Municipal Council - Regular Meeting

The meeting of the large township council will now come to order. Um, just want to say welcome to everyone. Um, before I do the statement of properness, I just wanted to mention u Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is someone that I turn to when thinking about my life in public service. April 4th marked the summer anniversary of the assassination of Dr. King. I thought it would be fitting to open this meeting with an excerpt from his speech titled a proper sense of priorities. Spoken two months before his assassination, Dr. King ended a speech with a story about a reporter asking him why he was taking controversial stand against the Vietnam War. His response was a challenge to all of us that served when he said, "Ultimately, a genuine leader is not a searcher of consensus but a molder of consensus. On some positions, cowardice asked the question, is it safe? Expediency asks the question, is it politic? Vanity asks the question, is it popular? But conscious conscious ask the question, is it right? And there comes a time when must one must take a position that is neither safe nor politic or popular, but he must take it because conscious tells him it is right. And with that statement of proper notice, adequate notice of this meeting of the Lawrence Township Council being held on Tuesdays, April 7th, 2026 through the posting of the end meeting schedule of state council in accordance with section 13 of the park. Said notice was to theonian the times in the princet on December 12th, 2025. Miss Carter, may we have the inspiration?

May we carry our work at this mean in a just, honorable, and sincere manner, always bearing in mind our duties and continuing to keep Lawrence a wonderful community in which to live. I pledge algiance 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.

Miss here,

Mr. We've got a special proclamation recognition and presentation. We have a proclamation planning April 24th 26 Harbor day one. So I will read the proclamation for every proclamation. Whereas in 1872, J Sterling Morton proposed to the Nebraska Board of Agriculture that special day that a special day be set aside for the planting of trees. And whereas this holiday called Arbor Day was first observed with the planting of more than a million trees in Nebraska. And whereas Arbor Day is now observed throughout the nation and the world. And whereas trees can reduce the erosion of our precious top soil by wind and water, cut heating and cooling costs, moderate the temperature, clean the air, reduce oxygen, and provide habitat for wildlife. And whereas trees are a renewable resource, giving us paper, wood for our homes, fuel for our fires, and countless other products. And whereas trees in our township increase property values, enhance the economic vitality of business areas, and beautify our community. And whereas trees are wherever they are planted are a source of joy and spiritual renewal. And now therefore I Christopher Bob may do hereby proclaim April 24th 2026 as Arbor Day in the township of Lawrence and I urge all citizens to celebrate Arbor Day and to support efforts to protect our trees and limits dated April 7th 2026. With that, I will move on to public participation. I will again remind everyone um purpose of the public part comment period is for members of the public to inform the governing body or their views. This time is an opportunity

township council to listen with care to the public and to consider what we do in our deliberations. It's not a time for back and forth dialogue as it can be difficult for us to give accurate responses on critical and complex issues on the spot. rather one can call or email members council manager or clerk seeking additional information response to an issue. I'd also like to read two excerpts from the Lawrence Township administrative code uh section 1022 manner of addressing council. A person may address the council upon recognition by the chair. Person addressing the council shall write down their name and address on the signin sheet. Thank you. Step up to the microphone name in an audible tone and voice for record and shall have the right to address the council for an amount of time noted by the chair. No person having the floor shall be permitted to enter any into any discussion either directly or through a member of council without permission of the chair. No question shall be asked to council persons except through the chair to quarantine council meetings. Any person making a pertinent or slanderous remarks or who shall become boisterous while addressing the council shall forfeit be barred for from further act audience before the council by the presiding officer unless permission to continue again council be granted by the majority council. Thank you. Thanks for public and I'm Greg 657 Rosedale Road. Welcome. Thank you. Um I was surprised, Mr. mayor and council members, when I came into the municipal facility here that on the bulletin board there was a full posting of ordinance 258-26, which is appropriate. But what surprised me was that prior to coming to the meeting, I looked on the township website and they only had the agenda for the Lawrence Township Council meeting

and the memorandum. um from um municipal manager Kevin Nerwinsky, but I didn't see the full ordinance. So, this relates to one of the issues which has been coming up recently in some of the other meetings about transparency and maybe I missed it on um the website um but I'm wondering where the collateral information that's relevant is posted on the website in compliance with the open public meeting act so that people who are stakeholders can see specifically what's going to be discussed at the um relevant meetings in the township. Um on that note, um the other thing which has been sort of bothering me for a number of these meetings which I've just been coming to recently um is the statement of proper notice. Um, for example, um, today when the statement of proper notice was given, it says at the bottom of the paragraph which was verbalized here, said notice was forwarded to the Trentonian, the Trenton Times, and the Princeton packet on December 12th, 2025. This obviously was being mentioned to show that legal notice and proper notice was being made that was consistent with the open public meeting act of New Jersey. How however I'd like to point out a few things. One of them is for instance that the Trenton Times ceased publication um in February 2025. There have been three series of laws which relate to the open public meeting act. One which went from 1975 to June 30th 2025. Another set of statutes that went into effect on um on June 30th through um

