[0:00] Sounds good.
>> We had to replace one by car.
[0:06] » All right. Good.
I'd like to call this township committee
[0:11] meeting to order for Tuesday, September
1st, 7:00 p.m. May, would you please
[0:16] lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance?
>> I need to salute the guests.
[0:20] » I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the
[0:25] Republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and
[0:32] justice for all.
>> Please remain standing for invocation by
[0:36] Reverend Moses K. Moses?
>> Let us pray.
[0:41] Father in heaven, we thank you for the
cool mornings and evenings that we are
[0:45] experiencing now.
Makes us aware that summer is coming to
[0:49] an end
and the cool weather that will soon be
[0:51] upon us.
But with that, we also get to enjoy a
[0:55] colorful fall season
with joyful fall festivals, cider,
[1:01] pumpkins,
>> [snorts]
[1:02] » raking leaves,
and everything else that goes with this
[1:06] wonderful season.
We also don't forget to notice the
[1:09] beauty of the changing sunlight and the
lengthening shadows.
[1:14] It was not long ago when we first saw
signs of blueberries and sweet corn
[1:18] breaking through the fields.
We see signs of the changing colors and
[1:23] reminds us that everything around us
changes.
[1:27] Seasons change. People change.
Prices change.
[1:32] And yet in and through all this change
all these changes, you are faithful.
[1:38] Each day the sun comes up in the morning
and sets in the evening.
[1:41] Throughout the year, we get to
experience the seasons of spring,
[1:44] summer, fall, and winter. As that great
hymn writer writes,
[1:48] summer and winter, springtime and
harvest, sun, moon, and stars in their
[1:53] courses above,
join with all nature in manifold witness
[1:58] to thy great faithfulness, mercy, and
love.
[2:01] We thank you for your faithfulness,
your wonderful creation,
[2:06] and for the new morning mercies you
provide us.
[2:10] Lord, we pray today that your
faithfulness is abundantly felt in our
[2:13] town of Wyckoff.
Remember those who keep our community
[2:18] safe.
We specifically pray for law enforcement
[2:21] officers and first responders
who continue to work diligently in
[2:25] keeping our community safe regardless of
the weather.
[2:29] Wrap them in your care.
Bless them as they seek to be a blessing
[2:32] to us.
We pray that you lift up those who are
[2:36] struggling within our community, those
who are experiencing hardship, poverty,
[2:41] loneliness, or illness.
Continue to be faithful to them as you
[2:45] surround them with your love and
comfort.
[2:50] I specifically pray for our council
meeting tonight.
[2:53] Give these council members wisdom and
guidance as they deliberate on the items
[2:57] before them.
May they reflect your character in being
[3:01] faithful to their calling.
May every decision be righteous in your
[3:06] sight for our benefit and for your
glory.
[3:10] And may we confess like those who have
gone before us,
[3:14] "Great is thy faithfulness, great is thy
faithfulness.
[3:18] Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed thy hand has provided.
[3:24] Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto
me. Amen."
[3:28] » Amen.
>> Well said, Reverend.
[3:29] » Thank you.
>> Thank you.
[3:31] Nancy, please read the Open Public
Meetings Act.
[3:35] » Yes, Mr. Mayor. The notice requirements
of the Open Public Meetings Act have
[3:38] been satisfied with respect to this
meeting. Specifically, the time, date,
[3:41] and location were included in the annual
notice of meetings adopted by the
[3:44] Township Committee, posted in Memorial
Town Hall by the Municipal Clerk's
[3:48] Office, and sent to at least two
newspapers including the official
[3:50] newspapers of the Township, the
Ridgewood News and the Record.
[3:54] Additionally, to the extent known, the
agenda for this meeting where the formal
[3:57] action will be taken was posted in
Memorial Town Hall by the Municipal
[4:00] Clerk's office and sent to at least
I don't know what's happening here.
[4:06] I don't know why that's copied there.
I'm sorry. Um it was posted in the
[4:11] posted in Memorial Town Hall by the
Municipal Clerk's office and on our
[4:15] website as per
public law 2025 chapter 72.
[4:23] Roll call. Ms. Bogdanski
Sorry. Ms. Bogdanski?
