Transcript for Piscataway Council meeting on June 10 2021

Note: Transcripts are generated by rev.ai and may not be fully accurate. Please listen to the recording (below) if you feel any text is inaccurate.

Speaker 0     00:00:00    Comments on person, please press star nine. In order to raise your hand to speak, we will unmute member of the public individually. If they have their hand raised, when it is your turn to speak, you will hear a notification that you have been un-muted is that time you should begin to ask any question you may have. You will have two minutes to speak at the conclusion of which you will be muted again, and the counselor admissions will respond as necessary. Should you have any further comment or question? The township council is always available by email and phone, and you can always call the mayor's office during the normal operating hours. Each member of the public cell only have one opportunity to, to speak duty each public person as the technology does not allow to know if there are multiple caller on the line. We ask that if you want to speak that you dial in on a separate line so that we can recognize you as a separate individual, can do deal, maybe submit written comments on the township clock up to the 48 hours by at the meeting to be read by the township plan.  
Speaker 0     00:01:14    During the public comment portion of the public with the meetings shared comment will be limited to three minutes of rating. Thank you in advance for the patient as we continue to move the township forward during this health emergency, they should have, can I have a roll call please?  
Speaker 1     00:01:42    Thank you. Council woman. Kay hill here. Councilmen comm Councilwoman Lombardi, Councilman Rouse, Councilman Aron council, president Shaw.  
Speaker 0     00:02:07    Yeah, the standard for  
Speaker 1     00:02:14    I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God, indivisible with Liberty Liberty.  
Speaker 0     00:02:29    Thank you. Item number five. Comment for the, from the admissions and the council, uh, concert meant Mr. Jim Bullard, any comments or questions? Okay. Mr. Miller, any comments  
Speaker 3     00:03:04    Council, president Chavez. This council, Councilwoman kale.  
Speaker 0     00:03:07    Um, yeah,  
Speaker 3     00:03:09    I, I think this is just for items on a German of any matters on the agenda.  
Speaker 0     00:03:21    Oh, okay. Uh, sorry. Comment from admission counselor regarding any Metro at least agenda. Okay. Okay. Item number six.  
Speaker 1     00:03:46    Excuse me for one moment. Uh, Reverend Rouse. I see that you're in the meeting and you need to unmute yourself. Please press star six to unmute yourself at this time so that we can take your votes. Thank you.  
Speaker 0     00:04:01    Thank you. Okay. Item number six, open to the public comment regarding core item eight congeners consent agenda items. If you wish to speak at this time, please press star nine to raise your hand. When it is your turn to speak, you will hear an announcement that you have been unmuted at that time. Please state your name and address and know that you have two minutes in which you make your comment. The council or administrators are responding. This is after you have completed any comment or question set the agenda items only. Thank you. Yeah,  
Speaker 1     00:04:50    The president I'm going to unmute the first individual with their hand raised the last four digits are 9 8, 7, 9. Please state your name and address. Thank you.  
Speaker 4     00:05:03    Hello, this is Sid Madison. Can you hear me?  
Speaker 0     00:05:06    Yes. Um,  
Speaker 4     00:05:09    Hi, I'm uh, at 1 76 Blackford avenue. And I'm, uh, in, in terms of the resolution queue calling for fossil fuel divestment from its pension plan is the title on this. Uh, I would like to comment that, uh, the taxpayers are, uh, affected by this both by, in, in Piscataway taxes and potentially in New Jersey taxes. So it's an important issue to make sure that, uh, the, the poor, uh, holding of fossil fuels gets the vested from, and I, I would, uh, answer any questions that any, any council person has.  
Speaker 3     00:05:59    There are no questions. I'll just get off the line, No questions, council president, but I want to thank Mr. Madison for always his effort when it comes to the issues of, uh, not only the town, the state, but the country trying to get itself up of its fuel, um, addiction. So I just want to say thank you to Mr. Madison  
Speaker 1     00:06:30    Council, president the next individual with their hand raised. I've asked them to, uh, unmute themselves. Please state your name and address. Thank you.  
Speaker 2     00:06:48    Hello?  
Speaker 5     00:06:52    Good, Amy council. This is David Akins. Sam, can you hear me? Yes. Two questions. One is, um, Item number. Well, it's actually eight Bravo with the demolition of that residence. Is there anything going there,  
Speaker 6     00:07:24    David? This is, today's see, we're putting in a new sewer collection from Rutgers and that's exactly where it's we meaning the MCA lines. We're going to be demolishing the home and a new pipe Pipers that we'll be going in across the property.  
Speaker 5     00:07:41    Okay. My next question is item F for Foxtrot, the vehicle that's being ordered. What department is that going to police? Uh, admin, uh, the township  
Speaker 6     00:07:56    It's going to be used for the senior center.  
Speaker 5     00:08:02    Okay. Item Q for Quebec, which the gentleman, uh, made reference to. I like to get a more explanation of what happened as far as the, What it entails. I know it's supposed to be good for the township. Can you elaborate a little bit on that?  
Speaker 6     00:08:33    This is a, uh, it's be a sense of the pension to the governor, to the speed pensions. And it's requesting that the public pension fund begin the vest itself of, uh, energy stocks and stocks that are a carbon related.  
Speaker 5     00:08:50    Okay. I don't number K four. How many phases are there? Is this phase three? The last phase?  
Speaker 6     00:09:05    No, there'll probably be a one or two more. What we're doing is we've got a five-year plan for the, uh, for the building that we developed about three years ago, each year. We're a little bit more, uh, to improve the building. So I believe this there's going to be five phases altogether.  
Speaker 5     00:09:24    Okay. The reason why I asked, I know there's been a lot of phases. This has been out there for quite some time. And I'm just wondering, why is it taking so long and is it five to max or is it a possibility of even more,  
Speaker 6     00:09:44    Other than the possibility of even more, what we're trying. We had an assessment done of all the building systems. So the first stuff we did was, uh, fire safety's, things like that. And, uh, we're upgrading fi eight apartments to make them ADA handicap this year, being in the parking lot, putting new energy efficient lighting in, uh, replace the conduits, which are 30 years old and in poor condition. So each year we're doing a little bit more, so they don't do it all at once. And, uh, an inconvenience if people are living in Sterling village.  
Speaker 5     00:10:20    Okay. The next one is M for my end, for November and all for Oscar, I know it's a blog grant. Is that blog grand for all of those items I mentioned. And so how much is it for their block grant?  
Speaker 6     00:10:40    Uh, for item M it's $9,000 for the distracted driver crack down from the state, you drive, you texts, you pay and for, uh, uh, either Q as our 2021 community development block grant, Uh, it was a small, it was a small increase from what we originally got. So we're increasing it by $4,371.  
Speaker 5     00:11:08    The total,  
Speaker 6     00:11:11    Uh, total was about $300,000.  
Speaker 5     00:11:21    Uh, that's all I have active time. Oh, one last question with the new vehicle that's being ordered was sewer. We have one now, is that correct?  
Speaker 6     00:11:41    Uh, we've got, yes. I got an older, older one right now that we're using  
Speaker 5     00:11:46    How long ago those vehicles usually hold out  
Speaker 6     00:11:50    About 10 years or so.  
Speaker 5     00:11:52    Okay. And the one we have now is 10 years or more.  
Speaker 7     00:11:57    Yeah, I think it's closer to 14, I believe in when we have currently.  
Speaker 5     00:12:01    So what are you going to do with the old ones that still going to use as a backup?  
Speaker 7     00:12:05    Probably keep it as a backup. Yep.  
Speaker 5     00:12:08    Okay. That's all I have right now. Thank you.  
Speaker 0     00:12:11    Thank you, Mr.  
Speaker 1     00:12:15    Council president, there are no other individuals with their hands raised with regard to the consent agenda item.  
Speaker 0     00:12:21    Thank you. So, so we have closing the public person. I turned number seven proclamation for pride month.  
