Not yet. Okay, there we go. Good evening. This is the work session of June 23rd, 2025. And uh we're going to stand for the pledge of allegiance, please. I pledge algiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. And I should add the time is 6:03 p.m. All right. Uh, Madame Clerk, can you
read the roll call? Council member Brusher. Council member Coyle here. Council member Harris here. Council member Patel. Council member Batiel here. Council member Pointer present. Council member. Uh, council clerk, could you read the
adequate notice? Adequate notice of this meeting as required by the open pub meeting act of 1975 has been provided by the notice sent home news tribune star ledger desi talk and news India times on de November 18th 2024 and post main lobby missile complex on the same date.
Thank you very much. Moving on to review of minutes for the combined meeting of June 12th. Any comments or questions? Okay. Um the proposed ordinance of uh the uh with regard to the firefighters
promotions and procedures. Um any comments or questions? Hey, Mr. President. Yes. Um there was just one um a couple like minor grammatical items so to say. I just want to make sure that that gets sent out to
council. nothing substantive, nothing that's modifying um anything else. It was just more grammatical. So, I just want to make sure that that gets sent out. Make sure um that they send me or advertise for Wednesday. Absolutely.
Yeah, you'll have it tomorrow. Okay. All right. Thank you. Um we go to each department from the business administrator 5 and B. Council questions or comments? Right. Um, six from the Department of
Finance A through I questions, comments, council vice president. President, thank you. Uh, in regards to items E and F, uh, many people are familiar with the work that government strategy groups uh, does for
the townships in regards to managing our finances. I think they've done a phenomenal job. So, I look forward to extending their contract hopefully with the approval from my colleagues. Um, question on F. Uh, it makes sense for us
to have this because of how much we've received from opioid settlements. What is that total figure again? I just I forget. So far, so far we have a total total funding
stream in excess of $13 million. Okay. Coming in over the next 15 years. That was definitely a good thing for us to have these uh reports to make sure that reports are complicated and we've got to uh respond reply monthly to the
uh Department of Health on all our spending activity. Thank you. Uh again, I think that is uh absolutely a good thing for us to have. Thank you, council president. Of course, anyone else on six, council president? Yes. Also for e I I would have to echo
the same as my council colleague. have worked close with government strategies Kender Roberts and he's done a fantastic job. And if you look at our debt consolidation and our um rates we've gotten consolidating our debt and we were fortunate and uh when he says we're going to pay for a debt in 10 years, I
believe because he puts the time in and he certainly has always been available for any one of us on the council and I think he's uh taught us all how to be more involved in finance. So thank you Ken. Anyone else? Mr. Pern, yes. Yeah, I agree with my council colleague Ken. You
and your team is always there to answer any question whether difficult or easy. Uh and thank you whatever you have done for this township and happy to support uh this resolution. Thank you. Yes. Uh and my comments are I could not agree
more. So uh we're glad to have we're glad to have you with us. And um number seven from the Department of Health A&B, right? Uh, council president. Oh, yes, sure. Thank you. Uh, on item B, um, do
we know where that kiosk would be placed? On the health kiosk, where that would be actually located, this he's asking about the kiosk, this health kiosk. Where is this going to be located? We understand that it's about
um opioid and drug issues, but the question is where will this be put? Let me check and I'll get right back to you. Thank you. Okay. All right. Anyone else for 7 A or B? All right. Um big one on eight. We have 8 A through Y. Any uh
questions or comments about A through Y? Council President. Yes. Uh 8H um for anyone that may not be familiar, BFJ uh was the planner planning vendor
that redid the township master plan. So I'm glad that we are still going to utilize them for these zoning ordinances. Um it's paramount that we do this to make sure that our ordinances are a up to date and
b in alignment with the master plan. I think they did a phenomenal job with the master plan itself. Um I do hope that the timeline that is proposed is stuck to because the sooner that we can get it done presuming that is done um
professionally and in the manner that we are agreeable on is uh of vital importance. Um, additionally, some other items that are not necessarily written because it says zoning ordinance, but they also talked about updating the uh
tree ordinance for maintaining our tree canopy. um updating the historic preservation commission ordinance so that we have uh better capabilities of protecting any historic items within the township as well as updating our sign
ordinance which I know uh my colleague to the right Councilman uh Coyle is very adamant about because of how it preserves a neighborhood's character. So I look forward to supporting this and I look forward to seeing uh the good that comes out of it. Thank you, Council
President. Thank you, council vice president. Anyone else for eight? Seeing none, we move on to Department of Public Works A through D. Council comments, questions. Okay. Um I
actually have um Oh, no. I think you and I uh John, we spoke about this last night about the disparity between the change order. I'm not crazy about change or uh change orders in general. Uh we have too many of them. Um but it it's
been I know there's been a lot going on that's necessitated this. Um but boy, I'd really like to keep these change orders to a minimum. Um all right, anyone else for nine? All right. Uh Department of Recreation A through E.