[4:27] » Here.
>> Mr. Boonstra?
[4:28] » Here.
>> Mr. Melchionne?
[4:29] » Here.
>> Mr. Shepperd?
[4:31] » Here.
>> And Mayor Lane?
[4:32] » Here.
And may I ask you please confirm the
[4:34] Township Committee has reviewed, signed
all vouchers for payment and that the
[4:37] Mayor and Municipal Clerk have signed
any necessary legal documents.
[4:41] » We have, Mr. Mayor.
>> Can I have a motion to open to the
[4:44] public for a 20-minute public
commentary, please?
[4:48] » So moved.
>> Second.
[4:50] » All those in favor say aye.
>> Aye.
[4:52] » Any opposed? There being none,
meeting is now open. 20-minute public
[4:56] comment period, 5 minutes per speaker
for public comment on any governmental
[5:00] issue that a member of the public feels
may be of concern to the residents of
[5:04] the Township of Wyckoff. Please step
forward to the microphone if you wish to
[5:08] make a comment and state your name for
the record.
[5:15] » Seeing none, I make a motion to close
the public
[5:18] » Second.
>> Second.
[5:20] » All those in favor say aye.
Any opposed? There being none, the
[5:22] motion carries.
All right.
[5:25] Uh review of business agenda by Mr.
Kowal.
[5:29] » Thank you.
Uh beyond the routine items on tonight's
[5:32] agenda, there are several uh other
several matters to note. Uh Township
[5:35] Committee will consider canceling
property taxes for a totally disabled
[5:38] veteran in accordance with state law and
our local ordinance.
[5:42] Uh the Committee will also consider
reappointing our SLEO 3 officers for
[5:46] 2026-2027 school year and formally
established the Township's
[5:51] um the Township Committee's above and
beyond
[5:53] uh award program. There are two
ordinances scheduled for public hearing
[5:56] for final and final adoption. The first
establishes the salaries, compensation,
[6:00] and other terms of employment for the
police officers represented by PBA local
[6:04] 261 for years 2027 through 2030. This
[snorts] is a
[6:08] um
uh
[6:10] in conjunction with the uh
collective bargaining agreement we
[6:13] ratified at the last
>> meeting.
[6:16] » And second provides for the funding
authorization uh required
[6:21] uh for the police department and
municipal building project. Um
[6:25] Although the ordinance uh authorizes
bonds and notes, the Township does not
[6:28] intend to incur any debt at this time.
Uh it cancels 575,000 of the prior
[6:33] authorization and returns those funds to
the capital improvement fund. This is
[6:36] really a housekeeping item moving funds
that we appropriated back into the
[6:39] capital improvement fund and authorizing
it as a bond ordinance so that we have
[6:43] uh the additional down payments uh
required when we actually need to move
[6:46] forward with the project.
And finally, the three ordinances that
[6:49] appeared on Friday's uh version of the
agenda for introduction were removed
[6:52] from tonight's agenda.
Uh Dave, myself, and the team are
[6:56] working to finalize several provisions
within those ordinances and hope to be
[6:59] have those introduced at uh the future
meeting.
[7:03] Um
Get ready for a week of a couple weeks
[7:07] of road paving.
>> [clears throat]
[7:09] » Uh to say the least.
Uh we have several road programs
[7:12] beginning this week uh starting
tomorrow, September 2nd, the county's
[7:15] contractor will begin milling Wyckoff
Aves
[7:18] uh from the Mahwah border to Crescent
Ave. Uh work is scheduled from 7:00 a.m.
[7:22] to 5:00 p.m. with paving anticipated to
begin on Thursday, September 10th,
[7:27] weather permitting.
Uh
[7:29] Thursday, which is September 3rd, the
county's contractor will begin milling
[7:33] Wyckoff Ave from Meer Ave uh east to
Lafayette Ave.
[7:38] Uh milling is expected to take 3 to 5
days and paving to begin around
[7:42] February, sorry, September 11th. Weather
permitting.
[7:47] The Township's contractor will begin
working on Thursday, also that's
[7:51] September 3rd. Uh beginning Lawlins
milling Lawlins Road. Uh that milling
[7:56] will begin at approximately 5:00 a.m.
