Yep. Goodbye. >> Good evening everybody. Let's call the committee meeting Monday, October 27, 202. >> Okay, we'll move on to the open public meeting statement. Pursuant to the open public meetings act notice this meeting was sent to the cranberry press times
home news trabune on January 17th 2025 post on township's website and sent to those requested a copy of this notice. We'll now move on to roll call. Mr. Christopher >> here >> Mrs. Elawi >> here. >> Dr. Rogers here. >> Mr. Scott here. >> Mayor Conir >> here. Thank you. >> We do have a agenda addition.
>> Yes. We're going to be adding agenda number R1025136. the emergency sewer repair subject to reimbursement to East Windsor MU and that'll be under the consent as E. >> We'll move on to approve the committee
minutes from our regular meeting October 13th, 2025. Can I get a motion? >> Motion. >> Thank you. We're going to move on to roll call. Mr. Christopher, >> yes. >> Mrs. Eladawi, yes. >> Dr. Rogers, yes. >> Mr. Scott, >> yes. >> Mayor Caner,
>> yes. Unanimous. Thank you. >> All right. um reports and communications feel like we should have a wheel here to spin who goes first or I'll be happy to take a volunteer and I think we started I think we started started the other end keeping me
honest >> um so a couple things um on the 17th of October we had a walk to school event and we've been doing this for about five or six years now where we partnered with the school and um you know Um, talk
about safety. It's so terrific. The kids will line up at the fire. We go from there. And this year we had um we partnered with Chips Living History Reenactors of Granberry Revolutionary War Veterans. Um they were
they were part of the Whispers from the Grave event and which highlighted 17 Revolutionary War veterans. And it's just just such a really a great opportunity not only to talk about pedestrian and bike safety, but it's also a really great opportunity for the children to see the the volunteers and
the professionals that help keep them safe and that are part of of everyday life in Cranberry. So, thank you mayor for being there. Thank you Lee. Um thank you for Dr. Dizzler and um all the staff that came and it was a really terrific
wonderful event and the man you were there too. >> Yeah, >> it was really cute. You handed out the penometers. >> Oh my goodness. >> And it was so cute because every kid got to get it. As we started the walk, we asked the kids to guess how many steps that they thought it was from where we were to the school. And the guesses
ranged from 32 million to 249. So it was a pretty good range. So I don't know the jelly. >> I was going to say it was probably closer to the >> Yes. But 32 million I was like I don't think Flores go correct those many steps
but I thought it was you know did not invalidate her her guess but >> and I love that when we went to pick up they were fascinated by such a small gadget. It was great. Um the other thing that I um attended regarding roadways
and safety etc is I attended the public meeting uh for the southern middle sex county north south truck is a mouthful north south truck corridor project which includes three towns south Brunswick um Cranberry and Monroe. Um it provided the
the draft project purpose and need um project background um existing conditions potential issues and constraints. Um so and now is the opportunity for stakeholder involvement. Um it's um you know we all know that
there's always competing land use um you know for land use um you know there warehouses residential communities are all you know in the same area with trucks uh which are really our economic driver for the area and New Jersey as a
whole. Um so um it's it's what's happening now is uh this this group this study is looking for local perspective um on particular concerns. Like for instance, you're not going to just say, "Oh, there's there's lots of trucks
here." You might say, "At this particular intersection, trucks are constantly hung up trying to make a turn or um you know, it always backs up in this area." and you say a particular area, they really want specific areas.
And we're going to be putting it in the mayor's update on Tuesday, uh the link on how, you know, now's the opportunity for the public to uh to weigh in. Yes, we've done it before when there was the active study for the background of
traffic studies, etc., and the constraints that are going on there like wetlands, environmental issues, etc. But now is really the time um to really put that input on what you see in that exit area. You can you there's also um a
review of the stakeholder meeting that I attended and then you can get a more of a better idea of the study area that incorporates. So um my understanding is that public comment is still open November 14th. >> November 14th. And then that's just
that's just the first one. Correct. uh >> like there will be subsequent ones. >> There will be but this really yes once they come up with their recommendations then again there will be a public input but um right now is a great time to tell them beforehand before they make the
recommendation to uh like what's going on in this particular study area which you can see on their website. So, um yeah, and then for us, this is just a really important thing like they do have um the local officials and the regions that we attended um it was I think in
August, but um eventually they're going to go out in public grants and then eventually they're going to require resolutions from the municipality that there is public support. So, if we do get comments from the public, then we can do our job a lot closer, I think. So
um that was that and then um question with regards to the specific roads and issues on the roads uh that that turning circle train turning circle area consistently is is an issue like there was a tanker fire recently. I don't know
if that's is that part of this. You'd have to take a look at the study area really in particular north and south. So I we would have to look at that. But that's a great that's a great point. >> I have a quick question.
Seeing a colony bring up the spect way bridge was that brought up that >> that's something you'd have to bring up with them. >> But I not >> that's a blast from the past.
