##VIDEO ID:3vIUoHCD1bw## good evening welcome to the December 3rd 2024 regular meeting of the Emerson governing body this meeting is being videotaped and may be viewed on your local public access Channel either 36 or 77 the meetings are also available Live on YouTube for those of you present in case of a fire follow the fire exit signs above the doors and exit calmly Mr depalo would you please lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance honor the nation pledge of to the of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all I would ask you to remain standing for just a moment in memory of all of our men and women in the armed service that are away from their homes this holiday season thank you this meeting is called pursuant to the provisions of the open public meetings law and adequately noticed pursuant to njsa 10410 this meeting of December 3rd 2024 was noticed to the record and Ridgewood news on January 4th 2024 and published in said newspapers posted on the bulletin board in the municipal building and has remained continuously posted as required under the statute Miss Simone would you please call the Roll Call of the governing body mayor present councilwoman arenia here councilwoman rice here councilman Maguire presid council president Timberman here councilman Gordon here and Council woman sers here okay everybody's present this evening that's wonderful um Ruth mlu was scheduled to join the governing body tonight to recognize her 103rd birthday unfortunately with the cold weather rof is unable to join us in person tonight but we will be celebrating with her and presenting her with a proclamation in the near future we will place the proclamation in these minutes and post it on the website for all to see happy birthday Ruth appointments and resignations there are no appointments tonight minutes for approval are we prepared to approve the minutes may I have a motion to approve approve the minutes of October 1st 2024's regular meeting second roll call please councilwoman arenia yes councilman rice yes councilwoman Maguire yes council president Timberman yes councilman Gordon yes councilwoman sers yes may I have a motion to approve the minutes of October 1st 2024 close session minutes second roll call please councilwoman or yes councilwoman rice yes councilwoman Maguire yes council president Timberman yes councilman Gordon yes councilwoman sers yes okay and they are not released to the public at this time yet I forgot to say that um the next item is the minutes of the October 15 2024 meeting and a roll call please nenia yes councilwoman rice yes councilwoman Maguire yes Council president Timberman yes councilman Gordon yes councilwoman sers yes and may I have a motion to approve the minutes of the October 15 2024 closed session minutes that are not open for release at this time to the public and a roll call please councilwoman orenia yes councilwoman rice yes councilwoman Maguire yes council president Timmerman yes councilman Gordon yes councilwoman sers yes and may I have a motion to approve the minutes of the November 12th 2024 regular meeting whove second and a roll call please Council yes councilwoman rice yes Council woman Maguire yes council president Timmerman abstain councilman Gordon yes councilwoman sters yes and our last motion on the minutes is to approve the minutes of the November 12th 2024 closed session which are not for release to the public at this time second roll call please councilwoman Aria yes councilwoman rice yes councilwoman Maguire yes council president Timberman obstain councilman Gordon yes councilwoman sers yes thank you trasa um the next item on the agenda is correspondence all correspondence is on file in the clerk's office if you'd like to see it um Financial business there is no Financial business this evening unfinished business is no unfinished business this evening new business Emerson Junior Senior High School internship program Mr Hermanson do you want to tell us about that so Mr Hutchinson reached out he's working wants to work with the uh Chamber of Commerce along with the buau of Emerson the administration um he said he would like us to distribute a letter uh to our department heads to see if there is some way that uh the high schoolers could work with our department heads in in an internship program uh for a couple of hours uh during the week uh so we are going to well how many days a week it it right now they're looking at a Friday uh on a flexible but that that's what they're saying between 12 fible 12 and 3:00 is what generally the hours that they look they get out at about 11:30 when they're seniors and they move on to the internship they either can take college classes or they can do the internship yeah they were saying between 12 and 3 is what he was that's what he was his hour what we was talking about yeah it says 12 to 3 right here so we're but we'll have they probably have lunch and then they come in at 12 so we'll we'll work with uh the department heads discuss that with them we have our department head meeting tomorrow we'll let them know and go from there okay but everyone's okay with that right we're happy to bring in one of the um kids from the high school honestly in the past when we had the former um superintendent I reached