our elected and newly elected officials and the reorganization and business meeting of the West Windsor Township Council. If everyone would please stand for the salute to the flag. >> Ice flag
to the republic stands one nation indivisible and justice for all. This meeting has been adequately noticed to the Trenton Times and the Princeton packet on December 26, 2025, posted on
the township website at the township municipal building and filed with the clerk. West Windsor held its municipal election during the general election on November 4th, 2025. There was a seat available for the mayor and two seats available for the township council. The
following candidates were voted into office, each with a four-year term. Dr. Hamont Morate has been certified as mayor, elected with 5,382 votes. Miss Linda Jvers,
Miss Linda Jvers has been certified as council member elected with 5,359 votes. Mr. Joseph Joe Charles has been certified as council member elected with 5,132
votes. >> Let's please take a moment to congratulate them on their achievements. Say again. >> Okay. Dr. Hamont Morate, would you like to come forward be sworn in as mayor? Oh, you after me. I state your name. I, him
marate, >> do solemnly swear >> do solemnly swear >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> that I'll support the Constitution of the United States >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> that I will bear true faith >> that I'll bear true faith
>> and allegiance to the same >> and allegiance to the same >> and to the governments >> and to the government >> established in the United States >> established in the United States >> and in this state >> and in this state >> under the authority of the people >> under the authority ity of the people >> and that I will faithfully
>> and that I will faithfully >> impartially >> and partially >> and justly >> and justly >> perform all the duties of the office of mayor >> perform all the duties of the office of the mayor >> according to the best of my ability >> according to the best of my ability. >> So help me God. >> So help me God.
>> Congratulations Linda, would you like to come forward? I state your name. Island achievers >> do solemnly swear >> do solemnly swear >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey
>> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> that I will bear true faith >> that I will bear true faith >> and allegiance to the same >> and allegiance to the same >> and to the governments >> and to the government >> established in the United States >> established in the United States >> and in this state >> and in this state
>> under the authority of the people under the authority of the people. >> And that I will faithfully >> and that I will faithfully >> impartially >> impartially >> and justly >> and justly >> perform all the duties of the office of council member >> all the duties of the office of council
member >> according to the best of my ability. >> according to the best of my ability. >> So help me God. >> So help me God. >> Congratulations And now we're going to call up Joe Charles. Ready? >> I state your name. I, Joe Charles,
>> do solemnly swear >> do solemnly swear >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> that I will bear true faith >> that I will bear true faith >> and allegiance to the same
>> and allegiance to the same >> and to the governments >> and to the governments >> established in the United States >> established in the United States >> and in this state >> and in this state >> under the authority of the people >> under the authority of the people and that I will faithfully >> and that I will faithfully >> impartially
>> impartially >> and justly >> and justly >> perform all the duties >> perform all the duties >> of the office of council member >> of the office of council member >> according to the best of my ability >> according to the best of my ability. >> So help me God. >> So help me God. >> Congratulations. And now we will have um comments from
our newly elected um council member Jverus. Would you like to go first? >> Sure. Good evening everyone and welcome and happy new year to all of you. It is my honor and privilege to serve you for a sixth term as a member of the township
council. I am humbled by your continuing support and grateful for you entrusting me to to perform my duties. Together, we will continue to make our community the very best that it can be for all of us to live, work, and succeed in having a
beautiful life here. I congratulate Mayor Ham Morate on his reelection to a third term. Whether it's been serving together on the WWP regional school board or the governing body, I appreciate that we worked collaboratively through many important
issues and will continue to listen to each other's viewpoints. I also congratulate and welcome Joe Charles as our newest member of council. Joe's certified public accountant CPA professional background and inquisitive
independent mindset will certainly be of help through a myriad of issues, especially during budget deliberations. To Sonia and Andrea, I have worked with both of you for the past six years in leadership positions. Your dedication and service to our residents is
remarkable. I appreciate the many hours of work that you do in promoting and supporting many local organizations and businesses in town. Dan, I look forward to working with you again on issues of mutual importance and look to accomplish
much with you this year. Together, all of us working transparently with the mayor and administration in a collaborative manner will help achieve results in a timely way. There are many department heads and their staff members that I also look forward to working
with. To just mention a few, West Windsor uh clerk Allison Shihin, business administrator Marina Schmid, Chief Financial Officer John Madder, Police Chief Robert Gafalo, EMS Chief Timothy Lynch, Community Development Director and Township Engineer Francis
Guzik, and Department of Public Works Director Anthony Espazito. So, thanks to all our other directors, managers, and staff uh for your service to our community. My thanks to the volunteers at the Princeton Junction Volunteer Fire
Company and at the West Windsor Volunteer Fire Company and its fire police. You work tirelessly around the clock to save property and lives during emergencies, and you save the taxpayers a substantial amount of money due to
your dedication and extensive training. Well, speaking of volunteers, I encourage everyone to consider filling out the citizens leadership volunteer form. You can download this form on the township's website. It's found under the clerk's office or call the clerk's
office for assistance. Openings on various boards and commissions can occur at any time. So, don't wait until you hear of an opening. I join all of us in thanking the existing members of various township boards and commissions and several other
local nonprofit organizations for their service and leadership in shaping a stronger community. Please stay engaged as it will be another busy year of discussion and decisions to be made, including but not limited to required
fourth round affordable housing obligations, the 2026 operating and capital budgets, improvements to the new township website, numerous proposed ordinances, and a celebration of our country's 250th anniversary led locally
by our historical society, Revolution West Windsor. Discussions and decisions are made transparently at public noticed meetings. We always welcome your thoughts and concerns. Together, let us become a more vibrant community as we
strengthen our diverse ties to one another and work towards shared priorities. Finally, I thank my incredible, loving husband, Neil, who uh truly truly understands the calling that I have to serve on council and with other
organizations. My love, pride, and deep appreciation also goes to our three wonderful daughters, Kristen, her husband Ken, and their sweet baby Kenneth Jr., KJ we call him, and to Jessica and Ashley. You are successful
and compassionate women. And I know that your experience growing up in our diverse, welcoming community and highly rated school district has shaped who you are and all that you hope to accomplish in life. Thank you all and God bless
America. >> Council member Charles, would you like to say a few words? >> Uh, thank you. For those of you don't don't know me, my name is Joe Charles. I've lived in town here in West Windsor for 18 uh excellent years with my wife Deborah, uh my two kids who were in the West Windsor Plains Burough School
District, and last but not least, our two rescue mut uh dogs. Um first, I want to say thank you to the many people from from all different backgrounds who supported me uh during the election. Uh some of your friends in town that I've known for many years, uh some who I've
met much more recently. The election campaign was a lot of work, but I could not have done it without all of your help and support. Number of people are here tonight, and I appreciate you taking the time uh to come to this inauguration. Uh special thanks to my in-laws uh who traveled a great distance
to be here tonight from a far away place called Bucks County, Pennsylvania. So uh so thank you, Mom, Dad, and and and Lee for coming out. Uh congratulations to both He and Linda on the re-election. and I truly enjoyed working with both of them during the campaign and I look
forward to working productively with them and the entire council and the township administration. Uh when I think about West Windsor, I think about the town that's excellent, an excellent place to live. Uh it's safe thanks to our police, fire, and EMS st
EMS staff and our two volunteer fire departments. We have excellent schools. We have a vibrant senior center, community pool, farmers market, an art center, historical society, and a number of volunteer community organizations. We have a very diverse and inclusive
community. Personally, I am very thankful to live here. That being said, there's a lot we can do to make our town even better. Um, you know, I didn't run for council simply to to vote on whatever is put before the council. Uh, I do have a long list of goals, as as Deb can attest to, uh, that I want to
accomplish. Uh, I I consider myself somebody who likes to get things done and I'm ready to hit the ground running and get to work. Uh, I do want people to know that I'm here to serve all residents of West Windsor. I welcome input from anyone and
everyone. It doesn't matter if you voted for me or not, what your political party is, what your religion is, what your ethnicity is, or anything else. I'm here to serve everyone equally. And even if you're crazy enough to be a fan of the New York Jets, yes, I'm I'm here to serve you, too. Although I may
question your your decision-making ability. Um, and to that end, I will be accessible to any and all residents of West Windsor. I do plan to hold regular office hours. Uh, expect to announce the first one uh soon, which which should occur in the next couple weeks here. I
can be contacted via my official township email address which will uh I think should be on the website shortly or I'm I'm readily accessible on a number of social media platforms. So if you have ideas to make West Windsor a better place, please reach out to me. I I want to hear from you. I want to talk
to you. Uh so to wrap up, it's truly an honor and privilege to serve our town. I'm super excited to get to work. Thank you, West Windsor. Yeah, I'll start by thanking the Jets for giving Seahawks their current quarterback. So, uh, my granddaughter is in the audience.
She agreed to come only if my keep my comment short. This is her first council meeting. I want her to keep coming back. So, I don't want to scare her. And since Martin is not on the council anymore, somebody has to start by saying I'll be
brief and then talk for a long time. So, um, I just want to start by thanking the residents of Westminster for reelecting me as their mayor for the third time. It's a great honor and I'm thankful to all of you for giving me that honor. I have spent half my life in Westminster
and the house we occupy is one place I've lived the longest on earth. So, for all practical purposes, Westminster is home to me and therefore it means the honor means a lot. So, thank you very much. The wind was especially sweet uh
given the forces against me. I want to thank my running mates Joe Charles and Linda Jas for running a very positive and issue oriented campaign. I could not have asked for better running mates. I'll also join Joe and Linda in thanking all the volunteers and I see many of
them here in the audience for helping us win the election. We could not have made it without you. So, thank you. I want to thank everyone in the in the administration and all township employees and I see some of them here for making the job fun and meaningful.
They actually do all the day-to-day work that make me look good in the eyes of the voters and that helps me get elected. So, thank you everyone. Finally, I want to thank my family, especially my wife Punid for letting me do this for past 25 years. I know she
would rather have me finish some projects around the house, but she has very she has been very accommodating to allow me to do something that I love. So, thank you. The first eight years were not easy as
we dealt with several challenges, most of them not of our making. As mayor, you realize you may be the top dog in the township, but you are the lowest person on the totem pole. The next four years will prove to be the same because some of those challenges
will continue to be. We will deal with affordable housing obligation and the growth that comes with it. State mandates which make life of every mayor and council difficult and the constant pressure of taxes as people struggle with cost of living in New Jersey. With
the help of council, I hope to deal with challenges as effectively as I can. I ask residents for their active participation in the process. We will listen to every suggestion and try to incorporate as many of them as we practically can.
