Okay, we're recording. Okay. Good evening. I'm Councilman Michael Kersh. On behalf of our township clerk, Grace Jaguna and Councilman Timothy Ring, it's my privilege to welcome everyone and call to order this reorganization meeting of the Bridgewater Township Council on Monday,
January 5th, 2026 in compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act of New Jersey. Adequate notice of this meeting was provided on December 5th, 2025 by sending written notice an electronic notice to the courier news and the breeze posting on the website and the bulletin board in
the municipal building and filing with the township clerk. We will now have the presentation of our colors and pledge of allegiance led by Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey Troop 629. Please rise if you are able and then remain standing for our national anthem
performed by township employee Nicole Smith along with the invocation >> to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice
for all you. Okay. Um, good evening. Oh, say can you see by the dawn early [singing] light
what so proudly we held [singing] at the twilight last gleaming whose broad stripes and bright stars
through the perilous fight. [singing] Or the ramp parts we watched were so gallently [singing] streaming and the rockets
red glare. The bombs bursting in air gave proof through the night [singing] that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star spangled banner yet away, or the land [singing] of the free and the [singing] home
of the brave. Thank you. [applause] >> All right. Thank Thank you very much to both Girl Scouts Troop 629 and Nicole Smith. I now invite Reverend
David Hobs from the Macedonian Baptist Church within our Hopstown neighborhood to deliver tonight's invitation. First of all, good evening and what a gathering tonight. I'm going to do an invocation
invocationary prayer from the book of Jeremiah. For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you, says the Lord. plans for peace and well-being,
not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call on me and I will come and pray to me and I will hear your
voice and I will listen to you. Then will a deep looking for you that you will seek me and require me as a vital necessity and
you will find me when you search for me with all your heart. And tonight, heavenly father, for all of us that are here, for those that are going to be inducted, I pray, Father,
that every decision, every thought is first a consulting with you so that you lead and guide this group the way that you would want them to go. so that
all are included and all are blessed. And tonight, Father, we just give you the glory. In the name of your dear son, we pray and we say, "Amen." Amen. And amen. [clears throat] Okay, everybody may be seated.
Thank you, Reverend Hobbs, for those impactful words and kind wishes for our community in this new year. I now recognize our township clerk, Grace Jaguna, to report on certificates of election. >> Thank you. Following the election held
in Somerset County on November 4th, 2026, the board of canvasers has issued its determination regarding the municipal offices for Bridgewater Township. for the three available four-year seats on the township council.
The board officially declares Joan Geer, Andrew Bako, and Riduana Isler as the elected representatives. [applause] [applause] Thank you. The oath of office will now be administered to Joan Guyger,
performed by Honorable Judge Rochelle Gazinski. Joan is accompanied by her husband Tom Dela Ventura and sons Joel and Joseph Dubowski. >> [clears throat] >> Hello everyone. It is my distinct honor
and pleasure to administer the oath of office to my dear friend, Councilwoman Elect Joan G. Guyger. [applause] Please repeat after me. I, Joan G. Guyger, >> I, Joan G. Guyger,
>> do solemnly affirm >> do solemnly affirm >> that I will support >> that I will support >> the Constitution of the United States >> the Constitution of the United States >> and the Constitution >> and the Constitution
>> of the State of New Jersey >> of the state of New Jersey. that I will bear true faith >> I will bear true faith >> and allegiance >> and allegiance >> to the same >> to the same >> and to the governments
>> and to the governments >> established in the United States >> established in the United States >> and in this state >> and in this state >> under the authority of the people >> under the authority of the people
>> and that I will faithfully >> and I will faithfully >> impartially >> impartially >> and justly >> and justly >> perform all the duties >> perform all the duties >> of the township of Bridgewater
>> of the township of Bridgewater. >> Councilwoman >> Councilwoman >> according to the best of my ability >> according to the best of my ability. >> Congratulations Councilwoman Guyger. [applause and cheering] >> [applause and cheering]
[applause] >> Okay, Joan would invite family and friends to come forward and be in a group photo, please. Thank you. >> [applause] >> Donna, how you doing? Um I [clears throat] just brought my own. I
don't >> You want to come up? We have a seat right here for you. [applause] [applause] only for a moment. [applause] Okay. The oath of office will now be administered to Andrew Bucko, performed by Honorable County Commissioner
Elizabeth Graer. Andrew is accompanied by his wife Kate and daughter Elizabeth. [applause] I am also honored to be giving the o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o oath of office to Andrew. This is my first official municipal oath of office, so it's a huge honor for me. Thank you.
>> That's mine, too. >> So, please repeat after me. I, Andrew Bucko, >> I, Andrew Bucko, >> do solemnly affirm >> do solemnly affirm >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States
>> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey. that I will bear true faith >> That I will bear true faith >> and allegiance >> and allegiance
>> to the same >> to the same >> and to the governments established >> and to the governments established >> in the United States >> in the United States >> and in this state >> and in this state >> under the authority of the people
>> under the authority of the people >> and that I will faithfully >> and I will faithfully >> impartially and justly >> impartially Y and justly >> perform all the duties >> perform all the duties >> of the township of Bridgewwater >> of the township of Bridgewwater.
>> Councilman >> Councilman >> according to the best of my ability. >> according to the best of my ability. [applause] Yep. That's all right. [applause] [applause] >> [clears throat]
[applause] [applause] >> The oath of office will now be administer to administered to Ruana Isla performed by honorable judge and county surrogate Bernice Jallow. Ridan is accompanied by husband and son Ethan.
[applause] I too am honored to give this oath to Ridana Islam. Congratulations. >> Thank you so much. >> I repeat after me. I, >> Ruana Islam, >> do solemnly swear >> do solemnly swear >> that I will support >> that I will support
>> the Constitution of the United States >> the Constitution of the United States >> in the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> that I will bear true faith >> that I will bear true faith and allegiance >> and allegiance to the same
>> to the same and to the government established and to the government established in the United States. >> in the United States. >> And in this state >> and in this state >> and and to the under the >> and under the authority of the people >> and under the authority of the people
>> and that I will faithfully >> and that I would faithfully >> impartially >> impartially >> and justly >> and justly >> perform all the duties >> perform all the duties >> of the township of Bridgewwater >> of the township of Bridgewater. Councilwoman
>> Councilwoman according to the best of my ability. >> According to the best of my ability >> Congratulations. >> Thank you so much. [applause] >> [applause] [applause] >> Congratulations. [applause] >> [applause] >> Okay, now that we have a full council at
the deis, madame clerk, would you please call the role for the township council? >> Councilman Bako. >> Councilwoman Gger, >> present. >> Councilwoman Isla >> here. >> Councilman Kersh >> here. >> Counciloman Ring.
