##VIDEO ID:8S3mZFHpjJs## well good evening everyone happy New Year welcome to the reorganization meeting of the New Milford mayor and council at this time I'm going to ask everyone to please rise for a moment of Silent prayer and over reflection as we think about the passing of former President Carter we think about the terrorist attack in New Orleans and we think about our veterans and our military personnel and Public Safety professionals and volunteers who will risk their lives to protect us and keep us safe this year please salute the flag IED to the flag of the United States of America and to the for it stands Nation God indivisible withy and justice for all thank you please note the fire exits behind you into the main parking lot and to my left your right into the main and before we start tonight we have a few special guests I just want to point out we have a bunch of uh buron County Commissioners here tonight we have chairwoman Ortiz oh arm Roso okay chairwoman I wasn't sure who the chairwoman was okay last congratulations commissioner rapael Marte commissioner Germaine Ortiz commissioner Tracy Zer we have former mayor Frank dearry and we have our police chief Brian Clancy and last but not least our rec director John H mayor mayor's Wellness chair is here Kelly grippo Kelly is here I didn't see I'm sorry Kelly grippo mayor's Wellness chairwoman right there without her there'd be no mayor's Wellness mayor we the principal for dist Street School something I see in okay the New Jersey open public meetings law was enacted to ensure the right of the public to have advanced notice of and attend any meetings of public bodies at which any business affecting their interest is discussed or acted upon in accordance with the fact the mayor and Council of the burough of New Milford have caused notice of this meeting to be published by having the date time and place thereof posted in the burough Hall notices have been sent to the record and the Ridgewood news the mission of this governing body is to provide essential Services VI The Establishment and implementation of public policy that will safeguard the infrastructure provide Fair honest courteous and Professional Services establish a sense of trust and accomplishment between all residents and through research and prud and planning seek to minimize risk while improving our services we are sensitive to the needs and and satisfaction of our taxpayers while realizing that this governing body cannot be all things to all people within the revenue constraints imposed by state mandates economic conditions and prevailing attitudes about taxation at this time I would ask the clerk to please call the role councilwoman s h here councilwoman saki Hurley pres councilwoman Duffy here councilman gry here councilman Seymour here Council President Grant here mayor patrino here okay under old business may you get a motion for the approval of the minutes from the December 16th 2024 public session meeting so second all favor any opposed okay can I get a motion for the approval for the Clos session minutes from the December 16th 20124 meeting motion second all in favor I any opposed okay under resolutions 2024 col 271 may get a motion to approve budget transfers for 2024 Municipal budget motion second all in favor I I any opposed now may get a motion to close the meeting cindai 2024 second make it a roll call please councilman sanus yes councilman sari Hurley yes councilman Duffy yes councilman gry yes councilman Seymour yes Council President Grant yes okay before we move on to move new business I'd like to call theia up over here yeah on behalf of the mayor and Council we wanted to present this to you we want to thank you for your service to our residents presented this day January 2025 M tro and all your fellow council members we you have made such a difference in our town over the last nine years but the things I think about the most is you know getting the historic Cemetery preserving the cemetery and the other thing I think about a lot is when we were going through Co you helped retrofit all our public events so we could actually do things for our residents you were a big part of that so we just wanted to thank you and R's got some nice flower Treet than you uh e the uh what the mayor has said uh thank you we'd never be the same without you it shouldn't be there it is so I would just like to first of all 10 years later do I look any younger um I I'd like to thank all of you all the residents of new that voted for me and put me there put me here and even those residents that didn't vote for me but thank you for voting um I'd like to thank the council mayor everyone here I I think it's a great Council they work well together I think New Milford is a fabulous town but I've said that my whole life I've been here don't give you R I'm not I'm not but a very long time River Road was just a river and woods that should say out um but I think new Milfred is as great as it is because of the people that live here I do remember I I I was young but we had a president our 35th president who in his adoral address said ask not what you can do for your country but what you can do what that's not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country I feel the same way about n Milford ask not what n Milford can do for you but what you can do for n Milford and you all have been I mean volunteers is incredibly important with any town but I think we have been very successful with our volunteers our volunteers have been fabulous and I thank you all for making the Milfred the mil I don't want s so can I sit here I have to ask commmission I'm not on coun okay under new business I'm going to turn it over to B cler yes uh mayor thank you I'd like to let everyone know the certification of the 2024 general election results for the um for councilwoman Grant and Council councilman okay y we're going to start with uh Council in the gr the floor is [Music] yours before I swear head again first of all I am so honored that you asked and invited me to come to swear so you said yes we we started we started in this mess at the same time both running this is our fifth time being elected