Once again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving me this honor. God bless you. God bless America. >> We'll now have comments from other council members. Um, I'll start on my left. Um, Dan. >> Sure. Thank you. Uh, I'll just take a
quick moment in the spirit of of Martin. Um, to congratulate our reelected leaders, um, my colleagues, Linda and Hamont. Um, and to welcome our newest council member, uh, Joe Charles. And I'm happy to retire my status as the new
guy. So, I I generously pass that baton to you. But we we will um share responsibility to our community here and I genuinely wish you uh great success. Um I think what's meaningful about tonight's about nights like tonight is that every
one of us here started out as residents or neighbors or volunteers who cared enough about West Windsor to step forward. And so good government isn't about personalities and politics. It's about
listening. It's about showing up, doing the work, and remembering that our decisions affect real people's lives. So, I'm hopeful for a productive year ahead grounded in respect and collaboration and a shared commitment to our
community. So, congratulations to everyone and thank you to the residents who put their trust in all of us. Thank you, >> Sonia. Well, congratulations, Mayor Linda, and welcome, Joe. Congratulations. I look
forward to working with um each and every one of you. Um it's um been what, six years that I'm on council. And as um Dan mentioned, we all started um volunteering, working in the community. We have been neighbors, friends, and we
care for our community. And that's why we are here. Thanks to everyone who have um um attended who are attending in person or watching online. So um anyway um looking forward to working together.
>> Okay, Andrea. >> Um congratulations to Mayor Heont Marathi, Council Members Linda Jvers and Joe Charles on taking the oath of office to serve West Windsor Township tonight. I've worked closely with Mont and Linder for about the past 10 years, and you
won't find two people so dedicated to West Windsor, but so different anywhere. They're both knowledgeable, smart, and hardworking, and really care about all our people. It's an honor and privilege to continue to serve with them. I appre
I um I appreciate that Hamont saw something in me that made him encourage me to run for office six years ago while knowing my insistence on logic and facts for decisions. A politician would have chosen someone easier. A statesman finds
someone to tell him the truth. I've worked for Joe. I've worked with Joe for less than two years, but there was no doubt in my mind who I wanted to join our council. His analytical skills and curiosity are complemented by his
ability to care about people and work with them. When he is in, he is all in. And he's already hit the ground running. I want to thank you to everybody who uh supported me as council president this year. and to all the residents who have
done everything and the volunteers who have supported have supported uh the town and and all the things that we do in this town and it helped us move forward and accomplish so much for the town. We've done much but there's a lot more to do. I look forward to the
challenges this year working with not only our new people but with Sonier and and and Dan of course. Um and um there's from affordable housing round four to the D's MS4 sewer permits. The
Clarksville Bridge remains closed. We need also need to look at more ways we can use technology while keeping our priority to stay a friendly responsive government and there's always always something new and I look forward to working with our council, our town, our
volunteers on anything and everything that comes our way. Thank you. Do we have any elected officials in the audience tonight? >> Okay, great. Then we are >> Oh, we have Kristen Applelegate, a
former council member with us. Welcome, Kristen. >> Mike Stevens. >> And Mike Stevens, of course, a former council member. >> Okay. >> Mike Stevens. Yeah. Did we miss anybody? >> Anybody else?
>> Nobody else. >> At this time, we're going to take a short break between the inauguration and reorganization meeting uh for everyone to join us for congratulations, pictures, and light refreshments in the
lobby. Um should we say about 10 10 minute break? Okay. We're going to reconvene for the reorgan reorganization and business meeting in 10 minutes. Okay, thank you. the mayor. >> Okay.
Okay, calling the reorganization meeting to order at 7:36. I'm going to take a roll call vote. Charles >> here. >> Gawas >> here. >> Jvers
>> here. >> Mandel >> here. >> Weiss >> here. This meeting also was adequately noticed on December 26, 2025 to the Trenton Times in the Princeton packet, posted on the township website at at the municipal
building and filed with the township clerk. We already did the salute to the flag. Nominations are now in order [clears throat] for the office of council president. It gives me >> Are there any nominations for the office
of council president? >> It gives me great honor to nominate Sonia Gowas for council president. Can I >> second? >> Is there any second? >> Second. >> Are there any further nominations for
the office of council president? Seeing none, I'm going to call for a motion to close the nominations. Motion to close the nominations. Second. >> Second. >> Roll call vote. Charles, >> yes. >> Gawas,
>> yes. >> Jvers, >> yes. >> Mandel, >> yes. >> Weiss, >> yes. >> I'm going to call for a roll call vote to confirm the election of Sonia Gawas as council president. Charles,
>> yes. >> Uh, Gawas, >> yes. >> Gvers, >> yes. >> Mandel, >> yes. Weiss. >> Yes. >> Okay. We're now going to administer the oath of office for Sonia. Please come forward. I state your name. I, Sonia Gawas,
>> do solemnly swear >> do solemnly swear >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> that I would support the Constitution of the United States >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and the Constitution of State of New Jersey >> that I will bear true faith >> that I would bear true faith
>> and allegiance to the same >> and allegiance to the same >> and to the governments >> and to the governments >> established in the United States >> established in the United States >> and in this state >> and in the state >> under the authority of the people >> under the authority of the people >> and that I will faithfully
>> that and I would faithfully >> impartially >> impartially >> and justly >> and justly >> perform all the duties >> perform all the duties >> of council president >> of council president >> according to the best of my ability >> according to the best of my ability. >> So help me God.
>> So help me God. Congratulations. No, right. I know. Um, okay. Now, the council president will call for nominations for council vice president. >> All right. Nominations for council vice president.
>> I'm honored to uh nominate Andrea Mandel for council vice president. >> Second. >> Anybody else? Any other nominations? Nope. Okay. Um >> to close the nomination.
>> Okay. Uh >> so now you're going to call for a motion to close the >> motion to close nomination. Sorry, I am a little rusted here. >> Motion to um close the nominations. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Okay. Roll the call vote.
>> Okay. Charles, >> yes. >> Gvers, >> yes. >> Mandel, >> yes. >> Weiss, >> yes. >> Gawas, >> yes. >> And now we're going to do a president will call for a roll call vote to confirm the election of council member
Mandel as council vice president. Roll call. >> Charles, >> yes. >> Jvers, >> yes. Mandel, >> yes. >> Weiss, >> yes. >> Gawas, >> yes. >> Okay. >> Andrew, you'd like to come down and be sworn in? >> Sure.
and repeat after it for me. I state your name. I, Andrea Mandel, >> do solemnly swear >> do solemnly swear >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and the Constitution of the State of New
Jersey >> that I will bear true faith >> That I will bear true faith >> and allegiance to the same >> and allegiance to the same >> and to the government >> and to the government >> established in the United States >> established in the United States >> and in this state >> and in this state >> under the authority of the people
>> under the authority authority of the people >> and I will faithfully >> and I will faithfully >> impartially >> impartially >> and justly >> and justly >> perform all the duties >> perform all the duties >> of the office of council vice president >> of the office of council vice president >> according to the best of my ability >> according to the best of my ability
>> so help me God >> so help me And now I um ask for nominations for um affordable housing committee member. It's my honor to nominate Dan Weiss for affordable housing committee member. >> Second.
>> Any further nominations? >> Right. Uh motion to close the nominations. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Charles, >> yes. >> Jivers, >> yes. >> Mando, >> yes. >> Weiss, >> yes. >> Garwas, >> yes. >> Roll call.
>> Okay. Roll call. Roll call for confirming >> the confirm. Yes. >> Charles, >> yes. >> Gvers, >> yes. Mandel, >> yes. >> Weiss, >> yes. >> Gas, >> yes. >> Okay. Luke of >> um to bring one person at a time down to
swear in. Yeah. Okay. I state your name. I, Daniel Weiss, >> do solemnly swear >> do solemnly swear >> that Constitution of the United States >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and the Constitution of the State of New
Jersey >> that I will bear true faith >> that I will bear true faith >> and allegiance to the same >> and allegiance to the same >> to the governments >> and to the governments >> established in the United States >> established in the United States >> in the state >> and in the state >> people >> under the authority of the people
>> of the people >> and I will faithfully impartially, >> justly >> and justly >> perform all the duties >> of the office >> committee >> of the office of the affordable housing committee member. So help me get
>> to the best of my abilities. So help me get. >> Thank you. and a call for nominations for planning board class 3 member. >> I'm honored to nominate Linder Jvers for planning board class three member.
>> Second. >> Any further nominations? Motion to close the nominations. >> So moved. >> Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Roll call. Charles. >> Yes. Divers, >> yes. >> Mandel, >> yes.
>> Weiss, >> yes. >> Gawas, >> yes. >> Roll call to confirm the election of council member Linda Jvers as planning board class 3 member. Charles, >> yes. >> Gvers, yes. Mandal, >> yes.
>> Weiss, >> yes. >> Garwas, >> yes. >> Okay. Come down this morning. I state your name. Islanders, >> do solemnly swear >> do solemnly swear >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> that I will support the Constitution of
the United States >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> that I will bear true faith >> that I will bear true faith >> and allegiance to the same >> and allegiance to the same >> and to the governments >> to the governments >> established in the United States >> established in the United States
>> and in this state >> and in this state >> under the authority of the people >> under the authority of the people >> and that I will faithfully >> and that I will faithfully >> partially >> partially >> and justly >> and justly >> perform all the duties >> perform all the duties >> of the office of planning board class
two member >> class three member >> of of the office of planning board class three offices >> according to the best of my ability >> according to the best of my ability. >> So help me God. >> So help me God. >> Congratulations. Thank you. Um, I now call for nominations for
emergency management council representative. >> Um, please to nominate Andrea Mandel. >> I'll second that. Any further nominations? Seeing none, uh, motion to close the nominations.
>> So moved. >> Second. >> Charles, >> yes. >> Jivers, >> yes. >> Mandel, >> yes. >> Weiss, >> yes. >> Garwas, >> yes. >> Roll call to confirm the election of council member and Andrea Mandel as emergency management council.
>> Charles, >> yes. >> Jivers, >> yes. Mandel, >> yes. Weiss, >> yes. G, >> yes. James like to come down. I state your name. I, Andrea Mandel, >> do solemnly swear >> do solemnly swear
>> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and the Constitution State of New Jersey >> that I will bear true faith >> true faith >> and allegiance to the same >> and allegiance to the same >> and to the government
>> and to the government >> established in the United States >> established in the United States >> and in this state >> and in >> under the authority of the people >> under the authority of the people >> and I will faithfully Y >> and I will faithfully >> impartially >> impartially >> and justly >> and justly >> perform all the duties
>> perform all the duties >> of emergency management council >> of emergency management council member >> to the best of my ability >> to the best of my ability so help me God. Congratulations. >> I call for nominations for board of recreation.
>> I would be honored to nominate Joe Charles to be board of recreation commissioners leazison. >> Second. >> Any further nominations? Seeing none, can I um get a motion to close the nominations?
>> So moved. >> Second. >> Charles, >> yes. >> Gvers, >> yes. Mandel, >> yes. >> Weiss, >> yes. >> Garwas, >> yes. A roll call um to confirm the election of council member Joe Charles as board
of recreation commissioners leazison. >> Charles, >> yes. >> Gvers, >> yes. >> Mando, >> yes. We >> yes. >> Gas. >> Yes. >> And now um call for nominations for environmental commission leaison.
