Public meetings act 1975 chapter 231.
The nose requirements have been
satisfied. The meeting dates for the new
year are confirmed at the annual meeting
are posted on the both on the public
voting board in the lobby of the
municipal center and published in the
record within the first 10 days of the
new year. Salute to the flag.
>> I pledge algiance to the flag of the
United States of America to the stands.
One nation under God, indivisible, with
liberty and justice for all.
We have a roll call, please.
>> Yes, Mayor. Councilman Corsair
>> here.
>> Councilman Dayton,
>> here.
>> Councilman Jackson,
>> here. Councilman President Michaels
>> present.
>> Councilman Dr. Okconor
>> here.
>> Councilman Rogillary
>> here.
>> Mayor Zinna
>> here.
>> Okay. First item on the agenda is the complete streets update.
>> So yes, Mayor, we have um uh only uh
agenda for introduction is the ordinance
uh for the complete and contacts
sensitive streets policy. Um I I as I
explained at the last council meeting
and it's in more detail under the
authority and the several um uh on the
ordinance. This basically sets the broad
framework of the policy um to uh and by
adopting this policy it will allow us to
be better position for additional grant
funding and other funding opportunities
with both federal and state government.
Um if this uh ordinance gets adopted in
September, then you would have some
implementing resolutions that would be
uh adopted after this ordinance is
adopted. And it's my understanding that
you're considering a um a complete
streets committee that would consist of
major of most of your key department
heads that have uh some responsibility
regarding traffic and in streets and
some public. Sure.
>> And just questions just in in a sense
for me is this is all about pedestrian
safety, vehicular safety, everything.
>> Yeah. It's going to encompass
key, pedestrian safety, traffic lights,
but improved vehicle and pedestrian
>> integrate some of all those, right?
» Lauren, oh, you have a question. Sure.
Um, so I wanted to talk about the speed hump ordinance
>> and we have two ordinances that we're
looking for. One is an always stop
guidance and the other is about speed
humps and when they're appropriate. Um,
and I know we have discussed and I have
been adamantly uh against adding a
significant number of speed humps, but
with this ordinance, this is criteria
that if they don't meet it, they don't
get the speed up. I just want to let the
public know very
>> that's what that's what the goal is. Now
in this complete streets ordinance it's there by reference to the
memorandum if in fact the council wishes
to
codify the memorandum the
recommendations
for either student homes
always.
So my recommendation is that we notify
both of them. And what that does is it
gives notice to our residents like if
they want to know, hey, am I pulling in
about a speed like a stop sign? Let me
see what the burrow says. Someone in a
burrow is very quickly able to pull this
up, reference it, have the rules right
there. And I think that that is a great
thing for our residents.
>> Yeah. Just just to be clear though, I
mean, I don't think it's something that
someone's going to be able to answer.
It's more of an investigation to see if
the criteria is met. And then the
recommendation would be either a yes or
a no based on the criteria. But if not a
check the box.
>> No 100%. It's not like somebody you can
fill out the DVDW.
>> This would be something that would go,
you know, but at least our residents can
reference these regulations.
>> And just because if you satisfy the
criteria doesn't mean you are 100%
clear.
>> And the opposite is also true. If this
the criteria is not satisfied, that
doesn't mean you can't put one in.
>> Correct. I thought that
I mean the way I read it there's a lot
of judgment statements in that too often
asked and and we can
>> so it's not
>> well no it's not necessarily always
black and white but it's it's a
procedure and I think that um John could
probably speak to it quite well what
they just went to next to the Smith
school with um painting the roads
different measures to try to slow
traffic if things don't work then you
may try the next step. It's not always a
yes or a no right away, but I'll defer
to John. But
>> John Jar, your least favorite traffic
engineer for the moment. I think that
the mayor's what the mayor's saying is
actually correct is that it does go both
ways. There is flexibility, but the most
important thing is to follow the rules.
Title 39, it's state of New Jersey and
UTC and it have guidelines. That's what
you're that's what you're saying. We're
going to go by the rules. and here are
the rules and if resident has hey I want
to be on street they can read the rules
and sometimes it might make make them
think that okay I really need to call up
and and get someone to do something or
they might read it and say well I guess
I don't fit into that category all right
so it it it goes both ways some of the
actually many of the towns that we've
done this for they have actually posted
the rules on their website so that when
residents want you know ask for that
they they're instructed please first
read this on the website and if you
still think that you know it's
appropriate for your street because
again most people really happy you'll
have a speed bump until it's front of
their house
>> or they're listening to the numbers,
>> right? You know, once it's in front of
my house, well, I'm not feeling so good
about it. But the mayor's also right and
that is that, you know, there are
mitigating services sometimes where you, know, for example, by a school is a
place where you don't have to meet all
the criteria. It's by a school. That's
one of the criteria, right? But to the opposite of that, in front of the
ambulance court is not a good place to
put a speed bump.
>> Sure.
>> Okay. And even though it might meet the
buying criteria or other speeding
criterias, it's not a good place to put
speed. You're not, you know, we're not
going to recommend, you know, so there
is, like the mayor said, go both ways.
Is that helpful?
>> It's helpful.
>> We need a consensus to budget.
>> I think it's a consensus as the
administrator asked the director to move
forward with drafting.
>> We didn't have an ordinance. Those two
It could also be by resolution. It would
be discussed in the past as well unless
they're on disagree who could do a
resolution and it would be adopted and
given many in place and another
resolution that would amend right here.
>> I prefer it to I would like to testify
the ordinance.
>> That's fine. How's everybody feel about
that?
>> The drafting process is no different for
me. It's just whether you're going to
have anyone meeting, right? It's not
going to make a difference.
Okay,
>> one thing. Go ahead.
>> Congratulations.
This is a giant step forward in
following the rules and doing what we're
supposed to do and helping us to be less
carentric as many other things are going
to be discussed tonight.
Congratulations, council. I think it's a
great move.
>> Thank you for all your help with making
it happen. I'll leave it, please.
>> Okay. Electronic sign protocol Route 9W
and East Clinton Avenue. Before we start
with the protocol, I would like to if I
now I'm not sure if anyone else is
getting this, but I'm getting some phone
calls about complaints about our sign on
NW
>> electrical the electronic sign. I'm
getting opposite. I'm getting crazy. I'm
getting people saying you love the sign.
>> Well, I'm getting that at night that it
is um very blinding when you make the
curve that the louvers are too hot. The
lens are too high. It's too bright. It's
blaring. Somebody actually named it. So,
Las Vegas, Lost. I mean, that's, you
know, we thought that was kind of funny.
Um,
you know, it's not this time, but maybe
the brightness. So, I was wondering if
maybe we can be toned down.
>> I I've I've heard the same complaint.
I've not only heard the same complaint.
I've driven home at night. I've taken
that left. We need to tone it down at
night. There should be a warm switch to
get the a warm light instead of the
glaring light. It's a very fair comment
>> and I've heard it from a bunch of people
and lived it myself.
>> All right, so we'll tone that down a
little bit. All right, but let's get in
touch. I'm sure John
assume that there's some ordinance. How
about we just change the brightness down
a little bit?
>> I think I actually think that's a fair
thing. I think it's
>> all right. So what the protocol now
we're going to talk about.
>> So yeah. So, one of the things that that we wanted to do is is still the
last
>> is clean up that intersection so it
doesn't look like used car sales lot or
food um with all the signs that so we
our electronic sign is there. Um I asked
Bob to hold off in issuing permits for
that location. One of the agenda is to
remove that location as a as one of the
four areas for for building signs. And
we have uh initiated a test in our pilot
on putting what would have been one of
those four board signs very much to um
to very great um reception. So one also
talk about the JCC event that's coming
up and we put that up in their artwork
colors and all that. They're really
happy with it. I think they're going to
fill a couple.
I think I think all those billboard boys
up there should go away. I think that
this year was just and it's fair to
everybody because everybody's in and you
can put your whatever your marketing on.
>> No. No.
>> Why not?
>> It's all bad. Can I have a conversation?
>> Why you discuss the community events and
nothing more? Because it's a Pandora's
box.
>> We already discussed.
>> Yeah. My my point is if we're allowing
billboards, why is that not already a
panel response?
>> It is. So you've regulated the time,
place, manner, but not the context,
right? So you set certain locations that
are quote unquote open for that type of
facility. They can only be for a certain
amount of time. They're related to
certain events. They're not offsite
marketing. Um we don't allow off signs.
That's the equivalent of billboards and
advert. So, do we want to get rid of all
those votes up there and just follow the
day?
>> I think I No, we agree on this, but we
find this conversation.
>> Yeah, we there's no need for more
conversation on the same thing. disagree
that we agreed because I'm adamantly
against removing an open forum for
public speech for political speech or I
would like to keep saying as to whether
or not you want to keep that as one of
your locations that you know you have an
ordinance that says you have certain
location you will set by resolution
every year locations where these
temporary signs can go and we have a
definition for temporary signs what I'm
saying is content but do not move all
content onto your digital
We have a clear um you know
>> community signage, community events,
>> our churches, our JCC, that's our
community and that and that's just to
say
>> that's okay.
