##VIDEO ID:7Q65q_qksKc## all right call to order the meeting of the mayor and Council the burough River Edge January 23rd 2025 regular meeting at the River Edge library and remotely on Zoom 6:30 p.m. uh I ask for a moment of Silent prayer and reflection for our country as we begin a new Administration and for all of our immigrants um and their particular situations Freddy salute I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all Madam Oh No statement of compliance with the open public meeting app this meeting complies with the open public meeting act by notification via January 21st 2024 Sunshine notice containing the location date and time and access information to the town news and uh the record and by posting of the same on the municipal bulletin board and the burough website and filing notice of the same with the municipal clerk Madame clerk welcome back and roll call please counc pres counc here counc Larry here counc here Council glass here Council here mayor Papo here could I have a motion and a second to go into closed session resolution 25-57 resolution to enter into Clos session attorney client privilege njsa 10 colon 4-12 B5 affordable housing requirements move second all in favor please say I I now for the members of the public and those viewing this later we will uh be returning in about 30 minutes but hopefully we'll be able to edit that out uh so we're going to pause recording and we'll be returning uh and we'll be U we'll be returning at about 7 um maybe a little bit earlier with any luck so um so at this point we will pause the recording I call back into session the mayor uh the regular meeting of the mayor and Council the burough of River Edge January 23rd 2025 live it is now 6414 p.m. I'm sorry thank you 7:14 p.m. uh both in the River Edge library and on Zoom Madame clerk roll call please president here here here GL herec here may here uh is there uh any action based on the Clos session that we wish to take at this time Madam uh council president yes mayor I would like to add to the resolutions by consent uh the resolution of the new Bor Riveredge County of Bergen state of New Jersey committing to round four present and prospective need affordable housing obligations and what will this resolution be numbered 25 73 okay could I have we can do this by unanimous consent right all in favor no I need a second to that motion it has been moved and seconded it is open to debate is there debate hearing none I'll call the question all in favor please say I okay so when we go to the consent agenda it will be added into the vote okay uh could I have a motion and second to approve the minutes of the mayor and Council regular and close session October 28th 2024 regular and close session November 25th 2024 4 regular meeting of December 9th 2024 SNY die and reorganization meeting of January 6 of all previous dates were 2024 this one is 2025 we need a second clana great it's been moved and seconded uh are there any corrections or uh any any comments yes I need to abstain from the November no 25th regular so when we uh move uh you'll say um you'll say um for only those all in favor please say I are there any abstentions no I need to abstain for November 25th meeting is there any other exensions yes um mayor I need to um stain from the Senate die and reorganization meeting of January 6 but do you both affirm the other meetings yes correct all right are there any objections all right having heard it has been so moved and approved could I have a motion second to open to the public on any item on this agenda second all in favor please say I okay is there um councilwoman canella is there anyone in the no there's not there's just the two which is us okay uh any nope all right there is no um one to speak to the agenda could I have Motion in second to close to the agenda move second all in favor please say I we have monthly reports available to the public luse board for December tax report from December Library board from January uh they are a upon uh request from the burough clerk so we want to allow the public to realize that we have our first reading or ordinance a motion um could I have a motion from uh in a second could I have a motion from from councilwoman darwal and a second from councilman glass a motion that the following ordinance be introduced and passed on the first reading and setting February 3D wait did she have to abstain from this one nice yeah good that's why I thought okay for the first reading and setting uh first reading and setting February 13 2025 at 7 p.m or soon thereafter as the matter can be heard as the date and time and the River Edge Library as the place and zoom as a virtual platform for hearing on said ordinance ordinance 25-2 an ordinance amending chapter 2011 of the revised General ordinances of the buau of River Edge entitled entitled escro deposit second it has been moved and seconded uh we are now uh Madam uh business administrator Miss aella could you please tell the public what we are hoping to achieve from this ordinance um in reviewing the general code it was found that chapter 2011 was um not consistent with the our fee schedule so this ordinance just updates um the escrow deposits to align with the current fees excellent we are now open for debate is there debate on ordinance uh 25-2 hearing none all those in favor please say I any opposed any extensions hearing none it is unanimous okay could I have a motion from councilman Benson a second from Council malari to move ordinance 25-3 an ordinance to amend