February 28th of this year and another set that began on March 1st of this year. And as far as I can see, there's been a pattern of non-compliance with all three for Lawrence Township since February of 2025. And I would urge you to become compliant with the new laws and to have those reflected, including the new one, which went into effect on March 1st, on all the statement of proper notices for the township um council meeting and the other uh meetings such as the planning board and the zoning board, etc. so that they're not um being obsolete and misleading in terms of um of uh what the compliance is now and the requirements for the open public meeting act. And I know we've got a very good website in Lawrence Township. Um but as far as I can tell, it's non-compliant with the new law which went into effect on March 1st. So again, I know you discussed this at a previous um meeting to look a little bit more closely at the new law and ensure um that's what's being reflected in terms of the layout of the website is compliant with that so that people who are affected and interested can get the information they need. I think also it would be helpful to do some outbound mail um for for some of these issues um and to and including email so that people know that they can request for which is also according to the law for a minimal payment which is not clear what it is for both snail mail and email um notice of of all the particular types of meetings that might affect them that they might be interested in going to. Um, so those were the first questions and other ones that I would like to see that relate more to some of the other issues that have been coming up lately um are are issues uh relating to fair

share of taxes being paid and specifically what what I'd be interested in understanding more is the process by which the tax contribution is being made by 501c3 charitable organizations in Lawrence Township. So, those would include organizations like the Lawrenceville School, Ryder University, and the Educational Testing Service. Um, I could be wrong because I'm not a tax attorney. Um, but I thought for tax exempt organizations that they're not mandatory um taxes that are paid for property taxes. If I'm mistaken about that, um, I'd be interested in in knowing that. I know from the time when I was on the school board, it was my understanding, which might be incorrect, that some of these institutions were making voluntary tax payments to Lawrence Township in the interest of participating in the community and paying their same fair share. I just don't know.

I'm just about No worries. Um uh I'd like to understand what the process is by which the number is derived um that these organizations are making payments to Lawrence Township and um because I don't think that's that's crystal clear at this point. So um if you all could figure out a way of doing that and transmitting it, I'd appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you. um about statement of proper notice. Do we have a quick answer or should we bring that up in attorney's report for later in this meeting? We don't have a quick answer. I I would like to I appreciate your comments, but I think we need to review some things. Okay.

And we may not have an answer this evening, but we will have an answer. Wonderful. Thank you, Mr.

Anyone else for public comment? I know someone else signed in. Good evening. My name is Jennifer Nil and I'm a resident of 821 Pretty Brook Road and also representing 840 Pretty Brook Road and the acquisition of the property. And I just wanted to state that my husband and I received what we perceived as a threatening letter from the township last summer offering $10,000 for acquisition of the land. The amount we've spent to maintain the property, including clearing the front field and installing a brand new split rail fence, has far exceeded the amount of $10,000. We then also uh it was stated in the letter that if we did not agree to the $10,000 that was offered that the property would just be seized by eminent domain. There are numerous mature trees that will be taken down. um which after just speaking of Arbor Day, it surprises me that we would want to destroy it. Numerous mature trees that are on the property and a gate that will be impeded by the trail. Our gate currently opens outward due to the incline of the driveway and will be traversed by the trail. Nobody has discussed the gate, if it's got to be moved or how that will be handled or what the legal ramifications for my husband and I will be. Should somebody be struck by the gate when they're using the trail for walking or cycling? Our lawyer responded to your letter at least 6 months ago so we could meet on site to discuss these issues and discuss a fair appraisal. It is egregious that 6 months later we are still awaiting a response from either Lawrence Township or your attorney. Can I pause for just one moment? Mr. Just a second. Is this is

this in reference to the ordinance that's up this evening for 840 Pretty Brook Road? So, should we have this does this should this be in public comment or should this be in Well, this this involves a probability litigation matter that Mr. Vanheis is involved in now. Okay. And uh I I don't think we can really comment at the very least. Can I receive a comment as to when our lawyer can expect a response as it's been going on for over 6 months now?

I will contact Mr. Vanheis on this uh within the next day or two and make sure that a your lawyer is contacted. I can't speak for Mr. Van Heis here this evening, but I understand. But you we're reaching out to to the attorney, Mr. Mr. Vanheis, we're not getting a response either. So, I'm here tonight just to find out if we can come to some kind of resolution to this. Yeah. Uh, mayor, I will follow up with in that vein and make sure that there is some communication with you and your husband. Thank you.

