e e e e e e e [Music] we are live um welcome to the April 10th W Hill Township committee meeting we will start at 7:33 Megan please kindly read the statement of presiding officer of course in compliance with the open public meetings Act of New Jersey adequate notice of this meeting specifically the time date and public call and information were including the meeting that was electronically sent to the eoet N mois Daily Record and posted on the township website the agenda and public handouts for this meeting can be viewed online at www. lill nj.gov a public comment period will be held and the order is listed on the meeting agenda well done Megan as always uh would everybody please rise join me the Pledge of Allegiance I pled allegiance 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 Megan please kindly take rooll committee Mand dorsy here committee Ray present committeeman verzo is not coming tonight Deputy Mayor Le here mayor Pia present so I want to make sure yep I see I see them there they are so we have uh Susan jeans and Gordon Redgate uh who were going to make a a presentation about potential uh spring 24 tree planting thank you guys for coming good to see you again okay well actually there's several tree plantings underway but this one that we're talking about right now we we called it our 20 Tree project because we were optimistic that we might be able to put in 20 trees and we were going to uh cluster them we were going to try to beautify one little area of of town and we happen to have chosen um at the recommendation of a couple people on the uh commission um pic Street and Sterling and um uh John linsen who is AR Lea own uh to the state uh forestry uh commission and I went around and we spotted trees on pic Street and we actually found we did found uh 18 trees we thought okay that's good um and then after that uh Al Gallow and I went around to revisit all those locations because we wanted to be able to place them on public property since that seems to be the criteria that we need to adhere to so we did find uh 18 trees or 17 trees that are on public property and we also uh found two new Lo locations to put trees at another place we hadn't even considered before would also be on public property so the point of this is that we're trying to beautify areas of town and focus on one little best we can one area at a time in town and this might set a precedent and and create some enthusiasm for beautifying uh little areas of town now that we chose Sterling in particular because I know this is the year that you're going to be looking at the train station and and talking about some improvements along there and you're also continuing the line along Main Street so the pic Street being the street one off of Main of of Maine Avenue um is a place where four on the Memorial Day Parade everyone's parked there and walking down that street we used to have a Fourth of July run down that street and it it has a historic significance it it was a a an area that due to various things partly because of when it was U constructed or a lot of was constructed they put up a lot of those calorie pairs that as you know were along Long Hill I mean a main street and we had to remove them because they were suffering snow damage and they have structural issues so there's large swaths of land that have no trees in front of their their properties so we did talk to some of the uh Street uh people that were the owners and they were quite enthusiastic about it the ones we talked to um in fact one of them was so enthusiastic he's bought a challenge grant tree this year because he was get get one from this project assuming it goes through and he wanted a second tree so we so that's pretty exciting um and uh that's just to replace a lot of the the dead damage there's there there's dead dead trees that have been removed and there's whole areas of the street that have just don't have a single Street tree so thank you for volunteering that go I was going to ask some cases it's a where you believe it's a good location for a new tree and in many cases it's to replace a tree that is it is not we are not taking out dead trees that it is an open space it's already an open okay but but I think what you're asking is we are trying to concentrate on the areas where you know they've lost a lot of ash trees or these Cal repairs Susan was talking it might be it might be where uh DPW has uh removed some trees could be um they they do more hacking than they do complete removals um I'm I'm only laughing because I don't know yeah sometime sometimes there are complete removals I think there are some complete removals there's no question about it but at any rate we we did find some spots and Al even uh uh pointed out a a spot that we hadn't noticed another spot that we hadn't noticed is basically a piece of public property that he said could benefit by having a tree that would especially that would be able to deal with wet conditions not not standing water but wet conditions and so we we're going to accomplish that at the same time so so we sent out I gave you a brochure yes and we have to proceed by getting uh we have to have it okayed and then we have to get we have the addresses we have to create a the form letter in there we have to personalize it and send it out to all the homeowners because they have to is there anything you looking huh from us this evening or is it something you can work with Randy I mean you were supposed to have gotten uh oh they did they did the letter that yeah that and and all all that really is is it tells it tells the locations of the trees in question we have changed it so it reflects that they will all be on public land as opposed to private land because it's is a little bit unclear about some of them these will all be on on right away um we do acknowledge the overhead wires where that and water and all and all the various problems with planting a tree um and you're comfortable location appropriate tree size exactly treeze blah blah blah and we will take into account people's preferences uh though when whenever possible I try to talk people into getting a a a real tree as opposed to an ornamental that really has more of a 25 year lifespan and and to be fair Susan you did mention John linsen earlier John Linson is a tree expert well-respected Statewide I was fortunate enough to work with him when I was on the shat Tre commission so um so I I I don't know Matt Scott I've sat in some of the meetings I think this is great um and um you know good work and a lot of good thought put into where the locations of these trees should be so I think uh unless you disagree I think go forward with our blessing right go forth go forth with our blessing or but and but please thank thank you for being here this evening please thank the the entire commission uh for the great work they've done not just on this but for many many years we appreciate it sure to mention there is a challenge Grant going on right now but that's that's coming up quickly so far many of people who have bought before and as I say one is on street and he wants to second is it April 24th what what's the deadline uh 15th please please make it okay I mean that's very very soon announce how it works it's okay it the the cost this year of course everything is going up and uh all the larger trees are all in the range of between two two 225 and 300 so what we do is we we have a lot of people who want an ornamental the ornamentals are often less expensive but even for an ornamental you buy an ornamental tree it's going to cost you $300 in the first place and if you have somebody put it in your yard it's going to be another $500 just for that purpose so it's a bargain it's 250 and we help 250 for the resident 250 by the the commissioned and uh director Al Gallow and his team I think kindly put because it has to be a street visible tree right it has to be visible on the street it does not have to be at the street Edge right Tre and so Al I'm putting you on a spot DPW will uh plant the trees again no additional cost uh now these the 20 Tree project is not necessarily I understand that I but you but April 15th right I mean whoever wants this got to get moving good perfect thank you thank you thank you and Elizabeth Timothy thank you for coming this evening as you do each year uh and I know you do it in each of each of the uh I want to know if there's any chance I can buy a tree for $250 even though I don't live in uh Long Hill and get it planted because this sounds really really nice would you go would you go to Elizabeth's the so Tim and I were talking as we uh were sitting there that you always set us up after these really nice present it's either a police officer being sworn in last year it was the students um with the with Grace initiative now we're talking about beautifying the town and then we get have to talk about the budget so but I guess it's nice that it sets you up and put you in a in a nice happy mood um before we speak so thank you so much uh for inviting us each year or as I usually say we usually invite ourselves and and you allow us to come and and uh speak with you it is nice to at least have this set aside once a year um for us to to get to come and and speak with you directly this is my 11th year uh at watchong Hills which is hard to believe um because the time has flown these I am so privileged to work in the community in which I I get to lead um our our four towns are so supportive of the school um and I know many of you have had uh children go through the school or have children there now um so it you know we really enjoy nice relationships with the town and so we'll just you know do our usual uh little stick of just sharing a little bit of the highlights of our of our upcoming budget um and actually Tim's going to give an