>> Yeah. No, that has not been drawn up. Um but thanks for asking. Um the other thing is um I attended the environmental commission meeting October 20th. Lots of good things being done. There's an
outdoor classroom initiative. Um and um they are going to be looking to probably put forward a resolution for adopt a catch basin initiative which is really a terrific way of educating the public that the runoff where it goes where the
inlets are and um it's a really great educational piece of um storm water management and what happens to our our runoff. um constantly um you know looking at the trails and updating them. Uh and with that 10,000 grant that uh we
worked on for community energy plan is moving forward. They're going to look for a consultant and we finally got the money and um and that's going to be moving forward. That's another time a time where we're going to look for stakeholder residential uh input on the
choices of where as a community we can conserve um and save energy and lower our energy costs which are that's it. Thank you. Um I didn't have a very heavy um set of meet. I didn't have any
meetings officially. I did attend the mayor's walk and that was absolutely fabulous. Uh I did want to share one thing with the u whispers from the grave. The scouts were involved in helping out with that and I just like the collaborative piece with um you know
with the scouts and the storage conservation. They're very very nice there. I wanted to share with you all last week I shar last session last meeting I shared that I had worked on a grant for the municipal alliance teen mental health awareness um program and
it looks like that program may be redefining itself and in that redefinition you know you can't continue to expect to to be granted um the grant based on what I had written and submitted and so I've pulled us out of
that grant because we no longer satisfy what we had submitted. And we're looking to figure out what other ways um the new program will look like and and how funding may uh may come forward for that. And I
if it's okay, I just wanted to address something not necessarily um official, but I we have had a rather interesting week, rather special week. I I imagine Mayor Kamir will be tying a lot of things together for us. I just want to address a little bit of the
misinformation that we continue to see out there. And I, you know, this is a very hardworking TC and I think this has been a very forthcoming TC and accusations of um, you know, slander and and lying. It just
it's not appropriate. It's not wellreceived. It's not appropriate. And I really uh I understand this is an election cycle and maybe people feel that within this election cycle it might make them uh superior, you know, with with sharing some of these lines, but please get your facts. Everybody get
your facts from where the facts reside, which is the mayor's updates, things that you have here on the township website. We are your resources. But when someone decides to tell you that this TC has been lying about something, don't believe it. Don't believe it until you
vet it for yourself, especially when it's being used as a tool in an election. So, beyond digging too deep and mentioning names, I just I don't appreciate the line. Thank you.
I'll go next. Um, just quickly, I'll tie on to the um the grant. So, I actually was at the municipal alliance meeting this week. So, I was going to touch base on that. Thank you for all the hard work you did on engineering that grant and I'll keep everybody updated as to how that evolves
that program. Um, there was also an update from the municipal alliance. There was a um actually it's in the past. Now, there was a DEA takeback day on the 22nd for drugs, pharmaceuticals, etc. Um but the
detective FMER made it a point that if anyone has unused meds etc or not um you can always bring the police station drop box there same thing it's a dangerous time especially for
kids to to have unused prescriptions floating around your house. Um HBC had a meeting on the 21st. There was a couple applications. There's uh some ongoing discussion about amendments to the historical village. They met with the zoning subcommittee
two weeks ago. They're working on some design guidelines and they're actually putting the word together for the ordinance to remove the buffer zone and expand the village proper. Um additionally, some conversations regarding a CLG grant to um to define
the cranberry hamlet. um that grant was essentially delayed or postponed for this year. They're looking to to apply again in the future. They're also do developing a story to designate the Hamlet and get a certificate of
eligibility. Some interesting dynamics there because that piece of property is actually both Cranberry and Monroe. So there's some either partnership or is there you know potentially one of the two townships
could pay for that and that study and see how it goes. So more to come. Um the doors of town hall uh is an ongoing discussion. Um, they are hoping to get
us some information and part of us to aix some molding potentially to the outside of the doors to make it look a little more like the old doors. Um, they're well aware that anything that would be um invasive to the door itself, worry about
warranties, etc. That's off the table. But something adhesive that might look nice would uh they're local to partner with us on that. Um that is most of what they discussed. Um more to come.
Also I won't steal Dr. Dor's thunder. Um there's a a piece of the um the additions to the school that we're going to talk about shortly. Um, and also I think on a future meeting we might um have a quick note for the
retirement of Dick Murphy who some of us know better than others um after 20 plus years um of crossing and and taking care of the safety of our kids ever and you will continue to see him around town but that retirement is well deserved and I
applaud you and I will also end with uh just a quick personal comment. Um I'll say I want to thank Lisa and for the affordable housing subcommittee and all of the work that we've done you guys have done and
that we've done a little bit. >> Um but it's it's really a noble effort. It's been a long time coming and obviously you'll get into the details of the good news from this week, but I appreciate all the work you guys have done and it was um it was not an easy
task that's for sure for any of us. Um, and I'm happy we have a resolution. >> Just a quick still ongoing and just keep moving. Um just the one other thing the unused prescriptions not only a safety issue within the house and people do flush
them down the toilet which is not too. So get your prescriptions to the police station and they got this big box that I just for some reason took a picture of for a jersey. Um but anyway yeah that's
thanks for mentioning that. So and it's always there doesn't have to be on that particular day. >> Correct. And then we can report out the poundage too. It's pretty amazing how much is collected that day. Yeah. Thank you.
>> You don't want the fish to be on her. >> What pain meds? So when they get they don't feel anything. >> Fair enough. Um I had a uh wreck meeting um 15
um didn't get a whole lot done park specifically the tennis pit court needs to be consistently at about 50 degrees. So I think we're still there generally
anything since then. I have not heard anything since the last email we got. >> I don't I mean it's still warm enough. >> Yeah. But I don't know. I think they were waiting for materials so I don't
know what >> any ongoing concern. Um the um as we acknowledged earlier the lit flag pole is doing fabulous. no issues there in Village Park that is very happy success
story. Um we uh the board has a survey putting together um which will down to to one page key questions um and hopefully that will be uh
finalized soon and they hope to put it out through local business association and through mayor's update and you know I encourage them to make that sort of annual process sort of get a feel for where the town is on certain
projects and they're not venturing out projects and support or they're not missing a project townwide support. So hopefully that would be something for the year. Um we spoke about the entrance to Village
Park. I know that would raised that with me as well. concern about eress into village park. The signage is corn overgrown foliage there. Um they haven't really done anything.
