##VIDEO ID:llU82tNucew## okay hi good evening uh yes I'm in the wrong seat and our regrets from the mayor uh Patricia farmer and councilwoman uh you Perry that they could not make it here so you have us for tonight cream cream C okay notice of this meeting of the Lawrence Township Council being held on Tuesday August 20 2024 has been provided through the posting of the annual meeting schedule of said Council in accordance with Section 13 of the open public meeting act said notice was for to The Trentonian the times in the princing packet on December 11th 2023 Madam clerk may we have the inspiration pray Pledge of Allegiance and Ro thank you may we carry out our work at this meeting and adjust honorable and sincere manner always bearing in mind our duties in continuing to keep Lawrence a wonderful community in which to live I pledge aliance to the flag 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 Mr P here Mr Kaki as um Council uh Councilman Ryan said uh Miss Perry and mayor farmer cannot be with us this evening and mayor Ryan I mean Mr Ryan Mr [Laughter] congratulations present uh we have uh special proclamations recognitions uh presentations none uh public participation we have at this time in 5 minutes please there anyone please come up write your name down on the p and stated for record your address on that please right the address y yeah your name and address and just state your name please you look very familiar are you from the area of ID got five points okay thanks Council manager and other Council no council manager this Council you know what I'm saying got Council spelled differ um Council manager and of councel please state your name please uh Jim ER thank you uh and um I happen to serve on um well I'm I'm I'm I'm not here for these groups but I'm going to let I'd like to say who I serve on so that I could also let you know that I'm not speaking for them in case it were to be construed in such a way uh I'm a board member and founder of the friends of colonial Lake nonprofit friends of colonial Lake Park uh and I'm a member of the U Lawrence Township stewardship open space and trails committee but I'm not speaking for either one of those um but it is a situation that happened today of great immediacy and I'm sure I can I know that some of those folks who I served with would be as upset as I was because that's where their hearts are open space trees nature um and what happened was I had a call I was at work fortunately I work in Trenton not far from where we live and um I got a call from I got calls from several neighbors actually that this new chiropractor office uh right as you enter Colonial Lake Park and the neighborhood uh he's made extensive renovations to this little building it's been a bunch of things over the years um and the Word was they're cutting down the Sycamore giant Sycamore out on Route One in front of their building low slung ranch style uh a lot of money went into it to fix it up and um I'll get to it in a moment I know we only have three minutes but you know as part of that he wants to protect his investment I suppose and cut this thing down so that it's not falling onto his property onto his building this new building this building he just fixed up um so there's there's a question and there's and there's a couple of statements for one thing the tree that he said was was problematic was actually a tree farther south the next Sycamore that does have some difficulty in it but he had a tree service buswest Tree Service butchering the tree at the corner of Route One and where you egress and Ingress to to the to the neighborhood that where that shoe Jug Handle is um and so I called the police um it's a living thing these things are living things call me a tree Huger call me what you want they can't speak right they can't do anything for us in terms of of that they can't reach out to us for help I called the police and thank goodness you know our Wonderful Lawrence Township police force responded a great officer by the name of Officer Campbell I read it on his badge and Campbell he put up with me didn't put me in cups as he potentially could have with my um volcanic reaction to this situation as I pulled into the parking lot um and I said this can't happen you can't be taking this tree down we have you need a permit in this in this town to take down a beautiful tree like this it's got to be two feet around it's got to be 50 70 feet high I don't know you need a permit you can't just do this and I use the language the the chiropractor was there with the officer who got him to stop for the moment uh and then he said he called town hall and this goes to one of my questions he said two different people he had no names although well I'm not going to even say what potential unless you want it Department he said he called because I don't know whether he really called or not or who he spoke to but he says oh they said if it's over your building or you don't want it you can cut it down whatever you want he said can I have the township come out here and take care of this no Township doesn't do that but you can do it and if it's over your building just go ahead and do it well you know fine well for starters they didn't start over his building they started over the the sidewalk um and then they were going to town like they were going to take this whole thing down except I showed up and uh Mr py former mayor and Councilman Greg py showed up I hope he doesn't mind my throwing his name out there Tom Ritter showed up who happens to be the president of friend of colon Lake Park um a bunch of us showed up and said this is ridiculous okay I'll I'll I'll wrap up quickly but we need a good treat policy in town to protect these gorgeous trees um I'm not sure I once heard and I'm almost hesitant to put this out there that the policy is something like well whoever lives there and if the tree bothers them they can take it have it taken down or we'll come and take it down the township I've heard that I hope it's a I hope it's a wives tale forgive my sexist uh phrasing I hope it's an old wives tale that's or Urban men but that's what is out there and I hope that's not true because it wouldn't make any sense at all because those trees make the neighborhood those that are left so the officer uh you know had him stop at least for a little while until he could find out and sort out whether you do need a permit or not and I still don't know as I stand here whether you do or you don't and I'll take my seat and take an answer from there I can stay here if you'd like um but excuse me when then he he went back into the office the chiropractor after speaking to us and saying it was a mistake it shouldn't have happened and these guys are now going back cutting down cutting back the tree again and I was like you got to stop this what's going on and he just said he was with us he said I was with you guys when you fought against the hotel and the council in town bought that property up you know I was with you I'm an ally you know I didn't this was a mistake this is a misunderstanding