Okay. Good evening. The date is Wednesday, May 28th. It's 6:06 p.m. and we are here for the work session of a combined council meeting. Please rise for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Uh, Madam Clerk, roll call, please. Council member Brusher, here. Council
member Coyle. Council member Harris, yes. Council member Battel. Council member Batiel, here. Council member Pointer, present. Council member Schmel, Thank you. Uh madam clerk, could you read adequate notice? 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 star ledger and desi talk on November 18th, 2024 and posted main lobby mal complex on that same date. Okay, thank you very much. Um I don't really have anything prepared
for council president remarks. I wanted to just again thank this council for having unanimously passed the budget at our last meeting. That was uh truly an accomplishment and I'm very very grateful. Um we can now go to number five from the Department of Finance A
through K. Any questions or concerns? Okay, moving along to six from the Department of Health A. Seeing none, number seven from the Department of Recreation,
A. All right. Number eight from the Chief of Police, A and B. Okay. Um, number nine, from the township
clerk, A through D. All right. Number 10, approval of minutes. like a meeting. What's that? Yeah, now we're into Okay. Oh. Oh my gosh. All right. Boy, this is short. Okay. Approval of minutes. Uh, can we get a
motion to approve? Motion to approve. Second. Thank you. Uh, all in favor? I. Okay. Um, now we get to public comment on the resolutions. On the resolutions only.
And, uh, yes, Joyce. Jury Ship Freeman, Edison, New Jersey. Just like I said, everything is not negative. Some things are good. Okay. On uh resolution 232 uh for the green acres and the matching
grant for the um angels project for using that field. I think that's a great idea and I hope that we don't put plastic there. I hope we keep the green there for our kids to be able to play in green stuff so it won't come back 20 years from now. This is what it Excuse
me one one moment. Joyce, your microphone is Yeah. Hello. Hello. Is that better? Okay. All right. Go ahead. Okay. Uh okay. Joyce ship Freeman. No, no, you don't have to start again. I don't have to I don't have to do anything. We're at 2 232. We're coming
at Okay. We're at 232. All right. So that's about the Green Acres program and I'm very I I think that's a plus and I like the fact that we got a matching grant for that and I think that is a very positive thing for our children because most of the time we're saying oh
they're doing this let's punish them more. Let's punish them more by us doing something positive and doing the correct things for our youth starting at an early age and having them to play on grass and real dirt like I used to play on rather than plastic stuff, you know,
cuz uh we'll come back 20 years from now and we'll be saying something about our kids' bones or something about all the plastic that we're using now. And the other thing I just want to question is on 231 the resolution calling for the resto
restoration of energy taxes for municipalities. I was trying to read it back there, but I didn't take the Evelyn Wood reading class. So it take me a long time to read that before I come up here. So I I just want to get a better understanding of it because I was reading about
that the state or somebody took was in charge of it before. Now they hand it back to municipalities. I I don't have a clear understanding of it. So, if you can give me a straight up brief version of that particular program, I would be happy. Thank you. Okay. Okay. Um Sonia,
let me turn that to you. Sure. So, um essentially the state was collecting from utilities the energy taxes and they were supposed to redistribute that to municipalities so we then could provide um assistance to our residents and they have not done that. And so much of our
neighboring towns are requesting that that come back to the towns so we can redistribute and assist our uh residents with the help with utilities. Okay. Very good. Good. Okay. Very good. Anyone else? Um the resolutions
only. Okay. Seeing none. Um it's Yes. Motion close. Motion to close the public portion and second. Thank you. All right. Uh, going to number 12, proposed resolutions.
Anything to pull for a separate vote? Okay. Wow. Whoa. All right. Um, so, uh, can I get a motion to approve the entire consent agenda resolutions 226 through 269?
Motion to approve. Second. Um, roll call, please. Council member Presser. Yes. Council member Batiel. Yes. Council member Pointer. Yes. Council President Harris. Yes.
Okay. Uh All right. Now we we we have we have oral petitions and remarks and um now the public can speak on anything for four minutes. So oral petitions. Anyone to speak from the public?
Joyce council president while councilwoman Joyce ship Freeman steps up for her comment if you can explain the process to the new audience that would be helpful if they need to raise the hand or if they would like to speak. Yes.
