Transcript for Piscataway Council meeting on January 24 2023


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 1     00:00:09    Good evening and welcome to Town Council meeting. Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided, ASD chapter 2 39 5 specifying the time, location, or dial information agenda by posting a copy of the on the building municipal court, two municipal library bulletin boards municipal website, providing a copy official newspapers of the Township, and by filing a copy in the order office of the Township clerk in accordance with the certification by the clerk, which will be entered into the minutes. The Township continues to use remote meeting format in effort to vi the chance of exposure to Covid 19. As a part of the township's ongoing effort to slow the rate of transmission in order to make a, a clear record of a meeting can be made 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, please raise your hand.  
Speaker 1     00:01:09    This can be done either through the Zoom app or by pressing star nine on your phone. When is your turn to speak? You'll receive a prompt or request to unmute. Please click on the prompt or press star six on your phone to unmute. Upon being unmuted, you should begin to ask any and all questions that you might have. You will have three minutes to speak at the conclusion of which you'll be muted again, and the council administration will respond as necessary. Should you have any further comments or questions, that Township Township Council is always available via email and phone, and you can always call the mayor's office during normal operating hours. Each member of the public shall only have one opportunity to speak during each public portion. As a technology does not allow us to know if there are multiple callers on an individual phone line or log in in a user account. Yes, 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, to the Township clerk up to 48 hours prior to the meeting to be read by the Township clerk during the 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 the Township forward during this self emergency  
Speaker 1     00:02:34    Chair. Please take a roll.  
Speaker 0     00:02:38    Councilwoman Cahill. Here. Councilwoman Carmichael. Here. Councilman Esposa. Here. Councilwoman Lombardi. Here. Councilman. Rouse Councilman Shaw.  
Speaker 2     00:03:01    Yep.  
Speaker 0     00:03:03    Council President Uhrin. Here. Mayor. Brian Wahler,  
Speaker 3     00:03:07    President,  
Speaker 0     00:03:08    Chief of Staff Dana Corman.  
Speaker 4     00:03:11    Here.  
Speaker 0     00:03:12    Township Attorney Goomer Goomer. Here. Deputy Township. Clerk Kelly. Mitch here. And I'm here. Melissa Seat, the Township clerk.  
Speaker 1     00:03:22    Please stand for the flag flow.  
Speaker 3     00:03:31    United States of America.  
Speaker 4     00:03:32    Of America and to the republic for which it stands. One Nation under God, indivisible, the liberty and justice for all.  
Speaker 1     00:03:50    Okay. Number five, comments from the administration and council regarding adjournment of any matters upon the agenda?  
Speaker 3     00:03:57    No. No comments. Council President.  
Speaker 2     00:03:58    Council president. Just wanted to notify we had to push a second reading of an ordinance for the at the West special assessments to next meeting just to make sure that we comply with all notices, notice requirements on the statute and that'll be on the February 28th.  
Speaker 1     00:04:26    Move to number six, open to the public comments regarding items number 12, consent agenda item. If you wish to speak at this time, please raise your hand either on the Zoom app or by phone by pressing star nine. When is your turn to speak? You'll receive here or request unmute yourself. Please click the prompt and press six on your phone to unmute yourself at that time, please state your name and your address and know that you have three minutes in which to make your comments. Council administration will respond if necessary after you have completed all comments or questions. This is for the consent agenda item.  
Speaker 0     00:05:07    Council president, I'm asking the first individual with their hand raised to unmute themselves.  
Speaker 5     00:05:17    Yeah. Hi, this is Patel Record Road.  
Speaker 1     00:05:25    Okay.  
Speaker 5     00:05:26    Can you guys hear me okay? I'm, I just need to get clarification on number T authorizing Township to file appeal complaint. Can you, can you hear me? Hello?  
Speaker 1     00:05:57    Yes. Is that the only item you have a question on?  
Speaker 5     00:06:04    Yes, at the moment, yes. It, it's for number 12 going over to the papers. Right number number 12. And is the YP C is that the ymc or that No, no, that, I think that's, that's pretty much it for now.  
