good evening and welcome to the April 9th 2024 meeting of the panic Township Council Miss Marsh in accordance with the requirements of New Jersey's open public meetings act notice of this meeting was included in the annual meeting notice which was filed in the office of the Township Clerk posted on the bulletin board of the municipal building publishes a legal notice in the Suburban Trends and Daily Record newspapers and distributed to all persons requesting not notice in accordance with Township policy excellent thank you now please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance followed by a prayer and a moment of thanks for individuals serving our nation i al to the the United States of America and to the for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liy and justice for all most gracious Providence we ask that you bless this governing body with an abundance of wisdom and understanding so that every deliberation will result in actions which will promote the common good and the general welfare for all of the people of panic Township amen am all right Miss Marsh could you please call the rooll Mr Dy present Mrs Florence Lynch here Mr Cole here Mrs Russell here may herd here is all over my hand got it okay next on the agenda is presentations this is recognition of volunteer firefighters and first aid Squad members so let's see should we do rock paper scissors who wants to go first let's just all go up front go yeah as Council would join me up front let's start with first aid [Music] Squad all right going to start with Bobby Joe Murphy I don't think anybody knows this young lady apparently you've been on the for 25 plus years and you're 26 not sure how they I really appreciate I really appreciate for everything that you do not only for the squad but for Town um you know for the short period of time I've known poy Joes she's been involved in the first a as far as as well as floods we've had coule of those but she was always the rock that you know got things done she's also a wonderful singer so anybody if anybody's able to come to the first a squad over Fest that is by far the most fun we have all year and you'll get a chance to listen Miss she rocks it yes just don't fall over I don't know what happened there I I do appreciate everything that you do and I wanted to give you this to recognize you for 25 years so thank you very much for being part of this than well especially when we talk about our volunteers and really all you guys none of you guys have to do this literally whether it's first aid Squad getting up at 2:00 in the morning and running up the cedar press whether it's you know company one company to getting out of your nice warm beds that I'm still sleeping in and putting out a fire in the middle of winter where everything is just freezing when you're throwing water on it it's crazy none of you guys have to do this but I want to know that appreciate it thank you very much Cong I don't know what to say about I mean sure it's only been 25 years I mean you do look like a young buck as well kind of like both of you guys just right out of high school went right into it but again I really appreciate everything that you do not only is it per a squad and volunteering but it's really making sure everything is there you know everything that Chief needs everything that the squad needs backing up police backing up car company one and two I mean again it's not just one person although we really appreciate the 25 years it starts with one person and one person can make a difference and that really comes to all you guys again I'm not the one jumping out of my bed at 1:00 in the morning you guys so I want to say thank you very much I really appreciate it and for your 25 plus years of we're going to go into the fire department and uh we have a number of uh different levels of years bissa is going to take a group Kyle's going to take a group John's going to take a group and I'll take a group but we just wanted to say thank you so much for your medication uh as Ryan said you know getting out of bed uh when everyone is still sleeping uh we we realize the dedication and the commitment that you have to the residents of the P couch and and we truly wholeheartedly appreciate everything that the first aid Squad does and that our our volunteers at company one and Company to do so uh grateful for uh for for all of you so uh thank you and uh we'll we'll start with guys okay for 25 years of service and grateful recognition OT Bianca in grateful recognition 25 years Mark room 25 years Steve size thank you for everything you did apprciate everything appreciate thank you thank you [Music] thank you for your than you okay moving along I'm doing the 30 years so Bill Sant for 30 years and Fire Company too and you did that as of 2023 right so congratulations thank you congratulations okay Jerry inito is Jerry here see Jerry Jerry Jerry had 30 Years also as as of 2023 and I have 35 years of service for Dave Reeves come on congratulations congratul just short of 100 very good congratulations thank you don't forget to smile for the camera so here we got 45 years that's impressive that's very very impressive company one Eugene M mum not a we'll get a picture justex also 45 years for company 1 James Schneider congratulations we all get these pictures I'll have everybody come up afterward another one good job 45 years Company 2 Ron Marino I think they call him big Ron isn't that conations thank you for your