Transcript for Piscataway Council meeting on February 13 2024
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 00:00:06 I'd like to call this meeting of the Piscataway Township Council to order. Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided as required under chapter 2 31 PL 1975, specifying the time, date, location, login or dial in information and to the extent known the agenda by posting a copy of the notice on the municipal Building Municipal court and the two 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 certification by the clerk, which will be entered in the minutes. There will be public comment periods for both remote and in-person. Attendees separately, each member of the public shall have only one opportunity to speak during each public portion. As the technology does not allow us to know if there are multiple callers on an individual phone line or a logged in user account. We ask that if you wish to speak that you log in or dial in separately so that we can recognize you as a separate individual should you have any further comments or questions. The Township Council always is always available by email and phone, and you can always call the mayor's office during normal operating hours. Speaker 0 00:01:29 Ms. Cedar, would you please take the roll call? Speaker 1 00:01:32 Councilwoman Carmichael? Speaker 0 00:01:35 Here. Speaker 1 00:01:37 Councilman Espinosa? Here. Councilwoman Lombardi? Here. Councilman Rouse? Speaker 0 00:01:45 Here. Speaker 1 00:01:47 Councilman Shaw? Speaker 2 00:01:49 Here. Speaker 1 00:01:50 Councilman. Rin. Council President Cahill Speaker 0 00:01:56 Here, would you please join me in a salute to our flag? 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. Okay. Are there any comments from administration and council regarding adjournment of any matters on this agenda? Speaker 2 00:02:28 Council president, just there was a ordinance for clawson that's being, that's being moved to the next meeting for March is March 5th. Speaker 0 00:02:37 Is it Speaker 2 00:02:38 Part it's discussion or it's It's already been moved. It's on the agenda. We just wanted to make an oral notice. Notice that second reading will be moved to March 5th. Okay, Speaker 0 00:02:47 Very good. Thank you for that. No other concerns of any matters on this agenda. Okay, very good. All right. That will bring us to number six. This will be open to the public regarding comments of item number 12 on the agenda. So if you have any comments regarding number 12, which are the consent agenda items, you may come to the podiums, state your name and address and note that you have three minutes in which to make your comments. But again, this is also items for number 12, but first we're gonna open it up to the remote attendees first. Speaker 0 00:03:34 Sorry, sorry. Nope. Apologize. So sorry about that. If you wish to speak at this time for the remote attendees, please raise your hand either on the Zoom app or if by phone by pressing star nine. When it's your turn to speak, you'll receive or 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 and know that you have three minutes in which to make your comments. The council or administration will respond if necessary after you've completed any comments or questions. Thank you. Speaker 1 00:04:15 Council President, there are no remote attendees with their hand raised regarding this agenda item. Speaker 0 00:04:19 Thank you, Ms. Cedar. So now we'll open it up for anyone here in the in person here in the building. 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 and the council or administration will then respond if necessary. Again, this is for item number 12, which are the consent agenda items. Seeing none, I'm gonna close the in-person, public portion on that item. Okay. That brings us to number seven, which is an ordinance on second reading. This is amending chapter seven, traffic sections 14 and 15 parking prohibited. It is open to the public and it is a resolution adopting ordinance. Ms. Cedar, would you please read the resolution Speaker 1 00:05:15 Be it resolved by the Township Council of Piscataway Township, New Jersey that an ordinance entitled Ordinance to Amended supplement the revised general ordinances of the Township of Piscataway, county of Middlesex, state of New Jersey, amending Chapter seven, traffic Section 14, parking prohibited at all times on certain streets and Section 15 parking prohibited during certain hours on certain streets. Was introduced on the 30th day of January, 2024 and had passed the first reading and was published on the first day of February, 2024. Now therefore be it resolved that the offer said ordinance having had a second reading on February 13th, 2024 be adopted past and after passage be published together with a notice of the date of past approval in the official newspaper. Be further resolved that this ordinance shall be assigned. Number 2024 dash zero three. Speaker 0 00:06:03 Thank you Ms. Cedar. This is open to the public. If anyone from the public wishes to speak, we'll open it up to the remote attendees first and then the in-person. Attendees. So for remote attendees, if you wish to speak at this time, please raise your hand either on the Zoom app or if by phone, 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. The council or administration will respond if necessary. After you've completed any comments or questions. Speaker 1 00:06:48 Council president, there are no remote attendees with their hand raised regarding this agenda item. Speaker 0 00:06:52 Thank you, Ms. Tee. So now I'll open it up to the public who are here in person. 