Transcript for Piscataway Council meeting on September 10 2024
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Sep 10 2024 · Council
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Speaker 0Provided 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 libraries bulletin boards municipal website, providing a copy to the official newspapers of the township and by filing a copy in the office of Township clerk, in accordance with the certification by the clerk, which will be entered in the minutes. There will be a public common periods for both remote and in-person. Attendees separately. Each member of the public shall only have one opportunity to speak during each public portion as the techno. The technology does not allow us to know if there are multiple callers on an individual phone line or logged in user account. We ask that if you wish to speak that you log in or dial in separately so that we can recognize you as a separate individual. Should you have any further comments or questions. The Township Council is always available by email and phone, and you can always call the mayor's office during normal operating hours. Can I please have a roll call
Speaker 2Councilwoman Carmichael. Present. Councilman Uhrin Espinosa.
Speaker 0Present.
Speaker 2Councilman Cahn Lombardi. Here. Councilman. Cahn Rouse. Here. Councilman Cahn Shaw.
Speaker 3Here.
Speaker 2Councilman Uhrin Uhrin. Councilwoman Cahill.
Speaker 0Thank you. Please join me in saluting the flag,
Speaker 4The
Speaker 3Flag America Very public nation. Very
Speaker 0Thank you. Comments from administration and council regarding a enjoyment of any matters of this agenda.
Speaker 2None. Thank you.
Speaker 0I see none. Thank you. Open to the public comments regarding item number 12, consent agenda. Items 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? I see none.
Speaker 2No, none.
Speaker 0Thank you. Item number seven, ordinance second reading
Speaker 2Ordinance.
Speaker 0Got it. For each public comment portion for remote attendees, if you wish to speak at this time, please raise your hand either on Zoom app or if by phone by pressing star nine. When it's your turn to speak, you will receive or hear a request. To unmute yourself, please click the 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 administration will respond if necessary. After you have completed any comments or questions.
Speaker 2Council, vice president, there are no remote attendees with their hand raised regarding this agenda item.
Speaker 0Thank you very much for the public comment portion. For the person attendees in-person, attendees, if you wish to speak at this time, please come to the podiums, 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 administration would then respond if necessary.
Speaker 2You no longer have to hold the button, so you just speak into it. Okay.
Speaker 5This is good. Okay,
Speaker 2Thank you.
Speaker 0Please state your name and address please.
Speaker 5PR Patel 29 Redwood Road. I'd just like to get some details on resolution item number E and then the settlement with Jens script and Jefferson Realty about some tax appeal settlement. What was that about and would that change any taxation in future years? Thank you.
Speaker 0I'm sorry, what letter was that? The last one you had mentioned
Speaker 5This was with number M and number N. It shows authorizing tax appeal settlement, so if you could shed some light the impact on future overall taxes for residents. Thank you. And number E as well. So start with number E.
Speaker 1What
Speaker 6Was that? So E is to set up a, an account to accept the settlement for TIVA from the OP opioid settlement. So that was $4,151 and 68 cents.
Speaker 5But did we have any cases related to that in our time sheet? Because we, I mean from our, from my understanding, we pretty much banned on marijuana or any of that. So this settlement, like how does it, does it just come into us or?
Speaker 6Yeah, this was a nationwide, nationwide settlement. So it comes into every town. Either if you, you are a small town, it goes into your county. If you're a bigger town, it goes to the town. So we
Speaker 5And this one goes into police general fund? No,
Speaker 6It's right now it's held in a reserve reserve until we get guidance on how to spend it.
Speaker 5Okay, sure. Thanks.
Speaker 7And m and
Speaker 5NM
Speaker 6Was for an appeal on a property for four years. It's, we settled all four years and the reduction is only about $31,000. So that won't have any impact.
Speaker 5So they're getting 31,000 in tax abatement. They're not gonna pay or pay less.
Speaker 6They're, it's a commercial property at the property that has lost value. So they will pay $31,000 less over four years
Speaker 5If the commercial prices have gone up. I dunno. How do you define loss in value? In a sense,
Speaker 8For instance, the other one ask about the eight 60 centennial. They have vacancies within the buildings, so they're allowed to file a tax appeal for the VAs 'cause they're only charged by the square footage that they actually have occupied. That's state law.
Speaker 5Does that apply to residential property in future that if you don't have a res tenant on residential property, you'll get tax abatement? No. Why do you have different laws?
Speaker 6What's that?
