How you doing? Recording in progress. I got to start getting Yeah, I saw that. You know that I see various roads. I don't see you. I saw Hazelwood somewhere.
I think I'm trying to We will now call to order uh the township of Scatteraway council meeting agenda of May 6, 2025. Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided as required under chapter 231
PL1975 specifying the time, date, location, login and d or dialing information and to the extent known the agenda by posting a copy of the notice on the municipal building, municipal court and two municipal library bulletin boards, municipal website, providing a
copy to the official newspapers of the township and by filing a copy in the office of the township clerk In accordance with a certification by the clerk which will be entered in the minutes. There will be a public comment periods for both remote and in-person
attendees separately. Each member of the public shall only have one opportunity to speak during each public portion as as the technology does not allow us to know if there are multiple callers on an individual phone line or logged in user account. We ask that if you wish to
speak that you log in or dial in separately so we can recognize you as a separate individual. Should you have any further comments or questions, the township council is always available by email and phone and you can always call the mayor's office during normal operating
hours. Cedar, can I have a roll call, please? Council member Cahill here. Council member Carmichael here. Council member Liuititz
here. Council member Lombardi. Council member Lombardi, can you unmute yourself, please? Here. Thank you. Council member Rasheed, here. Council member Erin here.
Council President Espinosa here. Please join me in saluting the flag. is liberty and justice for all. Okay. Do we have any comments from the administration or and council regarding adjournment of any matters on this agenda?
I do. Go ahead. Councilwoman Leitz, I have two things. One is I would like to take something off the consent agenda. It's 15C. I have a question and then I also have a statement. Do you want me to ask my
question? Go ahead. So, is that how we do we wait till we get to that part or we'll do it now? Question on the consent on the consent agenda first. Yes. Landscaping bid. Yes.
It's just a it's not my question is we're going to do so am I asking the question now? Sorry. So we're doing all this work which sounds beautiful and lovely. The followup care is that then taken care of by our
people or is that also a contracted work? They're planting. They're removing stuff. They sounds like beautiful trees. I love it. Um, and then once they're done, does the care because a lot of times I see, not necessarily in our town, but sometimes I see in communities
and parks, they plant trees and then 3 months later the summer comes, nobody's followed up, they're dead, they're dried up, they look bad. So, this, if you have the backup on it, this is for the installation of of trees, various trees around town. Once
we plant them, when we talk to the person whose property we're putting them by, we ask them to please you. So once we plant the trees, we ask the person whose property they're adjacent to to please participate in watering if they can. Uh they ultimately will um
depending on the location, if they're in a park, we're responsible for them. And if they're in the rightway, they're in the rightway. So, anybody who gets a tree, we do ask them to please help take care of it. Um, but then eventually they become
ours cuz I saw one of it was the park and one of it is an island. So, I know sometimes when you drive through communities, it's like nobody wants to take responsibility for the island. So, you know, I guess the answer is most
of our parks and islands are under a contract for just cutting the grass and trimming and throughout the throughout the season. So, that'll be taken care of by another contract. Great. Thank you. Was one want to Yes, that was the only
one. Do you want to remove it? Uh, no, I'm good. Thank you. Okay. Item number six, open to the public. Comments regarding item number 15, consent agenda
items. Opening up to the remote attendees. If you wish to speak at this time, please raise your hand either on the Zoom app or if by phone by pressing star9. When it's your turn to speak, you will receive or hear a request to unmute yourself. Please click the prompt or press star six on your phone to unmute
yourself. At that time, please state your name and address and know that you have three minutes in which to make your comments. The council or administration will respond if necessary after you have completed any comments or questions. Miss Cater, do we have anybody in queue?
Council President, um unmuting the first individual with their hand raised. Hi, uh Brian Rack, 1247 Brookside Road for item L. How did that happen? Um I went to the park and it looks like a
bunch of trees were taken down and a big gravel path was put in. But if I go on the D website, I can clearly see there's wetlands that are partially covering the park and definitely adjacent to it. Um, if I had tried to do something like that, I'd have to go through zoning and they would have caught it. So, what was
the failure that led to this happening without the proper DP permits? That was it. Thanks. Yeah, we're not sure. Um, DPW did some work out there to to resolve some issues. I think it just it got outside the scope. So, we're working on
remediating it. Miss, do we have anyone else? There are no other individuals with their hand raised regarding this agenda item. Thank you. Closing to the public. Opening to the opening, I'm sorry, close to the remote attendees. Opening to the inerson attendees. If you wish to speak at this
time, please come to the podium, state your name and address, and know that you have three minutes in which to make your comments. You may take a seat after completion of your comments or questions, and the council or administration would then respond if necessary. I see no one at the podium. Closing for
in in person attendees. Resolution adopt of CY um 2025 municipal budget. Melissa, be it resolved by the township council members of the township of Piscatoaway, County of Middle Sex, that the budget here and
before set forth is hereby adopted, and shall constitute an appropriation for the purposes stated of the sums therein set forth as appropriations and authorization of the amount of 51,51,6 $677.118 for municipal purposes and
3,850,6.32 cents minimum library tax. Summary of revenues, general revenues surplus anticipated $12 million. Miscellaneous revenues anticipated
17,951,68547. Receipts from delinquent taxes $750,000. Amount to be raised by taxation for municipal purposes 51,51,677.18. Amount to be raised by taxation. Minimum library
tax 3,850,6.32. Total revenues $86,53,368.97. Summary of appropriations within caps. operations including contingent 50,353,042 deferred charges in statutory expenditures
municipal 6,644,040 excluded from caps operations total operations excluded from caps 7,847,641 capital improvements $7,200,000. Municipal debt service $9,758,900. Deferred charges municipal
2,662,325. Reserve for uncollected taxes 1,587,742.72. Total appropriations 86,53,368.97. Thank you, Miss Cedar. May I motion, please? Motion. Councilwoman Lombardi.
Second. Councilwoman Cahill. Laura, we have Laura first that made the motion. Okay. Thank you, Miss Cedar. Can I have a roll call, please? Council member Cahill.
Yes. Council member Carmichael. Yes. Council member Liowitz. Yes. Council member Lombardi. Yes. Council member Rasheed. Yes. Council member Erin. Yes. Council
President Espinosa. Yes. Item number eight, ordinance second reading, bond ordinance, various capital improvements of 7 million 5,000 uh through 6,333 uh,750 open to the public resolution
adopting ordinance Melissa. Be it resolved by the township council of Piscatoway Township, New Jersey, that an ordinance entitled bond ordinance providing for various capital improvements in and by the township of Piscataway in the county of Middle Sex, New Jersey, appropriating
$7,5,000 therefore and authorizing the issuance of 6,333,750 bonds or notes of the township to finance part of the cost thereof was introduced on the 15th day of April, 2025, and it passed the first reading and was published on the 20th day of
April 2025. Now therefore, be it resolved that the officer said ordinance, having had a second reading on May 6, 2025, be adopted passed and after passage be published together with a notice of the date of passage or approval in the official newspaper. Be it further
resolved that this ordinance shall be assigned number 2025-09. Thank you, Miss Cedar. Opening up to the remote attendees. If you wish to speak at this time, please raise your hand either on the Zoom app or if by phone by pressing star 9. When it's your turn to speak, you will receive or hear a
request to unmute yourself. Please click the prompt or press star six on your phone to unmute yourself. At the at that time, please state your name and address and know that you have three minutes in which to make your comments. The council or administration would respond if necessary after you have completed any
comments or questions. Miss Cedar, do we have anybody anybody in queue? Council President, there are no remote attendees with their hand raised regarding this agenda item. Thank you, Miss Cedar. I'll close for the in for the remote attendees, opening up for the in-person attendees. If you wish to
speak at if you wish to speak at this time, please come to the podium, state your name and address, and know that you have three minutes in which to make your comments. You may take a seat after completion of your comments or questions, and the council or administration will then respond if necessary.
