12-01-2025 - Township of Hamilton Committee Meeting

I'd like to open up the meeting of the
township of Hamilton for Monday,
December 1st, 2025. Would you please
stand for the flag salute?
Pledge
>> algiance 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
8th, 2025. Mr. Cheek
>> here.
>> Mr. Patali
>> here.
>> Dr. Witherspoon
>> here. [clears throat] Mayor Shanker
>> here.
>> We have a moment of silence for private
reflection.
Thank you. Uh we'll get right to it.
We'll start with the oath of office
administered to township committee
member Tracy Thompson.
Tracy, did you come here? Here she is.
[applause]
>> [snorts]
>> Okay.
>> I, Tracy Thompson,
>> do solemnly swear do solemnly swear
>> that I will support the Constitution
>> of the United States
>> and the Constitution
>> of the State of New Jersey
>> and that I will bear truth
>> faith
>> and allegiance
>> to the same
>> and to the governments
>> established lished
>> established
>> in the United States
>> and in this state
>> under the authority
>> of the people
>> I do further solemnly swear
>> that I will faithfully
>> and partially
>> and justly
>> perform all the duties
>> of the office
of township committee
member
>> of township committee member
>> of the township of Hamilton
>> for the term
>> November 24th 2025
>> until December 31st 2027
>> according to the best of my ability
[snorts]
>> so help me God
>> so Help me God.
[cheering]
[applause]
Come take a picture. Bob, come up and
take a picture.
Thank you so much.
Take a picture.
Thank you so much.
[applause]
>> [applause]
>> Tracy, congratulations and welcome.
>> Good luck. Good luck on your term.
Okay, so let's get moving here. Uh, next
we have a proclamation for this football
team called the Hamilton Knights.
Coaches, can you come on up front and
bring the guys with you? [applause]
>> [applause]
>> All right.
>> Go easy on me, guys. [laughter]
>> This is a really good team. [cough]
>> Lot of
telephone.
>> We good.
>> Line them all up, coach. Take your time.
>> He didn't go over this in practice.
>> They were too busy winning.
That picture right to me. Yeah. Come on
up here, coaches.
>> So, we have a little proclamation. We
understand this football team did some
great things, right?
>> You won the taxi bowl.
>> Yeah. many many times so that [applause]
as you flip through
whereas the Hamilton Knights football
taxi team is comprised of young men ages
5 to seven years old who live in
Hamilton Township area whereas on 2025
the Hamilton Knights taxi team finished
the 2025 football season with a
remarkable undefeated 13-0 record.
[cheering]
[applause]
and participated in the taxi jamberee
held in Dennis Township on November 16,
2025, achieving back-to-back
championships,
as they say, bringing home the chip,
right? Is that what you guys did? That's
good. Thanks to the 2024 taxi team.
Whereas at the Taxi Bowl, the Knights
were unscored on for all 13 games with
no more than 150 yards on [applause]
them. [cheering]
Now therefore, we the township committee
of Hamilton Township of Hamilton, Candy
County of Atlantic, state of New Jersey
on this day, December 1st, 2025, do
hereby recognize the Hamilton Knights
taxi team in honor of the remarkable
accomplishment. This achievement is not
only a credit to the hard work and
dedication, but it's a credit to the
support that they received from their
families, their coaches, Ed Gutierrez,
Carson Days, Billy Hows, Farad Holmes,
Willie Jones, and their teammates and
teachers. We congratulate the Hamilton
Knights taxi team for their incredible
success in the 2025 season and wish them
the best of luck. The years have come
and I just like to say that this
township committee and this town is very
very proud of what you guys did. Very
proud. [applause]
[applause]
Sure. Uh I just wanted to add, you
probably hear I'm a coach. You can hear
me. Um there's a there's a few uh
players from last year. They moved up
this year. Uh they also went 13 and0
last year. So the back to back it's
special but it's really special cuz it
was 26 and0 in two years. Um
[applause]
>> I'm hard on these kids. Anybody knows I
I coach high school too and I I bring it
right down to the seven-year-olds. Um I
believe in gota teach life. Got to teach
hard nose life. So with that, the
results are what it is.
>> It's not because of the football. It's
because they worked their butts off for
a purpose. And uh if we can keep that
going throughout the years, then we got
good men in this world. So that's MY
[applause]
>> YEAH, we'll do pictures uh right now and
then we're going to do something before
we leave.
picture.
[clears throat]
>> Hey, no,
>> hold on.
Wow, that's pretty cool.
>> I know you are.
Good.
>> Might get a little loud.
>> All right, real quick.
>> Hey yo. HEY YO. WHO'S A DOG? [screaming]
>> WHO'S A DOG?
>> THREE. ONE, TWO, [screaming] THREE.
>> [cheering and applause]
[applause]
>> YEAH. OH, YEAH. They have to stay now.
Yeah. [laughter]
>> We have a budget for the ACUA coming up.
It's intriguing.
Slide
down forever. I first started because
she had this hair. My wife's like, "Why
are you way over by yourself when you
watch it on TV?"
>> Yeah. Okay.
>> She's like, "You're all way over by." I
said, "There's a thing in between us."
[laughter]
>> Oh, boy.
[laughter]
>> You can do it at the end.
>> He's leaving.
Pardon me.
>> Uh, we really need to keep this moving
soon as we can.
You can do pictures after the meeting if
you'd like. Or you know what? You want
to run down there and grab a picture
real quick? Go ahead. Go ahead.
>> We're still clearing up.
>> Go ahead.
>> As long as the flowers are for me.
>> They're pink. You don't want to
see.
>> Good to see you, too.
>> He said he's trying to take pictures.
It's all right, you guys.
>> [laughter]
>> family.
>> Good seeing you. Yeah, we will.
>> Yeah. Yeah, I hear you.
>> [laughter]
>> Let me introd. there.
>> We love her. Sorry.
>> It's okay.
>> Okay. So, now that the documentary is
over,
We have a guest presentation. Atlantic
County Utility Authority budget.
Woohoo.
>> Sorry, you're not getting the applause.
Yeah. WELL,
[applause] come on. Give it up.
[cough]
Uh,
>> okay.
>> Thank you, mayor. Getting a little
complex here. I thought everybody was
here for me, but I guess not. I'll try
not to take the wind out of the uh
[laughter] meeting.