well then why are these guys still cutting when you went inside you need to get out here and you need to stop this because I talked to the boss b s well this is what they want to do okay I'll leave in a minut in a moment Ryan I you should know the story I believe the township should know this story it's very very important because God forbid somebody starts taking them down up Route One it makes the neighborhood it makes the place we want a Boulevard feeling it makes it residential you get rid of them it ain't it's a commercial it's a commercial strip and a naked one at that and so that ultimately they did stop and he backed and it was all away from that the building that and I said to the officer please when you do get a call back from town hall tell him it's away from the building it's no longer over his building uh and and and when I left everything had stopped and I came back later in the afternoon and the truck was gone and they stopped where they stopped eventually you know so there's still a good good a goodly piece half of it half of the half that was left is still there um I think we need some clarity as to what's going on with this he says there were two calls to coun not Council two calls to town hall and he was given a green light to go ahead and do this I think we need some clarity about these trees um and I'll say for another day this sewer thing coming through but the last time I was here I said we need assurances Council cypc said well we can write it in I think it was manager nowinsky said we can write it in it wasn't manager nowinsky we can write it in because this is the very thing I'm talking about they go ahead and take the tree down and then you say oh I'm sorry we I didn't realize it was all right I think what we can do I overstate my wel it's fine we it's a it's a true point this is exactly what was talking about with that sewer line and we better keep an eye on that too Mr respect Mr wisky would you mind just looking I don't know what the ordinance is on that as far as Tre I you have some information I was provided some information regard to this I was just if you get to would you like me to remain or take a seat sure no wherever wherever you want to go it's fine with me I'll stay okay um I received um word from Brenda Kramer who is the assistant inal engineer who received a call from the I guess the police officer that was responding um officer Campbell he was a great great young man did go to um the site confirm that the tree is the property owner's tree it's not in a right of way and that the property owner does have a right every property owner in Lawrence Township has the right to trim and prune trees um dead branches on trees um that's the right yeah there were no dead ones on this but go ahead and and well that's that's it it wasn't it was it was told to me that they weren't taking the tree down yes they were taking the tree down and we we got there in time to where they why would you start on the sidewalk if you're not going to take it down and take down a perfectly healthy uh bunch of branches and leave the leave the stalk thankfully we got there in time for the other half you're saying that this is not on Route One this is not state property or town property right next to I'm telling you is what was explained to be me by the engineer who responded and confirmed that the tree is situated not in the right of way not under the control of Lawrence Township and that it's the property owner's tree do we not have what is our slogan something about Township of trees or something like that do you know us where nature Smiles for 2 mil smiles and trees in Smiles for 22 miles well Nature's not smiling Nature's crying today um and and has two awful is there an ordinance and if not should we get one I this is another Urban B that there's an ordinance out there that even if it's on your own property if there's a tree of a certain size you need a permit to cut it down specimen tree absolutely what does that mean specimen tree a tree of a certain size yes is that what a specimen tree is Big Tree all right well this is a tree of a certain SI got something Bob would like to say something I I just want to say a quick look on the engineering website the FAQ uh residential homeowners are permitted to remove black trees annually with size between 8 and 9 29 in in diameter larger trees are considered specimen trees and may not be removed without a permit replacement perfect and and just this a lot more and if I can I don't that FAQ starts with for tree removals the engineering department must be notified and inspect the trees prior to removal so I hope that clarifies well he's fantastic councilman P put his finger right on it this there should have been a permit in place so when I came up today in that parking lot screaming that you need a permit I was right okay and he didn't have one and he was in the process of taking it down and had it not been for mayor py former mayor py myself and some other residents he would have done it and we we can't allow that kind of thing well thank you for bringing it to our attention we appreciate it I'm getting a little Fe we have a great police force and we have great council members and uh I and we appreciate your your support keep this town beautiful and nature smile thank you appreciate [Applause] it is there anyone else for public participation 5 minutes please excuse write your name and address down and then state your name for the record thank [Music] you H good evening Gregory J p27 book Hill Avenue before I get what I came here tonight a quick question to the Councilman Ryan who's running the meeting so through that whole thing was there an inspection of that tree before they began work since it was a specimen tree could you find that out for me I don't know I don't could you ask somebody maybe on sure one of your staff sure maybe ask the manager Kevin can we just see if there was something from Brenda that was submitted I apologize for the buzzing I can hear I'm 99.9% certain that there was no permit requested for the work or inspection or inspection correct the council to look into that when it didn't happen since it's a specimen tree because this isn't the first time we had a problem with those sycamores it's when PS and G were going to take them all down because the zoning officer said oh just go ahead and take him down I ended up calling Senator Shirley Turner We called up here got a little Flack from the people in the administration but you know these are trees I agree with Mr hooker that's all I'm going to say about that anyway the reason I'm here the infamous 3131 Princeton Pike Redevelopment plan is the perfect example of how to abuse the New Jersey Redevelopment law as we have all heard before this is a developer handout that originated out of closed door R meetings with the manager that included what appears to be a fox report by the Township's professional planner who also appears to have a major monetary conflict reviewing the very report she wrote that was paid for by the developer but that handout is about