all right [Music] ladies I love that they all look back to you because they're like 100 best places to live we're going to watch the video don't take our word for it experience Hillsboro located in the heart of Somerset County there's something for everyone Community parks hiking trails trendy eateries indoor rock climbing and Adventure arts and performances did we mention top-notch dining we've got activities for everyone to keep you healthy involved and entertained come see why everyone is talking about Hillsboro experience our community experience our Farms experience our events [Music] experience our history experience [Music] Hillsboro very very nice job very nice job all right all right good evening and welcome to the township committee meeting of March 26 2024 Miss break would you please call the role committee woman hand here committee leani present committee woman P here Deputy Mayor Chelli here mayor bring here administrator fera here attorney Willard here all right let please join me in a salute to the flag ready I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the rep for it stands one nation under God indivisible jce for all good job that was good that's two meetings in a row with a really strong pledge of allegiance that was awesome that was great okay now mayor States be uh please be advised that in accordance with Section Five of the open public meetings act chapter 231 of the public laws of 1975 notice of this meeting was made by posting on the bulletin board at the Hillsboro Township municipal complex and notifying the officially designated newspapers that this meeting would take place at the Hillsboro Township municipal complex tonight at 7:30 p.m. on March 26 2024 I do not see any approval of minutes so we will move on to reports from the liazon committee woman hand right thank you mayor you're welcome all right under from the health department there are coloral cancer awareness month so March is coloral Cancer Awareness Month good reminder to everyone over the age of 45 to begin screening for colon cancer at the risk of too much information I just got screened this week and it was a uh it was not as bad as uh you would think but um please they encourage every race gender ethnicity is at risk for colon cancer luckily it's 90% treatable um when it is caught early so please call your GI all right measles the CDC has issued a health advisory due to an increase in global and domestic measles cases and outbreaks the global or the goal of the travel advisory is to ensure children in the US and anyone six months um or older with plans to travel internationally are currently up to-date with their MMR vaccinations so please if you plan to travel internationally contact your doctor radon radon kits you know get them why they're hot um they're still available at the um Hillsboro Health Department one per um household while supplies last from the wreck department lot of kids here if you have not signed up for the wreck program this summer um please you know get to the site and check it out um there are basketball and summer camps um lots of fun stuff I mean there's like a range of activities for all levels of interest and activity so check it out um going to an older crowd yoga for our senior residents so there is um instrumental meditation and yoga this is for residents over the age of 60 they can call the Social Services office and register for the next free class it has an Earth Day day theme on Monday April 22nd there's also one on May 20th so check it out um under the title of gratitude our Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey Service Unit 72 kindly assembled birthday celebration bags for the Hillsboro Community Assistance Network can food pantry the social service office will be Distributing the birthday bags at their upcoming spring distribution and then throughout the year last but not least donations always in need the social services department is asking residents to donate um the following items to can and keep in mind um if you're celebrating Easter there's some items on here so shampoo conditioner laundry detergent dish detergent deodorant peanut butter long pasta children's snacks and newly acquired free frozen turkey Hammer lasagna if you're not going to use it um please please uh consider donating to the Social Services Department thank you mayor uh thank you committee woman uh committee man leani thank you mayor hello kids and dos um so Summers county is looking for poll workers to help out during the 2024 primary elections in June poll workers must be at least 16 years of age and and high school or college students are encourag to apply payment is $300 on primary election day and 20 2.43 so $243 per hour on early voting days so 300 bucks a day it's not bad for a little one day gig uh see the flyer on tomorrow's e newss for more information uh dog licenses you still have a little time before occurring a late fee the deadline for pet licenses is March 31st so again you have till March 31st to get your pet licenses or you will start to incur a late fee and lastly uh the Hillsboro business ass iation spring social is only two days away the HBA is hosting a networking event this Thursday March 8th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at iron Peak Sports and events it will be a great night to mingle on network with fellow business owners professionals and entrepreneurs from in and out of the Hillsboro area here from our guest speaker our one and only mayor Robert bring and learn about resources available to help your business succeed in 2024 the township Committee in Hillsboro staff will also be in attendance looking answer questions and connect with the public to register all you have to do is visit the township website or Link in tomorrow's E news that's all mayor thank you thank you sir committee woman pay thanks mayor first up we have coloring with the cops Hillsboro Police are pleased to announce the return of a fun Community event coloring with the cops taking place on Wednesday April 24th coloring with the cops provides an opportunity for children to get to know members of the local police department while coloring in and enjoying Pizza registration is required and will be capped at 75 children see the sign up link in tomorrow's e newss veterans information session is open to vets throughout the county this session the first in a quarterly series focused on County veteran services and Veteran homelessness and took place last weekend presenting on behalf sorry two weekends ago presenting on behalf of Somerset County's office of veteran service veteran service officer Gan O'Brien and director of veteran service Peter NCH shared tools and resources to benefit veterans with a focus on war specific disabilities and the care and treatment of veterans that veterans are entitled to Amy Halper visited from the clinical supervisor for veterans Haven North discussed veteran homelessness and the options available to Veterans who are struggling to find a place to live and at the end of the session veterans participated in engaging Q&A we had a phenomenal turnout for our first ever veteran information s session and I cannot wait for our next one in June um we had 21 veterans