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Good evening everyone. In compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act of New Jersey, adequate notice of this meeting was provided on December 5th, 2025 by sending written notice and electronic notice to the Courier News and the Breeze, posting on the website and the bulletin board in

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the municipal building and filing with the township clerk. Roll call, please. >> Councilman Bucko, >> here. >> Councilwoman Isla. Councilman Kersh, >> yes, here. >> Councilman Ring, >> good evening. Here. >> Council President Gger, >> here.

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Now stand for the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

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>> Okay. The minutes from the July 23rd, 2026 session are not available yet. So, we will uh move on. We will not be passing them tonight. Township Council reports. Councilman Bucko. >> Hey, good evening. Um,

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a number of um residents have uh um commented uh I guess on social media that they they did notice that there was a bit of a change in the agenda versus uh what was originally posted earlier uh in the week to the township website.

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and uh specifically that um earlier in the week there were uh four ordinances to be introduced and uh the the final version is [clears throat] only uh includes only one and I just wanted to to give a little bit of context to to

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some of those um two of those ordinances uh one um regards um prohibiting uh detention centers within uh the township and uh

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regulating data center facilities uh have been um uh for the most part incorporated into the one item that is still on the agenda for this evening, the omnibus uh ordinance uh that uh uh

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is slated for introduction. >> [clears throat] >> Um there are a number of of items that uh those two earlier ordinances um had that uh did not make it into the omnibus uh ordinance that I will uh

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offer some amendments in the future um to those to um I believe strengthen the the ordinance uh the omnibus ordinance. The fourth item is um regards an ordinance that was

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passed in 2025 specifically that would repeal ordinance 255. Now, this was actually picked up by uh local media and my central jersey.com did

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report on this and one line from the uh uh the article which is on the uh um my central jersey.com otherwise known as the courier news's website states the redevelopment plan was adopted as part of a tentative settlement in a lawsuit

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challenging the township's warehouse restrictions on the site. Now, I had uh reviewed the uh minutes uh and watched the video of uh the

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deliberations when ordinance uh 255 was introduced and ultimately passed. And um I did note that it was mentioned that the redevelopment plan was part of a

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tenative settlement. And um if that is in fact um the case, I I believe that is a important item that uh should have been made uh clear to the public when the plan was both introduced

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and passed uh instead of making it appear that it was a uh organic development that um uh was uh brought up. And I will uh leave that to the public to decide whether or not that was

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an important omission or not. Um that said, um I would also like to note that the 4 fair is currently ongoing. Uh it is going on until 10 p.m. tonight. So, if we don't end up being a barn

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burner and you have some time, I would encourage you either to go uh over there tomorrow uh either uh tonight or tomorrow, of course, weather permitting. Uh it is a a fun event for for everyone and uh the uh the kids projects uh

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agricultural, science, uh they're all they're all wonderful. Thank you, >> Councilman Kersh. >> Yes. Thank you, Madam President. Um, I don't know the exact date, uh, but the

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council president and I met with administration. Um, so this is where we we haven't rehearsed this, council president, but we try to report out on this. >> Um, so we took very seriously the request to consider remote access uh, for our meetings. Uh, and the

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administration also took that request very, very seriously. Um just as brief background um several years ago uh based on an appropriation that was insisted upon by Councilman uh Ring and myself of about 125,000 is the amount I remember

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plus or minus um some some deviation. Uh we spent a considerable amount of money uh to upgrade the um recording sound video system in this room. And you see the camera in the back, the camera in the front, the screens, all the equipment that's in the um in in the uh

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in the closet there, uh enabling us to uh record meetings, enabling us to to uh stream meetings. Um and at the time, um you know, we made some decisions uh of what we could do that would be cost-effective um and get us where we

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wanted to be at the time and for the reasonable and foreseeable future in a cost-effective manner. Um so that's how we have the system we have. Uh we certainly considered other bells, whistles and and um items. Um but at the time determined that those were not a

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priority. Um and uh one of the items that we do not have at this point uh is uh is uh remote dialin capability. Um, we took the the request seriously though as did administration particularly Suzanne Mater uh who came up with an

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either it's an 11point or an 11page document which I will not read and will not have part of the record. I'll simply state uh that uh it was a very thorough uh conversation uh but there are some significant um hurdles that we would

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face um and uh you know among others would be certain logistical questions uh cost platform choice uh rules regulations um and it was determined that it was it was best to maintain the path that we're

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on. We believe that this system has and will continue to suit us extremely well and at some point some number of years from now when potentially a different council is sitting here and is considering the next phase after the useful life of this equipment um perhaps it could be considered then. The thing

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that we took very seriously though is well what about the person who wants to address us but has a need uh you know that that makes it difficult for them to get here. Um and um you know one of the one of the answers to that is uh each of

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us on this deis uh in our own way uh remain extremely accessible. We have publicly available emails. I'm speaking for myself I have a publicly available phone uh phone number and uh you know I will make the open-ended pledge and I I think others will too that if anybody

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wants a topic discussed and they are not able to get to this meeting whether I I agree with them or not I will raise it. I'll raise it either during these comments or during discussion or at some appropriate time in the meeting. So, um you know, while while um you know, we we

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continue to be uh available, we continue to be accessible, we continue to be uh transparent, um you know, there are at least at this point uh limits to full dialin capability. And I don't know, council president, did I hit all the highlights? Did I miss anything?

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>> You did. You did. The only the only um addition I would add to that is that um I think we will be on the lookout for what other lookout for what other towns are doing. Um and if we see that other towns have found a way to do it, we'll you know we'll explore that and see if we can incorporate that as well. But at

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this time we just don't have the technology for it. >> Yeah. And and we have the all the importantly we have the alternate channels for making sure that people people are heard and that you know that includes you know email email to any one of us email to Mr. um if there is a concern um you know you

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know we will make sure that it's aired on a personal note um you know I I I I think uh we we owe it to all our residents to make uh appropriate accommodation and if that means uh you know reading something on behalf of a person or uh you know in some other way

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making making it as though they're in the room I certainly am willing to do that uh on an as needed basis. Uh, other quick reports. Uh, last Saturday night, uh, at the invitation of Lorraine Allen from the Prince Rogers Foundation, uh, I attended the Somerset Patriots, uh,

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annual, uh, uh, annual game where they play as the Black Yankees and celebrate, uh, uh, particularly, um, black baseball history. Uh there is um uh considerable link uh with Prince Rogers, the fields,

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the street. Uh there's a cemetery. Um and certainly something that we celebrate as a community. Um I attended that with Deputy Administrator Field and even though the uh performance on the field wasn't terrific, uh I can say he's a he's a he's a decent guy to spend an evening with and I'll just put that on

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the public record. Um, also earlier this week, uh, had the opportunity to, um, uh, accompany, uh, Congressman Kaine on a four stop tour through Bridgewater. Uh, I'll highlight two of them, uh, now,

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two of them at the next meeting. Uh, one of them is, uh, visions and pathways. Uh, and we'll be hearing from them on the agenda. So perhaps I'll leave the thunder uh, for that portion um, as part of that introduction. And then we also visited one of the stops was the Dvita

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Kidney Care Center uh which is on uh 22 west near the Greenbrook border. Um suffice to say that there are people in this community uh who have a a considerable uh health concern related to kidney function and um the

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individuals there take uh extraordinary care for those individuals. um potentially some takeaways to help them with some com with some problems that they raised. Uh and hopefully more on that later. Uh a couple days ago, as uh was alluded, the 4 fair started or no,

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maybe that was yesterday. Uh yesterday morning attended with council president um uh guy the uh the opening ceremony. So that was yesterday morning. And the final item I want to mention uh is we had um uh someone someone uh present to

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us a couple of weeks back uh a desire for pets changes to our pet store regulations uh as it relates to the sale of of uh of animals. Uh and the approach that we are looking to take there is likely a will of the council resolution

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uh supporting state legislation that's pending. Um we will be referring that to our animal shelter board because they are are our uh subject matter experts in this in this area and uh we'll look to get their feedback. I believe they meet

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later during the month of August. So we can expect hopefully to have feedback back from them and take action on that resolution uh in in early September. And that is my report. >> Thank you. Um I will give my report next. I did attend the opening of the 4

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fair with Councilman Kersh. It was fun. We had a good time. Uh Mayor Mench joined us uh a little bit later. We petted some animals and and had a pretty good time and I would encourage everyone to go. The weather today was gorgeous. Hopefully the weather will be beautiful

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tomorrow for them as well. Um in addition to the meeting that Councilman Kersh uh talked about, I also did meet with town council and uh the town administrator and deputy administrator. um a few times to talk about certain

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litigation matters. Um I also just came back today from a tour of the quarry with Jeff Fouse who's in the background and another he's the chair of our environmental commission and there was another member from the environmental commission there. Fascinating, very

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fascinating. Um and the the highlight of the tour for me and I think perhaps for Mr. foods was that there is a potential for them to use part of it as a basin to catch water in extreme weather. You

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know, in in terms of storms that as the water flows down into the mountain, there's really a big hole there created by the quarry that could potentially hold the water. So, that is something that I think we'll all be looking into. Um,

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last but not least, my fun fact. Uh last week I told you about the 23 beacons that were erected in the area um to act as a signal system for the Continental Army. Um one of the 23 was in Bridgewater. This week I'm happy to

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report that the beacons worked. Um the Wong Mountains combined with the um beacons created an impregnable line of defense. In June of 1780, there were two British attempts um made to attack

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Washington's encampment at Morristown. Both failed largely because the militia was able to mobilize quickly as a result of being warned by the beacons. So again, um I want to thank Lance Guyger, no relation to me, um who is known as

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Mr. Local History. He is the official historian in Basking Ridge, and I want to thank him for that fun fact. Um, Councilman Ring, >> thank you. I just have one item tonight and that is I know there's been a lot of uh buzz and discussion and some

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headlines suggesting that Bridgewater is considering banning detention centers. So, for the benefit of everyone, let me just correct that Bridgewater currently already has banned detention centers under township code 126324A. Any use not specifically designated as a

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principal permitted use, a permitted use, a permitted accessory use, or conditional use is specifically prohibited from any zone district in the township of Bridgewater. Since nowhere in our ordinance do we allow detention centers based upon that language, they

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are banned. We do not today they are banned. Now whether or not the federal government would recognize that, I can't say. I will also tell you that the fact that this language was put in many years ago, I credit whoever did it. I know some towns have struggled where if it's not in their ordinance, is it a

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permitted use? This language avoids any of those issues here in Bridgewater. So, I just wanted to clarify that for the benefit of everyone. And that's my report. >> Thank you. Uh, town administrator Papis, you want to give the mayor's report or you want to wait for the mayor?

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>> Um, he'll he's late. I'm not sure when he'll be here, so I think I'll cover a few things. Um, one is, uh, I think it was, uh, within the last couple of weeks, [clears throat] there was some, uh, discussion or questions about a water main break on North Bridge Street

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and that, uh, disruption that had caused that part of town. >> Which one? >> There turned out to be two, one on June 11th and one on July 27th. Uh the first one was near the post office and they had to replace a 16 foot length of uh

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the water mane and the other one was on July 27th at the corner of North Bridge Street and Boat Drive. Uh that um was repaired as well. Someone had forwarded a photograph that showed looked like almost a geyser shooting up into the ground from the intersection. U there

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were some uh questions that we received. the uh North Bridge Street, that part of North Bridge Street is a Somerset County road and the water line is not a municipal line, but owned and maintained by the New Jersey American Water Company. Um the other um uh couple of

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items that I wanted to report on uh before uh or ask a couple of people to come forward, u Deputy Administrator Rob Field, if he could come forward. Uh there's there's been some uh concerns expressed by a number of our residents

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regarding bamboos bamboo plants and Rob has uh something to propose for the council's consideration. >> Sure. So um thank you administrator Papis. Um, over the last several years, dating back

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to at least 2021, there have been some residents who've expressed uh concerns about um bamboo on their property or being planted by their neighbors. Um, and there's been an uptick in um

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concerns and complaints uh over the last several months. Um, so there's been an uptick since that initial wave several years ago and uh it's becoming uh an issue. Uh it's a quality of life issue, a public safety issue. And there have

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been a number of towns statewide and a number of towns in Somerset County, Somerville, Franklin, Manville, just to name a few in Somerset County that have uh put forth um ordinances to curtail the um the spread of of bamboo and sort

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of to regulate it. So, um just wanted to uh for your consideration, uh the administration is going to be putting forward um some considerations uh to follow some other towns in the area to um regulate uh bamboo growth

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>> and that I assume that we wouldn't be retroactive. In other words, we wouldn't ask people who've already planted bamboo to get rid of it. we would be at we would just be banning people from planting bamboo in the future or both. >> Uh I think that it's something that we'd

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have to discuss internally and and figure out the best >> okay >> way forward with that. >> Okay. >> If we're going to >> I think you almost have to allow what's out there. But I think you also we need to look at language to say it needs to

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be confined to your property because what happens is as that grows it >> oh I know my husband's a bamboo hater. >> Okay. >> So I know all about it. >> I I think we have to come up with something to confine it to >> right. Okay.

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>> One person's property. >> Is the council open to that >> to to you? Yeah. I I well I I can speak for myself. I'm certainly opening open to looking at an ordinance in that regard. I I don't know about anyone else. We would consider it

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>> ba >> based on my knowledge so far, yes, we should consider it. It is invasive. It does uh create the detriments that were that were noted. Yes. >> Yep. Okay. Thank you, Council President. Any anybody else have any questions, concerns, cries of outrage?

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>> No. >> Okay. Thank you. >> I would um Sorry, >> I'm sorry. No, just I think as we look at it, I think though, you know, we talk about the issues with it, I think it's also worth um running that by the environmental commission before it comes

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to the council. >> Very good. >> Mr. Fouse, you're willing to accept that challenge? >> Thank you. It would probably also be appropriate uh to investigate the impacts of not just uh bamboo but other

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uh invasive species of uh uh plants that you know might be um placed for or ornamental reasons but then you know can take over an area very quickly. >> So if we're going to do it for bamboo we

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should do it for other similar >> Okay. And I think that uh in that part of that conversation has to be recognition that any ordinance is fine but if it's not enforced then that's an issue. So we'd have to consider the resources needed to you know enforce these kinds of ordinances depending upon

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how far reaching they are. Uh one other comment about North Bridge Street water line. Uh I did have a conference Mr. Burr and I had a conference with a representative of the water company and their plan is to replace that water line on North Bridge Street sometime in 2027.

