No, it was >> good. All right. Good evening everyone. Today is Monday, August 25th. The time is 6:07 p.m. and this meeting is officially called to order. Please join me. If you're able to please rise for the pledge of allegiance
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. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Protocol, please. >> Council member Brusher
>> here. >> Council member Coyle >> here. >> Council member Patel >> here. >> Council member Patiel >> here. >> Council member Pointer, >> present. Uh, thank you, Madam Clerk. Adequate notice, please. >> Adequate notice of this meeting as required by the Open Public Meeting Act
of 1975 has been provided by the annual notice sent to the Home News Tribune. store ledger does he talk on November 18th, 2024 in post main lobby mal complex on the same date. >> Thank you madam clerk. Uh at this time for council president's remarks. I do
see that there are some new faces in the audience. So just to give a little bit of overview of how the meeting generally goes. The first part will be going over township business. So we will review the agenda and then uh cause action on the agenda. After that, it will be open for
public uh comment on the well, you'll have public comment on the resolutions when that comes up. Afterwards, then we will open up for public comment in regards to anything that you wish to discuss. You'll have four minutes to be able to discuss those items. Uh after that, we will have a couple other
housekeeping items such as points of light, uh committee reports, and then discussion items amongst the council members. Uh just as a general reference, the grace period for the third quarter tax payments was extended for until
September 2nd. So I just wanted to make sure that people were aware of that. Thank you. This time we're going to move to unfinished business ordinances for further consideration and public hearing and final adoption. Uh, at this time I'm going to open up to
the council for any comments, questions, or concerns on 02251 and ordinance 2252. Any questions, comments, or concerns? Seeing none, at this time, I'm going to move to proposed ordinances. We have
several on the docket for tonight. Uh, I will go individually and open it up to council for again comments, questions, or concerns. First, ordinance 2253. Any questions, comments, or concerns?
This is for the bond for uh sanitation. >> Um, quick question. >> Pressure. >> Yes. How many years will will this the bond for this be? >> I'm going to ask Ken to uh please respond. >> Yeah, this is for equipment. So,
typically it's for five to seven years. the useful life of this improvement. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. Any other questions, comments, or concerns? Seeing none, we'll move on to the next one. Ordinance 2254. This is the bond
ordinance for the water utility. Any questions, comments, or concerns? >> Uh, yes. Question. >> Council brusher. >> Water utility. The funds to pay this back, this bond comes out of the water budget, right? that would be
out of their capital. >> Correct. It's comes out of the debt service portion of the water utility budget. >> So, it's it's only the residents that um use Edison water. Correct. Middle sex water customers.
>> Correct. The debt service is built into the um rate structure for water users. Uh it does not nothing comes out of general taxes to support this. >> All right. Thank you. Thank you, Councilman Brusher. Any other questions, comments, or concerns?
Uh, for myself, I'm just going to elaborate as to what this bond would cover. Approximately 16.8 million would be towards water main improvements. As many people are aware, our water system is a bit dated inside of the township
and this would be used to um repair that system. Additionally, 945,000 is allocated towards various um vehicle and equipment purchases to be able to facilitate those types of repairs. Thank you.
Next ordinance 2255, sewer bond ordinance. Any comments, questions, or concerns? >> The typical years for this because this is a capital, right? >> Yes. Uh for repairs pumping station uh that typically is 20
years. Sewer line replacement can go as high as 40 years and equipment is generally in the 5 to sevenyear range. >> All right. Thank you. >> Any other questions, comments, or concerns? Again, just a a general
overview. Um 4.8 would be allocated towards pump station rehabilitation. 8.2 25 in regards to sewer line improvements which is part of the accog agreement that the township is in with the state and 858,000
for vehicle purchase and equipment purchases. Thank you. Next 2256 capital improvement bond ordinance. Any comments, questions or concerns? See none. Um, this one is a bit lengthier, so I won't go through every
single line item. However, we do have purchases for IT technology to uh upgrade our Wi-Fi infrastructure. Uh renovation of the police firing range, purchasing of a heavy duty vehicle for the fire department, numerous uh health
um department of health items in regards to um the to center, office furniture, the animal shelter renovation, Stelton Community Center, and the Edison light transit public works. Uh we have building and ground improvements, uh
equipment purchases, park improvements, road equipment and vehicle maintenance. Under engineering, we have our standard roadway resurfacing, storm water system, GIS mapping, drainage projects, central avenue bike path, uh archiving services.
So, anyone that's been looking for documents from the 1980s that has been having trouble because they are not documented properly in PDF format, this would take care of that. And the Truman Avenue Kilmer Road um traffic signal, we
have a couple of other department uh purchases and that would encompass the bond there. Thank you. Ordinance 2257, tent permit fee ordinance. Any comments, questions, or concerns? See none. Ordinance 2258 ordinance worth
authorizing property acquisition. Any comments, questions, or concerns? >> I would just ask if someone could explain the 2258 and the 2259 um to the public and to myself even.
>> Sure. So, this is part of uh and to the administration, please correct me. Would you like to uh respond? >> No. Go ahead, Council President. I'll chime in if you >> Thank you. >> Um, this is part of the Thomas Place redevelopment plan which is in conjunction with the John Street uh
redevelopment plan. Um, this was authorized for an area in need of redevelopment condemnation. My understanding there is no technical condemnation. This is a straight purchase aspect that we are authorized to do because we did the developers
agreement last year. I forget the exact time frame um but that is all tied into the redevelopment plan and it's for senior housing if I recall correctly. So the first item is in regards to the actual acquisition that the township is able to acquire the property and then
the second one is to use the contributions from the developers agreement to actually fund that acquisition. And if I >> just just Yes, correct. And I just want to be clear so that the residents understand that we are not um we are not putting any money towards this. We're
not buying anything. This is just strictly transactional process that we're taking as part of the as part of the redevelopment agreement. So um that's that's all that is. >> Is that good? >> Yes. >> Thank you. Any other questions,
comments, or concerns? I'll I'll group 2258 and 2259 uh together then. >> Council President. Yes. Uh, Councilman >> Co 2258. Can you just walk me through what part we do an acquisition of land? >> So, >> I'm just not >> This property is the gas station.
>> I know where it is. >> Oh, sorry. >> No, no, that part. So, we're we're taking >> to the property. Yeah, we are allowed to purchase the property using the funds from the developers um fund that and
that will further the redevelopment plan that this council had authorized um back in 22 and 23 I believe and >> more more or less. Yes. >> Thank you. Any other questions, comments
or concerns? Seeing none, move on to number seven, review of minutes, items A and B. Any questions, comments, or concerns. Seeing none, we'll go to review of the agenda. Eight, from the business administrator. Uh, A, resolution
authorizing a reimbursement to the Central Jersey Joint Insurance Fund. B, resolution authorizing purchase order for internet light path services in the amount of 68,400. and C, resolution to renew membership in the Central Jersey Joint Insurance Fund.
Any questions, comments, or concerns? >> Um, question. >> Yes, Councilman Brusher. >> Uh, with the cable vision light path, I I know that we receive I believe it's $220,000 um a year from Optimum.
And do we also receive money from Comcast? >> Are you referring to the franchise fees? >> Yes. Okay. I'd have to just check. Uh, as far as I'm concerned, they're new, so we have probably not collected any. >> Um, but let me just confirm.
>> Okay. Could you check on that? Let me know. Cuz that that this here is kind of like a it type thing, right? >> Yes. Correct. >> So, it kind of offsets what we would get. Um, I just want to make sure we're collecting it. That's all. >> Um, that would be it. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Councilman Brusher. Any other questions, comments, or concerns? Uh just to further on the uh the internet life path, this is a three-year contract at 22.8,000 per year and this would actually increase the um municipal
building fiber internet from 1 gigabyte to 2 gigabyte. Next item nine from the department of finance. A dispersement reports B refund of red redemption of tax sales certificates. C refund of exempted disabled veteran
taxes. D. Water overpayment refund. E. Tax overpayment refund. F. Receipt of sustaining local public health infrastructure grant 193,000. G. Receipt of opioid settlement monies 353,000.
And H, resolution approving corrective action plan for 2024 audit. Any questions, comments, or concerns? >> Council President. >> Yes, Councilman Patel. on G. What's the total we have for the opioid settlement monies now?
>> Um I want to say give or take 15 million. Just when we last spoke it was about 14 million. Um but let let us just calculate the number. I think we can just get that for you if you just hold on tight. >> Okay. And just to follow up, do we have a plan as to how to use that money or do
we have something in motion? I know we were looking into getting hires, right? >> Uh, correct. So, we've expanded our um our substance abuse program within we're now going to need to discuss some additional programming and how to uh
expend those funds that includes some public safety initiatives as well and some uh senior services. And um so we did put out an RFP before. it didn't quite fit the scope of what we're
allowed to do per the opioid um list of, you know, things you can and can't do. So, we have to re re redo that. Um but with uh Mr. D. Robert's assistance, we're going to be able to really hone in on exactly what kind of programming
there's some really strict guidelines as to how you can expend the money. Um and certainly we want to make sure that and reporting at that. So, we want to make sure that we're doing the right thing um because we do get audited. >> Okay. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Any other questions, comments, or concerns? >> Council President. >> Yes, Councilman Co. >> I'm always excited to see more uh opioid money come to Edison and how important it is for awareness of opioids and um mental health. So, I'm very curious to
see how colorful this will be when we put it together and certainly want to see a lot of awareness brought to young teens and adults and families. I've read this grant up and down and there's a lot of opportunity in it. So, I'm looking forward to seeing what we do put together. Thank you, Council President.
Thank you, Councilman Coy. Any other council members? Seeing none, 10 from the Department of Health. A authorizing acceptance of grant from the New Jersey Department of Health for strengthening local public health capacity program 2026 64,788
and B authorizing a agreement with Middle Sex County to accept funds for the childhood lead poisoning prevention program $95,000 from 2024 to 2025 and $67,469 from 2025 to 26. Any questions,
comments, or concerns? Seeing none. Item 11 from the department of planning engineering a resolution authorizing. >> You can group these if you want. >> I for your >> uh but because it is a lengthy agenda and I know it's being a little cumbersome. I did want to be transparent
with everyone in regards to what is on the agenda. Uh a resolution authorizing change order one for the and additional funds to Remington Vernick Engineers for the Edison landfill closure evaluation closure design and permitting $449,940.
Resolutions B through T are all fee refunds and bond releases. Resolutions U, V, CC, and DD are in regards to converting properties from market rate to affordable house uh to affordable and
W through BB are more refunds and bond releases. Any questions, comments, or concerns? Councilman Brusher? >> Yes. The um the landfill um I I know we have money set aside to close the landfill. I don't know if it was 11 million or 17 million. I I
forgot. Um, how long will this evaluation take? Because I I remember Assemblyman Care um he got Edison money to to close this and I I know that we approved it at one
time. So, where are we in the process of coming up with a design to close this? >> Sure. It's a and I'll let Brian continue, but it's expanded and therefore we have to do a little more uh digging and that's why we're contracting with um these folks. So Brian, if you
could. >> So during the process of uh the landfill closure design, D notified the township that dumping occurred in what is considered the environmental benefit area, which is roughly 12 times the size
of the original landfill. So, it's not going to be quick. It's going to be several years before we can close it with all the testing and D coordination because of the additional area we now have to test. >> So, so what what I'm hearing, right, and
this is just what I'm hearing and it's one of the things that disturbed me about government. Um, this money here is going to come from that closure money that we had, >> the 17 million in change, I believe. Yes. >> Right. So, at the at the end of the day,
17 million was put away to close the landfill. And in typical government fashion, right, whether it's D or whoever it is, um we're going to expend probably $17 million in engineering and
studying and monitoring so that when we go to close it, it's going to cost the residents $40 million. I mean, where are we? Can can we get a can we get an estimate, Sonia, on on this whole this turned into a debacle at
this point when I just heard this, but can we get like an estimate um with timelines and not that the 17 million is gone when maybe my grandson is a council person? >> No, but this is all through state um
it's in a state state funded account. So that's where that's where it lies. it's not necessarily in in our municipal budget or anything like that. Uh so when we first took on this land closure because it had been dormant for quite some time >> and I commend you for that
>> and that's why it's expanded. Um I think we're in a better position now uh with RVE to proceed with the closure. So that said, I don't that's how much money we have in the fund, not necessarily what
will amount to um to close it. So I couldn't tell you exactly what it is, but what this council and previous councils have done is put money and set aside to do the right thing. So we just want to make sure that we proceed with the closure at this point.
>> Right. But like what I'm hearing now is that they've they've looking they're looking for more sampling, right? So that then the engineers can determine whether they actually need to make it bigger or they can just clean up and remediate that. I assume that's what this is about.
>> So the additional testing is to locate the edges of the environmental benefit area and what was actually dumped in that area. It may be the full 12 times the size of the original project. It could be roughly half going off of uh
D's site investigation. They only did surface. However, we need to go and do a disruption permit to do digging and testing to find the actual limits. So, we can do the design, see how much we need to abate and so forth. So, right
now, I can't even give you an estimate what a final design or a final construction number and abatement number will be because we don't know the full extent of So, so this this half million dollars, what do we get for that? Is that is that
the guy in an excavator taking dirt and samples out that then are going to be tested or is this for an engineer to basically draw little dots as to where he wants the samples? So, I just want to refer I sorry, Brian, I didn't mean to
interrupt you, but um in the report that's attached to the resolution on page six, I would start on page six because everything else before that has been done. So, um you're looking at a minor disruption report. You're looking
at a closure application with D. Um and so that is where um the engineering firm is going to do all of the requirements and they're listed here. So you've got tasks one through seven that need to be
completed in order to then uh actually close it, cap it. >> Okay. So So part of the sampling and all that is in this, right? >> Yes. Correct. And a lot of it has been done. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. I'll take a
look and if I have further questions, um I'll bring it to your attention, Sonia. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councilman Brer. Also, I do want to note that I I know we had the fund uh set up, but 356,000 will be of this change order will be reimbursable
through the NJD bureau of solid waste planning and licensing escrow. So, uh a substantial amount of it will actually be refunded through a different source. Um and to the scope you had mentioned scope will include test pits monitoring well sampling le sampling surface water
sediment sampling landfill gas monitoring pump test installation temporary well points and the disruption report as was mentioned. Thank you. Any other questions, comments or concerns? >> Council president. >> Sorry, Councilman Cora. >> Okay. Did I jump the gun there on you?
>> You did. >> You didn't speak before me though. >> Hi goes to honor. >> Thank you. Uh council president. I just want to thank everyone on this council for their leadership and continue to care about affordable housing and how important affordable housing is. I'm thankful to the mayor and the administration to put forward uh
conversions of uh opportunities for young adults to seniors to have a place to live that's affordable. As most people know, to live in town here is expensive. And if you're a student with a graduate degree, some people are leaving Edison. It's just too expensive. So, it's important that we have more
opportunity on the on the books. I'm thankful we're doing this. This is a good thing. Uh some people stray away from affordable housing and have a bad taste in their mouth. It is a good thing for Edison and I'm looking forward uh to how we continue to strategically plan affordable housing in town. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Councilman Cole. Councilman Patel. >> Yes, I have the question on the same thing on the letter V for the affordable housing for myification. How does one go about getting into the affordable housing? What is the process? And just
for general knowledge, >> so as you know, we contract with um the firm CGP&H and the program is um administered through the through them. Um so they put in an application. I know there is a waiting period probably a
couple years or so. So, they have to go through that um that process in order to apply for the program. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. Thank you. And also, Councilman Patel, um there's a website called affordablehomes neww jersey.com which helps uh guide people
through the process as well. Thank you. Any other questions, comments, or concerns? Seeing none, 12 from the Department of Public Works. A refund of street opening escros. B. Resolution for furnishing new fencing at various locations. C.
Resolution awarding contract for materials not to exceed 1.342 million. D. Resolution awarding contract for fuel not to exceed 1.5 million. E. Resolution awarding contract to various vendors for the furnishing of plumbing services not to exceed 75,000.
F. Resolution awarding contract for the furnishing of plumbing supplies, equipment, and accessories not to exceed 60,000. G. Resolution authorizing change order one for emergency traffic signal maintenance repairs and upgrades $42,271.
H resolution authorizing purchase order for the removal and installation of new concrete flooring at the municipal complex $143,670. And I resolution awarding purchase order to various vendors for the furnishing of walk-in building supplies and related
products not to exceed 871,000. Any comments, questions, or concerns? Uh for myself, just in regards to the fencing, uh this will include Crestwood Park, the police garage, mini B ve pickle ball courts, and the Truman V
courtyard. Additionally, for anyone that has made comment about the uh the front entrance way, the concrete there, that is what the resolution is for that's on here is to repair that. Thank you. Uh,
next from the Department of Recreation, A through C are reimbursements for cancellations and D authorizing to purchase snacks through the interlocal service agreement with the Edison Board of Education 210,000. Any questions, comments, or concerns?
