e e I [Music] M Mr Mr mrog the United States of America the repic for it stands one nation God [Music] to section 13 of the okay uh before we do anything we have two individuals in the world passed away this one is Leo who is a long time M he taught Italian classes at the senior center for many many years uh just a terrific guy and um he will be Sly missed the other is H kill and um he's a personal friend of mine uh he was on the fire department for 17 years um he um he was at every Community event I can think of which fire department participated in just a terrific guy he happened to work at UPS like I did uh unfortunately he never made his retirement and um I don't know exactly what happened they on the side and and um he will be sely Sly missed by a lot of people in this and U I wish both individuals families um a comfort to know if they need anything from us and the community will stand behind everybody else so if we could have a moment of silence thank you very much now for a little happier note is that we have a group of young individuals here tonight um and that is theway um musical choir and they help us every year out at the tree lighting which is thousand stars to invite them and give them certificates of appreciation so if you can come up please so I will give you all least and say thank you so much you've been doing this for how many years years five years and I you know we really appreciate you coming participating in in our activities and you know what it's good to have you involv in our community so I just want to thank you just take a picture and I know marure per so we keep that thank you so much now we have I have a biger word coming up um so if we could just do a little of the uh rural business first and until Michelle comes she's on way so if you guys don't mind okay um let's go go to the public hearing on ordinance 2402 please read the title an ordinance granting renewal of Municipal consent to Comcast of New Jersey LLC to construct connect operate and maintain a cable television and communication system in the B Providence Union County New Jersey I have a motion pleas so move second second what this ordinance is is uh granting the contract between comp in the world in Provence and I think it's a duration of 10 years okay so if anybody has a want to make a comment on this ordinance and thisin please raise your hand see public CL please M Mr Mrs drre yes Mr kogan Mrs M yes I'm an appointment for the mental health awareness committee favor sustainability in so be approval minutes for February 27 motion please all favor yes so it uh March second all favor okay we have correspondence from p p for clean energy future program New Jersey American uh following for proposed R change I guess we down right here Central Power and life public hearing for Energy Efficiency and conservation plan Township of CH for storm water control same Township and CH for flood plane management the saiver Coalition uh membership um Bo of adjustment uh six willings Road generator Sophia moner about highway traffic concerns on the high school drop off about tree preservation removal and Paul I think you're working on something with that it's quite invol so thank you I appreciate okay uh for say Water Commission uh Little's hydroelectric project Jersey CER Power and Light zero Mission recovery charge adjustment for 49 coms ones um uh last year uh the governor uh had a r value our veterans award and it's bestone upon individual communities who have acally acknowledged and appreciate the sacrifices patriotism and courage display by those who have served in the military towns are evaluated based on specific initiatives and in Providence has taken various commendable actions to honor our veterans these initiatives include veteran only parking spaces Memorial Day Parade Veterans Day event and Hing uh veterans and Hometown hero veteran recognition uh Hors and I know only personally uh go back a long way folks and uh [Music] that has to be one of the most heartwarming ceremonies that I have ever been to and it shows dedication and how much we value now here we have exective from the Department of military affairs un commissioner [Music] Kimberly Jeff Smith of the Union County Office of veteran services and we also have our assembly woman and a member of the veteran services committee Michelle so if you could all come up with the veterans please is Community willingness to go above and beyond to serve the better community so anytime we get the chance to present this award it really is an honor not just for this culminating moment of presenting the award but for all that you're about to do and continue to do the better this area so thank you for having thank not only weed this but Michelle you want to we have a citation here the town to read it commendations and phrase are extended to the burrow of new Pro yes it is by the citizenry of the 21st New Jersey legislative district through the dedicated Contin commitment to veteran residents who have served our nation exemplified by the earning of the our vet award in state of newy you know it's not often you get recognized by the state the county you know and it's just a great thing and all been great Partners working with us with all these things so thank you maybe I'll see you guys a little later I also activi director because she coordinates everything that happens with community events in our our town and um if it's not you know she's very involved in in um and the Memorial Day par everything we can't do it without you so thank you okay let's get down C Business Adra servility uh goal is to se cost Recovery Service elimination and cost so hopefully that will thank you finance thank you mayor resolution 20249 is a resolution authorizing payment of the attached bills payable list and the amount of 2,971 19421 cents significant items include our March appropriation for the board of in the amount of 1,446 um $998,000 to depository trust for principal and interest debt payments are March appropriation for our Memorial Library in the amount of 98,2 58 and um $45,000 from the New Providence affordable housing um the funds to be used to rep bares Manor roof and this was paid the uh we have some apple applications Robbie's World Foundation ra1 1210 Our Lady Peace church are ra uh 1211 1212 1213 and 1214 and we have an application LIC Summit Express for all these applications have been properly refed um resolution 098 is a resolution appointing Mary S as a crossing board