West Windsor, NJ Town Council Meeting of August 20, 2018

Agenda: tc-agenda-082018.pdf
Minutes: TC-Minutes-20180820-Business.pdf
Board of Health Minutes: TC-BOH-Minutes-20180820.pdf
WW Animal Shelter Doc: July 11, 2018 Inspection by Cheryl Wnek, R.E.H.S.
Speaking:
WW Council: A. Miller, President; J. Bahree; L. Geevers; A. Hamilton; V. Manzari
WW Mayor: H.Marathe
WW Admin.: G. Huber, Clerk; M. Schmid, Bus. Administrator

Below are links to and (for some, transcriptions) of select segments of the meeting. Click on the link to go directly to that portion of the video.

A presentation from the WW Board of Health on Vaping and a discussion of the proposed ordinance begins at 10:23 in the video.

Council Business Meeting begins with first Public Comment period at 40:50 in the video.

Other segments of the meeting follow.

Mayor's Comments

MARATHE: Thanks, so, first, John [Church], let me ask you, answer different questions you asked. First about the parking lot, we are still responsible for groundwater monitoring, and that those levels haven't reached normal, so until they do, we are, bring it to [indistinct], so that's the response to your first question. And your second question about putting reflectors, we are doing that as we fix the roads. We are not doing that, so when that road gets fixed, we will put reflectors on. We are not ignoring you. So you will never be ignored, so ... On another note both India and Pakistan celebrated the Independence Day this week, so happy Independence Day to both countries and people from those countries. And tomorrow is [indistinct] one of the Muslim holidays, so I want to wish everybody who celebrates Eid Mubarak.

I really didn't want to comment on the gun issue last time, but two people who commented disappeared, so I can't respond to them. If you make a comment and expect us to respond, at least have the courtesy to wait and hear the response. Since, gentleman, you are here, I will respond to you. You have every right to come, but you are better off going to School Board and talking to them. They are using your taxes. They are making the policy decisions. Our policy decision is very different than their policy decision. And once the professional that I hire to make that decision gives me a recommendation, I don't feel that model is superior in life to ignore that decision. So next time you get mad to me, just tell me what I would tell a parent who is affected, if, God forbid, something happens to his child, that my model decision was better than what my hired Police Chief told me, why I should overrule him. You give me that nice speech, and then you have every right to criticize me. So I am responding to you because you are here. The two gentlemen didn't have—the gentleman, lady didn't have the courtesy to wait and stop. I understand you're on other side of the issue. But at some point you have to decide what the professional is telling you, and what somebody else is telling you. It's very fashionable to put— throw people under the bus. The two lawyers who reviewed under—the agreement are thrown under the bus repeatedly. They are not first-year law students who reviewed this agreement. They represent the towns in much, much more heavier matter. If the impression is being created, as if everybody who is making the decision is incompetent. And that is simply not fair. You are entitled to your decision. Everybody else is entitled to their decision. And you need to show the same respect to them. You disagree with them. That's perfectly fine. That's your right. But the people who make decisions are not fools and not incompetent. They may think differently than you do. And people who say, "Guns will be introduced in school," if I have—I agree that, for agreement, then I'll have to tell every police officer, "Once you enter the school, put your gun in the car." Because police have been going in school with guns for last 24 years. And I will have to tell the Chief, "Leave your gun out. You cannot enter the school with a gun." Thank you.

[Back-and-forth with spectator omitted]

Council Members' Comments

[At 59:13 in the video.]

MANZARI: Thank you. So this past week we had National Night Out, organized by our wonderful Police Department. It was a great event as usual. There are a lot of people out for that. And our canine unit was out, that's always a big draw for the kids and the adults. I also went to Sharon Young's retirement party this past week, and I—she was our clerk for many years, and I want to thank her for many years of her service to our town.

I did want to address just a couple of the comments. I—you know, I keep hearing people saying, "Well the majority of the people said 'X,' and you're not listening to the will of the people." Thirty people at a Council meeting does not speak for 30,000 people in the Township. They may represent what the majority of the people in the Township want, or they may not. We don't know. And we can't sit up here and make decisions based on who gets the word out better, and who gets the, you know, the people out better to come to a Council meeting, and complain, or, you know, say they're for something, or whatever. You can't, you can't rule by, you know, mob rule, whoever happens to show up at the time. So let's please not say that the majority of people said "X," for this issue, and for any issue. It just doesn't work that way. Because I've spoken to many people in our town who are very much for this.

