Municipal Council - Regular Meeting

Welcome everyone. Adequate notice of this meeting of the Lawrence Township Council being held on Tuesday, December 16th, 2025 has been provided for the posting of the annual meeting schedule of said council in accordance with section 13 of the open public meetings. Act said that news was forwarded in the Trentonian, the Times, and the Princeton packet on December 19th, 2024. We will now have our inspirational as we carry out our work at this meeting in a just, honorable, and sincere manner. Always bearing in mind our duties and continue to keep a wonderful community in which to live. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all

here Miss here. Now we have special proclamations recognition and presentations.

I guess I'll I'll start. Um, this is something that we do at the end of in the at the end of every uh two-year term. Um, so I'm going to present uh Councilman Kaki with a plaque of appreciation that the clerk put together. Um, it reads presented to James S. Council member January 1, 2022 to December 31st, 2025 with sincere appreciation for four years of dedicated service to the residents of the Township of Lawrence from Lawrence Township Council

and then I have one more to to read as well if that's all right. You want? Yes, you can save your present for last. This is always a hard one.

Yes, you do get your own.

Presented to Patricia Hendricks Farmer, Mayor January 1, 2024 to December 31st, 2025 with heartfelt appreciation for dedicated service to the residents of the TOWN OF SWANS. PRESENT. OKAY, IT'S MY TURN. ON the Lawrence Township presented to Christopher Bob, council member January 1st, 2022, December 31st, 2025 with sincere appreciation for four years of dedicated service to the residents of the township of Lawrence from the Lawrence Township Council. All right, that concludes that portion of our and now to the first opportunity for public participation for the five minute limitation. Good evening, Madame Mayor Joseph, fellow members of council and township professionals. Um, I take this opportunity to rise before you this evening to bring a word of thanks. I am the president of Lawrenceville Fire Company located at 64 Avenue in Lawrenceville. Um, I'd like to just share with the council a little wonderful thing that the council had done for us this past year. Public works director Greg Whitehead was made aware of situation with some of our sidewalks on the building earlier in the year and uh he took a look at it and said that he

would uh likely take a uh serious consideration about the repairs of it. It um it was included in the concrete program which we're extremely thankful for. We were very pleasantly surprised when the contractors rolled up this summer and took care of a section of sidewalk alongside of the uh apparatus bay area in the parking lot and it was really a tremendous thing. Um I would like to suggest to the township uh first off congratulations on receiving again the um sustainability solar certification from the uh sustainable jersey certification because also as a person takes care of the grounds there I can't get over the people that walk by there and the walkable community villages. So maybe you can use that for some of your points for your upcoming and continuing certifications with that. Uh there was a few little little minor hiccups with the project and we'd like to also give our thanks to assistant public works director D'Angelo for his timely updates and he has that work scheduled and we're just a little dependent on the weather as it's been so so cold. This all comes back to the um the leadership of our township manager Kevin Ninsky and again manager Winsky thank you for your your uh routine work and efforts. Um, also this past Sunday with the snowstorm, just another little little note of thanks. Um, the person was very humble um about that and indicated it was his job. It's no, it's it's more than it's more than his job and that's public works supervisor Joe Sinsky. He was the the gentleman that was assigned to plow the plow the parking lot. we were out there cleaning up the sidewalks and things and you could just see his dedication and spirit and his efforts and it was really more than more than his job. We just like to thank you with that. Um also

congratulations to um the chief financial officer here on his retirement. It was a pleasure to work with him over the years with the funding and budgeting and things like that with fire. And finally, just congratulations to our deputy council manager Chris Long. Welcome and look forward to working with him. Thank you for your time members of council. Wish you all best for special holiday season and all that that brings and again thank you for the entire membership company especially president. Thank you. Thank you.

