##VIDEO ID:0GG08qjo6XQ## here in Council uh of the burough riverridge regular meeting 7 P.M Riv currently at the riverridge library and online uh remotely 685 Elm Avenue River Edge I ask for a moment of Silent reflection uh and prayer for our nation councilman Benson if You' lead us in the flag salute iedge aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the repu for it stands nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all all right statement of compliance with the open public meeting act this meeting complies with the open public meeting act by notification on January 11th 2024 of this location date and time to the town news in the record and by posting the same in the municipal bulletin board the B webset and filing notice of the same with municipal clerk Madame clerk roll call please here here coun Benson here coun here may here all right um we will be swearing in a new firefighter uh he's not here yet but we will once he shows up upward without objection we're going to move resolution 24- 273 and swear in the firefighter is there objection hearing none and is so moved okay um the first thing we have is um for discussion Burton County Historic Society request requests banner and reduced outside Duty rate for the Barron October Fest uh M AA who will be speaking to us I to give a brief overview this is an annual request um in which the Historical Society seeks to have a a banner placed o on the corner of Main Street and Kinder KAC Road and they are also requesting that the outside Duty um fee be reduced to the overtime rate of the police officer they're only asking for one officer and this is something that is annually granted and the the police fee reduction is also a resolution on for tonight's agenda if the governing body chooses to um approve both class and that would be resolution 24- 269 269 so it's been placed before the council it is open for debate and discussion what say you it's not going to block the existing Farm Market Banner right I mean like last year I think it was enough space to put them in a way that people can actually see it with that obstruction okay yeah I don't have a problem it's but it's on the Main Street oh okay is it gonna be on top of it or on the side on the side CPW yeah any other member of council it seems like the council is in favor of both requests uh so could I have a motion from one member of council to allow um the um a banner and reduced outside Duty rate for the baron o October Fest as discussed so move second it has been moved and second it is open for debate is there debate hearing none I move the question all in favor please say I I any opposed any extensions hearing none it is so moved Andrew's here very good all right um let's just do two more pieces of business and okay um could I have a motion from any member of council approve the minutes of the mayor and Council regular meeting August 12 2024 so second it's been moved in second all in favor please say I I all right I need to abstain from that motion all right very good was pres in that meeting and I need to obstain as well all right there we go all right so um I'd like to uh actually move resolution 24- 273 at this time which reads the approval of the appointment of a volunteer firefighter and I'm going to read it into the record resolution 24- 273 approve the appointment of volunteer firefighter be it resolved by the governing body of the B River Edge that Andrew KH KH um okay hold on uh Andrew oh hold on uh screen is a little bit thin there um B and he is hereby appointed as a volunteer firefighter in River Edge volunteer fire department effective September 9th 2024 could I have the Le Leon for the fire department move this and another member of the council second so move second it has been moved in second in all in favor please say I I there we go come on up Andrew and Chief and uh anyone else who'd like to come up Andre is anyone here with you is anyone here you all my family here everybody should come on seriously everybody should come I'm gonna put you over here uh so that you're picked up by the camera okay and so um we have a Bible but you may not be Christian so you are okay so you have someone stand on your uh left side and hold this for you Chief can get in so that the public can see it um sque in no all right all right so I'm going to get out of the screen so that you guys can be seeing okay could you raise your right hand and repeat after me I state your name I Andrew Kang good do solemly swear do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution that I will support the Constitution of the United States of the United States and the Constitution and the constitution of the state of New Jersey and the state of New Jersey and that I and that I will bear true faith and Allegiance 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 the state and in the state under the authority of the people under the authority of the people I state your name I Andrew King do Solly swear do solemly swear that I will Faithfully that I will faithfully impartially impartially and justly and justly perform all the duties perform all the duties As A Firefighter As A Firefighter of the River Edge volunteer fire department of the River Edge volunteer fire department to the best of my ability to the best of my ability so help me God so help me God congratulations and thank you and thank you for being here Chief thank you uh you're free Chief to say a few words about you firefighter if you like while I get no first I just want to thank the mayor and counsel for the support that we get or liaison Barry Benson thank you for all the uh attention um we're delighted to have Andrew join our ranks in the uh volunteer fire department uh we've had a very aggressive uh recruitment program and I think uh Andrew will be our eighth uh new volunteer on the r r fire department so thank you for joining us well than you Andrew and thank you your for uh for uh leading this aggressive uh volunteer recruitment practice River Edge is advancing in its volunteer members in a way that's not really happening anywhere else in Bergen County to the same degree so we're very proud of the chief and of our volunteer firefighters thank you Chief thank you all right there we go thank you Andrew thank you okay could I have a motion for me any member of council to open up for any item on the agenda to move second all in favor please say I I okay so anyone who is remote if you raise your hand we'd be glad to allow a question or a comment on the