[0:05] Good evening, everybody. If everybody would stand and watch, we're going to do the
[0:09] Pledge of Allegiance.
[0:12] I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the
[0:18] Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty
[0:24] and justice for all.
[0:26] If you please remain standing for a moment of silence.
[0:45] That moment of silence was on behalf of the mayor and the entire Secaucus
[0:49] community.
[0:51] I wanted to extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues
[0:56] of Lieutenant Thomas Malanco Jr.,
[0:59] TJ as he was known. This loss is especially heartbreaking for the mayor and his
[1:04] family, as TJ was not only a dedicated and respected member of our police
[1:08] department but also his beloved son-in-law.
[1:12] TJ devoted more than two decades to serving Secaucus with honor, courage, and
[1:18] distinction, and his commitment to our community will never be forgotten.
[1:22] During this incredibly difficult time, our thoughts and prayers are with Mayor's
[1:26] family, TJ's wife and children, his parents, his father also,
[1:32] Tommy Malanco, was a captain in our police department, his fellow officers, and
[1:36] everyone who knew and loved him. May his memory, his service, and the impact he
[1:41] made on so many lives be a lasting part of the Secaucus community. Thank you.
[1:47] Vincent Ciaburri, born 1926, 100 years ago.
[1:51] Grew up in Union City, graduated Emerson High School, and joined the Navy in 1944.
[1:57] Part of the greatest generation. Love you guys.
[2:01] Was a tradesman, third-class petty officer.
[2:05] Received specialized training for diesel engines, learned to operate, maintain, and
[2:09] repair the complex diesel engines used in submarines.
[2:14] Was assigned to the USS Possible, an attack transport ship deploying from San
[2:18] Francisco.
[2:20] Traveled during active duty in the Philippines, Japan, and New Guinea.
[2:25] After the Navy opened up Ciaburri Brothers Auto Repair garage in Union City with
[2:29] his brother Al, he moved to Secaucus in January of 1961 with his wife,
[2:35] Maria, lived 65 years on Allen Terrace.
[2:39] Raised four children. Local businessman for almost 40 years.
[2:44] Opened Smart Shop in the plaza on November 22nd, 1963, through the
[2:50] early '90s. While owner of the Smart Shop-- That was the Smart Men Shop, correct?
[2:56] Smart Men, yeah.
[2:56] I was one of your best customers.
[3:02] While owner of the Smart Shop, played an active leadership role in the Plaza
[3:05] Merchants Association,
[3:08] organizing community events, contests, et cetera.
[3:12] In 1995, he and his wife, Marie, bought and together managed Pellegrino's in Mill
[3:16] Creek Mall through 2003. Was a member of the American Legion in Secaucus.
[3:22] Celebrated his 75th wedding anniversary in January of this year, shortly before his
[3:28] wife, Marie, passed away. Grandfather of three, great-grandfather of eight.
[3:33] Loved golf, fishing, playing cards, going to the racetrack, gardening, and sitting
[3:38] in his backyard enjoying the birds.
[3:41] He is truly a man who enjoyed his life for all of his 100 years.
[3:45] Thank you.
[3:46] Salute you, Vin.
[4:21] Go ahead. I said you guys should all go down front too.
[4:44] Big
[4:49] smile.
[5:00] Your legacy continues to inspire generations.
[5:02] From the Mayor Michael Giannelli and Secaucus Town Council.
[5:07] Thank you.
[5:14] Hello. Hi, good evening, everyone.
[5:18] Thank you, Mayor and the Town Council, to have us all over here.
[5:22] On behalf of all the parents of TSA, which is Technology Student Association.
[5:29] It's a chapter of Secaucus Middle School, consisting of 17 students who
[5:34] represented our school and our community at TSA Nationals, which was held in
[5:39] Washington, DC. This was the second consecutive year that our students have reached
[5:45] the nationals and have outperformed better every year.
[5:50] So close to 17 students who have participated in 27 different events.
[5:56] There were close to 10,000 participants, and it was a proud moment when our school
[6:01] students were up on the stage, either for semi-finals positions, or they made it to
[6:06] the top 10 for certain events, or won the third place in one of the events as well.
[6:12] So it was their hard work and great effort, which they put along with each parent
[6:17] as well, and the school support, of course.
[6:21] They definitely did outperform everywhere, and I'm happy to share that success with
[6:26] you all over here. Thank you so much for having us. Thanks. Great job.
[6:34] You want to say the name?
[6:38] Okay. Or do you want me to? Whatever. So the winners are here.
[6:41] I don't know if they're in the same-
[6:44] They're in the same order
[6:45] ... the same order? Okay. So Harshika Gupta for microcontroller design.
[6:50] They won third place at Nationals. They have to introduce themselves.
[6:56] Siya Sadhu.
[7:03] Christopher. The next one is community service video.
[7:05] They were the top 10 national finalists. Christopher Antao. He's not here.
[7:10] I can collect from his behalf. Leran Ryan.
[7:19] Vishadit.
[7:24] Christopher. For biotechnology design, they made it to the
[7:30] semifinalists in top 12. Arjun Chaudhry.
[7:37] Akash Banagude.
