OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Edison Township Council Meeting - September 10, 2025

Township Council — Wednesday, September 10, 2025
BodyEdison, New Jersey
SessionTownship Council
DateWednesday, September 10, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:54:48

Transcript — Verbatim
0:18

Good evening.

0:19

Tonight is the regular meeting of Wednesday, September 10th, 2025.

0:24

And the time is seven, just about 7.02 p.m.

0:27

Could you please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance?

0:32

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

0:36

And to the Republic for which it stands.

0:39

One nation under God.

0:41

Indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

0:44

Thank you.

0:46

Madam Clerk, roll call, please.

0:48

Councilmember Brussel.

0:50

Here.

0:50

Councilmember Coyle.

0:51

Here.

0:52

Councilmember Harris.

0:53

Here.

0:53

Councilmember Patel.

0:54

Here.

0:54

Councilmember Batil.

0:55

Here.

0:56

Councilmember Pointer.

0:57

Councilmember Schmuel.

0:59

Here.

1:02

Madam Clerk, adequate notice, please.

1:04

Adequate notice of this meeting as required by the Open Public Meeting Act of 1975 has been provided by the annual notice sent to the Home News Tribune.

1:20

Thank you very much.

1:21

Council President's remarks.

1:23

I've got a few things that are on a better on a better note, but I need to start tonight with my sense of devastation and anger about the murder of the conservative columnist, uh conservative activist Charlie Kirk today.

1:42

I don't know how many of you knew about this.

1:44

Charlie Kirk was 31 years old, left behind a wife and two kids.

1:49

He was speaking at an event at a Utah college, and not Brigham Young, but a different college, and 20 minutes into his speech, he was shot in the neck and he passed away a little while later.

2:02

I am so upset about this.

2:06

Now understand that as a liberal to moderate myself, there's probably nothing I agreed with Charlie Kirk Cook about Charlie, I'm sorry, uh uh Charlie Kirk about.

2:19

But this man is a human being, and the acceleration of these kinds of assassinations going on in the name of politics, whether it was Charlie Kirk today, whether it was the Minnesota legislators on in uh back a few months ago.

2:38

Uh I consider this to be a form of domestic terrorism.

2:43

And I'm afraid that all that's going to happen from this is that we are going to see more, and we're going to see more of this more often.

2:53

Um I've had some of my uh liberal friends who have kind of given me the you reap what you sow, look what he said about guns.

3:01

He that that um uh that uh he said that well maybe we need to accept a few deaths in order to preserve the second amendment amendment.

3:10

I'm not this is not about guns right now.

3:14

This is about this is about humanity, and I condemn what happened to him just like what I I condemn what happened to the Minnesota legislators a few months ago, and so on and so on and so forth.

3:27

And I want to just read a piece that caught my eye.

3:33

Um this is from uh a man, this is a man who Dr.

3:38

Robert Pape, a political science profession uh professor at the University of Chicago.

3:43

He said what he said this a few months ago.

3:46

What I fear is an increasing sense of mobilization between two opposed blocks, one that drives both protesters and government forces to become more militant as each seeks to impose its will on the other.

3:58

Many Democratic and Republican leaders have condemned political violence.

4:01

That is good, but they have almost always done so in separate statements.

4:05

My research suggests that to de-escalate the political environment and reduce the risk of violence.

4:11

America's political leaders need to cross their political divides and make joint statements and ideally joint appearances that denounce all political violence, welcome all peaceful protest, and call for respecting the rules, process and results of free and fair elections in the country.

4:37

And so I I I guess I'm I guess I'm venting a bit here, but I guess I'm also asking everyone who is watching or everyone who is here to do whatever you can to tone down the rhetoric and to cross the divide, cross the aisles, and be able to uh to speak uh speak truth to power in this in this sense.

5:03

This is not about guns today.

5:04

This is about uh what I would call domestic terrorism and I send send my sympathies to Charlie Kirk's family, and I send my sympathies to this country because i I'm I'm concerned about what we've become and who we've become in this sense.

5:20

So I thank you for indulging me uh in that.

5:24

Um I also want to point out today is World Suicide Prevention Day, and to that effect, and I mentioned this at Monday's meeting, the suicide prevention awareness uh presentation is gonna be at the JCC on Wednesday, September 17th at 7 p.m.

5:40

Um also speaking of terrorism, uh 9-11, the 9-11 rec event is going to be tomorrow at 6 p.m.

5:48

at Papiani Park.

