I'll conf Okay. >> I call to order the U board of health meeting on February 9th. Roll call. >> Charles >> here. >> Gawas >> here. >> Jvers >> here. Mandel >> here. >> Weiss >> here.
>> Are we adequately noticed? >> Yes, this meeting was adequately noticed on January 23rd, 2026 to the times in the Princeton packet filed with the municipal clerk and posted at the municipal building on the township website. Please stand for the salute to the flag.
Okay. Um today under um ceremonial matters um we have a proclamation um for our health officer, wonderful health officer Jill Swanson who just retired last week. Was it last week? Two
weeks. Yep. Last month. And um we have a nice proclamation for her. So let me just read it. Whereas the township of Westminster proudly recognizes Jill Swanson, a dedicated public servant whose distinguished career in public
health has spanned more than three and a half decades. And whereas Jill began her service to Westminster Township in 1988, committing to the protection um education and well-being of residents through her work in environmental
health, community outreach, and public safety. And whereas throughout her tenure, Jill has demonstrated exceptional professionalism and expertise, holding certifications as a registered environmental health specialist, a certified health education
specialist, a community noise enforcement officer and health officer. And whereas Jill has been an active and respected member of numerous professional organizations including the New Jersey Association of County and
City Health Officials, the National Environmental Health Association, the Greater Mercer Health Partnership, and the Mercer County Health Officers Association, contributing her knowledge and leadership to advance public health
initiatives across the region And whereas Jill's commitment to excellence, her steady guidance, and her unwavering dedication to the residents of Westminster have left a lasting impact on the township's health services,
emergency preparedness, and community education efforts, and her outstanding service as our health officer during the CO 19 crisis contributed greatly to the safety and well-being of Westminster, Robbinsville, and Heightstown
while also providing vital leadership throughout Mercer County. And whereas after de decades of exemplary service, Jill is retiring to embrace new adventures, including exploring new places, spending more time with family
and friends, perfecting her garden, and enjoying more hiking and biking with her husband Brian. And whereas the township of Westminster wishes to express its heartfelt gratitude for Jill's outstanding contributions, her
professionalism, and her enduring commitment to the health and safety of the community she has served so faithfully. Now therefore, be it resolved that Mayor Morate and Township Council of the Township of Westminster, County of
Mercer, state of New Jersey, hereby congratulate Jill Swanson on her retirement from over 38 years of employment with the township. Joe, would you like to come forward for a photograph? This chair is open.
President Everyone say chairs. Congratulations. Um, now we open for public comments. Is anybody in the audience want to um make any public comments just for the board of health portion of the meeting?
Seeing none, I'm going to close the public comments. Um Allison, we have um approval of the minutes on the action. >> Yes, we have the board of health November 10th, 2025 minutes. >> Motion to approve. >> So move.
>> Second. >> Charles, >> abstain. >> Gvers. >> Yes. >> Mandel, >> yes. >> Weiss, >> yes. >> Gwas, >> yes. >> Right. Um do we have any um
mayor mayor or administration do we have any comments? Yeah, I just want to thank Jill very much for her long service and never clear especially during COVID. I used to joke uh my wife was jealous I was
talking to her more than my wife. So, but thank you very much. She kept everybody's safe. We vaccinated almost 96 98% of the population because of her efforts and uh we were given vaccines ourselves. So thank you very much on
behalf personally and on behalf of everybody in West Vincent and Nikita welcome. Um she has set a good path. So thank you. Welcome. This is your first meeting hopefully one of many. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Um before we move on, does
anybody on the council want to say anything? >> Well, I also want to thank Jill. Um we've been working together for 20 years. uh and um what what a phenomenal job you did and the utmost professional in in every way and you trained your
staff and and brought them along to now and and certainly during those co years where you and your staff were working like you know 14 16 hour days or more and on the weekends and it never seemed to stop um you were all there. So I just
want to thank you for that and now you can have a uh a nice relaxing retirement. So, I wish you wish you well. It's a pleasure working with you. Um, I have another uh issue I just wanted to um bring up. Uh we one of the residents or some of the residents wrote
>> We have that. I think we did ask. Okay. >> Yeah, we did ask that. Yep. >> Um anybody else? >> Uh yeah, I'd like to thank Jill. Um I know I was council president during most of CO and uh the health officer's job was not an
easy one. There's no way to prepare for that. And Jill just took it like uh she if she was nervous I couldn't tell. And we were constantly changing the rules every every time there was a meeting it would be oh now you can have 10 people
but you can have 12 but if you hold so many feet apart and depending so it was continuous changing on how we could get together or not get together. and uh Jill was was the go-to person uh for I guess the entire town. So, you got us
through that. You got us through good times, bad times, and I really really hope that you can uh enjoy the the um downtime that you're going to have now. >> Anybody else? >> Well, thank you, Jill. Congratulations
on your retirement. um you know I was um newly elected official when pandemic hit just just a month in and um you held our hands and being board of health we had no clue what to do but you held our hands and walked us through and you were
always available always day and night. Um so right from um opening up um clinics for testing purposes and um all the shots and everything masks and what not to do, what to do. Okay. Oh, it we
could do this yesterday but not today and it was everything constantly changing and you just um championed us through that. Um and your team has been fabulous. Awesome. So thank you. Happy retirement and enjoy.
Um, next we have um update from um our acting um board of health officer Nikita. Welcome Nikita. >> Thank you. >> All right. Um hi. For those who don't know me, my name is Nikita Branado. Um I've been with the township for about nine years almost, but um I'm acting
health officer. Um and I wanted to kind of give you some updates today. We have a lovely presentation but from two of our staff members. Um so I'm just going to go through a couple things. So, we did release our 2025 annual report. Um, I feel like that might have been given out already. If you if not, then it is
available on the township website under the health department page. Um, you guys do have the quarterly quarter 4 report for our health um for 2025. Um, some activity going on um in the public for influenza. Just wanted to go over some commutable disease. So, influenza
activity continues to decrease in New Jersey. uh the number of cases, emergency department visits, wastewater activity levels and test positivity report last week. Um the last week of January are lower than previous weeks. So we are seeing the decrease there. Um the number of hospitalizations due to
RSV have also decreased in the last week of January and then hospitalization admissions for CO 19 slightly increased since the previous week. Um but nothing of uh significant concern at this point. measles in New Jersey. A total of 11
cases were reported last year. Um we have none in 2026 to date. At this time, there's no ongoing community spread in New Jersey. Um and there are regular updates on the uh NJ.gov website for meals if anyone wants more information on that. Um and then we did have our
busy dog licensing month in January. So, um, at this point, um, we have about 537 dog licenses up until today, um, which are a good chunk of our annual, uh, one. So, that's good. Um, we've we've been happy with that. >> Oh, that's good because I think last
year at one point we were talking about, um, dog licensing being dropped. >> Um, so I think it's good to hear that we are back up on par, but of the year, but we it is a significant portion of on last year's end of the year. Okay.
>> Yeah. >> And that >> other than that I wanted to introduce >> Yeah. Before you get into that, as Linda was getting into, we did um we have received a email from um the residents
about the feral cats issue. Um do we have you have >> Yeah. So um I think only Linda was on the council at that time but because we lost our acco we have a uh agreement with East Windsor. So any stray animal
problems falls under police unless they are um rabies infected. So the chief will give you an update on that. >> Oh good. Thank you chief >> council. Uh yeah, I received uh a request from the mayor, more like a
statement to take care of it. And uh we are working together with the health department, with the acco and with the police department. We are addressing all of the issues with that, including all of the options that are available. I have met personally with several
shelters, pulling in some favors. You know, Barkdrop is a big big thing. Um and they are very very receptive. the the shelters are all great, but you know, unfortunately, everybody's at capacity. So, we're trying to work with so many different shelters on multiple programs that we can try and resolve
this as quick as possible. So, with all three of us working together, we will have it resolved. >> Well, thank you so much. >> Um, do you have >> No, I just wanted Yeah. Well, thank you. We appreciate the residents because I can tell you this has been going on for years. So everybody, they're they're
frustrated, but if we can get this solved once and for all because I think we know where the source is and and you know, different different things. So that would be much appreciated. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Yeah. Yeah. I'm sure I'm sure the residents would um be very happy to hear that we are looking into it. And
>> when the bills come on the bills list, >> you've been warned. >> Say anything about that. >> Thank you, Chief. Does anybody have any other questions for Nikita before we move on? >> No. Okay.
>> Okay. So, um we have two of our staff members, Ann Wang and Fatima Hawk today. Um they're going to present on Westminster Committee Partners. >> Thank you, Nikita, for the introduction. Um good evening everyone. My name is Fatima. >> My name's And my name's Ann.
>> And we are local health outreach coordinators and health educators at West Windsor Health Department. We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to be joining you all here tonight for the board of health meeting. Um, next slide, please.
Thank you. So, this is just a brief overview of some of the topics we'll be going over today. So, we're really excited to talk more about all of the health education and outreach programs we've been holding the last few years at the health department. Next slide,
please. Health promotion programs are initiatives to promote and improve the well-being of our community members. The programs themselves may vary uh with some focusing on education and empowering people to take control of
their health and with some delivering health services directly to where the need is at. Um so our programs are made possible through our wonderful community partners with their insight and trusted voices in the community are critical to our
programming efforts. And we also have other local organizations joining in events lending their expertise on various topics. Next slide please. So we keep in mind that early prevention is a core strategy of public health. And
so by partnering with schools and daycarees, we're able to encourage youth to practice healthy habits alongside um those who are in their support network such as their teachers and their families. And so, um, these are some of our
programs in recent years. Um, the scrub club are handwashing lessons where the health department, um, goes in during the school day and teaches kindergarten classes about the importance of handwashing. And since we started the program in
2024, we reached over 250 students across Dutch Neck Elementary, Maurice Hawk Elementary, and Goddard School. Also, in the summer of 2024, we expanded our tick outreach to summer camps and
these included WWPCE summer adventurers camp, Goddard School, and Windsor Happy School. And for the nutrition lessons, um, for those who aren't already aware, the Mercer County Community College, they offer a center for adult transition
program. And this is a program for county residents with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Um, the past summer, we had the pleasure of being invited to their class to teach a two-part nutrition lesson, and this
was the curriculum that we designed for their students and their staff. And for the lead outreach, our public health nurse went to the learning experience and she gave a presentation on lead and lead prevention. And this
was for parents and staff. Participants were invited to bring in household items for a free lead testing that was facilitated by one of our health inspectors. Next slide, please. So here I'd like to highlight some of
the materials that we use for our different programs. And um these lesson plans we developed in house with a major focus on being both educational and fun. So here you see um a special light that we used as a fun visual to show how
germs can accumulate on hands. And on the top and bottom are actual quotes from the kindergarten teachers. We received a lot of great feedback, especially about how engaging the lesson plan was. Next slide, please. Here are some more materials. On the
left are ones that we used for our tick lessons and on the right, ones that we used for our nutrition lessons at the center for adult and transition. Next slide, please. So, one of the most rewarding and um
just engaging uh role as our health role that we hold as health educators is being able to have very meaningful interactions with our community members. So, what better way to do that than to meet them where they're at. So, attending these outdoor events that are
already well established by community and local organizations have been so beneficial. Um and it's the perfect opportunity for us to connect with our residents. So just to name a few although there are several. Um so we've had the pleasure of attending uh
community day which is held by West Windsor Recreation. We attend the all yearround farmers market. We try to hit both seasons um which is held by West Windsor Farmers Market. And then of course the nationally uh renowned National Night Out which is held by the
West Windsor Police Department. So these well recognized community events yield very high foot traffic. So it's a really really great space for health education and health promotion to occur. Um we typically organize our tabletops based
on the population, the time of year and keeping in mind of any health um observances that are happening. um so that you know the information that we're disseminating is relevant and timely. Uh next slide please.
