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I'd like to call the meeting to order
will the clerk please read the statement

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Monday May 14 2018 adequate notice of
this meeting has been published in the

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paper and on January 15 and if everyone
could please remain standing if we could

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have a moment of silence for Tony
Alexander 17-year DPW employee

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thank you

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[Music]

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first up this evening we have a
proclamation for Public Works week would

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mr. Babcock please step forward with any
of the members of the DPW and mayor

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short way will read the proclamation

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[Music]
these guys in women do an excellent job

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for our town in the service and we all
know and John you know to when those

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those snowflakes fall how much we
appreciate this town of the service

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whereas Public Works services provide in
our community Farnum to an integral part

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of our citizens everyday lives and
whereas this port of an understanding

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and informed citizenry is vital to the
efficient operation of Public Works

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systems and programs such as streets and
roadways parks ORS recycling and public

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facilities and whereas the health safety
and comfort of this community greatly

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depends on these facilities and services
and whereas the quality and

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effectiveness of these facilities as
well as their planning design and

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construction is vitally dependent upon
the efforts and skill of Public Works

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officials and whereas the efficiency of
the qualified and dedicated personnel

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whose staff Public Works Department
materially influenced by the people's

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attitude and endless and understanding
of the importance of the work they

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perform
now therefore I I reject your way Mary

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the township of Ernie do hereby proclaim
the week of May 22 May 26 to 18 as

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National Public Works week in the
township of Vernon and I call upon all

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citizens and civic organizations to
acquaint themselves with the issues

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involved in providing our Public Works
and to recognize the contributions which

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Public Works officials make every day to
a health safety comfort in quality of

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life thank you so much
[Applause]

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next we have the buddy poppy resolution
or proclamation will councilmember

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remember almost please read
sure buddy poppy month may 2018 where is

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the annual distribution of Buddy poppies
by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the

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United States has been officially
recognized and endorsed by governmental

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leaders since 1922 and whereas buddy
poppies are assembled by disabled

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veterans and the proceeds of this worthy
fundraising campaign are used

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exclusively for the benefit of disabled
and needy veterans and the widows and

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orphans of deceased veterans and whereas
the purpose of the sale of Buddy poppies

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by the Veterans of Foreign Wars is
eloquently reflected in the desire to

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honor the dead by helping the living the
2018 buddy poppy drive is being held

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during the month of May and whereas the
wallkill Valley VFW 8 441 and it's

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ladies auxilary promote the sale of the
Buddy poppy throughout the township and

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whereas we urge all patriotic citizens
to wear a Buddy poppy as a symbol of

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gratitude to the men and women of this
country who have risked their lives in

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defense of the freedoms which we
continue to enjoy as American citizens

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now when there are now and therefore
council I council president Jean Murphy

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our councilmember Jean Arthur may a
short way and the vernon township

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council do hereby proclaim that may 2018
is buddy poppy month in vernon township

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we hereby urge the citizens of this
community to recognize the merits of

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this cause by contributing generously to
the invaluable program given under my

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hand in these three united states and
the township of vernon state of new

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jersey on this 14th day of May 2018
and to which I've caused the Sela

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Township burnin to be affixed and have
made this proclamation public very short

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way Mayor Jean Murphy council president
next I have the Memorial Day

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proclamation whereas Memorial Day
originally called decoration day is a

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day of remembrance for those who have
died in service of the United States of

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America and whereas while it's difficult
to prove conclusively the origins of

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Memorial Day president lyndon b johnson
johnson in May 1966 proclaimed at

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Waterloo New York was officially the
birthplace of Memorial Day and whereas

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regardless of the exact date or location
of its origins one thing is clear

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Memorial Day was born out of the Civil
War and a desire to honor our dead it

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was officially proclaimed on Matan the
5th of May 1868 by General John Logan

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national commander of the Grand Army of
the Republic in his general order number

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11 the 30th of May 1868 is designated
for the purpose of strewing with flowers

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or otherwise decorating the graves of
comrades who died in defense of their

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country during the late rebellion and
whose bodies now lie in almost every

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city village and hamlet churchyard in
the land he proclaimed and whereas on

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the first decoration day at Arlington
National Cemetery 5,000 participants

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decorated the graves of the 20,000 Union
and Confederate soldiers buried there

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and whereas after World War one the
holiday change from honoring just those

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who died fighting in the Civil War to
honoring Americans who died fighting in

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any war and whereas it is now observed
in almost every state on the last Monday

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in May with congressional passage of the
national holiday Act of 1971

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now therefore I council president gene
Murphy mayor short way and the Vernon

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Township council do hereby honor our
servicemen and women from every branch

