Good evening, everybody. Welcome to the Township Committee meeting of Monday, June 8th. I'm never going to use this thing. I'm just going to wave it. That's easier. You'll use it. I'm sorry. Welcome to Township Committee meeting of June 8th. If you're willing and able, please rise for the Pledge of
Allegiance. Okay, the Open Public Meetings Notice pursuant to the Open Public Meetings Act notice that the this meeting was sent to the Cranbury Press, Trenton Times, Home News Tribune on January 9th, 2026, posted on Township's website, and sent to those who requested copy of this notice. Move on to roll call. Mr. Christopher?
>> Here. >> Mrs. Abedalli? >> Here. >> Dr. Rogers? >> Here. >> Mr. Scott is absent. Mayor Canio? >> Here. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Do we have any um agenda additions or changes for tonight? >> None. >> Okay. With that, can I get a motion to pass
the Township Committee minutes from May 26th? >> I'll move. >> Can I get a second, please? >> Second. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. We're going to move on to roll call. Mr. Christopher? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Abedalli? >> Yes. >> Dr. Rogers? >> Yes. >> Mr. Scott is absent. Mayor Canio? >> Yes.
>> Thank you. >> Okay. Who wants to start tonight with updates? >> Okay. >> Can you read your own handwriting, Carl? >> I have papers, yeah. >> [laughter] >> Um anyway, um okay. So, I had a Shade Tree meeting um
I'm the liaison to Shade Tree Commission on June 4th, and they are really so busy because it's been spring um and that uh and last year no trees uh uh were planted. They planted 13 trees, eight different species. And the cool
thing that they're doing is where those trees are planted in Yes, it's called a devil strip. Um, the area from the street um that the municipal uh right of way um is uh um they're going to be giving out door
hangers on how to take care of the plants. Uh that's the cool side. The other side is that the trees were planted Yes, um mulch can be put down incorrectly in a volcanic like it was it was mounded. So, we're going to have to
get um uh the company the people that planted it to take a re-look at how they've been planted. Um of course that's all part of uh the bid that was in the bid that they're planted correctly and watered regularly. Um
So, um they uh let's see. They are working with the school. They um went in for an eighth grade enrichment um uh uh class and um you know talking about tree planting plan. Um cranberry They're
already talking about cranberry day. It's I mean it's unbelievable. >> they've already kicked it up. Started already. >> I know. Um What's that? >> Food licenses only. >> Oh gosh, wow. Okay, and um and um
big big thing, trees are being taken down without the applications and the word has got to get out. It um it's just really important that um that you get uh that you fill out the tree replacement and removal removal and
replacement form. And it's more just for you know making sure that you have the information that you need a licensed arborist. Um you know to tell you about that tree and how to take it down, whether it's healthy or not, um, etc. Very, very
important. Um, you know, it's more that than, "Hey, we're spying on you and, you know, you we need to know how many trees are coming down." So, it's it's really for the safety of our residents as well as keeping an eye on our canopy.
Um, so, that is that and they're going to be applying for a grant because their community forestry management plan, which is their guiding light for several years, um, is has to be redone a again. Um, I've been involved with the Southern
Middlesex County, uh, um, flood resiliency. Yes, uh, flooding still is an issue even though we are in a drought warning, I think we're in a drought warning, um, where we're supposed to be, um, uh, you know, being very careful with our water usage, um,
and, uh, that is moving along. Um, we've had to fill out as a municipality two surveys, um, and, um, and those surveys have been filled out, they're being sent to the county and the consultants that are doing the work for the 10 towns that are involved in this
regional, uh, flood resiliency and, um, uh, uh, study. The other thing, um, let's see. Oh, the other thing talking about, um, well, this is different. Um, the EC, uh, we were doing an energy, um, efficiency and
renew newable energy for the entire town and municipal, um, and that, um, part of it is an engagement. Here we are, um, is an engagement process and a meeting has been set up for June 25th and I'm going
to get that to Matt, um, to be put in the mayor's update. They just sent the consultants that are working with the Environmental Commission just sent, uh, the little announcement and a link to um, to the presentation and to the
information about the meeting. So, if you can't make it, you can actually go into this link, read about what we're doing as a town, you know, suggestions on how we can save energy, especially with energy bills going up, and how we can do some renewable energy for our
municipality, potentially some locations. So, that's happening and On Sunday, I went with a a historic preservation commissioner and
we went out to and took some photos of 1274 outside, just the exterior of the historic home that is going to be coming down. Um And so, that was done on Sunday. So,
they we now have documentation of the home. And uh 1274 South South River. Yeah. Um you know, the the bid has gone out for the demolition and and anything the good part in that is
anything of value will be salvaged. So, that's that was one of the the big sticking points there. Um And then Sunday, I went to an Eagle Award for Petro Stroukopoulos
and we talked about it and we had you wrote that wonderful letter about his Meals on Wheels project and going out to seniors and um It was really it was really good. It was really great to see all these young people involved in civic engagement and
leadership, etc. Um And it was fun to be there because my son was an Eagle, too, and I got to tell him that the the Scout Law is really something he memorized and and he's you know, he uses it in his, you know, even in his 30s.
>> That's awesome. >> It is. So, it gets ingrained in them. >> I'm glad you could make it. That's great. >> Yeah. And I think that's it. >> Okay. Ron Rob, what's my point? >> I'm happy to go. >> Uh >> So, in my official capacity, I guess,
the DRC met on June 4th. We haven't had a meeting for a little while, so it was one of those days that we had both meetings. It was a very long day. Um we met and discussed a possible warehouse on Brickyard Road. The interesting thing about this application is that
some concerns that were raised during the um the proposal of this idea were raised prior with another applicant at the DRC that was also proposing uh either updates to their warehouse or yeah, it was updates to a warehouse. And so, I feel at some point this TC in
particular has to start talking about sewer and sewer connection with regards to the warehouses in that part of our town. Um for this particular applicant, they have said that they could
potentially move forward with their plan um and install a septic system, but that they they did make the point that it would be a lot um more affordable and efficient if they could have a sewer uh hookup.