Seeing none. 15 from the Department of Water and Sewer. A resolution to purchase one new and unused 2026 service truck with the options $212,583.18. And B resolution awarding contract for the Gravity Sewer System Inspection
Program phase 2,19,884. Any questions, comments, or concerns? >> Just on Council President. >> Yes. Council Councilman Patel >> on B just I know this is part of the acco but just for magification again we have to pay for this and then we'll get
the loan. >> U my understanding is that the bond that we authorize is reimburseable through the I bank if all things go through but if you can elaborate uh Sonia >> correct so this stage we're going to award the contract so we have gone uh
through the I bank for this particular phase of the project. Okay. >> So, um and what happens is they we have to bond the money, go through the process uh on that end, and then we have to show the I bank that we did that, secure the funds, and then we go and
upload all of those documents and do all the design part of it and do the bidding, and now we're going to the award stage. So, this is all part of the process that we still have to do on our end, but yes, it is the part of the I bank. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Um yes, uh Councilman Brusher. Yes. Um
for the sewer system inspection program, we did some of this inspection already. Do we have the reports on that or on the um inspecting of our sewers, right? We did some of that already. Uh we we've only done what we've
remediated, but this is to do the entire scope of um looking through all of our sewer system >> through the whole sewer system. >> Correct. >> Um and if we approve this, they're going to start doing this, >> right? We'll have a construction meeting
um try to initiate exactly where we're going to begin. Um I have Bob Smith, our water utility folks here. if they can elaborate exactly when they anticipate to actually begin the work. >> Councilman, this is phase two of the uh
collection system inspections. >> We did phase one. This is phase two. It's broken up into five sections. So, this is phase two. >> And phase two will be the entire town. >> It'll be a section of the town, not the entire town. We can't do the whole entire town at one time. It's it's we're doing it in sections. is we cut it up in
sections and we'll do each section as we go and then after we compile everything at the end then we'll make we haven't really found any major repairs in in the first uh section that was done little stuff um a big problem I think we're going to have is uh illegal sump pumps tied into
the system >> well right and and I mean that is an issue but we've talked about that I don't know years ago and we haven't um I haven't seen anybody in the town complaining that smoke's coming into
their house. Um, so I'm I'm wondering, you know, it is I guess my frustration is I was big on us doing the sewer and water, right? I mean, you know that >> and I just feel like we're not kind of getting
to repairing anything at this point. And what I'm saying is now it's been four, five, like six years, >> you know what I mean? Yeah. >> And and we're not putting the shovels in the ground. Um this is the cameras to just determine
>> um where we have that that leakage. >> Um I never felt that our pipes were actually that broken that we had that much ini. You know, I felt that it was mostly the um homeowners and whether it's homeowners or builders or whoever it was, you know, tying the sump pumps
in and that's really what's generating all of our our waste water. That's a big part of it. >> We have found some INI. Um we found some intrusions. Nothing major. Um we can do some relining. We'll take care of that. >> But yeah, it's uh we haven't found
anything really major to this point. >> And and at what point do we do something like where we put uh we fill the sore with smoke to determine where it's coming from? >> I had asked to do that. Hopefully, we are going to be able to do that. Um,
as we as we find things and we go to the next section, we find anything major in section one, we'll go back and make that repair, we'll follow behind after they do their work. >> Okay. So, so in other words, we're going to do this one here, right? If you see a little bit of INI coming in, you're
going to reline a little bit of the pipe. >> Yeah. But at at what point then do we actually go to where the problem what I believe the problem is which would be um I know residents that tied into the system. So when when do we do that like
when do we actually solve the problem is where I'm going since we've been talking about this you probably come up here and I've asked you this now over the course of six years you know >> right at what point is that your decision or is that Sonia's decision? Well, I know I think to your point,
Councilman, um the council has committed to doing a 10 to 20 year phase out to make sure that our infrastructure is being um not only corrected but maintained. So, um this is an ongoing project. Part of it again is to do all
of the um sewer inspections and so that's what phase two is. And so, to Mr. Smith's point, we haven't found any major issues. I don't want to also confuse the two part two parts to this is that this is the sewer utility >> uh the water utilities different and
when we're talking about you know um water main breaks and things like that that's a a different a different project we we are um addressing but as far as the sewer system I think it looks like um we're we're okay thus far um but that
said we can't do the entire town because if we were to do the entire town all at once it's why we're doing this in phases, then um I would probably get a lot more phone calls than we would want or any of you would want for that matter because we'd be tearing up every road and every street. So, that said, um
phase two, um if we could just get a synopsis, Bob, of exactly the sections we're going to be working on and share with everyone, I think that's probably more of the important point we want to highlight. And I it seems that you want to highlight is just to give people an
anticipated uh spot check as to, you know, where they should avoid, what areas should it they should avoid. >> No, let me let me tell you where where I'm going with this. Um Edison Edison takes Edison uses I'm going to make up a number. 1 million gallons of water, but
in our sewer, they're treating 2 million gallons of water. So the county and the state say that we have INI, which is infiltration of groundwater into our sewer system. I don't believe that that's necessarily the case. What I
believe the case is is that residents, so they don't have ice in the front of their apron when they pull out, have tied their some pumps and drainage water into our sewer system. And and I know of
people that have done that, right? And and if you just think about that, like my sun pub probably goes off two, three times a day um during the summer and when it's rainy season, it goes off, I don't know, 20 times. Um I have a high
water table by me. But if I were to pump that continuously, and five people on my street did, we're pumping, you know, thousands of gallons just from my couple neighbors into the system. And there is a way to solve it.
Um I I think they do like a smoke of the sewer, >> right? >> And then this the smoke will come up in your house and you call the fire department and the fire department calls Bob Smith. Bob Smith goes down there and explains that they have they're illegally tied in. Um, so, so when do we
do something like that? >> We, we will do something like that. We will do that. >> When I know that it's actually happening. So, people are doing something that's wrong. They probably don't even know. Um, but when do we stop that? >> I can't I can't tell you I can't tell
you that right now. >> That's an administration thing. >> I can't tell you that right now. But we we will smoke test at some point. Um, we will notify the residents the areas we're doing. So, if they see smoke in their homes, um, that, you know, this is
what it's from. It's non it's non it's non it's not harmful. It's it doesn't bind. It's just so we can see it. If it's coming out roof drains, right? >> Um, gutters, leaders, whatever. Um, we'll see it. If it's in the house, we know they're illegally tied into uh to the collection system.
>> It's it's it's it's illegal to do that. Um the MCUA has really come down on us to to rectify that situation. Um and that's something we have to do and we will do uh hopefully in the very near future.
>> Near is that before my term is up. And the reason why I say it is cuz it's been it's been six years. You know what I mean? So it's it becomes frustrating on my part when I recognize this is part of the problem and then I'm sitting here 6 years later. Um it makes government look
very ineffective um inefficient and um almost makes me want to say that we should have sold the sewer and water. I mean I believed that we could manage it. I'm I'm I'm at the point no I'm at the point now where I'm going to say Len Synindulski our councilman Len Sindulski
was right. The township of Edison does not have the ability to manage sewer and water. So >> not true. Can I find out when we're going to do this since we've been talking about it? I don't want to hear shortly. Right. I'm looking for a date. And remember when I told you remember when
we were going to inspect the sewers, right? And you told me you'd have it done in a year. We're going to inspect them all. And I said, "Make yourself good. Make it a year and a half." And in a year and a half, you figured out that that you couldn't do it. And you had to go to outside vendors to get it done.
And and then we did. But you see how we did that by giving dates. So, I'm looking for a date from you and from the administration as to when we're going to start it and and actually when we start that area, I'd like to witness it. >> You're talking smoke, >> Councilman. Uh we'll we'll keep you
posted. Um we're we're going to have a construction meeting with um with the company and we'll we'll >> another 30 days we'll let you know exactly when that's all going to start and what that looks like. >> All right. >> Okay. >> Thank you, Bob. Council President, um is
about Could Bob come back? >> Mr. Smith, um can I just ask one quick question to Mr. Smith? >> I I appreciate it. >> Will the uh will the water meter replacement program assist in being able to identify those irregularities as well? >> No, not not on that. No, that'll just
give us the water usage that go into homes if they have leaks, we'll see their meters really spike up or whatever the case might be. But that won't help there. No. >> Thank you, Councilman Cor. I just I agree with my council colleague, although he did raise a a good point when he talks about residents who could
be pumping into our system. But I'd have to say the percentage of what that may be compared to what rainwater is causing us over the years is quite different. But I think his percentage does count and I hope we could look into that. But to say we haven't accomplished anything
over six years, to say it wasn't a good idea to have us run our utility to me is just not a true statement. I think if you look at whether it was par if you took two opportunities to see that the um private entity being parallel with
us, we we'd be no different. I mean we and congratulations to the administration and you Bob you set up an entire company from ground up equipment and trucks staff training uh and let's not hide the fact that there were multiple meetings in here where we
disagreed with passing uh funding for certain thing which delayed stuff. So uh our director just doesn't have a checkbook to fix things and there's a process. I think compared to what happened over 25 years with American Water, nothing happened. They managed
they managed our water company and nothing happened. Over six administrations, nothing happened to our sewer. So when it comes to critical maintenance and assessment of pump stations, force mains, zero happened compared to what we're doing today. I understand we
funded uh a CTV to all all the town, which is probably almost done. So, we're going to get an X-ray of all of our sewer to discover what should be replaced first in critical maintenance order. So, I think we've come a long way and I think, you know, Councilman Brer
and I disagree at different times, but we get along uh on the way home, but uh he's he's dead wrong on this. Uh we together pushed for this. I think if he's patient and we sit down together and if he can just tell me what Suez
would have done different, they sold their company to another company, we would have been we would have been working blindfolded, they would have chose to tear up what they choose to tear up when they tear it up. They would have had the opportunity to replace more than what was necessary rather than just replace a short sleeve.
Uh if you go to the water department, I invite anybody uh uh to take you down there. You'll see we have a full operation down there uh of trucks, men, equipment, parts. If there's something that happens today, we're prepared to replace that and and make that repair.
Uh council pressure mentions that we're using consultants. So does Suez. They they call in Fletcher Kramer. They call in everybody. They have emergency maintenance just like we do. I mean, we don't dig into a 30-foot hole to make a repair, but on surface and within 10 ft,
we I think we're doing a great job. And most important, we're keeping jobs in Edison. People are being trained to be pipe fitters in Edison, which is a great career. I wish I jumped into it. If anybody's young in this room who has an interest in jumping into the pipe fitting and the local nine, and this is
a great career uh where you'll be wanted for the next 40 years and retire with a decent pension. So, I'm proud of what we've accomplished and it's just been a timeline of what's been effective and not. But we here and had times held up
the agenda because we didn't want to pass something at that time. And we had debates over what was critical maintenance, what was part of the administrative consent order, which is part of what the state orders us to fix first. And and and we also borrowed from the infrastructure bank. And that was a
process, not just a process of what, um, we were doing, but it was a process and question of the council of what we were doing and who was paying for that. So, uh, you can talk, it's great, but I think you certainly did the walk, uh, Bob, a lot. And, and I and I'm proud of what we've accomplished, and I hope Rich
and I can sit down together and work parallel to see what could have been accomplished differently if we were to farm it out today. I'm extremely happy. I hope this council is and I think uh you know the mayor is on board in the administration and I'm proud when I see your team on the street. I know they're
looking out what's best for each you know um resident. >> Let alone let's not forget what we did with water alone. We didn't touch a fire hydrant in 30 years. We flushed every fire hydrant today and and that was supposed to be done through American water was not done and I could be
exaggerating 30 years but I'd say minimum 20. So every fire hydrant's been flushed. Water's been streamed out and bled uh through the lines and no different. The the claim of fame was American Water was just selling us water and they didn't do any critical mason or
assessments or do any forecast or proactive maintenance. I think we've done a great job. I think you know my tip my hat to you. I will argue that you're uh when I want to switch real quick uh uh and I'll disagree. You're buying another truck I for 200. Could you walk me through why
you need a $212,000 truck? >> That's for emergency repairs on the water system. Right now, we're taking multiple trailers out to job to jobs. We're taking up a lot of street space. Um, multiple trailers. We're going to be able to have most of most of our equipment on this truck, repair clamps,
everything we need. So, we're not making such a big congestion on job sites. Um, it's something that most utilities have that come in, it comes in very handy. Um, it's something we really could use. It'll help us uh reduce our footprint on the job site and it's uh you know it'll
be a it'll be a big help to us. >> I I may disagree, but if my council colleagues vote together, I'll be supporting it. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Councilman. Anything else? >> I just need clarity. >> My council colleague said that um that
we did the um camera inspections on on these pipes. >> We're doing it. We're in the process of doing it. Yes. Council >> in phases. in phases. So, so we have um let's say 100 miles of pipe. How what's the percentage that we've done so far? >> A lot more than 100 miles,
>> right? But what's the percentage? >> We've done um >> Council Councilman Brusher, if I could just make that easier for everyone to answer under the bid specs that we've attached, it's in the um in this map phase one of what has been and what's pending. And I'd be glad to recirculate
that because I know this is a lengthy bid package. So, this is the important sheet that you want to refer to. Exactly. And it'll it'll there's the key there and it'll tell you exactly how many. >> But looking at it, what would you say the percentage of that is? Is that 100%. >> No. >> Um it's it's 75%.
>> Maybe. Yeah. >> 75%. I mean >> 75% of >> right out to Highland Park, pretty close to New Brunswick over on the Ritan side. Um border Piscataway South Planefield.
That's that's done >> kind of it's kind of everywhere but uh it's about 75% I would say. >> Okay. All right. Thank you >> council president. >> We lost the >> we lost the um so at this moment I
>> research >> I'm going to ask for a five minute >> just as courtesy I believe it's called a point of privilege. If anyone needs to leave the dis please just call it out point of privilege I'll absolutely acknowledge it and just to avoid this s
situation happening going forward >> we can continue >> all right thank you we do have a quorum uh I have no additional items unless you want to make >> that last big rainstorm we had um we had no issues with the uh collection system the pump stations were fine we had no
issues so we're making progress slow but sure we're making big progress >> thank you Mr. Smith. >> Council President Council >> Mr. Smith, >> I do wanted to follow up on what C uh Council Brusher said as to how much on
your rough estimate, how many people do you think are linked into our uh >> Oh, I I can't give you that number. There's quite a few though. There's developments that there's a lot of people hooked into it. >> Okay. Thank you. That was it. >> Any other questions, comments, concerns?
>> Thank you, Mr. Smith. All right. Uh 16 from the chief of fire. A approval of volunteer firefighters. B resolution accepting funds to purchase uh capture exhaust systems in all seven fire stations. $188,47.
C. Resolution authorizes discharge of fireworks uh at the Planefield Country Club. D. Award of contract to various vendors for the furnishing of firefighter protective clothing equipment not to exceed 150,000. E resolution awarding contracts for the
furnishing of firefighting equipment and rescue tools not to exceed 150,000. And F resolution awarding contracts for the furnishing of office furniture and related products not to exceed 560,000. Any questions, comments, or concerns?
See none. 17 from the chief of police. A resolution authorizing as in police department enrollment in the 1033 program for 2025 and B resolution to accept state fish school year 2025 justice assistant grant $45,738.
Any questions, comments, or concerns? Seeing none, 18 from the township clerk. A resolution authorizing refund to Special Olympics for raffle license. B resolution authorizing local amusement game license. and C resolution regarding
the annual report annual audit for the year ending December 31st, 2024. Any questions, comments, or concerns? Seeing none, we'll move on to the action items of the agenda. 19. Approval of volunteer firefighters.
This is uh just all in favor. Uh can I get a motion to approve? >> Motion to approve. Second. >> Motion by Councilman Patiel. Second by Councilman Patel. All in favor? >> I >> I Any opposed? Volunteer firefighters are accepted and
approved. 20. Approval of minutes A and B. A motion to approve. >> I'm abstaining. >> You're absent on 23rd. >> Motion to approve.
>> So I will second it. Councilman Patil, you have to abstain on the 23rd >> and I Yes, I think I have to for July, right? >> Same meeting. >> Yeah, I believe so. So, abstension from that because you were not present. Uh,
so motion by Councilman Patel, second by myself. All in favor? >> I. Any oppose? None. Approval of minutes passes. 21. Unfinished businesses. Ordinances for further consideration. Public hearing. Final adoption. Madame
clerk, please read. Ordinance 02251. >> An ordinance authorizing a lease extension of the homeless facility agreement with Catholic Charities Dais Matuchen for a portion of the former Camp Kilmer property. >> Thank you. At this time, I'd like to open up to the public for any comments,
questions, or concerns on the ordinance 2251. Seeing none, can I get a motion to close the public portion? >> Motion to close. >> Second. >> Motion by Councilman Coyle, second by Councilman Patel. All in favor? >> I.
>> The public portion is closed. At this time, can I get a motion on the ordinance? >> Motion. >> Council President, I move this uh ordinance be passed on first reading. Public >> Sorry. >> This is this is motion. Okay. So mo a
motion of action whether to approve, adopt or other. >> Okay. Motion to approve. >> Uh second >> motion by Councilman Coyle, second by Councilman Patel. Any uh comments from my colleagues. Madam clerk, roll call, please. Council
member Brusher. >> Yes. >> Council member Coyle. >> Yes. >> Council member Patel. >> Yes. >> Council member Patiel. >> Yes. >> Council President Pointer. >> Yes. >> Ordinance 2252. Madam clerk, please read ordinance. An ordinance amending the township code
to make Glen Court Avenue one-way street west to east from Fall Street to Wbridge Avenue. >> Thank you. At this time, I'd like to open up to the PL for any questions, comments, or concerns on Ordinance 2252. Seeing none, can I get a motion to close the public comment?
>> Motion to close. >> Second. >> Motion by Councilman Coyle. Second by Councilman Patel. All in favor? >> I. Any opposed? Public portion is now closed. At this time, can I get a motion on the ordinance? >> Motion to adopt. >> Second. >> Motion by Councilman Patiel. Second by
Councilman Coyle. Any uh council comments? >> Seeing none. Madam clerk, roll call, please. >> Council member Brusher. >> Yes. >> Council member Coyle. >> Yes. >> Council member Patel. >> Yes. >> Council member Patiel. >> Yes. >> Council President Pointer. >> Yes.
