on Monday, October 13th, township committee meeting. You're able to stand [Music] to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands. One nation under God,
indivisible, with all >> we're going to move on to the open public meetings act notice. Pursuant to the open public meetings of not this meeting was sent to the cranberry press Trenton times and home news on January 3rd 2025 posted on the township's
website and sent to those who requested a copy of this notice. Roll call. Mr. Christopher >> here. >> Mrs. Obadawi >> here. >> Dr. Rogers >> here. >> Mr. Scott >> here. Mayor Kir >> here. >> Thank you. >> Um, two things. First, I'd like to tell everyone I'm appropriately dressed this
evening. It's chilly out and I won't be sweating, so I feel a sweater was in order tonight. So skip that. >> On a more serious note, um I'd like to acknowledge uh the passing of Mr. Richard Kalen. Um an absolutely
dedicated resident of Cranberry passed away last week. Um I had the blessing of attending his service which I was uh blown away. I shouldn't be surprised at all by the attendance at his service. Um, but if uh everybody would join me in
a moment of silence for Richard and thanking him for his commitment to the cranberry community. Thank you. Do we have any uh additions or changes to our agenda tonight? No. Okay. I'd like to get a motion or if anybody has
any changes for our meeting minutes from September 29th. >> I'll move. >> Second. >> I'll second. >> Thank you. We're going to move on to roll call. Mr. Christopher, >> yes. >> Mrs. Elidawi, >> yes. >> Dr. Rogers, >> yes. >> Mr. Scott,
>> yes. >> And Mayor Clean, yes. Unanimous. Thank you. Got you. >> One extension. Okay. Who's our volunteer to start our committee updates?
>> I'll start. >> Thank you. >> That's really generous of you. >> Thank you for not being longwinded with that recap. >> I'll jump in. I didn't have any meetings. Yeah, didn't have any activities
activity by the parks and recent flag. Uh thanks also to fire department and uh Joe for for helping out getting that done. Very exciting. >> Lions Club, >> huh?
>> Lions Club too. Yeah. Sorry. club for for their generous donation and um and helping to pay for the uh the light. Um so yeah, nice to see little thing, but nice to see we get something done. Um and then um I know there's been some
progress made on the build for tennis courts out there yesterday actually. They have the uh poles for the fencing set up. I don't know when it's gonna actually be done. >> They're working on it. >> I know. I know. Doesn't look like it's close. They're working on it and the
weather's not helping. >> Spring tennis. >> Spring tennis. >> Uh like um I am sorry to be a little bit longwinded today, but um I wanted to share with you what have we
done. It's been it's been a little bit busy. Our affordable housing subcommittee has met a few times and we continue to discuss updates uh both within our committee as well as with the state reps and we're working through the issues and we do have I guess the October 28th for um our settlement
conference. So um moving in that direction. The library board meeting occurred on October 9th which I had to miss. It um conflicted with the planning board meeting this month and so I did get an update. We did reflect upon the new neighbor's reception that I reported
on last meeting. And just to hit the highlights, 35 new residents came and were welcomed by um you know beautiful sunset and members of the library board and foundation, members of the TC, the women's club, first aid alliance club and a couple of other boards and commission. So it was really nice. Um
they are also continuing to pursue their solar project, the rooftop solar project and working through the kinks and the engineering and all sorts of things that they need to. But it is still a goal um to have this solar project sort of planned. It's certainly not up and
running by this year, but uh we would love to have good specs by December. So let's see how they can work on that. And um many residents in town should have received a fundraising letter uh from the library foundation. And the library foundation obviously works very closely
with the uh with the board. And last year the foundation spent $30,000 to upgrade the showplace fireplace with the brick. Have you guys noticed that the brick? Yeah, the facade. And um and so it's just nice for residents to see what their donations are going toward. So
it's not just programming. It's not just staff, you know, I'm sorry, not staffing because that's certainly a board um expense, but however we can support the library. If the library doesn't have that funding or isn't budget for that year, it was nice to see that the
library foundation stepped up to help with that. Um the DRC also met on the same day and I missed that meeting. They discussed proposed changes to the parking lot for um for the Amazon accommodating for trailer parking and
they had a very extensive thoughtful discussion. Um the planning board met on that same day. That day was a pretty hefty day and I was just running from pillar to post truly. Uh so the planning board met and
I was 10 minutes late for that meeting but somehow had missed really the meat of that meeting like the bulk of that meeting. We normally I know like we we normally have two hour plus meetings but that yeah so in the 10 minutes that I was late uh due to traffic so they had
voted on and passed some resolutions on board applications that the board had addressed in previous meetings. It really was just a technicality uh more or less and um they discussed the checklist currently being updated by the zoning committee and additionally there was some discussion regarding the
agricultural zones in the village commercial and village home residential area as it pertains to our ordinances. So further discussion will ensue the town planner will investigate sort of a little bit further on common practices in other towns as well as um this issue as addressed in previous meetings from
years back. So, uh, it's a little bit of a a research project for her. Um, and on my not so, uh, official duties, I attended a lovely folk dance event here in town called the Gara as part of the Namarachi celebration that was held at
the Cranberry School Gym. It was the first time that that event was held in this town and it was hosted by residents in town. We were just in, you know, invited, guests, like residents were invited, I guess, um, you know, through social media. Um, it was very well attended. 260 people.