I I just want to make sure that was that really the the sort of crust of of your comments? That was I mean we have a lot of concerns and we are trying to address them and we're receiving zero feedback from Lawrence Township and it's just very frustrating. Like I said, this has been going on since last summer and we've gotten zero response. Well, I don't want to get into the Yeah,

I'll just indicate you'll get a response. I don't want to get into the uh nitty-gritty of the legal issues that are being, but you you'll get a response. Okay. And I would also like to know that my neighbors will get a response who are here as well because their properties are involved in this as well. And again, nobody was even notified that this was on the agenda this evening. I'm not aware of what neighbors are involved in this. Well, the whole side of the road is involved in this. I will indicate to you that we will have Mr. Van Ice contact not not you, but your lawyer.

Yes. And I think too again having proper notification not only for our family who is affected but everybody that lives on that stretch of pretty road whose homes will be affected including the combination only involves your property. It actually doesn't because the trail will traverse everybody's front lawn and driveway living on that side of the road. So it affects the the look of the property and our property values. So, I know it's not important to you because it's not on your front lawn, but it is important to us. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else for public comment?

Close public comment at this time.

So, we'll move on to the review and revision of the agenda. Mayor, may I may I make a recommendation that we remove um the ordinance 11B table um to allow time for Mr. Van Heis to reach out to Yeah, there's more facts involved that I'm not going to get into. But um but we should table this. No, I I agree. I think it seems it feels right um that there's there's some disagreement right now.

For the benefit of the new newer members of council, there was two public presentations about this and it may benefit from a third because there's new members here, right? So I could um ask our municipal engineer to come in again and make that presentation um and reach prior to that reach out to the property owners in that area. I think there's four or five that are involved and so they're informed about presentations on Mr. Should we table it to a date certain or table it? No, I mean we can we can just table it when we presentation to the undersod.

All right. Any other changes to the agenda? Have a motion to

Yeah, I do have one more. Is there going to be a need for close session for the subject matter of labor negotiations? It's on for a resolution to pass. have provided you all with the information about the status of one particular negotiations and if you are all good with the information that I provided then we could remove that from the close session and then vote on it for the resolution. The alternative is to keep it on pull the resolution out from the block voting and discuss whatever your concerns are in close session and then come out and take a vote. Your call. I mean I I council how how do we feel about we okay?

I like the second option. Option B. So that's fine. So So we will continue on without revising the agenda for that and then when we get to whoever is going to be moving in a block we move that resolution out and hold it for a vote after. Yes. H2. Yes. All right. Anything else? Do I have a motion to amend the agenda to remove 11B? Make a motion to remove item 11B from the agenda. Second table.

Motion to table. I like to make a motion to table uh number 11 B or 258-26. Miss Farmer, yes. Mr. Cle, yes. Mr. Kaki, yes. Mr. Santos, yes. Mayor Bob, yes. Adoption amends to previous meetings. Do I have a motion for 8:30? Like to make a motion to for uh 8A adoption for regular meeting February 17th, 2026. Second,

Miss Barber, yes. Yes. Mr. Connect, yes. Yes. Yes. Have a motion for AB. Like to move AB adoption of minutes for regular meeting March 3rd, 2026. Second. Miss Farmer. Yes. Mr. Hill, yes. Mr. Kaki, yes. Miss, yes. Mayor B, yes. I have a motion for 8C. Let's move 8C. Adopt a minute for closed meeting December 2nd, 2025. Second. Miss B.

Yes. Mr. abstain. Mr. Kaki. Yes. Miss Sanchez. Yes. Mayor B. Yes. Motion for AD. I'd like to move AD. Adoption is for closed meeting December 16th, 2025. Second. Miss Farmer. Yes. Abstain. Mr. Kamaki. Yes. Miss abstain. Mayor. Yes. Have a motion for 8. I like to move 8. Adoption is for close meeting January 20th, 2026.

Second, Miss Farmer, yes. Mr. JP, no stain. Mr. Kaki, yes. Miss Santos, yes. Mayor Bob, yes. Seeing no bids and no introduction of ordinances, I'll move to 11 A. 11 A. Ordinance number 257-26 calendar year 2026 ordinance to exceed the municipal budget appropriation limits and to establish the cap bank for the township of Lawrence County and Mercer and just NJSA4A 4-45.14 second

Mr. And so yeah, for the record, when a township adopts this type of ordinance, it's creating a bank of unused cap authority that may be used if needed for the next two budget years. By determining that it is prudent to increase the 2026 budget by up to 3.5% over the previous year's appropriations, we are creating a bank of $421,992. Importantly, this is not an increase in spending or taxation. This is a device that allows us to plan um for the next two years and have safeguards in place. Thank you. Any questions from council? Any questions from the public?

I have a question. Is this going to be an interest bearing account? You have to come up to the

state your name correctly. My name is Sam Belo. Um just in the capital uh the cap account is that going to be put in an interest bearing account that will this isn't money. Oh it's not money. It's an amount of money. Sorry it's not real. Right. Okay. Help you get your steps in there. Yeah. Any other questions for the public? See public comment. Sorry Miss Farmer. Yes, Mr. G. Yes, Mr. Yes, Mr. Santos. Yes, Mayor. Yes, report.