update on the referendum as well that we had come to speak about a year ago which is uh really well underway with the projects which is exciting so our enrollment um has continued to decline a little bit it's it's stabilizing and will likely go up in the next few years but we're at just under 1,700 predicted for the 2425 school year and I just threw a couple of highlights of student achievement on here um we uh offer 27 AP courses 31 njsia Sports and over 60 co-curricular clubs and activities and we have students continuing to excel in their performance in all areas in addition to um their academic achievements earning National Merit recognition AP scholar recognition uh our teams and our athletes continue to earn individual and County and Statewide uh Team recognition um our co-curricular clubs excel at the state and National level in some cases and uh I know you know uh a lot of the townships have actually honored some of those students here uh at their their meetings so all of this our budget our board our townships all support all of the the amazing things that our students are able to achieve in the upcoming budget um we do have security upgrades which we uh usually have some of those every single year because we are continually upgrading our security infastructure at the high school uh we do uh we are continuing our onetoone Chromebook Initiative for the incoming n9th grade class um and we also started uh what we call our Empower program with Esser funds A couple of years ago and it's something that we've been talking about for a while and then when we got the eser funds we were able to to Pilot it um we have a teacher dedicated to supporting students um maintain uh credit to stay on track to graduate in four years and regain credit so it runs throughout the school year as well as over the summer and we have had a lot of seniors um um regain credit so that they're able to graduate on time as well as students who are in 9th through 11th grade um who are struggling in classes and endanger of failing and losing credit um get additional support through our Empower program so that they are able to stay on track um you know the research is very strong in showing that a student's chances of graduating high school decrease significantly if they're not on that four-year path and so we've um been very successful with this program for the past couple of years so the board has fit that now into our general operating budget because the funds are going away uh we won't be getting those any longer after this year uh we also are uh including some uh additions to our Athletic program um specifically for some additional coaches for female sports so we did have a uh female member of our wrestling team this year that actually made it to the state uh competition in Atlantic City and we had a woman volunteering um as her coach so now we are going to add a female wrestling Coach position that's in the budget for next year we are also adding an assistant girls golf coach we started our girls golf program several years ago and that has grown so much that we need an assistant to match the assistant that we have for the boys program uh and we are also starting a flag football program uh for the female students as well um we were looking uh at potentially um doing a co-op for a a girls hockey program but that looks like it's it's not going to come to fruition quite yet so that's something we'll continue to look at for the future um but this is kind of exciting um you know the interest is is continuing to grow and it's nice that we're able to support it budgetarily uh and I think that's it I'm going to turn it over to Mr sty to give you the exciting numbers thank you thanks Dr J thanks Town Council um sticking with sports did the boys win today out there watching the game today so good I gotta tell you it's I'm still surprised that they're playing right now with all the rain we've had I figured they wouldn't be playing till like like may but uh anyway so thank thanks for having us here I just want to recognize obviously our two board members uh Susan Ober and Carol PR Carol PR is here tonight and sitting in the audience um Carol is our operations chair so she had a lot to do with that Committee in forming the budget this year um the overall budget is up 1% in total $52 million uh it's you know the only thing deceiving with this is we did lose a lot of Federal Aid that was that Esser money which was basically and it was a three-year extension of covid money so that's all gone now which kind of hurts us a little bit because there are a few things we added that we had to uh put into the budget but we had to find ways to make them uh enter them into the budget without you know hurting the taxpayers so and which I I feel we did in this particular case um for State a the categorical state aid that we get every year for operating budget it's good news and bad news the good news is it's fully funded now uh the state finally fully funded the the formula so we received 2.5 almost $2.6 million the bad news is we received $2.6 million and it's fully funded so I mean you know typically in your districts like ours um you're going to get less stated based on this formula it's based on ability to pay and the Trenton feels that we have the ability to pay so we we tend to get less state aid so this this is the max under this formula that we could have gotten based on the amount of students that we have um and then the bolded thing I have on my my sheet was the thing that Dr Jud was talking about so last year we came and we said we have an $8 million referendum that's part it's infused into the budget so and it all worked um that's the thing we're kind of very proud of it's an $8 million referendum project we used $5.3 million of our own uh Surplus monies and got $2.7 million in state Debt Service Aid so when you look at that that the categorical state aid you see ah it's low we at least we're able to get some of that back for this construction project and the construction project is well underway we have two sections that we already started uh our goal is to get done by the end of August uh we have a new nurses Suite which we've bitterly needed over years because our nurses office is so small the kids are out in the hallway waiting uh our trainers thing for our sports program uh that's like like a almost like a tiny little locker room where they were trying to tape up kids and help them out so we're trying to expand that and fix that locker room at the same time uh we have a steam lab which we're putting in uh actually it's part of an old robotics room but it's it's uh you know a very old 1957 um room that we used for I think it was um the metal shop back in the day and that's being converted to a a robotics room steam lab and and a whole bunch of other good things uh and and then we're doing a little work with our Ceramics room um and I think we're doing the the photo and there we have a photography room which we're moving to another part of the building but we're upgrading that and making that into a more usable space so we're well underway we we're looking to get that done by the end of August we hope uh you know not gunwood when I say that but so far it's going well um and then in terms of taxes uh this year it's it is more than we have in the past couple of years uh what happens is I think you guys know we have a regional uh allocation that happens every year and that changes and this year unfortunately for L Hill it kind of pushed more of our budget into L Hill and the reason being is it it's based on two things home values but each of the three towns kind of went up the same amount of money it was it was around 4 and a half% or so in that range um the other piece is the relationship between the um the number of kids in your Elementary School versus how much you have in the high school so if you have more in the High School versus the Elementary School uh versus the other two schools then you're going to have a little bit more of the burden which kind of makes sense like if you have more high school kids as a percentage of the two versus the other two you're going to get you're going to get hit and that's what happened here Warren actually was reduced um which I think is going to turn around in a couple of years to be honest um and you guys kind of went the other way way there was like a bubble going through the um Elementary School and it hit us so that being the case that shifted that tax burden a little bit to you uh the number was 1.6% so 1.6% went to lill and went away from Warren uh it'll again it'll reverse itself I put three years of data in there just so you guys see it underneath the past three years it was we had a $52 increase 16 and then a decrease of 29 so it's kind of the law of average it happens um you know but I again very proud of the board we we did everything we could to try to keep the spending down um it's been something that the board has been pushing um and it's a pleasure to work with them I think they they understand that um the inflation is tough for people and it's and we have to do what we can to try to help the uh local taxpayer um there's information on our website and we have our public hearing for our budget is actually on April 25th which I think is a Thursday and you guys are certainly welcome to come but all the your residents are welcome to come they can always watch uh on on YouTube um but again pleasure to be here thank you so much for having us Tim thank you you said April 25 April 25th okay correct um okay Matt do we invite our Board of Ed to come in by any chance they always they come every year and give a nice presentation we we we we we did we did and and and and I'm happy to uh well you're their time I I will speak about the uh K8 School Board momentarily but thank