>> Wow. >> All dressed up and all performing these dances together, these communal dances. It was really, really, really beautiful. Very well done. Um, I attended the Middle Sex County Business uh summit as well, believe it or not, on the same day
as the DRC planning board and all of that. And the emphasis this year, every year they picked something different to really focus on. And the emphasis this year was on AI and its purpose in the business sector as well as local government. Um, a lot of things I learned and um, wow, it's it's quite a
beast this whole AI thing. Um, good and bad. Um, I attended a meeting for Asian-American Pacific Islander Commission and they're interested in creating an Asian-American Museum. So, they're doing these little think tank meetings all around the nation. And the
first ever was here in New Jersey. And I attended a lovely local event here in town, the Whispers from the Ring. Is it CHPS or HBC? >> CPS. >> CHPS. It was just really lovely to see our town's residents get dressed up, you
know, period specific. And they had their wonderful information sort of memorized and shared about they were standing in front of the headstone of, you know, this person that had passed away, a person from excuse me, um generally wore or or
someone who had supported the war like a spouse and wonderful information. But more than that, it just was really nice to see all the residents, some with children, some with grandchildren, come together and discuss and enjoy the outdoors. The weather didn't stop anything. So, it was it was um really
nicely put together. And the scouts participated, HP, CHPS, the primary in provided, you know, refreshments like just a lot of people coming together to create a nice nice event for the res. I would say that out
of context it's very alarming to see the people that participate in an event walking down main street like very jarring and my daughter I was driving her to work at cranberry pizza and she's like what is happening and I was and there was one on one side of the road and one on the other and they were in
full uniform just walking by themselves not in a group of people so it was almost like you were back in time for a split second because you drove your motor vehicle down >> try seeing your husband Thank you for that [Music]
report. Thank you. >> Thanks for your report. Um I have two things that I want to report on boards and commissions, but I attended um an ANG environmental congress. Um stands for association with
New Jersey environmental commissions and um there's 564 pounds and um there aren't that many environmental commissions but anyway this um environmental congress was u one of the reasons why I attended was um on our storm water management we have this
new permitting which I talked about earlier MS4 permitting MS4 stands for municipal separate storm sewer system that's the system that um you know storm water runoff. It conveys our storm water runoff to local water bodies um and
while preventing pollution. So um there's been this real big update on the MS4. Um the first phase was find identifying all our outlets which is being done. Tom Deer, our engineer, is now putting together a map. You know, believe it or not, we have no idea what
our pipes are underneath the ground. Um so they're connecting the dots. Now, the second thing that's going to be happening in 2026 is something called a wick watershed improvement plan. Um, so what that does is basically it um it
takes all that data and information and it identifies areas of concern and where potential water quality improvement projects may. So, what does that mean? That means that as a um account committee, we're going to have to think in the future uh how
we're going to be improving certain areas. You know, um our engineer will identify these things and make this plan, but we're also going to have to find a way to fund these things. So, I just want to keep us, you know, ahead of the the curve that we're going to have
to be funding some probably significant um storm water improvement things. um and where's that funding going to come from? So um there are some steps and I'm not going to go into them but um you know the grants but there's also other ways of funding it. So it's, you know,
just just keep this in mind that this is coming down the pipe and literally and um and um well done. >> Um and uh you know and I you know I want to keep informed so that I'm keeping my
so that's one thing. >> Can I ask you a question? >> Yeah. >> When you said we don't know what our pipes look like the Wii is townships in general, is that correct? >> Yes. All townships are creating these maps. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. It's like a plunder going into a house and not knowing what types of but
>> this is really great. This is something that years like it's been identified that this is so necessary and now it's a rule of law that this has to be done each town. Do >> you have an estimate of when you think financially it'll impact the town like
two years, three years, five years? >> Probably. Yeah. >> A little out because the improvement plans are just coming. I assume once they create that map that's going to be the trigger for >> Yeah. >> like timing. >> Yeah. >> And you know there's certain different ideas. Um but I'm not going to talk
about that. >> Uh the other big thing that um I really want uh I'm glad that people are here because um on October 15th um there is a virtual meeting. Um let me see.
It's um it's a virtual meeting held by Middle Sex County. Um it's a study. It's so what's happening is if you go to southern Middle Sex Trucking route truckout.com, this is going to be sent out on our on our next update and um there these are
virtual meetings uh between 6:30 and 8. learn about the study investigating options to normalize truck routing around interchange 8A by identifying roads within the study area best suited to accommodate heavy truck movement. So,
um um there's been like I've been part of this um Middle Sex County study where they've identified where trucks are moving around in 8A, you know, where they're going. You know, they're not all coming to Cranberry. They're using
Cranberries, you know, as as a through further on uh Route 130. So, um you know, some go north, a lot go north, too. So, exit AA is really a hub of a lot of traffic, you know, truck. um that little hub, but a lot goes
north. Lot doesn't go south necessarily. So anyway, this is now an opportunity for the public, you know, to actually uh weigh in on um on ways to fix it. And this website, it says, "Welcome to the
website for the Southern Middle Sex Truck Routing Study in Cranberry Township, Monroe Township, and South Brunswick, New Jersey." the new the north um the new North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority in partnership with Middle Sex County is conducting a study to investigate
options to develop truck routing in southern Middle Sex County. And the reason why I'm reading this is because I want I want the wordings to be correct. So, um this is this is the point where they're figuring out ways to projects to potentially fix it. whether it's way
finding to prevent them from going into neighborhoods or whether there's new roadways that may need to be developed. Anyway, um so it's the best accommodate trucks and avoid residential areas while providing effect efficient connectivity to clusters of freight activity in the
area. So I please please please join this on Wednesday because they have data points but they don't have you know we've got to hear the public and you know how it potentially impacts us. So >> hey Barb before you move on do you know if they're engaging like Google Maps or
Apple? I know there's that. >> Oh yeah they're looking at all of that. Oh yeah. So what they've been also great at is they've taken the local leaders and planners and administrators from South Brunswick, from Monroe, from Cranberry, and we've all participated in
these was the was the um you know leaders of >> and they're doing exactly what they said they were going to do, which is spend the next year basically in public outreach and then collecting more data and collecting more data. So they're not rushing into anything. They're trying to
get in touch with trucking companies and you know those types of things. So they're taking information from you know anywhere they can but they're all but the fact that they're gathering it from the public too. So I believe this is going to be one of of many there are like there's a whole like if you go to this website it's it's really
extensive what they're doing. It's a real, you know, project that is really well thought out on how, you know, how best to um resolve. >> But you can give input like we've got the problem with littering and we've got the problem with idling and we've got
the we've got multiple problems that our own residents are providing feedback to us. So, we're trying to give it to them, but it's just great if they're hearing directly from the public, too. >> Yeah. And this will go to the county working um and uh
initials um so many initials but um yeah and there will be other stakeholder meetings but not on this beginning part so this is um really important public meeting to identify issues and concerns um anyway oh on the website oh great