to office and I will tell you you have such a dedicated public servant here who reads everything analyzes everything and always asks with her full heart to do what's best for the residents of New Milford as do every single one of the council members having had the the privilege of seeing you when the going was tough during Co having seen how you strive together to always do what's best I couldn't be more proud of what you accomplish here and I'm so grateful that the residents of you Milford have re reunited this board back together again to keep doing this tremendous work I'm overwhelmed um by all this all his compliments I'm not used to it and I do appreciate it but right back at you Tracy I mean you are wonderful you're an amazing enough you're an amazing commissioner you make politics look good and clean and honest and you do amazing things for the county and I hope stay all right I you're good holding it yourself son is here with her and my daughter-in-law all from Manis and arrived at 7:00 okay and raise your right hand okay you all right by the way so fitting that on January 6th here we're taking his oath on the Constitution reminding us of really what this is all about okay I your name pedy Grant do solemnly affirm to solemnly affirm that I will support the Constitution that I will support the Constitution of the United States of the United States the Constitution of the state of New Jersey the constitution of the state of New Jersey and the bylaws of the buau of New Milford and the of the bur of Nord and that I will bear true faith and Allegiance and that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same to the same and to the government and to the government established in the United States established in the United States and in this state and in this state under the authority of the people under the authority of the people and I do solemnly affirm and I do solemnly affirm that I will Faithfully that I will faithfully impartially impartially and justly and justly perform all the duties perform all the duties of the office of councilwoman of the office of council according to the best of my ability according to the best of my ability congratulations I need heels when I'm with them but you know sometimes when I walk between the two of them I feel like you know if they hold my hand hold my hands I'm like a little girl and I want to swing me back hold don't say too loudy who knows but close enough that it couldn't happen oh you got back yeah I have to thank my son and daughter-in-law first of all for making the trip up I you know the weather conditions down there were far worse than here and earlier they contact me and said that they didn't know they' make it and of course I I'd rather they be safe um and miss this momentous occasion um but I'm delighted that they were able to get here and get here in time and I always love seeing them and I love more than can possibly imagine um to my friends who are here and those who aren't here thank you so much friendship is so important and becomes ever more important the older we get and I treasure every single one of you thank you so much uh Tracy I think I've already said some wonderful things about but I hope you around for a really really long time because you are a credit to politics to the Democratic party to Bergen County and the I didn't get a chance to say this before but I met theia in 2008 when mayor dear appointed me to the planning board and I was fortunate enough to be seated next to her and we started talking right off uh right off the bat and um became fast look like we would have a hard time and we had three successful campaigns together we did and we are still friends that is really good so I'm going to miss you on the council and I wish you all the best the end and these are oh thank you thank you and that's my know um I want to thank the mayor and council at working all with them for four terms now this entering my 5ifth and it's a pleasure to work with them we do have the best interest that we mil at heart and we work well together and I look forward to continuing that as well in the future and of course to the voters of New Milford without whom I wouldn't be here and your confidence in me is humbling and I'm very grateful for it and I will continue to try to earn and to keep your confidence and trust in me thank you very much thank you all for coming tonight thank you just you always come and get certificate so you me B of New Milford citation Commendation and praise are extended to Tracy Siler by the governing body of the bur of the Milford in recognition of your re-election as a member of a Burton County Board of Commissioners congratulations and thank you for always being an advocate for the residents of our community thank you [Music] okay we have one more swearing in to do councilman Z [Music] okay before we do this I just want to say 20 years ago 20 years ago AR Z and myself were councilman elect we got sworn in on the same night right here so this is this is really special so here we go I say your name I do Solly swear do Solly swear that it'll support the Constitution of the United States and they will support Constitution of the United States Constitution of the state of New Jersey constitution of the state of New Jersey and the bylaws of the bur of the Milford and the B of B the Milford and that I will bear true faith and Allegiance and I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same to the same and to the government established in the United States and for the government established in the United States and in the state and in the state under the authority of the people under the authority of the people and I do solemly swear and I do solemly swear that I will Faithfully I will faithfully impartially impartially and justly perform and Justus perform all of the duties of the office of counsilman all the duties of the office of counsil according to the best of my ability according to the best of my ability so help me God congratulations already I didn't want you to feel left Unfortunately they don't match my outfit but I I will take that I I've never really got yellow roses uh good even me