Township Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening everyone. We'll try it again. I'll now call this chamber to order. Will everyone please rise if you can? Pledge allegiance to our flag and our nation. Remain standing to honor Alan Broadman, a resident Brunswick High School teacher who recently passed away. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the stand indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Council clerk, please call roll and then read our statement of adequate notice. Council member Hall here. Councilman Wendell here. Councilwoman Winston here. Councilwoman Zimbicki here and council president Makavoy here. Also present Mayor Brad Cohen here. Administrator Joseph Kriscula here and township attorney Anthony Aayakoka here. Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided as required under chapter 231 public law 1975 by specifying the time, date, location, and to the extent known the agenda by posting a copy on the bulletin board located in the main lobby of the East Brunswick Municipal Building, providing a copy to the Home News Tribune and the Asbury Park Press

newspapers, posting a copy on the township's website, and by filing a copy in the office of the township clerk which will be entered into the minutes. Thank you council. We have before us resolution 25-1 175 adopting the meeting minutes from our April 28th meeting. May I have a motion to approve? Motion to approve. A second. We got second. Thank you. Councilman, is there a need for correction or call or clarification on these minutes? Seeing none, roll call, please. Council member Hall, Councilman Wendell, yes. Councilwoman Winston, yes. Councilwoman Zimbicki, yes. And Council President Makavoy, yes. Thank you, Council. We have a proclamation from the mayor's office recognizing May as the month of May as AsianAmerican and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Councilwoman Winston, will you attend to this matter, please? Thank you, Council President. It is my honor to read this proclamation for our community. Whereas the township of East Brunswick takes pride in recognizing May 2025 as Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, celebrating the many notable contributions of Asian and Pacific Island Americans who have enriched our nation's history and are instrumental in its future successes. And whereas AAPI of East Brunswick established on October 20, 20, 2023 is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering community outreach initiatives that elevate the AAPI experience through immersive and impactful enrichment activities. AAPI of East Brunswick is an active member of the East Brunswick Regional Chamber of Commerce and the

East Brunswick Cricut Club. They co-hosted the 2025 East Brunswick Lunar New Year celebration which welcomed over 1900 attendees. And whereas individuals of Asian and Pacific Islander descent make up approximately 28.1% of East Brunswick's population and contribute meaningfully to the township through their leadership, creativity, enterprise, and skills. East Brunswick remains committed to embracing and supporting residents of all backgrounds. And whereas the theme for this year's AAPI Heritage Month is a legacy of leadership and resilience, honoring the trailblazing contributions of AAPI leaders who have laid the foundation for future generations to thrive, adapt, and continue advancing diversity and inclusion. Now, therefore, be it proclaimed that I, Brad J. Cohen, mayor of the township of East Brunswick, along with the township council, do hereby extend our heartfelt appreciation to AAPI of East Brunswick for their dedication and service to the community and proclaim May 2025 as Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in the township of East Brunswick. We encourage all residents to take time to learn more about the culture, people, traditions, and values that have so positively enriched our community. given under my hand this great seal of the township of East Brunswick. This 12th day of May in the year 2025, Mayor Brad J. Cohen. Yeah. Does anyone want to talk? Is that was receiving? Would anyone like to speak? Here we go.

Oh, thank you. Hi. Uh, good evening everybody. Uh, my name is Maria Katrina Ang. Um, I'm the president of API Brunswick. We're also known as Apita Alliance. Um, I'm the class of 2004. Um, I had Mr. Broadman for history. So, um, he was so impactful for me. So, may rest in peace. Um, so we are just so proud and so grateful to really be here today. Um, and really be a part of this community that celebrates diversity and inclusion. And um, we just think it's so important for people to feel like they belong and for there to be visibility. And um I think I really want to I believe I really want to thank the council um and everyone here today and our our friends who couldn't be here today. You know, you can't be at two places at once and they sent us good energy and they really wanted to be here too um to to be here and and celebrate this and explicitly recognize the AAPI um contributions to our community um our AAPI contributions to history and what we can continue to bring um to the table. So, thank you for being here and uh thank you for being part of our collective journey. Anyone else? Can we have everyone who is either uh au AAPI or part of the Leu? Uh, good evening, council president. Mayor Brad, thank you very much. Oh, I'm sorry. Say, good evening, uh, council president. Um, mayor Brad, thank you very much for this special, uh, event.

