02-02-2026 - Township of Hamilton Committee Meeting

like to bring the Monday, February 2nd,
2026 Township of Hamilton Committee
meeting to order. Please rise for the
flag salute.
Pledge algiance to the flag of the
United States of America to the republic
for it stands one nation
indivisible with liberty and justice for
all.
Adequate notice of this meeting has been
provided pursuant to the New Jersey
by posting a notice of this meeting on
the municipal building and by
transmitting notice of this meeting city
and county record on January 6th 2026.
Mr. Aken
>> here
>> Mr. Ch
>> here
>> Miss Thompson
>> here
>> Dr. Witherspoon
>> here. Mayor Patali
>> here.
We have a moment of silence for private
reflection.
Thank you.
Proclamations.
>> Black History Month. Dr. Barbara
Gaba.
>> Gaba. Okay.
>> Dr. Witherspoon.
Thank you very much.
>> Whereas we would like to recognize Dr.
Barbara Gaba. During Black History
Month, Dr. Barbara Gaba was appointed
the ninth president of Atlantic Cape
Community College in January
2017,
becoming the first female and the first
African-American president in the
college's 50th year history. With
extensive experience in higher
education, she is deeply committed to
the mission of the community college to
provide affordable educational pathways
for student success.
Whereas prior to joining Atlantic, Dr.
Gaba served as provost and associate
vice president for academic affairs at
Union County College. She also served as
dean of academic and student support
services at Camden County College and
associate director of the office of the
board affairs and government relations
at the New Jersey Department of Higher
Education.
Whereas during her 40-year career, she
has served as a teacher,
researcher, and administrator and has
been devoted to working with
underserved, under reppresented
students, empowering them to obtain a
college education.
At the national level, she serves on the
board of the chair ac academy for
leadership development and higher
education research and development
institute advisory board. She is also a
member of the executive board of the
president's academy summer institute of
America association of community
colleges.
Whereas Atlantic Cape Community College
announced the upcoming retirement of Dr.
Barbara Gaba, whose contract concludes
on June 30th, 2026.
Dr. Gaba, who has led the college for
nearly nine years, will retire following
a distinguished 40-year career in higher
education.
As the first female and the first
African-American president at the
college's history, Dr. Gaba's leadership
has transformed Atlantic Cape Community
College in lasting ways. Under her
direction, the college secured millions
of dollars in grant funding to support
student success initiatives and
infrastructure improvements, expanding
academic programs, and deepen community
partnerships across Atlantic and Kate
May counties. Now therefore, we the
sworn members of Hamilton Township
Committee in Ma's Landing, New Jersey,
do hereby honor Dr. Barbara Gaba during
Black History Month in peruity as
established this second day of February
in the year of 2026.
And you were my pick to honor. of course
is the entire uh Hamilton Township
committee, but you was the one that I
selected to do this. We're going to miss
you, but we thank you for everything
that you have done in our township and
Atlantic Kate Community College.
Dr. Gab, would you like to have
something to say?
>> Oh, absolutely.
>> First of all, I want to thank the
Hamilton Township Committee for this
recognition. I'm very humbled and
honored to receive this and I'm very
very honored to be here and although
I'll be approaching retirement after
almost 10 years at Atlanta Cape the time
has gone very very fast but we have been
from the very beginning committed to
serving the residents of Ma's Landing
Atlantic City Atlantic County as well as
all those in Kate May County as well and
I think it's appropriate that during
Black History Month we recognize the
diversity of all the students faculty
faculty and staff that come to our
college and we appreciate the support
support of the township committee and we
will continue to do the work. Although I
will be stepping away from Atlantic
Cape, I don't plan to be out of the
spotlight.
>> I will continue to do what I can to
contribute to higher education because I
do a lot of mentoring of young people
who aspire to leadership roles. I also
plan to be involved in committees and
commissions and I will be still
remaining here in Maze Landing. I live
across the street from the college. I'm
a resident. My heart is here. I love
being here. So again, I want to thank
you for your support of the college and
for recognizing Black History Month and
the contributions that African-Americans
have made to this country and to this
city. Thank you.
Oh, yes she does.
>> Thank you for everything you've done.
>> You're welcome. Congratulations.
>> Okay, we have uh no guest presentations.
Addition, deletion, late agenda items.
We have none.
>> Uh early public comment. Do we have
anybody signed up?
>> No one signed.
>> No.
>> Excuse me, ma'am. I don't have
that.
>> Yeah, that's in the agenda.
>> That's in just put these.
>> Okay. Thank you.
Um,
moving on discussions,
formal action may be taken. Uh,
enhancing compliant management and
enforcement operations.
Uh, Mr. Goodman's going to give us a
presentation on this.
>> Thank you, mayor. Uh, I'd like to
introduce uh Stephen Hartzell who is uh
our zoning officer and who I've worked
with in the last year to improve uh
enforcement of zoning violations in that
department. He'll be a key element if
this plan is approved.
Uh I had been approached by the
administrator last year um
about a way to possibly better
centralize complaint management as well
as uh find a way to you know move code
enforcement more from a reporting
mechanism of violations to one that
would
better engage with the courts and then
have an ability to you know the overall
goal is always to try to gain
compliance. But yeah, if we have to go
to the courts and uh if necessary issue
fines to get people's attention and move
them more towards a path of compliance
go
where it's been uh in operation today is
that uh the complaint handling system
seems to kind of come in from many
different channels and uh it causes a
number of inefficiencies.
you know, and there's fragmented
enforcement across several departments
for things that are, you know, basically
municipalwide.
Uh we've also had very inconsistent
communications with the municipal court
and a lot of that is due to the fact
that we don't have a municipal court
that many other jurisdictions do. We
share this with the county and um you
know to say that they're under resource
to handle these type of violations would
be an understatement. Also, I was just
kind of recognizing that although we
have a pretty good uh systems management
uh platform for managing this from a
software perspective, uh the ability to
you know track this information coming
out of that system is somewhat limited
and we need better ways to uh to report
it out and manage it and monitor it.
That being said, you know, the the goals
are simply just to create a consolidated
unified enforcement process. uh the
departments involved would be, you know,
code enforcement, zoning, uh noncriminal
petty offenses that occur, you know,
where to require a police officer go out
and call it out. We can go talk to to
violators. The idea is to uh basically
start a new role of a municipalwide
enforcement officer, an MEO, to oversee
that coordination, and I believe Mr.
Hartzell is is well qualified to handle
that role.
We also want to standardize enforcement
procedures. We want to be able to create
a series of uh tools that we can send
out to the community, you know, setting
expectations about standards that are
set out in the ordinances. And we also
want to find a better way to just
improve enhanced inter departmental
collaboration between the groups.
First thing we would take is just to
find a way to centralize complaint
management. have all of these multiple
channels coming into one central office
and ideally this should be through the
administrator's office. We would like to
set up the creation of a new email
address called citizen report which
would then route complaints or concerns
directly through there. It's
centralized. It makes sure that the
administrator is aware of uh any
complaints coming in and then they would
get routed down to our office um for
basically subsequent action and
movement.
It would create a standardized process
for logging and tracking this
information and um there is a capability
we don't believe we would roll this out
up front but we believe over time we
would be able to add certain tools that
are native to the SDL that stands for
spatial data logic and that is our
software uh that would allow people to
download a mobile web app that would
allow them to you know submit a
complaint they see something wrong they
take their phone take a picture and send
it out to us.
It also would be able to enable us to
just do better case management of all
complaints at once and having one
repository for managing those. And we
would incorporate much like we do today
in zoning uh weekly enforcement meetings
for progress tracking of all open
violations.
