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Record of Proceedings

Edison Township Council Meeting: Budget Introduction and EMS Week Proclamation - May 20, 2026

Township Council — Wednesday, May 20, 2026
BodyEdison, New Jersey
SessionTownship Council
DateWednesday, May 20, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:29

May 20th, which should start at 6 p.m.

0:32

Some members aren't here.

0:33

We can start.

0:34

Uh we just need a quorum of four people to start a meeting, four people to pass a budget.

0:39

So um, and today uh we're introducing the budget.

0:44

So you'll have a second swing at the plate of coming here just for those who are here for the first time.

0:48

Um we welcome that.

0:50

Uh I'm just gonna move to uh the pledge of allegiance right now.

0:54

So please all stand for the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of the American and to the Republic for which it says one nation under God, individual with liberty and justice for all Madam Clerk Roll.

1:15

Councilmember Brescher.

1:16

Here councilmember Coyle?

1:18

Here councilmember Dima?

1:20

Here, Councilmember Kentos?

1:21

Here, Councilmember Patel?

1:23

Yeah.

1:23

Councilmember Batil?

1:24

Here.

1:25

Councilmember Schmuel.

1:29

Adequate notice.

1:30

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, Star Legend Desi Talk on November 17th, 2025, and post-Mean Lobby Municipal Complex on that same date.

1:44

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

1:45

Uh good evening, everyone.

1:46

For those who are attending for the first time, welcome.

1:49

Uh you may follow along the agenda provided in the back table.

1:53

Uh you you will have four minutes to speak on public comments and on four minutes on resolutions and oral petition remarks at that portion of the agenda.

2:02

If you're watching from TV at home, please visit our Edison NJ.gov.

2:06

Click on departments, then can council, then select council agenda.

2:11

So then you can follow along the meeting.

2:12

If you have any further questions, you can email uh Joe Coyle at Edison NJ.gov.

2:18

Um just for tonight for those who are here.

2:21

We are introducing the agenda today.

2:22

Uh some people here for the budget agenda being introduced, and um that's great.

2:27

Uh understand you will have many swings at the plate and discussion here tonight.

2:32

It's just an introduction.

2:34

Uh going through this actual um agenda, we'll have public comments on resolutions.

2:40

That's not part of the open comment.

2:42

You'll have to wait a few more minutes for the open public comment, which you'll see.

2:46

If you want to speak on the resolutions, you can talk on any resolution you want.

2:49

A lot of them are just bill pays, which you'll simply you'll see them on there.

2:52

If you need this, let us know.

2:54

They are on the back table.

2:55

You can follow along.

2:56

I do thank you all for coming.

2:58

Uh welcome public safety and our members from Fire and Police, and we have sports and youth leagues here.

3:04

Important important stuff in Edison uh under budget.

3:08

So thank you for coming.

3:12

We can do the resolution we're doing.

3:15

Okay.

3:15

Clerk uh read resolution.

3:19

Whereas emergency medical services is valid public service, and the members of emergency medical service teams are ready to provide life-saving care to those in need 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

3:30

Whereas access to quality emergency care dramatically improves the survival and recovery rate of those who experience sudden injury, illness or injury.

3:40

Emergency medical services fill health care gaps by providing important out-of-hospital care, including preventative medication, uh follow-up care, and access to telemeds.

3:53

The whereas the emergency emergency medical service system consists of first responders, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, emergency medical dispatchers, firefighters, police officers, educators, administrators, pre-hospital nurses, emergency nurses, emergency physicians, trains member of the public, and other out of hospital medical care providers.

4:15

Whereas the members of emergency teams, whether the career or volunteer engage in thousands of hours of specialized training and continuing education to enhance their life-saving skills.

4:27

Um whereas HMH, JFK, EMS, Edison Division of Fire, Hot's of Middlesex County, and Edison Emergency Medical Service have shown dedication and execution of these services.

4:44

And where is it appropriate to recognize the value and the compliments the compliment accomplishments of emergency medical services provided by designating the emergency medical service week now?

4:56

Now therefore be resolved with the municipal council.