Again, I bring it up because it's it's come to us. I think you were there at that meeting, were you not uh Mayor Canerem? No, cuz that was a DRC. But, it's it's come the concern has come up before. That uh practices of the past may not be easy
for current warehouses given the sewer situation. So, we did discuss that particular project, and they are looking to build a rather big uh warehouse. Um and they took our input and they'll
decide about whether they're going to move forward with the purchase of this project um with the purchase of this land for this project. Um move >> on that. >> Yeah. Is Is it um no sewer but on the sewer system map? Or >> There is a sewer
>> Not on the map at all. >> No, so it it is on the map. It's not It's not immediately adjacent, but it is in what that sewer service area. >> Sewer >> Yeah. So I I think that part has to be investigated a little bit as well, too, because I'm not quite sure whether what they're claiming to be sewer service
area may be exact You know, I when we were going through our affordable housing bit as well, we found some discrepancies. Yeah. Um and we also have You know, people look at one of the warehouses that we have there and say, "Oh, we're going to tap into their sewer." And that particular warehouse has no connection
to it. Yeah. So uh moving ahead from that, the planning board met and it was a good It was a good long meeting as well. We did a couple of consistency reviews, which I think are up for us today to move forward or not.
And um we did also see the application for Cranberry Family Apartments LLC. That's our affordable housing development. And it it's It was very good to see that a lot of the suggestions made by the planning board prior were adopted and
absorbed and sort of reimagined into this sort of updated um plan that they had. And I I personally uh could see myself as a senior living in those in those units. I mean, it looks like it's going to be great, but it's a family unit, so
not not a senior unit. So um we I think that's also on our table for this evening. Uh that's all I have in the official capacity, but I did also want to just encourage us as a TCI to sent some emails in February and then again in
May. Just for us to, you know, discuss about sort of vulnerable communities and what we could do for them. And I would like to keep that discussion ongoing. I have a feeling, a gut feeling that some of our audience members today are going
to bring up that issue. So I won't push into it too much today. But I would like to be able to continue that discussion on the TC level. Thank you. >> Okay. Yes, I'm up. The Municipal Alliance meeting for the for June was canceled and they don't
meet in June, July, or August. So I won't see them again until September. We did have a zoning meeting on the third and we had some there were some questions going into the zoning meeting as it relates to the the Hamlet and the train depot
about what was approved via ordinance on the previous zoning meeting. We've cleared that up to some extent in that the application for the warehouse itself that's sitting out there is approved and the variance has been
granted. There's two things that still need to be tightened up. One is the road widening of the road out there and how that's happening. That will go to the Township engineer and then will eventually be in front of
this body. And two is the depot itself and the property essentially across the street from the warehouse. Those plans were were conceptual in nature when the approval was granted. So those are still a moving target a bit.
Specifically the we'll call it the outbuilding which is essentially an outhouse. That has been removed from the plans from what I understand so far. But more to come with the walking path and the plantings and things of that
nature, which are not buttoned up or finalized to date. There were two other applications at that meeting. Um one was the resubmit essentially for a um uh both the dumpster enclosure and a retention basin um
over on Brickyard Road. Um and then a property owner on Main Street was looking to subdivide a property, which at this point was rejected. Um That was essentially it uh for me for this month.
Or for this meeting. >> It's a busy zoning board meeting. >> It was a very busy zoning The zoning board has had some action uh over the last couple meetings, yes. >> Busy for busy for them. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> And I will give the zoning board uh tons of credit for moving up the public comment to the front of that meeting to
allow folks to give uh some feedback prior to the action. >> That's great. Glad they could accommodate that. >> Agreed. >> Perfect. I only have a a couple things. Um I can't remember we've ever been in the position to do this, but I just wanted to thank our township engineer. We were
able to have a meeting with the homeowners association of Four Seasons about the upcoming road work being done there, so that those residents could have like plenty of notice to ask questions or be prepared of the type of disruptions that could happen. Like we can't do that at Shadow Oaks cuz they
don't have an HOA, right? So it was just a really nice opportunity to speak to them for an hour and get their concerns raised and these are the things that we will be doing and won't be doing. So it just gave us an opportunity to set expectations and I was very grateful to have been in that meeting cuz it I think
it's really going to make a difference outside of, you know, email blasts in town. We can't really get to that granular level. So I think they appreciated it and I I know I did. Um Film Ready New Jersey was really happy. Um
uh Chief and Diane um have both provided their feedback on the uh crux of film ready and what it would take from a public safety standpoint and how they were evaluating this much notice for this and that much notice for that. So I got a lot of feedback from them
already, which is terrific. I know that I sent a pretty comprehensive note out and I've received some feedback, but if all TC members could just weigh in on that. If you've got no comment on it, but no problem. Just give me a thumbs up even just to acknowledge it
and then we can kind of move on to the next steps. I've had reached out independently to the last collective body of EDAC and I was very positive with the response that I've we've gotten. I don't know if we'd get to seven. I think we'll get to six. So that
means that if we were going to kind of tap into EDAC short term, I'm going to have to find another volunteer that would be willing to come in. So we don't know what our residents all do for a living, so maybe somebody's in the film industry now and >> It could be vacant.
>> It could be vacant at least get the work going, right? And then also we did get a waiver that we would use in case anybody with private property wanted to submit their assets to be considered. So
somebody wants to put their home up as an asset, they would just sign a waiver giving us permission to go ahead and use that. So we got a sample sample example of that as well. And then reached out by Bear Creek in West Windsor that a long-term Cranbury
resident Mr. George Epp is turning 100 years old in August. So put on your dancing shoes, Barbara. We got another one to go to. So I was just provided with some history of George. He still owns a house in Cranbury here, but I just got from his daughter a bunch
of information and we'll work on a proclamation for that and then you know, read that here and then go over there and present him and his family in in August with that and everyone can go enjoy some cupcakes. That's all I've got. >> He's a long-term firefighter, right?