>> Good evening. Here. I'd also like to acknowledge other officials who are seated at the deis our township going my right your left uh township administrator Mike Papus our mayor Matthew Mench and the gentleman here is John Duca uh from the law firm
Sabo Shock Corsini Warner Gillespie Gratnik and Fischer our uh municipal uh uh municipal firm we will now select a council president for the year 2026 may I have a nomination I would like to nominate.
>> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Are there any other nominations? Okay. Hearing none, Madame Clerk, would you please call the role? >> Councilman Bucko, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Isla, >> yes. >> Councilman Kersh, >> yes.
>> Councilman Ring, >> yes. >> President Geger, >> yes. >> [applause and cheering] >> Congratulations to our new council president, Joan Guyger. This seat and the gavl are now yours. >> Well, it's not this gavvel. I'm sorry.
It's it's it's this g. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you so much for all your help. [applause] Oh, they already did it. Okay. >> We will now have the selection of the council vice president. Do I have any uh
motions for selection of the uh vice president? Andrew Bucko. >> Do I have a second? >> I will second it. Uh, take the roll call, please. >> Councilman Bucko.
>> Uh, yes. >> Councilwoman Isla. >> Yes. >> Council Councilman Kersh. >> Yes. >> Councilman Ring. >> Yes. >> President Gger. >> Yes. [applause] Welcome, Vice President Buck.
>> Thank you. >> And it is now time for the council president's message. Good evening. It's great to be on this side of the podium, at least tonight. I don't know how I'll feel about it in the future, but tonight it feels good. Um, I am
going to skip the recognition of all the dignitaries because frankly there are too many of you in the room to recognize and I know I will miss someone and insult someone. So, um, I apologize in advance for not doing that. But in the interest of time, I will just proceed
with my speech. Um, thank you to everyone for being here tonight. A year ago, if you had asked me what would I want to be doing today, I would have said climbing a mountain on the Appalachian Trail with my husband Tom.
Instead, I stand here as Bridgewwater's council president, the second most powerful and important elected official in this town of 46,000 people. the thought that not one, not two, but
three Democrats could be serving on our council after none had served for 37 years seemed impossible a year ago. Big Bucko, Isla, and Guyer are now the
face of change in Bridgewater, both literally and figuratively. Fortunately for us, while we may be the face, there has been a dedicated, hard-working, caring body of people that brought us
here today. Well, most were Democrats, many were independents, and even some were Republicans. We are here because the voters put us here. And this is because we reached out, we listened, and we made promises.
This change is both exciting and challenging. Big Bucko, Isla, and Guyer are new to politics and now have the awesome responsibility of governing for the first time in 37
years. Our colleagues are new to bipartisan township governing and may find it difficult to adjust to working with people who think differently. But as a wise man once told me, you
learn more from the folks who think differently than you than you do from those who think alike. I have already learned much from my colleagues on the other side of the aisle. And I trust they will be openminded
and learn from us as well. Together, we can make Bridgewater an even better place to live, work, and educate our children. While I cannot speak for others on the Deis, I know I will stumble and falter
as together we climb a steeper, rockier, and more difficult mountain than the one I imagined. So to the residents of Bridgewater, our fellow elected officials, employees of Bridgewater, and our body of
supporters, give us time to become acclimated. Having said that, I will share some of my background and the implications that has for my style of governing. I am an attorney and a mediator, a devoted
family member and friend, and a 28-year resident of Bridgewater. As an attorney and mediator, I am trained to look at both sides of an issue. The attorney in me is trained to advocate, sometimes vigorously, for my
beliefs. As a mediator, I understand the value of listening, compromising, and working with people on both sides of the aisle. In all cases, I seek fairness and what will be for the highest good of all
concerned. BIG has goals and to accomplish them with Bridgewater's mayor council form of government, we will work together with Mayor Mench, council members Kersh and Ring, and town administrator Papis to
govern in the best interests of Bridgewater residents. First and foremost, we want safety for our residents. In this regard, we all agree we have a highly competent and excellent police department and
volunteer emergency responders, including our very own Councilman Ring. Together, we can work on storm water management. People died in town during Ida. Others had to be rescued by our police officers and a good Samaritan
this past summer. The problem is bigger. pun not intended. Then Bridgewater on the local level. We need to prioritize public works the public works department so they have the people power and the resources to take preventative measures
on the federal, state, and county level. We need to explore the available resources including grants and infrastructure improvements. This relates to concerns expressed by many of our residents regarding development.
Big favors open space and housing affordability over trucking depots and data centers. We have to. This is New Jersey, the most densely populated state in the nation.
The need is here. And thanks to our excellent public school system, people want to live here. They want to enjoy the great outdoors and recreational activities. While campaigning, we heard residents concerns about traffic,
speeding, and the rise of ebikes. We can work together with our police and public works department to better control traffic and make needed improvements. We can work with neighboring towns to have consistent policies regarding ebikes
in light of the recent shootings. Again, we are reminded of the need for gun safety. Let us join approximately 10 other towns in Somerset County and become part of SMARTT, a program,
the every town for gun safety organization to promote f secure firearm storage as part of our national night out. Another concern is community involvement and diversity.
Yes, I said diversity and I am an unapologetic supporter of it. Having experience the time when female attorneys were a barely tolerable novelty in Somerset County, I understand
how important equality and inclusiveness is. Bridgewater is a diverse town. 35% of our population are people of color. 50% are women. And we have an LGBTQ
community. We have houses of worship for Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and others. We house millionaires and folks who live paycheck to paycheck and everyone in between.
About a third of our voters are Democrats, about a third are Republican, and about a third are independents. Mayor Mench, I ask you to work with us to reactivate our numerous township committees and fill them with all of the
above. Together, we can thrive. Big raised other issues during the campaign that I will leave to Andrew and Ruana to address. Finally, and most importantly, it is time for the thank yous. First and foremost, to the residents of
Bridgewater, to those who voted for us, we humbly accept your trust and honor your confidence in us. To those of you who did not, we will do our best to pleasantly surprise you.
To all of you, we will listen and do our best to address your concerns. to all our committee members and volunteers who made this happen by canvasing, phone banking, stuffing envelopes, and donating again and again.