>> It's okay.
>> We can be like
so just so just so they say not the
Pandora's box
we are our community nonprofit community
nonprofit.
>> That's what that's
on the song. electronic sign.
>> Correct. So it will reduce some clutter
because now like if the school's having
a play, we can have it on our sign. We
don't have to have a separate billboard.
>> So really it's just any temporary
signage which at this point I think only
political signs are going to fall into.
>> Y suggestion for that and may I hear you
that it definitely looks
>> looks terrible.
>> What if we change the size requirements
of a lab today are smaller?
>> We have five other places. We're good.
I'm just saying that but obviously trust
the Ford in in downtown um you know when
you have basketball courts and so
instead of these huge six by you know
eight billboards or whatever the size
they are 4 by8 um we do smaller ones
that that you can only go up to a
certain size.
>> So for the other for the other three
locations I think that's definitely a
worthwhile conversation to have. I would
keep it at this so that it's
>> it was a mess.
>> Yeah.
>> Even smaller. It's a mess. It's going to
be a me. It was It was a disaster. But
it's an open public. It's a way to
communicate with people and
for that
>> I question
>> and the last discussion I think you had
the policy
>> the technology of it was whatever was up
at 9w would also be the same thing
that's on the other two.
>> Yes.
>> Right. Is that still the case?
>> Yes. So any anything we're putting in
that's again the school community events
obviously events is going to be on
three.
>> Okay.
All right. Uh reform of tree
planting ordinance and practices.
>> I'm sorry.
>> I think we decided smaller sizes. Yeah.
No,
>> you have to put that on the agenda for a
whole another conversation which we will
do. Let's put that for the other sites.
That's fine.
where the new bill was.
>> I'm sorry.
>> The one the
one.
>> Okay.
>> They just want to pull it out. So, did I
pull that resolution when the time
comes?
>> Thank you. It's 12. It never be.
>> Go ahead. Go ahead. Tree management.
>> Yeah. So on the tree management uh
ordinance practices, I broke you a very
lengthy item along with a draft
ordinance and u and dedication by writer
resolution for new committee and input
and consideration that this is this item
is on the agenda for to be considered.
It's not one for introduction. Um, so
you know, I'm going to ask we look at it
and and give some additional feedback so
that it can be moved forward the
September 8th committee. Um, in the
interim uh we draft um dedication by
writer resolution. Uh they plan to sell
that to the state just to ask um them to
review it for compliance and if they
have any comments or um recommendations
that they want it changed so you know we then have resolution in form that
would be approved by the state
department to go back and visit that
and that can be sent to this
>> where disability they would not have
gotten from another town or something.
>> I do a lot of research. I I intend not
to copy just other towns because there's
no balancing of other.
>> So yeah, I tend to to cross.
Okay.
>> You studied under Shakespeare.
I I had um I I'll let Warren jump in,
but I had given David some thoughts with
like CC Wendy as well. There's some
questions regarding some of the
allowable expenditures.
Um, you know, my concern is that since
it's going to be using tree fund money,
you know, uh, I just want to make sure
that we don't open like to use a
metaphor again that we have some more
expenditures that are not tree funds
expenditure. So I was a little concerned
about there was something about doing
the the man forestry management plan.
You know as I was telling David those I
know those are these costly things these
forestry management plans and unless the
town was compelled to do one for you
know specific reasons like the state say
you need to do a management plan. These
are not usually things that we tend to
like just do, right? Because um there's some downsides to doing them
too, which I'm not going to get into.
But uh the whole thing is and then some
equipment stuff. I just wanted to make
sure that the pools of money were the
type of things that we don't open up the
tree funds to doing some of the things
that were covered or would be covered
should they ever come up by other
sources. And my other concern is again I
said it the first time is that we still
need to hold PSC and GSP to the fire in
the sense that they're the ones who are
supposed to uh maintain the trees around
the power plant and I you know I know we
talked about it reaching out I think it
said six feet. So the PSG is not
responsible to maintain, right? All they
do is come in and cut branches. They'll
trim branches that are within six feet
of our lawn. So what this does is to say
we're going to manage our our trees that
if there's a hazardous tree or dead
tree, rather than waiting for it to take
that power, you know, we're gonna we're
gonna responsibly maintain that.
>> Yeah. Um again, uh you know, I I wrote
the feedback basically, but um I had
concerns about a couple of expenditures,
but I didn't I'll let the attorney
>> on that. And it's also important what
the what they can't use for so
resolution, it specifically talks about
what it can be used for. So it can't be
used for just to plum a hole in the DPW
budget. it can't be used to really uh
fund personnel in the budget. I assume I
guess like anything we do no matter
where it sits it has to come to the
castle that's the other
discretionary body
>> right so even if you uh
>> it'll be in your bill
>> even if you did even if you do this stud
equipment you know that has to initiate
and be controlled here right so uh
you're going to be awarding a contract
or you're going to be authorizing a bid
or you're going to be accepting
rejecting bids. So at every step of that
level, the council has control.
>> Yes. I just again when we're opening up
allowable expenses into something that
we hadn't previously used the fund for,
I have concerns.
>> No, I understand. I think it's a larger
public safety issue that was trying to
>> So I actually agree with Julie that and
this is a note I wrote that it should be
a separate account that this should be
you know the tree can management or the
you know utility protection zone fund
should be separate than our tree escrow
which is used for our residents and I
have to say the other thing I was very
concerned about is that we are actually
encouraging using the tree esil within
the first 10 ft of into property with
many power lines. So, if this is going
to counteract that and we're going to,
you know, plant a tree and then cut it
back the next year, we should really
think about uh figuring out how to
coordinate over those weeks because
right now we are
>> I think I can tell you from personal um
discussions as as a resident that that
is something that your tree expert in
town is looking at. um because I
asked if I could get one and I have a
pole right in front of my property
>> potentially create a problem
>> and so um circular indicated that
there's only certain trees that we would
recommend for planting and they're the
ones that don't grow this pole so that
it will impact the poll. So it is
something that he's already looking at.
>> I think Mr.
Right now it's
» $700,000.
>> But that's that's that's a misnomer. A
lot of money is going absolute back to
the to the resident.
So I would like to go ahead
>> again. It is as Julie said, it's a
revolving account where when mitigation
happens, we return to large source of
that account. And so really what's
usable at all times is not 700k. It's less.
>> Dave, what's the
>> But
before you ask a question in the middle
of my question, can I just
>> Oh, no. Please go on.
>> I I was just going to say, but I also
don't think that I want to hire outside
companies and pay for them to cut back
our dead branches. Like that is we have
tree poor men. We hire our DPW guys. We
hire our tree guys. We are spending the
money currently and one of their tasks
is to cut back dead or dead trees. We
have a tree foreman that inspects. If
there is a dead tree, he's allowed to
remove them. If there's branches in the
way, they're allowed to be, you know,
noticed and RCW does it. So, we're
actually creating an additional expense
for us to do something. We're already
paying a salaried employee to conduct.
Well, that's an operational question of
whether right how many how many hours,
>> but I haven't seen
>> available to actually do that.
>> You didn't see the 300
sc without power for
>> and that was a healthy tree that's split
in half at Dave Johnson. I saw the tree.
I walked over to it. I touched it. He
was still perfectly helping inside. He
just got hit by lightning and took down
the power and the stuff I can completely
agree is very hard to anticipate and we
need to react. But I'm saying I don't
necessarily
>> I don't think you should react. I think
we should be proactive. We should
protect our people. I don't want to
double dip. I don't want to have two pe
two different people in charge of
cutting and tearing for our trees. We
have people outside
>> except we're not double dipping for our
trees.
>> It's like any any other thing we do. If
we don't have enough resources or we
have this much work and only this much
resources in a period of time, we use
outside.
>> Yeah. I mean this is what we earn an
assessment
>> again we have someone who assesses we
have tree born who are graduates of
people with degrees the health of trees
>> no one's arguing that
>> so maybe we hire an additional tree
person instead of hiring an entire bid
to go put an outside company
>> that's just a simple economic $1,000
>> yeah I mean that's that's a economic
question of which is
>> I see 12 in here I see an open bid I see
not two
Okay. But again,
>> so to to protect,
>> how many times are we going to do this
versus having someone on staff do the
job that we hired them to do?
>> They they are doing the job of hiring
them to do it. But sometimes if we have
more more things to address, then we
need people and work hours. We need to
get help from
>> unfortunately these storms as we're
seeing are happening more often. And
again, if we could spend a little bit of
money to protect our residents, the
houses, I'm full protecting our
residents.
>> Not for cutting down our tree canopy so
drastically when we are actually trying
to replant most of our tree plant tree
so drastically. I don't drastically
it's misleading because we don't know
how many trees. Someone's got to go
around and see. I think we're talking we
have to look at the one
professional
>> to tell us if we're safe
>> or we're not.
