Transcript for Piscataway Council meeting on December 15 2020

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     00:11:44    Right. Yep. I'll put it on a locally.  
Speaker 2     00:12:36    Hi, Jim. I let you in the meeting. Are you there? Hi, Jim. Are you there? There? Hey there, Tim. Tim, are you there? Okay. Are you there? Yes, please. Mr. DAC, I just wanna make sure that you're in with the mayor's line. No, to Mr. Dacy.  
Speaker 6     00:15:02    Are you there? Councilmen? Thank you. You're welcome, Mr. Dacey. You're in the meeting. Thank you. You're here. Can you hear me now? That's clear. Yeah. Thank you.  
Speaker 7     00:18:02    Councilman con, are you here with us? Councilman con.  
Speaker 8     00:18:16    Hello gang.  
Speaker 7     00:18:18    Hello, welcome.  
Speaker 8     00:18:21    How are you?  
Speaker 7     00:18:23    Very good.  
Speaker 8     00:18:25    I'm trying to find Melissa's email.  
Speaker 7     00:18:29    So I also texted it.  
Speaker 8     00:18:38    I can't, I find it agenda. I can feel, are you there? Yes. Okay. You're in the meeting. Thank you. Thank you. There we go. Oh my goodness. I got to, I didn't, I didn't print all this stuff out. Yeah. We usually have my iPad. I don't have my iPad, so I'm trying to do it on my laptop.  
Speaker 7     00:19:48    Is this better? Okay. A wonderful clerk tells me when I send mussels. So thankful to have Melissa here with us. Believe me this year. I don't know what I would've done without her.  
Speaker 8     00:20:11    Is Michelle on? Nevermind.  
Speaker 7     00:20:15    Michelle is on the on  
Speaker 8     00:20:20    Hello. I'll ask you a question later.  
Speaker 7     00:20:24    Privately. You got it.  
Speaker 8     00:20:27    I can text and talk at the same time. It's like chewing and driving, you know, chewing and walking. Zooming. I can't zoom and talk at the same time.  
Speaker 7     00:24:04    Hi Chanel. You're in the meeting. Yeah, Melissa. Yes, you're in the meeting. Thank you, Melissa Chanel.  
Speaker 7     00:24:33    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, 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, bullet and board 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 certification by the clerk, which will be entered in the minutes. And now I'd like to read also this statement. The township is using the telephone meeting format in an effort to mitigate the chance of exposure to COVID-19 as part of the township ongoing effort to slow the rate of transmission and avoid overwhelming our treatment centers. The dial in information and final agenda have been posted on the township website for members of the public in order to make sure a clear record of the meeting can be made.  
Speaker 7     00:25:34    And that all parties are heard in an organized fashion. All members of the public will be muted during the meeting. If a member of the public wishes to speak during any public comment portion, please press star nine. In order to raise your hand to speak, we will unmute the members of the public individually. If they have their hand raised, when it is your turn to speak, you will hear a notification that you've been un-muted. It is at this time that you should begin to ask any questions you may have. You will have three minutes to speak at the conclusion of which you will be muted again, and the council or administration will respond as necessary. Should you have any further comments or questions? The township council is always available by email and phone, and you could always call the mayor's office during the normal operating hours. 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 line, we ask that if you wish to speak that you dial in on a separate line so that we can recognize you as a separate individual. Thank you in advance for your patience. As we implement this new technology to continue to move the township forward during this health emergency, the Cedar, would you please take the roll call?  
Speaker 2     00:26:59    Councilwoman Lombardi here column here. Councilman shop here, mayor Brian Wall.  
Speaker 7     00:27:29    I heard a present an echo presence that I heard it  
Speaker 2     00:27:34    Administrator it's in DC.  
Speaker 7     00:27:48    Would you please all join me in a slew 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.  
Speaker 7     00:28:09    Thank you, everyone. Okay. That will bring us to comments from administration and council regard regarding the German of any matters on this agenda. I also want to mention that we have a last minute add on to the consent. It is the canceling out of the Capitol preparations for and putting that into the surplus for next year. And that will be added on to the consent. Are there any other comments from administration and council? Okay. Seeing none that will bring us to number six, which is open to the public. This is comments regarding item number 11, the consent agenda items. If anyone in the public wishes to speak at this time regarding item number 11, they may do so you must press star nine to raise your hand. When it is your turn to speak, you will hear an announcement that you've been unmuted at that time. Please state your name and address and know that you have three minutes, which to make your comments, the council or administration will respond it's necessary after you completed any comments or questions. Okay. Seeing no hands raised, I will close the public portion and that will bring us to number seven, which is a bond ordinance on second rating, $7 million, 6 million, $650,000 providing for various capital improvements. It is open to the public. It is a resolution adopting ordinance. Cedar, would you please read the resolution?  