to get a lot sweeter for the developer tonight with a resolution to begin a pil payment and L of taxes which will pave the way for lucrative tax breaks for the developer this project was touted by a municipal manager as a needed ratable and a win-win for the township however at no time ever did he mention a sweetheart tax deal according to the community impact statement filed by the developer the estimated projection for school AG children that will be housed at this development would be 50 students according to the US News and World Report the cost of each student is $22,000 so that is well over $1 million a year the school board will have to make up the difference the developer saves money and we defund our schools I urge Council to stop this developer handout and vote no on the developers agreement thank you for your time thank you very much is there anyone else rep please come up and write your name down I apologize then state your name for the record thank you syia k um now that I heard Mr Hooker talk about those sycamor uh I don't know any specifics I heard from a longtime resident that those sycamor were planted um as in remembrance of uh World War one uh soldiers so um those trees just because of that um should be protected whether they are on private properties or in the RightWay uh I believe those trees uh need special protection just because of that um so I'm I'm very I'm very uh disturbed by the fact that someone right there on route one not fearing without any permits uh just just going ahead and and cutting down a tree and what's what's happened in my neighborhood I've noticed what people now are doing to um kind of go around the permit uh situation they cut down all of the living branches leaving the trunk with some empty branches um in their yards um and they technically that tree is not being cut down but it's no longer or rarely living tree so I think that should also be looked into as to the permits and how we as the township protect the trees uh which we all know not only give us shade but also protect us from Flat Waters and with all the rising Waters now with all the big storms that come in with all those heavy downpours we should depend more and more on those trees and protect them even better thank you thank you so much have a Qui I have a question uh Kevin is there any way that maybe we could put this in Council what do you think is put it on our web page about before you cut it's on our page yeah but it was like fre answer questions I mean post it like we like we have it before you cut you need per and spe you know let's let's get it out there just put it out there um you know we can get it on a social media cycle as well as the website know sure just way people know and and and as far as as the branch is sticking off I know some tree people don't know how to cut and they're just doing it that's why you're seeing it just cut they're not cutting it right they're just hacking and cutting off and that's why you see that that tree is D thank you please sign in and state name for the record thank you this is a tape head this is 10 in you have a grass or weed in your yard no matter how few the township May threaten to find you I think that should change thank you thank you is there anyone else rep public for participation five minutes please s come up and sign in and then state your name for the record thank you prong from West Long Drive want to comment on his earlier comment a friend of mine led a group in CR New Jersey fought a development and did an economic analysis of what the impact of that development would be and it's not only School infrastructure police and I think that's something that really is a a a global thing that need analyed is there anyone else for public participation 5 minutes 30 you can come up if you but I do I do have a g you could have a axe I deserve just state your name again J hooker again um M Kus uh brought up this uh you can put it in a nutshell sustainability really it's with the the flooding and the freshening of the air and that was on my notes in term of in terms of we talk about sustainability we talk about nature smil we put in these um what are out here the parking lot solar solar put in that to put our best foot forward we're going to do solar you know all of these things we talk about sustainability we have a sustainability committee these things are part of sustainability these C Wares and the other thing I'd like to say is what I mean about the the why the passion comes up so is they can't be replaced the as I said to Tom and Greg today the king of England couldn't replace that thing if he wanted to can't do it you got it planted and you got to wait a 100 years 50 60 years whatever it is I don't care who you are you can't replace it and that is a bottom line that that me as a knucklehead didn't make a a strong enough point about before they cannot be replaced I don't care who you are that's why they have to be protected and that's why we got to keep a a Hawkeye out when they come through the park with that other thing and generally speaking we need to keep a HW eye out to protect these things because the once it's gone it's gone and just like you great people did this Council and the administration um when you uh you know save the park from development once it was gone it was gone you could never get it back but you guys took the right step to your great credit the administration manager nitzky as well great credit put everything together and save the part because it can't be replaced and that's the thing with these trees and that's why we're so passionate about it myself and my neighbors thank you so much thank you Mr hooker is there anyone else with public participation seeing none are hearing now we're going to close public participation Mr Ryan I would like to say a few words if you don't mind absolutely buddy thank you so I sit in the seat as the municipal manager and uh in the face of absurd ridiculous and disgusting comments by Mr PID about my ethics about my actions as Municipal mayor I hope and wait for someone else to defend my character and it doesn't happen uh with regard to 3131 Princeton pipe there was no closed door meetings there was no closed door agreements there was probably in excess of 10 public hearings that took place and I and I alone cannot move this town forward with regard to designating an area in need of Redevelopment cannot move the town forward by Contracting with a developer to do work cannot bind the township to a contract in terms of pilot agreements or what's in the best interest of the Town that's for the planning board who are appointed by the council that's for the governing body to do by votes after public hearings and public comments so when I sit here and have to listen to that type of comment to that type of personal attack it offends me because it means two things one is something's lacking in your argument or or you're you're beholden to something else that's going on because you could be against and you can Advocate against whatever issue it is if you're firmly against