And the other thing that I wanted to address was that I keep hearing, you know, "Oh, they pushed this through over the summer, and nobody heard about it." Well I have right here in front of me a post on Peeps, which has, what, five thousand, ten thousand people, I don't know anymore. From March 22nd, at 4:24 p.m.. "The School Administration is planning to hire police Type Three officers," and then, you know, "They're going to be retired and carry a gun. What do people think about this?" There are more than a hundred comments under that post. So to say that nobody knew about it is ridiculous. That was from March, of this year. The School Board's been talking about it for a long time. If people didn't hear about, it it's their responsibility to stay, you know, attuned to what's going on. And if you have a concern about it, or a comment, or a complaint, or whatever, then you gotta email your people on the School Board, or show up at the School Board meetings. To ask this body to reverse the decision of another duly elected body is wrong. The School Board was elected to make school policy, and that's what they did. It's not our job as council to reverse School Board policy. We can't do that, and we won't do that. I just don't think that's right. And, so, you know, it bothers me when I hear people sort of convolute these issues. You may agree, or you may not agree on what was decided here when we voted on a contract. Because that's all we voted on. And we had three hours of comments of people talking about the budget, and how the School Board should spend the budget. We're not charge of that budget. So let's try to, everybody, sort of take a deep breath, and figure out—As the mayor had said, if you have concerns about the schools, the best place to go is to the School Board. Email them, or show up in person and talk to them about your concerns. If you have problems or concerns about the Township, then come here, and, you know, or Email us, and share those with us. That's the best way to get your grievances heard, or your ideas heard. And, you know, we, obviously, welcome everybody speaking. They spoke for three hours. So, I just wanted to thank everybody who came tonight. I have been coming to the meetings before I was on Council, like, ten years on and off. And that's the way you make change when you get involved in your Township, so thank you for that.

MILLER: Thank you. Jyotika?

[At 01:03:08 in the video.]

BAHREE: Yes, hi, good evening. National Night Out was August 7th. Really fun evening with the volunteer fire companies and the West Windsor Police Department. Pretty big crowd, with the people from our community freely milling with the friendly police officers, who were handing out pizza slices. National Drive Electric week is September 8 to 16, and West Windsor will be hosting an EV event at the Farmers Market on Saturday September 8th, 10 to 1. The event is being organized by the West Windsor Environmental Commission, in collaboration with a few Township residents. Green energy sources are here to stay, and these are exciting times with the auto market. Electric vehicles a very promising future, with declining battery cost cheaper fuel, lower maintenance costs, and less air pollution, of course. West Windsor wants to get ahead of the times, and this is a great opportunity to share information, and learn more about electric vehicles. So, hopefully, West Windsor residents will come on—will come out, enjoy the electric cars, and pick up some fresh local food and goods, including food-truck food.

There's a possibility of a NJ DEP grant, as well, for installation of EV chargers in the train station parking lot, and the Parking Authority will be discussing this in the near future. Thank you.

MILLER: Thank you. Ayesha?

[At 01:04:28 in the video.]

HAMILTON: So, as a Township matter, I don't recommend getting your news off of Peeps. I do, however, recommend you keep raising this issue to the School—to the Board of Education. I voted against the contract, on the basis of the terms of the contract. I will oppose the ordinances tonight. So you don't have to stay. You know how everyone else will vote. It's—It is—it is a disgrace. So, any of us—any of you who have come up and held us accountable, you're absolutely right to do so. And, you know, we may not always agree on votes. I don't think you throw out the baby with the bathwater, but this one might be a deal-breaker for a lot of people. So, you know, I think, you know, I'm honestly embarrassed that we approved it. And, you know, I guess we'll all have to live with that. Thank you.

MILLER: Linda?

[At 01:05:32 in the video.]