Speaker 7     00:12:42    Thank you. Thank you, council president. Um, whereas the township of the Skyway supports the right of every resident to experience love and freedom from discrimination. And whereas the mayor and council are committed to keeping Piscataway and inclusive and welcoming community for all. And whereas while there are many notable progress in American society towards acceptance and equality in recent years, members of the LGTBQ community still face unacceptable discrimination, harassment, and whereas everyone should be able to live without fear or prejudice, discrimination, violence, and hatred based on race, religion, gender identity, or sexual orientation. And whereas in June, 2000 president bill Clinton declared June as gay and lesbian pride month to commemorate the June 19, 19, 19 69, Stonewall uprising in lower Manhattan. And in June, 2009, president Barack Obama expanded the aversions by designating June to the lesbian gay, bisexual, and transgender trans gender pride month. And whereas during the celebrated as LGTBQ pride month nationwide, therefore I, Brian Waller declared June 21st, June, 2021 as pride month and encourage all township residents to eliminate prejudice wherever it exists to celebrate Piscataway diversity. Thank you, council president.  
Speaker 0     00:14:07    Thank you, mayor.  
Speaker 3     00:14:09    Uh, council person. It is Councilman Cahill. I want to thank the mayor for reading their prep proclamation as someone who, um, have, uh, relative to our part of the LGBTQ community. I really appreciate the fact that we are flying the flag and that we are recognizing them because, uh, I can speak at least for one of my family members. It took many years for her to feel comfortable, uh, to really come out. Um, and now she enjoys all the wonderful things that marriage brings and having a child and all that good stuff. So I'm, I'm grateful and I'm grateful that, uh, we had a president Barack Obama who could really, you know, move us into that  
Speaker 1     00:14:51    Error. Thank you.  
Speaker 0     00:14:53    Thank you much. Okay. Item number eight, consent agenda for efficiency item had been considered in the consent agenda to be voted on together. The material for this item have been distributed to the council in advance of the meeting at this time. Are there any item that council would like to remove from the consent agenda that will be discussed or what they run separately?  
Speaker 1     00:15:31    I think none at this time counsel.  
Speaker 0     00:15:34    Okay. So do I offer,  
Speaker 1     00:15:45    I'll take the second. Okay. I'll put Councilman Lombardi as emotion and Councilman Cahill is the second, correct? Yes. Councilman Boulevard. Councilman Bullard. Your boat, please. That's been Bullard, Councilman Cahill Council and the Lombardi Councilman Rouse. Yes. Council president shot  
Speaker 0     00:17:03    Item number nine, ordinance for secondary  lot 4, 5 95 Highlander. When you open to the public, there's an adoptive audience. We see that. Can you read the ordinance please?  
Speaker 1     00:17:21    It resolved by the township council of the Skyway township, New Jersey, that an ordinance and titled ordinance authorizing the acquisition of certain property identified as block 1, 1 3 0 2 lot 4, 5 95 Highland avenue in a township with the Statway county of Middlesex, state of New Jersey for public purpose pursuant to N J S a 20 colon three dash one at sec was introduced on the 11th day of may, 2021. I had the first reading and was published on the 14th day of may, 2021. Now therefore be it resolved at the opposite ordinance, having a second reading on June 10th, 2021, the adopted passed and after passage, he published together with a notice of the date of passenger approval in the official newspaper. The further that this ordinance shall be assigned number 2021 dash one three.  
Speaker 0     00:18:27    Yeah. Okay. So this is open for the public. If you wish to speak at this time, please press star nine. You'll raise your hand. When it's your turn to speak, you really hear the announcement that you have been unmuted at that time. Please state your name and address and know that you have three minutes in which you make your comments, the counselor and Mr. Respond responded necessary. After you have completed any comment or question  
Speaker 1     00:18:55    Council president. I have one individual who has their hand raised. I'm asking them to unmute. Now the last four numbers are 9 6, 9 0. Please state your name and address. Thank you.  
Speaker 8     00:19:08    Yeah. Hi, my name is Patel 2000 bedroom. Or just like to understand when, uh, when somebody says that township is acquiring something on, on acquiring land or something like that, who become the owner when the township, uh, on something, is it some private operation or it ha it ends up in, in, in the hands of public trust. Which one is it?  
Speaker 6     00:19:37    Yeah, this is Tim. Yeah. When we, this is for the township to buy a piece of the abandoned house here at the township had been knocked down and we put a property lien on the property, and unfortunately it's tied up in a state that we'll never get our money back out of we on all the other property on the block. So this will be the buy it's a piece of vacant land right now,  
Speaker 8     00:20:06    Uh, which is fine if, if the township acquires this and if they have planned to, to rebuild and revitalize it. And then again, it ends up in public hands. Um, after this cycle goes through, um, does the ownership end up with some private corporation or is it going to end up with an individual owner all said and done at the end of the cycle? So I understand somebody going through some acquisition spree buying the land, cleaning the land in the end. Does it mean that the township requires more and more equity through private corporations?  
Speaker 6     00:20:42    Yeah, no, we're not at war public. We own, we own lands and occasionally we sell some land that we own. So we're not a private entity and we don't deal with private entities in acquiring property.  
Speaker 8     00:21:01    It it's fair to say that this scabbard township is not a private corporation, correct. And the interest of whoever are elected are not aligned with private corporation. Is that fair statement.  
Speaker 0     00:21:15    This is the time attorney that does correct. You know, we have no affiliation or with a public, any private collaborations. This is a, it's an actual acquisition, and it's going to be open space, um, to be held by the township as we, you know, have other parks and open space around town.  
Speaker 8     00:21:32    But when you say open space is going to be a public trust for open space, correct?  
Speaker 0     00:21:38    No, I mean, just one isn't specifically coming from state funds. So green acres from, so it's not going to be restricted, but the township, you know, has already, the building's already been abandoned and understand harsh. So it is open space. Um, and I think attachment has indicated that they will be mixed,  
Speaker 8     00:21:57    Right? So who's going to where the money is going to be funded to manage those open spaces, Piscataway, taxpayers, or how is it going to be funded in future,  
Speaker 0     00:22:08    Uh, discovering taxpayers? Um, this is right next to it across from the, uh, has getaway soccer, soccer club playing field. It's already next to, uh, you know, area that's maintained by the township.  
Speaker 8     00:22:22    Okay. Um, so I think what I would like to propose is any land and just the motion ends that are owned by bike Callaway, taxpayers. Those land should have a sign that explicitly states that, um, and, uh, in a revenue or a budget line item that requires, um, on a yearly basis to know the taxpayer's liability, even when such kind of acquisition happens. Thank you.  
Speaker 0     00:22:53    That's the president. There are no other individuals with their hands raised for this public portion. So I'm closing the public person Now, do I offer welfare? A Councilman con con, do I have a second? Second? Um, Franklin second. Thank you. I'll take the roll call number Lord. Yes.  
Speaker 1     00:23:48    Councilman Cahill. Yes. Councilman con Councilman Lombardi. Councilman Rouse. Councilman. Yes. Council. President Shaw. Yes.  
Speaker 0     00:24:15    Okay. Item number 10. Ordinance amendment chapter 23, sewer and water waste wastewater adopting audience. We see that a community ordinance, please.  
Speaker 1     00:24:31    They're resolved by the township council, Piscataway township, New Jersey that an ordinance entitled ordinance to amend and supplement or advise general ordinances or the towns of Piscataway county of Middlesex state in New Jersey amending chapter 23, sores and wastewater section 23 dash 2.3. Service charges be and is hereby adopted on the first reading. That'd be published in the official newspaper. And then a second reading and public hearing be held at 7:30 PM. Prevailing time at the Piscataway municipal building 4 55 hose length of Skagway, New Jersey, as well as by telephonic conference on the 29th day of June, 2021, we have is that a copy of this ordinance shall be posted in at least two public places within the township prior to the day of the second reading of final passage and a copy of this ordinance shall be made available at the office of the township clerk for any interested member of the public.  
Speaker 0     00:25:22    Thank you, shooter. Do I offer? Thank you Ms. Second, second counselor. Thank you, Mr. Calm. Okay. Item number 11 ordinance first,  
Speaker 1     00:25:44    Excuse me. I have to take a vocal councilmen and Boulevard. Councilman Cahill. Yeah. Councilman con Counsel and Lombardi. Councilman Rouse, Councilman Rouse.  