As I said, the courts uh are having to
deal with a very very difficult task of
dealing with every single municipality
here in Atlantic County. Uh they are
ramping up resources, but it's been a
big adjustment and we still see, you
know, areas where it could improve. Uh
nonetheless, in the last year, we've
improved communication channels with the
court directly and the prosecutor's
office. We also would like to
standardize reporting for fines and
expenses that may be associated with vi
um you know with violations. And we
would like the municipal enforcement
officer to testify uh using deonian
witness affidavit. And what that means
is just that someone else an inspector
can go out into the field and you know
gather the evidence of violation but it
would be one person using that affidavit
from that reporting inspector to go to
court and manage its uh path through the
courts.
We would again use SDL to report the
enforcement side of this as well the
progress and and subsequent outcomes.
One opportunity that we're starting to
take a look at and taking a look at the
reports is that many communities vacant
and abandoned properties can be a source
of violations. The good news here in uh
in Hamilton Township is that many of
those that are vacant and abandoned
today are occupied, but when they do
become vacant, uh maintenance is
neglected and it can become a problem.
Uh in addition uh although we have an
efficient form for you know managing the
information around these properties and
uh we would like to do an audit to
ensure that all renewals are up to date
and renewal fees associated with them.
We'd like to be able to compare that
with the overall number of Liz pendants
notice that are registered with the
county and match them up to make sure
that we're capturing all vacant and
abandoned properties as well.
The idea is that through this, if we
implement these reforms, again, the
benefits be that there'd be a
streamlined process for managing
complaints and issues. There'd be faster
complaint resolution times, increased
compliant rates and improve tracking for
monitoring and having tools in place and
and basically standardizing on penalties
and financial fines. Essentially, uh it
would improve accountability and
transparency. We think in the long run
if we are able to get that satis you
know get that done there would be
greater citizen satisfaction as well. Uh
there are additional duties uh entailed
with this. Uh these are the recommended
increases stipen to support this
activity. Again just note that none of
this would actually go into effect or
impact the budget until council approves
those changes and codify them in the
ordinance.
So what we'd like to do is obviously
obtain a commitment from stakeholder
department head around the concept
final project plan and timeline to
support all this work. We believe we've
set identified the uh you know how to
you know essentially fund for this and
budget for it. There is some system
upgrades that have to happen. there
would be training that we'd have to put
in place as well if there be leaning
more heavily into inter departmental
collaboration.
Uh we've already consulted with uh our
township solicitor who's taken a look at
this and advised that you know it seems
to be compliant with existing standards
and state statutes as well.
We also think on rolling this out, we
take we take time that we should
probably have a public awareness
campaign that will be outbound to the
residents and advise them that, you
know, they have concerns, this is the
way to to get them addressed.
We would also just, you know, put in
place a a management tool to just
evaluate where we are on a quarterly
basis, see where we're succeeding, we
need to improve things and make changes
along the way.
This is the end of my presentation. If
there are any questions I can entertain
on behalf of mayor council, please feel
free to ask.
>> Anybody have any questions or comments?
>> Just one with this um start.
>> Uh you essentially have control over the
you know the timing of this. nothing can
happen until we codify and change
what's the name of the
>> right that and um we would also you know
if you're intending to go in that
direction we would like to take that
time and start working on some of the
tools that we would like to get put in
place so we hit the ground running.
So before
>> before we do anything, you have to reach
out to departments and discuss with
them.
>> We've uh brought this forth this evening
to have a discussion first with town
council and get their feedback first and
that should follow.
>> Anybody else?
>> I'd just like to say this is this is
something that uh I don't have to tell
Brett. hears from me all the time. Um
when I take my rides around town and see
things going on and um different
businesses that aren't taking care of
their properties,
uh trash issues and uh
I don't people remember I guess about a
month and a half, two months ago that
video that that popped up about the
Hamilton Mall and it showed uh trash and
things and uh
there signs that had people spray
painted on their signs and then they go
by and there's 50 shopping carts in the
back and those are all things that I,
you know, that they would get written up
for and it kind of goes nowhere. Um,
sometimes they get on it quickly,
sometimes it just kind of sounds like it
kind of lingers. uh central municipal
court doesn't really do anything to move
these things along, get them cleaned up.
And it's just frustrating to me knowing
that something was said about this. Um
letters were sent or violations were
sent uh to these properties. They didn't
do anything and then somebody comes
along and takes a video and if they did
what what we asked them to do, it
wouldn't have looked as bad, you know,
and it just it's it's a black eye for
the whole township. So, this is
something that I think we need to do.
And it's not
the township or or me coming after, you
know, the resident, but there are
residents out there that um you know,
they they let their property go and it
does become a hazard because um
you'll get rats, you'll get mice, um
cats will start living there, and then
somebody who lives next door has to put
up with this. So, this is just a way to
to try to get things cleaned up. you
know, the one on uh Mammoth Drive, it
took us years to get that cleaned up and
that was just, you know, an eyes sore
for that for that neighborhood. And this
is I think this is something that will
help streamline this. It'll put somebody
more um responsible for making sure that
things get done. And then also I think
it's going to be a stepping stone
towards us um maybe sitting down with
the county with the county municipal
court and finding a way to move these
things along the way they should be. Um
I know committeeman chief here had had
talked to a Farbor Townships mayor
>> and they have the same problem. I I've
talked to other municipalities. You know
this is a problem with getting this
stuff cleaned up. So maybe this is a way
to to get this stuff moving.
So, um I think kind of what we're
looking for from committee is is this
something we want to move forward with
and get this ball rolling
everybody?
>> Yes.
>> Very good. We'll uh we'll get working on
this immediately and coordinate through
the administrator on time.
>> Thank you, Robert.
>> Steve, thank you very much.
Moving on. B. Vacation of a portion of
Penny Lane.
>> Mayor, if I may, Township received a
request for a vacation of a small piece
of Penny Lane. In front of Township
Committee is a colorful drawing of a map
we provided in your packet. Um, and upon
reviewing that, we had our team put
together. We met with the township
engineer as well who went out to the
site, took a look at that portion. Um,
and a large portion of Penny Lane that's
developed is in the wetlands. Part of
it's in the great Egg Harbor.
And the recommendation committee is may
be beneficial to the town rather than
just vacating a small portion,
vacate a much larger portion.
Based on the map, the way Penny Lane
runs, uh, there are adjacent property
owners on one side, the alternate side
that street is township property.
on the flip side.
Uh so what we'd like uh this evening if
the town committee wishes to do so is
give us authorization to reach out to
the adjacent property owners
to see if there's any objection
because we're going to do so. We'd like
to do so all at one time.
We'd like to be able to send out letters
to those adjacent to see uh their or
>> questions or comments?
>> Sure. I have a question. So, um will the
property owner pay taxes on this portion
of Penny Lane if it's vacated?
>> It's a good question. So typically on
the vac of a street uh when the
portion's vacated half the street goes
to one side
there's a mechanism that we did a lot of
research on that
property
with a case like this. So the answer is
yes.
Thank you.
So what do you need from us just to
>> it's only one for discussion permission
authorization move forward to be able to
send out letters
just to gauge interest to see if there's
any objection so I would ask for a
motion
>> um
if just one property owner doesn't want
to do this does that will that kill it
>> that might be something that we would
discuss based
13 property owners.
>> Yeah, there's there's more than
>> this is just moving forward, not
vacating,
>> correct? It would come back in front of
township committee with
>> So the 13 owners haven't been notified.
>> Not as of yet. Okay.
Basically with this they would be not
>> it would put them on notice so that we
have the feedback from
one of the property owners.
>> I think it would be your best interest.
And for the record, you're not making a
decision on whether or not we're just
sending it out just to be able to send
the letters to gate interest. Thank you.
>> So, do I have a motion to move forward
with the property owners? Have a motion
to second. Can we have a roll call vote?
>> Mr. Aken,
>> yes.
