We're now to begin the uh the township of scatteraway council meeting of August 12, 2025. Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided as required under chapter 231 PL1975 specifying the time, date, location, login or dialing information and to the
extent known. the agenda by posting a copy of the notice on the municipal building, municipal court, and the 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 the certification by the clerk, which will be entered in the minutes. There will be a public there will be public comment periods for both remote and in-person attendees separately. Each member of of the public shall only have one opportunity to speak during each
public portion. 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 that way 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. Miss Tita Ro, Council Member Cahill here, Council
Member Carmichael, Council Member Liowitz here, Council Member Lombardi here, Council Member Rasheed here, Council Member Erin here, Council President Espinosa here. Please join me in saluting the
flag. Mayor, do do we want to start the P commission up? uh the council president the proclamation which is going to go to all six fire companies and we'll have each individual fire company come up and
receive the proclamation. Uh whereas our community was recently impacted by severe storms that pose significant challenges to safety, infrastructure and well-being of our residents. Whereas in the face of these difficult conditions, dedicated volunteer members of our local
fire company selflessly responded swiftly, courageously, and unwavering commitment to protecting lives, homes, and public resources. And whereas these individuals work tirelessly around the clock, clearing debris, responding to emergencies, and supporting recovery
efforts, often at the great personal risk. And whereas beyond times of crisis, our volunt volunteer company volunteers continue to serve throughout the year with steadfast dedication, always ready to respond in times of need, safeguard our neighborhoods, and
support our community's health and safety. And therefore I be resolved that I Brian Waller the mayor of Piscatoway Township in the county of Middle Sex in the state of New Jersey Dubai here extend my deepest gratitude and heartfelt appreciation to all the members of the fire companies of New Market River Road Homes Marshall Posum
Town Arbor Hose and North Stelton and many volunteers who've gone above and beyond and service our community during the recent storms and at all times and then thank you for your invaluable service right There
you are. That's why we're asking more. people going around and then someone. If the the volunteers want to go, you can go. It's all right. We're not going
to keep you captive, but you're more than welcome to stay here if you want tonight. Thank you. I heard it's house duty. You were getting out of house duty tonight. And if I we do have one more proclamation
um chararma a long time has demonstrated dedicated to supporting individuals of autism spectrum conditions making a a profound impact on families through advocacy. awareness and empowerment. And
whereas the founder and director of Activa Autism Foundation, Anita has worked to promote early intervention, build autism awareness, and provide critical support to children with autism and families. And whereas driven by her
personal journey as a single mother with two children with autism, Anita has transformed adversity into action, serving as a mentor, motivational speaker, consultant, and community leader. And whereas her community involvement has been extensive, organizing annual talent shows,
advocating for services in schools, and representing voices of special needs families in the media. And whereas her work extends far beyond Piscataway, having fostered worldwide network of families through awareness campaigns, including a major autism awareness walk
in India. And whereas her philosophy that autism is just one part of of a child, not entirely who they are, has brought comfort and and clarity to countless families navigating the autism journey. And whereas as she prepares to relocate to India to continue her
mission by creating a more inclusive world, we recognize an indelible mark she has left on our community and the lives she has touched. Now therefore be it resolved that I, Brian Waller, mayor of Township of Mscato and the county of Mil Sex in the state of New Jersey along
with the township governing body to by extend our appreciation to Anita Chararma for her service, dedication, impact on Piscatoy community. May the next chapter bring exciting opportunities and new adventures and a lot of frequent fireball.
Okay, continuing on. Thank you so much again. Item number five. Are there any comments from the administration and council regarding adjournment of any matters on this agenda? Very good. Okay. Thank you. Item number eight, open to the public.
comments regarding item number 10, consent agenda items. If you wish to speak at this 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 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 your comments. The council or administrations will respond if necessary after you have completed
any comments or questions. Cedar, do we have anybody in queue? Council president, I'm asking the first individual with their hand raised to unmute themselves. As we're unmuting, just a reminder that this is for the consent agenda. Hi, good evening.