Yes. So, so during during uh oral petitions and remarks, which is basically public speaking time, public has four minutes to be able to talk on any subject that they would like. And um so all you need to do is come to the podium. You would state your name,
address, or just your name and town, and you have four minutes to speak on anything you would like. Okay. Thank you. All right, Joyce. Okay. I don't think okay want to speak. All right. I think
Okay. Let let me All right. So, there's a lady in the back then. Then Thank you. Janette from Edison on Post Road. Um, I only come to a few meetings, not very many, and I try to watch them on TV, but um, what's the latest on the tote
center? I mean, I do not see a single car or a single person ever working there. I go up and down that street at least once a day. And you know, I mean, if it was my house and I had a
contractor doing that work, I they would not be at my house very much. Okay, that's my only question. Okay. All right. Um, progress on the toe center. Uh, we just received confirmation from D that we are clear to
resume construction. So, we are beginning to take out the permits. Okay. So, you will see more uh more activity in that area. Do we have a ballpark as to completion? I know so much depends on weather and things like that, but is
there like a ballpark range? So, I will confirm that and provide that to you being that we're going to um we're resubmitting all the paperwork and make for all of the construction permitting and then so with that, we'll know more or less the timeline. Okay. Um I think
the original date may have been a year to 18 months. So, again, everything got pushed back. So, I'll get back to you on that. All right. Thank you. Okay. Any anyone else want to comment on that from council? No. Okay. All right. Uh
Joyce. Hey, Joyce. Ship Freeman. Um while at the parade yesterday at the Legion, not yesterday on Saturday at the Legion Hall. Um, you know, our parade was nice, but I think we can do better because it was like, you know, because when we announced and we always talk
about the parties that we have, a lot of people didn't even know the parade was happening that day. We could have had more more bystanders stuff, but they they told me they didn't know. I also was told on that particular day also that there's two tons of potholes that nobody's taking care of. They also told
me there's a lot of flooding in there, especially some flooding behind Washington School and you know that gets to be, you know, a major problem with the flooding on a lot of streets around here. I mean, I was even in floods on these days. So, that's just only on a partially halfway uh days that it pours
down off and on, point blank. And um at the um board of ed meeting, which I thought was like fab fabulous the meeting. No, not so much as what they were saying because I wasn't into that conversation too much. But the part that I like that
they let the people speak for six minutes, they let them have a rebuttal. There was no clown show. There was nothing going on. It was like the best ever. It was very respectful and like you know they don't even get paid to listen to people and they were there
giving everybody respect six minutes and a three minute rebuttal. I said oh my god this is what it's supposed to be about when you're in involved in community government. Okay. And then um they were discussing some of the unfinished projects. She got up and she
talked about something some of that and the jet field and different things that's going on. That's half done. Half done, half done, you know. So, you know, we're very upset behind that about the unfinished projects and uh
on Samuel Carpenter Boulevard and it goes into loud place and stuff. Uh me and one of the other members, I think it was uh Kenneth Shrek, we worked together along with the council and we got a great ordinance on removing tractor
trailers from the street. and for us moving tractor trailers from the street now they've slid around to La Place and I don't I have a problem with tractor trailers and stuff blocking views because I have this problem with
child trafficking human trafficking I don't want any view to be not good enough you know for our police and for our people to see I don't want them to be blocked anywhere that it may save a child or may save somebody from being blocked now I don't know who's being
paid or whatever, but I don't think tractor trailers should be, you know, if the signs is on this street, it also means loud place. You shouldn't have a big gigantic tractor trailer somewhere where there's a bunch of uh apartments at. And
also, everybody seems like they're so so concerned about the north end of town, you know, and everybody wants to get freezers and refrigerators, but hey, food has to go in it. this I is a crying shame that it's been that long since
there been some place for somebody to have a grocery store. Some people walked up to me and said, "You think they going to ever have a grocery store down here or I'm going to have to call my grandson every time I need a loaf of bread?" All right. So, that's very, very, very sad.
And I still never received the answers to I was asking about the extra $100 that you would have to pay if you're a rental person. I never got a clear answer on that. Someone would like to know more about that. And as usual, I'm
rushed. I'm looking at the time. You can't even get all your information out because, you know, you got to rush it all in a second before you can collect your thoughts. But as I said before, I seen the American way. I seen it at the board of ed meeting and they're not even paid. So, if anybody can give me some
information, see that's what I'm talking about. Information on the $100 added fee to our Thank you, Joyce. Um, so can you give any information updates on the $100? I'm
sorry. Um, the the $100 with regard to the rental uh with this is the Sorry, you keep talking. I don't know what you're Um, can you do you have any any information to give? No, I'm sorry. We don't have any update at this time.
Matters pending. Okay. Thank you. All right. Council person. Yes. Just to clarify that I don't think we are enforcing that ordinance as we speak because the matter is under litigation. Correct. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Uh, anyone else? Uh, public
comment. Okay. Motion to close. Public comment. Motion to close. Second. Second. Thank you. Uh all right. Uh from the council member to the planning board, council vice
president. Nothing. Oh, you're I forgot who is. Uh Councilman Coyle. Oh, okay. Councilman Coyle, you're here just in time to give a report about the planning board. I'm sorry, I forgot.