Okay. I have one question and that is about in looking at the uh that we've contracted now with um a new sound sound engineer. I don't see where the jazz festival the the cultural arts
commission jazz festival which is scheduled for August 1st that's not listed and I wondered who is going to be handling that particular event. Yes, that will be done in house. In house. Yes. Okay. All right. Very good.
Um Okay. Um anyone else for 10 A through uh A through E. Right. Uh Department of Water and Sewer 11 A through C.
Hey. uh chief of police 12 A uh chief of fire uh A and B. The B has been added to the agenda. Questions, comments? All right. Uh from the town clerk, um 14 A and
A through E. Council President. Yes. Uh in regards to item E, the resolution recognizing Junth. I appreciate you putting this um on the docket for us. Uh it is absolutely important for us to recognize
this holiday. Um and also in regards to item D, uh the resolution supporting u the Edison Job Corp Center for continued federal funding. uh they provide plenty of opportunities to residents of the
township and nearby. So I'm happy to support that as well. Thank you, Council President. Anyone else? All right. Yes. Go ahead. Just on D, you know, question to our attorney. Is there anything this council can do other than supporting the resolution because that's a shutting
down a nice facility. Uh it it's you know it's very disappointing to see that see that their job corp will be closed. uh is anything that this council or this township can do beyond just supporting the resolution? Nothing. Unfortunately, we're at the whim of the federal
government and uh other than voicing our displeasure uh with the current administration. Okay. Unfortunately, we cannot. Thank you, sir. Okay. Um, with regard to Junth, I this is this is so late in coming, this particular resolution, and uh I know we have the
NAACP that uh that uh sponsors the event over at the JobCore Center. But I I'm hoping that this will lead to at least some kind of event here in front of the building, some kind of either a flag
raising or something like that. that and so I'd want that put on record that it's not just recognizing it but that we have an event at here at town hall for that. Um okay uh we move on to to oral oh I'm
sorry did I just want to comment on D um I've worked closely with Edison JobCore and I think many people in this room have worked closely with JobCore and it is sad for me to hear what they're trying to do to JobCore. Um this has been a a big opportunity um for young
students to be involved and create um a job opportunity. It's their only so for some of them it's their only chance to get skilled in in the labor and we've advanced so much at JobCore because now they teach HVAC brick laying the mechanic repair shop they they moved to
solar where they're getting union jobs doing solar making 45 plus dollars an hour and the housing everything together the counseling it's a sad day for job core and all the work they've done and what it means to um young students who
can't find another place. So, I hope something happens. Um, and I'm happy this resolution is on here. Thank you. Thank you. We move on to oral petitions and remarks. Joyce Joyce ship Freeman, Edison, New Jersey.
