I know. >> Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the Bridgewater Township meeting on December 17th, 7:30. In compliance with the open meetings, open public meetings act of New Jersey, the adequate notice of the meeting was
provided on December 10th, 2024 by sending written notice and 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. May we have the roll call, please? >> Councilman Kersh, >> here.
>> Councilman Codilla, >> here. >> Councilman Pedroso. Councilman Ring, >> good evening. here. >> President Ogalis >> here. >> Would you please stand with me if you are able for our pledge of allegiance and remain standing for a brief moment
of silence. >> I pledge allegiance 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. Thank you. It has been a stressful time for many organizations across the world and uh and that moment of silence recognizes our support for everyone.
Minutes for approval. Were the minutes circulated? Yeah, I didn't get the uh >> They were okay. I can get You want to move them? That's >> No, because I was not here at the last meeting. >> I'll move the me the minutes from December 3. >> I'll second it. >> All those in favor? >> I I the minutes are
>> Let the record show I abstained. >> Okay. Township council reports. We're going to start with Councilman Kersh, >> please. >> Okay. Thank you. Um it's been a busy time. Uh in going in chronological
order, December 8th, we had a new officer swearing in ceremony. I was uh pleased to be a part of also our holiday or our Christmas tree, excuse me, Christmas tree lighting uh which was uh quite a quite a cold night but a good time was had. Uh on December 9th uh I
attended uh the ribbon cutting for Ankos Surgical uh and that is an organization. Let me just get my notes. um they are they are responsible for the uh first
FDA granted antibacterial coating for orthopedic implants and that is now happening uh right in Bridgewater and the reason why that is so important and I'll just uh note the organization's um I'll I'll I'll note the
organization's uh uh mission as part of this uh they are dedicated to um oncology patients and others who have complicated uh joint u joint replacement needs. Um they are
doing on-site R&D uh at a lab along with uh the on-site implant coding. And here's a piece of their uh of their ribbon. Um so that'll be certainly great advancement that occurs here within Bridgewwater's borders. Later in the day, December 9th, uh the zoning board
met, approved a residential addition on Carterette Road. Also heard additional testimony with Cafe Amelia uh at um uh off of Route 20220 206 uh near Charlotte Drive. Um and that case part was
partially heard. It continued into 2026. I also appeared at the beginning of that meeting expressing uh my appreciation both on behalf of myself and the township council uh to our very hardworking zoning board members. Uh we run an excellent board. Um we've heard
that over and over again, but I thought it was also important that they hear that from me uh in an official capacity. Uh the planning board met uh a couple of nights ago. Uh the wine outlet uh they have a sign variance that was carried to 2026. AR Bridgewater 2 LLC extension of
an approval was granted. Um and then um you know also a number of items uh that uh are going to be uh you know part of our our work tonight. Uh also expressed appreciation to that board because that is my uh last meeting as part of the planning board. Uh and just express my
appreciation to that board for the hard work that they do on behalf of the constituency as well. Um earlier that evening we were the uh the end of a um a manora car manora car parade uh using
our manora to uh uh to um uh celebrate Hanukkah. So that was occurring out in the um in the u u courtyard. Also bears noting two nights from now is or one night from now, excuse me, tomorrow night is the uh townwide uh official Hanukkah celebration. And today's been a
busy day. the senior citizen uh center holiday party uh was around noon time, the staff holiday party and of course the council reception um uh with you know honoring our outgoing uh council members. I want to just speak very briefly. I know we have a very full agenda uh about our two outgo about our
two outgoing uh council members who are on the deis tonight. Uh Howard, you know, we've known each other a number of years. particularly bonded in 2019 uh when when I was running and I made a very conscious attempt to ask Howard to ask you to swear me in. I'm I'm glad I
did that. Um it certainly provides a link that we will always have and and hopefully at some point in the future I have the opportunity to swear someone else in and continue uh your legacy. You've you've you've worked hard. you've had an you've had a huge accomplishment on behalf of the town and uh I know
maybe later in the meeting, you know, you'll have your say, but um you know, certainly wanted to get my words out. Um and Allan, you know, I've known you for many, many years as well. Um gotten to know you better, particularly through our council work. Uh the year uh the year that that really focuses my
attention is when you were council president. Uh I know that we really advanced our relationship that year. And then of course the year I was council president uh you know was able to um to also um you know you know reciprocate the strength of that relationship. Um I know neither of you is going anywhere.
You're both in good health. You might be in better health uh come come the first of the year uh without some of the stresses and strains. Um but you know for both of you I look forward to seeing you in the future. seeing your families. Uh, you know, of course, seeing seeing
um uh Nancy and Amanda, uh seeing um Chris and and the connection that Howard and I will now have is his grandson Lucas uh will be uh transferring to the University of Pittsburgh. He'll be a student with my son, Robert. Uh and maybe they'll grab rides home together
or go to sporting events or some some kind of thing like that. So, thank you. Thank you, uh you know, for a job very very well done. And that's my report. >> Thank you. Uh, Councilman Ring, please. >> Thank you, sir. Um,
participated uh last week in the treelighting which was held out here in the courtyard. Uh, it was a chilly night, but I think overall a very good night and thank all the folks that had their hands in putting that together. Um, today was a little bit of day of
foods, I guess you could say. I I started the first part of lunchtime today uh serving chili at the senior center potluck holiday lunchon uh before I was able to come over here and spend some time at the holiday party. Uh and then this evening some of the staff here
hosted an event prior to our council meeting uh to recognize Councilman K um Councilman Cardilla and Councilman Nargalis on their service to the community. This being their last meeting. Um I did share some comments there. I will just uh not repeat those
but reiterate my appreciation for their service and dedication to the township. Um and also I know uh both of them have family here in the audience and say to their family, thank you because it is not just a sacrifice to that one makes
sitting up here. Um one's family makes a sacrifice for those that sit up here. So to their family as well, thank you very much for sharing uh these two gentlemen with the township for the last 20 plus years. Um lastly, uh we did have our
first snowstorm uh this past winter. Um seen a couple comments on social media. A couple folks have reached out just as a reminder that for all of our residents that the township uh does have an ordinance as it relates to sidewalks and
snow removal. Um, and if you have a sidewalk in front of your house, uh, you're given 12 hours of daylight after it stops snowing, uh, to make sure that your sidewalk is clear. Um, there's certainly, you know, with any ordinance, there's penalties and stuff built into
that. Um, our goal is to drive compliance, though. So, just as a reminder, if you have sidewalks in front of your house this winter, please make sure you're keeping them clear. And that is my report. >> Thank you. Oh, just another reminder. If you have a fire hydrant in front of your house, please clear that so it can be
accessed. Uh, we're going to make minor change. Allan and I, we're going to hold our council reports till the very end. So, we're up to the mayor's report, please. >> Thank you. The only thing I want to uh add publicly is uh thank you to Howard
and Allen for your service. We will miss you on the uh on the deis and thank you for everything you've done for the township over the past two decades of your service. Thank you. >> That's it. >> That's it. >> Okay. There are no proclamations, no
presentations. All right. We're up to item number nine, which is a meeting open to the public. Members of the public wishing to address the council on any matter will be allowed three minutes to speak unless there are unusual circumstances. Anyone wishing to address the council on any matter, come on up.
Mr. >> Motion to open the meeting to the public. >> Thank you. Motion second. >> Second. All those in favor I >> we are open. >> Chris Rose, by the way, is a well-known figure in the in the council. She has served on on this council on this side
of the DES and been on the board of education and is very active in historical stuff. >> Speaking of historical stuff, we are really speaking to the microphone. >> We are really going to miss both of you. I know a lot of kind words and wonderful
words were said before this event um at your dinner which was hosted by the clerk's office and all of those things were certainly very much meant but I just want to offer some of mine. Um having served in your seats at one point in time is not an easy job. I think
people see you, they see you sit here, they see you go through an agenda, bang, bang, boom, you're out the door. And that may that may be all of what you they see. What they don't see is the amount of time that you give all of you behind the scenes to make sure that you're prepared for a vote, that you're
prepared to understand the issues that are before you, that you've had a chance to really think about what your thoughts are, to get them all together before you come here and you speak. And that takes time. And I would be remiss if I didn't say to
Howard, you are the best at it. Um, I've worked with Howard for a lot of years on the council and then also a few years on the board of adjustment. There was never a meeting that Howard came to that he was not prepared for. Um, and it didn't matter what it was. If you had a
question you could answer ask Howard because Howard always well I think he always had the answer. Um I there is one particular time in my mind when I was serving on the council that I am reminded of and that was the day that we found out as a council we could not knock down the lane Vorhees house and I
had to present to the council a grant application to save the house and it this I know ran contrary to Howard because we were throwing and we will I'm not going to say this publicly um we're going to work very hard to res to
preserve it and restore it but At the time that we started this process, it didn't look like we were going anywhere but into a muddy pit. And um I appreciate the council staying with me for this for a little while longer and Howard because I know it was hard for you because a finance man would take one
look at that project and go, "What are you thinking?" And I appreciate your continued thought. And after you guys go on your trip and you come back when whenever that is that you're going on your trip, um feel free. We're still working on the Lane Borhees house. We
have our eyes on a couple of other properties. We would love to have you. We'd love to have you be a member of our organization, Friends of Bridgewater History. Or you could choose the Washington Campground Association, which meets less often. That one might might be right up your alley because we had to do some work on
the land. But it's always it's always been a pleasure to serve with you, Howard. And I'm sorry that Jane couldn't be here because she told me before she came that she would be crying so she didn't want to do that because we will really miss you um from this body. I know we will not miss you from the community and I wish you much luck after
you go and I know you're going to go traveling because I told you so. >> Got it. >> Chris has got it. Okay. >> I remember the day you and I went through Lane Vorhees. Me in a Tyveck suit so I could see what was going on. We never did get down to the basement,
but anyway, it's haunted. By the way, >> your your zeal and and effort on behalf of of saving as much as you can a bridge is laudable. It really is. It's a tribute uh to the fact that you have done as much. In fact, it isn't Lane Brockoff now on the historical site.
