07-06-2026 - Township of Hamilton Committee Meeting

like to bring the Monday, July 6, 2026,
Township of Hamilton Committee meeting
to order. Please rise for the flag
salute.
>> Aliance to the 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 6,
2026. Mr. Aken
>> here,
>> Mr. Cheek here.
>> Miss Thompson here.
>> Dr. Witherspoon here. Mayor Patali
>> here. We have a moment of silence for
private reflection, please.
Thank you.
Uh, no guest presentations. We have no
addition or deletion of late agenda
items.
We have no discussions. So, we'll go
right to public hearing, adoption of
ordinances.
were a ordinance 2139-2026
an amended ordinance of the township of
Hamilton amending chapter
>> mayor just for the record no one signed
up for early public comment
>> thank you good job thank you
>> ordinance 2139-2026
an amended ordinance of the township of
Hamilton amending chapter 203 titled
land use and development of the code of
the township of Hamilton regarding
data centers.
This is a public hearing. If anybody
from the public wishes to speak
>> motion to close second
>> I have a motion in a second. All those
in favor?
>> Eyes have it.
>> It's your pleasure.
>> Second.
>> I have a motion in a second. Any
questions, comments?
Roll call vote, please.
>> Mr. Aken,
>> yes.
>> Mr. Cheek,
>> yes.
>> Miss Thompson,
>> yes.
>> Dr. Witherspoon,
>> yes.
>> Mayor Pat,
>> yes.
>> Yes.
>> 4B,
ordinance 2140-2026,
an ordinance authorizing pilot agreement
between the township of Hamilton and
Amazon.com.
This is a public hearing. Anybody from
the public wish to speak?
Mike,
>> come down to the microphone, please.
>> Mike Cenzio, I reside in the township of
Tinum, Delaware County. Um, so thank
you, Mayor Patell and the members of the
township committee. Uh, my name is
Michael Christensenio. I'm an organizer
with Teamsters Joint Council 53. Joint
Council 53 represents over 52,000
members in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and
Delaware, including 241 members in
Hamilton Township itself. As both
residents and workers, Teamsters want
businesses to be both good employers and
good neighbors. Earlier today, Teamster
Joint Council President William Hamilton
emailed a letter to you regarding a
payment in lie of taxes or pilot
agreement for this project. I did bring
copies with me in case you haven't had a
chance to read. The letter urges the
committee to include in the pilot
agreement some sensible measures to hold
Amazon accountable given the public
property tax incentives it will receive.
These measures include defining the
project as an employment generating
economically beneficial operation,
reporting requirements on the number of
full-time jobs created, local hiring and
workforce demographics, employee
turnover rates, workforce injury rates,
and mass layoffs consistent with the
Warren Act requirements. a guarantee
that the facility will continue in its
intended use and not be abandoned,
seized, or converted to a different use.
Lastly, a provision allowing the pilot
agreement to be reviewed, modified, or
terminated if turnover or workplace
safety metrics substantially exceed
industry averages over a sustained
period of time. These measures would
make these measures would make sense for
any development receiving public
subsidies, but are especially warranted
in the cases of Amazon projects. I've
spent 17 years as a teamster truck
driver for a family-owned company named
Pen Jersey Paper. Um, and I've supplied
Atlantic City with casinos, hotels,
schools, and other local businesses.
During that time, I've seen Amazon's
presence erode quality and standards in
trucking, logistics, package delivery
industries, and creating subpar wages
and unsafe working conditions and
characterized by high turnover.
Therefore, if Hamilton Township is going
to subsidize Amazon, it should require
they should be required to meet the high
standards and create 750 good jobs
rather than poor quality jobs that
typify Amazon's workforce. These
accountability measures are also needed
because there are at least two instances
of Amazon receiving property tax
subsidies in Long Island of the promise
um of jobs and failing to fulfill these
commitments. In August of 22, the Nassau
County IDA voted to end its 15-year
pilot agreement with Amazon to build a
facility in Soyet because it decided not
to fulfill its commitment to create 150
jobs there. In May of 22, developer
Hertz Mountain asked the Suffach County
Industrial Development Agency or IDA to
terminate its 20-year tax incentives
deal because Amazon could not fulfill
its commitment to create 175 jobs at a
facility in Mel. Finally, these measures
are needed to make sure that Amazon
actually creates 750 good jobs. That was
the figure that they cited when
announcing this project last year. Since
then, the project went from 3 million
square feet to 1 million square feet and
now include large robotics and
automation features. Given this, it is
hard to imagine how a new project could
still generate the same number of jobs
in the earlier version, which was at
least three times larger. For these
reasons, the Teamsters Union believes
that it makes sense for the township to
adopt the recommend the recommended
measures to make sure that Amazon is
held accountable to what they have
represented. I thank the committee for
the time. Thank you.
>> Thank you.
Hello, my name is Raone Mora uh Junior.
I am from Violin, uh resident of Violin.
Um last time I stood up here before you,
I told you, uh what was happening in
Carne Point in Logan Township where I've
attended city council meetings. Um I
kind of am on board with the Teamster
representative who just spoke. Um over
there the mayor pretty much was uh
gloating that a lot of their jobs that
came in uh originally into their city
have been uh taken out because of the
increase in robotics. Uh we've been
seeing Amazon 2024 I believe political
uh reported that they laid off like
150,000 jobs. Last year it was about
100,000 as of October. Um, I would
implore you, uh, with the warnings of
what's happening in Carne Point and
Logan Township where they're eroding
some of their worker base and replacing
them with AI robotics to also have
measures in this pilot agreement or any
type of agreement with Amazon that
protects jobs to make sure that they're
actually going to have these jobs and to
make sure they're going to be good
paying jobs, not like subpar jobs.
That's it. Thank you.
Hello, Hamilton Township Council. My
name is Justin Roy, also from Vineland.
Um, shout out to the Teamsters. I've
been on the pick a line with Teamsters
in Philadelphia uh many occasions,
solidarity forever. And I also urge you
to listen to their warnings. And I'll
also give you the perspective of a young
person when you're thinking about
bringing jobs to your township and how
much land you're given for how much jobs
you're going to be getting out of this.
Are these going to be jobs that your
young people can afford buying homes
with, that they can afford mortgages
with, afford rent with, afford groceries
with, or are they going to be another,
you know, your jobs like McDonald's,
your jobs like Walmart that are not
paying people uh enough to scrape by, to
move out of their parents house, to
become taxpayers in the community, to
grow the community's economic base. You
need careers. You need to think in terms
of careers, not just jobs. Careers like
a lot of teamsters have, one of the few
opportunities uh to scrape by to a
middle class existence in the tough e
economic situation that is 2026. Uh the
out for young people, it's incredibly
bleak right now. I don't know how many
of you have kids, how many of you know
intimately the struggles economically
that uh our generation's facing, but
here in South Jersey in these poor
economically depressed areas, for me the
solution was I had to go college
somewhere else, try and make a living
somewhere else. I came back to South
Jersey because I like it here. I want to
try and make it better. But we're
suffering from problems like brain
drain. We're suffering from losing the
bluecollar jobs that were staples of
this area. It's hard to make a business.
It's hard to do anything. So, if we're
going to be giving up uh this historic
site and again, so much acreage for how
much are we really getting out of it?
750 jobs, a parcel half the size used to
employ about a thousand people in your
average factory. So, again, just think
about the trade-offs. I think you guys
seem to actually do have the best
interest in your heart. It's not like
Vinand where our city council president
threatened to sue us for merely
criticizing him. So, again, think about
that as you're making these decisions.
THANK YOU.
>> Good evening. My name is Keith Prince. I
live on Paddock Street. Uh I have a lot
of people that live on Paddock Street
and it came out tonight. Uh our concern
is how that's going to adversely affect
our neighborhood. Our Paddock Street
doesn't have street uh lights. Um we
have overgrowth, so it's considered a
more of a natural uh pass through. Uh
Bob Bair who was very involved in our
town and protecting our neighborhoods uh
made sure that it kept that way. Uh we
have a lot of wildlife. I I have 10
acres, a little bit more my whole front
yard. Uh I have deer, I have turtles,
frogs, everything else. That's why I
chose to live there. I have ponds that
the wildlife comes and drinks off of.
And I believe that this project will
adversely affect it. I also believe that
uh we'll get a lot of light pollution.
Um I'm concerned with the amount of
trucks that'll be coming and going down
Paddock Street or potentially going down
Paddock Street. I think it'll uh
adversely affect our entire community.
As far as that's concerned, I don't
think that Amazon's going to bring
enough value to our community as
compared to what we have in our natural
resources. Once we give them up, we're
done. We also have flooding on Cologne.
We have flooding on Fleet Zig. Uh that's
going to be another problem when you
have all the rain. And everybody in my
neighborhood is well in septic. So when
you get the runoff, where are you going
to retain it? you're going to have
issues with mosquitoes unless you, you
know, work on that problem which then
has a problem with groundwater
contamination which will affect our
ability to have good quality drinking
water which uh, you know, we have to
protect the co-ancy aquifer. Uh, we are
very blessed to live in South Jersey
where we have clean drinking water and
we have wide open spaces and that's one
of the things that brought me to
Hamilton Township, not to mention the
the type of people that are involved in
our township. So, I'd like you to
seriously consider the impact that it'll
happen in our communities. When I went
around and talked to people in the
Woodlands, talked to people in our
neighborhood, they really they they're
always used to hearing things possibly
going on. Uh they don't think Amazon's
going to be a good partner for our
township. Thank you for your time. Thank
you.
>> Uh, my name is Mana. Hello everyone. I
don't really have anything um
written down. I just have a couple
things I I want people to think about.
Um, I have lived in Melanding for well
over 20 years. I own um I live in
Oakrest Estates which is um you know
close enough to this facility but I also
um work in Vinland so I'm well aware of
the switching bait that happened there
and I'm very concerned with the person
who you know Amazon and the leader that
is coming in um that the same will
happen here and the one thing that I I
need to know and I'm sure everyone else.