Sorry, council president. I was stuck in rain traffic. Okay. I'm excited to report that the planning board of course can be viewed on our channel any seven days a week or our website. You can see the live meeting. We did have
a two lot subdivision that was denied by the board which was two undersized lots which I was proud to see the board unanimously vote no uh for one building lot to become two. On Oakshire Road,
there was a medical building that was suggesting to have a second floor built and that was carried over for some additional documentation. Thank you, Council President. Thank you. Uh reports from all council committees. Um start
with you, Councilman Brusher. We had a um we didn't have a formal veterans meeting, but what we did was we met with the administration um myself and Sue uh that we have to bring back to that committee. But the um the good news um
about that meeting was that it seems like the administration um believes that that park needs a little bit more of an upgrade than what we were originally planning. Um so right now currently they're going to get some pricing on on
the rest of the items in the park. Um being that you know they have some funds this year and um we're hoping to start some of the projects as we go. um is is what we talked about. So, you know, from now, well, it might be a year in the
whole planning for the whole thing, but over the course of a year, you'll see small improvements happening a as we move forward. So, it it was a good meeting. I thought I thought they um had some good ideas that they brought up. I don't know if it was um Sonia, Bob Deal, or Tony, or who came up with those
ideas, but yeah, the ideas were were very well taken. Um, so I'd like to thank you for that. Great to hear. Thank you. Anything? Any other committees? That would be it. Okay. All right. Councilman Coyle. Thank you, Council President. As all of you know, our finance committee met last month. We
gave a report and uh this board unanimously voted uh in favor of the budget 70, which I'm truly proud of. I thank the administration for their hard work and Kender Roberts and this entire committee for uh council for looking through the budget. I'm proud to say we
have less than a 1% municipal tax and uh looking forward to this year's uh new projects and uh continuing our programs and having zero cuts on programs. Um DPW, we're going to schedule a meeting for to see uh what's going on for the
summer and fall and plan for the winter. Public safety, as you know, we met already and gave a report on that. Thank you, C. Thank you, Council President. Thank you, uh Councilman Patel. None at this time. I just wanted to apologize for my tardness. When it rains, people
forget how to drive. I'm sorry. Understand. Thank you, Councilman Patil. None at this time. Okay. Councilman uh Council Vice President. None at this time. Okay. Um I don't have any specific report on just an update that the jazz
festival um we've now finally settled on a date. It's going to be August 1st, Friday, August 1st. It will be held at Patternity Park. And I think we talking about believe it's 5:30 it's 5:30 to 8 or 5 to 8:30 I can't remember more
information will be forthcoming but we are now definite on this date it's recre the department of recreation and the uh cultural arts commission are working handinand with this and it looks like it's going to be a really nice partnership so August 1st that's a
Friday um more details to come um okay uh we move to points of light. Anybody? Council president? Yes. I attended the memorial for the firefighters and it was a beautiful ceremony, beautiful weather
and it's always good to remember our firefighters and anyone that's died in the line of duty and anyone that served the community. Uh and it's always uh good to remember and appreciate those who have helped us make this town safe.
Thanks. Thank you. Anybody else? Council President, I know uh myself and you attended the Edison bike tour, Edison Montouch and bike tour. It was a beautiful day. Um a great ride. Unfortunately, I had to cut
out uh a little on the earlier side, but the weather held out and everything seemed to run smoothly. Um the Memorial Day parade I thought was a great event. you know, again, nice weather that allowed for the community to come
together. I hope everyone had a safe and uh healthy Memorial Day. Um, and then upcoming this Friday, which I believe you'll probably mention, we have the torch run for the police department and the pride festival, which is on
Saturday, Saturday at 3:45. Thank you, council president. All right. uh for myself. Um actually we have uh some pride that we can take in the fact that ma that firefighters Matthew Martin, Brian Kiligansky and Matthew Rivlly uh
had who had worked together to rescue and remove the two most seriously injured residents um in the in the terrible fly fire that took place in the Ederson Senior Housing Complex on Inman and Grove. Um they are being honored. Um
I'm trying to Chief Toth you would have the information on that. When is when is that ceremony? I believe it's Thursday night at the uh Carterat Performing Arts Center and I tomorrow it's Thursday. I'm lost here. You had three members. Did you have um
Kiligjansky? Brian Kiligjansky. Yes. Yes. Martin Riverly. I have um where is there's four. Um what was named here were uh Jeffrey. Oh that's I I did not name him Jeff. So let
me say again Jeffrey Klitchch, Matthew Martin, Brian Kiligansky and Matthew Rivlly. So that goes back to 1061 Inman Avenue on that fire where there was a fatality but they also were able to save that one woman and she's home now recuperating at a Yes. with her family.
So, we're very proud of them. Absolutely. We owe we owe them a debt of gratitude. Um I'll be there tomorrow night. I'm sure pictures will be posted. I think there's police officers being honored, too. I'm not sure. I think I for the drowning victim. Oh, yes. That was um Justin. Yeah. Justin Moss and
Julia, right? So, the two of them. Yes. For somebody out of the Ry River. Yes. Yes. So, we're proud of all the first responders. We are We are indeed proud of our our first responders. We've got a great great team here. Um, in addition,
I wanted to share that um, Friday, May 31st, there is the what's known as the Black Poster Project that's being held at held at Herbert Hoover. This is a drug suicide awareness program. Parents would and their kids would be welcome to
attend between 300 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Friday the 31st. Also on Wait, for that's Friday. Is that Friday the I'm sorry. Is that Friday the 30th or Friday? That's Friday the 30th. I'm sorry. My apologies. Friday the 30th.
