adequate notice of this regular meeting was provided to the public in the Press on January 17 2024 and was posted at the municipal building in accordance with the open public meetings Act njsa 10 colon for s please stand with me and join on a pledge to our flag I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States ofer and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice roll call please council member D benedetto pres council member Higgins council member Sparta Pres council president rudo here this evening we are very very proud and pleased to have with us an eagle scout Dane Walker he is going to be receiving his Eagle Scout badge which as far as I know is the penultimate or given to Scouts during their scouting career I've had the privilege of attending a number of Courts of honor and they are at absolutely wonderful I've seen some of the work that the Scouts have done for their uh service to the community portion of their badge requirements and they've been outstanding we have some of that work in front of our own building itself so uh I would like to have the mayor since he's signing this he wants to read the proclamation loudly please okay whereas since estment in 1911 the eagle Stout award represents the highest ranking within the Boy Scouts of America and whereas qualifying for the prestigious badge requires considerable perseverance hard work and dedication few Scouts and whereas Dane Walker member of troop 912 for over eight years has fulfilled his major his excuse me his his major Community Eagle Scout project by redesigning the flag pole area at the Vernon Firehouse company number one with a multi uh obtaining donations of decorative colored stones Lumber and a fire hydrant symbolizing the time and efforts provided by the members of the volunteer fire organizations and whereas Dane is a senior at the Sussex County Technical School in the Allied Health program with the goal in the future to be a physical therapist and whereas through hard work loyalty community service and helpfulness Dane has realized his goal of achieving the rank of eagles gout now therefore be proclaimed by the township that sincere congratulations is hereby extend to Dane Walker for this commandable achievement the prestigious Eagle Scout award as a member of the Boy Scout TR [Music] 912 in keeping with the Scout motto be prepared perhaps you might like to say a few words no don't go away you can well yeah yeah uh thank you means a lot take going through boy for so many years um you know I I always like never really had thought of going to like all the way to Eagle but I'm really glad that I did and I stuck through all through these years and um thank you thank you thank you sister want to come up too come on sister come on sorry my it's great because we're back here okay GL congratulations con mayor will you have your comments yes thank you council president I just have a few things to discuss and again congratulations to Mr Walker of troop 912 um this is a huge being an eagle scout will prepare you for the future this is an achievement that must be added and I was talking to him just a minute ago about added this to your resume because it really does it shows uh what kind of individual he truly is giving back to the community helping others be kind uh respectful and uh it's just an allaround great thing so again congratulations also um to all that you may or may not know um we have uh about 33 offices uh that cover 70 square miles and close to 25,000 close to 20 less than 25,000 residents this is significantly less than most townships um as I brought up in probably a few Council uh meetings ago about uh how we compare to other townships uh in equivalent to size um again this is uh this resolution that's uh that's in front of you today is for a new uh police officer Robert Balman uh this is initiated because I guess Sergeant Sergeant Munch was uh retiring um or will be retiring in August so last week we had a full panel interview headed up by Lieutenant Dan young or younger they call uh along with Captain Jason Hall uh detective Curry myself and business administrator Tina Krauss which again was overseen by by Chief young we had the opportunity to ask the applicant a series of questions Mr Balman um has obviously went through an extensive background check to even get to this stage plus he is currently a part-time dispatcher for Burgen County I believe and also he is a parttime dispatcher for Vernon right now so his foot is already happed in the door uh little something about him um is he's born and raised in Vernon and uh so he's uh he he stood up pretty well to our to our questions and very very respectfully so um we we are wishing him the the best of luck um anyway going forward uh just did a couple of things around town well for the building anyway uh contractors and homeowners uh in Vernon our building department uh hours have changed from it's summer only right now it's from 8 it's it was from 8:30 to 4: now it's from 8 to 4: um I know this may not seem much to some but it does mean a lot to others and we've already this morning we've already seen a bunch of people that did come in and take advantage of that uh a couple other things happening in town June 12th um there will be a helicopter flying low checking all the jcpnl transmission lines as a routine Patrol so please don't be alarmed um and I know there's been a on to another topic and there's been a lot of complaints about the vegetation on the medium on 5:15 and I just want to be clear that we have called the county to have taken care of this um but somehow the weeds were my fault but that's all right um if that's all the complaints Then I then I'll take it um also just want to mention I know there's been a lot of talk about the three people who originally originally applied to the beautification committee one person um applied to the EAC committee as well and she mentioned in the application that she would choose either or now I elect I put her into the uh e that committee because she had a bad experience last year and I told her that under the new Administration uh and the new chairman Peter Knight who's been who's been done a great job she is now amongst uh other former business owners and professionals and the work that they're doing out of that group is has been great so um I appreciate that so that's where she is so that's one of the applicants the second applicant is my daughter and uh this is something that I wasn't going to mention on this forum but I'm going to be a grandfather for the second time so uh you know as first