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U I'd ask Chief Mitsac if he could come forward now. There's a few items that um he would like to get some make a presentation brief presentation on a couple of issues. One regarding Loft Farm Road and the other regarding our

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tow ordinance. Okay. Before I get to those, um, just want to give everybody a quick update on the, um, ongoing traffic study that we've been performing down on Bogart and PCEL and also um, PCEL and Waltersburg

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Drive. Uh, we've had officers down there. Um, we haven't seen significant stop sign violations. Um there was also concerns that it was a cut through. So we had officers strategically placed along the roads

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where we were kind of seeing where the cars were going and it's predominantly residents that are coming through that area. It's not people cutting through there. Um, one of the concerns though is that uh we did a 13-day speed study down on Bogart and during the study

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approximately 18,000 vehicles traveled down that roadway with an average speed of 32 mph. The data showed that approximately 31% of vehicles were traveling at speeds considered enforcable violations. So, right now we currently have our speed trailer down

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there on Bogart Drive. uh but we will be removing that soon and enforcing uh the speeding concerns we have down there. Uh so just an update on that and then uh two ordinance proposals or changes. Um we met with the uh committee

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I guess from Loft Drive and one of the things they're asking for Loft Drive as if you're aware of it it's um it's a big U and that is a township road uh and there's two roadways in that development Chamberlain and Steven which are private

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but they're asking for when it snows that we can post signage that says no parking this side of the road so that way it will be easy for the plow trucks to get down. Um, so talk to Mr. Shimp about that, too. He's all for it. So,

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I'm sure uh we'll be presenting that at sometime soon. And again, this record ordinance, we always have some issues with it. Um, this is the towing and storage fees. So unfortunately our ordinance references the fee schedule which is established by the New Jersey

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State Police and we did that because we always had to come back to the council to change the fees. So we just said let the state police set the fee and that's what we'll follow. [snorts] However, our township ordinance contains language that conflicts with those provisions. As written, the ordinance is

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creating confusion for both the towing operators and for the uh the public uh regarding which charges are permissible. Uh so we spoke with Chris Christini. Uh he agrees that there is some conflict with the wording and he will be up

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updating that ordinance for everybody. Um so that's all I have. Anything for me? >> Thank you, Chief. >> Any quick question for Loft Drive? Yeah. >> Are there other roads that would benefit while we're doing such an ordinance andor just putting language that the

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town does reserve the right during snowstorms on any township road for alternate side of the street parking? >> Suppose we could do that. We've not had any requests specifically for any other specific roadways. Um but you know some of these more significant snowstorms I

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always I know it becomes an issue >> and if we put something in proactively that >> we can invoke that when needed. >> Absolutely. >> Just a thought consider that we can talk to Mr. Shimp. >> Yep. >> I'm sure he would ecstatic.

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>> Well the the unofficial uh solution that we had you know we had two major snowstorms last winter. Had a lot of learnings from the first one. Um the second one I know that our office of constituent relations and I I'll call out Suzanne Mater for a second time in a positive way during this meeting. Um and

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state that um I know there was proactive communication uh whether you were in a in a development or whether you were uh on on public streets uh to make the best effort possible to get as many cars off the street as possible including but not limited to squeezing them. you know, a

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two-car driveway could temporarily become a three threecar wide driveway in an emergency situation like that. So, I certainly support the potential uh for for for um codifying that, but it bears noting that that second storm we had,

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you know, based on just, you know, good oldfashioned reminding people and hopefully some common sense, uh we we were able to uh get through that second storm a lot a lot better than the first. >> We learn from our mistakes. Well, maybe the residents learned from

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their mistakes, right? A little bit of both. >> Okay. Thank you, Chief. >> Thank you. >> Uh, we do not have any proclamations. We do have a presentation from Visions and Visions and Pathways by David Walker and

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Jennifer Amaya. If you want to >> come up to the podium and council, Council President, I'll give just the briefest of introduction because I don't want to steal any thunder. I'll simply say that I've had the pleasure of knowing David Walker, who's the executive director and CEO of Visions and Pathways Now, uh for a number of

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years. Um they are an integral part of our community. Um as he will describe, there are individuals um uh um who are who who are within the care structure of Visions and Pathways who live in Bridgewater, whether that be for short periods of time or potentially

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longer. Um it's been uh what we believe is a very productive partnership. Um and in in speaking with him and in as part of Congressman Kane's tour earlier this week being being in the office again, uh we wanted to uh provide him the forum to

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um report out to us, report out to the community just a little bit about what Visions and Pathways is about. >> Mr. Walker, >> I appreciate it. And uh you can always steal my thunder. That that's fine. So it's a real honor and pleasure to speak

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before this council and the talented ministry. Great to see you again. Um I'm the executive director of Visions and Pathways. Um Visions and Pathways, we've been in existence for over 50 years. We're a 501c3

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incorporated right here in Bridgewater in 1970. We address community problems of child homelessness abuse runaways and families in conflict. Um, we currently serve Somerset County, um, Essex, Middle

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Sex, Mars, and Union, but our home base and our strength is here in Bridgewater in Somerset County. For more than 50 years, we have helped over 14,000 youth and their families. And our mission has

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stayed the same for over 50 years to help abused, neglected, homeless, and missing youth to become self-sufficient. Um, we use a family centered, community centered approach to serving youth. Um, to make sure that our youth not only are

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empowered themselves, but they have a sense of community and obligation to contributing to our society. We currently have five locations here in Bridgewater. Um, our Brahma House,

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Passages, My Place, Whitney House, and a condo called um, uh, Bridge House 2 that we we have here in Bridgewater. So, we have a very strong bra base here in

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Bridgewater. Um, in addition to those residences, we also have a uh shelter for homeless women in Planefield called Love and Care Homes. In addition to our residential programs, um we have community- based activities

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and we're very proud of our community based activities. It's about prevention, reaching out and helping families before there's dysfunction. Um, our prosperity independent living skills is a core component of our community-based programs where we work with families um,

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in Somerset County and in the other locations to make sure that they have the tools that they need for their young folks to grow and thrive. Um we also have our street smart street outreach

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program which is early intervention um hoping to identify young folks before they become displaced before um the crisis within the family reaches a point where the young person runs away or is displaced because of conflict at home.

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Our pathways community counseling program is a relatively new program and it's inhome counseling where the traditional models where someone comes to a therapist. Um with pathways community counseling we go

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into the home or another location where we work with a young person um with the most pressing needs. Um it's very important to destigmatize um therapy and pathways community

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counseling does just that. Now >> this is the really exciting news. >> This is the really exciting news. Our bridge house affordable housing project which we have received tremendous support from Bridgewater for for this

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project. Um, Bridge House will provide 10 units of supported housing, affordable supported housing for youth who have aged out of foster care and similarly situated young adults, a a a population that is at very high need um

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and at the threshold of beginning adulthood. it. The tenants will have aged out of foster care and the location is near, employment opportunities, educational, vocational training facilities and all that Bridgewater has to offer. And I

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must say that there are remarkable resources here in Bridgewater and visions and pathways is truly privileged to have partnered with um this town for over 50 years. and the township will receive 20 credits towards their statemandated M la Laurel

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affordable housing obligations. So meeting a great need and also meeting the town's obligation to provide affordable housing. We're very excited about the Ridge House affordable housing project. Um we have floor plans that are available. I'm very excited about the

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design and once again the design was created in collaboration approval with the township of Bridgewater. Um, and it will be a remarkable building meeting a great need. Do >> do you want to just hover maybe over each page for a quick moment and and and

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um you know kind of comment on some of the key features? >> Yeah. Um in in addition to uh let's see on the first floor um we we will have office space um in common areas um

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security which is very important and access to a community room. The second floor in many ways models the the first but it will be exclusively residential. Um once again bedrooms um in all of the

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units will be efficiency units. Um so a stepping stone for growth. Um dignity for a young person who's living alone but also a start. Um the goal is for within 24 months for the young folks to

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move on to another level of unsupported housing. Um there there's no limitation on how long a young person can stay, but our goal is with providing support through our prosperity independent living skills program as well as um our

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behavioral health program if needed that the young person um acquires greater skills, increases their income and moves on to a higher level of self-sufficiency. Were there any specific questions about

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the design? >> No, I really just wanted to allow you to take a little bit of a victory lap for how nice. [laughter] >> What's your uh time frame? >> Yeah. Well, we're we're going to have our groundbreaking ceremony. >> I didn't get paid for that.

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>> Yeah, you're all you're all invited. Um have our groundbreaking ceremony on September 9th and we're very excited about that. Um we've gone through the process of open bidding. We have selected a contractor. We're in the process of finalizing the contract with

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the contractor. And we're proud to say that Patriot, the the contractor that we chose through the open bidding process, is a veteranowned um business. So, it's a wonderful partnership with um with us in the township. Um so, our

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groundbreaking will be on September 9th at 1:00. Mark your calendars. Um, and we anticipate completing construction within 24 months or less. Just just a a a quick comment because it wasn't I don't think it was mentioned.

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You raised $5 million. >> Um, 3.8, but if you want to contribute another 1. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Okay. I got my projects I got my projects mixed up. Um, I I I left my checkbook in my other suit. >> [laughter] >> Um but but no, I mean it's funny but

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it's not funny. I think it's apppropo that you mentioned community support because the way that I've gotten to know you is is um you know I know that you have a variety of fundraisers through the year. Um I see you know chairman uh environmental chairman, former zoning board chairman Fouse is in the room. I

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know he and I have attended your uh spring um uh walk run, right? Um, and I know that you have, you know, a number of others coming up, uh, a regular calendar of fundraising and, um, that >> very aggressive calendar of fundraising

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because, uh, one, as with our kids, we want to become self-sufficient and not depend too much on government support. Now, we appreciate government support, but not depend too much on government support. And actually, Bridge House represents part of that transition. um

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the income rental income for from Bridge House will help sustain visions and pathways as an organization. So, it it's really beneficial in so many ways. Um I joked about needing a little bit more.

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Um yes, we have with support throughout the community and and government funding have raised 3.8 million. Um, but we know costs are escalating as we speak. And even though there is some contingency

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built within that budget, we know full well that we're going to need a bit more than the 3.8 million that we raised with community support, including support from from this township. So, um, we do have our golf outing [laughter]

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on what when's the golf outing? I'm not a golfer. the the golf outing is on September 28th at the Baskin Ridge Country Club. Um wonderful outing. That's what I'm told. For those who golf, the dinner's fantastic. I can tell

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you that the the food is fantastic and it raises funds for um Bridge House and other visions and pathways. >> You um you have some offices in the plan and you had an area for security. Will there be what what kind of staffing will

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be there? Will it be 24/7? Will it be just during the day? And security is someone is there going to be a security officer there? >> There there will be security cameras. Um the staffing will be 9 to5 during the

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weekdays and partial during the the weekends. However, um once again, one of the benefits of our location, um we we have other facilities right across the street on 4th Avenue that are staffed 24/7. um another facility on Third

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Avenue and another home on Whitney which is about a block away. So um at Bridge House itself there will be 24-hour monitoring from the the cameras and at [clears throat] the location right

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across the street there's 247 staffing um based on the programmatic model that we've um enjoyed for about two decades now. A lot of thought went into it. It sounds like >> a lot of thought and a lot of support. I mean, tremendous amount of support from

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from this township. It's been remarkable. >> I think this first came up about a year, year and a half ago. I know did a tour there and I remember walking across the street >> and talking about the field and a vision. >> Yeah, exactly. And yeah, that the

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concept actually I've been with visions and pathways about 14 years now. Time flies. Um, the concept actually originated before me, but we had to tweak it quite a bit. And one of the main things that we strengthened was the

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support services. Um, so through our behavioral health program, case management, we have a program um called Harmony Connection where we reach out to the faith-based community for mentorship and just support. So, we have very uh

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robust support for the young people who are going to be living um at Bridge House. And that's one of the main things that we wanted to make sure we augmented before moving forward with this project. >> Thank you very much.

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>> So, if there are no other other comments, I'd just like to go a book end here and compliment you again on the great work that you do. You do it in Bridgewater each and every day. Um it this is an important part of the social safety net. Um these are these are you know real people who who are part of

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this community and thank you um for the um uh for the structure that you provide and for the opportunity um that that that that your organization uh delivers. So, I'm I'm so happy with the partnership both personally and and and sitting on this day as as a councilman

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and looking forward to seeing you on a warm but not too hot dry day on September 9th. >> That's right. >> Thank you so much. Really appreciate it. >> Thank you. >> Take care. >> Meetings um will be open to the public

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soon. Um I'm going to just make a request. There is one gentleman here um who is in a wheelchair. I'm going to ask that everyone else let him go first. Um but uh uh me open a meeting open to the public. Members of the public wishing to

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address the council on any matter. We'll have three minutes to speak which may be extended in the discretion of the council president. An additional minute will be allotted for responses to comments from the deis. Before we vote to open it to the public, I am going to ask for a show of hands. I'm not going

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to hold you to it, but roughly how many people are planning on speaking tonight. Okay. So, I am going to ask you to try very hard to stick to the three minutes and then you will have a minute to respond. Okay? I'm going to ask people on the deis to try to withhold their

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comments. Let let the public member have their three minutes. Then we'll comment back, then the public member has a minute to respond. And that way hopefully everyone gets a chance to be heard without anybody having to leave early because they, you know, and without being heard. Um, can I have a

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motion to open the meeting to the public? >> So moved. >> Have a second. >> I'll second. >> All in favor? >> I >> I >> opposed. Okay, the meeting is open to the public. All right. Okay.

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Good evening. When the agenda for tonight's meeting first appeared on the >> Just state your name for the record. Howard A. Tyman, 60 Fairman Avenue, Bridgewater. >> Okay, >> I forgot.

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>> It's okay. When the agenda for tonight's meeting first appeared on the township website on Tuesday, it had an item 11B, which was an ordinance repealing the redevelopment

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plan for,200 Route 22, and an item 11D, which was an ordinance prohibiting large data centers as a principal use in all zones. Now, I understand I understand

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that um Councilman Bucko somewhat stole my thunder for some of this, so I'll attempt to shorten it. I saw those ordinances. Everybody has now heard about those ordinances. But

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sometime yesterday, those ordinances disappeared from the agenda and the text of the ordinance was taken off the website. I'm not going to try to guess why this happened, but I will say that

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the disappeared 11 item 11B repealing the redevelopment plan for,200 Route 22 needs to reappear at a meeting very soon

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to be introduced and eventually adopted. The cat's out of the bag now that at least part of this council wants to scrap that redevelopment plan. The public expects action.

