ALL IN FAVOR? LET'S HAVE IT. WE WILL MOVE INTO OUR REGULAR SESSION.

[00:00:07]

WE HAVE THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR OCTOBER 28TH MEETING.

[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMISSIONER GRANER. YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY.

YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR MARANO. YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON.

YES. WE HAVE THE NEW JERSEY IMMIGRANT TRUST ACT RESOLUTION 25-2140 SUPPORTING THE NEW JERSEY IMMIGRANT TRUST ACT SENATE

[NEW JERSEY IMMIGRANT TRUST ACT]

I BELIEVE TWO PEOPLE ON THIS DAIS ARE FIRST GENERATION IMMIGRANTS, SO HOW WE TREAT OTHERS IS A REFLECTION ON OUR GOVERNMENT.

IT'S A REFLECTION ON OUR SOCIETY. AND THIS RESOLUTION IS SHOWING THAT THIS BOARD BELIEVES IN LOVE AND COMPASSION FOR OTHERS. SO I'M PROUD OF OUR BOARD FOR TAKING THIS UP, AND I THANK THOSE FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC WHO CAME HERE AT THE LAST MEETING TO BRING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION AND ASK US TO SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION, IF, IF I MAY, TO REITERATE WHAT DEPUTY DIRECTOR MARANO SAID, AND AS THE PROUD DAUGHTER OF A CHILDHOOD ARRIVAL IMMIGRANT, I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT THE IMMIGRANT TRUST ACT.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. AND AS SERVING AS THE PRESIDENT THIS YEAR, THIS WAS BROUGHT TO OUR BOARD AND HAS BEEN SUPPORTED STATEWIDE THROUGHOUT THE 21 MUNICIPALITIES.

SO I AM EXCITED ABOUT BEING ABLE TO PRESENT AND OR VOTE ON THIS TONIGHT.

SO IF NOTHING FURTHER, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? WE HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND RIGHT. DISCUSSION VOTE PLEASE.

ROLL CALL. COMMISSIONER GRANER. YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY.

YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR MARANO. YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON.

YES. THE HISTORIC GRANT PROGRAM AWARDS THE PRESENTATION OF AWARDS.

[HISTORIC GRANT PROGRAM AWARDS]

AND ARE OUR HONOREES AWARDEES HERE? THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER. DIRECTOR ROBINSON, WE HAVE TO PASS THE RESOLUTION FIRST. OKAY.

THE INTRODUCTION. ALL RIGHT, SO NOW THAT IT HAS BEEN INTRODUCED, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS RESOLUTION? SECONDED. IS THAT RIGHT? ARE WE THE OR THE ENGINE? THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION. OKAY, SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 25-2141, WHICH IS AUTHORIZING THE SOMERSET COUNTY HISTORIC PRESERVATION GRANT PROGRAM AWARDS FROM 2025 OPEN SPACE, RECREATION, FARMLAND AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION TRUST FUND, WHICH THE TOTAL IS NOT TO EXCEED $1,145,982. SO IS THERE A MOTION FOR THIS PARTICULAR RESOLUTION? SO MOVED. AND THE SECOND. OKAY. ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? NO. OKAY. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMISSIONER GRANER.

YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY. DEPUTY DIRECTOR MARANO.

YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON. YES. NOW WE WILL HAVE THE PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JOSEPHINE TARANTO.

I AM A PRESERVATION PLANNER FOR THE COUNTY'S PLANNING DIVISION, AND I OVERSEE THE SOMERSET COUNTY HISTORIC PRESERVATION GRANT PROGRAM.

IT IS MY HONOR TONIGHT TO ANNOUNCE THE GRANT RECIPIENTS FOR THE PROGRAM'S 26TH YEAR.

THE SOMERSET COUNTY HISTORIC PRESERVATION GRANT PROGRAM IS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY TO USE OPEN SPACE, RECREATION, AND FARMLAND AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION TRUST FUND DOLLARS FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF HISTORIC RESOURCES OWNED AND OPERATED BY NONPROFIT OR GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.