many firsttime mothers know that uh being pregnant and uh working full-time um you know could be could be a lot could be stressful so um and that just leaves one applicant which I feel is probably too much for one person um on that committee so so that's where we stand on the beautification committee um we are still taking applications for the historical uh reservation uh preservation commission so uh we do have three applicants now um also a couple other things that we are looking to do is kind of give a little bit of an outlift on the town um I have requested from the county to plant trees on 515 you know they say when when you when you're given uh you know when life gives you lemons right make lemonade so that's the way I kind see that medum is is a it's is lemons so um we are going to be putting um some Stone Planters uh in between those trees so hopefully there's a little protection um in between that um and we're looking for strictly uh donations on that which we've already gotten some um well commitments anyway so that's just part of a little bit of an uplift we're also looking for um donations on a Town clock I'll have that that location out as soon as I could so we're just trying to make that 515 stretch a little bit more presentable um and that town clock will be surrounded by curved Planters so it really would just really give ear a new a new a new look I think and I think we can all agree that the current look right now looks deserted so um so that's what I have um just on some of the the little the the little touches around town um I do have a lot of things in the hopper right now um so hopefully uh we'll be putting out some really some good stuff um I also want to just want to thank the clerk's office um Marcy and Lauren for uh for the election for election day the and and the DPW for setting up all those po machines I mean their morning started at 4:30 and went to the into the evening and thank you very much and two other things real quick June 23rd is our Vernon's first car show so uh please come down there'll be a lot of um activities there DJ food trucks um this is in support of our local fire and EMS and also next year I'm going to kind of going to kind of jump out on this right now I just want to let you know that I have been uh having conversations with the uh Fire Department in Warick and we are bringing the carnival to Vernon so um hopefully I spoke with the Board of Ed so far we seem to be you know they seem to welcome that so but both have further discussions on this I know this is not something that we again uh really out there but it's just very very early stage so I just I thought it was pretty exciting to uh I know a lot of people are pretty excited about trying to have something like that so I think that's that's all my comments um I I thank the chief and the captain for being here if they have you guys have any questions on on anything on the resolution um but other than that that's all thank you may I have a motion to open the floor to public comment move by Mr Sparta is there a second second second by Mr Higgins all in favor signify by saying I I motion carries the period ised to three minutes on agenda items only Council make comments please give us your name you can step up here okay okay MCL Thomas how you do and Mr rudo I'm not GNA remove my hat either you know we'll start that out uh didn't ask you to I know but the last time that was a long time ago was that oh yeah like in 2011 carrying that around you you got a lot of other things should be careful I remember too much and here's another memory I have um it has to do with the veterans and you weren't here when they redid the ordinance uh for the veterans uh tax deferment when they did that what they did was they roll back the taxes uh for when it's approved when you folks approved the tax deferment for the veteran the original ordinance took it back to the annual year you change that and you have back another year uh I argued at that time that what you're doing is you're giving a tax deferment for life you know why are we going back one you having said that you know that the law is and the attorney can vouch for this the law is this the state does not require counties or municipalities to give tax deferment to Veterans they leave that up to the county and they leave that up to the municipality having said that there are certain conditions in certain counties let's say Bergen County if you're 100% disabled it has to be your primary residence you cannot make over x% per year and for all of that you have to document that every year and for all of that you get $200 when Coral logic says it's the law what they're referring to is your ordinance you're giving away my tax dollars so you know a lot of this a lot of this stuff U as you know the pack act uh I assume you've heard of that the VA opened up u a whole universe of claims not just Ancient Orange Gulf War syndrome burn pits burn pits but has this materials a whole slew of stuff so you're going to be seeing a lot more veterans coming in with 100% disability and you know at some point you can't keep throwing ships onto the pile and think we're not going to be raising taxes and as I said it my when you change the ordinance the county has to give you permission to weave their taxes granted that tax is going onto the rest of the tax base but you can't tell the county what to do because you're on a lower run of the political ladder County tells you it's up to you but nobody nobody came back with that ordinance and that was a disagreement I had with the CFO at that time haven't said that have a good night thank you is there anyone else that wish to address the council see no one else coming forward may I have a motion to close the bo of the mve by Mrs de benedetto was second second in favor signify by saying I I oppos motion Carri all members of the council have received a build list for their approval does anyone have any comments on it questions what is this say neuter blanket check 61858 check two or three of them in there it is you know well um I have noidea I don't have that in front of me but but I do know that we uh we do pay for uh the neutering of animals when they when when we they come into our facility that's a um blanket account SP Spang and noodle that's why it's called blanket okay got it so what so what are we staying in neutering dog like dogs that we find on the street and stuff if they're not dogs and cats yeah yeah yes dogs that we put up for adoption yeah thanks anyone else no now I'll move on well there's low low cost span neuter too do we