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As for the vanished item 11D, I realize that it overlaps with item 11A on tonight's agenda. However, item 11A is inadequate

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mainly because it does not declare data centers to be a prohibited use. This ordinance should be amended to ensure that data centers will not be a permitted use in

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any zone in Bridgewater. several items several other towns have done so including Warren and Montgomery and Bridgewater should join them. Um,

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because of the difficulty that I've had in reading this, I'm going to stop there except to say that everybody can tell what's really going on here. The Republicans invited a data

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center here last year, April of 2025. The Democrats are cleaning it up. So if you want data centers, you vote Republican. >> You're you're at three and a half minutes.

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>> Democrat. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um I'm just going to answer one of your questions. The or the ordinance to repeal uh it is off the agenda. However, it will I anticipate there will

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be a discussion of it um in the closed session. So, it's it's not dead in the water. It's just been moved. Um it's my understanding that on the advice of council that should be discussed privately. Is that correct?

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>> Initially, yes. >> Okay. Thank you. I don't know anyone else have any because you have a minute to respond but does anyone else have any comments they want to make >> to Mr. Tyman if you would like to respond to anything I said.

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>> No, I appreciate that. Um there are clo there are litiga I assume litigation aspects. Um Mr. Bucko alluded to to one open

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issue regarding litigation. There was a lot of talk of litigation the last time. You know, I really think and I look, I'm a I'm a retired lawyer, so I understand the need for

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confidentiality, but that at this point, the public needs to know what's going on. Thank you. >> Thank you. [applause] >> Thank you for making the effort too. We

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know we can tell what a big effort it was for you to come here. Next person want to address the council? if you would just state your name and tell us whether or not you're a Bridgewater resident. I ask you to put your name and address on the sheet and

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then when you come up to the podium, I just ask you to um put your uh just state your name and tell us if you're a resident of Bridgewater or not. So, you don't have to give your address publicly. >> Well, good evening, Madame Council President, mayor, council members. My

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name is Ed Caldwell. My wife and I have been residents of Martinsville for 36 years. I want to acknowledge the council's efforts to address community concerns about a data center by considering mandates for closed loop water cooling,

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renewable energy, heat waste recovery, and pre and post construction sound studies. It shows you're listening to the serious risks that this project poses. However, we need to be realistic about what these requirements can and cannot

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solve. On paper, they sound like a silver bullet. In reality, significant challenges remain. First, switching to closed loop water cooling solves one problem by exacerbating another. Electricity wouldn't be pulling a

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million gallons of water a day, but keeping cooling water locked inside a sealed pipe loop avoids continuous water evaporation. Forces the facility to run heavyduty industrial chillers continuously to pull out that heat, that

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water out of the liquid. that drives the facility's power demand up to roughly 60 megawws or the equivalent of powering 30,000 homes throughout our area. Mandating off-site renewable energy doesn't change the

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physical grid load, nor does it eliminate the need for massive banks of industrial diesel generators storing tens of thousands of gallons of fuel for emergency backup. Second, heat waste recovery sounds great

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in theory, but Bridgewater lacks a municipal district heating pipe network to transport lowgrade 90 degree water anywhere that would be useful. Without an adjacent industrial user ready to absorb that thermal energy on a 247

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basis, that heat will end up being vented right into the sky over your home. Third, preconstruction sound studies rely on computer models that routinely fail to predict low frequency

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tonal hums. Standard decibel tests, which are weighted toward the human hearing, completely mask the deep low frequency vibration of closed loop pumps and rooftop chillers. That droning sound

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travels hundreds of feet and the nearest residential area to the Greymark site is 300 to 800 feet away. It penetrates residential walls. It penetrates uh double pane windows. It ruins that quiet

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sub 40 evening that you're used to enjoying. Beyond these technical gaps, we have to look at the site itself. a 28 acre com commercial parcel along Route 22 as prime real estate. Redeveloping this site for life sciences, high-tech

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R&D, corporate offices would bring hundreds of high-tech R&D and corporate uh high-paying jobs. It would sustain local residents or restaurants and build a vibrant tax base. A data center locks

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up that land forever for just 15 to 30 permanent workers inside an automated warehouse. So no more workers than what you might find at Chick-fil-A on a Saturday. Passing policy mandates

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doesn't magically make a heavy data center compatible with a residential court. >> You're at three and a half minutes. Just so you know, >> we ask that you re reject this proposal. I have a question um for you when you were talking about the water the 90

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degree water. >> Yes. >> Is is there any place is is there any technology that allows that to go someplace other than the air? I mean does that technology exist? >> It does in Europe in European cities they have networks of pipes throughout

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their city some of the cities there but to build that network would be cost prohibitive. who builds that network in in those areas if you know. >> I I don't know. >> Okay. >> Council President, if I may. >> Sure. Of course.

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>> So, two things. One, and you may have missed it, but um in what's proposed, emergency power generators utilizing natural gas shall be considered an accessory use to the data center facility. Any generator utilizing a separate source of fuel that is stored

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on the property shall not be permitted. So the comment about diesel generators and storing diesel what is being proposed that would not be permissible. >> Correct. >> And secondary to that >> I'm only now becoming aware of that today that listen we all are too. This

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is not you know this is something we received earlier this week. Uh, and actually to that point, I did ask the administration tonight that we consider not acting on this and that this document be sent to the environmental commission for comments from them given

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many of the various uh environmental issues that are associated with data centers. >> Respectfully, I would wholeheartedly endorse that because I've spent a lot of time. I'm just a I'm not a scientist and I'm not a an engineer. just a curious

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guy who used to work for most of his career as a reporter. So I spend a lot of my time researching and I would encourage you to look at the experience of other communities around the country. Look in Virginia, look at North Carolina, which actively recruited data

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center companies to come down there. And now they're having to walk back all those tax u tax advantages they were offering. they're having to ban new centers along the way because they got into it faster than they thought than they realized they should have. So, I

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would strongly encourage you to look elsewhere before putting it to work here. >> Anyone else from the DES want to comment? Council, >> Council President, um if I could just um I guess make a comment to this, but maybe since we haven't actually got to this ordinance yet, if I could just be

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permitted a minute or two just to speak, I might answer some questions from the public if they're here on this topic. um just in terms of balancing you know the goal on this topic when it comes to data centers is to make sure that we are ultimately protecting the quality of life of residents and trying to for

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those who don't know we have three data centers in Bridgewater now um never had a complaint uh you know in terms of the noise technology is different and it's new and that's what we're trying to balance here is saying hey we have some in town that have not been an issue we don't want to see a warehouse go in or a

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high use that's going to cause other problems how do we balance balance it. How do we make sure that we are protecting the the community but also not you know closing the door if there is an appropriate use in some time or or anything like that. Now there's the litigation matter that's a little bit

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separate. It's a that's kind of a standalone issue because there is litigation. It's got its own set of pros cons challenges whatever. So the the uh ultimate goal of of this ordinance is to make sure that um using the standards that the state has given out given the

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standards of our experts. I'm not an expert on data center. So I hear lots of stuff. I mean people that are very sound very smart. I you know I don't know we have so much information that it's hard to figure out sometimes cut through what is real what are real concerns what are real challenges versus what's not. And

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so what the approach that we're trying to take or that we're recommending be considered is to make sure that it's it's a measured approach based off of what all the um what the state is doing, what the governor has done, what our professionals have done to I won't say um as somebody mentioned it's not a

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flatout ban that somebody mentioned that earlier. I mean that's not what's being proposed here, but that makes it so that if a proposal was going to be proposed, it's got to meet so many criteria. um and maybe it's impossible to do. It may

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be the kind of thing where there's so many criteria that it doesn't happen. Um but that if one is proposed, we have clear standards as to what needs to be done, what tests need to be provided, what so because as presidents may know, we could we could flat out ban data

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centers. That doesn't stop data centers from making an application to the zoning board for a use variance. Here, nothing stops that either. But now we have clear standards. the zoning board hearing application knows, hey, don't even come forward if you don't have environmental studies, noise studies, approval from the the sewage authority. And if

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somebody can't get all of that, they don't even get in the door. That's the goal. >> You will have you will have a lot you will be approached a lot in this community because of our fiber optic opportunities and our strategic location between New York City and Philadelphia.

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So, a lot of people would naturally come here and say, why not here? We don't have my point is we don't have the answers. The the points that I bring up tonight, the information came from the Department

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of Energy, the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. So, they're solid sources. I'm not quoting, you know, some >> Yeah, >> thank you, Mr. Caldwell. Um, I have a lot of other people that want to address and I think that want to address this

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issue. Is there anyone else that wants to address specifically the issue of um data centers? Might make more sense for for us to have that conversation all at once. So if the next person wants to come up

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>> and if you're waiting to speak, you can also come up and sign your name. >> Thank you. >> My name my name is already on the list, Dave. >> Okay. >> Or just adjust the microphone because you're broadcasting out as well. Yeah, you have to lower the microphone. >> Okay. Thank you.

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>> Thank you. >> But I will also plug the 4 fair. There's a lot of good food in the food tent that our church prepares. So tomorrow you still have a chance to go to the fair. >> Okay. Your name and and whether you're a Bridgewater resident.

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>> Yeah. Dave Classic, 215 Woodside Lane. Um, I saw uh an article in a local uh radio station about a Monroe township and I'll read what it says here. More

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than a year ago, online records show that a town amended and adopted a hexa builder redevelopment plan to include data centers as a potential permitted use. And then it further goes on. Starting in

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January, crowds began to attend public meetings to question preliminary plans for a warehouse and distribution center. So there's lawsuits already going on. Now I was here in March and April of

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last year and the discussion was between uh there were three declared re redevelopment sites in Bridgewater that being the ethicon site, the grey mark site and the prominade site and I will further add that those woods should be

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forever protected there. I remember as a kid going there with picnics when cyanid had their picnics there with my family. my my dad and my mom. So I guess is uh it seems like it was really rushed

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through this ordinances to allow data centers March and April. I believe council members said there was ample time for public to uh make comments about it. It wasn't a unanimous

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decision. There was a question about the 75 or 70 foot height for the data center and there was much discussion about that and uh well and as I said it wasn't a

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unanimous decision but obviously I'm against the data center there. Okay, thanks for your time and I may be leaving early because 4:30 in the morning to start the food booth starts early. Well, thank you. >> What are you

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>> much as a as a just to make sure I think I was clear in case I wasn't before. Uh the ordinance that we're talking about that's governs data centers kind of globally is a separate maybe related some of the concerns might be related but is a separate issue from the

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property that Mr. Krauss's going to talk about that. So, you know, they're not you pass one doesn't mean it impacts the other or vice versa because one is in litigation. And it was done in response to litigation over the public buyer may not remember there's proposal for a

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warehouse. Um and we had banned ware we had banned warehouses over there. They sued us and one of the possible frameworks that's not hasn't been finalized yet but a possible framework to avoid the warehouse was a use that would permit data center as one of the

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options. So that issue in terms of litigation and the zoning and impacts that property is is one issue. Um, you know, again, you may have concerns about data centers be the same concerns, but it's a there's a unique issues with that property specifically. This ordinance

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discusses a ban of uh, you know, or or regulation of um, data centers that are separate from that property. >> Just mad madam president, it probably bears noting because uh, some may speak on this. If if we're talking about the redevelopment ordinance um for 1,200

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um there are substantial guard rails in there um and they were purposely put in there. Um so you know anybody that says well you gave an open-ended authority to have any data center you want there.

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That is not what occurred. There are substantial guard rails and protections in that ordinance. And one could argue that the reason why there is no active um application is because those guard

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rails have essentially become impediments. So, you know, that that's something very important to consider is that that nobody on this day or elsewhere on behalf of the township gave a cart blanch build any size, any uh

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amount of noise, any kind of data center because that did not happen. Um and um um you know that that's an important piece of this equation. >> Mr. Curtis, I Mr. proud.

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>> Um, I'd like to start by giving you a handout. >> I I'll pass the rest. >> You all right? Thank you, Suzanne. Just state your name and whether you're a resident of Bridgewater, please. Um,

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my name is Curtis Kraut. Um, I'm an at uh I live at 199 Adamsville Road in Bridgewater. Um, I'm going to refer you to the uh the illustrations that I handed out uh at

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different points here. I'm going to try to make this as concise as I can. Um basically um if you're looking at this uh the first illustration that you have should be this one that shows a uh an

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overlay of the uh proposed data center uh implementation that was received from the um uh Route 22 uh land holdings 1,200 Route 22 land holdings to

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install on the Greymark site, which is what we're talking about in terms of the redevelopment plan that's already in place. And just to orient you, this portion of the drawing is to scale. The

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portion that looks like it's it shows satellite imagery in the back is to scale. And what this is just to show is the perspective of this site, the Greymark site relative to the entire uh

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area surrounding it. And basically um if if you're looking at it to the face, south is up, north is down. Route 22 is at the bottom of the illustration.

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And this site uh the 1200 Route 22 site is essentially surrounded by residential properties. To the to the east is R20 zone which is what where I happen to live. Uh I live

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in the uh souththeast corner of the Greyark property in in terms of adjacency. Most of the other residents live along Adamsville Road as well and up into Sunnyside Terrace and even along Union

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Avenue and some of the uh Eli Court, Clark Court, and certainly along Woodside Lane, which borders the west side of the property. Those are all residential zones. all R20, R10 in terms of our standard zoning in

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Bridgewater or R10. And then to the west uh further west is the medical park district which includes um sorry medical park district which includes

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Laurel Circle and that's uh show that's along Monroe and Jackson Streets. All of those groups that live over in that area and most of the residential area uh people around this site um have been

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involved in the warehouse application as the mayor has identified and that application has been open for more than two and a half years the end of 2023. Um so

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the question is is a warehouse use versus a data center use or data center use which is approved as part of the redevelopment plan. Um an effective use for that property or

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a desirable use. >> You're at three and a half minutes just so you know. >> I'm sorry. >> You're at three and a half minutes just so you know. I'm sorry I couldn't >> You're at three and a half minutes just so you know.