[7:44] Om Patel.
[7:54] Right over here.
[7:57] Ajay Gosal.
[8:05] Anay Saxena.
[8:14] Atik Saxena.
[8:18] Great job.
[8:24] Eva.
[8:26] Eva Lin. Eva Lin.
[8:33] Kaitlyn Jiang.
[8:40] Trisha. Trisha Golar.
[8:48] Rhys Goyal.
[8:55] Right alongside.
[8:57] Shriya Kagadyat.
[9:00] I can
[9:03] Suri.
[9:05] Suri or Avisha? I can't remember.
[9:07] Okay. We have to get something for her.
[9:09] Some of the students are going to eighth grade, some are the freshmen, so I wish
[9:13] them all good luck.
[9:13] Wow. Good luck, everyone. You're going to do amazing.
[9:21] Thank you.
[9:23] Alexa, please come up.
[9:32] So Alexa Lane is 14 years old. She's a rising sophomore.
[9:36] Alexa began her softball journey at the age of nine with Secaucus Recreation.
[9:41] As a pitcher, she played a key role in helping the Secaucus Junior Softball
[9:45] Division capture the program's first ever district championship in 2024.
[9:51] In 2023, Alexa earned selection to the prestigious USSSA All
[9:57] American Games, representing the Northeast region in Viera, Florida, competing
[10:02] against some of the nation's top young athletes.
[10:05] She helped lead her team to the 12U championship title.
[10:09] As a freshman at Hudson Catholic High School, Alexa quickly established herself as
[10:14] one of New Jersey's top young pitchers.
[10:18] In just her 10th varsity game, she recorded her 100th strikeout, finishing the
[10:23] season with an outstanding 192 strikeouts.
[10:27] Wow.
[10:27] In addition to her dominance in the circle, she also finished the season with one
[10:32] of the team's top batting averages.
[10:35] Her freshman season for recognition throughout the state, including NJ.com
[10:39] nomination as one of New Jersey's top freshman pitchers, Hudson County
[10:44] Interscholastic Athletic League co-pitcher of the year, recognition as a primary
[10:49] catalyst behind one of the biggest team turnarounds in New Jersey softball.
[10:54] Alexa currently earned a roster spot on the Roberto Clemente RBI
[10:59] 18U team, competing against older players while representing one of the nation's
[11:04] premier youth softball development programs.
[11:09] She traveled to Vero Beach, Florida, to compete in MLB RBI World Series,
[11:15] gaining valuable experience on a national stage against elite competition from
[11:19] across the country. Alexa has since transferred to St.
[11:23] Mary's High School in Rutherford, where she is a rising sophomore and will continue
[11:27] her softball career with the St. Mary's Gales. Congratulations.
[11:35] And on that note, Certificate of Achiev--
[11:40] Sorry. Of Achievement is proud to present it to Alexa Lane.
[11:44] For your hard work and dedication to softball and for your ability to inspire
[11:48] others in the community. Mayor Mike Gonnelli and Town Council.
[11:52] Congratulations.
[11:58] Thank you.
[12:00] Now we have the art, right? The art show?
[12:04] The art club.
[12:05] The art club, sorry. The art club.
[12:06] Do you want to say a few words?
[12:07] Yes, of course.
[12:08] They have to call your name.
[12:10] Barbara, you have to come up. Go ahead.
[12:12] Oh, she's going to talk?
[12:14] Yeah. Barbara, come up. Talk, and then we'll give the certificate.
[12:18] Okay.
[12:18] Give them your name.
[12:22] Can I?
[12:25] Pull the microphone.
[12:27] Here, Barbara, right here.
[12:29] Hi.
[12:29] You want to use it? We'll have the certificate.
[12:33] You wanted to say a few words, or?
[12:35] Oh. Do you want me to say-
[12:36] Do you want to say, "I thought you were amazing," art club?
[12:39] We're here representing the art club. Why don't you all come up here?
[12:44] Oh, we're going to give them all a certificate. You get the first, Barbara.
[12:47] Oh, thank you so much.
[12:50] Cynthia Constantine?
[12:53] I don't know if she's here.
[12:54] Hold on. Get your certificate.
[12:56] Do you want me to take it?
[12:57] You want me to say the names? Dear?
[12:59] Oh, Dear.
[12:59] That's me.
[13:00] That's you.
[13:01] Thank you.
[13:02] Dear, here you go.
[13:03] Dear, there you go.
[13:03] Congratulations.
[13:04] Thank you.
[13:05] Armen?
[13:06] No.
[13:07] Leslie?
[13:08] Leslie's here. Yeah.
[13:09] Thank you. Ling?
[13:11] Here. Thank you.
[13:13] Luis?
[13:14] Sue.
[13:15] Sue? I'm sorry.
[13:16] Sue.
[13:17] And Tina. There you go. Hi, Tina.
[13:20] Thank you so much.
[13:23] Thank you.
[13:23] And we
[13:29] have more.
