All meeting minutes posted on the township website are unofficial minutes. Official copies of minutes may be obtained from the township clerk.

Minutes: January 7, 2021

A. OPENING OF REORGANIZATION MEETING

1. Opening of the Reorganization Meeting

The annual Reorganization Meeting of the Randolph Township Council was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Former Mayor Carey. This meeting is held pursuant to the New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act. Adequate notice of the meeting has been provided by posting written notice of the time, date, location and to the extent known, the agenda of the meeting in Randolph Township. This notice was posted on the Bulletin Board within Town Hall, on the main entrance doors to Town Hall, it was filed with the Township Clerk, and it was provided to those persons or entities requesting notification. Notice was also provided to the Randolph Reporter and the Morris County Daily Record on December 2, 2020 by emailing them the annual resolution adopted by the Council on November 12, 2020. The annual resolution, which included this meeting date, was advertised in the Randolph Reporter, the official newspaper of the Township of Randolph, and the Daily Record on December 10, 2020.

Former Mayor Carey stated: “Welcome to the Randolph Township Council Reorganization Meeting. It is January 7, its 6pm. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we are holding this meeting virtually. I am in the council chambers in the township building along with our Township Manager Steve Mountain, and our Township Clerk Donna Luciani, and Mark Forstenhausler and I are here as members of the council. Our other council members, legal counsel, and members of the public are participating via Zoom. Thank you to everyone who can join us tonight.”

2. Pledge of Allegiance

Former Mayor Carey led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Present: Township Manager Mountain; Township Clerk Luciani; Participating via Zoom: Edward Buzak from the Law Office of Edward Buzak; District Director Kellie Doucetti from the Office of Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill; Senator Anthony Bucco; Assemblywoman Aura Dunn; County Commissioner Director Stephen Shaw; Deputy Director Deborah Smith; and County Commissioner Tayfun Selen

B. MOMENT OF SILENCE

Former Mayor Carey stated: “Before we begin the formal part of our meeting, I would like to make a couple of statements. The last year all of our lives has been disrupted and impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. While many have suffered illness and have been affected financially and/or emotionally, those most impacted are the 24 individuals, Randolph residents, who passed away due to COVID-19 infection. I would like to ask that we pause for a moment of silence as we remember them and pray for them, their families, and loved ones.”

Former Mayor Carey continued: “The second comment I would like to make before we move on to the rest of our agenda is regarding the events that transpired in Washington, D.C. yesterday. I—along with the other council members—were shocked and so deeply saddened by what happened. The storming of the US Capitol in an attempt to interfere with the democratic process and to prevent the peaceful transfer of power—something that I was taught very early on in elementary school was a fundamental concept of democracy and something we, as Americans, have always been so proud of and respected for. What we saw unfold in Washington yesterday—an attack on our country—was devastating and deeply disturbing. As Americans, we are shaken by what has happened and as a council we condemn these acts and all acts of violence and extremism.”

She proceeded to recognize the presence of Deputy Director Deborah Smith, Assemblywoman Aura Dunn, and Senator Anthony Bucco, and stated that she appreciated the many other elected officials who have joined the meeting via phone/Zoom.

C. SWEARING IN OF NEWLY ELECTED COUNCIL MEMBERS

1. Swear in Newly Elected Council Members

Township Manager Mountain wished a Happy New Year to everyone joining the meeting. He congratulated the re-elected officials and informed the public that they were sworn-in the previous week by Township Clerk Luciani. The elected officials would be sworn-in ceremonially this evening.

Councilwoman Christine Carey was sworn in by Township Clerk Luciani; Manager Mountain held the bible.

Councilman Lance Tkacs was sworn in by Township Clerk Luciani; his wife, Kim Tkacs held the bible.

Councilwoman Joanne Veech was sworn in by Township Clerk Luciani; her husband, Warren Veech, held the bible.

D. ROLL CALL

2. Roll Call of the Township Council

PRESENT:
Councilwoman Carey
Councilman Forstenhausler
Councilman Loveys -via Zoom
Councilman Nisivoccia -via Zoom
Councilwoman Potter -via Zoom
Councilman Tkacs -via Zoom
Councilwoman Veech -via Zoom

E. SELECTION OF TEMPORARY MAYOR

Councilwoman Veech nominated Township Clerk Donna Luciani to be the temporary Mayor. Councilman Loveys seconded the nomination, and the following roll call vote was taken:

AYES:
Councilwoman Carey
Councilman Forstenhausler
Councilman Loveys
Councilman Nisivoccia
Councilwoman Potter
Councilman Tkacs
Councilwoman Veech

NAYS: None

F. NOMINATIONS AND SELECTION OF MAYOR FOR THE YEAR 2021

Councilwoman Carey nominated Councilman Mark Forstenhausler for Mayor of the Township of Randolph. Councilwoman Veech seconded the nomination, and the following roll call vote was taken:

AYES:
Councilwoman Carey
Councilman Forstenhausler
Councilman Loveys
Councilman Nisivoccia
Councilwoman Potter
Councilman Tkacs
Councilwoman Veech

NAYS: None

G. NOMINATIONS AND SELECTION OF DEPUTY MAYOR FOR THE YEAR 2021

Councilman Tkacs nominated Councilwoman Marie Potter for Deputy Mayor of the Township of Randolph. Councilman Nisivoccia seconded the nomination, and the following roll call vote was taken:

AYES:
Councilwoman Carey
Councilman Loveys
Councilman Nisivoccia
Councilwoman Potter
Councilman Tkacs
Councilwoman Veech
Mayor Forstenhausler

NAYS: None

H. SWEARING IN OF MAYOR AND DEPUTY MAYOR

Manager Mountain congratulated Councilman Forstenhausler and Councilwoman Potter on their appointments as Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

Mayor Forstenhausler was sworn in by Township Clerk Luciani; Manager Mountain held the bible.

Deputy Mayor Potter was sworn in by Township Clerk Luciani; her husband, John Potter, held the bible.

I. RECOGNIZE 2020 RANDOLPH MAYOR CHRISTINE CAREY

Manager Mountain made the following remarks:

• This was Mayor Carey’s second tour of duty. Her first term was not as eventful, but she came back for a second term and received more than her fair share of challenges over the past 12 months.
• As I commented during the prior council meeting in December, through this past year, which we all know had its challenges; Mayor Carey provided tremendous leadership for the council and the organization as a whole.
• She was responsive to every email, phone call, and provided assurance and reassurance to those that needed it throughout this difficult and challenging year.
• She gave selflessly of her time attending meetings, events and providing both the ceremonial as well as the formal leadership duties required of the mayor’s office.
• I am very grateful for the leadership and support she provided me, and on behalf of the whole organization I want to thank her for the service she has provided this past year.

Mayor Forstenhausler thanked Mayor Carey for reading the statement regarding the events that transpired in Washington D.C.; the council shared her sentiments. He stated that a year ago when Mayor Carey agreed to serve, there was no inclination about what 2020 would have in store for everyone. In addition to the usual issues the mayor faces as the head of the township’s governing body, the community was also faced with a worldwide pandemic, and an almost complete shutdown; yet, Randolph still had to function and municipal services had to be provided. Mayor Carey helped make it happen.

He explained that Mayor Carey worked tirelessly to keep residents informed. She volunteered at several food distribution events to assist residents. She participated in conference calls with health officials and government agencies, she mastered Zoom, GoToMeeting, and other platforms that quickly became mainstream, and if all that was not enough, it was an election year as well. He stated that through it all, Mayor Carey work hard and got the job done. He thanked her for her dedicated service to Randolph Township, adding that it was a challenging year that she handled with skill and grace. He presented her with a plaque.

Former Mayor Carey stated:

I want to thank Manager Mountain and Mayor Forstenhausler for their kind words.

Serving as Mayor of Randolph this past year has certainly been an honor and a privilege and I have enjoyed it tremendously.

As we are all aware, our country and our community faced many challenges in 2020. We faced a global pandemic, a significant economic downturn, an election conducted by mail-in ballot, and heightened awareness and concern about racial and social injustice.