Okay. So as um Ann mentioned prevention is a huge forefront of of public health. So vaccines we've already discussed the importance of earlier but just to refresh they're really highly effective um form of primary prevention we call in
public health. um as they help our bodies to fight off germs and hopefully prevent the spread of infection. So this map here you can see it shows the wide range of vaccination clinics that we've held from 2021 to 2025 in West Windsor
Township. On the left, you can see a list of organizations that we've partnered with where they um were really integral in hosting wellrusted and community spaces for our residents and the public. Um, just to show a few,
there's schools, faith-based organizations, community- based organizations, um, and housing complexes, and they were really, really integral for us, especially during the COVID pandemic. Um, so all of these organizations have
played a crucial role in uh, not only promoting our vaccination campaigns, but also helping us to boost vaccination rates in the community. So, in the next slide, please. I am proud to say that from 2020 to 2025, we've been able to
administer 13,386 COVID and flu vaccines um within our full jurisdiction of Westminster, Robbinsville, and Heightstown. Um and these numbers are reported in our annual Westminster Health Department report. Um and we're also very lucky to have
joined forces with many local providers. It wouldn't have been possible without our help from Zufall Health, Penn um Zufall Health, Wegman's Pharmacy, Master County Health Department, and other local health departments to expand our
reach. Next slide, please. Health screenings are another integral part of prevention and with blood pressure in particular. um high blood pressure usually doesn't have symptoms and so the only way to know you have high blood pressure is to get it
checked. So it was significant that our public health nurses were able to offer blood pressure screenings regularly at no cost and at these central locations. So we have them at West Windsor Senior Center monthly for several years now and
newly started uh monthly screenings at the Gables. This is the housing group where because they have difficulty coming to us, they greatly benefit from us going to them. Next slide, please. And here I just wanted to put in a plug
that we have an employee blood pressure screening event tomorrow. Um, so we're super excited about that. Slide please. Okay. In addition to blood pressure screenings, um the Westminster Health Department has also rolled out many
initiatives um for township employees. Um so the goal is to really support our employee workforce um outreach to focus on prevention, education, and promoting the overall well-being of our workforce so they feel um more informed and more
empowered to make um decisions that benefit themselves in a healthy manner. Um so just a few examples to include. You can see in the slide here we held a walking challenge a couple years ago and this was really to motivate participants
to build walking and exercise into their daily habits. Um the program was concluded with this big health screening event celebration where we partnered with Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield where they came in on site to provide
health screenings for our employees. Um we've also partnered with Pen Medicine right here in this room actually um for the stop the bleed training where participants learn the importance of um responsiveness and effective uh response
for uh blood related emergencies. So that was very helpful. Um, we've we've also had the opportunity to collaborate with our wonderful council members to participate in the Tie the Town Pink
event where we have um tied pink ribbons around the municipal complex to promote awareness on breast cancer during October breast cancer awareness month. And we've also encouraged uh employees to participate in um color-coded
awareness days for different uh health observances. So just to name a few, we've done wear red day for American Heart Month and as well as dress and blue day for colurectal cancer awareness month. Um so this is really to just spread uh important awareness on these
health topics. Uh next slide please. So we also offered health presentations um whether they were presented by our own health department staff or by guest presenters from other organizations. And so these are some from recent years at
the West Windsor Senior Center. You can see topics ranging from mental health, cancer prevention, um pain management, Medicare, etc. And um we one of our previous public health nurses um she
also spearheaded the project first line which is CDC's um infection control prevention trainings for health care staff. And so she was at um various long-term care facilities including Bear Creek Assisted
Living, Foxtrail Memory Care, and Artist Senior Living. And you can see some of the various topics she also discussed during those trainings. Uh next slide please. So in public health we exercise
something called uh boots on the ground work. Uh this typically refers to very hands-on and actionoriented outreach. Uh we've conducted door-to-door visits in uh different areas of the community. So, this includes local businesses, um,
familiar neighborhoods such as the Hamlet and the Gables. Um, that picture on the left is actually an at the, um, at the Hamlet handing out, um, health resource packages. Um, so these packages typically contain information on
different health topics, uh, local programs and services available in the area. and the township and our senior center here has also been extremely resourceful in helping to connect us to
our veterans community to also lead uh veterans day distributions and u memorial day distributions. Um, so the aim really is to increase awareness so our residents feel better equipped to engage in healthier
lifestyle choices and reduce adverse health outcomes. Um, these efforts have also allowed us to have a physical presence in our community, improve visibility of the health department and township and be a familiar face for
everyone. Um, so by being right where the community members are, we're not just working for them, but alongside them. Uh, next slide. Thank you very much for having us here today. We're um open to any questions or
comments. And you have Ann and I's contact on the screen right there. Thank you. >> Great. Thank you, Fatima. And an um does anybody have any questions on the council? >> No, it's great. No, I mean, >> thank you very much. It's very good. Very informative mayor.
>> Thanks and fatima. >> Right. Thank you ladies. Um I want to also thank you for taking the lead on u filling in the application for mayor's wellness campaign. I know mayor has been um signing that for last couple of years
and uh I um have been I it was last two years I think I did not take um any further lead on that other than pushing him to sign that. Um but I really thank you um ladies to take the initiative and filling the application and hopefully
we'll just um you know go up from here and let's thank you. >> Um we don't have close session. Um this is um the time for um second round of public comments for the board of health
portion of the meeting. Um do we have anybody who wants to say anything? >> I have no one I have no one on the list. Anybody on the audience? I'm one of the neighbors that I just want to say thank you for uh taking a minute to say anything.
>> No, but I do. Can you hear me? >> Yeah. Yes. >> Um just >> Oh, there's a mic. You can tilt it up towards you. >> If I can hear you, people can hear you. >> Yeah, but it won't be broadcast if he doesn't come.
>> We I I will I mean uh >> hold on because uh the telecast is not catching it. >> There you go. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Uh yeah, I just wanted to ask then could we get some kind of an update in a couple of weeks or whatever you can do? The reason is I'm slightly skeptical. um
because the you know animal control officer in the past has told us the main issue was the regulations and and limitations to what could be done and uh to me it seems like unless something changes on that front we're probably not going to solve the problem. Uh the main
issue being no room at the end kind of thing with the trapping. So um maybe you can tell us uh you don't have to do it now but in a couple weeks let us know like what could be done or how it's >> Yeah actually we we will give update at every council meeting unless it's solved but the chief is involved so you can
rest assured he won't sleep until it's resolved but the the issue is not simple. I mean we have dealt with it before. I mean Jill will tell you we have dealt with it before. It's uh it takes time to resolve the issue. There's no magic solution and >> that's my Yeah. Sorry to cut you off but
it's been two years that we've been working with the control officer. So what's going to be different? >> We are looking at various options but one way or the other that issue will be resolved but it takes time and effort and money. That's why I was half joking when I told them the bill appears on
bill list don't complain. But we will I mean we have already talked to various agencies who can take who can't take. I mean with the weather everybody's full >> but he he has a lot of options and he can talk to you offline but every council meeting I'll give you an update. >> Okay. >> Yeah.
>> Great. Thanks a lot. Appreciate your help. >> Thank you. Anybody else? >> All right. Seeing none, public comment is now closed. Um motion to adjourn the board of health. >> So moved.
>> Second. >> All in favor? I I >> Okay. Thanks, Jill. >> Thank you. >> Enjoy your retirement. >> Um, I call to order the business session
um of February 9th. Roll call. >> Charles >> here. >> Gawas >> here. >> Jivers here. Mandel >> here. twice >> here. >> And um were we adequately noticed? >> Yes. This business session was adequately noticed on January 23rd, 2026
to the Times in a Princeton packet filed with the municipal clerk and posted in the municipal building and on the township website. >> Okay, we already added the flag so we can move on to ceremonial matters. We have two um topics under ceremonial
matters. Um month of February is um Black History Month. So we have a proclamation celebrating Black History Month. Um Council Vice President Andrea Mandel will read the proclamation. >> This is the proclamation celebrating
February as Black History Month. Whereas, Black History Month is a time to commemorate the historic struggles of African-Americans to gain freedom and equality and to recognize the importance of these struggles to our country's history and ideals and to celebrate the
many achievements African-Americans have made to our economic >> We can't close the door. Mr. Tomar. Mr. Tomar, we can't close the door. We can't close the door. It's an open public meeting. Sorry.
Um, this to celebrate the many achievements African-Americans have made to our economic, cultural, spiritual, and political development as a nation. And Black History Month grew out of the establishment in 1926
of Negro History Week by Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of African-American Life and History. And whereas in 2026 the national theme for observance is a century of black history commemorations.
This theme marks the 100th anniversary of the very first national observance of black history originally launched as Negro History Week in 1926. And whereas the observance of Black History Month calls our attention to the
ongoing need to enhance the understanding of black history, to overcome racism, and to build a society that lives up to its democratic ideals. And whereas the township of West Windsor continues to work toward becoming an even more inclusive community in which
all citizens, past, present, and future, are respected and recognized for their contributions to our community, the county, and the state. And whereas the township of West Windsor is proud to honor the history and contributions of African-Americans in our community, such
as in our senior center and schools throughout New Jersey, the nation. Now therefore, be it resolved that Mayor Himat Marathi and the Township Council of the Township of West Windsor hereby proclaims February as Black History Month in perpetuity and encourages all
citizens to celebrate our diverse heritage and culture and continue our efforts to create a world that is more just, peaceful, and prosperous for all. Next, >> thank you, Andrea. Um, we did invite um the African-American support group um
but they are not here. Maybe we can send them a copy. Allison. >> Yep. >> Thank you. Um, the next is the proclamation um celebrating 20 years of um their service um to our township,
Best Vensor Bicycle and Pedestrial Alliance. and I'm honored to read the proclamation as a past trustee um trustee and board member. So here we go. Whereas the mayor and township council
of Westminster Township are pleased to salute the Westminster Bicycle and Pedestrian Alliance in grateful recognition of its outstanding work on behalf of our community. And whereas the WWBPA
incorporated in 2006 as a 501c3 organization is marking its 20th year of its work in transforming Westminster through advocacy, education, and partnerships into a community where walking and bicycling feel increasingly
safe and enjoyable. And whereas the work of the WWBPA and its two predecessor organizations has helped lead to the creation of the trolley line trail, a network of bike
lanes and many new sections of sidewalk in Westminster. And whereas the WWBPA has built many of our woodland trails together with friends of Westminster Open Space and has annually logged more
than 100 volunteer hours maintaining those trails in each of the past 3 years. And whereas the WWBPA has helped fund additional bicycle lockers at the Princeton Junction train station as well
as in partnership with Bikefest, Bicycle Racks at the train station, the Westminster Farmers Market, and in many Westminster parks. And whereas the WWBPA hosts a number of free events for the
community, including an annual learn to bike class for children, the ride of silence, and together with the Historical Society of Westminster, the annual Martian bike. And whereas the WWBPA engages with
approximately 2,000 people a year through its outreach to the community, often through the Westminster Farmers Market, the Westminster Plainsboro Schools, and Westminster Arts. And whereas Westminster has been recognized
as a bronze level bicycle friendly community by the League of American Bicyclists in part because of the work done by the WWBPA and through its partnerships with the township, Mercer County and Greater Mercer Transportation Management
Association. Now therefore, be it resolved on this 9th day of February, 2026 by the mayor and township council of the township of Westminster, County of Mercer, state of New Jersey. Uh that the mayor and
township council recognize the Westminster Bicycle Pedestrian Alliance as an invaluable community partner dedicated to promoting the health, safety, and well-being of Westminster residents. want
You want to see what you're talking about? Say that Speech. Speech. Speech. Well, thank you um to everybody um past and current and future um board members of U Bicycle Pedestrian Alliance. I
think you uh play a very important role. Um before we move on, I just want to um add um that I would like to call for council discussion under new business um with effect to the Clarks Clarksville
Road bridge closure. So I request the council members to hold on to their um comments regarding the bridge closure until then. Thank you. Um we move on to the first round of public comments. Um this round will um be for 30 minutes
period um for with three minute limit per person. Do we have anybody on the list? >> I do have Allison Miller on the list. >> Hello. Um it was lovely to see you. >> Allison, can you please um give your
name and address? I was going to get to that. >> Allison Miller, 41 Windsor Drive. >> Thank you. >> It was lovely to see the proclamation for the Bicycle and Pedestrian Alliance. I know how hard everyone works on that.