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of the service who have served in all
the nation's Wars for their enduring

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dedication to the preservation of
America and our way of life given under

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my hand in these pre United States in
the township of Erne state of New Jersey

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on this 14th day of May
today the 13th

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2018 and to which I have caused the seal
of the township of Vernon to be affixed

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and have made this Proclamation public
Harry J short way mayor Jean Murphy

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council president next we move on to
public comment please note public

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comment limited to three minutes per
person on current agenda items only may

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I have a motion to open the floor to the
public comments may I have a second all

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in favor

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is there anyone from the public that
would like to step up seeing no one may

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have a motion to close to public mr.
Gavin first in a second all in favor any

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opposed

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may I have a next we have our minutes
may I have a motion to adopt the

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following minutes regular meeting
minutes of April 9th 2018 the regular

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meeting minutes of April 23rd 2018 and
the executive session minutes of April

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23rd 2018

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roll call yes yes yes yes
consent agenda resolution 18 139

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authorizing issuance of estimated
property tax bills resolution 18 140

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approving a charitable solicitations
permit for perchick Valley Fire

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Department for various days throughout
the year resolution 18 141 approving of

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charitable solicitation permit for VFW
844 one for various days throughout the

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year resolution 18 142 authorizing the
use of national joint power Alliance

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cooperative this authorizes the use of
the co-operative for various purchases

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resolutions 18 143 through 18 150
authorized the purchase of various

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township vehicles and equipment during
including the animal control van

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excavator dump truck dump body groomer
mower head and police vehicles

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resolution 18 151 this resolution
authorizing fireworks to be displayed on

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June 30th 2018 within the township of
Vernon this authorizes the 23rd annual

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fireworks display by Highland Lakes and
Vernon fire departments resolution 18

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152 the 2018 salaries or non-union
full-time employees the DPW establishes

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a salary for a new DPW supervisor
resolution 18 153 this resolution

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accepting the completion of improvements
to Maple Grange Road this accepts the

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road project from April Grange may I
have a motion to adopt resolutions 18

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139 218 153 now I have a second second
roll call yes yes yes but abstain from

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140 141 and 151
the president Murphy yes next we have

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ordinance 1818 an ordinance of the
Township Council of the township of

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Vernon county of Sussex state in New
Jersey authorizing special assessments

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for the restoration and repair of Barry
Lakes dam number two at the request of

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the Association this authorizes the
assessment of Barry Lakes dam may I have

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a motion to introduce ordinance 1818
with a public hearing to be held on June

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11th motion may I have a second second
yes yes yes ordinance 1819 ordinance

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amending the salary ordinance for
non-union employees this establishes the

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salary ranges for the various non-union
employees it does not establish salaries

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I'd actually have a couple comments on
this after reviewing the salary

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ordinance I just feel that there are
some inconsistencies in it I think I

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think that there are some positions that
we no longer have that are included in

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it and I feel that there's some
discrepancies in some of the the ranges

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that should be looked at in various
positions and it's just you know I know

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and I'm not sure whether it's the state
that has a list of like where where some

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of these ranges come from a couple
months ago was after the what was when

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we were reviewing the budget I did have
a resident asked me and they and I

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didn't have an answer they asked me they
said with salary ranges they said you

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establish a range and when the township
reaches that cat that that ceiling you

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just extended and they said well like
are there any ranges or their caps like

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how does that work and I said well
usually we just extend it I said I don't

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I don't know what that answer is
I don't know if you know but

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I just said that's and I have to say
well that's how it's been done I'm not

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saying it's wrong you know or right but
I think it's something that you know

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requires an answer for the public
because they're asking but like I said I

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think it's um and I'm not saying you
know there could be some Rangers that

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are low there could be some that are
high but I think you know my personal

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opinion is I think it's something to be
looked at and there's we have we just

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find it we have positions there of
recreation aid we don't have a

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recreation aid I know maybe in the
future we may have one but we don't have

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one now we don't have a QP a because we
have an outside contractor there's two

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positions in the Recreation Department
one is Director of Community Affairs and

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one is recreation supervisor I think we
need to determine what is it we have and

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remove the other one and fire police I'm
not saying we should or shouldn't have

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but I don't know that in the last 10
years we've ever had this because that

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position was only created I think
correct me if I'm wrong Dan I think it

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was like in 2015 and that budget was
when that was put back in the ordinance

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but I don't know that we've ever had us
I'm just questioning why we have all

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this extra in this ordinance that does
make it confusing and then what happens

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or people look at it and say well we
have that we have that in our ordinance

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how can we don't have that position so
it's not to me it's not a true

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reflection of what's really going on you
know in the town and that's out of