Speaker 5Why do you have different laws? One laws for commercial and different laws for residential,
Speaker 6It's gonna talk to the state legislature.
Speaker 5That's state law, non municipal law. Okay. Same thing for number Ann.
Speaker 0Sorry, your time is up. Thank you so much.
Speaker 6And Ann was with, with the mayor, just talked about it was eight 60 Centennial Avenue. The, the property has lost value and they've lost rented space since 2018. And it's a generally small settlement also.
Speaker 0Thank you. I see no, no one else. Item number seven, ordinance second read. Okay. Public motion closed. Item number seven, ordinance second reading, authorization of special assessment sidewalks on Sutton Lane. Open Sutton Lane.
Speaker 2Be resolved by the Township Council of Piscataway Township, New Jersey. That an ordinance entitled ordinance to provide for the construction of local improvement sidewalks on the Sutton's lane. Frontage of block 9 1 0 1 Lot 45.01 and block 9 3 0 1 lot 47.0 3, 51 0.0 1, 52 0.0 2, 52 0.03 and 1 0 7 0.03 on the township of Piscataway tax map as permitted under NJ SA 40 65 dash one was introduced on the 23rd day of July, 2024 and had passed the first reading. It was published on the 30th day of July, 2024. Neither therefore be. It resolved that the offer said ordinance having had a second reading on September 10th, 2024 be adopted, passed. And after passage be published together with a notice of the date of passage, passenger approval in the official newspaper, be it further resolved that this ordinance shall be assigned number 2024 dash 21.
Speaker 0Thank you. Now we're gonna open this to the public. If you wish to speak at this time, please raise your hand either on Zoom app or if by phone by pressing star nine. When it's your turn to speak, you will receive or hear a request To unmute yourself, please click the prompt or press star six on your phone to unmute yourself at that time, please state your name and address and know that you will have three minutes in which you to make your comments. The council or administration will respond if necessary. After you have completed any comments or questions.
Speaker 2Council, vice president, there are no remote individuals with their hand raised regarding this agenda item.
Speaker 0Thank you very much. Closed for remote open for public 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 had 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 then respond if necessary. I see one person. Please state your name and address.
Speaker 5PR Patel 29 Red Road. I'd just like to thank you for all the great work that was done on Sutton's Lane. It looks really nice and, and can't appreciate enough for all the portals that has been removed. And I don't know, I, I don't know about the map and public map, but I would request that the work gets extended all the way to Road two. I know it's up to Sutton's Lane, but I don't how your projections and plans are. But I would request that the work continues all the way to Road two where it hits Kilmer Road on the other side. If that's not into the plan, probably find a way that it makes into the plan. So it's one work that gets continued at one time and it's, it's done for next five, seven years. Thank you.
Speaker 0Thank you very much. I see no one else close to the public. Can I have a motion please?
Speaker 2Motion Councilwoman Lombardi.
Speaker 9Second Rouse
Speaker 0Can count please.
Speaker 2Councilwoman Carmichael? Yes. Councilwoman Lombardi? Yes. Councilman Uhrin Rouse? Yes. Councilman Uhrin Shaw? Yes. Councilman Uhrin. Rin? Yes. Council Vice President Espinosa? Yes.
Speaker 0Pass item number eight. Second reading. Amending chapter four dash seven Automatic electronic amusement devices.
Speaker 2Be it 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. Revising and supplementing Chapter four, licensing and business regulations to allow for the permissible ownership and use of redemption. Amusement games was introduced on the 13th day of August, 2024 and had passed the first reading. It was published on the 18th day of August, 2024. Now therefore be it resolved that the officer ordinance having had a second reading on September 10th, 2024 be adopted past and after passage be published together with a notice of the date of passage or approval in the official newspaper. Be further resolved that this ordinance shall be assigned. Number 2024 dash 22.
Speaker 0Thank you very much. Opening to the public for remote attendees. If you wish to speak at this time, please raise your hand either on Zoom app or if by phone by pressing star nine. When it's your turn to speak, you will receive or hear a request. To unmute yourself, please click the prompt. Press star six on your phone to unmute yourself at that time, please state your name and address and you and know that you had three minutes in which to make your comments. The council administration will respond if necessary. After you have completed any comments or questions.
Speaker 2Council president, there are no remote attendees with their hand raised regarding this agenda item.
Speaker 0Thank you very much. Closing to the remote attendees. Opening to the in person in-person. Attendees, if you wish, 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 administration will then respond if necessary. I see no one closing to the in-person. Attendees, may I have a motion please?