and our family members of veterans and the conversation was flowing please see the press release in tomorrow's E news or the Hillsboro Township website for more information and to sign up for the veterans email finally we have the Vietnam veterans tribute Hillsboro Memorial VFW Post 8371 is planning a brief Vietnam War veteran trib at the Garden of Honor on Friday March 29th here in front of the municipal building um at 9:00 a.m. please look for announcements in the event of inclement weather that's all mayor thank you Deputy Mayor Chelli uh thank you mayor uh good evening uh report from the building department uh when taking out a construction permit please remember that these permits will remain open until all final inspections have been passed and all other prior approvals have been submitted as applicable as applicable so we recommend that you save all permit documents all construction documents for your records as as a project is being completed uh from the engineering department the engineering department would like to inform owners of apartment complexes town home town town homes condominiums and businesses that any modifications to outside lighting requires a permit from the engineering department sight lighting is regulated by Township codes and was and was approved as part of the site plan when the project was originally built any lighting modifications such as upgrading to new LED fixtures will require a new lighting plan professionally prepared by a lighting expert it should show the upgraded lighting conformed to the Township Code bedroom and for anybody who's changed a light bulb in a recessed ceiling and put the wrong bulb in because it was bright light instead of soft some of you probably know what that's like it's very similar to that um Public Works spring is here uh and before the vegetation grows over the existing uh winter trash that tends to accumulate along the roads let's get together and pick it up Hillsboro is part of a Statewide clean communities Grant which is a litter abatement program that helps fund our local litter cleanups for volunteer groups the opportunities we offer are extremely flexible and where you where you can determine what schedule works for your group or organization to help keep the town Litter free so please visit the Public Works link for more information on being involved in this impactful program and call the public works department um and then the MUA unipal Utilities Authority uh is a reminder the 2024 tax sale is coming up for the 2023 sewer charges uh you must pay your 2023 charges to avoid being included in the tax sale list if if you are unsure of the status of your tax payment uh or this payment please feel free to contact the MUA office at 908 7319 660 and that's it Mr Mayor thank you sir all right I have a few and then we'll uh we'll get down to the proclamations we'll make these as fun as I can so Municipal Building we're closed on uh the 29th on Friday um for this Friday an observance of the Easter weekend uh Township offices will resume business on Monday April 1st at 8: a.m. the library will be open on March 29th from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. but will be closed on Sunday March 20th in the observance of the Easter holiday uh I just want to wish everybody who celebrates Easter a happy Easter and um as we wish every holiday uh in Hillsboro everyone to wish the the best the best they can they can do during that time of year so uh whatever you celebrate and I think this is a great time to uh to wish you that so happy Easter everybody uh scavenger hunt for local government week 2024 this is actually kind of cool so Hillsboro Township will be hosting a fun interactive event the week of April 8th through 12th 8th through 12th couple weeks to highlight New Jersey local government week the municipal building scavenger hunt will take place that week between hours of 6 and uh excuse me 8:00 a.m. to 400 p.m. to present an opportunity for residents of all ages means you guys if you want to come uh to learn more about their local government and different municipal offices the first stop at the scavenger hunt will Prov a map of the participating municipal offices and the first clue all right you play Sherlock Holmes there so uh participants will use the clues to visit different stations throughout the municipal building receiving prizes and a certificate of completion from the mayor myself and at the last station so it's a great way to learn a little bit more about how your town works it's a great way to get connected come by it shouldn't take a whole long period of time but it should be a lot of fun uh our 2025 Township calendar photo submissions please submit those we're again working with the town planner to produce a 2025 color printed calendar which will be mailed to every resident uh to every residence in Hillsboro as always the Township calendar will be an interactive experience with residents submitting the photos so I know I how many of you cheerers have phones yeah I take a cool photo of some I I'll tell what what I think I have on there what we're trying to capture but it's important what we what we capture every year we receive lovely pictures of the sand mountains which is beautiful right beautiful mountains here Duke Farms then a shanic Mill and other local points of interest this year we're going to mix it up a little we're adding a theme team for this 2025 year calendar and we're challenging you as uh photographers to capture the unique attributes of our picturesque Township parks so you guys go to parks and hang out sometimes right take some beautiful pictures of things that you think are really cool and submit them in please see the press release in tomorrow's E news and on the Hillsboro Township website for guidelines and submission information the town uh Township planner and calendar promote local businesses and services that highlight our local scenery the best part is that it comes at no cost to anybody uh to the taxpayers of course and here is a fun fact Hillsboro Township employees always vote on which photos appear in the calendar that's a fun fact I guess right guess that's a fun fact all right next one we're doing more yoga in Hillsboro looks like so yoga by the pond so residents are looking for a way to unwind and de-stress are invited to attend series of six free yoga classes yoga by the pond a mayor's wellness program initiative and will take place at the an van Middlesworth Park in May and June so more Park stuff the program is being sponsored by the New Jersey health and Healthcare and quality institutes Community Health mental Grant uh the series of six free yoga classes offers the perfect opportunity to learn various yoga techniques while enjoying a view of the Ann an van Middlesworth Park Pond AVM Park Pond yoga mats will be provided to the first 20 registrant uh don't miss out on this chance to relax and connect with your community sign up for yoga by the pond we have a really good website that captures signups we're going digital uh see tomorrow's e newss for dates and times as well as a reg registration link just a few more for me and then we'll do the fun stuff all right blood drive this is really important