Uh, I really appreciate you guys uh, action to honor the AAPI month. So uh first uh lunar new year celebration was n 1871 in north Jersey. Uh that group of people came from west coast after they finished the transcontinental railroad which was finished in 1869. When that group of people moved to east coast, they took the train to Boston and they were not allowed to come off the train and they were stormed by a group of people and then they moved back to Jersey and then they celebrate they sat down in Barville uh New Jersey. There they celebrate first documentated Chinese New Year, you know. And this thing happened. Nobody knows that until the hurricane Sandy that church was destroyed. When they clean up the basement, they found of the human remains packed in different jaws. And then one one person his name is Mike Brown. He did the search and found out you know what those people actually from our sister city Jangman China. But those people they stay there they couldn't go go back to China and they were not allowed to be buried outside. So that's why they got in the basement in the all kind of jars they wish to to be sent back someday in future but they never get it. And in 1982, a gentleman named Infensson Chen

because of the uh Japan auto maker beat the US automaker. He looks like he a Japanese. So he was killed in 1982. And so that's why it's very important for this community, for this country to realize how important accepting each other, respect each other because we are all a one country and very important while one is sponsored. That's it's extremely important and it's I understand this town has town council has very limit jurisdiction but your action means a lot to this community you know if we can respect we really accept each other this really we don't have to celebrate so-called AAPI months every month every day is the same we just like it our community is one community, everyone love each other, everyone help each other, everyone respect each other. That's our maybe this is my dream. Thank you very much, [Applause] Mayor. Hello everyone. Um, I'll keep my remarks very brief, very quick. Uh, my name is Leanne. I'm from the office of uh, Senator Andy Kim. U, we, he has two offices, but I'm from the North Jersey one. Nonetheless, um, the senator is very honored and delighted to have received an invitation from both AAPI. Ronnie, special shout out to you. Thank you for connecting and and bringing the the warm invitation. Council, thank you so much for all the work um, and the contribution to uplift such organizations. Uh, Senator Kim recognizes all the work that you guys do

to support um these communities. Um, and lastly, AAPI of East Brunswick. Um, you know, you guys are doing such amazing work to support um, you know, these important demographics and Senator Kim recognizes that and he wants to, you know, one congratulate you, but he's in awe of the work that you guys do. Um, it's, you know, he couldn't be where he is without um, people like you, the work that you do. Uh so I have come uh to give a certificate of recognition for a PI of East Brunswick. Um and uh we you know we want to once again congratulate you guys and congratulate uh East Brunswick to have such a great organization um to uplift these voices and uh Senator Kim encourages to keep the good fight um in whatever way that he can help um and and support that uh we're here. So um thank you all. All right. And congratulations. [Applause] Would anyone else like to address council? Okay. How about a uh a photo with all AAPI personnel and town council? Yeah, we [Music]

Hang on. I'm still not set. Okay, now we are set. Now we are [Applause] Thank you so much. Hi. How are you? Thank you. You're welcome. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. I You know what? I think you did because I heard I was like, "Oh, thank you so much. Thank you. How beautiful." Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Nice. Thanks, Ronnie. A tennis ball, don't feel as if you have to stay. Okay. When you're comfortable, please. Unless you want to see an excellent, you know, the governance in in in operation. Anyway, council, we have another proclamation from the mayor recognizing May as National Water Safety Awareness Month. Councilwoman Zambicki, will you tend to this matter, please? Thank you.

Bobby, no Bobby Bush reference. Can I ask our amazing manager, John Roach, to come up with me? Thank you, John. Not you. All right. This is a proclamation in honor of National Water Safety Month. Whereas the Township of East Brunswick recognizes the vital role that swimming and aquatic related activities relate to good physical and mental health and enhance the quality of life for all people. And whereas the residents understand the essential role that education regarding the topic of water safety plays in preventing drownings and recreation water related injuries. And whereas the residents are aware of the contributions by the recreational water industry, including work done by the New Jersey Recreation and Parks Association, and the New Jersey swim safety alliance in the development of safe swimming facilities, aquatic programs, home pools and spas, and related activities, providing healthy places to recreate, learn, grow, build self-esteem, confidence, sense of self-worth, all which contribute to the quality of life in our community. Whereas, it's important to recognize the ongoing efforts and commitments to educate the public on pole and sa spa safety issues and initiatives by the pool, spa, water park, recreation, and park industries. Whereas it is vitally important to communicate water safety roles and programs to families and