Uh, I must commend uh Councilman Joe Coyle because he's been very involved in JobCore for years and years. Actually, he introduced me into getting more involved with JobCore. Um, I wrote letters to our senators and stuff. So,
you don't just have to do a resolution. If you're really interested, you can send stuff to the senators. You can send stuff. I know it's a federal government, but there are people who work for the federal government, you know, and if you start writing letters and you start moving stuff forward, it it'll be that
much better for the people at JobCore. And I know how important it it is because I have a cousin who went to the job core and became electrician. He's living quite well now from that instruction from him coming out of the North area. Now, as I'm discussing um
Junth, I'm very very disappointed in the way Junth was handled. First they said it's at JobCore. Then they said it's at Lake Papani. Then they say it's at Mini Bville. Now it's back at JobCore. What? Back and forth, back and forth, back and
forth. It messed up the attendance. It messed up the flow. I think that was very, very disrespectful because they always saying, "Oh, we appreciate everybody." No. Junth is a federal holiday. It's not your religious holidays or anything. It's a federal holiday. All right? And I think this
administration disrespects it, you know, to the umpth that gets on my nerves about the whole situation of the Junth. I still remember when it first became a state holiday before it became a federal holiday. Mayor Tom Lanky and I, we did a flag raising for that information back
and forth. So, and another thing that's very very discouraging is that the uh Henry James who passed away in 1969 from Vietnam still does not have a street after him at all. They claim they doing
so much for potters and whatever, but Henry James still still nothing real. Then my last thing I'm discussing is and I told the people because I go to the board of ed meetings uh six minutes and they allow you a rebuttal. What it means
to me if you're sitting here as a council means that you're empty headed because you won't allow people six minutes to speak. Now in this room here that we have like how many people it's in this room and a lot of people that I
know who are resident Edison residents they said they not coming there the seniors and stuff why would I run there for four minutes. I I think it's very disrespectful and I think that people are going to start blurring the lines between Republican and Democrat. You
know, the Democrats are supposed to be a a a group that allow people to speak, allow people to have freedom of expression. It's very sad to me. It's like you're, you know, you can't answer a question. It's something wrong with the whole fact that you would limit
someone's speech in the amount of taxes they pay in Edison. It's ridiculous. And you know, we we spend like I know we have law enforcement and stuff, but after a while a lot of people are so disappointed. You'll have more law enforcement here than you'll have actual
people. Cuz a lot of a lot of my friends, a lot of them very very disappointed with this whole little game you play with four minutes. You get to talk all the time blah blah blah blah blah blah with each other. But you're limited. So, I don't know, maybe y'all
are Republican disguising yourselves as Democrats, but I expected more out of you guys allowing people to speak six minutes and not even a rebuttal. Like, you can say something totally incorrect and nobody can say anything about it.
That's very sad. Thank you. Thank you, U Gloria. Gloria Dipman, Midland Road, Edison. I've mentioned a few of these things, but I'm going to follow up on them. The light at Calvert Avenue, I was told at
the last meeting that it wasn't a dead issue. So, I'd like to have a little more clarity on that. Uh, we've had issues about the deer in North Edison like forever. I have put up a white
fence around my property that which cost a small fortune. But I would rather do that than have all my beautiful plants and shrubs killed by these little animals. And they're they do not discriminate. They
eat everything in sight. And then when they're done with that, they go to the front of my property and their droppings are all over the place. It's absolutely disgusting and very unhealthy. So, I would really like to bring that issue to
the four again. Um, I asked you last time when I was here about the preparation for the 250th anniversary of our beautiful country. Um, Madame President was nice enough to
call me and ask me about some of my ideas and I have some additional ones if you are interested. I would also like to talk to you about the Stelton School which is I think a beautiful building. When I was on the
board of ed, I tried to convince the people to turn that into a school. Um, did not get much traction. It's still a beautiful building. It will cost money definitely to get it up to date and uh within code, but at
least it's a lot better than building a building from scratch, which would really push our taxes right over the moon. Please consider that. And uh lastly, I agree with Joyce when she says
that there should really be a rebuttal period. I understand the four minutes. Everybody wants to go home. it's a long day, all of that stuff. But you have to give ch people a chance to at least have the other side of the argument because
many times they're not prepared until they come here and hear what is being said. So I really wish you would reconsider that. Thank you. Thank you, Joyce. Before you go off the podium, um because one of my one of my discussion items was about the
250th uh celebration. So, um, what are if can you, uh, elaborate again your ideas for that occasion next year? Well, these are just suggestions, but I think they're good ones. When I was president of the Chamber of Commerce, I worked
with the schools in Edison and had the kids write um, essays two times a year. One was for Veterans Day and one was for Flag Day to try and stimulate patriotism. I think they could write a essay about
how much we've accomplished in 250 years and maybe talk about a particular person who helped make that dream come true for so many people. I also saw on Facebook they had these magnificent banners that you could put on your lawn. I think the
township could sell them. Or um maybe if you had a uh at Christmas time, we used to have contests where whoever got a a beautifully decorated house, we would give them an award. I'm talking about the chamber would give them an award and
uh maybe we could do something like that. I know Joe is uh very enthusiastic about giving awards. Okay. Okay. We'll talk more about this when we get to the discussion points, too. But thank you. Thank you for that.