Speaker 3Motion Shah.
Speaker 10Second Carmichael.
Speaker 0Thank you. Can I come?
Speaker 2Councilwoman Carmichael? Yes. Councilwoman Lombardi. Yes. Councilman Cahn Rouse. Yes. Councilman Uhrin S Shah.
Speaker 3Yes.
Speaker 2Councilman. Uhrin Rin. Yes. Council Vice President Espinosa. Yes.
Speaker 0Motion passes. Okay. Ordinance First reading, amend redevelopment plan for block 92 0 1 Lot 46 point 20 Resolution adopting ordinance
Speaker 2Be resolved by the Township Council of Piscataway Township, New Jersey. That an ordinance entitled Ordinance Authorizing Addendum to Redevelopment Plan for Block 9 2 0 1 Lot 46.20 Rivendale Meadows as shown on the tax map of the township of Piscataway 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 on the first day of October, 2024. 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 0Thank you very much. May I have a motion please?
Speaker 2Motion Councilwoman Lombardi.
Speaker 11Second Rouse second.
Speaker 0May that count please.
Speaker 2Councilwoman Carmichael?
Speaker 0Yes.
Speaker 2Councilwoman Lombardi. Yes. Councilman Uhrin Rouse. Yes. Councilman Cahn Shaw?
Speaker 11Yes.
Speaker 2Councilman. Uhrin Rin. Yes. Council Vice President Espinosa.
Speaker 0Yes. Motion passes to second reading. Item number 10, ordinance First reading, acquisition of Property block 75 0 8. Lot three resolution adopting ordinance
Speaker 2Be resolved by the Township Council of Piscataway Township, New Jersey that an ordinance entitled Ordinance authorizing the Acquisition of Property Identified as Block 7 5 0 8 Law three in the township of Piscataway, county of Middlesex City, New Jersey for public use pursuant to NJ s sa 23 dash one EC 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 on the first day of October, 2024. 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 0Thank you very much. Do I have a motion? Motion Carmichael second Councilman. Uhrin Owen, may I have it please?
Speaker 2Councilwoman Carmichael? Yes. Councilwoman Lombardi. Yes. Councilman Uhrin Rouse. Yes. Councilman Cahn Shaw?
Speaker 11Yes.
Speaker 2Councilman Uhrin Irin. Yes. Council Vice President Espinosa? Yes.
Speaker 0Thank you. Ordinance First item number 11. Ordinance First reading authorizing sale of 1 1 1 2. Brookside Road resolution adopting ordinance
Speaker 2Be 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 three, I'm sorry, 12 dash 13 BB 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 on the first day of October, 2024. 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, clerk for any interested member of the public.
Speaker 0Thank you very much. Do I have a motion?
Speaker 10Motion Carmichael.
Speaker 3Second. Second
Speaker 9Rouse.
Speaker 0Thank you. You have a Cahn please.
Speaker 2Councilman Uhrin Carmichael.
Speaker 10Yes.
Speaker 2Councilwoman Lombardi. Yes. Councilman Cahn Rouse. Yes. Councilman Uhrin Shaw?
Speaker 3Yes.
Speaker 2Councilman. Cahn. Rin. Yes. Council Vice President Espinosa?
Speaker 0Yes. Item number 12. Consent. Agenda. Resolution for efficiency Items have been consolidated into a consent agenda to be voted on together. The materials of these items have been distributed to the council in advance of the meeting at this time. Are there any items that, that the council will like removed from the consent agenda to be discussed or voted on separately?
Speaker 10No,
Speaker 0That's a no. Thank you. Can I have a motion please?
Speaker 12Motion Councilwoman Lombardi.
Speaker 9Second Rouse.
Speaker 0Thank you. May I have a count please?
Speaker 2Councilwoman Carmichael?
Speaker 10Yes.
Speaker 2Councilwoman Lombardi? Yes. Councilman Uhrin Rouse. Yes. Councilman Cahn Shaw?
Speaker 3Yes.
Speaker 2Councilman. Uhrin. Rin? Yes. Council, vice President Espinoso? Yes.
Speaker 0Okay. Item number 13. Announcements and comments from the officials who, Carmichael?
Speaker 1Yes.
Speaker 13At 8:00 AM 12:00 PM Little league parking lot.
Speaker 10I wasn't using the mic. No, you are. I mean, I'm sorry. A reminder of the shredding event this Saturday at 8:00 AM to 12 noon at the little league parking lot on Sydney Road. Shredded and forget it. Thank you.
