##VIDEO ID:zjCdcbr9VGE## all I wish to state that on October 11th 2024 the notice of this meeting of the Upper Township committee was posted on the official Township bulletin board and the Upper Township website emailed to the Atlantic City Press the Ocean City Cent Ledger The Herald times and filed with the Township Clerk tonight's meeting is being video recorded up until the Clos session portion of this meeting and will be available on the Upper Township website I hereby direct that this announcement be made a part of the minutes of this meeting would you please rise flag I States of America for stands one nation God indivisible and justice for all Joan would you please call the role Mr Corson Mrs Hayes Mr na here Mr Panos here mayor Newman here all members are present lady and gentlemen your pleasure on the minutes I'd like to make a motion we approved amendments from September 23rd regular and close session meeting second would you call the rooll Please Mr Corson yes Mrs Hayes Mr nappen Mr Panos May Newman yes motion carried okay report of governing body members and once again fortunately or unfortunately uh usually go last but I'm going to go first again and uh I imagine a whole lot of you are here for the water issue and I'm going to reiterate itate the statement I had before uh and go from there um Township is very grateful to the sense of urgency cooperation and collaboration from all agencies involved in this crisis and most unnerving Discovery as a d continues to test area Wells for the presence of mercury to date it has been discovered that approximately a dozen homes have unacceptable levels of contamination the D and State Department of Health and County are in constant contact and Communications with Upper Township officials each agency's points of contact project leader and other top decision M top level decision makers are working together so that the necessary actions may be taken without delay the D will not be attending tonight's meeting the October 15th meeting and we are supportive of their position not to attend they answered Us in an email stating thank you so much for inviting us to the township meeting on the 15th however given the short notice we're unable to attend we are still early in our investigation and once we have the data from our upcoming sampling event we would feel much better equipped to have an informed meeting specific to our investigation and that's the end of the D's statement back to us now back to our statement the DP has authorized and assisted in offering residential relocation for the affected and has authorized two filtration systems for each home found that to contain the contamination the State Department of Health is also in the Forefront with assistance contacting individuals with specific health concerns the township is in contact with owners of local businesses and currently Upper Township is gathering all former and current D complement Appliance materials for review it is important to understand that no correlation blame cause or any other finger can be pointed to anyone for causing the contamination at this time this time is our goal is to keep testing until the entire cin contamination plume area is identified and Clean safe drinking water is obtained and provided to all we ask for patients as as well as all work through the process proc as Township obtains relevant information we as a Township will get that information out for you and just as a side note before I go to my other colleagues you know because really not we have no real further comment on this because we don't know anything else this investigation is uh started by the uh K County Department of Health uh since because of the contamination levels that were found been taken over by the New Jersey d and they are in charge of all the groundwater in the state of New Jersey and it is their responsibility to provide and make sure that we have clean Safe flodable Drinking Water they're the ones that issue the well permits they're the ones that have the mineral rights to everything underneath the ground here um underneath the ground in the um uh state of New Jersey that being said we as soon as we do have anything and we are when I say in constant contact I was away this past week and on a conference call with the D the Department of Health putting all this stuff together uh literally while I was on vacation so they are on top of it we as T officials are on top of it our business administrators be keeping everyone as informed and our clerk as we possibly can one of the things that we mentioned in here in the statement is we are in contact with owners local business and currently operators Gathering all former and current d compliance materials for review in other words any business that has had a d issue in the past we will we will be we will be get Gathering that information if the township has it so that is where we stand right now um I wish we had more uh I wish we had it sooner but the township is not in position to conduct testing or to evaluate the testing materials that come out of it the the the testing data that comes out so that being said we'll I'll move on to the deputy mayor and go for mayor thank you Mr Mayor I do want to just say thank you to you and Mr dearo for you know spearheading the Township's efforts and making sure that um you know the D and the county continue to keep moving and keeping us you know the D committee and the residents as updated as possible through this whole ordeal um moving on from that I would like to just put some thanks out to um those who participated in our Fall Fest last week uh especially our Department of Public Works our especially our buildings and grounds crew for all the work that they put in ahead of the festival to get prepared and then afterwards for cleaning up um our office of emergency management thank you Mr Jones for participating in the event and uh division of Ems for making sure that everyone was safe I believe there were no incidents that day um as well as the vendors and local nonprofits that participated it really was a nice family day for all and it was a very enjoyable event um we are once again going to host a drive-in movie at Amanda's field with Halloween theme um again we'll be partnering with cape assist and their quit Center to offer that the date will be October 26th if you go onto the Township's Facebook page you can vote there's a few different options of what movie it will be um so so everybody I encourage just get out there and vote and participate and then one last reminder for the Upper