Transcript for Piscataway Council meeting on December 5 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     00:00:16    Recording in progress,  
Speaker 1     00:00:32    I'd like to call the meeting to order. Adequate notice of this meeting has provided as required under chapter 2 31 PO 1 9 7 5 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 municipal court and two municipal library bulletin boards and municipal website providing a copy to the official newspapers at a 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 and all, all parties are heard in an organized fashion. All members of the public that are participating remotely will be muted during the meeting. The Township will provide for public comment periods for both remote and in-person. Attendees separately.  
Speaker 1     00:01:19    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. When it's your turn to speak, you'll receive a prompt to request you on mute. 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 they may have during that period. At the conclusion of your three minutes, the remote attendees will be muted again in person things. They'll also receive three minutes to ask any and all 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 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 any individual phone line or log in user account. We ask that if you wish to speak that you log in or dial separately so that we can recognize you as a separate individual. Mr. Would you please take a role?  
Speaker 0     00:02:31    Councilwoman Cahill. Here. Councilwoman Carmichael. Here. Councilman Espinosa. Here. Councilwoman Lombardi. Here, can you let him in? Councilman Rouse Councilman Shaw? Yes. Council President Rin  
Speaker 1     00:02:58    Here please stand for the flag. Salute.  
Speaker 0     00:03:04    I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States, states of America and to the republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.  
Speaker 1     00:03:25    Item number five, comments from administration or council regarding aur? Any matters on this agenda?  
Speaker 0     00:03:31    None. Thank  
Speaker 2     00:03:31    You. No comments. Council president,  
Speaker 1     00:03:37    Item number six, open to the public comments regarding consensus, agenda items or remote attendees. If you wish to speak at this time, please raise your hand either on Zoom app or by pressing star nine on your phone when it is your turn to speak, you receive. We're here 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 your address. 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     00:04:15    Council president, there are no remote attendees with their hand raised regarding this agenda item  
Speaker 1     00:04:20    I'm close. Re more portion for 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. You may take a seat after completion of your comments or questions. Counsel or administration will then respond as necessary. This is for the consensus agenda item number six, item number  
Speaker 3     00:04:39    1258 Curtis Avenue Piscataway 58. Curtis, I welcome everyone here. Come and walk around that house. Please tell these people what you see. This item 12 A, does that include seventh and Mansfield? That corner has to be done please. Thank you.  
Speaker 1     00:05:33    Yeah.  
Speaker 2     00:05:34    Council president, this includes our transfer station site where we have, when we have large damage events that we store it and then every six months or so we have a company come in and and grind it down and then remove it to the recycling facility.  
Speaker 1     00:05:51    Thank you Mayor. Okay, I'm gonna close the public portion. Item number seven, fully sewer ordinance second reading 2,500,000 in various sewer improvements and this is open to the public resolution adopting ordinance. Mr. C, did you please read the ordinance?  
Speaker 0     00:06:08    Okay, before I do that, I just wanna acknowledge that Councilman Rouse, I believe is on the call. Can you unmute yourself Councilman Rouse so that we can see if you're here with your audio.  
Speaker 4     00:06:38    Can you hear me?  
Speaker 0     00:06:40    Yes. Thank you very much. I just wanted to acknowledge you're here at the meeting. Thank you. Alright, be it resolved by the Township Council of Piscataway Township, New Jersey that an ordinance entitled Ordinance appropriating $2,500,000 from the sewer utility budget capital outlay for various sewer utility improvements in and by the Township of Piscataway in the county of Middlesex. New Jersey was introduced on the ninth day of November, 2023 and had passed the first reading and was published on the 17th day of November, 2023. Now therefore be it resolved that the offer said ordinance having had a second rating on December 5th, 2023 be adopted past and after passage be published together with a notice of the date of passenger approval in the official newspaper, be it further resolved that this ordinance shall be assigned number 2023 dash three one.  
