11-10-2025 - Township of Hamilton Committee Meeting

I'd like to call to order the meeting of
the Township of Hamilton Committee for
Monday, November 10th, 2025.
If you would stand for the flag salute
to the flag of the United States of
America and to the republic for 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, the Star
Ledger and the Atlantic County Record on
January the 8th, 2025. Mr. Chief
>> here,
>> Dr. Nelson
>> here.
>> Mr. [clears throat]
>> here.
>> Dr. Witherspoon
>> here. Mayor Shanker
>> here.
Can we have a moment of silence for
private reflection?
Thank you. Um, additions, deletion, and
late agenda items to be considered for
action tonight. We have one addition
which is 6C, a resolution authorizing
acceptance of for a proposal for
engineering services to Remington
Vernick to provide services required for
MS4 new NJD phase 1 watershed inventory
report submissions in an amount not to
exceed $43,000.
>> Motion to approve addition 60.
>> We have a motion.
>> Second. We have a second. Any questions,
concerns?
Hearing none. All those signify by
saying I.
>> I.
>> All those opposed.
>> The eyes have it.
Okay. Um early public comment on agenda
items excluding items listed for public
hearings.
>> No one signed up.
Okay.
Number three, discussions. formal action
may be taken. A is a street vacation
request to request to vacate a portion
of Louise Avenue between block 728 lot
one and block 729
block lot one.
>> Mayor, I'm going to recuse myself.
>> Okay.
>> Motion to approve street vacation.
>> Second.
>> Yes. Yes. So I don't
you want to give us a little background
on this before we move to the motion
portion?
>> We had a request from a property owner
off the waist drive which is off of Wake
Drive in Masonate the dead end portion
of the road.
We reached out to the property owners.
Doesn't look like anyone had any
objection to it.
>> Okay.
So everybody around them was notified
and asked for the objections. Okay. Very
good.
>> Anyone have any questions, comments? You
guys want to throw those motions and
seconds at me one more time?
>> He'll get one.
>> Motion.
>> We'll mix I was going to mix it up. Go
>> ahead.
>> A motion.
>> You're going to make Rita erase. You
know that, right?
>> Uh are any questions? Rita, could you go
to roll call vote, please?
>> Yes. Mr. Chi,
>> yes.
>> Dr. Nelson,
>> yes.
>> Dr. Witherspoon.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Shanker,
>> yes.
>> All yes and carried. [clears throat]
>> Thank you.
>> One second. I'll go get
>> Oh, thank you.
[snorts]
Welcome back.
>> Hey, thank you.
>> Let's move on to B. Hello. A
presentation of redevelopment plan
addition of a drive-thru on block 42,
lot 3, 76 7685 Blackhorse Pike. We have
our redevelopment attorney, Jim Mi, here
tonight who's going to make the
presentation for us.
>> Good evening. Excuse myself.
>> Okay. Thank you.
when the music stops.
The uh so so this is before you tonight
is uh for your consideration is
introduction of an ordinance making a
revision to the redevelopment plan for
the hello hello high site. Um it is uh
simply to allow um used to allow a
driveth through at the location. Um
there are it will still go through site
plan to get where we went to get here.
This has been reviewed internally by the
township and considered and the uh Jen
Heler is here, the planner that put
together this this uh report, the
revision to the plan. And it will now um
with your introduction, it would then be
uh referred, you also have a resolution
on your agenda, referred over to the
planning board for their consideration
if it's consistent with the master plan.
Uh and then it would come back here for
final adoption. It is approved. My
understanding is it's they've already
gotten approved by the state for the ad
of a drive-thru. It's in order to allow
folks who have uh some difficulty
getting in and out of cars that may have
used for this product to drive through
um a little easier for them to be
serviced. And um there are steps being
taken to ensure that there'll be proper
cues and you know that we'll make sure
that we're able to keep traffic off of
um from backing off up on the Blackhorse
Pike and that's simply what it is.
Adding a drive-thru onto the existing
property. That's what what we have for
tonight. Okay.
>> Okay.
>> Very good.
>> So any questions or anything anyone has?
Happy to answer them.
>> Anyone have any questions?