Township health and wellness Fair it's Thursday October 24th at the community center from 3: to 5:00 again it's lots of community organizations lots of good information um I myself will be there on behalf of my employer helping out people with with directives if anyone wants to come and have a conversation about that and ill will be there for flu shots if anybody's interested in that that is all I have even thank you thank you Deputy Mayor hey uh Vic good evening everybody thank you so much for coming out as always um we share all of your concerns as all of us up here also live in Upper Township and we want it to be a safe place for all of us to live as much as you do so thank you for your concern um before you head over to movie night on October 6 animal controls offering a free rabies clinic it's October 26 1: to 3 p.m. rain or shine 73 hope Corson Road in seille at the shore veterinarian animal hospital and I also attended Fall Fest with my family it was a great day so thank you to Public Works and everybody that had anything to do with that event that's all I have so far Comm pancers thank you Mr Mayor um just a kind the situation you know it's obviously a devastating thing that have happened to these people and U I would just say it's that we you can keep the professional lines of communication well open um that way we can make sure we do everything we can I know I know we're can now but just hopefully the next we you know coming weeks that we keep that communication Line open that we've been doing um to help them out best we and thank you guys keep we shred our advanc directors C than um like to Echo everyone's concerns about the water it's uh we've been down this road once before Jay and I probably the only two years remember and we went uh it was a long drawn out process it will get resolved it just takes a little time uh other than that we are starting work to prepare our budget Barber L is away on vacation and we have uh Sarah I'm sorry it's going in for her tonight and uh once Barbara gets back we'll be full swing with our budget and getting that prepared thank you for joining us tonight sir that's all I have thank you all um I do have a couple other things other than the water and I just want to point out that we are in receipt of another Grant this one's another big one um uh for 7 uh uh $28,000 once again our grant writer did a great job and this is from the federal government from fiscal year 2023 assistance of firefighters Grant uh gives us a uh $728,000 gives us a uh a whole new set of portable radios throughout the township uh and fortunately or unfortunately these new radios are quite expensive and this will save the taxpayers obviously $728,000 um and the um those radio should be it'll be a little bit before they get here but this is how expensive they are they're up to $88,000 a piece $8,000 so uh we also have uh received and we are going to tonight in our consent agenda uh authorize uh the execution of a contract furnish the delivery of a SCBA air compressor that's another grant that we received ear that was in about $70,000 range we have been exceedingly uh um successful in obtaining grants and I don't want to jinx it in any way shape or form we'll continue to to go after these grants our grant writers have done a great job Joan barin Sarah Ryan and Gary and all the members of the township and staff have done a great job putting stuff together to get this where it needs to be and that's where we're at now uh Mr dearo have about it brother thank you I do want to support uh Community here with any communication relative to the I tried to as for as open as compassionate as I possibly can uh you know the the I have is that there is who needs work at all right I it is the most quintessential Compound on Earth and is our very existence as humans and so I very um sincere take the phone calls and the emails in person the voicemails don't stop must take no less than a dozen a day since this has happened um I continue to take the phone calls I continue to explain what I know and to bring some sort of Direction relative to this issue um the mayor correct we our Zoo meetings continue to grow I think the last one was Friday there was no less than 16 to 20 people on that particular Zoom from the very highest level to the DP do the county uh all moving towards op that's what this is we actually Gary had the uh the governor's chief of staff was on that call as well I don't know if you knew that he was texting me on the side um he was monitoring he wants to hear from us which we will do it it is truly a um a move forward to bring clean and safe water and then to develop a longterm plan relative to what the T wants to do uh the township does not have water utility does not have a water company it is owned by American water and if American water is funded by F then they will accomodate the D relative to whatever they want to do [Music] that in like happened around 96 Amer put in line until 9 the DP position is they will not just spaghetti a wine here and there cost of these particular infrastructures they will Define where the BL is and then develop a plan for the infastructure at this point the plum is located in the Bay Area there is 13 homes that have identifi with contaminat high levels and each of the agencies have taken um hands on approach notify those owners notify the health concern of those owners to to design the two buil system for each owner and to pay for those systems out of alluded to the township does not have the equipment or the science or expertise to do what's required for the testing of the I anybody that a question to call my office of [Music] aice able to give you some comfort relative to what's happening um I've been contacted all over the township and different parts of the county asking the has reached V and area it's it's exasperating it's unnerving and is verying and my office to bring any comfort whatsoever I feel um compelled or obligated to take the calls to explain to you what I know to give you some direction the mayor and I have contacted school system school system is doing testing they are on American water but they're going to do testing on their own Wells relative to um the irrigation systems they use we contacted various businesses to assist services and showering Services some of the relocations become problematic we school system to make sure that the busing and the connection there with school remain solid where where the individuals go the mayor and I have talk Realtors to make sure that the rentals standard for the families that that