ever take advantage of that or we can't it doesn't we have a running agreement with local veterinarians and okay I believe there's a name there's a I see them over ver inent there father's John is in here and uh the other one was um warm hearts or uh cold cold nose warm heart yeah okay thank you that's it and also the animal rights Alliance Incorporated all members have received a copy of the minutes of our meeting of May 30th U may I have a motion to put that on the floor those minutes on the floor for consideration moved moved by Mr is there a second seconded by Mr V benedetto are there any questions comments subsolutions to the minutes of that meeting no okay can I have a mo on the motion is made may I have a roll call please to council member D benedetto yes council member Higgins yes Sparta yes council president res yes motion carries consent agenda please let me know if you wish to have any of the resolutions separated so we can vote on those separately resolution 24-1 164 renewal of liquor licenses Township of Vernon for 2024 2025 licensing term resolution 24-1 165 renewal of inactive liquor license TZ tnz holding requiring special ruling in the township of Vernon for the 2425 licensing term resolution 24-1 166 a resolution requesting authorization to hire certain police officers resolution 24- 167 proving a charitable solicitors permit MAV volunteer fire department resolution 2-1 168 refund for totally disabled veteran block 436 lot 14 Sakowski resolution 24-1 169 a refund for totally disabled veteran block 106 Lot 21 Stewart resolution 24-70 chapter 159 resolution requesting approval of Revenue and appropriation amending the 2024 budget as a revenue an appropriation of $ 69,4 3511 resolution opposed ing the proposal by the Delaware National Park and lenp preserve Alliance to change the designation of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area to a national park reserve resolution 24172 resolution supporting assembly resolution ar133 and Senate resolution Sr 93 opposing all proposals to change the designation of the Delaware Water Gap National recreational area to a national park and preserve including proposal by the ne Delaware River National Park Len valy I'm sorry lenp preserve Alliance resolution 24173 refund for totally disabled veteran uh block 571 Lot 8 core logic resolution 24-17 4 refund for totally disabled block uh veterans block 571 Lot 8 core logic resolution 24175 refund for totally disabled uh veteran block 512 lot 138 core logic a resolution for totally disabled veteran block 512 lot 138 core logic refund for totally disabled veteran resolution 24177 block 219 lot one for logic resolution 24178 refund for total disabled veteran block 219 One Core logic and let me may I have a motion to put these on the floor for consideration moved by Mrs de benedetto is there second second second by Mr Spartan no questions and comments question on which one no I got a bunch of them okay we ask to have those we can remove them you want to remov or just I don't want mine removed you want yours removed what what removed my uh voted onar yeah i' like I was waiting for you to say is there open for a discussion but it didn't come so well we'll do it yeah thanks so go ahead to you okay so uh an can you just the one we discussed um 24-65 liquor license for the Heaven Hill Farm location if you could just explain that I was trying to explain it to Bill but I think you'll do a better job so he's already had State approval I think until 2025 um and they are working at something I believe at a Heavenly Hill Farm um and and or the property at uh they own a very large piece of uh commercial property right on 94 um that if the property didn't sell it was you know open to sell a Lial license with it but there are some issues uh working with the D uh on that property uh because of this uh Bobcat Crossing so they're there's working on that but also uh um they may just do something at the Heavenly Hill Farm but it it has to go with wherever that license I think is issued right so where's that that's do you know where that license I think it's it's in here I have to I'd have to go through it but address of the license is Heaven Hill Farm it is heav okay so so they are they are working um on something there but I believe they are good until 2025 anyway okay so they're working on something yeah I my concern is I just I don't want people holding on to licenses just to hold on to them other people might want them so that's why I asked I agree absolutely yeah we were just handed uh newpaper by Mar here that Governor Murphy signs legislation overhauling New Jersey liquor law for the first time in nearly a century and then there's resolutions on here to vote for liquor licenses what does this new law do with our Vote or I didn't get a chance to read it I just um resolution 2 4 sorry 24 164 those are our um yearly liquor licenses that have to be approved these are liquor licenses that are active um you know the liquor stores you go to the the um restaurants that you go to these are all active I highlighted because I added them on after the agenda went out because they they paid for their renewals um as far as 2465 that is a liquor license that um is in Pocket um it's been in pocket for quite a few years but um you know they they do everything they need to do to keep it in pocket that's what the um uh 1239 uh release uh relief is they apply to the state for that um to keep it in Pocket now there are new laws for um inactive liquor license and then I'm I'm going to let Matt um explain that to you better yeah so the the short version is that one of the things that the new law has done a whole bunch of stuff but for what we're talking about is to discourage people from sitting on licenses indefinitely right and it allows a couple different options for a municipality or a license holder depending on the specific situation so in some instances um it allows Township to issue essentially issue a new license you know void the old one and issue a new one um so if you have somebody you know do have somebody who's been uh holding it for more than eight years uh at this point you could not yet because the way the law timing is it's still the law doesn't go into effect until like eight months or seven months after it was passed so there's still a a window you can't do anything just yet but um uh you could decide if that license holder is not going to do anything with that license they don't want to hold a municipality kind of Hostage with it you could consider issuing a new one municipalities can uh or or um if you