everybody um tonight is a very special time for me uh like Michael said well first of all uh I thought I was going to have to rent a wife tonight uh unfortunately she's she's not feeling well uh but my grandson Michael John and stood in and uh is a very memorable moment for me right now to have him by my side uh and Michael said 20 years ago we stood here together he was a Youngster of 30 years old who ran me ragged during campaign season 29 29 and um I won't say how old I was um but he ran me ragged and um today uh back then mayor the Barry I was very fortunate to have him uh in this of the AL Office to me as we were longtime friends back then and now 20 years later the councilman that I stood here with before is now mayor and I've had the privilege of him ad ministering the oath so I thank you very much for that um to that I also say it's good to be back great so uh where'd she go there she is do you go my old friend you exemp job um I know the bur is going to be sorry to see you leave it'll serve them life but I'm hoping you'll enjoy your nights and days off uh but you did an excellent job thank you um and we were very happy to have you that was very thank you very much thank you so that to the burrow to the people who can't be here everybody um I I am honored and uh I feel I feel privileged to have done this for uh you know this is my third time and I'm happy that I've been elected and I promise to do the best of my ability I will um welcome this Council and this mayor and try to do and keep up with the Excellence that they have done in the past uh and with that I say Happy New Year and thank you to all good evening I don't really need it any it is on first of all good evening Happy New Year to all it is an honor to be here today and on behalf of the burn County Commissioners we'd like to present a accomodation to both Arthur and Hy as we uh celebrate an enormous uh Milestone here in in um New Milford pedy I've known you for quite a few years since I started on this as well and you're just an amazing public servant and Arthur and you're back and that's that's awesome that's really awesome and uh the voters have spoken this is an an enormous Victory and it's all you know a testament to your hard work and dedication and also to the family members because I know how how much work it takes a lot of lot of latenesses absences and a lot of hard work but it's it's just amazing to do something that we love so much to do is to serve the residents of of Bergen County and serve the residents of New Milford and here you go what an amazing governing body to represent such an amazing community so on behalf of the Commissioners I have a accomodation for Ed [Music] and thank you sir just want to say that uh uh we always talk about uh first of all thank you for having us here happy New Year to everyone uh mayor and Council and thank you for the great work work you do you congratulations to you all but I want to say something about other there we always talk about the enthusiasm and the uh uh uh uh and everything that takes to serve the public but for you to come back over and over and do it again it takes a life you're a real examp you're you're real an example of the of a real public server thank you thank you and congratulations thank you very much as you notice there are a lot of us here and that is because we love New Milford and we feel that each and every one of you on the council and you twoo the uh no longer on the council but each and every one of you we consider a friend we've been to many events with you um we've celebrated the history of New Milford really as they say the birthplace of Bergen County and and we applaud your your commitment to the people of New Milford and to the county and and your friendliness so we consider you friends and we celebrate you all thank P you should probably down to the CER [Music] I thank you so much for thank you thank okay uh don't we need a chair for art now wait art well we're waiting for councilman zor to get his sling back on I just want to recognize our brand new library director Stephanie El so if she could just please stand up we welcome you to Milford and we look forward to working with you so happy to be here I look forward to working with you all thank you ladies okay all the flowers a roll call 2025 Council yes councilman s here councilman's honor here councilwoman Duffy here councilman Bry here councilman Seymour here councilwoman Grant yes here mayor here okay may get a motion to nominate a council president I make a motion to nominate Randy Duffy for council president I'd like to second that motion all in favor I I any opposed congratulations council president thank you I didn't bring flowers for you I'm sorry than so much okay 2025 Council committee assignments councilwoman San husen environmental and energy commission Green Team joint Insurance Fund councilman Arthur zor Department of Public Works public events Recreation Advisory Board council president dely fire department beautification committee historic preservation commission Board of Health councilman gry Police Department planning board Shay Tre commission councilman Seymour Board of Education Municipal Alliance flood mitigation advisory committee stigma free committee councilwoman Grant Library Board of Trustees rent leveling board Arts committee Community Development bcos Municipal Regional committee Senior Center Advisory Board mayor patrino historic New Bridge Landing Park commissioner joint Insurance Fund Bergen County Community Development and office of emergency management okay on Saturday um the council attended the fire department's weing in ceremony at company one uh council president Duffy and myself administered off uh the oath of offices and gave the uh ex-chiefs badge so we want to announce that the new fire chief is Ralph Le ardy assistant chief Thomas Ryan deputy chief David Stormer Captain company one is Thomas Mulligan Captain Company 2 is Gerard Smithson who's our former Chief uh Lieutenant company one Robert O'Brien and Lieutenant Company 2 is Jared bbal except as otherwise provided for by State Statute or ordinance all standing committees and special committees