How you doing? Please state your name and address, please. Hi, Bill Irwin, 233 Ellis Parkway, Biscataway. Uh, this is the one I wanted to ask on before. Could you describe what the uh bonding is for? Like what improvements in general terms? So there we have
$1,420,000 for improvements to Sydney Road, South Randolph Road, and Washington Avenue. $2,5,000 for the community development parking lot and site improvements including all work and materials necessary therefore an incidental layer
too and $3,580,000 for the ecological park remediation. Gotcha. So is there a um capital reserve that the municipality usually dips into for capital improvements or do we typically bond for
them? uh both in this case for bonding for it. Thank you. Thank you. Closing to the inerson attendees. May I have a motion, please? Councilman or a motion. Second, Carmen. Second.
Councilwoman Lombardi. Thank you. Roll call, please. Council member Cahill. Yes. Council member Carmichael. Yes. Council member Liowitz. Yes. Council member Lombardi.
Yes. Council member Rasheed. Yes. Council member Ern. Yes. Council President Espinosa. Yes. Thank you, Miss Cedar. Item number nine, ordinance, second reading, amending chapter 7, traffic section 25, vehicles
over designated weight limit excluded from certain streets open to the public. Resolution adopting ordinance Peter be resolved by the township council of Piscataway Township, New Jersey that an ordinance entitled ordinance to amend and supplement the revised general ordinances of the
township of Piscataway County of Middle Sex City, New Jersey amending chapter 7 traffic section 25 vehicles over designated weight excluded from certain streets. Was introduced on the 15th day of April 2025 and had passed the first reading. It was published on the 23rd
day of April 2025. Now therefore, be it resolved that the offer said ordinance, having had a second reading on May 6, 2025, be adopted, passed and after passage, be published together with a notice of the date of passage or approval in the official newspaper. Be it further resolved that this ordinance shall be
assigned number 2025-10. Thank you, Miss Open to the public. For remote attendees, if you wish to speak at this time, please raise your hand either on the Zoom app or by phone by pressing star 9. When it's your turn to speak, you will receive or hear a request to unmute yourself. Please click
the prompt or press star six on your phone to unmute yourself. At that time, please state your name and address and know that you have three minutes in which to make your comments. The council or administration will respond if necessary after you have completed any comments or questions. Receed, do we
have anybody in queue? Council President, there are no remote attendees with their hand raised regarding this agenda item. Thank you. Closing remote attendees, opening to the in-person attendees. If you wish to speak at this time, please come to the podium, state your name and address, and know that you
have three minutes in which to make your comments. You may take a seat at the completion of your comments or questions, and the council or administration will then respond if necessary. Please state your name and address. My name is Nancy Salgado Cowan. I live at
124 Stanton Avenue, Piscatoaway, New Jersey. Um, in reference to this ordinance, it it not sure the language or the verbiage seemed very vague. A certain weight limit, a certain streets. Are there any
specifics to that? Yeah, this is so this ordinance is removing North Brandville Road from the exclusion. Um it was initially um exempting it from trucks um earlier, but the state came back and asked us to remove it. Um they felt that that that
needed to trucks needed to to pass on that road and required us to remove it. So that that's what we're doing. And is there a specific weight limit? It's removing the weight limit. Oh, it's taking it away. So, any trucks can ride now through that road, unfortunately.
So, are there any are there any roads that um trucks of any size cannot go on? Yeah, if you go on the township ordinances, there's a long list of roads that actually exclude trucks. Um it's you can easily access it. I think the township website and go to the code. Um
it's actually that chapter 7. You you can see there. I think it's uh yes, section 25. And you'll see you'll see a whole table. Okay. Are any of them removed for uh reasons being like children and schooling or any of that or
no? Removed for removed for the larger trucks. Is that something in that original ordinance or no? No. The only item being removed from that list is north. Got um and that's only because we don't like to remove anything. Usually if we get it on the list, it's just
because the state this time has asked us or required us to remove it. So unfortunately we have to Okay. Thank you. Stacy Burgerer 233 Ellis Parkway. I wanted to actually follow up on that question. The state asked you to or the
state required it and what precipitated that and why did you make a decision to do something if it wasn't required? Are there is there any data any research about the impact that alleviate rather lifting that limit is going to have on
the residents of that area? There's a lot of people who live on North Randall. Yeah, this was put on um this was put on probably two or three years ago. Um, and the state then did their own studies, I guess, and and sent us letters saying that that, you know, based on their
studies or or or analysis of traffic flow that they, you know, that we had to and we're being required to remove it from our list of exemptions. So, they required you to do that based on what? Like when does this why does the state
care if there are trucks on roads that are not state? the the state has the authority to to oversee our our restrictions on on trucks on certain so they could lift all the restrictions on all the on all the streets that we have
potentially but but this is the first time they've ever done it. If you remember Stacy with the issue with River Road it took many many years. Yes. It took me running for council for that to happen. If I recall correctly, 2018, you've blamed the county for like four years prior and then nothing happened
and then all of a sudden people started running for office and all of a sudden things started to happen. So yeah, Tim, I remember. Um I'm wondering though like what's what's the impetus for this particular removal? Like the state just didn't have anything else to do. If you
want to Oprah the the letter from the state go ahead and you can see what they really provide us more detail than this you know based on their analysis that this needs to be removed and you need to allow trucks on it. So there's no analysis but but you did it anyway. Okay, I'll send it over. We comply with
state requirements. Thank you. Closing to inerson attendees. I have a motion, please. Motion. Car Michael. Have a second. Second. Councilman.
Roll call, please. Council member Cahill. Yes. Council member Carmichael. Yes. Council member Liowitz. Yes. Council member Lombardi. Yes. I will be leaving the meeting after
this vote. Thank you. Council member Rasheed Stain. Council member Erin. Yes. Council President Espinosa. Yes. Ordinance second reading amending salary
and wage schedule. I'm sorry. Number 10. Ordinance second reading. Acquisition of certain property regarding Hazerwood Place and Handover Street Road improvements open to the public. Resolution adopting ordinance. Miss Cedar. Be it resolved by the township council of Piscatoaway Township, New Jersey, that an ordinance entitled,
ordinance for the acquisition of rights of way, easements, and land and fee simple for the improvement of Hazlewood Place and Handover Street in Piscataway Township, County of Middle Sex State of New Jersey, was introduced on the 15th day of April, 2025, and had passed the first reading and was published on the
23rd day of April, 2025. Now therefore be it resolved that the offer said ordinance having had a second reading on May 6, 2025 be adopted passed and after passage be published together with a notice of the date of passenger approval in the official newspaper. Be it further
resolved that this ordinance shall be assigned number 2025-11. Thank you, Miss Cedar. Opening to the remote attendees. If you wish to speak at this time, please raise your hand either on the Zoom app or by phone by pressing star 9. When it's your turn to speak, you will receive or hear a
request to unmute yourself. Please click the prompt or press star six on your phone to unmute yourself. At that time, please state your name and address and know that you have three minutes in which to make make your comments. The council or administration will respond if necessary after you have completed
any comments or questions. Miss Cedar, do we have anybody in queue? Council president, there are no remote attendees with their hand raised regarding this agenda item. Thank you, Miss Cedar. Closing to the remote attendees, opening to the inperson attendees. If you wish to speak at this
time, please come to the podium, state your name and address, and know that you have three minutes in which to make your comments. You may take a seat after completion of your comments or questions, and the council or administration would then respond if necessary. Good evening, Curtis. Hello. Good
evening. Uh Curtis grew up 1750 West. Um, which one are you trying to which property? Sorry. What was their question? The question is on acquisition of certain properties regarding Hazerwood Place.