[13:31] Adequate notice of this meeting, as required by the Open Public Meetings Act, has
[13:34] been provided by the filing of the annual notice of meetings with the municipal
[13:39] clerk, the posting of said notice on the official bulletin board in the Municipal
[13:43] Government Center, and the delivery of the same to the record on December 26th,
[13:49] 2025. This body wishes to advise you that in accordance with NJAC
[13:55] 5:23-11.1 et sec., of the indoor air quality standards and
[14:00] procedures for buildings occupied by public employees, smoking anywhere in this
[14:06] public building is prohibited by law.
[14:09] In the event of a fire or other emergency, please note that there are two exits at
[14:13] the rear of the council chamber, which may be used.
[14:16] Calling the roll, Mayor Gonnelli?
[14:18] Councilman Constantino?
[14:20] Here.
[14:20] Councilman McKeever?
[14:22] Here.
[14:23] Councilman Clancy?
[14:24] Here.
[14:24] Councilman Denner?
[14:25] Here.
[14:26] Councilman Girabazio?
[14:27] Here.
[14:28] Councilwoman Tringali?
[14:29] Here.
[14:30] First order of business is ordinance number--
[14:36] ordinance is for public hearing, I'm sorry.
[14:37] Ordinance number 2026-28 is an ordinance amending chapter
[14:43] 127-58B of the code of the Town of Secaucus, entitled Designation of
[14:48] Locations at or Near Private Residences.
[14:51] It's for an elimination of handicap parking spots on Center Avenue, Julian Terrace,
[14:57] Mansfield Avenue, and the addition of handicap parking spots on 9th Street and
[15:02] Front Street.
[15:04] Would anyone from the public like to speak on ordinance number 2026-28?
[15:14] Seeing none. Call the vote.
[15:16] We need a motion, right? Motion.
[15:19] Motion to call the roll. Motion.
[15:22] Second.
[15:23] Constantino.
[15:30] So call the roll?
[15:31] Yep.
[15:32] All right. Calling the roll. Councilman Constantino?
[15:35] Yes.
[15:36] Councilman McKeever?
[15:37] Yes.
[15:38] Councilman Clancy?
[15:39] Yes.
[15:39] Councilman Denner?
[15:40] Yes.
[15:40] Councilman Girabazio?
[15:42] Yes.
[15:42] Councilwoman Tringali?
[15:43] Yes.
[15:46] Mayor's not here.
[15:47] We have a motion to adopt ordinance number 2026-28. Motion.
[15:52] Second.
[15:59] Call the roll.
[16:00] Okay, calling the roll. Councilman Constantino?
[16:02] Yes.
[16:03] Councilman McKeever?
[16:04] Yes.
[16:05] Councilman Clancy?
[16:06] Yes.
[16:06] Councilman Denner?
[16:07] Yes.
[16:08] Councilman Girabazio?
[16:09] Yes.
[16:10] Councilwoman Tringali?
[16:11] Yes.
[16:13] Next item is ordinances for introduction.
[16:15] The first ordinance is ordinance 2026-29.
[16:20] This is an ordinance amending chapter 127-B-- dash
[16:25] 58B, excuse me, of the code of the Town of Secaucus, entitled Designation of
[16:30] Locations at or Near Private Residences.
[16:33] This is for an addition of handicap parking spots on Chestnut Street, Claredon
[16:37] Street, Mini Place, and Post Place.
[16:42] Motion to accept the first reading of ordinance number 2026-29.
[16:46] Motion.
[16:48] Second.
[16:49] Chairman, you're on.
[16:51] Calling the roll. Councilman Constantino?
[16:53] Yes.
[16:54] Councilman McKeever?
[16:55] Yes.
[16:56] Councilman Clancy?
[16:57] Yes.
[16:58] Councilman Denner?
[16:58] Yes.
[16:59] Councilman Girabazio?
[17:01] Yes.
[17:02] Councilwoman Tringali?
[17:03] Yes.
[17:05] The next ordinance for introduction is ordinance number 2026-30.
[17:10] It's a bond ordinance to authorize the making of various public improvements and
[17:15] the acquisition of new additional or replacement equipment and machinery.
[17:20] New information technology equipment and new automotive vehicles, including
[17:24] original apparatus and equipment in, by, and for the Town of Secaucus, in the
[17:30] County of Hudson, State of New Jersey, to appropriate the sum of
[17:33] $1,840,000 to pay the cost thereof,
[17:39] to make a down payment, to authorize the issuance of bonds, to finance such
[17:44] appropriation, and to provide for the issuance of bond anticipation notes in
[17:49] anticipation of the issuance of such bonds.
[17:53] Motion to accept the first reading of ordinance number 2026-30.
[17:58] Motion.
[17:59] Second
[18:03] Call the roll, Councilman Constantino?
[18:04] Yes.
[18:05] Councilman McKeever?
[18:07] Yes.
[18:07] Councilman Clancy?
[18:08] Yes.
[18:09] Councilman Denner?
[18:10] Yes.
[18:10] Councilman Gervasio?
[18:12] Yes.
[18:12] Councilwoman Tringali?
[18:13] Yes.
[18:15] The third ordinance for introduction is ordinance number 2026-31.
