I like that tie I was told last time I was on the DI that my hair was uh too long so I corrected it for this one how you doing okay uh okay this meeting is being held in accordance with the New Jersey open public meetings act annual notice of this meeting was published in the Union County local source and the newwork Star Ledger said notice was posted in the municipal building and a copy is on file with the office of the burrow clerk fire exits are located in the directions I'm indicating if you're alerted for a fire please move in a calm orderly manner to the nearest smokefree exit proper notice hav been given the burrow clerk is directed to include the statement in the minutes of the meeting Donna please call the RO councilman Petroski here Council Johnson present councilman sarella here councilman Robina here councilwoman Lions here councilman Patel here mayor signell here okay uh please let us an opening prayer followed by the Pledge of Allegiance Eternal God grant us thy help in all our duties and perplexities we ask for thy guidance give us thy protection in our dangers and Sorrows grant us thy peace amen amen to the flag the United States of America and to the rep for it stands one nation God indivisible withy and justice for all sorry uh okay there are no Communications for review this evening but we do have a proclamation for uh women's history month we have the woman of the year uhoo Rosanna you want to come join me up up front yes I do is this is this okay oh yeah yeah myad oh she's come on up guys congratulations good to see you all right yes okay sorry we're we're without Andrew so we're a little bit lost right now there you go yep check mike check one two all right rosan it's your show I'm gonna can I grab okay yeah here you go y good evening everyone thank you mayor hello Council hello residents and Gilda D Oreo di Oreo yes so this is uh women's month and you were elected to be 2024 women of the year so we congratulate you I just want to actually here I'm going to hand this over to you this for you thank you but I also want to read something so when I woke up this morning this is what I turned to and it said many women do noble things but you surpass them all and then it says honor her for all that her hands have done and let her Works bring her praise at The City Gate I I woke up to that this morning and I thought it was so perfect for you and I just want to say three words to you you showed determination dedication into your destiny and you were so I could cry um you you show what you know what our families have shown from everywhere and you still do and how old are you well I don't want to ask can I no don't ask no forget that erase that off the Record no you know why I say that because you need to be honestly you're just it's an honor to honor you you are um just full of life your smile your heart your love you walk into your place and you're coming out going you want a meatball nobody does that you know and I pray that I I yeah especially to me but I pray that that happens and what you have done what your family has done and what it brings to Rosal Park is truly a blessing so we we honor you I'm happy that you were nominated and we congratulate you and I have some gifts and flowers for you but I know that um uh councilman uh Patel wants to say something as well okay but I want to give you a hug here congratulations congratulations yes um I had the honor of nominating yilda dioro for the woman of the year award her journey from Italy to United States in 1950 reflects the quite uh quintessentials immigrant story of true dedication and hard work as the owner of owner and Chef of ioro Deli for impressive 45 years and her Banquet Hall laasa Martino for 23 years owning her the affection title of the boss Gilda was recently named the best sandwich joint in Jersey by Jersey sandwich joint and also clinched the Regional Title best meatball in central New Jersey and number two in the entire State despite facing personal and economy challenge Gilda continues to work tirelessly from 7:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. every day yes she shelfless gives back to the community by donating food and helping neighbors in need also allowing parking space to be used for community events free of charge since 1979 Gilda's small business achievements unweaving dedication to her craft and profound impact on her community makes her deserving candidate for the woman of the year so thank you so [Applause] much [Applause] got you want my cookies I these are your personal biscotti and this is just a gift I also want to say that we did a women's night last week and okay I want to say we did a women's uh inspirational night the other night and uh some of the proceeds from that is also coming to you so it's all connected okay all right congratulations there you go you want to say anything K yeah come onad I'll hold you want yeah I got the he's good at that she said I got my son to say those words so just um my mom wanted to make sure that all of her customers her neighbors employees that she thanks each and every one of them over the last 45 years this month actually marks the 405th year that she's been in business it's not just being in business raising a family me my brother my sister um coming here from Italy to you know from the unknown to to something that really women in the the 70s were looked upon Lo looked down upon to start a business my father didn't want her to have a business we always had businesses my father ran gas stations we all worked my mom helped out we all pumped gas but when she took the chance to run her own business in her 40s she said you know I'm going to do it no matter what and even negotiated a pretty good deal behind my father's back because she wanted that business so bad and then in her 60s in her mid-60s she started her Banquet Hall so she just wants to let especially women know you can achieve anything at any point in your life whether you're young middle-aged or in your senior years you can achieve anything if you set your mind to it so she just wants to make sure that she thanks everyone right ma okay I'm so happy to have you here that's nice you're the best you're officially the best thank you Gilda you take a picture you want me to yeah Greg you mind just you got filming on [Laughter] camera took just as many just doesn't make thank you thank you so much thank you guys good see you thanks for coming bye than don't Andrew use thanks for Pinch hitting okay uh now the boring stuff uh may have a move may have a motion to approve meeting minutes pending any corrections so move second all in favor I may have a motion that bills and payrolls be not read and pass for payment so move second all in favor I may have a motion to open the public portion on agenda items only so move second all in favor I uh if you'd like to come up and speak on agenda items only please do so now I'm seeing no one may have motion to close the public portion on agenda items only so move second uh all in favor I I uh reports of Department as submitted Donna do you have anything to report No Sir Ken anything you want to mention just real quick uh we will be uh presenting the uh budget introduction at the next meeting okay got it was that I said moment any more problems you got no idea okay uh may have a motion to accept the reports of departments as submitted so move second all in favor I uh Mr Madame clerk please read ordinance number 2772 by title an ordinance amending chapter 4 section 11 subsection 2 of the code of the burough of Rosell Park entitled local license required okay may I have a motion to open the public hearing on ordinance number 2772 so move second all in favor all anybody like to come up speak on this ordinance may do so now this is specifically on this ordinance if you guys have something on this ordinance I'm assuming it's about marijuana this is specifically about the marijuana evaluation committee um you might