>> Yes, it's on the register. >> Yeah. But so, thank you for your work. >> We have a couple other properties in mind, but you don't have to you don't have to worry about that. >> Okay. >> Just Matt does. >> Just me. Alan, what can I say? I don't think that people really understand the amount of
work that you've done on open space. That committee has been your baby since it started. You have preserved land up one side of this place and down another. Some of it, but most of it has been to allow us to
have green space where we need it in our town. We hear an awful lot about overdevelopment, and that's a whole another issue. But we have been able to under your toutelage protect a lot of our green space and use it effectively and I appreciate that from you. You and
I were pretty much a team on the council. We discussed things, we talked things. I think often we came from the same thinking and I appreciated that um because I valued it. Um I will say to you that I left the
council when I wasn't planning to. um that decision was taken out of my hands. But you get to a point where you start to say, "Well, maybe that wasn't such a mistake that maybe there's something else out there which I'm finding to do."
Um, that will hold my interest. And once I get over the shock of all of it and the idea that I don't have to come here on Thursday nights anymore, and I have I can go bowling with Howard, um, you'll get to a point where you'll start to look at some other things that you can do and it will be less of a heartache
for you. I can I can vouch for that. Although I do really appreciate you inviting me to the e to tonight's evening. That meant a lot. >> My pleasure. >> That was that really meant a lot. Um, okay. I think that's all I can say
because at this point I'll be crying. Um, but really the two of you deserve a lot of credit for your work in the township. Um, and we can't say that enough and I'm sure that I don't think everybody appreciates that as much as I do because I know what it means to be on that side of the table. So, thank you.
And forgive me. I have to leave because I have a 10:30 flight to Maine tomorrow. So, I have to go pack. But if you, by the way, if you get bored, you have my phone number and you can always call Bill. Um, and you have my phone number. Don't call Bill. Um, just find me and
Jane and I will find something very much for you to do. Don't worry about that. >> Thank you. >> Thank you for those very kind words. >> Anyone else? Uh, it looks like Joe Lefairy. Come on up, Joe. Sign in, please. >> Council, Mr. Mayor.
>> Uh, Joe, sign in. >> Administrator. >> Joe, sign in. >> Oh. Oh, >> please. >> Okay. >> Joe is one of two of our commissioners on the Somerset Valley Sewage Authority, the other being Bob Albano, who's sitting over there.
Well, I I just wanted to say that uh well, first of all, my name is Dr. Joseph Ferry. I'm a geotechnical and environmental engineer. I've been on the sewage authority now for like I don't know 15 years, I guess. Anyway, I thank
you all for that. I I want also want to thank you all for your support of the authority which we are certainly in need of uh given that it's been our policy that when something we don't wait for something to break we
repair we maintain because a failure of our sewage system would be catastrophic but we get over 26 million gallons of sewage a pay into our plant. So, we must
maintain it and it's not cheap. It costs money. But I assure you that the that the uh uh authority um commissioners only do what's necessary. And we do that to save money for the
constituents and for obviously the town of Bridgewater which is the largest contributor of sewage to the authority. As you know the authority consists of seven towns. Bridgewater is the largest.
So I wanted to thank you for all your support all the years to the authority. We certainly need it and I thank you. And I want to also thank you for your service to Bridgewater. And I hope that the incoming council
will show the same type of support to the sewage authority that you guys have. And again, I wishes the best of luck and have a pleasant evening. >> Thanks, Joe. uh Bridgewater represents uh more than
30% of the utilization of the facility and therefore we have to bear 30% of the cost uh but very necessary. People have become accustomed to be able to flush their toilets and Joe and Bob take care of it at their end. So is there anyone else who would like to address the
council? Please uh come on up. This is Joan Guyger, the soontobe council president. She'll be sitting up here in uh in another couple of weeks. >> That's right. Joan Guyger, soon to be council president. Um I just want you to
know I left a really fun party to come here tonight to say happy holidays to all of you. Happy New Year. I want to thank Councilman Cordilla and Council President Morgal for their service.
Howard, I don't know how I'm going to ever fill your shoes. I will be calling you and asking you for help and advice. >> Um, and I know you're going to be available because I'm going to track you down no matter where you are. >> Um, and again, just happy holidays and
thank all of you for being so gracious and so helpful with the transition. Thank you. >> Thank you, Joan. Uh Bob, come on up. >> And Bob spent 24 years sitting on this side of the deis.
Good evening, council members and staff. Uh, I'm honored to be here tonight to express my appreciation to the years of service that you have given to the benefit of this community. The other thing that's interesting and I
believe I'm glad that Mrs. Guyger was able to come before me because she demonstrated one of the most important things about our democracy and that is we have the peaceful and cordial transfer of power
and that is what's happening next week. And so I hope that the sitting council members will treat the new council members with the courtesy and dignities that they were given when
they were fresh on the uh on the desk and I was there when except for Tim. Every one of you sat on the council. Um, and one of the things that was paramount
to our conduct when I was on the council is that door is where the politics stops. It's not a party. It's the people of this township that you were elected to
serve. And I hope that all of you and that will continue in the future. Thank you. Thanks, Bob. Anyone else wishing to address the council? Ah, >> should have asked Bob if the clock
twerked then. >> Good evening, Kathy Franco. We met road. So, I just want to be sure um ordinances will be a separate public comment section. Is that correct? Okay. Um a public meeting for each of the each of the five ordinances. >> Okay, great. Um, uh, M, uh, Councilman
Ring, you highlighted the sidewalk ordinance. So, I just didn't know, is there a requirement for roads cleaning, like a time frame that roads need to be cleaned? Because I've seen a lot on social media about individual roads not necessarily being
cleaned within a certain time frame. So I just maybe you don't have an answer but maybe it's something we can all look at. >> If there's a concern about a specific road I would suggest letting the administration know. >> Okay. I I if anybody you know expresses
that I will certainly tell them to let administration know. Um >> have to understand that in Bridgewater Township there's roads Bridgewater does there's roads the county does. I I totally understand that there's county, there's state, there's >> and then there's also in some developments it's done by the homeowners
association. >> I I do understand that. >> And and further there are some roads that are border streets. Uh we do our side perhaps a neighboring neighboring community is responsible for the other side. It's it's not it's not a one-sizefits-all and
>> automat No, I I do understand that. So, you know, some of those bordering communities might be Bound Brook, Somerville, Warren. Um and and I do understand where those are and hopefully those are demonstrated on your road map as to um what you know who's responsible
for what. Um so thank you. Um I'm glad to see the audit on the agenda. I also saw that there's information about a corrective action plan and I didn't know whether or not that piece would be discussed tonight or if there's a way for the public to access exactly what
the corrective action was. Um on the audit >> we will talk we will the audit will be accepted and the next part of that is the corrective action uh which will also be discussed tonight >> and and is that available through an
OPRA the corrective action. >> Oh you'll be you'll be able to see it >> well because it really doesn't go into detail as to what the issues were on the >> take my copy. >> Thank you very much.
And it's the last couple of pages. Anyone else? I'm sorry. I didn't >> No, no, no, no. I appreciate that. Um, uh, let's see. Um, item 12s talks about let's see. I I don't um it represented
that there would be no cost to the um township. Let me just go to it. Um, >> that that is true. There are specific in >> Mr. I'm sorry what was >> in the best position S >> S as in SAB >> okay that that's the one that the
>> professional services for tax council to be paid on a contingent basis at no cost to the township but from what I read from the attachment 33% of I guess the savings will go to them so so in reality
there is a cost to the township because if there's a savings they're They're getting 33% of that. Oh. Oh. Okay. So, so I just I just want to be clear that there is a cost because the township isn't recovering 100%.
We're only recovering 67%. Okay. Um and uh finally I would like to thank uh Howard Cordilla, Alan um I'm sorry, Howard Ngalis, Alan Cordilla,
and Felipe Joseo for your years of service on this council um and to the township. Um I know that you have served not just in this capacity, but in many other ways. I hope that you will continue to serve the township um in whatever ways possible. I know that you
are committed to the betterment of the community and I thank you for that. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you, K. >> Wishing you all a very happy holiday. >> Anyone else wishing to address the council? >> Seeing no one motion to close public
comment. >> Second, please. >> I'll second. >> All those in favor of closing the public signify by saying I. I. All right, we are close for item nine. Uh, moving to 10, which is a public hearing and final action ordinance 10A, uh, bond ordinance
providing an appropriation of $4.1 million for Middlebrook Sanitary Sewer Pumping Station improvements. phase two in and by the township of Bridgewater in the county of Somerset, New Jersey, and authorizing the issuance of $4.1 million
of bonds and notes of the township for the finance financing thereof. And if you bear with me one second, I have a a brief squig that I want to uh to read. At the November 6th meeting, it was
announced that the public hearing and final action for on the $4.1 million sewer bonding would be held on December 3rd. A lastm minute question from the council led to the council vote being carried to today 1217, but at the
suggestion of the bond council, the public hearing was held as scheduled on 123 with no public comments. Therefore, our job today is discussion and voting only on this ordinance. Uh, is there any
This is a a package that we have talked about literally for months. Um, Councilman Kersh and I have visited the pumping station. I've been down in the hole recognizing that this is a 50-year-old plant that is in dire need
uh of upgrading. and this $4.1 million which uh Tom Goenova seated over there who is our township administrate uh including P DPW and public works and a whole batch of other things uh has been
very diligent in going over the process. We engaged a uh an engineer uh to go over in detail what this station needed in terms of size of pump, number of pumps uh and changes and including an
entirely new electronic system. Uh as a firefighter o over the years I I was used to going into hazardous locations with meters to measure how much gas there is in a location. Uh, I was saddened to see that our own DPW people
when they go down the 50 ft, climb a circular staircase all the way down to the where the pumps are located have to carry a meter with them so that uh they can test whether or not there's any volatile or hazardous gases down in that
pit. Part of this renovation is updating that so there will be an adequate alarm system uh to improve the safety for our employees. Um I could probably go on for another 10 minutes, but I better stop. Does anyone have any questions on this
specific bond ordinance? >> I mean, I'll just simply comment that this is a necessary uh investment. Certainly, we don't take the spending of $41 million lightly, but it's a necessary investment. uh to make sure that the sewer utility continues to have
physical and fiscal health. Um and um you know there's there are literally rivers running beneath Bridgewater that people don't know and don't want to know. Um and by um you know your your you know all the water that comes out of
your house, your laundry, your everything goes goes into this system and and by being proactive and and hopefully setting setting this this station up for success for many many years to come. This is a very important action uh that we're taking. >> Okay. If there are no other
>> I just echo I think Joe summed it up best when he was speaking before about the SRVA. you know, their job is to fix things before they break because we can't afford to have them break. And I think this is a step following that. So, >> excellent. With that in mind, we've already had the public meeting. We're up
to the point for a roll call on voting, please. >> Well, you need a mo >> I need a mo motion to uh >> approve. You're you're our res. I >> I make that motion. >> Well, since since I've been this the secondary person, I'll second that motion. >> Okay. >> Roll call, please.