As a community, as a Council, as a municipal organization, we addressed those challenges head on. We all worked together. As Mayor, I was never alone. I always felt the strong support of my colleagues, of the public and certainly from our Township Manager and staff. In spite of all these challenges, we were still able to deliver the “everyday” tasks and many other key accomplishments.

• We adopted a fiscally responsible budget that included no increase in the municipal tax levy for the fourth consecutive year.
• We created the Diversity and Inclusion Committee to assess the causes and impact of bias-related incidents in Randolph and to make recommendations for programs to address bias in our community.
• We opened Veterans Community Park and a community garden.
• We made significant progress towards an overall settlement of the Township’s affordable housing plan and advanced our collaboration with Morris Habitat for Humanity to build 25 affordable homes in Randolph
• We welcomed several new businesses to Randolph, developed a New Business Welcome packet to assist businesses interested in coming to Randolph and initiated a Shop Local campaign to bring attention to the many locally-owned businesses in our community.
• We installed a new cell tower behind the Township building to expand and improve cell phone coverage in Randolph.
• We conducted a major debris cleanup after Tropical Storm Isaias swept through Randolph in August.
• We continued to make improvements and upgrades to township infrastructure, including completing several water and sewer projects and paving and improving roads.
• We raised awareness about NJ211 as a resource for residents in need of health and human services, and educating staff and township leaders about NJ211 so they could share information with the public they serve who may need these services.
• We worked with the State Department of Transportation to improve the safety of the Route 10 corridor with the extension of the left turn lane at the Route 10/Center Grove intersection.

Lots of good things were accomplished this year.

I would like to thank and recognize our exceptional staff led by our Township Manager, Steve Mountain. The staff who work in this building and throughout the township, including our all-volunteer first responder teams really do a terrific job of keeping this town safe, keeping it running very smoothly and providing quality services to Randolph residents. Steve Mountain is an outstanding Town Manager and we are very fortunate to have him in Randolph.

I want to give special kudos to our Health Department and public health nurses who were put under tremendous pressure beyond anything they ever imagined this year and also to our Township Clerk, Donna Luciani, for making sure the unique election processes implemented this year ran smoothly and without incident.

Finally, I want to thank my colleagues on the Council. Randolph is very fortunate to have an experienced and dedicated Council who really work hard on behalf of all Randolph residents.

Thank you all for a memorable and rewarding year.

J. COMMENTS BY MAYOR AND COUNCIL

Mayor Forstenhausler stated:

Happy New Year everyone, and thank you so much for taking the time to attend our reorganization meeting via Zoom. I especially thank my wife Susan, daughter Lauren, and Mother-In-Law Inge for supporting me as I continue to serve Randolph Township. Without the support of my family, I could not volunteer the time necessary to serve this fine community.

I am honored and grateful that my colleagues on the council have again selected me to serve as mayor. I will do my best to serve our township, and will always look for ways to improve our excellent quality of life.

Congratulations to Deputy Mayor Marie Potter. I look forward to working with you. Your fresh perspectives and extraordinary organizational skills will certainly help us to move Randolph forward.

Our Manager Steve Mountain did an excellent job during a most unusual year, and it was clear that sound fiscal planning allowed us to function much better that many other government organizations. In fact, we were one of the few municipalities able to extend tax collection deadlines to assist our residents when they faced cash-flow issues due to the pandemic. You and your staff did a great job successfully keeping Randolph running well.

Our Township Clerk, Donna Luciani had another successful year, made much more challenging due to both COVID-19 and the unprecedented elections using mainly mail-in ballots. But she was up to the task, and did a great job. As a member of our Volunteer Fire Department for 25 years, I can tell you that you will never find a group of more dedicated volunteers who literally risk their own lives to protect others. The past year has been tough on the front lines for all first responders, but the safety protocols established by our chiefs kept the department functioning, and we were able to respond to all of our residents’ calls for assistance. They, as well as our EMS volunteers and police have earned, and deserve our profound thanks.

For the past 6 months Marie Potter, Lance Tkacs and I have served on the Diversity and Inclusion Steering Committee, also known as DISC. Along with members from the Board of Education and the Morris County Human Relations Commission, we have spent countless hours gathering information, reading, studying and discussing ways that we can eliminate bias, improve our relations with others, and celebrate our diversity. While we continue to invest the time necessary to work on our report and make recommendations, I am very pleased that this council will pass a resolution this evening recognizing Martin Luther King Jr. Day as well as Black History Month. We must all learn from one another, and try to show and teach how to live together in peace and acceptance.

As we enter into another unpredictable winter season, think about steps that you can do to help get through the season better;

• Please sign up for reverse 911, using your cell phone number, so that you can continue to receive important messages.
• Make sure that your cell phones, and all devices, are fully charged at all times.
• Check on your neighbors who may be in need of assistance.
• And consider an emergency generator, making sure to install and operate it in a safe manner.

I will continue to work with other mayors and elected officials to push JCP&L and Public Service to make the needed improvements in our electrical grid to limit future power outages, and to press them to cut down more trees that impact our overhead wires.

In addition to working closely with our Deputy Mayor and Council, I will serve as liaison to the Board of Education and the EDC.

I will also be the Media Communications liaison, and will continue to serve on several sub-committees, including emergency management, ordinances, and infrastructure.

I look forward to working on our budget for 2021; will do my best to minimize any tax increase, and to be a good steward of our tax dollars. For the past four years we did not increase the municipal tax levy at all, so after a very difficult 2020, our work is cut out for us.

We have many plans for 2021 including;

1. Working with county and state health departments to distribute the COVID-19 Vaccine.
2. Any form of bigotry, hatred, or racism has no place in Randolph, so we are looking forward to seeing the final DISC report and recommendations.
3. Equipping our police department with both tasers and body cameras.
4. We will continue to work with Fair Share Housing, the State of New Jersey, and the courts to implement our mandated affordable housing plan.
5. For many years we have been working with the NJ State DOT to improve the intersections on Route 10. We did see some success with the improved signaling at Dover Chester Road, and the east-bound turn lane extension at Center Grove Road. We plan to work closely with State Senator Anthony Bucco, and will continue to keep our concerns in front of the DOT. We already have more meetings planned for January.
6. The program to replace deteriorating retaining walls in town will continue.
7. Veterans Community Park will see more improvements, and once the great lawn fills in, we expect to attend many outdoor events and concerts there.
8. Our new Cannabis sub-committee will work to understand the new state legislation, once it is finally passed, and seek input to help us make necessary decisions early this year.
9. The Recycling and Sustainability sub-committee will work with our residents to seek new and innovative ways to keep our community cleaner.

I have a very positive outlook for 2021, and will enjoy working with this council, township workers and all of our community volunteers to continue to keep Randolph a most desirable place to live, work and enjoy life.

Thank you.

Deputy Mayor Potter stated:

Happy New Year and thank you for attending Randolph’s 2021 virtual reorganization meeting.

Congratulations to Mayor Forstenhausler. I look forward to working with you and offering my full support as you carry out your duties as mayor. Thank you also for all the time you dedicate to serving the Randolph community—now as Mayor and also on our volunteer fire department.

Chris, Joanne and Lance congratulations on your re-election. Randolph is privileged to have 3 experienced volunteers dedicating their time to Randolph. Thank you, Chris, for serving as our Mayor Last year and to Joanne for serving as Deputy Mayor.

Chris, being mayor of Randolph in 2020 was no easy task. Integrating this volunteer position with your full-time job and family most likely didn’t leave you with much free time.

With Chris’s Doctor of Pharmacy degree, job experience in the pharmaceutical industry and her 2 decades of volunteering in Randolph (which also included a previous term as mayor)—we couldn’t have asked for a better mayor in 2020 to lead us through this pandemic. Although many of 2020’s events were cancelled; Chris spent a lot of time communicating to all of us residents in a detailed and thorough manner. Her integrity, dedication, and commitment to public service was essential.

