Transcript for Piscataway Council meeting on January 25 2022


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     00:00:05    Good evening everyone. This is the township of Piscataway council meeting agenda for January 25th, 2022. Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided as required under chapter 2 31 P L 1975. Specifying the time date, location login, or dial in information. And to the extent known the agenda by posting a copy of the notice on the municipal building, the municipal court and the two municipal library, bulletin boards, municipal website, providing a I following a copy in the office of the township clerk in accordance with the certification by the clerk, which will be entered in the minutes. The township continues to use a remote meeting format in an effort to mitigate the chance of exposure to COVID-19 as a part of the township's ongoing effort to slow the rate of transmission and avoid overwhelming our treatment centers in order to make sure they clear record of the meeting can be made.  
Speaker 0     00:01:13    And that all parties are heard in an organized fashion. All members of the public will be muted during the meeting. If a member of the public wishes to speak during any public comment portion, please raise your hand. This can be done either through the zoom app or by pressing star nine on your phone. When it is your turn, you will receive a prompt or a request to unmute. Please click on the prompt or press star six on your phone to unmute upon being un-muted. You should begin to, in all questions, you may have, you will have three minutes to speak at the conclusion of which you will be muted again, and the council or administration will respond as necessary. Should you have any further comments or questions that township council is always available by email and phone, and you could always call the mayor's office during normal operating hours.  
Speaker 0     00:02:12    Each member of the public shall have only one opportunity to speak during each public portion. As the technology does not allow us to know if there are multiple callers on an individual phone or lawn or logged in user account, we ask that if you wish to speak that you log in or dial in separately so that we can recognize you as a separate individual, individuals may also submit written comments to township clerk up to 48 hours prior to the meeting to be read by the township clerk. During the public comment portion of the meeting said, comments shall be limited to three minutes of reading. Thank you in advance for your patience as we continue to move the township forward during this health emergency. So I'm now calling this meeting to order again, Mrs. Theater, can you please call the roll  
Speaker 1     00:03:10    Councilman Bullard, Councilman Bullard. Need to unmute yourself so I can hear you? Yes. Can you hear me now? Yes I can. You're correct. Yes. Here. Councilwoman Cahill, Councilman con Councilman Rouse, Councilman Shah. Councilman Uhrin. Yeah. Council President Lombardi.  
Speaker 0     00:03:57    Yeah. With everyone. Please join me for the flag salute  
Speaker 2     00:04:12    At the United States of America and to their level for which it stands one nation under God, indivisible with Liberty and justice for all.  
Speaker 0     00:04:29    Now moving to number five. Do we have any comments from administration and council regarding any a German of any matters on this agenda?  
Speaker 0     00:04:43    Seeing none? I'll now move to number six, which will be open to the public. And these are comments for the consent agenda items only. Please remember again, these are comments regarding the consent agenda items. If you wish to speak at this time, please raise your hand either on zoom app or if by phone, by pressing star nine. When is your turn to speak? You will receive or hear a request to unmute yourself, please click the prompt or press star six on your phone to unmute yourself at that time. Please state your name and address and know that you will have three minutes in which to make your comments. The council or administration will respond if necessary after you have completed any comments or questions. And please remember that these are comments regarding the consent agenda items only at this time  
Speaker 1     00:05:47    Council President. I just want to acknowledge that Councilman Shah has arrived in the meeting, Councilman Shah, and he just acknowledged that you were here, please.  
Speaker 3     00:06:03    Yes. I mean,  
Speaker 0     00:06:05    Thank you. Thank you. And anyone wishing to comment on the consent agenda items, please press star nine. At this time, Council President, I'm asking the first individual with their hand raised to themselves. Critique. You can go ahead.  
Speaker 3     00:06:26    Yeah. Hi, this is just regarding one question that I,  
Speaker 0     00:06:29    Excuse me, one sec. Just state your name  
Speaker 3     00:06:35    29 red Bedros.  
Speaker 0     00:06:37    Thank you. Welcome.  
Speaker 3     00:06:40    Yep. I believe it's good to be here looking at zoom in 2022 that's progress. Okay. So just a quick comment regarding a PR position that was opened up recently by the township. And the question is, is this particular position funded by taxpayer? And the second thing is in case if any of the council feels that this position is needed. I personally,  
Speaker 0     00:07:11    Yes, one minute. Can you hold that for the next public portion? Where on the consent agenda items, public portion only at this time. Okay. Can you hold that to the next public portion, please?  