>> Councilman Kersh. Yes. Anman Codilla. >> Yes. >> Ring. >> Yes. >> President Ogalis. >> Yes. Joe and Bob. >> They stepped out. >> Oh, okay. Uh, moving to 10B, an ordinance of the township of Bridgewater amending section 126 of the Bridgewater
Township Code replacing repealing and replacing section 126-321-10 titled AH3 affordable housing zone allowing for 11 100% affordable multifamily residential development
units and four disabled veterans housing units pursuant to the provisions of the Fair Housing Act. and any uniform housing and affordability controls on block 406 lot 2.01. Could I have a motion please? Open to the public on
this item. >> So moved. >> Second. >> I'll second. >> All those in favor? >> I. >> Okay. We are open to the public for anyone wishing to provide input on this matter. >> Please come up, sign in, give us your name and address, please. By the way,
how many people want to talk about this tonight? Okay. Uh, how many of you are Bridgewater residents? Okay. I'd like to hear from the Bridgewater residents first. Uh, no, you're up here, so we'll we'll hear from
you. But I'd like to hear from the Bridgewater people and then and then everybody else, please. And by the way, uh, in terms of of speaking, uh, I would ask you to combine your comments to to three minutes. Uh I I have asked uh
Councilman Kersh to to provide a a timing so that at the end of three minutes uh he will he will announce the time is up and I ask you to take a big breath and then finish your sentence and then take your seat. Uh I I cannot afford to have this issue talked to
death tonight. I want to make sure we hear from everybody. Uh but this is not the type of thing that can be filibustered. Please continue. >> Yes, sir. Uh my name is Amanda Cronmeer. I'm an attorney with Herald Law and I represent six residents that are located within 200 feet of this property. Uh
that's commonly referred to as Cornell Boulevard site. >> Are any of the uh residents that you represent here today? Okay. You're speaking for them so they cannot speak. >> Yes. And uh so >> so long as as we're clear on that. >> Those residents are Jennifer Fleer and
Jason D. Rodkar uh residents in the Burough of Somerville. Brian Riley uh in the Burough of Somerville, Richard F. Cash uh Township of Bridgewwater and George E. Cook and Barbara Cook also in Bridgewater. So, our clients um are also named
plaintiffs in a pending litigation challenging the adoption the original adoption of this AH3 zone um which uh uh is in docket SOML1455-25. Um, we urge the council to reconsider
the adoption of this proposed ordinance, uh, which I believe is ordinance 25-24, um, in its current form. Uh, the proposed ordinance still fails to adequately protect the adjacent residential neighbors, uh, located in both the township of Bridgewwater and
the burrow of Somerville. Uh, and we also believe that it is inconsistent with the recently adopted 2025 master plan re-examination report. Um, further the proposed ordinance is contrary to the MLUL as it's not drawn with reasonable consideration to the
character of the surrounding residential neighborhoods. Um, nor does it encourage the most appropriate use of the land. So, just to begin, um, the site shares a lot line with two of our clients properties. Uh, Mr. Cash's property 203
Cornell Boulevard um which is uh block 406 lot 3 and the Cook property 199 Cornell Boulevard block 406 lot 4. Um both of those lots are located in in the township's R10 single family residential
zone. Uh further um the site has frontage adjacent to the burrow of Somerville's R1 single family residence district. Uh so despite being directly adjacent to lowdensity single family residential uses, there are no setback
requirements in the current AH3 zone nor in this proposed replacement AH3 zone um set forth in this ordinance. Um the prior zoning C1 zone, the commercial zoning district for this uh Cornell Boulevard site required a minimum front
yard and rear yard setback of 25 ft for principal buildings, a minimum sideyard setback of 15 ft for one side and 40 ft for both sides. the R10 zone, which is uh where two of our clients properties are located, including the site, the
property that's surrounded by this site. Um that one has a uh requirement of a minimum front yard setback of 30 ft uh with a minimum rear yard setback of 20 ft and it has the same sideyard setbacks as the C1 zone.
And so despite what the planning board may have uh determined regarding the proposed ordinances consistency with the master plan documents in this township, this ordinance is not substantially consistent with the recommendations. Uh so the recommendations of the 2025
master plan re-examination report recommends updating this zone to provide more detail related to access and buffering that create more strict guidelines to govern the site. the provisions C7 um C8 and D2. There's no
specifics regarding the proposed location or the size of the landscape buffer and fencing um considering again that there's no setback requirements in this affordable housing zone. And there's also no planting height requirements nor specific types of
plantings called out in the ordinance. Further, in terms of the access driveways being located a minimum of 20 ft away from adjacent residential use, uh there's no specifics about where along the driveway where the parking lot spaces are. Uh
>> council, do you have a lot more that you're >> No, I'm I'm in conclusion now. Last page. >> Thank you for your courtesies. Um so uh in conclusion uh courts have long counseledled that the need to provide uh housing opportunities for low-income
uh need uh housing uh doesn't need to lead to poor planning. That's Mount Laurel too. Um here the significant there are significant ramifications for the adjacent uh single family residential neighbors both within the township and the burrow of Somerville.
And from the proposed uh ordinance allowing multif family use of this site um along with the veterans housing uh it there's not enough protection for these low residents uh lowdensity residential neighborhood and
therefore we urge the council to please proceed in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations and not vote favorably on this proposed ordinance. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh, could I now hear from the Bridgewater residents, please? Resident or residents, please.
>> That would be those residents not represented by council, just to clarify. Correct. >> Are you represented by Oh, well, I'm sorry. As I said before, if you're represented by the by council who just spoke, you are not that is your representation. and you cannot speak at
this meeting. That's the law. >> Good evening gentlemen. >> Good evening, sir. >> My name is Larry Dwire, senior. I've been a um resident for Bridgewater for almost 60 years over on Foothill
Road, the same house. Watch a lot of things happen in this town. Not all for the better. For many years I was neighbors with Bob O'Shea and John Wimple. Maybe you folks know their names. >> And we fought the mall and rapid
expansion of commercialism in town. And though we were not always successful, one project the town did listen to was keeping John's property from becoming a housing development. And now it's partially owned by the town. It's going to be park Robert
Revolutionary Park or Fort Hill Road. You're aware of that. I guess that's one they agreed to. But I am a veteran, Marine veteran, and I find it deeply troubling that affordable housing potentially including veterans is being proposed on a highway
ramp or adjacent to a ramp. Placing people in need of stability and safety next to a major highway doesn't seem to make too much sense. I don't think any of us would like to live there. Yes, people will likely, you know, will
live there because they have no no choice, but that doesn't make it inhumane or responsible. These residents deserve better living conditions. I understand the obligation to provide affordable housing. There must be a better alternative.
Fulfilling a requirement should not come in the expense of basic quality of life. And I know this affects negatively on some of the residents on Cornell Boulevard. And the only way I know, most people don't even know if this is going on. I don't think the only reason I know
is my son and his family live uh live on Summit, so they know about it there. But I don't think anybody else in I wouldn't have known about it. And uh and from what I heard in the past, there's some flooding in that area, too. I don't know whether it's a fact or not, but I heard from people
that live there. and uh appreciate you listening to me. >> Thank you. Would you sign sign your name and address, please? And thank you for your service. Excuse me.
>> Thank you for your service. You said you were a Marine, right? >> My pleasure. All right. Ready for the next Bridgewater resident to speak. >> Thank you. Good day, sir. Hello, my name is Carolyn Joya. I live
at 1402 Paley Court. Did not expect to speak tonight. Um Cornell Boulevard. I was t-boned on Corell Cornell Boulevard in 2023. Um,
I think it was 23, maybe it was 21. Um, that intersection, every time I go by it, I'm getting a panic attack right now. And the reason why I think I was t-boned is because there's a lot of cars that come up from Somerville in West
End. There's a traffic light right there. And um, it's to regulate flow of traffic into the circle. That particular day, I was heading to Somerville at six o'clock. And um there were so many cars backed up. I couldn't see anything on the other
side. I didn't expect somebody to come zooming out there and t-boning me. Um but I did and I was, you know, very shaken. And um the gentleman actually had a stop sign and I was informed by the police officer he should have
stopped. He said he stopped. We don't know. I went to the Shell station there to get footage the next day. They didn't have it, but they said there was an accident the day before. Same thing. Very dangerous intersection and I almost died there. So, please consider that
when you're adding more traffic on that road. You can look it up. Unfortunately, my my my case went through litigation. All the details are there. The police reports are there. The police told me it was a bad intersection. Do your research and
please keep us safe. Thank you. Hello again, Kathy Franco Road. Um I I guess my first comment is I don't know according to what statute or rule there is that prevents um or excludes people
who are otherwise re represented by council from being able to come and share their opinions or their comments tonight. Um I don't know what gives this council the authority to limit those individuals and prevent them from
commenting. I I don't know if there's a legal basis for that. Um but you know, maybe that's why I don't like attorneys. Um because and anyway, getting on to my second point is um as far as this
property, I think that the township has misused um the ability to change things in the master plan that this is a spot zoning um without any notification to residents
on abudding properties. And I know I've heard from um Councilman Kur that oh there's no requirement and I understand there may not be a legal requirement to notify abudding properties that there's going to be a zoning change to the
property next to you. But you know what? I think every single Bridgewater resident needs to be aware of the fact that this is the way that this council has acted because they didn't notify the adjoining properties that, oh, guess what? We're going to change the abuing
property to you from this zone to something different. And that is very disconcerting to me as a resident because I know where I live. I know what I bought next to. I I know that, you know, they were all zoned as a certain
type of property and I felt a certain level of comfort. I didn't buy next to a farm that could be reszoned. I didn't buy next to, you know, something else. I bought in a residential neighborhood and this is very disconcerting to myself and I think it should be disconcerting to
every single resident of this township that spot zoning can take place and that budding residents are not notified. Thank you. Any other Bridgewater residents? Uh, okay. Residents from any other town who wish
to speak on on this issue. Good evening. My name is Kim Wartman and I last had the opportunity to speak before you at the September 18th council meeting just three short months ago. And at that time
I respectfully requested you resend the ordinance before you. This is spot resoning at its worst. Specifically, block 40 406, block 406, lot 2011. And the three key reasons I provided,
which have been articulated by those who preceded me, safety, environmental impact, and appropriateness. It's inappropriate. With those while those reasons have not changed, I've had time to reflect and drive
community awareness and engagement. I'm here to respectfully request once again you resend ordinance this ordinance to spot reszone block 406 lot 2011.