okay so you can go to the website uh the flyers posted on the website okay and it's on there's update for tomorrow too yeah so I just wanted to put that Thank you. Yeah, it's just great to see things that are being studied actually
being starting to be implemented. >> Um, okay, just a couple updates here. Um, the Cranberry Volunteer Fire Company had their open house on Saturday. They were a little inhibited by the weather, too. Um, but being fire um, safety month, it was good that they had that. I
know they put a ton of work into it and their demonstrations. So, um, we've got to help them next year and try to get the word out a little bit more so that, uh, they can have a little bit better of attendance. Um, I have gotten to just an update on the internet and cellular
service in Cranberry. Um, I've spent a disproportionate amount of my time the last week talking to Verizon. They're fascinatingly friendly company. >> Um, and uh, was on chat with them and made multiple calls for them. And after digging into it, they they said they had
put a work order in that was supposed to at least in Shadow Oaks. It expired at like two o'clock in the morning the next day. Absolutely nothing happened. There was no change in my service at all. I was still on LTE. It was like garbage. Um I do want to thank everybody because I've gotten letters from residents like
basically reiterating everything that we I talked about or everyone said. So it's a real problem here. I finally got to the bottom of it and um we are due for what they are calling upgrades and enhancements. We are tagged as an area
and a town that require that they take months to coordinate that. So what I'm trying to do is get them to speed that up, prioritize Cranberry and using the fact it's not just drop calls. It's not that people can't work from home. It's affected. I had one resident say that
they were on call with their wife's oncologist and they kept getting their call dropped and dropped and dropped and I said besides that and emergency services suddenly there was more attention being paid. So I want to thank Rob and I think you're going to kind of pick up and I'll go on other updates
after that. But before I do that, you have a connection and I sent you all my chat screenshots and all of that nonsense to see what we could do. And then, by the way, I'll move on to T-Mobile's on my list this week and then I'll get to AT&T next week. >> So, conveniently, one of our community
members actually does work for Verizon Wireless. Um, and he's chasing down a bunch of the emails that you sent me. Um, I was negligent not copying you on the email I sent to him. Um, but it is moving in multiple multiple fronts. So, hopefully we'll get some traction soon.
>> Okay. And then, oddly enough, I got a text message telling me that was now available in my neighborhood. And I was like, I don't think that's right. So, it's because we share the zip code 08512 and then we've got our subzip code. So, I was like, well, congratulations East Windsor. They now have in their
neighborhood, but it's not in Grand Prix. So, more to come on that. But again, if anybody has any contacts or um what I also still trying to do is get one point of contact at each of these, which I'll put in the mayor's updates and then anyone can send their letter.
And it I I just don't know if it's strength in numbers at this point or we just have to go this route and find somebody that cares. But when they're going to care is when it's going to be too late, right? So we have an opportunity to be proactive in something. I'd like to get that done. Um
so the police blotter, we're going to hear from the chief soon. The the latest version of the police uh blotter is up and on our website. Uh latest on our county road improvements. So, we had a little bit of a hiccup on South Me and we're waiting to get the schedule,
correct? and when the contractor can start the work. But we're gonna have >> So, we just received approval from the county to go ahead and move ahead with the sewer repair and then do the mill and pave probably
>> after. Okay. Which is fine because the more the deeper concern is that if anyone's driving on Main Street and your car is bottoming out right there in front of the end, that's the problem. And that that is consistently getting worse. I mean, every single week it's getting worse. So, I agree with that.
But then the weather is just going to be the part that catches up to us. Correct. >> Right. So, we have to see when the bill will get done. That's what was holding it up. But the county agreed that we could go ahead and do the sewer repair. So, we're going to do that first. >> So, that that'll take care of the road settlement if at the very least. Right.
And that's the thing we were worried about. >> Yeah. It'll just be patched and the county doesn't want that. They want it completely painted, which I understand because they did it themselves not that long ago and they don't want a patch job. They want it completely fixed, which is is fine. >> Yeah, we'll take the banding as long as
the wound is fixed. All right. Yeah. Okay. All right. Got it. >> Yeah. So, that's going along and then we I don't know if that's going to have any impact on Shadow Oaks. Correct. Are we going to be able to We'll start the We'll start the work on Shadow Oaks. And
do we know the timing of that? That's the one thing I didn't see. >> Okay. But it's it they're hoping to get it all done this year. I don't know. >> Yeah. >> November 3rd. >> November 3rd. Thank you. >> November 3rd. Okay.
>> Meeting >> one day. Okay, that's great. And if we can get that done by the end of the year, weather permitting. >> Weather peritting. >> Okay. All right. Um and then um I'll
post uh tomorrow is voter registration deadline for the general election and then I will post the subsequent dates in the mayor's update tomorrow so that everybody has those important uh dates in there. >> Let's go to page two. >> Yeah, you can go to the the page on our
tension website. Okay, with that I believe our chief of police is going to give us an update. Can you hear me? >> I will uh start with the shadow comment. Um they said uh by the end of November
it should be done. So again a lot of that is weather permitting. There is Thanksgiving in there. They were going to start this week. Um I apologize. They were going to start the week of Halloween and obviously why told them not to start Halloween. So that did delay it. But um Halloween's on a Friday
this night and the roads would be tore up and they're going to leave them until they're ready to come back and mill. So for obvious reasons, they're going to start that Monday right after Halloween. >> That's great. Thank you. >> You're welcome. So in front of you or my I emailed you. I apologize. I don't know if it's in front of you or not are just
the monthly um monthly report and the police. I'll go over the report first. Um summones for the month um are on par. uh we're right where we were last year uh with less with less officers. So if
you see a disparity in the number compared to the year before, it's it's it's surely based off of the amount of officers that are on the road and that's self-explanatory. Um motor vehicle stops are up um for the
month of September 2025. um crashes um are decreasing a little bit on some wood. I'm very happy about um calls for service. Um this this report is evolving as uh more time I had
uh serving as your police chief. I'm going to add arrests in here. This month alone, I think there was 12 or 14 arrests. Um so I just think it's important, you know, to add that. It'll be there for next month. I didn't want to rush. Um but I do want to do a comparison like I do from the years
past. Overtime was almost at a bare minimum. Um we'll see the increase this month. We have mandatory training and it was on the range for uh since this morning. Um and that'll happen again Wednesday. So um there will be spikes in that. But for this month I I don't even
know. I'm just going to be quiet because it's 33 hours. So we'll leave that alone. Um um it explains that that's the overtime. Um and then detective bureau. Um I am happy to um we are making some
headway on some of these um nasty threats. Um some stuff I haven't shared because we're still actively investigating. Um we have some new ones which never ceases to amaze me. Um same story. Um but whenever like a news
article or something happens and we and you know ignites everything and um so we do have some new ones um not going to tell you what they're doing to counteract our investigation. So we'll leave it at that. But we are making some progress which I'm happy about. So um you'll see the school assistant
involvement has dramatically um jumped up. That's obviously because school's in session. So not that we're having problems at our schools. doing our due diligence um uh and protecting our schools the best that we can. Um the police plotter is it I it
was emailed also. It was the longest report. Um you can see the font's a little smaller. I promised this committee that I would keep it to a page. >> When I first started this it was >> you can go to two if you need to. >> No, it was it was I don't want >> I'm going to have to own these.
