Transcript for Piscataway Council meeting on January 30 2018


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Speaker 0     00:00:00    Item number five, which is open to the public. Are there any comments regarding item number 10? The consent agenda items Item number seven, an ordinance on second reading. It's a bond ordinance, 3.4 million slash 3.23 million improvements to Zer Avenue, which is open to the public. Ms. Cedar, can you please read the ordinance Be resolved by the Township Council, Piscataway Township, New Jersey. That an ordinance in federal bond ordinance providing for improvements to Zer Avenue in and by the Township of Piscataway in the county of Noex, New Jersey, appropriating $3,400,000. Therefore, and authorizing the issuance of $3,230,000 bonds or notes of the Township to finance part of the cross thereof was introduced on the ninth day of January, 2018, and then passed the first reading and was published on the 13th day of January, 2018. Now therefore be it resolved that the Advent ordinance having had a second reading on January 30th, 2018, the adopted passed and after passage be published together with the notice of the date of passenger approval in the official newspaper.  
Speaker 0     00:01:00    Be further resolved that this ordinance shall be signed number 18 dash one. Thank you Ms. Cedar. At this time, are there any comments or questions from the public? No. Okay. Do I have a motion? Motion? I second Ms. Cedar, can you please pull the roll? Buller? Yes. Mrs. Cahill? Yes. Mr. Kahn? Yes. Mrs. Lombardi? Yes. Mr. Shaw? Yes. Mr. Aravind? Yes. Mrs. McCall? Yes. This item passes on second reading item number eight, which is an ordinance on first reading, amending, amending Chapter three, police regulations Section three dash 26 idling of vehicles truck idling with Restrictions. Ms. Cedar, can you please read the Ordinance Be Resolved by the Township Council of Piscataway Township, New Jersey that an ordinance entitled Ordinance Amending Chapter three, police Regulations that Revis General Ordinances of the Township of Piscataway County, of Middlesex, state of New Jersey, three dash 26 idling of vehicles being hereby adopted on the first reading that have been published in the official newspaper.  
Speaker 0     00:01:57    And the second reading in public hearing be held at 7:30 PM for bailing time at the Pisca and Municipal Building 4 55 Hills Lane, Pisca, New Jersey on the 13th day of February, 2018. A further result that a copy of this ordinance shall be posted in at least two public places within the Township prior to the day of the second reading and final passage. And a copy of this ordinance shall be made available at the office of the Township Clerk for any interested member of the public. Thank you, Ms. Seer. Do I have a motion? Motion? Second ms. See, can you please vote? Roll. Mr. Bullard? Yes. Mrs. Cahill? Yes. Mr. Kahn? Yes. Mrs. Lombardi? Yes. Mr. Shaw? Yes. Mr. Uhrin? Yes. Mrs. McCollum? Yes. This item passes is on first reading item number nine, which is an ordinance on first reading as well, acquisition of certain lands for the expansion of County Park.  
Speaker 0     00:02:46    Ms. Can please be resolved by the Township Council of Piscataway Township of New Jersey that an ordinance entitled Ordinance for the Acquisition of Certain Lands for the expansion of Possum Town Park in Piscataway Township, county of Middlesex, state of New Jersey, 1 22 Possum Town Road Block 3 8 0 2 lot 1 2 1 0.04 being is hereby adopted on the first reading that it be published in the official newspaper. And that a second reading in public hearing be held at 7:30 PM pm prevailing time at the Pisca Municipal Building 4 55 oh Lane Pisca, New Jersey on the 13th day of February, 2018. You 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 available at the office of the Township clerk for any interesting matter in public.  
Speaker 0     00:03:31    Thank you. Ms. Cedar. Do I have a motion? Motion a second? Second, Ms, please. The role. Mr. Bullard? Yes. Mrs. Cahill? Yes. Mr. Ka? Yes. Mrs. Lombardi? Yes. Mr. Shaw? Yes. Mr. rn? Yes. Mrs. McCall? Yes. This item passes on first reading. Item number 10 is the consent agenda for efficiency items have been consolidated into a consent agenda to be voted on together. The materials for these items have been distributed to the council in advance of the meeting at this time, are there any items that the council would like to be removed from the consent agenda to be discussed or voted on separately? Do I have a motion? No, I at, at this, at this time. Oh, okay. It's okay. Okay. Do do I have a motion? Motion second Ms. Cedar, can you please call me Mr. Bullard? Yes. Mr. Cahill? Yes. Mr. Cahn? Yes. Mrs. Lombardi? Yes. Mr. Haw? Yes. Mr. Uhrin, your Honor. Mrs. McComb? Yes. Okay. This item passes item number 11. Are there any announcements and comments from officials at this time on Councilman Bullard?  
Speaker 1     00:04:42    Yes. I would like to say on this last Thursday we had excellent historic presentation based on the first African American who was in North. They were born to touching, but it's not important that the voting came through and the place is packed. Mr. Jim was there and he learned some history himself, Mr. So it turned out extremely well. And by the way, we did put some information regarding this on the Facebook. Okay.  
Speaker 0     00:05:18    Thanks. Thanks, Jim. Councilman, Cahn, none at this time. Thank you Councilman.  
Speaker 1     00:05:25    Sure.  
Speaker 0     00:05:25    Councilman. Not at this time. Council, Sean Councilman. Mayor, our Business Administrator Tim Counsel, no comment. Thank you. At this time I don't have any additional comments, but at this time I'd like to open forward to the public. So if you have any comments or questions, please feel free to come up to the podium. State your name and address and you have three minutes of each to speak. Good evening counsel.  