Which properties are you trying? Which properties? There's two pages of them that we're going to have to get. They're construction easements or permanent easements. And we have an idea what I mean we're coming
from Fourth Street all the way to second, right? Yeah, I think it's the entire length. Um we have a bunch of parcels. Uh so it's it's just based on the road improvement plan. It's if we need to do most most of them are probably just going to be temporary easements, construction easements because we're probably going
to step on those properties in order to do the curbing and sidewalk, etc. Um but uh yeah it's usually pretty much every property and on the entire length we have to usually take an easement off. Okay. Thank you.
Thank you. Close to the inerson attendees. I have a motion please. Motion council. Motion. Councilwoman a second. Councilman Kah. Roll call, please. Council member Cahill. Yes. Yes. Council
member Carmichael. Yes. Council member Liowitz. Yes. Council member Rasheed. Yes. Council member Erin. Yes. Council President Espinosa. Yes. Item number 11, ordinance, second reading, amending salary and wage
schedule open to the public. Resolution adopting ordinance. Miss Cedar be resolved by the township council of Piscatoaway Township, New Jersey that an ordinance entitled ordinance to amend and supplement the revised general ordinances of the township of Piscataway County of Middle Sex state, New Jersey
amending the salary and wage schedule was introduced on the 15th day of April 2025 and had passed the first reading and was published on the 23rd day of April 2025. Now therefore be it resolved that the officer said ordinance having had a second reading, excuse me, on May
6, 2025 be adopted, passed and after passage be published together with a notice of the date of passage or approval in the official newspaper. We have further resolved that this ordinance shall be assign number 2025-12. Thank you, Miss Cedar. Opening for the remote attendees. If you wish to speak
at this time, please raise your hand either on the Zoom app or by phone by pressing star9. When it's your turn to speak, you will receive or hear a request to unmute yourself. Please click on the prompt or press star six on your phone to unmute yourself. At that time, please state your name and address and
know that you have three minutes in which to make your comments. The council or administration will respond respond if necessary after you have completed any comments or questions. Miss Cater, do we have anybody in queue? Council president, there are no remote attendees with their hand raised
regarding this agenda item. Thank you, Miss Cedar. Closing it for the remote attendees, opening for the in-person attendees. If you wish to speak at this time, please come to the podium, state your name and address, and know that you have three minutes in which to make your comments. You will you may take a seat after completion of your comments or
questions, and the council or administration will then respond if necessary. I see no one for the inerson attendees. Closing for the inerson attendees. May I have a motion, please? Motion car. Motion. Second. Kill.
Have a burl call, please. Council member Cahill. Yes. Council member Carmichael. Yes. Council member Liowitz. Yes. Council member Rasheed. Yes. Council member Erin. Yes. Council President Espinosa.
Yes. Item number 12, ordinance, second reading, amending and supplementing chapter 21, zoning section 8A, open to the public. Resolution adopting ordinance. Miss Cedar. Be it resolved by the township council of Piscatoway Township, New Jersey that
an ordinance entitled ordinance to amend and supplement the revised general ordinances of the township of Piscataway County of Middle Sex State of New Jersey amending chapter 21 zoning section 8A flood damage prevention was introduced on the 4th day of March 2025 and had passed the first reading. It was
published on the 9th day of March 2025. Now therefore be it resolved that the offer said ordinance having had a second reading on May 6, 2025 be adopted passed and after passage be published together with a notice of the date of pasture approval in the official newspaper. Be further resolved that this ordinance
shall be assign number 2025-13. Thank you, Miss Cedar. Opening to the public. Uh opening up for the remote attendees. If you wish to speak at this time, please raise your hand either on the Zoom app or if by phone by pressing star 9. When it's your
turn to speak, you will receive or hear a request to unmute yourself. Please click the prompt or press star six on your phone to unmute yourself. At that time, please state your name and address and know that you have three minutes in which to make your comments. The council or administration will respond if
necessary after you have completed any comments or questions. Miss Cater, do we have anybody in queue? Council President, there are no remote attendees with their hand raised regarding this agenda item. Thank you. Closing for the remote remote attendees. Opening for the inperson attendees. If
you wish to speak at this time, please come to the podium, state your name and address and know that you have three minutes in which to make your comments. You may take a seat after completion of your comments or questions and the council or administration would then respond if necessary. I see no one at the podium.
The inerson attendees is now closed. May I have a motion, please? Motion Carmichael. Second. Roll call, please. Council member Cahill. Yes. Yes. Council member
Carmichael. Yes. Council member Liowitz. Yes. Council member Rasheed. Yes. Council member Erin. Yes. Council President Espinosa. Yes. Item number 13, ordinance first reading authorizing deed of restriction for
ecological park resolution adopting ordinance. Miss Cedar resolved by the township council of Piscatoway Township, New Jersey that an ordinance entitled an ordinance of the township of Piscataway, county of Middle Sex State, New Jersey, authorizing a declaration of deed restriction for a conservation easement
on the ecological park pursuant to NJSA 58 10-23.11 B is hereby adopted on the first reading that it be published in the official newspaper and that a second reading of public hearing be held at 7:30 p.m. prevailing time at the
Piscatoway Municipal Building, 455 Hosley in Piscatoway, New Jersey, on the 5th day of June, 2025. Be further resolved that a copy of this ordinance shall be posted in at least two public places within the township prior to the day of the second reading and final passage, and a copy of this ordinance
shall be made available at the office of the township clerk for any interested member of the public. Thank you, Miss Cedar. May I have a motion, please? Motion, Councilman Erin. Second, Carmichael. Roll call.
Council member Cahill. Yes. Council member Carmichael. Yes. Council member Liuititz. Looking forward to a beautiful environmental park with community input. Yes.
Council member Rashid. Yes. Council member Erin. Yes. Council President Espinosa. Yes. Item number 14, ordinance first reading amending chapter 7 traffic section 14 parking prohibited prohibited at all
times fits Randolph Road entire length resolution adopting ordinance. Miss Cedar be resolved by the township council of Piscatoaway Township, New Jersey that an ordinance entitled ordinance to amend and supplement the revised general ordinances of the township of Piscatoaway County of Middle Sex State,
New Jersey, amending chapter 7, traffic section 14, parking prohibited at all times on certain streets. Bean is hereby adopted on the first reading that it be published in the official newspaper and that a second reading of public hearing be held at 7:30 p.m. prevailing time at the Piscatoaway Municipal Building, 455
Hose Lane, Piscatoaway, New Jersey, on the 5th day of June, 2025. Be it further resolved that a copy of this ordinance shall be posted in at least two public places within the township prior to the day of the second reading and final passage, and a copy of this ordinance shall be made available at the office of
the township clerk for any interested member of the public. Thank you, Miss Cedar. We have a motion, please. Motion. Councilman Cahill. Second. Carmichael. Thank you. Roll call, please.
Council member Cahill. Yes. Council member Carmichael. Yes. Council member Liuititz. Yes. Council member Rasheed. Yes. Council member Erin, yes. Council President Espinosa, yes.
Item number 15, consent agenda resolution for efficiency. Items have been consolidated into a consent agenda to be voted on together and the materials for these items have been distributed to the council in advance of the meeting. Do I have a motion?
Lee Boys motion. Motion. Second. Thank you. Roll call. Council member Cahill. Yes. Yes. Council member Carmichael. Yes. Council member Liowitz. Yes. Council member Rasheed. Yes.