Thank you, Steve and Donna, for the dedication you gave to Randolph last year. 2020’s pandemic presented an unplanned municipal undertaking that became our top priority. You both were able to tackle the pandemic while still providing top-notch municipal services and obtaining and developing other township initiatives.

It will be an honor to serve as Deputy Mayor in 2021. Thank you, members of the council, for your support and for dedicating your time to serve the residents of Randolph.

I am looking forward to a productive year. Along with supporting Mayor Forstenhausler, I will be working as a member of our Diversity workgroup continuing on the joint Township/BOE effort on the Diversity and Inclusion Steering Committee. I will also continue as a member of the Communications and Ordinance workgroups. I will be newly working on the Emergency Management and recycling/sustainability workgroups. I will continue to be liaison to the Advisory Environmental and Landmarks Committee. I will also be a liaison to the board of Education and County College of Morris.

I will continue to work with our 211 committee. The NJ 211 button is currently on our township’s website. By clicking that button or calling 211, residents will be referred to local resources that can help them get started in finding solutions to hundreds of social issues. Feel free to call 211 yourself to help out a family member or friend. It is a wonderful resource that is easy to use.

One of the reasons Randolph is such an exceptional town is due to all the volunteers who donate countless hours of their time to make it that way. Randolph is certainly a community that shares each other’s burdens and really cares for neighbors. Thank you to all of our volunteers.

A special thank you to my husband, John, and my four children for supporting me. It is this support that enables me to serve my community.

Thank you and have a healthy and safe new year.

Councilwoman Carey stated:

Good evening and Happy New Year to all of you who were so kind to join us today. I have already spoken a few times tonight, so I will make this brief.

First, I want to congratulate our new mayor, Mark Forstenhausler, and thank him for taking on this responsibility again—in 2021. Mark is an experienced member of the Council and a second time Mayor, who I am certain, will once again be an excellent leader. I also want to congratulate our new Deputy Mayor, Marie Potter, for her service to the Randolph community. Marie is a long-term, dedicated public servant who will bring a lot of enthusiasm to her role. As a member of the Randolph Township Council in 2021, I will be serving as the Council Liaison to the Library Board of Trustees. I consider the Library to be a jewel of our community and I plan to work with the other trustees to continue to bring improvements to the library and to find creative ways to serve the needs of Randolph residents during the pandemic.

In addition, I will be serving on a new Council Work Group that has been formed in light of the recent passage of a constitutional amendment to legalize marijuana in New Jersey. The work group will be gathering input from the general public, the business community, law enforcement and other groups in order to make recommendations regarding issues that each municipality will have to address as regulations from the state are issued.

I will also be serving on the Environmental Work Group which will be exploring ways to improve our community through green initiatives and also on the Emergency Preparedness work group, which continues to explore strategies for the Township to improve our response to weather-related and other emergencies.

I am very happy to have been re-elected to the Council in November and am grateful for the voters for placing their trust in me again. I will continue to work hard to make Randolph a great place to live and a place where all residents feel welcome and respected.

I look forward to continuing to work with my fellow Council members, our township manager and our outstanding staff in 2021.

Finally, I want to thank my husband, Frank, and my children and friends for all of their encouragement and assistance this past year and as I continue to serve.

Thank you very much.

Councilman Loveys stated:

Good Evening everyone. Councilwoman Carey, I just wanted to thank you initially for the statement you read on behalf of the council. We all couldn’t agree more with that statement. The actions that we have witnessed have absolutely no place in society and they have to be condemned.

I’d like to thank all of you for attending tonight’s virtual re-organization meeting and I wish everyone a belated safe, healthy, and happy New Year. I offer special thanks to my wife Karen and my family. A commitment to public service places demands on family life and I thank them for their continued support and understanding.

Congratulations to Councilwomen Christine Carey and Joanne Veech, and Councilman Lance Tkacs on your victories in this past year’s election. I have no doubt you will serve our community well during these next four years. I especially thank outgoing Mayor Christine Carey for the incredible job done this past year. It was certainly a year unlike any other.

I congratulate Mayor Forstenhausler and Deputy Mayor Potter on your nominations and appointments. It’s an exciting night for both you and your families. I have full faith in your abilities to lead this council through the issues we’ll face in 2021 and I look forward to working with you and the Council as we strive to be good stewards of Randolph’s many assets as well as improve the quality of life for all residents.

I look forward to returning this year as council liaison to our Board of Health, which meets monthly along with our township health officer, and advises the council on ways to meet the public health needs of our community. Understandably, much of this past year consisted of reviewing guidance issued by the CDC and NJDOH related to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the tremendous responsibility placed on our public health nursing staff. In 2021 I anticipate, along with monitoring the pandemic, the Board will assist the council with the township’s response to the recently approved referendum legalizing recreational marijuana.

I will also serve as council liaison to our Recreation Advisory Committee, which recommends and develops seasonal recreation programs and activities for all Randolph residents. Coordinating its effort with the Parks Advisory Committee, it also develops and recommends Randolph’s short-and long-term plans with respect to current and future recreational needs.

Lastly, I will serve on both the Facilities, and Infrastructure Work Groups. The work groups will continue to coordinate with our Township Manager, Buildings and Grounds Supervisor, and township staff in order to plan and prioritize future capital improvement needs.

I continue to be thankful and appreciative for the opportunity to serve my community and all of our residents. I look forward to working with my fellow colleagues, our Township Manager, and township staff in 2021, all of whom I admire and respect, and will continue to be guided in my decision making by what is in the best interest of Randolph Township.

Thank you, and again, have a safe, happy, and healthy New Year.

Councilman Nisivoccia stated:

Good Evening everyone and thank you for attending.

Special thanks to my wife, Jackie, and our two children, Emma and Raymond, for their support.

Congratulations to Councilwoman Carey, Councilwoman Veech, and Councilman Tkacs on your re-election. Thank you, Mayor Carey, for your leadership last year, and congratulations to Mayor Forstenhausler and Deputy Mayor Potter. I am looking forward to working with you and all the council members to always put Randolph first.

I would also like to congratulate all the volunteers being sworn in to the township’s boards and committees. Thank you for your service to our community.

This year, in addition to serving on several committees, I will serve as the council liaison to the Municipal Alliance Committee and the Trails Committee.

In closing, I wish everyone a safe, healthy, and happy New Year.

Councilman Tkacs stated:

Good Evening and Happy New Year to everyone!

To start, I would like to thank the residents of Randolph for re-electing me to office. It is an honor to serve them, and their vote of confidence in me is both humbling and inspiring.

Next, I would like to congratulate Chris on her exceptional year as mayor. Under extremely unique and challenging circumstances, Chris led with calm and cool professionalism, and I applaud her efforts and her leadership. I also look forward to supporting Mayor Forstenhausler and Deputy Mayor Potter in the coming year.

This year I will continue to be the Official Council Member on the Planning Board, and I look forward to joining the Parks Committee.

In closing, I would like to thank my wife, Kim, and my three adult children, Jessica, Erik, and Monica. Their love and support are invaluable to me.

Thank you!

Councilwoman Veech stated:

Thanks to our Mayor, Township Manager, staff and all our volunteers for making the best out of the worst year in our lifetime.

Mark and Marie, I wish you the best year and stand close by to assist in any way I can.

As a Councilwoman I’m going to be keenly focused on:

• Gaining input from our community and working with my fellow Council members on our township response to the new constitutional amendment on the use of cannabis
• Continuing to explore new green initiatives for our community as well as continuing to support our amazing Community Garden.
• Communicating the accomplishments and endeavors of our Township Council, and volunteer boards and committees.

I’m also the Council Liaison to the Wildlife Advisory Committee and the Traffic Advisory Committee. Happy New Year and let’s all practice peace and kindness and pray for the health and safety of our residents. May God bless Randolph and the United States.

K. 2021 FIRE CHIEF AND DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF

Fire Chief Anthony Moschella
Deputy Fire Chief Michael Vanadia

Manager Mountain thanked Fire Chief Michael Vanadia and Deputy Fire Chief Anthony Moschella for their service over the past two years. He explained that Fire Chief Vanadia and Deputy Fire Chief Moschella gave hours beyond belief to the community, not only as first responders responding to every emergency that occurred, but also taking charge of the administrative and leadership duties for the Fire Department. He stated that the positions were thankless jobs that both men fulfilled with a passion for service, and that the community was truly blessed to have had them in those positions.