out to him about that and that's time he wasn't as interested but I'm excited that yeah I think it's good good stuff MH awesome all right um the next item on the a so everyone's okay with that right yep okay um anything else underneath uh new business Rob no all right so that brings us to introduction of ordinances there are no ordinances to introduce this evening and the next item is adoption of ordinances this is the second reading and public hearing of ordinance 169 6-24 Miss D Simone would you please read the title of this ordinance an ordinance of the burrow of Emerson Burton County New Jersey to amend in its entirety chapter 617 entitled Secretary of Recreation Commission may I have a motion to open the meeting to public comment on this and this ordinance only all in favor any opposed we are open to the public on this and this uh ordinance only would anybody wish to speak seeing No Hands may I have a motion to close this portion of the meeting for public comment on this ordinance all in favor any opposed passes may I have a motion to adopt ordinance number 16962 4 on second reading second and a roll call please councilwoman Oria Council right yes councilwoman McGuire yes council president Timmerman yes councilman Gordon yes councilwoman s yes um which brings us to report Miss arenia do you have a report for us this evening I do not you do not councilwoman um Maguire do you have a report for us this evening just to wish everyone um oh I thought this was our only meeting in December see and they just corrected me so no no report okay um council president do you have a report for us this evening not have a report okay councilman actually one item the Recreation Commission is uh hosting you got it no I was just I remember seeing it on Facebook they are holding their annual uh deck the homes competition you could find the information on their Facebook page or I think there's also the flyer on the burrow website and they do have to register right register your home for the holiday decorating contest and there's uh I think gift cards and prizes for the winners it's good okay awesome councilman I do not no report on the first week of the month now okay it's usually the second week all right councilwoman say no I don't have no Megan do you have anything to share I do not councilwoman elect okay um I'm going to go ahead with my report and um the burrow held our annual Christmas tree lighting on Sunday December 1st at Burrow Hall to kick off the holiday season it was enjoyable seasonally chilly night with yummy treats provided by the Emerson Chamber of Commerce and in Sarah shop rate of Emerson we had a special visit from Santa Claus on the truck and everybody had a great time um the Amerson Recreation Commission is holding their deck the homes and he's correct the first place winner receives a $250 gift card the second place receives a $100 gift card and the third place receives a $50 gift card um more information is available on the website and as uh council president said on Facebook and social media platforms for rec commission so this Saturday December 7th the Emerson orell Rotary Club will be holding their food drive with Santa from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the vul funeral home vulk Liber Funeral Home in the parking lot in ell photos with Santa will be from noon to 2: p.m. Personal Care items and diapers for St Joseph's care Corner are particularly needed um this Sunday at 10:00 a.m. the Bergen County Police Chiefs will be hosting their annual holiday for Our Heroes with a wreath playing ceremony at the paramis veterans home to honor the over 880,000 deceased veterans in Bergen County during the holiday season thank you to police chief Mark Savina who was co-chairing this special event Kudos Mark the Emerson Police Department is holding their 36th annual PBA toy drive if you'd like to participate please drop off a new unwrapped toy at the Emerson Police Department no later than December 18th the Emerson fire department is holding their annual Santa around town I know this is important to most people in in town so Santa will be coming around Tuesday December 17th through Thursday December 19th you can follow Santa's route in real time by visiting www. Emerson fire.org Santa D tracker there will be uh a holiday market with special appearances by Santa and the Grinch on Saturday December 21st from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Emerson Firehouse there will be I'm pausing because I read something today um and it said the 18th is it are you sure it's the 21st you want to check it on the um on the burrow Facebook page because I thought I saw that it was a different date 21st it is yeah the holiday orph okay all right I thought I saw sorry about that so there will be a Hol the Holiday Market is definitively on December 21st from 11: to 1 at the Emerson Firehouse there will be light Refreshments as well as a cup of cheer coffee cart sponsored by Emerson Starbucks a winter story corner with our friends from Emerson library and more surprises to come we look forward to seeing you there now I just for clarification I know the last couple of years they call it a market but I think it's really just fun for the kids it's not like a market where they sell things it's more