we got time quick good evening Township Council Workshop agenda Monday April 8 2024 this meeting is now called to order Madame Kirk I'm sorry councilman Patel please lead lead us into flags flag the United States of America to the rep it stands one nation God indivisible Li for you may be seated Madame clerk please please read the statement of public notice take notice that adequate notice of this meeting has been provided in accordance with njsa 10 4-8 and njsa 10 4-10 as follows a notice of the meeting was prominently posted on the bulletin board at the municipal building located at 225 Main Street Little Falls New Jersey on January 4th 2024 a copy of the notice was sent to the north Jersey Herald in news and the record on the same date additionally a copy of the notice is filed in the office of the Township Clerk on said date a link and a telephone number to join the meeting virtually can be accessed on the township website at www. lfj docomo a r council member Patel pres council member Murphy pres council member habetz pres council member Ben Cherry pres council president scova presid at this time mayor Damiano the floor is yours thank you council president we have had a lot of years here in Little Falls with some pretty tremendous success with our sports teams and this past winter basketball season was no exception we had three teams win the Championships this year one being our third and fourth grade boys basketball team we had a fifth and sixth grade boys basketball team and we had a fifth and sixth grade girls basketball team all take title back here to Little Falls let's have a round of applause for every so what we're going to do is we are going to have the coaches join me up here and call out the name of all of the players on their team who helped bring a trophy back here to Little Falls and we're going to get you a medal here and we will get you guys on your way as soon as possible tonight I know a lot of you have other sports you need to be at other events and other things so we are going to start now with Coach Moreno and his team with the third and fourth grade boys basketball team all right team you ready congratulations all right here we go number one Israel quo come on up here we go Manny [Music] kin Jack [Music] Duffy Jonathan Mareno Bradley biggie Reynolds and Phil an Theo [Music] Silman and last but not least Mr London Walker come on Carla get up here get up here coach thank you everybody thank you so much congratulations all right and the next coach I'm going to call up is the coach of our fifth and sixth grade boys basketball team coach Callahan thank you yeah we only have five kids show up today but we had a repeat championship for a couple of us so uh great job boys uh first up Michael kab next Michael aren Johan Garcia Tony Garcia two-time champ Ryan Callahan great job boys oh sorry one more congratulations to coach Callahan's team and last but not least we have our fifth and sixth grade girls basketball team coached by coach Laren off thank you all right first uh Payton cver NAA bardaji Camila Peta catala canel Gian Carol mat and larano not present today but Ava Gordon Olivia verie and Jeremy cver our assistant coach thank you all congratulations to all of our sporting basketball teams this year who took home another championship here in Little Falls one more round of applause and with that you are all welcome to stay for the entire meeting if you'd like to exit now now is a great time e did good night good night bre all right and as we move through this evening's agenda uh before we get to our proclamations uh there are a couple of other people that I would like to recognize who have joined us here this evening and they are here to receive a promotion and they are receiving a promotion within our little Falls EMS division and these are two individuals who have really given back to the township of Little Falls and given everything that they have to our EMS program here in town and they have been instrumental in ensuring that as our program is successful that we become an accredited agency here in Little Falls as an EMS agency and we will be I think the first in the state that will be accredited with an EMS accreditation and it is through the hard work of these two individuals who I'm going to ask to join me up here right now and joining us tonight is Nicole Greco and Sarah Ramos the letter that reads of April 16 2024 you'll be promoted to the R A Little Fall Ms division you receive an increase pays than you through your keeping your res safe that's positions I know there will be tremendous assets that you have been in this new role as the so thank you for everything you've done we really look forward to you Hing on this new role in this position thank you congratulations conrat than guys and also being promoted this evening from our little fall zms division is going to be our new Deputy coordinator Robert Tierney he is working in his full-time role this evening and unable to be here with us but he will be promoted to the rank of Deputy coordinator he has been instrumental in assisting Mike berski our EMS coordinator in his role and as we have moved through uh this full-time process of an EMS division here in M Falls uh so congratulations as well to Robert Tierney in his new role as Deputy [Music] coordinator and now moving on to several proclamations that we have this evening before we begin getting into the uh agenda items themselves uh the first is National Donate Life