04-06-2026 - Township of Hamilton Committee Meeting

Bring the Monday, April
6th, 2026 Township of Hamilton Committee
meeting to order. Please rise for the
flag flag salute.
I pledge allegiance to the
[clears throat] flag of the United
States of America,
and to the Republic for which it stands,
one nation under God, indivisible, with
liberty and justice for all.
Adequate notice of this meeting has been
provided pursuant to the New Jersey Open
Public Meetings Law by posting a notice
of this meeting on the bulletin board in
the municipal building and by
transmitting notice of this meeting to
the press of Atlantic City, Star-Ledger,
and Atlantic County Record on January
6th, 2026.
Mr. Aiken? Here. Mr. Cheek? Here. Ms.
Thompson? Here. Dr. Witherspoon?
>> Here. Mayor Petzalley? Here.
We have a moment of silence for private
reflection.
Thank you.
Uh proclamations. We have a proclamation
for National Public Safety
Telecommunicators Week.
Deputy Mayor? Yes.
>> [laughter]
>> This is a proclamation. Whereas, public
safety telecommunication
may
be the first and most critical point of
contact for the citizens seeking
emergency assistance.
Nope, sorry.
All right.
Whereas, those highly trained and
professional serve as the vital link
between the public and emergency
responders and including law
enforcement, fire services, and
emergency medical personnel.
And whereas, telecommunication
communicators demonstrate extraordinary
dedication, skill, skill, compromise
while managing high-stress and often
life-threatening situations, providing a
calm reassurance and life-saving
instructions to those in need.
And whereas, public safety
telecommunication communicators work
around the clock providing an essential
behind-the-scenes link to the safety,
security, and well-being of our
community.
And whereas, it is both fitting and
proper to recognize the commitment,
professionalism, and the invaluable
service provided by these men and women.
Now, therefore, we, the Township of
Committee of the Township of Hamilton,
Atlantic County, State of New Jersey, on
this day do hereby recognize April 12th
through April 18th, 2026
as National Public Safety Communicators
Week.
THANK YOU.
>> [applause]
[applause]
>> NO. WELL, THANK YOU, EVERYONE, VERY
MUCH. WE appreciate it.
Thank you very much.
>> Thank you. Thank you.
Chris, are you good?
Okay, guest presentations, we have none.
Addition, deletion of late agenda items
to be considered for action tonight.
We have an addition, 9G,
resolution to appoint Brooke
Sedan
as an as-needed hourly employee at a
rate of $25 per hour, not to exceed 25
hours per week, effective April 7th,
2026 through June 30th, 2026. So moved.
Second.
>> Have a motion and a second. All those in
favor? Aye. Aye. Fines, eyes have it.
Early public comment.
We have Frank Roby for the budget.
Frank Roby, 309 Farragut Avenue.
Um
obviously, I haven't seen your budget
yet, but I'm just here to encourage you
to
keep it down.
Um
the economy's not the best.
Yeah, except if you're a business,
you're better for them. ACA is has much
higher rates now. Mine doubled. Um South
Jersey Gas, Atlantic City Electric,
rents, housing,
you know, all of it. We're at war. Um
so
do your best.
Thank you.
>> Hear you, for sure.
>> [clears throat]
>> Thanks, Frank.
Christopher Gray for the budget.
Uh good evening, ladies and gentlemen of
Council. Uh my name is Christopher Gray.
Address is 2057 Briggs Road, Mount
Laurel Township.
Uh I am the attorney that represents
your PBA Local 77 police officers. Uh
earlier today, you should have received
a letter from us
kind of detailing why we're here and
what is going on. And I can tell you
that the reason that we're here before
you tonight is because your officers
care.
Because your officers want to work out a
contract that's fair for both the
Township, the taxpayers, and your
officers.
All these years have gone by with record
inflation, and the current PBA contract
has not kept track with that.
We've gotten to the point where
our contract positions between where the
Township is and where the PBA is
is down to $100,000 over 4 years.
And the reason that the PBA needed to
make those changes to get the contract
where it is is to prevent some of your
officers from
essentially losing money that
they would have made had the current
contract continued.
So, we went through and provided you
information about where our proposal
costs, where your Township proposal
costs, what the differences are.
We also went through and figured out the
differences if we were to go to interest
arbitration.
PBA didn't want to do that. And we
didn't want to have to do that because
we were hoping that in every other
regard that we've had with this Council,
we've been able to work stuff out and
resolve it.
I know I sat here probably 2 years ago
when several officers were were facing
charges, and Township did the right
thing
and kept them in pay status, and we
appreciated that. I think we didn't even
say a word that night. We were able to
work it out, and we've had a good
rapport ever since.
That's why
before filing, the body met and decided
we wanted to come here and and and bring
this back to you
to see if there's a way that we can get
a deal done on this to get us to the
position where we can get a contract in
place. We're talking about 4 years
and $100,000. So, $25,000 a year is how
far apart we are. And that $25,000 makes
all the difference to some of your
officers.
We want to be able to recruit.
We want to be able to retain. We want to
be able to be competitive.
You know, public safety is important. We
understand you value your police
officers. We understand that the public,
you know, when those dispatchers are
getting calls, they're sending out these
officers. They're the ones that are
going out on harm's way. They're the
ones that are taking care of all the
residents here.
We uh
tried to broach this and asked to do it
in closed session because, you know, we
thought negotiations could take place in
such a format. We were told that the
preference was for us to bring it here.
So, we sent you
the letter detailing uh all the
financial conditions of it. I sent you
all the Excel sheets showing all the
cost outs and the differences.
And over a $16 million deal to let
$100,000,
you know, break this and force us to go
to interest arbitration,
we didn't think it was worth it. We
thought coming here, at least one time,
trying this beforehand. Um we also
wanted to bring to the Council's
attention just what happened with the uh
Atlantic County uh prosecutor's
investigators.
Their contract settled in interest
arbitration, and if you apply that
settlement to your officers, it's going
to cost this town over $400,000 uh
about $380,000 more than where the
Township's currently at.
If it settled it
uh 2 and 1/2% across the board, which is
where most interest arbitration
decisions are, that would cost the town
$70,000 more than where the PBA is at
right now.
So, seeing the the grand scope of the
deal and the work that went into this,
we had all the other terms done, and we
just got hung up on some salaries that
really punished members. And those
members will probably talk later during
the open public session to let you know
the impact that it has on them and why
the PBA had to fix
the proposal that that was done.
So, we hope that you will take a hard
look at this.
Um we really want to to work this out
and not have to go through those
processes. It's going to cause cause
both parties more than what the
difference is.
And we we hope that uh
you'll take a look. Uh we gave you
everything we had, every piece of
information,
the Excel sheets, how we did the
numbers, just to show you. We we asked
for that from from your your staff and
they couldn't send us their cost outs.
So, we gave you everything we had. So,
it's not normal for me to normally send
all the Excel sheets of all the
different cost out versions and all the
different comparisons showing you
this is a good deal.
And we don't want to lose this deal and
and put this in the hands of an interest
arbitrator who can tell both of us what
it's going to be and how much it's going
to cost.
So, hopefully we can we can get this
done, get back to the table and prevent
interest arbitration from having to
occur. So, we thank you. I'm sure later
some some members will talk about how
they're personally affected and why
these changes had to be made and why the
$100,000 difference exists.
Um, we did not want you to lose
officers. We did not want people to
leave. We wanted to keep them here. We
wanted to fix your bottom steps to be
more competitive. We wanted to give you
a competitive salary guide. We wanted to
do these things to fix things and to
make this place attractive for new
officers and to be able to uh retain the
ones you have and also keep a good
morale here. So, we know you've listened
to us uh through the years. That's
that's why we're here. Um, most times
we'll just file a petition, but we
wanted to give
you a chance to make this work. So,
thank you.
Thank you. Thank you.
That's That's it. Okay.
Uh moving on discussion
guidelines and criteria for proclamation
requests establishing a proclamation
subcommittee. [clears throat]
This was something that's been getting
bounced around
for several weeks now, actually almost
into last year.
Um
and um
talking with our solicitor
uh
he kind of guided us and uh said the the
best route here is to create a
subcommittee for proclamations so that
they can be reviewed, gone over and uh
then sent to the whole committee
for that proclamation to move forward.
So, I would just like to
move forward with that proclamation
subcommittee.
Are you asking us can we speak? Yes,
yes. So,
who is on
the committee you're appointing? Yes. I
would appoint
um at our solicitor's suggestion it's it
would be two members from committee um
our administrator
and if need be, if we do need
any
guidance and we would have discussion
with our solicitor as need as needed.
Well, I I
since um
this is uh
something that just came sprung on a on
me. I think it's um interesting that you
would create a subcommittee to tell the
committee
whether a proclamation of their choosing
is worthy to be given out to that
person, team, or organization.
Um, I think you're trying to take our
rights from us.
Um
I think you should name one city that
does this. I don't think there's one
that you can name. Uh so, I think this
is very disrespectful.
Um my thing is I might not know every
27,000 plus
constituent personally
but I represent every last one of them.
And if someone in this township, I feel
measures up to deserve a proclamation
um then as [clears throat] a elected
official, I have the right to give them
one. Um and you have the right not to
sign it. So, I I don't agree with
creating
a subcommittee. I mean, we couldn't even
agree to create a subcommittee for the
rent control for the quality of life for
our people. So, now we're going to
create a subcommittee
on this agenda?
Well, I think um
for one member of committee to say that
they want to give a proclamation to
somebody
um I think it should be discussed
beforehand
to kind of go over and see
if that person um
just do a little
little investigation and see if
everything you know, if that person
deserves it. Um
because if they give a proclamation from
committee, if not all five members of
committee are signing it
then it's not really a proclamation from
committee. And at any time, any member
up here can write a letter
congratulating uh
singular person,
um a team, anything or
anything that they do.
