Township Council - Regular Meeting

[Music] And good evening everyone. Let me now call this chamber to order. Will everyone please rise if you can join with me in our pledge of allegiance to the flag and our nation and remain standing for a moment of personal reflection. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. [Music]

Thank you clerk. Miss Lawful, please call role and read our statement of adequate notice. Council member Hall here. Councilman Wendell here. Councilwoman Winston here. Councilwoman Vicki here. And council president Makavoy here. Mayor Brad Cohen is absent. Also present tonight is administrator Joseph Priscolo. Present. Township attorney Anthony Aayakoka. Here.

Thank you. 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. You have before you resolution 25 hyphen 230, adopting our meeting minutes from our June 23rd, 2025 meeting. May I have a motion to motion to approve? Second. Is there a need for clarification or correction on these minutes? Seeing none, roll call, please. Council member Hall, yes. Councilman Wendell, yes. Councilwoman Winston. Yes. Councilwoman Zimbicki, yes. And Council President Mackoy, yes.

Council, we have before us a proclamation from the mayor's office honoring the tap into East Brunswick editor Moren Bersock. Please indulge me as I read the proclamation. And will Miss Bersock please join me at the podium? [Applause] Don't know what we're going to do without you, Moren. Jim, you were the first one who said I should wear that press card on my hat that I was going to bring you for you tonight. We don't have to get rained on. Good evening. Good evening,

Tom. Tom, come up here. Back here. Thank you. proclamation honoring Moren Bersog in recognition of outstanding service to the East Brunswick community. Whereas Moren Berserog has dedicated over a decade of unwavering service to the township of East Brunswick, becoming a vital force in civic engagement, local journalism, and community building. And whereas she has served as moderator and facilitator of mayoral and council debates for 10 years in collaboration with EBTV. And whereas Moren has provided ongoing coverage of East Brunswick's redevelopment process by visiting sites, attending meetings with and forums, and interviewing stakeholders to keep residents informed and engaged in their community's future. And whereas her commitment to education is evident through her coverage through her coverage of the East Brunswick public schools, her interviews with board of education candidates and her celebration and the accomplishments of students and staff especially during the challenging period of CO 19. Whereas she has shown steadfast support for East Brunswick's first responders, including police departments, fire companies by covering significant events, sharing critical information during emergencies, and contributing to community outreach efforts. And whereas Morin has worked in partnership with the

Department of Recreation and Parks to promote programs and strengthen community bonds through positive storytelling and photography. And whereas she has maintained an object an objective and reliable presence on social media. Let me say that again. She has maintained an objective and reliable presence on social media, delivering accurate alerts and timely updates to the public. And whereas Morin has promoted local economic development by collaborating with the East Brunswick Regional Chamber of Commerce to support new business and community events. That's page one. We'll move to page two now. And whereas she has fostered the next generation of journalists through mentorship and her work with the East Brunswick High School school newspaper, The Clarion, guiding 12 student interns over the past decade, many of whom have pursued journalism in college. And whereas under her leadership, Tap into East Brunswick has received statewide recognition, including honors from the New Jersey Center for Cooperative Media for coverage of school issues and the elections, especially 2024. And whereas Moren Bersog has been the recipient of numerous accolades, including the 2021 East Brunswick Citizen of the Year Award, the 202 Aubry Award for Community Orientated Journalism from the New Jersey Society of Professional Journalists, and recognition in 2023 for excellence in local news. Whereas in addition to her journalistic

achievements, she is a dedicated educator with 44 years of experience teaching English currently at Middle Sex County College. She's a published poet and essaist and a respected member of the New Jersey Society of Professional Journalists and the National Society of Professional Journalists. And whereas she is a beloved wife to her husband James Berserog, a proud mother to Samuel and his wife Gina, and Thomas, his wife Melanie, a family whose values of service and commitment are reflected in all she does for our community. Now, therefore, be it proclaimed that I, Brad J. Cohen, mayor of the township of East Brunswick and the township coun council on behalf of a grateful community do hereby express our deepest apprec appreciation to Moren Berserog for her exceptional service, journalistic integrity, and profound contributions to civic life here in East Brunswick. given under my hand in the great seal of the township of east project. This is the 14th day of July in the year 2025. The honorable mayor Brad J. Conn [Applause] please