>> Um please nominate Andrea Mandel. >> I'll second that. Any further nominations. Motion to close the nominations. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Charles. >> Yes. >> Gvers. >> Yes. >> Mandel.
>> Yes. >> Weiss. >> Yes. Yes. Um roll call to vote of to confirm the vote of election um of council member Andrea Mandel as environmental commission liaison. Charles, >> yes.
>> Gvers, >> yes. Mandel, >> yes. >> Weiss, >> yes. >> Gargas, >> yes. >> Um I call for nominations for human relations council leazison. >> I'm pleased to nominate Sonia Gowas.
>> Second. Any further nominations? >> Motion to close the nominations. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Charles, >> yes. >> Jivers, yes. Mandel, >> yes. >> Weiss, >> yes. >> Gwas, >> yes.
Roll call to confirm the election of myself, Sonia Gawas, as human relations council leazison. Charles, >> yes. >> Gvers, >> yes. Mandel, >> yes. >> Weiss, >> yes. Gwas. >> Yes. Um I call uh for nominations for
parking authority leison. >> I am pleased to nominate Joe Charles to be the parking authority leison. >> Second. >> Um any further nominations? Motion to close the nominations. >> So moved. >> Second.
>> Charles, >> yes. >> Giver, >> yes. Mandel, >> yes. >> Weiss. >> Yes. Caras. >> Yes. Um, >> roll call. >> Roll call to confirm the election of
council member Joe Charles. >> Um, to parking authority leazison. >> Charles, >> yes. >> Jivers, >> yes. Mandel, >> yes. >> Weiss, >> yes. >> Garwas, >> yes. Um I call for nominations for shade tree
commission leazison. >> I am pleased to nominate Linda Gver to be the shade tree commission leison. >> I second it. >> Any further nominations? Motion to close the nominations.
>> So moved. >> Anybody? >> Second. >> Charles. >> Yes. >> Gvers. Yes. Mandel. >> Yes. >> Weiss. >> Yes. Garwas. >> Yes. Roll call to confirm the election of council member Linda Jvers as shade tree
commission leazison. >> Charles, >> yes. >> Jivers, >> yes. >> Mandel, >> yes. >> We um one last one. Um a call for nominations for school board leazison. >> I'm pleased to nominate Dan Weiss. >> I'll second that.
>> Any further nominations? Motion to close the nominations. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Charles, >> yes. >> Jivers, >> yes. >> Mandel, >> yes. >> Weiss, >> yes. >> Garwas, >> yes. >> Um, vote. Um, roll call to confirm the
election of council member Dan Weiss as school board leazison. >> Charles, >> yes. >> Jivers, yes. Mandel, >> yes. Weiss, >> yes. Gawas, >> yes. All right. Um, and we'll have um going to council
member comments. Let me start with our new guy, Joe Charles. >> Uh, yeah, thank you. Just a few quick comments. Um, MLK day is is Monday the 19th. Uh the volunteers on our human relations council have have worked hard
to organize a great event uh right here in the municipal building. Uh there'll be a couple of external speakers. There'll be a musical performer from our local police department. >> Yeah. >> Isn't this for the business meeting? It's not on the agenda for the
>> Do we wait for the business meeting? >> We can wait for the business meeting for reports and council comments. And if anyone had any other comments for a nomination for >> appointments >> appointments for congratulations like we can move into the resolution
>> otherwise we can go right into the resolution. >> Sorry. >> Okay. So the resolutions for the reorg meeting 2026-R00001 regular meetings for calendar year 2026 2026-R00002
legal newspapers for calendar year 2026 2026-R00003 establishing procedural guidelines for the council of West Windsor Township 2026-R00004 municipal holidays for calendar year 2026
2026-R0000 005 cash management plan authorization for West Windsor Township 2026-R00006 establishing the rate of interest charged on delinquent taxes and 6% year-end penalty 2026-R00007
authorizing the cancellation of any property tax refund or delinquency less than $10. 2026-R00008 authorizing temporary municipal budget appropriations for 2026 2026-R00009
appointing Janice DNA as affirmative action public agency compliance officer through December 2026 2026-R010 authorizing Lorraine Jones tax assessor the authority conjunction with special tax council township attorney to set
adjust defend and prosecute matters on behalf of the township involving tax assessment property tax exemptions as per chapter 4 section 31E of the code of the township of West Windsor 2026-R011 authorizing the reappoint Charles
applicate as a member of the agricultural advisory committee with a term to expire on January 14th 2029 2026-R012 authorizing the appointment appointment of Allison Miller as a member of the affordable housing committee with a term
to expire on January 14th, 2029, 2026-R013 authorizing the appointment of Paul Song to fill the unexpired term as member of the affordable housing committee with a term to expire on January 14th, 2028,
2026-R014 authorizing the reappoint of Ephron Book Buches as a member of the human relations council with a term to expire on January 14th. 2028 2026-R015
authorizing the reappointment of Joima Prasad as a member of the human relations council with a term to expire on January 14th, 2028, 2026-R016 authorizing the reappoint of Larry Catz
as a member of the parking authority with a term to expire on January 14th, 2031. 2026-R017 authorizing the reappointment of Frell Levit Mixon as a member of the Shade Tree Commission with a term to expire on
January 14th, 2031, 2026-R018 authorizing the reappoint of Eugene Fredken as a member of the zoning board of adjustment with a term to expire on January 14th, 2030, 2026-R019
authorizing the reappoint appointment of G. Chris Lemon as an alternate one on the zoning board of adjustment with a term to expire on January 14th, 2028. Motion to approve resolutions 2026 R001
through 2026 R019. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Charles, >> yes. >> Gvers, >> yes. >> Mandel, >> yes. >> Weiss, >> yes. Gas. Yes. >> Um
>> just participants the reorganization. >> Yeah. >> All right. Now we open um for public comments um for this reorganization portion of the meeting. Um do we have anybody signed up for this is not for the business sess business session. This
is just for the comment for the reorg meeting. Is there anybody in the public uh that would come up and speak that would like to come up and speak for public comment on this meeting? Seeing none. >> Oh,
hi. Come on up and please state your name and address. >> Good evening everyone. Namaste. My name is Niati Agraal and I'm resident of 21205 Wabler Way Westminster. Uh and I am a proud member of HSS Hindustan.
So on behalf of Hindus Sewak, I would like to warmly congratulate Mr. Marathi for mayor and Miss Linda Jas as a council woman and Mr. Charles as a council man. We wish you all great success as you serve our city. So let me
just a little bit tell you about the HSS is a volunteer- based nonprofit organization committed to character building community service and promoting physical and mental well-being. Our strong partnership with the city and city council has made a made a meaningful impact through this
collaboration like Sava Diwali food drive which we were able to collect almost 9,000 plus pounds of food and donate to to the various food pantries and local soup kitchens directly or indirectly supporting families in need
in beautiful best diverse community. Together we also continue initiatives like Surya Namaskar which we call sun salutation health for humanity which is our promote holistic health and community connection and which is our
ongoing initiative where we conduct uh various uh uh yoga sessions to the schools and public places to come in. We value this partnership and look forward to continuing to work side by side with
city leadership on future and ongoing efforts that serve and strengthen our community. Congratulations once again and thank you. >> Thank you. >> Is there anybody else? Seeing none, motion to um
close the public Oh, no, we don't need to close the public comments here. >> You don't need a motion, but you can if you you ask if there's anyone else in there. >> All right. Um >> and if not, you can just close. >> I did. I did. Okay. So, I'm closing the public comment and u we need to agend
the reorganization meeting. >> Yes. Second. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Um all in favor? Hi. >> Hi. >> Hi. Okay. All right. Now we move on to the business. >> Make it official. >> All right.
>> All right. Now we move on to um >> meeting. >> Yeah. Um, calling the meeting to order. Um, the business session. Roll call. Do we have to do the roll call again? >> Just make sure
>> we can wave it since we're all >> since we have already done that. >> Um, and we were adequately noticed. >> Yes, we meeting was noticed, >> right? >> We have already done the um salute to the flag, the reorganization meeting. Um
cere under ceremonial matters we do have a proclamation for Muslim um American heritage month. Um is there anybody from the mosque over here? >> All right. Um we can just read it and
then >> yeah we can follow up and give to them. Okay. >> All right. Um, whereas Westminster is proud uh of its rich cultural history and the many people who call our town home, and whereas Muslims have been part and
parcel of this nation since before its founding. This includes Muslim explorers and settlers. And whereas the state of New Jersey has proclaimed the month of January as Muslim Heritage Month, the Muslim community in New Jersey is
relatively large and thriving. There are many Muslim private schools, halal certified restaurants and grocery stores, community centers, youth groups that cater to Muslims and of course mosques. And whereas the township of Westminster
is home to a significant Muslim American population who represent widely diverse race racial diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. Westminster is also home to one of the largest mosques in the area, the Muslim Center of Greater Princeton.
And whereas Westminers Muslims actively engage in charitable and public service individually and institutionally, the Muslim Center has served Westminster since 1996, and many Westminster Muslims have served in various public service
and charitable roles. The Muslim community is an integral part of the Westminster community. And whereas the township of Westminster and our nation have greatly benefited from Muslim Americans, especially through their rich
cultures and traditions, Muslim Americans share their strong family values, dedication to education, generosity in charitable giving, devotion to public service, diversity in faith and creed that add strength to our
democracy. And whereas Muslim Americans are strong contributors to economic sectors and have particularly excelled in the areas of medicine, law, business, education,
politics, government, military service, technology, science and culture, and arts. And whereas we recognize the many contributions the Muslim American community has made to our beloved nation, state, and township. and
reaffirm our total rejection of anti-Muslim hate and Islamophobia and all forms of big bigotry. Now therefore be it resolved on this 15th day of January 2026 by the mayor
and township council of township of Westminster County of Mercer state of New Jersey that the mayor and township council recognize January as Muslim American Heritage Month in perpetuity. We will follow up with um the
>> getting the proclamation to them. Okay. Right. Thank you. Um now I open um the first public comment um of the business session. The public comment period is 30
minutes. Right. You can you >> have um 30 minutes 3 minutes each individual. Please state your name and address before you give your comment to I do have a list. Um I'm going to start at the top. Um, Ann Clifton.
Good evening. An Clifton, 18 Gston Drive. Trustees of the West Windsor Bicycle and Pedestrian Alliance were dismayed to learn that on December 26th, a pedestrian was hit in a crosswalk walking across North Post Road at the intersection with Courtney Drive and
Municipal Drive. The pedestrian stopped and looked before crossing. A driver heading north on North Post Road stopped for him. Another driver in a pickup truck stopped at the end of Municipal Drive. The pedestrian started to cross. Then the pickup driver began to turn
left onto North Post. The driver claimed that he didn't see the pedestrian who was struck about halfway into the crosswalk. This pedestrian suffered broken ribs and cuts. A similar situation occurred in the same crosswalk on July 3rd, 2017.