dedication get [Music] it goes now we have 50 I believe AR Schmid was in Ohio this morning on his way back so I don't see he's tra okay uh 50 years Company 2 Ralph hook Ral achieved this in 2021 wow wow 60 you are yes you got to watch you because di will ride those off at and another 50 years rich gordine 54 Rich received this in 2021 as well we're just a little behind but did I say the last name right Gerard Gerard congratulations to the 54 40 years and that's all we have our company yeah pleas hey Victor we still have power with that Transformer all right good now can we get all the volunteers in the room you too come on get up there everybody CH let's go get somebody else to take everybody Marco come on get up here ever got a y angle on this thing good you got all right good thank you everybody thank you know we had so here we can't oh congratulations that's why I said everybody congratulations sir have to do it again no I just I don't know how many other people were missed like that hey Marty congratulations on 38 years we just heard was that all with company too was that all with company too Scott should have backed it like everybody else well still 34 here oh my God uh what's his name Scott should have given us your name backdated it no they went back well like Rich we did from 2021 well thank you for coming you don't want to do that you're not quick enough I don't have Chase nor I good shot he didn't say anything I just thank you all righty we going to are you going to use yeah uh who are those uh firan you want get it to them yeah Mark oh I'll see them Thursday all righty okay next on the agenda is reports from volunteers at this time if there are any reports or comments from any of the volunteers serving our community please come up to the microphone none no okay seeing none next on the agenda is public comment public comment period will be limited to a total of 30 minutes an additional period for public comment is reserved later in the meeting individuals are requested to limit their question and comments to 3 minutes if anybody wishes to address the council please wait to be recognize and come to the microphone and provide your name for the record on up [Music] good evening my name is Paul maor I'm a resident of panic Township I'm here tonight with legal counsel as well as with Witnesses who will when called upon attest to the following incident following the public portion of the March 26 2024 Quantic Township Town council meeting myself and a group of residents left the me room as the Town Council went into executive session we then stood outside the municipal building discussing our many concerns for our Public Library shortly before 900 p.m. the Town Council Representatives began filing out of the building and I asked mayor Ryan herd if I could have a minute as he turned towards me I extended my hand for a friendly handshake as he took my hand I told him that I wanted to apologize for interrupting him during a segment of the meeting not open to public comment I said that it was after all his meeting and I should not have interrupted him and that it would not happen again with that he tightened his grip on my hand took a menacing step closer to me and locking eyes with me said you're right it won't happen again either here or at a library meeting given his aggressive and threatening manner I asked him as he turned away if that was a threat when he failed to answer I asked again if he had just threatened me he then replied have a good evening just minutes later at 9:04 p.m. mayor herd then texted Laura shamber who had also spoken during the public comment segment of the March 26 meeting she received the text while still standing outside the municipal building speaking with other residents who had also attended the meeting Miss sham shared screenshots of the text with me that will confirm those texts were received from mayor herd his text reads as follows good evening Laura can you please do me a favor and tell Paul to stop threatening me it is really disheartening and ridiculous that's not how we do things in town the next day Miss shamber respond replied as follows Ryan I do not want to between you and Paul I have not seen or heard Paul threaten you however someone told me that it sounded like you threatened Paul after the March 26 meeting that someone as mentioned is Rich schand who heard me apologize to Mayor herd and was then with Miss shamber in the parking lot as she received the text from mayor herd he will also tell you that he heard me ask Mr herd if he had just threaten me Mr schurman has also provided a written statement and is here tonight also here tonight is Township resident Karen Randolph she will attest to the threat I received from mayor herd as she was standing within earshot M Randol has also provided a written statement before before learning of the text message falsely accusing me of threatening the township mayor I considered letting the issue rest after all I had apolog ized he was clearly upset with me but his threat while unfortunate considering his role in the community was better left alone in my view however to threaten me and then just minutes later send a text reversing the truth of the threat is simply unacceptable and defamatory Mr herd is in a leadership role in the community and the oath of office Mr herd has taken as an elected official requires that he act with Integrity as a concerned resident I should not and will not be bullied threatened