06-01-2026 - Township of Hamilton Committee Meeting

like to bring the Monday, June 1st, 2026
Township of Hamilton committee meeting
to order. Please rise for the flag
salute.
I
>> alian to the flag of the United States
of America and to the republic for which
it stands, one nation under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice
for all.
Adequate notice of this meeting has been
provided pursuant to the New Jersey open
public meetings law by posting a notice
of this meeting on the bulletin board in
the municipal building and by
transmitting notice of this meeting to
the press of Atlantic City Star Ledger
and Atlantic County Record on January 6,
2026.
>> Mr. Aken
>> here.
>> Mr. Cheek
>> here.
>> Miss Thompson
>> here.
>> Dr. Witherspoon
>> here. Mayor Patali
>> here.
Have a moment of silence for private
reflection.
Thank you.
Uh
no guest presentations. We'll move on to
addition deletion.
>> Well, yeah, but we got to do this first.
Uh
late list additions guest presentation
recognition of Oakrest High School
student Devon Hannah for driver safety
awareness banners. Uh 6 C resolution
authorizing extension of shared services
agreement for dispatch services with the
city of A Carour for a period of two
months June 4, 2026 through August 8th,
2026 and authorizing mayor to sign same
deletion 6B resolution authorizing award
of contract to FSD Enterprises LLC for
mobile carrier agreement consulting
amount not to exceed $5,500.
>> So moved.
>> Second.
>> I have a motion and a second. All those
in favor?
>> I against eyes have it.
>> So
I'm going to call Davon down with his to
So, I don't know if um I'm sure you've
seen these banners. There's several of
them around town. It's on our u message
board at the bulkhead. Uh and it was
made by Avon here. They had a teen
driving safety and you got brains
champion schools program where his
banner was chosen to be used. Um,
everybody liked it so much I was, um,
school reached out to us, asked us if we
can get more banners and put them up
around town. Talked with our chief.
Chief said, "Great idea." Brett said,
"Good idea. Made it happen." And, um,
just felt that we should recognize Davon
here for what he did. Also, a little bit
little something else about him. He's
first team allcow track for 200 meter
but due to an injury his season was cut
short this year unfortunately but he's a
senior he's graduating going on to
college so congratulations for all that
I just
next to it All right, let's move this
out of the way. Got it.
>> All right,
>> good job.
>> Congratulations.
>> Thanks.
Don't forget the chief.
>> Don't forget the chief.
>> Thank you everyone.
>> You're welcome.
>> You are very welcome. Thank you very
Okay, moving on.
Discussions. Formal action may be taking
may be taken data center moratorum and
study period resolution. I'm going to
send this down to our solicitor. Give us
a little background.
>> Thank you, mayor. If I may, if committee
recalls last meeting, we had a
presentation by Mr. Goodman and uh
myself committee regarding uh a
prohibition or a temporary moratorium on
the data centers here in Hamilton
Township. Uh what committee has in front
of them is both a resolution and
ordinance tonight to consider. Uh the
resolution puts potential developers on
notice that while we go through this due
diligent period until the end of the
year as we take into consideration all
the potential impacts a data center may
have on a mun like Hamilton Township uh
that there's a prohibition of data
centers and that will be uh till the end
of the year so we can have a period of
time to be able to fully review uh what
steps we may take next. Uh upon internal
review, we also put an ordinance
probably uh for introduction tonight.
What that does in the code for the
township of Hamilton Township adds a
definition of what a data center is,
what a computer center is. So it's very
clear of what this prohibition applies
to. It also puts in into our zoning
portion of the code that data centers,
computer centers are prohibited uh uses
across all zones here in Hamilton
Township. So if the committee wish to do
so, that's under 5C. That'll be on for
introduction, then it will proceed to
normal course that zoning ordinances
take. Then it will come back here for
public hearing and potential adoption in
the future. That ordinance will stay in
place until future amendments if you
choose to do so.
Very good. So, basically,
we'll still do the resolution.
>> That's correct.
>> Since it does take at least two weeks in
order to get the ordinance straightened,
you know, approved.
>> That's correct. So, if committee chooses
to adopt the resolution for the
temperament, that would be in place this
evening
>> and that would sunset at the end of the
year.
>> That's correct. Unless in the beginning
of next year committee chose to address
that and adopt it or or uh pass another
resolution.
>> Very good. Oh, actually I missed
something. Was there anybody for early
public comment?
>> No. Okay. Thank goodness.
>> Thank goodness. Um Okay. So, we have
this resolution in front of us. Does
anybody have any questions or comments?
>> Oh, yeah. You want a motion? I thought I
thought the resolution was 5C.
>> The ordinance
is 5C.
>> The resolution is uh 3 A1.
>> Okay. Sorry.
>> Yeah. Could we
>> I'll make the motion.
>> Second.
>> I have a motion to second.
>> Question.
>> Absolutely.