>> Mr. Chief,
>> yes.
>> Thompson,
>> yes.
>> Dr. Witherspoon,
>> yes.
>> Mayor Patali,
>> abstain.
>> Four. Yes. One. Motion carries.
>> Okay. Moving on. Establishing a rent
leveling advisory committee, updating
short-term rental ordinance, and
creating a lease registration program.
>> Mr. Solicitor.
>> Thank you, Mayor. So, on this topic, uh
it was Committee Thompson that brought
to our attention as to look into a the
possibility of a rent control board here
in House Township. Uh so myself and the
director of community development, Mr.
Goodman, who just gave a presentation,
uh who has a lot of experience in this
area from prior employment, worked
alongside of me to start doing some of
the initial research and what rent
control, rent leveling may look like
here in Hamilton. Had a subcommittee
meeting uh a few weeks ago and we
discussed a lot of different aspects of
what it may look like, legislation that
has been passed, legislation has pending
on this issue. Uh we pulled a lot of the
ordinances and looked at a lot of
neighboring municipalities that have
rent control ordinances or boards all
throughout the state and a lot of the
different complexities and the pros and
cons of what rent control may look like
in a municipality.
And that includes everything from the
process of enacting it, some of the
steps we may take that fall short of
rent control board as well as the
substantial cost along with establishing
a rent control. Uh and because of the
complexity, uh the subcommittee had
asked a pointing question of how do we
get the residents here at Hamilton more
involved in that decision- making
process and the way to do so if
committee would like to is through
what's called an advisory committee.
advisory committee is something like a
subcommittee but allows uh the township
put together a group of individuals
where the specific residents would have
the ability to participate in process
other words the footwork or leg work in
moving something like forward um in
giving a report back to committee they
don't have decisive power which means
they don't decide whether it's going to
move forward but they put together all
the information so that can be presented
in one uniform package back to township
Um and if committee decided to create an
advisory committee uh that would be put
in place the round of how many people
would be put on there would be decided
by committee appointed
for some of the different subjects we
looked into would be things like
updating our short-term rental or
something that we're taking a look at or
creating lease registration program all
the way up to the establishment.
So it's on before committee for
discussion as well as whether committee
wants to move forward with establishing
a rent.
>> Okay.
Anybody have any questions, comments?
>> I have plenty. Um so doing our
discussion
um I have a question. Um why are we
updating? We were just we were
discussing about inspections. So, uh,
one of the questions I have is why are
we updating the inspections that will
require a five-year review period?
>> The, uh, the inspection period, that was
one of the issues that we discussed
here, uh, in Hamilton Township. Uh,
rental properties under a current are
usually inspected upon turnover or the
sale of the rental properties. One of
our concerns that uh, we discussed was
uh, with long-term tenants. So if an
individual lives in the rental unit for
a period of time, they can go years
without being
that centered around safety and a lot of
issues.
>> Thank you. Um, another question is, um,
what's the thought process behind
requiring the registration of leases
with the township?
We had talked about some of the new
legislation that has come down from New
Jersey and there's a lot of other pieces
of legislation sitting the assembly in
the Senate level and thought process
behind a lease registration would allow
if committee uh chose to move forward
with an advisory committee having a uh a
bank of some of the leases here in
Hamilton County allows us to be able to
do due diligence and any of the new
legislation that state has proposed
comes out. It would give us a footwork
of moving forward so that we weren't
scrambling at legislation how it was
amended or or enacted.
>> Another um final question is um how do
you believe this proposal would make
code enforcement more efficient than it
is now?
>> We had a pro presentation on code
enforcement. It's always any
municipality's goal to make code
enforcement more efficient, streamline.
Purpose is obviously behind code
enforcement is to make sure presence
here in town should have uh safety and
that would be the goal behind doing this
um and being able to potentially review
control making sure that uh it's
affordable here.
>> Thank you so much.
So, what other municipalities in this
county have this?
>> So, in terms of a rent control board,
Pleasantville was one that we looked at.
I believe they just acted their rent
control board believe in 2024. I had the
opportunity to speak administrator out
there and they're just getting underway.
Atlantic City has a a portion of it. Um,
Edgar Township had a rent control board
that they just dissolved. I believe back
in December of last year in 2025.
Um, some other municipalities do have
some sort of quasi rent control board
that's not in but I would say the effect
where it's not being forced
to pass are humans here.
>> So why would egg arbor township
dissolve? final
>> there. I had some initial discussions
with the solicitor out there as well. My
understanding is dissolved it because of
legislation that had just came down here
in New Jersey that put a rent cap.
Um, one of the difficulties that we have
with rent control boards is
jurisdictional issues. and to kind of
not go through a very long story about
jurisdictional issues, but uh there are
different mechanisms proposed throughout
the state of New Jersey that has
friends.
We had an HOA issue come up not long ago
here
and uh DCA
something that although we could mediate
or help facilitate a resolution, people
that wanted to come and participate, we
won't have
Um that being said also landlords.
So it's my understanding that without
knowing the nuances
a lot of those difficulties that came
along
after having
a a very large administr
>> yeah so with that that cost I guess it
would it would have to have its own
solicitor and own correct
>> that's correct so depending on the how
the right control
Typically you would have to have
that as secretary there is
administrative cost comes along with it
and it can be substantial.
Now, do we follow anything here now?
Like I know we don't have a rent control
board, but do we follow anything with
rent? Does the state say something or
mandate something or
>> there there are so there isn't a a
blanket
legislation that's proposed out there
specific registration
specific except for a legislation
manufactured Anybody
else? have a question,
but I know we've had a couple people
come here and talk about they wanted the
township to do something
in reference to the prices,
but what I'm understanding a lot of
times people own the property, but they
don't own the land.
So there's a different,
you know, element here that we're
dealing with where the people are
um I'm not saying being forced out, but
we have no control over it because they
don't own the land. How would this board
would we have any regulation with that?
>> So you mean like for example mobile
>> like a mobile home? So that was a piece
of legislation.
legislation.
>> That's by the state though.
>> So it wouldn't be regulated by
us because it's already done by the
state.
>> And my second question, how much would
this cost if we were able to if we were
to go along with this?
>> Oh, it's hard for me to set the prices,
but in terms of research,
cost, it could easily
worked in the past in another
municipality. So he might be able to
speak a little bit more direct.
Is that accurate?
>> And who would pay for it?
And you feel
and you feel kind of that's why egg
barber township dissolved. I mean in
your opinion
>> sure that was
the res.
And also from from what I've heard and
correct me if I'm wrong
a entity comes forward wants to increase
rent
control board would
approve or shoot it down
u
that entity if it's larger entity
is not just going to walk away and say,
"Okay,
they would then
file suit or what would be the next step
if they didn't if they weren't happy
with the with the
what the rent control said would they
always
decision any old decision
litigation
That's always concern always inherent.
>> Would that make the rents increase or
would the rent control
advisory board be responsible for how
because the rents here are expensive
>> everywhere. It's not just Hamilton
Township. It's everywhere.
>> That's a good point. That was a
discussion we had where why it's called
a rent leveling rather than just rent
control. So there's a misconception that
rent control
I know here today obviously
living rents are obviously
chance
especially across municipality
individuals where leas is under what the
norm is and then rent go up rather than
longterm.
There is a chance.
Just one more question. We have a lot of
homeowners here and it's different from
like said urban environment.
Um I'm not saying it's not needed. I'm
just saying what is the home ownership
versus the
rental property?
I had compiled data from the American
census survey uh to rely on data to
figure out you know based on the number
of identified household units that's
inclusive of homeowners as well as
rental units and then the number of
rental units.