>> It was six it was six and I got it down to eight. It literally is like a two. >> So it's a 9.5. Don't get crazy there. I know we're all getting a little crazy, but I wear glasses, so it's okay. >> Zooming in. >> Yeah. Well, that's perfect. Everybody
look on Zoom. >> So, uh there was a couple we had a couple missing persons. Thankfully, they turned out okay. Uh a hit and run. I just highlighted some some of the stuff. And then um there there was there was a
bunch of arrests um you know some some months are like that there's some that aren't even in here the normal um uh the normal everyday arrest whatever that normal means. Um there was one of you that asked the question and then let me answer it um with respect to maybe if you want to explain it a little bit
better. Um, you just wanted to know what the process is or how >> like there seemed that there seemed that you you were um >> releasing a lot of people. >> Well, it seemed like there was a warrant out for them. So, you stop them and then they get processed and then they get
re-released. You know that there's that law. >> Yes. So, so the new law that um the AOC, which is the administrative office of the courts, um empowers the judges to sign these warrants. um for a warrant and judges are very specific to give it
a dollar amount obviously and we're seeing more of them now. Um we went for a couple years with no warrants and nobody showing up in court and there's a neighboring town that's I think $2 million you know in the red that people haven't paid the fine which is huge and it's a small town like ours. So, um, but
to that end, uh, we, uh, the jud the judge came out with a certain set of rules that said, "Hey, you can issue these warrants. It's $500 or less. You must accept a a bail recall form," which is a recognance form. We give them a new court date. We do it right on the side
of the road. We have the forms with us. We call the court says, "Okay, our court's Wednesday morning. Ours are always Wednesday morning, 9:00 or Thursday night. Um, and you must appear. We have them sign it. They agree that they're going to appear and they're on their way. Do they appear? No, they're still not going to appear. However,
that's what that's what the rule says. Our attorney general has approved it. Before, even if it was a $200 warrant, our officers would have to place them under arrest. It doesn't say may, it says shall. And when the law says shall for a police officer, it's like opening
the Bible, right? Um it's law. So, we then arrest and we bring them back even for a $200 warrant. So, you're seeing a lot more of those. Um, anything over 500, they come back to headquarters. We process them, fingerprint, everything that we normally would do, do an arrest report. We call that agency. That agency
still has the right to release them if they don't have the officers to come pick up the individual that's under arrest and bring them to their version of wherever their jail is. If it's Middle Sex, it's Middle Sex. If it's Mercer, it's Mercer. Um, anywhere in the state of New Jersey, all 21 counties. So, that's how that works. It doesn't
matter whether it's a traffic warrant or a criminal warrant. The guidelines are still saying 500 or less. Um we can release them right from the side of the road if it was a motor vehicle stop >> because it's in the it's in the police blames. >> Yeah. But that could be that doesn't
necessarily mean on the side of the road. Like I said, if we if we arrest you for DWI and then you had a warrant, we still have to get that permission from that court to say yes, they can come another time or they're going to have to send their police officers to come the individual over the county
court. >> I just don't want I just don't want the public to say, "Oh, >> to think nobody's coming to get them." Right. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> That's great. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Any other questions? >> You reminded me talking about Halloween. So, this is the part of the meeting I'd
like to call things said on the internet that aren't true. >> Okay. Yeah, sure. So, >> go on the internet. Thank you for diving in for that. >> No, there was a statement made that uh we only permit trick-or-treating >> on Main Street between this road and
this road. And I just want you >> No, I I didn't. I was in the police. Uh, I I just want to let the public know that the township does not tell anybody where they could trick trick-or- treat. And I just I was a little bit more
sensitive because we just had this new residents uh event and there's last I checked 45 Facebook pages for Cranberry Township. There's as many pages as our residents. And so if the new families are going on there and subscribing and trying to get their information from
there, I just want to clear that up that that is not true. We have a disproportionate amount of people over the years that go to Main Street. I have lived here only for nine years. I have never had my bell rung on uh uh in Shadow Oaks because everybody goes to
Main Street. That's where they go. It's not where they're permitted to go. So, anybody can walk around and trickor treat or treat and trick do whatever you want. So, freerange chicken trick-or-treating in Cranberry Township. >> Subscribe.
>> Yeah. So, just wanted to clear that up. I forgot to mention that. >> So, enjoy Halloween. Thank you for the help on Main Street that you provide. But I think we're going to have a big turnout this year because it is on Friday. >> Yeah. And uh you know, the officers will
be there and I will allude to what you just said. There's plenty of help where you don't see in the outskirts. I mean, I still have officers there as well. Um this will be my 27th one. So, they're all over the place. Obviously, the bulk is what you said where you see them every day. So you'll see the lights
going up and down. We'll have crossing guards out there as well. There'll be plenty of presence every time. >> Perfect. >> Thank you. >> Behave. Thanks. You're welcome. >> Do we have any follow-up items?