>> We have that person. It is our DW tree
for copy someone with that exact job
description. Make go see if there's
health. Go see if there's
>> He's not licensed.
>> We don't have licensed street for right
now.
>> He's not lic. And as a matter of fact,
um our former super our former director
is president and he's to do the book.
So, it's someone that we're familiar
with.
>> And again, I might not be interested in
private,
>> you know, to me like again, my my topic
was it's it's definitely I support
everything to protect the citizens. I
I'm just also
ensuring that the money is
protected in the sense of I don't want
people to think they're paying for one
thing and then we find out it's not for
the purpose as they thought that it was.
So I have to say your your thing that
you brought out about having two
separate funds, those type of things are
more interesting to me because I believe
the transparency that I can tell you for
the pure donation
port is very limited. Most of this is
that you're grabbing it from the lack of
mitigation.
>> Yeah.
>> Right.
as we talk.
you try to you need to adjust that
somewhat you ask to um so um you know
this is something that uh arguably you
control the money uh so it can't be you
know it's not a slush volume that we can
use and say go a lot and hire you want
and do this stuff
>> right
>> the control is still here even when an
outside treaty company comes in to
assist
>> so David when you say outside company I
mean obviously we don't look at public
business but for you to saying is that
the person who was our tree foreman who
left Tennifly to get a different job in
the middle of a very important season um
now wants us to pay him to come back to
assess the trees and he took the job as
the for that has nothing to do with
anything he resigned to get it to get a
different job.
>> Okay,
>> we have no there's nothing everyone at this table is at some point
in life.
>> He knew then he was walking with his
licensed tree foreman and now he wants
us to pay for that privately. or we
could pay a different license. I don't
think that's the issue with
>> just a very
like I I gave the feedback. I just want
to make sure that the funds is, you
know,
clear and that those expenditure.
So, you know, I know we're talk talking
about these things for September 8th.
What about uh Lauren's suggestion about
different demonetation understanding? I
understand what you're saying about most
of the money is coming from un uh
mitigated situations for trees.
How we resolve that?
>> Well, I mean
>> I mean just just to actually discuss
I think everyone is aware that we need
to do a new resolution dedication by
trust um a dedication
by writing
proper ways. I'm sorry my brain's not
punching but so no matter what we used
to have a reservation on to now reflect
the new free ordinance which is required
by state law right now it's under the
administrative code. So just want to
keep that clear. We can certainly kick
off one way or the other but we do need
to establish a new resolution
to authorize our our tree fund based on
how our ordinance is written which
>> well we did we did that a couple months
ago. We did the ordinance. We have not
done the residency.
>> Oh, okay. So, I I would like to request
that the DPW I'd like to speak with our
DPW and our food group and see if I'd
like them to weigh in on this to see
what kind of timing and commitment they
have to do this kind of work versus what
if they think they need outside.
» Yeah, but I haven't on the DPW.
>> You can have a DPW. Thank you. Me too.
That's not what I should do all the four
September.
>> I'd like to talk about staffing and we
need another license.
>> I can tell you that you have one trooper
and if law enforcement is on vacation
sick they don't utilize
three people right
>> and to hire additional people just to do
treats. You're talking
forward talking about labor health
benefits. You're talking a commitment of
150,000 hours where you can utilize a
tree contract with the Riverside
Cooperative for a rolloff
» $10,000.
Well, they are contract
>> but a lot of times in the storms
they fall.
>> Well, this is so this isn't about doing
it. We don't cut trees down during
storms. Nature takes care of that and
takes the trees down and destroys
everything that's bad. But we this sort
of pruning of trees and things like that
would happen in an organized fashion
before and after storms, not you know in
anticipation of storms, not during the
storm, right? Again, this is not to
exceed 70,000
under the sun.
>> So So I'm good with any council people
speaking to anybody. I just want to make
sure this is on the agenda because I
don't want to delay and protect.
>> Yeah, it'll be on the agenda for the
next meeting. We'll have a deep
like in the hurricane.
>> I think it's also important to note the
DN
setting out their MSP storm water
furnacing in the model 3 or specifically
that the fees that are set into the
first one are for city planning and
continued maintenance. All of this is
falling between the regions. I was a
little concerned about the cost of being
of the most
equipment. I don't think we ever bought
equipment through preferences
equipment right now. Especially
this part of the satellite
just like we do in the old space, right?
You decide what you feel like you want
to put through for a generalization
model. What you put through wanting to
trust or devot
we've never like I know like my time on
council like we we kill ourselves to try
to spend a little bit of the money.
We've never got anywhere near spending
all the money and sit down. Right.
>> True job.
>> Yeah. The hundreds of thousands of
dollars.
Okay. I still think we should look to
our offerings in house, but we have to
bid this out every single year.
>> If we had the time in house, then it
would be done and it's not. Everyone's
working super hard. The DW was amazing.
So clearly additional help could be
again
>> $17,000 could protect our res. We ready
to move on to the next topic?
>> Yes. Good. Rank choice voting.
Counciloman Dave put this on the agenda.
>> I did. So, a member of the TDMC has
actually asked that this be brought to
council. So, I put this on the agenda
and um this is to consider for our
elections. Right now, it's a one vote
option, but rank choice voting is you
have your top choice and your secondary
choice. So, you can rank your candidates
in the order in which you'd want to
succeed. It actually allows for you make
your first choice, you get your second
choice and maybe not support a different
choice that you would want to see
succeed. It actually allows for people
to have more flexibility in voting. Um,
it ensures that the winner has a
majority of more residents than less.
Maybe it's someone's second choice.
>> So, does primary voting go away? And
it's just a general election.
>> And it would be the finals legislation
does not apply to the governance.
>> It doesn't apply to the finance.
>> Not the legislation that he's referring
to.
>> It hasn't technically shelled yet. Um
the general sent
there is and I also note because I
looked into it. Um there's proposed
legislation coming out of the Senate
which is different than coming from the
Assembly.
>> What's exciting?
>> Um neither one has primaries in it which
quite frankly for 10:00 is when you have
the most opportunity for rank choice
voting.
>> But I would just caution that because
there's conflicting bills proposals
right now coming on two sides. I would
suggest waiting because we're not sure
what the process would be if and when it
>> I can't do anything now. as response.
Well, cool.
>> It's a very very interesting concept,
right? It's all in different places
around the country.
>> Can you get copies of the bills?
>> I I did think other municipalities were
putting in rank choice at the municipal
level even before the state bills were
passing.
>> How could they do that deal with
both?
» Yeah. So, the municipalities don't set
the ballots, right? It's not on the
county.
>> I think they put it in
>> we want we want or we support franchise
bill.
>> Yes. There's resolutions that have been
floating around looking with support
board for it to send to the um
legislature, but they're not actually
able to implement anything until such
time as we go out.
>> So, I'm going to make a recommendation
here that we can you distribute the bill
to the council members and then maybe
after we've had a chance to read it and
think about it, we consider a uh a uh
resolution to support it to the state
legislature.
Again, I'm happy to have put this before
everybody.
It's not necessarily mind. I think
everyone should look into this and think
about it. Um I'm glad it should be part
of the discussion. I think elections it
does make a lot more flexibility in
elections.
>> Okay. As I understand it, just think
again. There's nothing else to implement
till things get closer. But I would
assume this is when there's lots of
people running. You know, one 10 people
run for mayor of New York.
>> Well, if it's two, then there's no need
the right choice. You need three. You
need three. So, that's my whole point.
We kill our So, having two creates no
value.
So, again, it's kind of
>> look at it.
>> It doesn't. No, I wish more people ran
here.
>> Mr. President, I think it is looking at
places that have nonpartisan buildings.
So it's open the school board and that
are nonpartisan. They could potentially
incentivize voting. But I think you're
right. I think it's very limited
opportunities
different for that council
» question because I have a lot of
questions on um our safe streets and our
complete streets. Would it be possible
to ask you the presentation with
breakthrough now before we get into the
admin report and that way we can review
ordinance or do you want to wait till
later?
>> Let's wait too long then. Let me get
because so much of this stuff we'll be
able to dispose
>> trying to get John on earlier.
>> Sean, you don't want to go home anyway.
» Okay, we're going to move to public
comment. Sorry. Oh, sorry. No jokes.
So the third truck issue uh is has come
across is that there's somewhat I I'll
refer to it as a loophole um where uh
there's an annual permit that the food
truck can can apply for $100.