Well, I can't speak for everybody else,
but the people who I've spoken to um
want to see is that there is
preventative language
in this agreement before anything before
stone is touched. Um so beyond, you
know, agreeing with the fact that is it
going to bring jobs in what kind of
jobs? Uh beyond the fact that oh well,
we're getting something there. It's
better than having nothing there. Not
always, right? Not if they're going to
turn it into a data center. Not if
they're going to sell a piece of it out
to a third party, so it's not them doing
it, but somebody else did it into a data
center. So, I hear that, oh, it's not
going to be that. Let's stop talking
about it. But then I I look at and
listen to the things that uh friends of
mine and Vin, my students in Vin have
said to me that live there in that data
center. I don't want it here. We don't
need it here. Right? So, I would like to
see and and hopefully this is already in
the works because you guys are, you
know, the ones that are ahead of this
language in this um agreement before
anything even happens that ties to the
deed that this will not become a data
center. No parts of it will become a
data center. If you sell it, it's not
going to become a data center. You
abandon it, it's not going to become a
data center.
I would also think that there should be
some type of utility cap that is going
in there that prevents them from driving
up our utilities and from sucking up
everything that we have here, right? Um,
one other thing is that pilot program
where they're not paying any taxes,
which is crazy work, that if they do
violate any of these clauses, they turn
any of it into a data center. If they
don't, you know, bring out 700
highquality jobs, then you go and pay
the taxes, right? So, these are
asurances that I'm sure would go a long
way with people because we don't want
data centers here. They they bring no
benefit and if they did, then the people
who were paying to have them built here,
they put them in their neighborhoods,
not ours. So, as someone who lives near
that racetrack, I I want to see language
in the agreement before a stone is
touched that blocks them in every way
from turning any part of it into a data
center. Okay. Thank you.
>> Thank you.
My name is Art Shanker. I live the 608
Whispering Woods Court for a few years
here. I was on Township Committee. It's
also the mayor for five years. I've been
involved with this Amazon deal for
almost two years.
So, let me explain some things. I want
to clear things up and I don't Is it all
right if I address I don't want
>> No, you need to address us.
>> So, basically, this cannot be a data
center. Period. End of story. It's not
going to be a data center. Um I work for
an engineering firm right now. We build
data centers. It is not the same
company.
Amazon who delivers your packages is
Amazon who delivers your packages. AWS
is data centers. Yes, they're building a
lot of them. They're building a lot of
them and they are selling space to a lot
of them. Yes, I also worked on the one
in Vinand by the way, which God bless
you people there. That's a mess. But
that's a whole another's topic. Amazon
is committed to do what they're going to
do. They're going to continue to do what
they're going to do. They have no
intention. Uh I speak with them as long
as well as the mayor. I speak with them
all the time. There is no there's never
been a mention of data center until this
hit Facebook.
And maybe that's part of the problem
because Facebook tends to create worry
for people. This is going to be exactly
what they say it's going to be and it's
going to be, you know, I heard some
issues from some folks about Paddock. Uh
we've had promises from Amazon that they
are going to hold true to their traffic
plan which has been designed by the
county and Amazon and our municipality.
So, anything that becomes a problem
after the fact, they've they've told us
that they will uh take care of it. So,
Okay, it's funny. It's going to pump a
lot of money into this town who's been
suffering for a lot of years.
>> The the Hamilton Mall has cost this town
a tremendous amount of money.
Almost $2 million in revenue is left
because of the Hamilton Mall.
Um, greetings everyone. My name is Megan
Beyond. Hello. I am a member of Empathy
United. We are Indivisible's Atlantic
City chapter. I first want to
acknowledge that as a working class, we
cannot trust a trillion dollar company
with OUR WELL-BEING.
WE cannot we cannot
had to make that clear. All right. So,
I'm coming here to express concern about
the concept of Amazon buying this horse
track. I also want to make it clear that
I and my community members condemn the
29-year pilot agreement that is being
proposed. Um, it simply cannot be
approved. It's 29 years. I don't even
know if I'm going to be alive in 29
years, you know.
um it needs to be delayed for further
con reconsidering of that. Um also I
want to let you know that our
organization posted an infographic on
this Amazon issue for Hamilton Township
and we posted it less than 12 hours ago
and it has already had over 22,000
views. So this issue is bigger than just
the people in this room. Uh, moving on
from that, we have to acknowledge that
Amazon has a market capitalization of
over $2.5 trillion.
Its owner, Jeff Bezos, has an estimated
net net worth of $253 billion.
Before you say this warehouse is going
to bring jobs, Amazon's goal is
literally for it to be as automated as
possible. Their interest is not in us.
It's just not. And who's to say that
they're not going to, okay, hire 700
people and then lay us all off? We don't
know that. We cannot trust them.
So, we also have to acknowledge that
Amazon currently has multiple lawsuits
against it by its its workers for things
such as discrimination, hazardous
working conditions, wage and onboarding
violations. It's not a good place to
work, and that's unacceptable
considering the amount of resources that
they have at their disposal.
Um, also to we should be focusing on
small businesses. The purpose of pilots
is to uplift small businesses. This is
not Amazon's not it. Um, moving forward
from that, I urge you guys to reconsider
and to tread very carefully when working
with billion dollar trillion dollar
corporations.
Again, I don't even know. I don't know
if you guys will be alive in 29 years.
This is for the next generation. We are
supposed to be stewards of this earth
and um one of the community members was
speaking about like the issues for the
environment like what this project's
going to do for that. We don't know what
they're going to do to our resources, to
our water, to our wildlife, to our
infrastructure. Like being hyper
critical is crucial in this time. Um so
again, and also bringing this up. Um
okay, going quickly. Um, in this pilot,
Amazon will get out of paying millions
of dollars of taxes into Atlanta County
and public schools. Just this year,
school districts across Atlanta County
have been forced to lay off teachers and
staff
because of federal budget cuts. So, if
this deal with Amazon is happening, we
should be capitalizing for the benefit
of the public. There should be no tax
cuts. Let's run them dry. Like, make
them do what we want them to do. if they
want that warehouse, we should be
telling them, setting firm grounds of
you will be helping the public.
Um, so to my city council members, I
urge you to consider this. Do we even
need Amazon there? We don't even need
them. Is this deal finalized? Do we have
to do this? We could there is a housing
crisis in Atlanta County. We could
convert those into houses. We could do
anything with that space besides let
this Jeff Bezos in here in Atlanta
County. So
thank you. That is all I I urge you to
reconsider and to be very mindful of how
it's proceeded going forward. Thank you.
>> Thank you.
Anybody else?
Hi, my name is Dan Watson. I'm at 4601
Paddic. So, I'm probably one of the
closest ones here to the proposed Amazon
um
warehouse, if that's what we're calling
it. Um to the previous gentleman's point
about trusting Amazon, I think they're
about as trustworthy as their scheduling
of packages that never show up on time.
So, if that's any way that they run
their business, like we're in a lot of
trouble here. Um, we've talked about
some of the other pollutions, but sound
pollution is a huge one, especially for
me. We bought that property to kind of
rehab it. We found out two years ago
almost that Amazon was coming, so we put
all of our plans on hold. Um, which
sounds like it might be a good idea
because we can't bring back animals. We
can't have a horse. We can't have
anything that used to be part of that
property. There's a 9,000 foot barn that
is going to get torn down now because I
can't have horses there if I've got
tractor trailers constantly. I've got
the beeping 247.
Um I'm not really sure. I haven't been
that involved in this if a sound study
has been done. Uh I know another traffic
study was just done because they put it
on my property. So interested to see how
that comes out. um the wildlife push
when they did that huge development on
the other side of the airport. The
amount of wildlife that we saw come
towards our property within a month or
two of that. It was an obvious trigger
that they demolished an entire section
of woodlands. Fox show up, coyotes show
up, deer show up, and they're all
getting hit by cars on on Lipick. I'm
cleaning up debris constantly. We're
seeing coyotes that we never saw. We've
got fox with mange coming from who knows
where that are now potentially going to
infect our animals because of it. So
there's a lot of wildlife on that
property that's going to get pushed out
into these neighborhoods and it's going
to cause a lot of problems to the
woodlands to paddic to all the streets
around because where are they going to
go? Thank you.
>> Make a motion to close.
>> Have a motion. I have a second.
>> All those in favor?
>> I against.
>> Okay.
>> I'll make the motion.
a second. I have a motion in a second,
comments, questions.
Okay, I guess I'll uh
>> you shoot first.
>> Yeah, make me shoot first. There we go.
So, a lot was just said,
so I'd like to make a couple statements
about
the questions, comments that the public
has made. data center.
The redevelopment agreement, the
financial agreement is for a
fulfillment center. Stop. Period. That's
it. The second, if they were to change
anything, if they decided they wanted to
make it a horse barn, then the
redevelopment agreement is null and
void. The financial agreement is null
and void. It doesn't matter what they
want to try to change it to, they can't.
They'll lose the agreement.
Um, we just passed an ordinance about
data centers.
No data centers as of right now while we
do our due diligence to learn about the
data centers, to learn the positives,
the negatives, whatever. So that we
whatever ordinance we make that deals
with data centers can be foolproof that
it can't be somebody can't come in and
argue it and sue us and we end up losing
and they can build a data center or vice
versa.
um they can stop a dinosa from being
built being built because we have to do
our due diligence and make sure that our
ordinance is going to stand. And um the
plan is to do that before the end of the
year to have a a new ordinance done that
has everything we need, whatever
adjustments we have to make to our um
municipal laws, whatever. That's that's
the plan with that. That's why we did
that. Um,
jobs. We'll talk about jobs.
It's in the redevelopment agreement,
correct? 750 full-time jobs,
300
temporary construction jobs.
The racetrack
in its prime years ago
at the most had somewhere between 100
and 200 full-time jobs in its prime.
During their busy time, racing season,
it would go up 4 to 500 more part-time
jobs. So, this one building that's not
even taken up the entire site is going
to have more jobs than what that
racetrack provided.
