36:04] Is this a partnership with Lyndon sewer authority?

[36:09] Okay, so Lyndon and Roselle, we will be looking for an increase.

[36:12] Yeah, both parties.

[36:13] Okay, could you tell me how much, who's the members that's actually representing Lyndon?

[36:18] And then also, how much is, what's granted to them and what the increase is going to be?

[36:23] Thank you.

[36:27] Sure.

[36:28] So the members, the mayor is the member of the main member of the Lyndon Roselle sewer authority.

[36:36] My self is the alternate for it.

[36:39] The amount is up to $1,000.

[36:44] And it's an increase from the $300, which has been in place for over a decade.

[36:49] Lyndon has already passed this I think two months ago, so we're going to cover the cost anyway of the other people getting the increase that's down on their side.

[37:00] And so they've asked us to accommodate on this side.

[37:04] Okay, Mayor.

[37:07] Yes.

[37:07] You stated that Lyndon have already did their increase.

[37:11] They've already passed this.

[37:13] Okay, so Lyndon passed it for Lyndon or they passed it for the whole, for the whole, sewer authority.

[37:20] For their, for their members.

[37:22] Okay, so they passed it for their members, not for our members.

[37:26] Each town has to do each of their elements separately.

[37:30] So we appoint our members, they appoint their members, we set the cost, they set the cost.

[37:37] They have an immediate motion, second, and approved the increase for all members.

[37:44] Okay, and thanks for that.

[37:45] But that's a sewage authority.

[37:46] Okay, and thanks for that information.

[37:48] I'm be stated that you are an alternate member there.

[37:52] Okay, so as an alternate member, I'm sure you were feeling when the mayor is not present.

[37:57] Are you still entitled to this stipend also as an alternate member?

[38:02] Yes, and I attend actually in person all of the meetings, and I'm there at everything.

[38:09] I read all of the material, I do the work, I've taught the facility, I've learned as much as I can about the

[38:17] sewage it's already coming on new, so I'm very active on that board and yes.

[38:22] Okay, and I appreciate that my just the question was, when you state, state alternate, okay, like we have alternate members that are on boards that are sitting here, and that's replacing if someone's not able, you know, to come or show up, they use as an alternate, am I correct?

[38:41] So my question is, are you a permanent member on that board, or are you alternate?

[38:47] And what I'm going to do, I'm sorry, Mayor, is to actually look at the by-laws,

[38:53] to actually see how many permanent members that Lyndon have, and

[38:58] how many members that we have opposed to alternates.

[39:01] Because if these two members, I could understand that we have two members, but

[39:05] And we have alternate members and I need to get the clarity of an alternate member.

[39:10] Sure, so just Councilwoman Larkford or historical reasons, we have had this alternate in place for many, many years.

[39:21] I'm not the first to serve in it.

[39:23] The alternate does need to show up just like in our planning and zoning.

[39:27] They show up to the meeting so if someone is missing, also they have to follow the project.

[39:32] So as an alternate, you can't not be aware of something and then step in and vote.

[39:39] You have to maintain the knowledge of all the projects that come through so that you're in a position to fill in.

[39:46] It's almost like acting understudy where you actually have to know the lines, practice the lines that kind of thing.

[39:52] And I understand that. So you actually sit and make decisions and votes and things in that aspect.

[39:58] Yes, if I need to.

[40:00] Yes.

[40:00] Okay, that's if you need to.

[40:02] Yes.

[40:02] I have voted.

[40:03] Okay, and I understand that.

[40:05] And I just, it's not that I'm going back and forth.

[40:07] I just need to know clarity of an alternate or an action voting member.

[40:11] And I understand which is your statement that if you have to vote you will.

[40:15] So if there is no need for you to vote, and I'm just confused on this alternate,

[40:21] and I'm going to ask if I can get, you know, bylaws on the alternate member sitting on

[40:27] the board or a permanent member, and I understand as an alternate member, because I set on zoning the whole concept as an alternate.

[40:36] And what our alternate is, if someone do not show up or if they're not there, this is when they come and they may sit and

[40:42] understand what you're saying about you have to, you know, sit in these meetings and things in that aspect, so you will be knowledgeable of what's going on.

[40:49] So my question is, are you actually, during the meeting, you actually sit up there and vote with the rest of the members?

[40:58] That's a question, that's not only concerned, I don't want to know.

[41:00] Okay, let me just jump in real quick.

