City Council Meeting February 18, 2026

Good evening everyone. This is the city
council work meeting. Today is February
the 18th. The time is 6:30 and it's
2026.
This meeting has been duly advertised in
the city newspaper in conformance with
the open public meetings act otherwise
known as the sunshine law. Roll call
please. Simona
>> present
.
>> Ogusby
>> present.
>> Swepson
>> Thomas
>> present. Six in attendance. For the
record, council speed will not be in
attendance this evening. May I have
approval of previous minutes?
>> Motion. Second.
>> All in favor?
>> Madam clerk, agenda. First is the well
first we will be having regular session
which is the public hearing of the the
green anchors program funding for the
max man complex. Next we have which will
be following that would need a vote is
resolution 32 authorizing to apply for
green acres program funding from the New
Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection.
You have any questions on the public
do now?
>> Okay. You want to do it now?
>> All right.
Okay. Good evening, Council President
Castle.
>> Good evening.
>> Jim, Mattel Associates. We asked by the
city prepare an application for the
acres application for approved maximing
complex. Uh this grant is a 100 city
qualifies for 100% grant that'll pay for
both the design and the uh installation
of a turf field at the Max Complex. Um
the we did a survey as part of the uh
requirements grant of of residents. We
had over 120 residents respond which is
very unusual usually get that kind of
response. Uh over 80% of the those that
responded uh were supportive of the turf
field of vaccine complex. So we know
that we're heading in the right
direction. We're doing something for the
public once and um we had to do an
environmental impact assessment of the
property as well as uh put together a uh
summary of the impacts of synthetic turf
at that field. As you can imagine, you
know, that that site uh in order to put
turf in, you're going to have to put in
significant drainage. It's a real major
construction project.
um uh some of the surrounding
communities have recently done similar
projects. So we had the luxury of using
uh talking to them and giving their
experience and their cost estimates and
that's what we use in this application.
Um this public hearing tonight is a
requirement of Green Acres and the
minutes will be submitted as part of the
application. The application will be
submitted next week. Are there any
questions?
>> Anyone have anything?
Well, we don't have a time frame on
>> Well, yeah, they they move pretty fast.
Um, we're hoping to uh uh hear something
uh this summer.
>> Okay.
>> And uh we move forward with design and
then construction.
>> All right.
Question.
>> Yes. Go ahead.
>> I I think I know the answer, but any
chance of project being done by
September?
Not this football season,
next football season.
>> The other thing I should mention,
>> make sure all those respondents to the
survey know that.
>> Okay. Yes, sir. Uh, the other thing I
should mention is at the same time,
we're looking at other funding. Um, and
for example, there's NFL funding that
provides up to a quarter of a million
dollars for turf football fields. if
we're uh have we're lucky enough to get
that funding that would allow us to do
other things at the park besides just
the uh the field improvements. So, we're
continuing to look at other phases how
we can continue to improve the park.
>> Thank you very much.
>> Thank you very much,
>> Madam Cler. Resolution 32 authorizing to
apply for green acres program funding
from the New Jersey Department of D.
>> Any questions council? Seeing none.
>> Resolution 33 granting approval of a
court drop to the Pleasantville Junior
Juris Association. Any questions
council? See none. Resolution 34
authorizing execution of a memorandum of
understanding with Aliwa Family LLC to
complete a redevelopment plan and
potentially a redevelopment agreement
for properties located within block 291,
lot 9.01 and block 291, lot 7.01.
>> Any questions council?
Seeing none.
>> Resolution 35 authorizing transfer
appropriation reserves current fund. Any
questions council?
See none.
>> Resolution 36 authorizes the personal
transaction for February 26. Any
questions council
say none.
>> Next is review of the bill CFO.
>> Good evening.
>> Okay. So, we have um the check register
is a two-pager and these were items that
were paid prior to tonight's meeting and
most of the payments are here are for
employees benefits
uh county services like um county
treasure $15,819
for
fuel and that's for for a couple of
months. I'm sorry. What is that for?
Field.
>> And then the other is the open purchase
order report.
Uh those are the items to be paid
subject to approval. Why is this
vibrating?