A different pedestrian coming from Courtney Drive stopped and looked before crossing. A driver turning left out of Municipal Drive onto North Post didn't see the pedestrian and struck this person in the middle of the crosswalk. Fortunately, this pedestrian suffered
only minor bruises. I'm also aware of a third pedestrian who has had several near misses in this crosswalk. The WWBPA previously has recommended that a set of pedestrian activated yellow flashing lights, also known as rectangular rapid flashing beacons, be
installed at this crosswalk, which leads to popular destinations like the library, municipal complex, post office, and senior center. Criteria that the WWBPA has considered include crosswalks and school zones on higher speed roads
with a lot of foot traffic and on minor arterial and major collector roads. North Post Road is designated as a major collector road in West Windsor's master plan. The circulation element of West Windsor's master plan. The WWBPA
believes that pedestrian activated flashing lights have worked well at other locations around town, such as near the train station, and we thank the administration and council for funding these lights and/or getting them installed at other locations that the
WWBPA has recommended. We urge you to in to include a set of rapid flashing beacons for this intersection at North Post Municipal Drive and Courtney Drive in the upcoming budget to help prevent other pedestrian fat other pedestrian
injuries at this location or worse a fatality. Perhaps the township can work in partnership with the county for the installation or combine this installation and other pending flashing beacon installations into larger road or sidewalk projects so that the job is big
enough um for contractors to bid on. Thank you. >> Okay. And uh next on the list is Rosland Westlake. For those who don't know, we will go through all the public comments and then after the comments are done um administration or um council will get a
chance to comment on them. >> Good evening. Uh my name is Rosyn Weslike. I'm an attorney out of Lambertville and I'm here on behalf of Clark Plaza LLC. They're the owners. >> Could you just speak directly into the mic? Thank you. >> They are the owners of uh Village Square
Center. Um, I'm here uh to request your indulgence. Uh, as you know, the recent and indefinite bridge closure closure on Clarksville Road is having a huge impact on the businesses north of the bridge. Many of our tenants have reported to us as much as a 50% downturn in business
despite the holiday season, which is usually the busiest. My client as a landlord's ability to operate is entirely dependent upon successful tenant businesses. We have expenses too, including a mortgage, property taxes, insurance, utilities, property
maintenance, advertising, and other expenses to support our tenants. In 2025, we made a very large capital investment, replacing the roofs and sidewalks at the center, as well as repairing water damage and replacing doors and signs. We are hoping to have
the funds to make another big capital investment by applying to the planning board for permission to install a directory sign so that patrons can see what businesses are actually in the center. Together, these investments total close to $300,000 spent by my
client directly uh in investment in this particular property. My client also would like at this point to thank the council for the temporary property tax relief of 12% that we was granted today. But in real numbers, the the relief
offered is in fact a pittance. The actual dollar amount of the tax reduction for the entire year is less than the snow plowing expense incurred so far in 2026. This is a tiny amount compared to our overall expenses. Whereas the decrease in tax revenue to
the township accounts for only onetenth of 1% of your annual budget. We are passing that 12% property tax reduction directly on to our tenants basic rent. This is above and beyond any uh CAM reduction. But we cannot support the
entire impact of our and also our tenants businesses losses alone. We too have to understand the extent we can afford to support dramatically reduced rents over the long term. It will not help our tenants if we can no longer operate. We also appreciate the free
marketing assistance and grants offered to our tenants, but realistically only two of the tenants are even eligible for these programs. The 2025 budget uh for um this town was $53 million. Is there no rainy day fund in the budget to help
prevent 15 small businesses from closing down and significantly impacting the local economy of West Windsor? Not pri prioritizing the immediate needs of the small businesses in the community will permanently damage the local economy. There will be less revenue and there will be fewer jobs which will hurt West
Windsor and New Jersey. We also need much better signage making it clear that the Village Square Center is located before the bridge closer. Okay, it's been three minutes. You want to finish your sentence? Go ahead. >> Uh before um uh the to demonstrate that
the the uh bridge closure uh is before or is after uh the village center and so therefore the village center is accessible. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. Next on the list, Esht Kimal.
Hi guys, uh Isra Kamal 17 will scare Clarks for the plaza. I will just quickly go through what I've written and you have to go will have a copy of this. My heart is in pain to stand here today and tell you how I'm feeling uh as a small business. Extremely painful while
even I was writing this. This we are we're coming into third month today and I have lost one employee. My sale is 50% down and I'm starting to lose the spoiled inventory.
I don't know how many of you feel this but look at my shoes and feel how I'm feeling. I'm not able to even walk given the amount of progress which have been shared. It's just a plan of a plan
of a plan given the fact that this is going to be a big bridge built. I don't really see any significant significant progress coming out of it and we are coming into the third month. signages absolutely no significant
impact on anybody as she mentioned Ross October, November, December are the best part of the month for any businesses you know and I lost people. So I have lost I have forgotten how to smile.
I have special need child. I have a little kids at home and I'm unable to support and this is all the investment I had made to buy this business in January 2025. So every single tick we have I am losing
money and this is a permanent loss. This was my pain. What do I really need from you guys? What can you do for us? What can you do for me? What can you do for the people who are not able to even talk but they have their name next to me?
Can you help us reduce the utility bills? Utilities. I pay at least $2,000 in utilities for the electricity. Can you help us reduce the waste bill? Can you help us reduce the water bill? Can you
help us put the meaningful signs on Route One in adjacent towns? adjacent towns are the ones where we will getting the most businesses. Now we hear that okay those are public places we can't put the notes or anything but mayor can
have a coordinated effort with Lawrenceville Township with Princeton Township with Plansboro Township to have the names and emphasizing on the signs not that the bridge is closed but emphasizing that these are the businesses which are open during the
bridge construction. It's a mentality or psychology of human that when they see bridge close everything is closed instead of that let's use the other way around every business over there is open right and I have written few other things which I will provide you but
these are one of the critical things which I'm which I'm requesting you I'm requesting you to coordinate with the schools families of the school to PTO's or whatever to let people know that we are open
right and at the last we need to really know how you are planning to implement this project. This is a multistakeholders involved here. At least five, six, seven different parties. Somebody has created a plan. Is there any any slated date in the future?
28, 29, even 32, whatever it is. Do we have any milestones? Who's coordinating them? I'm sure Marat is helping us and he's putting a significant amount of effort, but nothing coming out as part of a communication. What is going on? And I can tell you working in Wall
Street for 17 years projects like this if you have dependencies over dependencies over dependency and nested dependencies you have to have a dedicated person working 24/7 with all those communities with all those political stakeholders to work. Thank
you so much. >> Thank you. Okay. Next on the list is list is young >> h with young cleaners. >> Oh okay. All right. Very good. Uh Kathy Brennan, >> Kathy Brennan, one Courtney Drive. Um I've lived on the corner of North Post
and Courtney Drive for 27 and a half years and I crossed North Post several times a week. I was nearly hit by a car that was making a left turn similar to the incident on December 26th when the passenger in the crosswalk was hit by a
vehicle. I was lucky. The car just stopped in time. My hands are on the hood. Since that day, I have avoided using the crosswalk. I either cross up my driveway, which faces North Post when going to the library, or I walk up North
Post to where the sidewalk meets North Post between the municipal building and the post office. The intersection of North Post Municipal Drive is frequently used by families and school children heading to the library. Just recently, I saw a toddler carrying a toy truck with
his dad while they walked to the library to enjoy the new play carpet in the children's department. That accident involving the adult on December 26 could have easily happened to that dad and toddler. The intersection has needed flashing
beacons for years. I have contacted County Executive Dan Benson to request that the county install the safety measures. I urge the administration to contact the county to ask whether they would be willing to install this beacon.
Since the closure of Clarksville Road Bridge, the traffic on North Post has significantly increased and considering the county rents and maintains the property where the library is on. I hope the township will work with the county
to implement the pedestrian safety measures at this location. Thank you. Okay, next on the list is Steven Phillips. Hello everybody. My name is Steven Phillips. I'm the owner of New Jersey Taekwondo Kickboxing Academy for since
2005 now. So that's over 20 years I've been in business there. So the bridge is not your fault. We all know that. So what I'm asking for is help with some connections. So, I've already lost 10 students. I have students that don't
want to come because they don't want to go the detour. 10 students is a lot and it's a lot of money. It's a lot down. So, I'm not going to sit here and beg for you. You need this, need this, and this. I'm just going to ask for some little connections to work with the town. I already work with the recreation
department already. So, a long time ago, the rec department used to do flyers and I've gotten a lot of uh students from that. A lot of a lot of people coming in and coming out. So I would request if we can start using flyers again to with the rec department that'll help generate
income you know people come into the school again and also PTO or PTA connections and then also a connection with I would do this thing called a fundraiser. It's fundraiser opportunities for the for for churches, moss, temples, baseball teams,
football teams, any kind of sports team, girl scouts, boy scouts. So, they get 100% of the tri of the trial. They take a trial class, they pay, and the that team or whatever organization creates all that revenue and they keep it all themselves. I just get the advertisement
out of it. So, and then the last but not least, I'm just looking for like he said already, utilities. So if we can get a break somehow for until the bridge is done with a break in utilities that would help us tremendously. All of us and all of us inside the the the center
there were hurting really bad. So I mean that's pretty much it. There's no pointing to blame. This is it's no one's fault. The bridge is just kind of just what happened. So if there is any way that I can reach someone can reach out to me for some connections so I can reach out to try to generate some income
that would be phenomenal. That's all that I'm asking for. So, thank you and I appreciate your help. Thank you. >> Okay, next on the list is Tim Steves. Did I pronounce that right? >> Tim, I'm the owner of uh the Little Gym of West Windsor just down the street.