or silenced when I bring to attention certain matters concerning the welfare of our community and residents I'm bringing this matter to the Town Council for your consideration investigation and immediate action I do not want or expect an apology from mayor herd I do however expect you as a collective body of the panic Township Town Council to take appropriate and immediate action given the the serious nature of this occurrence I Will Wait 7 days for a response from this Council failing that I will take my concerns to Mars County and New Jersey state officials for their consideration finally I would like to introduce this statement as well as the statements from M Laura shamber Mr Richard schurman and miss Karen Randolph into the public record of this proceeding I have authentic copies of all the written statements here tonight for each member of the Town Council as as well as for Township manager Brewer Township attorney usik and we'll provide them now to Township Clerk Marsh thank you for your [Music] time okay thank you if anybody else has any comments please come up to the uh microphone nobody come on over man' [Music] uh Karen Randol Pompton Plains uh before I get into my letter I would also like to thank many of you that were at the river clean up it really well and I appreciate your volunteerism um I was asked to recall the events that occurred at the Panic Town council meeting on the evening of March 26 2024 between Paul maer and mayor Ryan herd Paul read his prepared statement during the public portion of the meeting regarding what he was has been and continues to do at the library board meetings after the public portion was closed councilwoman Russell responded to Paul's statements indicating he lied Paul tried to respond but the mayor cut him off declaring he may not speak at this time as the Town Council moved into to close session the rest of the attendees congregated in the lobby area to review the events of the Town council meeting these conversations continued as we proceeded to the parking lot at which time the council members exited the building Paul extended his hand for a handshake I heard him say something about the interruption I then observed Mir herd mve in closer to Paul and said to the effect that Paul will have will H will behave here and there I took this to mean the Town Council meetings and the library board meetings that Paul has regularly attended the handshake broke mayor herd moved away towards his vehicle Paul said to the effect was that a threat Mr Mayor was that a threat the mayor continued to walk away and said to the effect have a good night refusing to answer Paul's question and drove off thank you okay thank you very much would anybody else like to come up to the podium last chance okay seeing none next on our agenda is manager's report Mr bre thank you mayor within my written report there are a few items first as discussed during the budget process and prior meetings I was given direction to prepare an ordinance with the assistance of council addressing mailboxes damaged during snow plowing operations um the ordinance is for the council's consideration of introductions evening on the agenda it includes as directed a $100 uh reimbursement per claim per occurrence um one occurrence every 5 years the damage must be verified by the DPW director the individual making the claim must sign a release and uh the claim shall be submitted within 15 days of the damage okay so that is scheduled for the council's consideration introduction um also for the council's consideration this evening there's a resolution rejecting all bids for the restoration of the Pompton ples Railroad Station uh the tent received a 2023 Grant from the Mars County historic preservation trust fund committee for that project unfortunately the bids came up well in excess or back well in excess of the budgeted amount um therefore the township Council authorized at the last meeting the resubmission of a new application with the revised figures based upon the bid experience and correspondingly the uh resolution has scheduled rejecting all bids concluding that procurement process uh the township received a request from PNA the contractor for the rout 23 sewer project to extend the shutdown that the council had previously authorized until honor about March 18th to April 15th uh the submission was made to the Consulting engineer uh who doesn't have the authority to grant that it was brought to the council at the next possible meeting April 15th is next week so what if we say now well among the reasons cited among the reasons cited were the uh contractors consideration of the submission of a value engineering change order um there's no requirement to pause if the contractor is submitting got to get to do that um it was the council's expectation that they'd be back in my opinion it was a little generous that the shutdown was granted my recommendation would not be to granted but I feel obligated to bring it to the council forther consideration and Direction and then lastly although not in my written report um there's an ordinance for a public hearing and potential adoption pertaining to the zoning uh the Cannabis matter as I articulated in my manager's report at the last council meeting that is the ordinance where there was an error made by me in terms of identifying the I3 Zone which changed to the AG Zone following the zoning change so although that ordinance is scheduled for public hearing it is