>> That's a tough act to follow right
there.
>> Yeah, exactly.
>> Mr. Null is just um handing out the
packet and we'll just kind of go
through. There's a lot of information
here. I'm not going to go through each
one of them. Okay. You know, respect
your time. Um at any point, stop me for
questions or reach out to me afterwards
for for you know, again, any follow-ups
or anything that you see in that packet.
Um thanks for having me tonight. We're
going through our our road show uh over
the next several weeks. So, you're
meeting number six out of 27. Uh we've
had two earlier today. Uh
congratulations to Councilwoman
Witherspoon and uh Patalia on uh your
election wins and and uh Mayor Shanker
on your election win as well and welcome
welcome to the council. So, a lot of uh
things to celebrate.
>> Um we'll talk about uh wastewater here
and there's always a story to talk
about. There's always questions that
kind of come up and I think that uh
there was questions last last year when
we kind of presented on this. So, we'll
just start just with the uh information
documents that you have. The first
couple pages are more for your
information. So, when people ask you
questions, you have the facts in front
of you. Um, so last time I was here, we
were talking a little bit about
capacity. It's been a topic in the
county for about three or four years
now. What is the ACA going to do? How
much space is left in the landfill? Uh,
there's no plan. I assure you, and I've
assured you over the past couple years,
there is a plan and there has been a
plan. Uh, and that's what those first
couple pro uh documents are. We've
worked over the last three years to find
additional capacity at our site. Uh so
we're currently permitted at 2029 and we
have an additional 11 years on top of
that that we're working through on a
permit modification. Uh we're starting
that process now with the county. We
have a uh SWAC meeting which is the
solid waste advisory council of um for
Atlantic County. That meeting is on
December 9th and we're going through the
process to grab 11 more years of
capacity. The information on that
capacity is in here. That brings us to
2040. That keeps our rates one of the
lowest in the state. Uh there's two
things that we're looking at. One is a
small horizontal expansion. It's 5.74
acres of wasted space and there's some
plans in there you can kind of look at
at your leisure. And then there's a
small height expansion. Uh this isn't
unique to Atlantic County. There's 12
landfills in the state. 10 of the 12
have either gone for an expansion in the
last year or in the process of expanding
or in the process of planning for that.
Five of them are going for height
expansions. We are the lowest landfill
in the entire state heightwise as well.
Uh so we'll be working through that over
the next year to make sure that Atlantic
County has a place for disposal for at
least the next 15 years. Uh and also the
lowest disposal rates. So again, just a
lot of information in there as far as
frequently asked questions and just some
you know charts and graphs information
about what that process looks like for
us. So, uh, the next sheet, um, that we
usually go through is, uh, actually as
part of that, what I'm going to ask, and
it's not a hard ask, but again, if you
feel inclined to support
the expansion of that, uh, there is a a
sample resolution in there that we are
going to each one of the towns for, this
is a significant impact for Hamilton
Township and every other municipality.
So extending the life of our landfill to
2040 is about a $25 million cost per
year for the county as a whole. And
that's and I know Hamilton Township has
on the agenda right now an approval of a
shared service agreement. That is one of
those costs that would increase if you
saw our site close prematurely. Uh
there's millions of dollars that come
into our organization to go out to other
organizations, out to other
municipalities that starts to go away
and starts to erode that that system. So
the impact of closing that landfill
prematurely if we have until 20 240
would be a significant amount of u cost
borne on the municipality. So recycling
costs you do not pay for the processing
recycling. There's a chart in there that
shows what Hamilton Township would pay
if they had to incur that cost.
Household hazardous waste uh collection
contracts trash receptive yard waste are
all part of that. So uh there is a
sample resolution in there. Again, if
this council was interested in passing
it, it would certainly help our cause as
well. Last thing on the tip fee in there
is there's a tip fee map just where
we're at as far as the rest of the
state. So, there's a state of New Jersey
map in there that just shows where our
tip fee is. They're mainly 2025 rates
except for ours and about two other uh
counties. We are still the second lowest
tip fee in the entire state. Uh we
double handle our waste. We place our
trash from household household garbage
at nighttime. So actually our expenses
higher, but we're still able to keep
that cost to be the second lowest in the
entire state. Uh looking at our budget,
so we are uh holding a 2% raise on our
trash tip fee. Uh so even on that tip
fee map with the 2% increase, we are
still the second lowest in the entire
state only to Essex County. They have a
incinerator up there owned by Cobanto
Realorld. Um and they're under a lot of
scrutiny right now uh for the Ironbound
community which is an environmental
justice uh neighborhood that is right
next to that. Um but they hold the the
lowest tip fee uh in the entire state.
We are the second um [clears throat] as
far as our [cough] 10%. Uh there's
there's a couple things to just point
out in there. Uh the first one is our
RNG project. So over the last seven
years we've developed a renewable
natural gas project to help generate
more revenue. And this is one of the
reasons that we'll be able to keep rates
as low as they are. They're the same on
the wastewater side, one of the lowest
in the state. It's projects like this is
going to generate $1.3 million every
year into our our operating budget to
help offset those costs. We cut the
revenue on that operational October 1st.
We'll realize that revenue next year. So
that's helped us keep our revenue down,
which keeps our expenses down by
increasing our revenue and that gets
passed on to the taxpayers, which are
rateayers for the solid waste side. On
the other side of it, the expense side,
we're looking at a a lawsuit right now.
So, we have a lawsuit with a uh 55 and
older community that was built in 2006,
about 15 years after we started
operating our landfill. Uh they've
changed the zoning in that area. We are
P uh Prices Pit 3. Prices pit one is the
super fund site. Crisis Pit 2 is right
around the corner. We are an industrial
area. Uh they reszoned it. Absin resoned
it in the early 2000s. They built a 55
and over community. Uh unfortunately,
we're not a chocolate factory. We are a
trash disposal site, right? You can
stick your head in a trash can any day
of the week. It does have an odor to it.
Uh we do everything we can and we do a
really good job with containing those
odors. There was a hiccup in 2023 that
the state was seeing across the board.
Uh that issue was resolved April 2024
and since then we have contained u most
of the odors. It'll never be zero.