Um, also we have uh the on also on the I believe it's also the 30th is the Guns and Hoses uh basketball game. This is fire and this is the fire and um police basketball tournament. It's being held
at St. Matthews and I've already forgotten what time. I've already forgotten what what time did you tell me again? 6 p.m. Thank you. 6 6 PM for the first tip off. $5 at the door. Um on Saturday, May 31st is the Pride Festival. That's going to be held at the
old Stewart's lot at 9:22 Amboy Avenue from 4 to 8:00 PM. Uh Friday, June 6, as uh as uh the council vice president said, June 6 is it is going to be the law enforcement torch run for the Special Olympics. Um I can't Is this
what 12:00 or 12:30? So you know if that's supposed to I think it's 12:30. Um 12:30. I believe it's 12:30. And so that will be that will be here. that will be here um at uh the the safety building. Um early voting begins at mini
V mini beve ve starting June 3rd through June 8th. Election day is June 10th. I think I've covered all of those items. Um and yes, I uh I was uh very happy to be riding along with uh with council
vice president. It was it was a beautiful day. It was it was very windy day. Um, I have to say I I was helped by my new ebike, which um which was really which was really a blessing between hills and wind. Um, it uh it made the
ride a lot easier to do. Um, but uh but that's always a great event and I I offer a lot of praise to the coordination. It's just beautifully choreographed between the police departments of Edison Matuchen and the recreation departments of Edison and Matuchen. They do such a great job
getting from one spot to the other to block traffic and make it safe for us to ride. So, um, look forward to continuing to do that every year. Um, we move on to discussion items. President, I'm sorry, Council President. Could I add to Oh,
yes. I just wanted to those who don't know, uh, May is mental health awareness month and also opioid awareness month. If you have someone in your family who's suffering from mental health, um certainly you can reach out. Uh our opioid person here, coordinator is Holly
Honorado. Um keep in mind, uh this council and administration received one about $1.5 million in grant opportunities. And if there's someone listening tonight or in the audience that has an idea to put together a uh an
event, uh the grant is specific on what you can spend it on. If you need that information, the clerk can provide that for you or you certainly can reach out to me by email and I can also provide it for you. I am proud to say the great work this town has done in opioids. Uh
the Leni administration hired Holly as a part-timer and she is full-time underneath um the Jooshi administration and I think she's doing a wonderful job. And for those who have an issue or helping someone with an issue, family, brother, sister, parent, or child, um I
I know what you're going through. I I don't know every day what you're going through, but I certainly feel your pain and it's not the the end. Hope is around the corner and we certainly are here to help. Uh thank you, Council President. Thank you. Okay, on to discussion items.
We'll start with you, Councilman Brusher. um question. I've been talking about I guess the road repairs um around the town, right? And it was a little bit more than just the potholes um that
Joyce brought up. U predominantly it looks like Comcast has opened up all our streets. I was under the impression that we're going to go back make sure that they're repaired properly and sealed properly. Um but the residents um I've
heard you know like I' not heard I read online that they're saying that per our ordinance they're going to repave the entire streets. So I'd like to get uh from the administration or from legal you know what exactly is going to be
done with these openings that are there there's thousands of them through the town. They're like on every road and they're maybe they're 10 inches or 12 inches by six foot and they might be every 100 feet or 200 feet where they
would cross the road. Uh, Councilman Brusher, you did bring this to our attention, so I appreciate that. And, uh, we did meet with Comcast and the administration and our in township engineer last week. So, we are working through those um through all of those that you mentioned, including some
more wherever there they've been making adjustments. I know we've gotten complaints about even repairs to, you know, some of the grass and that's not been fully restored. So, we're we have a punch list for them. We've continued to to provide that to them. Um but we did
meet with them last week to go over those road road issues. Well, Mike, I guess the the the residents are we have some residents that are saying that it was going to be patched. I believe Brian was saying we're going to patch improperly. Um, but we have other residents that are under the impression
that because we passed that ordinance that said if the road was a newly paved road within 5 years, they'd be required to pave the entire road. I I think to your point, there was a moratorum. So, I'll check with legal to see what that the amount of years. Well, okay. But
let's say that the road is 2 years and they opened it up every 100 ft for these strips. Are they going to be required to then pave that whole road? That may be the situation, but I will check to see exactly what the timeline looks like for those individual roads. Okay. Could you
could you get back to me like tomorrow because I want to put this out to the residents because they're all kind of confused on that. Um All right. Um, the other question is I I goes back to like the whole police
going to Chicago thing. Um, you know, where it's taxpayer money that's being spent. My question is, we have a political event here on I believe Sunday where we have a gubanatorial candidate that's coming to a park. Um, number one,
are they paying for the rental of that park or is that is that going to be asked to be waved? Um, my understanding there's a a a per a permit out there that they applied for a permit. Okay. So, they have to go through the regular process like everyone else. Right. That
that's what I'm asking. Can I see a copy of that application too uh for tomorrow if you can get it to me? And the other thing is, will we have a police presence there um at the rally? And if so, who pays for that? Is that the taxpayers or would
that be her campaign? I I don't know if it is required or not. I'd have to look at the application to see if it's being requested or rather if there is an expectation of a certain amount of people. Um I'm sure our police would
would uh be inclined to cover. Usually it is the um organizer who should should absorb the costs of police personnel if that were the case. Right. That that was kind of my point. Or I mean you could do it you know one of two ways. You can
always wave fees um and then allow everybody including Republican candidates to come and use our you know facilities. Um but yes I'm just want to make sure that we have no cost borne on our taxpayers. Um, that that would be it. Council
President, thank you very much, Councilman Coyle. Thank you, Council President. Thank you, uh, Council Pressure for being short, uh, so I can fit in my time. Um, council president, I just wanted to ask, um, I'm going to go right to economic