But I'm here for affordable housing. Uh you will receive a memo from the affordable housing committee. Uh, but I just want to say how nice it was reading the ordinances to hear shall be
reasonably dispersed throughout each residential building when they talk about affordable units and safe and secured and closed bicycle parking shall be
provided. These two clauses were something that we worked for on the affordable housing committee really hard and came to the planning board and really worked hard to get the
planning board to approve them. So, it's wonderful to see them in the ordinances which you will introduce later tonight. Thank you. >> Thank you, Allison. Anybody else? We we I have no one else on the list. Anybody
um else in the audience who wants to speak? Can you hear me? Ajatar six horoscope. Uh I would like to draw attention. So before I go there, I would like to apologize to close the door on an open door session. So sorry about that. That's my mistake.
>> Okay. So what I would like to raise concern about is the recent snowstorm and snow removal effort that was put in by the public works department in our community in my neighborhood. We have to
call DPW at least 10 times to get them and come and remove their snow. They did not do proper salting of the roads prior to the storm and they did not do proper cleaning after the storm. We had one
week the whole street was icy. Nobody could walk over it. It was really dangerous. And Mr. Mayor, we sent letters to you as well. We didn't hear your response what was going on. So, we would like to know what was done and what will be done in the future. Thank
you. >> Thank you. Um, for those who don't know, we'll go through the public comments before mayor and council can comment back. Next. Henry Murphy, 26 Birchwood Court. Uh, when I went from five days a week to two
days a week a few years ago and was looking to do something, Sylvia said, "Join the bike ped committee." I thought, "That's great. I know all about it." And what an honor it's been to get to know all you guys. And every time I think I know something about it, you guys know more. And the planning board
is outstanding on that. It's been a real honor. And I just wanted to thank you all for the wonderful town we have. >> Thank you. Anybody else? >> Hi, Tom Reday, 409 Village Road East. Um, I want to comment on the what the gentleman said. Uh, there are a lot of
places where it's dangerous. If you're going down Alexander Road, the lanes are only it's like one, it's a two-lane area and it's one and a half lanes cleared. It's very tight. All the traffic is forced into one lane and it just adds to
the the problem that we've got with the bridge, the the traffic problem. Um there's spots where you're uh crossing one on a on a bridge and you go to make a left-hand turn to get on the one and the lane just disappears. Uh there's two
lanes there and suddenly the lane disappears. So now if there's somebody next to you, you're either forced into them or you're jamming on the brakes. Um, I'm a runner. My wife's a runner. Uh, there's a lot of runners in this uh town. And as you're running down the street, you can't run on the sidewalks
or because people haven't cleared them. That's another thing, by the way. Nobody clears their No, I shouldn't say nobody. Many people don't clear their sidewalks. There's a lot of places like on um Village Road East uh just by the the school property and then heading towards
across from the Grover Farm. uh it's the back of somebody's house and the sidewalk is right there and I don't nobody clears that sidewalk. I can't tell if that's the property owner that hasn't cleared it or whether that's township property. I don't know. Um so there's a lot of places where people are
forced into the streets. Two, three years ago, maybe four years ago, somebody died because they were walking in the street and a car hit them. I don't know if you recall that. Um so yeah, we we've definitely got a problem. I I agree this is bigger snow than we've had a lot of times and I know that there's a lot of sort of crusty ice on
top of it. I I think we could have done a much better job. Um there's no place really to run when when you've got these snowy times. Uh there's no place that seems to be cleared where you can uh where you can go run. So, you
know, other than that the that it's very dangerous that you know. Well, anyway, that's it. It's very dangerous. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone else? And Clifton, 18 Gston Drive. Uh, thank you very much for the recognition and the proclamation. Thank you all of you
on the council and mayor Morate for being members of the bicycle Westwinds bicycle and pedestrian alliance. Your support is definitely appreciated and thank you for recognizing the need for budgeting for bicycle and pedestrian
facilities throughout the township. Thanks very much. >> Thank you. >> Do we have anybody else? Right. Seeing none, um public comments is now closed.
Um administration mayor Marina, >> I have two brief announcements. The first is a reminder that the Lewis Bay Second Future Municipal Leaders Scholarship Competition
is open to all high school juniors and seniors. The deadline for submission of essays to the mayor's office is March 9th, 2026. And the essay's theme is what I like
about my hometown. And I want to also make mention that free income tax assistance services will be available at the West Windsor Senior Center, 271 Clarksville
Road on Tuesday mornings from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. uh as of February 3rd and it runs through April 14th. You must have an appointment and you can make an appointment by contacting the senior
center at 609799068. Individuals are reminded to please bring their copies of their 2025 federal and state income tax returns as well as all tax forms and documents that they have
received in the mail for tax reporting purposes. Those are the only announcements that >> Thank you, Marina. Mayor, >> yeah. Uh, do you want me to talk about B now or at the end? >> Um, you can give the update now if you
want to, but um, do you have any answers? >> Yeah. Yeah, but I'm just asking you if you want me to at the end I'll talk about the bridge. I can wait till the end. It's your choice. Um we can wait till the end and then when we open the discussion you can you can go first and give the update and then we can have our
>> then I I won't talk about the bridge now. Okay. Um so first I'll start with the good news. Um finally finally we believe we are at the end of the tunnel. The bus driver has promised us uh the start date of February 17th. That's not
this Tuesday, next Tuesday. So again, we are asking people to fill out the forms again if they need the bus. Um it's been a while, few months, and I'll post it also um on our website, but it's been a
few months when uh we didn't have a bus driver need a CDL. Uh somebody who accepted our offer then dropped out and was been a challenge. But we finally feel reasonably comfortable that the new bus driver will start on February 17th.
So, if you know anybody who was using the bus and still plans to use the bus, please request them uh to fill out the form so we know which routes to make, where to pick up from, and which days the bus runs four days out of five.
Doesn't run on Thursday. Thursday, it goes to the shopping center. So, it doesn't go to the senior center. So, if you want to go shopping, you can go take that on Thursday. uh but Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and uh Friday just indicate which days you want to be picked up, which days you want to be
dropped off or which days you want to do both and they will schedule um accordingly. >> Uh mayor, are we sending the um this message to all the senior center members? >> Yeah. Yeah. They they blasting up senior center as a mailing list. They are
sending it already sent like it was already sent this morning. It was sent this morning. Okay. Thank you. >> Yeah. So that uh that they will do as well. But if you know anybody then just let them know. Um I'll talk briefly
about snowstorm. A I did get your email. We got lots of emails and uh we didn't answer them individually but um the gentleman said this snowstorm was unusual. We haven't had one for a number of years. I went to Chad GPD and asked
last time we had 12 in snowstorm and went many many many years ago. Um the bigger problem more than the 12 in was the temperature. Even today the temperature has not gone above freezing. It's probably straight 15 16 days um has
not gone about freezing and the temperature went so low that the salt we had didn't work. So there was no point putting salt on um when it didn't work and it would just run off and uh damage the environment. Um the DPW, we have DPW
clearing the roads. They clear the main roads first and then the secondary road and then we have a contractor who clears most of the secondary roads. Um whenever we received complaints, TPW did go and take a look at it and cleared and
sometimes they had to break the ice. Um, one of the problems happened was that when DPW pushed or when cars were parked on the street, uh, the ice just formed into a ice ball and that was impossible to move. That became too heavy even with the equipment that they had. Uh, but
they did bring, uh, equipment to break ice sometimes. In fact, this morning they just shoveled one parking lot when somebody said u that was a park parking lot. Uh but they said people still use it and they requested so they went and
uh shovelled their parking lot. I did drive through your neighborhood. It was it was tough. Um but most of the neighborhoods were tough. Um hopefully we won't get a weather like this again. But uh they did they did go and address
as many problems as they could. Whenever um again if you have a problem uh we have a website there's a drop-own menu you can report them and whenever a problem was reported DPW send somebody to take a look they did bring outside equipment to break the ice because
sometimes is not showable I mean it was just ice stuck to the ground and the salt we had was useless because the temperature was 1°ree and that's the first thing I checked every morning I I got up it's 1°ree 2° 3° °. So hopefully
I see 45 now at the end of the end of that list. So once we go there um um we should be okay. Um but um again I mean it was not ideal. Uh we did the best we
can and anytime you complain we do go and visit the area and try to clear as much as we can. It may not be the same day, maybe the next day, but we did go and and clear the area. And I did get your complaint about potholes too. That's going to be the next struggle now with the cold temperature. A lot of
potholes are going to open up. And I've already talked to DPW to be ready because that's the next uh next fight we are going to have with the potholes with so many opening up with the cold temperature. Um one last comment I mean
I did get some emails and uh regarding there's an ordinance on the um for introduction today about changing u uh car wash from accessory use to allowed use in certain zone by the quick check
across from Macaffies. I did get couple of emails but I did I do know that a lot of other uh council members got a lot of other emails. So I just want to update um the council members um car wash is allowed as accessory use on
that property. If quick check was putting the car wash we didn't need this ordinance because the owner of the car wash is different than owner of quick check we need to make it as a um a permanent use um or allowed use.
Diagonally across from there there is a valo. They went in front of the zoning board. It wasn't zoned at that time but they were allowed to they were given a zoning variance I think around 2012 uh to put a car wash in 7-Eleven there. They never did that there that has
expired. But again now their zoning is very similar to zoning of quick check. So if they want to put a car wash there with the valo owner being the same guy is going to put car wash they don't need any ordinance. They can just use the existing ordinance and put the car wash
there. Um there's never a perfect use. Somebody's going to complain about no matter what you put. I remember when there was a restaurant, somebody came here and said, "Oh, don't allow quick check to open because it's going to throw other coffee chains out of business." Um um when we put warehouses,
people say, "Oh, can't find alternate use." This is an alternate use. So um this is a good use. If we don't do that, that site remains empty and those houses remain there. Uh the owner uh this this
project was approved about 2 or 3 years ago. Unfortunately, the original um owner of the property went bankrupt. It was taken over by a bank in Texas. And we finally find a reliable developer who is willing to do that, but he wants to
do a car wash instead of a restaurant. um he has done these car washes other places in uh in US. So I told him okay and we're just asking permission to make that as a u move it from accessory use
to uh regular use permanent use in that. So if anybody has any questions uh I'll be able to answer but they will go back to if you have questions about particulars of the car wash they will have to go back to the planning board to get approval because planning board has
approved a a restaurant on that side. So you can go to the planning board and ask all the questions that you have. So thanks. >> Thank you. Um uh regarding the uh sidewalks, um Mr. Ready, um if you see any sidewalks that are not cleared, um
please call our police department um at their non-emergency um phone number. They are the ones who make sure um uh ensure um to what's the term I'm looking for? enforce the enforce um the removal
and cleaning of um sidewalks. So that's what um if you can do um I I know many many residents have done that and I have personally I my son runs so I know what you're talking about for runners um the sidewalks are not clean then you have to get on the road. The other thing I did
notice, I think it was two days ago, I noticed at the corner of uh Clarksville and North Post Road, I think it was from the county, they were actually lifting the snow and putting it in a truck because the corners are getting um like hills of snow because of the amount of
snow. So, I did see that um the the the DPW and county is working on that. So, I don't know if you have any further updates on that. I don't know but the corner of um Clarksville and Penll I take right there to go home from here
that's blocked the right lane is completely the problem is everywhere route one has in south Brunswick uh shoulder is allowed between 6 and 10 which I use every day it was closed for more than a week till 2 days ago it it was open today the first time I saw it's
open so because of the amount of snow and because more than the snow the cold you can move the snow >> single digit Once down to the ground, it was very difficult to move. >> I guess the question is it's obviously going to eventually get warmer. I think it's going to get warmer at the end of
this week. We'll we'll have a stretch of days where it's above freezing. Is there a plan for DPW to to target any specific intersections that are blocked like that? Like one >> anybody who calls, as I said, they went and cleaned the parking lot this morning. Anybody who calls saying that
there's a problem, we go and take a look and and try to clean it if there's a really a problem. Indeed, I mean a lot of times like one development without naming specifically, they called and complained. We went and checked. First thing they had all the cars blocked on
the road. The snow by the car became solid block of ice, impossible to move even with big equipment. And then all their snowplow contractors just dumped the snow from the driveway onto the road. >> I mean then there's and then
>> and then that froze at night. So when they said the whole road was covered half of it was from their driveway and once it froze it was very difficult to move it. >> Yeah. >> But like you just mentioned Clarksville and Penile that right turn lane. >> Yeah. You can't turn right. I mean I go there every day.