We're
we're closer to the area and it depends
on what point of time you take a look at
it. It's anywhere from 20 to 30% of all
households here are are rentals. I think
the one thing that kind of surprised me
at least and then I shared that with the
subcommittee was how many of these are
self-reported short-term rentals and the
impact of that is that it it means that
there's housing available but it's not
available on an annual basis. Obviously
with more supply,
you know, it's more moderating on on
rental prices. So, it's kind of creating
a structural impediment uh for
moderation in rental prices and that's
one of the reasons why we started taking
a look at possibly looking at our
short-term rental
ordinance for revisions and reforms. But
in terms of how getting back to
council's
question, um there's a significant
rental population here and it's in a
very narrow band number of units. We
have 2021 residential rental units here
in the township uh that are what we
consider UCCC class um rental
enterprises. You know, there's anything
that's one to four units can come under
the discretion of individual home
ownership and we wouldn't have much
jurisdiction there. But those that are
commercial enterprises, if this is the
direction council wants to go, it would
apply to those type of units.
So if it's 20 to 30%, you're saying
about 70% of um Hamilton Township or
homeowners, the other 30% rentals.
>> Yeah, I don't want to split hairs, but
that's a that's a good general way of
putting it. But there are distinctions
even within that class which impact the
total number of units. And I don't want
to belabor it here. It's more workshop
type stuff, but
>> I can certainly walk you through it
>> and what it means. encourage your
question.
>> 40% homes,
>> 40% rentals,
>> 40% rentals.
>> Earlier you stated that the state
basically has jurisdiction over say a
mobile home park. In the case of just
say the fairways where they own the
house and not the lot, does the state
have oversight on that?
>> Something
have to be.
>> That was a good question because a lot
of those people who own their homes
>> don't own the lot. They don't own a lot
>> and they're paying excess of like $1,000
for the lot and they're going up all the
time. So, they paying for the the
mortgage
and then there's a separate fee.
>> They told me that every transaction it's
a 55 plus community. So, every time the
house turns over, the lot rental goes up
substantial.
>> That's what they said. But they blame
the township.
>> Yeah.
>> Why don't they look into that? Yeah,
that's something that needs to be looked
into because they're blaming us for the
taxes for for the amount that's going
up. But I do know people who live in
fairways and they're telling me that
they're paying $1,000 for their lot.
>> Yeah.
>> That's what I was told.
>> I'll coordinate with administrator and
Mr. Goodman as well.
>> Thank you.
So, I guess what we're what we're
looking for here is kind of it's it's a
couple of things.
We want to create an advisory committee.
We want to look at and update the short
term rental ordinance and we want to
create a lease registration.
Is this wrapping all this into one?
>> I don't know that we would wrap it all
into one. We kind of gave examples of
what the if you create an advisory
committee what would be essentially the
first task
we should consider moving forward
I guess for this evening's
level.
I just have one more question. I know
that there's legislation out there that
we have to um build more lowincome
housing.
>> Affordable housing. Thank you. Sorry.
Because that's a difference.
>> Yeah,
>> there's a difference. Affordable
housing. Would that regulate that as
well?
>> That's a complete
process.
>> That would be a separate issue from from
the affordable housing.
>> Yes.
>> To the rentals.
So one other so the creation of the
committee so they would bring back
information to us
>> correct
>> on
how the field is out there with the
rental properties and
>> so the advisory committee essentially is
a vast different degree of of
stakeholders members from council
committee uh and then you have a set of
member amount of members from here.
The suggestion is to be able to
diversify
homeowners
ren
so we have the opportunity to have this
discussion setting whatever information
workshop uh to be able to present back
numbers facts suggestions we make
decisions. So for example, uh the the
lease registration uh program might be
something we look into
that say this would be our suggested
process and this would be administrative
aspects that are involved with it. So
you have a report in front of you saying
yes here's the complete picture
that we do not
obviously control
said there's three very small issues in
a big field of this that are today too
much.
So the we done this the rents that are
now like
would they be grandfathered or is this
going forward with new rents or how
would we regulate rents that are already
established?
>> Those are a lot of the issues.
what may be appropriate or what might
have a loading question or
because I know people that live in
Hamilton Green and live in different
places depending on what size unit they
have is what they're paying. So, I know
people who pay like $3,500
for their rental unit and then for one
bedroom it's like 1,700. So, if we had
this advisory
board, would we be able to control a
private own
um you know what I'm saying?
>> Yeah. So, I just want to make a a
clarification. What we're creating
research not for itself,
>> not the board.
>> Yeah. They're two separate entities
completely. But the advisory committee
is just a committee of uh like I said
two uh committee members and five to
seven individuals or residents here in
township that kind of represent the
different aspects of one comprise of a
rent control board be able to do the
homework here leg work of saying these
are the issues these are the issues that
the community is facing here's our
recommendation moving forward to what
might be done working with the
administrator team here they will come
back and present to you and say example
we think you should update your
shortterm rental we believe that a
full-fledged rental board is appropriate
here's why here are the the specific
numbers here are the percentages working
with the administrator and director of
community development is putting
together a proposal if a rent control
board is something that the advisory
committee recommends here would be the
costs that are involved there's a lot
here that allow you allow committee
It's a large
>> Now we can't really be compared to
different.
>> So do we have any other municipality
like us that we know just found out
Township just got out of it? Does do we
have any other municipalities
similar to us that have been controlled
by
>> Great question. That's one of the things
we discussed in front of the
subcommittee. I thought Egro Township
was probably the most similar
municipality here
in terms of demographics size
mirror and the percentages.
So if it was something that we create an
advisory comm we like to do is kind of
branch outside
some of the other South Jersey uh
municipalities
they have rent controls where they had
rent controls. This is what worked and
this is why it didn't work.
>> David Neptune Township has a um
something that's similar to Hamilton
Township.
>> Who was that? Neptune Township.
>> Neptune.
>> Yes. Like they have a 30% rental rate,
>> 28,000 residents similar to us.
>> Now, would this committee bring back
like hard numbers
>> of how much this is going to cost?
>> It looking at the administrative. So if
we propose whatever
>> I know you said 100 but
>> and that was kind of a very ballpark but
if it was something where it was
proposed that this
obviously like any other presentation
like Mr.
chose to designate us.
>> We really can't make a decision because
we don't have hard numbers.
>> Why would we need hard? Why would we
need hard numbers to make a decision to
create an advisory?
>> The committee,
>> not not the committee, just the advisor.
>> So I thought your assumption was for a
rental control,
>> right?
>> There would be Outside of the research,
the administrative journals legal fees
again the advisory committee is
something.
So if the advisory committee comes back
and said okay this is this this is this
the committee then could say you know
what we're not going to go any further
>> it would be up to committee
>> right that's how far they didn't go it
would just be reports and again
committee uh committee has
what happens
>> the advisory committee I'm going assume
is going to lean on certain
paid professionals and people that work
for the township
>> going to steer it
>> that's going to cost money
and are you going to do this a favor to
us or are you going to charge
>> honesty comes along down the pike so the
professionals get paid per hour that's
correct
>> mayor we're uh we're you know we're
advising that it'sic official members,
non- voting, but experts in their field
would uh would participate and that
would also include our affordable
housing coordinator as well.
>> I also want to note that Mr. Goodman did
this in the town he came from and he
said it was very successful. So, I want
to put that on the record.
>> Understood.
>> Yeah, I'm not I'm not against I'm not
against it. I'm just ask this is new. I
didn't know this was coming. So, I'm
just asking questions and doing my due
diligence. I'm not saying it's nothing
that shouldn't be. I just want to make
sure that I'm asking the right questions
>> forward.