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 or of your comments or questions and the council or administration will then respond if necessary. Anyone in the PO to comment on this item, you may do so at this time, Speaker 3 00:07:24 Post us. If 58 Curtis, is this parking issue gonna be another one? Like those traffic camera issues where it became an issue of public embezzlement, would it, Speaker 1 00:07:41 Well, Speaker 0 00:07:42 It's not a question. It's doesn't, doesn't even make good sense. Alright. Anyone else in the public wishing to comment on item number seven? Seeing none. I'm gonna close the in-person public portion and I'll ask if anyone would like to make an offer. Speaker 3 00:08:00 I would like to make an offer. Speaker 0 00:08:01 Dennis. Thank you. Dennis Councilman Espinoza. Second. Speaker 1 00:08:04 I'll second that. Speaker 0 00:08:06 Okay. We have a second for council? Speaker 3 00:08:10 Yes. Second Shaw. Speaker 0 00:08:11 Thank you. Ms. Seata, would you please take the roll call vote. Speaker 1 00:08:15 Councilman Carmichael? Speaker 0 00:08:18 Yes. Speaker 1 00:08:19 Councilman Espinosa. Yes. Councilwoman Lombardi. Yes. Councilman Rouse. Yes. Councilman Shaw? Speaker 3 00:08:29 Yes. Speaker 1 00:08:31 Council President or Cahill? Sorry. Speaker 0 00:08:34 That's okay. Yes. And the ordinance passes on second reading. That'll bring us to number eight, which is also an ordinance on second reading authorizing sale of certain properties. Block 11 3 0 7 lot 7.02. This is 4 81 Park Avenue. It is also open to the public and it is a resolution adopting ordinance. Ms. Cedar, would you please read the resolution Speaker 1 00:08:57 Be it resolved by the Township Council of Piscataway Township, New Jersey that an ordinance entitled an Ordinance of the Township of Piscataway, county of Middlesex, state of New Jersey, authorizing the sale of certain lands owned by the Township of Piscataway. Pursuant to NJ SA 40 a 12 dash 13 B was introduced on the 30th day of January, 2024 and had passed the first reading and was published on the first day of February, 2024. Now therefore be it resolved that the offer said ordinance having had a second reading on February 13th, 2024 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 2024 dash four. Speaker 0 00:09:42 Thank you, Ms. Cedar, and we'll now open it up to our remote attendees. If you wish to speak at this time, please raise your hand either on the Zoom app or if by phone, by pressing star nine. When it is your turn to speak, you will receive or hear a request to unmute yourself, please click the prompt or press star six on your phone to unmute yourself at that time. Please state your name and address and know that you have three minutes in which to make your comments. The counsel or administration will respond if necessary. After you have completed any comments or questions. Speaker 1 00:10:20 Council president, there are no remote attendees with their hand raised regarding this agenda item. Speaker 0 00:10:24 Thank you, Ms. Cedar. And we Now we'll open it up to the public who are here in person. 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 and the council or administration will then respond if necessary. This is regarding number number eight. Okay. Scene none. I'm gonna close the public portion on this item. Do I have an offer? Speaker 1 00:10:56 Offer, Speaker 0 00:10:56 Offer. Councilwoman. Speaker 1 00:10:57 Lobar. Speaker 0 00:10:58 Okay. Second Speaker 4 00:10:59 Saw. Speaker 0 00:11:00 Okay. Thank you very much. Councilwoman, Lombardi and Councilman Shaw. Ms. C, would you please take a roll call Vote Speaker 1 00:11:07 Councilman Councilwoman Carmichael? Speaker 0 00:11:10 Yes. Speaker 1 00:11:12 Councilman Espinosa. Yes. Councilwoman Lombardi. Yes. Councilman Rouse. Speaker 5 00:11:19 Yes. Speaker 1 00:11:20 Councilman Shaw? Speaker 4 00:11:22 Yes. Speaker 1 00:11:24 Council President Cahill? Speaker 0 00:11:26 Yes. And the ordinance passes on second reading. That'll bring us to number nine, which is an ordinance on second reading. It is a bond ordinance, various capital improvements, $5 million, $4,750,000. It is open to the public and it is a resolution adopting ordinance. Ms. Cedar, would you please read the resolution Speaker 1 00:11:46 Be it 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 $5 million. Therefore, and author authorizing the issuance of $4,750,000 bonds or notes of the Township to finance part of the cost thereof was introduced on the 30th day of January, 2024, and had passed the first reading. It was published on the first day of February, 2024. Now therefore be it resolved that the offer said ordinance having had a second reading on February 13th, 2024 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 a sign number 2024 dash five. Speaker 0 00:12:37 Thank you, Ms. Cedar. So we'll open it up to the public who are attending remotely. If you speak at this time, please raise your hand either on the Zoom app or if by phone, by pressing star nine. When it is your turn to speak, you will receive or hear a request To unmute yourself, please click the prompt or press star six on your phone to unmute yourself at that time, please state your name and address and in which to make your comments. The counsel or administration will respond if necessary. After you've completed any comments or questions, Speaker 1 00:13:15 Council president, there are no remote attendees with their hand raised regarding this agenda item. Speaker 0 00:13:20 Thank you, Ms. Cedar. So we'll now open it up to the public who are here in person. 