might located short period of time um that's been where we've been every day since since this has been our initial call County and Jo's office has fantastic some of of work I have site um but again anybody has any questions and I govern guy that's not a really fan of a government so if I can give you anything in my perview that you believe you can use feel free I will not give addresses not give names I think that's unfair to the people that are having these contents and their uh put them in any kind of any kind of a public scy I anything else Joan I have nothing thank you you sure I'm sure Mr monzo uh nothing to add mayor thank you Sarah it's your chance to shine let's go I know I know Mr Ryan has some stuff for you thank you Mr Mayor I'll keep it short tonight um just a couple quick updates first one athletic Court resurfacing project um we received all the quotes from our two Co-op contractors for resurfacing and fencing the plans are U finalized are going to be finalized this week um and now we're in good shape to uh enter into contracts by the end of the month and schedule our preconstruction meeting with contractors very very good very very good uh next project living Shoreline um so I had a meeting yesterday um with Act years as well as Strat fish and environmental club uh so it was a great meeting essentially the township has with that help assistance of act Engineers uh prepared plans that are ready for submission for living shore line uh across the bay uh by the ramp and tracking um so the application will be submitted this week and we're anticipating permits from d and army Court of engineers in January and March of 25 uh from there really to get a shovel in the ground all we'll need is construction drawings bid specs um and then sending out the bid I will say ster fish and environmental Club has preliminarily agreed to completely fund the construction for the project so we won't have to seek any additional resources for funding which again would be a big win for the township we already had the project shf near ficient environmental Club has the funding so we potentially will be coming together early next year with a real project that could be ready for construction by the end of next year which is a lot quicker than we originally thought so good meeting there and then uh really next action will be early next year game plan and next steps last two updates I have for tonight are really uh roadway construction projects that the county is handling first one CR 664 which is tuo Mount Pleasant Road uh that project I don't have a firm start date yet but within the next couple weeks uh Mount tuo Mount Pleasant Road will be resurface so it's going to be a mill in overlay about 5 in thick um there will be a detour for southbound traffic during daytime hours Northbound traffic will be maintained um and I hopefully be able to provide a notice when we get to that point of a firm start date from the county and uh from last meeting I know committee man Panos wanted an update on New Bridge Road uh unfortunately it's not the best update the county has pushed this further back on their priority list um construction is anticipated to start in the spring of 25 and that that's all T nice uh yeah we did have um as as we were talking earlier uh Curtis and and myself talking you about the route n project maybe you could proably reach out to them and and see what they're doing about these little Minor Details that the U uh residents have problems that they're having with regard to um uh debris and clean off I know quite a few residents have been have brought problems to me and I've directed them more towards the do office and apparently they've been pretty responsive to that so I think they might be responsive to you as a general cleanup thing people that don't call on those people there you talking about might not say word no so that but that's a very valid Val point I mean I can just see I mean we've had no range to the grass first time somebody goes out there with a lawn mower they're going to be blowing these pieces of concrete back on the road yeah and the dot engineer who's managing the project has been responsive um so certainly reach out to him and make sure the inspector on top of that mayor I wanted to not to take who want to [Music] say 300 Grand so $300,000 that we got for the unit on to of theed and just time for winter overseeing that project Mak the wased putting all in there to the clock now see if we get that working again since we're up there but that's another $300,000 direct that was acquired I tell you said we're need a spreadsheet yeah all right um so let's uh thank you very much for all your uh input colleagues uh and uh we'll now open the meeting up to public comment public comment um if you need to state your name uh and just your city of of uh um where where you're from or town or Village or whatever and um step up to the microphone and if you have any comments for the township committee uh we would appreciate them now uh my name is Stephen Murphy Kyle Murphy is uh mayor Jay knows me I uh I live in marora in the affected area on redwish Avenue um I appreciate all the commentary and I appreciate the communication especially Jay from your desk about this and I know you and I have talked at length uh since this whole thing unfolded my concerns at this point which everyone shares are and and and I know there's no answers for it tonight but I want to make sure that it's abundantly clear everybody hears it is that frankly I'm pissed off that as slow this seems to be moving I don't know how fast this moves but I received a letter in the mail the other day from the D from the D that they're going to test our house now I have three young children young boys I reached out to the human uh relations person and the response I got back with hey what precautions should we take now that I am in the presumed affected range and what I got back was well do what you feel is best for your family so how the heck is that acceptable and I believe the guy's name is Gregory dski or something um so you know when when we're getting responses like that when 300 yards away on Bayer Avenue we've got friends and residents that are being told to leave their houses to not wash their clothes not wash their hands we're right up the street and obviously that that sphere has now reached to our level where they're looking at us saying hey you you guys might be realistically impacted but by the way we're not going to test you until November 13th when I could call Cape Laboratories and they could be at my house