I'm sorry, something's vibrating on
here. But anyway, okay. So if you look
at page one, one of the items paid on
this bill, uh going to be paid on this
bill list is um
our waste removal and recycling for 155
84545.
That's on page one. Any questions? Page
one.
Okay. Page two,
we are looking at the payment to
uh Crescent Woods Association
for $7,682
83.
And you will see throughout the bill
list that we are beginning to pay just
only trash to the condos association
that they built for. Any questions on
Yes, sir.
>> Yes. And there are several of those. Uh
are they all for just one pickup a week
and not two?
>> The bills the bills that we were paying
didn't state
if it was one or two pickups
>> that we were informed that that was an
issue. So hopefully before the checks
are cut, if it's not too late, that
>> we will cue that.
>> Sure.
>> That that that
we don't have to pay
for two pickups a week. Some of those
condos have been getting that and
billing us for it. So,
>> so one of the things that we're also
doing is just paying for the trash
pickup because they were getting paid
for electrical services and other
services that was not part of part of um
anything regarding trash. So, we will
make sure that before the payments do go
out that we don't have
>> Please make sure those bills are
specific.
>> Sure. Um, madam CFO, yes, I believe what
um, Councilman is talking about was um,
the Marina Del Rey, but I don't see it
on
Marina Del Re. Um, I believe they were
bought out by
>> I'm sorry, not Marina Delings.
>> Landings. The landings.
>> Landings. Okay,
>> I will look into that. If it's not on
here, most likely was mistakenly missed.
But I will look into the landings.
>> Okay.
>> On page two, that's what we have. Fox
Run um
for $963153.
On page three,
there's um an emergency
storm repair. I believe this was Ohio
Avenue. So, we're just getting to pay it
now because the services are done. This
was an emergency storm repair.
That was 5700 $5750
even.
Anyone any questions on page three?
>> No.
>> Okay.
page four
billion.
>> Okay.
>> 44,000.
>> Thank you.
>> Go ahead, K. I'm sorry. No problem. Page
four,
we are looking at New Jersey American
Water and for two months payment
60,83719.
Any
questions? On page four,
page five,
we have Phoenix Corporation. Excuse me,
Pro Phoenix Corporation.
$54,531.58.
And that's the police department
software for their computer a dispatch.
Any questions on page five?
Page six, last page is a payment for
$7,500 even to Triricare Medical
Transport. That's our EMS service. Any
questions on page five?
Page six. Any questions on page
>> I'm sorry, page six. Thank you.
>> All right. Seeing none. Thank you ma'am.
>> Thank you.
All right.
Next we have
council.
Any comments?
All right.
May I have a motion to adjurnn?
>> Motion to second.
>> Good evening everyone. This is the city
council meeting. Today is February the
18th, 2026, and the time is 6:42
p.m.
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 invocation and flag.
We're going to have a solemn prayer,
please.
Amen.
>> Amen.
>> I aliance to the flag of the United
States of America and to the republic
for which it stands. One nation under
God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all.
Kimona
>> present.
>> Clark
>> present.
>> Ogusby
>> Vis
>> Weepson
>> present.
>> Six in attendance. May I have a motion
to dispense previous minutes?
>> Motion second.
>> All in favor?
>> See, we don't have any accommodations,
proclamations, or presentations. Next,
we have public portion.
Jonathan Diego,
>> council president,
ladies and gentlemen, council, I was
initially under the impression that
today there was going to be a
determination and a vote by the board by
the city council related to the seat
that was vacated by uh Joanne and Um I
don't know exactly when she officially
resigned. However, I do know that under
the statute
uh city council specifically NJSA4A16-11
um the city council has 30 days from the
date of resignation to fill the
position. Um I I'll defer to um council
and regarding the date that she did
officially or that she gave notice of
the resignation, but I think we're if we
haven't reached it, we're pretty close
to reaching that 30-day period. Um and
then obviously if the council does not
take a vote on um who's going to fill
that position within the next 30 days, I
believe that the city committee already
submitted the three names of the
individuals that uh city council will
consider and if city council does not
vote on those three names, then it goes
back to the city committee and they get
to pick the person.