>> And I would just simply clarify, you
know, uh my statement was based on I I I
showed up at that job two days after
they passed it and they said, "Go get
it." So we were able to craft it from
the very beginning and do exactly what
they envisioned. So in that sense, it
was a qualified success. Nonetheless,
what you're talking about is something
that's not just passed or formed. You're
talking about something where you're
really looking for more information. You
want this advisory group, a
representative of the community to tell
you what they think about it, you know,
and even then they're only in gold
deliverables just to give you a report
what they think is the right thing to
do. And even then, you can choose to do
something different. You accept some,
reject it out of whole, embrace it
wholly. Discretion is entirely with the
elected body.
with the advisory committee. Would they
give a percentage or a breakdown on
what landlords are basically privately
owned? Other ones that are national
accounts that will be taking us to court
and doing everything else as far as our
recommendations we got. the ownership
was based on the information that we
>> from what little I can say so far
there's no s u
there are no super large institutional
owners of
the 2,00 units that are here today
>> probably fairways is the probably
>> there are certainly ones that are
organized and well funded and you know
they can represent a challenge if they
wish but I would just advise those are
the people you want to invite to the
for an advisory group.
>> Yeah, I know the one on Clone Avenue,
there's 475 apartments,
>> right?
>> They have a lot at stake.
>> They do.
>> So, is there a
Okay. Is there a limit or can we set a
number of how much it's going to cost
using our professionals to do this?
Just number out there
>> for the advisory committee. Yeah, for
the advisor because like you said,
they're going to lean on some of our
professionals is you know it can't be
like pumping thousands and thousands of
dollars saying like
if we can establish it
>> not to exceed
>> we can at
>> and when we have to
>> if I may offer a practical um suggestion
um
giving a time frame in which the report
must be done would automatically limit
the number of resources that could be
applied.
>> Okay.
>> And also it'll make us move.
>> Well, people can argue endlessly. I'm
not trying to say that
>> to be funny, but you know, people feel
strongly about things. They can carry an
advisory group like this out into
months, if not years.
>> That's not the objective. I think if you
put a time bound on when you expect to
see a report back, that in itself would
limit
It would keep us all very focused on
what we bring to the table, including
>> completely honest, I'm concerned about
finding people to even get on this
advisory committee. that that might be a
little bit of a
>> so if I may committee decided to create
advisory
committee I would suggest maybe seven
members able to appoint uh potentially
two landlords
three other
residents here
homeowners have represented landlords
represented
as well along with two members
Yeah, but that 11 all together, I guess
we can Yeah,
>> what's your uh pleasure here? Create
this advisory committee.
>> I I would like to create the advisory
committee. I would like to be a
committee woman on it. I think it's um
good and um for
Hamilton Township has one of the highest
rates of rent in the whole Atlanta
County. And um to me, we're talking
quality of life. We're talking people um
that are living in apartment dwellings
that might need these inspections. We
were talking about just um we're saying
once every five years. We're we're also
saying that we're sharing information.
We're bringing the landlords, developers
to the table and we're trying to um
bring the whole community to the table
to give people a better quality life and
then we're also saying that it's
information gathering and then we'll put
it in front of the committee and then if
we don't want it then we don't have to
accept it but I don't think it hurts to
talk.
This was brought to us before
I don't
if I remember correctly it was uh it was
discussed
I don't think up here on the dem
and uh
there was a lot of
at the state level that looked like it
was going to move and obviously
a little bit dead but otherwise
>> or they are I mean they're not dead
>> for the record there's at least three or
four that I'm aware of that are very
substantial
>> control board
>> three assembly one senate and then they
would have to be harmonized
>> even if they made it out
>> let me ask this question
Um
would it be something I mean as I know
that we've we've passed resolutions in
support of various bills maybe we look
at these bills
and see if it's something that we would
like to pass resolution in support of
the bill send it to
the Senate and assembly
about that way
speaking for everybody
something we can look at and vote on if
we want to do something like that.
Obviously, that's not what we talk about
here, but I'm just saying that's
something that maybe could help things
out if it's something that we think
would uh would help move those bills
forward and make it so that we don't
have to have a rent control board that's
going to cost our taxpayers all this
money. We'll spread the costs out over
the whole state. Our tax will still go
up, but only this much instead of this
much.
Unfortunately, I would just, and forgive
my cynicism, but it's born of
experience, but if the state passes
legislation, it will operate as an
unfunded mandate down onto the
municipalities in terms of
administration. So, just something to
keep in mind.
>> Wow. Thanks.
>> Well, didn't mean to, you know,
it's a it's just a reality and we've
seen enough of it.
>> I was a little more optimistic.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Me, too. Me, too.
Yeah. I I don't disagree. You're you're
right. You're absolutely right.
>> If they done that because that would
give
>> several times
>> that would give us the impact of what we
would have to do.
>> It it would and when we met in
committee, we really painfully worked
together to identify those things that
we could do outside the scope of that
legislation that could impact us, you
know,
eventually. And who knows if it'll ever
get out of we don't even know if it'll
ever really get out of committee. These
are just proposed bills. But there were
things that we could take if this is the
direction you want to go in. And really
that's kind of the scope of what I mean
the the advisory group should consider
the greater legislation. But we looked
at things that we could do if you wanted
to do them that aren't really included
in that those proposals. So and may have
an impact.
So I know
woman
for it. Anybody else?
>> Something we should do a roll call vote
on to see if we want to
>> move forward with this.
>> Wanted to move forward. Yes. My
assumption is
>> before we do a roll call, can we have a
do not exceed number?
I think like Rob Robert said make it
>> time bound
>> and that will automatically
>> say uh the timeline starts after the
advisory committee is
>> established because it may take some
time to get people
>> to commit to do this.
>> It's not that I'm not it's just that
when you get something like this today
It's not like that you had a lot of due
diligence to
research or ask additional questions.
It's like a brush, you know, and I would
just like to see some of the I'm not
against it. I just would like to see
what some of the legislation that was
coming down,
you know, that's out there. How would
that impact this if we did this? You
know, that's all I would want.
>> Respond. So,
like I can one of during the
subcommittee one of the things we had
was four or five pieces of legislation
that were coming down. obviously put it
together in the pack provide committee
with full legislative summaries as well.
Um and some of the history some of those
bills have been what I would call stale
that have been around for a year or two
session
they impact.
I would like that.
I like that because you said that the
legis some legislation did come down
that impacted Ear Township to back out.
>> I can give you a copy of that as well.
>> I would like to have just to look at it
just before we make before I make it for
decision.
>> We do it to the next meeting.
>> How long do you think it would take?
>> Table it.
for the next meeting.
>> Yeah. Till we get the information. You
think that's enough?
>> Anybody want to make that motion?
>> I would like to table it until the next
meeting to get the information to make
sure
how we would be impacted if at all. Just
be clear next.
>> What's pending and what was passed?
>> Okay.
>> I'll second.
>> I have a motion in a second. All those
in favor of tableabling this.
>> I
>> against
you have your marching for free, right?
>> For the record. No.
>> Thanks, Ken. Thanks, Robert. He has a
>> the information can back the information
for that EHT is going to be in that
information too.
>> Yes.
>> Thank you.
>> Good.
>> Okay. Moving on.
Uh public hearing adoption of
ordinances. We have none. Introduction
of ordinances. We have none. Award of
bids, contracts, change orders. We have
resolution for change order final bid
2025-02
Old River Road Stormwater Improvements
to M Excavation LLC for an increase in
the amount of $16,000.
Um, our engineer is not here. He is
sick. He apologizes.
But, uh,
Brett, you want to go over this a little
bit? I mean, I I have an email that I
that I saw. The original contract was
for $86,915.
Project was to install a storm water
pipe from Old River Road out to the
title portion of River. uh contractor
while when he was digging within the
roadway u
two additional gas be
the type of material that they were
going to place in the roadway crossing
had additional backilling
because of a recently
I looked at this. I think
>> Motion.
>> I have a motion.
>> Second.
