all right welcome to the meeting for February 13 2024 Township of Springfield County of union state of New Jersey right regular session call to order notice this meeting is being held in accordance with the public laws of 1975 chapter 231 and adequate notice of this meeting has been provided by a notice sent to the Star Ledger the local source and posted in the main lobby of the municipal building and the township website David here no David okay uh please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance led by Deputy Mayor Howard slauer i al to the flag un States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liy and justice for please remain standing for a moment of silence for our soldiers overseas and at home thank you roll call Mayor Weber here Deputy Mayor laer present committee man capes here committee Min Huber committee men Kaiser present all right so we only have a few proclamations and announcements number one uh the Springfield residence ages 55 and older calendar for recreation is out right now um looking at it it is a full calendar it is fantastic pick one up get them online or you can pick it up at the Chisum Community Center we are having coffee with a cop February 28th from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Halo roosters 228 Mountain Avenue sponsored by the Springfield Police Department stop by ask a question get a cup of coffee um very informative session for anybody who who has some questions about the uh daily operations of the police department this is the uh morning event I know there's also an evening event at times with pizza with a uh police we are we we are witty with our stuff all right so this is the the morning one of coffee of a cop so stop on by all municipal offices are closed on Monday February 19th for President's Day then we have the egg hunt and kite Fest Saturday March 23rd rain date is March 24th from 2: to 4:00 p.m. at Chism Park register for the event announcements on community pass at register. communitypass.net SLS Springfield now if there is any public comment on agenda items only please step up talk into the mic and we we will um hear what you have to say public comment on agenda items only May Fernandez on the ordinance will to speak on yes yes I'll save it for all right seeing had two bites at the Apple never mind we got anybody else two bites at the app we have no other public comments so that was pretty quick are we doing the calling we were going to cancel the calls um we did not get any voicemail we did not get any emails you you want to do calls yeah all right we'll do the calls then um I just got to dig up the phone number again Las your focus give me one second let me dig up the phone number it is 973 912 220 0 973 912 I'm just reading the thing on the screen not it all right dang on I'll I'll get it is it 444 fact that you know the fax machine number 44 4 42 all right 973 232 4442 973 232 4442 now um this might be the last meeting that will take some calls it didn't work out too well last time um we've got a little bit of a problem with people not being able to hear the answers of the questions they're asking because the TVs are turned down um but we do have an email we the the calls are not censored there were some issues we do have an email option though and the email now is called questions with an S at the end at Springfield dj. US questions Springfield nj.us now if you get those questions in before this meeting um or before any I'm sorry not this meeting before the next meeting happens we will read the questions here and give you your answers one more time it's questions with an S at the end at Springfield nj. Us phone number 973 232 4442 Mr Mayor while we're waiting for the phone call may I make a comment absolutely and announcements would love that uh thank you Mr Mayor I would just like to uh just take a moment to commend our uh gpw Crews for their first uh handling the first snowfall of uh of the Season uh we had 24 plows out there five salt spreaders um a full load of uh calcium for the uh sidewalks road salt uh and we had a full crew no one was off um and I just have to commend uh Mr beter and all of our drivers uh we always recommend that they take it SL take it slow take breaks and um driving through town I I saw no I was off today I saw no issues today everything was clear everything was great uh I did not receive any phone calls uh I did not see any comments I didn't see any comments on social media about any issues so I would like to commend the DPW crew uh and also uh if you don't know already we tried to make it as abundantly clear as we could through all of our means of communication but there was no recycling today and the recycling if you normally get today it's rescheduled for Thursday the 15th so there was no recycling today it'll be Thursday the 15th thank you I say also I left my house at about 5:00 this morning and they were out I know they were doing sidewalks this morning right around town hall so I mean can't say anything you know they were trou with then so they do they do a First Rate job all the time yeah all right um no PHS no phone calls that's it we're done with that and there's no questions that were emailed to us either Let's uh move on to reports with our administrative Report with RBA John bico thank you Mr Mayor couple of things I'd like to just let everyone know our new Jitney has arrived it needs to be lettered accordingly and then we will get that on the road shortly the biggest thing I wanted to bring up tonight was New Jersey American Water contacted us the other day Mike disco myself and uh Robert beter sat in on a a zoom meeting with them they've been mandated by the state that all lead water lines have to be replaced by 2031 what that means is that they're going to either do they're going to do a couple of things they have a contractor called CDM Smith that is going to go around door too and come into your your place if you allow them to check the water line and see if it's Le it it's either letter or