[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.

2026.09.01 Township Committee Meeting

Transcript