>> Now we'll move on to new business. Uh proposed ordinances for a public hearing set down for Wednesday, September 10th, 2025. Uh madam clerk, please read ordinance 2253. Bond order providing for the acquisition of vehicles, trucks, and equipment for
the solid waste collection district in and by the township of Edison, the county of Middle Sex, New Jersey, appropriating 1,463,000. Therefore, and authorizing the issuance of 1,463,000 bonds or notes of the township to finance part of Hey, at this time can I
get a motion on the ordinance? >> Motion council. >> This would be this would be for the >> right here. >> Okay. Thank you, Council President. I move this ordinance to be passed on first reading, published according to law for further consideration. Public
hearing set down for >> September 10th. >> September 10th. >> Thank you. >> Second. >> Thank you. So, it's a motion by Councilman Coyle to introduce, second by Councilman Patel. Any council comments? Seeing none. Uh again, this ordinance
for myself, this ordinance is for the purchase of sanitation vehicles, which if anyone is familiar with the current fleet, it does need some updates. So, I'm in support of this ordinance. Uh madam clerk, roll call, please. >> Council member Presser, >> yes.
>> Council member Coyle, >> yes. >> Council member Patel, >> yes. >> Council member Patiel, >> yes. >> Council President Pointer, >> yes. Madam clerk, ordinance 2254, >> bond ordinance providing for various improvements to the water utility and by
the township of Edison appropriating 17,745,000, therefore authorizing the issuance of 17,745,000 bonds and notes for the township to finance thereof. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. At this time, can I get a motion on the ordinance?
Council President, I move this ordinance be passed on the first reading published according to law for further consideration and public hearing set down for September 10th, 2025. >> Thank you. Is there a second? Second. >> Second by Councilman Coyle. So, u motion
by Councilman Patel, second by Councilman Coyle. Any council comments? Seeing none at this time, madam clerk, roll call, please. Council member Brusher. >> Yes. >> Council member Coyle. >> Yes. >> Council member Patel. >> Yes. >> Council member Patiel. >> Yes. >> Council President Pointer.
>> Yes. To introduce. >> Madam Clerk, Ordinance 2255, please read. >> Plot providing for various improvements to the sewer utility and by the town of Edison appropriating 13,98,375. Therefore authorizing the issuance of
13,98 375 bonds or notes for the tenant to finance part of. >> Thank you. At this time I get a motion on the ordinance. >> Council person. >> Yes. Councilman. >> I move this ordinance be passed on first reading published according to the law for further consideration and public
hearing set down for September 10, 2025. >> Thank you council patio. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Motion introduced by councilman Patil. Second by councilman Patel. Any council comments? Uh just for myself in regards to both
the water and the sewer ordinances as many people are aware in 2019 the township voted to keep both departments in house. Um one of those items though is that we need to make sure that there's proper funding to be able to execute that desire by the township uh
by the residents. So that is why I will be supporting this ordinance. Thank you. Madam clerk, roll call, please. >> Council member Brusher. >> Yes. >> Council member Oy. >> Yes. Council member Patel. >> Yes. >> Council member Patiel. >> Yes. >> Council President Pointer. >> Yes. I introduce
>> Madam Clerk. Ordinance 2256 providing for various capital improvements in by the township appropriating 25,8,500. Therefore, authorizing the issuance of notes of 23,758,75 bonds or notes to finance parts thereof.
>> Thank you. At this time, can I get a motion on the ordinance? >> Council present. >> Yes. Councilman Patiel. >> I move this ordinance be passed on first reading published according to the law for further consideration and public hearing sit down for September 10, 2025. >> Thank you, Councilman Patiel.
>> Second. >> Second by Councilman Patel. So motion introduced by Councilman Patiel, second by Councilman Patel. Any council comments? Um, for myself, I know that there is concern in regards to the overall debt of the township. What I would like to
say for myself in review of the the budget and in regards to where we are in terms of our current um debt obligations, the metrics of which we are at, I
believe are sustainable. In short, um the restructuring of the debt back in 2021, which I've always given credit to the administr to the Lanki administration and the council at that time, has afforded the the township to be in good position to make these types
of investments to make sure that the quality of life of its residents is maintained and improved. Thank you, Madame Clerk. Roll call, please. >> Council member Brusher, >> yes. >> Council member Coyle, >> yes. >> Council member Patel, >> yes. >> Council member Patiel, >> yes. >> Council President Pointer, >> yes. to introduce.
Madam clerk, ordinance 2257. There's a lot of ordinances. >> An or an or an ordinance amending chapter 16 fire prevention and protection section 16-1 uniform fire safety act local enforcement agency subsection 16-1.5
permit fees fire code status requests of the township code of the township to amend the tent permits. >> Thank you. Can I get a motion fees? Can I get a motion on the ordinance? >> Council President. >> Yes. Councilman Patel. >> I move this ordinance be passed on first reading published according to law for
further consideration and public hearing set down for September 10th, 2025. >> Thank you. Is there a second? >> Second. >> That's a motion introduced by Councilman Patel, second by Councilman Patil. Any council comments for myself? I just hope people utilize
the tents. It's nice out there. Uh, Madam Clerk, roll call, please. >> Council member Brusher. >> Yes. Council member Quail. >> Yes. >> Council member Patel. >> Yes. >> Council member Patiel. >> Yes. >> Council President Pointer. >> Yes. >> Madam Clerk, Ordinance 2258.
>> Ordinance authorizing the acquisition of property identified on the tax master of the township of Edison as block 692.05 lot 8.03 in connection with the Thomas Street redevelopment plan on a redevelopment agreement between
Yasha J. Realy LLC and upon acquisition transition transfer the property to the redeveloper in furtherance of the Thomas Place redevelopment plan. >> Thank you. At this time a motion on the ordinance. >> Council President. >> Yes. Councilman Patel.
>> I move this ordinance be passed on first reading published according to law for further consideration and public hearing set down for September 10th, 2025. >> Is there a second? >> Second. That's the motion introduced by Councilman Patel, second by Councilman Patiel. Any council comments?
Seeing none, Madam Clerk, roll call, please. >> Council member Brusher, >> yes. >> Council member Coyle, >> yes. >> Council member Patel. >> Yes. >> Council member Patiel. >> Yes. >> Council President Pointer. >> Yes. And introduce. >> Ordinance 2259. Madam Clerk, please read ordinance. Ordinance appropriating
$520,000 from a developer's contribution pursuant to the redevelopment agreement which funds are on hand by the township for the acquisition of property in and by the township of resident. >> Thank you. At this time, can I get a motion on the ordinance on the proposed
ordinance? >> Council president. >> Yes, Councilman Patel. >> I move this ordinance be passed on first reading published according to law for further consideration and public hearing set down for September 10th, 2025. Thank you. Is there a second? >> Second. >> That's a motion to introduce by
Councilman Patel. Seconded by Councilman Patiel. Any council comments? >> Seeing none, madam clerk, roll call, please. >> Council member Brusher. >> Yes. >> Council member Coyle. >> Yes. >> Council member Patel. >> Yes. >> Council member Patiel. >> Yes. >> Council President Pointer. >> Yes. And introduce.
>> Thank you. At this time, we're going to move to 23. Public comment on the resolutions only. Um, so at this time I'd like to open it up in regards to the resolutions. I do want to make uh note though that the ordinances are technically not resolutions. So this
would not be the appropriate time to discuss the ordinances that were just introduced. However, at the public comment time at the end in regards to any topic you wish to discuss, you would be afforded the opportunity to speak on those then. Thank you,
sir. Okay. Anonymous. Uh I don't give my name or my address when I come to meetings on uh every single resolution that has the word performance in it. Cash perform. There's a bunch of them in here that has the word performance. And I would like
to remind this council and everyone in this room that this council banned costumes, masks, props, and performances. >> So all of these performances wouldn't apply when you guys banned the American flag. Look it up online. They banned the American flag at the meeting.
>> Look it up. >> Thank you. Anyone else that would like to speak on the resolutions only? Yes. >> Beth Taly, 15 Midwood Avenue. I have a question on I guess it's resolution or whatever 15 here from the department of
water and sewer the resolution authorizing the contract purchase order and the um the one after that resolution it's 15A and B. I have a question is that going to be paid by by all taxpayers or only
by the Edison Water Company customers? opinion, >> you know, is that coming out of the full budget for all taxpayers or just the Edison water customers that it affects because me being a Middle Sex water
customer, I'm paying for all, you know, the upgrades and changes and stuff through my bill, which has gone up extraordinary in the last two years. Well, I see Edison Water customers, friends of mines, theirs has been staying pretty steady. So, I just want to know on that stuff if that's coming
out of all the taxpayers or just the Edison water customers. Thank >> I'll direct. >> We just need all of her questions. >> Yeah. Um just in the sake of time, do you have any other questions that you would like? >> Well, that's just on that. I can come up later for the um ordinances correctly. Yes.
>> Uh can an overview as to how those funds are appropriated and where they come from? >> Yes. The uh appropriations for the water utility are paid for by water utility customers and do not come out of general
taxpayer funds. >> So that would be in regards to the purchase of the vehicle and then the sewer is in Tire Township because sewers throughout. >> That's correct. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Any other uh comments on Yes.
Uh resolution 492 0820225, the resolution uh authorizing contract purchase order for the installation of new concrete flooring at the municipal complex not to exceed $143,000.
Um, is this the flooring coming into the building that we're talking about where all the cracks are and I worry about falling every time I come here or is there more involved that would bring it up to $143,000
is my question. >> Uh, just in the sake of time making sure, are there any other questions you would like for us to address? >> Not for a resolution. >> U, my understanding is that this would be a complete tear down and redo of the concrete. that's in front of the front vestibule there up to the sidewalk over
to the stairs that are on the left hand side because we're directly over it and the uh the entrance way into the 911 area on the right hand side. So it would be that entire area there >> and it's up to $143,000.
>> No, that is the contract amount. It's 143,000. >> Wow. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Yes. Joy Ship Freeman. Um, I just want to ask uh I'm still asking about change orders.
So, I'm just like, how do we come about every single time we turn around with a change order that we never seem to get a project manager for anything or whatever? >> Is there a specific >> We need a specific resolution that you're referring to.
Well, I think the president is supposed to say that to me. Correct. >> Are there any specific ways? Correct. >> Excuse me, sir, but I think the president is supposed to be in charge. That's why he's the president of the council. >> Okay. >> 491. >> Thank you. >> 911. Uh, so there were my understanding
the backup said that there were several additional accidents that occurred that knocked down traffic lights and there were uh expenditures above the previous uh threshold. So that this is to pay for those accidents that had happened. >> And then in regards Oh,
>> no. I I thank you because you explained it to me that the amount of accidents because even when I looked at Middle Sex County, we have the most accidents I think in the state and in this area is something whatever. Um maybe we need more people out traffic cops. Maybe we
need more out at different spots because it's ridiculous because I'm like scared when I go past the stop light because the light turns red and people still keep going at the whole time. It's very very nervous living here in Addison when it comes to traffic and I hope I hope we can do a better deal with the change
order and stuff that you know that's needed. Thank you for having class, John. >> Thank you. Any uh any other comments on the resolutions only? Seeing none, try a motion to close the
public comment. >> Motion to close. >> Second. >> Motion by Councilman Patel. Second by Councilman Mattel. All in favor? >> I. Any oppose? Public comment on the resolutions is now closed. At this time, uh I'd like to ask my colleagues if
there's any resolutions to pull aside for a separate vote. Starting from my right, Councilman Brusher. >> Uh, none. >> Councilman Coyle, >> none, sir. >> Councilman Patel? >> None. >> Councilman Patiel? >> None.
>> And none for myself. So, the consent agenda will be resolutions 422 through H4. Resolution 509. So resolutions 422 through 509 to the consent agenda. Can I get a motion on the consent agenda?
>> Motion to approve consent agenda. Second. >> Motion by Councilman Patiel. Second by Councilman Patel. Madam Clerk, roll call, please. >> Council member Brusher. >> Yes. >> Council member Coyle. >> Yes. >> Council member Patel. >> Yes. >> Council member Patiel. >> Yes. >> Council President Pointer.
>> Yes. Vice President. >> Vice President. >> I know. All right. Thank you. Next, we'll move to communications. A letter received from the open space advisory committee regarding POTS road. I believe
Councilman Patel wanted to uh make comment on this. >> Uh I wanted to follow up. Uh what did we do about in regards to the violations that the dealership is doing on the open land, the open space? That is why we
tabled it for this today to follow up on this. >> Sorry, I apologize. Um, our zoning officer has been taking a look at those and I'll have an update for you um by the end of this week. >> Okay. Uh, can I get a motion to table it for the following meeting to see what's
going on so we can follow up on this? >> Actually, I motion to table. May I have a second? What are we tableing? >> Uh tabled communication table. >> We'll not add that. >> I'm sorry, C. I don't I think you can add it to the next meeting, but I don't think there's nothing to table.
>> Okay. >> Yeah. >> If you want to add it to the next agenda, we can do that. Can >> we do that? >> Yeah, certainly. >> Yeah, that's fine. >> Next agenda again. Okay. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Uh but we still do have to act on the communication. >> So, do we have to accept it or >> just accept it?
>> Usually, it's really just to accept. We should have accepted it at the last meeting. But >> yeah, I mean, we can accept it. >> I would I would offer just to accept it. Made made sure that it's a discussion item for Councilman Patel. >> That makes a lot of sense. >> For the next meeting and is that a okay compliment? I appreciate it.
>> Uh at this time, can I get a motion to accept the communication? >> Motion to accept. >> Second. >> Motion by Councilman Patel, second by Councilman Patil. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Say none. The communication is accepted. At this time, I'd like to open up for
oral petitions and remarks. Um, I want to briefly go over the general guidelines because a lot of people came in late. Uh, we have a 4m minute public speaking time. Uh, we do not have rebuttals. Um, what I will ask is I will
try to be fair and go on left and right since there is a good amount of people that are here today. I just ask for general courtesy in regards to when speaking. I will ask for your name and address. You are you do not you are not absolutely required to provide. However,
from a record purpose standpoint, it is helpful for us to to document as such. Uh and again, I just ask for general courtesy in terms of the discussion. >> We don't have a uh a list anymore, right? >> No.
>> Bad habits. Okay. >> Sorry. >> Uh >> sir, >> oh one one additional ask just for timing purposes. Let me just recognize you know that you you're afforded the floor. So you have the floor. Thank you.
>> Uh I love that you told them that was optional. I haven't heard that here in Edison. I appreciate that. And uh I will say John, you actually run a pretty good meeting. So Dave, let him run the meeting. Stop get stop. You're out of order when you do that. let him run the meeting,
>> you know. >> I mean, Jesus Christ, >> you know, but I but I'll I'll go forward with what I was trying to say when you cut me off. >> Everybody in this room needs to know that this council banned the American flag. They banned the American flag at a
meeting. If you came up to this meeting and held anything really, if I held that roll of tape, you you couldn't do it. A New Jersey lawyer came into this room waving an American flag and they had him removed by police.
This town council here in Edison banned the American flag. Another gentleman came up with a pocket constitution. They were going to remove him by police. The only reason why they didn't was cuz he ran out of time.
This council banned costumes, masks, props, and performances. performances. I tell you, what is he doing as the council president? He's performing. What is Dave doing as the lawyer? He's performing. That's the
point I was trying to make. Every word in those resolutions that had performance technically wouldn't be allowed cuz you banned performances. That's what you did. And in the process of when you guys did this, you took the
public speaking time and you and you you went down to four minutes, stealing two minutes from everybody. And then this meeting is now a combined meeting, stealing more time away from the public. You just take take take take take take.
You know, as I tried to explain to everybody that when we walk into this meeting and you're going through this security checkpoint to come to a meeting, they are violating your Fourth Amendment right. I was surprised that when I mentioned it to a few people, nobody seemed to care enough about their
own rights. You there you were surrendering your Fourth Amendment right to come into this meeting. I mean, does anybody care about their own rights? I I mean, I find that interesting. I was going to tell every single person who
came in here, but after 15 people, they just blew me off. And I love that this room is packed. I love it. That makes me feel like an American to see this room packed. That's what it should be. All of these meetings should have people coming out and speeding speaking up speaking up
against a government, a system that breeds power and greed and ignorance. Complete ignorance. And for the record, so everybody in this room knows who banned. It was not Richard Brer from day one. He stuck up for constitutional
rights. It was Joe Coyle. It was John Poer. It was Nish Patel and guy on the right that ain't even here. Not AJ Patil. AJ Patil wouldn't do that. Richard Brasser wouldn't do that. Could you imagine what it's like for these two
gentlemen on the end to sit on a council with such ignorance, such buffoonery? These people banned the American flag. They had a man removed, a lawyer removed from the meeting for waving the flag.
in the United States of America. That's what happened. And Nish Patel will never hold political office again for his mistake. And neither will John Poiner. Biggest career random mistakes ever. If you want to fix a situation, put the
public speaking back time back to 6 minutes. Oh, and remember, we we had Charlie from New Brunswick today who caught it on camera. That's the only way it went national because you guys removed the the public footage access to stop showing people at the podium.
