Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the combined agenda and regular meeting of the township council on December 1st, 2025. Would you please rise for all seated? Will the clerk let the record show council vice president in accordance with Open Public Meetings Act. It is hereby announced and shall be entered into the minutes of this meeting that adequate notice has been provided by the following. One, posted on the bulletin board within the municipal building on December 27th, 2024 and remains posted at that location for public inspection. Two, printed in the Home News Tribune and the Cranberry Press on December 27th, 2024. Three, posted on the Monroe Township website. and for sent to those individuals who have requested personal notice. In accordance with chapter 3, section 17 of the Monroe Township Code, public comment shall be limited to 5 minutes unless further time is granted by the council president. Item five in our agenda are proclamations and presentations for this

evening. I would like to ask our mayor to please do the honors for the volunteer appreciation awards. Thank you, Madame Council President. My pleasure. Good evening, everyone. How's everybody? Good. We're all We're all full from Turkey. Yes. Oh, good, baby. Pumpkin pie it is. Uh so welcome uh to our volunteer uh appreciation awards. Uh this time of the year is a time to reflect back and look upon those township residents who have uh risen to the top of who they are and what they've done. Um we started this a few years ago was met with great success and I'm glad we can come together and continue. So, we have three recipients tonight. Um, and we come together to recognize those volunteers and supporters who make such a meaningful difference in all of our community. Our first recipients could not attend tonight, but we are special grateful for the Periq family for transforming unimaginable personal tragedy into a mission of hope through the M Foundation. home. Their son's journey was marked by extraordinary courage. Diagnosed with a rare brain tumor at just 10 years old, he faced surgeries, radiation, chemotherapy, and setbacks no child should endure. Yet, Om met every challenge with strength, optimism, and compassion. Even while un undergoing treatment, he inspired thousands as an ambassador for the Chop Parkway run and walk, reminding everyone of the importance of standing together in the

fight against cancer. Although M passed away in 2018, his spirit certainly continues to guide the work of the foundation that bears his name. The M Foundation supports children battling cancer, promotes positivity and perseverance in schools, and contributes to research and programs that offer families comfort, hope, and critical resources to all the volunteers who stand beside beside this mission. Thank you. Your time, generosity, and your hearts keep Om's light shining, especially his smile, and to ensure that families facing childhood cancer never would walk alone. And once again, thank you to the Periq family. Thank you for your strength, your vision, and your dedication to turning loss into compassion and an impact for so many others. I will be meeting with the Puri family to specifically present them with their award. Let's hear it for the Periq family. Our second award is for Jack Kersinbound. Jack was born to parents who survived the Holocaust and were liberated in the end of World War II. He came to the United States when he was 5 years old and became a citizen at the age of 10. He earned a bachelor of arts degree from Brooklyn College where he majored in psychology and minored in education. Following that, he obtained a master of arts in psychology from the city college and a doctorate in psychology from forom university. In his junior year at Brooklyn College, he enlisted in the United States Army reserved reserves and served for six years as an ER medic and then a supply clerk at the 320th Hospital and the 204th Transportation Company.

He has been working continuously as a psychologist for the past 53 years. After 18 years of working as a clinician, administrator, and trainer, he decided to transition into private practice. For the past 35 years, he has been a licensed psychologist with 24 of these of the 24 of the 35 years in Manalapin and Marboro. In 2014, he moved with his wife to Greenbryer in Monroe and he worked as a licensed psychologist here in our township. 10 years ago, he was invited to join the American Legion Post 522 here in Monroe. And eight years ago, he became their commander. In this role, he led the post in our Township Veterans Day and Memorial Day ceremonies, the high school armed forces appreciation day, and the Mil Lake Elementary School veter veterans appreciation event. Together with the American Legion members, he conducted ortorial and boys state contests and provided awards to students at the township high school awards ceremony. They conducted annual poppy drives and donated the contributions to organizations and hospitals that serve needy veterans. for the past seven years. He has also served as commander of the Monroe Jewish War Veterans Post 609. Jack, your life story is one of remarkable resilience, dedication, and service. From your family's journey of survival and renewal to your own path of military service, professional excellence, and decades of commitment to our veterans and our community, you embody the very spirit of what this volunteer award represents. your leadership in the American Legion and Jewish War veterans, your tireless

support of our students, veterans, and civic traditions, and your 53 years as a psychologist have touched countless lives here in Monroe Township and beyond. We are grateful for all of that you have given and we are so proud to honor you today. Okay, congratulations, Jack. Come on up. [sighs] So, this volunteer appreciation award presented to Jack Kersinbound in recognition of your humble service and dedication. Thank you for going above and beyond serving the citizens of the township of Monroe. Never forget the difference you have made. We certainly won't, Jack. With heartfelt congratulations and a sincere thank you, Mayor Steven Delina and the Monroe Township Council, December 1st, 2025. Jack, the podium is yours. [applause] In my Veterans Day and Memorial Day speeches and in interviews I conducted with veterans, I usually declared the following. With pride and gratitude, we salute and acknowledge the contributions of all the men and women in the armed forces for safeguarding our home, our community, our country, and our way of life. Today I express my G gratitude to Mayor Steven Delina, Council President Miriam Conn, Council Vice President Terry Vanzuro, and Council Members Rupa Seagull,

Charles Deiro, and Mike Markel for your dedication to Monroe Township. I would be hardpressed to find many other municipalities as committed to their constituents, especially their veterans, as Monroe Township has been and continues to be. I also want to express my gratitude to all the people who work in the township, including the police, fire, and EMT. Thanks to all of you for safeguarding our home, our community, and our way of life. I feel blessed to be living here. I would be remiss if I didn't highlight the work of the mayor's executive assistant, Eileene Biennes. As everyone knows, Eileen quietly makes everything possible here in Monroe. She is the foundation that undergirds all that happens here. She has always been genuinely and calmly available to guide and assist me in whatever activity I was involved in. Without her organizational skills and direction, things would not have run as well. I can't thank her enough for all her help. I also want to take this opportunity to pay homage to the late Mayor Gerald Tambboro. He too was instrumental and supportive of my work in the early years. When I moved here 11 years ago, I assumed that while continuing to work, I would take part in some of the classes and activities I discovered were available here in Monroe. But fate intervened. I was approached by a member of our local American Legion, Post 522, and invited to join the post. My first job was as the scribe

