Edison Township Council Regular Meeting – June 24, 2026

The Edison Township Council held its regular meeting on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at 7:00 PM. The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance and roll call, and ran until 9:50 PM. The council recognized first responders for heroic rescues, honored retiring Township Clerk Cheryl Rosimano, introduced an ordinance to rescind the bamboo ordinance, and heard extensive public opposition to a planned renovation of Polanski Park.

Consent Calendar

• Resolution 351-2026: Authorizing the tax collector to mail estimated tax bills after the June 30 statutory deadline. The council adopted the consent agenda, including this resolution, unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

First Responder Recognitions:

• Multiple residents expressed gratitude and praise for the Edison Fire and Police Departments for their actions during the May 16, 2026 tanker fire on Interstate 287 (involving an 8,800-gallon gasoline tanker) and the May 20, 2026 apartment fire at 149 Marina Drive. Speakers included Elizabeth Conway, Joey Sheb, Amresh Patel, former Councilman Tony Massaro, and James Walsh of the Edison Firefighters Association.

Retirement of Township Clerk Cheryl Rosimano:

• Residents, including Margo Harris, Tony Massaro (representing the Cultural Arts Commission), Lois Tar, Don Tar, Walter Stoshel, Joyce Freeman, and Elizabeth Conway, praised Cheryl Rosimano's professionalism, non-partisanship, and decades of service. The Cultural Arts Commission presented a token of appreciation.

Pilot Fiber Ordinance:

• Elizabeth Conway and Joyce Freeman asked whether Pilot Fiber NJ LLC was a new company and whether the fiber was for residential use. The Town Attorney clarified Pilot Fiber is a competitive local exchange carrier providing data connectivity for commercial/enterprise use, not related to Comcast or Optimum.

Polanski Park Renovations:

• Dozens of residents from Greenwich Road, Nicholas Court, Keene Lane, and surrounding streets voiced strong opposition to what they described as a sudden, unannounced transformation of the passive Polanski Park into an event space with a sand beach, amplified music, food trucks, and temporary electrical wiring. Speakers included Patrick Durick, Steve Rosen, Robert Shearer, Karthika Mal Swami, Dr. Isha Takar, Lucia Murphy, Mike Vidansky, Kamlesh Patel, Dr. Nima, Parthi, and Joyce Ship. Concerns included:
  • Noise from amplified music and crowds, up to four evenings per week (Thursday-Sunday), disturbing the quiet neighborhood.
  • Increased traffic, parking overflow into residential streets, and potential crime.
  • Environmental impacts: sand acting as a disease vector, risk to wetlands, and interference with deer and other wildlife.
  • Safety hazards from exposed electrical wiring and lack of inspections.
  • Betrayal of trust: residents claimed they were not consulted despite a petition of over 90 signatures.
  • The park's active baseball field was filled with sand, displacing youth sports.
• Residents demanded the project be halted and the park restored to its former passive condition.

Discussion Items

Ordinance 2284-2026 (Introduction): Rescinding the Bamboo Ordinance

• Councilmember Ajay Petil moved to introduce an ordinance to rescind Chapter 25, Section 17 (bamboo) of the township code. He stated the intent is not to eliminate bamboo regulation but to rework the ordinance so that enforcement is equal and disputes between neighbors are handled civically. Councilmember Brescher and Council Vice President Kentos supported reworking the ordinance, noting enforcement challenges. Council President Coyle voted no, preferring to wait until the July 20th meeting for further review. The motion to introduce passed 6-1 (Council President Coyle dissenting). Public hearing set for July 20.

Pilot Fiber NJ LLC Right-of-Way Use Agreement

• The council debated an ordinance authorizing a right-of-way use agreement with Pilot Fiber NJ LLC to install fiber optic facilities within public rights-of-way. Councilmember Patel and Council Vice President Kentos opposed, citing concerns that the fiber could facilitate data centers and AI, which they believe will lead to job losses. Councilmember Schmuel expressed similar concerns but noted the ordinance is a BPU-formality. The ordinance was voted down 4-3 (Yes: Dima, Schmuel, Coyle; No: Brescher, Kentos, Patel, Petil). Council President Coyle indicated the issue would return.

Ordinance for Easement at 2193-2195 Lincoln Highway (Route 27)

• The council unanimously approved an ordinance accepting a maintenance easement on a portion of Block 124, Lot 20.04.

Polanski Park Renovations

• During oral petitions, council members acknowledged the residents' concerns. Council Vice President Kentos noted the park was historically passive and that the lack of neighborhood consultation was problematic. Councilman Petil stated the council would investigate and visit the park. The Business Administrator announced that two dead trees had been removed and that Mayor Joshi would hold a public meeting on July 1, 2026, at the park. Council President Coyle reminded residents that any park can be rented for events, but agreed to discuss the issue with the mayor.

Key Outcomes

• Resolutions Recognizing First Responders: Two resolutions honoring firefighters and police officers for the I-287 tanker fire and Marina Drive apartment fire were adopted unanimously.
• Retirement of Township Clerk: The council presented a plaque and recognized Cheryl Rosimano's 35+ years of service; her retirement was effective June 2026.
• Bamboo Ordinance Rescission: Ordinance 2284-2026 was introduced (6-1), with a public hearing and final vote scheduled for July 20, 2026.
• Pilot Fiber Agreement: Ordinance 2285-2026 failed to pass (3-4); the council indicated the matter may return.
• Easement Ordinance: Approved unanimously.
• Consent Agenda (including Resolution 351-2026 on tax bills): Adopted unanimously.
• Polanski Park: The council committed to visiting the park, facilitating a public meeting with the mayor on July 1, and re-evaluating the pilot program based on resident feedback.