June 30, 2025, Planning Board Special Meeting Transcript - WEHI

08/07/2025 02:56:42 PM Page 125 to 128 of 175 32 of 70 sheets 125 fund the acquisition and preservation of this property.1 MR. PLOCKER: Okay. I'm going to object.2 It's irrelevant to this application.3 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Mr. Klein?4 MR. KLEIN: I have no questions.5 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Ms. Kapferer?6 MS. KAPFERER: No questions.7 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Vice Chairman Guarino?8 VICE CHAIRMAN GUARINO: No questions at this9 time.10 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Mr. Alper?11 MR. ALPER: No, thank you.12 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Mr. Cardoza?13 MR. CARDOZA: No questions.14 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Mr. MacNeill?15 MR. MacNEILL: No questions.16 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Mr. Haizel?17 MR. HAZEL: No questions.18 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Do any member of the19 public have any questions for Mr. Tractenberg on his20 testimony?21 Seeing none.22 Thank you very much, Mr. Tractenberg.23 Council Person Scarpa, do you have any24 questions for Mr. Tractenberg on his testimony?25 126 COUNCIL PERSON SCARPA: No.1 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Thank you.2 MR. PLOCKER: I think she's still trying to3 talk.4 COUNCIL PERSON SCARPA: I don't have5 anything for Mr. Tractenberg but I did have a concern6 about the residents related to the blasting and I'm7 taking their comments seriously. You know, we did state8 that the Township has a responsibility, perhaps more of9 a question of who at the Township would be tasked with10 monitoring decibel levels, blasting and what procedure11 they would be required to use?12 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Mr. MacNeill.13 MR. MacNEILL: So typically, and I'll have14 to confirm after review of the code, but typically it15 would be on the building department for inspections as16 well as any site inspectors for the Township to review17 the site improvements for the project. So typically,18 based on my experience, it's either the building19 department that would be in charge of inspections20 on-site or, and maybe on top of, having separate21 inspectors to review and inspect the site improvements22 separately.23 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Thank you, Mr. MacNeill.24 Okay. Any other members of the public?25 127 Mr. Plocker?1 Mr. Afran.2 MR. AFRAN: Thank you. Thank you for3 hearing Professor Tractenberg and we appreciate the time4 you gave him.5 Our next witness would be Mayor Ed Davis of6 Essex Fells.7 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Thank you.8 MR. AFRAN: I am going to -- Mayor Davis9 will give a presentation, I may interject with a10 question or two, but I will leave it

would be Mayor Ed Davis of6 Essex Fells.7 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Thank you.8 MR. AFRAN: I am going to -- Mayor Davis9 will give a presentation, I may interject with a10 question or two, but I will leave it to the Mayor.11 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Sure. Welcome.12 THE PUBLIC: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.13 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Please raise your14 right-hand.15 MS. McGOVERN: Do you swear or affirm to16 tell the truth the whole truth nothing but the truth.17 THE WITNESS: I do.18 MS. McGOVERN: Please give us your full19 name, spell your last name and address, please.20 THE PUBLIC: My name is Edward Davis,21 D-A-V-I-S. I'm the Mayor of Essex Fells. My address in22 that capacity is 255 Roseland Avenue, Essex fells.23 M A Y O R E D W A R D D A V I S, having24 been duly sworn testifies as follows:25 128 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Go right ahead, sir.1 THE PUBLIC: Thank you Mr. Chairman. Thank2 you fellow board members for the opportunity to speak3 this evening. I've been before you with isolated4 comments here and there, but my purpose in speaking5 tonight is really on factual matters, not just to6 provide general commentary on the proposal.7 I have personal knowledge of conditions8 downhill from West Orange. As you all know Essex Fells9 is nearly to your west. In addition it's important to10 understand that the Borough of Essex Fells owns just11 under 17 acres, most people view that on the grounds of12 Essex Fells Country Club, but we're actually the13 property owners. We lease that plan to the country14 club, but for public purposes we have maintained that15 property since 1920 as a well field for community16 drinking water. Currently that drinking water is17 provided to Essex fells residents, Roseland, North18 Caldwell and Caldwell. But it is also important to19 remember that's just the situation today. Historically20 we provided water to other towns, including West21 Caldwell, tends to shift over time as community22 resources and community demands fluctuate. So while23 we're serving four towns and 22,000 residents in the24 area, that can certainly change as the area continues to25