chapter 206 of the revived General ordinance of The Bu of River Edge entitled fees sove second uh Madam uh business administrator uh patella if you could um this ordinance covers the fees um that fall under the recreation department for various um events uh programs including summer camp the rec director presented this to the mayor and Council on December 9th the only change since that presentation is um a nominal discount for participants of the running club who are returning otherwise everything is what was presented on December 9th and since councilwoman darwal is uh a yoga instructor she will now recuse herself by stepping off the de for the V for the debate and vote yeah any seat good okay it's now open for debate is there debate hearing none all in favor please say I I any opposed any exstension hearing none it is unanimous it sounds silly but it's appropriate parliamentary procedure and we uh we thank councilwoman darwal for being uh understanding of that as well as the public okay uh second reading and hearing on the ordinance the following ordinance published here within was first read by title only on January 6 2025 posted on the bulletin board outside the clerk's office or ordance 25-01 and ordinance to fix the salary wages and compensation of the officers and employees of the burough of River Edge in the county of Bergen in the state of New Jersey for year 2025 could I have a motion by um councilwoman canella and a second from uh council president uh monsana Cohen to open to the public on this ordinance move second all in favor please say I no and is there any one remote Council and conseller no there is none okay uh since there are no one present could I have a motion from councilwoman molari and second from councilman Benson to close to the public so second all in favor please say I I could I have a motion from councilman Benson and second from councilwoman Dar wall to uh oh I'm sorry it is now uh it is now open open for debate is there debate hearing none could I have a motion from councilwoman uh Dar Benson and and councilman Benson and councilwoman Dar wall second to adopt second oh why Council skipped over David I apologize David um uh this would be time it' be appropriate for a debate is there debate hearing none uh roll call please yes canel yes councilwoman R Larry yes councilman Benson yes councilman glass yes councilwoman darell yes is there any member of the council who needs to recuse thems for any of the resolutions no no no okay great so what we're going to do is we're going to move uh does that include confirm Recreation program instructors that's the separate resolution consider so what we're going to do is uh in a moment could I have a motion and second from uh councilman um glass and a second from uh councilwoman canella to move resolution 25- 58 through 25-70 and 25- 73 I believe 73 is the affortable housing one all right so second it has been moved and seconded it is open for debate is there debate all in favor please say I could I have who's um who's our finance chairman you could I have Council conseller move resolution 2571 and one member of the um uh Budget Finance committee uh executive at a regular meeting of the mayor and Council of the burrow of Riv County of Bering state of New Jersey held on January 30 23rd 2025 be it resolved that the mayor and count and Council of borrow Riveredge approve the following expenditure current fund 2,333 4593 general capsu fund $ 32579 196 Grant fund $972 trust other $176 payroll $2,299 developers C for $70 okay so that's resolution 2571 is it moved so mov is there a second and there is a second uh this is not debatable all in favor please say I any oppos any exstension all right have an extension I abstained from 71 minutes payment of the bills are you on payment of the bills so you would abstain yeah I'm abstaining from check 65452 654 75 655 27 65530 655 57 655 64 ex and those are all um recreational checks and uh because of the conflict that is why you're abstaining and that is appropriate okay so that has been approved okay could I have a motion and second to move resolution 25- 72 7 oh councilwoman refuse uh move 2572 confirm Recreation program instructors I moved second uh it is open for debate commentary or question hearing none all in favor please say I any opposed any extensions okay uh we now move to inperson hybrid and remote meetings so uh it looks like we'll be returning to bur Hall somewhere between um the end of February and or the beginning of April so in that window and so I know uh because I've been attending the first meeting of all the committee commissions and boards that uh the um actually I should have you say that well the environmental committee yeah and the green team they would prefer the uh hybrid if that's an option okay so I've asked uh through uh our business administrator Miss apella to ask Mr shanian to comment on uh what what we might do as we transition back to the building can we have in person only can we have continue to have remote only can we have a hybrid and if so what would uh the hybrid be uh given a state statute and practice so uh there are tears of answers for that for that question as you can imagine there um that if something is a committee um that is you know not required to comply with the open public meetings act by Statute um they can meet however they want to meet if something is a a a um uh committee that is by Statute that is open to the public by you know by the statute um for example like uh um environmental uh commission