Speaker 1     00:07:28    This is 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 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 which to make your comments. Council administration will respond if necessary. If you have completed any comments or questions.  
Speaker 0     00:08:01    Council president, there are no remote attendees with their hand raised regarding this agenda item,  
Speaker 1     00:08:05    I'm gonna close the remote approach for in-person. Attendees, if you wish to speak at this time, please come to the podium. State your name and address and I'll let you have three minutes in which to make your comments. You may take a seat after completion of your comments or questions and the council administration will respond if necessary. This is for item number seven. I see none. I'm gonna close the public portion. Do I have a motion?  
Speaker 0     00:08:29    Motion?  
Speaker 1     00:08:30    Do I have a second? Second seat. Did you please state the role?  
Speaker 0     00:08:34    Councilwoman Cahill? Yes. Councilwoman Carmichael? Yes. Councilman Espinosa. Yes. Councilwoman Lombardi. Yes. Councilman Rouse. Yes.  
Speaker 4     00:08:55    Yes.  
Speaker 0     00:08:57    Thank you. Councilman Shaw?  
Speaker 5     00:09:00    Yes.  
Speaker 0     00:09:02    Council President Earn?  
Speaker 1     00:09:03    Yes. Item passes on a second reading item number eight, bond ordinance second. Reading 4,000,002, 220,000, 4,009,000 various capital improvements. This is open to the public as a resolution adopting ordinance. Mr. C, do you please read the ordinance  
Speaker 0     00:09:18    Be resolved by the Township Council of Piscataway Township, New Jersey that an ordinance entitled Bond Ordinance providing for various capital improvements in and by the Township of Piscataway in the county of Middlesex, New Jersey, appropriating $4,222,000. Therefore and authorizing the issuance of $4,009,000 bonds or notes of the Township to finance part of the cost thereof was introduced on the ninth day of November, 2023 and had passed the first reading and was published on the 17th day of November, 2023. Now therefore be it resolved that the offer had ordinance having had a second reading on December 5th, 2023 be adopted, passed, and after passage be published together with a notice of the date of passenger approval in the official newspaper, be it further resolved that this ordinance shall be assigned number 2023 dash 32.  
Speaker 1     00:10:06    Okay, this is open to the public for remote attendees. If you wish to speak at this time, please raise your hand either on Zoom map or by by phone by pressing star nine. When it's your turn to speak, you'll receive or hear 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. 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     00:10:35    Council President, there are no remote attendees with their hand raised regarding this agenda item,  
Speaker 1     00:10:40    I'm gonna close your remote portion for in-person if you wish to speak at this time, please come to the podium and state your name and address and know that you have three minutes in which to make your comments. You may take a seat after completion of your comments or questions and the council or administration will respond if necessary. This is for item number eight, bond audience. See none. I'm gonna close the public portion. Do I have a motion?  
Speaker 0     00:11:05    Motion?  
Speaker 1     00:11:07    Do I have a second?  
Speaker 0     00:11:08    Second Carmichael  
Speaker 1     00:11:10    Proceed. Did you please state to all  
Speaker 0     00:11:12    Councilwoman Cahill? Yes. Councilwoman Carmichael. Yes. Councilman Espinosa. Yes. Councilwoman Lombardi. Yes. Councilman Rouse.  
Speaker 4     00:11:26    Yes.  
Speaker 0     00:11:27    Councilman Shaw?  
Speaker 5     00:11:29    Yes.  
Speaker 0     00:11:31    Council President Ern.  
Speaker 1     00:11:32    Yes. Item passes on a second reading Item number nine, ordinance on the first reading amended and supplement in various chapters of the municipal code is a resolution adopting ordinance. Ms. Seceded, you please read the ordinance  
Speaker 0     00:11:45    Be resolved by the Township Council of Piscataway Township, 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 two administration Section 64 and 80.12 Chapter seven, traffic sections 8, 14, 17 and 25. Chapter 15 short-term rentals Sections 2, 3, 8 and nine. Chapter 16, housing and rent control sections 2, 4, 6 and 12. Chapter 19, fire Prevention and Protection sections 10, 14 and 15. Chapter 20, land Subdivision. Section five, chapter 21, zoning Section six and Chapter 24. Site plan review. Section five 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 19th day of December, 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 1     00:13:07    Thank you Mr. Cedar. Do I have a motion?  