month and it reads whereas realizing the urgent need for organ and tissue donors across the country the national Donate Life month observance provot a greater understanding about the life-saving benefits of donation and transplantation moreover the need is increas increasing and whereas the transplantation of organs and tissue is a miracle of modern medicine made possible through the compassion of organ and tissue donors enabling surgeons to save thousands of lives every year one organ donor can save eight lives and one tissue donor can restore Health to over 75 others people of all ages ethnic backgrounds and religions are touched by donation and the serious shortage of organ donors that exist according to the NJ sharing Network currently there are nearly 4,000 New Jersey residents and more than 100,000 Americans awaiting lifei life-saving transplant operations and whereas every capable person should support this vital effort by registering as an organ and tissue donor making their family aware of their wishes and being willing to give the precious gift of Health sight and Life to people in need and whereas the New Jersey sharing network is spearheading an awareness effort in order to educate the general public about the importance of or organ donations and in its life-saving Mission now therefore be it resolved that during April 2024 as National Donate Life month each of us will become better educated about Oregon tissue donation and be it further resolved that I mayor James bord Damiano do hereby recognize April 2024 as National Donate Life month in the township of little fall Falls next we have an Earth Day Proclamation and it reads whereas Earth Day originated in the US in 1970 to increase awareness of environmental problems and was renamed by the UN as International Mother Earth Daddy and whereas scientists estimate dozens of plants and animals will go extinct each day due to human activity and whereas humans generate 4.5 pounds of trash per day and according to recycle now nearly 80% of plastic waste ever created by humans is still in the environment today and whereas there are many small things that we can do each day that will make a huge difference for our planet such as recycle carpool use fuel efficient cars and stop littering and whereas every year on April 22nd Earth Day demonstrates environmental support and how we can protect our planet from further harm now therefore be it resolved that I mayor James bord Damiano on behalf of the Little Falls Township council do hereby Proclaim April 22nd 2024 as Earth Day in the township of Little Falls next we have National Child Abuse Prevention month Proclamation Bri whereas children are vital to our community's future success prosperity and quality of life as well as being our most vulnerable assets whereas all children deserve to have safe stable nurturing homes and communities they need to Foster their healthy growth and development whereas children abuse and neglect is as a community responsibility affecting both the current and future quality of life of a community and whereas communities that provide parents with the social support and knowledge of parenting and Child Development and con and concrete resources they need to cope with stress and nurture their children ensure all children grow to their full potential whereas effective Child Abuse Prevention strategies succeed because of Partnerships created among citizens human service agencies schools Faith agencies and the business Community now therefore I mayor James bord Damiano do hereby Proclaim April 2024 as National Child Abuse Prevention month in the township of Little Falls and call upon all Citizens Community agencies Faith groups medical facilities elected leaders and businesses to increase their participation in our efforts to support families thereby preventing child abuse and strengthening the communities in which we live next we have our Autism Awareness Proclamation and it reads whereas autism is a pervasive developmental disorder affecting the social communication and behavioral skills of those affected by it and whereas as more health professionals become proficient in diagnosing autism more children are being diagnosed on the autism spectrum resulting in rates as high as one in 54 children nationally and one in 32 in New Jersey and whereas while there is no cure for autism It is Well documented that if individuals with autism receive early and intensive treatment throughout their lives they lead significantly improved lives and whereas individuals with autism often require a lifetime of specialized and Community Support services to ensure their health and safety and to support fam's resilience as they manage the psychological and financial burdens autism can present and whereas Autism New Jersey is spearheading an awareness effort in order to educate parents professionals and the general public about autism and its efforts and now therefore be it resolved that during April 20 2024 as National Autism Awareness Month each of us will become better educated about autism and create a better Community for individuals with autism and be it further resolved that I mayor James bord Damiano do hereby recognize April 2024 as Autism Awareness Month in the township of Little Falls and we have one final Proclamation this evening and it is being read on behalf of all of our Municipal Ploy in employees here in the township of Little Falls because April is local government week in New Jersey