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

Minutes: June 24, 2021

A. OPENING OF REGULAR MEETING

1. Call to Order

A regular meeting of the Randolph Township Council was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Mayor Forstenhausler. This meeting is held pursuant to the New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act. Adequate and electronic 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, 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. The amended annual resolution was adopted by the Council on January 21, 2021 and notice was provided by email to the Randolph Reporter, the Morris County Daily Record and TapInto Randolph on January 22, 2021. The amended annual resolution which included this meeting date was advertised in the Randolph Reporter, the official newspaper of Randolph Township and the Morris County Daily Record on January 28, 2021. The time change for this meeting was posted on the Bulletin Board within Town Hall and on the Township website on May 17, 2021.

2. Roll Call

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

Also present: Township Manager Mountain and Township Attorney Edward J. Buzak

3. Pledge of Allegiance

Mayor Forstenhausler led the Pledge of Allegiance.

B. PROCLAMATION

1. Presentation of Proclamation—Retirement of Chief David Stokoe

Mayor Forstenhausler read the proclamation recognizing the retirement of Police Chief David Stokoe into record:

WHEREAS, Chief David N. Stokoe began his law enforcement career with the Township of Randolph on June 29, 1995, as a Police Officer; and

WHEREAS, through his diligence and hard work he earned the ranks of Detective, Sergeant, and Lieutenant which led him to his final and most important position as “Chief of Police” in 2013; and

WHEREAS, Chief Stokoe has served as an outstanding example of fairness and dedication to both his peers and the residents of this community in his personal and professional achievements; and

WHEREAS, Chief Stokoe focused his leadership efforts on the betterment of the community in which he lived and during his tenure as Chief oversaw numerous initiatives to improve the operation of the Department, including updating outdated policies and procedures, transitioning the Department to the County Records Management System, implementing Electronic Ticketing System for greater efficiency, increasing the emphasis on training and professional development for officers, and modernizing department infrastructure through the implementation of state of the art equipment, technology such as body worn cameras and conducted energy devices and other upgrades within police headquarters; and

WHEREAS, Chief Stokoe strongly supported the law enforcement accreditation standards established by the New Jersey Association of Chiefs of Police and in 2013, through an extremely rigorous process, helped to achieve the initial highly coveted and sought after Certificate of Accreditation in which only 12% of approximately 570 law enforcement agencies in the State of New Jersey have received and, through their continued dedication, Chief Stokoe and his staff went on to receive re-accreditation in 2017 and 2020; and

WHEREAS, the leadership, dedication and commitment that Chief Stokoe demonstrated resulted in the Randolph Township Police Department being recognized as an elite law enforcement agency in the State of New Jersey.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mayor and Council of the Township of Randolph hereby recognize retiring Chief of Police, David N. Stokoe for his legacy of service in law enforcement and express our sincere appreciation and gratitude for his selfless service to our community and the Randolph Township Police Department.

David Stokoe shared his appreciation for the township, his colleagues in the Police Department, and his experiences as Police Chief. He thanked his family, fellow officers, and the Township Council and staff. He expressed that the Police Department was a vital part of the community. He stated that with his retirement, he was leaving a highly competent, professional police department that was at the forefront of modern-day policing. He stated that the department was in a good position to meet the demands of the future. He recognized Lieutenant Will Harzula’s appointment as Police Chief and commented that he would continue to lead the department in an exemplary fashion. After 26 years of service, he looked back on his time with the Police Department with a tremendous sense of joy, pride, and honor. He considered himself to be fortunate and blessed for his experiences.

Councilman Loveys shared his appreciation for Chief Stokoe’s service. He commented that he made the council and community proud. He stated that Chief Stokoe served the community with total pride, and professionalism and commended him for his attention to detail, commitment to excellence, communication leadership and his overall dedication to the community and police department. He stated that Chief Stokoe would be greatly missed and wished him luck on his future endeavors.