>> Yes, long-term firefighter. >> at the holiday fire. >> Yeah, so long-term. So, okay. >> I have a quick question about Bill Ready. Are you Are there deadlines that are being like
is is is this moving along kind of quickly because there are deadlines that have to be met? >> Yeah, there's one that >> I'm wondering if this seems like it feels like it's >> Well, they want you to. They want you to if if you want to do it, then yeah, this is the process you follow. One of the key ones was we had to put a resolution
in 90 days from the workshop. So, I reached out and confirmed that they're not being they're not enforcing that. So, we've got some flexibility to do the work that I'm talking about here is that we can all take the time to evaluate it and we don't have to force it through. It's just for them, they would like to do
this on an annual basis, have the workshop, have the resolutions go in, have more towns sign up so they don't have to be doing it throughout the year. They want to kind of do it, you know, almost like an election cycle, right? Where it's contained, you have set dates and they want to do it on an annual
basis versus trying to approve these things left and right. So, that's why they're trying to put some parameters around it. >> And that's good to know with regards to the timelines. You know, we have a little bit of resources that are sort of being driven towards like affordable housing and things like that. Does this in any way
take from those resources? Like the people that are involved in that? >> No. No. Okay. >> I got I have a question, too. I think you answered this last time is that like >> [clears throat] >> let's say we get inundated, you know, they they love cranberry or something
and and like can we select like whether we want one, two, like how many >> Absolutely, that's that's what puts us firmly in control. Is not only do we put the parameters up like you're not going to be filmed you have to film within these hours, but we have the right to say yes or no to any project that comes
into the town. Which is great. Um, and we don't have to say yes or no, but they do need our permission once we're certified as film ready, they have to go through us. They have to go through the permitting and that application process and then we have to say yes or no.
Thank you, Debbie. >> [laughter] >> I had a different question if you don't mind and maybe it's for both of you Barbara and and Mayor, but Barbara you were you were just mentioning again that the tree removal applications are not always being used. >> Right. >> We went through a lot of trouble for
that. Shade Tree went through a lot of trouble for that. There was a lot of research that went into that. You know, the the county gave its input like how do we bring that forward for people to honor a little bit better? >> I think we can remind them of it, right? I mean maybe just a little bit more education. It's been what
3 years? Or two at least. >> to be education about it. That was one of the main factors when we did it. I'm just not sure if Shade Tree's had the time to really put that together and get it out there.
>> I mean we face it too. Um, but they are going to do a walk in June, when is it? June 20th? So they're going to be doing their walks. They're going to they are I think they're doing a library setting up a library
talk. So they are going to try >> are those are those are good but they're independent of this this particular guidance. Do you know by the way what entity is the least compliant with this? Is it like is it businesses? Is it residents? >> Um, >> I think it'd be nice to to figure out what that
>> happened is that in that big storm in particular people just you know I think just did things because maybe part of a tree fell so then they might have taken care of other parts of the tree and they without filling out those forms. So, that was one of the
That was one of the discussions. Sometimes, people do it without >> Okay. Because I will tell you that at the planning board level, we're very good about mentioning we have a tree ordinance. >> Yeah. You know, unless it's in But okay, yeah.
>> Do Do we have an idea of the scope of the problem? I know it sounds like we're saying that there are people who aren't doing it, but do we have any idea what it >> I think I think that the reason why I brought that up was in particular because of the storm. And people, you know, people were just kind of taking care of
these tree like trees maybe that came down and then they decided, well, these people are in here and then I I I don't know, but um I think that's where this discussion came up. But we do have to do a better job. This is This is uh part of our storm water permit and
you know, that's the reason why this is in here and that would >> Yeah. >> And but it is hard to en- enforce. >> Yeah. >> Well, again, maybe we amplify it, maybe we let people know when they schedule something at the library, like you know, you're going to see Shade Tree walking around on these dates and make sure you educate yourself, but here's a reminder
of the the policy. Here's a reminder of of what it is that's in place. >> And if it isn't a big enough issue, let's put it in the mayor's update and you know, just continue to blast it out to the people. >> Yeah. Most likely the trees that came down [clears throat] during the storm would have been exempt anyway. >> You Right, but if there was a branch
that came down, let's say >> and then they took other trees down because they had a tree, you know, Yeah. >> There There was a semblance of that. I know that I live next to the community that kind of some of that happened and >> Yeah. >> Um before we move on, I really wanted to say thank you to Debbie for a very
seamless election day. >> Election. Yes. >> You're welcome. >> Yeah, thank you. >> That's good. >> I had first-time voters in my house, so they were very excited. Yeah. >> That's good. >> Thank you. >> And I think you kept the poll workers happy, too. >> [laughter] >> That's awesome.
>> We miss Jenna. I said we missed you Jenna's poll worker this one. I know you weren't allowed. Listen. >> [laughter] >> That's awesome. >> Okay. I think right now we have our monthly review with our chief of police.
Good evening, sir. >> Good evening, Mayor. >> I'm not texting. I have your report on my phone. Just so you know what I'm doing. Oops. >> She's not texting and mayoring. >> Okay. >> Can you hear me now? I just say good morning or good
afternoon or good evening, whatever it is. Uh I'm going to briefly discuss the the report that I sent to everyone. If you have any questions, uh feel free to fire away. Um start with traffic statistics.