if you do hold a liquor license and you say well I don't want to use it in Vernon but I want to use it in a in a neighboring Town there's some or if you're in Vernon and you want one you can uh they can exchange pocket licenses between towns um has to be contiguous it can't be can't sell want the Bridgewater or vice versa but it's got to be um nearby so it gives a little bit more flexibility to bounce if you want them to another town doesn't or if the you know the user of the holder of the license says yeah I want to do something but I just don't have an opportunity here but I have one next door they can do it or prob can come back and say you know you're not takeing action with it we're going to take action for you to we can put it back into put it back into play um and but you don't have to either so if depending on the situation it's discretionary from the council so you're not nothing happens automatically so if you have somebody that is holding a license but you're okay with it or you don't want to issue a new one you don't have to do it it's discretion so do we know how long this license has been held in limbo here that they well none of so the one that your as on your resolution your agenda for tonight um would not be subject to this new law uh because one will actually have some kind of two effect yet uh and two because they're subject to the special ruling it's a little bit different if you have the license that um you have another license which is not on the agenda for tonight I believe correct not on for tonight which has been uh not used for uh eight years since 2015 2016 so in August we have the don't have to do in August but as soon as August you would have the option of taking some action with regard to that license so is a party that holds that license is going to expire in August I I assume that's a valuable valuable license that could be sold um Matt is talking about Legends liquor license right now um so uh yeah I would think so yeah so there's a lot of value in that license yeah yeah there's stuff that everyone can you know there's basically options but the point is to say somebody who's holding a license hey you've been holding it for eight years you either better do something about it quickly sell it activate it do something that is going to put it into use or if you don't then you know there's going to be we can go out and issue a new license and you know you can take action against theirs um but you don't have to again that's a discussion you have right no come in and say hey I'm going to do it but I any another six months you could say okay or you could say no we're gonna move forward yeah not knowing who owned these before even the name Heaven Hill came up or Legends so in the documents it mentioned something about being part of Warwick or a company in Warwick own some one in heaven hell is that it that's the Vernon in that's the guy who buying the Vern or bought the Vernon in right he's from Warwick well he well that's 1833 house that they they purchased the Vernon in liquor license and business last year so they purchased that and they own that license yes and there's there's only a certain number of licenses are issued per town right right that's what makes them so valuable it's built on what population or it's h yeah it's generally population now they've they've allowed um some you know if you have a mall you get some extra licenses now they're obviously trying to expand for some of the craft breweries there's some there some nuances to it um but the the short answer is it's populationbased and um but is it Legends and Kites and red tail Lodge all over and above what's issued based on population because they meet the criteria of um a hotel or just say exception yeah I I don't know the answer to those specifically but I can tell you that it's the the basic answer is population but there's it's your point there's all types of different licenses and there's different hotels have one thing you know malls now have another there's um so but the point is that still limited generally um or there's limitations in the law of how many you can you can have you don't have to issue the full amount that you're entitled to population goes up you can say well we don't want to issue I'm almost some does because it's valuable municipalities make money off if we do issue them but you know there's dry towns around the state that not issue licenses no um not to interrupt you but um it's uh council member D benedetto I see you're looking at um resolution 24164 those are our yearly liquor licenses no what's TRS though Drews is umst oh okay L Post Yeah they they expire June 30th and if you don't approve them by resolution J come July 1 these businesses will not be able to sell liquor right so that's why you you'll see in the next couple years every June they'll be on the agenda and I make sure they're on the agenda it's very important because I do not want to send the police to these businesses to tell them that they cannot sell liquor and that's what I would have to do so if if all the active comp businesses are approved tonight the inactive ones are not then the inactive ones lose that license or it's just extended how do we well the only one excuse me the ones that are on only one that's inactive I believe is the B and Z 241 164 all the licenses that I have listed on here they're all active licenses right yeah and I I mean they they have to the other one is an inactive but it's been it has to meet certain approval criteria for approval by the state which it has right and they now have one more year of being able to hold that license in pocket before they have to do something about I think the question that councilman's asking if I may is um so we understand what's happening with these licenses for 164 we understand the license for 165 I think the question is how many other we've talked about Legends a little bit but are there other licenses that are inactive pocket licenses that aren't on one of the resolutions the Legends no um the only um inactive pocket licenses that we have are legends and um tnz holding there are a couple licenses that are not on um the resolution for the yearly licenses yet because I'm waiting for some but they will be on the next agenda I will make sure because I do not want these businesses to not be able to and every license comes up annually sorry 1833 houses active well they just bought it last year so they're not cons it's not considered in Pocket because this is the first time they're actually renewing okay so next year they don't use their license they