Municipal Council - Regular Meeting

Council [laughter] [clears throat] come to order. Welcome everyone. It's nice to see everyone here. [laughter] Happy St. Patrick's Day as well. Um, it felt like an Irish day. All right. Statement of proper notice. Adequate notice of this meeting of the Lawrence Township Council being held on Tuesday, March 17th, 2026 has been provided through the posting of the annual meeting schedule said council in accordance with section 13 of the open public meetings act. Said notice was forwarded to the tronium the times of the Princeton package on December 12th, 2025. Miss Carter, [clears throat] may we have the inspiration pledge of allegiance, please? carrying out our work at this school in a just honorable and sincere manner always bearing in line our duties and continuing to keep Lawrence a wonderful community in which to live. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all

here Mr. here. Mayor

here. Seeing no special proclamations or recognition of representation, we will move on to public comment, public participation. I'm just going to read something in the record because I see a lot of new faces here and just to kind of set priorities here. The purpose of public comment period is for members of the public to inform the governing body of their views. This time is an opportunity for Township Council to listen with care to the public and to consider what we hear in our deliberations. It's not a time for back and forth dialogue as that can be difficult for us to give accurate responses on critical and complex issues on the spot. Rather, one can call or email members of council manager clerk seeking additional information or response to an issue. I'd also like to read two excerpts from the Lawrence Township Administrative Code Matter addressing council. A person may address the council upon recognition by the chair. The person addressing a council shall write down their name and address on the sign of chief which is up front here. Step up to the microphone, give their names in an audible tone of voice for the record and shall have the right to address the council for the amount of time by the chair. No person having the floor shall be permitted to enter into any discussion either directly or through a member of council without the permission of the chair. No question shall be asked the council person except through the chair. Also decoratement council meetings. Any person making impertinent or slanderous remarks or who shall become boisterous while addressing the council shall forth with be barred from further audience report council by the presiding officer unless permission to continue or again address the council is granted by the majority vote of council. So I just wanted to I'm sure no one's going to violate any of those things but I just wanted to sort of set that level. So with that anyone here for public participation?

Yes. I'm first on the list. There's a list here. Okay. download sir [laughter] sir that's that's not really that's really how it comes five minutes

thank you good evening Mr. Mayor and Council members, my name is Robert L. Learner. I live at Fort Benedict Road. I'm the president of the Rosedell Acres Homeowners Association, which comprises approximately 30 families. My family and I have lived in Lawrence Township for approximately 30 years. I'm here to speak regarding the recently adopted 2025 fourth round housing plan, specifically the massive 800 unit redevelopment of the ETSs property on Rosedale and Carter Road. As a resident who was not properly notified of the June 2025 planning board meeting where this density was first discussed, I am deeply concerned that the township simply caved to a developer's maximum density demands rather than exhausting all other reasonable alternatives. I am formally requesting tonight that the township immediately cease all further actions regarding the proposed development of ETSs and provide the community with the public accounting of at least the following four questions. First, direct negotiations with ETSs. Since ETSs has been a long-standing pillar of our community, did the township proactively engage in negotiations with them to find a more preservation-minded buyer? [clears throat] Specifically, did the township offer to help broker a deal with other potential local corporate partners or even nonprofits that could have utilized the existing office infrastructure without requiring an 800 unit residential explosion. in a bucolic neighborhood. Question two, alternative developer

outreach. Did the township seek out boutique or missiondriven developers who specialize in sensitive lower density inclusionary projects? Or did the township simply wait for the highest bidder, highest density developer to bring a plan and then accept it out of fear of what's known as buyer remedy litigation. Question three, the site sweep, pardon me, the site swap analysis. Under the 2024 Fair Housing Act, PL2024C2, municipalities have the right to argue site suitability. Did the township conduct a formal analysis of shifting this density to underutilized commercial corridors such as the business route one corridor or Quaker Bridge Mall area where infrastructure is already equipped for highdensity transit oriented development. Question four, preservation funding. Was any attempt made to utilize green acres funding, Mercer County Open Space Funds, or New Jersey's farmland preservation tools to purchase a conservation easement on the 75 plus acres of the ETSs campus now slated for development, which would have allowed the town to meet its housing obligation elsewhere. By caving to this specific 800 unit project, the township is permanently altering the character of our neighborhood to the detriment of the entire community. We citizens deserve a transparent record of exactly which preservation alternatives were rejected and on what specific financial or legal grounds.

Furthermore, based on the numerous emails and calls I received since last night's planning board meeting, which was attended by an overflow audience in the space downstairs. I'm letting you know that there is outrage over the lack of transparency regarding the planning board's activities. The planning board presented this fourth round to a meeting that had a handful of the people in attendance. Not the standing room crowd that was there last night who would have been there had they had proper notice. The planning board proceeded to vote with basically no public comments as the clock was running out. This is this is unacceptable behavior from our elected officials and the volunteers who serve the community. On behalf of the Rosedale Acres Homeowners Association, we implore you to vote no on any proposal to proceed with the ETSs development. Thank you.

[applause]

Thank you so much. I recognize you too. The smiling mayor.

Thank you, Mr. Five. I was going to be uh at this meeting last week because when the um regulation department presented their budget as we usually do in support of the department, I was unable to make it. What I did at the time and what I will do now, I wanted to thank uh town council, the mayor, um, manager, clerk, and the people, the seniors of Lawrence Township for the awesome opportunity to serve as your executive director of the office on aging and the senior center for the last close to 21 years. So, my retirement date is March 31st, uh, 2026, and that's about what, 11 working days. [laughter]

Um, just in the wee hours of the morning, I actually had a letter, send it to um, Kevin Linsky, town man, um, town manager, as well as copies to the board as well. and the may um I'm going to just read an excerpt of the letter. In the past 35 years, the Lawrence Township Office on Aging has distinguished itself by fostering a fostering an active, engaged, and supportive community for older adults. It is crucial to the seniors of Lawrence Township that this legacy remains intact. This past Thursday, at a staff meeting held by the superintendent of recreation, I learned that the position of executive director would not be filled. Instead, a recreation leader will be hired to assist the office on aging as well as serve the recreation department. The recreation department will relocate to the senior center as as their center of operations. In my view, while the seniors could conceivably benefit from added recreational opportunities, I am concerned that the scope of services offered at the senior center will change. Without a designated advocate for the seniors, the wellness and socialization aspects of recreation may be met for the active younger seniors. However, the social service care needs of the aging population may not be prior prioritized under the current plan. The way I understand it, our vulnerable seniors will either be referred to the county office on aging for services or an outreach worker would be sought to come to the center to serve the seniors instead of a designated office on aging staff. with a proven and trusted relationship with our seniors.

I have the utmost confidence that Natasha Pacera has the ability to meet the needs of the senior population. Moreover, Miss Pacera will offer stability and a smooth transition upon my retirement. Miss Pacera has combined education has the combined education and experience to qualify for the executive director title. At the very least, a position a position can be created that will equitably compensate Miss Pacer for the expectations of her position. This will send a clear message that there is a commitment to continue the legacy of Barnes Township valuing its older adult community. Thank you so much for your time and consideration. Let me just read um a poem that I translated. It's in Spanish. I don't I won't pull the Bad Bunny thing on you guys. But uh one of the seniors wrote this and he's just a doll. And he uh he said, "We desire Spanish is awesome. If you can read Spanish, you should be in Spanish. We desire to express a a very profound appreciation for so many loving friends and to say and to say that we feel provided for, protected and cared for lovingly in this loving nest where we are all being helped with such kindness and above all with the greatest efforts of our solda which is a flower and director Lillian. She is unique. We appreciate all of her kindness. The senior center is a tree that covers us all. We feel blessed by its rainfall of love.