[41:02] At times, yes, and at any meeting, planning boards on the board, to a authority, members are not always there.

[41:09] So we're lucky that you have the alternates that fill in so we can have a quorum and a voting session.

[41:13] So hopefully that answers the question, that's for every alternate, every board.

[41:17] I understand, excuse me, I understand which is just stated about an alternate.

[41:22] My question and my concern was, okay, we asked before $1,000 increase, okay?

[41:30] And I have no issues with that if we have members, but an alternate member is concerns that I have.

[41:36] And just like the mayor just stated, if he's not there or someone is not there, you may fill in for that.

[41:42] So there's a concerns and I'm just going to ask if I could just have a copy.

[41:46] We, you know, are looking to buy laws.

[41:48] If we could, I'll make it quick for you.

[41:50] Madam Clerk, can you please provide that information?

[41:53] We have that, we share information with the SOJ authority.

[41:56] And the actual clerk gets all that information

[41:58] before meetings and everything else.

[42:00] So if you could please provide that,

[42:01] and I want to move on with this vote.

[42:03] No, may I understand that you want to move on with that,

[42:06] but it's just quite-

[42:06] But I think you answered the questions.

[42:08] Okay, better.

[42:08] It's not, okay, it's not that I respect it.

[42:12] And you, actually, to have the floor,

[42:14] My whole concern is is that I just ask and I want to even the attorney's present is I can just get a copy to clarify

[42:21] what is an alternate and what is a regular member. Do I have that right?

[42:25] Absolutely. Madam Clerk, could you please provide that information that is given to us at the beginning of the year

[42:30] for the lindage and Roselle's sewage authority? Please give that to the councilman at large.

[42:37] That is readily available. We have that and the correspondence is clear.

[42:40] Thank you very much.

[42:41] Madam Clerk, let's take a vote.

[42:44] But we're not going to be labor decisions, this keeps going back and forth.

[42:47] If you answered it, I answered it.

[42:48] Madam Clerk, please take it to a vote.

[42:50] Mayor, I can ask the attorney to answer the question.

[42:52] Yes, I can answer it.

[42:53] I'll answer it.

[42:53] And I answered, please get it information.

[42:55] Council Member Nair?

[42:56] Yes.

[42:58] Councilwoman Adelaide Johnson?

[43:00] No, until I get clarity.

[43:01] Thank you.

[43:03] Council President Thomas.

[43:04] Yes.

[43:11] Motion passed.

[43:12] Thank you.

[43:19] At this time, we're going to move right into the resolution's portion.

[43:22] which is, one to a few resolutions, I'm going to ask for a motion to adopt resolutions 2026-301 through 2026-306.

[43:37] So Moe.

[43:45] We have a motion?

[43:48] I'll second.

[43:50] That was a motion by Councillor President Thomas, seconded by Councillor Member Nair on the motion.

[43:57] I'm sorry.

[43:58] I'm sorry.

[43:59] Yes, on 305, this is the resolution.

[44:07] Canceling unexpended balances from 2025.

[44:12] Essentially retro to December 31 of last year.

[44:16] What statutory authority are we using to do this in 2026?

[44:22] six.

[44:29] Okay, that's me. So we have been working closely with the auditors on this item.

[44:36] And so we're pretty confident what we know is traditionally if where the cancelations

[44:43] are not limited. As long as you're you're still working with that particular budget and

[44:50] the AFS is not closed. So I think I believe we are okay in that sense. So do that.

[44:57] So what is the goal of doing this now if we wait?

[45:00] This lapses automatically by statute at the end of the year. I mean, the statute that this falls under 40a, colon, 4-60. Very clearly says the balances can be canceled prior to the end of the fiscal year. I've never seen this done retroactive in the following year. And the statute is very, very crystal clear. So what is the goal of trying to do this right now?

[45:28] So I think we have made a number of adjustments to 25 that the previous CFO did not do.

[45:39] And so I think that's why we ended up doing a transfer at the end of March, which we normally do not do.

[45:45] In reconciling and fixing everything that was done, we found these opportunities that they should have ceased that would have helped out in our

[45:57] their budget and everything else if they were doing that properly, that didn't happen.

[46:02] So we're asking the day is to allow us to seize that opportunity now.

[46:08] So specifically, the first two, the tax appeal reserves and the accumulated leave reserves.

[46:17] Those are normally amounts we put in the budget.