Speaker 2     00:05:57    Both Barry Lane. Going back to item number seven, I know that's a done deal, but my question on that, who's splitting the bill on it, number one and number two, if it's being split between the Township or whatever agency, do you think it's a good idea so bad when you look at it? Oh, well I know the Township is not putting all the bills. Even if you don't have the money yet. Township is putting so much of the bill. The rest of it's come from the county. I don't know. First of all is the Township footing Miss whole bill,  
Speaker 3     00:06:35    If I council president, the county is footing what you see with the word that is our share cost  
Speaker 5     00:06:42    Is the balance of DOT.  
Speaker 3     00:06:44    The balance is the county, but the share right there, 'cause the county culvert is gonna be a million change.  
Speaker 5     00:06:50    You understand Dave? That's our No, no,  
Speaker 2     00:06:52    I understand. Okay. That brings up another question. Maybe I'm looking at it different. Why couldn't the total cost be there, which includes the county insured, you know, and it says SCA waste portion is this number that you have here just for clarity,  
Speaker 3     00:07:05    Because that is only, that's our cost. That's what we're gonna bond for permanent financing update.  
Speaker 0     00:07:11    So I, I'm gonna give  
Speaker 4     00:07:13    Dear, this is an ordinance regarding a bond approval. Yes. So we're only bonding, we're only stating the amounts for the bond. This isn't approval of the entire project. This isn't approval of of the spending. This is approval of the bonding of of funds. And so putting extra amounts on there would just be one confusing. But you know, the also add, adding too much information to the agenda, you know, doesn't make a clear agenda. So,  
Speaker 2     00:07:40    Okay. So that means that this can come up again since this is not the finished product as far as the township's responsibility financial, is that correct?  
Speaker 0     00:07:51    So once they start a project, like any project, right, you never know what could potentially come up. It's just like when you're building a house, you think that you know it's gonna cost a certain amount and then something else is required. So it's a possibility.  
Speaker 3     00:08:04    Okay.  
Speaker 5     00:08:04    Typical. David is a really old, it's a long street. It's a really old street. And I know it's been engineered before we came up with the pond mount, but I, correct me if I'm wrong, Mayor one of those streets that was probably made not an appropriate substructure, like a  
Speaker 3     00:08:22    Lot of Yes. That was one of the old original farm roads back almost 75 years ago. As a matter of fact, this is actually a very good economics for the town to do this. Going into partnership with the board of chosen freeholders in the county engineering department. 'cause the board chosen freeholders and engineering department recognized that the culvert needed to be replaced. They engineered the culvert as well as the roadway. And this ordinance is gonna take care of our share of the construction dollars from the roadway outside of the scope of the actual culvert bridge. And part of that is, is that the county is gonna pick up the cost of the construction management of the entire project, which is gonna save us probably a hundred, $125,000, maybe even more  
Speaker 5     00:09:08    To translate into non-technical speakers. The Mayor understands, I mean these issues bear anybody, this is a Township Street, Dave, it's not County Road. But because of the large county presence in that culvert, they've taken the lead on engineering and project management and saved us a million dollars there.  
Speaker 2     00:09:26    No, I, I understand. I was just trying to get a, that's all I understand  
Speaker 5     00:09:29    Dave. We probably talked about the total cost of the project when we initially put it on to go forward with it way back when. I don't remember what it is. I'm sure this Administrator could get that for you. I don't remember what it is off the top of head. What, how much the county is paying a couple million. Correct. Yes.  
Speaker 3     00:09:48    It depends upon also once the engineering, not the labor, the point, the engineering design and then what parameters that the Department of Environmental Protection put on you what you have to do. So that may in a lot of cases drive up the cost also,  
Speaker 6     00:10:02    And correct me, I'm wrong if I'm wrong, Mr. Akins, but I think Mr. Akins is just trying to point out is that I think from a perspective as a resident, it would be nice to know to see the kind of money that we're getting help with, you know, from county. And I think that  
Speaker 2     00:10:17    Was his, that's, that's, that's it. Just to see,  
Speaker 5     00:10:19    You know, the number and we don't have the tor  
Speaker 3     00:10:22    Number yet. 'cause the project hasn't gone out.  
Speaker 5     00:10:25    We will get it though.  
Speaker 2     00:10:26    Okay. Now on that vein for item number B, Bravo has 10 bravo. We've discussed this, no issue with that. But I've asked this many, many, many, many times. This was the third change. And I've always asked even if it's change one, why, and this is to me a no brainer. Why can't the initial cost of that project be posted, listed, put it in brackets so that down the road, two or three years ago, $74,000 is insignificant depending on what the initial cost was. I've asked that many, many times.  
Speaker 3     00:11:06    Right. You, you can't do that in here's to usability for instance. This change order has to do with the sub base of the sidewalk. New sidewalks going in there. From what I understand from the engineering department, when we go to do the final capping, there's gonna be a less asphalt probably being used out there, which mean overall that there's gonna be a decrease in the entire contract. So because this is a, an addendum to that one section of the contract, the for sidewalks, that's the change orders the plus. But if you can look at the grand scheme of things that they are gonna probably end up using less quantities. So they finish the paving out there. So the overall contract will be less. Right. So I think what  
Speaker 0     00:11:48    You're answering now, Mr A, do you want to know what the original cost was? Yes. And then what the delta is as a result of the change order. So that's something, I mean that's something we could, we could include that  
Speaker 5     00:11:59    It's in the resolution.  
