Pleasantville City Council Meeting February 2, 2026

Good evening everyone. This is the city
council work meeting. Today is February
the 2nd, 2026. The time is 6:30. This
meeting has been duly advertised in the
city newspapers in conformance with the
Open Public Meetings Act, otherwise
known as the Sunshine Law. Roll call,
please.
>> I'm sorry.
>> Clay
Street,
>> present. status.
>> Swepson
Thomas
>> present a check.
>> For the record, Miss Wepson um is out
this evening due to her illness and um
Councilman Barklay is out due to
emergent matter
for the record.
May I have approval of previous minutes?
>> Motion.
>> All in favor? I
and third agenda begin.
We have on the agenda resolution
21
authorizing the execution of an
amendment purchase and sale agreement
with block 102 lots 10 and 24 a
subdivided portion of block 102 lot
three. Any questions, councelor?
Seeing none.
>> Resolution 22 authorizing the fiscal
year 2026 local recreation approvement
grant application funded by the New
Jersey Department of Community Affairs.
>> Any questions? Council seeing none.
>> Resolution 23 authorizing application
for a local efficiency achievement
program grant with the New Jersey
Department of Community Affairs. Any
questions? Council see none.
>> Resolution 24, approving the submitt of
application to the New Jersey Department
of Environmental Protection and the New
Jersey Environmental Infrastructure
Trust for infrastructure projects.
>> Any questions? Council see
>> resolution 45 approving the submitt of a
grant application and execution of a
grant agreement with United States
Department of Transportation for better
utilizing investments to leverage
development grant.
>> Any questions? Council seeing none.
>> Resolution 26, approval to submit a
grant application and execute a grant
agreement with the New Jersey Department
of Transportation.
>> Any questions? Council seeing none.
Resolution 27, approving acceptance of
various New Jersey Department of
Transportation grants funds. Any
questions, council? See none.
>> Resolution 28, authorizing the
professional service contract to M
Watson's Associates LLC for construction
management and inspection services for
the Washington Avenue and Main Street
Demolition ideal city center project.
This is what I did. Any questions?
Seeing none.
>> Resolution 29 authorizing contract to Ke
Tech Laboratories for HMA course
sampling and testing for the New Jersey
Department of Transportation Ridgewood
Avenue roadway improvements project.
>> Any questions, council? See none.
>> The next two following resolution are
add-ons. Resolution 30 reaffirming
ordinance number 17-2023
adopted on August 21st, 2023 and
extending the time frame for the
purchase agreement to be executed.
>> Anyone have any questions in reference
to this resolution?
Resolution 31 authorizing the tax
assessor to file a petition of appeal or
appeals for the tax year 2026.
>> Any questions council? See none.
>> Next review of the bills.
All right.
>> Good evening.
Okay. So
before you you have um two
you have the bill list and we are going
to review
the paid items. Those were items that
needed to be paid prior to
today. And that's the one that is called
on the top. I'm trying to figure out the
check register check register list. Um,
one of the highpaying items on there is
a necessary and this is uh to the New
Jersey Department
of Labor
for unemployment for part- timerrs and
that was $48,620.77.
And uh the other items were basically
reimbursements for the health benefit uh
for the medical
reimbursement piece through Medicare
through Medicaid.
Anybody has any other questions
regarding the check register
list?
>> Okay.
then reviewing the
purchase order listing.
Um
so one of the um higher items to be paid
on here was for November and December
fuel charges that's to the Atlantic
County Treasury's office $15,8962
and
All all of the other items were
basically day-to-day operations for the
departments once we did the roll over on
January 12th and
does anybody have any questions on those
items?
>> Any questions?
>> No, I don't have a question on these
items. Okay.
>> Of course, Franklin Boulevard. Uh, how's
that project?
>> The the pedestrian one or the UEZ one
that has to all be coordinated. Um I
know that they had a meeting
not this past Friday but the Friday
before to to for all the spots um that
are approved on that application on the
various streets and corners. Um
and that's all I can mention about that
uh right now as to the ordering. We
already have a purchase order in place
with the company and I cannot say.
>> So, has things been ordered? The signs
and all this? Has that been ordered? Are
we ready to move on or?
>> Uh, I believe so. I can find out more. I
just have not looked into it since the
last time it was inquired about. I can
um reach you with an email tomorrow
>> and let you know where where it's at. um
where that um the the signage for the
Franklin
>> because this will go while I want to
make sure we get this going because the
public was really concerned about it.
>> Oh, sure. Absolutely. One of the things
that this grant um
they we just awarded the contract I
believe last month in December.