want to wait till the second public portion but it's up to you okay yep just that's what I thought okay um so I'm seeing no one may have motion to close the public hearing on the ordinance number 2772 so move second uh all in favor I I may have a motion to adopt ordance number 2772 so move second uh is there any discussion so just for the Public's uh record so um we have as part of the licensing process um we have a body uh that is made up of the mayor uh the business administrator zoning official um class two member what's that class two municipal Lang m y class two thank you oh here we go that's why we pay him the big bucks mayor chief administrative officer chief of police zoning officer class two member of the municipal luse board um and then what the addition we're making tonight is there will be a uh burrow council member appointed by burrow Council just like the class D member and a member of the public appointed by the mayor and just for everybody's edification so basically we set a time of the year for applications for marijuana licensing um we review those licens we score them we approve them based on whether or not they're okay and acceptable um that process happened last year and is closed there are no more license to give out um at least from a retail perspective so we'll entertain potential other licenses if they come up but right now there are no retail licenses left but for the future going forward we'll have a member of the council and a member of the public so any further discussion okay I'm seeing none may have a motion to adopt ORD summer 2772 so move second uh Donna please call the r councilman Petroski yes councilman Johnson yes councilman signorella yes councilman rabina yes councilwoman Lions yes Council Patel yesman Mr Mayor okay lots of resolutions tonight uh all matters listed within asteris are considered to be routine and non-controversial of the council approved by one motion there will be no separate discussion of these items unless a member of the governing body sir requests in which case the item will be removed from the consent agenda and considered in this normal sequence on the agenda as part of the general orders Donna please read all resolutions listed on the consent agenda by Title 92- 24 is authorizing certain appropriation transfers 93-220 Union County infrastructure and Municipal aid grant 249 uh 9424 is designated the area identified block 608 Lots 1.01 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 and 24.01 of the municipal tax map of the burough of Rosell Park commonly known as 107 chest 107 Filbert Street sorry 110 Chestnut Street 1 Westfield West Westfield Avenue 5-9 West Westfield Avenue 11-13 West Westfield Avenue 15 West Westfield Avenue 21 West Westfield Avenue 33 West Westfield Avenue and 37-3 9 West Westfield Avenue along with all streets and rights of away a perent perent whatever as a non-c condemnation area in need of Redevelopment pursuant to local Redevelopment and Housing law njsa 40a colon 12 A-1 okay uh do any members wish to have any items removed from the consent agenda I'm going to pull 9424 just for some clarification are we pulling anything else okay uh may I have a motion to approve the resolutions remaining on the consent agenda so move second all in favor I uh hey Donna Ron can I just get you guys for two seconds on this one uh you're gonna I would go to that one because there's a mic there yeah uh so just while they're doing this may I have a motion to adopt resolution 9424 so move second uh is there any discussion so I just want to pull up Ron and Fran because I think uh I want to make sure everybody understands where this going and potential ways forward here or potential non- ways forward here so you guys just keep me honest I'm going to do my normal prattling on and just keep me honest if I'm if I'm wrong on something right so uh we haven't done Redevelopment in a while there's three stages to it there's a Redevelopment there's a study right uh then there's the plan then there's the agreement this would be theoretically the first part of that right um I we had our planner did you do the study or yeah did study yes right um so we don't need to go into the Gory details of it but the one outcome from this recommendation from the land use board that the burrow accepted was rather than condemnation using non- condemnation so for everybody's understanding this is a non-c condemnation study right and we got some push back from the residents and the owners there um and we could also just do so this is where I'm going and there'll be a point to this we could just do nothing with this at some point right the study is there should any mayor or counselor whatever eventually want to do a non condemnation project there they could do that and revisit that in the future we could do it next year or the year after but this could also just end there the study is there correct correct okay got it yeah the study is there the designation should it be proceeding tonight is there in order for any development to take place the council would need to adopt a Redevelopment plan yep got it and the key word is May in the statute you don't it doesn't say shall adopt a plan it says may and you can at some point so more or less this is recognized the studies done putting a stamp on it and if we choose to revisit that in the future we may do so U correct and really the change there one change in wording of the plan it's going to non-c condemnation yep okay no imminent domain cool any questions from Council just want to make sure everybody's comfortable with where we're at uh I got one um for the resolution it it is saying that notify the business owner can we make it that we also put the business tenants so if you're renting the place that that's why you also get notice that this is happening FR that's more legal question but that's an interesting point that just came up the other day uh this case law on this tenants do not have to be notified uh because they're not they they they not they're not fee owners they're not they don't have an interest in the property itself they're leasing from their U their uh landlord okay but just for transfarency or just letting them know this happening I I just I mean I I hear what you're saying and I think it's the it's emotionally I understand the reaction to that I fundamentally disagree with it I mean when we we as a burrow recognize the taxpayer and the tax owner so I live at 508 Sherman Avenue if I was to move out and all of a sudden rent it if there is a property maintenance issue there or whatever issue there it's the responsibility of the owner to communicate to the tenant that this needs to get fixed and it's the property taxpayer that is responsible for all these things I just don't think it's it's extra onus on the burrow that doesn't need to happen and quite frankly it's not our responsibility is my view any other questions okay uh uh motion or Don please call the roll councilman Petroski yes councilman Johnson yes councilman signarello yes councilman Rina yes councilwoman Lions yes councilman Patel yes all affirmative Mr Mayor cool thanks guys have a good night take it easy okay uh report reports of Barrel Council committees uh council president we'll start with you tonight thank you mayor okay uh first of all I want to send condolences out to Michael Tango Patricia job and John marelli um I had the pleasure of being John marelli's nextdoor neighbor for many years and uh what a gentleman he was uh um willing to do anything imp possible I remember snow he would come over with a snowblower and willing to help me anytime so uh may he rest in peace and uh what a gentleman he was um May 13th I attended the recreation meeting uh we talked about the uh upcoming event um it was supposed to be scheduled for Saturday um we moved it to Sunday because of the rain that we're supposed to get on Saturday so the uh uh Easter egg hunt will be at the library on Sunday