Thank you so much. [applause]

My name is Mary Anal. I live Carter Road. I was at last night's meeting. Uh I wanted to support Mr. Learner. Um it was actually the fourth round was dealing with the gula cows. The third round was dealing with the 800 homes on ETSs. We're equally upset about both of them for the congestion density and the problems they'll bring. What was not raised last night was the need for more police, fire, public transportation to deal with any addition of houses on ETSs. Rosedale is a two-lane road. Carter is a two-lane road. You're talking 800 to,600 more cars. And there are no sidewalks. And I personally run those roads. Now, I'm not going to talk as a lawyer. I'm gonna talk as a mother. People are gonna die when they don't have a sidewalk. They don't have any of the um two lanes for cars to avoid them. And this congestion is unrealistic for that area. It will we will have to put in public transportation because low cost lowcost housing a lot of those people will need public transportation. How are they going to get to the bus bus stops on Route 206? They're going to walk and there's no sidewalks. I run that road every day. [laughter] In closing, I want to quote from our Declaration of Independence. Humankind are more disposed to suffer when evils are sufferable. But when an abuse evinces a design to reduce them, Jefferson use desperatism. I'll just say

lack of transparency, lack of notice, lack of care for what the citizens feel, then it is their right, it is their duty to throw off such governmental action. You you pulled a fast one on all of us and we are outraged. I want to also add that if you did not get a we the people email from me today, that means I don't have your email address. If you want to give me your email address, I have 120 people who are very angry just from today. We, as I said last night, we're not going away. We're not going to let you destroy this. And acting as a lawyer, I'll take it to the Supreme Court because you can't do what you're doing to those of us who've been here 30 odd years, who paid hundreds of thousands for our houses and paid tens of thousands in taxes every year to keep what we thought we were buying for good. the the density when I went for density of one house on Carter Road. One house to put my mother in. I was denied by this by this zoning board. And it took me three years and $60,000 to get that zoning for a 5 acre one house. Can't do what you're doing, guys. You got to not vote yes on round four, which I think you're supposed to do tonight. And we want to revisit round [clears throat] three comm. [applause] If the voters can sue, we can sue.

I'm not saying no, you can't be here. I'm saying no, it's not on the agenda tonight. Round four is not on the agenda tonight. No, it's not. Then why'd you rush to pass it last night when we asked you to table it?

Mr. Mr. Mayor, I did make a statement. Yeah, Mr. This would be under five minutes, I think. So, I think there's a fundamental misunderstanding about what what's happened, what is to happen in the future. And I just want to read this. I think it takes under five minutes. And I don't it's just information out for you all to consider. In July 2025, the town of Lawrence adopted its housing element and fair share plan as a part of the New Jersey affordable housing requirements for the 2025 2035 cycle. Some residents, particularly those living near properties identified in the plan, have asked an important question. Does this mean development has already been approved near my home? The answer is no. This explains what the plan does, what it does not do, and why the township is required to identify potential sites. What is the housing element and fair share plan? The housing element and fair share plan is a planning document required under New Jersey law. Its purpose is to identify how the township will meet its affordable housing obligations. Outline potential locations where affordable housing could be developed. Demonstrate that the township is providing a realistic opportunity for affordable housing and help the township comply with state law and avoid unnecessary litigation. This plan is a part of the township's master plan which serves as a long-term planning guide for the future land use of and development. What the plan does not do, it's very important to understand what inclusion in the housing plan does not mean. It does not approve any development. No homes, no apartments or buildings are approved simply because a property is listed in the plan. It does not change zoning. A property remains subject to its existing zoning unless and until the

township adopts a separate zoning ordinance through a public process. It does not give developers the right to build. A property owner or developer gains no automatic right to develop land merely because it appears in a housing plan. It does not allow construction to begin. No construction may occur unless a developer first obtains all required approvals through formal land use process. What would need to happen before any development could occur? If development were ever proposed on a site identified in the plan, several additional steps would have to occur before any project could move forward. The township may first need to adopt a zoning ordinance to permit or encourage the type of development being proposed. That would require public notice and a public hearing. After that, a developer would need to submit a formal application to the planning board or zoning board depending on the nature of the proposal. At that stage, New Jersey law would require direct notice to nearby property owners, including those within 200 ft of the property, as well as legal notice of the public hearing. Residents would then have the opportunity to attend the hearing, ask questions, raise concerns, and participate in the public process. Finally, the appropriate municipal board would review the application in detail, including issues such as traffic, storm water, utilities, design, density, and compliance with township ordinances and applicable law. Why are specific properties identified in the plan? This is one of the most important parts of the housing plan. Under New Jersey law, municipalities are not permitted to say that they support affordable housing in general. They must demonstrate a realistic opportunity to create affordable housing. That means the township must identify specific properties or areas where such housing

could potentially occur. Without identified sites, the plan would be meaningless and likely viewed as non-compliant. In other words, the township must answer a basic uh question required by the affordable housing laws. Where can this housing realistically happen? Identifying sites in the townships is a way of answering that question. Why doesn't the township just leave potential sites out of the plan? If the township were to adopt a housing plan with no identified sites, it would place itself in a significantly weaker legal position. a municipality that fails to identify site sites risks being found out of compliance with New Jersey affordable housing requirements that can expose the township to builders remedy litigation and other court action. In those cases, developers may ask a court to permit higher density housing on sites of their choosing, including locations and densities the township would not otherwise prefer or permit. In practical terms, if the township does not do its own planning, a court or a developer may effectively do that planning instead. That's why identifying sites is important. It helps the township maintain control over where affordable housing may occur, how it may be integrated in the community, and what standards may apply. What is the benefit to the township of identifying sites? By identifying appropriate sites in advance, the township is better able to maintain local control over where housing may occur. Plan for locations with appropriate infrastructure and access. Establish reasonable density design and land use standards. Strengthen its legal legal position under affordable housing law and reduce the risk of litigation and court imposed outcomes. This approach allows the township to be proactive rather than reactive. When a property appears in a housing plan, it cannot it can create the impression that development has

already been approved or is about to happen. That is not the case. Inclusion of a site in the housing plan means only that the property has been identified as potential location that may help the township meet its legal affordable housing obligations. Does not mean that a project has been approved. It does not change the zoning on its own and it does not eliminate the public's right to notice and participation if a future development application is filed. If a development application is ever submitted for site identified in the plan, nearby property owners will receive notice as required by law and the public will have the opportunity to participate in a hearing process. The housing element and fair share plan is required planning document under New Jersey law. It helps the township meet its affordable housing obligations while preserving as much local planning control as possible. The identifi identification of properties in the plan does not approve development, change zoning, grant development rights, or permit construction. Instead, it reflects the township's effort to comply with state law, avoid unnecessary litigation, and retain control over future and land use decisions. Any actual development proposal would still require additional approvals, [clears throat] public notice, and public hearing before anything could move forward.

You allow response to that? No. Response to that. [clears throat] Is that document available? Sir, sir, Mr. [clears throat] Can we uh will you be able to post that at some point or can we include a link? Sure. Was that yes? Yes. We will click make that public [clears throat] website. Yes. Thank you. And do you have your email on the uh signage? I do. Okay. We'll let you know. Welcome.