>> Is that on the list for DPW to do? No. We need to >> That's a county. That's a county road. Yeah. I mean, we try to call the county, but I know everybody's hands are full. >> I mean, a lot of I mean, people complained about 571 county road. Again, we we didn't call unnecessarily because
I knew everybody has the same problem. It's not easy to >> Yeah. When I've been driving around, it's almost like almost every intersection where lane is lane is half. >> Yeah. So my so my question really is about >> is DPW going to take sort of a view of
the roads that they're responsible in the township for those types of situations once it warms up? I mean I realize that >> I right now I mean you don't have to wait to warm up. If you tell me that this intersection is not proper we will
go and take a look. A lot of times they call us about the sidewalk. That's homeowner's responsibility or business's responsibility. A slumberj is not owned property. No, no on-site owner. That's always a problem. And I don't mind
giving a ticket to a business. I don't I hate to would especially if the person is very old and given that the snow is stuck to the ground. I mean, if I'm 70 and somebody asked me to do that, I say give me a ticket. don't move from. Yeah.
>> Thank you. >> Yeah. All right. Thank you. >> Um, council member comments, um, let's start with Linda. >> Oh, hi. >> Um, well, just with the snow and all, I think the DPW has done an incredible
job. A lot of of overtime. It's very very challenging storm with the snow and then there's sleet and that freezes and more snow and it went on and on and on, but it felt like we got a foot of snow and all. of very challenging. When we get to budget season, I don't know if there's any special equipment that can
chop up this ice. It's out there. But but if there is, consider something in the capital budget. >> Yeah. To deal with it. It's tough. It's that ice is. >> Yeah. No, we have money in the we have money in our snow bank. So John tells me
the money is not the problem. It's just the temperature. Now tomorrow it's showing raining and 36. Hopefully most of the issues should be taken care of. It rains in 36, >> right? And each year we also award a contract um to a private company. We go
out to bid. Believe we only get one one response to the bid, but it's the same company uh that we use each year. So, um it's there's a lot of people out there, a lot of competition for them, too, I'm sure. Uh very challenging storm, but um
we'll try to do our best. If there's still complaints, get it into the DPW. I I'm sure they're out there every single day trying to do what they can to get um to get caught up. So, um thanks to them. Um let's see. Bicycle and Pedestrian
Alliance, 20 years. So, thank all of you for your work. Appreciate it very much. Uh I many times you have all sorts of tours on different um issues that that come up. I always appreciate the the reports that you give us and detailed reports and especially at at budget
season. We kind of focus on that and uh so I enjoy all of you appreciate you coming out tonight and and many of you come um on all sorts of different meetings throughout the year. So thanks for the effort and u all your contributions to making this a great
town. Uh it's all right comments on on the bridge. I was going to make some comments, but we're we're now saving that for later. Um, Black History Month or at West Windsor Arts Council and County um has events. So, just uh uh for
celebrations, just see their their websites. And on a very very uh special positive note um attention clerk Allison uh Sheen the family they welcomed a beautiful uh baby boy a grandson first
grandson and first grandchild too big baby boy beautiful you know it's like amazing amazing so I just want to congratulate you and the family and and um enjoy all those precious moments. >> Thank you.
Okay, Dan. >> Uh, I have no additional comments, >> Joe. >> Yeah, I want to say congratulations to the West Windsor Bike and Pedestrian Alliance uh for 20 years of service to our town. A number of the hardworking members are are still here right now. I
know that you know how much time and effort that that you all put into it. So, just want to say thank you for your service to to make our town a better place. All my other comments relate to the bridge, so I'll save those for later. >> Thank you, Andrea. Um just a couple quick congrats to
Allison first grandchild. Um bicycle and pedestrian. Um that's I mean I remember going to things I won't even say how many years ago over 30 years ago. U uh I remember Paul Leetti
and um his his project and biking around historically and uh it was probably about 20 years ago that my daughter became one of the fir the first student advisor um and also used um did part of her gold award for Girl Scout project with them.
So, uh, it's a long history. A lot of good has been going over all those years and, um, it's been a it's been a wonderful resource and a wonderful benefit to this town. Um, I would couple of things. I was at the Maurice Hawk,
uh, science fair. Always one of my absolute favorite things to do. Um, not sure if the kids get scared when they see me coming because I like to ask hard questions. Um, but, uh, it's something I really enjoy. And there were some new things this year, including an exhibit
on the u on rust, which they managed to put pictures up of the bridge. So that was kind of interesting. And um what another thing I went to this week was the upper Millstone watershed group meeting. Um as you probably remember,
we've uh signed on for the Asup Pink wershed to do a group project, a multi- um multi- township, multi-municipality township. and multicount uh project within the mill within the acupink
wershed and now um we're looking at doing the MS4 uh water projects with the upper millstone. So I'm hoping we um get some support here for that and some support from the other municipalities. So we'll be talking to them and um other
than that I'm looking forward to the rich discussion. >> Thank you everyone. Um, congratulations Allison on um, first grandchild. Exciting. Um, congratulations to the Seahawks fans even though I'm not happy.
Congratulations. Um, I'm a New We are a New England family. >> To jinx it. Otherwise, I would have told you two days ago that was going to happen. >> Well, congratulations. Enjoy that. Um, I just want to wish everybody happy Chinese New Year which is coming up. Um
and um Bicycle Pedestrian Alliance. This was the first group that I actually joined when we moved here 17 years ago. I had a newborn baby and wanted to do something and my neighbor Sylvia was like, "Why didn't you join this?" Because I was um biking around with my
um baby in the cab bike carrier and she thought that was an opportunity. And that was the first um volunteer group that I joined. Um thanks to that group, my son started um riding bikes at uh with without training wheels at um
before he turned three. Um and um and we have helped many um of our neighborhood kids um do the same. I think um um having a bicyclist um champion in our neighborhood definitely helps to get all
our um a lot of our kids under the age of five to ride without um their training wheels. So um congratulations on 20 years of service. Um I just I'm just honored that I had a little drop in there um with that um group. So anyway,
um Allison, do you have anything additional? I do not. >> All right. Uh we don't have any public hearings. Um consent agenda. >> Okay. >> Uh minutes. November 24th, 2025 close
session. November 24th, 2025 business session, bills and claims. >> Does anybody want to pull anything? Um roll call or motion to approve? >> Yeah. Motion to approve the consent agenda. Second Charles,
>> abstain from the minutes. >> Jivers. Uh, yes. >> Mandel, >> yes. >> Weiss, >> yes. >> And Gawas, >> yes. Recommendations from administration and council. >> Okay. 2026-R042
authorizing the appointment of Bendy Patel as an alternate to on the affordable housing committee with a term to expire on January 14th, 2029, 2026-R043 authorizing the appointment of Jasura
Kolamoodi as a member of the human relations council with a term to expire on January 14th, 2027, 2026-R044 authorizing the appointment of Michael Shuitt as an adviser on the Shade Tree Commission with a term to expire on
January 14th, 2027. 2026-R045 authorizing the mayor and clerk to execute a professional services agreement with Edwin W. and Mason Griffin and Pearson for a conflict attorney services $7,500.
2026-R046 approving the refund of the balance of remaining escrow for development plan review for various planning and zoning board applicants. 2026-R047 authorizing the mayor and clerk to execute a professional services
agreement with Center State Engineering for professional engineering services for the refurbishment of the basketball courts and skate park in Westmin Community Park and tennis courts at Hendrickson Drive Tennis Complex. $21,500
2026-R048 authorizing the mayor to execute a use and hold harmless agreement with Hamilton Township for use of the Hamilton Police Range as an alternative training location for the West Windsor Police Division 2026-R049
authorizing the West Windsor Police Department to continue participation in the Defense Logistics Agency DLA Law Enforcement Support Office LEO 1033. three program for 2026. 2026-R050
authorizing the business administrator to purchase technological equipment for the police division from SHI under New Jersey Cooperative Purching Alliance contract CK04 subcontract 24-38 $18,00018
uh $18,184 2026-R039 approving the updates and changes to the township's 2025 5-2026 employment practices risk control program in accordance with recommended changes by the township's municipal
excess liability joint insurance fund Melchief. >> Okay. Does anybody want to pull anything? >> Yeah. 2026- R39. Um, okay. Can we get a motion to approve
2026 R042 through R050? >> A motion to approve 2026 through R-0042 through 2026-R50. >> Second.
>> Charles, >> yes. >> Jivers, >> yes. Mano, >> yes. >> Weiss, >> yes. >> Gawas, >> yes. All right, Linda. >> Yeah, I guess at the last meeting we had discussed this and and it was um voted
on and pulled by council. Uh so I had just emailed some some questions January 29th. Uh some of them are very simple questions, but I think I got a response back from the mayor, but it didn't
necessarily address each point that I made in the email. Some of these are very very simple things I thought that would get resolved very quickly. So um we go through them now. >> Mayor, do you have any? >> No, I have I have answer to I mean I'm
not going to answer the individual questions. Um one of the reasons we are doing this is at the request of our insurance fund. We are not given the amount of uh items on our plate. We are not looking to take on work we don't
have to do. This is what is requested by GIF so that they will reduce our deductible. I don't remember the numbers top of my head but our uh deductible in case somebody sues us will be reduced. Some of the changes that Linda is asking
needs me to reopen the nego um employee contracts and stuff. I'm not willing to do that at this point. Not enough time and energy. So uh it's up to the council if the two minor changes that the GIF requested uh
if you want to approve them uh if not then the whole contract still holds. We just are exposed to a higher liability uh in case somebody sues us. So that is the only thing uh I I don't want to open the contract and do the changes that she
has requested and I don't want to go through each one of them individually uh at this time. So that's not easy changes that those those things she asked can't be done unilaterally by fiat. I'm not a president. I can sign executive orders.