Sure. All right. But all right. Um Liz Elizabeth Conway, 20 Netherwood Circle. Uh I'm here to bring up uh some questions and I figured I'd come back Wednesday and hopefully get some answers. So I fig jump the gun now
rather than just we'll get back to you. Uh the first thing is and I was looking for an update regarding the lights on Inman Avenue. Uh the other night when I was uh going to my daughters and we got down to where Inman meets Old Raritin,
there were four cars, an ambulance and a tow truck and two police cars. Right where I can see to the right if I wanted to make a left. That's a concern and it's been a concern and I'm going to continue to make it a concern. Um the
intersection where Rawway Road and Tingley um that's a hazard. It's a welltraveled avenue on both points where Tinkley comes out and Raritin Road comes out.
And I think it's something that I hear talk about maybe and I figured if I bring it up enough maybe something will happen down the road. I appreciate it. Um, the next thing I'd like to just let you know and someone look into it as
I was coming here tonight and it's been the last few days, there's some kind of water leak on New Dover Road. Uh, as you're approaching where Tingley meets New Dover Road. Uh, it's been wet for
quite a while if anybody else has noticed it. Uh the last item is having three grandsons, we like to uh go to parks and last week I took the little one to the park uh at Beatatric Parkway and it's it's so nice. I you know I
really shouldn't advertise it because it's it's such a pretty park and uh my grandson loves it climbing on it and it and it's safe for him because the flooring at the park is so nice and soft so if he falls it it was really good.
Well my grandsons wanted to go to the park at Mini Beville last week their first day off from school. Gi you've been talking about that park. Can we finally go to it because we don't have school. So, we did go the other day and Oh, it's phenomenal what they added to
it. But there's a butt. The flooring looks like it's um tires. I'm sure it's not tires, but it's a rubbery material in just little chunks and it's spilling out
into the roadway, into the walkway. And I know it doesn't have to be as safe maybe as Beatatric Parkway because that's maybe for the younger child, but young ch children still go there because there are swings for the young children.
And uh my grandson wanted to eat some of it. So I had to be really careful. And I don't know if it's financially advantageous to have this loose material versus the flooring that's at Beatric.
So, if somebody could look into that and maybe either put a bigger edge around the edge of the park or switch over to something more feasible, uh, I'd appreciate it. And I'm going to end with going right
upon Joyce. Uh, we were talking right before the meeting started and I said, "One of the things that I really liked about coming to the meetings was listening to the people that have been in Edison for years and years. you learn things. It makes Edison special to hear
the things that the people were sharing with us. Well, now that we've gotten to the point of four year uh four minutes and I only have seven seconds left, I would like you to reconsider it also so to bring back those citizens. Thank
you. Thank you, Liz. Um let me I I realize Gloria I didn't have your questions answered, so I'm going to answer have Liz's answered first and then we'll go back to yours. Okay. Um, so lights on the lights the light on Inman uh at Broadway and Tingley. Uh,
where are we where are we at on that? Well, I will uh check with Brian when he gets back too, but we are in the process of working with the county on that project. Okay. All right. Very good. uh water leak on New Dover. Any awareness of that? That I was not aware of, but
we'll look into that. All right. Um and this rubber material that's at the um that's at mini veil, which I think has also been an issue that's come up for the Edison Woods for the Edison Woods Park as well. That that stuff just tends
to scatter and it's kind it's it's an eyesore. Um, is there is there the possibility of looking into an alternative that might um that might provide the same safety but not be sc
not scatter all over the place? Sure. Uh, I do believe that DPW goes in to make sure that's cleaned up and, you know, safe for everyone who's playing, but we can definitely explore some other options as well. All right. Um, okay. Uh, we're still waiting for Brian to come back. All right. Let me come back
to you, Gloria. Um, the question about the light at Calvert, my understanding was that that is that's off the table. Correct. It seemed that there wasn't much resident interest in doing a light there. So, we are exploring other options.