uh March 24th um from 10 to 12 okay um like I said I'm I'm glad um a good heads up by the recreation committee to uh postpone because we supposed to get a lot of rain Saturday um on the 16th I attended the the Cassano Center the corn beef and cabbage again I I commend Ruben Shaw did a great job of a great turnout we actually ran out of food um and poor uh Mr Johnson did not get his corn beef who he was looking forward to all the all day so uh but I'm sure you made up for a Sunday okay um but yeah it was a good uh good good time time I enjoyed myself um everything um uh today uh I attended the uh I had to join sewer meeting uh we they hired a new Finance administrator uh Kelly and Cassie um we voted on uh they changed the fiberglass staircase uh used to be wood um it was up for 90 years um the reason for fiberglass it's less expensive they also uh changed the platforms to fiberglass um we actually uh uh we got new gear boxes new switches and an oil pump upgrade kit so um again it was a short meeting but uh we we accomplished all this but uh they were telling me the fiberglass will save a lot of money so and like I said the staircase was in was there for 90 years so hopefully this will last longer okay um next I would like to wish a happy birthday to Rosel Park tomorrow March 22nd it was incorporated in 1901 um and everything so happy birthday Rosel Park uh the historical society is planning a celebration in two years in 200 uh 26 where Rosel Park will be 125 years oldow and our nation will be 250 so um like I said that'll be two years from now but happy birthday Rosal Park if you need to get a hold of me get me a j Petroski at rosar park.net 9086664419 history and Irish heritage month I'd be remiss if I didn't do so also council president is correct I I had I had my plans on sinking my teeth in that good uh corn beef uh this year but uh you gave it to the people first that's a man of the people right there yeah I'm still I'm still crying no no no that's fine though but it was great the um uh the celebration was fantastic as always I can't you know kudos to rupin um also I want wanted to um I want excuse me I'm sorry um I wanted to just uh touch just briefly on reporting crimes or reporting infractions uh I received a couple of emails uh in regards to things that I felt should be um sent to the police department for so for Urgent and even nonurgent police matters feel free to CC me and I could always follow up but for immediate resp response you guys should be calling the police department uh you know I'm not by my email like as soon as you email me you know there especially if it's a urgent and even some non-urgent matters like illegal parking someone driving on someone's yard driving down the wrong way please CC me but call the police 911 or call the non-urgent number I was uh what's the name was here also I want to give a special shout out to Alex and uh and um Heather and Brian Dunn um from animal rescue um for helping me and my family out with resing resolving a domesticated abandoned bunny concern uh my wife and I truly appreciate you guys so much uh with resolving that matter for us um so thank you um also I wanted to get just give a a touch of uh uh uh just to give a shout out to Rosal Park Police Department for doing a fine job I'm sure certain my colleague uh Jay May uh speak up about it but um just as the uh Le on to Public Safety uh we did a pedestrian uh traffic detail that was phenomenal I'll save that for uh for Rana so if you need to get in contact with me please uh give me a call at 98331 1519 or you can email me at G Johnson Rosal park.net and may that concludes my report thank thank thank you councilman and just as a public service announcement um I'd ask the public to please refrain from leaving um abandoned pets of any kind uh at any elected officials homes um something that's genuinely frowned upon uh no matter how cute the bunnies are probably not the responsibility of your local councilman to adopt those bunnies especially if we're out of shape there's no way I'm chasing correct so just uh I'm I I shouldn't put that out in the universe I'm probably going to get a bunch of cats in front of my house tomorrow but uh public Sur Service Announcement no Stranger Than infection uh councilman signarello good evening so just uh on uh March 8th I went to the Sherman school to do a read Across America I uh read a book Left Foot Right Foot Left Foot Right Foot and all that good stuff but I did I uh I enjoy talking about fire safety you know calling 911 and I brought him a smoke detector carbon monoxide detector and uh I'm still amazed to this day I have 20-year-old children that remember when you call 911 it's not the call for Joey's pasta and pizzas to get emergency service to your house so these kids still remember a really good sharp fifth grade class I enjoyed every minute of it um um short report for me um look uh if you have a street light out uh you could email me uh or you could uh I know clerks doing triple duty but email the clerk and uh report it uh because they're important and it seems like they been LAX on getting the these lights and lamped up on the B Rosal Park other than that um you could call me at 908 721 6488 J signal Rosa park.net uh hope everybody has a nice holiday next week thank councilman councilwoman Lions good evening mayor and Council and residents um um this has been a great month so far um I also went uh I did the read Across America on the 8th at Sherman and Robert Gordon I read to the fourth and fifth graders and it was just a great time um I love programs like this um I actually read a book about trying and uh really stepping out and doing something for the first time and really encouraging just like actually uh Joe diorio said said you could start at any time just start and uh it was such a powerful message um I also on March 15th hosted a women inspiring women night at Costas and we had such a great turnout we had about 55 is people there um and it was awesome uh you know women showed up and got to know each other and it was really about connection communication and Community it's it's those are my my words and um it was it was beautiful to watch um we also had play which is a local business in Rosal Park and they are a karaoke team so on that note we are going to be hosting a karaoke night night on April 12th at Costas all are welcome so come and sing your heart out um I also attended the St Patrick's uh Day celebration at the community center uh Joe carousel's band was there and they made us dance um so it was just a really great um Community event it was family atmosphere I felt like I was back in 1985 eating it with my Italian family but they were Irish it's fine no it was Multicultural but it was awesome uh we had such a great time um I attended a library meeting uh this week and uh they are bustling with lots of activities they are having a craft night that they're actually um booked um you're going to probably be on a waiting list um but that's a good problem they're having taiichi so definitely check that out um remember go to go to the Rosal Park app um it's called My Rosel Park and it does list all of the upcoming events and all the calendars and everything that you're going to need um yeah I think that's that's it my report and if you need to reach me please call me at 908-7262 773 or our lies at Rosell park.net thank you councilwoman you're councilwoman Patel good evening the environmental commission is holding the first repair Cafe event at the casano center on Saturday uh the 23rd from 10:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. they will have experts on hand to fix beloved but broken items for free walk-in customers are welcome and encouraged also the community garden sign up will begin in April stay tuned for update in the uh coming weeks uh lastly I would like to thank the mayor and Council for awarding Gilda dioro as Woman of the Year have a good night k pel at