Speaker 3     00:07:22    That is part of consent agenda item. There was a position for PR unless I'm missing something. Let me open up. Cause it's hard for, let me just, this was on. I don't  
Speaker 0     00:07:36    Remember. Can you give us the letter?  
Speaker 3     00:07:38    Yeah. Number nine. And  
Speaker 0     00:07:45    Thank you.  
Speaker 3     00:07:49    So when you're kind of talking from an advisory standpoint, are this position kind of paid or funded by PAC that's the first question. And the second question is I personally feel that in a small township like this, usually what PR position would do is it is going to basically reduce the authentic voice of people. So in a sense that I think it just gives rise to a lot of spins stories and all this kind of stuff. We are not negotiating any treaty with international countries or in some complex structure, or this is not some science experiment that we need to explain it to public up. So when we are creating positions in the township, I personally feel that this, we have to evaluate positions that really are important to public when it comes to building something and whatnot and not blow the administration and saddle that money on taxpayers. Thank you.  
Speaker 0     00:08:49    Thank you. Petique and again, this was a, an appointment to the public relations advisory commission, which is one of our commissions in town. These are not paid positions. These are positions that are given to various people around the community and it's for the public relations advisory commission. And it is not a paid position. And if anybody would like to piggyback on that, please feel free.  
Speaker 4     00:09:17    Correct Council President. This is attempts to drain and that's a, it's a voluntary position. That's a committee that's advisory only. They don't take any action and they don't actually take any action for the township. They just make recommendations to the township administration.  
Speaker 0     00:09:31    Thank you for that clarification.  
Speaker 1     00:09:33    Okay. Council, President, I just wanna acknowledge that Councilman Rouse has arrived to the meeting. Councilman Rouse, if you could just, yeah, thank you.  
Speaker 0     00:09:46    Do we have anyone else that would like to comment on the consent agenda items at this time, please, please press star nine.  
Speaker 1     00:09:56    Council President. There are no other individuals with their hands raised.  
Speaker 0     00:10:00    Thank you, Mrs. Cedar. I will now close the public portion and move on to number seven, which is an ordinance under first reading amending chapter seven, traffic section 20 stop intersections. And it's a resolution adopting ordinance, Mrs. Cedar, can you please read the word  
Speaker 1     00:10:19    It resolved by the township council of Piscataway Township, New Jersey, then an ordinance and total ordinance women and supplement the revised general ordinances of the township of Piscataway county of Middlesex state of New Jersey amending chapter seven, traffic section 20 stop intersections in the township of scattering county of Middlesex stayed in New Jersey B and is hereby adopted on the first reading that'd be published in the official newspaper. And then the second reading and public hearing to be held at 7:30 PM prevailing time at the Piscataway municipal building 4 55 hos lane Piscataway New Jersey, as well as by remote meeting format. On the 15th day of February, 2022 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     00:11:09    Thank you, Mrs. Theater. Can I have an offer, please Have a second. Thank you. Let's see. Can you please call  
Speaker 1     00:11:23    Councilman Bullard? Councilman Bullard. I just need your vote with regard to this agenda item. Yes. Thank you. Councilwoman Cahill. Yes. Councilman con Councilman Rouse. Yes. Councilman Shah. Yes. Councilman Uhrin Council, President Lombardi.  
Speaker 0     00:11:59    Yes. And the ordinance passes the first reading. We'll now move to number eight, which is a new water ordinance. First reading acquisition of rights of way, easements and land in fee simple, or the improvement of Centennial avenue. It's a resolution adopting ordinance. This theater. Can you please read the ordinance?  
Speaker 1     00:12:17    The resolved by the township council, Piscataway Township, New Jersey, that an ordinance and total ordinance for the acquisition of rights of way, easements and land and fee simple for the improvement of Centennial avenue in Piscataway Township county of Middlesex C New Jersey, and is hereby adopted on the first reading that it'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 remote meeting format on the 15th day of February, 2020, to be further resolved that a copy of this ordinance shall be posted 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 interest in member of the public.  
Speaker 0     00:13:04    Thank you, Mrs. Theater. Do I happen to offer  
Speaker 1     00:13:07    Also a second, a second. Councilman Cahn.  
Speaker 0     00:13:13    Thank you. Could you please take the moment, Mississippi  
Speaker 1     00:13:17    Councilman Bullard. Yes. Councilwoman Cahill. Yes. Councilman Cahn. Yes. Councilman Rouse. Yes. Councilman Shah. Yes. Councilman Uhrin. Yes. Council President Lombardi.  
