Hi, good evening. We're going to call to order the township committee meeting for Monday, August 25th. If you're willing and able, please rise for the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the stands. One nation,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay, we'll move on to the open public meetings act. Pursuant to the open public meetings act notice meeting was sent to the cranberry press trent times from news tribune on January 3rd 2025 post on township's website and sent to
those who requested a copy of this notice. Next we'll move on to roll call. Mr. Christopher >> here. >> Mrs. Elidawi >> here. Dr. Rogers is absent. Uh Mr. Scott >> here. Mayor Caner >> here. >> Thank you.
>> Okay. Do we have any changes or additions to our agenda this evening? >> No. >> Okay. All right. Um, can I get a motion to approve both the regular and the close session minutes from August 11th? >> So moved. I'll second. >> Great.
>> Thank you. We'll move on to roll call for both sets. Mr. Christopher, >> yes. >> Mrs. Elawi, >> yes. Dr. Rogers is absent. Mr. Scott, >> yes. >> Mayor Coner, >> yes. And that's for unanimous when absent. Thank you. >> Okay. All right. Um, who would like to
go first for updates, what we've been up to the last couple weeks. >> Um, I, as is often the case, my my committee did not meet, so they they took August off. I had nothing to report. >> Okay. Uh, I will have a Wreck meeting
coming up soon, and I'll report back then. I guess we'll go on order. Um, the only meeting I've had since our last meeting was on the 19th. We had an HPC meeting. Um, had some conversation about the
pretending property. Um, had a special guest star. Kevin was able to join us um to give a bit of a explanation of the affordable housing situation. Um HPC has some um I'll say suggestions for
potential site alterations at 1274. They said they may join the planning board tomorrow, I believe. Um so I would would not be surprised to see them there. Uh went over some new signage for a new um
business in town. Uh that's taking the place of uh Leo. Uh this is the former sushi restaurant. Um I won't break any news today, but I'm very excited about what what the replacement is going to be since it's not there yet. I won't uh you know I won't spoil it for anyone. Um
they also had a working session on the amendments to the historic district um with additional edits ongoing um and they'll send those to the planning board once they're complete. And that's it. Uh the school board meeting is this Wednesday. I will attend
that. They had their um retreat last week, >> so I figured I would not intrude on the school board's retreat. >> Um, speaking of uh board of ed, I was asked if we could include on the mayor's update and the bi-weekly meetings the
upcoming board of education meeting and um it because it affects taxpayers. I I didn't see any reason not to do that. So, when we have upcoming meetings, it's usually for township boards and commissions, but again, because it's a a
resident taxpayer body, I thought it was applicable and I didn't know if there was any objection to including it. >> I think it's a great show of partnership. >> Actually, the library board made a same similar request. I was going to report out on that. >> The the board of trustees meetings uh does not get put on the mayor's updates,
and they were asking if it could. >> Yeah. I mean, I I don't I don't see why not. But yeah, I mean it's >> no objection here. >> Any objection? >> You I mean you could put whatever you want in your mayor's update. We're not
probably going to have it on the calendar because >> No, not it. They were asking on the township website and that I said out I said no to that, but I figured in the mayor's update for upcoming meetings, we could have them. >> Yeah. Where it says upcoming meetings, >> they just won't have the agenda link like all the others. That's the difference.
>> Okay. Okay. >> Um with that, is it okay for me to continue? Any questions for Rob? >> No, >> I am very excited to find out what that business is. I have to find my way into the inner circle to find that out. >> That's right. That's right.