individuals of all ages, whether owners of private pools, users of public swimming facilities or visitors to our water parks. Now therefore, it be it proclaimed that Brad J. Cohen, mayor of the township of East Brunswick, along with the township council and the township recreation and parks department do hereby declare the month of May as the National Water Safety Month and do urge residents of East Brunswick to support and promote this observance given under my hand and the great seal of the township of East Brunswick on this 12th day of May in the year 2025. Mayor Brad J. Cohen. And I just want to thank, you know, May, our our wonderful Crystal Springs opens this month. 12 days. 12 days. And I know you've been doing amazing work behind the scenes that people often don't realize in preparing the park, making it safe, training, intensive training, and our very own training this year, which is so amazing. So, we thank you very much for everything you do. So, please, thank you so much. Thank you so much, Council President Makavoy, members of the township council, Mayor Cohen, for your support in recognizing May as National Water Safety Month. The past two years, you may or may not know it, but East Brunswick has played a pivotal role in water safety in our state. We hosted not only one but two Garden State Water Safety Summits the past two Decembers where we gathered aquatics professionals from across New Jersey in the hopes to developing and releasing the New Jersey water safety strategy. Our hope is in the next month and a half to two months that that will be released and we will be the third state in the union to do that following the national water safety

strategy that was released a couple years ago. Our overall goal is to reduce drowning in our state by 30% by 2030. Every year we have about 30 individuals that lose their life to drowning in our state in all types of water. And the goal is collectively through education to help reduce that uh as best we can. There are many ways that we can do this, but first and foremost is to educate the public. The township is committed to ensuring that our residents and non-residents alike have the ability to learn about water safety and equip themselves with knowledge to not only keep themselves, but those they love safe around water. I invite everyone to check out the township's water safety web page by going to eastbrick.org/water safety. We have online activities, videos, certification classes, graphics, vacation checklists for you to take if you're figuring out where to go on vacation with your family. We also have two major efforts underway in East Brunswick that I invite everyone to participate in. The first is we will once again be participating in the New Jersey Recreation and Park Association, New Jersey Swim Safety Alliance uh bathing suit drive. We are accepting new donations of bathing suits and children's sizes at recreation and at Crystal Springs. Whenever they are open, you are free to drop them off. These bathing suits will be donated free of charge to residents throughout the state of New Jersey who do not have access or the means to be able to purchase a bathing suit. We truly believe in NJRPA and NJSSA that bathing suits lead to swim lessons and swim lessons can save lives and the number of children in our state who don't have access to them because of bathing suit is something we're trying to uh improve. And second, East Brunswick will be participating, I think, for our fifth or sixth year in the world's largest swimming lesson. That's happening on Thursday, June 26th. It is a free 30 minute water safety swim lesson at Crystal Springs. Uh it will be happening at 5:00 p.m., 6 p.m., and 700 p.m. It's

a free 30inut um lesson. We encourage you to pre-register and if you participate, you get a certificate because it continues to break world record year after year. We gather with water parks across not only the United States but around the world in participating in the world's largest swim lesson. So council, I thank you for your continued support of what we do for water safety. Mayor, first of all, John, thank you. Uh I know what you're doing and the effort that you put into trying to make sure that water safety is a priority here in the township. Um, that's something that's always been a priority for the township, but I do feel obligated to remind people that a couple of years ago, uh, we did have a year of disasters. If you say there's 30 in a year, we had six drownings in East Brunswick in one year. There was an individual who had moved into a home. Their daughter jumped into a pool, didn't know how to swim. The mother went in to try to save her. She didn't know how to swim. and the grandfather went in to save the two of them and he didn't know how to swim. All three perished. Um we lost somebody here out at the pond despite having been told not to go onto a pond uh in the winter that in this winters, you know, in our region don't really freeze. Uh but they did it anyway. Unfortunately, one 13-year-old lost his life drowning here in the municipal pond. There was an individual, I think a four or five year old boy that that uh that was at a party and uh left the crowd and by the time the parents and everyone else realized where he was, he was at the bottom of a pool and and gone. And then finally we lost one over at Crystal Springs uh a couple of seasons ago. So these things happen uh and um we made a conscious effort at that time to step up our game

