[This transcript was generated automatically from audio using AI and hasn't been reviewed by a person -- it can contain mistakes, including plausible-sounding sentences that were never actually said. Treat it as a starting point, not a verbatim record.]

[0:26] Let me remind everybody today is the combined meeting of July 20th's work session and combined meeting. Today is a
[0:32] approval of our budget. We have a budget on a list that's why you see more people here today. We were
[0:38] caucusing just now to make sure we have a quorum, but also a quorum that passed the budget. So at
[0:43] this time we're waiting for a member to come so we can pass the budget, which is most important
[0:49] today's meeting sites. I'm sorry for the delay. It was starting earlier. We were 20 minutes late,
[0:53] and I do apologize and hope you understand.
[0:56] We all please rise for the pledge allegiance.
[1:02] to the All-Nation organization,
[1:07] and then the physical with liberty and oats as for all.
[1:17] Fortелis.
[1:18] Madam Clerk, Roquel.
[1:20] Council Member Brecher.
[1:22] You're?
[1:22] Council Member Deima.
[1:23] You're?
[1:24] Council Member Cantos.
[1:25] Council Member Patil.
[1:27] Council Member Patil.
[1:28] Council Member Schmwell, Council President Coil.
[1:32] Yes.
[1:35] Add a quick notice.
[1:36] Add a quick notice of this meeting as required by the Open Public Meeting Act of 1975 has been provided by an annual notice and to the home news tribune to start a ledger and does he talk on November 17th, 2025 and posted in the main lobby of the municipal complex on that same date.
[1:54] Thank you, Madam Clerk.
[1:56] Before I begin I just want to share with everyone at first-year first-time here, you will
[2:01] get a chance to speak at the part with the resolutions on the consent agenda.
[2:06] You can speak on the resolution for four minutes and you can also speak on anything like
[2:11] at the open public part of this meeting.
[2:13] If you're watching from home and you want to see what is the agenda, you can see on the council
[2:18] part of the agenda and look for Council meeting in NC Council agenda and you can look it up
[2:24] from there and you can also watch it on YouTube this meeting.
[2:27] So thank you all for joining us from Palmer here today, and thank you for being here.
[2:37] Clerk, Clerk Read Resolution?
[2:41] Where as to red says syndrome is a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary
[2:46] motor and vocal ticks that affects approximately one in 50 individuals.
[2:51] And whereas despite its prevalent Tourette syndrome remains widely misunderstood and increased
[2:58] awareness helps reduce stigma while promoting understanding acceptance and inclusion.
[3:04] And whereas June 4th was established as Tourette syndrome awareness day in the state of
[3:10] New Jersey through legislation signed by Governor Phil Murphy in 2018.
[3:15] And whereas the New Jersey Center for Terrets Syndrome and JCTS provides education, advocacy, and support to individuals and families throughout Edison and partners with local agencies to provide crisis intervention team training for first responders.
[3:33] Whereas the township of Edison recognizes the importance of fostering a welcoming and inclusive community where all residents are treated with dignity, understanding and respect.
[3:44] Now, therefore, be resolved by the Municipal Council of the Township of Edison that June 4th
[3:50] be recognized as to red syndrome, awareness day, and encourages all residents to learn
[3:56] more about to red syndrome, promote understanding, and support individuals and families
[4:01] affected by T.S.
[4:04] Thank you, Madam Clerk.
[4:06] At this time, we're at over this resolution for public comment, if anybody like to speak
[4:10] on this resolution, can you come to the podium and speak on this resolution only
[4:19] for some
[4:20] reason?
[4:21] Please, yes.
[4:22] Of course.
[4:24] Okay.
[4:26] Good afternoon, Mr. Kualen and members of the Township Committee.
[4:30] On behalf of my family, the New Jersey Center for Tourette Syndrome and the many families here
[4:35] in Edison that are affected by Tourette Syndrome, we would like to sincerely thank you
[4:40] for recognizing Tourette Syndrome Awareness Month and presenting us with this
[4:46] resolution. This actually means a lot more to me than that it works
[4:52] can express. I'm not just an employee of the New Jersey Center for
[4:56] Tourette Syndrome, I'm also a parent of Sun's Tourette. So this recognition is
[5:02] deeply personal to me. Turin Syndrome is a neurological disorder that kind of
[5:08] displays on the way of unvalentary movements, motor and vocal ticks. And it affects
[5:14] as you mentioned one and fifty individuals. And one in a hundred school, eight children make it so far
[5:21] so it's really common. It's more common that we actually think about. While the ticks are the most
[5:26] visible to the individual, Tourette Syndrome comes with other comorbid disorders such as OCD, ADHD,
[5:35] depression, anxiety, and some learning disabilities. So sometimes these can be more challenging the actual
[5:42] tax.
[5:43] To add syndrome is often misunderstood, there is no test, there is no cure as of right
[5:49] now, and there is no medicine for it as well.
[5:53] There are some therapies that can help, but there's really nothing right now rather than
[5:59] CBIT training and some medicine that can be given for other comorbid disorders.
[6:09] By recognizing the Center of Awareness, you're helping to create a community where children and adults living with CS are seeing supportive and included.