5:00

Now therefore be resolved as the municipal council do hereby proclaim the week of May 18th through the 24th as emergency medical services week.

5:06

Uh thank you, madam clerk.

5:08

Uh we do have to open this resolution to the public if anyone may comment.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Safety███████████████████████████27%
Budget Equity Analysis████████████████████████24%
Procedural███████████████████19%
Public Engagement██████████10%
Youth Programs██████6%
Zoning And Land Use███3%
Engineering And Infrastructure███3%
Parks and Recreation███3%
Technology and Innovation█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Edison Township Council Meeting: Budget Introduction and EMS Week Proclamation - May 20, 2026

The Edison Township Council met on May 20, 2026, at 6 p.m. The meeting included a proclamation for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week, introduction of the 2026 municipal budget and sanitation budget, public comments, and discussions on various township issues. The budget introduction was controversial due to timing and transparency concerns, leading to a delayed public hearing date.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Dawn Tar (52 Reader Road) spoke in favor of passing the budget as developed, opposing reductions in police and fire services, citing potential loss of 11 officers and increased overtime.
  • Steven Zetterbaum (Oliver Avenue), representing Edison EMS (volunteer ambulance squad), thanked the council for the EMS Week proclamation, shared the squad’s history (since 1935), noted they responded to over 1,000 calls last year, and asked for continued township support.
  • Tom Lucky (Netherwood Circle) raised concerns about: metal detector requirements at council meetings vs. board of education meetings; lack of safety fencing and silt fences at construction sites (e.g., 1125 New Dover Road); speeding on Netherwood Circle and missing stop signs; cricket playing at John Adams Park (adults playing instead of children).
  • Patty Savilich (Woodger Wilson Drive), representing pickleball players (mostly seniors), reported a tentative agreement with the Edison Jets and recreation director to use the Papiani youth center when turf panels are up, giving pickleball players time before football season.
  • Alan Willenta (53 Hickory Street) thanked council for responding to emails and urged continued funding for youth sports, noting his program expected about $20,000 in support (0.04% of the municipal budget).
  • Savannah Willenta (student at Thomas Jefferson Middle School) asked why cuts might be needed and urged council to consider youth as the future.
  • Michael Piparado, president of Edison PBA Local 75, supported the budget increase, stating it is below the state average and fully funds public safety; any further cuts would harm services.
  • Dan Boslett (5B Center Street), sergeant and president of SOA and president emeritus of Edison Jets, supported the budget as proposed (4.4% increase), noting it keeps everyone employed and avoids layoffs; estimated cost to average homeowner is $11–13 per month.
  • Kulbindar Dhamija (Tension of this Road) complained about poor service at the construction permit office, lack of drawings on file, and high costs of licensed contractors; also questioned a $25,000 line item for a recreation department printer (vs. $5,000 actual cost).
  • Lois Tar (52 Reader Road), Vice Chair of Cultural Arts Commission, thanked council for reappointments and warned against using attrition to balance the budget.
  • Elizabeth Conway (20 Netherwood Circle) urged council not to cut public safety or youth services, and asked about Nixel/Everbridge alerts for a train gate malfunction on Inman Avenue.
  • Joel Bassoff (Beach Lane) requested a commitment to transparency and adherence to statutory budget deadlines, criticized the lack of public access to the full budget, and argued that the closed session was unjustified under the Open Public Meetings Act.
  • Sergio Mansy (Waldman Avenue) emphasized the importance of police, fire, and EMS in light of a recent shooting at a San Diego Islamic Center.