Council member Erin. Yes. Council President Espinosa. Yes. So today we have a couple of proclamations to read out loud. I I would like to read the first one. Um before I read it, I want to say thank you to our municipal clerks and our
deputy clerk. Welcome aboard to Miss Jen Johnson and Melissa Cedar. Thank you so much for what you do. Um the proclamation reads, "Whereas the office of the municipal cler clerk is at is a timehonored and essential part of local
government. And whereas municipal clerks perform a wide range of important duties including the preparation of meeting agendas, maintenance of public records, oversight of elections, is insuence uh issuance of licenses and provision of vital services to the public that
promote transparency, accountability and good governance. And whereas the we recognize and appreciate the dedication and professionalism of the municipal clerks in our community who serve as valuable public servants, ensuring the smooth and effective operation of local
government. And whereas municipal clerks continually strive to enhance and the administration of their duties through ongoing education and professional development. And whereas by serving the integrity impartially and uh impartially
and professionalism, our municipal clerks play a significant role in the success of our community and the strength of our democracy. And now therefore be it resolved that that Mayor Brian Waller, Mayor of Township Piscataway, County of Middle Sex, State
of New Jersey, along with the township council recognize the week of May 4th through May 10th, 2025 as Municipal Clerk's Week and further acknowledge our municipal clerk Melissa Cedar and Deputy Clerk Jennifer Johnson and senior office assistant Bunty Sud for the integral
services they perform. Thank you so much. Thank you for what you do. Councilwoman um Lewitz, would you like to proceed? Thank you. Um so I appreciate the opportunity and honor to read this
proclamation. Um I will tell you as a little bit of history because I'm a teacher and I like to tell people things. um that this this is a a spoiler alert. This is a a proclamation um regarding Jewish Heritage, Jewish American Heritage Month.
Um the Jewish calendar and the uh Roman calendar slightly vary. The last two weeks, um we celebrated or honored or recognized Yum Hashawa, the Holocaust Remembrance Day. um Yum Hazikon, which
is Israel's Memorial Day, and then Yum Hat Mahoot, which is the Israel's Independence Day. Israel's 77 years old this year. Um so just a little bit of backstory. Um and I I also just want to thank you for this
opportunity. Whereas established after resolutions passed unanimously in both houses of Congress, President George W. Bush proclaimed May as Jewish American Heritage Month as an annual recognition of the American Jewish community which
has contributed substantially to the fabric of American history, culture, and society. And whereas the rich heritage of the Jewish American community in the township of Piscatoaway includes two yeshivas and a historical marker on
Davidson Road commemorating the Jewish Agricultural Society which in the 1930s enabled Jewish families to poultry farm while maintaining jobs in New York and became a model for similar New Deal programs. And whereas American Jews have
served in the United States military with great bravery and patriotism in its wars, including approximately 550,000 Jewish men and women in World War II. And whereas present- day efforts to remedy the recognition of Jewish
American military service continues with Operation Benjamin for which American Jews buried with non-Jewish markers in American military cemeteries throughout the world are having Star of David markers installed at their burial sites. And whereas 18 American Jews have been
awarded the Medal of Honor, our country's highest honor, including Colonel Jack Jacobs, who lived in Middle Sex County and graduated from Rucker University for his valor in the Vietnam War. And whereas our country's commitment to religious freedom and
acceptance of ethnic heritage obligates us to root out prejudice and combat anti-semitism. And whereas synagogues and Jewish cultural institutions in the United States have amplified security measures due to the increased threat of
anti-semitic violence. And whereas Jewish students on American college campuses have been targeted for marginalization and hostility for their ethnic heritage. And whereas online harassment of American Jews has intensified with ferocity. And whereas
during this month, we should take time to remember the lessons of the Holocaust and recognize the contributions of American Jews have made to civil rights and social justice movements. Now therefore, I, Brian C. Waller, mayor of the township of Piscatoaway, County of
Middle Sex, state of New Jersey, along with the township council, declare the month of May to be Jewish American Heritage Month, and encourage all residents to celebrate our diverse heritage and culture and work together to guarantee peace and equality for all.
May 6, 2025. [Applause] Thank you, Councilwoman Lee Woods. Announcements from comments from our officials. Councilwoman Gabrielle
Cahill. Yeah. First, I'd like to apologize for my background noise. I am away on business. Uh unexpected and so I do appreciate um the folks bearing with me. I just want to um I guess we're not
going to meet again in May. I don't believe so. Just hoping that the residents of Piscatoaway um you know enjoy this time of year. Folks who have you know uh children graduating from college and and high
school and then we'll be celebrating Memorial Day here in town and you know a lot of moments for our town to come together. And I also want to thank the staff uh Daniel very much and really all
of the administrative um folks who helped to put together a budget, helped to educate us council people on the items and um also just um really grateful to uh this council um for the
coming together. And I I would be remiss if I didn't say, and sorry for being so long-winded, just um you know, just how emotional. I am not Jewish, but I grew up in a family where my father was probably the only non-Jew in a union. Uh
we we we flew the Star of David very proudly at my house alongside um the the flag of the United States and um the Italian flag being of Italian heritage. And I just thought that that was um an absolutely wonderful well-written um
resolution and I want to thank um Council Member Liowitz for reading that. And that is really all I have to say which was quite a bit. Thank you everyone. Thank you Councilwoman Cahilwoman Carmichel.
Well, uh I'd also like to uh congratulate the the clerks, the township clerks for all that they do and just to echo that we really do appreciate everything all that they do and all of the support and congratulations
um for the Jewish American Heritage Month proclamation. It was a beautiful proclamation. Also want to wish all the mothers here in town uh and in the county happy Mother's Day uh coming up this Sunday, May 12th. And then on uh
May 15th, all those who will be turning 90 uh will be celebrated at the senior center on the 15th. So happy 90th birthday to everyone who's seeing that milestone. Thank you.
Thank you, Councilwoman Carmichael. Councilwoman Lee Boots. Thank you for those kind words. Uh May is certainly a busy month and it's been a pleasure already attending so many spring events throughout our community. Spring is also the season for taxes and
budgets. Unfortunately, our current federal government has made it increasingly difficult to maintain the services we're so proud of and that provide the best for our town. with attacks from Washington. It was very disheartening to see the attacks on our unpaid volunteer board of education
members on the Piscatoaway Township social media page. Our engagement as a council does not need to be adversarial. We can guide and advise and be fiscally prudent without targeting our board of education. Unfortunately, our taxf funded social
education our taxf funded social media accounts have been used to call out the school board in a negative name calling and dismissive manner. This is a bad look for our council. There are ways to navigate difficult budget discussions. Using township resources in this manner
is not the way. Providing opportunities for clear communication between entities such as the liaison the board of ed is now establishing is a great first step. As a council, it is our job to balance our fiscal responsibility while
providing and supporting services to our residents across the spectrum of needs from new young residents to longstanding seniors. It is more important apparent than ever that rising costs and decreasing aid revenue is putting pressure on all government budgets, be
they municipal, library, county, fire district, or school board. Here in Piscataway, as in the rest of New Jersey, most local spending is financed by property taxes. As the burden of property taxes falls upon our residents, now more than ever, we must be
transparent about the source of our revenue and ensure that all of our services are properly funded. Our revenue comes from a variety of sources. One of these is our pilot relationships. There is nothing stopping us from accessing this revenue source and
sharing it with our schools as we do with the other components of our budget across New Jersey. towns including Parcipony, Eaveshum, Planefield, and Homeell are in dialogue to include pilot revenue as a way to support their school
budgets. There's also a bill recently out of committee in the New Jersey Senate that seeks to require municipalities to share certain payments received in pilots with school districts. It's long past time that we are clear and straightforward that revenues derived from payment in lie of
tax or pilot programs are treated in the same manner as all other property taxes when it comes to funding local priorities because there's no good reason to do otherwise. I suggest that we in Piscatoaway lead the way in this resource strategy and therefore I am
introducing the following motion. Be it resolved that it is the desire of the township council of Piscatoaway to ensure that all revenues derived from payment in lie of tax or pilot agreements are aortioned amongst the township, county, fire districts, and
school district in the same proportion as regularly collected property taxes. And the township council of Piscatoaway desires this to be reflected in the preparation of the 2526 budget and all future budgets.