And the way it's being uh looked at
right now is that that food truck gets
the permit for 100 hours and then can go
and permanently park it uh for a number
of consecutive days permanently parked
at a location. Uh Bob Burns has uh I
think rightfully uh determined that it's
it would not
come since not classify or qualified as
a permitted excessive abuse. Um on the
other hand you know from the revenue
perspective I always this is that you
know food truck is going to provide adal
taxation opportunities for the
municipality and uh quite frankly if uh
they can
um don't have to dial it in comparison
to what they pay taxes. Um, that being
said, it's my understanding, as goes to
those of you that have been around,
um, that the original legislative intent
of food trucks was to allow for food
trucks to be permitted at special events
and, um,
at a construction zone or an
industrialized zone. um as opposed to
just another business zone where we can
fill in the burrow where you know
restaurants are million half mile away
what have you. Uh so Julie looking for
feedback as to whether or not the
burough attorney should be looking to um
take a to to clarify the code intent or
whether the the intent that I stimulated
is actually what the intention was or
what the current memory value feelings
intention should be.
>> So I say to ask the question what is the
current what does the governing body
want to do if anything about this? No.
To to explain, we don't want we should
be giving people $100 million worth of
property for $100,
>> right?
>> When we initially passed the food truck
ordinance, a big a big concern was of
course supporting our existing
businesses downtown and not giving them
direct competition. You know, in a
coffee truck for a while that was
directly competing with the coffee
shops. And as much as I like a coffee
truck, I want my businesses to stay open
more. And so I I do agree with David's
point of view. I think that it should
absolutely be limited to the special
events and construction is over, which
is a great time when we get to have
them, but then I'd rather our residents
support our downtown.
» Oh gosh. Um, so first of all, that $100
food trick truck permit that is paid for
is there's only a couple of food trucks
that actually see that opportunity. So
that's just a couple of ice cream trucks
that we have in town. That's it. our
special events food truck is a different
the the current applications that are
before my office Jen or Councilwoman
Jackson I'm sorry are um are uh food
trucks actually food trucks that are
looking to locate uh along here
location so one I think is a is
something and I don't know the other
nots
>> I'm sorry I just it's kind of hard to
understand you from here I wish I was at
the meeting it would be a lot easier.
Um, you're saying that it's a Jamaican
food truck for that specific location.
>> Yeah, there there are two there are
actually two food trucks that that have
applications right now. They're not the
ice cream trucks
>> and that right. Okay. So, those people
want to be more regular food trucks on a
specific piece of property. Not anywhere
around town, but they want to be on a
specific piece of property. Is that
correct?
>> At this particular point, yes.
>> Okay. So, um, which is interesting and I
think that, like you said, it's a
loophole and we should address that, but
I think that the current, uh, food truck
ordinance that we have, this $100
doesn't also apply to the special event.
So, just to like decipher that for all
of us that like we have this ordinance
that isn't quite the food truck
ordinance isn't quite applicable to the
regular use of um, of food trucks in our
town. So, just to put that out there, I
think that sure I I I would say that
personally my opinion is that we could
invite more restaurant opportunities in
our town. I'm not against that. I think
it's actually we actually need that. I
wouldn't want to turn it away. I don't
think that maybe $100 is not the right
fee for that, but I don't think that
turning away a potential business owner,
small business owner who's certainly not
um
wellunded, not a corporate. Okay. So,
anyway, that they shouldn't be spending
$10,000
to do business in our town. There should
be something um in the in the
intermediate.
So that's my question.
>> If you if we wanted to allow the idea of
a food truck,
>> if we want to allow an idea of a food
truck, is there a number that's not $100
and it more kind of
>> again this is more of a permit. So like if we want, you know, a
weekend or a food truck to come,
>> this has nothing to do with what we're
talking about. Right. But I'm also
>> So, so the question is if there is a
more permanent food truck,
>> is there a number?
>> Do we want more?
per permanent food
trucks? I think Jenny was saying
possibly. Yeah,
>> I'm seeing we have a lot of interest in
food trucks. We have a lot of people
coming repeatedly to town. And I know
David didn't wasn't really intending to
bring this up, but I've been trying to
talk about this for a while. We have
people coming on repeat, paying $54
every time they come. Um, and it this
$100 permit fee doesn't apply to them.
Um, and it only is two ice cream trucks
that are coming to town that are paying
that. I see it's a loophole we need to
close.
>> And that's Jackson. Just to clarify, the ice cream trucks are not regulated
under our food truck ordinance. They're
underwater ordinance.
>> Then who is?
So presumably these food trucks, they
have to get licensed before they can
ever come to one of our special events.
I'm not sure.
>> Right. So the the $100 is covering the cost of the fire and health
inspection and then you know it might be
$54 for another event when they come
back just because the the truck has
moved. I'm not really sure where that is
coming from, but this is part of being
allowed to do business. Even at special
events, you should have a license first.
>> So, we don't have that's not how we've
been doing business. I'm regularly
interacting with these businesses. So,
just to point that out that there's a
lot of gray area here clearly now that
all of this is coming to the table. So,
>> and perhaps the answer is to look at our
special events permits and only through
that application.
» I guess a problem.
>> Yeah, sorry. Council,
so are you interested then in having
some trs sort of like stay for a couple
weeks in a certain area here? I'm
interested in
what I'm interested in is not turning
away a a business uh who wants to have a
food truck on their property or turning
away that food truck that wants to be on
that business property. How do we allow
it if we you all agree that that's okay
to have a food truck there? How do we do
that in a way that makes sense for the
burrow? Okay, that's like in line with
our with our vision for the town. Cuz
that's what that's what David was
bringing up was like, is this in line
with our master plan? He was questioning
that it's not and I think that is what
is in line with our master plan if we
have more restaurant opportunities in
the town. That's what I'm saying.
>> So, can I just ask a followup? I mean,
would you
>> like do you see a limit on how many
trucks will allow or do we want a
limited number? Because, you know, if we
open this up hypothetically and we get,
you know, 15 trucks parking and they're
competing with our downtown businesses
or blocking businesses or private, you
know, sports sports areas. I mean, just
I'm just trying to delve through this.
So, I want to know what you what you
>> I listen it just got
>> I see what you're asking me. It's like
it just got brought up like two hours
ago. It just happens to be something
I've been dealing with for uh years now.
So, but I didn't have a big vision for
it. I I I I wouldn't see a problem with
one food truck being permanently at a a
business in town because I think that we
have a demand for more food
opportunities in town. I don't think
that it's going to take away from our
downtown businesses. Lauren, that's what
I'm saying. I don't know that there is a
number necessarily. I don't think we've
reached capacity.
Okay. So, do you want to continue this
conversation offline?
>> I think this
>> Yeah, I'm fine with that.
» Yeah, that's okay with me. But David,
you know, David, I think you you can
explain a little bit further about why
that this is a problem. Or maybe that's
what I couldn't really hear you saying
and I think that that's important that
we close the loophole like you said.
But uh other than that, I'm interested
in in looking at food truck permits like
as as a separate item because I think it
brings the up the the problem that we
already have right now.
>> Yeah.
>> I'd like to hear from the chamber
contest.
>> Yeah. Yeah. So, we want to hear from the
chamber as well. But the the immediate
thing is is that um I I support Bob
Burn's uh uh position as a officer on
this call that um that uh he would he
would deny an application because it uh
it would not be admissible accessible
use uh and that the zoning code does not
allow for it.
If we want to uh entertain some kind of
parameters or bars that would allow for
selling limited locations or number of
days, hours, what have you, then I think
we come back with some of the listening
team discussion.
>> Okay. So then essentially maybe we can
come back to that business. We can say
that you know we have to we have to
readress it. we deny this permit but we if they still are interested in the
opportunity
you know can we provide that opportunity
that's my
>> David's going to come David's going to
come back with some suggestions and talk
with the chamber um for the next meeting
>> okay thank you
>> from there okay um public comment time
audience member audience members wishing
to speak will have a threem minute time
limit to address the governing body on
items on the agenda Large groups are
asked to have a spokesperson
represented. Uh, anyone here in the
chambers like to speak? Yes, please come
to the microphone.
>> My balance isn't so great.
>> We have to bring the microphone over
here.
Hold on one second.
>> My name is Marie.
>> Okay, hold on one second.
>> Let me see how we can get the microphone
to you. Otherwise,
>> you might have to come through. Andrew,
could you slide in so young to that
area?
Does it
» come to the front row sit down?
» Yes.
» I'd like to address the issue of
handicapped parking. I've been emailing
the mayor about this. uh we left
Oakwood. We're going to speak to some
department head about it, but uh
Washington Avenue has no handicap
parking at all. And I think that that
would be very advantageous for old
ladies like me and other handicapped
people because we shop too.
>> And I said the only ones are like in the
post office and at CVS or in by the uh
in the old high school. That's far from
someone.
>> So I did speak to the chief chief about
the old chief about this. Um, and there
was something he said that he had no
problem making north handicap in the
middle, but there has to be a ramp
leading
on the sidewalk.
>> So, right.
>> Yeah, you have to cut the Yeah. So, that
was kind of where we
>> Okay. Was that going to be something
coming up soon?
>> So, now we'll we'll continue the
conversation.
>> We have we have the chief of police here
with us today. Chief, we're gonna put
you right on the spot. Come on, Mike.
>> Yeah. Yeah,
>> this is sharp.
Don't take like three minutes
next to each other.