Speaker 2     00:12:01    I'm just saying it's a lot nicer on the agenda as far as money being deductible because you don't use all That's fine. So when you, when that happens, like in the past it's on the agenda, X amount of dollars was put back in the kitty, so to speak from this project. So you just make the deduction that  
Speaker 5     00:12:21    This is Mr. Akens way of trying to make a pitch for a half a million dollar. Yeah, bill pay down on his street. Hey Dave, we, there's certain legal requirements for the heading of the resolution of the ordinance and we have to follow those requirements. But in the body of it may be, may be different, but what you see on the agenda is the heading that we vote on and the non-legal perspective. I can understand why you're saying it would be great if we had more information, but we're, we have to follow the law on how we title it. Like  
Speaker 4     00:12:54    Yeah, so, so the, the agenda is a, is essentially a notice of, of the resolution. The problem is, is it's, it's a waterfall essentially. If we provide the original contract amount, and this is the third change order, we have to make sure that we provide the current contract amount after the second change order. And then, and, and, and you start to end up writing a paragraph for each piece. We're always happy to let you know the numbers. You can always go to the clerk's office and get that information. It's on the resolution. It's just, if we start putting information beyond what the actual resolution's for, you know, it it, it creates a, an agenda that will become overly burdensome. And, and that that's the issue. David.  
Speaker 5     00:13:35    You always ask and you always do, David, we always, yeah, you give it to you immediately or get  
Speaker 2     00:13:43    Even Well, I, I understand exactly what you're saying. The only thing I'm asking is even if you have to change the numbers because you are adding more and the cost goes up. So what, I mean, how much time does that take? How often? I mean, when I listen to you, it sounds like this is going to be the norm where you are gonna constantly get these Sure you are gonna run into some unexpected construction costs, but listening to you in general is like, this is the norm more so than the exception. So anyway, I'm, I'm, I'm ready to move on. But, so it's agreed that the initial course or not, I understand what you're saying For the first, when it's first announced, which is the initial course without any change, will that number be there?  
Speaker 0     00:14:42    So I think what, what David is asking for is that when we have a change order number three, so the, the thing David, is if we put the initial contract amount and then we put the change order amount, this will not, the change order amount is not from the original, the baseline. It's from change order number two. So we have to put the original amount change order number one, change order number two, and then change order number three. So that's why there will be numerous numbers on there.  
Speaker 2     00:15:06    Okay.  
Speaker 5     00:15:07    But that's in the, that's actually in the resolution. It's the  
Speaker 2     00:15:10    Resolution. Okay.  
Speaker 5     00:15:11    In the resolution, body  
Speaker 2     00:15:12    Resolution. So the only, the only thing with the resolution, unless it say something on the agenda, I look at the resolution, I don't know if it's on there because unless it's something denoted on the agenda. So look at the resolution for that specifically. I still don't know where it's at. But anyway. But you understand my point. Yeah,  
Speaker 5     00:15:30    You give the answer  
Speaker 4     00:15:32    The answer. So that's the thing. David, if we put all that information on the agenda, we might as well just start like literally taking out, we have one page resolution for this providing we'd end up having to put all those one page on the agenda to make sure it's clear as to what we're approving. But I'll definitely give you the number. So, you know, we always do whenever you ask.  
Speaker 2     00:15:51    No, no, no. I, I'll stop by the administrative's office. Okay. Okay. It'd be easy that way. I  
Speaker 5     00:15:57    Understand.  
Speaker 0     00:15:57    We wanna make sure you have it  
Speaker 5     00:15:59    In the body of the resolution, but not in the in caption title.  
Speaker 2     00:16:03    I understand item number, item number I as an NDA I've seen since the last time we had in 2014 judgments being reversed and so forth and so on. My concern is, and we talk about it briefly, you can't say all of these are from residential owners that has been reversed or reduced. It could be, it could be from corporations business other than looking up the lot and block. How do you know if it was, this is the, an, this is the question. Who did the appraisal such as the illustrious appraisal company that we have now, or someone else that does strictly the business? Because I've seen a lot of these throughout the year. I mean,  
Speaker 5     00:17:02    Well this is a case, this is a commercial piece of property on Colonial Drive, which is on the agenda. If you know Colonial Drive, you'll know that it's an industrial area and they filed a tax appeal. Tax appeals have been a giant issue for a number of years. We, with the, the reason that the state has compelled us and we've done these ALS, is to get a, a hold of this issue. 'cause it's a, it was an issue that was just driving a giant hole in our budget. So we see a lot less of them now. But this is a a, we had this conversation with, had with several people, commercial property is taxed differently. Yes. I always like the analogy, when your kids move out of the house and you got three empty bedrooms, you can't come into the town and say, I want my taxes reduced.  
Speaker 5     00:17:49    Right, right. But if I own a office building and three of my tenants move out, I now have less income. And that's the way taxes are, are designed for property taxes for commercial property. So if I own the building down the road and I have, you know, three tenants move out and I'm generating less income, I may have a drop in my property taxes. So we've had, we reversed that is the good news. And the good news is that through a lot of hard work and economic development, we filled a lot of space and brought in a lot of new businesses. And now corporate tax bases back up to about 50% where it was a decade ago. But this, that's what this is. Again, we can't put it on the title, but we can give you any information you want. If you know this, if you know, I mean a lot of the, a lot of the streets are obvious by the name of the street that it's a commercial zone and not a residential zone. We, we don't see a lot of residential tax appeals. But I can give you the exact number, but not too matter.  