Second the motion. [Applause] Um up for discussion. My feeling is that in this time we need to be creative. If we look on social media, we look across the newspaper, we
look across all the towns in New Jersey, they're all struggling. They're cutting jobs. They're cutting programs. They are forced with huge deficits, much more than our current board of education due
to their fiscal prudence over the last few years. Um, and so I feel that this is an opportunity for us to be a leader and there is some support out there across the state. Thank you, Councilwoman Liowitz. Um, I also agree
that we can go ahead and and and speak through some processes to get together and and talk this out on on the table. But for now, I I need to see a plan, you know, just kind of written out, have some agreements, have some
disagreements, but at least have something so that we can agree on. So, I motion to table this for now for further discussion. Yeah. You're looking for a motion to postpone. But can I before we postpone it, I just want to make another comment. Um, so I'm
happy to have a discussion about it. Of course, it's important. It's vital. It's a huge change and a huge shift. Um, one of the ways to start that discussion is to look at the current budget and find the aortions that are being used now. And I did ask that question this week.
We weren't able to get information on it. Um, but I'd love to know it's a starting point. What are the portions for our existing pieces and how can that distribution be utilized in the board of ed to support our fantastic school
district and its employees and of course further the improvement of you know people move to this town for our schools. We've all said it. Um, and the schools develop our residents and the residents like to come back
and we need to support them. Thank you, Councilwoman Lewood. Motion to postpone. Roll call, please. Council member Cah Hill. It appears she left the meeting. Council member Carmichael.
Yes. Council member Liowitz. Yes. Council member Rasheed. Is there a timeline for the postponement? [Applause] I mean, it's it's what the council can
set. I mean, you as the council can put it on the agenda for future. I think I think you guys should have just my opinion is have discussions before you figure out when to when to push it forward again. Council member Erin. Yes. Question.
for Raj. These discussions, can they be during a working meeting? Establish a working meeting time for these discussions so we can all be in the same place at the same time. I mean, you'd have to set up it's basically it'll be it has to be a
scheduled special meeting open to the public. So, if you're all in the same place, um, or you can do it, you can do it in groups of three to have those discussions in a smaller format. Um, but however the council decides they want to do it, they can go ahead and do it.
Okay. Thank you for that information. Council President Espinosa. Yes. Okay. Councilwoman Michelle Lombardi had disconnected. Councilwoman uh Rashid. Um I also wanted to kind of touch on
what Laura was talking about. Um I'm in the unique position where I've served on the school board and now I have the privilege to work um sit here on the town council. I can tell you firsthand the dedication the administration, the
teachers and the board members have towards the Piscatoaway schools and the families. Um they work really hard. the board members are all volunteers. Um, I can't tell you how hard those teachers work. And right now with all the unprecedented attacks and cuts that the
schools are facing, the last thing we need is fingerpointing and name calling. Um, it is a time to lean in for all local leaders. We lean in, we build our strength, and we work and have constructive discussions. it's not the time to fingerpoint and making uh you
know um big claims. So it's really a privilege to be here but we are here and we're open for open discussion. Thank you. Thank you Councilwoman Rasheed. Councilman Ern no comment at this time
council Mayor Waller Hey, council president. I'll be more than happy to sit down with people, but this still is the largest tax increase in the history of the town. I don't have a problem with sitting down with people. Thanks.
Thank you, Mayor. Business administr Business Administrator Timothy Dy. Nothing tonight. Thank you. Assistant Business Administrator Paula Kazelli. Kazarelli. Sorry. Kazarelli. Keep I'm getting it right. Next time. You're good. You're good. Thank you, Council President. I just wanted to bring you to
your attention the ordinance uh uh item number 13 specifically deed restricting ecological park. So that means nothing can be developed on that property and that is required so that the township could get up to 75% of remediation costs
and 100% of site investigation, remediate investigation and um property assessment. So that's 100% of that and then 75% of the cost. So it's essential that obviously the D and uh we're not
going to get money uh to remediate the property unless we deed restrict it. So that's very important. So I'm glad that that is uh passed on the agenda here. Uh the other item I just want to say is that we're very close to turning over our solar. So the project is supposed to
bring back a return of investment of somewhere around 67% savings in our electrical costs. So uh fantastic. I wasn't here for the beginning of that and I know my colleague sitting next to me was instrumental in that. The mayor
and the council continuing with s sustainability. So I'm very happy. So please keep an eye out for social media. We're going to have a uh picture of us turning over and converting to solar. And also again, please be noted on our
social media. There's a lot going on in this town. We have Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day parade, and lots of great events for all to enjoy. So, make sure you're signed up for our rave alerts. Uh not so much for uh events, but for traffic closures. Make sure you're uh on
our Facebook, Instagram, and on the website where all these things are posted and uh thank you very much. Thank you very much. Township attorney Raj Gumar. No comments. Thank you.
Thank you. Uh so this Saturday, May 31st, is going to be our bike rodeo at the Little League complex at 10:00 a.m. Uh kids and parents are encouraged to go there and learn bike safety, uh safe riding, and there will be a small bike obstacle
course to test what what they've learned. So it's a very nice event for all the kids, all ages. So that way they can go ahead and learn how to adjust the helmet. um learn how to actually do some minor checks on your bikes like your your airs, your air in your tire, your
chains and whatnot. So, it's really nice event. It's free. Uh and hopefully we we have good weather during that day. I I would like to also say that I I I I really agree with sitting down and discussing things in a proper manner.
Social media can be cruel. Um there there is fingerpointing everywhere and I just hope that all parties involved follow the same suit without fingerpointing or any comments. So this way we can have a nice peaceful
resolution of what we go through. So but it has to take two in order for us to get this resolved. It can't just be one way. So I just hope that you know even in social media that we just calm down and then we just move along and try to
get through these issues. Thank you. Okay. Agenda s session for June 5th, 2025. Proclamation Piscataway High School students against destructive decisions. Ordinance second reading authorizing deed of restrictions for e ecological park open to the public.
Resolution adopting ordinance. Ordinance second reading amending chapter 7 traffic section 14 parking prohibited at all times. Fitz Randled road entire length open to the public. Resolution adopting
ordinance. Resolution calling for the restoration of energy taxes to m municipalities. Resolution authorizing renewal of membership central Jersey joint insurance fund. Do we have any comments or questions from the uh from the items over in
[Music] June? No. Okay. Thank you. We're opening to the P opening for the remote attendees. If you wish to speak at this time, please raise your hand either on the Zoom app or if by phone by pressing star 9. When
it's your turn to speak, you will receive or hear a request to unmute yourself. Please click the prompt or press star six on your phone to unmute yourself. At that time, please state your name and address and know that you have three minutes in which to make your comments. The council or administration
will respond if necessary after you have completed any comments or questions. Miss Cedar, do we have anybody in Q? Council President, I'm asking the first individual with their hand raised to unmute themselves. Go ahead. Good evening. This is Jessica Kraville, 1247 Brookside Road. Can you
hear me? Yes. Good evening. I wanted to first of all thank council member Liuititz for um making that motion at the end. I think it's really important that we collaborate um the township council and
the administration and our school board. I think it's uh it's very important and I really appreciate that. And then I wanted to get back to I have was having a technical difficulty and was unable to make a comment or question on the
Charlie Day Park uh $70,000 for the engineering services to discover how to fix the uh DPW getting carried away. And I just if I could get some more details because it it's not I'm not able to
understand how the DPW could get carried away, take down what I imagine was two dozen large trees or more and dump in an area 14,000 square ft, what I imagine was at least three or
four truckloads of large gravel at the taxpayers's expense and now at the expense of having to figure out how to remediate this on the wetlands because of the the requirements of the state department of environmental protection.