>> All right, let's do this. So, um, first,
uh, thank you for coming out and
speaking to to the council on behalf of
all handicap folks in town. Um, it is
absolutely important to us that you guys
have your space to be able to access
everything in town. Um, I'm going to
work with uh Don Nard here to see if
there's any provisions that we need to
make sure are appropriate and in line to
make sure we're able to do this. I don't
see why we can't uh any space downtown
or adequate number of spaces so that
we're able to provide that access to our
residents 100%.
>> Thank you very much. Yes. I also have a
problem with the enforcement of certain
rules and regulations in the town. When
a tree took down our garage, we didn't
get a a variance for inches to put back
our garage. Now I see little houses
going down and the mansions going up in
their spaces with no backyards and no
sideyards. It's very uh ugly looking and
I'm just very surprised that Temply
would allow something like that. It
seems we had a variance for inches in
our yard.
>> You on you said
>> yes. I also have a question in regards
to uh enforcement of trees being cut
down. We pull out on I told the police
also on JW Avenue on the corner of
Clinton. There's some very big
evergreens and it's very hard to make a
left-hand turn out there. There's a
slight incline and the cars are upon you
fast. And I said when I spoke to the
department uh relaying department, he
said to me they've already received a
notification to cut back their trees. I
understand there's a lot of would be
very very expensive but it is a
dangerous situation.
>> So when you when you're driving on Jew
left there's a little rise there and
it's just enough a man was killed
years years ago. So also I I wanted to
ask about um lawns and I said we got
years ago and noticed that our lawn
needed to be cut. you get a fine, but
there are laws all over town that are up
to your knees and they're not enforced.
And there's one place particularly
that's got hoarding issues. Now, it's
concerning to think about people like
that because they really need to be
addressed by the board of health because
people need help and they may need some
social services and it's not fair to
their neighbors because they pay high
taxes to have to live like that. So,
that was another issue. Then uh we had
tree limbs that went down in the storm.
We put ours out. He got another notice
saying that they were more than three
feet and that was our responsibility. I
called the department uh building
department. He said, "Oh, I told the DPW
about your situation." When I called
them, the girl said to me, "One, it
wasn't their job. Two, they did it as a
favor to the town. And three, they only
did it for a week." And I said to her,
"How would I know any of these things?
What if you're poor? What if you're old?
She will come out and get it, but our
landscaper had to come back and get
them. I also um am missing the um corner
house by us. Uh I think is a Airbnb and
I spoke to you told me that on June 4th
>> because we changed the rules on that.
>> I know you said in 90 days it's not
happening.
>> 30 days. 30 days.
>> 30. It's not happening. I don't think 30
days. I'm really surprised at that
because someone I know in real estate
said you'd be very surprised that TFly
would allow that. Don't
>> go 90 days.
>> No, 30 days is allowed.
>> 30 days minimum.
>> Yeah, I'm surprised. She said she'd be
surprised that it shouldn't been 90
days. They they're doing it by weeks.
>> Yeah.
>> I have personally checked that one. It's
really um you know oversees it.
>> So both David the administrator and I go
on periodically check Airbnb and the RBO
to see what's listed and they don't like
it.
>> They're not they're not posted for less
than 30 days. Okay.
>> If they're making side deals, we're not
over
90 days and that is much more annual to
other.
So, the state board doesn't allow us to
be with it till more than 30 days.
>> Okay. We're no longer getting the Friday
halls from the mayor.
>> We are. You must not be signed up for
it, but they're going out.
>> Oh, we
>> they are.
>> We always got them and then all of a
sudden they just stopped.
>> Yeah. I don't know why that's going on,
but it's been going on every Friday at
4:00.
>> I said, "No, I can just speak to that."
So, we're right now still investigating
when we transferred over from our old
system. We have a pocket of individuals
that have signed up that are not getting
those notifications where we've made the
company aware of it. We're trying to
solve that.
>> Thanks. Because then we would have had
some of those things about the trees at
the street and the limited time to know
all that. Also, I wanted to know about
the police department sitting here. Um
my assistant woman is scattery. They
have a thing for uh either handicapped
or people that live alone. It's like the
help I'm fallen thing forms that you
fill out. People know where your keys
are so that in time of emergency police
can get in and there is some kind of I
guess notation that they can to carry on
them.
>> So So I'm not made aware of systems that
are currently to allow
police. However, in an e situation like
that, short of calling by by way of
home, but we do house fees for a great
many. And beyond that, we have um we
have provisions in our system to be able
to take down information and keep that
just
because she's
still like two of us, but there's some
people that don't just like who knows
how long it's going to be.
Also, I've heard
>> Wait, before you There is something you
put on your refrigerator. It's a sheet.
The senior services committee does this.
>> It's a sheet you put on your
refrigerator. It is usually bright
yellow. Yeah.
>> Um, you keep it on your fridge, on your
kitchen cabinet or somewhere in your
kitchen. Police and emergency responders
know to look for this. It's emergency
contacts and medical information.
Anyway, it does exist and I'm sure the
>> My last my last question to you is I've
heard from several people that don't
live in town that the Clinton M is
planning to build a multi-story hotel
with some kind of a nightclub or
something on top of it. Now, I heard
this from two other people and I would
be very distressed to hear that that
actually happened.
>> So, if the multi-story part is true, the
nightclub part is not. There's no
nightclub.
They're planning to put a pool wall in
the roof.
>> Oh, that's what I heard.
>> But not a nightclub.
>> Okay. And we're requiring the pool to be
screened and um
>> sound for well, not sound approved, but
for sound modifications. There'll be
hours of operation and so it won't be
something.
Was there any possible way that the town
of Tennifly could maintain some of its
beauty with some of the boxes with
windows that are going up in this town?
I said, we're losing the little capes,
the beautiful Victorians. I said, uh
they're all going by the wayside and now
we have cement blocks. I said, they're
really quite ugly. And I said, this town
was always so beautiful. In November, I
would have lived here 60 years. So, I've
seen a lot of changes in the town and
it's not pretty. And I said, I hope the
Clinton would put something that would
kind of resemble the bucolic kind of
look that it had years ago. Maybe I'm
living in the past, but that's kind of
the way I feel about 10 fry. I said I
really don't like to see some of the
things that are are being built and
going up with a nice little houses.
That's all. Thank you for your comments.
Thank you.
>> Thank you, Gish. Okay. Is there anyone
else here in the chambers that would
like to speak? And McKel
according to you Andrew McK
um couple two two things. So first of
all the uh complete streets policy
uh wanted to say and fortunately traffic
engineer took away the upon but
congratulations.
We're very proud of you. Uh, it's
something that the Northern Valley
Greenway Committee has been talking.
We've been talking to a group called
Bergen County Concrete Streets. That's a
group that goes around and tries to get
each other of the towns to pass here a
ordinance on concrete streets. So, you
guys saved us from having to bring all
of them in to talk to you. Um, because
you took the initiative. David, thank
you very much for going to a session
actually following up on it. Um, my
understanding and again between David
and John, it's the experts.
It's not the any exact specific word
that's in the ordinance that counts, but
the fact that you have because it opens
up doors for funding, for policy, for
being included in county plans, and all
types of things. I'm way above even me.
Um, congratulations. I think it's also
great because it will give you the
framework to start preparing the town
for the northern grid uh connectors,
traffic arrangements, whatever. And if
you're you're ahead of the other five,
so we'll take credit and we'll take some
uh pride in that one. And the other
thing I wanted to talk about is I don't
want to talk about that, but the sign on
9W by Clinton and beautiful sign. Um, I
also drove by it at night time and maybe
I'm getting old, but uh, it was just
blinding,
incredibly bright. So, I know on my
apples there is something called the
night mode where you can reverse the
colors, the black and white at night.
There's all types of things that you
guys can figure out what works.
>> We're going to look into it.
>> But definitely look into it. And then as
far as the messaging,
and I hate to bring it up because none
of you seem to like the ability to have
six messages up on that corner or 20 at
any one time, but the reality is again,
there are public communication experts
here in this room who know more about
it. But a sign like that rotates through
a set of messages.
If you're driving by it, the chances of
having enough time to even read one of
those messages is pretty small because
it goes through one after the other. So
you may catch one of the 20 messages or
six or five, whatever that it goes
through over its cycle, but no. But
that's it. You know, it's an interesting
I'm going to just throw it out there,
but it's like one of the mantras in
terms of billboards
is seven words or less. Other words, the
human ability as you're driving by is
for seven words or less to understand
it. So, when you have 10 billboards up
there and you're driving by, the average
person is only, which is all of us, is
only grabbing seven words out of the
whole thing.
>> I picked the one I want to look at and
that's what I
>> absolutely correct. But on this one,
what I'm concerned is
that you may catch one of the messages
as you drive by me,
>> which is what you do in the billboard.
Besides, if you're typically driving by
there like myself, like many people
every day, drive by 501, 502, 449. So on
different days, you see different
flashing signs. That's all.