My name is AJ my address is 6 B 6 West Burgess Drive, Piscatoaway, New Jersey. And um the reason uh I have joined this is uh I am the the board member at the Birch View Associations
and uh during that storm that uh that happened a few weeks back I apologize to interrupt you but um this is for the consent agenda. You'll be able to make your comments towards the end of the meeting but for now this is just for the consent agenda items. Do you have any questions on the consent
agenda item items number uh item number 10? Oh, sorry. I apologize. I thought it was open. Okay. I I'll let you know as soon as uh we open it up uh for everyone at the end. Thank you.
Hang in there, council president. There are no other individuals with their hand raised regarding this agenda item. Thank you, Miss Tedar. Opening up to the u closing to the 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. Good evening, sir. Good evening, council.
David Akens and Post Valley Lane. I have uh a couple of questions. First of all, as far as the agenda, item H for hotel, would you elaborate a little on that?
What? That's a change order for you can hear me right. Okay. So that's a change order to add a generator the electrical structure uh to be designed by the engineering firm uh for the generator for the community development building.
Okay. I have another question. I'm a little confused. Taking back when these uh cards were given out for the property taxes. I'm sorry, sir.
Oh, okay. Yeah. Yes. Yep. We can leave that towards the end. That's okay. I'll hold it. That's it for for the uh for right. I'll hold the rest. Thank you. I see no other in the inerson attendees.
Closing for the inerson attendees. Ordinance first reading item number nine amending chapter 4 section 12 rotating vehicle towing record services for township police resolution adopting or adopting ordinance. Miss Cedar, be it resolved by the Township Council
of Piscataway Township, New Jersey, that an ordinance entitled Ordinance to amend the Revised General Ordinances of the Township of Piscataway, County of Middle Sex, State of New Jersey, amending chapter 4, Licensing and Business Regulations, Section 12, Rotating Vehicle Towing, Record Services for
Township Police, B, and 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 p.m. prevailing time at the Piscatoaway Municipal Building, 455 Hose Lane, Piscatoway, New Jersey, on the 9th day of September, 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. Do I have a motion? Offer. Councilwoman Cahill. Second, Liboitz. Thank you. Roll call, please. Council member Cahill, yes. Council member Liboitz, yes. Council member Lombardi,
yes. Council member Rasheed, yes. Council member Erin, yes. Council President Espinosa, yes. Item number 10, 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, please? Motion to accept the consent agenda. Councilwoman Lombardi. Thank you. Second sheep.
Thank you. Roll call, please. Council member Cahill. Yes. Council member Liowitz, yes. Council member Lombardi, yes. Council member Rashid, yes. Council member Erin, yes. Council President Espinosa,
yes. Item number 11, announcement and comments from our officials. Council member Gabrielle Cahill. Yes. Thank you, Council President. Um, I would just uh like to remind folks that um for the balance of this year that the
um the uh concerts in the park have been moved to Riverside Park which is right there on River Road um due to some delay and parts uh that we need to keep uh the Columbus Park um safe for everyone. And
I know people can walk around there, but they're bench. I asked the mayor about this because we got the questions at the concert. And just want to make sure everyone's aware of that. If you haven't seen notice that, um, we did advise those who are in attendance, um, that the balance of those would be at held at
Riverside Park. Um, and with that, um, I'm just hoping that everyone enjoys the balance of the summer, what is left. It always feels so melancholy for me um at this point, but uh let's enjoy the rest of the time that we have um and still
continue to be safe on the roads while our children are out of school. And thank you. Thank you, Council Member Cahill. Council uh Council Member Laura Lee Woods. Good evening, everyone. Um I know both of our um proclamation recipients or all
of them have left uh the chamber. I do think that it really is a tribute um both to individuals and to our community responders that we have people that not only live in our town but really give of
themselves to this town for the success and achievement of not just themselves but the town at large and the broader community. And so I definitely want to congratulate both Anita Chararma and all of our fire and rescue squads for all of
their contributions to our town. Thank you, Council Member Liberowitz. Member Michelle Lombardi. Well, I would have said something similar, but I'll switch it up so that we're not all saying the same thing. I want to say thank you to our new police director, Keith, for hosting his first
uh roll call uh front porch roll call over at one of the houses in Piscatoaway. Um he is getting the department out there and getting them involved with the community and uh I think that's a great idea for our police
department to become a bit more involved with various locations all over the town with the community. So I thank him for that. And uh the next lemonade with Lombardi will be next week at the over at our spray park next Tuesday with the
kids. So I look forward to doing that with the kids. Yes. Well, mostly kids. Are you going to the spray park? Okay. All all are welcome. Thank you. Council member uh Lombardi.