Speaker 2     00:06:28    Council president. I can answer that question in regard to this is a standard resolution we do every, every and every year annually. And then just it gives the assessor without having to come to the council for every litigation matter on the tax appeal to be able to handle the tax appeal and appropriately file, as I said, counterclaim, et cetera in regard to those tax appeals to make sure we can defend them appropriately.  
Speaker 1     00:06:53    Thank you. Goomer  
Speaker 7     00:06:59    Raj, I think he was also asking about the, the ordinance for the Y M C A fee structure.  
Speaker 2     00:07:07    Oh yeah, that was, was that, oh, that's not consent. Yeah, we can answer that question later on. In general comment period.  
Speaker 0     00:07:19    Council president, there are no other individuals with our hand raised.  
Speaker 1     00:07:23    I'm public portion. Moving to item number seven, ordinance second author of purpose ordinance  
Speaker 0     00:07:43    Resolved by the Township Council of Piscataway Township, New Jersey that an ordinance entitled Ordinance authorizing the acquisition of certain property identified as block 12 3 2 1 0.03 in the Township of Piscataway County of Middlesex State, New Jersey for public purpose pursuant to Njs SA 23 1 Ssec was introduced on the third day of January, 2023 and it passed the first reading and was published on the sixth day of January, 2023. Now therefore be it resolved at the opposite ordinance. Having had a second reading on January 24th, 2023, the adopted pass and after passage to be published together with a notice of the date of passage or approval in the official newspaper. You have further resolved that this ordinance shall be assigned number 20 23 1  
Speaker 1     00:08:32    And this is open to the public. If you wish to speak at this time, please raise your hand either on Zoom app or by phone by pressing star nine. When it is your turn to speak, you'll receive or hear or request to unmute yourself. Please click and press six on your phone to unmute yourself at that time. Please state your name and your address and know that you have three minutes in which to make your comments. The council administration will respond if necessary. After you have completed all comments or  
Speaker 3     00:08:57    Questions.  
Speaker 0     00:09:08    Council president, there are no individuals with their hand raised for this agenda item.  
Speaker 1     00:09:13    I'm gonna motion.  
Speaker 8     00:09:16    Motion shall  
Speaker 1     00:09:20    Second  
Speaker 3     00:09:23    One second. Dennis  
Speaker 1     00:09:28    To roll.  
Speaker 0     00:09:29    Councilwoman Cahill.  
Speaker 4     00:09:31    Yes.  
Speaker 0     00:09:33    Councilwoman Carmichael. Yes. Councilman Espinoza. Yes. Councilwoman Lombardi. Yes. Councilman Shaw?  
Speaker 8     00:09:44    Yes.  
Speaker 0     00:09:45    Council President Uhrin.  
Speaker 1     00:09:47    Yes. It S the second reading item number eight, ordinance on a second reading authorizing adoption of redevelopment plan for block 17 0 1 2 0 3 41 Brunwick Avenue. This is also open to the public. Please read the  
Speaker 0     00:10:06    Ordinance be resolved by the Township Council of Piscataway Township, New Jersey that an ordinance entitled An ordinance adopting a Redevelopment Plan for Block 1 7 0 1 2 0.0 3 4100 New Brunswick Avenue as shown on the tax map of the Township of Piscataway was introduced on the third day of January, 2023 and had passed the first reading and was published on the sixth day of January, 2023. Now therefore be it resolved at the opposite ordinance having had a second reading on January 24th, 2023, the adopted pass and after passage be published together with a notice of the date of passage or approval in the official newspaper. You further resolved that this ordinance shall be signed number 2023 dash zero two.  
Speaker 1     00:10:50    This is open to the public. If you speak at this time, please raise your hand either on Zoom app or by phone by pressing star nine. When is your turn to speak? You receive or hear a request to unmute yourself, please click on the prompt or press star six on your phone to unmute yourself at that time, please state your name, your address, and know that you have three minutes in which to make your comments. Council administration will respond if necessary after you have completed any comment or question.  