>> I have a second.
>> Can I just You absolutely can. So, I
just looking at the the bids um for this
actually the 16,000 increase is still
under the second bid.
>> We got our
>> Yes, it is.
>> Excellent pricing.
>> Yeah. So, you're you're still under what
the second bid?
>> Yeah.
>> Anybody else?
>> Roll call vote, please.
>> Mr. Aken,
>> yes.
>> Mr. Chief,
>> yes.
>> Miss Thompson,
>> yes.
>> Dr. Witherspoon,
>> yes. Patali,
>> yes.
>> All yes and carry.
>> Oh 6B. Resolution authorizing the annual
maintenance contract with Pro Phoenix
Corp. Not to exceed $70,11741
for software maintenance and support for
the period 1126 through 123126.
>> Make the motion.
>> I have a motion.
We already voted on this.
>> Second.
>> That's a revised, right?
>> Yes.
>> What? Yeah, it's a revised um
resolution, but
>> this has votes already on,
>> right?
>> Oh, on the on
>> Yeah. So what are we revising?
>> We were revising the amount.
>> So this is we renew this contract every
year. There was an amount,
>> right? So they left.
>> Yeah. Because
>> they just put the instead of changing
the name.
>> No, I got that part.
>> So we were revising. So, so
>> because I'm trying to compare, right?
They gave us the 6B,
>> right? So, I had Sorry if I answered say
>> so my comment.
>> So, I had contacted Brett about a number
here.
>> I see.
>> They had to change it because this is
the old number.
>> That's the old number.
>> Yes. This is the new number.
>> Okay.
>> But we did vote on this before, but
we're revising.
>> Yes.
>> Okay.
>> Gotcha.
You voted on it last year. So this is an
annual. So this is for this year. They
>> they just added the last year's
>> Okay, I got it.
>> Okay.
>> All right, that's good.
>> Okay. Roll call vote, please.
>> Mr. Aken,
>> yes.
>> Mr. Ch,
>> yes.
>> Miss Thompson,
>> yes.
>> Dr. Witherspoon,
>> yes.
>> Mayor Patali,
>> yes.
>> All yes and carry.
>> 6C.
Resolution
to increase the not to exceed limit from
10,000 to 15,000.
Special counsel Archer and Grinder.
>> Correct. Give us a little uh background
on this. This is part of a settlement
agreement that we uh from a couple years
back where the township is obligated to
create future parcel for the extension
of avenue if the development behind
gardens is ever built.
The township is
supposed to get reimbursed by the
developer if built up to $10,000.
Anything beyond $10,000 is college
responsibility. We've exceeded $10,000.
I spoke with the attorney. They think
we'll be under $5,000 more, but we want
to do the same.
Why is this taking so long and
um so this was an eminent domain matter
going back and forth with the two
property owners that this is going to
actually it's not that Honest.
>> Okay. What's your pleasure?
>> I have a motion.
>> Second.
>> I have a second.
>> Questions, comments?
>> Roll call vote, please.
>> Mr. Bacon.
>> Yes.
>> Mr. Chief,
>> yes.
>> Thompson,
>> yes.
>> Dr. Witherspoon,
>> yes.
>> Mayor Patali,
>> yes.
>> Oh, yes. And carry.
>> Next consent agenda.
Not much.
A
make a motion.
Move A through D.
>> I have a motion.
>> Second.
>> I have a second.
>> Questions, comments?
>> All those in favor?
>> I against
>> personnel.
Uh, resolution
appointing members of Mount Laurel
subcommittee.
So that would be
town committee member the planning
zoning liaison that's uh
Mr. Aken Mr. chief
planning board chairperson or their
designate, the township solicitor,
director of community development,
the municipal housing liaison,
affordable housing council,
and affordable housing planner.
Do I need a motion? Is this something
that I just uh
>> You said this is
Okay.
I was on
>> the list.
>> I can read you the names.
>> Sure.
>> Why don't you read the names?
>> Oh, the new Right.
>> This is last year's
>> Rita will read the names for us.
>> I'll read the names for you.
>> Okay.
So, it'll the uh township
committee members planning zoning
leaison
are committee member chief and Aken.
Planning board chairperson is Harry
Bicki. Township solicitors Ken Warren.
Director of community development Robert
Goodman. Municipal housing leazison is
William Johnson. Affordable housing
council is Eric Nolan and affordable
housing planner is Vince Py.
>> And how often do they meet?
>> It's as needed. So last year we met
twice.
>> They talk about our housing affordable
housing requirements.
Basically try to see
some of our requirements.
>> Oh.
Who did you say to planning board chair
person?
Okay.
>> I have a motion.
I have a motion.
>> Second. I have a second. All those in
favor? I
>> approvals
>> minutes regular meeting minutes January
21st 2026
>> second I
>> have a motion to second all those in
favor
>> I against
>> bills bill list total 4,759,681
>> pay the bills
Second.
>> I have a motion to second. Roll call
vote.
>> Question.
>> Oh, question.
>> This page three,
>> the enramm tax attorney
special. I'm not just sure
what it's a lava.
This is our um for our
attorney. We go through. We have right
now we have three lists of properties.
Basically
taking the properties doing the title
searches making sure
the township
possibly
resell
back on.
The reason why I was asking is because
seems so low. But maybe that's those are
just the fees for the
>> property.
And many of these are really small
properties that make
Not the tax. That's just what it cost
for
someone's like $12. I'm saying I know we
not taking advice probably $12.
>> They didn't pay their taxes. We will
>> for $12.
I'm about to
>> Good.
>> Roll call vote, please.
>> Mr.
>> Yes.
>> Mr. Chief,
>> yes.
>> Thompson,
>> yes.
>> Dr. Wither,
>> yes.
>> Mayor Patali,
>> yes.
>> All yes and carry.
>> Reports.
Mr. administrator.
>> Uh
that last snowstorm that we had um
that's that's the type of storm that in
public works that's that's the storm you
don't want. That's the nightmares where
it starts off as snow
and you get a couple of, you know, six,
eight, 10 inches of snow, 12 inches of
snow and then
starts to sleep and it rains for an hour
and it turns
single digits at night.
We have 12 public works employees.
Full disclosure, we had six contractors
out plowing
around, you know, went around township.
We Galloway Township.
I met with several different
administrators. Some point talked about
their roads out there
based on our manower.
Did have to close down.
We had to do Galloway and Eggpar
Township has upwards of 50
and Galloway has
I know it's at least 30, but I think
they guys
probably do.
That's that was a very long storm.
guys out the shifts.
12 guys out the shifts section.
Very tough.
20 inches of snow.
That in addition to a statewide salt
storage or salt shortage,
just a just a tough storm. I think all
great job.
And I just asked a question with salt
shortage. I saw your email. When will we
get
any more salt? We got we don't have
>> We were supposed to get more salt today.
The ship that's bringing the salt into
the
facility can stop Delaware River
sitting there since Friday. As soon as
that ship uh docks, we're hopefully
begin to get some of the 900 tons. We
have
>> We have it on
>> We have three orders. We actually
ordered salt after the first. That first
snow.
It's not It's not that weed.
We just have
And we're not the only ones that are
experiencing this. Every municipality,
the DOT,
um, all, you know, I reach out to the
county to see if they can spare us all.
They said they would if we absolutely
needed it. We don't have we have enough
for another.
I will reach back out if we have
solicitor.
engineer
>> project committee members Dr. Winners.
>> Yes. Um I want to say the re across
America the pickup for the um the
wreaths that were put on the veterans
raise on December the 13. Um by the time
I got there they had already picked up
all of the re they were fast. It was 14
degrees outside. It was cold, but the
dedication of those who went to um pick
up the reefs I thought was good.