happy best deal day. Uh, thank you very much. And I want to mention especially how lovely it is to work for the East Brunswick Television and uh, Anthony and Brian. To work with the East Brunswick Department of Recreation uh, has been an exceptional delight. They're wonderful people and many of the stories that I wrote that I loved the best were about park openings and uh events run especially during COVID by the department of recreation. It's been my honor to be treated with respect by the superintendent of schools, by the chief of police, and by the mayor of East Brunswick. And I've written some sad stories. Brian Siknik's death uh from South River, the drownings here in East Brunswick here at the municipal pond, terrible stories, uh fun stories like picking cranberries in the Pine Baronss in southern New Jersey and making Irish soda bread uh for the community. Uh that was my favorite. Um, it's been and actually going to Paris Island with the United States Marine Corps and five counselors from East Brunswick High School. I'm a teacher and I'm going to continue being a teacher. And the thing that I believe in the most, you know, including all these wonderful things like our marriage and our constitution and all our religious stuff. I really, really believe in reading and writing. I think it's the way out. And I also think it's the way in. And it's something that being a journalist has allowed me to do to read to write something that people actually read is an amazing thing. Many of us write like college papers or reports or

forms or you know in my case I wrote many many teacher observations and nobody really wants to read those but to read the news is a different thing and uh so that was a pleasure to me and it is my I was I've been a teacher since Ronald Reagan was president of the United States. I've been a journalist since Kevin Makavoy was mayor of East Brunswick. Uh I've seen Mayor Cohen through his whole tenure of mayordom. So it's a wonderful thing and and thank you. Thank you for allowing me to tell your stories. I appreciate it. [Applause] Moren, I just want to thank you for telling the stories and putting it out there for people without the back and forth. You know, you told the stories over all these years. So, I've been sitting up here almost 16 years, and you told the stories of what was going on in town when we didn't have the Sentinel newspaper or the home news, which had all fallen off and and you guys stepped up and really provided to the people of East Brunswick what actually was going on. And I appreciate that so much. In addition to that, I appreciate you always keeping an eye on my mother. So Moren lives two doors away from my

mother. So she always, you know, gives me a heads up if there's a paramedic at the house or something. So thank you. Anybody else from council? Let's take a photo shoot, please. Mhm. I'm certain. [Music]

Jim, why don't you come in and we'll make sure you get a copy of There you are.

So my voice. Thank you so much. Congratulations.

Oh, you took a snap between SP camera, right? I did. just want to push him. Yeah.

Okay. So, I have uh at this time I have on the agenda the auditing firm and Mr. Fina, but he is delayed with the weather. So, that that that piece with regard to the presentation of the audit will be done when Mr. Fina gets here. Okay. I just want to update you because of all the flooding in Woodbridge and he is at exit 135 on the Parkway and every time he he left two and a half hours early to get here prior to the meeting and it's just been getting worse and worse the conditions. So I told him he lives in Wayne told him turned him around

turned him around. He said he will be happy to come at the next meeting on July 28th. He asked me to um advise you. you all have a copy of the audit report, right? Which is posted on our website, right? And the report that's given, the audit opinion is the cleanest opinion that they could give, right? Uh we do have one comment we'll be uh I'll be sharing uh the response for that once the uh synopsis is posted in the paper. So that will be at the next meeting. And in on the last page here, they expressed their appreciation for the cooperation from the township officials and employees and the courtesies extended during the course of the audit.

And uh thank you. That's pretty much it. Thank you. We have nothing to No, we're not going to take on nothing at all. Yeah, it'll be at our next meeting. and and they've they've been doing our audits for for a number of years and you know alongside with our our CFO um I think done a great job. Thank you. Thank you.

Yeah, that's why I sent out a uh a message to all you all received my email too thinking it was going to be a problem but uh then I went talking to uh Mr. Chris Skull and talking to Mr. Casic, they said we we we could meet. Having said that, council, we have two ordinances for a second reading and public hearing. Township clerk, could you read 24 hyphen 24? a bond ordinance providing for the replacement of various water main lines in and by the township of East Brunswick, County of Middle Sex, State of New Jersey, appropriating 1,230,000 therefore and authorizing the issuance of 1,230,000 in bonds or notes to finance the cost thereof to approve.

Second and a second. You got a motion and a second. Okay. Thank you. Um Mr. Chrisculo, can you clarify any anything on this matter that you know that appears because we're seeing the 2424? Yes, it's a year it's a year. The the issue at hand was uh the advertisement has to be done in the in the paper. So, uh that's what we're doing at this time. Thank you. Council comments. The next one's the same matter and the same issue, right? I'll open I'll open 24 hyphen 24 to the general public to speak on this issue and this issue only. Seeing none, we'll close the public portion and we'll have a roll call. Council member Hua, yes.