>> All right. Our vacancy is pleased to announce we're down to three versus four. The Environmental Commission still is the first alternate and second alternate. The second alternate on the zoning board has been filled this evening through a resolution and then we have opened the municipal alliance a
full membership. >> Actually I think I like zoning is the full me >> zoning is a >> was the full is still open. >> My apologies. >> Okay I threw you full membership has been filled. Second alternate
>> remains vacant. Okay, we have four and I'll publish that in the mayor's update just to clarify. >> Okay, we have no first or second readings this evening. So, I will go to ask that um a motion to approve
resolutions A through D. >> So, move second. >> Second. >> Thank you. We'll move on to roll call. Uh Mr. Christopher, >> yes. >> Mr. Delbidawi, >> yes. >> Dr. Rogers, >> yes. Mr. Scott,
>> yes. >> And Mary can hear. >> Yes. >> Thank you. It's unanimous. >> All right. Well, thank you. We have a packed house tonight for public comment. Um, thanks for coming in. Getting out of rain. Uh, just as a reminder, when you come up, the lights already red, so you don't have to touch anything. Just come in, check in, put your name in there,
and just a reminder, you've got three minutes, and thanks for coming. Good evening. My name is Jenny Kasaki. I am a resident of 97 North Main Street in Cranberry. Just want to read something very briefly. On October 3rd, the Camden
Center for Law and Social Justice sent out a letter notifying the community at large that ICE was sending out information to youth, not only to Camden, but to cities of diverse populations, notifying the youth of something called Freaky Friday. This is
a program encouraging unaccompanied children and youth also known as UC's who are 14 years of age or older to self-deport. According to the cabinet center, the letters were trying were strong and threatening. They were stating that
youth could be detained if they when they hit 18. It told the youth that they could earn up to $2,500 for returning to their home country with or without their parents. It threatened to force deportation of parents if the
youth did not follow the letter. And it is supposedly that that letter is being sent all over the state. Now admittedly, we do not know if any of our youth at Princeton High School, which is, as you know, primary residents go there. We don't know that any of our youth have
received such a letter. But the reason I'm bringing this up is that I would like the committee to still consider writing a letter of support for the immigrant trust act. And the biggest reason I am even talking about this is
because it's my understanding that the committee has concerns about the immigrant trust act. And I'd actually like to bring you back to the idea that the immigrant trust directive is still in place. But we do have one major candidate who is saying they will take
it off the table as soon as they become governor. The immigrant trust directed protects our police. The immigrant trust directive tells our police that they do not have to get used for federal law enforcement. Obviously, our police will always be making sure that they protect
citizens against criminal activity, but they do not have to get used for federal law enforcement. I know this town has been through a lot. I know this committee has been through a lot. I don't want to bring any more shame to this committee or this town. I don't
want to bring any more derision between the residents of this town. I do want the me the residents of this town to be able to trust their police. If the immigrant trust directed gets dropped and there's a new attorney general, that could mean that the police then end up
getting used for federal law enforcement. It also means that our taxes are going to federal law enforcement and not necessarily the protection of our citizens. I would like you to please consider that if you are concerned about our taxes, if you're
concerned about our safety, if you're concerned about the reputation of this town, you will consider supporting the immigrant trust directive. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Sorry. Tried to catch her.
>> Keep her practice. Okay. My name is Peter Econom. I'm a resident of Monroe, but I'm here because what I'm about to say affects all of us. I'm here tonight to respectfully urge the council to pass a resolution in
favor of the Immigrant Trust Act, which is currently before the legislature. This piece of legislation codifies and expands the state directive that's currently in place, which limits local law enforcement from collaborating with federal immigration authorities beyond
what is required by the law. Contrary to some false statements that have been made to argue against the ITA, it does not prevent local police from pursuing immigrants involved in criminal activity. Hudson County, Essex County,
and at least 15 towns in both blue and red counties have issued such resolutions. This legislation is not about politics. It's about human beings. It ensures that local law enforcement does not act as
federal immigration agents and that local resources are used to protect public safety in Cranberry, not to tear families apart. Black and brownkinned people, undocumented and documented alike, are terrified at what's going on.
There are stories of the immigrant mother who drew a map on the back of her kid's hand so he could find his way back home in case his his mother was detained. A 16-year-old girl who could not register for school because both of her parents were in
detention centers. And a 17-year-old teenage boy who has to figure out how to make a life for himself without his parents who are both deported. We all want safe towns, but when undocumented immigrants are afraid to report crimes,
cooperate with police, or seek medical help because of potential detention, arrest or deport uh deportation, everyone is less safe. The ITA can help to restore that trust. It builds a firewall between immigration enforcement
and local law enforcement so that people, regardless of status, can come forward when something is wrong. Just to be clear, this act does not interfere with Cranberry police officers from doing their jobs. On the contrary, it
allows them to do the jobs for which they were trained. It simply ensures that they are not deputized by ICE. Support for a resolution is also a human statement. It says that Cranberry values fairness, values the hardworking immigrants who are our neighbors,
co-workers, and friends, and who contribute to local and state economies, and that you do not believe that fear and intimidation should be tools of public policy. In Cranberry, you have a chance to stand with the other communities on the state
uh on the side of safety, trust, and human dignity. I urge you to join Senator Greenstein, Assembly Men and Woman D'Angelo and McCoy, who have signed on as co-sponsors of the bill and pass a resolution affirming this town's support for the ITA.
