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Township Council Mtg: 4-20-26
The meeting is called to order, and the notice of the meeting is read aloud.
The meeting begins with a call to order and a welcome to all attendees. The notice of the time, date, location, and agenda of the meeting is provided, confirming compliance with public meeting regulations.
Attendees stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
All present are asked to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. The pledge is recited by those in attendance.
Roll call is conducted to confirm attendance of council members and the mayor.
The clerk calls the roll to confirm the presence of council members and the mayor. All members are confirmed present. Additional individuals, such as Richard Santo, are acknowledged.
Richard Santo is sworn in as a member of the senior advisory committee.
Richard Santo takes the oath of office, swearing to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the state of New Jersey, and to perform his duties on the senior advisory committee to the best of his ability.
Donald D. Dunson is honored with a proclamation for his service as a letter carrier.
A proclamation is read honoring Donald D. Dunson for his nearly three decades of dedicated service as a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service. His commitment to duty and community spirit are highlighted. Donald Dunson gives a heartfelt thank you speech after the proclamation.
The Oakview Sixth Grade Boys Basketball Team is recognized for their achievements.
A proclamation is presented to the Oakview Sixth Grade Boys Basketball Team, celebrating their success in the Bloomfield Home and School Basketball League. The team's impressive record and sportsmanship are acknowledged, and the team members are named.
The Demarest Sixth Grade Girls Basketball Team is honored for their championship season.
The Demarest Sixth Grade Girls Basketball Team receives a proclamation in recognition of their outstanding performance in the Bloomfield Home and School Basketball League. Their undefeated record over three seasons is celebrated.
Reports from special council committees are presented, including a resolution for a Youth Advisory Council.
Councilman Gonzalez presents a resolution establishing a Youth Advisory Council for the township of Bloomfield. The resolution is moved and seconded, and council members express support for the initiative.
Written communications from the Department of Environmental Protection are noted.
The clerk reads notices from the Department of Environmental Protection regarding environmental matters that have been communicated to the council.
Public comments are heard on various topics, including a proposed sewer charge and issues of racial discrimination.
Several members of the public speak during the oral petitions and hearings session. Concerns about a proposed sewer charge and its impact on residents are raised. Other speakers address issues related to racial discrimination and the need for accountability from the council. Emotional testimonies and calls for transparency and inclusivity are presented.
Residents voiced concerns over the new sewer tax, questioning its implementation and impact on their finances.
Several residents, including Kevin and Nelson, expressed concerns about the proposed sewer tax ordinance. They noted that the tax would be moved from property taxes to a fee structure, which they argued would prevent homeowners from writing it off their taxes. They also discussed the financial burden it might impose, particularly during the summer months when water usage is higher. Suggestions were made to consider a winter average usage billing to mitigate the impact.
A resident requested the council to reconsider autism awareness initiatives to be more inclusive of the autistic community.
Nicole Dyer spoke about the town's autism awareness initiatives, urging the council to move away from 'Light it Up Blue,' which is associated with Autism Speaks, and instead include initiatives that are more inclusive of the autistic community's preferences.
A proposal for a town-owned grocery store was presented to provide affordable fresh food and support local economy.
Juliana Cantre, on behalf of Alexandria Thomas, proposed the idea of a town-owned grocery store to improve access to fresh, affordable food in Bloomfield. She highlighted the potential benefits of keeping money within the community and supporting local farmers, contrasting it with the influx of fast-food chains in the area.
Several ordinances were introduced for first reading, including changes to parking and sewer service charges.
The council introduced ordinances for first reading. These include prohibiting parking on Sherman Court, changes to license applications, providing parking for physically limited persons, and establishing sewer service charges. The council voted on each ordinance, moving them forward in the legislative process.
Council discussed the proposed sewer service charges, addressing public concerns and explaining the fee structure.
Council members discussed the introduction of a new sewer service charges ordinance. The mayor and council members addressed public concerns about the potential financial impact on residents and explained that the proposed fee structure includes a flat fee plus a usage charge to ensure fairness. They emphasized the need for further public input and education before the second reading.
Roll call was conducted with all council members and the mayor present. Some members expressed concerns due to lack of information on certain issues, leading to abstentions or no votes.
The meeting began with a roll call where each council member and the mayor confirmed their presence. Councilwoman Gonzalez, Councilwoman Cruz, Councilwoman Charris Tabares, Councilwoman Fishman, and Mayor Mundell voted 'yes' on the roll call. Councilman Joanna abstained, and Councilwoman Toler Phillips voted 'no' due to insufficient information on issues being discussed.
Council discussed the second reading of multiple ordinances, including parking for physically limited persons, animals within township code, property maintenance, and a green development checklist.
The council engaged in a detailed discussion of several ordinances on their second reading. These included amending the Bloomfield township code for parking for physically limited persons, changes to animal regulations, property maintenance code updates, and the requirement of a green development checklist with certain land use applications. Each ordinance was moved and seconded by various council members, and roll calls were conducted for voting.
A controversial ordinance was discussed to expand the environmental commission and designate it as the green team, with debates on the dilution of responsibilities and state statute compliance.
The council debated an ordinance aimed at expanding the membership of the environmental commission, designating it as the township's green team, and establishing advisory subcommittees, including a flood mitigation subcommittee. Concerns were raised about state statute compliance and the potential dilution of responsibilities. Council members discussed the ordinance's implications for the environmental commission and its volunteers, debating the balance between expanding roles and maintaining effective oversight.
The council approved a series of consent resolutions, including various administrative and operational matters, through a unified vote.
Councilman Phillips moved to approve a series of consent resolutions, which were seconded by Councilwoman Gonzalez. The council voted on these resolutions collectively, addressing various administrative and operational issues without detailed public discussion or debate on each individual item.
Council discussed and approved a resolution for emergency temporary appropriations to cover operating fund needs for the remainder of the year.
Councilman Joanna introduced a resolution regarding emergency temporary appropriations to cover operating funds, including the current fund, water operating, and parking operations for the period of May through October. The administrator provided a brief explanation, and the council approved the resolution following a roll call vote.
The council approved a transfer of a plenary retail consumption license from Kin Inc to Sherman Ventures LLC.
Councilwoman Cruz introduced a resolution to approve the transfer of a plenary retail consumption license from Kin Inc to Sherman Ventures LLC. This transfer was discussed briefly and subsequently approved by the council following a roll call vote.
The council passed a resolution opposing federal legislation that would strip local zoning control over broadband expansion projects.
Councilman Toler Phillips introduced a resolution opposing federal legislation that would expand broadband access at the expense of local zoning authority. The proposed federal law would allow companies to bypass local zoning processes, potentially impacting land use decisions. The mayor and council expressed strong opposition, emphasizing local control over land use, and voted unanimously to support the resolution.