[18:22] It's another bond ordinance to authorize various improvements at the swim center
[18:26] in, by, and for the Town of Secaucus in the County of Hudson, State of New Jersey,
[18:31] to appropriate the sum of $50,000 to pay the cost thereof, to make a down payment,
[18:37] to authorize the issuance of bonds to finance such appropriation, and to provide
[18:42] for the issuance of bond anticipation notes in anticipation of the issuance of
[18:48] such bonds.
[18:51] Motion to accept the first reading of ordinance number 2026-31.
[18:56] Motion.
[18:57] Second.
[19:01] Call the roll.
[19:02] Okay, call the roll. Councilman Constantino?
[19:04] Yes.
[19:05] Councilman McKeever?
[19:06] Yes.
[19:07] Councilman Clancy?
[19:08] Yes.
[19:09] Councilman Denner?
[19:10] Yes.
[19:10] Councilman Gervasio?
[19:12] Yes.
[19:12] Councilwoman Tringali?
[19:13] Yes.
[19:15] Next item is the consent agenda.
[19:19] We've had a chance to review it upstairs.
[19:21] We need a motion to accept the consent agenda.
[19:23] Motion.
[19:25] Second.
[19:29] Call the roll.
[19:30] Call the roll. Councilman Constantino?
[19:32] Yes.
[19:32] Councilman McKeever?
[19:34] Yes.
[19:34] Councilman Clancy?
[19:35] Yes.
[19:36] Councilman Denner?
[19:37] Yes.
[19:38] Councilman Gervasio?
[19:39] Yes.
[19:40] Councilwoman Tringali?
[19:41] Yes.
[19:42] Next item is payment of claims.
[19:45] We've all had a chance to review the bill list.
[19:48] I need a motion to accept the claims register.
[19:51] Motion.
[19:52] Rob.
[19:53] Second.
[19:54] June.
[19:56] Call the roll. Councilman Constantino?
[19:58] Yes.
[20:00] Councilman McKeever?
[20:01] Yes.
[20:02] Councilman Clancy?
[20:03] Yes.
[20:04] Councilman Denner?
[20:05] Yes.
[20:06] Councilman Gervasio?
[20:07] Yes.
[20:08] Councilwoman Tringali?
[20:09] Yes.
[20:12] Next item is bingo and raffle applications.
[20:16] The first application is for an on-premise 50/50 to be held on September
[20:22] 13th, sponsored by Immaculate Conception Church.
[20:25] The second is an application for an on-premise draw raffle to be held on October
[20:30] 31st, sponsored by the Secaucus Emergency Fund.
[20:34] The third is an application for an on-premise draw raffle to be held on September
[20:39] 10th, sponsored by the Friends of the Secaucus Library.
[20:43] And the fourth is an application for an on-premise 50/50 fair share draw raffle to
[20:48] be held on September 10th, sponsored by the Friends of the Secaucus Library.
[20:56] Motion to accept?
[20:58] Motion.
[21:00] Motion.
[21:01] Call the roll.
[21:03] Do we get a second on that?
[21:05] Second.
[21:06] Okay, thank you.
[21:07] I'll go ahead.
[21:10] Oh, sorry, I only heard one. Call the roll. Councilman Constantino?
[21:14] Yes.
[21:15] Councilman McKeever?
[21:16] Yes.
[21:17] Councilman Clancy?
[21:19] Yes.
[21:19] Councilman Denner?
[21:20] Yes.
[21:21] Councilman Gervasio?
[21:22] Yes.
[21:23] Councilwoman Tringali?
[21:24] Yes.
[21:25] Next item is communications requiring action by mayor and council.
[21:32] The first is the acceptance of Rayna C.
[21:36] Barth as a probationary firefighter for the Secaucus Volunteer Fire Department,
[21:40] effective August 9th, 2026. The second is acceptance of David J.
[21:46] Tavares as a probationary firefighter for the Secaucus Volunteer Fire Department,
[21:51] effective August 10th, 2026. The third is acceptance of Chase
[21:57] Burgess as a regular member of Rescue Company One, Engine Company Two, pending
[22:02] Firefighting One results.
[22:06] The fourth is acceptance of Brayden Tsiokas as a regular member of Rescue Company
[22:11] One, Engine Company Two. Number five is acceptance of Ravi
[22:17] Teja Manikuri as a probationary firefighter for Secaucus Volunteer Fire
[22:23] Department, effective August 15th, 2026.
[22:27] Six is acceptance of Ronall F. Palacios as a probationary firefighter
[22:33] for the Secaucus Volunteer Fire Department, effective August 15th, 2026.
[22:38] Seven, acceptance of the resignation of Mark Mastrelli from Engine Company Three in
[22:44] good standing.
[22:46] Eight is acceptance of Shilei Zeng as a probationary firefighter for the Secaucus
[22:51] Volunteer Fire Department, pending successful completion of a stress test
[22:56] examination.
[22:59] And number nine is acceptance of Abe Torres as a probationary firefighter for the
[23:04] Secaucus Volunteer Fire Department, pending the successful completion of a stress
[23:09] test examination.
[23:13] Should I read the tenth one since he's not here, together?
[23:18] Yeah.