He announced that thanks to their willingness to stay on, and support from the membership, the gentlemen would continue to serve the community, with the change of swapping titles. Anthony Moschella will be serving as Fire Chief for the next two years, and Michael Vanadia will be serving as the Deputy Fire Chief. He commended them for the willingness to serve and their appointment. The gentlemen were previously sworn-in during a prior ceremony; due to prior commitments they were not present to be sworn in again virtually. He, along with the Mayor, look forward to presenting Chief Vanadia with a token of the township’s appreciation for his services on a later date.

L. RECOGNIZING MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. AND BLACK HSITORY MONTH

1. R-23-21 Resolution Recognizing Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Black History Month

Mayor Forstenhausler read R-23-21, honoring Martin Luther King Jr. and Black History Month, into the record.

WHEREAS, our great Nation is strengthened and enriched by citizens of every race, religion, gender, color, and creed and;

WHEREAS, in the months of January and February we celebrate both Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday and the cultural heritage, diverse contributions, and unbreakable spirit of all African Americans. We take this time to remember and commend the heroes, pioneers, and Americans who tirelessly fought for and firmly believed in the promise of racial equality granted by our Creator, enshrined in our Constitution, and enacted into our laws. We also pledge to continue to stand against the evils of bigotry, intolerance, and hatred so that we may continue in our pursuit of a more perfect union; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., whose birthday is January 15th and nationally commemorated on the third Monday in January, dedicated his life to battling segregation and discrimination and fighting for the right of every American, regardless of race, class, or gender, to have the opportunity to create a better future for themselves and their families; achieve the American Dream with its promise of freedom, equality, and justice; and to live as “an heir of the legacy of dignity and worth.” The struggle for justice continues as new leaders walking in the footsteps of Dr. King take up the case of civil and human rights; and

WHEREAS, through bravery, perseverance, faith, and resolve, often in the face of incredible prejudice and hardship, African Americans have enhanced and advanced every aspect of American life. Their fight for equality, representation, and respect motivates us to continue working for a more promising, peaceful, and hopeful future for every American. During Black History Month, we honor the extraordinary contributions made by African Americans throughout history, and we renew our commitment to liberty and justice for all; and

WHEREAS, due to recent incidents of racism, injustice, and violence in our country, it is timely and appropriate that all Americans be encouraged to recognize, both as individuals and as a community, that our Nation’s strength lies in its citizens and, therefore, we reflect on and celebrate the culture, contributions, and unbreakable spirit of those African American citizens, past and present, during Black History Month, as well as remembering and honoring the birth of one of the most prominent and shining personifications of the noble aspirations and ideals of the African American, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; and

WHEREAS, today and every day we must use the collective voices and visions of those we honor as our inspiration towards a more just and equal society for all.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Governing Body of the Township of Randolph hereby acknowledges, supports, and honors the observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday on Monday, January 18, 2021, and the month of February as Black History Month The Township of Randolph remains devoted to the united goals and commitment to having the Township of Randolph free from hatred, bias, racism, bigotry, or discrimination against any people, as well as to promote a respectful, safe, and enjoyable community for all residents.

Deputy Mayor Potter made a motion to approve the resolution. Councilman Tkacs seconded the motion, and the following roll call vote was taken:

AYES:
Councilwoman Carey
Councilman Loveys
Councilman Nisivoccia
Councilman Tkacs
Councilwoman Veech
Deputy Mayor Potter
Mayor Forstenhausler

NAYS: None

M. CONSENT AGENDA, COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS AND RESOLUTIONS

Deputy Mayor Potter made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda, Council Appointments, and Resolutions. Councilman Loveys seconded the motion, and the following roll call vote was taken:

AYES: Councilwoman Carey
Councilman Loveys (Abstained to #12, R-12-21)
Councilman Nisivoccia (Abstained to #16, R-16-21 & #26, R-27-21)
Councilman Tkacs
Councilwoman Veech
Deputy Mayor Potter
Mayor Forstenhausler

NAYS: None

1. Council Appointments for 2021

Deputy Clerk (one year)—Donna M. Brady

Township Attorney (one year)—The Buzak Law Group—Edward J. Buzak

Emergency Management Coordinator (one year)—William Wagner

Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator (one year)—Richard Briant

Special Counsel for Labor and Negotiations (one year)—Trimboli and Prusinowski—James Prusinowski

Special Counsel for Tax Appeals (one year)—Dorsey and Semrau—Fred Semrau

Tax Appeal Appraisals (one year)—Appraisal Consultants—Jon Brody

Police General Legal, Hearings, and Police Contract Negotiations (one year)—Apruzzese, McDermott, Mastro & Murphy—Arthur Thibault, Jr.

Special Counsel for Negotiations and Preparation of Developer’s Agreements (one year)—Murphy, McKeon PC—Anthony Bucco, Jr.

Prosecutor (one year)—Horan and Aronowitz—John Horan

Public Defender (one year)—Denis Driscoll

Conflict Public Defender (one year)—Law Office of James Pryor

Township Auditor (one year)—Nisivoccia LLP—Kathi Mantell

Bond Counsel (one year)—Hawkins Delafield & Wood LLP—Robert Beinfeld

Municipal Historian (one year)—Gail Hari

Community Development Revenue Sharing Committee (CDRS):
Mayor’s Appointment (one year)—Richard Lindsay
Governing Body Appointment (one year)—Councilwoman Joanne Veech
Alternate Appointed by Mayor (one year)—Wayne Corsey

COMMITTEE/BOARD APPOINTMENTS

Planning Board:
Member (four years)—Arthur Lee
Official Member (one year)—John Herold
Mayor’s Delegate (one year)—Leonard Suchyta
Official Council Member (one year)—Councilman Lance Tkacs

Board of Adjustment:
Member (four years)—Eugene Stracco

Board of Health:
Member (three years)—Dr. Ronald Millman
Member (three years)—Dr. Keith Leibowitz
Member (three years)—Robert Schneiderman
Alternate #1 (two years)—Dr. Jacqueline Nisivoccia
Alternate #2 (two years)—David Ray (unexpired term of Bijal Dave)
Student Member (two years)—Nicholas Agostin

Parks Committee:
Member (three years)—Janet McMillan
Member (three years)—Laura O’Connor
Member (three years)—Sandra Weber
Member (three years)—Christine Brembs
Student Member (two years)—Caroline Apt

Advisory Environmental & Landmarks Committee:
Member (three years)—Michael Tatch
Member (three years)—Vinod Khetarpal
Member (three years)—Kelly Meola
Alternate #1 (two year)—Christina Dzerovych
Alternate #2 (two year exp. 12/31/21)—Raissa Spatola (unexpired term of Isabel Creighton)
Student Member (two years)—Maria Ali

Board of Assessments for Local Improvements:
Member (two years)—Myra Sesko

Economic Development Committee:
Member (three years)—Dana Galloway
Member (three years)—Matthew Tal
Member (three years)—Dana Tamminga(
Alternate #1 (one year)—Jessica Lehrer

Recreation Advisory Committee:
Member (one year)—Julie De Lorenzo
Member (one year)—Michael Bryant
Member (one year)—Jason Huang
Member (one year)—Robert Kral
Member (three years)—Daniel Limone
Member (three years)—Susan Huston
Member (three year)—Steven Fogel (unexpired term of Christine Brembs
Alternate #1 (one year)—Michael Jordan

Library Board of Trustees:
Member (five years)—Amy Rosenthal-Laffey
Mayor’s Alternate (one year)—Councilwoman Carey

Traffic Advisory Committee:
Member (two years)—Thomas Burk
Member (two years)—Deep Badlani
Alternate (two years)—Scott Thornton