Speaker 0     00:13:12    Motion?  
Speaker 1     00:13:13    Do I have a second? Second seat. You please take the role.  
Speaker 0     00:13:17    Councilwoman Cahill. Yes. Councilwoman Carmichael. Yes. Councilman Espinosa. Yes.  
Speaker 1     00:13:24    Councilwoman  
Speaker 0     00:13:25    Lombardi. Yes. Councilman Rouse.  
Speaker 4     00:13:29    Yes.  
Speaker 0     00:13:31    Councilman Shaw?  
Speaker 5     00:13:33    Yes.  
Speaker 0     00:13:34    Council President Ern?  
Speaker 1     00:13:36    Yes. Item passes on the first reading item number 10, ordinance on the first reading amending and supplemented. Chapter seven, traffic section 40, control of the movement and parking of traffic on public and private Property to the cert. Title 39 jurisdiction on 1 35 Flemington Street, the resolution adopting ordinance. Miss Seated You please read the ordinance  
Speaker 0     00:13:57    Be it resolved by the Township Council of Piscataway Township, New Jersey that an ordinance entitled Ordinance to amend and supplement the advised general ordinances of the Township of Piscataway, county of Middlesex, state of New Jersey. Amending Chapter seven traffic section 40, control for the movement and the parking of traffic on public and private property to assert titled 39 Jurisdiction on 1 35 Fleming Street B and 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 prevailing time at the Piscataway Municipal Building 4 55 Hose Lane, Piscataway, New Jersey as well as by remote meeting format on the 19th day of December, 2023. Be it 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 1     00:14:52    Thank you Ms. Seated. Do I have a motion?  
Speaker 5     00:14:54    Motion? Shall  
Speaker 1     00:14:57    Do I have a second.  
Speaker 6     00:14:59    Second.  
Speaker 1     00:15:02    Ms. Seated you please state the role.  
Speaker 0     00:15:04    Councilwoman Cahill. Yes. Councilwoman Carmichael. Yes. Councilman Espinosa. Yes. Councilwoman Lombardi. Yes. Councilman Rouse.  
Speaker 4     00:15:16    Yes.  
Speaker 0     00:15:17    Councilman Shaw?  
Speaker 5     00:15:19    Yes.  
Speaker 0     00:15:20    Council President Ern?  
Speaker 1     00:15:22    Yes. Item passes on a first reading item number 11, ordinance on a first reading granting municipal consent for the operation of cable television system in the Township of Piscataway to C-S-C-T-K-R-L-L-C-D-B-A cable vision of Raan Valley is the resolution adopting an ordinance proceeded. You please read the ordinance  
Speaker 0     00:15:41    Be resolved by the Township Council of Piscataway Township, New Jersey. Then an ordinance entitled An Ordinance granting Municipal Consent for the operation of a cable television system within the Township of Piscataway New Jersey to C-S-C-T-K-R-L-L-C Doing business as Cable Vision of Raton Valley B and is hereby adopted on the first reading that it be published in the official newspaper and then a second reading and public hearing be held at 7:30 PM prevailing time at the Piscataway Municipal Building 4 55 Hose Lane, Piscataway, New Jersey as well as by remote meeting format on the 19th day of December, 2023. Be it 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 1     00:16:31    Do I have a motion  
Speaker 6     00:16:33    Council president if I could before we take a motion? I just wanted to comment on this and, and I don't know if the Mayor will wanna say some things, but we all know up here on the board all of the struggles that the Township went through and obviously all the municipalities across the country with bandwidth during the lockdowns and covid and the strains on the system and we had a lot of residents who were very upset. Nothing is perfect as we know. We would love to see even more improvements, but the Mayor was part of one of a handful of New Jersey towns. I was honored to just be part of that conversation and testifying in front of the BPU about some of the issues with what was going on with the service to the town and our residents. This obviously is our contract to keep them, but as a side note, there are some additional things that Altice has agreed to that aren't part of your regular contract that are specific to our town. That was from a lot of negotiations and really putting our foot down. And then Mayor, I don't know if you wanna talk about the BPU settlement because there isn't a settlement yet, but my understanding it's coming  