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 and the council or administration will then respond if necessary being none. I'm gonna close the public portion on this item. Do I have an offer Speaker 6 00:13:48 Offer Speaker 0 00:13:56 Ms. Cedar, will you take the roll call vote. Speaker 1 00:13:59 Councilwoman Carmichael? Speaker 6 00:14:03 Yes. Speaker 1 00:14:05 Councilman Espinosa. Yes. Councilwoman Lombardi. Yes. Councilman Rouse. Speaker 6 00:14:12 Yes. Speaker 1 00:14:13 Councilman Shaw? Speaker 6 00:14:15 Yes. Speaker 1 00:14:16 Council President Cahill? Speaker 0 00:14:18 Yes. And the ordinance passes on second reading. That'll bring us to number 10, which is an ordinance on second reading bond ordinance improvements. This is open to the public. Oops, sorry. Improvements related to Energy Savings Improvements program. $7 million. $6,665,000. It is open to the public and it is a resolution adopting ordinance. Ms. Cedar, would you please read the resolution? Speaker 1 00:14:45 Be it resolved by the Township Council of Piscataway Township, New Jersey. Then an ordinance entitled Bond Ordinance providing for certain improvements related to the Energy Savings Improvement Program of the Township of Piscataway in the county of Middlesex, New Jersey, appropriating $7 million, therefore, and authorizing the issuance of $6,665,000. Bonds or notes of the Township to finance. Part of the cost thereof was introduced on the 30th day of January, 2024 and had passed the first reading and was published on the first day of February, 2024. Now therefore be it resolved that the offer said ordinance having had a second reading on February 13th, 2024 be adopted, passed, and after passage be published together with a notice of the date of passenger approval in the official newspaper. Be further resolved that this ordinance shall be assigned. Number 2024 dash six. Speaker 0 00:15:36 Thank you, Ms. Cedar. So now we'll open it up to the public, to the remote attendees First, if you wish to speak at this time, please raise your hand either on the Zoom app or if by phone, 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. The counsel or administration will respond if necessary. After you have completed any comments or questions. Speaker 1 00:16:17 Council president, there are no remote attendees with their hand raised regarding this agenda item. Speaker 0 00:16:22 Thank you. Now for this item, we will open it up to the public who are here in person. This is for item number 10. 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 and the council or administration will then respond if necessary. Seeing none, I'm gonna close the public portion on this item. Do I have an offer? Speaker 1 00:16:56 Offer Speaker 0 00:16:57 Councilwoman? Lombardi? Do I have a second? Second. Councilman Espinosa. Thank you Ms. Cedar, would you please take the roll call vote. Speaker 1 00:17:04 Councilwoman Carmichael? Speaker 0 00:17:06 Yes. Speaker 1 00:17:07 Councilman Espinosa. Yes. Councilwoman Lombardi. Yes. Councilman Rouse. Speaker 5 00:17:15 Yes. Speaker 1 00:17:17 Councilman Shaw? Yes. Council President Cahill? Speaker 0 00:17:23 Yes. And the ordinance passes on second reading to number 11, which is a second reading bond ordinance, energy savings obligation refunding bond ordinance, $20 million. It is open to the public and it is a resolution adopting ordinance. Ms. Cedar, will you please read the resolution? Sorry. Speaker 1 00:17:50 Be resolved by the Township Council of Piscataway Township, New Jersey that an ordinance entitled Energy Savings Obligation Refunding Bond Ordinance of The Township of Piscataway and the county of Middlesex, New Jersey, providing for the acquisition, construction and installation of energy conservation improvements, appropriating not to exceed $20 million. Therefore, and authorizing the issuance of not to exceed $20 million. Energy savings obligation refunding bonds to provide for such improvements was introduced on the 30th day of January, 2024, and had passed the first rating I was published on the first day of February, 2024. Now therefore be it resolved that the offer said ordinance, having had a second reading on February 13th, 2024, 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 2024 dash zero seven. Speaker 0 00:18:48 Thank you, Ms. Cedar. I'll now open it to public. First we'll start with the remote attendee. If you wish to speak at, please put your hand either on the Zoom app or if by phone, by pressing star nine. When it is your turn to speak, you will receive or hear a request to unmute yourself, please click prompter six on your phone to unmute yourself at that time, please state your name and address and know that you have three minutes, which your comments, the council or administration will respond if necessary. After you have completed any