Council - Regular Meeting

The combined agenda and regular meeting of the Monroe Township Council, June 29, 2026. May I ask everyone to please rise as we salute the flag and please remain standing this evening.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

So I'm gonna ask everyone to please stay standing. We have a special singing of the national anthem this evening by Ashley McGowan as we kick off our celebrations of America's 250th.

Oh, say can you see By the dawn's early light Or so proudly we hail At the twilight's last gleaming Whose broad stripes and bright stars And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof that our flag was still there. through the night that our flag was still there oh say does that star-spangled banner yet wave o'er the land of the free

thank you Ashley that was beautiful okay moving on clerk may we have a roll call please councilman Cohen present Councilman DePiro. Here. Councilman Vanzora. Let the record show that Councilman Vanzora is absent this evening. Council Vice President Markell.

Here.

Council President Siegel. Here.

Clerk, if you can read Item 5, please.

in accordance with the 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 twenty sixth twenty twenty five and remains posted at that location for public inspection 2. Printed in the Home News Tribune and the Cranberry Press on December 26, 2025. 3. Posted on the Monroe Township website. 4. 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 five minutes unless further time is granted by the Council President.

Thank you. Moving on to item six, proclamations and presentations. We have two proclamations on our agenda this evening. Congratulating Christine Visaki on her retirement, teacher of the Monroe Township School District for 32 years. And July 2026 is Park and Recreation Month. Moving on to our presentations, we have congratulating Diane Frazier on her retirement and recognizing her 35 years with the Monroe Township EMS Department. Diane, would you please come up to the podium? So today we celebrate Diane Frazier and thank her for her incredible 35 years of dedicated service to EMS. Throughout her career, Diane has been known not only for her professionalism and commitment, but also for her heart of gold. She has touched countless lives with her compassion, kindness, and willingness to help others. Diane's dedication to serving others is truly a family tradition. Alongside her mother, Judy, she has spent decades caring for the people of this community. Together, they have made a lasting difference, and their commitment to helping others has left an impact that will be remembered for years to come. Diane, thank you for everything you have given to our community and your EMS family. We wish you a retirement filled with good health, happiness, and all the time you deserve to enjoy this well-earned next chapter. Congratulations, Diane.

And she's getting a plaque, let me read it. That way you can look at it day after day and just pretend you're hearing my voice say it. Congratulations on your retirement, presented to Diane Frazier, with great appreciation of 35 years of dedication and commitment. Thank you for going above and beyond, serving the citizens of the Township of Monroe. Wishing you the best on the new adventure and much respect and gratitude. From the proud mayor, Stephen Delina, and this beautiful council to this beautiful person, thank you so much, Donna.

We're gonna take a five minute recess so we can take some pictures.

seven clerk can you please read item seven ordinances for first reading at the june 29 2026 regular meeting ordinance 06 2026 010 ordinance amending chapter 39 of the code of the township of monroe entitled fees Ordinance 06-2026-011. Ordinance authorizing the acceptance of a deed of permanent easement by Theodore Walker and Jennifer Walker concerning property at Block 6, Lot 30. Ordinance 06-2026-012, Ordinance Authorizing the Acceptance of a Deed of Permanent Easement by Louis S. DeVino Concerning Property at Block 6, Lot 27.3. Ordinance 06-2026-013, Ordinance Amending Chapter 108, Article 6.16a PO-CD Planned Office Commercial District and Article 6.18a HD Highway Development District and Article 6.19a LI Light Industrial District and 6.25a OP Office Professional District. Ordinance 06-2026-014, Ordinance recommending the adoption of the Municipal Landfill Redevelopment Plan for property known as Block 148, Lots 36.01 and 37, and Block 148.60, Lots 23.01, 24, 25, 26, and 27. Ordinance 06-2026-015, bond ordinance providing for various capital improvements in and by the Township of Monroe in the County of Middlesex, New Jersey, appropriating $2,392,045, therefore, and authorizing the issuance of $1,882,855 bonds or notes of the Township to finance part of the cost thereof. Ordinance 06-2026-016, bond ordinance providing for various improvements to the water sewer utility in and by the Township of Monroe in the County of Middlesex, New Jersey, appropriating $4,368,200, therefore, and authorizing the issuance of $4,368,200, Bonds are notes of the Township to finance the cost thereof. Ordinance 06-2026-017. Ordinance authorizing the Township of Monroe to convey a portion of property located at Spotswood-Englishtown Road, Block 54, Lot 5.04, Monroe, New Jersey, to Middlesex County for roadway culvert improvements.

Thank you. And, Clerk, can you please read Item 6?

Sorry, 8. 8. Resolutions for consideration under the consent agenda at the June 29, 2026 regular meeting, R6-2026-124 through R6-2026-135.

Thank you. Council members, can you please review the resolutions? Does anyone have any resolutions to be removed?

Council President, I do. R6-2026-124. R6-2026-126.

Great. Thank you. Anyone else? Okay. Moving on to public comments. This is limited to agenda items only. Five minutes per speaker. May I have a motion to open?

Moved.

A second. All in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed? Public comments is open. Agenda items only. Five minutes per speaker. Please state your name and address for the record.

My name is Patricia Swalje. I live at 586A Madison Drive. I think a lot of people here today are what you can see democracy looks like. And the ordinance to remove the permitted use language in our land use zoning codes, in my opinion, should just be a first step in protecting our community from any negative impact of AI data centers. There appears to be a growing realization that these artificial intelligence data centers are not a regular land use and there needs to be a separate zoning category to ensure that the codes address the demands these centers pose. I support a yes vote on this ordinance and I hope that all of the council members will vote yes. But I'm also suggesting that there should be a moratorium on any AI data center application until all of our zoning is studied and we can look at the locations of our vacant land. Thank you.