and the proclamation reads whereas local government is the government closest to most citizens and the one with the most direct daily impact upon its residents and whereas local government provides services and programs that enhance the quality of life for residents making their municipality their home and whereas local government is administered for and by its citizens and is dependent upon public commitment to an understanding of its many responsibilities and whereas local government officials and employees share the responsibility to pass along the understanding of public service and their benefits and whereas New Jersey local government week offers an important opportunity for elected officials and local government staff to spread the word to all citizens of New Jersey that they can shape and influence this branch of government and whereas the New Jersey state League of municipalities and its member municipalities have joined together to teach citizens about municipal government through a variety of activities now therefore I James bord Damiano mayor of the township of Little Falls on behalf of the governing body do hereby proclaim the week of April 7th through 13 2024 as New Jersey local government week and encourage all citizens government officials and employees to participate in events that recognize and celebrate New Jersey local government week and encourage educational Partnerships between local government and schools as well as Civic groups and other organizations and with that I would like to thank all of our Municipal Employees here in the township of Little Falls especially those on the front line that's been late evenings with us here at Council meetings uh into fortunately for us not the so so late hours but the the hours of the evening and I want to thank all of you and I'm GNA ask the council to join me giving a round of applause and a thank you to all our council president that is all that I I have as far as the proclamations and promotions this evening thank you mayor have a motion to open the meeting to the public for General matters and agenda items moved by councilwoman habets second by councilman Vin Cherry this is a voice vote all those in favor I all those opposed the motion carries Madame clerk please please lead the public comment anyone wishing to address the township Council may do so to the council president it is preferred if you give your name and address for the record comments are to be limited to three minutes however if appropriate you may be granted additional time in the sole discretion of the council president members of the public who have joined the meeting virtually and desire to provide comment shall raise their virtual hand in the zoom application the meeting moderator will cue the members of a public that wish to provide comment and the council president will recognize them in order members of the public who have joined the meeting by calling in must press star six to mute and unmute themselves and star n to raise their hand members of a public who have joined the meeting via the zoom application must click the reactions icon and then the raise hand icon once the process is complete we will return to the regular order of business thank you Mr Kusha is there anyone in our chat that'd like to speak to us can you please allow them in turn your mic I'm sorry can you say your name please C can you hear us can you say your name please guys mute thank you can you hear me yes can you state your name you don't need to State your address thank you thank thank you yes this is caress Huck good evening good evening thank you thank you Mr Mayor and um Town Council uh president Mr scoa and the council um I am the new president of the Little Falls Alliance for a better community and I would just like to thank you as a council for repairing the foot bridge at the moras canal and for also uh the um installing the restrooms at Wilmore Park and at the W so thank you very much the ABC is very proud of this town and we always welcome um anything new that is happening in our town so I thank you thank you thank you for your comments this evening Mr coo is there anyone else that would like to speak to us this evening seeing no one and the council chambers are coming before us have a motion to close to public comment so moved moved by councilman moveed by councilman Murphy second by councilwoman habetz all those in favor all those opposed motion carries mayor items number one through five please thank you council president the first is the resolution to adopt the 2024 Municipal budget as we have discussed and had several presentations on I have presented this council with the proposed 2024 Municipal budget uh I am hopeful that every body approves of this year's 2024 Municipal budget which I've indicated in the past will have a a again a very slight decrease to the taxpayers here in Little Falls while maintaining all of the services that we have maintained in the past uh and in fact allows us to continue with and assuming that all of our Capital Improvements are also approved this evening will allow us to continue to provide uh incredible services to our residents here in M Falls uh so that is the first item are there any questions with respect to the 2024 Municipal all right moving on to item number two uh this goes this is a resolution to adjust and cancel taxes on a property and while it reads a resolution to adjust and cancel taxes on a property uh this is actually a great