Council member Sarah Rasheed. Um I wanted to congratulate Anita and the first responders. Um it is really wonderful when um the township recognizes all the efforts from our um town people. So um enjoy the summer. We
have a little bit left. Um but it's let's try to enjoy it. Thank you council members. Council member Frank. Yes. I just want to congratulate the first responders for the great job they've done. And also Saturday night at
the ballpark, it was a fabulous night. The weather was beautiful and the Patriots won. Thank you, Council Member Ern. Mayor item. I want to thank the council forwarding the contract tonight for the start of the U Green Acres Comfort
Station. Uh this is going to uh this contract will instart the utility install coming from public works out to the back where Ile E is. Uh so at least the the infrastructure will be there so if and when we get a building out there
we can just put it in place and tie it up. What we are going to do is we're making the building big enough to house so if we have to do irrigate the uh fields uh with wellwater. So we're we're thinking ahead on that one. Thank you, Mayor.
Bus business administrator Paula Caserelli. Thank you, Council President. I just would like to say in keeping with uh the community and the roll call uh National Night Out, my first one with Biscato Township. Fantastic. Uh I cannot believe
the amount of uh residents that were there. the amount of um attractions that were there uh from a diabetes bus to performing uh to all kinds of food to learning about the police department, their
operations. There was a blood hound there from the prosecutor's office um who located a child as a matter of fact most recently. Uh so it was just a fantastic night and the whole purpose of it really is to continue relationships with our police department. It's so
important for the residents to feel comfortable with our police department. Uh they provide a lot of inside information. So it's nice. So if you see an officer, uh the whole purpose of it is just to say hello, introduce yourself, let conversation flow. Uh that
also happens at Coffee with a Cop. I happened to go to Food Bazaar because I had a coupon from National Night Out and I walked in and uh there was coffee with a cop. So, another opportunity for the community to again meet our police
department. I just want to uh also say right now in terms of operations, we're doing our insurance renewal right now. All departments has provided me with all of their information. What it is is we update and make sure all of our assets are covered. uh those that we've
auctioned off we're no longer covering and uh just reviewing processes and procedures and we'll soon be getting into the budget. So that's what I have to say and thank you everybody. Thank you Miss Casarelli.
Township attorney uh Raj no comments. Thank you. Thank you sir. And I would like to echo our council members congratulations and also you know just feels proud to be to live in Piscatawway. You know just this these few events and and plus
proclamations to our community is just it's just a feelood you know moments you know and and you know I haven't spent a lot of time with our officers um in national night out in in in the in the past you know probably couple years but for you know it was a beautiful day.
Everybody was there. Um it didn't rain. it wasn't too hot. Uh, and everybody I I felt like everybody was happy. So, it was that type of vibe and that's what we continue on. So, thank you so much for the officers for for hosting that. Um,
also I just want to remind everyone that registration is open um is open for the Piscataway bike tour. Uh, so if you haven't already uh please register on on our website. Uh it is happening September 27th. Uh, and we're going to
start um we have a a few a few um committees going as well. Uh, we have some marshals, bike marshals. Uh, we're going to run this as well as we did last year with our volunteers making that our priority is the safety of our riders
during the bike tour. So, please register. Uh, it seems like we're getting a little bit more popular. So, please uh, you know, and don't forget to put your t-shirt sites. is very important so you can get your t-shirt. Um other than that, um that's all.
All right. Item number 12, agenda sessions for September 9th, 2025. Ordinance second reading, amending various chapters of the revised general ordinances of the township of Piscatoaway. Open to open to public open to the public resolution adopting
ordinance. Uh any questions on this item? Thank you. Ordinance second reading amending chapter 4 section 12 rotating vehicle towing record services for township police open to the public. Resolution adopting ordinance. Any
questions or concerns with this item? Thank you. We're now going to be opening this to the public. Okay. 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
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 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 anyone on in Q? Yes, Council President. I'm asking the first individual with their hand raised to unmute themselves.