Hello council. My name is here again. Third time here. Um I want to first start off by acknowledging public service. Um there's many different ways that you could serve the public. Uh you've seen the way we serve the public. We go out. We support people to make sure that they're not um their families aren't destroyed by ICE picking up community members. We also support families after a raid when ICE decides to just racially profile people and just rip people apart from their families. We've seen this firsthand. And then we also help um prepare families just to have all their things in order. So that's public service. But one thing um a lot of people forget is you all are public servants and you're practically volunteering your time. So I just want to like acknowledge that there's a lot of things we don't see behind the scenes that you all do that you all thinking about think of at night that we aren't you know having to worry about. So I want to say thank you to your service. It's practically volunteers. I know none of you are making I don't know I mean 20,000 tops. It's basically you can't live off that income. So just acknowledging that. Um, and wanted to say now that um, again we're here for a very important topic to our community, the Immigrant Trust Act. Um, and this is the third time we've talked about this and I'm I'm confident that um, it will be passed just because um, talking to some of you uh, and knowing your service to the community and so we're excited uh, about the possibility of passing it. Uh and beyond that, just sharing, uh we've done a lot of work, uh also behind the scenes. Uh we've been to the Capitol last week, all this week as well, talking to legislators. Uh and we want to bring forth that Lawrenceville municipality has now passed it. Uh and so what we're asking is if you do pass it to go beyond just passing it, uh we

are going to be going Thursday. We're doing everything in our powers to try to pass this. On Thursday, we're going to Mercer County and I know some of you have relationships with some of the people on the commission there in I'm sorry, not Mercer County, Middle Sex County. And it's an important district. The reason why it's important is because Senator Scutari and also Coughlin, those are their districts. Those are the district that they represent and they are the ones who have the power to put the ITA on the calendar and they have yet to do that. And so we're we're imploring you that uh if this passes today and we're confident that it will um God willing uh that we go beyond that and figure out what relationships and we talked about earlier, you guys know things and do things that we don't know. And so you know stuff and you know what strings that you might be able to pull. So if any relationships that you have in Middle Sex County that you can use to try to convince them because we're going out of our we only serve in Mercer County but we're going out of Mercer County to go to Middle Sex to try to talk to the city council to pass a resolution there so that if it passes there it will be a great message to Senator Qatari and Assemblyman Coughlin that they need to get this on the calendar because our state needs it, our state deserves it. Our community members need it. So, I'll stop there and I'm looking forward to this talking. Thank you so much.

Let me just make sure that you sign in. We are actually council council. We're going to make an adjustment to our agenda. Is this the appropriate time?

You could you you can do that. There is a U item on the agenda for public participation but besides that there is the ability to to adjust the agenda and I think there is a consensus of council uh to move resolution under section resolutions H5 number 382 authorizing a resolution of support of and for the Immigrant Trust Act. It's my understanding that it may be a desire to move that forward at this time.

We need a motion to do that. Mayor, I'll make a motion to amend the uh I guess amend the agenda to allow for the move up 18 H five five to be read down. You can do it now. Second. Second.

Mr. B. Yes. Mr. Kaki. Yes. Mayor. Yes. I just moved it up. Now the mayor need a motion on on the resolution. All right, mayor. It would be my pleasure to uh to move 18H. I want to get this right. Five number 382 authorizing resolution of support for the Immigrant Trust Act.

We have a motion and second call. Mr. B. Yes. Mr. Kaki. Yes. Mayor Brown. Yes. MOTION. I'M GOING to do a celebratory by culture.

Thank you. Thank you very much. Is there any public participation? Is there any additional right behind you?

Almost. Almost. Good evening, uh, Madame Mayor and Council. Uh my name is David Shrager. I'm president of Resistencia Axium, New Jersey. I just wanted to say thank you very much on behalf of uh Reistensia and the community that we serve. Um this is a step in uh uh you're on the right side of history. Uh, as I pointed out the last time I spoke in her book, Strong Men from Mussolini to the Present, uh, Ruth Benia points out that both Mussolini and Hitler started out by attacking immigrants. So when we defend immigrants, we are defending democracy. So I thank you from the bottom of my heart on behalf of all of us at Miss Extension and Axium New Jersey. You did a good thing. Thank you.