tomorrow testing my well for the same thing why is it taking so long uh that is that is one of my issues and just for edification here I I'm I'm in the affected area my house is in the affected area I actually walked around our neighborhood a couple days weeks ago when this first came out and went door to door just anybody who wanted to talk about it I did um and as Gary can tell you we been this is probably the this is the one thing that the state once the state took over then we don't really have a lot to say uh about it and I'm sitting here reading the letter that you got I didn't get one I'm not I'm not close enough I guess but um that's saying November 13th and that's why I was asking for this letter Gary because I I think that that's ridiculous irony not to interrupt the irony inside this pamphlet that they provided stating the urgency of the case proximity to it please fill out this if you'd like your well tested for free because we feel like you're drinking water may be highly contaminated oh and by the way in the back we're going to tell you how deadly and cancerous Mercury is as well as the chemicals and the pesticides that are potentially in your water but we'll be out there in a month because it's so Ur and again I know I'm preaching to the choir here but like it's it's unacceptable it's absolutely unacceptable and to get a response back I don't care where it came from quite frankly I don't think anybody does I know they're going to do their due diligence and they're going to course correct but to drag your feet on what might be potentially impacting people right now from a health standpoint because you want to do that are you kidding me like first of all we don't know how long this has been out there People's Health is at risk you got young children who this is obviously going to impact more and you got a government agency in the state that's just dragging their feet because all they want to do is point fingers at everybody else I as a father I don't give a crap about politics flat out pisses me off and I'm going to make as much noise and it's no disrespect to you to anybody else in this Township I appreciate everything you guys are doing I'll make as much noise up the ladder of the state until they do something or at least they give me some directive to say hey we don't feel like your property is safe I would move your family out I don't even care if they give me money but tell me something about what I what I can expect in my weal or at least come out and test it what what I like you to do what i' like to do if you if you don't mind is forward that information that you got to Gary which we have a copy of the email absolutely and he will jump all over that and put you on the the list that's going to be you know keep you informed because I think think this is the biggest problem will mayor office to my office you're absolutely correct right and so you have to be able to bring some comfort and Direction and from from the direction from May and my own my own Venom we didot off another email this afternoon relative to this particular date for the uh on the 1113 it was unacceptable to us and and it's unacceptable to it's unacceptable to the board and they gave me the direction and they said they released what I needed to do and so we are we have set and we will set so if you continue to send me the email I doing is I've been making an NEX between whoever sends me the email and then putting them on a direct r with the 16 people that we on that Zoom with okay so that you'll be able to email BL them all day long or all night long or whatever level you want but you will have the same contact that we have and then the next time that we're on Zoom I think it's next next um th Thursday we will stream again this is unaccept it is unacceptable to us we have ofy anything I I don't know I'm sure we could we could we could probably just test it ourselves but like you said we can't test everyone identifi area I mean does the health department have any kind of funding that they could support that I would think locally they probably can get there a little quicker maybe I mean yeah talk I talked to the gentleman in C Laboratories today he's already got 10 on the list in our in the neighborhood tomorrow and he's going to be back out Thursday doing probably another 10 so he can and that's the same thorough test that the state's doing that cost about 800 to 1,000 bucks that covers everything so so mean maybe the Department of Health help us with that also Gary ask if you could ask the Department of Health give like General guidelines for those that are in that you know limbo state where they're not sure if they're affected just general guidelines that they could follow to protect themselves and their children I appreciate it thank you thank you anyone else hi my name is Jan Martin I want to know why some streets got TI water and some streets TI Why is that why didn't everybody City one of the one of the reasons is and I'll try to give you a quick answer to that because uh I I was I want to say I was highly involved but it was before I was on Township committee the first time that's when the water came came to town um New Jersey American uh charges a huge amount of money to go down these streets water was very controversial at the time and the township committee at the time decided not to put a must connect clause in the contract with New Jersey American water so this is my understanding of it and this is back in 1995 as Gary said and so when they ran to pipe we didn't have to connect which means they only ran it where they wanted to in a couple years later later they def they defined a plume area because the Texico or the shell or whatever it was at run of Rosevelt and there was a money from a New Jersey spill fund that ran the pipe down Route n to hit some Welles that were contaminated in further north in Beasley's point along with that some residents because the pipe was there and available uh actually got together and funded extensions to their home uh in every one of my conversations that and Gary tested us with the the uh D and whoever else my my response has been the solution sits right in route n why don't we just put the pipe in now and and and it and it comes down to and it shouldn't come down to it's time and money and they're like Gary said the identified plume was back in [Music] 1996 and they didn't put the pipe in till '98 and 999 it took them that long back then to do it so well aren't they still responsible I mean yeah oh yeah I mean they they that that that to me is the