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anybody ailments excuse me I agree that
there's someone here that should be

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removed but some of these ranges are 50%
so that means that the person could get

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a 50% raised because we've approved this
well the resolution would have to come

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back to the council I know but still
it's there and then when that comes back

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it creates a lot of problems so why even
have it there to begin with a 50% raise

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I believe that these the higher range
should be included the raises so if

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somebody's gonna get a 3% raise then the
high end should be three or four or five

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max but not 50% not 40% range to me
that's a little excessive

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so this is where checks and balances
come in we set the rate so things can't

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get out of control and done with the 50%
raise or 30% raise so I believe they

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need to be looked at and some of these
maxis are to I our goal was to put a

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plan in place that would help the
council in the next three to four years

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so you don't have to keep on doing this
some of those positions were left in

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because someday the council may want to
have those positions or the next mayor

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may review will be here when I'm done
you'll still be sitting up here and

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you'll have this history to carry
forward the other issue was to bring

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people salaries and I'm not saying we're
raising them to the top in line with

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their local civil service position with
the civil service rates to make it

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compliant to make it look at if a person
has a higher rating in the next person

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sometimes three times as high they
should be paid which civil service rates

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them and I would do it in two steps to
make parity in that and that was the

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only purpose of doing this if long-range
planning it's not - right away you pass

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the resolution and raise everything to
the top but to give you room to get the

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next mayor myself for the remaining 18
or 19 months and I'm here to go forward

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with this so you don't have to keep on
bringing these audiences in and you

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still oversee everything you oversee the
budget you question the budget what you

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should and that is welcomed I mean
that's the process but it just seems to

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me we're all constantly going back for
doing the salary guide again and here we

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have is the framework that we need to
work it well we do the salary guide all

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the time well first of all we're trying
to get it I know because I even asked

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about trying to get everything under one
roof instead of piecemeal but we seem to

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be doing it often enough because we keep
raising

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the ceiling and like I said I'm not
saying that that's it just seems like

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that's what happens and that's why
taxpayers are asking well when does that

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stop how does that work when you have a
range you know it's usually within the

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range and I can't give them an answer
because you know if I look through other

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towns you know but the other things what
hours does the DPW work 6:30 to three

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because that you know not begrudging
anybody but I look through a lot of the

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municipalities and I think it's let's
see it's Jefferson and he'll pack on

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work 9:00 to 4:30 a lot of the other
municipalities whether it's West Milford

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Sparta Wantage Newton just look you know
Hardison they work 8:30 to 4:30 so even

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within these salaries you know it's
there is an extra half hour a day and

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I'm not saying but you know like I said
it's just this is we are responsible to

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answer to the taxpayers and these are
things that are being thrown at us and

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we need to have the answers on some of
that but like I said so even when

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looking comparing salaries to this it
ends up being you know the DPW doesn't

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get it paid lunch time so the extra half
hour is an unpaid lunch they're working

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8 hours a day and it's good for the town
that they start as early as they do

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because we actually miss a half hour
that the buses are on the road in the

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wintertime that we're not yet in in
cases of a problem so we're actually

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saving money by having guys in earlier
in the morning for I mean I'm just

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trying to compare you know when when
you're looking at salaries and you're

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looking at the township and you're
looking at benefits and everything else

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I'm also looking at the hours worked as
compared with what let's say the DPW is

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working versus what I'll call it
administration you know the municipal

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building is open and you know and I know
that there were it's like I said it's

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00:19:52,560 --> 00:19:58,590
just there's questions and and I don't
have the answers to them I'm not saying

210
00:19:56,040 --> 00:20:02,190
that anything should be changed but I
think we know it to at least take a

211
00:20:00,450 --> 00:20:06,779
better look at this
I'd like to make a motion to table this

212
00:20:04,649 --> 00:20:12,480
because I think again these ceilings
perhaps need to be down I would rather

213
00:20:09,450 --> 00:20:15,750
see this coming year to year and do it
that way the public knows what the

214
00:20:13,860 --> 00:20:19,230
salaries are from every year and how
much the raises are when we do the

215
00:20:17,250 --> 00:20:23,519
budget we don't know everybody's raises
in the budget we don't go person by

216
00:20:21,779 --> 00:20:28,080
person and say well included in this
budget is this person's you know 3%

217
00:20:26,399 --> 00:20:32,909
raise we don't do that so we have no
knowledge the only knowledge we would

218
00:20:30,509 --> 00:20:36,299
happen I don't think there's been a 3%
razor that's down in many years

219
00:20:34,259 --> 00:20:43,259
well I'd see money been put out there
and when no one ever knows about it