that's by Statute so they they have to meet under the open public meetings act and there is a debate right now and it's a gray area so I I hate to sound like a lawyer and equivocate on this but it is a gray area right now because the open public meetings act pre pandemic said that you could only meet in person pandemic obviously the governor P issued an executive order saying that you could now have meetings electronically those executive orders have all expired so there is no current law on the books and there are a couple of cases that predate the pandemic that said that you definitely could not meet uh hybrid or remotely um that being said I know there are a lot of tents that are still doing it so uh you know my council is if if it's a statutory commission they should meet um in person because that is required um under the public meetings act and if it's not then you you can do it any way you want I know that's probably not the answer that everybody wants to hear well no because uh this leads also we're um when we do our budget committee we do that remotely because it is a much more productive way of doing the budget because when the public gets the zoom and everything else are you saying that we couldn't um so I immediately want to go to that because that's pressing um we couldn't do the budget committee remotely the budget committee is three members of council no it's the entire Council budget commit a budget a budget meeting you mean like an actual council meeting to discuss the the preparation of the budget so and you're going to have department heads come in you know that has to be done in person okay so um because anything that that we're discussing would be binding upon us as as everything else so all commissions would have to be in public correct uh but now we all boards would have to be in public Dash story boards correct yes okay planing board zoning board okay now um our our Recreation Commission is not really commission it was changed by ordinance but they didn't change their name so would they have to meet in I don't think so because they're commited now okay uh would the alliance uh the riverge alliance for uh drug and alcohol no so what would be the groups that must meet in person the environmental commission correct um luse board have to L board yeah so luse board has not returned to iners yet because of the burough Hall so lanp is currently and that and that there is an exception if there's if there's an in inability to do that there's a way to get but that's limited to when you have that situation pres so once B Hall opens up they're going to have to return to the inperson meetings okay and you're cop writing we're we're going to write this so the L board must go in person as of right now the commission uh environmental commission must go in person right now uh I I don't think anybody else would right that's it so let's hello go ahead historic preservation commission there statutory board okay and so they must go back in person when we when we open the building okay so we'll need to en them and if the liaison for those um commissions and Boards would um would convey that and if we'd send out a memo to that effect now let's talk about the ones that don't can they meet in a hybrid and how might that hybrid look because there's a couple of ways to do a hybrid there is um some are in person and some are not uh and then uh can certain can the rest of the groups continue to be remote if the council allows them the answer to that is yes um the second one remote well to both actually to mean can they be uh hyb hybrid meaning some in person some uh so for instance say uh the rec where you know some of the members of the rec commission might be coaching games right uh at a distance so the the commission's about to meet but the game is over so they can now come on their phone would that be something can do they're committed yes and so then those votes from those individuals would be considered valid votes correct I mean when I don't know that they they're voting so much to make I mean they're voting to make a recommendation to the council that's right so so that's okay okay so um okay so now the council does not need to make a decision tonight but the council can certainly have a discussion on whether uh we will um allow for um remote or hybrid for an individ whatever we do for one we should do for all okay um should we we should give them do we wish to give the Committees and uh the groups that do not have to meet in person do we wish to give them the option to do hybrid or remote or do we want to all of them can be hybrid period or all of them can be remote or in person in person is always an option so they can be iners period they could be in person and hybrid their choice or we can determine that or they can be iners and remote or remote and they can determine that um or should it be Mr shenan that whatever and what they once they choose that that's the form they have to stay to cor for the rest of the year I don't think there's a rule that says that that would be the council's decision it's like a policy matter um that the council can direct their uh committees and to how you want them to be okay so um and we might need time to ruminate on this and also to talk to our different committees and uh and commissions that are not necessarily statutory um Our intention when we went back was for the governing body to be in person but to also have a zoom component for the public is that that's always yeah that's always the public is always allowed