Welcome. Uh thank you. Um and good evening. My name is John Greg. I live at 657 Rosedale Road. I'm a former Lawrence Township elected official. served a term on the school board in Lawrence Township. I think one of the [clears throat] most important legacies I had for my time on the school board was ensuring that the meetings were um recorded um so that there would be complete transparency that takes place with those meetings in addition to minutes. I was appalled in the situation with the planning board that every a lot of people were concerned about with the educational testing foundation and the revision to Williams Township master plan because I was not aware of the meeting where this would be discussed. From what I understand, there was there were no members of the public at the meeting. And I also have noted and noted to the planning board today and I'm noting now to the attorney for Lawrence Township that um Lawrence Township procedures for the statement of proper notice are improper. It is not a proper notice because [clears throat] Lawrence Township is not in compliant is not in compliance with the Open Public Meeting Act um uh title 10 4 sections 6 to 21. It's also non-compliant with the rei revisions of that title 10 that were put into place on June 30th which is the same time ironically that this was put into effect with the um uh revision of the master plan. um nor is it compliant with the revisions in the notice requirements for public meetings um that were uh passed uh S 4654 on June 30th in 2025 and put into effect in March 1st of this year. Continuing

violation of the public notice requirements will result in a fine according to to the law for each member of the township council of a hundred to $500 per occurrence and the same for uh the other members and the volunteers on the different planning and zoning boards. So I would encourage you to become compliant with the proper notice requirements as they are in law now. Orange Township has been out of compliance since February of 2025 and even with some of the minor adjustments is still out of compliance as it is today. I think that's one of the reasons why there was nobody at that meeting um where we were told that uh this was discussed after proper notice which it wasn't and that's why there was a huge um turnout of people probably last night and probably tonight as well. One of the things in terms of getting noted so that there can be public public input into questions like um uh you know putting um the space at the educational testing service as is available for development. um is that um the people um in Nor Lawrence Township are by law entitled to ask for and receive personal notice of all of the meetings and of all of the agendas and topics for consideration of the meetings and these effects at their request for reasonable reimbursement rate. So, one of the things that I would like to see addressed by the township council is what the reasonable reimbursement rate is for the request of the many people who are impa impacted by this for either notification, a by email or b by snail mail. so that in the future that we're not surprised by things that are done in the dark with lack of transparency in smoke fil rooms by people who paternalistically are saying they're doing it in our best

interest but are not advising the people who are directly affected. Thank you. [laughter]

Mr. Mayor, council, uh, I'm not really here as a lawyer or anything. I've name

Oh, sorry. Well, I'm uh my name is Howie Powers and I have been Ed uh for 51 years educational testing service um in three different houses. Uh, and I grew up uh, hiking and biking through there and I still do almost every day. Uh, and so I don't really have a legal argument. I just you guys would represent us. And I kind of think if you were uh, doing something that would potentially have such significant consequences on your residents nearby, whatever the law said, as our representatives, you would have gone out of your way to let us know. So, I'm kind of disappointed that last June a pretty big decision uh was made and I I hear what you said. There's no approval for development, but you you drew a bullseye on us. And you said and you said where we prefer, those were your words in your quote, "We would prefer this housing year." So, you drew a bullseye on us, the neighbors, and and you didn't tell us about it. and he did give us a chance to to react to that. So for that, I gotta say I feel let down. So I'd rather, you know, and you drew the bullseye and I don't know what we can do to to change that. Um I understand no one's lined up to do it yet, but if they come in, you tell them where to go. And so you made a decision without consulting us.

And so for that, I I feel disappointed. And I hope we CAN DO BETTER. MY NAME IS KATHERINE TRENER. I live at 233 Carter Road. I practiced law around here for 56 years. Just retired. I worked for many years for Joe Stoniker, who used to be the leading land use attorney around here. And when I heard about the ETSS development, um I remember years ago when the family who owned all that land sold it to ETSs, there was a deed restriction. There is a deed restriction in there somewhere. And I wonder if our planners who are really responsible for the reports that you guys get, do the planners know that there is a deed restriction of some sort and that needs to be looked into? Number two, what the planners said was a good plan in June or whenever they put it together a year or two ago, things are very different nowadays. Um, you know, the the the county just bought land from Ryder College because Ryder is in financial trouble. So, [clears throat] the county just bought I think it was 65 acres. That land is available. Also, I was thinking what about Ryder University dormitories because the school is definitely cut they let go most of a lot of their faculty and everything.

Um, and I want to say I recently went back to my hometown of Westfield overdevelopment. There's a thing called overdevelopment and we don't, you know, just because it's an empty space doesn't mean we have to fill it up with something. And I also recently went to London over the Christmas holidays. And when I went into my guest house room, I almost had claustrophobia. I thought I was in prison in a jail because every square inch in London is so valuable. And everybody's building up, you know, as full as they can. And when I went in the bathroom at the guest house, I could hardly turn around because it's overdevelopment. And for some reason, London wasn't able to stop it. And I'm just suggesting that our planners that we should be talking about our planning group. Um and I I thought Edmeir was the attorney for the council. Is he?

No. For the planning board. Oh, the planning board. Yeah. Because he's a super lawyer. I don't see him here tonight, but he would be here tonight because um anyway, those are just some of my thoughts. And I guess we should talk to the planners because if they gave you information from a year or two years ago or they're going to be giving you information in the future, you have to rely on them because you are not planners. None of you know we're not planners. We don't we're not experts in the land use law and in the issues and the um what makes a good community. So that's my two cents. Thank you.

Thank you. I WILL add you're always welcome to come to the next planning board meeting to see uh Mr. I'll say hello.

Good evening, mayor and council manager and [clears throat] folks in the audience. My name's Fred Marine. And um first I want to give uh recognition to Sally Miss Lal as director of the launch at the senior senator also [clears throat] what she's done in her years. But I want you to also know that the um before there was a senior center, the um program was housed in the community room of Edgar's Crossing Village. Folks don't realize that, but that's that's where it started. [clears throat] But I'm here for a couple reasons. One is to um [clears throat] crossing large nonprofit housing is doing a has is in a process of doing a strategic plan um to make sure our development is is viable and serving its purpose in years to come. Um, we're almost finished with it and we would like to be put on the agenda for your uh I think it's April 21st meeting um to present what our what we're doing and and present the strategic plan and and give you a copy of it. The other reason I'm here is the neighborhood community center. Um, the mayor's task force um gave five recommendations to council and I wonder if the council is doing anything on those recommendations.

Is it anything happening with the the community center? How about we [clears throat] do you have any other questions? Not if you give me answers for those. [laughter]

[laughter] Um, so, so the first one is I I will say for the record for for everyone's understanding because this is something I I can speak to. No, I haven't I haven't been able to speak with my colleagues on council about what the the RFP will look like for going forward and then I'm going to turn it over to administer about the building itself.

Yeah. So, I mean, you just said it. I think the council was in agreement that there would be a request for proposals for the building to be occupied by an organization that satisfies most if not all of the um conclusions reached or recommendations reached by the task force. That's something that that you all as a governing body need to vote on to provide uh direction for the creation of that RFP to have it publicly notice prepared and publicly noticed. Uh the second piece of this and I don't know um Miss Farmer if you wanted to just briefly just talk about the grant that we just received. Um, and we I can now publicly say we received a grant um a federal grant for $500,000 towards the community center through the office of Congressman Herb Conway. So, what that money is going to be used for is to um as soon as we possibly can start working on improving the infrastructure aspects of the building, the outside hand making it handicapped accessible and improving the bathrooms, things like that that we can get the most bang for our buck for that $500,000. uh those things improving the property on the most basic uh elements I think is important and to have that money available to us to do it is and that can go contemporaneously with the RFT and the time frame that we're going to be I think we're going to hold it open for we discussed like 60 days to allow organizations to meet with their boards see if they wanted to be uh uh provide a response to us. Well, [clears throat] I you know I I certainly would would appreciate the council would would [clears throat] u work on those five recommendations at the task force and and and get some of the community involved in whatever

you're doing what whatever is being done. We we're anxiously waiting, you know, to get to help you get started. Um, we don't have any money to offer you, but [laughter] we got good advice. We appreciate [laughter]

Good evening. My name is Jennifer Mill. I live at 821 Pretty Brook Road and I am here in um to speak regarding the ordinance for acquisition of the private property located at 40 Pretty Brook Road. One moment. Is that is that introduction and can we have comment? I'm going to defer to the to town attorney as an introduction. There's no there's no public comment at this time. There will be a public hearing on that at the second reading for

we be notified because we received zero notification that this was even on the agenda this evening and we are directly affected as we live across the street and it was I was under the impression from last night's meeting we were all told if there were issues that would directly affect us in the township with different ordinances that we would specifically receive notification [clears throat] and I can speak for myself and my neighbors. I've contacted them this evening as well. Not a single one of us knew that this was going to be on the agenda tonight.