Municipal Alliance Committee:
Member (one year)—Ronald Harmetz
Member (one year)—Audrey Verona
Member (one year)—Sydney Ugalde
Member (one year)—Elizabeth Ritter
Member (one year)—Barbara Anderson
Alternate #1 (one year)—Ginger Vukas
Alternate #2 (one year)—Brenda DeNure
Alternate #3 (one year)—Richard Reck

Wildlife Management Advisory Committee:
Member (two years)—Joseph Speer
Member (two years)—Russell Sieb
Member (two years)—Gregory Mohr

Trails Advisory Committee:
Member (three year)—Myra Sesko
Member (three year)—Peter Tootsov
Alternate #1 (two year)—Glenn Osborn
Student Member (two years)—Alexandria Diddle

Council Liaisons
CDRS—Councilwoman Veech
Economic Development—Mayor Forstenhausler
Education (BOE, CCM) (2)—Mayor Forstenhausler, Deputy Mayor Potter
Advisory Environmental & Landmark—Deputy Mayor Potter
Health Advisory Board—Councilman Loveys
Library—Councilwoman Carey
Media Communications Liaison—Councilwoman Carey
Municipal Alliance—Councilman Nisivoccia
Parks—Councilman Tkacs
Planning Board—Councilman Tkacs
Public Safety (Fire, Rescue, Safety Comm.)—Councilwoman Carey
Recreation—Councilman Loveys
Traffic—Councilwoman Veech
Wildlife—Councilwoman Veech
Trails—Councilman Nisivoccia

RESOLUTIONS

1. R-01-21 Rate of Interest on Delinquent Taxes and Delinquent Water and Sewer
2. R-02-21 Bank Depositories
3. R-03-21 Fees for Agendas
4. R-04-21 Signatures on Checks
5. R-05-21 Official Newspaper
   
6. R-06-21 Certifying Agent to Police and Fireman Retirement and PERS
7. R-07-21 Assessment Officer
8. R-08-21 Cash Management
9. R-09-21 Award of 2021 Professional Services Agreement to Edward J. Buzak, The Buzak Law Group for Township Attorney Services

CERTIFICATION OF AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS

Dated: January 7, 2021

As required by N.J.S.A. 40A:4-57, N.J.A.C. 5:30-14.5, and any other applicable requirement, I, Darren Maloney, Director of Finance for the Township of Randolph, have ascertained that funds will be available in the 2021 Budget, Legal Services O & E and Water, Sewer O & E (legal services) and various escrow accounts to award a contract to the Buzak Law Group for legal services (township attorney), per its proposal submitted to the Township.

Darren Maloney
Chief Financial Officer
Budget Accounts: 01-201-20-155-060- $216,250—Pending Adoption
05-201-20-100-060- $101,750—Pending Adoption

10. R-10-21 Award of 2021 Professional Services Agreement to Trimboli and Prusinowski for General Labor Counsel Services

CERTIFICATION OF AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS

Dated: January 7, 2021

As required by N.J.S.A. 40A:4-57, N.J.A.C. 5:30-14.5, and any other applicable requirement, I, Darren Maloney, Director of Finance for the Township of Randolph, have ascertained that funds will be available in the 2021 Budget, Legal Services O & E to award a contract to Trimboli and Prusinowski for legal services (labor counsel), per its proposal submitted to the Township.

Darren Maloney
Chief Financial Officer
Budget Accounts: 01-201-20-155-302—$10,000—Pending Adoption

11. R-11-21 Award of 2021 Professional Services Agreement to Apruzzese, McDermott, Mastro and Murphy for Police General, Legal, Hearings and Police Contract Negotiation Services

CERTIFICATION OF AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS

Dated: January 7, 2021

As required by N.J.S.A. 40A:4-57, N.J.A.C. 5:30-14.5, and any other applicable requirement, I, Darren Maloney, Director of Finance for the Township of Randolph, have ascertained that funds will be available in the 2021 Budget, Police O & E to award a contract to Apruzzese, McDermott, Mastro and Murphy for legal services, per its proposal submitted to the Township.

Darren Maloney
Chief Financial Officer
Budget Accounts: 01-201-25-240-305—$26,000—Pending Adoption

12. R-12-21 Award of 2021 Professional Services Agreement to Dorsey and Semrau for Special Counsel for Tax Appeal Services

CERTIFICATION OF AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS

Dated: January 7, 2021

As required by N.J.S.A. 40A:4-57, N.J.A.C. 5:30-14.5, and any other applicable requirement, I, Darren Maloney, Director of Finance for the Township of Randolph, have ascertained that funds will be available in the 2021 Budget, Legal Services O & E to award a contract to Dorsey and Semrau, for special counsel services (tax appeals), per its proposal submitted to the Township.

Darren Maloney
Chief Financial Officer
Budget Accounts: 01-201-20-155-304—$27,500—Pending Adoption

13. R-13-21 Award of 2021 Professional Services Agreement to Murphy, McKeon PC for Special Counsel for Negotiations and Preparation of Development Agreements

CERTIFICATION OF AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS

Dated: January 7, 2021

As required by N.J.S.A. 40A:4-57, N.J.A.C. 5:30-14.5, and any other applicable requirement, I, Darren Maloney, Director of Finance for the Township of Randolph, have ascertained that funds will be available in various Developer Escrow accounts to award a contract to Murphy, McKeon, PC for special counsel services, per its proposal submitted to the Township.

Darren Maloney
Chief Financial Officer
Budget Accounts: Various Developer Escrow Accounts—$15,000

14. R-14-21 Award of 2021 Professional Services Agreement to Horan and Aronowitz, LLP for Municipal Prosecutor Services

CERTIFICATION OF AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS

Dated: January 7, 2021

As required by N.J.S.A. 40A:4-57, N.J.A.C. 5:30-14.5, and any other applicable requirement, I, Darren Maloney, Director of Finance for the Township of Randolph, have ascertained that funds will be available in the 2021 Budget, Municipal Prosecutor O & E, to award a contract to Horan and Aronowitz for prosecutor services, per its proposal submitted to the Township.

Darren Maloney
Chief Financial Officer
Budget Accounts: 01-201-25-275-300—$27,000—Pending Adoption
01-201-25-275-301- $4,000—Pending Adoption

15. R-15-21 Award of 2021 Professional Services Agreement to James Pryor for Conflict Public Defender Services

CERTIFICATION OF AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS

Dated: January 7, 2021

As required by N.J.S.A. 40A:4-57, N.J.A.C. 5:30-14.5, and any other applicable requirement, I, Darren Maloney, Director of Finance for the Township of Randolph, have ascertained that funds will be available in the 2021 Public Defender Reserve, to award a contract to James Pryor for conflict public defender services, according to his proposal submitted to the Township.

Darren Maloney
Chief Financial Officer
Budget Accounts: 10-130-05-000-000—$4,000

16. R-16-21 Award of 2021 Professional Services Agreement to Nisivoccia LLC for Township Auditor Services

CERTIFICATION OF AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS

Dated: January 7, 2021

As required by N.J.S.A. 40A:4-57, N.J.A.C. 5:30-14.5, and any other applicable requirement, I, Darren Maloney, Director of Finance for the Township of Randolph, have ascertained that funds will be available in the 2021 Budget, Audit Services O & E, and the 2021 Water and Sewer Department, Audit Services O & E, to award a contract to Nisivoccia,, LLC for audit services, per its proposal submitted to the Township.

Darren Maloney
Chief Financial Officer
Budget Accounts: 01-201-20-135-300 $33,000—Pending Adoption
05-201-20-135-300 $15,550—Pending Adoption

17. R-17-21 Award of 2021 Professional Services Agreement to Appraisal Consultants Corp. for Tax Appeals Appraiser Services

CERTIFICATION OF AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS

Dated: January 7, 2021

As required by N.J.S.A. 40A:4-57, N.J.A.C. 5:30-14.5, and any other applicable requirement, I, Darren Maloney, Director of Finance for the Township of Randolph, have ascertained that funds will be available in the 2021 Budget Township Assessor O & E to award a contract to Appraisal Consultant Corporation for appraiser services, per its proposal submitted to the Township.