[6:18] Thank you so much for taking the time to acknowledge this important class and for helping the community become more informed supportive and inclusive.
[6:27] If you have any questions, please let me know if we encourage you to visit our website and just learn a little bit more about it.
[6:36] Thank you so much. We appreciate your time, your support, and your recognition.
[6:41] Thank you.
[6:45] You're both allowed to speak for four minutes each. But if you're good,
[6:48] okay, just want to make sure that, okay, thank you. Is anybody else from the public
[6:52] like to speak on the resolution only for Tourette's? Okay. Seeing none, I'll take a
[6:59] motion called the public portion. Motion to close the public portion? Second.
[7:04] You've made a motion. Second. I didn't hear a first. Did you give me first?
[7:07] Council President. Okay.
[7:11] I asked for a motion. I didn't motion motion close the public portion on fair to say aye.
[7:19] Any council comments?
[7:22] On the resolution.
[7:26] Motion to adopt.
[7:28] Motion to adopt.
[7:30] I just want to thank both of you for coming and making more awareness of threats. I've had some experience
[7:42] through your foundation and through those you've been meeting along your trail of being informed of this issue.
[7:49] I hope that more people get involved, not knowing being a parent as you're the best advocate to certainly push this forward and make more people aware.
[7:59] So thank you for bringing us to our attention and help more people get involved.
[8:04] All right.
[8:05] I'm going to present to you now, right?
[8:07] You guys can come up to the podium.
[8:12] We'll stand.
[8:12] You guys want to come down for a mention.
[8:14] Everybody.
[8:17] If you guys have a camera, we'll take a picture.
[8:19] Just do you want to grab?
[8:22] All right.
[8:23] If you can't
[9:49] remember us and thank you for joining us.
[9:51] The next part of this meeting may be a little long and if you don't want to stay, you don't have to, but here, we're not throwing you out, but you won't be the first, you won't be the first that receive the resolution left because it can get quite long, but thank you again for joining us.
[10:08] All right,
[10:44] members of the council and those who are here today, I'm going to be moving to the moving down the agenda and leaving the budget.
[10:52] Last of Oda and we are short of member to vote on this budget three of our members are not here today
[10:58] unusual I'm certain there were circumstances of why they could not be here
[11:02] And I just it was not a fine at a 550 that beer potato cannot be here and
[11:09] We cannot retone of our other members. So we apologize for that, but I will
[11:14] Push this down hopefully be able to gain 20 minutes and
[11:17] We can pass this budget if this budget is not voted on today. We'll have to reintroduce this budget.
[11:24] It may just pass to the clerk to the B.A. What would be our circumstances if we do not pass the budget today?
[11:32] Councillor President, as I mentioned previously, the further we push this along, we would be issuing furloughs.
[11:38] That would be the other option because we would not be able to take this budget past.
[11:42] the temporary emergency appropriations take us to the end of the month, this month.
[11:50] I just wanted to confirm with our CFO, so that would be our other option to further
[11:55] unless the council wishes to put on a special meeting before the end of the month.
[12:02] And by statute, you have to issue for the most correct?
[12:05] Yes.
[12:06] All right, so we're going to move this budget down as we vote to hope some members may
[12:15] show up.
[12:16] Council President.
[12:17] Yeah.
[12:18] Okay.
[12:20] Council President.
[12:21] Okay.
[12:21] Would that be an option, a special meeting if we don't, yes, there will be the option.
[12:28] I'm hoping that the option, I'm hopeful that a member will be shortly and we'll be
[12:34] able to vote on the budget.
[12:35] But we are on the work session right now, so I'm just going to go through the budget as we speak for now and then we will move it down during the voting session.
[12:43] Okay, so the twenty twenty six calendar year budget municipal budget and the solid waste budget A, B, C.
[12:52] Can you counsel comments on the budget.
[12:54] Council president.
[12:56] Council member pressure.
[12:58] You have the floor.
[12:59] Just to say I want to acknowledge that I did receive the amended budget right today.
[13:04] But I think it was unfair because it was a 450 drop or whatever to us.
[13:14] I didn't get it with my packet, so that's a new of which really didn't get to look at.
[13:21] But as you know, with our general budget, I thought we could have some cuts.
[13:29] I don't believe furloughs are needed to have those cuts.
[13:31] I've requested a copy of the easy pass for the town, which I believe is in excess of $300,000.
[13:42] And the additional fuel that we've spent by allowing people to have taken cars,
[13:47] and I assessed that to be about 700,000.
[13:50] Now, my numbers could be wrong.
[13:53] Okay, they're just gone by average things, but I've asked for this information.
[13:57] you're aware of that, and I have not received the line items that those two items are in on
[14:06] the budget. So I'm not a fan of the way the budget sets. I'm not a fan that I haven't gotten.
[14:11] You know, that information, as I said in Councilman, I think I should have gotten that this is in line
[14:18] 36075 that I can then verify that that was taken out. I could see the gallons of gas that were used
[14:24] during the Lanky administration, and then from two years ago,
[14:28] I mean, it's a simple math equation.
