Good evening.

On behalf of the governing body, we welcome you to the March 17th, 2026 City Council meeting.

In accordance with Chapter 231 public laws of 1975, adequate notice of this meeting was provided by resolution of the municipal council adopted on June 17, 2025, setting forth the schedule of meetings for the year 2025-2026.

Said notice was published and posted on the City Hall Bulletin Board by the Office of the City Clerk.

Please be further advised this meeting will be conducted in person.

The Zoom stream provided is for viewing only and is offered to the public as a convenience.

On March 6, 2026, public notice and zoom instructions for this meeting were posted on the City of Passaic website at WWW City of Pasake.com council agendas.

Instructions are also available on the last page of this agenda.

Please be guided accordingly.

Councilwoman Mello.

Present.

Councilman Mayor.

President.

Councilman Garcia.

Councilwoman Colom Montañez.

President.

And Council President Sher.

President Shirel, please rise.

Heavenly Father, we want to thank you, Lord, for allowing us to meet this evening.

Father God, we ask you to please guide us in the decisions that will take place this evening.

In your beloved name, we pray.

Amen.

Thank you.

And justice for all.

Before turning over the chair, um, let me just make a few announcements if I may.

And that is copies of tonight's agenda as well as our ordinances, resolutions, and background, are available on the city's website.

You can then access everything that members of the council receive from the administration in which to make uh determinations and wise judgments.

Um, councilman love will be joining us uh through Zoom.

Um, and it is with great pleasure that I turn the microphone over to uh councilwoman Mellow and Councilwoman, please.

Thank you, Council President.

So council.

She doesn't have to read all she does have a worry, let's go out of books.

Good evening, everyone.

We thank you all for coming tonight as we honor some wonderful women tonight, women that are pillaring our community, women that are making a change not only today, but continuously with education, running nonprofits, and even in our law enforcement.

So I'm gonna hand the mic over to my colleague, Merza Councilwoman Meritza Colombantinez.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Good evening.

Good evening, honories, guests, and colleagues.

Tonight it is the privilege for the council to recognize these remarkable women for their invaluable contribution to our society.

These are women who understand the power of their role, not only in their families and profession, but in shaping and strengthening our entire community.

They stand at the example of leadership, resilience, and service.

The freedoms and opportunities women experience today were not always guaranteed.

They were earned through courage, sacrifice, and perseverance.

During women's history month, we reflect on the countless women who have changed the course of history, leaders, educator, advocates, mothers, and pioneers who refuse to accept limitations and instead open doors for generations that follow.

This month is closely connected to International Women's Day.

Celebrated each year on March 8th.

The observance began in early 1900s when women around the world organized to rest raised their voices for fair work and conditions, voting rights, and equality.

In 1975, the United Nations officially recognized March 8th as International Women's Day, establishing a global moment to celebrate the achievement of women's and renown and commitment to quality and opportunity for all.

Throughout history, extraordinary women have shaped our world, leaders such as Rosa Parks, whose courage helped ignite the civil rights movement, Malala Yousefe, a fearless advocate for girls' education, Eleanor Roosevelt, who helped establish modern human rights standards through the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

In science and innovation, women like Marie Curry, a groundbreaking scientist, and the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, Katherine Johnson, whose brilliant calculation helped guide humanity to the moon during the Apollo 11 moon landing, forever changed the course of scientific history.

In pursuit of justice and compassion, women such as Harriet Tubman, who currently led enslaved people to freedom, Mother Teresa, who dedicated her life to serving the poor and vulnerable through the missionary of charity, remind us that the power of faith, service, and humanity.

And in political leadership, women like Margaret Thatcher, the first woman to leave the UK, Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman elected to the United States Congress, shattered barriers and paved the way for women in public service.

Tonight, as we recognize the remarkable women before us, we also honor the legacy of those who became who came before them and acknowledge the responsibility we share to continue, continue lifting others up.

As we celebrate Women's History Month and approach international women's, let us remember that the progress has always been driven by women who had the courage to stand up, speak out, and leap forward.

Tonight we honor these extraordinary women not only for what they have accomplished, but for the future they are helping to shape their leadership, strength our community, their example inspires the next generation, and their impact will continue to be felt long after tonight.

For that, we thank them, we celebrate them, and we profoundly recognize them this evening.

So tonight we honor these extra extraordinary women, not only for what they have accomplished.

Could we go start?

Yes.