comments or questions, Speaker 1 00:19:30 Council president, there are no remote attendees with their hand raised regarding this agenda item. Speaker 0 00:19:35 Thank you, Ms. Cedar. So I'll open it up to public comment. For the folks who are here in person, 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, and the council or administration will then respond if necessary. Seeing none, I'm gonna close the public portion on this item. Do I have an offer? Speaker 4 00:20:04 Offer Chaill? Speaker 0 00:20:06 Do I have a second? Speaker 5 00:20:08 Second. Ralph, Speaker 0 00:20:11 Do you Ms. Cedar, would you please take the roll call vote. Speaker 1 00:20:14 Councilwoman Carmichael? Speaker 0 00:20:16 Yes. Speaker 1 00:20:17 Councilman Espinosa? Yes. Councilwoman Lombardi. Yes. Councilman Rouse. Speaker 5 00:20:25 Yes. Speaker 1 00:20:26 Councilman Shaw? Speaker 4 00:20:28 Yes. Speaker 1 00:20:29 Council President Cahill? Speaker 0 00:20:31 Yes. And the ordinance passes on second reading that'll bring us to number 12 for efficiency. Items have been consolidated into a consent agenda to be voted on together. The materials for these items have been distributed to the council in advance of the meeting at this time, are there any items that the council would like removed from the consent agenda to be discussed or voted on separately? Speaker 7 00:20:57 No. Thank you. Speaker 0 00:20:58 Thank you. Scene none. I will open it up to the council for a vote. Do I have an offer? Offer? Speaker 7 00:21:03 Councilwoman? Lombardi? Speaker 0 00:21:05 Do I have a second? Second. Speaker 8 00:21:06 Councilman Espinosa. Speaker 0 00:21:08 Thank you. And the consent agenda items pass. Ms. Cedar, would you please take a roll call? Vote Speaker 1 00:21:14 Councilwoman Carmichael? Speaker 6 00:21:16 Yes. Speaker 1 00:21:17 Councilman Espinosa? Yes. Councilwoman Lombardi. Councilman Rouse. Speaker 5 00:21:24 Yes. Speaker 1 00:21:26 Councilman Shaw? Speaker 4 00:21:28 Yes. Speaker 1 00:21:30 Council President Cahill? Speaker 0 00:21:31 Yes. And now they pass. Sorry about that. Okay, so that'll bring us to number 13, which are announcements and comments from officials. Councilwoman Carmichael, do you have any comments or announcements to make? Speaker 6 00:21:48 I would like to say giving tomorrow is Valentine's Day. Happy Valentine's Day to everyone. Please show someone some love tomorrow. And the other thing is regarding the Fire District Commissioner elections on Saturday the 17th. And with the budget, I'm just urging everyone to please remember to go out and vote. Thank you. Thank Speaker 0 00:22:16 You. Thank you. Councilwoman Carmichael. Councilman Espinosa. Speaker 8 00:22:20 I just, I hope that everyone had a safe and happy lunar New Year for those who celebrated. Speaker 0 00:22:29 Thank you. Councilman. Councilwoman Lombardi. Speaker 7 00:22:32 Yes. Again, I wanted to ditto the happy lunar New Year to everyone again. Councilwoman Carmichael Re, the Fire Commissioner's elections are this Tuesday, Saturday, the 17th at your local fire department. And they are from two to nine. I'd like to also our DPW for the hard work that they did this morning in getting our streets all cleared out in a, in an extremely timely fashion. I drove up here without a stitch of snow on the road this evening. So I'd like to thank them for all of their hard work. And happy Valentine's Day everyone. Speaker 0 00:23:14 Thank you. Councilwoman Lombardi. Councilman Rouse. Speaker 5 00:23:19 No comments, but happy Valentine's Day for everyone on tomorrow. Speaker 0 00:23:26 Thank you. Councilman Rouse. Councilman Shaw. Speaker 4 00:23:30 I say echo with Michelle Lombardi. That DPWA great job. All the street is nice and clean and happy Valenti to every day tomorrow. Speaker 0 00:23:43 Thank you Councilman Shaw. Mr. Mayor, Speaker 9 00:23:50 Thank Council President. I just wanna remind folks and condolences for to the Al Browns family, the the Late Commissioner of Homeless Marshall is the Memorial Services tomorrow down at this family's house down in Delaware. I know there's a contingency of some of the firemen that are going down for that. Also in, if reminded with the snow, I want to thank the residents for cooperating with the Department of Public Works today with the road clearing. And if you see a fire hydrant that may be blocked by a large mound of snow, if, if you got an ambitious young kids in your family that might wanna just dig that out on behalf of the fire companies. As a reminder, today's Fat Tuesday, tomorrow's Ash Wednesday for those people that are gonna be observing the, the start of the religious holy season. So if that, thank you Council President. Speaker 0 00:24:44 Thank you Mr. Mayor. Councilor, Speaker 2 00:24:49 No comments. Thank you. Speaker 0 00:24:51 Yeah, I'm just gonna reiterate what my council members have said here. Happy lunar New Year. Happy Valentine's Day. And yes to all of those who are celebrating or actually taking this Lenten season for a time of reflection. We do hope for a good Lent season and for a time of reflection With that, then we're gonna go to our items for the next meeting, which will be, this is our agenda session for our March 5th meeting. So the first item will be an ordinance on second reading, an ordinance releasing, extinguishing and vacating the rights of the public