Speaker 2     00:18:50    Well, let me just, let me just enlighten everyone on the council. The last time the, the illustrious rate appraisal was here and I looked at my card, my house was depreciated 10% according to them. I'm saying, how can my house be depreciated only 10%? That means my house is practically brand new. 90% what these illustrious appraisal did. And they put down that I remodeled two of my bathrooms. Okay, now that's great for the Township and everything for no, no rhyme reason. They've been in the house. How does a person, and and in the box where it says comment, you think they,  
Speaker 0     00:19:33    Mr. ats, did you remodel or, or you didn't? No. Okay. So then what I would do is I would submit  
Speaker 2     00:19:38    All I know what to do. Okay. But I don't, first of all, I shouldn't have to appeal something that wasn't there. That wasn't  
Speaker 0     00:19:46    Right.  
Speaker 2     00:19:48    Why, why, why should myself or anyone go and appeal something that just didn't happen? Because someone decide, oh, I'll, I'll put down a, the old they upgraded the two bathrooms. Nothing was done. Right. Nothing. So who pays the bulk of the higher taxes for the people that didn't pay people like me? Because the house only depreciated 10, 10%. We,  
Speaker 5     00:20:13    We, we had a process set up where the appraisers were here for weeks in a very informal way. I was here, just come in and sit and talk  
Speaker 2     00:20:20    With them. I was here and I brought that to their attention  
Speaker 0     00:20:24    Resolved. So, right. Did it get resolved? Did it, did they change it?  
Speaker 2     00:20:28    I haven't seen the new property cards.  
Speaker 0     00:20:30    Okay. So I haven't seen, I can tell you that I recently just got mine. So. We'll, we will, we'll take a look to see today. You got yours today. Okay. So we'll, we'll see. Take a look. Maybe yours will come in the next day or so and then you can come back or, or take a, a walk into Lisa's office or or attorney's office and we'll see exactly what happens.  
Speaker 2     00:20:50    So, but  
Speaker 0     00:20:50    What I just, just want to, so right, I was gonna say we're moving. Yes. Our three minutes here Mr.  
Speaker 2     00:20:56    So I can give,  
Speaker 0     00:21:09    So is that okay if you could, you know, follow up with Lisa  
Speaker 2     00:21:11    Or I'm, I'm gonna follow, but let me just say this. I hate to talk about people. When one here, that house right next to my house with neighbors, I've been in the house, this is the last time they have a finished basement, right. And they have baseboard heat that's, and baseboard heat is evaluated, I don't know why. Higher than force hot air. And I looked at the property cause next door I said, Lisa, they have baseboard heat. The bottom line is, well I can do what I want to do. That's not true. Even the Mayor has said, people that don't let people in the house and they raise the amount, that's it. That's their fault. This way if they see a high and they'll go and they'll, they'll check. But when I told Lisa, this is not something someone's telling me. I've been in there, didn't phase her at all. Didn't f and another thing this last time, now I know you're not taxed on this. On my property card it says I have sidewalks and curbs. I know you're not taxed on it. But the point of it, as far as accuracy, I told him last year, I told this guy this time there is no sidewalks. It's insignificant. But it shows the attention that people are paying to detail even though it doesn't make any difference to enough taxes. Okay, I'm finished. Unless someone else won to ask me something. No, no. As far as  
Speaker 7     00:22:30    It's okay. Okay, thank you. And  
Speaker 2     00:22:32    As far as me talking to the tax assess,  
Speaker 5     00:22:36    You're gracious to use up all your bank time. Mr. Wheel wants to yield his time to the gentleman from arose Valley  
Speaker 7     00:22:46    Land.  
Speaker 5     00:22:47    Lemme just say before you talk to him. Yeah, just people should understand that your, what you pay in property taxes is not entirely controlled on the fact that your house may have had an additional appraised value. 'cause the value may go up, which is a good thing overall for the economy. But the rate, the percentage rate, I'm going to stick my head out there and predict is gonna probably go down. So your property value may go up $10,000 but your taxes may go down. The rate change again, the reason is economic development and the fact that we've had a number of big corporate tax payers contribute. So the little white card you're gonna get, it only tells part of the jury. You'll get an esti, a proper, not an estimate, but a tax bill in, when does it come out? In July, I guess from there, is that what it is? I think July.  
Speaker 2     00:23:38    Right next year. Right. Okay. Saying  
Speaker 0     00:23:41    We'll let Mr Wheel start  
Speaker 8     00:23:44    Anthony we, excuse me, 2250 Plainfield Avenue North one. I want to thank you for the truck. No idling ordinance given the warehouse situation, which as you know, I'm not terribly pleased about. I've heard that there's a meeting coming up with the developer to talk about ch turning the warehouse around so the bays don't base my neighbors and myself. So I hope that goes well and I hope the incentives are enough to get them to move forward on it. I know that you've also passed or put forth a proposal to keep trucks off River road, which I know that the county has to final, has final say on that. But overall we're adding truck, we're adding trucks throughout the town and there's a lot of recent data about diesel fumes. I just was reading an article about particulates and diesel fumes actually getting into people's heart, into the tissue because they're so small. So the more trucks on the road, it's bad for everybody, particularly for the elderly and for young people. And I think we really need to evaluate what we're doing regarding air quality as well as traffic noise. So I hope things go well with the meeting and that's what I Thank  
Speaker 0     00:25:20    You. Thank you for your Cahn.  