[46:19] They then laps to reserve accounts because those are items that come up year to year.

[46:26] police, fire, big retirements get paid out of the accumulated leave so I don't

[46:32] know why we would be canceling that. The whole point of putting that in the

[46:36] budget is to build those reserves and have that money available when those

[46:41] things happen.

[46:44] So again, I don't I don't believe we can statutorily do this on those

[46:49] two items specifically. I don't even think this makes good financial sense to do.

[46:54] those should have been lapsed into the reserve and those should be sitting in the reserve for future years when it's needed.

[47:00] So I am very lost on this.

[47:05] We talked about transfers. Yes, you can do them in the first three months of the year amongst the appropriation reserve accounts.

[47:11] You can't transfer as if it was last year, the same way you can't cancel as if it was last year.

[47:18] That's why we have meetings usually in the last week of December to tie up all these loose ends with finances.

[47:23] is because the year closes on December 31st so I'm going to have to vote no on that one unless

[47:30] somebody provides me some statute that says something otherwise.

[47:36] Just to comment on and I forgot

[47:39] my sheet over there but we have left significant amounts of dollars in these in some cases they weren't

[47:45] touched in years and so there is larger portions of these funds are actually left in these line items and we

[47:55] only took small amounts out of them compared to what was fully there. I just wanted to share that.

[48:12] Madam Clerk.

[48:17] Council Member Nair.

[48:18] No on 305, yes to the rest.

[48:24] Councilwoman, our large Johnston.

[48:26] No, to 2026301 Mayor's appointment of the members to the library board with the consent of council, that's a no.

[48:34] In no one, 2026305 resolution authorizing CFO to cancel unexpected balance and current from my answer is no on those two.

[48:45] Thank you.

[48:45] Council President Thomas, so

[48:56] resolution 2026 305 failed

[49:04] and 301 302 303 304 and 306 passed.

[49:14] Thank you, Madam Clerk.

[49:16] The attorney a question, please.

[49:18] As you see tonight, we don't have a full quorum, okay?

[49:22] a resolution 206301, there was a no vote for me, and then there was two no votes, okay.

[49:31] We actually do not have a full quorum, and I asked you earlier if it came down to a vote with the mayor,

[49:37] how would that be handled?

[49:39] So how can one vote say no, and two votes say yes, what could have happened?

[49:45] We could have pulled this until we had a full board to sit here and vote, yes, on this.

[49:50] I just can't see that two members, okay?

[49:54] We don't have a full quorum to vote yes or something, so it's just two of us.

[49:59] And then the other two, which is 305, the exact same thing.

[50:04] And then also, if you look at 301,

[50:09] and I'm sorry to take up time, but this is.

[50:13] Councilman, I don't want to jump in.

[50:14] We do have a full quorum.

[50:15] The four of us make a quorum of the council.

[50:17] Any vote we take is a majority of the three of us voting.

[50:21] two of us voted for 301, that passed, two of us voted against 305, that failed.

[50:26] Okay, well there's nothing more to it.

[50:28] Thank you, because I do appreciate the question.

[50:32] It's always important the Board of Board members is to find a quorum as a minimum of three members

[50:37] plus the mayor present.

[50:38] Okay.

[50:39] The Councilman Bernier is correct.

[50:40] So this is the first time that this was in existence, and this is why I asked that question.

[50:45] Okay.

[50:45] It's a unique scenario for sure.

[50:47] Pardon me?

[50:48] It's a unique scenario for sure.

[50:50] Okay, thank you very much.

[50:53] Thank you for clearing it up.

[50:55] You guys, I'm going to ask for a motion.

[50:58] And then for the record, I did not vote on 3-0-1, I didn't vote at all.

[51:01] So let's move forward.

[51:03] The next one is asking for a motion for 2026-307.

[51:10] That is resolution for payment of bills.

[51:14] So moved.

[51:15] Second.

[51:17] That's a motion by Council Member Nair, second by Council President Thomas on the motion.

[51:22] Seeing none.

[51:23] Council Member Nair.

[51:24] Yes.

[51:26] Councilwoman-Alarge Johnson.

[51:28] I'm going to stand on voting on this and that's because I'm doing a community event and

[51:33] my name is on here, you know, as a sponsor, so I'm going to vote or abstain on this right

[51:40] here.

[51:40] Council President Thomas.

[51:42] Yes.

