Transcript for Piscataway Council meeting on September 12 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 0 00:00:08 Recording in progress, 2 31 PO 1 9 7 5. Specifying the time, date, location, login or dial in information. And to the extent known you'd agenda by posting a copy of the notice on municipal Building Municipal court, and to municipal library bulletin boards municipal website, providing a copy to the official newspapers of the Township. And by filing a copy in the office of the Township clerk in accordance with the certification by the clerk, which will be entered into the minutes in order to ensure a clear record of the meeting can be made that all parties are heard in an organized fashion. All members of the public, that our participating remotely will be muted during the meeting. The town will provide for public comment periods for both remote and in-person attendees separately. If a member of the public wishes to speak during any public comment portion for remote attendees, please raise your hand. This can be done either through Zoom app or by pressing star nine on your phone. Speaker 0 00:01:10 When it's your turn to speak, you'll receive or prompt or request to unmute. Please click on the prompt or press star six on your phone to unmute and begin making your comments. All members of the public will have three minutes to speak and should ask any and all questions that they have during this that period. At the conclusion of your three minutes, remote attendees will be remote, attendees will be muted again in-person. Attendees will also receive three minutes asking questions and may then take a seat at which time the Council administration will respond as necessary. Should you have any further comments or questions, the Township is always available by email and phone, and you can always call the mayor's office during normal operating hours. Each member of the public should only have one opportunity to speak during each public portion, as the technology does not allow us to on individual phone line or login user account. We ask that, all that. We ask that if you wish to speak, you Speaker 1 00:02:14 Log Speaker 0 00:02:15 Separately so that we can recognize you as a expert individual. Ms. Cedar, please take the role. Speaker 1 00:02:25 Councilwoman Cahill. Here. Councilwoman Carmichael. Here. Councilman Espinosa. Present. Councilwoman Lombardi. Here. Councilman Rouse. Here. Councilman Shaw. Here. Council President Rin. Here, Speaker 0 00:02:44 Please stand for the flag. Salute. Speaker 1 00:02:49 I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Speaker 0 00:03:11 Item number five, comments from administration and counsel regarding adjournment of any matters on this agenda. Speaker 1 00:03:18 None at this time. Speaker 0 00:03:20 Okay. Item number six, open to the public comments regarding item number eight, consent agenda items for remote attendees. If you wish to speak at this team this time, please raise your hand either on Zoom app or by phone by pressing star nine. When it's your turn to speak, you'll receive or hear or 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 your address and you know that you have three minutes in which to make your comments. Council or administration will respond if necessary. After you have completed any comments or questions. Speaker 1 00:03:58 Council president, I'm asking the first individual with their hand raised to unmute themself. Speaker 2 00:04:06 Hello, good evening. My name is Chris Noel and actually, oh yeah, that's n o w e l l and I live in Fort Lee, New Jersey. I'm, I'm a volunteer with Food and Water Watch. And I'd just like to speak to you about the proposed C P V Methane Gas plant in Woodbridge. This Speaker 0 00:04:30 Is about, excuse me sir, this is about the consensus agenda item number eight. Speaker 2 00:04:34 Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. So when would I be able to make my comment Speaker 0 00:04:40 At the, the next public portion? That's at the end of the meeting. Okay. Speaker 2 00:04:44 I'm sorry about that. Speaker 1 00:04:51 Council president, there are no other remote attendees with their hand raised. For this agenda item, Speaker 0 00:04:57 I'm gonna close remote portion for in-person attendees, if you wish to speak at this time, please come to the podium, state your name and your address and know that you have three minutes in which to make your comments. You may take a seat after the completion of your comments or questions and the council administration will then