Speaker 0     00:26:24    We're trying to get him on me that he, uh, he's on the call, but  
Speaker 1     00:26:31    Councilman Aaron council. President Shaw.  
Speaker 0     00:26:36    Yes. Thank you. Item number 11. Ordinance amendment chapter 30, storm water management and control resolution adopting ordinance. We see that. Can you read the ordinance please?  
Speaker 1     00:26:49    The resolve of the township council to Skagway township, New Jersey, that an ordinance entitled ordinance to amend and supplement the revised general ordinances of the township of the Skyway counties, Middlesex state of New Jersey amending chapter 32 storm water management and control as previously revised in ordinance number 2020 dash 35. The industrial by adopted on the first reading, that'd be published in the official newspaper. And then a second reading of public hearing be held at 7:30 PM. Prevailing time at the Piscataway municipal building 4 55 hose lane, Piscataway New Jersey, as well as by telephonic conference on the 29th day of June, 2021 have further resolved that a copy of this ordinance shall be posted in at least two public places within the township prior to the day of the second reading and final passage and a copy of this ordinance shall be made available at the office of the township clerk for any interested member of the public.  
Speaker 0     00:27:41    Thank you, Michelle. Can I roll call please?  
Speaker 1     00:27:45    Councilwoman con offer offer  
Speaker 0     00:28:00    There's something I don't know here.  
Speaker 1     00:28:03    Okay. So I have counsel woman Kay hill as emotion and council woman Lombardi as the second, correct? Yes. Thank you.  
Speaker 0     00:28:12    Thank you,  
Speaker 1     00:28:14    Councilman Bullard, Council and bullet. I see you, but I can't hear you. So I know you're un-muted if you could talk. Okay. Councilwoman Cahill, Councilman con.  
Speaker 0     00:28:38    Yeah. I mean con  
Speaker 1     00:28:43    Council, woman Lombardi, Councilman Rouse, Councilman orange council, president Shaw  
Speaker 0     00:29:01    Item number 12, or in a secondary Royal waiting the operation of any class of cannabis. This with the township 4.2 public resolution adopting ordinance.  
Speaker 1     00:29:19    There's all by the township council of Piscataway township, New Jersey that an ordinance entitled an ordinance prohibiting the operation of any class of cannabis businesses within the township of Piscataway geographical boundaries and amending chapter 21 zoning section three definitions and section 13 prohibited uses and adding chapter three police section 28, cannabis to the revise general ordinances of the township of Piscataway was introduced on the 11th day of may, 2021 and had passed the first reading and was published on the 14th day of may, 2021. Now therefore be resolved that the opposite orbits having had a second reading on June 10th, 2021, the adopted passed and after passage be published together with a notice of the data faster approval and the official newspaper GFR. The resolved that this ordinance shall be assigned number 2021 dash one four.  
Speaker 0     00:30:15    Thank you, miss Sheila. Okay. This is all open to the public. If you wish to speak at this time, please press star nine. To raise your hand. When it's your turn to speak, you will hear an announcement that you have been unmuted at that time. Please state your name and address and know that you have three minutes and we will make your comments, the counselor, and Mr. Will respond if necessary after you have completed any comment or question  
Speaker 1     00:30:47    Council president, I'm asking the first individual to unmute themselves and huge Jordana. You may, uh, please state your name and address. Thank you.  
Speaker 9     00:30:59    Yes. Hello. Can you hear me okay? Yes. Excellent. Um, my name is Hugh Giordano, 57 art style avenue, Blackwood, New Jersey, um, mayor and council. Uh, today I come to you as a representative of the United food and commercial workers union, the United food and commercial workers union is a national labor union of 1.3 million hardworking families across the U S and Canada. And we are the official labor union, which Rosens cannabis workers, both medical and adult use from seed to sale. We also are working directly with our union brothers and sisters in the building trades. So the steam fitters the IBW, the carpenters in the retro and the build-out of these facilities. So these cannabis jobs from both medical and adult use are jobs that are union from shovel to sale. These are good wages, these sick time, vacation, healthcare, dental, vision, retirement. These are the type of jobs that attract a young and educated families.  
Speaker 9     00:32:00    For example, most people that work in these facilities have degrees in botany, horticulture, and chemistry, even in the front ends of these dispensaries. We have pharmacists. You can't get more educated than that, but you're one step away from having doctors working in these facilities literally, already. Um, unfortunately this ban is attack on workers. This ban is the attack on labor, the AFL CIO, which is the umbrella of all of us fully endorses and supports these jobs, um, and passing this will hurt the local economy. It'll it? Not only does it hurt the local economy and the jobs, but it hurts patients as well. People that are looking that are looking for medicine have to travel a long way. Um, so two things I wanna suggest is one, uh, the city of bay own path, the great ordinance has renewal fees, application fees, and it also is very conservative.  
Speaker 9     00:32:48    They will only have a couple of facilities that are going to be allowed in big city. So you could do the same type of thing, start small. And also they have a merit based application system looking at labor standards, environmental standards, security standards, for example, at our facility, you should, you should make sure that they hire retired. Police officers are unionized facility. They go to take dispensary hires, retired police officers. So we take the best and brightest from our state and make sure that they're part of the community, um, to see that bay own, uh, is the ordinance that should be adopted is the break model ordinance. And I can offer you a tour over the garden state dispensary, if you would like to see it, I've taken police chiefs, business, administrators, mayors, and councils through it. Um, and you can see it for yourself so that you don't have to say that you heard something about Colorado. This is in Colorado, this is New Jersey, and we have a really well-regulated safe system. In fact, the police have full access to that facility, 24 7, the cameras go towards the state police 24 7. So please drop this ordinance tonight, reconsider often using the bay ordinance and create some good union jobs. Thank you.  
Speaker 1     00:34:07    Um, so president, I am going to ask the next individual to unmute themselves 4, 6, 8, 9, please state your name and address. And you have three minutes of  
Speaker 10    00:34:27    Please state your name and address, please. This is the Sapiro. And, uh, the address is 2 45 St. Mark's avenue. I've been a resident for 15 plus years as a parent of young kids and being a professional and educated person. I've seen the corporate shield that has been passed throughout in other states and cities and the disastrous results of that. Um, and I strongly support the ordinance to ban any kind of sale of cannabis within the township. We don't want to end in a disastrous position and this is really concerning. Um, and I would really, I strongly support that. Thank you,  
Speaker 1     00:35:22    Council president, I'm asking and the left, the next individual to unmute themselves last four digits 9 6, 9 0. You can unmute yourself, Please state your name and address please. You're breaking up. We can't understand you. So I don't know if you're on a device.  
Speaker 8     00:35:55    Hello. A little  
Speaker 1     00:35:57    Bit better. Still breaking up.  
Speaker 8     00:36:00    Hold on one second. Is it better? Hello? Hello? Yes. Okay. Um, I would just like to add on to this that I would like to applaud, um, mayor's office and the council for critique protect Patel 29 redbud road. Thank  
Speaker 1     00:36:20    You.  
Speaker 8     00:36:22    Yeah, I would just like to applaud the position taken by council and the mirror, um, to band this thing. Um, I think all said and done, um, as far as, uh, Piscataway community is concerned, I think, uh, we pride in ourselves in, in high tech and digital in many other advancement. Uh, and I understand the rules in and around cannabis that promotes jobs, but we don't want that kind of jobs in our township, uh, wherever it happens and if it does something good, uh, be all good. But at the same time, I want to be mindful as I attended one of these video conferences in the past where the rights of some of those folks whose livelihood depended on it, I think, uh, we are just kind of leaving them hanging dry. So what I would like to propose is when, when, when restriction ordinances are passed and some minority rights are disenfranchised, I would like, uh, township or whoever in the council to meet those folks personally and offer them choices. Uh, so that way they can live a decent life and in a, in a path that, or a career that they would like to enjoy. And after that, if they deny that that's a different story, but, uh, sometimes oftentimes when, when change happens usually on the receiving side, um, I don't want folks in overtime to kind of left hanging dry because of some decisions that were made. Thank you,  
Speaker 1     00:37:52    Council president, I'm asking the next individual to unmute themselves. Last four digits are 6 6, 9 2.  