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>> I'll give you a minute because I can ask you a question then you can get more time back. Uh you live right over there. Let me ask you, would you prefer a warehouse? If the choice was binary, a serious question. If the choice was binary, warehouse or data center, what would you prefer if you had a if you had a binary choice? Because that may be

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what we have there. Without question, a data center is is a much less desirable uh use on this property. Okay. >> And if you look at the scaling of the >> second page of the item that I handed out to you, actually shows

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>> a layout comparison of the warehouse implementation on one side >> and the d and the data center implementation the other. Keep in mind that with the um with these renderings, I don't know where you got the data center one from, but uh the height that's permitted in the zone is not 70

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ft. It's 50 or 57. And the and there's no um there's no application that's ever no sight plan application has ever been put in. So they could >> whatever you're using for the data center could be this lesser or worse. I mean it's it's just >> we've talked about this in the past.

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This was a con brought up. If I may, real quick though, this this was a concept plan where they came before the planning board and said, "What are your thoughts of this? There's not an application. No, there's still is no application to build anything on this

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site >> other than warehouse." >> Other than the warehouse, which yes, to your point, it is still open for two plus years because of the litigation. Interesting enough um few years back we had a utility company come to the administration and say we want to do a

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concept plan. Interestingly it was to change access to their data center. Um and it was a concept plan and after all the feedback and the process played out they said thank you but no thank you. We don't want to make any changes. A

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concept plan is not an application. And and quite honestly, as I understand it, I there's some question and I was just conferring with council if the actual building was included in in my understanding was we're only looking at the back side of this and it sounds like

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that and and this concept plan includes stuff that has never even been discussed with the township. So concept plan does is not a we're not looking they're not looking to build this tomorrow. Basically, they're trying to say, "Hey, what do you think about this?" >> It's not a site plan. Okay. It's not

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even an application. >> And and none of this has been has been proposed. None of this has been voted upon. I know there's there's conversation about they're going to tear down the building in the front. I certainly have not been asked to approve

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that, nor have I done that. I have not been asked to support an electric power substation of 80.2,000 square ft or a power generator yard of 46.2,000 2,000 square feet, a 70 foot

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building. This is fantasy. This is not this is not reality. >> Let me make a point. Okay. And it was in March, April of last year that the that the planning board and the council approved the redevelopment plan which

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enabled >> the data center option to be considered for use. >> Subject to guard rails. they still >> subject to substantial guardrails in terms of size, in terms of height, in terms of noise, in terms of of of of

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energy requirements. Th this is not reality and you're conveniently ignoring the action of the planning board which set substantial guard rails which would prevent this from occurring. >> There aren't substantial guard rails.

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The only guard rail are the definitions associated with the redevelopment plan. associated specifically with the data center. Okay. And and there there are >> um on the height >> I want to thank you for your answer to

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the mayor's question and I want to thank the mayor for asking that question. Um I think that's really important for us on the deis to know and we don't know that those are the only alternatives, right? We're we're all hoping for something

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better than a warehouse or a data center perhaps. We don't know. But for other members of the public that are speaking on this, I would appreciate hearing from them what their opinion is on the same issue. you know, if you have to un I

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think one of the things we understand on the deis is that we don't have $25 million as a town to buy that property. Am I right about that? >> Yeah, that's right. And I think your your point, Council President, is is

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specifically pointed to this property, which is, you know, you could take a look, somebody mentioned uh either prominance, other locations. I mean, there's other locations where you could sit there and say, what could go there? Could it be housing? Could it be a warehouse? Could it be a data center? Could be any number of things that we may or may not want. That's all hypothetical. On this site, there is a

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there's an application pending right now for a warehouse. So, if uh depending on what happens with the settlement discussions and where litigation goes, there is a real application pending right now for a warehouse that is stayed because we changed the zoning and

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because there's discussions about other potential uses. So in 1,200 while I agree with the council president that we'd love, you know, I think everyone up here agrees that we would prefer two different uses to be talking about on that site than data centers or warehouses. We may not have that choice and it may be a binary choice for that

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site between those two items. >> That's a different topic than the broader conversation about data centers around in other locations and how do you regulate or ban or or other other sites. So for those people that live in the area specifically and you are one of

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them, it's really important to me anyway and I think to the other members on the deis to know, you know, what is your preference if given that something's going to go there because we as a town can't buy that property. I wish we could, but we can't. >> And if and when

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>> I I don't think there's a a a clear enough base of facts to to make a decision either way. Okay. But in as a as a general rule of thumb, I am dead set against the data center because I know all of the infrastructure issues

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and other things that are associated with it. I know what this property is to to great detail. I know that there's a lot of uh uh concern about um groundwater and groundwater being used for

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>> I'm going to say thank you because I know there's several other people that want to speak as well. But again, thank you for answering the question and thank you for your comments. >> Will there be more opportunities in the future? >> Oh, yes, absolutely.

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>> Will I be able to do a a specific presentation uh and have time allotted to that other than at the public portion of the meeting? uh when and if any int any ordinance is introduced and voted on to be you know when we if we vote to

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introduce an ordinance then that two weeks later at the next session there is always an opportunity for public comment on that specific ordinance. >> I I think what count what he was asking as a president is like if you're land use boards um you know public could give testimony. This is here. It's not you

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don't have an opportunity to come in and give a 15-minute presentation on testimony on an ordinance. I >> personally have made at least three presentations to the council >> upon request to the the the council president at the time

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about for example um drainage and and other fac and other uh issues that concerned a whole section of the township. >> Yeah. >> All right. and and there were three such presentations and they were all over 15 minutes long >> on on on this for tonight. I think as

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council president mentioned uh whether or not the council introduces the omnibus ordinance as is with amendments or carries it even if it gets introduced the introduction of the omnibus ordinance has no impact on 1200 uh which is not there's no action

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being proposed tonight on that >> it's not specific to 1200 >> right >> but there is there is scheduled review of that application for the warehouse in September >> that as you mentioned it's on hold sir there The warehouse application is on

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hold. There is no other application filed as of yet. >> Explain to you that was a concept review. >> I'm not saying that it's not on hold or or or it is impending some sort of development agreement. I >> if there was a if if if hypothetically

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and I don't know what's going to the future, but if a decision for example says they're going to move forward with some type of data center, they're going to have to submit a land use application. There's going to have to be notification to adjourning property owners consistent with the land use laws. There would be public hearing.

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There would be an opportunity for you to cross-examine experts, provide your own expert witness testimony consistent with the municipal land use law. >> Just so everyone knows, so the public is aware, the warehouse lawsuit is on hold for six months. It's been adjourned for

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six months in order to allow a lot of discussion. >> Okay. Okay. So, >> and I'm sorry, one just one one other thing because the record really needs to be set straight. >> Ring answered a question I I didn't ask. Okay. Which is uh I I there is at least

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last week there was a there was a an agenda. >> I I really I I don't I I am going to cut you off. I want to give other people an opportunity to speak as well. But thank you very much. >> Okay. Thank you. Debbie Farber.

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>> Yep. Debbie, put the Yeah. mic down. >> 87 Highland Avenue. Um, I'm here to talk about my uh concerns with the water usage for AI data centers. Um, >> can you put the mic closer? Yeah. Sorry. >> Many uh many residents, including

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myself, rely on wellwater. We don't know enough to expedite a facility that uses enough water for 2,600 households or 300,000 gallons per day. Uh AI data centers will tell you we're water

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neutral. We recycle or we use closed loop cooling. But the truth is most of the water data centers actually consume never touches the buildings at all. When they tell you that Downer Center will use an estimated 2 million gallons

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of water a year for cooling, that is the real number. But that is only the direct usage. They are talking about the water that runs through the chillers on site. This is a misdirection because what that number leaves out is the indirect water

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usage. You have to account for the water consumed upstream at the power plants that are burning coal or gas or splitting atoms to generate the electricity that data centers need 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The

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indirect water usage um used to make electricity accounts for about 80% of a data cent's total water footprint. According to indust industry analysis um and indirect consumption runs more than 10 times higher than what happens on

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site. Um as of Jul and as of July 23rd 2025 there is an executive order 14318 designating AI data centers as national critical infrastructure. meaning water

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companies are prohibited from restricting water to them even in times of drought. And in the news this week, um Greg Abbott, the governor of Texas, has put a moratorum on AI data centers being built right now until they can do

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an audit um an energy audit because of the severe drought in Texas. Um at at the time when the UN says the world has just entered the era of global war water bankruptcy, Bridgewater should

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at the very least put a moratorum on AI data centers and ideally a ban on AI data centers. Thank you for your time. Um, I just want to tell you one thing. The current ordinance, the the one that we're looking at, okay, um,

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it does restrict the use use of wellwater. So, there wouldn't be no use of wellwater. I don't know if anybody else has any other comments about some of the other things you said, but um, if that ordinance passes, at least that's one problem. But we are we know we're

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aware of the fact that there's a lot of problems with it and we're looking at it very carefully. I think it's hard to define, but I think there's also, and I know you and I have discussed this, there's significant difference between a data center and an AI data center.

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>> Madam President, >> a lot more water. >> Madam President, um, this is off subject, but uh, Mrs. Farber's husband, Stu, is one of the reasons that the Somerset County 4 fair takes place successfully every year. He's probably there right now, right? >> Yes. Yes. Yes. Thank you.

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>> Thank you. >> I would just Thank you, husband. So, he'll be up at 4:30 a.m., too. [laughter] >> I I I would just like to uh comment. Um Mr. one of the the comments um Miss Farber pointed out that uh there was a >> name is Arusty.

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>> Oh, sorry. Councilman Bucko is speaking. Go ahead. >> Yeah, just just a just a quick comment about the um the declaration that that AI is somehow a national security uh issue. I mean, you know,

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generating uh images of of yourself with uh deceased uh people is is not a national security issue. >> That's my that's my only comment. I I agree that that's that's ridiculous. >> I live at 205 Adamsville Road. I came up

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here a year ago talking about traffic and I talked to the sergeant in the back. I'm hoping you guys spent some money to put uh speed bumps on Adamsville Road cuz I complained back then about Adamsville Road, the speeders

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and the trucks that with all the signs on the road uh say a weight limit, they still go up the street with a weight limit. So, I hope you guys spend some of the money. Uh cuz I I hear you there's a list of money is being spent

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for speed bumps. On um my second subject uh warehouses, my understanding it's changing where we build them. Um they talk about

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years ago, I guess if I can see this stuff. Um, we we built a lot of the warehouses in in rural in urban areas and you can see that down uh 2026 up there. AT&T has one there or it was

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there. It's down from the top of the hill. If you know the top of the hill um it's in the back of the trees, you don't see anything. Um you know, and they're saying now that they're moving a lot of the warehouses. um

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stay our line here 67% of them or 67 of them are being built in rural areas and 33 in urban the only reason I'm here is I'm on Adamsville road whether I see the building you both sides are residential

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we're sticking a big building uh a commercial building which it belongs there u you know I mean in the middle of a residential neighborhood when it comes comes to uh uh warehouses. We just built one on

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the old Somerville lumber building on the corner of uh 22 and Chimney Rock. It's still empty yet. We want to think about building another one. I don't think that's a smart plan, but you know, I I'm not an

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engineer. Uh but I could give you uh locations to put a data center. Uh whether you want to use the Chimney Rock uh the quarry, nobody's there. It would be quiet. They can do what they want to do. Or you can use the old the building

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uh what is it the where they recycle all the trucks and everything over there on Main Street. That would be your second location. You know, we years ago we tried to build a church up in Warrenville or Bridgewater and we gave

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the property to those people on 2026 and we gave the money. So there's no reason we can't switch and give them the property over there and move something here that is likable by both sides, Adamsville Road and Woodside Lane. Thank

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you. >> Thank you, sir. Sean, when you uh if depending when you leave, if Chief Mitsac's in the back and perhaps at some point in time, if you ask Chief Mitsac, I know one maybe him or one of the officers can talk to you about the work that they do on on Amsville Road on the

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traffic. I won't hold up the whole meeting for it, but perhaps uh one of the officers can grab you. >> Names, engineers that are working on the problem told me a year ago that something would be done now. Nothing's been done. >> Well, I saying if you want to talk to the officers, they might be able to tell you about he says to come up here that

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money is being spent is a good time to talk to you people and spend some of the money on Adamsville Road. Thank you. >> Just so you know, um there's a lot of issues in town with respect to traffic. We we're well aware of it. Um there have

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been discussions about speed bumps. I know it's too slow. I mean, I know that the progress is too slow for those of you living there, but we are aware of it. And you should see me screaming at the people, the truck drivers, seeing if they went to school, you know, if they

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know how to read. I'm outside all the time. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> You waited a long time. >> I have waited a long time. Thank you [laughter] for appreciating that. U Martha Havlin, 245 Woodside Lane. Um, I

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along with many of my fellow residents are uh not terribly fond of a data center idea. Um, and I do appreciate the work that you all have been doing and putting together this ordinance. And um, I also appreciate that having a total

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ban may not be as effective as we might wish. Uh, and so I'd like to give a couple of I hope they would be looked at as friendly amendments to your proposed ordinance uh to raise the guard rails even higher than they are currently is

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is sort of my thinking on this. Um, one of them actually comes from colleagues in uh, the real estate industry who have looked at the impact of data centers on house sales. And um, it looks like when you have a data center that's more than

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half a mile from a residence, it has no impact. And anything less than half a mile from a residence has an impact and it can be a significant impact on house sales. And so I would like to suggest that uh there is an addition to your

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ordinance that puts a limit on how close a resident can be to a data center. This data also exactly matches the data that comes on how far noise will travel as was discussed earlier.

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And again most of the the low impact noise the low hertz noise will will travel up to a mile. But at least if we put a half a mile there, we're sort of cutting it somewhat. Um, and so I would suggest that potentially some information on that. I would also

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suggest if they're going to be building something new, why don't we require them to build an LED building? Why not, you know, put that bar even higher and say, if you're going to build something new in our town, we want it to be energy efficient.