>> Just one question. Mhm.
>> The site um specific redevelopment plan
was that amended?
>> This this would amend it for this
property only to allow a drive-thru.
>> Okay. Thank you.
>> Okay. Any other questions?
Thank you.
>> Appreciate it.
>> Okay. So, we'll move on uh to item one.
We have an introduction of an ordinance
212025.
an ordinance adopting sight specific
redevelopment plan which we just
reviewed for block 42 lot three in the
township of Hamilton County of Atlantic
and state of New Jersey.
>> So moved.
>> We have a motion.
>> Second.
>> We have a second. Any questions,
concerns?
>> Rita, could you do a roll call vote,
please?
>> Dr. Nelson?
>> Yes.
>> Mr. Patali?
>> Yes.
>> Dr. Witherspoon?
>> Yes. Mayor Shanker,
>> thank you. Uh the one thing I did not
announce
did not announce is the public hearing
is to be held December 1st, 2025.
>> [clears throat]
>> Second part of this is a resolution
authorizing the Township of Hamilton
planning board to review the proposed
sight specific redevelopment plan for
block 42 lot 3 designated rehabilitation
area
uh within the township of Hamilton
County of Atlantic and state of New
Jersey.
>> So moved.
>> Have a motion.
>> Second.
>> We have a second. Are there any
questions, comments?
Hearing none. Rita, let's do it again.
>> Dr. Nelson,
>> yes.
>> Mr. Patali,
>> yes.
>> Dr. Witherspoon,
>> yes.
>> Mayor Shanker,
>> yes.
>> All yes and carry.
>> Thank you. Uh, four is a public hearing.
>> Hang on.
>> Got to go get Rich.
>> Oh, I Why do I always forget Rich? Why
is [laughter] that?
>> Huh? I did forget you, though. I can't.
Thanks. I almost did. You kidding me?
>> Where'd he go?
Okay.
Uh we move on number four which is a
public hearing on ordinance excuse
[clears throat] me 2119 2025 an
ordinance of the township of Hamilton
County of Atlantic state of New Jersey
amending chapter 32 article one titled
payto-run program
of the code of the township of Hamilton.
Um
this is a public hearing. Would anybody
like to speak?
Motion to close.
>> Second.
>> Motion to second to close. All those in
favor signify by saying I. I. All those
opposed. Eyes have it. Uh the chair will
entertain an adoption of this ordinance.
>> Motion to approve ordinance 2119 TAC
2025.
>> Second. We have a motion. We have a
second. Are there any questions,
comments?
Hearing none. Rita, can we do a roll
call vote, please?
>> Mr. Chief,
>> yes.
>> Dr. Nelson,
>> yes. Yes. Mr. Patali, yes.
>> Dr. Witherspoon,
>> yes.
>> Mayor Shanker,
>> yes.
>> All yes and adopted.
>> Number [clears throat and snorts] five,
introduction to ordinances public
hearing to be held December 1st, 2025.
Uh, A is an ordinance 2020 21-21 2025.
An ordinance amending the article 2
chapter 66 of the code of the township
of Hamilton providing for annual salary
increases
and increases in salary maximums for
certain employees.
Brett, you want to give us a little
background on this so everybody knows
what we're talking about?
>> This is an ordinance that we amend
annually for
increases for the non-aligned staff and
township.
This would increase the salary for 2026
to 2 and a half%. Okay.
All right. This is an introduction of
this ordinance. Uh do we want to do do
we have a motion?
>> So move.
>> Second.
>> We have a second. Are there any
questions, comments?
Hearing none. Marita, roll call vote,
please.
>> Mr. Chief,
>> yes.
>> Dr. Nelson,
>> abstain.
>> Mr. Patali,
>> yes.
>> Dr. Witherspoon,
>> yes.
>> Mayor Shanker,
>> yes.
>> Four yes, one abstension. Motion
carries.
>> Thank you. Six. Awards of bids,
contracts, and change orders. A is a
resolution to renew
commodity resale agreements for snow
removal chemicals for the period of
10125 to 43026
with the Atlantic County Institute of
Technology and the Hamilton Township
Board of Education Schools.
>> So move.
>> We have a motion.