Good evening, everyone. Happy 4th of July upcoming. That was a great rendition. Good for your daughter. Okay, now my time begins. 2610, regarding the fees adjustment, is that, okay, from what I read, it says it's going to increase the fees of water and sewer for the residents, and then it's lowering the threshold on non-residents of water consumption So, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THIS MONEY, BUT I'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW MUCH WAS BUDGETED IN THE BUDGET FOR COLLECTION OF WATER BILLS, WATER UTILITY, AND HOW MUCH IS COLLECTED SO FAR. ORDINANCE 013, REGARDING THE DATA CENTERS, I SUPPORT THAT, LADY. AND FROM WHAT I'M SEEING, THERE'S STILL PERMITTED USES THROUGHOUT THE TOWN. THIS IS JUST FOR A SPECIFIC ZONE, AND I HOPE THAT CHANGES. I SUPPORT THIS LANDFILL. HOWEVER, I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHO'S GOING TO BENEFIT FROM IT. IS IT GOING TO BE ALL RESIDENTS OF THE TOWNSHIP WITH THE SOLAR FARM THERE, OR IS IT JUST GOING TO BE A SELECT FEW? CAN I DO THE RESOLUTIONS OF CONSIDERATION? NO, THAT'S NOT. regarding the approval of liquor licenses how many the renewal of liquor licenses how many and for who are they and who are they for and resolution 131 how old is this truck that we're going to upgrade uplift install new equipment how old is this truck and is it maybe more efficient to go buy a new truck the 217,000 218,000 is a lot of money so those are my questions thank you

Council President, thank you. I can take all the questions and then I'll let Mr. Stroin answer the one about the water sewer connection fees. So in 013, we are removing the phrase data processing from all zones that currently have that phrase. So there's four zones that have that language. Again, as we talked about last meeting, we're confident that Monroe Township does not have data centers as a permitted use. However, there is some arcane, vague language from 1991. So better safe than sorry, we are removing that, proposing to remove that from the zoning ordinance. So it won't appear anywhere in our zoning ordinance. Thank you. Uh, Oh 14, the benefit for community solar for the landfill site, when that eventually becomes a solar farm, the priority will be first the Inwood estates neighborhood as they directly surround the landfill. Um, if there are still, and we expect there still to be availability for community solar after that, that'll go to the wider Monroe township, um, residents. And then if there's still availability, then it'll be even broader outside of Middlesex County. Um, 126, there is a list of liquor licenses. If I could ask Christine to help me out with that list. It's included in the resolution, which is on our website and available right directly on the resolution. I think there's 12 or 14.

Yeah, Council President. We have 18 total liquor licenses. All right.

Listen, if they're on the website, I'll check them out.

Thank you. Great. And then in terms of Resolution 131, so this is the equipment that will be added to a new truck. We purchased the new truck earlier this year. We bonded for it at the end of last year. We purchased it earlier this year. It is in process of arriving to us by the end of July from the manufacturer. This cost will... fit that truck with all of the necessary equipment for snow removal. So a brine unit, a stainless steel salt spreader, an 11-foot snow plow, the hydraulic system for the install and the upgrade, and all the plow lights and emergency lights. So it is a new truck, and these are the costs to upfit it. Thank you, Mr. McGowan.

I do hope that the benefits of the solar farm actually benefit the whole township. The whole township is paying for some of this, correct?

I mean, certainly, Council President, the idea was that the surrounding neighbors who live very close to the landfill, considering the history that's gone on over the last five or six years, should get the sort of first benefit of it. But there will be plenty of spots left for community solar once that takes place. And so, yes, Monroe residents do get the benefit of it. Some of them.

Okay, and then as far as the truck, I understand, I'm glad it's a new truck and we're not refitting an older one. But maybe next time when you consider these truck purchases, get a package deal for everything to be included. I don't see why we should have to add on almost $217,000. But meanwhile, it sort of goes, measure twice, cut once, look what you need, and then order it all at once. Thank you very much.

Yeah, Council President, the truck manufacturer doesn't, it doesn't come with the availability. You have to go to two different companies, the second company to put on all that equipment.

Thank you.

Any other members of the public wishing to speak? Seeing none, may I have a motion to close? Motion. May I have a second? Second. All in favor?

Aye.

And may I have a motion to adjourn our meeting?

Moved.

Second? Roll call, please.

Councilman Cohen? Yes. Councilman DiPiro? Yes. Council Vice President Markell? Yes. Council President Siegel? Yes.

Moving on to our regular meeting, calling our meeting to order. May I have a motion, please?

So moved.

May I have a second?

Second. Roll call, please. Councilwoman Cohen? Yes. Councilman DiPiro? Yes. Council Vice President Markell? Yes. Council President Siegel? Yes.

Moving on to item two, may I have a motion to approve the payment of claims per run date June 24th, 2026? So moved. May I have a second? Second. Roll call, please.

Councilwoman Cohen? Yes. Councilman DiPiero? Abstain. Council Vice President Markell? Council President Siegel. Yes. Motion carries. Thank you.

Moving on to item three, approval of the minutes. You may have a motion to approve the minutes of the following meetings as written and presented. June 3rd, 2026, agenda and regular combined meeting.

Motion made.

You may have a second. Second. Okay. Roll call, please.

Councilwoman Cohen. Yes. Councilman DiPiro. Yes. Council Vice President Markell. Yes. Council President Siegel. Yes. Motion carries.

Thank you. Clerk, can you please read the ordinances and item four? We'll go one by one.

Ordinance 06-2026-010, Ordinance Amending Chapter 39 of the Code of the Township of Monroe, entitled Fees.

So moved. May I have a motion? May I have a second?

Second. Roll call, please. Councilwoman Cohen. Yes. Councilman DiPiero. Yes. Council Vice President Markell. Yes. Council President Siegel. Yes. Motion carries.

Next ordinance, please.