Again, this is still a solid waste site
we're talking about. We're we're
handling all the trash for Atlantic
County for the last 30 plus years. It's
over 100 feet deep, over 102 acres. It's
it's a living, breathing uh, you know,
operation over there. The cost of that
lawsuit is $1.5 million or $1.7 million
this past year. We're budgeting $1.5
million to defend that for next year.
Uh, it's a it's a significant cost for
us that is now being offset by this
revenue that's coming in. So, that's one
of the bigger reasons that we're seeing
some of the um small increase that we
are on the solid waste side of things.
Uh the other thing is is our union
contract has certain um raises built
into it. So there's a 5% raise for our
union employees, the guys in the back of
the trucks, the guys that work at the
landfill working on the trucks, the
fleet maintenance operations.
Uh the last sheet for you guys on the
solid waist side looks like this. It has
a little graph on it. So this is really
Hamilton Township centric for you guys.
This is like your report card that we
write to each one of the towns. This
just kind of shows a projection of what
your costs could be or what your costs
look like for 2026. So the um first
table up at the top just shows the tip
fee costs, what you guys spent in 2025
and what's projected through the end of
the year. Uh and it shows like your
tonnage, it shows your yard waste and
your recycling and the actual rate
that's there. And then the second graph
that's down there is kind of like the
last line is that 2026. That's your
projected 2026 rate. So you see the 8281
that's the new rate that you're paying.
You see the gate rate is 89.89. Uh the
municipalities pay the cheaper rate. So
every municipality pays that cheap rate
because the goal is to make sure that
the rateayers which are the taxpayers of
Atlanta County pay the cheapest cost for
their trash disposal. Um so you guys
have been pretty flat when you look at
that tonnage. So that's the third column
over. You're just looking at the tons
and trying to figure out like are we
generating more trash or not? Your trash
is offset by recycling. So the more you
recycle, the less you actually dispose
of the trash. You're not paying for the
processing of recycling. So the more you
encourage recycling, the less you pay
for the tag of the trash. And that's
kind of how to read that. But that's um
really a snapshot of your um your solid
waste site.
I can go through wastewater. We do have
a meeting with the MUA next week. It's
totally up to you. Um kind of a flat
budget. We're looking at a 2% raise on
that. U there's a couple things that
have just been impacting us on the solid
waste side. Electricity costs have gone
up. We have a 20-year contract with our
wind farm that's over there. We've had a
fixed rate for 20 years, 0.079 cents a
kilowatt since 2006, March 14th. That
20-year contract is up. We're renewing
that for another 5 to 10 years. So, that
cost is going to go up about 20% on us.
Uh it's about 60% of our power. So,
that's really [clears throat] driving a
lot of the cost associated with our
wastewater side of things.
>> Okay.
>> And that's it.
>> Okay. Thank you very much. Anybody have
any questions?
>> Questions.
>> Thanks for coming in. Appreciate the uh
presentation.
>> Yes. Thank you guys very much. All
right. Have a good night. Thank you.
>> Thank you.
>> Uh we have no additions or deletions. Uh
early public comment on agenda items
excluding items listed for public
hearing.
>> We do have
Pardon me.
>> This is I'm saying this information just
goes with the
>> That's just P. Yeah, I guess it's a
extra that came after
>> supplemental. Thank you.
>> Um number three, discussions formal
action may be taken. Parking on Park
Road.
>> Um
>> Mr. Solicitor, you want to handle this
one?
>> Yes. Thank you, mayor, if I may. Uh, it
was brought up to me to look into the
feasibility of potentially allowing
parking on Park Road, especially for
certain special events throughout the
year. I had the opportunity to break
down, take a look at the code here in
Hamilton Township, uh, in my review of
the code, uh, Park Road on the west side
does not currently allow for any
parking. Um the east side of Park Road
does allow for parking from May 15 to
September 15 of each year. Uh and it's
only limited one hour for parking. So
from a legal standpoint, we can
obviously draft an ordinance to adjust
that um to allow for parking on one
side. I had the opportunity to speak to
the township engineer uh briefly
regarding it. The first step in changing
if committee wish to do so would be to
allow the engineer to take a look at the
the road and specification to make sure
that the road allow parking either one
side or both sides the safety that comes
along with that um to be able to report
back to council committee is feasible.
Um I believe that we can do that a short
turnaround but we wanted to get uh
direction for committee as a whole of
whether you wanted us to pursue looking
into
committee. What's your thoughts? I
>> think that's a good idea. Still looking
into it.
>> Okay, Rich.
>> I agree.
>> Yeah, Tracy. Yeah.
>> Okay.
>> Please move forward with that.
>> Yes, mayor. With your authorization,
I'll I'll work with uh township engineer
and reach out to Chief Vera as well to
get any concerns.
>> Okay. Thank you. Appreciate it.
Move on. Number four, public hearing and
adoption of ordinances. A is ordinance
2120 2025,
an ordinance adopting sight specific
redevelopment plan for block 42, lot 3
in the township of Hamilton, which is
also known as the business Hello High.
And this is to do with the drive-thru
that they are requesting to be able to
install.
This is a public hearing. Anybody in the
public like to speak?
>> Yes.
Okay. Thank you.
Anybody in the public like to speak?
>> Move to close public.
>> Second.
>> Your motion. We have a second to close
public portion. All those in favor
signify by saying I. I.
>> All those opposed.
>> The eyes have it.
>> The chair will entertain an adoption of
this ordinance.
>> So moved.
>> Second.
>> A motion. We have a second.
questions, comments.
>> Jane, can we do a roll call vote,
please?
>> Mr. Patali,
>> yes.
>> Miss Thompson,
>> yes.
>> Dr. Witherspoon,
>> yes.
>> Mayor Shanker,
>> yes.
>> Four. Yes.
>> Okay.
Can we get uh Rich back?
[clears throat]
[cough]
Thank you, Emily.
Great job.
>> Welcome back, Rich.
>> Thank you.
>> Ordinance 2021 2025, an ordinance
amending article 2, chapter 66 of the
code of township of Hamilton providing
annual salary increases
and increases to salary maximums for
certain employees. This basically has to
do with the yearly raises for our
employees. This is a public hearing.
Anybody in the public like to speak?