Speaker 2     00:30:59    It was off at a township council, seven, the ordinance entitled bond ordinance providing for various capital improvements. And then by the township, it's the scattering in the county of Middlesex, New Jersey appropriate in $7 million. Therefore in referencing the issuance of $6,650,000 bonds or notes of the township to finance part of the cost thereof was introduced on the 24th day of November, 2020 and had passed the first reading and was published on the 28th day of November, 2020. Now therefore be it resolved that the after set ordinance, having had a second reading on December 15th, 2020 to be adopted passed. And after passage, we published together with a notice of the date of passenger approval and the official names we call eight brothers of that this ordinance shall be assigned number 2020 dash three two.  
Speaker 7     00:31:54    Thank you, Ms. Theatre. And I will open it up to the public. Anyone in the public wishing to comment on this item may do so now by hitting star nine to raise your hands. Okay. Seeing no hands raised, I will close the public portion and I'll put it out to the council. Do I have an offer and offer? And we did the second con concept. Thank you, Ms. Cedar, would you please take the roll call vote?  
Speaker 2     00:33:21    Yes. Yes. Councilwoman Lombardi. Councilwoman McCollum. Yeah. Councilman Shah. Yes. Councilman RN, Council, president Kayla.  
Speaker 7     00:33:45    Yes. And the ordinance passes on second reading and that'll bring us to number eight, which is also an ordinance on second reading. It's fully funded, appropriating $2 million from the affordable housing trust fund for phase two of the senior housing Sterling village building facility improvements is also open to the public and it is a resolution adopting ordinance. The Cedar, would you please read the resolution?  
Speaker 2     00:34:12    It resolved for the township council scattery township, New Jersey ordinance and titled ordinance appropriating $2 million from the affordable housing trust fund for phase two of the senior housing stone village building facility improvements. And in, by the township with Galloway in the counties, Middlesex New Jersey was introduced on the 24th day of November, 2020. And I'd passed the first reading and was published on the 28th day of November, 2020. Now therefore be it resolved that the offers that ordinance having had a second reading on December 15th, 2020, the adopted passed and after passage be published together with a notice of the date of passenger approval and the official newspaper. The brothers that this ordinance shall be assigned number 2020 dash three three.  
Speaker 7     00:35:00    Thank you, Ms. Cedar. And this is now open to the public, anyone in the public wishing to comment with regard to this item and they do so at this time by pressing star nine to raise your hand. Okay. Seeing no hands raised by the public, I am going to close the public portion and I'll put it out to counsel two. I have an offer Barney. Okay. I have a first from Councilwoman Lombardi and a second from Councilman Shaw. Ms. Data, would you please take the roll call vote  
Speaker 2     00:36:32     yes. Councilman con Councilwoman Lombardi. Councilwoman McCollum. Yes. Councilman shop. Yes. Councilman Aaron. Yes. Council president.  
Speaker 7     00:36:54    Yeah. And the ordinance passes on second reading. And that will bring us to number nine, which is an ordinance on second reading. It is fully funded. It is appropriate in $1.5 million, 750,000 from developers contributions for preliminary planning and engineering for road improvements. It is open to the public and it is a resolution adopting ordinance to Cedar. Would you please read the resolution?  
Speaker 2     00:37:21    It resolved by the township council to scattery contract in Jersey that an ordinance entitled ordinance appropriating $1,500,000, $750,000 of which is from the capital improvement fund and $750,000 of which is from developers contributions for preliminary planning and engineering expenses for future road improvements. And, and by the township of Piscataway in the county of Middlesex, New Jersey was introduced on the 24th day of November, 2020, and it passed the first reading and it was published on the 28th day of November, 2007. Now therefore be it resolved that the opposite ordinance having had a second reading on December 15th, 2020, the adopted passed and after passage be published together with a notice of the date of passage or approval in the official newspaper. The further resolved that this ordinance shall be assigned number 2020 dash three four.  
Speaker 7     00:38:18    Thank you, Ms. Cedar. And now I will open it up to the public. Anyone in the public wishing to comment with regard to this item make you so at this time by pressing star nine to raise your hand. Okay. Seeing no hands raised, I will call close the public portion and I will put it out to council for a vote. Do I have an offer? Offer counseling? Okay. Ms. Tina, would you please take the roll call?  
Speaker 2     00:39:48    Yes. Councilman con yes. Councilman Lombardi. Councilwoman McCollum. Yeah. Councilman Shaw.  
Speaker 7     00:40:02    Yes.  
Speaker 2     00:40:04    Councilman Ireland. Yes. Council. President Cahill.  