5:50

And last but certainly not least, on a much happier note, I want to wish our council vice president who could be anywhere else today but here on his big birthday.

6:02

And then going to Sunday, I want to wish uh our councilman Nish Patel also a happy birthday.

6:10

They both share the same birthday just a few days apart, and I think they look darn good for 60, don't you think?

6:16

Um and also we also have apparently we also have a birthday today of the captain over there.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Engagement███████████████████████23%
Affordable Housing███████████████████19%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████████████14%
Procedural███████████11%
Fiscal Sustainability█████████9%
Zoning And Land Use████████8%
Water And Wastewater Management██████6%
Public Safety████4%
Traffic Management███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Edison Township Council Meeting - September 10, 2025

The Edison Township Council held its regular meeting on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, starting at 7:02 PM and adjourning at 8:56 PM. The meeting included resolutions of recognition, public hearings on multiple bond ordinances, a redevelopment agreement, and public comments. Council members present: Brussel, Coyle, Harris, Patel, Batil, Pointer, Schmuel.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes Approval: The council approved the minutes from a previous meeting, with Councilmember Schmuel abstaining (not present).
  • Resolutions 513–526: Approved en bloc, including $68,000 for new bleachers at the sports facility (capital funds).
  • Resolution 527: Approved unanimously, opposing a proposed pipeline through New Jersey that benefits New York without local benefit. Councilmember Brussel noted bipartisan support from multiple towns.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Joel Bassoff (Beach Lane): Questioned whether bond ordinances for road resurfacing ($9.1M) and building repairs ($382K) were capital improvements or operating expenses. Also asked about affordable housing in the Thomas Place redevelopment, challenging the township’s legal strategy.
  • Elizabeth Conway (20 Netherwood Circle): Praised library services, especially Clara Barton; requested updates on Grove Avenue road repairs and Inman Avenue/Old Raritan Road intersection safety; criticized the reduction of public speaking time from six to four minutes and elimination of rebuttals.
  • Sue Malone Barber (Pleasant Avenue): Questioned the classification of cyclical road resurfacing as capital vs. operating expenses; expressed concern that Edison’s affordable housing strategy might lead to overdevelopment on Amboy Avenue.
  • AJ (Edison): Expressed sorrow over the assassination of Charlie Kirk earlier that day, calling for an end to political violence.
  • First-time speaker (no name given): Asked for confirmation that a letter in support of the Immigrant Trust Act had been sent to state leaders; council confirmed it was done.
  • Unidentified speaker: Urged restoration of six-minute speaking time and rebuttals, noting many other towns do not offer them, and criticized council members for lack of engagement.

Discussion Items

  • Council President’s Remarks: Opened with condemnation of the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk that day, calling it domestic terrorism and urging cross-party unity. Also noted World Suicide Prevention Day and a 9/11 remembrance event at Papiani Park on September 11. Wished happy birthday to Council Vice President Pointer and Councilman Patel.
  • Library Card Sign-Up Month Resolution: Recognized September as National Library Card Sign-Up Month. Public speakers praised libraries. Council members highlighted library programs and renovations (main library opening ~January 2, 2026; North Library ~July 4, 2026). Unanimously adopted.
  • ARC of Middlesex County Resolution: Proclaimed September 7–13 as Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week. Adopted unanimously.
  • Bond Ordinance 2253 ($1,463,000 for solid waste vehicles): Joel Bassoff questioned whether bonds were self-liquidating or general obligation. Explanation: township guarantees but user fees repay. Adopted unanimously.
  • Bond Ordinance 2254 ($17,745,000 for water utility improvements): Council Vice President Pointer noted coordination with lead pipe replacement and the 2019 vote to keep utilities in-house. Adopted unanimously.
  • Bond Ordinance 2255 ($13,908,375 for sewer utility improvements): Allocations included $4M for pump station rehab (ACO requirement), $7.5M for sewer line improvements, $817K for vehicles/equipment. Adopted unanimously.
  • Bond Ordinance 2256 ($25,008,500 for various capital improvements): Included $9.1M road resurfacing, $382K building repairs, $299K sidewalk repairs, IT upgrades, fire department rescue vehicle, Edison Light Transit (EV bus and shuttles), archiving services. Extended public debate on capital vs. operating classification; council explained cyclical resurfacing of different streets qualifies as capital. Adopted unanimously.
  • Ordinance 2257: Amended Chapter 16 (Fire Prevention) to adjust tent permit fees. Adopted unanimously.
  • Ordinance 2258 (Thomas Place Redevelopment): Authorized transfer of property (former gas station/motel) to Yash of J5 Realty LLC for 66 units. Public questioned affordable housing set-asides and acquisition costs. Council noted pending site plan approval by Planning Board. Adopted 6-1 (Councilmember Pointer voted no).
  • Ordinance 2259: Appropriated $520,000 from developer’s contribution (funds in hand) for property acquisition. Adopted unanimously.
  • Affordable Housing Strategy (public comment period): Joel Bassoff and Sue Malone Barber pressed council on why Edison skipped the state dispute resolution process (deadline January 2025) and instead sought a declaratory judgment, which resulted in a court order requiring planning for 727 units and immunity exclusion for four builders’ remedy lawsuits. Township attorney responded that the litigation challenges the state’s number and immunity continues, with intervenors rather than lawsuits. Councilmember Patel cited past reductions (e.g., 2015 plan reduced 2,600 to 1,300 units) and tools like ADUs and deed conversions.