kids as you get older blood drives are really important for people it could save somebody's life our J RWJ Barnabas health and the Hillsboro Mayor's wellness program are partnering to host a blood drive on Thursday March 28th 2024 from 11:00 p.m. to 400 p.m. here at the municipal building please consider donating all D all donors will receive a free t-shirt but more importantly if somebody donates blood you could save somebody's life that's really an important thing as you get older so consider consider that parents uh River Road construction uh Somerset County began construction on CR 567 River Road in Hillsboro this week the project will begin on River Road from Elm Street until approximately 1,000 ft north of Elm Street a full road closure and Detour are in effect and I know that our our our updated code red system will make sure that everybody knows what's going on we fixed it finally it's in good shape Hillsboro residents are encouraged to avoid the area and find an alternate route for their travels construction will take eight months to complete ending right Before Christmas December 2024 all right eyeglasses Dean Balano uh Hillsboro High School and Eagle Scout this is a pretty cool project is collecting eyeglasses for those who cannot afford or otherwise obtain them according to the National Institute of Health about 15% of people uh 15% of people who need uh glasses cannot afford to acquire them Additionally the New York Times states that this equates to about 1 billion people globally and is an Overlook Public Health priority I agree Dean will be placing a ction box for glasses at the municipal building here on April 9th once enough glasses are collected he will deliver the donations to a charity which will distrib which will distribute them to those less fortunate now that's a pretty cool pretty cool opportunity so if you can help out there please come by and donate those glasses all right I think the last one before we talk about staying connected is um the uh Piko basket auctions so who goes to Woods Road okay I can't tell I can't say what I wanted to say okay but the I I know the uh the maskot pretty well was good friend um but uh we so Piko and uh you guys do Piko in school right you do B basket auctions so we have auctioned off uh uh a great opportunity to have pizza with the mayor myself for whoever wins in the pcto and the basket auctions where we'll take a tour around the municipal building we'll go to the police department we'll talk to the police we'll see the cars and all the cool equipment and then we'll go into the library read a book so um just if you're going on the basket auction try to get that win that all right it'd be kind of a fun opportunity so yeah you want to you want to I want to get that you want to get that we'll put you in the jail we'll lock you up um all right I went so so when my sons and I my older Sons who who baby Sydney and Alexa are here babysitting my uh they babysit my boys Robbie and Christian not as much Robbie anymore he'd get offended if he knew you I said you're a babysitter but when about two years ago I went into the police department not sure if you were there and um McCarthy and uh I brought them into the jail with me we stood there and we closed the door and I said boys this is why we make good choices so it's a uh it's a good way to teach the kids I was in there with them so I wanted to teach them the right way to teach M no I think it' be fun choices yeah it'd be fun he makes great choices he's a good guy three years a mayor he was fantastic all right stay connected as always you can stay connected with all the e- news and events by subscribing to Wednesday's e e- newss and Thursday's experience Hillsboro bulletin follow and like the official Hillsboro Township Facebook page X which used to be Twitter and Instagram tune in to Hillsboro uh YouTube channel and sign up for Hillsboro alerts to traffic and emergency notifications all right I need a drink of water and we're going to do some uh we're going to do some proclamations you guys ready all right we need some walk up [Music] music okay all right ladies L said important one we're going to start we you guys are going to be we're going to do two before the before the cheerleader so bear with us so this is a very important one Donate Life month group please come on [Applause] [Music] up you can see we're wearing the we're wearing the Donate Life bracelets well do we have enough for everybody here maybe have some we have some we have as much as we I'll give you one of mine they can get me another one all right so this is very important everybody this is important girls so re realizing the urgent need for donors around the country the national Donate Life month observance was established in 2003 to promote a greater understanding of the life-saving benefits of donation the New Jersey organ and tissue sharing Network or NJ sharing network is committed to addressing that need through enhanced awareness there are nearly 4,000 New Jersey residents and over 100,000 Americans awaiting life saving and life-enhancing Transplant operations donors not only give the gift of life but also restore also often restore health and sight to the recipients of tissue uh and organs every capable person should support this vital effort by registering as an organ and tissue donor at a local Motor Vehicle Commission or online now therefore be a Proclaim that we the mayor and Hillsboro Township committee do hereby recognize National Donate Life month as a great opportunity to join in the fight to save lives by giving the greatest gift thank you for being here thank you mayor uh I just want to note that there are 15 people here in Hillsboro are on the list waiting for an life-saving organ like my son Joseph who lives just up the road behind the CVS received a heart transplant that saved his life I also want to thank you I also want to mention a very special person Denise Roth is here Denise is a donor mom her son Matt passed several years ago and donated and saved lives and enhanced lives so thank you [Applause] Denise it's my wife Patty and Joe yino from the sharing Network please consider registering to become an Oregon donor a blood donor we need to save lives we need more people to step up to volunteer and to save lives thank you very [Applause] much and I and and and I know Denise is Miss Roth she's my my both two of my older Sons pre prek teacher so wonderful [Applause] so mayor it may be helpful so as the as the mobile unit is coming around for the real IDs that's a great time to opt into being an organ donor so please consider it it's back this week if you're getting your real ID one more one more and then we get to the cheerleaders all right there's a lot of you here the American Red Cross big clap for these guys no it's all good I have three boys he's being quiet that's great he's real quiet believe me the American Red Cross has touched many lives in Hillsboro as well as across the country and around the world the American Red Cross provides 24-hour support to members of the military veterans and their families training in CPR aquatic Safety First Aid to millions and collects about 40% of the nation's blood supply in Hillsboro the Red