So I encourage the uh the chair to reach out to traffic engineer has yet but hopefully I'll concrete some kind of solution to that problem. Um and then again we've talked about
cricket. Um again there's no no decisions made they parties that were interested field did not reach out back to that if I may concept
I have a here thing I want to read regarding affordable housing, regarding our recent fantastic news warehouse buffer. Um, so just bear with
me this real quick. Um, so any it's a common adage that victory thousand fathers failure is working, right? But we can now see on social media that our recent victory in the township committee and for the town at large regarding the warehouse
and the fen pen for farms and many other claims. Now, I'll be the first to acknowledge that uh the the political pressure that was put on the TC that was put on the state government to find a solution for the Henry farm helped the state to come up with a decision uh regarding the
warehouse buff decision that we on the TC have been hoping and praying for starting last spring. um that despite that political pressure, it's without a doubt that for the hard work of Mayor uh deputy mayor
legal council and the TC at large, we would still be fighting for you without the efforts of the TC. So the state, you know, wanted a solution out of that mess. If we found it for them, we found where we lobbyed them to make it happen. We gathered the
resources, made a plan, even sat down with the Henry family to get their buy in and their cooperation. Conversely, you'll see on Facebook and elsewhere that there are some in town claim that it was only they who made this happen. That the PC always were determined to claim the Hannah Farm, but
that we're determined to claim the Henry Farm no matter what. But the truth is that after that night last spring and Mr. Hannon came to us, we were at the library. No one on this TC wanted to see It's the last thing we want to do. But we were in a bomb and we could have we could have gone the route that some
would cut reject the state's mandate entirely thus open ourselves up to immediate litigation and build remedy which not only rejects the idea that our state country need to build more affordable housing. It also invites a massive population influx that would in essence
end cranberry or they would have to plan that the way the CHA plan later that would not meet the state requirements for tax breaks and put the tax bank citizens on the books for $50 million at least. Mind you, we at the TCA were elected by
those same taxpayers and we swore an oath to serve them not to serve Fox News or NJ1.5 the West. for those you know she is sorry so voluntarily increasing cranberry's
debt by at least $50 million and or opening up to develop my mind to touch now like I said we knew last spring that the Henry car ideal option we did the hard tedious workers
all available options again we vetted all the properties considered all the possible options We determined that our last best hope was to get to state which is happily done. But what did those who accuse us of being tyrants or
careless bureaucrats do during that same time? Well, I can tell you first they did not. They never came to ask us how they could help us. Instead, they assumed that we were the enemy and they treated us as such. They claimed we rejected plan but never would have. They
brought in outside agitators into TC to accuse us of being unreasonable to comment. They claimed that we ignored our experts and refused to listen. I can tell you what else they did. By creating the pitchfork mentality of anger and retribution, they not only sow division
and account, but they also caused many on this TC as well as their employees to fear not only for their safely threatening not only me but my wife and my teenage daughter. My daughter's social media accounts of threats
innuendos. Sadly, in my estimation, that's all big. And hopefully in the future, we can learn from this. We can learn to not let social media, as said, to lead you to hate your neighbor. I'm begging begging,
especially my baby brokers, my older genes out there. Don't assume that just because you see a post on Facebook or Tik Tok or whatever that chances are it was written by someone less for you, probably a lot easier. Now ending all that I don't want to
leave you with the sense that the TC myself personally on the contrary I'm very happy and I again we're grateful to our legal counsel he rub me to our police especially in our response to the
threats made of my family the town hall staff at large to my fellow TC members to the neighbors in town supported solutions especially Mayor deputy mayor for their hard work during this time period. And finally, I'd like to thank the family. I'm especially grateful to
Andy for his kindness, his calm and patience throughout this time period. I'm very happy to say ditto right there, right? I'm really grateful to that. I would start by just saying
that um through this process and this outcome two things can be true at the same time. So I'll start by thanking the residents of this community that even if
the spirit was negative or aggressive, their quote unquote movement did move the needle, right? It did put pressure on us, which is their responsibility to hold us accountable. It did create an environment where
people rose up and got people in higher positions than this township committee involved, people that cared about the problem and wanted to solve the problem. And those two things came together at the same time. Do I believe that was
political? Yes. Do I think there was a strategy there that's way above my pay grade here? Yes. But I don't care. At the end of the day, it's a collective win because the Henry's are keeping their property. That means a lot to
them. And we were able to affect change at the government level that through a Hail Mary, which we've said all along. We knew it was a Hail Mary, but we felt we had Tom Brady with the ball. Right. I think that was the analogy we used on
the 250T buffer pool. So, two activities guided by the same motivation and persistent came together at the same time. So, for those people having a field day on social media saying that we're trying to claim a victory lap
here, you're right. We are. We're entitled to it. We worked hard. And so are the residents of the town that had a separate initiative which was to save the farm. Good for them. At the end of the day, we're where we are. Whether our methods were the same, our goals were
the same and we we've gotten there. So, you can let the Facebook continue and the tick- tocking or the whatever you want continue. But I sit here very very proud of the residents of this community. I'm very proud of myself. I'm very proud of this governing municipality, the experts that gave us
guidance here and that we have our first hearing tomorrow with a special adjudicator that will hopefully bring us one step closer to moving to the end result, which is moving through our challenges and getting land acquired and
shovels ready to bring this affordable housing into this community and give more residents a welcome. I hope at that time this community is healed and we will have a welcome in that here when these new families and these new seniors come into it and we can get back to
being what Cranberry is about being celebratory and civil and polite to each other even while we're trying to solve very very difficult problems. So I applaud the community engagement. We're going to have more things like this that are going to like occur whether it's in
my tenure or in future TC's. But let's be really mindful that at the end of the day, civility needs to stay in place. And I'm if I'm going to take any victory, it's that I don't feel if I was pushed
and I punched down at any point, I will publicly apologize for that behavior. But I believe it was rare. I believe I held my own and I took a lot. And I'm very proud of myself and how I conducted myself. But I will not forgive the way
that my teenage daughter has been treated and my family was threatened. I will not forget that. Let me be clear about that. I won't forget it, but I will find in my faith to forgive it, but I won't forget it.