>> If we don't act any if it stays the way
it is now, it just continues as of
January 1st until committee does
something to change it. the the
resolution would sense that at the end
of the year as normal resolution do uh
the intent would be to address it prior
to the end year to give future direction
of how how to move but the ordinance
does not sense something ordinance stays
in place
>> okay thank you
>> any other questions or comments
>> absolutely
>> oh I thought
>> I just wanted to comment from last
meeting bringing this
Uh I believe it's a
the right thing to do like I said to
take a pause to research bring the
information back and then make a due
diligence you know or due diligence and
make the decision whether to have or not
to have or modify these data centers if
you will. I mean, if you, you know, you,
you do look around what's going around
different communities, different areas,
people are, you know, they're jumping on
the wagon to ban them. Um, myself, I
think this is a better direction. Like I
said, you're doing your homework, and
that's our job up here to do our
homework and to figure out if these
things are or aren't coming to our
township. Um, as everybody knows, the
governor did speak on this. Um, she laid
out guard rails. they call it, I guess,
four guard rails. I did see, you know,
her speech. Um, and she did come out and
ban them. She said, you know, let's put
these guardrails in place to figure
these out. Um, and move forward. And I
believe, like I said, this is the, you
know, right direction to move. I
appreciate Ken and everyone that worked
on these, you know, ordinances and
resolutions. I said, you know, it's it's
it's the right direction. I thank you
very much. Appreciate it. Thank you,
mayor.
>> Anybody else?
So, we have a we have a motion and a
second. Can we get a roll call vote,
please?
>> Mr. Aken?
>> Yes.
>> Mr. Cheek?
>> Yes.
>> Miss Thompson?
>> Yes.
>> Dr. Withersp?
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Patel?
>> Yes.
3B
discussion staffing within construction
office.
Uh I'm going to throw this to our
administrator Brett.
>> So I met with the personnel committee
last week about the construction office
and staffing levels in within the
construction office.
Uh we had one of our full-time personnel
in the construction office retire back
in December of 2025.
Uh since then the two the two in the
office have basically absorbed position
our office manager and we also have a
clerk in there that have basically
done the work since December. I met with
personnel and uh my my ask to them was
to continue to absorb the position but
compensate the two in the office
appropriately for their extra work
duties that they've taken on. Um I I
look to promote uh the clerk in there to
the taco position. It's a union
position. It's already spelled out
within their contract. And I would like
to compensate the office manager under
our dual position. Uh under the salary
ordinance,
we have a taco uh position in there that
I would like to move from the uh union
side over to the to the dual side under
in the uh salary ordinance.
>> Okay. And
>> you desire a part time.
>> Oh, right. So personnel committee also
discussed in the future if the office
was to pick up again um you know we have
some projects coming through in the next
year and a half or two um possibly
putting a part-time position um within
the salary ordinance to assist in the
construction office or be a floater for
other offices assist in other offices.
We could put that position in the
ordinance and fill it as necessary.
I don't think that's that we have to
fill it right away, but it's going to
depend on what comes through the office
next couple months.
>> Okay. And you're just looking for us to
>> just
>> give the okay for you to go ahead and
>> work work out that
>> work with Ken adjust the salary
ordinance
>> committee.
Yeah, we agreed with this at personnel
committee uh me and uh committeeman
cheek because we agreed that those
should be compensated but we also felt
that
in the event that people go on vacation
get sick we should have a a plan where
we have cross-trained other people to be
a backup. So that was the concern. uh
not that the people are not doing an
excellent job because they are but
people do have the right to go on
vacation and I don't believe that things
should stop because of one person I
believe that they should go on so that
was the reason why me and committeeman
cheek are you going to say something
committee
but you you was at the meeting too
>> oh I was at yeah and you agreed
>> we both agreed on everything yes
>> right
>> I just wanted y'all to know it wasn't me
by myself, we would talk about this and
that's and but the person would be a
floater. So in the event that other
officers were short,
>> we would have someone that could go
around and help with that as well. So I
thought that that was a good thing.
>> We thought we thought that that was a
good thing. So I just wanted to add
that.
>> Good. I'm good.
>> You're good.
>> Yep.
>> Well said.
>> I'm good. I'm good.
>> You're good. As long as uh as long as
that office is is taken care of
>> and our residents are able to get uh
whatever they need out of that office,
>> I'm okay with it.
>> So go ahead and do what you have to do
>> or any other office if needed.
>> Okay, moving on. Public hearing,
adoption of ordinances.
Ordinance 2136-2026
bond ordinance providing for various
2026 capital improvements
by and in the township of Hamilton in
the county of Atlantic State of New
Jersey appropriating $2 million.
Therefore, in authorizing the issuance
of 1,94,760
bonds or notes to finance part of the
cost thereof.
This is a public meeting. Anybody from
the public wish to speak?
Come on down,
>> Carl. Will this money be used for for um
paving projects?
>> Yes.
>> Well,
>> yes. Paving projects. Uh hold on.
Acquisition of a new dump truck for
public works and improvements to various
recreational facilities and parks.
Will this include Cleveland Avenue?
>> What's that?
>> Yet to be determined. We're not
>> yet. We haven't We haven't figured out
the roads that we're going to do for the
paving plan coming up. I guess end of
summer, Bob, I guess is the is the plan.
>> Yeah.
>> Figure September.
Okay,
>> that's the plan.
>> Thanks.
>> Thanks, Jim.
Anybody else?
There
>> a motion to close.
>> Motion.
>> Second.
>> Have a motion, a second. All those in
favor? I
>> against eyes have it.
What's our pleasure?
>> Motion to adopt. Second. Second.
>> I have a motion and a second. Any
questions, comments?
>> None. Roll call vote, please.
>> Mr. Aken,
>> yes.
>> Mr. Cheek,
>> yes.
>> Miss Thompson,
>> yes.
>> Dr. Witherspoon.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor,
>> yes.
>> Moving on to introduction of ordinances.
go into that. We didn't we didn't have
to vote on I passed it the um
uh construction office staff. No, we
just gave them
>> the go ahead.
>> The go ahead to start working on
whatever has to be done.
>> All right. Thank you.
>> An ordinance township of Hamilton
ordinance number 2137-2026
ordinance of the township of Hamilton
County of Atlantic, state of New Jersey,
amending chapter 163 titled excavations
and chapter 264 titled streets and
sidewalks.