Um, okay. Um, dear, um, I mean, it's a long time since we've discussed this. Uh, John, are you still are you still on that or or not? Uh the options remain the same. You can either uh tranquilize to relocate, which I'm
not even sure legally you're allowed to do or what other municipalities will actually take them. Uh you can tranquilize to neuter them, but that is very uh costly to do. And the third option is to essentially allow for a bow hunt, which right now our ordinance does
not provide for bow hunting. So that's kind of the three options that there are. and okay. Um, Stelton School, um, this we've already appropriated the school for a
couple of uses, correct? Yeah. It's so it's not going to be it's not going to be used for the board of education's purposes, right? Okay. Um, come back to the 250th uh birthday celebration. We'll come back to that during my discussion points. Um, okay.
Um, yes, Tom. Council President, can I just make one quick remark? Sure. On the um on the the rubber mulch at Minville uh two weeks ago when we went to um Edison Woods Park, I had stopped by Mini Vil to
take a photo of it because they had used that as a reference point for a potential park upgrade. Uh, and I had submitted to the administration photos of that mulch because it was kind of scattering about. So, they are definitely aware of it. Yeah. Okay.
Thank you, Council President. Sorry. Thomas Lucky, Netherwood Circle. Uh, it's been a couple months since I came to last meeting. At that meeting, I raised a concern about a a street uh speed limit sign on uh Grove Avenue that
was knocked down. Joel Coyle took that under, you know, took that under in task. Next day was down. At that same meeting, I talked about, I guess, the hot box in front of John Adams, which is a nice target for a car to go off the
road. Uh, I guess council vice uh board of ed vice president Joe Romano was here within he he he called me back the next day and uh I got a follow-up call a week later. That's how that's how government works. you're supposed to, you know, listen to,
you know, listening to the people and taking action on that. Uh, now, one thing I want to talk about is, uh, over the course of the past, uh, primary election, there's been a there
was a ton of, uh, signs in installed around the town. There's still a bunch of stragglers out there and I I thought that there was an ordinance that they had to be removed after a certain period of time or those
pe or that whatever person group whatever would would be fine for every sign they brought down. I I think that needs to be in investigated and addressed. And lastly, uh,
Elizabeth brought up about the traffic lights at at at at the three at a couple different locations back in I want to go back to like the mid 90s when Bill Stevens was council uh, president and all. They talked about
putting lights or doing a traffic survey and and seeing if they needed if lights were required at those different intersections of which another one was Grove and Calvert was was was also a an
area where that you know accidents occur. But that's like 30 years ago. I think that at this juncture we're past the we should have been past the planning stage and at the point where those have been
installed and operational for a number of years. We need to stop dragging our feet be a little bit proactive in what we're doing and get the those things done. realize you have to work with the state, work really work with the county, but 30 years I think we
did doesn't nearly need to have have passed in order to have those those lights installed and eliminate traffic accidents. And let me just add one thing. I think we need to go back to the six minutes again, again, again. As was
just brought up. Uh, as I said in one council meeting, I had to come back the next month to give a rebuttal on what what was said because it wasn't understood. So, I think we need either a go back to the six minutes plus a
rebuttal time or b maybe six minutes including a rebuttal time. But I think you need to go back to a longer session. 10 15 people here. That's an extra, you know, couple minutes. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else? Yes, sir.