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And we have guidelines on what that means from the US Green Building Council. We have a building down the road at Duke Farms that's already done this. Why don't we require that here as well? I don't see why not. Um

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the last thing would be to strengthen the language around water usage. I understand the closed loop um as one step in that direction. I also understand the limitations of the concept of a closed loop. But given one of the current locations under

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discussion where all of us have wellwater, I think having very explicit language that says that you cannot use groundwater and that any wastewater cannot go back into the groundwater or sewer system would be a useful extension

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of what's already described. Um, I also would suggest that potentially information about lot size, building size, and so forth might be additions to the ordinance that would be useful in

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terms of those guard rails and ensuring that the residents of Bridgewater and our energy and water needs are protected. Uh, thank you. Um, since you live in the area, what is your feeling about a warehouse versus a data center?

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>> I actually um would agree with Kurt that I I think it's a bad question to ask. I don't think it's a fair question to ask given that we don't know what variances would be approved. What is the size of the building? What is the the lighting on the building? Where is the building

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going to be? What's the setback of the building? How many trucks? When are the trucks going to be present? I mean, I've been at many of the discussions um about the warehouse and I brought all kinds of data about again noise and light and diesel trucks and if they're

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refrigerator trucks, what does this mean and and so forth. So, I actually don't feel comfortable answering that until I know more about what each of those facilities might bring. >> Okay, fair enough. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.

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Andis and Satroan, Martinsville resident for 31 years. Um, two quick items. One, thank you for, um, taking a look at the question that was raised at the last meeting regarding remote access for people who cannot physically attend. And after seeing the first speaker tonight,

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uh, that made an even deeper impression on me. uh if you haven't already, the Somerset County Commissioners do accommodate that in a very lowcost way by allowing uh call in or uh there's an

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email provided and I would encourage you to at least look at that um find out about their experience about how it's been working. It would certainly doesn't sound like it's a huge cost outlay and it would and it would meet that need. Um

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>> ju just just to address that um because I know I referenced the 11page document that we went through. It's not all cost. Um there's also issues of policy fairness um the logistics involved. Um, and while I certainly value what you've

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just said about seeing what Somerset County has done, um, uh, you know, just because it can be done, um, from a technology standpoint, that does not solve all the issues and questions that have been raised and are under and and are under consideration.

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>> That's why I would encourage you to have a discussion with them and find out what their experience has been. Well, but I would certainly I would state that um while I'm certainly very willing to hear about the experience of another level of government or another place of government, we're responsible for

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solutions that work for Bridgewater. >> Absolutely. I agree. >> Okay. >> Um but I'm really here for agenda item 11A. Um so concerning the omnibus ordinance in front of you this evening. Um, one, other municipalities are rapidly

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initiating ordinances banning AI data centers as recently as Montgomery and our neighboring Warren Township. Two, no one has enough information, research data, or analysis to conclude the long-term impacts and if they are beneficial. Indeed, so far the data

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points to the opposite. Three, there is no emergent need for an AI data center or centers in the township. So why are you proposing to permit them? Why not a simple ban? What I've heard from my

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fellow residents and concern concerned citizens is no, not yes. If this ordinance advances, it precludes and shuts down any meaningful dialogue or input. Instead, we will be welcoming AI D

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centers. But how many will be too many? The ordinance itself seems to be written hastily, not the usual caliber of the township planner's work. Specifically, there is no defined terminology for data centers, even though there is a technical and resource utilization

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difference between data centers typically housed at universities or companies, for example, to store and process data for their own purposes and AI data centers, which use different technology and are hyperscaled with quite a different business model. Additionally, although there is some

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post construction monitoring loosely referred to for electrical fluctuations and sound, there is no specificity about regular monitoring and required reporting to the township at what frequency, self or third party reported, and absolutely nothing about

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remediation, fines, reduction in use if found to be in violation of any critical infrastructure use or negative environmental impact. So, if you support this ordinance, you do not share the concerns of our neighbor

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Warren Township, which in its ordinance cites increasing residential energy costs of more than 20% for taxpayers in New Jersey. That it is well established that overdevelopment, urbanization, and overuse of environmental resources

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impacts subterranean aquifers and the quality of drinking water. that some data centers require up to 300 megawatts of electricity which is roughly equivalent to the output of a small modular nuclear reactor and the extreme volume of water usage impacts homes and

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businesses both within the municipality and the surrounding communities. If you support this ordinance, you support permitting AI data data centers into this township. I look forward to hearing your deliberations on this topic and perhaps this time no from this

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podium does not get lost in translation. >> Thank you. Does anyone from the deis have any comments? >> I just actually very briefly um people have mentioned the Warren and their ban and it's important to note that why Warren did pass a ban uh as the mayor

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alluded to earlier anyone can come before a governing body I'm sorry before a land use board and request variances. And while Warren banned it, they recognized that. They also said, "Oh, by the way, we're banning them, but if you want to come before the land use board to request a variance, you need to do X,

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Y, and Z." Because they realize that an outright ban is not an actually outright ban because it's very makes it much more conducive for someone to appear before a land use board. So, I just point that out. There's also a lot of elected officials out there that care more about

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nice headlines than uh actually doing real work that's based on thoughtful and deliberative analysis. And in Bridgewater, that's what we do. Warren wants to do headlines, they can do that, too. They should pay their sewer bill, which they owe us hundreds of thousands of dollars. That would be nice. >> Um Madam President, just just just one

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one quick comment. um we seem to be interchangeably using data center and some people saying all right well maybe some reasonablesiz data center is okay and AI data center and and I think that as we discuss this ordinance and our

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intention it will be perfectly clear that there is no appetite for a mega AI data center requiring enough energy to literally make the entire east coast of the United States glow. There is no desire for that. Um there is desire for

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what may be if the market still supports it reasonable size reasonable use data center not AI data center so these these words are being co-mingled and I think maybe intentionally co-mingled um but

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when we have the discussion I think it will be very clear where we believe there could be appropriate use of a data center and where there is not. Um, I'm going to let you comment, but I want I just want to point something out to you because there's been a lot of discussion

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from this deis and and among us about the fact that we have three data centers already in Bridgewater. The largest of those three data centers is about 300,000 square feet and it's no

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larger than that. The megawattage of that data center. Okay, I want you to really hear this. As best as I can tell from the research that I have been able to do is two

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two megawws. We are talking about potentially a data center here. Several members of the public have estimated to be 60. the state in their or in their um the

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law that they passed the legislation about electricity refers to data centers of 50 megawws. So trying to compare the data centers that we have now in

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Bridgewater with future data centers or the types of data centers that are going up today are two completely different animals. The data centers we have in Bridgewater are not your grandmother's data center.

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>> I just want to respond to Councilman Kirch. I think we're on the same page. It's the lack of a firm definition as currently drafted in the ordinance that would that greater definition would give you that clarity. There is no such definition now and that's what I was

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challenging and I hope that that can be provided. >> Very fair. >> I would I would like to to clarify that there there is a definition already in Bridgewwater's ordinances of what a data center is. I do feel it's insufficient,

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but we do have a definition in um in the the township code. It was added believe it was added with 255. Um but again, as I mentioned, I do believe it's it's wholly insufficient to uh capture the

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um the full picture. >> Would anyone else like to address the issue of data centers? >> Would anyone uh Why don't you sign in after you speak? >> We'll be very quick. And it's just

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following up a little on the >> state your name. >> Carolyn Joya um from Bridgewater 1402 Paley Court. Following up a little on what I said last um session about and it ties into the size of the data centers because

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there is a trend with this prime group holding company that they want to create an interconnected network of smaller data factories micro data factories. So when you're drafting verbiage and words

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in your ordinance data center might not cover a data factory and just might be a technicality but there is a company prime group holding and they have it and I have their press release right here on what they're planning to do. They already own 350 storage facilities.

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They're converting them into data factories. So just little terminology there. Thanks. >> Thank you. Anyone? Oh, Carolyn, you have to sign. I stopped you earlier.

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Anyone else like to address the issue of data centers? Okay. Anyone else want to address any other issue? I think we all welcome hearing something new too. >> Well, we don't know what the new topic's going to be. Maybe we want to go back to

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data centers. >> That's true. You never know. >> He looks young and friendly, though. Uh permission. >> Did you sign in? >> We'll sign in after you after you speak. >> Just adjust the microphone because you're also broadcasting out.

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>> Okay. Uh, yeah. Uh, do I have permission to hand out? Um, >> yes, but state your name and your address. >> Uh, my name is Shia Jane and I live at 14 Bogart Drive. >> If you want here, give it. Thank you. Go ahead.

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>> So, what you're seeing in front of you is uh something that I've been um you know, drafting. Uh it's and it introduces uh light a new light pollution ordinance that targets um town buildings or municipal buildings

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only. Um I would like you, you have the document in front of you. Uh, I would like you to actually ignore the town buildings aspect of it. I recently had a meeting with the environmental commission uh just two hours ago and uh they made it pretty clear to me that

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they they clarified for me that um an ordinance would uh specify something that's townshipwide. So um uh consider the document in front of you just without the uh town buildings only restriction. It the ordinance would

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apply to uh commercial residential uh uh developments, public roads, um and uh you know, parking lots, school facilities, and uh all of that stuff. But um what I'm proposing is uh a light

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pollution ordinance targeting gaps in the existing Bridgewater codes regulating public lighting as part of the land use code under chapter 126. Unshielded or poorly shielded outdoor lighting is pure energy waste. Shining

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light upward and side sideways into the atmosphere is basically the financial equivalent of leaving a garden hose running on a driveway. We are literally using taxpayer dollars to illuminate the clouds. I've seen this exact problem right outside of my house at night as

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night lamps are hardly adequately shielded to make the best use of nighttime lighting. Uh Bridgewater's existing land use code uh specifically sections 126191 and 126160 have two major gaps. Uh they only regulate

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private commercial site plans. Uh and they also more importantly they rely on obsolete standards for uh light fixtures which uh use an outdated 150°ree cone angle and place zero caps or inclusions on

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more recent modern um light updates uh such as color temperature or um the recently uh or the modern BUG lighting scale. From a human health and safety perspective, uh outdoor uh unrestricted

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outdoor light uh constricts human pupils and creates a harsh contrast in the shadows that impair night vision for drivers uh and make it unsafe for both pedestrians and um people in who are driving in the night and you know can't

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see very well. it. Not only that, but it has severe uh environmental concerns um disrupting uh animals that may rely on natural light uh for their biological processes uh with artificial light as well as humans and their sleep cycles.

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So the proposed uh ordinance in front of you uh wants to fix these gaps uh by specifying um by updating new standards for uh future light fixtures uh for

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future light fixtures. It wants to uh it wants to keep a 3,00 Kelvin maximum limit for uh townwide buildings and a warmer 2200 Kelvin amber standard in open areas and public parks around Bridgewater to eliminate harsh glare.

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>> You're at 3 and a half minutes just so you know. And uh the good thing about this is that it's zero upfront cost and it also has presidents rooted in Mendum Township which adopted something almost exactly almost identical to this exact document.

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>> Thank you. Anyone want to? >> Yeah. So I got first of all what are you student uh where your student at? >> Uh Bridgewater. >> Okay. I got I don't know. Are you a future engineer because or a planner? That's >> um it's uh an impressive an impressive

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ordinance and clearly uh done a lot of work and homework in this. Um a couple thoughts for you. Uh so our omnibus ordinance tonight. So lighting is a big issue in town. It's been been a problem. Residents come up with issues. So uh the omnimous ordinance that we have proposed tonight deals with some of these issues,

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not all of them. It's really focused on light nuisance in residential zones. What I'm going to suggest I'll have Mr. Papis give you his uh his business card. our planner is here and given how much time that you've spent on this issue and learning the issues and clearly researching it. What I'd ask you to do

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is we can set up time for you to come in and sit with our planner who's also looked at a lot of these things >> and um I'll have her you have a copy of your ordinance. I'll have her review it to give us comments and sit down and meet with you and um you know if the environmental commission has looked at this issue I see Mr. Fouse in the background if he wants to join that

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meeting. Um, and then we can give you we can give you feedback on, you know, from I'm not a planner. You are clearly know more about this already than uh than my technical ability is, but uh um I'd ask that we'll have a meeting. We'll have you come in with our planner and she can talk you through how she looks at these

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issues and tell you and if there's things that we can incorporate from your suggestions either in the current version as an amendment or or future uh updates, um we'll do that. but you spent a lot of time on it and so we'll have our staff sit down with you and go over yours compared to ours and see um what

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we can do. Okay. >> And I just want to ask you, you said Mendum has already passed an ordinance. >> Uh yeah, Menum Township. >> I just want to make sure because if we're going to look at somebody else's ordinance, I want to make sure I had the right town. >> Yep. They they passed it last year.

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>> Thank you. >> Thank you very brief question. You made I'm not sure if I I heard this correctly. Were you making reference to street lights like in among other things? >> Uh yeah. Yeah, I was. Um yeah.

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>> Okay. Cuz the street lights, you know, are are owned by PSEG. So certainly if there's some some way that their operation needs to change, um we can become advocates for that, but we we don't it's their fixtures, not ours. >> Of course. Yeah. Uh I just wanted to use

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that really as an example of like how uh light pollution you know influences both the night sky uh and you know just uh the environment as a whole just an example. Yeah. >> Thank you very much.

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[applause] >> Would anyone else like to address the council? Can Miss Franco. Oh, did you sign the sheet? Yeah, go ahead. Sign it now. >> Good evening. Um, I'll be quick. Um,

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first I want to agree with all of the speakers related to their data center concerns. Um, and I won't bother >> Just state your name. >> Kathy Franco, uh, Martinsville. Um and I will not bother to repeat the recurrent the concerns expressed by the public. Um

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I as Mr. Bucko um acknowledged there were a number of issues on the agenda yesterday that suddenly disappeared. Um this was all the homework that I printed out and did and looked at um in preparation for that and then lo and behold around 4:00 I realized like they

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were gone. So, um you know you know I wish there was a way for us to um also get alerted to when agendas changed um because it was constantly changing. Then when I arrived tonight, there was another new issue on the agenda. Um and

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my only other question um regarding business not on the agenda is uh when will we get a status on Camp Cromwell? I know the council had, you know, approved a bond um to get money to do stuff so

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that we could get reimbursed by the federal government. So, will we be getting an update on what's going on with that? >> I can give you an update now. Um the the process to access the funds is very bureaucratic. Um our CFO and our

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township engineer have spent the last several months going through a series of steps. Uh we're hoping within the next week this portal literally that they have to submit documents through uh is going to be finally made available. Um

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Mr. Burr [clears throat] and Miss uh Houseman are working on a bid document that would be issued at some point probably in the next 30 days for u for the township to be able to spend the money of that bond ordinance that's been uh that was approved end of last year.