So I my opinion
that's a good deal. We'll get 750 jobs.
Yes.
Not going to disagree that down the road
there may be
whatever they do with technology jobs
may drop some. But I am going to say
that that looking at this
building a warehouse I want a company
that is solid that is not going to
disappear in a couple of years and I
think this is our best bet for that. Um
also um
when it comes to the taxes, so there is
the pilot. The reason why that exists,
that's a state law
to
get businesses to come in, developers to
come in and redevelop a site that is
distressed,
that needs work to get it to a point
where you could even build something
there. So, they have to demo what's
there. They have to clean up the site.
They have to also do off-site
improvements, which are um roadway
improvements on Leap Zigg. That's all
going to be taken care of by them. Um
there are utilities on that site that
have to be moved, that have to be um
adjusted.
They have to
do all to do all that. You have to give
them
a break to come in and do all that work
instead of if they were to go to a site
that's just woods, they don't have all
that work. So, this is a tool that the
state of New Jersey offered. So, if if
this wasn't offered to them, they would
just go to another municipality. They
would go somewhere else.
It wouldn't come here.
So
I don't see
they are paying taxes
when they build this. The land tax which
currently the land tax for that parcel
is 86 $85,000.
$85,000. When they build this, it is
projected that that land tax will go up
to $500,000
and that will be spread out the way
normal taxes are. The amount goes to the
schools, amount goes to the township,
amount goes to the county. So if you
leave it the way it is, it's $86,000.
We do this that it goes up to $500,000.
Now then you have the pilot agreement
which the township will get 2.25 25
$2.29 million.
So,
and then that increases 2 and a4% a year
and we also get 2% a year to administer
that.
So, we're going to go from getting
$86,000
85 and change to
$3 million.
>> for all those reasons. That's why I'm
I'm not going to vote yet. It's not time
to vote yet. But I just wanted to answer
some of those questions. and and and
respond to some of the comments that
were made so that you know where I'm
coming from.
but yep, I'm done.
>> Okay.
>> So, I'm going to speak a little bit. Um,
as a lifelong resident here in the
township, um, growing up at the
racetrack, you know, going there to see
the races, everybody knows when the
casinos came, that's when the racetrack
fell.
The racetrack uh, in my eyes has been
sitting there for a very, very long time
with nothing there. Decades with nothing
there. This to me is a prime opportunity
to redevelop that site. Yes, it might
not be what everybody wants, but down
the road that site might sit for two
more decades.
So, this is an opportunity for our
township to grow to get a flourish of
money, which it will because when I
first
when when I first got on this meeting, I
really didn't or in this spot committee,
I didn't know too much about pilot
programs. So, I did some research. We
had a meeting on it and it was explained
perfectly to me how it works. I know not
everybody might not be on board, but
when is explained to me, it just it fit
well and it seems, like I said,
it's going to benefit this township to
no end. As a lifelong resident, like I
said, I have seen that sit for a very
long time. And to continue to see it sit
would just be devastating because it
needs something. Yes, we all know the
mall is in very bad shape. We know that
something down the road hopefully will
happen
and maybe that will grow also in that
area. So just looking at the figures
like the mayor had said, we're receiving
very little in taxes from that place and
this will grow our tax base, you know,
substantially.
And I do want to thank uh the
administrator and everyone else because
there was information that was put on
our website explaining the pilot and
explaining the benefits to the township
and explaining this community, what were
they called?
>> Community partnership.
>> Community partnership where Amazon's
going to do things for our town,
for the schools, for education. This is
this agreement is in this pro this you
know the it's in this agreement we have
seen it. So with that said you know I
myself as a resident I want to see it
flourish there. I know not everybody
does but just seeing that decay there
for a long time something needs to
happen
there. There there have been studies on
on different things. I I will I will
concur with you. You know there is going
to be some you know more trucks and
changes to that place but there is
pollution even without that place there.
There might not be much. You had mall
traffic back in the day correct when
that mall was flourishing.
>> Okay.
>> All right. I'm not going to go. So I'll
leave it at that.
I would like to say that we have lost
$31 million in readables
uh due to non-development.
Redevelopment is very important in
Hamilton Township because it's going to
help the taxpayers too. I cannot wait
until this project goes through fruition
so we can tell the taxpayers we did not
raise taxes
on this particular year. It's been
tough. It's been tough for us to try to
come up with monies because of the
insuranceances, the pensions. Um,
everything has just went up
tremendously. So, in order to keep uh
that we're looking at the the taxpayers
because we said we want we wanted to be
fiscal responsible
and the only way to be fiscal
responsible is to bring redevelopment in
this community. I was a teamster student
331
under Joe Yman for over 20 years. So I
understand the concerns.
>> I am
>> I Well, wait a minute. Wait, let let me
finish because I heard you say, "All
right, first of all,
I do appreciate you coming here, but we
got this at 5:00, so I didn't get a
chance to read this letter until you get
till you came here." I think that's fair
to say.
Right.
>> Well, we didn't get it to five.
>> You didn't get it to five. And I got it
when I walked in here.
>> I got it when I walked in here. But our
professionals have been working on this
for a long time.
And
this is going to bring money to our
township.
We have to be um keep Amazon accountable
with everything that's in the
agreements. We have lawyers. We have
professionals. We have everybody here
that we've been all working with and
asking questions. And this has been
going on for several years prior to me
getting even on this township. The
redevelopment
project
has started in 2018.
I wasn't on until 2022,
but I did see the downfall
in the ratables. And it's been horrible.
It's been horrible what has been
happening throughout this entire
country, not just in our community. So,
we have to do something. We have to do
something. So, I am going to say that I
am going to support this project. Uh we
do have we do have something that's in
place every year. I believe that it has
to be evaluated.
And if they're not keeping up to their
agreement
and the lawyers here, you can correct me
if I'm wrong. All
right. But every year there is something
set in place that they have to be
evaluated. We just not going to pass
something and then wa it's gone and we
don't have no accountability. Every year
it has to be evaluated. And if they're
not doing what they're supposed to do,
we can stop this project at any time. Am
I right? Almost.
>> That's not a part of the financial
agreement. That's part of something
else. That's not a part of the financial
agreement.
>> All right. But that's all I wanted to
say. I did want to say something because
we're all responsible. we all were
elected to be up here to make sure that
we're doing the best job that we can do
for this township. So, based on what was
presented to us and the yearly audit and
the yearly everything that has to be
done and us holding them accountable, I
think that this is a great um thing for
Hamilton Township.
>> All the comment is closed. If I could
just say one thing, I was part of the
the group that is part of the pilot and
numerous numerous meetings. No one took
it lightly. We looked out for the best
of the township. We looked out for the
best of the residents. We worked very
hard and very diligently to get what we
think is the best case scenario for this
township.
And looking at it, it looks as if it's a
very nice windfall. And the fact that
they're in a community partnership that
are going above and beyond the taxes for
our community shows that they will be a
good neighbor. And no one took this
lightly, believe me. We spent hours and
hours and hours working on this pilot
program.
Um, I just want to say that I hear you.
I I'm I'm just in shock as you are
because I'm just seeing just like uh
committee woman Dr. Thurma Witherspoon
said we just I'm looking at the letter
just seeing a letter. So, I just need
you to know that. So, I'm hearing you.
I'm looking. Um,
but I will say that
Amazon will not be a data center. I'm
very against that. I'm on the record for
saying that. We do not have a sunset
date for the ordinance that we wrote it
on. So, just to answer the concerns
about that,
um I'm very excited about them putting
on the record and they stood here and
said they will provide us about 750
jobs.
And um I just want you to know that my
focus is
to keep Amazon accountable.
Trust me when I tell you I am very
focused on keeping them accountable. Um
as the our attorney has said that there
will be checks and balances
every year. Every year and we are
talking about the financial agreement
which I believe is
I I think this is exceptional that
they've also agreed to add up to $10
million in a community partnership
agreement. Um, so
I just I just want you to know that I
I'm not taking this lightly at all. I
I'm definitely will be speaking on the
fact about you were saying about the um
the workers
and um looking at the letter again and
addressing it again.
I want you to know that, you know,
because it can be addressed again
because we just said we have to hold
them accountable every year. Okay? So, I
appreciate you speaking. Um I I don't
know if you can just I can just call on
you to say something. I don't want to be
out of order. I know we do have a public
comment at the end, but I will refer um
you raising your hand, but I because I
do want to acknowledge and I do see you
raising your hand because some people
look over and act like they don't see
people. I see you. Um so I will refer to
um my the mayor or our solicitor to see
when you can ask or comment on whatever
your concerns are. And I thank you very
much.
>> Roll call vote, please.
>> Mr. Aken,
>> yes.
>> Mr. Cheek.
>> Yes.
>> Miss Thompson.
>> Yes.
>> Dr. Witherspoon.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Patali.
>> Yes. And I just want to add one more
thing because I didn't I didn't address
it. This project also went through
planning board.
Um going through planning board that
means it had to meet um lighting
criteria, landscaping criteria.
Um
noise
was addressed um with BMS around the
project with sound sound walls with
landscaping.
Um also talking about uh storm water
management. Right now there really is no
storm water management out there. So now
that we're getting a developer in there
to do something, you're going to get
storm water management.
Um, so that's those are all positives
that I believe. So I just wanted to
throw that out there too because I
didn't I didn't I didn't address that to
the people that that brought that up. I
apologize.
>> And I just can you just answer can you
just tell this gentleman when he can
either ask his question or what his
concern at what point or because he's
raising his hand and I don't want him to
think that I'm not.
>> Mayor, you're chair of the meeting at
this point.
>> Public comment.
>> Public comment will be at the end of the
meeting.
>> Public comment at the end of the
meeting.
>> Yes.
Yes.
>> For the financial agreement.
>> All right. All right.
>> All right. Come on.
>> Ordinance 2141-2026.
An ordinance amending chapter 70 article
3 titled extrad duty employment of the
code of the township of Hamilton.
This is a public hearing.
>> Motion to close.
>> Second.
>> I have a motion to second. All those in
favor?