Bob.
Did
I'm
Good
Sorry.
Father
I I did view it and I was happy to see
this because on New York Avenue, which I
believe is a county road
is it's our road, there is a tree that
is leaning on a
>> Yes. on the
>> when you
make that. Yeah. And you're
coming down. Uh and it was leaning. So
we would be responsible for getting that
because I was concerned about that.
Who's responsible?
>> Utility. So this is what this is about
this resolution.
>> Right.
>> Okay.
>> Exactly.
Thank you.
>> Yes. And just just updated some things.
You and I talked about it. Um verbiage
of what things are called, stuff like
that. Um and I see in there talking
about um detour signs, if they're not,
they have to be covered when work is not
being done. And I'll get on my soap box
a little bit about that because I'm one
of the guys that's out there working out
there. Um, you know, you need to do that
because
when you start driving through and you
see the same sign over and over again,
it says detour ahead and there's no
detour ahead. Eventually, you just don't
even pay attention to the signs anymore.
And uh, as a matter of fact, a week and
a half ago, two workers got killed out
in uh out in PA. Um, tractor trailer
came through and wiped out there. They
were setting up uh they were setting up
a road closure and two fellas
unfortunately got killed. So this kind
of like I said get on my soap box about
this and make sure that these
contractors do what they're supposed to
do and uh I'm glad to see all that
verbiage in there. So thank you for
everything that you did with that.
>> Yes.
Keeps Yep. Keeps the water out.
Okay.
>> Well, I I had a question.
>> Absolutely.
>> So, I'm just a more understanding of the
ordinance. Basically, we're um
I guess mandate mandating
um different companies or organizations
to pull permits
>> and will the um so will these different
entities be notified of this ordinance?
like will they know now they have to
pull these permits?
>> The only other utility companies that
would be notified of this new ordinance
will um we'll notify all the ones that
presently do work in the town.
>> Um it's the AC Electric, it's Verizon,
it's Comcast,
>> right?
>> Those are the ones that have not been
pulling permits as of this time doing
any work. So, if like a uh a utility a
new utility pole has to go up somewhere,
>> they have to pull a permit now,
>> right?
>> Instead of just putting a pole up
wherever they fill it, we have to review
it.
>> We have to make sure that it's in a
location that's proper
>> before they were just doing,
>> right? So, my point is is are you going
to like notify are they going to all be
notified?
>> We are going to notify
>> once we vote on this. Okay.
>> And the existing utility companies as
well. um you know, South Jersey Gas, um
Hamilton Township, MUA that they are
exempt from um paying any fees, but they
we still want them to issue a road
opening permit so we can keep track of
all the utility opening.
>> That's exactly I was getting ready to
get right to them about the NUA, right?
>> Yeah, we're going to still need them to
get Yep.
>> a permit so we'll know what's going on,
right? Okay.
>> Thank you so much, B.
>> No problem. Okay.
We have a
>> We have a motion.
>> Motion.
>> Second.
>> Motion a second.
>> Roll call vote, please.
>> Mr. Aken,
>> yes.
>> Mr. Chief,
>> yes.
>> Miss Thompson,
>> yes.
>> Dr. Withers,
>> yes.
>> Mayor Patel,
>> yes. August
>> 5B, introduction of ordinance 21
38-2026, an ordinance amending chapter
60 titled officers and employees
of the code of the township of Hamilton.
Pen,
>> thank you, mayor. uh for committee is in
front of you is an ordinance amending
chapter 60. Chapter 60 is the employer
and officer position in the code of
township of Hamilton. As we were going
through, uh we wanted to update that to
reflect the current positions that we
have here in Hamilton Township
currently. Um and the administrator and
I were picking through there. There are
two positions specifically that we're
removing, but also reserving those
sections in case we need them in the
code for future use. uh that we no
longer utilize. The first one's going to
be the environmental officer position.
Not have that position currently in
Howard Township is not being utilized.
What we did in the ordinances, roll
those duties into the newly formed
municipal uh enforcement officer uh that
we just created at a prior meeting. So
those duties are going to be assumed by
that newly created position. Um we also
took out the deputy municipal court
administrator. Um based on the central
municipal court, we don't have
standalone
uh does not currently use. So
essentially this ordinance is a clean up
of the
>> very good
>> motion
motion. We have a second questions
comments.
>> Can you tell me that title? What what's
the new title? The so the the chapter
60s is the same thing as employees and
officers. That title is going to remain
the same. It's a very long it goes
everywhere from the administrator down
to the uh municipal enforcement officer
has all the different positions that are
codified. What we did was went through
all the different positions to see which
ones we no longer had here and have for
we found two of them. So all we are
doing is taking them out of the code but
reserving those sections of the case
township committee decides to create a
new position we could codify.
>> Okay. And we're rolling the duties into
one person
>> the environmental officer portion of the
that chapter. We do not currently have
an environmental officer but those
duties are going to be assumed by the
newly created municipal enforcement.
>> Right. And what's the name of the newly
created
>> uh municipal enforcement officer? We
passed that ordinance that we Okay. I
just mean I just wanted to know the
title again. Municipal enforcement
officer. Correct.
>> Okay. Thank you. Thank you.
>> Any other questions or comments?
>> Roll call vote, please.
>> Mr. Aken.
>> Yes.
>> Mr. Chief,
>> yes.
>> Miss Thompson.
>> Yes.
>> Dr. Witherspoon.
>> Yes.