Manager Mountain stated that over the past seven years, Chief Stokoe invested his heart and soul into leading the Township Police Department. He explained that becoming Chief was the fulfillment of a childhood dream for David Stokoe. He stated that as Chief he served the town and specifically the Police Department extremely well. Under his leadership, the Police Department was able to navigate through a challenging internal transition, while at the same time continuing to be one of New Jersey’s most professional and progressive police agencies. He stated that Chief Stokoe was leaving behind a great foundation for the new Chief to build upon. He wished Chief Stokoe all the best in his retirement and hoped that he would find success in the next chapter of his life.

C. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Seeing and hearing no one, the public portion was closed.

D. MANAGER’S REPORT

Manager Mountain explained the following:

Appointment of New Chief- Lieutenant Will Harzula has been selected as the new Chief of Police for the Township of Randolph. Lieutenant Harzula will start as Chief on July 1st following Chief Stokoe’s retirement.

* Lieutenant (Lt.) Harzula was raised in Middlesex, NJ, and graduated from High School where he graduated with honors. After high school, Lt. Harzula went on to attend The College of New Jersey and graduated with a Bachelors of Law and Justice degree in 1998.

* Upon graduating college Lt. Harzula enlisted in the U.S. Army. While enlisted, Lt. Harzula rose to the level of E-6 Staff Sergeant. He also attended the prestigious Army Ranger School, completing the program as an Honor Graduate. Lt. Harzula was deployed to Afghanistan after 9/11. While in active duty, his Squad completed several successful missions. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his actions while deployed. Lt. Harzula left the military in 2003 to pursue a career in Law Enforcement. He graduated from the Union County Police Academy and was appointed as a Randolph Township Patrol Officer in 2003. Since his appointment Lt. Harzula rose through the ranks to the post of Lieutenant, a position in which he has served since 2013. During his 8 year tenure as Lieutenant he has headed the Patrol Division for six years and the Detective Division and Internal Affairs for two years.

* Lt. Harzula brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the position of Police Chief. He also possesses a deep understanding of the Randolph community and will continue to advance the community policing philosophy that his predecessors in the position have advocated. Lt. Harzula is a leader. Throughout his career, he has exhibited a command presence and he possesses the type of leadership skills the department will require to remain on its current positive course.

* Lt. Harzula, his wife Susana, and 3 children currently reside in Middlesex, NJ. He will be sworn in privately to allow him to assume the position on July 1st and a public swearing-in ceremony will be scheduled for a Township Council meeting in July.

Appointment of Part-Time Communications Officer—Manager Mountain introduced Vincent Vitale as the town’s new part-time Communications Officer. Mr. Vitale will be working closely with Manager Mountain and the Township Clerk to further enhance the town’s communication activities, specifically our written media, news and event e-blasts, social media, and web posting. Mr. Vitale comes to Randolph with an excellent background in communications. He is currently the Supervisor of Broadcast and Communications for Sussex County Community College and before that has served in several other private sector positions involving communications.

E. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES

1. Approving the Regular Council Meeting Minutes from June 8, 2021

Councilwoman Veech made a motion to approve the Regular Meeting minutes for June 8, 2021. Councilwoman Carey 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

F. COMBINED ACTION RESOLUTIONS

Item # 2, R-162-21, Acknowledging Homestead Credit for Block 145, Lot 12, 119 High Street due to 100% Veteran’s Exemption—Deputy Mayor Potter thanked the veteran at this property for his or her service.