[23:25] And the tenth and final item is a request by Robert Zitch of CrossFit
[23:31] Secaucus to use Kean Stadium on August 29th for a community recreational fitness
[23:36] event.
[23:43] Motion to approve the communication items from one through eight?
[23:48] Motion.
[23:49] Mark.
[23:50] Second.
[23:51] John.
[23:53] Call the roll. Councilman Constantino?
[23:55] Yes.
[23:56] Councilman McKeever?
[23:57] Yes.
[23:58] Councilman Clancy?
[23:59] Yes.
[24:00] Councilman Denner?
[24:01] Yes.
[24:02] Councilman Gervasio?
[24:03] Yes.
[24:04] Councilwoman Tringali?
[24:05] Yes.
[24:07] Next item is committee reports.
[24:10] Nothing.
[24:10] No, nine and ten.
[24:11] One through ten.
[24:12] You have to-- It was one through ten.
[24:14] One through ten.
[24:15] I was going to say nine and ten.
[24:17] Nine and ten.
[24:19] I make a motion to-
[24:21] It was my fault because I-
[24:22] One through eight, she needs nine and ten now
[24:24] Yeah, motion for nine and ten.
[24:26] Motion.
[24:27] Second.
[24:28] Rob. Or, yeah.
[24:30] Okay, call the roll. Councilman Constantino?
[24:33] Yes.
[24:33] Councilman McKeever?
[24:34] Yes.
[24:35] Councilman Clancy?
[24:36] Yes.
[24:36] Councilman Denner?
[24:37] Yes.
[24:37] Councilman Gervasio?
[24:38] Yes.
[24:39] Councilwoman Tringali?
[24:40] Yes.
[24:41] Next item is committee reports.
[24:45] Nothing tonight from fire.
[24:47] Just an announcement. A memorial ceremony in remembrance of the 25th anniversary of
[24:53] September 11th, 2001, which will be Friday, September 11th at 8:30
[24:59] at the 9/11 memorial site by the Secaucus Public Library.
[25:04] We will never forget Arleen Babakitis, Richard Kudina, Nancy Perez,
[25:10] Kenneth Simon, Steven Strobert, and Michael Tenan, and all of those who were
[25:15] lost on that day. So it's the 25th year, so it's always well-attended.
[25:21] So this year, it will be again. So we'll see you at 8:30 on 9/11 at the
[25:27] Public Library.
[25:32] That's it.
[25:32] Jeff?
[25:33] Nothing about the police. Thank you.
[25:38] Rob?
[25:38] I have some announcements.
[25:41] Craig Guy, Hudson County Executive, invites you to a resource fair with the Hudson
[25:46] County Department of Family Services and Reintegration and the Hudson County
[25:50] Department of Aging and Veterans Affairs.
[25:53] Services that will be provided: housing assistance, Medicaid enrollment, SNAP,
[25:58] assistance with veterans claim forms, transportation for seniors to Medicare.
[26:03] This will be on Tuesday, September 15th from 10:00 to 1:00, and it will be at the
[26:07] Mayor Ganelli Community Center at 101 Center Avenue.
[26:13] The Mayor and Town Council present Senior Citizen Pizza and Movie Night.
[26:17] It will be Wednesday, September 16th at 5:00 PM at Kroll Heights, and they will be
[26:22] showing Grease. If you need bus transportation, just call
[26:26] 201-865-4422. And there will also be a hiring
[26:32] event on Tuesday, September 29th.
[26:36] It'll be at 145 Front Street from 10:00 to 2:00 PM.
[26:40] It's all types of positions, shifts available.
[26:43] For further information, call Tara Acaviva at
[26:47] 201-863-2532.
[26:51] That's it.
[26:52] Okay, just one announcement. The sixth annual Pitching for Pinto Cornhole
[26:56] Tournament, Saturday, September 12th.
[27:01] Registration 10:00 AM, tournament at 11:00 at the Secaucus Ice Rink.
[27:06] $100 per team, and spectators $25. That's it.
[27:13] I'm finished, Mr. Selwan. Just two announcements.
[27:17] Get vaccinated at the Secaucus Senior Center.
[27:20] Hudson Regional Health Commission is offering free flu and COVID vaccines
[27:26] Wednesday, September 30th at the Secaucus Senior Center, 101 Center Avenue, 10:30
[27:32] AM to 2:30 PM. To register and for more information, visit
[27:36] www.hudsoncountzvax.org. And the second,
[27:42] the mayor and town council invite all residents to participate in a town-wide
[27:46] garage sale Saturday, October 3rd, 2026, with a rain date of Sunday, October 4th,
[27:52] 8:00 AM until you sell all your goods.
[27:55] You can register by calling 201-865-4422.
[28:01] That's before October 1st, and your address will be put on the list that's posted.
[28:04] Thank you.
[28:12] I have nothing.
[28:13] Nothing.
[28:15] Oh, you have it? Mark, no? Anything under new business?
[28:19] No, thank you.
[28:20] No.
[28:20] No.
[28:21] All right.
[28:24] Reminds the citizen, anybody with public issue?
[28:27] Yes.
[28:30] If you could just please clearly state your name-
[28:33] Yeah
[28:33] ... and address for the record. Thank you.