you the website that you referenced is pretty straightforward if you would just put watch on GS but it's uh whrhs.org so watchong Hills Regional High school.org I it's critically important we all know that the biggest portion of everyone's tax bill including yours in your respective towns uh is for the schools the most important thing Society does is educate its children so uh it's critical but it's also expensive and uh so I I I encourage as you just did anybody who was interested please attend uh ask questions you guys have always been I mean this as you said is your 11th year uh Dr Jo it and and and I've had the pleasure of listening to you each year and Tim what number of year is this I'm almost embarrassed to say it because I look on your screen my white hair and I'm like it's like 16 years now 16 years and every year you guys come in are incredibly transparent and forthcoming uh whenever we've asked questions in the past or made comments uh so I do appreciate it I appreciate you um and just encourage residents if you have uh you know it's not just just involved in uh the education of your child which is the critical part but it's your money uh if if if you want to ask questions I know you will uh guide the public so yeah I I have a question um so you said just under 1,700 students in high school right and we have more L Hill students are in high school than are in RK through 8 no not necessarily but it's the proportion shifted the proportion yeah how many how many of those 1700 are Long Hill students do you know so we have about actually I could tell you I do well he's looking that up I one thing I do just want to reiterate to everyone that and I know you I think you all know this um by now but just because we only come once a year formally to speak to you to you can you know how to reach out to us at any point in the year if there's ever any questions and I think you've also you know when if you get questions from community members you've referred them to us before so and please continue to do that you know there's we establish this one formal meeting but we are at the high school and welcome uh you know questions about the budget about curriculum whatever it might be I certainly can attest to what Dr Joe had just said I've had some calls and I've uh I do what I do best I uh delegate to the to the expert and I and I find you uh we have about 350 350 so it's almost about 85 86 per class right now okay oh Dr Jo I forgot I told Mr sty this afternoon you do a good job of putting out um information there's an incident at the high school I mean you put out enough just let people know hey we got under control because there's been complaints locally that they don't get those emails when something's going on or you don't need that explanations but you know if there's an incident up there you put everybody's at ease there an email goes out that day it's short sweet and gets to the point and I think people appreciate seeing that thank you I actually was saying how I I couldn't just go to my file of letters because I didn't have one about an earthquake um so I had to draft a new one for that so so now that's in the in the uh the file as well I I mean I had the smoke apocalypse but I didn't have an earth the locusts are coming I think really what's we had them already we had them about 10 years ago's next I don't know what the seven signs of the Apocalypse are but I know the Cubs have won a World Series and the Red Sox have won a World Series so we we have at least two it's when the Jets win the Super Bowl final one anyway thank you so much thank you guys have a great night take care so Matt to your question uh we did in fact invite uh the local school board to come and they were very responsive and kindly uh said that they had a conflict this evening so um maybe we can schedule it for the next meeting or maybe look at their schedule and for this even we could and and and and that way uh it could maybe uh expound upon what what they uh did Pro offer us so I think I think it's really important I mean you know we're just coming out of the back end of a very unusual year in terms of the rise in prices of everything and I think folks really want to understand what's going on with their tax dollars so I I would say um let's make every effort to accommodate them to come in in person and and and and we will um I can invite them to the um the next meeting to the next meeting in the in the meantime uh what they did offer uh is they they have a 10-minute video I believe and uh they said absolutely please play it so technology wise do you have that set up look at you and while Megan's getting that is on the local uh website as well the local Schoolboard website I believe I I do think though it would be good to have here in person because I know we're going to have questions you can't ask questions of a video this is this is true um do you think we I see us um I had it on my desktop that's streaming through my computer over there so the speakers weren't working but just give me one second and I will right you need to share with video with audio yep just when Megan was thinking there thank you for pointing out the incredibly obvious Deputy Mayor lavender did not say that I'm the obvious you were thinking it I didn't say you said it all right so let's try this again for some reason it is not working with the speakers all right well I mean if we can't get it to work uh that's fine we might be able to try to play it a little bit later in the meeting and if not it is on the uh K school board and and to your points SC this technical difficulties are going to happen in person is always uh Flawless so you want to just carry on for now all right uh so agenda item number five if you're following at home or even here in in the courtroom uh the consent and gender resolutions 24-15 through 24-26 are there any resolutions that a member of the committee would like to pull for further discussion or to uh abstain because of a conflict and I should point out uh committee Man Ray has said he will abstain from 24-24 I'm sorry Brendon will you speak he can't vote yeah he has no voting privileges because he is virtual and we have a quorum in yeah I'm no two guy all right I was trying to give you the benefit of the doubt there but um I appreciate that but if if Brendan were here in person he would have stain from 124 and 125 how about that uh so know any other uh you want a poem uh discussion or comment or if not I'm looking for a motion to approve so moved second commit Endor yes committeeman Ray is virtual and will be abstaining uh committee man verza is absent Deputy Mayor lavender yes mayor Pia yes and for Cornell if you're out there I I noticed that Deputy Mayor lavender was pulling the Cornell delayed vote like he was still deliberating [Laughter] yes all right there so Megan I think we're okay so let's go to liaison report um or reports I should say uh Vic is not here is Matt Matt taking over yes I am taking over with the same exuberance and excitement I didn't get to read the copy but yes I'll see what I can do all right whenever you're ready Madam clerk all right we had a lot of fun watching the near total eclipse this week remember we are always looking for new members on the recre advisory committee the sun always sets around these volunteers contact the parks and wreck department to learn more we had a huge turnout for the Easter egg hunt on the rain delayed second uh try on it there were over 9,000 eggs spread for an extra ready group of 1500 plus attendees thank you to the weather for cooperating that day all of the Long Hill volunteers to help make that morning possible the Chamber of Commerce and all the chamber members came that passed out promotions spreading eggs just special holiday cheer and for sponsoring the adult egg hunt which is actually pretty popular uh thanks to the central school community service volunteers that helped out Long Hill PD and the first aid Squad were all there and lmbb audio Services assisted by Ernie later and LGH Hill TV for coming out and capturing the festivities with a fun video which is posted on their website I mean our website and of course thanks the DPW crew for making the Park looked great that morning and then obviously helping clean up the next day or that week first aid uh the Red Cross were another popular um training session for CPR first aid training is tomorrow 6: to 9: um then they're also having another class CPR and AED class on Friday May 10th from 6:00 to 9:00 there's still in both classes but registered now on community pass it's $32 a person and it gives you a 2-year certificate thank you um Long Hill PBA um local 322 will be running its annual Fishing Derby at the lake on Saturday the 20th from 8: to 1 so come on they have uh great food prizes free t-shirts and you get to meet our Long Hill uh officers not in uniform Earth Day April 22nd Earth Day there you go April 22nd let's make everyday Earth Day and remember to be good stewards while on this planet again the Central School Community Service Group I believe uh Miss debiasi who's a local resident uh heads up the group and they will be joining the wreck department at the lake for a cleanup after school so thank everybody in advance for doing that congratulations to our sixth grade boys travel basketball team they're coached by Jason Weiss Joe pulowski and Brent weatherall and the seventh grade team coached by Greg Hurley jod o Conor and Paul Pillsbury each won the division championship at the Jersey basketball league so great job guys our spring yoga program started this Monday due to due to high demand they've added a second session on Wednesday mornings beginning on April 24th register now on community pass have you applied for a summer job yet um if you're looking for a job uh come on out