benefit to the township of Little Falls and item number two is a resolution uh which will allow us to cancel taxes but as a result of the payment and Le of taxes that will now be made on the property I know there were lots of discussions in the past regarding the payment and Le of taxes and the unfortunate wording of the New Jersey statutes that require it to be called an abatement uh because the uh the abatement that we refer to legally is actually a substantial increase in the revenue that Little Falls will receive from this particular property as I've stated in the past the property had at one point previously been paying about $300,000 uh locally it is now up to about $937,000 locally and we are going to be replacing the $937,000 with $1.5 million moving forward with an expectation that that number will actually continue to increase as final cosos are issued to some of the remaining uh units in the in in the area that the pilot applies uh so we are going to see an increase now of additional $600,000 essentially almost immediately a benefit to all taxpayers here in Little Falls are there any questions with respect to item number two the resolution to adjust the taxes all right seeing no questions on item number two items number three and four go hand inand with one another uh it is the resolution authorizing the affordability assistance grant as we have seen on a number of occasions throughout this year and last year uh we get these occasionally as somebody applies for and is eligible for the affordability assistance program uh item number four and I say it goes hand inand is because uh this one is a resolution resending a prior one because uh The Firm cgph who helps administer this program for us uh inadvertently flip two of the numbers in the figure that they had indicated was the the amount uh we are now resending that and correcting it with the correct figure uh this is more of an administerial uh issue than it is anything else uh and doesn't change any part of the actual program any questions on items number three and four from the council all right moving on to item number five the resolution approving the change order for the downtown streetcape improvements in section three it's an increase of 14892 uh as we've discussed on a number of occasions as Street capes proceed uh issues sometimes arise and modifications need to be made this one is for an increase of 14,890 uh fortunately I do believe we will see some change orders coming up in the near future where we will actually see some change orders for a decrease uh really looking forward to seeing those because they sure beat increases uh in these projects so are there any questions with respect to item number five all right seeing none council president I turn it back to you thank you mayor have a motion to uh open the public hearing on the 2024 mimisal budget so moved by councilman V Cherry second by councilwoman Patel all those in favor I'm sorry is this a roll call Madam clerk no no all those in favor all those opposed the floor is now open for the uh for anyone who would like to talk or discuss the 2024 Municipal budget Mr kushia is there anyone in the chat see any one else come before us in the council chambers I'll close to the public hearing have a motion uh to uh the resolutions a through F so move move by Council W habetz second by councilman V Cherry this is a roll call Madam clerk call a roll council member Patel yes council member Murphy yes council member haet yes council member vaneri yes council president scova yes madame clerk read ordinance 1478 please second reading and public hearing of ordinance number 1478 an ordinance entitled Bond ordinance to appropriate an additional sum of $320,000 for the construction of a municipal parking lot in by enfor the township of Little Falls in the county of pic New Jersey to make a down payment to authorize the issuance of bonds to finance such such additional appropriation and to provide for the issuance of bond anticipation notes in anticipation of the issuance of such bonds thank you the public hearing on uh 1478 is now open does anyone wish to speak Mr kruan and anyone in chat seeing no one come before us in council chambers the public hearing on ordinance 1478 is now closed have a motion to adopt 1478 moved by councilman V Cherry second by councilwoman habetz this is a roll call Madame clerk call the rooll for 1478 council member Patel yes council member Murphy yes council member habblet council member Ander yes council president scoa yes Madam clerk please read ordinance 1479 second reading and public hearing of ordinance number 1479 an ordinance entitled calendar year 2024 ordinance to exceed the municipal budget cost of living allowance and to establish a c bank the public hearing on ordinance 1479 is now open does anyone wish to speak on 1479 Mr cusha seeing no one in council chambers the public um the public hearing on 1479 is now closed have a motion to adopt ordinance 1479 move by councilman vent Cherry second by councilman habetz Madam clerk this is a roll call please call the roll for 1479 council member Patel yes council member Murphy yes yes council member habet council member van Cherry yes council president scova yes madame clerk read ordinance 1483 introduction of ordinance number 1483 an ordinance entitled Bond ordinance to authorize the construction of the foot Bridge from Morris Canal Park to the pic River in by and for the township of Little Falls in the county