>> Second.
>> We have a second. Any questions,
comments?
Hearing none. Rita,
>> Mr. Cheek,
>> yes.
>> Dr. Nelson,
>> yes.
>> Mr. Patali,
>> yes.
>> Dr. Witherspoon,
>> yes.
>> Mayor Shanker,
>> yes.
>> All yes and carried.
>> B is a resolution to approve change
order number one for storm water pipe
replacement grally run road to Landberg
Construction increasing the amount of
the contract 9,475.
>> So moved.
>> Second.
>> A motion. We have a second. Uh Brett,
can you tell us what the change tell
everybody what the change order is for?
>> I I can take that.
>> Okay. Bob,
>> so if you recall a while back, we had a
storm drain collapse on Graly Run.
>> Yes.
>> Township [clears throat] awarded an
emergency contract to Landberg
Construction to do the repairs. Once
they got in and did the repairs, it
ended up that the storm drain was
further under the curb than was
anticipated. So they had additional curb
to replace. And as a result of the
collapse, additional trench restoration
was required.
>> So this change order covers the
additional trench restoration and the
additional curb that was required to
complete the project.
>> Okay. Very good
>> committee
move to approve the uh change order.
>> We already did.
>> I think we already did that already. My
bad.
>> Okay. Sorry. [laughter]
>> Okay. So uh Rita, let's do a roll call
vote, please.
>> Mr. Cheek.
>> Yes.
>> Dr. Nelson,
>> yes.
>> Mr. Patali,
>> yes.
>> Dr. Witherspoon, yes. Mayor Shanker,
>> yes.
>> All yes and carry.
>> Okay, we'll move on to seven consent
agenda. Excuse me.
>> 6C.
[clears throat and cough]
6C is a resolution authorizing the
acceptance of a proposal for engineering
services to Remington Vernick to provide
services required for MS4 New Jersey
Department of Environmental Protection
Phase 1 wershed inventory plan report
submission in an amount not to exceed
$43,000.
>> Question
Rich,
>> down here it says 62,000 for your
request.
>> It's a type that's a typo.
>> That's a typo. Okay.
>> On the resolution, it says 43,000. Okay.
>> So, we're we're covered there.
>> Okay.
What's your pleasure?
>> Motion authorizing the acceptance of
proposal for engineering services to
Remington and Burick.
>> Second [clears throat]
motion. We have a second. Questions or
concerns?
>> Just a question.
>> Okay.
>> I know we just got this tonight and
approved for it to be on, but can this
can you explain this?
>> Sure. This is the the next part of the D
requirement. The first part which
committee approved probably two meetings
ago was the mapping of the entire storm
water management system owned by the
municipality.
This is now the first part of a
watershed improvement program. What the
state is trying to do is they're trying
to improve water quality. So what
they're requiring is to put together a
watershed inventory report which is the
the tables and the data for all of the
storm drain system in the town. So
they're trying to identify opportunities
to improve water quality and um reduce
the pollutant loads to impacted water
bodies. So they're also trying to um
alleviate flooding to protect health and
safety. But there's multiple phases to
this. The first phase is the uh water
shed inventory report which is the
mapping the required features and the
data to put together the wershed
inventory report. Phase two is basically
an evaluation of the information
obtained in phase one to try to
determine what projects may be
implemented to improve water quality.
And then phase three is going to be
actually implementing the projects that
are identified in phase two that will
improve water quality of the water
bodies in the township. Not just the
township, all the municipalities in the
state.
>> Well, this is for all. But this is
specifically for
>> this is specific for Hamilton Township,
but it's required for all
municipalities.
>> How does that work with the um MUA?
>> It has no impact on the MA.
>> No impact.
>> No.
>> All right. Thank you.
>> Okay.
>> Rita, can we get a roll call vote,
please?
>> Mr. Cheek.
>> Yes.
>> Dr. Nelson?
>> Yes.
>> Mr. Patali?
>> Yes.
>> Dr. Witherspoon?
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Shanker? Yes.
>> Oh, yes. And carried.
>> Thank you. Number seven, consent agenda
A through L.
>> So move.
>> Second.
>> Can we pull out L?