Speaker 11    00:38:05    Uh, hi, this is Jonathan Powers, 360 1 Stoughton road. Um, I'm, uh, almost 15 year resident. Um, and I believe that the council is making a mistake by prohibiting the operation of all cannabis businesses. Our state democratic leadership is in favor as well as the majority of our fellow state residents. Sorry, I'm trying to read my, I wrote a little couple of notes down and I'm mixing them up, but, uh, our town leadership has done whatever it could to get warehouses more and more warehouses into our town. Speaking of good jobs and tax revenue, but here's an opportunity to get an industry fresh started starting industry the ground up to make the rules to make them good jobs. Um, I don't see the difference between, uh, a dispensary and a liquor store. There's there's, there's not, there's not people drinking outside of our liquor stores. There's not going to be people using cannabis outside of a dispensary, more than likely.  
Speaker 11    00:39:17    They're going to come into Piscataway and leave. When you have a population of a majority of the people who recreationally smoke already, we're already a good family town, which is what everyone is saying. What is the difference? If they come to our town and buy it, these, these dispensaries, I don't believe you're going to be in our residential areas. They can be in strip malls. I know this firsthand because I'm a union representative of the workers who work in Woodbridge, and I believe they would be quite upset if they heard the way that you're speaking of them, that you don't want them in our neighborhood. So, um, I'm asking the council to change their minds and shut this down for now, maybe to get more public opinion, because if 70% of the state is in favor, I believe a majority of our town would be also. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Paul  
Speaker 1     00:40:20    Council president, I'm asking the next individual to unmute themselves. Last four digits are 0 9 6 2.  
Speaker 12    00:40:28    Hello, Brian wreck 1247 Brookside road. Can you hear me okay?  
Speaker 11    00:40:32    Yes.  
Speaker 12    00:40:35    Hi. I'm just like to read, I don't know if any of you got a chance to read the nj.com article, where they interviewed a lawyer for another town. Um, I'm just going to quote his, uh, this was Sean Mack, just going to read his quote, the thought presses, the thought process on how the repeal of don't work as flawed. He said, the towns think we ban everything. Now. Then we change our minds later. So now we want to allow things. You have to appeal your opt-out ban. Now you're back in a situation where your town does not have a duly adopted law by August 21st to ban certain cannabis businesses. Do you guys have any response to that? Because his interpretation of that law makes sense to me. If you ban this now, when you were hope the man you're not going to have a law, so you're going to be back in the situation where everything's allowed. So to me, that means you're probably never going to remove the ban.  
Speaker 11    00:41:22    Well, do you want to comment on that Mr. Rocco, come back, quote, it seems to indicate that attorney  
Speaker 0     00:41:33    Is talking about people changing their mind before the August deadline, um, and repealing the ban and not having I, I'm not sure why, how that makes sense. Even if the counsel did want to change their mind in regard to this ordinance, which, you know, they've already, they didn't take this decision lightly. Um, uh, you know, if, if they did, it would be as simple as they could do a simultaneous ordinance to pass a passer regulatory ordinance, um, to, to fill that void. So that attorneys kind of, you know, uh, I, I would disagree with that attorney in regard to, uh, has processed, you know, you can do special meetings, et cetera, there's ways to do it. Having said, um, you know, the regulations and rules are not going to be announced by the state as, as discussed at our previous meeting until after the townships have decided to, uh, have the option to opt out, opt in and they will not be able to talk about after that deadline. So the township's gonna wait and see, and, and, you know, they will, may have the ability depending on the rules and regulations after that deadline to opt in. Um, and I'll leave that to the council and the administration to make that determination.  
Speaker 12    00:42:47    Okay. The members of the council to read the new jersey.com article the title is New Jersey cities, towns are acting quickly to band weed businesses by the August deadline.  
Speaker 13    00:43:02    Yep. Caltech council president's council and con can I just comment briefly?  
Speaker 0     00:43:11    Okay.  
Speaker 13    00:43:14    I understand Brian's comments in the comment of the first speaker about, about jobs, and I understand his enthusiasm, but to say that, uh, you know, passing this ordinance demonstrates, um, a lack of respect for union jobs is a, is a pretty bold statement. Really isn't supported by what we're doing here. I said this, I said this at the last meeting, when this was brought up, I voted, um, in favor of changing the law, uh, and, and legalizing the sale of marijuana. I think it's, I think it's the right. I think it was the right decision for the state was disappointing as the state has not provided appropriate regulations. I mean, the first speaker indicated to well-regulated industry. We don't really know that cause we don't know what the rules and regulations are. And once we opt in without knowing what the parameters are, I think that would be rather irresponsible of us.  
Speaker 13    00:44:11    Uh, it's disappointing that the state hasn't given a prop giving us proper guidance as to what we would be opting into. Uh, but as a lawyer myself, uh, I, I don't know how, uh, I could vote for, or advise the municipality to opt into a, uh, plan without understanding what the regulatory scheme is going to be. It would be, it would be like saying we're going to vote to allow the sale of alcohol, but I have no idea how it would be regulated and where it would be regulated and whether or not we'd have local control. Um, I, as a, as a lawyer, I understand that there will be an opportunity down the road after there are regulations, especially in light of the fact that so many different, uh, townships cities and municipalities across the state have reacted in the same way we have. There'll be other opportunities after these regulations are in place, uh, for scat away and other towns to take a look at this and say, okay, now, now we understand how it works.  
Speaker 13    00:45:13    Now we understand what local control we have or don't have, and we can make a different decision, but, you know, opting in without knowing what the rules are. And I, Brian frankly, is irresponsible of us. I mean, what, what do we do if we opt in and the, and the regulations are some, in other words, what if we opt in and we're not allowed to control the location or the zoning or where these sites would be, uh, and we can opt out and we just can't. We, we, we can't abide by it that way. When the state clarifies what the rules are, we'll take another look at it. Nobody, I can't speak for the rest of my colleagues, but I suspect the majority of them supported the legislation at the state level. We're just disappointed that the state hasn't given us guidance or the town's guidance at this point. Thank you, council president. Thank you, Mr. Khan. Thank you, Raj. Thank you, Mr. Ban,  
Speaker 1     00:46:09    Couple of precedent. I'm going to ask the next individuals, their hand raised to unmute themselves, Or just the one day that doesn't, if you could unmute yourself. Thank you.  
Speaker 14    00:46:21    Yes. Hi, my name is marina Redmond. I live at three rural square Parlin, New Jersey. Oh, you just took off my face. I guess you don't want to see me. I'm  
Speaker 1     00:46:33    Going to have video on our calls. It's only tele telephonic.  
Speaker 14    00:46:37    Okay. Because governor Murphy said we could be seen and I am a disabled cancer patient, and I thought it would be nice for you to see me, but I'll continue on with my continue on. Um, I was born with a birth defect on my lower left leg. I had to have a bunch of surgeries by the time I was four and a half back then I was in a ma oh, I was in a major New York city hospital. I wasn't allowed either my, my, my, my mother wasn't allowed to stay over. And it was really scary having her walk away from me. And yes, the nurses treated me very nice. But could you imagine being a mother, senior daughter, having to walk away from her being in a major New York city hospital? This is where my PTSD started with doctors and stuff. It was scary.  
Speaker 14    00:47:25    Um, then unfortunately in 2017, I was diagnosed with cancer. I lost 50 pounds within three weeks. It wasn't easy. Any medication they gave me to stop from vomiting and stuff from getting sick, did not work. I'm just asking for medical dispensaries. This medicine was wonderful. It changed my life. You know, they have professionals at the dispensaries. You go to the dispensary and you say, this is what I'm going through. I'm going through chemo. I'm vomiting. I need to eat. I need to gain weight. And they know their stuff. They know their different strings. And they helped me out so much. These are professionals. These are like pharmacists. Some of them are even pharmacists. You know, even actually have one doctor in Piscataway that prescribed medical cannabis. Um, you have 64 psychiatrists that prescribed medical cannabis, who vet, who have PTSD, who are suicidal. Some of those prescriptions that they are on actually make them choose suicide, which is really sad.  