end result or the end solution to the whole problem is is sitting right there fact do the matter is we have to handle it as let's identify where we're at let's let's take the affected residents not not us but the the D and the county health or State Health Department effective residents get them squared away and then we'll we'll find a permanent solution the temporary solution is the point of entry systems or the uh filtration systems that we talk about in the statement so well why is the St involved in all of are are safe uh that's what I don't get I mean it's I don't get it either but they are they're doing it by the grid system and they're doing it sexually what can we do to push you child or you had Grand and they're in danger every day is critical and you know it and I know it okay so this is ridiculous for this to occur and I just feel everybody you know gentleman with the little children I mean people have their grandchildren come over and what or or the children go somebody's house who they don't know has a well problem and they're drinking their water not knowing that they have the well problem and their little kids I just don't understand why this state doesn't you know do how can we push the state to to fund you keep sending me the emails keep sending me the emails and as the email datab grow it goes to the same individuals that have the power or the ear of in power that yes we need to connect to push people and for and so more voes like the more we build the email and we send up the TR the committee is in contact the governor is that what you're telling me should we go to the governor go to whoever you whoever you want the board is going to support your but the pay for the the line the township is not going to pay for the line the city a Township does not have water utility American owns L if it's going to be funded going to come out of fund which is a federal funded program to get that money the D wants to systematically go through where plume is and then and then work the solution I mean every street have City town or America right so if the federal government is going to pay what is saying is somebody haset it is but their money and they will work at their leure at their comfort level with the way they want to do so we have to I I think to her Point there's a lack of urgency and that and if you're looking for the short answer it's D your state legislators in the governor's office to be fair to the legislators they are in contact with the mayor and they are aware and supportive of all of our initiatives and doing what they can on their end but if that's that's where you have to beat the doors down the and the D New Jersey D has a spill fund and that's where the money is going to come from and some of that money comes from the federal government too am I correct so that money comes from federal government probably talk to your federal people as well it all floats downhill and boom hopefully we get allocated the money and we'll we'll put it in we we just are not in the Water Business American waterers in the water business we don't we can't go and put we can't install the pipe all right how many people how many homes are affected so far well we're not really we're not sure because we we know how many what we say over a dozen right now we have that have tested positive there's many more homes in the area as we as uh we we just heard and My Philosophy or my thing is I think we should take every home that's affected take a 10mile string or five mile string and anyone that's in there should be tested and we'll find out where we're at St well bandrew is not a state legislature he's he's a congressman okay yeah so so and you could talk to him yeah yeah yes yes the more support we Garner the you know more likely this is to move quicker thank anybody else all right hearing none oh I'm sorry could you please state your name Natalie me um block 47629 I'm not in the Beasley Point area but um I'm thinking about when you um buy a property here and you want to develop it you come to the township for zoning and then construction but you go to the county health department for the water and the sewer or septic that's correct the county health department so why wouldn't these people go to the county county health department department is the representative of the New Jersey D in K May County the D is in charge of all the per the well permits and they are the ones that technically issue them but they come through the county if you buy or sell a property here in upper and you have well water you have to have it tested as anybody knows this Lo here for any amount of time in fact that's how we found out about this was somebody went to sell their property and incomes the uh uh the P or excuse me the get a well test and the well test was bad so they contacted the County Health Department County Health Department started looking into it and that's what it was and actually in one of the first letters we got if you remember it said that we should have our wells tested every well waterer tested every couple years anyway most people already have systems on their their wellwater for iron and pH and that type of thing nobody really has a system for mercury and that's one of the problems so but the county Health Department is the lead Agency for the D in the state of New Jersey so and you also said spill are are you certain that it's a spill no we have no idea spill called SP fund at the that's the money is to be called the super fund or something like that super and the spill fund is financed through part of your fuel tax and all that and I different so it's it's a big partt of money that anyone with this type of problem Taps into okay so did I hear that it's possible it's still coming from that um Texico no you did not okay so it's not coming from that we don't know that's part of the investigation process they haven't identified where it's coming from so that's part of the whole thing that's going on right now that was how the first plate got installed because that was a problem that has been declared clear by the D are they going to be able to determine when the problem this Mercury started happening we have no idea okay so is it u a possibility that it's coming from the BL England plant and the demolition once again we have no idea one of the things that I said in here or we said in the statement is we do not want to point fingers we have no idea where this is coming from none okay so let's not it is important to understand there's no correlation blame cause or any other finger can be pointed to