Speaker 2     00:17:50    Coming, but I just wanna remind the council members, this is really just for the cable TV portion right here. 'cause this is all only what we can franchise. It's not has anything to do with high speed internet or anything to that effect. So this is just for cable TV and you have to remember that their subscriptions are dropping now that there's got a lot of cord cutters out there, as Dennis knows, you know, so you know when that that drops. That's less revenue coming into the town as far as cable tv,  
Speaker 6     00:18:19    But they still agreed to Yes, in this contract, continue with the sport and actually add extra. Yes. Even though they're  
Speaker 2     00:18:26    Some extra things that in from some of our government facilities, like the community center, the libraries and things,  
Speaker 6     00:18:32    The BPU settlement is about the broadband, correct? That's correct. And that hopefully you'll be soon, maybe not before the end of the year. Who knows?  
Speaker 1     00:18:43    Thank you. Gabrielle, do I have a motion?  
Speaker 0     00:18:46    Motion?  
Speaker 1     00:18:48    I have a second. Second. C You please take the role.  
Speaker 0     00:18:52    Councilwoman Cahill.  
Speaker 6     00:18:54    Yes.  
Speaker 0     00:18:54    Councilwoman Carmichael. Yes. Councilman Espinosa. Yes. Councilwoman Lombardi. Yes. Councilman Rouse.  
Speaker 4     00:19:02    Yes.  
Speaker 0     00:19:03    Councilman Shaw?  
Speaker 1     00:19:05    Yes.  
Speaker 0     00:19:06    Council President rn?  
Speaker 1     00:19:08    Yes. Item passes on a first reading item number 12. Consent agenda. Resolution for 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 that time. At this time, is there any items that if council would like removed from the consent agenda to be discussed or voted on separately? I see None. Do I have a motion?  
Speaker 6     00:19:39    Motion  
Speaker 1     00:19:40    Second, second. C you please take the roll. Councilwoman  
Speaker 0     00:19:46    Cahill.  
Speaker 6     00:19:47    Yes.  
Speaker 0     00:19:47    Councilwoman Carmichael? Yes. Councilman Espinosa. Yes. Councilwoman Lombardi. Yes. Councilman Rouse.  
Speaker 4     00:19:57    Yes.  
Speaker 0     00:19:59    Councilman Shaw?  
Speaker 1     00:20:01    Yes.  
Speaker 0     00:20:02    Council President Ern?  
Speaker 1     00:20:04    Yes. Item passes. Item number 13, announcements and comments from officials. Councilman. cao.  
Speaker 6     00:20:11    Thank you Council President. I would like to wish the residents of Piscataway who are about to start celebrating some of the major holidays. Hanukkah will begin first full day on Friday, but starts in the evening of the seventh. And as we come into the holiday season, there are plenty of organizations in around town who are in need of donations such as fish, other food pantries, and just ask that our residents be aware of that and contribute where they may. Thank you.  
Speaker 1     00:20:48    Thank you Caroline Councilman. Carmic.  
Speaker 6     00:20:52    Good evening. I mentioned this last night at the Santa Show. The, the Holmes Marshall Firehouse Women's Auxiliary is hosting a Christmas party for children on Saturday, this coming Saturday at 1:00 PM at the firehouse. And they are, they're having a free toy giveaway on the first come first serve basis plus food and refreshments. So come out if you bring your kids, bring your kids. Thank you. Such a good job over there.  