Speaker 14    00:48:35    Then you people say, well, you can take Uber and Lyft. None. If you're in a wheelchair, NetApp, you're on disability. It's rough. It's hard. It costs extra money. We don't even have money. It's hard for us to even pay for our own medicine. Then you said, what about access to like, if you're in a wheelchair? Well, sometimes access link. It's hard to get an appointment with activists link. You have to call 24 hours ahead of time. And who even knows that they're even going to bring you to that dispensary who even knows what time slots are open. It is a horrible thing not to go. You know, I not to go without medicine. If you have blood pressure medicine, you can get it. I'm sure there's a ton of CVS and Walgreens in Piscataway. There's almost 400. CVS is in the state of New Jersey. There's like 280 Walgreens in the state of New Jersey. We're just asking for one medical marijuana place just to help patients not to make him suffer. Thank you.  
Speaker 1     00:49:36    Thank you. I'm asking the next individual with their hand raised to unmute themselves.  
Speaker 15    00:49:50    Good evening, council. My name is Edward lefty Grimes. I'm with sativa cross.org, where if I have a one C3 advocating for disabled rights and cannabis patients' rights was, um, was synthetic marijuana sold at the pharmacies under the name Marinol and dronabinol. Was that band also, Was it, was that, was it synthetic marijuana band or just, just God's medicine?  
Speaker 0     00:50:29    Um, the prohibition that the township is doing on the ordinance is for all types of cannabis for the businesses.  
Speaker 15    00:50:36    Okay. So your pharmacies should be under the under, should be aware that they shouldn't be selling synthetic marijuana to their cancer patients anymore. Those cancer patients are going to have to go get their synthetic cannabinoid somewhere else. Um, as well as, uh, disabled war vets who, um, you're actually disrupting the supply chain of medicine for disabled war vets, something that's against the Geneva convention. I mean, you're not even following the Geneva convention, which is an international treaty that makes our captured troops, at least receive medicine from a group like the Taliban. So in actuality, the Taliban actually treats our, our vets better than you guys. And that's, that's sad because at least they have to give them that  
Speaker 0     00:51:16    I'll I'll clarify. One thing is anything that may not be regulated as, as cannabis by the state, if it's synthetic. Um, you know, I don't, I don't know if the pharmacies are able to are considered synthetic marijuana is considered as part of the regulatory scheme of the, of the new cannabis cannabis laws. Um, regardless is that even if we were prohibiting these businesses, um, the state law allows and requires townships not to prohibit, uh, delivery of marijuana to any resident in the township. So, uh, any resident that does need marijuana in the township will be able to get delivered to their house.  
Speaker 15    00:51:51    Well, that's an extra cost that you're asking for disabled people. And if you've ever spent a day in a wheelchair, which I've asked a lot of councils to do that spend a day in a wheelchair, and nobody will do it because if you're in a wheelchair, it's not easy, it's very hard and you don't have money. You're on disability. You're getting taxed by the state 7%. You're getting taxed by the towns. 2%. The medicine is not covered by insurance. The only medicine that's not covered by insurance and the stigma of these towns, banning God's medicine. It's shocking to me that they ban in God's medicine, your family, the synthetic marijuana that's sold in the pharmacy is family friendly. We have no problem with people being stoned on Marinol and stoned on dronabinol, but suddenly when God puts cannabis in front of us, we lose our minds.  
Speaker 15    00:52:37    This is God's medicine. He put it here for us for a reason. It helps many different conditions. I was on opiates for 10 years, and it got me off of those opiates because I'm in pain. I'm in, I have an artificial disc, L four L five and a fusion L five S one. And it's two level cervical fusion. I am in pain. I am in seven and eight level pain all day long. And I use cannabis to maintain. I don't even get stoned. I use, I take a couple of days, every couple of hours and that to maintain my pain. Now, when I go to church, I could take a couple extra hits for Jesus. I, I admit that I use spiritual cannabis also as it's my right as a cannabis patient and as a recreational user. Now, apparently I have the right to use it spiritually and I choose to use it spiritually.  
Speaker 15    00:53:22    And I enjoy using it spiritually. I think more people should use Canada spiritually and go to church and pray and meditate, whatever you want to call it. I think more people should get in touch with God and God's medicine, not these chemicals at these pharmaceuticals and jurors. You're trying to shove down our throat. We live in big pharma state, and I'm surprised we got as far as we did with our medical cannabis in New Jersey, because we are just poisoned by big pharma poison other right next to Novartis up here. And it's just poison that they're giving us killing people every day with their, I mean, vets are taking these medicines, the medicines that they're taking, the SSRS, the side effects of suicide,  
Speaker 0     00:54:03    Excuse me, Mr. Grimes, your three minutes of time has expired. So if you could please wrap up your commenting.  
Speaker 15    00:54:09    They went with songs to the battle. They were young straight of limb drew by study and the globe. They were staunched to the end against odds on counted. They fell with their faces to the foe. They shall grow not old as we that are left, grow old age, shall not worry them nor the years condemn at the going down of the sun. And in the morning, we will remember them. Thank you.  
Speaker 0     00:54:30    And can we start with  
Speaker 13    00:54:34    Council president? Could I just ask Raj Councilman con Raji a question? Okay.  
Speaker 0     00:54:40    Uh, there are no other individuals with their hands raised. Just wanted to let you know. Okay.  
Speaker 13    00:54:46    Well, you can close the public portion if you want council president first. I just wanted to ask a  
Speaker 0     00:54:52    Question. Can you hold on, please?  
Speaker 13    00:54:55    Yeah, please go ahead. Thank  
Speaker 0     00:54:56    You. Okay, Mr. Khan, first, I want to close the public portion plus. Okay. Uh, I'm closing the public portion and now  
Speaker 13    00:55:23    Going to be  
Speaker 0     00:55:30    Mr. Mr. Uh, counsel con, go ahead with your question.  
Speaker 13    00:55:35    Hey, Raj, the last speaker, uh, I, I think misstated it, but correct me if I'm wrong. This doesn't have anything to do with what pharmacies, uh, are allowed to do under the current law and have been allowed to do for awhile. In other words, we're not prohibiting pharmacies from, uh, prescribing or distributing prescriptions and this deals with specific marijuana facilities growing dispensing. So on, am I, am I correct? This doesn't involve, uh, what is currently allowed on your books, state and federal law that pharmacies do now? Am I correct in that?  
Speaker 0     00:56:15    Yes, completely correct.  
Speaker 13    00:56:18    So just to clarify that the last speaker statement, and I think the one before, and I, I appreciate that. I appreciate their passionate comments as I sure everybody else does, but you can still go to a pharmacy and get whatever prescriptions you are getting, uh, getting under the law. This has got nothing to do with that. My crack Raj.  
Speaker 0     00:56:43    Yeah. That's completely correct. Correct. Anything that was already being distributed to the pharmacies. I don't think it's being affected by this new law. Um, you know, that'd be separately regulated.  
Speaker 13    00:56:53    Thank you. Thanks.  
Speaker 0     00:56:55    Thank you. Okay. Can I have awfully  
Speaker 13    00:57:04    I'll I'll offer you want me to Councilman con  
Speaker 0     00:57:08    Mr. Khan? Yes. Thank you please.  
Speaker 1     00:57:25    Councilman Bullard, Councilman Cahill, Councilman Councilman Lombardi, Councilman Rouse, Councilman council, president Shaw.  
Speaker 0     00:57:57    Yes. Thank you. Item number 13, announcement and comment from a PCO. Uh, Mr. Jim Buhler, any comment or announcement? Yes. Nothing at this time. Thank you. Thank you scale, please.  
Speaker 3     00:58:29    Um, I would, um, like to wish, um, our residents and my colleagues here, um, a very happy 4th of July as I, I don't believe we're meeting until after that date. I think I have that right. Um, I hope everyone had, pardon me? Uh, I could be wrong, but anyway, I just want to wish everyone a happy holiday. Um, look forward to, at least for those of us who are fully vaccinated, um, some, you know, good summer fun and for those who are not to, to continue to keep safe, um, and protect themselves as well as their families. Thank you.  
