Transcript for Piscataway Council meeting on November 13 2025
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 00:00:05 Recording Speaker 1 00:00:06 In Speaker 0 00:00:06 Progress 15th 2025. Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided as as required under chapter 2 31 PL 1975. Specifying the time, date, location, login or dial inform dial-in information and to the extent known the agenda Post 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 a corners with a CER CER 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 only have one opportunity to speak during each public portion as the, as the technology does not allow us to know if there are multiple callers on an indivi 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 way 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. Speaker 0 00:01:25 Ms. Good evening. Can I have a roll call please? Speaker 1 00:01:28 Council Member Cahill Here. Council Member Carmichael. Council member Liebowitz. Council Member Lombardi Here. Council Member Rashid Here. Council member Rin Here. Council President Espinosa Speaker 0 00:01:44 Here. Please join me in saluting the flag Speaker 2 00:01:54 Stands under God in this with liberty and justice for all. Speaker 0 00:02:05 Thank everyone. Item number five, are there any comments from the administration and council regarding adjournment of any matters on this agenda? Thank you. I see none open to the public's comments regarding item number 13 consent agenda items. Again, this is only for the consent agenda items opening to the 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. Ms. Cedar, do we have anybody in queue? Speaker 1 00:02:59 Council president, there are no remote attendees with their hand raised regarding this agenda item. Speaker 0 00:03:04 Thank you Ms. Cedar. Closing for the remote attendees opening to the 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 and the council or administration would then respond if necessary. Ms. Seater, I see no one at the podium. I'm closing to the in-person attendees. Thank you. Item number seven, ordinance first reading, adopting read redevelopment plan for 10 28 Stelton Road block 54 0 1 lot 1.02. Resolution adopting Adopting Ordinance Ms. Cedar Speaker 1 00:03:50 Be resolved by the Township Council of Piscataway Township, New Jersey that an ordinance entitled Ordinance adopting a redevelopment plan for block 5 4 0 1 lot 1.02 as shown on the tax map of the township of Piscataway, commonly known as 1 0 2 8 Stelton Road Bean 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 7:00 PM prevailing time at the Piscataway Municipal Building 4 55 Hose Lane Piscataway, New Jersey on the second day of December, 2025. 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 0 00:04:36 Given seat, may I have a motion please? Speaker 3 00:04:40 Motion Councilwoman Cahill. Speaker 0 00:04:43 Second. Councilman Uhrin. Thank you. Roll call please. Speaker 1 00:04:46 Council member Cahill. Yes. Council member Lombardi. Yes. Council member Rashid. Speaker 0 00:04:54 Yes. Speaker 1 00:04:54 Council member Rin. Yes. Council President Espinosa? Yes. Speaker 0 00:05:02 Item number eight, ordinance First reading. Amending the supplementing various chapters of the township ordinance resolution adopting ordinance Ms. Cedar, Speaker 1 00:05:09 Be 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. Amending Chapter two administration. Chapter three, police Regulations, chapter 11, hotels and Motels. Chapter 12, parks and Recreation Areas. Chapter 16, housing and Rent Control. Chapter 17, property Maintenance Chapter 22, solid Waste Management and chapter 23. So in wastewater 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 7:00 PM prevailing time at the Piscataway Municipal Building 4 55 Hose Lane Piscataway, New Jersey on the second day of December, 2025. Be of further resolved that a copy of this ordinance shall be posted in at least two public places within the township prior to the day of the second reading and final passage. And a copy of this ordinance shall be made available at the office of the Township Clerk for any interested member of the public. Speaker 0 00:06:08 Thank you Ms. Peter. Motion please. Speaker 3 00:06:12 Motion Councilwoman Lombardi. Second Councilwoman Cahill. Speaker 0 00:06:18 Thank you. Ms. Cedar, please roll call Speaker 1 00:06:21 Council member Cahill. Speaker 3 00:06:23 Yes. Speaker 1 00:06:23 Council member Lombardi. Yes. Council member Rashid. Yes. Council member Ern. Yes. Council President Espinosa? Yes. Speaker 0 00:06:33 Item Member nine. Ordinance first reading amending chapter 21 zoning Section six, general Regulations resolution adopting ordinance, the Speaker 1 00:06:42 Be It Resolved by the Township Council of Piscataway Township, New Jersey that an ordinance entitled Ordinance to amend the revised general ordinances of the Township of Piscataway, county of Middlesex, state of New Jersey. Amending Chapter 21 zoning. Section six, general regulations being 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 7:00 PM prevailing time at the Piscataway Municipal Building 4 55 Hose Lane Piscataway, New Jersey on the ninth day of December, 2025. 