Speaker 5     00:25:21    Let me say to, I, I'll report to you and call you as much as tell you what I You can, but I, let me just say on the trust, the, the objective is, and you're not wrong about the, the health issues associated with trucks and, and most vehicles, other industry. The, the objective of what we're trying to achieve is to keep these trucks in away from residential areas as much as possible by getting 'em off of the river road corridor. We hope that many of 'em will avoid the skyway altogether. I think we, you and I have spoken, but we're all, we're also going to ensure that Plainfield is a light traffic street and Plainfield north up until the entrance of that facility. 'cause regardless of whether we're successful in achieving modifications, there'll be some net real necessity for the use of that entrance for some trucks. But I, the police department is looking at, 'cause that's the process we have to go through making some changes to the status of the Plainfield and Plainfield do and hopeful that'll be on be the agenda at some point in the near future.  
Speaker 0     00:26:31    Okay, thanks. Thanks Steve. Any other comments from the public at this time? Comment, any comments? Sure, please.  
Speaker 0     00:26:50    My name is, my name is Linda Kerick. I live at 65 Bristol Road. You said 65 Bristol. Thank you. I'm an apostle town section and I'm quite concerned about the traffic. I know sometimes I have to go to the doctor early in the morning. It takes me almost a half hour to get from First Avenue to up to Centennial Avenue. The traffic is so heavy and I just don't think the roads were built to accommodate this kind of traffic. Also the children are section, I think the school is, the high school is like two, 2.8 miles. So children have to walk. So you're gonna have children on the roadway, which I think is very dangerous and I'm certainly concerned about the pollution. So I would just like to bring these things up that as a concerned citizen that I'm, I'm quite concerned and I really don't want the neighborhood to change with all these trucks. I'm scared of this.  
Speaker 5     00:27:45    Let me, let me, I lived in Boston Town for a long time so I know the issue. You're, you're talking about part of the solution, which I hope is going to be the reconstruction and improve improvements on bland because a lot of vehicles come from Middlesex borough and points in that direction and they get onto possibly town road and they take possibly town road out to 2 87 and and or some other points. And we're hoping that a lot of the traffic will go, will go well, especially the truck traffic will go on the commercial street, more commercial street in Lakeland and there's a project down, there's some other projects down the road as well. Modifying a feeder streets to avoid the issue of people either. 'cause a lot of people cut through, not so much on Bristol, but they'll take, you know, first avenue and kind of wing their way through.  
Speaker 0     00:28:47    No, we have a lot of commercial trucks. I would say in a week, maybe the seven to 10 trucks that come down Bristol from River Road I guess. And they kind of get lost. They kind of get lost. They really don't know where they're going.  
Speaker 5     00:28:59    Bristol's a street that probably we should take a look at. If it's not already Bristol, I can't see your vision. Why I make, there's no reason for any trucks to be going down Bristol. We can remedy, we can remedy that frankly by taking a look at, and I know it's, it's the person who's looking at some of this is Lieutenant Boer who lives around the corner from him. Okay. On Hancock. So we can look at eliminating truck traffic through the neighborhoods by making some of these streets. Bristol is not a street that needs trucks for any reason other than maybe a local delivery, you know? I know, I know I've driven the firetruck down your street. But other than that there's not really a need for trucks. So  
Speaker 9     00:29:45    We can, we can look at that. So  
Speaker 0     00:29:48    Do you have a comment? No. Okay. Alright. Thank, thank you. Thank you. Your comments. Any additional comments or questions at this time?  
Speaker 10    00:29:59    Another we, Bob Weil 2250 Plainfield Avenue North.  
Speaker 0     00:30:05    Good evening.  
Speaker 10    00:30:06    Hi, I, a couple of comments on the Piscataway website, which is starting to look kind of antiquated in my opinion. And I'm wondering why the minutes from these meetings, from the master plan, et cetera, aren't posted there for all the townspeople to see. Because I think the thing that makes this, it seems like you guys are trying real hard and I'd like to see more of my neighbors here communicating with you too. And more information you can pass on to them the more involved people can be. And I think that is a win-win for  
Speaker 9     00:30:58    This matter. The thanks.  
Speaker 0     00:31:01    Thank you Mr. Any other comments or questions for the  
Speaker 11    00:31:15    Curtis? Wes 1750 West third. Good  
Speaker 0     00:31:18    Evening Mr. Res. Mr. Wes?  
Speaker 11    00:31:21    Yes. I guess I call this from rehashing at first thing I need to address is my issue I'm having with the guy, the, what's his name? Walker.  
Speaker 0     00:31:39    Mr. Walker. Walker.  
Speaker 11    00:31:42    I had to call his office. I think I talked to Frank. I got a letter couple months, about a month ago, about my yard.  
Speaker 11    00:31:52    I straightened it up. So a friend of mine said, you better get some proof that you did this. So I called and I made them send me a letter saying my yard was clean, but if I look a couple doors down, my neighbor other is not clean. So I'm trying to figure out, I think I was picked on and I'm gonna take that for granted. I need to know if I can make these guys, the ones that tore the house down on second Street, do what they're supposed to do. So it in, now I didn't ask them for the grass heat. I think by they should filled Sting. I asked Mr. Walker, I guess he went out there and I guess that's why.  