Um, I have two issues. One is the um the Bull Run Road and Federal City Road roundabout and the Federal City Road and Federal Point traffic signal. Um, just to inform council, Euing Township is taking the lead in um applying for a second grant for the 2026 to match the first $800,000 that was awarded for 2025. Um, they've gotten very positive feedback from the New Jersey DOT that this second round is is likely, which would make $1.6 million to go towards the costs for the roundabout installation and the traffic light installation. three uh towns have um come together and have decided that it it's all of our interests to work together in a shared situation and have this project be a project among all three municipalities. The the purpose is to make Federal City Road um safer for motorists and in particular for us for our township residents. Um the uh residents that are coming in and out of traditions at Federal Point will have there'll be an extra lefthand turn lane um and will assist them safely to go in and out of that development with the traffic light. Timing wise the we have already as you know our our council has moved forward on this. We have our design plans. We've submitted them to the DOT. They've provided us uh with their feedback. supplemented our design. So, our work for that particular site is pretty much done except for providing for some lefthand turn lanes which we don't think is going to be an issue. So, um we're hoping by the end of this year there'll be if not a traffic light substantial um progress towards getting that installed finally.

And the second thing, I don't know if you have uh seen on um social media, there is a young man who came here a while ago who was very concerned about the condition of the creek along the shopping center that runs into the Colonial Lake, about the litter uh that was there and um the deer carcasses that were were found at the location. And most recently, he's been standing out on um Brunswick Pike near the Lake Drive um turn with signs indicating that there is a gas leak in the area along with other signs. Um, so in response, I asked our public uh safety director to um have the area inspected and Jack Oakley, our fire chief, along with PSENG responded there today. PSEG got all their fancy equipment out to determine and detect whether there is a gas leak. They went out all over and determined that there is there is no gas leak. Um, we have spent a lot of time with this young man who cares passionately about the environment, about the beavers that are there. Um, we've kept in constant communication with him. I don't, as much as we try, I'm not sure if he'll be satisfied, which is fine. He pushes us along to do more. Um, uh, Lawrence Township on our area of the land that we, uh, own at the, um, at the creek. We clean that our area out. Lawrence shopping center sent their maintenance people out to clean their area out. This is going to be an ongoing situation. There's active illegal dumping happening. So, we can't man a police officer there 247, 365. These are crimes that are happening. As it relates to the um deer carcasses, the state wildlife

officials indicated to us that they were in such a state of decay that there was no reason to to remove them because this is nature and they were at the point where just like any other deer or animal that passed away, there's no burial for them or removal for them. And they presented no health or safety risk. So they are in a really advanced um condition of deterioration at this point. So they will not be moved. Um and so I just wanted to give give you the update because um there are a lot of people interested on um social media following this. So we we are being responsive. Thanks for the update. Um any questions?

Is there any opportunity for community cleanup or that's private?

So this is tricky. It's private commercial property on the side and the township owns the other side and we've we've cleaned our portion of it and we're going to be able to maintain that more actively. Um so really it's about enforcement and getting the property owner to commit to um a more heightened maintenance plan. Um there is discussions with our zoning officer about putting a fence along the creek there which I think will will stop a lot of the easy access for dumping cars pull up at night. They just walk right into the wooded area and dump it they feel like they need to dump in the area. And so I think the fence will do a lot to stop that from happening.

Any other questions from council report? Okay. Mayor, I have comments for close session. Clerk's report.

Yes. Let's see here. Um, I gave you guys the boards and committees um to look at um and just let me know maybe something by April 15th if you want to appoint any of those that I gave the applications for. Also, um I know our attorney is going to address the public notice matter, but I want to um say something. I am well aware of the public public not uh public notice law and on our township website we have a dial that says public notices. on that public notice site there is um ordinances all our minutes um resolutions uh that you can when you click right on you go right into the ordinances that you mentioned today 257-26 and 258 are on there when you click into it public notices legal notices advertising ments for the township council planning board and the zoning order on there along with their minutes. In addition to that, um you said something about something else about this notice, this notice here. Yes, we did put it out that says to the Tranonian, the Times, and the Princeton packet, but we also advertised those meetings in full in the paper in the Trenton Times, which is our paper in which we do and we also have it posted

out on the board bulletin board as well. And those notices is also on our website. It is not our duties and jobs to go through and say, "Hey, public, go and look. If you're interested in what's going on in your town, it's your job." I've been living I in Burlington County for 30 years and they I have never got anything sent to me. What I do is I need to know something, I go and I sign up for a Facebook, a newsletter. I um you know, let's find out. I live in there, but I work in Lawrence and I know stuff about Lawrence because I look on that website to see when a meeting is what community event is going on. Um, the YouTube is on there. We have more information on there than we've ever had at any point in time. So, take a look at the public notices. It also gives you a legal thing to tell you where the public notices if you click on it, where they are posted, what we advertise in the paper and what we we also put public notices on the website. Now the attorney will look into it further um if I am not doing something in compliance but I will encourage you to take a look. So thank you. Thank you M. Moving on to unfinished business.