Cross Works tirelessly through its employees and many other volunteers to support the township when disaster strikes when someone needs life-saving blood or to give the comfort in the form of a helping hand now therefore be a proclaimed that we the mayor and the Hillsboro Township committee encourage all Americans to support this organization and its notable its Noble humanitarian Mission thank you thank you mayor um and to all of you um thank you cheerleaders for letting me U be the in your way to getting your Awards tonight um I was a cheerleader once you guys look great um I I want to say thank you so much to Hillsboro uh to you mayor and and the whole committee um the Red Cross gets to celebrate March is Red Cross month annually and we've done so since 1943 uh when Franklin D Roosevelt declared it and we've had the opportunity to have March's Red Cross month ever year since um and what we like to do is celebrate our volunteers 90% of our Workforce are volunteers so often when you see someone in a Red Cross vest or carrying out one of our services it's a volunteer so I always use this time to say if you're interested in our humanitarian work there's a job for you um we don't pay well um it because we're volunteers but it is a wonderful opportunity to get involved in your community and it's really neighbors helping neighbors um and I also take this moment because there are so many families here to visit our website redcross.org prepare NJ and take some time to make sure your home is safe uh for emergencies and that you've taken time to prepare your loved ones um March is a great time to do that so I'll use my time up here to remind you uh we also have a free first aid app and a free emergency app and they're available in all the app stores they're full of great information that could help you and your loved ones um in a time of need thank you thank you so much we'll put that on en we'll put the [Music] [Applause] yeah thank [Applause] you what was it you want me to skip the cheerleaders I heard no yeah you good you want to go home no but you got to buy them if I if I if I skip you have to buy them all ice cream all right all right let's do it all right we'll do it all right here we go all right all right so we're going to have four separate kind of bringing you guys up because there's like a whole crew here right whole crew Danielle right Danielle said that we're going to do at the end she's going to come up and say something so don't expect it all right so that's how we'll handle it okay all right so this is for the 2023 Hillsboro cheerleading Mighty might team come on up come on up Mighty Mites Mighty Mites come on up don't be [Music] embarrassed they're not all here okay so for the record they're not I was just told they're not all here it's a bigger team than two Come On In The Middle come on in the Middle come on come on the there you go come on the middle all right so the 2023 Hillsboro cheerleading Mighty might team had a very successful season because of their hard work and their dedication good stuff the 2023 Hillsboro Chile mdy might team is the central Jersey Champions that's right the 2023 Hillsboro cheerleading Mighty might team is a new team of competition cheerleaders that learned a challenging routine overcame their fears now they're standing up here with fear that's great good for you of executing difficult stunts and had the highest score in their category good job okay so the 2023 Hillsboro cheerleader Mighty might team consists of the following young athletes and coaches we're just going to name the four of you because it's the four what is your name Mia Mia Mia Rees Rees I'm coach Ali I'm I'm coach Lucia there we go all right here's the good part here's the official part now therefore be a Proclaim that we the mayor and the Hillsboro Township committee do hereby commend the 2023 Hillsboro cheerleading Mighty might team coaches and parents not only for their successful season but for their hard work their dedication and commitment to the sport and to those principles of good sportsmanship teamwork and academic achievement which is the most important which the organization endorses congratulations conratulations would you like to would you like to say oh no you we're going to say it at the end she said here here let's take a picture here we go here we go we good job you're oh here here are the here are the remainders for the junior peeee team come on up form little on the front come on up FR also line all right oh they're being told they know their lineup what's your lineup coach said what's your lineup I I never was a cheerleader so I don't know what a lineup is look at you oh picture formation coach said Danielle yeled it wow me too you got them I love watching the cheerleading coaches they're right in the front they tell them exactly what to do I can do this with the baseball teams all right so the 2023 Hillsboro cheerlead junior peewee team had a very successful season again because of their hard work and their dedication the 2023 Hillsboro J uh cheerleading junior peewee team is the here we go again this the the Central Jersey Champion Garden state champion Eastern region Champion second in the nation ycada Division champion and the ycada global champion who what did you lose you didn't lose anything you guys were amazing how you guys are amazing the 2023 cheerleading junior peeee team consists of the following young athletes and coaches I'm going to give you each the mic and say your name so we'll start here Avery just do it this way Kylie Hannah Tori Ava s Ava s here want you hold it and pass it down Zoe Bella Gabby Callie Isabella Adel Magnolia Sophie Gia Sammy Ava Olivia coach Sharon coach Elise coach Jordan very nice coach Jordan sounds like she lost her voice yeah she lost her voice we've hung out before so I know your voice different there we go so now therefore be Proclaim that we the mayor and Hillsboro Township committee do hereby commend the 2023 Hillsboro J uh cheerleading junior pewe team coaches and parents not only for their successful season but for their hard work their dedication and commitment to the sport and to those principles of good sportsmanship teamwork and academic achievement which the organization end endorses and all the Championships fantastic fantastic stay here stay here very good Sharon when you leave take this envelope my goodness you guys win everything uh well [Laughter] I'm smile not good enough all right congratulations all [Applause] right two more two more there's a lot of you here last the last one big the last one's huge and then we're going to have you all come up and take a huge picture again do that for you guys all right okay here we go all right I need water any one those helmets with the straw for water all right the 2023 Hillsboro cheerleading peeee team had a very successful season because of their hard work and dedication I think you all worked hard and you had we dedicated right I might not read that for the last one the 2023 Hillsboro cheerleading Peewee team is the central Jersey Champion the Garden State Champion the Eastern region champion and second in the nation that's awesome come on up come on up come on up bee team come on up I should have