We're also deeply impacted by the uh closure of the bridge. Um when we opened I I took over the little gym about 2 years ago and uh the little gym has been there for I think about 20 years
and we never you know our goal was my wife and I was just to rebuild the little gym from the previous owner and you know build a strong community uh strong family presence in the community and um we were growing. The first year
wasn't anything amazing, but we were growing. And then when the bridge collapsed or when the bridge closed, I thought, okay, well, this isn't going to have that much of an impact on us. Um, but it did. And slowly but surely, everybody that was from the other side
of the bridge, they started to cancel their memberships. We were losing, you know, two or three memberships every day. every day. It was like this very very painful trickle to the point where we lost around 30 35% of our members right into the busiest season when we
should be growing. We were shrinking. And the problem is when you're a kids gym and your classes start shrinking, other people don't want to come to those classes. So people see a class that only that used to have eight kids and now it's got two kids. They don't want to join that class. So we had to shut our
classes on a couple of days. And we're in this situation. I don't know what the solution is, but something needs to be done to get that bridge somehow reopened. When I saw the pictures of the bridge, I was shocked at how horrendous
the condition of it was. Um, and I don't know how it got to that stage so quickly, but I just need to re-echo what the other members of the Clarksville community are telling you because we're in we're in trouble and I, you know, there's no way that we are going to
survive this. um at the current state unless something is done to help us. Thank you. >> Sangeita Warner. >> Hi. Uh my name is Sangeita Warrior and I'm also another business owner on
Clarksville. Um I own the pottery place. It's been there for 20 plus years. I'm the third owner and I've been there the longest. So I've been there for 15 years. Um, I am going to echo what um, everybody else did. Um, for me, I did
not, like Tim said, I did not think this was going to have an impact on my business. Um, and I kept wondering in November, I said, why is my calendar looking empty? Because it's never empty. I mean, November, December are my boom
season. I have to say no to people. That's how much business we have. And it suddenly struck me when I spoke to Tim and some of the other people that oh this is what has changed. The bridge is closed. My business was down 20% in
November, 50% in December and the numbers from January right now are showing it's 11% below last month. So I can just see myself going down. Um I've had feedback from people. Initially it was that we didn't have enough signs and
so you know we kept talking to um all of you about the signs. We have signs in a lot of places. Now the feedback I'm getting is oh you know what when we put directions in um to get to your location it's longer. I might as well just go to
some other place that's closer to me. That is an attitude that I don't know what the solution to that is. I mean the only solution is getting the bridge reopen. Um I don't know how long I can survive. Um we are trying to work with
our landlord and say hey you know can you give us some kind of rent relief uh because there's no way that I can consider staying open. Um I will not be able to afford my rent if uh some help
is not given to us. Um I appreciate all the help that has been given. you know, all the information um Sonia Andrea has been um giving us through the SBA. Unfortunately, I do not qualify for any of the grants that the SBA [snorts]
offers. The only one that I have and I have a good online presence. I have good social media uh presence also. So, the only thing that I've been you uh trying to work with the the grant is the e-commerce upgrade. Um it's very slow. I
don't know what the reason for that is, but I've finished my paperwork and everything. So, I don't know how much impact that's going to make, but I have to do whatever I can. Uh, that's one of the things I'm doing. I have been living in West Windsor for 18 plus years. Um,
through that entire time, I've supported the PTAs, just about every PTA in the school district and uh the surrounding towns. I don't see anything reciprocated. I don't see parents coming in. In fact, most of my business comes
from the neighboring towns. People will drive an hour to come to me and I don't have people coming from Westminster or Plainsboro to my studio. They would rather save $2 and go to another location um which is a franchise and we
are a local small business. So I think um you know getting the word out saying support what is in your town before you head out to other towns. >> Thank you for your comments. Thank you. Next on the list is Roo VGA.
>> Ruchi Rushi. >> Good evening everyone. I'm Richie and I'm the owner of Kuman Math and Reading Center at the Clarksville Road and I'm going to echo the same sentiments as my fellow business people have, you know, just shared. Um, I'm in uh this
Clarksville Plaza since 2019 and originally this Kuman has been there uh since 2010. So it's been there for a very long time and um for the first time we are seeing such you know low business
um and u as the as Sangeita said first I thought that this bridge is not you know going to impact me because my business is subscription based so yes I did not see anything much in October like November and December
uh but then I started hearing about you know more about bridge and um when my January numbers came um and then I started to see that oh you know now now the numbers are going down slowly the parents started saying oh ruchi you know
we can't come it's taking too long for us to come so I have started really good zoom classes and I'm really working on it so to make sure that I can take care of the clients you know from the other side so I'm working on that and hopefully it's going to you know it's
going to be good for them uh but I mean The fact is it it's at the end there is no like sympathy enrollments really people are going to support you for for some time but once they see it's not convenient for them and and parents are so busy it's just crazy this the
students are so overscheduled with so many things that for them to uh drive 10 minutes 15 minutes 20 minutes more is just too much. So um and I really appreciate all the help and I really I know that it's not something that is
nobody's hands just happened. Uh what can we do? How can we collaborate and kind of help each other and um I would love I just love this plaza. I want to stay here like forever and um and and support the education here. That's my
passion. Um but uh I just uh you know request your um assistance in in this matter. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> Okay, Nester Gonzalez. Good evening everyone. My name is Ernesto Gonzalez, owner of
Capuano Restaurant located at 217 Clarksville Road, West Windsor Village Square Plaza. Capano restaurant and Pizzeria opened 1993 some years.
And uh October 2nd the br the bridge closed on Clar Road a couple minutes from the restaurant Village Square Plaza was closed was unexpected closed without notice.
That Sunday the restaurant make only 40% the business. That day was many signs all over on a highway was on uh road 295 Princeton um
township lordsville township route one lordville township road uh route one west I'm guessing the the is is call it county electronic uh signs those signs
message was classroom Road closed in West [snorts] Windsor. Use route one and avoid local roads. We like to use law signs saying village square plaza mention all the tenants is open during
bridge construction at intersection. Um, New Village Road and Hickbridge Road also um, Wiki Bridge Road and um, Clashville Road. Route One North and
Alexander Road. Please hightown Road and Clarkville Road, North Post Road and Clarkville Road. We need signs mention all the tenants. Bigger signs saying local business is open.
The detour located in classical road and ever dry is confusing the customers to come to the village square plaza. I'd like to ask for help on the high school north and south for the students.
The break the students have between uh 11:00 we can put in a a special coupons for them also for the teachers about um property taxes for village square plaza. Can we ask for a better discount
for the plaza? Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. Okay, I don't have anyone else on my list. So, anybody else in the audience um they like to come up and give any
comments? >> Seeing none, >> um I would move to administration comments. Mayor >> Oh, I closed it. >> You said seeing none. >> Oh, I closed the public comments. I'll talk about the bridge then Malina
will talk then I'll make other comments. Uh so first uh thank you for all your patience. We started at 7. You've been sitting patiently at hour and a half. Um I do see I mean I've talked to some of you personally on the phone not face to
face. I've visited some of your stores. I I see your pain and trust me we are trying to do everything what's within our power. I mean I jokingly sometimes say I'm not a king. I wish I was a king. We are trying to do everything within my
power. Sunnia and Andrea are working very hard trying to do whatever we can to get you help. I will first talk about uh some of your comments and then go and give you an update on the status of the bridge. Um as as the Kelly mentioned we
worked with our tax assessor works with your uh owner's lawyer to come up with a figure for reduction of assessments and reduction of taxes but that's effective immediately this year starting January 1st. Um I can't reduce assessment
willyilly simply because I feel that I mean the assessor technically works in the township but doesn't work for me. she reports to somebody else. So she cannot randomly change assessment but they did come to an agreement uh you are
uh your owner and the assessor and if needs to be modified we will definitely modify you but she did mention what what reduction was agreed to and um that was given. Um regarding the signs we have done everything that you have asked for.
I mean I think every sign every detour sign has been removed. We did tell county we don't want any sign in the worst case people just go to the bridge turn around and come back. So you will not find any detour sign any sign on Clarksville road. I have told our land
use manager to suspend temporarily all sign rules. So we have allowed you to put signs wherever the owner has requested. um any sign that you have prepared I have told my uh land use
manager to forget about rules for signs which we have many and we have allowed you to put all the signs uh wherever you want to and we will continue to do that I mean that's something that is within my control that we will do um within our
control we try to encourage people to go I mean many of us in fact all of us have at least gone there once or multiple times. Uh in fact I was out of town. My kids came to stay home and I told them if you heat outside you have to eat at that plaza. Everything else is closed in
Westminster. Um so that we are doing uh what we can. Um regarding electric and water bill those are private companies. I will reach out to my contact at PSNG and see if they have any kind of sort of program for a situation like this. But
those are private companies. So we don't control either one of them uh electric or water. But I will reach out and see if they have any program for a situation like this. Um you had good idea PTA uh sports league. We don't control schools.
I mean I don't have any authority to tell the school superintendent to do something. But I will reach out. Uh they have stopped sending flyers home for anybody. They do have email. I will try to see what I can do. If you prepare a
flyer for all the businesses in your development, whatever you want to say 10% off, 20% off, I will try to see how we can promote it. We can distribute it. I mean, we put names of your businesses on the electronic board outside which we
never do for anybody. Your names of your uh businesses were on the electronic side right outside this building. So from our point of view we are controlling whatever we control we have done 100% what we can do. Unfortunately
I don't control NJ dot and or Amtrak and it's unfortunate that the bridge is over the railway lines. If it wasn't over the railway lines it would have been lot easier to get fixed. I wish you are there on the meeting when we have with NJ Trot and Amtrak and you
will see how much I plead and tell them you have to do it. Uh last meeting we had was uh January 7th. They were initially saying it will take them 3 weeks to um issue a permit and we yelled and screamed and cajolled and finally
they agreed to issue a permit within a week. Um we did talk to them yesterday. Um Amtrak Amtrak was actually we met with Amtrak on January 7th and January 8th. January 8th we insisted they come in person no zoom they did come here um
thanks to Andy Kim Senator Kim's office they did send a representative here. So uh both NJ do and Amtrak knows that uh senator is involved so they they will not drag their feed as they were doing.
Uh the permit should be issued either tomorrow day after before end of this week. Then um there's two types of inspections. One with a ladder and one with a high rail. Ladder is a lot easier. The high rail requires Amtrak to
deenergize the line which is a whole different ballgame. And um been again trying to convince Amtrak to let them do that. But once they do it then they will know what exactly is required to fix the
bridge. So the bad news is I cannot give you a timeline. I cannot give you a timeline unless they finish the ex uh finish the inspection of the bridge which hopefully will happen within next week or two weeks. Um and they will
tell. The good news is that the county is working on an alternative solution. our engineer um did meet with the county engineer yesterday or maybe day before yesterday uh that will open the bridge temporarily uh and when I meet temporarily it's a
long-term temporary solution so it may go for years but I have told them I don't care as long as the bridge is open I don't care you can put wet restriction you can put whatever other restrictions you want as long as cars can pass over the bridge I'm happy and I don't have a
solution for that. But the county, I will give them credit. The county engineer is working very hard uh to come up with that solution which will be faster than going through Amtrak and NJ transit. But again, the most frustrating part for me is I cannot give you a
timeline today because I really don't know and I don't want to give anybody a false hope. But again I'll reach out to the uh we have told both the county and dot ninja dot is going to do the project that we want the method that will open the
bridge the quickest even if it's in limited capacity as long as it's open both ways for vehicular traffic. So they're working to open the bridge as fast as they can both ways for vehicular traffic. If I have an update I will pass
on to you. I I know Sony and uh Andrea have contacts for everybody. They have arranged a meeting with the state and they will talk about it next week on the 20th. Somebody from the township's finance department is going to attend. I am going to attend.
Whomever we can help individually, we will help through the state. the county is also sending somebody and they will try to access as many um as many grants either from the county or from the state.