the Redevelopment in town for whatever reason advocate for it why call somebody a criminal why do that every day I come to work with the commitment to do the best job for this town and I have to sit here and listen to that without anybody defending me and I'll go about and I'll do my work and I'll continue to do the best for the town but I just want to know for you Mr P it offends me we've known each other a very long time you know my character and you know that nothing nothing illegal unlawful unethical was done by me with regard to this process it all came out in public hearings it was voted on by the elected officials and we move forward as a town in open like we always have so just that for the record if nobody's going to defend me I'll defend myself and I'll sleep soundly at night that's all can I say something absolutely during that application we had the meetings that the manag to talked about we listen to the residents that did show up they met the criteria for to get the approval if we would have said no it would have meant a lawsuit to this Township the board ran through everything and the board voted with one person against it and he had his reasons why so out of all the board members that were down there that night it went through with flying cows that was me I voted against it yeah you can say my name I'm fine with that it's it's on the record yeah but it didn't stop me from talking to John I still talked to him he had his reasons I had my reasons it meant everything our planner met everything and all the meetings was open to the public even though it wasn't a a standard room only for the application they met all requirements for that application thank you coun no is there anyone else we close it already I apologize uh we're going to move on to adoption of minutes uh can I motion for AA please uh mayor I'll if I may or councilman if I may I'd like to revisit uh number seven review and Revision in the agenda oh I apologize yes yeah we done a few on that thank you uh chair try that chair I would like to I would like to add uh three time sensitive resolutions to the agenda uh called starting with 18 G2 uh authorizing the acceptance of a $41,000 grant from Bristol Myers s for their purchase of two Lucas CPR devices for the town Department of of Lawrence Township emergency services I think I'll just go one by one if that's all right or should I do them in a block uh back we do it in BL all G and gr uh one's in h one and H we do two you should do two and then I'll I'll add uh uh 18 G3 resolution to apply for a grant from the New Jersey Division of highway traffic safety for the 2024 drive sober or get pulled over Statewide labor craft out from August 16th through September 2nd 2024 mam CL second second second okay Mr Bob yes Mr Kaki yes Mr L yes uh chair I'd also like to amend the agenda to include 18 H9 authorizing a fireworks display and food trust at R University cler Mr Bob yes Mr Kaki yes Mr Ryan Yes CHR the F2 F3 that we sent no those are all okay that was just changing the word yeah okay those are good now adoption of minutes please motion for uh chair I'd like to move 8A regular meeting February 20th 2024 second Mr bobit yes Mr Kaki yes Mr Ryan yes can I get a motion for 9A please chair I'd like to move 9A uh number 283 auth ising a contract for the rehabilitation of 738 mflow Avenue second this is a part of our rehabilitation program Mr Bob yes Mr Kaki yes Mr yes can I give motion 9B sure I'll move 9 d uh 284 raising a contract for the rehabilitation of 71 Greenfield Avenue I believe the same thing correct thank you need a second second Mr Bob yes Mr K yes Mr Ryan yes I get a motion for 9C please move 9 c number 285 authorizing awarding of bid 24-8 crossing guard services to Harvard Protection Services second clerk did you want to do an explanation there it's for crossing guard Services very good Mr Bob yes Mr Kaki yes Mr R yes and chair if I may I'll move 9d number 291 authorizing awarding of bid 24-10 brick papaver patio and composite decking ramp improvements to the Lawrence Township patri Center second yeah this is uh one piece of a series of uh things that we plan to do to improve uh the andmar Nature Center Mr Bob yes Mr yes Mr R yes can I get a motion for 10A please chair I'd like to move 10A ordinance number 24764 and ordinance amending chapter 435 Article 4 four of the township of Lawrence Administrative Code entitled motor vehicles and traffic engine breaking uh this this came this originated out of uh some citizen complaints directed to me with regard to tractor trailers uh hitting their brakes and breaking and to their disruption of the quality of their lives in terms of their house shaking um just noise um and disruption I uh met with Chief Longo to find out what we can do to enforce and regulate Chief Longo did some research and he came up with um after speaking to some of his peers um with it this ordinance that we intend to uh utilize and rely upon to regulate and enforce the improper use of breaking by tractor trailers so it's a quality of life issue and it gives our Police Department um some legal authority to um use it to enforce the abuse Mr bobit yes Mr Kaki yes Mr R yes I get a motion for 11a please chair I'd like to move 11a ordinance number 2475-20 ordinance amending ordinance 2394 D21 by the township of Lawrence County of Mercer state of New Jersey in order to revise the description of the Improvement here in second is there any public participation see no we're going to close Mr yeah just for the Public's uh this is um in order to comply with New Jersey budget law um we're just revising the description we're not expending any more money that money is already uh in place through our uh adopted budget and we're just uh using it to improve some of the um Municipal um parking areas I I got a question on that sure um that ordinance it's it's attached to the ordinance 23 9421 corre that that was a bonding ordinance there we should table that there's no way because you need for to for Bond well you need a super majority I think well I think you need a super majority of the electeds I'm just researching it on the resolution issue uh it would appear it would appear that you need a majority of the members present for a quorum however uh for the uh passage this is specifically resolution uh you need a majority of all members and members is defined as all elect elected officials of the municipality all Council people so there was three votes of yes for well for three yes you would need three votes for a resolution now this is this is an amendment of an ordinance and bear with me but to my understanding I mean is this a revision of a bond ordinance this is an amendment modifying a discription I believe this ordinance was for like car's corner on Corner West Long light uh Colonial light plan well I guess I guess the issue would be it's not it's not an amendment to the bond ordinance in terms of monetary changes cor not indebting the towns with any additional funds so if there's not a further indebtedness under the under the bonding statute and it's