said that earlier my goodness you guys are incredible we missing two You're missing two I have one of the babysitters here right here she's right here on a babysitter here we go come on you want to get want sit next to your daugh all right you see her off huh all okay okay now the 2023 Hillsboro cheerleading peeee team consists of the following young athletes and coaches let me start with Alexa one of our cheer one of our baby go for it pass it that way Alexa Madison eie Gabby ly Lexie Addison Riley coach Mindy coach Barb coach Meg very nice now therefore be a Proclaim that we the mayor and the Hillsboro Township committee do hereby commend the 2023 Hillsboro cheerleading peeeee team coaches and parents not only for their successful season but their hard work their dedication and commitment to the sport and to those principles of good sportsmanship teamwork and academic achievement I'm going to say it each time it's the most important part I've skipped the last one but I'll say it twice it's the most important part which the organization endorses congratulations on all your championships and everything great [Music] job what are we going be now all right good [Music] job let's go Varsity up here Varsity let's go I want to see how they're told what to do this is going to be fun to watch they do let me see the varsity should know what to [Music] do lots all right all right Varsity you ready Varsity I don't want to be in anybody's way all right the 2023 Hillsboro cheating cheerleading Varsity CH team no they didn't cheat they won fair and square had a very successful season because of their hard work and their dedication the 2023 Hillsboro cheerleading varsity team is Central Jersey Champion East Regional Champion second in the nation ycada Division champion and ycada Global champion man oh man that's amazing all right now we're going to pass the mic around all right I go ahead say your name Izzy Chloe Grace Mila Ava Daniela Sam Heather summer Elizabeth Abby Anella Leila Isa Demi Sophia Emma Sydney Maddie Callie Addie Anne Bailey Boo GI Noelia Rya coach staff coach Mandy all right I'll do it over here now here we go all right thank you very good now therefore be a Proclaim that we the mayor and the Hillsboro Township committee do do hereby commend the 2023 Hillsboro cheerleading varsity team your coaches and your parents not only for their successful season but for their hard work dedication and commitment to the sport and to those principles of good sportsmanship teamwork and academic achievement right say it out loud for me which the organization endorses congratulations this this now what do I do here that lay down in the front oh you want me to are you [Applause] you guys need to stop encouraging him how about girls stay up all the girls come on up all the girls come on up all right you like that I hope you do oh my goodness all right this is ladies girls girls girls all right listen this is Mayor formation now mayor mayor formation I don't know what that means but go ahead shortest in the front kneel down right yeah they figure it out yes yeah we'll take it going to get there's a whole for everybody for Varsity oh here little ones hold it here we go for the picture Alexa sorry babe girls middle you're you're going to have to go down more so the back row can be seen I don't you want to yeah go ahead who all of them no hey girls they're good they're they're look you get them up they're like statues I throw my hip out of joint if I that right do you want to read it no why you you've spoken enough I'm [Music] done all right girls quiet I would like to thank uh mayor bring and the township committee for Honor ing um the cheer teams tonight um this was our first year as a merge organization and as you can see extremely successful year we are so proud of the girls I would also like to thank the uh Hillsboro Youth Sports Board of Trustees and the parents and I of course the amazing coaches that we have we couldn't have done it without you thank you all right congrat ulations on the championship all right good good all right ladies go ahead go on [Applause] back all right girls sit down just stopped working okay all right so this concludes our proclamations and presentations congratulations to everybody thank you for being here thank you to cheerleaders but thank you also for the the both both the uh uh donate to life uh organ transplant and also uh um the Red Cross so that's a really really really great evening so um we're going to take a brief pause so those who want to go home can and then we'll conclude the regular our regular business so we'll take like a three or four minute break thank you guys I think we're ready to get back going is the back ready to go yes all right ready to go okay so now uh consent agenda items 1 through 10 this evening would anybody like to take them out of order or are we good to take them as is so may I have a motion to approve consent agenda items 1 through 10 I make that motion mayor second second comments from the Das comments from the floor good evening Maria Janus 720 East fck Avenue Manville New Jersey I'm also Hillsboro Township property owner block 86 lot 3 2155 Camp Lane Road um um kind of have them out of order because I didn't get a chance to see all these um consent number four that would be resolution 17-20 24 resolution authorizing annual payment to the Hillsboro fire district of onethird of the municipal Services payment collected by the township for the Hillsboro prominade uh property um so what is the payment what is the payment on on on this uh property what is this all about since we have Miss noon here this evening would you like to address it or Mr Willard since you're here tonight we can use your services I believe the resolution is self-explanatory however um the hillsbor promonade uh when that property was uh first developed what happened was it was actually a built- remedy lawsuit for affordable housing uh that settled by way of uh what you see now it's a excuse me could you it's hard to oh it's on okay um the Hillsboro prominade uh that particular property was the subject of a builder's remedy affordable housing lawsuit back in in the late 90s um the settlement of that lawsuit didn't result in affordable housing it resulted in that commercial development that you see there um and as part of that settlement agreement that they entered into uh the property owner agreed to pay to the municipality a 0.10 times their the total square footage of building space that they have there to the township as a municipal service fix um and that missal service fee was to amarate the missal services provided to that development project meaning uh fire police and rescue um and that payment has been made uh by them to the municipality for the last I don't know how many years um as a matter of fact uh I believe the fire company was in fact getting a payment from the municipality um we do have a new CFO uh there was a request from the fire company for that payment and she felt uncomfortable issuing that payment without having any you know anything in writing because over the years there's been been nothing carried forward in writing so we are now adopting a formal resolution again to indicate