So, I'm just trying to
um
create a way, a path
so that there's no
um
I don't know what the proper word would
be.
Um
aggravation or indecision by somebody
else sitting up here that they feel they
don't want to sign that proclamation.
Um and this is just a way to kind of
give a little bit of control.
And also
I want to keep the proclamation
proclamation should be special. And if
we keep doing proclamation after
proclamation, they're not going to be as
special anymore. So, my understanding
then was that we were going to limit the
proclamations, which I don't have a
problem with. We can limit the
proclamations to one per meeting but I
don't agree with an outside subcommittee
telling us whether a proclamation is
worthy of the person that we choose to
honor because somebody else on the dais
has a personal problem with them.
Because I think that we're smart enough
and we're representing and we're voting
in to pick someone that we've already
vetted to feel like they're deserving of
that proclamation.
So, if you want to limit the amount of
proclamations, then that's fine. I don't
have a problem with that.
Okay.
I guess it the only I the only thing I
have to input on that is if you guys do
decide to limit the amount of
proclamations, you're putting that I
guess you're essentially putting that
burden on me.
Right? So, if we get a a certain amount
of proclamations requests come in
then it would become up to me who gets
on the agenda, who doesn't get on the
agenda. And I don't know who's being
honored.
I just get the I just get the request. I
read the
the bios and then you know, if I get
three of them, so it's like who gets
bumped, who doesn't get bumped. Do we do
all Do we get three? Do I do all three
at the meeting?
Um the worst thing that could happen is
uh not everyone on committee do a
proclamation and not everyone sign it.
Yeah, but my thing is this is what I'm
saying. If we have a understanding right
now that we going to do one proclamation
per meeting and we understand that right
now, then we would know not to go
forward with so many proclamations for
that certain meeting cuz we already have
a understanding. That's what I'm saying.
I mean, we're we're smart enough to have
a understanding to know that and respect
each other's proclamation if we have
that understanding. Well, part
[clears throat] of the discussion is
coming up with that understanding cuz
right now there's no understanding. We
just
we need to discuss it even if you guys
just decide not to do a subcommittee, we
need to discuss that's what you want to
do cuz right now
Carl suggested one a meeting, but that
doesn't mean that's what we're going to
do cuz he's only one member of
committee. So, we just need a consensus
of committee how you guys want to handle
proclamations. It's not just up to Carl.
He brought it here.
It's up to all five of you.
>> He brought it here, but then there's a
whole resolution that's sitting in front
of me. I mean, with a number and
everything. So,
I'm just saying.
Well, we have to have some type of
guidance guidance on who gets a
proclamation. So, conversation was that
What you
What do you mean guidance on who should
get a proclamation? The point is if a if
a committee person puts up
a person of their choice
it's not going to be for somebody else
to say, oh no, you chose that person and
I don't like that person, so we're not
doing it. What I'm saying is my
understanding is is that you're saying
there's too many proclamations. You
know, you feel like there's we're just
honoring too many people or we're just
doing too much for the people. So,
basically if if we limit it to one
proclamation per township meeting or
however you want to limit it to, but I
don't think somebody should come in and
control us and tell us what we should do
for the people. I So, I don't think
we're trying to So, we're just trying to
If you're going to limit it to one, my
question is how do you get to the one?
What is it first come, first serve? if
all five members That's my That's my
question. I If you want to do three,
that's fine with me. I'm just How do you
get I'm just saying respectfully, if I
if she put if the committee if the mayor
puts in one before me, I don't get mine
in time, then I know I have to wait.
It's just a matter of respect. And then
I know I have to wait. It's no control.
We don't need to control or have people
of the mayor's choice come in with the
subcommittee and all it's not it's it's
not even necessary.
Well, [clears throat] I don't know that
it's necessarily
one person sitting up here can decide
should be able to decide who gets a
proclamation.
>> You're right.
>> all five. Exactly.
>> Should should agree to it. So, I think
you have to have some kind of a
committee to look at it first and then
move forward from there. I don't think
so.
>> Maybe that committee [clears throat] can
look at it and say, "Hey,
uh could we have a little bit more
information about this person?"
uh more of a bio from them
stuff like that.
>> And back to what I said, what is your
reference? What other city does this?
What is your reference?
I don't have a reference.
>> Right, that's my point. So, I don't
think that this this is like a control
thing to me.
To me, this is a control situation.
And I know I'm I'm not agreeing with I'm
saying to you if it's if you're you're
saying one thing and then you're saying
you know, we should water it down I mean
we shouldn't water it down so limit the
proclamations, then I'm trying to
agree with that situation.
That's what I'm saying.
So, can [clears throat] I ask so
if a proclamation comes in and two
committee
persons
don't like the person not don't like the
person, but would rather not
sign off on that proclamation, does that
proclamation still go through to that
person? It should. I mean that you got
to own you need to own why you don't
want to sign for that personal
proclamation. You shouldn't limit why I
as a committee want to want me wants to
honor someone. If you have a personal
problem or you have different issues why
you don't want to sign that
proclamation, then you own it. But, you
shouldn't limit me from honoring a
constituent because I
cuz I feel they fit the criteria to be
honored. I mean that doesn't even I
don't understand what you're saying.
>> feel I don't feel you're being limited
by this. Like I said, a subcommittee and
I'm not for or against yet. I'm just
saying a subcommittee would look at the
committee person's proclamations that's
put forward,
do some research on that person to see
if it's, you know, a person that should
be brought to committee to be put on a
procla- proclamation.
>> And to me, that's a form of control. I
just think that you got outside citizens
that's trying to tell a committee person
who they should honor who they shouldn't
honor. And I don't think that's fair.
I have a question. Go ahead. Does the
subcommittee make the recommendation to
committee?
Yes. Yeah, exactly. Okay.
Cuz it's a proclamation from the
Township of Hamilton.
So, if not everybody
up here on the dais agrees to it, then
I don't think they should get the
proclamation. Let me ask you a question.
Can a committee person body self give a
proclamation? Yes, well not a
proclamation. You can you can write a
letter of
congratulations. Right.
I sent two of them out last week.
That's good. That's nice.
Any other questions or comments?
We're not the whoever the subcommittee
that you choose to be in this committee,
we're not making a decision to
eliminate. It's just to get more
information and then bring it before the
full committee.
Is that it?
You know, you may amend that solely on
the discussion. The way it's written now
is that any proclamation request would
go in front of the subcommittee. Okay.
And that proclamation request would only
be placed on the agenda if the
subcommittee unanimously
recommended to
Okay.
>> The alternative is that all
proclamations could come in front of
Township Committee. And then you could
vote on or address the public.
There's only two members on the
subcommittee
and that's what everything would have to
be in the public if there's a majority
of the board.
So, after the subcommittee
decides, and it comes before the full
committee. Not for a vote. It would come
in front of just as a proclamation would
today. There's typically no vote under
the current procedures that you're
implementing. There's no vote on
proclamations just like we had one this
evening. There was no votes beforehand.
Right.
>> implement a rule where you all voted on
and discussed it before issuing a
proclamation.
You could vote for or against
prior meeting or you could establish a
subcommittee
this way, which is what we're doing now.
Thank you.
Yeah, any other questions or comments?
Do I have I think it would it should be
that the subcommittee makes a
recommendation to us.
We as committee, five of us,
yea or nay.
The subcommittee turns around and says,
"Yeah, they should get a proclamation."
At least we should have a little bit of
say like, "Okay, I agree." or "No, I
don't agree."
But yet, after that, then we move
forward.
And I and still it still comes back in
front of the committee. So, what if we
have three of them say, "Oh, well, you
know, you whisper to this person and
say, 'Oh, I don't like this person, so
don't vote.'" Like it's still being
controlled
by outside sources or being controlled
by the committee when it's not even set
up like that. It's not even set up like
that.
It's like we're taking control out of
what we think
is on our mind or where we feel the
criteria is are for a person that we
feel we should honor and just giving it
giving it away.
I just I just feel like that's not fair.
If you if you have somebody, Mr. Mayor,
I respect you enough to believe that
that person that you feel like should
get this proclamation
should get the proclamation.
I'm not going to, you know, say, "Oh,
they didn't check off all these boxes
and this and that and the other." No,
because you felt that person should was
deserving based on your criteria that
you put in.
Do you agree with the draft?
No.
Because he's saying the draft is saying
that
the solicitor Mr. Solicitor is saying
that the draft is saying that they make
the recommendation. No, I'm talking
about the draft on the the last page of
the criteria.
Do you agree with the draft?
On the last page of
3A.
On 3A?
It starts off both members of the
subcommittee must approve a request form
for a Township proclamation to be
presented.
That right the first the first sentence
I can't even get past that.
For history for history recognitions
like women's history,
black history month.
Whatever. It says for history. Okay, I
agree with that. Okay. That's fine. The
after the honor and after leader sports
team
where they have won a championship or a
title. I do agree with that. You do
agree with that.
>> Yes. Historical preservation
proclamations
will be approved and signed by the
Township Committee,
but shall be presented at a regularly
scheduled HPC meeting. I I agree with
that. All right. So, and then do you
agree in lieu of proclamations, any
member of the committee may write a
letter of congratulations on their
individual behalf?
Does everything
>> Yes, I I do agree that. And I think
that's something that should be amongst
us as the committee not to go to a
subcommittee.
And then have them come back and say,
"Oh, well, this is worthy and this not
worthy."
So, I can I can adhere to to
the last four.
So, you feel that any member up here if
they say we want to have a proclamation
for somebody, we should all just agree
to it.