How tired are you of writing checks for $37 to our campaign manager, our chair, and his wife. to my running mates, to the up ballot candidates, and especially their staff, including those who ran for
governor, the assembly, county commission, surrogate, and sheriff. I hope we supported you as much as you were there for us. To the too many to count congressional candidates who we continue to support.
to the various board of education members, past and present, our past and present superintendent, educators, and their staff who oversee Bridgewwater Townships Crown Jewel, our public school system, and who are responsible for
bringing in some respects all three of us, Bucko, Isla, and Guyer to Bridgewater. To our friends on the other side of the aisle, including former and present officials who graciously congratulated us and work
to make a smooth transition and have shared knowledge and information. This is a rare but desperately needed part of effective governing bipartisanship. to the Bridgewater Clerk's Office and the Bridgewater Township staff who
helped us with the transition. To my predecessor, the outgoing council president whose shoes it will be very hard to fill. Lastly, to my friends from grammar school, high school, law school, and the
many new friends I made on the trail, even if it was not the Appalachian Trail. my colleagues in-law and mediation, my bookkeeper, cousins, nephews, niece, grand nieces, sisters, brother-in-laws, sons and their father, and my husband,
Tom. I am indebted to all of you. I end with a pledge. As your newly elected council president, I will give you my best, try my hardest, and always bear in mind the big things, pun intended,
Bridgewater needs. Thank you. [applause] [applause] I'll figure it out. Okay. Um, we uh we missed the selection of the uh clerk of the um of the
council, Grace Jaguna. Can I have a motion to appoint Grace Jaguna as the clerk of the council? >> I'll happily make that motion. >> Can I have a second? Grace, I guess you have to take the roll call. >> Yes. Councilman Bako, >> yes.
>> Councilwoman Isla, >> yes. >> Councilman Kersh, >> yes. >> Councilman Ring, >> yes. >> President Ga, >> yes. >> Thank you. >> Congratulations, Chris. >> Thank you. Thank you. [applause] >> And now we will have um the message from
Vice President Andrew Bucko. [applause] assume I don't have to sign in this time. >> Yeah. >> Hi, good evening. Um, first I would like to take this opportunity to thank my wife Katie and our daughter Elizabeth
both for being here tonight and also for the patience, understanding, wisdom, and strength they have given me over the past year. Thank you to the voters of Bridgewwater who put their trust in me to represent them on this council for the next four years. And thank you to
our honored guests who have joined us this evening. We continue a great tradition that began 250 years ago this summer, not too far from here, where Americans threw off the shackles of monarchy and declared to
each other, to King George III of England and to the entire world that the United States would be a country governed by the rule of law and stewarded by representatives who are elected by the people.
The Constitution of the United States lays out in its very first sentence the desire and intent to create quote a more perfect union. That simple qualifier more
bears a large volume of truth. At our country's founding, we were not perfect and even today we are still not perfect. But the great experiment of the United States is that we are constantly working towards achieving that lofty goal.
Throughout our nation's history, that has not been an easy task, and we have certainly stumbled along the way. Who are we who do not know our history? Our history has been one of struggle and success, of tri of tragedy and triumph,
where people from around the world have come together to build this nation. It is that diversity that has and continues to make the United States great. Bridgewater with our diverse population is a microcosm of our country as a
whole. Today marks a new beginning for the people of Bridgewater. We now have a council that better reflects the residents of our town. But you should expect more from your local government than just a new look from your council.
You should expect a government that is transparent. Deliberation and decision-making should be open to the public and one shouldn't need to file open records requests to see the details of how the township spends your money. You should expect a government that
operates in a timely manner. Previous year's budgets have regularly been months late. We [snorts] will expect that the administration will deliver their budget on time as required by state law. You should also expect that we will be here holding our scheduled
meetings when we say we will. No longer will we cancel meetings to hide from the public when the political heat is on us, claiming lack of business only to have pages of work waiting for us at the next meeting. You should expect a government
that is accountable. The aforementioned failures to meet deadlines have been met with nar peep from the prior council and handwaving from the administration. The audits of the township's finances from
2022, 2023, and 2024 uncovered basic deficiencies requiring the implementation of remediation plans. When residents questioned the extreme lateness of 2024's audit, the previous council was silent and the
administration was once again dismissive. I can assure you that cavalier attitude ends right now. You should expect a government that is responsive. Residents often come to this council because their concerns are not
being addressed. You deserve followup and follow through. You deserve honest answers even if that means getting back to you at a later date and we will make sure that that happens. You should expect a government that treats you with
respect. The type of behavior we have seen from individuals up on this day towards members of the public in previous years should never have been tolerated and will not be tolerated anymore. Most of all, you should expect
a government that works for you and with you for the betterment of everybody who calls Bridgewater their home. This transformation will not happen overnight. It will require hard work to ensure that Bridgewater's priorities are focused on providing services to
residents. We will go over spending with a fine tooth comb, making sure that every dollar spent is going going forward is done so for the benefit of Bridgewater residents. We also need to incre increase participation by residents in township decision-making.
We have a number of committees that are comprised of ordinary Bridgewater residents who simply want to get involved and I want to encourage further involvement. We need to ensure that they meet on a regular basis and that the meeting schedules are publicized ahead
of time to foster more participation. We also need to create additional new opportunities for improvement involve excuse me for involvement to bring more Bridgewater residents out to improve our community. Bridgewater has been a great place to
raise a family and it must be a priority to keep it that way. We need to ensure that our parks are properly maintained so they can be used and enjoyed by our residents. We need to ensure that recreational programs continue to be available. We need to make sure that our
streets are safe for cyclists and pedestrians. We need third spaces available to the youth of our town so that they have constructive outlets for their energies and support their growth into adulthood. Don't get me wrong, we face some tremendous challenges right
now and some difficult decisions will need to be made. I look forward to working with my new colleagues to bring Bridgewater forward. We might not agree on everything, but that does not mean we need to be disagreeable. I am confident that we will find some common ground and
that the results we will ultimately deliver will benefit us all. Bridgewater's ris rich history is something we can all be proud of. It is up to us, all of us, as we ring in the 250th anniversary of American
independence to lay the groundwork for the next 250 years. Together in our own little corner of the world, we can do our part to move us closer to the more perfect union that our nation's founders envisioned. Thank you very much.