>> Introduction of ordinance 2139-2026.
an ordinance of the township of Hamilton
imposing a moratorum through December
31st, 2026
on the development of any future data
center in the township of Hamilton and
to amend chapter 203 titled land use and
development of the code of the township
of Hamilton.
Ken,
>> thank you mayor. As we uh previously
mentioned during the discussion format,
uh this is the ordinance that goes along
and runs parallel to that moratorum
resolution. You can see most of the
whereas clause in the ordinance are near
identical to the resolution, but it
changes chapter 203 adding definitions
as well as the prohibited uses applying
across all districts throughout the
county. Um just one other portion like
it was mentioned uh public hearing for
all these ordinances will be June 15
2026 for
>> motion
>> second motion and a second questions
comments. Um, yes. I just want to
comment that um I'm happy to see that we
have an ordinance here because that's
what I spoke on the first time when we
were speaking on um all the different uh
information that was coming in about the
data centers, the concerns of the
constituents. So this um delights my
heart um and I'm happy that you looked
into this and you know explained to us
the significance of how we need to move
with this so Hamilton Township is
protected. So I really appreciate that.
>> Thank you for your comments. I
appreciate
>> Okay.
>> Anybody else?
>> Roll call vote please.
>> Mr. Aken.
>> Yes.
>> Mr. Cheek.
>> Yes.
>> Miss Thompson.
>> Yes.
Yes.
>> Mayor Pat.
>> Yes.
>> Oh, yes.
>> Award of bids, contracts, change orders
6A.
Resolution to award bid 2026-08,
Dr. Dennis Foreman Drive, pedestrian
safety and access improvements through
Charles Marendino LLC Mil New Jersey in
the amount of $197,13260.
>> Motion second.
>> I have a motion and a second. Any
questions or comments?
I'm just happy that this is being done
>> because I don't really see sidewalks
when you go down this corn when I guess
it's the bid just we're just approving
it tonight. When will the project start?
>> So we are going to have a precon in the
next two weeks. Um we can't start until
school's out. So it'll probably be July.
Um I don't think it would last more than
three weeks of work. Um but again it's
only it's sidewalks starting at Route 40
and going about 1500 feet towards
Oakrest. So it'll stop um a little short
of where that uh the access road is to
get to the rear of the football fields.
It'll stop a little short of that. Um we
are going in with another grant grant
application with um CDBG money for
county and um hope to have that uh you
know voted upon before the end of the
summer and we'll continue the sidewalk
down there. Um we're also as part of
this uh project we're repaving the
roadway also in front of from Davy
School to Route 40. um trying to get rid
of that ponding issue at the
intersection as well. A little bit of a
state problem, but we're going to try to
get push the water and
>> get it out of there.
>> That's good.
>> Yeah, it's been a problem for a while.
So,
>> and we do have a grant for this for a
while,
>> $133,000
for a grant for this. Um so, we're using
a little bit of our capital money um
from 2025, I believe. And uh it it'll I
think it'll go to uh
good saving on this forward cell.
>> Yep.
>> And I'm going to make the assumption
that the sidewalk is on the side of the
school.
>> Absolutely.
>> Yeah. Just want to put that out.
>> It is. We do have to put a couple unique
drainage structures in there. Some
scuppers they're called. like um
openings in the curb and it'll the water
will go under the sidewalk to get into
the inlets that are in the front of that
roadway there because the water does go
there. Now, I don't want to direct the
water anywhere else. So, this is going
to continue to go into the inlets that
are designed to handle it. So,
>> understood.
>> Very good. I have a motion.
>> Motion. Second motion and second. Roll
call vote, please.
>> Mr.
>> Yes.
>> Thompson.
>> Yes.
>> Okay. 6B was removed. Move on to the
consent agenda.
Motion A through D.
>> Second.
>> Oh, hold on.
>> Nope. 6 C. Sorry,
>> this was added
>> authorization extension of shared
services agreement for dispatch services
with city of a Carver for a period of
two months, June 4th, 2026 through
August 8th, 2026. Brett, you want to
give us just a little bit of a
background on this so everybody
understands?
>> This agreement expires on Wednesday. So,
uh, we talked to Edar City. We're
currently negotiating a new agreement.
Asked if we can extend this out. uh we
wanted out to August actually the other
we have with them so they both start
at the same time
it's kind of a random day but that's
that's the process
but this is going to maintain
our dollar amount
>> understood
I have a motion
>> motion
>> second have a motion a second any
questions or comments
>> I just want to comment that it says A
Harbor and at first I was like thinking
a Harour Township but you're saying A
Harbor City.
>> A Harbor City.
>> Okay. So we have it a state has a Harbor
City in writing too.
>> Yes, we have an agreement with a city
dispatch service.
>> Okay. Thank you.
>> Separate agreements.
>> Any other questions or comments? Roll
call vote please.
>> Mr. Aken.
>> Yes.
>> Mr. Chief.
>> Yes.
>> Miss Thompson.
>> Yes.
>> Dr. Witherspoon.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Patel.
>> Yes.
Now we can do consent.
>> Now we can go A through D.
>> There we go. A motion
>> and second. See that?
How
>> easy was that?
>> Have a motion. A through D.
>> A second.
>> Second.
>> All those in favor?
>> I against. Eyes have it.
Resolution
to promote Jacob Benowitz as deputy day
manager for the Cove 2026 season at $20
per hour effective June 20th, 2026.
Motion
>> second
to
>> I have a motion to second. You can
decide which one you want first, James.
Roll call vote, please.
>> Mr. H,
>> yes.
>> Mr. Chef,
>> yes.
>> Miss Thompson, yes.