like a European market where it's just fun in games for the children um to negate any confusion about what's going on the burough is pleased to announce that we are working with congregation Benet Israel on setting a date to hold a Hanukkah celebration with a public manora lighting at Burrow Hall more details will follow um and we do have a couple of uh days to decide this with the congregation the um first day of Hanukkah this year actually falls on Christmas Day I believe so we will get the information out before then the anchor rebate program provides up to $1,750 to income eligible home owners or renters more information can be found at anchor. nj.gov the deadline to apply has been extended to December 6th for new applicants any issues you could call Lauren rorer in our uh tax department and and uh as we get into the winter months I encourage our residents to sign up to receive emergency notifications and other information through our Rave alert system at www. Emerson nj.org RVE and as always more information on all events and current news is posted on the burrow website at www Emerson nj.org newws or you could also check out our Facebook page the next regular meeting of the Emerson governing body will take place on Tuesday December 17th at 7:30 p.m. in burrow Hall Cham Chambers where commissioner slash councilman Gordon will be retiring his seat so don't miss that one clapping for himself we not no we're not clapping he clapped um and as the public is is aware we have been experiencing technical difficulties with our streaming of our meetings over the last couple of months um next week we have a company coming out to assess our equipment and make recommendations um I just wanted to point that out and uh one last thing the Motor Vehicle Commission will be coming to the senior center December 30th through Friday January 3rd they will not be here on New Year's Day and you can go online and sign up for real ID or you can come down and bring in your license plates or get a regular driver's license or register your vehicle um just like a regular motor vehicle stop so they're going to be here for a full week from Monday to Friday with the exception of New Year's Day correct Michelle all right perfect and there's more information on that on the burrow website is that up anything else you want to give me all right that was it that was the last minute news so um John do you have any report for us this evening Mr Hermanson do you have a report for us this evening just a few things okay first um as of tomorrow our rfqs are due both digital and uh hand copies uh for our professional so anyone who is interested in the in the uh RFQ it's on the website that needs to be digitally and uh in writing tomorrow okay close a business um I was I had been getting some questions in regards to lead pipe letter that went out from Viola that was everyone was received so I'm going to read a statement that was sent from the viola representative so that people understand kind of what this exactly meant and what it means for the residents here in Emerson okay I'd like to uh Rob thank you so much for the uh reaching out to me I'd like to inform the residents of Emerson that Viola water is notifying your customers that we need your assistance in helping us update the inventory of the material type that is supplying water to your home at this time we are not sure what you have it's unknown the purpose of the letter is to let the residents know that we currently do not have the material type and so that we are receiving the unknown letter does not mean that you're served by water service with lead or lead pipes if there are any questions or customer is seeking Viola to conduct an inhome inspection in case that you're concerned Viola will be more than willing to conduct the INSP iction of the material type of your incoming water service line for free please call Viola at800 422 5987 so therefore it's there is not they're not necessarily saying there's lead or whatever but if anybody has a question or a concern in their home and wants to know and wants to have it inspected Viola is willing to reach out to you to reach out to them and they will come out to take I'm going to piggyback on that because I believe councilwoman rice uh Ashley can you hear me yes I hear you called up violia and they gave you a way to figure out whether you have it or not correct yeah yeah so let me find that hold on Ashley was given instructions by violia on a quick test that you could go out and and check yourself oh they used to give you the kit I you have to get it yourself no I think this is just a visual to see whether it's what kind of pipes you have so so what I ended up I'm gonna paraphrase everything but if you receive the letter it's because your pipes like like Rob said are unknown they suggest you fill out the survey that you were given for them to determine if if you are LED or not and if you're determined to be led they will add you to the database and put you in their 10year plan to change out your pipes and the costes on that they're currently in year three of this plan um but if you choose to do it yourself you can pay for it yourself do it soon and then I kind of you know said well I wasn't sure if I got a letter how do I know if I even got the