[14:29] I'm not looking to get to the penny,
[14:31] but I'm assessing that we could be in their excess
[14:34] of a million dollars in savings.
[14:36] And I haven't received it, so I'm not happy about that,
[14:39] and I'm also not happy that this got dropped on me
[14:42] at the last moment.
[14:44] So I'm not really a fan of the budget way
[14:46] it sets, and I've explained that too.
[14:49] And another question I have here for solidly municipal budget, okay, no, it's not here, but I was wondering
[15:00] I mean you bet the sewer budget?
[15:03] That's fine, Council President.
[15:05] Council member, the amendments were-the order and state recommendations of amendments and there were
[15:12] line-in and amendments, it wasn't changing any numbers, financially on the budget
[15:17] upper down. And I'm sorry we didn't get a chance to explain that to you, but would you
[15:21] like hear from the B.A.? We also said the order it hear to discuss those amendments,
[15:26] and I apologize you didn't get that in time.
[15:29] So I hear correct, and that this was just a line item movement from related to our separation
[15:39] of social security charges from the utility out into the operating account.
[15:45] So that was just a financial function of the budget, just a moving line item to line item.
[15:52] Additionally, I did send Councilman Brecher back on May 20th, all of the information that
[15:56] requested is question regarding the easy pass. I said we don't have that calculated because
[16:04] it's a new charge altogether for this year. So that has not been equated. It was not
[16:10] equated in the past and I did explain that to him and I followed up with him June 1st say if
[16:18] he had any further questions and I did not hear back.
[16:21] And Council President, looking for, right, it was really simple.
[16:27] The easy pass that we paid when Lanky was mayor, which you would have access to.
[16:32] The easy pass charges that we paid for last four years also, so that I could see an apple
[16:38] and an apple, because when the new administration came in, they allowed like 100 cars to
[16:44] go home with people.
[16:45] We all know that 100 cars go on home, and these aren't people living in an Edison, right?
[16:49] are people that are an hour away from here, right? And with the exorbitant fuel
[16:54] cost now, yes, it's substantial. So I didn't see anything about the gallons. I didn't
[17:01] see the easy past. You did respond and you said that that's in the police department's
[17:05] budget. But the police department technically works for you and the mayor. So therefore,
[17:10] when I asked for those gallons, I should have that. Okay, I shouldn't get a dismissive answer
[17:16] which is what I felt I had, so I didn't see all the easy passes so I could verify, right?
[17:22] I get an easy pass statement, anybody in the stream that gets easy pass statement, I know
[17:27] if you got it on an exit, 130 and you got it off an exit, 17, right? It's very simple.
[17:33] I got none of this. The public, you can open the emails and you'll see, I didn't get any of this.
[17:39] So I'm sorry, I didn't get what I requested by telling me that the police department has it is
[17:45] I'm not an answer. It's not my job to go to the police department. That's the administration's function.
[17:51] But because of that, I'm still unhappy with it.
[17:55] Thank you. Thanks, President.
[17:57] Our customers, if you're ready to say you would you be voting for the budget?
[18:01] What's this increase?
[18:03] If they showed me that they took good money out of the current budget.
[18:08] So if they showed me that during Lanky's time we used 1,000 gallons of gasoline, we allowed
[18:15] take home cars which increased it to 2,000 gallons of gasoline and now we're cutting it back
[18:20] to 1,000 dollars and they say, Councilman, right here in the police budget under fuel,
[18:25] this is the reduction.
[18:27] I'll tell you what, then I see that we are, our belt is tight, but I don't see that and I
[18:31] haven't gotten it and it was a real simple ask.
[18:33] So, because of that, yeah, I don't feel comfortable in voting on this budget the way it is.
[18:40] That would be it for that one.
[18:42] The council member, someone discussed the budget.
[19:04] Council.
[19:07] I heard Mr. Brecher and I do understand his point, and I can fight with him on certain support on that.
[19:15] And it is challenging to see Clarks go home, however, we also have had to increase in crime
[19:22] and I would have had to increase in patrol, so many other things that have manipulated
[19:26] that number.
[19:27] But nothing for our exceeds people taking Clarks home and we know that.
[19:31] In fact, we can't get a line item answer, it's challenging and that's something I'll look
[19:37] to see where we can get there for your councilman.
[19:39] But at whole, we're in July, and if we were to find this cut,
[19:45] what it may be, let's just say it's 450,000 in easy pass,
[19:50] it's 300,000 dollars in additional gas that we are calculating based on a lot of things that have
[19:55] merit and don't have merit, because you can base an employee account, you're to base it on how many
[19:59] cars are in the road, how many people we're hard between that time and this time and have it retired.
[20:04] But you'll still get somewhat of a number, and if that number was 600,000,
[20:09] and we cut the budget 600,000 today, that budget cut would only be about 270,000.
[20:15] And I just want to explain that to those.
[20:17] But whatever we cut right now is about 60% of what that cut may be.
[20:22] It's we don't get that full 100% of that cut because we're already into the spending of month 7 going at the month 8.
[20:29] And I just want to explain that.
[20:30] But I do think this our committee has sat down multiple times.