>> Dr. Witherspoon,
>> yes.
>> Mayor Patel,
>> yes.
Municipal Alliance Committee appointment
effective July July 1st, 2026 through
June 30th, 2027.
Appoint regular members of the Township
of Hamilton Municipal Alliance Committee
for one year July 1st, 2026 through June
30, 2027. Regular members,
Lisa Catalano, chair, Amber Tano,
Christopher Rizzo, Stacy Rose, Lisa
Yakarino, vice chair.
>> Second.
>> I have a motion and a second.
All those in favor?
>> Eyes have it.
Resolution to appoint Jane Bash as a
register of vital statistics for a
three-year term effective 6126
through 53129.
>> So move second.
>> I have a motion and a second.
>> All those in favor? I
>> against eyes have
>> resolution to appoint Steven Hartzell as
the full-time municipal enforcement
officer for the township of Hamilton at
a salary of $64,000
effective May 19th, 2026.
>> So move second.
>> Motion and a second.
>> Roll call vote, please.
>> Mr. Aken,
>> yes.
>> Mr. Sheep,
>> yes.
>> Miss Thompson,
>> yes.
>> Dr. Witherspoon,
>> yes. Mayor Patel.
>> Yes. And grat Steve's not here, but
congratulations, Steve.
>> Resolution to appoint Steven Robert
Goodman as the administrative municipal
enforcement officer for the township of
Hamilton at a salary of $4,500 effective
May 19th, 2026.
>> Motion.
>> Second.
>> I have a motion and a second. Roll call
vote, please.
>> Mr. Aken,
>> yes.
>> Mr. Chef,
>> yes.
>> Miss Thompson,
>> yes.
>> Dr. SP.
>> Yes.
Make us proud.
>> Approvals. Minutes. Regular meeting
minutes of May 18th, 2026.
>> So move.
>> Second.
>> Motion in a second. All those in favor?
>> Against? Eyes have it. Minutes.
Executive session meeting minutes of May
18th, 2026.
>> So move.
>> Second.
>> Motion in a second. Roll call vote,
please.
>> Mr. Mr. Aken.
>> Yes.
>> Mr. Chief,
>> yes.
>> Miss Thompson,
>> yes.
>> Dr. Witherspoon.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Patel.
>> Yes.
>> Bills. Bill list. Total 1,889,666.15.
>> Motion.
>> Second.
>> I have a motion and a second. Roll call
vote, please.
>> Mr. Aken.
>> Yes.
>> Mr. Ch.
>> Yes.
>> Miss. Thompson.
>> Yes.
>> Dr. W.
>> Yes. Mayor Patel.
>> Yes.
>> Reports. Mr. Mr. Administrator,
>> nothing to add.
>> Oh, come on.
>> Mr. Solicitor,
>> just want to thank Mr. Watkins for his
help that open road.
>> Mr. Engineer, I'd like to thank Ken for
working on it as well for me to review
it. Um, just a couple updates. Uh, River
Road and Grally Run were both paved uh
last week or right before the holidays.
Um, they came out really well. They
still have to come back and do some
asphalt aprons. Um, but they'll do them
once school is ended as well. And then
Clarkstown Road, I know you guys passed
a emergency storm sewer piping um PO for
a company to do the work and they
completed that in two days and um it
came out really well. Um on no uh change
orders, this the exact budget. um the
homeowner uh that it was affected was
very pleased with it as well. So,
and that's it.
>> I like hearing that.
>> Yeah.
>> And I was just happy to see that you
apply for a grant from Misb.
>> Yes, that was on there that'll be doing.
So, we're hoping to It's about 12,000
linear feet from Shepard Road all the
way to Weimoth Road. Um, we're hoping to
have 6,000 linear feet done uh with the
state aid from last year's money. Um,
we're going to be using capital money to
offset that grant. So, about 400,000 and
then we'll do the next half
uh the end of the year.
>> When when do you think we would get word
on that grant? Second grant.
>> Not until almost November.
>> Yeah.
So, it'll be for next year. It'll
be 2027
will be the second phase of MISPA,
>> but you can start now.
>> We're going to do Yeah, we're going to
do the first phase. Uh it's actually
it'll be up to the state tomorrow for
review and then um we'll go out the bid
probably
late June, early July and award it and
they'll be under construction in the
fall. um that road is going to be very
uh particular with um detours and
signage and what we have to do. So um
we'll give plenty of notice but for any
residents and we'll try to keep at least
one way open and detour have everybody
go straight down to um old uh old
Edarbor Road and then come back up for
you. It'll be a little bit of a route,
but I'd rather keep um everybody going
eastbound on Mispa because there's too
many roads that way to detour everybody
out. So, um but we're going to work with
that.
>> Yep.
>> Very good. Thank you.
>> Committee members,
any woman Thompson, we'll start with
you.
So, I attended the Memorial Day service
on May 25th at the Way uh cemetery which
um where we honored our fallen soldiers
and we will you know never they'll never
be um forgotten. So, we had a nice um
event there. The weather held up and I
was honored to be there. I was able to
attend the arrival of our new tanker for
the wayment fire department which that
was um it arrived on Thursday May 28th
and it looked very good. I did me and uh
committee man cheat inspected it and
asked questions and
was super enthused as well as the mayor
and uh committee man. Um, Sunday, uh,
May 31st, Victoria Point, which I live
in. We had a community event which went
over very well. Um, I was very proud
about that. Also want to give a shout
out to Officer Nan
Isim.