Councilman Wendell, yes. Councilwoman Winston, yes. Councilwoman Zimbicki, yes. And Council President Makavoy, yes. Township clerk, can you please read ordinance 24 hyphen 25? A bond ordinance provided for road repaven in and by the township of East Brunswick County of Middle Sex, State of New Jersey, appropriating 2, 105,000, therefore, and authorizing the issuance of 2 million in bonds or notes to finance the cost thereof. Motion to adopt and a second. Second. Council comments. Now open this matter to the public. Anyone wishing to speak on this issue and this issue only. Close the public portion. Roll call, please. Council member Hall, yes. Councilman Wendell,

yes. Councilwoman Winston, yes. Councilwoman Zimbicki, yes. And Council President Makavoy, yes. Let's move on to our reports portion of the meeting. Mr. Crusculo, our business administrator.

Just uh want to thank the entire staff for all their hard work that goes into uh running the town smoothly as reflected in the audit report. Um it's it's a huge team team effort. Um as the mayor says, there's a lot going on in East Brunswick and this reflects the uh amount of work that's going on and special thank you to uh uh Angel, our CFO and uh certified purchasing agent. So thank you, Angel. Uh once again, uh Mr. Ayak, our township attorney. There's nothing to report. Council President, thank you. Miss Lawler, our township clerk.

There is nothing. There is nothing to report. Council president and council committee or board reports. Council president. Um

I know that there's you know at the last meeting we talked about special inspections for the ice rank and all of that and and I understand that that is back on our consent agenda for tonight. Um, after my discussions with both the mayor and meetings with Mr. Kip at the ice rink, I understand um that we've scaled back on things, but there are certain other items that are in need of special inspections that um came up over the past couple of weeks. And um I completely support Mr. Kip's request for an additional budget line item for this um due to the compaction under the ice rinks. So I just wanted to you know

clarify that. Yeah. Yeah. Mr. Kip has been completely forth forthcoming and and we've spoken about things and and um you know these are what I would say in my mind necessary additional expenditures. Thank you Councilman. I will now open the meeting to the public and therefore Yeah. No, Dana has one. I beg your pardon. I do. Please. Floor is yours.

Thank you, Council President. Um, I have a final notice here to read for those homeowners in East Banza who have yet to replace their uh water meter and the new radio. Um, we've been doing this for years now and we're we're kind of grinding to to the end and we need this done. Um, dear East Brunswick water customer, providing high quality water and reliable service to our residents is a top priority and that includes accurate billing. To maintain accuracy, your water meter radio device must be replaced. This upgrade at your property is now overdue and must be completed as soon as possible. To perform this work, access to your property is required. There's no cost to you at this time. Our licensed contractor, MeterTech Utility Services, Inc. will handle the replacement. The phone number to call to schedule an appointment with them is 1 8007170974. They're open Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4 pm. And you can go online at www.metertech.net. That's spelled me tert.net. Um, you do need to have an adult 18 years or older present at the property during the appointment. I know when we had ours done, it's very quick and easy. It's surprisingly easy. And when we had it done, we said, why didn't we just do this sooner? So, um, for more information, you can call, um, the water department for information, you know, if you need more information.

Thank you, Councilman. Thank you. Real quick. Yes, please take your time, please.

Yep. Um, wreck report. Very quick. Um, first of all, we are going to celebrate um this Wednesday, National Hot Dog Day. So, join us at the municipal complex for free hot dogs and some great company. Also, there's an EB family kickball night on the 20th of July at Heavenly Farms from 6:30 to 7:30. And because we are East Brunswick and we're always looking for something new to do and expand our horizons, we are hosting a pro- wrestling night at the Community Arts Center on July 30th. And there's some very um like semi-professional wrestlers that will be there. There's going to be food trucks, uh celebrations, and a lot more. and that event is from 5 to 8 there. And last, the Interfaith Clergy Council is hosting a school supply drive through August 15th. You may drop your donations off at the food shed at the recck department in the back. And um they're looking for various school supplies and also appreciate gift cards from Target and Walmart. Thank you. [Applause] Now open the meeting to the public. Therefore, capture clerk, can you 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 10:4-12A and the East Brunswick rules of council, the council asks 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. Thank you. When I would like to address the council president, please. [Music]