and to make sure that we offer these lessons to both children and adults. It is just a skill that everybody should have and um so I applaud the department for taking that seriously. Uh the fact that we're now recognized as a leader in the state for something that's so vital and critical. Um, you deserve credit for that and I thank you and I want and hope that anybody in the township that does not have swimming skills take advantage of what you have right here. Uh, because it really is a skill that uh, everybody should have. So, thank you [Applause] council. We have three ordinances for a second reading and a public hearing. Township clerk, will you please read ordinance 25-18? An ordinance of the township of East Brunswick, county of Middle Sex, state of New Jersey, establishing new chapter 65 of the of the township code entitled motel or and hotels operations. Motion. Second. Second. May I open this to the general public for any discussion? Seeing none, I'll close the public portion. Have a roll call, please. Councilman Bahal, yes. Councilman Wendell, yes. Councilwoman Winston, yes. Councilwoman Zimbicki, yes. And Council President Mackoy, yes. Council clerk, please read ordinance 25-19. An ordinance of the township of East Brunswick, County of Middle Sex, State of New Jersey, established in chapter 122 of the township code entitled body art establishments. Move to approve and a second. Second. Uh, I'll open this to the public. Anyone

wishing to speak from the public regarding 25-19? Seeing none, we'll close the public portion. Roll call, please. Councilman Bahal, yes. Councilman Wendell, yes. Councilwoman Winston, yes. Councilwoman Simbigi, yes. And Council President Mboy, yes. And our third and final ordinance, uh, Township Clerk, will you please read ordinance 25-y 20? An ordinance of the Township of East Brunswick, County of Middle Sex, State of New Jersey, amending township code, chapter 109, article 1, retail establishments. I have a motion to approve. So sec second. Thank you. We'll open this up to the public. Seeing no one on the public portion, I'll close the public portion. And roll call, please. Council member Hall, yes. Councilman Wendell, yes. Councilwoman Winston, yes. Councilwoman Zimbicki, yes. And Council President Makavoy, yes. Council, we will move on to our reports section of the meeting. Mayor Cohen. Thank you, Council President. Uh, a couple of of announcements. one like to remind everybody that it's national police uh appreciation week. So uh when you see them uh Lieutenant Bobble in the back and his entire staff of uh officers that under which we uh derive our safety and security just to say thank you. I appreciate that. Two, I did want to give the public an update. I know I've been doing that regularly on the affordable housing issue that we've been facing with the court system. Um, as I left it off last time, we were um forced by the courts to accept a uh number of 296 affordable housing units that was signed off by um Judge McCluskey and um the township uh in light of the fact that we were looking to have that number reduced

and had been told by the Department of Community Affairs that they agreed with our request. quest for a lower number. Um, we had prepared or were working on preparing a list of where those places could go that would have been uh able to accommodate the 265 that we thought the courts would agree to. As you know, um the builder association sued the courts ultimately um agreed on the 296. So, the request from the township was to be given a threemonth extension from the June date that was due for us to provide to the uh the state where those units would be located. That was denied. Uh so if anybody thinks as they sit there on their little computers and screaming about affordable housing uh or any of the work that needs to be done in the township that the idea of us fighting and winning a case to not do affordable housing, not do the number of affordable housing would ever hold water when the court won't even give us a threemonth extension on when to prov provide that list must be smoking something. Uh so we I believe um are going to come up with a list of where 296 units um are going to need to be placed by the June date which is our court required uh time frame under which we have to provide that and um you will be hearing from about that shortly because that approval is dependent upon your vote. So, just wanted you to know what is coming up down the road. Number three, just wanted to announce that uh it was made aware to the public that the

state health benefits plan, the plan under which most state and local government employees get their health insurance is going up 30% this year. 30%. Um that's following a couple of years of double-digit increases that the state health benefits has been um um putting through for the last couple of years. As most of you know, we uh do not use the state health benefits program here in the township and haven't used it for a very long time. We use a broker and we are self-insured. Our average increase rates over the last eight years has been 2.6 6 to 2.7%. So, I just wanted to keep the public aware that um that your township is doing an extraordinarily good job trying to keep control of costs that clearly um are out of control. Um, the other thing I wanted to bring up, and I did put this out in social media, the township has also made mention of it is the fact that we did get certification from the department of uh, the New Jersey EDA and the film commission that New East Brunswick is now considered to be a film ready town. Uh that was something that we've been working on actually for quite some time but we got caught in the middle of a change of management of this process which used to be a film commission controlled uh process. It's now controlled by the EDA. So we had to take a couple of steps back while they were making that change. Uh but that basically means that we have and are willing to accept uh and have ordinances in place that you've adopted that will allow the film industry to undergo and be able to work with a standardized process that allows us to bring films