respond if necessary. I see none. I'm gonna close the public portion. Item number seven, ordinance on the first reading, adopting the Second Amendment redevelopment agreement. Plan for block 11 9 0 1 lot. 22 point 15 8 57 Hose Lane West Resolution adopting ordinance. Mr. Eder, would you please read the ordinance? Speaker 1 00:05:40 Be it resolved by the Township Council of Piscataway Township, New Jersey that an ordinance entitled an ordinance adopting Second Amended Redevelopment Plan for 8 5 7 Hose Lane West, identified as block 1 1 9 0 1 lot two 2.15 on the tax map of the Township of Piscataway Bean is hereby adopted on the first reading that it be published in the official newspaper. And that 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 third day of October, 2023. Be 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 00:06:28 You, Mr. Do I have a motion? Speaker 3 00:06:32 Motion. Motion Speaker 4 00:06:33 Shall Speaker 0 00:06:34 Second Shaw Mr. Dacey you please take the role. Speaker 1 00:06:41 Councilwoman Cahill. Speaker 3 00:06:43 Yes. Speaker 1 00:06:44 Councilwoman Carmichael. Speaker 3 00:06:46 Yes. Speaker 1 00:06:47 Councilman Espinosa. Yes. Councilwoman Lombardi. Yes. Councilman Rouse. Speaker 4 00:06:54 Yes. Speaker 1 00:06:55 Councilman Shaw? Speaker 5 00:06:57 Yes. Speaker 1 00:06:59 Council President Ern? Speaker 0 00:07:01 Yes. Item passes on a first reading item number eight, consent agenda. Resolution for efficiency items have been consolidated to concession 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 would like removed from the consent agenda to be discussed or voted on separately? Speaker 3 00:07:24 None at this time. Council Speaker 0 00:07:25 Present. I see none. Do I have a motion? Speaker 3 00:07:28 Motion? Second. Speaker 0 00:07:30 Second. Mr. Sid, you please take the role. Speaker 1 00:07:34 Councilwoman Cahill. Yes. Councilwoman Carmichael? Yes. Councilman Espinosa. Yes. Councilwoman Lombardi. Yes. Councilman Rouse. Speaker 4 00:07:44 Yes. Speaker 1 00:07:45 Councilman Shaw? Speaker 5 00:07:48 Yes. Speaker 1 00:07:49 Council President. Rin? Speaker 0 00:07:51 Yes. Not in passes. Item number nine. Announcements or comments from officials? Councilman, kale. Speaker 3 00:08:02 No really big announcements, but I was handed this great flyer about the Colgate Bright Smiles event that's gonna happen Saturday, September 23rd, 10 to three at the Y M C A. Looks like it's gonna be a, a, a great event for our kids. There's free screenings for children's one to 12 and a bunch of other things. So I was really happy to be handed this and I hope to attend. Thank, Speaker 0 00:08:27 Thank you. Speaker 4 00:08:30 There's also a shredding event on Saturday the 16th at the, the little league parking lot. There's also a shredding event at the Little League parking lot on Saturday, September 16th, Speaker 0 00:08:49 Councilman Espinoza. Speaker 6 00:08:52 Sure. I would like to remind everyone that National Hispanic Heritage one starts September 15th when we can celebrate and recognize our diverse cultures contributions and histories across all our Hispanic communities in Piscataway and nationally. And trust me, the food is not that bad either. Speaker 0 00:09:14 Councilman Lobar. Speaker 7 00:09:16 Yes. I'd like to offer our sincere condolences for the Hardenberg family. Our former Councilman Mark Hardenberg passed during the last time that we had had a meeting. So he was a former colleague of mine, the longest serving Councilman that we had and a good friend. So I'd like to offer my sincere condolences to the Hardenberg family. And I'd also like to acknowledge our police department for catching the alligator that was lost for a, a week or so. Kudos to our police department for catching the, the missing alligator. Speaker 0 00:09:56 Thank you Councilman Ralph. Speaker 6 00:10:03 I was worried about the alligator, so I'm glad that's been caught too. Speaker 0 00:10:12 Councilman Shaw. Speaker 6 00:10:14 Oh, thanks. Speaker 0 00:10:20 Mr. Dacey. Dii Speaker 8 00:10:23 Mayor. Just wanna wish for those folks that are celebrating Rosh Hashanah coming up here. And also I want to thank the Elks for sponsoring Patriots Day there. It's a nice little remembrance. I think the reason why the alligator decided to stop by and pisca 'cause I knew it was a money magazine town and it didn't wanna become a pair of shoes over in Middlesex borough Speaker 0 00:10:51 Out Attorney Mr. Baker. Speaker 9 00:10:53 I have no fear. Goomer will be back next meeting. He's out celebrating