[51:43] Two yeas, motion passed.

[51:44] Thank you.

[51:45] Thank you, Madam Clerk.

[51:46] At this time we're going to go right into the council comments.

[51:50] I'm going to begin with you, Councilman Vanillaire, for the second ward.

[51:53] Thank you, Mayor.

[51:55] As always, you can reach me by email, be renear at boroughrozil.com, caller text me, 732-943-6498.

[52:04] We just had a second ward meeting last night, so thank you to all who came out to that.

[52:09] That the next second ward meeting will be the last Tuesday of September, September 29th, at 6 o'clock in the prayer chapel at Agape House of Worship.

[52:22] We were told the AFS will be here by the end of the week, I'm eagerly anticipating that.

[52:27] Hopefully, we can move quickly towards a budget that everyone agrees on.

[52:34] It's at some point in September, thereafter, two things, or maybe a few more than two things.

[52:41] The bike path came up, thank you, Ms. Dixon, for reminding me on that.

[52:45] I would ask again for the documents I requested regarding that resolution a month ago.

[52:52] I've not received anything on that.

[52:56] I'm a little concerned that there was reported tonight that we've had one zoning violation.

[53:01] a couple of months back, we gave out $8,000 raises to three folks, giving them zoning duties

[53:09] with the understanding that there would be zoning violations.

[53:14] So to hear one zoning violation coming out in a month, certainly makes me question again

[53:19] the raises that were provided to do zoning duties.

[53:24] And as much as I do appreciate getting every grant we can,

[53:30] a grant for a consulting firm to look at our operations,

[53:34] sounds very much like what we did three years ago for two years.

[53:41] I think we paid close to 90 grand to have a consulting firm come in,

[53:45] look at our operations, provide us a report that person then became our BA for a while.

[53:53] So, again, it's grant funded, I get it, the grant will pay for it, but again, I don't know

[54:00] how many consulting firms we can have, look at the operation and, you know, if it doesn't

[54:08] get us anywhere, it's grant dollars wasted, so I hope it's a better outcome if we need

[54:19] this again clearly the first one did not work out well for us. So hopefully we we

[54:26] make something of that. I can't believe it's about to be September so I'll

[54:31] leave it there. This is was promised to be a very short meeting so I won't

[54:35] believe it anymore. I will see everyone in September. Enjoy what's left of the

[54:41] summer. Wear your whites until Labor Day and then I will see you next month.

[54:46] Thank you, Mayor.

[54:48] Thank you, Councilman.

[54:49] Councilman at large.

[54:50] Johnson, for sure.

[54:51] Mayor, thank you very much.

[54:54] I just want to wish everyone a nice,

[54:58] healthy, safe summer.

[55:01] It's almost over, it's almost here.

[55:03] And Mr. Brignia, thank you for acknowledging the white

[55:05] for Labor Day.

[55:08] I had, it's just a quick concern.

[55:10] And the concern was, doing our workshop meeting,

[55:13] you know, when I recuse myself from executive session, I took the privilege of just walking around,

[55:19] you know, to actually see, you know, the street skate that the grant provided us, you know,

[55:23] a chestnut street. And to my knowledge, I looked at it and it was lopsided, light poles,

[55:30] some of the chipping was off of the concrete. And I brought this to the mayor's attention

[55:35] and other colleagues. So my question is, if you look now,

[55:40] You know, there's still paint where the paint that's still actually on the pavement, the white pavement.

[55:46] If we're paying grants or we're doing improvement out here in our barrel, look at that and

[55:52] just say, hey, this is a lot of sighted, the light pole is a lot of sighted, there's holes still left open.

[55:58] And I understand it may be filled in with dirt, but I'm looking at that also as a safety issue.

[56:03] And also, again, the contractors that we are hiring, before we sign off on anything,

[56:08] Even though it's grand, we should be made sure that everything is done and completed.

[56:13] That was a big concern that I had when I took the liberty to go walk, and I brought this to all of my colleagues' attention, including the mayor.

[56:23] I'm looking forward to just enjoying the rest of the summer, and Madam B.

[56:28] Thank you for answering my questions and mayor, you also, and I look forward to getting information that I needed.

[56:34] On that note, everyone stay safe, stay warm, and stay hydrated.

[56:39] Thank you very much, and continue to enjoy the rest of your summer.

[56:43] GPW, thank you so much, because let me share this with you guys.