No, I said you got the right to sign it
or not to sign it. That's your right.
What I'm saying is is that I don't think
we need a subcommittee to tell us that
we're not entitled
to give out that proclamation based on
whatever criteria they feel, you know,
the person has or doesn't have. That's
what I'm saying.
And I think a proclamation from the
Township of Hamilton
should be agreed upon by all five
members.
It should. You're right. But, I'm just
saying I don't think we need a
subcommittee.
So, who would who would approve it? So,
basically, you're just saying all you're
saying to me is there might be a
situation where
somebody put one of us put up a
proclamation and and none of us
and maybe one don't sign it. So, you
feel like that's not right. That's
basically what I'm hearing you say. And
I'm saying if you choose not to sign it,
then you own it.
You you own your reason why you don't
want to sign it. But, why wouldn't
should we not give out the proclamation?
Like I'm not I'm not even
it it's not even adding up to me.
>> But, it's not a proclamation from the
entire Township Committee if everybody
doesn't sign.
I've seen proclamation where where but
it it Okay. But, it's not
prop- It's not right. That's what y'all
should say then. Y'all I'm it's not
prop- Okay, you can No, it's not proper
for that. but I'm I'm just I'm just
thinking I'm just saying that this is a
form of control. This is a form of
control. I don't think this was the way
a subcommittee should be used, you know.
And I'm back to me asking for a
subcommittee for conversations on a
quality of life for our people and you
guys denied that. So I'm I'm I'm just
not agreeing it. I told you I agree with
the list for, but I'm I'm not agreeing
with this.
>> But but it's coming with the assumption
that we're not going to agree with the
proclamation.
That's That's what I'm hearing.
That the subcommittee is not going to
agree. So you're saying we're not going
to agree.
With the proclamation.
>> with the assumption that all of the
committee people are not going to agree
on somebody's proclamation.
That's what it's coming with, too.
Okay. I I I
I just think that there needs to be some
type of
guidance
behind the scenes to to look over a
request for a proclamation.
Go over the information to see if, you
know, if that person
meet
s the quasi criteria that's kind of
created.
Um and it's it's hard to write
criteria to meet because there's so many
different reasons why you would give a
proclamation.
It's really hard to put that everything
in writing.
So it's kind of [snorts] vague.
But I also think that
we we need to have some
mechanism to
introduce a a proclamation to get a
proclamation on onto the agenda. As
Brett said, otherwise, you know, all
five of us could be saying, "Hey, this
meeting I want this proclamation." We
end up with five proclamations.
And I just told you that I don't have a
problem with us limiting the
proclamations. Like you're saying
something that I just told you that I
don't have a problem with. So you're
just saying it. So So we'll leave it up
You think we should just leave up leave
proclamations up to Brett and Brett
should just
automatically put them on the agenda.
No, I think that you as four out of five
that I said I'll agree to, I think that
amongst us committee through five
committee
if we adhere to what's typed out here on
this draft
and amongst us we have a criteria,
then that's what we should do.
And that we should have And then we
should agree on limit it to like, you
know, once a month or twice a month for
the meetings, however. I don't have a
problem with that.
But the way we were signing on it
before, was it legal?
There's no guidelines
Right, I mean before we had a form
that we were signing off on
before the proclamation. We were all
signing it. We were reviewing it and
signing it. So there there can't be any
votes
Even if Even if it's just a form, you're
not meeting, you're still signing a form
saying
I agree to this and that is That's a
no-no. We can't do that.
That's a no-no.
That's the purpose of the subcommittee.
That is nowhere else in Atlantic County.
Excuse me? I said it's nowhere else
There's no other city in Atlantic County
that has this. That's what I said.
We'll be trailblazers. No.
This is a That's a control situation.
[clears throat] We need to move uh point
of order.
Okay.
Uh
do I hear a motion?
>> [sighs and gasps]
>> So moved. Second. I have a motion and a
second. All those in favor? Aye.
Against?
Me.
Okay.
I'm sorry.
Yes. Um
me and Dr. Witherspoon.
Thank you.
Okay.
Discussions. Budzooka Dispensary LLC
presentation
resolution and redevelopment agreement.
Good evening. Um before our applicant um
gives his presentation, I just want to
give a little overview for committee for
those of you who were not on committee
when this project first began.
Um
the applicant um
Budzooka Dispensary AC LLC uh responded
to an RFP uh for a class five retail
cannabis license. Um they received a
resolution of support from committee.
They entered into an escrow agreement
with the township. Um and through that
um
they
came back to committee with a request
for a site-specific redevelopment plan.
Um committee agreed to that. The
redevelopment plan was adopted and since
that time a redevelopment agreement has
been negotiated. Um
Casaverde Dispensary LLC was the initial
um
entity
uh but there was a provision in the
escrow agreement to allow an assignment.
Now the assignment is really um
name only. The entity is still formed by
the same exact um
ownership. And that structure has not
changed. It's just they're doing
business as Budzooka.
Um
So this evening, as part of the
redevelopment process, before the
redevelopment agreement is going to be
authorized by committee, uh the
redeveloper is here to do his
presentation
to explain to committee
uh what the project entails, to briefly
review what the site plan will look
like. They are required
um to go back to the planning board for
a full site plan approval pursuant to
the municipal land use law.
Uh and the the planning board has full
um purview over that pursuant to the
redevelopment plan and any aspects of
the underlying zoning that still apply.
Um
And then um after the site plan
approval,
that's when they would be able to begin
their construction.
Um so this evening, they're here to get
approval
as part of the resolution that um
is here for consideration, there is
mention of
I'm sorry, as part of the redevelopment
agreement, there is mention of a second
resolution of support and that is not
required and I apologize for having that
in there. That was part of a draft and I
did not remove it. So that will be
removed before execution. Um
so that is
the fourth to the last whereas clause
before article one on page two of the
redevelopment agreement.
Uh so it says by way of resolution
number 2026 and there's a blank. Um
received a letter of municipal support
and that is not required. Okay. So
that's going to be removed.
Page two? Page two.
And if you count up from the now
therefore,
one, two, three, four. Yeah, it's the
bottom. Yeah.
By way of resolution 2026 and there's a
blank there.
So that that clause does not need to be
included and I wanted to bring that to
your attention before you um take a vote
on
the resolution and the agreement.
Any questions on that? No.
Turn it over.
>> Uh good evening. My name is Lou Magazzu
and I represent the applicant. Uh I
thank first of all
uh council for um her terrific efforts
through this as well as Mr. Noll and Mr.
Goodman who are not here. It's been
really a um long but um very thorough
process. Uh when we first began and some
of you may recall,
this was the binder that we submitted
for review. Uh what I'm going to do
tonight with your information
is condense that into about three
minutes of an overview because
uh there are some members who were not
uh part of the uh
the original presentation. If I If I
may, Mayor and members, uh I represent
uh it was originally Casaverde
Dispensary LLC, now Budzooka uh
Dispensary LLC. The reason for the name
change is in since we've been here,
we've actually opened up a store in
North Jersey with that name and we're
developing a reputation as a brand. Uh
so that's why we made that name change.
Uh as council indicated, we did a
38-page application which is in response
to an RFP and were chosen uh as a
consequence of that. Uh part of the
reasons I think was the proficiency that
we showed uh and again, this is in
detail, the proficiency we showed in
this area. We also, in addition to uh
Mr. Tunador who's here, we also have
Matt Markovich who was a resident of uh
Ventnor uh in Atlantic County uh with 20
years experience in, uh, real estate
acquisitions. Um, Mr. [clears throat]
Tunador and his family have been
involved in,
uh, have over 50 years of experience
working in legal retail cannabis markets
in, uh,
Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida,
Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan,
Nevada. Although cannabis has only been
legal in those states for about 10 years
because they've been most many of them.
That's why I say cumulatively about 50
years. Uh,
we've done the research, uh, to obtain
approval, uh, from New Jersey,
uh, Cannabis Regulatory Commission. Uh,
we've invested in technology, we've
invested in security. Uh,
we are 95% Latina owned WMBE as approved
by the state of New Jersey.
Uh,
>> [clears throat]
>> we have a, uh,
uh, we have a team that has worked, uh,
in cannabis, uh, throughout the state.
Uh, some of those folks are actually Jay
Shuler who, uh, works in this county is
our engineer. We have security expert
that, uh, has, uh, prior, uh, experience
in this area. And I've done about two
dozen these applications. As I said, uh,
since we first applied to Hamilton
Township, uh, the Tunador family has
successfully launched a retail sales
store in Elizabeth, New Jersey uh, since
Jan- in January 25th, 2025 and operating
successfully, uh,
>> [clears throat]
>> in full compliance with all local and
state laws.
Uh,
we also have a security plan and
financial plan that will have to be
approved by the state
uh, Cannabis Regulatory Commission. What
I also like to do is show you some
pictures, about five slides.
And by the way, I think we will need a
resolution acknowledging the name change
because we did, when we go up to CRC
approval, we'll need a resolution that
will say that the township, um,
committee does acknowledge that. So, in
the resolution for approval this
evening, Mr. Magazu, um, there is a
statement that, um,
the township designated Casa Verde or
its assignee
and, um,
Casa Verde has assigned its rights to
the property and township committee has
negotiated the agreement with Bazooka. I
appreciate that, but I think we may need
also a standalone resolution just to
indicate the support of the township
committee for this application just for
the CRC purposes, not for the
redevelopment pur-
purposes. And we it doesn't have to be
tonight. We can do that as we move
forward. I I do have a question, Mr.
Magazu. I'm sorry. I do have a question,
Mr. Magazu.