his father's 70th birthday today. Speaker 6 00:10:59 Yay. Speaker 0 00:11:04 Yes. And I have no comments. Item number 10, agenda session for October 3rd, 2023. Ordinance on a second. Reading, amending and supplementing Chapter 21 zoning. And this will be open to the public resolution adopting ordinance, ordinance on a second reading supplementing chapter 24, site plan review open to the public resolution adopting ordinance, ordinance on a second reading, adopting Second Amendment redevelopment agreement. Plan for block 11 9 0 1 lot. 22 point 15 8 57 Ho Lane Holmes Lane West, open to the public resolution adopting ordinance and motion to accept the minutes of the council meeting August 15th and September 12th, 2023. Moving to number 11, open to the public for remote attendees. If you wish to speak at this time, please raise your hand, either on Zoom app or by press, by phone by pressing star nine. When it's your turn to speak, you receive or hear or 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 have three minutes and wish to make your comments. The council administration will respond if necessary. After you have completed any comments or questions, Speaker 1 00:12:25 Mr. Noel, this is the time to raise your hand to speak for the public portion. Go ahead, sir. Speaker 2 00:12:34 Thank you. Yes. So once again, good evening. My name is Chris Noel and I live in Fort Lee, as I mentioned, 2100 Linwood Avenue and I'm a volunteer with Food and Water Watch. And yeah, as I mentioned that I, I wanted to speak about the proposed C P V methane gas plant in Woodbridge that I'm, I believe a resolution was shared with you about this to express opposition to it. So yes, the plant is proposed in Woodbridge, but you, the Piscataway Town Council have a stake in this Piscataway. And in fact, where you're sitting right now is around 10 miles away, right about 10 miles away from the esby section of Woodbridge. That's as the crow flies where the C P V plant is proposed. And amazingly, according to the EJ MAP tool on the D e P website, the entire town or city, you know how, however you classify Piscataway, is considered an overburdened community. Speaker 2 00:13:43 And you know, this refers to people who have historically been exposed to a greater proportion of factors negatively affecting their wellbeing, called stressors such as air pollution. In fact, of the 23 stressors considered by the state most Piscataway experiences from 14 to 22 adverse stressors, there's actually an area along 2 87 where 22 of the stressors are considered adverse out of 23. So the state average is 13 where you are, oh yeah, I, I got that. So this is an opportunity for you to stand up for all, all Piscataway residents, but especially those who are already really bearing the brunt of threats to their health. And of course, you all know the expression, think global, act local. So this is an exciting chance for you to do something locally that could have global implications. You could help prevent some pretty sizable amounts of greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere. Speaker 2 00:14:47 2.37 million metric tons of c o two equivalent greenhouse gases according to CP v's. Air permit applications. And, and this plant is not something that is needed in New Jersey right now. There isn't a demand for this added power here. It would put electricity into the grid that other states draw from, but of course it would emit pollution here in our state. And that's just not right. Also, it's true that we are going to need more electricity as more things become electrified, but more fossil fuel infrastructure that will last for decades is not the way to do it in Middlesex County. Almost 50% of the towns have for, have formally expressed their opposition to this plant so far. You could help push us over 50%, which would be significant. So please pass the resolution expressing your opposition to the pro proposed C P V methane gas plant. Thank you very much. Have a good evening. Speaker 10 00:15:50 Thank you. Speaker 1 00:15:56 Council President. There are no other remote attendees with their hand raised regarding this agenda item. Speaker 0 00:16:01 I'm gonna close the remote portion or in-person attendees if you wish to speak at this time. Please come to the podium, state your name and address and know that you have three minutes in which to make your comments. Please make your please, you may take a seat after completion of your comments or questions and the council administration will respond if necessary. Speaker 10 