[20:34] So I give every member a chance to look at cuts and what we came up with is every cut we
[20:40] make would be less surplus to have for the following year.
[20:43] So at this time, if we were to cut the budget, we're going to pay for it now, we're going
[20:47] to pay for it more later.
[20:48] And this is just the obvious, it's just how spending goes for each line item and each department.
[20:53] If we give someone 100% of their money in 2026 and they spend 70% which is pretty much a boundary
[21:00] that happens all the time, that 30% goes to the surplus.
[21:04] and we have that surplus that kick off our budget before we raise taxes.
[21:08] So if any council member decides to cut back at that 30%, it'll be 5% less that goes into that
[21:16] pot for surplus. And eventually we'll be burdened to the taxpayers. And as we look at
[21:22] raising taxes, which is taxes is 4.4% for this missile budget. As we look at as a whole,
[21:28] And each resident at a home value in about $675,000, which is the total value of their property.
[21:37] It's not the assessed value, it's assessed much later.
[21:40] It's about $130 per person.
[21:43] So, and that means a lot to a family, and I know that.
[21:46] But when we cut this budget, we also cut it for those who are the stakeholders of our town
[21:51] that make a huge difference in that $44%.
[21:54] So whereas I may save you as a resident $130, but I'm saving a large corporation $150,000.
[22:03] And that's, we're fortunate to have those big tax payers.
[22:05] So we make effects somewhere in the chain of how Edison has such a great tax revenue.
[22:12] We have over $7 billion in it.
[22:13] Is it $7 billion in tax revenue?
[22:15] We have a tax revenue, about $7 billion
[22:22] in a tax revenue.
[22:24] So you have to look at that as a whole.
[22:25] I don't just count anything that...
[22:30] Specialist says what he says is true. We want to make cuts, but I just want to explain how the
[22:35] budget was forward. But in this budget itself, when you look at the great things we've
[22:39] done in this budget, our public safety remains the same, no cuts. Our fire and personnel remains
[22:47] the same, no cuts. Our public worst department remains the same in no cuts. The services alone
[22:54] of those three departments or so demanding any taxpayer will tell you how comfortably
[22:59] feel that public safety and medicine New Jersey is far better than so many of the towns
[23:05] across this county and this state. When you look at our senior services or health department,
[23:12] some of them are here today and thank you for being here. Our health department covers a lot of
[23:16] great things in senior services and in critical needs across this town. Nonetheless, our restaurants and
[23:23] with great things they do to keep our electrons open,
[23:26] but licenced in different things they do.
[23:29] So if you look at across the board,
[23:31] I think we've had a good tolerance in every department.
[23:34] And it was challenging to listen to the 75 line-in
[23:40] and questions on the South sent to me
[23:42] in the four or five different means
[23:44] we had together for three or four hours.
[23:47] And Councilman, you did a great job,
[23:48] but a lot of questions you've had.
[23:50] But all in all when you look at this budget, you know, for uniform services, for retirement, for tax appeals,
[23:58] but you see in our agenda today, you know, we are solid when it comes to forecasting how many tax appeals will have for the following year.
[24:07] It makes sure that cushion sits at a certain number so that when we get hit in a certain market, we're prepared.
[24:15] and our assessors here in the back Joanne, and their team does an excellent job with people
[24:21] come to compromise their taxes and appeal us, they do an excellent job making sure you're
[24:27] stable in that corner. Our pensioner benefits, same thing, our insurance that we have.
[24:33] Each line of them has to have a reputable number to compensate what that number may anticipate
[24:38] to be. So all over when we look at this budget together, I think we've done a great job
[24:45] and leaving it where it is at this race is where I stand to support it.
[24:49] I'm sorry other members are not here today to vote on this budget.
[24:52] This budget may have to be delayed and again I'm hopeful a member who's having a difficult
[24:58] time and traffic and will be here later but that is my position if you have questions
[25:02] when public comment you may speak as well.
[25:05] I want to thank the members of the council including my council calling Kelly Deema who
[25:09] I also spent a lot of time in this Council of Vice President Kentos who put a lot of time as well.
[25:15] And Councilman Beer, Patel, Council of AGB, Councilman Brescher and all our team.
[25:20] So thank you.
[25:23] There's really any other comments from the members of the Council.
[25:27] While we're in the work session.
[25:28] Hearing none, we're going to move on.
[25:30] We're going to move on to seven unfinished business ordinance consideration for public hearing and final adoption.
[25:37] Any questions or comments on the tree a minute council president. I know that other council colleagues
[25:44] Want to all weigh in on this could this be pushed to our next meeting?
[25:51] Well, I mean we have I think
[25:56] It's a good idea
[26:00] But we have the votes voted down now, so I don't know if I'd want to do that because I didn't support it to begin with
[26:07] So you put him in an awkward corner.
[26:10] No, listen, I would never, I would never.
[26:12] I mean, I just want to be fair.
[26:14] No, no, that's nothing.
[26:15] As members thought it, you could vote it down.
[26:18] Okay, that bamboo grew through everybody's property in their neighborhood.
[26:22] You could vote it.
[26:23] That majority is not here.
[26:25] No, but you know, it is with bamboo.
[26:26] I understand.