[56:49] For them to pick, and I know it's not even a health issue, there was garbage cans that was

[56:54] wreaking, and I hate to use that terminology.

[56:56] Your guys was out here literally working, picking up garbage cans that was fooled during

[57:02] In the summer months, this flies maggots things in that aspect.

[57:06] And this is why we'll always advocate for your department because of the work that you guys do during the summer and the winter months.

[57:12] So thank you guys, your department for the work that they have put out to make sure that our barrel is still safe and clean.

[57:20] Thank you.

[57:21] Thank you Councilman at large.

[57:23] I'm going to turn the floor over to the council president.

[57:26] Thank you mayor, good evening everyone.

[57:28] I thank everyone for coming out this evening and also the

[57:32] The public who came up and spoke this evening. I thank you for your comments

[57:38] It is not taken lightly. We will be looking into the scenario that was brought up at the different parks and sidewalks on

[57:47] Riverton and Wyshift

[57:49] Mystics and thank you again for always looking at the meetings when you don't attend and also bringing it back to

[57:58] to get clarification on different things.

[58:02] As for, we continue to, we talk about the budget.

[58:07] Yes, the budget is late.

[58:08] It's not our first time that the budget was late.

[58:11] And we hope that we're going to have faith in our CFO.

[58:14] And our order is to have the AFS and the budget

[58:18] to us very shortly.

[58:29] I'll leave it there.

[58:31] Let's call the meeting early this evening.

[58:33] I can't be reached Cindy Thomas at the borrowerosell.com.

[58:40] My number is 908-8505-95.

[58:47] One more thing I just wanted to say to cool down.

[58:49] I wasn't able to attend the cool down, but I hear everyone had a great time.

[58:53] I saw the articles on Facebook.

[58:56] Thank you so much, chief.

[58:58] Really appreciate the cool down.

[59:00] I know the kids in the community enjoyed it immensely.

[59:02] I even see some of our council people attending the cool down.

[59:07] I just didn't see anyone in their bathing suits, but I'm a so-

[59:10] man, that come next year, I guess, next year.

[59:14] Mayor tried to throw us a new one, but I thank you.

[59:19] I know the mayor has other things, more announcements that are coming.

[59:23] So I'll leave it for the mayor to continue with the announcements.

[59:26] Thank you.

[59:27] Okay, before I jump on, I want you to just touch on the consultant.

[59:32] Just for a little bit, so that way we could move on.

[59:37] Just on the grant for the consultants and the operational efficiencies.

[59:43] This was actually recommended by the state for all of the municipalities.

[59:47] A lot of them, I just did a call with the DCA the other day.

[59:51] And municipalities are seeing the crush of increase health care and

[59:57] and other expenses.

[1:00:00] And they're trying to help them. But also finishing this will allow us and open us up to be available for any grant. So we're just trying to stay in line with kind of what the state is recommending so we can get whatever comes out of the process. So we'll keep a watch of it. And we can even let you participate if you want. That it's really about the state recommending that for a lot of municipalities.

[1:00:29] these struggling, and maybe that can help.

[1:00:32] And all of the consultants are from the state's list of consultants.

[1:00:37] So we don't, we're not picking randomly.

[1:00:40] They're from the state approved list of consultants.

[1:00:42] In that vein, I just want to thank Amara from the Governor's office that we speak to frequently.

[1:00:50] I know she's not going to like that, but sorry, Amara, but

[1:00:52] thank you for the assistance and guidance the right way.

[1:00:55] and the urban mayors in that consortium as well.

[1:00:59] Really quick, I want to thank Roselle PD, Roselle D.P.W.,

[1:01:07] Roselle F.D., Fire Department, and OEM for a tremendous summer.

[1:01:12] You guys battled storms, down trees.

[1:01:16] You name it, you guys dealt with it, and then turned around and poured back into a lot of

[1:01:24] community with the cool down days,

[1:01:26] barbecuing of the food,

[1:01:28] just doing so many different things

[1:01:29] that are so important.

[1:01:30] The national light out,

[1:01:33] like all these things are important

[1:01:35] to our children, our seniors,

[1:01:36] and all the residents that live here in the borough of Rosel,

[1:01:40] giving them something to actually do throughout these hot days.

[1:01:43] So we appreciate that.

[1:01:44] I appreciate all the council persons

[1:01:45] and members that actually attended all these events.

[1:01:49] I think that's very important.