And um ACUA donated a dumpster
for all of the reefs to go to. So that
was nice. They partnered with um us. I
thought that was very very good. I also
attended um Atlantic Cape Community
College.
Um there was
Senator Nick Asselta
and his wife Nancy Asselta. Uh they
received the um Atlantic Cape Community
College Athletic Recognition Excellence
Award. It was very nice. I didn't know
that he coached for years and she was a
cheerleader for years and all of that
good stuff. And you could watch the
game, you know, you know, a little bit
of the basketball game. So I did watch a
little look
a bit of it, but it was um
very nice to see people get honored
while they can see it.
And um I was very happy to be there to
see them receive the award on it. They
for recognition for the years. They've
been doing it for years. I never knew
how many years they did that. Sometimes
you have so many people doing good
things in your community that you don't
really know anything about. It doesn't
mean that they're not doing it. It means
you don't know it. And um so I was happy
to be able to and good again say thank
you to Peter um Esar
and to all of the volunteers who came
out on that cold day to pick up all of
those reefs off of those graves because
I mean it's cold. Uh so I wanted to say
thank you to all of them. That's my
uh my first I want to give a shout out
and congratulations to Reverend John Ash
who um
>> is retired now. I attended his last
church service and his retirement party.
Um and we had a surprise guest.
Congressman Van Drew showed up with a
proclamation and a a challenge coin it
was called again. So it's very nice. Uh
Reverend Ash was uh he was my pastor
growing up. Baptized me. I went through
the church there and Sunday school and
yes he's a great person, great community
person, always involved. Um and you know
he'll be around. He's not going
anywhere.
But that was a great event we had. Um,
second, I wanted to thank our public
works. Um, I was not actually here for
the storm. I headed up north to Vermont
where they got 20 inches.
But I hear I I heard from peeps out
there that, you know, for the storm
being the way it is, you know, one-two
punch with that, you know, snow and
sleet and rain, it was tough,
>> you know, so they did what they had to
do. I I know, you know, you can't make
everybody happy, you know, but you made
everything, you know, safe as best as
you can. So, I want to give them kudos
and props. Um, also to our police, fire,
and rescue squad. I'm sure they were out
there also helping, you know, out with
the storm and accidents and stuff like
that that was going on. So, I want to
give them a shout out also.
Um, I want to uh wish everyone a happy
Groundhog's Day.
>> Oh, yeah.
>> And let you know that he saw his shadow
today. So, there will be six more weeks
of winter. Just want you to know if you
didn't know. Um, I'd like to acknowledge
our public works crew. um they did a a
good job removing the snow that um under
the circumstances. Um I heard good stuff
about them compared to the other
township. So I really wanted to
acknowledge that and it's still a lot,
you know, more that we have to do, but
we have to um keep them in prayer
because they're coming up against the
shortages of of thought and different
things that we really don't have
everything equipped for. So um I just
want to say that what they've done has
been very good. Um, I would like to
report that I attended um ACIT JV
basketball game where the coach is uh Ma
Landon resident and I want to give him a
shout out. Um, so this good job to
Nasier Khalil Tucker. Um, I also went to
the William Davies school where the
elite basketball team was playing and I
want to shout out to uh Coach Wheeler of
that team. Um, good job. Both of these
gentlemen are doing a great job with the
youth here in our community here in
Hamilton Township, Maze Landon. I also
want to wish my son, Michaelel Thompson,
happy birthday. He was a groundshog
baby, so today's his birthday. And peace
and blessings to everyone in the
community always. Thank you.
>> Thank you very much. Happy Mayor Chief.
I have nothing to report after surgery.
I've been stuck on the recliner for two
weeks
and uh I can't wait to get out and move
around.
You didn't you couldn't trouble
any snow.
>> My wife did a heck of a job.
>> She did.
>> Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Wow.
>> Oh. Um
echo what uh what Eric said about
Reverend Ash. Over 60 years he was at
that church. uh longer than I've been
alive. Um great guy. Uh he did say that
he is going to still be involved with
hometown celebration and uh the 911 uh
ceremonies. So that's really good news
because uh he does a great job with
that. It's it's hard to find people
that'll pick up that ball and run with
it and uh he's still willing to do that.
And uh it was amazing to see so many
people at the VFW
uh for his lunchon and he's he's a
really humble guy and uh
when he talked about all the things that
he did between Yes, I went to church
too. It didn't burn down. I'm still
here. Um I went to the service. It was
great service. And uh I didn't know all
the things that that man did. Um he was
huge. Uh he he he
walked down in Selma. He was down there
for that walk that back in the 60s. He
um he was just so instrumental in so
many things with uh just with with
everything. It's just I was I was I was
I was I was shocked. I had no idea that
that man did these things. Um all the
different jobs that he had just just
overwhelming.
So, he really deserves this retirement,
which I don't think is really going to
be a retirement because he did say that
I believe he's going to be given the
sermon uh on Sunday. Correct, Denise?
Because uh yeah, because it's snow day.
So, he's retired, but I I kind of I
figure it's kind of like the Rolling
Stones their 15th uh retirement tour.
He's he's gonna keep coming around and
uh I don't have a problem with that at
all. He's a fantastic guy. So, um,
same thing, public works, you guys did a
fantastic job. I'll tell you what,
I got I got more complaints in the years
past than I did this storm, and this was
probably the hardest storm you guys had
to deal with. Uh, seriously, you really
you really did a good job.
um came by my house at 9:00 at night.
So, I quickly had to run out there and
clean off the end of my driveway so it
didn't turn into big giant ice boulders.
Uh which we did. And um
I drove around town, took a look at
things, and then as as the week went on,
you know, things just got better. And
I'm sure this week with the with the
warmer weather, you guys will be out
there cleaning up a few things here and
there. So, you guys really did a good
job. Um, I want to give a shout out to I
know that there was a a big upheaval
about Wrangler Road in 322. Uh, made a
phone call to Brett. Brett called the
chief. The chief sent somebody out
there, looked at it, made contact with
the DOT. Next thing I know, a couple
hours later, there's loaders out there
cleaning that up. So, it's just um I
know this the state was behind the the
eight-ball just like everybody was. Um I
I travel out to Swedesboro every day to
go to work and I saw so many spots on
322 where the del lanes weren't weren't
allowed. They didn't get hit until
Thursday. Um in fact, there's still one
one spot where it's um an exit onto the
the bypass is still a mess. Um, so for
them to come out and take care of that
out there. I know Brett reached out to
the county today about the county's
responsibilities over there in Wrangler
Road. I'm sure they got out there and
and cleaned it up. And uh, so you guys
you guys really did a good job. Um,
police, fire, rescue, everybody. Great
job. I really it's it's great when you
go through that and you get more com
more out of boys than complaints. So,
thank you all very much for making our
township look good. You guys, guys and
girls, did a great job. Thank you very,
very much. Um, just want to touch on
that the the salt situation. I know the
state puts out saying that there is no
salt storage. Well, guess what? I'm in
the business. I called my truckers that
I know all salt. They said, "Carl, they
haven't had salt since two Fridays ago."
And that's in Camden. There was no salt.
So, um, Brett and I talked a couple
times today. I reached out to a couple
of people that I know to try to get salt
all the way down in Baltimore. Um, salt
over in, uh, Delaware. And, um, I think
Brett's still working on it to see if we
can get something if it's an emergency
and we really need it because it's going
to cost a lot of money to get salt from
all the way down to Baltimore. But, if
we need it, we'll figure out a way to
get it. And you know, Brett did a good
job reaching out to the county and
hopefully uh getting a hold of some salt
if needed there. But let's just hope
that we don't have any snow or ice we
get through this. And and Chris came up
with the idea of using some sand.
Help some people out there that that uh
still have some ice issues. Um and I
just want everybody to understand we
have what 168 miles of emergency route,
correct?