of P state of New Jersey to appropriate the sum of $60,000 to pay the cost thereof to make a down payment to authorize the issuance of bonds to finance such appropriation and to provide for the issuance of bond anticipation notes in anticipation of the issuance of such bonds with a second reading in public hearing scheduled for April 29th 2024 thank you Kev a motion to introduce 1483 so moved move by councilman Murphy second second by councilwoman habetz this is a roll call please call the role council member Patel council member Murphy yes council member habetz council member van Cherry yes council president scova yes Madam cleric read ordinance 1484 introduction of ordinance number 1484 an ordinance entitled Bond ordinance to authorize the undertaking of various improvements to the cic Center building in by and for the township of Little Falls in the county of P state of New Jersey to appropriate the sum of $80,000 to pay the cost thereof to make a down payment to authorize the issuance of bonds to finance such appropriation and to provide for the issuance of bond anticipation notes in anticipation of the issuance of such bonds with a second reading and public hearing scheduled for April 29th 2024 thank you c a motion to introduce 1484 moveed by councilman V Cherry second by Council Patel this is a roll call please call the roll from 1484 council member Patel yes council member Murphy yes council member hav council member van Cherry yes council president scova yes madame clerk 1485 please introduction of ordinance number 1485 an ordinance entitled Bond ordinance to authorize the construction of a vehicle enclosure for the office of emergency management in by and for the township of Little Falls in county P state of New Jersey to appropriate the sum of $85,000 to pay the cost thereof to make a down payment to authorize the issuance of bonds to finance such appropriation and to provide for the issuance of bond anticipation notes in anticipation of the issuance of such bonds with a second reading and public hearing scheduled for April 29th 2024 thank you have a motion to introduce 1485 so move mooved by councilwoman haetz second second by councilman Murphy This is a roll call Madame clerk call the rooll on 1485 council member Patel yes council member Murphy yes council member habblet yes council member Venter yes council president scova yes madame clerk 1486 please introduction of ordinance number 1486 an ordinance entitled Bond ordinance to authorize the undertaking of Bank stabilization of ious locations along the pman pekman river ining for the township of Little Falls in the county of pay state of New Jersey to appropriate the sum of $100,000 to pay the cost thereof to make a down payment to authorize the issuance of bonds to finance such appropriation and to provide for the issuance of bond anticipation notes in anticipation of the issuance of such bonds with a second reading and public hearing scheduled for April 29th 2024 thank you have a motion to introduce 1486 move by councilman Venter second by councilwoman habets Madam clerk call the rooll on 1486 council member tell yes council member Murphy yes council member habet council member vaneri yes thank you council president scob yes I'd ask the council to eliminate to be careful their comments this is just a vote Madam cleric read ordinance 1487 introduction of ordinance number 1487 an ordinance entitled Bond ORD Bond ordinance to authorize the undertaking of sanitary sewer improvements at various locations in by and for the township of Little Falls in the county of P state of New Jersey to appropriate the sum of $150,000 to pay the cost thereof to make down payments authorize the issuance of bonds to finance such appropriation and to provide for the issuance of bond anticipation notes in anticipation of the issuance of such bonds with a second reading and public hearing scheduled for April 29th 2024 thank you have a motion to introduce 1487 moved by councilman Venter second by Council councilman Murphy This is a roll call on 1487 council member Patel yes council member Murphy yes council member haet yes council member van Sherry council president scope yes at this time Madam clerk 1488 introduction of ordinance number 1488 an ordinance entitled vond ordinance to authorize the acquisition of new additional or replacement equipment and machinery and new Automotive Vehicles including original apparatus and equipment for the use of the police department in by and for the township of Little Falls in the county of P state of New Jersey to appropriate the sum of $250,000 to pay the cost thereof to make it down payment to authorize the issuance of bonds to finance such appropriation and to provide for the issuance of bond anticipation notes and anticipation of the issuance of such bonds with a second reading and public hearing scheduled for April 29th 2024 have a motion to introduce 1488 so move moved by councilwoman habz second second by council member Cherry Madame clerk council member Patel yes council member Murphy yes council member habblet yes council member van Cherry yes council president scova yes madame clerk 1489 please introduction of ordinance number 1489 an ordinance entitled Bond ordinance to authorize the undertaking of renovations to the bathroom and snack bar bar at Dua field in buy and for the township of Little Falls in the county of pic state of New Jersey to appropriate the sum of $300,000 to pay the cost thereof to make down