galvanized it's got to be replaced um if you don't want someone coming in you could take a picture upload it to a website that they're going to give us a link you'll be able to send it to them they can identify It generally from the picture to determine if it's Le or not um and then the last thing if you do miss them there's going to be a number and you can call them in order to schedule an appointment when it's convenient for you and they will notify Us in PD before they come out so that we will put a robo call out and let people know what street they're going to be on on what day they're never going to ask for any money and they will be photo IDs on them they'll be wearing high visibility vests that'll say CDM logo on their vest so you will know who they are the biggest point out of this that I want to make sure everyone understands there's no cost to this I it would be highly recommended that you take advantage of this because on once it passes I don't know at some point will the homeowner become responsible to replace the lead line if it is lead I wouldn't I wouldn't take the chance just let them do it get it done it's free it's not a big deal and it'll save you aggravation down the road we will post all of this on the website I'll ask tomarrow tomorrow tamarrow tomorrow to put this on the website if anybody would like to read the finer points couple of other things uh DPW we um working on stor drainage project on Cane Street we had a replace 480 ft of a 36 in corrugated pipe that had rotted out we're replacing that with a high density polyethylene plastic pipe we added several new inlets we upgraded to sanitary sewer on Colonial and a sanitary sewer on balasa we had some yards flooding on the intersection of pum pass and Bri Hill Circle it was revealed that there was damage to a storm sewer easement pipe that's causing the problem we're in the process of replacing 100 ft of 24 in pipe there with a new pre-cast head wall we went over the storm that we had today and one a couple other things we've got a meeting tomorrow uh with the developer for Scotty so I'll keep you informed after we sit down and speak to him uh on our goms project we had our first meeting with the new construction manager that the court has appointed he's kind of took you know all of our comments from both sides he's reviewing all the drawings we got another meeting set up for I think it's March 5th I'm going off the top of my head I think it's March 5th he'll be back in and um he's going to report directly to the court so it's going to stop hopefully us from running down there too many times uh we do have a meeting actually with Gomes tomorrow they have to move some electrical and that does not meet what the plan was so Mike disco and I are going to meet with them tomorrow we have to really see if it's something that we can take care of or does he need to go back to the planning board and get a variance to be able to move those so we will let you know what happens there they are making progress I think as everybody's seen they are moving along they're still not as far as any of us would like but they are they are actually working it seems like every day and and getting some stuff done so other than that we're pretty pleased with that New Jersey American Water was working on the line over on Patriots way down at the end of church mall so that project will start moving along very shortly um just trying to think if we've got anything else the sax property is up and running we've already had people in there and I think all of their cosos on the properties that are finished have been issued so we're in good shape at the Metropolitan that is called if there's any other questions or comments I'd be happy to answer guest yeah just uh uh just for the public to know and and I only discovered this when they started doing this about two years ago I think they did it in front of my house psng has been going around the town to um inspect their utility polls for the Integrity of the utility polls so sometimes you might come home in front of your house you have a utility poll there and there might be some dirt Disturbed around the poll and that all they're doing is just checking the Integrity they do that on a on a regular basis that's not PS though the electric compy jcpnl jcpnl excuse me thank you for the clarification problem jcpnl they're just in checking the Integrity of the poll so there's nothing really to uh worry about it's standard operating procedure and again I did that for me about two years ago when it and speaking of psng I know mayor you had a question there was a gas line that was hit yesterday I think it was what happened there just so everybody knows is that they we had the markouts done our contractors started digging hit a 5- in gas line PSG came back out and all of a sudden the markings were somewhere else so they marked it and I believe they marked it incorrectly and that's why we hit the gas line so we've got a meeting with them on Thursday but we did call out and got markouts done it had nothing to do with our contractor or the township just so everyone knows okay I do want to add one thing to your uh to the American Water because I got something in my mail a month or two ago yes thank you I just did a a sample of my pipe I went downstairs and they're either lead they're copper or they're galvanized and the the flyer that they send in there is very clear on how to identify if you have lead copper or galvanized I have copper luckily going in um but take a look at that it's probably on their website also on how to determine what kind of pipe you have going into your house if it's lead copper or galvanized thank you for bringing that up because they are going to do another the mailing so I would urge the residents don't throw it in garbage please I mean it looks like you know a typical flyer that you get and if you throw it away again I just don't want to see anybody end up with cost they can avoid let's take advantage of this while they're doing it you know the