If I could just get some more details about how the the initial work was authorized and what steps uh like a a post-mortem on how it was missed that this wasn't acceptable. Um I would really appreciate that.
Council, I just ask you to not make any comments. this individual is in add active litigation with the township. Um so I just want to refrain from comments but I I can answer that. Uh this contract is is to make to go through the permitting process with the D. Um I'm
not aware of the the D noticed doesn't talk about any trees cut down and so I'm not aware of that allegation at all. Um it's it's just in regard to the to gravel being put in certain areas, not the entire area. a smaller portion of
the area. Um, which we're, you know, we're working on making sure we get a permit and a waiver for that section. Okay. It's just I I read the complaint and it says 14,000 square feet of gravel.
The DP requires a wetland delineation and that's why we are we had to procure the service of a professional. Isn't wouldn't that typically be done before the work in case it was not permitted?
It's part of the permitting process and yes the township the township is currently going through that permitting process. Now a lot of the work can be done by will but permit by rule. However, at this point we're going through the permitting
process and what land delineation Okay, that was all. Have a good evening. Thank you, Miss. Do we have anybody else in queue? Council President, I'm unmuting the next
individual with their hand raised. Hello. Uh, my name is Charlie Kraville. I live in New Brunswick. I'm the editor of New Brunswick Today. Um, I wanted to start with a question. Um, can you tell me who is in charge of the Piscatoaway
Police Department? Yeah. Um, yeah. Then the person in charge is the director of public safety safety, Keith Stith. Okay. Uh um before you keep asking questions, we request that you make all your questions and then we'll answer them um after that.
All right. Well, I spoke to this council in December about a $750,000 settlement that was made to resolve a disturbing lawsuit against the former police chief. And unfortunately, it's not the only disturbing lawsuit regarding the former chief.
Um, I asked the question that night, um, you know, what's being done to correct the problems that led to these complaints? And I never really got an answer. Uh, that question was not addressed when I brought it up. And of
course, now everyone listening probably knows that we have uh, uh, Piscatoaway police officer arrested and facing uh, criminal charges. Um, so I'll just read a little bit from the county
prosecutor's press release. Quote, "On August, I'm sorry, on April 30th, 2025, an investigation commenced into allegations of a male following young females, including a child, around a store in South Planefield with a clearly visible erection. Some of the conduct
was captured on video surveillance. The investigation revealed that the male engaged in the same behavior in another store in the burrow and the male was identified as Wesley Kluinsky, 37, a Piscatoaway Township police officer who
resides in Hamilton. And the officer is now facing charges of thirdderee endangering the welfare of a child by engaging in sexual conduct, fourth degree criminal sexual conduct and harassment. Um, so you know, this comes
on uh uh you know, the heels of other uh controversies in the department. We've had PPD employees found guilty of crimes like assault, tampering with records, criminal computer activity, and uh I was just looking at some records today that
revealed that um somebody in the department separated from employment while an internal affairs investigation was pending against them, but that officer was not named. And uh you know, I reached out to the deputy chief uh to ask uh some simple questions, received no response, followed up, again, no
response. So, here I am and and perhaps maybe I should have addressed the question to the director of public safety, but uh uh it's a simple question. I hope someone can answer it tonight. Um I believe this officer that was uh recently arrested I'm sorry, your your time is about to be up. You have 5
seconds. Thanks. Is they are they suspended with pay or without pay? And what are you the council doing to clean up the Piscataway Police Department? Okay, thank you. So, I can answer that question. Um, one, um, we don't comment on current
investigations or issues in the police department. Um, that there has been an action taken. Um, I won't give more details to the public at this time. Um, but I will say that our new director of public safety has been in the in the office for about 3 months and is doing an excellent job and getting good
reviews from all the officers um, that are there. And um, you know, we're looking to to do some promotions within the police department and very shortly. And uh you know that police department overall is a great department except for a few bumps. So
thank you Miss Cedar. Um anybody else in the queue? Council President, there are no other individuals with their hand raised. Thank you. Closing for the remote attendees for opening for the inerson attendees. If you wish to speak at this time, please come to the podium, state your name and address and know
that you have three minutes in which to make your comments. You may take a seat after completion of your comments or questions and the council or administration would then respond if necessary. Good evening. Good evening, council. Can you hear me? We can. Good evening.
My name is David Akens, Ambrose Valley Lane. I have about 12 questions, short, but about 12. I can read them off to you initially now or give them to you after I finish each
question. Which would you prefer? Please ask them all. Item number seven, item number eight, 11 under the consent
agenda, number well item number C for Charlie, F for Fox Trot, G for golf, I for India, K for
kilo under item 19. Um that's the June 5th agenda and item 21. That's it. Now going back to item
number seven, is there a budget for handout to the residents? if I go to the office and ask for one of the budget. Yeah, the budget's been on the website for quite a bit of
time now. Um, so you can access it on the web. If you want a hard copy, you can definitely go to the clerk's office and they can provide you a copy. Okay, that's item seven. Item eight, the improvements. Uh, can I get a copy of that also?
That's item eight, a list of the improvements. So, I I went through them with uh with Bill Irwin before, but if you want, I can go through them with you again, or you could get a copy from the clerk's office. No, I prefer the copy. So, I'll
get that at the office, too. under the consent agenda under C for Charlie the uh for land the service work that's being done is TBA to be announced. Do you have any
idea what that amount is or will be? This is under the consent agenda item C for Charlie. I I I think it's uh doing business as. Yes. Yes. Doing business as. Right. Okay. But what's the
amount approximately of that cost? $43,775. And that's for planting trees. Okay. Under item F. I'm sorry, Mr. You can if you can just just say all your questions. Ask all your questions and that way you know we can answer them
post your time. Well, I I did I did I did that. Yeah, he he just he just gave out letters. So, I'm not sure what he's looking for in each. So, well the G which is the milling milling and paving.
I gave the letters right. So, what is your question on item G? on item G or F. Can you can you elaborate a little bit for item G? Tim, did you want to just talk about
those four items on the cons? Is there a list? Is there a list for milling? Can I pick that up at the uh office of the streets that's being mil? So, this is to enter into a contract
with the county of Middle Sex to do milling and paving. Yes. As a co-op? Yes. I'm not sure all the streets have been identified yet, but uh Okay. So, that's pending. It's pending. Correct. On item I, let's elaborate a little bit.
That's on the U affordable housing. Um, you asked about G. G is for a new system for checking out the books. It's using a radio frequency identification selfch checkckin checkout equipment for $68,775. Yeah. I to hire affordable housing
consultant appropriation of our housing element and fair share plan. Okay. 20 $25,000. Going back to G, would you elaborate on that a little? It is a radio frequency
identification selfch checkout equipment. So you're going to you're going to put something in the book and you're going to go up to the checkout and check it out yourself at the library. Oh, you're So it's a new new checkout system for the library. the current system has reached the end of
its life. So that's referring to the library. M Mr. Akens, I apologize. The time is up, but you can you can come uh after the meeting and we can address some of your questions as well. Well, I mentioned the list before I
started how many items there were and we're just going through the items that you said was okay. So, I don't know why I have to split them up. I told you in advance the approximately items I'm going to discuss.
All right. Do we want to just run through them, Tim? I'm up. What was the question on K? What is the question on that? So K is we're appointing an a new director of finance, chief financial officer starting July 1st. Yeah. Is uh
is Dan out of that position or we talking about something? He's he's retiring so he's actually going to enjoy life and so Okay. Um you know we had to find a replacement unfortunately. Okay.