Ordinance 06-2026-011. Ordinance authorizing the acceptance of a deed of permanent easement by Theodore Walker and Jennifer Walker concerning property at Block 6, Lot 30.

May I have a motion, please? Second.

Second.

Roll call, please.

Councilwoman Cohen. Yes. Councilman DePiro. Yes. Council Vice President Markel. Yes. Council President Siegel. Yes. Motion carries.

Thank you. Can you please read the next ordinance?

Ordinance 06-2026-012. Ordinance authorizing the acceptance of a deed of permanent easement by Louis S. DeVino concerning property at Block 6, Lot 27.3. Thank you.

May I have a motion, please? Second. Roll call, please.

Councilwoman Cohen. Yes. Councilman DiPiro. Yes. Council Vice President Markell. Yes. Council President Siegel. Yes. Motion carries.

Thank you. Next.

Ordinance 06-2026-013, Ordinance Amending Chapter 108, Article 6.16a, PO-CD, Planned Office Commercial District, and Article 6.18a, HD, Highway Development District, and Article 6.19a, LI, Light Industrial District, and 6.25a, OP, Office Professional District.

May I have a motion, please? Motion made. Second? Second.

Council President, I have a question, maybe for Council. How does this affect state properties and federal properties in our community? Examples, stay at home facility, how does this ordinance change affect state owned properties and federal properties?

Well, it doesn't necessarily affect federal properties. Federal government can essentially ignore local zoning. If the federal government wants to do something, they have the ability to do so unless it causes environmental concerns, which is a fair card. With respect to the state properties, I'm not entirely certain that it does have any impact on the state properties. They're generally subject to local zoning, but I don't know that the state properties would have any data centers that would be impacted by this ordinance at all.

Because we've been seeing the state governor wanted to ban this across the state. And one of our concerns, my concerns, being the chairman of the Citizen Review Board, and Terry's on it as well, they're talking about closing the state home within the five years, and Kevin's on the board as well. And my concern was if someone was to purchase How can we, by doing this, is this a tool that our zoning board or that town council could use? Or is there something that we can make a little stronger for state-owned properties or federal?

So if it's a state-owned property now, but it gets bought by a private developer, it's no longer a state-owned property and we don't have to worry about whether the state's involved or not. So by doing this now...

Your microphone.

Sorry, I apologize.

It's okay.

There we go. So by doing this now, it essentially forecloses the possibility for a private developer to come in after the fact. That private developer would be still subject to the local zoning rules. They don't get any special exemption because of who they purchased the property from.

Okay.

Thank you. Thank you, Council President.

Thank you. I think we had a motion. We need a second.

I got a second. Second. Just a roll call. Roll call, please. Councilman Cohen. Yes. Councilman DiPiro. Yes. Council Vice President Markell.

Yes.

Council President Siegel. Yes. Motion carries.

Clerk, can you please read the next ordinance?

Ordinance 06-2026-014. Ordinance recommending the adoption of the Municipal Landfill Redevelopment Plan for property known as Block 148, Lots 36.01 and 37-10. And block 148.60, lots 23.01, 24, 25, 26, and 27. May I have a motion, please?

May I have a second?

Roll call, please. Councilwoman Cohen. Yes. Councilman DiPiro. Yes. Council Vice President Markell. Yes. Council President Siegel. Yes.

Motion carries.

Ordinance 06-2026-015. Yes. Bond ordinance providing for various capital improvements in and by the Township of Monroe in the County of Middlesex, New Jersey, appropriating $2,392,045, therefore, and authorizing the issuance of $1,882,855 bonds or notes of the Township to finance part of the cost thereof. Thank you. May I have a motion, please? So moved. Second? Second. Roll call, please. Councilwoman Cohen. Yes. Councilman DiPiero. Yes. Council Vice President Markell. Council President Siegel. Yes. Motion carries. Ordinance 06-2026-016. Bond ordinance providing for various improvements to the water and sewer utility in and by the Township of Monroe in the County of Middlesex, New Jersey, appropriating $4,368,200, therefore, and authorizing the issuance of $4,368,200 bonds or notes of the Township to finance the cost thereof.

May I have a motion, please?

Motion made. Second.

Thank you. Roll call.

Councilwoman Cohen. Yes. Councilman DiPiero. Yes. Council Vice President Markell. Yes. Council President Siegel. Yes. Motion carries. Ordinance 06-2026-017. Ordinance authorizing the Township of Monroe to convey a portion of property located at Spotswood-Englishtown Road, Block 54, Lot 5.04, Monroe, New Jersey, to Middlesex County for roadway culvert improvements.

May I have a motion, please?

Motion made.

Second? Second. Roll call, please.

Councilwoman Cohen. Yes. Councilman DiPiro. Yes. Council Vice President Markell. Yes. Council President Siegel. Yes. Motion carries.

Thank you. Moving on to Item 5. Clerk, can you please read?

Resolutions for consideration under the Consent Agenda R6-2026-124 through R6-2026-135 with the exception of Resolution R6-2026-124 and And 126, which will be voted on separately.

May I have a motion, please? Motion. May I have a second?

Second. Roll call, please. Councilwoman Cohen. Yes. Councilman DiPiero. Yes. Council Vice President Markell. Yes. Council President Siegel. Yes. Motion carries.

And moving on to item six, clerk.

Resolutions removed from the consent agenda for consideration. Resolution R6-2026-124 and R6-2026-126.

May I have a motion, please? So moved. Second?

Second.

Roll call, please.

Councilwoman Cohen? Yes. Councilman DiPiro? Yes. Council Vice President Markell? Yes. Council President Siegel? Yes. Motion carries.

Thank you. Moving on to our Administrator's Report. Mr. McGowan?

Thank you, Council President. I am incredibly brief tonight, just saying happy 4th of July. Appreciate the Council inviting my daughter to be here with us tonight. Much appreciated.