>> Yes. Yes, Committee Woman. Uh, in the
agreement, page two,
they're referenced both names.
Yeah, I did that as the executive
summary to indicate that we started as
Casa Verde, but we're now going to be
known as Bazooka.
And if I may, I'll just go through the
couple of slides here, may I?
Is that clear for you, the the response?
Not really, but Well, we I'm going to
get it. I'll get it. Okay. I'm I'm going
to watch the slides. Okay. But what I'm
saying is I was looking for it just to
say Bazooka
and not both cuz it looks like it's
both. Then I apologize for that
confusion from my writing. I tried to
make it clear, maybe I didn't, that, uh,
we started out with the application as
Casa Verde. Since that time in March of
of, uh, this year, we changed the name
to Bazooka. So, what I tried to do in
the executive summary is indicate that
Casa Casa Verde and Bazooka are the same
entity and this is just a name change.
There's no change as to the principals.
I got that. Okay. But I apologize for
>> redevelopment agreement itself and not
the executive summary. So, I can I'll
explain when Mr. Magazu's finished.
Thank you.
Awesome. Thank you.
All right. So, this just is indicate
that we're in a proper zone, which is an
important point, uh, both in terms of
the township and the state. They want to
know that you don't need to get
variances and this area is zoned for,
um,
for, uh, retail cannabis.
And this is just and what I'm trying to
do is give you in a couple of minutes
what the planning board's going to get
significant testimony on. This is what
the, uh, the area is going to look like,
what the site plan is going to look
like. This is, by the way, been
extensively reviewed by your
professional staff, by your engineers
for approval with respect to the amount
of parking, uh, the egress and ingress
of, uh, vehicles. Uh,
and so this will be, uh, frankly, the
first template, but there'll be much
greater detail what the planning board
is going to see.
Uh, this is the where the building was.
This is where we're going to go. You're
probably familiar with this restaurant
or at least was a restaurant once. It's
a burned out husk of a of a building
now.
And this is what it's going to be
replaced with. Um,
very attractive, uh, good curb appeal
with respect to 322. This is the
interior. Um, some folks of a certain
age may have a certain
recollection of what these type type
places may look like. They look a lot
more like going into a, um, AT&T store
or iPhone store or, uh, Comcast store,
uh,
in terms [clears throat] of customer
service. Uh, and you see the quality,
uh, of the interior. Uh, there's also,
by the way, and, uh, a security CRC
requires that, uh, ideas be pre-
presented that there be a security
person that before anyone comes in to
make sure that they are of sufficient
age. What I just wanted to do was give
you a flavor of what we're presenting,
uh, to kind of match and supplement, uh,
what we're doing with the redevelopment
agreement because I recognize that this
is cannabis. I recognize that there are
different members of the committee that
weren't here previously and I want to at
least give give some background in that
regard.
I tried to do it as briefly as possible.
But I'm available for any questions.
Any questions, anybody?
I I
I don't have a question, but in this
agreement,
on page two, three,
and four,
and five, all the way to five,
it is presented as
presenting both is what I'm saying.
It's not presenting just Bazooka. So,
>> You mean just the in in this book?
>> Yes. This is just the executive summary.
This isn't our In the book.
>> agreement.
Yeah, that's not our agreement. That's
not the agreement. The redevelopment
agreement itself, but the redevelopment
agreement does mention
Okay. that it is by and between Bazooka
Dispensary AC LLC
as assignee of Casa Verde Dispensary.
And
the reason for that is to ensure that if
there are any questions about how
Bazooka got here,
we have a redevelopment process that we
have to follow.
And so, Casa Verde is the entity that
started that process
by name. Right. Bazooka is the same
entity.
The formation of the entity is the same
people.
They're just changing the name.
But we're dealing with the exact same
people. And so, I wanted to be clear in
the redevelopment agreement and the
recitals for that.
So that everyone who's looking at that
understands we went through the correct
process and we didn't skip
any of the steps that are required under
the law, the code for the the township.
And that
somebody can trace back the steps that
we took and make sure that committee
there are no questions for committee at
some point in time, "Why is Bazooka here
and Casa Verde is the one who got
the the support or Casa Verde is the
entity that submitted the response to
the RFP." And so, that's why in the
redevelopment agreement we mention both
entities and I mention that they were
assigned and that the committee is aware
of the assignment and it does not object
to the assignment.
I don't I don't object to the
assignment. I don't object to the the
new name. I just You want to make sure
that we're clear and and and it's just
for the history of it. And then if you
look at,
um,
the
See what number
Uh, yeah, two. You'll see that there is,
um, from the New Jersey Division of
Revenue and Enterprise Services, it's a
certificate of amendment.
Page two of It is tab two.
And it it states that the previous name
was Casa Verde Dispensary LLC and the
amended name is Bazooka Dispensary AC.
And so,
that's why Mr. Magazu has all of that
information in there as well. So that
when someone's looking at this, they
they understand the process and how we
got from Casa Verde, we took all the
necessary steps, followed the procedures
correctly and the change is in name
only. I got it. Yeah. Yeah, I understand
it. I mean, I understand it. But when
you first look at that, I know, it can
be confusing.
Yeah. Yeah, yeah, it is. Not can be.
Yeah, it is.
All right. Thank you. You're welcome.
That's it.
I don't have any other questions with
regard to the contents of the agreement.
Mhm.
And as Mr. Magazu said, there's a safety
and security plan that gets reviewed and
approved by, uh, the chief of police
or his designee. Um, and so, that all
has to happen before, um, operations can
begin.
Um, they have to follow the odor
mitigation requirements that are not
only in the redevelopment agreement, but
also in the township ordinances with
regard to odor. If there are any
complaints, they have to be addressed,
um, within 48 to 72 hours.
Um, but I don't believe Brett we haven't
had any odor complaints at,
um, Royal Highness.
We haven't had any odor complaints.
Right. Yeah.
I I I do feel that this
I get it. I get I get it. I see it on
page two that you change, but I think
the paperwork
should reflect that.
You know what I'm saying? In the
in the binder that was given to us
tonight. Understood. That's all I'm
saying. Okay. Yeah. Should reflect.
Yeah, I understand. I I
I'm sorry that that looked that way. Uh
the way that I had written it was it
started with Casaverde Bazooka, had the
name change, I indicated the name
change, and what I did though was I
called it Casaverde {slash} Bazooka
throughout so that it would be clear
that it was the same entity. I apologize
for the confusion. That was the reason
why I did it that way so it would be
clear that it was the same entity.
Okay.
>> And not a second entity or distinguish
entity.
You have to take action with this. Uh
there is a resolution for your
consideration this evening to approve um
the redevelopment agreement and
acknowledge um the concept plan is in
conformance with the redevelopment plan,
redevelopment agreement, and that you
um are okay with him with the the
applicant submitting to the planning
board.
Motion.
It It's just one question.
This is the resolution saying that this
is the name change.
This is the resolution that acknowledges
the name change
in the redevelopment agreement and
approves the redevelopment agreement
with Bazooka. Okay.
And then
Lou believes that we have to have a
separate resolution for clarity with the
CRC. It doesn't have to be tonight. We
can come back and go through process cuz
we've got plenty of time.
Okay. Thank you. Okay.
So you have a motion moving.
Yeah, here's a motion. I'll second.
>> did you motion or Yes. Second. Oh, you
second. Okay.
Motion and second. We have a roll call
vote, please.
Mr. Aiken? Yes. Mr. Chee? Yes. Ms.
Thompson? Yes. Dr. Witherspoon? Yes. Mr.
Cicali? Yes.
Thank you, Mayor. One other point, I've
done two dozen of these. You've got the
toughest council that I've ever dealt
with on the other side. Respectfully, I
say that. So she's earned every dime
that she's earned.
Thank you. Thank you very much.
Thanks, Emily.
Moving on, 2026 municipal budget
presentation.
Shut the lights off. I know we can't
read.
That's That's too dark.
You need some light? Yeah, let there be
light. We need a little more light.
I can't see what I'm going
All right, he's on it.
That's fine.
Yeah, that's good.
Perfect. What?
That's good.
One comment about the uh cannabis
This is our third and final retail that
we have
All three of them will, if they get
through, this will be our third
true redevelopment with the
redevelopment plan.
Use it for cannabis, but it's it's
noteworthy
All right, 2026 budget introduction.
2026 budget sees familiar challenges. Um
we're going to talk about challenges of
developing a budget
>> speaking into the mic?
No. Not really.
We're going to talk about challenges of
developing a budget during strained
times, how we got here,
what's in the budget and what we're
doing to try to make it work, and some
of the other solutions.
Uh we're like last year, we're seeing a
steady increase to the cost of goods and
services. Uh this includes
employee expenses and um their impact to
this budget.
Like yours, the township expenses never
seem to go down. So we
need to constantly shop for the best
prices on goods and effectively manage
what we have.
Some of the things we're going to talk
about uh recruiting and competing with
other towns in the private sector to
secure qualified employees.
Employee health insurance rates, they're
up this year.
We'll talk about that more. Uh pension
payments are up this year.
Uh the cost of vehicles and equipment
maintenance is up.
And the fluctuation and increases in
utility costs, you see everyone's seen
the cost of gasoline, electric,
um natural gas all on the rise this
year.
And our solid waste uh services went up
this year as well as landfill fees.
Uh the other uh
challenge that especially Hamilton
Township has seen in the last
since COVID, uh the loss of our brick
and mortar retail in the uh design
commercial zone,
um and tax appeals.
Tax appeals hit us pretty hard last
year.
Another thing that we lost last year was
our dial-up tax from Verizon. Our
dial-up dropped below 51% in the
township, so we lost 9 and 1/2 million
dollars
from them.