Speaker 0     00:59:13    Uh, costumer, Mr. Khan.  
Speaker 13    00:59:17    Uh, I have no comments. Thank you.  
Speaker 0     00:59:19    Thank you, Councilman Lombardi. Thank you. Councilor Mr. Rouse, Councilman Frank on nothing. Understand president. Thank you. Uh, the mayor.  
Speaker 7     00:59:41    Thank you, council president. I just want to thank the American Legion, uh, as well as the township in, uh, uh, the visiting nurses, associates for sponsoring a vaccine would Yvette today. And I want to thank Councilman Khan for promoting that within the veterans organizations, uh, that we had a lot of people come down and get vaccinations today.  
Speaker 0     01:00:02    Thank you. Ma'am square. Uh, they said Mr. Me September. They see.  
Speaker 7     01:00:18    Thank you.  
Speaker 0     01:00:19    Thank you. . Thank you. Thank you. I want to wish everybody father's day or June 13 and uh, that's it. Thank you. Okay. Item number 14 agenda says sent for June 29th, 2021 ordinance. Second reading amending chapter 23rd, sewer and wastewater open to the public resolution adopting ordinance.  
Speaker 0     01:01:10    Okay. Uh, any comment or question on a second? Leading eminent chapter 32 stormwater management and control over the public regulation. Adopting audience. Any comment or question? None?  2021 solicitor license fall  and Jerry  and 2021, uh, peddler license. They are not a Martine Ruiz. Any question or comments on  chapter 1, 5, 9? What a year 2021 theme community grant $99,446 and 48 cents. Any comment or question? And there's an additional 30 returns up certainly related security deposit as state allowed for this apartment 1 0 9. Any comment or questions? None during chapter 1, 5, 9 American rescue plan act, uh, 2021. That is your style and 4, 2, 1 30 $6,041,346. Any comment or question?  
Speaker 0     01:02:39    Um, there's relation altering renewal of liquor license. Any comment or question? Is there a Senator rising release or perf performance surety and case bond, American express GRM, construction, incorporation GRM, old company corporation and block 5,001 lot. 1.02 corporate place. Any comment or question? Um,  settlement  block 3 6 0 2 lot 4.07 12 ways place. Any comment? A question. Um, is there a Senator altering amendment? Ida B two fireworks performance contract. Oh, comment or question? Okay. Now these three motion, motion accepted report of Clark account may 20, 21 most than except report up  may 20, 21 most suddenly see when entering two minutes. This December, it meant for the month of May, 2021. Any comment or question? Okay, so no question. So now item number 15, open to the public. If you wish to speak at this time, please press star nine. Raise your hand. When it is your turn to speak, you will hear an announcement that you have been unmuted at that time. Please state your name and address, know that you have three minutes and we used to make your comments, the counselor and Mr. With respondent necessarily after you have completed any comment or question  
Speaker 1     01:04:48    Council president, I'm asking the first individual with their hand raised to unmute themselves 9 6, 9, 7 of the last four digits. Thank you.  
Speaker 11    01:04:58    Yes. Good evening. Can you hear me? Yes. Hello council. This is Charlie . I'm a resident of new Brunswick. I'm the editor of new Brunswick today. I wanted to ask first, does Piscataway have a police director or a public safety director? And if so, who is that person?  
Speaker 6     01:05:24    Uh, in our form of government, the mayor is the public safety director. This is Tim.  
Speaker 11    01:05:29    Thank you, Mr. Dacey. And, uh, maybe he can answer or perhaps the chief is also on the call. Is it true that the Piscataway police department has lost all incident reports and crash investigation reports from February, 2017 through May 18th, 2018?  
Speaker 6     01:05:58    I do not believe that that is true.  
Speaker 11    01:06:04    So you believe that the Piscataway police department has the incident reports and crash investigation reports from that period of time,  
Speaker 6     01:06:14    Uh, a over requests and we can get it to the chief.  
Speaker 11    01:06:20    That's interesting. Yeah, of course. Cause I, I end up looking at a, uh, Oprah response on Oprah machine.com that indicates that there was a detrimental occurrence and, uh, believe that, uh, chief Mosher was copied on this letter that says that those, those reports are gone, uh, can, can is the chief on the call? Can he comment on this? The chief, Maybe, maybe the mayor knows then  
Speaker 0     01:06:47    Mr. Carnival, um, in regard to your statements, you know, this is sensitive information, but in regard to that they have not lost them. Um, as the Oprah request was not be no to responded to is due to the fact that they were inaccessible at the time. Um, but that's as much as I would say over the public meeting, I can, I'm happy to discuss this, um, you know, uh, over the phone or if you wish, uh, contact the mayor's office and they'll connect you with me, this is Raj going to be attached to.  
Speaker 11    01:07:15    Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Attorney. I will be following up. So I I'm a little confused. They were inaccessible at the time and perhaps that's why this letter from the office of the chief says, unfortunately, all attempts to recover. Those reports have been unsuccessful. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. And this letter comes from Lieutenant Michelle Piltch can you tell me, have they been recovered now?  
Speaker 0     01:07:41    My understanding they have not yet. Um, but they're, you know, they're not lost,  
Speaker 11    01:07:47    They're not lost, but they're not recovered.  
Speaker 0     01:07:51    That's correct.  
Speaker 11    01:07:53    Okay. So they're in limbo. I'm, I'm concerned about how this could possibly happen. Is this a failure of the vendor loss off that is in charge of this, that I believe the county or the city a township granted a contract to in November, 2016? Is this their fault or is this the fault of someone in Paskataway police department?  
Speaker 0     01:08:13    I'd have to be happy to discuss offline with you? Um, you know, this is centered sensitive matter, and I'm happy to discuss that offline thinking.  
Speaker 11    01:08:25    Okay, well I think this is, uh, you know, a really big failure and really important. Um, so that's why I'm raising it here, but I will follow up with you afterwards. And I just want to ask, does anybody know if any Piscataway police officials have been hired to work at loss off?  
Speaker 0     01:08:53    This is a tantra attorney. I have no knowledge of that. Um, uh, you know, as this seems to be an indication of fishing for information in regard to loss often, uh, you know, I asked the council council and administration to refrain for any, a new question that Mr.  would be happy to speak to you offline.  
Speaker 11    01:09:11    Well, guilty is charged. I am fishing for information. It's my job. I'm asking questions about this. Can you just tell me as loss off still the vendor for a Piscataway? Are they still doing this?  
Speaker 0     01:09:24    Please be advised via time for the constituent has expired, please wrap up this conversation.  
Speaker 11    01:09:31    Yep. Just that final question is last off, still a vendor for Piscataway.  
Speaker 0     01:09:42    Um, I am not aware of the current status of the, of, of it, and I'll speak with administration and you know, when we speak, like maybe that information,  
Speaker 11    01:09:50    All right, looking forward to it. Thank you,  
Speaker 1     01:09:59    Council president. I'm asking the next individual to unread, uh, unmute themselves, uh, the next individual 9 6 9 0. Please unmute yourself. Thank you.  
Speaker 8     01:10:12    Yeah. Hi, uh, this is, uh, protect Patel. Um, I would just like to comment a few things. I went into the archives of the meeting and, uh, this is a question for the council and the mayor. Um, I think in past few meetings I've learned that, uh, the township was not involved in any kind of a tax abatement or giving to the rec center that was created. Uh, but I think in January, January or February meeting archive 300,000 were given to the rec center. Can somebody please elaborate on that? What was that money given for and what were they use for,  
Speaker 0     01:10:59    Uh, I'm uh, this is Tim. I'm not sure if the question is,  
Speaker 8     01:11:03    Um, so if you go back to the archives of the meetings that you guys published, um, and I think in one of those line items, I went through those in detail. Um, there was 300,000 and I can certainly bring it up in the next meeting. Uh, hopefully you guys can read it as well, but 300,000 was given to the rec center, um, and would just like to understand, um, when the loans and the savings institutions are functioning, the way they should function, why does township needs to give grants? Um, so I, again, uh, I, I saw even in the previous conversation where, where somebody's looking for transparency and people always say, well, we'll take that offline. Um, look, government functions better when they are open. If, if something wrong has happened, just admit it and figure out a way to fix it. But we, we don't want something to be hidden.  