R-160-21 Approval to submit a grant application and execute a grant contract with NJDOT for MA-2022 Park Avenue Paving Program Phase 2 Project
R-161-21 Release cash road opening bond posted for the purpose of resurfacing the driveway at 14 Longhill Road, Block 208, Lot 34 to Seth Apirian—$500.00
R-162-21 Acknowledging Homestead Credit for Block 145, Lot 12, 119 High Street due to 100% Veteran’s Exemption—Richard and Joann Van Erem—$561.47
R-163-21 Refund a portion of escrow fees for Block 147, Lot 72 & 72.11, Skyline Drive to Toll Brothers, Inc. and Affiliated Entities—$6,627.34 plus interest
R-164-21 Refund portion of escrow fees for Block 147, Lot 72 & 72.11, Skyline Drive to Toll Brothers, Inc. and Affiliated Entities—$4,974.00 plus interest
R-165-21 Refund portion of escrow fees for Block 147, Lot 72 & 72.11, Skyline Drive to Toll Brothers, Inc. and Affiliated Entities—$7,679.88 plus interest
R-166-21 Authorizing contracts with an additional approved ESCNJ Contract Vendor under the Educational Services Commission of NJ Cooperative Pricing System
R-167-21 Awarding a Contract to Realauction.com LLC for Electronic Municipal Tax Lien Sales—not to exceed $2,500.00

CERTIFICATION OF AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS

Dated: June 24, 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 General Budget, Revenue Administration O&E, to award a contract to Realauction.com for online tax sale services, per its proposal submitted to the Township.

Darren Maloney
Chief Financial Officer
Budget Accounts: 01-201-20-145-011 (not to exceed $2,500)

R-168-21 Release of Performance Guarantee ($15,896.74) and the Cash Bond ($1,766.30—plus accrued interest) and acceptance of Maintenance Guarantee ($2,207.88) for Wawa, Block 135, Lots 2 & 5—358 Route 10 West—Randolph 10 Developers
R-169-21 Release of Soil Movement Bond for Wawa, Block 137, Lots 2 & 5, 358 Route 10 West—Randolph 10 Developers—$5,000.00
R-170-21 Authorizing Change Order #1 to amend original $88,675.00 contract with CMS Construction, Inc. for the Millbrook Avenue Retaining Wall Project by reducing amount by $2,600 as traffic control was not needed, and releasing the original maintenance and performance bond and retainage of $4,321.50 and accepting maintenance bond of $8,607.50
R-171-21 Release of Performance Guarantee posted in the form of a letter of credit for $168,667.92 and cash bond for $18,876 (plus interest) for onsite improvements for Wendy’s—Block 112, Lot 2, 505 Route 10 East to Conlen of Randolph, LLC
R-172-21 Release of Soil Movement Bond posted for Wendy’s—Block 112, Lot 2, 505 Route 10 East to Conlen of Randolph, LLC -$36,900.00
R-173-21 Authorizing the rescission and re-award of various items of MCCPC Contract #20B (Sporting Goods) to various bidders
Raffle License, On-Premise 50/50, RHS Cheerleading Booster Club, Inc. Randolph High School, 511 Millbrook Avenue, Randolph, September 17, 2021, October 8, 2021, October 15, 0221, and October 29, 2021 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Councilwoman Veech made a motion to approve the Combined Action Resolutions. 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

G. UPCOMING EVENTS

Freedom Festival Events: Carnival at County College of Morris (CCM) on Thursday, July 1 and Friday, July 2, 2021, from 6:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. and Fireworks at 9:45 p.m.—(fireworks rain date—Saturday, July 3rd at 9:45 p.m.). Saturday, July 3, 2021, Parade starts at 10:00 a.m. Carnival at CCM from 6:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.

H. ORDINANCES: INTRODUCTION

1. Ordinance 22-21—An Ordinance of the Township of Randolph Appropriating $200,000 from the American Rescue Plan’s Local Fiscal Recovery Fund for Improvements to Real Property Located at 42 Bennett Avenue

Manager Mountain explained that the purpose of the ordinance is to fund various improvements to EA Porter site, 42 Bennett Avenue. He explained that the affordable housing project would initially be funded from the affordable housing trust; the fund will later be reimbursed.

BE IT RESOLVED, that an Ordinance entitled “An Ordinance of the Township of Randolph Appropriating $200,000 from the American Rescue Plan’s Local Fiscal Recovery Fund for Improvements to Real Property Located at 42 Bennett Avenue” be introduced, read by title by the Township Clerk and passed on first reading.

