Transcript for Piscataway Council meeting on December 9 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 1 00:00:05 We will now call to order the Township of Piscataway Council meeting of December 9th, 2025. Speaker 1 00:00:16 Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided as required under chapter 2 31 PL 1975, specifying the time, date, location, login or dial 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 a cer, a certification by the clerk, which will be entered in the minutes. There will be 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 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 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 1 00:01:24 Good evening, ev. Good evening everyone. Roll call Ms. Cedar. Speaker 2 00:01:28 Council Member Cahill Here. Council Member Carmichael Here. Council Member Liebowitz Here. Council Member Lombardi. Here. Council Member Rashid. Council member Rin Here. Council President Espinosa here. Speaker 1 00:01:43 Please join me in saluting the flag. Good evening council members. Good evening. Good evening. Any comments from the administration and council regarding adjournment of any matters on this agenda? Speaker 2 00:02:01 I say none. Speaker 1 00:02:02 Thank you. Opening to the public comments regarding item number nine, consent agenda items Speaker 1 00:02:14 Opening to the remote attendees for again consent. Agenda item number nine, 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 will receive or hear a request To unmute yourself, please click the prompt or press star six on your phone and 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 2 00:02:50 Council president, there are no remote attendees with their hand raised regarding this agenda item. Speaker 1 00:02:54 Thank you Ms. Seater. Closing to the for the remote attendees, opening for 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 will then respond if necessary. I see no one at the podium closing for the in-person attendees. Moving to item number seven, ordinance second reading, amending Chapter 21, zoning Section six, general regulations open to Public resolution Adopting Ordinance Eder, Speaker 2 00:03:34 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 was introduced on the 13th day of November, 2025 and had passed the first reading. It was published on the 19th day of November, 2025. Now therefore be it resolved that the offer said ordinance having had a second reading on December 9th, 2025 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 a sign number 2025 dash 26. Speaker 1 00:04:16 Thank you Ms. Cedar, opening to the public opening for the 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, 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 anyone in queue? Speaker 2 00:04:48 Council president. There are no remote attendees with their hand raised regarding this agenda item. Speaker 1 00:04:52 Thank you Ms. Cedar. Closing for the remote attendees. Opening for 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 at the completion of your comments or questions and the council or administration will then will then respond if necessary. I see no one at the podium Closing for the intern in-person attendees, may I have a motion please? Speaker 3 00:05:20 Motion Councilwoman Lombardi. Speaker 1 00:05:24 May I have a second? Second Carmichael. Thank you. Ms. Cedar. May I have a roll call? Speaker 2 00:05:29 Council member Cahill? Yes. Council member Carmichael? Yes. Council member Liebowitz. Yes. Council member Lombardi? Yes. Council member Arin. Yes. Council President Espinosa? Yes. Speaker 1 00:05:48 Item number eight, ordinance second. Reading Amending, supplementing various chapters including Chapter seven, traffic. Chapter 10, health regulations and chapter 19, fire prevention of the Township Code Open to the Public resolution adopting ordinance from Cedar, Speaker 2 00:06:02 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 seven, traffic. Chapter 10, health regulations in chapter 19. Fire prevention and protection was introduced on the 25th day of November, 2025 and had passed the first reading. It was published on the 30th day of November, 2025. Now therefore be it resolved that the said ordinance having had a second reading on December 9th, 2025 be adopted, passed, and after passage be published together with a notice of the date of past approval in the official newspaper, be it further resolved that this ordinance shall be assigned. Number 2025 dash 27. Speaker 1 00:06:44 Thank you Ms. Cedar opening to the in for the 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 