>> So, they know that this is a fastforward
project. Everything else is pretty done
on the administrative end that needed to
happen like ordinances about the stop
sign all of that have been reviewed and
approved in the past. So we are now able
to move and that's why we had to move
forward to get this grant uh rolling. So
I will have more information for you
tomorrow. Thank you.
>> Number two satisfied with that. Number
two, same question. Hback for the fire
department.
>> I did send an email Okay. It's still in
review process until we don't get until
I don't see or they sent us the the
approval notice
>> is still under review.
>> Thank you.
>> Approval notice will get sent.
>> The approval notice will get sent into
the mayor first and to uh Mr. Will apply
and then it goes to Ken and myself. So
as soon as we be able to get it, I'll
make sure you guys are aware. I'll make
sure you know. I'm praying we get this
approved so we can move forward and have
this done you know at least in the
spring
of the last hold up we have uh all the
work that has been done in the city with
the buildings with the police and the
fire department and now I really know
that the rec center has to be done now
but that HVAC system for the fire
department is one of the main things
that is left on the checklist for us you
know public safety that's on our
checklist to get completed and I
hopefully I can have that done in April
>> as you said everything's done Uh, with
that pretty much we're just waiting for
the approval letter to come in and we'll
get we'll be cracking on it.
>> Thank you.
>> Um, I'm still waiting for Main Street.
>> Main Street.
>> Yeah.
>> Okay. The Main Street project. That's
the the lighting.
>> Yes.
>> Okay. So, I spoke to the vendor. Half of
the shipment is here. And is that corre?
>> Sorry. Excuse. Sorry. I mean, so
officially everything's in now. Oh,
great. Great.
>> That's it over today. I got that email,
too.
>> Okay, that's great. So, now
>> that's a project that we're working with
the u
>> the electrician because the electrician
has to connect everything.
>> So, we have all the lighting. Now, we
have to have the electrician put the
lighting in.
>> No, they're just going to do the
connections. We're going to put the
poles in cuz that's labor work. That's
stuff we do. And then they will do the
connections
because you have to have a license.
>> We have we have an estimated time on
that for that main street.
>> That's that's top the list just came in
the list. We're all excited about it.
We're super happy that that's
>> it. Really be good while it's till it
gets dark at 5:00 to have these lights
lit up for me. I I think I think you'll
probably see these met and I don't want
to put the pressure on Kyrie cuz he's
not here for me to use as a reference
but I I think uh within the the month of
February you'll see all
>> great right great since
>> when November told they were coming in
in November they didn't move in every
month and there was a delay
>> so now they're in
>> now they're in
>> and all we have to do is install them
and have electricity connect them I
don't think that should take them 30
days that should be by inst you'll
Notice that a lot of the um
>> the lights it's lit up again because all
the lights were down on Main Street.
That's all lit up again and some of
those lights have actually even been
repaired covering those guys have been
working on
improvement in the last week to 10 days.
>> It's looking good. Yeah,
>> it's looking better.
>> The bulbs are something
>> satisfied.
>> Yes, definitely. Yes.
Hopefully it it should be done by the
end of the month. I take that. Thank
you.
>> Thank you.
>> You're welcome. Go ahead.
>> Madam solicitor, is there a state
standard benchmark or requirement of
council or the governing body uh with
regard to publishing the agenda?
You were supposed to publish the agenda.
>> Yeah. But how much are we required to
publish?
>> You have to publish the agenda itself.
You mean you have to publish each and
every resolution?
>> I on the
basically there's a complaint about
>> the amount of information I'm
>> Yeah. I'm sure that you guys got it
before. I have I have not
>> but now you Oh, you're getting
>> I'm getting the complaint from community
>> that the
>> about the amount of information
agenda the agenda is required and then
they can typically they can go to the
clerk's office to look at resolutions.
The issue though becomes it's not
actually a resolution to which time is
so it's really still in the
>> draft proposal
>> you know
>> and I just want to add that
>> that's what they explained to them as
well.
>> So apparently they went to the Fsein um
council meeting and
>> oh yeah
>> um the way they give their agendas
>> resolutions and everything
>> can they put proposed resolutions at
least they should if that's what the way
that they're going to do it. I mean,
look, in some cities, they publish their
notes to claims, right?
>> You're not required to, but they do,
right? So, every agenda is different.