220
00:20:38,820 --> 00:20:48,299
because it you can do it so I think but
the other it needs to be tables changed

221
00:20:45,690 --> 00:20:52,529
and all these chairs are just certain
ones you can compare we can get you a

222
00:20:50,250 --> 00:20:57,570
copy of last year so consolidate like
three or four four years or four years

223
00:20:55,529 --> 00:21:03,480
worth of them and it goes out to to
cover everything out to 2023 because we

224
00:21:02,129 --> 00:21:09,299
were told that we wanted one
consolidated salary guide hmm and most

225
00:21:07,110 --> 00:21:14,129
of the non-union positions are on the
budget worksheets that that are given

226
00:21:11,549 --> 00:21:17,840
out to the council on that detail at the
bottom it usually lists all the

227
00:21:15,389 --> 00:21:23,850
positions and it shows what's gonna do
in there but it's just they per say but

228
00:21:21,450 --> 00:21:27,870
it doesn't say 2% reads but it does
listen right now I was just wondering if

229
00:21:25,620 --> 00:21:32,370
the minimum and the maximum we're all
changed or just certain ones were and

230
00:21:30,330 --> 00:21:36,480
some of them stayed the same or there
were several I think that were changed

231
00:21:34,559 --> 00:21:40,289
and then but they were taken from like
like she said like Elvis had three

232
00:21:38,070 --> 00:21:43,950
different ordinances and put together
which it should be all on one document

233
00:21:42,570 --> 00:21:49,490
because you don't have to keep looking
back and forth as what was happening if

234
00:21:46,049 --> 00:21:54,389
we would have like a part-time seasonal
DPW worker recycling and they weren't on

235
00:21:52,919 --> 00:22:00,600
the salary ordinance so now we have to
do an ordinance to get a range before we

236
00:21:58,289 --> 00:22:05,070
can hire them it has to go through two
meetings because you have the first you

237
00:22:03,090 --> 00:22:08,039
know the introduction on loitering and
then you have to wait another meeting to

238
00:22:06,240 --> 00:22:12,690
actually do the resolution or
the twenty days and then do another

239
00:22:09,869 --> 00:22:16,649
meeting to give them I'm not opposed to
have that I really think it's a ideas

240
00:22:15,059 --> 00:22:21,119
better it's a better way of having to
make sure it's all on one document but

241
00:22:19,200 --> 00:22:25,710
like I said it's it's just we seem to be
doing it every year for one reason or

242
00:22:23,639 --> 00:22:29,850
another and I I just feel that this
should really be taking a look at and I

243
00:22:27,539 --> 00:22:34,919
you know I mean there's some I think or
hi-oh agree some I think might be low

244
00:22:31,820 --> 00:22:39,779
looking after positions don't forget it
there it can be given out can only be

245
00:22:37,440 --> 00:22:44,519
given out with I understand that don't
you understand that and I'll just say

246
00:22:41,220 --> 00:22:48,509
the one reason to have the ranges is no
I'm just is when when we're hiring

247
00:22:45,869 --> 00:22:54,720
because I remember when going back and
hiring our clerk we had a resolution or

248
00:22:52,169 --> 00:22:58,619
we had an ordinance for an amount so now
if you wanted to hire somebody let's say

249
00:22:56,519 --> 00:23:02,759
you had a position open and you had
somebody with a little bit more

250
00:23:00,149 --> 00:23:08,789
extensive experience come back you you
can actually but so the ranges are I

251
00:23:05,849 --> 00:23:12,869
think a better practice to have it seems
like when this was put in yeah but it

252
00:23:11,039 --> 00:23:16,580
was my doing they're too high the ranges
slope the max is when you'd look at

253
00:23:14,580 --> 00:23:21,239
somebody's salary they're making now and
the range we would never bring somebody

254
00:23:19,109 --> 00:23:26,639
in if somebody's making 40 in the range
is up 200 that whoever's hiring could

255
00:23:24,419 --> 00:23:31,229
hire the person for a hundred when the
job somebody's been doing it for forty

256
00:23:28,679 --> 00:23:36,119
four years so I think it shouldn't be
any these max shouldn't be anything more

257
00:23:33,840 --> 00:23:40,259
than five percent over what the person
is earning now I mean even if the person

258
00:23:38,700 --> 00:23:44,340
no one's filling that position
I like I said I'll I think it should be

259
00:23:42,450 --> 00:23:49,940
ranges like I said and you need to have
some opening because of but like I said

260
00:23:46,649 --> 00:23:56,309
I agree that it's a huge gap but again
anyway I will second the motion to table