Thank you. Please unmute yourself. AJ, can you please unmute yourself in Zoom so we can hear you? Hi, sorry that this is still not open comment, right? This is the open comment portion, so you
can go ahead. Okay, just a reminder, you have three minutes. Thank you. Thanks. Uh AJ from uh Six Burges Driveway. U my um so I'm the uh board member over
at the first view associations and as you saw about three weeks ago we had a crazy rain and this happened in the past as well. every time it it rains it floods the canal that's on mountain and crossing of the Burges Drive
and I wanted to bring that issue over to the township to see if we can do anything because that canal that runs back it gets backlodged completely and all that water just flows out onto mountain app and also to all the residents that are on Burgess Drive
east. It flows into their basement and across the board. I have uh pictures and everything else. I don't know if you want to see it. Um if you like to see it, I can drop it off to you guys or if you give me a chance to share through here zoom, I can show you the pictures
um of what happened uh that day. And if we can uh get the councilman and the mayors, everybody else to kind of take action. And also this happens every time um cars try to pass by and they think they can make it across but they
can't make across and they get stuck onto the roads and then the entire mountain out just becomes a traffic jam and it was jammed up for almost uh uh I would say up to two to three hours and throughout the night the fire departments right down the street they
couldn't go in and out of there as well. Um, and I think we uh some people were panicking. They were calling the police department, but they couldn't even get across as well to come on to the mountain. Thank you, Council President. Um, in the
short answer is uh there was from what I understand from public works department there was no obstructions in any of the culverts from North Rand down to Mountain Avenue and all the way back by the Conrail line. It's just that we're getting a lot of rain. Um that stream
that runs uh it's not a canal, it's a stream that runs behind uh the HOA there on Burgess Drive is privately held between the HOA and also the homeowners that single family homestead back up to
Brewster and Middle Sex in that area. Um the town doesn't own any of that property back there. We don't have any easements or anything back there whatsoever. um all the way from uh North Randfell Road all the way out to uh the
Conrail tracks. We have no easements, so it's all privately held property back there. Um I did speak with some of the uh members of the HOA going back a couple years ago and I suggest them that they might want to hire an engineering
firm to uh file an application with D about doing some flood proofing right there on their site. Um, I do know that the stream has some erosion to it. Uh, but there's nothing that we as a town are are legally able to do for them
because we don't own the property. It's private property. Um, some someone like AJ, our residents around there, what what what can they do? What what would you recommend they Well, I as I recommend that they need to have hire an engineering firm to take a
look at what they can do to shore up their property right there. So, the residents can they're going to probably have to file an application to the D. So, the residents would go to the HOA. Yeah. The residents Yeah. It would be the HOA owns the property there. And and that's not just the HOA. It's the the
the folks that live on the other side of the stream too, the individual property owners right there. they would have to do do something about that. Um I mean we've had a lot of water. I mean you had a five inch rain event in two hours. I you know I don't care. No no no storm
capacity. And people have to remember that that water flows from uh the apartments and goes down to uh the Conrail tracks and then out possum town road and then out to Ambrose Dodie Brook and then ultimately ends up through
Middle Sex to Araron. So once those uh waters get backed up, they're going to back up further. So there's nothing to do about it. But periodically, the Department of Public Works does go out there and make sure there's no fallen trees or anything obstructing,
you know, the stream bed, but you know, so to speak, substantial by where the conrail tracks are. Uh so uh if he wants to uh have a meeting with us, we more than happy to have a meeting with them and we can bring our in-house engineers. be more than happy to meet with them.
Thank you, Mayor. Council President, there are no other individuals with their hand raised regarding this agenda item. Thank you, Miss Cedar. Closing to 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 may take a seat after completion of your comments or questions, and the council or administration would then respond if necessary. Good evening. Costas 58 Curtis Avenue.
Negligence is the word. That's why a lot of residents suffering. A little 20 minutes storm caused all that damage. Houses cut in half. property maintenance is not doing it
job. They they they drive around town with their eyes closed just like our police officers, blind spot intersections and so on. I wanted to raise up a question about
this general ordinance of the township of a scattery amendment. I meanted this. Every police officer has to drive around the township, take a look at all the power lines, take all
the walkways, take a look at all the curbs, take a look at all the trees in all They pose a threat to public safety. Negligence is the word.