Darren Maloney
Chief Financial Officer
Budget Accounts: 01-201-20-150-301—$15,000—Pending Adoption

18. R-18-21 Award of 2021 Professional Services Agreement to Ferriero Engineering for Township Engineering Services

CERTIFICATION OF AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS

Dated: January 7, 2021

As required by N.J.S.A. 40A:4-57, N.J.A.C. 5:30-14.5, and any other applicable requirement, I, Darren Maloney, Director of Finance for the Township of Randolph, have ascertained that funds will be available in the 2021 Budget, Engineering O & E and Water and Sewer O & E (engineering services) to award a contract to the Ferriero Engineering for engineering services, per its proposal submitted to the Township.

Darren Maloney
Chief Financial Officer
Budget Accounts: 01-201-20-165-070- $24,000—Pending Adoption
05-201-20-100-070- $76,000—Pending Adoption

19. R-19-21 Award of 2021 Professional Services Agreement to Garden State Laboratories for Testing of Samples Collected for the Health Department

CERTIFICATION OF AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS

Dated: January 7, 2021

As required by N.J.S.A. 40A:4-57, N.J.A.C. 5:30-14.5, and any other applicable requirement, I, Darren Maloney, Director of Finance for the Township of Randolph, have ascertained that funds will be available in the 2021 Budget, Health Department O & E to award a contract to Garden State Laboratories for testing services, per its proposal submitted to the Township.

Darren Maloney
Chief Financial Officer
Budget Accounts: 01-201-27-330-300—$9,993—Pending Adoption

20. R-20-21 Award of 2021 Professional Services Agreement to Hawkins, Delafield and Wood for Bond Counsel

CERTIFICATION OF AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS

Dated: January 7, 2021

As required by N.J.S.A. 40A:4-57, N.J.A.C. 5:30-14.5, and any other applicable requirement, I, Darren Maloney, Director of Finance for the Township of Randolph, have ascertained that funds will be available in the General Capital Fund, Water Capital Fund and Sewer Capital Fund to award a contract to Hawkins, Delafield and Wood for bond counsel services, per its proposal submitted to the Township.

Darren Maloney
Chief Financial Officer
Budget Accounts: Various Capital Accounts

21. R-21-21 Award of 2021 Professional Services Agreement to Denis F. Driscoll for Public Defender Services

CERTIFICATION OF AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS

Dated: January 7, 2021

As required by N.J.S.A. 40A:4-57, N.J.A.C. 5:30-14.5, and any other applicable requirement, I, Darren Maloney, Director of Finance for the Township of Randolph, have ascertained that funds will be available in the 2021 Public Defender Reserve, to award a contract to James Denis F. Driscoll for public defender services, according to his proposal submitted to the Township.

Darren Maloney
Chief Financial Officer
Budget Accounts: 10-130-05-000-000—$14,000

22. R-22-21 Award of 2021 Professional Services Agreement to Vanguard Medical Group, PA for Corporate Health Services (Pre-Employment, Pre-Volunteer Exams and Drug Testing

CERTIFICATION OF AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS

Dated: January 7, 2021

As required by N.J.S.A. 40A:4-57, N.J.A.C. 5:30-14.5, and any other applicable requirement, I, Darren Maloney, Director of Finance for the Township of Randolph, have ascertained that funds will be available in the 2021 Budget Finance Department O & E to award a contract to Vanguard Medical Group for pre-employment and pre-volunteer exams as well as drug testing services, per its proposal submitted to the Township.

Darren Maloney
Chief Financial Officer
Budget Accounts: 01-201-20-130-301—$11,000—Pending Adoption

23. R-24-21 Designating a Public Agency Compliance Officer (P.A.C.O.) for 2021
24. R-25-21 Authorizing the Rescission of a Portion of MCCPC Contract 20-A EJG Sports
25. R-26-21 Authorizing Randolph to provide Animal Control Services to the Town of Dover throughout the year 2021
26. R-27-21 Appointing the Emergency Management Coordinator and Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator for the Township of Randolph

N. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Dr. David Timpanaro of 450 Quaker Church Road thanked Manager Mountain and the township for sending him a gift basket upon his father’s death. He shared that it was a very traumatic event, and the gesture meant a lot. He additionally thanked Jim Loveys, Lance Tkacs, Christine Carey, and Lou Nisivoccia for personally reaching out to him during the difficult time, which also coincided with the end of the elections. He added that not everyone chose to reach out and their efforts were appreciated

He started his comments by pointing out that he is attending the meeting as a resident and that he was not running for any particular office; in the past, he has attended meetings as a candidate and as a resident. He stated this in response to the accusation that he only attended meetings when he was running for office. He stated that he was a resident first and that he has a right to attend council meetings.

Dr. Timpanaro referred back to the subject of the marijuana subcommittee. He shared that he was informed by Deputy Mayor Potter during a previous Municipal Alliance Committee (MAC) meeting, that the subcommittee would be formed from within the council. He asked if the council would have experts and individuals with related experiences to the drug be involved with the subcommittee’s work.

He informed the council that he introduced himself with the title Dr. because it is the new title he achieved after earning his Ph.D. in human services, in addition to his 20 years working in the field of social work. He defined the MAC as being specifically designed to bring awareness to programs that help the efforts surrounding addiction and mental health needs. He provided information regarding his 20 years of helping individuals, and additional 3-4 years volunteering within Randolph. Dr. Timpanaro shared that when he was removed from Recreation Advisory Committee in the past, Jim Loveys told him that he believed Dr. Timpanaro belonged on the MAC based on his experience.

He shared that upon reading the agenda the day of the present meeting, it was the first time he was made aware that his name was no longer on the attendance list for being a volunteer on the MAC. He reiterated that the MAC is specifically designed to bring forward information and attention to those with mental health challenges and addiction; the area in which he has his Ph.D. and has spent 20 years working. He stated that in addition to his removal from the committee, Joshua Weiner was removed as well. He shared that before this meeting he was told to stay quiet and not make the council mad, and continued his statements expressing that it was sad that in today’s political climate, the Township Council has demonstrated the partisan measures in which they are willing to go to, to remove somebody with passion and experience to be able to compliment those within their training camps to move forward in the ranks.

He stated that he knew when he got off this call he would receive hate messages, and thanked Mayor Forstenhausler for that, stating that many of the messages are from individuals he is acquainted with. He stated that he has spent 20 years dedicated to giving a voice to people who otherwise feel silenced and that he currently felt silenced himself because he chose to challenge the council members.

He continued his comments stating that it was great to hear everyone congratulate each other for being on the various committees all these years, and asked how a person gets to that point. He asked that if it was not for experience, what other ways individuals would get through volunteering for so many years. From his research, he understood that the township council would rather have non-residents be on boards and committees because of party affiliation rather than Randolph residents with expertise on the board and committees they have applied for. He welcomed anyone to challenge that statement and suggested that the council knew who he was referring to. He stated that he is passionate about wanting to work with individuals with mental health and addiction issues and that he no longer can volunteer his time because the council has removed him. He stated that the council has proven that they will retaliate against anyone that challenges them. He explained that he once served on the Recreation Advisory Committee and that he was no longer on the committee because he was removed. When an opening on the committee came, the chairperson recommended him, and the council rejected the appointment. He stated that he was powerless to be able to help the community become a better place, even outside of politics.

Dr. Timpanaro moved on to discuss racism in general. He stated that there were many issues of racism, bigotry, and hate of all kinds within the township. He was happy to hear that the council has recommended the acknowledgement of holidays such as Martin Luther King Jr. Day; this was something he and many others have asked for, for several years and he has been involved with requesting for two years. He stated that he looks forward to hearing how the council will recognize and celebrate Juneteenth. He shared that he has personally experienced harassment within the township, as a Black Lives Matter lawn sign he placed on his property was defaced with the word “Marxist” spray-painted on it. He stated that it is two months shy of being a year since a young teenager in Randolph was bullied publicly on Instagram, and the DISC was later formed, yet people are still pointing fingers.

Township Clerk Luciani informed Dr. Timpanaro that he would have one more minute to speak according to the allotted time given to the public.