anyone for causing this contamination at this time that's up to the New Jersey D determine where it's coming from okay well I um I've had concerns about um the simmerman farm and um the state yard that was over there and the only people that were ever included in those um conversations um were with in that area and um that problem is going I mean Mr coron would probably know I'll bet you it's probably 20 years now and um you know the middle school and can't can these people get um or above ground water tanks delivered I know that they put above ground water tanks over there at some of those homes um and I believe at the I think there were at least six of them at the middle school also that's a determination by by that group that that assisting home so what what they're doing and what they decide is best for the homeowner the homeowner and the D Department of Health for each individual house so I don't believe they're bringing in tank water or water I believe what we understand is they to put these two different fils in specifically for pfss PF Hees and Mercury at KD f55 and a carbon filter I believe it's the two filters that they're going to use and then um stabilize it and then continue the investigate but as far as each individual home owner is being contacted and the best s of action for each individual home owner will be decided between between those okay well I know I've been been in here I'm going to say the last 6 months asking for a status from I guess the township or the engineer um with regard to over there um at the state yard gave that information I Ryan is working on that and one other for relative to we kind of got Sidetrack relative to what happened over the last couple weeks but I do have request that's State site correct it was the state site but everybody within 200 foot was given letters about it was contamination in the soil the air and the water and to my knowledge it's it's still going on and I believe there's still properties out there that have um the water tanks so they get the water delivered and I'm pretty sure that the school has to get their um water not the tanks but the other water well tested every 6 months and I'm not sure what you know what happens with that how they treat it but um I'm each incident project number this particular case project number track different different project numbers in the area we had to provided any information that we had um coincidentally the B uh BL England plan has been under um try through years uh they had uh continuing paper trail leading all way back to the the exception of the plan so that's a very very well doed plan so coent another went caused confusion because they werey another plume that happened years ago at point that had nothing to do with this particular plume and then the conversation P the two PL Were Somehow connected but they're not so these are these are well documented uh issues and um you know each one systematically at if you run water lines and if you continue are people going to be forced to hook up to them because that's my understanding that you're trying to get sewers and water down Route n well that that it's already down route nine Natalie it's the water's already there waterers right there at Route 9 in Bay a so they if you have a contaminated well and the distill fund puts a water line in the street in front of your house you're going to be required to cap your well and hook up to the water line and then you so much a running foot for the piping yes do you have any idea what the last prices were for that it might S I don't know we don't know yet this is they might provide the hookups yeah we don't no I mean we none of us can anticipate what's going to happen so it's not really fair to speculate you have all these people in the audience here who are really going through a tough time and struggl so for us keep growing random ideas that may or may not happen really isn't fair to them at this point you know we want to try and keep it factual keep what we know is going to happen what we know what we're anticipating so it's well I'd like to know too because so would I I would like to sell all my properties I would too uh anybody else Amy riyle I did get a letter recently about the other plume that you just spoke about I was just going to email you tomorrow but if you have any information just about the posos in the water it was like a survey that letter is specific to ongoing and requirements by the site so it's a prior prior action that they required to continue to continue to Monitor and I sat on a conference we were confused first was a solicitation we didn't we told we explain what it sounds like they came on to my property it's the letter almost sounds scammy or like says we came onto your property and test you're well like I didn't see anybody but if you can just give me like somewhere to look you know I'll go back and look up the information for the ongoing situation Rel to that yes communication I will no I'm not send me what it was and then I'll send you what I have relative to that we thought it was a scam based upon people getting that letter to to them for Tes and then after the third or four and theyed Young's name on the retired years ago Joan and I up getting them on the phone what yes send me an email and I will you their number which is what they tracked with that project number goes back consider amount of time and what the engineer told me was a continuing requirement by the DP to they were very very Pete Frisco 741 SE road that was my wife um are are the two letters are the two investigations connected there's so two completely different it's just ironic that we received the CSCO letter around the same time that the is doing that's what I was confused we were confused as well we solicitation because the and then letter came out and then we didn't know again had some anomalies in the letter that was inacurate so that kind of RA the flag for what it was and it's aully written letter and so [Music] so completely unrelated incidences uh going fromel grou Holdings England all the way from Lage of that particular property requ to do okay thank you anyone else sorry um my name is Linda baitman from strair I have two quick things one is that the erosion from the north end of town from SE view down to about Williams has exposed the black tarp that's under the pathways um and I just wondering if someone from Public Works might be able to come out and and um get that out of there it ends up getting ripped out by the high tides and wind and very heavy to move when it's water logged