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. Seated, do we have anyone in queue? Speaker 2 00:07:15 Council president. There are no remote attendees with their hand raised regarding this agenda item. Speaker 1 00:07:19 Thank you Ms. Cedar. Closing for the remote attendees. Opening for 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 had three minutes in which to make your comments. You may take a seat at the completion of your comments or questions and the council or administration would then respond if necessary. I see no one at the podium Closing for the in-person attendees. May I have a motion? Please Speaker 4 00:07:46 Offer Council member Cahill. Speaker 1 00:07:49 Second. Councilman Uhrin. Thank you. Roll call please. Speaker 2 00:07:54 Council member Cahill. Speaker 4 00:07:56 Yes. Speaker 2 00:07:56 Council member Carmichael. Yes. Council member Liebowitz. Speaker 4 00:07:59 Yes. Speaker 2 00:08:00 Council member Lombardi? Yes. Council member rn. Yes. Council President Espinosa? Speaker 1 00:08:06 Yes. Thank you. Consent agenda resolutions 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. May I have a motion? Please Speaker 4 00:08:24 Offer. Second Councilwoman Lombardi. Speaker 1 00:08:28 Thank you. Roll call Speaker 2 00:08:30 Council member Cahill. Yes. Council member Carmichael. Yes. Council member Liebowitz. Speaker 4 00:08:36 Yes. Speaker 2 00:08:37 Council member Lombardi? Yes. Council member Rin. Yes. Council President Espinosa? Yes. Speaker 1 00:08:45 Thank you. Item number 10, announcements and comments from our officials. Council member Cahill, Speaker 4 00:08:52 Council president, would like to give a big shout out and thank you to Santa for coming to our township tree lighting and also for coming to the Mayor Show. I think children call in on Monday than we've had in a long time and it was very nice to hear also from the senator and from our sheriff and from the commissioner. Just wishing everyone in town happy holidays. I do wanna say I did see again some more a study on the solar projects for the township, which I'm super proud of what's going on there and I know Paula, you're spearheading a lot of that, so thank you very much for staying on top of our solar projects. I think it's a, a great example that combined with, of course, electric charging stations. What we're trying to do there is, is really gonna be great for the town and for reducing costs. Thank you. Speaker 1 00:09:57 Thank you. Council member Cahill. Council member Carmichael. Speaker 5 00:10:01 Thank you President. Yeah, I agree that last night was a fun night with Santa and with the kids calling in. It was great. The other thing I wanted to say is Thursday, December 11th, 10:30 AM at Kinneally Library is my last story time with Sharon for this year. So if you have children from the ages of 18 months to five years, please bring them out. We have so much fun. The kids are so wonderful and adorable to do stories and activities. So once again, that's Thursday at 10 30 at Kinneally Library. Thank you. Nice. Speaker 1 00:10:39 Thank you. Council member Leitz. Speaker 6 00:10:43 Thank you. I also, this is my first year of the full cycle of being on the council and it was a lot of fun to be here on Friday night. I got a lot of positive comments on my menorah, earrings and sweater and so as we're budgeting ahead or thinking forward, I would love to think about getting some more representation inflatables or things outside, you know, things for lunar New year, things for Hanukkah, you know, just kind of adding to our season's greetings display. But it was, it was a lot of fun. Thank you. Speaker 1 00:11:21 Thank you. Council member Lombardi. Speaker 3 00:11:25 Good evening everyone. And the holiday house decorating contest is in full swing applications are ne closed. That is closed at this point. Yes. The decorations must be up by the 12th and viewing and public voting starts the 15th of December to the 19th of December and then the winners will be announced on December 22nd. So, and then we, last year I believe we gave out the plaques at one of our council meetings. So thank you to everybody who's registering and involved and I hope that the people in town get to ride around with their families and view the houses. That's always a very traditional type thing to do. So that's all I have for this evening. Speaker 4 00:12:12 That's the fun part of that event. Michelle, glad you, you had thought of that years ago to do, is that the families do go around to the homes and then they get to know the town. Speaker 3 00:12:22 Yeah, definitely. I mean, years ago when I, we used to do it, we used to go, we used to go around