That early start time is being allowed
[8:01] uh to
um get up to the railroad crossing uh by
[8:07] noon to allow access to the industrial
park.
[8:10] Admas Farm and Fieldstone. Um
so that we can maintain uh those
[8:14] openings. Paving's anticipated to begin
there Tuesday September 8th, weather
[8:18] permitting.
Um and that doesn't include the paving
[8:22] that probably will start that project
will start next week at some point for
[8:26] our actual road paving program, which
D&L Paving uh will be doing.
[8:32] Uh the contract with D.S. Meyer for the
ADA ramps is is complete. We hope to
[8:36] formally close out that contract at the
next Township Committee meeting.
[8:40] Uh the contract for Downs Tree Service
for the tree removal, pruning, and stump
[8:43] removal is progressing. That work is
expected to be completed this month.
[8:47] Chief Murphy and I recently met with
Father Steven, Deacon John, and Saint
[8:51] Elizabeth's new principal, Nicole Minio.
We welcomed uh Principal Minio to
[8:55] Wyckoff and brought her up to speed on
the Township's Leo 3 program.
[9:00] Um
so we look forward to a year and I
[9:02] welcome uh Nicole uh to Wyckoff.
Uh the Township has a couple September
[9:08] 11th uh ceremonies and I think Mayor
will cover uh the fire department one,
[9:12] but I'm just going to give you the two
times uh again. 8:45 at Community Park
[9:16] and 6:00 p.m. at Fire Company number
one. We invite everyone to attend uh and
[9:21] to to remember those we lost.
Town Hall, Wyckoff Library, and the
[9:25] recycling center will be closed on
Monday in observance of Labor Day.
[9:29] Beginning on Tuesday next week, Town
Hall returns to its normal regular
[9:32] normal sorry, regular hours, 8:30 to
4:30 Monday to Friday.
[9:36] Uh beginning 2 weeks ago, the building
department is now open during those same
[9:41] hours, 8:30 to 4:30 Monday to Friday.
They are no longer closed for lunch.
[9:46] Uh, it it has not been released yet. It
will be released shortly that the
[9:49] planning board meeting for this month
will be canceled due to lack of
[9:52] applications and review matters. Uh, the
Yep.
[9:56] » That may not be the case.
>> No.
[9:58] » So, I'm told.
We're going to have a meeting to deal
[10:02] with the ordinances.
>> There's no ordinances.
[10:05] We're not introducing them.
>> Yeah. Then there's no meeting. Okay.
[10:09] Cover me corrected. Okay.
>> Yep. That's yeah, because uh, there's no
[10:13] ordinances, so that they'll be canceled.
Uh, there's also some uh, attorney
[10:16] conflicts. Kevin can't make it. Tom
can't make it, so.
[10:21] I'd like to remind residents that
beginning next week, once a week garbage
[10:23] collection begins. Residents should
check the municipal calendar uh, to
[10:27] confirm their collection day. I believe
the calendar said it started this week.
[10:29] It actually starts next week.
And just to save the date, that fire
[10:34] prevention open house will be Monday,
October 5th. More information to come in
[10:38] our e-news for that. That's all I got.
>> All right.
[10:42] Let's go with
uh, for our township committee reports,
[10:45] we'll start with the uh, call me Rudy
Giuliani.
[10:48] » That leaves me nothing to report. Ours
The only Well, I I will make it. The
[10:54] only thing I was going to report was
that the planning board will be meeting
[10:57] to review ordinances, but if there are
no ordinances, there's no meeting for
[10:59] the planning board. So, Matt covered
everything else with the roads and
[11:02] streets and paving and everything. The
only other thing I would probably
[11:05] comment, um, Saturday night, along with
the mayor and with May, um, I was at the
[11:09] scene of a pretty intense fire right
around the corner here on Monroe Ave.
[11:14] And the fire department, as always, did
an outstanding job, but I'll leave that
[11:17] to May to comment on further if she
wishes. So, that's all I have, Mayor.
[11:20] » Okay.
Pete.
[11:21] » All right. Thank you, Mayor.