And in addition to that, we lost uh 21
million 500 in ratables uh through tax
appeals.
So that's 31 million dollar ratable
loss. Uh this is going to impact this
budget 1.6 cents.
Plan designs for the state health
benefits increased um depending on plan
that the individual employee was was on
or their families.
Uh
they increased 30 60 55% in 2026.
This impact to the township is about
125,000 dollars.
Um
we've heard about double-digit increases
coming down the road for next year.
We're looking at that.
Looking around, seeing, you know, what
other options are out there for for the
township.
Are we going to stay in state health
care?
You know,
you have the option to jump out, we're
going to look at it. I'm not saying
we're going to, but we're going to look
at all of our options to try to save
money. But whatever we do has to be in
kind. So we we have to provide in kind
health care.
Talked about this, utilities increase in
2026. We're preparing for 2027.
Uh gasoline and diesel's up.
Uh electric, street lighting, all these
expenses are
Cost of retaining employees and
competing with neighboring towns in the
private sector.
Harder than ever to maintain our
existing workforce and fill vacancies.
Right now we have uh vacancies here at
town hall. We have vacancies at public
works. We've had vacancies at public
works for
three years that we've been
unable to fill.
And understaffed in public works since
uh since COVID.
Uh we're dealing with contractual
obligations, training, uh
certifications,
uh equipment. We provide the employees
certain equipment to do their jobs,
health care, and pensions.
We have a lot of third-party contractual
obligations. We have our fleet
maintenance that's set to be rebid in uh
summer.
Uh we're projecting out a 20% increase
on that. Uh the last time we bid it was
during COVID or right before it. So uh
the cost of parts and labor going up
significantly since that bid. Uh it's a
646,000
dollar annual contract.
Uh that put 20% puts us at about 130,000
increase
Um HVAC, plumbing, electrical, or tree
removal are up this year. Snow plowing,
um
2025,
we we, you know, this winter we we got
hit pretty hard. Uh it it cost a lot of
our
reserves in snow plowing.
Uh solid waste,
uh yard waste recycling collections up
180,000 this year.
And all of our insurances are up.
Software licensing uh for all municipal
offices has increased in 2026.
Uh cyber security and insurance is up.
Like every other year, we have um we
have to maintain
all of our parks, our our
infrastructure, our buildings. Uh this
year we had new DEP requirements come
down. We have to uh provide them with
GIS mapping for our storm water and
drainage
structure for the entire township.
That was a significant increase.
Earlier in the year, actually last year
came through, and I think it's
uh first quarter this year.
So in order to balance our current
revenues against expenditures, the 2026
budget will need to include a 3.48
cent tax increase.
This year's budget will be 33,062,764
dollars, and it is balanced.
Same on the other side in the
expenditures.
This This graphic shows the assessed
value change. Um this is basically just
showing you a graph from last year to
this year uh what that loss of ratables
did to our budget, how it impacted it,
and shows that
that shortfall over there on the bottom
right.
Budget change, this is a budget change
comparison from 2021. Shows that you
know, the projection how it projected up
this year.
Pretty steady, but
nothing nothing real alarming, but it's
steadily going up.
This shows the operating surplus that we
use in the budget every year.
Last year we used
roughly 4.15 million. This year it's the
same.
To use that kind of surplus, we have to
get that kind of we have to project out
that we're going to receive that surplus
back this year. So, we we do project
that we'll be able to recover the 4.15
million.
So, it's important for the public to
know that we didn't start at 3 and 1/2
cents. We made big cuts and changes to
end there.
Made sustainable structural cuts to this
year's operating budget.
Modified our solid waste and recycling
contract with ACUA.
Received approval to join the NJ Direct
High Health Care Plan with a different
card option.
We moved from the Atlantic County JIF to
the statewide JIF.
We have two less employees on the roster
in 2026 due to attrition.
2026 we will see a full year savings
with the succession of our construction
official retiring,
consolidation of duties, and the
cancellation of our third-party
inspection contract.
Moved the captain position from the
police department and replaced it with a
full-time lieutenant.
We've also had several high-ranking
retirements throughout the township that
yield that yielded lower salary
replacements.
Most staff this year moved to the higher
deductible insurance plans.
This is the same coverage, but just much
lower cost for both the employee and the
township.
Transitioned from the Atlantic County
Joint Insurance Fund to the statewide
insurance fund. This saved us $124,000
in 2026.
Took a hard look at our solid waste and
recycling programs to try to reduce
operating costs.
Because we proactively switched to
totters, we didn't have to switch to
totters, but we did.
We did increase
last year and 5 years prior. We bought
this First we started out with the trash
cans and then we got the recycling
totters.
Um
Because we did this, we're
going to go fully automated by the end
of this year.
That move is expected to save us around
$300,000 in operational costs.
2026 budget has a lot of positives and
the township's moving in the right
direction. Let's talk about some of
those positives.
Redevelopment in 2026.
We have the redevelopment of the
Atlantic City Racecourse and that is set
to begin
this year.
We're going to talk to the ownership of
the mall about its future and potential
redevelopment
projects that could be possibly done
there under undertaken there.
There's also talks of redevelopment of
various parcels in the design commercial
zone. I believe uh
Cast is within that DC zone. There's
quite a few properties down there that
um
are true redevelopment areas and true
There were buildings there that at one
point and we have a couple developers
that are looking to come in and
redevelop down
um
beyond Cologne Avenue.
We're looking forward to the
groundbreaking of two previously
approved cannabis establishments.
Uh continuing our efforts with
negotiations
and helping the
the ownership of the Wheaton's facility
through some of the regulatory
hurdles that they have at the state
level.
And this year we will have a capped
landfill and maybe a solar field out the
uh
landfill site in the industrial park.
We did add 23 commercial rateables this
year. I'm not going to read through all
these, but we did. We We added um
A lot of these went went from retail
base to service base.
Moving in the right direction there.
We're continuing to look at new revenue
sources. We're renegotiating two of our
cell tower leases and possibly adding a
third in 2026.
We're renegotiating our shared service
agreement for
dispatch in Egg Harbor in Egg Harbor
City, as well as our IT services over
there.
Looking at all grant opportunities and
looking for solutions to offset the loss
of retail and again, add more
service-oriented rateables to the town.
Some of our goals
um
2026 we want to look to try to make
Hamilton a nicer place to live and
visit. We're looking to enhance
uh efforts on property maintenance and
uh
collaborate with the courts to see some
of these issues through compliance. It's
been very challenging.
We did have
a couple meetings earlier this year with
the courts and
we've expressed our issues with
property maintenance, zoning,
construction violations, things like
that and
they've uh
noted it and it seems like some of those
matters are going to get pushed through
the court system a little easier.
We're looking to revamp the role,
duties, and job description of the
zoning officer.
Um just going to consolidate a lot of
these different functions under him
and we're going to
I'm going to look at that and we're
going to bring that back to committee
for
consideration in future meetings.
We continue to invest idle funds. Last
year we
got about 100 or 890,000 dollars
in interest on some of our funds that we
have sitting in bank accounts.
We're looking at all shared services
opportunities with neighboring towns,
the schools, and the county.
And
we continue to reduce debt, paying down
about 1.5 million in 2026.
Fire.
Um
As we've done in previous years, we
continue to invest in our volunteers,
our four fire companies, and the
township fire department the township of
Hamilton Fire Department as whole.
We're actively seeking grants to offset
equipment costs.
Looking for ways to recruit new
volunteers.
And this year we've invested quite a few
dollars into our dive team to get them
some advanced certifications that they
need to compete with neighboring
counties.
This is a pie pie chart that shows the
um
portion of
your local tax versus the county tax and
the school tax.
So, this year you're 27% of your
township tax is going to That's
27% of your tax bill is actually from
the township.
How much will this budget cost the
average taxpayer? So, assume assuming
a house that's assessed at $168,000,
which is the average home in Hamilton
Township, this homeowner will pay 1748
municipal taxes. That's about $61.31
more than they paid last year.
How's that 17
$1748
spent? This is just breaks out the uh
tax among all the services that we
provide, utilities, public safety,
public works, general government,
capital improvements,
our statutory requirements, and our
insurances.
What do public safety services include?
Police protection, fire protection,
rescue squad, emergency management,
court services, animal control, and code
enforcement.
What do public works services
include? They include road maintenance
and construction, storm water inspection
and maintenance, flood mitigation,
oversight of the Lenape Dam, park
maintenance and construction,
recreational facility maintenance, snow
and
Public works services also include solid
waste,
your weekly trash collection, monthly
bulk collection, bi-weekly recycling,
landfill fees, yard waste collections,
and public education.
General
government services include
administration, the clerk's office,
vital statistics, finance, our audit,
risk management, legal and engineering,
plant planning office, the zoning
office,
construction, fire prevention, code
enforcement, tax assessment,
tax collection, and IT.
What else is in the budget? Enhancing
all existing services while keeping them
affordable. So,
you know, trying to do more with less,
investing in community development,
maintaining and improving the township's
infrastructure, and continuing to invest
in our employees.
This This budget includes funding for
public events, the Cove Beach and
swimming, the September 11th Memorial,
Veterans Day, Memorial Day, holiday tree
lighting, National Night Out, the rabies
clinic, and public works and police
services for the Halloween parade and
hometown celebration.
This budget provides 5% of the required
funding for up to a $2 million capital
ordinance for roadway improvements,
drainage improvements, improvements to
our municipal infrastructure and
complexes, recreational planning and
expansion, public works equipment, and
emergency service equipment.
This year we're going to look as we you
know we began last year but
working through the Pinelands
requirements and the applications to get
a second phase out of the Leafy Tract.