>> Um, thank you all so much. Um, so I met with the library board. Uh, they had a meeting shortly after RTCF. I forget um I forget what that date was. and they discussed future programming. And I did take the inquiry from parks and wreck
regarding the chest tables and whether it would be okay to plant additional trees to provide shade on the chest tables during times when it's very hot. And they would like to keep things as is for now. Sit with what it looks like for a year and see what it looks like for next year. Granted, the chest tables
were put in at the hottest time of the year. And so I think the novelty of it, everybody wanted to use it and it was maybe not the most um uh encouraging weather, but um there is a wonderful chess club that works out at the library and
hopefully in in better weather like these days they're able to use those tables. Um, they did uh they did work on their guidelines on how to reserve the community room and I I
appreciated them doing this because it just shows how they're responding to the needs of the community and how um they are learning from previous practices as well. So, kudos to them. Uh the planning board meeting will be
holding a special meeting tomorrow. Um, I'll be in attendance of that. And our affordable housing subcommittee continues to communicate on issues pertaining to our application. Um, I did want to share with the board that I appeared before HMFA this week uh, August 21st regarding their proposed um,
250 foot industrial buffer and Cranberry. Lisa Caner, Mary Mayor Caner was very good to provide sort of very detailed written suggestions to how to amend that language. And I went in person with a more um you know a lighter message but a message certainly from
Cranberry with requests to how they could help us help this community honestly. And um it was you know it was met well but as you know you speak to a board very pokerfaced and you leave kind of not knowing and it was very short. I actually given how hot the issue has
been I anticipated a lot of people and I was one of four speakers and there were two people from Cranberry. So technically Cranberry was two of four speakers. I mean um again a little bit interesting. And this evening as some of
you saw I had a little information session with the scouts and they were very excited to be in this room. I think for some of them this is the first time they're in this building which is pretty cool. Uh, and that's it. That's all I've got. >> Great. Thank you. Yeah, I guess we we learned what it's like to be on the
other side of public comment. So, I uh I I uh thank you very much for representing us, uh, along with Wayne Whitman, the chair of the planning board, >> uh, that attended that. I was away on a business trip, so I couldn't attend that meeting, but I sent a cover letter in
and a letter basically, you know, asking for some help. Um I've also been um requested to have a meeting uh with the governor's office on Tuesday. So just in full disclosure for the town um and I imagine it's uh a result of the meeting
with HMFA. If I could just add to that little piece, uh, Mayor Caner, this meeting that we had, like the meeting that I appeared before, we couldn't have it earlier because they they instructed us to come only during their public comment, which was just very recently open. And their public comment period
will end on the 19th of September. So, we could not have had this earlier. We couldn't have muscled our way through. >> So, that answers one question. If if that public comment is open until September 19th, we likely won't hear anything back as far as alterations to
our, you know, whether our request or not until after that, I would presume. >> Correct. Correct. Correct. >> I would anticipate probably uh mid fourth quarter. So it gives them time to close public
comment and then digest what they've heard or the lack of what they've heard. >> So happy Thanksgiving. >> Happy Thanksgiving. >> I'm sorry. You said it closed on September 19th, right? >> Yeah. And again, I I mean that's no different. The their speed is no different than any other local
municipality or state-run government agency. So the pace of that doesn't surprise me at least. >> But again, thank you for going. >> Oh, my pleasure. >> I really appreciate that. Um, I have a bunch of updates from public comment
last meeting, so I'm going to save those and I'll go over them right before public comment for this meeting, but I'm happy to say that I've got some updates on I think just about every public comment that was made. Um, today I was on NJTPA. Please don't ask me what that
acronym stands for. Um but it was about the um study that they're doing uh north and south for uh truck uh traffic and it's a subsequent um uh it's a a a jumping off point from the traffic study
that was done um uh last year and concluded last year. So I was on their webinar today. they had invited representatives from uh Monroe uh South Brunswick and Cranberry because they're very very focused on exit 8A and that
affects the three municipalities there. Uh Barbara uh Dr. Rogers was also on that call uh today and she attended it. Um I think what the immediate ask is from us is and that's probably a year out is a formal resolution of support
for that initiative. I hear the word support and I immediately saw dollar sign. So I specifically asked a question that said no. It's no like any other initiative where it's just a resolution saying that cranberry supports what they're trying to do. Um they have an interesting approach to it. So they're
looking at demographics, historic uh sections, uh open space, wetlands, flood planes, endangered species, and anything hazmat related in this this area of ADA. And when they talked about the stakeholders, they obviously talked
about us, our our residents and our community, but they were also talking about the trucking um industry and that they were going to reach out to some trucking companies. And I asked some questions and I mean a mild objection is most truckers are like independent
contractors. They they're like LLC's and they're they're not they're not in they're independent of a a large um they're contractors basically. And and if that's the case, they kind of like march to the beat of their own drum, right? And are probably not going to be
very familiar with the code of middle um Monroe and then they leave there and they drive through Cranberry and then they leave here and they drive up north to South Brunswick. And so I was very interested to make sure that they paid really special attention to like how you're going to implement anything
that's going to help with traffic, you know, traffic flows on that. Um but again they they're just kind of kicking this off again and they got everyone together. They'll be having some public meetings. Um they'll be reviewing obviously all of our municipal codes and then they'll have some outreach to the
same uh municipalities again so they keep us informed on their progress. But it's just good to see that they're they're paying attention to it. So that was an interesting meeting that I had today. Um, as um, Aman has stated, we've got a special planning board meeting
that's tomorrow night at 7 PM here in town hall. Um, and I don't really have any any other updates. So that um, we have no subcommittees and we have no department heads this week.