Speaker 0     00:11:27    Council President, there are no individuals with their hand raised for this agenda. Item  
Speaker 1     00:11:32    The public. Do I have a motion?  
Speaker 0     00:11:36    Motion Councilwoman Lombardi.  
Speaker 1     00:11:39    Second.  
Speaker 0     00:11:40    Second.  
Speaker 4     00:11:41    Councilwoman Cahill  
Speaker 1     00:11:45    Please take the roll.  
Speaker 0     00:11:46    Councilwoman Cahill.  
Speaker 4     00:11:49    Yes.  
Speaker 0     00:11:50    Councilwoman Carmichael. Yes. Councilman Esposa. Yes. Councilwoman Lombardi. Yes. Councilman Shaw? Yes. Council President Uhrin?  
Speaker 1     00:12:05    Yes. Item passes on the second reading, moving to number nine on the first reading two million one million nine hundred thousand International Avenue Road improvements and is a resolution adopting ordinance. If you please read the ordinance,  
Speaker 0     00:12:23    Be it resolved by the Township Council of Piscataway Township, New Jersey that an ordinance entitled Bond Ordinance providing for the International Avenue Road Improvement Project in and by the Township Piscataway in the county of Middlesex, New Jersey, appropriating 2 million therefore and authorizing the issuance of $1,900,000 bonds or notes of the Township to finance. Part of the cost thereof was introduced on the third day of January, 2023 and it passed the first reading and was published on the sixth day of January, 2023. Now therefore be resolved at the opposite ordinance. Having had a second reading on January 24th, 2023, the adopted past and after passage be published together with a notice of the date of passage or approval in the official newspaper. Be further resolved that this ordinance shall be in sign number 2023 dash zero three.  
Speaker 1     00:13:16    We have a motion  
Speaker 0     00:13:19    Shall move Councilwoman Councilwoman. Lombardi.  
Speaker 1     00:13:24    Have a second.  
Speaker 0     00:13:25    Second. Carmichael  
Speaker 1     00:13:28    C. If you take Aithal,  
Speaker 0     00:13:34    This is the second reading, you have to open it to the public title.  
Speaker 1     00:13:39    Okay. Follow is the second reading, so if you wish to speak at this time, please raise your hand either on Zoom map or by phone by pressing nine. It is your turn to speak your receiver here or request to unmute yourself. Please prompt press six on your phone, mute yourself at that time. Please state your name, your address and know that you have three minutes in which to make your comments and counsel administration will respond if necessary. If you have, you have completed any comments or questions.  
Speaker 0     00:14:18    Council president, I'm asking the first individual with their hand raise. Unmute himself.  
Speaker 5     00:14:27    Hi, this is number 10, correct? Number nine or 10?  
Speaker 1     00:14:31    Number nine.  
Speaker 5     00:14:32    Number nine. Just one quick question. What's the total mileage?  
Speaker 1     00:14:36    State your name and your address.  
Speaker 5     00:14:39    PR Patel nine. Rapid Road. What's the total mile of this road That is gonna be resurfaced on International Avenue. And the second question that I have is, is this funding provided by DOT or is it provided by Middlesex County?  
Speaker 7     00:14:55    If I may, council president, I can answer that question that it's funded by the taxpayers. This town. This is not a D O T and or county project cuz it's admissible street. It's a very long street. I don't know the actual linear foot that's out there, but it's one of the larger streets over in the North Stelton region. As a matter of fact, this will be the last, this year we'll have reconstructed all the, the major streets in the North Stelton region. We already have a current contract with Ethel Road, current contract with Justice Street. We will be awarding this contract sometime in March or April and then as well as in May, Ethel Road West. And that'll take care of the North Stelton region in Pisca with the reconstruction of all the streets.  
Speaker 1     00:15:44    Thank you Mayor.  