Um, I'll leave that brief myself. As
[11:25] Matt mentioned, I just want to comment
that we will be having, um, the 9/11
[11:30] ceremony at Community Park at 8:45. We
did a re-dedication for the 20th
[11:35] anniversary of 9/11 5 years ago. It was
a very nice brief solemn ceremony and I
[11:42] hope everyone could attend this year for
the ceremony for the 25th anniversary of
[11:47] 9/11 and I just want to wish everyone a
have a great Labor Day weekend coming
[11:51] up. That's all I have. Thank
>> Okay. Jim.
[11:54] » Uh only two quick things. No meetings
occurred since our last meeting from the
[11:57] committees. So one I was just going to
also recognize the the first responders
[12:01] in the fire department both the tire
fire as well as the home house fire.
[12:05] These are both big
uh things make us very proud when these
[12:09] guys go and do their jobs. And the other
one was just to reiterate what Pete
[12:12] said. We hopefully see a lot of people
from town of Wyckoff at both the
[12:15] ceremonies for 9/11. That's all I have.
>> Okay. May.
[12:19] » Um just going to cover fire.
Um as Rudy said Saturday there was a
[12:24] pretty big fire on Monroe. You may have
noticed it while you drive by.
[12:29] Um
and I think our fire department had it
[12:31] controlled um within a half an hour.
Worked really nicely. Um
[12:36] young old they were in the house. Um I
was also helping the EMT with handing
[12:41] out water. So every time they took their
mask off you could see there was older
[12:45] people younger people but they all
really worked seamlessly during this uh
[12:49] fire
um
[12:51] and no injuries thankfully and they got
that controlled within an hour I guess.
[12:55] It didn't take them that long. So
um
[13:00] And then unfortunately they had another
fire this morning a five alarm fire in
[13:04] Hawthorne. So they went there from as a
mutual aid to um Hawthorne. It was at
[13:09] Bob's tire.
Um
[13:12] I don't have the full report on it but I
know they controlled it obviously and um
[13:16] hopefully no injuries.
Um fire department invites everyone on
[13:21] 9/11 at 6:00 p.m. for the annual
memorial service.
[13:25] Um
[13:27] How's Yeah it is on 9/11 right? Yeah
yeah yeah. Sorry, I just confused
[13:30] myself.
Um so, this is the 25th, so I I
[13:34] would think, you know, we'll have more
people attending, and I hope everybody,
[13:38] you know, finds the time to come. As
Pete said, it's a very beautiful
[13:41] ceremony each year.
Um and the fire department wanted me to
[13:45] report that August, they had 52 calls,
1,147
[13:50] volunteer man hours.
Um to date, they have had 506 calls,
[13:56] 7,050 volunteer man hours.
Um as always, they're looking for
[14:02] volunteers. Um if anyone is interested,
they could go to any firehouse on
[14:06] Mondays um between 7:00 and 10:00.
Um I also wanted to wish uh the children
[14:12] and kids in Wyckoff
um a good start to the new year uh
[14:16] school year, and um I'm sure the parents
are
[14:20] kind of happy to get back to some
normalcy.
[14:23] Um
and that's it.
[14:25] » Okay.
>> A happy Labor Day to everyone.
[14:27] » Thank you, Mayor.
I also uh will be brief.
[14:31] I just want to comment on the uh heroism
of our fire department. Uh witnessing uh
[14:38] witnessing them up on a roof with heavy
smoke, uh with the other half of the
[14:43] roof completely engulfed, is just uh
incredible level of heroism, and uh
[14:50] thank God that nobody was injured,
and that uh
[14:54] including
uh anybody
[14:56] was in the home, so Uh other than that,
uh as has been said, we have our 9/11
[15:02] services, and we really hope that uh
folks can attend, uh uh
[15:08] hopefully both of them, or at least one.
Uh other than that, uh
[15:12] I'll go over to our Township Committee
attorney
[15:16] » Uh the items I need to address I want to
do in closed session tonight, so that's
[15:20] all.
>> [clears throat]
[15:21] » I also have something brief in closed
session as well.
[15:25] » Okay, that's it.
>> No, why?
[15:26] » Okay, we're going to move on to the
business portion of the meeting.
[15:30] Nancy, the consent agenda, please.
