Edison Township Council Meeting - February 11, 2026

The Edison Township Council met on February 11, 2026, to conduct regular business. Key actions included the reintroduction of a salary ordinance and a proposed change to public speaking time from four to six minutes. Public comment covered snow removal, the Stelton Community Center, affordable housing, and other community concerns.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes Approval: The council approved the minutes from the previous meeting.
• Resolution R104: Confirming the Edison Wetlands Association representative to the Peter J. Barnes Wildlife Reserve Commission was approved unanimously as part of the consent agenda.

Public Comments & Testimony

• John Pointer (Roosevelt Blvd.): Expressed support for R104, noting the commission's progress in formalizing procedures.
• Thomas Lucky (Netherwood Circle): Questioned the $347,000 change order (R095) for work from 2023 and the $357,000 asbestos abatement at Stelton Community Center (R096), calling for transparency and asking if the Stelton spending was within budget.
• Anthony D'Amel (Edison): Asked for an explanation of the $65,000 health educator contract (R086).
• Joyce Sherman (Edison): Criticized spending on the Stelton building, warned of deficits, and urged fiscal caution.
• Joel Bassoff (Beach Lane): Questioned whether R095 should have been competitively rebid and asked for the scope of work justifying the $357,000 price tag for R096. Later, he asked about the budget deadline, affordable housing litigation, and the need for modern definitions of logistics centers.
• Elizabeth Conway (Netherwood Circle): Raised snow removal issues, asked for committee liaisons, and commented on the proposed six-minute speaking time, stating it was a slap in the face when reduced to four minutes.
• Susan Malone Barber (Pleasant Ave.): Thanked the council for introducing the six-minute speaking time, calling it a restoration of public trust.
• Dr. Nasser (Pleasant Ave.): Discussed sidewalk snow compliance, requested a clarification amendment to ordinance 2234-2024 regarding TRC changes, and asked if Stelton could be sold back to the school district.
• Joyce Sherman (Edison): Criticized the council for not acknowledging Martin Luther King Jr. Day, compared council salaries to Woodbridge, and called for action on the north side food desert.
• John Pointer (Roosevelt Blvd.): Presented a concept for a community center at the Jade Dynasty property on Amboy Avenue, arguing it would revitalize the corridor and serve as an anchor.
• Ben Alexander (Edison): Praised snow removal efforts, promoted the Shoveler app, and urged continued work on the Stelton Community Center.

Discussion Items

• Ordinance 2277 (Public Speaking Time): Council President Coyle argued against tabling, calling for a careful study of the appropriate time limit. Councilmember Kentos supported restoring six minutes, stating it was the previous standard for 15 years. A motion to table failed, and the ordinance was introduced with a 4-3 vote (Councilmembers Brusher, Dima, Kentos, Patel, Patil all voted yes; Councilmembers Schmuel and Coyle voted no). Introduced for a public hearing on February 25, 2026.
• Ordinance 2275 (Salary Ordinance): Reintroduced after being tabled earlier. Public comment noted the proposed figure of $26,500, which was a 50% increase from $17,500. Council President Coyle defended the increase as a way to make council service accessible to middle-income residents.
• Resolution R096 (Stelton Community Center Asbestos Abatement): Extensive debate on the cost and necessity. Councilmember Brusher suggested hiring a construction manager to avoid cost overruns. Council President Coyle noted the resolution would put all options on the table for the mayor. The resolution passed 4-3 (Councilmembers Dima, Kentos, Patel, Coyle in favor; Brusher, Patil, Schmuel opposed).

Key Outcomes

• Ordinances Introduced: 2273 (military leave), 2275 (salary), 2276 (drainage project), and 2277 (public speaking time) were all introduced for a public hearing on February 25, 2026.
• Ordinance 2274 (Handicap Parking): Adopted unanimously.
• Consent Agenda: Adopted without R096, which was voted on separately.
• Resolution R096: Passed with a 4-3 vote.
• Council Committees: Finalized list of committee liaisons to be distributed by February 17, 2026.
• Next Steps: The council will continue discussions on the Stelton Community Center, affordable housing, and the Amboy Avenue revitalization.