state may mandate they've got to do it past 2031 I don't know but I wouldn't take the chance excellent so thank you for bringing that up all right minutes and reports uh Mr Mayor I would like to make a motion to approve the regular and executive minutes of October 10th October 24th November 88th and November 21st 2023 as well as special meeting and executive minutes for Octobers 30th and November 29th as emailed second all in favor I I and now we're going to move on to new businesses new business and ordinances on a second reading second reading for ordinance 20241 this ordinance amends the existing ordinances govering governing certain employment positions and establishes salary ranges and compensation levels for such positions within the township of Springfield Mr Mayor I would like to make a motion to approve ordinance 20241 with public hearing I mean with publication in the local source February 22nd 2024 I have a second second all right so we're going to do a public hearing Let's do let's try to do the phone calls first if anybody has any public comment on this the number is 973 232 4442 973 232 4442 I'm going to give it a 30 second um delay on this if there isn't any phone calls on it we're going to take we we'll let it go we'll take the phone off and then we'll go to public comment on anybody in there so it doesn't disrupt anybody else 973 232 4442 exciting all right can you take take it off just in case somebody calls off [Music] sure all right public comment anybody hello do you it on should be no the I think the only note we got is just just speak into it yeah so we can get can you lift it up yep very herandez 393 Hillside Avenue just a couple of questions the assistant administrator position that's here um is that the same position that was there when was that the position Mary ell before yes I thought it was my understanding that that position was there for for her purpose at that time and that that was going to be eliminated exactly was it ever or no one's filled the position it's it's it's eliminated eliminated last time was no it was not it was not eliminated speak that it was no this we you know I I think we're just leaving it on there but it's not being filled why leave it on there why why get extra money build to the lawyer to take it off it right now I mean no don't think it was on the last that's why I think I think the rationale is very simple if any position needs to be filled by the township committee ultimately I if we were to take it out and then at some point want to reinstate it it would cost the town additional money once again to have the ordinance Rewritten and have to be introduced twice that costs us legal fees that costs us posting fees uh uh for a position position that was thoughtfully thought out many months ago uh or over months ago years years ago years uh uh and then ultimately not filled so I I don't think it makes sense that when we update an ordinance to make it stronger to make it better why we would then eliminate it for a a council or Township committee down the line who may want to restore it that's just my opinion I don't think we had it for years the only reason I bring this up this is a position that we never really had for years I debat with any of you we really needed or not as an assistant with a town our size so to play to say to feed off what you're saying at some point you paid an attorney to make an ordinance which let's be honest what's the cost for an attorney to make an AI in two readings you could find many ways to save money let me finish please the the thing is it was a position that we didn't have and we can debate whether you need it once you have that position established now you're talking about a pension you're talking about healthare you're talking about a lot of other costs much more things that cost a lot more than having an attorney write up the ordinance um this ordinance if I'm not mistaken you have it done every couple of years am I mistaken in saying that the last time I think was two years ago give or take yeah so is the idea that let's do it once and not have to do it for many years later yes yes okay well then why would salaries go up as much as 40,000 and some go up as little as five for no change at all if you don't plan on doing this ordinance again for an extended period of time are you why did you think that some salaries and I'm not debating the cost of the salary I'm debating why make it so big and wait so long to change it why not do it the way you've been doing it where you can adjust it and then you have some you have some people not going up at all which are key positions in town I don't I'm looking at the list right now and I don't see anybody at municipal clerk would only go up $5,000 for the perod of time last time was 15 Municipal has it you went up 5,000 from the last time 15 the salary ordinance here has it from 80 to 120 right and you had it the previous one 80 to 115 so you only went up five grand but where on the township administrator was 120 to 160 in the past now you're going 12 to 200 so you have a large increase there is and if that's because look we don't plan on doing this for a while well the increase on the on the other one's only 5,000 and if you look I think there was one or two that there was no increase at all okay yeah I so I guess my question is why why why some are so large and some not at all if I may I I would just say a that these these are just ranges I mean I'm speaking for me we're not hiring anybody $200,000 for a business administrator uh we have one here right now luckily luckily you luckily for another 50 years correct he was gone you were to leave next week and you had to hire a new one these are the ranges and and Mr Fernandez is per the ordinance you're absolutely right one thing I would also say is um there there are positions on this um that we may need for flexibility as committee M Kaiser said That's A and B and and the related costs such as pension and healthare only come into effect if that position is