He earned his master of science and
administration of justice with a
concentration and criminal behavior from
Wilmington
University. And I know the chief
supports the officers furthering their
education because he said that it
benefits the township. So that was um I
was very proud to see that. Um,
also I want to give another shout out to
our star here in Hamilton Township, the
eighth grader that goes to the Davies
uh, middle school there, student Isaac
Jeramu, and I hope I'm pronouncing that
right.
>> Um, he went to the Scripps National
Spelling Bay and he's currently also
writing his own book and we're talking
the eighth grader here. So, he
definitely represented Maize Landon.
He's in all the papers and I was so
excited that he made it to the um
national spelling bay. And that's it.
>> Good. Deputy mayor.
>> Yes. Uh as committeewoman Thompson said,
Memorial Day in the tanker. We were
there. It was very nice to see all of
that. One thing I did do this week was
go out to the landfill, our everlasting
landfill.
And it is moving along to the point that
they are hydro seeding it now. So
I know we got a lot of rain during
Memorial Day weekend, but let it rain to
grow the grass,
>> but not too hard.
>> Yes.
Uh, also for the gentleman from Davies,
Isaac Geramu,
>> he came in 30th out of 250 contestants.
>> So that's quite a feat.
>> I didn't know what place he came in. So,
thank you. Yeah.
>> Okay. And that's uh that's it for me.
>> Very good. Dr. Withersp.
>> Yes. Um I of course I was at the
Memorial Day ceremony which was very
nice. And I want to give another shout
out to Teresa Vosa.
She brought me some beautiful flowers
from her garden. She heard that I was
going to sing the Star Spangle Banner. I
was so moved by that. That's she took
the time to do that and I was very
thought it was very thoughtful and it
was a beautiful gesture and again I want
to say thank you. I really appreciate
it.
And I would like to also thank the
Hamilton Township Police Department.
Last night there was a party
at Acme in front of Acme and the
Hamilton Township Police shut it down.
They did not have a permit
and I heard they went to Atlantic City
and they shut them down and they ended
up in Pleasantville. But they could have
went to Pleasantville and they shut it
down. They went to L City. Whatever the
case may be, they couldn't come to
Hamilton Township without a permit and
be having a party in the uh
>> in the parking lot.
>> Yeah, I found that out. So I I
>> wasn't invited.
>> I wasn't invited.
>> It wasn't ACME. I'm not going to call
the business, but the business, there
was a business over there that um had
the party and it was packed.
>> Wow.
>> It was packed. But um Hamilton Township
Police Department was on the job. So, I
just wanted to say thank you for that
and I did know about it. So, my ears are
on the ground. I know exactly what's
going on in this township.
Um but anyway, I was really happy about
that. So, I said, "You can't come out
here." So, if you're listening and you
want to have something, please get a
permit because if you do not, Hamilton
Township Police will shut it down. That
is my report.
>> Oh, that's fun. That's a good
>> Mr. Ain.
>> So,
I would like to come here.
>> First, I want to thank the Veterans
Advisory Board for putting together the
Memorial Day services we all attended.
It was great. It's always great going to
those events that the Veterans Day
ceremony right there in War Park. Um,
and for my first time, I'm always there,
but being on the side of the committee
was a little different. So, but I just
want to thank them. Uh, public works
putting stuff together there. Uh, fire
department, police department. It's
always a great It's always a great thing
out there. Uh, honoring those, uh,
people. Um, also want to give a shout
out to Dr. Witherspoon for another great
performance of the national anthem and
God Bless America. You always knock it
out of the park. Let me tell you, every
time I've been there since you've been
singing. Awesome. Awesome. So, I just
wanted you a shout out that
>> um I was glad to see on our report that
we have 47 kids registered for the
Casted Connect sponsored by the HDPD and
the PAL. Um it is on Saturday the 6th 10
to two. Uh it's nice hopefully we get a
couple more a few more in between now
and then but it was nice to see 47 are
registered for that. Um the other thing
I attended a planning board meeting on
the 21st. Uh, of course the big ticket
item on that agenda was Amazon which it
was a um
interesting and long meeting I will say
uh with our uh professionals and their
professionals and their legal team uh
just going through you know some
concerns and questions and comments and
it was a long meeting but in the end um
the planning board did approve uh I
guess it was uh what was it called the
final
Is it final site plan? Yeah, final major
site plan approval preliminary and final
major site plan approval for the
fulfillment and distribution center. So,
I want to congratulate Amazon. I wish
them well in the future with uh the
other boards, whoever they got to go
through on different stuff, but it was a
very long meeting and our professionals
did their due diligence to uh get that
going and uh keep it forward. Um, the
other thing I want to say is a reminder
to everybody that the Maze Landing Yacht
Club's Vets and Vessels is on the 20th,
uh, 6:20 Saturday at 2:00 p.m. to 6:00
p.m. Um, there is an afterparty that is
open to the public at Max All Sports
Pub. Um, I think tickets are 40. Uh,
there's contact with Angel Merl or
Taylor Fi. Uh, you could probably find
information on Facebook through the Maze
Landing Yach Club. Um, and that is my
report.
>> Very good.
>> Mr. Mayor, before you uh go ahead your
report, I just wanted to say that I
wanted MISPA to know that their tanker
is going to be coming because I know we
doing a lot of movement. We're giving,
you know, our tankers and we had our
other big fire truck that went to Maze
Landing and we're so proud that we're
trying to accommodate the five
departments, but I don't want them to
think that they are forgotten. We're
definitely working out things and they
definitely will receive the tanker,
right, Brett?
>> Yes. So, right now they're getting it
ready to move out there. There's a
couple repairs that have to be made.