>> Can we can we um have a close session at some point later when when you have a little more information? >> Yeah, but again I mean I can I can >> if we can we can um for insurance purposes so that we we don't lapse it and we don't um have a gap. I would I
would suggest >> no I mean insurance won't >> insurance won't lap it's our I don't know if I don't top of my head I don't know the numbers but our our deductible goes from let's say 25,000 to 50,000 or 75 whatever
>> okay so from 2500 to 100 >> it so that we don't we we can save the the money the tax tax dollars basically by uh passing the um resolution now with the change requested and then um have a
close session um to go over uh concerns. >> I can have I can have three close sessions. That's not a problem. The thing is I can't do the changes because those are contract related. I can't do it by fiat. I can't sign an executive order and do it. Okay. Right. So
>> we get it. I get we we I get that. Do you want Yeah, it was really the one issue was it wasn't changing the contract. It it was just it was a practice and I was trying to find out where like where is the place either you put it in a personnel manual or it's or
it's in the collective bargaining contracts because it's negotiated >> and I'm not seeing it the practice of of certain release time anywhere. So that's that's what caught my attention. Every two years we have to approve this. I get it and the whole thing. Not trying to
hold anything up, but I I thought that um that that needed to be discussed or memorialized somewhere, >> right? I mean, again, >> okay. Yes, it sounds like Linder's not asking for any changes to this
particular document, but I believe last time there was some questions that she had >> and and the discussion was that there would be a closed session to answer her questions or at least to discuss that. I
I think I think what Linda's looking for is can we agree today or another meeting that we have the closed session and she can get the answers and and that's basic Linda is that basically what you're looking for at this point
>> yeah should be policy and you do a practice um I think in that that becomes the policy trying to discuss this now without really discussing it >> we can't really discuss this now without really saying what we are discussing. So
>> we get a commitment to um >> commitment to a particular close session. >> We can we can work we can work and >> just to be like oh we're so busy and goes away. >> No I mean I I don't like to make false
promises. So I said I can do close session. I have no problem doing close session. I can tell you what I but some of the things that she's requesting I can't do and I can't humor you to say I will do it and not do it then that's not me. I will tell you what I can do and
I'll do it. If I can't do it I can't do it. And I have told you and again there's some things that are mayor's prerogative. I don't want to hold future mayor's hands. Eventually I'm going to retire one of these days. So I don't want to hold future mayor's hands. So I
will I I will explain to you my thinking. You may agree with me or not agree with me. But I did last time I asked you to pull because I didn't remember. I had read that a week or eight days ago and I didn't remember and I didn't want to read it in the meeting and make a decision on the fly. So
that's why I asked you to pull it. I did go and read it. I didn't get a chance to uh write a detailed dispond. I can have a close session. Not a problem. I'll find some other topic uh with which I can have a close session and we can have a close session. Not a problem. >> Okay. >> Okay.
>> So, are we are we okay with that? >> Um yes. >> Okay. Um anybody else have any questions with regards to this? >> Just make sure the date is tonight. Dates changed like three times.
>> Yeah. When it says the approval. >> All right. Um motion to approve 2026 R039. >> Second. >> Second roll call. >> Charles, >> yes. >> Jivers, >> yes. And >> yes.
>> Weiss. >> Yes. >> Darwas, >> yes. >> Introduction of ordinances. >> Okay. 2026-02 ordinance to amend and supplement chapter 200 of the code of the township
of West Windsor 1999 by amending the bulk and use standards in the B2A district and the schedule of off- streetet parking requirements. Motion to introduce >> so moved.
>> Second. Can I get a second? >> Second. Did you want to Anybody want to comment? Second. >> Um, so this is introduction. This is these are just introductions. >> Introduction. If anybody wants to, they have to. They can, but I suppose, but
>> we have to first put it on the table with with the second and then we can we can talk if we want to. >> Yeah, I second. >> Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Okay. Second. >> Um, does anybody have anything to say? So this this goes if approved goes to
the the planning board. >> Correct. >> They have 45 days but I would expect it sooner honestly. >> Of course. >> Uh they make any changes substantive changes then >> you can only make comment suggestion. You cannot make changes >> right >> for changes it has to come back to the
council. >> Y >> they can propose >> they can recommend changes >> right. Yeah. No they don't have the approval process. We did we we introduced it. >> Yes. But if there's substantive changes then we have to reintroduce >> will have to be reintroduced
>> right >> so they can make any and all changes >> recommend so we introduced tonight it goes to planning board if planning planning board has any suggestions or recommendations they can send it to the council if it is substantial then we'll
have to reintroduce >> remember this is an ordinance it's a you're you're creating a law that affects land use here in the the township because it affects land use in some way. It goes for review by the planning board who can only make
recommendations but normally they review it and it's to its consistency with master plan. They will send back a letter. Usually we find it consistent with master plan. We find it not. We also we also recommend that you maybe make this change and that change. Those changes >> Mike can you speak in the mic?
>> Oh, I'm sorry. If those changes are substantive, uh, then you will have to go ahead and reintroduce it. Then goes back to the planning board again for another review. So it can the process can be lengthened out, >> right? There's no other process that could allow for like a concept
>> review like concept review plan >> of the changes at the planning board level. >> There's no plan. >> You can't do that. You have you have to do it this way. >> Yes. >> No, Mike. Oh >> Mike, just to be clear, the planning board will only review whether it
complies with the master plan. Planning board is not going to make a uh value judgment whether we should do it or not do it. That's not their job. >> Yeah, they they're welcome to comment on it, but that that that's really what their job is. >> Yeah. Their job is to make sure it's complying with our master plan and all
the other ordinances that >> and even if they find it doesn't comply with the master plan, the township council can still say, "No, we're we're going to vote on this and we're going to approve it." >> Okay. >> Yeah. Yeah. I think sometimes you want to go beyond just the compliance. Yes.
That that is >> you know, you can make comment. we'd like to see this that and the other thing, but the uh the council has to make a determination of whether first do we want to go ahead and make these changes because it may be substantive. We got to start the whole process over again. Uh or if they're minor, then they
can make the the uh the changes. >> I mean, presumably the planning board could look at something and say, "Hey, this is 20 ft, but we think we would like 25 ft based on our experience." substantive change >> and that's but they're allowed to do that but they can't force it. they can
recommend based on their land use experience. But most of the time, I know when we get a letter back from the planning board, either side that I've been on, >> it's been that they say it's complies with the with the master plan. >> And the only time if there's a conflict between the planning board, the council
on their view of that land use ordinance, >> whereas there's comments from the uh comments or a non-recommendation from planning board. Only time that really comes into effect is if the council goes ahead and approves it anyway and then there's litigation against the ordinance to overturn it in court. The actions of
the planning board can't take into account as far as the court determining whether the ordinance is legitimate or not. >> Okay. >> They are >> they are you know the quote unquote land use experts of the town. Uh and they
make recommendations just like I do. Look, I can tell you to do all kinds of things for my little seat here, but whether you guys listen to that or not is up to you. I can't pass on laws. It's up to you guys. >> So, if it's in compliance with the master plan, but there's several
suggestions made. Yes. >> Adding building heights. >> But again, if it if substantive, you have to start the process over again, >> right? And and if the council does not agree, then we would have to say in writing why Nope,
>> we don't. No, we don't have to do that. >> You just go ahead and vote it in. You don't have to. >> We don't make So, in that case, we if we don't agree with the recommendations of planning board, we don't >> you make a statement, but >> and we don't make that change. >> Um, >> right. No, >> exactly.
>> I thought we did have to say reason why, but maybe if it's because it's in compliance with the master plan, maybe that's the thing. >> And if it's not, then you you can make a statement, but it doesn't have to be in writing. >> Okay. Does anybody else have anything to say?
>> No. Roll call. Okay. Roll call. Charles, >> yes. >> Jivers, >> yes. >> Mando, >> yes. >> Weiss, >> yes. >> Gawas, >> yes. >> Okay. The public hearing will be March 9th, 2026. 2026-03 ordinance to amend and supplement
chapter 200 of the code of the township of West Windsor 1999 by creating the R5E zoning district 200-189.4 Four >> motion to introduce
>> second. >> Charles, >> yes. >> Chvers, yes. Mandal, >> yes. >> Weiss, >> yes. >> Kawas, >> yes. >> Okay. Public hearing will be March 9th, 2026. 2024-04 ordinance to amend and supplement
chapter 200 of the code of the township of West Windsor 1999 by creating the R5F zoning district 200 to 189.5 >> motion to introduce >> so moved >> second roll call
>> Charles >> yes >> jver >> yes >> mandal >> yes >> gawas >> yes >> a quick note just for listening All of these are related to our >> correct. We have um seven ordinances,
>> right? Yeah. >> So we have uh from 20263 to >> 09 >> 09 are all tied to the affordable housing fair share plan um round four um that was adopted by planning board and council
>> mandated by uh state statute A4 which was passed by the legislature and signed by Governor Murphy. >> Correct. That's why there's so many all at once because each one was seven. >> Correct. We have seven seven in total. So we we just went through three of them. We have four more to go.
>> The um public hearing for 20264 will be March 9th, 2026. >> Yep. >> Okay. 2026-05 ordinance to amend and supplement chapter 200 of the code of the township of West Windsor 1999 by creating the
bulk and use standard in the R5G zoning district 200-189.6 Six >> motion to um introduce >> so move >> second >> Charles >> yes >> jvers >> yes >> mandal >> yes
>> yes >> goas >> yes >> public hearing will be March 9th 2026 2026-06 ordinance to amend and supplement chapter 200 of the code of the township of west winds 1999 by creating the bulk
and use standard in the R5H zoning district 200 200-189.7 >> motion to introduce >> second >> Charles >> yes >> jvers >> yes >> mandal >> yes >> yes >> gawas
>> yes >> public hearing will be March 9th 2026 2027-07 ordinance to >> 2026 you said 2027 >> oh I did I'm sorry I'm skipping ahead to the next number 2026- 07 ordinance to
amend and supplement chapter 200 of the code of the township of West Windsor 1999 by creating the bulk and use standard in the R5I zoning district 200-189.8 in >> uh motion to introduce
>> some moved. >> Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Charles, >> yes. >> Jivers, >> yes. >> Mando, >> yes. >> Weiss, >> yes. >> Gwas, >> yes. Public hearing will be March 9th, 2026. 2026-08,
Ordinance to amend and supplement chapter 200 of the code of the Township of West Windsor, 1999 by creating the bulk and use standard in the R5J zoning district 200-189.9. >> Motion to introduce.
>> So move. >> Second. >> Charles, >> yes. >> Jivers, >> yes. Mandel, >> yes. >> Weiss, >> yes. >> Kawas, >> yes. Public hearing will be March 9th, 2026. 2026-09
Township of West Windsor ordinance to amend the Princeton Junction redevelopment plan regulating provisions to create the RP-7A and RP-7B zoning districts of the Princeton Junction Redevelopment Plan, Chapter 200
of the Code of the Township of West Windsor, 1999. >> Motion to introduce move. Second >> Charles, >> yes. >> Jivers, >> yes. >> Mandel, >> yes. >> Weiss, >> yes. >> Gwas,
>> yes. >> Public hearing will be March 9th, 2026. 2026-10, an ordinance amending article 13, separate agencies and boards not assigned of chapter 4 of the code of the
township of West Windsor, 1999. I want to propose a couple of minor changes before we introduce it. >> So, um can we >> Mike, we want to propose um couple of
changes to this. Should we do that before we introduce? How do we >> Well, I mean, you you are welcome to do so, but a lot of these ordinances have already been reviewed through the uh fair housing process.
>> No, no, no. Mike, this is nothing to do with that. This is sh this is the the administration had given a recommendation >> one above it. I >> Yeah. >> No. So, um we went through all the affordable housing um fair share plan ordinances. we that those are um have
been introduced. We're looking at 202610. >> Yeah, we just wanted to do a couple of minor wording changes. I think I sent everybody this about a week ago. >> Um >> and everybody has a copy of >> copy of the red line version. So the
exact wording is um is available. Um the first one is the word horicultural somehow is in this ordinance. I'm not sure how long or what. Um the shade tree committee um doesn't it does arbiculture
it doesn't do um >> horiculture horiculture includes grasses plants flowers and food crops um and since this particular ordinance actually uh increases the um some of the
abilities and and powers if you will of the shade tree commission um having something in there that they don't really work with uh just needs to be corrected, I'd say, and and removed. Um I spoke to the mayor about it. He
reviewed it with the landscape architect. She said, "No, that's fine. That aboriculture is already in the ordinance." Um that there's no need to have the horiculture horiculture in there. It's in there in a couple of
places. Um so I've provided a redline version um of where that can be removed. Um on the um preamble where it says undesirable horiculture
and in uh sea powers it says um uh encouraging horicultural planting. uh a lot of the horicultural planting is handled by the um environmental commission and the um crops and stuff
would be under our agricultural group. So um it's no need to have the horicultural under the shade tree commission. So that's one thing I'm removing or uh putting a proposal to remove.