agenda any one in uh Chambers who'd like to come forward and ask a question about something on the agenda we will open up second time a little bit later for anything outside the agenda wait to go outside absolutely and I don't see anyone yet but we'll give them a little while see if they are trying to find the button on their computer screen or so could I have a motion and second to close to the public on any item on the agenda so second all in favor please say I I okay could I have a motion uh who is our Police Department uh liazon I am that you are C right I'm sorry about that I I blanked for a moment uh C could you move and could I have someone else second the approval of the resignation of Matt P pansi Police Department um part-time Police Department Department dispatcher effective September 2nd 2024 so second all in favor please say I I okay there are monthly reports fire prevention from August tax collector from August uh Library Board of Trustees from September that are available to the public if the public should uh wish to see those reports um and uh they may simply contact the burough clerk okay um council president monsano could you please move and councilwoman canel can you please second uh as soon as I read into the record the first reading a motion that the following ordinances be introduced and passed on the first reading and setting September 23rd 2024 at 7M or as soon thereafter as the matter can be heard as the date and time and the River Library as the place and zoom as the virtual platform for the hearing of said ordinance ordinance 24-22 an ordinance amend ing the revised General ordinance of the burrow River Edge chapter 122 animals so moved second uh Miss apella as our business administrator would you please help the public understand what we're trying to achieve with this ordinance this ordinance would codify legislation regarding the proper disposal of pet waste this is mandated under the New Jersey storm water regulations very good um is there this is debate is there any debate commentary or inquiry from the council this is the first reading there will be a second reading at the next council meeting and we will open to the public when we get to a second reading seeing none I'm going to call the question all in favor please say I I I any opposed any exstension hearing none it is unanimous uh second reading and hearing on the ordinance could I have uh councilwoman malari and councilman Benson please move and second to open to the public and then when we close could I have H councilman glass and uh council president monsan Cohen close and then when we go to adoption could I have uh councilwoman canella and councilwoman molari uh for adoption um we're going to can we um I forget can we we have to have a separate vote for each adoption right but not to open I've seen where adoptions are all the same since it was introduced the same night and it's not has nothing to do with fun being land so uh Mr jabas can we did I say right it's toia toia sorry I know that we can do uh all three ordinances for open to the public Clos public uh are you comfortable with us also uh adopting yes okay as long as there's no objection no very good all right so uh the following ordinance published here with uh here within was first read by title only on August 12th 2024 and posted on bulletin board outside the burough clerk's office ordinance 24-19 an ordinance amending the revised General ordinance of the burough of River Edge chapter 435 Administration ordinance 24-20 an ordinance amending ordinance 24-10 entitled an ordinance amending the revised General ordinance of the burough River Edge chapter 38 for entitled treats ordinance 24-21 an ordinance to amend chapter 360 of the revised General ordinance of the buau of River Edge entitled storm water control could I have that Mo uh motion and second to open to the public so move s all in favor please say I I I okay uh Miss apella if you could for the Public's benefit explain what we're trying to achieve with these three ordinances absolutely 24-19 updates the Board of Health meeting schedule from five times a year to four times a year and it changes the reorganization meeting from the last week in January to the first week of February 2420 does many things it updates um the tree regulation to have the shade tree advisory committee meet quarterly it updates the tree planting process establishes a uniform tree removal permit fee sets the timeline for planting replacement trees reduces the cost of a replacement tree to reflect actual cost updates the bond amount based on tree size updates the review of the bond applications as well as the tree protection permit Fe and lastly 24-21 the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection requires all municipalities to replace their storm water Control Ordinance to reflect the amendments to the state storm water management all right uh is any member of the public as would like to make a comment or ask a question or make a statement we're going to give those remote a few more seconds I see the uh residents in chamber have sh shaken their heads no so um all right since there is no inquiry could I have a the uh members of council who were so named to to move and second to close to the public on all three ordinances so move second all please say I I okay um we're going to move all three since there doesn't seem to be any objection or controversy about this uh but before we do that the council is free to debate inquiry or make comments does the council wish to do that hearing none I call the questions for ordinance 2 49 2420 and 2421 could I have a motion and a second to adopt so move second uh this must be a roll call roll call please excuse me council president mon yes yes councilwoman Larry yes Council bson yes councilman yes all right so now we have resolutions by consent 24- 267 through 24-2 272 24274 through 24- 281 is there any member of council who wishes to ask a question hold out for a separate Vote or debate any of these ordinances mayor have any resolutions I I just want to make one comment sure and this was on resolution 24267 and I just wanted to call out that uh this is about somebody who found $531 and gave it to the police and now they're getting it after 6 months and I wanted to just say thank you Alexis as snowski from New Milford for for doing such an honorable thing and honest incredible honorable and honest wow yes if that's a that's a wonderful trait to hold up and to acknowledge thank you councilman anybody