Shame. Thank you. The speaker's time is elapsed. Gentlemen in the back. >> Evening. My name is Robin Gowen. I live on Out Road in Edison. >> Thank you. I've been a member of a resident of Edison for 38 years. I like
Edison. Enjoy living here. I'm uh speaking tonight. I'm disappointed with what happened recently, excuse me, at a warehouse in Edison uh where the mayor apparently allowed ICE to come in and take away uh people that
were there. My understanding is that the mayor was aware of this and either was unwilling or unable, excuse me, to um do anything about it to alert the people that were uh in jeopardy of losing
whatever they were losing. ICE is in uh certain towns in uh New Jersey like Princeton and Trenton have been able to do better. So, I'm encouraging Edison to do better.
uh we can if this happens again, we should inform the people ahead of time if the mayor knows either he was unwilling or unable to do anything about it. And I find that disappointing. I don't know if he's made a public
statement regarding ICE and the federal government. It's possible that he has. I I I'm not aware of that. But I just wanted to say I'm disappointed with the mayor and I hope that he does better the next time. Thank you. I'm going to try to go left and right
just for fairness. >> Thank you, Marley. >> Elizabeth Conway, 20 Netherwood Circle. >> Thank you. I usually get up here and just talk and make you listen to me, but I was upset this morning. So, I actually wrote something down and I'm going to
read it because I want to make sure that I get it done in my four minutes. And if I have any time left, then you'll have to listen to me talk after that. So, good evening. My name is Elizabeth Conway and I live at 20 Netherwood Circle, Edison, New Jersey, 08820.
I came here tonight because I'm deeply concerned about what this council is about to do on September 10th. You're voting on an ordinance to add $57 million in new bonds on top of a debt
load that already increased by more than 50% since 2021. If all of these bonds pass, Edison will be carrying a level of debt that is completely unsustainable. Just this morning, I was thinking about
my former students who are now adults, and I thought about their future. Will they be able to live in Edison? How could they when this much debt is being piled up and will eventually land on the
shoulders of the residents? We act like the money never has to be paid back, but it will. Either it shows up in higher taxes or it shows up at cuts to services. We all rely on good
services and lower taxes. But there's no way around it. And what's most frustrating is that we've been here before. We've taken on more debt. And yet the same problems keep coming back. For example, tonight there's talk of
putting $17 million toward a water utility improvements and 13.9 million towards sewer upgrades. Now that doesn't affect the whole town, but it does affect Edison residents. But these are issues Edison residents
have been facing for years. If we've already borrowed so much in the past, where did that money go? Why are we still in the same place? We have a budget of $175 million. That's a staggering number. And yet it feels like
the town takes care of what it wants or it takes care of what it needs. That's not fiscal responsibility. That's mismanagement. I feel like Edison is losing its balance. We're putting up big
developments in areas that don't have nearby grocery stores. Stop and shop, don't have public transportation, and aren't suited for that kind of density. We're taking the garden out of the
garden state, and in the process changing the very character of this town. So my question is simple. Where did all the money go? We've added tens of millions in debt over the past few years, but we're still facing the same
old problems with water, sewer, and infrastructure. Now, you're asking residents to take on $57 million more over our budget. Why should we believe this time will be any different?
Edison residents deserve straight answers and we deserve real fiscal responsibility. This isn't just about the numbers on a page. It's about whether our children, my students, my grandchildren will even
be able to afford to live here in the future. Right now, the way things are going, I'm not sure if they're going to be able to, and that's a shame. Thank you. Thank you. Uh I actually want to call
out some items that were just mentioned. Um it was talked about 1714. I just like to ask how much was previously invested prior to that. Uh previous ordinances last year we canled a lot of bond ordinances that were out
of date. Um, and in regards to percentage of current debt versus the township ratables, it's actually near what it was back in 2016, 2017, and such prior to the restructure. Thank you, ma'am.
>> Hi, my name is Ellen Wit. Um, >> thank you. You're recognized. I I live in Highland Park, but until a few years ago when I retired, I was a teacher and librarian in the Edison Township public schools. In that role, I knew that many immigrant
students, including undocumented students and their families. They were from a variety of countries, uh, not only from Latin America, but also from Asian countries. Some were families who were undocumented because
they had simply overstayed visas. And we have many families like that. Currently, I work with Dire Legal Services and coordinate the dire hotline, which supports those facing immigration problems and detention. Last week, we received a number of calls
on our hotline notifying us that ICE and Customs and Border Patrol were at the Edison at a Edison warehouse. I and others immediately went to the warehouse to document what was happening and to support workers and families who were
there. I faced many masked immigration agents and saw dozens of vehicles taking workers away. I talked to one worker who was injured during the raid. Many families and co-workers were there angry and distraught
about the cruelty of ICE. Since then, I have personally talked to uh for to family members of 14 of the workers who were detained. A number of families had multiple family members
taken, including a husband and a wife of the same family. These are members of our community who go to work every day, take care of their kids, and provide services for the rest of us. Each day,
every one of us trusts trusts undocumented immigrant workers to harvest our food, take care of our homes and kids, cook in our restaurants, and as in the case of these workers, prepare
goods that will that we will get from Amazon. These workers deserve to be treated with dignity, not as outcasts. So, while I was outraged by not in but not entirely surprised by ICE trying to
up their statistics by conducting a workplace raid, I was stunned to learn that the mayor of Edison was fully informed of the planned raid in advance and did nothing. In fact, since the raid, I don't believe there's been a peep from the mayor or
even from this council that I'm aware of condemning this attack not only on workers, but also on their families, the businesses, the local economy, and on the entire community of Edison, much less the surrounding communities who work and shop in Edison. I believe this
council needs to take the immediate step of condemning the raid, expressing some real solidarity with workers and families affected. You need to do the decent thing and defend your community and separate yourselves from the false narrative of the Trump administration,
which uses undocumented immigrants as a scapegoat for every social problem. a conscious method to distract us from focusing on those who actually do hold power and control over the econ economic system, housing and healthcare. And New
Jersey needs you to publicly support the Immigrant Trust Act in the New Jersey legislature, which will prevent local police and government agencies from becoming arms of ICE. Everyone needs to know that police, hospitals, schools, and other agencies are doing their jobs
and not collaborating with ISIS violations of human rights. It is in everyone's interest for you to stand up and immediately support the immigrant trust act. I would like to know if any council member who is here will say that they condemn the warehouse raids.
>> Excuse me, ma'am. I'm sorry. Your your time is off. So, so I'm finished, but since you gave a rebuttal to the last one, I thought maybe you'd give a rebuttal to mine and say whether you'll condemn these raids. >> I will. >> Any of you, >> if any of my colleagues would like to
make a comment, I will allow them to. Council President, >> Council President, I condemned the raids and I condemn the raids. I condemn the raids because this country is built on immigrants. We are all
immigrants whether you like it or not. Thank you. >> An attack on one of us is attack on all of us. So, let's do stand united and I will support the immigration trust act as much as I can. Thank you. >> Comments
Gloria. Gloria Ditman, Midland Road, Edison, >> recognized. >> Uh, I agree with everything Elizabeth Conway said. I would like to add another group and that is the group of senior citizens. Most of us are on fixed incomes and it is getting more difficult
to live in Edison. I would also like to focus on other issues. One is, does James Street belong to us or is that a county road because it needs to be paved immediately?
I worry about the overrun that's at the Jets Field. I'm concerned about the artificial turf. Although it looks beautiful, when a child or a young adult falls on turf, artificial turf, it's a worse uh injury
than if it was on our good earth. I wish people would reconsider that fake turf stuff. I also would have would like to suggest that any fireman, police officer
in the future who is hired that Edison residents be given real consideration. If we hire more Edison residents, I think they have a vested interest in our community, they won't get lost trying to
find our many streets. Edison is 32 square miles. That's a lot of miles. We have 108,000 people. I think it would make such a big difference both to the citizens and to our police officers whom
I love if they were Edison residents. And my last comment is about channel 15. As many of you know, I was formerly the president of the Edison Arts Society. When Mayor Lanki was here,
any pro program that we put on, any program, wherever it was, whether it be in Papani Park or here in the building, we could have it filmed. when I put on a program. September, in case you don't know, is suicide
prevention awareness month. I put on a program there at the JCC. And I wanted to have it filmed, not because I'm in it, but because if we could give one person a little bit of information to
prevent someone from taking their lives, it's worth a million. We were denied that last year. And I didn't even bother asking this year because I knew I would get another denial. So I really think
since channel 15 is public TV that that camera ought to be everywhere in Edison, not just where the mayor is. Thank you very much. >> Let's let's not go. >> Sure. Come on.
Uh just to comment on a couple of the items that were brought up. Uh senior citizens on fixed income. Uh if we can have a link on the website that just makes a pronounce of how to go apply for a senior freeze, I think that would be
helpful. Uh channel 15, just for general knowledge, uh on Comcast, I believe it's been updated and I think it's channel 1300. the township has no control over that allocation of TV number like where the channel actually is. Uh James
Street, I believe it is Township property, but I will confirm with the administration on that one. Um and then fire personnel. You mentioned about Edison residents. I believe our hiring process puts priority in regards to those that have volunteered for the the
fire department and many of those volunteers are Edison based. So I think by that natural process it kind of assists with that but I understand what the comment was. Thank you. Um yes >> um Joy Ship Freeman Edison New Jersey.
>> Thank you. your record. >> Um, just to state for for the people to knowledge the amount of money I think mayor recliano never spent a dime. Uh, Mayor Lanky was an accountant. So, he did not leave
a debt to Mayor Josie. He did not leave that debt to him. What I I need is I need to know the amount of money FEMA gave us. the amount of money that CO gave us. I need to know the true amount
of the bonds that we have um put oursel in debt for and I know uh another thing uh that the Stelton building is there a project manager for that
because I sat on the board with the Edison school system and we rejected taking a stealth building because it would cost too much money to rehab. It would be better building something else. So, I don't know how this miracle thing
how it's happening now. And another thing uh I find quite disturbing. We may have a lot of people here, but most of the time we lucky we have 10 people at the meeting and there's no rebuttal or anything and you took away
the six minutes. I go to the board of ed meeting, you get six minutes and you get a rebuttal and the people sit there, you know, and they talk hours through the night and they sit there and they're very very respectful.
You come here, everybody's talking like up in the front like hours on end. Then you give somebody a real, oh, you got all these items, but you better hurry up and get through them in four minutes. What? You can't even read that fast. That's very disrespectful and very rude
to people who pay your salary. Okay? And I that's one part that bugs me the most how you can be that disrespectful to especially because most of the time, you know, with senior citizens that be sitting here in the evening waiting for
our turn to speak. I I think that's horrible how that that goes. And I just wanted to make sure that we actually actually have somebody in charge so we don't keep running to these change orders. I
understand them from the one from tonight that uh council uh vice President John said because I understand with accidents and stuff you those are not predictable. Well, when you building something like the Jets building and you're doing Stelton and you're doing
all these special projects all the time and spending money like crazy, you know, that's how it goes. Now, this this what I find really odd. Everybody's so in favor of affordable housing. Then
why do we waste all that money going to court? We got lawyer friends that we just want to give money to because if everybody talking about they so happy with that. Hello. Why are we, you know, why are we fighting that thing? All right. And I just would like to know
about the the water situation here in Edison. All we do is build new toys. New toys. New toys. New toys. New toys. New toys. New toys all the time. Pickle ball. Pickle ball. Pickle ball. Pickle ball. I'm a I'm I'm a tennis girl, but pickle ball pickle ball pickle ball.
Now, we didn't even didn't even care. The administration didn't even care about the water until they had that main break that was on every station from under Ben Franklin. Everybody kept putting it on the back burner, putting it on a back burner. Oh, you got a new
swing set. Oh, you got another pickle ball court. You know, I guarantee you Edison has more pickle ball courts than any city in in New Jersey. Okay. At all. That's what's done. Okay. But the youth the youth of this town is
still waiting on the Jets building. But hey, they should have played pickle ball. They would have did better. Thank you. >> You just to answer one of the questions. Is there a specified project manager for the Stelton Community Center project?
Uh, council vice president. Yes. Collars. >> Collers. Thank you. I don't have an answer to the FEMA and COVID numbers off the top of my head. I'll try to get those for you. Um, and the water situation that can go on for a very long
time. So, I I'll move on if that's okay. >> Thank you. Uh, uh, we don't have rebuttal. Oh, sorry. Yes, ma'am. That was on the resolution. Sorry. Beth Talkey, 15 Midwood Avenue. Um, just some clarification. I'm talking about
the ordinances on the water company. So, what is it? 54 and 55. I believe um Councilman Brusher asked something before and said yes, it would only be the um Edison Water Company residents who would
be flitting the bill for this for these bonds. But I want to know exactly what type of bonds are they? Are they general obligation bonds, which means the whole town, every resident is liable for it,
or are they um special assessment or revenue bonds in that only the people who are customers of the Edison Water Company are paying for it? And how, as a taxpayer, do I know that? Because it just says
bond, bond, bond. So, you're telling me it's a bond. But what type of bond is it? So that I know as a Middle Sex water customer who's I said earlier paying through the nose am not having to pay
for the Edison water customers. And that's what I'd like to know if you can tell us specifically what kind of bond it is and why the specific wording isn't put into these. It just says bond bond bond. You know, we don't know. >> Absolutely. Are there any other
questions or comments before I Well, I don't want to take up your time. >> No, that's it on that one. >> Ken, would you be able to elaborate on on those items? >> Yes. Uh the bonds that are being uh discussed for both the water utility and
the soy utility are not general improvement bonds. They are not paid or backed by advalorum taxes. The water utility bonds are an obligation of the water utility which is a separate legal
entity within the township. Same with the soy utility and those bonds are paid for by revenues from the water rates or the sore rates. >> So in short it's by the users of those
utilities. >> Correct. >> Thank you. Um, ma'am in the back. >> Oh, I'm I'm sorry. I was sorry. C >> council vice president, if I could just add and absolutely. >> Um, the resident asked about how is that
displayed and that would be displayed in the budget. It's a line item in the budget. So, any capital improvement authorization, we're required to put it in the budget and it's reflective there in a line item. And additionally, I I think what gets confused um is that we
have the overview description in the agenda, but as part of the backup with the agenda, there's the actual written language, and a lot of times it has that additional information there. Uh but that wouldn't be in your five pager that you see. I apologize. Uh thank you.
>> Uh thank you. Um well, I am here tonight to uh >> before you before you start, if you can pause, I ask name and address. You're not required to, but I do ask. >> Sure. My name is Javier Robles. I am a proud Edison, well, I was a proud Edison
resident until recently um for 29 years. Um, >> you're recognized. Thank you. >> And I am also the president of the New Jersey um Latino Action Network, which is one of the largest organizations in New Jersey um on Latino issues, one of
them being immigration. Um, so I'm here today to really speak out against what's been happening in Edison. Um, you know, from what we've read, and it's not the first time that we've had issues with, uh, the mayor, um, Sam Yoshi in regards
to immigration. Um, you know, we're not sure if he's been assisting ICE or just not telling people that there's going to be raids in the, uh, township of Edison. Um, and you know, unlike the initial
promise by our current president that he was going to go after gang members, that he was going to go after people who were committing violent crimes. What's happening in Edison and throughout the US is that this administration and ICE is going after hardworking people. Many
of them who work here in Edison, many of them who work in your warehouses and who pay taxes here. many of them who have been hard workers who've been supporting their families here in New Jersey and Edison for a long time. And you know, I
applaud uh Councilman Patel for standing up and and you know, really saying what he believes. Um and I think anyone else who doesn't, you know, stand up is complicit with the mayor in what's going on in Edison and should be called out.
I I think uh a a great quote by um Mark Twain is that patriotism is supporting your country all of the time and supporting government when it deserves it. And I think that that quote really um signifies what's going on in Edison
and a lot of other um municipalities in New Jersey and nationally. you know, um I am really worried as a president of an organization that works on these issues. You know, pretty often with the Democratic Party that the party itself
sometimes is complicit or doesn't speak up about these issues. And that's a problem. You know, either we support our country all of the time and support policies that affect our people, you know, the right way some of the times or
we don't. And I think it's scary what's happening. And I hope that this council does take a stand. And I hope that they actually put something in writing. And I hope that you pressure the mayor of this town to let people know, hey, there's going to be an ice raid. And you who
have been supporting your family, your kids, and uh everyone else for this time. You probably shouldn't go to work that day. What What can What harm can come of that? So, I think it's time. So,
thank you. Thank you for your comments. >> Were you going to say something? >> You still have 48 seconds if you would like to >> I'm sorry, Jen. >> You do have 48 seconds if you want to I don't know if there's anything else you'd like to speak on.
>> Um, no. I think that's fine. Thank you. >> Thank you for your comment. Just noting Councilman Coyle stepped out so asking my colleagues to please not leave until Councilman to get back. Thank you. Um, gentlemen in the back. Yes.
>> Yeah. John. Yeah. I don't know everyone's name. I try not to. >> It's all right. I don't mind. Thanks. >> All right. My name is John Shu. Uh 219 West Shirley Avenue, Edison, New Jersey. >> Thank you. You're recognized.