to come in by Zoom it's the actual members of the like the commissions that have to be because you have to have an open meeting where where people can physically come in if they want to but allowing them the option to come in by uh by electronically is up to the council okay so the public is allowed corre but one of us as members of the council will not be able to log in uh to a meeting that's I think what an also is and I think in an Mercy scenario an individual council member may be able to log in to participate if there's a need for a vote but I I as long as there's a quum for ex correct correct I would legally I would prefer everybody to have at least a physical Quorum present for all the meetings that where votes are taken yeah so there must be a substantial reason to allow any member of the lanus board Council or environmental commission to come inal preservation commission historical preservation those four um there must be substantial uh and that that that reason must be made known before the meeting begins and that they must clear clear it with you because all those meetings have to be I don't they all have to be noticed there has to be publication they have to the public has to know that there that those meetings are available to them to an attend okay all right so um so I don't know if we're ready to talk about it are we ready to talk about are how about this do we have any questions about what's been described I I don't have a question mayor but I do have a comment about being liais on for the rec you're correct that so many of the um participants as part of that commission committee is either at a game or in transit me included and it is very very helpful that they are allowed to be remote and we have zoom and everybody can participate whether be in their car or you know even driving sometimes and just you know I I agree the way I see it and and I you know I I don't want to um impose my my my ideas on the council but the way I see it is we should either tell them that they they have to choose um if they're going to be remote they should they're going to be hybrid I don't know yeah it's very it's like you can't be half preg I'm sorry yeah it's like you know it's like the hybrid thing I don't know if it works right because like like one person's gonna come in and then everyone else is going to be virtual or you know some combination thereof like I don't think there like I think you know in my business we're hyper you know because some people come into the office and sell like remote but if you're having a meeting like for like to have it loose like and not know who's coming in or are we coming in or is it going to be virtual or is going to be part you know kind of like you were saying you know the consistency I think well what we could do is we could um we we could allow the different committees to choose remote or hybrid if they choose hybrid that hybrid requires the majority of the members to be present physically physically present in person in person [Music] so that's a policy isue though that they're not statutorily required to do this no but we we should set a policy so that the public has some sense of but I think that's where we divide it right committees they can choose and if they choose hybrid then they'll do it for the entire calendar year yes that's a policy issue right and that's probably the best Solon but we we have to as a as a group decide what policy is because you can't have a hybrid where one person is physically present and everybody else is remote especially because they don't have the Committees won't have access to a television like we have right I was just going to say technology a technology like also I think if we give them a choice I mean they're all going to be virtual right I mean you know it's just convenient and that's the new normal yeah so can we have but I agree may I I think you're I totally agree with your I feel I I've been part of two of the Committees earlier one was the recreation which we did in person and one was shet tray which was mostly done uh over Zoom both were I feel as productive as they could be so I would I feel like um let those people decide let the people who are members who've been serving those committees for years let them decide which way they want and I agree with David hybrid having one person and three on Zoom doesn't make sense uh either it should be in person or Zoom but let those committee members take a vote on and then the council decides it's right um go ahead I say since the Commissioners is statutory required to be in person then we set the ru the policy to be in person and the Committees to be remote so we don't have this hybrid some in person some in Zoom so it's everybody remote for the the Comm yeah I just say if you're going to go hybrid I also think that somebody on the committee or should be designated as the person who's techn who's responsible for setting up the hybrid meeting because I've run into some issues where you know we want to meet in person who's bringing the computer can we hear it was it tested does it even work you know so so I think someone needs to be responsible I'm in agreement with um I think the the commissions should be in person and then the Committees can be should be on Zoom for remote not the optional hybrid remote remote yeah no no hybrid just remote or I think virtual I think as a policy we should not permit hybrid that it should either be remote or in person because it wasn't until we had this discussion that it dawned on me without a