that we will be paying the fire district onethird of the amount collected uh from the prior year so is there is this a set fee or what is it based on it one 0.1 they're going to pay they pay to the township 0.10 times the number square foot of building space I think it amounts to around 40,000 a year how much I'm sorry uh I think it's approximately approximately it's approximately 40 42,000 a year and then uh onethird of that 42 would be paid to the fire district so we're talking about 10 to 15,000 so this this uh settle settlement agreement that's that's um um referenced in this resolution and the ordinance and the developers agreement are those all available through Oprah absolutely and those all specify um exactly what we're talking about here okay thank you um consent number 3 resolution 116 d224 excuse me Maria I'm sorry can you please pause officer can you please ask them to just miss j a little closer to it's hard to hear you cuz the ambient noise in the background the girls are loud sorry I'm so sorry for the interruption it they're very noisy outside all the girls are still hard to hear you because their voices are c yeah so if you can also step forward to your microphone um because we have difficulty hearing you we're having difficulty hearing well like everything is just very noisy right now and I apologize for the delay okay um this is consent number three resolution 116 d224 resolution authorizing emergency temporary Appropriations prior to adoption of 2024 budget and the excuse me first item Des destion is p uh is that a e RS and under temporary budget it's zero for 2024 but then it goes to 1,378 738 and then the second one same thing uh it's zero and it's and it's what is that is that a p r or pfr what is that p r those are our our I'm sorry our pension um contributions what the township pays for pensions so it's the um public employees retirement system and the police and fire retirement system we don't actually have those numbers until like a month or two into the year so that's why you don't see them on the first temporary budget that's why you see them a little later down okay so so in January you had no number and then in February you got a number of 1,378 738 y and how and is that is that the and that's just for the temporary budget so why was there not uh a number to start with that's the invoice we received from the state so that's the same for the first one and for the second one where it's zero and then and then there's a the larger figures that large figure is what we are going to pay for the entire year that that's it and it has to be paid prior to when we'll be able to intro or adopt our budget so I have to include it in the temporary budget okay thank you I think there was one more but papers weren't [Music] stapled um consent number 10 resolution 23-20 24 resolution authorizing the township ship of Hillsboro to proceed with the Foreclosure under the inrm tax foreclosure Act of certain tax sale certificates the township holds for the property identified as block 15320 lot one Hillsboro New Jersey um does this show who the property owner is on this Mr Willard how would that be handled Mike Mike says document not found on this one it's blocking me on right um unfortunately that's one of the problems here there's multiple property owners for this Estates and everything else like that but this particular property was part of a larger portion of property that was subdivided all that's really left is what we what Anthony has been referring to is the U Adria Adria Avenue uh Island um it's um a small particular parcel that nobody's paid taxes on nobody's picked up the tax lean so it's Municipal lean and the only way to really I mean we could just take take it but the only way to legally do it is through a tax sale for closure um so we're going through the legal proc process so foreclosing on it and then we'll own that P particular piece of property I think uh Anthony you indicated that this is the area that comes right into the downtown Center that's correct Mr Willard so that that piece of property our DPW has been taking care of it forever and it's the Gateway into uh Town Center so that little island that little triangle island is we're already taking care of it it's been kind of abandoned so uh it's an important little piece that we want to make something nice when you first come into town so um yeah Mr Willard just going through the the appropriate legal action because nobody we we've been taking care of it for years and the inrm Foreclosure requires the township committee to adopt this resolution attach it to the complaint as part of the process okay attorney Willard you said that this was part of a had been part of a l larger larger parcel of land I I yes I believe so in that particular area some development yes is there any idea when this was when it had been subdivided I I don't know and so once it was subdivided did the same owner remain even though you say it's been abandoned but on the on the record who owns this um if you want we can send you the title search we have a title search and there's a number of different owners a number of different owners yes okay if that if that is of interest to you I'd be happy to provide you with the title search okay oh this is the ordinance um all right I think that's it thank you all right thank you anybody else okay comment on the floor now we have roll call please Comm one hand yes lean yes Comm Bo pay yes Deputy Mayor tarali yes mayor Bing yes okay now public hearings now public hearing two 2024 03 an ordinance authorizing participation in preservation of property with contribution the amount of uh $ 1,450,000 from the town of Hillsboro open space trust fund to assist the county of Somerset in the purchase of property identified on the township of Hillsboro tax map as block 165 Lots one 2 3 13 and block 169 lot three consisting of plus or minus 402 .23 acres of land may I have a motion to open the public hearing on ordinance 24 uh 24-3 all move second it okay all in favor I I any opposed any discussion from the deas mayor um I'd just like to um open by saying that obviously this has been uh a project that started back when I was in your chair uh and the county had made us aware that they were pursuing this property uh in hopes to preserve it uh at the time we sent a letter of uh support uh wholeheartedly uh purchasing this property it's a gorgeous piece of property that uh will remain now uh open space for preserving our Mountain views and Vistas which hopefully at some point we can make into a beautiful soft uh park with Trails or whatever the county and the township could come up with but uh I'm happy to finally see it come to fruition uh and preserve a large part of that that part of our town which we hold so dear I Echo those comments to this is the largest purchase in this area in the last 20 years so that's a massive win for Hillsboro for the county and thank you to both the county and the green anr program for assisting there it's just a wonderful opportunity for Hillsboro we need to continue to do it so thank you for ever was involved all right anybody else comments no just thank you to the county and partnering with Hillsboro Township because it