will be in and did you say next month or next meeting the others that are in the inactive list well I mean so far tnz holding gave me everything that I need for you to either approve the resolution or not approve the resolution um as far as Legends I'm waiting for something for them but legends hasn't been um the council hasn't um approved Legends liquor license application four years because they owe the town a lot of money so um cman I think the other the question know there's going to be other licenses on the next meeting which are current active license holders who just didn't get all their paperwork in on time for today for today so rather than hold up these These are on so that these businesses are done right and then some of the other licenses that are active right now currently selling alcohol maybe as we speak but haven't didn't get their paperwork in on time or whatever they needed to do fees Etc they would be on for your your next June Meeting those are active licenses that just didn't make it on this and I assume you'll always separate out the inactive in its own resolution well that's what tez holding is I mean going forward for any well yes it has to yes oh okay because those are the um 24164 those are active licenses they haven't skipped a beat they have been renewed every year and done everything they need to do to be renewed would it make sense separate and they use their license would it would it make sense to separate the inactives are on tonight's agenda move them to the next meeting with the others there's only one going to happen to their business holding is the only one that's inactive and that's a separate resolution that's 24165 the only one that's in active is already separated out okay in 165 you typically don't want to if if you can avoid it um because the liquor license are so strict uh you know hypothetically let's these businesses got their licenses in on time the reason why you wouldn't hold these let's say and do them all let's say at the next meeting do as a group is quite frankly um let's say God forbid uh there's a major storm and you don't get to have a meeting they can't sell on July 1 so unless there no we don't want that right no so right around the corner you know ideally everyone gets in earlier but for any number of reasons Sometimes they come in they sow a fee they didn't know or they missing a piece of paper that they have to do and the laws are pretty um clear about what needs to happen in order to get renewed and for the most part it's a paperwork issue um unless there's a you know a special concern about a particular license generally it's you know they complete all their paperwork they complete their fees um you know the the police can weigh in to the extent that there's any concerns or things like that that that happen I believe they have to be also specially uh noticed too if I recall um I don't remember about that they have I know you're getting new license you do but um yeah yeah there's there's a whole process for but typically unless there's an issue it's a paperwork issue unless there's a particular concern over a particular license it's just generally every year they renewed every year but it's a big deal if they don't get renewed because approximately how many more are you waiting for um three three more yeah and just because um like Matt said they might um they might have to um uh send in their local fee or a piece of paperwork that I need to to put it on the agenda got it but I will make sure that they are all on the agenda that the three um additional licenses for the uh June 24th because I I don't want to see them not be able to serve right when we get when we get closer into to August we can have a a more robust conversation about what if anything Township wants to do with regard to Legends you know what are the specific and you know what are the ACT actual options and how do we we know what the the law says but what's exact process for that you know in terms of resolution do we need to notify them do we want to notify them you know we can walk the township through all of that and August is the first time you can do it but you don't have to it's no magic to August or than that's the first time you can um but you don't have to act any particular got it thank you thanks any other the only other questions are gentleman Tom from the audience brought up the some questions concerning the legality of the veterans benefits for the total you know uh non-t tax payment stuff made some statements about the law I don't know if Matt would want to comment on that I can comment generally these are are typically things not to be the typical lawyer who then points the other lawyer to say that you know they handle it but typically your tax cancel tax Council handles these things but um just to be clear I there's nothing illegal or improper about it I think the comment was that it's a policy decision that you as a Township have made with regard to how you are treating the U you know the disabled veterans and I think the the common was pointing out that you don't by state law so your ordinance says you know you're following your ordinance um these resolutions these these uh you know follow what your current ordinance is I think the comment was geared to say you could change your ordinance if you wanted to if you wanted to be less generous with how you treat you know veterans or disabled veterans um State framework sets kind of a here's what you can do you don't have to do it and there's some gray area in between in terms of what is or isn't allowed and you make a policy decision as to that um and I I think that you so from a legal standpoint these are all completely consistent with your ordinance which is consistent with the law no issues policy question is if you wanted to be less generous you could do that the concern being that what is that the law how you define a disabled veteran has expanded you know so maybe what you think of as a disabled veteran is not a broader class of people who may be qualified Ying uh or making sure or looking into the issue of are they investment properties are they um do they have tenants on the property usually your tax Council and your tax assessor look at some of that but it's also based off of your ordinance so I have a client owns piece of property sa a veteran um but he has a tenant so in his instance it's not getting the full know full property tax deduction he's getting a percentage because he occupies a percentage of the property and then they are up percentages but um but so for purpos of tonight these are