Good evening. Uh my name is Gary Backenoff and uh I've had the pleasure over the last 35 or so years of maintaining my law office here representing a multitude of different religious organizations, nonprofits, individuals, businesses, and uh it's been a real pleasure. And one of the things I've always noted in the township here is the wealth of individuals you had willing to spend their time like yourselves for the better in the community. Um, I was here about a month ago when there was about 20 people or so that got up in favor of the uh recommendations of the task force regarding the neighborhood center. And after I heard that strong support, I went back to one of the organizations. I do still currently represent the large nonprofit housing inc board which owns and operates the 100 units of affordable housing with about 300 families. They've done that for the last 50 years successfully and provided that quality affordable housing. Um they wanted to let you know that they very strongly endorse those recommendations and I note with regards to the and in talking to them we had the opportunity to go carefully through the findings and the recommendations and what the community is saying and one of the things I noted in going through that is it just seems like such a win-win type of operation. um didn't seem like anybody's recommending anything to diminish the township's role in the neighborhood center, but rather they want to bring additional resources to the center. Another thing we noted though is the neighborhood center is currently empty. And one of the things that it impairs is things like every child value I think that most of you are familiar with, which is a very familiar nonprofit. It's providing programs for for students of various ages. But the programs have been impaired because the center is not available. So the concept of trying to make the center available to various nonprofits and other organizations, the school board which could help to

energize the senator the center in the future. So I haven't heard any objection from anybody. I've been talking to people around the township about the proposal and I haven't noted any objection to it. So, I'm here on behalf of Lawrence Nonprofit Housing Inc. and myself tonight to urge the council to hopefully move forward on the energizing of that center. Thank you. Hi, Jessica. Just um super quick. Thank you for passing the resolution and um we appreciate you know everything that you've done and listening to us and um definitely appreciate you going forward and um you know speaking to other councils and bringing it to the state legislators. Thank you.

Good evening everyone. Paige Johnson, chair of the Lawrence College of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. I'm here on behalf of our committee. Um, really just a little bit confused in terms of the lack of collaborative spirit that our committee has felt to council. I understand the immigrant immigrant trust act um was just passed. Awesome. Um, however, our committee has had draft legislation um into to review for the council. letter was sent to you guys and as well as our draft letter on October 23rd through the township clerk. That information was distributed. Additionally, um and again, this is resolution was in support of a a um a resolution supporting um fair, equitable treatment of all residents. you know, obviously in compliance, fully compliant with state um and federal law um and the New Jersey Attorney General directives. Um you know, we haven't felt in terms of collaborative haven't heard any feedback um or comment to our committee. You know, I think for us, we're really here to, you know, work with council and understand what's needed to drive this effort forward. We've heard nothing. um a little bit confused as far as I understand you know there's been you know pressure placed right and you've responded however um it's just disappointing to know you know that we've wanted to work and you know be supportive in terms of how we can collaborate more effectively with council right and and support and make recommendations and have that dialogue and I think that's lacked completely throughout this entire process um I I appreciate Mayor Farmer as our um as our committee's you know liaison right to counsel in terms of how we can best support and and offer you know resources um and recommendations on behalf of you know not only the community but but the

people and residents that live here um you know especially the the groups in particular and that's really what we heard from um so I would appreciate some clarity in terms of how we can work better moving forward um you know again heard zero feedback from any of the five members of council here in regards to the letter and the draft um resolution that the clerk distributed to council. So I would appreciate just some you know initial dialogue or feedback in terms of what happened right this has been I think since April initially to now and then you know to to see this immigrant immigrant trust act um you know moving forward it's just a little bit confusing in terms of the timeline here right like let's understand um you know why we didn't hear anything right and then um you know was distributed was shared um and complete silence. So I would just like on behalf of our you know council respectfully um to ask for clarity the status of that resolution right it's October 23rd it's December 16th um so what's happened in between that timeline what have the initial thoughts been obviously my email um you know my contact information has been available right and and the clerk distributed that along with those materials so yeah just interested in ways that we can work better like where can we go from here in in order to make this situation work a little bit better in terms of what the entire focus and premise of our our committee is here for. So, um I'm not sure mayor how that works or or entails um or if there's any feedback initially from I see there's three out of five here, right? So, you know, two that I'll need to have separate conversations with, but just want to submit that. Um, and yeah, I'll I'll close and just wanted to make

that known publicly and and on record. Thank you. Yeah, I can I can response on my behalf in terms of uh yes, the the resolution and the information um was shared with all of council. I made my uh I responded the way for the diversity, equity, and inclusion committee. So I was in those discussions with the committee and I share made sure that the information was shared with all the council. Um I did responded I know that the um diversity equity and inclusion committee knows where I stood on the issue. Um and I still stand, you know, in support uh uh the work that the committee does which is invaluable to our township and um we should absolutely take a look at how uh the collaboration was missed in this era because it is the role of our diversity, equity, inclusion committee to advise the council on matters of this nature. So that would be Seeing no additional um is there any additional public participation? I will be closing this portion of publication. Now we will have the adoption agenda

regular meeting of October 7th 2025 please Mr. Mr. Yes. Yes.