This is an ordinance that is required in order for us to proceed with um obtaining a portion of the lot to complete the LHT trail. I understand what it's in regard, but I'm just saying I I am not understanding why nobody living on that stretch of Pretty Brook Road received any notification that this would be on tonight's agenda. Again, lack of transparency, a lack of accountability. You have the right to know and nobody SHOULD attorney [applause] [clears throat] just wanted to make a couple comments and a couple of requests. So my first uh comment is about the development. Um as you said there is no um current plans to actually have any development on the site. Um two comments on that. I said to the planning board yesterday that we've lived through this movie before. We lived on Old Bear Brook Road in West Windsor from 2010 to 2021 when we moved here. Why did we move here? Because old brothers decided to build a 51 town homes in a town center right across the street from where we live. It destroyed the neighborhood. You drive by there, you'll see that the commercial center has one store in it and the bus is vacant. You'll see that the density of the population there no longer makes it safe for me, my four boys to walk the blind

person on that road. why we moved here to real estate ele because it is wide open, it is quiet and it is safe. So my request is to understand how the township is going to protect this area. You say that the development has not yet be done but how you protect it. We would like to understand that formally that's number one. Number two, we understand that as you said there were other sites [clears throat] that were considered and as part of this process other sites and had to be considered and identified. We would like to understand and have an accounting of what those sites were and if they were considered why they were considered unacceptable and why ETSs and the site were considered acceptable. We don't believe we don't understand or we don't believe and don't understand why the site is acceptable when there are many other places in Lawrenceville which we said yesterday during the meeting for go back of places that were identified [clears throat] be more acceptable than putting it into the middle of a um of a residential location like this for many reasons. That's number two. Number three, we've heard uh testimony and sharing yesterday and today that there was insufficient notice being provided for the meetings in June, October, and onward. And so it is our request that an investigation be performed to understand why notice was not provided. If there was no one in attendance at an extraordinarily impactful event in June, that should have raised alarm to the

planning board and the rest of the um municipal government to understand why was there no one there. At best, it's negligent and at worst it is reckless and intentional. We understand that there is litigation involved. We understand that there is pressure for the township but to not involve residents is negligent and as I said at worst reckless and intentional. We like an investigation to be performed and to be informed of the results of that. Number four, [clears throat] we understand that in 2023 there was a land use resolution made to protect the character of our town as something that is buolic, which is what draws people like me to this town. We do not see how putting ETSs, putting this this housing development ETSs as well as KUIC satisfies a resolution that was made in 2023 and like a understanding of how the township sees [clears throat] this moving this planning moving forward, how it how it meets the obligations that were made in that decision in the land use in 2023. Well, my last point, there is also a requirement, as I understand it, that in order to choose a site for one of these affordable housing units, uh, planned planned units, a a site, uh, assessment must be done. We'd like to understand where that site assessment is and what was done to determine whether this site was proper. In other words, traffic environmental. We have identified yesterday already significant concerns even though we are not experts. Significant concerns that render that site these sites to be

unacceptable. We believe that we deserve to understand a full accounting of how that process was done and made public. Thank you.

[laughter]

Hello everyone. Mark Ruber. I'm at the village. Thank you. Um, [clears throat] since just before January, at the end of last year, I have been complaining about this artwork that hangs when you come into the building, that it gives bad messages, that there is one that says, "Take a risk when you come in." [clears throat]

of a man jumping over a chasm that if someone tried to do it, it's 99% chance the person is going to be killed. And there's another one of a turtle walking in the middle of the road. Which means that because it's most likely going to be smashed by a car and killed, it means that people when they see that, it makes them immune to such a such a circumstance. There's [clears throat] another one that I complained about having to do with there is a seessaw and on one end is a butterfly and on the other higher end is an elephant. I don't know if you were here on New Year's Day when we got our new mayor, but at that time the former council woman Olympia right before the mayor was sworn in as a surprise to everyone. She quit it. It was a surprise. It didn't make the news. It was so exciting. It seemed like there someone is trying to hush up the circumstances. It was very clear to me. I'm a sociologist with a specialty in subliminal information that this woman was somehow influenced by this artwork. And I also say I believe this group here is under mind control from that same artwork which I've complained about because they are seriously taking a risk and they are putting an elephant which is this 800 person high occupancy building in a very bucolic area and they don't care from what was recorded if the people get killed on the road. I'm just telling you subliminal influence has an effect and you don't realize it, gentlemen. Okay? That's what's going on. And if you don't

realize such a thing and you ignore me after one of our council members here and two of your clerks has admitted that there is child abuse going on, that's quite serious, sir. That's that's that's a little much. I'm not sure accusations of child abuse. That's that's a little too far, sir. I I think you I [laughter] you you're on a very fine line. I would have said after last week's council meeting you [snorts] were under obligation to call me considering circumstances and you did not. Sir,

I believe so. In terms of legally speaking, jumping it from negligence to recklessness. I believe so. When I walked in here, I announced Jesus and today is St. Patrick's Day and your name is Christopher. It means bearer of Christ. Just remember that. Okay. Okay. I have one last thing to say. God is the truth according to our national motto because in God we trust must mean that God is the truth because we can only trust the truth. Which foolishness otherwise

sir let's give you this. It is foolishness otherwise our model God must be the truth and this could be the only point

Mr. This can be the only I'm nearly done. It can be the only establishment of religion that can possibly be allowed according to the constitution because if God were not the truth, there would be no enforcement of law according to the truth because the God of law must be the truth itself otherwise we could not follow law. And this is the brilliance of God being the truth. And I mention that to you in terms of transparency. And you could smile and whatnot, but it's really serious business, Mr. Mayor, what is going on. And you don't understand. And if you don't understand how your actions have taken this risk, putting an elephant in a bucolic area. And you know, you everyone here, you go out this way. And when you make the right turn, notice this pattern of three m

and just see if try to understand just in a large boot scoop. Okay, start it. So, no now we're we're done. Thank you. Thank you. I I could anyone else. Yeah.

Good evening everyone. Council, welcome. State your name. Mayor Jim Hooker. Um I I came here because um I've stated it before about my interest in open space. In fact, I'm in on our open space advisory committee. Um I'm not speaking for them, but but that's where that's where I spend some of my time. What's that? Mayor, I was just going to ask, are you speaking on behalf of heck

no? Um and I won't even say how they what they might believe. Um [clears throat] but uh and uh Councilwoman Farmer is our liaison and she's terrific and we appreciate it. I was listening to a few things. So one of the things that I think and I don't I'm not a lawyer like some of these folks don't even know a lot about land use. But one thing I do know I think is and I could be wrong but I'd love and I know no questions to council but let's think about this. This is a really good time I think to um consider uh changing I believe the ordinance. I believe and you'll recall that um

I was active in that group that you uh all well not all but some of you incumbents uh so wonderfully um purchased that land with open space to stop a hotel from destroying a a town park. Um, I found out about that actually by being at a meeting of open space and and our chairman at the time, Paul Larson, just happened to mention it. What? Around the corner and I don't know about this how what how and then I believe I remember seeing it in the statutes. I think it's 250 ft or something. Is that right? And I think that's why a lot of these people they're saying, "Why didn't you tell us?" Now, I could be wrong, but I believe it's in the statutes. And I believe this is a good time with folks talking transparency and all this kind of stuff. Let's get it in the statutes. It needs to be beyond that. I I could be wrong, Mr. Manager. I don't know whether he knows. He was great in what he did negotiating for that parcel and saving that park, but I believe that's it. Why don't I be shut up for one moment? Does anyone know that that's so? It's like 200 ft or something like that. That needs to change.