Dr. Timpanaro thanked her and continued his comments stating that while the Diversity Inclusion Steering Committee (DISC) exists, the council could have done something in the meantime, but chose not to. He referenced back to the June 4, 2020 council meeting, citing Councilman Forstenhausler’s statement at the 52-minute 40-second timestamp, “We did not think this existed until two weeks ago,” at the following meeting, the councilman denied making the statement. He explained that this statement was a big deal because it shows the energy within the township and whether or not it’s important that people drive by and throw garbage and banana peels on a person of color’s lawn; he called for something to be done as it has been a year later. He concluded his statement by asking the council if they believe that Black Lives Matter.

Mayor Forstenhausler addressed Dr. Timpanaro’s question regarding the marijuana subcommittee. He explained that the group consists of Councilman Tkacs, Councilwoman Carey, and Councilwoman Veech. He informed Dr. Timpanaro that the council has found that working in small workgroups of three council members was much more efficient for investigating various subjects and reporting to the council.

He shared that the subcommittee group had not yet met and that they will be conducting several meetings in addition to gathering input from the community. He informed Dr. Timpanaro that one of the problems the group is facing at present is that the state legislature has failed to pass any laws regarding the legalization of cannabis; while the constitutional amendment was passed in November, it requires the legislature to act before anything can be done. For now, the group will be doing research and getting community input.

He addressed Dr. Timpanaro’s second question, responding that the township council has made their support evident. He referred to the township’s actions of passing the resolution for the present meeting, and the formation of the DISC. He stated that he was offended by many of Dr. Timpanaro’s comments, saying that they were politically based so he would not take it personally.

Dr. Timpanaro interjected, stating that his comments were not politically based.

Mayor Forstenhausler informed Dr. Timpanaro that his time was up and that he has been allotted more than the law requires in terms of time. He stated that it is very obvious that the council cares about all lives and black lives. He addressed Dr. Timpanaro’s statement regarding council inaction and stated that the council passed a resolution immediately after George Floyd’s murder, passed an additional resolution this evening, and the DISC committee’s continuing work and pending recommendations.

Hazel Ball of 236 Dover Chester Road thanked the council for giving her the opportunity to speak. She shared that the prior day was heartbreaking and terrifying for her for many reasons. She stated that she has had a glimpse of what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the nation’s Civil Rights Leaders went through. She shared that early yesterday morning her husband found that a lawn sign on her property, the sign was not theirs, displaying a message of thanks to officers supporting the Black Lives Matter movement was defaced with the word “Marxist” written over the thank you portion. She explained that she and her husband had moved to the Randolph area for the school system and to raise their children and family here, but as of late she has been struggling with moving or remaining in the community. This was the third racist incident that she has experienced since living in Randolph, all of which she has reported to the DISC.

She shared that in 2019, her 14-year-old daughter was called an expletive on the school bus by a white male classmate. She and her husband immediately reported the incident to the school and spoke with the vice principal. She recounted when banana peels and garbage had been thrown on her lawn and an incident the previous year where a white male in his vehicle honked his horn and yelled an expletive at her child and herself while they were doing yard work on her property. She was saddened that her child witnessed that offensive, racist act.

She told of another incident where a white male, driving a Tesla displaying a Trump sign on his rear window, made an obscene hand gesture directed towards her and said an expletive while she was doing yard work. She stated that police reports were made for all these incidents, and after the Tesla incident a police officer told her it was considered more political rather than racist because of the Trump sign on the vehicle; she disagreed. While her property has cameras, she does not have any system close to the street, where the incidents have occurred. After the last incident, an officer told her to get a high definition camera so that they may be able to catch license plates.

She stated that some people may say that placing a Black Lives Matter sign in a predominantly white area can cause crazy things to happen. She informed everyone that she was not clueless that racism still exists as it is very real for her family. She wanted to share a glimpse of what life is like as a black family in Randolph and wanted the township to do something about the latest incident that left her family feeling terrorized. She suggested the township hold town halls via Zoom and speak to the black families in the community to discuss how it is to live in this town. She concluded her statements by asking the council members to place Black Lives Matter signs in their yards, to stand in solidarity, and see if the same incident of defacement would happen on their property. She hopes that the township can catch the individuals responsible.

Mayor Forstenhausler recalled the experiences she recounted from their conversation the previous day and expressed his sympathies that these incidents happened to her. He stated on behalf of the township and council, that these types of incidents are reprehensible. He informed Mrs. Ball that the council was doing what they believed they could do, and working on other actions as they come up. He wished that they could change people’s outlook because the incidents Mrs. Ball described were absolutely the wrong way for people to think and the wrong thing to do. He added again that he was very sorry this happened to her.

Mrs. Ball stated that she was serious about her request for the council members to place Black Lives Matter signs on their yards. She wanted to see if a similar incident would occur with council members, citing Dr. Timpanaro’s experience with his sign. She wants the council to catch the individuals responsible and show solidarity.

Mayor Forstenhausler responded that he understood. He stated that he couldn’t speak for other people, but he would do his best. He thanked Mrs. Ball for speaking.

Meredith Ross of 40 Misty Mountain Road thanked Mrs. Ball for her bravery in speaking. She informed the council that she had the pleasure of working with Mrs. Ball as a member of the Randolph Partnership Endeavor for All Citizens’ Equality (PEACE) leadership team and stated that it was heartbreaking to hear that her friend has been treated this way. She shared that while she has been working with the DISC to gather experiences from community members, she has found that many people are afraid to report the incidents of racism and bias they have experienced.

She recounted an incident of a family within the community reaching out to her in tears, sharing that the police were called on them several times for no reason other than to harass them. That family also experienced being told to go back to their own country and to speak English. She referenced one of the community’s prominent streets citing a hay bale display with the message “Build a wall,” and asked how that display would make immigrant families in the community feel. She asked the council if there was data related to the number of incidents of bias crime in the community the police responded to.

Mayor Forstenhausler responded that although the data was not on hand, the information was being shared with the DISC. He informed her that the DISC created an anonymous survey to address the concerns individuals might have about sharing their experiences publicly. The survey would be conducted through the Board of Education’s (BOE) survey company.

Mrs. Ross responded that the survey only addresses the school community; it did not address the community at large. She stated that many of the incidents involve people who do not have children.

Mayor Forstenhausler informed her that the anonymous survey would be available to anyone in the community. The link will be published on the township website in addition to the BOE website. He stated that all the reported incidents would be analyzed and put into the DISC report. The hope is that they will receive more input from the community at large through the anonymous survey.

Mrs. Ross asked if Mayor Forstenhausler was aware of the Instagram Pages that share anonymous stories from students in the school system about their experiences with racism, discrimination, and bias.

Mayor Forstenhausler responded that they were aware of the pages.

Amanda Adams of 162 Arrowgate Drive appreciated the council’s sentiments regarding the recent events at Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. Based on the reported incidents of racism and discrimination happening within the town this past year; she asked the council what they would do to prevent a similar incident from occurring within the community. She appreciated that the resolutions for Black History Month and Martin Luther King Jr. Day were put forth to be acknowledged and celebrated, noting that it was about time.

She called for a stronger sense of urgency within the town to put forth preventative measures to ensure the safety of people of color, different ethnicities, gender identities, and abilities. She understood that the DISC was not a diverse makeup of township leaders from the council and BOE, who take their recommendations from an external group called the Morris County Human Relations Commission. To ensure actions that fit people of color and other marginalized groups in the community, she recommended that the action planning and decision-making processes include representation from these groups. She stated that there are many people joining this meeting who are in solidarity with Mrs. Ball, and who would love the opportunity to communicate more with the DISC and the council. She stated that as a black woman, with a black family, she felt a sense of urgency to feel safe, not just physically, but also psychologically in the community. She shared that she moved to the community, just as Mrs. Ball did, because of the school district’s great reputation, and that she hoped to remain in Randolph based on the council’s handling and response to racist acts and discrimination within the community.