[28:34] Sure.
[28:37] Good evening. I'm Kathy McFarland, 134 Huber Street.
[28:42] I am a previous trustee of the Secaucus Board of Education, and I have been a
[28:46] Secaucus resident for over 60 years.
[28:50] My initial question is, how many data centers currently operate in
[28:55] Secaucus, a town that covers a total area of approximately
[29:01] 6.5 square miles?
[29:10] Right now, I think actively, we have nine.
[29:14] Nine. And two in the process of being built.
[29:17] And two, and still going through approval processes.
[29:22] Right. So we're talking 11.
[29:23] Yeah.
[29:24] Right. So 10 or nine plus two in progress.
[29:29] So there's a data center for every one-half mile of Secaucus land.
[29:35] When the two planned data centers are in operation, there'll be a data center for
[29:40] less than every one half mile of Secaucus land.
[29:45] Please allow me the opportunity to briefly summarize the hazards of data centers.
[29:51] Data centers consume massive amounts of electricity and water, heavily stressing
[29:56] local water supplies. Data centers generate constant noise, which can cause sleep
[30:02] loss, stress, and hearing damage for neighbors.
[30:06] Bright, all-night exterior lighting disrupts human sleep cycles and local
[30:12] wildlife migration patterns. The massive power required by these facilities
[30:18] often leads to higher electricity bills for local residential consumers.
[30:23] The reliance of data centers on fossil fuel power and diesel generators create
[30:29] significant air pollution and releases fine particulate matter and nitrous
[30:35] oxides, which worsen asthma and respiratory illnesses.
[30:39] Manufacturing and cooling processes can involve the use and release of harmful
[30:44] forever chemicals into the environment, as well as greenhouse emissions.
[30:51] There are 32 municipalities in New Jersey alone that have banned data centers
[30:57] in their municipalities, including Jersey City and Vail.
[31:01] So my question is, I'd like to know who authorized this inundation of
[31:06] 12 data centers in our community. Can you explain the lack of transparency
[31:12] in communicating the establishment of these data centers in our town?
[31:21] You want me to take it?
[31:21] Yeah.
[31:22] Okay.
[31:23] I don't know how far back our first data center went.
[31:27] Probably over 10 years, maybe almost 15.
[31:30] It's probably closer to 18.
[31:32] So this has recently come to light in the public eye, but they've been here
[31:37] forever.
[31:39] I've never received one complaint of noise.
[31:42] I've never received one complaint in the mayor's office of pollution,
[31:49] of it bothering any residents. They're smaller data centers.
[31:53] They've been in the commercial part of our community
[31:59] for an extended period of time with really, unless
[32:05] you guys heard otherwise, negative effects to our community, our centers.
[32:10] They're smaller. I don't know if in some of the areas where you're putting it, they
[32:13] are immense data centers. But they started with the invent
[32:18] of this.
[32:20] Mm-hmm.
[32:21] Okay? And without them, that doesn't exist. AI doesn't exist.
[32:25] But it doesn't make it right. It doesn't make it right.
[32:27] And we're proliferating this by building more centers.
[32:32] And the statistics are there. These are the risks, the hazards-
[32:38] Mm-hmm
[32:38] ... of data centers. Maybe you're not seeing them because my next question is, I
[32:43] would like to know if ample research was done regarding the great risks and hazards
[32:47] data centers will wreak on our land, as well as our community members, prior to the
[32:52] decision to build them.
[32:55] We're putting the cart before the horse.
[32:58] Well,
[33:02] Kath, I appreciate, but we've had them for so long.
[33:06] They started existing when, like I said, when data centers were being built.
[33:10] The analysis on them, now it's becoming more prevalent because it's in the news.
[33:17] They were being built under the normal analysis that's done for any business,
[33:22] right? Going before zoning, PSE&G, looking at the power loads, and can they provide
[33:26] it via the order, looking at the order loads, and do they have adequate water
[33:32] loads they're required to pay for the infrastructure, pay for the road pavings, pay
[33:37] for anything that allows them to be built.
[33:40] So honestly, all of our data centers were in approved under zoning laws that
[33:45] existed and long before data centers even became an issue.
[33:49] The two that were being developed were being developed before data centers became
[33:53] an issue in the news, which is like the last year, year and a half.
[33:57] Is there ongoing evaluation by the town regarding all of these risks?
[34:02] Because this is something that proliferates over a long period of time.
[34:06] So, do you have a committee? Do you have someone who is
[34:12] evaluating what is going on at these data centers and if any of these dangers exist
[34:17] in the data centers?
[34:19] You don't have a separate committee.
[34:23] There's not a committee, no.
[34:25] And so no one is evaluating what is going on in those data centers after they're
[34:30] built.
[34:32] No.
[34:32] And nobody is checking the air or the water. None of-- Is that being done?
[34:38] The data center, well, when they're being built, first of all, most of them are in
[34:41] the NJSEA district, so they go through NJSEA authorization before they come to us,
[34:45] which is zoning authorization and warehouse zones. They're zoned for that use.
[34:52] They're zoned for commercial uses back there.
[34:55] And as far as ongoing evaluation-
[34:59] Of them?