Okay, we have no first readings. Oh, vacancies. Sorry. Okay. Um we are uh besides municipal alliance we're on alternates which is very exciting. Uh we have a first alternate environmental commission we have a first uh alternate
and second alternate open the zoning board is a second alternate and municipal alliance we have a full membership as we received a resignation um from a resident this week. So we have another full membership on municipal alliance that is open.
Okay. And we have no first readings this evening. And so we'll move on to the our second reading. >> Okay. We're going to have one ordinance for second reading which is Cranberry Township Ordinance number 08-25-10.
An ordinance of the town of Cranberry, Melix County, New Jersey, authorizing execution of a financial agreement with Cranberry Senior Apartments LLC pursuant to NJSA527D-320 and a tax exemption and payment in lie of taxes pursuant to NJSA527-320
for property located at 1274 South River Road, block 5, lot 16.01. Okay. So, we're going to open public comment and this is open public comment specifically for this ordinance and then the TC will um discuss if there's any
comment from any of us. We'll and then we'll move forward and then there'll be an opportunity for public comment anything unrelated to this ordinance. So, with that, is there any public comment on this ordinance? Okay. Is there any comment from any
township committee member? I'll close public comment. Is there any um comment from any TC member? Okay, seeing none, can I get a motion to move? >> So move. >> Can I get a second?
>> Uh second. >> Okay, we're going to move on to roll call. Mr. Christopher, >> yes. >> Mrs. Elbidawi, >> yes. >> Dr. Rogers absent. Mr. Scott, >> yes. >> Mayor Conerum, >> yes. >> Thank you. It's unanimous. >> Thank you. Okay, we're going to move on
to resolutions. Um, can I get a motion to move uh consent resolutions A and B or if anything pulled out? If anyone wants one pulled out, I'm very excited, by the way, to see uh resolution B.
>> That was a lot of hard work on Dr. Rogers part. The county was really helpful. And if those that didn't read it, this will be a uh flashing um uh crosswalk across Old Trenton Road uh connecting Milstone uh Washington uh
drive in uh Shadow Oaks over to Milstone Park uh which also be I'm hoping a deterrent to >> ease some speed uh as you come into Cranberry there as well. So can I get a motion to move uh A through B? >> So moved. I get a second.
>> I'll second. >> Thank you. We're gonna move on to roll call for those. Uh, Mr. Christopher, >> yes. >> Mrs. Elvadawi, >> yes. >> Dr. Rogers is absent. Mr. Scott, >> yes. >> Mayor Conerum, >> yes. >> Unanimous. Thank you. >> Okay. >> Quick question. We We have a timeline.
>> Um, oh, I don't, >> Mayor Bella. >> So, now that we adopted it, I'll go back to the county. Then they have to get it on their agenda. So they have to adopt it and then we're actually going to be doing the work and they're going to be sharing in the cost. So once we get all
that the technicalities done >> by the end of the year >> um hopefully. >> Okay. >> Solar, right? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> It's the same as the other flashing crosswalks that we have until >> which is great. >> Okay.
>> All right. So before we open up to public comment, I wanted to go back and address public comment from our previous meeting. Um the first um public comment that we had, just make sure got this right. Um we
had a resident um asking about the signage in Four Seasons that they were really really faded. So I would like to take uh thank Jerry and DPW. Literally, I think the next day we're out there driving through Four Seasons. And I believe it's 10 or 12 stop signs have
been ordered for Four Seasons already. I'm not sure when they'll do in, but that'll at least help. And I think that that's maybe even more than they had. So, I think it'll help with the flow of traffic in there and certainly cut down if anyone, which we still can't figure out because there really doesn't seem to be a time advantage of cutting through
four seasons with their speed limit, but if it is, we'll slow them down even more with these stop signs that they can actually read. So, um uh that's good news. Um we had um Mark Bowski here representing CHA and then um again I
think it was the next like or before that had come to the planning board meeting um for the old uh Trenton uh old Cranberry Road um property and that moved through the planning board. So that's exciting that that moved forward
too. Um, and Paul Lindenfeld, resent Paul Lindenfeld was asking about DPW's leaf collection. And I did some research on it with the help of Jerry as well in DPW and um,
Miss Marabella. And we used to do it a long time ago. We'd pick up leaves, we'd pick up like all that stuff. We'd mulch it and then we would put it in a village park. And then people thought that was a dumping ground. So people started dumping other things there. So that was our first problem. The second problem is
that we had a lot of resident complaints about um bugs being in the mulch and termites being in the mulch and ripped up poison ivy that then generated poison ivy when people picked up the mulch and brought it back to their house. So it was a big nuisance where we were getting
a lot of residents complaints on that process. And what we do now with that mulch is we give it to a local nursery um and that prevents us from paying anybody. they take it, which is really great. It's a cost savings for us because we don't have to pay anyone to
take it off our hands. So, um, we're still kind of investigating if there's any way that residents could have access to that mulch, but you know, we don't want to ruin a good thing because we're not paying for that mulch to be dropped off there. But, at the same time, you know, it's just it's just going there.