>> Thank you. All matters listed below are
[15:35] considered by the Township Committee to
be routine in nature. There'll be no
[15:37] separate discussion of these items. If
any discussion is desired by the
[15:40] Township Committee, that item will be
removed from the consent agenda and
[15:43] considered separately. We have minutes
for approval on the consent agenda for
[15:47] tonight from August 18th, 2026 as
regular meeting.
[15:51] We have a bill list resolution and then
three other resolutions that Matt
[15:54] reviewed earlier. 2026 cancel taxes as
per NJSA 54:4-3.3
[16:01] for a tax exempt resident. Appointing
the SLEO 3s for the 2026-2027
[16:07] school year and authorizing the
establishment of the Township of
[16:10] Wyckoff's above and beyond award.
As Matt also mentioned, we have no
[16:14] ordinances for introduction.
And I have a couple of motions.
[16:19] The first is to memorialize a
memorialize a date change of outdoor
[16:22] music event at Blue Moon Mexican Cafe.
The event was originally scheduled for
[16:26] August 20th. It was moved to August 26th
due to inclement weather with a rain
[16:30] date of August 27th also added. Approval
was obtained from the police department
[16:34] and from the ABC for the date change for
their extension of premises permit.
[16:38] Also approve special event request by
Abma's Farm to hold a limited brewery
[16:42] event at the farm on Saturday, September
26th from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Local
[16:47] brewery Bolero Snort will be providing
and selling their products.
[16:52] And thirdly, to approve special event
request by Temple Beth Rishon to post a
[16:56] temporary banner sign
um for the 10 days immediately prior
[17:00] to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
May have a motion and a second to
[17:04] approve the consent agenda?
>> Motion to approve the consent agenda.
[17:10] » Second.
>> Okay, roll call, Nancy, please.
[17:12] » Thank you. Ms. Bogdansky?
>> Yes.
[17:14] » Mr. Boonstra?
>> Yes.
[17:15] » Mr. Melchionne?
>> Yes.
[17:17] » Mr. Schaper?
>> And Mayor Lane?
[17:19] » Aye. Thank you. With an affirmative
vote, the motion is approved.
[17:23] We have two ordinances on tonight's
agenda for further consideration and
[17:26] adoption. The first is ordinance number
20-96, which is fixing the salaries,
[17:30] compensation, and other terms of
employment of paid police officers
[17:34] represented by PBA local number 261 for
the years 2027 through 2030 for second
[17:40] reading by title only. And a copy of
this ordinance has been posted on our
[17:43] municipal website on the bulletin board
in town hall where public notices are
[17:46] customarily posted, and copies have been
made available to members of the general
[17:50] public of the township who have
requested the same.
[17:53] » This is the time and place for the
public hearing on ordinance 20-96, and
[17:57] all persons who wish to be heard, please
state your name before making a comment.
[18:01] If you wish to make a comment, please
step forward to the microphone.
[18:06] » I move that public hearing on ordinance
20-96 be closed.
[18:10] » Second.
>> All those in favor say I.
[18:13] » I.
>> Any opposed? Did anyone
[18:16] » Be it resolved by the township committee
of the township of Wyckoff that
[18:19] ordinance number 20-96 after public
hearing and further consideration is
[18:22] hereby adopted, and the municipal clerk
is hereby authorized
[18:26] and directed to publish the notice of
final passage of said ordinance on the
[18:29] township's website as provided by law.
>> I move ordinance 20-96 on second reading
[18:35] by title only.
>> Second.
[18:38] » Okay, roll call, please.
>> Ms. Bogdanski? Mr. Bunstra? Mr.
[18:42] Melchionne? Mr. Schaper? And Mayor Lane?
With an affirmative vote, the motion is
[18:48] approved. The second ordinance is number
20-97, which is a bond ordinance
[18:53] providing for the Wyckoff Police
Department and municipal building
[18:56] addition and alterations project in and
by the Township of Wyckoff in the County
[19:00] of Bergen, New Jersey, appropriating
$1,350,000
[19:04] therefore and authorizing the issuance
of $1,282,500
[19:09] in bonds or notes of the township to
finance part of the cost thereof and
[19:14] canceling 575,000
previously appropriated from the capital
[19:18] improvement fund by ordinance number
2034 for second reading by title only
[19:23] that a copy of this ordinance has been
posted on our municipal website on the
[19:26] bulletin board in town hall where public
notices are customarily posted and
[19:30] copies have been made available to
members of the general public of the
[19:32] Township who have requested the same.