The historic defeat of the Bridgewater Republican Council incumbents this past November should serve as a serious warning before those of you remaining continue the current path to spot reszone block 406
lot 2.01. I'm here today to offer support in exploring Bridgewwater's 32 vast acres to find a more appropriate location. I will come and volunteer time. I will do
research. I will help you. Let's find the right place for this high density project. I'm also here to offer my support in helping rewrite the DCA grant. you receive $3 million actually wheatworth it's called wheatworth
property and what I'd like to do is actually help you rewrite it for the newly identified site and also make sure it conforms with the requirement the state has which says it states helps municipalities create smaller scale
projects that fit into the landscapes of their neighborhoods. That's lovely. This one does not. I've already submitted an Oprah request. Just before I came, I got the document. So, I'll let you know what I find and
very willing to help. Again, I also I see Phipe is not here. Councilman Pedroso, I recommend you heed his guidance. At the December 3rd council meeting, he reminded all of us that he had not supported this ordinance as he wanted a
cost analysis completed. and I would urge you to do the same. I would love to see a cost analysis before Bridgewater continues to misstep. And finally, as the daughter and sister of former fire chiefs and as the former fire
commissioner in Somerville, I would ask you take a moment to ensure all due diligence is employed in assessing this site before approval, including the potential strain you will be placing on volunteer emergency service personnel
with response time and potential for new high-rise equipment. I'll close. Thank you for your time and I wouldn't reinvite you to come walk with me in the neighborhood. The invitation stands and the woman who had
the accident, I live that every day. It is a sport trying to get around the neighborhood and walk safely. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone else wishing to address the council? >> This lady's first.
Come on up. >> My name's gain a new mind. Please write your name and an address on the paper, please. >> Keep in mind, >> just keep in mind when you're speaking, you're not only speaking to this audience, but it's being live streamed. So, please adjust the mic if necessary.
>> Hi, my name's Gain New and I live at 291 West Summit Street. >> Pull the mic. Stand a little closer to it or pull it down, please. There you go. >> Can you hear me now? Yeah. Okay. Yeah. And I'm here also to um put up some um
arguments against the reszoning. Um it seems to me that there are the negatives really outweigh the positives in putting the um affordable housing on that site. First of all, really for the people that are going to live there, it's the
on-ramp to four major highways in the morning. like when you walk your dog or that it's all quiet, but the noise from the traffic is really bad and you just think that's going to be such a horrible miserable place to live. Um, but I I
think that's it's unfair to put people there. It's kind of it really puts them down to put them in a place like that right on a motorway. But apart from that, um there's groundwater problems there and the two people whose houses are going to go up against that are
really going to suffer from water damage. They're going to lose parts of their property by the sound of it. And so it's that's going to really affect them. It's also going to affect the rest of the neighborhood just with the noise and the the um the destruction and and
from the the excess traffic that we're going to get. And like that lady said, it is there's a lot of traffic that really whizzes around there. And also with that traffic light now near the circle that that makes things really slow in the morning anyway. So with more traffic, it's going to be hard. But
really, I'm I'm all for affordable housing. I think it's great and I think that New Jersey is doing the right thing and I think you're obviously really trying to to commit to do that and to to help with that, but this just isn't really the right location. I think
probably you all know that. So, thank you very much for letting me speak. >> Thank you. >> Okay, I saw two more. Come on up, sir. Good evening. My name is Nathan Cook. I live in Raritton.
And I'll give you the chance to deny me the opportunity to speak. My parents are at 199 Cornell Boulevard and they are represented. >> Go ahead. >> We'd have to ask our council. I don't I don't >> There is discretion. >> Go ahead. It's okay.
>> Thank you. So, I'm I'm not going to be able to address the points made better than the people that have spoken before me, but I do want to ask a question of everyone on that. But >> there will be no questions asked of the council. You can make a statement, but there will be no response from this council.
>> Oh, I understand that. Yes. So, I know who the winners are in this process. The land owner, they've been trying for decades to develop this property. They won.
I know who the losers are. The people who are going to have to live next to the highway, the residents impacted behind me. Who are the other winners? I know you're not going to answer. Who else wins?
>> Awesome. Thank you for your time. >> We're not in a position to answer. That's the reason you didn't receive an answer. >> I didn't expect an answer. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Well, but this is now becoming theatrics. >> Please. It >> sure. Thank you. >> Just becoming theatrics.
>> Thank you, sir. Uh, next person I see Brett Rabbi >> Lauren Hutcherson. Uh, I live on West Summit in Somerville. Good evening, President, Council President, and members of the council. My name is Lauren Hutcherson. I'm a scientist and
resident of Somerville. Um I rather be anywhere else but here tonight. Um I think of the statist the statistic that people rather um they fear public speaking more than death. And so
um but I also mentor young girls in Girl Scouts and I work on the democracy badge and one of the things we always tell them we tell them that democracy is not a spect spectator sport and I say that very confidently. However, I know it's hard to come up and speak. But I I I
want to show them and that I'm practicing what I teach. If you see something in your government that doesn't seem right, you have a duty to speak up. What doesn't seem right to me is this rush. You're weeks away from a new council reorganization in January.
You have the board voting on a massive permanent change to your town's border essentially on the way out the door. If this plan is truly good for Bridgewater, it will still be good in January. Why is there urgency to push this through three
weeks before new leadership takes the helm? As a scientist, I look at data. You aren't just changing the name on the map, you're physically degrading the land. Under the old C1 zoning, impervious coverage was capped at 50%.
This new age three zone raises it to 60. You're authorizing more asphalt and less drainage next to a brook. Even worst, this or this ordinance explicitly exempts parking lots from setback requirements, stripping away the buffers
that protect our neighbors. We're all neighbors here. Fundamentally, we all want what's best for this area, but good planning is about using resources wisely and making the world a better place. Two core lines in the Girl Scout law.
Passing over a buffer zone to put vulnerable veterans next to a highway without proper setbacks is not using your land resources wisely. And rushing a vote during the holidays when a new board is about to sit does not seem honest and fair. At the very least,
table the vote. Let the new council look at the cost analysis that Mr. Pedroso uh mentioned and the environmental impacts. Set a better example for your next generation of leaders we're trying to raise. The end. And I didn't die.
>> Thank you. Oh, your pen died up here. Sorry, Howard. >> Hey, Brett. >> Hey, how are you? >> Good. >> All right. I know I'm under the timer, so I get myself moving here. All right. I honestly do not understand.
>> You have to say name and address. >> Brett Rrowdy, um, 289 West Summit Street in Somerville. Thank you, Howard. I honestly do not understand why the policy statements and references made by our public officials from the governor of the state of New Jersey, affiliated
state agencies in the township of Bridgewater over the past several years absolutely do not apply in this case. By way of example, Governor Murphy just sent out a policy year-end policy statement touting his environmental record and open space achievements. While at the same time, the Department
of Community Affairs under the Municipal Settlement Fund is distributing $3 million to develop this site. This fund has the following mission statement embedded in its selection criteria. It states, "The fund is used for smaller scale projects that fit into the landscape of the neighborhood." The
landscape of the neighborhood. Did anyone even bother to see what the neighborhood looks like? It is a single family residential neighborhood which does not contain any three-story apartment buildings. Surely something was overlooked during this grant review process. I'm going to uh go back to an
article back in 2019 where as your Bridgewater mayor Matt Mench said as he was coming on board in 2020, he requested the establishment of a public advocate for planning board issues. Mayor Mench said that a public advocate is a step to restore public trust in the planning board. The public advocate is
accountable only to the public, not the politicians. A November 19th article written by Mike De for My Central Jersey states, "Mench argues that the special meeting was improperly scheduled and was called to fasttrack the application before Hayes, who served on the planning
board in his mayor, leaves office on December 31st. So I would ask gentlemen what the rush is. You have the majority of council members leaving in two weeks. So I would ask you to supply the same standard. Why rush? Recuse yourself and let the new council decide. Why does the
proposed A83H zoning ordinance have no required setbacks? Required lot width or max floor area requirements, which is inconsistent with almost every other zone in the township. The facts cannot be ignored. This is nothing more than a money grab with $3 million in play. The
developer applied for a state grant on October 3rd and was awarded the grant by mid November. For those of you who have been around a long time, that's an incredible achievement for the state of New Jersey when on a normal day you can't even reach anybody at the state. I believe the process was rushed. The
environmental impacts and inconsistent review of the neighborhood was ignored. In closing, I will borrow from a recent press release that put out by the mayor's office in Bridgewater Township. I quote, "We are deeply concerned by the development." In that case, he was referring to Vosler Avenue. The preservation of Bridgewater's
environment and e ecosystems is of paramount concern to us on behalf of our residents. So I would ask the township council to apply the same passion and concern to this parcel and vote no. And by the way, thank you to both of you for your years of service. I know I've worked with you over the years and I
know it's a tough job, but I think you guys really deserve and should vote no on this. It's it's it's spot zoning at the finest. Thank you. >> Thank you, Brett. Anyone else wishing to address the council? Your pen has run out of ink.
So, here we go. >> Thank you. My name is Jocelyn Ehart. I live at 194 Cornell Boulevard in Somerville. I've lived there for 42 years. Um, unfortunately, uh, I can tell by
some of your faces that you're tired of listening to what we have to say. So, um, some of us have been extremely eloquent, some of us have been extremely respectful. I'm going to take a slightly different tact
because I have to admit, I'm baffled, totally, undeniably baffled as to why this council chose this parcel of land to house some of the most vulnerable members of our population. It isn't like there aren't lo other
locations available because there are. So why here? I don't think we've heard that from you yet. No, I wasn't in the room where it happened, but I imagine there was a lot of thought put into selecting this lot
for the betterment of individuals who have no place else to turn for a warm bed and a sturdy roof over their heads. So I am sure you are aware that about 25% of the affordable housing population are senior citizens. So you chose this location because of
its proximity to grocery store, a post office, a library, a pharmacy, a senior center, peaceful walking paths, and perhaps mass transit, right? You know, the things that senior citizens want to
have in their near their new home. things they value when they move. No, this lot doesn't have any of that. Okay, so maybe you were thinking about the roughly 44% of affordable house occupants who are families, often with
only one parent and sometimes a disabled parent. So, you chose this lot because of its proximity to their school, the parks and basketball courts they like to play on, the grassy fields where they can run, play touch football, and you
especially thought about the safety of those children growing up, right? No, none of these things are true about this piece of land either. In fact, these children would be living so close to the highway, they could reach it in a matter of seconds on their big wheels.