But, you know, we would have to do anything like that with a concession that we still don't accept any liability for termites, bugs, any infestation that would come with this mulch, and we just don't want to open ourselves up to that. So, that's still a little bit open, but a little bit of progress on that. Um,
trying to think of what else. So, uh, we had a resident that unfortunately, um, when they were paving, uh, Old Trenton Road, uh, the county got a little ambitious, uh, and, um, uh, cut a little bit too far into the right away on Old
Trenton Road, and we had a resident, um, that some of his trees were actually fully taken down, not just branches. Um, called the county uh, as soon as I had heard about it. They called me back literally 15 minutes later. They were investigating whether it was a utility
company or maybe you know anything like that. Um or it was we made absolutely sure it wasn't our department of public works which it was not. Call me literally back 15 minutes. They're like it was us no problem. Sent the supervisor out spoke to the resident. Uh they agreed that they're going to
replant six trees for them and they're going to do it in September when the weather's cooler so that they risk them being healthy and thriving. So, it was a really quick resolution. Um, and I was very grateful the resident actually there was something nice posted on social media. So, that was a welcome
change. Um, so but anyway, so I just wanted to follow up. So, I know there's concerns that we're trying to interact when we're talking to everybody and when we can follow up with things, we like to follow up the next meeting. So, I believe we're continuing in that cadence. So, those are the updates. Um,
and with that said, I will now open it up to public comment for this evening's meeting. >> Evening, Caroline. How are you? I wanted Oh, Caroline Wiznooki, 45 North Main Street. I wanted to bring up a problem that we have in front of the
restaurants on North Main Street and it's bicycles. I understand we don't want kids riding in the street, but unfortunately when they ride on the sidewalk while there's customers and staff running around with
food, it can get a little dicey and I myself have been run over. Um, is there any possibility of putting signs, one on the corner, one at Dennis White's driveway saying bikers, please dismount? So, I think that would be uh a good
thing because then you have more control over the bicycle. It'll be a lot kinder to everybody. Uh so, that's my request. And I have a comment about the um traffic study that was done when we had the meeting in the
school about that traffic study. Uh the county did not do a very good job presenting >> whi which traffic studies is >> this is the local one where we were allowed to make comments online and then they came and presented. >> Okay. >> Unfortunately their format for
presentation was awful. Um they would not allow us to ask any questions to them directly. We had to go stand at six different um pods and ask our questions there. that was ridiculous. So
please I urge you to be very careful and cautious about what it is that they are presenting um because they like they were not transparent in any way shape or form that day. >> Okay. >> I think we'll have opportunity to give feedback to them as they go through this
process which is good. Um I just wanted to bring up to thank you. Um I wanted to bring up to the TC's mention this is like the second time I've heard this comment about bicycles and then recently uh and in a short period of time and also recently I guess there's a say bike
gang sounds really not right um a cyclist group um that we had gotten some feedback on that had gone down through Main Street like at a very very high rate of speed as we know some of those uh you know racing bikes you
cyclist club can do that. So, I I'll make two commitments. One, I'll I'll follow up with um Dr. Rogers because I know that she's very in tune with some of those cycling groups to see if we can just ask them to be a little more conscientious when they're going down Main Street. And then as a followup, I
also think maybe um engaging with CBA, the Cranberry Business Association for this request on sidewalks and stuff like that. Maybe the local businesses in conjunction with us, maybe we can come up with something. Mayor, I wanted to share with you that uh Parks and Wreck also has a connection to the cycling
club that that parks their vehicles in I think they start from Village Park, right? And I think they're the ones that donated the contraption, the fixing repair little, right? So, they do have a connection with them, too. >> Okay.
>> Okay. Also, uh, any further public comment. Hi, Jennifer Lynenfeld, 20 Griggs. I just like to ask why we don't consistently fly the American flags in
our parks. Village Park has a pole, but no flag, no lights. Heritage Park doesn't have a pole or anything. Um, they're public spaces. I think that uh
it's appropriate for all of our parks to have an American flag flying. I don't know. Is there I don't know if there's a reason why we don't have that. I never thought about it until now. I
know the reason they don't have a light is because our parks technically close at dusk. So they close at dark. So there no reason to light them. So I I can give a quick answer to that one and then I'm staring diligently at our liaison to parks and wreck and Matt will take that.