large screen hybrid becomes just unmanageable like how many Zoom accounts do we have well that's another thing if we allow for remote and this is a problem because we only have one account when one if you if you have a meeting for that that meeting somebody else can't meet so there have been occasions where we've had say um traffic and safety at the same time we're having council meeting and one of those got preempted right John you were going to say something Sor it's okay I was uh simply I'm I'm in whatever the council's position is as far as the majority in terms of and it sounds like it's going to be commissions because by law they have to be in person and that committees are going to be remote um my only thing I was going to leave it up to maybe the chair would be the person to dictate that but if if you want to have them vote if you're going to make a you blank a policy that's what the resolution will because it should be a resolution yeah that ref is that the chair of the committee or or the commissions to no the commission the chair of the commission doesn't have a choice the commissions have to by Statute with the exception of w because they're not really we're gonna correct that that language problem uh hopefully soon that we're going to correct that Recreation language problem soon right it's under attorney review excellent we'll bring it to the council um all right so how about this how about we just because it's not urgent let's think about it let's reach out let's get uh why don't we do an informal survey of our different uh committees commissions or boards whatever your Lea is on to um and then um and then we'll have to decide uh you know are we going to Simply say those who have to be in person they're in person everybody else is remote or are we going to give them an option for those who want to be in person to be in person um does that does that work for everybody do we have a consensus okay good all right um so um old business um discussion to create uh the 250th anniversary committee um so the actual celebration is July 4th 2026 but uh we do need to start moving that direction um we have someone who is volunteering to chair that um Eric Modell um so uh is there someone on the council who'd like to make a motion to uh to uh to um make Eric the first member and then we would be looking for um then we'd form the committee around Eric second all right all in favor I I okay now what we do need is we need Buy in from all the commissions committees and everybody else so uh if you can all go back to your liaison when you talk about about remote or in person please also ask them is there someone who would be willing to join that committee and then and then we can once we have that part built uh if there are other individuals who are not currently on commissions committees or boards who' like to join we can consider them but anybody who's already been uh appointed I think would be an uh would anyone from the from the different groups would automatically being you I think though Eric wants to also ask the school to to participate as well is that an issue well we have to actually by resolution form the committee so all we've done now is really just kind of deemed a um go-to person right now okay and uh we're going to need to Lizette and we're going to need to look at resolutions from other towns that uh have formed their 250 and John if you could help them with that and then uh and and we we'll need to build it up over the next couple of months I don't know that we really need to decide any of that until you know there's once we have a resolution with a you know we can then begin to we we need to pass that resolution well we did do a resolution last time right that we we agreed to form the committee because I had to send that into Bergen County I think we did yeah so we did we we definitely did a resolution but we we haven't we put MERS don't we have we don't have any members on yeah but I don't think we have a resolution you know uh delineating how the committee will like what will membership be like for instance we always have resolution how many years are are those people who we appoint this year going to be for one-year term or two-year term um uh you know and the rest of the details should be about I guess year and a until the actual event well that's what I'm saying but you know John would you agree with that yes okay good okay so we'll need a more formal process yes y okay got it you have a committee that's been I mean you have a a committee that's been formed with no members yes now you added the first person to it yes and then we need to know we need to have at least a a skeleton resolution saying there will be these responsibilities yeah Stu like that just just something so that if God forbid we're ever sued we talk it so that the the GIF can feel comfortable you know indemnifying us which which we always like okay um any other old or new business before I open to the P before we open to the public could I have a motion second to open member of the public for any uh item second all in favor please say I I know what to do good I thought you did I didn't think I need to remind you I'm Raymond Stitz 210 Mohawk Drive in River Edge uh Happy New Year everyone happy year glad to see you um I have two issues and I know none of them can be resolved now we have to wait till the spring okay issue number one yeah on Howen and uh bogert is it it is a free for all for parents driving their children to school okay they go through that and they go