development. Uh, to the administration, any, uh, luck on a search for economic development, uh, hire. Um, I have actually taken in a couple of résumés, so we're in the midst of reviewing those resumes. Um we were
looking specifically for anyone that had prior economic development experience. So we were um lucky to find these two resumes and we're going through that with um the administration team. Yeah, I I I I can understand it. It it does take a long time to find the right person at
the at the budget we have. It's challenging to fulfill this obligation and in the 10 parts of what they have to bring to the table. So uh again I I believe I am open and the council members would have to be asked but I'm
certainly open to a consultant or having any uh that split up between different consultants because I did mention uh marketing for the town uh and this council I think is also certainly considerate of that too and the importance of marketing Edison. Um so I
hope that if we're not going to hire someone we consider having separate consultants uh for that. Uh I I never like to see an opportunity to go to another town. I think we are surrounded by some wonderful towns, but Edison has so much more than any town around us. Uh
we're in a county with 750,000 people. We're at the crossroads of major highways, an industrial center, a convention center. Uh and I know we have a better opportunity to for them to when they're looking for a site location um to select Edison is definitely a better
choice. So, I hope we can certainly put money behind uh marketing, money behind this economic development coordinator or consultants that would break up this opportunity. Uh the township has hasn't had an economic development person, I think, since the Choy administration. Uh
and not that they did it right either. Um but, um you know, I've said it once and I'll say it again, how important it is to market Edison and fulfill opportunities. when we look at tax revenues um you know vacant stores do not cut it uh and certainly um what
grocery stores we've had and one that left and one that two that left and one I believe is being filled on N Avenue we still have the stop and shop which I don't think anybody here has heard who's going into that location but I certainly uh would prefer to see it a grocery store over or a Dollar Tree uh or it
becomes some other technical use um for that space uh your grocery store is important to the community and uh in that area there's not uh one available for that economic stretch. So I look forward to seeing what marketing plan we
do have coming to the future and again I'll probably ask each month at every council meeting to see what what updates we have um affordable housing uh through the council president administration how are we doing with affordable housing? How are we tracking with and
what is our plan? Do you understand the question? No. Affordable housing. Uh we have to reach uh a certain amount of units mandated by the courts. Um I don't have to have this report today, but can can we have a follow-up discussion on where we are
tracking with the number of units we have to build and what plan is in place? If I could just say that our obligation is not to build affordable units. is to make is to zone and plan appropriately to allow for in for specific developers to build affordable units. So we have no
mandate. We just have to make it available. So whether or not that gets done is a different question. But we have we have consistently um met our obligation to uh zone appropriately for affordable housing um in compliance with prior court cases.
Thank you. Okay, great. Um I still want to see a report of what our plan is and how many how we'll reach the the amount of units we need to get to. I know we're not building anything, but uh No, but I think what you're referring to is um uh and this is again something that we
can't necessarily discuss out publicly because we're still working on um the analysis of how many units rather the state said, hey, you're supposed to build this amount, but in reality, in part because of our zoning, um it's not
necessarily that number. So, we're in the midst of trying to figure that out and put that agreement um before Fairshare Housing. So, to your point, that's something that we can certainly if the council wishes to have a close session at some point in the near future, we can certainly have that and
then have um our counselor provide that information. Certainly, I I know I'm proud to say that the Edison Housing Authority has met part of our obligation through a meeting we had, which I'm happy to see something happening there.
Uh, I just want to make sure we chart a course for, you know, I don't want to be stepped over by a large development that's unnecessary to the community when we can properly plan something. That's all. Uh, I don't have anything else, Council President. I we'll skip public
safety, public works, and um I do want to add one thing for stormwater management. I know Amway Avenue is delayed to be paved. Is is our engineer here today or no? I'd like to get an answer from him when he's going to correct uh the
stormwater management on Emboy Avenue. It's uh it's a long time to be paved and I don't know how far if we're going into September, I can live with that. But if we're going to go in to the timeline where winter hits, we're not going to pave Amboy Avenue. And I know that we want to make a perfect storm and pave
and fix this uh 15-year storm on Amboy Avenue that floods on I think I think one and a half blocks of the area. But I just would prefer I don't think the residents prefer to have to wait that long if it
doesn't happen this year. We have we have to pave and it was the obligation of the gas company to pave and uh because of the manholes weren't corrected. Uh we we took an opportunity to do their work a payment in lie of us doing the work. Um but I didn't expect a
delay. I would have just paved it and I would have let stuck with the manholes. So I just um for the perfect good it's challenging because that block is in terrible shape. At the same time I also wrote under communications I sent a
communication to Pat Coyle about um I've had numerous complaints on the crosswalks are not um painted. Although we know we're going to pave and again it's one good over a bad but we can't wait till September to paint our
crosswalks when they're faded. I mean, they're they're beyond. So, we have we have our own striper, I believe, now. And if we can get out there and make an obligation to do that, I think that would certainly be a start to to the weight of what the other
channels are. So, if I can follow up next uh uh next week, I' I'd appreciate that. Thank you, Council President. Thank you. Move over to Councilman Patio. Thank you, Council President. Uh I'll run through the quick list and then I'll
go to the resident issues but the important part is the uh through council present question to administration. Uh any update on the growart next steps? Do we know we did the traffic study that was shared with the residents? They came here the feedback
was provided. Uh was there anything moved on after that? Uh not that I'm aware of. I mean the lighting was not an option and I think that the the residents felt that. But can we other than signage? Yes. So I will follow up on the signage portion of it. Thank you.