>> Thank you. [Music] Thanks. So, my name is Kaja. in Princeton and I wanted to speak in favor of uh having the council pass a resolution in favor of the immigrant trust act modeling one we have in Princeton. Now it's no secret that
Cranberry has lots of warehouses and thousands of square feet of warehouse space. I myself used to do data entry work the old Lennox China facility in town. It's no secret that like a lot of nearby towns primary seeks out warehouses for their value as gradables as part of your master plan and that of
the other towns. It's also no secret that the floor jobs at these warehouses were often done by migrant labor. Loading, receiving, unloading, picking, packing, sorting, QC, janitorial work, maintenance. I was a hostage janitor
myself, so no drill. Take these jobs out of the equation and you've got no economy, no warehouses, no raidables, no tax revenue. These migrant workers don't just pay taxes and work hard in some generic sense. They make your quality of life
possible. They make it possible for you to have a quaint town of the kind you have. But it is no secret that the workers in question are on the receiving end of an assault care of an alphabet
soup of federal agencies. HSA, HSI, CPB, ICE. These entities aren't law enforcement agencies in any normal sense of the word. They are the front end of a military occupation whose explicit targets for the people of this country.
I've spent time under two military dictatorships myself, Pakistan and the West Bank. I've been falsely accused of crimes, detained, strip searched, interrogated, and shot at with live ammunition. I know what a military
occupation looks like from the inside and we are headed there. The hour is late. Election day is a couple weeks away. Both of our candidates are evading this issue as hard as they can. One is
against the immigrant trust directive and neither is in favor of the immigrant trust act. If municipalities don't descent, the game is over. This is not a drill. These are not exaggerations. Our freedom is on the line and is partly in
your hands. You need to respond in a way that will make you proud to have done your part to defend it. The time is now. Thank you. >> Thank you. [Music] Um so earlier it was mentioned by one of
the speakers that uh people undocumented and undocumented are fearful and I will tell you that I personally have a friend who lives in Princeton um who is born and raised in Princeton. uh his wife is a green card holder and they called me because I their lawyer advised them to
be an emergency contact in case they were taken off the street because that's what's happening whether you're a green card holder, whether you're a citizen or not. Uh I'm here to echo the call for our township committee to pass a resolution to support the immigrant
trust act. The immigrant trust act would prevent social services and police from working with ICE. It would prevent our school from sharing information about our students and their parents' immigration status. If we allow this information to be shared, it will cause some students to drop out of school. I
think we can all agree that as a society and as individuals, we're all better off when our neighbors are educated. If police are sharing information with ICE, it will create a subset of our neighbors and workers who travel here who will not report crimes to our police for fear of being deported. Criminals will be handed
a will be hand handed a population of primary residents and workers who can be victimized at will while our police remain uninformed of the crime in our community. I think we can all agree that as a society and as individuals we are all safer when criminals are arrested and prosecuted. Finally, my tax salaries
will be spent to support a police force that is directed by Washington as to what their priorities will be. Instead of patrolling our streets for wrongdoers, enforcing speed limits, and ensuring our children are safe in school and a drop off and pickup, they will be directed by Washington to show up at
workplaces and homes where there are possible undocumented immigrants. Instead of our police chief determining priorities, he will he will be directed by ICE as to what the day's tasks will be. I think we can all agree that as a society and as individuals, we're all better off when local author authorities
decide on local priorities. Thank you. Thank you. [Music] >> Hi, I'm Andrea King 30. Um, I'm going to join the chorus of people. Um, I'd like to urge this committee to write a resolution in
support of the Immigration Trust Act. We need legislators to codify New Jerseyy's existing immigration trust directive and turn it into law. 17 other municipalities have already done this and Cranberry must join them. As you know, we have a lot of warehouses here
and ICE has been targeting warehouses, some of them very close by. We are a diverse community and we must protect our residents, friends, and neighbors from the lawless infringement on our civil rights being perpetrated by an outofcontrol DHS
federal government with the help of a lot of mass thugs. They're attacking people on the basis of appearance which is against our constitution. They're zip tying children and shoving women and elderly people to the ground. 70% of these detained are innocent of any
criminal activity and many are American citizens or have green cards. I don't want my tax dollars funding what I consider government sanctioned kidnapping. I don't think our police department should be engaged in unconstitution
unconstitutional actions, including violations of the fourth amendment against unreasonable search and seizure and the fifth amendment's guarantee of due process. Cranberry must stand against this rogue administration and stand with our residents. Please
consider it. Thank you. [Music] Uh my name is Don Cohen. I'm not a resident. I'm a uh neighbor from Montgomery Township. Uh I'm here this evening to ask this committee to join my township's committee and about 20 other
towns around the state in urging the state legislature to pass the immigrant trust act. My husband is an immigrant. My children are children of immigr of an immigrant. Many friends and neighbors are immigrants and children of immigrants. So this issue is very
personal for me. Uh reading the news these days, I'm very fearful for their safety. Uh it's very clear from news reports that legal immigration status is no guarantee of immunity from ISIS drag
nets. Furthermore, all community members benefit from the whole community having access to services that they pay taxes for regardless of their immigration status. We are all safer when our sick neighbors can access health care without
fear of ICE. We're all safer when uh our neighbors can report crimes without fear of ICE. We are all safer when our uh law enforcement uh resources can uh focus on
their core public safety duties rather than being drafted to support ICE detentions of individuals who pose no threat to our communities. Let's be clear, the Immigrant Trust Act is not going to stop the raids, but it
can put a very significant speed bump against the damage they inflict. And I want that speed bump to protect our communities from ISIS horrifying activities. I urge you to amplify my town's voice on
this issue by adding your voice to the calls for action on the Immigrant Trust Act. New Jersey cannot afford to wait. Thank you. [Music] My name is Jeff Randy, three bunker hill
in Cranberry. I just want to make a simple statement to say that I, as a member of this township, I'm in favor of the immigrant immigrant trust act. >> Thank you. Is there any more public comment this
evening? [Music] My name is Michael Dulan. I live at 11 Windwood Drive in Cranberry. And I'm here uh tonight to u read an excerpt from a letter that I sent to each of the
individual Cranberry Township members regarding the uh affordable housing plan. The Cranberry Housing Associates affordable housing plan is the superior plan for satisfying the township's fourth round affordable housing obligation and should be adopted by the
township committee. Among other provisions, the township committee plan envisions acquiring the Henry site, Henry farm site at 1234 South River Road and building 130 units on 11.6 acres. In comparison to other Cranberry
neighborhoods, the development would be large and concentrated on a relatively small tract of land. A culture distinct from the rest of the township would likely develop, creating different needs and preferences from other neighborhoods. unhelpful competition for
resources could develop between residents of the development and other neighborhoods. Such competition would likely exacerbate the isolation that will come from the physical separation of the neighborhood from the rest of Cranberry. In contrast, the Cranberry
Housing Associates plan spreads the affordable housing units among residential areas that already exist and promotes the kind of discussion and consideration of ideas for dealing with issues that has been the hallmark of Cranberry for many years. A separate
concern regarding the development of the Henry farm site is that traffic in the area would also create challenges different from the traffic challenges in other parts of the township. The only access to the Henry farm site would be through South River Road. Though just