Thank you. Anyone else? Good evening. Takes you a little longer to get up to me. Good evening. Curtis school 1750 West Third. Um, just want to echo what the mayor you guys are saying about the
night out. Um, sorry I missed it. Um, some of my neighbors went, um, a couple of my friends went. guy and um Jim from public works. I was supposed to meet them there and I didn't. So I owe them big time. So but they told me it was
above and beyond and appreciate what you guys do for put away. Um the mayor I have a question. I don't know how it works. Um my wife would you know my wife's deceased. She used to take care
of our sewer taxes. How do you charge sewer tax if it's not a family of four, 10, or one? How is that charged? I just for me now that I have to pay it, Curtis. It's a flat rate.
I don't know. That's what I'm asking. We have to do an analysis everywhere required by the state and we probably have the lowest sewer rate in all of central New Jersey. Uh but it's basically all you can flush for one
price. Doesn't matter where it's just one person or 10 people. I might have to rent my rooms out. Okay. Um Hey. Um, but Frank, I just wanted to tell you, um, thanks and tell Jim and
tell Guy for cleaning that piece of property up for us on the corner. Second, the city owned piece of property. You know which one I'm talking about, right, Frank? Hazel one. Yeah. Second. And
I'm I'mma buy you I'm gonna buy you a cup of coffee, Frank, so you can remember. Thanks for that. Thank you. Have a good night. Good evening. Good evening. David Akens
Valley Lane. This is just a question pertaining to the uh board of education. I know prior to the new tax bills coming out,
there was a tendency or unless I like to know what happened. It's not I haven't seen $400 more. Was that across the board? Was that certain areas? If it in fact
happened because I looked at the sewer portion, not sewer, the uh the uh not sewer, but there's there's uh the township, there's the county, there's the fire district, there's library, and
there's school district. Right. Well, I'm not talk the only thing I'm talking about the school board. When I got the brochure, like I'm sure everyone else did, I got sort of a mixed
uh information. If you didn't get that large increase, then you ought to you're you're you're in a distinct priority on that one in the town. Right. That's what I was going to say. I didn't see it. I don't have people been coming in to pay the taxes here. There's a lot of upset people coming in to pay their taxes. So there
was it was increased to 400 for some people. It was more than that, right? Well, that's what I didn't know. That's you just clarified it. Yeah, but I don't want to make it up
next time. So, uh, one other thing in closing, this is just a general statement. for two years when I pay the the taxes the receipt I've gotten the print out last for about a month
maybe two months and then you can't see it anymore now I spoke to the individuals uh where you pay the taxes they alleged that you have the machines to replace the one that's there and I'm
just trying clarify. Do you have the new machines there as they stated? David, are you saying that the ink's not heavy enough or something? Yes, absolutely. We'll take a look at him tomorrow.
And the reason why I mention it because according to them, you already have the machine and equipment there. Just I I know we're cutting back. We're trying to minimize the amount of ink we're using, David. So, just it's not it's not the ink. It's not the
ink, it's the m it's the machine. It's outdated. It's the It's diffused. It's diffusion of the print. So, it's not the ink is not sticking. It's not the heavy thickness of it. It's like using to most of the printers nowadays when they
they don't use the ink per se. They use put docks and it looks like it's a I don't know if you knew that or not, but I can bring you some old bills. Sorry, David. You al you do realize your
cancel check is also your receipt. Well, it's legible. It stays legible. Okay. You can also take a picture of your receipt and that will be there with you forever. Just like
you have the equipment already, so why not just connect? That's what I'm saying. You don't have to. It's in the budget because you have it already. So that's the only thing I'm saying because every time I go there and I get a receipt, I they said, "Yeah, I
know. Well, we're we're waiting on the administration to give them authority to connect it up." I just think I passed that along. Thank you. Okay. Have a good evening, David.
Anyone else? Okay. Motion to adjurnn. Second. Any opposed? Okay. Media journ. Thank you.
Thank you.