CANCELLED Special Meeting October 1, 2024

7:00 PM – IN PERSON 

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE by the Council of the Township of Vernon that according to resolution #24-162, all meetings of the Township Council, except portions which may be legally privileged or contain otherwise confidential proceedings, such as an executive session, shall be livestreamed or otherwise broadcast over the internet utilizing existing and available technology such as, but not limited to, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and/or Google Hangouts Meet; and that members of the public watching the meetings of the Township Council via livestream shall not have the right to address the Township Council as if they were attending the meeting in person.

The public can watch the meeting livestream via a Zoom Webinar or come to the meeting in person at the municipal building. The meeting ID is 880 6923 4005. You may also call in by dialing 1-929-205-6099.

1. CALL TO ORDER 

2. STATEMENT: Adequate Notice of this Special Meeting was provided to the public and the press on September 22, 2024 and was posted at the Municipal Building in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act, N.J.S.A.10:4-7.

3. SALUTE TO THE FLAG 

4. ROLL CALL            

5. PUBLIC HEARING/ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE 

    Ordinance #24-20: An Ordinance to Replace the Memorial Monument and Sign Dedicated to Jason Rinker at the Vernon Pump Track and Park

WHEREAS, Vernon Township has a process within the Vernon Recreation Department to donate items and place dedication plaques throughout the Township, requiring no council or mayor vote, and

WHEREAS, Jason Rinker, a local business owner of the Ridetopia Bike Shop, was dedicated to the sport of downhill mountain biking, sponsoring children and women to encourage them in the sport, and

WHEREAS, Jason Rinker, was a dedicated athlete, excelled in biking, winning BMX races as a 5 year old, and was an undefeated downhill national champion, never losing a race, in the 40 year old and over category, and

WHEREAS, it was Jason Rinker’s dream to build a pump track for the cycling enthusiasts and to encourage Vernon’s youth to enjoy a clean, green, healthy activity which is offered with the use of a pump track, and

WHEREAS, his untimely passing and life long devotion to the sport of biking made placing a memorial to him at the Vernon Pump Track and Park an appropriate way to honor his dedication to our town and this sport, and

WHEREAS, former Mayor Howard Burrell, having an authority over the Recreation Department, approved and accepted a flagpole with a paver surround as a resting place for the monument, the monument, and the Park sign. On November 25, 2023, Mayor Burrell held a dedication ceremony at the Vernon Pump Track and Park, and

WHEREAS, without cause, Mayor Anthony Rossi removed the memorial monument from the flag area and the small sign referring to the donation of the Park sign in Jason’s memory, keeping the remaining items.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED, by the Township Council of the Township of Vernon, County of Sussex and the State of New Jersey, as follows:

SECTION 1. The small sign, formerly attached to the Vernon Pump Track and Park sign indicating the donation made in memory of Jason Rinker, be reattached.

SECTION 2. The memorial monument, removed from its base at the flagpole, be reinstalled.

SECTION 3. This Ordinance shall take effect according to law. 

6. PUBLIC COMMENT (Limited to 5 Minutes On Any Topic)          

7. ADJOURNMENT