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>> Okay. Thank you very much. Thank you. Um, >> uh, Miss Franco, you noted a couple days ago that you were unable to locate the audit from last year on the township website. Has that been updated? Okay, great. Thank you very much. >> Would anyone else like to address the

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council? >> Seeing no one, I make a motion to close public comment. >> Second. All in favor? >> I. >> Right. Uh, let's see. find my agenda. Okay.

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Item 10, public hearing and final action ordinances. An ordinance amending chapter 182, snow and ice removal of the municipal code of the township of Bridgewater to require snow clearance near fire hydrants. >> Motion to open to the public.

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>> Second. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> I. >> Okay. Would anyone like to address it? Mr. Albano, >> just remember to sign after you speak. >> I'll remember. Thank you. Good evening,

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folks. Uh, thank you for your service. Um, I come with 50 years of experience in this particular ordinance because for 50 years I've been cleaning the fire hydrant

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across the street from my house. This is hard work. And last time we had a snowstorm, I said things that my wife said, "I never heard you say those things before." [laughter] because after I had dug the the thing

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out with my snow plow, uh the uh very efficient uh snow removal team came down the road at about some high rate of speed and packed in that entire dugout section

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with ice, snow, gravel, slush. And I didn't go out and try to do it again cuz I've tried to do that in the past and my machine says, "Oh, no." Anyway, I am in totally in favor of this

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and I just wish that there were a good way to do it. By the way, the criteria uh for this is that a three-foot space around the hydrant, and I'd never done that. I just go

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in 20 20 in wide and as high as I can go so that the vow so that the caps are showing. That's hard work. And when I was a young man, it was a challenge. But now my age, I'm getting tired of that. So I I'm in favor of this. Okay. And I

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don't have one on my property, but I take care of the one across the street because the previous owner did not ever in the 40 years that he was there. So anyway, just be careful about what you do. Over being overzealous might lead to

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a lot of uh unhappiness and I certainly don't think you know you want anybody to get hurt doing this, but it needs to be done. Absolutely needs to be done. >> So let me ask you a question. Other than cuz this winter was a particularly bad winter. Is it always really hard or is

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it is it not as was this winter just particularly bad? Madame council president, this last winter was not hard. About 10 years ago, we had two feet of snow.

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Uh and in the lifetime I've been here, we've had three feet of snow. So, I didn't think it was particularly bad. Uh, but when the plow came by and packed it in with the slush and the gravel and the ice, it was impossible to dig out

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again. >> So, it's the plow coming by that that is the biggest part of the problem. >> Not that I would engineer the solution, but when they come down the street, they come down this way towards the curb. Maybe if they get by the fire

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hydrant, they go this way with the plow and don't pack the snow in there. That might make it easier. >> Fire hydrants are easy to see. They got these 5-ft poles on top of them. >> Madam President, I raised this at introduction. Um, now I was specifically

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concerned about intersections. Maybe it's not just intersections. Maybe it is midblock as well. The concern that I raised was that it is certainly with the snow that we had a 5-ft pack of ice snow other things that you mentioned was was

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very common and and you know while while I support and continue to support the underlying purpose of this I do share your concern that we need to give our residents a fighting chance to be able to to to be compliant and to stay safe in the neighborhood. That's why we're

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doing this is so that the hydrants are available if or when they're needed by by by the fire service. Um, you know, that was a question I was going to ask and follow up on during our deliberations. Um, since I asked it as an open-ended question last week, what

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what is our solution? Um, again, I identified intersections. Perhaps it's not just intersections. >> Intersections are really bad because the amount of snow that's piled up at the intersection. I live on a corner, as all of you know. I do not plow from my

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driveway to the corner because if I did, I would come up against something like this that is packed with ice and snow and gravel and sand and all that other stuff. So, I just don't do it. You know,

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if anybody wants to climb over it, I I don't have any way physical way of doing it. >> Can you just state your name for the record? >> Oh, yeah. I'm Robert Albano. I live at 1149 Papen Road in Bridgewater. >> You don't live right down the street.

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That could help you out. >> I live right down the street from the esteemed mayor and I hear the hammering on his house renovations. Congratulations, Matt. I'm glad that they're there. Uh I also uh welcome you

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to the neighborhood. Have you moved yet? >> Not yet. Well, almost. this weekend. We're hoping to finalize it. That's hope. >> So, yeah, I'll sign the paper. Uh I just I'm not opposed at all. I've been doing it for 46 years. When I can, and when it

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gets blocked in with ice and snow, I can't do it. Even when I was younger and more enthusiastic. >> Thank you. >> I'll sign in. Thanks, >> Miss Franco. Hi. Uh, regarding the ordinance, I'm not

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against it. Um, I would hope though that the fire departments can um maybe come up with like a help list for um individuals who may be senior or disabled who have a fire hydrant on their property. Um, on my block, I've

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lived there for 35 years. For 30 years, I cleaned the hydrant. I broke my hip five years ago falling on the ice. I do not go out to my road and try to clean that hydrant for my elderly neighbor who is older than I am any longer. Um, you

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know, so I I you know, I know this was asked for by the fire districts or the fire departments. So maybe um they can have a list of a way to register to get help um in case there aren't neighbors to be able to help local residents to do

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it because you know it's one thing when you buy a property in this town you know if you have a sidewalk you're going to be responsible okay um you know for the sidewalk during the winter for people who um this is now happening you know um how how do we help

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those individuals especally especially if they're handicapped or disabled. That's my concern. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> I know. >> And I think Mrs. Franco, as you know, as we roll this out, we're not looking to give anybody a hard time. We're trying to make sure that we hopefully encourage people that can to do stuff that they

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haven't done. And so I think your points are well taken and certainly as it goes into effect if people have problems we'll we'll figure out a way of this is not supposed to be us roaming around looking to you know ding people on this but if we can improve the safety at the request of the fire chiefs and you know >> I think one of the takeaways though is

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we need to ensure awareness to not only our township employees but whoever is the low bidder for snow removal. >> Yeah. Yeah. We'll take a look at it. Anyone else from the public wish to comment on this ordinance?

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>> Seeing no one, I move to close public comment and move for final action. >> Second. >> I'll second pending brief discussion. >> All in favor of closing public comment. I Okay. Um I think Councilman Kersh, you

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probably want to >> I you know I've I've I've now raised it twice. Members of the public have raised it. I I think we just need to be mindful of um uh you know I I believe it's most acute at intersections maybe it's elsewhere um candidly people at

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intersections um do not slash potentially cannot fully clear their sidewalks because you know at the at the place where the you know the sidewalk essentially you know goes into the street um those are often bus stops school bus stops um you know that's

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where you end up with 5ft piles of snow and they're not drifts lately. They've been you know icebergs. Um so I you know I just you know I don't know if Mr. Papis you know there there there is a mechanism for the DPW to as part for the

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DPW as part of the cleanup after the cleanup. Um you know I know when the snow is is falling and when we got to get it off the roads we got to get it off the roads. But I know that particularly with the major storms that we had this winter, the the cleanup after the cleanup lasted a couple of weeks or more. Um so, you know, I don't

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know if it's realistic um you know, for us to look at how that's done, look at how that's done so that in a reasonable period of time um you know, we we we can um uh give residents a pathway so to speak to be able to um uh comply with

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this ordinance. I think they will make their attempt best attempt but can't guarantee it. >> Okay. Given the the concerns about um both

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residents who who may uh find it difficult to to clear uh the snow and ice themselves uh or the the task made a little bit more difficult. Um I I think we should

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um maybe tap the brakes on this and explore u some clarifying language >> those >> just to the amount to to the extent uh possible or something something along

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those lines to >> um you know if the if the if a fire hydrant is encased with you six inches of ice. I don't think we're expecting a resident to go out with a

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chisel and and chip it off. Um so I I I think we need some some clarification here that there there may be in at least some cases the the resident uh owner tenant or occupant is

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just not going to be possible to u fulfill the the requirements here and uh and update it accordingly. >> The the I'm not sure what the I guess I'm looking at this and listening to your comments. I'm thinking those same residents are also obligated to go out

446
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and shovel their sidewalks today. So, um, you know, I will tell you as a first responder, I've seen the difference when a fire hydrant is shoveled. Okay? This is not a it's nice to walk down the street or nice to walk down the

447
02:04:50.719 --> 02:05:07.760
sidewalk. This could be the difference between life and death, quite frankly. Um, I hope it never comes to anyone for that point of view, but to say you got to shovel your fire hydrant in case your house is on fire so the fire department can put water on it. Um,

448
02:05:07.760 --> 02:05:24.719
that's my comment. I >> I certainly understand that and and I I agree with you. I'm just concerned that uh we're um we're adding a requirement that might not be possible to fulfill.

449
02:05:24.719 --> 02:05:40.719
what we could do. I mean, just depend what the council wants to do. Obviously, this is not um don't expect a snowstorm next week or the week after. Um one thing that we could do, we've had a public hearing on it, but and if we have any amendments, it has to be uh the notice, but we could potentially put

450
02:05:40.719 --> 02:05:56.480
some language in here that says, you know, um something you're required to do it. if if you're you know say you're able if you're unable you know put in some language about you know alerting public works or fire department I don't know something that that addresses the concerns to make sure it's clear that your expectations you were supposed to

451
02:05:56.480 --> 02:06:12.080
do this but there's a you know we don't look the township's not going to go out there and be digging people and you know just like you know in terms of uh having a police department issuing tickets so I think that the we want to encourage people to make sure they know they have a responsibility if

452
02:06:12.080 --> 02:06:28.960
it's on your property but um not make people concerned that if have somebody who's got a heart attack out there trying to do this. There may be some my point is there may be some language that just addresses it that doesn't really you know um that's on paper as opposed just us talking about it that can address those concerns and we could either amend it or we could pass it now

453
02:06:28.960 --> 02:06:46.000
and we could amend it you know by a new ordinance amending it or adding some language um you know because obviously again this is not an issue that we expect to come up in the next month or two so we have time to either amend it or whatever but I'm good either way with the count made I'm I'm comfortable with it as is I also am fine if there wants

454
02:06:46.000 --> 02:07:02.159
to be some language changes there >> there is a motion So to move it for final action >> if we're having discussion I I would prefer to take our final action in the affirmative. Um and you know the concerns have been aired multiple times. Um I think that we do have some time to

455
02:07:02.159 --> 02:07:18.239
to to figure to you know figure out certain workarounds. Um I was candidly surprised that we even needed to do this ordinance. I assumed it was already required um you know in coordination with

456
02:07:18.239 --> 02:07:34.719
sidewalks. Um so you know while this may not be perfect, I raised these concerns two weeks ago. A couple members of the public raised it today. Um you know, not to diminish the importance of those concerns, but um you know, we do need to take this action that improves the

457
02:07:34.719 --> 02:07:51.840
public safety. Um so, you know, I I am I'm comfortable moving forward with this tonight. >> Yeah. I just want to make a comment if we're going to make changes to it. Um, could we be more specific where it says the owner, tenant, or occupant blah blah blah required to remove all snow and ice

458
02:07:51.840 --> 02:08:07.440
which is on or around the fire hydrants within 12 hours of daylight. Could we be a little more specific? They they really don't have to remove it around the whole fire hydrant. They just need to remove it around what the the area where you would connect.

459
02:08:07.440 --> 02:08:23.840
>> They're on multiple sides. They're Oh, for because it's on all four sides. >> Yeah, your your fire hydrant has multiple connection points depending upon hose size. >> It's not three feet though. >> I think there was a concern about that that it was 3 feet. Is there a

460
02:08:23.840 --> 02:08:41.440
reasonable distance that we could tell people? This one doesn't specify. >> I don't think it say I'm not seeing where it says 3T. >> Yeah, it doesn't. That's what I'm saying. Is there something that we could >> just trying to encourage people to do

461
02:08:41.440 --> 02:08:57.679
it? I don't think this is meant as a >> we're going to penalize you. And look, I think the other reality is when a person lives uh near a fire hydrant, they they benefit from that from the standpoint of their um of of you know, their home

462
02:08:57.679 --> 02:09:14.079
potentially being saved from a fire. They also benefit, if I'm not mistaken, from a lower um uh insurance, homeowners insurance. So, you know, you know, it's a double-edged sword. You know, you want the benefit of it so that your house will hopefully be saved. You get a benefit of a couple bucks potentially

463
02:09:14.079 --> 02:09:29.679
from your your your homeowner's insurance. Well, the burden is, you know, you need to figure out how to how to get the thing cleared. Now, again, devil is in the details. This may not be perfect, but I I I think we do need to get it on the books. We do need to make the statement that, you know, those

464
02:09:29.679 --> 02:09:46.639
those who have a fire hydrant on their property, it's among your responsibilities. >> We we could we could uh if it gets passed, we can make sure this goes out in the newsletter, you know, months in advance. we can make sure that in whenever we send out the next, you know, printed newsletter, it's in there. And

465
02:09:46.639 --> 02:10:04.239
if we get a whole bunch of feedback, you know, from residents who see those notices and raise issues that we still have months to be able to address it. And if we go through this first winter and obviously if there's problems uh that come up that we haven't anticipated, we can also amend it or get rid of it in the future. Um, but you

466
02:10:04.239 --> 02:10:21.760
know, I'm I said I'm okay moving it, not moving it, amending it. Whatever the council wants to do is fine with me. Any further comment? Can we have a roll call please? >> Councilman Bucka, >> yes.

467
02:10:21.760 --> 02:10:36.880
>> Councilman Kersh, >> yes. >> Councilman Ring, >> yes. >> Council President Gger, >> yes. >> Council President, >> yes. >> If I may, before we move to 11. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Um, after speaking with council, uh,

468
02:10:36.880 --> 02:10:53.679
I'll explain first what my overall plan is. um before actually making any motions. But my first thought would be to make a motion to bifulcate um number 10. Go. You want

469
02:10:53.679 --> 02:11:07.360
>> 11? >> You you'd like to remove section 10. >> Okay. To remove section 10 to of the proposed ordinance which is data centers. Okay. And then assuming we

470
02:11:07.360 --> 02:11:26.000
voted on that, then make a motion to introduce the remaining section of this. >> I'll second that motion if you make it. >> So, let me start by making a motion to remove section 10 from the proposed.