occupied right now for the for instance and we do not have an assistant administrator we have an assistant to the administrator which is also here um so we've we've we've taken the time in this ordinance to look at Trends about who's gotten hired and where and how much and this is this is what the work product is how do these compare have you done comparison to Yes um hold on I want to add something on that since we were on the township administrator I don't know how long it's been since you've looked for an administrator pound for pound this is the the best value that you have in Union County right now you can't find it an Adit you are debating it because when you come in here and you try to pick this thing apart it's insulting to everybody that works here just be mindful of it that's not my intention my and and that's not my intention I'm looking at positions on here and get not disputing what they should get I'm just disputing the method that you're using to get there then fight with me when I when I give them 200,000 fight with us when we do that no no mayor again it's not it's the fact that in the past practice has been to look at this every couple years and itj justed accordingly there has never been in my that I know of such a large increase at one time because we got tired of paying the lawyers hold on it's not an increase it's it's it's it's a range meas increase in the range yeah but you you were here also on the committee when we appointed an assistant administrator am I correct no you're wrong what we what we did was an assistant to the admin excuse me what you in Ence would be doing is an assistant B and and I said that comes there were restrictions on the assistant to the ba not get a pension all I'm going ask us to move on because if you got another question go ahead because you got got three minutes have opportunity to answer he asked that so there were two different positions um also the purchasing agent that was on the last one what exactly who was doing that in the past and who will be doing that qpa CFO and that was in the pass outsourced for what was that I think it was only a few thousand no what was what did we pay we had a girl in mountain side we were paying I think it was 2,000 oh no uh 4,000 to in her the range was 4 to 10,000 and now I think she was getting 2,000 if I'm not mistaken what would the range be now the is that position just just for the record that position that was through a shared services agreement that that was I don't think that individual was an employee they wouldn't have been they they wouldn't have been subject to the salary ordinance so where I didn't see that now that's why was question what would that if first between and $20,000 correct we put some we did between four and 20 between and correct that's my question is so you know in Ence it's not the pay attorney to do an ordinance but ordinance is that's that's the least expense that we can I mean there's other expenses of phone calls you can call 20 times less and save money but the you know just the fact that you're doing this the range increases just seem very large obviously we're all you know trying to and again I know it's not the salary and I'm not disputing that it shouldn't get there at some point but instead of doing it once now and say hey we're not going to look at this for another eight years let's look at it again in two years and make it less in case something happens where again John I hope you're here for 30 years or another position that has such a large increase but if they were to leave someone coming in sees this range so high and you know it's gonna affect our tax you always and you know can I take a minute but also it this whatever whoever we hire the salary comes commiserate with experience and ultimately has to be approved by the township committee here's an example is there's no increase at all well what I but what I'm saying is that regardless of what these numbers are the final salary is commiserate with experience and must be approved by the township committee so just because some something says $200,000 there's not mean somebody has the right to come in here card blanch to your point before and said oh look I can get $200,000 for being the township administrator I'm going to fight for that or I'm going to work for that because that's just not going to be the case but just just a minute as as as somebody that has worked with uh committee M capes to do two searches in our time up here in six years we have run into the problem where I I I believe it was uh both administrator and CFO where uh uh potential applicants looked at the range and were either either discouraged or said no I'm I'm up against where I'm already making it in in town X it doesn't make sense for me to go through uh uh with that interview there is no way that there's a range for a reason right there's people that have experience and uh uh uh there's people that don't that are starting out and that's what the range is for I I I don't know if you've done hiring in your past but I have and uh applicants at certain times come with different experience like Chris and from my experience up here and I I think I speak for everyone here we've gone through it before where applicants were up against that range for various positions uh this gives us the flexibility to to take action at the time being an ordinance takes up to 3 4 weeks because it has to be introduced one meeting one meeting gets off and and then there's second reading so when you're going in a hiring process and in in the current field that we are in right the current labor market that it is people want assurances right ordinances can fail and and and things like that so when you're when you're already up against that range that potential applicant seeing this job or another job and he has to he or she has to wait maybe four weeks to ultimately see a change in that final pay scale I think that makes a huge difference so part of it is hey yes not going back to the drawing board every year when