261
00:23:53,220 --> 00:24:00,059
it to the next meeting and is that
somebody gonna look at this I mean this

262
00:23:57,809 --> 00:24:06,620
will be the probably suggestions from
each of those the council is our next

263
00:24:02,009 --> 00:24:16,300
meeting on a Thursday Thursday
Memorial Day but that's it we're tabling

264
00:24:12,260 --> 00:24:39,340
it to May 31st we need to do a roeckl
yes to table yes yes so we'll be

265
00:24:35,930 --> 00:24:45,980
reaching out to us for our suggestions
to us okay if you want to discuss them

266
00:24:44,090 --> 00:24:51,730
okay the first is just sending it to us
whichever way you prefer okay what's the

267
00:24:50,300 --> 00:24:58,220
best time to reach you
that's the time during the day anytime

268
00:24:54,490 --> 00:25:02,140
anytime okay bye hey if there's if I'm
involved with something I'll get back to

269
00:24:59,360 --> 00:25:02,140
you right away okay

270
00:25:04,680 --> 00:25:15,050
let's see next we're back to public
comments may have a motion motion have a

271
00:25:11,130 --> 00:25:18,300
second all in favor
is there anyone from the public that

272
00:25:17,310 --> 00:25:26,240
would like to step forward and make
comment seeing no one may have a motion

273
00:25:21,540 --> 00:25:33,270
to close motion second all in favor
mayor's comments yes thank you tenant

274
00:25:30,540 --> 00:25:38,370
set legends vacated the premises without
incident one of our volunteers and mr.

275
00:25:36,330 --> 00:25:43,830
Wahlburgers attended a state urban
forestry program receive training that

276
00:25:41,160 --> 00:25:48,660
will make us eligible for future tree
grants less restrictive than the

277
00:25:45,330 --> 00:25:53,240
previous one the DCA has approved the
redevelopment zone for the McAfee

278
00:25:50,190 --> 00:25:58,530
village which includes legends
congressman God Homer recognized ferns

279
00:25:55,530 --> 00:26:06,390
Earth Fest and he presented us with a
congressional certificate and the Taste

280
00:26:04,200 --> 00:26:10,890
of Vernon was again a huge and
outstanding success if you've never been

281
00:26:08,970 --> 00:26:15,390
there I highly recommend next year that
you go the food is just fantastic and

282
00:26:13,590 --> 00:26:19,110
it's nice to meet with the people and
speak with them and you hear their

283
00:26:16,800 --> 00:26:24,090
concerns but it really is a food fest
it's like Thanksgiving and I mean it's

284
00:26:20,490 --> 00:26:28,140
quality food and lots of it I mean it
just it used to be just the tasting

285
00:26:25,650 --> 00:26:33,170
you're getting full meals and you get
seconds so it's really great and it just

286
00:26:30,660 --> 00:26:37,230
shows you how talented a lot of our
restaurants and merchants and they come

287
00:26:35,160 --> 00:26:42,360
from even like Warwick and from other
areas to I do want to let you know I was

288
00:26:40,170 --> 00:26:47,730
accused of encroaching on the Black
Creek along the Sand Hill Road trail by

289
00:26:45,360 --> 00:26:52,620
an anonymous complaint this unknown
person had an issue with I laid and I

290
00:26:50,640 --> 00:26:58,200
take full responsibility two planks
across a small Creek this was a cross

291
00:26:56,490 --> 00:27:02,760
running water didn't contact the water
and the reason I did it was so our

292
00:26:59,910 --> 00:27:06,960
volunteers could go and clear deer paths
and stuff so we could have people walk

293
00:27:04,500 --> 00:27:11,760
on our own property and also so the
Daisy Scouts could come in and they were

294
00:27:08,970 --> 00:27:17,820
hanging birdhouses that they made as
well as you know carry and carry out

295
00:27:14,010 --> 00:27:22,859
sciences this occurred last summer
the DEP formed the complaint that I did

296
00:27:20,669 --> 00:27:28,080
nothing wrong and at the time the
complainant filed another complaint

297
00:27:23,909 --> 00:27:33,809
regarding a fire pit at our DPW DPW
gravel yard this person lied to the DPA

298
00:27:30,779 --> 00:27:38,609
DEP that I did not obtain a permit to
have a little fire I did there was a

299
00:27:36,479 --> 00:27:42,690
permit again I take full responsibility
for the pit that I constructed out

300
00:27:41,220 --> 00:27:46,289
discarded bricks from the Handy hand
playground that had been laying there

301
00:27:43,769 --> 00:27:51,599
for years so that a campfire could be
made to roast marshmallows it was told

302
00:27:48,899 --> 00:27:55,379
that day and we thought it would be a
nice thing for the children and their