>> Um so I want to talk about that about the perception uh that our country is moving more to the uh work to a conservative uh position uh because of last November's election. And I do want to warn the public that I do not believe
that is that is happening. Um, one reason um, from last November that the Democrats lost was based on a yuggov poll was because of uh, Palestine. So that was the top reason that people in
swing states did not vote um, for Kla Harris last November. Um, and I also want to talk about the uh, the polling uh for President Trump and his handling of immigration. uh right now is he's underwater and there's more people disapproving of Trump's
handling of immigration as well. Um and one reason I think that's happening uh is because of these uh raids with the border patrol and with ICE. Um and I was there this past Wednesday um at the warehouse um and I saw something that
I'll never forget. the the young girl crying because of her parents being separate being separated from her parents, fear of losing her parents. Um fear of not knowing what's going to happen with her family whether that the family will be split up or not. And these are not you know not criminals
these are workers workers in our community. Um and you know I know I understand there's a perception of um of a fear of immigration uh fear of uh undocumented people. Um and I think we
need to have an open discussion about that because they are productive members of our society. They pay taxes. They u they just want to have a better lives uh better lives for their family. A lot of people say they should do it the right way but it is very difficult to do it the right way and
a lot of the um a lot of the employers, they're not being punished for it. So, there's a there's a systematic issue with this. We do need a guest worker program. We do need uh we do need more um folks um handling the the process,
the the green cards, um you know, pushing people through the immigration process. Um but I but we know what's happening right now, there's people with green cards, people here legally, they're getting um uh taken as well. So what's happening right now with the federal government, we cannot we cannot
uh abide by that. Uh there's other issues I want to talk about. There's um this this may seem unrelated, but it really is related. Right now the US is threatening uh Venezuela with uh
warships. Um, and this past couple years, uh, immigration from Venezuela was the the top the top number of immigration because of what's of the US trying to destabilize Venezuela. And Venezuela has the largest um, oil
reserves in the world. So, that's another issue that uh, I need to I need to bring up. Um, the last thing, uh, there is a there's a state bill. It's called the Immigrant Trust Act. Uh we have actually we have
our our senator our state senator Dag Pat Pat Dagnan and our assembly people uh Caribbean and Stanley. They are all co-sponsors of this bill. This bill calls on um local government to uh local
uh local law agencies to not cooperate with the federal agencies because I do believe I do believe that is important. I believe the federal agencies are not um protecting the rights of people that they're are rounding up and uh we already have the support locally in our
uh state assembly, state legislature um to oppose to not coordinate with the federal government and that's that's important as well and I would like our our local government here to take on that position as well. >> Thank you. Your time is uh elaborated. Uh just as a general um just general
information because I I looked it up. Uh the New Jersey Immigrant Trust Act is S3672. I believe that is the um the House. And then A49 A7. I believe that is the assembly.
Um gentlemen with the mask on over there. >> Uh I have to step aside. So I'm going to ask Councilman Patiel to run the meeting for a minute. Good evening, council persons. Can everyone hear me? >> Perfect. Okay. Uh, apologize about the
mask. I have a cough and it's the only mask I had. So, please don't mind my appearance. Um, my name is Ector Rubanki. Um, I shall not disclose my address, but I can say I live in South Edison. Was raised in South Edison my
entire life. And as some of my colleagues have mentioned earlier this evening, there have been two major raids within this town, not to mention this town, but 5 minutes away from where I live. I live in an area that is very much sandwiched between these
warehouses, between this industrial area and Edison that I would say is not only the backbone of this town, but the backbone or part of the background of this entire state. I had the pleasure, or dare I say the displeasure, of seeing the events
unfolding as they did last Wednesday when over 50 people at the very least were taken from their workplace by ICE. And of course, our beloved um Sam Jooshi knew about it. Uh he knew about the raid
the entire time. And of course, he didn't alert um us, the residents. Um he didn't alert the the warehouse of the workers. It just happened. And again, it's not the first time this has happened. July 8th, there was that right at the Aba Wine Warehouse. And that was also not too far from that side as well.
Not too far from where I live as well. Um, case if you can't tell by my name. Um, I my family is not from here. They also, you know, had to to come here. They too were were displaced as my colleague was talking about before. Uh,
you know, by the all the stuff that this country does. um across the world and uh you know they're they're working people just as the same as a lot of the other people in this room. Uh I don't know if I can say that as much about you all but we all have a job to do. You know I'm
sure you can at least try to sympathize and to to connect with that but um my thing here is the following. I know I'm speaking to you but I know I'm not just speaking to you. I'm speaking to the entire audience here. I'm speaking
to the township of Edison. Dare I say I'm speaking to the entirety of New Jersey. So listen close when I say this. You can say all you want that you condemn the raids. Even though it was just one council person, Mr. Patel, thank you. You can say that you condemn the raids, but what are you actually
going to do to ensure that this does not happen again? Can you give us a tangible action item? Can you give us some sort of followup, some sort of recourse that we can take not just as residents of Edison, not
just as working people, not just as immigrants, and as the children of immigrants, but as the entire people of New Jersey? What will you do for us? How do we know that you aren't going to go back just like your mayor who's not even here
tonight and just let this happen again and again? This is the second time. This is the second raid. And of course, you keep on topping yourselves. ICE keeps on topping themselves. This is the biggest raid in New Jersey. Dare I say probably in the East Coast. You need to look in,
have a deep inner examination and really consider because if not, we're going to be back. And it's not just going to be us. It's going to be the entire town, the entirety of the state and the entirety of the working and immigrant
peoples who you don't seem to have a solution for. So unless if you can provide that, then I think my job here is done. And I at the very least am doing a job. Thank you. U so as I was the only one then to condemn it. I think what I can say is
that our hands as a council people is limited beside just like you. We have our voice. We can speak to it. We can motion to support the Immigration Trust Act, which I would like to do before the end of the day. I understand it's very frustrating. I
understand that we don't want this in our community, but unfortunately, it is happening and it will happen. I I will not say it will never happen again because this is powers beyond our local township. This is coming from a federal level. What we can do is stand united
like you are doing today. So I applaud you. What we can do is work together to stop this. If there are apps that we can download and we can pass the message, there is things we can individually do. But unfortunately in terms of saying,
hey, we will take an action that will stop this from happening in the future. I'm sorry. We don't have the power. We do not. Uh, but I would like to motion for the c uh the council to support the immigration trust act. And if I can,
someone please second that. >> I I'll second that. >> You got a second. >> I would like to open it to any council comments. >> Yes. Um, yes. >> General thing >> just right. in general. I I I do
understand um why everyone's here. I I know that it probably looks like I've been here for 400 years in my family, but that's not true. Um I think our assemblyman, I think he's a first generation here. Um but we've gotten to
a point um in this country where the left does not want to listen and be reasonable and the right doesn't want to listen or be reasonable. So what happens is is when the left is in charge they tell the right pound salt and the
repercussions unfortunately is exactly what we're seeing here because America was founded on hardworking people. That's what every one of us here are. My greatgrandparents, my well actually my great grandparents weren't here but my
grandparents and my parents um you know they came here and they came here for a dream. So there is a legal process to come here. Um my daughter-in-law came here legally became a citizen right that's what the dream is. Um, I have
friends that have become citizens um that have been here and it's a great thing when you see that because those people seem to love this country more than the people that were born here. Okay. They they really do. But I I hear
what you're saying. I don't agree with arresting people that are hardworking people and they're trying to make a life for themselves. Do I believe that gang bangers and people bring fentanyl in this country? Yeah. You know what? Yeah.
Listen to me. >> I'm going to tell you. I'm going to tell you that's what this is about though. You see, now, like I said, we're >> border the councilman. >> You're going to have to listen to me and then you're going to be able to get up
to speak. the other people are going to be able to get up to speak. When you say that this is not what it's about, this is the right the right side, right? The right side now is doing this because the left side didn't listen before about
those other things. So, they're doing it under this premise. That's what they're saying. Are they doing that? No. They went into a warehouse where people were working and they arrested them. Okay. So, yes, you're right. You're 100%
right. They're they're not doing it. This is a showboat thing because he's playing on emotions. Okay. The emotions are the same people that elected him and put him there. So, do we agree that they should go into warehouses or come into
Edison? No. And guess what authority we have? Nobody in this room, I'll bet you there's nobody here today that knows what a council does or what a mayor does. A council. >> Our only job is we're a legislative body. We can pass laws and we can
approve funding. That's what we get to do. We don't get to control the federal government. I can't have the police officers do anything. I can't direct them to do a thing. They're the police officers. They're in the town. I'm a councilman. That's strictly the mayor of the township. Okay. But even at our
township level, I don't know when when people came up and they said our mayor knew. I don't know that our mayor knew. I didn't know. I found out by the news is how I found out. So, I'm an elected official in the town and I found out by the news. So, many of you might have
known about it before I even knew. The federal government, I don't believe, communicates with our mayor or our police department. And and that could be that our mayor is a Democrat, right? And Donald Trump is a Republican. So it could be that leftright thing where they
don't talk to each other, right? And that that's a communication problem where I go back and I say that people have to talk to each other. If you don't talk to each other, we're just going to have to wait three and a half more years until we can get a different president. I mean, that's the fact of the matter.
We can pass this legislation um this thing here. I have no problem with doing it. Um John Shu came up. um I believe with Charlie at one time about power plants, right? We condemned the power plant, but we had
no authority whether that power plant was open or not. So So while we did it, it was a superficial gesture. It it was just a gesture of solidarity is what it is. And and that's what we're kind of looking at here. We don't have any
authority over this. Okay? Your local municipal government doesn't have it. And and like I said, I don't believe that the federal government, Donald Trump, called up our mayor and said that they were going to go and and anybody here that lives in the town knows that I
am not the biggest advocate for our mayor, right? So, it's not like I'm covering for him. Okay? But I don't believe that he knew. I really don't. I'm just about what's really true and and what's happening there. So, yes, I'm against them coming in and arresting
people. Um, I don't know those people did anything wrong. I don't even know that they were immigrants that they arrested. They just took people out of a warehouse. Nobody showed anybody any ID or anything. So, um, that's all that I'm going to say
about that. I'm going to let the public speak for the rest of the time. Um, I'm I'm not going to comment on what more you're going to say, but if Nish would like to put that up, I'm 100% for that. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Councilman Brusher. Any other comments?
for myself. Um, look, in regards to the raids, like notice, we just need to do what's right for the people around us and for our community, right? As Councilman Brer said, we need to communicate. So, first and foremost, it's communication.
Um, if you've done nothing wrong, like you should not be subject to um harsh harsh actions against you. In regards to the item that's before us for consideration, anyone that's that's been
here uh most of the time knows that I do not vote on stuff that I do not know. I have not read the legislation. I could 100% agree with it. So I will be abstaining from it on the principle of I have not read it. I have not seen it. I
have not made that ultimate conclusion through that evaluation process. So out of respect for everyone that's here, I just wanted to give you my reasons why I will be abstaining. Thank you. Are there any other questions, comments or concerns? >> Council person. >> Yes, Councilman Patiel.
>> I think this is the third time you know I see the audience here. This is about all about ICE the immigration. Last year we had the similar situation. Not exactly sim similar but the buses were coming through Edison
going to New York. I think I was the first one who stood against what happened in Edison. So I'm very pro- immigrant. I understand the sentiments. It's a very hardworking people. Immigrants are the backbone of US
economy. Whether we like it or not, people needs to understand whoever is going behind those hardworking families. I don't think they understand the very first fundamental of humanity. They're missing that
>> beyond anything else. So we are all humans. We should be treated with respect and dignity and that didn't happen in Edison three times back to back and now we know that it's very high time not just for this
council not just for this mayor governor everyone everyone has to stay strong and support these hardworking families and come up you know it's a fight it's not the fight of you. It's a fight of us. It's it's for us. We'll have to have to
come together, work shoulderto-shoulder and oppose what's happening there. Again, I'm be fully supporting council Patel. Thank you uh for proposing the and I'll be in fully support of that. But anywhere when somebody talks about immigrants, I'm the first generation immigrant.
It's very near and dear to my heart. So when the issues of immigration pops up, you will always always get my support. Thank you. >> Any other final comments? Councilman Coyle. >> Council President, is there a chance you can move this resolution to September
10th so we can have a full vote? Councilman, >> there's a resolution. >> We already have a motion in place. >> There's a motion in a second. >> We have a motion. We have no We have no resol. We have nothing in front of us. Uh >> we don't have we have four council member uh
>> that's your your decision. >> Uh legal can what is the process in this case because I know we have done it in the past. >> Yeah there's a motion on the table a proper we made a proper motion there was a proper second um before a vote there could be a motion to table this to a to
a date certain if you wanted to you would need a second and then there need to be a vote on that as well but if that fails the vote will be taken this evening. Yeah. We should the vote. >> I will say vote. >> All right.
>> There's no motion table. Then you can call the question. >> Uh no motion to table. So this will be a resolution uh 510 I believe it will be uh in broad context. It will be in terms
of supporting and I apologize I don't have >> S3 672. and A497 immigration trust act. >> The law department can prepare the resolution. I think I clearly understand what the intent of council is here this evening. >> Yeah. >> So that's the motion.
>> Motion to have the motion on on the floor. Correct. Support for you to draft the resolution. Correct. Support these two bills. >> We just we just need a we just need a vote. >> We need a vote. Yep. That's it. >> So, Madam Clerk, roll call, please. >> Council member Brusher. >> Yes. Council member Coyle, >> yes.
>> Council member Patel, >> yes. >> Council member Patiel, >> yes. >> Council President Pointer, >> abstain for the me for the reasons I mentioned before. I have not read the bill and while I may in theory agree with it, I cannot in good conscious vote on something I did not read.
Mo the motion passes. The motion Yeah, the motion passes. Yeah. Thank you. The lady in the back. >> Sorry, the the lady in the back, she's had her hand up for like a half hour. I feel bad.
I'm going left and right. >> Okay. So, I would like to stay anonymous. Um >> I'm sorry. Could you I'm sorry. >> Wait. Oh, wait. Go ahead. >> I'm sorry. Could you repeat? >> I would like to stay anonymous. >> Thank you. You are recognized.
>> Um, okay. So, I'll keep it short, but the main thing I want to say is we had two council members clearly state their stance on the raids that happened. So, after this, I would like to give each council member a chance to clearly state what their statement is on these raids.
Um, and stand by it or stand in silence so that we know what exactly your opinion is on what happened. Um, regarding what Richard said, uh, the mayor actually did know that they were coming. He said himself that they did know. So, what you said was just wrong.
He knew that they were coming and he didn't do anything about it. And what they did was they put bracelets on each person to brand if they were documented or not. And when you start branding people with physical symbolism, you are
reaching toward we already are in a very tyrannical cult. I don't even know if that's a word, but we are reaching towards tyranny when you brand people and label them publicly by what they are based off of their documentation. Um, and so that is one thing that I really
want to mention that it is important. You say that you don't have authority, but speaking out publicly with your words is very important. When you say nothing, that means you are complicit. And I understand, as you said, you have um a
history of immigration in your family. You're still white and so you are protected from a lot of things that are going to happen to our community because the people that are being targeted are black, brown, and indigenous people, not white people.
And so it's important for you to recognize that while you have that history, you still have an obligation to stand up for brown people, especially in Edison when it's a very highly concentrated immigrant community. Um that you have to use your privilege,
that you recognize that you come from an immigrant background, but you are not going to be the one that is going to suffer from all of these things that are happening. Um, and so one thing that I want to say to Mayor Summit Josie, Johi, who likes to call himself Sam, is that
you are not white. You will not be chosen. And when you allow things like this to happen, when you comply in advance, you are opening us up for a lot more harm. And if they can do it to one person, regardless of what their immigration status is, they can and they
will do it to everybody. And because he allowed for this to happen now, it is only going to get worse because now they know that he is weak. They know that he's going to let it happen. And they're going to keep coming for people and they're going to keep coming for different people. And it's only going to keep going worse because this happened
now. And so it's important for all of you to speak up after this and clearly state what your opinion is. And that man over here just left. So we're going to wait for him to come back and also say that because he's been not listening to anybody this entire time. He's been
looking down while people are talking. And if you are sitting on this council, you need to look at us. You need to pay attention and you need to listen and not be disrespectful. And sitting on your phone doing whatever, looking down when people are talking when, as people have said, you've already cut time off. So, I
think it's really important for all of you to realize that you have actionable steps to do. When there is another raid, you better show up. You better say that you are on this council and that you don't support this. Even if you think you don't have authority, you have to use your voice because why else are you
here? Right? If this is your job, the next time a raid happens, we expect all of you to stand there and say that you don't support what the mayor is allowing, regardless of if you think you have authority or not, because that is what your authority is, to speak up even
if you think that nothing will happen from it. So, yeah, that's pretty much it. I really would like to see what you all have to say about the raids and clearly state what your stance is on it because you can't dillydally around the topic at hand which only two people on
the council have clearly stated what their opinion has when we've been talking about this the whole night. Your time is uh elaborate elaboration for anyone that may not be aware. The gentleman that is sitting next to me is the uh representing attorney for the
township. So, he is not a council member. In case you thought by chance that was the case, I will open it up to >> council president. Right. I I I mean I guess the audience um doesn't listen or the last speaker just didn't listen.
>> Um I clearly Right. He might be unhappy, but I clearly said >> that I I don't support them going into a warehouse to arrest people. Okay, you can go back and watch the tape again, right? And you're going to hear that I said it I think twice.
And when we talk about white privilege, I love when I hear that because I'll be honest with you, what happens is that's a bigoted statement that you just made and and I'll tell you where it goes because we're going to Yeah, we're going
to talk we're going to talk we are going to talk about some history. Do we do we have any teachers in the room? Does anybody remember what happened in I think it was 1880
>> when I think it was 15 Italians were accused of raping a white woman because when that happened they hung those Italians. The president in the future decided to
make Columbus Day. So, while you might look at me as being white, right, at at a time my relatives were not considered white in this country. So, I I'd like you to I'd like you to Google back to
the 1880s when Italians weren't considered white in this country. Every immigrant goes through the same the same thing. We all go We all went through it. Our relatives went through it. You might be going through it now, but my
grandfather went through it. But it is part of history whether you like it or you don't like it. And the white privilege when we talk about I believe um Mr. Shu spoke about how come Trump won.
Maybe Trump won because we put everything on someone else instead of standing up and trying to make our lives better here. Okay. And that's what we should all really do. Like I said, it should be a conversation between people.