consistent with your ordinance which is what you are obligated to follow right now right going forward if you wanted to look at whether you do or don't want to change it then you know we can work with your tax Council to give you more information as to what the options are and do you want to change it or not um obviously pros and cons and policy decisions on that great answer my question thank you roll call vote please I'm sorry council member D benetto yes council member Higgins yes council member Sparta yes council president rudo yes Mar carries uction of ordinances ordinance 24-7 and ordinance amending chapter 5 article 16 of the municipal code of the township of Vernon I have a motion to introduce ordinance 24-7 moved moved by Mrs de benedetto is there a second second second by Mr Higgins um roll call please sh yes council member Higgins yes yes council president yes motion carries all right this will be on the after the asole period this will be on the next agenda item session um ordinance 24-11 and ordinance of the township of Vernon County of Sussex state of New Jersey addressing limit limousine licensing may I have a motion to introduce ordinance 24-11 moved by Mr Higgins is there a second second seconded by Mrs de benedetto CC member D benedetto yes council member Higgins have council member Sparta yes council president Ruda yes carries ordinance 24-12 an ordinance of the township of Vernon County of suss state of New Jersey amending chapter 374 titled nuisances Public Health to address exterior lighting standards may I have a motion to introduce this ordinance 24-12 moved by Mr SP second for a second seconded by Mr de benedetto roll call vote any questions on it or that this is an introduction D benedetto yes yes member Sparta yes yes carries public comment may I have a motion to open the FL to public comment this is section of the meeting where public comments five minutes item they wish to address moved moved by Mr spart is there a second second seconded by Mrs de benedetto all in favor signify by saying I I opposed the motion carries anyone here wishing to address the councel St D just a couple comments I was going to bring it up before but it didn't seem important enough and resolution 24166 references officers plural when I actually looked at the ordinance it looked like it was just one officer are being approved be at so there's no confusion as to what is being approved yes I will and um or 2412 I know it's just been introduced but it talks about and night lighting I've got a neighbor in my neighborhood that has a big three LED bulb that just lights up his whole yard like daytime it's on all night do the dawn shines in two or three of the houses I just wonder how that's going to be monitored or controlled uh we have an ordinance in the township right now that you're not supposed to fly the the banner type Flags there's three of them in front of the hot dog PL feathers the feathers there's two of them across the street at the um at the dentist office and I know there was a big fuss about it and I know that there I'm certain I haven't been able to find it but I'm certain there was an ordinance path that those were prohibited absolutely I would CL that used and right now they're in the Town Center you can't drive down 94 without seeing them we've got a building right up the street that in my opinion has an illegal fire escape I understand the council has brought it to the attention of the mayor I don't know if it's been addressed um it's the back door of a building there's no landing and it's like a shepher hook fire escape straight down sitting on cinder blocks just can't imagine that can comply with any kind of ordinance you've got the Gazebo across the street at the Crystal Cafe that was never permitted that never went before in committees it just appeared I think we were quite locked because of covid and I understand some of this we got to tighten up on some of this stuff and then last but not least not to waste my time or lose my time um the mayor recently announced that um the state had given us a 7 $5,000 grant for recreation which he said will be applied to the liting project at the um that's Memorial Park so since we've budgeted 120,000 in the budget was approved my question is now does this become a $200,000 lighting project or does that 75,000 that was budgeted go back into reserves where it can't be touched or does it just go into the big bucket to be used wherever that they want to use it um I I would hope the council would get some kind of clarification from the mayor as how that's handled I think that's it thank you thank you the what did you say the kazeebo is it kazeebo somewhere you said yeah they built out at the Crystal Cafe right I do have a meeting with zoning this week uh on some of the issues that you that you that you mentioned so I mean it's all done at this point yeah and I know Bubba's hot dogs is new so and that's a kind of a tough location but they shouldn't have gone up in the first place if our zonian officer was doing her job but I think they allow uh the feather flags for a certain period of time I I I don't believe that's stated in the ordinance ban them did B Oh I thought there was a 30 or 60 day uh on that okay thank you mayor thank you Mr uh anyone else ping to uh MCL CIS uh two quick questions on this veteran stuff we're issuing checks to call logic I assume that's he an attorney group or some sort of advocacy group my question is why are we not issuing the check to the veteran number one number two is second part of that question why don't we make it simpler for the veteran to file for the 100% disability so they don't need an advocate or a lawyer that's my first question okay uh yeah sorry why don't you answer it if you have the answer I don't have the answer neither do I I mean I don't H you know that's something that would either come from our attorney I think come from I think go through a very extensive process protocol I think they go through an extensive process uh as far as being declared correct yes uh totally 100% disabled yes they do that that has to come through the VA yeah I know that VA gives them that classification turn up to VA if I got because it ain't working uh I don't make the rules yeah a classification they don't make the rules I know is thank you uh my point was to save the guy a couple of bucks if we don't want to do that fine and dandy here's my second question when are we going to get rid of this abismal tax property tax assessment system when are we going to deep six this guy you I made comments when we adopted it