I would think
>> um it should be the elected body, not
a
>> committee
that makes that decision. So,
I'd respectfully request that a vote be
had. Um if if we if it's not today, then
definitely within the 30-day period that
the statute calls for that statute
requires. And I would respectfully
submit I think the majority of the
individuals on council know me or know
of me. Um know that I'm a native
Pleasantville born and raised on the
north side. Um and my family's resided
here for almost 100 years and I've owned
businesses
uh and still live here on the north
side. Um, I would ask that u members of
city council seriously consider Urban
Marina Rodriguez to fill that open
position. He ran for that position and
actually previously won at the ballot
box
um only to lose by years of absentee
messenger ballots, but he is somebody
that actually really does care about our
community. He um puts out his time and
effort. He's very intelligent. He has a
master's degree. Um, and he's somebody
that really cares about our community
like everybody here on city council. And
I think he would be an outstanding
addition um to the city council.
Again, if the vote's not going to happen
today, I respectfully request that it
occurs within the statutory uh 30-day
period so it does not go back to the
body because I think the decision should
be made here by the elected body. Thank
you.
Thank you.
>> Thank you. Thank you.
>> Next, we have um Jonathan.
>> We're not related. Don't worry about it.
>> How you say your last name?
>> Okay.
>> Uh for those who don't know, it's nice
to meet you. My name is John.
Uh I'm actually a local entrepreneur. I
am the operator behind Espiranto's
Kitchen on 141 Main Street. Uh few years
ago that was one of the biggest city
hazards in Plazville, not just
Pleasible, the Atlantic Atlantic County
as a whole. Um now I can probably say
it's a safe space. Uh we don't allow any
soliciting in that area and we cooperate
as much as possible. One of the things
that I would like to talk about is
development. I love development. I think
because of it, our crime rate has
decreased. Because of it, we have a
better community and plazo is a great
example that the American dream is well
and it's flourishing and it can be
afforded to anybody in this community
and town. We are very diverse community.
We're like 45% Hispanic, 45%
African-American, 45% Muslim, 45%
Christian, and everything in between.
And we all know each other and there is
no toxicity between my neighbors. I
first started our first business in uh
12A 12B alteract next to the Chinese
place over there and so I'm one of the
biggest teners in this community. I have
seen old terack develop into what it is
today and I'm very excited for it. The
one thing I would like for city to focus
on in this upcoming year not just create
new development
but help the local business owners that
are already here and established. One of
the best ways you guys can help us right
now is by facilitating parking to our
customers to our business owners. A
suggestion would be maybe put a twohour
parking sign there on old turn bike. It
avoids a lot of the congestion. We also
have I know nei
um parking public parking space but it's
not known to everybody. and maybe we
could improve the signage in that
because what happens is a lot of people
go into alter park they leave their
coaster and they go to unemployment
business. Besides that um
one of the other things I would like to
do is I I've been feeding people over
the winter and I do this out of the
kindness of my heart because I identify
people who who haven't had something
sweet. Um, unfortunately I'm not always
able to do that based on some
restrictions that I recently find out.
And the main restriction is parking. The
best way I can help feed people and
consuming feeding people is by making my
establishment on Alter Park more into a
restaurant/ kind of event space. What I
decided to do is I decided to create a
coffee shop into a breakfast place. The
only restriction again is parking. So,
if you guys are able to allow us more of
a venue to have more accessible parking
or enforce those requirements, even in a
new development, that would be a huge
benefit to the people that have
sacrificed every single thing, every
single dollar. There's a lot of people
that work seven days a week in this
area, 7 days a week. So, just help us
out a little bit. Okay, I'm John. I'll
keep coming back.
>> All right. Thank you.
>> May I have a motion to close public
portion? Motion. Second.
>> All in favor? I
>> resolution 32 authorizing to apply for
green acres program funding from the New
Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection.
>> May I have a motion?
>> Motion.
>> May I have a second?
>> Second call.
>> Now, let me go back. We have that public
hearing. He did the introduction. That's
why I thought he was going to do it all
together. So, um, can you open the floor
up, Madam President, for the public
hearing?
>> If anyone would like to speak on the
public hearing for the Green Acres
program funded for the next man complex,
please come up to the mic.
Go once.
All right. Mr.
Rodriguez, uh, 7:30 near Maple Road,
Pleas, New Jersey. Uh,
Council President, u I'd like to read
the letter that we submitted in support
of the project. Um, is that okay?