Speaker 1     00:21:24    Thank you. Councilman Espinoza.  
Speaker 8     00:21:28    Yeah, I wanna wanna remind everyone that as cons, Councilwoman Cahill had had mentioned that there's a lot of festivities that are gonna start. So please be safe out there. Drive very slow, temperatures are dropping and also, you know, you have to be careful of the roads out there, so please take your time. There's no rush going anywhere. You know, it's okay if you're five or 10 minutes late, just, just please, you know, slow down. Thank you.  
Speaker 1     00:21:57    Councilman Lombardi?  
Speaker 7     00:21:59    Yes. This Friday evening Santa will be arriving at our town hall here at seven o'clock and we'll be having our annual tree lighting here for our families here in Piscataway. So hopefully everyone can come join  
Speaker 1     00:22:16    Councilman Rouse.  
Speaker 9     00:22:19    Yes, while being, while being restricted and shed in. It's a new experience for me because I'm normally out there doing some of everything, but I wanna thank the whole council, the Mayor and everyone that's involved that has prayed for me and my family going through this recovery. So I just want to thank you all and one day I'll be able to thank you personally. Personally, but have a wonderful season of holidays and I pray God's blessing upon everyone. God bless you.  
Speaker 1     00:22:52    Thank you. Councilman Councilman Shaw.  
Speaker 8     00:22:55    No thanks  
Speaker 1     00:23:02    Mayor.  
Speaker 2     00:23:04    Just wanna remind folks, Thursday is a solemn day for the military in the country. It's a Pearl Harbor day and if anybody's ever been out to to see the AR USS Arizona Memorial, it's a very moving experience.  
Speaker 1     00:23:23    Council attorney,  
Speaker 8     00:23:24    No comments. Thank you.  
Speaker 1     00:23:26    Yes, and I have no comment either. Item number 15, I'm sorry. Item number 14, agenda session for December 12th, 2023. Resolution authorizing and cancellation of sewer for sprinkler credits, various blocks and lots resolution. Fire district number one, commissioners compensation resolution authorizing acceptance of the project and release of Retainage Ethel Road roadway improvements. KM Construction Corporation resolution, authorizing budget transfers. And a motion to accept the minutes at a council meeting. October 3rd, 2023. Item number 15, 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 pressing star nine. When it is your turn to speak, you'll 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 have three minutes in which to make your comments. Council administration will respond if necessary. After you have completed any comments or questions.  
Speaker 0     00:24:33    Council president, there are no remote attendees with their hand raised regarding this agenda item,  
Speaker 1     00:24:38    I'm gonna close a remote portion for in-person. Attendees, if you speak at this time, please come to the podium, state your name and address and know the have three minutes in which to make your comments. You may take a seat after completion of your comments or questions and the council or administration will then respond if necessary.  
Speaker 3     00:24:59    58 Curtis Piscataway. There are two ordinance violations in our block. They were created by our Justice of the Peace. It's four oh square feet from two different homes. It's 200 square feet that become an ISO Mr, when is that going to be taken care?  
Speaker 1     00:25:41    Thank you.  
Speaker 10    00:25:49    Hi, my name is Amanda Leger and I live on 98 Pleasant View Drive. I've been a Piscataway resident for the past three years and for that same duration I've been a nurse at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital back in October. Me and several of my colleagues came before you to spread awareness about the sobering reasons we went on strike. Just as a brief recap, decades of research show how vital it is for nurses to have explicit thresholds on the number of patients they can take care of. Safer nurse patient ratios emphasize quality over quantity and are an important factor in reducing preventable complications and deaths. Understaffing nurses undermines the care we can provide and the compounded stress and guilt for each shift this happens is detrimental to our identity as professionals. We went on strike because we could no longer tolerate this as being the status quo.  
