OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Edison Municipal Council Combined Meeting - December 8, 2025

Township Council — Monday, December 8, 2025
BodyEdison, New Jersey
SessionTownship Council
DateMonday, December 8, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 58:46

Transcript — Verbatim
0:17

Good evening.

0:19

The municipal council combined meeting of Monday, December 8th, 2025, is now in session.

0:26

It's 6 05 p.m.

0:28

And could you please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance?

0:34

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

0:41

Under God with liberty and justice for all.

0:46

Thank you.

0:47

Madam Clerk, could you read the roll call, please?

0:52

Councilmember Brusher.

0:53

Councilmember Coyle.

0:55

Councilmember Harris?

0:56

Here.

0:56

Councilmember Patel.

1:00

Here?

1:01

Oh, he's gonna be late, Late Joe.

1:03

Oh, he's gonna be okay.

1:04

Sorry.

1:05

Uh Councilmember Peteel.

1:07

Councilmember Pointer.

1:08

Present.

1:09

Council Member Schmuel.

1:10

Here.

1:11

Madam Clerk, could you read adequate notice?

1:15

Adequate notes of this meeting is required by the Open Public Meeting Act of 1975.

1:20

It's been provided by the annual notice center to the Home News Tribune, Star Ledger Desi Talk on November November 18th, 2024 and paste in post it in this law's missile complex on that same date.

1:37

First of all, I hope everybody had a nice Thanksgiving.

1:40

And I want to thank Council Vice President Pointer for filling in.

1:43

I was able to watch some of the meeting, and he did his usual excellent job.

1:50

Also I want to encourage people to we have many vacancies on boards and committees.

1:59

And I would like to encourage people to consider applying for some of these committees.

2:25

No housing.

2:26

Where's the one from you?

2:28

Council appointments.

2:30

Oh, is this the is that the one?

2:32

Yes.

2:32

Okay, very good.

2:34

Thank you.

2:34

Okay.

2:35

So for the committees that are appointed by council, we have a vacancy on the ethics committee.

2:41

We and we need a Republican for that particular vacancy.

2:45

Uh housing authority, we have one term that's up for reappointment.

2:48

But if that person does not apply for reappointment, we certainly would welcome someone to apply.

2:53

Open space, the entire board expired in 2024.

2:58

Zoning, we have three terms up for reappointment.

3:01

And once again, whether or not these people reapply, we would certainly encourage you to consider applying.

3:08

Six terms up for reappointment and one actual vacancy.

3:13

And finally, the Veterans Memorial, there are seven vacancies on the Veterans Memorial Committee.

3:19

And you know that's gonna be, I think, an important one, especially as we're coming up on the 250th anniversary of this country.

3:28

So I would really encourage people, if you want to have a voice, if you really want to be able to make a difference and make a contribution to our community, this is a great way to do it.

3:41

So I thank you for your attention to that.

3:44

And with that, um let's see.

3:48

Oh, and the the last uh the last item is that the ordinance 2022 has to be removed because the newspaper failed to advertise.

3:59

And I want to thank in attendance tonight, Joel Bassoff, for having pointed that out.

4:03

He had the eagle eye to be able to see that and brought it to the attention of Council Clerk.

4:09

Um and um attorney Burns you want to anything else you want to uh to say about why that needs to be pulled because it will just uh in order for us to actually pass it, consider it, uh do anything with it.

4:21

It's got to be published, otherwise it it wouldn't be legal to pass it.

4:25

So it will be plenty of time to get it done before the 22nd.

4:29

So it will be put back on the agenda for uh for the December 22nd meeting.

4:35

And with that, um we go to unfinished business ordinances for further consider and oh, and then the the other so ordinances for further consideration public hearing and final adoption.

4:47

We have uh we also have an item 2267 that is being pulled.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural████████████████████████████████32%
Personnel Matters█████████████████████21%
Public Engagement████████████12%
Zoning And Land Use███████████11%
Environmental Protection██████6%
Animal Welfare█████5%
Transportation Safety████4%
Public Safety████4%
Arts And Culture████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Edison Municipal Council Combined Meeting - December 8, 2025

The Edison Municipal Council held a combined meeting on Monday, December 8, 2025, at 6:05 PM. The agenda included final adoption of a tree ordinance, introduction of two new ordinances (a PILOT for a redevelopment project and amendments to boards/commissions), resolution approvals, and public comment on a proposed salary ordinance. Several items were pulled or tabled due to publication issues or concerns over language. The council also discussed and ultimately removed a proposed ordinance to increase council salaries.

