July 31, 2024 Planning Board Special Meeting Transcript - WEHI

12 (Pages 42 to 45) Page 42 1 township's requirement for them to provide 2 environmental reports by a specialist? 3 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: We're going to have 4 our expert provide a report and they can respond or 5 they can adopt, and Mr. Plocker wants to say 6 something. 7 MR. PLOCKER: You know, just, with all 8 due respect, I know that Mr. DeFeo issued an initial 9 letter in connection with the application, we all 10 look forward to seeing what he has to say now that 11 the application is underway. I don't know if she's 12 referring to an environmental impact statement, but 13 the township site plan application requirements, it 14 is not a checklist item, it is not addressed, it is 15 not required. 16 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: That's right, it's 17 not required by the applicant. 18 MS. BENYO: Okay. And so to the 19 Board: When will your hired environmental 20 specialist be available for public hearing? 21 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Okay, at some time 22 during the process. We have to -- we just hired him 23 last night. He has to go out and evaluate the site, 24 he's going to talk to us, so we want to do 25 everything expeditiously but we don't want to miss Page 43 1 anything. 2 MS. BENYO: Excellent. 3 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: So we're going to 4 have a complete, well-done study. 5 MS. BENYO: And since you hired them 6 yesterday, what are their scopes of services, what 7 specific reports or assessments will they be 8 running? 9 MS. McGOVERN: The resolution that was 10 passed last night was to hire Mr. DeFeo, who was 11 instrumental in 2020 with reviewing the forest. 12 He's here tonight, he will be here until he 13 testifies, he may even be here after he testifies. 14 I don't know that any subsequent report is going to 15 be done because I think there was already something 16 submitted, but he's here and will testify when the 17 other witnesses that are completed before him are 18 done. 19 MS. BENYO: And what assessments will 20 he be conducting? 21 MS. McGOVERN: I think the health of 22 the forest, the effect of the deer fence, um -- I'm 23 trying to remember some of the things we went 24 through, a lot of the questions, the trees, the 25 health of the forest, trees, the number of trees, Page 44 1 how they calculated what trees are there, the 2 progress of the road, expected width, the measures 3 being taken, those kinds of things. 4 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Okay. He's here 5 during these

es, Page 44 1 how they calculated what trees are there, the 2 progress of the road, expected width, the measures 3 being taken, those kinds of things. 4 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Okay. He's here 5 during these meetings also to hear the questions of 6 the public. 7 MS. BENYO: Um-hum. 8 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: So he will be able 9 to answer things that come from the questions of the 10 public, besides what we feel, if necessary, and he 11 is the expert who will provide more testimony. 12 MS. BENYO: Then I look forward to 13 that time. Thank you. 14 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Thank you. 15 MR. STOLOFF: Good evening. 16 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Good evening. 17 MR. STOLOFF: Aaron Stoloff, I live in 18 Verona. 19 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Could you state your 20 name and spell your last name, sir? 21 MR. STOLOFF: I just stated my name. 22 Aaron Stoloff. 23 MS. McGOVERN: Spell it. 24 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Spell your last 25 name, sir. Page 45 1 (Member of the public spelled his name while 2 Chairman Bagoff was speaking - court reporter asks 3 him to repeat it.) 4 MR. STOLOFF: S as in Sam, T as in 5 Tom, O, L, O, F, F. 6 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Go right ahead, sir. 7 MR. STOLOFF: Sure. So I live in 8 Verona on the other side, not on the most recent 9 side that was built in the mid to late '80s. That 10 was called the Garden Homes, though. I did confirm 11 with my friends. So I do know that, from living 12 there, that the whole area is bedrock. So -- 13 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Sir, sir -- 14 MR. STOLOFF: When Mr. Anderson was -- 15 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Sir, if, when, why, 16 what, where, how, which. Please ask a question. 17 MR. STOLOFF: I'm getting to a 18 question. 19 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: You're testifying. 20 MR. STOLOFF: No, I'm getting to a 21 question, all right? 22 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Getting to a 23 question is testifying. The law considers it 24 testifying. 25 MR. STOLOFF: Okay.