Then then under the uh creation I know there's been some discussion I understand there was some discussion um about the who appointing a liaison. I just want to say that I really like having a liaison.
Um, as a matter of fact, when I joined the council the first year, I noticed there was no liaison to the shade tree commission. Um, and I also noticed there was none to the human relations council the following year uh 2021 I believe uh
when we did we worked on our um our council procedural guidelines. I added those two liaison positions to the procedural guidelines. They were voted in by the council and we've been doing that ever since. Um so I'm very very
much in favor of it. Uh I think it's worked out really well having a liaison, but that is something that's under the council's procedural guidelines. It's not something that tends to be suggested under the ordinances of the um of the
various commissions and stuff basically telling the council uh what they have to have liaison to. So I've discussed that with various uh people the I think it's the mayor the uh um linder I know has
discussed that and so I'm uh taking um putting a proposal to remove reference uh to to it's encouraged that the township council appoint liaison to the commission who will attend commission meetings and events that's really under
the prerogative of the um council and I personally would not want to tie the hands of any future council as a weapon. >> We've had that since 2021 and it's it's worked out. Um, and I would hope that
all future councils continue to have that and continue to have representatives on our various volunteer boards. Um, but um, that's that's the proper way that it's done. Okay. Does any
>> with the change? >> With the changes. Correct. >> As amended. Yeah. >> As amended. >> Okay. So, Dan, I'm just going to go down. Dan, you're you're good with the changes, >> Linda. >> Yeah. I mean, I I members u commission
members know that B1, you know, that that wording. I did not like that. Um right. I didn't think it was just necessary >> for the ordinance. Um so little difference of opinion there but >> well we we already h we as you said we
already have that um in council procedural guidelines. So um we here we are talking about uh putting it in the ordinance. So just so you're okay with with the changes proposed changes. Yeah, I mean I I was looking at the statutes
this afternoon and um let's see 40 col 64-5 powers of the commission. Uh a it says exercise full and exclusive control over the regulation planting and care of shade and ornamental trees and shrubbery. So that's
their responsibilities. >> Okay, Joe, >> no questions. I'm fine with it. >> Okay. >> So Andrea, you proposed? >> Yes. making a motion to approve these changes prior to introduction. >> You don't need to have a separate motion. You just >> So we we introduce as amended. I
>> just want to make sure everybody Yeah. >> So um so I need a motion to um introduce as amended. >> So moved. >> Can I get a second? >> Okay. >> Charles, >> yes. >> Gvers, >> yes.
>> Mento, >> yes. >> Yes. Gawas. >> Yes. >> The public hearing will be February 23rd, 2026. >> Okay. All right. Um we move on to the uh second round of public comments. Um same
rules as um before. 3 minute limit per person. The comment period would be for 15 minutes. Um do we have anybody on the list? Um, no. I do not have anyone on the list. >> Anybody in the audience would like to um
say anything? >> Nope. All right. Seeing none, uh, public comment period is closed. Um, council reports, um, we start with Linda. Yeah. And if if we could, um, send this
over to the Shade Tree Commission, >> the changes. >> Yes. I will be sending this over to >> mayor administration. Right. Yeah. So again, >> uh this is more for the public since we went through this last week, but uh the planning board met on February 4th. It
held a master plan public hearing on section 4, the draft housing elements and fair share plan for 2025-2035. This is for the fourth round of affordable housing obligations. After the public hearing, the planning board by a vote of 8 to0 adopted its
resolution 2026R-04, which is the adoption of the housing element and fair share plan for 2025 to to 2035 uh fourth round. Afterwards, the township council held a publicly noticed special business meeting. The council
unanimously approved resolution 2026-41 which is the endorsement of the housing element and fair share plan for 2025 to 2035. That's the fourth round. Uh which was earlier adopted by the plan board.
>> Okay. Um and happy new year. I just want happy Chinese New Year to say that earlier. >> Dan first of all met last week. will be their reorg meeting and Miller was selected as vice
president. Uh most of the discussion was >> affordable housing >> what Linda just discussed. So, uh, they have received copies of all the ordinances. Alison made a comment about that. Um, I
find a copy of person of the full fair share plan the website. They would like copy of that. >> Yes, I just reached out to you. >> The housing element fair share plan, >> the one that I mentioned today,
>> it's posted on the website um under planning board. Yeah, there were changes made. >> Yes. >> Right. >> Yeah. >> I think if you go under planning board under their agendas. >> Yeah. >> We talked about it earlier today. Yeah.
It's under planning board um for the set meeting and it's in the additional documents and links. >> Yeah. You have to go to like a thing under there, but I believe they're all >> they're not the newest ones. So, we have to fix that maybe. >> Yeah. Somebody might come to you.
>> I'll note with planning book. >> Okay. >> All right. Um Andrea >> um environmental commission will be meeting on Thursday night. Um on the agenda is the natural landscape
ordinance. We have not seen the amended ordinance yet. I'm hoping we can get the amended ordinance. um with enough time for everybody to look at it and um if that's on the agenda um for discussion by the environmental
commission I assume since it's an agenda item is that going to be available to the public the natural the proposed there's a proposed natural landscape ordinance of which there's a lot of interest in there's it's not a gender item for the
>> but that's that's going to be moved slowly I mean we will have >> yeah That's not the problem if I and it is on the agenda >> okay >> for the environmental commission and there are members of the public who have not seen what it looks like. Environmental Commission is open
meeting. So it's >> I think the question is um will the proposed ordinance be available for the public? >> We can make it available. >> Right. And the um environmental commission doesn't have it yet either. So um >> doesn't have what >> doesn't have a copy of the revised
ordinance. So uh for the Thursday meeting. So if we can get that as soon as possible both to the public and environmental commission then there'll be a chance to look at it. >> Okay. Thank you. Is that it? >> Yep. Joe,
>> uh, yeah, I attended the human relations council. Sonia had a conflict, so I set it for her. They debriefed on MLK Day, which was a successful event. Uh, they talked about, uh, planning for the diversity day community picnic, which is expected to take place in June in Community Park. Uh, it's going to be an
outdoor event, so they're planning on having a backup rain date since I think it got rained out uh, cancelled last year. Uh, so that's a thought for that. uh some discussion around um community day in September um which is um the the
HRC would uh do some things for international day of peace as it relates to that. Attended the erect commission meeting it was the first meeting reorg meeting of the year. Prabat Tomar is the chair. Theresa Loreno is the vice chair. Some general discussion around events for 2025
>> 26 26. Yeah. Yeah. in advance uh of the meeting, you know, each of the members had provided some suggestions for things they wanted to see prioritized in 2026. Um Ronnie had requested everyone to since there was a lot of different perspectives and feedback, Ronnie
requested everybody to take a look and sort of prioritize what are their sort of top three out of everything that everybody had proposed. So that was some homework for the group. One notable item uh that was discussed is that it it sounds like the school district has proposed a somewhat major increase in
what they would bill the rec commission to hold events in the school. Uh significant increase in the hourly rate. So Ken Jacobs was going to back go back to the school district on that topic. So that's something we'll we'll keep an eye on and see what happens there.
>> Might be worth us building our own rec center if it's going to cost that much to rent the rooms. see if it's been approved in policy already >> or if that's coming up >> for the new budget. >> That might be something that you can take a look
>> on board of ed uh meeting and see. Right. Thank you. Um well um I don't have any reports. Um thank you um Joe for attending on my behalf the human relations um meeting. So I don't have any additional reports. Um
now we move on to the um new business. I wanted to disc we wanted to discuss um um you know Clarksville uh bridge closure. I want to start with mayor if you want to give your update first before
>> I forgotten. I thought it was time to go home. So I well I didn't forget. Oh. Uh, it's a mess. Uh, as you know, I've been I've talked to uh
NG12 thanks to uh them coming here. I did talk to 101.5 in the afternoon and then um now I think Amtrak realized that a lot of people are calling Amtrak for questions. So we had a meeting with Amtrak in the afternoon.
U Marlina, myself, Kerry, uh and Francis. Um we met with them. They explained to us what they are doing. Um how they're working with um NJ DoD. Uh
the inspection for the inspection for the um so they did they did issue uh there are two permits that they have. one is uh a permit to enter that they did issue in January where you can enter
their property but they didn't have a uh the uh New Jersey uh NJ do contractor didn't have a way of uh looking going up on the ladder and look at the bridge um and that SSWP permit
it's not still 100% issued they did issue one uh last I'm going to look up my calendar so I don't mess up the dates. Uh they did issue one last Tuesday the 3rd but then on the 4th they
failed the equipment that the NJ dot contractor used to uh was going to use to inspect the bridge. That inspection happens on the on the location and that inspection only happens on Wednesday,
Thursday, Friday. That's why now they are going to uh look at the uh do another inspection on 11th day after tomorrow and then if that passes then it will be 11 12th 13th. Um they did tell me that they had given the
contractor a list of things uh that they would look in during inspection on January 27th. So the contractor did have everything that he needed to make sure everything was working and then on February 4th
they did fail it. So now it it will do between 11th and 13th they will inspect it. If they pass it then they can do the inspection. Then the NJ DOT will come up with a plan as to exactly what's wrong with the bridge and how they are going
to fix it. they will propose it to us and then we can make a decision as to what option we want to choose. Uh but so far based on my conversation with various parties involved it looks like the best possibility is to open it one
way one time meaning it will be both ways but with the traffic light and one side goes once it's like a single lane bridge when one side crosses first and the second side crosses second. that looks like the best option at this point. But again, they don't know
because they haven't looked at it at all. Um, our next meeting is on the 19th. Uh, by then, uh, I think, yeah, >> hopefully the inspection would have been done by then. >> Yeah,
>> by a ladder. >> Yeah. So, uh, hold on. Oh, sorry. It's on the yeah on the night. So depending on again Marina reminded me Amtrak keeps saying it's
weather dependent. So depending on um how well um it goes we may know on the 19th uh what the shape the bridge is and what NJ do recommends um how we fix it.
I did talk to Amtrak today about getting a longer outage um because they say they they can authorize um only 3-hour outage every night which is essentially 2 hours of work time or 4hour outage every
night, 2 hours of work time, 1 hour to deenergize, 1 hour to energize. I did talk to them about getting me a longer outage potentially several days continuously like I did remind them when they
uh fix their lines sometimes I've seen at Princeton Junction Station they have this bridge on track one or track four and you get on the train on track two or track three. I did tell them I want something like that. Apparently for that you have to go to Washington DC to get
approval. the the New York office is not in a position to do that. So I did tell them that I want whatever needs to be done to get that I want to get that done. Uh so but again until NDOT tells us exactly what they plan to do with the
bridge and how long it's going to take and what how much outage they need, there's not much I can ask Amtrak for. Um but they are on notice that I would request a outage like that where they take the whole one line out uh for a day
at a time and give me that time period to fix one side and then take platform 4 out for one one week and give me that for one week and I they I don't have they they use some nomenclature that they have to do to make that applicable.