uh remember the email is their primary communication so make sure you check it out also check the employment in parks and rec tab on the town website for blanket updates on the process and a frequently Asked question sheet interviews are starting now registration started for summer camps in Sterling lake on April 1st remember to register by May 31st mark your calendars Memorial Day Parade on Memorial day as usual um the parade starts at 9:30 a.m. uh concludes at Central School the ceremony and as usual Sterling Fire Company be gracious enough to host all parade guests back at the firehouse for uh free food and revry and finally while you have those calendars out make sure to mark down the dates of our dog days of summer concert hopefully something for everyone's taste I believe there's what six this year seven or six concerts so seven no no last one says free series I did the wrong thing we got tricked so the first concerts June 21st probably one of the most popular ones parrot Beach at Sterling lake and that will conclude the wreck report are you are you doing uh any other well DPW or police or no I can do the fire report uh Millington got the new ladder truck delivered on was it last Thursday or Friday Thursday Thursday hey last Thursday there you go well Brendon get supplement Thursday Brendon when's it going to be up in service a couple months after everybody's trained yeah I think yeah we're uh some training and waiting on equipment and so it should take uh probably two months or so to get to get open service so now we're two-thirds of the way along with our new trucks just waiting one for Sterling to come in and hopefully you'll see them up on the road in a few months so uh get those things out on the road and get training on them thank you hey Brandon I know the firehouse has to be modified when when when will that work start and finish um it's it's we're the application was filed this week and so we're waiting to uh uh for a hearing in front of the uh planning board and so it should uh probably happen soon after that okay so that'll be done probably by June you think that would yeah that would June July time frame yeah okay all right so that that that's the the rear of the firehouse has to be extended a couple of feet and they came up with a very elegant uh solution to that I have nothing else to report Scott okay planning board um I attended the planning board meeting last night um you know the one update I want to get and Tom Jones is here he's welcome to kind of come up and chime in if he wants but um Tom had met with um the open space committee to uh talk to them about the new master plan and answer their questions with regard to you know anything um that would be relevant to the inventory of properties that we have uh in open space uh Visa V uh you know what is changed in the master plan also Tom coming up are the environmental commission meeting uh on a Monday I think two weeks and uh shade tree and I talked to to to Don Richardson about us I'll be I'm I attend those so want to invite you into that with me as well to to answer questions from the environmental commission and the and the shade tree is there's stuff in the master plan that has relevance to that I don't know if you wanted to comment on that yeah um so thanks for that um was a what two weeks ago on a Monday uh Victor valza Daniel Rogers members of the um um uh God I forgot the name of the committee already U but uh for the public thas chair the plan thank you so um um other members of the open space we had also uh the wreck uh Department lead there as well uh talking about like you said several properties as well as looking at Central Park the pic um uh Trail as well as Central Park Trail and what could we do with those spaces uh very healthy conversation a lot of great ideas going around uh I was there in the capacity of the planning board and just because of the fact that we have a new master plan with a host of recommendations uh I was there to keep the guard rails on to make sure that we're focused on that so I think what's going to happen as the next step will be we're going to take a look at the uh suggestions that were made that has gone to the engineer uh and then start developing a game plan uh where do we want to focus our energy uh and start the process of moving forward uh did even have a conversation with Tom m I uh to talk about the trail systems uh look at Grants what what's available to us what can we go to the Morris uh County uh to talk to them about and see what we can do to get funding for uh the various projects that we're starting to look at right and and guy for your your benefit this is the conversation also too that you and I have had with Vic and Vic you know is helping us push this this this thread forward this is this idea of um you know coalescing all our work around trails and the Greenways and the stuff that we do on the RO River um so that we can make some real progress in linking all these things yep so um excellent and so um yeah I talked to Su and jeans tonight um we'll be invited to the shade tree meeting and I'll make sure we're into the environmental yeah I think it's great as well I think it's a great initiative to start meeting with all the different various committees and groups to start talking about what we have in the master plan so they can start aligning themselves with what we have as far as recommendations because it's a host of uh a book of work there's like 189 uh Rec recommendations within the master plan um and they are recommendations so we either do them we don't do them but it's it's something to at least uh start focusing uh all these volunteers energies on so and I think the other work you're doing is is sitting down with Joe Vu or engineer to uh update the tax map because that hasn't been done in a few years and there's there's zoning updates that have to be made to that right yeah that that tax map uh and zoning map is critical right it's we're calling at our foundation and on top of that will be other maps that will go on it that you can find in the master plan there's about five to seven maps that we're looking at and it's not just our Maps we've also looked at the tax assessor that he's look uh they're interested in the maps as well um and we're even having conversation a little bit future about getting this online so people can self resource you can see the different layers of different uh uh uh agendas that are going on so it makes it a little bit more transparent for uh our our citizens to see where uh we're focusing our energies good thank you thank you thank you Tom thank you that it back to you back to me all right uh first aid again it's becomes a regular report uh 50 plus calls uh thank you again to the incredible volunteer efforts of the uh first aid department sometimes those calls are you know rough sedding uh as you might expect with some of the medical issues that could pop up but uh no names but I could announce that the first aid Squad transported uh a young woman uh to Morristown Hospital and uh 10 minutes after they arrived uh a baby was born so we have a new resident in town and our uh first aid Squad I believe our honorary uh moms and dads or whatever God Parents yeah what god parents that's what we'll make them we'll make them God Parents so uh Captain English and and the entire Squad well done and and and congratulations and uh God bless to the uh new parents and to the new baby of course and before you move on I just wanted to give a shout out to Joe Huber our uh our OEM director um Joe does a lot of work behind the scenes that people don't see but we see it uh anytime there's significant rainfall um a lot of folks don't know this but Joe is an extremely analytical person and can calculate based upon how much rainfall the duration of that rainfall and the periods at which it comes he can he can um estimate within probably about half an inch where our river is going to be and what the risk for flood is going to be I know a lot of folks are concerned with that when we get um you know extended rain uh but I just want everybody to rest assured that um Joe on top of it along with um you know his communication with um with the police department DPW um you know everybody gets in motion to make sure when we get even near action phase that um we're ready to pull out the Playbook and move into action whether that's buttoning up the police department or out getting the uh the barricades out um and understanding what's going on second thing you know we did have that earthquake in town and Al um thank you for all the checks that you did um for you know our facilities and everything around town I don't think there was any damage right so um you know just want to let you know while it's not necessarily always publicized these guys are on top of everything and so you know just that thank you to Joe youber thank yep Matt oh yeah I checked my email I got an email from Shane um 12 baskets obviously they always in need of different food donations but for some reason they have a shortage on cleaning supplies so uh if if you're so inclined please donate dish detergent spray cleaners floor cleaners sponges bleach those items and you can leave them at three convenient locations there's a box by the library there's one obviously at All Saints and there's um and the third one is right at Shop Right on the way out so if you want to buy something I did it the other day bought it just dropped it off on the way out and that was that so uh they are in addition to the food they do need cleaning supplies if anybody uh would like to donate thank you thank you Matt uh Randy can we turn to you for the administrative report or oh BR I'm I apologize Brendon I I don't know if oh no no no no report from me guy no worries at all no worries all right so