>> Motion to close.
>> A motion to close. We have a second.
>> Second.
>> A motion second. Any questions? Hearing
none. All those in favor signify by
saying I.
>> I.
>> All those opposed. The eyes have it.
>> Chair will entertain an adoption of this
ordinance.
>> So moved.
>> Second.
>> We have a motion. We have a second. Are
there any questions, concerns?
>> Just one question.
>> Go ahead.
>> The maximum
uh salaries and wages.
That means it's is up to that amount
that will we be budgeting to that
amount? That's what I want to know.
[snorts]
>> No, we we don't budget that amount. It
just we budget the actual amount. the
actual amount
>> based on so it would be what they make
now.
>> All right. Thank you.
>> Okay.
We have a motion. We have a second.
Jane, could we get a roll call, please?
>> Mr. Chief,
>> yes.
>> Mr. Patali,
>> yes.
>> Miss Thompson,
>> yes.
>> Dr. Witherspoon,
>> yes.
>> Mayor Shanker,
>> yes.
>> Oh, yes.
>> Thank you. Number five, introduction of
ordinances. A public hearing will be
held December 15, 2025.
A. Ordinance 2020 21-22 2025 an or an an
ordinance authorizing the sale of lot 3
block 659 as shown on the tax map of the
township of Hamilton and granting to the
owner or owners contiguous property to
the right of prior refusal to purchase
such land which in this case is a 9.62
acre piece on Youngstown Avenue. This is
a public hearing. Anybody in the public
like to speak?
>> No.
>> Oh, I'm sorry.
Sorry.
First mistake I made all year.
[laughter]
>> Uhhuh. Yeah. There it is.
[laughter]
>> What's your pleasure
committee?
>> Move ordinance 2122-2025.
Second
>> have a motion. We have a second.
>> Jane, roll call vote, please.
>> I have a question. I have a question.
>> Oh, I'm sorry. Go ahead.
>> I'm sorry. Now, I have no problem with
this ordinance at all, but on the back
of the U application, it tells what the
assessed value is and what the fair
market value is. Which one are we
selling it to,
>> Brett?
market value.
>> That's what
the assessment value.
>> That's what we're selling it for.
>> Okay. Thank you.
>> All right. Thank you,
>> Mr. Cheek.
>> Yes.
>> Mr. Patali.
>> Yes.
>> Miss Thompson.
>> Yes.
>> Dr. Witherspoon.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Shanker.
>> Yes.
>> All yes.
>> B. Ordinance 2123 2025. An ord ordinance
authorizing the sale of lot 28 block 656
is shown on the tax map of the township
of Hamilton granting to the owner owner
contiguous property the right of prior
refusal to purchase such land which is a
4.81 81 acre piece on Youngstown Avenue.
>> So moved.
>> Second.
>> We have a motion and a second to
introduce this ordinance.
Any questions, comments?
>> Hearing none. Jane.
>> Mr. Cheek.
>> Yes.
>> Mr. Patali.
>> Yes.
>> Miss. Thompson.
>> Yes.
>> Dr. Witherspoon.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Shanker.
>> Yes.
>> Oh, yes.
>> C. Ordinance 2124-2025,
an ordinance of the township of
Hamilton, County of Atlantic, state of
New Jersey, authorizing the acceptance
acceptance of a deed of dedication from
Horizons at Woodland Landings Homeowners
Association Incorporated for phase five.
>> So move.
>> We have a motion.
>> Second.
>> We have a second.
questions,
concerns.
I'll just say one thing. This has been a
long time coming. It took a lot of hard
work to get this done, but now Woods
Landing has all their roads dedicated to
the township of Hamilton. So, I'm very
glad we're at this point.
>> Jane, can we get a roll call vote,
please?
>> Mr. Cheek,
>> yes.
>> Mr. Patali,
>> yes.
>> Miss Thompson,
>> yes.
>> Dr. Witherspoon,
>> yes.
>> Mayor Shanker,
>> yes.
>> Oh, yes.
>> Thank you. D. Ordinance 2125-2025,
an ordinance authorizing and approving
the share services agreement for certain
solid waste, bulky waste, and yard waste
and res and recycling services by and
between the Atlantic County Utilities
Authority and the Township of Hamilton.
>> So move second.
>> We have a motion. We have a second. Are
there any questions, comments?
>> Hearing none. Just one question.
>> Go ahead.
>> Would the amount stay the same for the
five years? This is a five years.
>> I don't No.
>> No. The amount changes
>> every year. At least at least the tip
fees go up.
>> Yeah. So next year the ACA is going to
have to be fully automated. So the price
for recycling is actually go down.
>> Okay.
>> So answer your question will change.
>> All right. Thank you.
We'd like it to go down every year, but
see that
>> cycle more.
>> Mr. Cheek.
>> Yes.
>> Mr. Patali.
>> Yes.
>> Miss Thompson.
>> Yes.
>> Dr. Witherspoon.
>> Yes.
>> Shanker.
>> Yes.
>> Oh, yes.
>> Six. Award of bids, contracts, and
change orders. A is a resolution to
order award a contract to Licensed
Plumbing Services, which would be bid
2026-03
to Northeast Plumbing Services LLC,
Williamstown, New Jersey, amount not to
exceed $5,000 for the period of 1126 to
123126.
>> So move.
>> We have a motion. Second.
>> We have a second. Any questions or
comments?
Hearing none,
Jane.
>> Mr. Mr. Cheek.
>> Yes.
>> Mr. Patawi.
>> Yes.
>> Miss Thompson.
>> Yes.
>> Dr. Witherspoon.
>> Yes.
>> Shanker.
>> I'm going to abstain. One of the
companies that bid for this was a
company I work for.
>> They didn't get it, but
>> such as light.
B. Resolution to award contract to turf
maintenance services bid 2601
to Bright View Landscaping,
Cherry Hill, New Jersey. amount not to
exceed $21,375
plus $95 an hour and material markup of
35 35% for additional work as needed for
the period of 1126 to 123126.
>> So moved.
>> Second.
>> We have a motion. We have a second. Any
questions, comments?
>> Comment.
>> Go ahead. This is the third year in a
row that I have not voted for this
contract because of the 35% mark up. I
feel that that is excessive.