Unfortunately, the township doesn't have any provision to help individual businesses. We don't have a procedure. We don't have a grant. But both the county and the state does have that and we are working very hard. Andre and Sony are working very hard to make it possible. And whomever I have talked to
among you, I have told you one of the things that they require is exactly what the impact on your business is. So if you can if every business can prepare as best as they can what their sales were in November, December and through
January 15th in 25 uh in 24 and in 25 that would help when the state comes to you I believe in 20th next Tuesday or Wednesday they're coming to meet with you on the 20th. and thank you for people who are making this space available to meet in person. So that's
that's really uh the update that I have and as soon as I hear anything from the county I will definitely let you know about the temporary solution they that they are working on. Um but I feel very
frustrated that people keep asking me why don't you give an update update. I mean when there's no fixed timeline that I can give. I mean I'm a business owner. I see your frustration. I mean if it happened to me I would be mad. I mean I
won't be as as calm as you are. Uh because it's your livelihood. And again I'll give credit to the county engineer. He also yelled at them saying that all of you are drawing your paychecks. these people are not drawing their paychecks.
So he was very uh very forceful and very adamant. So there are lot of people pushing to get it fixed. Um as soon as they can um many of you have my cell phone number you can reach out. I will try to do as best as I can but as soon
as I know the outcome I will update you and it's very frustrating that I can't give you any definite timeline at this point today. So if you have any questions I I'm around I'll be happy. Many of you have my cell phone numbers and we will
definitely talk. >> I just want to add to that. Um yeah. So on Tuesday um January 20th at 11:00 we are having that meeting in your plaza and we do have representative from
county and state um coming in um to meet with as as many of um you who can come and meet with them. Um they have blocked the entire day for you guys. So I'm not restricting the time for an hour or so.
So I think 11:00 um I think um Ruchi has opened up Kuman to um for all of you to come and meet with them. I really highly suggest if you can take that opportunity to come come and meet with them. The other thing um I did share um Andrea and
I have shared the Google form that Kathy Guzman had sent. I encourage all of you to fill that in. Um they're trying to make a case. thing we did at our first meeting, we talked about it um that if we can make a case with the um the governor to announce a state of
emergency for that region because of the bridge closure, we again it's not definite but we may be able to um work towards something that could help. Um so that's why the Google form if we can fill if you guys are able to fill it
before Tuesday if not while they are there they are willing to help you guys go through them and get get all that information in as well. Um I have been in touch with um the property manager Kelly and we have been brainstorming certain ideas. Um I am talking with PTAs
and trying to figure out if there is something we could do. So um either later today or um over the course of next couple of days um let's let's talk and see what what else we can do um and work if not on Tuesday when um when we meet we can talk further on that.
>> Thank you. >> I mean just to piggyback on that if anyone of you need help filling out that form because of language barrier we do have volunteers who have said they will work with you. So if anyone of you have language barrier just call either Sonia, Henry or me. Let us know which language
you speak. We will get you a person who will help you fill that form up. So from our end we will do everything possible as we can and as she said u Marina did ask on the call that what happened. Route 80 had a similar situation and the
governor declared a state of uh emergency and the state created a special program just for businesses affected by that outcome. So we are trying to pursue that. One of the bad timing also is that the governor is going through transition. I mean
everything that timing wise could have been bad has happened right. So now we are trying to work with the new governor um and trying to see if we can get this declared. That's where it comes uh that Google sheet form comes to help you. If
we can get the governor to help it declare uh an emergency uh for no fault of yours, then the state can create a program specifically for that region. There's no existing program, but that's what happened with Route 80. So, they can
create a program specifically for that development, right? And we are optimistic that we will be able to do that and as best as we can and uh I mean I can't tell you anything more than than
that that we are not taking it lightly at all. I mean we this is the topmost priority. I mean if anything else is not done it's not done. So, >> um, mayor, just to add to that, I think Andrea did, um, raise a question with Kathy, um, and Ryan, um, that the Google
form, uh, I think we were talking about, um, we should open it up to getting it filled from, um, more than just the 15 businesses as a community, we if we can uh, make a case about how it's affecting or why they are not getting to the
businesses, I think we could get generate a little more. Um so we can talk about that and see how we can work on um getting a survey into the township from the residents point of view. >> We can also use that for like the fire department and emergency services
>> other um we might want to change the form a little bit for them. But we can also get other groups and also the um people who live on the other side of the bridge. Uh particularly in the apartment buildings over there. they would uh they're probably being very negatively
impacted. We we can get that form into there. So there's several we could we can make it not just one group of business owners but we can go to other groups that are affected. >> We can we can talk offline about >> we can talk offline on that. So we like you know to the point like we are trying
our best um to whatever we we are able to do. Um unfortunately we don't have any any right answer right now. Um but we will continue working and you know we are here reach out to us. You all have
our our cell phones so call us >> and we've got the county Anthony from the county that uh and then there's several groups at the state that have been helping us with these forms and with these other things. So, uh there's a lot lot of awareness and of people
that are that are sympathetic to what's going on. >> So, take the opportunity on Tuesday when um state and county representatives are coming in. Um mayor said he's going to be available then as well. So, we all will be there. >> Yeah. So, as many of you can get that
form filled, the more of you can get the form filled, it will help. If you need any help, either because you don't understand the form or you need a language help, just reach out to us. We have already talked to a few people um who said they will help sign up based on
the language and we'll be happy to help you get the form filled. >> Well, we'll we can try to get one of the representatives who has agreed to see if she can attend the meeting on Tuesday. >> Yeah. Let Marina go then I'll go on other
topics. Marina, >> I only have one announcement and that is in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, um, municipal offices at the public works facility will be closed Monday,
January 19th. And I know that there are some activities planned um on Monday that the mayor will talk about. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Thanks. So I mean just to complete what um Marina said, there's a a program here
that human relations council is doing in room A, same place where we meeting now Monday um from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. So hope to hope to see uh some of you there at the program and the program information is on the on the website so
you'll know what the program is about. Um a couple of people spoke about the accidents um specific accidents. So I'm going to talk about that. I'm not saying we are not going to put beacons or not but I just want to uh clarify read from
the police report as to exactly what that is because that goes to my uh pet peeve. Um the crash occurred at 1:22 p.m. The roadway was dry. The weather was overcast. Therefore lighting does not appear to be a factor. The driver
saw a Tesla stop on North Post Road and thought he was letting him out of Municipal Drive. The driver's attention was on Tesla as the pedestrian began to cross. Driver then looked left, saw no vehicle, and proceeded. The pillar most likely obstructed views of the
pedestrian, leading him to see him, not see him until he was completing his turn and struck him. In the last 5 years, there have been only one other crash at the intersection. In 2023, somebody mentioned 2017, that's 8 years ago.
That's why probably it's not in here. And it did not involve a pedestrian. It was a right angle crash in the evening involving a vehicle pulling out of the curtain drive and striking a car traveling down North Post Road. So, I'm not saying we are not going to put uh
light in. I just want to uh say that as I always say, we will do whatever on our part, but if you don't drive carefully, that's a true accident. I mean, there's nothing if you don't see the person, nothing could have prevented that. He just claimed he didn't see the person
crossing, which is unfortunate. Um, county did reach out. I will on the record say that when we put the light um beacon light across from Ron Rajes Arboretum I forgot the name of the road
Ron Raj's arboretum county did not agree to pay for it we paid for it happily and county did install it because it was a county road so again we will continue talking to the county we'll continue talking to our police and um uh engineer
find out the best solution and if that's the light, we will do it. Currently, a contract is out for uh I believe four or five lights that were approved in last year's uh last year's um >> budget. Some of those uh projects
require uh uh cement work which could not be done due to weather. So as soon as weather improves uh that that thing will happen. Um among other comments um
um we generally not a promotional town. We don't we believe in just do it rather than worrying about advertising our achievements. Uh unfortunately some people uh use that to create an impression that nothing is happening. So I'll just point out that on the agenda
tonight there's a funding request to get matching grants from Greenacres for $1,637,000 open space grant. We do get our share of um share of matching grants from green acres. We do purchase our share of open
space um properties. In fact, we are looking at one now. We are considering one now and we have the money in our open space fund if we decide to go and purchase that. And finally, lastly, um we have settled our fourth round affordable house
housing lawsuit with the fair share housing center and the state. I will have more detailed comments on it at the next meeting uh when the agreement will be voted on by the council. Uh the residents are unhappy with the development going on around town. They
should realize that it's not the township's doing. I mean if it was up to me, I wouldn't build a single new house. We fight as hard as we can against lobbying by developers who use affordable housing to build in West Windser. Our efforts reduced in our
number by over 200 units reducing the total new units required by about 800 units and even in the sites we have chosen we have tried to maximize the uh credits we can get so as to minimize the number of new units that need to be
required and I'll continue to talk and highlight this issue because throughout the year you will see plans coming to the planning board as soon as the council approves the agree agreement it goes to one judge who will pass it on to
another judge. When the actual judge loi passes it, it becomes effective. Both the planning board and the council will have to adopt the plan under the duress from the state unfortunately and once they adopt then anybody who is
included in the plan can come to the planning board and present the plan. to you. Um I will continue to talk about it throughout the year as and when it happens. Uh but um this is not something that we are looking for or we are asking. This has been imposed on us
under duress and we are our worst enemies because our town is attractive. People want to move here. That's why builders want to build here. So that's it. >> Right. Thank you, Mayor. Council member comments. Um well, now
let's start with the new guy. >> Now I can go. Okay. >> Um Mayor, you mentioned Martin Luther King Day uh here on Monday on the 19th. Just a there are uh I did go to the last human relations council meeting uh where they finalized the planning for that. There are a couple speakers they have
lined up. They have a musical performer from the police department. Uh there's a food drive to benefit street benefit Mercer Street Friends. Uh, so I hope we get a good turnout at that. Hope to see you there. Um, regarding the comments on
the flashing lights at at North Post and Courtney Drive, uh, personally, I would um I would certainly support uh the town uh either working with the county or or the town uh installing uh lights there to make that a safer uh intersection.
Um, regarding the Clarksville Road businesses, um, I appreciate the folks coming out here tonight. Um, you know, my my family and I have been making a conscious effort to try to get out and support some of those businesses. Last night, my son called me on my drive
home, said he was starving. I said, "All right, we'll pick one of the restaurants there." We went to to Mizu, uh, had a great meal there. My my wife and family um, were going to Capuanos after they left the meeting earlier today. So, um I I think we need to do everything we
can. I'm I'm interested in talking to any of the uh any of the business owners uh to see, you know, how it can be uh how I and the rest of the council can be helpful. And uh I I guess mayor, if the if hopefully we're going to start getting the uh
responsiveness from, you know, from the state uh and other agencies that we need. Um cuz I think if if if we're not then I think we need to think about what we need to do to you know start a publicity
campaign uh petitions you know getting things out out in the newspapers perhaps uh getting more publicity on this because obviously it's having a dramatic impact on all these uh small businesses locally owned businesses here. Um, and it it's even more than that, right? It's
it's it drives traffic um around other parts of town. It increases pollution, congestion on the roads. And last but not least, you know, right, it takes longer for our fire, police, and emergency uh vehicles to get anywhere around town, right? If if somebody needs
an ambulance and now it takes 10 minutes longer because they've got to take a detour, well, that can, you know, that can have a big impact. So, uh I guess if we're not getting the urgency uh from the state uh that is needed,
then I think we uh certainly I'm willing and interested in uh doing whatever we need to do to uh amp up the pressure on them. >> So, thank you. >> Thank you, Linda.