Speaker 7     00:40:11    Yes. And the ordinance passes on second reading and that'll bring us to number 10, which is also an ordinance on second reading. This is amending various chapters of the Paskataway code. It is also open to the public and it is a resolution adopting ordinance. Ms. SITA, would you please read the resolution?  
Speaker 2     00:40:30    It resolved by the township council. If the scattered township New Jersey got an ordinance and titled ordinance to amend and supplement the advise general ordinances of the township. That's the salary. Plenty of Middlesex stayed in New Jersey, amending chapter two, administration, chapter seven, traffic chapter 12, parks and recreation area, chapter 14, building chapter 17, property maintenance chapter 19, a land use procedures, chapter 23 doors and wastewater, and the salary and compensation and classification plan for the officials and employees of the township. Adding chapter 15 short-term rentals, replacing chapter 32 in regard to storm water management and control. And the creation of the storm water utility was introduced on the 24th day of November, 2020. And that passed the first reading and was published on the 28th day and move on to 2020. Now, therefore be it resolved that the opposite of ordinance having had a second rating on December 15th, 2020, we adopted passage after passage. He published  
Speaker 7     00:41:33    Together with a notice of the date of passage or approval in the official newspaper people. The resolve that this ordinance shall be found on the 2020 dash three five. Thank you, Ms. Cedar. And now I'll open it up to the public. Anyone in the public wishing to comment with regard to this item may do so by pressing star nine to raise your hand. Okay. We have somebody who's raised their hand. I'm asking you to unmute your phone. I believe you must hit star six to do that, but I don't have a phone number here. Oh, there we go. Calling user number two, please state your name and address and note that you have three minutes in which to make your comments.  
Speaker 9     00:42:33    Good evening council. This is David Akins.  
Speaker 7     00:42:37    Mr. Aiken, how are you?  
Speaker 9     00:42:41    Fine. I'm back  
Speaker 7     00:42:43    So glad to hear your voice.  
Speaker 9     00:42:45    How can I get a copy of these changes in the ordinance?  
Speaker 7     00:42:53    I believe a request can be made to the clerk. You can go request even by email to Melissa theater here at the township. And if you'd like, we can reach out to you and give you her direct email address.  
Speaker 9     00:43:10    Yeah. What was it that, what was that number? The item number and the cold  
Speaker 7     00:43:17    Are you you're talking about for the last reading that we just did? Mr. Akins? Yes. Yes. Let's see. I don't have the code that it's item number 10 on the ordinance. And it is a resolution amending various chapters of the Piscataway code. So there's a lot of codes on there, Mr. Akins. But if you, if you reach out to Melissa, she'll be sure to help you out with that.  
Speaker 9     00:43:49    Okay. Thank  
Speaker 7     00:43:49    You. You're quite welcome. And would you like us to reach out to you? Don't give me your phone number over here, but we'll, we can reach out to you or if you want to call into the township to speak to Melissa. Okay.  
Speaker 9     00:44:02    I'll call into the township. Thank you  
Speaker 7     00:44:04    Anyway. Okay. Was that it? Mr. Aiken? That's it. I thank you very much and have a good night. Thank you. There. Anyone else in the public wishing to comment at this time may do so by hitting star nine to raise your hands. Okay. See no hands raised. I will close the public portion on this item and I will put it out. The council. Do I have an offer? Do I have a  
Speaker 4     00:45:11    Second?  
Speaker 7     00:45:13    Okay. Very good. Councilman Shaw. Second. Thank you, council member lard. But we have a first from council and the Lombardi a second from Councilman Shaw. Peter, would you please take the roll call vote?  
Speaker 2     00:45:27    Yes, yes, yes, yes. Council president.  
Speaker 7     00:45:47    Yeah. And decide and pass this on second reading. And that will bring us to number 11, which are the 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 remove from the consent agenda to be discussed or voted on separately? Okay. Seeing none, put it out to council for a vote. Do I have an offer? Offer counts the woman in the column. Do I have a second, Marty? Thank you very much. Mikita. Would you please take the roll call? Vote  
Speaker 2     00:46:35    Councilman bowler. Yeah.  
Speaker 4     00:46:37    Yes,  
Speaker 2     00:46:40    Yes. Councilman Lombardi. McCollum.  
Speaker 7     00:46:49    Yes.  
Speaker 2     00:46:52    Yes. Council president.  
Speaker 7     00:46:58    Yes. And the consent agenda items will pass. Just remind the council to mute yourselves if you're not actively seeking. Okay. And that'll bring us to number 12, which are announcements and comments from officials, Councilman Bellard,  
Speaker 4     00:47:22    Doing the, the general election. There were three questions which you folks had to answer. And question number two was the state public public question. Number two, property tax deduction and exemption for the peacetime peacetime veterans, including those who did not even go to the war. Now I know that if a veteran needed to get information, they had, they went over to Lisa and so forth and so on. But I have not seen anything published any place that other people can see it.  