303
00:27:52,950 --> 00:27:58,440
parents to have marshmallows toasted on
the day in question residents including

304
00:27:56,879 --> 00:28:03,090
young children walked a town center
trail that's along 94 off a Black Creek

305
00:28:00,899 --> 00:28:08,460
Drive where our yard is volunteers
cleared it previously and we offered the

306
00:28:06,389 --> 00:28:13,799
children and the parents s'mores that
was the whole reason for the fire was to

307
00:28:11,070 --> 00:28:18,720
make s'mores for these people DEP has
told me I don't have it in writing the

308
00:28:15,720 --> 00:28:23,460
reports not formalized there are no
violations I take no issue with the DEP

309
00:28:21,389 --> 00:28:27,570
but DEP investigating these frivolous
complaints because it's their job even

310
00:28:25,470 --> 00:28:31,379
when we receive a complaint we have to
either investigate it we got to pass it

311
00:28:29,399 --> 00:28:35,519
up but you can't look the other way and
I understand it this complainants

312
00:28:33,809 --> 00:28:39,509
actions are example of what has turned
burnin into a Pottersville controlled by

313
00:28:37,409 --> 00:28:42,779
politics and puppets who strings a
Pullman pulled by the resorts and

314
00:28:40,859 --> 00:28:46,889
developers for decades and we're putting
this administration with your help is

315
00:28:44,190 --> 00:28:50,489
putting an end to it I do take issue
with the DEP when they decline to

316
00:28:48,720 --> 00:28:55,200
investigate hundreds of railroad ties
that were thrown into the wetlands on

317
00:28:52,739 --> 00:28:59,759
our property and we're in contact with
water and they did not conduct an

318
00:28:57,840 --> 00:29:03,509
investigation at that time they refused
to conduct an investigation and they

319
00:29:01,889 --> 00:29:09,059
also have dragged their feet on this
whole thing it's Silverson spruce road

320
00:29:06,359 --> 00:29:13,590
well you know there's hundreds if not
over a thousand truckloads of soil that

321
00:29:12,029 --> 00:29:19,139
we do not know where it's coming from
have been don't estimates are that it's

322
00:29:16,799 --> 00:29:24,840
80 to 500 feet high covering over two
acres we keep pushing for the DEP to

323
00:29:23,159 --> 00:29:28,679
come in we have pushed for the county
come in we have pushed for the state

324
00:29:26,340 --> 00:29:34,640
place to bring in weigh teams we have
had no success and that's why you

325
00:29:31,260 --> 00:29:39,240
gracious enough to help us with the soil
bringing in ordinance and it just isn't

326
00:29:37,260 --> 00:29:43,050
for that there's other areas too but
every day we are getting complaints from

327
00:29:41,790 --> 00:29:47,640
residents what are you doing about it
our hands are tied it has to come from

328
00:29:45,720 --> 00:29:53,300
the state or the county agencies that
take care of this there continue coming

329
00:29:51,420 --> 00:29:57,230
the person that owns the property
responsible was fined seventy five

330
00:29:55,320 --> 00:30:03,150
thousand dollars last week in court
there's also several 55-gallon polyvinyl

331
00:30:01,440 --> 00:30:06,750
drums being stored in the property we
don't know what's in that we don't know

332
00:30:04,770 --> 00:30:11,490
if they contain anything we don't know
if it's found its way into the soil and

333
00:30:08,400 --> 00:30:15,570
this is a huge problem because we don't
need it in the aquifer you know water

334
00:30:13,020 --> 00:30:19,310
flows downhill that's up high is it
going to go into people's wells

335
00:30:16,740 --> 00:30:23,940
if there is contaminants we have one
resident who allegedly alleges they

336
00:30:22,200 --> 00:30:27,330
followed these dump trucks they went out
to Warren County to a gas station where

337
00:30:25,710 --> 00:30:33,120
they're taking dirt out of a gas station
and bringing it back here

338
00:30:28,890 --> 00:30:38,880
they videotaped us and it's all on
record so this administration our Police

339
00:30:36,780 --> 00:30:43,020
Department we are very frustrated that
our hands are tied so I do take issue

340
00:30:41,280 --> 00:30:47,130
with these state agencies and county
agencies when this is out of our

341
00:30:45,150 --> 00:30:51,300
jurisdiction it's out of our authority
we need their help to come in here and

342
00:30:49,260 --> 00:30:57,210
investigate this start taking soil
samples do what you need to do to put an

343
00:30:53,250 --> 00:31:02,820
end to this so in the near future future
I was contacted by governor Murphy's

