Hello, hello, hello. Yeah. Yeah. Good evening. The September 25th, 2024 Council meeting of the Long Branch City Council will now come forward. And roll call. Mr. Daniels-Apsen, Dr. Vogue. Yeah. Mrs. Woodace. Here. Dr. Selly's absent. Mr. Viera. I'm here. That's all please stand for pledge allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, in territory of the Republic, for which it stands one nation and the God, indivisible, in liberty and justice for all. I will now read the admission statement of the City Council. The Long Branch Mayor, City Council and Administration are committed to cultivating an environment of mutual trust and respect that all values that diversity of our community. We will strive to enhance the quality of life for all who live here by making Long Branch a desirable place in which to live and prosper. We will treat all members of the public with respect and expect the same in return. I hereby certify that this meeting has been published in the newspaper and accordance with the Open Public Meeting Act and post it as required by law. Thank you. We'll now have the presentation by the Spanic Heritage Month presented by the Long Branch Public Schools. Good evening, City Council. Mayor, I'd like to present you to Mrs. Hayde Castillo and our colleagues. She happens to be the bilingual supervisor for grades K through 8, and our children have a special presentation for you this evening. For a few moments. Come on down in Miss Cassi, if you wouldn't mind, and introduce the children. Thank you, Council for having us tonight. Come over, please. Please. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. We have a proclamation to share with you tonight. I hope you enjoy. We're asked each year that United States serves National Hispanic Heritage Month by celebrating the culture, heritage and countless contribution of those who ancestor the indigenous to North America, as well as those who came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. And where us, as a Latino population in the United States, is currently the third largest worldwide, exceeding the size of the population in every Latin America and Caribbean, country upset Mexico and Brazil and the. The Brea of the Census estimates the spaniac population living in the continental United States at 62.1 million making spaniac Americans almost 18% of the total is population of the total population of the United States and the largest Russia of a 10-minute group in the United States. And whereas the Hispanic heritage must begin in 1968, under the President Johnson and was extended by the President of the region in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting September 15th and ending October 15th to cover the various university dates of the independence for the Latin American countries of Costa Rica, Esalvalor, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, Chile, and... Pico and Chile and. Whereas Hispanic heritage month encouraged us to reflect on the legacy of Hispanic people who have influence our nation history and serve today as leaders in our aspects in our nation or life from the Supreme Court and halls of Congress to birth rooms and main streets across all the United States and those who serve all branches of the armed force and have bravely in every war in the history of the United States. And whereas we recognize the commitment to family and community and enduring work ethic and perseverance to succeed and contribute to society and honor the many ways that his panic Have been raised the fabric of our socially while also radicating ourselves to address the lack of equal access to opportunity the many still faces. Now that we found it be resolved by the sitting councilor of the city of Longbianch that they were horribly recognized the celebration of the Hispanic Heritage Month and urges the people of the United States and Longbianch to observe the Hispanic Heritage Month with appreciate programs, activities that celebrate the control nations of the Latinos to the United States. Thank you. Beautiful. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Here we present Kevin. I don't know if I can move the microphone. There you go. Good evening everybody. My name is Kevin. I'm nine years old and I'm going to sing a song for you guys. I hope you guys love it. I leave my mother alone and I grab her and I don't know how to show her If I eat her, I reached her with her mistakes She was behind the money, suffering the mills and sables She was passing through winter A year and two, your love. A woman has just left, she has been hurt, she has lived. The cat has changed from old, and the woman is married And some on the other side She's not going to live If you know how many times you have turned around, you are probably not confident enough, Confying in luck and only luck in her When you grow up in the front That's why I wrote it to my father a letter Carthita Nada más para decirle que mi madre es muy bonita que no vaya a repentirse Por dejarla tan solita Oh Y algunos el