I have a comment. I also agree with her.
I think 35% compared to what was in 6A
is excessive markup.
So we don't use the uh we haven't in the
last since we started putting this
project or this contract up we haven't
used markup we haven't use the extra
additional
material or manpower so it's there but
we haven't used
>> is 35% a standard
>> that's yeah so this is this is a
different contractor than last
This is what they're this is what
they're all bidding back,
>> right?
>> Last year we had uh True Green.
Looks like this year they they didn't
get the contract, but they they bid 41%.
That's the contract we had last year.
>> But again, we haven't used we we it goes
above and beyond typically public works
take from there. Right. Okay.
>> And I and I appreciate that answer, but
although, you know, we're coming up into
a high budget year for the budget and in
the event that they do have to use it,
you know, we vote for that, that's
that's pretty
excessive.
>> Agreed. One thing I will note, uh, last
year's bid versus this year's bid amount
went down $1,500.
Just just
>> Right. Thank you.
>> Any other questions?
>> I have a comment. I think people been
doing this for probably the last four or
five years with no extras.
>> You said if it goes over, you're going
to take that salary. So,
>> yeah. [laughter]
Okay. Well, we're still on the same
page. Okay.
>> Loud and clear.
Okay.
Any other questions?
Jane, please.
>> Mr. Cheek.
>> Yes.
>> Mr. Pati,
>> yes.
>> Miss Thompson,
>> no.
>> Dr. Witherspoon,
>> no.
>> Mayor Shanker,
>> yes.
>> Yes. To no. Motion carries.
>> Resolution to award bid 2026-02.
HVAC Services to Peterson Service
Company, Medford, New Jersey, and the
amount not to exceed $99,552
effective January 1, 2026 to December
1st, 2026.
So moved.
>> Second.
>> A motion. We have a second.
Any questions or comments?
>> One question.
>> Ed,
>> what is considered overtime?
>> There's one rate for, you know,
>> anything
>> additional work.
>> Anything outside normal working hours.
>> Anything over eight.
>> Eight hours. Yeah. And they're scheduled
7 to 3:30.
Any other questions?
Kane, please.
>> Mr. Cheek.
>> Yes.
>> Mr. Pati.
>> Yes.
>> Miss. Thompson.
>> Yes.
>> Dr. Witherspoon?
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Shanker?
>> Yes.
>> Oh, yes.
>> D. Resolution authorizing and awarding a
contractor Brown and Brown Metro LLC as
health insurance broker for the amount
not to exceed $50,000 for the year of
2026 or until successor is appointed. So
move.
>> Second. We have a second. We have a
motion, a second. Any questions or
comments?
>> Hearing none. Jane, please.
>> Mr. Cheek.
>> Yes.
>> Mr. Patali.
>> Yes.
>> Miss Thompson.
>> Yes.
>> Dr. Witherspoon.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Shanker.
>> Yes.
>> Oh, yes.
>> Thank you.
We'll move on to number seven, consent
agenda.
>> We have items A through T.
I just have a question on one. So
moved on to
>> go ahead
>> on on end with the um stale checks and
stale checks. Mhm.
>> to that.
>> I'm assuming, but you should never
assume
there are some that has the checks. Did
we pay them and we didn't to the vendors
and we don't owe them or I didn't
understand that. And then the grant
receivables,
that money that wasn't used, does it go
back to the state or a grant? How does
that work?
>> It depends um who the granter was, but
yes, it would be canceled out.
Typically, these are reimbursement
grants. So, we don't we don't use it for
it
>> and we have to give it back.
>> We just we just don't put in
reimbursement.
>> We just don't put in for reimbursement,
>> right? So, they
just don't we don't reimbursement.
We have to cancel it out. We have to
cancel out
>> because we have a resolution coming up
tonight and so put in for reimbursement.
So because of this we wouldn't
>> which well it depends on which one
you talk about the opioid.
>> Yeah. No,
>> I I'll wait till we get to them.
>> Not all grants are the same.
>> Right. I got that.
>> I was trying to say. So my my point my
question is do we have to give the money
back?
>> No, you keep it. So does it go into the
general account?
>> No.
>> Where does it go?
>> We don't get it until we spend it.
>> Right.
>> But we're not spending. We're canceling.
>> All right.
>> Okay.
>> So your motion stands?
>> Yes.
>> A through T?
>> Yes.
>> Thank you.
>> I'll second.
>> We have a second. Any questions,
comments?
Hearing none. All those in favor signify
by saying I. I.
>> All those opposed. The eyes have it.
>> We're going to go to number eight,
personnel. A resolution to appoint
Travis Martins, a full-time deputy tax
assessor for the unexpired 4-year term
effective 1526 to 63027 at an annual
salary of $67,650.
>> So move.
>> We have a motion.
Second. We have a second.
Any questions, concerns?
Jane,
>> Mr. [clears throat] Cheek.
>> Yes.
>> Mr. Patali.
>> Yes.
>> Miss Thompson.
>> Yes.
>> Dr. Witherspoon.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Shanker.
>> Yes.
>> All yes.
>> B. Resolution to appoint Cove staff for
the year of 2026, effective 126.
Melanie Barhana, returning dual row
lifeguard at $18.50 per hour. Head
lifeguard $19 per hour. And Wesley Rock,
returning lifeguard 1750 per hour. If
anybody's wondering why we are hiring
lifeguards in December, it's for the
polar plunge which is coming up on New
Year's Day.
>> Motion.
>> We have a motion.
>> Second.
Any questions, concerns?
>> Hearing none.
>> Jane, please.
>> Mr. Cheek,
>> yes.
>> Mr. Pati,
>> yes.
>> Miss Thompson,
>> yes.
>> Dr. Witherspoon,
>> yes.
>> Mayor Shanker,
>> yes.
>> All yes.
>> C. Resolution to reappoint Brett Null,
Township Administrator, effective
December 1st, 2025
through November 30th, 2028 at an annual
salary of $167,500
and authorize mayor to sign employment
agreement.
>> So move.
>> We have a motion.
>> Second.
Any questions or comments?
>> Hearing none.
>> Mr. Cheek.
>> Yes.
>> Mr. Vitali,
>> you think about this? [laughter]
>> Yes,
>> Miss Thompson.