at that point I pointed it out you could do it by computer I don't have to look at a guy at my front door and if I don't let him in he's going to get nasty and you know pump up my price for me it's like threats it's a threat it's a thre I don't like that I don't like that at all I want to get rid of the system I want to say adios to these people and it's long overdue anytime you can do it do it all up plug on thank you thank you is there anyone else wishing to adjust the council seeing no one else coming forward uh I ask for a motion to close the floor to the public move moved by Mr spart is there a second second seconded by Mr Higgins all in favor signify by saying I I opposed motion carries Council comments Mr Higgins do you have any yeah just one question uh being that we were talking about the light pollution police uh effort up uh wherever it started uh for years there's been some dilapidated houses that are vacant falling apart and you know old cars in the driveway and buried in the yard some of them might go past every day when I go past to high school what are the rules on those things what what can be done I've asked about that myself setbacks because I know there's one Ro one building that's been torn down that's now been bringing it back up right but you know if you take two steps out you're going to be hit by a car so I think that the setback ought to be thought about but I I haven't had any comments yeah even further up the road there's a one that's even worse it's it's a it's a really uh from a big picture standpoint it's a real problem in a lot of municipalities because U the law uh so first of all lot of it's governed by your own ordinances in terms of property maintenance or bacon houses things like that um but it's you know often times you're G to have to do one of two things you either have to use the court system which is not fast for addressing things or you have to have ordinances that allow you to take matters into your own hands so the grass gets up to be six feet tall can go in and you can cut it and then put a lean on the property or you know within their taxes but you still got to have the manpower to go do it and then wait to collect your money until somebody sell the house um a lot of times there's really kind of two buckets of houses it's either or properties houses proper some of them are just straight up abandoned people for one reason or another they're not there they're bank-owned properties perhaps or they're just literally abandoned there's no real owner uh maybe a title owner but that person is is gone um or it's a bank owned property and if bank is they make or may not be the easy to deal with it's a local bank yeah sure but if it's a some national conglomerate type bank that's buying mortgages and properties and stuff like that um they can be difficult to even figure out who you have to contact on yeah there um there was a system in place where you could could require vacant Properties or abandoned properties to different terms the vacant OB some they are abandoned lefted um there was a whole system where you could require them to register pay licensing fees and then have some ability to take additional action against them if they didn't maintain the properties um I think a CT struck some of it down I haven't looked at it recently for a client but there there was a system there was some legal challenges to it I don't know top my head how much of it Still Remains the other part though is just basic um Property Maintenance which depending on your ordinances you could go in and have somebody you could find them if they're not cleaning up themselves you could potentially have situations where you do it um but oftentimes if you're going to do some of it they either have to have a right to a hearing or you got to go to court it's just it's not it's not a fast process um so uh you know if if we need to we can take a look at it or work with your zoning officer if they think there's any you know say deficiencies in your ordinances if there's gaps where we can tighten it up we can work with your staff to figure out they know where stuff could be missing where we could consider doing it uh sometimes people have concerns um that balancing of you know wait a second you now policing how high I cut my grass are you going to be in there if I'm you know what point are you going to be coming in and getting letters from the town and usually they're not real issues from yeah I'm actually referring some situations that are so egregious well and that's the problem is that you look at and say you know animals living in the house most municipalities um again I can't speak to I have looked this for burn specifically but there's you can you don't have them already you can have laws that ores that say you can't have um abandoned cars on your property at all or not cou put have in a garage but you can't have seven cars on your property if they're not registered and operable um and if you don't do that you can be fine um of course then still the court system though so you find them it could mean it's eight months before yeah is mpal Court it can still take a while right but there things you could do like that so um that's the two different process thank you good you're good okay Mrs de um I'm excited to hear about the carnival Mr Mayor uh we used to have one when I was growing up at the church yeah and I was recently thinking about how great it would be if we you know if that came back yeah and speaking with them you said again it's a it's a huge Revenue maker so yeah so hopefully we can maybe uh apply those funds to well hope maybe our fire department or EMS again could could uh benefit from from that so it's exciting yeah absolutely absolutely that's it Mr spart first I want to thank thank everybody who had a part in Vernon day on Saturday I mean it was a great day weather-wise I couldn't asked for better weather and uh you know seeing all the vendors out there and and our volunteer services and seeing the kids on the bounce house and everything it it was a nice day so everybody who had a hand in that thank you very much uh the second item is something I've toiled with over the last few weeks I a staunch supporter of the delineation between the Boe and the council we are two separate elected bodies with very distinct and separate responsibilities back in 2011 or 2012 Governor Christley allowed the Board of Education to move their elections to November as long as their budget didn't go over cap myself and John MC voted to keep the elections in April so the budget could still be voted