Speaker 0     00:15:49    Council president, there are no other individuals with their hand raises for this agenda  
Speaker 1     00:15:54    Portion, do I have a motion?  
Speaker 9     00:15:57    Motion Councilwoman  
Speaker 0     00:15:58    Lombardi.  
Speaker 1     00:16:01    A second.  
Speaker 9     00:16:05    I Second Carmichael,  
Speaker 1     00:16:07    Excuse you. Please take a ruling.  
Speaker 0     00:16:09    Councilwoman Cahill.  
Speaker 9     00:16:12    Yes.  
Speaker 0     00:16:13    Councilwoman Carmichael?  
Speaker 9     00:16:15    Yes.  
Speaker 0     00:16:16    Councilman Espinoza.  
Speaker 9     00:16:18    Yes.  
Speaker 0     00:16:19    Councilwoman Lombardi. Yes. Councilman Shah.  
Speaker 9     00:16:25    Yes.  
Speaker 0     00:16:26    Council President Uhrin?  
Speaker 1     00:16:27    Yes. Item item number 10, ordinance on a second reading author revision of the Council Community Center membership fees, categories and revision of owing visual vision. Sterling Village rental rates is open to the public. C You please read the ordinance  
Speaker 0     00:16:47    Be resolved by the Township Council of Piscataway Township, New Jersey that an ordinance entitled an ordinance authorizing the revision of the Township of Piscataway Community Center. Membership fees and categories and revision of Sterling Village rental rates was introduced on the third day of January, 2023 and had passed the first reading and was published on the sixth day of January, 2023. Now therefore be it resolved at the opposite ordinance. Having had a second reading on January 24th, 2023, he adopted passed and after passage be published together with a notice of the date of passage or approval in the official newspaper. Be further resolved that this ordinance shall be signed. Number 20 23 4.  
Speaker 1     00:17:25    This is open to the public. If you wish to speak at this time, please raise your hand either on Zoom map or by phone by press six nine your turn to speak you or request to unmute yourself. Please click the prompt or press six on your phone to unmute yourself at that time please state your name, your address and know that you have three minutes in which to make your comments. Counsel or administration will respond if necessary. After you have completed any comments or questions.  
Speaker 0     00:17:53    Council president, I'm asking the first individual with their hand unmute themself.  
Speaker 5     00:18:00    Yeah. Hi. This is just regarding how this taxes are structured.  
Speaker 1     00:18:05    Name and your  
Speaker 5     00:18:08    Patel red in context of how taxes are structured because every day I get this funny feeling about what is subsidized by taxes, what is subsidized by insurance and what is subsidized by state grant In reference to Sterling question, are those subsidized by the, by the land taxes, are they subsidized by insurance money? Are they subsidized by seniors staying there or if they're subsidized by social security, which is kind funny because you guys want raise social security allowance but at the same time tax social security. So I, I mean to me all these letters are becoming like distorted. I don't know who is accountable for this, but this is something that needs little bit of more investigation. Like how do increase security are their Social security  
Speaker 2     00:19:11    Council? This Raj the towns of attorney, the Sterling Village is an affordable housing community. So the seniors are, the seniors there are paying rent. We can't, we don't know how they're paying it, what their income is. We do, they are income verified before they move in and sign a lease. And so they meet, they meet the affordable housing income requirements but couldn't we couldn't tell you, you know, where where they're paying their rent from. And of course you know those rents are the income for the, the building that pays for its improvements and upkeeping maintenance  
Speaker 4     00:19:49    Council president. So Councilwoman Cahill, if I could just stay right now that this council does not vote on any social security raises. Just, just to be clear, I think the resident was mentioning something about that. I just wanted to be clear on that. Thank you. Yeah.  
Speaker 0     00:20:11    Council president, there are no other individuals with our hand raised with regard to this agenda.  
Speaker 1     00:20:15    Okay, I'm gonna close the public portion. Do I have a motion?  
Speaker 2     00:20:19    Motion Councilman shall  
Speaker 1     00:20:23    Have a second.  