>> Yes.
>> Um,
>> um, so this was submitted.
>> Can you name for the record?
>> Urban Reno Rodriguez.
>> Thank you.
The letter is dated February 2nd, 2026
to the state of New Jersey Department of
Environmental Protection.
Uh, I am writing to provide my full
support for the city of Pleasantville's
application to the Green Acres program
to make improvements to the Max Manning
Complex. The Max Manning Complex is
located 1100 Lincoln Avenue in the city
of Pleasant
facilities include a football field with
lighting, a pavilion, seating area. Uh
the park is also used for soccer,
softball, and t-ball games. The park
caters to both local teams and
organizations looking for p a place to
play and compete. Uh with this grant, I
understand the city wants to make the
following improvements. Upgraded
services surfaces, upgraded buildings,
ADA accessibility, improved lighting,
and new amenities. The complex, and this
is dear to me as a historian, is named
after Max Manning, a standout pitch
pitcher for the Newark Eagles and uh who
played a significant role in the 1946
Negro World Series. And Mr. Manning, of
course, became a much respected educator
in the community of Pleas. Um, and I
wrote this letter because I strongly
support this application regards urban
rhino Rodriguez. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Putting letter on the
website. Anyone
else?
May I have a motion to close the um
public hearing?
>> May I have a second?
>> Second.
>> All in favor?
>> Resolution 32 authorizing to apply for
green acres program funding from the New
Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection.
>> Have a motion.
>> Motion.
>> Second.
Seconded by Councilman Bettis.
>> Yes.
>> Rohold
>> Pomona.
>> Yes.
>> Barlay.
>> Yes.
>> Bettis.
>> Yes.
>> Sweptson.
>> Yes.
>> Thomas,
>> yes.
>> Resolution approved. Resolution 33,
granting approval of a coin drop to the
Pleasantville Junior Jokers football
organization scheduled for April the 4th
and May the 23rd.
>> May I have a motion?
>> Motion.
>> I have a second.
>> Second.
>> Ro.
>> Kimona.
>> Yes.
>> Clang.
>> Yes. Fettis,
>> yes.
>> Sweptson,
>> yes.
>> Thomas,
>> yes.
>> Resolution approved. Resolution 34,
authorizing the execution of a
memorandum of standing with Delhiwa
Family LLC to complete a redevelopment
plan and potentially a redevelopment
agreement for parties located within
block 291,
lot 9.01, and block 291, lot 7.01.
May
>> I have a motion?
>> Motion.
>> May I have a second? Second
>> roll call.
>> Kimona,
>> yes.
>> M clay,
>> present,
>> yes.
>> Fettis,
>> yes.
>> Swepson,
>> yes.
>> Thomas,
>> yes.
>> Resolution approved. Resolution 36,
authorizing transfer of appropriation
reserves fund. Current fund
>> 35.
What did I say? 36.
35.
>> Thank you.
>> Have a motion.
>> Motion.
>> Have a second. Second.
Roll call.
>> Kimona,
>> yes.
>> Clay,
>> yes.
>> Bettis,
>> yes.
>> Swepson,
>> yes.
>> Thomas,
>> yes.
>> Resolution approved. Resolution 36,
authorizing personnel transactions for
February 2026, which is new hires for
crossing guard for Ruby D. Coleman,
Kevin Stafford, and Ranada Harris. May I
have a motion? Motion. May I
>> have a second? Second. Roll call.
Kimona,
>> yes.
>> Barlay,
>> yes.
>> Fattis,
>> yes.
>> Swepson,
>> yes.
>> Thomas,
>> yes.
>> Resolution approved.
>> I need a motion to approve the bill
list.
>> Motion.
>> I have a second.
>> Second.
>> Pomona.
>> Yes.
>> Blay.
>> Yes.
>> That
uh yes, with the exception of uh page
two, item two.
Um
26 000027.
>> So noted
>> Swepson. Are you abstaining from that
one? Okay.
>> Yes.
>> Thomas.
>> Yes.
>> Motion approved.
>> All right. Any comments from council?
>> All right. Seeing none, may I have a
motion to adjurnn?
All in favor?
>> Yes.