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 0 00:07:26 Thank you Ms. Peter, may I have a motion please? Speaker 4 00:07:31 Motion Councilman Uhrin. Speaker 3 00:07:34 Second Cahill. Speaker 0 00:07:37 Thank you. Ms. Er, may I have a roll call? Speaker 1 00:07:39 Council member Cahill? Yes. Council member Lombardi? Yes. Council member Rasheed? Yes. Council member Rin. Yes. Council President Espinosa? Yes. Speaker 0 00:07:50 Item number 10, ordinance First reading, amending salary and wage ordinances. Ordinance resolution adopting ordinance Cedar Speaker 1 00:08:01 Be it resolved by the Township Council of Piscataway Township, New Jersey. Then an ordinance entitled Ordinance to amend and supplement the revised general ordinances of the township of Piscataway County of Middlesex State New Jersey. Amending the salary and wage schedule being 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 7:00 PM prevailing time at the Piscataway Municipal Building 4 55 Ley in Piscataway, New Jersey on the second day of December, 2025. 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 0 00:08:42 Thank you Ms. Heater. May I have a motion please? Speaker 3 00:08:45 Motion. Second. Councilwoman Lombardi. Speaker 0 00:08:51 Thank you. I have a roll call please. Speaker 1 00:08:53 Council member Cahill? Yes. Council member Lombardi? Yes. Council member Rashid? Yes. Council member Rin? Yes. Council President Espinosa? Speaker 0 00:09:03 Yes. Item number 11. First reading adopting redevelopment Plan block 62 0 1 lot 6.02 and block 74 0 1 lots. 2.02 and 2.03. Resolution adopting Ordinance Ms. Cedar, Speaker 1 00:09:23 Resolved by the Township Council of Piscataway Township, New Jersey that an ordinance entitled an ordinance adopting a redevelopment plan for block 6 2 0 1 lot 6.02 and block 7 4 0 1 2 0.02 and 2.03 as shown on the tax map of the township of Piscataway, commonly known as Erickson site Venus hereby adopted on the first reading that it be published in the official newspaper and that a second reading a public hearing be held at 7:00 PM prevailing time at the Piscataway Municipal Building 4 55 hose lamp Piscataway, New Jersey on the second day of December, 2025. Be a further resolved that a copy of this ordinance shall be made available at the office of the Township clerk for any interested member of the public. Speaker 0 00:10:03 Thank you Ms. Cedar. May I have a motion please? Motion Councilman Uhrin. Second Speaker 3 00:10:07 Councilwoman Lombardi. Speaker 0 00:10:09 Thank you Ms. Cedar, can I have a roll call please? Speaker 1 00:10:11 Council member Cahill. Yes. Council member Lombardi? Yes. Council member Rashid? Yes. Council member Rin. Yes. Council President Espinosa? Speaker 0 00:10:20 Yes. Item number 12, ordinance first reading bond ordinance, various road improvements for 6,724,747 slash 5,990,000 million dollars resolution adopting ordinance Speaker 1 00:10:41 Be resolved by. That's okay. Be resolved by the Township Council of Piscataway Township, New Jersey that an ordinance entitled Bond Ordinance providing for various road improvements in and by the township of Piscataway in the county of Middlesex, New Jersey, appropriating $6,724,747. Therefore, and authorizing the issuance of $5,990,000 bonds or notes of the township to finance part of the cost thereof. B and 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 7:00 PM prevailing time at the Piscataway Municipal Building 4 55 Hose link Piscataway, New Jersey on the second day of December, 2025. 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 0 00:11:36 Thank you. Ms. Here, may I have a motion please? Speaker 3 00:11:40 Councilwoman Cahill. Speaker 0 00:11:41 Second. Councilman Uhrin. Thank you. May I have a roll call please? Speaker 1 00:11:46 Council member Cahill. Yes. Council member Lombardi? Yes. Council member Rashid? Yes. Council member Irin. Speaker 0 00:11:53 Yes. Speaker 1 00:11:54 Council President Espinosa? Yes. Speaker 0 00:12:00 Item number 13, consent agenda Resolution for efficiency Items have been consolidated into a consent agenda to be voted on together and the materials for these items have been distributed to the council in advance of the meeting. Do I have a motion? Speaker 5 00:12:15 Motion Councilwoman Lombardi. Speaker 6 00:12:18 Second. Councilman Rashid. Speaker 0 00:12:22 Thank you. Ms. Edrick, may I have a roll call? Speaker 1 00:12:23 Council member Cahill? Speaker 3 00:12:25 Yes. Speaker 1 00:12:26 Council member Lombardi? Yes. Council member Rashid? Speaker 6 00:12:30 Yes. Speaker 1 00:12:31 Council member Rin. Yes. Council President Espinosa? Yes. Speaker 0 00:12:37 Thank you. Item number 14, announcements and comments from our officials. Let's start with Councilwoman Cahill. Speaker 3 00:12:46 Oh, did Speaker 0 00:12:47 Start Speaker 3 00:12:49 Shocked. I moved my seat 'cause I didn't wanna be that far. You Speaker 0 00:12:52 Threw me off. Speaker 3 00:12:53 Yeah. I mean my, the announcements I like to make were two things. I was glad to see voter turnout in the state of New Jersey. It made me feel good that people were invested and using their right to vote. And I'd also like to wish the