just a u I call it a clarification of the description of the use of the money is that accurate yesy you know I I would think uh since no new monies are being asked for no new monies are being expended you can uh adopt a really what seems to be a dominous Amendment to the U description of the uh use of the money in the ordinance uh by a simple by a majority of the seated not just strike that of the elected Council people if this were an amendment dealing with money you would need four votes can can I propose something can we um have a vote on this and if it is three um we don't take action on this until you've researched it sure after you know tomorrow the next day we just yeah because if the vote is is um unenforceable then we've done nothing other than take a vote what actually are we going to use the money for or what you're looking at the we go again okay so why don't we table here we go I'm asking a question I mean that's what the residents put me here for I'm just answer this a simple question what is the money going for because you know tell you it's for they're changing it all they're doing is changing the purpose of it so he's changing the purpose to the municipal complex parking lot improvements okay what improvements though so impr well that would be for our CFO or Kevin to explain to you if he has it tonight that's what I'm asking right and actually even if you vote on it and we can't you know it doesn't um pass we can always check with the bond councel we can check with them can call the bond canc Cel and make sure that it's okay but we can also table it as well I I'm I'm comfortable with tap I'm sorry I'm comfortable with table until we find out exactly what improvements are we looking at in here shair if I could ask a simple question absolutely um this is the parking lot yeah so when I when I discovered some uh questions about sort of coordination between the cover letters of our resolutions and the wording of our resolutions I immediately emailed the manager and the clerk Monday morning to ask those questions and by the end of Monday we had all of council had resolved resolutions that were in conformance with what the description was in the agenda now I am surprised that here we are Tuesday at nearly 7 o' that we are now asking the question the manager what this this bond is for when you could have I I feel as if any one of us has the ability to ask the manager the CFO and others within Municipal staff the questions beforehand so that we can do the business of the township which I also think the residents would like to see happen in in in a timely manner that's all absolutely I mean is it hard is is it that hard just to say what what are you looking for are we are we putting new solar panels on are we doing doing curbing right if that's the parking lot and it's not on the southide right so I know what you're saying you're want to know what part of the parking lot because it just said Municipal uh complex parking to be honest with you I'm I'm worried because of the hubbub that's been going on the South Side the rumor about the the the firehouse and stuff like that so what are we doing with it that's this is I'll may ask you can smile but I'm not I'm not smiling no I'm not you no it's it's it's councilman smile no no no no no there so I so it's we've gone through this over the last several years this is this is a budget compliance issue I understand the work's not been identified and the scope of the work has not we've not gone to contract with this is the first part of a process to describe the intended purpose for the the capital bond that that's all it is and you do recall I mean we I've spent a lot of time describing this particular budget law vehicle to you like how it how it works and and I apologize if I look frustrated it's just because you you've had this since Thursday and I'm so available to you to get you the information so so the public doesn't look like what they don't know what they're doing that concerns me because this is just this is a budget this is yeah and you have the right we're not at that part yet it's not it's I'm not looking to have any work approved I'm looking to revise the description within this bonds that's all this is there's no there's no work component to it yet that is yet to come before for you in the terms of going to a contract that has all the details to it so I agree we should just we should Rush then there's no rush right have to we'll just table it it's fine not not a big deal I mean this is sometimes it's a big deal because we have we have things that we have to work through shair I I'd also like to add and and forgive me for not adding this earlier in my previous comments but this isn't an adoption of an ordinance which means that this is the second reading of the ordinance which means that this ordinance was introduced last month so that we had the wording this very same wording Municipal complex parking lot was provided to us in July remember and they're still the same thing and so and so the question I have is again I think it it it's it's it's it's our responsibility as Council people for the township of Lawrence County erser to do the work and ask the questions that we're allowed to ask and by allowed I mean we can call up the township manager had request a meeting with the CFO and go over those things and and not do it in public no we no what no what I'm saying is if you want an answer to the question which you can still ask in public thank you if if again you're just grandstanding councilman no what I'm no we understand you're like beating a dead horse here chair what I'm saying is first of all I take UMD at that I think we're supposed to be a team up here and I don't think you are representing the township of Lawrence that well right now in terms of picking that's your opinion that's no no no it's his opinion honestly what I'm saying is what I'm saying is if if you want the answers I would say ask the question early allow people to have time to get the answers for you and then you can ask the question in public and get an answer in a timely fashion okay that's all thank you you have a motion to table you need to vote is there a motion today a motion table and is there a second no and we we'll vote on it we'll vote on then the motion motion is on it you want me to just vote I'm sorry I say if the motion he made a motion and there was no but there's no second to on it so we're just going to call the row here or is it is it m i I recommend that it gets tabled yeah i' recommend it gets Ted to to the to the council for it to be second and for it to be tabled so I so I could work with Mr Ryan to get him a further description of what this process is it w it won't involve scope of work it won't involve money it won't it's just the New Jersey budget law and its requirements and how to do and utilize the particular funding source that's already been approved in the 2024 budget so I we've been through this several times already it's fine and I will I will I'll take try to things a long chair and second your motion okay all