>> I against.
What's your pleasure?
>> So move.
>> Second. Have a motion to second. Any
questions or comments?
Roll call vote, please.
>> Mr. Aen,
>> yes.
>> Mr. Cheek.
>> Yes.
>> M. Thompson.
>> Yes.
>> Dr. Withers.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Patel.
>> Yes.
>> 4 D. Public hearing ordinance 2142-2026.
an ordinance amending exhibit A and
exhibit B to article 2 of chapter 66 of
the code of the township of Hamilton and
the township of Hamilton's chart of
organization to provide for the
amendment of certain positions and
maximum salaries.
This is public hearing. Anybody from the
public wish to comment?
Motion closed.
I have a motion to close. Second. I have
a second. All those in favor?
>> Against.
What's your pleasure?
>> Motion.
>> Second.
>> I have a motion and a second. Any
questions or comments?
>> Roll call vote, please.
>> Mr.
>> Yes.
>> Mr. Cheek.
>> Yes.
>> M.
>> Thompson.
>> Yes.
>> Dr. Witherspoon.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Patel.
>> Yes.
>> 4E. Public hearing ordinance 2143-2026.
an ordinance to vacate a portion of
Penny Lane, formerly known as River
Path, described as 20 ft from the
northwestern property boundary lines of
block
119. Lots 33 29 28.1 27 26 25 24 23 22
21 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7
and 6 as identified on exhibit A tax map
of the township of Hamilton located in
the township of Hamilton County of
Atlantic, New Jersey. This is a public
hearing. Anybody from the public wish to
speak?
>> Motion to close.
>> Second.
>> I have a motion in a second. All those
in favor?
>> I
>> I
>> Eyes have it.
>> It's your pleasure.
>> So move.
>> Second.
>> I have a motion
and a second. Any questions or comments?
Roll call vote, please.
>> Mr.
>> Yes.
>> Mr. Chief,
>> yes.
>> M. Thompson. Yes,
>> Dr. Witherspoon.
>> Yes.
>> Abstain.
>> Moving on. 5A. Introduction of
ordinances.
Public hearing to be held July 20th 26.
2144-2026.
An ordinance of the Township of Hamilton
County of Atlantic amending the
redevelopment plan for block 994, lot
57, the Township of Hamilton landfill
site.
>> Motion
>> second.
>> Motion in a second.
Questions, comments?
>> Just Yes. Um so I wanted to ask Mr.
administrator. Um why did um he have to
acquire the additional lots?
>> So
the uh Pineelands Commission reviewed
this project uh at the final
final and uh required an additional
endangered species survey to be done and
identified that the land surrounding the
landfill could potentially be a flight
path for the redhead woodpecker.
uh required the developer to acquire
additional lots to accommodate 100
buffer around the site for this light
path. So 100 foot buffer had to be
placed around the landfill for this
corridor. Um to do that he had to
acquire lots 58.12 58.13
58.4 and 58.5.
>> Okay. Thank you.
Any other questions or comments?
>> No, because that was that basically um
township administrator basically
explained
the uh the buffer that was needed for
this project, which has been a long
time.
>> So, if he if he wasn't able to do that,
acquire the additional land, it would
have triggered a whole new uh redesign
for the stormwater management and
probably would have pushed the project
out another year.
So he went this route and some of the
surrounding lots became cougher and was
able to keep the project intact as
approved by
>> Hank.
>> Roll call vote please.
>> Mr.
>> Yes.
>> Yes.
>> Thompson.
>> Yes.
>> Dr.
>> Yes.
>> Yes.
Okay. Moving on to awards, bids,
contracts, change orders. Authorize
engineering services to MW Watkins
Associates for professional services
required to complete the design and
construction inspections for the 2026
roadway improvement program phase 2
contract number 2026-07.
>> So move second. I have a motion and a
second.
Any questions or comments?
>> Roll call vote, please.
>> Mr. Aken,
>> yes.
>> Mr. Cheek,
>> yes.
>> Thompson,
>> yes. Dr. Witherspoon.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Patel.
>> Yes.
>> 6B. Award engineering services to M
Watkins Associates for design,
permitting, construction services for
FY2026 municipal aid, MISPA road
reconstruction phase one in the amount
of $49,000.
>> So move. Second.
>> I have a motion and a second. Any
questions or comments? Yes, I I have a
question. Um,
when are we um putting these contracts
out to bid
and um when do you anticipate the work
being done?
>> Um I was going to do that for my report
so take time away from it. Uh they will
be advertised the road program phase two
hopefully Monday if not Friday.
>> Okay. So, they're almost they're ready
to bid.
>> Ready to bid.
>> And you awarded it tonight. So,
>> and what was the last?
>> We're working fast.
>> Okay.
>> Yeah.
>> Okay.
>> And then MSP Road, uh, we're waiting for
DO's comments, uh, to allow us to go out
the bid. We anticipate to be ready next
week as well. So, we're anticipating to
be both coming in uh,
July 31st, 30th
>> and award at the first August meeting.
Okay.
>> Um hopefully be under construction by
end of September and then be completed
by November.
>> Okay.
>> Yep.
>> All right. Thank you.
>> You got it. No problem.
>> Any other questions or comments? Roll
call vote, please.
>> Mr. Aken.
>> Yes.
>> Mr. Chief.
>> Yes.
>> Thompson.
>> Yes.
>> Yes.
>> Yes.
Consent agenda.
What's your pleasure?
>> Um,
I'll pull out
7 C
>> 7 C.
>> Yes.
>> I would like to make a motion uh for the
consent agenda AB D.
E and F second
>> motion in a second for A B D EF.
>> All those in favor?
>> I
>> against eyes have it.
>> Okay. 7 C.
>> Read it or you want me to read?
resolution to allow parking on Park Road
for special events on July 25th,
September 12th and 13th, 2026.
>> Okay. So, my question was to the
administrator is um it doesn't mention
the special events. So, what is the
special events that
>> So, July 25th is the cardboard
>> carboard riata and the boat races.
>> September 12th and 13th are the Oh, on
this right here.
>> All right. Thank you so much.
Anybody
wish to make a motion on this?
>> Motion second. Have
>> a motion to second. All those in favor?
I
>> hence eyes have it.
to appoint a deputy municipal clerk.
appoint Jessica Mendes as a full-time
deputy municipal clerk clerk at the
annual salary of $70,000 effective June
1st, 2026
with a $2,500
for serving
as the township of Hamilton's public
agency compliance officer and deputy
register of vital statistics. Upon
receipt of registered municipal clerk
certification, an additional $5,000 will
be added to the base salary.
>> So move.
>> Second.
>> I have a motion in a second.
>> Any comments or questions?
Roll call vote, please.
>> Mr. Aken,
>> yes.
>> Mr. Chief,
>> yes.
>> Miss Thompson,
>> yes.
>> Dr. Witherspoon,
>> yes.
>> Mayor Patel,
>> yes.
HP resolution to appoint Heather
Jennigan
Taco technical assistant to the
construction code official at $53,710.88
annually effective January 1st, 2026.
>> Motion second.
>> I have a motion to second. Questions or
comments? Roll call vote, please.
>> Yes.
>> Yes.
>> Thompson.
>> Yes.
>> Yes.
Uh 8 C resolution to appoint Mary Teresa
Drager to regular dual position
technical assistant to the construction
code official at $4,500 annually
effective January 1st 2026.
>> Motion second.
>> Motion in the second. Questions,
comments? Roll call vote, please.
>> Mr. Aken,
>> yes.
>> Mr. Chief,
>> yes.
>> Miss Thompson,
>> yes.
>> Dr.
Yes.
>> Yes.
>> 8D. Resolution to hire Bernie Degraph as
a full-time truck driver laborer $20
base salary base hourly rate per
Teamsters Local 331 agreement.
Employment contingent upon successful
completion of physical drug screen and
background check. Starting date
effective to be determined. This is to
fill a budgeted position.
>> So move second. I
>> have a motion to second. Questions,
comments? Roll call vote, please.
>> Mr. Hen,
>> yes.
>> Cheek.
>> Yes.
>> Miss Thompson?
>> Yes.
>> Dr. Witherspoon?
>> Yes.
>> Yes.
>> Approvals. Minutes. Regular meeting
minutes of June 15, 2026.
>> So move.
>> Second.
>> I have a motion and a second. All those
in favor? I
>> against eyes have it. Bills. Bill is
total 8,641,99626.
>> Motion
>> second.
>> I have a motion in a second. Roll call
vote, please.
>> Mr. Aken,
>> yes.
>> Mr. Chief,
>> yes.
>> Miss Thompson,
>> yes.
>> Dr. Witherspoon,
>> yes.
>> Yes.
>> Reports. Mr. Administrator.
>> I want to congratulate everyone that was
uh either promoted or hired tonight.
Most specifically, Jessica. Uh, not a
lot of people realize that she's been
since 1998.
I was still in high school.
I think she may have just graduated high
school.
Um, for the record, I just wanted to let
everyone know what roads are going to be
paving in phase two fall.
Uh, Lombard Street from Rangle Barrow to
Leaf Sig. Uh we do have some
miscellaneous road repair specifically
intersections in the Hamilton walk
subdivision mall. Cleveland Avenue from
Holly to Orange Street. Garden Road from
Driftwood to 322. Cherry Lane from 322
to Driftwood.
Driftwood Lane from Garden to 7300 block
Driftwood.
Another section of driftwood near the
saxvenue
from 32
road roughly half 6,000 ft.
>> 6,000 ft. So a little over a mile.
>> Yeah. McCall Avenue might be pushed as a
supplemental just because we have a
storm pipe that's collapsing on Ken
Skull Road that needs to be replaced
this year like ASAP. So that's going to
be included in the base bid of this
project. So McCall will will go out to
bid, but we'll see if bids come in
favorably to get that done. But the
storm piping on Ken Skull is very
important. Uh hopefully
doesn't get any worse and we don't have
to shut the road down and have an
emergency fund.
>> Very good.