Uh next one is flooding project updates. Again this is probably ninth year I'm bringing this to this council. We have various flooding areas. If you look at the Stevenville Parkway, Summer Street, JP Stevens, few areas in the south end.
I think this year's budget I was told that there will be some some of these projects will be included. So if you can provide some sort of a report what is covered in that Glendel do we know it's anything moving on Glendel? No, no, nothing is happening. Status quo. Okay.
Edison housing project. I have some few questions. Again, I think you know we signed the agreement. What I found that this was a 99 year lease to a developer who is going to build or
renovate that neighborhood and Edison Housing Authority will be collecting the rent and paying to the developer. Is that correct or do we know what exactly is happening here? Is this the the project run by the government or it is run by or executed by the developer? If
you can please find out for the housing authority. Yes, the one we we're talking about the co-op approved. Yeah. Um that's the housing authority. They're doing that. The funds are through HUD and federal funds and part of our so understood. But the the funds are through HUD. That that part I
understand. What I heard is we are leasing that it's a land lease of 99 years. It's a township land given to a developer. So if you can find out you know who is who is building this like you know who
is I'm not aware of that and and and a developer necessarily being tied to I yeah because I was in one of the Edison housing meeting because I'm on that board uh unfortunately is on Tuesdays and some of my align the commitment don't align with that but one meeting
the developer you know couple of folks were there in the meeting and they were explaining how this project will be executed but if you can please find out what really happening there so Your question is if there is a 99-year lease agreement with a developer. Yes. Y
now I'll move on to the resident issues. You know there are various there was a email from Mr. Pernow Gandhi 880 GR Avenue. He reported some potholes. I don't know if anyone from engineering reported uh responded back to him. Uh again it's 880 GR
Avenue. The next one is the GR Calvert and Adjacent Streets. uh I spoke about this last council meeting as well. Now wherever those streets were dug up those were patch but now those patches are sinking and it is a safety hazard. It
it's it's it's like a reverse speed hump. It's down now. Uh so if you can please look at before some mishap happens in that neighborhood. 196 Lowering Avenue, Akib Muhammad. He reported trees were cut by his neighbor
and I think there were email I council person did forward that I went to the property. I looked at his property line. I looked at his survey. Trees were indeed on his property but the neighbor cut. He called police officer. He didn't get a good response. Then he called
engineering. He didn't get any response. I spoke to zoning officer. He was supposed to go yesterday. uh I don't know what happened there but if you can please follow up on that but this is something now it's it's the same case as what we spoke during the uh bamboo ordinance resident complained and next
day we went to issue the summons here resident is complaining for more than a week now and there is no action so if you can please find out in the address is 196 Luring Avenue Loring yes L O R I N
G Council Patel I believe That's the one that they responded back saying that they didn't have any proof as to whether or not uh like who cut it and unfortunately administr Yeah, administration can't do anything and it has to be like a legal uh not necessary
and again this this can't be debated here but only the ask was when somebody's cutting a tree and somebody is like the if neighbor is complaining we need somebody needs a permit to cut the tree right again if We're talking about the same
thing with regards to the tree. I don't know that the tree was fully cut other than perhaps some branches. They were all pretty much the stumps are taken out as of yesterday. Okay. Then they may have have I saw pictures differently. So if Okay. No, that was the first day when he complained but then next day he
chopped all the way to the stump and yesterday pretty much I think his neighbor used long weekend. He picked the time so that no one can complain in that time. Friday he started cutting down to the up to the stumps and I think
on Monday he was grinding the stumps. So it's like all holidays, right? So it's understood. And again, just having dealt with this a little bit even today, it's a civil matter. I will we will certainly take a look at it if there was some permits that were required to be done. Right. Now that it's brought to our
attention, you know, when things like that are brought to our attention and that's why you get these calls that somebody came and gave him a warning or something to that effect, we don't have any choice, you know, once we're told. So I I'll take a look at that address if there was any sort of citation or um and I understand it could be you know
dispute between the neighbors but no one can cut the tree without a permit and ask is very simple if someone is cutting the tree we should issue him the summons or we should have issued him warning but now it is summons Brower Avenue I think there was a request for paving signage engineering did give the this is my
third time I'm bringing this I think I was told that during the summer time the paving will be done but any update on the signage There was supposed to be there some signage on the speed limit etc. If you can please find out on that. I believe it was Broward Avenue. I I I saw something on that. I will Perfect.
