November 13, 2024 Planning Board Special Meeting Transcript - WEHI

41 1 the water flow if there’s been enough studies for the 2 effect on increased -- you know, there’s been times 3 over the past year, it’s not raining now but last year 4 and early this year it was raining quite a bit and 5 there’s been quite a bit of water flow down Canoe Brook 6 which ends up in the golf course and it’s come pretty 7 close to overflowing already so with all the trees 8 coming down, just wondering about what the effect, 9 besides all the other issues like the parking, I mean, 10 the traffic. So, that’s my concern. 11 MR. DeFEO: I really can’t speak to that. 12 That would be an engineering question and the 13 engineering has already been testified to. I can’t 14 testify to the engineering. 15 MR. McGLYNN: Okay. That’s about all I had 16 to say but I just wanted to express my concerns. 17 THE CHAIRPERSON: Okay. Do any other members 18 of the public have any questions? 19 Okay. Mr. Afran, you’re up, sir. 20 MR. AFRAN: Good evening. For the record, 21 I’m Bruce Afran, counsel for WeCare New Jersey. 22 EXAMINATION BY MR. AFRAN: 23 Q Mr. DeFeo, you or your company are presently 24 employed in some capacity with the town aside from this 25 engagement here, is that correct? 42 1 A Yes. I have a separate contract with the 2 Township, yes. 3 Q And what is the subject of that contract? 4 A As the environmental compliance officer, my 5 fundamental responsibility is to inspect and ensure 6 compliance at the West Orange Recycling Center where 7 the leaves are composted and the wood is processed. 8 Q How long have you had that responsibility? 9 A I believe that started -- yeah, that started on an 10 emergency basis in 2005. 11 Q And have you continued in that capacity with 12 the town since 2005? 13 A Yes. 14 Q Since 2005, aside from this engagement on 15 this application, have you had any expansion of your 16 responsibilities with the town other than the recycling 17 function? 18 A Yes, I’ve had one other which was a one time 19 processing -- sorry, let met rephrase that. I worked 20 with the Township on the development of its solid waste 21 and recycling bid specifications. 22 Q And does that represent the extent of your 23 work with the Township aside from this site plan 24 application? 25 A In terms of specific contracts, I think I had one 43 1 other short contract working -- it was during COVID, 2 helping to develop safety procedures for well

ide from this site plan 24 application? 25 A In terms of specific contracts, I think I had one 43 1 other short contract working -- it was during COVID, 2 helping to develop safety procedures for well health 3 and safety standards, actually, reviewing them would be 4 a better way of putting it not developing them. The 5 Township had a very good program on its own, to the 6 credit of its staff. 7 Q Did I understand you to say well as in well, 8 you mean, water from a well? 9 A No. No, well as in healthy. 10 Q Okay. So, that’s why I clarified. What did 11 that healthy element refer to? What type of work? 12 A Well health and safety means you review both the 13 policies and procedures of a staff and building as well 14 as the nature of what’s being done to the building. 15 For example, if you look behind you, you’ll see an air 16 filtration system in this building. 17 During COVID, those things were put in -- 18 again, the Township took the initiative in putting that 19 kind of system in place. It was to help review those 20 systems. As you walk into this building, you’ll see 21 there’s one way in and one way out. You will see hand 22 sanitizers, that sort of thing. It helps to review 23 what are the policies and the procedures of the system. 24 Q So, well as in wellness? 25 A Well, as in wellness, yes. 44 1 A Good. Thank you. I wanted to clarify. 2 Now, tell us what actual specialized 3 training, either academically during your master’s 4 degree program or otherwise you have in forestry? 5 A Well, as I’ve already testified, I am not a 6 forester. I am a biologist with concentrations in 7 botany and ornithology. I am also -- I have a master’s 8 in environmental studies which you would call today 9 probably sustainability. That was how the title would 10 have evolved over time. My concentrations in my 11 master’s would have been environmental science with 12 concentrations also in botany and ornithology as well 13 as environmental education. 14 Q Ornithology as in the study of birds, you 15 said? 16 A Correct. 17 Q Now, my question was what training do you 18 have in the field of forestry? 19 A As I stated, I am not a forester. I am trained as 20 -- I would be qualified as a botanist if you were to 21 look at my speciality. 22 Q And, again, my question is what training do 23 you have in the field of forestry? 24 A I’ll try to answer that again. 25 Q Do you have

ified as a botanist if you were to 21 look at my speciality. 22 Q And, again, my question is what training do 23 you have in the field of forestry? 24 A I’ll try to answer that again. 25 Q Do you have any? If you don’t, say no.