00:16:26 We have to hold the button down too, right? Correct. Yes. And that should be part of the instructions. SSID Madison, other than 1 7 6 pisca, I'm sorry, Blackford Avenue in Piscataway. I'm calling on you to be leaders. We, we voted you in to lead for Piscataway and as the previous speaker noted, there's a a need he didn't note about the costs that this will accrue. He didn't note that the world is still increasing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions and we we're allowing more greenhouse gas emissions by fossil fuels to be created in New Jersey. And Woodbridge is one of those examples. It's, it's the, the United States is the largest second largest producer of emissions on non-PE patrol states. We're the largest per capita emissions, historically we're the largest emitter of emissions. We should be a leader in, in getting rid of emissions. And your small step of taking the action that the previous speaker said, I I would show leadership. We voted for you to show leadership. Tell me how you're gonna lead on this, this particular very important topic. Thank you. Speaker 6 00:18:17 Thank you. Speaker 10 00:18:30 Excuse me. You Speaker 6 00:18:49 Everyone else. Sorry sir. You have to press on the button. It's okay. You have to hold it down. Speaker 10 00:19:12 I have it, I have to hold it while I speak. Yeah. Where? That's good evening. Once again. My name Leonard Brown. I reside at 3 2 5 Hazelwood Place right here in Piscataway at the next to the, my home is right next to the Hazelwood Park. And I'm calling, I'm standing to ask your reason for our delay or your delay in the repair of Hazelwood Street roadway. It has not been repaired nor covered, nor they say removed and replaced if you would. I would say in the last 15 to 20 years. I'm a resident on this street for 48 years. So I've seen it crumble and I've seen it patched and I've seen many things that's happening with the edges of the roadway. And also that it has inquired the overweight trucks from fourth Street to second Street. Second Street is a state highway, which you, you find there are factories or warehouses on that street and they use it as a, I was here on, and I'm thinking back, it was 2019 that I stood before this council and request the same repair and was told that it would take two years because it was on the agenda. Speaker 10 00:21:02 That was 2019. This is 2023. I recognized Covid, I recognize that it changed us, changed a lot of things in our, our society. But I believe that the delay should not last any much longer. The other thing is that I'm asking that when this does take place is that we install or you install speed bumps because we're right next to the park and children are at play and we do have, matter of fact it's from fourth Street to second. They consider that a raceway. And we just don't want tragedy to occur before action takes place. We need that repair. We need Hazelwood Place taken care of. Now I understand that as a matter of fact, if I'm thinking back somewhere in the early eighties, this project was also sought after and they wanted to put sidewalks in because we are a country road and we were asked all of the residents on the block, what would we like to have. Well, we preferred the country road, but things have changed since then. Not only that, I think I'm the only one that's left on that road since the eighties. So it has not been addressed. We feel that we've been neglected. Fourth Street has been repaired it Fourth Street from Walnut to Rock Avenue that has been repaired. We thank you for that. But still, Hazelwood Place is not a pleasant street to drive also. Excuse me sir. But you're three minutes are up. Oh, there? Yes. Wow. Okay. Can I come back? Sure. Speaker 10 00:23:09 Well I thank you. Thank you. And I, I certainly would re request a response Speaker 8 00:23:16 If, if, if I can council president, first of all, Hazelwood Place is under engineering design as well as Borough Place. It may take a little bit longer 'cause we have to file for d e P permits across the street from the park. The street will have sidewalks on one side, on the park side and up from I believe West fourth to Pearl Place. They'll have sidewalks. We did reconstruct this year, several streets over in the Mervin Alexander Park area. As you know, you live over there. West Fourth was done in cooperation with the borough of Dannel. 