the United States of America stand thank you all for being here tonight it's great to have it's great to have everyone here uh and we love um our Eagle Scouts and our Scout Day assembly so thank you uh mayor mans is uh absent tonight as is councelor so bear with me as I serve as your council president and uh Tera you like to call the RO please yes M president oh I'm sorry I need to read the sunshine statement please sunshine in accordance with chapter 231 of the open public meetings act adequate and proper notice of this meeting has been given to the public by publishing a notice in the Glenridge paper the Glenridge voice the and the Star Ledger and posting said notice on the bulletin board of the in the municipal building the agenda and public handouts for this meeting can be viewed online at Blen nj.org a public comment period will be held as listed on the agenda please state your name for the record if you wish to comment and note that comments will be limited to three minutes per person um and I'm going to also add that we will allow time for Scouts to take photos up here uh ter would you like to call the RO please yes m councelor leitz is absent Hughes present Moody present law here Meer here mayor mans is absent council president marrow is President council president you have a quum thankk you so much uh presentation of written Communications uh yes council president I have two uh p of written correspondents from this evening which were actually all distributed to the council as well from Miss Francis milac um both regarding the Easter egg hunt great egg hunt um and regarding Easter um and you've both you've all seen them all so just leave it to that and I will um file them with correspondence as as usual thank you CH and now for our and Proclamation it really is a special time and I really have to thank all the scouts for being here their families for supporting them um I was a former Girl Scout leader so I do have a little bit of sentiment attached to that but it really is a great thing and you all do so much for our community and it's wonderful to have you here and for us to acknowledge you so without further Ado I shall read the Scout Proclamation whereas Eagle Scout is the highest honor of scouting and is achieved only through dedication community service and hard work and the rank of Eagle Scout is a lifelong honor and is respected by all persons familiar with scouting and whereas Wesley steel of troop 855 has stayed the course and earned the rank of Eagle Scout in which He restored the interior of a formerly deric building used by the Glenridge Athletic Association by raing over ,000 to buy new equipment such as bins and new light fixtures and oversaw a total reorganization of the space to assure that the so-called shed could serve as an organized warehouse for all Town Sports over 30 volunteers participated during the duration of the project resulting in over 120 uh man hours wom hours labor hours of volunteer work within the building alone whereas EMT P of troop 855 has stayed the course and earned the rank of Eagle Scout by devising and implementing a project to prevent narcotics overdoses in Glen Ridge by partnering with Rutter's medical school and our Glenridge Police Department to host a virtual training for citizens of his community and distributing townwide information on ordering free Nar kids additionally he coordinated the scouts to distribute over 2,000 pamphlets to every home in Glen Ridge on recognizing and treating narcotics overdoses whereas Harrison vko of troop 855 has stayed the course and earned the rank of Eagle Scout by creating a rain Garden that solved a chronic flooding issue for Benson Street Gardens and Benson Street aside from the practical solu the garden beautified the area with local indigenous plants found to this specific area of New Jersey that naturally will soak up the rainwater whereas aan davit of troop 855 has stayed the course and earned the rank of Eagle Scout by educating the local citizenry on the dangers of released latex balloons to all local marine life and specifically sea turtles additionally he was able to lead to manufacture and sell 300 Sea Turtle ornaments during the last holiday season sorry I missed each ornament sold with information on positive steps citizens can take to keep local marine life safe to acquire the funds to purchase and install a new air filter for the sea turtle Recovery Center to save over 100 SE Turtles whereas Alan Breslin of troop 855 the course and earn the rank of Eagle Scout by organizing teaching and overseeing Scouts to renovate the office area of the Glen Ridge Volunteer ambulance Squad headquarters by replacing the flooring building and installing $7,000 worth of Cabinetry and fixtures and upgrading the it systems now therefore be it resolved that I enry Moro council president of the bu of Glen Ridge the advice and consent of the burrow Council to hereby Proclaim Sunday September 22nd 20124 to be Glen Ridge Eagle Scout Day in the burough of Glen Ridge in honor of the achievement of these Scouts and I call upon all of our citizens to recognize respect and congratulate them and their troop leaders for their accomplishments are are they all here tonight are the scouts here tonight okay stand uh let's see Wesley Wesley stand please thank you Harrison Harrison the E okay okay well we'll give him a pass [Applause] Aiden you like to come with your Leaders with your family to take some photos oh and your proclamations will be distributed on Scout Day uh you'll have individual proclamations um mayor man's will like to sign them and so we'll have those ready on Scout thank I shake your hand thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you again I really I I have to thank the scouts because you really do so much and I know I'm involved in the beny street garden and I app appreciate everything that you've done there and I know there's a scout working there now on his Eagle project so we appreciate really everything that you do I mean the variety of projects that have really supported our small community and the fact that there's so many of you here working so hard in our small community is something to really be uh acknowledged and we thank you and we thank your parents as well and family members because uh I know it's it's it's a a Cooperative effort Cooperative being a c so congratulations again I wish you guys all