Rosel park.net thank you a good report councilman councilman rabina thank you mayor uh good evening Rosel Park first off I'd like to offer my condolences to my friends and neighbors the Matos and Edwards families on the loss of their father Frank Edwards who is a familiar face here in town especially to our kids and families on the west side as he served as a crossing guard on West Clay Avenue my wife and I attended the Wake last week and so many in our community came out to pay their respects may he rest in peace and may his family and friends find comfort in the days ahead I'd like to thank mayor signorella on behalf of myself and residents in the Fifth Ward for your unwavering commitment to improving our parks and Open Spaces resolution 9324 which was just passed this evening thanks the I'd like to say thanks to the support of my colleagues here on Council it authorizes a submission of the Union County uh infrastructure and Municipal aid grant with a 50 % match to improve Boy Scout Park it's currently an underutilized space and this grant helps fund improvements to include a new shaded structure new flag pole adequate lighting electrical and ADA Compliant paths the goal is to have this passive Park better utilized by our residents and families and have it be a place where our kids and Scouts can gather for meetings and workshops and with a new stop sign and Rain Garden planned at the amst Amsterdam and Ashwood intersection I look forward to working together to increase safety and enhancing Aesthetics and use to benefit all who live in the area on March 9th I attended a budgeting conference at Mercer County College spoke with council members from hopel Township pack Gladstone West Windsor and Newark and heard examples on budget scenarios and funding opportunities many communities throughout the state are going through similar challenges as we are and many successes as well what's important is Vision teamwork and feedback from the public speaking of feedback and input on April 17th between 5:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. I'll be hosting a fifth word Public Safety and listening session we're squaring away the location so stay tuned but we're setting this up as a result of concerns due to vehicle thefts and home invasions in and around their area our neighboring communities are experiencing upticks and while our PD is awesome we all need to be aware and prepare for threats against our families and property I'd like to discuss with the team setting up neighborhood watches and other Target hardening tactics and enhancing communication councilman Johnson as chair of public safety and a representative from the PD will be on hand to hear concerns and provide information PD will also be increasing presence along Route 28 and roads on the west side near the Garden State Parkway if you see suspicious activity on your block don't hesitate to call the police at 908 245 2300 and as councilman Johnson had alluded to earlier uh thank you for mentioning that The Pedestrian detail was conducted on fut Avenue on March 14th yielding 177 stops 11 summons were issued uh seven warnings in a 2hour period from 10: to uh 12 to 2 no 10 to 12 sorry last week as a PTA member and a father of an eighth grader I supported the eighth grade graduating class at their fundraiser at The Habit Burger Grill and Union across from K University I'd like to thank all the families who came out to support and all the parents and families who volunteer their time and energy to support our children in schools tomorrow Friday March 22nd the e8th grade committee will be having a fundraiser at Wendy's in Rosell on Locust from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with 20% of sales benefiting the Comm the committee so if you're looking for good fish sandwich and fries or a good burger close by please consider supporting next Thursday the 28th from 400 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The Habit Burger at by Kane will host another fundraiser contributing 20% of sales to the class I'll post about it next week and thanks again on Sunday the 17th I joined many of my colleagues here at the St Patrick's Day celebration at the Cassano Center I think we all got up and danced to Joe Carell's band all in all a great time serving thanks to Sunrise Diner a latest member to the Chamber of Commerce for providing the food uh it was great talking with friends and neighbors and another fantastic event coordinated and organized by director Shaw I attended a couple webinars by the New Jersey bicycle and pedestrian advisory Council and NJ dot topics discussed uh at included public right of way accessory guidelines NJ bike and walk Coalition dot updates included the Strategic highway safety plan overview what's good to know is that everyone's on the same page regarding making our roads streets and highways safer and accessible for all Road users and I look forward to more improvements in our community in the months and years to come also signup sheet for the inaugural tour to Rosel Park on May 4th is now available please visit the burough Rosel Park on Facebook or my Facebook page to sign up and for more details on the bik clinic and helmet giveaway we've got some additional partners coming so please join us for the ride at noon and the clinic starting at 1:30 as councilman Johnson mentioned earlier it is Irish heritage month so I'll end my report with an Irish blessing may your Joys be as deep as the oceans your troubles as light as its foam and may you find Sweet Peace of Mind wherever you may roome wishing all who observe a peaceful Ramadan happy holy happy perum and happy Easter and of course happy birthday Rosel Park Fifth Ward you know I'm here for you reach me at J rabine Rosel park.net 862 236 019 mayor residence of Rosa Park that concludes my remarks thank you councilman uh okay report of me um I just have two things I'd like to update uh folks on um sort of bigger level things uh so uh we got some good news and some whatever news uh there are uh certain entities in the state that I love working with there are certain ones that's like pulling my hair uh or pulling teeth um unfortunately two of those are are two of the most important ones for Rosal Park uh NJ do and NJ Transit although I love some people there it's just a headache to work with them uh so a couple big strategic things that are going on so I gave a councilwoman uh lions and councilman rabina a heads up because uh their their Wards are touching the the train station um unfortunately the project manager for our train station renewal we're very happy State uh awarded us I think $37 million to to renovate the train station uh our project manager left for another job at Amtrak uh which sort of set the project back a little bit they are at 90% uh complete in terms of design whatever that means um we were at 38.7% I'm not making this number up uh last year which is an oddly specific number don't know how they calculate this um the current strategy is uh unfortunately I think they were looking to go out to bid uh in the fall originally of this year it looks like they're going to go out to bid for the project in January of next year 2025 with a likely start date of uh the end of 2025 or fall of 2025 uh hopefully it doesn't take long our train station as somebody who commutes back and forth from the city it's kind of an embarrassment right now uh half the half of the gang way is totally blocked off because it's unsafe it's propped up by you know metal bars right now and it also is not handicapp accessible um I haven't seen the latest uh plans but there are plans to uh add an elevator uh for those who uh need access to it and obviously overhaul the situation as well as uh the parking lot situation which is not great right now um so rest assured Council and folks everybody who asked me about this uh as somebody who utilizes that at least three times a week it is something that I consistently press