Uh we're looking to expand the parking,
lighting,
add some additional sports fields and
with that we have to do some drainage
upgrades.
2026 road improvement program um
this year's budget will fund up to a
million and a half dollars for road and
drainage improvements.
Funding sources in in addition to
capital for 2026
we have
$206,000
for Babcock Road. That's through the
NJDOT state aid.
Uh same thing with Mizpah Road phase
one. We have a got $185,000
at the end of last year for Mizpah Road
phase one.
We have a safe streets to transit grant
for Dennis Foreman Drive. This is for
sidewalks for $133,000 and we just
received notification from the ACIA that
we got in CDBG funding for a new ADA
playground at the Cove
in the amount of $150,000.
Uh so we're going to plug in $674,000
in grant funding uh in addition to
the uh
$2
million that capital projects.
Grant applications out there. We have a
DCA grant out for 100,000 for the hockey
the third hockey court at the Leafy
Tract.
Um
we have it uh
DOT municipal aid grant application out
for 350,000 for road paving
and we have another uh
grant application to close the landfill
in the amount of uh 798 uh
$798,000
which will go to uh finishing off the
landfill cap.
We're continuing to to explore new grant
opportunities in 2026.
Uh federal and and state road
restoration grants, safe streets to
schools and transit grants
energy efficient energy efficiency
opportunities. We're looking for grants
for uh converting all of our street
lights to LEDs and we're also looking at
solar canopy grants for our parking lots
here at town hall and possibly out at
some of our recreation facilities.
Um
grants for public safety grants for
recreation um
for example the DEP
and Green Acres grants that we've gotten
in the past.
And various grants for our fire
departments.
Ongoing capital improvements. This is
underway. We're reconstruct we're in the
process of reconstructing the historic
train trestle bridge. Right now we're in
preliminary engineering and uh the
engineer's submitting
starting to submit all the required
permits in 2026 but there's
I think there was
over 20 permits they need to get to that
so that's going to be
that's going to be a process.
2026 road program phase one uh this is
actually on the agenda for tonight for
award. Uh this is
Babcock Road's actually uh
separate bid but it's it's actually on
here as well. Babcock Road we're going
to call that phase one. It's going to go
from 559 to the high school.
We're going to be paving part of the
Gravelly Run Road where we had a uh
storm water pipe failure over the
this last spring we had a storm water
pipe failure out there. Old River Road
we had some drainage improvements out
there. We're going to pave from 559 up
as far as we can. I believe it's to that
first sharp bend.
Um phase this is actually phase two of
Harley Avenue out to Bear's Head Road.
Springer Lane
Momus Drive in Harding Lakes, Key West
Avenue out in Mizpah and Gale Avenue in
the
Um sustainability programs we anticipate
this year
uh
receiving anywhere from 85 to $100,000
in grant funding for 2026 for clean
communities initiatives. This is what
pays
uh our volunteers and public works to go
out and and clean up the litter on the
side of the roads.
Looking to into increasing
um our
litter abatement programs that add to
our 18 volunteer groups. Please
volunteer if you know anyone or any
nonprofits that
want to get involved please get
involved.
Contact public works.
Uh we're looking to uh promote our rigid
plastic our metal collections and our
recycling
programs this year even more.
Uh also enhancing public awareness and
expanding the efforts of the sustain the
sustainability
This budget we continue to invest in in
all of our our services, our public
safety um our our community events, our
infrastructure
and uh
Cove and our hometown heroes
Timeline of the budget. Tonight we're
going to introduce hopefully if the
committee's good with it. Uh
public hearing will be on May 4th. If
there's any amendments um we'll have to
adjust the adoption date. But if there
are no amendments uh May 4th will be the
adoption.
Questions or comments?
You've done a great job because we were
up
6 [clears throat] 7 cents.
And to get it down to 3.48
I didn't think you could cut anymore but
you did.
So you've done a good job. Thank you.
Anybody else?
Yeah I want to
commend you and and Nick and everybody
all the department heads and everybody
who went through and cut what they could
and
understood the the assignment
to try to keep the
increase in taxes as low as possible.
Um we do this we've been doing this uh
year after year. You know we start out
with
6 7 8 cents and we find a way to whittle
it down as much as we can.
Um
and I kind of scratch my head and figure
out how we can possibly be whittling any
more
but
we seem to do it. It comes down to
change. People don't like change. Um
this year we moved you know we moved
people moved people's health care.
We moved from an insurance fund that
we've been a part of for 30 years to a
statewide fund and a lot of unknowns
with those kind of moves but we're
looking to save money. Saved us $125,000
this year.
Um made some tough decisions with our
solid waste contract but
um
saved the town
a lot of money.
Um
Yeah got me quite a few phone calls.
Thanks.
Guys invested in those coders they were
a pretty big expense. We did get some
grant money for those.
Um but it's going to pay off by the end
of this year.
Absolutely.
So right now you're we are in the uh
state health plan. Correct?
>> We are.
But you're possibly looking around at
that?
We've been looking around at that for
the last couple years.
Our experience rates high.
We're unable to leave state health care.
If we can leave and get a better deal
for the employees and better deal for
the township we'll explore it.
Right now we're
not going to use I want I don't want to
use the word stuck but we're stuck
there. Right.
Luckily we did get approved for that
difference card program. Saved
saved us a significant amount of money
for the people that did move.
Um
There's they're talking about double
digit increases next year. Not like this
year.
It sounds like
10 or 20% this year it was
36. That was the lower side of it.
So
It's on you're looking it's on the
radar.
Possible.
Absolutely.
It's
Anybody else?
Do I hear a motion?
So moved.
Motion. Second. Yeah. Had a motion and a
second.
Roll call vote please.
Mr. Aiken? Yes. Mr. Cheek? Yes. Ms.
Thompson? Yes. Dr. Witherspoon? Yes.
Mayor Petal? Yes.
Public hearing adoption of ordinances we
have none.
Introduction of ordinances.
We have
ordinance 2131-2026
an ordinance amending chapter 105
article four
of the code of the Township of Hamilton
entitled cats.
Mr. Solicitor?
Yes Mayor thank you.
uh to address issues that the township
is facing with the feral cat population.
This just enhances it and also
designates some uh
penalties and conditions where uh the
cat population has been
And as I discussed before um
there's a lot of phone calls about
various issues with feral cats and this
just gives us a little bit more teeth
to try to get things moved along
properly
and these cats taking care of the way
they should be.
You were you making it sure? Making
motion. I have a motion. Second. I have
a second.
Roll call vote please. Mr. Aiken. Yes.
Mr. Chief. Yes. Ms. Thompson. Yes. Dr.
Witherspoon. Yes. Mayor Patelli. Yes.
All yes.
Award bids, contracts, change orders,
resolution to award bid 2026-06
for the 2026 road
improvement program phase one to
Arrowack Paving Company
in the amount of $700,900.
Make a motion.
Second. I have a motion and a second.
Roll call vote please. Mr. Aiken. Yes.
Mr. Chief. Yes. Ms. Thompson. Yes. Dr.
Witherspoon. Yes. Mayor Patelli. Yes.
Resolution to award bid number 2026-05
reconstruction of Babcock Road phase one
to Arrowack Paving Company Hamilton, New
Jersey in the amount of $223,700.
Motion.
I have a question.
Second.
Motion and a second you have a question?
Thank you so much.
Um how much grant um um
how much of the grant amount did we
receive?
So this is we we got a grant last year
for $106,000 for this
Thank you.
Any other questions or comments?
Roll call vote please. Mr. Aiken. Yes.
Mr. Chief. Yes. Ms. Thompson. Yes. Dr.
Witherspoon. Yes. Mayor Patelli.
Yes.
Consent agenda.
We have
A through H.
Motion A through H. Second.
I have a motion and a second A through
H.
Any questions or comments?
All those in favor? Aye. All those
against?
Eyes have it.
Personnel.
Yeah, appoint
Hey Zeus Cardona to the position of
full-time police officer.
So moved. Second.
I have a motion and a second. Roll call
vote please. Mr. Aiken. Yes. Mr. Chief.
Yes. Ms. Thompson. Yes. Dr. Witherspoon.
Yes. Mayor Patelli. Yes.
Appoint William
I'm going to say it wrong probably
Mangano
to the position of full-time class two
special police officer not to exceed 11
months. So moved. Second.
Motion and a second. Roll call vote
please.
Mr. Aiken. Yes. Mr. Chief. Yes. Ms.
Thompson. Yes. Dr. Witherspoon. Yes.
Mayor Patelli.
Yes.
Resolution to appoint Amanda Air as
youth services and protection
coordinator
at $56,000 annually effective June 1st,
2026. So moved.
Second.
I have a motion and a second. Roll call
vote please. Mr. Aiken. Yes. Mr. Chief.
Yes. Ms. Thompson. Yes. Dr. Witherspoon.
Yes. Mayor Patelli.
Yes.
Resolution to hire Travis Bowen as a
regular full-time truck driver laborer
$20 base $20 base hourly rate plus other
compensation for for possessing and
maintaining a CDL class A license at 96
cents per hour.
Effective April 8th, 2026. So moved.
Second. Motion and a second. Roll call
vote please. Mr. Aiken. Yes. Mr. Chief.
Yes. Ms. Thompson. Yes. Dr. Witherspoon.
Yes. Mayor Patelli. Yes.
Resolution resolution to promote Joshua
Pierce as a full-time facility
maintenance carpenter for the public
works department at $24.04 base hourly
rate plus other compensation of $1.20
per hour skilled journey person
carpentry effective April 7th, 2026. So
moved.
Second. I have a motion and a second.
Roll call vote please. Mr. Aiken. Yes.