letter what if I threw it out because of course I got a little nervous and then he said he checked the database he's like I don't see you in the database but he said if you could send an email of the pipe leading into your water meter so wherever your water meter is in your home send a picture of that pipe to this email address um I mean it's a long email address but it's end regulated lead and copper group at bola.com we'll post it on the website yeah we'll put on the website but they would check based on the image if if that you know leaving in place is is L or not but he did say fill out the survey the proper route would be to fill out the survey but if you were in my position where you weren't sure if you got the letter or not um if you threw it out like you know thinking junk mail you can always send a picture of your Tye into that email all right thank you councilwoman I I didn't know that that was in your report and Ashley and I had she shared that information with me because a lot of people were asking her Ashley asked me to reach out to because she was had also so and said that she had gotten this letter and wanted to know so I told her that when I got the information I would so this is it's great that we piggybacked each other on that Dre work Makes the Dream Work exactly okay um so my last thing is um the golf course Hackensack country club is working with the burrow uh on a project right now on a on a a flooding issue that we have um there is reported from residents yes so one of the residents had come to us and explained that they had had some issues with water and where the water was coming into their backyards and going down uh through their yards based that they thought was from multiple different directions uh that the golf course was nice enough to say that they would worked with together with the burrow to come up with a solution to try to solve this problem um so we are working together along with our DPW our engineer went out and looked at it also um to come up with a hopefully a solution to this problem we won't know until it's done and then if we get rain but um there is our our engineer feels very good about what they've done and to go forward and so we see we'll see what happens and and I thank them for you working together with us we do appreciate um the golf course working with us hacken sack but it's not a brand new project it's it's an improvement on something that's already existing um that was already engineered out years ago and I believe they're just digging a little bit in order to improve this situation because over years as we know grass grows back in gullies become um more filled in and now they're just going in and going over some of the work but we do appreciate um norm and the uh Hack and Sack Golf Club working with us very much and the last thing iation is appreciated the last thing I have is by the time next meeting is my mother is cele in her 85th birthday and she told me to wish you a good day M mayor so she's lovely thank you pleas teller I said more um anybody have anything else timely to report before the next meeting no okay that brings us to public comment uh members of the public are welcome to speak on any topic by coming to the podium and stating your name for the record in the interest of time speakers are limited to 3 minutes in consideration of all who may wish to speak please keep your comments brief and concise may I have a motion to open the meeting to public comment second all in favor any opposed we are open to the public does anyone wish to speak seeing No Hands may I have a motion to close the meeting to General comments from the public all in favor any opposed we are now closed which brings us to resolutions on on consent which is the shortest I've ever seen may I have a motion to approve consent agenda resolutions 24 24-24 through 26-24 and a roll quote please sorry councilwoman orenia yes councilwoman R yes councilwoman McGuire yes council president Timberman yes councilman Gordon yes councilwoman sers yes that passes thank you very much okay that brings us to closed executive session uh may I have a motion to go into closed session to discuss matters exempt from the public pursuant to njsa 104-1 at SEC and adequately noticed by resolution 25724 roll call please councilwoman orenia yes councilwoman R yeah councilwoman mire yes council president Timberman yes councilman Gordon yes councilwoman sers yes pass thank you Tria we are now going into closed session members of the public May remain on YouTube until we return to open session at which time formal um action may be taken um I don't know if anybody's online but you could stay online as well I usually see a number and I don't see it so I don't know if anyone's on with us but if you are hello and you could stay on while we turn off the system and then we come back short uh probably not shortly but we'll see you later retroactively add some time to the meeting since we went over the curfew what do we have to add 30 minutes 39 minutes that clocks fast what was 40 minutes 40 minutes so he needs a second second all in favor okay so we permitted ourselves to go beyond retroactively is there any other business hearing nothing else may I have a motion to adjourn at [Music] 11:40 oh motion second