Uh speed limit on GR uh Calbert Avenue and there asked by the resident during I think it was two meetings ago, can we make the entire GR Avenue 25 miles an hour right from Adam Street all the way to New Door? And I think this was a
consideration in the past. We reject this council rejected it. Again, I'm bringing back and see if that makes a difference. It did improve some situation. But if you change cuz right now speed limit in metachen is 25. Enter in Edison is 35. 200 ft again it becomes
25. Cross 500 ft it again 35. So by the time someone notice that 25 it's it's already done and we don't have enforcement. So asked to this council is if this body can reconsider making the entire strip at least up to the Oak road
25 m an hour. So we are consistent right from Metachan all the way to the Oak Road. The next one is the resolution that we tabled I believe it was last year in uh on the 65,000 township was supposed
to improve the widow Wilson field and this was I think I don't know it was an agreement with the school board uh that was tabled do we know are we moving forward and this was tabled because of the construction on widow Wilson but now it is complete okay so um I actually
emailed my counterpart the the business administrator I haven't heard back and and that's who I need to wait for uh to make sure that they have all of the checks done on the construction. So I I don't know that in terms of where they are if they closed out a contract and I
would think that that would be something that they'd want to do and I haven't heard back otherwise but I will follow up tomorrow. Thank you. I appreciate that. And my last one is on the cannabis license. If someone can explain me the process, you know, how it starts because there were residents there's a lot
chatter in WhatsApp group, social media about the cannabis who received the cannabis license and how they were received. So if you know I don't know if attorney if you can explain if a resident you know someone wants a cannabis license in Edison, what is the process? Well, it's it's most
importantly it's an application to the state of New Jersey. The state is the licensing authority. That's a final one. I'm talking about the township license. Okay. So, I'll start again. The the process is is by the state. In order to get a state license, you have to have a resolution of support. Correct. This
governing body. Um and so I believe in the past there have been requests for resolutions of support from the governing body. Um without that you cannot go forward to the state for an for approval. Correct. once that and
then ultimately the cannabis regulatory commission has to make a decision on whether or not you are awarded a license. Um so the step at at the local level here is essential but it's not the only component to get understood local I'm trying to understand the local process is that application goes to
mayor's office mayor's recommends that how because this council has no way to receive application it has to come from someone no I mean you would need a recommendation from the administration for you to review to ultimately decide but ultimately it's your decision as a council whether or not you get a license
or you get a resolution of support or not. No, understood that. But in terms of the the process, it has to be it it has to go to mayor's office first. Mayor has to bless it and then it will be resolution that will be put under administration and then comes for this
council body to approve. Um I don't think it was under I'm not certain who gets it. I mean I guess my my the only piece that I'm not aware of is who receives it in the administration before it gets to council. may perhap if I may interject. Yes, we we had a lot of this back and forth before and the process
that was established is that the clerk's office receives it and we don't have an application. I get an email, right? She would she would get something I get an email and then I I then she would forward that to us and then we would make the recommendation to the governing body. To date, we have not received an
application. So, mayor's office does the due diligence in terms of waiting out who the person, background, everything, right? No, no, no. It is just a a request that is what they have to do with the state. The state I'm talking about local local process. I'm just
trying to understand the local process. What's the flow here? So application comes from cler's office. It goes to administration. From admission someone is waiting out the application, right? That is not that is not what the uh administration does. That would be something that um this governing body
would do. Um if that request is made really as far as like it it's similar to a liquor license making sure that all of background checks are done. I don't think so that's a process but I want to clarify that the process that we have based on the ordinance that's on
the books is is that they anyone that calls our office I tell them to send me an email. Correct. I send them the letter that I was directed by the administration which says that they have to get their license from the state first in order for us to even consider a resolution of support. Mhm. That's the
process and then the administration would you know recommend whether we're going to give the resolution of support. We have not we have not issued any licenses and I do not have an application from us. We've gotten inquiries from time to time. Inquiries is what it's there's
never like a follow through. No, we did approve two licenses in Edison. No, we approved resolutions of support. Yeah. Yeah, we did. There's two resolutions of support. Let me correct the resolution to support but that resolution comes from the business administration, right?
Yes. On agenda. So that means it is weighted out with the business administration with the administration and then you passed resolutions of support. That's the second part. The first part important part is it doesn't directly come to the council. No one is going to walk here and say here is application and can you put this up?