Tom Ero, Karen Place, Edison, New Jersey. Uh, last minute I came, we spoke about the park improvements. Um, I understand there's been some changes to the uh to the plan to go forward. Um, to my to to my surprise, the next day after
the meeting, Channel 4 News New York showed up at my front door and in my neighborhood and started interviewing people. I didn't call them. My neighbors didn't call them, but they showed up. You know, we expressed our concerns to them why News4 New York had any interest in Edison, New Jersey and pickle ball
courts, but they did show up. Uh we expressed our concerns to them about the traffic situations, uh the sanitary conditions if you know you have people back there playing uh pickle ball and and tournaments and you know who's going to be using bathrooms because there's no bathrooms back there. Um and the safety
of the kids in the area, you know, coming in out of the park with the in increased uh traffic that would this would bring. So I'm under the understanding that some things have been scaled back. Um, we'd like to know what those those plans are. Um, when they
plan on going forward with this, um, in regards to the, uh, turf you were talking about back there, uh, Edison Woods has a rubber mat surface underneath their playground area. There's no rubber mulch, individual pellets there. Um, my grandson plays on
that playground. Um, it is good for them. There's no small particles that they can ingest. So, I think if you're going forward and you're going to expand areas in other parks and our park uh with additional swings for the children and everything, um that type of surface
would be beneficial for them. Um so, any any input that you guys can give us as to what the improvements are going to be, what the changes are going to be, uh we'd appreciate it. Okay. Thank you. Um any other questions or concerns? Okay. Uh Cat, where where are we at? So, I
know we got the memo, we got the email about the pickle ball being eliminated. Um, anything else in the works for changes as of now? Uh, you're correct. We did remove the two pickle ball courts that were proposed over there. As of right now, uh, I believe we're reviewing
the plans. I'm not aware of anything else that may be removed. Okay. Um, did you want to You have some time left. I mean, again, if somebody would come out there and sit with us, we'd appreciate that. you know, we're all directly affected by it. So, if they want to sit with us and lay out what the
layout's going to be with us and take some input from the citizens that are going to be involved with it, we we'd appreciate that. Yes. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. Yes. Hi, John Pepe, Karen Place. Also, I live right across the street from the park.
um to this is all new to me that you you're going to be revamping stuff. We don't know anything about it. That would be great to know so we can get involved. Um I grew up across the street from the park and it was a fantastic place back when all kids were using it, but we're a
small little community and and now it's being used by adults. So now there's a traffic issue. You have cars coming in from everywhere. Um if we have people over, you know, it's very difficult to park. Other concerns are the bathrooms, Tommy mentioned. Um, lights, are we
going to have lights? Uh, you know, what time are people going to be able to come over, you know, to the place, you know, and how long are they going to are they going to be there? Um, we also have Dorm Woods in the back. And so, you have, you know, you know, I don't know how many apartments are back there, 500 plus. So,
you're going to have people jumping over the creek coming over there as well. It's not designed for that. You know, back when we were kids, we used it. We played baseball on it, but now it's and it's an adult park where adults come in and use it, but they have to get there by driving. They're coming from all over
Edison. It's not Papani. It's not Roosevelt. So, those are some of our concerns. Plus, we have a waterway that goes along our houses and that hasn't been cleaned in years. So, you've got growth coming over. So, that's even, you
know, a dangerous area, too. It floods back there. They put a dog park in. nice thought, but no one uses it. Everybody continues to walk their dogs and, you know, hopefully clean up after themselves, but I don't know why they spent the money there. All we're asking is to get us involved as two people,
three people that are here, you know, have been there. I've been there since I was born, 58 years. So, I know what that area is, and it's not designed for 50 cars to come in and have parties, and it's it's just not that type of place. Thank you. Thank you. Can we have a
member of the administration meet with the residents there, right, and and see for themselves and and listen to the concerns? Um, can we have uh something set up from administration? We can certainly explore that. I do believe letters were previously sent out