payment to authorize the issuance of bonds to finance appropriation and to provide for the issuance of bond anticipation notes in anticipation of the issuance of such bonds with a second reading and public hearing scheduled for April 29th 2024 thank you have a motion to introduce 1489 so move moved by councilwoman Patel second by councilwoman habetz this is a roll call Madame clerk call the rooll council member Patel yes council member Murphy yes council member habetz council member van Cherry yes council president scova yes madame Clark you need to take a break I'm good Madam cler 1490 introduction of ordinance number 1490 and ordinance entitled Bond ordinance to authorize the undertaking of the 2024 Road Improvement program in by and for the township of Little Falls in the county of pay state of New Jersey to appropriate the sum of $500,000 to pay the cost thereof to make down payment to authorize the issuance of bonds to finance such appropriation and to provide for the issuance of bond anticipation notes in anticipation of the issuance of such bonds with a second reading and public hearing scheduled for April 29th 2024 have a motion to introduce 1490 moved by councilman V Cherry second second by councilman Murphy roll call Madame clerk council member Patel yes council member Murphy yes council member habetz council member van Cherry yes council president scova yes 1491 please introduction of ordinance number 1491 an ordinance entitled Bond ordinance to authorize the undertaking of various public improvements and the acquisition of new additional or replacement equipment and machinery and new Automotive Vehicles including original apparatus and equipment in by en for the township of Little Falls in the county of pay state of New Jersey to appropriate the sum of $735,000 to pay the cost thereof to make down payment to authorize the issuance of bonds to finance such appropriation and to provide for the issuance of bond anticipation notes and anticipation of the issuance of such bonds with the second reading and public hearing scheduled for April 29th 2024 thank you have a motion to introduce 1491 so moved by councilwoman Patel second by councilwoman haetz Madam clerk call the roll on 1491 council member Patel yes council member Murphy yes council member habblet council member vaneri yes council president scova yes Adam clerk 1492 introduction of ordinance number 1492 an ordinance entitled Capital ordinance to appropriate the sum of $250,000 for the construction of bathrooms at Wilmore Park in by and for the township of Little Falls in the county P Stadium New Jersey and providing that such sum so appropriate shall be raised from a county Grant with a second reading and public hearing scheduled for April 29th 2024 have a motion to introduce 1492 moveed by councilman habetz second by councilman Vin Cherry Madame clerk there's a roll call please call the rooll council member Patel yes council member Murphy yes council member habet council member vaneri yes council president scova yes thank you madam clerk uh I want to wish a very very happy birthday to our one of our very own councilwoman Patel wish you many where happy birthdays to come thank you counc almost had all the children here wish you a happy birthday um on May 31st we're gonna have a Spring Fling John Morano in the accents he's one of our very own uh we'll be playing at 6 to9 at the Civic Center uh our seniors that are in town are free $20 for Out of Towners um I had an opportunity to have a little meeting with the speaker of the house concerning I know Cynthia you madam clerk you'd appreciate this with the Oprah uh Avalanche of Oprah requests I've been coming forward to municipalities it was a very good meeting not only for the municipality but also for police for the police departments that are besti with requests I think uh since I've started in 2016 those requests have gone up maybe tenfold uh so uh he's hoping to bring a bill to the floor within the next two months um and I maybe asking the mayor to give permission that myself and Madame clerk will be going down the trend to testify on behalf of this municipality for the uh the amount of work that comes through with an oper request I know on the uh 23rd the mayor myself will be having a meeting with the county concerning the pekman bridge so I look forward to that meeting to see where that will go mayor councilwoman Patel the floor is yours thank you Council uh president just a few things with the public health department um they are still having the rabies clinic it's going to be in Little Falls on April 17th from 5: to 7 at the DPW and then they're testing for lead both in potty and on clothing and articles so for lead testing on April 23rd between 1 and 3 at the satellite office in Clifton you could bring any household items like toys or jewelry and get those tested and then on the 23rd as well you could get your blood tested um that's also going to be at the satellite office at 207 Parker AB in Clifton New Jersey and then on April 10th between 10: and 12: p.m. um at the satellite office once again they're offering free glucose and blood pressure screenings um John deagle who's our health officer will be here at the next meeting to present the annual Health Report so anyone that has any questions um that would be a great time to come attend and ask him in person and then finally I had a meeting last week with um Nami which is the National Alliance on Mental Illness um it's the nation's