[26:27] So the attorneys heard everything of our grites, right?
[26:32] Of what our reason is that we wanted this repealed.
[26:35] So we're looking for an answer, but here we are, months later, we're going to table here.
[26:41] You're going to table it.
[26:42] Just as a courtesy.
[26:43] No.
[26:44] I'm not asking for a courtesy.
[26:47] That's in a courtesy for me.
[26:50] Were you voting in favor of it to, what was your vote?
[26:53] Well, I was going to vote to get rid of the ordinance until I could get the Wafferm to
[26:59] make the new amendments to it, because I've been waiting four or five months hearing
[27:04] we're going to change this.
[27:07] So you have a couple of options right now.
[27:11] We can go through the normal course of business and vote on it.
[27:15] You can make a motion to table it and we can table it until the next meeting if everyone agrees.
[27:22] We can discuss it during the work council session and then during the regular session.
[27:26] We can take either of those approaches as well.
[27:30] So, either one of those, any of those are viable options.
[27:34] Well, okay, why don't we try and table, but I understand the big problem that we have is that this
[27:40] dispute that when me and you live next door to each other and you plant the bamboo and
[27:45] accrue on my property and now, a soft buys your property and he comes in and he wipes it out,
[27:52] but now he complains to the town that my bamboo, but it's not my bamboo, it's your bamboo, right?
[27:57] So, so how do we protect those people now I have no problem if once we establish that you are the guy that planted the bamboo I got no problem and I can explain that so our purpose and I think I tried to get into this the the last time that we discussed it.
[28:13] Our purpose is to enforce the ordinances that we can enforce right so if we go out to a property because a neighbor calls us out and says his bamboo is growing on to our property and we send out a notice of violation.
[28:26] it doesn't get cleaned up and it's because of exactly that situation, that's violation
[28:33] if it does in fact get written. If the zoning officer or the health department officer decides
[28:37] to write the violation anyway, goes to the municipal court. And the judge has to say, okay,
[28:44] prove to me where this bamboo is coming from. There's evidence that it already existed,
[28:49] not that it's the neighbor that you wrote it for. You have to prove as the municipality,
[28:54] that it's actually encroaching and not pre-existing, and if I can't do that or if the
[29:00] prosecutor can't do that, it gets dismissed. And if along the way, there is a failure
[29:08] in discretion to say, I can't prove this, then ultimately it gets dismissed. Now, that's
[29:17] part of it, and that's the same, like Bamboo is a trigger word, almost, for a lot
[29:22] people, but that's the same with any of our ordinances, where there's tall grass here.
[29:27] Well, that's not my property line, and then the health department doesn't have the ability
[29:33] to go and check property records and deeds to say, hey, I'm going to write it to this person
[29:39] anyway. Well, what they have is a problem and they want that problem resolved. Our goal isn't
[29:44] revenue generation. It's not punishment. It's compliance to make sure that the ordinances
[29:49] are followed, that the township stays a beautiful place to live, and that these things get cleaned up.
[29:55] So in that case, but I haven't...
[29:57] It's not using Google Earth on anything.
[30:00] Any of these, like in the fines that we sent out to the people?
[30:05] Well, we had to tell you, fines out to people. We sent by most of the people.
[30:08] You can client, right, for them to remove it. But in that, there's no proof that we're showing them that they even own the bamboo.
[30:15] And the guy came to whatever six, seven meetings going, it's not my bamboo.
[30:19] And yet, we are unable as a body, right, to say, here's the proof, right, that bamboo has been in your yard since 2001.
[30:29] one, and you can go back on Google Earth for almost anything.
[30:34] So maybe it's the way we're implementing it, and our law needs to be changed.
[30:39] It says the township administration has to bring it with Google Earth.
[30:43] What I'm saying is, there's a problem, right?
[30:46] And I know you're not dissolving the problem.
[30:49] And I know you're not the one in the municipal court, council, but I haven't.
[30:54] And I've seen those printouts where it shows pictures from Google Street View
[30:59] Google Earth from 2018, 2019, 2020, where it shows where the bamboo started or it doesn't
[31:06] show that.
[31:07] And I've had those conversations, and sometimes they're difficult conversations, both with
[31:10] property owners, with people who are receiving the violations, and with the health department
[31:16] officials, where in zoning officials, where it's, I don't have the proof to push this forward,
[31:22] and you're not going to get what you're looking for here in this scenario.
[31:27] that never precludes them from pursuing a civil remedy if they need to. If you have
[31:33] neighbors and they're disputing where the bamboo comes from, someone needs to
[31:37] spend the money between those two neighbors to dig up the yard and find where those
[31:41] roots are coming from. They may need to spend the money to dig a trench on their
[31:45] own property and then try to collect that money from their neighbor. That's a
[31:49] civil dispute that doesn't involve the township. Now if they spend the money and
[31:55] have the landscaper come out and they dig the trenches and they have all the proof for us.
[31:59] That makes our job a lot easier to say, hey, we don't care what you do, but we're going
[32:04] to find you if we're not taking care of it.
[32:07] Councillor Gretchen, you just point a point and we're going to table it, all right.