BE IT RESOLVED, that said Ordinance shall be further considered for final passage at the meeting of the Township Council of the Township of Randolph on the 8th, of July, 2021, in person at 6:00 p.m. at Town Hall, at which time and place all persons interested shall be given an opportunity to be heard concerning said ordinance.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Township Clerk be authorized and directed to advertise said Ordinance in full or by summary with the notice of introduction thereof, in the official designated newspaper according to law.

Councilwoman Veech inquired about the status of the project. Manager Mountain informed her that they were still going back and forth in negotiating a handful of details. Most of the items being finalized were documents.

Deputy Mayor Potter made a motion to adopt the ordinance. Councilwoman Carey 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

I. ORDINANCES: SECOND READING/PUBLIC HEARING

1. Ordinance No. 21-21 Appropriating $245,000 from the Sewer Capital Improvement Fund for Meadowbrook Pump Station Improvements

BE IT RESOLVED, that an Ordinance entitled, “An Ordinance of the Township of Randolph Appropriating $245,000 from the Sewer Capital Improvement Fund for Meadowbrook Pump Station Improvements,” be read by title on second reading and a hearing held thereon.

Manager Mountain explained that this ordinance provides the funding for various improvements to the Meadowbrook Pump Station.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Seeing and hearing none, the public session was closed.

BE IT RESOLVED, that an Ordinance entitled, “An Ordinance of the Township of Randolph Appropriating $245,000 from the Sewer Capital Improvement Fund for Meadowbrook Pump Station Improvements,” be passed on final reading and that a Notice of Final Passage of said Ordinance be published in the official designated newspaper according to law.

Councilman Loveys made a motion to adopt the ordinance. Councilman Nisivoccia 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

J. DISCUSSION

1. Cannabis Subcommittee Report/Presentation

Councilwoman Carey explained that the Cannabis Subcommittee was formed after the NJ State Cannabis Legislature passed and the governor signed into law, legalizing and regulating recreational cannabis use and possession for adults 21 years and older in New Jersey. The legislation passed was based on the majority of voter approval in 2020.

She reported that among the provisions of the new laws was a requirement for municipalities to either opt in or opt out of one or all of the six licensed cannabis business classes by August 21, 2021. She explained that towns “opting in” would be committed to the decision for the next five years. After the five years, municipalities could opt out, but any cannabis-related business established during the five years would be allowed to remain. Towns “opting out” have the possibility of reconsidering their decision at any time in the future.

Mayor Forstenhausler asked what would happen if a town could not come to a decision. Councilwoman Carey informed him that the result would be that the township would automatically be opted-in.

Councilwoman Veech commented that since the township’s timeline for making a decision ran simultaneously with the NJ Cannabis Regulatory Commission’s work for determining the ranks, the township was unaware of what the state regulations would be before making a decision.

Councilwoman Carey explained that the committee had spoken to legislators such as Senator Bucco, representatives from the League of Municipalities, other towns with medicinal marijuana businesses, and Police Chief Stokoe, in addition to hearing from the local business community and the Township Board of Health. She stated that the committee has tried to do their due diligence as best they could to understand the tax implications. She added that the committee was analyzing the results of the online cannabis survey and the hard copies that residents submitted. Additionally, the committee held public forums in May and June to hear from the community.

She explained that the pros for opting in mostly related to business development as it could create more opportunities for local businesses by creating new local jobs, leading to positive economic impacts, and creating the potential for increased tax revenue.

She explained that the cons to opting in were that the state regulations had not yet been promulgated by the Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) which meant that the township would not fully know the rules of engagement before opting in. She also explained that other towns with medical marijuana businesses shared caution of potential odor from cannabis cultivation and processing business operations. Other cons included potential issues with cultivation operations and water use, negative impacts on the community with a potential increase of traffic, crime, and drivers under the influence. She explained that the committee was concerned with the potential for local residential property values being affected negatively due to neighboring cannabis businesses, and the location of cannabis businesses in existing parks/plazas/retail centers potentially causing other business tenants to relocate.