from uh March 13 2024 to December 31st [Music] and dep mustri resolution 202499 resolution requisition r419 [Music] e79 Cera enabl [Music] Cent we don't use resolution 20400 resolution r99 for 2024 350 piu Department publics [Music] [Music] very hard to get years okay have a [Music] discussion to Mar and Andy here [Music] tonight lotsu tocer the time talk about Poss B do something at the time very for number Reas one is to Bri some and we by want [Music] ear Yeah well yeah ever since I can remember when that pool was open that bridge was here so I think the pool was opened in like 62 61 something IU atast so um you know they came up with some ideas of ways to replace it and also recognizing that you [Music] guys does it need to be CL right [Music] now simar done Drive [Music] much [Music] [Music] questions similar to um to one that's over at Street be ex right need need to drive yourgage truck over there it's not a big trck [Music] all ask question found changed or so you're just really taking that one out and putting thee subu bottom all on that's those kinds of things are a little um clu to us that that things things are deteriorating on it but we haven't reached that that stru if you change if you have to repace the support structure these numbers yeah and one of the things too is that I know you guys have talked about brick facing on those abutments the problem with that becomes is that you're into into perit issues because now you're reducing I know it seems like a little bit of on one conru it and construction on it and so if you start start that process now they can be working on Manufacturing I apprciate answer yeah were talking about that ACC so I guess happen atel Bridge brige woulding all the design the construction know our soft and that as well okay um what um and the galvanized um brid would be about 475,000 um galvanized painted structure would be and then a preast painted one not unfortunately there is no good time to do start we I remember you bringing this up in 2015 said another 10 okay uh Council Comm reports um public operations they did have cookie with the cops [Music] today I tell you very well attended so um and we're looking to do interviews police [Music] offic and they also have their annual report that's on the website it looks great um so community activities uh registration for all New Providence Recreation summer youth camps and classes are now is now open the community pass on the recreation website please call the recreation office if you have any questions uh the New Providence Lions will host its 55th annual Easter egg hunt on Saturday March 23rd which is in two Saturdays at Oakwood Park the event begins at 9:00 a.m. sharp and is open to children 3ek to second grade all the pro Providence residents are invited to this fun event and a huge thank you to our L who run this every year it's a great event save the date for the annual Earth Day Green Fair hosted by New Providence recreation and New Providence sustainability committee this year's event will be held on Saturday April 20th in Centennial Park from 10: to noon and it will feature a fun interactive show for the whole family called saving the Earth together come learn about sustainability recycling electric vehicles and more that um we had a Board of Health meeting this past uh week um look for some Wellness Wednesdays posts um uh the Westfield Board of Health we are a part of has created these on Wednesday and actually good information um and um what did they say proasis um is actually uh gaining momentum there's a lot of cases so if we have a persistent walk it could be pis um historical society's annual program will be on April 18th and uh finance committee we had meeting tonight we're in good shape um huge thank you to our the B especially Jim Tes for putting your very comprehensive uh gr together and um we'll be uh presenting that at the next meeting which is in two on theard of Health keep your eye open on the website come is offering charge of insurance hadity committee meeting last night keep your eye open for post regarding interational women's month this month in March that and 23 to allance Monday is work will be um and they are working on every 15 minutes which is always thank you mayor um just a few things Quality Electric will be in the burrow on Friday uh they'll be installing the rapid um flasher Beacon at um Central and Valentine so they had done some preliminary work and then I think they were waiting for pieces or something um so they should be finishing up that job on Friday um it's also my understanding that the work approved by Summit last um summer late summer fall for Division Avenue will start up again in April um as a reminder that's a shared uh project between the burough of New Providence and the City of summit um the city of summit is the lead municipality on that so and they have a lot more work that they're doing on their side of the road we are but that should be starting up imminently um and um for anyone who has traveled mangle we are well aware of all the PO holes DPW is trying to um keep the road together until the do project is um approved and um put out to bid we are waiting for the municipal budget to be passed um in order to put that out to Bid And once the um once the bid packet comes back and we award the bid we'll have to encumber the fund so it's important that we wait um to have the money to actually do that um and then just a few more things as the weather's getting warmer I just want to remind residents to slow down there's kids in the road there's bicyclist in the road um there was a tragedy um the other day in Berkeley Heights um and um just be mindful that we're sharing the road with other with other people um and just look out for the spring newsletter it should be out in your mailboxes in the coming weeks that's it say something about the Division Avenue I know a lot of residents contact with me about Division Avenue I want to make it perfectly clear we were ready to pay that and some came to us and said you know let us believe makes no sense to pay here so we agreed with that we thought it was we we gave our half of the money back a I believe and that but I'm glad to hear that they they're starting back up again to do what they have to do I put sidee and all the things that we did years so I'm glad to see that that's we're looking late late summer probably early S one thing I I did hear from the police is that we saw a lot of PS trucks hopefully we'll get