[1:01:51] We had an array of flag raisings and to recreation that can leave you out you guys

[1:01:57] Had an amazing summer summer camp summer camp was was phenomenal

[1:02:04] And I want to thank you guys for that that effort your staff

[1:02:08] For really putting your best foot forward and getting things done. So thank all of you guys

[1:02:15] Council press put me on the spot. We do have a list of things coming up

[1:02:21] We didn't have a record report or a DPW report, but I'll the chip in.

[1:02:28] We do have coming up our book bag drive, which is the 29th, so I'm going to help me out.

[1:02:35] 29th?

[1:02:36] Yeah.

[1:02:36] Yes, September, August 29th, I'm sorry, decided today, right?

[1:02:41] Yeah.

[1:02:41] Decided today.

[1:02:42] Yes.

[1:02:44] Spare headed by the first lady and her friends and the council members here.

[1:02:51] Let me get to that.

[1:02:53] I got that.

[1:02:54] Debbie got.

[1:02:55] Thank you, council.

[1:02:57] Thank you.

[1:02:57] Yeah.

[1:02:58] Don't point it off.

[1:02:59] I mean,

[1:03:00] tell me.

[1:03:01] We have the 250th celebration.

[1:03:05] I know there was some conversation, a few meetings back about what Roselle wasn't doing.

[1:03:12] And we actually really did an extensive sit down with Chris Sands, right?

[1:03:20] And I think you guys had a meeting the other day, everybody involved.

[1:03:23] So we'll be doing a huge parade and I believe some cooking.

[1:03:27] And that day also, Consulman at large has her block party as does Consul McCamry with the rock the block.

[1:03:35] So we got a lot of stuff going on ending this summer.

[1:03:38] And I'm proud I think we talked about it earlier and I said, no.

[1:03:41] So you're going to march, we're going to march together, and then you're going to handle your stuff at your thing,

[1:03:46] Rosie's going to handle her stuff at her thing, and we're just going to end to someone just like that, right?

[1:03:50] Everybody come out and support what we got going on.

[1:03:56] I did touch base on the Council in the Lex, Cornel, his, you know, his concerns on Ryerton Road, but mainly the park.

[1:04:09] And I just want to to say if you guys have anything, I'm not on social media, I'm on social media at five o'clock in the morning and then I'm not back on it until that evening.

[1:04:20] I'd prefer you if you can send me what you have, like posting the video is great, but at five o'clock I'm on and then I'm off if it anybody follows me, I don't get back on until later.

[1:04:32] So, if you're posting it, I'm not going to see it.

[1:04:35] I don't know if any of my council colleagues will actually see it at that time.

[1:04:39] You could send it to me, uh, Councilman Lake at D-Shaw at burrvrozel.com.

[1:04:44] And if you do log on to, or the block tour, I would definitely come out and see what you got

[1:04:48] going on, uh, at that triangle of rarantin and weachief.

[1:04:53] That's not a problem.

[1:04:54] Definitely you'll do that.

[1:04:56] Uh, every year, we just did weachief actually, but I would like to see what you're talking

[1:04:59] about.

[1:05:00] I'll I can meet you out there and we can look at it. Um, I think that that is the

[1:05:09] school board referendum

[1:05:13] whichever way you want. I'm not going to mention that. I'm not going to mention that. That's not

[1:05:18] out thing. That is that is the board event. If somebody could please get Mr. Dixon the

[1:05:22] the meeting dates for for the board event, please they'll they'll get that you have for this meeting,

[1:05:28] but that's not my thing.

[1:05:30] In that vein, I'm going to ask for a motion

[1:05:33] to adjourn, great meeting, guys.

[1:05:37] Madam Chair.

[1:05:37] Who is the first?

[1:05:40] Council President.

[1:05:41] And I'm going to tell you why she didn't continue.

[1:05:42] By Council President Thomas.

[1:05:43] Wait, wait, wait, wait.

[1:05:44] You didn't come to the coup d'arm because you got

[1:05:46] that hear done.

[1:05:48] We know, we know.

[1:05:51] That was the motion to adjourn by Council President Thomas.

[1:05:54] Second by Councilwoman Adelaide Johnson.

[1:05:56] All in favor?

[1:05:56] Aye.

[1:05:57] Meeting adjourned at 7.41 p.m. Have a great night. Good night. Thank you

ROS Council 082626 V02

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