and filled with sand um I was walked over the weekend and tried to move some of it and it's just you say it Wass it's it starts around Williams but it goes north where the where the cliffs have formed um and it's you'll see it it's just like it's not the tarp but it's a heavy construction thing that they put down probably knows better it's up over top of the under the yellow dirt very familiar with it anyway it hangs down and eventually it'll wash out if it's broken up uh and the other thing is I wanted to introduce the the sa has a new president as of October 1st uh Janice is traveling so I'd like to introduce you to Colleen Jones she is the new SAA president for the next two years she's a year round resident um in terms of Strathmere time she's a newcomer only been here four years but we're excited to have new blood and all new officers and I'm sure you'll get to know them as time goes on thank you than uh anyone else yes Paul Paul M Liv Petersburg I've had a lot of customers and clients of mine calling and asking where should I be directing them for for more information or for who should they call for with regard to the water the water problem the administrator's office so I told them the call Gary's all yes okay and then from you guys are speaking with the the D has there been any like uh if this happens this will go on so you said about 13 homes are infected right now they have um they have not given us if then statements if you're well tests positive okay for the the affected substances or that they're looking for they will immediately first thing they do is give you a drink and water supply okay second thing if it's bad enough they will relocate you okay third thing is they will put in a water system for you they already have contractors lined up and they will put the water treatment system in systems in fourth thing and one of the things that we did through Gary is you get a hold of the construction office we Fast Track everything that's supposed to be done uh and and that's to to assist them in getting that treatment system going on is that posted someplace is there a link or a Facebook post that tells you these steps no that would be coming from the D they're they're going to tell you what to do especially if you're Wells affected that came from our last conference call and I'd be careful with Facebook P post there's a lot of misinformation on the face I me from you guys your Upper Township I've been sending people your message earlier yes so I just didn't know if there was a new update that's coming up that's well it will we will update the affected residents if you have if they test positive then then you can get a hold of our our office and we'll give you all the information from there but we're not going to put out there this is what the DP is going to do we can't spend their money this is what they told us they're going to do yeah doesn't mean they're going to do it okay but this is how they told us that the process will work we were affected right away as soon as the county health found out about it the first Wells they went dropped off cases of water then they started finding more and more Wells and they said okay we got to get the DP involved which they did the got involved and now they've got a they got a act what do they call it the Readiness action people something like that so do I tell people that haven't gotten their Wells tested yet you can tell me this to reiterate at this time mediation for impacted homeowners will be to refer them to the spill fund to have the cost associated with the installation of the point of entry of system covered at no cost residents who already collected independently or throughout the health office two water samples that are in the process are advised to hold on to any receipts for the purchase BT water made from the DAT of the second confirmation and installation to the public all those costs will be reimbursed through the again is that is that like on your link office or taking on individual basis right contact nothing I can do the guy from Lake guy from homestead have not had watered they have to wait thep deci to do independently want to go out and spend and if backi keep the receip netive you have mind yeah I've had a lot of clients asking for that so that's a huge point I can tell them to get attested if they word keep the receipt and then hopefully the D would reimburse will will Reb the Emil cap been taking out from email and sending it to the everybody in a has a little different need some have so we're trying to relocate some people that have p and some of the relocation um accomodations don't accept so so you know with each with each move comes another complication relative to accomodating the amount of variables that are involved yeah absolutely there's a lot of variables that you guys to deal with but if there's like a a broader thing of people are concerned where do they go for the information that that you just said they go to me and then out okay do mayor problem the more information that we have the more tight the message of the May is as what we can do and what Happ to the public yeah but that's if you want piece of go get a test go get test it's positive and get two samples D says hold on to everything and we're going to re all right sounds like a a plan I can do that thank you guys thank you anyone else all right this point I'll close the public comment portion of the meeting and we'll move move on with the agenda Joan Under the consent agenda all consent agenda items listed below are routine in nature and will be enacted by one motion if the May or any Committee Member wishes a particular agenda item to be considered separately it will be removed from consent agenda and acted on separately moov we approve the consent agenda items number 1 through 21 you call roll please Mr Corson yes Mrs Hayes yes Mr nain Mr Panos May Newman yes motion carried under ordinances we have the introduction and first reading of ordinance number 14 2024 an ordinance adopting an amendment to the Redevelopment plan for B's Point Redevelopment area within the township of upper County of Kate May state of New Jersey Mr monzo yes mayor um and also Mr Mal is here who drafted the ordinance this is basically accomplishes two objectives and the first is to uh make sure that before uh a redeveloper makes application to the planning board for the Redevelopment of the beas Le Point site that it first enters into an Redevelopment agreement approved by the township committee uh so that's something that's important to get done before it goes