Um year-to-date summonses are right on par. Um I did authorize a 2-week special detail. Everyone knows it as click it or ticket. Still astonishing. It's 28 years later and we still wrote uh 63 drivers for not
wearing a seatbelt, which I don't understand. I mean, I can show you pictures. I can show you all the data. It just blows my mind. Um and then there were there was actually 202 summonses written for simply not having a seatbelt on. 63 of those 202 were specifically for
seatbelts. And then whether it was suspended driver or unregistered what whatever it was that led to the additional summonses. So, you'll see an influx for the month and that is the influx for the month. Um but >> So, yes, I was going to ask that clarification. So, the that special
detail is included in the 347 in the monthly summons? >> Correct. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Uh of the 347, 202 was specifically That's why I highlighted it and put it that put it out there. >> Cuz without it it would have been like >> It would have It would have been 100 [laughter] and It would have been the
normal. I mean, last May was 162. We would have been like 150. Yeah. Um so, again, year-to-date um stops are are you know, right on par. They were 2280 last year and this year was 2165. Remember, we're coming off of two major
snowstorms, two major blizzards, which, you know, it's the event that happens and then the good couple weeks after that of that cuz everybody behaves. It's very hard. It's still slippery and there's snow piled around everywhere. Um Traffic Bureau um crashes remain about 12% higher than this time last
year. I am happy that for the month uh comparably um they are down um slightly. So, hopefully we keep on going down with that. I think enforcement will help that. But, at the end of the day um crashes happen every day. Um
year-to-date call for services increase. If you look at the monthly call of May, it was a very, very busy month for us. Almost 1,000 calls more than this time last May. Um and year-to-date we're 350 plus uh where we were last year. Um
arrests, everything is up this year. Arrests are up. They were almost doubled from this time last year to this year. Um and I'm hoping at the end of this year to not have any more of where you see dispatch statistics where it says an NA. Um that we can continue to track that uh year after year, month after
month. Um overtime I am happy it is down about 10%, maybe a little bit more from this time last year. Um so, still doing this, still training, still doing everything we have to do on being fiscally responsible to watch that. Um if the the breakouts are there,
they're self-explanatory. Tech um sector barrel reporting, again, everything self-explanatory. Nothing is out. Um nothing jumps out at me. So, I mean, the numbers are there. Uh and then the police blotter. Um, it was about six
pages. I'm I'm keeping my promise to keep it to a page and I can't go any smaller with the font cuz then I can't read it. Um, I'm at a nine right now and a nine's my limit, so whatever I fit on that nine is what we're getting. So, again, it's just touching on some of the stuff. Obviously, you uh, for the amount of calls that we had uh,
for the month, which was 3,500 plus, there's no way I can put, you know, put that into a police blotter. Um, 23 arrests would would cover that page by itself if I put all the arrests on there. So, um, I am available if anybody has any
questions or anything for me, more than happy to try to answer them. >> Can I ask you a question not on your report, but but we have we're going to be Is it a resolution or ordinance that we're passing? An ordinance with regards Yeah, being introduced today with regards to the the towing? >> Okay.
>> Um, can you just talk a little bit as to uh, what's what the changes are and like why why the change now? >> have the complete ordinance in front of me. I sent it. Um, I apologize for the specifics. I can tell you that there are rate increases. Um, those increases the ordinance was last touched in 2000 and I
want to say 17. And if I'm mistaken, it's even worse, it was 2014. But, memory serves me right, um, when that ordinance went out, that is nine years. That is um, um, not sustainable for any business. I don't care who it is. I can tell you that I took a litany of um,
neighboring towns with their rates. South Brunswick changed theirs in 2024. Another neighboring town changed it in 25. Um, and I went with the um, I don't want to say cheapest, but I went with the lowest rate change, which was
the New Jersey State Police. Our um, our two authorized tow one of the two authorized tows in in Cranbury Township does do a lot of turnpike uh, business. So, uh, with that I said, "Okay, this was the lowest, okay, this is most reasonable, this is how I'm do
how I how I envision it. Uh, and then I went ahead and uh, submitted the changes accordingly. But, I can assure you that the rates in there are um, still low. Um, and this contract Township Administrator can uh, verify is good for I believe 5 years and then
they're possibly a 2-year extension if approved by the by the committee. So, um, I think 7 years we should be addressing this, you know, if not seven, I I I would say, you know, to be responsible should be every 5 years because I'm sure what you were paying last year you're not paying for this
year. So, and that goes that's no different just because they have a business, it's the same thing. >> And I think that that's important for the public to know and for for us to know that um, that you know, a rate a rate change has sort of prompted uh, this. >> Yep. That that is the you know, as far as the language, as far as um, uh,
discipline in there, there's all you know, it's a it's a very lengthy um, ordinance. None of that changed. This one solely addressed the the rates. >> Yeah, thank you. >> You're welcome. Thank you for the question. Is that all right? >> I would just urge residents to take a peek at that blotter, which is again
only a snippet of >> Yeah. >> what our police department is doing on a monthly basis. And you And you'd be astonished at what you'll read out there. It was uh, every every month it's surprising the the types of things that our police department is dealing with and and kudos to them for sure.
>> And it is yes, it's on the homepage. >> now? >> It is on the Cranberry page. >> Cranberry Township website, police department, and then monthly blotter. Uh, and I do want to say that, you know, it goes without saying and I do tell them, but uh, my officers, you know, uh,
I asked uh, Township Administrator and I have submitted multiple grants for click it or ticket. Um, every and we got them every year until COVID hit and then it's very hard to come by. So, um, you know, to offset I I I ran a couple 3-hour details. And then
the the patrol officers that were working jumped right in and uh, you know, and and they bought into it and they're doing a phenomenal job and they're doing everything that's asked of them. Uh, and simply, um, you know, because it's important. It's important to me. Uh, you you you see
that DWI arrests are through the roof. I mean, that's important as well and um, there will be some Nixels coming out uh, with the uh, e-bike guidance. Again, I I told this committee a couple months ago that, you know, I'm going to wait till we're closer to it. Um, and that effective sometime in July and now
they're saying, you know, the last meeting I just had Thursday, well, we don't know if we can get there in July, so it might be pushed a little bit. So, um, I'm going to be putting that guidance out. I just don't want to do it too early cuz nobody's going to remember, you know, when I put it out if it it doesn't take effect for 3-4 months later. But, it's coming.