[35:02] Right
[35:02] ... that I know of, they would have to follow the building codes, standards, UCC
[35:07] requirements,
[35:09] everything that the state has in place that a business has to comply with, they
[35:13] have to comply with.
[35:13] And the town has no responsibility to look into what is happening in these areas,
[35:19] noise pollution, air pollution, the land-
[35:22] Has there been complaints on noise pollution?
[35:25] Excuse me?
[35:25] Has there been complaints on noise pollution?
[35:28] In our town?
[35:29] Yeah.
[35:29] Oh, that's not my purview. That's not what I'm doing.
[35:32] Well, it's not, that's I think the point.
[35:34] We don't have a complaint of noise pollution, so we're not looking into noise
[35:39] pollution because it's not been complained of.
[35:41] Uh-huh.
[35:44] We haven't had those complaints of noise, of diesel fumes, of fumes.
[35:48] None of them have existed. My only point is, we've got whatever you said, the first
[35:52] one came 20 years ago. We've got 20 years of experience of what we've lived
[35:58] with data centers, and over the last year, it seems like it's become
[36:03] an albatross of something people don't want, so now all of a sudden-
[36:08] Well, I-
[36:08] ... what's coming up in the news is not what we, as a long-term community-
[36:13] I-
[36:14] ... have experienced in real life.
[36:16] As a-
[36:17] Does that make sense?
[36:17] ... person who's interested in the environment, I would call it-
[36:20] And again, I get that
[36:21] ... I would call it an albatross. I would say that people are now realizing that
[36:25] this is an issue, and that we need-
[36:27] Right
[36:27] ... to speak out about the issue.
[36:29] Yeah.
[36:29] It's not just an albatross. It's something that is not a good thing that's
[36:33] happening in all our communities, the ones who did not ban them.
[36:37] So as a person who's involved in a lot of environmental communities and
[36:42] environmental committees, this is a serious issue not to be ignored.
[36:47] So my intent tonight is to enlighten the residents of my community of the
[36:52] consequences which data centers will literally unleash on our community,
[36:57] ramifications of which many of our residents are unaware. That's another problem.
[37:02] People are not aware of it yet, and to which none of us consented.
[37:07] Data center hazards will not dissipate.
[37:10] They will continue to escalate with rapidity.
[37:13] Is there a Secaucus council regulating these facilities, and is there a protocol in
[37:18] place so that data center impacts can be reduced?
[37:22] Pandora's box has been opened, and I'd like to know how you plan to shut it.
[37:29] So the state is passing regulations on them, like Michelle's office-
[37:34] Yes, it is
[37:34] ... recently passed regulations on them for the power and the renewable energies
[37:40] and what not. So we're following and always have all of the UCC guidelines, all of
[37:45] the state law, like you're talking about. Are they regulated?
[37:47] Yes, they're regulated under what every commercial entity is regulated, not just in
[37:51] Secaucus but in the state, under the UCC guidelines, the state guidelines, the
[37:56] requirements for
[37:59] power, power authorization, water, water authorization.
[38:03] So the answer on that is yes, they're regulated, but the state's changing some of
[38:07] them now, right? And I'm not saying they're-- And rightfully so, right?
[38:10] In fact, with more common sense.
[38:11] And the fact that they're being regulated is proof that there are issues.
[38:14] Well, maybe. Yeah.
[38:15] Yeah.
[38:16] Every business has a regulation.
[38:17] Mm-hmm. But regulations don't change unless there's a need to change them.
[38:21] So these regulations are being changed because we're finding out all of the
[38:25] problems that are resulting from data centers.
[38:28] So I just want to say, remember, you're talking about the state, but the health and
[38:34] well-being of the land, the air, the water, the wildlife, and
[38:40] the people of my home for 60 years is your responsibility.
[38:44] Mm-hmm.
[38:46] Thank you.
[38:48] Thanks. Yeah.
[38:51] Would anybody else like to speak?
[39:05] Hi. Please state your name and address for the record. Thank you.
[39:09] Hi. Cheryl Glazer, 96 Huber Street.
[39:12] I just have a question about the status of the closing of the ramps from County
[39:18] Avenue onto County Road. There doesn't seem to be any
[39:23] timetable as to when these ramps are closed, and there have been days
[39:29] when they are closed prior to 8:00 a.m., causing a great deal of traffic and a
[39:35] great deal of inconvenience to people who are trying to get to work to the several
[39:39] businesses that are on County Road.
[39:42] Now, I do see that you have two officers, one on each ramp, in a
[39:48] patrol car. I do know that if they close before 8:00 a.m.
[39:53] or if they start work before 8:00 a.m., they do have people doing alternate
[39:58] traffic, those two officers doing alternate traffic.
[40:02] But that seems to stop after eight o'clock, and they close the ramps completely.
[40:08] So I guess my question is two questions.
[40:10] Number one, if you have to close the ramps, why are they being closed before 9:00
[40:16] a.m.? Because that's a little bit crazy for people trying to get to work.
[40:21] It's not just residents of Secaucus.