Speaker 4     00:20:25    Second. Councilwoman Cahill  
Speaker 1     00:20:28    Please state the  
Speaker 0     00:20:29    Hold. Councilwoman Cahill.  
Speaker 4     00:20:31    Yes.  
Speaker 0     00:20:32    Councilwoman Carmichael. Yes. Councilman Esposa. Yes. Councilwoman Lombardi. Yes. Councilman Shah. Councilman Chaill. Yes. Council President Uhrin?  
Speaker 1     00:20:51    Yes. Item passe. Item number 11, ordinance on the second reading, authorizing, amending and supplementing Chapter 31, streets and sidewalks. And this is open to the public to resolution. Please read the ordinance  
Speaker 0     00:21:06    Here. Resolved by the Township Council of Piscataway Township in New Jersey that an ordinance entitled Ordinance to amend and supplement the revised general ordinances of the Township of Piscataway County of Middlesex, state of New Jersey. Amending chapter 31, streets and Sidewalks. Section 31 dash one, opening in Streets and Sidewalks. Subsection 31 dash 1.7 Deposits amounts Disposition period of maintenance was introduced on the third day of January, 2023 and had passed the first reading. It was published on the sixth day of January, 2023. Now therefore be it resolved at the opposite ordinance. Having had a second reading on January 24th, 2023, the adopted passed and after passage be published together with a notice of the date of passage approval in the official newspaper. You further resolve that this ordinance shall be assign number 20 23 5.  
Speaker 1     00:21:56    This is open to the public. If you wish to speak at this time, please raise your hand either on zoom or turn speak receiver Here, press mute yourself please prompt or press six on your mute yourself at this time please state your name, your address and know that you have three minutes in this to make your comments so council or administration will respond if necessary. After you have completed any comments or questions.  
Speaker 0     00:22:30    Council President, there are no individuals with they're hand raised with regard to this agenda item.  
Speaker 1     00:22:35    Public portion. Do I have a motion?  
Speaker 4     00:22:40    Motion Councilwoman Cahill  
Speaker 1     00:22:43    I. A. Second.  
Speaker 10    00:22:45    Second. Councilwoman Lombardi  
Speaker 1     00:22:48    To roll.  
Speaker 0     00:22:49    Councilwoman Cahill.  
Speaker 4     00:22:51    Yes.  
Speaker 0     00:22:52    Councilwoman Carmichael. Yes. Councilman Esposa. Yes. Councilwoman Lombardi.  
Speaker 10    00:23:00    Yes.  
Speaker 0     00:23:01    Councilman Shaw?  
Speaker 3     00:23:02    Yes.  
Speaker 0     00:23:03    Council President her?  
Speaker 1     00:23:05    Yes. Item passes Number 12. Consent Agenda. Resolution for efficiency. Items have been consolidated into consent. Agenda to be voted on together. The materials of these items have been distributed to the council in advance of the meeting at this time. Are there any items that the council like removed from the consent agenda item to be discussed on separately? None. Motion.  
Speaker 10    00:23:30    None at this time. All. All. Motion. Councilwoman. Lombardi  
Speaker 1     00:23:36    A second.  
Speaker 3     00:23:39    Dennis  
Speaker 0     00:23:43    Councilwoman Cahill.  
Speaker 4     00:23:45    Yes.  
Speaker 0     00:23:45    Councilwoman Carmichael.  
Speaker 9     00:23:48    Yes.  
Speaker 0     00:23:49    Councilman Esposa.  
Speaker 1     00:23:51    Yes.  
Speaker 0     00:23:52    Councilwoman Lombardi.  
Speaker 10    00:23:54    Yes.  
Speaker 0     00:23:55    Councilman Shaw?  
Speaker 8     00:23:57    Yes.  
Speaker 0     00:23:58    Council President Uhrin?  
Speaker 1     00:24:00    Yes. Item passe. The 13 announcements and commerce from officials.  