>> I'm still thinking too. [laughter]
>> Yes,
>> Dr. Witherspoon.
>> Yes,
>> Mayor Shanker.
>> Welld deserved, Brett. Well deserved. We
appreciate everything you do. For those
who don't know, Brett is on call 247
whether he likes it or not. I'm a Yes.
Thank you.
>> Yes.
>> And Carl makes sure he is. [laughter]
All right, let's go. Let's move on.
Approvals, minutes, regular meeting
minutes, November 10th, 2025.
>> So move.
>> Motion second. Any questions or
comments?
Hearing none.
Uh,
>> okay. I did not get the who was the
motion in the second. I'm sorry.
>> Who motioned?
>> I did.
>> Okay.
>> Elma, Carl,
>> and Carl. Thank you.
Um, all those in favor
>> I
All those opposed.
>> Yeah, you got it. Okay, good.
>> Minutes. Executive session meeting
minutes of November 10th, 2025.
>> So move.
>> Second.
>> We have a motion. We have a second. Any
questions, concerns?
>> Jane, can we have a roll call vote,
please?
>> Mr. Cheek?
>> Yes.
>> Mr. Patali?
>> Yes. Miss Thompson
>> abstain.
>> Dr. Witherspoon.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Shanker.
>> Yes.
>> Four. Yes. One abstension.
>> C. Bills. Bill list total 1,147,486.111.
>> So moved.
>> Second.
>> We have a motion. We have a second. Any
questions?
Hearing that? None. Jane, please.
>> Mr. Cheek.
>> Yes.
>> Mr. Patali.
>> Yes.
>> Miss Thompson.
>> Yes.
>> Dr. Witherspoon?
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Shanker? Yes.
>> Oh, yes.
>> All right. Move to number 10, reports.
Mr. Administrator,
>> I have nothing to add this time.
>> All right, Mr. Solicitor.
>> Nothing this time, Mayor. Thank you.
>> Okay, Mr. Engineer.
>> Well, I never say anything, so I'm going
to say something.
>> Hope everybody had a nice Thanksgiving.
Welcome [clears throat] Miss Thompson
aboard.
>> Very good. We've trained you well.
Township committee members, Dr.
Witherspoon.
>> Yes. Um, first I would just like to
thank all of the residents that voted
for me uh for this for my reelection and
um
for everyone who didn't vote for me, I'm
going to still support them as well and
do my part here in the township. I love
what I do and I thank you for having
confidence in me and um voting me in for
a second time. So, I wanted to start out
with that. Uh second, I want to say I
went to the League of Municipalities
uh 110th conference. I went to uh a
class affordability for housing. It was
very interesting. I think we're in a
good space here in Hamilton Township. We
were not like other townships that they
really didn't know what they were going
to do. But I think we're in a in a good
place here in Hamilton Township. It was
a great conference. Um I enjoyed it and
I was glad to be representing the the
township. And I also want to say that
the uh tree lighting ceremony was
wonderful. The uh historical
preservation committee does an
outstanding job every single year. And
it was very nice this year to see the
children out there singing and the crowd
and the bands playing, you know, from
Davy School. It was very, very nice and
well put together. That's my report.
>> Thank you,
Deputy Mayor.
>> I just want to say um congratulations
and welcome to Tracy. Welcome aboard.
Looking forward to working with you. Um,
congratulations again to the Hamilton
Knights. That's pretty impressive. I
didn't know that they uh they went the
whole season. I knew they were
undefeated, but I didn't know that they
didn't give up any points. That's uh
that's pretty impressive. That's Yeah,
that's that's great. So, good job to the
coaches and to the kids. That's awesome.
Um and I also like to say congratulation
to Cedar Creek football um state
champion section three. Uh I believe 15
of their players are from Hamilton
Township. So, congratulations to them.
And, uh, that's that's a big deal.
That's, you know, another one that's a
big deal. Um, South Jersey really
stepped up this year. Um, I believe two
of the sections were won by South Jersey
teams. Normally, it's just dominated by
North Jersey, so and Central Jersey does
not exist, so it doesn't matter. Um,
Dickens of a Holiday is uh this
Saturday. Uh, I guess War Memorial Park,
Presbyterian Church, and I believe the
library. Uh, hope for some good weather.
Um, always a lot of vendors there.
Really good time. Uh, I forgot my cheat
sheet, so I kind of got to use my phone
here. Bear with me. There's another one
that I want to mention. Uh, Christmas
craft show on Saturday the 13th at
Oakrest High School cafeteria.
Um, so I wanted to get that out there.
Uh great job to public works and what
they did at War Memorial Park for the
tree lighting. Um looks amazing as it
does every year. So great job to them.
I'm looking I know Till's at a meeting
so he's not here. Um and I had to leave
early. I'm looking at the Maze Landing
Fire guys back there. Did you guys bring
Santa in? Was that you? Thanks again as
always. Of course I know. Just wanted to
make sure it was you before I go and
stick my foot in my mouth and it was
Weimoth that I get yelled at. So now
good job guys. I we appreciate it. Um
brings a lot of of happiness and cheer
to everybody, not just the kids. We all
enjoy it. So, really good job to
everybody there. And um I think that's
it. I'm I'm probably forgetting
something. Like I said, I forgot my
cheat sheet.
>> Read across.
>> Oh, yeah. Read across America. Thank
you. That's the 13th.
>> Um yeah, so that's coming up. Um that'll
be over at St. Vincent um church at
12:00, 11:30, 12:00. I know. I think I
got to be there 11:30. So, hope to see
you there. Um they were able to get
their 2500 wreaths for all the uh
service members that are buried there at
that uh at the cemetery. So, great job
by all of them. And um I think that's it
for me. Um Reagan, I'll see you soon.
and Maddie, I miss you and I love you
and I hope to see you soon.
>> Oh, I do have one more thing. I'm sorry.
My bad.
>> That's it.
>> No, no, man. Thanksgiving day, there was
a water mane break on Pinehurst Avenue.
So, I got to give uh props to MUA. They
got out there, they got it fixed. Um I
think they were back up and running by
4:00 in the afternoon. Um they were back
out there the next day. I guess there
was they had some other issues, but the
cold weather got them and they got out
there, they got it fixed. I think our
engineers going to go out there, take a
look at things, make sure our road is
put back the way it should be. But, uh,
but they all got their, you know, it's
suck to lose your water on Thanksgiving
Day. Um, but they got it fixed pretty
quick. So, good job to them.