would not have been possible without both working together so well done absolutely and Green Acres yeah Green Acres of course may I have a motion to close the public hearing and adopt ordinance 2024 comments from oh oh excuse me comments from the floor excuse me I'm sorry about that comments yes I went over that quickly the cheerleader situation has got my brain in a fog there was a a lot of talking for me Maria Janus um so it says in the first paragraph um block 169 lot 3 consisting of plusus 4223 acres of land from the estate of w Bryce Thompson I 4th Amwell Valley Country Club Inc Thomas Thompson realy company of Princeton LLC and Princeton West LLC for the total purchase price of 6, 750,000 all of those uh entities mentioned those are all the owners of this property uh mayor properties um correct uh it's block 165 Lots 1 two 3 and 13 and block 169 lot three okay so th all of all of these entities are owners of that property those properties yes plural again 165 you have lot one lot two lot three and lot 13 and those that's four different properties right there and then you have block 169 lot three okay so there so there's a total of five different properties totaling totaling 402 Acres okay so okay so is is it separated according to who owns what piece of property which which properties are owned by these entities or all of these properties are collectively owned by all of these entities the yeah they're they're they're owned by different entities if you would like a breakdown of that information um you can contact the tax assessor who would have the property record card for each one okay I I don't understand why why it's why it's uh stated this way then if if the property because that's the way the count uh the contract came from the county okay and so the total purchase price is 6, 750,000 and this is going to it says here um that the uh the property following acis quisition will be owned by the county and preserved as open space so if it's owned by the county why is Hillsboro having to to to uh put in$ 1,450,000 uh because number one the property is in Hillsboro so it benefits all the Hillsboro residents and number two um the county asked and this is something that the township was interested in preserving and being a partner with the county on this is the way it should be though right okay but even though it's in Hillsboro since it's open space it's accessible to everyone I absolutely yes yes ma'am just like any open space anywhere in the county right it's just preser and the other piece of that was from the state Green Acres is part of the state that's a state run organization Green Acres is also one of the sellers or buyers in this case rather and they're part of the state Green Acres are also buyers well the the the njd provides Green Acre funding yes so State funding County and Township so this million 450,000 how is that that they have to have bonds or how no that comes from our open space fund and how okay and uh hold on there's sufficient funds from in open space by the end of this year we'll have about 15.1 million left in open space if we don't purchase anything else by the end of this year we'll have about 15.1 million in open space after at the end of the year when we collect our taxes for open space fund so we have a very well-managed open space fund all right thank you thank you okay now may I have a motion to close the public hearing and adopt ordinance 20 uh 202 24-3 motion to close seconded cool all right roll call please hold on committee War hand yes committee Lani absolutely Comm committee woman pay definitely yes Deputy Mayor tarelli yes mayor bring proudly yes very much so introduction of new ordinances 2024 d04 uh Bond ordinance providing for various Township wide Road improvements in and by the township of Hillsboro and the county of Somerset New Jersey appropriating 9 million therefore and authorizing the issuance of uh 8 8, 550,000 bonds or notes uh of the township to finance part the cost thereof further consideration and a public hearing will be held on April 23rd 2024 may I have a motion to introduce ordinance uh 202 24-3 so move second roll call please commit one hand yes committee the p uh yes and this is obviously something else that we started years ago looking at our long-term uh Road program this is part of that which we talked about to help fiscal uh we responsibly get our roads done so stay tuned for more details committee women pain yes Deputy Mayor chiarelli yes mayor Brit yes all right claims list may I have a motion to approve claims list 202 24-4 motion to approve second comments from the deis comments from the floor Maria jusik on the um supplemental uh checklist page there are one two three four payments to Eric Bernstein and Associates uh why isn't this paid through normal instead of through the supplemental checks is new so we switched over accounting softwares um at the end of 23 into the beginning of 2024 we had a hiccup with our escrow account which took longer to load so they were held back we couldn't pay them until we got everything loaded into the system and once we loaded we didn't want to make them wait for their payments any longer we were already pass due so we put them out so when when was this hiccup in the begin the beginning of the year the first like two months we had issues with one of the uh loading the escrow account balances so why wasn't it paid sooner than uh via a supplemental check it was paid as soon as we could okay so these these are Professional Services for planning um Professional Services affordable housing and uh BME remediation GSA um that's from from oh that's from January of 2024 yes that was a invoice submitted in 2024 yes okay and then the Hillsboro mua Grant account uh for the Fox Chase sewer replacement 62,64 um what is what is that sewer replacement that's for the entire development so that is part of um we have the American Rescue plan funding we are partnering with the MUA on a project that's correct so we're we're partnering with uh the MUA on a project that's going to both benefit the MUA and Hillsboro um on the same uh type of area so it makes a lot of sense over the years mua has partnered with Hillsboro in the same way where it makes sense to pull our funds together uh to benefit the township that's that's what we're doing so the MUA has no connection with the township that's something separate the m is completely separate just like the Board of Ed and just like the library system as well so all separate and including the fire district okay so don't they have their separate budget they do so then where's this where is the 62,000 coming from uh I I believe there CFO than FS thank you the American Rescue funds which provided uh in within the guidance from the the um I guess the government was allowed to use for water infrastructure projects was one of the guidelines that that was usable and we were able to partner with the MUA to do a repair of the the system at Fox Chase and also uh at the same time we do some roads that together so you rip up the road you do the Improvement there and put down a new Road as a as a partnering thank you okay roll call please committee woman hand yes committee M Pani yes committee woman pay yes