Speaker 10    00:26:51    After four months, our union leadership and the hospital have reached a tentative agreement, which reportedly includes provisions for enforceable and appropriate staffing ratios. Once these exact details are disclosed to us, we will vote whether or not we feel this is worthy of our patients. We are cautiously optimistic. We have won our battle, but the war is not over. What happened at our hospital is not an isolated incident, but is part of a larger public health crisis. In New Jersey, a study revealed 75% of nurses in New Jersey hospitals rate their staffing as inadequate and the same percentage say that the situation is only growing more dire. This year alone, New Jersey dropped from ranking number one in the nation for having the highest percentage of hospitals score an A for safety down to 13, never again in New Jersey. Should nurses have to go through what we did in the name of patient safety.  
Speaker 10    00:27:58    So we need to become one less state that doesn't have a safe staffing law. Piscataway was the first town hall we attended and it was the start of taking this fight beyond our picket line. And thank you for your previous oral resolution advocating for us in our strike. We are here tonight to request if the council would consider passing an additional resolution supporting New Jersey Safe Staffing Bills S3 zero four and a 4 5 3 6, that would establish standards for every hospital. These resolutions serve as testimony that safe staffing matters to constituents and that these bills deserve a future. We have laid the groundwork but we can only get you so far if you won't stand up for yourselves. This cause cannot and should not be fought by nurses alone. Not when the public has 50% equity in the outcome. Whether these bills are passed or not. We are happy to provide any clarity and resources you need to help make an informed decision on behalf of the citizens of Piscataway. And again, thank you. Thank you. You have to hold it down button.  
Speaker 12    00:29:45    Sorry about that. Oh, too much technology. My bad. Once again. Good evening. My name is Roberto Molina Bond. And even though I don't live in Piscataway, I live here in your next door neighbor with your avenue in Dun Allen. I do have family here in Piscataway who live across the block on Fisher Avenue and I'm here with the 1700 nurses. Well the representative of 1700 nurses pleading a similar request Last night at Dunnellon, they passed a resolution that we are requesting to request to ask the municipal leaders to pass the resolutions S 3 0 4 and a 40 45 36. You can join the other municipal leaders, which include Ville Clifton, Milltown Edison, Highland Park, Franklin Township, Dunne, and Monroe Counties. We are also asking that you please call on the assemblyman Joe Danielson and Joseph Egan, as well as Senator Bob Bob Smith to push for this bill.  
Speaker 12    00:30:56    We also have a call to action to the town and if community members can also call on their legislators, this will greatly help our push for safety in the hospitals. I think that you guys have been part of a hospital at some point. I mean not part of, but been at a hospital. And very frequently patients call for their nurses and on their dismay they're trying to figure out where their nurses are. And many times they're thinking that they're just sloughing somewhere or like, you know, they can't be found for no reason. However, on our side, we're frustrated because we can't get to them because we have many other higher priority patients that we need to take care of. Addressing the safe staffing bill can, you know, help both the patients that are looking for their nurses as well as us giving us the tools and the time to be able to take care of those patients who you know, clearly need us. So this is the request that I have for you today. Thank you.  
Speaker 13    00:32:11    Hello, my name is Michael Tack and I'm a resident of Metuchen and I come here with the 1700 nurses on strike to speak on behalf of the 1700 nurses at Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in New Brunswick. As you may or may not know, we've been on strike for five months and on September 1st the nurses got stripped their health insurance. We are here, we are out here fighting for safe staffing standards. I'm a two-time patient and both were in the er. I had, I had to wait more than five hours and when I got in, I didn't even get the proper care that I needed. So I come here to ask you today, please help and support the nurses by looking over and supporting and co-sponsoring the S 3 0 4 and a 4 5 3 6 bill. We need more nurses in the bedside. We need more nurses inside the hospital, especially the bedside. If this goes in effect, all the New Jersey hospitals need to comply with this, including all the nursing home facilities we need. We went, we already went to the top and the top doesn't wanna support us. So we're gonna start at the bottom. We're gonna ask you guys to please support us because we need safe staffing, not only in New Jersey, but we need Sta safe staffing all over. But we need safe staffing, especially in New Jersey and especially at the bedside. Thank you very much.  