on um the other thing is Route 28 we keep talking about pedestrian safety um I I there's only so much that Rosal Park Police Department can do um I am constantly appalled with how little people have respect I jeez I sound like an old man now the the people the way people drive in 2024 is frankly embarrassing the stop signs that are blown um in in in everywhere in Rosal Park the speeding that happens everywhere in Rosal Park we can't be everywhere all at once every all the time but we can take a look at the most painful areas um Route 28 uh although there's a lot of problems here Route 28 is the most problematic area last year dot agreed to to do a study on it U my understanding they are continuing to do that study on it uh councilman Johnson did a great job bringing this Forefront along with the other Council people but I know there's been deaths in his area so obviously near and dear to his heart um I will continue to press on that um I've advocated for a listening session with the council people I'll continue to do that and make sure we do that once Andrew's back um don't want to drop the ball on that um but just I know there's a lot of people that consistently ask me about this uh as as much anxiety as everybody has about these two major projects trust me when I say um it breaks my heart um seeing the types of dangers that we have on Westfield Avenue it breaks my heart the types of dangers we have uh around the train station so um these big strategic issues are something that we constantly press on and will continue to press on but but there's light at the end of the tunnel at least with I think there's light at the end of the tunnel with the train station we'll keep pressing on Route 28 so um any other questions uh mayor Sega Rosal park.net uh I guess that concludes my report um may have motion to open the public portion on any subject so move have a second second all in favor I all good uh if you'd like to speak on any subject matter you may do so now um please come forward in the microphone state your name and address for the records is it Mike on a doo let me go check I guess there hasn't been too many people there is that a little better de Cosmo 530 31 Spruce Street here in Rell Park the transit are you guys looking to uh give it a project labor agreement with the Building Trades so I actually to be honest with you I I was going to say it's up to it's up to yeah I was going to say Joe you because I think it's out of our hands so uh if it's a public works project a Transit project they have to use uh under the state they have to use a contractor that does pay prevailing wage but that will be funded by the state I understand that because it's over $35 million but are you considering signing a project La it's not a project that's done by the town it's a project that the town supports that Transit does I don't think you understand what I mean by a project no I know what a project labor agreement but there's no agreement to sign so let me can I just try and cut the middleman out so when we do like I'll give you an example when we need to build a new DPW building that'll be a project that's funded overseen by negly engineering designed by us that's within our realm where we can do a pla this project is it's on NJ Transit land so it's actually going to be done by NJ Transit it's not a Rosal Park project so we're not bidding it correct we're not we are not putting it out to bid NJ Transit will put it out to bid yep okay y all right that's just all I pretty much wanted to ask yep cool thank you yep anybody else I'm Betty Woodruff 134 Bender Avenue um I just had a question uh on the Cannabis review board who who is uh the zoning officer and who's the class two member and I saw you changed it from 5 to 7 I thought that it is officially five now and it's it's officially seven now uh after the vote tonight um the class two member is Andrew oh yeah class two me your class three member Andrew is the class two member yep okay and then if it's officially seven who are the other two people so we I was going to say we just passed it tonight so likely on the next agenda we can have Council can vote on who they want amongst them to be number six and I will get a pick from some resident to be number seven okay so the mayor is responsible for the whole committee basically I mean I would say not entirely right so the way it works in our form of government is with most positions I make the appointment and it's up to council confirmation right so you know the deao position with one of them is the police chief right so police chief was hired two years ago um I appointed the police chief the police chief was approved by Council so yeah and and the ordinance itself is written and approved by Council as well right okay and who is the police chief I since Mr mcaffrey left Dominic fro Dominic fre now f r i n o and the and the zoning officer right over there rich [Laughter] buio nice and easy for you okay um okay I that's pretty much it I didn't realize we were late I guess and I didn't hear good no no worries we do um so this is an ordinance so there's two readings always this was the second reading I mean the ordinance was originally adopted uh last year at some point I don't really remember when but um this was amending the originally was a five person board we expanded it to a seven person board why I Greg I was going to say yeah go for I answer that is this is a strong uh Council and weak mayor system so therefore I felt the need that we should have a council representative on there okay so in order to get that well who I'm just confused we just cleaning up the paperwork uh just adding just by adding the council member uh to there this you know for regulations rules things of that nature what was going to get passed by the Cannabis review board or not passed by the Cannabis review board but we're just adding simply a represent a representative that uh from Council that represents council's interest I would have thought that would have been yeah it was a small snap fo oversight and now we're fixing it all right I that's pretty much what I have question questions for tonight okay thank you thank you thank you I mean some places call it a ceremonial mayor instead of a weak mayor I mean you don't got to sorry I'm sorry I'm just trying to get a counil feeling my apologies for saying it I'm just trying to get a council represent hi good evening my name is Jean W from 110 East Rosel Avenue uh my curiosity is what is what are your intended plans for cannabis sites what do you have in your mind how many where how uh the minou the minou yeah um so they last year there were three licenses awarded um uh the two applicants that well we've only had one applicant so far um which was the applicant uh on Westfield Avenue we had a fun land use board on Monday everybody told me to get my haircut I got my haircut since then um that would be the one that we know about uh and has applied there is an existing medical facility uh called Breakwater over by the McDonald's um they have a existing building they're building their future building behind and they will be knocking down the building up front uh they have also requested a license to uh right now they're just doing medical um they could potentially do uh some other side recreational thank you for the word and other than that I don't know if we've had any other we have one other applicant um uh another area on Westfield Avenue so there would be a total of three okay my my uh question and deep deep concern is this is recreational marijuana that I'm assuming will be these will be uh shops where you can purchase recreational marijuana yes and um you know I was talking with councilwoman uh Lions uh one thing is this is these these licenses are conditioned just like liquor license on good behavior keeping a sound building keeping a clean building you know making sure that nobody's smoking pot on the site and we have the ultimate power