here and that becomes an economic driver besides being cool. Um but it's an economic driver. It brings in businesses for our hotels and for our uh businesses and our restaurants. So, I think it would be a a huge boom if we can get some of that business here. Know you uh council president had mentioned and we did a moment of silence for Mr. Broadman. Um again, another individual in this township who's worked for our topnotch school district for decades. As many of you know, he's had such an such an impact on so many students through the IPLE program and model UN um and only retired about five years ago. Uh but um he will be surely missed. Most people could probably recall a teacher in their life that made that much of a difference at his funeral this week. If I had asked anybody in the uh in the synagogue to stand who had been a student, it was standing room only and it probably would have been threequarters of the room. Uh so it was a a phenomenal turnout for a a really wellrespected teacher here in the school system. And then finally, I just wanted to make a comment. Um as everybody knows, uh Dr. uh announced at the last board of education meeting that he was going to be stepping down in February of 2026. Uh and um I just wanted everybody to know that I I did call him the next day and wished him well uh as he looks forward to whatever his next chapter uh in life is going to be. And I don't believe that it is any time for anybody to be gloating or high-fiving. Um, this is a person who's contributed a decade of service to the township. Um, and our attention at

this point should really be directed at finding a new educational leader for a township where its DNA is centered around our top tier public school system. As many of you know, New Jersey was recently um determined to be the number one public school system in the entire country. So, I believe with that that it's time to invest and support um the board of education, which will be the body of people that are tasked with finding a new leader. Um, they should do this by themselves, the nine, with input from our community on what we would like to see in a new leader. And I think they should cast that net very wide. Um they need to find somebody who is innovative um willing to try new things, not be afraid uh to fail, to focus on leading us into a direction um that could provide us with a top-notch 21st century public education system for our children. I believe that they deserve that. That's what people move here for. Um I do not believe there's anybody on the inside that should get that role. I think we should be looking very far and wide. Um there's tools that exist for the board to take advantage of. This is not the first time a board of education has had to do this. School boards provides help. They should make themselves uh uh avail themselves of that. Um, but I just want everyone to know that I and I believe this council all stands ready uh to help and support the board of education uh which is their task in this most important task. Uh and I wish all of them success because at the end of the

day their success is our success. Uh so I um again wish uh Dr. uh the best in his retirement or whatever he does in his next chapter in life. Thank you. Our business administrator, Mr. Chrisulo. Yes. just mention one item reminder to people that our Memorial Day uh service will be on the 25th at 10:00 a.m. and uh encourage people to come um to that particular ceremony um because our next council meeting is after that. So I just wanted to remind people that's all I have today. Thank you. Our township attorney, Mr. Aayakoka. Thank you council president. One item um for the public's information, bond ordinance number 25-21 with regard to school capital improvements funding will be uh the second reading will be held on May 29th, the council meeting. That's a Thursday. Okay, that's all. Thank you. Thank you. our our township clerk, Miss Lawful. I just want to inform the public that the 2025 primary election will be held on Tuesday, June 10th. Um for those who are not registered to vote, the last day to do so will be Tuesday, May 20th. Um the Middle Sex County Board of Elections Office will be open until 900 p.m. that day to accept all new applications. Um, that address will be 26B Kennedy Boulevard here in East Brunswick. Also, for those who have received their mail and ballots, as a friendly reminder, there are three ways to return your ballot. You can submit it via mail through the US Postal Service at no cost to you whatsoever. You can also drop it off at the Board of Elections. Once again, their address is

26B Kennedy Boulevard here in East Brunswick. or you can conveniently utilize our uh ballot dropbox which is located within our mun municipal complex by the municipal court and the police station parking lot. Um also early voting will begin on Tuesday, June 3rd through Sunday, June 8th at our next council meeting which will be held on Thursday, May 29th. I will provide additional information. Thank you all. Council members, any board or commission reports? Yes, take take your time. So, recreation and parks report. So, first of all, the fishing derby, the annual fishing derby will be held on June 7th at Dalbox um lake uh from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. The arts commission is sponsoring a guitar barbecue event on May 17th from 11 to 3:00 p.m. And very importantly, camp registration for this year ends June 6th. So, if you're interested in getting your children involved in camp, you have until June 6th to do that. As Mr. Roach spoke earlier today, they are doing the bathing suit and also goggle drive, and you can drop that off through July at the recck department or at Crystal Springs. Um, and I also wanted to say uh one small comment about Alan Broadman that he was a community servant as well and he did spend many years on the recreation parks and advisory board um giving his input. So, he will be deeply missed. So, thank you. Thank you, Councilwoman. Oh, you did. Okay. Yeah. Okay. Yep. We're good. Yep. Okay. I will now open the meeting to the public. To comment, Miss Law, please read our public comment statement. The public comment portion of our meeting is to allow the public to bring