portions of Clason Street, Brook Avenue and Field Avenue. It will be open to the public and it will be a resolution adopting ordinance. Are there any comments or questions on that item? Seeing none that will be on. The next item will be a resolution authorizing acceptance of project and release of Retainage Justice Street, roadway Improvements, S Brothers, Inc. Speaker 0 00:26:13 Are there any comments or questions regarding that from the council or administration? Seeing none that will be on. The next item will be a resolution authorizing refund of overpayment, police department. Any comments or questions on that item? Seeing none that will be on. The next item will be a resolution authorizing return of maintenance bonds block 12 8 0 1 lot four, which is 1421 River Road Block 51 0 1 Lot 1.01 and 4.026 Corporate Place. And that looks like that's it. And are there any comments or questions regarding that item? Seeing none that will be on. The next item will be a resolution authorizing return of Sterling Village Security deposit and payment of arrears to the Township of Piscataway, apartment four 10. Are there any comments or questions regarding that item? Seeing none that will be on. Next item will be a resolution designating clawson RP owner LLC as redevelop as Redeveloper and authorizing redevelopment agreement. Speaker 0 00:27:18 Are there any comments or questions on that item C? None that will be on. The next item will be a resolution authorizing signing grant Application and agreement with DCA for ecological part. Are there any comments or questions on that item C? None that will be on. The next item will be a resolution authorizing cancellation of taxes. 100% exempt block 9 9 0 2 lot 15.02. Any comments or questions on that item? Seeing none that will be on. The next one will be a resolution authorizing return of street opening Bond block 9 0 6 lot 17.02. Block 12 2 0 4 and lot lot 26. Are there any comments or questions regarding that item? Seeing none that will be on. The next item will be a resolution authorizing return of escrow block 77 34 0.01 lot, 51.01 and 51.02. Block 7 5 0 1 lot 27.03. Are there any comments or questions regarding that item? Seeing none that will be on. And then the next item will be a motion to accept the report of the clerk's account for January, 2023. Any comments or questions on that? Seeing none that will be on. Speaker 0 00:28:37 Okay. That will bring us now to the O open to the public portion. This'll be for our remote attendees. If you wish to speak at this time, please raise your hand either on the Zoom app or if by phone, by pressing star nine. When it is your turn to speak, you will receive or hear a request. To unmute yourself, please click the prompt or press star six on your phone to unmute yourself at that time, please state your name and address and know that you have three minutes in which to make your comments. The council or administration will respond if necessary. After you've completed any comments or questions. Speaker 1 00:29:20 Council president, there are no remote attendees with their hand raise regarding this agenda item. Speaker 0 00:29:25 Thank you Ms. Cedar. And now we'll open it up to, for a comment for people who are here in person, 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, a seat after completion of your comments or questions and the council or administration will respond if necessary. Speaker 3 00:29:51 58. Curtis, getting back to our last meeting concerning, but police brutality. I was raking my leaves one day. I was so proud of myself, backed everything up. I came to the last stretch. I was blowing leaves along the trench and a changing fence. Finally came to the nice pile and I started to bag it. When I heard my neighbor yelling from the top of his lungs, I, I turn around, I see two police officers there. I said, good. He must be in trouble. Next thing you know, here comes one of the police officers over at the Curtis Avenue and calls me over. You come here. Yes sir. I went over there. That police officer that looked down at me like he had just stepped on a pile of manure, the hand on his hip. Speaker 3 00:30:59 He dogged me. I said, well, I didn't he blow any leaves in the neighbor's yard to a chain link fence. This is my pile. I'm backing it. Shut the hell up. You don't do nothing. And the man was ready. He dogged me for five minutes. By the time he was done, I felt like an old meninge dog on one leg. He went away. I told my wife the story. She said, that's it. No more benevolence. It doesn't exist. I'll keep my $500 for groceries later for them. No more police benevolent. Two weeks later, I found out that that police officer was dead. I said, huh. I got so emotional to the point where I was driving. I had to pull over recompose myself for three days. I wasn't crying for that police officer. I was crying for his son. That made my wish come true. Property maintenance is not working. It's not working for the public. Just the other day there was a two truckloads of dirt that went into a neighbor's yard and they came by and they raked it all, pitched it all into the neighborhood who is constantly popping water on Curtis 24 7. He's gonna get more property maintenance. Does not care about residents. Speaker 0 00:32:54 Sir, need Speaker 3 00:32:55 A public, your Speaker 0 00:32:57 Your time is up Many