She stated that the committee recommended that the township opt-out of cannabis-related business licenses at this time, primarily because the NJ CRC has not yet issued regulations or any directives related to local municipal considerations. She explained that the committee believed that there was much more information regarding rules and regulations that needed to be known before the township could properly assess the potential impact of opting in.

She stated that the committee was aware of the impact on individuals prescribed marijuana; acknowledging that the nearest facility was 45 minutes away making obtaining their prescriptions challenging. She shared that media has reported that Rockaway Township and Parsippany-Troy Hills Township would be opting in for certain licenses.

She stated that a comprehensive zoning review was needed before the township opted in for any of the classes of cannabis businesses; the review would take some time and would not be possible before the August 21 deadline. She stated that the committee recommended that the township opt-out at present and that the council consider reconvening the committee in six months or a year to reassess their recommendation.

Kevin Keller from the Randolph Area Chamber of Commerce made a brief comment about the committee’s concerns in regards to traffic issues, zoning, and state regulations that have yet to be established.

Councilwoman Veech added that the township was under a water moratorium for complying with affordable housing commands. She explained that the situation was delicate as other towns with cannabis businesses have reported that it requires a lot of water. She commented that while 70% of the township voted in favor of the legalization, they may not have necessarily considered retail shops, cultivation, and other impacts on the town.

Manager Mountain added that some towns with medical marijuana facilities were still weighing recreational-use businesses because the regulations have not yet been established by the NJ CRC. He stated that the decision the committee made gave the town the ability to monitor other towns opting in and the regulations that would eventually be set by the CRC. He explained that if the timing for the process was deemed right, the township could opt in with a much better perspective. He stated that he was working closely with Township Attorney Buzak to create an ordinance for introduction on Thursday, July 8, and a public hearing on Thursday, July 22.

Mayor Forstenhausler commented that several surrounding communities have already passed ordinances establishing that they were opting out of the business classes. Councilwoman Carey informed him that Morristown, Dover, Denville, Roxbury, and Mount Olive decided to opt out. He asked what the percentage municipalities could charge if legalizing; from what he understood the percentage in New Jersey was much lower than in other states. Councilwoman Carey informed him that the tax percentage was around 2%. Councilman Loveys stated that it was 2% for cannabis cultivators, manufacturers, and retailers, and 1% for wholesalers.

Mayor Forstenhausler understood that the committee’s recommendation to opt out was mainly due to the regulations being unknown. Councilwoman Carey commented that township being allowed to opt in at any time made the decision clearer. Manager Mountain added that another important piece of information was that if the township opted in and then opted out, the businesses established in the five-year period would be grandfathered in; once the decision is made the township cannot go back and change what has been established.

Deputy Mayor Potter thanked the Cannabis Subcommittee for the time and work they put into researching and developing their recommendation. Mayor Forstenhausler echoed Deputy Mayor Potter’s comments. He added that the subcommittee was not against the legalization of cannabis, retail sale, or cultivation; the key issue was that they wanted to make sure that the township was aware of all the regulations that they would be saying yes or no to.

Councilman Loveys echoed Deputy Mayor Potter’s comments. He stated that the committee’s recommendation was a rational and prudent approach as the township was unaware of what regulations will be established.

Planning Board member Art Lee briefly mentioned cannabis odor and the frequent misinformation that he cleared up while speaking to multiple entities.

Councilman Nisivoccia thanked the committee for their comprehensive work. He shared that he has sat in on the committee’s public forums, and stated that he was impressed with how they were conducted. He was surprised that many of the residents who voted for the legalization of cannabis expressed to him that they did not want it sold in the township.