Um when the mayor mentioned about uh January 20th um I guess it's 11:00 a.m. meeting. Yep. >> If I I don't know at some point if if we can get the governor aware of that meeting. I don't know what her schedule is, but if she's anywhere in this area
and and could possibly stop by to meet with some of the businesses. Um >> it's inauguration day. >> Yeah. Not the inauguration date. >> No, maybe maybe not that day, >> but uh maybe have her reach out and re and reach out because if she's going to
declare a state of emergency, then she might want to um come here and see firsthand and hear from our our businesses. >> Um that's a big deal. Um I'm glad to hear about the inspections coming up because that's going to tell us whether it there can be substantial repairs or
whether this is just a total replacement. I don't know if the county if if there's any temporary type of bridge structure that can be done that maybe it's a possibility but the engineers um have to figure all of that out. So um we stand by our businesses um
we're we're there for you. There's no quick fix to this. Um but we're trying to all all different avenues to um to correct them in a very very unfortunate situation on that. Um, let's see what else.
On uh January 3rd, I joined the Central Jersey Sick Association for the grand opening of their new uh Dwal Hall. So, it's a beautiful, beautiful temple. I enjoyed uh attending the services, uh talking with the members, and enjoyed a
delicious lunch with uh dozens and dozens of of guests. Um, as Joe mentioned, human relations uh council is leading the Martin Luther King holiday um services right here in room A. So, uh they always do a great job and I I think
there's a couple of speakers that are um you know on the program for that. So, it that that should be on our township uh website. So, also um let's see the uh bike and pedestrian the rapid flashing beacons, as you know very well, uh
council will be getting the budget um at the end of February. um that that's always um an issue that we uh or I would say rather extensively talk about. Um if we go out to bid and we don't get any um awards for the bid at all, if the project isn't big enough,
then maybe we need to bundle it with with more more than one um and and other projects. So that's an engineering question of of how they can package things so that we we attract uh biders.
Um, so we'll work on that and that's always continuously on our mind in the budget season, those issues and safety issues. So, uh, wish everybody a very happy and healthy and successful new year. >> Dem,
>> uh, I think I'd just like to address the the comments. I don't have any other prepared remarks. um most of the business owners have left, but um I can vouch for the um the work the mayor is doing in regards to um being very
adamant with uh NJ dot and and Amtrak to um really make a a forceful case about how these long time frames and delays are just simply unacceptable. um and uh appreciate the work that he's
doing to make that you know happen but at the same time as he said it's not in his control. So um I know that that he and um my colleagues are are doing everything that we can in the context of coordinating and trying to get the the
resolution for the repair done as quick as possible. Um and we are as mentioned very open to any ideas um perhaps about additional ways to promote b the businesses there through advertising through social media. Um we don't have
direct we we can't actually tell the school what to do but we can help you uh collaborate with the school board um because maybe there's an opportunity there. So uh there's no such thing as a bad idea. So, please keep the
communication line open to us and we'll consider every possible option that we can. We we don't have a big, you know, magic pot of gold that we can use to fund it. So, we have to to be mindful of how we do that, but uh the we are all we
all feel your pain. Um and we we all we all live here and we experience that and we will do whatever we can um to to make it better. Um so and appreciate everybody coming out to express their concerns. Um the other topic regarding
um flashing beacons and road safety. Um I think we have to continue to be very aggressive in the way we deploy public safety infrastructure in the town. Um it's it's it's great to understand what statistical past records look like and
and patterns, but we also be realize that our town has been growing. It is growing. it will continue to grow and with that growth comes traffic. Um that's not a good or a bad thing. It's just that's the way it is. So we I think should expect to anticipate more
traffic. Um and be proactive about looking at areas that are potentially traffic, accidentrone, and be proactive about putting in uh safety measures what the whatever format they are best suited
for that location. um and not be reactive and wait until something bad happens, but let's let's try to be more um uh have a little bit more insight to where we can make investments to protect uh the public. Thank you. >> Thanks, Stan. Andre.
>> Yeah. Um as far as like the flashing beacons, um I agree with Dan that one of the things is um we don't want to be onetrick ponies. So if professionals take a look
at a particular area that has a particular issue with it, um I think they should be open to a lot of different um possibilities. Um and and I know we have in other areas of the town
done everything from road diets to putting in uh circles whether I like circles most of the time or not. So, one of the things we probably should be doing is really looking overall um and as far as the um as far as the
businesses that we've been working on, one of the things we have also been asked for, we've uh asked is if we could get a final, which I believe um Kelly has given us something that's almost there.
um some one one PDF sheet pops two sides um with some coupons, whatever they want to do with with the couponing u and the listing of the businesses with the contact information and then we would like to try to get that out. One one of
the ideas was to possibly look at businesses that wouldn't be as much impacted uh or res I'm sorry, residents that wouldn't be as much impacted by the bridge, say the new Avalon development, and try to get some of those in there
because if we can uh shift where some of the customers are, um then at least for short term, we might have a better chance at getting some business from a from an area that isn't is impacted. Um, what I wanted I want to say
congratulations to council president Sonia Gaus on getting elected council president this year. Sonia is an amazing and gifted public servant whose first thought is always how can I help? I know when this came up it was like okay what can we do? And I look forward to working
with you this year. Uh, also congrats to Linda Jas for planning board and to everybody on their new positions. Um, I want to me welcome Messa who came into Nassau Park joining several other restaurants uh at a grand opening I
attended in late December. And um also please check out the Not Afraid Art Show at the Outs Arts Council that opened last week. Um and one one other thing is I understand you're getting a new business there is a a juice business. Um, I've already mentioned to them that
when they open up, council and the mayor are always happy to come and uh make it a big fuss over it. And that's another way we can sort of uh piggyback on their opening to bring all kinds of business in there. Uh, on January 3rd, Sonia,
Linda, Joe, and I attended the Central Jersey Seek Association grand opening of their Dwan Hall. It was special to me as I saw their hopes and dreams at the prior groundbreaking and was very happy to see what a beautiful and spiritual building
it had become and I want to thank them always always for their great hospitality and their really good food. Um, this is a new year, new opportunities for the town. So, some of the things I'm thinking of for this year is to continue to look at software
improvements that'll help residents and and improve efficiency. Uh we have an opportunity to look at new ways to evaluate our road infrastructure and look at adopting a budgeting process that'll be tied to achieving a road quality target. We want to improve
township communications to residents. There are environmental initiatives to water and land including working with other municipalities and a grant that will encourage energy savings with an opportunity for more grants including for the township itself. Uh we'll continue to work on the bicycle
pedestrian and road safety. As we mentioned, the Clarksville Bridge is still out. We're going to continue, Sonia and I are going to continue working on that. And one interesting side thing is that some of the um information and contacts that we're
getting now we can use down the road to provide information for all the small businesses in West Windsor. And and I look forward to the new year and to all the challenges ahead. Thank you. >> All right, my turn. Um um
as far as the rapid uh beacon flashing goes, when the budget comes in front of the council, we will look at look into it. And you know, this council has always been open to um for public safety and anything we can do to improve that. So, we'll definitely look at that. Um I
think we have talked about businesses. We are doing everything we can do. Um I have been in touch with Kelly um the property manager. We have been brainstorming um on possible ways that we could publicize um things. She did
share a um flyer with me which is there. I did give her um some input about what we could do um a little more information about um the businesses and uh possibly come up with a village square plaza experience of some sort discounts or
whatever because that would um definitely um encourage residents to make the turn towards Village Square Plaza. So we'll continue working on that. Um and um you know that the we are having the state and county uh
representatives coming in on Tuesday. Um so we we will keep pushing and doing everything we can do. I am on PTA one of the PTA PTSA boards. So I'm uh talking to other PTSA board members as well to see if PTAs can do something um sports
booster club. So I have been trying to talk to various clubs and um teams to um you know when the track field does carb loading nights instead of ordering from another restaurant that they have been doing um we are suggesting they do it at
kaponos this time around. So we we I think each and every person here on these days has been um publicizing encouraging every everything we can do in our power and I think we will we will keep doing that and eating too. Exactly.
Um you know so um I think one of our next uh Andrea and I do these chitchat sessions. We are planning to host it um hold it um in Village Square Plaza the next one. So we did do one couple weeks ago. Yeah.
>> So um we'll keep doing what we can. Um and um you you have our contacts. I know all the business owners have left. They all have our direct contacts. You have our contacts. So feel free to reach out to us. Thank you. Um I do want to wish everybody happy new
year. Happy Makar Sakranti to everybody who's celebrating this week. Um I do want to say good morning to my family in India. They I know they are watching. Um they did tell me they were watching the inauguration. So I'm not sure if they're
still watching or not. But um do want to wish them good morning. Um I'm deeply honored and grateful for the confidence that my um colleagues have placed in me to serve as council president of Westminster Township. Um Westminster is a very has a very special place in my
heart. Um um it has it's it's defined by its diversity, excellent schools, engaged community. We do have a very engaged community and I'm I'm really proud that we have that kind of engagement in our community. This community means a great deal to me. This
is where my home is. This is where um I have lived the longest. Um I grew up in a military family where everywhere my par my father could bring the family we would travel. So I have pretty much traveled the my my first 20 years of my
life every two years we would go to a new new location. So this is the place where I have lived the longest in my entire life. My kids do not understand what what I what I mean when I say I move. I moved every two years on all my
entire schooling. And they were like, "How do you do that?" I was like, "Well, we made new friends every time." And we moved on. Um before I continue, I just want to I know the elected officials or former officials um have already left. We did
have former um council member um Kristen Appillegate present. Former councilman um Mike Stevens was present. Did I miss anybody else who was in the um audience? >> That was it. >> Actually um oh what's his name? Um uh
Prenetti was here. >> Bob Prrenetti. >> Bobetti was here. >> Yeah. Bob Prunetti for Yeah. He was >> Yeah. He was Yeah. When I moved here in '94. >> Right. So I briefly saw him I think. So I think
>> and I think Gay misses it too. So >> well we do have our former township clerk Gay um Huber in the um audience. So thank you Gay um >> for coming in. Um I want to thank my
parents um Shna and Pandangawas um who instilled in me the values of hard work, volunteering and giving back to the community. Um their example taught me that public service is not just a role but a responsibility. Um and those
lessons have guided me throughout my life. Um volunteering is not just about giving rather it is the way of life that some choose to live by. Thanks to my wonderful husband Rahm. Um he was here
earlier he's not here anymore. Um he's a volunteer firefighter of our township. um for his continued support to my and to my kids uh my kids were here Adi um he's a junior member of the volunteer fire company now and Issha my daughter
for accepting the life of service that we have chosen for our family um my godparents Mona and Jagdishwasadev who have always showed me um the right path um and today happens to be my uncle's birthday happy heavenly um birthday
Jagish uncle uh we lost him last year Um so we dearly miss him but he has always um been my shining guiding um light. Um and I do miss him a lot. On a personal note, the past two years of my life has
reminded me just how strong and generous this community is. During my cancer journey, I was uplifted by an outpouring of support from family and friends, from colleagues on this council, from township staff, and from residents who reached out with
kindness, encouragement, and prayers. That support carried me through some of the most challenging days. And it showed me that resilience is not something we carry alone. It is built through community. And that's why this community means a lot to me. I want to thank my
fellow council members for your dedication to Westminster. I think we all have that in common. I also want to recognize our township staff, boards, volunteers, and our first responders whose commitment and professionalism keep our community
strong every day. As council president, uh my approach will be grounded in service, fairness, and collaboration. My goal is to foster a council culture that values respect and productive dialogue, where decisions are guided by what is best for Westminster, both now and for
generations to come. In the year ahead, I hope we continue to work together with civility and govern responsibly. Focus on practical solutions to real challenges. Keep our community's long-term well-being at the center of every decision. We may not always agree
and that is healthy democracy. But I'm confident that by listening, learning and working together, we can move forward together. To the residents of West Vincer, thank you for your engagement, your trust, and your partnership. I'm proud to continue to
serve West Sincer. Grateful for the support I have received and committed to giving my very best in this role. Thank you. Okay. Um, cler, do we have uh any further comments?