for the post. Not long after, I was asked to serve as the post commander. At the same time, I learned the existence of the Jewish War Veterans Post 609 here in Monroe. So, I joined it too and was promptly asked to be its commander. It has been my honor to serve as the commander of these two posts and in those roles to facilitate many formal military services in the township at Mil Lake Elementary School and at the Monroe Township High School. It also has been my honor to assist my fellow veterans. It has always been my intention that whatever I was involved in would run smoothly, benefit all involved, exhibit reverence and respect for all past and present service members, and that we would together be proud of what we accomplished. I hope I succeeded. I'm truly honored and grateful for the recognition that you have bestowed on me today. I thank you all. Thank you. [applause] Thank you. [applause] So just on a on a personal note um you know Jack had mentioned about you know hoping that things run smoothly. So you know as a member of the council for 10 years and you know mayor now for these f past five years. So, when we have our Memorial Day event, when we have our 911 event, and we have our Veterans Day event, right, there's always that anticipation. Oh my gosh, there's we we got to make sure people are there. We got to make sure we have this. We got to make sure. And and and yes, thank God we have Eileen as well. But but Jack, me

personally, I you know, yeah, I'm Yeah, I'm a calam cool collected guy, right? Well, wrong. I get very nervous before events, right? and and when we would have these events and I would show up, it wasn't until I would see you, right, that I know you gave me some calming and I know that it was going to be a well-run uh program. And again, that is all because of you, my friend. So, thank you so so very much. [applause] Okie dokie. As we come to the last 2025 uh volunteer award appreciation award, it's fitting that we end by honoring a group whose impact is felt throughout the entire year, the friends of the senior center. This is truly the there is truly no better way to close this celebration tonight by recognizing the extraordinary people who give so much of themselves for the good of Monroe Township. To all the members of this remarkable organization, thank you. Your unwavering commitment, your countless volunteer hours, your deep care for our residents make an extraordinary difference and every single day. What makes the friends so special is that every effort you go uh you undertake goes right back to our community, to our senior center, to our food pantry, two lifelines for so many of our residents. Your work ensures that our seniors are supported, nourished, and engaged, and that families who need a helping hand always have someone to turn to. Year after year, you continue to raise that bar. Your annual car show has become one

of Monroe's most successful and beloved events, a true community tradition. It's not just a fundraiser. It's a celebration of togetherness, teamwork, and a spirit of giving. And it succeeds because of your passion and organization. You also make our senior center feel like home. From the beautiful Thanksgiving lunchon that brings people together in gratitude to your ongoing support to for many of the programs that keep our seniors active, social, and thriving. Your impact is felt in every corner of that building. I want you to know that the township sees your work, values your work, and deeply appreciates your work. Monroe is stronger, kinder, and more connected because of you. On behalf of all of our residents, our staff, the entire council, I offer our heartfelt thank you. Your service is not only admirable, it is essential and it reflects the very best of what this community can be. Thank you for all you do and cong congratulations on a welldeserved award. I'd like to call up the the group if you want to come on up or or if you want to if you have a representative you want to do a representative to say something and then we'll do a group photo later. Is that okay? So I'll read it. The volunteer appreciation award presented to friends of the senior center obviously all of the executive off officers in recognition of 35 years of

humble service and dedication. Thank you for going above and beyond serving the citizens of the township of Monroe with heartfelt congratulations and a sincere thank you. It's not on there, but the proud mayor of Monroe Township, Steven Delina, and the township council, December 1st, 2025. Thank you so so very much. [applause] I don't know if I can follow Jack's very very whatever eloquent words, but uh none of what we do as volunteers happens in a vacuum. I have a very large volunteer all volunteer board of trustees that carries out all of our events and we are greatly supported by the staff of the s of the senior center. Um, thank you very much for our recognition. And again, as this plaque says, we've been in operation officially for 35 years. And in 1990, when we were formed, uh, we didn't have a motto, but now it's friends helping friends, something that we enjoy doing and work very hard at. Thank you. Congratulations [applause] to all. Uh I we're going to take a five minute recess so people can take pictures. So you have your five minutes. We'll gavvel out for five minutes and you can get some pictures taken.

would like this meeting to be called to order. All those leaving, please leave quietly. My friend is here. Good. Thank you. Yeah, I'm in. Will the clerk please read item six? Ordinances for second reading at the December 1st, 2025 regular meeting. Ordinance 011 2022 024. Ordinance repealing chapter 3, article, what is it? Where are we? What happened over there? What article are we? 18. 18. Uh, article 18 of the code of the township of Monroe entitled employment policies. Ordinance 0112025025 bond ordinances providing for various capital improvements in and by the township of Monroe in the county of Middle Sex New Jersey appropriating 2,772,200 therefore and authorizing the issuance of 2,638,500 bonds or notes of the township to finance part of the cost thereof. Ordinance 012025026 bond ordinance providing for various improvements to the water sewer utility in and by the township of Monroe in the county of Middle Sex, New Jersey appropriating $8,520,000 therefore and authorizing the issuance of $8,520,000 bonds or notes of the township to finance the cost thereof. Ordinance 0112025027, an ordinance amending chapter 108 zoning

of the code of the township of Monroe to reduce the number of market rate units required pursuant to the township's third round affordable housing obligation and to provide for affordable units to be applied to the township's fourth round obligation. Item seven are the resolutions for consideration under the consent agenda at the December 1st regular meeting R12 20225-234 through R12 2025-260. Any of my colleagues have any questions or concerns regarding these? They go forward. Like to open for public comment. Remember these are limited to agenda items only. Five minutes per speaker. May I have a motion to open the public comment period? Motion. Thank you. Second. Second. All in favor? I. Anyone wishing to address the council on the agenda items only, please come forward now. Hello. Your name and address for our records, please. that were read into the record. Yes. Could you use your mic, please? Sorry. Thank you. We can't hear you. No, Chad should be I'll give you Wait, M Miss Mr. McGowan will give you a mic that's working.