Good evening, Fran Snowise. Um, Schindler Court. Okay. Good evening, council members and the few neighbors and those that watch on the broadcast. Um, tonight I speak not only as a concerned resident, but as someone who believes deeply in the values that define East Brunswick, inclusivity, compassion, and a commitment to building a better community for everyone here. recent council meetings, in fact the last six, I I I I'm fearing that there's language and accusations that cross a crucial line, one that separates the right to free speech from the dangers of hate speech. While free speech is a cornerstone of our democracy, hate speech, especially when it echoes age-old anti-semitic tropes and blood labels, undermines the safety, the dignity, and the unity of our neighbors. The difference, what is the difference between free speech and hate speech? Free speech allows for the open exchange of ideas, including dissent, debate, as long as it doesn't incite violence, or discrimination, which we see a lot of in our high school. A lot. Hate speech targets individuals or groups based on identity using language intended to vilify, humiliate, or incite hatred and violence. This is not just offensive, it's dangerous and it is eroding our community fabric that we are working some of us really hard to maintain. Why is this behavior why should this behavior not be tolerated especially in this kind of forum? Allowing the hate

speech in our public spaces does not advance the cause of free expression. Instead, it's damaging trust, inclusivity, and our sense of belonging. Our community standards demand more from us. We must draw a line somewhere. We may not always be able to legally silence hate speech, but we can and we should condemn it and refuse to let it define our public discourse, the importance of building bridges. I want to talk a little bit about our sister city of Yavna. Uh our sister city relationship with Yavna Israel is a testament to the principle of building bridges. It's not about politics or endorsement or fostering understanding. It it is about fostering understanding, cultural exchange and a friendship. Fact, to my knowledge and research, East Brunswick's sister city relationship with Yavna Israel does not involve sending local tax money to Yavna. The partnership is about cultural, educational, community exchange, not financial support. Our tax dollars should not be going there. When we build bridges, we create opportunities for learning, empathy, and unity. And when we don't, we're just tearing them down and sewing division, mistrust, and fear. And I am a a an avid attender attendee of the board of education meetings. And this is something that we're fighting every day. Every day. Building bridges means that we have to go across our differences and find common ground. It means engaging respectfully with factbased dialogue rather than resorting to condemnation, misinformation or blood libels. It means supporting initiatives that bring people together through education through service and through shared

experiences. So here are some suggestions that I come to the table with. Adopting a code of conduct here. Setting clear expectations for respectful discourse at public meeting including prohibitions on personal attacks and hateful language. And I believe even I noted that someone had maybe laughed or gofoded at something that someone was saying up here a few weeks ago on June 9th and it really riled the speaker and like what is our decorum here? How do we handle ourselves in these situations that are hard and really really they just go there, right? empowering our council to respond. Encouraging you please to use your voices to immediately and publicly condemn hate speech, reaffirming our shared values in our town. I can't change the conversation at the dining room table, but we can change it in a public decorum. limiting public comment to agenda items. Keeping discussions focused on township business and curtail the hate speech. Provide training. This is something I've been pushing for on a high hard hard press of the board of ed. Please, there are resources for townships, for board members, for community members, parents, students. They're free. Use them. They come from different kinds of sectors of our community. Partner with our schools. Our schools are drowning.

Okay. I can't read the last 15 like paragraph. Your time has expired. Okay. Someone did get an extra 15 minutes last time. 15. Anyone else wishing to address the council president, please? Mr. President, Town Council, Tom Ingressani, Deerfield Road. Um, I got my big wonderful tax bill the other day. Um, it went up. Is that it for the year or is that going to be just for That's an estimation on the

because I didn't get I only got the bill. I had to pay by August, but I didn't get the other four quarters. Okay. We supposed to get it, Mr. Chris Gulo? Yes. Because we didn't get the certified tax rate from the T uh county tax collector's office in time, we chose to go out and issue um estimated tax bills. We now have that certification from the county. Uh we did not wait because we need, you know, we want the revenue to come in. So, another set of bills will be going out shortly now that we have the certified rate and it'll be reflective, you know, of that because I hope it's not the increase that they gave me for 3 months for the rest of the year. It's quite a bit. That's why I'm asking. All right. And so, it's an estimate.

Tom, once again, we only control the municipal side of the budget. Um most I notice most people in this township are not aware of bulk pickup u uh the schedule for the recycled schedule for the garbage unless they see it out. Like my neighbor the other day puts out some stuff on a Thursday. He said I said they're not going to pick it up. You got to call bulk says what's that? you know, so usually used to get a letter or uh a sequence of what's to happen in the next few months, like a garbage pickup, boat pickup, what number to call if you have it, and so on. Is that possible? We can still get that. I mean, well, the easy out is just to call the township, Mr.