And with that, we'll move on. Okay. So, um last um last month, first I want to thank the Girl Scouts. I don't know if you guys noticed, but they painted the town pink. They did this last year, too, which is really nice. We got a box and they got
all these pink ribbons and they hung them all over town for breast cancer awareness. And the best part about this is they're also going to take them all down, which I really appreciate. But um I just want to give a shout out to the Girl Scouts for doing that. But it was a real nice touch of pink um around town for breast cancer for this. So be sad to
see those virgins come down on November 1st. Um the other thing that I wanted to address is um I wanted to thank residents of Cranberry as well as local communities that came to us last month in public comment for in favor of the
immigration trust act. I just want to say that the words were passionate and they really made an impact on me which forced me to do some research on the topic and go a little deeper. So um with that I just like to read a statement in support of the immigration trust act. um
at the end of that the hope is that this um resolution will be on the November 10th agenda and at that time um we as a TC can pull that out. We can share our thoughts about it, have a dialogue about it and then move to include it with the
resolutions and vote to pass it and move it forward. Um and we'll all have a chance to do that. But I just wanted to express my opinion on the it because we need an acronym for everything in this world. So this particular one is idea.
Um this is not just a protective measure against discriminatory immigration action. It's also about safeguarding privacy and preventing the involuntary sharing of sensitive information. I firmly believe that supporting the immigration trust alliance will send a
strong and necessary message to our community. We are committed to protecting those who are most vulnerable. The ITA it fosters trust between residents and our local police department, ensuring that individuals can interact with law enforcement without fear. Importantly, there is a
current directive that's in place and our local police are following that currently. So, by adopting the ITA, it would not change the day-to-day actions or responsibility of our police force. With 32 warehouses, an attractive school
system, and a growing immigration population, Cranberry has pockets of vulnerability that we must acknowledge and support. Other municipalities have considered uh concerns around this, but yet have still moved forward. Most recently, our neighbors to the north,
and they've committed to drafting a resolution in favor of ITA after similar discussions. To me, the ITA goes beyond the scope of policing or policing. The core of this initiative is about protecting personal information information and immigration status
especially for minors, students and patients so that they can be registered, enrolled or admitted for the education and care that they're legally entitled to receive. This is a matter of compassion, equity, and community values. And I support passing this
resolution. Thank you for your time. We don't have any other special guests from the board of education here in us. Um, first off, congratulations. It's a big night. You guys have been working really hard. We appreciate um all that
you do. The school appreciates you guys. And uh we've been working hard too. We've been trying to get through this construction. I'm joined with my um board vice president. And um we just wanted to kind of fill you in a little bit on our last steps.
Um for anybody that's visited the school, you can see that um we're almost finished. The last piece is the Corin Art Center. And um we just wanted to share with you a little bit of our last um bump or unforeseen. And it has to do
I've learned more than I've ever thought I would know about construction at this point. And um at this juncture uh we learned that it was not part of the original scope, but that there was the need for a hot box. So just for anybody
that's not uh knows what that is, is an insulated and heated enclosure that protects water meters, backflow preventers, or other plumbing from freezing. So, it really just helps to keep things protected. And um it's weatherproof, it's temperature
controlled, it sits above the ground. Um and it was the New Jersey um water company that mandated that for us. So, it's really not much say that we have over it. They also have say over the location and it's based on um uh in our
robot there's a lot of things underneath of of wiring and different kinds of gas lines and all of that. So with that as well as where the the connector to the border system is so they give us the the you know thoughts of where it has to be.
So, with that being said, um it's actually um down towards uh the front of where the park center is going to be. Um just between there and where the the old part of the school is. So, beyond town
center, um beyond or you know, right at the edge of where the performing arts are going to be in the parking lot. And um this hot box, I will share this just so you can see a visual. You've seen them. We know what they are. They're not the most beautiful. You can take that
pass around. Um this is what we're being told has to be. And the location will be um in right next to the island that's out there already. And um what I just came to share is that uh we have like I
said approval from the water company. We're waiting for approval from the township engineer. And um what we I think what I want to say and I wanted you to hear from me tonight is that throughout this whole process I got to visit before we broke around with the
historical uh committee and talk about the front of the school. And it was during that time that I I hope there was really good understanding of wanting to keep to the integrity of this building and really the integrity of Cranberry
and every choice that we've made. Um, if you have gotten the chance to come into the school and see my office, I have the luckiest person because my office is, it used to be outside of the building and instead of taking down that brick wall,
the cornerstone that's there, the mirror that shows where the door frame was is still there. It wasn't taken away so that it becomes this modern looking building. it really is keeping the integrity of and so from that angle I
want you to know that while this is something that if you look at any new construction you see this it's out to new development in town and there's three of them in the development I live in um we have the ability to beautify and we will work with the historical
committee to just get their blessing um for us right now we just need to keep moving forward in the in the set of of the work. It's not just the box itself, all the underground work. We're so close to paving um and and finishing on the
outside parts that it's really um you know instrumental for us to move forward. We have some options in the optics of how that visual um there's traditional shrubbery and in our case it'll take away a lot of parking spots.