GEEVERS: Well, as far as this Class Three officer issue, I've had people come up to me and say that they're happy that we've done this. OK, not everybody. There's some people that do not want it, and there are some people that do want it. Some parents want it. They're okay with it. There are people who are teachers or staff members who work in the schools, and perhaps they're okay with it. So, it's not like 100 percent of the people don't want this. And we have all said, time and time again, go to the School District. If they want, you know, go to the School Board. If they want to change their minds, for whatever reason, they can. All's they have to do is contact both Townships and say, "We're scrapping plans to do this," and that's it. That ends it. OK? So, pay attention. I've told people over the years, you got to go to School Board meetings, you got to pay attention. My opinion: PTAs should have—every PTA, you have ten schools, ten PTAs—each one of them should have a representative there. OK, whether's a President, Vice President, someone on the board of the PTA, or just a member of the PTA. Because they can't all make every meeting. They ought to be out there. That's the way it used to be, when I first moved here, in 1995. There were referendums, and there were parents there, paying attention. And now ... you're not seeing that as much. Everybody's busy. Very busy with their jobs and everything. So you have to pay attention. There is a public process, and maybe you don't like the timing and all, but pay attention. OK.

Anyway, I would like if maybe Sam Surtees, or staff to review the, you know, the West Windsor Facilities Referendum. Because there are things about numbers of developments that are coming in. There's some numbers and statements in here that pertain specifically to West Windsor. So, as I'm sure they're going to be talking this—about this during the Fall, and maybe we should just review, and make sure that we're okay with the numbers that are represented in this.

SCHMID: Did you get that document from online?

GEEVERS: Yeah ...

MILLER: No, I believe that was handed out to us when we went to dinner at, hosted by the School Board back in April.

GEEVERS: No, this one's off the, I think, the web site.

SCHMID: OK, that's all I need ...

GEEVERS: It wasn't that ...

MILLER: It says May 8th, 2018. I believe I have that.

GEEVERS: Yeah, well we met with them the night of the hearing, which was April 25th I'm thinking, whatever that Tuesday was, for the budget hearing. That's when they first, you know, they mentioned all this. So, anyway, just if Sam or somebody can look at the numbers in this, because there's some representation, just want to make sure that ...

MARATHE: I'm sure the School District will hold several hearings once the school open, regarding the referendum.

MILLER: Yes, but I think that Linda is absolutely right, that we want to make sure that whatever they say is up-to-date and accurate, and I think that the Township should be the one to review that, rather than their getting it filtered.

GEEVERS: Yeah.

MILLER: So, please, I second Linda's request that it be reviewed in the township, by whom it's up to you.

GEEVERS: Also thanks to the police, firefighters, EMS professionals that did a wonderful job with National Night Out. I think all the kids had a lot of fun on the rides and amusements that were provided. I'm—happy Independence Day—to our, some of our residents, who grew up in, I guess, India, right?

[MEMBER]: And Pakistan.

MARATHE: Thank you.

GEEVERS: OK. That's it

[At 01:09:18 in the video.]

MILLER: So, National Night Out was a wonderful opportunity for children. I spent it chasing my granddaughter. There were a lot of vendors, had very interesting things to say, but anything they had on display that could be used as a toy, she played with. And it was a wonderful experience. I did not get to say hello to all my colleagues, because I was busy chasing her. She's five. My grandson is 10. I can rely on him to keep an eye on me. There's a big difference between five and ten. And, anyway it was wonderful. The police did a great job. Everybody who was there did a great job, and really am looking forward to next year.

I also went to our clerk, Sharon's retirement party. It was wonderful. Great tribute to her for her 16 and a half years as Clerk, and her job working with everybody, and making sure that we have a truly great Clerk to follow her in Gay. So, I think we can feel proud of that department here in West Windsor. I also went to fire company BBQ, held at the West Windsor Fire Company. I was not able to stay for more than an hour, but I saw a lot of people going out for snacks and support. We have wonderful Volunteer Fire Company, as well, both of them, as well our paid professionals.