otro lado, siempre pasando de vivos. Wow. Thank you. Beautiful. Thank you. Beautiful. Thank you. We will now have the recognition of Gene Ashen, please. Come on up. Good evening. It's a tough act to follow. First off, with all the guards here and with Jean, I just want to say thank you for all you have done over the years. I see some younger guards and some older guards. As a beach girl, go over all my life. I just really appreciate everything that you did and do. And Jean, thank you for everything 48 years. You've been on the beach if I'm not mistaken. Right. So that's great. I wanted to say something just on a personal note. And that is my, for those who don't know, Long Branch had a shared service agreement with deal and with ocean township. And my son was a rookie. I don't know if you even knew who he was. But he was a rookie, 16-year-old rookie this year. And I would ask him, like, how did you day go, especially when the training? And he would say, well, you know, Mr. Hessian's very tough. And I say, okay. But, you know, I could see that he appreciated and he was challenging. And I must say that, you know, look, he's only 16, so what do I know? But he was really so proud to be a lifeguard. And what I saw in him, and I don't want to make this about him because it's about you, but what I saw in him is an increase in confidence. He was a quiet kid. He responsible leadership, but most of all, I think he understood the responsibility of the job. And all of those things were attributed to you really. And you know, for whatever he does or whatever any of you do after life guarding or continue life guarding, you know, it's like a life lesson. And again, I just want to thank you for that because I think that's why he is what he is. Thank you. Thank you again. All right, this certificate is presented to Jean Hessen, Dr. Jean Hessen, for all that education, leadership and service to the City of Long Branch and the Beach community since 1976. We thank you for your initiatives during your leadership in the Mom of County chapter of the United States of life saving association and for establishing the Long Branch Ocean Rescue Life Court Academy, which has trained over 250 life courts since 2011. issue the very best upon your retirement and the rest is sure that your legacy will continue to inspire and protect for years to come. Presented as the 25th day of September 2024. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I just want to say thanks to all the people over the years that helped me with the academy. Bill Kiss, Rick Stimson, Brian Gleason, Lance, Marsh, Danny, everybody. It takes a village to train a lifeguard. And I can't thank you enough. Thank you very much. I need to move to the previous minutes. I need to move to the minutes of September 11, 2024. So moved. Second. Roll call please. Mr. Dangler's absence, Dr. Vo. Yes. Mrs. Wittis. Yes. Dr. Sully's absent. Mr. Dangler. Mr. Dr. Voe. Yes, Mrs. Wittis. Yes, Dr. Sully's absent, Mr. Dangler. Mr. Vierro, I'm sorry. Yes. Motion passed. Consideration of ordinance, public hearing, and final consideration. Ordinance 0-17-24. Ordinance and banning, chapter 45. Fire department, Chapter 45, Fire Department Section 45, DASH 3, Officers, Powers and Doodies. And 45, DASH 4, Firefighters, Uniform, Fire Division, UFD. This was introduced on September 11th, 2024, and Mends Chapter 45, Fire Department Section 45, DASH 3, and 45, DASH 4. To update the titles to the command officers for the uniform fire division. We need a motion to open the public hearing on this ordinance only. So moved, second. Before the public hearing comes, I'm going to ask you right now to do an explanation on this ordinance. Councillor Presidio, I just wanted just for the public's benefit and to reiterate something that I said before this ordinance that was introduced. This is an ordinance that was companion to the approval of the collective bargaining agreement with the uniform fire officers. We are merely changing the titles from lieutenants to captains and captains to battalion chief. We don't change the order of authority within the ordinance at all. It's just merely that title change and it was to make the ordinance consistent with what the collective bargaining agreement will now read. It doesn't affect the relationship between the volunteers and the paid fire division at all. So it's just merely a, literally a title change. And by the way, in the contract, as we talked about last time when the contract was approved, there isn't an increase in pay as a result of these change in titles. They are just merely a change in, literally, literally just a change in the title. Thank you Mr. Ray. You're welcome. If any member of the public has any comments to make on this ordinance only, please come to the podium. Stay your name and address and clearly foot a record. You will have five minutes and may only speak once on this ordinance, 1724. Does anybody in the public have a comment to make? Since there's none, I need a motion to close. So moved. Second. Fall in favor. Aye. Aye. This is the second reading for an answer. 