To the engineer's report, Mr. Rasmussen.

Thank you, Council President. I'll be a little bit longer than Kevin. The pickleball courts and parking lot improvements at the Senior Center, they are complete and open. Five pickleball courts and approximately 70 new parking spaces. The landscaping will be completed in the fall when the weather permits. Update on James Monroe Park concession stand and park improvements. They have the electrical transformer has been installed. The building is powered. Septic system is complete. I have a meeting tomorrow with the contractor and our construction department just to see what final items they need to wrap up before we can get in the building with a temporary save up. 2026 road program. The concrete work is complete. The milling and paving. of approximately 18 township roads will start in about two weeks. Likewise, on Lynx Drive, concrete is complete. The milling and paving, again, will start in about two weeks. We had some repairs by GenElectric today at the traffic signal on Schoolhouse and Prineville Road. I'm also waiting on GenElectric to provide a complete inspection report of all the traffic signals to see if there's any repairs that need to be done throughout the township. Also today I had a meeting with the state regarding the railroad crossings on Hoffman Station Road as well as the railroad crossing on Schoolhouse Road. They're slated to be completely reconstructed on Hoffman Road. That work is actually going to start on Monday, July 20th, and they'll be complete on Friday, July 24th. That is going to be a full closure. It's going to be a round-the-clock closure for those four days and four nights, and it's going to be a complete restructuring. They're going to be replacing the rails as well as putting in new track pads and milling and paving that area. So that's on Hoffman Station Road. July 20th, there'll be a Nixle that'll go out for that. There'll be detours set up. Please follow the signs. The following week... They'll be moving over to Schoolhouse Road and that railroad crossing on Tuesday, July 28th. That is only a one-night closure, so they should be working out there on Tuesday and wrapping up on Wednesday. Again, it'll be a full overnight closure. They are doing pavement reconstruction there, including milling and paving, as well as new signals and striping. And that's my report.

Thank you. We'll move on to council reports. Councilman DiPiro.

Thank you. While we're on, thank you, Mark, for the railroad crossings. Any updates on Prospect Plains railroad crossing and when they're going to improve that one?

Prospect Plains Railroad Crossing, I'm not aware of any.

By public road.

Again, if you may recall, that was part of the county project to do with the improvements to the traffic signal at Prospect Plain and Applegarth Road. The county ran into some problems. Some hurdles with the railroad and getting easement. So the project was shortened to just include the traffic signal as phase one. I don't have anything new to report as far as if they made any headway with the railroad to do the full widening through there.

Okay. So no update. Thank you.

No.

Okay. Half Acre Road and Forest Gate intersection, the Middlesex County, completed the intersection. They did a great job, worked through the nights, and had the intersection closed. It took a long time, but it was well worth it. The only thing, if they could take some of their construction ahead signs down, they're still up on Foursgate Drive. And I want to thank Mark and also Kevin for getting the striping put in that intersection. The residents are happy for the bus stop, so I wanted to say thank you for that. i asked the last last meeting for the opticon update for the entire town if we can get a report on which lights are not working i know this intersection in front of us on municipal plaza and schoolhouse and primeville is one that's not working so for emergency vehicles i like to to see what the report is in the repairs on uh on the opticon light lighting for the traffic lights township and county i also wanted to say the posters that are in our room here all done by by the students and everything i wanted to tell them thank you very much for the teachers the families and the students that provided these uh posters for our council chambers so i wanted to say thank you to all of them along with the congratulations to our 2026 graduates Wishing the families and the students good luck with their bright future and also saying thank you to the teachers and the staff that make it possible for our children to have a good education, as we just witnessed with Kevin's daughter singing. It was great, great to see that. 522, the water tower. Are we almost complete? Are we on budget with that project?

Yeah, it's complete, actually. I think even the Monroe, it's online, and I think even the Monroe Township wording was passed by it this morning. So yeah, it's all finished.

All finished because I know we're going to get the apple garth. We have the bond for that tonight. And also on well 19, it looks like we're getting the fences up. It looks like the fence is up over there. I went past there this afternoon. It looks pretty good. So I want to say thank you for everyone that made that happen. I was at a planning board meeting and on one of the applications, there's a what they call, I guess, a cut through where the Route 33, right where Bentley Road is. And there's a lot of truck traffic that are jamming up the Route 33 state highway. So it's something that maybe we should look forward to. We tried to close it years ago. It's something that we might want to continue to look into because the applicants keep coming to the planning board and they keep talking about adding more truck traffic, but then no one wants to improve. I know it's a state highway, and Mark made a point at that meeting. that, you know, he would like to be part of the state inspections and reports and all of the engineers. But it's probably to the best benefit to take that intersection out and make it a state highway without, with the curbing and everything, so the trucks don't try to make U-turns and more accidents occur. So thank you, Council President.

Thank you. Councilwoman Cohen. Hello.

Good evening, everyone. I am hoping as I look around the room that everybody has been drinking water all day and dressing appropriately for this heat. It is with us for the week, and it is easy to get careless. It is very easy to get careless and get surprised. A reminder that you all have received more than one copy of the schedule of the wonderful events that are taking place all week in the town regarding July 4th. We have all been given to understand that our wonderful mayor has chosen some interesting outfits. to demonstrate his patriotism and love for our country. So I look forward to seeing all of you and enjoy this wonderful week. It was such fun to go to the pickleball court opening and actually watching some of our folks on the council playing pickleball. And they are very pretty courts. They are genuinely lovely looking, and I know everyone will enjoy having them here. And I'm looking forward to seeing all of you during the week.

Thank you. Council Vice President Markell.

