OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Edison Township Council Work Session - October 20, 2025

Township Council — Monday, October 20, 2025
BodyEdison, New Jersey
SessionTownship Council
DateMonday, October 20, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 48:42

Transcript — Verbatim
0:16

Good evening.

0:18

This is the work session meeting of October 20th, 2025.

0:21

The time is 602.

0:23

This council is now in session.

0:25

Please stand and join us for the pledge of allegiance.

0:30

I pledge allegiance.

0:31

Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

0:35

And to the Republic for which it stands.

0:41

Liberty and Justice for all.

0:44

Madam, could you call the roll, please?

0:47

Councilmember Brescia.

0:49

Here.

0:49

Councilmember Coyle.

0:51

Councilmember Harris.

0:52

Here.

0:52

Councilmember Patel.

0:54

Councilmember Peteel.

0:55

Here.

0:55

Councilmember Pointer.

0:57

Present.

0:57

Councilmember Schmuel.

0:58

Yeah.

0:59

Madam Clerk, could you read adequate notice?

1:02

Adequate notes 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, Strong Ledger, Tesi Talk and News India Times on November 18th, 2024, and post main lobby municipal complex on the same date.

1:18

Thank you.

1:21

Any comments for the combined meeting of October 8th?

1:25

Okay, seeing none.

1:36

Any comments on any of these ordinances?

1:39

Council President?

1:40

Yes.

1:41

Council presentation.

1:44

A question to the administration if I can.

1:53

Can an explanation be provided as to why that separation was put in there are you referring to the ordinance or the electric scooters?

2:03

So it was in there just to differentiate between under 18 and over 18.

2:10

Is there any other like that's the only reason?

2:14

I can have the chief explain.

2:16

Yeah, I'm just curious if there's uh I don't know, a benefit to having that separation out.

2:23

Because my immediate thing is I'm gonna I, as a parent, may potentially be fined for an action of another.

2:31

Right.

2:31

That's how I'm interpreting the ordinance.

2:33

So if an explanation can be provided, I'd appreciate it.

2:39

Yes, and I I would add actually, Council Vice President and I spoke about this last night, and a question I had to to piggyback on to his has to do with that for the uh under 18 uh that in addition to the fines, that there's the confiscation of the bicycles, whereas for the over 18, it does not seem to be the confiscation, even for a temporary period of time.

3:03

So I wanted some clarification on that as well.

3:06

So Council President, as you know, we've had uh some situations in Edison Township just most recently where we had a juvenile girl that was injured severely on Talmuds Road.

3:15

We had another one take place uh just a few nights ago on Plainfield Avenue in Jefferson.

3:21

So what's happening is they're not bicycles and they're not motorized uh pedal assisted bicycles.

3:27

They're actually the scooters that you see, they're usually a class three where they really would be characterized as a motorcycle.

3:34

But as we all see on Route 27, Plainfield Avenue throughout the town, they're traveling on the highways at a high rate of speed.

3:42

The state says that they cannot uh travel faster than 19 miles per hour.

3:46

Um the manufacturers usually are supposed to limit them to 20 miles per hour.

3:51

However, um these scooters are being sold to people, uh the parents, the kids, um they do 35 miles per hour, and some of them are modified to do up to 45 miles per hour.

4:02

So they're I just want to be clear, they're the electric scooters.

4:05

The decision was made that um if a juvenile is on one and he's and they are in violation, uh that the parents would be uh ticketed or uh issued a summons.

4:15

And then uh Councilman Pointer, so we would have the option to enforce this under Title 39 or under the local ordinance also.

4:22

So we we have that option as far as the Edison police um enforcing that.

4:27

And as far as uh it would be called impounding it.

4:30

So for example, if there's uh a juvenile that's on Route 27 traveling and um the officer stops them and uh the vehicle would be impounded, so their parents would have to come and get the vehicle out of impoundment, and that's where they they would be issued the summons for that violation.

4:45

But it does not prohibit these vehicles from being on um roadways outside of the highways.

4:51

So if they in fact are in a cul-de-sac or in the neighborhood, uh they can still operate there.

4:56

It's just getting them off the highways.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Engagement███████████████████████████████████35%
Traffic Management███████████████████19%
Procedural████████████12%
Public Safety██████████10%
Community Engagement█████5%
Youth Programs█████5%
Active Transportation████4%
Transportation Safety████4%
Water And Wastewater Management████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Edison Township Council Work Session - October 20, 2025

The Edison Township Council held a work session on October 20, 2025, from 6:02 PM to 6:50 PM. The meeting included discussions on a proposed ordinance regulating electric scooters, public comments on various community issues, and committee reports.