>> Can you have an American flag up that's not lit >> if it's not lit? You have to take it down. >> So if it >> it has to be lit. Oh >> yeah. >> It either has to be taken down. >> You have to take it down or you have to take it down or it has to be lit. >> Yeah. Anyway, I'll bring it up for them.
Thank you. Okay. Any other public comment? Good evening. My name is Marty Flynn. Uh I sent a uh letter to you and to the governor. Uh a letter requesting you remove the Henry family farm from your list of designated properties for
affordable housing. This will allow Mr. Henry to qualify for Farm Preservation. We wanted to put a name and and face together. That's why we're here tonight. Joseph Stillwell is my running mate. Uh we're running for the assembly LD14. We
know it won't be easy. We're working very very hard to represent Cranberry and the other towns in LD14. Um but but I I think it's important for you to uh know that uh
you know if your efforts continue um that our first order of business will be to make every effort to resend this we feel is a tra travesty. So again, just wanted to put a name to a face. Wanted to let
you know how we feel and how a number of people uh out in the communities, not only in Cranberry, but throughout LB14. So thank you for your time. >> Thank you. >> That public comment over here. Press the right hand button. >> It's already on.
>> I know it's not intuitive with the red. >> I have to talk. >> You just need to sign in. Okay. >> And then state your name, please. >> Joe Stillwell 203 Grayson Avenue, Hamilton, New Jersey, >> where the letter came from. Uh I just hope council deliberations. I know you
guys have a long history of doing affordable housing well here in Cranberry Township, but what's going on with this farmer situation? Nobody likes it around here. I see the signs. talk to the members of the community. It's a travesty when we attack the culture of
New Jersey being the garden state, making it the warehouse or overdevelopment state. Um, and I do hope before the deadline, which I'm aware of is the 31st of August if I'm not mistaken, for any alterations to the plan is considered because the people here, they seem to have a long memory
when things go wrong and this is not right. And so I hope council reconsiders the track that it's on in regards to this issue because what's the next town that has to face this? Your piece of property is private property. Buy it. It's because the government says it.
That's not what eminent domain is for. It's for the public. It's for public good and the common good of the the citizenry, not just development for this and the way this has been handled. So I just like I'd like to yield my time and uh think about it.
Just for a clarification for the public, the challenge period to the our round four affordable housing plan ends the end of August. So that's just the challenge period of when people can challenge uh the legality of our plan.
Just to clarify, >> Mayor Caner, I think it might be beneficial also to just mention that uh with regards to our affordable housing and this 250 foot buffer, public comment is open for everyone to make and if it will be helpful to this process. Again, I reiterate I was
essentially one of three people that were there providing comment to try and actually alleviate the stress on this situation. So, I'm Yeah. >> Yeah. I would um urge everyone to educate themselves on HMFA's 250 foot warehouse buffering. The public comment
is open for a reason. Um and I can I believe I can make my letter to HMFA public. I will add that under the affordable housing um section on our website if it helps people understand
what our push back is and that the we would like it to go away. If it can't go away, we're requesting a modification to the language. Any support we can get from the public uh in terms of public comment, um I'll I'll leave it to you to figure out what what that might mean for
our community, but I would encourage you to educate yourself on that particular rule. Everybody, any further public comment? Okay, seeing none, we will close public
comment for this evening. Uh action items. >> So for the bicycle issue, I'll talk to parks and wreck, but I mean do we want to discuss further any possible I don't know encourage cranberry police department to help us keep the kids off the bikes off the sidewalk rather or
signage? >> Yeah. So I think police and also CBA >> to see if businesses maybe jointly together we can come up with something. >> Yeah. >> I wonder if there may be a little bit of a school outreach as well to say can we talk about bicycle safety and etiquette and courtesy because a lot of these
children are in the school. >> Well it seems easy enough they can just ride on the other side of >> even if they want to stay out of the street from a safety perspective if they're young kids. The other side of the street doesn't have businesses won't have the same issue riding through people eating dinner seem reasonable.
cross at the school then drive up that side of Main Street. >> Feel like we can figure this out. >> Yeah, I think so. >> Seems relatively not complex. >> Yeah. >> And then the the flag issue, I will meet with parks and wreck next week or two weeks.
>> Okay, perfect. And I'm still on uh mulch duty to see what I can see what I can find out see what we can do. Okay. All right. Um, with that said, can I get a motion to adjurnn?
>> We'll keep the pattern going. Motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I I >> Thank you.