[applause] We will now hear from Councilwoman Ridana Isla. [applause] Good evening, Bridgewwater and esteemed guests. Thank you so much for gathering here tonight. This township feels like a
quiet treasure for me. A community where history, diversity, and modern life meet with a grace that is uniquely our own. Founded in 1749, Bridgewwater's story actually reaches
back before the United States itself. Yet, it has never felt old to me or distant to me. It feels vibrant, evolving, welcoming, and full of promise. But this evening is not simply about our transition into leadership. It
is about honoring the enduring character of a community that has welcomed families from ev every background, include mine, and offered them a place to plant our roots, to raise our children, and to dream boldly. Tonight
invites us to lift our eyes, to look beyond what is familiar, and recognize what is possible. It reminds us that progress is never a product of chance. It's built by citizens who believe in one another, who show up for one
another, and who choose to shape their futures together. As I look across this room, I see the strength of Bridgewater reflected in every face. Families whose stories stretch back generations and newcomers that might have just moved
here last month. and they chose this township with intention and hope and neighbors that extend their kindness to me without hesitation. You are the stewards of Bridgewater spirit. You are the reason this moment carries so much promise and I stand be
for you humbled by your trust. This is not just the beginning of a term. It's the continuation of our efforts and we will continue with more achievements ahead. And I wanted to start with my gratitudes to our mayor, our council,
both our current and past council, our township clerk, and the township office, as well as all of the dedicated public servants who sustain the daily life of this township. Thank you for your partnership, especially during this very
critical transition period, your professionalism, and your unwavering commitment to Bridgewater night after night, day after day. Thank you for staying after those long meetings that you've told us about. Thank you for making this township so strong. And for
years, your leadership has provided Bridgewater with steadiness and continuity. And we do honor that legacy, but we will not preserve it unchanged. We will strengthen it, modernize it where needed, and fortify essential
changes by carrying it forward with clarity and purpose. And to Joan and Andrew, congratulations on your tremendous victories. I have witnessed your dedication, your integrity, and your deep love for Bridgewater. I look
forward to building our strong foundation together with everyone in the municipal council. To our volunteers, I know there's a lot of people who couldn't make it today. There's a lot of tests going on. our students, our Gen Z leaders, and every
neighbor who knocked on doors in the rain as well as the heat. Sometimes with our children by their side, you reminded us that democracy is not an abstract ideal. It is a living force sustained by all those who participated. I met these
high schoolers while they canvas with me in between their tests. Retirees who walk neighborhoods, believe it or not, with the energy of people half their age. and parents who squeezed in numerous phone calls in between their work and other dinners. And to small
business owners, including some remarkable women entrepreneurs who opened their doors to us and shared their ideas. To the teachers who shared their hopes, and to our first responders who shared their courage. This moment belongs to all of you. And of course to
my family, my husband, my son Ethan, my parents, my sisters, my nieces who travel from Canada all the way from Canada and Australia. Your love is my compass. [applause] And now going back to my Stson High
School friends, Staten Island girls. They brave the ferry with me through wind and winter. Thank you for shaping me early on into the woman I became. And specifically my dear friend Dr. Sera Modi who's been writing me handwritten
Christmas cards for the last 36 years. You recently said, "It's inspiring to see you being the change you want to see in the world. You reminded me that service is both a privilege and a joy for me." So tonight, I stand you stand
before you as a proud representation of Bridgewwater's diversity. the first South Asian, the first Muslim on this council. As well, a fun fact, I'm one of the only five Bangladeshi American women in the whole United States that have
been elected, including Sheepa within our deputy mayor from Franklin who is able to join me tonight. So, we have two currently in the room out of the five. While I might be breaking barriers, I do stand committed to all of you and serving every single resident of this
town because this milestone is not mine alone. It belongs to all of Bridgewater. A town that measures people not just by their origin, but their contributions, their character, and their commitment to Bridgewwater. It belongs to every child who wonders if they belong and to every
parent who dreams of a future where their child's potential knows no bounds. And my journey across continents and cultures from Dhaka to Bangkok to cities across North America and Europe as the eldest of three daughters taught me that
responsibility is not a burden, it is a calling. My parents taught me that nothing is given. Everything is earned and service to others is the highest privilege that we have. Their sacrifices are the foundation of my path. And
tonight I carry their dreams into this chamber with pride and gratitude. But tonight is not it's not just about my story. It is about our story and this chapter that we
are ready to write together. Bridgewater stands at a moment of genuine possibility. We are a community with deep historic roots and expansive potential. We have longestablished families of multiple generations as well as our new newly arriving neighbors. But
we all want the same things that Andrew and Joan talked about. Safety, stability, opportunity, and belonging. So my vision is to elevate the future of our town, strengthen our financial foundation. Let's listen, let's be fair,
let's be transparent, and share responsibility. And I didn't shape this vision on on my own. I had these conversations with you either in my house, on your porches when we were knocking on doors, in the driveways, at the school, at the
library, in the sidelines of community events, or in the aisles of stores. We need a government that listens before it acts because leadership begins with listening. Truly listening. When people feel heard, they feel represented. We need a budget that reflects community
priorities. A responsible budget is more than numbers. It is a reflection of what we value and a budget should not surprise people. It should reflect them. We need fairness and stability for taxpayers. Good governance protects
family from unnecessary financial strain. Fairness is felt in every household. We need to ensure that the new development we bring in strengthens our tax base instead of shifting that burden to our residents. Let's ask the
right questions. Are we getting the best bang for our buck, like civil engineers like to say, while balancing safety and risks? We also need smart growth that strengthens community life. Growth should enhance the character of our
Bridgewater, not overwhelm it. And a thriving local economy is where residents feel proud of the places that we gather together and our quality of life. Transparency that builds trust means that leadership must open the
doors of government and not close them. Our residents have been telling me that we need clearer updates on township cro projects, easier access to information, and more visibility on how decision decisions are made. So, let's grow that trust so that government is easier to
understand. And let's keep developing a community where everyone belongs. Bridgewater's greatest strength is its people. As you can see, all of its people. Some of our residents know about ours deep history. Many of us speak many languages, including five, uh, like
myself. We celebrate many traditions. We bring extraordinary richness to our community, and I've met young people that are eager to lead, volunteer, and shape our future of our hometown. So, let's keep this at the forefront.