prior to the changes we made with the pickle ball courts, but again, I'm I'm happy to explore that as another option as a followup. I I I I I really do think that it's time that the the people on top are um are present to meet with
these people that that sending out the the memos or the letters that that's not enough. I think that the I think these people deserve a face tof face with someone from administration and whether that's engineering or DPW or whomever but who who whomever is in a position to
be able to listen and uh and come up with some resolutions. So can we can we act on that please? Yes, we'll look into that for the near future. Okay. All right. Thank you. Um yes, Bonnie. Bonnie Lfrack, 30 Karen Place. I live
Come up to the microphone, please. There you go. Hello. Okay. Bonnie Lafra, 30 Karen Place. I live right on the park. My back fence is the park. First, I want to thank Miss Harris, Mr. Pointer, and Mr. pressure for actually paying
attention to what we've been asking since I started last September, meeting with the mayor, bringing letters and signatures. So, I really appreciate that you have listened to us and the pickle
ball. Yes, that has supposedly been reduced. But there are are you listening are is the administration listening to the requests of the neighborhood, the upgrade of the playground, the upgrade
of the field where the kids already play soccer and football, and maybe a nice seating area for the parents of the the children who come and play in that park. So the requests of the neighborhood should be
honored. I think when you talk about this as as John and Tom said, we have people there was a game yesterday or they come on Sunday, but they're parked all over to play volleyball. That's just one game. So, I would like to also see what
the new plans are to see if it really does reflect what we in the neighborhood would like. So, thank you again. And speaking for myself, I would be happy to be present at a meeting with a member of the administration and uh
council vice president. I think uh depending on our availability, I think council vice president would be willing to do so as well. Um, so, um, if we can get to work on finding the person, the right person, and then, uh, and then
arrange a put out several dates and times, um, that would really be appreciated. Council vice president. Thank you, Council President. Um, a question to the administration in regards to the brook there. I know that we authorized a couple purchases for the
water and sewer department to be able to clear out and clean easements that they have control over. I'm not I'm not sure how far the brook goes and whether that falls under the township's juris jurisdiction, but could could you uh
reach out to them and see if uh that is something that is under township jurisdiction? Yeah, we can look into that. Thank you. Thank you, Council President. Okay. I think we've exhausted everybody in the audience. Oh, Councilman Coyle, I just want to come in on the park thing here. Just to the
administration, is the park owned by the community there or is it a public park? We own Okay. Well, I mean, I'm I'm just want to be curious if you're mindful of the fact it's a public park. And it's important that you weigh in on this, but it's the
right of public use of a park today that if you have a park that's just abandoned and not used much doesn't mean it won't be used again in the future. Um can you know for instance like bad mitten I don't know who plays bad mitten anymore. I grew up playing bad mitten but today bad mitten is a huge sport now in our
indoor miniville center. So, I'm, you know, I'm I'm I'm perplexed with trying to help you. At the same time, it's a public park and the public has the right to use your park. So, I'm, you know, I know that it's wonderful to live next to a park and there's a benefit to buying a
home that's next to a park, but there's also a benefit you may not like because you have to deal with the baseball games and the football games and different things that happen there. So, I'm open to listen to the entire community, but I'm definitely want to hear from the entire community. And I'm just
challenged that it's a public park and I don't know where we divide. It's not what you want, but is it what everybody wants? It just just a peaceful opportunity for everybody because it is a public park and every park has its right to fulfill its its full economic
utility of a park. I'm not saying to put a giant stadium there or anything, but I'm challenged. what you don't want opposed to what is allowed. I mean, this is a long-term process. It's not happening tomorrow morning, but I'll certainly participate when I can to see what does happen, but I certainly want
to make sure we survey everybody in the neighborhood. And I'm sorry that it's a park that's now busy. And I'm not in front of your house, so I'm sure it's terrible people park there and it could be abusive, but but I'm still challenged. It's a it's a public park and I don't know how we stop people from using a public park. That's all. Yeah.