I didn't I didn't bring it with me now but I did tell them that I would like to get that done. Uh so um I have a little better understanding than I what I had last week but it's still um still very
murky. um or NJOT is involved, NGO's contractor is involved and Amtrak is involved and Amtrak keeps telling me that look our job is only to let you work but it's really NJ dot driven project and NJOT is responsible for um
running the project. >> Yeah. But un unless and until Amtrak lets NJ do um you know the the the time frame that NJ needs they can necessarily do what
they need to do. >> Yes. But again I mean I don't know if NJ do contractor knew on January 27th what needed to be done for the equipment to pass inspection how it failed on February 4th. And that's the first one.
>> Is that that high ladder that doesn't require them to shut down the electricity if I remember? Remember that we were told that there was a high ladder. >> Yeah. One is one is just the ladder and the other one is uh >> so they fell the lift or something. It's called So, so the one that was just the
ladder was >> the ladder can only go on the side. I think the one that they need to go is in the the >> the bottom of the >> both. But he said they brought the ladder or didn't bring the ladder and that never happened too. >> No, no, no. That I don't know what
equipment failed. I didn't ask. >> No, that was the second one. You said there were two there was one thing in January where >> the January that that >> that sounded like the high ladder inspection. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. But again, I mean, unless they do a close-up inspection,
NJOT can't tell me what needs to be done. So, it's meaningless. So, I mean, I can go up on the ladder and take a look at it and say it looks bad, but that's about it. >> I I wouldn't know either. It probably looks bad. >> Yeah. >> And they wouldn't um want to take advantage of the fact that well, there
was rail strike today um for example. And then Amtrak has asked NJ Transit to reduce their schedule starting >> next Monday. >> Yeah, starting next Monday. So again I mean let them at least do the inspection
and then we will figure out >> the um well thank you for all the work on that mayor um Marina too all the all these meetings I think that's good was sort of like questioning in my mind is that um and I finally found it with the
um help of uh our clerk's office in uh 2022 is 2022-R1 193 Three. And the first sentence of this resolution dealing dealing with the with the bridge. It says, "New Jersey Department of Transportation has informed the township of West
Windsor of their need to replace the structurally deficient and functionally obsolete Clarksville Road bridge over Amtrak Northeast Corridor Rail Line located in West Windsor." So, they already knew we already knew we approved this in 2022.
We proved it August 22nd, 2022. So even then they they knew they're calling it structurally deficient. And then I looked at another piece of paper. Um there there was a virtual public information center. Um it was December
1st to the 15, 2022. and it was all about getting public input on the preliminary preferred alternative for the Clarksville Road County Route 638 bridge over Amtrak project. So, so back then we knew there
was a problem. And then it says anticipated project schedule on this form. Concept development phase complete spring 2023. Design phase begins fiscal year 2023. Construction begins spring 2027.
So a year from this spring and so what I'd like to know is what happened in between. >> I I >> mean it's like was there a money issue? What other bridges came before? Like what happened here? >> I don't know what you're reading from but they are nowhere close to starting
in 2027. Um they have started design work on the bridge but they are nowhere close to starting uh construction of a permanent bridge. The permanent bridge is going to be much bigger. Um going to be have a
circle there with two lanes. Uh two-lane circle. Um uh there we have already um some of you were on the council when we acquired the Applegate property on this side because we will need that property
to >> for the bridge. Um so uh it's no it's it's it's not going to it's nowhere close. They haven't done the design yet. It's not they were familiar with the bridge because they have started work on the bridge. Other than that there's
nothing nothing in that timeline is worthwhile. Nothing is going to start. >> Mayor can I like maybe Allison can you get a copy of this to mayor? That's that's meaningless. I mean I can take your next meeting at least if you want to have
>> look I would rather I rather focus on getting the bridge fixed now than why this didn't happen while it didn't happen it didn't happen >> right well there are a few things that um there um that we have been um doing
uh working and um Andrea and I have worked out um >> a suggestion and I think I've spoken to Dan and all of you separately Um there are a few things that we would like to do as a council. Um I have been in touch
with um the county executive's office as well. Um and I think each of us have been trying to do uh various things. Um just trying to see if we can come up with um some thoughts about either doing
a resolution or something that we could um support together. Yeah, if Andrea wants to go over some of the parts and then we can discuss not worried. I mean, I know there's a bridge designed. I know bicycle pedestrian put all kinds of
stuff into it. It's got 8t on this side, 10 feet on the other. >> That's that's the glory bridge and that's the bridge we'd all love to have someday, >> but right now we need to get going. So, I put this together. It's going to be a little long- winded because I'm trying
to get to where we're going to suggest. Um, just since the emergency closure of the Clarksville Road Bridge, November 2nd, 2025, the critical repairs have stalled due to a failure to secure track outage permits
from Amtrak. As the governing body, we have no direct control over a bridge that goes over a federal Amtrak line. train line will be repaired and/or replaced by the New Jersey State DOT and is connected to Clarksville Road which
belongs to Mercer County. However, our proximity gives us the most pain and the greatest interest in ensuring that conditions are returned close to normal as soon as possible. Over the past three months, the mayor has been working with Amtrak along with the staff. Thank you
everybody. Uh and the state and the county to expedite the bridge. Sonier and I have been working with the affected businesses on Clarksville, but now it's time to escalate the issues and I think that the council can play a big part in that. There's currently three
main issues in fixing the Clarksville Bridge. One are the delays in inspection due to lack of an Amtrak permit that have prevented the formulation of a timeline and a plan which we do not have yet as this cannot proceed until we know the condition of the bridge. However, we
are expecting this will be resolved and I think you've just confirmed that probably over the next few weeks. Um, once the condition and the options are known and a choice is made, the timeline will need to be expedited and money will have to be quickly available. And three,
even if the state and county are ready to move, Amtrak permission will be needed to perform the work and this needs to be prioritized by Amtrak. Uh the three major problems have resulted from the root cause of the bridge paddle
uh of the bridge adultage are one local businesses primarily at Village Square on Clarksville Road are under great duress and need aid to survive. They have lost business from the estimated 15,000 vehicles per day that travel in and through West Windsor on Clarksville.
And revenue losses of 50% have been reported by the businesses from the date Sonia and data that Sonia and I have collected with the help of the New Jersey and EDA. Safety issues. The close proximity to the bridge of both the paid and volunteer fire houses, the EMS
ambulances, and one of the two county hazmat teams, which is ours, significantly increases response time in and outside West Windsor. And three, traffic that usually travels on Clarksville. The same approximately 15,000 vehicles per day in and through
West Windsor are now using alternate routes that are becoming overburdened and negatively impacts travel through the area. As the governing body, we can pass a resolution seeking the fastest solution to the bridge outage and aid to the affected businesses to help with the
services as needed. The most effective way to do this would be to work with the county, state, and federal representatives to provide one plan to make this happen. and and Sonia's mentioned that she's already spoken to Dan Benson and I believe we've been
writing various letters up and down to our state uh representatives. The best solution would be to seek a state of emergency from the governor of New Jersey. How would the state of emergency help? A state of emergency declaration
by Governor Murthy on March 8th, 2025 uh addressed the sinkhole problem on Route 80 was declared last year. It expedited both the repair of the road and getting help for local businesses that were impacted by losses. Timeline of the sinkhole. December 24th was the
first big sinkhole. February 2025, I'm sorry, December 2024. February of 2025, there was a second big sinkhole. Then on March 8th, 2025, Governor Murphy officially declared a state of emergency after more voids were found beneath the
lanes. and with um with um uh various people pushing him, including I understand uh one of our senators and one of the congressmen, one from each party that said, "Hey, we can get some federal funding, but I need this this
state of emergency." Um and after that, after that was done on March 8th, by June 21st, there were drilling, grouting, structurally structural stabilization. Um and the state of emergency was lifted. So in a little over three months
in one of the hugest problems to happen in New Jersey after the state of emergency uh was was put in there and everybody pushed and moved and did every what they had to do, they were able to start things going. So how is that going
to affect uh different things like the local businesses along Route 80? Um, Sonia and I have been working with the small vid businesses at Village Square for the last three months. We've brought in several representatives from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority
and we've worked to maximize the grants that are available to them. But this money is limited. However, the first thing we were told was that there was no grant program for emergency aid due to disasters without a New Jersey state of emergency. So, at this point, we can get
some help. We can bring in some marketing people like we're talking about for tomorrow. We're having more meetings. We we've helped them get all the aid, the the ones that are new. We've helped them get um aid for money that they've spent on equipment. We've
helped everybody that wants to to get the aid that they can get to have a website done for them. But at this point, they really can't give any money. But what happened at the Route 80 is the grant program for Route 80 was a state
run program through the ND uh excuse me New Jersey Economic Development Authority. It was designed for quick short-term relief for small businesses. And by doing that emergency um they were provided a grant of a,000 to $15,000 to
each business that didn't have to be paid back. And the only way we were able to get that was from the state of emergency. Then because there was a state of emergency, a federal program then became available and the federal program also offered larger disaster loans through the SBA which did have to
be paid back but did allow some of these businesses to survive. Um how is this going to help the bridge? The state of emergency declaration under the emergency service act would elevate the bridgeg's status from just a local maintenance issue to a critical safety
hazard. This would provide Governor Shur with the legal leverage to intervene at a federal level with the do US DOT to compel Amtrak to prioritize track outages. That would be something in the similar to what the mayor was talking about where there are certain options
that are available to Amtrak, but the local Amtrak isn't able to do this even if they were willing to prioritize us and do stuff. Um, it would grant the New Jersey DOT the power to utilize emergency procurement, mean meaning buying stuff in a hurry, potentially
allowing for the installation of a temporary steel bridge, which we've all also talked about, within weeks rather than years. And I believe it would also open up federal disaster relief opportunities. Um, so the business's solution would be
similar to the executive order 383. Um the formal declaration would include uh to authorize the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to establish a targeted Clarksville corridor business assistant grant and allow the state to
seek SBA economic injury disaster loans. So basically what I think we need to do here um is not just randomly pass a resolution saying we're not happy, we're all not happy. Um but we pretty much get
one chance to pass a meaningful resolution and what we if we can work with others um particularly we were it was suggested to us the county to support having this um this this emergency
then then we could put that into a resolution. we can make that resolution match up with whatever the county may be looking at and that would make it a more powerful ask and the state of emergency
would be a way to get out of this crisis more quickly. We've been in this thing for 3 months. Just about nothing's moved and this seems to be the best way that we could move everybody forward, get the money. One of one of the things the
state of emergency does is allows the um New Jersey DOT to bypass a lot of the red tape that would that even once they've got the plan, they've got everything going, they would have to go through all kinds of red tape to make things happen fast. And right now we're
in a situation where we need phase A to be to which is whatever we need to do to get at least partial bridge, temporary bridge, whatever that's going to be. And then we want to get a final bridge and I think we need to actually move um and
change change the way everybody's working to make that happen and I think this would change the way everybody's working. >> Yeah. With all the conversations that um we we have been having with the government affairs uh personnel, the main thing that we learned is uh we we
have to work with um county and um state representatives to um push this ask um um of um state of emergency declaration by the governor. So I have reached out to um county executive. I did have a
discussion uh with him um late Friday night. Um I have reached out um to his office again this morning with some some more information um from the route 80 declaration um and um county executive is very um um has been very helpful and
he is um in agreement that um his office will do everything that he can um to get this moving. Um the question is um how do we as council mayor um support um this and move forward. The another thing
that we did learn is if we can um get um uh our senators as well to push for it. So I know mayor you are you have been in touch with Andy Kim's um senator Kim's office. I think Dan you have you have approached them as well. So maybe if we
can push Senator Kim and Senator Booker as well um to you know reach out to the governor I think that would be >> I agree that getting a declaration of state of emergency is the goal what
we're trying to do. I think really the question for all of us is what's the path? What's the most effective path to get that done? >> That's what we Yeah, there's so many moving elements to this >> resolution survey is is a valid path and
um but that shouldn't preclude us from contacting not just writing letters but calling speaking to all of our state um representatives and our >> federal representatives. And the ask of them is to um
specifically make a request that the state executive branch i.e. the governor take action, >> right? And that's what this would do. So this resolution that would lay this all out. Um but before we want to do that, we'd like to have some buy in obviously
and we'd like to make sure everybody's >> Well, yeah, we absolutely have to do this. We we should do this, >> right? Um, and I I don't know, Mike, does your firm have any resolutions we could look at or suggestion for for how we should write it? What are the
specific wording, phrases, things that should be written in this to be professionally written >> to make our points here and getting that declaration? >> I don't know that we have any resolutions on in our resolution bank that we have on this, but we can we can surely fashion something for you if
you'd like. Well, I know it cost a few bucks, but but there's certain things I want to make sure whatever the statutes say or to make sure that we're we're hitting that now on with this resolution, not we're we're all over because we all have
different ideas. It's got to be like to me, >> you want to give us, you know, what what you have, we'll put it together in compliance with the statute. Yeah, because I'd like to get some some um guess what I want income that I think that that should we
have >> yeah the data on the loss loss of income we have some information on that we are meeting with the businesses again tomorrow so we can probably yeah get get it a little more tightened >> I don't know the data the what
>> you get some data on the loss >> data >> data loss of business >> oh yeah that's what we're meeting with the mom. That's what >> that's for an emergency. That's >> right. That's what we're collecting right now. That's we've already talked to people about what we would need for this and they told us we would need some
we would need to have some dollar numbers and I've already asked that. So we we >> we've already asked her for more. We we have some overall but we want some actual dollar numbers. So we've already requested that. >> Yes. Marina, you have something >> just a suggestion.