to revoke those license if one of these sites is not working out MH okay well one of my concerns also is that one of the things that we're all working very hard for is to encourage our children not to do drugs not to do pot not to do these things if you have sites in a town of one square mile that's not really we uh sending a positive message in my view and I'm deeply deeply concerned um on many levels with marijuana but in particular with my town and and the number and availability and reputation of the town that can follow these types of these types of availabilities yeah I I understand and appreciate the concern uh what I would say is I think it's also a concern underage drinking as somebody who's grown up in Rosal Park is also a strong concern we have you know five liquor stores in Rosal park right um which is a lot for a square mile town um I think that you know C frankly and and members of this council could disagree and have disagreed in the past right it did not pass unanimously we had people on Council Rosanna councilman Patel that voted no um I respectfully I I want to assure you that as as I've mentioned before just like bars just like liquor stores they will be held accountable and that if they are having issues their licenses will be revoked but these things you have to check your ID before you go in underage Sal is not appropriate and that's a sure fire way to get your license taken away and you know me personally as mayor I think uh I've seen more people do dumber and worse things drinking beer than smoking cannabis it's something that's legal in the state of New Jersey you could disagree or not not agree with it but by popular referendum it passed in the state of New Jersey it's something that's an Inc increased Revenue maker for us as a burrow and something that I think can ly I think after people after 5 10 years of seeing these things my hope is people see that it's not as dangerous as it was made out to be in the Ronald Reagan years of the 80s because yeah no no no underage person should be drinking no underage person should be smoking weed um but that's why we have age requirements for these things I do and I do differ with that but however um you have people here then that will be consuming because we have parties we have Gatherings we have people that consume alcohol yep that's the norm okay now they will be able to consume pot so they'll be taking a depressant and a hallucinogenic drug at the same time this will be going into their body into their brain then they will go in their hit hop in their car and head home do we not have a moral responsibility to our citizenship and anybody driving and living in this town respectfully um I would say whether I could be totally anti- marijuana and we could ban it in Rosal park right now I mean there'd be serious legal implications if we did that right now given the fact that we've already issued licenses but uh if that is the concern um they can go right over the border right now and go to Rosell and get it and if if that is something that you feel like is a problem morally societally that problem already exists I disagree with it being a problem I think if you're of age you should be able to consume marijuana and beer uh but that problem already exists frankly it does and I will tell you and and just real quick it it is legal to consume whether or not we have whether or not we're selling it in Rosal Park if you're worried about parties of people drinking and smoking you could have a party drinking and smoking right now we have the option as to whether or not we want to have these uh these stores available in our town I have to say my disappointment is great I too have lived in this town my entire life my disappointment is great and I'm sad and by it thank you I understand thank you good even even Hannah antonson 216 Bender I had two um questions I wanted to ask about one was again regarding the Cannabis this uh council member discussed a a a talking tour or you having you were going to have a meeting what was it it's a public safety and listening session listening session did any council member have a listening session about granting rights to a cannabis store before you voted on it so uh I we have done listening sessions in the past right were there any done for cannabis so so to answer your direct question no I can elaborate afterwards your your time is precious so you no is the short answer please proceed to your second question okay second question regarding the traffic you said there was a traffic study or some kind of a traffic analysis yeah so Route 28 is has been identified as a problem area from a safety perspective and when was that identified as a problem area from a safety persp it was identified as a safety issue what was it Greg I I well when I first got elected that was the first thing I did 2020 20 end of 2020 beginning of 2021 yeah that was after the second uh excuse me fatality that occurred off of uh D dton in uh Route 28 and was that considered in the Cannabis referendum uh no uh I mean well I I I guess I mean we we think about Public Safety all the time right when our zoning officer construction you know safeties reviewed I mean I would say whether or not it was let's just wave a magic wand in the site you're talking about let's just assume that it was a bakery right if you're talking about Public Safety uh with there's foot traffic there's going to be public safety concerns off a highway well there was there's a proposed change from Professional Services to a retail establishment yes and if there's been already fatalities in a known traffic problems from 2020 to 20 21 that calls for study and further action shouldn't that have been included in part of your analysis as to whether a retail establishment that will be open into the evenings would be given on Route 28 ma'am respectfully the problem we have on Route 28 is that route 28 from planfield to Westfield to Garwood to Cranford is one lane 35 mph Highway Street excuse me the problem we have in Rosel Park which is a detriment to a lot of pro towns and cities in the state of America is at some point they turned it into a four-lane highway so I agree with you but the answer is not not doing business on Westfield Avenue anymore so let me finish the answer is turning it from four lanes into two lanes and having parking so this partic so it wasn't considered as part of the it's considered as part of the land use board application okay all right those are the two questions thank you thank you yeah and and I just want to say uh just to I wanted to make sure it was respect of citizens time but I just want to say we have done special listening sessions on a myriad of issues right the I I don't know if Jay was elected you guys weren't elected yet I don't even know if Greg was on but I think Joe P I think you're the only Survivor from that you know when we had Sullivan Chevrolet Redevelopment and we had 30 40 people coming to Council meetings to discuss this you know we took a pause and did a listening session as to what that project would look like and what that project would feel like I know that's not the answer everybody wants to hear but there is nothing done hidden here everything that we do is announced on the website it's posted on Facebook and when people were upset about that project we did a listening session because we took a pause and saw that people were coming out we have done two votes on marijuana one that had six yeses again I think Joe was the only council person here which was uh medical cannabis and I don't even think that there were two members of the public there the other was recreational um and there were there was again maybe two people here at most and I when people ask like well you should have advertised it better you should have advertised this better there's other things that we don't necessarily advertise any more than we normally do people show up we had at one of the land use board