>> Pull out L.
>> We can.
>> Okay. So, we'll um Dr. Witherspoon, if
you'd like to resend your or redo your
motion from A to K.
>> Yeah. My motion is to from the consent
agenda 7A through
7K.
Thank you.
>> Have a second.
>> Second.
>> Are there any questions?
Hearing none. All those in favor signify
by saying I.
>> I.
>> All those opposed. The eyes have it.
We have item L, resolution supporting
2025 operation green light for veterans.
>> I just wanted to uh
give a shout out to Chris Tully. He's
the one who who uh found this and
brought this up. [clears throat]
um had mentioned it to me a couple of
weeks ago about the lights over at the
the powerhouse and then he went ahead
and and um
put the green lights out front here um
at his firehouse at Laureldale firehouse
and um it's it's just so that we don't
forget our veterans pretty much and uh I
thought it was really really uh great
thing and then and then as I read into
some of the information they asked that
we uh pass a resolution
um in support of this. So, thanks Chris
for bringing that up and thanks for all
your guys for what you guys did getting
all those lights on. Good job.
>> Very nice.
>> Make a move to uh
motion to move 7L.
>> Second.
>> A motion and second. Are there any
questions, concerns?
>> Hearing none. All those in favor signify
by saying I.
>> All those opposed eyes have it. Number
eight, personnel. A resolution to
promote Adam Burke as foreman in the
public works department at an annual
annual salary of 65,86729
effective 111625.
>> So move
>> second a motion. We have a second. Any
questions, concerns?
Hearing none. Rita, can we please?
>> Mr. Chief, yes.
>> Dr. Nelson,
>> yes.
>> Mr. Yes.
>> Dr. Witherspoon, yes. Mayor Shanker.
>> Yes.
>> And carried.
>> Thank you. B is a resolution to promote
Charles Wilbert as foreman in the public
works department at an annual salary of
$65,86729.
Effective 111625.
>> So move.
>> Second. Motion. Second.
Are there any questions, concerns?
Hearing none. Rita, could we do this
again?
>> Mr. Cheek.
>> Yes.
>> Dr. Nelson.
>> Yes.
>> Mr. Pati.
>> Yes.
>> Dr. Witherspoon.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Shanker.
>> Thank you.
>> Yes. I'm a Yes. Thank you. [laughter]
>> Uh we move on. Number nine, approvals. A
is the minutes to the regular me meeting
minutes of October 20th, 2025.
>> So moved.
>> Second.
>> Motion. We have a second. Any questions
or concerns?
Hearing none. All those in favor signify
by saying I. I.
>> All those opposed. Eyes have it. B.
Minutes.
Special executive session meeting
minutes of October 22nd, 2025.
>> So moved.
>> Second.
>> We have a motion. We have second,
any questions, concerns?
Uh, Rita, let's do a roll call, please.
>> Mr. Chief, yes. Dr. Nelson, yes. Mr.
Patali, yes. Dr. Witherspoon.
Uh,
>> not vote for this because I wasn't
there.
Just abstain.
>> Abstain.
>> That's fine.
>> Mayor Shanker.
>> Yes.
>> Four. Yes. One abstension. Carries.
>> Thank you. Uh C. Minutes. Special
executive session meeting minutes for
October 27th, 2025.
>> So move.
>> Second. Motion in a second. Are there
any questions, concerns?
>> Hearing none. Rita, please.
>> Mr. Chef.
>> Yes.
>> Dr. Nelson.
>> Yes.
>> Mr. Patali.
>> Yes.
>> Dr. Witherspoon.
>> Yes. Mayor Shanker.
>> Yes.
>> All yes.
>> D. Bill. Bill list total 3,51,334.81.
>> So move.
>> Second.
>> We have a motion. We have a second. Any
questions, concerns?
Hearing none. Rita, can you do a roll
call vote, please?
>> Mr. Chief, yes.
>> Dr. Nelson, yes.
>> Mr. Patali, yes.
>> Dr. Witherspoon, yes. Mayor
>> Shanker,
>> yes.
>> All yes and carried.
>> Thank you. Reports. Mr. Administrator. I
have nothing to add tonight.