Speaker 1     00:48:09    Yeah. Jim, this is Tim DCA is still promulgating a, a notice on how towns should do it. There there's been some suggestion that the, they can file this year's form, but that with our local tax collectors, but that's not been approved by the state. So there should be notice out hopefully within the next couple of weeks.  
Speaker 4     00:48:32    Yes. Because I was able to get as much information as I needed, you know, from Dana and so forth and so on. But I did not see it published. And I said, well, Hey, this is some great stuff here. And the veterans said, no, you know how to get ahold of it.  
Speaker 1     00:48:49    As soon as I, as soon as I see something out, I'll let the, what the council of.  
Speaker 4     00:48:53    Okay. Well, thank you very, very much.  
Speaker 7     00:48:57    Thank you, Councilman. Valard Councilman con.  
Speaker 8     00:49:01    I just want to wish everybody a healthy and happy holiday season, Christmas, happy Hanukkah, happy Kwanzaa. And I, and I want to thank our, our staff, Tim and Melissa, and anybody in the NISCO building for really the extraordinary effort they did this year on under unusual circumstances. And I hope Kim, I know you're there, Melissa. You're there the Merry Christmas to both of  
Speaker 1     00:49:24    You, right? Thank you, Steve.  
Speaker 7     00:49:30    Thank you. Councilman con counsel and the Lombardi.  
Speaker 10    00:49:34    Typically the same sentiment as a Councilman con had. I'd like to wish everybody a very happy holiday, safe and very prosperous 2021. We see hope on the horizon. So I'd also like to thank all the people that worked so hard to get these meetings rolling this year, gab, you did an incredible job, Melissa and everybody involved with running these meetings virtually. I want to thank you.  
Speaker 7     00:50:09    Thank you very much, counsel. And them have already an effort by really the administration and the staff here. Councilwoman woman, the column.  
Speaker 10    00:50:22    I just want to wish everyone a happy, safe, and healthy a holiday. Thank you.  
Speaker 7     00:50:29    Thank you very much. Canceling the column. Councilmen Shaw,  
Speaker 11    00:50:33    Same thing, happy holidays, and a happy new year. Thanks.  
Speaker 7     00:50:39    Thank you, Councilman Councilman earth.  
Speaker 12    00:50:42    Yes. I just want to echo a Steve and Michelle's words. Everybody did an incredible job and I like to wish everybody a healthy holiday and a happy new year.  
Speaker 7     00:50:55    Thank you Councilman. Mr. Mayor, Mr. Mayor hit star six to unmute your line. There you go again. Mr. Mayor hit star six. Okay.  
Speaker 13    00:51:35    How's counsel present. We'll have a little technical difficulty here with the one phone that all the council members know that we, our department of public works, I should say is ready for the tomorrow snow event. All the equipment has on the, the vehicles. We already started. The pretreated, the roads we should have that finished up by noon time tomorrow, the private contractor that's gonna supplement our workforce is already has their equipment here in the public workshop. Ready to go. So we're we're ready for the snow event. Hopefully it won't be heavy snow. That'll call us down power lines and taking down trees during the event. Cause that could be problematic for public works because you know, between piling the streets and having to deal with those issues could present challenge this for our town, but other towns across the states. So we're ready to go and that's pretty much it. And hopefully we'll get, we'll get out unscathed. I know it's been a year or so since we've had any significant accumulation out there and hopefully we'll get by that. We won't have to shovel our driveway too much. And thank you, council president for all the work running the meetings too so  
Speaker 7     00:52:50    Well, it's my pleasure, Mr. Mayor. Thank you very much. Anything from you, Ken Basey business administrator.  
Speaker 1     00:53:03    I just want to wish everyone a happy holiday and thank the council for all the cooperation. This was a very difficult year to get through, but as a team, we did it and looking forward to working with the next year.  
Speaker 7     00:53:16    Thank you so much, counsel. Yes. Go ahead. Counsel. On the Lombardi. I want to call them.  
Speaker 14    00:53:25    Thank you. Okay. I also just want to thank the, the entire team and under your leadership on Gabrielle, you guys have been at job, right? Michelle started off at unprecedented times, but it's amazing what people can do together. So just want to thank you all. Appreciate everyone.  