So So the title of this ordinance is talking about market rate versus affordable housing obligations. Yeah. But buried in here is reszoning a section by Mounts Mill to be a village center district zone has. So, I don't understand why this is not, you know, someone brought the, you know, mentioned this in Facebook. So, that's how I became aware of this as opposed to affordable housing units, which I understand the township needs, but a village center district out by Mounts Mill is I don't know if anybody's done traffic studies, but it's really an inappropriate place for a village center. Um, I don't know if any of you go near Plansboro where they built a village center off of Scutters Mill and Chalks Crossing. They have multiple lane roads there. The traffic that would come through Mounts Mill. If you build a village center with shopping centers and gas stations and banks and doctor's offices, there is incredible. Um, I don't know why this is buried in here, honestly. You're going to get 18-wheelers going on Mounts Mill Road. There's no I don't know if you're planning on widening the roads Hoffman station to multiple lanes or Mounts Mill to multiple lanes, but you can't sustain a village center in that part of town without massively changing the traffic flow and the number of roads and straightening some of those roads out. So, I really think you need to reconsider at least that part. I'm not against the housing. I understand people need places to live that are affordable. town has become pretty unaffordable for young families. But a village center in what used to be a very rural area part of town I think is very it's I think it's an appropriate use of that space. There are other places you already have multiple lane roads even here by Ponville and and uh Prospect Plains that would be more suited to a village center. Thank you for your comments.

Anyone else wish wishing to address the council? Seeing and hearing none, may I have a motion to close the public comment section of the agenda? Motion. May I have a second on that? Second. All in favor? I I close. I'd like a motion to adjourn the agenda session. Motion. Thank you. May I have a second? Second. Thank you. Roll call. Councilman Markell. Yes. Councilwoman Seagull? Yes. Council Vice President Vanzora? Yes. Council President Cohen? Yes. Meeting is adjourned. Time is that? 7 o'clock. Motion like a motion to call the regular meeting to order, please. Second. Second. Roll call. Councilman Markell, yes. Councilwoman Seagull, yes. Council Vice President Banzora, yes. Council President Cohen, yes. May I have a motion to approve the payment of claims for the run date of November 24th, 2025? Motion, please. Second. Thank you. Who made the motion? Mike made the motion. Roll call. Councilman Markell. Yes. Councilwoman Seagull. Yes. Council Vice President Vanzora. Yes. Council President Cohen. Yes. Motion carries. The motion to approve the minutes of the following meetings is written as presented. November 5th, 2025. Agenda and regular combined meeting. Motion. Second, please. Second. Thank you. Roll call. Councilman Markell. Yes. Councilwoman Seagull? Yes. Council Vice President Banzora. Abstain. Council President Cohen.

Yes. Motion carries. Ordinance for second reading 011 2025-024. It's the ordinance repealing chapter 3 article 18 of the code of the township of Monroe entitled P employment policies. I'd like a motion to open a public hearing, please. So moved. Thank you. A second on that. Second. All in favor? I. Anyone wishing to address the council on ordinance 012025-024, please come forward now. Seeing and hearing none, I'll entertain a motion to close the public hearing. Motion. Thank you. A second. Second. May I have a motion to adopt the ordinance as stated in red? Motion, please. So moved. Thank you. Second. Second. Thank you. Roll call. Councilman Markell. Yes. Councilwoman Seagull. Yes. Council Vice President Vanzora. Yes. Council President Cohen. Yes. Motion carries. [clears throat] Ordinance 0112025-025 is a bond ordinance providing for various capital improvements in and by the township of Monroe in the county of Middle Sex New Jersey appropriating 2,772,200 therefore and authorizing the issuance of 2,638,500 in bonds or notes of the town township to finance hands part of the cost thereof. I'd like a motion to open a public hearing on this, please. Motion. Thank you. A second on that. Second. All in favor? I. Anyone wishing to address the council on this ordinance, please come forward now. Seeing and hearing none, a motion to close public hearing, please. Motion.

Thank you. A second. Second. Thank you. All in favor? I may I have a motion to adopt the ordinance as read. Motion, please. Motion. Thank you. Second. Second. Thank you. Roll call. Councilman Markell. Yes. Councilwoman Seagull. Yes. Council Vice President Vanzora. Yes. Council President Cohen. Yes. Motion carries. Very good. Would you please read the next one, please? Ordinance 012025026. bond ordinance providing for various improvements to the water sewer utility in and by the township of Monroe in the county of Middle Sex, New Jersey, appropriating 8,520,000 therefore and authorizing the issuance of 8,520,000 bonds or notes of the township to finance the cost thereof. Thank you. May I have a motion to open a public hearing? Motion. Second on that motion, please. Second. All in favor? I. Anyone wishing to address us on this ordinance, please come forward stating your name and address for the record. Good evening. Michelle Armenio, 9th Street. Uh, regarding this ordinance, various improvements to the water and sewer utility, uh, for $8 million, are there one or two things you can express as to what that will be used for? Mr. McG. Sure. Um, Actually, yeah. Joe, if you want to highlight a few of these that might you might be better able to explain than I [snorts] And while he's doing that and the the allocation of funds, have have they been sort of separated or is this just like one [clears throat] big pot so far? when he gets to it. When he gets to it. Thank you,

Mr. Destroy. Yes, council president. Uh yes, Mr. Arminino. Uh essentially 7 million of that uh $8 million uh bond ordinance is for the design and construction of PAS facilities at well 17 and 19. Uh we also have another million dollars uh to uh actually do the design of relocating the water man on Spotswood Englishtown Road as a result of a county culvert uh reconstruction project. And as a result of some of the design uh hydraulics that we've done, we're improving 3PV, which is a pressure reducing valve station uh throughout the township. Uh, and that's a million dollar. And then the remaining $410,000 is to buy a new frontend loader, which we've had for 30 years, and a new skid steer, which is going to help us uh move equipment to the various Okay, council president. I'm satisfied with that answer. I have a follow-up answer. Um, a question. Sorry. So, 7 million, let's talk about the 7 million. That's the big number. Is is soft cost design work? No, that's okay. Because you did say design work. So I don't design and construction. Okay. Yes, that's key. Yes. So how about of that 700 I'm sorry about 7 million how much is actually construction work? Uh about 6.2. Okay. So the design work is not just like cuz that's a lot of money for No, it's 10% essentially. Yeah. Okay. And um you know since I've been coming here for so many years uh before we absorbed the uh water and sewer into um uh the utility authority there was $44 million in their budget and in their fund. How much do we have now?