>> I do not have any comments. I'd just like to welcome Joe Charles to council. >> All right. Uh, we don't have any public hearing. Um, consent agenda. >> Consent agenda minutes. October 27th, 2025, business session as amended. March
11th, 2025, a business session number two as amended. March 11th, 2025, a close session as amended. March 13, 2025, business session number three as amended. Bills and claims.
Does anybody want to um pull anything? No. Okay. Um motion motion to approve. >> So move. Second. Roll call, please. >> Okay. Charles, >> yes. >> I'll abstain from the approval of the
minutes since I was not on the council for those meetings. >> Correct. Gvers. >> Yes. >> Mandel, >> yes. >> We >> Yes. >> Dallas, >> yes. >> Recommendations um from administration and the council.
>> Okay. 2026-R020 authorizing the mayor and clerk to execute a limited access agreement Ellsworth Advisory Services LLC block 5 lot 20.01 01 2026-R021
authorizing the mayor and clerk to execute a memorandum of understanding with the Mercer Area District of the Washington Crossing Council Troop 40 Boy Scouts for the period January 1, 2026 through December 31st, 2027.
2026-R022 authorizing the business administrator to purchase one new conventional chass chassis from Campbell Freightlininer LLC under Sourcewell Cooperative Purchasing Contract number 032824-B
AAI $125,810 2026-R023 authorizing the township land use manager and chief financial officer to execute the supplemental funding ing request form acquisition projects with NJD
Green Acres for a 1,637,000 open space grant. Motion to approve resolutions 20. >> Oh, does anybody want to pull anything? >> Okay. Motion to approve resolutions 2026
R20 through 2026 R23. >> So moved. Second. >> Roll call, please. Charles, >> yes. >> Jeers, >> yes. Mandel, >> yes. >> Weiss, >> yes. >> Gowas, >> yes.
>> We don't have any um ordinances for introduction. Um we move on to the second uh public comment. Do we have anybody who would like to speak, please? and Clifton 18 Gston Drive. So, thank you for the comments about the rapid
flashing beacons. Um, with regard to funding, uh, recently Linda forwarded to me information about the AARP ch community challenge grants. Uh, there is one category in that in that in the grants that they have. God bless you. um
that's called the flagship grant and it supports projects that improve public places. Um awards range from a few hundred dollars to $15,000. Obviously that there's a set of criteria that has to be met, but all projects also have to be consistent with AARP's
mission to serve the needs of people 50 and over. Um as we know that this crosswalk, it leads to popular destinations, as I mentioned earlier, and the fact that the two pedestrians who were hit that I cited were both over 50 at the time. um you know this this
applying for a beacon at this location or if engineering decides that there's a better improvement or another improvement that would be necessary. I would think that applying for this grant would would make sense and would kind of fit the bill for what you know AARP
might want to to fund. >> Yeah. Yeah. So I thank Linda for passing on that information. May maybe engineering already knows about it. I'm not sure. But thank you. >> Yeah. I think we got that. >> Thank you. >> Anybody else?
Right. Seeing none, um I close the public comment. Council reports. Do we have any council reports, Dan? >> Um yeah, have a quick update from the board of ed who met last week for their reorganization meeting. Um there's three
members that were sworn in. Graylin Mchuan who is um reelected. Sharon D. Sebastian who was um elected. Um both of them represent West Windsor and Paul O'Brien was sworn in. He's on
the Planesboro side. Um so they all started their new terms. Grayland was also elected for another term as president as well as uh Puja Bansel as vice president. They're basically repeating their um their positions from last year. And there was a presentation
and discussion led by the board of ed attorneys about school the school ethics act and the code of ethics for school board members. >> Okay. Um Linda, >> the planning board will meet on January 21st at 6:30 p.m. in room A here. Um
they'll be uh voting on the reappoint of certain members and it's it's basically a reorganization type of meeting. Uh, Shade Tree Commission meets the fourth Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in room B. Uh, but the agenda has not yet been posted.
>> Okay. Well, Joe, you don't have any council to >> I did attend the human resource uh human uh relations council meeting last week, but the only topic they discussed was the preparation for MLK day. So, nothing else uh nothing else was on the agenda. >> Okay. Andre,
>> um the environmental commission did meet on January 8th. uh a few things they discussed that sustainable uh Jersey energy grant. Um there was a discussion on the watershed assessment and management plan which we have to do for
basically the acupank and for the upper millstone possibly a little piece in in another area. Um we're uh going ahead with the um watershed plan to do the asupank which uh has got a do d grant
but we do need the um resolution. So um they would like that resolution in January to come to us to uh go ahead with that report. Believe the engineering is behind it. Um it's a really good deal since the D is giving
us um is giving uh the wershed uh the money for it and the wershed's picking up the money for the sampling. So we want to go ahead with that and we're continuing to talk to them about Upper Millstone. The other thing that was discussed was the draft manage natural
landscape ordinance. Um we the members of the commission and um got copies of it uh like about a day before the the meeting. There was a lot of um concern
uh from this and and from others from uh people from the public. A couple of main concerns is that this particular ordinance seems to only apply to any kind of quote natural landscapes, which means native plants.
And um that's looked upon as something that would be um a downer or a um a reason for people not to want to plant native plants because once you've planted native plants, you're severely restricted with how you can plant them
and where you can plant them. Um which despite the ordinance saying this is to promote um most of the ordinance seems to be more about restricting uh about the only promotion in the or ordinance is that there would be some uh
information on our website about native plants and the environmental commission who has done a lot of work with native planting currently has a lot of that information on there. Uh, one of the requirements is if you've got native plants in the um in the planting,
there's a 36 inch maximum height. Um, 36 inch maximum height for most native plants, even including uh regular swamp milkweed is much too low. So, you would pretty much restrict Joe Piesai milkweed
and just about all of the native plants that are popular in this area. If you put a maximum like that, the um this this would require borders all around your property if you put in natural landscaping where you wouldn't be allowed to plant within 4t of uh of your
neighbor behind the property on the side of the property. So that would be a if you planted certain native plants which would be a tremendous uh restriction and invasion of of what people would think of as their property right and even in the sight triangles which act which
people did say yeah it's a good idea to have some kind of a border near the sidewalk and in the side triangle the border uh and the side triangle regulation only seemed to be if you had any of these native plants in it. So
there was a lot of argument about well if there's a somebody's bush is blocking the side triangle or if a um roodendrron's blocking the side triangle why is that any more less dangerous than than if it's a native plant. So um the
number of comments were made I know a number of emails are coming in as we speak. Uh one problem is that the draft ordin that the public doesn't have the actual draft ordinance. They only have the um the pro the report which by the
way does is actually was done very well with a lot of um drawings and and pictures and and information showing where these things are going to be in real world aspects. I really really appreciated that level of detail. Um but
the idea of what this is is um is an issue for a number of people um and sort of goes against everything we've been doing for the last eight years which is to promote putting native plants uh in a lot of areas. And there really was never
a great description to the public as to why we're actually doing anything like this because there isn't any um uh there doesn't seem to be a huge issue in the town with this um other
um you know so so that's where that is and and then um I also asked where in the state is there any other town that does these kinds of restrictions and we were told that there really isn't that we we would be the first to do this. The closest thing is Jersey City, which
essentially does it to promote plants by enforcing and uh putting in native plants, not saying that we're restricting if you do. So, that would seem to me there's a a lot of work. I'm I'm not sure what why we're doing this
um for the entire town. I believe I've there's one spot where there is a problem in one little section of town. I'm not sure why we're doing this for a townwide ordinance at this point and um I personally and there's a lot of agree
would not want to see this kind of thing happen. So that's throwing a little bit of my opinion in there, but um that was um brought up by a number of people and I think it's something that we would really have to come up with some very
very good reasoning why something like this would be necessary to to put the entire town under this. Thank you. >> Okay. Um affordable housing um has not met. They were waiting for our reorg to
happen. So their next meeting um is going to be the essentially their reorg meeting in February and then their business meeting. Um parking authority uh met last night. Um just a quick update um from them. They
are they have seen some um permit losses due to the um permit fee increases. Um but they have mostly seen that on the um the uh New Jersey transit lot on Alexander um road not on um the parking
authority lots. So um there are people who are trying to switch to the one lot um permits because there is a cost difference. So they are seeing a little movement there. Um bus depot project was
um discussed in length um last week um parking authority met with um many many entities township um act um there was some representative from Andy Kim's office Amtrak I think we touched base on
that um it was a combination of um work and um I think the Amtrak has finally finally um agreed to let parking authority and the contractors in on their properties um
because there is a remediation um project that needs to happen before the construction can begin. So I think things are moving in the direction now um I think thanks to having somebody from Andy Kim's office I think has helped move that. Um we did um briefly
touch base on the bridge closure on um Clarksville Road and then we have already heard um the updates on that. There was um some inspections I think uh is to happen was to happen this week or soon soon next week um on that bridge.
Um that's about it from my end. Um any additional um administration updates, mayor? >> Nope. Okay. Um we do have a close session. So we have to do a motion to go
into close motion to go into um close session. So moved. >> Second. >> Okay. Okay. Now read my statute. Whereas NJSA 104-12 allows for a public body to go into close session during a public meeting. And whereas the township
council of the West Windsor Township has deemed it necessary to go into close session to discuss certain matters which are exempted from the public. And whereas the regular meeting of this township council will reconvene and whereas the belowstated subject matter shall be made available at such time as the issues discussed therein are
resolved and its disclosure would not subvert any particular exemption for convening a close session. Now therefore, it be resolved that the township council of the township of West Windsor will go into close session for the following reasons as outlined in NJSA 104-12
for the discussion of affordable housing litigation and there will be no action taken um when we reconvene. We'll just come back and close. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Thanks.