>> It's right,
>> whatever. But the brightness at night
time is something I highly recommend.
You guys look good. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Anyone else here in the
chamber want to speak? Um, is there
anyone online who would like to uh be
heard? Public comment. Anyone raising
their hand?
>> I see no hands. Mayor,
>> no hands. Okay, we're going to uh close
public comment time then and move on to
the administrative report. Council
members or questions for the
administrator?
really
obviously committee for complete
streets. I would like to get out of it.
>> Yeah, Dave and I both did that in the
lead and I did follow up a little bit of
our budget mall and I am definitely
working
on that. I have a question about
May
in the report. I know this might be a
question that comes up because you know
it's in the resolution
to just tell me if when you want me to
ask it but um I know now we've uh we're
going to be awarding tonight a
we're going to be awarding like
engineering services tonight.
>> So two different one is we already
authorized the student to like special
meetings. This is just um codifying the
actual number. Okay. Um uh so that's not
part of the bank scenario like the new
person rate engineering services and
specifically uh time towards the bank
application and John can talk about that
you know when you know it's ready for
the process take place but it's a um you
know it's a very involved study
basically
filling um
the intersections that live traffic
lights and design so
we
can conver
one
that was we we didn't get the bids uh
was that a one we didn't get bids for
the the amount
rejected on technicality and the rest of
the bids the second time were too high
>> too high was authorized to negotiate a
contract so we negotiated get them over
there. Um, right. And you reduce the
amount by 74,000.
>> Oh, okay. So, that that's on the
resolution.
>> That's correct.
>> So, my question is about that. is
explained going to be that that it
becomes a four-way stop sign in that
area or it will be just two stop signs
where when a person is coming out of
what that entrance will be crossont
I just I just want to know
>> in fact
that we chief put in
>> currently the The plan is that behind is
where the stop signs be in the street
farming. Uh the chief raised some
concerns about you know people trying to
get out of of
the study of you start to see whether or
not
it's not what the impact that would lead
to the disruption of the other.
>> All right. I mean personally I think
it's probably going to end up needing a
light you know that you know because it
is a high school crazy area
>> but uh okay so so that's going to be
looked at. That's what I wanted, you
know. And I I just want to uh one other
thing on your end is your administrative
report was you mentioned about the table
is now going to Grove Street. So we'll
be able to have security cameras. I
wanted to say that Omar uh ordered the
signs for the little stream flots. So
the desk or anybody who's interested in
also um gardening there that we'd have
the security in case anyone wanted was
>> actually council lady.
So, I just was I asked how many were
being taken because if they're not being
used, I thought maybe it'd be a good
idea to offer them up to our restaurants
so that they might want to grow some of
their own herbs and vegetables there. We
could really be a farm-to-table
community. Um,
>> that's that sounds really compelling.
Uh, I think just we were going to do a
little bit of like a promotion of it
because it the it roll out is a little
funky. But but I think that's that's
>> I mean I just want them to be to be used
to me that space is great. So I want to
have to be used and if it's first to the
residents if not let's businesses.
>> Absolutely.
>> There's people grow their own basil and
herbs and rosemary and garlic and
tomatoes and I think it'd be amazing
market kind of thing here. And now we'll
have security.
All right. Thank you. That's a good
point.
>> Another question on street. So, you
know, and this is old. Um, but we had
initially when we were talking about
girls street years ago and passed it,
we're talking about naming the dog park
after our former mayor. um never
happened, but uh I believe that our
former mayor actually was hoping that it
would supposed to be after Mayor Rosen.
Um and so I just want to follow up on
that request
>> and I know that he's called me. I know
he wanted to speak with her mayor about
this. Um
>> I wish we could talk about that all.
>> So I just wanted to know if it ever went
to our naming committee, if it's ever
reviewed. So because our council back
then had discussed it, it had let the
mayor outgo mayor at that time know it
was going to be named after him. It was
told to him. So again, I just don't want
to leave that game. I believe that prior
to the renovation, the park had been
named previously. Yeah.
>> So it was the original dog park. It all
has obviously changed with the
>> and then we just named it the Gro Street
Park,
>> right? I think this the area he would
like is the dog park. You know, he was
always seen walking his dogs. It was not
horrific giving to an outgoing mayor. I
would like to just follow up and see
maybe if we can put that honorific back,
you know. I think
years it was done in his name.
» I think
it was
okay.
>> So I don't remember discussion about
removing it. So that's why I think it's
not going to um I did have another
question just I wanted to tell the
public status of the little leaf fields.
I know construction begins and they're
waiting on them every day but
>> Yeah. Yeah. So um the the be offsite by
September the 1st.
>> Okay.
>> Uh borrowing torrential raintorms. Um so
the the contract was is you know under
contract. So they're taking a little bit
on the chin. Um they've had to uh
dewater and remove silks. Um I got a
hill talks now. Uh so you know they have
that expense and they're working
diligently. I
was not pleased with some of the
communication from my OG uh frankly on
the status of of the project and I spoke
with the contractor directly uh this
morning and we were advised that that
parking lot is needed for school faculty
for August 24th and that the school
opens on August 31st. area they wanted
to uh certainly be off of that parking
lot
if they could be out of the area
347.
So that's what we're hoping to see. And
as you know from the joint committee, we
obviously
as you know from the joint committee,
you know, schools absolutely want their
parking lot done.
>> Yeah.
» So I I feel like, you know, we really do
need to abide by that.
>> But collective care is underway.
and um and I've communicated the the
status to general cleaning and
they they have to take a seat there
which may be done by all
one more question. Um it's on the
amphitheater. Um, so I will say, and
maybe I just don't have it, but I did
think it was going to be wider and
lower. And again, I I know I asked this
to you last time, but it does seem to be
higher than the what the spec showed. It
did show like a wider, lower indicator,
and I asked last time, is it being built
to spec?
>> So it's it's being built to the spec
that the actual contracting photograph
that's in it's temporary sign. So we
stop the
>> Yes. That's not that's not the design we
ordered.
>> Yeah. So
>> a lot of residents ask me about that.
They see that picture and then they see
the epid
is that you can see all our downtown
business. It doesn't block the running
of any of our downtown businesses. So we
have brought down still
everything on railroad which I think is
so important and they were really upset
when like things do block.
>> Um so I know that is off the top of my
head. It's 50 ft wide at the widest peak
and then it was 36 ft.
» Yeah. 506 opening day.
>> So
from US Open finals weekend definitely
which is
12 and 13
>> subject to the weather.
>> It keeps raining like it's raining. Um
uh we're hoping that it will be ready
for the previous weekend for the
semifinals uh which is the fifth and
6th. Um but you know we we are
definitely planning to have a grand
opening card so and so forth will be US
Sunday the 13.
So we anticipate we hope that uh that
the contractor will have progressed far
enough that the community
that they don't punch this scenario by
meeting.
» All right. Uh next item on the agenda is
correspondence regarding the block party
on Richard Street. Everybody good with
that? Yes.
>> Okay.
Next is
» Okay. Introduction of ordinance 26-22
complete streets. Councilwoman Dayton,
would you like to make a motion, please?
>> Discuss this. So I I am, you know,
looking at the $1 million for surveying
and and possible I'd like to bring out
discussion.
>> That would probably be
>> Isn't it as part of it?
>> This is just the
streets policy
>> and it says I'm passing the right.
>> Yeah. Okay. That's resolution.
>> And yes, I absolutely want to run. Um,
so a movement introduced on first
reading ordinance 26-22
and set the hearing for September 8th,
2026 at 7:33 a.m.
>> Have a second, please.
>> Second.
>> Okay. Kira, can you please read title of
the ordinance and conduct those votes?
>> Introduction of ordinance. Ordinance
number 26-22,
an ordinance establishing a complete and
contextsensitive street policy and
supplementing the revised general
ordinance of the Burrow of Tennifly.
Councilman Corsair,
>> yes.
>> Councilman Dayton, Councilman Jackson,
>> yes.
>> Councilman President Michaels,
>> yes.
>> Councilman Dr. Okconor,
>> yes.
>> Councilman Robi,
>> yes.
In terms of the consent agenda, there's
two resolutions. 26293, which is the
traffic engineering study, which we just
talked about. I did a vote on that
separately. So, we discussed and then uh
resolution 26 296 the temporary science
display
on that side. I just one question
was that 294
street
just super quick. Um with the awarding
of that is that also you had said that
the chief was bringing up possible
concerns about making it like a four-way
stop sign. Is that like a conclusive
event or is this like a conversation
after the
>> as
you got the traffic engineer?
It's my understanding that there is put
it in place with the two stop signs and
then do a study to then see if the
conditions warrant in the stop.
>> And would that cost me one?
>> No.
Either way, you're going to do the
study. So,
>> well, you know, as long as it's not, you
know, more money because I do think
you're probably going to need four.