471
02:11:26.000 --> 02:11:42.560
>> Right. And just to be clear, sections thereafter will be renumbered. >> With the understanding, sections thereafter will be reumbered. Um, I make that motion and section 10 and any [snorts] reference to data centers. >> I will second that motion.

472
02:11:42.560 --> 02:11:57.440
>> Should I have a roll call on that? >> And your clear intention is to take action on what there is consensus on right now. >> Yeah. Everything else. >> Okay. >> Because there is a lot of other good stuff in here, including my including, you know, we previously talked about someone's home

473
02:11:57.440 --> 02:12:15.280
being destroyed and them having to be, you know, being able to rebuild it. You know, there's other things in here that don't need to be held up pending data center discussion. >> Have a roll call. >> Well, well, that's an it's an amendment question first.

474
02:12:15.280 --> 02:12:31.840
>> No, there's a motion to remove section 10 from the proposed document and then >> everything after number 10 would subsequently move up. >> That's what we're voting on. >> Okay. >> I I seconded it. >> Okay. >> I thought maybe we should do a roll call. Yes,

475
02:12:31.840 --> 02:12:48.239
>> it's important. >> Councilman Bucko, >> no. >> Councilman Kersh, >> yes. >> Councilman Ring, >> yes. >> Council President Gger, >> yes. >> Okay. Based upon that, I'll make a motion now to introduce

476
02:12:48.239 --> 02:13:04.400
the revised 11A. >> I'll second. >> All in favor? >> Well, no, we need a roll call. We >> need a roll call. Sorry. Councilman Bucko. Yes. >> Councilman Kersh. >> Yes. >> Councilman Ring. >> Yes.

477
02:13:04.400 --> 02:13:20.159
>> Council President Greger. >> Yes. >> I would president if I could make a just a real brief I don't know if we're going to move on or we're going to talk about 11A a little bit. If I could just make two brief comments or few comments that separate from taking away data centers for a second. I just wanted to point out

478
02:13:20.159 --> 02:13:37.840
that um this ordinance is the you know the next and kind of what assume will be a series. We we did one earlier in the year as we attempt to implement the master plan recommendations that came out of the the master plan process from you know the past couple years um to for

479
02:13:37.840 --> 02:13:52.719
the public's benefit and from the council's remember a reminder when you do the master plan we went through a process public input lots of time and energy by our professionals by a subcommittee by the public who came in and and um made recommendations but the

480
02:13:52.719 --> 02:14:08.800
master plan is just a guiding document um if we don't implement the ordinances to do it, it's nothing other than an aspirational document. In many instances, it's not it's not actually um doesn't affect the changes that they've recommended. So, what um what we have

481
02:14:08.800 --> 02:14:25.199
been doing is going through and trying to address some of the issues, you know, as as we move through this ordinance is uh addressing some of those issues. Um and again, there'll be more in the future as we as we do this. Um and uh you know so I think as Councilman Ring had pointed out uh taking away the data

482
02:14:25.199 --> 02:14:40.880
centers for a moment um this does a lot of good things to help protect our community and to enhance the um the zoning that's in place already. Um you know including um addressing as as council ring pointed out the uh issue of what happens if your house burns down

483
02:14:40.880 --> 02:14:56.159
and making sure we provide some relief there. Um there's a section here uh at the request of Councilman Bucko regarding detention centers. Uh that's in there at at his request. Um and uh you know there's other things that are in there. So um I'm glad that the council has moved it and it's allowed it to move forward for the public.

484
02:14:56.159 --> 02:15:12.880
Obviously we'll hear public input um when it's here for final action and um on the issue of uh data centers without belaboring the discussion we had earlier. Um I know that a lot of work has gone into this with the council already in terms of discussions that we've all had um with uh with our

485
02:15:12.880 --> 02:15:30.079
planner and with our staff. I know that uh we received comments again today uh I think from council bucko maybe others as well that our staff has started to look at and and now that it's been removed um you know we'll continue that process with everybody for uh including our environmental commission with um with

486
02:15:30.079 --> 02:15:46.719
our council to uh see if uh when the data center portion comes back we can um you know have something that uh everyone is you know I guess we can never make everybody happy but we try to make as many people as happy as possible and have uh as strong a consensus on the DES

487
02:15:46.719 --> 02:16:00.880
as we can get. So, thank you for everyone's comments on this and for moving it. I >> I just want to ask Councilman Buckle a question. Was your concern about removing it that about removing section 10 that you also had um comments about

488
02:16:00.880 --> 02:16:19.280
section one and I think section two. So that that they would have to be then incorporated into any new ordinance addressing data centers. You >> mean for the definition of data, >> right? Like for the definition of data

489
02:16:19.280 --> 02:16:36.800
centers. So in other words, anything because I think that is a concern. >> My motion was 10 and any reference to data centers. >> Okay. 10 and any reference to data centers. So that would include >> if you go back to that's what I said, >> right? I I don't believe that um

490
02:16:36.800 --> 02:16:53.519
there's any meaningful um uh reference to data centers in any other section. Um >> yeah, there was a the definitional the definition in um section one. Um >> no no

491
02:16:53.519 --> 02:17:10.559
>> that that is that is exist uh there there is an existing um definition for data centers in uh uh section uh chapter 126 section two of the municipal code >> I don't I even have that one >> okay okay >> yeah part of the one of the things that

492
02:17:10.559 --> 02:17:26.559
uh I think one of the residents or maybe somebody pointed out was that although we amend some of these different sections of the zoning ordinance there could be other sections that are not amending that they're aren't included in the document that ex that provide definitions or provide, you know, other provisions. So that's when we look at

493
02:17:26.559 --> 02:17:42.319
it, you know, Council Buck mentioned we may need to update the definition of data centers, but because the ordinance isn't currently proposing changing it, that's why it's not in the document, but maybe in the future that amendment will be in there. >> I want to be clear, we're still going to have or we we well, we've had a lot of

494
02:17:42.319 --> 02:17:58.479
discussion, but I don't know that I that we've all said everything we want to say about data centers today. The idea being that we are going to hopefully come up with an ordinance about data centers that incorporates

495
02:17:58.479 --> 02:18:14.240
um and I guess there is another document that I haven't quite seen yet that came out at the last minute that you were just referring to. Yeah, we had we had tried referring to >> Yeah, we had tried to incorporate some of Councilman Bucko's um potent, you know, edits and concerns that the problem we had was we didn't want to do

496
02:18:14.240 --> 02:18:30.000
it last minute where now we're trying to incorporate edits that may have not been fully vetted by the professionals that may have consequences that you know or impact other things. So, um you know, the hope would be that when we come back, whether it's in two weeks or whatever the council, whatever we're

497
02:18:30.000 --> 02:18:46.960
ready, um we'll incorporate some of those or address some of those concerns. Obviously, we've heard from the public tonight, so there may be issues that we heard tonight that we want to incorporate or or look into um and continue the the discussion and >> so we've also had discussions about

498
02:18:46.960 --> 02:19:08.160
referring this to the environmental commission um and they won't meet again for a month because they just met tonight. >> Yeah, >> Mr. Fouse. >> Absolutely. hard on this. Uh we met at six o'clock.

499
02:19:08.160 --> 02:19:23.920
We had some great input. Uh Carolyn Goyo joined us, members of the public. What we decided to do tonight was to begin a a very quick twoe research process into LFN, that's lowfrequency noises. We didn't want to isolate our analysis on noise to just data centers, but the low

500
02:19:23.920 --> 02:19:39.840
frequency noise which is often associated with data centers, we wanted to provide what the New Jersey D has done. I met yesterday with New Jersey D at Duke Farms. This was an issue. We talked about it. I'm going to put all the commission's comments in a letter. I'm going to have it to you by your next

501
02:19:39.840 --> 02:19:55.760
meeting. >> All right. And then that could be something that could be a whole separate ordinance in and of itself that would apply to data centers, but wouldn't necessarily prevent us from looking at a separate ordinance regarding data centers within two weeks.

502
02:19:55.760 --> 02:20:12.080
>> None of us are experts like this expert over here. She's amazing. and I want to give her the opportunity to comment on what we've come up with with low frequency noise. Um, let a professional vet it, put it in proper language, let Mr. Fischer, Mr. Corsini take a peek at it and let you guys make a decision. But

503
02:20:12.080 --> 02:20:28.800
we know that low frequency noise is an issue at the New Jersey DP right now. Uh, it's an issue with our commission and uh, we want you to take a look at what we've come up with and researched and uh, we'll work with Katherine to come up with something in short order. >> Thank you. Thank you, by the way, for um

504
02:20:28.800 --> 02:20:49.760
agreeing to work on this in two weeks. That's Thank you very much. >> Thank you for taking it up and thanks for staying late and good night. >> Miss Sarmat, can >> is it late? >> Maybe ask you some questions. So, I guess the what I'm concerned about is in

505
02:20:49.760 --> 02:21:05.359
wanting to merge what council has worked on, what you have worked on, and what Councilman Bucko worked really, really hard on um so that we come up with, as the mayor said, the best ordinance possible. And is that something that can

506
02:21:05.359 --> 02:21:21.040
be done so that we can have it done not by next Thursday, I mean two weeks from today, but in time to have an ordinance, you know, uh on the website, a potential ordinance on the website and something for all of us to review. In other words,

507
02:21:21.040 --> 02:21:38.560
merging all of the different ideas. >> Council President, I'm sorry I mean to interrupt, but we have the motion >> to introduce 11A by discussing it. I think it might be beneficial to close that out. Have um our clerk set public

508
02:21:38.560 --> 02:21:55.840
hearing before we because we're co-mingling what we separated. >> We are. Thank you. >> I apologize. >> No, no, no. Thank you. Thank you. So, is there any discussion on the now amended ordinance? Can we have a roll call on that?

509
02:21:55.840 --> 02:22:11.840
>> We did the roll call. We need to the date. That's right. >> We just need public hearing. >> Good. Final action is scheduled for August 20th at 7 p.m. here in the municipal courtroom. Public inspection of this ordinance is available on the township's website, bulletin board, and

510
02:22:11.840 --> 02:22:26.880
through the clerk's office. >> And the only comment to that is that uh the planning board because it's a zoning or it's a zoning and planning ordinance, the planning board has to review it first. So, it's possible that that date will get pushed back because if the um depending on the timing, the planning board may or may not um I don't know if

511
02:22:26.880 --> 02:22:45.240
they meet in the interim of that. Um so and if they have comments that we need to incorporate we'll have to deal with that too. So just be aware that may have changed. >> Mayor mention they are meeting on August 18th. So >> very good. So then maybe very good for that date. Good.

512
02:22:45.600 --> 02:23:04.880
>> So again I guess my concern is can we be presented with an ordinance that incorporates all of these ideas? what what I think would be useful in my opinion just from reading all the material um and the input would would be

513
02:23:04.880 --> 02:23:22.160
to have a meeting an a sit down right I think that that a discussion needs to happen because I think right now there's ordinances which are um kind of sterile right that you you present information and it reads out a certain way so I think a discussion probably would be really useful to get it to a state where

514
02:23:22.160 --> 02:23:37.359
it incorporates everything because right now there are things that can't coexist there are edits that can't coexist this um because they have different um outcomes. Um and so I think you know I think there needs to be I think a meeting would be really useful in order

515
02:23:37.359 --> 02:23:53.600
to hash it out because right now the the edits are happening without really talking in between it >> and that was a meeting sorry is that a meeting with like two council members or is that like do we schedule a working meeting just to talk about data centers?

516
02:23:53.600 --> 02:24:10.640
I think it it really depends on, you know, the council's appetite and administration um if they want if you want to do a special or something like that or to um to just have representatives, right? So you don't you don't have a quorum. >> I I think one of our concerns is that you know there's certain there's some comments that are not I'll say

517
02:24:10.640 --> 02:24:25.680
controversial or it's hey we're happy to include them. It's it's stuff that's extra if there are certain you know extra protections things like that. But I think as mentioned there's some things where they're they're just they conflict. So, we have to make a policy decision. And the hope here is that we all get on the same page and we agree

518
02:24:25.680 --> 02:24:40.720
what we're going to go direction A or B. It may come a point where we have to, you know, we don't have agreement. We're going to have to have a a vote in terms of uh on do you go option A or option B on something. Um the administration's intent is to try to incorporate

519
02:24:40.720 --> 02:24:57.840
every comment that we can that I mean that we you know that that is consistent with the general direction we were looking to go and see if we can get you know I'm willing to move on certain things and obviously hear from the council and hopefully get something that is has you know complete consensus and

520
02:24:57.840 --> 02:25:14.240
uh on how we want to approach it. Um, that's the hope. That's the goal. And if we want, if we can, we want to narrow the issues where there's disagreement so that way we can, you know, hopefully vote um, you know, and get something in place because one thing I want to make sure we don't do is let the perfect get

521
02:25:14.240 --> 02:25:29.120
away in in the way of the good. I mean, right now, you know, I think we can all agree that um, you know, doing nothing is not a good idea right now. you know, there's no protections other than what the current zoning has, which doesn't address any of the concerns that we

522
02:25:29.120 --> 02:25:44.560
have. So, I think from my standpoint, um, you know, the 1,200 is its own separate issue. But the longer that we don't do anything, if some application comes in, it's the time of the application. So, once that application

523
02:25:44.560 --> 02:26:01.359
gets filed, that applicant's governed by whatever rules are there. So, I'd like to make sure that we get something done and even if we have to change it later, add an extra requirement. um put in something. As long as we're in agreement on the overall course of action, we can always tweak it as we go. But if we the

524
02:26:01.359 --> 02:26:16.479
longer we wait, some application gets dropped in that we don't know about. You know, right now I'm not aware of any applications, any potential applications, anybody thinking about applications for data centers other than the 1200 uh route 22. That doesn't mean that one won't pop up tomorrow that we

525
02:26:16.479 --> 02:26:32.000
didn't know about. And one could pop up tomorrow because even if we took initial action, you have the initial action, you have the the introduction, the 20 days and all that other stuff to to me. The issue here is um you know, as a council

526
02:26:32.000 --> 02:26:47.760
along with mayor, because this is an ordinance, so you you play a role too. Um you know, we have a decision to make whether we want to put up what we believe to be sufficient guard rails um or do we want or or or is there consensus for a ban? Um right now there