Speaker 0     00:13:35    Yes. And the ordinance passes first meeting. We'll now move to number nine, which are the consent agenda items For efficiency items have been consolidated into 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 removed from the consent agenda to be discussed or voted on separately? Seeing none. May I have an offer to accept the consent agenda? May I have a second? Councilwoman Cahill. Thank you. And this is theater. You would take the role.  
Speaker 1     00:14:27    Councilman Bullard. Yes. Councilwoman Cahill. Yes. Councilman Cahn. Yes. Councilman Rouse. Yes. Councilman Shah. Yes. Councilman Uhrin Council. President Humberto.  
Speaker 0     00:14:46    Yeah. And the consent agenda items pass we'll now move to number 10, which is announcements and comments from officials. Do we have any comments from Councilman Jim Bellard?  
Speaker 5     00:15:05    No. I just like to say that hopefully you and your families are doing well, you know, because there's so much going on out there right now. I know you have to really protect yourselves and your family. So stay, stay well.  
Speaker 0     00:15:24    Thank you, Councilwoman Gabrielle K hill.  
Speaker 2     00:15:29    Thank you, Council President. I just wanted to remind folks that on February 3rd, the Y would be open again. I, I'm not sure how many times this will be for those folks wanting to get vaccinated. Also then again, on March 3rd, you can go to the site itself to learn more. We have literature out there. There's a registration link for you to link, to get your vaccination. I do believe that you'll be able to get the first or second shot and also the booster there. And then I do hope that the residents of Piscataway will join me in getting their animals free rabies shots. I will be there this Saturday is a through K at the DPW lot. It is drive-through so they are taking those extra protections to protect people. And I will be there with my two doggies and then I believe the next one is on Saturday, the fifth. And that would be L through Z. So again, a through K this Saturday, and then a week later, L through Z for free rabies. It's a great, great opportunity for folks to save some money and get out to meet some people to  
Speaker 0     00:16:53    Thank you for all that. Very good township information, Mrs. K hill Councilman con, do we have any comments?  
Speaker 5     00:17:02    I don't have any comments or announcements. Thank you, Council.  
Speaker 0     00:17:08    Councilman Rouse. No, no comments at this time. Councilman Shah.  
Speaker 6     00:17:16    Yes. So Gabrielle get my drive to rev ischemic. Thank you. Second in February, we are starting for picnic reservation at Y YMCA. So I believe it 10 o'clock in the morning. So anybody who want to book for the summer park reservations? So February is the first day. So call the creation and kind of block is YMCAs. And secondly, Raj, Goomer  
Speaker 0     00:17:48    The happy. Thank you. That's it. Thank you very much more information. That's great. Councilman Uhrin Mayor Brian Wall.  
Speaker 7     00:18:05    Thank you, Council President. I want to acknowledge that we did swear in a new Sergeant this evening, Meredith Robbins to that position. And then we look forward to working with her and her leadership patrol and staff of the whole PD. I also want to give out condolences to the Paul rowboat family, a long time Arbor of fire company, rescue fireman out of there. And some say that the monument looks like the Fireman's Morial Mon. It looks like Paul Rabone. We'll never know that, but I want to give my condolences out to, to the Arbor fire community and also the ribose family and on an extremely sad note, as we all know the fact that we had two uniform police officers shot and killed in New York city this week is just terrible news to the law enforcement community. Not only just in New York city, but here nationally.  
Speaker 7     00:19:14    And that just goes to show what on any given day in the law enforcement community, no matter what town or city you can be in it, it is a hazardous duty to, to be involved. And I want residents to be reminded of that. Cause sometimes when the officers knock on the door, you don't know what's behind that door cause they don't have x-ray vision. So once again, on behalf of the township governing body and the scattered police department, we extend our condolences out to the men and women of the Piscataway of the New York city PD. Thank you, Council President.  
Speaker 0     00:19:52    Thank you. Mayor Business Administrator, Tim Dacey.  
Speaker 8     00:19:56    I would just like to welcome Kelly to the team. Last meeting we lost the was less pain that we had Monica. So it was a little sad, but we've got a great new deputy clerk and Kelly and we'll look forward to working with her over the next few years.  
Speaker 0     00:20:14    Thank you. Township attorney, Raj Kumar. Happy birthday. Thank you for the wishes and no other comments. Thank you. I also would like to welcome Kelly. Welcome. We look forward to working with you and my heartfelt condolences and I'm sure on behalf of all of the council to the family that lost their daughter into the new market pond, along with their nine month old baby, my heartfelt condolences, along with the others, that was a horrible tragedy. And I have no words. So with that, we'll move on. Anyone else, everybody has their comments, both to number 11, which is the agenda session for the upcoming February 15th, 2022 meeting. We will be having that meeting of proclamation for a 100th birthday for Franklin Levi, white Gibson, which I so look forward to, we will have an ordinance. Second reading amending chapter seven, track Tropic session, 20 stop intersections. It will be open to the public and it will be a resolution adopting ordinance. Do we have any comments or questions regarding that ordinance that we just did on first reading this evening?  