those pretty soon too so you Mar magic with is Inc so um okay we'll go to public comments um and I'm going to read this because uh I've been very lenient it's kind of got out of hand and I watch all the C meetings in surrounding communities and they they abide by this this is an opportunity for any member of the public to be heard about issue that not separate topic scheduled from public healing tonight to help facilitate and orderly me and permit all to be heard speakers are asked to limit their comments to three minutes and they only speak on one topic um for so let's uh let's know anybody wishing to address counil tonight hi Sarah Sarah 9 Crest I know that was attracted me because I've definitely taken a lot of time and I appreciate it yeah and I've been very leing with a lot of people and it's really got my hand understood uh I just have uh a couple clarification points from the council meeting last two weeks ago and then a question actually see if there's any updates from one of the takeaways we had but um there was mentioned several times last council meeting that uh I was seeking a taxpayer money to pay for personal property and I just want to absolutely or private property I just want to absolutely clarify it's not that we're I'm seeking taxpayer funds for private property is definitely for uh the burrow to pay for and take ownership of the storm water system accessories as we've been arguing debating whether it's an accessory storm water system or not and how it supports it and what purpose it serves Etc but part of what's damaged is absolutely in accessory to the storm water system which is the fence I mean it's indisputably part of the storm water system uh which has never actually been a question discussions we've been having and it is in the maps from the late early to late 1960s latest revision is 1968 so um according to the burrow that's before a house was built so uh the fence definitely shows there it's not detailed plan by any means or map but the fense is definitely there and uh so there was two points there and then the third point was that um there was mentioned the deed the easement the deed for the easement for the storm water system area uh was to just clean the storm water system but it's definitely not just a clean and it states it in the deed uh as we've talked about before to construct maintain drainage dishes so it is to maintain delay relay construct reconstruct replace repair operate maintain uh s sewers and storm water system sewers with the apperences which is legal speak for accessories and so on and so forth I just want to clarify those points um and then I want to ask if there was any update from an engineering Report perspective I will have to leave that up [Music] to uh everything but in every Cas every [Music] situation so um so there was contact with Jimmy Johnson jmy and he did he clarify that there was the whole 60 70 foot section Jimmy said the only reason that we replaced the fence was because a burrow tree fell on it and and damaged the fence and that's when it was replaced that did happen several times in sections of it but there was a whole 60 70 section but so you'll have to tell him the story or remind him because he'll remember this I was eight and half pretty much nine months pregnant when we bought the house and and moved in and um it was quite a low fence um maybe I don't know three not even three feet from the ground probably and I had a toddler at the time two-year-old mother on the way and I reached out to DPW no you know is there anything we can do about this fence is quite low just Public Safety concerned about my todler climbing it falling into the drainage area and as we were standing standing there looking at it me super pregnant a snake slithers by and I literally jumped down my skin and he I think he had a heart attack because he's like oh my gosh are you okay because I'm so pregant but he would definitely remember that and then the subsequent replacement of that fence uh and making it higher for Public Safety purposes so I'd welcome a conversation further with him about it well sure but he would be able to we can't for conversation no that's fine but if we're relying on what who owns the fence now which wasn't well I have to go and we all have to go with our professionals and when you first came to me back at the National Night a few years ago and I I said I will do everything I can to help you out as long as our professionals say you can do it and if they have it it's not our property and we cannot spend public tax pay money on on private property and it's an easement we can just an easement just means that we can go over it to do what we have to do to maintain that Waterway and maintain the Waterway is that we bring in the frontend loader and clean out the bra that's what we' done on CHS you know that's it yep the concrete Channel itself but definitely replacing and repairing sections I wish I could give you a different answer I feel but I can't do um well the fence is definitely not my property it's part of the St monor system if anything else was now would allow exactly never us yes none of those things would be in fact quite honestly let us put in the concrete Channel I don't know about the concrete Channel I didn't ask that but D bur or the D Union County engineer who is in charge of all the permitting I me she clarified for sure I mean yes allow like if you built it new you wouldn't be allowed to put a chain Ling fence in because of like you can snag on things but because it was built before in 1980s it's absolutely allowed to be put in repair just said yeah tree hits that V we can replace damage right that's what we can do that's all we can do right so it could be replaced prepaired Etc just with the chaining F right go the engineers okay and did were they able to answer those questions about whether that would be legally allowed and not just from a DP perspective but also like affecting personal like homeowner property and the impact it would have and the safety concerns I think [Music] resp I want to reass you is there a doubt whether the burrow originally put in the funds I don't know that exact answer but it's not our respons we're just going unfortunately we can't replace and according to Legal do it Fe just need the burrow to say we own it and because so that's why you resing us to take over the ship that piece of proper we do not and that's the bottom line yeah yeah I guess the whole thinging though is that the