residents of the township a very happy and healthy. Oh, we're gonna be here before Thanksgiving, aren't we? Yeah. I forgot. All right, so skip that. That'll wait till the next, so no other comments. Thank you. Speaker 0 00:13:27 Thank you. Councilwoman Keho. Councilwoman Lombardi. Speaker 5 00:13:33 Just like to let everybody know anybody that's participating in the holiday light decorating contest. We're starting on the 19th, taking those applications. Speaker 0 00:13:46 Nice. Those are really nice to ride around. Right? I, I remember doing that with my kids when they were younger. Councilwoman Rashid. Speaker 6 00:13:57 I just, so I just wanted to say how many food drives toy drives are happening in town. There's so many opportunities to volunteer and I want to thank so many neighbors that reached out to me to help out with the food drive. So thank you everyone. Speaker 0 00:14:15 Thank you. Council member Rasheed. Councilman Franker. No comment at this time. Thank you. Council member Mayor Wahler, Speaker 7 00:14:24 You council president. I just wanna thank the council for introduction of the capital area. That'll be the balance of avenue. The first second phase, the older brother from the 2 87 bridge to where the Luke Oil is and then I believe 11th Street and then all the curbing that slept, I believe on Richard's Murray and Evans Avenue and Sturbridge, Dr. Tire, Sturbridge Drive, and about five or six other streets that are out there off the top of my head. Speaker 3 00:15:01 That's great. Does that, does that mean that intersection over by the Luke oil too or? Speaker 7 00:15:07 Yeah, it means from the intersection where the light is to the bridge. Speaker 3 00:15:10 Oh, good. Speaker 7 00:15:11 Right there. Okay. Thank you. Where it's uneven that that project's been broken down into four different phases. So the other phase three and four are on the other side of the bridge by North R and Stelton. So the county portion of Stelton Road in Old New Brunswick, that'll be going out to bid I believe in 2027. So that's when we're gonna do all the safety improvements for that section on Old New Brunswick Road between North R and when the, where the county scope works, stop. Yeah. So Speaker 3 00:15:43 It's too bad they couldn't take a look at the rest of that piece of Stelton Road, you know? Speaker 7 00:15:48 Well that, that's a whole nother Speaker 3 00:15:49 I know issue. Speaker 7 00:15:50 Yeah. Also wanna thank you for adoption first reading for the redevelopment plan across the street at Erickson. I gotta tell you, I'm very disappointed in the developer over there. There was three public informational sessions out there where I believe that the homeowners and the residents bought into basically, obviously everybody knows we're being sued by high density housing advocates. I'm gonna say that. And a developer, they want 2,500 homes out there. That site can't handle 2,500 homes. And the bottom line is they wanna destroy our town center vision. And you know, you won't have a supermarket, you won't have all the restaurants or anything like that. You won't have the hotel, you won't have senior housing. You, you're gonna be missing everything that we've asked about for the last 15 years about a town center. It Speaker 5 00:16:50 Was presented to the town, to the people of the town as exactly Speaker 7 00:16:54 That. Exactly that. Right. Speaker 3 00:16:56 With the, and as you said, mayor, those public sessions where residents came out and even with Speaker 7 00:17:02 Gave Speaker 3 00:17:02 Input. Right. And even with those public session sessions, you know, you still had the residents of the single family homes very concerned how it was going to impact them. Although, you know, even though the plan laid out for single family homes to a but single family homes. Yeah. It's, it's, it's so disheartening. I was gonna say, because we all talked about this for so long, having that town center, even like, sort of like a transit village where there would be encouragement of people to take the train from there into the city if they were working and commuting. It's, and you know, and, and giving them sort of the, the space to walk rather than to drive to the store and other places. All about that walkability that we've always talked about in town. Speaker 5 00:17:54 There's also an over 55 piece in there that was not added Speaker 7 00:17:59 Well, all I heard from the, the property owner for the last several years, how he loves Piscataway. He thinks Piscataway is great and then he turns does 180 degrees on the township residence. It's, it's basically shameful. Speaker 5 00:18:14 Oh, we also have another player also now with affordable housing. Yeah. So that's become a third party Speaker 7 00:18:19 Player. Yeah. Which is shameful on their part, Speaker 5 00:18:21 Which is shameful on all of them. Yeah. Speaker 7 00:18:23 But that being said, we're gonna do have to do, protect the town residents and not destroy this corridor here that we always envisioned something to be proud of. And I don't wanna see Soviet style housing being built out there. 