forward with the planning Board review and the second thing is it establishes a a minimum height for any hotel developed on that site at 60 ft which is in line with the plan that the township committee has been promoting and also um helps the developer out with d issues so it's a consistent and it's a it's a um a change that they requested but I think it's also beneficial for the township as well very good and Joan when will the uh November 25th November 25th okay uh this time I'll entertain a motion for the introduction move we introduce ordinance number 14 of 2024 with a public hearing and final adoption of November 25th 2024 have a second second did you call the role Please Mr Corson yes Mrs Hayes Mr nappin yes Mr Panos yes mayor Newman yes motion carried under new business Knights of Columbus 9113 moncor James J zagar's Resurrection Council request to hold a raffle 584 at immacula Hall on March 15th 2025 move to we approve second call the roll Mr Corson yes M Hayes Mr nappen Mr Panos mayor Newman yes motion carried Upper Township Rescue Squad request to hold a trunk or treat event on Tuesday October 22nd 2024 at Amanda field move we approve the call the rooll Mr Corson yes Mr nappin I'm sorry Mrs Hayes yes Mr nappin Mr Panos mayor Newman yes yes motion carried number 25 New Jersey Best Practices worksheet for calendar year 2024 s25 you have anything to say about thatal beautiful thank you very much good job to you and to Barbara for getting that putting that together and Ryan Darry and Joanne and everybody else that does it so I'll move that uh we accept that uh report or is that what do we have to do we have to we just had to review it just revie you can do a motion if you want reviewed it thank you very much go ahead number 26 Stockton Coastal Research Center second quarter Beach survey Ryan yeah so I know uh from visual inspection uh this report is a little outdated so the survey was completed in June 2024 obviously we know a lot more sand has washed away from that Northern Area since then um but based on this report they put a number on it uh specifically at that Northern Area it's about 38,000 cubic yards of uh sand has been washed away from the Northern Area so that's about 8% of what we brought into the beach as part of the army Corp of Engineers project so 8% since June I absolutely assume that will increase when we we have the survey back that was completed uh in end of September um we'll get the report in a couple weeks which identifies that additional cubic yard to wash away from the Northern Area uh I know the goal now is Army Corps of Engineers will be doing their yearly review um at that time and after they complete that we'll be in conversation on how we could better protect that area of strap um to avoid continue dredging soil in for it to just be washed away so definitely we'll know a lot more after the next survey is completed as well as when Army cor Engineers completes the review of the project than you under 27 we have the sign ordinance uh Mr dearo may we got that we' deal with the p week or so this is about the size and bringing them into more favorable way to use them anday them and [Music] location ites so if it's looking shy then you want it to be remov but looks good and they're maintaining it so there is some complication I think this is actually something that we're that we do on on occasion is bringing our ordinances up to the the the current years like uh these things didn't exist you know back when some of these sign ordinances were written and they are a pretty effective way to promote Township businesses and I think it's a good idea that we adjust our ordinance to accordingly to the new technology and new products has the planning board been involved with this or no this is just on the Z Would you like we should probably go there because it is part of Z EXA what we're doing we're updating it to be more a little bit more friendly uh so this way and it's started with the neighborhood disp finger pointing so step in and nobody get that's kind of how it happen and I think the big thing here is our current code only allows for these signs to be permitted for 23 day periods so realistically you're only allowed to have these signs out for 60 days throughout the year I know that was one of the items that Liz was contemplating and changing uh to allow a greater time period um but obviously we'll be discussed further come backing we come seems to be and then okay uh your pleasure on the bills hereby move that all claim submitted for payment if this meeting be approved and Incorporated in full in the minutes of this meeting would you call the rooll Please Mr Corson yes Mrs Hayes Mr nappin Mr Panos mayor Newman yes motion Carri uh committee with pancers mayor on this resolution can you add one more item um sure and it's for contract negotiations for affordable housing it's in connection with a project that's come before the zoning board okay could you do that uh contract negotiation for affordable housing all right I hear by move that a resolution be incorporated into minutes authorizing the council committee to enter into executive session of the following matters pursuing to the open me act number one personnel number two contract negotiation colletive bargain agreement number three contract negotiation charity services agreement for court services number four contract negotiation mua host Community benefit agreement number five contract contract negotiation Redevelopment agreement number six potential litigation Prescott Avenue and the newly added number seven contract negotiation for affordable housing I also includ my motion the estimated time and in the circumstances under which the discussion conducted in close session can be disclosed to the public as follows it is anticipated that the the matters discussed in Clos session may be disclosed to the public Upon A determination from the township committee that the public interest will no longer be served by such jail with respect to employment Personnel matters such discussions will be made public if when formal action is taken or when the individuals involved consent that can be made public with respect a contract negotiation such matters will be made public when negotiations have ceased and there is no longer any reason for confidentiality with respect to litigation matters such discussion will be made public when litigation is complete and the applicable appeal period has expired second would you call the role Please Mr yes Mrs Hayes Mr nappin Mr Panos May Newman yes motion carried okay we'll take five