burrow is the one who put in the storm waterer system right along with the fence which is shown on the map that uh it wouldn't be then the homeowner's responsibility to maintain it or to repair it or to replace it that's right but rule isn't part of that system debatable that's what we've been debating okay but the fences right right can tax money to fund private property that's thing iliv property it is it is your property it's over Myer my property or I can actually so the bur has all the rights I don't have the [Music] right everything get to go to get it for you they your back saying they can't do anything there's no more we I wish I wish I had an answer for you so I think that's it I I don't know what more to say well the problem hasn't got away so we will do everything you can we can to help you with the I think Mr L say you help any way you can and you know you can go from here well I need burrow to replace repair pieces of that system debatable again whether the wall is I tell you right now I don't want to it's it's property okay what about fence fence said if it was up to the up to now they they would recomend the [Music] whole well something has to be done so there is something to talk about until it's and I definitely apprciate Jimmy's perspective oning that anyone else wish you to address coun hey sop just saw John I know with right do I have to State my name is that okay so zophia munka 44 red flip Drive um so I um submitted a a letter and I want to thank you because um it was addressed pretty quickly the situation that we had on our street so what's going on on Radcliff Drive is that apparently this was dead designated a drop off location for the school and for the past year at least I can't remember how long exactly it's been um it's just been a danger and I guess recently about a week ago uh they started cracking down on illegal parking uh by students in other areas so the one morning our street was just lined with cars I couldn't back out of my driveway because the cars were parked on both sides of our street which is a residential street it's not really you know a large two-way Road um and the cars were backed up waiting to drop off and the problem there is that I guess it was designated as a one-way drop off but people drop off on both Corners by that bridge by Rad cliff and that is just another tragedy waiting to happen like you mentioned a thing that happened in Berkeley Heights um every morning when I drive there I just I see it parents are dropping kids off the kids aren't looking um they just cross the street the parents just pull out you have other kids that are actually walking and there are no sidewalks on that street right so you have kids walking not looking where they're walking on their phones and it's just um it's a menace it's a menace to the children and it's a menace to the people living on the street because the people aren't obeying traffic laws because they're in a hurry to drop their kids off and you know that's all they care about and they're not watching for the resident safety and they're not watching for the safety of the children even being dropped off so I don't know how that was designated to drop off spot but um I think it's very very unsafe so I know there was talk about the pool Bridge before I know so if if parking is allowed I believe for the high school students at the pool right I don't understand why they're not dropping off right there because that's a safer safer location this is really a dangerous spot okay know people right I even asked my daughters because they both went to new High School yes yes so yes we the policeman was there um you know and they were on it right away they put up no parking but you know we are concerned long term with what's going to happen down the street so I don't know if that's staying I don't know who determined that as a drop off [Music] location we neither do we neither do we and we were surprised but [Music] a different drop off alterate drop off yeah so this is this isn't really a safe spot so okay yes right and that was fun right no there it's there's like traffic there and like I said the people AR aren't paying attention they just you know drop off and go and they zoom out and just pull out without looking and it's a real March 27th in the 00a depart okay to discuss all this okay all right just came out today yeah oh okay [Music] right time right right conc okay thank you thank youse hi Kathleen Dolan 12 Laural Drive I just have a question um there was a pretty extensive list of correspondents uh in the agenda tonight um how are the decisions made about what goes into the agenda what what correspondence is highlighted because I know that there's often things that come in that I know people have sent in things to the action line and it doesn't appear on the agenda it only appears on the agenda if it's addressed to Mayor and Council okay so everything that's addressed to Mayor and Council should be listed there okay that was just my question thank you so much anyone else to counil yes Daniel Badgley 11 Magnolia Drive I wrote the letter about the tree ordinance so I'm happy that something is underway Bas okay um there a couple options in there ums for a tree survey um which I think we you know should include in our ordinance something that not in there as an option that I think you know should be considered is landscape plan where those trees would go just to make sure that they you know fit where suppos to and you know so applicants can you know either prove or [Music] disprove um it really only talks about replacement trees I think if we can include something about uh being used for you know anything tree related you know some what I wrote about in my letter um you know it could have to do with the oil the template is very I think int so there's a [Music] lot the municipality of moris County yeah that oh um it's part of the uh 10 Towns part of the um the grace Watershed so they put out their own model ordinance for this kind of thing for those towns that are within that Watershed um there there was a a town that I quoted um maybe I didn't mention oh okay um that might have been Rand off yeah oh yes my my attachments thank youone else [Music] address Mesa hi Mr J Mrs jrey yes Mr kogan Mrs MC and before we I just want to wish everybody a happy Ramadan this is the first night and we wish all our Muslim brothers and sisters a happy [Music] holiday but uh and happy St Patrick's Day [Music] second thank you all