>> This is the time and place for the
[19:36] public hearing on ordinance 2097 and all
persons who wish to be heard please
[19:40] state your name before making a comment.
If you wish to make a comment, please
[19:44] step forward to the microphone.
>> I move the public hearing on ordinance
[19:49] number 2097 be closed.
>> Second.
[19:52] » All those in favor say I.
>> I.
[19:54] » Any opposed? There being none, the
motion carries.
[19:57] » Be it resolved by the Township Committee
of the Township of Wyckoff that
[20:00] ordinance number 2097 after public
hearing and further consideration is
[20:03] hereby adopted and the municipal clerk
is hereby authorized and directed to
[20:06] publish the notice of final passage of
said ordinance on the Township's website
[20:10] as provided by law.
>> I move ordinance number 2097 on second
[20:15] reading by title only.
>> Second.
[20:19] » Roll call, please.
>> Ms. Bogdansky.
[20:21] » Yes.
>> Mr. Bunsta.
[20:22] » Yes.
>> Mr. Melchionne.
[20:23] » Yes.
>> Mr. Shepperd.
[20:24] » Yes.
>> And Mayor Lane.
[20:26] » I.
>> With an affirmative vote, the motion is
[20:27] approved.
>> Uh can I please have a motion to adopt
[20:32] 26-CA
and enter into closed session
[20:35] discussion, please?
>> So moved.
[20:36] » Second.
>> All those in favor say I.
[20:38] » I.
>> Any opposed? There being none, the
[20:40] motion carries. Uh ladies, uh same
speech.
[20:44] We're going to go into closed session.
Uh
[20:48] it could be brief, it could be long and
we're going to return just to close the
[20:51] meeting. So,
you're more than welcome to hear the
[20:54] gavel end the meeting if you'd like, but
uh certainly
[20:57] I I would suggest that
>> I do have a question. Um I was
[21:02] wanting to know
>> question.
[21:05] We're in closed public session and we
can talk about it.
[21:08] Then we'll get to your question after
our question.
[21:10] » Okay.
>> Unless you want to reopen the public
[21:12] comment.
>> Oh.
[21:13] » Yeah, I'm going to I'll have a motion to
reopen the
[21:15] » I'll move to reopen.
>> Yeah, public comment.
[21:17] » Okay.
>> All those in favor say aye.
[21:19] » Aye.
>> Any opposed, none.
[21:20] » Okay, please uh make it brief.
>> Thank you.
[21:24] » Janet Chumney, 501A Aspen Lane in
Wyckoff. And I as you were talking about
[21:31] the fire department and I agree with you
how wonderful they are and how many
[21:36] wonderful people give their time and
effort there.
[21:40] Um
but I I was also wanting to know where
[21:45] if you think you have a a flammable
uh substance,
[21:50] uh could we um bring them to the fire
department to evaluate or uh something
[21:57] like that that you want to discard. I
know they have the
[22:01] the they're supposed to save these
things and
[22:05] take them to the recycling.
>> So, how it it would be considered
[22:08] hazardous waste and it has to be getting
It has to be uh disposed of at the
[22:12] county.
So, the county has hazardous waste uh
[22:15] removal and it has to be It has to be um
>> And it has to go there.
[22:19] » It has to go there.
>> And it's done it's done through the
[22:21] Bergen County Utilities Authority.
>> Okay, thank you for
[22:24] » And we we do notice when when that
arises it'll be on our website.
[22:29] » Okay.
>> All right, a motion to go into closed
[22:32] session again.
Close public comment.
[22:34] » Motion to close public comment.
>> Yeah.
[22:38] » All those in favor say aye.
>> Aye.
[22:40] » Okay, public comment closed. We're going
to We're ready for We're going to close
[22:44] session. Ladies, uh thank you very much
for your attendance.
[22:48] » Okay, let's go.
>> Good night.