Speaker 0     00:32:35    Which which, which property are we, were we referencing? It's,  
Speaker 3     00:32:38    It's the property that the bank had owed and they tore the property down. They still have to finish work out there.  
Speaker 11    00:32:44    Okay. You know they have to finish it, right? That's what you're saying? Yes. Oh, okay. The problem I had with the, the guy, whoever took the leaves up, they came and got the leaves. I need to know from the Mayor who's going to cut this grass now on the other side of the park. Where is the guys that cut the grass in the park gonna cut it or is the city going to cut it? I need to know.  
Speaker 0     00:33:14    So is this, is this across  
Speaker 11    00:33:16    Country Street Township  
Speaker 0     00:33:17    Property or is this a, is this  
Speaker 11    00:33:18    Private property?  
Speaker 3     00:33:20    Curtis, just refresh my memory. Is this Hazelwood Park?  
Speaker 11    00:33:23    Hazelwood Park across street. Right across the street from the park. Okay. A little pond.  
Speaker 3     00:33:27    It's private property  
Speaker 11    00:33:28    Over there. Three city doesn't own three feet, five feet, 10 feet. We, we own  
Speaker 3     00:33:32    Like maybe 10 feet over there. But it's private. It's private  
Speaker 11    00:33:35    Property. Okay. Now who's hard to cut that graph?  
Speaker 3     00:33:38    The, the owner is.  
Speaker 0     00:33:40    So I guess that the thing that I think what you're asking right, is if the owner does not do it right  
Speaker 11    00:33:45    Then doesn't, doesn't do, don't take get us.  
Speaker 0     00:33:48    Right. So then what what'll happen is they'll get a notice, right? And what'll happen if this will become a public nuisance and they'll, the will come out and cut it and then they'll get a fine, they'll get a letter that states it.  
Speaker 3     00:34:03    It's vague.  
Speaker 0     00:34:04    Yeah. So that, that's exact. So I know you had a question a couple weeks ago. How does, how does those names get listed there? And that's what happens if you have a piece of property in your particular neighborhood that looks like it's not being tended to, you know, after we try to notify the owner, if that does not happen and they don't fix it, then there's a paca will come in and take care of it. And then  
Speaker 11    00:34:25    The bank has to pay the Township back because a lien will go right. A piece of property, the piece of property that the city owns on the corner of second and Hazelwood. The Mayor knows what I'm talking about. Last year we said we had a contract with m and a to clean up all these little pieces of property. Do we remember this conversation? No. Maybe  
Speaker 0     00:34:49    Brian, do you recall the conversation? Mr. He said there was a conversation that you had with him between m and m properties.  
Speaker 11    00:34:57    Which  
Speaker 3     00:34:59    Can, can you repeat the location? Refresh my memory,  
Speaker 0     00:35:00    I'm sorry. The location Mr.  
Speaker 11    00:35:01    Res last year contract was issued to m and a, correct? Oh,  
Speaker 3     00:35:06    You mean the curb and sidewalk? Oh, you mean the, the folks that are doing the take downs,  
Speaker 11    00:35:12    Take downs, whatever you want. Call em the property that the city owns on the corner of Second and Hazelwood across the street from the church.  
Speaker 3     00:35:18    Yes. They haven't gotten over there yet.  
Speaker 11    00:35:20    This was what Wait, a  
Speaker 3     00:35:23    Did some of 'em part of you did partial. Some of our in-house forces. And I don't believe that they have gotten over there yet. They're still working on putting things in north side and they still have more take downs 'cause they're only coming in two days a week. So,  
Speaker 0     00:35:37    So what, what do you think that, we'll, we'll get over there. Do  
Speaker 3     00:35:39    You have any idea? I I don't know. I can ask Mr. Speri, the public works director. I I can find that out. But they're, they're, they're trying not to jump all over the town. They're trying to concentrate one area and move to another area now. So Mr.  
Speaker 0     00:35:51    Grabs, well I would suggest is if you can give Tim, I would say give Tim a call, right. Maybe on Monday or something. Give you a couple days.  
Speaker 3     00:35:59    He does speak pretty regular with guy. He just ask guy and he'll tell you,  
Speaker 11    00:36:03    Oh, I, I didn't know that was his department. I'll I'll guy Frank, I had this issue with that fence for my neighbor. What are we going to do, sir?  
Speaker 3     00:36:14    It as it is middle of the winter, we can't start ground.  
Speaker 11    00:36:20    I'm gonna explain something to you again. Mayor. The middle of winter has nothing to do with this. Take a pole slope digger, put the fence up. What's  
Speaker 3     00:36:28    The problem? We just spent money out there to recede everything out.  
Speaker 11    00:36:31    You have to it again.  
Speaker 3     00:36:34    Okay, Mr. Gars, please. We're trying to accomplish something to make it look nice out there. The last thing we want to do is have heavy equipment and trucks out there to ruin what was done in there. We will, I I have committed to him. We are gonna take care of it. It's not  
Speaker 0     00:36:50    So it sounds like, it sounds like when the temperature changes Mr. Gruss then they'll,  
Speaker 11    00:36:55    Mike you have something to say. I just wanted to know if you chime in there. Okay, lemme handle it there. Okay. I discussed this with Frank already. We have an issue over here. They have a fence. They took the fence now and it's a cut through. We had a couple of issues. I don't know if she called the police. I told her to call the police. It's a cut through there. They're coming off that street, coming in her backyard, coming up to pop. It was in her yard a couple of times. I asked them to take a post and just fix her fence. I don't care if you don't fix the other part. Why can't you just go back out there with a pole hook? You want me to do what? I'll do what I'm charging you. Why can't you just go there with a pole? I ain't going, you go there with a machine and put the fence back  
Speaker 3     00:37:41    And there once again, council president, we are not gonna have Finn go out there and ruin what we just did. Oh, you, I think everything like over the years you, I have known each other but we say we get something done, we'll take care of it.  