Speaker 7     00:53:46    Thank you so much. It, it definitely was yeoman's work this year. We are very fortunate in this town that we were able through. You know, certainly a lot of smart planning, you know, being very frugal and being financially savvy that we did not lay off people this last year. We do know that 2021 is going to be a difficult year for towns. Certainly the effects of the pandemic will be felt by towns, such as ours and others around us, but we are looking at all that we can do to make sure that we are very prepared. And I want to thank the administration. I want to thank the mayor on a thank Tim Dacey. I do want to thank all of the staff, Melissa, very much Raj for the support that you've given during this time where we've had to embark upon using technology that we had not so done previously.  
Speaker 7     00:55:02    And I believe that we we've opened it up and we've made it as open and transparent doing this virtual process. And I want to thank people. And I want to remind folks too, that I think most of us, at least in this mayor and administration and council, that we are all looking to have a collective sigh of relief come January 20th. And w as we go into this holiday season and we remind our residents too, that we, we are here to support them and serve them. And to wish them the happiest of seasons, be it Hanukkah, Christmas, or Kwanza, or even for folks who aren't celebrating just this time, when we all seemingly come together collectively as a country, I want to remind folks that the people that the person at the top of the ticket from November yesterday did speak after he was finally, the electoral college finally came in an all votes, came in for him without, without any hubbub, really, except that we, as a country, got to really see democracy in action.  
Speaker 7     00:56:27    And on that same day, he also reminded us of the anniversary of the tragedy of Sandy hook and that he will not forget. I know our town takes gun control very seriously. We ourselves have implemented an ordinance to that. There would be no gunshots here in town. So I just want for all the folks who are listening here and the council to remember all those who have lost loved ones, either be it from Sandy hook by terrible violence by COVID-19 or otherwise, as we are so fortunate here, all of us on this call to be going into this season, I'm still here with us. And that is what I have to say. I was going to offer to the mayor. If he wanted to say any one last words, I would open it up to the mayor,  
Speaker 13    00:57:22    Council president. I just want to echo everything that you said in last little business thing. I just want to remind the council members that public works pretty much finished getting the leaves up and all the parks and by tomorrow, hopefully they'll have them all sucked up out of the parking lot. So before we get the smells,  
Speaker 7     00:57:42    Well, thank you very much. We appreciate that. And that's a good reminder, Mr. Mayor, that if you do have a clean, clean the, the storm water drains tops there, if you have leaves on it, clear it off, as you always say every year.  
Speaker 13    00:57:59    And now the quick thing is that Thursday or Friday, the last day to get a leaf bags. And then the last day that we will be picking up leaf bags, curbside will be December 31st.  
Speaker 7     00:58:13    Okay. Thank you very much. All right. Yes. Please  
Speaker 10    00:58:20    Listen to, you are reminding people to please shovel their fire hydrants. If they do have a fire hydrant in the front of their house, it would be advantageous to shovel out the fire hydrant in  
Speaker 7     00:58:33    Case there's a fire. Thank you, counsel and Lombardi. Yes. Very important too. Any other comments from officials or administration? Okay. See none. That'll bring us to number 13, which is the agenda session for the January, 2020 reorganization meeting. I'm not gonna read every one of these in detail where they are appointments and where they are designation that I'll read the title. So the first items that will be on will be the mayor's appointments for the civil rights advisory commission, green initiatives committee, the historic preservation advisory commission, the municipal Alliance, substance abuse task force, the board and the presiding municipal court judge. Any comments or questions regarding that item? Okay. Seeing none that will be on the next item will be an ordinance on first reading. It is adopting the redevelopment plan for the property commonly known as 1570 south Washington avenue and designated as block 51 0 1 lots 5.0 to 6.02 and 7.02. Are there any comments or questions from council regarding this item seen on that will be on the next item will be an ordinance on first reading, adopting the redevelopment plan for the property, commonly known as 1 41 circle drive north and designated as block 41 to two lot two. Are there any comments or questions regarding this item? Okay. Seeing none that will be on the next items are all of the appointments that are made.  
Speaker 7     01:00:19    And again, I'm, they are on the agenda. I'm not going to read through every single one of them. After we get through the appointments, there'll be an acceptance of qualifications and rates and also appointments of township professionals for 2021, the appointment of recycling coordinator and authorization to apply for 2020 recycling tonnage grants, the appointment of clean communities, coordinator, and authorization to apply for clean communities, grants, designation, a certifying official for the municipal lien searches designation of subdivision search officer Desi. These are also other designations I'll just quickly read through them. Agent of township for filing applications with state DEP designation of agent of the task of profiling applications with free hook soil conservation designation of agent for township, for filing applications with the state DEP designation of official township depositories approval of cash management plan for 2021 designation of the official newspapers designation of newspapers to receive notices of meeting designations of signatures for signing of checks, designation of interest charges for delinquent taxes, sewer service charges, and assessments. Next item will be a resolution authorizing Piscataway township department to participate in the defense logistics agency, law enforcement support office 10 33 program, and enable them to request an acquire excess department of defense equipment.  