Absolutely.

200 ft. You hear that? That's why you didn't hear anything. That could be why. Or let's put it this way. Maybe this is something else. Maybe this is a a plan, a planning board type of thing. So maybe you don't know. But when they come in for development, then you won't know that either because it's 200 feet. You know, raccoons and and rabbits live 200 feet. you're not going to find much else. So anyway, so I think that this is a good time to ask us to change that law, to change that law. May cost a few more dollars for postage, whatever, but it's well worth it because I believe with that hotel project, there might have been like three or four resident homes that were that were advised. And if I didn't see it at the open space committee, I wouldn't have known it. Um I just just a couple other things if I may. Did you want to say something? Okay, that's fine. Not good. So, the other thing is um one of the homeowners uh talked about put it at you know Ryder just bought Mercer County just spent 10 million um some of it if not much of it to buy property at Ryder which I was thrilled to see because that's a piece of ground called the I think it's is it the old woods? The big woods. The big woods. And who's the environmentalist fan?

Aldo Leopold.

The great Aldo Leopold. So this is the big woods we're talking about. So in case a commissioner and I know they sometimes look in on some of these types of meetings. If somebody's watching, no, we love that decision. Do not put housing in the big woods. That's not a place for it. The dorms at Ryder maybe. Quaker bridge mall. Good good idea because that's where the that's where the infrastructure is. as someone said, um, the transportation, the jobs, that's where it makes sense. It's already been paved, JC Penney is empty, Sears is empty. You know, think about stuff like that. The great Pan Mount, former mayor once said, "Let's put it on top of the wall." And then you have a built-in shopping focus. Okay, final thing. Um, is

30 seconds.

Good. That's perfect. Right on. Remind me of the days when I was on the air. We're going to really go deep into this subject. You got another 15 seconds. Okay. Ballic. Not the last speaker, but the speaker before the gentleman over in the front row there. He talked about Buchalik. And that's what our township is, especially up in that area. Very beautiful. I don't live up there, by the way. I live just, you know, not far from here. But it's gorgeous up there. It's very beautiful. And we really should uh do our best to keep it that way and not see some of these god-awful town homes that are springing up everywhere here in UH anyone else. We didn't come here just to watch. Anyone else want comment come on up and sign in because otherwise I can close it. We'll have another section for three mention meditation if you want to go again later. That's right. My name is Felicia David. I live Hi. How you doing? I live at 21 Springwood Drive in Lawrenville. And Springwood Drive I could uh is in the little neighborhood Lawrence Woods Homeowners Association

and it's your first left after you go down Main Street and you turn left on Cold Soil. It's the first left that neighborhood and I've been here for 35 years and over time I can actually see the Cold Soil Road light from my house main street cold soil road light. Over time, there has been such an increase of traffic that starting around 7:30 in the morning until like 9:30, the traffic is bumper to bumper from Cold Road to 206.

Now, you might say, "Live with it. Everyone lives with that." But when you think about the traffic coming, I actually see 18wheelers try to cheat and not go up 206 and turn on the Cold Hill Road to go to Hillsboro. They're already doing that.

And these are roads that are not meant for that kind of traffic. So Cold Soul Road and um Carter Road. Also, I worked for ETSs for 35 years and what's I don't I've retired from there and what's interesting about ETSs is when it first built its most modern buildings that are there, there was an uproar from the community because much of ETSs was actually on route one. But to become good corporate citizens and demonstrate their good corporate corporate citizenship, ETSs started the Lawrence Township Community Foundation. the Lawrence Township Education Foundation. We we were sponsors of Boys and Girls Club events year after year and that property was always open to any kind of community event. The leaders the leadership of ETSs is not the leadership I knew and things change. But my point being over time I think the community has to be v vigilant about change and while Miss Jinky it was very educational what you read that these two sites weren't in the plan but we simply said they may be in a plan

that is either disingenuous to the government by just giving them two places we don't think we'll ever use or starting something off where five years from now we'll have a s some cost mentality bias and it's going to happen. Y

the other thing I want to really um also reinforce is the request to become more transparent. I joined the group at the senior citizen senior center when the new planning uh board the new planning discussion started and it was wonderful. You had kind of a conference mentality and people [clears throat] put their ideas about what they want to see sustained in Lawrenceville, what we want to keep, what we want to change. I wrote my name down. I never heard another thing. And I run the Facebook page for my neighborhood and I try to keep up, but it's very hard to stay up to date. So if you can invest in a really down and dirt dirty process [clears throat] improvement around communication to really demonstrate what I think is in your heart. I think the communication u [clears throat] methodologies need to change and become more modern. We don't have Lawrence Ledger anymore. We don't have we've only got Leah Khan, my great friend. And we can't rely on certain kinds of methods only. And while they're legislated and you're try to be true to that, I think we have to impose sort of self-imposed more methodologies around keeping people aggressive things whether they're legislated or not and that you then we'll stay partners in this. So, I gave my name again, but I'd like to have, you know, be reached out to more often and more proactively as someone who already demonstrated an interest in participating. So, um, thank you for everybody. That's my spiel. [applause] Those words were appreciated. Anyone else? Come on.

[clears throat] So sign in that way you don't have to say your address out the whole world. state for the record.

Uh my name is Steven Culver. Uh thank you. Uh I've been a resident of uh Lawrence Township for uh since 91. So I've been around a little bit. Um I I really do appreciate and was uh very much uh impressed by the presentations made by those folks uh for their uh zoning board. Um many years ago I was active in the town and we had a similar situation. Um and um but be that as it may, um uh I understand you folks mean well uh I will tell you that uh I recently joined the senior center and I am so impressed with what I met there and what I've seen and how everything has been [clears throat] by Miss Lilian. I understand that that you have made uh some sort of decision to fold the senior center uh under recreation department. Um I would say maybe the other way around. Okay? [laughter] Because let's face it, um and I'm young, okay? I just joined. I'm only 84. So, no, we didn't. And and um I just dropped my P. Um the point is that we have special needs just like the kids have special needs. Okay. Basketball. I was a kid once too. We all were. All right. We all played ball. We all wanted special things for kids. And as parents, we wanted the same thing for our kids, right? However, the

needs for the kids are different from the senior citizens. We are in all different types of physical situations. Okay? We are handled. We are taken care of beautifully. Answers to our questions and our issues are always there for Mr. Leah and Natasha, okay, who are helping, for example, find housing, okay? find help for things. These are things that should be that should be uh uh addressed and should be there should be no extra lines of communication. Okay? They should have the responsibility which they which they have. Same thing with recreation. Okay? You know your business, you should be able to take care of it. All right? And people should be able to to go to you and ask for whatever, okay? Or questions, whatever. Same thing. Same thing with the seniors. Our needs [clears throat] are different and they're unique. And folks, you're going to be one of us. [laughter] Okay. So hopefully [clears throat] and and so my my point on it is that things should be if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Okay. And so Natasha should be able to run and organize and do what she does so well and help us all the way it was done and and to bear that in mind. Keep recreation over there. We will not we will not get on the basketball courts. Okay? And they will not get in our bingo games. [laughter]

com. Yeah. Um, just for clarity purposes, um, the senior center has always been under the recreation department. And because Miss Lasowl is retiring does not now mean that nobody is going to care about the seniors. That we care about the seniors. There will be no loss of programs. They I just turned 60 myself, so I I qualified. I got older than you, but but so I just want to give you uh Nancy Bergen is the superintendent. She's in charge of this. We care about the seniors. There is not going to be a diminishment of anything upon the retirement of Lillian Lasowl. I just want you to know that.