Mr. McGowan, do we have that answer now? It it's part and parcel of my question about having to bond nearly um you know eight well more $8 million worth of if if do we have any fund balance bond budget mcgowen would do we do have utility surplus uh council president but we still utilize capital financing every year for capital projects and capital items um because we don't want to drain that surplus. That surplus is what helps keep our bond rating high, helps um uh you know um it's it's what's it's what's proposed and recommended by our auditors and by the DCA uh to keep a healthy utility. And what is that surplus? May I ask? I don't have that in front of me, but it's on our website on our um and it doesn't have it is on the website if you look there. I just want to make sure you heard that. The audited financial you need to talk and talk. audited financial statement D is is where you can find that still yeah and it's on the website but again we don't we certainly don't have the 44 million anymore I think that was depleted over time over like 5 years or so I have no idea what what it is we have a roundabout number in surplus during during my time here I don't I don't believe we've had that 44 million but I' I'd have to double check okay um and the PIFA it and and this is mostly to designed to protect us from PIFA's uh contamination in our water supply. I would think so. Do we have a number of uh of concentration now and what we suspect we will have after this project? No, essentially uh this is uh because there is POS in the water as a result of contamination that others have done as we all know. Uh but this is to meet the new uh federal regulations that go down

to four parts per trillion. Four parts per trillion. Yes. And could you, if I have any time left, okay, [clears throat] could you please uh council president, can you we have the public briefly educated on on what PAS is and the dangers and the the way that's kept. I mean, I think certainly we don't have time on our agenda tonight, but we can arrange to have information placed on our website discussing PIFA and if people have questions, they can bring them to us. I would think that that will work. Okay. Thank you. You're welcome. Anyone else wishing to address us on this ordinance, please come forward now? I'm going to move to clo motion to close the public hearing. Motion. May I have a second on that? Second. All in favor? I I May I have a motion to adopt? Motion. The ordinance is read. Second. May I have a roll call on that, please? Councilman Markell, yes. Councilwoman Seagull, yes. Council Vice President Vanora, yes. Council President Cohen, yes. Motion carries. Read 0112025-027 is an ordinance amending chapter 108 zoning of the code of the township of Monroe to reduce the number of market rate units required pursuant to the township's third round affordable housing obligation and to provide for affordable units to be applied to the township ship's fourth round obligation. I would like a motion to open a public hearing on this ordinance, please. Motion. Thank you. A second on that. Second. All in favor? I. No opposition.

Anyone wishing to address us on this ordinance, please come forward now stating your name and address for the record. Rakash Parab. 33 Dana Drive. I was looking at this ordinance this afternoon. It goes over four pages. It is there are looks like there are changes in the zoning specification something. Can you explain it is a four page we have to go one by one. It is not I know that finally I saw the 17% will be for affordable housing. That's a number came up but that there are several cancellation corrections uh water tower definitions and all what's going on because this is more than what is the ordinance briefly what what that ordinance defines four pages well it's not four pages it's 26 pages so I'm not no I don't want briefly briefly summarize briefly summarize I'm happy to do that first this implements a memorandum of understanding that was uh approved by council back in I guess September. Okay. So, and it essentially what it does is it reduces the third round um housing that was approved but so the township had a third round obligation and and it approved a certain number of units. It reduces by 479 the number of market rate units that are going to be built. It um uh provides for the uh the construction of 65 additional affordable housing units which would be credit against our fourth round. It moves it it provides for uh warehousing to be on Route 33 south with access to Route 33 South. It provides for the remainder of

that warehouse site to be given to the township as a conservation easement. It has a and um Kevin is going to correct me with the or mark with the number. I believe it provides a 35 acre conservation buffer between 55 acre conser uh um buffer [clears throat] between development and it is it the Regency development regency and the Regency development. So it provides a buffer. I I know there was a comment earlier on about making it a um a village center but there's only five acres okay of of commercial. The rest is is largely senior um and market rate units, but once again reduced by 479 market rate units. Um and and I mean that's that's essentially what it is. What the reason it's 26 pages long is because we try to show you what the current ordinance is and show you what we've amended out. But if you look at the September meeting and look at the memorandum of understanding, which is not 26 pages, it's probably 10 pages. it has a a much clearer um and more concise description of exactly what was happened more in kind of a narrative form. Thank you very much. You're welcome. Anyone else with a question for the council? Seeing and hearing none. Oh, yes ma'am. Sorry. your name and address please for our records and it's five minutes for speaker Suzanne Smith uh 618 Foxwood Englishtown Road. I'm questioning the creation of village overlay 3 zone that in this notice that I received says that you're going to put a thousand units in our little corner of Monroe. I don't see how that could actually be

doable. How Mark, how do you recall how what the size of that that uh is it 500 acres? Is that what it was? So So that area consists of the um the [clears throat] stone museum parcel as well as the uh I'll call it the fourth corner on Mounts Mills and Spotswood Englishtown Road which was the horse farm and further back which contains well over 100 acres. Um I think it's a couple hundred acres. Um and uh essentially the other three corners that exist today where two are developed and the third one um has a preliminary approval on is part of a um village center one zone. Right. So so uh so this is adding essentially the fourth corner uh calling it a village center 3 zone as well as the u stone museum. And the and the other part and the other part about it is that we don't talk we we don't talk about a lot, but it it's part of this is this was a parcel that was targeted for fourth round development. So if we hadn't entered into this agreement, we would have gotten the 479 additional units plus more units here. So we actually have saved by you know and I know there there are some who have been following affordable housing for a long time who understand what that is but these hundreds of acres would have then been subject to a you know an application under our fourth round obligation to build more housing. So it was going it was all all likelihood going to be housing. So what we tried to do is plan it in a way so that the commercial finds it itself on the highway and the residential that there are no highways there. It's no where the where the commercial where right out the edge of town. So it'll come in and out of old bridge. Sorry, I didn't want to interrupt you. I apologize. But a thousand units anyway you slice it is a lot for that little corner of Monroe. The roads can't take it. I don't