Speaker 4     00:24:12    Not too many, but I just wanna remind folks again about the free rabies shots clinic that is happening in town the last weekend of January and then the first weekend of February in alphabetical order. And also too, I missed the first go around, but it's really nice that the US Postal Service offers passport application services at the senior center. I do believe, I just wanna make sure that's correct and one already happened last week and the next one will happen Wednesday, February 15th from 10 to one. So really great services here in town for our residents. And that was it. Council president. Thank you.  
Speaker 1     00:25:00    Thank you. Councilwoman. Cahill.  
Speaker 4     00:25:02    Oh happy birthday Raj though.  
Speaker 1     00:25:05    Thank you Councilwoman Carmichael.  
Speaker 9     00:25:10    Good evening. I'd just like to say since I was sworn in on January 1st, it's been a pleasure working with this great council team and many of the constituents who I've met with during this this month. Thank you for the opportunity and happy birthday Raj.  
Speaker 1     00:25:28    Thank you. Thank you Councilwoman call Michael Councilman. Ms. Spinoza? Yes. I just wanna say please be safe and healthy and be careful. Thank you. Thank you. Councilman Espinoza. Councilwoman Lodi.  
Speaker 10    00:25:46    Just wanna wish everyone a happy lunar New Year and Councilwoman Cahill mentioned the other thing that I wanted to make mention of and that was the upcoming rabies clinic. I think we have 'em this Saturday and then the following Saturday based on the the alphabet A you just look up online and it'll tell you when your last name, whether you can come on this Saturday or the following Saturday. Thank you.  
Speaker 1     00:26:16    Thank you. Councilwoman, Lombardi, Councilman Chaill.  
Speaker 8     00:26:20    Just folks remind that snow season is now, start on tomorrow, don't park on a street, otherwise you get the violation. So it is safety for everybody. And we have last week Martin Luther King birthday events. It's a great event and thank you.  
Speaker 1     00:26:43    Thank you Council Mayor Wahler.  
Speaker 7     00:26:47    Thank you Council president. I just wanna thank the council for voting on the International Avenue Ordinance because this is about 10 years into the making of trying to finish all these streets out in North Stout region. It's taken about 15 years to get to that point because a lot of these streets were the old country roads back when it was the modern day school area going back in the 1940s. So it looks good for safety purposes. People will be able to walk on these streets in safely, motor and bike, that's the best part. So as far as Ethel Road and Ethel Road West we're, we're adding bike lanes into those two streets which will be good for the, which will connect into the county bike network on Stelton Road. That's it. Council president. And I look forward to being at the the rabies clinic cuz I will be having Sandy and Reese down there to get their shots.  
Speaker 1     00:27:49    Thank you. Mayor Wahler. Dana,  
Speaker 11    00:27:58    No comments.  
Speaker 1     00:28:00    Thank you Dana Township, attorney Goomer, Google, no comment. Thank you. And I just won't wish everybody a happy New Year. Moving agenda session for February 28th, 2023. Ordinance on a second reading providing for the construction of local improvement sidewalks on Road West. It's open to the public to resolution. Author, return of street opening bond 1 2 0 360 4 License circle. Any comments or questions? Resolution authorizing ward of contract under ES Cnj repairs, maintenance of heavy equipment Jessica Incorporated not to $15,000. Resolution authorizing award of contract under state contract catch basins, Cassons inlets and manhole covers Campbell Foundry Company not to exceed $40,000. Any comments or questions?  
Speaker 7     00:28:59    Council President, if I just make quickly for the next 12 to 13 items that you're gonna speak about these as the council members know, these are the annual contracts or supplies that we get for the Department of Public Works in order to maintain the government buildings and roads and et cetera, et cetera. Go ahead Council President.  