Mayor, may I um there were a few issues that came up at the last few meetings that I would love uh to have some followup and clarity for our sake and for the public's sake. Um Kevin already stole one of them, but so first Kevin, can you give us uh and the public an update on the senior center restructure that was mentioned at the last meeting?

Yeah. Okay. So, I'm just going to read something into the record just because it hits on all points. Um, so I'd like to take a few minutes this evening to explain the process, reasoning, and operational benefits behind the decision to relocate the recreation department administrative offices to the senior center as well as the related organizational adjustments. This decision is part of a broader operational strategy, specifically our continued efforts to address long-standing challenges associated with the Department of Public Works, currently located at the Baker Basin Road Facility. The Baker Basin Road facility remains vulnerable to flooding. Over time, significant staff resources have been devoted to preparing for potential flood events, often with uncertain outcomes, to maintain continuity of this critical resident facing function. This has created both operational inefficiencies and ongoing risk to our ability to serve the public reliably. We have explored multiple alternatives to address this situation. A prior proposal to relocate these administrative functions to a property at the corner of Westl Long Drive and Lawrence Road was discontinued following public opposition. Another concept, relocating the recreation department to the former Lawrence Neighborhood Center and moving public works administrative functions into the municipal building was also considered but ultimately not advanced due to public opposition. Providing our residents with the ability to conduct public works business at the municipal building rather than traveling to Baker Basin Road facility would be an obvious service benefit. To be clear, my focus has always been on relocating only the public works administrative offices. The office that maintains public records and interfaces directly with our residents for services, requests, and inquiries. This does not involve relocating public works operations,

equipment, or field personnel. When Miss Lasowl, now retired, informed us of her intent to retire months ago, Miss Bergen identified a potential solution to relocate recreation's administrative offices to the senior center. She recognized that this approach would not only help address the public works administrative office issue, but also provide a direct benefit to her department by improving staffing coverage and enhancing programming opportunities at the senior center. As you know, Miss Bergen, as the superintendent of recreation has administrative oversight and supervision of the senior center and its programming, and under our code, this includes the office on aging. Seeing a win-win situation, I requested Miss Bergen and public works director Greg Whitehead to conduct a thorough assessment of the senior center to determine whether it could accommodate the recreation department's administrative functions. They concluded it could. Importantly, and I want to be absolutely clear on on this point, there has never been any plan to introduce youth recreational programming into the senior center or to alter the facility's core purpose. The senior center will remain dedicated to serving our senior population. From an operational standpoint, this relocation presents several meaningful advantages. First, it enhances service delivery at the senior center. In recent years, the center has required supplemental staffing support from recreation personnel based at the municipal building, particularly during staff absences or periods of increased demand. By centralizing on-site recreation staff, we eliminate these gaps, ensure consistent staffing, supervision, and responsiveness for our senior residents. Second, the restructuring allows us to align staff responsibilities more efficiently. We have determined that maintaining a standalone full-time executive director role as defined under New Jersey civil service classifications is no longer

necessary. The township code provides for a director position and the operational responsibilities historically associated with the executive director title can be effectively distributed among existing supervisory personnel. To maintain consistency with our organizational structure and our code, Miss Bergman will assume the title of director while the historical duties of the executive director, a New Jersey civil service position will be assigned to and among various staff. This aligns with our code and does not present civil service issues. At the same time, this transition creates an important opportunity for succession planning. I intend to promote a longtime recreation department employee who has consistently demonstrated professionalism, leadership, and a value to department to the department in into a supervisory role. This is both a well-deserved advancement and a strategic decision relating to succession planning. Retaining quality employees is critical to the service of any organization. Additionally, Miss Bergen is actively hiring for a recreation leader position to further strengthen staffing capacity and support enhance programming at the senior center. Taken together, these decisions are guided by several key objectives. Improving service delivery both at the senior center and for the residents who rely on public works administrative services. addressing long-standing operational challenges associated with floodprone administrative facility and providing residents with a more convenient location to do business within the public works department. Enhancing programming and support for our senior population, retaining and promoting talented employees, implementing thoughtful and responsible succession planning. I'm confident that this approach results in a net positive for both the senior center and the township as a whole. To reiterate, the senior center will remain a facility dedicated to our senior residents. This initiative is intended to strengthen operations and

improve service, not to diminish or change the cent's purpose. Thank you, Mr. Very thorough about what's going on.