Belonging is the foundation of a strong community and the heart of Bridgewwater's promise. Let's get ready to build together. I do want to work across the aisle with all of our leaders and public servants who have guided Bridgewater for long. I honor your
service. I honor your partnership, not partisanship. It is how strong communities endure. And I pledge to work with anyone from any background, any party, any perspective, just like I do at work, who is committed to the
well-being of this township. So, let's work together. Whether you voted for me or not, I am now your councilwoman. My commitment is to your families, your hopes, and your futures. I will listen. I will learn. And I will lead with
integrity and purpose. And I want to end with President George Washington who used to sleep uh just nearby here with his um uh with all of his famous troops. Uh in 1796 in his famous farewell address, he reminded our nation in a
critical moment. Unity of government is a main pillar in the edifice of your real dependence, independence. And tonight we can honor that truth by choosing to collaborate over division and service over self-interest. So the
next chapter of our story is ours to write and we will write it side by side. Thank you so much Brid Bridgewwater for your trust and your partnership. [applause] We will now hear from Councilman Kersh. >> Thank you. Good evening. Uh tonight we
begin a new chapter in Bridgewater history with a fresh year filled with promise. In just 6 months, we all have something great to look forward to when we celebrate our nation's 250th birthday. To our new council colleagues, Joan, Andrew, and Ruana, along with your
families and supporters, I offer sincere congratulations on this accomplishment. At the final meeting, council meeting of 2025, I noted that one of the things I cherish most about being on council is the building of relationships within this fraternity that is responsible for
leading what we affectionately term the Bridgewater family. In the coming years, we will spend a lot of time together. Hopefully, we'll even laugh a little. and we will identify those issues we we each care about. We each care deeply about working on them for the good of
this wonderful community. Though some of the faces on this day are different, the underlying goal of this council should not change. We will continue to build on a very successful past as we meet the challenges of today and tomorrow. Some of those challenges are well known. We need to continue to
strike the right balance between smart development, community desiraability, and overall affordability to leave Bridgewater even better than we each found it. Others are subject to fate and are simply unknown at this time. Success on councils achie is achieved when the
whole can be greater than the sum of the parts. In other words, when one plus one plus one plus one plus one can yield a result even greater than the five individuals seated here. To our first
responders, employees, and volunteers, thank you for what you do each and every day to keep us safe and make Bridgewater the highly desired, robust place we so proudly call home. To all Bridgewater residents, I continue to appreciate the opportunity to work on your behalf each
and every day, now into a seventh year on this council. We have achieved some amazing things together and will accomplish even more. Please accept my sincerest wishes for a happy, healthy, prosperous, and fulfilling new year.
Thank you. [applause] We will now hear from Councilman Ring. >> Thank you. I'm going to be very brief and hold my uh formal report to later this week. I just will extend my sincere congratulations and welcome to each of
our uh new council members. Um if we succeed together, Bridgewwater succeeds. So, congratulations. >> Thank you. Thank you. [applause] And last but not least, we will hear from our mayor Mench. Oh, good evening everybody.
It was uh refreshing to hear all the comments from uh our council members, especially our new council members uh because we share a lot of the same goals and viewpoints and in fact I think
quite a lot of the parts of the speeches uh are parts I could have been giving you uh tonight. Um certainly uh council president I was would have been just as surprised a year ago that uh you weren't climbing a mountain in the Appalachian Trail as well. Uh [laughter] uh um
that's what I would have thought last year this time too but uh it's um it's great to see so many people out here tonight. Um I know that uh most of you did not come to hear me speak as your primary reason for being here. Um,
but you came to support the elected officials, those folks who put theirelves out there to stand up and represent the town. And a night like tonight's great because it's a it's a celebratory night. It's ceremonial. Um,
usually when you have a room full of this many people, it's not smiling faces and they're here to yell at us about something. hopefully collectively and not just me or or uh you know one of us, but it's um it takes a lot to sit up
there and do that do that job. And so anybody who's willing to put their name on a ballot, stand up and go out and ask for people's votes deserve to have a night like this with a room full of people to come out and celebrate those
accomplishments and to support them and and the endeavor that they're about to do. Um, I would like there is a lot of dignitaries here and I'm not going to try to go through everybody, but I would like to acknowledge um some of the county officials who were here that were
part of the presentation you've heard from before, but I did want to acknowledge uh our county commissioner Sarah Suie is here. Thank you for being here, Sarah. Um, also County Commissioner Paul Drake is here as well. Our clerk Steve Peter is here. Uh, I
thought I saw Sheriff Russo possibly was here. Um, if he wasn't, I'm giving him extra credit, but I thought I saw him floating in the back. Um, and, uh, the county council Joe DeMarco was here as well. So, uh, I don't think I missed any of our county elected officials. Um, now that we have a
Democratic majority, I had to be nicer to them. Um, so last time they saw me, I was on the other side of the deis. It was less pleasant uh perhaps, but um uh I do appreciate all the elected officials who who serve and appreciate
them being here um uh today. Tonight, we we do gather um and we celebrate the beginning of a of a new year. We do more than just see a governing body reorganize. We pause and take stock of where we've been and give
thanks to what we've accomplished together and renew our commitment to the community we are privileged to serve. We're not just a town on the map for most of us. It's our home. It's where we raise our family. It's where we come
home every night and look for the safety, the security, the love of family and friends. And it's our obligation to pass that legacy on from one generation to the next.
If this community gives this community gives so much to so many of us and it is a privilege to be able to work to give back to that same community. That promise guided us in 2025 and it will continue to guide all of us in 2026. The past year was not defined by
headlines or theatrics. It was defined by work. Often unglamorous, sometimes difficult, but always necessary. When I first took office as mayor in 2020, Bridgewater undertook one of the most ambitious infrastru in infrastructure efforts in its history. Six years later,
nearly 300 roads, almost 60% of our entire municipal roadway system has been repaved or repaired. That didn't happen by accident. It happened because the council made deliberate decisions and choices to prioritize the long-term
value of that investment infrastructure over what could have been other short-term gains. We respected your hard-earned tax dollars for our residents and made sure that our priorities matched the needs of our town. Smooth roads don't always make for flashy speeches, but they do make for
safer neighborhoods, more opportunities for our kids to ride bikes, stronger property values, and a town that functions the way it should. We have 60% done. We have more to do. This year, we also advanced two critical master plans, thoughtful,
forward-looking documents that reflect not only where Bridgewater is today, but where we think it's going to go in the future. Planning isn't about control for its own sake. It's about stewardship. It's what do we want this township to be? Not just now, but 10 years from now,
20 years from now, and even more. It's about ensuring that the growth occurs in the right locations. It's responsible, measured, and it's consistent with the character of the community that we cherish. Few challenges are as complex as storm water management and flooding mitigation. In 2025, Bridgewater
approved the most aggressive storm water and flooding mitigation initiatives in our township's history. I want to thank our current and former council members of this governing body who supported and voted in favor of these initiatives. The efforts will be driven by data expert engineering expertise and a clear understanding that protecting our homes,
our infrastructure, and our residents is not optional. It's our responsibility. We can expect to see significant funding will be required. We will continue to leverage state and federal funding to stretch tax dollars as much as possible. And we work with our council to figure
out what we need to do to be able to provide for the necessary security of our neighborhoods and our homes from the impacts of flooding. Economic viability remains the cornerstone of our success. In 2025, we welcomed a diverse range of new
businesses. Everything from family-owned enterprises like the Learning Center and Aurora RI Aurora Eye Care, national brands like Kendra Scott Jewelry, and global firms like Lupin Pharmaceuticals. all found homes in Bridgewater last year. This balance matters. It means
jobs for our residents, services for our families, and a tax base that allows us to maintain excellence without overburdening our homeowners. It's proof that Bridgewater can be both businessfriendly and community focused. At the same time, we confronted one of
the most difficult issues facing municipalities across New Jersey, affordable housing mandates. Through foresight, strong local planning, and determined advocacy, Bridge order reduced its affordable housing obligation by 11.2%. We met a challenging state requirement,
not by radically transforming our town or surrendering local control, but by doing the hard work by standing up for our residents while honoring our obligations under state law as required by the New Jersey Constitution. Just as importantly, we limited inappropriate development, preserving
the character of the town we love. We chose balance and restraint to protect our homes. I do want to mention we talk about protecting our home. January is human trafficking awareness month. And it's important that we state plainly and
without qualification that human trafficking is a moral evil that has no place in our society and no refuge in our community. Exploitation thrives in the shadows and local government has a duty to ensure those shadows are not tolerated. Over the past year, my
administration, we enacted targeted changes to local ordinances to crack down on bad actor massage establishments that serve no legitimate purpose. People forget that in many of those establishments, the women who are working there are the victims of sex
trafficking. They're there because they're victims forced to work in those facilities. And those same facilities attract individuals who not just from our community, but who come into our community looking to do harm. And unfortunately, we have residents who
have been victimized because of that. These actions were deliberate, lawful, and necessary. They reflect a belief that public safety, human dignity, and the rule of law are not negotiable. In the year ahead, we will continue to work with our police department, strengthen enforcement where needed, and make clear
that Bridgewater will not look the other way when it comes to human trafficking or those who enable it. Now, we are talking about the future, but the evening would not be complete without paying tribute to two individuals whose service embodies the very best of local government. Councilman Howard Regalis and Alan
Cordilla are leaving the day after a combined 50 years of distinguished service to Bridgewater and his residents. And Howard is here with us today. Howard, give a wave. You should go out with the crowd cheering you, Howard. Uh
[applause] between Howard and Allen, they have 50 years of meetings, budget debates, tough votes, and quiet moments of leadership that really make the news but make a difference. Howard and Allen understood something essential about public service. It's not always about being seen or being flashy.