It shouldn't be about whether it's a black or a white or or a beige or yellow. It shouldn't be about race. None of that should be brought into the equation. But when it gets brought into the equation because because it is
because it's not. Yes, I understand where you're staying. and and you are blessed with the greatest country in the world. You're blessed probably with parents that have sent you to college and been able to pay for everything. Okay. But certain people have to pay
this price and where it goes. No, I can't I can't help it. I'm going to go on. Right. I get right because it's a whole white privilege thing just like there's white privilege sitting in the audience there that would just like to condemn everybody. But go back, like I
said, the Italians weren't considered white in I think it was 1880. And any of the school teachers there would know that. And that's how we ended up with Columbus Day. >> 2025. Yes. And I'll tell you why
>> in 2045, right? Everybody that's here in this room that considers themelves not white, right, will end up being considered white by the next generation that comes here. >> The Italians did it. The Italian The
Italians did it. It's a fact. Point of order. Point of order. So >> I need to make sure that there's decorum in the >> Yes. >> Councilman brusher. >> There you go. >> Everyone, I understand this is a this is sensitive is not the right word
I want to use. It is a um a very passionate thank you uh topic. However, disruptions back and forth even on our side does not further any conversation. So while you may not appreciate any
comments that are made, I just ask for the courtesy to hear out and then we can move forward. Thank you. >> It just comes that that when I hear this about the white privilege, I grew up in a generation, my generation, I couldn't become a police officer in Edison
Township because we had quotas at that time. Okay? So I couldn't have certain positions because of things that some white people did. When my parents and my grandparents weren't even part of this country, they weren't even here. They came from no country where there was
slavery. But we don't want to do that. We what we want to do, right, is we want to condemn me, the young lady, because I happen to be white. It wasn't my choice to be born this way. Okay? I was born
how I was born. >> But yet, you want to blame me for these problems. Well, I was blamed individually because I was white, which is a bigoted statement. Okay, that is the truth. And
if the people can't recognize that, >> well, then that's that's a problem. Um, I'll I'll yield my time till the next speaker comes. >> Thank you, Council. >> Council President, >> Councilman Patel, >> uh, I would like to stand up for Councilman Brer. I think this this
country is a big experiment whether or not we can govern ourselves and if we need solidarity that means getting every single help we can and not creating a wall to say hey you are white you're not
with us that is not fair. We need every single voice to shout with us and say hey this is not right and we need to stand up against it and we shouldn't create divides. That is what the point of this administration is to divide us.
And when we are divided, we cannot stand united against what is fair, what is justice. So please, I would ask you if you make statements, say join us rather than stay in your own lane. That's good.
>> Just like to make any comments. I need to make sure to maintain the quorum. I again I understand the passion around everything but please uh would anyone else like to make any comments for myself? I said it before I um
disavow the raids that happened. If there's anything that we can do in terms of communicating out to ensure that our community feels safe, feels welcome, that you have the information available so that you have a good quality of life.
I will do what I can to try to provide for that. Um, I'm not going to get into the white privilege thing because I acknowledge I've have white privilege. Like, I acknowledge that. But regardless, I disavow the the raids that happened. I
hope that we can have communication uh better communication going forward so that we ensure that we have a safe community. Thank you. Any other seeing none? Yeah.
>> Yes. Yes. I'm sorry. Yeah. Um, good evening council members, neighbors, and community members. Uh, my name is Stephanie. I'm a social worker here in New Jersey and I'm the daughter of an immigrant family. >> I'm sorry, ma'am. Um, can you just >> I'm so sorry. Can you guys hear me?
>> Yes, if you can just raise it up. I'm sorry. >> Okay. No, all good. >> Thank you. >> Um, good evening, council member members, uh, neighbors, and community members. My name is Stephanie. I am a social worker here in New Jersey and the daughter of an immigrant family. Uh what happened in Edison is not an immigration
issue. It's a human rights crisis. Just days ago, ICE raided a warehouse here. 50 plus workers were detained. Some were injured. Families were torn apart. Children were left without parents. And our local leadership stayed silent. Silence in the face of injustice is not
neutrality. It is complicitly. And the facts are clear. Due process is a constitutional right for everyone on US soil. Entering without papers is a civil violation, not a crime. ICE has a record of overreach, even detaining people with
legal status. Raids and raids like this traumatize entire communities. And now the military force is being deployed into our cities. Uh tanks, troops, intimidation, a crisis being invented where none exists. A real crisis is in Washington where a convicted felon
abuses power and undermines democracy. This is not law and order. It is tyranny. And as a social worker, I see the damage every day. Children terrified their parents won't come home. Families avoiding medical care out of fear. Trauma that spills into schools,
hospitals, and neighborhoods. That it's not just raids. This administration is cutting Medicaid, the program that that millions of low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities rely on. In my hospital, I see firsthand how these cuts mean cancer patients
delaying treatment. families struggling to afford prescriptions and vulnerable people left without care. This isn't about immigration. It's about public health, human dignity, and the kind of country we want to be. That's why I call on the Edison Township Council to condemn these raids, and demand answers
from ICE, provide legal and social support for affected families, ensure Edison officials do not collaborate with ICE, and protect all working families who keep this community alive. Let me be clear, the mayor of Edison has a choice. He can listen to the people or he can
side with tyranny. We can uphold the rule of law and defend this community or remain silent and complicit. Edison must decide which side of history it will stand on. But this is bigger than Edison. America is at a tw turning point. If the people and especially our
representatives do not act now, we risk losing our democracy that we claim to defend defend. History will remember whether we choose courage or complicity. The there is a saying I hold close. They tried to bury us, but they didn't know that we were seeds. This community will
not be buried by fear. We will rise. We will organize. And we will fight for justice with everything we have. I refuse to accept fascism as our future. I refuse to stay silent. And I will continue to fight until justice wins. I urge you, stand with us. Stand with we
the people. Thank you, council. Reverend Seth Copperdale at the Reformed Church of Highland Park. >> Thank you. You're recognized. >> Have a lot of um congregants living in Edison. And we lease and subleasase lots of apartments in Edison to refugees and immigrants and have a ton of people
working in the warehouses um here. um not the two that got raided, but um I was present for the Alba Wine and Spirits um raid. I feel like if there had been a mass shooting or a massive fire in Edison or a mass kidnapping,
tonight would have started with like a moment of silence and a recognition that everything is is wrong, you know. Um I actually love being here for this meeting tonight and I love what is the normal operations. Um, I was sitting here actually totally impressed with
just the the kind of order of a general council meeting where you're going through the bond statements and where you're where you're doing your thing. Um, I wish for a world where that was normal business, but this is not normal times. We we have had a mass kidnapping, um, a mass parentnapping. Um, and that's
why we're here and that's why we're hurting. The people in our lives are being pulled from us. Um, and Edison is is like center. it this is kind of like you know the the epicenter um it's one of the most diverse places in this whole
country in one of the six states with the most immigrants who have arrived in the last 5 years which seems to be a big focus of the president's attacks. So, somebody said that solidarity was um uh didn't actually have real power. And you
know, I want to just offer some ways that solidarity, it's all about power, actually. And I think that this um council, I just wanted to offer a couple suggestions to you. One, I would form, if you don't already have one, an ad hoc group on detention and deportation, um an ad hoc committee of the council that
can be um first in line to be your first defense when stuff goes down. because this is going to happen every week for as long as we can imagine. And that that committee could do things like assisting local businesses in assessing how many of their workers are at risk. We're learning about bonded warehouses and in
particular how many warehouses in Edison are at risk of CBP having special rights or sort of special rights to go in and do searches. And that's putting these particular warehouses at risk. learn about that through an ad hoc committee and inform the companies of this of this
um township about what's going on. Second, raising funds. We here in the in the nonprofit sector have raised tens and tens of thousands just to help the first 50 families in these two warehouse raids that have reached out and said they're desperate for help with legal fees and with rent because the
breadwinners are gone. Think about if there's a way um to inspire the community voluntarily. I'm not asking for more bonds. I I see that that's a big issue here already. But the the council spirit could get behind that. Um and making demands of the state just to
let them know how much this hurts. Um so it's both about pushing for the immigrant trust act, but really just starting to on the daily let the state know that Edison is suffering. Edison's people are really really suffering. And then just outrage and compassion. Those are two things, you know, heart and
spine. Um, when when it comes to one of these things that goes down, when we hear before we ask that you're super upset, it means something. When we hear before we ask that families have been reached out to and offered some condolences, we got people who have been here 20, 30 years, worked in the same
warehouse for 12 years and now have been ripped away and had their families broken up in a day. These kinds of things, you know, people want to hear from elected officials that this is not okay. Thank you so much. >> Thank you for your comments. Hello. Hi, my name is Jacob Daniels. Uh,
lived in Edison since I was 6 years old. >> Thank you. You're recognized. >> Uh, first of I just want to say uh, congratulations to the men on the end. In 20 years, you get to be white according to Brcher. So, I'm sure you'll get all the privileges along with that.
On Thursday, ICE entered the Smart Logistics Warehouse and kidnapped 29 of our neighbors at their jobs. They did this without a warrant, without identifying themselves, without legal precedent. And they did this with the full endorsement and permission of Edison's first Indian
American mayor, Sam Jooshi. He did know, he did say nothing. And we see him now. His family immigrated here for a better life like many immigrants before them. And I'm calling out the mayor. Well, I would have if he were here
to calling him out and highlighting his family because ICE there's no guarantee that ICE wouldn't have a cost at him and his family too. His family is not unique to the American promise that anyone who works hard will
find an opportunity here. I don't know if he agrees with these kidnappings. I have to believe he did if he said nothing and he saw it was coming and was okay with it. Maybe he doesn't care that a secret police force is rounding up immigrants and citizens suspected of being undocumented and throwing them into camps without due
process. But I care and everyone here does. I'm a proud Jewish American and I've been taught my entire life to fight fascism and to fight the Nazis. When we said never again, we meant for everyone. If one of us is in danger of losing our
rights, every single one of us is because they can do that. Recent reports indicate that approximately 45% of Edison residents are immigrants. That's nearly half the population of Edison and many of them are who are undocumented. Some 10% are
Hispanic. and his silence lets me know that he is content to feed any one of them to the ICE to to the terrorist organization known as ICE. >> Mr. Pointer, you said that if they didn't commit a crime, they shouldn't be treated harshly. The Constitution
protects individuals from harsh and inhumane treatment regardless of even if they've been accused of committing a crime. We're asking you all to join us, to get up, do your jobs, start speaking up, and protecting all the residents of Edison. Figure out what you can do and do it.
Just because you don't have the legal authority to make something happen, you have a louder voice than anyone here, and we need you to use that. We will support you with this. We're here to help with that. Just support your residents. That's all I got.
Starting the blast over there. Hello. Can you hear me? Um, I come from Newark. My name is Derek Galley Martinez. >> Thank you. You're recognized. >> Thank you. A little background. I am uh certified on human rights and diplomacy by the institute of diplomat diplomacy
and human rights in Washington DC. I work as a president of UN USA which is an organization that works directly with the United Nations and I have led several organizations in the states. Um and what I got to say is that um first uh with all due respect assembly men
this country was founded on slavery not hard working people on slavery. um it was not founded by will. It was founded by power and genocide. We can love the idea of the country and what is becoming but we have to be truth to the nature of
the nation. Um also uh when we talk about your ability to stand up or form a coalition, this country was founded by a group of people who said enough is enough. We're gonna gather with no real mandate against the ruling government
and say we're going to declare a Continental Congress a standing army and we're going to fight back for our rights. So as a council, while you're obviously not going to arm yourselves against the government, you can form a coalition with other councils and push
back against the federal government. There's such things as state and federal rights in this country is a founding principle. um at when it comes to the ICE rates, it really comes down to whether your humanity depends on your keeping your
position or on going against human rights. Let's not forget that. For example, I am a Puerto Rican American. We were taken over after the SpanishAmerican War and for 60 years just for showing our colonial flag or flag that we are so proud of, we were
thrown in jail and experimented on. So no, this country is not all roses and love for everyone. But I do believe in the founding principles of democracy and the big experiments, can we govern
ourselves? When you go and see ICE or any form of fascism in this government, you have to ask yourself, have all the men and women that died in our wars protecting our principles deserve this is how we end. This is how the great American
experiment ends with a fascist government. How do you feel when World War II vets come online and say, "I have fought fascism overse my home and I can no longer fight." You talk about history. You talk about teachers. We don't pay
our teachers enough. You You all love, whether it's left or right, all love to go ahead and do what's popular. say what line really hits the bus for a vote. But how about standing on principle? How about going
out here and sitting outside those um warehouses and when ICE comes, you say, "As elected official of these towns, we will not let you enter." So I ask you one more time, as so many of your residents have, what will you
do? Will you put a simple resolution and sit at your desk? whether you agree with how the government currently carries out the policy. And let's not forget that President Donald J. Trump cited the Alien Enemies Act, which was an act
enacted during a time of war. Has Congress declared a state of war? Because last time I checked, a full house, a full session of Congress was not called, the Congress did not take a vote on declaring this country in a
state of war. And if and if we are not going to abide by our founding principles, then America's already dead. Thank you very much for your time. Nice. My arm is killing me. Okay. Hello
everybody. Hey, my name is Amanda Dominguez and I'm a resident of New Brunswick, New Jersey. >> Thank you. You're recognized. >> So, my name is Amanda and I am a member of the organization New Labor. New Labor is a workers rights um organization. It's a nonprofit in New Jersey that educates workers about their rights and
supports workers for better working conditions across the state. Um and so you might want to know why maybe a resident of New Brunswick is here today. It's because through the dire network that we're a part of, we receive calls that our residents in New Brunswick were working at this Edison warehouse with
the other workers when ICE came and began to cause their violent raid. I was there for the Alba Wine warehouse raid and I was there for the one that happened last Wednesday. They are getting more and more violent. At the Alba Wine warehouse raid when we
showed up, we were not permitted to get close enough to the workers to remind them about their rights. We were not permitted to get close enough to management of the warehouse to let them know, "Hey, we're here for you. Do you need support right now? Do your workers need support right now." Instead, we were screamed at and told to stand
behind the line while they sent in dogs after workers. Their tactics are to scare, terrorize, send attack dogs in, arrest people, and ask questions later. This is something we should all be able to stand behind and condemn. Everybody
in there was zip tied or had handcuffs put on them until they could prove or attempt to prove some form of status in this country. And I don't know about you, but I don't always carry everything with me all the time. Especially if I have a job to do that might be a little bit dirty or difficult. Maybe I don't
want my most important papers attached to me during those moments. And instead, they're being treated like criminals instead of like humans. At the last one in Edison that happened last Wednesday, it was even more violent. I don't know if everyone knows,
but two to three ambulances were called to that warehouse during that time. It was a fivehour ordeal. And I was out there in the rain with Rinalda and with other people, with Carlos and Ellen for this whole time trying to support these workers.
Five hours. And what did they do? They had drones in there. They were physically harming people. We had a guy come out. He had blood dripping down his leg. Another person was bleeding from their side. And someone had an accidental fall. It's really interesting that the day that ICE shows up, there's
all these accidents. There's violence happening in the Edison community. And it's not even affecting just residents of Edison, but there's people who came down here from Jersey City to come work here and support your economy. People who came over from your neighboring town of New Brunswick. And I'm here to speak for some of those residents of New Brunswick who couldn't be here tonight.
One such person had their nephew taken from them. He is a father. He was a part of ROC. He has two children and a wife. He was taken on Wednesday. He was detained. He was moved to Texas by Friday and deported to Mexico by Saturday.
That's it. There was no due process. There was no seeing a judge. There was no fighting his case. No seeing his family. The Mexican consulate from New Brunswick tried to go visit him and they weren't allowed. They tried to bring some paperwork for him. They try to bring some money. They're charging $20 a phone call for a fiveminute phone call
in these detention centers. They're for-profit centers. Families can't afford this. And by the time they figure out their rights and get things together, guess what? Their loved ones deported. So, I was going to ask the mayor today if he could tell me where all our loved ones are. from New Brunswick and from Jersey City and the surrounding areas and for the residents
of Edison. And so I know some of you said this was a little performative today. And you might say that me standing here is performative, too. But we got you guys to talk about the Immigrant Trust Act and begin to support it. And maybe then you guys can organize the way we organized in this room. You guys organize and get more officials to
support it. And then it gets bigger and bigger until we get it passed. We need it passed. There are seven more bonded warehouses in Edison and 80 in New Jersey. This will happen again if we don't do something soon. Thank you.