Oh, thank you very much, Kevin. That was very informative. Um, my second thing was going to ask for an update on the cleanup of the stream, but you have already covered that. Um, so lastly, I'd like to follow up on a discussion that we had the last meeting about notification of the public and sharing and dissemination of information to the public. Along those lines, I would like to suggest publicly that we hold more public town hall style meetings about major issues that are affecting this town. We held a wildly successful meeting for the community center task force, one that helped inform the report that was issued to this body. I think this body needs to hear as many voices as possible on all the issues of the day and these types of meetings help to facilitate that. I would suggest more fire study public town hall meetings. I would suggest more master plan town hall meetings. These meetings can be attended by two council members and then those council members can report out to the at the following council meeting regarding what was said. This can solve some of the issues of having more voices heard on important issues in a more relaxed environment beyond the five minute public comment time in council meeting.

Thank you. I I appreciate and I'd like to follow up on that. Um, one thing that I've been discussing with um um Steve Grover who is heading our um website and and as well as the recreation department. We have an newsletter called latest and anybody can sign up and they get delivered by email and it has a lot of information in it. And one thing I discussed with Steve is that I want to dedicate a space for public notices. Um just um uh a page for public notice, a brief description, and a link that will direct them to the website for the public notice itself. What this will require is people to take a step forward and try to be better informed with the township. And if if we can come together in the middle, people will there's information out there. You just got to come and get it a little bit. Um but in conjunction with that, um I think the town hall meetings is is a wonderful idea. And um and I think as a group our included all of us if we have a sense that this an issue is percolating and that we think it needs more attention I think it's incumbent on all of us to kind of step forward and say hey because sometimes it gets away and and then and then we hear so if we make a concerted effort to kind of identify these things as quickly as possible we can have these down and it's harder What from your perspective in terms of noticing things like that? Um I understand that if we're less than a so two people in in a in a place as as mentioned what how can we as a body of five we not sort of formal is that something that's allowed is there a way to not

I'm asking this part what probably can be is that of having just two of you maybe three of you three out of five should probably be I would and then um have your meeting and report back because at least you'll have at least you know I would think so. Right. Well, I I'm concerned about having a majority of council. So, you just want two? Yeah. Well, yeah. I think at this point uh two would be u more appropriate, but there is a provision

under the law to have a caucus. Uh I'd be glad to supply council with some information on that. How to do that uh in a legally permissible fashion. Uh there's certain rules, guidelines that have to be established that have to be followed. Yeah.

Uh so and I certainly can work with the clerk in formulating that for possible town meetings. Uh some municipalities will never have three people, three council people at a meeting. But there are there the law does recognize that there may be certain issues where a caucus where no votes will be taken. No no affirmative positions as to what vote may come up. There's there's different criteria we'll have to meet. understood because I yeah my understanding was was from from the two of you previously that that there are certain sort of noticing requirements at a certain point where it becomes almost you might as well just have it here and notice has it has it and they do they do the same public notice because you have to notice the meeting whether it's two people or whatever it is

if you're having so even if so quick quickly with with the clerk and the attorney If if there was two of us, would we still need to notice that or would it just No. No. No. And look, that doesn't look the law doesn't mean that you at Christmas you could go to a Christmas party. We're not talking about a Christmas party. We're talking about a public meeting with regard to certain possible municipal issues. So, we just have to be careful that we we follow what the tenants of the law are and that can be done. Oh, I I I agree because I think three of us have been hearing that on our Monday planning board meetings about

noticing meeting in the dark and everything else. I'd rather avoid that. Miss Farmer, you had something you wanted to say. Yeah, I'm all in favor of caucusing and also there is an option for workshops also that you can do where it's a working meeting without voting. But I wanted to just go back to the latest and if I could do we know how many emails reply to the Lawrence and 3,000 about 3,000. So that's a significant number. I mean we have I think six or seven thousand that follow us on Facebook. So there there was a gap that we would love to close. Okay.

So we're thinking about doing a campaign to get more people that campaign. I I I just before I say anything else, um I also like the idea of of introducing that into the latest if only to start to guide people to where this the sort of new normal of how we notice things in public, how it's going to be. I I've spoken with the clerk on numerous occasions now and and the pride she shows and how she has been scanning and uploading things onto the what is it ecode 360.

We do we have everything on ecode 360 which is our um administrative code. So if they click go into public not we already have a link for on the website for public notices and if they go and click on it it gives you everything gives you the bids it give and we have the little links and then it has also the e-codes that they can go and do because the law required that everything that we do even public notices be um like tomorrow morning I have to make sure that every resolution we pass tonight is already put up on the website by by tomorrow all the orders businesses that get adopted even if they get tabled. Um so um the eco 360 has a lot of the all the legal as as well as and all the archived information.