right I'll call cler thank you Mr bobin yes Mr Kaki yes Mr Ryan yes I'm clerk uh will you have to read advertise public hearing yes because this was an adoption yes so it it'll have to start it's GNA be pushed another two months okay thank you thank you counc uh manager's report U we had a long time employee Don Arison passed away suddenly uh over the weekend he was employed as a house inspector since 2004 he leaves a wife and two uh two daughters he was um a very good reliable and knowledgeable employee knew his job well and we could always count on him to do what was expected of him and Beyond and he will be missed I'll provide with you details of for his funeral services the second thing that I have is that hero dog park was opened up last Thursday and it is open to the public for the use the next item I have is that there we received a letter from assemblyman Anthony barelli's office indicating that there is $2 million appropriated for the study of uh for the installation the design and installation of the sound barrier for long aer's neighborhood something that's been going long for 40 years uh we got some clarification that this would be a state project and I think the notification to us was that this is like an initial step for the state to have this funding set aside designated for that particular project so that's really good news we also through the efforts of uh as you know I I really uh focused a lot on um trying to bring in grant grant money for the different things to keep the town moving forward in terms of Capital Improvements and funding for emergency services and I'm really happy to report that one of our career firefighters Justice kuchi spear had an effort to obtain a grant from Bristol Meer squip in the amount of 4 $1,000 uh which is to be used to purchase two Lucas CPR devices these are portable devices that are artificial do compressions during emergency events so I'm really happy that part of our staff is is taking the initiative to help improve our response in different emergency situations so that's a resolution that's up for you guys to approve so we could um execute the letter of agreement with Bristol Meers swi and finally um there is an event that's going to be held at the Lawrence High School it's sponsored by H hyand motor vehicle company that was um involved in had some uh software safety concerns it was a major piece of litigation internationally and part of the settlement was to engage local communities and have these events where people could come and bring their vehicle and have the software installed um and it's anti- theft device so H reached out to our chief of police Chris Longo and they work together to get this event uh in place it's scheduled at the Lawrence uh high school on Friday sat Friday Saturday August 23rd and 24th 88: a.m. to 6: p.m. and Sunday August 25th 8 a.m. to 2m. so if you have a hyund and you need to get that work done you go there and apparently they're well attended events um so that was good work by our chief and good partnering by our school district to help us have this event for the community that's all I have thank you sir uh attorney's report please um nothing really this evening I asked the thir to uh place a resolution for a possible closed session but it does not appear that we have any matters that are necessary for a close session that was my next question uh Clark's report please nothing there's no unfinished business there's no business and we're up to public participation 3 minutes is there anyone for public please come up just state your name please syvia cus um I speak for myself but I uh believe uh there are other people in the audience that will agree with that when um you the council members ask questions and there are things stated in the public setting like this it's very useful for us and we appreciate those question questions it doesn't make the council the manager look like you guys don't know what you're doing it actually looks like you're engaging in transparent process so we the public whether on YouTube or here in person later uh streaming uh the meetings we actually learn how this process works and we appreciate those questions and what I don't appreciate is when those questions are being shut down and um Councilman Ryan previously uh former mayor Ryan whenever he asked those questions whether online through emails or that's been my observant you've received I've heard you've received those answers why are you asking the question again in public then when it's asked in public without the emails or without the questions before that you had a chance to ask those questions I don't appreciate that I I believe that every member of this Council asks those questions in Li of us and uh the public and we can't always ask those questions and we appreciate when those questions are being asked and I understand that uh Mr nnsky I'm sure is flooded with questions from the public and from the council and all of that I'm sure he answers them uh promptly it's just when it's asked and then shut down in the public setting I don't think it's the person who's asking the question but rather the person who's shutting down the question looks bad so I would appreciate if um any member and uh uh our new mayor and our new councilwoman they ask those questions and they're very rarely shut down and um you know we appreciate that we appreciate the questions and we don't appreciate the arguments that happen because someone asked a question thank you thank you m sh I could if I could say something yes please thanks I I guess I'm the bad guy tonight um I I I just just let me speak please um I apologize if if it came off as if I was trying to shut down any com any questioning I think that what I what I would like to see is us working together to ask those questions in public and have informed answers that at that moment and and I understand that's not always the case especially when emerging topics come up about trees and things like that um I'm all for transparency um and I understand that that that some in this room don't believe that and I'll just leave it there and sorry for Grand standing chair water off the duck's back Mr R comment absolutely K I I I agree with you completely and I I feel bad that you um um feel the need to come up and try to fight for information and that that's not really what we're supposed to be doing you should have the information right um this was uh this particular um ordinance was introduced a month ago and it is just it is just to revise a description there's nothing else to it it's just those five words that's all it is and it it it is a vehicle to um comply with the New Jersey budget law um and then it's on again and for third more than 30 days they're there there was no question asked and that's that's okay too right I mean but it very frequently I'll have council members call up and ask me the question and then they say we should ask we should have this asked and answered on the record so the people understand it that happens all the time and and that's for transparency reasons so