>> Good evening, council members. My name is Anna Rose Gable and I live on Crow's Road in on the edge of Highland Park. >> Thank you. You're recognized. >> The apartment complex adjacent to mine is in Edison. Like many of us, I'm here tonight to speak out against the two
major Edison warehouse raids that ripped irreparable holes in our community this past month. As Amanda described so well, I'm concerned about the situation for several reasons. First, as a community member and neighbor. Second, as a teacher of young people. Third, as an
aspiring homeowner. And finally, as a person of faith. As a community member, I am horrified that the Edison mayor's office, in spite of being informed about these raids ahead of time, declined to contact affected businesses, workers, and advocacy groups. As a result of this
negligence, as Amanda said, at least two workers, maybe more, were physically injured, and countless law-abiding workers and their families were traumatized as federal agents broke into their workplaces, hunted them down with dogs and drones, marked some co-workers as worthy while segregating and
abducting others, and ultimately ripped over 50 families apart. As a volunteer hotline operator with Dyer, I have taken numerous calls from heartbroken family members trying desperately to locate their loved ones and make impossible decisions regarding
the future of their lives together. Council, we need to see your outrage for these families. As an educator of English language learners, I am intimately familiar with the limited options and desperate hopes of families living in our country
without authorization. These families are not criminals, nor are they avoiding accountability. Rather, our country has not passed meaningful comprehensive immigration reform since before I was born. Yet, we are clearly desperate for
exploitable labor. Our continual failure to create pathways to authorize families to live and work here has created a system where their labor is almost limitlessly exploitable. Most of the workers detained in these raids report to temp labor agencies each
morning for work, ready to take on whatever job needs doing. We clearly value these workers labor, yet our continual inaction reveals blatant disregard for their humanity. As an aspiring homeowner, the boundaries between New Brunswick,
Highland Park, and Edison matter to me only to the extent that roadways pose limits on my ability to walk or bike between the three. Yet, knowing that Edison's town leadership has such little regard for people living and working here makes me pause to consider, is this
really a welcoming community where I would want to start a family and pay taxes? As a person of faith, I'm keenly aware that actions such as these raids don't just impact undocumented workers and their families. Not only does their trauma trickle out to touch our lives
and community with one another, but when we ignore their plight, we open the door to our own oppression. Already the US president is using AI to challenge visa holders, making genuine attempts to end birthright citizenship and threaten the permanency of green card status, and
using federal law enforcement to pursue his political foes. When we fail to protect our most vulnerable community members, we fail to protect ourselves. It is not too late for Edison to save face on these issues. Middle Sex County is home to countless immigrant-run
businesses, generating wealth for our towns by attracting all kinds of customers. It is past time for Edison Town leadership to issue a public statement condemning the actions of CB CBP and ICE agents, as has been done in other New Jersey towns where ICE raids have occurred. It is also high time
Edison passed a resolution in support of the Immigrant Trust Act. Thank you. Um, I also hope you will take into consideration the suggestions that Pastor Seth made. And finally, if Edison is notified of another raid in the future, we fully expect this council to notify its consist constituents or face
consequences on election day. Thank you. >> Thank you for your comments. >> Hi, my name is Jennifer. I wanted to ask if I can translate for my dad because he's a previous worker of the company that was raided. >> Uh, >> so is it okay if he says it in Spanish and I translate?
>> I'm fairly certain that's permissible. You're allowed to translator. Um, can I just ask about the timing aspect because like four minutes, you know what I mean? Like >> can we wait till the council comes back and >> can I just ask to pause for one to get
the legal counsel? I have to >> Where did he go? >> I think the restrooms. Oh, >> I don't I apologize, but from a just just so that you're aware like in terms of running the meeting, I have to treat everyone the exact same. You know what I mean? So, I I don't mean any disrespect
in that. I just want to make sure I follow the process I'm supposed to. >> Someone go before >> Yeah. If if that's okay, just for >> until he gets back, I can get clarification. >> And again, thank you for understanding. Could you make sure that I'm going back
to issue on the or >> I'm sorry I I do ask name and address >> forward Purdue Road. Edison, >> I appreciate it. Thank you. Uh you are recognized. >> Uh ordinance 2254 regarding the improvements to the water
utility. I do not feel that you clarified specifically what type of bond. You just said pretty much like an obligation. >> I think she's asking on the water and sewer bonds. Just for further clarification, if they were
>> clarify what specific type of bond, you just kind of went around in circles. >> There are bonds issued by the Edison Soar Utility or Water Utility. Right. >> They're obligations of those utilities. They are not obligations of the township
of Edison backed by advalorum taxes. >> Is there a difference in the type like classification of bond? I understand it's a different entity and I think that's what she's trying to get to. >> They're similar to revenue bonds as opposed to being backed by property taxes.
>> Okay. Does that provide the clarification you were asking? >> You're saying they're similar. Are they revenue bonds or are they general obligation bonds? They are obligations of the Edison sewer utility they are backed by revenues of the sewer utility
or the water utility. >> Okay. because it's my understanding that obligation bonds all the taxpayers in the town are responsible for. Whereas we were told before that it would just be
the residents that are affected by it, not the Middle Sex Water Company residents. >> If I'm understanding correctly, I apologize I'm taking up time. I think that generally the the water rates would be adjusted to be able to pay pay off
and that's how it becomes almost like a operating bond or revenue bond versus even though it's classified as a general expense like the water rates would be adjusted accordingly to make sure that that bond could be paid off. So it's the same but different >> correct the the they are not obligations
of the taxpayers of Edison. I don't know how to state it any clearer than that >> but >> they are obligations of either the water utility or sewer utility and paid for by revenues from those respective
utilities. >> Okay. But sewer utility is paid through taxes. So is that not going to affect >> the sewer utility is paid through the uh like our our sewer bill, right? We have our water and the sewer bill. Therefore,
because you have to improve the other side of town's water that don't have middle sex water, our sore taxes basically, this sounds like are going to go up also because >> on the on the on the sewer items, yes,
there would be a correlation in in regards to uh potential rates, which I know that we've adjusted. And I think that's in part in preparation for uh any incurred debt in terms of the water items that would be through the users of
the Edison water utility. >> Okay. So there's going to be a differentiation. >> They are each one is a different entity. >> So the sewer utility does the entire township. The Edison water utility is primarily on southside about 12,000
residents that that it serves. >> Okay. And just quickly, I want to get in still because I saw later in uh that Comcast still. Uh I live on North Edison over a year ago. They dug up my lawn. I've called several times. It's still a
mess. I've been trying to recede it, but they have all these rocks and stuff that came up that why are we allowing this with Comcast that this problems have still not been fixed. And I've seen my neighbors yards the same. That's
>> Thank you. And that issue in regards to the repair has been brought up several times before. I believe the administration is uh working with them to situate that. >> Yes. I would request that um any and all residents that have been affected to email the administration. We are working
with each uh different situation uh directly with Comcast. In addition to the Q alert, um, which I know that that address is a little long, uh, you can also email helped edisonenj.gov. So, anyone that's wondering if, uh, you
need just a general assistance, helped edisonenj.gov would be the, uh, email that you can reach out to. Thank you. Um, before moving because I had promised the other speaker, she was asking about
translating for her father. Um, I just want to be respectful of the time if there's anything I need to be considerate of. >> The time limit still applies, but she's welcome to translate. Sure. Okay. >> Yeah. >> All right. So, ma'am, and just to reiterate, I understand it will take time in the translation
aspect. Um, four minutes is the the time limit. >> That That's perfectly fine, right? >> Yeah, it's fine. >> Wilfredo. >> You're recognized, sir. >> His name is Wilfredo. He lives in
Somerset. >> You're recognized. Thank you, sir. >> Okay. So he used to work for this company smart supply chain in Edison and we all know what happened with the ice raids. So when I used to work there in 2022,
this company was smaller. So then they rented another warehouse in Edison making it for a capacity for 80 workers or more. >> Okay. So they always had security to check on who were the the truckers who were coming into the company to pick up the
merchandise. So when he says my father says that when the news reported that ICE basically barged in and pushed security aside, that's when they said that that that's an accident. So with that being said, um ICE did its
job in barging into the warehouse and also sending drones to see if there were workers who climbed up on those um high boxes. >> Okay. So 50 people were arrested. Um >> Okay. So 50 were arrested and 30 stayed.
Martinez. So, he has a really good relationship with the workers there. And one of his best friends, last name, Martinez, he's detained and he is at the Newark Detention Center. So, the family right now is in need. They can't pay their rent. So, the
family is going to need help. So my father is saying that because he works also in warehousing in another company, he noticed that Edison had helicopter presence more than usual and he feels or knows that those helicopters were looking at each warehouse to see um
which one had the most presence of immigrants. That's it. And want to say I I do appreciate um wholeheartedly you coming out and and voice and being a voice and making us aware more of a firsthand account of the
situation. So, thank you. Um, yes, ma'am. On the right, uh, either. >> Hi, my name is Megan Shook. I am a resident of Highland Park with long familial ties to Edison. >> You're recognized. Thank you.
>> Um, so what we witnessed tonight in the conversation between the council and the people is exactly what's gotten us here. Um, it is people in positions of privilege and power denying their privilege and power, getting distracted
by protecting themselves and their own public image, and in doing so, handing those more vulnerable than them over to people who want to hurt them. It is disheartening and frankly quite embarrassing to hear you sit there and
say that you have no power in a room full of vulnerable people who believe in the power of their voices. Your voices are powerful because you are sitting elected officials.
The fact that you will sit there and say that you as elected officials have no power is a slap in the face to everyone here who risks their own safety and security in order to ask you to do your
jobs and stand up for them. You are the council of this town. While Mr. pressure thinks that we don't know what that means. I know that it means that you are a critical part of this town's checks and balances system.
In normal times, that means passing legislation, overseeing personnel, passing the budget, and so on. As Seth said earlier, these are not normal times. And so, I'd like to remind you that your responsibilities of checks and balances have grown.
Your mayor has made his opinions on Edison not being a place that welcomes vulnerable immigrants very clear when he threatened to bust out legal asylum seekers. And you all had largely neutral
to politically safe responses to that at the time. I'm assuming this is because you recognize the power of your voices and you know that there is a risk in speaking out. Tell the vulnerable people that elected
you and the workers who support your town's economy that they are worth the risk. I believe you know better. So, I hope you will stop lying to yourselves and do better in holding this
town's government accountable and keeping its people safe. Thank you. >> Good evening. My name is Paul Ambos. I live in Highland Park. My son, one of my sons and his family live in Edison. >> Thank you. You're recognized. >> History has been mentioned before in
this this evening's discussions. U and nobody here remembers what happened in in 1888 because we weren't there. However, anyone whose grandparents got here before 1921 got here to this country before there were any quotas. In 1921, quotas were established for the
first time limiting immigration from different countries depending upon what the quota was assigned to that. If you were beyond the quota for your country, you couldn't get here legally. So many people that are here now are because of this quota system which the federal
government has kept in in going. Uh Councilman Brasher had mentioned that uh he doesn't think the left listen to the right or the right listens to the left. However, last year there was a bipartisan immigration reformation bill that would have been passed except for then candidate Donald Trump quashed it
for what many people are saying are racist or demographic reason demagogic reasons and it still has been demonstrated that that's what has his his aims are continuing. Note that the ICE raids arrested the workers did not
arrest the people who hired them. We still have a 10th amendment to the constitution that powers not given to the federal government or reserved to the states. You are operating under the states of New Jersey and you have powers to do things as that to protect your
citizens and the workers who work here. Thank you. Thank you for your comments. >> Good evening. I'm Dr. Elizabeth Pledo, the granddaughter of immigrants who chose Edison for a good place to live.
>> Thank you. You're recognized. >> Thank you. Um I'm I'm going to my colleague spoke so well and my pastor spoke so well that I'm going to take a different tack and offer some talking points for your colleagues on the right. Um immigrants strengthen the economy,
create jobs, reduce inflation, and contribute innovation. They add 525 billion annually to taxes to the tax coffers. Um, and 17% of the GDP is from immigrants. Each immigrant adds 21,000
more in taxes, pays $21,000 more in taxes than it costs to support them. Um, and I speak from experience having worked for Interfaith Rise with immigrants and refugees. Um, in as an educator, um, immigrants perform tasks
that others don't want to. House cleaning, lawn maintenance, food delivery, lift and Uber driving, and those who facilitate the movement of goods and services through through companies such as Amazon. We need immigrants, especially with the damage that the president's tariffs are doing
to the economy. The mayor of Edison welcomed the economic benefits of Edison of Amazon, but did not take responsibility for the raids on the very same facility, did not condemn them, and then instead of helping hardworking immigrants become members of the
community, the mayor has allowed them to be arrested and detained against the law by unidentified law enforcement, perhaps law enforcement, um, because they're having a hard time recruiting um candidates for ICE. So, they're
lowering the bar, lowering the education requirements, stretching the age limits. UN unidentified law enforcement in unmarked vehicles without a warrant. I suppose you all
know that this is illegal. The lucky ones who were released were given yellow bracelets, which calls to mind Germany in the 1930s. Authoritarian regimes only succeed if the people and their elected official officials remain silent. As a person of
faith, I cannot remain silent. So, we are waiting for our leaders to lead on these issues. In the meantime, we're speaking out. And those who do speak out, those leaders who do speak out, like Gavin Newsome, are skyrocketing in the polls.
Thank you. >> Thanks. gentleman in the back. >> I uh my name is Bruno oriti. I'm resident of Highland Park. >> Thank you. You're recognized. >> Yep. I I'm also a uh psychologist who works for Interfaith Rise and and am
part of what is known as the refugee health promotion team. And I just want to say what might be obvious to everyone is that the majority of people, the overwhelming majority of people who are now being deported or threatened or
being deported followed all the rules. They came here totally legally. They were vetted and are now having those um the deal that said come from a place where there is war, come from a place where there is imminent threat of violence to you for a whole host of
reasons. Um now they're being told they have to go back. That's the reality. And this isn't about criminals. There are plenty of laws about criminals and they should be followed. These are not criminals, but they are made criminals by the um the whim of uh government.
I want to say that to all of us that who don't understand yet, but we really are facing a threat to our democracy and if you want to catch up on that or get ahead of the curve on it, uh just read
Benedo Mussolini. Uh you he he describes it perfectly. He was proud of his strategy. He doesn't hide it. He gives you details about the relationship between the corporate state and uh the elected officials and um so if you if
you have any doubts you can learn about it. It's real simple. Um so I I just also wanted to say that the longer this meeting goes on, we're achieving a certain end which is we're learning from each other, right? And
that's the only way to go. Reverend Kaell said earlier many things and of course I agree with all of them but one of the things I wanted to re-emphasize was that you can call together uh commissions uh form uh partnership with
your community and have a series of learning uh experiences to learn about all these issues and the laws and the history etc. whatever is relevant because we have to catch up because they're way ahead of us and before you
know it um this is not going to be able to be undone. Um people have lost their lives. I can just give you very quickly in my position and um I hear from people who are in families of people who are in detention and uh as one example one
gentleman had spinal cord surgery and his staples were not removed and while in ice he did not have those staples removed. So then he had an infection in his spinal cord and in addition he had a tumor and that tum excuse me an aneurysm in his brain and that was not treated.
So then we were left to scramble. Where is he? Well, he was um down south. He was in Louisiana. We didn't know that at first. Who's representing him? Uh I have a cousin in Texas who says um you know, he's a physician's assistant. He says,
"Well, if you're in that part of the the the country, here's a certain hospital that treats people in prison." So, we actually had to um find a representative to excuse me, a lawyer who could represent him and give him just sort of step by step. But this is this is not
uncommon whatsoever. We're in a lawless zone here within ICE. Uh and I would ask each of you if you are familiar with any of the policies and procedures of ICE as written, have you read their the policies and procedures of ICE? Because they break
those procedures, right? Not to mention those they're probably founded upon things that are unconstitutional in certain instances, but in fact, if you follow their own rules, they break it constantly. The other thing I wanted to say very quickly uh is that there are
rules and guidelines for employers and you can set up spaces where ICE would have to show a warrant before they take you. Uh the this can happen and it's very legal. Uh so I hope things like that can be explored. >> Thank you for your comments. >> Thank you.
I'm going to be stepping aside for a minute. So, I'm going ask Councilman Patiel to >> Good evening, council. I'm Charlie Katville. I'm from New Brunswick. I'm the editor of New Brunswick today. Am I recognized? >> Yes, sir. Okay. Uh, I want to start by
bringing everyone's attention to an article I wrote. Um, gives you some idea of Edison under Mayor Sam Joshi. It's called NBT lawsuit reveals videos of Edison cops detaining bus load of immigrants. And, uh, you know, had to sue to get the footage
because Edison was not being transparent about what happened. And uh when I did, I was shocked to see uh you know, the Edison police force immigrants to leave town uh and making sick jokes about it.
The mayor's not here. His chief of staff's not here. The police chief's not here. The council president's not here. And the person who was filling in for the council president just left, too. And that's a shame because it's very obvious that in this moment
we need leadership. People are here looking for leadership. And the truth is you did a good thing by supporting the Immigrant Trust Act, but it's not nearly enough. The leadership, the real leadership is here on this side. It's people like Pastor Seth and Dyer, people like my
friend John Shu, like the wonderful team at New Labor. And so I hope that please you don't end the discussion here, but take some time to follow up with some of the speakers you heard from tonight who have more
information about this issue than you. It's a moment where we need leaders who know what they're doing and we need leaders who are ready to have some courage and and put themselves
on the line. And that's what I see on this side. And if you want to stay on that side, you need to show leadership yourself. Um, it's time we do a lot more than just pass the Immigrant Trust Act. We need to
abolish ICE. >> We need to build a movement capable of ending all private prisons in this country. And at a bare minimum, we need all of you to get your own police force under control and speak out when they violate
people's rights. So, I would like to hear from the council about that New Year's Eve, New Year's Day incident where Edison police violated the rights of a busload of people.