It's about doing the work. They showed up prepared, not just even on time, but early. If you came to a council meeting early, you would see Howard and Allen at the day as preparing for the meeting and not for the first time going over their notes that they had already gone over to prepare for that meeting to make sure
that when residents came before them, they were prepared to make the best decisions for our council. They asked the hard questions in public and in private. They listened and made and made those decisions whether they were popular or unpopular. They stood up for what they believed in and they voted.
Their legacy is not going to be measured in speeches or sound bites, but in miles of open space preserved, in sewage authority that's in being improved. And those are the kind of issues they took on. By the way, Howard spent an unbelievable amount of time
dealing with the issues of sewer management. That's not great for a mail piece on a for a political mailer. It's not flashy, but it's the work that needs to get done to make sure that our town is providing the services required. In recent times, it's always been a
temptation at government at every level to substitute play acting for progress or theater for thoughtfulness. It's easy trap to fall into because the applause is immediate and gratification is instant. But true results and true
leadership take time, planning and work. Richard deserves leaders who do that and who are willing to wrestle with the facts, offer solutions and make decisions. Howard and Allen modeled that kind of leadership and we will miss them on the
deis and but I am I am certainly uh pleased to hear all the comments from all the council members from both parties uh looking to find the best path forward for our residents and that's what we came to celebrate tonight new beginnings I want to congratulate all
the new members on the deis um thank you so much for stepping up and serving and thank you for your comments uh today and like I said I wasn't joking before when large portions of those speeches I could have been giving maybe not every bit of every speech but a lot of it I could
have been giving myself and but that's what we have to do right we have to find common ground so we don't agree on three issues but we agree on seven great let's get those seven done and then we can fight about the other three or maybe we can't figure out the other three and we move on to the ones that we can do
that's what we will do moving forward The energy that the new council members will bring is important, but it's also the fresh perspectives. That's a good thing. We can learn from each other. Healthy debate strengthens
democracy and new viewpoints offered in good faith with desire to move our community forward will lead to the best outcomes for Bridgewater for all of our residents. I extend to all of our council members a hand of friendship, of collaboration, and bipartisanship. My
door is open and the work ahead of us demands mutual respect and shared commitments to the best interests of the township and its residents. It's important as we start this journey together to speak plainly about the realities of township government. It's complex. It's difficult. It's bound by
state law, fiscal responsibility, professional standards, and long-term consequences. When I speak to you, one second here. When I speak to school kids, my favorite example, especially elementary kids, I
say to them, what's it like being mayor? What's it like being elected official? So I say, here's an example. Said, who here thinks we should do more for our parks? Every hand goes up in a room, right? These are elementary kids, so that's like right up their alley. Every hand goes up. I say, great. I go around a room and I say, "All right, what do
you want?" Somebody says, "I want more swing sets." I said, "Great. Next one. I want a sandbox." Great. I want a trampoline. They go through, they get good, you know, seven, eight ideas and I say, "Okay, guys, we all agree. Parks, right?" Yes. Okay. We can only do two of
the things you mentioned. Which two are we doing? They all stare and they go, "What do you mean?" "Well, we can't do new swing set and a new sandbox and a new slide and a trampoline. We only have enough money to do two. Which one do we do?" And then they all kind of look at each other and start shouting. And I
say, "Well, that's what it's like being in municipal government. We all agree we want to do these things. No one says that they're bad. It's now how do we prioritize and how do we get consensus on what are the things we do and together we will work through those challenges. We will find a way to make
sure that our priorities align, that we can deliver for our residents, and we can make sure that everyone who lives here now that we'll move in the future can enjoy the same quality of life that we all do, who's on the deis, all of you who are participating, who live here in
Bridgewater, who work in Bridgewater, uh, enjoy every single day that you are here. So, I want to thank all of you for coming out tonight. Thank you for making the journey if you were from Australia. Did somebody say it was uh wow that's
impressive. Um I think you take the award for furthest traveled ever for a Bridgewater reorganization. Um and but whether you are local residents, whether this is your first time in Bridgewater, thank you for spending your evening with us today. And
I promise all of you who are our residents here in Bridgewater, this township will continue to deliver what we have all promised you to do, which is make sure our quality of life, our safety, your tax dollars are all
protected, and we will work together to do it. Thank you all for being here. God bless Bridgewater. >> [clears throat] >> We now have a series of resolutions which we will do by consent. I will read them, then there will be a motion, hopefully a second, hopefully not too
much discussion and a vote on them. But the resolutions are as follows. one 2026 general business resolution granting various authorities to township staff and setting official designations, policies, and procedures pursuant to
various applicable laws. That seemed a little vague to me, but trust me, I don't think you want me to read what would be behind all of that. Two, 2026 Township Council schedule of meetings. You can find that on the website for
anyone who's interested. Three, establishing cash man cash management plan and naming official depositories. That's just the banks and the financial institutions that we use to conduct business. And four, authorizing Bridgewater Township Engineer William H.