Speaker 1     00:29:20    Thank you. Brian. Resolution authorized award of contract under Somerset County Cooperative Automotive parts repairs of heavy duty vehicles. Freightliner, L L C not to exceed 30,000 hours resolution authorizing award of contract under the state contract M 8,000 tires, tubes and services custom manage not to exceed $50,000. Any comments or questions? Resolution authorizing award of contract under Somerset County Cooperative DMV Auto not to exceed $55,000 resolution authorizing award of contract under state contract. Walk-in building supplies Home Depot Incorporated not to exceed 76,000 resolution authorizing of contract under the state contract Walkin building supplies, Lowe's Home Center, LLC not to exceed 23,000. Any comments or questions? Resolution authorizing of contract under state contract traffic in those controllers and camera. Imaging detection systems, signal control products not to exceed $15,000 resolution authorizing award of contract under the Union County co-op 2023 road material welded material incorporated not to exceed $7,500 resolution authorizing award of contract under state state contract facilities. MR. Supplies the industrial supplies WW Ranger Incorporated not to exceed 40,000 resolution authorizing the of contract under Summer Set County Cooperative pavement marking and striping various roads Ville line striping not to exceed 60,000. Any comments or questions? Resolution authorized the award of contract under RSE County Cooperative Collision and Repairs of vehicles painting D G L D D ACO collision not to exceed $10,000 resolution authorizing award of contract under S C NJ Parts and repairs for road maintenance equipment Fully incorporated not to exceed 17,000  
Speaker 1     00:31:37    Resolution authorizing the award of contract under ES c NJ Plumbing supplies time and material under ES c NJ Magic Construction Company not to exceed 40,000. Last last one, resolution authorized word of contact on the county cooperative traffic controller SIG signs supports hardware and safety devices, garden State Highway products not to exceed 25,000. Any comments or questions not move to number 15, open to the public. If you wish to speak at this time, please raise your hand either on Zoom app or by phone by pressing star line. When is your turn to speak? You receive or hear request to unmute yourself, please click the prompt. Press six on your phone to unmute yourself at that time please state your name, your address and know that you have three minutes in which to make your comments. The council administration will respond if necessary. If you have completed any comments or questions.  
Speaker 0     00:32:44    Council president, I'm asking the first individual with their hand raised to unmute themselves.  
Speaker 5     00:32:51    Yeah, hi, this is red. Have line items that I would and consider this just open item for constructive discussion because there are, I'm sure you guys are doing a lot of good work, but this is an area where I feel genuinely concerned where the balance sheets are going out. That, so the first point being, I was looking at this year's budget of my house and I'm going, I don't have exact numbers, but let's say my property tax for a 1500 or 1600 square house right now was 6,900 give or plus or minus 200. Having said that, if I project that number for hundred years, the taxes on this property will be collected almost $690,000. My house value in hundred years will never be $690,000. So I would like to question Mr. Mayor and their team that how Bill, how does this finance work where my taxes are actually more than the income or the asset value.  
Speaker 5     00:33:56    That's point number one. Second thing is, I think Mayor is starting the community block grant and lot of other stuff that goes on in this community, which is well and great, but let just give you the other side of the story. And these are the, these are examples for people living on my street. The ER wait sign in hospital is almost crossing five hours now and you are adding another 400 people, okay? We don't have hospitals capacity in this town. The Medicare dollars that we are spending, whether it's coming from insurance subsidized by the government, subsidized by charities and all sorts of stuff. Right now, just recent incident, Medicare doesn't cover some, some dental procedures or, or in this case they were covering root but not covering dental. Can ask for somebody who is 67 or 70, it's going to inject more cost than the benefit that they're being provided today.  