Mr. Chief. Yes. Ms. Thompson. Yes. Dr.
Witherspoon. Yes. Mayor Patelli.
Yes.
Appointment to senior advisory
committee. You have a vacancy one year
term
effective 1/1/26 through 12/31/26.
Motion Catherine Lewis. I second.
I have a motion and a second.
Roll call vote please. Mr. Aiken. Yes.
Mr. Chief. Yes. Ms. Thompson. Yes. Dr.
Witherspoon. Yes. Mayor Patelli. Yes.
Got it. Thank you.
Goodness for you.
Uh 9G resolution to appoint Brooke
Siden
as an as needed hourly employee at a
rate of $25 per hour not to exceed 25
hours per week effective April 7th, 2026
through June 30th, 2026. So moved.
Second. Motion and a second. Roll call
vote please.
Mr. Aiken. Yes. Mr. Chief. Yes. Ms.
Thompson. Yes. Dr. Witherspoon. Yes.
Mayor Patelli. Yes.
Approvals.
Minutes regular meeting minutes of March
16th, 2026.
So moved. Second. Motion and a second.
All those in favor? Aye.
All those against? Eyes have it.
Minutes executive session meeting
minutes of March 16th, 2026. Motion.
Second. Motion and a second. Roll call
vote please. Mr. Aiken. Yes.
Mr. Chief. Ms. Thompson. Yes. Dr.
Witherspoon. Yes. Mayor Patelli. Yes.
Bills bill list total $3,281,574.47.
So moved. Second.
Motion and a second.
Roll call vote please. Mr. Aiken. Yes.
Mr. Chief. Yes. Ms. Thompson. Yes. Dr.
Witherspoon. Yes. Mayor Patelli.
Yes. Reports.
Mr. Administrator. Nothing to add.
Mr. Solicitor. Nothing to add at this
time Mayor.
Mr. Engineer. Nothing to add.
Township committee
>> [laughter]
>> Uh Township committee members.
Uh committee woman Thompson.
Change it up.
So I would um
like to report that I attended uh the
Hamilton Elite Basketball game. Um they
had the coaches versus the players at
the Davey School and I had the honor of
being a guest coach and I had so much
fun
um with the uh young fellows that were
playing
and um we didn't win but we [laughter]
we definitely gave them a hard way to
go.
Also I um had the pleasure of
being here when the new fire truck
arrived for the Mays Landing
volunteer fire department and um
checked out all the bells and whistles.
I actually learned a little bit about
the lighting and and the waters out
and inspect it.
Um
also I want to
give a shout out to the full-time
officers Dylan Horsey
and Michael Ball who graduated the
police academy on March 12th.
Um
>> [clears throat]
>> and that's it.
Very good.
Happy Mayor?
Yes. This
last couple weekends the rowing regatta
on Lake Lenape has been very good. The
weather has been good and it's very
enjoyable to see high school athletes at
that level. That's very nice. I've been
there.
Zoning board meetings the dam
Brett and I went for the inspection for
the punch list and whatnot.
That's looking really good.
Woods Landing had a function that
basically thanked us for the cooperation
and your understanding that we had with
them
battling to finish that project. That
was very nice.
This weekend there was a Easter egg hunt
by the Merchants Association Gaskill
Park. That was extremely nice. Another
beautiful day and then seeing little
kids run around and be active.
I was at I didn't make the delivery of
the fire truck. I was out of town. On
the way home I stopped and saw the fire
truck that night and that is very nice
as well.
And then last but least, NASA.
I'm going to show my age in second
grade. I remember taking my chair,
walking down the steps. The whole school
was in Mrs. Buntley's class
to watch the lift-off.
And it's
Now we're going around the moon again.
That's God bless America. And that's all
I have.
Very good.
Nick Mistreky. All right.
So first I want to give a shoutout to
Carousel Collectibles and Creative
Studio right in our downtown.
They had their 1-year anniversary.
It was great to see them do a ribbon
cutting cuz I don't believe they had one
when they first opened.
That was nice people there. They had
some vendors outside. That was great to
be there. Speaking on the downtown
again, I attended the First Friday,
which is
every first Friday of the month. Our
downtown businesses are trying to
promote themselves and get out with
outside vendors and themselves. And I
did attend that and it was it was an
awesome thing and I hope that continues.
It's nice to see those businesses kind
of work together in conjunction and all
help each other out if you will. And
bring people out you know for for them
and our business for the town. It was
great. I also was here with the fire
truck
when it was delivered and that a monster
beast. I heard it was 3 years in the
making.
Before my time when here so it was
awesome to see that great addition for
our
fire company.
I attended many Easter things. The egg
hunt and pancake breakfast and all that
stuff. It was great to see you know
community you know
people doing things for our community is
just an awesome thing. Um
The other thing that Horizons Woods
Landing I attended with
Mr. Cheek. Great to see that community.
They're so happy with you know the
Township Committee what they did for
them you know to change from the I think
it was called Fernmore.
That's the new people.
Fernmore is the new developer.
Okay. The first developer went bankrupt.
Oh okay. I thought that was Fernmore.
Okay, I'm sorry. I got it wrong. But it
was nice
to see the
the community in there celebrate
themselves and celebrate with the
Township you know cuz I heard that the
Township did a lot for them to further
that to get them to where they have to
be today. So that was a that was another
um
My first meeting with the League of
Municipalities. Mhm. I attended with Dr.
Witherspoon and
Ms. Thompson. It was great. Hopefully
many more. A lot of conversations and uh
It was great to get out there and meet
and greet different people and see
different people. So
Um on the budget, great job guys. Nick,
Brett. I know we did have a meeting you
know and they kind of steered us in the
right direction. With the budget,
me as a newcomer up here, I think my
experience with the BOE kind of helped
me you know settle in to see where
things move and what you have to do. And
you guys did a great job with the number
that was
first given and what you got you know
you got it whittled down to. So kudos on
that.
Dr. Witherspoon. Yes.
Um I was here also with the fire truck.
I was looking for our picture.
>> [laughter]
>> The all four of us. It'd be out on the
but I'm sure it's coming.
Uh it was very nice. That was the first
time I've ever seen a truck received and
how excited the firefighters were.
Uh I believe that the tanker 19 will be
going to Nesco
after some work it is done within within
the next 3 weeks to a month.
Um so I'm excited about that because
they wanted that tanker
back in Nesco.
You know um
they have different a whole different
situation. They don't have
fire hydrants
and things of that nature. So I'm
excited that that will be
um coming up.
Um I want to thank Pastor Robin from the
First
United Methodist Church here in Mays
Landing who coordinated
the Easter egg hunt.
We've had so many Easter egg hunts.
I don't I mean maybe five. I went to the
one with power which was in the police
department which was great.
Um then there was one with um
kids that were blind.
And then there was the one we had this
week and then
different um
communities in our community had Easter
egg hunts.
So hopefully one year I would like to
see us do a gigantic one
where we can bring it all together. But
it was very nice what everybody did do.
And just to see the kids very excited
and running made me happy as well.
On this Wednesday, I normally do not
miss or try not to miss the police
officers I believe are being recognized
with awards.
I will be out of town. I will not be
here but we want to congratulate all of
those that
have stepped up and done what they
needed to do and will be recognized on
Wednesday. I believe that's at 5:00.
Right here in Township.
In the hall, right?
So that's going to be on Wednesday.
Uh the on Friday
um the Atlantic County
officials meeting will be at Martin's in
Landisville.
I won't be able to make that this time.
Uh but they are looking for other
committee people to show up.
>> [laughter]
>> So whenever you all can
show up to those meetings that would be
great. Um they asked me did I
tell everybody. I said they know.
They know. All right. Also on the 17th
the Atlantic County League of
Municipalities will be having their
meeting also.
And there will be
our annual free rabies clinic will be
held on April the 25th.
And that's done every year.
All right. Now I have a dog.
I shouldn't say I have a dog. My family
has a dog.
You know so that's going to be held
here. Um
I think that's a good it's a good thing.
So I'm sure more information will come
out with the time. It'll be from 9:00
till noon. From 9:00 to noon. And where
will that be held at? In the parking lot
across the street. Look for the big
white tent. Uh the parking lot across
the street with the big white tent.
All right. And um again I want to say
thank you to Nick
and to Brett
um for working on the budget and getting
it down from 6 to 7% because from 6 and
7 cents down to where you got it because
I said I can't see what you can cut.
There's nothing else that we can cut
especially losing 31 million dollars in
ratables.
But you found a way to do it. So thank
you very again for a job well done.
That's my report. Thank you.
Um yes.
Uh police award ceremony Wednesday 5:00
here
town hall.
Um
Kind of used to the old chief doing it.
Let's see how you make out. He's uh
you know Greg's kind of
a little comical.
See how he's how he followed through
with that.
>> [laughter]
>> Um yeah. It was it was
there were a lot of Easter egg hunts
this year. Um we had some good weather
over the weekend. I attended the one
there at Gaskill Park. That was great.
That was um
Methodist Church Pastor Robin and
Mays Landing Merchants Association I
think was involved with that also. And
did a really nice job. And
getting that fire truck
for Mays Landing that
the new tanker that was
That was a heavy lift. That was uh
Go back 3 3 and 1/2 years ago how that
all started.
And it's unbelievable it takes 3 and 1/2
years 3 years to get a a piece of
equipment that pretty much
every single town in this country needs
fire trucks.
And it takes that long to get these fire
trucks. I saw something I think it was
on 60 minutes talking about
that whole process and what's going on
with that. So if anybody's an
entrepreneur more
you might want to go start your own fire
truck company cuz you do really really
well.
Um
So it's just it's good to have that
here.
And it's going to take them probably I
hear about 2 weeks get it all set up get
it out on the road.