to the council's attention their concerns or comments. In accordance with NJSA 104-12A and the East Brunswick rules of council, the council asked the public to limit their comments to 5 minutes or less. At the conclusion of the statements or questions from a member of the public, the council president at his discretion may choose to respond or not respond. Is there anyone wishing to address the council president? Please. Hello, my name is Hennaul, Mason Avenue, Main Street, Old Stage. As you all know, I'm here to ask the council to once again dismantle the sister city relationship that we have with Ye, which is an Israeli city. All across the country and the globe, you see cities, universities, and trade unions, as well as the Pope calling for an immediate ceasefire and divesting from Israel. And here we are stuck in this notion that the sister city relationship, it does not have any implications and it's merely symbolic. I ask you today, symbolic of what exactly? Symbolic of the drones that are designed and manufactured in Yev that annihilate humans not only in Palestine but also in Pakistan where these same drones were utilized just last week by India to terrorize villages in occupied Kashmir. In this is this what we want East Brunswick to symbolize in history books. Mr. Makavoy, someone just previously acknowledged how much of an impact you had made as a history teacher for them. And as someone with a teaching degree myself, I ask you, would this be a chapter in books you were proud to teach about? Or would it be a chapter you'd want to gloss over as quickly as possible to hide our country and our town shame that we did not learn from the genocide that was carried out in the name of manifest destiny, but instead

continued to commit genocide after genocide throughout the history of our country, throughout the history of our existence as a country. Let us today once and for all understand that sis that sister city plaque that we so proudly display in the entrance of our municipal building is actually a shame on our character as a community and we absolutely have the power to ensure we choose the side of e not not of evil but of goodness and peace and for all. Thank you. Anyone else wishing to address the council president, please Naval Talog Drive, East Brunswick. Uh so Mr. in last meeting you made a comment that this this is the public speaking portion and people are just here to make a comment but I have been coming into these meetings every time with us with a with a with something that you can do it's just not mere statements this is not an outlet for me to make statements and the reason I come here is the same thing that we have a sister sister city with with Israeli city and in the midst of a genocide or a holocaust actually it's a shameful thing to have Um, every day we are witnessing what what what can only be described as holocaust of Palestinians. According to international human rights organizations and UN agencies, the Israeli military campaign in Gaza has led to the death of over 15,000 children as of recent estimates. 15,000 children. I just want you to imagine Israel has killed 15,000 children. Uh that that's like the classrooms, playgrounds, entire entire generations wiped out. And this is not collateral damage. These are deliberate

consequences of policies that violate international law and basic basic moral decency. So what we are seeing is not simply war. It is the systematic destruction of of civilian life by Israel. Entire families are being entire entire families are are burned alive by Israel and they are now under rubble uh due to Israeli bombings. Hospitals are bombed, refugee camps are attacked. Israel is the only city I think only country in the world I think that is bombing the tents where people are refugees. They are bombing the tent with families and children. And now the famine is being used as a weapon of war by Israel. The U the United Nations and multiple aid agencies have warned that Israel is imposing a policy of forced starvation. Humanitarian convoys are blocked and workers are killed and food distribution networks have been destroyed. We have seen multiple videos and pictures of people standing in line in food distribution center when Israel bombed them and killed them. Children with piece of bread in their hand are being killed by Israel. So as a city that pride itself as justice, inclusion and human dignity, we have a responsibility to raise our voices while this chamber I I completely understand. Um it we can there are things that you can do. You can pass resolutions demanding a ceasefire, calling for the restoration of humanitarian aid, and denouncing the collective punishment of civilians and end any sort of relationship with Israel, including the sisterhood city, which is absolutely shame shameful at this point. Um, we can also take t tangible actions whether it's divesting from companies that profit from occupation and warfare or