meetings with no special advertising we had a dry cleaner that's been empty for the last 12 years and if people thought there was a lot of people at the land use board on Monday night there was probably double that to speak out with no special announcement orever so candidly if people would come out if I thought there was more concern at the time maybe we would have taken a pause but there was nobody here at all and and and is somebody who's the mayor of roselt park again I share everybody's concerns but I need to look at this globally the referendum for marijuana is something that passed in the state of New Jersey by was 7 70% and Rosell Park was actually north of that 70% the the numbers escaping me right so it's something that there was broad support for and you know that's where I stand but I will say and and I I've been talking to council people here and I really want to reiterate I I am I am uh I give people a chance but I am hard if you cross the lines and if you are not in compliance with our rules in state of New Jersey and in our town if any of these places if there are parties out on the front yard if there are people smoking does like in the in I can't believe I said smoking Dobies nobody says that in the parking lot just like with liquor stores keep me honest here rich just like with liquor stores just like with bars there are ramifications to to to doing those issues and even harder ramifications when it comes to marijuana and those ramifications will be in full force should there be any mouth easons I think we can only do are you coming back up I think we can only do one public portion per person it's up to me it's your chair okay you may come up again if you want to and AD Doo if you wantan to we're having a short meeting I know people don't want to stay much longer but if you want to come up please feel free to do so one question yep how many of you or which ones of you would buy a house within a block of a of a cannabis store good for you you would yeah absolutely we we purchased houses by liquor stores it's this is a modern day prohibition it's the same thing as alcohol back in the day no one people probably were coming to council and said why are you legalizing alcohol liquor stores in my community and this is we're just reliving this again in 2024 can I just say something yeah please um I completely hear what you're saying and and I am a a hard no on cannabis um especially where you live um um I can just relate just as a resident and I have spoken out as a resident um but then I also am hearing what the mayor is saying and I did speak with him and it is something that we need to hear that if there is a problem that we are going to take care of it the mayor is going to take care of it um and I really do have faith in that because no one wants to see anything crazy go on in the town um but at the same time I am happy that people are coming out and speaking you know because we need to hear it unfortunately just like the mayor had said it's so important to get it at the stage that we do vote on because we did some of us did vote no um but if you were here you would have been able to also um be the voice at that time but that you know that's just a part I was getting agenda meetings and then I stopped getting them and I'm not really in love with the computer yep Christian background aside I have things to say about a computer that yeah I mean I and look I would say I would say I this is going to come off really harsh but this is the last thing I will say on it is I I get this all the time I said it at the L board I'll say it again um when I I get complaints somebody moved in by the high school and the high school football games are too loud bought a house by a high school um I understand that it is a different type of use but when people bought a home in that area they bought in an R1 Zone next to the RO Zone where retail is allowed where businesses are allowed now I understand what existed there may have been more palatable but I would much rather own a home next to a thriving business and a clean business and a nice looking building irrespective of what that is versus quite frankly a building that is falling apart underutilized and being pretty close to blighted it's it's it's an abandoned building in my definition it looks like an abandoned building um I just never expected this to happen um I've raised my children here I have neighbors who have babies and little people um and I I really worry about what's the message you're sending I have uh I have medical background and I don't I don't know uh years ago I took a class and one of the things that we learn in that class is that you can have just as much fun without it as with it and um I just I don't support it and I don't support the drug and I don't like what's happening um certainly know that the schools spend a lot of money hiring teachers to teach about drugs mhm and then we open up a recreational Cannabis right under their nose Westfield doesn't have it gwood doesn't have it and Branford doesn't have it because they applied I understand for uh or they said submitted an application years ago not to so that they would not be in violation if they did not accept cannabis uh applications liquor here I don't support that either but I can't do anything about what's already here I have seen the kids at parties when my kids were growing up so drunk and I I look to the parents on that issue so drunk he almost died and I I can tell you there we've lost kids in this town yep I just I'm I'm speechless I appreciate it and l i i i we the time that supposed be 4 minutes unfortunately we haven't been taking the time but I I do have to cap everybody going forward at 4 minutes but um I hope and my prayer is that I I mean this in the most respectful way is that I prove you wrong right I hope that they come in I hope it's a beautiful building and I hope you never hear a peep from it and I hope I hope we have this conversation in 18 months from now and you say you know mayor this sen didn't end up being a big deal that's my hope we'll see for good evening I'm Mr Woodruff I'm at 13 what b r you you just heard from My Wife and I'm not disagreeing with her at all uh I do have a compliment to your to the board you have the Christmas tree lighting it was a very nice Affair and you had Crafters there as well it was extremely well done and as a representative of the Methodist Church right in the corner there we certainly appreciate not only the care and time you took cleaning it up before and afterwards but also the people were extremely helpful in conjunction with that uh a suggestion when you have you have the uh Forest Market starting out on Wednesday's coming up pretty soon why to have cfers there then as well it attracts more people yeah and it might be worthwhile it's a good idea know the farmers market uh person pretty well so I'll bring it up um but if you're bring bringing Crafters yeah you bring more people in but anyway yeah but uh I think it's worth at least considering great idea my primary uh purpose of being here aside from the compliments is to uh get a little more information and reference to the Cannabis or the marijuana situation yep uh what is he what is he want to say about how far apart could be from like from schools and playgrounds so the uh federal statute is 500 feet um our ordinance is school from a school yes 500 feet from a school uh our ordinance is 1,000 feet from a school 1500 1500 is it 1500 okay it could be 1500 how much is it yeah 1500 1500 yes made that motion AR is the one they're talking about at the bottom of Colonia Road within close to that did was there a variance required for that I would think it is I don't think there was a variance no the only variance that was required there was parking so it is it is to my knowledge not within 1500 feet I I'm parking I think also is going to be an issue but one of the things I think you're tending to overlook you know you