>> I mean, and the chief wasn't in here
when I made that comment, I believe. But
what the chief had expressed in our
earlier meeting was that uh he made he
had concerns of Peter left him in terms
of
>> Yeah. to kill and if you will always
stop and wait.
>> Okay. You can try.
>> All right. As long as it's you inclusive
of this cost. Okay. Thank you.
>> Okay.
I get a motion to approve resolution
R26-284
through R26 292 and R26 294 and R2695.
>> Do I have a second?
>> Second here. Please call the roll.
Councilman Corsair,
>> yes.
>> Councilman Dayton,
>> yes.
>> Councilman Jackson,
>> yes.
>> Councilman President Michaels,
>> yes.
>> Councilman Dr. Okconor,
>> yes.
>> Councilman Robi,
>> yes.
>> Okay. Resolution Rule 6293. Who has
questions? Lauren, you have a question?
>> Do.
>> Yeah. John, come to the microphone,
please.
So, just so the public understands, this
is a proposal for a million dollars for
the review and survey of 14 different
intersections
throughout Temply. Um, thank you. First
of all, thank you for the proposal and
work to create it. I'm so excited about
these rates. I mean, I feel like we
looked at that like a year ago already.
I'm so excited to get them. Um, but so I
wanted to talk about some of the
limitations here that things that are
not included in a million-doll proposal
and I'm hoping maybe we can include a
little bit more survey work. One of them
is um an intersection on the on the
water flow. Is there any way as we look
at this intersection to see if that
intersection has flooding issues
>> on all of them? I'm sorry. All 14
intersections.
At all 14 signalized intersections, we
are going to upgrade them all to be both
pedestrian and vehicular appropriate.
That will include reviewing the drainage
at every intersection. Now, remember,
we're doing we're doing the most
critical places, right? We're doing 14
critical locations in town, right? We
will be looking at everything. The
sidewalk, the curbs, the gutters, the
grass, you name it, it's all getting
done. Right.
>> I just didn't see that kind of wording.
So
that that was done.
>> Good question. No, it doesn't say that
specific in there. You're spot on.
>> Um I actually want to talk about um
excuse me, I know we're not doing, you
know, traffic counts and that's our
traffic division with our police and um
I wanted to ask about how much
coordination you're going to have about,
you know, prior accidents. Um,
are you getting the information from our
traffic division on count and
intersection?
>> Your police department is fantastic.
>> Yeah, they followed it.
>> Okay. We have we have never been
disappointed by them and we work very
closely. We work closely with Chief
Chamberlain. I'm looking very I've
already met with the new chief and we're
looking very forward at the chief's
office.
>> How long you send that up? just want to
be sure, you know, obviously we have
more intersections where we've had a lot
of fender benders. You know, I'm
thinking Angle Flinton, that's a huge
one. Um where, you know, we have a lot
of traffic. I just want to make sure
that as we're looking at that, we're
considering all of those. Um the other
things I want to talk about is um
I know this is algebra but as we talk
about you know free cutting the
landscaping and the sight lines
>> uh is that something we're going to be
looking at about things that would
improve site
>> at every one of these 14 intersections
that will also be reviewed. Trees will
be trimmed or removed and we're going to
bring them all up to current standards
that big leap forward.
>> I mean I know you guys are doing that. I
just want to make sure my understanding
of of what's about to occur is is
>> No, these are good questions and the
public should be aware of all the
detail.
>> Um, and just so the public understands,
this is an incredible proposal because
it's a million dollars from the
intersections. So, it really is $70,000
approximately per intersection. And
that's to survey and do all this work is
an incredible proposal. So, thank you.
Um, I'm I'm a quick question following
up with Councilwoman and Dave. Just
remind me of something. Do you study
when um when you're doing these
intersections that this results in cars
then avoiding intersections and then
going up different roads and how that
might
>> that's not that's not part of this this
project.
>> Okay. This is
>> what this is going to do is we're going
to fix so people will be okay to go to
the intersection right now. You know,
we've made some improvements already
downtown, right? We had some nice
success last year. Everybody forgot
about that by now. Okay. And you know,
we did do Easton and Dean and we kind of
forgot about that now. All right. Now,
we're going to put the next big bite of
the apple when we make the intersections
where people will pretend less not to
avoid them. All right. Um Okay. The
we're going to have a fully coordinated
intersection program where they're all
going to talk to each other. All right,
we're going to have them all on call GPS
timer. So, I'm be able to organize these
lights so they can work. And the chief
and I were actually getting into the
detail of that today. We have decided
how we want the green band to work. We
want it to be where cars drive along,
get a green light as they go. We want
them all to turn red at the same time.
All right. He and I need to figure that
out and figure out what works best for
time to fly. So, the first time we do
turn everything on, it might not be the
way it stays because we may find that a
better solution might be in place. Okay.
But the idea here is we're taking on the
biggest challenge, the intersections,
right? The parts in between we can take
care of later. This is the challenge,
guys. You guys have taken this on and
we're going to not just improve it for
the cars, okay? The cars are very
important, but we focus too much on the
cars over our entire lifetimes. It is
time to get less carcentric. Let's look
at the pedestrians. Let's look at the
other users of the intersection and
let's make it unifiedly safe and usable
for everybody. And that's what the focus
of this job is to make it good for us
all and improve everything for everyone.
So we won't be looking at other you know
right now it's just this this part. All
right. And I think in the future there
you know there may be you may find when
we get done with this that we're good
for a while that your lights are 80
years old in many cases. They're so old
that that it's it's amazing.
>> They're experienced.
>> They're very experienced. They're some
of the most experienced I've seen in my
whole career.
and a chief that your past chief and his team including the new chief were
miracle workers keeping these things
going. So they all deserve they deserve
the credit here, not me or or anybody
else. My goodness, they've done a great
job.
>> All right, question.
>> You have another question?
>> Just in terms of the um public
transportation, the buses and the
coordination of the bus lines,
>> I assume all of that is going to work as
well on these intersections. We're
looking at it. We're going to look at
commuter traffic, public transportation.
>> I'm not really sure what the question
you're asking. I'm sorry.
>> So, we're adding a lot more public
transportation. Let's say on County
Road, right? We're trying to take it off
of some of the side streets. We've
closed Higher Center down. So, the buses
are now um county and you know, they're
turning down to Dean. So I I just want
to make sure that as we look at these
intersections, we're incorporating
a look for public transportation for the
commuters, for the timing. You know, if
the bus turns, it takes a whole light,
for example.
>> The mere nature of these improvements
are going to improve the experience for not just um our our our automobile
drivers and and pedestrians, but also
the bus drivers as well. I mean, the bus
drivers certainly can anticipate they'll
be able to get through town a little bit
more efficiently.
Okay, any more questions in this
resolution?
All right. Can I get a motion to approve
resolution R26-293,
please?
>> So move.
>> Can I get a second?
>> Second.
>> Uh, please call.
>> Councilman Corsair.
>> Yes.
>> Councilman Dayton. Councilman Jackson.
>> Yes.
>> Councilman President Michaels.
>> Yes.
>> Councilman Dr. Okconor.
>> Yes.
>> Councilman Rogilleri.
Yes.
>> I get a motion to approve resolution
R26-296.
» I get a second.
>> Second.
>> Call the roll, please.
>> Councilman Corsair,
>> yes.
>> Councilman Dayton,
>> Councilman Jackson,
>> yes.
>> Councilman President Michaels,
>> yes.
>> Councilman Dr. Okconor, no.
>> Councilman Rogaryi,
>> yes.
Okay. Minutes to be approved. Can I get
a motion to approve the minutes of May
19th, 2026, June 30th, 2026, and July
13, 2026?
>> Ma'am, we do July 13th separate. We f
July 13 separately doesn't have a
meeting.
>> Sure. We get a motion to approve May 19,
2026 and June 30th, 2026. So have a
second. All in favor?
>> Any opposed?
Okay. A motion to approve July 13, 2026
minutes.
>> Second.
>> All in favor?
>> Any opposed?
Okay. Committee reports. Counciloman Dr.
Okconor.
>> Yes. Just last one, the new resident
event is going to be on September 9th.
Uh there will be new resident event. Uh
that's that's my report for the new
regular committee and just to let the
police commission chief know um you're
going to be receiving invite me email
and of course fire to support.
» Okay. Thank you.
>> Just want to um announce that we have
community night coming up September
15th. one of our best events organized
by the town and radical police. It's
really an amazing community event and I
encourage everyone to come.
>> Okay. Thank you, Council President
Michael. Any comments tonight?
>> Yes, sir.
>> Council Dave,
>> I just wanted to discuss an issue I
feel. It's not an issue. Excuse me. But
just Yeah, I know I I brought this up.