Speaker 13    01:01:56    If I may council president, just to let everybody know this has to do with office of emergency management, we're looking to acquire a high water rescue vehicle. We've had issues where we've had flooding down by the river road apartments and also on possum town road and other areas where the fire company trucks are not high enough to extricate that this will, this is what it's in essence. I know Steve's a military guy. This is a deuce and a half. So it's a, basically a truck to transport people. And so in a high water situation. So  
Speaker 7     01:02:35    I mean not  
Speaker 13    01:02:37    No, no, because they don't have a stack high enough in this is over 12 feet tall, which is a pretty high in the exhaust. Stacked is above that. So,  
Speaker 7     01:02:49    Okay. So just to be clear, so the council understands this, this is it's, this resolution just allows them to acquire that truck.  
Speaker 13    01:03:01    That's all it is. And just so everybody understands what it is. And if you remember all the old, old world war two movies, it's a true carrier with like a canvas back right there. And then it would just have fence seats in it basically.  
Speaker 7     01:03:17    Right? Oh yeah. Yeah. Right. And that's good because correct me if I'm wrong. But the fire departments had a lot of issues with the apartments there over on river road during Sandy, right. Where some folks did not evacuate  
Speaker 13    01:03:31    The during Irene two and several other high water events. And don't forget just two years ago, we, one of our public works, employees had to do a water rescue, the smart, a moment down on possum town road by the railroad trestle. So this would have, you would have been able to just drive this vehicle through the water and picked up the person. So,  
Speaker 7     01:03:52    All right, well, that's good. And especially as we know that these events are not going away. So are there any questions from the council regarding that item before I move on? Okay. I think it's pretty straightforward there. The next item will be a resolution authorizing shared services agreement for animal control services resolution authorizing advertising 2021 master bid list resolution authorizing refund of over payment of taxes, various lots and lots resolution authorizing cancellation of taxes for small balances resolution for Adam street project. God bless you, Ms. Theater, then the appointment of the council committees, public safety, public works, finance and personnel. So I will ask the council now with all that I have read. Are there any comments or questions with regards to any items for the, for the agenda?  
Speaker 7     01:04:56    What's the date of, I think we just voted on that tonight in the first meeting. So I do believe this correct me if I'm wrong, Melissa. It is January 1st at 1:00 PM. And that'll be posted, it's a virtual meeting. Sadly. It is. Yeah, it is. Yep. Judge, judge Bailey. I read it to judge Bailey and he indicated he was doing this virtually we're working on the issue. Okay. Okay. No concerns from the counselors alert anyone else. Okay, great. See none then all of those items will be on the meeting January 1st at one o'clock that will bring us to number 14, which is open to the public. Anyone in the public wishing to comment may do so at this time they may do so by pressing star nine to raise your hands. Okay. I just asked somebody with the phone number ending one six, nine zero. Oh, there we go. You're a knitted, please state your name and address and note that you have three minutes in which to speak.  
Speaker 15    01:06:37    Hi Matthew Knobloch 1 3, 2, 8 street. Okay. So previously I've spoken to Councilman Lombardi and Councilman hearing about deer problems in town. Recently, my, my mother also called that the deer have been, you know, a substantially and ever-growing problem in Piscataway and either the town or the county is doing anything about that. And it's, it's concerning. Despite what I think you guys are doing is a pretty good job. Most of the time, this is something that's been, you know, an ongoing problem since August they've broken my sense five times just most recently at the end of last week, they've just destroyed a hydrangea that has been in my family for over a century, constant deprecation on my property and my parents' property, all around town. I'm on the fire company. And a couple of months ago, driving around, looking for a missing person. I counted more than 60 deer in just one neighborhood driving around for a couple of hours. This is a real problem. The DEP is, you know, I'm aware of not only aware of this problem, but as encouraging municipalities to take some action, unfortunately, Piscataway has not. So I am hoping that I can get permission from the township, from the council to bow hunt in certain areas of the town. Now I am an EMT. I'm an environmental lawyer. I know how to do this safely properly. I'm certainly not proposing. I'm going to walk around anywhere in the town with a gun. That's absolutely not what I'm proposing.  