You're only required to comply with the
open public um need exact,
>> you know? And so, you know, we could
take another look at it just to make
sure that, you know, whatever is being
published that it fits the criteria. But
typically when there are things that are
in dwarf product or draft where they're
confidential like certain personnel
reports then they're not subject to the
open public leave public uh public
records act. Um and you know so there's
an overlap because there's the open
public records act where people have the
right to know
>> or see those documents and then there's
the open public meetings act that you
must comply with in advertising and then
how you perform when you're here.
>> Okay. Thank you.
>> Okay. But we we certainly can just take
a look at it to satisfy, you know,
whomever want may want to say something
next.
>> I'm confident that we're we're in
compliance. I'm just wondering if there
were any standards or or benchmarks or
some
>> the the benchmark is always the the
minimum requirement. You exceed
>> but you always but you have to do the
minimum.
>> You have to do there's practicality then
there's wish.
>> Right. Right.
>> Okay.
There's there's there's requirements and
then there's that which is
discretionary.
>> Um, and as you know, and I'm not going
to give any additional legal advice here
on the record, but there's some new
benchmarks, as you like to call it,
requirements for publishing that went
into effect January of 2026. And, you
know, so it's going to be both
informative to the public, but also it
will be u more cost effective for the
municip municipalities.
So people may say something about that.
We can talk off offline and the clerk is
aware of those new requirements.
>> Thank you.
>> Anyone else?
>> All right. May I have a motion to close
the work session?
>> Motion.
>> All in favor?
>> I
>> Good evening everyone. This is the city
council meeting. Today is February the
2nd, 2026 and the time is 6:46.
This meeting has been duly advertised in
the city newspapers in conformance with
the open public meetings act, otherwise
known as the sunshine law. Please stand
for the flag.
Father
against us
all glory and
>> Ice to the flag of the United States of
America and to the republic for which it
stands nation
indivisibley
He's trying to go
>> like
roll call. Madam cler.
Pomona
>> present.
>> Bettis
>> present.
>> Sweepson.
>> Thomas
>> present.
>> May I have a motion to dispense previous
minutes?
>> All in favor?
>> Mayor, you have
>> I don't. But I do want everyone to wish
Miss May Jackson a 101
birthday this year. Last week she turned
101 years old and that's just
>> I've known that
>> I've known Miss Jackson my whole life.
Thank you.
>> Public
Mr. Gway.
>> Good evening everyone.
>> Good evening.
>> Um I'm trying to find out resolution 21.
I see
something with Washington Avenue.
Actually, where is this located? The uh
subdivision
>> that address
I'm sorry address is in the expensation
>> on the corner.
>> Yeah. Okay. That's the reason why I'm
asking because there's some whispering
in the community about
um the
transfer station dump that there was
something approved from the planning
board with something with some sub
subdivided. Is there any truth to that
at all?
>> Yes.
>> Had nothing to do with transfer station.
>> I'm sorry.
>> Why didn't you recognize apologize?
That's fine.
>> That was the uh that I believe that was
either in December or November. Uh and
I'm saying that because I I was the
representative of council on the
>> and it was a uh it was sort of a
proforma.
Is that the right term? Since the the
judge kind of sent the matter back to
the planning board and that was the
subdivision was the the agenda that was
her was on the agenda to be heard was
part of the agenda to be heard the night
that we uh banged the the the transfer
station but never got heard.
>> But uh
it was just dividing the property has
nothing to do with any transfer station.
And as a matter of fact, uh I believe
and it's listed correctly, there was a
recent court decision, yes, appellet
court decision
>> that in communities such as ours and
classified as ours, there shall be none
of that
>> kind of stuff we can rest.
>> So where you can rest
>> that there will be
>> you can rest for the next 30 years
probably.
>> You know,
>> that's all I need you to know.
>> That's that's not going to happen. And
>> I hope not. I think I'm
>> I can see the court.
>> I see the court.
>> All right.
>> We have a motion to close public
portion.
>> Motion.
>> Second.
>> All in favor?
>> I clerk.
>> Resolution 21 authorizing the execution
of amendment purchase and settle
agreement for block 102 lots 10 and 24
subdivided portion of block 102 lot.
>> I have a motion. Motion.
>> I have a second.
>> Second.
>> Roll call.
>> Kimona.
>> Yes.
>> Ogusby.
>> Yes.
>> Battis.
>> Yes.
>> Thomas.
>> Yes.
>> Resolution approved. Resolution 22
authorizing the fiscal year 2026 local
recreation improvement grant application
funded by the New Jersey Department of
Community Affairs. May
>> I have a motion?
>> Motion. May I have a second?
I'll second. Roen.
>> Yes. Overby,
>> yes. Battis,
>> yes.
>> Thomas,
>> yes.