But don't worry, they'll have fun playing at the tire store, the gas station, and the diner. Those places they can walk to safely. Okay? So, it's not about the families. It's not about the senior citizens. So,
it must be about the disabled veterans that you constantly tout when you talk about this affordable housing that they are here. They're being housed here as a reward for their service to our country. And Mr. Dwire touched on this a little bit earlier. There
obviously are sidewalks for them to use if they have difficulties walking without a device. They will have windows that open to hear the peaceful song of birds in the morning to relieve whatever anxiety they may be dealing with postwar. And there are rehab facilities and social services nearby that they can
access easily. No. Oh. Instead, they will have the screeching of cars and the wailing of ambulances and fire trucks roaring past, lulling them gently to sleep every night. I want to just end with one thing. Would any of you up there on that
day want their 80-year-old mother, Army veteran uncle, or recently divorced sister with three kids to live here? Ask yourselves that question every time you try to justify this choice and every time you put your head on your pillow and listen to the crickets chirping from
your perfectly manicured back lawns. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone else wishing to address the council? I'm Cynthia Hollled, Somerville resident. I'm here to express my opposition to the spot zoning >> I'm sorry, your address, ma'am. >> 91 Prospect Street. >> Yeah. Okay. Bridgewater.
>> Somerville. >> Somerville. Okay. >> I'm here to express my opposition to the spot zoning ordinance that will permit the Cornell Boulevard development. Like many other people that have spoken this evening, this parcel is not appropriate for any type of housing, whether it be a
million-doll single family home, luxury apartments, home for disabled veterans, or affordable housing. I would not personally want to live on a major highway wedged between commercial buildings, the Somerville Circle, which we all know the Somerville Circle, and
rams to 287 22 and 20220 206, sometimes referred to as the crossroads of central New Jersey. This location has deafening traffic noise and significant pollution from car and trust exhaust. Fortunately, I have options as to where I can live.
And many of us here, I assume, also have options as to where we can live. Not everyone is as fortunate as to have those options, such as people needing affordable housing or disabled veteran housing. They should not be forced to live on a major highway with noise and exhaust
pollution. And I ask for you to consider this as you go forward. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone else? Hello. Um, my name is Liam Rodkurt and I'm 10 years old. I live at 110 Prospect
Street um in Somerville. Um, before I begin, I just want to make it clear that I was not asked to speak up here. I came up because this I am because I am deeply concerned about the proposed development for lot 207 on
Cornell Boulevard. The town of Bridgewater is moving forward with a plan that seems unsuitable for a residential neighborhood. They are proposing highdensity housing on a site that is a swamp adjacent to a major highway. The plan involves removing our
existing wooded sound barrier. At night, we can already hear the highway clearly, and in the winter, we can even see it. Um, putting four units aside for disabled veterans in this specific location is particularly concerning. The
constant noise and exhaust fumes from the highway cause significant stress, which can trigger PTSD and lead to various other illnesses such as lung disease. We should not be placing vulnerable residents in an unhealthy environment. Furthermore, our existing
neighborhood is unsuitable for this type of dense development. We have no sidewalks and our old streets cannot support that much additional traffic. Currently, our neighborhood is very walkable. My brother and I walk our dog around the around our block and we play
at a small park at the end of our street. As a DIY hobbyist and small engine mechanic, I walk down to the Napa Auto Parts Store at the end of my street. I know the people there and they are very helpful with my projects. Putting this affordable housing here
would make our neighborhood unsafe. With more traffic, it would become unwalkable and affect our um everyday lives. When you vote on this matter, I would like you to please consider all of these safety and health health concerns. Thank you for your time.
>> Thank you. Anyone else wishing to address the council? Hi, my name is Hassan Big. I live on five Arling Drive in Somerville. Um, so like others, I live basically I can see that lot from my my office window, but I
actually want to talk about my history. So I actually was in affordable housing when I was younger. I didn't actually come up here planning to talk about this. I just came to support my community, but I figured I'd give that perspective since we had a veteran up here earlier as well. So when my parents were down sort of out of luck when I was
four, we lived in affordable housing in Jacksonville, Florida. But I actually never knew that until I think I was probably 25 because it actually looked like the neighborhood next to us and it looked like the neighborhood on the other side. I lived in a town home, two-bedroom, one bath town home, and the surrounding neighborhoods were all town
homes of the same density. And so thinking of it from families that could be in that area as a kid, I never knew what was going on, but I can see a child walking out of that neighborhood and seeing a bunch of single family homes and realizing that their home is actually different than everyone else is there. And they will actually feel that.
But coming from somewhere where I never felt that to be honest, it came up in an off conversation I had with my aunt that like, "Oh, you guys lived in this community. It was called Clear Water. That was an affordable housing home." And I I actually never even knew that. I never had part of my identity that was a part of that. And I would I think it would be very unfortunate to put
something like this in a neighborhood where any family that lives there or anyone that lives there will actually feel that they are not part of the community next to them. I grew up and I played in the park right next to my my house. I could walk to it. So did the kids from the other neighborhood. I never knew anything was going on. But
that's the part that I want to bring to the story is that you're actually not only affecting the residents that are there. I have a small kid too and I live in that neighborhood. He rides his little Jeep and scooter around there all the time. And I understand the traffic and the issues, but I think also think of it from the perspective of those that you're going to be putting in those neighborhoods that we've heard that
they're sort of being they're going to be placed there. That's going to be their only option and how they're going to feel when they sit there and they their kids walk out to the street and they see all these other families and people that they're going to they're going to be able to tell the difference. So, that's all I wanted to share with you guys today. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Anyone else? Hi, good evening. Thanks for your time. Speaking to the microphone, please, sir. >> Thank you for your time. I'm I'm Hans Nummire. I live on 291 West Summit Street. I I work very often. I drive as
a as a for a living. I drive around the circle very often. I drive around there probably 10 times 10 times a day. It's not only that you are coming up the ramp. When you are coming up the ramp going towards the mall where the house is proposed to be. I I have a speed of
40 miles per hour. The the traffic coming from two or two has often a speed of 50 m hour. the noise when when people coming over the ramp or over the highway and they're slowing down in order to go to 22 those big trucks coming from the
Flemington side they when they break their jackhammers breaks it makes so much noise in the winter time when there's no leage on on the trees in our neighbor I live about 400 ft away from 400 yards away from the from the circle
in my backyard I can hear the noise from the from the from the highways. It's not only one highway, it's three highways. There's 202, there's 206, there's 22. They all combined there. This is the this is the center of of our community.
When you look behind you and you see the map of Bridgewater, you're proposing a building right in the middle of it. In the near in the near future, in 50 years, we don't know what happens. And things have evolved in the last 50 years. And when you are planning now
something what you might not be able to reconstruct in in a matter of time, I would advise you look at the plans one more time. Find a better look location for those for those people who are looking for housing. But I don't think
anybody would want to live there. If you come into my backyard, you're going to hear the noise. And I'm I'm a substantial substantial amount away from the circle where when you live very close to it, I don't think you want
to you want to spend spend more time there. Yesterday I was walking the dog in the morning kind of like around 6:00. It was as if I was standing right next to the highway. So I I would advise you to reconsider it. I don't think anybody
here mentioned anything positive about this project besides nobody behind me. I haven't heard anything positive so far yet. Thank you so much for your time. Have a very nice evening and thank you for your service. Bye-bye.
Hi, good evening. Happy holidays. Uh, thanks for hearing us. Uh, I just wanted to speak as a >> name address. >> Oh, I'm so sorry. Eileen Foley and I'm on 28 Prospect Street in Somerville. Uh, I have the good fortune of working from home most of the time, so I'm
walking my dog a ton. Uh, and, um, so from Mountain Avenue to Cornell, um, my loop pretty much is Prospect Street and then I go around to Altmont. So, Prospect, um, Summit and then Altimont. There's so many cars that just cut that
that way to get to Cornell and then head over to get get back to West End. And sorry to hear about your horrific accident. Um, so just really concerned from a safety perspective as far as traffic and pedestrians, a lot of young kids in the neighborhood. Um, myself and
my dog. So, so just just the location seems in poor choice. Um, I echo what Mr. Dwire said too for the purpose of the of the housing. It's probably one of the worst locations. So, thank you for hearing from us tonight.
>> Thank you. Anyone else? Hi, good evening. Uh, Colleen Renan, 12 Arlene Drive, Somerville. Um, I know you've heard a lot, so I'm just going to be quick and I kind of have a few things that I just I know you're not going to answer, but I'm just putting the questions out there because I think
they're very valid topics and I think they're things that you should be asking yourselves when you are thinking about voting to go forward with this terrible project. Um, basically the first thing I want to talk about is, have you ever stood outside of Time to Eat Diner and
had a conversation? You can't because it's so loud. the Jake brakes from the trucks, the three different highways meeting up, people speeding, horns honking. It's awful. Now imagine actually living with that every day, trying to sleep with that every
day. Having children want to play, I guess, on the pavement outside of their apartment in that noise. Not something that should be thought of as a good idea. um the fact that you devalue veterans and low-income families to the point
where you're putting them on a highway and you're throwing them into like a parcel that is the size of a stamp really is something that should be reconsidered when there are hundreds of acres of land in Bridgewater that could be used much more viably and be given
these people much better housing and better situations for their lives. Um, I live down the hill and my simple science that I understand is that when you concrete over land, water doesn't seep
in. So my question to you is what kind of environmental studies have been done? I know Mr. Cash's house is right next door to that and everything kind of comes on a downhill. So not only does water not seep in, it also goes in the direction of down. So this water is now
going to be coming from this area that used to have trees, plants, soil that's now being taken away in this small section and the water is going to go where? Into his yard down the hill into our areas. What kind of money
compensation is being put aside for when this happens and you need to remediate the problem? Another thought you should have in your head. And finally, the third one is safety. Cornell Boulevard. If you have driven Cornell Boulevard, I don't know how many of you actually have, uh, it's a very narrow road. You
can barely have two cars go by each other, one going either way. We have children who walk to school. We have children and families who walk dogs. We have families who just walk the neighborhood. It is not a safe place to be adding more vehicles, more people,
and more traffic. These are all just things I think that really should be thought about and put into questions and answers before you actually go forward with this any further. Thank you. Have a good night. >> Thank you. Anyone else wishing to
address the council? Uh, okay. I think we're up to our last participant. Good evening. Good evening everyone. Um, thank you for the opportunity to speak. Uh, my name is
David Holland. I live at 91 Prospect Street in Somerville. And I'm here to announce that I am going to be the volunteer for Ian's campaign when he runs for mayor in Somerville in a few years. Thank you.