>> Um, I have a question separate from this. I don't know if we're done with our traffic questions. Um, I had to fill [clears throat] out a survey for this um, Southern Middlesex County uh, flood resiliency study and it had to do with um, marketing or um, basically, how do
we get the word out about flooding situations? Um, and I know we use Nixle. What is our kind of our guidance on when a road is flooded and shouldn't be used? Like, how when do you send out a Nixle? >> When that happens. >> Like, if it's closed or if it's just a
nuisance or >> it's flooded and it's not passable, it's going to be closed. >> It's going to have the barriers. Does DPW DPW put those up? >> If I can get them, if not, we're self-sufficient in so much as I mean, Jerry's really good, but sometimes they can't get to us. Um, so, I have a a a
contingency plan to do it. Um, but you know, in that it might include putting an officer there and and sitting there until such time um, that we're able to get Jerry out or get the state out or get the county out. So, to answer that, it depends, but the
Nixle's are very specific. It lists a roadway and then follow up comes and says this one's open, but these are still closed and that'll continue to happen as that happens. >> And I'm just really curious, um, what's the percentage of people that they can do do we have any knowledge of
how many people actually sign up for Nixle? >> yeah, absolutely. Over 3,000. >> In Cranbury? >> Yep. >> Oh, that's pretty great. That's really good. I mean, that >> It tells me how many mobile it hits me it tells me how many mobile cell phones I hit. And then I also put
it piggyback on the township website and then if I need something, the mayor's very good about it. Hey, put this on your monthly blast cuz sometimes they like the mayor better than the police chief. >> [laughter] >> Sometimes. >> Sometimes, not all the time, so. But that's why I try to hit all three of those, but there are avenues. That's
that's how I communicate with the public. >> just curious how our e-blast compare to the 3,000 Nixle. That's pretty good. >> Yeah, you're putting it with the library on a subscription there. >> Yeah. >> But it's also individual, so. >> Nixle's free. I don't know if I'm sure the library is, too, but yeah, I mean >> that's good.
>> It's a good way to stay informed and I encourage everybody to do it. >> more than I thought. >> Mhm. >> And how do you sign up for Nixle? >> Um >> What is Nixle? >> www.nixle.com and you can look up Cranbury and and they'll walk you through it. I haven't signed up in years. I have multiple Nixle accounts, so
I don't want to give bad information, but >> you have to say Cranbury, right? >> Yes. >> Yep. >> And what you want to be notified about. >> Or every town you want to be notified of. >> Right. Thank you. >> You're welcome. Good question. Anything else? >> Good to see you.
>> You as well. Thank you very much. Have a good evening. >> Thanks. >> Me, too. >> Mayor, can you hear my follow up item? What you got? From last meeting. I just I'm sorry that I didn't put my notes together properly today, but if you remember last meeting I mentioned that the there was a bill at the
assembly and then it was at the was at the Senate. It's the bill that is allowing the sale of recreational marijuana from medicinal previously medicinal facilities and that is also passed the Senate at this point. >> May 29th in effect, right? >> Like a rocket ship. >> Yeah, all all less within less than a
month. It started on May 7th and by May 29th it had passed the assembly and the Senate. So. Yeah. I wish other things could pass fast as fast as that. And it in fact >> three towns and I was incorrect. I said two towns. So it seems to go back three towns.
>> Well, it affects our town and that's I think where it concerns us. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Our vacancies, they remain the same. Environmental Commission second alternate open, Zoning Board second
alternate open and Historic Preservation Commission second alternate is open. So spread the word. Tell a friend. Okay. We have um one first reading and two second readings tonight. Um and our first reading is ordinance
0626-18. >> Okay, so we're going to start with the first ordinance tonight that'll be up for introduction. Which is Cranbury Township ordinance number 0626-18, an ordinance amending the code of the Township of Cranbury chapter 140
entitled towing. Second reading of that ordinance will be scheduled for June 22nd, 2026. May we have a motion for introduction? >> So moved. >> Thank you. And second? >> I'll second. >> We'll move on to roll call. Mr. Christopher? >> Yes.
>> Mrs. Elbadawy? >> Yes. >> Dr. Rogers? >> Yes. >> Mr. Scott is absent. Mayor Kinyon? >> Yes. >> Thank you. Second is our second reading ordinances. Um the first that is up for second reading is Cranbury Township ordinance
number 05-26-16 um adopting an updated zoning map. I'm going to start with public comment. I just realized I don't have a sign-in sheet, so I'm going to go grab a few. >> Oh, okay. >> Is there any public comment on our second reading? And I'm talking really
slow while you get Okay. >> It's curly time. >> 5-26-16 >> Oh, they just turned over that page, the agenda page. >> Wait, yeah. I'll see you. >> Any public comment? All right. Seeing none, we'll close close public comment on that ordinance.
Is there any discussion from the Township Committee you like to have? No. Okay. >> Are you good for Roll Call? >> I'm good for Roll Call. Okay. So, moving on to Roll Call, Mr. Christopher. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Elbatrawy? >> Yes. >> Dr. Rogers? >> Yes.
>> Mr. Scudder is absent, and Mayor Kumerow? >> Yes. >> Okay, that is unanimous for members present. We'll move on to our second. Cranberry Township Ordinance number 05-26-17, adopting an amendment to the amended redevelopment plan for the High Point tract designated as portion of block
20.16 less 7.01 on Cranberry Township tax map pursuant to NJSA 10A:12A-7. And room for public comment? >> Okay. So, we're going to open com- public comment on ordinance 05-26-17.
Is there any public comment? Okay. Seeing none, um the only thing I want to say about um this particular um second reading is that we do have um a couple of um items that came from the
Planning Board on this ordinance that we're not adopting within this um second reading, but the reason for that is this is obviously just another step to keep us on track of the affordable um housing plan that we put in and reached through through settlement
agreements. Those two items um will be addressed um with Primary Housing Associates as well as when we move through the process to go to final site plan. So I don't want anyone to think that we're we're acknowledging them, but to move this along and meet our
deadlines, but they will be addressed and they're and they're documented. So that's the only thing I wanted to say about that. >> Works for me. >> Any other comments? >> Okay, roll call. Any motion? >> I'll move.