Okay. Well, I just also want to know why recreation people are going to be moved in to the senior. that that [laughter]

no I don't think we're so okay there'll be another night of course you know we'll put you okay [laughter] you got to tell me the lie sir thank you appreciate it

anyone else for comment before I close public comment. Again, another opportunity there. So, I'll close public comment and now we will move on to review and revision the agenda. I understand we do not have for [laughter] us to take a minute or five minute break. Sorry. Thank you. You're welcome. Were you there? probably

later is anybody's deal. [laughter] said about the time I don't But we didn't Get in there.

You can only We have to deal with I want to know where everything was built. You are not

Yeah, I will. There he is. places. [laughter] So the house You want to email me?

Well, I was just trying to That's okay. We'll

It's fine. Right. Because the They decided just Amazing. [laughter] We're done. We know our business. You're always [laughter] home.

[laughter]

Cheese. Thank you very much.

[laughter]

I can't succeed. like you the same come. [laughter]

All right. Um, Sunday.

Okay. And So sorry. So sorry. [laughter]

All right. And we are back. Um number number seven, review and revision of the agenda. Um I believe we are going to I'd like to amend the agenda to remove um executive session for um negotiations. That's the next meeting. Okay. 18 [laughter] second. Yes. Yes. Mr. Yes.

Yes. Yes. Uh 8 [laughter] motion meeting reorganization meeting of January 1. I'd like to move to adopt minutes for reorganization meeting January 1,6.

Yes. abstain. Mr. Kaki, yes. Miss Santos, yes. Yes. Have a motion for 8B. Move to adopt the minutes for 8B. Original meeting January 20th, 2026. Second. Second. Second. Miss Farmer. Yes. Missing. Mr. Kaki. Yes. Miss Santos. Yes. Yes. I have a motion for 8 C. Like to move 8 C adoption of minister meeting February 3rd, 2026. Second. Second.

Miss Farmer. Yes. Obstain. Mr. Kaki. Yes. Miss Sanchez. Yes. Mayor Bobby. Yes. Number nine. Second bid. I have a motion for 9K. I'd like to move a number 124 authorizing awarding of bid 26-02 lawn service to RJ and design. Second. Second. Thank you, Mr.

This is a a bid for additional um landscaping work that supplements the public works department and it's uh for RJM landscape design for the amount of $60,000. Thank you. questions from the house. Questions from the public. Miss Farmer, yes. M. Yes. Mr. Kaki, yes. Miss Santos, yes. Mayor B. Yes. Move on to introduction of ordinances. Uh 10 A.

Move 10 A. Ordinance number 257-26 calendar year 2026. ordinance to exceed the municipal budget appropriation limits and to establish a cap bank for the township of Lawrence County of Mercer and JSA4A 4-454. Second,

so when a township adopts this type of ordinance, it's creating a bank of unused cap authority that may be used if needed for the next two budget years. So, by determining that it's prudent to increase the 2026 budget by up to 3.5% over the previous year's final appropriations, we are creating the bank of $421,9902. This is not an increase in spending or taxation. It's a way for us to plan should the need arise that we have this money available for additional spending with within our cap restrictions. [clears throat] Miss Farmer, yes. Mr. Yes. Mr. Kaki,

yes. Miss Santos, yes. Mayor Bobby, yes. Motion for 10B. Like 10B, Ordinance number 258-26, an ordinance of the Township of Morris in Mar County, New Jersey, authorizing the acquisition of certain real property located at 840 Pretty Brook pretty road, block 701, lots 33,34 and 35 for recreational purposes. Second

second. So, this is required uh by eminent domain law for the township to take a vote, creating warrants to take a vote um allowing for the process to unfold. And honestly, we we've got to talk about notice requirements. We we got to talk about it. Uh because um this nice woman here, I you feel dirty when when someone says that um no one told us, right? And so so we maybe need to discuss some type of additional uh process because what we're required to do, what every municipality is required to do is to comply with the notice requirements that state law and local law requires us to do and that's what we do. Um there will be a time should the property owner and the township come to an agreement for this section [clears throat] of land for for us to acquire it. That will be the subject of a planning board. um application or a public hearing to discuss what is involved. I think we there's there was a public hearing about this maybe a year or [clears throat] two ago. We've been trying to have the property owner understand the need that we have in order to complete this trail portion. Um and a public hearing will happen later on to discuss what it will look like. Um so the surrounding property owners understand what's happening. Um there's no there's there's no property owner requirement for this ordinance. So it becomes tricky to determine what are what are we sending notices for and and why. Um so maybe that's something for us to ask our council of attorney at some point in time to apply. How do we how do we sat satisfy our residents that we're not trying to be sneaky. We want to be as transparent as

possible and and you know we comply with the law. Um but there's a strong sense more is needed and so we have to figure that out. Yeah. Let's revisit that and uh in business as well. I was going to say could ask a question if I may. Uh yeah. So I So what you're saying Mr. Ninsky is that we could go above and beyond what is already legally established. we as a body decide that that's something we want to do. We absolutely can do that. Like so so a general male. So let's let's take it to to Yep. Yeah. And then and then I think that will let me down. It's fine. It's okay.

We still have to get through the Yeah. introduction of an ordinance. Yeah. Thank you. And with that, we have 11. Miss Farmer, yes. Mr. Jio, yes. Mr. Kaki, yes. Miss Santos, yes. Mayor B.

Yes. Uh, now we move on. And so, just as a reminder, this is the first note reading of an ordinance, and then there'll be a second reading, which is typically the the next meeting, which would be, let's see, we're in the second. So it would be the first Tuesday of April, but I would say check the township calendar. Um, now we move on to adoption of ordinances. May I have a motion for 11 A?

Like to move 11A, ordinance number 256-26, an ordinance amending chapter 15 of the Morris Township Administrative Code entitled Boards, Commissions, and Committees, Ordinance number 2084-11 to rename the Growth and Redevelopment Committee as the business and economic growth committee. Second second. Remind us.

Sure. I don't have my notes in front of me. Um but the in short the former the growth and redevelopment committee uh devised a strategic plan last year and sort of reidentified um their mission and created four pillars um that their their goals are going to surround. and they themselves the committee came up with the idea to rename themselves the business and economic growth committee based on these four pillars. [cough] Thank you. Any questions from council? Questions from the public. [snorts]

Miss Farmer. Yes. Miss Santos. Yes. nearby. Yes.

So, we have two important things that we need to do today uh in terms of our 2026 municipal budget. First is is a resolution uh that we need to consider and vote upon and that is for the self-examination of our 2026 budget and um and that basically we are in a cycle where uh we have the ability based upon our financial situation in terms of how um the state views our uh condition that we can self-examine and that basically this is a resolution that allows us to do So we would need somebody to make a motion, a second move 12A, number 125, authorizing self-examination of the 2026 municipal budget.

Second, Miss Farmer, yes. Mr. J, yes. Mr. Kataki, yes. Miss Santos, yes. Mayor. Yes.

And the second uh thing we have to do is we have to introduce the 2026 budget. You've all been provided with uh your copy of the budget. There are additional copies on table front table. This is also available on our website for review by anybody that's interested. and said there would be a motion um for the council to um provide for uh the township of Lawrence County fiscal year 2026 introduction of the municipal budget which will be the subject of a April 21st 2026 public hearing. So, we've already all met individually to go over the budget details, share your concerns, but this formally starts the budget process. Um, and I make myself and Peter and Chris also make ourselves available to you should other questions come up. Um, we received the $500,000 grant after the um recommend the budget message and the recommended budget package. So, this budget provides for that. So, it's 500,000 on each side. Nothing mean there's no additional spending. It's just it it creeps up by $500,000. Motion for introduction.