Mayor Forstenhausler thanked Mrs. Adams for her comments. He informed her that the DISC is comprised of elected officials from the BOE, the Township Council, and the Morris County Human Relations Commission. He informed her that there are people of color on the DISC and that the committee has solicited and received comments from people of color and various ethnic backgrounds that are being analyzed. He shared that any individual can make comments or recommendations to any member of the DISC and that they are more than welcome to listen and attend public meetings. He also strongly encouraged anyone with specific recommendations to come forward so that the committee could continue its work of trying to combat racism and bigotry within the community. He informed Mrs. Adams that there are laws in effect that the Police Department is enforcing, and that the council is doing everything they can to keep the community safe. He stated that any individual with something to report should do so with the Police Department.

He stated that the council would love nothing more than to find the people who are causing the issues, damaging signs, and trying to terrorize residents. He informed Mrs. Adams that the council and BOE would do everything they can do within their power as elected bodies to do the right thing for the residents and keep everyone safe. He once again informed everyone to reach out to himself or any DISC member if they have any specific recommendations. He also reminded everyone of the upcoming anonymous online survey.

Jessica Jacobs of 268 Washington Valley Road thanked Mrs. Ball for sharing her experiences with everyone, stating that it must have been hard to live through them and even harder to continue to recount them. She referred to the township slogan “Where Life is Worth Living” and asked herself how the community can fit such a slogan when its residents are feeling terrorized. She asked what the council planned to do to ensure the safety of residents. She also asked if township officials, police, BOE members, etc. would receive any anti-racism training.

Mayor Forstenhausler informed Mrs. Jacobs that the Township Police Department conducts anti-bias training for officers at the local and county levels. As DISC recommendations are currently being worked on he cannot tell her what the future may hold. Her suggestion of anti-bias training could very well be a part of the DISC’s recommendations, though he cannot speak to it as the committee has not yet formally issued their report.

Mrs. Jacobs asked if there was any sense of timing as to when the DISC recommendations would be made.

Mayor Forstenhausler responded that the DISC’s estimate for completing their report and providing their recommendations is before the middle of this year. The committee has had many discussions about timing and the consensus from all the members, including those from the Morris County Human Relations Commission, is that they would rather do a good job than a fast job. He informed Mrs. Jacobs that the DISC has already taken some steps, referring to the publishing of an anti-bias flyer on the township website, passing resolutions, and trying to do things as they find they can. He also informed Mrs. Jacobs that some members of the DISC are attending a seminar about racism that will be conducted by a professional who was recommended by the Morris County Human Relations Commission. He also shared that all the members of the DISC have been reading recommended books about racism and different points of view.

He stated that although he does not report on the details of each meeting, the DISC is doing quite a bit of work. He shared that over the last several months the committee has had virtual meetings every week and at some points had even met three times a week. He informed Mrs. Jacobs that DISC is working to develop a professional and complete report that will include recommendations that they feel can be accomplished. He urged everyone to utilize the anonymous survey and share their thoughts and recommendations with the committee. He stated that everyone on the council, the DISC, and the BOE is united in trying to do the best job they can and to eliminate this behavior if that’s at all possible.

Mrs. Jacobs thanked Mayor Forstenhausler. She asked him if there was a way for the recommendations to be parceled out to move forward more quickly, stating that she was very concerned about the residents and that the process should not take this long.

Mayor Forstenhausler stated that he would bring the suggestion to the next DISC meeting. He informed her that the resolution for the evening is a result of the DISC meetings; it was not a recommendation from the DISC, but it was something that was discussed amongst the council that they believed could be accomplished immediately. He also shared that the DISC had assembled a list of reading materials at the library to educate the public and the community about anti-racism, in addition to creating the anti-bias flyer. He concluded by stating that he would ask the DISC to move a little quicker and to implement recommendations sooner rather than later.

Tracey Snow of 52 Mac Spar Drive, a member of the Randolph PEACE, referred to Mrs. Ball’s incidents of being strategically targeted and harassed, stating that the incidents were clear direct messages being sent to a black Randolph family, with the intent of terrorizing and intimidating. She stated that it could not be a coincidence that this happened yesterday, as the country witnessed unprecedented violence at our nation’s capitol. She was concerned about the urgency and the timing of the situation, stating that it can’t be a coincidence that the incidents occurred on the same day. She stated that the group started with one sign, moved to several across town, and escalated to trespassing on someone’s property. She asked the council if they would commit to making a plan with direct public input to address the specific incidents of racism to this family given the escalation this week.

Mayor Forstenhausler informed her that he would discuss her inquiry with Manager Mountain and the Police Chief. He asked her if she had any recommendations that she would like specifically addressed.

Mrs. Snow responded that she was not familiar with how the council and the police work/partner. She suggested that the council express the urgency of the situation, given the timing and what is going on across the country. She could only suggest that the council check in on the investigation, do anything they can on their end, and get direct public input.

Mayor Forstenhausler relayed Mrs. Snow’s inquiry to Manager Mountain. Manager Mountain thanked Mrs. Snow for her comments and stated that he has been listening attentively. He informed her that he reports to the council, and the township departments, including the police department, report to him. He informed Mrs. Snow that if issues lie with operations or investigative processes they fall under police jurisdiction. He has the ability to provide input to the Police Chief from the council and public on follow-up and responsiveness issues. He informed her that the tactical investigation process was also under police jurisdiction; as far as investigating crimes, including the incidents recounted this evening, they generally do a good job. He plans to follow up with the police on the issue and informed the public that the police welcomed any leads or input from the community. He assured her that the matter was being taken seriously and that he would meet with the Police Chief to reiterate the messages being shared this evening and any other suggestions that may come from the council.

Tessa Schultz of 57 South Road, a member of Randolph PEACE, followed up on Mrs. Snow’s comments. Her understanding from Mrs. Ball was that she felt the police didn’t take her experiences with racism seriously. It was suggested to Mrs. Ball that it was just kids, which minimizes the racial overtone of the incident and that she should purchase higher quality camera systems to protect her family. Mrs. Schultz stated that the police conducted their investigation without taking fingerprints from the defaced sign placed on Mrs. Ball’s property which indicated to her that they were not taking the incidents seriously. She stated that the repeated incidents of racism on Mrs. Ball’s property should have called for a higher level of review and a little more sensitivity from the police. She believed the police department should have offered more comfort, support, and reassurance to the Ball family that they are going to investigate and do everything possible to help them deal with this situation.

She recounted her own experience with the Randolph Police, sharing that she was in a car accident two years ago. When an officer arrived on the scene, he first went to the person who struck her car; this individual was a white male driver, to ask him what happened. The officer did not go to her and ask her what happened, nor did he render aid to her daughter who was suffering from a severe nose bleed. Mrs. Schultz stated that when her husband arrived on the scene to assist her, the police officer put his hand on his gun; she noted that he did not put his hand on his gun when he approached the white male driver. She informed the public that she is an African American, and her family is a black family in Randolph. She did not feel that the actions of that police officer were appropriate under the circumstances. She recounted this experience to provide another instance of the police department not acting appropriately or sensitively to a situation involving black families.

Manager Mountain thanked Mrs. Schultz for her comments and informed her that he would follow up with the Police Chief the next day.

Mayor Forstenhausler added that the council would be looking into the matters thoroughly. He will be directing Manager Mountain to make sure these incidents have been brought to the Police Department’s attention and that they are being addressed. He asked any resident/citizen who might have a complaint or issue to report their concerns to Manager Mountain or any member of the council. He referenced the flyer on the township website and other posted contact information. He stated that if the council does not know things have happened, they cannot address them. He concluded by stating that the issues brought to light this evening would be examined.

Mayor Forstenhausler asked if there were any other members of the public wishing to speak. Seeing and hearing none, the public portion was closed.

O. ADJOURNMENT

Councilman Tkacs made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:38 pm. Deputy Mayor Potter seconded the motion, and the following roll call vote was taken:

AYES:
Councilwoman Carey
Councilman Loveys
Councilman Nisivoccia
Councilman Tkacs
Councilwoman Veech
Deputy Mayor Potter
Mayor Forstenhausler

NAYS: None