>> Now, I'm done.
>> Sure.
>> Yeah.
>> Okay.
>> For the first time, Committee Thompson,
>> have any comments?
>> Yes. I have a little speech. Oh.
[laughter]
>> Um, so um I went to the League of
Municipality for the first time which I
was very excited about that and I um
represented Hamilton Township. Well, I
took a course and um I also attended
um the Christmas tree lighting um which
I thought was beautiful and the fire
truck came up with Santa and then he
disappeared and I was like where's
Santa? because I thought he was going to
climb up the tree and I was,
>> you know, looking for Santa. But I was
so happy to see the the um I think it
was the Dave School. They were singing
and the uh choir and um all of the um
children that were out there. It was so
beautiful and they had a nice time. Was
happy to be there. Um my speech, I
wanted to thank God first for me. Um
because without his grace, I wouldn't be
here. I want to thank my family for all
their time, support, love, and hard work
for me. I uh truly want to thank Dr.
Thma Witherspoon for believing in me.
I'd like to thank Lori and Diaz for all
the time and efforts you invested in me
and the team. I thank you Sto for being
a part of my journey and so many others
who have helped me and pray for me along
the way. Silly Davis, I see you there.
Thank you for partnering and doing
things with us. It is without a doubt
that I am honored to have the ability to
serve the people of Hamilton Township.
As I start this journey as your new
committee woman, I must admit that I am
not perfect and I'm not even Superwoman,
but my heart will always be in the right
place with the right intentions. I want
you to remember that we are all
Americans chasing the same G uh dreams
and that is life, liberty, and the
pursuit of happiness. And thank you so
much
Thank you. Very nice. [applause]
>> Okay,
>> that's it.
>> That [laughter] was good. Very good.
Let's make sure.
>> Wait a minute.
>> First of all, to all my colleagues up
here, I would not congratulate you until
everything was official. And now I don't
want to chase you. So I congratulate
every single one of you. You're all
winners. [laughter]
So
>> thank you.
>> Secondly, I was out of town for the tree
lighting ceremony. So I could not attend
that. And then once again with the reefs
across America December 13th and I'm
having the privilege to place the reef
on my dad's grave. So I look forward to
that.
>> Very nice.
>> That's all I have.
>> Very nice. Thank you. Um I just want to
touch on a couple things here. First of
all, Carl is absolutely right. The MUA
did a fantastic job getting out there on
Thanksgiving Day and getting the water
turned off turned back on as quickly as
possible. But I got to give a lot of
credit to some of the board members of
the MUA who went out and bought water
and got water to these people in a
gallon form and bottle form to make sure
that they had water to prepare their
meal, not knowing how long this was
going to take. But excellent job by
everybody all the way around. Really
appreciate it. Uh treelighting ceremony.
I What can you say that hasn't already
been said? Uh Maze Landing Fire Company,
thank you very much. my grandson was
having a fit because Santa Claus wasn't
coming. I I told him I knew somebody.
So, I guarantee you [laughter] he's
coming. So, was a great night. Uh the
weather cooperated fully. Um all the
kids and and you know, this is what this
is all about. All the kids having a good
time and getting them all hopped up on
hot chocolate and candy canes and stuff
like that and then sending them home
with their parents. It's just it's a
really really great event.
Uh the last thing I want to touch on is
that uh for those you don't know, I was
involved with this little campaign
[cough] over the last 12 months. I ran
for Atlantic County uh commissioner at
large and I was successful um in doing
so. The problem is tonight I sit here
and it's a little bittersweet for me.
It's it's always sweet when you win,
right? Winning's great, but it's a
little not it's not as uh as exciting as
I thought it would be because now I sit
here tonight for my last time. I won't
be the mayor tomorrow. I'm going to send
in my resignation so the folks can put
together a list of people and one of
those people will replace me up here on
the deis. I can't sit here and say thank
you to everybody who I have crossed path
with because we don't have that much
time. But, you know, going way back to
when I first started with Roger Silva
and and John Curts and Judy Link who was
here tonight, Rodney Gashard, they all
taught me a lot and taught me how to do
this and do it well. So, I appreciate
all those. And here we are tonight
sitting with a new group of people,
people that I've worked with, someone
who's just brand new, who will learn
just like I did that the important part
is the people, not the party. It's what
we do in this town to keep everybody
happy, which is pretty much impossible,
I'm going to tell you. So, it's a Tracy,
it's a tough job. [laughter]
All right. No matter what decision you
make, 50% of the people will hate you
for it [laughter]
and 45%
will like you for it and 5% are
undecided. So,
>> he's being nice.
>> I am. [laughter] I am. I'm trying not to
scare her off on her first day. So, I
just want to say thank you very much.
This has been a great ride. I am not
going anywhere. I'm for just because I
want a large seat does not mean I'm
moving. I will still live here in
Hamilton Township. My wife assured me of
that that we are not moving ever. Um
I'll be a phone call away. I'll be here
uh for anything you need. Um this is a
great town. I love it here and I want to
continue representing this town at the
county level and hopefully bringing some
attention to Hamilton Township.
>> So, thank you VERY MUCH.
[applause]
SO with that, I'm going to open it up to
public comment. Anybody in the public
like to speak?
>> Jerry, I want to say thank you very
much, Art, for the last I don't know
what it's been 12 years at least. That
between being up there and being our
director for the MUA and taking the seat
back. I appreciate it. And uh it's a
like you said, bittersweet. I guess
we'll loan you out for what, four years?
>> Three.
Okay. We'll get you back then.
But I want to appreciate. Thank you very
much [laughter] and good luck. And maybe
you can uh
uh represent us. Well, I know you will
represent Ma's Lane well at the line
county level. Thank you.
>> Thank you.
>> Hello.
I contemplated if I wanted to say
anything, but I do want to give credit.
Um, first congratulations everybody.
Carpetali, he do a lot of work. I have a
nonprofit in Maze Land and he do a lot
of stuff behind the scenes that people
don't know about that he don't brag
about. But um, we just fed over 200
families for Thanksgiving that our
friends given and Orestates and Carl uh,
he made a nice donation of food that he
gave and we were able to give give away.