We're already losing the three parking spots for this because the location if we you have to have ballers to protect so nobody um drives into it. So you'll have ballers. If we put shrubbery as well that'll take up more spots and
that's something that we can have dialogue about. if that's what it is. It is it'll be spots that are you know where the location kind of in between not right outside the town hall right not there a little bit further down um but another option is something called
um you say yeah and I share two examples these are by no means anything that we pick honestly I want to do something more like with our biking and cranberry look you can actually wrap them and so
that they have some kind of aesthetic to them to beautify them. So there are options. Um but we I just really wanted to bring that to your attention. This is the last bit. Um the the time frame we
are um pushed back a little because of this delay and um getting this bouquet. We've been talking about the hot boxes last spring and what the need was and really did our due diligence on making sure from a location perspective and
that it was indeed that can be done and at this point we know that any questions that you may have that's not that's just for reference Yeah, >> I think they're I think they're in the
email that we share. The dimensions are in the email. Yeah, the no choice the location. We've done so much back and forth and that that's coming from the water company that's coming from all of the experts of just the location. There's already
places where the water hugs and so this is >> is this near that chestnut >> Dr. I'm the leazison for both the board of ed as you know and HBC so if we need to set up a meeting the minds of we have
How do others handle this? We can't be like a unicorn with this, right? So like we must have dealt with this like in our town before know like does the library have a hot box? Does every warehouse have a hot box? Does
>> the warehouses are the library where the warehouses are and we have that's what the engineer is going based off of as well as the planner. Now, it was my understanding last heard from Tom Decker and Liz was that they were
getting a meeting with the water company to see the location. >> Oh, that's not my understanding. >> So, I I I'm not sure where that stands. I haven't heard anything since I saw that email. >> My I just got from um uh my architect on
Friday that um that they were um setting a meeting with the the water company and um the town and that the town was willing to work on a proposed location. They just wanted to hear it from the company.
That was what I just >> so they are. >> Yeah. I believe they were supposed to meet with them today. I didn't get a follow by the end of the day. So I don't know if they were able to meet today. >> Okay. So this is not to bar code.
>> It is. But it has to be what the code say. >> Okay. So the code has to be screened. I'm just trying to frame the decision that we're being asked to make. Is that we have to require the screening or are we being asked to decision
[Music] it won't sign off on it unless it's >> so that's why you guys needed to know what's going on. He wanted you to all know what's going on because he keeps
saying no right to get it done right now the way that it is. And so I think the ideation then I guess there's going to have to be a discussion about how is it going to be like what are they going to do wrap it
landscaping around it. So, you know, that's why I wanted >> we have no issue at all if it ends up having to be the next to I think the conversation could really just be on the
raification to it. So, I think that's where we're at. We are just looking at from a timely perspective and I'm thinking from the students behalf um it was supposed to be the original date was end of October as
we look at our watches but I knew that wasn't going to be if anybody does construction you know add two months to that so I really was counting on for us to be um in there occupying the space for January one we changed our our
concerts so that our students could utilize that new space the end of January And we thought that was very realistic in our planning even with bumps along the way to that timeline. Florida junction now that we're pushed back to
the end of January to get the space and um I'm most concerned about for my students is our play. the the play is coming back last year so that the kids didn't move down opportunity. We rented space school. We
planned for that. We didn't do that this year because we figured you know the play is early March. Um so I still feel very confident about that so we can rehearse. We need to get them in there. So us now we're already looking at
getting there for February just so we're really here in hopes that there's knowing that we don't want an either but we just need your your help and I I to apologize I didn't I didn't realize that
was a piece of it. So I I'm really looking for your uh help on this so that we can keep the walk forward um to finish. Can I ask you to just point
out the location on a map? Is that okay? >> It's the square right here. This is >> This is This is This is >> So can So the hot box is not there now? No.
>> Okay. So is there a world where we can get the hot box put in and get it done and then contingent on the screening? Are you okay with
us? >> So So um Dr. When you when you say three parking spots will be uh will be removed is that with or without >> Okay. So withoutation we lose three and
without >> plants right and with we will lose how many >> but but there is going to be an increase in loss of parking spots. >> Okay. >> Would that be tearing up pavement?
So you got the walkway to you got the walkway to the right of it >> and then you're curving the outbound traffic on the north >> which actually to me almost I'm in too many board meetings.
Oh my god, I'm like thinking about traffic flow. But um it's almost like a benefit because it's it actually helps with that natural divider of oneway traffic on either side. was there. It was hard to >> Okay. But again, I mean, could it be
more like you make it like an entrance to the school? Like is that what you're thinking like? >> Yeah. Yeah, you gota talk to the mic. Sorry. Nobody's nobody's gigant
whatever I really don't feel like any of this space has kept the integrity of what this community wants for that school and I really recognize that this is for the future
that part >> I guess again I I'm maybe I'm oversimplifying this and you guys tell me right or wrong. Like if the box has to go there, the box goes there. Get the box there and stay on schedule. Get back on schedule so the kids can enjoy the
events that you want. And you're all the way at like the finish line here. I I would hate to see this be the reason. Can we get that work done? And then the followup to that is that we know we have to get an agreement on what it looks
like and make a determination of the wrap or landscaping or anything like that. Like we do contingency, we prove things on contingency at the planning board level. We we do that and I I wonder maybe a little bit of a conversation with someone who might help us, you know, to find this because I
feel like we do have ordinances. We have our we have plans for a reason. I I think that it would it would be important for us to to at least have a conversation with regards to what this you know what are the other options. is very sort of intelligent buffer the you
know what out of things >> but the thing is this this meeting with the water company hasn't >> the way I read the email guys it's pretty it's a done deal like the loc if you read the email the location is the
location it's not moving it was just the engineer wants to hear it from the water company that said this this is the this is the option at least again that's how I read valid shared >> I saw.
>> Okay. >> Correct. >> So this the speed that we need to move >> and I think that answer so we just need to have that meeting as soon as humanly possible so we can
proceed. I don't want like this is the opening of the school shouldn't be delayed >> because Tom knows that you guys are in support of it then he can just be done. I think that's what I'm we're wanting to hear
from you all tonight that um if if they meet then whatever company says yes as you can't move it. So what's the timeline to find out like definitively that it can't can or can't be moved?