Speaker 8     01:11:53    Uh, just like Washington avenue. Uh, there are a few things that I see nowadays, uh, that are done in closed door deals and so on and so forth. This is a highly educated town. People can take good news as well as bad news. And I would like most of the government activities to be turned in an open, transparent fashion, and I understand some decisions would become a disincentive for somebody. Uh, but let's just be honest about it and admit the fact. So that way we have trust built into the government that we put in there is we will get the government you don't want. Um, and I, that's the last thing that I want, um, in this township. Thank you.  
Speaker 0     01:12:31    This is a tantra attorney. I just wanted to clarify the conversation I had with Mr. Carville. It wasn't because the task was not being transparent. There's a potential for litigation. And I, I, you know, for that reason, we do not put, uh, those types of discussions on public record that can be used in court at a later time. Um, that's why I was willing to, and still willing to talk to Ms. Capital, you know, uh, outside of the public portion. Um, so the township is completely transparent. W you know, we'll provide that information to Mr. , as you're in regard to your 300,000, um, you know, I'm not sure if you could provide us a greater detail on, on when that was and what it was. We could probably look up the resolution and make that, you know, clarify that I would say that the township, um, rec center, uh, the Y MTA, uh, recreation center is, is a township property. So, you know, it may have been for one of the capital purchases for the build-out or the equipment. Um, but without any further information, we cannot, you know, respond to that accurately. Thank you. Thank you so much,  
Speaker 1     01:13:31    Council president, I'm asking the next individual to unmute themselves last four digits, 0 9, 6 2.  
Speaker 12    01:13:40    Okay, sorry. Hi, Brian rag. So 47 Brookside road. Can you hear me?  
Speaker 0     01:13:46    Yes.  
Speaker 12    01:13:47    Hi. Uh, can I also call your Mr. Gilmer and find out what happened to the police records? I mean, I'm a citizen of this town, and I'm kind of offended that you won't say it in public The way to call you, or  
Speaker 0     01:14:02    If you want, there's a sensitive nature that could, that could, um, that could affect a litigation. And, and therefore, you know, it's the policy of, I think every township attorney that if there's any type of potential for litigation, that that information is not discussed on public record, that could be used in, in, uh, in future proceedings.  
Speaker 12    01:14:24    Okay. Um, I was wondering if the council could help me with a problem, the, uh, park right near my house. I can't remember the name it's on Brookside road. There's always a trail of tiny liquor bottles right in front of it. Uh, presumably from the Buy-Rite right nearby. Since the town seems to believe that the current liquor laws are working well. I was wondering what sort of action could be taken to remedy that I've been walking through that park with some friends and their small child, and they started picking up the tiny liquor bottles. We'd have tell them, oh, don't bother doing that. Because by the time you get the 200 feet from my house to the park, your hands will be full. So nothing can be done. The children just have to look at the pile of tiny liquor bottles,  
Speaker 3     01:15:29    Um, council, president assistance, council, woman, con misdirect. We have residents who call all the time into the township, into the building during business hours. And we have, uh, workers who do come out and they do clean the park. Um, I appreciate your concern. Your snarkiness is not going unnoticed, but honestly, if the concern is about the cleanliness of your local park and not trying to be cute about the whole cannabis thing, all you have to do is call. And you've told us here at this meeting and, uh, we'll make sure somebody comes out to the park and cleans up the bottle. Is that good for you?  
Speaker 12    01:16:12    Will you also send someone to the Buy-Rite liquor store nearby that also has a parking lot full of tiny liquor bar,  
Speaker 3     01:16:18    Mr. Raff, most of the residents who get on the calls are calling with real concern about things that affect whereabouts they live. Okay. We don't go to businesses and your snarkiness is not appreciated. So I get comments about the park and the bottles. Absolutely. Because we appreciate when residents bring it to our attention. When there are issues that local parks and believe me, I've had people call me about people who dumped trash at our local park, rather than put it in their own garbage or recycling that they throw in our parks and we come out there and we fix it. We take care of it. So in that respect, yes. Um, if, if you'd like for us to, uh, work with, I would highly suggest sort of toning down the snarkiness. Is, does that seem fair to you? Because I think that you like the town, I think you like living here. Um, I, it correct me if I'm wrong. I do believe you're married to Mr.  sister, so you're very much in line with them. So what I'd rather do is address the real concern of the people in our town, and you have some, and I appreciate them, but I'd appreciate you also showing the concern that our other residents do when they call in and not just trying to be, um, attacking us. Is it, is that fair?  
Speaker 12    01:17:53    I mean, I think that would be fair if the, uh, various government boards showed the same respect to me, but as last night's planning board meeting goes, the mayor just interrupts me mid sentence to say I'm out of time, which I don't think is really his responsibility and planning board meetings. So his whole statement about respect and honor during pride month seems kind of vague and  
Speaker 3     01:18:14    Well, okay. Listen, I, again, I'm not discounting any of your concerns. You're a resident of this town and we take them all seriously. But yeah, I would have to say being someone who been on planning board meetings and in town council meetings, I think it's sort of gone both ways because the way in which you address us makes us, uh, you're you're belittling us is what you're doing. And yeah, somebody gets,  
Speaker 12    01:18:45    And we're not. The mayor is not doing that to people at the end of every council meeting. I'm sure he'll have a 10 minute rant about stuff right after this public.  
Speaker 3     01:18:54    I don't want to get into with you. All I want to do is you as a resident, take care of, he's not going to listen to your constructive advice.  
Speaker 12    01:19:05    You're not going to listen to my constructive advice. We know we are. W why would I listen to your constructive advice? When everything I say you ignored? We  
Speaker 3     01:19:14    We're not ignoring Brian.  
Speaker 0     01:19:16    Okay. Mr. Khan, Mr. Blades, we can send your questions and, uh, park and cleaning. We take care of for that. And is there any other questions? Thank you. Okay. We shoot at anybody else.  
Speaker 1     01:19:39    Yes. I'm asking the next individual to unmute themselves the last four digits. Our 3, 3, 1 7.  
Speaker 0     01:19:50    Yes. Please state your name and address please. Last digit 3, 3, 1 7. Please state your name and address.  
Speaker 1     01:20:22    I counsel present. I'm going to go back to that individual. I'll go to the next one for now. Uh, the next one is the last word. Digital.  
Speaker 0     01:20:35    Yes. Please state your name and address please. I know there's four groups, 15 a tree I'm actually calling in to discuss, uh, the department of public works. Um, in my opinion, there needs to be more transparency as it relates to the DPW and how they log and process resident requests for services. Uh, right now there is no accountability. When we ask for services, I've asked for street sweeping about three times now in the past two months. And they have yet to come. And every time I called to follow up, they struggled to find the request. And two of the times they said that they did not see the request. And they asked me to give the in for one more time. And one of the times that I called, I got a woman from the DPW that picked up. And after I had her search on the status, she told me it's not there and took all the info again.  
Speaker 0     01:21:21    I asked her for her name and I kid you not. She says to me, I didn't give you my name. Why do you need my name? She then says to me, what's your name? Um, the days of being rude and disrespectful to the residents of the township are long gone township employees should really be held to a higher standard and accountable for their actions. Um, no township employees should ever be talking to a resident in this matter. And I don't understand why some of the people that are picking up the phone are so rude to residents and try to hide their name. I even left a voicemail to the director of public works, and it's been two weeks and he has yet to call or follow up, um, townships like Addison and Princeton has an online log system. Uh, mayor Waller. Uh, I would like to respectfully ask that you hold the DPW accountable for how they speak to residents and handle requests.  