Burr I 4th PE of the firm of Collier's engineering and design to execute NJD NJ do state of New Jersey and Somerset County permits on behalf of the township for the year 2026. Can I have a motion
to accept the resolutions? >> So moved. >> Second. >> I'll second. [clears throat] >> Only one comment just for the public's benefit if I may. When we talked about the council meeting schedule, I think it's worth pointing out that meetings will be at 700 PM this year as opposed to 7:30.
>> That seemed to make everybody happy. >> Yeah. Look, everybody >> decisions good. [laughter] >> Thank you. >> Um, thank you for that. So, uh, is there any there's no further discussion? >> No. >> Roll call, please.
>> Councilman Bako, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Councilwoman Isla, >> yes. Councilman Kersh, >> yes. >> Councilman Ring, >> yes. >> President Guyger, >> yes. >> Resolutions have passed. Um, the meeting will now be open to the public. Members of the public wishing to address the
council on any matter will have three minutes to speak, which may be extended in the discretion of the council president. I will then ask any members up of the deas if they have any comments to respond and then I will allow an additional one minute for responses by
the member of the public speaking to respond to the comments from the deis. Can I have a motion to open the meeting to the public? >> So moved. >> Have a second. >> I'll second. >> All in favor? I
>> opposed. >> Okay. Anyone wishing to address the public may do so now. Ah, very good. [laughter] >> This is our county commissioner, Paul Drake, for those of you who may not know him. Maybe the tallest man in the room.
>> Not really. Good evening, Council President. Um, I just want to commend you for your election. Certainly, uh, I know it was a long election year. I was knocking on doors also in Bridgewwater. So certainly um my name is Paul Drake. I'm a Summers County Commissioner and I
want to congratulate Rwanda, Joan, and Andrew for your uh your win here, but also look forward on behalf of the Summers County Commissioners um to be working with all of you um and the mayor and council president on any issues that you might need for of from the county.
Um want to recognize that >> we have a list already. >> Yeah, sure. Absolutely do. >> Um that's great. And so I want to recognize that our sheriff was here. I think he may have just left, but he was certainly Darren Russo was here. Our clerk Steve Peter is here. Also, our
surrogate, as you know, Tina Jala was here is here. And also, um, Sarah Suie, Commissioner Sarasui is in the back. Um, Melanie Morano had to leave to head out to Greenbrook, but she was here for a while and certainly saw the swearing in. Uh, as well as, uh, Commissioner Liz
Grainer and Chanel Robinson, our our commissioner director, sends her regards. uh she's not here today, but she certainly sends her congratulations. So, I just want to say congratulations and look forward to working with all of you. Thank you. >> Thank you, Commissioner. Are there any comments from the deis?
Okay. Would anyone else like to speak? >> Can I have a motion to close up? >> Someone coming. >> Oh, good. >> All right. This is a council woman from Franklin Township. >> Yes. Good evening, council mayor and
council. Um, wow. It's an honor to be here and uh what a joyous occasion. I'm just so speechless right now. I'm super happy for my sister Eduana Isla, Joan, and Andrew.
Thank you. This is what democracy is. And uh Mayor, I think you hit it right on the nail. We all have to work together. Um, Franklin Township, your neighborhood. Um, and we're always here. My name is Sheipo Dean. I'm the council woman for Franklin Township, deputy
mayor. And anything you guys need from us, please reach out. Um, we're open doors. Um, January is also Muslim Heritage Month that's coming up. I know we're talking about diversity and inclusion and I just wanted to put out there, congratulations to everyone. I
look forward to working with you guys. My sister Adana Isla love you girl. Now >> I know Howard is thinking she forgot to ask the people to write their name and address down right Howard. [laughter] So if you would write down your name and
address. Are there any comments from the deis other than thank you very much for your comments? Are there any other comments from the de? Okay. >> Come on up David. Write down your name and address. >> My name is David Reyes, uh, 797 County
Route 601 in Skilman, New Jersey. And, uh, congratulations Joan Ridana and Andrew for your election. We worked very hard about it was about maybe 6:30. I was out canvasing uh, the Vanderhaven neighborhood and I asked everybody, "Did
you come out and get get did you come out and vote yet?" And everybody said they will. And they said, "No, no, I'm I won't take a flyer. I'll um I said, "Take it. Take it." So you remember your names when you go in the polling place. And that you know that um that got them
uh I think I think I I uh rise the uh you guys over the top. So I'm happy for you. So >> congratulations guys and hope this council uh does good in the year 2026. >> Okay. Thank you, David. Any comments
from the deis? >> Okay. Again, write down your name and your address. >> Sure. >> If you would. >> First of all, happy new year everybody and congratulations to our new team and
bridge officials. My name is Bal Mukand Gupta. On behalf of Indian-American community, I just congratulating you all and my bridge residents. I'm since 98 citizen uh sorry citizen of this country and
bridge resident I'm a hidden member to support all you people democrat and uh my background is a journalism I CBS report in Midwest before so this is your beauty of our town Bridgewater
we are proud of you people and we hope you will do whatever you say to promote diversity development and progress develop this city more and more beautiful
but I can say now I'm very happy and congratulations everybody again thank you >> thank you [applause] >> uh hello council uh good night to everyone that's here tonight um name and name and address >> versus Audin, 497 Miltown Road,
Birchwood Township, Sar County, 08807. Uh, come May of this year, I will be a 20-year resident of this town. So, just want to put that out there. Um, but just to make a quick congratulations to Joan, Rodana, and Andrew. Uh, we couldn't have
done this without you guys. 37 years, you know, of Republicans being in charge. So, I honestly just being putting that out there. 37 years of of them being in charge and we took it over and you know hopefully we're going to have a good thing of you know good things to come our way and hopefully
have a good change in town and hopefully uh update you know certain infrastructures uh projects and certain roadways and certain um you know restaurants and uh you know establishments and whatnot um which is a a current concern of mine that which
obviously I will bring up at a later time but >> Chick-fil-A that's what he's concerned [laughter] Well, yeah, the Chick-fil-A. But besides that, um just a quick hearty congratulations to all three of you and you know, can't wait to see what you guys do uh as your f first term as um I
guess jun junior junior representatives or >> representatives. Freshman or Yeah. >> Yeah, freshman. That's good. >> Yeah, freshman representative. So, thank you again. >> At my age, it's really nice to be called the freshman. [laughter] >> Thank you, Jose.