the best it's really quite you want to take photos leaders too because this parents parents or leaders want to come up I know they're taller than oh wow okay oh yes that you've been our scout master here you've been a scout master here for 20 years so maybe you'll get your own we'll do everybody We're Not Gonna [Music] your [Applause] thanks thank you we're going to do a budget [Music] presentation I'm never EA again and [Music] every all right I guess he will continue that's always such a great that's always such a great thing though cleared the room but was great Ro coms of the Matt do you have [Music] anything in David's absence tonight uh will handle and administration resolutions and Report thank you I have resolution number 6824 uh be it resolved that the following claims presented in the resolution be approved and warrants be drawn for the same uh Madame President I seek to move this uh resolution you've heard the motion by councelor law do I have a second I'll second thank you Rebecca you've heard the motion by councelor law seconded by councelor Meer any discuss on this resolution seeing no discussion will the C clerk please call the vot yes Madam president councelors Hughes hi Moody hi law hi Meer hi for eyes no a the motion carries thank you I have resolution number 69-20 this resolution certifies that the barel complies with the United States equal employment opportunity commission's enforcement guidance and consideration of arrest and conv conviction records in employment decisions under Title 9 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 uh Madam president I seek to move this resolution you've heard the motion by councilor law do I have a second I'll second thanks thanks Peter you've heard the motion by councelor law seconded by councelor Hughes is there any discussion on this resolution is it title n or title seven official record oh I'm sorry okay title seven title seven other than that no comments see no further discussion will the clerk please call the role yes Madam president councilor Hughes hi Moody hi law I Meer I for eyes no KN the motion carries resolution number 70-24 uh New Jersey Law provides that budgets as advertised shall be read in full at the public hearing or it may be read in titled only only if at least one week prior to the date of the hearing a complete copy of the approved budget as advertised shall be posted in a public place where Public Notices are customarily posted in a p in a principal public building and copies be made available to each requesting same during the said week prior to the public hearing um now therefore be it resolved by the mayor and Council that it hereby declares the conditions of the Jers law have been met and therefore the budget for 2024 shall be read by its title only U Madame President I seek to moot this resolution uh you've heard the motion by councilor law do I have a second I'll second this one thanks loran you've heard the motion by councilor law seconded by councelor Rudy is there any discussion on this resolution I I know we've noted the budget will be posted on the burough website there'll be a copy in the office here and I believe there'll also be a copy in the library or we'll we'll look to put one there if there isn't one uh so residents have an opportunity to review it uh and any questions can be forwarded uh to the burrow to the burrow office and we'll put them in touch with Matt larcy with with any questions people have right yes thanks uh okay see you no further discussion will the cler please call the yes Madam president Council isues I Moody I law I Meer hi Four Eyes no the motion carries resolution 71-20 uh the local Finance board which is a government uh New Jersey state body adopted rules that permit municipalities and sound financial condition to assume the responsibility of conducting the annual budget examination uh the bur of Glen Ridge has been declared eligible to participate in this program by a division of local government services and a Chief Financial Officer has determined that Glen Ridge meets the necessary conditions to participate in this program for the 2024 budget year this resolution it states that based upon the Chief Financial Officer certification the governing body has founded the budget as met the requirements to be self-certified um Madam president I seek to move this resolution uh thank you Rich you heard motion by councelor law do I have a second I'll second thanks Rebecca you've heard the motion by uh councelor law seconded by councelor Meyer any further discussion on this resolution seeing none will the clerk Polie call Ro yes Madam president councelor Hughes I Moody I law I Meer I Four Eyes no Nam the motion carries resolution 72- 24 the the resolution formally introduces the proposed budget for 2024 The Proposal anticipates a 3.32% increase in a municipal tax levy uh which equates to an average increase of $148 on a municipal portion of residents tax bill uh based upon an average residential assessment of 672 $540 um the budget will be posted as um council president Mario mentioned on April 18th the glenbridge paper and it will also the mayor and council do hereby approve the proceedings as the budget for 2024 at a hearing of the budget and tax a hearing on the budget and tax resolution will be held on May 13 2024 at 7:30 p.m. and the budget will also be available on the B's uh website and hard copies may be obtained through the clerk um Madam president I seek to move this resolution thanks uh you've heard the motion by councilor law do I have a second I'll I'll second thanks I just like to Quick comment about how much I'd like to acknowledge work was going into preparing the budget thank you very much for that it's it's a months long Pro process that involves uh really digging into expenses and revenues and projections figuring spend money and how we can deliver the same level of service with really a minimal amount of increase in cost and it's it's a tough it's a tough AR process that Matt go through our administrator mik Department Chiefs I think it should be good does a great job department heads in and reviewing this throughout the year all right you've heard the motion by councilor law seconded by councelor Hughes uh any further discussion already all right seeing none could you please call the yes Madam president Council isues hi Moody hi law hi Meer hi Four Eyes no the motion carries