on by the community needless to say we were on the wrong side of the vote and the vote on the budget was then removed a few months a few meetings ago a member the community mentioned that there was a process by which the council can have the school budget move back to April and be voted on by the community I have some strong conflicting feelings on whether or not we as a council should consider this I feel if we decide to move forward that this is that it really does blur that line of distinction between the Board of Education and councel also there are some community members that don't know there is a difference between the two bodies and that would only add to the confusion and May play a part in a delay of having a problem rectified by them going to the wrong elected body if they have an issue on the other hand the town is the fiduciary for the taxes received through property taxes I have some some significant concerns with where the school budget is at and where it is heading I'm not going to discuss those discern concerns from dies because is not the time nor is it the place Mr council president may I ask that we have a discussion item added to the agenda our next meeting where our attorney can present the process that is available to the council to place a school budget on the ballot for the community vote next April and after that after that is presented to us we as a council have a discussion as to whether this is something we want to consider doing or leave it as is that is all thank you we can have that discussion and based upon the attorney's recommendations or the information that he gives us we can if it it's okay with you I I think your next meeting I'm on cruise um so you can zoom in yeah happy to do that um I'm not sure up top of my head uh uh who's covering depending on who's covering I may ask yet if we do it okay um you know I just don't want it to linger because I think there there if I'm not mistaken there is a process that's place that is has some dates in ined in it yeah I don't want to give you the wrong information but I believe as a general matter it's between November and like January 15th okay so you can't vote on it now um You can discuss it you can decide what you want to do um and I can walk you through what that process is but as a general matter um it's got to be I believe it's after the November election but before like the 64th day before there's a a dead deadline that moves based off of when the election would be in April um and you have to do it um within that window you have to give it's a believe it's a resolution not an ordinance but you have to give notice to the board of ed right you can't kind of just right throw it on there last minute um you know but but so and also too does it involve the election of members as well or is that separate that they're all things I want you to yeah that's what I'm saying I'll go through everything be elections for board yeah back to April um I believe that uh I'll get you information about what it does to the current terms I believe what it does is shorten the terms the current people who are up so it doesn't extend it so if you move it from November to April then the people who would have been up the following November are now up in April so their terms get cut wi because mine was actually lengthened when that correct because you moved it from April to November so it pushed the election back here you're you're basically moving it up so instead of being November 2025 it's April of 2025 um and the U there but I'll prepare um I've done this I looked at it for somebody else now going back few months but we have some stuff I think kind of already prepared I'll do that up and um you know provide it to you guys and uh what I'll do is I'll send a memo you know just summarizing it first and then um whether it's at the next meeting uh it's I don't know who's covering yet we're have a couple vacations I'd rather you I was gonna say if it's one of my partners they can do it if it's not one of the partners then I would hold up but um but I'll give you the memo so you have it in advance and then we can talk about it in July or whenever it is go through that process okay thank you thank you on a lighter note um right now we are entering graduation season so we're going to see our schools closed for the summer and we are going to see our youngsters on the streets a bit more so I would ask the public to be careful in their driving uh caution them also wish our students a happy summer and uh secondly regarding the of other banners banners those are in the ordinance I was on the committee that developed that ordinance and I remember distinctly when I when the ordinance was pass I said this will not be the last time that this ordinance will be uh addressed and I think it's probably a good time to maybe look at it uh to see if in fact there is an opportunity to extend some courtesy to new businesses by utilizing the feather banners or can the placement of those banners away from the road say a setback and as long as we don't have one of those stupid things with the guying his arms out blown up probably be you know somewhat I think right the udance allowed for it um I do have the ordinance on because there are I I don't remember it I could be wrong okay because it was quite a few years ago and secondly the fact that this was brought up by members of the council and some people public uh also the the questions uh regarding uh the issue of setback on the some projects along the side of the road perhaps you could have the uh the compliance officer look at these places I especially the one I think the setback is like um if you have a five foot like say feather flag uh it's got to be 5 ft from the from the road and so on right not talking about that I'm talking about the setback on the construction issues and also the issue of safety on the uh the rear exit egress you know as a matter of fact I've seen houses in our community by levels where you have a very large uh high back entrance generally with the sliding glass door and there's nothing there yeah and I wonder myself you know in a panic you open the door and you jump out you're gonna fall so uh it's something maybe we might want to uh Ascend the uh it was yeah it was brought to my attention so it it is that discussion uh is going to happen this week along with a couple other thank you very much so yeah any other comments uh ask for a motion to adjourn moved moved by Mr Higgins is there a second second second by Mrs de benedetto all in favor signify by saying I I motion cares hey Anthony