know how you're going to do water and sewer again. Uh I'm assuming that this other relocation of water main storm water. It says spots with Englishtown Road. That's the ordinance 26, but spots with Englishtown Road is very long. I'm curious exactly where that's going to take place. Also, [cough] the changes to VC1, he changed the minimum track size from 50 to 45 acres. Curious as to why that that particularly happened 5 acres off. also the convenience store and gas station allowance in section three or I'm sorry four permitted principal uses section five says exclude restaurants cafes excluding curb service and drive-through facilities for all eating and drinking establishments and then you add it on the next page in number 11 numbers 11 and 12 that you can have a convenience store with or without a gas station or a fast food res uh restaurant with or without a drive-thru. So, that's a little confusing. And it seems to me because I live right over there, there's really only one place to put that gas station. I mean, you're going to put it in the middle of the housing cuz you're putting this overlay zone, but does it make sense to put it anywhere else but where there's already site plan approval for other things? Yep. Council President, first thing about the u the minimum lot size. So so that uh I'll call it phase two. It would be the northwest corner of that intersection at Mounts Mills and Spots with Englishtown Road. What happened after the uh it did have the minimum lot

size when it was approved, but after the rightway dedications to the county as well as the township, it reduced it to that uh I believe 45 acres. Five acres. There's a lot of frontage along Mounts Mills Road as well as Spotswood Englishtown Road. So that reduced it. So all that was was essentially a I don't call it a cleanup uh you know to bring that existing lot into conformance after the uh rightaway dedications. Um so I'm just confus it seems that this is being changed so that a gas station could be put there. Is that what's going Is that really what's going on here? You want to put a gas station on that corner of Mounts Mills and Spotswood Englishtown Road? Uh, council president, it it does amend the DC1 existing uh village center zone to allow for a convenience store with or without a gas station uh as well as a fast food with or without a drive-thru. So that that is added as a permitted use. So the contradiction is five and 11 and 12. Okay, I'm sorry. There's a contradiction there in sub paragraph 5 and then 11 and 12. You're saying it's not allowed and then you're saying, "Oh, wait. We're going to allow it." I'm sorry. Can you refer to me to the page on the ordinance you're talking about so I can see if I can That's good. Thank you. Permitted principal uses in subsection 4 then parenthesis five. We have an answer, Council President. So I believe five refers to uh restaurants, cafes, lunchonets, and delicatestants. Um where you been to a fast food restaurant with or without? It says drive-through facilities for all eating and drinking establishments. I I believe that's uh uh different than uh when we're saying fast food without drive-thru.

But I'll defer to No, you're right. He's right. Ma'am, your your five minutes is up, please. Long past. One is general and one's more specific. They're not contradictory. Okay. Anyone else wishing to address us, please come forward now. Okay. Michelle Armeno, 9th Daniel Street. Before I lose any time, let me say that according to this ordinance and any uh while our attorney says there is no contradiction, I would ask this council to be cognizant once again of the people who live here and take that language out to be sure that there is no gas station in that area. So you can do that to this ordinance. I think you can amend it. I don't know what how how you have to or table it until you can go through it again and protect the people in this area. And um I have a couple questions. Years ago, that corner that is now built on was zoned um neighborhood commercial and it was for like a grocery store and all the things I think you're asking for it now. But the builder back then didn't want to put it there. put a neighborhood commercial there because it wasn't financially um advantageous for the builder. Now [clears throat] you were coming back and asking for more and now you want to put retail there. Well, now you've put all these people there. So, okay, of course, now it's going to benefit the developer to put this retail stuff. How about consideration for the people in Monroe who have lived here all

these years? I have one question. Um, ordinance 26, this young lady sort of brought it to mind, so I'm asking a question because I don't know the answer. Does ordinance 26 relate to the Mounts Mill area? Oh, I the water and sewer doesn't relate to this ordinance, but I don't know whether it relates to that area. Does it relate to the area? I'm Joe's gonna have to ask that question. Joe, like it's not part of this ordinance, but Joe, well, uh, council president, does it affect that area? The relocation of the water man, uh, is essentially directly across from the stone museum. Okay. That's where the culverts. So, that seems to me that we are paying $8 million for whatever is going to happen there to accommodate a developer. No, you No, sir. That is my But in all due respect, but but it's not fair because $7 million. I have the ability under wrestler versus um wrestler versus polyai. No. Oh, if you let me finish that. I don't know that case. Okay. So, I'm going to tell you what the case is. You cannot object to the content of what I'm saying. You might want to correct me, but you cannot object to I wasn't objecting. I was correcting versus West Winds or Board of Education. So, let me continue, please. Okay. Even though you're wrong, I'm happy to let you do it, but go ahead. You could. Would you please complete your question? Well, that was my question. It seems to me, but as an observer, that we are spending $8 million again to accommodate a developer. Second, the the 4, it could be my opinion, um 479 market rate that you're not doing and you're adding 65, but is the total going to be the same in the third round? Even though you're eliminating 479, are you adding that much in affordable housing? So, in other words, is the total going

to be the same or are we actually the total in the third round is reduced by 479 market rate units? The amount of affordable housing stays the same. So, the set a size so it's a to so it's a net loss of 479 market rate. Okay, good. I'm I'm happy with that. That is true. Um and the buffer zone is going for Regency to protect Regency. Correct. Yes. Okay. Um 55 acres I think is what makes sense also. Um number three the corner. Oh I said that originally and wetlands. How much wetlands on that stone museum? No m president. I don't have the exact number but there is you know there is a wetland delineation on it and there are wetlands on that property as well as the the the uh you know the 300 acres that's on the southeast corner. you know does contain wetlands. Mhm. Okay. And I know that there is some and I don't know the details but I know there was some uh situation where on the other side where it's already built some wetlands had been filled in and there might have been a um an environmental payment to the state for that. I could be wrong on that one but I understand that some wetlands were filled in when they weren't council president. I'm not aware of any violation. There was uh there was NJ approved permits for any um wetland um mitigation that they might have done or filling of of areas, but there was permits that I'm aware of. Uh I'm not aware of anybody. That's fine. But we I sadly wetlands are filled in in any area that is prone to in Monroe. Your five minutes is done. Thank you. You're welcome. Again, please do not uh vote yes on that or change that language. Council President, if I can just, you know, clarify one thing on the water main. Um, this water main relocation is uh is part of uh or required due to a Middle Sex