I'd like to move 12B number 126, the introduction of the 2026 municipal budget. Second. Second. Miss Farmer. Yes. Mer. Yes. Mr. Kaki. Yes. Miss Sento. Yeah. Yes. Attorney's report. Not done. Oh, sorry. [laughter] Um,

manager report. So yeah, one one other additional uh [laughter] you you all have been informed that um Yuing Town in the grant application to the state for funding for a roundabout at Bull Run Road and Federal City Road and funding for a traffic light at Federal City Road and Federal Point. We joined in that application um as well as Hopewell and that application was granted and they have been awarded $800,000 for 2026 and $800,000 for 2027. So it's $1.6 million. Uh Euing has reached out to us. I you know all know the kind of history here. um we weren't getting uh reciprocal cooperation in terms of participation for um the design and installation of a traffic light that we felt was most critical to our residents at uh federal at Federal Point. Um Hopewell did not want to participate at that time. Euing didn't. So we had this kind of thing like well we need to move forward because it's not going to get done. We need to do it ourselves. Um, since that the administrators have gotten together. Now that we know that we have this funding available, I think it would behoove us not to participate as the three municipalities will benefit in both the installation of a roundabout and the traffic light as recommended by the warrant studies that we had conducted. Um, I don't know what the financial ramifications are to the town at this time, but I would like to hear from you if you give me authority to move forward to gather more information um what potential costs will look like to the to Lawrence Township for both of these things. My sense is it will probably be less than if we were to do

the traffic light ourselves considering that we have to expand the design to include left-hand turn lanes which was not something that we had considered but this is what the state DOT um believes is necessary. So the scope of our work has gotten a little bit more as well. So um in the end we all arrive at the great situation where this is a shared project between three municipalities where all three municipalities will benefit from this traffic calming along federal city road. So do I have your support?

It doesn't require I'm just looking at everybody shaking their head. So I'll get more information and as I receive more information um I will share with you. That's why you sure it promotes report. Nothing to report. I appreciate it. All right. Thank you. Thanks for being here. Next time promise not to report. [clears throat] [laughter] Next time will be here.

Just what day? March. March 23rd which is next Monday is the cut off for the uh nominating petitions. So and that is and I do did want to say something about notices. I know that people were a lot of our information is on the website uh resolutions, ordinances, uh a lot of the agendas, planning board stuff, it is under our ecodes. So, if people want to check that out, thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. I know you're very proud of you've showed me a few times now of of just how complete the ecode site is becoming in terms of having not only our township administrative code but also um agendas and other resolutions.

That was one of the things that he was talking about with the public notices that that kicked in. Um last year it was passed um in January. uh we had one requirement and then March 1st now we um don't have the notice to papers we actually notice ourselves. So if you look on there the notices the legal notices are on there. Um if you look and we have a little dial on there that says um public notices. It's got to get better with time. Um, we're going to make it a little better each time, but we do have a lot of information. And yes, I am very proud of a lot of work. [laughter] I know. So, if you haven't had a chance, go check it out on the website.

All right. Any unfinished business? New business. I got a sense from tonight's public comment that there is a question about noticing requirements and how we do a better job at sort of uh getting information out to the public. Um I think those of us who were at um the planning board hearing last night um heard it loud and clear as well that when sort of these bigger issues come up maybe we should go above and beyond. So I'd love to get your thoughts. I I will tell you that you know for that particular issue um they um I think we can ask the the township attorney to review to confirm that we've

no I we we've we've we've comply but that's not enough right so I think it's not enough the other part is is that this fair share housing element involves properties all over the town everywhere

so that becomes an issue in terms of providing personal notice to literally everybody about it. So, so it's interesting. It's a it's a really difficult uh situation and maybe we can resolve it in some fashion by by feel. I don't know, you know, I don't know what it what it looks like, but it seems like the first thing that people complain about is I don't know. And it's very difficult to reach people who are not proactively looking. [clears throat] We send, we know that when we do a mailing and we try, we try to tag it along with tax um notice,

tag notice, tax notice because it saves $9,000 each time we mail. And if when we mail something out with nothing else in it, it doesn't get opened and it doesn't get looked at. So, we're not reaching people by mailing. So and social media we do I think you do a pretty good job with so it's something that we I mean we got to brainstorm on see what if we can do something more

I mean I think for me and council please weigh in as well as our attorney but I think understand what the baseline is you know in terms of what it is and maybe you need the planning board attorney and zoning attorney someone to sort of understand I mean maybe I can understand that as well But understand what that that ground floor is of notice and then think about you can start to think about like what those love tears of maybe noticing. So also consider the the residents there. Um so we understood what we were doing

for the plan and it wasn't approving development in that sense. We believe we well we know we were complying with our affordable housing obligations, but that doesn't translate to an average property owner as we can see. We heard it last night. And so so I think we're going to have to go further into the minds to to to [laughter] figure out how we do this because even any issue that we believe will come back with um with a public notice requirement is it's not be good enough because it's already gotten to the hearing where there's a public hearing and people are upset. How did it get this far? No one told me. So,

if I could if I could state also in our master plan process, we also went out into the community and held meetings and ask the public to come and be involved in that way. And yeah, and we have 34,000 residents and how many came out? Exactly.

And that was a concerted effort to do that. So, it it becomes tricky. And I do want to make a note that when the land use ordinance changes, um the planning department does give me any ordinance forth that is required in the land use ordinance to notify those residents within 200 ft. The clerk's office does that and we do it at it's very expensive because we have to do it certified when we introduce and we also do it certified at regular bail when we um and that's been forever

and and our housing element doesn't get approved by the DCA until we prove that we did publication in newspapers and we satisfied the the MLUL notification requirements, the planning board requirements advertising to the newspapers. So the compliance in that respect we don't get approval unless we can satisfy the fact that the notice was properly. So, in the end, I think we should ask that we make sure for your minds that we did comply. Um, because if we didn't, we need to do something about it. But my sense is there was compliance, but that's just not enough.

And then if I could just also state, uh, I appreciate you reading into the record the document that you did because it's also about education. when the public understands what it is that we do and how we do it and that we're not trying to hide anything. I think that is valuable and I'm glad to hear that you say that you're going to put it on the website.

Yeah. So that's the other thing uh we discussed by e communication was instead of the manager blog maybe we do a Lawrence Township blog in anticipation of these types of issues that arise we address it with with um an explan explanatory um article you know from just the township that you know because I shared with you some articles that that I think would be very helpful if we get it out there and then you know I think I don't know much more we could do yeah even if we had like a ghost letter or if each one of us could take a month and and write something

the problem still is how to disseminate that though I mean how many do you know how many people subscribe to the monthly newsletter I don't think I don't but I think that um recreation I think yeah I think that's kind of one of the next steps try to see what because a lot of that Facebook our website people that have an interest to find but how do you find the people that don't have an interest in right I mean that's and which is a lot most people I would say lives are very busy

yeah we did we did have one member who's here tonight who reminded those who were in the audience last night that she has been showing up and showing up at every meeting for quite some time their names mentioned or addresses [laughter] Well, last night and I wonder I'd like to look into if there's some sort of um training or guidance from the league maybe about comms. Um you know

yeah I can tell you that the the blog that we had come out there was more than 100,000 people that that went to that four articles and and some articles got much more views than other articles. So I think that will really help if we have something out in in anformational way that's just not like a public notice like we have to try and make it a little bit more interesting. So that's what we have to kind of figure out.

So I guess next steps would be kind of figure out what the basic notifications are and then I guess also understand what our our outreach looks like right now. And the complication that we had was is that if if if there's something that's going to come out from the top, it will require at least three of you

to agree. Now, like so if there's if there's uh objections to certain wordings and sentences, things like that, it will become very complicated and and it won't it it will be difficult to get things timely out. That was one of the advantages of uh having a manager do it because the manager is appointed by council and then if it's his own opinion or her own opinion but we should work through the process and try. Yeah, it may or I don't know if there's a problem but perhaps maybe there are members of the council that really work [snorts] on coming up with recommendations for something like that.