>> That's it. Mr. Solicitor,
>> nothing to report this time. Mayor,
thank you.
>> Mr. Engineer, do you have anything left
to say?
>> No, I'm good.
>> Listen, there's any questions?
>> No, I'm good.
>> Um and just want to say the other half
of Miss B Road, we've applied for a
grant. I don't know if anybody's know
it's been mentioned and obviously we we
approved what needed to be approved
here.
>> So hopefully we will get that second
half.
>> That's correct.
>> Miss Bar got her fingers crossed for
that.
>> Yep.
>> So thank you for that.
>> Uh township committee members,
let's start with Dr. Witherspoon.
>> Yes. Um I want to say that I attended
the Junth um celebration at Lake Lenipe.
It was very nice done by a wish and the
saw church. It was very a very nice
event and I was glad to be there. Um the
time that I did show and I stayed to the
basically to the end. The hometown
celebration was great. The rain held up.
It poured when I left,
but I was there for several hours and it
was very nice to see uh the hometown
people there. That that was very very
nice. It was very nice. uh Mayor Patali
that um you orchestrated
a parade for Kana Jojo
and uh it was on the email I saw it and
ran over there. I couldn't be in the
parade because I had something else to
do but it was a very proud moment for
our township to have two people who won
gold medals in ball hockey. So, I was
very very excited about that and so I'm
sure the parents were full of joy and
proud and they made this entire township
very proud. Um, so I want to say
congratulations again to them. And then
the July 4th, it was extremely hot, but
it was a beautiful event uh celebrating
250 years of our country. Uh, Pastor Ash
along with the township
um put this together Um well, not the
programming part, but we were
participating
uh in it with the chairs and the public
works and all of that part. So, we did
do that part and I was happy about that.
It was hot, but it was nice. It was
still hot, but it was very, very nice.
And it's there's only one time that you
have 250 years, you know, and the choir
was singing and everybody who spoke it
they done an excellent job on that event
in a short time. So I just wanted to say
I did attend that event and it was very
very nice and it made me proud um to be
a part of committee although I wasn't
part of that committee but to be a part
of committee while something like this
was taking place. we can say that
something happened in the township
because people were saying nobody done
nothing in the township but we did do
something uh in the township and to be
out there in all of that heat for 30
minutes was said a whole lot but um I
want to say what a job well done and
thanks to everybody who help put that
together for our township. Thank you so
much.
>> Sure. Well, I echo Dr. Thelma
Witherspoon's uh comments because I was
right there with her. Um the Junth
celebration, the hometown celebration,
the 250 celebration, great events for
our community. Um the rain did hold off
for us at uh hometown celebration. We
got it through. We were all breaking
down in the rain, right?
>> Breaking it stuff down. So, it was great
great stuff there. um in our community.
I also attended um uh the vets and
vessels afterparty at Max Sports. Uh
this was an event through um uh Maze
Yach Club. They put it together. I know
it's their first one, so they got to
work out their wrinkles and, you know,
figure out how to better it, but it was
a great start. Um, I want to say I think
they had like 15 uh vets and uh boats
took uh veterans out on the waters for
some time on the water and it was a
great, you know, it was a great event
and the afterparty, the celebration was
awesome, too. Brought the vets back,
they could drink, you know, be merry,
happy, chitchat. It was a great event.
Like I said, the first time, so
hopefully they work out the wrinkles.
So, I want to give a shout out to our
Maze Landing uh yach club on that. Um, I
did attend a recreational meeting. Um,
we discussed the expansion at the Leapy
Track. Uh, there is a third hockey court
that's going to be installed and there's
some movement on some uh lacrosse fields
being uh installed out there. Some
parking eventually.
I'll say it now. Eventually, I'd like to
see turf fields out there.
>> Just saying. I'm I'm about youth sports,
so I'll put it out there now. Um, it
would be great to have a turf field. I
know other communities do have a turf
field in their community, so it would be
nice to see Hamilton Township have one
out there one day.
Um, other than that, that's all. That's
>> Thank you, sir.
>> Woman.
Um so I was happy to attend the Junth
celebration
um that was sponsored by um Sila Davis
with the uh a wish and also the uh
church
which I was a referee and took it very
serious when we're playing kickball. She
had so many activities out there and it
was a beautiful event um by Lake
Linnipe. Um so I was so happy that you
did that for our township. Beautiful. Um
also want to say that we celebrated the
250 years of America, our birthday. Um,
we did our Fourth of July ceremony and I
attended that. Uh, that same day in
support of me trying to support small
businesses throughout Hamilton Township.
We went to Rick's barbecue and um, he
was doing something for Fourth of July.
So went there and uh, supported him. And
I also had my Fourth of July quote that
I want to share. And I said, uh, may we
think of freedom
not as the right to do as we please, but
as the opportunity to do what is right.
Um, I then also attended uh June on June
27th our hometown celebration where I
volunteered with um a reefs across
America and I encourage everyone to
support Reefs Across America. We
volunteer and we put reefs on a
veteran's grave. So if you have
opportunity to support them, please do.
Um and then also like to make an
announcement that um our national night
out is coming up. um on August the 4th,
which our police department is behind
that and PAL and also our chief put in
his report that we are hiring for a
full-time police officer. So, accepting
applications from a fully uh certified
officer and I also want to congratulate
Jessica on your appointment. And um
that's it.
>> Thank you. Thank you,
>> Deputy Mayor.
>> I echo everyone with the functions. We
all see each other all last three weeks.
We should have breakfast together, I
think. And then I have to say
congratulations to the men's ball hockey
team to be a world champion. That's
quite a feat. We have two residents,
Connor Callahan and Joe Malio
Molen,
>> okay, but congratulations to them. And
then for our dam committee,
>> oh yes,
>> the 2026 Dam Safety Association is
handing us an award for the dam design
and everything and that will be in
Raleigh. And I understand the mayor will
be going.
>> That's the plan. Oh, good for you.
That's that means a lot for the whole
nation that you get you get to go, you
know. And then after this last weekend,
I have to say one thing. Anytime you
hear a patriotic song or anything, a
sporting event, the national anthem,
everything, just realize what we have in
our country, how fortunate we are.
That's all I have.
>> Very good. Thank you.
>> Uh yes, I attended most. I didn't make
it to uh Junth, unfortunately. Uh made
it to everything else. It was It wasn't
hot and rainy. It was just plain old
hot. Um, good to see everybody out and
and enjoying themselves with that stuff.
A couple things that are that are also
coming up. Um, second annual cardboard
riata by the uh, Maze Landing Yacht
Club. That's Saturday, July 25th, 10
a.m. at the Cove.
Uh, last year was a lot of fun. It was
the first time, so hopefully worked out
a couple of the bugs that we may have
had. And, uh, hope to see people out
there for that. Also, if you're going to
if you're going to attend, um, this is
to help out the food bank. So, please
bring some food, um, non-p perishables,
and they'll be there to make that
collection. Um, the cancer support
community dragon boat races are this
Sunday, the 12th, at Lenipe Park East.
Starts around 8:00 a.m. They finish up
around 5:00 p.m. Lots of people there,
food trucks. It's uh it's a lot of fun
to go and watch them race. Uh, Bob, do
we have uh anybody in the back of the
lake doing anything this year? They
didn't do anything last year.
>> Yeah, I think I think they went out
champions because uh they two years ago
the the crew in the back of the lake
there um they beat a lot of the teams
that are that have been around for
years. So I think they just decided to
go out as champions. Um but that's
always a good time. Please go out and
check that out. Uh and of course talk
about Connor and Jojo, two local two
local guys. Um Jojo just moved to the
town. I believe he's from uh Gloucester,
but he just moved to town and Connor
grew up went started playing hockey in
the township when he was four years old.
And uh now he's in his 20s and going
over to Europe to play with the United
States ball hockey team and bring home
the gold. And also um the ladies team
also brought home the gold. Uh can't
forget about them. And right now all the
all the younger teams are over there
now. Um, I haven't paid too much
attention to it, but I do I I do know
that the uh the the boys and the girls
teams are both doing well. Um, but
that's a pretty pretty impressive feat
for them to uh get done. It's it's great
that a couple of them are are from uh
from me. So, that's awesome. Um,
that's all I have. Reagan, I will see
you later. Maddie, I miss you and I love
you and I hope to see you soon. And
we'll go ahead and open it up to public
comment.
>> Both of you got up. Come on. Who's
getting the mic first?
>> Carl, I was looking looking for you
Monday night when I got sworn into
county committee.
>> I was busy having fun with the hockey
with the hockey guys.
>> Rich was away, right?
Rich was away
>> and it'll be be my second term on on
county committee.
>> Very good. I appreciate I appreciate you
uh volunteering to do that.
>> And um also Brad um what were you saying
about Laurel Street
>> Orange? Okay.
>> Okay.
Uh before um I thought I heard from from
Holly Holly to Hickory
>> Holly.
>> Okay.
>> Good evening members. Uh I'm Bill
Chrisman, 539 Pine Needle Drive, Maze
Landing, and I've been asked by many of
the residents over the last few months
to come and and ask uh address you about
the possibility of what it would take
for us to possibly contact Atlantic
County regarding the stop sign at the
intersection of Ocean Heights Avenue and
Maze Landing Summers Point Road. Uh it's
it's a very small stop sign and no one
stops.
It's become a very dangerous
intersection. There are many accidents
there. People just don't stop. I mean,
they'll come down Ocean Heights Avenue
to the dead end and slow down and just
keep on going. And it's become a very uh
concerning situation in that area. So, I
see the the stop signs that they have in
Egg Harbor Township, which are a little
bit larger and have the red lights going
around them. I think we've all seen
them. Perhaps something like that would
be um advisable at that intersection.
It's just become such a busy large
intersection with traffic that it needs
more than just the small stop sign that
most of us have at the end of our
street. And uh if that's possible, can
that be done? Can we can we make a
request to
>> feverishly writing some notes down? So,
we'll we'll get an email over to the
county executive and I believe uh one of
the commissioners are here and I believe
he's on roads and bridges. So, he heard
you too.