Randy the floor is yours thank you mayor uh at the last meeting there was concerns of uh property at 255 Union Avenue uh that was discussed by some residents um There Were Trees taken down on that property they did get uh the applicable permit to do that um there were questions whether uh they can be removed or not um they can be removed uh in accordance with the with Long Hill uh permits um if there are any D permits or uh the like they would have to um adhere to all those permits before they do anything else to the property um it is zoned in a R4 Zone which is residential so technically they can can go and build a uh residential house with zoning approval and then get the construction permits as long as they meet all the setbacks if they need want to do anything else with that property they would need to go before the board uh either the planning board or Board of adjustment there has been no applications filed so right now they uh just cut down trees um update with the EPA and d uh consent order uh a few weeks back we filed our last requirement uh with um the D and EPA well within the time limits that they set forth um we are very confident um that we met all the uh uh concerns that they had and uh we'll be waiting for their review um which I'm sure will take some time with the amount of um submissions that we uh made um along with that uh just be aware that anybody with private storm water uh facilities or structures on their property they'll be getting letters uh going out in June uh to explain to them what their requirements are to um make sure that they are maintained and reporting to the Township in regard to D and EPA regulations uh couple other things veteran banners uh the Friday is the deadline so if you have family members who uh were in the mil military or or in the military who lived or lives in Long Hill uh please contact the administrator's office KET orti is the one handling this um before Friday so she can um help you out uh earlier today we had the mobile Motor Vehicle Commission uh vehicle um I guess you call it a bus um here for that the library arranged um appointments were filled very quickly um it was it was it went very well yesterday A lot of people a lot of people come came without uh without appointments I don't know if everybody got served or not but the library is always is already looking to uh get another date for them to come because it was so successful they did they did April 22nd and all of the appointments are already filled okay so um it it hopefully this could be an ongoing thing if we keep booking these appointments like this so April second um you know Motor Vehicle Commission does say come come stand come in line because some people do not make their appointment so if you do want to stop by and hopefully somebody doesn't show up for their appointment they can you can get in um Street Fair April 21st it is starting at 10 a.m. uh we are I think Dennis guaranteed good weather weather uh I understand so uh come out enjoy the street fair at the street fair and um afterwards on our website the beautification committee will be say selling uh rain barrels and compost bins so uh stop by the table at the street fair and pick up your rain barrel or compost bin um another thing the um beautification committee is doing is they're doing some um electric box wraps so we have six boxes along Valley Road and while one address is in Valley Road it's in caner park um that are going to be wrapped and that project should be completed in June so uh looking forward to that uh spruing up Valley Road and the design on those wraps is what design on the wraps is going to be various wraps from uh pictures from our residents um and and of the wildlife uh um some ornamental and um patriotic so um we look forward to that the the committee has done a great job in in looking at the WPS and and creating something because unfortunately not all picturers will look good on the wraps because it it wraps around so you have to pick the picturers out and and you know know where the wraps are going to go so that the pitcher flows nicely so they they did a nice job with with the pitchers we have uh uh some of them uh back in picture form of how they're how they're going to wrap and look so um look forward to sprucing up those uh electric boxes along that road um Baron I think that's all that I have right now thank you Randy uh number eight under the discussion item uh we had announced I think earlier in the year uh that we were uh considering uh kind of a uh an evolution of the communication advisory committee status and and and how those UH responsibilities would possibly be divided and uh Scott's put a lot of work into this with the various members um I was hoping maybe you can outline what it is yeah I'll I'll just summarize really quickly um you know so in order to make better use of the talents um of the folks on the communication committee and you know kind of free people up to make progress in different areas you know we're going to separate it into three separate swim lanes and one of those swim Lanes will be uh the audio video in in in the courtroom uh because that's a lot of work and uh you know we've got some folks that are specialized in that um gyj toow uh Larry fast um are going to be our primaries on that uh Dana lean is going to lead online um online uh it uh initiatives things like the website things like uh you know potentially uh cyber security for um for for our website and then lastly uh Larry binski who specializes in our outdoor events uh move him over to the recreation committee right because that's really um where that belongs so that's Ernie leri Larry bazinsky they do the tree lighting they did the egg hunt etc etc and um so you know I think what we'll need to do at some point is uh work with Jack to come up with the resolution to kind of memorialize this and split it up but we talked to the folks involved it makes a lot of sense I think the way you know the commun the the CAC committee was developed a long time ago and technology has changed and um you know the town's needs have changed to the point where you this has really evolved into really three separate related swim lanes and we will have to do an ordinance abolishing the the committee itself but the others we can do by resolution the the the CAC yeah yeah the CAC will have to be dissolved by ordinance but then the other three or the other two really can be right so for this point for Jack maybe you know we can talk and we can start working that out with Larry and and and and guy's input as well as Dan's input perfect so it'll it'll go from it'll go from one committee to two committees M right because we're just going to move Larry binski and the the outdoor audio video stuff into wreck got it you look pensive did you speak with Lisa about putting him on the record board I didn't they need volunte is Lisa pigging you right now no no no no I just I mean Larry does all the work with with wreck I assumed he was on the W committee already all right well we'll talk to Lisa and we'll get that straight however it's the arrangement is he the arrang leaon or whatever yeah you know uh so Scott thank you thank you for embarrassing me yeah so I'll segue away from that yes uh and just point out this is a a perfect example of the the the talents that exist in Long Hill Township through many many unteer groups uh guy row and Larry Fest are experts in this is not something they do uh they are donating their experience and their talents and they're the reason why we have these flat panels and and and the audio upgrades and we're one of the few towns that I mean you you say this you talked to all the other Mayors what are other towns doing as far as participatory Zoom meetings none that I'm aware of Zoom meetings but we allow people to come in and comment and and where they can actually uh participate right they might be able to view but not participate we not only allow it that sounds a little bit pretentious we encourage it right uh so uh I don't know of any other town they helped us react to the the whole covid crisis and they did you know we learned some things that where we had gaps and what we needed to do and you know it's kind of pushed us forward into a good space there's no question started back in ' 08 I think we've been Jack you were hear at that time uh the township has been broadcasting meetings live since 0708 Y and the first chance we had to uh to then make it more interactive uh we did so and everybody's very everybody's very anxious to do something with the website um and that's Dan Dan Eline who is going to and he's going to reformulate that group and um you know we'll start making progress there and Larry bazinsky uh Hudson Catholic uh Hawk much older than me Larry if you're watching uh Larry uh was a sound engineer at Madison Square Garden so when I say expertise this is a gentleman that made his living for many many years and for those folks that have noticed ever since Larry got involved with this the uh quality of of of the loudspeakers and everything else I'll tell you like personally what I've noticed at Memorial Day it's just been like night and day since he's got involved so and and and and of course the concerts Y and the equipment that is used he donated to the town right uh so Larry big shout out to you um where are we where old new business oh I you're done right Randy yes and Jack okay uh old new business Brandon I know I see you chomping at the bit no no nothing for me no old no new uh all right announcements blue some announcements with which my colleagues up on Adas have already you know cut me off on some of them so I'll go through challenge Grant uh with the shade Tre commission has already been mentioned but we'll mention it again April 15th is the deadline uh 250 per