Introduction of

I don't think there are any number 11 adoption of Do you have a motion? Mayor, I'll move 11A ordinance number 252-25 and ordinance amending ordinance number 2498-25 salary ordinance of the county performance unclassified and or exempt seasonal emergency non-union employees for 2023 to 2025 adding the title of SLO class one to schedule B grade 17. If we have any public participation for this item

any questions in the public seem mad clerk follow Mr. Bish. Yes Mr. Kaki Mader one moment just to have the council manager address it.

Oh okay. Uh this is for a new position in the police force, an officer dedicated to substance abuse and mental health related calls for police response. It's uh a support response in addition to the primary responding officers. So not responding like a primary officer but as a support to uh the officers and to provide assistance to people who are in crisis. Um this was um an individual that had already worked with our police force. just uh utilizing his talents more effectively and um I think it's a relatively new position in the state for local police officers. So um we're responding to the needs of our community.

We have a motion and a second call the Mr. B. Yes. Mr. Kaki. Yes. Yes. Now we will have the manager's report.

Yes. Very quickly, um, two things. I want to, um, acknowledge. Rabbi Nitsak Goldenberg expressed his, uh, gratitude for, um, we had several police officers who were present at a public manure lighting at the Quaker Bridge Mall this past Sunday. And, um, as you all know, was what happened in Australia. Um whenever there's a gathering of our Jewish community, there's always a bit of tension and a feeling um that police officers can provide support and their existence there gave them a sense of comfort and safety and he expressed his gratitude and I wanted to acknowledge that to our police officers who were in attendance and our police department in for understanding the situation and being present. It's important. And secondly, our public safety director, deputy municipal manager Chris Wongo, who's here tonight. He uh just told me a little bit before our meeting that Sergeant Jose Curado has been recognized as a public safety hero of the Latino community by the United States Latino Affairs Initiative. He'll be formally recognized on December 18th at 6:30 p.m. at Ryder University BART Ludic Luday Center and the service is open to the public. I just want to congratulate Sergeant Parado um for a job well done and it's nice to see this recognition and um extend a congratulation to Chief Reading as well.

Yeah. Okay. And that's uh that's basically all I have other than a very short report. We are two weeks into the deputy municipal manager position and um he's still here. He shows up. Um and it's it's clear to me although it's a honeymoon period, it's clear to me he's going to be a critical asset to the community on the administrative side. We're able to get into things more deeply, be more proactive than reactive. And um and I'm excited for the future of the administration of the township with them on board. Thank you. Yeah,

mayor. We have an executive session where we will have some hopefully brief discussion uh on real estate matters and uh some other matters that have been publicly noticed but nothing else right now.

Just a few items. uh boards and committees was distributed to you guys. Look at so that has been out. We have received back most of them. Uh let's see reorganization meeting January 1st 12 noon. Uh and uh I I gave you some uh classes that's going to be taking place budgeting newly experienced um elected officials. Please let me know if you would like to attend any of those classes. And let's see what else we have. And uh for those who's getting sworn in or please let me know so we can get the program ready for okay at least five days. You too, sir. And everyone else, have a wonderful.