>> Thank you so much. Because I I just
don't want them to think that we forgot
about them. We really care about the
community. We and we um trying to be
supportive of everyone and make sure we
get things, you know, to everybody in
enough time. I mean, we our main thing
is to make sure everything works. That's
our main thing. We want to make sure
everything works and before we give it
to them. So, thank you so much. Who's
the mayor?
>> Um,
Isaac
Jeremu. Um, everybody already said it.
Plays 30th out of 250 for the national
scripts, the scripts national spelling
be. So, great job to him. Uh, just want
to uh note that um
uh we lost a uh a town icon, I guess you
could say. Uh Carl Allen passed away um
last week. Uh retired state trooper, did
a lot around town. Um so sad to see see
him pass. Uh just wanted to kind of note
that. And Memorial Day, great job. Great
job to public works. uh the best that
the uh sound system has worked since we
got it. I mean, it was it it was I got
compliments on it. So, good job. I know
it took a little bit to get the you
know, get the bugs out, but I you got it
nailed down. And uh of course, thanks to
the police department, the fire company,
everything that went on there, and
Dr. Witherspoon singing all the time
does a great job. Um
and
trying to think, is that it? I think
that's pretty much it for me. Um,
Reagan, I'll see you soon. Maddie, I
miss you and I hope to see you soon and
we will go ahead and open it up to the
public.
>> Turn on the timer
and talk like that FedEx guy.
>> You're absolutely waste of time.
>> My name is Jose I mean Alen Dicks.
The reason I was forced to come to this
microphone is
your street opening situation and
talking about cutting trees. Did you
contact
anybody like the electric company to
find out what they are required to do by
the board of public utilities, by NJD,
by FEMA or Homeland Security out of
Trenton because they could be factors
that you have not considered on
keeping the wire safe. For example, one
of the things Board of Public Utilities
uh required is your gas meter has to be
a certain number of inches above the
ground. So, anybody whose meter was low
to the ground like mine, the gas company
had to come turn off the gas and they
put two little pieces of pipe in to to
raise it up. But that's the kind of
mandates that Board of Public Utilities
is doing. So, if you haven't done that,
maybe that needs to come to fruition
before you bring it back for adoption. I
know what you said about the 15th, but
if this throws a wrinkle in it, then
should be reconsidered.
That's one point. The second point,
when the man wanted to retire and move
to the lot next door to me,
the electric company had to put a pole
in to reach
the south side of his house. They
couldn't use the pole to the center
front of his house because you don't put
wires that way. So, if this were to be
discovered,
what are you planning to put in? And I
know Debbie Debbiey's right back there.
What are you planning to put in as a
time frame for the response of this
government
when somebody wants to build a house and
they need to go put a new pole? I mean,
the homeowner's not going to put the
pole. Utility company is. So, there
needs to be a quick turnaround.
And if that wasn't considered, I know
when I built my house, they had to put a
new pole for me or it would have been in
the middle of my driveway. So, there's
two poles back to back right in front of
my house. One one's just past my my
property line, but it needs to be
considered. Time frame to turn around.
Thank you. You can shut that off now.
>> Oh, I got two and a half.
I have a question about Dennis Foreman
Drive.
>> Yes,
>> the sidewalk can start at Route 40, but
it needs to go all the way to Route 322.
>> I would say it has to go at least to
Oakrest, but we don't have the money for
that right now. We had a grant and then
we threw a little bit more money on top
of it to get to a certain point
>> and then I believe you applied for
another grant.
>> You applied for another grant? Yes.
>> Yes.
>> And actually, we've been we've been
working with Orest
um one of their teachers
>> and they're in fact we're going to have
a meeting with them this summer and they
like to get some input and trying to get
their kids that are interested in i.e.
you know construction or engineering and
get them involved with us. They're kind
of the ones um we had already applied
for the grant when we had our first
meeting with them. So we have them
involved with it too. So they'll
definitely have stay on what they would
like to see and of course we'll you know
>> will sidewalk be be on both sides of of
>> it's just going to be on the school
side.
>> Okay.
So coming off 322 it'll be be on
left.
>> Well I don't I don't see like coming off
of 322 I think there's two or three
houses between Oakrest and 322.
>> Yeah. And then there's there I would
think there would be nobody walking from
322. You can't get across there. If
anybody's walking from Cedar Point, I'm
going to assume they're going to walk
down to Cologne Avenue and come across
there. There's no way they they you're
going to have to jump over that median.
>> Yeah.
>> So, we don't want to we don't want to
promote that
>> by putting a sidewalk there.
>> Yeah.
>> Okay.
Okay, thank you.
>> Good evening. I'm Donna Sharfeder,
Hamilton Township on Estelle Avenue. I'm
prompted to come up because you're
talking about paving the Mitsbor Road
area into Weimoth. Is there any way or
what can my husband and I do to have
somebody come look at Estelle Avenue? We
have dump trucks coming down our road.
It's 50 miles an hour, but they're
really hauling. They're filled with all
their stuff.
But in between Landis and Milo Road, we
have two small streams. It's the top of
the block and the bottom of the block.
So, it's a small bridge. Can that hold
the weight of these trucks that come
down our street? I mean, I don't know
who I need to ask. Like I said, Mr.
Watkins cuz you spoke is why I'm coming
up here to talk about it and
they've been repaired and and the holes
in the road are just crazy on Estelle
and like I said we have the heavy duty
trucks coming down all the time.
>> Can can you give your contact
information to Brett?
>> Sure.
>> And he'll look into it and and get in
touch with you.