We've had in in the past couple months a
lot of subdivisions come before us and
so I mean David spoke very briefly on
this is sort of chicken and egg. I would
like to actually review the ordinances
on subdivisions uh with the planning
board and with the council. Um it's up
to the council which place you'd like me
to start. So, I can go to the planning
board and see if there's any interest in
amending those rules or working with our
city planner, uh, David Novak, to see if
there's an interest. Um, or we can
discuss it as a policy initiative here
and see if you'd want to discuss the
subdivisions. And what's happening is
that many applicants are coming before
the planning board that don't meet the
parameters of our ordinances, but we are
allowing them to subdivide given uh you
know the applicants and
the size of the lot. A lot of times it's
like an R two R10s but just short of the
second R10. So a lot of the planning
board is saying well it's okay but what
happens
>> that is the purpose of the planning
board
>> of course but as as the neighbors are
watching these houses go up and per
resident you know we are expanding our
borders and shortening our sideyards and
front yards and backyards to accommodate
these uh subdivisions that may not meet
the code. So the question is are you
interested in reviewing this as a
policy? Do we want to make it easier
harder? We want to see what's happening
in a pattern of practice here. Um
because what's happening again like I
said is planning boards approving things
that are
not meeting code. There's not enough
land. And so the surrounding neighbors
that we're hearing from surrounding
neighbors, you know, this house is
encroaching my like mayor was not
>> but you understand that the entire
purpose of the planning goal is to
empowering it.
I I understand that to
>> I guess your question is what's the goal
of what we're trying to accomplish. Um,
I think that I think that I'd like to
review why we constantly need to have a
variance of subdivision and should we be
changing our our size of lot or
subdivision? Should it say you must meet
a minimum of a certain size to R10s for
example before you know it has to be an
R20 size before we can divide to two
R10s instead of like a R15.
>> So just a little bit of um ballistics.
So generally it it is a true like a
large deviation it goes to the zoning
board um not to the planning board. It's
at the planning board is because it's
very minor deviations. The zoning board
um
should be providing an annual report to
the council of the matters that it
looked at in years prior to see whether
these kind of um situations keep
occurring so that you can reconsider
what your zoning would be. Um, what I
would suggest is perhaps to since we're
already not obvious, if you want to wait
till November, December for that report
and see what's happening at the zoning
board level, that might be a great place
to start. I'd actually like to see what
they are seeing now because what I'm
seeing sitting on the planning board is
not minor variances, but actually larger
asks for variance that really do deviate
from our code. Um, and they're not I
don't see them going to zoning. I see
them coming before us. So, Not the oil
like the highest oil would been 10%.
That's a major
>> over 20% variances.
>> It wouldn't be would be at the board of
adjustability.
» You had 20%
variances
possible
>> in the setbacks.
>> Oh, in terms of the feet maybe perhaps.
Yes.
>> Yes.
>> And so again the question is it could
start on either any of the three boards
actually is what you said. I could start
with a discussion of the zoning board
planning board for this house wouldn't
be a discussion with the zoning board.
Um the zoning board is you know
autonomous priority they always the
planning board purpose is to take the
policies that are enacted by the
governing body and they're almost like
it's board you know they it's only here
based on what the ordinances say. the
zoning board has the ability to grant
deviations which is why we're saying
that to get to the planning board level
they're have to be within a certain
percentage anything that exceeds that
would be the zoning board um but we're
seeing there like I said all the all the
yards all
>> the res the residents that are
residential peers that have been
appointed to that that's their job they
oversee
>> my question is I could actually start
that conversation with plenty board or I
can start that one here. What I wanted
to understand is what is the council's
take on this and see do you want to even
discuss this as a policy you know do we
want to continue to allow subdivisions
all over even though they don't meet our
so
» no this council says we the council
based on the ordinances and the res that
we put together that is our view it then
goes to committees of residents that sit on these committees that may
might make a recommendation to create a
barrier which again
>> well they would be approving by resol
resolutions or any developments but I
guess what I'm not sure similar to city
council what the goal would be because
the only thing we could do at this point
is potentially to reduce the size of
what is required for minimum lot area in
a different zone because if you now make
it bigger you're going to create a lot
of pre-existing nonform Those
are grandfathered.
>> Correct. But that's still going to put
So that's more hardship on the residents
who want to do anything that they
otherwise could have done in the
property that they're in now that they
won't be able to do later if the lot
sizes are changed. But again, maybe
their next door neighbor didn't have the
right property and still was allowed a
variance to subdivide and now is
encroaching. So they're not because no
on somebody else's property.
>> I'm just saying light, air, shadow,
sunlight, you know, tree lot, etc.
generator.
>> We're saying we don't want we don't want
that. So now I think you have to you
have to have on the planning board.
>> I don't see it happen like it's not like
an epidemic that's happening all over
town once or twice when they come. You
have to just I think the planning board
has to have a strong you know
so you know we've had very few
subdivisions.
>> Yeah. But a bunch is like there's one on
angle that was one up on the west side
of town near uh near near river and chew
lots.
I mean what's that sweet
island? That's a two family zone.
>> That's a two family zone. That's all
love.
So I don't know what any of us would
want to be different.
>> When I when I sit at the planning board
and I hear discussions, there is a lot
of um middle and close. People are not
really sure if it's really a very gray
area where we're deciding some of these
substitutes,
>> right? But I feel like we need to be
clear and we're saying we don't want to
go against our code and this is our code
for a reason. But when you have a
planning board, wait, I'm speaking like
it's not a legal thing. When you have a
planning board deciding against your
code each time, then it's a policy.
>> Not deciding against the code. Their
existence is to grant variances. They
have no other purpose is to grant
variances.
I have some subdivisions you don't need
a variance, right? It's right.
>> It's as of right. So I'm thinking that
how many TB have you granted? How many
variances did you grant subdivision?
>> I think you did three at the most.
>> I sure subdivisions. No.
>> So I'd be provocative to see if I could
speak on behalf of my fellow council
would say we would love you as our
representative to speak up and speak
more influentially to stop it. I think
the council we don't want these
variances. you're our representative on
account on the planning board. We'd like
you to be more influential.
>> So the mayor and I actually both voted
no to one of them and the rest of vote
yes. So you know we we are
>> well independent. They were going to
they have they
>> they go to their thought process.
Well, I I have you know just the one
thing I would just say to your query
about this as I do think it's important
for us as a governing body to have
information and to know what's going on
in these committees any committees. So
like I know that we have a separate
project in environmental commission
where we've had the DPW report on tree
mitigations like how many trees you know
year upon year that are you know more
coming down and more going up and I've
always you know at different times in
our discussions with my colleagues here
I' I like to share that and I kind of
want to share that. So I I do think it's
important that all of us kind of know
what's happening on these committees. So
to to that point, if there is some data
that we can share or if it's not new,
maybe it makes more sense to have the
attorney who's the attorney for the
zoning for the board of adjustments or
something just to give us all
information because I I think that's
important.
>> I do try to support each one.
>> Yeah, absolutely. Thanks.
from a from a like a like a dad like
what's happening
>> trend that's the word because I know I
can tell you that friends with the trees
are not right
>> in this town so that you know I would be
curious are are we subdividing our towns
more than I'm aware of and I so I don't
know what's the best way for you to um
present that to us or or have that data
made maybe by one of our uh
professionals know, write a book, but reports don't necessarily mean much.
Like I'm more interested in the in the
attorney or someone to like explain what
we want
>> and also which trend do we want to go
forward, right? What's our future look
like? And
>> that's our
experience.
>> Anything else to report on so we could
keep moving?
>> Okay. Councilwoman Jackson, do you have
anything to add?
>> Yes. Yes.
>> Hold on. Hold on a second.
I did. I wanted to actually um I spoke
with fire department and I spoke with
David. I wanted everyone to know that we
are applying for a grant for our
firefighter equipment. Um I also spoke
with Congressman Dohammer's office who
is going to write a letter in support of
our grant application and we've applied
for grants for firefighter equipment and
we've lost on them in the past. um we're
losing to all our stress downs and so I
really hope this year it's us and we can get this included in our budget.
I just want to let everyone be aware.
>> Thank you.
>> Councilwoman Jackson.
>> Yes. Couple of quick updates. Tomorrow
night um in Higher Park, we have Soul
Farm coming to play their amazing um
Israeli bluegrass band. It brings a big
audience. So because it's so awesome. Uh
next week, August 20th, on Thursday
night, we're having the Grateful Dead
cover band and uh food and art festival
to accompany accompany. So would love to
see you guys out there for that if
you're in town. And then October 4th,
the fall festival, the applications for
participation are open. So if you can go
to the Tennifly Chamber of Commerce
website, tenniflychamber.org,
um you can share that with anyone who's
interested to apply to participate.
Thanks.
Thank you. Council Councilman Rolieri
have anything?
>> No, sir. No report for you this evening.
>> Okay. Thank you. Uh council, can you
read the close session line please?
>> Resolution R26-1097
at a meeting of the mayor and council of
the Bifite County Burton State of New
Jersey held on August 2026.
We resolved in the announcement of JSA
4-2 the mayor and council testify go to
post executive session to discuss the
following matters attorney privilege of
litigation update and potential
litigation real property property
acquisition will be taken in the meeting
to the public and items I need a motion
to