No doubt. Yeah. like I have recommendations about what you think you're hearing is a question in the [clears throat] community. Let's do it. We all have different sort of worlds that we live in different perspectives that together we come up with the same. Okay. All right. Public participation. Don't forget to sign [laughter] your name for the record, please. Kathleen Nora.

Tweak the people's interest with our me message board when we have something that's coming out that's going to be important. Put the message board out there and say, "Please be aware of that on such and such a date." Y we'll have something on our website. Everybody drives [laughter] out. [laughter] Anyone else?

I'll make a quick comment. [laughter] I'm Susan Bhanei. And do you do we need my address? You can sign it. You can sign it afterwards.

Okay. Um I was there last night and tonight and I just appreciate your kind of guiding the audience to what was actually being considering being considered. I just wanted to add a comment to what you just discussed, which is a better way of informing people and keeping them in the loop. I think one of the problems with what with the all the attention to what was going on was that people got fired up because they felt uninformed, they felt betrayed or whatever. But um um I think you have a greater chance if you inform early to have a calmer mind that

to to have someone more open to understanding what the process actually is. Thank you. Thank you.

Got another taker. There you go. Now I got it started. I'll sign in now. Welcome,

Sylvia Kas. Uh I was there last night as well. And um the problem is um just as with master plan um uh meetings, it was advertised. It was everywhere. And participation was I think if I if I remember it correctly, there were 800 people who responded out of 34,000. Um, we have a group of people that I'm I'm preaching to the choir here. Uh, because we all are informed. Why we're informed? Because we're progressively looking up the websites. We're looking up at the agendas. We're keeping ourselves informed. And I think that a lot of people I forgot to mention that last night. A lot of people want the government out of their business, but when the business comes to their neighborhood, they require the government to inform them of about every single step. There is transparency that needs to be there. And I'm glad that you're considering uh something that is much more informative for people or easier access for the information. But you know, if I could figure it out, um I think the lawyers and CEOs who live in those neighborhoods um should be able to do that as well. And um I think that you know what's what's being said, you're going to ruin my neighborhood. You're going to ruin the ambiance and all of that. Um I was expected yesterday that I'm going to get rotten tomatoes from me as I was sitting there. Um, so we we all want the entire township to look great and we all want to protect our own neighborhoods,

but we also have to be able to do it properly. And I think that the notice is like people don't understand how the system works, how the the process works. And it's not on the government to to educate them. is for us to educate ourselves. Uh we educated ourselves when we needed to apply to you and to planning for to protect our neighborhood from something that was not going to be very beneficial to us. And we did that and we did it with the quorum. We didn't interrupt anybody. We didn't yell from the audience. We sat there. We stood up when we needed to stand up. We took the time that we were given and we left. Um, so it's it's upon us to inform ourselves. So, thank you and have thank you for your work and good night.

I didn't want to cut you off. I should say you had one more minute if you wanted. No, I'm good. I'm good. [laughter] I've had enough. I'll take I'll take one minute. Thank you. You can sign in after you. Okay. [laughter] Unfortunately, I've been away for a few months for personal issues, but now I'm going to try to get back into things again. As a matter of fact, I went on, you can go right on and look it up and you can look up every meeting and then it's easy button your calendar so you know you have a meeting here and so forth. But your name for the record.

Oh, Eric Lawrence Township 17. Um, what I notice here is like tonight you have a full room and then you made an interesting comment. When I don't know the people that are always in an attack mode are done, they leave. But then the rest of us that are here, they're the ones that I don't want to say you care more, but you want to hear a resolution. And everybody sitting here now has clarity of what you're deciding you're going to do. and they basically blocked themselves out unless they go back on tonight and look at the Zoom. They're not going to know.

Anyone else before I close participation? to four hours. [laughter] You're a waste of time to just stick around. I'm gonna close public participation and move on to resolutions. Now, I can't prevent my colleagues from a journey. So, there's that. But I will move on to 18 resolutions. [laughter]

I would like to move 18A through 189.

Miss Warner. Yes, Mr. Yes, Mr. Yes. Yes. Mayor B. Yes. Council initiative and [clears throat] want to go first.

Counciloman Farmer in for me. Yeah. business and economic growth. Okay, here you go. I have some little bit of notes. But first, if if I could say, I did Meals on Wheels this morning, which was it was a pleasure. It's such a joy. I really enjoy doing that. It's becoming my annual thing. a little bit more. Um, growth. I know from space

I think I combined two [laughter] farmer a little bit. just that uh the patriotic committee we set up our in the works for Memorial Day May 23rd with this at the high school and we have uh Mercy County Executive Dan Benson going to be in our parade. The mayor council was welcome. The mayor will be out front walking

and And then we have a brass band that we had. We got We ain't settled yet. [laughter] [clears throat]

Uh they got me good grand marshal this year. But uh we have a uh scout group coming in from South Jersey. Met their leader at the museum, the Armory Museum. He's actually the mayor of the town and Scott Master. So they're going to be reaching out to Nancy. I just spoke to him today and they're going to uh get in our uh [clears throat] Thank you. All right. [clears throat]

So, um I'll start the diversity, equity, and inclusion committee is going to um have a community conversation on April 16th here at the lower level. It will be from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. It's going to talk about immigration equity and building trust in our community. So that's happening uh April 16th, diversity, equity, and inclusion committee. And as I mentioned before, they're still interested in having a conversation that um trails and open space met March 4th. Uh we discussed um the the work that was done at the law shopping center. the dumping um explained um how council engaged in that right away and was working on it. Um under colonial lace bridge talked a little bit about uh that also talked about um cleaning up on the providential trail near the Enterprise uh where there's a proposed warehouse. Um, let's see. Talked about um the bridge over the shadow comp, the Whitehead Road extension cross country trail that's being worked on. Um, also spoke about um potentially doing a historical map um from the bicesentennial scholarship that shows historical sites from the revolutionary war near Notre Dame and the nature center. So there was interest in that. Um whether about trees and some things that were going on with that shade tree that was that and then for

growth and redevelopment committee which also [clears throat] met uh March was the second Tuesday. I mean the first Tuesday in March talked about um the name tags that they're introducing for their members with their new logo and name. Talked about the overall um feedback from the job fair which was very positive. We believe there were over 100 people in attendance. Um the advertising how it was very successful partnering with the Quaker Ridge Mall. I believe they said there was on their Facebook view website there was over 210,000 people that um responded that uh view their website for the mall. So that was um quite impactful. um they're looking at stores that were on the list and also working with students for the next job fair and they're looking to hopefully do a job fair in the fall. Um and they said that um we have a student representative on growth and redevelopment from the deca of Barnes Township. There's a conference in Atlantic City and one of our representatives came in third place. So, we're very proud of that. And they're also discussing um a networking event probably in the next quarter. [laughter] Um I'll just update Shade Tree Committee is uh finalizing the community forest management plan working with the consultant Bill Barash as well as um looking to do some planning planting of trees on Earth Day. Um and then the environmental um green advisory committee is continuing their members

are continuing to work on a sort of it's just called a white paper on synthetic turf um about sort of the environmental impact of of using turf instead of grass as well as um working a couple other rules and regulations that have been trickling down in the state how how the best to implement that. So, I'll keep you advised. I said one thing. Yeah. Uh, the recreation department will have the annual Easter egg hunt on Saturday, March 20th at 9:00 a.m. at Central Park. [clears throat] Yes.

Oh, that's just you find him and then you come here to hole at the end of the rainbow in the courtyard. [laughter] [cough] All right. Communications, I need to forward on that from uh council president West um and some other things. So stay tuned. And with no executive session, do I have a motion for adjournment? Motion for adjournment. Second. [laughter]

No. Let the record show that [laughter] post from