and vote, you know, a group of people. Yeah, with the truck driver over here driving around to all the addresses now I like it better that they can vote online, but I do have better plans for next year's. Something new and fun and different. We won't say what yet. Speaker 1 00:12:52 I, I've been driving around the town and there's some tough competition out there. You know, the houses are decorated from roof to, to all the way to the front. I went to a friend's house one day to grab something from his mailbox and I couldn't find the mailbox because it's all wrapped with lights and so shiny. So yeah, it's really tough competition out there this year. Speaker 0 00:13:12 We're a competitive town. Speaker 1 00:13:15 Thank you. Councilman Ern. I have no comment at this time. Council president. Thank you sir. Mayor Wahler. Sir, this is Trator. Paula Castelli. Speaker 7 00:13:32 Thank you council president. Just a couple things. We had our staff meeting today. We're closing up year end, lots of accomplish ma accomplishments made. We're closing out on 20 22, 23 road curb sidewalk projects. I mean these, it may sound like wow they, they're closing out now, but these projects begin in inception and then through the whole grant process and whatnot. So you'll be seeing a lot of resolutions for closing and most of them are a decrease, which is very good. Again, a good job to our engineering department and our inspectors. We will be doing cured in place pipelining again, we are going to continue along our inflow and infiltration situation. What that means is storm water gets into our pipes and we wanna minimize that 'cause we don't wanna pay for wastewater treatment for stormwater. So we're going to continue along with our program and we're gonna use A-C-D-B-G money, which is the federal funding to do that. Those are the 2025 project earmark. So we're working with that. The shade for the bocce court will be going up. So seniors will enjoy that. Speaker 7 00:14:50 And, and, and just overall progress being made, you know, whining, you know, starting to begin the cash capital that will be presented at the January 2nd meeting. Meaning that the township will be using its own cash to fund its big capital projects. What has been historical here in Piscataway, which is great because that means we're not borrowing money and we're not paying back a lot of interest. So that's a very good fiscal management in in the ability to do that. I can't take responsibility for the amount of money we have, but all of you can take responsibility for that and the mayor for what we have here in order to continue that program. And I just wanna say it was wonderful seeing everybody out for the tree lighting. I believe the crowd doubled since last year and we do have a lot of donut eaters. Speaker 4 00:15:47 I think Santa had a Speaker 7 00:15:48 Run for the line. I itch every time I looked out. It grew again. So it seems like they were able to satisfy everyone's craving for the evening. People, children got to see Santa Claus, they got to see their friends sing along with some carols and the tree was beautiful so everything really went well. Speaker 4 00:16:06 Oh, council president, you know what, I wanna thank Angela Deandro for coming out. She did great job last minute too. She did a great job. So thanks to Angela for coming out and singing. She looks so glamorous. Yeah, she does. Yep. Speaker 1 00:16:23 Is that all? Thank you. Tahi p Raj Gamar. Speaker 8 00:16:28 No comment other than happy to be back. Speaker 1 00:16:31 So glad to have you back. Speaker 1 00:16:35 Thank you. I just wanna say a couple of things here actually. Just one is just save a couple of dates here for Saturday. Saturday, January 31st at 9:00 AM through noon. We have the free drive through Rabies Rabies clinic. So please earmark that, that date. Save the date at that. Our last names beginning from A through K and then February 7th, which is nine through 9:00 AM through noon, which are last names that start with L through Z. So just say that they, it does get popular. We've seen cats, we've seen dogs go through and it's always nice to see them, you know, get their rabies shots on time. Okay, item number 11, agenda session for December 16th, 2025. Ordinance second reading, amending and supplementing various chapters of the township ordinance open to the public resolution adopting ordinance. Any questions from the council on that one? Okay, resolution authorizing CY 2025 and CY 2026 Record approvals. Any questions on that? Speaker 8 00:17:46 Council president? I think that should be CCY 2026 and 2027. Speaker 1 00:17:53 Okay. Making changes. Thank