>> I don't know why the meeting didn't happen today. So I don't know people. >> So so just to just to be clear like this is one of those perfect scenarios of this meeting should be an email, >> right? Like if there's a definitive decision from American Water saying that
there is no other spot for this to go, I don't know why we're discussing it here or why there needs to be another meeting. If the spot is the spot, then great, we need to move forward. Then we need to move forward and discuss how to beautify it. If there is variability,
that changes the discussion. But from the email I read there, >> that's who wrote the email. >> Tom, >> can we supposed to make it? I don't really know. not to be
delayed to the next township committee meeting. American as soon as possible and get in there. So option A is box is going where the box is going, right? And so if that's the first one, it's staying in
its location. Our decision is can we have them put in the box and we have a meeting with maybe someone from our planning board that can really quickly help and say okay we know how to we again it's it's a dumpster it's a square box you don't want anyone to sit what
are the options to do that and we've got really really talented people that get creative and you don't see half the stuff on the other side of 130 >> from a perspective that would responsibility what I would be able to do is bring to either this committee
HP >> HP we have the professionals too that's part of our work having to be able to do those designs um if we need this we need it parking
lots by nature are I think you guys, >> but is the wrap considered screening? That's what we I don't know if that's to our but that's to our code. And again, we've got other people that have to adhere to this code. So, it's not about a making an exception. It's about
following the code, but also trying to stick to the timeline so that you don't get screwed up even more. And you're pushing really important things that a lot of these kids only get to do once, right? If they're graduating, this is the last shot for them to do it. And you don't want them to miss those opportunities, right? That's what we're
trying to weigh. So we is the screening this wrap considered screening or we don't know. >> I don't know. I don't know in the code if that's considered if there's some flexibility with that specifically landscaping that I don't I don't know
Liz would be able to tell you that. >> Okay. >> So I think their first concern was where it is moved screening would be such an issue. It won't be right there right so big if it can be moved great and if it
can okay here's the code. If they don't if they are unable to prefer not to do the landscaping then is the planning coordinate and everyone on board with the wrapping of it. >> Yeah. I think our overall commitment
here is a sense of urgency. Correct. >> Right. This that's the number one thing that you're asking for from us and from the engineers. So the sense of urgency to make a decision quickly if it has to go there. That's what we're looking for. >> And Dr. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Assuming that that's the location and you guys get it in, you're open to whatever planning ordinance this body decides to do to make it. >> I agree to collaborate on that.
>> Dr. is I really appreciate you knowing about you know how important the history is because I've worked with you on so many different things and I I know that that's really a piece for you and I I know how you partner with so many and when you say you can go to HBC I do
believe you will do that and they are really highly regarded they care about the history and to me that is really important to have it some somehow reflect >> when we have changed the front of I went
to that meeting and shared with them and did a presentation just to show feedback. And I think a lot of things that were recommended by the HPC um they we did you know they talked about the height they talked about
all of those pieces to the building and it was all feedback that went into the design. So that's not going to change. So thank you for saying that. I appreciate that. >> And you could see it almost as an entrance way too. I mean sports there like if it is there and if not and if it's moved then we don't have to have
this discussion. >> I think your time I think I think that may really summed it up with with urgency. Whatever we're going to do, we're going to urg and honoring the ordinance and honoring
the people who put forth these rules with regards to safety and aesthetics and HPC. I don't think it doesn't sound like you have an objector per se, but we would like this to probably happen um you know with with with the most thought, which as Barbara has very
clearly said that you definitely approach this thing with with a lot of thought. Um it's a lot of discussion that is yet to happen that meeting first of all that meeting >> I'm trying to find out I don't know why it didn't happen. So, we'll continue
this on email, right? That's the right way to have it for members of the public. We'll let you know where we go from here. At our next meeting, we'll give a a recap to everybody else. But for us, we just need to Okay, if the meeting didn't happen today, when's the meeting going to happen? What And then
is is the objective of that meeting a yes or no? Can it be moved? It can't be moved. Like, it's got to be one or the other and then we go from there. Okay. If this helps if it can't be moved if you
are able then to say yes for us to move forward if we ultimately code. So no matter what code it's in that spot that's really stressing
that would be awesome too but that can happen >> agreed. Okay. >> Thank you. >> Infrastructure underneath that making it in that like that you Okay. >> Thank you. Appreciate it.
>> Followup items. No. Okay. Vacancies. Our list has grown. Um Environmental Commission. We have a full membership. Uh we have a first and second alternate. Uh we have a second
alternate on the zoning board. Uh and municipal alliance has two full memberships that we have. Um yeah. Okay. All right. We have no first readings. We
have no second readings today. We will look for a motion to um move forward with consent resolutions E through E. As um Deb mentioned 10-25-136 has been added as letter E. So if we get
a motion to move them through a >> second. >> Thank you. We're going to move on to roll call. Mr. Christopher, >> yes. >> Mrs. Elidawi, >> yes. >> Dr. Rogers, yes. >> Mr. Scott, >> yes. >> Mayor Con? Yes, it's unanimous. Thank you.
>> Okay, can we move on to public comment? As a reminder, everyone's got three minutes. Most of you know the drill. Um, please come up to microphone, sign in your name and your address, and then I think it's the button on the right. Uh, you will hit until it glows red.
>> Stays red. >> Stays red. >> Please say your name. >> And please say your name. >> Thank you. Thank you. So with that, >> anyone would like to make a public comment. >> You can pull that closer to >> you. This is more for the home.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you. 127. Um I have been asked um by Henry to read a statement. Is that
your three minutes? >> You want me to start and then pass it out to you? >> When you start, we'll start your clock. >> Oh, wait. Hold on. >> It's already started. >> Oh, boy. >> It starts pointing. >> Go ahead.