'cause half of it was their, their share. At some point, we'll finish the rest of West fourth, but your street's gonna take a little bit while longer because we have to file for d e P permits and we're waiting for the engineering firm to finish up the designs over there by Mervin Alexander Park. Speaker 8 00:24:11 All those streets that we built out last year and this year it took almost seven years from the time we signed an engineering contract and to construction completion. That is, that is basically the going time right now is almost seven years from the time we award a contract for engineering because we have to have the engineering plans, we have to file for D E P permits. There's probably gonna be right of way acquisition out on your street because that the, the width is not a truth. You know, 50 foot cart way out there. So we're gonna have to hire appraisers. We have to have parcel maps as the attorney knows. And then we have to approach the residents to acquire the right of way to straighten the roadway out and things that, so it's a way more involved than e everybody thinks it is. So that's the normal timeframe is almost seven years. Unless, unless the gentleman needs another question I, I can ask after the meeting, I'd be more than happy to speak with him after the meeting. Speaker 11 00:25:28 Good evening. Curtis Grubbs. 1750 West third. I guess I'll finish what my neighbors did. I need to get a little clarification from the Mayor. When you said the sidewalks, are you talking about sidewalks from, you know, where he lives at next to the park? You're talking about the sidewalks that are gonna be on his side or both sides? All the way up to four. Speaker 8 00:25:50 Curtis, right now it, it depends upon what the d e p permit. We're not trying to trigger a very large d e p permit. So more than likely we're looking to put sidewalks on the park side of Hazelwood and then the section from west fourth up to maybe pearl. The, the tricky part is from Pearl on down to on the other side, as you know. Speaker 11 00:26:13 So from his hou park past my house to second, we're not getting sidewalks. Correct. I guess the other issue I wanna talk about is since we have these cameras, they are activated. I think you told me that I don't feel that we as neighbors have to call if the cameras are on and we have these motorcycles and four wheelers that's riding in the park. Is someone monitoring these cameras or do we have to call, I mean Speaker 8 00:26:50 Have to call Curtis. There's a, a lot of cameras to monitor. Just call the cameras are out there. If an incident happens, they can do a play back and get license plates and things like that. Yeah, Speaker 3 00:27:02 I think that the point is, is for the neighbors to call and, and then we'd have the recording to, to actually pinpoint it. But you're not gonna have somebody watching the cameras 24 7. It would make sense. Right. Okay. Speaker 11 00:27:17 Yeah, you have even the on on cleaning of the sewer drains there. Hmm. Flush drain, no flushing toilet drains the sewer. Right. If it's backing up and it's not slow, do you do it periodically or do we have to call when we think it's slow or do you know when it's slow? It depends. Ours hasn't been done in, Speaker 8 00:27:44 Typically there's several areas in town that are always trouble spots. 'cause folks are pushing a lot of grease down the, their sewer lines and it creates a bottleneck. Annette, you shouldn't be putting grease in a sanitary sewer or wipes and things like that and or bicycles and things like that. You'd be surprised what they find in there. But if there's an issue, a specific issue, just contact our office and we'll give it to the Seward division. Speaker 11 00:28:12 Okay. Thank you. Speaker 0 00:28:19 Anyone else? I'm gonna close the public portion. Speaker 8 00:28:25 Council president. I know the public portions closed. I I would not be remiss the gentleman that called from Fort Lee who's tied in with food and water watch. I just have to let the record reflect. This is the same group that sold a bill of goods to the residents when, with the referendum for the aggregation that ended up causing the rate payers a lot of money and then, then end up the B P U had to camp, basically cancel the program. So me personally, that organization has zero credibility. 'cause they basically misled the residents and they knew that was gonna happen. So to me they, they have zero credibility. Speaker 0 00:29:04 Thank you Mayor. Mayor. I have a motion to close the meeting. Speaker 11 00:29:11 Motion. Speaker 0 00:29:12 I have a second. Second. All in favor? Speaker 11 00:29:15 Aye Speaker 0 00:29:15 Aye. Aye. Meeting adjourned. Speaker 11 00:29:20 Good.