Speaker 3 00:33:00 That it's going to be 52 people strong. Speaker 0 00:33:03 Thank you, sir. Speaker 9 00:33:07 I, council president. I'm just gonna say I, I'm assuming that the gentleman that just spoke, and from what I understand, he was happy that a police officer was shot and killed by a son. And Mr. Mahoney, Jerry Mahoney. I, I'm assuming that's what he's talking about. Speaker 0 00:33:25 I, I dunno. But that's like 10 years. It's gotta be at least 10 or 12. Thank you. Anyone else in the public wishing to comment may come to the podium? Please state your name and address and note that you have three minutes to make your comments. Thank you. Speaker 10 00:33:48 Hi, my name is Ada Rashid. Okay, sure. De address is 6 1 8 Buckingham Drive. I'm here as a resident and a private citizen. Speaker 10 00:34:02 I'm not sure if you're aware, but we've had a terrible accident on our street and it's not the first la We had a car that hit a lamppost, hit two trees that could have been anybody's house. The last time we had a similar accident. It did go into somebody's house. It went into a garage. Luckily, so far we've not had any fatalities, but I don't know what we're waiting for. The residents requested speed bumps last year and we were told that, you know, the road would be rep paved and rumble strips were put in and we really appreciate that. But it's not working because we just had another accident. And this is not, you know, someone losing control, but it's actually speeding. We have video cam, the ring camera footage of a car speeding up and down on purpose. They're enjoying it. The rumble strips are not working. Speaker 10 00:35:03 So we are here to request that something has to be done because Buckingham Drive needs a solution. We completed a survey of all the homes on our road and the statistics are staggering from 35. Drive 18 have experienced some kind of incidents from a vehicle that's on more than 50%. You know, either are mailboxes, trees, and even when last year, the trees, the, when the road was repaved, they came in and they cut the, the trees without giving us any notice. Those trees have not been replaced. We would love to have them replaced because at least they're saving our homes and maybe even saving our lives because a child could be playing on the street or on their front yard and a car could come and just hit them because people are speeding on that street. I know a speed study was done last year and it was found that there is nothing wrong, but apparently there is something wrong. There are cars speeding there because the accidents are still happening. Right. Thank, Speaker 8 00:36:06 Thank you. Speaker 11 00:36:12 Hi, my name's Amina Lewis. I'm at 5 9 4 Buckingham Drive. Just a couple houses down from Sarah. We've been working on this initiative for some time, but it got really bad two Saturdays ago because this driver was going up and down the street, seeing how fast he could go. He went up, we have a ring camera and he's racing and he went back down. He hit three trees, took the pull down in front of our house, ended up, down, up over the bridge, smashed his car. Both airbags deployed and he is going 75 to 85 miles an hour as we could see us just looking at it, but maybe even faster. So this is just wasn't intoxicated. Police officer confirmed was not drinking, walked the line fine in his handcuffs before he got taken away. But this is what we are dealing with. I have several children, this is not something I should have to deal with. Speaker 11 00:36:57 So we're coming before you today. We have a petition signed by all the residents on Buckingham Drive stating that we need speed humps. It has something has to be put in place to stop the speeding. So it's not that we need to slow it down, we need to stop it. So we're requesting two humps, at least two between the houses where the curve starts and it should slow down or at least deter the, the, the young folks from coming through and doing what they're doing. We understand the opening between 18 and more as it has to be. It only makes sense, that's fine. But we're all residents. We all have children. We, we have ourselves as well. It's not safe for us. And I know you guys wouldn't wanna have this front of your house, you know, by any means. So we'd like to submit this today, the petition along with the letter so you guys understand the details of the incident and, you know, what are safety concerns. Speaker 0 00:37:52 That's my fault. We have to come and get it from you. Thank you. Speaker 12 00:38:04 So I know that last year, sir, Speaker 0 00:38:06 You have to state your name and address. Oh, Speaker 12 00:38:08 First my name is Tang. I live on 5 98 Buckingham Drive as well. So I know that I think it is the second very, very severe accident that happened on, on on the street. I think there are a couple more just to, just to know, a couple years ago. It is, I think it's it's been consistently happening on that street. And yes, this one is like, it's not even, it is not even like a, a a, it's, it's a, it is purposely speeding and racing on, on, on that streets. And almost every house has a young, has a young kid on that streets. I think it's, I know that you guys did the, the speed survey. The average I remember is a 29, some 0.5, some mile per hour. Unfortunately in this case, the average number doesn't help