you. Resolution authorizing award and contract through Somerset County Cooperative gasoline supply 87 Octane not to exceed $125,000. Any questions on that Item and resolution authorizing award, a professional services contract, NOVA grad and company LLP. Federal tax return and solar cost. Segregating preparation not to exceed $25,000. Speaker 9 00:18:26 Council president, this is required by our federal grant. Speaker 1 00:18:31 Thank you. Okay, item number 12, open to the public opening for the 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 and 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. Cedar, do we have anyone in queue? Speaker 2 00:19:09 Council president, I'm asking the first individual with their hand raised to unmute themself. Speaker 10 00:19:17 Hi, can I be heard? Speaker 2 00:19:19 Yes. Speaker 10 00:19:21 I'm Ed Marsh from one 13 Woff Avenue. I'd like to say a few words about preserving our forest and wetlands. Our forest and wetlands perform important ecological functions which benefit our community. This includes controlling, flooding, improving air and water quality, moderating climate and temperature extremes, storing carbon and providing habitat for wildlife. These are reasons why we should preserve them. Preserving these natural resources is consistent with the Piscataway master plan goals regarding conservation and open space. However, you recently approved redevelopment for the Erickson site on hose lane, which contains a large cedar forest, woodlands, and open space and wetlands. And you've authorized a redevelopment study for a wooded track wetland tract at 61 and 71 Possum Town Road. A large portion of this tract is located in the flood hazard zone of the Ambrose Brook. As shown on the FEMA maps, both of these approvals were done without FEMA or wetlands maps and information, or a realistic discussion of the impact upon the environment and the community upon traffic taxes and flooding. Speaker 10 00:20:56 And without consideration of the conflict between redevelopment and our master plan goals regarding conservation. In addition, affordable housing does not have to be in conflict with preserving natural resources and open space. Your actions are in conflict with the Piscataway master plan goals. With regarding preservation of environmentally sensitive areas and open space. I believe you've made decisions without having all pertinent information and need to review the wetlands and FEMA information and do an impact study. You have the power to change this. I request that these projects be rethought because they are shortsighted and will hurt our community. Speaker 1 00:21:55 Thank you Mr. Marsh. Speaker 10 00:21:57 You're welcome. Speaker 1 00:22:00 I Speaker 4 00:22:00 Council president Speaker 9 00:22:02 And we'll respond afterwards. Oh, Speaker 4 00:22:03 Okay, because I was gonna say a few things. Speaker 1 00:22:08 Wanna hold that? Alright Speaker 9 00:22:09 On now everything he said is incorrect. Speaker 4 00:22:11 Well, I just wanna say that with the, the wetland studies are done, the Erickson property was purchased with, you know, additional housing being added into areas that are not part of that wetlands and will help us to reach what feels right now to be almost an insurmountable mountain to reach our affordable housing. And Speaker 9 00:22:37 We ought to thank the high density housing lobbyists industry in the state industry. Speaker 4 00:22:40 Alright, I, I do want Mr. Marsh to know that the studies were done that with that redevelopment plan, first of all, it, it can't ever be completed without those studies. They're absolutely required every single time and at each part of the phase. Now, I I, I've forgotten about what's going on over at Possum Town, but I can say with the Ericsson property, well first of all, a lot of it is already impervious, right? All that parking lot over there that no one uses of course, but the additional single family homes that'll up a butt against the single family homes are not in that wetlands area. And, you know, listen, if I could, I'd, you know, flash a magic wand so that every little piece that we had would be preserved and we wouldn't build anymore. But that also means that we wouldn't meet our co obligation, right? Housing is at a premium right now and there's not enough to serve the people. So the Erickson property is going to have a lot of housing in it. And it is there to serve also to help us meet our COA obligation. And that's what I'd like to tell Mr. Marsh. But, you know, I understand where he's coming from. Speaker 1 00:24:00 Thank you. Speaker 6 00:24:01 I appreciate the sensitivity