tree is the cost to the resident uh shet Tre commission has funding where they'll uh put another $ 250 in so it's roughly a $500 tree uh director Gallow uh Chief Gallow U and his his uh DPW uh department will install it free of charge so you're getting a great deal if you want but uh we have a deadline April 15th uh the street fair we already referenced April 21 good weather 10:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. uh I'm trying to go in order of uh date The Long Hill PBA annual fishing derby Matt mentioned April 20 that's 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. uh note 8:00 a.m. it's early get over there it's a wonderful day uh we've gone to that each year and and we thank our local police department for doing it it's the 30th annual uh Fishing Derby last year Friends of the library I don't think any of you rudely cut me off or did you on this one nope you did not friends of Library shredded day April 27th 10:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. uh I $5 per grocery bag1 box $35 30gal garbage bag it's a great fundraiser for the friends of the library and it also helps you uh uh clean out your basement please I hope my wife's not listening because she'll ask me to do do that and I don't like doing that motor vehicles April 22nd but that's that's kind of a mood Point uh the appointments are booked already all right well that's a bummer Boy Scout most sell Scott do we have a date on that yeah I believe that's um May 3rd and fourth fourth and fifth fourth and fifth fourth and fifth okay that's Friday Saturday that first week of May right that'll be at Valley Mall fourth and fifth fourth and fifth there you go May 4th as well uh the Elks are having their annual uh townwide garage sale what's that thing somebody asked me the other day May May 4th got it May 4th a Memorial Day Parade m already referenced um one one other announcement uh and we'll have a more formal uh presentation at the next uh Township committee meeting but we have speaking of talented uh residents uh Mr Ed Zan zindel uh he's quite an accomplished photographer uh and every year the New Jersey League of municipalities has a uh submit show off your town contest uh so M well with the assistance of Lisa Scallan Etc uh sent in uh some photographs uh one of which was Mr zindel and these photographs come in from the all over the state 565 uh four municipalities I don't know how many actually submit but uh the long and the short of it is uh Ed Edge photograph one um and I don't know is is there a way to zoom in on this or no I I don't know I'll put it in front of my face that way it's no can should I keep it there no hold it up higher higher oh there we go lower lower lower right there perfect there we go this Photograph one uh it is in the league magazine where where I I picked up a bunch of magazines from uh the league uh offices the other day uh Lisa is going to put uh some of them in the library and they'll be scattered throughout uh but we'll have a formal presentation uh at the next meeting Long Hill Township of course is challenged we all know because we live uh south of the swamp and the paic river uh uh winds its way west and then south of us but one of the benefits of that is near more than 50% of Long Hill Township is open space uh good part of that is is the swamp itself which this Photograph depicts um so uh big shout out to to Ed uh great job um and I'm looking at it so you guys can't really say it but uh I believe you can go on the league website and you can get this article uh so well done all right that said item number 11 uh we'll open up the meeting to the public please uh try to keep your comments or remarks to 3 minutes uh I remind the public uh this is not a debate we certainly are interested in what you have to say or questions you may have um but once you make your comment or uh ask your question and the question almost always is going to be answered by someone up here uh please be respectful and don't turn it into to a uh a debate that's it meeting open to the public oh and and while Chuck I apologize while you're on your way up here I did have one more announcement uh seaten hle Pirates uh won the NIT Championship congratulations to the team and to coach Holloway uh as a member of the Big East uh I want to congratulate the University of Connecticut uh and Coach Danny Hurley Danny Hurley is from Jersey City my hometown and SE Hall and seat Hall yeah and and and the good thing the coaches of both of these teams SE Hall and the University of Connecticut they were guards at se Hall University so this is a big a big moment for uh uh for the State uh and of course for seat Hall University which I attended both undergrad and grad and don't ask for my cumulative average all right meeting open to the public good evening good evening Charles rwit Millington there's two topics I want to discuss and got a series of questions on they've been ignored for months months two topics are the Everly property and the cultural transformation Everly prly one when was the RFP reissued for demolishing the three Apartments which the township committee paid about 120,000 over market value under then mayor dorsy question two when was the contract awarded to whom and what cost three why were the three Apartments not used to help meet Long Hill Township's affordable housing requirements four when was the demolition completed five why weren't the taxpayers informed of such activities major topic two cultural transformation has each of the township committee members participated in this transformation if so how if not why not and I'd like that addressed individually how do we know if this cultural transformation is working did every Municipal Employees successfully make the cultural transformation because my experience when this happens a lot of people don't make it what has been the cost to date of this attempted cultural transformation why were the taxpayers not updated for months on this culturally cultural transformation six I request clarification of this not new cultural transformation on which employees work for the residents taxpayers as opposed to working for the township committee the township administrator our prior seven our prior Township administrator now at Burnville described the working environment there as LAX and described the Bernville environment as and I quote to you many if not all employees were used were used to doing what they wanted comma when they wanted when they wanted with little or no oversight or accountability end quote the township administrator at that time that created this LAX environment was hired by you as our human resource consultant when he was hired I went over his resume he did work for Randolph and was a Town Administrator for a couple locations let me finish I'm not done about people's employment or anything like that all right well then answer the the question why why did we hire this individual with no human resource background and created a lack environment towards and recommended by our highly prior Township administrator and seven people as Mr PID can attest went to the media and said she walks on water so why did we hire this LAX person that created this environment at Burnsville to be our human resource consultant your turn on the 13 questions all right so I'm gonna let administrator uh Randy bar respond to the erly as far as this cultural transformation I'm going to accept everything you said as a comment not a question I'm not going to go over people's bios or no I want to know how successful it's been uh have you I asked if each Township Committee Member could comment on whether or not they participated to the extent of that and if they haven't why not and I'd like to answer that individually starting with Matt can you start with me because I think you're using a phrase cultural transformation how do you define it you created it well how do you define it you you define it okay well I'll tell you what we've we've done um I asked Matt to respond first but well you just said I created it so I'm going to answer you no I so one of the thing one of the things last night I asked during the planning board meeting is if um both Don Richardson and Tom Jones had taken the uh harassment training and that was something that we did in place for both the planning board and the zoning board it is also something that is new that every member of the committee is beholden to do along with all the other training that we do that basically attests that we don't lie cheat or steal all right so um there are things that we have to do for the state Megan is enforce that and you're enforcing that right now for the uh for the planning board and the zoning board and and next year we're going to require that of all the members of both of those boards right so that's one thing that we've done and put in place um we hired an HR person to come in and and and help um create a better atmosphere of communication and I believe that's been successful Randy meets with him often um they're in the process of putting together a set of core values that that the employee based help design and will live by um we're waiting for those to come to the committee so that we can review them and uh and approve them or make uh make SE make suggestions and so these are all things that take time but it's act what we're actively doing so that answer your question that's what I have to say okay want each individual on the township committee to answer my question you may want that I'm not responding to that Matt I don't know what you have to say so you've made your comments they're on the record you said mayor we're not having a debate but all questions will be answered now you're telling me don't ask I've answered your question I'm not responding to whatever it is you're getting