are dissolved and all individual appointments are terminated and relieved of their offices and duties and indeterminate appointments dissolved that being said we're going to now start appointing people we will go one page at a time so if everyone is on page three I would ask for a motion of approval of Page Three which includes burough Attorney John shanan burrow engineer Michael neglia bur auditor Steven wilcott Bond counsel Steve rogert labor Attorney John shanian risk manager Arthur B cin burough planner Paul gal rent leveling attorney Linda schwager tax appeal attorney Craig song grants consultant Millennium strategies and David Schwarz financial adviser Phoenix advisers affordable housing administrative agent CG p& appraiser Associated appraisal group commercial appraiser McAn Associates Information Technology provider dark computer prosecutor Mark Kelo alternate prosecutor Joseph DeMarco public defender Brian fit alternate public defender Jennifer KY biner child health conference doctor Dolores buy Fire Marshall Alan Silverman may I get a motion motion second all in favor any opposed okay page four public agency compliance officer Christine demirez Burton County jff and Mill councilwoman Lisa sanus burough photographer Bob veraton clean communities coordinator Vince kahill Arts committee one year Barbara Allen Francine Weiss BR Michelle Roth Mel urina Stephanie Guerrera kofer Cynthia Foster and Lauren batini FIA beautification committee one year Roberto Whitley Gomez Debbie patrino aarma Santos Abu Jan leage neon Hees John Duffy Armenia dor Susan mad environmental and energy commission three years Tammy Kaminsky ly torpy Peter TPI flood mitigation advisory committee one year Zamara Santos Anna Molina Carl schaffenberger aramus Gomez Frank van we Sharon hmer harn Peres Cambria ildis Joe relli and LS marcario may I get a motion motion second all in favor any opposed okay page five we will go from the Green Team to alternate two on the planning board so green team one year Anita Pinto Allegra manvik Jen Remy Xander Singh historic preservation commission four years Class A Cynthia Foster Class B leis mccar Class C Kathleen leaping grath unexpired alternate one C Thea saki Hurley alternate 2 C Joseph cook Library board 5 years Barbara shupac councilwoman Hy Grant and boa representative which I don't think we have a name yet but there'll be a member from the Board of Education that's the one year of SCH right Municipal Alliance committee one year Mel Arina Stephanie coffinger D pen Paige Ryan rapael Rodriguez Michelle Roth J hanar hater Janet mman Dorian zacher Noel coffinger Devin Ryan Kelly grippo Nicole Dunn Grace uren official newspapers will be the record in the Ridgewood News planning board class one one year councilman Ira gry class two three years Tammy kiny class 4 four years John dasta class 4 four years Casey h class four unexpired mayor's appointment Christopher long alternate one unexpired Andrew Lombardi alternate 2 Eileen mroy at this time I would ask for a motion for the class 3 one-year Council nomination I nominate councilman second make a a roll call please yes councilman sanus yes councilman zler yes councilwoman Duffy yes councilman gry yes councilman Seymour yes councilwoman gr yes okay and they get a motion to approve page five in its enti motion second all in favor I I any opposed okay moving on to page six public events one year Darlene minko terce Sweeny Tim Hunter Army Arina Alex Ray jenar hater Maher Artis Brett Thompson the saki Hurley Bata bigger Stephanie Wong keian Recreation Advisory Board three-year terms Justin Hicks Christopher Dunn Phil Tennant unexpired term Rob de Ambrosio alternate one Robert belto alternate two Joseph lelz rent level in one year Bob Ryan tenant Danielle Hinman homeowner Daren Duku landlord John deiri landlord Linda G homeowner Jack Linsky landlord Senior Center Advisory Board two-year terms Doug molay Lucille pety Paula repella Josie mckian Molina Newman and Thea saki Hurley CH Tre commission five years Mike castino alternate one Cynthia Foster stigma free committee One Year darling minko and Zoning Board of adjustment four years with anarie Ru poock Cheryl keron eler C and sag mckian may I get a motion for page six motion second all in favor I any opposed okay okay page seven may I get a motion to reestablish the finance committee as follows mayor patrino councilman grosky councilwoman Grant second second all in favor I any opposed may get a motion to reestablish the budget budget committee as follows councilman gry councilman Seymour councilman zelner so moved second all in favor I I any opposed may get a motion to reestablish the mayor's Wellness committee as follows Kelly grippo Jason Kelly kayy oricii and Joseph rodelli motion second all favor any opposed and Council Sam hou will be the leades on to that group once again may get a motion to establish the Rev 250 committee consisting of Nancy veraton John Hinman VI saki Hurley Cynthia Foster and Sil Brean motion second all in favor I any opposed council president Duffy will be the liaison to the Rev 250 and may get a motion to create the ad hoc position of mayor's ordinance review consultant with uh Council women hady Grant serving in that position make a motion second all in favor I okay everyone has had a chance to look at the three pages of resolutions are there any that need to be pulled for further discussion Andor vote okay if not I would ask for a motion to open to the public second all favor I any opposed ladies and gentlemen of the public if anyone has any question questions or comments regarding the good and Welfare of the B the Milford now would be your opportunity to come up to the podium and let us know seeing that no member of the public wishes to come forward I would ask for a motion to close to the public second all in favor I any opposed may get a motion to adopt resolutions 2025 col 01 through 2025 col 62 motion second all in favor I any opposed is there any other business before this Council if not I would ask for a motion to adjourn motion all favor I any oppos thank you thank you everyone and happy New [Applause] Year okay so now uh have to hand your