And I really have to join some people in wishing that the School Board had spent some more time on this issue of the police officers. It has divided our Township in a painful, painful way. I'm sorry to disagree with Virginia, that I think West Windsor Peeps is not to be relied on for news, even though they are often accurate. I am officially on it, but I don't check it all the time. So, I just hope that this is a lesson to everybody to do better in communication later. I did find out—thank you, Gay—that the ordinance that we have up for introduction tonight is not something they have to do in Plainsboro, because in Plainsboro they don't limit the number of police officers by ordinance the way we do. So, unfortunately people from Plainsboro won't have the opportunity to go to Plainsboro, but please, please go to the School Board. And as I said before I was not comfortable enough with the agreement to be able to vote for it, and I certainly hope the School Board continues to look into the effect of their proposal, and assesses it with help from the public, not just in house, and that this becomes a matter of what's best for our students, not what's best for anybody's ego. Nobody likes to be proven wrong. Nobody likes to find out, "Oops, I shouldn't have voted that way. I should have that way." But we have to get over that. And I, too, have spoken to many people in the Township who are in favor of and who are against the idea of these police officers in our schools. So, I will stick with my vote of last time, because I am not happy with the resolution, the contract that we approved. But I really do feel I can see the arguments on both sides. And I hope that we can come together and do what's best for our students in the future, instead of making this a more divisive issue in our Townships.

Introduction of Ordinances

MILLER: Introduction of ordinances?

HUBER: 2018-23 ... An ordinance amending and supplementing part 2 General Legislation of the Revised General Ordinances of the Township Of West Windsor, New Jersey, 1999 Section 4-37, Police Division of the Township Code of the Township of West Windsor.

MILLER: Do I have a motion to introduce? I think we've all talked about this enough for today.

MANZARI: So moved.

GEEVERS: Second.

MILLER: Do I have a roll call vote, please?

HUBER: Bahree?

BAHREE: Yes.

HUBER: Geevers?

GEEVERS: Yes.

HUBER: Hamilton?

HAMILTON: No.

HUBER: Manzari?

MANZARI: Yes.

HUBER: Miller?

MILLER: No.

HUBER: Public hearing will be September 4th, 2018. 2018-24, an ordinance to amend the Salary and Wage Plan for the Township of West Windsor, and provide for the administration thereof, Special Law Enforcement Officer Three.

MILLER: Do I have a motion to introduce?

MANZARI: So moved.

GEEVERS: Second.

MILLER: Roll call vote?

HUBER: Bahree?

BAHREE: Yes.

HUBER: Geevers?

GEEVERS: Yes.

HUBER: Hamilton?

HAMILTON: Nope.

HUBER: Manzari?

MANZARI: Yes.

HUBER: Miller?

MILLER: No.

HUBER: Public hearing, September 4 2018.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Council Reports

MILLER: Additional public comment? Seeing none, Council Reports? Linda?

GEEVERS: Planning Board is off, the rest of the month so nothing new.

MILLER: Ayesha?

HAMILTON: Nothing.

MILLER: Jyotika?

BAHREE: Yeah, Parking Authority met August 8th, and the WWPA and the Township are in the midst of a conversation about the in-house ticketing program, and the final details are being ironed out for a shared service agreement between the two entities. And the School Board meets tomorrow.

MILLER: Virginia?

MANZARI: OK .. first I just want to clarify something that I said earlier, for a couple of my fellow Councilwomen. I did not say that people should go to Peeps to get their news. What I said was, that in March, on Peeps, somebody posted about the Class Three officers, and that there is a huge number of people on Peeps that could have seen it, and in fact, over 100 comments were made below that post. So my point, actually, was that that issue was publicly discussed, since as early as March, and probably earlier than that, and that person got that information from a public School Board meeting. So that had been discussed since at least March. That's my point. Not, "Go to Peeps for your news." So, please, don't represent what I said there.

I believe we're having a joint Zoning Board / Council meeting on Thursday, is that on?

SCHMID: Yes.

MANZARI: OK. So that is on for seven o'clock, here, Thursday evening. And, finally I just wanted to thank Jyotika for working on the vaping ordinance, and working with the Health Department, and pushing that on, and you've been putting a lot of information out there, really educating the public about vaping. I didn't know a lot about it beforehand, because I'd missed the big presentation that the School Board had given. I heard a little bit about it a couple of years ago, but I really appreciate all the work that you've done there, so thank you for that.

BAHREE: You're welcome. Thank you.

GEEVERS: Oh, and I had been to that training already, at the Planning Board level, and signed off on it.