Speaker 15    01:08:17    I, if, if the town doesn't want to consider that to grant me permission to do that, what I would hope the town would do would be have a conversation with the DEP to figure out how to implement a responsible deer management program. I can give you the contact information for captain Shannon. Mauriac who I spoke with earlier today of the conservation police. They're the game wardens. They, Middlesex county has a deer management program, has such a program, might work whereby the town creates, you know, an, a number of permits that are then allocated according to whoever applies. And it's controlled in a safe manner, you know, certain days per week, only certain methods. And the DEP has a liaison that specifically that person's job is to work with municipalities to implement such a program. And so those are some options available to you. Of course, I would like the town to just grant me permission, you know, to, to remedy this, you know, in a safe, moral, ethical, responsible way in some of the wooded areas in the town. I already, I previously spoke to Mr. Clark and about this, and he, you know, informed me to, to bring it to the council and it, but if they did not want to do that, I, I would hope that they would have their ears open enough to at least have a conversation with the ecologists than the scientists themselves at the DEP to figure out how to address this problem.  
Speaker 7     01:09:44    Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Knob. Thank you, Mr. Noblock. I will open it up to administration or counsel, if you want to talk about this, I know we've had in the past residents who've wanted to do this, but we certainly have not permitted bow hunting town.  
Speaker 8     01:10:06    Well, well, well this is counseling. Come on. I, I, I, I would agree that it's been, it's been a problem and I, and the answers are, the answers are not so easy, but I think that the caller who I know his suggestion of at least initiating a conversation with the department of environmental protection about some options is a good, it's a good suggestion. You know, whether, whether it's a hunt or some other, you know, there may be other options out there that we're not completely aware of. So I, I certainly would be in favor of, of engaging in a conversation with department of environmental protection and seeing if there's some options for us, because it is a public safety issue.  
Speaker 14    01:10:51    Yeah. Council president. I agree with Councilman con, you know, I'm in favor of I'm sticking with the BDC as well, just to see what our options are, because you know, there's quite a few accidents and you know, my apologies for it's unfortunate that your fence has been knocked down four or five times just this year. So, no, sorry to hear that, but I'm in favor of checking into it as well.  
Speaker 7     01:11:14    Okay. Very good. Anyone else from the council administration?  
Speaker 1     01:11:18    Well, Dana, Dana has been with meetings. I know she's, she's still come to this resident numerous times. She has been attending meetings for the last year with DP, because the was looking at Devin expanded hunting in our area, including Johnson park and Highland park. And the logistics could never be worked out, but we're still having the conversation with them. It's just that there's no quick solution, cause it's all over Middlesex county right now.  
Speaker 7     01:11:48    Okay. Thank you, Mr. Dacey. So I would suggest that the council who's interested to get in touch with the chief of staff, Dana Corbin, and follow up on that issue. And I would suggest to the resident also to follow up. Thank you very much.  
Speaker 15    01:12:07    Quick question on that. Can, can I provide, can I provide you the contact that I have because was captain Shannon, Marty act of the conservation police? Cause I don't know who, what the DEP the town has been working with. So I don't know how to  
Speaker 7     01:12:24    Mr. Noblock, why don't you call Dana  tomorrow and you can give her that information. That would be just fantastic. And ask her to please pass it on to council McConn and council, woman McCullum. And I am going to have to mute you. I do apologize as we're only allowing folks to speak for three minutes, so thank you very much. And now we'll have another person. So I just, un-muted somebody labeled Brian, please state your full name and address and note that you have three minutes in which to speak.  
Speaker 16    01:13:02    Hi. Yeah. Can you hear me? Oh yeah. Okay. My name is Brian rack. I live on 1247 Brookside road. I was just wondering if the council could for future meetings, enable computer audio for these. I know I work from home. I do a lot of meetings every day for my job. I have a pretty nice setup for like listening and audio. It looks like it's one checkbox in zoom that would allow people to join via their computers. And it would definitely encouraged me to join future meetings rather than sitting here with my phone, to my ear the whole night. That was it. Thanks.  
Speaker 7     01:13:44    Thank you very much for that comment. And I have someone else here who I've asked to unmute somebody with the phone number ending zero one, one seven. You could hit star six. There you go. Please state your name and address and note that you have three minutes in which to speak.  
Speaker 17    01:14:12    Hi everybody.  
Speaker 7     01:14:14    How are you?  
Speaker 17    01:14:16    Okay. I just like to commend Mr. Noblock for bringing up the deer issue. I know that, you know, Laura and I live on new market road. It's been nothing 28 years now, and we never had a deer on our property until about three or four years ago. And I just like the folks on the council to consider, like the possibility is that the problem is arising because the overdevelopment and the destruction of wooded areas in our, in our town. And also I'd like to commend Mr. Rock for bringing up the point about the computer audio or just zoom in general. Zoom is a good tool to use, should be useful, I believe, but my questions have to do with item 13, the agenda for next meeting. And I'm a little confused. I think it might just be the bolting and the organization. But if we look at that on the fourth and fifth bullet, the fourth bullet says ordinance under first reading, and then it says appointments. And then under appointments, there's also things called designations and resolutions. Is this the way that it's meant to be organized or is this comes a little confusing to me? Is it the appointment designations and resolutions under one organs?  