at I I I'll say this is that both guy and Matt are adhering to what I just talked about I mean I I just spoke on behalf of them and I think this is positive change um right I mean you can be part of this change with us I'm trying I know you're trying okay so let's get to the me so you're not going to answer any my questions on how we're evaluating cultural transformation how we're evaluating it how determine how successful are we being spending this money I think Randy sees it from the inside in terms of the tenor of the conversations we have internally I wouldn't use this courtroom and you your behavior as a measuring stick of how it's going I mean don't get nasty I'm not getting nasty I'm asking you to come on the journey with us right I've been on that journey I know but look Chuck you got to come up here and come with an attitude of working with us all right why don't you go to the next question because we're not getting anywhere with this let's talk about ever Everly now now can we agree on that well so you're refusing to answer anything on the transformation no we didn't refuse I just answered it you might not ref you might Randy how's it going did you did you want me to answer Everly mayor I do yeah okay yeah why did why why weren't we updated on any of this Everly and or cultural transformation if you want I I can answer the questions great uh so uh e Property I believe the first question was uh when uh how did we uh collect rfps we did not collect rfps we went out for quotes uh it was under the bid threshold we got several quotes we evaluated evaluated those quotes and offered the contract to Armstrong Excavating who has expertise in uh demolition uh the uh property uh was always talked about being uh demolished uh when we bought the property um we had to get several um permits we had to do some abatement of the of the uh property for Le abatement certification and uh that all this takes a while um we in fact I believe the uh the final um demolition was completed on Thursday if I'm not mistaken um so I don't know what else you want to know why why did we not notify the res res the residents were required to be notified a demolition of a house doesn't require a 200t list for anybody in the township as long as they get the proper permits from the construction code official I believe we're due an update given the fact that we paid for it okay you didn't answer when the contract was awarded and what cost it was I don't have those that exact date I can email you at tomorrow or I can come back to the next public meeting for transparency and give it in my uh administrator's report I'm not I'm not going to answer questions I don't have the exact numbers CH Chu they'll be back up for a second what is your problem with an eyesore being taken down well I was under the impression that are you concerned about who got the contract no I'm concerned that it was was a bit out and we weren't informed of what was going on there the last comment Mr valza said we're going to put a Snack Shack there and we had three Apartments there Rec that I I don't recall that play play the video okay a lot of videos I'd like to play me too um what about the three apartments for affordable housing you did hear me we had to take let a baitman out of that building right I didn't hear that yeah and you don't think we should have been informed because you're spending our money is that right I think you were informed it was part of a budget process it was it was uh well talked about uh many times um so I don't understand how this is this is a surprise actually I I'm just yeah I was too I think we talked about it like in December we were trying to get it done before the end of the year if I remember I think we talked about it in this meeting and I think we got a lot of comments from the public saying when are we going to take this isore down this this this condemned building filled with lead and we did run into some uh some issues with with the soils permitting that we had to get the permit that took a while um so you know we we uh like anybody else we uh do what we need to do what's required by the UCC the construction official so we had to get all this done prior to him issuing the demolition permit and that's what we did thank you for answering some I would say I would say this too Chuck um you want to I'm going to go back to cultural transformation and one of the things that we're not going to do is hand out no bid contracts right so I assure you that Randy did this the right way right and we can we can dig into this too when our auditor comes in and and and talks when that season comes but you know let's be very clear on the record everything is done according to process and according to law and according to review right yeah as Randy said for contracts under the bid threshold which is now $44,000 uh you can get quotes and a word to the uh proposer who uh best interest of the township taking in the price and other considerations and one of the things that we're not going to tolerate in here is sour grapes from anybody in this town that may have bid on this and lost that's what this sounds like that's what it sounds like absolutely all right well I appreciate all your efforts and answering some m questions not all but we'll look forward to coming back and trying to get everything answered Randy you can send me that email anytime you can get to it I know you're a busy guy takes a lot of time and effort but thanks again for answering some but not all thank you Mr rtz one thing I'd point out for the township has been trying to buy the Everly property for years so uh it took there was some uh some challenges originally um so we didn't buy it whatever it was 10 years ago we bought it now and I for one can tell you I am absolutely thrilled that the township owns that property not least of which because it has uh river access um and it has four or five a dry acre so I don't know what we'll do with the property uh but one thing is guaranteed it will remain uh open space at least in part so just want to say that I'm I'm actually thrilled uh that we own that property and meeting still open to the public Mr Tom Jones is g to come up here and sing a song for us Tom Jones Long Hill uh one thank you for taking down that building it was an eyesore so money well spent two Randy uh I asked like you did the update for the um property over in Sterling where you where the trees were cut down you gave an update on that this uh at this meeting I'd ask that you do the update on Mr Reno's request on cost and bid and everything doing a Township committee meeting don't need to send him a direct email certainly I think it's better be done in an open public thank you thank you Tom thank you Tom uh meeting is still open to the public I don't see anybody else in the courtroom Megan anybody at home Maran n would like to speak thank you Megan Maryann if you could kindly state your name and address for the record we know you of course uh Maran nin uh one0 laana Boulevard in Gillette um first of all I want to give a shout out to Tom Jones um regarding his ability and what he has done with the planning committee uh he's just done a tremendous job in my eyes so kudos to Tom um the one thing I just want to comment on we you know everyone is fully aware the fourth round 2025 uh affordable housing mandate has been put into law okay my question as we speak right now are we currently coordinating efforts with our bordering townships um with reference to the specific properties that they will be specking out for affordable housing units uh I asked this um I'm not sure if it's proper that I State war in Township I know they currently have potentially two surveys out um and one of their surveys that someone sent me um they're they're looking um specifically for areas for build outs uh I think we're all fully aware uh for the most part our neighbors have built around lill Township and this will impact us okay [Music] um one thing I just want to comment on okay to start with um Hill Crest Avenue Phil Christ Avenue has been closed okay there's been been no mention as to I um I actually contract contacted the mayor of um Warren and he got back to me immediately uh in essence he he basically stipulated that the reason for Hill Crest being closed uh is because of them the it's it's part of Somerset County War moris County um and that they were not advised as to when the utilities would be placed for the affordable housing units being put up on Hill Crest I just want to make commentary that there are two developments going up on Hill Crest that will impact us okay that being said where being surrounded and I know I keep hammering this but again it goes to are we speaking and actually guy this goes to you you know are you are you speaking to the other Mayors um with reference to the impact because you know we we're talking about a multitude of things you know we just had two people up there speaking about our school systems and Long Hill townships getting the uh bad ends of the stuck okay um you know and certain Township is granted you know they just keep granting they have these rentals and um pilot programs okay so you know I don't have the time to listen to a board of ed meeting but I do believe that we only have one member from our community on the board of ed so maybe that's something we should look at um in terms of the regional impact um you know it's all well and done but it's not Long Hill Township you know it's everyone around us and it's impacting us and then we could go into the Pake River um you know we're talking about flooding and if anyone has looked in terms of what is being built um specific speically um aside from Hill Crest which is a major Thorofare that's going to be congested um you know we're talking Mount bethl Road um you