So, thank you, Carl. And thank you also
to Tracy, who does a lot of stuff behind
the scenes for my little nonprofit.
[laughter]
Um, so thank you, too, for helping and
going out of your way to do what we do
for the community because like Art said,
like he said, it's for the people. It
does not matter the party, it matters
the people. So, let's not get our P's
mixed up when we out here doing the work
that we do. So, thank you guys.
>> You did you didn't give your name.
>> Oh, yeah.
>> For those who don't know, I'm a Sila
Davis. [laughter] Thank you, Dr.
>> [applause]
[clears throat]
>> I just want to real quick say
congratulations to Thelma and Tracy. And
I am not in this community, but you guys
have a very genuinelyhearted person who
will listen to you guys who is a bonus
sister. If you need her, she is the
best. And I need some tomaze landing.
>> Yeah. [laughter]
>> Can you
>> What is your name? Can you give us your
name and address, please?
>> My address, it's Maze Landing now. Um,
Maria Ortiz and I'm from uh Absa, New
Jersey.
>> Thank you.
>> Hi, Susan Lazaric. I came out primary
primarily tonight to congratulate Miss
Thompson and also congratulate all of
you. Um, but while I'm here, um, I am a
member of the green team and I know, um,
Matt came and talked about the ACUA
tonight and just to remind you all that
the green team is part of sustainable
Jersey and thank you. There are 15
actions and all these actions through
sustainable Jersey are very well vetted
by professionals. There's different
[cough] questions related [snorts] to
waste management that if we had the
township support, the green team could
certainly work on some of them. Um, you
know, there's uh construction,
demolition, waste recycling,
um backyard composting, grass, cut it
and leave it program. There's a bunch of
them. Uh and again, you know, other
municipalities are doing them.
Certainly, uh, sustainable Jersey is
good stuff for all municipalities, but I
just thought I'd mention it since I was
here tonight.
>> Thank you.
>> Thanks,
[laughter]
>> Jenny S. Um, 4812 Green Ash Lane.
Tonight's a little bittersweet for me
because I know all of you and
congratulations to all of you. But Art,
it's been what 15 years we've been doing
this together.
>> So to not see you up there, I guess I
have to go to the freeholder meetings
now, right? Oh, wait. They're
commissioners now. Sorry. But
congratulations.
>> Thank you.
>> Enjoy your vacation.
>> We'll talk soon. God bless.
>> How you guys today?
>> Hi.
>> This is my first time ever being here
one of these. Um, my name is Natiqua. I
live in the Willings in Maze Landing.
>> Speak into the microphone. Thanks.
>> My name is Nati. I live in the Willings
and Maze Landing.
>> Um, I was asking my sister, I didn't
know if this was like a little off
topic, but like I've been living there
like four years. Um, I have four sons
and it's crazy.
Okay. I mean, like, I don't know what we
can do. Like, but I feel like we just
need to do a little more. Especially
living the complexes like the kids
there. Like, I don't know. It's just
it's a lot. Like I lived there four
years and I'm trying my best to get out
of there. I'm not even gonna lie to you
guys. And it's probably just the
community. Like I don't know if it's the
parents. I don't know what they got
going on at home. I don't know. But the
kids is running crazy. Okay. It's like
so crazy. And I mean I I was the chair
coach and stuff like that. So like I be
putting myself out there, but it's like
we need more people. Like more parents
for sure. Like I don't know. Like I'm
talking to these kids. I don't barely
even know them. Like I mean I feel like
we start holding the parents accountable
the kids won't be moving the way they
moving. Like it's so much going on. We
don't hold any parents accountable. Like
y'all can't do it by yourself. The cops
can't, you know, be everywhere. We got
to start. I'm a parent. Hold me
accountable. I'm not even being funny.
Send it to my house. Come there. Not I
don't these kids. I mean it's just too
much. Like I'm I'm let you guys
congratulations everybody. I don't want
this to be the bad topic, but like
seriously the Maze Landing is a nice
place. I moved here from North Jersey.
So, like I know that this is a good
place for kids to grow up and be, you
know, try to be something, but it it's
really turning out that these kids are
just running the parents and the parents
need to start putting their feet there.
We got to hold them accountable. Y'all
have a good day.
>> Absolutely.
>> Thank you.
>> Again, congratulations to each and every
one of you. Um, I just wanted to make a
comment about the wreaths across America
that this is the first time that Lincoln
Memorial Cemetery would be involved in
this. And I thank the effort of Dr.
Witherspoon for being part of that. And
unfortunately, many of the graves of the
veterans, uh, the tombstones are almost
disappeared.
And we did have someone go out there and
count. There were over 400
um grave sites of veterans out there
that has never um received the
recognition or the reefs um there and
the the need I mean they almost
disappeared almost there. Um so I thank
you for those efforts for for doing
that. And um also I just want to mention
I don't know if it's the township but I
do know of a veteran who has applied for
vendors license and it's been over a
year and has not been able to receive
the vendor license nor um really a
concrete clarification of why other than
they said the machine is broken. Um, but
he's been back and forth trying to get
the vendor's license um, here and so I
don't know if the township here can do
anything about it, but we greatly
appreciate it. He's been going back and
forth filling out the right
applications. In fact, one time it was
lost, so we had to fill it out all over
again. So, I don't know if any of you
could be involved or can help with that.
But again, congratulations to everyone.
Looking forward to a great year. Thank
you. I didn't say my name, did I?
>> No.
>> Okay. Ethel uh Braxton just remarried,
but it's Braxton now. Okay.
>> Can you give the gentleman's name to
Brett so we can look into this, please?
Not out loud.
>> You can give it right to Brett there.
Yeah.
>> Thank you.
>> We'll look into this and find out what's
going on.
[clears throat]
>> Anyone [snorts] else in the public like
to speak?
Motion to close.
>> Motion to close. Public portion.
>> Second.
>> We have a second. All those in favor?
>> All those opposed? The eyes have it. We
uh will accept an adjournment.
>> So move.
>> Second. Have a
>> motion to second. All those in favor? I.
>> All those opposed. The eyes have it.