October 27, 2025 by at the township committee meeting on April 29th, excuse me, April 28th. As I waited for my turn to speak against the taking over farm, I learned of the plight of the dancer
house. I since personally viewed that house up close, and I am aware that it's in bad condition. My personal philosophy is to preserve history. I and I know that there are only a handful of historic farmhouse left in Grand. The Dan's house, my house, and the Hess
farmhouse and a barn on Prospect Plains Road along with a few others are all that are left. The Hess house appears to be well taken care of, although it looks out of out of out of place near those huge warehouses. I also believe that the
existing historic home at 1274 South River Road should be preserved and incorporated into the senior housing plan. It was my it was disturbing to my brother and to me to listen into a planning board
meeting this summer where it was mentioned bulldozing farmhouses to make way for warehouses and that they are all gone. Had the town committee got it gotten its way, they would have bulldoze my house as well. Why can't there be a
few left for the sake of the town's history if nothing else? My house got a new roof in 2023 before the older one deteriorated. We have certainly had challenges and the latest being termites. I began making away and the
moisture attracted termites. Ironically, the damage was to the modern 1958 portion of a house which was had indoor plumbing since the original house had not. Once I saw the problem, we had the entire place treated and set up for
ongoing annual inspections by experts. The damage was halted in its tracks and will be repaired along with whatever else needs to be done. Regarding the dancer house, I believe it should be preserved. It was one of It was at one
time a magnificent home and I would hope it could be restored. There's no doubt that my family would love to buy, excuse me, there's no doubt that many families would like to buy a random historic home of this nature. As a first step, a
comprehensive program should be taken to halt any further terite damage, including the placement of bait stations or construction. We also think the group should be addressed as a priority to prevent further. Thank you.
>> No, leave it on other people. >> Sure, please. Thank you. Thank you. Comment. So, good evening and my name is Jenny Pan. and live at 97 North Main Street. I
want to thank the committee immensely for really digging in and considering the resolution in favor of the Immigrant Trust Act. And I I I can't thank you enough for the work that you've done on
that issue. Um the there were just two things that I wanted to point out. One is how quickly this resolution needs to be sent to the New Jersey state legislature. Uh I do agree there have been statements
that came out from the New Jersey Alliance of Immigrant Trust. There's been uh statements made by the ACLU that the privacy issue that the ITA ensures that does not currently exist in
the immigrant trust directive. It is important that that privacy issue go into effect and be turned into a law as soon as possible. I don't need to tell you that just last week there was a mini
ICE raid in East Windsor where a father was picked up. A father outside of Mcnite Elementary School which is only a K through two school. and one wonders how ICE learned of that father's
immigrant status. I can't say that the school gave up that information, but that information should not have been made available to ICE. I will also say that there was a mini raid on Route I 18
off off of Route One about three weeks ago where two individuals were stopped by ICE and they had the windows of their cars smashed and they were dragged out of their cars. It is crucial that this information be kept
as private as the law permits it to be, as the New Jersey Constitution permits it to be. So, please put this resolution forward as quickly as you can. And here's the reason why. There is, as you know, a governor's race coming up. There
is some debate of the two candidates as to whether or not they will support the ITA. And therefore, the lame duck period is the only time we have to really light a fire under the New Jersey state legislature to get them to take this out
of committee and turn this into a law. So, please get the resolution forth to the New Jersey State Legislature as quickly as you can because we only have about 10 weeks during Thank you again for the support. I
really appreciate sleep. That's Hello, my name is I live at 12 Davidson Road in Cranberry and I'd like to add to what we just heard from Jenny Masaki regarding the
immigrant trust act. Um my father was an immigrant to the United States. He passed away last year and fortunately did not live to see what has happened to the nation that took him in when he was 15 years old. I'm speaking in his
memory. My father lived in fear for many years as a child. In 1938 when he was 11, his family had to leave their homeland of Yugoslavia because of rising anti-semitism.
They tried to immigrate to Australia leaving from a port in France but were denied passage because of my grandfather's ill health. Hence they remained in France in Paris where my grandfather died within a year.
After the Germans occupied Paris in 1940, my widowed grandmother and her two sons had to go into hiding. Thanks only to a tip off from a member of the French resistance. They narrowly escaped the biggest roundup of foreign Jews in
Paris. Over 13,000 people herded into a stadium and deported to death camps within two days. In 1942, the family climbed over the Pyrenees to Spain where they were arrested and detained for
months in a refugee camp. Finally, in 1943, my 15-year-old father, the youngest in the family, was offered by a Quaker organization, the opportunity to go to America in a ship full of refugee children.
My grandmother sent him on the ship, but when they had to say goodbye, she cried her eyes out. So did my father, but he went. They did not see each other for years. I'm telling you this story because it
makes the current threat to immigrants very personal. No child or parent, nobody should have to live in fear of separation for their love from their loved ones. I believe that we should protect our immigrant neighbors by supporting passage of the
immigrant trust act. Thank you. [Music] My name is Caroline. 45 North Pain Street. Uh, good news about Henry's Henry Farm. Thank you very much for your work. Madame Mayor, thank you for your inclusive and well
modulated words regarding the farm and your acknowledgement of the work the residents did which is the work which is the true wording of um while no one should be threatened for the work that you do and I've been
there. I was on an HOA. I was followed. This is going on 20 years, so it's before Facebook. Followed around, threatened. I get it. I've been there. Um I I'm sorry that it happened to your families, but the scolding that you gave
us today was inappropriate today or the other time she sued us. Um as an elder Gen X, I'm highly offended. I don't engage in the Facebook or the Tik Tok or anything else. I tell you
face to face how I feel. Um, as to the Southern Middle Sex Traffic Study, I'm sorely disappointed. Much of this work was already done. Email addresses were provided. And yet, unless I only because I went on
the township's website did I get any information about that meeting. I tried to get other people who had participated in the past to participate and they weren't available. So you had a call with only 19 people on it. All data that was provided has been
ignored. So we did a lot of work. We put pins on on maps that they had online. We knew then what the borders were. You don't know what the borders are today because they really didn't provide that information. Um,
and I'm disappointed that as township or as our township member that you have to push back to make sure that the old data gets addressed because things are going to get forgotten. Obviously, there wasn't a lot of participation and this is important to me as a former commuter.