that's not for me I don't have to stop because I'm me and I don't have to stop so if you would have and it sounds simple and I might be totally wrong that we can do this don't block the Box put a box you know paint the box in there and if the parents decide no I have to get in there even though I'm going to block traffic I need to you know be there well they then they need to pay a a ticket with the policeman okay because right now it's a freefor all and someone's going to get hurt either a crossing guard or kids that are not in cars Ray 30 seconds okay and that's my one my one thing second thing down on the service road yeah uh off Route four M there's going to be a head-on collision there one day because bogert and Lake View empty out on that and those people coming into the service road are usually not Town people they're coming in from New Milford or whatever and they don't realize that it's a two-way and they just take the second Lane right I'm not supposed to but I'm going to give you just 10 more seconds because we do have to be consistent about this for meetings where we don't allow it okay so you know and I just witnessed it the other day guy come barreling a on the um Eastbound and he's going Westbound and when you get caught in that situation it's a head- on Collision right thank you Ray so if this traffic department can do anything to remedy that and I don't know if it's a County Road or state road or our jurisdiction but okay now can I sit down and come back with another no no okay have about I report back to you regarding the banners cost that's been approved by the council uh I think it would be appropriate sure okay so you're not really uh this isn't really public comments what you're doing we're going to close to the public hold on back to sit over there for a second so that we is there any member of the public uh remotely all right so uh could I have a motion and second to close the public second all in favor please say I I okay uh Mr Stitz uh stay where you are uh what we're gonna do is Ann and lazette if you can please send a memo to Traffic Safety and to the Chief and to uh Sergeant like was I was panicking over his title Sergeant tit uh that would be good as well as the chair of traffic and safety okay um and uh we'll hopefully and would they please uh when they finish their deliberations not only share it with ourselves uh but after sharing it with me in the council but uh reach out to Mr stits with um you know for for uh you know for um to Res to at least tell them where we're standing on this okay um so at this point are there Mr Stitz will you come forward uh you're we have uh this would be old business yes so uh old business our veterans banners right if you could just give us a brief report on that okay so far it hasn't been that um the Rogue it hasn't been Rogue bus the people yeah uh we're hoping that once the spring comes they're going to wake up and see you know we want banners up you know but um right now we have a handful we only had one negative the email um and the person wanted to know how come they had to pay and everything so I took it upon myself to visit with the person and I explained to them that every town charges and we're not picking on the um veteran but there's no money in the budget and every town charges between $125 and $300 and you know please reconsider and that's and she took it very well excellent yeah and um whether she she does it or not you know I hope she does and um and we have Joe's banner up by uh Cherry Hill school and I tell everyone go there and take a look at it and I've handed out uh one two three uh five banners applications already is already up yes send me a picture and uh some sort of um caption yeah and I will put it on the mayor of Riv Edge page yeah that's good and that might um as well as any pertinent documents that uh in your caption how how others might be able to see their family members okay so and then I'll put it up on the mayor of River Edge page uh send it to an and because then we can put it up on the website too if the council is agreement I totally agree I I didn't know Joe's was already up and that would been a tremendous yeah publicity yeah it's a good advertisement yeah and um I have extra banners that we just had other ones from Joe's made okay and when I suggested and I don't know I have to see with Jason we should like put one of the banners in the tax office because everyone pays their taxes but one Banner in the library for people coming in library and self- advertise you know say here's a banner you know like you talk to the town if you want a banner okay um we're GNA the library is fine but the tax office um I'm not sure because it has to be attached to the wall we just built new all walls we're already you know eventually someone has to put a thumb tack in [Music] it um why we share with Lizette and we'll see what we can okay and the the town isn't lit or the you see I I I we joked about it but I I want to explain to you once we Grant permission to do it once we must Grant permission all the time right so and and I just in my head I was like I already knew that but then the public watching in the council may not so it's not simply the Thumbtack yeah it's once we've granted everyone has to come in well by law we we cannot you know Grant a special okay privilege so and I knew that in my head but I never said it verbally so okay and we're working around myself and Adam Reich seeing the dd214s from the tax tax office but they don't seem to understand they said