>> [applause] >> I I did want to add something if that's okay. Um I don't need to buy our stairmaster because I have Harry to walk all over Bridgewater with. So thank you again, Harry. My husband is so thankful for you to protect me through all of the
neighborhoods we canvas. Thank you again. >> Yes, I had to buy a new suit. I'm a size smaller because of Harry. Hi, this is Wling um for Adrien Terrace. >> Hi. Um congratulations to everybody.
>> Thank you, >> mayor and the new council here. Um I just uh want to say that the mayor's speech perked my ears when you said that I'm a resident here for 35 years. Our tax dollars are protected. Um it's
refreshing refreshing to hear that and look forward to the transparency of the council here for the next few years to come. Thank you. >> Thank you Wendling. [applause] >> Uh first of all >> name and address.
>> Yes. My name is Nan Chadri. I'm actually I'm living 10 Galloway Lane in Bridgewwater. Uh congratulation to all the newly elected council men and women. Uh it is very nice to see you. By the way, it's a
good combination of the Republican and Democrats. Uh we need Republican to get the money from DC. So, and also I obviously know mayor very well and Michael Papus and Tim Ring and Michael Kur and it is great acquainted with Mr.
Bako and to you and obviously I have been in communication with you and also it's nice to see you very very much your excitement and energy is truly commendable. Uh I have few requests actually three requests one is that obviously um I think we should think
about is a bridge order how to make bridge the envy to everybody that who wants to come in east coast and we already have a great example of Australian person here so hopefully at least she will come here also. Uh second thing is if you look at a 206 this is a
probably one of the great example of in United States that that is a only hardly probably two miles road and it has got everything that you can think about it. It got churches, it got temple, it got mosque, it has got the Jewish center and
it has got all the car dealership, businesses, corporate office and residents but the road is really getting too narrow and so I think I know it is a lot of money but hopefully with the you know the help from federal or state
government we can actually do something. Let's at least have some initiative to make this road really drivable. It is becoming too congested because of the you know all this area. I don't know how it can be done but at least you know that's one thing. Uh second thing is that you and mayor already talked about
the storm storm water management. I think it it strategy has already there. Hopefully at least you know we can improve it if needed at least you know that that's important things. Uh third thing is that construction limitations. I mean you know hopefully at least you know we can limit the I know we'll have
to do the master plan and we have to do all the you know federal government regulation and everything else but within that constraint so that at least we can limit the construction with that congratulations and I'm basically volunteer for bridge order for last 12 years. Yeah I'm getting old but still I
have some energy to at least you know if you need anything please call me I will be happy to help you out or work with you. >> I believe you you serve on one of our um committees do you not? Yes, I'm serving planning committee. Planning board. Thank you so much. Thanks. >> Um I'm going to ask Councilman Ring to
comment. Route 20220 206 is not a uh Bridgewater Road, correct? It's a >> So it's a road and any expansion of it would have to be done by the state. >> Okay. That's what I thought. I I knew you would know. Madam President, the the other thing, you know, to bear in mind,
land use applications, and there have been several along 2026 typically are going to have a substantial uh review of traffic impact. Um, you know, widening a road is not necessarily the only solution. Uh, you know, planning, proper planning for what
will come onto that road is critically important and that's been a been a heritage in Bridgewater on both the zoning board and the planning board. I anticipate that will continue. And >> if I may just echo to that too, it's also we're limited with land use applications along 2026. We can't say
you need to do extra Y to the highway. That has to come from the state. So um >> we would certainly work together with the state to the extent that we possibly can because I think we we all have all been in that traffic.
is would anyone else like to approach the come on up >> evening Audrey Dloyd. >> Hi Audrey. >> Hello 2011 Broka Court Bridgewwater. So I just wanted to say thank all of you first of all but I've lived here for 22
years and you know what Bridgewater lacks a downtown. We don't have a downtown and Bridgewwater is actually more than just the Bridgewater Mall. There's a lot of people in Bridgewater that you see them come and go. But I
have a feeling today that each of you are going to bring community to a community because we need that here in Bridgewater. We need people to understand each other, to see each other, to communicate with each other, and to enjoy each other, and to protect
each other. And we can't do that when we see lights on in windows and we don't see people. So, thank you. And I have great expectations. And you know what? I have a feeling that those expectations are in the good place. So, thank you.
>> Thank you. Any comments? [applause] >> Any comments from the deas? And would anyone else [laughter] Mr. Kawuchcci [snorts] >> Jack Kawuchcci 1776 Washington Valley
Road Martinsville. I just want to congratulate the mayor and all the old councilman and the new council women and councilmen and hope for a nice year this year and everybody working together to
better Bridgewater. And secondly, I've known her since she was 13 years old. Good luck. All I'm going to [laughter] say, >> thank you, Jack. [applause] >> Would anyone else like to approach the
the uh the deis? >> Seeing no one else, I move to close public. >> I have a second. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> I. Next we have the benediction from I'm going to try really really hard to say
this right. Shri Hamemed Takarthi Maraganti. Did I get it right? >> Council President, if I could just acknowledge also that Chief Mitsac is is here. I missed him earlier. So I just want to thank our police chief for being here. So
>> thank you chief. >> Hi Chief. >> Hi Chief. Good evening everyone. >> Good evening to township council members, district guests and members of our community.
Firstly, congratulations to the new Bridgewater Township Council members. It is my honor to offer this prayer during this council meeting. Today we pray for peace, wisdom, unity and compassionate leadership for the
service of the people. I will now recite the Shanti mantra, the sacred peace chant. A universal Vic prayer for peace in all realms realms for creation. Shantae
shant shante. Shanti Shanti Shanti Shant Shanti Shanti Shant Shanti
Shant Shanti Shanti Shanti Shanti. The sacred shanti mantra, the sacred chants is a universal prayer for harmony
in every part of creation. It seeks peace among all living beings, peace among communities and cultures and peace within knowledge, wisdom and leadership. The chant remind us that true peace is
not only the absence of conflict. It is the presence of understanding, compassion and mutual respect. The repetition of om shanti shanti shantihi the three times invite peace in three realms. Peace in the world around
us, peace in our minds and thoughts and peace within our hearts. As we finish our meeting today, may this peace guide every decision they make so that service is done with integ in integrity, justice and kindness for the well-being of every
resident in our township our township. All of you happy new year and thank you all of you. >> Namaste. Now the moment you've all been waiting for. Can I have a motion to adjourn? >> So moved. >> Second.
>> Second. >> Ah, there will be refreshments served in the adjacent conference room. Um, >> you want to I guess uh everyone in favor of adjourning. >> I >> I opposed. Hearing none. The meeting is
now adjourned. I get to do this, right?