Mayor Forstenhausler referred back to cannabis odor and referenced the cannabis growing facility in Boonton Township. He asked if the odor was just a byproduct of growing and if anything could be done to mitigate the smell. Mr. Keller informed him that because of the facility’s growing schedule there wasn’t a season where the odor subsides. Boonton Township shared that they receive many complaints about it. There was a brief discussion about outdoor cultivation and water use.

Councilman Nisivoccia shared that he was concerned with odors that may come from neighboring towns opting in. Councilwoman Veech commented that the town’s surrounding Randolph have all opted out for now.

Mr. Keller shared that the Mayor of Denville commented that cannabis retailers would probably be looking to establish themselves on Route 10, this stuck with him because he was concerned with the potential tax revenues and complaints in Randolph, when Denville could possibly established facilities just miles away. From his professional experience, taxes were the biggest complaint reported by residents. He stated that the process made him learn a lot.

Councilman Loveys understood that municipal zoning regulations could not only dictate where a potential business could be located, but also the number of businesses that were allowed. Mr. Keller confirmed he was correct. Manager Mountain informed him that the location and the number of businesses allowed were primarily zoning considerations that required serious examination.

Mayor Forstenhausler stated that the committee’s recommendation, for now, was to opt out and wait for the state to provide the finalized regulations so the township could see what exactly came with opting in. The Cannabis Subcommittee would be disbanded for now and regrouped once the regulations were issued.

Councilwoman Carey stated that the group indicated that they would be willing to come back.

Councilman Nisivoccia asked Manager Mountain when the state regulations would be established. Manager Mountain informed him that the CRC is supposed to be done by the August 22 deadline, but he would not be surprised if they asked for an extension. He estimated that at the minimum it would be six months out, with additional time for public comment and modifications.

Councilman Nisivoccia understood that none of the towns opting in had cannabis businesses currently established. Manager Mountain informed him that he was correct, the towns were opting in and when the regulations are established and promulgated the license for businesses in the towns would be heard first for the licensing process. He added that no one knows how the licensing process would be handled.

Councilman Loveys asked about the 24-month transition to the legal market. Manager Mountain guessed that the time frame provided was an estimation of the timing for submitting an application, approval, obtaining a supplier, etc.

K. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Seeing and hearing none, the public session was closed.

L. COUNCIL COMMENTS

Councilman Tkacs attended a joint Parks Advisory Committee and Recreation Advisory Committee meeting on Thursday, June 10. Before the meeting, the group toured Randolph Lake and the Randolph Community Garden. He reported that there have been very positive comments about the lights at Brundage Park. During the meeting the committees discussed the Randolph Township Library’s Story Park initiative; the library believes that a good location for the park would be near the Township Museum.

He attended the Say Hi event at the Municipal Building on June 11. On Sunday, June 19, he attended the Juneteenth event at Brundage Park. He attended a Planning Board meeting on Monday, June 21; during the meeting, the board heard applications for soil movement and a conceptual plan for a multi-use building on Sussex Turnpike. He attended a Finance Subcommittee meeting on Tuesday, June 22.

Councilwoman Veech attended a Finance Subcommittee meeting on Tuesday, June 22. She participated in the Randolph Community Garden Walk & Talk event, during which, garden beds were inspected and a few people commented on issues with the lights and the flag pole at Veterans Community Park. Manager Mountain informed her that the contractor would be meeting with the engineers on Thursday, July 8, to address a list of items. She shared that there were still many political signs around town. She has frequently been taking down old election signs and suggested that the community could assist with this effort as they are out and about.

Councilwoman Carey reported that the Cannabis Subcommittee held its last meeting before submitting its recommendations to the Township Council. She attended a Randolph Area Chamber of Commerce meeting on Thursday, June 18; during the meeting, the chamber discussed how social media can aid small businesses.

She attended the Juneteenth event at Brundage Park on Saturday, June 19, and commented that it was a very nice event. She informed the public that the library’s One Book, One Community Program would take place from Monday, June 28 to Thursday, September 30. The program’s goal is to create a shared reading experience for the community; the book selected was Ordinary Grace.