one lane in each direction, South River Road serves as a key route to the New Jersey Turnpike for commuters and trucks serving local warehouses. The proposed development would simply add to an already growing problem. The new development will also generate school
traffic, a new and potentially difficult situation for drivers and students alike in the area of development, especially considering the warehouse traffic that already exists. Finally, the Henry's do not want to sell their property, so acquiring the site
would require the use of eminent domain, a costly and divisive process. Please vote to adopt the Cranberry Housing Associates affordable housing plan for satisfying the township's fourth round affordable housing obligation. And on a totally different topic, I also want to
support uh writing a resolution that supports the immigrant trust act. I think it's a very important piece of legislation and the and the discussion that we heard from all the people who have spoken so far is very important and very informative. We need the immigrant
trust act resolution. Thank you. Thank you. I'm Linda Shelling, 40 Station Road, but I'm here tonight to read a letter on behalf of the Cranberry Historical and Preservation Society to the Township
Committee. And it is regarding 147 Plainsboro Road preservation known also known as the Barkley Farm, the dancer farm or I guess now the pretendic family farm to the members of the township
committee. The Cranberry Historical and Preservation Society is writing to underscore the township's obligation to uphold the legally binding protections documented in the deed for this
important historic property. Throughout this year, numerous residents have expressed their strong support for preserving this landmark. Allowing the building to deteriorate further or considering its demolition would be
unacceptable and inconsistent with the township's responsibilities under the deed and local ordinances. The Cranberry Historic Preservation Commission has reviewed the matter and clearly stated its opposition to
demolition or replacement with the modern replica. The commission has recommended the repair and preservation of the existing structure. Given this formal recommendation, we are deeply concerned that discussions of modern
redevelopment appear to be continuing, contrary to the commission's expert guidance. At the May 12th township committee meeting, the process for filing a formal maintenance complaint was clarified, and such a complaint was
submitted that evening. the property owner's own reports indicate non-compliance with the township maintenance code. Despite this, no temporary protections have been installed and no repairs have been
undertaken. We recognize that this issue extends beyond maintenance off beyond the maintenance enforcement officer and falls within the purview of township leadership to ensure compliance. We
respectfully urge the township committee to take immediate action to enforce the deed restrictions and the cranberry township maintenance code. The ongoing neglect of the steep protected historic
asset threatens an irreplaceable part of Cranberry's heritage. Thanks. Thank you. [Music] [Music] Is there any other public comment this evening?
My name is Peggy O'Reilly. I live in Monroe. One of the things I've always admired about uh Cranberry is that you were a true community representing lots of
different people in a very what appeared to me a most inclusive way. Over the I've lived in this area for over 20 years and I have seen the changes that have occurred in the population both in
the growth and in grand and I see people engaging with each other on the streets and enjoying life in in town. So I respect Cranberry tremendously.
I'm here to support a resolution for the immigrant trust act because I truly believe that we we are a nation of immigrants and while we await hopefully at some future date uh
revision of our immigration laws to provide paths for citizenship for people that's important to protect people who are here people who are law abiding people who contribute,
children who are in our schools. We we now have extremely populations with large uh immigrant populations in our schools. So, I'm just making a plea because I know you're all good people and although we may disagree
on some topics, in the end, we're all we are all here. We all want the best to support members of our community. Hi, it's really good to see you. I've enjoyed coming to Cranberry many times
and it's a beautiful community. I live in Monroe and um I wanted to speak in favor of a resolution for the immigrant trust act. I work with some community groups who um
well when they when they come when the ice comes and takes families um when they come to warehouses and uh they just snatch up all the people that have been working there maybe even 20 years.
um we've come and pick up the pieces because there isn't any agency and usually the townships have just not gotten together themselves, you know, to figure out what to do. So families will
be there crying, trying to find their loved ones. They may come, they may actually go to church with our members. They may their children may be going to school with our kids. Um, and so our kids are affected by it, you know, the
ones that that are left there to see what's going on. And then we're also with our churches, we're trying to find ways to pay the rent when that person who's making
the bread winner has been taken or to dis to try and find out where their family member has been taken to because people are simply disappeared. There's no accountability taken for the people that are that have been snatched and
disappeared. Um there's social work needed, there's all kinds of needs because of the trauma and also just the physical needs of families that are left. So we do what we can as
community members and in the churches and um when we hear that ISIS is in the neighborhood, we can go out and we can look and see and that we can go and tell people stay home. Don't go out. No, you don't have to open your door when they
knock on it. No, you don't have to open your car door when they're pounding on your car door. It's a private space. Um there just I I can't tell you how it's just a daily thing, you know, that we're
doing every day. And we've gone around to businesses. So you've gone around to some of the warehouses in the area um with Edison and Monroe and some other towns and explained to them know your rights. What are your rights? You know,
you have the right to remain silent. Um no, a warrant. There has to be a judicial warrant and this is what one looks like. So, I'm asking that you do sign a resolution for
the Immigrant Trust Act and find something that you can do to help teach businesses their rights. We do teach people their rights. We do. Thank you. >> Your name is >> Catherine Hunt and I'm in Sorry, I wrote
it down. Thank you. That's okay. Thank you. Thank you. I'm Caroline Wnooki from 45 North Main Street. I'm I'd like to further discuss this Middle Sex County um
traffic study. A few years ago, there was already a traffic study. Is this new or is this a redo of what was already done because there was a map that was sent out to people. You were allowed to put tax on it and give comments for
different areas. And then there was a meeting in the auditorium at the school. It was about three or four years ago, but haven't heard anything about that since. This uh website that you provided has is telling
us that evaluation of existing conditions started in spring of 2025 and developed purpose and need statements is happening now. Why wasn't anybody told about this evaluation of existing conditions? So, I would hope that before
that when you send out your update that you let us know, are we starting from scratch or is this an ongoing problem? Is it part of the other study? Because PE I've talked to a few people that were with me the day of the uh
auditorium event and we all want to know. Thank you. >> Thank you. It's a continuation. Excuse me. It's a continuation. These are actually that was the study. Now, this is actually looking at potential
projects from that study. Good evening. First, I'd like to thank you for recognizing Richard Ken and his contribution to this community. as you know, he's been at so many meetings for the last 30 years, more
than all of you put together, and he always has something to contribute, questions, answers, comments. So, again, thank you for that. I'd also like to support the historical society's uh opinions about the dancer house and
the recommendations from your HPC. You have a deed restriction for you to enforce it. you have HBC as part of that deed restriction and their recommendations are to enforce it and preserve that house. If you don't start
preserving these houses, Cranberry will not be the historic place that it is. The residents of this town have worked over 40, 50 years preserving this town. That's why many of you have moved here because of our historic resources. If
you don't continue that, we're going downhill. Potentially, we've lost a historic house for the affordable housing site. The planning board didn't even give consideration to HPC's comments.