is the outlier that really counts. It only take one outlier to, to destroy a house or to, to, to seriously injure someone or god forbid kill someone. So we really need something happen on the streets. I don't know what it takes for the Township to, to, to, to put a speed bump on the streets or close the, the, the entrance of the route 18. But I hope that we can hear explanation from this console if, if, if we can. Thank you. Speaker 13 00:39:24 Thank you. Thank you. Speaker 14 00:39:32 Yeah. Speaker 13 00:39:35 S Okay. My name is Cynthia Wong. I'm 5 63 Buckingham Drive. I truly appreciate Sarah and Amanda getting the people at Buckingham Drive on this important matter. I've lived at Buckingham Drive since its beginning, so over 30 years. And I've seen it change tremendously, especially since the opening of 18 into the Buckingham Drive. And I know there's been concerns of not being able to close because of emergency access changes has also been that the town homes have now a lot of college students and the main culprit is from the 18 and the town homes where the speedings coming in. Yes, it's random, but like he said, it's just takes one. And I, I personally think that it's changed also with all the speed. I mean the, whatever you call the rumbling strips. Our, our neighborhood now looked like a highway, which is unfortunate. I think we love our neighborhood a lot. Speaker 13 00:40:39 We have a lot of families with young kids and we all protect one another. And so when one hurts, we all hurt. And it's unfortunate that we can't close up 18, but if we can put it like a virtual guard, like the gated communities and town homes between the town homes, right where the recreational building exists into Piscataway, I mean to Buckingham Drive, where the private homes are, so that the only access would be the people who live on Buckingham Drive and they won't cut through our, our area would be most conducive. So we're not cutting off 18, but we're cutting off between the town homes and where 18 is to the Buckingham Single family homes because that's where all the children are playing and we love our neighborhoods and we wanna protect it. So yes, we could add as an alternative, the rumbling strip, but these people don't care. They're just gonna go right over the rumbling strips like they do. They think it's a speed race now. And they just take it as a challenge. I drive through Edison to go to H one and all those and they have the humps people just go through the humps. We need to close it off. I personally think that is the best solution. Speaker 0 00:41:53 Thank you Ms. Mo. Thank you. Speaker 15 00:41:57 Hi, my name is Z Lewis. I'm also from 5 9 4 Buckingham Drive. You know, just to echo what everyone's been saying, you know, the safety concerns, it's real, right? You know, only last year I was work walking with my wife when the person was having a medical emergency and it's all over the room. We were walking and you know, just by inches we were missed. The other night was just from a reckless driver. We hear the engines every night, someone speeding, someone looking for something wild to do. Our street is not it. Right? We understand the cut through, you know, from 18 to Morris sometime people are trying to get as fast as they can from 18 to Morris. We don't mind, you know, people trying to get through, but we have to go in an orderly fashion, right? The only way that I've seen are the speed humps or the speed bumps really, you know, strategically placed on the road can really help to deter that. Speaker 15 00:42:48 And I'm hoping that this counts really takes, you know, what we're saying into consideration because we don't wanna be the ones to say, oh, after an incident has occurred or someone has died, or God forbid one of our kids, and then we have to come back here, you know, in full force. We don't want that. Right? So I think the right thing to do is to really think how strategically we can put something in place. Even signs, you know, need to be readily around, monitored by radar, right? Just so that people start to get the idea that this is not a speeding road, right? It's a road where you can certainly use, but you know, we need, you know, based on safety concerns, something to be done. So thank you. Speaker 0 00:43:25 Thank you. Thank you. All right. Thank you Ms. Wong. Is there anyone else who wanted to make a comment? Speaker 16 00:43:58 Hi, my name is Ian from 5 62 Buckingham Drive. I wonder if you have a detailed police report of the incident that we could not get from the internet anywhere. I have not been able to see it. Who did it? Why? What is the investigative result? This is of really severe concerns of us living in the area. And we, a few days passed, we have not seen any report. And the, and the yellow tape was recently added. It was not right after a few days passed. So what happened? Was the police ever at present, anything? We want to know what actually happened and who was this person? One or two or any, what happened? Thank you. We would like to receive a detailed report if possible from you. Thank you. Speaker 2 00:45:00 So on the police report, you can fill an Oprah request to the Township clerk and, and then we can get that to you. But they, the police reports aren't put online because sometimes there's sensitive information on there Speaker 17 00:45:14 And