Speaker 0That's woman Michelle.
Speaker 12Tomorrow evening the Piscataway Elks. Invite everyone to observe the September 11th remembrance service. It is at six o'clock at the Piscataway Elks in remembrance of September 11th. May we never forget
Speaker 0Councilman Cahn Res.
Speaker 9No comment at this time.
Speaker 0Councilman Cahn. Frank, no comment at this time.
Speaker 3No comment. Thank you.
Speaker 0I would like to just add that, just to remind everybody that on September 21st, we do have that first annual bike tour that's gonna be happening at eight o'clock over behind the community center. I I really would like to see everyone there, but if you can make it, it starts at eight o'clock, we have onsite registration, or you can register early on our Piscataway site. Thank you, mayor.
Speaker 8Well, our, our counselor is gonna be there on his tricycle.
Speaker 0Which one?
Speaker 8Real quickly, in seriousness, the solar projects coming along. I know if everybody's sold of steel going up, they're gonna be starting over at Sterling Village next for the pilots. So
Speaker 0Thank you Mayor. No comments from time. Okay. Thank you. And
Speaker 2No comments. Thank
Speaker 0You. Thank you.
Speaker 2Wanted to remind everybody that the National night out is rescheduled for next week on Tuesday.
Speaker 0That's right. Thank you. All right. Item number 14, agenda session for October 1st, 2024 ordinance second reading, amend redevelopment plan for block 92 0 1 lot 46 20 ordinance Second reading, acquisition of property block 75 0 8 lot three and ordinance second reading authorizing sale of 1 1 1 2 Brookside Road.
Speaker 0At this point we're going to open this up to the public 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's 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 have completed any comments or questions. Anybody on the line Council,
Speaker 2Vice president, there are no remote attendees with their hand raised regarding this agenda item.
Speaker 0Thank you very much. Closing for remote attendees. Opening up 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 at the completion or your comments or questions and the council or administration will respond if necessary. Please state your name and address please.
Speaker 14Good evening. Vikram Salgan, five 11 Doral Court. Mr. Mayor, thank you for all the solar updates. I've been getting them the emails pretty quick and, and regularly. One question that I had is once this is specifically for the EV charging, there's very limited information on, I know the 28 charges are gonna be set up, but limited information on how the payment process is gonna go and if the township residents need to register for, for payment processing opportunities. So if you could shed some more light, that'll be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Speaker 6So we're, we're still in the process of, of figuring that out. We found the company that actually is part of Schneider, that you can do it on an app. So you'll just have to download the app once. And we're setting, we're said we're looking at setting rates. We're, we're looking at comparable towns to see what they charge. But we're probably gonna offer it like at the community center for the first two hours for free at the library, probably an hour or two for free at our building will be an hour probably for free. And then after that, we're looking to set a a, a standard rate that we're really not making money on. So it could actually, with that app, it could actually change as the cost of energy changes for us. And the, it be a floating rate. It'll be like a floating rate.
Speaker 6And, and what the good thing is, is that after, after your car is charged, you can't, and you can't take it out and put it back in. 'cause one of the problems we have at the community center is people leaving their cars there for a long period of time. So the app will recognize your car, so you won't be able to do that. And we're gonna probably set a rate, like a lot of other towns do that if you're there for like five hours or something to rico. So like $10 an hour or something like that to discourage people. So we're formalizing it now. The chargers are in, at both of the libraries waiting for one part to be installed at both of them to energize them. So we anticipate that they'll be energized sometime during October and then we, we'll turn those on. And we're probably not looking to charge until probably January 1st.
Speaker 14Thank you. They're
Speaker 6They're moving a lot. They're moving a lot quicker than I thought they were gonna be moving actually. So the next ones I think are going at the community center.
Speaker 14Wonderful, thank you. And one, one final comment. Will Schneider Electric or the township come up with the charge ratings, which is like type one, type two, type three? 'cause I think that's what people with EVs have a question. What type of charger am I plugging the car into?
Speaker 6Yeah, it's, it's the, like the, it's faster than we have now, but it's not the one that charges your car in like an hour. Yep. So it's, I think the, they'll have all the, we'll publish all the information on when as we get closer.
Speaker 14Wonderful. Yeah. Thank you. Appreciate it.