Wonderful. So I yeah I think what we heard tonight was that some people don't know about that. So I think using pretty new Yeah. And so I think using latest and as a tool to sort of disseminate this new this new normal since no one subscribes to newspapers anymore. um is is a good thing. So um what is an option for snail mail? I know that in some of the meetings people have been getting stuff in their mailbox. I can tell you that the cost

to mail to the public. I think it's Kathy would know. I think it's like nine or$10,000 for a mailing if it's just a standalone thing.

Okay. And historically we know what 90% of the residents do with that mail. They don't open it up. So what we try to do from time to time is if we know there's there some type of notice that can go out like we did this when we changed the push rules years ago. If it works out during the time of the season, we put that in the tax envelope as well and that saves on that. But um committing to personal mail, it will be extremely costly and not as effective um as as we put our efforts towards other ways to make connections.

Yeah. Because postage has got to go up to I think the proposed 95 cents almost a dollar. So and then but even when you're doing it in bulk, it's very expensive. And another thing when we have a land use change just so I don't know how many people know this but when we have a land use change and once it comes from the planning board and it comes before the recommendation is made to the council um and it's given to the clerk uh we do send out um certified mail to those two within 200 ft and we send it out to the surrounding municipality regular mail and uh certified mail. So, so and we get those certified cards back and we keep them. So, and we also do the regular mailing. So, it's quite expensive. Um but it's something that we still have to do. Any questions? I'll move on to new business, old business. Or was that kind of the same? All right. Now, we're on to public participation. Three minute limitation. Sia. Um I'm very glad to see that the township continues to put in um new trails in different in a lot of places, conserving the land by Columbia Lake Park and creating new trails everywhere. And um I would like to renew my ask to create some more trails within my neighborhood, Colonial Heights. Um there is space. Um there are places where we could do that. The loop in the doggy

park you can only do so many times before you get dizzy. Um so um which is still even I took a walk uh on Saturday on Delaware River um canal and um we have all of those warehouses being built on the other side of the Trenton Highway. Even that is not relaxing anymore with the noise echoing from those huge walls. Um something covered something green. There is a paper street uh New York Avenue that could be uh converted into a trail uh going all the way to um maybe not all the way to uh Cherry Tree Lane, but most of the way there is a um gas gas lane I think right away that could be also used as a trail to the um Cherry Tree Lane um from the hero park um the proper name. Um so I would like to renew the ask from previous years that are coming here and asking for it. Uh if the township could do something for us there so we don't have to cross Whitehead road and risk injury at the Whitehead Circle. Um so that would be my ask and also um but all the the information is on the website the information is everywhere. uh master plan um planning was sent out with the tax forms uh payments slips um out of 34,000 that we have uh in the township residents uh I think Miss Mcbad said

there were 800 people that responded with the survey uh survey and in person and some of us signed up a couple of times. So, um, so, so it's there. You can lead a horse to water. You can't make a trick. So, thank you very much. Please consider, may I consider doing something for us. Welcome

Kathleen Nora. This is something totally outside the agenda, but I don't know who follows jeopardy. We have Jamie Ding, a being a township Jamie Ding, a township resident who hopefully tonight hits number 18. I think last night was number 17. And I was hoping that the council could at some point when we find out how far he goes, give him a proclamation or do something for him and recognize him because he's really brought Lawrence into the forefront nationwide. That's it. Thank you. Thank you.

John, um I'd just like to quickly address a couple of things that um Miss Carter noted. One is I I'm familiar with every corner of the Lawrence Township website, including ECode 360, and I congratulate you for having a lot of good information on the website. However, it's still not compliant with the new law and I would be happy to go over with you and the um and the council to to actually look at the law and see what is compliant. It requires you at this point to have everything in one place prominently displayed on the on the opening page of the website. So in the case for instance of this meeting it would include the agenda the um uh the letters the ordinance and everything in one place together at one place for a single click on the front page prominently displayed so that anyone can find it on the website while laudable and I encourage what you're doing now to supplement Facebook and I I did note that some of the notices on Facebook were on the same days of the meeting and they have to be 48 hours in advance of the meeting. Um, but they even having the the new website in Facebook is non-compliant with the new law. So, I would encourage you and I maybe you disagree with it, but I' i've I've read the new law and maybe you have a different interpretation of it, but I think if you ask the average person in Lawrence um their familiarity with e- code, the e-code 360 website, they wouldn't have any idea what it is. And right now the website is very compartmentalized. It has everything that you need, but it needs some additional work to link um to link things together. for the old law. And I'll just mention this. Um there was a there was an appellet court case in New Jersey with Brick Township um where they

reversed the district court um on this issue of notice with the Open Public Meeting Act because the the meeting notes were only published in one print newspaper and not two. And we have been printing for the most part, sometimes non-compliantly in the Tronian, but not in the Times and not in the Princeton packet. And I've checked all those and I'd be happy if you can point out where I'm wrong that those have been in print as well. I'd be happy to acknowledge that I made a mistake, but I, you know, looked through all of them and and I've not found that notice. So, it wasn't compliant with the old notice requirements. And now it's completely irrelevant that you advertise in that newspaper because that's not part of the law

because we only have the notice that you go to the website and those notices are that you go to the website and the state website. I I I found those notices but that's still not compliant with the law that Thank you. Um Mr. Great. Would it be possible for you to email either myself, the township attorney, or the township clerk a sort of list of your your concerns? Would that be fair to ask?