Speaker 0     00:21:44    See none. We will also have the ordinance second reading for the acquisition of rights of way, easements and land of these simple for the improvement of Centennial avenue, open to the public resolution, adopting ordinance, any questions or concerns seeing none we'll move to number 12, which will be are open to the public portion. If you wish to speak at this time, please raise your hand either on zoom app or if by phone, by pressing star nine, but it is your turn to speak. You will receive or hear ever request to unmute yourself. Please click the prompt and press star six on your phone. Do you want to mute yourself at that time? Please state your name and address and know that you will have three minutes in which to make your comments. The council or administration will respond if necessary after you have completed any comments or questions. So at this time, if you'd like to speak during the public portion, please press star nine. Council President. I'm asking the first individual with their hand raised to unmute themselves. Please press star six. Now go ahead.  
Speaker 9     00:23:08    This is David Akins.  
Speaker 0     00:23:10    Good evening.  
Speaker 9     00:23:13    Good evening council. Good. Aye. Aye, aye, press star six during the consent agenda. And for some reason you didn't, you didn't get it. I also wanted to make a common for item number eight under the comments from the administration and you guys didn't get that. So what are you doing in a case like that?  
Speaker 0     00:23:43    Well, you could ask now at this point, David, well, it wasn't, it wasn't open to the one. Were you referring to?  
Speaker 9     00:23:52    I was on the phone before you guys even got started. So I've been here since the time you started what I'm going to cut to the chase. Maybe I'll back up into that, but since it's open to the public and this is going to be really directed to everyone, but specifically to Jim Bellard, Jim Bloyd, you are the second ward council person. What's the update on these, this warehouse that operates seven days a week, 24 hours, Saturday, Sunday, one 30 in the morning, four 30 in the morning. What's the update on that,  
Speaker 5     00:24:36    Tim, but you be able to help me here.  
Speaker 2     00:24:40    I can Councilwoman Lombardi if I could just Council President  
Speaker 0     00:24:46    Mr. we just, can we just have him make all his statements and then we'll answer the questions. So Mr. Akins, please make your statements. Okay. And then we'll answer your questions. All right.  
Speaker 9     00:24:56    Okay. Well going back to the consent agenda, item number F first Fox trot item G for golf. Well for good golf item F item nine, aye. Item J. This is under the consent agenda.  
Speaker 0     00:25:21    Okay. Thank you. Are you done  
Speaker 9     00:25:25    Item November? This under it's still under the consent agenda item, Quebec item, tango item nine. X-ray let me ask you this. When, before, if I'm correct. After every, when the meeting is different, before you go to the following agenda, you always have three minutes then, and you have three minutes like we're having now, which is the total.  
Speaker 0     00:26:01    Okay. We always have a public proportion for the consent agenda items. That's in the beginning. And then at the end is the public portion.  
Speaker 9     00:26:11    It used to be two public, four Porsches. If I'm not mistaken,  
Speaker 0     00:26:15    There is there's one for the consent agenda items. And then the other one is later on number 12, that the end. So there's two public portion.  
Speaker 9     00:26:24    Well, if I asked you a question for the consent agenda, if it's not on that consent agenda, what I'm speaking about, you're saying that I have to address strictly what's on the consent agenda. So I'm restricted. I can't, it's not basically put into the public.  
Speaker 0     00:26:43    It is open to the public first. The first public portion is for the consent agenda items. That's for that only the second public portion is for any question you may have. Okay. You may continue. Okay. Thank you so much. And we'll try to start answering those questions now.  
Speaker 8     00:27:03    And then president, can we get a little bit of information from Dave and I? What he's looking for? He gave us a bunch of resolutions, but I'm not sure what he's looking for in them.  