County project that's been under design for more than 10 years that I'm aware of. Uh there's four stormwater culverts under Spotswood Englishtown Road in the area of the Stone Museum. Um um and those culverts again were uh designed to be replaced in order to uh help mitigate the flooding issues in that area. um their old antiquated culvert crossings. So that middle sex county has had this under design for nearly 10 years and that's where the relocation of this water man comes into play where the water line has to be relocated in order to accommodate the new culverts and that falls on the township as you know it it's it's our water utility and thank you and also and just once again to correct for the record and I think it's kind of not fair to ask the question and get the answer and then come back and pretend like you didn't get the answer. The $7 million was for the PAS treatment. Nothing to do with this development. So, it's what I was and I can use the word objection because I think your citing of that case is wrong. My objection was when you said it was $8 million to help this developer. You just found out 20 minutes ago or 15 minutes ago that the $7 million was for a water treatment plant that had nothing to do with this property. And what Mr. Razimovich just said, which is true. If we never did this, if they never built on this property, if it remained a farm, we were spending that million dollars because it was as a result of a county road project. Period. So, it's that is an unfair characterization and it's not and we have very great discussions here, but it's unfair to that's an unfair shot. So, I just I just want to make it clear. Yeah. I think you said it was an opinion. That's different than a question. We need to stop having a conversation with each other while we're in session. Uh, anyone else wishing to comment,

please come forward now. Seeing and hearing none, may I have a motion to close the public hearing? Motion. May I have a second on that? Second. All in favor? I. Any opposed? No. May I have a motion to adopt 011 2025-027, please? So move. May may I Thank you. May I have a second on that? Second. Thank you. Roll call, please. [clears throat] Councilman Mark, yes. Councilwoman Seagull, yes. Council Vice President Vanzora, yes. Council President Cohen, yes. Motion carries. Thank you. We move to the resolutions for consideration under the consent agenda R12205-234 [clears throat] through R12 2025-260. May I have a motion, please? So moved. Thank you. Second on that. Second. Thank you. Roll call. Councilman Markell. Yes. Councilwoman Seagull. Yes. Council Vice President Vanora. Yes. Council President Cohen. Yes. Motion carries. We'll move to the reports, please. Mr. McGowan, first on the list. Thank you, Council President. I'll be very brief tonight. I just want to thank the council for your support of our uh capital bond ordinances. They're really important for various departments throughout the township, including DPW, parks, uh MTUD, obviously, and and many others. So, thank you very much for your support in that. And then I just want to thank um our DVW and MTUD and other personnel who are um uh working out in the cold as the weather gets colder on a daily basis and getting us ready um as they are uh today uh and over the weekend for what could potentially be a little bit of winter weather tomorrow, though hopefully not too much. While my kids are praying for a snow day, I think we're all, you know, hoping that it passes us by in many ways. Nevertheless, our DPW is uh

top-notch um as well as MTUD and others in in getting us prepared and ready for those emergencies. So, I I truly thank you and uh and that's my report. Thank you, Mr. Mow. Council President, I'll be brief as well. Uh James Monroe Park in session stand and park improvement. That project continues to move along. The building is up. Um they're uh they're they're beginning work on the inside to uh to finish that up and uh hopefully in a couple months uh that will be complete. Um the other project that's ongoing, the pickle ball courts and parking lot at the senior center that again continues to progress. Um we do have the uh the parking lot open temporarily as needed out there, the new expanded parking lot. Um and that's my report. Thank you. And move to the council reports. I'm going to go to my right, Mr. Markeel. Uh, briefly, I'd just like to say I was at the, uh, Thanksgiving dinner at the senior center, which wasund I think um, they served 197 people. Um, it was great. It was wonderful to see everybody have a great time. Um, I just to mention um, also as I always like to mention, just remember our veterans this month. It's not Veterans Day. It's not veterans month, but it's it's always veterans veterans year. Remember that. Um, so a thank you out to our veterans here here in the United States. Um, quickly, I'm just going to mention uh December 3rd, we have the Christmas tree lighting. I'm going to take something away from Rupa. And, um, on December 17th at the senior center, we have the Manora lighting. Um, and that's about it. I just want to mention that. Thank you. Councilwoman Seagull, please. Thank you, Council President. So, again, I just wanted to say congratulations to all the volunteers that were recognized

this evening. Uh, it's a tremendous amount of work they do to provide what they do for our community. Uh, one thing I did want to share as leazison to the culture arts commission, this Saturday, they have they're sponsoring a holiday concert by the New Jersey Festival Orchesta orchestra, Return of the Three Holiday Teners. It's a free concert, first come, first serve serve. Saturday, December 6 at 1 pm at the middle school pack. So, please come join us. Bring your families. And that's all I have for tonight. Thank you, Mr. Vanzura. You're looking so comfortable in your seat. Thank you, Madam President. Um, I would join in uh you know, thankful to all of our volunteers and everything. Uh there's so many people in town that that do so many things and uh you can't recognize everybody in one shot every year, but all the people that were here tonight contribute their time. They don't get paid for it and they do a lot for us. There's many others uh throughout the town that also do things. Uh we just went past uh Thanksgiving where there was a lot of food distribution type things going on and all these people that do so much. That's part of what makes us a great town. So, thank you to everyone that does that. Um, one thing I I would like to point out, um, I would uh there's still a lot of lot of street lights that are out in town. I'd like to keep the pressure on JCPNL to see if we can get those things resolved. Um, especially now it gets dark so early, you know, like to have that little extra street light when I come home from work and uh gets a little tough sometimes. Um, one topic, something new that I wanted to talk about might have been touched on a tiny bit. Um, but it's about uh electric bikes and scooters and things like that cuz um, just driving down the street, I noticed it sometimes seems a little bit