recommended by staff and Council that the council uh rejected as the council may be aware at the last council meeting the corrected ordinance with the appropriate Zone uh has was introduced and will be scheduled for public hearing and potential action at a future okay so my only question Mr Question hasn't been introduced yet we no it was introduced at the last council meeting and has correspondingly been sent to the planning board right so the planning board has a time period to review it or not and then it gets returned to the council got any questions from Council no whatever council's thought on the request for shut down start work I would say no I would say no say no cuz I feel like they're just going to keep there's no snow no reason I can't we already sh allow month I would move forward we need to get things done he can submit his information but he's still got to get things done yes he retains the right statutorily to submit the value engineering change order but I understand my I do have a question about it so if we say no and they have to continue and they're still having an issue with the fre ordering so a contract was executed right so you know our perspective is you've been given a contract to complete a project they have an obligation to complete so they'll just have to keep going till they can figure it out I agree we can't what is the completion date honor about with the 3 months that we extended no we didn't except wasn't 3 months it was about 6 weeks depending upon how you look at the calendar um that was that was Where Mrs Russell and I did differently um and we kept asking approximately total completion is approximately fall of next year yeah October something and substantial completion where people could begin fully using all SE will be sometime inid summer if the schedule 25 of 25 correct okay okay any other questions no all right thank you sir appreciate it I'm I'm a little confused about this ordinance for this cannabis I mean we're rejecting the ordinance that's on for tonight even though it's in public or open so it was introduced right so the process to complete it would be to hold the public hearing and to reject the for the council to defeat it so it is clean in the record if anybody goes back and looks at this in 5 years and and I apologize for the inconvenience again it was my my error um and then the other ordinance which has a new number and a new process can be handled clean so that one has already been introduced that was introduced last corre last what's the new number do you know it off the top your head or I don't okay it's eight but this one is it eight okay4 2406 is the new one no that's no that's the old the one we're rejecting that okay and and I need to back up for a second it just agre me the the substantial completion for the rout2 3 sewer project is 2024 not 2025 mayor okay I thought it I apologize it's this year it's 2024 it's not 25 so I even better I got rolling with the momentum but I caught up with it after the fact we got another year okay thank you sir appreciate it all right next on the agenda is public hearings so ordinance number 20246 is flawed do we still call it out or do we just proceive with the process as you Miss Marsh ordinance number 20246 is an ordinance amending chapters 360 zoning 119 cannabis establishment license and 120 cannabis transfer tax of the revised General ordinances of the Town Township of panic to permit and regulate cannabis manufacturing establishments as a conditional use okay I'll make a motion to open the public hearing oh second that's what we're supposed to do right unless you have any comments all in favor I I if anybody in the audience has questions or comments on this ordinance please come to the microphone and identify yourself for the record again we're talking about ordinance number 20246 seeing none okay is there a motion to close the public hearing motion to close can I get a second second all in favor I I is there a motion to adopt this ordinance so council do we want to do a motion to adopt and vote in the negative or do we want to do a motion to reject we have no motion to adopt I don't think anybody's for ad a motion to reject motion to reject ordinance number 20246 second there you go all in favor I roll can I just clarify that that was Mrs Russell to and Mr Cole second it okay this is on to reject Mr yes not to be a wise guy but I got to vote Yes to reject correct I'm just making sure I understand my limited capacity over here so yes Mrs Florence Lynch yes to reject Mr Cole yes Mrs Russell yes mayor herd yes rejecting ordinance number 20 24-6 excellent next on the agenda is public hearing on ordinance number 20249 Miss Mar ordinance 20249 is an ordinance authorizing the execution of a contract for the purchase of block one uh 4116 Lot 2 from V Simi are there any comments from no is there a motion to open this to a public hearing so moveed can I get a second second all in favor I if anybody in the audience has questions or comments on this ordinance please come to the microphone and identify yourself for the record seeing none is there a motion to close the public hearing motion can I get a second I'll make the second all in favor I I uh is there a motion to adopt this ordinance Mr Dy oh I'm sorry we have to do the I'll make a motion to adopt ordinance 20249 roll call please very conf okay it's my turn yeah Mr Dy no Mrs Florence Lynch uh yes this is the one on the fence right yeah yes Mr Cole