Discussion Items

  • Electric Scooter Ordinance: Councilmembers and the police chief discussed a proposed ordinance to regulate electric scooters, particularly targeting juveniles operating them on major roadways. Key points included holding parents responsible for under-18 violations, impounding vehicles, and distinguishing scooters from e-bikes. Councilmember Pointer expressed concern about parental fines, while Councilmember Schmill questioned the need for a local ordinance beyond state law. Council President suggested additional safety provisions like lights and hand controls. The ordinance does not cover e-bikes but covers other motorized devices like hoverboards.
  • Water Department Emergency Contracts: Council questioned a $2 million appropriation for emergency water system repairs, with three contractors listed. A councilmember asked about the cost of a recent major water main break.
  • Police Substation at Menlo Park Mall: Council discussed a five-year agreement for a police substation at the mall, primarily for processing shoplifting suspects efficiently. No monthly rent was noted, and the substation is used to keep officers on patrol.
  • Comcast Issues: Residents reported difficulty contacting Comcast. Councilmembers offered to mediate with their direct representative.
  • Inman Avenue Intersection Safety: Resident Elizabeth Conway asked about sight triangle improvements at Inman with Rawway and with Old Raritan. The administration said they are reviewing sight triangles.
  • Youth Sports Training Center: Councilmember Coyle announced the soft opening of the Edison Youth Sports Training Center, a 29,000 sq ft facility built for $12.5 million, bonded for 30 years, to serve multi-purpose sports.
  • Red Roof Inn Concerns: Council President raised concerns about safety issues at the Red Roof Inn, including a fatal overdose and animals from there in the shelter. Police reported ongoing operations and a future ordinance to address state-sent individuals.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Elizabeth Conway: Asked about Comcast service difficulty, status of Inman Avenue improvements, and inclusion of e-bikes and helmet requirements in scooter ordinance. Also urged council to act on the 6-minute speaking time issue.
  • Joyce: Praised Optimum cable, criticized lack of cultural education in the municipal gallery, argued for restoring 6-minute speaking time and rebuttals, warned about tree removal causing flooding, and promoted senior legacy cards from the Board of Education.
  • Anthony D'Amer: Advocated for a lit crosswalk at Woodbridge Avenue and the Greenway to promote bicycle traffic to Herbert Hoover School, reducing vehicle congestion. Also praised the police department's crime-solving success and increased visibility.
  • Anonymous Speaker: Criticized councilmembers for talking during public comments, expressed concern about free speech and the reduction of speaking time. Apologized to Councilmembers Coyle, Pointer, and Patel for past name-calling, and asked them to reflect on their actions and restore full speaking time.

Key Outcomes

  • The council took no final votes on the scooter ordinance; it remains under discussion.
  • The administration agreed to provide a timeline for the Inman Avenue project and follow up on Comcast complaints.
  • Councilmember Coyle committed to gathering data on water department hires and accomplishments.
  • A Diwali festival safety reminder was issued by the police chief.
  • Early voting and trunk-or-treat events were announced.
  • Council noted plans to adjust the 2026 meeting calendar to avoid religious holidays.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening. This is the work session meeting of October 20th, 2025. The time is 602. This council is now in session. Please stand and join us for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance. Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands. Liberty and Justice for all. Madam, could you call the roll, please? Councilmember Brescia. Here. Councilmember Coyle. Councilmember Harris. Here. Councilmember Patel. Councilmember Peteel. Here. Councilmember Pointer. Present. Councilmember Schmuel. Yeah. Madam Clerk, could you read adequate notice? Adequate notes 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, Strong Ledger, Tesi Talk and News India Times on November 18th, 2024, and post main lobby municipal complex on the same date. Thank you. Any comments for the combined meeting of October 8th? Okay, seeing none. Any comments on any of these ordinances? Council President? Yes. Council presentation. A question to the administration if I can. Can an explanation be provided as to why that separation was put in there are you referring to the ordinance or the electric scooters? So it was in there just to differentiate between under 18 and over 18. Is there any other like that's the only reason? I can have the chief explain. Yeah, I'm just curious if there's uh I don't know, a benefit to having that separation out. Because my immediate thing is I'm gonna I, as a parent, may potentially be fined for an action of another. Right. That's how I'm interpreting the ordinance. So if an explanation can be provided, I'd appreciate it. Yes, and I I would add actually, Council Vice President and I spoke about this last night, and a question I had to to piggyback on to his has to do with that for the uh under 18 uh that in addition to the fines, that there's the confiscation of the bicycles, whereas for the over 18, it does not seem to be the confiscation, even for a temporary period of time. So I wanted some clarification on that as well. So Council President, as you know, we've had uh some situations in Edison Township just most recently where we had a juvenile girl that was injured severely on Talmuds Road. We had another one take place uh just a few nights ago on Plainfield Avenue in Jefferson. So what's happening is they're not bicycles and they're not motorized uh pedal assisted bicycles. They're actually the scooters that you see, they're usually a class three where they really would be characterized as a motorcycle. But as we all see on Route 27, Plainfield Avenue throughout the town, they're traveling on the highways at a high rate of speed. The state says that they cannot uh travel faster than 19 miles per hour. Um the manufacturers usually are supposed to limit them to 20 miles per hour.

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