Speaker 0     00:37:56    So, so it sounds like Mr. Rub, this probably will not happen until the spring time. So the spring. The spring. Correct. Okay. So what we'll do is we can take note of that and you know, we can speak on this particular topic in the spring again. And if, and if this, if someone continues to come through this lady's property, then I would suggest that she give the police a call. That's probably the appropriate thing for her to do.  
Speaker 11    00:38:19    Okay. So we had this conversation at the two meetings ago. I asked about the sewers being cleaned, whatever happened.  
Speaker 0     00:38:28    So I'll get, so this will be Mr. Grubb's last question. So there's a for you Mayor, if I  
Speaker 3     00:38:33    Could, I don't know. I'll have to, I'll have to  
Speaker 11    00:38:34    Have a check with the sewer division. I apologize.  
Speaker 0     00:38:37    Okay, so what he's, he, he said he apologizes, he'll have to check with the sewer division. So if you can you  
Speaker 11    00:38:42    Call, you call Tim, you can have an answer. I need, I needed to ask was, is this done periodically or what? Yes, we do clean certain areas in town. How often? That's what I'm asking because I'm trying to figure out when, when do you think the last time it was done, what flush in the sewer line? Yes. From from from my house up to the corner. I I believe Hazelwood. I I believe it was flushed like that three weeks ago. You believe? Three  
Speaker 0     00:39:10    Weeks ago. So, so Mr. Mr, what I would do is check with Tim tomorrow to confirm, you know, when the last time it was done and when it will be done again. So it sounds like you might have a problem or something out there.  
Speaker 11    00:39:20    The problem was stated two meetings ago.  
Speaker 0     00:39:22    Okay. So, all right, so  
Speaker 11    00:39:24    I mean if you want put a minutes back, I stated this two minutes meetings ago.  
Speaker 0     00:39:28    Okay. So just so what we'll do is we'll have Mr. Grubbs contact Tim tomorrow and then we'll, we'll we'll get a solution please. And  
Speaker 1     00:39:35    If he can do any time between meetings, if he feels he's not getting a service that he needs.  
Speaker 11    00:39:40    Excuse  
Speaker 1     00:39:40    Me. You can always give a call. You don't have to wait until you come to the meeting. We haven't had a meeting now in a couple weeks. Well,  
Speaker 11    00:39:46    So you have a problem. I prefer the week to meet just his own on paper and on the record. The conversations don't get taken at  
Speaker 0     00:39:53    All. So, so that's fine. So if you could give Tim a call tomorrow. Okay. Thanks. Are there any other comments or questions from the public at this time?  
Speaker 0     00:40:03    Hi, Kam told me 2 2 9 Alice this Parkway. I have a question about the GE healthcare. I'm, I'm just trying to figure out, well, any of the school's budget, 'cause from what I'm understanding from people just the gossip and the rumor mills, depending on how the contract was negotiated, whether it's some tax or whatever something was said about there's, they may not be required to fund part of the school budget. When I thought when we have projects like that, there have to, so will the school budgets be affected by any of the development projects that are currently in progress in Piscataway? Whether it's Best Buy the ge like I'm still learning this myself. So I've been trying to find information, but I don't know, I'm in our legal counsel. That question. Okay. I'm sorry. It's  
Speaker 4     00:40:46    Okay. So and pilot programs agreements, yes. Pilot programs. The, they still pay taxes. They pay taxes on the land. Right. The agreement is essentially for the improvements on the property and it and it and they still pay money in lieu of taxes. Right. And it's usually close to or corresponding to what they would've paid. The advantage is that for their financing purposes to help redevelopment, to allow 'em to get funding it, it creates a, a specific number that they can budget for that their banks can say, okay, these are your costs going forward in order for them to be able to finance and plan accordingly so that they can get better funding and, and move forward. So there's no surprise tax increases, et cetera. But the, the, the, the land portion, which is a substantial portion of the owe your tax bill, it, it is just like normal taxes.  
Speaker 0     00:41:39    So then they are required that money that, that you recruit from that will go towards the Yes. Projected yes. Sum of money. So how do we find out what percentage? 'cause if it doesn't meet the full projected amount from, like if you're a homeowner, you pay a certain percentage of taxes, right? That has to go to the school board, school board, whatever, whatever the ratio is. Oh, you,  
Speaker 3     00:42:00    If I may Council president, wherever the breakdown normally goes to county school district, fire district in town,  
Speaker 0     00:42:08    Resident corporate pilot. That that you just said depends on the rates. I'm just trying to understand 'cause I really don't know. Right. And I'm trying to find the information to see, wait a minute, is this gonna really hit me later on at some point? You mean you as a homeowner, as a resident in Piscataway with a student attending the Piscataway Township schools. Yes. So I'm just trying to figure out, so the budget, the school budget will not be affected by any of the  
Speaker 4     00:42:35    Well, I  
Speaker 0     00:42:36    Mean you said it depends on the percentage you're saying everyone's, I'm I'm just trying to make sure I understand. So that, so  
Speaker 4     00:42:41    So the pipe, the, the improvements portion of it Okay. That comes to the Township. Okay. Okay. The land is split as, as would be the rest of your property taxes will be split between the county, the Township and the school. Okay. As, as their medical ratios would be. Okay. Okay. You know, whether, whether your overall taxes will get affected. They generally shouldn't because, you know, if that money goes to the Township versus the school, you, your Township isn't, isn't gonna attack, you know, it is, it's gonna have that revenue to lower your Township portion of your taxes. So overall, your overall taxes shouldn't be, shouldn't, shouldn't be changed. And that, that's the, and this is all the, the council doesn't look to take money away from the school to raise your taxes. You know, the town, the town is looking to, how can we bring in people and incentivize people to do redevelopment and, and get gradable here without, without these fixed payment agreements.  