you're try to put it in the same category as alcohol yeah and quite frankly most of the literature I've read about marijuana talks about being this uh an entry level drug for a lot of other drugs as well yep I'm not sure we really want to invite this kind of clientele into our town in addition to which I don't think too many people have an objection to medical marijuana yep but now we're having possibly three uh Canabis locations yep what is the compelling reason and rationale for having three in a one square mile town for re for essentially recreational uh marijuana yeah so if if you're done with your questions I'll answer and I I you you have 46 seconds left so if you have any other questions go for it any other questions yeah otherwise I'll respond I I sorry we're supposed to limit the public portion of 4 minutes unfortunately Andrew is not here he usually does it but I I'll I'll be the enforcer tonight she's a lot pretty to him Don is beautiful Donna is beautiful um so so look I would say I fundamentally disagree with a lot of that thinking right and we don't have to have this debate back or forth I think you know I think the gateway drug myth is just that it is a myth um you know somebody who's consumed marijuana right I don't do any harder drugs right I don't even really smoke marijuana much anymore I have a gummy every now and again um but it's legal so um you know uh so I I would like to think I'm a walking talking example of a gateway drug myth um you know I I do not there are hard facts that any narcotic substance is detrimental to a growing and development brain and that's why we have age limits for all of these things and I just really want to reiterate we have zoned for retail we have not zoned for any consumption right so these are not going to be there are theoretically towns that are going to have basically marijuana bars where you can hang out and smoke like you smoke hookah we have not zoned for that so these will be and again from somebody who's speaking from experience and I actually I encourage everybody here everybody who's watching even if you don't partake go down Route 22 I mean West Springfield as an example zon for five of them go down Route 22 go go try to go to one of these places the people are in for 5 minutes just like a liquor store to buy their product and leave they get out they get in they go home um and the question is number of why look could we have gone smaller from the onset potentially um I feel like we made the zoning restrictive enough where we might only end up having two maybe two is too many as well but you know I had a conversation with one of the council women one of the council women there's only one Council woman so you know who it is I candidly I'm going to be very blunt with you I don't think I think if all of a sudden magically we had three in town I don't think all three are going to survive right which there's good things and the bad things we have competition we have some in there's in Union there's an Elizabeth I respectfully submit there a world of difference between Route 22 and Suburban raell Park a world of difference and you get kids walking up and back up and back you don't have on the highway and the highway is essentially an interstate Exchange open anybody in town I'm not disagre so sure you really want to attract I I got to cut you off but I I I think where there's a fundamental break is The Logical argument I would give is I personally and I think there's a lot of people not everybody up here would agree but I think a lot of people up here would agree and a lot of Voters in the state of New Jersey who don't see a difference between marijuana and liquor as a matter of fact a lot of those people might think that marijuana is safer than liquor I would subscribe to that and and if you're talking about a world of a difference if we've zoned for Liquor on Westfield Avenue I see no problem with Zoning for for marijuana and that's I'm I got to cut you off but that's that's where we talk more afterwards we I'm sure we will do let's go Mets but you said what 18 months this will be up and running with 18 months depending on approvals and stuff right I mean you know one of them might be going to court uh I'd say no I think it's going to be faster than that I think the the one should be up and running depending on approvals and everything by the end of the year the one in col road yeah I would say it's probably going to be up and running by the end of the year well hopefully we'll have the same conversation yep thank you for your ear yeah all I'll do because it's a short thing and it was a short meeting I know I'll do one more repeat for everybody I'm going to cut people off at to to I know it's a sensitive topic so I'll cut people off at two times it's unprecedented for Mega signal but all right m Joe uh cannabis is uh I don't SM can you just one more time name name an address for the record please ad do de Cosmo 5301 Spruce Street yep cannabis I don't smoke it I don't do any drugs my concern is I got five children and I understand what the public is trying to say but fat and is a problem today and these dispensaries are going to be monitored I can't control my children from doing drugs if but if they wanted to smoke marijuana at least I know that it's being monitored and fanol isn't in in the project inside this object yep all right so actually we're going to be saving lives nobody dies of marijuana they die of of other drugs pills fanol in these pills they fall asleep and they eat too much yes so I think the Public's got to have a open mind of fentanyl kills more people than marijuana does and as a father of five and I don't want my kids doing it I'm against it but you're not going to stop them and as a business agent of a big Union I put a lot lot of members to rehab and one of my members wife sitting here out here right now and drugs are a problem but if they're being monitored and there's no other illegal substance such as F uh fanol in it you're actually going to be saving lives and people have have an open mind to that I agree that's all I have to say thank you Dela good point okay uh anybody else yes I'd like to say something oh yeah sure go for it yeah I have to say something adult adult he's not listening to me ad you can get a Ma I'll say it this way on the other end being clear-minded and being completely sober should be an option and should be taught because I've been around many people that have tried something and they end up doing you know 25 years of of craziness and their lives were wasted did they die no but their lives were wasted so I am the type of person even in my own personal experience the clouded mindset or the like you said and I say this respectfully mayor being you know high and eating too much and sleeping I want and I personally would rather have the younger generation be raised to in Vitality to say you don't need anything to survive and you don't need anything to cope you can actually live a life full that does not need to be high so that's my stance and I say it respectfully so I do understand what you're saying adolo and I you know I agree it's better than fentol but I think we could all agree on that but at the same time I wantan to I want to maybe also possibly bring something into the town to teach that that doesn't doesn't even have to be an option that there could be an option to fully live your life without suppressing or numbing yourself so and that could be food forget it forget alcohol and uh and and drugs it could be even food it could be crazy behavior so that's what I hope for people get addicted to a lot but absolutely yeah I I understand uh all right last call anybody um wish to come speak I'm seeing no one may have motion to close the public portion so move second all in favor I uh there are no items for close session may have a motion to adjourn so move second all in favor I I thank you everybody I have cookies if anybody [Laughter] wants