And of course they got to train on it
learn how to learn how it works.
Um everybody all the operators have to
get certified. So I'm sure you'll see it
driving around pretty often.
Um for those volunteer firefighters
learning how to operate that piece of
equipment.
Um
And once again good job with the budget.
Uh hopefully there's no changes over the
next 2 weeks
or weeks.
But we'll we shall see, right?
But now good job like I said earlier.
Good job to all the uh department heads.
Um this time of year is tough for
everybody.
And I hate to see taxes go up on
everybody here. I mean everybody here
pays taxes. [clears throat] I know not
everybody lives in town. I'm sure your
town's taxes are probably going up too.
It's it's pretty much everywhere.
And
as Brett said it's just the cost of
living with everything.
I mean fuel electric.
It's just there's
insurance everything. It's
I don't I don't know when it's going to
stop, but hopefully it stops soon.
Um with that, uh
Reagan, I'll see you later.
Maddie, I miss you and I love you and I
hope to see you soon.
And we will go to public comment.
Prepare a statement.
Good evening, everyone.
I'm Officer Tasha Cannon. I want to
start off by saying thank you to my
colleagues for showing up today in
support. Um and I want to thank you all
for this opportunity to speak here
tonight.
I want to address uh the proposed
contract that was brought before you
guys. Um specifically the salary
increase as I move forward and other
officers move forward in the step guide.
Um
Over the years, I've done more than my
core part of my duties, going above and
beyond with serving within the
community, showing up on my personal
time, volunteering my time.
I work to build very strong
relationships, bridge the gaps within
the community, and be a voice for those
that aren't being heard.
And also representing those that look
like myself.
Um I'm also a resource officer. I'm in
the schools, dealing with the children
every day, building bonds, and
potentially looking for future
candidates to join us up here today.
Um
I am also a member of the PAL board.
These roles are time time that I take,
like I said,
to give to everyone.
Whether I'm being a friend or whether
I'm being here for children or my own
members of the community.
But um I want to address some things
tonight.
And one would be definitely the pay. I'm
one of the officers that the decisions
tonight are negatively affected greatly.
And like you said, the cost of living is
going up.
Did a good job with the budget. I agree.
Um Your decision definitely takes a toll
on a lot of us.
And not just myself, but Officer
Boyd, who's our K9 officer, and he'll
end up on the department or the township
money with this contract.
Um
Sorry.
I'm a little nervous.
I would normally never stand up here.
And I know a lot of you have seen me out
in the community doing my job, which I
do for fun because I love to do it, not
because my uniform.
Um
I would like for you guys to please
consider the contract that was brought
before you
so you can see cuz I do believe that
maybe you guys didn't have enough time
or adequate time to review it or
understand it or see the numbers.
I'm speaking not just for myself. I'm
speaking for my whole department.
And I'm also very impactful in doing
that in the community, hence my name,
Miss Impact. So please, can you consider
that? Look over it, think about it
before you give us a strong no.
Thank you.
>> [applause]
>> Good evening, Mayor and committee. My
name is Ray Theriel, former township
resident and a current business agent
for our PBA Local 77.
I don't know if you were what explaining
the process of how we got here tonight.
Um
we were in mediation.
Um a deal came together. It was late. We
were here till like 8:00 at night that
day negotiating. And it was kind of all
thrown together very quickly.
Um and both sides looked at it and said,
"Okay, that's something we can live
with."
It happened so quickly, there was a
couple officers that were overlooked in
how the deal came together and the way
the steps would move,
and they would have been adversely
affected. Some of them One of them you
just heard from would have actually lost
money with that deal. Uh obviously, I
don't think it was anybody's intention
for somebody to lose money in a new
contract. So, all's we're asking for is
for you to please take a look at what
our attorney sent to you. Um evaluate
it. It It's probably the cheapest option
available for everybody at this point
right now. Um and we appreciate you
taking the time to listen to us tonight.
Thank you. Thank you.
Anybody else?
Teresa DeRose from Holly Street in
Laurel Dale. I have two positions uh
pertaining to solicitor Kenneth Warren
addressing the feral cat situation in
the township. I'm here to say feral
cats' lives matter.
And uh their lives are difficult and the
struggle is real. They should be
protected from harm and abuse. So, where
can we find your uh changes that you
made? And um also um other than the
rabies clinic, uh are there any uh
additional assistance to those caring
for the cats? Cuz people do this on
their own money.
Can everybody respond? Absolutely. So,
the ordinance was one for introduction
tonight, so it's going to be posted and
published, so you'll be able to see the
entirety of it. of it. I know that we
worked at length regarding the feral cat
ordinance. It's regarding establishing
parameters for the care of those cats,
including what is sufficient food and
water and care. Uh I believe that it's
going to address your concerns and
you'll be happy with it. At least we
hope you will. And it will be posted
after this meeting. Cuz I saw that you
had um
there was already established
guidelines, but then you made changes,
so Right, yeah. We we strengthened that
as well, so it should be posted, so
you'll be able to review it. And it's
going to be one for uh a public hearing
and an adoption on April 20th, 2026 for
public hearing. Yeah, because people do
this out of their own time, their own
money, and you know, we don't want to
you know, discourage people from doing
it, you know, to make it too expensive,
to think it too
unable to be doing it. And I have
another position that um I agree with
and support Tracy Thompson, her views
regarding the proposal for a
subcommittee, and oppose the idea for a
subcommittee. Um
Due to all public suggestions are not
considered. And uh I know that for a
fact for uh 2024,
uh I had a proposal and it was not
considered.
Um and also, since they're going to be
doing the subcommittee, will they be
paid additionally or compensated
additionally? No. Um thank you.
Anybody else?
Motion to close. Second. I have a motion
and a second. All those in favor? Aye.
Against?
Do I hear a motion to
adjourn?
So moved. Second. Motion and a second.
All those in favor? Aye. Against?
>> [music]
[music]
>> What makes a good volunteer? Um
Someone who's very dedicated,
uh loyal, um
somebody who understands that it there's
a commitment involved, and they have to
have the support of their family as well
to be able to come and go uh at the drop
of a dime when somebody else is uh in
need. My name is Glenn Warner. Uh my
name is Larry Birch. I'm Frank Roby.
[music] Hi, my name is Louis Di Martin.
My name is Christie Litsey. And uh I'm
recently the uh appointed as the new
[music] fire administrator for the
Township Hamilton. I've been with the
department for almost 30 years and a
senior captain. I'm
one of the safety officers for the
department as well as a firefighter. I
am the chief of the Mays Landing
Volunteer Fire Company. I am firefighter
and secretary [music]
of the Weymouth Volunteer Fire Company.
I started doing this when I lived up in
Maine, where
>> [music]
>> there's very few people. Um the town I
lived in was 230 people, and so that's
they were looking [music] for help, and
so I I volunteered. My biggest
inspiration to volunteer is to help
other people, um help the community.
Back in October of '73, I uh
I don't know, I seen [music] the fire
trucks going around town and everything
like that, and I was really interested,
and then I joined, and it's been 51
years later, I'm still here. It's
something I grew up with. My father is
40-something years with our company. Uh
I grew up with the ladies' auxiliary as
well, and then uh 5 years ago, [music] I
decided to go through the fire academy
as well. It's just something that's
ingrained in me.
It's important for people to get
involved with their community because
this is where we live. This is
everybody. It's your your neighbors
helping neighbors, and
>> [music]
>> uh if nobody's there right now,
volunteerism across the country is down,
and uh it's getting to the point where
if somebody called and needed the help,
but nobody's coming out. The volunteer
uh is is running very low, so we are
always looking for volunteers to help
out. I think everyone [music] needs to
do that. There's not enough people right
now volunteering for whether it's fire
fire department or other things and
[music] people need to get re-engaged
into, you know, helping out the
community.
Well, anybody could be a volunteer if
they're willing to put the time in. Uh
you have to be committed and it's a big
commitment you're going to take. Um
but it's very interesting and we have a
lot of fun.
Your local fire company,
>> [music]
>> find out what their meeting nights is.
Ours are Monday. Um each company in our
our township has a different [music]
night and you can just show up and you
can talk to them and you meet with the
chief and all the guys and kind of get a
feel for it and see if it's something
you'd be interested in. So, you could go
to the town hall over here and talk to
the fire [music] administrator and he'll
set you up with an application. If
you're
uh want to become a member, uh we also
do junior members.
Um
yeah, come down here Tuesday night and
get an application.
It's really important to uh step up for
your community and even if you don't do
it on the fire side, there's EMS.
There's all different services, [music]
you know, public services that you can
do uh and we just we need we need the
next generation to come up and um you
[music] know, start taking the helm.
We've had many impacts, uh motor vehicle
accidents where we help people get out
of cars, uh fires where we help save
property, animals that we pulled out of
houses and so You don't get paid for it,
but the [music] payment that you get
inside is worth it completely and it's
one of those things, you know, if I
didn't volunteer, who would be [music]
here to take my place and what if it was
your house? You know, growing up it's
always, "Well, what if it was our
house?" And it just [music] it's the
most fulfilling thing I've ever been a
part of.
If you were interested in becoming a
volunteer, you can [music] go to any one
of the
uh four firehouses. One's in Mays
Landing, the second one uh Weymouth
[music] firehouse is up off of the
Blackhorse Pike. Laurel Dale Fire
Company is uh off of Route 50, right by
[music] the Expressway entrance and then
Cologne is uh down um on the other side
of the Expressway behind the mall or you
can come to my office. I'm in the
township uh the main building there on
13th Street uh in the fire
administrator's office.
I'd say dedicated.
They're very Yeah, they're dedicated.