Hello, everybody. It's nice to see people at a council meeting. It's what democracy is all about, which is very important. I'm not going to report anything about specifically the township right now. but I just want to say with all the, um, controversy in this country right now, and what's, you know, between red and blue and this and that, I'd like to say that I'm not necessarily a soccer fan. Um, I think just, um, I watch it for 90 minutes and I'm figured trying to figure out what's going on. And it looks like guys just kicking them all back and forth. But what, to me, I'm sorry to say that, uh, being a Met fan, I'm in mourning right now, but, um, It's constant morning every morning, every night, every day. But I would like to say is if anybody's been following what's going on with the influx of people that came into this country, especially the Scott crowd, the Scots have been marching, playing their bagpipes. They're invigorating, and they're accepted into this country with open arms, and they appreciate it. The Norwegians, the same thing. They've been going to Major League Baseball games. and there's thousands going to the games, and they do their rowing. I don't know if everybody's seen them. There's one particular Italian fellow who is overwhelmed by the fact that he gets free Coca-Cola refills in the United States. They love this country, and it's invigorating, and I'm proud to see that this country is accepting the World Cup people with such open arms. And I just wanted to touch on that and say... The future, in my opinion, there's a lot of people that are pessimistic, but I'm totally optimistic. It's a beautiful thing. And that's all I just wanted to add tonight. And happy 4th of July to everybody. It's 250th anniversary. We're all Americans, and we should all celebrate together. Thanks.

Thank you. And I have a couple updates. I just wanted to wish... All the best to Wu. Shanghai's Dumpling on Route 33. We just had a ribbon cutting last week. So it's their new location here in Monroe. So please go out and support them. Food was delicious. Great ribbon cutting. And being that it's Park and Recreation Month, month of July, just want to remind everyone, summer in Monroe is very beautiful. Our parks are amazing. We have so many of them. We have Thompson Park. We have Avenue K with the Spray Park. Great place to bring your kids. Patriots Park, Veterans Park, and our Tranquility Trail, and our new pickleball courts that everyone mentioned. They are really beautiful. And of course, all the great programming that we have at our senior center, rec center, and library for those who may not want to weather the heat. So I wanted to share that. And also something else to mark your calendars. National Night Out is August 4th. So that's another great night to bring your families and come support the township. So with that, Mayor Delina, I'll turn it over to you for your update.

Thank you, Madam Council President. I shall be short as well. Just a couple items. Just since I have spent hours and days learning the Chinese phrase that I had said when I cut the ribbon is chi hao, hu hao. which means eat well and drink well. So I don't know how much longer I'm going to remember that phrase. So I wanted to get it out of my system. So it's all good. I do want to thank all of those who were in attendance. It was a great event we had at Thompson Park. I partnered with our local VFW for 5K and One Mile Walk two weeks ago. It was a very nice event. Speaking of events, we kicked off our week-long 4th of July celebration or Independence Day celebration just at 6 o'clock tonight at our Senior Center with a concert. Tomorrow night, we have at dusk a drone show. Seven o'clock, six o'clock, the DJ will start and we'll have a drone show in Monroe Township. From my understanding, with a five mile radius where you'll be able to see the drones, that'll be tomorrow night. Wednesday at our local library will be a history scavenger hunt throughout the day. Thursday night, we have a concert in the park playing patriotic music. However, I understand the weather is going to be a little warm. So please, if you're thinking about attending, be mindful. It might be moved to the senior center Friday night, Friday afternoon at our community center. We have a laser show. And then obviously, weather permitting, July 4th, our big fireworks celebration. So it's something that we've come together as a town. I'd like to see great attendance at all the events. And then finally, Kevin McGowan, congratulations, your Knicks won. So that's it.

Thank you, Mayor Delina. Moving on to public comments, may I have a motion to open?

Moved.

May I have a second? Second. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? THANK YOU. FIVE MINUTES PER SPEAKER.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD. I FORGOT TO THANK THE CLERK'S OFFICE. THIS PAST ELECTION WAS ONE HECK OF ELECTION. PEOPLE DROPPING OUT, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH. I DID SEND A LETTER TO THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND THE CLERK I would hope that they offer a training for the seniors, a training to be poll workers in Monroe. It used to be. There's a lot of seniors here who don't want to travel to Piscataway to be trained. However, if it was here, they'd be trained and actually may be willing to work in nearby towns if needed or be substitutes. So please, if you have any influence, try to get training back in Monroe. And then I didn't get, you know, I was halfway almost home. And then I realized I didn't get the answer to regarding uh 010 with the water fees so how much was budgeted in the budget for collection of water fees for the year and actually how much was collected

Council President, so I don't have in front of me what the budget, the anticipated revenue from those specific connection fees were. But I believe we have, and I gathered that number today for Councilman DiPiro, so I have it off the top of my head. We've gathered 137,000 so far in water sewer connection fees.

Is it in what time frame?

In the first six months of this year to date.

Okay. So from what if I remember from the budget, there was almost $2 million anticipated revenue.

So that number wouldn't be correct. It would be much lower than that. brought down our anticipated revenue from connection fees. We're expecting revenue to increase in other areas from user fees, but it wasn't $2 million. I want to say it's somewhere in the $600,000 or $700,000 area, but I don't have it in front of me.

Okay, but we're still short, and we do not want the rate. We're getting a water increase anyway, and that doesn't make many people. makes us very unhappy. So I would hope that this increase will cover any shortfalls that I see Coming down the road.

So, Council President, the only way to collect water and sewer connection fees is if developers build new construction and are ready for their certificates of occupancy. Certainly the town, you know, has a process for that, but we can't, with development slowdown, we can't force additional new developments in town just to increase connection fees. Just the reality of it.

Okay, well, I don't know if it's legal, but maybe you could increase the development fees to developers, you know, instead of passing it on to the local residents. Like, let them pay more for their new development.

It's a thought. So, Council President, we have increased fees on new development, but these connection fees are set by a statutory formula. It went up $200 this year for water connection fees and $200, roughly, for sewer connection fees, but that's a statutory formula in the state of New Jersey that we don't have any control over.