The um No, I'm sorry. There's no there's no rebuttal. Um, one of the issues, uh, Councilman Coyle, is that unlike so many of the other parks that we have in Edison, there's no there's no parking lot. And so, we're talking about this
small neighborhood and that that that does impinge on the residents there. So, if there was some way to to resolve some of the parking issues, of course, it's a public park and uh open to everyone in Edison. But the but the parking
situation there is is really a problem because right now there's no there's it doesn't look like there's any place to put parking. That's something maybe we can look into. Um but that's the disadvantage this park has is against most of the other parks in the in the
town. Um anyone else? Okay. Um motion to close public portion. Motion to close public portion. Second. Second. All right. All in favor? I. Okay. Um we go to council committees and
board commission leazison reports starting with Councilman Coyle. Council President, I have I I have nothing to report as far as committees. Uh but if you do do you want me to switch to the planning board in this report or skip that to let's let's do
let's do it in uh where is the planning board here sometimes you don't do it okay no problem regular meeting okay all right thank you uh Councilman Patio none at this time okay council vice
president uh none at this time though I did receive feedback from the human relations commission about setting up a um a line item uh account for them to be able to for expenditure purposes. So, I'll follow up with the administration on that front.
Thank you, Council President. Thank you. Thank you very much. Uh none for me either. Um going on to points of light. Any points of light? All right. Um the Eid celebration was on Saturday and we had a beautiful day for it. It was warm, but we had a nice
breeze and it was extremely well attended. Um, the July 4th fireworks celebration will be at Lake Papani. Music starts at 5:40 p.m. Fireworks start at 9:15 p.m. Uh, if you need any more information, you can contact recreation. The Latin Music Festival is
on Saturday, July 26th, 2025 at Old Stewart's Lot on Amboy Avenue. That's 400 pm to 8:00 p.m. Um, on to discussion items. I'm going to start this time on my left with Councilman Patiel. None at this time. What? Oh my god. Show
out. Oh my god. You did a great job. Thank you. Wow. All right, Councilman Coyle. None of this time. I just refer back to the same discussions I've had about economic development when we're behind that person. Okay. All right. Uh, Council Vice President, uh, nothing to add at
this time. Wow. All right. Um, oh gosh. Um, all right. So, going back to the um the 250 birthday celebration, um what do we have any kind of skeleton plan in place yet? Because we're coming up next week on July 4th of 2025. And I do think
that we need something big. It was big. 1976 was the bsentennial. That was a a big big celebration. This does call for I agree with Gloria that this does call for um something special. Do we have anything in the works?
[Applause] At this time, I'm not aware of something in the works, but we can follow up with recreation and get you some more answers by Wednesday. Yes. Um I because I do think that the I I I think um uh just to go back to you,
Gloria, that it may that the students writing essays, I like that a lot. That probably would be best addressed at the school board through the board of education. I'm thinking um but um I would be happy to be a liazison on this
on this issue and and happy to get your input Gloria on this. Um but I think it's time that we start we start planning this. So I want to go on record with that. Um well my my second one was about department heads at work session
meetings. But here you are. It's like you it's like you read my mind and I'm glad to see you Tony and and Brian. I'm glad to see you here. Um is can we get can we get especially I know since um Sonia is not going to be at the at the
meetings for I think we're going to be keeping the meetings for July as they are at this point. I'm going to verify that tomorrow. But um if she's not there it's especially good to have the presence of the department heads. And so can we um can we go back to on some kind
of schedule having department heads here? Yeah, I'm sure we can explore that. Okay. Okay. Nothing. Ken, I didn't You look like you were going to say something. No, it depends on uh what's listed on the agenda and discussion items listed for
council. We can make plans accordingly. Okay. All right. Um yeah, that's uh that's all for me. Um, can we get a motion to motion to close? Motion. Motion to adjurnn. Second. Okay. All in
favor? I. And I will. The next meeting is the the regular meeting on Wednesday at 700 p.m. And I want to thank all of you who came here today in this blazing heat. Um, it's it is nicely air conditioned. It is nicely air conditioned in here, but uh your presence here is is very much
appreciated. Thank you so much. Did I do that? I don't know if I did that.