Deputy Mayor cherell yes mayor bring yes okay new business we have none so now this is for public comments for matters not on the agenda Miss break please read the statement regarding public comment the township committee welcomes input from the public please state your name and address and please spell your name for the record you'll be given one three minute allotment for your comments please understand that this public forum is not structured as a question and answer session comments are to be addressed to the mayor again please keep your comments to three minutes thank you can't do it on there do it here I can't get Maria Janus uh I think it was three Sundays ago um I was on Amwell Amwell Road and there was a uh sign that said Road closed and there were three orange cones but there was nothing showing that there was anything up ahead there were no detour signs there was nothing explaining anything there was a vehicle in front of me that went around it and I went around it and went quite a distance there was nothing showing that there was any kind of issue no detour signs nothing to explain to drivers on that road that there's any kind of issue but there were three cones again quite a distance down the driver in front of me went around it I went around it and then uh further up there was a police car blocking blocking across the road and so the police officer uh who stopped me said that uh there was an emergency the cable the cable company had an emergency and so that road was closed and I said to him you have no detour signs I don't know these roads I don't know where I can turn off plus initially it looked like someone had had um forgotten to remove those cones off the road because there was nothing there it was a clear day there was no no flooding no no issues with the road or anything but it was closed and so the police officer said the cable company has an um had an emergency and so they had to close the road now normally when there's um uh the cable company or some faity doing work you have either the police or someone from DPW who will direct you know this road can you know this Lane can go then close it and let this Lane go and instead the police officer was giving giving out tickets for uh driving on a closed Road um and the extra noted that um the driver passed numerous barricades where there were some orange cones and if you look in the area there there were the signs uh that said detour and they had black Rags over them I don't know why on one road there was a sign laying on the ground so it looked like someone had not had had not taken the the the the things off the road there was no it didn't look like any kind of emergency because exfinity truck was behind a truck that came down that road so I don't understand why the road would be closed if anything the police should have helped drivers on that road or provide some kind of um uh information on on a detour or something what it was what it appeared to be was just a way to uh give tickets to to drivers on that road okay so miss janisac I'll tell you there was a tree fell that knocked over the wires there was a alert sent out V our system maybe you if you sign up You' have gotten it that Amal road was closed and that uh to plant alternate routes if you did see a sign that says Road closed you want obviously want to round it you said just now that there was a sign that said Road closed it could have been right as soon as it happened so they just were getting a car there quickly to protect the residents from that thing and then but the point of the matter is there is uh when roads happen and trees fall it's very fluid things have to be stopped and protected for for the residents if there's down power wires so if there's a road that says closed and a sign that says closed and you go around the cone as you said then you already admitted to the fact that it was marked so I don't know what else you if you want somebody to give you a line of detour to get around it because you don't know the roads I'm sorry we can't necess help you with that but I'm not sure what time and what the timing was when you got to the road closure but it was as soon as it happened it did go out on our emergency alert system and notifying that the road was closed and I can tell you that's why because my mother lives there and my brother was going to go visit him and I said don't go the road's closed okay the police officer didn't say anything about about a tree being down across he said he said that the the the cable company I'm just stating I'm just stating what happened and and he said that that the cable company had an issue nothing about a about a tree and if anything I think it would be helpful to drivers on that road to either provide provide a um a detour sign or or some kind of assistance I'm glad our police for doing their job thank you than thank you Mr CH okay um any other public comments okay executive session we do have an executive session this evening Miss break please read the executive session resolution section eight of the whereas section eight of the open public meetings act chapter 231 public 1975 permits the exclusion of the public from meeting in certain circumstances as whereas the Tanta committee is of the opinion that such C such circumstances exist now therefore beat resolved by the township Committee of the township of Hillsboro County of Somerset state of New Jersey as follows one the public shall be excluded from discussion of the here and after specified subject matters two the general nature of the subject matter to be discussed is as follows Cornerstone attorney client privilege and Warehouse ordinance pending litigation three the township committee may take official action on those items discussed in the executive session upon completion of the executive session four the minutes of the discussion shall be made available to the public as soon as the matters under discussion are no longer of a confidential or sensitive nature five this resolution shall take effect immediately thank you Miss break we're going to go into executive session you have to motion do a motion and didn't have it on there sorry um may I have a motion to enter into executive session it is motion approved second comments from the deas sorry roll call roll call committee one hand yes Comm Lani yes Comm pay yes Deputy Mayor Chelli yes mayor Bing yes we're in executive session it is 8:41 we doing it yep yep that's right we'll cut [Music] it page of my so make ask for a motion to come out executive uh may I have a motion to come out of executive session motion to return second no yeah uh um roll call please yes yes committee one pay yes Deputy Mayor chali yes maying yes the time is 9:39 p.m. well that's what it says for me to say but do we have to say anything else let the rest we went to Executive session uh to discuss the Cornerstone attorney under attorney client privilege and the warehouse ordinance dep pending litigation there's no further action uh to be taken at this time at this public meeting and uh we need a motion to adjourn may I have a motion to adjourn motion to adjourn second roll call commit one hand yes Le yes P definitely yes mayor yes time is 9:40 have a great night good night