yes Mrs Russell no mayor herd yes okay uh there are no ordinances well there is an orance for introduction yes this is mailbox yes next on the agenda is Introduction of ordinances Mrs Marsh ordinance 202 410 is an ordinance amending chapter 312 of the code of the township of aquantic and establishing establishing a policy for reimbursement for mailboxes damaged by Township Vehicles okay Mr Brewer are there any comments no none other than the reason ordinance is required is because the current policy is cified in the municipal code so this is the necessary action to make an update or change to that policy okay thank you are there any comments from Council I don't know if I John if you want to know I mean I called local Mayors Lincoln Park um Wayne wanu and Riverdale and they all had something on the books to reimburse so so we spoke about it last meeting and we talked about $100 so I was good with that that Mak sense do you have any questions about it while we're here no I'm still going to vote no but okay is there is there a motion to introduce his ordinance on first reading I'll make a motion to introduce ordinance 202-10 I'll second open uh roll call please Mr Dy no Mrs lawence Lynch yes Mr Cole yes Mrs Russell no mayor herd yes next on the agenda is resolution Miss Marsh beginning with resolution R22 24101 confirming the designated memberships in the Quantic Township Fire dep Department 102 approving the designated special event permit license for the Holy Spirit Carnival 103 approving the designated special event permit application for the first state Squad October Fest r224 104 authorizing the township of panic to enter into a Cooperative pricing agreement with The Hunton County Educational Services Commission 2024 105 rejecting any and all bids for the restoration of the Pompton Plains Railroad Station 2024 106 authorizing the filing of tax appeal counter claims and authorizing the tax assessor and Township attorney to represent the Township in connection with the appeals and r224 107 approving the payment of the itemized claims is set forth on the October 5th 2024 Bill list excellent thank you are there any comments for on the resolutions from Council I have one on number 105 so what is the next step with this the township submitted uh another Grant application to the county open space trust fund historic preservation trust fund which is funded through the open space trust to to get the project done at the greater amount so we're waiting to hear how much more money that we need about $180,000 yeah give us the original budget so the Grant application is required to be supported by an estimator a certified estimator so the certified estimator in early 2023 gave the estimate for the Grant application which it was based on we went out no prices went up but they didn't go up you know 80% that's what happened I okay right so that's the bids so do do we go for like $410,000 CU by the time we get it it's probably going to be that much we we we did our best to accommodate an anticipated increase of costs all right cool that's all you're going to say when do we when do we hear about this yeah what's the expected question so is this like a project for next then this would be a project if awarded for construction in 2025 yes wow Adam do we know when the response date is on this grant there will be presentation in uh May early June and then typically we hear over the summer usually around August we here once once the recommendation is made to the Commissioners for final approv you think we'll go through the whole presid you know to come out again and look at it again like they did the last time I leave that to them yeah you know hopefully speak with them the cleanest way to do it was to submit complete to application they have the option to fund the Delta but I wanted to give them they funded things there before and they tend to like to see their funding go all the way through to the end they're really good about that and and the results of just pushes it off a year it's unfortunate but the results of the bids were also included in the grand application so the committee members could see it wasn't based upon an arbitrary estimator it was based upon and what was interest thing was the bids were like they really swamp from low to High 3 38,800 wow but they were also all higher than the the anticipated which was interesting okay you know and the council may be aware in the past I've come back with some change orders on some of our projects that we had a chance to fund to make sure things got done in in a timely enough fashion the Delta on this was significant enough a lot of money it's a lot of money yeah big difference uh any other comments from Council no I have two comments Holy Spirit Carnival excellent that's going to be June 11th through the 15th and first day Squad October Fest is for September 28th 2-9 so is there a motion to adopt these resolutions I'll make a motion to adopt resolutions r224 d101 through r224 d107 I'll second roll call Mr Dy yes Mrs Florence Lynch yes Mr Cole yes Mrs Russell yes may heard yes all right so there are no items for discussion no reports and notices next on the agenda is Council reports and announcements councilman jesi thank you Mr Mayor was what a day it was a beautiful day today it was it was I'm just glad we made it yesterday with all the hype but anyway um it was a beautiful day today um so first of all congratulations to our new two new Junior Firefighters