Well, a lot of people don't even know the township number. I'm just what I'm saying, you know. Well, that's the form of communication that's needed right now to to

I know any way we can get it out, you know. that just called this number for bulk pickup and so on so forth. That's all I got. All right. Uh uh the sign on Hope Street right near the rescue squad is still missing. Um and um the the pole on Gordon and Summer Hill Row is finally taken down, which is good. And uh all right. Um, and just a word of thought, what's happening in New York with the mayor is a disgrace. I mean, I don't know how Democrats could vote this guy in. I mean, I was at my union function when they said Cuomo's going to run and here he comes. He's waving to everybody. I'd rather have him than a guy like what's running. It's just scary. I mean, he wants to defund the police. He wants to do away with ICE. He He's He's threatened. He wants $28,000 an hour, the minimum wage. That's ridiculous. And it's just that I think letters should be written against this guy if possible. That's all I have to say.

Thank you, Mr. Angusini.

Anyone else wishing to address council? Seeing none, let's close the public portion. And moving on to the consent agenda. Township clerk, please read consent agenda statement. Resolution 25231 through resolution 25252. 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.

Does that do council have anything need needs to be separated? Uh motion approve. I didn't I like um we have a motion for resolution 25 hyphen 2-231 through 25 hyphen 252. Second. Sorry if I moved too quickly for you. That's okay. I picked up on it this time. Yeah. Uh roll call, please. Counciloman, yes. Councilman Wendell, yes. Councilwoman Winston, yes. Councilwoman Vicki, yes. and council president Makavoy.

Yes. Um council, we have three ordinance for for introduction. Uh all all three have to do with the uh with the with the hockey rink if I'm not mistaken. Correct, Mr. Cookook. Yeah. Preparation for opening of the ice arena. Okay.

Um it it requires us to naturally add some new titles. Um, generally we do our salary ordinances in November. Um, but we need to get going with hiring staff, getting them trained um, for the for the ice arena. And if you figure it now, by the time we get these ordinances advertised and approved, we're looking probably at September date uh, in which we can start at least advertising it. So, uh, that's why I'm asking the council, uh, because there are grades in each one of the, uh, the unions, uh, and management staff that, uh, that we do this midyear, and it's only for the, uh, uh, upcoming, uh, ice rink. Council clerk, please read ordinance 25 hyphen 25.

An ordinance of the township of East Brunswick amending ordinance number 24-35 fixing the grades, classifications, and grades and compensation of employees of the township of East Brunswick covering the United Services Workers Union Local 255 IUJAT, formerly MEA. May I have a motion to approve? Motion to approve and a second. Second. Any discussion on this matter? Roll call, please. Councilman Bhal, yes. Councilman Wendell, yes. Councilwoman Winston, yes. Councilwoman Zimbiki, yes. And Council President Makavoy, yes. Uh, Township Clerk, can you read resolution? An ordinance of 25-y 26

an ordinance of the township of East Brunswick amending ordinance number 24-36 fixing the grades classification and grades and compensation of employees of the township of East Brunswick covering the professional managers association PMA executive staff and confidential employees. Motion to approve. So move second. Second. Roll call, please. Council member Hall. Yes. Councilman Wendell. Yes. Councilwoman Winston. Yes. Councilwoman Zimbicki. Yes. And Council President Makavoy. Yes. And resolution 25-y 27.

An ordinance of the township of East Brunswick amending ordinance number 24-37 fixed in compensation for temporary, part-time, and seasonal employees for the year 2025. Motion to adopt. Second. Second. Roll call, please. Council member Hall. Yes. Councilman Wendell? Yes. Councilwoman, yes. Councilwoman Zimbicki, yes. And Council President Makavoy, yes. I'm just going to backtrack for a sec for for something that I feel I need to clarify. Fran, is it for Can you come back up, please? So, you can finish.

Yeah. No, I I I I as you walked away, you mentioned that last last week I I had done something. I I didn't pick up on that until you were at your seat. So, I find it only No, I find it only fair. and therefore uh complete in allowing you to finish your

I appreciate that. Thank you. Thank you. Um, my last two, um, my last two suggestions were to make it easier for residents to report hate speech and those that are affected, and to promote counter speech, encouraging residents to come with facts, to come with empathy, to come with positive messaging, which is what I come with today. In closing tonight, please, East Brunswick, I came here because we stand for diversity, inclusion, compassion, and civic engagement. I want us to be vigilant in defending free speech, but equally committed to rejecting hate speech in all its forms. Most importantly, let us dedicate ourselves to building bridges across backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences so that our community can remain strong and welcoming and united for all and a safe place for our kids. That's all I think about in the end. Thank you. I appreciate that.

You're welcome. Thank you. Okay. Um, any comments for the good of the cause? Motion adjourn. Uh council, please signify with an I if you're ready for adjournment. I I Good night everyone. Thank you.