this is something that Mr Ryan and I have had to navigate through for three years now it's a certain area of New Jersey budget law and there is a seeking of information that does not exist at this time it's just the first step of a process that will cause more information that will result in potentially awarding of a bid or something like that that the council will vote on so um it it we're now going to be delayed a couple more months and now we're going to lose the ability to probably do whatever work through the winter it's just some things are timely and some should get done and and if it plays out for the first time and we have to um table things then we're not getting work done so I appreciate your comments I take them to heart and I will work hard to try and share the information but this is just this is just one component of complying with the budget law and those words are the words and that's it so I also want to make a comment on that too sure when we introduce a ordinance it gets advertised in the paper and it costs money and it's not cheap when you come to adopt an ordinance you have to you know when you you already introduced it you already looked it over you already approved it so now you're saying I don't want to adopt this I want to table this so now the process starts all over again you have to reintroduce you have to put it back for uh adoption and it costs more money so basically what I guess they're saying is that if there is a question on the ordinance when it's introduced to ask a question or get the answers before so and you can still talk about it on the record but just make sure that you already have your answer so that you will have it for adoption and you can explain it to the public as well but then you don't have to table that ordinance and has to start over again and delay the process no that goes not for you that's no no no I understand I took that It's a Wonderful class and I recommend it to anybody that Ruckers government class take that it's wonderful to show you how to ask questions and everything yeah so I'm just saying that at a as a a point of us uh a and spending tax taxpayers money see my only thing is you know Mr wi we're not going to go like back and forth it just it was it was just you know it delays what we're planning on doing well you have to know if you just said that what are we what are we plan on doing I you're you said oh it's going to be a couple months it's going to delay what we're doing in the winter well what are we doing in the winter I I I will provide you with an explanation of the function of this budget law and I will read it aloud at the next meeting okay everybody that's all do what we're doing but I I will do that I've already sent one to you that was pages and pages long I will read that one aloud the next time and so everybody's on the same I read everything I'm good uh no we're P oh public participation I'm sorry madam clerk this thing just just State you again the ordinance was Ved on once for adoption it's changing it's making a dious change as detailed by the manager to the description in which we spending money here there we have to identify that the question everyone wants to know the audience is obviously there is a need to make that change so there must be some sense even in a broad sense maybe not exactly but in a broad sense what work will be funded after making this change and I think it's because there's a lot of concern in the audience regarding certain things being built in and around this area I think it would belay a lot of that concern if people just understood whether broad or finite what work and there must be a sense because we're apparently tbling this delaying n work so again I would just what work thank you sir Improvement to the park lot area in in this complex here that's that's that's what it is I think we'd like a definition of that Improvement but not understand is there anyone else for public participation three um sorry just gonna be brief uh Sil again um I would just like to make a comment about the resolution 18 F6 um so Mr kumaki had mentioned there were multiple public meetings about 3131 uh crion Pike uh at the planning board I agree I have attended most if not all of and um because I have a certain um dislike of payment instead of uh tax residential tax payments it had that been mentioned during those uh hearings of at the planning board I probably would have reacted so this is something that um I would like the council to reconsider especially as Mr P had mentioned at the costs per child just just the school uh there is also fire department there is Police Department there is um uh clearing of the roads all kinds of things that come with a development now coming in and not paying proper property taxes but uh a flat payment just like uh Lawrence School does so thank you thank you man is there anyone El with public participation treatments see yes sir right on the buzzer there right on the buzzer I had my finger on that right just state your name again please for the record J hooker um I I really honestly wanted to come up and uh thank you for the longitude and latitude as they used to say at the State House Council uh longitude and latitude for me to present the full remarks of what happened today um unprepared so maybe it was a little r I also didn't greet Madam clerk over here I don't think I greeted the councel and the council start with an S but not Madam clerk to my right so clerk Carter thank you and I don't want to ignore in any way and I want to um just acknowledge fellow residents and citizens who care enough to be here and to talk about these things that impact our town and are so important to all of us and you didn't hear from Mr C he got in here a little late Jim Mar let's put his name on the record then's he's always weighing in with good ideas so that's the whole of it and thank you very much I appreciate it thank you sir sir if you just uh write your name and address and then state your name for the record please thank you Ray Collins 18 West D um the the entire discussion around the paving initial building was was very enlightening and I think so I got something happening even though it might not have went as everybody planned I just have one point I mean West Long Drive needs to be repayed a hell of a lot sooner than this park of lot now I've called and they've been extremely helpful to tell me number one it's budgeted number two they have to wait for the um water lines to be you know completed and then we're on the list and it should get done but it's long overdue and I would be really disappointed if we're Paving here before we're Paving there so I'd respectfully ask you consider that thank you thank you sir anyone else public participation see none or hear none we're going to close publication can I get a motion for 18a Please Mr chairman by vo uh question has come up as to the number of votes needed to pass the resolutions uh I was able to find u in the New Jersey statute specifically njsa 40 colon 81 -20 as adopted in 2023 that a majority of all the members