dangerous. Uh uh I I see a lot of young people out there and uh they tend, you know, being young as they are, tend to cut in and out a little bit more without really being as careful as maybe they should. Um and the reason I bring it up, I I prosecute in a couple of towns and we do have a state statute that controls a lot of it and um it's quite uh extensive. It covers a lot of things. Um, but there are certain things that they push back on to the towns and stuff. So, I'm not going to pretend that I know what all the answers are, but I I'm going to suggest maybe it might be a good idea to um, you know, have our police chief look at what some other towns have done. Some of the towns have started to enact ordinances. Um I'm you know that like the state statute for example you know certain things you need to have helmets you need to have uh some of them depending on how fast the electric bike goes some have to be registered have insurance and you have to have a a license actually to operate them and you can't be beyond a certain age but like a couple weeks ago I had a case where a kid was 14 years old and he was charged with driving without a license driving without insurance I mean that would have really messed up his driving record for a So, uh, sometimes an ordinance is a way of getting the point across without something harsh. And I think we need a balancing act because people need to understand that this is something that will require safety, something that you have to act in a particular way to make sure that we don't have some type of tragedy where where kids are, you know, somebody gets killed or something because they're not paying attention. Um, but one of the I think one of the things that I would personally like to see is um to have it advertised a little bit more, whether it be on on a website or or somewhere else that you see what happens. People buy a bike and sometimes they don't know what

they have to do. Oh, I've had this bike for a few years. Well, now they have a statute that says you have to register. You have to do these things. Well, make sure everybody knows about that because on the one hand, the guy buys a bike and the guy that's selling the bike doesn't tell you. It's not like when you're buying a car and you can't take the car off the lot until you show proof of insurance and registration. Well, if there is something for a bike, then people need to know that that's what it is so that they know to do it. Otherwise, they're subject to a harsh penalty. On the other hand, if you're going to ride around and you're supposed to have these things and you're not doing it the right way, there has to be some recourse also to to teach people the lesson that um you know, you just have to do things in a certain particular safe way. So, I'm not saying one thing versus the other. I'm saying that there has to be some balance in there. And perhaps what we could do is, you know, whether it be through legal or through uh um our police uh discuss it, come up with some ideas maybe that we can come what what's best for Monroe, keeping in mind the interest and the safety of the children and other people that ride it versus, you know, what can be a harsh penalty, too. So take all that into account and look at it and it's just something to to think about in the future. It doesn't doesn't have to be this day or this moment, but just something to to take into account. That's what I wanted to bring up. Thank you. Before I turn the microphone over to our mayor, which is always a pleasure to do, I wanted to make an announcement for those of you that are here. There is a program as we've now discussed snow, rain, sleet, hail, and may it never happen to us called Are You Ready? Red Cross Ready. It will be at the senior center. It is a onehour presentation on Wednesday, December 3rd at 2:00. And you will get a take-home packet that

includes a checklist and a summary of the prepared messages measures sorry for the following situations including extreme heat or cold, power outage, home fire, severe thunderstorm, flooding, hurricane and tornado. I think if it is valuable information to get and it is of course free of charge. So call the senior center if you are planning on attending. I think everyone will find something valuable in the discussion. Uh I'm going to ask our mayor to please grace us with a few words this evening. Thank you, madame council president. As always, um I'm going to seed my report to five second graders reports. Okay. Um, I went last month to Miss Corona's class in Barkley Brook and their assignment was to list things in Monroe that they like. And I was lucky enough to go and give them my top 10. And then they gave the report and I said, "Well, at the next council meeting I'm at, I will re provide the data that they've collected and their written report." So, Mr. Jackson, um, everyone knows Monroe Township Rec Center is the best place in town. First, there are so many sports there. You can even play something [laughter] the something at the rec center like soccer. Uh, oh, outside at the rec center like soccer, baseball, and softball. You can play basketball inside the rec center. The rec center has food machines and water machines, summer camp, math scientists, Lego, robotics, and coding all for kids. He provides the hours and the address is

120 Mammoth Road. I know you will want to just go there and like the sports. You'll love them. [clears throat] Jackson. Yeah. So, rec center. So, Adita, my favorite place in Monroe. You need to go to the Monroe Township Public Library. First, there are so many different books there. You can borrow games to take home and return. They have many activities like chess, club, puppet shows, and craft in a bag. There is even a guessing jar every month. The library is located at four municipal plaza and open seven days a week. I hope you go and borrow books and explore the Monroe Township Library. Thank you, Adita. Kina, you must go to the stop and shop in Monroe. [laughter] I should have asked if maybe she had a relative who works there and was getting a cut of the action. But first, there are so many things you can buy. You can also shop online. You can get fresh bread and fruit. You can also get Starbucks. You can a little young for coffee, but you can do daily deals. There are weekly fresh picks. There are weekly specials, too. There are millions of products to shop. It is open 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. [laughter] It is located at 16 Pineville Road. You will have a great time meeting awesome cashiers. Have fun shopping. Emma says, "You should visit Barkley Brookke. There is so much more than learning. First, during the year, we have special events. The specials that

you do there are gym, art, library, music. At lunch, you can buy lunch every day with your lunch card. You can have recess every day. Sometimes you have recess outside or inside. There is a nurse and a principal. Our principal is Miss Mohenny. And there is a security guard at the front desk, Mr. Taylor. Everyone knows Barkley Brook is the best school in Monroe. And I will have to admit uh they with my top 10 I had to you know I was a sellout. I said my most favorite place is Barkley Brook School. So just wanted to get that on the on the record. And finally Mr. Noah his favorite place in Monroe. Everyone knows Monroe Township McDonald's is the best place in town. First, did you know at McDonald's you can order at breakfast and lunch and dinner? [laughter] Did you know some McDonald's have uh a play zone? You can get French fries, burgers. It's I'm sorry. It actually says boogers, [laughter] but I I'm taking, you know, burgers. Is an optional sport. Chicken nuggets. You can also play games. It does say boogers. [laughter] For kids, you can get a Happy Meal. It is not that expensive. It is located at One Gateway Boulevard in New Jersey. [laughter] It is open every day and closes at 11:00 p.m. I hope he's not there at 11:00. I hope you get some good food. Remember, get a happy meal for your kids and enjoy your meal. My friends, second grade Barkley Brook School.