that that's awesome especially in late of the 45 and 50 Year Awards we handed out so we got some big shoes to fill and there's good it's a good thing that there's some um members that have been around a long time to help guide them so I like that um the historic commission uh did meet I was not able to go um due to work um and I did not hear anything from them so I'm assuming everything is okay but if there is something I'll bring it next time um parks and W did not meet for what we in April um they decided to push it off till May um that's it so uh recognition awards that we handed out again just going to that's awesome you know it's it's great that we have great volunteers that want to stick around and I know Mr Cole mentioned you know you know you know the time but it's also it's also the training these people go through I mean that's a lot of training and a lot of time so thank you for your dedication to our little town right it it is a great town Mr Mayor right it sure is best said there ever was good um last Saturday was was the river cleanup I was not able to attend I did stop at the dedication for the playground um that was that was awesome I know Mr Cole was there the whole whole time he'll have a lot to say but I'm just glad that our first aid Squad there the fire department was there with the truck and the flag um all the volunteers from many many states from I understand came and and helped out so and it Rec recognized a good member of panic Township so that's so that's very good uh just want to say you thank you to the people up here Mr Brewer uh the council members Miss March Mr Brewer Mr oik for keeping us in line and going um to all to all the other volunteers that work in town there's a lot of them um a lot of them provide good Insight whether on the economic development committee or historic commission etc etc so um it's great that we have people that want that want to do that um so that's good and also I want to give a shout out to all the crossing guards out there they do a they do a great job every day whether it's raining or snowing they're always out there so thank you for help with with our kids we truly appreciate it or I truly appreciate it I'm sure we all do so and that's Mr Mayor that's all I got thank you sir I appreciate that all right councilman Florence Lynch uh yeah a couple things um some are repeats but I want to say congratulations to all the uh volunteers for their years of service um if there was anyone we missed we'll get it later I found out before that one of the uh gentlemen on Fire Company 2 I'm going to shout him out Marty drag was on uh 38 years in Fire Company 2 and four years before that in Wayne so I'm not sure if we missed him or what so if there's I just wanted to say congratulations to him and to all the other uh volunteers for their years of service um I also went to the river cleanup this past weekend it was a huge success I believe I saw there was over 77 volunteers and a a 20 yard dumpster half fold filled so that was pretty good um Economic Development Committee I know they're working on setting up a uh ribbon cutting for a new uh business in town I believe it's called shamal photography and I believe that's going to be May 4th but I'm waiting for more information on time and to make sure that's when it is um what else um I also was at the the dedication for the playground for Tommy saino um and I'm sure Dave will say more about that cuz that was his neighbor growing up but it was just such a wonderful group of people and the dedication was there I was not one of the ones doing the build but I was there for the ribbon cutting and the ceremony and it was really um it was it was really emotional and it was really uh it was really nice to see um what else the last thing I'm going to mention is uh there is coming up a Morris County is running a senior ID and Veterans ID outreach program so what that is if you're like a senior and maybe you don't have a valid driver's license anymore but you need an ID for certain things it's we're going to the County's going to be here next Wednesday April 17th at the senior house from 10: to 1: um you can either um all the information is on the website on the front page and there's a flyer there with um information I'm going to try to I know it's only a week away I'll try to get some flyers out around town maybe we'll drop them at the library and at the with permission and uh around town hall and the senior center so people will know what they have to bring um to get that ID but you can register through the clerk's office you can just show up but there are things you need so um I'll try to get those distributed but it is on the on the website you know you basically you only need to be 55 or older um it's $5 but you can't you can't pay with a personal check so it's either got to be a money order or cash and uh the veterans IDs are free um and if you want more information on that you can I have a couple of Flyers here you can pick one up on the way out or look on the website um other than that I don't have anything else thank you mayor thank you Melissa all right next councilman Cole thank you Council thank you B uh congrats to the First Responders that we recognized tonight all of the names uh came from the three Chiefs so um I don't know why Marty was missed but uh as you saw that we went we dated back so I don't know why he didn't provide Marty's name and just say that he we reached that Milestone three