Speaker 0     01:22:11    And I would like to propose for consideration an online portal where we can submit requests. And when we submit there's a confirmation number attached to it so that we can see the status, et cetera, even if it's called in, there's a confirmation number attached to the request this way, you know, exactly when it was submitted, who was submitted with, and the status of the request. Um, the DPW department that handles the request to mark it as completed when done. So we know exactly what is going on. Otherwise there's really no transparency or accountability, and we have to just constantly follow up on something, uh, doesn't happen. And, you know, as we're in 2021, we need to keep up with technology and in a way with the residents of the Skyway. And I just feel like, you know, just like you guys have recently taken the time to update the website.  
Speaker 0     01:22:58    I really do feel this, uh, new system would help, uh, the residents, uh, so that a, we're not calling multiple times because, you know, like I understand the concept is busy and there's multiple requests, but at least this way we can follow up and also hold accountable for, uh, for requests. And, uh, my other request. Uh, my other question, uh, my only question was, uh, governor Murphy sign legislation and executive order ending COVID-19, uh, public health emergency, I believe. And was there any plans to open back up the township offices for in-person requests or are we still keeping it, uh, just telephone. Thank you.  
Speaker 6     01:23:36    So this is Tim. If you email me at TDC at Piscataway NJ that were giving me your name and address, I'll be able to follow up on your complaint and get back to you. And we're looking at the state for guidance. State is not reopening state buildings right now. The governor's allowing, uh, state to work, continue to work remotely. So we're watching the guidance from the state, from the county, uh, and the guidance we're getting from, uh, the health department in the county. So we will, we are watching or monitoring on a daily basis. Uh, as we move towards reopening, the clerk's office will begin doing some things by appointment only with the public. Uh, so we will slowly move it back to normals as quickly as we can have as safely as we can.  
Speaker 1     01:24:28    Um, as I'm asking him, max individual to unmute themselves who has their hand raised, the last four digits are 9, 8, 7, 9, please unmute yourself.  
Speaker 4     01:24:41    This is Sid Madison. Can you hear me? Yes. Mr said, okay, I'm at 1 76 Blackford avenue. I want to thank you for passing the resolution on divestment. Um, I also had another resolution that I had brought to the council before. Uh, basically what, uh, the, the purpose of the resolution was to stop building more pipelines and compressor stations in New Jersey. The resolution asked, uh, the governor to enact a moratorium on those processes. Uh, since, uh, since the last council meeting the, uh, international. Can you hear me? Yes, yes. Yeah, the international energy agency, which was created in the seventies by, uh, uh, because of the oil embargoes that were happening. And it's been a very, um, fossil fuel, uh, um, biased, uh, organization finally came out and said, we can't have any more building or creation of fossil fuel, uh, sites at all. If we're going to make 1.5 degrees Celsius as the limit on warming, and that I can tell you is very important to all future generations. And so I would like you to go back or, and I can provide, uh, this, uh, the draft resolution again and rationale for having it. But I, I like to have it considered by the console. Uh, any questions or comments  
Speaker 4     01:26:28    Mr.  
Speaker 2     01:26:29    SU  
Speaker 1     01:26:40    Yes, council president. I'm asking the next individual to unmute themselves. Last four digits are 3 9 1 0.  
Speaker 11    01:26:57    Hi, this is John Costello, two 80 river road. My question is, uh, are you, when are you planning to open up the senior center?  
Speaker 6     01:27:09    So it's the same, same response. We've got a senior picnic scheduled for July, which is going to be the first opening thing. And Amy's working on putting together some outside programs that we're going to be doing over the summertime. And we're going to be looking for the state to the state until the county health department for guidance on reopening. Uh, it's probably going to be opened on a slower basis that you'll be able to come in and register for our class, come in for a class and, uh, do that at first. So we don't just have hundreds of people in there at one time, uh, until it's safe. So we are working on doing that right now.  
Speaker 11    01:27:48    Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.  
Speaker 1     01:27:58    Simple president. I'm going to try the first individual that, um, didn't unmute themselves last four digits, 3, 3, 1 7 on meet yourself.  
Speaker 16    01:28:13    Uh, hello. Can you hear me? Yes. Good. Thank you. Uh, my name is Keith . I live at three park lake drive in north Brunswick, New Jersey. I'm speaking on a matter of importance to the Metatron Edison Piscataway area, branch of the NAACP. The statement is presented in formal opposition to the land use variants that you are considering in order to permit the construction of a large new warehouse across the street from the Randolph K three elementary school, the school is already in close proximity to three other other warehouses. The construction of an additional warehouse would greatly increase the number of trucks entering and exiting the neighborhood on a regular basis. The combined diesel exhaust from those trucks presents an obvious health danger to the students who would exposed to it for four continuous years and two adult staff working at the school for many years. On end, according to the American lung association, diesel exhaust is a mixture of many gases and ultra small particles containing more than 40 toxic air contaminants, including benzene, arsenic, and formaldehyde these substances penetrate deeply into the lungs and the bloodstream, and can contribute to cell mutations that cause cancer.  
Speaker 16    01:29:29    In fact, long-term exposure to diesel exhaust particles poses, the highest cancer risk of any toxic air contaminants evaluated by the office of environmental health hazard assessment. In prior public discussion of this issue, so-called evidence for community benefits of building the new warehouse failed to be convincing in the slightest degree. Furthermore, building the warehouse negates a prior township commitment to utilize the location, which is now in a natural state for an ecological park of obvious health benefit to the neighborhood. It is in clear contradiction of a democratic governing bodies, paramount responsibility to advance the common good of its constituents to allow the construction of the proposed warehouse for these reasons from the touchin Edison, Piscataway branch of the NAACP stands with the vulnerable Randolph elementary school community in staunchly opposing the land use variance under consideration by the council. I submit before going respectfully as chair of the environmental justice committee of the aforementioned NAACP branch. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak.  
Speaker 0     01:30:47    Thank you for your comments. Um, does it attach attorney Brad skimmer? Um, I request the administration and the council not to make any comments or responses in regard to this because, um, there is pending litigation that has been filed in this matter. Um, so I request everybody to refrain from any comments. Thank you. Thank you. I see that anybody else? Okay.  
Speaker 1     01:31:11    Yes, there was one other individual and asking them that on mute themselves. That's four digits, 6 0 9 4. Please unmute yourself. Thank you.  
Speaker 0     01:31:21    Take your name and address please.  
Speaker 13    01:31:25    Hi, um, my name is . I'm from two 40 Hampshire court. Can you hear me? Yes. I just wonder if I go to the concerns, um, brought out by Mr. Booth at NAACP. I wanna make some comments. I need the council to understand how these warehouses affect the air quality of our township. Um, and, and the future of our residents ask for the American lung association database. Our report is Callaway has an F rating for ozone pollution and an, a rating for a particle pollution. Um, I last year on Marston, um, and council president keyhole, when we brought up these concerns was very ignorant and, um, dismissive of her concerns, I would like to disagree to her previous comments saying that you're are very open to comments and open-minded learning. Um, I don't believe that is the case when we brought out those concerns, constant president Kay, admitting that she did not know what the report means or what the ratings mean, but she still went ahead and said, we have something and I quote something, a rating and something X rating.  
Speaker 13    01:32:30    Well, I would like to clarify, and I'm always open to discussion. I was, you know, um, we can exchange emails. We can, um, you know, I can talk to you more about this reporting, what it means, but what it means is, um, Middlesex county has an F rating for ozone pollution and air rating for particle pollution. So ozone pollution has more immediate effects as Mr. Booz pointed out because of diesel pollution. Um, the aspirating means, um, immediate effects, especially to low risk groups. So saying, oh, we have a rating for something and F rating. Um, for another, it doesn't make it any better. It just means, oh, um, you won't get cancer, but you will get asthma in the short term. So that's, that's really not good. I just want them to pick on those concerns and, um, tell you how important is it and tell you how these are, how they're affecting the air quality and the same time disagree that the council is anything, but open-minded to our concerns, to the resident's concerns. Thank you.  
Speaker 0     01:33:22    Thank you, council president. There are no other individuals with their hands raised. Thank you. I just wanted to reiterate to the council administration that as the suspending mitigation, please don't make any gods. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, so thank you very much to all public person. Now I'm closing the public person, uh, item number 16, do all in the favor. Okay. And say, yes. Thank you. Good night. Good night.