We need that enthusiasm. Um, but to the point of why we're here this evening, I just think that in a township size of 32 square miles, you can find a better use to provide affordable housing for only a
handful of people. And while it's noble that we wanted to have this for veterans and lower income, moderate income people, there's got to be a better place for this. You can find a better place if you look harder. Be a little bit creative. If there's a developers term
that talks about highest and best use of land, I would say that the highest and best use of this land, which is a remnant property shoved up against Route 2026. The highest and best use of this land is to leave it alone. Let it be woods. Let
it be natural. Let it be a natural buffer for our neighborhood. uh which is only single family houses that we live with everinccreasing light pollution, noise pollution and air pollution from everinccreasing traffic. That merge,
that weaving merge from coming up from the circle is a horror. You hear screeches of breaks. You hear horns blowing at all hours of the night. You hear the trucks with their Jake brakes going on and it echoes throughout the neighborhood. That is not the place to
put any residential development. So, I would ask you to reconsider this. There's other ways that you can provide this this housing uh in the township. And finally, I'd just like to uh acknowledge the outgoing council members
here for your years of service. Uh I've waited many years to speak from this side of the podium and I would say that there is life after elected office. So, enjoy your your freedom, newly found freedom. Thank you again.
>> Okay, ladies and gentlemen, I think we've reached the end of the public input. Could Could I have a motion to close public input, please? >> I'll make that motion to close public input. Move to final action. >> Okay. Second. >> Conversation. >> Okay. Second. >> Uh, now I'd like to ask uh our learned
council. >> We need an eye to close public. >> Yeah. >> Do we have a motion to take? >> Motion to close it. Okay. >> I He made it. I second it. >> And do we need all in favor? >> All Yes. All in favor? >> I >> I >> I I
Okay. Up to you. I understand you were going to be the the talking head for this one in terms of >> No. >> Oh, okay. >> This is a final action ordinance. So, you could have discussion amongst the council uh with the caution that the
matter is obviously in litigation. >> Okay. >> So, the discussion must be limited. I mean the public is well aware that this matter is in litigation. >> Beyond that >> that's fine. >> I would just call for a final >> vote. Okay. Vote on the motion please.
>> Are we going to >> Is there discussion or no discussion? I I'm interested in in having limited >> what would you like to say? Go ahead. Um the the reason we're here, the reason we're having this discussion um is not because anybody wants to do this or that or the other thing on any particular
piece of property. The reason we're here is because of the affordable housing obligations that our township faces and every and every other one in the state of New Jersey. I find it reprehensible that there's no part of the affordable housing formula that asks does the community already have sufficient
options and opportunities uh for people across the socioeconomic spectrum because I believe Bridgewater does. We have homes that are available and apartments that are available at relatively modest prices. We have homes and and and uh homes that are are multi-million dollars and everything in
between. Unfortunately, that's not part of the state formula. What is part of the state formula is that we must deliver uh over 400 affordable housing units. Um and um that's the that's the responsibility we have to all 46,000
residents uh who uh who we represent uh whether or not they're in this room. Um so I could go point by point. I'm not going to do that. That could perhaps could happen in another forum uh particularly after uh you know any any litigation is resolved. Um just the two
things that I do want to focus on. Um any um implication that uh uh any that we have not been to the neighborhood, don't understand the situation, um don't want to hear from people. Uh you know, that's a false narrative. Um
we have had what I believe to be a very um uh respectful, largely respectful and very productive hearing tonight. Um I've been to this neighborhood and to this area multiple times. Uh and the only other comment that I'll make is for those who are concerned about water on
this or any other development in Bridgewater or anywhere else in New Jersey, if they are worried about water management, traffic, environmental impact, those items are all resolved uh at at site plan review and before planning board. Uh and generally speaking, um uh with water management,
which is an issue, you know, everywhere. Um the the concept that holds is uh any development must contain its own water and must uh make a situation no worse and hopefully better than it is in the previous uh condition. So uh you know
those those are the facts. Um you know individuals can choose whether or not they accept those um and um I don't know if there's any other conversation desired. >> Yes. So, um, couple things, uh, of note. I
know there was some questions about who's visited the site. I have, uh, I would love to know how GK gets a parking spot in the middle of the circle, but that's probably a discussion for another night. Um, but those of you in the neighborhood, I, you know, noticed that parking spot on the circle. Um,
regarding what we're looking at tonight, there's a couple things. We have a a a recommendation given to us by our planning board recommending that we approve this. We have a fair share housing plan that was submitted to the state that included this project that
they approved. Uh we also, as we've heard tonight, uh not the township, but the developer of this site uh applied for a $3 million grant from Department of Comm DCA community affairs. Uh and and
surprising to some, this was awarded. So DCA has looked at this site and said, "Not only is this a good site, we think it's good to the tune of $3 million." Uh, as Councilman Kersh alluded to, um, environmental issues, traffic, trees are all things that our land use board would
look at. Uh, whether it's this application, um, we've heard tonight someone ask about, you know, who's the winner of this, the people that own this site. This is in my limited time and probably in the last three or four years. This is the second different proposed use for this site a couple
years ago. There was a plan for a digital uh billboard monument on this site that was before the zoning board. Um so whether it's this a digital billboard or any of the things you know in the current C1 use that you know
funeral home uh um banks uh me doctor's offices the traffic associated with those if it was something in the current C1 all of that is determined by the land use board uh not by this governing body so that's my comments
>> my comment is brief we are attempting to meet a requirement mandated to us by the state. We were allocated 477 homes. Uh and that was uh negotiated down to 421.
And a lot of work has gone on using a professional planner who has gone out and visited dozens and dozens and dozens of sites. And this one has uh it's not perfect there. There are no perfect sites.
Any any other comments? If not, I will call for the roll. Uh roll call, please. >> Yeah. >> Councilman Kersh, >> yes. >> Councilman Codilla, >> yes. >> Councilman Ring, >> yes. >> President Ogalis, >> yes. Okay, we're moving to next which is
an ordinance amending chapter uh 26 personnel policies article 4 compensation and pay periods of the Bridgewater code of the township or Bridgewater to clarify compensation standards. Uh I'd like a motion to open
to the public please on this ordinance. >> Still moved. >> Second. >> Second. Okay. We are open to the public on ordinance C. Anyone wishing to address the council, please come forward. Give us your name and address.
Sign in. >> Seeing no one, motion to close public comment. >> All those in favor? A second, please. >> And move to final action. >> Sure. >> Okay. >> I'll second. >> Okay. Uh I want to give uh Mr. Papus an opportunity if he wishes to make any
comment before we have final action. >> Uh no, I can uh answer any questions that councelor would have. Okay, this issue has been discussed in the past. If there are no additional items, could we have a roll call, please? >> Councilman Crush, >> yes. >> Councilman Codiller,
>> yes. >> Councilman Ring, >> yes. >> President Ogalis, >> yes. Moving to D, an ordinance of the township of Bridgewater amending section 320.3 uh entitled BRCC Bridgewater Regional Corporate Center zone within chapter 126
land use of the municipal code of the township of Bridgewater so as to bring the Bridgewater Regional Corporate Center zone into conformance with the township 2025 master plan re-examination report and its adoption by the township planning board. Uh, could I have a
motion, please, to open to the public for >> I'll make a motion open to the public attendee. >> Uh, second, please. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I. All right. We're now open to the public. Anyone wishing to address the council on this issue, please come forward.
>> Seeing no motion, could I have a motion to close D for final action? >> To close and move to final action on uh pending any potential uh discussion on 10D. Uh, second roll call, please.
>> Kersh, >> yes. >> Councilman Codilla, >> yes. >> Ring, >> yes. >> President Ogalis, >> yes. Okay. The next ordinance is E. An ordinance of the township of Bridgewater, amending section 126 of the Bridgewater Township Code, amending
section 126-311, title C-1, neighborhood business zone to permit additional conditional uses. Uh motion open to public meeting please. >> That motion. >> Second. >> Second it. >> Okay. All those in favor? >> I I
>> Okay. We are open to the public on any input on the last ordinance. Seeing none, no one rise. Could I have a motion to close and move for final action? >> I'll make that motion subject to any conversation that may be necessary. >> Second.
>> Okay. Any comments? Okay. Uh roll call, please. Councilman Kersh. Yes. >> Councilman Kodiller. >> Yes. >> Ring. >> Yes. >> President Ogalas. >> Yes. Uh 11. We have no introduction of ordinances. Under 12. I'd like to uh
meld 12 A and 12B. Uh certification of the 2024 municipal audit is A and B is a resolution approving the corrective action plan. Mr. Papus, would you enlighten us on these two, please?
Yes, I can address M. >> Oh, I'm sorry, mayor. Um, so you have 12A, of course, is just to indicate you've received the municipal audit. Um, as uh Council G pointed out, the there's a lot of information there, but the recommendations are ultimately kind of found in the front and the back. Uh 12B
is approving a corrective action plan. The one item that the audit raised was to make sure that all accounts are reconciled on a monthly basis. Um, so to make sure that, you know, at the end of every month that there's no multi-month periods that go on. So, uh, the 12B
corrective action plan is to make sure that a process is in place so that every month all banks are reconciled, uh, in a 30-day window and that has been implemented and um is ongoing. >> Now, that's it.
>> I'll move 10 AMB on consent. >> Second. >> I'll second. Roll call, please. I'm sorry. 12 A and B just to clarify. >> Ask Kersh. >> Yes. >> Asman Codilla. >> Yes. >> Ring. >> Yes. >> Ogalas. >> Yes.