years ago congrats uh to um Austin Daniel and Logan Reagan for being our new Junior Firefighters um the river cleanup I was only able to uh stay for roughly an hour cuz I had the ribbon cutting for the playground uh I on 12 uh no February 27th I attended the was it February or March when was that Ryan the traps March March March 27th I attended the TRS Market at Hill school I tell you what some of these kids they're all F they were all f graders that participated I mean it was amazing some of the stuff that they uh they were they made and and were selling so congratulations to all of them and as everybody uh well company one uh met last Friday uh just so everybody knows 20 29 calls for the month of March uh and as everyone uh said uh you know the playground build I was there part of the day on April 3rd left early because of the rain but I was there all day on the 4th and the 5th um Where Angels play is the foundation is a great organization I mean they did a great job they did a great build uh was in memory of Tommy Savino who passed away uh from cancer this was their 65th build 65th playground that they've built they have another one being built uh in uh later in the uh this month or early June in Massachusetts um I mean the playground is tremendous I mean it was a great dedic uh and a remembrance of Tommy so all the kids in banic will be able to play outside and enjoy the fresh air um let's just say the heating pad and the icy hot were my best friend the 3 a that I I worked on that uh playground so I'm a little out of shape and uh I definitely felt it on Thursday Friday and Saturday but it was well well worth it so that's all I have thank you mayor thank you sir all right next from my report just kidding Russ no I don't have much cuz none of my committees met with the exception of uh CDs they took all of the um suggestions that the committee I had talked about the committee that we met for like 6 hours uh the weeks before so we did vote it was unanimous vote and like I said it's really eye openening to see all of these people that are asking for money it's battered women it's abused children and and the county you know them their lotted money and hearing those presentation it's heartbreaking it is very heartbreaking um so we did that um we did the the river cleanup which was good just so everybody knows our counselor was there I know he doesn't like to stay there there you know everybody was there we're all there we collected a lot of stuff we pulled out rugs I think one year we found like boxes and boxes of diapers you remember that but you'd be amazed at the things I I think it was a little less than this year cuz I think some of it was like trapped in like the water that we couldn't get to but there was a lot and um Dave uh downplays how much he did um for the playground he does have a bad back and he went there and he was working in that rain and you know they're digging and they're stuck in the mud and they're pulling it out and so um I'm proud of you Dave good thing there wasn't a camera there cuz I did fall you did oh I would have paid for that but faceb a very heartfelt dedication um and it was It was kind of cool because then they unveiled it and there's Tommy and it's cold and it was windy and and all of a sudden they unveiled Tommy's picture and the sun came out and it was just it it gave everybody chills I know I'm not the only one and then the kids were very excited they almost ran us over when we when we cut the ribbon but it was great and it was great to see congratulations to all of our um our people for their years and their dedication and and all of our volunteers and people have to realize everybody we have a lot of Volunteers in this town and that's what does make this town great thank you thank you yeah uh I agree I mean again our volunteers is is the culture that makes up our community and whether it's people coming together for Tommy's playground I had the uh benefit of running past it actually this morning it's beautiful it's huge it's so much better than what was there and for such a great cause you know what but whether it's that first aid Squad Fire Company 1 Fire Company 2 it really is about the wonderful people who give their time that they don't have to give for the benefit of the town and that's everything I mean we had a proclamation a couple of weeks ago and everything from library to open space historic flood you name it and it really is amazing I mean you know Cub Scouts Boy Scouts Girl Scouts the the benefit of the kind and generous people in this town it's amazing and I really appreciate it so with that said a couple of things uh Little League opening day is Saturday April 20th that's exciting the kids always love that because they get to walk down the center of the road from uh PV over to Washington Park so way it's kind of exciting uh the high school music program is having a b stake on April 20th uh be there or B Square I was called this morning told it was cancelled pop you serious postponed postponed did not get that update strike it I did say that uh trips I have to agree with you number one it was huge it was in Hillview so many kids and the difference that I saw this year cuz I've been going to it for a couple of years is the the difference of product and quality of product like handmade soaps handmade mugs I got this great mug from it that has PHS Nation on it I mean really thinking outside of the box arm warmers socks like different stuff