Speaker 0Thank you very much. Please state your name and address
Speaker 5PR Patel 29 Redwood Road. So a few good things and then obviously I'll talk about the hard things and not working things I would like to recognize Ms. Sitter. Ms. Mitch, I've asked numerous requests through Oprah and they've been very supportive and the data is very good where you can actually make informed decisions and things are working very well. The areas where things are not working well is the assessment. And I know mayor last time mentioned that I was rude and whatnot, but sometimes rude is just the byproduct of somebody's not getting the right service by example. What I mean is if there is a code which just says uniform assessment, I looked at their data, they, they have pretty much the residential assessment have gone up from 4 billion to 6 billion while the commercial assessments have pretty much remained the same over the last four or five years of the data that I had.
Speaker 5So essentially what they did was they put all the tax burden on pretty much the residential owners who have different income level while they're giving tax breaks to all these companies who are leaving empty buildings. And I don't think it should be that way. And when I'm asking for a a, a proper method of assessment, like a software that gives input output, the assessment department gives me run around. And obviously they're, they're not factual. I think the same thing happened with I guess the attorneys or Mr. Gomer, when I'm asking for standard questions about related to constitution, what are the fines, what are exact fines and whatnot, I get put onto some, I guess e code and whatnot. Even the data on that is not clear for citizens to understand what is the fine and what are they paying for. The third thing was in terms of the assessment where mayor indicated that I was paying thousand more because I didn't allow somebody to come in which was exercising my right.
Speaker 5So if I'm exercising my right, why am I getting penalized? Law shouldn't work that way. So it should be, and and the counterside of that is, when I just said it, somebody was lying is when somebody allowed somebody to come in, their taxes still went up by a thousand. So the question then becomes is regardless of what we do, the land taxes are on the rise, which is fine. You can, you, you can do all the projects, but if the incomes are not going to support someday, and if because of that somebody is going to be shortchange, how am I gonna finance this deficit? So for example, if my, if my taxes just went up in the property by a thousand, I cannot charge my tenant that much because they're going to become delinquent. If they become delinquent, should the township be responsible or should I be responsible for no fault of my own because my land taxes went up.
Speaker 5And what is the recourse for those people right now who are getting delinquent and who are straining families? And I've seen people working 12 hours and they still can make a, make rent obligations. This is not no fault of my own, but that's reality today. So I dunno what data that you look at, but that's reality. And the other thing is I always send an email and this to you, Ms. Mar Carmichael, you represent I think Redbird Street, if I'm not mistaken. I send an email to get some response in terms of the issue that I raised. There is no return phone calls and seconds returns, anything mails Am I done in seconds. Oh, okay. So I haven't gotten anything back. So I don't know if you have a chance to read those emails or respond to that. Thank you.
Speaker 0Thank you.
Speaker 8If, if I may, council president, we're going, we're beating a Ted horse here. He still will not lust the assessors in, so they have to base it on highest and best use. That is the state law. Commercial property assessments are set up by the state of New Jersey. Same thing with the residential. Those are, no matter what town you go in, it's all followed on the same thing. I can't help it that he has, you know, several businesses, you know, as commercial properties or I should say homes that are, he's renting out. But my advice is, as I told you the last several times, is let the assessors in. As a matter of fact, I had the assessor come to my house on Saturday right there and one of my neighbors. So my, you know, he can say that he has a constitutional right to, you know, not let anybody in. That's fine. Okay. But it's a good bet that you are paying, he's paying way more in taxes than he probably should be. And that's no fault, except him. That's his obligation. And really
Speaker 5At that he also got tax more. So I think what mayor is is,
Speaker 12Yeah, but if they can't see what they're, that's formula that's followed by the whole town. If they can't see what they're assessing, the formula is to tax to the highest and, and
Speaker 5No, but those who allowed, they went up and, and I looked at the data, I requested the data. I
Speaker 12Mean that's, that's the rule.
Speaker 8Council president, if I may, that's the rule. We're is not going, this has been going on for seven or eight years with this gentleman. I know he's not gonna change. He's gonna continue to come here and complain because he won't let the, the assessors in the house, which is fine. That's his prerogative. It's your choice. But the bottom line is I'm thanking him for paying extra money and subsidizing everybody else in the town. Thank you very much. Extortion.
Speaker 0Thank you Mr. Patel. motion to adjourn.
Speaker 5It is legislative extortion.
Speaker 0Motion to adjourn.
Speaker 12Motion.
Speaker 0All in favor. Favor,
Speaker 12Aye.
Speaker 0All in favor? Aye. Thank you. Or adjourn. Thank you. Good night. Thank
Speaker 12You. Have a good night. All.