Speaker 7     01:15:26    No. No. Mr. Tarbath I, you know, I, I didn't read them all individually, which, which may lend to some confusion there, just because if you looking at the agenda, if you have it there for pretty, there's so many, so what this meeting will do, we'll have all those appointments that we always do that we always have every year. But in addition, we will have some business there as well. So there will be ordinances on first reading, which I guess just for organizational reasons, we would put at the beginning of the meeting, we would do the appointments and the designation, I guess the resolutions toward, towards the end. I I'm, I might defer to the clerk just to ask it, this would be just a normal organizational way of this. And she is shaking her head. Yes, we have done this in the past term. Dan, I can understand this, the confusion, the  
Speaker 17    01:16:35    Document is just a little confusing, but yeah,  
Speaker 7     01:16:38    No, I see what you're saying. Yeah.  
Speaker 17    01:16:41    Yeah. So when it says origin on the fourth full assessed ordinance, first reading is, is what does that referring to?  
Speaker 7     01:16:47    Oh, so the let's see, see forceful it. Okay. That there were going mayor's appointments. Right. And then we're looking at the, the mayor's appointments are civil rights. Okay. So then the next one would be an ordinance on perse reading that I read it tonight, the adoptive redevelopment plan. That will be just like any first reading it'll be on. Is it a typo on that last one that just says ordinance on first reading. Okay. Typo.  
Speaker 2     01:17:24    Yeah. I told you that at the beginning of the meeting. Yes.  
Speaker 7     01:17:28    I'm sorry. That's a typo.  
Speaker 17    01:17:32    Right. And then I'll get the next bullet appointments. You have appointments  
Speaker 17    01:17:41    Lines. They're all in a straight line though. Right? So is that, is that  
Speaker 2     01:17:45    All appointments by resolution on separate resolutions? Each one of those as we do every year.  
Speaker 17    01:17:50    Oh, sorry. So some of our, some of them are called appointments rather than others are called designations in resolution.  
Speaker 2     01:17:59    Correct. Statutorily there's appointments and there's designation statutorily.  
Speaker 17    01:18:04    Okay. Okay. Thank you. One other issue I'd just like to share with folks is that I just became aware today of a legal settlement made by Middlesex county for $75,000, settling a seatbelt lawsuit, SIPA CETA, conscientious employee protection act in which two folks associated with the democratic party in the county, John Palomino and Dorothy Parker. I'm sorry. Darcy power were named, as folks were taking action to retaliate against a county employee. And the county employee brought a lawsuit and the lawsuit was settled for $75,000. And upon reading the complaint, assuming that what's stated in the complaint is true. I have called for the immediate resignation for Middlesex county administrator, John . And I hope that you folks will educate yourself as to what happened in this incident and will join me in calling for his resignation. Thank you.  
Speaker 7     01:19:18    Thank you, Mr. Targus. Oh, okay. And now I'm going to ask caller call in user two to unmute your line by hitting star six. I'm going to hit that again. You must hit star six to unmute yourself just so every buddy knows I'm tasking this caller to unmute themselves. And then we'll just give it another moment or two for calling user. Number two, you have your hand raised. I'm not sure if that's also Mr. Akins or not because somebody else could have called in certainly with that, but you must hit star six to unmute yourself so that we may hear you. All right. Very good. Please state your name and address and note that you have three minutes in which to speak  
Speaker 9     01:20:32    Dave Bacon's handfuls valley lane council in reference to the high water rescue vehicle, the two and a half times. Has there been a price associated with that this time, or will that be at a later date?  
Speaker 1     01:20:54    David? We're working on a negotiate on that right now. So it will be, it'll be on the resolution while we do purchase it. But right now we're trying to price it out. It's not all that expensive because it is surplus, but we'll probably have that hopefully in the first quarter of the year. So.  
Speaker 9     01:21:11    And how many vehicles are we talking? Just one. Thank you. Okay.  
Speaker 1     01:21:19    You  
Speaker 9     01:21:19    Too.  
Speaker 7     01:21:21    Happy holidays, Mr. Aiken. Thank you. Yep.  
Speaker 9     01:21:27    Same to you on the rest of the council.  
Speaker 7     01:21:30    Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you. Okay. Anyone else in the anyone else in the public wishing to comment may do so at this time by pressing star nine to raise your hand. Okay. Okay. Seeing no hands raised, I will close the public portion and that will bring us to number 15, a German. Do I have an offer? Do I have a second? Okay. All those in favor. Say aye. Any nays? See none. We are adjourned. Thank you everyone. And thanks to the public for attending. We appreciate it. Happy new year, everyone. Here's to a better 2021. Thank you.