>> Second. >> Thank you. We'll move on to roll call. Mr. Christopher? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Obadiah? >> Yes. >> Dr. Rogers? >> Yes. >> Mr. Scott? >> Is absent. >> Mayor [laughter] Kinnear? >> Yes. >> It's been a long couple of weeks. >> Is absent. >> Okay, very good. >> Thank you, unanimous.
>> Okay, we've got two consent resolutions A and B this evening. If anyone wants one of them pulled out, just let me know. If not, >> I'll move A and B. >> Resolution? >> I'll second. >> Thank you. We'll move on to roll call. Mr. Christopher? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Obadiah? >> Yes.
>> Dr. Rogers? >> Yes. >> Mr. Scott is absent and Mayor Kinnear? >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Well, you go grab a sign. Going to do We're going to yellow pad it. Let's do it. All right. Okay, so we're going to open it up for public comment. Um just as a reminder, when you approach, just please put your
name and address and then state your name and address so we can all hear it. And then as a reminder, you'll have a 3-minute time limit. Um and it looks like we've got a lot of people here tonight, so let's try to be respectful of that time limit so everybody has a chance to speak tonight.
I'm still stalling a little bit for dinner. Okay. All right. So with that, we'll open it up for public comment. Is there any public comment this evening? Are they still >> I'm going to stand here. >> Okay, got it. Okay. All right.
Okay. Is that good? Not used to this, but um so anyway, I'm here because it's our country's 250th anniversary, which is a huge momentous um occasion and um everyone is celebrating it across the country. So, I
had an idea to add to our celebration here in Cranberry to uh put bunting along the fence um by Brainerd Lake on both sides of Main Street there. Um and I would put together a group to
get donations to pay for it, put it up, take it down. Um yeah, I just think it would look really nice and add to the town during the fireworks. It's the center of town. That's why I brought a sample. This I hang this up in my house, but it
would um it would be similar. Um it would have grommets on it, so we could hang by zip ties on the uh on the fence. Pretty easy to take up and put down and I I would talk to Jerry to get any details or whatever for him.
Um and um I just thought it's I looked through a lot of old Cranberry presses and pictures and it just seems in keeping with what the town has done in the past. For the bicentennial, they had a whole committee that put together a lot of things. It's just really good for
the town, I thought, and um so, I'm just asking if I could work on it and get it done and um uh yeah, I think it would be good thing. >> think our follow-up is just uh do we manage the rails?
County, anything weird about that? >> No, there's nothing weird about it. I just if they're willing to find volunteers to do it, that'd be great. Jerry probably >> I know, totally. I know, I know, no, I don't want to that's why I think it's it shouldn't
really be that bad and I'll I'll talk to him about it. >> What do you need a plan at what point? >> Like could you just show like where will all this bunting be? All the way along >> around the park. >> On the No, on the fencing on Main Street. >> Yeah, where we put the garland. >> Right, exactly. Exactly.
So >> Well, no, but she's making a request. So, that's why you're just saying yes. >> It's okay, whatever. I know, I didn't you know, you can Oh, the material is it's a like a cotton polyester. It's a weather proofing like I I hung this up on my porch.
No, not for a while. It's pretty I hung this up on my porch for like 2 years now. I mean, not the whole year, obviously, but >> [laughter] >> But no, I wouldn't have it up there if it started to look it would be like a donation to the town, too. You know, not just for this year, but every year and I
would you know, take the responsibility of having people put it up and take it down and and then you know, things like that. >> So, maybe like the who, what, when, where, and why and then we can get in touch with Jerry and maybe come up with a plan and timing and do it. I think
it'd be really additive for >> I just think that maybe HPC might want to be informed about this, too. It's it's a nice idea. It would have been nice for them to maybe hear of it, too. >> Yeah. >> So, this is you doing it as a citizen not for any kind of >> No, not for No, no, I would reach out to
people. I just sort of I mean, everyone across the country is celebrating and a lot of towns are you know, doing different things. So, I I mean, I I I reached out a little bit to people just to see do you think it's a good idea and they liked it and I think I definitely could get people together to
donate for it. You know, so >> that we've been doing different things for the 250th. You know, throughout the year there's been different initiatives. >> Yeah, it's nice. Great. It It really brings everyone together. It's It's nice. It's a big momentous time for the country. So Um
>> So we'll do some task follow-up together. >> That sounds great. Yeah. Yeah. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, we will. Sure. Thank you. We can share. >> Thanks. >> You have to turn on the microphone.
Speak loudly. >> Other side. >> side. This is the stage right? >> You got it. >> Okay, adjust and then I'll start the timer. >> Okay. Uh my name is Jenny Psaki. I am a Cranbury resident residing on Main Street.
And I want to thank you for the opportunity to speak this evening. As I'm sure the committee is aware last February the New Jersey State Legislature uh passed three bills which ultimately became laws. However, I'm going to explain a little bit about that related
to the privacy and protection of members of immigrant communities. They became um and that that bunch of Well, excuse me, the bills that passed were part of the immigrant Trust Directive, which this committee had been
kind enough to consider a resolution in support of. Unfortunately, those bills that passed, forgive me, I I misspoke earlier. Those that passed in February um in January were quickly
vetoed by then Governor Murphy. And therefore, they never became law. Variations of those bills, however, were then introduced into the state legislature, but they were extremely
different from the ones that had passed from the legislature, extremely different from the bills that this body actually wrote a resolution in support of. Um and after those bills were written, um
then Governor Sherrill passed them into law and also created executive orders. Those were laws that pertained to privacy. They were laws pertaining to um allowing uh to build supposedly trust between
police and immigrant communities. And there was also an an executive order that included, among other things, requiring that all police have uh facial uh not wear masks and that there be full identity identification before detention.