declaring our city as a century for peace, for accountability and for international law. Mr. Makawoy, when history will ask what we did when we knew, let us not be remembered for our silence. If you ever or if anyone sitting in this chamber ever wondered what they would have done at the time of first holocaust because second one is happening right now at the time of civil rights movement or any other m movement of human rights. This is exactly what you would have done if you were at that time. Thank you so much. Anyone else wishing to address the council president? Mr. Ingresini, Mr. Mayor, County Council, Mr. President, Tom Ingressi, Deerfield Road, East Brunswick. Um, I noticed I called up last week about brown water that everybody was getting on my block and uh whatever. They told me they were draining fire hydrants. So, I assumed that was the problem. And u and I noticed a lot of water behind me. I have a drainage easement right behind my house that the water was running into. It was dirty. I said I thought it was a major leak or something. But anyway, that's a drainage easement. When it rains, it fills up there with water and then goes into the sewer. Now, another thing in my in my backyard, I have these big trees that um overhang my property. Is there any way that could be trimmed to avoid anything falling? Cuz about seven years ago, lightning hit one of them, come into my backyard, destroyed my table, just missed my shed, and I had to pay about $1,000 to have it removed. Is there any way that the township could

see that these things are trimmed or is it my responsibility? You know, because it's not on my property. And uh the other thing, one other thing too I find out I think June I think all the utilities are going to start to raise their rates 20%. Electric and gas. Is that true? I mean I'm hearing that. Mayor, did you make a comment on 30%? one somebody. I think you're you're your m your mic, sir. Great. As far as the tree, if it's a township tree, contact the township and we'll take a look at it. If it's somebody else's tree, that's a neighbor to neighbor dispute. So, you would have to take that up with your neighbor. As far as the the um what was the other question? 20% on the uh the understanding is that the BPU has been asked by the energy companies to raise the rates 20% and then another 30% a couple months another 10% a couple months later. So it'll be almost 30% increase. Um it's up to the BPU to determine whether or not they're going to approve that. But if they do then yes they will be going approved. So if your bill is $300 a month you're going to pay another $60 more a month just on the same electricity. And uh I mean there it's even in PS well PSEG and then there's also Jersey Central Power Light is known. Well, the BPU is for all the companies. So if there's if it's approved, it would be for everybody. All right. As far as that property behind me is all easement. I don't know who owns it. I think it's if if trees are overhanging your property, you can cut the trees. I'm sorry. Right. I know. If they're overhanging your property, you can cut the trees at my expense. At your expense. That's a wonderful. Okay, that's right. All right, that's it. Thank you very much. Okay, anyone else wishing to address the council president? Seeing no one, we'll close the public portion. Move on to our consent agenda.

Will township clerk please read our consent agenda statement. Resolution 25176 through resolution 25190. The following items are considered routine and non-controversial items by the township council and will be enacted upon by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a council member so requests, in which event the item will be removed from the consent agenda to be discussed and voted on following the approval of the remaining items listed on the consent agenda. Uh, council, does anything need to be separated? No. Can I just ask a question on Sure. Uh, basically Mr. Chrisculo 25186 award of a contract to Zyllem Incorporated for the purchase of a Godwin dry prime trailer mounted pump. Is that being paid for by the sewage utility? Yes, it's part of it is water part. Most of it is sewer, but part of it is water. They just want to make sure the utilities covering the expenses. They certainly are. And it and council president just some some notations there. Resolution 25-187 the paving a village drive that's our TTF project. So $368,6664 is a state grant state money. So so we're saving money on that. The remainder is on this. 24188 is uh reimbursement for the shredded event which we hosted and the county reimbures us and 24189 is uh because we approved our budget already. We're this is just an insertion of $64,000 uh I'm sorry 64,30043 cents. Don't forget the 43 cents is is a grant that we're receiving uh from uh from the state for recycling