Consent Calendar

  • Resolutions R660-R675 approved unanimously via consent agenda. These included routine items such as a garbage truck purchase (R673, replacing an old loader through a cooperative pricing agreement) and a permit fee waiver for St. James Church (R675).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Joel Bassoff (Beach Lane): Questioned the cost of the garbage truck (R673) and later urged the council to sever the mayor's salary increase from the salary ordinance (2268), arguing a 32% ($48,000) raise for the mayor was excessive and poorly timed (lame-duck session). He compared the proposed $198,000 salary to the Governor of New Jersey's $175,000 (rising to $210,000) and noted Edison's mayor would be among the highest-paid in the state.
  • Sue Malone Barber (Pleasant Avenue): Opposed the mayor's salary increase, noting a 132% increase over four years and arguing that 5% annual cost-of-living raises would produce a salary of only $160,000–$177,000. She questioned why the raise was not part of the budget process.
  • Thomas Lucky (Netherwood Circle): Commented on Ordinance 2269 (Fairway Country Club PILOT), expressing concerns about traffic congestion, vague terms, missing attachments, and the lack of tax exemption term length. He argued the project would strain infrastructure.
  • Chris (last name not given): Raised that Ordinance 2270 was not on the posted agenda and called the council's vote to introduce it illegal. He also questioned the fee waiver for St. James Church and criticized the council's handling of public comments and the American flag.
  • Unnamed speaker (later identified as Tom?): Opposed the mayor's raise, criticized the administration's handling of school threats, and referenced prior incidents involving public comment restrictions.

Discussion Items

  • Ordinance 2266 (Tree replacement exemptions): Final adoption. Open to public comment with no comments. Passed unanimously (6-0).
  • Ordinance 2267 (Environmental impact statement): Pulled from the agenda entirely after Council Vice President Pointer explained that the language made the requirement too expansive, potentially applying before application approval. Updated language will be submitted for the next council.
  • Ordinance 2268 (Salary ordinance): Tabled to December 22, 2025, because the newspaper failed to publish the required notice. Council President Harris noted he disagreed with the timing. The ordinance includes a 32% raise for the mayor (to $198,000). During public comment, Joel Bassoff and Sue Malone Barber opposed it; council members expressed mixed views.
  • Ordinance 2269 (Fairway Country Club PILOT): Introduced on first reading. The 30-year tax exemption for a 55+ age-restricted development (two five-story buildings) on a contaminated site at 1000 Inman Avenue. Council President Harris asked about revenue loss for schools; administration responded that no revenue is taken away since the site currently generates no taxes. Council members noted the site has been vacant for 30+ years and that the PILOT is needed for remediation.
  • Ordinance 2270 (Boards/commissions amendments): Introduced on first reading. Public commenter Chris stated it was not on the posted agenda, but the council proceeded.
  • Council salary ordinance: Removed from consideration by Council President Harris, who cited the 100% increase (to perhaps $14,000-15,000 range?), timing in lame-duck session, and the perception of giving themselves a raise after reducing public speaking time. He said future councils could take it up.
  • Council reports: Councilman Coyle reported DPW is prepared for snow season with salt trucks and plows. Council President Harris provided animal shelter statistics for November: 33 felines adopted, 18 canines adopted, 13 canines still in shelter, 34 felines in shelter.

Key Outcomes

  • Ordinance 2266 adopted (6-0).
  • Ordinance 2267 pulled from agenda; no action.
  • Ordinance 2268 tabled to December 22, 2025 (6-0).
  • Ordinance 2269 introduced on first reading; public hearing set for December 22, 2025 (6-0 to introduce).
  • Ordinance 2270 introduced on first reading; public hearing set for December 22, 2025 (6-0 to introduce).
  • Consent agenda (R660-R675) approved (6-0).
  • Council salary ordinance removed from consideration; no vote taken.
  • Next meeting: Monday, December 22, 2025, at 6:05 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening. The municipal council combined meeting of Monday, December 8th, 2025, is now in session. It's 6 05 p.m. And could you please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. Under God with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Madam Clerk, could you read the roll call, please? Councilmember Brusher. Councilmember Coyle. Councilmember Harris? Here. Councilmember Patel. Here? Oh, he's gonna be late, Late Joe. Oh, he's gonna be okay. Sorry. Uh Councilmember Peteel. Councilmember Pointer. Present. Council Member Schmuel. Here. Madam Clerk, could you read adequate notice? Adequate notes of this meeting is required by the Open Public Meeting Act of 1975. It's been provided by the annual notice center to the Home News Tribune, Star Ledger Desi Talk on November November 18th, 2024 and paste in post it in this law's missile complex on that same date. First of all, I hope everybody had a nice Thanksgiving. And I want to thank Council Vice President Pointer for filling in. I was able to watch some of the meeting, and he did his usual excellent job. Also I want to encourage people to we have many vacancies on boards and committees. And I would like to encourage people to consider applying for some of these committees. No housing. Where's the one from you? Council appointments. Oh, is this the is that the one? Yes. Okay, very good. Thank you. Okay. So for the committees that are appointed by council, we have a vacancy on the ethics committee. We and we need a Republican for that particular vacancy. Uh housing authority, we have one term that's up for reappointment. But if that person does not apply for reappointment, we certainly would welcome someone to apply. Open space, the entire board expired in 2024. Zoning, we have three terms up for reappointment. And once again, whether or not these people reapply, we would certainly encourage you to consider applying. Six terms up for reappointment and one actual vacancy. And finally, the Veterans Memorial, there are seven vacancies on the Veterans Memorial Committee. And you know that's gonna be, I think, an important one, especially as we're coming up on the 250th anniversary of this country. So I would really encourage people, if you want to have a voice, if you really want to be able to make a difference and make a contribution to our community, this is a great way to do it. So I thank you for your attention to that.

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