The problem is this. The laws that uh that Governor Sherrill passed had many carve-outs that from the laws from the bills that had been passed that Governor Murphy vetoed. And those carve-outs provided a quite a few
protections for immigrant communities and they also provided privacy issues for every resident of the state of New Jersey. So, various um immigrant rights groups and and their
allies [clears throat] actually proposed that we have ordinances by individual municipalities that fill in the holes that those carve-outs left. And so what I provided before you
are some proposed ordinances that are going through towns in throughout the state. I'm only interested and quite a few of us here are only interested in two of them and I see that I am running out of time. Uh two ordinances. One of the ordinances
deals with privacy issues and privacy concerns. Did too much of a setup. I I have also presented before you highlighted versions of those ordinances and I would ask that you give them a look and we'll be others will be discussing them this evening. >> Okay.
>> Thank you, Jen. >> My name My name is Laura Zerfluh and I'm at uh in Bunker Hill in Cranbury here. Um unfortunately, Jenny wasn't able to um fully elucidate the ordinances, um but one of them does address the use of municipal officers for federal civil
immigration enforcement. Um New Jersey police officers are already prohibited from being used as ICE officers due to the ban on municipalities participating in 280 287G agreements. The proposal on the table tonight will ensure that Cranbury's resources are not
used for enforcement of federal civil immigration laws and to ensure our police and city employees are adequately trained on compliance on these laws. Cranbury has a well-liked police force who are known for their community outreach and presence in our community. There should remain a clear distinction
between the work they do for our town and the federal agents who have been seen on our Main Street already and who strike fear in many of our residents. Masks, batons, pepper spray, and tear gas should never be an image associated in any way with our police. Local resources, including our municipal
facilities, should not be used to support a federal initiative that we have no input in. And our taxes, which we're proud to use to support our police in our town, should not be diverted to the federal government who doesn't know us or how we make decisions on our resource allocation.
Trenton is in the process of considering the similar legislation following ordinances in Chicago, Minneapolis, Los Angeles, and many other municipalities. None of these ordinances prevent ICE or CBP from making arrests or interfering in any way with federal law enforcement.
They simply protect local police from being in the unenviable position of being forced to aid in terrorizing their residents and they protect our taxpayers by ensuring their taxes go toward locally approved projects. Projects that your own committee has
made priorities during your tenure in office. We hear a lot from residents about keeping the Cranbury the neighborly tight-knit community we all know and love. Let's keep it that way. >> [snorts] >> Thank you, Laura. >> Okay. Um, my name's Ilana Stroke. I live at 12
Ansell Davidson Road. Um, I'll be brief. Um, I spoke to the Township Committee last October about the rounding up of immigrants and the fear they and their families experience regarding detention and
deportation. I oppose for-profit detention centers in our community, in New Jersey, and elsewhere. As I understand it, it's in the local communities that we may have some control over the building of these centers
and the inhumane housing of people in warehouses and that this control comes through zoning laws. I recently witnessed what happens when zoning laws are not put into place early enough. As you know, there were Planning Board
public hearings this spring in East Windsor regarding an application by the QTS company to expand their data center at the corner of One Mile Road and Route 571. While not an East Windsor resident, I
live very close to One Mile Road and I know that the data center site is very close. Um, I think as close as 1,500 ft to dense residential areas such as the Orchard and Dutch Neck Road. So, my family and I were very concerned
and we ended up at attending two 3 and 1/2 hour public hearings. I even spoke at the second one. At each meeting, there were hundreds of angry residents opposed to the application and the pollution, noise,
heat, and wastefulness of natural resources associated with data centers. They especially did not want this in their backyard. However, in the end, in spite of this, the application was approved with just a few tweaks.
What I learned from this is that a that if community residents don't want detention centers or data centers, zoning regulations need to be put into place preemptively. Once it gets to the planning board, it could be too late.
So, I ask the the township to consider new ordinances and zoning such as several other townships have put into place, and I think Jenny gave you some information about that. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Oh, gosh.
>> Oh. Oh, my god. You see the light? No, I don't know. You see the light on there? Walking on the line. Thank you, Nate. Looks like my dad. Walking on the You see him? >> I'm Jeff Cronnelly.
This is not a sympathy um exercise on my part. I Okay. I would just want to be very direct and very clear. I do not want to see, and my wife supports me in this. She cannot be here tonight. I do not want to see any any um
Cranberry money, any state money being used for the by the federal government. I I feel strongly about this and that is my position. Thanks very much. >> Yep. Okay, thanks. One second. Uh
My name is Dawn Cohen. I'm actually not a Cranbury resident. I'm a neighbor from Montgomery, New Jersey. Uh I'm here also this evening to add my voice to those who have who are advocating for municipal protections for the immigrant community.
Though I'm not a resident of Cranbury, I am a neighbor and I think that neighboring communities benefit from protections that you implement. As a person married to an immigrant with children who are children of an immigrant
and many immigrant friends, neighbors, and colleagues, uh I have been watching these attacks on the immigrant community with horror and fear. The the state legislature and the governor made a good start earlier this year in putting protections in place,
but ICE and the for-profit prison industry have found openings in municipal laws to allow them to continue to build up their profits at the expense of public safety and character of local communities.
Our neighbors in Roxbury, New Jersey were blindsided earlier this year when a local property owner chose to sell a warehouse to the federal government and that owner planned to use it to
build a mid-sized 1,500 bed detention facility. That sale was executed with no consideration whatsoever of the substantial negative repercussions to the local community in terms of environmental impact like water and
electricity usage. Local leaders were forced to react after the fact and that has been a very arduous and costly legal challenge process simply to tread water and protect their community.
I urge you to take note of Roxbury's example and protect this community before it becomes a target for a land grab for building a detention center. Please ban detention centers in this town. And in addition to the protections offered by a ban on detention centers, I
also urge you to ensure that your municipal resources are never used to support civil immigration enforcement activities that are not backed by judicial warrants. As we know, ICE has been whisking people away using semi-legal and even illegal
methods and it is in your power to slow that process down. I urge you to ensure that you your municipal property can never be used for staging ICE raids. I urge you to ensure that your municipal employees are not
pressed into auxiliary auxiliary services that enable ICE activities and I urge you to ensure that information that you collect for your operations cannot become endeared for immigration enforcement. Thank you.