Speaker 0     00:27:15    Okay. The first one he had was F on the consent agenda Council President,  
Speaker 2     00:27:21    He was also asking about, I believe what now the old Verizon building to,  
Speaker 7     00:27:28    If I may Council President is marijuana. Let me try to jump in item F the emergency for road salt. We were in a cooperative with Somerset county for two year contract. And all of a sudden Somerset county said, no, they're not taking on any towns or outside of Somerset county. So we had to get an emergency contract with another one, another cooperative, as far as item. And I think believe it was M this just retain each of the special, special assessment projects that where we have sidewalks throughout the town, that the companies have to pay for the sidewalks that are being installed. And then the emergency temporary appropriation, that is a normal process because David we're, we're now into a new budget year that requires us every, every six weeks or so until we have an adopted budget so we can fund the government so to speak. I think I missed one other one on the consent agenda they was asking for. I'm not sure which one it was  
Speaker 0     00:28:37    For Q, which is the joint insurance fund safety  
Speaker 7     00:28:45    Incentive  
Speaker 8     00:28:47    At, in India was for purchase of six police cars for the police department. Juliet was for the purchase of three extra duty trucks for the police department. Instead of using a patrol cars, the chief is going to, we be using a small SUV's that are for that with Volvo stuff that in the back seat they arrest people with. So it's a lot cheaper first by these, it was a fracture duty. November was for the temporary budget with back  
Speaker 0     00:29:34    Then. I think he had T as in Tom,  
Speaker 8     00:29:37    Getting that Quebec was for the, to ratify that we're going to into the central Jersey joint insurance fund safety incentive program. We work properly with them. There's certain requirements that we have to meet during the year. And if we beat them, we get a discount on our shorts. So we'll do that. Tango was for awarding, the HVC maintenance services were 20, 22. It's the same company as last year because it did it asked for two year contracts. So they had it last year by having it this year again. And finally x-ray was for transferring budget appropriations from last year's budget into different line items.  
Speaker 0     00:30:22    Thank you for those clarification  
Speaker 7     00:30:23    Council President. I think he also had an, the public portion, the issue with the building near his home, Ms. Corcoran did reach out to him on numerous occasions and they did speak and he was supposed to get back with specific times and everything I will have Ms. Corcoran, again, call him for the third or fourth time to get in touch with Mr. Akins about this.  
Speaker 0     00:30:48    Okay. Thank you very much.  
Speaker 1     00:30:51    Council President. I'm now asking the next individual with their hand raised to unmute themselves,  
Speaker 0     00:30:58    Please press star six and state your name and address.  
Speaker 3     00:31:02    Yeah. Hi, again, particular child 29 redbud road. Just two comments. One is I think you have a website where you have all the township ordinance that you put in. And I think over the course of last two to three months, like somebody explained it to me, what the audience were and so on and so forth. So the question is, if somebody has to change the language or request change in those ordinance, what is the process? And do this ordinance have expiration tied to that? And if so, is that clear written? Because sometimes they just, if they just keep on rolling and rolling and the world changes and those don't apply, and some of them they do apply, but it just don't make sense because they they're just direct violation of some similarly bitters and so on and so forth our business contracts. So how do you go about making changes to that?  
Speaker 3     00:32:01    And the second part of the question was, I think this meeting format was good, but I guess maybe you might want to talk with the guys at optimum. If they have monopoly, this telecommunication service is, is not effective because I think I saw some boys getting dragged and all this kind of stuff. So they have to look at their performance level agreements and so on and so forth because it's, it's, it's not it's I don't think so. Somebody is looking into that with whatever service that that township is getting our residents are getting. Thank you.  
Speaker 0     00:32:35    Thank you, petite. And we do vote various times to update ordinances. Very often we update our ordinances and they're done at our council meetings through voting. And if anybody else would like to tag on that for any further explanation, please do. So  
Speaker 4     00:32:59    Council, President Raj, the attempts to penny. So there is no expiration date on these ordinances. The tantrum codes are, are there until they're changed, however it 10 in order to change an ordinance. So if a resident is interested in an ad requesting a change, they can always contact the administration council members. And then the council members and administration can submit, you know, a draft ordinance to the rest of the council or me as the type of attorney. And we can work, work towards writing up something to revise it. So if there is a resident that is interested in and requesting a change, you know, feel free to reach out.  
Speaker 0     00:33:35    Thank you, Mr. Goomer. We have anyone else wishing to speak during the public portion Council President, the same two individuals have raised their hand a second time, and they've already utilized their time to speak. Unfortunately, we only allow for one time for each public portion. If you have any further questions that have not been answered, please call the mayor's office tomorrow and we will work on those for you. There are no other individuals with their hands raised. Thank you, Mrs. Cedar. We'll now close and adjournment. Can I have an offer please? Can I have a second? All those in favor, please say, aye. Thank you everybody. And have a very good evening and let's hope that we don't get a lot of snow this weekend and I thank you.