Speaker 5     00:34:51    So they're actually artificially inflating the cost and providing wrong care with all this prescriptions and billing inflation and you name it. So I don't know what's going on in that system. I know you don't have say in it, but when, when the insurance contracts are negotiated, I'm sure you have seen The other thing was I think maybe Mr. Dacey International Avenue. I think the road on Southern Lane is pretty bad and from, from what I heard when I, when I filed a complaint that went into the middle Middlesex County jurisdiction, it's more than a week to two weeks has responded. There are potholes that are there and nobody's looking after the drill. So that's, that's another area that's, that's kind of really crazy. And then this recently, I mean I see people in Congress passing inflation reduction act and corn and so forth. I had this guy on Pool Street, he was selling eggs and he had kinda mini chicken farm. He wasn't more than five, 10, whatever, maybe 10, 15. The Township came in and shut those things down for whatever reason because I don't know, the area is pretty open today in America we are paying $7 for eggs. I dunno what's going on in this country. But when I look at the food inflation and then the government, either regulatory or bureaucracy or red or or centralizing market or or controlling market to incentives or disincentives, it's ultimately people who are just living on wages, they're effective. And the way the, the thank  
Speaker 1     00:36:23    Mr. Patel, your three minutes of expired  
Speaker 7     00:36:29    Mr. Council president, I, I can only answer a couple of questions cuz some of the stuff he's talking about pertains to the federal level and Edison Township. As far as the tax rate, the last four years running the council has kept the tax rate stable where either it has gone down or stayed static. And we expect that's gonna be the same coming when we go into budgeting this coming year. As far as the prices of eggs, anybody who reads the newspaper or listened on the TV that there's been out in the, the, the west where the chicken farms are, that they've had a dispose of over 55 million chickens for having the avion bird flu. So it's supplying, supplying demand like anything else. So that's all I can speak to at this time. As far as the road projects, we we're doing pretty good at fixing the roads. Would I, if we could wave a magic wand and fix everything all at once, I know the council would get their magic wands out and take care of it all at once. But the cost of asphalt has gone through the roof. So we're probably one of the few towns here in Middlesex County that are repairing many roadway miles in the communities. Whereas most towns they'll just fix maybe one or two roads and that's it in a given year. And that's it. Council president.  
Speaker 1     00:37:53    Thank you Mayor. Well,  
Speaker 0     00:37:55    Council president, I'm asking the next individual with their hand raised to unmute themself.  
Speaker 12    00:38:02    Hi, Brian Rack, 1247 Brookside Road. I'm just curious if anyone has insight onto the Buckingham Drive reconstruction and about how that's gonna prevent a car from ending up in someone's house due to presumably speeding or something else. That was it. Thanks  
Speaker 7     00:38:20    Raj. Do you want me to handle that or you want to handle it? Or both of us?  
Speaker 2     00:38:24    You can go first. I'll, I'll fill in.  
Speaker 7     00:38:27    The roadway is scheduled to actually, we're gonna be out to bid in a couple of weeks, along with 10 other roads in town that was scheduled to have any curbing fixed out there and drainage and install all new handicap ramps out there and new striping and rumble strips and street markings for the speed limit sign on the roadway that has been planned over the last two years and it's now in the queue and ready to go. As far as the gentleman who drove the car off into the, to the house, you know, this doesn't happen too often, obviously, you know, it, it appears that the gentleman must have had a medical emergency. He was tested for drugs and alcohol and came back negative. So, you know, at this point it was a fluke accident. Unfortunately damage was done, but the public, the construction division of the building department has been out there working with the contractor with the, from the homeowner's insurance company to get the it structurally sound so they can move back in.  
Speaker 7     00:39:35    So I, I mean this is highly unusual that something like this would've happened. As far as the speeding out there, the roadway, the police department ran traffic counts out there going back may of last year and the average speed was about 29 miles an hour on the roadway. So, and under police department standards in state d o T figures, that's considered a very low speed limit Travel street, even though the speed limit's 25 miles an hour, that's sort of like in the six percentile, so to speak. As a matter of fact, if, if it was ever petitioned, the d o T would probably ask the town to raise the to 30, believe it or not. So that's where we are. Goomer, I think I covered everything.  
Speaker 1     00:40:23    Yeah, you got everything. Thanks. Thanks Mayor. Thank you Mayor. Council president, there are no other individuals with our hand raised with regard to this agenda. I'm gonna close public motion. Do I have a motion to adjourn? Motion Councilwoman. Lombardi. Second. Second. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Aye. Meeting adjourn everyone.