17-24, I need a motion to adopt on a second and a final reading and advertise according to law. So moved second. Roll call. Mr. Danieler's absent, Dr. Vogue. Yes. Mrs. Widis. Yes. Dr. Celia's absent, Mr. Viera. Yes. Motion passed. Ordnance print reduction is none. Public participation and resolutions in all general comments. I need a motion to open the public portion of the meeting for all comments. Some move, second. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? If there's anyone in the audience that has a comment to make, please step to the podium and stay your name and address clearly for the record. You'll have five minutes and may only speak once? Bensal Report, 33 other veterans long branch. Crusting one minute notification. Council President Vieira, you appear to thank the fire officials at most every council meeting for their attendance and leads one to take a position that you are familiar with is occurring in the fire department. That being said, with the just recent ordinance adopted by this council, 1724 concerning positions in the fire department, there are questions in addition to Mr. Ray None's explanation of how this relates to volunteer firefighters which brings about this question. Mr. Viera, why were the volunteer firefighters not afforded the opportunity to do training on the two houses used for fire training behind mom at the university police headquarters Mr. Viera who was responsible for that banning of the training of the volunteers at those two facilities? Mr. LaPouare I have to tell you that when I mentioned the public portion is the common portion. If we want to answer your questions, we will at the end. This is your, you can do your comments if you want to. So you take a paycheck and you show up at a meeting and you promote transparency but you don't answer questions. This is a common portion. I want an answer to this question or the next council meeting. I'm going to fill this room up with volunteer firefighters, Mr. Viera. You could do what you have to do, Mr. Laporte. This is a common question. Well, every one of them is watching you right now tonight. OK. I'm not doing it. And I'll invite them to come here to address you. In response to the controversial matters involving the mom of county SPCA over the past few months. At the September 12, 2024 meeting of the mom of county commissioners, Attorney Fitzgerald, attorney to the commissioners, read the following statement, quote, recently, the change in the law has transferred the law enforcement functions from the SPCA back to the Mommoth County Prosecutors Office. It is the County Commission's understanding that the SPCA may enter into an agreement to provide services to the prosecutor's office directly. Accordingly, the county shared services agreement with the SPCA will be terminated." That statement renders the SPCA without law enforcement ability. Many of us knew all along the illogalities by the then SPCA's you main law enforcement division and bringing unfounded charges against the city police officer and the city health department official resulting in indefinite layoffs. The then you main law enforcement division failed to bring charges against the owner and for that matter the SPCA itself, involving the dog fatality to which the two city employees were dispatched to. The county commission's response to the matters surrounding the SPCA is a beginning. A lot more work needs to be done both administrative administratively and legally, to clean house at the SPCA. Without question, likewise, this city will be terminating any contract with the SPCA. You've had too many warnings and too many failures. Another question, Council President Vieira, on September 12, 2024, the State Health Department sought notification to the Mammoth County SPCA that it cannot fully close down the facility for two weeks for deep cleaning. The State ordered it to be open on limited hours. Council President Vieira, why did the city's health department as a party to this city's contract with the SPCA, failed to monitor the hygiene of that facility where animals from long branch were transported in health. The answer, Mr. Viera. I'll give you the answer right now. When you write your notes, don't write any questions for me because I'm not going to answer any questions. You have very ignorant individuals. I'll be in the area. And your ignorance and arrogance is being seen throughout city long. And I have to look at me for the next year. I got news for you. You are Mr. Non-Transparent. That's what you are. You are the failure of the Paloma team in transparency because you are non-transparent. That's all right. I've reached the mother of junk government, Fiera. You exemplify junk government. Anyone else? Thank you. I need a motion to close. I moved. Second. Council President. Sure. Just a clarifying roll. Sure. So just you know the houses that came down, the volunteer chief chief Bud and captain, no chief Griffin, both coordinated that