uh Madame uh council president I have um ordinance number 1804 uh an ordinance titled uh calendar year 2024 order ordinance to exceed the municipal budget appropriation limits and establish a cap Bank uh for first reading can I have a second for that I'll second uh any further discussion amongst the members of the council for the first reading C ordinance seeing no further comments forthcoming Tera can you call the yes ma' president councelor shes I Moody I law I Meer I Four Eyes no names this ordinance is passed on first reading I refer the ordinance to the municipal clerk for the purpose of statutory publication and posting yes mam president that's all I have Madam president all right thank you thank you thank you rich I appreciate that Peter uh so the Public Safety Committee met today uh I just give a couple of updates the three-way stop over by uh uh that Sherman right we're still waiting for warmer weather to be able toing to be able to install the crosswalk uh and stop signs separately happy to report that our Al Grant has been approved um it's through the help of congresswoman Cheryl's office it's in the amount of $56,000 and it will cover Auto Li plate read readers we have not yet determined exactly where we're going to put them um we will be coordinating with our neighborhood communities and it's used enfor uh tonight I have first a consent agenda uh these cover um resolutions authorizing road closures for a variety of different events that we're having um following items are considered to be routine and therefore acting upon as a single motion if any discussion is requested on a consent agenda item we can remove it from the agend the regular agenda from the consent to the regular all consent agenda items will be reflected uh in in thee in the minutes uh so I have resolution 7324 be resolved by the mayor and councel uh that there may be an item of business each regular meeting uh consent which shall consist of a resolution of resolutions of a routine or non-controversial nature not required to Mayor I move resolution 7324 the Arts and eare Rhino Memorial Day Parade L run and the as very good thanks Peter you've heard the than you've heard the motion by councelor Hughes do I have a second I'll second thanks L uh any further discussion see CL yes Madam president councilor Hughes hi Moody hi law hi Meer hi Four Eyes no names the motion carries I think that's it for me I think 79 and 809 should also have been included in the consent agenda okay the raffle and the overpayment of taxes I don't they were they're separ no I just read it separately from the other ones uh just so look I'll just for for information then so included then was also a a small tax refund block six lot 15 property on Street um the individuals in the mortgage processing service they want to refund rather than apply payments for their tax util account the amount of 3,384 all right thank you and that's all I have for tonight so the consent agenda covers resolution 7424 through 82 correct you about that no that's okay and we did call the RO right yes did thank you la uh I don't have any official reports but I do want to take a moment yes please not to keep us from getting home tonight but to remind everybody that April is Earth month and to take a moment also to let everybody know that Glen is actually doing an awful lot this year for Earth mon uh we have a bunch of events this weekend uh 13th seems to be our lucky day rather than unlucky we have a community garden cleanup happening at Benson Street Green we have uh the Tony's Brook cleanup that is our twice annual cleanup and the spring cleanup from what I've heard is often the heaviest because of all of the winter detrus that flows down so I encourage people to participate in that uh we are having our second repair Cafe at the train station and that is an all volunteer effort where volunteers offer to repair things for free for local residents uh we are fully subscribed but we're asking people to come and walk in especially if they're curious we might have space and the library is participating in this they're bringing Ike the book bike and they're going to encourage people to use tools from the library of things and guides so that people can take them out on the spot and then later in the month will be the Freeman Gardens rake and bake on April 27th so bring your appetite and your RS and your RS just going to say and your elbow grease uh and then all month long leading up to the Eco Fair we are still selling our annual pollinator sale and we are and you can buy that to the community Pass Program onbs it's very very easy to do that and thank you Eric and Tera for getting the announcement out so all of the information that Lor jeene just shared is also on our bur announcement um the vent Street uh community garden cleanup will be from I will be there from 9 to 11: on Saturday morning and it's supposed to be a beautiful day it's really just a lot lot of prepping and maintenance of that Garden all the produce grown there goes to the human needs food pantry and last year um we harvested just under a thousand pounds of produce that that was delivered there so it's really an opportunity for people to see what goes on there and hopefully recruit volunteers uh for the summer when we're actually uh doing the harvesting and the delivery and and I just want to amplify and say you know we really are as a council as a town doing more and more to try to make Benson Street and be more than a parking you know between the community garden Eagle Scout projected there's another Eagle so it's on the pollinator pathway uh you know that was the shade and Rain Garden the sun Garden is going in we've reoriented things there so we want to make it a community space it really yeah the the scouts really have done a lot we had a scout several years ago built the beds is his e project thank you uh Rich nothing to report tonight M president nothing to report thank you Rebecca nothing to report tonight okay uh I will not report as well let see I guess I'm GNA follow along and say I have no report okay and I have no report any comments from the public see Second Chance Matt Second Chance Matt will be available for your for your questions for your budget question all right Rebecca I'd like to make a motion to adjourn council president thank you all in favor yes last no I object my fingers crossed up with the Orit thank