Speaker 1     00:33:34    Anyone else wish to speak? Not I'm gonna close the public mo portion  
Speaker 6     00:33:41    Council president in, in light, the nurses coming out tonight and we wanna thank you. I think we, we said this, I think previously we've all, we, we need our nurses, we, you know, we've all been either at the hospital or a loved one at the hospital. It had it not been for the nurses, we know our loved ones or ourselves would not be in a good situation. And at that time we, we actually a thing called on a resolution asking the governor to, to end the strike, which could have happened quickly, but it didn't. So, you know, this board isn't familiar with the two bills that you're speaking of. Very well. We, we do know that our Senator is supporting or has looked into signing onto a different bill. But that said, I think if the, if the board members agree with me, and they may not, but maybe they will.  
Speaker 6     00:34:38    What I'm would love to do is to hold voice resolution asking this council to call on our legislatures in Trenton to hold hearings on the bill. This will allow for the Okay, good. I'm glad you like that because I think, and I come from a union family, I think that the more publicity around the bills where the news media is covering it and the average persons start to hear that fact, there have been no sort of laws on the books protecting you folks from being overworked as you have for so many years. So I would like for this council who's very much in supportive of, of you folks and especially of course Robert Wood Johnson. Right? We are right across the river. Some of you, or many of you live in this town and are our residents who we represent. So I believe that what we could do here that would really be beneficial, not just for you all, but really for our municipality, for our residents, is that our state legislature holds public and open meetings on these bills so that the public can hear it and a real vote can be taken. I don't know what the board feels about that, but  
Speaker 2     00:36:07    No, if I can add in there that it should be directed to the speaker Kauflin. Yes. And also to Senate President Sari. Right. Because ultimately it'll be their,  
Speaker 6     00:36:17    Their decision, decision to hold the hearings right where it has. So Yeah, absolutely. And it should be public. So I don't know if I have the support of the board here, but I think it would be a valuable resolution, at least for us to impress upon our leaders in Trenton to move forward.  
Speaker 2     00:36:33    And can I make add also in there? It should go down to the comptroller because obviously he needs something to do. So Yeah, I just,  
Speaker 6     00:36:42    Yes, it should go to anyone,  
Speaker 1     00:36:43    The,  
Speaker 2     00:36:43    The acting comptroller who can't get confirmed.  
Speaker 6     00:36:46    So you know that you have this council support. We firmly believe in, in the power of these public hearings and that it should be something that all New Jersey residents hear publicly. So  
Speaker 1     00:37:01    You're making a motion then?  
Speaker 6     00:37:04    Yeah. Well, I guess so. Is there anything you want to Yes,  
Speaker 1     00:37:07    I second. I  
Speaker 6     00:37:08    Second the motion  
Speaker 1     00:37:10    City. You please state the role.  
Speaker 0     00:37:16    Councilwoman Cahill.  
Speaker 6     00:37:18    Yes.  
Speaker 0     00:37:19    Councilwoman Carmichael. Yes. Councilman Espinosa?  
Speaker 1     00:37:22    Definitely. Yes.  
Speaker 0     00:37:24    Councilwoman Lombardi. Yes. Councilman Rouse.  
Speaker 1     00:37:28    Yeah. Yes.  
Speaker 0     00:37:30    Councilman Shaw?  
Speaker 1     00:37:32    Yes.  
Speaker 0     00:37:33    Council President Ern?  
Speaker 1     00:37:35    Yes. Item passes.  
Speaker 14    00:37:36    And Council. Council Mayor, just for the last oral resolution, we memorialized into writing and sent it over to the governor's office. We'll make sure we do that with this one and, and get it sent over.  
Speaker 1     00:38:01    Do I have a motion to adjourn?  
Speaker 6     00:38:03    Motion to  
Speaker 1     00:38:04    Adjourn. I have a second. Second. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Meeting adjourn. Have a great night everybody.