we have to uh uh uh do raises but the other point is giving us the flexibility in the future years that we aren't up against a crunch if somebody does leave and we have a good applicant that wants to come to town two things on that if I may I I I think your five minutes is up but that's the mayor you got like 15 minutes up here again because you address something it would only take me one second please two things one is the tax tax assessor position for example has no increas we we we we we wait hold up we went through and we did the analysis and and compared to the other towns in Union County our analysis showed uh uh uh that we our current range our current range was uh uh inadequate with the other compared to the other towns I I'm not debating that but again if you don't plan on doing this for x amount of years you pick the positions that should have that large increas if I could just if I could just this is the last comment on it and you're saying look you've obviously hired people over the course of the years that we've been doing it the way we've the way most communities do do every couple years they'll up there's no need to do such a large increase to Wi so many years you've hired people over the course of many years we've hired the township has hired this isn't going to change anything disagree with you on your your last statement that's all I have to say thank you thank you moving on I would welcome anybody to come fight with us when um those salaries are given uh let's move on yep any other questions we we need a roll call roll call please Deputy Mayor laer yes committee M Kaiser yes committee M capes yes in Huber yes mayor Weber yes okay we have first reading reading on ordinance 20242 this ordinance amends chapter 2 administration of the township code to add Provisions related to the property tax exemption available to qualifying disabled vets and eligible surviving spouses motion I I I'll make a motion to adopt ordinance 202 24-02 as by Madam clerk with publication in the local Source on February 22nd 2024 with a final hearing scheduled for March 12th 2024 second discussion no all good yes deserving planatory committee man Kaiser yes Deputy Mayor laer Yes committe Man capes yes committee man Huber mayor Weber yes ordinance 20243 this Bond ordinance is to authorize the making of various public improvements and the acquisition of new additional or replacement equipment and machinery and a new Automotive vehicle including original apparatus and equipment in by and for the township to appropriate the sum of 2 million $384,000 to pay the cost thereof to make a down payment to authorize the issuance of bonds to finance such appropriation and to provide for the issuance of bond anticipation notes in in anticipation of the issuance of such Bond uh I'll make a motion to adopt ordinance 20243 as read by Madam clerk with publication in the local Source on February 15 2024 with a final hearing on scheduled for February 27 2024 second um just uh Mr Mayor just a few minutes to discuss just absolutely just to talk about this because this is uh an important part an important aspect of of our our budget budget season and ultimately what we do every year up here so this uh uh 2 million 2.3 million Bond ordinance uh uh and of course Diane and John please jump in if I misspeak um but this does not mean that we authorize this two we are authorizing us to go and get this 2.3 million it does not mean that we will ultimately spend it uh uh various times we've held on to money and bond and have used it at later points in time but right now our plan for this 2.3 million is is is going to allow us to invest in our Township and and uh uh and and further our goals at the most cost effective and prioritizing the the the biggest Capital needs or the most urgent Capital needs projects and this includes undertaking Road improvements throughout the town which saves us uh from going out to bid and contract with a an independent contractor so it's ra various roads that we continue to maintain and upkeep it's it's helping uh uh make rep necessary repairs to our buildings whether that's a a roof and Chism that I think we've done previously whether it's HVAC equipment in this building to ensure that we're upkeeping our public buildings not letting them fall into disrepair and burdening a future uh Township committee uh and Township uh that would have to undertake those repairs so uh our DPW department has a a a schedule that he's maintaining and and and and appropriating some funds will allow him to continue maintaining that schedule it it it's also undertaking some security protocols our our we have a court that's here we're we're going this money will hopefully go to purchase updated security cameras to make make sure our building is constantly monitored a a u a metal detector to ensure that people come to this building are safe and protecting our employees and protecting our courts it's it's it's Public Safety Equipment uh uh uh that you wouldn't think that our Our First Responders in our fire department would need but ultimately in the world we live in now they need ballistics equipment because if God forbid and hopefully it never happens but if there is a a a a a shooter on one of our campuses or throughout our towns our fire and First Responders uh go to the scene along with our cops and they have to be protected so that they can respond and keep the public uh safe it's making those investments in body cameras for our police and auxiliary police to to protect them and the citizens it's it's making improvements and and and helping us uh uh get new equipment for DPW to to enter into agreements with neighboring towns to share the cost of new equipment to clean our sores and maintain our sores so that there's not overflows in the in the past we have a current piece of equipment that's 22 years old that we're still operating well this Bond ordinance will help us phase out that old uh uh uh equipment bring in a new one so we can continue to maintain our keeping