know we're talking every one of our exits in terms of our Township okay are being impacted right now so I I honestly I don't know what the answer is I put myself out there um I'm not going to you know say anything more but you know is there something generally that we can do better okay to work together with our communities and um I'll just leave it at that because we are going to have more flooding um it's going to be in the back of um shoppr the the the only food store that we have available right now um and and you know it it's a comment um and I I'm just asking everyone to give it some thought because everything that's being done right now will impact our Regional School System the Pake River our ability to clean even the tributaries um you know and it just said you know it's just um I just don't know what to say anymore Marian thank you I know you put a lot of effort into researching what surrounding towns are and and sometimes those numbers were hard to come by I know the state has got a lot better we we have a general idea of what might be coming in in in the fourth round not just for Long Hill but for other towns to your point you did mention Hill Crest and I know you're aware of this but for the for the residents to also be aware uh first off mountain is a county road as his Hill Crest Mountain uh when where it's called Mountain that's mors County that was was uh uh repaired sometime last year I don't remember exactly when Hill Crest we have no control over as you know uh because that's Warren uh Warren Township right and it's uh uh Somerset uh County my understanding is that will be uh obviously it's weather dependent uh so that uh is supposed to be addressed very soon I feel your pain and I I I read Facebook and I see some of the comments there that is the way I commute to work or was commuting to work uh I now go uh down Long Hill Road and I and I hop on 78 West uh so that's uh 36 there as opposed to 40 so anyway I I I hear you I know your main point is about the uh uh what was known as COA became known as fair share and in the fourth round I'm not entirely sure how it will be termed uh Jack co co has been abolished by the new law and fair share is not a state agency it's a nonprofit yeah so it's not really a creation of the state but they've been given exalted status in the mount laal litigation over the past six seven years the good news is Maryann I know you and I've had many conversations on this Long Hill Township this committee committees that came before and committees that go back 20 years Jack uh can attest to this have always uh proactively cooperated with what was then covered than than fair share fair share which is why uh when the third round or I should say the court decision was made we were in a very good position Long Hill our Our obligation of the round three was 54 units very manageable compared to some of the surrounding towns but to your point do we speak with surrounding Mayors or Mayors throughout mors County all the time uh do and uh maryan you and I had this conversation the other day obviously I'm on well not obviously but I'm on the league board uh and that's something we've discussed in executive session ad nauseum going back years we don't have any control over what uh the legislature decides uh and of course what the courts have decided and I'm not going to say anything negative about it I do recognize the challenges that exist for infrastructure whether it's for schools uh roads flooding Etc um we can control what what's on our table and and and and this committee and committees that came before us have done a remarkable job in that regard uh Long Hills population I think is well we won't go into that but you look at the p uh the town over the last 20 years and it's stayed reasonably the same personality I agree with you go east New Providence Berkeley Heights go south go on hrrest road which you've mentioned but we have absolutely no input there I I I can speak with the surrounding Mayors as to what's happening but I certainly cannot provide them any uh any Solace that's that's their challenge to to deal with um and uh and I I I really don't have much more to add legally Jack I I think yeah I I would just like to point out and I circulated a I of the article that in Milburn the previous Township committee agreed to construct 75 apartments near the downtown uh they got booted out of office because of that uh the new Township committee came in and uh declined to follow that and refus to build or allow that to be built and just within the past 10 days or so the court uh took away local zoning powers for affordable housing from Milburn appointed a special and took away their uh Repose from Builder remedy lawsuits so yeah in in in in in in terms that uh a simple person like I understand what Jack just said is Milburn lost control of location and bulk variances or whatever goes into what is built they will build what they are told to build and they will build it where they are told to build it it is inexplicable to me what they did there and I don't want to you know critize ize too strongly uh what an elected official or elected officials in another town did but I can assure you what they did was a Monumental mistake and and and they're going to pay a severe price for it that's why we have always cooperated that's why we have input as to number uh bulk standards and location um not everybody's going to like like what is done but I can assure you you don't want to be in Milburn um that was probably a little harsh but 13 1300 units their obligation was 1300 going back for decades they've built 38 units and the 75 they agreed to build in a specific location with specific bulk standards the the the the the folks that ran for office they ran on a platform we're going to say no well the Milburn residents are going to find out what saying no to what was previously agreed to is so that's it I mean I I said I wasn't going to say anything about it and of course as always I went off on a rant I can I just make one more comment thank you marann can I make one more comment oh sure of course quickly yes I just want to thank you as as like I said my my first comment was kudos to Tom Jones I mean i' I've been in touch with him a while back ago um and the planning committee and um if anyone understands what the township committee and the planning board has done it's me with reference to the best interests of Long Hill Township and you know I'm I'm not negating that I'm just stipulating it's it's almost like a um Gentleman's Agreement per se I don't know if I'm allowed to even say that anymore but um you know amongst townships so you know um I'll turn this into a compliment for the township committee we're very proud that we were a student enough to recognize the talents that Mr Jones would bring to the planning board yes but again again um you know maybe maybe some discussions could be had amongst you know the other Mayors in our surrounding towns that's all I'm suggesting no I I appreciate it Maran as always and thank you for the work you've done on that issue okay thank you have a good evening anybody else at home Mr Mis Ms Megan uh Dennis Sandow would like to speak oh the bearer of good news regarding weather Dennis well I'm Dennis sand Millington and I'm sorry Mr Mayor that's the your remark is what prompted my upcoming comment first of all for those of you who didn't hear Randy and Guy both mention it Sunday next 11 days from now is the street fair this will be the 22nd annual street fair hosted by The Long Hill Chamber of Commerce I was slightly disappointed that when Matt read the wreck report the street fair wasn't mentioned and I would like to ask that sometime in the next 11 days we get the street fair poster up on the website and on the weekly wreck email and on Long Hill TV if that is at all possible because I'd like to get the maximum exposure I appreciate the fact that Randy did mention it although Randy only talked about the beautification committee and the sale of rain barrels and compost bins uh as I did last year we will make as much space available to the township as the township can use and I would appreciate it very much if Township officials the uh employee officials could come and describe their work uh what it is that we do I mean the beautification committee and the uh historic preservation committee are already committed to be there to talk about their work as volunteer committees but let's hear from the paid staff as to what they're doing we got 4,000 people wandering up and down the streets on Sunday and uh they've got a right to know the Board of Ed is committed to come uh they'll have a few tables uh and guy with regard to your remarks I've done 30 of these over the past many years uh street fair bike races and so on and I've always guaranteed good weather but statistically I can't guarantee that anymore because statistically I don't have control I tried on Monday to prevent the loss of sunshine and I failed sun went out anyway Isaiah 60 Darkness show cover the Earth uh we count on you Dennis so I would suggest that we all try to get to the street fair but keep an umbrella in your car because the guarantee is gone I thank you very much for your time tonight Dennis thank you Megan anybody else on Zoom would like to make a public comment please raise your hand now I don't see anyone mayor thank you Megan uh with that I'm looking for a motion to adjourn second to exec oh we we have to go back into exec no further action to be taken go seat and hold pirates wait who made the motion Matt Scott second Mo motion for go seat and hold Pirates all all in favor yes I that too I I I point out what do we have three Pirates up here three yeah I'm not a can you hit the mic no you're not we would we have standards we've had more in the past