Councilman Nisivoccia reported that he attended the Randolph Area Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours event at Brightview, in addition to attending the chamber’s Monthly Networking Luncheon at the Pizza Pub.

He attended a Trails Advisory Committee meeting. He shared that there have been reports of e-bikes on the trails and explained that motorized vehicles were not permitted on the township trails. There was a brief discussion about electric bikes and motorized vehicle speeds. Councilman Nisivoccia reported that the information was communicated on the township website and Facebook page, in addition to the Trails Committee Facebook page. He shared that there were also concerns about trail crossings due to motorists not seeing trailheads. He stated that the vegetation near the trailheads were going to be cut back, crosswalks painted, and additional signage would be looked into.

He attended the Juneteenth event and commented that it was a very nice.

Councilman Loveys attended a Board of Health meeting on Monday, June 14. He reported that heath screenings continued to be held by appointment and that the male and female cancer screenings were expected to open up in October. He shared that Township Health Officer Mark Caputo established an implementation timeline for the NJ single-use plastics ban and reminded the public that the ban pertained to paper bags and polystyrene products/containers as well. He stated that most of the ban regulations take effect in May 2022. He encouraged everyone to visit http://www.business.nj.gov and www.bagupnj.com for more information.

He reported that the Morris County Regional COVID-19 Vaccination Center at the Rockaway Mall would be closing after July 16. Mr. Caputo reached out to the Morris County Public Health Office and the Office of Emergency Management to commend them along with Atlantic Health Systems in establishing the regional center. He estimated that about 325,000 vaccine doses had been administered at the facility. He reported that Environmental Health Specialists were currently scheduling inspections for summer camps. He stated that the Board of Health’s next meeting would be held in person.

He attended the joint Recreation Advisory Committee and Parks Advisory Committee meeting on Thursday, June 10. He commented that the Randolph Lake, the snack bar improvements, and the addition of a first aid area looked good. He encouraged everyone to visit the lake. He commented that the community garden was a great facility and mentioned that the committees met at the pavilion at Veterans Park. He reported that the participation numbers in summer recreation programs exceeded the summer recreation numbers in 2019.

Joseph Nazzaro from the Recreation Advisory Committee shared that there was a lacrosse jamboree and peewee lacrosse tournament that coincided with a food drive. The food drive resulted in 445 pounds of food being donated to the Interfaith Food Pantry.

Councilman Loveys shared that he attended the Juneteenth event. He thought it was extremely well organized and informative. He also attended the Finance Work Group meeting. He explained that the group was in the process of searching for a new Chief Financial Officer.

Deputy Mayor Potter reported that she contacted local officials to notify them of the Randolph Kiwanis Freedom Festival parade. She was working on securing a car for all the officials to ride in. She stated that she was thrilled to hear that the grand marshals of the parade would be the heroes of the COVID-19 pandemic.

She and Councilwoman Veech toured prospective new trailhead locations with Trails Advisory Committee Chair Phil Sheehy. She attended the Randolph Area Chamber of Commerce event at Brightview. She attended a Morris County League of Municipalities event.

She announced that she has finished walking all the roads in Randolph after 2.5 years. She stated that it was a wonderful journey that gave her perspective on the amount of territory that the township’s police, fire, emergency services, and public works covered.

Mayor Forstenhausler commended Hazel Ball and the Randolph Partnership Endeavor for All Citizens (PEACE) for creating a wonderful Juneteenth event. He commented that the tone and education at the event were excellent.

He explained that with the end of the COVID-19 pandemic there has been an increase in the number of Eagle Scout ceremonies being conducted.

He attended a Habitat for Humanity Heart and Hammers event in Washington Township and briefly discussed the organization’s partnership with Randolph in finalizing details for the 25 affordable housing units being established on Bennett Avenue.

M. EXECUTIVE SESSION

No Executive Session was held for this meeting.

N. ADJOURNMENT

Councilwoman Carey made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:00 pm. Councilwoman Veech 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