Okay, because between the electric going up and the water going up, you're killing us seniors. Now, having said that, I will say I have two sons, both on political opposites. One's this way, one's that way, but they're both my sons, and I love them. And what does bring them together is the World Cup. So we're having a good time, and both of them are voting for America. So God bless America. Happy Fourth of July.

Good evening. My name is John Kercheski, 5 Galicia Way, Monroe Township. I'm going to say some things that may hurt people's feelings. You might get mad at me. I really don't care. I always speak the truth and always have spoken the truth. In June 2025 of last year, my next-door neighbor, Dr. Mark Braxton, had called me stating that the township marked out his sidewalk panels and that the road was going to be redone, paved. And I had gone outside, and the only sidewalk panels that were marked were in front of Dr. Mark's house. I drove to the township engineer's office, spoke to the girl at the window. She told me that they were only replacing panels that were damaged by tree roots. And anything else would be at our expense. I requested an engineer to come out and walk the street with me. No one called me for two weeks. I again drove down and I spoke to the girl again. An engineer come out and invited me in. I refused to go in, told him have someone come out and walk my street with me. He stated that they were going out on a job and they would come out to Galicia at 3.30 p.m. Upon their arrival, I met Keith, McWork, and Mark. Present at the meeting and walked around was my next-door neighbor, Dr. Mark Brobson, and Sally Caro, myself. We explained the problem with Galicia. It's a very short street, four houses, cul-de-sac. We pointed out to Keith, and Keith had stated they're not repaving Galicia that year, 2025. And driveway aprons are at the homeowner's expense. I questioned Keith as to why our street was left out when Camelot was done, because we are basically a part of Camelot. We're right across the street from it. And curbs, well, sidewalks and aprons. Keith told me it was the DOT grant, and you have Schoolhouse Road there. I asked Keith, what's Schoolhouse Road? The Berlin Wall? when I informed Keith that I knocked on people's doors in Camelot and I asked, who paid for your walkways and your aprons? And the people told me that the town did. Well, Keith looked surprised at me. So Keith went and marked out some of the sidewalk panels and stated to me, well, the only house we have left to do is yours. I said, well, there's my house. Go look at it. I was in pain with my back with the canes. I have a bad back and hips. He went over and he stated to me, so you're demanding that we the township do your driveway apron. And I said, no. He again asked me and I said, no. When I have my driveway repaved, I will have a mason do the apron. He turned around and said, Mr. Kercheski, you're trying to get me fired. I said, no, Keith, repeatedly this several times. My neighbor and Sal were nodding their head for me to say, yeah. So I finally said, yeah. to his request about the township doing my apron. And then he bent down and marked spray painted my apron to have it replaced at the township's expense. He then stated that the work would begin in July and that sod would be laid out in September. Well, the sod never come. We're still waiting for the sod. They put down some grass seed that grows like a vine. Demolition started in June. The only house that was marked out, and before you dig, you must get a mark out, was Dr. Mark's house. It was a blatant violation of the law that they started doing demolition work in the street. A man in a vest come, knocked on my door. I made it to the door, said, what's up? We're going to maybe start today doing work on the sidewalks and the curbs. I said, that's fine, but I got to show you where my electrical service is. It's underground service, and I had lost service years back, and they put in what they called a million-dollar service with a boring machine to bring electricity to my house. So I went out, and I showed him where it was. I was expecting them to do a markout for the other houses, and they never had done it. So that was the contractor's incompetence.

Sir, your time is up.

My five minutes is up?

Your five minutes is up.

Well, then I'm requesting a meeting with the mayor again. I had a meeting with him, and I want another meeting with him for several hours, and I don't think they need to do our street until they come in and do the curbs and the sidewalks.

I'm here today because I have six grandchildren, and I'm really concerned about the country that they will be inheriting.

Excuse me, Pat, can you name an address for the record? I'm sorry.

Pat Swaljay, 586A Madison Drive. We have billionaire techs, mongols, I guess, moguls, driving the proliferation and have been since its very inception. of AI data centers across our country. One example is in East Windsor, where the private equity firm of Blackstone, the CEO, Mr. Schwarzman, has financed two QTS AI data centers on Route 571, as well as one being financed in Piscataway. One of those QTS buildings in East Windsor is going up. They're building vertically, so they can take every bit of property to be used. Several months ago, 60 advocacy groups sent Governor Sherrill a petition calling for a moratorium on the approvals of AI data center construction until the state zoning regulations caught up to the impacts. In spite of this, Governor Sherrill has not acted on that call for a moratorium. Mayor Delina and council members, you have been good stewards of keeping our tax rate stable and ensuring the continuation of our excellent credit rating. However, as things stand, AI data centers do not fit neatly into existing zoning categories. Their impacts are too significant to be managed through outdated frameworks. Monroe zoning codes were approved in 2022 in the master plan update, but our map is still from 2017. As we have heard voiced at several council meetings, Monroe will allow no AI data center applications. If the planning board is going to refuse those applications, then Monroe should impose a moratorium of at least 12 months to review our township regulations as we have several properties up for sale. Councilman DiPiero has mentioned a state property that we could be having a problem with. Because we are on the grid with 13 other states, we are years away from renewable energy sources catching up with the demands that we have on our grid. New Jersey residents will continue to experience high energy costs, but we can control burdens on our water resources and regulate the air pollution that AI data centers cooling systems create. New Jersey has a noise control act that is not being enforced. It calls for businesses to not go above 65 decibels of noise during the day and limited to 50 decibels at night. There's no enforcement of this law and these day AI data centers are currently running about 96 to 100 decibels 24 hours a day. Those levels damage health and the environment. We are the most densely populated state in the union and currently 12 of the 82 data centers in New Jersey are what are known as hyperscale AI data centers. Seven more of these hyperscale centers are being planned. I'D LIKE TO SHARE A COPY OF A LETTER THAT MONROE CONCERN CITIZENS ARE SENDING TO GOVERNOR SHERRELL PROPOSING THAT SHE IMPLEMENT AN AI DATA CENTER CONTRACT, THAT THE STATE HAS THAT CONTRACT, AND IT REALLY SPELLS OUT WHAT THEY HAVE TO BE DOING WITH REGULATIONS. We're also joining the 60 advocacy groups, and now there are members of both the House and the Senate in Congress calling for a moratorium on the construction of AI data centers until regulations are developed, and we as a state are data center ready. I'm going to share also Mr. Trump's rate payer protection pledge where he has stated corporations must pay 100% of all their data center costs. It's a pledge that was signed by all the tech giants who visited the president in March 4th of this year. And then I guess it was filed in a filing cabinet. I happened to come across it online and I have been reminding people that is calling for these billionaires to pay all of the costs of their data center constructions, including upgrades that are needed. And I just would like to read the end of a speech by Jeffrey Hinton. He's a professor. He received a Nobel Peace Prize. And he's credited with being the father of artificial intelligence. But he is saying,