Sure. I only ask that you do things the way that they're supposed to so that it's transparently. And what I can give to you that might be helpful are the new law and the statutes that are involved in the old law. and and so and so my response would be that I believe that both our township attorney and township clerk are are familiar with the new law. I think because of both their their training and certifications and so it it sounds to me is that there might be a disagreement or or or possibly and so what the idea is is prominent one-stop shopping for legal right

Mr. I appreciate his comments. I do think that there is some misinformation by Mr. Greg, but I don't want to get into that tonight. But we with Miss Carter, I will uh try to give the board to the council the benefit of what I think uh we are doing in terms of compliance with the open public meeting act. And uh we can certainly uh Mr. Ray wants to email me. I'll be happy to give you my my email and uh you can give me whatever comments you want as to what we are not doing properly and then I'll address that with you with with the clerk.

Yeah. I just think for the purposes of saving everyone's time that if you could send an email to the clerk that would be very helpful for them to chill very quickly as I have his email address and his law firm's address. Wonderful. Thank you. Fine. All right. Anyone else for public comment? You have to come back. You want a spoiler alert? Sure. Jamie. Yes. He did number 18 tonight. Thank you.

That I'll allow from a from a seated position. Anyone else for public comment? All right. Seeing none, we will move on to resolutions. And remember, I believe we are holding off on a motion to move the block of 18 A through H1 in a block and H3 through 8 second.

Yes, Mr. Yes. Mr. Kaki. Yes.

Yes. Council initiives and less. So the DI is holding a community round table. Um it's about integration, equity, and building trust in our community. It's scheduled for Thursday, April 16th at 6:30 p.m. here in the township building. um in the lower level um trails and open space um has some questions they want um council to address with regards to the three asks that they um discuss with us with regards to the Amazon that

I I just want um you all to be aware that um our department our zoning department has two engineers and I just want to convey this this I hope this doesn't sound awful

that they are not sitting around looking for things to do. However, we received the report we understand the asks and when the opportunity arises that we think it's appropriate for because I know the person that gets up he says it doesn't take a lot of time. That's just it's not it's not as accurate as it can be. So we have it has the timing has to be right. Our efforts are being directed to things that we would like to see completed and if and when those opportunities arise that we could seize upon those three recommendations and we think it's appropriate to do so we will. So, I'll report back to them just as you stated. Um, but also to the comment that was made from the public about uh wanting to see some additional trails in their neighborhood in the community. Um, that is something that the committee could definitely look into. And one of those items was um along the Brunswick Avenue Colonial Lake area

and also the the Saturn one. I know the Saturn one a little heavier, but nonetheless, you know, that's you know that was always a the Bronswick Avenue Colonial Lake the pedestrian bridge has been a part of our plan since day one. Yes. So, we are we are searching for a grant that's going to allow us to get that to happen because I think that's the critical final piece to complement what we've gotten all the way around that lake to keep people off of Brunswick. So, I would say that that is number one in in realistic and active searching for the grants that can help fund that.

Okay. So I would report back to the committee um just that um and then the historical society historical preservation we have not met but anticipate we will committing shortly there will be discussion it came up last night the planning I anticip just share. Yes.

And that was it. Just again the DEI committee posting April 16th and it's in line with what the governor just recently signed with regards to legislation. Anyone else? Uh just a reminder from uh recreation meeting we had uh last week uh baseball opens up Saturday 8:30 is third grade 9:00 kickoff although they're playing games already starting this week and then May 15th uh along with the 250th birthday. They're having an oldtimers game. Uniforms, no gloves.

No gloves. Back then in 18 something with no baseball gloves. Uh it's a group that is coming in and on a a Friday night uh and uh play a game. So is it a hiring group or is it is it what a hiring group? It's not. Yeah. Okay. We're pros at this. Okay. No gloves. No gloves. They have baseball of uh stick with this stick. What? Uh lacrosse.

Yeah. Let's just have very interesting. Yeah. Anyone else? All right, written communication. I see um we have from Lawrence nonprofit housing their strategic plan. They're coming to I believe our next meeting. Yes, that will be that'll be fun to hear about that's going on at Village. Um so, do I have a motion to go into executive session? Motion to go into executive session. Second.

Thank you all. You can feel happy to stick around if you want. We'll let you know if you want to hear about what happens with H2.

I don't even see anymore. I don't know what happened. It used to be French.

Yes. They're high vitamin.