why do you need it I need it again talk to Lizette about that and um and Lizette if you could um include me in that conversation as needed okay is the council good with that yes anything else that is it oh I I'll be if you need a member of the committee up for 250th anniversary yeah we need to also set up a liaison for that committee I I'll be happy to be okay talk to oh uh and and we'll put two and pretty okay can I have a motion second to name uh as liaison uh councilwoman canella and councilwoman Dar I move that that that sounds a lot like a thank God it's not me motion do I have do have a second thank God it's not me all in favor please say I okay and very much welcome and would you add that to the uh spreadsheet so that uh you know and um make sure the spreadsheet includes for for different individual that addresses emails and phone numbers as always okay Council comments are there any Council comments I do mayor um uh I have a communication from our chief uh schlosberg uh Fire Department chief yeah that I'd like to read into the record um so here we go dear mayor papalo members of the council and honor guests thanks thank you for providing the opportunity to address you this evening he's been traveling for just for the record and he's been out of town so he's been catching up with things I am writing to express my gratitude on behalf of the river fire department and to take a moment to highlight the incredible work being done by our dedicated members first and foremost I would like to extend a special thank you to councilman Benson for serving as our Le in the past year has been a privilege getting to know Barry his consistent support as well as mayor papal support and active participation have not got un noticed by me and our membership attendance of several of our training events has demonstrated a genuine commitment to understanding the challenges we fac and to witness dedication we bring to our community you like us are a person of action and a person of your word your encouragement has inspired me and reinfored the vital bond between the community especially between this Council and our River Edge fire department the River Edge fire department stands as a pillar of safety and service in our community and I could not be proud of our membership our team comprised of committed volunteers embod the spirit of selflessness and teamwork whether responding to emergencies participating in rigorous training sessions or engaging in community outreach our members consistently rise to the occasion with unwavering dedication I encourage everyone here to take pride in the River Edge depart fire department and to share in our mission of fostering a safe Community we're thankful and welcome your continued support support and we invite you to join us at future events and training sessions to witness firsthand the passion and professionalism that drive our team we look forward to working with our new le agents that will be me and David lass in 2025 thank you again for your time your partnership and your commitment to the better men River Edge together we can continue to make our community a safe and thriving place for all sincerely Chief Robert schur than I personally want to thank him for this note and look forward to working with the Cal uh glass this year with the with the fire department so to right thank you and councilman Benson um you've done a great job and we thank you for that any comment before it was my pleasure to work with the fire department get to know the chief and the volunteers and again I've said this at multiple meetings I'm Amazed by the time and effort these people put in to protect our community and they don't get paid and to watch all the training they go through in the pool in a house that's actually on fire it really was inspiring and and I just I'm just very proud of them and and feel very blessed that they're they're in place to protect us I I heartily agree with everything that's been said our volunteers um we have volunteers for wreck we have volunteers for uh all sorts of things but um the firefighters are uh an amazing group uh like revas River Edge volunteer ambulance service because it takes six months of training for them to just become a basic member and our fire department like uh all fire departments uh when everyone's running away from the fire they're running into the fire they're putting themselves at risk and they um the hours that uh they have to that uh they have to put in for maintaining their training and their status as firefighters and then um the when they're called out they can be called out from anywhere from 4 in the afternoon until 4 in the morning and roundabout again so and and we we have a phenomenal fire department I'm very very proud of them as I know all of you are too and um they are um they're leading the way uh in Bergen County as being an exemplary as a quintessential volunteer fire department and we are very very grateful to them any other comments from any other member of council well on that note I just want to thank our DPW uh for doing a phenomenal job on this past do storm um came in Fast and and quick and they did a fantastic job the father um they um and uh also I was not here on H January 6 so I just want to say congratulations to um councilwoman malari and welcome councilwoman uh daral to our grou thank Youk all right could I have a um if there are no other comments could I have a motion in second to um to uh adjourn the meeting all in favor please say I I all right let's take a picture