344
00:30:59,130 --> 00:31:07,260
staff his chief of staff and they've
asked me to go down there and speak to

345
00:31:05,670 --> 00:31:11,760
them about the complaints I have about
the agencies and some other issues here

346
00:31:09,120 --> 00:31:15,810
in Vernon I will take them up on that
and I will take issue the way the

347
00:31:14,430 --> 00:31:20,250
response we've had from some of these
agencies this administration will

348
00:31:18,510 --> 00:31:24,390
continue to advocate for the residents
and taxpayers Vernon will once again be

349
00:31:22,860 --> 00:31:27,870
a Bedford Falls I always look at the
wonderful life rights one of my favorite

350
00:31:25,980 --> 00:31:33,540
movies and that's what we need to go
back to children can hang birdhouses and

351
00:31:31,620 --> 00:31:38,000
parents and children and volunteers can
make s'mores without the state coming in

352
00:31:35,460 --> 00:31:43,860
investigating us when this other
violations alleged violations exists so

353
00:31:41,160 --> 00:31:47,490
there's not a balance here birdhouses to
planck's

354
00:31:44,850 --> 00:31:51,630
and s'mores being trumped not being
investigated these ridiculous horrendous

355
00:31:49,830 --> 00:31:56,790
violations have taken place in our town
so thank you question Thanks

356
00:31:54,600 --> 00:32:01,800
did he have a stop order dumping stop
order over four years ago

357
00:31:58,320 --> 00:32:06,870
he's dysphoria so now how does our soil
ordinance help with this because he must

358
00:32:04,020 --> 00:32:16,830
be spreading it at the register what
they're doing where it's coming from

359
00:32:08,190 --> 00:32:29,490
right so after 45 days after so there's
him it doesn't seem like he cares very

360
00:32:19,620 --> 00:32:38,310
much about fines my leg these days I
might as well so they never tested that

361
00:32:34,740 --> 00:32:47,130
soil the DEP we're aware of
we've asked numerous we're frustrated to

362
00:32:44,900 --> 00:32:51,960
understand where the residents are
coming from them but they don't have the

363
00:32:49,800 --> 00:32:54,300
authority we don't have the power to do
it

364
00:32:52,190 --> 00:32:59,520
mm-hmm we have to rely on other
government agencies then the county

365
00:32:57,570 --> 00:33:03,720
couldn't stop it either don't they have
their own soil erosion they didn't

366
00:33:01,500 --> 00:33:08,820
replace the person who was in charge of
soil conservation I'm retired

367
00:33:06,600 --> 00:33:14,730
there's no one there there's no they now
are relying on a shared service with

368
00:33:11,880 --> 00:33:21,750
Warren that's not likely gonna get
anybody up here anytime soon the court

369
00:33:19,410 --> 00:33:28,200
dates ago I think he was he was issued
additional summonses yes this last one

370
00:33:25,560 --> 00:33:32,700
was to here on the first one but it has
other summonses before him but I'm not

371
00:33:31,080 --> 00:33:37,170
sure that it said that but that
stop-work order that the one from last

372
00:33:35,190 --> 00:33:40,220
year that's not still in effect is it if
that had to do with the first case I

373
00:33:39,330 --> 00:33:44,760
mean I don't
I've asked the attached paternity to

374
00:33:43,200 --> 00:33:50,280
look into that a little further to see
what what if anything we can do since

375
00:33:47,480 --> 00:33:55,260
the municipal court judge judge Devine
did not think I think he didn't feel was

376
00:33:53,490 --> 00:33:59,220
within his purview to do that
that perhaps we have to go to Superior

377
00:33:56,970 --> 00:34:02,900
Court whatever needs to be done we need
to do it and sooner rather than later

378
00:34:04,970 --> 00:34:15,929
council comments it's a class area
alluded to was down at Rutgers it was a

379
00:34:14,190 --> 00:34:21,570
core that we had to have now we'll be
able to apply for grants for a plan

380
00:34:19,020 --> 00:34:27,390
which interns be able to apply for
grants for trees if you can any time any

381
00:34:26,040 --> 00:34:31,980
of these seminars that are coming up
they really appreciate if they can send

382
00:34:29,970 --> 00:34:36,870
DPW workers since they're the ones that
are be planting trees because it was

383
00:34:34,230 --> 00:34:42,030
really a well thought out class by
Rutgers the other I'd like to thank the

384
00:34:40,169 --> 00:34:45,990
public that came out for the Kiwanis had
their flower sale on Saturday and we had

385
00:34:44,310 --> 00:35:00,690
a good turnout so thank you to the folks
that came out for that no comment just

386
00:34:58,770 --> 00:35:07,230
like people that are here to know that
tomorrow is the freeholder debate at