>> Okay.
>> Take care of it.
>> All right. Thank you.
>> Yeah, we'll get we'll get an email over
to them to take a look at
>> just I think it's something that should
be examined. I see it every day numerous
times. And coming down on Ocean Heights
Avenue, you almost have to stop yourself
because the cars are coming down Maze
Lane Summers Point Road. I'm sorry. You
almost have to stop because the cars
don't stop coming from Ocean Heights
Avenue.
>> And uh it's become a pretty serious
issue. So if we can do that, uh I I
would appreciate it and neighbors would
appreciate that too in the area.
>> Absolutely.
>> All right. Thank you very much.
>> Thank you.
Hi, my name is Danielle Garrett. This is
actually my first time coming to um the
meeting. So, my address is with these. I
have no issue probably I would say with
the school system itself. They're great.
They work with the kids. They
communicate well. It's the bullying.
It's the fighting. Um it's
uncontrollable. Twice my daughter's been
attacked. The first time it was actually
in school. girl just came up behind a
dragger. Second time it was a fight all
on internet which was recently. Um I did
speak to the parent before it tried to
escalated you know try to deescalate the
problem. We squashed it out whatever
they had going on. However, older sister
decided to show up at a birthday part
birthday party that she was not invited
to and it led into a fight where my
daughter had to protect herself. So my
daughter's 12, the girl's 15 years old.
She was too comfortable to come fight a
12-year-old girl and three years
different and she's also bigger than
her. I seen the video and the way she
kicked her in her chest, she could have
killed her or could have had serious
injuries. So, I kind of think like these
kids are not just getting what can
happen to another kid by harm. And I
also take it back as again when I spoke
to the parent, she kind of had no
remorse. She thought it was her my
daughter who started the fight. And I'm
like, "Your daughter showed up to a
party that she was not invited to. So,
her intentions was
to fight." So, and there was multiple
witnesses that did say she did, you
know, started the fight. So, for it to
be plastered all over the internet. My
daughter was crying cuz she got kicked
so hard in the chest. I just feel like
these parents are not being held
accountability for their kids. And I
feel like if parents are being starting
to be held accountable for their kids'
action, maybe this could kind of minor
all the violence that's going on or the
fighting that is going on or the
bullying that is going on in the school
system because I have two older girls
that went both graduated from Oakrest
did not have a problem through that
school year. I think the social media
wasn't as big as it is now. But now that
the social media is there, they use
these kids like the boys were, you know,
I heard boys in the background, you
know, gasping it up for these girls to
fight. And I think is there is I think
they want that attention. It could also
be because the kids are bored. There's
no there's no like I came from East
Orange and there we had I mean East
Orange is you know it's not a high
profile good community but they are they
try to keep the you know the kids
entertained. So we had like parks and
stuff like that in the summertime for
you know the kids to come out and eat at
the parks. They had like you know the
pools in the area like community for
kids. We had like the YMCA. there's
nothing here for like these kids, you
know, to do or I don't think there's
like a open counselor for some of these
kids that, you know, probably have
issues at home that is causing the
violence that they're doing to other
kids for the attention. So, I was just
saying like if this community can do
something for the kids, you know, where
they're more safer, where they can go to
a party and not, you know, have to deal
with fighting someone or even like even
at the um, you know, Lake Penipe, they
see them and if there's not enough
parents or cops around, a fight can
break out or something like that. But I
just feel like we just need more
safetiness for these kids. And I would
say I am a victim of my brother being
murdered a couple of years ago, maybe 10
years ago and my niece. So for 17 and
you know 15 years old to be murdered, I
felt as though like that fight I saw her
getting her like the wind kicked out of
her that could have resolved into a very
bad injury. So I just that's what I have
to say. Thank you.
Good evening. Um my name is Davis. I'm
from Hamilton Township. Um first I
wanted to say thank you to um everyone
for coming out and supporting Junth. A
special thank you to Tracy, committee
woman Tracy for um her generous
sponsorship to help with the event and
for being a referee and also to
committeeman Eric Aken for um his
sponsorship as well as saying that you
was only going to stay for a couple
minutes and you was there the whole
time. I just wanted to get that on the
record. Um so thank you guys so much
because that mean that meant a lot to to
AWish and to Soore. People were asking
who you guys were. um they you know
especially Tracy like she was in the
thick of things with the kickball. So
it's nice to see you guys out there in
the community and interacting with the
um community especially with the youth.
A lot of things I do is for the youth.
Um I had a a crisis with my daughter
just recently and um
it was it was very difficult and some of
the stuff that she was speaking about um
is because of the stuff that's happening
in the community with the youth bullying
each other and things like that. that um
I reached out to committee woman Tracy
like in tears um because I just didn't
know what to do. Um when the police got
involved, they were not friendly. Um
just seeing a mother in crisis and I'm
in the community all the time. Like I
mean if a parent call me, I'm coming. Um
but to be able to to have nobody to call
when when you when I'm in a situation
and the police is called and they were
not not not all of them. There was a one
police officer who was very he was not
friendly at all, very dismissive. Um I
sat in the lobby for two and a half
hours waiting for um um a sergeant who
didn't show up. However, I did get a
phone call the next day very early in
the morning, very apologetic um about
the behaviors and things like that. Um
so I I wanted to put that on the record
that even my daughter when she was in
the back, the stuff that she heard, I'm
her mother at the end of the day. no
matter what we go through, the police
officer mocking me. And for my daughter
to to say that, like that is not
acceptable. That is not acceptable to
hear the stuff that was said in front of
my my 14-year-old daughter. Um, so I I
wanted to say that to say
I'm somebody that's in a community,
right? And I have relationships with all
of you. somebody that's not in the
community like this young lady right
here who never came to a committee
meeting had didn't even know what to do
when she came to the police station to
talk about what was happening she was
dismissed as well. This stuff cannot it
cannot be it can't happen in our
community. It cannot like we just can't
be dismissed by the police who we are
we're coming to get protection from or
serve from you know whatever the case
may be. It shouldn't it shouldn't be
like that. Also, it's a great thing to
see more police um at these events. I
sent emails out um uh I sent stuff on
Facebook just inviting police to come
out, come out and play some kickball
when there is stuff coming out so that
the kids could get comfortable so that
they're not only seeing them in schools
or when something bad is happening. I
think that is very very important. If
somebody is off duty or if they're not
busy, just come out. I give events
throughout the whole year and I could
honestly count mayor, you're there at a
lot of the events. There's not police
presence. And I'm not saying to come
there and police. I'm saying to come
there and get involved. Make yourself
make your face um a friendly face that
somebody sees if they're in trouble that
they'll say, "Hey, I know this officer."
Um, another thing that the young lady
was talking about is having something to
do here in this community for the youth.
I don't feel like taking my kids to
Atlantic City all the time to go to the
wreck or to Pleasantville to the wreck
or to their pal or to carpet township
pal. Like there's something that we
should create here. There was this place
was full of people when we're talking
about Amazon. But let's talk about a
community center for the kids. Let's
talk about something indoor for the
kids. If it's if it's cold outside, if
it's snowing, if it's a storm or
raining, like where is it somewhere
beside their homes playing video games?
Like let's do like board games. Let's
bring back something like from back in
the day where kids can come together and
have the committee people faces, have
the police presence, have adults who are
friendly faces that they can see, that
they can feel comfortable with. It I
said this before, it takes a village.
Let's be that village for our community.
Thank you guys so much.
>> Thank you.
Hi, Alita Graham from Kaba Avenue. I
have lived in this community for my
entire life. I'm in my 60s now, so
that's a very long time. I grew up in
Laureldale when I had to ride my bicycle
to War Memorial Park and leave it there
to catch a bus to go to the Shore Mall
to do any shopping.
Our playground was that little rocky
thing at uh on Hickory Street down where
the soccer fields are now where the
broken swing set. We've come a long way.
I've lived on Paddock Street when the
racetrack was vibrant. I had a lot of
activity. I know exactly what goes on. I
lived here before the Leapy Fields. I've
been uh brought up through the school
system here. I pretty much know every
inch of this township and a lot of the
people that are within it. For me, um,
when the Hamilton Mall came here, that
was a long fight. A long fight. And I
had prayed that I would get there before
I left high school. It didn't happen
until afterward. Of course, I was there
the first day because it was a big
fight. It was it was grand. Um, now it's
sad to see it the way that it is.
We now have Amazon
There are a lot of people I think that
are just afraid because they don't know
the details. They don't know what to
expect
um having been here and been involved in
this all of these things, being at these
committee meetings all the time,
learning the facts, learning what is
really happening with regard to this
project. um the blight, having the
reduction in the ratables, knowing what
it takes for the municipality to run and
what your responsibility is up there to
the people to the tax taxpayers here. Um
it I I I am very very happy to see
Amazon coming in and I wish them all
their success
because that's better for us and I
congratulate you all for your bipartisan
efforts to see that through fruition and
I can't wait to see what comes out of
it. That's all I got.
>> Thank you.
My name is Keith Prince. I live at 4600
Paddock Street, Maze Landing. I also am
the president of the Maze Landing
Merchants Association. Uh, Maze Landing
is a great town to live in. Uh, my
family, I've raised my whole family
here. Um, our township committee, I
believe that you have the best interest
of our community at heart. I believe
that you guys are always going to try to
do the right thing and I understand how
difficult it can be to balance all these
different functions. I truly understand
that. Uh, as far as you guys, the
Mazeanding Merchants Association at
Hometown Celebration, we had free rides,
free video games. I had video trucks
come. Uh we had an issue with the
weather. Everybody cancelled uh last
minute. They wanted us not to run the
event. We still ran the event. And like
everybody had said, everybody on
township committee showed up and they
show up. You know, Eric's been very
instrumental in our town, our community,
helping with education, working with the
uh school board, etc. There's not a
person in our township committee or our
police force that doesn't have our best
interests at heart. I'm only alive today
because of the hard work and dedication
from our police force and our EMS. Um,
so Maze Landing is true to my heart.