>> Is there any further public comment? >> Okay. >> Good evening. My name is Avery Gordon. I live at 97 North Main Street here in Cranbury. Um I just want to issue a quick clarification and a short story. Um number one, I just like to clarify that the two ordinances that people are
here in support of this evening are the two before you labeled ordinance one and ordinance number five. Uh the first of which is purely to ensure municipal resources are not used for the enforcement of federal civil immigration law. Um and to establish protocols when it comes to the way that our municipal
law enforcement interacts uh with federal immigration authorities. And the second of which is to uh prohibit the establishment of federal immigration facilities uh or detention centers within the municipality of Cranbury and to uh ban data centers as well. Um I'd also just like to share a personal
anecdote about why this is important to me. Um I have lived in Cranbury since I was 8 years old. Attended the Cranbury school, graduated 7 years ago almost um at this point. And um when I attended Cranbury, we would regularly have programs uh where members of our
municipal law enforcement would come into the classroom. We had the lead um drug uh substance abuse prevention programs. Um we would go and do the activities in the park put on by the Police Benevolent Association. Um and I I have very fond memories of the
interactions that we had with law enforcement. They were always a safe and calming presence, but I also had classmates who were undocumented, some of whom still are and live within the town. And I would not want to be attending a public school where my classmates did not feel safe interacting
with law enforcement in the classroom. I think um the relationship that we have with our law enforcement in Cranbury is something we are exceptionally lucky to have um and we're so fortunate that that kids can grow up in an environment where they see law enforcement as as a force
to make them feel safe. Um and I think uh adopting ordinances that ensure that our law enforcement cannot be co-opted by federal immigrant immigration authorities uh to turn against the best interests of many of our undocumented neighbors um will help
ensure that that future generations of students at Cranbury, of kids in this town, um and of of citizens as a whole continue to have that positive relationship with our police force, um and we can keep that that special bond that we have with our with our um
municipal police that make everyone feel safe and valued as members of the community regardless of their immigration status. Thank you very much. >> [clears throat] >> Good evening. My name is Kathy Yestenie. I may have spoken to some some of you before. Um
I'm just want to say that I'm here um in support of these two ordinances, um especially that we kind of preemptively get them on the record um and
because we don't want to end up in the situation um as East Windsor has with QTS, which is a huge huge facility and people are just not in favor of it over there. And it just happened. You didn't
know what it was. It was going on. Um >> [clears throat] >> And then they had talks about it afterwards. Um So, I don't want us to end up in the same situation where somebody comes in and does this kind of thing because it's
allowed by our zoning. Um so, we have to get something on the books so that that cannot happen. Same thing with um detention centers. We have so many warehouses here in Cranbury. Some are completely empty. Um
they're all privately owned and at this point they can sell them to whoever they want. Um to do whatever they want with them. So, we need to look ahead and
get it on the books that they cannot be used as detention centers um and to house people. Thank you. >> Is there any further public comment this evening? As long as there's no other public comment.
>> And what? Thank you. Jenny Psaki again, Main Street, Cranbury. So, what I've put before you are ordinances that are being proposed throughout the state. And you have a breakdown of what many
towns have already passed. These ordinances are merely suggestions. They're not necessarily applicable to every single municipality that considers them. So, I just wanted to point that out. Number two, I've also presented or copies of ordinances that have passed in
other municipalities that address this issue if you want examples of wording, especially the one from Montgomery because that one not only talks about banning detention centers, but it also talks about the the the legal ability to ban data
centers as well. And if if folks want other ordinances that just address the data center issue, I've got that. The last thing that I wanted to point out is the wolf is at the door. Um Hightstown had ICE in it today.
We have seen ICE agents patrolling on Main Street. Uh our local police have not had any involvement as far as I know with federal law enforcement, but please know if you know anything that is going on at Delaney Hall right now,
municipal police have been have used from Newark, from the Oranges, from several different local police forces are now guarding Delaney Hall and and keeping protesters from getting near the hall and some of those local police have
even used tear gas on local protesters. It is not unreal to believe that our local police could be co-opted by the Attorney General for federal civil immigration uh law enforcement. So, I
just want to point out I understand that there's always concerns about the legality of all of this, the legality of banning a private concern like a data center, the legality of even banning a privately run detention center, but I
would like you to consider if we could preemptively look at our zoning laws and make sure that these are not things that could happen. Please do not let us become another Roxbury where we're now behind the eight ball trying to fight off a 1,500 bed detention center that
they want to pass from the warehouses that are surrounding Roxbury. Thank you. >> Thank you. Okay. Okay. Um I think we're completed with public comment seeing no one else. Okay, we're going to close public
comment for our meeting. Okay, what action items are we capturing this evening? Zero? Oh, um we'll follow up on amplifying the application process for Shady Tree. Make sure we include that
mayor's update. Any specific activity that they're doing, just let me know and I can highlight that, too. Okay. All right. All right. All right. >> And I would really like us to continue our discussion, please. I sent my emails, you heard from the audience
today, and I really I I share a lot of concerns that I would love us to to make some peace with and maybe some steps forward with. Please. >> I think we I'm I I think I'm encouraged to that we get I encourage us to read these ordinances,
especially, you know, um I don't know how particularly you could put data centers and immigration centers in one ordinance, but I I'm curious to read this more fully, and I think we both should we all should. >> I think we should all do diligence on it
and appreciate what's been done by you so far and resident coming out tonight to help us make some some decisions. So, appreciate that. Okay. Um Okay. We at this time are going to go into a
closed session. Um and then we will uh no uh no action will be taken during closed session uh or after uh and then we'll adjourn the meeting. Thank you.