of that response. Thank you. Speaker 1 00:24:07 Anyone else in queue? Speaker 2 00:24:09 Council president, there are no other individuals with their hand raised regarding this agenda item. Speaker 1 00:24:19 Closing for the remote attendees, opening for 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. Your you may take a seat after completion of your comments or questions and the council or administration would then respond if necessary. Hi, good evening. Speaker 11 00:24:42 Good evening. Loretta Rivers, 2 49 Pinelli Drive. Good afternoon. Good evening, mayor and Council. How are you? I just wanted to ask a question. I do work in housing and we've been talking to all of our townships about housing in the weather. And you know, this last several years, we've prob been very fortunate not to have bad weather. And this year, I guess, you know, we may get some bad weather. And I saw on the news about Piscataway and they were talking about, you know, our house, our situation with the hotels. And you know how that's a problem and I appreciate that. But also I wanted to know what our cold blue, you know, when the temperatures are down. If we do have that population of unhoused, do we have certain protocols in place here? Piscataway, I know we have it in Middlesex County, but do we have warming stations for anyone in need? Adult assistance. 'cause I know that on the, the TV they said that the police department, which I'm grateful that they do go around to see if there's anyone out there who does need shelter. But through the police department, go and take them to the warming centers in Piscataway if we do have one. And where's that? Or do they go outside? Our township in Middlesex County. Speaker 1 00:26:14 Thank you. Speaker 9 00:26:16 As for the last 25 years, the warming centers have been our, our libraries. Speaker 11 00:26:23 Oh, thank you so much. We, we do have Speaker 4 00:26:25 Warming centers and the police will that, and if they need something even further, then they can go into the local areas like New Brunswick and stuff. But they are picked up off the street. Our police department is very good at their community policing in addition to that. Speaker 11 00:26:41 Okay. But I would like to see it like announced the warming centers. Will Speaker 3 00:26:46 We We do, we do announce it. Speaker 6 00:26:49 Where is it announced? Speaker 11 00:26:50 Where is it? Everybody Speaker 0 00:26:51 Knows in the last 25 Speaker 11 00:26:52 Years. It no, everyone doesn't know. That's why I'm up here. Speaker 3 00:26:56 Phone. It's on our web at Speaker 6 00:26:57 Kyle and Park and Perham Boy that I get a nixle alert from. Speaker 11 00:27:01 It's Speaker 3 00:27:02 No, we have done Speaker 6 00:27:03 It. Just pointing out what I see. And so if people are asking a question, I just think we can answer it without being rude. It sounds dismissive. Speaker 3 00:27:15 I'm sorry. We, we we do have it. No, Speaker 11 00:27:20 I can't hear. I I didn't hear you. Still it, Speaker 4 00:27:22 The Speaker 6 00:27:22 Tone is dismissive. I'm, Speaker 9 00:27:23 I'm sorry. Fact, we can tell in January when we go look at that issue with the housing over with the, the, either this governing body is gonna be for public safety or it's gonna be for the criminals. I'm sorry. That's what, that's not, we've had so much crime over there. It's unacceptable. Speaker 4 00:27:42 So do Speaker 0 00:27:42 Something about it. Speaker 4 00:27:43 So the answer is, is that okay? My answer Township does announce it. If it's not that visible, we can look into it and you say Speaker 11 00:27:50 It again. Speaker 4 00:27:50 I said the township does announce it Speaker 3 00:27:53 On our website and on our, and on our Facebook page, page and our police depart and all our social media Speaker 4 00:27:56 Care of those folks, because those folks aren't getting to the, to the libraries or other places on their own. So our police department will be on the lookout for people who are, it Speaker 11 00:28:08 Will be at Kinneally then? Speaker 4 00:28:10 Yeah, it's both Kinneally or Westergard. Speaker 1 00:28:13 Ms. Rivers, I can help you. I'll, I'll work with you and see what we can do. If, if they're not on the site, which I think they are, we can get you that information as well. Speaker 11 00:28:21 Okay. Thank you. Speaker 1 00:28:30 Anyone for in person? Attendees? Speaker 0 00:28:35 Yep. Speaker 1 00:28:36 Okay. Closing for the in-person attendees portion. All. Motion to adjourn. Motion. Speaker 3 00:28:46 Motion. Speaker 1 00:28:47 All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Meeting adjourned. Thank you everyone.