our street sweepers uh uh quick so that we are a new so that they can keep our clean streets and take care of our Leaf uh collection that's all that this Bond money is ultimately going to do and and and that just helps us just reinvest in our town and our equipment so we're not uh so we're not having to do it all at once uh but we're doing a peace meal Year bye taking the most prudent position But continuing to invest because if we we didn't make that investment year after year I think in 10 15 20 years we would be in an issue so you know thank you to all the department heads that uh uh uh started this process along with the Diane John and myself late last year with Rich but then now ultimately Harris and we've certainly come to what I think is a a uh a pretty fiscally sound Bond ordinance for this year and I'm proud to have worked on it thank you um you know one thing I think you missed and I don't maybe I missed it the sewer jet vacuum is being shared with Milburn trying to we're trying to share that piece mil yes yeah so I didn't Hammer that home yes thank you yeah you know that's we we we are trying to share costs with whatever town we can on something like this where we're not using a sewer jet vacuum to 24 hours a day Milburn has agreed to go in partners with us on a 50/50 I guess yep so you know when you look at all of this stuff as committee M Kaiser said you know you have a million dollars that's on curb Road sidewalk drainage you know this is all reinvestment back into the town um buildings metal detectors sewer jets vacuums street sweepers all stuff that is used over and over basic function of government yes vital infrastructure and I will tell you this I can guarantee that if we didn't have a street sweeper that worked boy the people would be mad about that so um I'm just happy that we are sharing certain things with Milburn though so thank you roll call okay commit Min Kaiser yes Deputy Mayor laer yes commit Min capes yes Huber yes mayor Weber yes ordinance 20224 this ordinance amends Provisions in chapter four of the township code to modify the regulations applicable to the Springfield Farmers Market I would like to make a motion of ordinance 2022 20244 uh for publication in the local Source on February 22nd 2024 with final hearing on March 12th 2024 second discussion discussions uh somebody just run through yeah just real quick to give everybody because I know the we get questions on the farmers market this changes the dates and times yeah this basically this this ordinance modernizes our existing ordinance relating to the farmers market this reflects what is actually happening now um the timing uh the dates um and it ALS and also the location and it also um makes it clear that to the ex if in a given year something needs to be modified uh or tinkered with it can be done by way of resolution um of the governing body y it roll call Deputy Mayor laer yes M Kaiser committee man cities Yes Man Uber mayor Weber yes all right on to resolutions with approval by consent agenda if anybody wants anything pulled please pull it while we we're reading them resolution 20 24-58 2024 d59 20 24-6 2024 d61 202462 2024 d63 2024 d64 2024 65 2024 d66 and 2024 d67 I will make a motion to adopt the following resolutions by consent agenda resolution 202 24-58 through resolution 2024 67 second Comm committee man Kaiser yes Deputy Mayor laer yes Min capis yes Min Huber mayor Weber yes thank you okay Mr Mayor I would like to approve a request from the congregation Israel for use of Irwin park for their annual picnic on Sunday May 26th from 3: to 7:00 p.m. uh and they're hold harmless and CI second all in favor I I would uh also like to request the approval uh from Shabad Jewish excuse me Shabad Jewish Learning Center to use Chism Community Center for their annual purum event on Sunday March 4th from 7:00 a.m. to 2: p.m. hold harmless attached and the COI forthcoming second all in favor I I it is it is called kabad for everybody up here kabad I I I also made that uh no that's why it's for everybody up here uh thank you and obviously I mean no disrespect no I know thank you uh and finally I would like to approve uh a request from Troy Hills of the Springfield Condo Association to hold a community meeting at Chisum community center on Tuesday March 5th from 5: to 10 p.m. hold harmless attached COI forthcoming second all in favor I all right Finance let's go and pay some bills um I will make a motion to pay the payroll and invoices for the period of January 24th 2024 through February 13 24 in the amount of $2,382 uh 2,382 33128 second committee M Kaiser yes Deputy Mayor laer yes M capes yes M Huber yes mayor Weber yes all right we'll move on to correspondence I'm going to save the top one for last because I know bunch of people have something to say on that one uh let's Union County Cate Christopher Hudak Services provided by his office jcpnl public hearing February 29th 4:30 to 5:30 for more info called 609 913 6241 or email board. secretary at bp. nj.gov New Jersey American Water Public hearing February 28th 4:30 5:30 visit company website for details and the last one on correspondence um um just wait one quick question before that can we just po because I I've gotten that question before and it's come up can we just post the uh the surrogate letter or his the info on our we website or social media just because I know people have asked about that stuff and he goes around to all the communities and does very important seminars especially for senior groups and religious institutions uh it's actually a great Community program that surrogate Hudak provides all right um H so I'm going to read this letter as it's written um I just had this gentleman at my house the other day and here's the letter in early 1978 Mayor Bill Siri told me that the committee of residents that ran the July 4th fireworks was retiring and asked me to take it over until he could find someone else to run it well 40 six years later the time has come for me to step aside from that