very nice and and I do want to thank uh Miss Corona for for what she does every year she has me come in and I think it's just a great exercise for the kids to look at their um surroundings and and I you know I always I let them ask me questions and you what's your they what's your favorite color and do you have a pet and stuff and and I always say well I have a question to to you if you were mayor what would you do and my friends there are some really really beautiful young children in in in our town when they start talking about helping the poor, planting trees for the environment. So, so there there's there's hope in the world and and it starts at Brock Barkley Brook School with Miss Corona. So, thank you madam council president. Yes, sir. Thank you. Going to move to the public comment section of our agenda. May I have a motion to open public comments, please? So moved. Thank you. A second on that. A second. All in favor? I You're welcome to come to the microphone. Your name and address for our record. Your comments are limited to five minutes, please. Ladies and gentlemen, let's not have a duel in contests. We will just go. Uh Paul Peloquin uh 241A Mayflower Way Rosmore 08831. The council is a mistake not to have passed uh the resolution in support of the immigrated trust act. Immigrants are are scapegoed and and taking attention as a result of Trump's use of of scapegoats. We have armed

masked uh thugs actually in democratic cities. Uh we have a a tax cut that cut the next decade will have cut 500 billion dollars from Medicare and 930 billion dollars from Medicaid. Not to not to count food stamp cuts. And we've honored and mentioned uh veterans here today. VA cuts the Veterans Administration. If we don't fight as strong as possible to push back against and protect the immigrants and and demand that we stop talking about immigrants, we protect them and get our health care back. They took a trillion dollars from our health care from American citizens. And what we if we don't fight, we won't, you know, why don't the billionaires have to pay the same tax that the that billion that billion dollars was transferred to to the the upper 1% with the over the decade the billionaires will get a trillion a trillion dollars in in in taxes. We ought to be demanding that they pay the same taxes that a teacher pays, that a cab driver pays, that the postal worker pays. And we got to fight back because they they're not just coming for immigrants, they're coming for our living standards and our democracy. Thank you for your comments, sir. Next person, please. Praash Parab 33. uh dinner drive. We are coming to the end of the year. It is you know holidays are starting and I want to appreciate what is going on in our town. You know I see lot of medical facilities coming up.

It is become we used to drive to Princeton for some of the treatments now they are available here. So that's a great news. lot of sports facilities are going on you know and um you you guys council member mayor and all listen to people and listen we come and talk and we all follow up and do the best try to get grants and all and so I want to talk about positive what is going on this year in our township and we have vibrant recreation center vibrant library vibrant senior center lot of uh prayers. Our temples are coming up and it is faith for different faiths. So it is one of the town is looking good and we are improving every year trying to best or do best to you know always we come and comment but we have to talk about what I see a positivity although what is going on in Washington we're trying to keep our town as good as possible and 2026 elections will be there and we have to make sure that democracy persist in United States I have come as immigrant and I have been in this country for 40 years and I have seen lot of changes in last 10 years and we will fight it out in a good way and also I look at the statistics the crime rate is going down it is from 2023 2024 2025 trend is there so good thank you for the council mayor our police department EMS and many of the volunteers so thank Thank you. Thank you very much. Have a happy holidays. Thank you for your comments. Your name and address for our record, please.

Katherine Hunt 121P Loa Lane. I wanted to ask that the council will put the immigrant trust act resolution on the agenda and vote for it. Um this is S3672A4987. Our legislators in LD14 support the act and they're actually on the bill as far as they are co-sponsors. And when I talk to legislators, uh, not just ours, but ones in other districts, I ask them, "Well, why is it that the bill all year has made no advance at all? It hasn't gone through either committee, hasn't had a hearing, and it can't be heard on the floor. There can be no um hearing on the floor and there can be no vote on the floor until it goes through its committee hearings. And here we are in the lame duck and still nothing is happening on the bill. Why is that? Since so many people, so many legislators are in favor. Well, they always say it's leadership. Well, who actually is that? Well, they finally come down to naming who those leaderships are, and it comes down to two people. And they're sometimes giving the excuse, well, we just don't know if people support this bill. And that's why we come around and ask that you please pass a resolution in favor to show that our town is in favor of the immigrant trust act to support

our own legislators and of of course the other legislators who support this bill. Um, the immigrant trust act will expand critical protections. Immigrant immigration qu questions will only come up if necessary for determining eligibility for public service for a public service and law enforcement will not voluntarily share information with ICE. The act will advance accountability. Law enforcement agencies must receive training and annually report on immigration enforcement requests and compliance. And the act will set model policies that keep information safe at places like healthc care facilities, schools, public schools, public libraries, shelters, and more. The immigrant trust act is important to our communities and ask that you will put it on your next agenda and also vote in favor of a resolution in favor of the immigrant trust act. Thank you very much. Thank you for your comments. Anyone else wishing to address us this evening, please come forward. Please state your name and address for the record. Max say it's 113 Hoffman Road Run Road Township. I wasn't going to talk about I wasn't going to little slow. Okay. I was not going to talk about this except council person vice president Van Zura brought up the ebike issue. Um, I was an avid cyclist when I was much

younger and I recently purchased a class one ebike and I've noticed that towns all over the state are starting to implement various laws town by town. We need to be first of all when people talk about ebikes. It's important now we discuss the different classes and a class one is a pedal assist. Generally I have to be pedaling. It doesn't go faster than 20 miles an hour. And let me tell you, in my youth, I could run 20 I could ride 20 miles an hour on a flat without a pedal assist. I can't do that anymore. Ebikes have made it possible for me to cycle. But the biggest problem with town by town rules is that as you're riding a long-distance ride, you don't know when you're on your bike what town you've crossed into. And there are towns now implementing that you can't ride an ebike on roads that are more than 25 miles an hour. And they're not being careful about what the class is. Education is the key here. As you said, there are ways to reach young people to make it clear to parents that if they're buying a class 3 ebike, which can go 20 m 8 m an hour or faster without pedaling, that is basically a moped. Setting up ordinances town by town, makes it impossible for avid cyclists to deal with it because you don't know when you've crossed in. The better thing to do is when we're repaving roads, build bike lanes. Put up signs that say you must pass with 4t of clearance. enforce the traffic laws in this town. I don't know, you guys live here, too. People are not following traffic laws. They're making they're not stopping at stop signs. They're running red lights. That's the the risk to the cyclist. When cyclists get into accidents with cars, it's the cyclist that suffers. And causing more laws, creating more laws for cyclists is not going to protect the cyclist. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else wishing to address us? Please [clears throat] come forward now. Seeing and hearing none, I'm going to entertain a motion to close public comment section. [snorts] Motion. May I have a second on that? Second.

All in favor? I opposed. May I have a motion to adjourn our meeting? Motion. May I have a second on that? Second. Time is We are adjourned. at 7:56 Yeah.