together and both had equal opportunities. No matter if fact a bunch of volunteers are going tomorrow and I know they were invited today, so they did have opportunities to go. And Chief Bud can set it up anytime he wants to take a crew down there. Right. Thanks. Thanks. I know I asked Madame Clark if there is any changes to the list of resolutions? No changes have been made. We could take a list of resolutions to consider agenda. So moved. Second. Call. Mr. Dengler. Is absent, Dr. Vogue? Yes. Mrs. Wittis? Yes. Dr. Sally's absent, Mr. Viera? Yes. Motion passed. Applications is none. Miss Alainius with business for the good of the order. Councilwoman, councilwoman Vogue. Thank you, Council President. So aren't our students amazing. You just can't help but be so proud of them as they are so proud of their heritage and so happy to be representing their heritage in front of us. It's just, I love it. Love it. Let me bring your attention to resolution 233-24. Just, we had actually discussed this in our workshop meeting. I think it's a move that is so important and is of such value to our city. And that is entering into an agreement for arrive together, which as our director explained and director please if I omit anything or don't get it right please correct me, is for our police officer and a trained mental health professional to arrive together for certain calls. Because so many times what comes in as a police call can really be a mental health situation or something better handled by, or I shouldn't say better handled, more appropriately handled by, or I shouldn't say better handled, more appropriately handled by a social worker. So the fact that we are entering into this agreement I think is just a tremendous asset for a police department, tremendous of tremendous value for a city. I don't know if you want to add any comments to it? I agree 100%. Long branch has been one of the early adopters of this program and we think that it will definitely lead to, as the program is designed, police having other options when they receive these types of calls and calls being handled by appropriate mental health officials and we should see a reduction in number of calls or repetitive calls that the officers have to constantly respond to so it will allow more police Thank you. Thank you. Nope. I want to have one more thing. Okay. And that is congratulations to our green team and our environmental council for all the, sorry, environmental commission for all the work that they do because long range has again been awarded civil level certification for a sustainable jersey. They are very hardworking, dedicated group, and they do long-grinch proud with the work that they do. Thank you. Thank you, Council President. Councilwoman Wittes? Yes, I'd like to thank everyone for coming this evening. And the students were amazing. And we're grateful to the Long Bridge Board of Education for participating in our meetings each month. And I'd like to also congratulate Dr. Hession for all the years that he's served our city. And we truly appreciate him and he will be missed. And thank you for everyone for coming tonight. Thank you. Thank you. May I put on? Thank you, Council President. I just had a couple announcements I wanted to make. Thank you to everyone who made the uptown Broadway festival a success. It was our first year and we look forward to continuing this event every year in the future. I wanted to just remind everybody that Long Branch Day is this Saturday, September 28th from 1 to 4 p.m. right here between City Hall and the library join us for food, kid activities, music, and local vendors. And also, Halloween is back at Jackson Woods for the annual event, Jack O'Lantern Woods. It's free, includes trick-or-treating food and activities for children. This event is October 26th from 2 to 4 p.m. And I just want to day-add that we're adding to the fun by opening up the Fire and History Museum just down the road. So we're going to have some activities and some treats for the kids there as well. So anybody who hasn't down the road, so we're gonna have some activities and some treats for the kids there as well. So anybody who hasn't seen the museum, it's an opportunity to stop in. We're gonna have some interesting things to do there as well. Have a good week, thank you all for being here. Thank you. Now I also wanna thank the Board of Education and Mrs. Castillo for bringing out the students. They were wonderful and they were amazing as right. And I also want to congratulate Mr. Hession, Dr. Hession for all this service for the City of Long Branch, the last of the years. And on a big shout out to the lifeguards over here, cuz they're doing an amazing job with the city this year, with the lifeguards. I know they've been out work even less week. I think they saved somebody on the ocean there. And a big shout out to them because they're an amazing job. So with that, I want to say good night and thank you for coming. I like the motion to close. So moved. Second. Hold in favor. Aye. Opposed. Thank you.