[40:23] It's also people coming in off of Route 3 who come from Meadowlands Broadway,
[40:29] people who come off the turnpike, and now this causes more traffic on County
[40:33] Avenue, on Secaucus Road, and on Townley Avenue.
[40:38] My other question is those two officers
[40:42] who are not doing, once they're stopping with the alternate traffic control,
[40:46] they're spending the bulk of their shift sitting in their patrol car.
[40:52] Is there some reason that they cannot continue to do alternate traffic
[40:58] throughout the day to help keep those ramps and those roads open?
[41:04] Hmm. I'll answer that one as best as I can because I just got information on that
[41:07] this morning, actually, because somebody else had called on it.
[41:10] Because I wasn't even aware of the road closures there.
[41:13] My understanding is that's a Veolia job. It's got nothing to do with Secaucus.
[41:17] So Veolia's replacing a water line, I think, on County Avenue extension going into
[41:22] Jersey City.
[41:24] So when they do that, they create a traffic plan.
[41:28] Veolia creates a plan as to when, I guess they're doing too much work on the road
[41:32] that it's got to be completely shut, or they can do alternate traffic.
[41:36] So our police just go with their plan, and if the police chief was here, he could
[41:41] tell you better. But if they're directing in one lane each way, that's when Veolia
[41:45] is telling them, "Okay, we can leave the road open enough for one lane in each
[41:50] direction to go." If they're shutting it down, then Veolia is telling them it's got
[41:54] to be a total shutdown because we're operating too much on the road to allow any
[41:58] cars to pass. So what the chief told me this morning is he said he thinks
[42:04] the job is lasting through the remainder of this week.
[42:08] I'll try to find out more information on that because somebody else called me-
[42:11] Mm-hmm
[42:11] ... about the same thing, and I wasn't even aware it was closed down.
[42:14] Yeah, he said the same thing to us this morning as well.
[42:16] He said it was an hour job.
[42:18] Yeah.
[42:18] So when the officers are hired there, they're actually off-duty officers hired by
[42:23] Veolia.
[42:24] Yeah.
[42:24] They still have police powers, but they're hired by Veolia.
[42:28] And they-
[42:28] But they're still scheduled through the Secaucus Police Department.
[42:31] No, they're scheduled through us. I'm just saying they're hired and paid by them.
[42:34] Okay.
[42:34] And my only point on that is, and then Veolia has a traffic plan when they tell
[42:38] them, like I said, "We're allowing two-way at this point," or, "We have to shut
[42:43] down at this point." So if they're in their car shutting the road, that just means
[42:47] that Veolia is saying whatever work we're doing downstream, that nobody can drive
[42:51] past.
[42:51] Okay. But that's actually not what's happening.
[42:54] I've never seen it completely closed.
[42:59] It's usually open in one direction.
[43:02] Yeah.
[43:02] And that direction being from Townley Avenue toward County Avenue.
[43:05] Yeah.
[43:06] It's always been open that way. It closes in the other direction.
[43:10] So there's always one lane of traffic going by.
[43:13] So if there's always one lane of traffic going by, why can't you have alternating
[43:18] traffic? Do you see what I'm saying?
[43:21] Yeah. I got you now. Okay. Sorry. I don't know.
[43:23] I could ask the police chief because, like I said, when Veolia does it, their
[43:27] engineers come up with a traffic plan.
[43:29] Yeah. I think it's causing a great deal of trouble, not just for the people who
[43:33] work for these companies, but also for all the trucks that are trying to make
[43:38] deliveries-
[43:39] Yes
[43:39] ... make pickups, get to the post office.
[43:42] Yeah.
[43:42] The postal truck's trying to get through. The trucks trying to get to intermodal.
[43:47] They're missing appointments.
[43:48] Yeah.
[43:49] It's costing a great deal of time.
[43:51] I'll try to find out. If you want to give me a number on it.
[43:54] If you want to give me it afterwards-
[43:56] Okay
[43:56] ... I can call you tomorrow because I think the chief told me, I thought he said to
[43:59] me the end of this week their work is done.
[44:01] Okay.
[44:03] I can at least find that out.
[44:06] Okay.
[44:06] How they impact which way the traffic flows, again, is-
[44:10] Right
[44:10] ... there may be some reason. I don't know. I agree with you.
[44:12] I don't know why it wouldn't alternate, but maybe there's some reason.
[44:14] Right. I understand when you have one lane of traffic-
[44:17] Yeah
[44:17] ... but then when you have two-
[44:19] Why not alternate them?
[44:20] Yeah. I think the chief said that it wasn't under his control.
[44:23] It was under the-
[44:25] It was under Veolia's traffic plan and control.
[44:27] But the question, if you have one lane open, why not one and-
[44:31] Right.
[44:31] Yeah, it makes sense.
[44:32] Why not let some go by and then the next go by?
[44:35] Right.
[44:35] Is a-
[44:36] Okay. I'll see you tomorrow.
[44:38] Yeah. I'll get it right after. I'll call you tomorrow with that information.
[44:41] Okay. Thank you.
[44:42] Thank you.
[44:45] Further notes or comments? Seeing none, I have a motion to close.
[44:52] Motion.
[44:53] Second.
[44:56] Meeting's over.