largest Grassroots Mental Health Organization and they have educational programs they do walks they essentially just want to bring public awareness um and fight the stigma against mental health so I'm looking to work with that organization and see what we can do for Little Falls thank you further thank you Council havitz thank you council president um so just a few Library updates um this week is National Library week um tomorrow night myself and uh fellow council members have been asked to go to the library for a Facebook live uh to interview about our favorite books so that will be at 600m tomorrow night be sure to go to the library uh Facebook page and catch our interviews I'm very interested to see what everyone's favorite book is um some other upcoming events that are at the library uh there's going to be a poetry reading and open mic night uh Thursday April 18th at 6:30 uh they will have an author uh with uh selections from his poetry book and then there will be a portion uh for Open Mic for uh poetry reading uh registration is on the library uh website um and then lastly they are starting a new series at the library uh called historic New Jersey uh Jeffrey their programs director on April 24th at 11:00 am we'll be starting this uh new Facebook live uh monthly touring of historic sites across the state so be sure to check that out um the farmers market is coming along it's about six weeks away uh talking Farmers Market uh which is a Facebook live that um is is every Friday during the market season will resume on April 26th it'll be the first in the series and every week you can catch that Facebook live at 4M to find out all things farmers market um events vendors that are going to be there Etc uh lastly we're going to have our shred event uh we spoke about Earth day and it will be our Earth Day uh shred event which will be Saturday April 20th from 9:00 to 1 right here in the town hall parking lot um it's a shred in electron recycling event so you can bring your documents to be shredded you can bring your old VCRs any old electronics and they will take them for you and we will also be having our annual Arbor Day uh celebration with the Girl Scouts um every year the Girl Scouts uh plant a tree for us so they will be doing so at 5:30 on the 26th of April um the location is to Deed by the people that's thank you councilman have councilman V Cherry thanks council president first got to say happy birthday to councilwoman Patel like the rest of us that you know what it's like to be here on your birthday or family member's birthday so welcome to the club um I just want to thank the council as well as the uh Little Bus Police Department Senator Cado FTC kids Ethan and the bean and the uh Paco pad for attending and some of the residents that attended last week's Autism Awareness Month uh ceremony as well as the flag raising you know the weather of course didn't cooperate but um we're able to have the program inside and then we spent some time outside where the rain actually L up to raise the flag to Mark uh the start of Autism Awareness Month and if you haven't noticed if you drive by the lights are uh blue outside of town hall and they will remain that way uh for the month of April so again thank you for everyone um that attended that um obviously we had the three teams here congratulations to them uh just a reminder too for the mayor and Council as well the residents uh this Saturday at 9:00 a.m. is the annual baseball and softball opening day parade which will take place at 9:00 am so if you're planning on being there and walking please join us at school number one prior to 9 o' and then the Parade's going to start at 9ine head down Stevens hook a quick right on to Maine and a quick left on Patterson a it will end at the uh rec center and then as we get there there's opening day ceremony to recognize all the teams their sponsors and the ceremonial first pitch for baseball and the ceremonial first pitch for softball so if everybody's around please join us and there's also going to be another special guest that's there um Billy pikney is a resident here in Little Falls if you know him from spending a lot of time at the New Jersey Jackal as well as Billy the bat boy his uh program he does online thanks to councilwoman habets Billy's actually going to join and talk a little about uh his story and what he's been doing he just came back from spending about a month down in Florida for spring training before the official baseball season started he's also written a book though he's a really great person in town so looking forward to seeing him too on Saturday also want to say congrats of course to Nicole uh greo and Sarah Ros for their promotions tonight and as you heard me before and I know council president got mad at me just saying thank you to my colleagues and the mayor of course for putting some funds from the township into the pekman river um it's nice to see this progress I know it's been a constant battle for us for a long time trying to convince others and I know some additional funds are coming from Senator Cado as well as the some of Alison to Phillips it's a start and hopefully too we can work with the county and they can help address this problem because ideally you know if we can stabilize the banks it'll help uh offset a lot of concerns that uh many residents have every time we get a lot of rain and I'm one that lives on Hopson AV so I'm very familiar what could happen when that bridge is