The resolution that Linda referred to back in 2022 should be referenced. >> Yes. >> And made a part of a whereas clause. >> That's what it was the beginning of it. Whereas I forget about blah blah blah. You know,
>> yeah, it was um our we approved it. 2022 R193 >> because I know the mayor, the engineering staff, myself and Kerry uh attended some of these virtual meetings that were held
>> with the county and the county may have passed may may have passed a similar resolution. I don't know. >> They have not yet back in 2022. Yeah, I would think I would think maybe we could get that. Um,
>> so >> it's on Clarksville Road, so it's county road. >> It's a county road. I'm just >> just right. No, absolutely. Yeah. I also like if we had the um engineers report that will document the um
>> I think are excellent documentation, >> you know, and and also like to get EMS. We get something from Timothy Lynch um on response times. that would be like official from his position, >> you know, station 43, 44, 45,
ambulance service, everything just consolidate that into >> as well as um police department response. >> Yeah. Well, yeah, that too police EMS. Yeah. To for police to get to NASA Park if there there's a call for
>> Yeah. That takes them now much longer. incident on the other side of the bridge. >> Yeah. And the fact >> we I believe just before I started a plane went down uh over out near uh
Quaker Bridge in the field >> where um the large undeveloped property is. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Well, mayor, what um you I know you've reached out to the governor's office. what
>> I I have I I you know I have reached out see the governor has a uh person responsible for each county so I've reached out to that person I will reach out again uh see uh the the request has
to be coordinated between the county ourselves and then all the uh all of our representatives. So uh uh we you shouldn't jump a gun by uh doing a resolution until we are sure exactly what's uh
>> what's required with the inter intergovernmental affairs. Um >> that's why we didn't do one now. I mean we're talking about trying to get one within the next few weeks, >> next week whenever we can and get buy in from everybody and a collection of
different backup data. But but by having one thing that we're asking for instead of just saying hey can you speed this up or can you talk to Amtrak now we'll have one thing that allows everything to move more quickly. >> Exactly.
I mean there are two different two different issues and two different parts. One is to get the emergency resolution done. So one the the businesses are benefited from whatever aid they get and then the money sufficient money is available fixing the
bridge whatever they decide to do and the second one is to put pressure on NJ DOT and Amtrak to fix the bridge as fast as possible >> that all comes under this though once we have this then >> once we get the declaration of state of emergency everybody everybody gets a
fire lit under this. Right. >> So has has there been a request formally to get a declaration of emergency? >> We haven't formally done it yet. Yeah. I mean I mean formally meaning in writing or >> have you even had a conversation? >> Yeah. So orally we have I've talked to
the uh govern the person in the governor's office. Um we have talked to the county. Um um >> has a governor's office representative made any suggestions about the path to get the >> No. See everybody is new right the the
person is new too I mean it's not I mean this could not have happened at the worst time right so uh everybody's trying to exactly figure out how this thing is going to work >> yeah I mean that's critical I mean I mean we really have just to focus on one
goal and that's to get the emergency declaration I think that one goal and learn what are the steps that are needed to get there And we did talk to EDA about those steps and stuff and they basically said go
talk to the governor, but they did say that we should um somewhere in there we're going to be asking for a specific amount of of relief money like the the one from Route 80 was $5 million. So, we want to come up with a number and it may
not just be the businesses. There may be other things that can go in there if we if we need it, >> but I think one of the one of the things is there's only two hazmat groups in this entire county. One of them is ours. We're either primary or secondary and
that has to be um put in there as something important because hazmat the entire that makes it more regional in terms of the danger right now. So there's a lot there's a lot for us that we can put in this resolution. It could be 10 pages long and we probably and we
even have letters from from the business people. We've got other kinds of attachments that could possibly be made as backup, but we don't want to wait too long on this. But I think this once we get this in place, it looks like everybody starts moving. So that's what
we have to do. >> Why Why don't you start working on the resolution? I'll talk to the governor's office tomorrow again. Okay. out and see and then try to reach our representatives as well and Andy Kim's office and see what what they need from us or how they can push.
>> Yeah, I um yeah, so I'm already in talks with the county executive's office. Um I have reached out to um Congresswoman Coleman, Bonnie Watson Coleman's office as well through through somebody I know and waiting for a
response. I know uh they were having a meeting earlier today. So I'm hoping I'll get some some answer from her office tomorrow. Um so and if we can reach out to Senator Kim and Senator Booker's office as well like if you have
that contact that you already started building with Senator Kim's office and you also have that um >> we're talking to the same person. >> Yeah, same person. So, one of you I guess whoever um and Senator Booker guess um once we once we come up with
with something then um our thought was um that we could even ask our commissioners um you know u for support but we need to first figure out the exact path that we need to take and the entities involved
um because there's so many moving moving parts to it. We cannot do things in vacuums and They do >> if the county team wishes to do the resolution first and we could you know supply stuff back and forth whatever is
needed to get it so that we can all be on you know be working together for the same thing. >> Yeah. Uh you can talk to the county also saying that we are going to do a resolution and we would like you to do a
resolution as well. I will talk to the governor's office tomorrow. I'll talk to Andy Kim's office tomorrow. I will email the council uh and give you an update as to what my conversation was. >> Okay. So, everybody's kind of in agreement here about the state of
emergency being the way to move forward on this. >> I think that I think that's our goal. That's one main goal that I think we need to work on. >> Right. And all this peace meal stuff is going to take forever. >> Yeah. I mean mean be very interesting if we could get somebody from the
governor's office to give us some guidelines of what is needed what does the governor need in order to declare so that we can so we don't have the same problem that we had with Amtrak is that we present something and they said oh that's great but you're missing x so it's kind of a chicken and the egg
issue but the more information we can get in advance about what we need to provide in order to successfully get a declaration would be really important >> do you have any information on how the route 80
um declaration was made like you know like from from like you know we just trying to figure out >> like what what steps we have to take to get get to that. >> Yeah. I'll be glad to find out report
back. You know, one one interesting thing is is uh Governor Cheryl seems to be very big into cutting red tape to get past things and make things work, especially talking about infrastructure and um this could be like a you know a
big what do they call feather in the cap? I still use that. Okay. >> Yeah. I think the way you push that is remember Governor Shapiro in Pennsylvania had the oil truck burnt underneath the 95 bridge and the the
governor was able to get the the bridge going in two weeks and that was a real cap. I think this is maybe something along those lines. >> Yeah. >> It's not quite. >> Can you talk in the mic? Mike, Mike, can
you talk in the U mic so mayor can hear? >> Just, you know, I was talking about what happened with Governor Shapiro. It's a different situation because you don't have Antrak underneath, but the 95 bridge that uh you maybe you could turn this into something that >> Yeah. You know, along those lines that
the Shur administration can show progress. It's just difficult because you're dealing with Amtrak. >> Yeah. >> I mean, every time I bring that bridge up, everybody says Amtrak wasn't involved. >> Come back. >> Yeah. But doing it this way, we're not >> get stuck at
>> trying to go back every time that Amtrak doesn't do something and try to find somebody to get to push it and it's just going to take forever. We if we do this, it'll give us some impetus. Hopefully, somebody will take this under their wing and nowhere serious. But I know the
governor has been making speeches not only about the gateway tunnel but about uh the slowness of the Amtrak uh service and it's affecting New Jersey Transit and so forth. So that this may be part of that overall theme too. You be would be able to work in
>> and that would be whoever's going to go sell this thing to, you know, do that >> because, you know, she has Amtrak within her sites. So maybe this is something to try to make part of that whole push. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. So all right. So we're going to
work on that. >> Okay. All right. So let's work on let's work on that. Um um Allison, can we work with Mike to at least start working on a draft resolution while we are still following up with our representatives
and see which way to go. At least we can have something in hand and if we need to >> um once the county executive has um their resolution, if we need to amend it to, you know, match it up, I think we can work on it, but at least have some some something that we can Okay.
>> work on. I know Dan, you had some information. I I drafted a guess a memorandum sort of as a like a briefing document to give to representatives so that you don't have to explain the whole thing. Um so they have that and then I converted that into a draft resolution.
Happy to >> if you want share it with >> anything anyone has a starting point through the clerk's office to me that would really be appreciated. >> Yep. >> Okay. All right. Um, >> I I would just say we need to continue
to encourage folks to write individual letters, right, to all our representatives and and uh >> you know, public opinion can have a strong impact on these things, right? You look at the what happened with the cranberry farm, nothing really happened
until there was a wave of >> public opinion, media coverage, right? So, I think we need to continue to push on that. Um there's a petition out there that we should be encouraging people to sign and um I'm confident that you know some additional media outlets will will
latch on to this if we if we keep it in the public eye. >> Absolutely. I think last time I saw the petition had thousand plus signatures um and um NJ12 already covered and it was broadcasted yesterday. Hopefully other
news channels channels as well pick it up. um mayor has been has spoken to 101.5. Um I did see community news um cover it. So I've start I'm starting to see um a little wave of information >> contact with both of the senator's
offices right >> uh more than Yeah. You >> I have somebody in Booker's office too. I'll call. So you have Booker and Kim and then the uh congressperson as well would be uh u
or congresswoman here >> congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman. Yeah. >> So um I'm waiting to hear back. Hopefully I'll have some answers tomorrow morning on that. Um okay. All right. So we can we get the update in writing like like tonight's update is
when you call people you want to tell them the latest information and we we should work off the same sheet of facts. Do we have that? Like if we're call calling all these these legislators and stuff >> we can put together we can put together a Google doc >> but what what
>> well that's kind of the memorandum that I drafted. I think the best thing is that whatever you have forward >> forward it to Allison so then Alison can have >> closely with administration and the mayor. >> Yep. I think that would be the best way
to do it. Um so if you um Andrea >> you can forward that to Allison and you can forward your memorandum to Allison as well >> and um you know we can we and once I have something in written from back from I've only had verbal communications
right now. Um, so once I have anything written, I'll forward it to you. >> And there's all kinds of links and all kinds of other stuff that >> All right. Um, any additional administration updates? >> Okay, we don't need close session. Um,
motion to adjurnn. >> So move second. >> All in favor? I I meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m. Sure. >> Thank you. Thank you every