527
02:26:47.760 --> 02:27:04.640
seems to be a difference of opinion on best approach. Um, to me that's probably uh what you're referencing that certain you know you know certain edits it's not I can do both it's which way do you want to go and what may be helpful too and and when we come back and present both

528
02:27:04.640 --> 02:27:20.000
you know in the working sessions with the council and to the public to really understand um the implications maybe more so than was presented or we talked about tonight about you know under this proposal what areas would be completely banned right

529
02:27:20.000 --> 02:27:35.200
there some areas of town it says you can't put a a data center anywhere. You know, there's under this proposal there's very limited areas under very strict conditions about where one could go. Maybe knowing that will shed some light on whether people think it's a good or bad idea. um you know in terms

530
02:27:35.200 --> 02:27:50.000
of one of the things that helps us to keep in mind is if you have a complete ban on something and an application comes in front of the zoning board then they get know this happened to us now was a slightly different situation because it was a house of worship but if

531
02:27:50.000 --> 02:28:05.760
there's a push by you know whether it's by the um federal government or anybody else to say you know data centers have some beneficial use that they need to go somewhere if we have an area under some conditions that one could go. Then if you get an application in front of the

532
02:28:05.760 --> 02:28:20.880
zoning board in a different area, it gives us a stronger defense to come back and say, "Hey, you know, if you meet certain conditions, you know, there's a place to go. You have options. If you, you know, um put no if you have um I don't know what Warren's ordinance looks

533
02:28:20.880 --> 02:28:36.640
like, but if you completely ban it, well then what happens to all the other stuff?" So now an application comes in in front of the zoning board because they are always allowed to do that and none of these provisions are in there. they don't have a requirement to put in a to to put in certain uh noise tests,

534
02:28:36.640 --> 02:28:51.520
environmental tests because it's completely banned. So, you don't put in requirements for something that's completely banned if it comes through. So, those are the concerns that I have that we've been trying to work through to, you know, give us the most protections. And I I think that's where, you know,

535
02:28:51.520 --> 02:29:08.240
our head's at, my head's at. Um, and so, and I think that some of the comments we received, I think, are very good ideas that we can take in. Um, as you saw, there's a draft floating around here somewhere, but that Katherine had tried to do with some of Councilman Bucko's uh comments, but as you point out, some of

536
02:29:08.240 --> 02:29:23.920
them just conflict with the current draft that you can't do A and B because they're opposed. So, um, you know, Council President, if like I said, um, if if, um, whoever the council wants, if there's a subcommittee, if there's a, you know, I know obviously Councilman

537
02:29:23.920 --> 02:29:39.439
Bucko has has expressed an interest in this. Um, anybody wants to sit down with the planner and work through this um, with us to see what we can do, whether it's we move as quick as we can. Uh, if it's two weeks from now, great. Um, whatever the council's ready to move on

538
02:29:39.439 --> 02:29:55.359
this, we'll we'll put up. >> Okay. My big concern is is having something but within two weeks. In other words, I don't want to keep putting this off and putting this off and putting this off. Um, so to that end, >> have all the facts and get it right.

539
02:29:55.359 --> 02:30:10.800
>> And just one I guess >> I think we've had a plenty of time. I mean, this has been a subject that has been being discussed for well over a year. I think the original amend uh the redevelopment changing the redevelopment what 20250

540
02:30:10.800 --> 02:30:25.680
was April 24 and 25. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Okay. 2425. I mean that's since April of last year and I think there's been plenty of information out. I have >> um submitted to all council and to the mayor and to the town administrator

541
02:30:25.680 --> 02:30:40.960
article after article after article about it. Me multiple members of the public have spoken about it. I we don't need to delay this any further. Um that's my concern. >> Council, >> we'll be ready on our end. Council President,

542
02:30:40.960 --> 02:30:58.399
>> just to add I guess one thing also to you know your initial question to me is um I I think what this indicates is that everybody whatever form the incident it knows that they are trying to address an issue right they understand that data centers have impacts um that you know

543
02:30:58.399 --> 02:31:13.040
are being covered nationwide. the right now the ordinance has nothing no parameters no boundaries on data centers but it also does only expressly permits data centers in on one property

544
02:31:13.040 --> 02:31:30.319
based on a redevelopment plan um and so this ordinance does not add zones does not add places where it's permitted um it I think as Councilman Ring said earlier we have a provision in the ordinance that if it's not expressly permitted somewhere it's it's essentially prohibited so um I think

545
02:31:30.319 --> 02:31:46.800
that's one piece of food for thought, right? And right now there are no there are no parameters on the use, no design standards, no performance standards, nothing that would control a data center if it did walk in with the zoning board application right now. And that's what this addresses. Um, for context, in the

546
02:31:46.800 --> 02:32:03.359
Warren, the the case next door where they prohibited data centers, they actually expressly permitted data centers in one of their industrial zones, um, which is fairly close to the center of town. And so they took action to not only remove that permitted use in that zone, which is expressly permitted

547
02:32:03.359 --> 02:32:20.240
in that zone, remove it entirely, prohibit the use townshipwide, but also add in a set of performance standards if a zoning board application came in, um, with, you know, a a very high threshold to meet those. So um I think this is kind of a hybrid right now in the state

548
02:32:20.240 --> 02:32:36.080
it's in in that it seeks to put you know strong parameters around a data center through performance standards post construction um information that's necessary to go to the board but also doesn't per doesn't add any places where it's permitted. It's not expanding it um

549
02:32:36.080 --> 02:32:52.240
it's not permitting it in any zone expressly um and it's keeping it in the redevelop it's supposed to be providing some parameters on what's already in the redevelopment plan. Um Are you saying so so right now so I understand what you just said because I'm not sure if I appreciate that completely which is

550
02:32:52.240 --> 02:33:09.280
although there is not a specific provision of our current code that bans does that says this is prohibited here because they're not permitted anywhere by implication or by operation of law since they're not permitted they

551
02:33:09.280 --> 02:33:24.399
are in fact banned without right now there's nowhere somebody could walk in the door with a planning board application and say we're here with the data center as of right because it's a permitted use in this zone >> only on the redevelopment plan >> only only in that one property on on

552
02:33:24.399 --> 02:33:40.560
1200 um everywhere else in town right now would be a zoning board application that they'd be able to do because of the operation of the zoning law but if they were coming in there'd be no standards for the board to review on what they when they should or shouldn't grant a

553
02:33:40.560 --> 02:33:58.880
variance or deny a variance >> currently no >> okay >> so My inclination would be to work next within next week depending on your schedule and you know other people's schedule um sit down with two

554
02:33:58.880 --> 02:34:14.479
council members because we can't have three council members and see if we can come and and your schedule too, right? You'd be part of that too. um to to come up with a a a merger or a hybrid ordinance that

555
02:34:14.479 --> 02:34:32.319
we could be looking at um and uh by next by the next council meeting is that does anybody else have a different or better idea? It's either that or at a certain point there may be two different approaches. Um and you know is there sufficient support for

556
02:34:32.319 --> 02:34:47.920
approach A or is there sufficient support for approach B. So I think as we think about that I think though just to kind of summarize some of the comments and what we've heard here tonight is

557
02:34:47.920 --> 02:35:03.920
if we do nothing any if somebody wants to go build a uh putting 1,200 aside because that's a separate Dan rule. If somebody wanted to build a data center they need to apply for a variance and go before the zoning board. Okay. and it's

558
02:35:03.920 --> 02:35:18.880
based upon whatever parameters the zoning board feels appropriate. If we take these comments and and um put up the rails so to speak around the data center, they still have to go before the

559
02:35:18.880 --> 02:35:35.920
zoning board, but now the zoning board has tighter guidelines that they have to work within based upon the township ordinance. >> Right. >> Am I summarizing that? >> Yes. Right. I want to see this. >> It would be correct to say that because

560
02:35:35.920 --> 02:35:53.280
there's no guidelines right now, the only thing standing in the way would be uh the the zoning board um of adjustment approving a use variance. >> Yeah. >> Even even though so so just to be clear

561
02:35:53.280 --> 02:36:10.000
just that any use that's not explicitly explicitly allowed is is disallowed. The asterisk after that is to the extent you can convince the zoning board to give you a variance. >> Correct. >> And that's pursuant to the municipal

562
02:36:10.000 --> 02:36:25.520
land use law, >> right? And we can never stop anybody from going from a, you know, zoning board. Every once a while people come, you know, when the applications get controversial or something, we have no choice. We we can't ban facility, >> right? We can't prohibit somebody from seeking relief in front of the zoning board and the zoning board, you know,

563
02:36:25.520 --> 02:36:40.960
there's a bunch of legal standards that they have to use and test to decide when you do or don't get it. So my inclination is to appoint an ad hoc committee um with two council members because that's all we can do. I don't think anybody wants to have a special session. Um

564
02:36:40.960 --> 02:36:56.479
>> well well I mean there is one other approach. I mean and this is how we did it for um the affordable housing. You know we can each um meet with with Katherine separately or up to two of us. >> I like that idea. >> Make her make make our feelings known. I

565
02:36:56.479 --> 02:37:12.560
mean, my my feelings are aren't going to be a surprise to anybody. Um, and um >> No, I like that idea. That's fine. So, then what we're going to do, we need to have a plan here. Go ahead. >> Just in fairness, >> there's pluses, there's minuses to every

566
02:37:12.560 --> 02:37:28.800
proposal. Um, you get into a little more logistical and trying to get everyone's time in front of Katherine who has other clients and everyone else. So, you know, does that impact two weeks? I'll make it work. >> Okay. Well, you'll make it work if we'll

567
02:37:28.800 --> 02:37:44.240
make it work. >> Well, and and I don't know that all five council members will be able to meet, but certainly let's let's leave it open to those who can and want to and and have the ability to. I like that idea. So, um I guess the plan is just to

568
02:37:44.240 --> 02:37:59.760
recap, next week we will make every we will make ourselves available. Mr. Papis, maybe you could start sending some kind of email out tomorrow. Um, and mayor, I don't know if if you'd want to participate in any of it. Um, and you

569
02:37:59.760 --> 02:38:16.960
know, there is Zoom. Somebody can be uh available by Zoom. They don't have to be in person, but we can meet u with two council members at a time with you, with Mr. Fiser, um, with Mr. Papus with um

570
02:38:16.960 --> 02:38:33.680
deputy administrator Field, you know, whoever and and and keep working on this. >> I don't think I need a motion for that. That's just a discussion. >> We'll do it. And the goal will be to put it on for the next uh next meeting. >> All right, that sounds good to me. So,

571
02:38:33.680 --> 02:38:50.000
um that leaves us with Let's get That leaves us with a series of resolutions, correct? And I have to find my agenda. Are we thinking consent? >> I I have no objection to any of these um

572
02:38:50.000 --> 02:39:07.359
resolutions. I intend to vote yes on all of them and would support a motion to combine them into uh one consent agenda. >> Do you have comments? >> Concern with 12A. >> Um >> so do do you want to address 12A separately and then potentially do B

573
02:39:07.359 --> 02:39:24.319
through G together? >> Yes, if that's possible. So, council president, there appears to be consensus to address 12A separately and after that to uh handle B through G on one consent motion. >> Okay. So, let's start with 12A. Uh

574
02:39:24.319 --> 02:39:53.200
authorizing change order number one, final change order increasing the contract price from $465,1845 to $467,000450 $467,45242. An increase of 2.42% or 11,268.37 authorizing acceptance of the project.

575
02:39:53.200 --> 02:40:08.640
Release of the performance bond, acceptance of the maintenance bond, and final payment to KM Construction Corp. 14 Cordiier Street, Irvington, New Jersey 0711 for the 2024-1

576
02:40:08.640 --> 02:40:24.560
roadway improvement project which includes the entire lengths of Acorn Drive, Lilac Court, Jamestown Road, and Yorktown Road funded through the 2024 Capital B Road Fund. Um

577
02:40:24.560 --> 02:40:40.240
>> I'll I'll make the motion to approve. >> Second. I think you there's some discussion. Councilman uh Bucko, you have some comments about that. >> Yes. Um I was made aware that u Lilac Court

578
02:40:40.240 --> 02:40:55.280
uh after the work that was done experienced a number of sink holes developing uh around the uh added uh drainage facilities. Has that all been addressed?

579
02:40:55.280 --> 02:41:15.920
>> First I've heard of it. Yeah, we could um if if there's so we could do two things certainly we could yeah we could just push this on for two weeks at the answer. I mean there is a maintenance bond that you know any road contractor that does work has to do to make sure that if there's a defect in the roadway that they are um you know

580
02:41:15.920 --> 02:41:33.120
they have to fix a year but um I haven't heard that either. So let's let's table this because you know before we pay them the last minute. Let's make sure we can check in what that's >> motion to table 12 A. >> Second. >> All in favor?

581
02:41:33.120 --> 02:41:49.200
>> I >> I >> Okay. So moving on to B C D E F N G. Um >> do I >> You don't have to read. I'm sorry. >> So instead of reading everyone

582
02:41:49.200 --> 02:42:05.439
>> Oh yeah. second me to jump in there with the uh [laughter] >> That's okay. Can I have a motion? >> I'll make a motion to approve 12B through G on consent as listed on the agenda. >> As though read. >> As though they were read. >> As though they were read. I'll second

583
02:42:05.439 --> 02:42:21.280
that motion. Uh >> all in favor? >> Yeah. Roll call. >> Roll call. Sorry. Roll call. Councilman Buckco. >> Yes. >> Councilman Kersh. >> Yes. >> Councilman Ring. >> Yes. >> Council President Gger. >> Yes. Okay,

584
02:42:21.280 --> 02:42:36.800
>> for the close session, add um uh contract um personal contract discussion. >> Well, is there any disc? Well, there's a discussion section. Is there any any discussion that anybody wants to bring up first? >> Want to talk about data centers?

585
02:42:36.800 --> 02:42:56.479
>> Well, we could go to [laughter] >> Okay, so we're going to move into closed session. You just need to you need to read it. >> Resolution. >> You need to read the resolution. >> Oh, right. Hand me the resol. >> And then we

586
02:42:56.479 --> 03:34:11.920
>> do we anticipate any action post close session. >> No, we don't. >> The public's benefit. >> So public can can leave. You just need to read the resolution. Okay.

587
03:34:11.920 --> 03:34:21.920
>> All right. Having reached the end of our deliberations this evening, I make a motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> All in favor? I I