December 6, 2017

DISCUSSION Chairman Bagoff stated the Board would be reviewing a request by the Township Council based on New Jersey Redevelopment and Housing Law N.J.S.A. 40A:12A-7 et. seq., to determine whether Block 155, Lots 40.02, 40.03, 41.02, 42.01 and 42.02 and Block 155.21, Lot 40 qualified for designation as a Non Condemnation Area in Need of Redevelopment. He stated Mr. Grygiel had presented the report at the November 1, 2017 meeting. Tonight he would provide further testimony based on questions asked at that meeting. After Mr. Grygiel completed his testimony, the Public would have the opportunity to ask questions based on the new testimony, and then comment on the report. Chairman Bagoff stated he received a letter stating that two members of the Board should recuse themselves, Mr. Trenk and Councilwoman McCartney; one because of a blood relation, and one because of a statement made at a Public meeting. Chairman Bagoff asked Councilwoman McCarthy if she could make a reasonable and unbiased decision on the report based on the previous information provided and new testimony to be presented; Councilwoman McCartney answered yes. Chairman Bagoff asked Mr. Trenk if he could make a reasonable and unbiased judgement on the report based on the facts presented by Mr. Grygiel, the Public, and the members of the Board; Mr. Trenk answered yes. Mr. Dwyer stated Councilwoman McCartney and Mr. Trenk had both expressed their ability to objectively hear and decide the presentation. Mr. Grygiel approached the podium. Chairman Bagoff stated Mr. Grygiel had been sworn in previously and remained under oath. Mr. Grygiel stated he had looked in to a few questions that were asked at the previous meeting. He stated his contact for Essex Green Shopping Center was Lauren Holden, Senior Vice President, Clarion Partners; for the Executive Drive office buildings, (West Orange Office Executive Park, LLC), his email contact was Sam Cooperstein. As requested, he asked both representatives if they would appear before the Board to answer questions; they both declined. Mr. Grygiel stated that at the previous meeting he had been asked about the vacancy rates cited in the report. As of late September 2017, Essex Green had 23.5% vacancy rate and 76.5% occupancy rate. Clarion Partners had provided the information in number form, and by a map of the shopping center that showed the vacant

te September 2017, Essex Green had 23.5% vacancy rate and 76.5% occupancy rate. Clarion Partners had provided the information in number form, and by a map of the shopping center that showed the vacant storefronts. Mr. Grygiel stated he had confirmed the vacancies by site visit. He stated that if the Shop Rite building was excluded, the vacancy rate would rise to just under 30%. Regarding the executive park, the vacancy rate given to him by the owner was 57.6%, it was only 40% occupied as of late September 2017. He stated he did not verify the entirety of the buildings, but had made a site visit to tour the office complex and the interior of two of the buildings. He stated he could only accept the numbers provided as reasonable based on the condition of the buildings and his deduction based on the number of tenants listed on the directory boards. Mr. Grygiel stated at the previous meeting, there were questions regarding his role and his firm’s role in the report. He stated his firm, Phillips Preiss Grygiel, had been continuously