It must start preserving Cranberry's historic resources. Continue what the town and the township residents have done all these years. It's the most important element you can do right now. And I would hope the residents who are
sitting here now that support it all get up to speak because you've indicated in the past people in the audience. You don't know why they're here. So I I request everyone get up here two seconds to say the same thing. Support historic preservation. Save this dance your
house. Thank you. >> Thank you. Is there any further combody else comment? >> Thank you. Yeah, Marlo. I just wanted to support what Mark said. Um, I was on the
reservation commission when this when the dancer property was purchased. I remember distinctly that the township purchased it not just to keep preserve the land also specifically put in the deed that the house was to be maintained. It was and demolition by
neglect was not an excuse. The township has been over the years pretty negligent about paying attention to that. Um and I would just think it would be a shame and set a very bad example if you just ignore that.
>> Thank you. Any other further public comment? Again, Jenny Pasaki from 97 North Main Street. Two more things that I neglected to say at the first, but thank you for giving me a second chance. I know that the coun the township committee has been
concerned about litigation that has been brought up against the immigrant trust directive since 2018. There's been at least two major lawsuits to try to challenge the immigrant trust directive. They both lost. And my concern is
obviously if it is not turned into a law that we may not be so lucky next time. The second thing is there's been some concern that we've been asking you to put this resolution together and send it up to the New New Jersey state
legislature. We do know that the New Jersey state legislature is supposedly not in session at present even though there is still a lot of work going on. We also know that when the legislature wants to move something out of committee quickly, they do. They have done this
when they are considering giving themselves a raise. So, if something is still if the New Jersey uh if the Immigrant Trust Act is still in committee, that does not mean that it cannot be quickly moved out of
committee and voted upon. and that I'm recommending that if you can send your resolution as quickly as possible joining with 17 other municipalities, two other counties and actually this week, uh, Middle Sex County is also
considering sending a resolution. If you can do that as soon as possible, please do. If you feel the necessity of waiting until after the election and hoping that it will get approved during lame duck, well, that's better than nothing. But
don't be fooled in believing that things are not moving in the state legislature just because now we're in a holding pattern between now and the election. Don't be fooled that there haven't been other challenges to the immigrant trust act that have not prevailed. Hopefully,
we'll be able to continue that record. Thank you. >> Thank you. comments. Thank you again for allowing me another time up here to speak with you. Um just wanted to comment on our fourth
amendment which we do have. It says the right of the people to be secure in their persons house escapers and effects against all unreservable searches and seizures shall not be violated and no warrants shall issue but upon
probable cause supported by oath or affirmation that means judicial warrant and particularly describing the place to be searched and the persons or things to be seized. So we see a degradation now of our of
rights and our fourth amendment. Nobody is standing up for them or enforcing them. Even our police allow masked people to jump out, snatch people up, disappear them, and they're completely unaccountable. They do not document.
They're just they just do what they want with no accountability. I'm an RN. I have to be accountable for everything I do. I have to write down everything I do and I identify myself. That said, we did once upon a time have
an authoritarian government. His name was King George. If you remember the words of Hamilton, you'll come crawling back to me. La. Yeah. And that's what's happening now. It is entirely appropriate for a
municipal council to pass a resolution in favor of the Immigrant Trust Act. In the days when we had King George, the soldiers could come, the British soldiers could come to your house and
take anything they wanted and you too. People got tired of that. So they went to their municipal councils. They passed rules, regulations, ordinances, resolutions, and that made it way up to
the county level, to the state level, to the regional level, and finally to the national constitution, which we have to protect. Now, anybody ever take a promise to protect the Constitution of
the United States of America? Now's your chance. please to u pass a resolution in favor of the immigrant trust act. It is very influential to our legislators when they see the
kind of support that a piece of legislation can get from general population and from municipalities. So please use your influence and help us out. Thank you.
>> Thank you again. Any other further public comment? >> Okay, seeing none, we're going to close public comment for this evening. Do we have any action items to follow up on? I just wanted to share that I I
appreciate we have very thoughtful people amongst us and that's what I see tonight's public general is about >> yeah and I did not capture items you were going to continue working with the u with the wireless but that is a >> ongoing
>> yes it's an ongoing and thank you for >> sure um at this time we are going to move into closed session session. Um, no further township business will be conducted and we will adjourn promptly
after uh that close session. So, can I get a motion to go into close session? >> Motion to close. >> Can I get a second? >> Okay, we're going to go into roll call. Mr. Christopher, >> yes. >> Mrs. Elvadawi, >> yes. >> Dr. Rogers, Mr. Scott, >> yes.
>> Mayor Kier, yes. >> Thank you. It's unanimous. We're still recording.