Key Outcomes

  • Seven bond ordinances approved: total bonded amounts exceed $58 million (vehicles, water, sewer, capital improvements).
  • Redevelopment ordinance (2258) for Thomas Place approved (6-1), with affordable housing obligations to be determined by Planning Board.
  • Resolution opposing pipeline (527) adopted unanimously.
  • Public comments will be reviewed regarding road safety at Inman Avenue and Old Raritan Road.
  • Upcoming combined meetings: September 25 (Thursday) at 6 PM and October 8 (Wednesday).
  • Meeting adjourned at 8:56 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening. Tonight is the regular meeting of Wednesday, September 10th, 2025. And the time is seven, just about 7.02 p.m. Could you please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God. Indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Madam Clerk, roll call, please. Councilmember Brussel. Here. Councilmember Coyle. Here. Councilmember Harris. Here. Councilmember Patel. Here. Councilmember Batil. Here. Councilmember Pointer. Councilmember Schmuel. Here. Madam Clerk, adequate notice, please. Adequate notice of this meeting as required by the Open Public Meeting Act of 1975 has been provided by the annual notice sent to the Home News Tribune. Thank you very much. Council President's remarks. I've got a few things that are on a better on a better note, but I need to start tonight with my sense of devastation and anger about the murder of the conservative columnist, uh conservative activist Charlie Kirk today. I don't know how many of you knew about this. Charlie Kirk was 31 years old, left behind a wife and two kids. He was speaking at an event at a Utah college, and not Brigham Young, but a different college, and 20 minutes into his speech, he was shot in the neck and he passed away a little while later. I am so upset about this. Now understand that as a liberal to moderate myself, there's probably nothing I agreed with Charlie Kirk Cook about Charlie, I'm sorry, uh uh Charlie Kirk about. But this man is a human being, and the acceleration of these kinds of assassinations going on in the name of politics, whether it was Charlie Kirk today, whether it was the Minnesota legislators on in uh back a few months ago. Uh I consider this to be a form of domestic terrorism. And I'm afraid that all that's going to happen from this is that we are going to see more, and we're going to see more of this more often. Um I've had some of my uh liberal friends who have kind of given me the you reap what you sow, look what he said about guns. He that that um uh that uh he said that well maybe we need to accept a few deaths in order to preserve the second amendment amendment. I'm not this is not about guns right now. This is about this is about humanity, and I condemn what happened to him just like what I I condemn what happened to the Minnesota legislators a few months ago, and so on and so on and so forth. And I want to just read a piece that caught my eye. Um this is from uh a man, this is a man who Dr. Robert Pape, a political science profession uh professor at the University of Chicago. He said what he said this a few months ago. What I fear is an increasing sense of mobilization between two opposed blocks, one that drives both protesters and government forces to become more militant as each seeks to impose its will on the other. Many Democratic and Republican leaders have condemned political violence. That is good, but they have almost always done so in separate statements. My research suggests that to de-escalate the political environment and reduce the risk of violence. America's political leaders need to cross their political divides and make joint statements and ideally joint appearances that denounce all political violence, welcome all peaceful protest, and call for respecting the rules, process and results of free and fair elections in the country. And so I I I guess I'm I guess I'm venting a bit here, but I guess I'm also asking everyone who is watching or everyone who is here to do whatever you can to tone down the rhetoric and to cross the divide, cross the aisles, and be able to uh to speak uh speak truth to power in this in this sense.

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