of of the municipal Council shall constitute a quum well we clearly have a quum uh and the affirm the vote of a majority of council members uh shall be necessary to take any action or pass any measure so it would be my opinion subject to any further review that you need three votes to pass a resolution tonight thank thank you Mr I get a motion for 18a please chair if I may uh can I move them in a block would that be all right with the exception of with the exception of F6 which I believe the chair would like to have read separately that is that all right yes coun thank you all right so I would like to make a motion to move resolutions uh A1 through F5 and G1 through H7 and H9 in a block second CL Mr Bobby yes Mr Kaki yes Mr yes I get a motion for uh S6 please uh chair I'll move F6 307 authorizing a Professional Services agreement for the Redevelopment of 3131 prin Pik second Madam clerk Mr chair if I could ask a have a little bit of debate on this if I may goe thanks chair um Mr nnsky um I have a question for you about this uh uh agreement for uh services for a pilot um for 3131 um was there a I've heard differing things about whether there was a conversation during the uh planning board during the planning board thank you um planning board meeting about whether a pilot was brought up do you so so the planning board before the planning board was the question of whether or not it was an area in need of Redevelopment there was no application by a developer that's not even been submitted yet as far as I'm aware so there for the application for development has not been submitted to the planning board at this time that's first part of the process so no that a pilot would would not have entered into a conversation at that point in time and if I could follow up when did the pilot question come up or conversation or how how does that work um when it's not sort of um um stated during the planning board hearing is it it's a part of the Redevelopment process gotta and if if the council is not in favor of it then the vote is not in favor of it and one last thing this this uh resolution is merely Professional Services it's not to it's just to start the process it's not necessarily to have adopt a pilot at this moment this is not entering this asking benefit of everyone yeah this is this is not entering into agreement to have a pilot this is um getting uh a company of professional experts Consultants to work on behalf of the town to study and make a determination on uh a pilot and what's impact would be for the community and chair if I could follow up with the one last question um this $115,000 maximum expend that's within this resolution is this something that could wait another month listen wait this is this is not a Township infrastructure Pro this could wait yeah yeah so so so if you're asking the qu one of the questions is who who's funding it is is that no no no not that one that's not that's not my question my question is whether this this this is something that needs to be passed tonight with with two unexpected that there was going to be two members missing so and so I I'm just wondering if we do table it this evening so that we could have a full board at our next hearing if if so I guess I'll make the motion to Mr cek can I amend do I amend or do I make a motion to table at any time yeah I'd like to I'd like to make a motion to to table this this resolution to a certain of our next meeting so that we could have the full councel involved second I think we should vote on well it's up it's up to you can make a motion to table a resolution any time during meeting that's that's 101 um now you have a motion on the floor which is non- debatable you have to take a vote on on on the motion Okay so motion okay Mr bobin yes I'd like to table okay Mr Kaki yes Mr Ryan no motion passes uh there is there any counceling issues in Le on report uh chair I I would like to ask one question as the Lea on to the Elsa board has there been any progress on the sewer ban um the township hasn't been able to to do anything hold on hold on all right all right it's it's all right it's coming we had a meeting today councilman am I correct it all depends I even there's notes I'm telling you it all depends on the the email from today um on the condition of uh drawing uh an appeal settlment and it's uh Administration count order so we have to wait on that that's coming tomorrow so if we agree to that then they're agreeing to lift it but we have to see what the lawyers are looking at it tomorrow they're getting into tomorrow afternoon so we I believe we're having Monday Monday a z either a zoom or a call uh on what's on the sheet that's coming down from this and if we all agree that the it should be lifted we're supposed to get the copies Friday correct to go over to go over for the weekend and Monday we're supposed to call very good news that's wonderful news yes yeah I just like to announce that the 112 field artillery is having a fundraiser for deploy troops this Sunday at Captain Pauls uh if these are available from 12 to 4 uh on June 15th 12 was went up to sington New Jersey called operation New Jersey care we packed uh 51 boxes we already gave 2500 to start this for uh troops 28 boxes went strictly for females the rest went as general snacks and meals uh we do to go back up Monday I think it's the 26 we did to go back up there and again give the 2500 if not more and start packing what this company does years ago when they done Desert Storm it cost more money for 112 to Mill these packages and it was less uh troops we have 306 troops uh over there now and it cost us more money to send it then it cost us to buy the stuff we're not looking to uh get Goods this place does all that we're just looking for if possible if you can support uh come by and uh you know give them the support we'll be up there on Mon that that Monday and to date because we had our meeting today uh so far we brought in $1,800 in a short time it's only been out maybe two weeks that we put this information now so it's to support our troops if if you is it Sunday or Monday huh Sunday or Monday Sunday thank you thanks councilman and really if you if you know anybody please go out and I want to thank Captain Paul's for opening the place and he does a wonderful job for for everybody uh on that fire Fise military uh so you know stop by say hi share it else you good uh on the written Communications the council agrees that we should wait uh for the application for diversity equity and inclusion committee since the the mayor uh is the Lea's on to it and she's not here right now so we could yeah just hold up that makes perfect sense Madam CLK would you mind sending an email uh just saying the next council meeting which is the 17th I believe yeah September 17 bringing up on the 17 yes I will thank you ma'am no problem you're welcome all right now no executive session so needed we're good so can I get a motion to adjourn please order second I want to thank the res for coming out for your public participation and be safe going home nice seeing everyone