else thank you Barry I wasn't going to say that but I was gonna have a question on 267 is that the normal practice where it's six months you hold funds if anybody turn is anything that's noral practice yes it is okay all right so uh hearing no wish to debate or to hold any questions separately we will do all the resolutions I've named them already so could I have a motion and second to move the resolutions I've already named so second all in favor please say I any opposed any exstension hearing none is unanimous okay um finance that in councilwoman cman uh absent Ur you would be the ranking member correct all right as the ranking member of the budget and finance committee would you please move res uh resolution 24- 282 sure at a regular meeting of the mayor and Council of the B of R County of Bergen state of New Jersey held on September 9th 2024 be it resolved that the mayor and Council of the borrow of R approve the following expenditures are fund 6,243 75155 General Capital fund $631,000 6 63167 uh oh my God 63167 66 sorry about that animal control $435 180 trust other $2,180 developers escrow $8,699 198 sove could I have another member of the finance committee second that second it has been moved and seconded it is not open for debate all in favor please say I I any oppose any exstension hearing none it is unanimous could I have any member of council would like to open new business do so at this time but I have any member of council who would like to open old business do so at this time I have a question sure maybe others people's benefits to that so I'm seeing a lot of sidewalks getting ripped up curbs and stuff yes um is that all Ada related no not all of it can someone bu like sure if we're not prepared to do that tonight it's just a question I had on my mind because I see a lot of activity going on throughout the town I thought it would just be of interest to hear if anyone's able to the curves are for ADA compliance um the sidewalks that are being replaced are sidewalks of burough property that um need to be replaced as uh identified by a DPW superintendent and with that the curbing of those sidewalks needs to also be replaced so um what our program is we replace curbs and sidewalks one year and then the following year those streets are scheduled to be repaid so we are always a year ahead so for instance we can't u i I don't believe I think the law states that we have to make sure that the Ada is in compliance before we repay is that not correct it makes it easier some um some projects you could do the curving the same time as Paving but we just need to be compliant with Federal Regulations yes so that makes sense and plus we um we have an obligation to make sure that the sidewalks that are um under our direct jurisdiction um are updated U from time to time so that um they're safe of course thank you all right anyone else for a question about new old business just if uh uh Mr aella can provide an update uh from the pcng uh work um I been asked about a lot from a few residents about the repping up of the streets and this timing I keep answering that that is dependent of P&G but if she can provide an update so we're actually having a meeting tomorrow uh and I have been asking the same questions um the thing is is we have limited jurisdiction uh but she'll miss Abella will will go into that I hope to put something on Facebook and on the website after tomorrow's meeting if we can get um um detailed or answers that are you know not vague of the area um phase one of the high pressure gamine program they are almost done U there are a couple remaining connections that have to be turned off with the old connections but all the trenches have settled so we hope weather committee based on as of last week for Paving to take place sometime in beginning of October but we'll have that narrowed down hopefully better um after tomorrow and then um they will and then we'll have a timeline of what the next phase will be of the project but as of now we looking at um first week of beginning of October it's uh I I I I phrase that poorly but it's very hard to get to tie PS and G down um so they don't really work for us they kind of work for the state so all right um great questions both of you thank you anyone else with a question to comment uh new old business all right very good um okay I'm gonna leave it at that um okay now we're ready open to public could I have any member of Council in a second to move second to open the public for any comments on any item on anything so move all in favor please say I I please come up uh State your full name and address unless of course you're a police officer retired police officer or you work you or your family members work in the courts okay name is Robert Schuman live at 374 Valley Road hey um to start the questions before I actually get get it into the ones I want to ask well the way we're we don't do back and forth so you ask everything and then we'll go to somebody else and then we'll close and we'll answer okay first question is how are the school taxes figured okay what else uh how about the seniors getting a some type of an exemption or a reduction for school Texs when they don't have any kids okay um changing the subject a little bit which you said you're I think you said you you represent the police department Le to the police legal department Crime Control um when a crime is committed and reported and a detective and patrolman show up and the patrolman makes a comment that it must be a scam um I'm going to skip about seven months the uh person who actually kidnapped someone off my front yard uh threatened me for a long time so I took care of that from my side he was eliminated four month four weeks ago by a security Force that's in the field um when a trollman indicates scam that's a that's a problem it's not a scam first of all he doesn't have the capability to indicate a scam he didn't do any investigation they didn't report it to the FBI and I believe it's a legal thing where kidnapping is supposed to be reported to the FBI because local authorities aren't supposed to be handling kidnapping the last I heard the question is one of well two of the women that were taken off my front yard one not quite sure exactly what her condition is um I don't I do hear that um the kidnapper did have a total of 16 people that he had tied up uh they sold them to the Mexican traffickers one of them fell off the truck and got killed the other one escaped and in the process got shot she's currently Rec