that we have no idea what excuse me pat pat time is up okay all right thank you for your comments

Good evening. My name is Greg Mammoliti. I reside at 19 Christina Avenue, Monroe. Good evening, Council President Siegel, Council Members, Mayor DeLena. I serve as the Executive Vice President of Monroe Township Ice Hockey, the organization many of us simply refer to as Monroe Township Hockey. I'm also a Monroe Township community volunteer, proud hockey parent, and someone who's been passionate about the game of hockey my entire life. Before I begin my remarks, I'd like to ask that our Monroe Township High School varsity hockey teams from the 2023 and 2024 and 2024 to 2025 seasons be recognized for winning back-to-back Greater Middlesex Conference Championships. This is an extraordinary accomplishment, and I believe these young student athletes deserve public recognition for representing the Monroe Township with pride, dedication, and sportsmanship. If the members of those championship teams who are here this evening would please stand. Thank you. Your accomplishments have made Monroe Township proud, and we're grateful that several of you could join us this evening. I'd like to also thank Councilman Charles DiPiro for publicly recognizing these teams at your last meeting and for helping to begin the conversation about the future of Monroe Township Community Center Roller Rink. Tonight, I'd like to briefly share who Monroe Township Hockey is today. how our organizations evolved and why I hope we can continue to be a valuable partner with Monroe Township. When Monroe Township Ice Hockey was established in 2017, our mission was to provide Monroe's middle school and high school ice hockey teams players with an opportunity to continue playing together during the spring season. Today, that mission has grown far beyond that. Monroe Township Hockey now introduces children who have never played hockey to the sport through free floor hockey clinics, recreational open gym programs, community outreach, and affordable opportunities designed to make hockey accessible to Monroe families. Over the past years, we've introduced more than 75 Monroe children to hockey through these fine programs. Our mission today isn't simply to serve existing players. It's to create opportunities for future players. As that mission has grown, the Monroe Township Community Center Roller Rink has become increasingly important to helping us fulfill that. Last week, I had the opportunity to meet with Business Administrator Kevin McGowan, Parks and Recreation Superintendent Mary Lang, and Facilities Manager Virgil Caputo. Based on my understanding of our discussion, actually, I'd like to sincerely thank each of them for taking the time to meet with me. I left that meeting very encouraged. BASED ON MY UNDERSTANDING OF OUR DISCUSSION, I CAME AWAY BELIEVING THAT THE TOWNSHIP DOES INTEND TO PRESERVE THE PAVILION ON THE ROLLER RANK AND THAT RESTORING THE FACILITY TO A SAFE CONDITION IS THE IMMEDIATE PRIORITY. IF I'VE UNDERSTOOD THAT CORRECTLY, I SINCERELY APPRECIATE THAT DIRECTION AND EVERYONE'S WILLINGNESS TO BEGIN MOVING THIS CONVERSATION FORWARD. WHAT IMPRESSED ME THE MOST ABOUT THAT MEETING WAS THAT IT WASN'T SIMPLY A DISCUSSION ABOUT PROBLEMS. IT WAS A DISCUSSION ABOUT SOLUTIONS. We shared ideas, listened to one another, and began what I hope will become a good ongoing partnership. I also understand and appreciate the roller rink at the community center is intended to serve as a multipurpose recreational facility. Monroe Township Hockey fully supports that vision. Our hope is simply that whatever improvements are ultimately made, the facility remains safe and functional for everyone who uses it. While my thoughts about the community center roller rink is what initially pushed me to speak here tonight, the roller rink is simply where this conversation began. Tonight is about opportunity, the opportunity for children to discover a new sport, for families to spend time together, and for residents of all ages to enjoy a safe public recreational facility. I understand that every recreation project competes with many other important priorities throughout our township. My immediate goal with respect to that rink isn't to ask for a full renovation right now. it's simply to ask for your cooperation and support in ensuring that the first step is restoring the roller rink to a safe condition for everyone who wishes to use it beyond that i hope monroe township hockey will continue to be viewed as more than simply just another user group requesting improvements we hope to earn your continued cooperation support as we work to expand recreational opportunities introduce new families to hockey and continue building something that benefits future generations of monroe residents We want to help expand recreational opportunities, introduce new families to hockey, and continue building something that benefits future generations of Monroe residents. Monroe Township Hockey doesn't simply want to ask something of the township. We want to help build something with the township. Together, Monroe Township and Monroe Township Hockey can continue creating opportunities that strengthen our community. Thank you again, Council President Siegel. the members of the council, Mayor Delina, Mr. McGowan, and also to Ms. Lang and Mr. Caputo, to Councilman DiPiro, and everyone who has taken the time to listen, engage, and begin this conversation with us. I'm grateful for the progress that's already been made, and I look forward to continuing our partnership with the Monroe Township for the years ahead. Thank you very much for your time and consideration. Thank you.