Uh item 21. Oh item 21. I had asked some time ago about what the township is doing as far as having a place to meet for the planning and
zoning board and the mayor made a comment. You're looking into it. So, what's the update on that? Incidentally, that was November the 24th, 2024. So if you look down the road
down here, the community services building, we were a contract several months ago to renovate that. So that's currently under renovation. So when that's done, we'll have a meeting room for planning board and zoning board. Do you have any idea as far as I
understand what you're saying as far as duration? How long more is it going to take? Uh hopefully within about a year or so. They're working as fast. They're really moving down there because the building's built. You just have to outfit the inside of it. What's the address? Actually, it's right by It's
right next to the Little League field. Oh, that building. It sat vacant for many, many years. So, so they're working in there every day. So, uh eventually we'll be moving some departments into there to give us more space because the DPW building, the people are literally
sitting on top of each other. So, okay, that's moving at a good pace. All right, I'll check back with you. uh periodically. Thank you, Mr. Akinson. I do apologize. Thank you.
Please state your name and address, please. Uh good evening. Letta Rivers, 249 Penelli Drive, Piscatoaway. Good evening, council. Uh I'm just um talking just like a statement um about
the officer and the incident and I stand before you today deeply disturbed and heartbroken by the news that a police officer has been arrested for allegations of sexual misconduct. This is not just a legal issue. It is a moral failure. An officer
who took an oath to protect and serve has instead betrayed the very trust that the community places in the police force. Sexual misconduct is in any form is inexcusable and we must make it clear
this behavior will not be tolerated. What makes this situation even more concerning is the complete lack of response from our leadership. As of now, we have not heard from the chief of police nor the mayor. In a time like
this, silence is not an option. Our community need is hurting and we need to hear from those who responsible from overseeing the actions of the positions of power. We need to know what steps are being taken to address this issue,
prevent future misconduct, and ensure the safety and trust of the public. The absence of the public statement from the chief of police and the mayor leaves a void that only deepens the sense of fear and uncertainty in our community. Our town deserves
transparency, accountability, and decisive action. The victims of the misconduct and all of us deserve to know what's being done, not only to hold this officer accountable, but also to restore the trust that has been shattered. Thank
you. Thank you. So, M. Rivers, the town the township abolished the position of police chief about a year and a half or two years ago. We currently have a director, Keith Stealth. The director and the mayor put
out a statement shortly after the person was arrested. It's an ongoing investigation. The person was suspended and is being prosecuted by the Middle Sex County Prosecutor's Office. And we can't go into detail about the investigation. The prosecutor has it.
Where's the Where was that at? Where is the um It was in It was in the newspaper. Not I think I I think it was Yeah, it was we actually was covered in the uh home news tribune print edition online.
It was in NJ.com. So we in the Skyway town. I mean this only occurred literally I think Thursday night. So, you know, it's you managed to get stuff out pretty quick, you know, and the officer was the officer was suspended that night. Um,
this did not happen in Piscataway, so it isn't our authority. We weren't the charging entity. So, at this point, as an employee, he was suspended. We can't go into details on the investigation, etc., because that's not that's not us. That's the Middle S County Prosecutor's
Office and and the municipality that that um is the charging entity. So, um, you know, the the to the media, the mayor and the director of public safety have made comments. Whether it's been posted on the township website, you
know, I don't know, but it it has been out there. So, that's what my question is. And the and the township makes sure that they take action immediately to to the point that they can, but the township talks about everything else on our township page. Yeah. Why wouldn't they talk about our police officer on
our township? Yeah. Listen, listen. This is when these things happen, there's also our obligation to to not affect the prosecutor's office investigation and charging. So, we have to be very careful about what we say to the public while
they're going through their investigation. They we don't want to upset our counterparts at the county. And so, we're very careful about what we say. We make sure we take immediate action, which we did. Um a and from there we will probably provide more, you
know, more information as it goes on. But listen, we're only two or three business days into this. Yes, I understand. But I don't like my news through the chatter scataway chatter. Like that's just like you know tabloid Facebook talk. But if you put it through
the official channels just to say that we're handling the matter, then I say okay, they're handling the matter. is coming through their official chatters uh channels, but when you see it through Facebook and everybody responding, you you just don't know what is true and
what is not true. So that's why I'm asking why wasn't it posted on our official channel here in Piscataway. That's all I'm asking. All right. Thank you, Mr. Rivers. Next, before you come to the podium, um I just
want to thank Miss Rivers for coming forward and I really just want to thank everybody here in attendance tonight. It's so important to have engaged residents in this democracy. I appreciate that. Um I do feel you know in alignment with earlier discussions about open discussions whether it's in
working meetings or in small subgroups of this council that a discussion of community policing and engagement is also um something we can really look into. over the past several years, cases that have been settled already um have
had a lot of public um I don't know, they've been out in the public and they've been quite disturbing. So, I think to continue the growth and development of our wonderful town with our new um police director of safety,
who I saw interviewed on TV, but we haven't met him yet. Um I also think this is another opportunity for us to have meaningful discussion You're welcome to call him at any time and schedule a meeting with him. Him, like all of the other township employees
are very happy to meet with council people. Great. Thank you. Stacy Burgerer, 233 Ellis Parkway here in Piscataway. Um I think that that would be a great idea, Council Member Liowitz, for there to be small groups of the council to have regular meetings.
The school board does that. Lots of other community um councils do that. I spent eight hours at the summit council meeting two weeks ago and they had all kinds of committee reports and everybody on the council chaired a committee and they each gave a report and they
actually I'd meant to bring it for you but um they give like an explanation on the back of the agenda about what each item on the agenda does or doesn't do like what the difference between an ordinance and a resolution is so that people who are coming to a council meeting might be educated about what the process is if it's their first or 31st
time maybe they'll learn something new. Um, so there's a lot of best practices out there, including providing a way for residents to engage with the council and their elected officials. And that was something I asked about, I want to say four or five years ago. And I asked for the list of committees um that each of
the council members are assigned to and when they meet and what the agendas are. And I think I filed an Oprah request. I probably did. Sorry, Melissa. But there were, you know, there were there was nothing nothing came back. There were no agendas. There were no minute meetings.
There was nothing noticed. So, it's not clear, I think, at least to the people in the audience, where the decisions in this council that are being recommended to the council are made. For example, who decides what goes up on your social media. as somebody who read um the
mayor's letter on Good Friday when the council and the the township was closed and the school board was closed and he made all kinds of demands which followed up uh on his claim that he made in another meeting with myself present um Miss Cahill present Mr. Espinosa and Mr.