responsibility family responsibilities including the expected birth of our fourth grandchild on July 1st very mikely means that I will not even be in Springfield on the 4th it has been a pleasure to have helped make the Fourth of July celebration what it is today and I hope it continues to be one of the best in Union County for many years to come best regards John Cottage um boy you know uh six years ago I met him Alex and I met him we got taken into a trailer which was a really interesting situation um it was it was it was different but I you know um for the short time that I've known him because I don't know him anywhere in the time that like Rich you knows him you were a few years yeah you know I got six years under my belt with him and he's a solid dude he's like really a good guy and um this kind of makes me sad because uh you know when you when you get involved with certain things and I am the first one to admit this you're always in a rush to try to change certain things or you're in you're in a you know you think that maybe things can be better or or or something can happen and um you don't appreciate who is doing all of the work immediately sometimes it takes a year two years three years to see what they go through to make something happen and that is the case with me and the the fireworks and and and John Cottage and Scott sidel and and and everybody that that that's involved in making the Fourth of July happen so um thank you if you ever want to come back we will welcome you back gladly I think we should also point out that 46 years is probably the longest temp assignment anybody's ever had yeah so kudos to him Rich Chris W okay you know it's funny whenever I see him on the fourth of July he will tell us or tell me that story and remind me of that story every time I see him um you want to talk about a Testament to the community of Springfield you want to talk about volunteerism you want to talk about someone who's given his heart and his soul to this community still coming back still traveling up to Sea because it's just and and and the Fourth of July is just a snippet it's a it's a drop in the bucket for all that he's done for this community and continues to do for this community I I don't think by adding stretch of the imagination by him stepping aside from this Fourth of July fireworks that he is is done uh volunteering and serving and visiting his community first of all I hope he still continues to visit this community because his I believe his family still lives here but um I can't say enough about this man he has a heart of gold and um I'm sure they will miss his uh time on this committee but we won't it's not the last time we'll see him and uh as always uh every time I see him from here on out I always shake his hand give him a hug and the ends of our conversations have always been and will continue to do be thank you for everything that you continue to do for this community um yeah um actually the first time I met him was when I was campaigning I went to a teast of uh Springfield and I was walking around and I said you're John Cottage he's like who are you uh uh but it serves to hey h how many people know who John Cottage is maybe a few people in this room right the vast majority of Springfield probably doesn't know uh him one way or the other and that's not a bad thing or a good thing that's just the facts of life but for 46 years if you've gone to if anybody's attended a Fourth of July celebration in 46 years that's partly because of John Cottage it's very likely that 46 years ago when people stopped when no one was really uh jumping at the bit to organize the Fourth of July fireworks it could have easily Gone Gone Away right no one might have stepped up and no one might have taken it on and for the last 46 years maybe Springfield wouldn't have been one of the communities in Union County to hold a firework celebration uh uh So for anybody who's attended fire fireworks well that's the legacy of John Cottage and it's the legacy of a lot of people so uh uh thank you certainly for his his time no one's going to ever be able to thank him enough for the time that he's put in here but uh uh hopefully anybody who attends the future fireworks celebration that's that's thanks enough because that's a legacy that'll long outlive a lot of us so thank you John I remember John a long time he's um always been involved with everything love the B Bubble company love that group I mean I used to tell them let's get another group fruit 1910 fruit yeah fruit he always got them but John is one of the people that talk me into coming up here John is always if I asked him any questions he always had a question for me he his associate Scott were always involved with everything um I remember when floods hit this town they were always there um he John has given his life to this town yeah I always be thankful that he's my friend the dinners at balterra had to be um I think he chose the dessert all the time it had to be chocolate whatever it is Soule or something like that but he always was there but I want to wish him the best of luck in his family I know I'll see John and every I could be walking down the street and I could hear him say something to me he be yelling and he'll always come over and say hello but he has a friendly face and always will be well we're not done with him yet because he didn't die I know and he know and let me tell you as much as I go to I in New York he goes more to back and forth to the Vermont to hear I just I think he's you know but good luck John and I know I'll see you we're going to try to get him here we we had ordered something for John um that wasn't you know uh finished in time so we we'll hopefully be able to uh do this again um we'll help get him over here and and uh get what we we want to give him um in the next few meetings all right so that is the end of Correspondence com now we're going to go to public comment on any government issue so let's do the phone thing again first let's fix the phone 973 232 4442 that's 