All right, this brings us to to um unfinished business. I wanted to um at this point I guess probably under old business or new business just wanted to um address one item um with regards to the uh large community center task force as well. um have received a document that um speaks to several of the questions that were asked that came out of the task force report. So, just wanted to uh just publicly share with the community because we are 60 days out from when the task force provided the report and I know that there have been members in the community who would have wanted to know where we were in the process and what our thoughts are um in the direction that we are potentially looking to go into. And I this is just for a discussion here with the council if there's any feedback um from the members tonight but basically um it's just looking to address u some of the legal and the governance of the uh framework for the community center. It's uh basically we're looking at a framework that helps to establish a clear and lawful and transparent process um for us as a township uh to engage potentially strategic partners to enhance some of the educational, social, cultural, and recreational program of the Lawrence Community Center um that historically has been and how we're looking to

preserve some of that year and provide oversight and accountability. So, um I shared just basically some brief um notes with all of the council members and also the um the manager and our attorney Mr. Sack just to give some guidance. I know that there were several questions with regards to um what the authority of the um the operational control. These are the things that as a body as a council that we need to look at and discuss in terms of defining you know what um strategic partners could potentially look like. um and also the eligibility and the criteria that we would set for um determining what uh capacity and the missions of the center going forward. Also looking at what types of agreements we as a body um may conclude to be necessary for partnerships. And also just looking at the scopes of services going into a little bit more detail about the oversight and the accountability and whose role will be determined. And then also we're looking at the financial side and the operational um safeguards. We're looking to um discuss the community's engagement um from the task force report. That was a big part of what the community um was asking of this body and also looking to um what shared governance could look like and also what the ultimate responsibility of the community center will

will consist of. Um, so I just wanted to make the public aware that we are going to be actively um answering these questions and looking at as a body with regards to the recommendations of the task force moving forward. Are there any comments or I never got that copy. You did? No, I didn't. It's an email. having over I never got a copy. Okay, I'll share it with you. Thank you,

Mayor. I'm still looking at but I think it's it's a positive step in the right direction. Um I guess no additional comments, but I'll make sure that you take a look. This will bring us now to the public participation. Three minutes. Hello everybody. Um, I just would like to wish everybody happy holiday season and thank all of you for hard work. Um, and thank uh, Mr. Longo for joining the the forces of uh, Lawrence Township. Uh, again, we appreciate that. We're very excited to have him back and thank uh, Mr. Cipek, Mr. Winsky and all of the council for all of your your hard work and that clerk of course and our brand new deputy clerk. Um and unfortunately no no other department heads here. But we do appreciate everybody who works really hard for the township and as the inspiration always says to make this community a great place to live. And so happy holidays, happy new year and we'll see you next year. Okay. See no see no additional public

participation closing public participation at this time. motion for the resolution regarding the refund. All right, mayor. There's uh I don't think anyone wants to hear me introduce each one individually, so it's all right. But members of town 181 H4, Mr. Got it. Yes. Mr. Kaki. Yes.

Mayor. Yes.

This brings us to council initiatives and reports. I definitely want to um take this opportunity to uh thank public works for um their tremendous snow cleaning ski um stated enough what a wonderful job they do in providing that service to us. uh recreation did an outstanding job with the celebration. Our uh front looks beautiful. I saw families just this evening um taking pictures with their little ones in the u the beautiful light exhibit that we have provided for the community. So I want to definitely um just say a tremendous thank you to that committee for continuing to do the great work that they do.

Um

don't forget public works. and they're probably done with that part of the work. Um so that I also um wanted to share um with the um with the public the this past weekend um Councilman Bett was there with me. We attended the General George Washington's Oval Office um that came here to Lawrence Township for the first time uh on loan from the American Revolution Museum of Philadelphia um this past weekend. It was a a tremendous uh site to see. Um very really great uh involvement in the community. Just to give you an idea, all of the fifth graders from our school district came by buses to visit the tent activities. The museum of the old barracks was also there um to uh entertain with the with the students. Um and it was initi a student-led initiative from the um the junior historians. They were um the ones that had uh part of the vision and then was supported by I like to say by the adults um which is intergenerational again it was wonderful to see from the very little kids to um the members of the historical society who did an outstanding job. um which would support uh what else? They also as a result received um a certificate of distinction um from the sons of the American Revolution. They actually um came by they brought a tour bus tell you it is a destination. They brought um a tour bus

that was touring uh the town of Crucial Days and they stopped by the Brilli to see the town that was there. So it was a a great celebration here in Lawrence of our history, how rich it is and the involvement of so many different parts. Let's see what else.