Good evening. My name is Ralph Fulks. I live at 153 Tournament here in Monroe. I just wanted to kind of follow up on the question about data centers. And I'm very concerned about that. I hear the implementation the things that these centers do to our environment, to the cost of electricity in the area, the water table, the sound, and if they don't use water, what pollutants they put into the air. My main question is, is the township forming some type of proactive legislation to stop data centers from coming in there? Are we data center-friendly, or are we looking to... make sure that very small towns very close to us have adopted procedures to forbid them from their township.

So, Council President, what Ordinance 013 that was introduced tonight, which will have a public hearing at the August meeting and hopefully be adopted at the August meeting, would remove any reference to data processing facilities or computer centers or other language that might be construed as a data center. We don't believe that that was the intent when these ordinances were written, but nevertheless, we're proposing to delete those words so that there's no confusion. Therefore, at the end of that process, there will be in no zone in town, data centers will definitively be not a permitted use. And pursuant to the municipal land use law, and our attorney can correct me if I'm wrong, pursuant to the municipal land use law and our own ordinance, if a use is not specifically permitted, then it is by default prohibited. And so that's really the only action under the law that a township can take, meaning the planning board can't accept an application because it's a prohibited use at that point. What the state and the federal government do in terms of regulations around this issue, that's something that, as Mayor Delina mentioned last week, that we're closely monitoring. and interested to see the analysis and the regulations that come out in the future. But for the moment, Monroe does not permit data centers to be constructed in town. And so I think, I know there's been some discussion about what will happen with state-owned properties and federal-owned properties. In these particular zones, I don't actually think there are any state or federal-owned properties, but if we're thinking about the boys' home, I mean, that's a particular use that's been in place since the 19th century. As Mike mentioned before, if they were to sell that to a private developer, which I don't think is happening anytime soon since there's a four or five or seven year look ahead in terms of doing anything with that property. But if they were to sell it to a private entity, that private entity would be subject to our zoning laws, and we do not at this time permit data centers. So I do, just on behalf of the administration, I think... the township is is is protected from an application that that could come in um and then you know down the road it could be evaluated again but that's what creates the there's no moratorium it's that these are not permitted uses uh and will not be until the council takes action down the road to permit them uh which which i don't believe is happening anytime soon thank you okay thank you

Good evening. My name is Frank Tanik. I live at for Julie Drive Monroe Township. First, I'd like to thank the council for providing me the opportunity to sit here and tell you something I consider very important that's going on in the town itself. I've recently noticed as the town develops is getting more congested. I can't tell you that there's a flagrant disregard for our traffic laws. I see people running red lights almost daily. I have people tailgating me. I can't even see their bumpers. I've got kids on scooters doing 40 miles an hour down old Forest Gate Drive. I've got people passing me. It happened just the other day. I'm sitting at the light at Half Acre and Forest Gate. I stop for the red light. The individual passes me and gets in the left-hand lane and goes right through the red light. Let me just check my notes, make sure I touched on most of the issues. Passing illegally, any of the slow roads, I'm doing 25 miles or 35 miles an hour. It's the speed limit. They go on the other side of the road and pass the double lines. The situation, I think, is getting worse. I think it's growing. And it's no reflection on the police department. I think they do an excellent job and I respect them. But they can't be everywhere. We need to do something about it. I've had too many close calls. I had a young lady texting on her phone while she was turning the corner and just missed a telephone pole. I see people on their phones all the time talking and texting, holding the steering wheel like this and texting. I don't have an answer. I wish I did. I hate to come with a problem. I have some suggestions maybe. Maybe we need to reinstitute the red light laws, the camera laws. Maybe we need to take advantage of, a lot of people have dash cams on their car. If I'm driving along and I capture one of these people doing it, can I submit that video to the police department? Do we need to run days in the town where we have enforcement days when people don't expect to see? They know they're not gonna get trouble. And they know where the police are sitting. If you go to Helmetta, once you come down Old Forge Road and you hit Helmetta, everybody does 25. There's no question. You're going to get snagged, you're going to get caught, and you're going to get punished. And I think those things need to happen. So I'm just asking to look at this and see what we can do, because I do believe the problem is growing. And I mean, it's not chaos out there, but I think that if we don't start to get more on it, there's going to be more accidents and more problems. So if you need any help from me, I'll be willing to help. But I appreciate your time and anything you can do to take a look at this issue and help resolve it. Okay. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Any other members of the public wishing to speak? Seeing none, may I have a motion to close?

So moved.

May I have a second? All in favor?

Aye. Council President, can I just ask one question? When we're talking about the hockey rink, when is that project going out to bid for the rec center parking lot and the hockey rink? Oh.

parking lot i'll let mark answer that the hockey rink is not part of the parking lot design as as greg and mary and i spoke the other day um there are some more short-term immediate repairs that we can do to the rink uh but i'll let mark speak to the parking lot design well as of right now it's under design so i don't have any dates yet for you for completion or being out to bid but we are under design for it so so we'll be this year

Um, if it's this year, it'll be late in the year. So whether or not the paving can take place, uh, um, you know, that'll be weather dependent, but you know, I'll know more in about a month.

Okay. The only thing I wanted to make a comment about is the safety is the concern. I walked the hockey rink a few times. If we could just get, and if it's going to be a long time, just try to get the, the rink itself, um, repaired if we could. Yeah.

Yeah, but that is in process.

And, Council President, just to be clear, the hockey rink is not part of the project that we're designing. We're designing the parking lot that's going to be going around the rink. Thank you.

Thank you. May I have a motion to adjourn? So moved. May I have a second? Second. All in favor? Any opposed?

Absolutely. Time, please. We are adjourned. The time is 748.