'cause that's what they're gonna propose. I mean, if you want to go to White Eastern Germany or over in the old, old old Eastern, Eastern Europe and stuff like that, you see that type of housing. That's what they're trying to propose. Speaker 0 00:18:58 Thank you mayor. Speaker 7 00:19:00 That on the record. Council president, because I wanna let the residents know that we're out there fighting on their behalf and that we're not gonna take this line down and have, have us be pushed over, you know, I don't care about judges, the owner or whatever, it doesn't matter. That's not right. We get one bite at the apple out here. This is the last largest contiguous piece of property that we have in a town. And that's where we had always envisioned a town center would be. Speaker 5 00:19:26 We had a vision for it. And originally the builder was going along with our vision and was presented to the township Speaker 3 00:19:36 And there was even another plan by the same developer to that would've kept ShopRite in town with mixed use as well, which would've ideally been the best, you know, location for that with the park across the street and everything that we talked about. And so that changed and we didn't get that, you know, we can't, it's, it's a fight that we have to fight because we're right here in our civic area. Speaker 0 00:20:08 Agreed. Thank you mayor. Business Administrator, Paula Castelli. Speaker 8 00:20:15 Thank you President Espinoza of tonight. I actually don't have any additional information than what I added last week, but thank you. Speaker 0 00:20:24 Thank you. Tashi p Raj Gomar. No comment either. Thank you. Thank you. I would like to echo what council member Rashid said, there's, there's a lot of nice charities that are out there, toy drives and food banks that are happening, but also some closed banks that are out there that are collecting coats for the homeless. So just please, please, I'm pretty sure that everybody will appreciate your contributions. I'm hoping to get a list out by next meeting of some of the toy drives that are out there, some of the charities that are out there so that way we can post 'em somewhere essentially. So that way it's the one stop shop. So out I'll talk to the office. One in particular is Piscataway Soccer Club is also holding one a toy drive. Just visit their website as well as several firehouses within the township that are also driving. They're also having their own to toy drive. So please, please contribute. It's for the kids, it's for families, it's for hunger. So please be proactive in, in giving. So thank you. Speaker 5 00:21:34 Thank you to Melissa for organizing the township food drive to bring over to fish. Thank you. Melissa. Speaker 0 00:21:41 We have here Speaker 3 00:21:42 OX is still over here that you're collecting for, right? You Melissa? Speaker 0 00:21:46 What? When is that over? What? What date? Tomorrow. That's tomorrow. So please come to the township. Please contribute. It's into tomorrow. So thank you. Item number 15, agenda session for November 25th, 2025. Presentation. Thank you Karen, Karen and John O'Donnell resolution authorizing workers compensation contract with memer. Any comments or questions on that resolution? We have a resolution authorizing refund of overpayment of taxes due to 100% tax exempt. And then we have a motion for to accept council meeting minutes for November 6th, 2025. Okay. We are coming up to the public portion of this meeting opening to the public remote attendees. If you wish to speak at this time, please raise your hand either on the Zoom app or by phone by pressing star nine. When 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 had three minutes in which to make your comments. The council or administration will respond if necessary after you have completed any comments or questions. Ms. Seater, do we have anyone in queue? Speaker 1 00:23:14 Council president, there are no remote attendees with their hand raised regarding this agenda item. Speaker 0 00:23:19 Thank you Ms. Seater. Closing to the remote attendees, opening to the 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 had 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. Good evening. Speaker 9 00:23:45 58. Curtis, I was just talking to this police officer here about the issues of property maintenance that create a burden for a neighbor in a very malicious way. Our district leader paid me a visit one time and he walked around that lot. Nothing happened. The burden is there and it's worse. Property maintenance is not concerned. After all those complaints throughout the year. Nothing, the burden is there. I have trenches around that lot to keep the water away because of the negligence that keeps on hurting me. The situation came to a point where it's malicious, I'm concerned, cursed out. Even the police practically stepped on me with guns already. I wish one of you will come to 58 Curtis and walk around that lot and tell me what you see on your next meeting. Thank you. Speaker 0 00:25:33 Thank you. Anything else? I see no one. Thank you. Closing to the in-person attendees. Okay. Motion to adjourn the meeting tonight. Everyone wants to stay tonight. Motion to adjourn. Thank any against. No meeting adjourned. Thank you. Yeah.