[32:10] Thank you.
[32:11] Thank you.
[32:14] Thank you.
[32:14] It's like September.
[32:20] Thank you.
[32:28] Thank you.
[32:34] Thank you.
[32:34] Thank you.
[32:34] Thank you.
[32:34] Thank you.
[32:35] Thank you.
[32:36] And if in the meantime, you have recommendations or suggestions for how to amend it rather
[32:42] than eliminate entirely, please reach out and send us something so that we can address
[32:47] those.
[32:48] Okay, I'm going to tell you this.
[32:50] I'm going to tell you this, because I'm going to send you residents that are here tonight.
[32:55] I have here more about bamboo.
[32:56] I have written and then what ended up happening was you guys took it and you did your
[33:01] own thing with it.
[33:03] So after that scenario, I rely on you guys to, you know what I'm looking for, write it up, make it happen, but that's the only thing.
[33:15] All right, I'm good.
[33:15] Thank you.
[33:16] Sure, Richard?
[33:17] Yes.
[33:19] All right.
[33:19] We're moving on to a review of the consent agenda and resolutions.
[33:24] We're adding, which is on the, it's in the general meeting, but we're adding in the work session, the firefighter,
[33:33] for a rare engine number one, Tyler Melinger.
[33:36] He's added, I say, volunteer to the work session.
[33:39] Any question of comments?
[33:41] Finally, did you just get the review of minutes?
[33:43] I'm going to skip them for you, did it work?
[33:44] I'll go, OK.
[33:47] OK, so I want to add that.
[33:48] And also, we're going to do an eight,
[33:49] is the review of the minutes for a June 10th.
[33:52] Any question of comments?
[33:57] Here and none, we're going to go to the entire agenda
[34:00] for any question of comments for
[34:12] the entire agenda.
[34:13] So, nine, ABCD-EF-G-H-I-J-K-L-M-N, any questions or comments from the Department of Finance?
[34:25] Yes, one question, top golf.
[34:29] I guess they filed an appeal.
[34:32] You know, that we're going to give them a tax appeal.
[34:37] I thought that originally was for the entire property number one.
[34:41] That's where my question was, so thank you for clarifying that it's really just, this is just top golf alone.
[34:47] Correct.
[34:48] Right, because when I see the number, the number just was too small for the entire property.
[34:54] So, thank you for getting me that.
[34:56] That would be a council president.
[35:02] I just declare a fight for I for top golf.
[35:07] Their settlement is $593,000.
[35:10] Is that correct?
[35:10] Yes, sir.
[35:11] Okay, so that's, but that's a breakdown of 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025.
[35:20] So that's, that is, well, over seven years.
[35:25] So seven divided by six hundred thousand is there discount that they got.
[35:30] So that's what it, okay? Correct.
[35:31] More or less, yes. More or less, more or less.
[35:34] More or less, more or less, we're withdrawals.
[35:35] We're roughly.
[35:36] Okay. Great.
[35:39] Any questions or comments, again, from the Department of Finance,
[35:44] for the resolutions?
[35:46] Here are none, we're move on to the Department of Health, number 10, A, any questions or comments?
[35:53] Here are none, we're going to the Department of Public Works, any questions or comments on A, B, C, D, E, and F?
[35:59] The
[36:10] Department of Planning and Engineering, any questions or comments,
[36:13] A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, U, N, R, any questions or comments?
[36:26] Council President. Yes, yes, Council President.
[36:30] How does this work to the VA?
[36:36] Could you tell me how this works exactly?
[36:38] So, there's goes to the planning board, they do a study, and then it comes back here.
[36:47] Yes, correct.
[36:48] So, you're delegating the planning board to now do the study.
[36:54] And what are the nuts and bolts on the study?
[37:00] Is that?
[37:01] I'll defer to, it depends on what the plan of board is looking to have done.
[37:07] Yeah, so under the Mr. Lannus law, the requirement to send it to them to conduct that study
[37:19] make a determination sets forth specific criteria that they have to review and essentially
[37:26] create a report that then gets sent back to the council.
[37:30] To say, is this abandoned property? Is this neglected property? Does this property have certain issues with it that fall under the categories in the MLUL that say, it is an area in need of redevelopment?
[37:46] go through it, but there's like 13 separate categories of qualifying properties, depending
[37:52] on the rehabilitation sought, and depending on the redevelopment that is planned.
[37:58] So once that goes to the planning board, they conduct their study, that's done by professionals
[38:04] who generate, and I don't know if you've seen them before, but usually it's a rather extensive
[38:11] report that takes pictures of each property that goes through the block-and-lot, the owners,
[38:17] any history with the property of violations, any current issues that are readily observable,
[38:24] whether or not they're able to gain access to the property, whether or not they're able to
[38:27] speak with the property owners, and then they run through it all and send it back to the council
[38:32] for a review and then to take the vote either approving the area and rebuildment or not.
[38:37] So it's a very comprehensive process because the MLU is very specific about what the requirements are to meet those standards.
[38:47] More importantly, Councilman, before anything, you'll be able to review the report and ask questions if necessary.