Do you condemn that? Anyone? Anyone? >> I did. If you remember that and I appreciate you doing that. Anybody else have thoughts? Anybody else
look into it? Anybody else share my concerns about the way Edison police handled that incident? >> There there were council people that said it was wrong. Charlie, >> I know. I know. >> I was one of them and I know AJ was. But
you know what it is. I mean, at the end of the day, we do voice our opinion. The mayor is ultimately the person. He's he's ultimately the person. We don't have any recourse with him. That the people do. I get that there's
two other council people who haven't spoken on this. If I recall, I didn't hear anything on this from you, >> Mr. Pointer. Mr. Patel. >> Well, respectfully, I just walked in after using the restroom. So, the pretext like
>> if you'll allow me to just say, I wrote an article. NBT lawsuit reveals videos of Edison cops detaining a busload of immigrants. >> Did you read the article? Did you have any reaction to it? >> Sir, your time is elapsed. I will try to do my research to your article. >> Well, I hope that you'll go back and watch the comments you missed while
you're in the restroom. That's all. >> Thank you. >> Any other speakers? >> Ma'am, how to make it quick. So, my name is Jennifer. I live on Hana Road here in >> Ed. You're recognized. >> Thank you. Um, so I just want to give
you perspective. Edison, New Jersey is very special to me because I went to Middle Sex College when it was Middle Sex Community College or county college. So, I was able to find success there. I never thought I would be in activism or
anything about labor rights. So, I did work for New Labor for more than 5 years um helping their domestic worker bill of rights, but also I saw my co-workers push for the NJ temp worker bill of rights. And as of right now, my dad is a
temp worker even though he's a permanent resident. So, I want to give you more perspective on this. Um basically, there are companies such as the company that was raided. They are basically um transferring all the workers that are
brown to temp agencies basically saying this is protocol in case ICE comes. So with that being said, I went to my dad's job and I spoke to management. I was like, "Hey, why is my dad earning $3
less than what he's supposed to?" Cuz his job pays $21 an hour if you work with the company, but with Temp agency is $18. So that's a huge difference. And they were just saying, "Oh, this is just ICE protocol." So if ICE comes here,
they have to show the warrant to the temp agency that's in Route 130 instead of the warehouse. That's such a boss tactic. That's somebody saying, "Put the blame on someone else. Get away from me cuz they don't like me there." But my dad and I were trying to see if he can
get another job because he's vulnerable. They're targeting these warehouses. My dad is the backbone of the economy along with all those workers because they're the ones that are helping Amazon who is right there across the street meet their quotas. They can't even meet their
quotas right now. Why? Cuz there's so many people order ordering packages and they don't have breaks there. Why? Cuz I do have a cousin that works there and there's so many people that are being injured daily, but Amazon doesn't recognize it. But with that being said,
I really like that everyone here is pressuring you guys to show up. The reason being is cuz we saw that in Trenton when there was ICE trying to go into a family's home trying to snatch people away. So other groups like Resistencia,
they uh basically responded and our representative Bonnie Watson Cole was there. Even though she has power, you guys have power, too. So, I expect that when there's another ICE raid, I know you guys say we don't know when it happens, but if it does happen, go show
up because yes, you do have privilege. You have that badge right here. Something that I don't have. And as a well, I'm first generation Mexican American. They will take me away. They will they will not care. Would they ask
if I'm a US citizen? No, they don't care. But they will respect you guys cuz you have that composure. you have years. And I also want to say with the work that I'm doing on my day job, Newark passed boat 16 as a ordinance, basically
telling uh children or teenagers that they can vote. There should be an ordinance here in Edison too for vote 16 so they can be awake and see what our elected officials are doing because we need the support of the youth. And also
I think when it comes to municipal elections, I think that's the lowest participation. So I think a vote 16 ordinance will be really good. So you guys can keep your seats or who knows you guys will not keep your seats. But that's very important because the youth
need to be politically involved. I hear people say I don't vote because I only vote in presidential elections. Show them here. Here is the root. Thank you for your comments. >> Any other speakers? >> Sorry, the lady in the back.
>> Hear me? Short. I'll adjust this. Uh, thank you. My name is Reed Duncan. I'm a resident of your friendly neighbor, Highland Park. >> Thank you. You're recognized. >> I'm going to do you a public service announcement.
What the Immigration Trust Act does, it ensures that local resources are used to support local priorities rather than fund federal immigration enforcement. It protects personal information by limiting the circumstances under which
public agencies can collect information related to immigration status. It requires public schools, healthcare facilities, libraries, and shelters to adopt model policies to help people feel safer seeking the public service to which they're eligible. It prohibits
state and local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities when doing so is voluntary under federal law. It eliminates carveouts in the New Jersey Attorney General's immigrant trust uh directive
that deny the same protections to immigrants entangled in the criminal legal system and that disproportionately harm black and brown New Jerseyians due to racial disparities and policing and prosecution. And it creates a reporting
requirement to track compliance with the act. So that's what hopefully you're all supporting and I hope that you've listened to all my colleagues who have said a lot of really important and heartfelt messages about what this council and other councils like it can
do. Thank you very much, >> sir. This isn't going to take me too long to go through. I like going last because >> Can I just last name and address before? >> Sure. Um,
my name is Greg and I live in hell. We've elected a rapist into presidency whose concepts are led by a conservative think tank lined with deep pockets, undermining the Constitution, giving power to arbitrary authorities, covering a child trafficking ring. It's been
said, "Hard times create strong men." Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men, and weak men create hard times. The weak bastard masquerading as someone special doesn't give a damn for anyone who doesn't kiss the ring. The theocrats in power have
found their golden calf. They've realized by putting him on the pedestal he desires, they can get every racist, bigoted policy signed as an executive order, no matter how far from reality their ideas are. We need strong leaders, not weak
pushovers. Leaders who are willing to pass local legislation in defiance of the right-wing terroristic actions being committed by our federal government. Thank you. >> Hi, good evening council members. My name is Alejandro Haramo and I am from
Rowi, New Jersey and I am a volunteer with the Ketcha movement that fights for dignity and respect for immigrants. >> Thank you. >> So we are here because we want to denounce the complicity of the major
with eyes. That is not acceptable. And also we hope that you use your power to bring him to task and to bring him to his attention. You have a lot of power believe it or not uh councilman Richards and some
others say that you have limited power but we understand we also have limited power but we are here and it's finding the way to exercise that power. And also I just want to make a comment that I kept hearing when different people talk
about immigrants and their status that they always bring this term of the criminality right that if you don't have a criminal record blah blah blah blah blah blah and when you use that term you are double victimizing hardworking immigrants. You
should not use that term whenever you say oh if you have if you haven't committ any when do you tell any US citizen oh you can go and vote but if you don't have a criminal record blah blah blah right so take that out of your
language and with with regards to uh council councilman Richard it seems that you are sensitive with the term white privilege right and I'm going to give you my perspective I am white and I am white
privilege, but I use my privilege to fight for justice, right? I don't I I use that privilege to empower my community to do good things, right? So, use your privilege for the
good, right? and maybe about the history of the Italians that came and all that. Maybe you should also read some of the history about the intervention of the US in all Latin America, right? erh that
that when it invaded Nicaragua in 1920s, then it it made a it created a coupe and and and an intervene in Guatemala, right? Where there was a democratic
elected president, right? and all these policies that have generated waves of people that were forced to to immigrate to the US not because they want to be in the US but is because they were in so
desperate conditions due to economics due to dictators due to wars right and and and that's why they immigrated and they are here providing value to this society immig immigrants pay tax
undocumented immigrants is I read I don't remember the exact number but they pay about like 20 or 12 billion dollars in taxes for benefits that they don't get you know undocumented immigrants don't collect Medicaid don't
collect social security they don't have any of those rights however they pay taxes so they are subsidizing a lot of of the benefits that the US and permanent residents receive right So, so what I want to end is telling you is
that you have power and you have to have the courage, you know, to challenge the status quo and to stand in the right side of history and to fight for justice. And what is happening now is very unjust. And the only criminal that
we should be thinking is the convicting felon that is in the White House. And we should fight him really hard. Ma'am, is this low enough? Okay. I'm Katherine Hunt. I'm from Monroe Township and >> be recognized.
>> Thank you. And I do know what a city council does. I attend my city council meetings and I attend others as well and I've served on committees so in in my town and contributed what I
can um on on my level as a committee member. So many of us really do know what coun city councils do. uh wanted to point out that um passing a resolution
is not performative of what it does. It helps our legislators know that our group, our population in our town are in favor of a certain piece of legislation
and in this case it's the Immigrant Trust Act. So that's why we're asking that you will pass the resolution and that when you pass your resolution and per and post it that you will make sure
that those letters go out to the our representatives which would be um the that your senator and your two assembly people that it also goes out to the committees
in the legislature and the state legislature and to the governor. It informs them of public support for this bill. It's very essential in our legislative process and it's one way
that people can have a voice and that the council can have more of a voice. So it is very important. Um and I wanted to remind you that when ICE comes
so far they have never respected the fourth amendment. I don't know if anybody here has taken a pledge to support the Constitution of the United States, but in the Fourth
Amendment, it lays out who can come and take a person or a person's possessions. And what that protocol is that the person who comes to make an
arrest or to enter a home, that person has to have a warrant signed by a judge. The judge looks over the evidence and decides whether there is probable
cause. And if they decide, if they so decide, then they will sign, the judge will sign the warrant. But ICE never has a judicial warrant.
They really don't go after criminals at all. They simply go after working people and tear the families apart and discourage our businesses and interrupt their business days.
It's important that you raise your voice and say, "No, we shouldn't have masked people who are unidentified and don't have judicial warrants come in
and just grab people, smash car windows, pound on people's door windows, and and demand they come out of their homes or demand that they come out of their cars. This is not what our Constitution says.
And we should uphold our Constitution. If we don't fight for it, we're not going to have it. And right now, we don't have it because this is what's going on today in our
country. And somehow we're the only ones fighting for it. You know, we're the only ones trying to defend our constitution. We need you to defend it as well and stand up for our constitution.
And I write might remind you of a poem. First, they came for the name your vulnerable group, but I was not a member of that group, >> so I didn't stand up, ma'am. >> Okay. Thank you. But I'd like to
encourage you to get out there and fight for our vulnerable groups or ICE will be on your doorstep. >> Thank you. >> Mary Walworth. I live in Woodbridge. >> Thank you. You're recognized. I happen
to work in the Edison school district as a speech language pathologist and have done so for 20 years about to start my 21st. In my elementary school, we have a motto, a school motto that is said at every announcement
and it goes like this. Uh be respectful, do your best, show kindness. And I think we should model this for our children. We should we should be respectful of our constitution and our
families and our neighbors. We should we should uh what's the second one? Be respectful. Do our best, of course. And finally, for God's sake, we should choose kindness,
not this barbarity. This is not us to be this so unspeakably cruel. That's all. Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Else that would wish to speak. Seeing none, can I close portion? Councilman. >> Motion to close. >> Motion close by Councilman Coyle. >> Second. >> Councilman Patel. All in favor? >> I >> I Any oppose? Public comment is now
closed. Uh next we will move on to from the uh council member to the planning board. Councilman Coyle. Any update? >> If you can just skip me for a moment. I have to just look at my notes. I'm
sorry. No worries. At this time, we'll move on to reports from all council committees. I'll start from my right. Councilman Brusher. >> Uh, none at this time, sir. >> Thank you. Uh, Councilman Coyle, any other committee reports you would like to do?
>> None at this time, sir. Thank you. Councilman Patel. >> Uh, none at this time. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councilman Patil. >> Not at this time. >> Likewise. Not on my end. Counc. >> Yes. Uh, Councilman, >> I could I could go over the planning
board right now. I may take seven or 12 minutes. Is that okay? >> Just kidding. Um, >> I I am proud to say that the uh planning board um came together and passed uh
Route 27, which is which some of you know already, which is the redevelopment plan um for the corner of Planefield and Route 27. So, there's going to be a new restaurant there and a bakery. Um it's called it's called 85°. So finally
that corner is going to see some progress. It's fully approved. Um and looking forward to that. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councilman Coyle. At this time, we'll move on to points of light. Any points of light from my colleagues? >> Uh seeing none, I would be remiss if I
didn't uh mention on behalf of the council president the jazz festival that happened the other week. It was a a great event. Uh great weather, great performances. I had a good time uh in attendance as well. Uh likewise, this
past weekend was the Edison House Music Festival, which >> was a a good turnout from what I saw and uh looking forward to the upcoming events. Um in terms of upcoming events, we have the
911 remembrance ceremony on Thursday, September 11th, 6:00 p.m. at the 911 memorial here in town hall. On Saturday, September 13th from 8 to from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. is the Great Big Italian Festival again here at uh at Lake
Papani. And Saturday, September 27th is the Fall Family Spectacular on Amboy Avenue from 1 to 9:00 p.m. This time, we'll move on to discussion items. Start from my right, Councilman Brusher. Um,
I'm going to save these comments for next meeting because I I'd like to talk to the uh the attorney about the the affordable housing um thing and the veterans thing I'm working with Sonia on. So, we haven't gotten back on that
and the flooding we all know about, but that's not settled. So, I'll I'll come back to this next meeting. >> Thank you, Councilman Brusher. Councilman Coyle, >> I'll keep it simple. Council President, I I know we did some conversions on affordable housing. I just want to get a count from what that equals to um and
what our plan is moving forward. And I'm just truly concerned about the opioid money, the the 13 plus million dollars and how we're going to use that. Um I may talk about it every council meeting, but I just think that it's important that some nonprofits in the
area get involved um if we're going to do another RFP. If not, I just uh don't see why some people can't submit a proposal. I've read the grant. I've read it line by line, and I'd like to sit down and find out why we
can't just uh have some small steps of spending that money in a colorful way for awareness. Um I'd love to see us get some swag for awareness. I think this a simple base hit that this township has uh swag. If it's not ordered already,
I'm sure you're thinking about it. But it's $15 million we have and and it's not it's just not a good disease. It's um opioids is affecting a lot of people. Uh this money can be used for mental health as well. Um I just want to start
seeing uh more progress. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councilman Coyle. Councilman Patel. >> Um the main one I want to talk about is the senior transportation. Uh so I was told by some residents that uh we switched over to uh buses instead
of cars for taking seniors to doctor's visits. >> Uh do you mean the little um smaller buses? >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> So they were having issues because a their hips are not working that well and they're having hard time climbing it. I
I don't believe these buses have those easier like you know have in the New Jersey >> they are ADA accessible. So uh yes u so I there is no issue with the with the buses. >> Okay. And and the other thing they complained to me about was that there is
a longer weight >> response. It's got to be it's a big thing >> guys. there is a longer wait u when they go to the doctor's office before it they used to pick them up near the office now they have to wait out on the street and I
mean right now it's okay the weather's seems to be okay but they are worried that in the winter time if they have to wait for an hour out in the cold because the buses don't go into a specific areas which the old cars used to from what I understand I'm not sure where the
disconnect is in the communication but there was some changes that they're not appreciated of is that something we can correct Correct. >> Um I'll I'll so I'll be forthcoming with you. Some of the issues were that the drivers were used to driving a one person vehicle and taking one person to
an appointment. The part of the program is that we can offer that to multiple seniors and we're able to take them to multiple places especially to their um appointments. Um I've addressed any issues with the employees to make sure
that um anywhere they need to go is accessible. Oak Tree Road is probably one of them that maybe you're referring to. Um, but they are still able to pick them up in as close as they can to those offices. JFK was another one. You know,
you can't stay idle at JFK. That's part of the issue, too. So, um, we've had open dialogue about their concerns and I'll be honest with you, we're really not concerns um, in terms of, you know, what the the wait times and um, it's we
didn't see any issue. >> Okay. I mean, as of right now, they are okay with the, you know, waiting the time, but maybe we can try to bring down the time or maybe have tracking. I know I can't expect Uber level service, but you know, maybe we can bring it down to
5 minutes instead of the hour that the driver could communicate that, hey, I'll be at the location in 5 minutes and maybe the person can wait there for 5 minutes rather than an hour cuz that's a big ask, especially in the winter if they're snowing or something. >> I'll check to see what uh Dr. Patel what
what the issue is. If they truly are waiting for that entire hour for a driver, you shouldn't be. >> If you need specifics, I can get the person. >> If you could, that'd be great. Just give me a call tomorrow. Okay, we'll do Thank you. >> Thank you, Councilman Patel. Council member Patil. >> Thank you, Council Council President SA.
These are the repeat items from the prior meeting. So, by next council meeting, if you can please provide me with updates if there are any anything that happened like Comash road damages, we heard that you said you know the individuals can directly call you. uh
but as the kam kash is expanding uh their footprint throughout the town I think it's a high time to create probably some 18 1 800 number to report we did that in patch for the potholes but again an idea uh to communicate that
could be an hotline utilities again this is on the especially on the grow avenue there are several sections they're still not the patch are settled and they are kind It's a reverse speed hump. Uh so not a
good thing uh for the resident. So if you can please uh reach out to those utilities and see if they can repatch again. The rest of the things you know if you can send me an email about the the status on the the different projects uh
grove street next Calbert Grow the next steps. Uh the important thing was a brower street paving. I was told I think several months ago that somewhere this will be done. I don't know if this mood uh something happened here.
>> That's pretty much it. >> Uh I can actually give you a little update on the Brow Avenue. There was the subdivision that happened with the American Legion there. One of the conditions of approval was that they were supposed to repave the entire street. Um Brian had a co uh
correspondence with myself and Sonia was CCed on it that they are working to get that bond money freed up and aiming not guaranteeing but with the upcoming paving that's going to happen have it be added on to that utilizing those bond
funds to finance the uh paving. >> Thank you. The work was supposed to be done before school starts. So, I'll follow up is they've got this week essentially to do it. >> In fairness, you can kind of blame me because it was on the road paving list.
Then we had the subdivision. I was like, why pave it when they're going to pay for it? Um, >> yeah. >> Any other items? >> That's it. >> Thank you, Councilman Patiel. And for myself, uh, just because it was asked, um, and it was advised before, uh, for
anyone that is used to Edison TV being on channel 15, that is now channel 1300. Uh, again, Edison was not notified of it and is not under the township's, uh, purview as to the channel selection. Thank you. At this time, uh, can I get a
motion to adjurnn? >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> Motion by Councilman Patiel, second by Councilman Patel. All in favor? I this meeting stands adjourned at 9:45 p.m. My pleasure.