Discussion Items

  • Budget Introduction and Timeline
    • Councilmember Brescher proposed tabling the budget introduction, arguing the council received the full budget binder only on May 14–18, leaving insufficient time for review. He noted concerns about potential cuts to 911 operators, police, fire, and youth sports, and questioned the process of the council making cuts without departmental input.
    • Business Administrator Sonia stated the administration prepared the budget in March, met with several council members, and provided the binder last week; she called the budget fiscally responsible.
    • Council Vice President Kentos confirmed he received the binder on May 18 but needed time to review all line items.
    • Council President Coyle clarified that once introduced, the council cannot adopt for 30 days; amendments would require reintroduction and another 30-day period. The council agreed to introduce the budget with a public hearing set for July 22, 2026 (giving 63 days for review).
    • Councilmember Dima asked if the budget (4.4% increase) maintains the status quo; Council President Coyle confirmed no layoffs or service cuts are proposed.
  • Closed Session
    • The council entered closed session for approximately 14 minutes to seek legal advice on a procedural issue related to the budget vote. Attorney Joel Bassoff later criticized this as a violation of the Open Public Meetings Act.
  • Other Discussion Items
    • Councilmember Patel raised: a shared services resolution for Woodrow Wilson turf field; potential council support for a long-term debt resolution to help the board of education finance a property purchase; bomb ordinance concerns (requested to pull from agenda); survey ordinance for small decks/pathways; road paving on Baltic Avenue; pedestrian crossings on Oak Tree Road; cricket field permits; and engineering inspection of recently paved roads.
    • Councilmember Brescher suggested investigating whether removable turf plugs could allow multi-use of the Jets field (tennis/pickleball) without removing turf.
    • Councilmember Patel requested administration follow up on these items via email.

Key Outcomes

  • Proclamation Declaring EMS Week (May 18–24, 2026) — Adopted unanimously (7-0).
  • Introduction of 2026 Municipal Budget (Ordinance/Resolution) — Introduced by roll call vote (7-0 in favor); public hearing set for July 22, 2026 at 7 p.m.
  • Introduction of 2026 Sanitation Budget — Introduced by roll call vote (7-0 in favor); public hearing set for July 22, 2026 at 7 p.m.
  • Approval of Minutes (May 6, 2026) — Approved unanimously.
  • Consent Agenda (Resolutions R247–R280) — Adopted with no items pulled for separate vote.
  • Closed Session — Motion to enter passed; reconvened after 14 minutes.

Meeting Transcript

May 20th, which should start at 6 p.m. Some members aren't here. We can start. Uh we just need a quorum of four people to start a meeting, four people to pass a budget. So um, and today uh we're introducing the budget. So you'll have a second swing at the plate of coming here just for those who are here for the first time. Um we welcome that. Uh I'm just gonna move to uh the pledge of allegiance right now. So please all stand for the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of the American and to the Republic for which it says one nation under God, individual with liberty and justice for all Madam Clerk Roll. Councilmember Brescher. Here councilmember Coyle? Here councilmember Dima? Here, Councilmember Kentos? Here, Councilmember Patel? Yeah. Councilmember Batil? Here. Councilmember Schmuel. Adequate notice. 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, Star Legend Desi Talk on November 17th, 2025, and post-Mean Lobby Municipal Complex on that same date. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Uh good evening, everyone. For those who are attending for the first time, welcome. Uh you may follow along the agenda provided in the back table. Uh you you will have four minutes to speak on public comments and on four minutes on resolutions and oral petition remarks at that portion of the agenda. If you're watching from TV at home, please visit our Edison NJ.gov. Click on departments, then can council, then select council agenda. So then you can follow along the meeting. If you have any further questions, you can email uh Joe Coyle at Edison NJ.gov. Um just for tonight for those who are here. We are introducing the agenda today. Uh some people here for the budget agenda being introduced, and um that's great. Uh understand you will have many swings at the plate and discussion here tonight. It's just an introduction. Uh going through this actual um agenda, we'll have public comments on resolutions. That's not part of the open comment. You'll have to wait a few more minutes for the open public comment, which you'll see. If you want to speak on the resolutions, you can talk on any resolution you want. A lot of them are just bill pays, which you'll simply you'll see them on there. If you need this, let us know. They are on the back table. You can follow along. I do thank you all for coming. Uh welcome public safety and our members from Fire and Police, and we have sports and youth leagues here. Important important stuff in Edison uh under budget. So thank you for coming. We can do the resolution we're doing. Okay. Clerk uh read resolution. Whereas emergency medical services is valid public service, and the members of emergency medical service teams are ready to provide life-saving care to those in need 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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