we don't release the information of who the driver's gonna be. Wouldn't be on the report. Speaker 2 00:45:18 Yeah, we, we'd have to redact certain information on the reports before we release them. Speaker 18 00:45:24 Hi, my name is Richard Chen. I'm also from Buckingham Drive, so I don't have to restate the dr the car accident, which happened down our street within a year. My, my neighbors have already, Speaker 0 00:45:37 I I'm sorry, what was the number of your house on Buckingham Drive? Speaker 18 00:45:39 5 5 8 5 5 8 5 5 8. Yes. So I just want to express my concerns because I have two young kids. One is one and a half, the second is four and a half. They like to play in the front yard of my house. But after this accident, I am hesitant to have them play in the front yard, which is a shame because we have beautiful lawns, we have beautiful neighbors, but because of the safety concerns, they can't have my children's play in the front yard. So I think the safety issues should really have been addressed on Buckingham Drive. Speaker 0 00:46:13 Thank you. Speaker 2 00:46:14 Thank you. Speaker 0 00:46:28 Yep. You have to keep it h held. Thank you. Thank Speaker 19 00:46:30 You. So my name is Wien Petal. I'm also from 5 9 0 Buckingham Drive. It's like, there are many incidents. I have noticed that there is a speeding car. It's like I have two kids, one is eight and one is studying every time they're on front yard. We have to make sure that like always somebody has to be there. This wasn't the case earlier, but past few years we have noticed these things is going on and on. I also noticed sometimes this is Buckingham where people are walking also, there is a higher, higher walking score during the summertime, but people doesn't respect for, or senior people as well. That is also noticed. And couple of time I have noticed that there is a three year kid is boarding on the bus, but traffic doesn't respect for 25 foot or 50 foot away car to restock. So there are so many things, but, and it's been a while. I remember few years back there used to be police staying there, which was at least some, some type of, some type of the keeping control. But now recent years, I don't see that happening there. And I think that is the motivation and maybe the rotating traffic increase. But yeah, we need to do something. Everyone has the same thing. I, I just another for that. Thanks a lot. Yeah, Speaker 0 00:48:05 No, it's important. All right. I think everyone in the group has had an opportunity to speak. I don't think there's anyone else in the public here. Speaker 9 00:48:14 So do you mind if I No, please. Just so the residents will be more than happy to set up a meeting with the deputy chief and the, the lieutenant from the traffic safety division of the pd. So if you have your contacts and then I'll have Mr.. Dacey set the meeting up that we can meet right there. Just so the council knows a question about the trees. We're expected to have the trees, new trees planted there, hopefully this spring. As part of that, we did install Chevron signs up there. And I do know in this year's budget, we're looking to put some safety speed cameras out there. Meaning, you know, shows you what speed you're going on the roadway. So that was one of the streets that was gonna get targeted for that. And unfortunately, as the council members know, the number one complaint that the council members get and myself are, is speeding within individual neighborhoods throughout the town. That is by far the number one complaint that we receive. So unfortunately your street is not unique. Now that's to that it is. I I can give you a list of 20 or 30 streets where it's, it's similar to that fact, but as far as the issue with the racing on the roadway, I will definitely obviously check with the pd. We'll put the counters back out there to see when the speeding's happening and then, then we'll do the, the enforcement out there for now. Yes. Speaker 9 00:49:44 No, that's all right. We'll just do to give it to the PD for, for them the enforcement on that. Save it. Speaker 17 00:49:50 Save it and save it. We'll set the meeting up with Lieutenant Smith and use it to show him that's the car that was involved with the accident. Yeah, Speaker 7 00:50:00 No, I just wanted to thank you all for coming out. I admire your passion as a neighborhood sticking together, but I clearly, I have similar issues in my neck of the woods and all of a sudden, for some reason there is a lot of racing going on. I mean, you hear those, you know those little race car motors? Speaker 0 00:50:23 The ones with the firecrackers? Speaker 7 00:50:24 Yeah, yeah, yeah. They're in front of mine and we have like a similar situation going on over at New Brunswick Avenue over there. So it's, you know, unfortunate that we, it's so hard to stop people's driving habits from being erratic. But I admire you guys all coming together. Thank you. Speaker 0 00:50:43 And be the, we'll see what, what, what can come of it. Okay. And I mean, I live street because it's a county street after the meeting. Ms. Okay, very good. Okay, so with that closing the public portion, and that'll bring us to an adjournment. Do I have an offer? Offer? Do I have a second? Okay. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. We are adjourned. Thank you. Speaker 7 00:51:28 Thank you for coming out.