973 232 4442 we'll give it 30 seconds um on a delay and then what'll happen is is we'll disconnect the phone so it doesn't disrupt the calls uh the the questions that are happening here 973 232 4442 um public comment on any governmental issue baited breath over here all right perfect yep all right no that's all right now public comment on any governmental issue from anybody in the audience come on up we're want to try this a little differently if you could ask your questions first to get them out of the way and that way we don't go into like a back and forth you got all your time yeah I don't want to take your time all right um the stip in for the purchasing agent when I asked that before I'm not sure I'm sorry just wondering what that is now that current pilot programs right now we know uh which ones we have that are active right now I think only one if I'm not mistaken um wondering how much we get from that pilot program and where those funds go I believe the general fund but I'm not sure and I just want to be clear on this next part I'm not speaking for the board as a board member I want to be very clear I'm not speaking for the board in any capacity but uh I'm speaking as Jerry Fernandez the you know um but being on both boards I would hope and I I would love to be able to have we could come together in another joint meeting as we used to do in the past I think in the past they were done because they had to be done because the governor made us do it but I think it would be beneficial if we could work together and as a person that sat on both boards I could tell you I really think it would help the residents of Springfield face it the tax bills come from both boards pretty much and there may be a way that we can work together to help uh in that Avenue also with all the Redevelopment going on and most of it being on on side of town there will be an impact to the way the schools are going to be affected obviously the pilot program do not does not give the board ofed any tax dollars um I know in the past there was discussions about maybe giving and I know some towns do do that I would hope that maybe we can work together to see how these programs work maybe and I'm just again I don't even know if this be or not just throwing it out there but perhaps once these programs are done based on how many students are in each development maybe there's a way that some of their costs could be covered so we're not increasing the taxes tremendously on the residents of Springfield that maybe there's a way we can um work together on on that to help uh offset some of that cost safety issues with the schools rich I know that there were some things that in the past that you were very active on again I'm not speaking for the board I don't have that Authority I just want to be clear once again um but I think those are issues that maybe we can all work together and come up with something that would uh benefit the community in the town we've always you know I bring you up just because I was on with a lot on the comme been on way too but uh in a good way you have done and I don't mean that a bad way you've done great things for to I have nothing but respect um I just think um you know when you're on there they the board you to say no we're our separate entity and this is separate you know board it just I think it would be a big benefit well as far as the programs are concerned I'm sorry May no no we're going to yeah once he's done we'll we'll just we'll just chew away the questions um uh hold on let's let me just go in order real quick stien purchasing agent 4 to 20 no oh the current 6200 P the programs that are active right now not much that's something I think need to look at because some of the smaller programs like Charlie for example that range I'm not sure what it is I'm very curious to see what it could be it could range from 50,000 for 24 units 60,000 80,000 you know for 24 units I think on the smaller programs on the smaller pilot smaller smaller projects say that are coming down like you know perhaps a pilot program isn't the best program on there for the community to get their money because it doesn't seem like and that's why I brought it up that project in particular I don't think is after they pay for the land I know you don't I don't I didn't expect you to have that number now yeah that's fine and I apologize I probably should have emailed earlier but I didn't I'm sorry and it's no it's no you did great no it's not on you great you can email me I'll email you the last one is um but that that's something I think you should look at you know certain number it doesn't you know we're only getting 60,000 on that after what he pays for the land use is not going to make much sense and and I don't know what you're going to give the board out of that all right but um just just all right thank you uh Board of Ed questions board education and you on you were up here when we did that before any project was built when we got the PR the not the administration now the old Administration over at the Board of Education we sat down with them Matt and Mike and we went over everything and they knew exactly what was coming down the pike and they agreed everything would be okay I know we have to give them something you know for the education of the children I don't think we do we don't but we that board the T committee at that time agreed yeah and I would fight for that for the kids you know I you know I'd always fight for the kids for everything but I mean before anything was built we always went to the Board of Education you know I wouldn't I wouldn't not go to them I mean I sat down in the cafeteria I took a day off from work just to go over and go over everything with them so okay all right I that we're done all right thank you guys uh any other public comment all right seeing none motion to move into executive session I just no motion all right no exact thank you for attending the township meeting uh meeting motion to adjourn motion second second all in favor I I