Okay. So, as far as the uh project at
the racetrack, the residents of Paddock
Street would like to be more involved
and to have a better understanding how
that's going to affect Paddock Street
because we very rarely get a lot of
traffic going down Paddock Street by
design. And so, when we hear that you're
going to be open up our street and
there's going to have to be traffic
lights and all that kind of stuff, it
dramatically changes the scenery. I'm
550 feet from the street. It's not going
to affect me like it's going to affect
my other neighbors. I have a gentleman
that has a log cabin. He just bought it,
paid half a million dollars for the
house. Bob built it by hand. Now, that's
going to dramatically affect him and his
quality of life. Um, that's a problem. I
don't know how many trucks are going to
be coming by there. Is there going to be
a time frame in which they're coming by?
Are you going to allow tractor trailers
going down that road? If you are, we
never had that before. You know, when my
children were growing up, they'd ride
their bicycles up and down Paddic
Street. We never had to worry about it.
Now, we're going to have to change and
worry about it. And I understand you got
to pay bills. And I understand that
there's development that you want to
grow. That's why I didn't put much of a
push against the Amazon aspect of it.
But you're dramatically changing our
environment and I'm going to have to
look at that and say, do I want to live
on Paddock Street anymore or where is
there another place that I can buy? And
then are you going to help me make my
property available where I'm not losing
money? Because if there's going to be
trucks going through there, I just lost
100,000 or more in value on my property.
But as far as my propert is concerned,
it all the wildlife in the area come to
my neighborhood, come to my street, come
to my front yard, you know, I have so
many deer, 15, 20 deer every day, every
morning, every at dawn and dusk. I've
got turtles, I got frogs, I've got
everything. When it rains a lot, my
front pond fills up and I get turtles
and frogs. You know, all that kind of
stuff is going to be a problem. you're
going to start getting hit by trucks
because you're going to have traffic
going by there. The deer cross there all
the time. Tell my children, you know,
you got to be careful going down the
road because depending on what time of
the day, what time of the year, we have
a lot of wildlife.
So, that's an issue. Uh, like I said,
Hamilton Township's a great town to live
in. We have great people. And uh we
would like to as a president of the
merchants association provide more
opportunities and I'm sure working with
the police force um you know national
night out is fantastic and the township
and police force has done a great job
with that every single year and has
grown exponentially.
So but thank you for your time and I'd
like to like you said keep keeping me in
the loop. let me know what we're looking
at traffic-wise because I know the
neighbors really want to know. Thank you
very much everybody.
>> Thank you.
>> Hello, my name is Ramon Mora Jr. live in
violin. Um I used to live at Evergreen.
I used to live at Timberland.
Um I I get why you guys gave them a
pilot program and I'm not arguing
against the warehouse. Um although in a
way I am I know that that was that was
another time another council meeting
today was about the pilot. Um you know
you guys keep citing this you know 750
jobs. I don't think you guys want
anything bad to happen to your township
but understand and I don't think you
guys are necessarily bad innately bad.
Um but I do think that this decision was
a bad uh decision to to uh make uh 750
jobs. 300 of those 750 jobs are going to
be construction jobs. Did I Did I hear
that correct?
>> Additional.
>> Additional.
>> Additional. Okay. All right. And then
the pilot program is supposed to be for
about 29 years. Um, with the tech going
the way it's going, who knows if they're
going to even have all those 750 jobs.
I'm seeing it in Carney's Point. Okay,
moving on. The Woodlands and the
Timberland apartments that you have
around that area. Um, I used to see this
eyes sore every day sitting on on the
back of my porch uh living at
Timberlenn.
It's also an eyesore to see a warehouse
sticking out in into the into the middle
of the the racetrack area. That's also
going to be an eyesore. If your if your
argument's oh well it's an isore now
it's not only going to be an eyesore
it's going to be a uh negative effect
when it's operating 247 to those same
communities which woodlands if I'm not
mistaken is not necessarily known for
being the most wealthiest neighborhood.
I'm assuming none of you guys live in
the area. Just going to take that
assumption. You don't have to answer.
you guys decided to give a tax break
to a trillion dollar company
who who is not going to be responsible,
I'm assuming, with this with this um
agreement, for the damages that they're
going to do to the roads surrounding the
area
or the infrastructure. Is that correct?
Is that in is that in the deal? I'm not
sure.
>> What do you mean? So the increase of uh
trailers, the increase of vehicles,
heavy vehicles on roads crossing the
Hamilton Mall and that type of area,
those roads are also going to be
affected as they come and go and as they
ship all these all these other places.
Was the maintenance on the roads of
those roads that extend from the
warehouse was take was that taken into
consideration at all on this agreement?
>> Yes.
>> Sure.
>> Sure.
>> Yes.
>> Okay. Okay. because that's that's
usually not an easy fix and they usually
don't pay for it. The taxpayers pay for
it and that's millions of dollars to
repave these roads. It's it's it is a
very cost.
>> Well, they are they are paying to
upgrade Leap Zigg
>> all the way to 322.
>> Yeah.
>> Changing that intersection. That's all
off-site work that they're responsible
for.
>> Yeah. Their their area. I'm talking
about the areas that extend beyond that
because they're not just going to drive
on that road.
>> You don't they they're going to pay the
pilot.
>> Okay. Okay. that pilot money is going to
have to go to paying for those roads.
Which is why I'm saying if you had not
given them a tax break, you guys would
have had or the county would have had
more money in their coffers because
Amazon can afford it. They're a trillion
dollar company like I mentioned, right?
If there's space, if there's cheap land,
if there's a customer base, they're
going to be there. And basically, again,
I'm not saying you guys are bad people,
but I do think there's a bad deal. You
guys sold out the people who live right
there in the in in the neighborhoods.
>> Do Do you live here?
>> Hm.
>> Do you live here?
>> He lives in I used to live here for
about Do you live here now?
>> I do not.
>> I do not. I do business in the area.
>> I just wanted to know.
>> Yeah, absolutely. I I do business in the
area. What happened to the Hamilton Mall
is absolutely devastating. I spent a lot
of my high school time spending like a
lot because again, violin didn't have
anything to do. Community centers are
very important. Um, I used to go out to
the Hamilton Mall to spend my weekend.
So, I understand why you guys
>> brought Amazon to town. But you guys
have to also understand what you guys
also did.
>> Okay.
>> Did you Did you get a chance to read
what was on the township website?
>> I read um a lot of Carl's I didn't know
it was uh comments and posts on on
Facebook.
>> Right. You should go to the township
website because we have broke down
everything
>> very factual.
>> Sure. and it'll probably give you more
insight on some of the things that you
keep wording or how you're saying it.
So, I think you should read it, you
know, you know, take that into
consideration.
>> Absolutely. I will. Um, what I do know
is that they would have pro they would
have paid more money if it was just the
uh amount of money that was after
improvements had there not been a pilot.
A pilot programs are great for bringing
community events, community businesses
um for smaller businesses. You don't
need to be giving them to trillion
dollar companies. That's that's that's
all. And again, I don't think you guys
have ill ill will towards your township,
but that's what you guys did. The the
people of of Woodlands, which I have
people who live there, friends, and I
used to live at Evergreen for 3 years. I
would not have wanted that in my
backyard. That's
>> Thank you.
>> Still Belgium just scored. So, we really
want to see this again. Okay. It's one
nothing Belgium. I just saw this. U My
name's Roy Foster. I live in Maze
Landing.
>> Been involved in your project working
with this Suncap. They met my office two
and a half, three years ago. It's been a
lot of work. It's I know you said people
came out this last day to throw bombs at
you, but I just want to say great job to
all five of you. Thank you.
>> Thank you.
Good evening. My name is City. I live at
4600 Street. I've lived there my whole
life. I'm 19 years old. I understand
that's quite young considering, but
still, I've lived there my whole life.
And I just want to say very
respectfully, please reconsider your
decision. I'm very concerned about the
state of our wildlife and our natural
resources that we have. I've loved
growing up in these landing my whole
time. I'm an Eagle Scout. I grew up
outside in the woods and I just
absolutely love the resources that we
have and I'm so concerned that we're
going to use those. So, please
respectfully, I urge you to reconsider
your decision. And I'd like to leave you
with this. If you're so convinced that
Amazon will be good neighbors as you
said before. Would you guys be willing
to live right across the street from
them? Thank you.
>> Good evening. Uh my name is Christopher
Reali. or live over in Violins. Um, I
actually did not have anything scripted
at and or expect to come up and address
you all tonight, but like so many people
who attended this meeting tonight. Um,
were obviously very passionate where
they live. Um, I also agree that the
deal that was made to have Amazon
put roots down here, it was a mistake.
Um, I understand the reason why you
chose to do so with the finances, but
the people who showed up tonight clearly
care. They enjoy what they do here. They
live here. Um, but I think it's telling
the specific demographic that applauded
the decision for Amazon to settle down
here. um the youth and I'm very glad
that uh these two young women here um
brought up the fact that their children
and the youth um throughout South Jersey
to be honest have very little to do. Um
they are expected to go to school. They
may have extracurricular activities and
maybe holiday events or what have you.
For the most part, I think it's an
service or justice rather that the youth
don't have as many liberties or free
things to do in the area. Um, with
Amazon touching down, yes, the Hamilton
wall uh back in its prime, I'm sure, did
very well. It brought a sense of
community. It allowed people to spend
time there, to spend money, to get the
community group together, for people to
have enjoyed time together with one
another. Uh, prior to that, Councilman
Eric, you mentioned you being a lifelong
resident here that the racetrack, I'm
sure, in its prime glory before the
casinos touched down in city brought
that same community that allowed people
to interact with one another. And I feel
like that is something that is truly
lacking or receding rather, especially
the younger generation.