>> Resolution approved. Resolution 23,
authorizing application for the local
efficiency achievement program grant
from the New Jersey Department of
Community Affairs. May
>> I have a motion? Motion.
>> May I have a second?
>> Second.
>> Colona,
>> yes.
>> Orispy,
>> yes.
>> That
>> yes.
>> Thomas,
>> yes.
>> Resolution approved. Resolution 24
approves submitt of an application to
the New Jersey Department of
Environmental Protection and the New
Jersey Environmental Infrastructure
Trust for Infrastructure Projects.
>> May I have a motion?
>> Motion. May
>> I have a second?
>> Second.
>> Kimona,
>> yes.
>> Ogusby,
>> yes.
>> Bettis,
>> yes.
>> Thomas,
>> yes.
>> Resolution.
Resolution 25 approves the submittal of
a grant application and execution of a
grant agreement with the United States
Department of Transportation for a
better realizing investments to leverage
development grant.
>> May I have a motion?
>> Motion.
>> May I have a second?
>> Second.
>> Roll call, please.
>> Kimona,
>> yes.
>> Ogusby,
>> yes.
>> Bennis,
>> yes.
>> Thomas,
>> yes.
>> Resolution approved. Resolution 26,
approval to submit a grant application
and execute a grant agreement with the
United States Department of
Transportation. May
>> I have a motion?
>> Motion.
>> May have a second.
>> Second.
>> Kimona.
>> Yes.
>> Old.
>> Yes.
>> Bettis,
>> yes.
>> Thomas,
>> yes.
>> Resolution approved. Resolution 27
approving acceptance of various New
Jersey Department of Transportation
grants funds.
>> May I have a motion?
>> Motion.
>> May I have a second?
>> Second.
>> Call, please.
>> Kimona,
>> yes.
>> Oldest,
>> yes.
>> Bettis,
>> yes.
>> Thomas,
>> yes.
>> Resolution approved. Resolution 28
authorizes a professional service
contract to M Wapsson's Associates LLC
for construction management and
inspection services for the Washington
Avenue and Main Street demolition ideal
city center project.
>> May I have a motion?
>> Motion.
>> May I have a second?
>> Second.
>> Roll call, please.
>> Kimona,
>> yes.
>> Over.
>> Yes.
>> Thomas,
>> yes.
>> Resolution approved. Resolution 29
authorizing the contract with PE Tech
Laboratories for HMA Ford sampling and
testing for the New Jersey Department of
Transportation Ridgewood Roadway
improvements project.
>> May I have a motion?
>> Motion.
>> May I have a second?
>> Second.
>> Roll call.
>> Colona,
>> yes.
>> Ogisby,
>> yes.
>> Pettis,
>> yes.
>> Thomas,
>> yes.
>> Resolution approved. Resolution 30, a
add-on reaffirming ordinance number
17-2023
adopted on August the 21st, 2023 and
extending the time frame for the
purchase agreement to be executed. May
>> I have a motion?
>> Motion.
>> Have a second.
>> Second.
>> Roll call, please.
>> Kimona,
>> yes.
>> Oldest,
>> yes.
>> Yes.
>> Thomas,
>> yes.
>> Resolution approved. Resolution 31,
which is a add-on authorizing the tax
assessor provider to file a petition of
appeal or appeals for the tax year 2026.
May
>> I have a motion? May I have a second?
>> Second.
>> Roll call, please.
>> Kimona,
>> yes.
>> Yes.
>> Bettis,
>> yes.
>> Thomas,
>> yes.
>> Resolution approved. I need a motion to
pay the bills.
>> Motion second.
Roll call.
>> Kimona.
>> Yes.
>> Bettis.
>> Yes.
>> Over speed.
>> Yes.
>> Thomas,
>> yes.
>> Resolution. Motion approved. Next is
comments.
>> You have anything?
>> Just like to thank everyone for coming
out and
try to stay warm. Stay on two feet.
>> Have a good
time.
I want to say uh thank you to uh public
works that did a good job. I was out
there when there was snow and
everything.
>> They did excellent job.
>> Thank you public work.
>> Everybody have a blessing
to Mr. Care.
>> Please be careful.
Um,
I just want to say that um,
our former councilwoman Fabero,
um, she will no longer be here with us.
Um, she accepted a position with Atlanta
County Taxation. I'm not board of
taxation.
>> Oh, board of taxation.
Um, so we do have a vacant seat right
now. That's why she is not here. She
will be truly missed. Anyone
else has anything to say?
>> That's it. Most
>> all in favor.
>> Have a good night everyone.
>> Thank you for coming.
>> You have