Speaker 4     00:43:39    It's harder for these, these corporations to get financing. And these fixed payment agreements allow 'em to get better financing to bring in businesses, to incentivize them to actually build out properties. Because if these properties lay vacant, your taxes are gonna go up. 'cause they're not gonna, we're not gonna get the schools or the Township or the county are not gonna get taxes anyway at all. 'cause it's gonna be a vacant property that they, like we talked about earlier, when they, when they appeal their taxes, it's based on the income being received by their property. And empty property gets low to, to no taxes.  
Speaker 0     00:44:12    So when the, the, the development is finished and complete and finalize the agreement, is there a way for us to see what that percentage might be for developments and stuff online? Because I'm trying to figure out like how is this gonna affect,  
Speaker 3     00:44:25    Well, not to  
Speaker 0     00:44:26    Point,  
Speaker 3     00:44:27    We're not receiving any funds from any taxation entity out there currently. It had not been for  
Speaker 0     00:44:33    Three years. Right. So I'm just trying to figure out when you do get that money that comes in, how is it? That's all I wanna know. And I understand, I understand. If it's empty, there's nothing to collect. I understand. I don't wanna, I'm trying to Mr. We, Mr. Mr. Mayor, I was trying to just finish my thought. I wasn't belaboring the point, I was just seeking clarity. This is my first time I've been searching on my own to get information. So my question here is just one of clarity. I'm not intentionally trying to belabor a point or make any type of contention. I  
Speaker 3     00:45:04    Wasn't talking about you, I was trying to get some additional information in your copy property,  
Speaker 0     00:45:08    But you kept cutting me off. I'm sorry to council president. Thank you. I got my answer. Okay, good. Thank you. You're welcome.  
Speaker 5     00:45:16    Just a, well pilot is a economic development tool and for a how many piece of property to be eligible to go into a pilot program, there's a lot of requirements from the state. For example, it has to be, yeah, as a state statute on, it has to be a essentially a vacant piece of property, right? That's currently zoned for a use that is not going to draw business. You know, for example, it's usually, so that had been zoned as like business professional, scientific resource. I'm not sure what it was. There's no market for that. So that's part of the requirement. It also has to be a piece of property that the development of it is not gonna have an impact on like school population. So like a developer who wants to build an apartment building can't get a pilot 'cause that's not something that would be eligible for it.  
Speaker 5     00:46:08    So the purpose of the pilot is to develop, to create economic development. A pilot is this first set period of time, five years, 10 years, 20 years, 30 years. And it's has Rise pointed out it's a fixed number. Good thing for that is if they, they don't do well economically, they're, they're locked in at a particular rate. So we don't have to have an issue of say that particular site or any other site that's in the pilot program five years from now filing a tax appeal and saying, you know, business isn't as good as we anticipated and us having to refund money, which is a budget killer. So it creates some certainty for the town. It creates some certainty for the developer. And as Raj pointed out, the, the bankers that are really funding this, like them because they know what their costs are when the pilot expires and they're, again, they're different lengths depending on negotiation, then they're taxed like anybody else based on their assessed value. And that undoubtedly when a pilot expires, that will change the, as the, just to clarify the land and there's a lot of land out there. The land is not part of the pilot, it's the economic development. So the land is still taxed normal property tax is divided up between the board of education, the county, and the municipality. It's different than the pilot.  
Speaker 6     00:47:32    And, and correct me if I'm wrong, but when we get our taxes, we see the rate, the percentage that goes to the school, the county and municipal. Correct. Should, so that's how you would see what percentage would go to  
Speaker 0     00:47:49    The, and I think what Ms. Tillman was asking is she wants to know specifically about that site though. Am I correct Ms. Tillman?  
Speaker 12    00:47:55    Well, yeah, this is the one that was recent. I know there are other development projects, so I'm just asking. He was saying that it might change. So I was just trying to figure out if it does, how do we know? And you know, we want to  
Speaker 0     00:48:06    Get, how do we voice? That's all by all means. Right? If you have a a question on that specifically when they, when we start to collect the taxes, we're definitely, it's something that you can receive. Sos not a problem,  
Speaker 5     00:48:16    Joe. I'll the next meeting because we have, I want still more about tax appeal. That's actually on the agenda for the next meeting. Okay. The next meeting. So I'll wait.  
Speaker 0     00:48:24    Okay. Okay. So at this time if there are no additional questions from the public, I'd like to adjourn the meeting. Do I have a motion? Motion  
Speaker 6     00:48:33    Second.  
Speaker 0     00:48:34    All in favor? Ayes adjourn. So we'll move on to the, I'm about to the mic here, so we'll move on to the agenda meeting. I'd like to call the meeting to order at.