Mayor, I do have one thing. tree committee in partnership with um the township uh the assistant municipal engineer as well as a um consultant has been working on a community forestry plan that will that's been sort of finalized and will be submitted to NJ takes a look at all of our uh trees we are a tree city takes a look at all the things talks about sort of where we've been and where we want to go um and also sort of the impacts that some of uh say climate change and and other uh afflictions that that you know have happened to the ash trees and and now might be hitting the peach trees. Um one of the things that I did want to mention um is the idea of horicultural destinations within township and one of those was mentioned in this in this plan is Maiden Head Meadows up on Pike. So get a chance go over there and take a look at the entrance to Maiden Head Meadows.

Yeah. Which is right outside the Bley House. Okay, I think that does it for uh the council of initiatives and reports. Um written communication. We do have something from our senator, our state senator regarding um a resolution that we had at our last meeting, resolution number 354-25, which opposing the supply handling project. I'll just read this into the record. It's um not too long. Um it was received December 1st, 2020. Uh, dear Miss Carter, thank you for sharing the Lawrence Township Council's resolution opposing the Northeast Supply Enhancement Project and for reporting it to my office for review. I appreciate the council's attention to the potential environmental and community impacts associated with this proposal and its engagement with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and other agencies involved in permitting this process. Please be assured that I will review the resolution carefully and keep the concerns of Barnes Township residents in mind. I also want to note that the assembly resolution AR32 currently pending in the Assembly Oversight Reform and Federal Relations Committee expresses opposition to the proposed Northeast Supply enhancement project and urges the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to evaluate alternative approaches that would avoid the environmental and public health risks associated with this proposal. the concerns raised in the council's resolution aligning with the issues addressed in AR32. Protecting the health of our communities, our waterways, and our natural resources remains a priority,

and I value the input of our local officials. Thank you again for keeping me informed. Sincerely, Charlotte K. Turner, Senator, 15th District. And as the clerk mentioned, we have the packets um information for training. Uh we've been invited by our fellow um Hopewell neighbors, Courtney Hatter, Courtney Peters Manning and David Schae. Um we are invited to their swearing in ceremonies as members of the Hopewell Township Committee um on let's see Monday, January 5th. at 6:30 p.m. in the municipal building in Hope Township. We just have Christmas cards. That's it. Right. So, that's it for our communication. Um I want to um take this opportunity and also to wish everyone uh happy holidays, merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah, happy Quanza. we won't see you until the new year in January. Um I just as as um my major uh what do you call it privilege I just want to you know share with this community what what I have learned in these last two years has been an awesome um experience getting to know so many of my neighbors through the Louisisville project uh marker joining that coalition of so many organizations here in the township working with the historical society and the Presbyterian church are lines together um and the historians and the public school and the prep school and

also working with the mayor's task force. Tremendous talent and committed residents here in our community. I can't thank you all enough for the work that you do on behalf of our residents here in the township. Um again that was a tremendous coalition of individuals who are committed and had the heart um to do this work and we will continue doing that work.

Okay with that said we will now go into executive session make the comment um two things. First thing uh resolution 18F1 was it authorizing the professional services agreement for center for governmental research incorporated for the fire and EMS center. Yes,

Miss Perry was not here tonight because of illness. Um, but I I think I just wanted to mention it because it was a year-long process that she worked on and I knew she probably would want to be here to have ushered this part through, but this signals that you'll be able to sign this agreement and we start the process of getting us to where we need to be. And um and I pass that baton off to uh Chris Longo in terms of working with CGR and and getting the study done for the betterment of our community, our public um our fire department. So we have a a public safety level that we're all comfortable with, which uh and then this the second thing I wanted to say is thank you for your for your service. We started off in the probably worst possible

two years ago, but uh we've worked together and though we've not agreed on things, we've always remained civil and respectful and um I appreciate your two years because your visibility at community events and beyond. I think I have been unmatched by other mayors. you put a lot of effort into getting out there and um and and I appreciate that and I think the community appreciate it as well. I just want to publicly say that too.

Thank you. It has been an honor. I I you know I love this town. You know, it's my home and uh there are great people here from Oh, I forgot my centennial. That was that was that was the car on top of those. Okay. Any other business? Thank you all for coming. Happy holidays. And we will now enter into our executive session. Second. Second. All in favor. You want to stay to this? If I'm if I'm permitted to, I would.