[38:59] I think I have an old one from two years ago that I could possibly send you, if I can locate it,
[39:06] if you'd like, that way you can get some ideas to what gets done before you get your hands on this one,
[39:11] because it's sometimes taken a little bit of time for them to actually get one done,
[39:15] but that'll at least give you an idea of what you're looking for.
[39:18] Thank you.
[39:26] Any other questions or comments?
[39:29] Here we go.
[39:29] We're going to go to 13 the Department of Recreation.
[39:33] Wait.
[39:33] Council President.
[39:36] I'm sure.
[39:36] You want to roll back?
[39:37] No problem.
[39:38] Yes.
[39:38] So that.
[39:39] Well, a soft skin.
[39:40] I can answer.
[39:42] But let me tell you an issue that I have.
[39:45] And I don't know how we correct this.
[39:46] And I know we talk briefly about it.
[39:49] But we approve areas of redevelopment, right?
[39:52] Because we've determined or the planning board and everybody's determined that these
[39:55] areas are blighted or are not really used.
[39:59] So it allows the areas to be changed a little bit.
[40:04] But then what happens is nothing takes place
[40:08] for years and years and years.
[40:11] And the one that really sets me off the most,
[40:14] and I told you, I know the Amway Avenue is one
[40:17] that I'm like, you know, why can't we get them moving
[40:19] if they wanna do something?
[40:21] But the old Ford plant, where top golf is, right, I mean, I heard that was being redeveloped
[40:28] town square, all these great things, 10, 15 years past, nothing happens, and it's more
[40:36] of an eye sore than we had the Ford plant.
[40:38] They're just starting now.
[40:40] Somehow I'd like to see us put something in these agreements of like timelines that they
[40:47] to have to meet along the way. If there's a way for us to do that.
[40:53] Mike, Council, just for discussion. I'm not trying to debate you. How do you make a statement
[40:58] that the four-point heads had nothing go on?
[41:04] Okay, so the four plant is how many acres?
[41:07] I don't have the answer. Okay. If I told you a hundred acres, you'd probably believe that, right?
[41:13] As of ten years ago, how much of that was already developed?
[41:18] Let me ask you a question, where do you think they can fix something else?
[41:22] What's that?
[41:23] What do you think they can fix something else on that property?
[41:26] There's not much room left.
[41:28] I don't know.
[41:28] I'm looking at the Ford property.
[41:29] There is property.
[41:30] As soon as you pull in, there's a huge lot right there.
[41:34] So I'm saying that they have now, but when do we do this?
[41:37] June Troy was our mayor, right?
[41:40] How long ago was that?
[41:41] People probably hear him, you know who June Troy was, but he was a mayor here.
[41:46] That's how long ago it was.
[41:47] So, it's at least 8 plus 4 plus 4 that's 16, 17, 18, we're talking 20 years ago, is when this idea came to fruition, and we still have land there that's not developed.
[42:03] That's where I'm going, and when I see the Amboy Avenue saying,
[42:07] That's where I was going, that there should be a timeline where within five years we're going to see somebody breaking ground,
[42:13] not in my now on my grandson gets to sit up here type of thing you know I'll just let that
[42:19] comparison go be okay I mean four point has top golf has albatross super charger it has
[42:31] you know several restaurants I fly I mean I think it's almost at probably 85% capacity
[42:38] So, I mean, I think you're on none.
[42:40] Oh, Sam's called.
[42:42] I mean, I'm excited for me being recognized as probably a young adult professional
[42:47] recreation place around the Central New Jersey.
[42:52] But I understand which.
[42:54] So, I don't like it.
[42:56] I do like what they're doing.
[42:58] I look at this sometimes I get challenged how we do this, because we already passed a study
[43:07] family, I mean, you already have a AR zone and we have another zone and I'm not gonna ask
[43:13] any questions.
[43:13] It's just, if this study for the individual property gives the land owner an opportunity
[43:20] to have some wiggle room to create something different that may may not be a part of the original
[43:28] ordinance in the original overlay zone, I can understand that.
[43:32] He doesn't have a big of a property to begin with.
[43:36] But at this moment, as I tell most residents
[43:39] who may object and come here, not much has happened
[43:41] in a way, I'm used for something that happened.
[43:45] Happy they're taking this step and the township
[43:48] is allowing it to be studied in a visual for that property.
[43:52] But you can't change too much
[43:55] because the ordinance is the foundation of what it is.
[43:57] You're still going to go through the planning board.
[44:00] But we'll see what happens, but that's where I think there's something we discover because this person doesn't need to have this, they can go straight to a planning board and as an application.
[44:11] They do not have to go there.
[44:13] This is several people I've went straight to the planning board.
[44:17] But I'm not going to argue that.
[44:18] I'm not an attorney.
[44:19] I'm not an attorney.
[44:20] So let it go.
[44:21] All right.
[44:22] We're going to move down anything else from the department.
[44:28] Anything else to be discussed?
[44:29] That was F. We're going to move the 13 Department of Recreation.
[44:34] Are you in B?
[44:36] Here and none move it.
[44:38] One question. We didn't cut anything from the last key program, right?
[44:45] To my knowledge.
[44:55] We're moving.