stuff that I haven't seen before so I mean these are fifth graders from North Boulevard Jas and Hillview it's the coolest thing ever love entrepreneurs especially when they're starting that young uh last I have is first aid Squad so every month I talk about the call just like everybody else you know these people guys and gals jump out of their beds at whenever literally sometimes multiple times a night just to go and help somebody so last month they did 102 calls 40 calls were up to Cedar Crest two were kinon two were Bloomingdale two were Butler one was pumpt and lakes one was Wayne so whenever we go outside of aquantic it's mutual Aid so they're going to help those towns as well as still covering our towns and uh last year at the end of the year we had a little over 1,00 calls and again this is from a volunteer crew that only works from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. and Saturday and Sunday so it is wonderful and that oh I did have one question for Adam so in my open space meeting a question came up about invasive species uh on the properties that uh we did the buyouts on are we allowed to remove them so we planted trees on all these properties four years ago but now we're noticing some invasive species that I guess kind of Choke out the trees or have the potential of doing that what do we have to do to remove that do we have to file paperwork or can we remove it or if you can find out yeah not a question I have an answer to at the moment I know when you acquire a piece of property uh through open space acquisition or flood byout it's to be returned to okay so the details of that though I don't have I can I can check to see what can be done when when we were at the uh preservation trust meeting um with the county that did come up and the county does want us to get rid of the invasive species they don't want it to get overgrown they're having um major problems in I believe it was chadam they they bought a large swath of land but it just got taken over and so they're having a hard time getting through so yeah I'll check and we got the state level funding and a lot of different sources so I'll check and see what's and that's what part of that money would also go to keeping the upkeep of the open space the overall question is can we actually do it like what can we touch they want us to but I would you know just double check them okay that'd be good we'll do and that's all I have so next on the agenda is public comment if anybody wishes to address the council please wait to be recognize come to the microphone and provide your name for the record anybody come on up it's been a while Hi how are you doing yeah nice to see you you're hanging in there my my crew is all gone 10 years ago it would have been different Sharon Taylor I guess I don't have to say my address anymore right no things change so um I just wanted to make a few comments um I did want to say where the Angels play Foundation the park looks absolutely beautiful and um the kids in this Township should be so lucky so lucky to have a place to go in a very safe environment and between your DPW your Police Department your fire department all the volunteers for your first aid it is something that we should never take for granted um and Tommy would be very proud of you he'd say get up and keep walking don't worry about the Icy Hot Patch whatever you need but um yeah I think it it looks absolutely beautiful and I'm looking forward to seeing what else could be done in town with the other parks that are around um lastly I did want to say thank you I guess as as a town member to all the first aate and and for the firefighters that got recognized tonight um you know we're always thankful for what they do the volunteers uh when you hear something going on the first thing you think of is how much you can help someone and and they're always the first in line so um thank you very much to them and the budget uh getting into I'm not getting into taxes or anything tonight but with the budget for this year with the workshops and all when when could we expect it to be complete or has it been completed so the budget was passed okay introduced introduced introduced it was introduced at the last meeting the last meeting but what's the question the so it was introduced but it hasn't been passed public he yeah next meeting next meeting okay thank you very much everyone and Sharon you're right I mean it it took a village to build that playground I mean DPW fire department there was so many volunteers from town that came uh that I omitted to to say you know Council uh the guy that runs the uh Where Angels play he says it was the quickest turnaround ever uh to get Council to approve for them to build the playground so kudos to everyone in town from the town manager uh to DPW the police the fire departments first aid Squad I mean everybody was there to help so not to mention a full day rain delay yeah so I even pushed it back and it still got done yeah well the sun will be out so those kids will enjoy it thank you Sharon anybody else okay seeing none uh there are no minutes presented for approval next on the agenda is closed session discussion is there a motion to approve a resolution authorizing the Town Council to meet an executive session to discuss matters of attorney client privilege I'll make that motion can I get a second second all in favor opposed at this time the public portion of the meeting is recessed for closed session [Music]