>> Are the crossings closer to Landis or
closer to closer to Bears Road? One is
very close to Landis and the guardrails
have just been put up there in the past
so many years and the other is closer to
Bears's head by maybe a quarter of a
mile.
>> Right where the guardrails are. Yeah.
Okay. We'll give we'll give
>> Yeah. Give him give him your info.
>> Okay.
>> And then he'll look into it and get back
to you.
>> I have your email address.
>> Sure.
>> Thank you.
>> Hi, good evening. Jason H. Uh, I just
want to thank the council for passing
the data center moratorum. I've been
going to towns around South Jersey and
residents are concerned in every town
about these things. So I think it's just
a really prudent step, really smart step
to take to pass a moratorum and and
learn more about it. Um, one thing I
think people have trouble understanding
is the sheer scale of these things. So
uh, in Vinand they're they're applying
for a 350 megawatt data center. So that
power consumption that would be
approximately 600,000 gallons of diesel
per day burning. So, that's 65 tanker
trucks coming into that thing per day.
If it's it's not going to be powered by
diesel, but if it were, some are in in
part. Um, if you were to build a solar
field for it, you'd be talking about
15,000 acres of solar to power the
thing. Of course, you can't power it
because it runs with solar because it
runs 247. So, just the sear sheer scale
of this thing is really hard to u
imagine. And that's actually small, a
small data center compared to what
they're talking about building in
Montana, in Texas, in Utah. U so there's
really no telling what kind of
application could come into here. And
you know, anywhere it's going to go is
going to drastically affect whoever
lives in that neighborhood and possibly
the whole town. So uh appreciate your
prudence. Thank you.
>> Thank you.
Hi, Debbie Krauss. Um,
three things. The pole permit. When
Nileen was just talking about the pole
permit, do we know how long? Because
right now Pinelands is three months
behind on giving certificate of filings
or working to get any kind of
correspondence back to you. Um, I'm
waiting on three different applications
and I'm just wondering is this going to
be that I'm going to have to wait
another month for or two months or how
long is the permit process going to
take?
>> Bob, are we worried about private
property polls going up on private? This
is so this is just municipal by the
ways.
>> Oh, okay.
>> Yeah, this isn't we're not we're not
>> Okay.
>> So, if you're building a house and you
have to add an additional pole on your
private property, this doesn't cover.
>> All right. Good. I'm glad of that. Um,
and maybe the chief might get in on this
one. I have in the past two months had
my internet shut off because somebody is
cutting wires out in way. Um, okay. So,
we all know.
>> Have we caught anybody?
>> Okay.
>> Yeah. I didn't know that because my
internet and I that's why Okay.
>> I didn't know it was they were being
cut. Okay.
>> So, and yours went off too. Yeah.
Because this last time
>> Oh, the wires are hanging right off the
poles on Wemouth Road. just hanging
there. It's unbelievable.
>> They told me they're just going with, I
guess, like a chainsaw and just cutting
250 ft, putting it in the back of a
truck and taking off and it's got copper
in it. And I'm like, you got to be
kidding me. Um, and this has been four
times. And um, it takes them sometime,
one time it took them five days to get
the internet back on. Thank god I had a
hot spot on my phone, but um, it still
doesn't help. Um, but I just wanted to
see if you guys were all aware and if
anybody has been caught. Um, I mean,
watching some guy up at the pole cutting
with a a saw would would make me think I
should call the police, but I guess
they're not. Nobody's calling or cameras
are catching them.
>> Okay. Yeah, it seemed like it was out in
Wayouth, like where um I think they said
Jackson Road and Belmont Avenue where
houses are five and 10 acres apart. So,
you know, not many people are working
during the day. Um the other thing when
you were talking about Amazon um is did
Amazon finish the plan where they're not
going to have two story. It's just going
to be one story and take up more area
more clearing.
>> It's still twotory.
>> It is still two.
>> Yeah.
>> Weren't they going for
>> They were going to be It was going to be
much higher and they they scaled that
back.
>> Okay. I thought that they were taking
two stories and making
>> Yes. They brought it down and made it a
little bit wider.
>> They did. So, they're changing the area
of the clearing. Okay. Is it how how
big? Do you know?
>> Not off the top of my head. No, I don't.
All right.
>> I'm sorry.
>> I will say this, when they're done,
there's going to be more trees out there
than what's there now.
>> It's a racetrack now.
>> It's unbelievable what they're putting.
Yes.
>> It's It's unbelievable how many trees
and shrubs. There's going to be more
trees and more green out there than
there is now.
>> Okay.
>> Absolutely.
>> You made sure that.
>> Thank you.
>> Yeah, I kind of made sure that.
>> Hi,
>> Teresa D. Rose from Laurdale. Um I
noticed that everybody's talking about
um putting in
poles and uh sidewalks and stuff. So,
they put in the gas lines in Laureldale
and I went through, you know, driving
around Laureldale. Uh, almost everybody
got the gas lines in their street except
my section, the 5800 block of Holly
Street. There's no gas line going down
the other way, Cleveland and all the
others, but not in my section. Are they
putting one in there?
>> Yeah, you would have to talk to South
Jersey Gas and request them.
>> Yeah. All right.
>> We don't tell them to go put it there.
>> Yeah. I didn't know who was responsible.
>> Yeah, you would have to request it from
South Jersey Gas.
>> Okay. All right. Thanks.
>> Anybody else?
>> Motion to close.
>> Second.
>> I have a motion to second. All those in
favor?
>> I
against
>> eyes have it. Uh, no executive session.
So,
>> motion to motion to adjurnn.
>> Second.
>> I have a motion to second. All those in
favor? I against.
>> Thank you.