>> Okay. I'd also like to use consent on 12 C. I will read each of them. 12 C, 12 D, 12 E, F, G, and H. And reading as individually. And these are all medical wishments. 12c is authorizing Horizon
Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey to provide health insurance to the township of Bridgewater for a total annual premium of 6,58,000 for the year 2026. Uh D is authorizing Benard Services LLC of New Jersey Incorporated to provide
prescription insurance to the township of Bridgewater for a total annual premium of $3,980,000 for the year 2026. E is authorizing Delta Dental of New Jersey Incorporated to provide dental
and vision insurance to the township of Bridgewwater for a total annual premium of $376,000 for the year 2026. F is authorizing the Hartford to provide supplemental health insurance to eligible retirees of the township of Bridgewater for a total
annual premium of $598,000 for the year 2026. G is authorizing an additional $50,000 to the law offices of Savo, Shaw, Garsini, Warner, Gillespie, O'Rnik, Fischer, PA to provide affordable
housing legal services for the professional services contract for the year of 2025 for a total amount not to exceed 150. Um and and lastly is H an award of contract to Robert Wood Johnson Health Network Incorporated for the
Somerset Ambulance Shared Services Agency Sassa for daytime weekend uh ambulance services at no cost to the township for the years 2026, 2027, and 2028. >> Just to clarify, the SASA is weekday.
>> Weekday. >> You said weekend. It's weekday. >> Thank you. Correct. Okay, Mr. Council President, a few few comments on these briefly on the uh health insurance. The four health insurance resolutions. The
council did receive a presentation on this, but uh the the biggest item, which is our uh health insurance costs, is at 0% increase. So, this is the same cost for 2026 as we had in 2025. Uh same with dental uh which we are uh obviously very
happy that we're not seeing those costs go up. We are seeing um the uh the biggest rise though is in prescription usage that did go up. Um one of the items that we're seeing a trend of is more people are using uh some of the weight loss drugs and uh that's some of
them are covered by insurance and that increases cost. The good news is is that at least some experts you know uh foreshadow that as people are losing weight and therefore may be healthier. We may see savings in the future on uh
less costs on uh other medical related items as people are uh healthier. Um but that's the only item that's uh really a cost increase this year uh from the past. Um so those are the four resolutions so that we can have health
care for our employees. Um, two other notes for the um on the increased legal services. That's for our affordable housing litigation, including litigation on Cornell Boulevard. And the SASA contract is a continuation of a partnership we have with Robert Wood
Johnson. Um, this is at no cost to the township. Um, but they provide uh, you know, services for coverage during daytime when our volunteer EMS are unavailable. >> We have a motion. I'll move 12 CH on consent.
>> I'll second. >> Roll call, please. >> Councilman Kersh, >> yes. >> Codilla, >> yes. >> Ring, >> yes. >> Ogalas, >> yes. Moving to I. Authorizing the execution of a settlement agreement with
555 Route 22 Associates LLC, PNEN ADP and Somerset Center number one LLC SEC number two LLC SSC 3 LLC
SC 4 LLC and LCCV LLC parenthesis SCV pertaining to litigation regarding the property located at block 411, lot 39, and block
408, lot 67, also known as 555, Route 22 in the township of Bridgewater. Um, this is the Ethicon site. This is the this is the settle of the settling the litigation between SJP next door and the and the former Ethicon property. If
there are no questions, could I have a motion, please, on this one? >> I'll make that motion. >> Second, please. >> Second. Roll call, please. >> Kersh, >> yes. >> Codilla, >> yes. >> Green, >> yes.
>> President Ois, >> yes. Moving to I'd like to move J, uh, K, L, M, N, O, and P all on a consent basis. >> I'll agree with that.
I have no objection. >> What's that? >> Start reading. >> Okay. Author uh Jay is authorizing change order number one final change order increasing the amended contract price uh from 1,290,578.73 to 1,ion302721.10.
Uh an increase of $12,142.37 authorizing acceptance of the project release of the performance bond. Acceptance of the maintenance bond in final payment to Dantis Construction Incorporated, 491 Elizabeth Avenue, PO Box 6030, Somerset, New Jersey 08875
for the Rolling Hills Road Improvement Project, which includes the entire length of Rolling Hills Road, Brandy Wine Road, Hill Lane, and Vicki Drive, funded through the 2024 Road Improvement Capital Fund and financial year 2022 New
Jersey DOT Municipal Aid Grant. K is professional engineering/serveying and inspection services for the C country club road arsley lane and goldfring drive improvements project which includes country club road street
to the municipal boundary north arsley lane country club road to Eisenhower Avenue and goldfinch drive argley lane to me road to kier's engineering and design incorporated shelbborne at 153 frontage road s sweet 110 Hampton New
Jersey in the amount of $149,500 funded through the 2025 capital road improvement bond and fiscal year 2025 New Jersey DOT municipal aid grant in the amount of $356,411. Uh, next one is professional
engineering/servey inspection services for the Vanveton Drive and South Avenue road improvement project which includes Vanveton Drive, Finderan Avenue to the terminus and South Avenue, Finderan Avenue to the terminus to Kier's Engineering and
Design Incorporated, Shelbourne at 153 frontage road, sweet 110 Hampton, New Jersey 08827 in the amount of $89,750 funded through the 2025 capital road improvement bond and fiscal year 2025
New Jersey DOT local transportation projects fund grant in the amount of $750,000 uh authorizing the execution I'm sorry got to turn the page uh professional engineering services for
the national environmental policy act um and NEPA Environmental review port for the Camp Cromwell facility rehabilitation project to Kalu's engineering and design incorporated Shelbourne atundan 53 frontage road sweet 110 Hampton New
Jersey 08827 in the amount of $50,500 uh base scope of work funded through the US Department of Housing and Urban Development HUD uh fiscal year 2024 community project grant n is professional engineering services for
the tributary to Chambers Brook drainage study to the Reynolds Group Incorporated 575 Route 28 Sweet 110 Raritton, New Jersey 08869 in the amount of $38,500 funded through the 2025 Capital Road project. O is professional engineering
services for the TW 1024 Brown Road drainage improvement project to Collier's Engineering Design Incorporated, Shelbourne at Hunter 53 Funage Road, Sweet 110, Hampton, New Jersey 08827 in the $93,750
funded through the 2025 Capitol Road project uh bond road bond. Uh P is professional engineering services for the springrun neighborhood drainage improvement project to Collier's Engineering and Design Incorporated Shelbourne at $153 frontage road sweet
110 Hampton, New Jersey uh 08827 in the amount of $95,250 funded through the 2025 Capital Road Pro Capital Road Bond. Don't ask me to read it again, please. Um, any any any comments on that? Otherwise,
>> move 12 J through P on consent. >> Consent. Second, please. Second. >> Uh, roll call, please. >> Kersh, >> yes. >> Councilman Codiller, >> yes. >> Councilman Ring, >> yes. >> Ogallis, >> yes. Okay. Next is Q. Authorizing budget
transfers of fiscal year 2025 appropriations in the amount of $855,178.14 in the current fund. This is strictly a movement of money as is permitted uh during the November and December time frame. It represents no increase uh in expense whatsoever. It's just movement
of funds. May I have a motion please on Q? >> I'll make the motion to approve. >> Second, please. >> I'll second it. >> Roll call. >> Well, brief comment. So, you know, for anyone who thinks that we're not minding every dollar, that's certainly proven um
in resolution 12Q, including but not limited to uh uh funding properly funding the full um full salary of the township council. We must have been off by a dollar. So, um we are um you know down to every every budget line uh
remains in sync. Um, and and I do have to call attention uh about the middle of the second page, street lighting. Uh, we are uh uh moving $9,500 so that we will fulfill our full obligation uh to pay for our street lighting and keep our
streets safe. Uh earlier in the budget process, there was a non-serious proposal uh to only pay a portion of our street light uh lighting obligation. That's clearly not an option that we have. We pay our full bills including but not limited to street lighting.
>> Roll call. Councilman Kersh. >> Yes. >> Councilman Codiller. >> Yes. >> Councilman um Ring. >> Yes. >> President Mgaw. >> Yes. F is authorization to to execute collective bargaining.
>> R. Yes. We're not going back to F. >> Authorization. All right. All right. Authorization to execute collective bargaining agreement between the township of Bridgewater and Bridgewater Township Police Benevolent Association local number 174 PBA effective January
1st, 2024 through December 31st, 2027. >> Mr. Council President, as you noted, this is a agreement dating back to 2024. Um, PVA has been without a contract for quite some time. Um, I think this is a fair agreement for everybody. And with
that, I will move 12R. >> A second, please. >> I'll second it. >> A roll call, please. >> Councilman Kersh, >> yes. >> Codeller, >> yes. >> Councilman Ring, >> yes. >> President Ogis, >> yes. As >> one I'm sorry, one quick comment just for the council benefit and for the future council that are in the audience.
We are very close on finalizing our S SOA contract and I expect that that could be on the agenda as early as uh January. Um couldn't quite get it done before today, but I expect it will be on in January. So, >> good news. S is authorizing a professional services agreement with
Carlin Ward Ash and Hart LLC for special tax council services and appointing Carlin Ward Ash and Hart LLC special tax counsel to be paid on a contingent basis at no cost to the township. Uh
I'm going to offer comments on this. This was an issue that was kicked to the curb by this council some months ago. Uh I was surprised that it has come that it has come back. Uh I think this is poor governance. Uh basically uh it's a
recast back to earlier in the year. uh when uh evidently this agency uh thought there was prior approval from this council, which there was not, and proceeded to go out and and uh cream or
or cherrypick for those situations where uh commercial activities, commercial enterprises uh might have been uh might have more taxes than more might have been Wow. I don't know how I
want to say this, but basically they had a specific tax and and this company goes out and attempts to leverage increasing their their taxable rate. uh it would from my perspective uh create anxiety
among our our commercial resident our commercial businesses where they would think that although they knew what their taxes were today all of a sudden tomorrow this company comes to their door and says hey you you owe us more taxes. I think we have a very competent
tax assessment office and and I think it is perfectly appropriate uh that that office continues to perform this function and not allow this type of thing to happen in our township. For brief comment this uh without going
through the history um the short version is that this is a law firm that um specializes in reverse tax appeals. Reverse tax appeals are in are issued are times when we believe that uh back up the tax assessor acts independently from the township. So they although a
township employee they create their own valuations of property here. There are certain instances where we believe commercial property owners have been undervalued and we have an opportunity of bringing hundreds of thousands of dollars or in some instances at least in one in particular over a million dollars
of revenue back to the township because a commercial property has been undervalued. And so I'm asking the council to authorize this law firm to review and bring for consideration to the council uh two possible settlements
that would bring hundreds of thousands of dollars each year back to the township's budget. And um by authorizing this, we are not authorizing that we have to agree to whatever is able to be worked out, but it gives the council the opportunity to see what those numbers
really would be and if we think appropriate to settle with these uh in this case it's two. They're future. There could be others. Um but that's what I'm asking the council to consider is having this firm engage in that dialogue with
in this case two particular property owners. Is there a motion? >> I'll make the motion. >> Second. >> I'll second. >> Roll call. >> Councilman Kersh. Yes. Councilman Codella.