It helps all the commuters and it's going to help people being able to move through the traffic areas. Thank you. Hello, my name is David. I'm with 108 South Main Street, New Jersey. Uh we would like to thank Mayor Township
Committee for taking the time to concerns and opposition to a proposal to build apartments on 96 South Street block uh 187 block 543. A number of neighbors are also
here. Some of our concerns forested land that wild may increase the risk of wildlife and vehicle collisions. Even if replacing trees are planted take decades short to replace the current forest forested areas of town
and eological resource it should be similarly the way historic both buildings are large and roads and parking substantial. This contributes to multiple sources of light, noise, water
and air pollution. Water is major concern to me and my neighbor and neighbor is not flood to flood. It appears there will be an additional small attention built to accommodate the
of the new buildings. This may not be sufficient in Canada to train storm grains with streams between 108 and 110 there is approximately 16 byt
cannot hand my neighbors have separate systems and they can be compromised the property flows you know lives 98 south main street has flooding as the existing pod pond in the front
uh of his property flooding [Music] worse given accelerating climate change heavier and more frequent storms are expected more than six times traffic
there affordable housing on South Main Street and There's a lack thereific notified of any changes or advancements proposal. I will send a list of my concerns as well as additional concerns
to mayor committee and then house associates. uh I will uh include the needs and addresses of some of my neighbors that opposed the current plans and some of their concerns. I'm sympathetic to the challenges faced by the federal capital government and uh to
identify sites housing directed by the state. Thank you. I approach you on street. I just like to add an element which is particular to my property to what they say.
So um my concern is concerning the retention bases for 60 units of affordable housing between S and uh and it could be particularly the impact will be particularly similar in
my case as the project surround my property on three north side full east side full and a third of my south side. So I really surround by all
um so I I saw uh Mr. and two other person walking around the Stuart long pond and I'm afraid that he's considering that intention this dominate my property by two feet
with a small ditch evacuating the flow this ditch ends into the entrance of the drain which is one foot diameter under under the east side. So after any heavy precipitation, the
front of my property is systematically uh which is okay to occupy just the street with a few inches of water. with that but adding the large number of associated with the project on this
water of directly into the small print around source name will constantly flood my house and property after even a small amount of presentation so that's why
this is because I don't see that the bas on the I don't mind that. Thank you. Hello, my name is Michael Dulan. I live at 11 Wind Drive.
Just want to talk about the uh affordable housing. The announcement from Governor Murphy's office that the HMFA will relax the 250 foot warehouse buffer rule was a great relief. That announcement was a big boost towards
finalizing the plan for satisfying the township's fourth ground housing obligation, but we still need to finish the process. Two weeks ago, I recommended that the township committee adopt the Cranberry Housing Association's plan for
satisfying the township's obligation. A further review of the documents reveals that there is likely significant funding available for the TC plan that might not be available for the CHA plan. The substitute for the Henry Farm will likely not significantly change the
funding requirements for the TC plan. The CHA challenge letter contains no indication of the prices for either the land or the development. The letter submitted by the township law firm on behalf of the TC included a discussion of costs that could be
estimated and a description of the items for which no estimate was included. Pro- former statements show that the total cost of development for the properties at 1234 and 1275 South River Road would have been 63.7 million,
including $47.1 million that would have been funded through lowincome housing tax credits, a federal funding facility. That cost does not include the purchase price of the land. The financial details
for acquiring the substitute property will likely be similar. There are several features that make the CHA plan attractive. The locations of the sites for development are better for community development than the TC sites and CHA has an excellent record of
developing affordable housing in previous rounds. However, this round is different. The obligation is significantly larger than previous rounds and the potential sources of financing have likely changed. We should
not proceed with the CHA plan given so much financial uncertainty and potential liability. Finally, I would like to thank TC members for their patience and courage in maintaining their position, especially in the face of such strong
pressure to change. We are all fortunate to live in a town where people are so interested in town development. But in response to some of the over-the-top personal tax regarding this topic, I would ask that we remember please to respect each other's
viewpoints. Thank you very much. We have any other public comment this evening? Seeing none, we will close public comment for this evening. Action items. school >> board
[Music] [Music] response time. We have also So I just want to address when we were talking about the tennis courts paving at tennis courts completed needs to cure
prior to applying the finished surface. That's where we are with the tennis court. Paving at tennis court is completed needs to cure prior to applying the finished surface. And as for the meeting
this weekend, it sounds like spring pickle ball and tennis clubs should start preparing themselves that we may have to wait till spring. All right. I um also was remiss in
providing an update on our local road projects that we have going on. So just to reiterate, I'll include this in the mayor's update, but November 3rd, Shadow Oaks will begin and then based on the resolution that we put together tonight,
the emergency portion of South Main Street um can be get scheduled. Correct. Right. >> Okay. So nobody will be surprised when South Main Street is closed. >> I think they will always be surprised
and it is upon you my friend to be strong again. >> I will slam verbally uh that that road will be closed. But again that is one of in imminent imminent >> uh safety concern residents and anybody
who's string on it. We're getting closer and closer to getting someone's bottom of their car. >> Okay. So, I just forgot to mention. Okay. So, at this point, we are going to get a motion to move into closed
session. Get to approve. >> Get to approve the resolution. >> Thank you. >> Second. >> We'll move on to roll call for the resolution. Uh, Mr. Christopher. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Zelda. >> Yes. >> Dr. Rogers. Mr. Scott.
>> Yes. >> Mayor K. Thank you. Unanimous. We'll be moving into close session and no other business will be taking place after other than adjournment.