to earn that he was going to use every tool at his disposal to make sure that the school board owned that tax increase that it did not come back on the council or specifically on the mayor himself. It is of concern that the township is using public taxpayer dollars for a particular
political agenda. That is not okay. And so if there's not if there is not clear guidelines about who decides and how those decisions get made about what is posted on social media and what is not because it sounds like the statement that was made about the police situation
was not posted on social media but was shared with reporters in print media which is really great for 1995 but we are in 2025 and people get their media in a lot of different ways. So, it would be super if you could post either
everything or nothing or at least have some standards for how you operate that channel of information. I I would like to know um if somebody could tell me what portion of the school of the um pilot deals that the township has negotiated goes to our schools. Somebody
in this room should know that answer. I believe Mr. Dy would know it, but I might be wrong. Yeah, the land tax. So, so other than the land tax, zero goes uh five per state law, 5% goes to the county. The rest is used by the municipality for municipal purposes in
support of the schools in in support of the Thank you, Miss Burger. I'm sorry. You let other people go longer, so now you need to let me go. It's three three minutes. Yeah. Well, you didn't enforce three minutes for other people. So, why are you going to enforce three minutes on everyone? I
tried to enforce three minutes on everyone. just had there was literally just conversation that like 1, two, three, four, like 15 people witnessed where you were like, "Yeah, we're going to keep going." So, I'm just trying to get an answer to my question. Three minutes. So, I can't get an answer to my question, but you're going to let other people That's a Do you Do you have one
question? I I would like to continue my conversation with Mr. Dy publicly about whether or not the land value I'm sorry. So, what is your your question? I'm trying to understand how the township structures the the pilot deals. Miss Per, he answered the question. So, Okay. Okay. Well, maybe
for you, Raj, but not for me. And your and your three three minutes are up. Okay. So, thank you. Hello, Bill Win 233 Ellis Parkway, Biscadway, New Jersey. Um, generally speaking, the land portion of the
assessment is negotiated in the pilot agreement such that it's lower than what the market value would be. So the schools get shorted on that land value assessment. Additionally, the pilot monies are separate from the land value assessment. The land value would be there anyway with regular property
taxes, although it would be higher. The pilot payments themselves, those monies go, we said 95% to the municipal budget. That was about $5.1 million last year. Regular property taxes are shared with these schools, usually in the proportion
of roughly 51%. So, you're talking about $2.6 million that did not go to the schools. But that's not what I came up here to say. Um, I was a little busy in April, so I might have missed something. Uh, can somebody tell me when the meeting was where the budget was
presented to the public, like a detailed presentation with, you know, sources of revenues, appropriations, opportunity for public comment, that sort of thing. I don't want to miss it again next year. Yeah, there was a budget hearing last month um that was on on the council
agenda and it was open to the public to where they can make comments. The budget um was actually posted on the website prior to that when it was introduced. So, it's been on the I see it on the it's been on the it's been on the website for it's been on production. So, u there's plenty of
opportunity the township to review and make comments or questions to the administration um at any time. So, so that was so the budget that hearing is typically a month before this hearing just so I know for the future. Is that where the budget
hearing? Yeah. Um it it depends. This this year it it was it was last month at a separate meeting. Gotcha. Um it was at a council meeting. Okay. Okay. And then real quick, uh, it is it was on a council meeting of
April 15th. The state was overwhelmed with getting budgets processed and they asked us not to adopt it that night until they approved it and has subsequently has been approved. So, we approved it tonight. There was a public hearing on
April 15th on the budget. Good to know. Uh, so real quick, Laura, it was it's a little disturbing that you couldn't get a simple answer to your question about what proportion revenues were shared in. I mean, you're a city council person. Like, I understand what I got to jump
through over hoops, but you're on the council. You have to speak a little louder, please. Sorry, mic's a little low. Uh, I did notice on the 2024 debt statement there was approximately $165 million uh on the county municipal line item of net debt and there was a $10
million line item in the 2024 budget for debt service. Um, not complaining about it, just pointing it out. I recognize that we need to do debt to do necessary capital improvements, but I also noted that the school board debt on that same document was zero.
Lastly, I agree with the council president that uh productive discussions are a two-way street and I believe in the sincerity of the council members that want to have those productive discussions.
Um but there has been a voice uh that occasionally sits at that deis that has been rather provocative recently in social media. Uh so if we want to sit down, you know, have cooler heads prevail and have a productive discussion, we can do that. Uh but if
others want to do that on social media, we can do that, too. Thank you. And I apologize. What when you say we, who's we? Everybody. Public. Okay.
Thank you. Good evening. Name and address, please. Nancy Salgado Cowan. I live at 124 Stanton Avenue in Piscataway. Um, I just uh had a question, I guess, um, also pursuant to
the budget. Um I don't know how that process works here um in the municipal council since I've just recently um been thrusted into the interest of this committee um of the council. So
um what is the process look like for a regular resident to understand what are the mechanisms like since there's no presentation that I was aware of or that the public was aware of. Um there was the hearing. I I do get that. Um but is
there any time within your process here at the council um the town municipality that there is a presentation to the public of where monies come from, where they don't, how it's going to be um lined up a or a prospective budget. I
know that it's on the website. That's beautiful. But um was there ever any explanation to the public, any kind of you know um time that we could have the dialogue about that budget process or if you could explain to me how that budget
process works. I as a resident only am aware of how the school board does it um because I've been involved in that process both as a resident and as a current schoolboard member um where you know that process is pretty transparent. We, you know, give a presentation, we
discuss it, we give time for, you know, folks to come out. And so wonderfully this year, our mayor encouraged so many people to come to our budget hearing and it was fabulous to have so much involvement. So I want to know when or how that process works here,
please. Thank you. Thank you. So we begin the process every summer, usually around August, and we distribute the budget sheets to all the directors. The directors get to have their input to put into what they anticipate coming up
for operational needs and capital needs. Uh I work on it with uh the finance director and with our CFO and we go through it and we take a look at it and mold it. we start waiting to see where the numbers are on property taxes, on
state aid, things like that. We'll put it together and um before the end of the year, usually we have a preliminary budget which is introduced uh generally pretty early. Once the state allows it, which is generally after the governors, we're not allowed to introduce prior to
the governor's budget message, but we generally introduce it after that. Once it's introduced, it's posted online and the public can call. If you have any questions, you'll be glad to meet with me, meet with the CFO, meet with our budget director if they have anybody's any questions on it. And then we
normally sit down with the council uh couple people at a time to make sure they understand where we're going with it. If they have any questions, if they have any questions or concerns for their constituents, we'll answer them then. And then we have a budget hearing which is open to the public. And and then once
the budget's hearing done, we adopt the budget and the adopted budget gets post online. And that's how our budget's done. Oh, thank you. And um just a followup, you said it's discussed with the um council members three at a time or in small groups. Um and is that
portion where um constituents would then just have to um advise our particular council member um about any concern? I'm sorry. Is that your last question? We have three minutes are up. I apologize. Yeah, that's probably my last question for sure. Yeah, sure. If you had any questions, you should reach out to your
council person or council person at large. You can call my office. You can call the mayor's office. You can talk to Dana. However, however we take input, we we'll be glad to take public input and you can say, "I got a concern about this. I have a concern about that." And we'll try to work it in. Okay. Thank you
so much. Gusta 50 meals 58 Curtis. He is all veteran three steps from the Medal of Honor. Served 28 months in Vietnam.
13 a grunt in the bush. Marine aircraft wing gunner. Military police. Freedom Hill. And then you hear two years later
all those beautiful people were slaughtered. Post-traumatic syndrome sets in. I came to Piscataway made a complaint with property maintenance concerning ordinance
violations by neighbors and the township. nothing. I suffered a great deal. All of a sudden, here comes a summon in the mail. I was prosecuted and fined
$300. I am a criminal. I br my complaint to this council. Nothing. As far as this council is concerned, I am crazy and
dangerous. Crazy and dangerous. I stand I'm facing six months to a year in jail for cutting off the mayor's name of the reelecting sign. Oh, wow. My complaint is non-existent.
Thank you. Oh god. Good evening, Curtis. Good evening, Curtis Grub. 1750 West Third. Uh, first of all, Councilman Lewis, thank you. We can't really hear you. Thank you for the
comments today. Thank you. Um I want to address the um I guess the issue of the street getting done finally. Hazelwood. Um I want to re um the caller with this call about the de problem that
she's running in whatever we are going to run into that same problem with across the street from the park. So, I think we need to get ahead of this one. Also, before you even start this, that park needs to be redone. Maybe I need to call Jim or Guy
at the public works department. The court is done. The whole park needs to be elevated. We discussed this. I discussed it with Frank. I even discussed it with our mayor. This park needs to be elevated. The park sits in a gully. Like the mayor used to tell me,
it used to be a dump. It's not a dump no more. So need to take in consideration that this park needs to be elevated and that needs to be done before this road gets done. Thank you. Thank
you. I see no one else to the uh on at the podium closing to the inerson attendees. Motion to adjurnn. Motion have a second.
Is that second? Thank you. All in favor? I Any oppose? Meeting adjourned. Thank you. Thank you. Have a good night.