I Imagine what the youth are going
through in elementary and high school
now. But back when I was getting through
high school, that's when Facebook,
Insta, all that was coming through. And
the reality that the youth are growing
up in is entirely different from my own
and the five of you as well. Um, another
point I wanted to make, um, is that I
graduated from ACC 10 years back, went
to Stockton. I'm a registered nurse in
Atlanta here at City. I've been there
for almost 10 years now. And one of the
hardest demographics that we have to
treat are the substance abuse, the
homeless, um the alcoholism and the uh
those that are affected by opioids both
legal and illicit. Um I want you
especially um council tracing is
probably point that you would anticipate
in holding Amazon fully accountable and
I encourage you all to do that but in
real time because
um one of the uh projects I needed to
complete with Stockton prior to
graduating was book report and it was on
a book I forget the author but uh it was
called doick and I learned a lot with
the um the service that big pharma had
done the turn of the century the 90s
early 2000s
um the way they marketed their uh
painkillers and whatnot. It was highly
profitable for them but at the same time
it destroyed
not entire generation but affected
countless families. Um they lost plenty
of loved ones through addiction and
overdoses.
Um, I'm not saying that's what's going
to happen obviously with Amazon area,
but I want you all to not just hold
Amazon accountable through annual
financial reports, what have you, but in
real time and trend the good and the bad
that they are bringing to the community
and not wait till, you know, I guess too
many negative things have occurred or it
gets to a point where you now have
numerous fires that you're dealing with.
I don't want to see that happen to the
people in the area. Um, and again, I
didn't not the best public speaker. I'm
not just a nurse. I am a nurse, but I
also want you to
take care of your community in the
positions that you are all in the way
that I am expected to do working
bedside. Um, yes, the doctors come in
for five, 10 minutes, but at the end of
the day, the 12 plus hour shifts that I
pull. I'm interacting with these people
minute by minute and I can trend the
good and the bad and escalate when
things are warranted. So I would
encourage you all to I know my time is
up but keep that pulse in real time with
Amazon and really make sure they are
held accountable and they listen to and
look after your
My name is Justin violin yada yada yada.
I'll keep my comments brief uh in the
interest of time. Uh in my opinion uh
the decision made tonight was not in the
interest of this township. Uh you guys
were given a choice between Amazon and
uh Paddock Streak. I side with Paddock
Street.
Unfortunately, that was not the decision
that was made tonight. Uh I had worked
on a number of maps uh in my time in the
public sector. A number of the worst
intersections and most trafficy
intersections, most dangerous
intersections are located in the McKe
City area uh by the Hamilton Mall. So
again, please make sure you've done your
due diligence with Amazon. Amazon has
proven time and time and time and time
again that they are not uh consistent in
keeping their promises to communities.
Just look at what they did in Bessemer,
Alabama. Just look at the union busing
they did in Staten Island. Look,
anywhere you go, they have not been good
to their workers. They have not been
good to their community partners.
Why you would invite them into Hamilton
Township, I do not know. I do think you
guys are, in your opinion, trying to
make the best decision for your town. I
don't think you're trying to hurt your
town. The reality is is that inviting a
corporation such as Amazon here is that
is that's what that's going to do. So
now that you've made this decision, you
owe it to your residents to make sure
that they are included in this process.
That they get to ask Amazon, not just
you guys, Amazon, the officials that are
building this complex these questions to
have their grievances is answered,
addressed, and made sure that they are
accountable to this plan that you have
put forth with them. However, do not
expect them to adhere to it, and be
ready to pull the plug when the time
comes. That's the best advice I can give
you. Uh I pray for uh Route 40 and your
other uh arteries because they're about
to get much more traffic and get way
higher on that list. Good night.
>> Thank you.
>> Okay. So, greetings. Hello again. I want
to say that when you voted, you all
voted very quickly and you also began
explaining why you voted that way
immediately. That tells me that you feel
guilt.
If you feel guilt about your decision, I
ask you to reflect.
29 years of tax cuts for a trillion
dollar company is not a good deal. Will
you be alive? You're smirking. What will
the next generation have? What are you
leaving them? A a warehouse that is
going to pollute water, push wildlife
into just destroy. Amazon destroys.
That's all they do.
It is important to be mindful of these
things. And like the other community
member, I ask you to reconsider
reconsider this pilot.
And you spoke of Vinand saying that
they're out of town. And the reason that
violent is here is because they care
about their community and because they
are organized.
Atlanta County is getting organized as
well. People are watching your
decisions, what you're doing, your
elected officials, but if you do not do
the will of the public, you will no
longer be elected.
Be mindful.
Listen to your constituents.
And you need to make sure that you are
giving this information and dispersing
it to the public everywhere.
People were not aware of this pilot or
the extent of it. Again, 29 years. And
you say that it's going to benefit the
public. But what was it? $3 million a
year.
>> Yes.
>> Just
under.
>> Just under. Okay. So if we compare this
data center to the one in Westert, not
data center, Amazon center to the one in
Westert and we look at the property
itself, they are pulling in property
taxes, it could be up to 4 million. Have
you looked into that? Have you compared
this project to the one in West?
>> Absolutely.
>> So why why why
would you think that this pilot is the
best decision if you're saying that you
did your research when it is clearly
not?
that that's your opinion.
>> No, it's the math. There's a difference
between math and data and opinion. And
if you're saying that you did your due
diligence, do not just eat what Amazon's
feeding you. They will exploit the
community.
So again, consider these things. This
29-year pilot agreement is unacceptable.
I really do ask that you reconsider.
Like there has to be something to be
done.
>> Thank you.
>> Thank you.
HI, MY NAME IS JARED Prince and I live
in Maze Landing. Um, I just want to say
I want you all to think about the
groundwater that these 18-wheelers will
contaminate. Now you're going to have to
buy bottles. I want you to think about
the sidewalk that they're installing in
front of the Davy School so kids can
walk to school that they'll no longer
walk once they get mowed over by an
18-wheeler. I want you to think of the
potholes that you'll bend your wheels on
because of the degradation of the roads
because this only seems to bother you
when it directly affects you guys. Um, I
think it's hilarious that you believe
that Amazon,
the fifth most the the fifth highest
valued company in the world that I know
of. Um, I think it's hilarious. You
think you will be able to hold them
accountable with the amount of money
that they can throw at lawyers and,
you know, just Okay, that's a great
joke. Tell me another. Um,
you've lost all my respect. Um, and I
think I could speak for many of us when
I say that I you have none of my trust.
I don't believe anything that you say
that you that you regurgitate that
Amazon feeds you. Um, many of the people
out here have made great points that you
will sit there and you'll nod and you'll
go
and then you just vote yes anyway. You
don't seem to think about any of us. It
only affects you when it's in your own
backyard. So, I would love for you to go
move out to the woodlands uh and watch
the Amazon facility be built there and
the trees get knocked down and ground up
and the roads be they improve them once,
right? But what happens after the first
winter? We start get potholes. People
start cracking their wheels and they're
spending money that they do not have
because that is a lower income area. I I
know that. Uh if you are ever out in
that area, I I think you would know,
too. But again,
it's not in your backyard. So,
you lost my respect. I don't trust you.
I I don't think a lot of us trust you.
So, that's what I got to say. Just think
about that. Think about it. If you would
want it in your backyard, would it still
be there? Because I bet my paycheck that
it would not.
You wouldn't want it in your backyard.
Would you want it in your backyard?
Would you want it in your backyard?
Carl, would you want it in your
backyard? Eric, I know you were part of
the school board for many years. I
always thought you did what I thought
was the right thing. Uh, you looked out
for the the children that went through
our schools. Uh, is all the the
environmental pollution. There's all the
smog from all the semis driving through.
Is that what's going to be good for the
kids that are out there playing in those
soccer fields? they're out there playing
baseball. Is that what's going to be
good for them? I I don't mean to call
you out in particular, but I'm just
that's what comes to my head. Um, so
just consider that. Sleep on that. I
know I can go home and I could sleep
easy, but I I if I did what you did
tonight, I don't think I could. Have a
good night.
Okay. So, hi. I'm I'm Maya again. Back
up. Um, I did want to say just a couple
of things. One, I want to go back and um
I I heard they're addressing about the
data center and something about
Facebook. Um, my fear for a data center
isn't from Facebook. My fear from a data
center is from working in violin and
talking to my students and teachers who
live around it and the train wreck that
that is. That's my fear. So didn't come
from Facebook. It was always there. So
that aside, um I know one of the things
that everyone was speaking about is that
we have the mall is run down, the
racetrack is run down, we have all these
eyes and what we are getting a lot of in
our area is dispensaries and liquor
stores. So, why
are we not getting anything else out
here? Because anything that I have to
do, um, I have to either go up towards
Cherry Hill or I'm heading down towards
North area. We have literally nothing in
our town. So, what is being done? Cuz we
can't play at Amazon, right? Um, what
other types of businesses are we
attracting in here? we don't have
anything for the adults really to do
either. Um, you know, outside of the
kids and it wasn't that way. I raised my
kids here. I've owned my property I
think since I was 19. So, and I'm 51
now. And the township has gradually
changed for the worse. The mall has
fallen, right? I worked in that mall for
years. Who is holding them accountable
for doing that? It's not, oh, well,
malls don't exist anymore because I've
gone to the defert mall and Cherry Hill
Mall and they're doing just fine. So, it
it comes to the point where what else
are we doing? Okay, so you have the
Amazon here. What else are we going to
do? If he wants to drop an Amazon here,
bring your Whole Foods here, too. Like,
what else are we doing to bring other
things into our community so it's not a
bunch of liquor stores and a Walmart and
dispensaries because that's what we have
right now. And there's not a lot more
going on. Anything else that has to be
done, you have to leave Maze Landing to
do it. So, if you're going to bring this
Amazon, which it it's looking like it's
on its way, then let's talk about
getting the things that I have to go to
Cherry Hill and Mount Laura and all the
other spots to get because we're getting
all this money and let's bring all this
stuff in. Okay. Thank you.
>> Thank you.
Motion to close.
>> Second.
>> Have a motion in a second. All those in
favor?
>> I
have it.
>> Um, no executive session.
So,
>> motion to adjurnn.
>> Second.
>> I have a motion in a second. All those
in favor? I
>> I
>> thank