>> I just want to say I've heard the arguments for this pro and con. I'm going to vote no. Uh for the simple reason I I just I just think we have a a very valid tax assessor and the I think
this needs more time >> I am mixed on this uh solely if it's a a trial I would support. It does not mean that I would support future efforts but for the purposes of this one time I would say yes.
>> President Ogis >> no tie vote. Uh the effort fails. Uh we have a next item is appointment to the board of adjustment the regular member of John Culac. May I have a motion please to
>> I'll make that motion. >> I'll second it. >> All those uh roll call please. >> Councilman Kersh. >> Yes. >> Codiller. >> Yes. >> Ring. >> Yes. >> Ogawas. >> Yes. Uh you is appointment of Sarah Houseman as director of finance pursuant
to NJSA 4069A-43 and article nine of chapter 4 of the municipal code of the township uh bridge order. Uh Sarah has uh is a second please. >> I'll second. >> Uh Sarah has been the QPA for a qualified purchasing agent uh and and
brings a lot to offer uh and some stability. This was a a title that was formally held by Mr. Papis among 16 others and it's time we offloaded that. Could we have a roll call please on that? >> Councilman Kersh. >> Yes. >> Councilman Codilla. >> Yes. >> Councilman Ring. >> Yes.
>> Nogalis. >> Yes. Now we're going to reflect. Congratulations, Sarah. >> Great. >> She's here. >> We work I work with Sarah quite a bit, council president. She's excellent. >> So So do we. Uh I'm now going to recast and ask Allan for his uh his council
report, please. >> Look, you long enough. >> Nice. >> Um what a meeting to end on. uh in thinking about my comments for tonight,
it's not in my opinion, it's not normal to go over 20 years doing something and then go to change. Um I've previously stated that I do believe in the democratic process.
While I am disappointed, Joan, I'm not masquerading that. Um, I certainly do wish our incoming candidates or council members the best of luck and if you have any questions in the future where I might be able to help, please reach out.
Um, regarding uh the service that I that I've had um it's been it's been a ride, let me tell you. Uh early on, uh we had
meetings with crowds like this over culling deer. Uh we went for months. One group, the shoot them group was here. The following month, the sterilizing group was here. How you sterilize a deer, I
don't know. But I didn't think that made sense. But we talked about it. We got through it. and I'm the guy that brought it up for discussion that said, "Guys, we really got to get off the table, please. We can't go month meeting to meeting with these changes."
I want to say for the um members of council and administration, I want to thank them publicly for all of your assistance on many issues uh discussions to confirm opinions. you
know, to get a clearer understanding. Um, I'm extremely grateful for that. Matt, Mike, you know, our attorneys, Chris, and you know, Mike, Tim, how obviously Howard, obviously, Howard and
I have been doing this for over 500 meetings already. If you think about it, that's a lot of meetings. And the I would be remiss not to thank my wife Nancy for her support during the year.
And what you may not know is for almost 20 years when I got home, she knew not to ask me what went on at the council meeting. Uh, she did know, however, that if I went home and pulled the bottle of
scotch out and went and sat down for a while, she knew it was not good. So, the um I want to thank Nancy for that. My son Allan and daughter-in-law Nancy are here this evening.
For all those years that um I've been doing this, I've had the support of my entire family. And that to me is the biggest blessing that I that I as a councilman can have. With us this evening is the family
gatekeeper Amanda. My daughter, as you all know, is a very, very special person in many, many ways to me. She is my gatekeeper. I look at her and I can say good, bad,
or indifferent. Amanda, I thank you for everything that you have done for me over the years. You've given me the ability to see things differently, to maybe think about different options or how it
affects people and so forth, especially those with special needs. And while you do have special needs, you have provided invaluable service to me. Thank you, sweetheart.
Now, then in closing, very short and sweet, the guys see me up here writing and doodling or whatever I do. When I first got into office, my brother, hey, I got to do something to support my brother. He gave me this this
pen. I have used this pen for 22 years. It's a reminder to me, it has been a reminder that when you're in politics, you have two lives. You have your personal life with your convictions and
you have your political life where you have to play within the within the boundaries. And I will tell you, and I've said it before, it's almost like a movie where the devil's over here, the angels over here talking the I've had those moments.
Um, but this little trick um, this little trick of using this pen makes reminds me that Allan, you're the councilman tonight. You're not Alan Cordillan, the resident of Crest Drive if you walk around and say whatever he
wants. No, I'm the councilman who has to be very careful with what he says and carefully address the information that is requiring me to vote. And I assure everybody in this room and every Bridgewater resident, it has been my
pleasure to represent all 46,000 plus residents, even those who didn't want me to represent them. And that was a good meeting, too. But it's always been my commitment to do the best that I can to
take care business. Howard, you know, quarter to seven on Thursday nights, buddy. I don't know what we're gonna do, but as you stated earlier, maybe we'll go bowling. >> We'll go.
>> I want to thank you for the hours that you and I have spent discussing issues and agreeing to disagree and having mutual respect to each other. You remember our our earlier years when we sat side by side on the council and
there were times uh that uh a different council person whose name I will not mention ever uh was would get off on a tirade and and we would Allan and I would sit there and we'd say oh gez I got to do something and and so Allan
came up with the idea a little he said I have this pin and I want to stick it in my eye to get it get my attention. So, one day I brought in one of my mother-in-law's knitting needles. >> You brought a knitting needle in >> and said, "Hey, we're go we're going to ramp up this process." Allan, thanks for
the memories, >> Howard. Thank you, Michael R. >> Now, I in my last comments, and I'm going to take a little bit different approach. I I want to talk about some of the the titles that I've held over the years, especially those jobs that might
have helped me to be a better councilman. But before I do that, I want to thank my family for the wonderful support they provide uh these 21 and a half years so I could do council work. That includes my son James who happens
to be sitting here, daughter Karen, who's on our way away, and their combined troop of five children who have all grown to adulthood over the day decades. They have appeared in several of my campaign bro bro bro bro bro bro bro bro bro bro bro bro bro bro bro bro bro bro bro bro bro bro bro bro bro bro bro bro bro bro bro bro bro bro bro bro bro bro bro bro brochures and in one video in my private life as well as in
my political life. I have been truly blessed with sharing my life with my best friend and significant other Christine Phillips seen here on the end. Uh, we spent many election eve days and hours going door todo with Chris holding
a clipboard on the sidewalk or on the street, pointing at the next street that I had to run up and knock on the door. In the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy tells her dog Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore. There were streets we covered
that I feared we were no longer in Bridgewater. I also want to thank the members of the clerk's office who are the only employees who work directly for the council. You all know Grace who is our state certified clerk and Juliana I
are you back there someplace? Yeah. Juliana uh who's our deputy but you should also know Ally Gust and Natalie Troy. Are you ladies here? Oh, okay. uh who work the desk, answer the phone, and provide backbone for the council
operation. Now, on to titles. Probably the best titles I have are those related to family. As a father of two and grandfather of five, I am called by many titles. Dad, pop, grandpa, papa, sometimes even sweetie, among others.
They are all music to my ears. In my 39 years at AT&T long lines, I had lots of titles and accompanying business cards, but the titles that came closest to my task as a councilman was district manager finance. Hence, my love of and
respect for numbers. In the US Army, I was a staff sergeant and had that job and had little to do with being a councilman, but a lot to do with working with folks who in some cases didn't want to work with me. Come to think of it, maybe that job had more to do with being
an effective councilman than I thought. In my church, I was an elder and deacon and headed numerous committees, including being the cemetery chairman for a 4 and a half acre cemetery in Washington Valley in Pluckman. Now, that was a very interesting assignment. I was
vice president of the Somerset Chapy to the Elderly, providing ministerial and spiritual support to residents in numerous nursing homes in Somerset and Middle Sex. I have been a Bridgewater firefighter since 1976 and a fire company chaplain for many of those
years. I was a high school swimming official for 25 years, including being president of the Swimming Officials Association of New Jersey. I attended clinics at the Colorado Olympic Training Center to sit in on panels on the everchanging swimming roles. But the
title that I will hold for the next two weeks, that of Bridgewater Councilman, is one that I am very proud of. To know that I had the overwhelming support of you, the residents of Bridgewater, during six council elections, gladdens
my heart. I am truly grateful and honored for the opportunity to be part of the team that is the Bridgewater Council. As a councilwoman, I have but one of five. And while my voice at times may have been a little louder than
others, it was still only one. I believe that the actions we took as council and every resolution and ordinance we passed was to protect and enhance the quality of life for our residents. In two weeks
on December 31st, I will have been a councilman for exactly 21 years and six months. Now, I did the math and that means for over 25% of my entire life, actually, Mr. Papus, it's 25.62965%. I was a member of this council. If I
added zoning board and planning board time, it would be closer to a third of my life serving the community that I moved to in 1975. Last year, my family and I collectively made the decision that at 83 years of o
83 years of age, very soon to be 84, I would not seek re-election for 2026. It was time for me to stop and smell the roses, and I intend to do that. As we enter the 2026 holiday season, I would like to wish you all a very merry
Christmas or happy Hanukkah or just plain happy holidays if that is your preference. And may God protect and bless our troops, our first responders, and our citizens during these very stressful times. As my last official public act, I move for a German of the
Bridgewater Council on its last meeting of 2025. I look to my fellow firefighter and long-term friend, Alan Credilla, for the second. >> Alan, I will second that. >> I will. >> All those in favor signify by saying I.
>> I. >> I. So if I don't say I, you can't leave. >> We're still going to adjourn. >> Okay. I >> thank you. Thank you all for the memories. We are a journey. Sir, no, it's just you.