>> Okay, Mr. Solicitor.
>> Nothing this time, Mayor. Thank you.
>> Outstanding. Mr. Engineer,
>> mayor, nothing to add to my written
report.
>> Perfect.
Township committee members. Dr.
Witherspoon.
>> Yes. I would like to report um that I
will be singing at the veterans
ceremony tomorrow.
I'm excited to be there. I just thought
it was going to be moved inside, but as
all soldiers, they're going to be
outside in the cold. So, I'll just have
to be prepared. [laughter]
So, that's tomorrow at at 11:00 a.m. And
then I will also be attending the New
Jersey League of Municipalities
Conference. And u that's my report.
>> Very good.
>> Deputy Mayor.
>> Yep. Um Veterans Day ceremony tomorrow
11:00 a.m. War Memorial Park. And then
uh also coming up uh tree lighting will
be Saturday, November 29th at War
Memorial Park, 6 PM. Is that what time
Santa normally gets there? 5:30 6.
Somewhere's around there.
>> Are we on his schedule or do we
>> Yeah, somewhere's around there. Um I see
the uh the high reaches down there and I
see some lights are up already, so
I'm sure you guys will be busy doing
that. Be safe.
Okay. And I just like to say
congratulations to Dr. Thma Witherspoon
on her reelection. Congratulations to
Tracy Thompson on her election to
Township Committee. Congratulations to
Mayor Art Shanker, who will no longer be
mayor with us anymore, I guess. U for
being elected to Atlantic County
Commissioner at large. Thank you.
Um,
and uh, happy birthday to the US
Marines, 250 years.
>> And congratulations to you as well.
>> Thank you. Um, and that's that's it for
me. Reagan, I'll see you later. Maddie,
I miss you and I love you and I'll see
you soon.
>> Okay. Thank you,
>> Commie.
>> As already stated with the Veterans Day
ceremony tomorrow, 11 o'clock.
Everyone's well aware of that. And then
I would like to thank all the veterans
for their service and helping us keep
our country the best country in the
world. Thank you veterans. That's all I
have.
>> Very good,
>> Dr. Nelson.
>> Excellent. I want to say congratulations
to Dr. Thelma and to Carl as well. And I
look forward to your singing tomorrow.
It's always very good. And
congratulations to Tracy. You guys did a
great job. And um also happy birthday to
the Marines and happy Veterans Day
tomorrow. That's all I have. All right.
Thank you. Uh I feel like I'm repeating
what everybody just said. I there's not
a whole lot going on after election day,
but congratulations Dr. Witherspoon and
uh Deputy Mayor Batitali and Tracy
Thompson on a great run. Good job. Um if
all things stay the way they are, I will
be moving on to county uh commissioner's
position. Uh but we'll see. We we'll be
able to talk about that next meeting.
Also, um, Veterans Day is one of the
most important days, I think, of the
year is when we honor our veterans. And
I'm very happy that we were able to get
the, uh, the the heroes banners up
before Veterans Day. was kind of a goal
of ours and I'm looking forward to uh to
being there tomorrow to presenting uh
the honor honorary member uh to one of
our our veterans and also looking
forward to uh pointing out to everybody
if they haven't noticed it yet those
those uh banners. They're they turned
out really nice and I appreciate all the
hard work from public works and our
administrator of getting that done. It
looks great and uh we're no longer
following the towns. were right there
with them and and um very happy to see
that. Uh that's all I have. I'd like to
open it up to the public. If anybody in
the public has anything to speak about,
come on up.
>> Move to close public.
>> Second.
>> We have a motion second to close public
portion. Are there any questions,
comments? Hearing none. All those in
favor signify by saying I.
>> All those opposed?
>> The eyes have it. I will take a motion
to adjourn to executive session. The
items we will be discussing is an
employee agreement, township
administrator, contract negotiations and
personnel and cyber security
notifications or attorney client
privilege. I do not believe we will be
coming back out with anything.
>> Yep. Okay.
>> Motion to adjurnn executive.
>> Second.
>> We have a motion in a second. Any
questions or concerns? Hearing none. All
those in favor signify by saying I. I
>> all those opposed. I sat