168 lane miles of emergency route that
gets hit first. And that has to be taken
care of first before we get to the
secondary roads. And uh like I said,
I'll say it again. You did a great job.
So, thank you very much for all that.
And it's really all for me. Reagan, I'll
see you later. Maddie, I miss you and I
love you and I will see you soon. We'll
open it up to public comment.
Let everybody rush down at once.
Hey. Yes.
>> Oh, I'm sorry.
>> Time.
>> Just one second.
>> Sure, please.
>> Just
>> No, no, you can.
>> No, no, no. Come on down. Come on down.
This is new to us. We're trying this
>> this clock. You got five minutes, but
there's really nobody else. So, I'm sure
if uh you need more time, we'll take a
vote.
>> We're going to try it out.
You're going
to be the first one,
>> right?
>> I'm a trends setter.
>> All right.
Good evening everyone. My name is Aila
Davis. I am a Hamilton Township
resident. First, I would like to say
Mayor Patal Lee, thank you so much for
no matter what time of the day I reach
out to you, you are always on time.
We're reaching back and whether you can
do something or you can't, you just you
don't ignore. And um so many phone calls
I've been getting about seeing you in
the community and just being present. So
on behalf of people who have reached out
to me, on behalf of my family, on behalf
of AWish, I want to say thank you for
all the work you do in Hamilton
Township.
>> You're very welcome.
>> Um I do want to speak about the about
the rent um leveling advisory committee.
Um that's why I came here tonight. I
wanted to speak on behalf of that. Um
over the past few years, we've seen rent
rise much faster than our paychecks,
right? Um, as a result, too many
hardworking families are being pushed
out of the neighborhoods they've called
home for years. Teachers, seniors,
single parents like myself, and
essential workers shouldn't have to
choose between paying rent and
groceries.
Rent leveling is about stability,
fairness, and protecting the people who
make this community what it is. When
residents can afford to stay in their
homes, our schools stay stronger, our
local businesses survive, and our
neighborhoods remain connected.
I'm not asking for anything
unreasonable, I would I would think. But
to put together a leveling committee um
to bring forth more connections in the
community, I think would be a great
idea. Um so I just wanted to speak about
that and
that's all I wanted to say. See, I'm not
even past my five minutes.
Thank you.
>> Anybody else?
>> Five minutes.
>> Uh, good evening, mayor and committee
members. Uh, thank you for the
opportunity to speak tonight. Uh, my
name is Juan Carlos Belmonte. I'm a
homeowner and resident of Hamilton
Township, and I'm here to voice my
support for the establishment of a rent
leveling advisory committee in our
community. As we all know, affordability
has been an urgent topic of discussion
throughout all levels of our government
among both political parties and most
importantly a topic that is discussed
within the families here in New Jersey
and Atlanta County. For years, township
committee has worked to deliver quality
municipal services while keeping
property tax increases low, helping to
provide financial stability for
homeowners. Establishing a rent leveling
advisory committee would be a
continuation of that same commitment to
stability and extending the security
security to some of our friends and
neighbors who rent in this town and call
Hamilton Township home. Housing is the
foundation of stability for families,
for seniors, for veterans, for students,
and for working people. When rent
increases are sudden, excessive, or
unpredictable, the consequences ripple
outward. People are forced to move away
from their homes. Children are displaced
from their school district and
long-standing community ties are broken.
When renters do not receive the
appropriate services that were expected
within a lease agreement, this too can
create instability and stress. A rent
loving advisory committee is a practical
balanced tool to address these
challenges. While owner occupied housing
unit rates not a perfect measure of rent
renter population, census data still
provides us some useful insight. Egg
Harbor Township has a 15.6% 6% non-owner
occupied housing unit rate. Galloway
Township has a 20.2% rate and Hamilton
Township has a non-owner occupied unit
rate of n of 29.3%.
In other words, nearly one-third of
Hamilton Township's housing units are
likely occupied by renters. Renters pay
more compared to a Harper Township and
Gall. While H while Hamilton Township
likely has about twice as many renters
by percent of total housing units than
An Harper Township, the median monthly
gross rent of Hamilton Township is
$1,691
according to census, which is greater
than both a Carpar township at $1,456
and Callaway Township at $1,619.
My takeaway from these numbers is that
Hamilton Township by percent of total
housing units has significantly more
renters and they pay more. This makes
the creation of rent leveling advisor
committee not only reasonable but
prudent in pursuit of housing security.
It is also worth noting that
municipalities with similar
characteristics have already taken this
step. Ne Neptune Township in Mammoth
County has a similar total population as
Hamilton Township at 28,000 residents
and a nonowner occupied rate of 29.8%.
Other comparative towns which have um
advisory boards are Lawrence Township
and Euing Township in Mercer County.
Hamilton Township would not be an
outlier in in establishing an advisory
committee. As we've heard here tonight,
New Jersey's approach to renters and
landlords um is pretty decentralized.
Rental units are exempted from municipal
rent ordinances for the length of a
mortization of an initial mortgage or 30
years after completion of construction,
whichever is less. The state also
applies an exemption for units receiving
section 8 housing as they are already
regulated through federal and state
mechanisms. A rent level advisory
committee at the municipal level still
provides the residents of Hamilton
Township with multiple benefits.
Provides a seat at the table for
homeowners, tenants, and landlords to
collaborate with the city to develop a
balanced and stable approach to housing
for renters within our town.
A rent level advisory committee ad uh
committee's advice can help ensure that
landlords receive a fair return on their
investment while also ensuring renters
who are eligible do not experience
excessive increases on their rent that
are unrelated to capital improvements or
inflation. A rent leveling advisory
committee provides an organized and
structured body where the township can
discuss what works best for Hamilton
Township. And a rentleveling advisory
committee does not lock us into a
specific approach, does not immediately
determine a specific path forward.
simply provides the benefit of community
input so stakeholders of this community
can continue to work together like we do
on so many issues and consider how to
strengthen the security of the people
who call Hamilton Township their home.
Um, thank you for your time and all the
work township committee and the township
workers put into making Hamilton
Township safe.
>> Anybody else?
Hello, mayor. Hello, councilman. Hello,
council men and woman. My name is John
Wheeler. I'm the president of Hamilton
League basketball program. Um, I want to
take the opportunity to thank Councilman
Tracy for attending our game the other
day as well as Dr. Dr. Weatherspoon for
the continued support. I hope you know
that we continue to uh help the
community. Um, unfortunately I missed
the opportunity to personally
uh give uh Dr. Weatherspoon a token of
appreciation last time we uh was in
front of each other as want to come
tonight and express give her a gift as a
token of appreciation a shirt for my
program.
>> Thank you.
You got to go down and get your shirt.
>> Put it on. Got to go down and get your
shirt.
>> Okay. I got to go get my shirt. That is
so nice of you.
>> Nice of you.
>> Welcome. Thank you. Okay. Can I show
everybody my shirt?
>> Got to put it on. Now that I'm not going
to do
>> Oh,
>> and I hope that the rest of the council
men, if you ever have the opportunity,
we are near our program, end of the
season, but I hope y'all can make it as
well.
>> Thank you.
>> Coach Wheeler, when when is your um the
next uh home game?
>> Next home game is tomorrow um at the bar
the JV play at 6 PM. Varsity plays at
7:15. Uh and it's against Atlantic City
at Davies Middle School.
>> Yes.
Thank you.
>> And thank you for for being a coach and
volunteering your time.
>> Thank you.
>> Thank you so much.
>> Anybody else?
>> Motion to close.
>> I have a motion.
>> Second.
>> I have a second. All those in favor?
>> I
>> Motion to close meeting.
>> Motion to adjourn.
Motion to adjourn the meeting.
>> Second. I have a motion to second. All
those in favor? I I