enhancement. So just wanted to make note that we're always looking for grants um to to pay the cost from our taxpayers. Thank you. May I have a motion for resolution 176 through 190? So move second. And before we vote, let me uh let me bring to your attention Mr. Jeff Smith who's sitting out in the audience with us. he's going to be the newest member to the zoning board and wanted to follow through on the true governance of uh East Brunswick by being here. Often times, Mr. Smith, it's just we we just vote on the people who take over their or become part of various boards. So, we applaud you for coming here this evening for for the council. Just want you to know that Mr. Smith was born raised here in East Brunswick. He too was a student of Mr. Broadman. He's a married. He's He's married, father of two children, and eager to give back to our community. So, welcome, Mr. Smith. Roll call, please. Council member Hall, yes. Councilman Wendell, yes. Councilwoman Winston, yes. Councilwoman Simbiki, yes. And Council President Makavoy, yes. It's official, Mr. Smith. Council, we have three ordinances for introduction. Township clerk, can you please read Ordinance 25-22? An ordinance of the Township of East Brunswick, County of Middle Sex, State of New Jersey, amend chapter 209, section 65 entitled schedule 26, midb block crossings two of the code of the township of East Brunswick to add a midblock crosswalk designation on Kingswood Boulevard. Mr. Chrisculo, any comments? Yeah, over Kingswood uh Boulevard. Uh a lot of people walk there. Uh there's also a uh a pool there. So, uh we had the request

from the association to do a couple midblock crosswalks. Our engineer, in-house engineer evaluated and certainly made sense. So, in order, we're actually putting the uh curb cuts in now, and we're getting ready to pave uh as you know, hot and heavy soon as school gets out. Uh this is just to, you know, uh authorize the the the issuance of this Midblock crosswalk. It was by the request of the association and the people of that community. And it does make sense because they were walking there anyway. Thank you. We have two ordinances, not three. A motion. Um, can we get a motion for this? Thank you, Councilwoman. Second. Second. Second. Councilwoman Winston. Uh, roll call, please. Council member Hall. Yes. Councilman Wendell? Yes. Councilwoman Winston? Yes. Councilwoman Dembiki? Yes. And Council President Makavoy? Yes. T uh Township Clerk, can you read ordinance 25 hyphen 23? an ordinance of the township of East Brunswick, County of Middle Sex, State of New Jersey, amending chapter 228, zoning to add regulations for feather flag signs to the township code of the township of East Brunswick. And once again, Mr. Mayor Cohen, you wanted to comment on that one, right? As we talked the other morning, uh, as many of you know, you often see around the township these feathered flag signs and, um, we had on our ordinances not allowed them. Um, which when asked what the reason was for, we just didn't have any rules on how they're supposed to be secured, um, how long they could be kept in place, and so we just didn't allow them. Um what ended up happening is that so many people used them anyway. Didn't even know that we had an ordinance for that because almost every other town allows it. Uh and so it put us in the

predicament of looking like we were favoring some businesses and not others because our code enforcement couldn't possibly uh go out to all the places that had feather flag signs. So, we decided instead of just sending everybody notices and having them end up here, let's look now at the reason why we didn't allow it and make for an ordinance that would allow for the things that our engineering department was concerned about. Meaning that they're secured enough that the wind blows, it doesn't just end up all over town. There's a limited period of time that it could be uh put put out for. Uh and so if you read through the ordinance, this is what the recommendations was uh of the department taking into consideration their issues. Um but I think that uh uh most of us have no issue with the feather sign, the feather flag signs as long as they're not unsightly, doesn't get in the way of of traffic safety uh for for individuals. But there's a lot of businesses in town that often use it because you don't really know where they are or they're set back. Uh, and these are the only way that somebody knows that they're there or that they're a new store. So, that's why the ordinance was put in place. Council comments. Roll call, please. Did we motion? We did. Motion. I'm sorry. Thank you, Councilman Wendell. Motion. Second. And a second. Thank you. Roll call, please. Council member Hall. Yes. Councilman Wendell? Yes. Councilwoman Winston. Yes. Councilwoman Zimbicki. Yes. And Council President M. Yes. Is there anything for the good of the cause? Since there were since there were a couple of mentions already, I'm going to do my mention, too. President. Okay. It's I can go next. Okay. I'll be quick. I I just wanted to commend um everyone

in the process of of the grant acquisitions. It's amazing that year after year I sat up here and all these ordinances come through and we're looking at the money and it's half was a grant, half was a grant for this, half was a grant for that and that's money save for our taxpayers and I just think that needs to be recognized and applauded. Thank you. One other on there the the CME contract also is a grant. I missed that one. Another one. Sorry. Sorry. This week is National Police Week where we honor our enforcement officers for protecting and serving our communities. Kudos to Chief Frank Laka and his entire command staff for their meritorious service. Uh motion to adjurnn. Please signify with an I. I. The eyes. Have a good night.