[44:57] I don't know if that was a question.
[44:58] I was going to the question.
[45:00] Okay.
[45:05] Any other questions for 13? Here and none, we're going to regular meeting. Right now, we're going to kick off our regular meeting.
[45:16] This meeting is a public hearing to adopt the budget. However, we may not vote on the budget because there are three members that are not here. This will be the public hearing for the budget.
[45:30] This will be the public hearing for the budget.
[45:33] At this time, Rich is not here.
[45:36] So we'll have to go into a brief recess.
[45:39] We don't have a quorum.
[45:41] So, while Rich is on break,
[45:46] I'm in motion to have a four minute recess.
[45:51] Motion.
[45:52] Have a second.
[45:53] Again, on favor say aye.
[45:55] Okay, it's now 705.
[45:57] We're in a four minute recess.
[45:59] First, we apologize for the delay.
[46:01] we had a four minute recess which turned into probably a twenty-five minute recess.
[46:06] Yes, Nihwai, we can't continue our meeting, Councilman Brescher left the building.
[46:13] I don't know why, I hope it's not a medical emergency, I can't speak for why he would
[46:18] leave a meeting knowing that we're voting for an important budget.
[46:23] That's just any budget, but a budget that has been in it for public safety, for fire,
[46:30] for public works. For every emergency we need in this town. But I don't have that answer
[46:36] because I don't have communication with him right now, but he did leave. But I'm hoping
[46:42] it's something that he could not control. And we are here today. By law we can convenious
[46:49] meeting to pick a date. That's all we can do, but we cannot continue this meeting. So today
[46:55] We've discussed with the few of us and the administration and August 3rd is going to be the date that we pick for the next public hearing to adopt this budget.
[47:07] But while I'm still here speaking, I am challenged that three members of the Council could not make it tonight.
[47:14] Again, can't speak for them. Why? I only hope that there was a good reason for that.
[47:20] I would say there was a council president prior to me that would call me with not the best voice if I did not call her.
[47:33] If I didn't call a council president, Margaret Harris, that's all I was not attending a regular reading on a Monday.
[47:39] I heard a lot and maybe 14 to 25 messages that would bombard my inbox.
[47:47] It's important today. Today is a very important day in Edison Township, and tomorrow it's
[47:53] unfortunate that we have no choice and the administration will issue pink slips to employees
[48:01] for a budget. We will not be able to spend money today this entire bill list every function
[48:08] of government that maybe needed for tomorrow will not happen today. You will not happen
[48:13] all is third. This is my first time in 12 years of every seeing council not convening for a budget
[48:20] that was important to the township vettison important to the safety of our residents. This is
[48:25] more than just not coming to a meeting. And the fact that council pressure decided to leave for
[48:32] his own reason purpose, let's hope it was a medical issue and I will forgive him for that. But I don't
[48:38] why he left, but we can't convene this meeting and it's crucial. Our budget being passed
[48:44] is very important. As a Council President, Council Member Soff asked to delay this budget,
[48:51] which gave all of us plenty of time. More than the usual over the 12 years of my time sitting
[48:56] at this council, we passed the budget at interruption and then we passed it the following time.
[49:02] There are two Council members here that can prove that themselves. They were here. Both,
[49:07] I have two council presidents in the audience that have witnessed us, are there three council
[49:12] presidents?
[49:13] One, two, three.
[49:14] Oh, Jesus.
[49:15] I have three.
[49:16] John, I'm sorry.
[49:17] I have council member, Porter, president, council president, Margot Harris, and former council
[49:23] president to a ship.
[49:24] All former council members who have never experienced this ever.
[49:29] So I am challenged and I am sorry that members of this council are choosing to act this
[49:35] not to be here tonight. We need four votes to pass a budget, just four, and we had four
[49:41] here, and for some of them raised in Councillor Brush decided to leave, and he walked out
[49:47] on the residents of Edison. He could have voted, but he decided not to be here. Again, I
[49:53] will convene with my colleagues. I felt they did a great job. You know, speaking with them,
[50:00] collectively about the budget, we've had numerous meetings, numerous discussions. No one led
[50:05] for me to believe that they would not come to the budget.
[50:08] Now, one person said, and we know this,
[50:12] everybody knows this play.
[50:14] It's not a playbook that we've not seen before,
[50:17] but no one is indicated they would not.
[50:20] No one is indicated, cut they wanted
[50:22] and had an ultimatum on top of that cut.
[50:25] Today they should not show.
[50:27] Again, I will defend them to hope
[50:28] that it was a medical emergency or an issue in traffic
[50:31] that they could not control.
[50:33] But again, we've set this date down for Monday, August 3rd, to convene here at 6 o'clock.
[50:39] It'll be combined session again to hope past the spending that is important to as it is
[50:44] residents for safety and for the needed uses we have in town for our seniors.
[50:50] But I ask you, if you see Councilmember Brecher, if you see Councilmember Kentos, if you
[50:57] see Councilmember Beale Patel, if you see Councilmember AJ Patel, let them know how important
[51:02] it's within the beer. And I ask you to reach out to them in the most respectful way you can.
[51:08] This meeting is adjourned at 736.