387
00:35:04,830 --> 00:35:12,230
7:00 p.m. at the Sussex County Community
College of Performing Arts Center so

388
00:35:12,590 --> 00:35:19,460
should be interesting for those they met
and they may actually livestream it so

389
00:35:17,130 --> 00:35:26,640
you could probably just watch it there
would be a good time to ask them about

390
00:35:21,540 --> 00:35:32,280
the soil conservation but the only other
thing I wanted to mention that we had a

391
00:35:28,470 --> 00:35:36,000
couple weeks ago councilmember ol burger
and I with the business administrator

392
00:35:34,650 --> 00:35:41,570
and the police department we met with
the county engineering and their

393
00:35:39,000 --> 00:35:46,320
administrator regarding some of the
issues in Vernon s on some other roads

394
00:35:44,070 --> 00:35:49,110
with the intersections so they said that
they were going to start with some

395
00:35:47,550 --> 00:35:52,980
signage and look at some some other
areas I think the police department is

396
00:35:50,670 --> 00:35:56,890
going to send them accident reports for
550

397
00:35:53,740 --> 00:36:01,960
and also for the intersection down at
the end of Vernon crossing and 5:17

398
00:35:59,440 --> 00:36:07,420
there Smokey's because that seems to be
and it was two days later like a head-on

399
00:36:04,690 --> 00:36:10,900
accident over there and so they're going
to take a look at some of those

400
00:36:08,920 --> 00:36:17,109
intersections and you'll notice at least
at the divider they've put some

401
00:36:14,230 --> 00:36:20,680
reflective signs at the end of each of
the that main divider there because

402
00:36:19,089 --> 00:36:24,369
everybody we're not everybody a lot of
times people keep running the signs over

403
00:36:22,270 --> 00:36:29,080
and just running right over the divider
so I think maybe maybe it'll help

404
00:36:26,020 --> 00:36:34,540
something at night so um but like I said
I at least they did start something and

405
00:36:31,119 --> 00:36:39,609
I did notice the retention pond is being
mowed so that that's good

406
00:36:37,390 --> 00:36:42,670
the only other thing I have is the the
family building still has our phone

407
00:36:41,200 --> 00:36:48,220
number I know we don't own the building
anymore but still has our phone number

408
00:36:44,800 --> 00:36:52,410
on it so that it's for sale but you know
I guess we don't know I guess it

409
00:36:49,420 --> 00:36:57,180
hopefully it's transferred already but
just like working on the closings yeah

410
00:36:57,450 --> 00:37:05,890
so I just thought I'd mentioned that our
phone number at least we could take that

411
00:37:01,030 --> 00:37:11,230
down other than that to some that we had
in that ordinance they hadn't put in a

412
00:37:07,960 --> 00:37:16,660
permit that's still in the ordinance for
the faylene didn't we have did we take

413
00:37:14,710 --> 00:37:25,630
that out they had to do a permit within
a certain amount of time is that

414
00:37:20,349 --> 00:37:31,000
contingency with the with max ban and he
felt that putting any contingencies for

415
00:37:29,380 --> 00:37:36,160
the either that property or any of the
others may hurt our chances of selling

416
00:37:34,390 --> 00:37:41,380
the property owners don't know that then
or me so cuz it wasn't in the ordinance

417
00:37:38,589 --> 00:37:45,640
we never took it out so these people
don't know it

418
00:37:42,280 --> 00:37:50,440
I'm under depression they do know we'll
fight it out because I want to I think

419
00:37:48,130 --> 00:37:55,270
originally it was gonna be like 120 days
and then says like 180 or 200 we

420
00:37:52,300 --> 00:37:59,260
extended it right we don't want to sit
in there no I understand that but that

421
00:37:57,339 --> 00:38:03,900
was an ordinance with that stipulation
in it we all voted on that and to say

422
00:38:02,109 --> 00:38:08,309
pool pool okay
no you know it doesn't matter anymore I

423
00:38:05,760 --> 00:38:19,319
mean we had to do some to undo it we
would have to undo it Town Center and we

424
00:38:17,339 --> 00:38:28,160
wanted to look nice and get a business
in there that generates jobs and revenue

425
00:38:23,569 --> 00:38:28,160
the Memorial Day means coming on myself

426
00:38:28,309 --> 00:38:35,059
hopefully beautification works on some
more of those flags and flowers great

427
00:38:32,010 --> 00:38:43,760
job I think I think we're doing that
portion future first second third and

428
00:38:40,109 --> 00:38:43,760
fourth all in favor

429
00:38:53,710 --> 00:38:55,770
you