uh clogged with de breeze and it creates a flood I do also want to thank uh commissioner Sandy lazara because one thing we've noticed for the past three or four months on Main Street when we get some heavy uh rainstorms uh the Water tends to back up just past the uh pekman River um and it affects of course cross the way the factory that has some different companies there and water was getting into their um you know garage bays and it was a constant battle where the mayor had been emailing the county for about three or four months and not really getting the answers that we needed so we reached out to Sandy lazara and asked the commissioner if she could help you know go through the chain of command on her end and get this address because our DPW department and thank you to Ron Campbell of course had worked tirelessly to identify the problem and I'm happy to report this past Friday um the county brought in the engineers and a company to address the problem and they found the hole that was causing the blockage and it was resulting in 7 to8 Ines of water on Main Street in several occasions the police Department had to C close the road for safety purposes and now they're working uh this week to finish it up so just you know kudos to commissioner lazara for helping us uh with that situation because it's a perfect example of you keep nagging and nagging hopefully you get something done so appreciative of that um I also do want to mention that uh we have some follow-ups and working with the mayor as well as our Engineers um we're looking to install hopefully this spring our speed humps on Houston the residents have been asking and the bids went out we're just pulling everything together so hopefully over the next couple months uh the residents on Houston will have those much needed speed humps and then you know also what's coming soon hopefully in the next month or two from speaking with the engineer is the long awaited traffic light on Francisco and Cedar Grove Road that's been a huge undertaking the past three plus years so looking forward to finally seeing that resurrected and working I know it's something that a lot of people have been waiting for um let me see make sure I'm not missing anything that's it for me counc president thank thank you councilman bener councilman Murphy the floor is yours thank you council president first and foremost I'd like to wish councilman Pella very happy uh birthday hopefully get tojoy enjoy it tonight a little bit you're not bu her dinner um just a quick update on the domestic violence revention committee we had our second dine to donate event at Maggie toown Tavern on March 27th and we had another great turnout I would just like to thank the committee and the residents that all came out to support us um this was our second D donor event and between the two of them we have actually raised over $1,000 doar already um all that money is going to be going towards our shelter so I'm extremely happy um with those results and it's it just a really good program uh I would like to thank uh Maggie toown tabern again for their participation in this great um cause and for uh for supporting us uh tomorrow night we have our monthly meeting at 7 o'clock pm uh in the upstairs room at Town Hall if anybody would like to attend um I'd also like to have a side note I know a lot of residents reached out to Mayor and Council asking if we can do anything until celebration uh for Easter and I know uh myself councilman Venter and council president SCA um work throughout the night Friday and Saturday you know to get that designed and posted and put up there so I just like to thank them both for the for the help in getting that done and mayor for helping us out as well so big help from everybody uh did it in couple hours got that that up so it was very nice to have that there so have council president thank you thank thank you councilman Murphy Chief Pearl uh no report sir thank you have a motion to open the meeting to the public for agenda items only some mooved by councilman Patel second by councilman Mur councilman V Cherry Voice vote all those in favor all those opposed Madam clerk anyone wishing to address the township Council may do so to the council president it is preferred if you give your name and address for the record comments are to be limited to 3 minutes however appropriate it may be granted additional time in the sole discretion of the council president members of the public who have joined the meeting virtually and desire to provide comment she'll raise her virtual hand in the zoom application the meeting moderator will cue the members of a public that wish to provide comment and the council president will recognize them in order members of the public who have join the meeting by calling in must press star six to mute and unmute themselves and star N9 to raise their hand members of the public who have joined the meeting via the zoom application must click the reactions icon and then the raise hand icon once the process is complete we will we will return to the regular order of business thank you uh Mr kushia anyone in chat see no one come before us in the council chair members have a motion to close the public comment so move by councilman Murphy second by councilman Venter all those in favor all those opposed motion carries have a motion to adjourn this meeting moveed by councilwoman habz second by councilman V Cherry all those in favor all those opposed this meeting is now closed