That's correct. So it goes back to administration. That's just how the ordinance is laid out. No, I'm just clarifying. Yeah. From a process standpoint, right? So if you don't recommend anyone, it doesn't come here for this body. Yeah. And it's because I didn't get anything. So no, we did approve two. So two of them, you did
receive those right at the beginning like years ago. Correct. Correct. So just I just want to recap the process. Somebody submit the application to you, you forward it to administration, you look at the application, you if you feel it's a deemed fit, then you will create
a resolution for this body to adopt. So long as they follow the state requirements, right? Yeah. Okay. Thank you. Just wanted to make sure that it is not directly to the council. Council is approving it is going to the mayor's office first. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Council President. Oh, yes. Councilman Coyle, can I add to the
license discussion? Sure. Um, one thing for sure, for the two people who did receive a resolution, um, there's only one area where you can have uh, marijuana um, cannabis retail sales
or manufacturing uh, or growhouse and that area is um, surrounded by housing some of those areas and the industrial areas uh, don't allow it. So it's going to be a very tight opportunity for anybody to ever have a retail store in
the zone that we created cuz it's so restrictive. So, uh I think for the two that were received, uh one gentleman was Deepac Balani and uh he got that over two years ago, probably two plus years ago and Deepacan is just sitting on it
and it's worth nothing because you can't find the location uh uh that that's restrictive. And then one other gentleman uh I think a Dunkin Donuts guy or something got one and he's been sitting on it for about two years as well. Uh so uh to open up in
Edison when Matuchen has two and Highland Park has isn't Matuchen have two now two. Highland Park has two. Matuchin has one. Uh there's there's there's not not a market in Edison as well. So I don't see it coming in the short months. That's for sure. Thank
you, Council President. Thank you, Council Vice President. Thank you, Council President. Um I can I just add another clarification to the previous conversation? Of course, licenses. I just want to make sure we're clear. Licenses are only authorized by the
state. We can only authorize a resolution of support, in which case the state requires a resolution of support before considering any type of license um approval. To date, Edison has only done two resolutions of support. Uh, and
if you want to check out if anything has been approved, if you go to the Cannabis Regulatory Commission website, they have a list of every uh, level of cannabis type of retail, uh, manufacturing,
wholesale that has been approved to date. So, if anyone wants to check that out, it's open online. But I just want to make sure that it's clear that this township does not actually approve the license itself. It has to be approved by
the state, which there are a numerous amounts of regulations that they have to go through. Um, in regards to resident concerns and issues, um, I know it's been brought up before, Grand View and Amboy
particularly with speeding. Uh this past weekend we had a couple of car accidents that hit into um electrical poles that caused power outages. Uh I know that we are veering away from uh speed bumps and
whatnot as a detractor to speeding, but I don't know any other alternative at this point to try to deter that type of speeding on both streets. So, uh, if we can try to look at alternatives to to
that, that would get it done, that would be great, but I'm not really seeing any other option at this moment. Um, the council woman had brought up tractor trailers being parked on Reverend Boulevard or Carpenter. Uh,
Reverend Boulevard. Uh, I believe Winter Street Green has a no trucking um sign on there. So, if we can maybe include Re Carpenter Reverend Boulevard with that to uh to alleviate that concern, that
would be great. Uh, ordinances for consideration. Um my colleague wanted me to make mention of a um I put together a draft for a sign ordinance updating our sign ordinance since that has not been done
since probably 1999. Uh so I will send that to legal. It is not a simple lift is nothing that I'm expecting to be expedited but I think long-term will have tremendous benefits for the municipality. And finally, um, I just
want to make mention, normally I keep these things internal, uh, but a conversation that I had with the administration or a request that I made to the administration, particularly regarding the budget. Last meeting, we
had the recognition for uh, EMS and particularly volunteer EMS. Uh, it's been mentioned that we have the capability of increasing the township's contributions to volunteer EMS from 105,000 to 125,000. So, I've made that
request to the administration if we can allocate additional funds to that contribution to the volunteer EMS. And I would recommend taking other expenses from the council's budget to help in
that venture. So that would be it. Thank you, Council President. Thank you very much, Council President. Yes, just to piggy back. I think Council Patiel does too, but I I think the subject came up before about the the EMS and and and I believe that the the entire body and and
maybe I could be misquing certain people, but I I believe the entire body was um supportive of of us doing this and and your idea to take it from a line item that we already have established. Um I I actually do like that. Um so I
think it's a great idea for us to you know consider. Thank you. And if I misspoke, yes, it is something that I know that this body has mentioned before. It was something that uh in my review of the budget I overlooked. So I'm hoping to correct that and thank you
going forward. Thank you, Council Vice President. Very good. Um, I didn't have any uh any discussion items, but I'm going to add on to this is a point of light. Um, that on Sunday uh Sunday,
June 1st, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Edison has the the residential 2025 paper shredding. And the guidelines to that are no plastic bags, use a box, crate, or other sturdy container. They they will return it to you. Limit of five
file boxes or 100 pound pounds per car. Paper must be in a liftable, manageable container. If it's hard for you to bring it to your car, it is too heavy. Uh, no need to remove paper clips or staples. Don't bring plastic binders, sheet
protectors, newspapers, magazines, hard coverver books, junk mail, photos, x-rays, CDs, shredded paper, or garbage. Residential, personal paper only, no business or homebased other paper. uh loads containing unacceptable items will
be rejected. And so that's Sunday, June 1st, 9 to noon. And with that, um can I get a motion to adjurnn? Motion to adjurnn. Second. All in favor? All right. Thank you. One more announcement
is um that our next council meeting is on an odd date. It's a combined meeting on Thursday, June 11th. No, June 12th. at June 12th at 6 p.m. Thank you.