operating in an undisclosed location and has security people around her now I'm just wondering what the question is the question is is there training for these patrolmen that using the word scam is wrong they're not legally they are not educated enough to say that it's a scam their opinion isn't what you're being asked for you're asking them to do a job investigate they didn't do anything so the question is what training are our police officers getting okay and and you're you're talking about professionalism now there's a two-minute maximum but we're gonna let you go a little bit of that anything else that's enough okay uh thank you uh if you return to your seat we'll see if anybody wants to remote and then we'll answer your questions once we close the public uh we only have one person it looks uh who is attending is uh is any question or comment please raise your hand all right uh could I have a motion to Second close to the public so move second Mr tiia and Miss aella please uh interrupt me if I um if I say anything incorrect okay first of all the how taxes school taxes are determined the U the the school board is a co- quasi separate Municipal body so we have no authority over them you vote for them directly and that um that board determines uh who gets hired who gets fired and they determine the tax rate and we the council have no authority over them whatsoever we have an obligation to collect taxes on their behalf that they have determined the public should pay uh there are all sorts of state and Federal rules about how the taxation occurs how much they can tax they cannot go over a certain percent without having to put it out to the public um and there are certain exemptions to what percents there are for different things but um so if you have a question about school taxes you have to go see the school board because we we have no Authority second there is a um senior uh tax reduction Act what's that called there's the senior freeze for the entire property bill there's nothing yes it's not limited to schools but uh just for the Public's benefit Lizette if you could or Mr if you could just speak a little bit about that that was uh I think ped a few years ago it's gone into effect um and people have to apply for that right apply for it and it is it is a a freeze on taxes across the board it's not let's just said lied to uh it's across the board for I think it's Statewide too I mean it raises your taxes your property taxes and your taxes so um there are you you could go see someone to get um advice on how to apply for that there might be information online but there is something available to seniors for tax free so they don't go up okay and just so you know the municipality we the members of the mayor and Council we are only responsible for approximately 25 % of your tax bill so say just for simple numbers say your tax bill your property tax bill was 10,000 2500 is what comes to us the rest goes to either uh the River Edge School Board the riverdell school board a small portion of the county and even smaller very minuscule portion to open space to take care of County and local parks um so that's a little information about that um so in regards to training uh yes there is very strict training and ethical review of our police officers if you feel that uh any of our police officers has acted inappropriately it would uh you would need to contact the chief of police uh Chief Michael Walker and uh share with him your concerns um I have to tell you I I I don't know what to say about any of the kidnapping or anything like like that because that's not our jurisdiction and we we have no um no information about that at all okay um could I have uh it's time for Council comments is any member of council wish councilman Benson yes mayor thank you um I just wanted to read into the record a letter that we uh received from um the Newbridge preschool Grace Camp uh about our fire department um so I just wanted to put this into the record um we have a wonderful fire department and as they they said they keep attracting new volunteers more so than many other uh fire departments around Bergen and it's a testament to how they run so let me read this into the record mayor and council members of River Edge I wanted to thank you for allowing your fire department the ability to share all they do with our preschool and camp with Robert slosberg Chief Robert's help and guidance they have been an amazing part of our curriculum at New Beginnings Preschool in Grace Camp each year visit our preschool and thoroughly teach the students all about fire safety the fire truck workings and the fire clothing they wear bunker gear uh in parenthesis and uh question mark they all are so thoughtful and kind to the children and staff they even come with handouts available for all the students to take home and share with their parents in Grace Camp the firemen Enlighten the students with some very interesting information and then it's outside to turn on the water and the campers get to enjoy the fire truck wet down your firemen are also very considerate of the neighbors around the church and the surrounding streets regarding any water damage control they even put cones at the entrance to keep the students campers safe from unwanted traffic they are just the best we all look forward to their visiting us each year and having them teach our children all about fire safety it is an amazing event for all involved the children just love it please let me know if there's anything we at npb which is New Bridge a New Beginnings Preschool can do to honor these selfless uh men and women with warm regards Allison Mastro Pasqua and New Beginnings Preschool Grace Camp staff so just a wonderful letter and you know if there's anything that you can do to honor actually reading this letter is is the honor of our fire department yes so thank you uh we are very very very proud of them in fact we're proud of all our burough employees our Police Department our fire department and DPW but it's nice to highlight the fire dep Department tonight uh and of I left out all of our non-contractual workers and all those in administration and including and our ba Miss appella and and our professionals uh and our clerk yes oh I left our clerk I'm sorry shame on me all right um any other Council comments well we are working at warp speed tonight uh very good well uh could I have a motion in second uh to to adjourn the meeting second all in favor please say I I I we are adjourned all right I'm this is