THE PROGRAM IS ADMINISTERED BY THE SOMERSET COUNTY PLANNING DIVISION AND THE SOMERSET COUNTY CULTURAL AND HERITAGE COMMISSION. THE PROGRAM DEMONSTRATES THE COUNTY'S COMMITMENT TO PRESERVING HISTORIC RESOURCES DEEMED SIGNIFICANT BY THE NEW JERSEY AND NATIONAL REGISTERS OF HISTORIC PLACES.

THROUGH THIS COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM, ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS MAY BE AWARDED FUNDING TO SUPPORT PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS SUCH AS PRESERVATION PLANS AND CULTURAL LANDSCAPE REPORTS, ACQUISITIONS, STABILIZATION, REHABILITATION, AND RESTORATION.

WE ARE HONORED TO ANNOUNCE FOUR GRANT AWARDS THIS EVENING, FOR A GRAND TOTAL OF $1,145,982 IN FUNDING.

OUR FIRST RECIPIENT IS THE SOMERSET COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, RECEIVING $442,500 FOR THE INTERIOR RESTORATION OF THE STILLWELL VAN TINE FARMHOUSE IN

[00:05:05]

FRANK MCGONIGLE. TOM DAMICO, TRUSTEE OF THE SOCIETY.

AND JIM LAMISON, ALSO TRUSTEE OF THE SOCIETY [APPLAUSE].

MY APOLOGIES FOR MY CELL PHONE GOING OFF EARLIER.

LET'S GO TAKE A PICTURE AND TAKE OUR CHECK.

[APPLAUSE] FOR THE NEW WELL, OF COURSE, FOR THIS GRANT AND ALL THE WORK THAT STAFF JOSEPHINE AND TOM PACHINO PUT IN ON THE PROGRAM, BUT ALSO FOR THE DOCENT PROGRAM. IT'S ALREADY SHOWN TO BE A BIG SUCCESS.

ASSOCIATED WITH THE STATZ HOUSE AND THE VAN VEGHTEN HOUSE, AND IT'S ALREADY REAPING REWARDS.

SO I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THAT AND ALL THE HARD WORK THAT CAITLIN AND KATIE HAMMACKS PUT IN FOR THAT PROGRAM ALSO.

SO THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. HOPEFULLY WE CAN DO IT AGAIN.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NICE TO MEET YOU.

NICE TO MEET YOU. THAT'S ONE OF OUR PROGRAMS. ONE OF HIS. ONE OF OUR FOUNDERS. GLAD TO HAVE TOM BACK.

OKAY. OUR NEXT RECIPIENT THIS EVENING IS THE FRANKLIN INN-VAN LIEW HOMESTEAD ASSOCIATION, RECEIVING $237,730 FOR THE STABILIZATION AND REHABILITATION OF THE FRANKLIN INN-VAN LIEW HOMESTEAD IN FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP.

ACCEPTING THE CHECK THIS EVENING IS BARBARA TENBROEK, PRESIDENT, JANE KIERNAN, TREASURER.

SUZANNE OXNEY, TRUSTEE, NANCY HORNSTEIN, TRUSTEE.

AND BOB BARTH, PROPERTY MANAGER.

THERE WE GO. ALRIGHTY.

BARBARA. WE'LL GET, YOU KNOW. CAN YOU HEAR ME? NO. NO, NO.

1754 FRANKLIN INN BY ADDRESSING THE MOST CRITICAL REPAIR PRIORITIES, SUCH AS IMPROVING THE BUILDING'S CURRENT CONDITIONS AND SLOWING DETERIORATION, OR ADDRESSING FLOOD PREVENTION WITH THIS CHECK AND RECOVERY METHOD.

METHODS SUCH AS FOUNDATION, DESIGN AND DRAINAGE, AND LONG TERM PLANS FOR THE REHABILITATION OF THE FRANKLIN INN FOR FUTURE PUBLIC USE. AND I'D LIKE TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS VERY MUCH FOR THIS PROGRAM AND CULTURAL AND HERITAGE, WITH THEIR FRIENDLY AND KNOWLEDGEABLE RESPONSES TO OUR PHONE CALLS, OUR MANY PHONE CALLS.

LOTS OF GRATITUDE TO SOMERSET COUNTY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU [APPLAUSE].

OKAY. OUR NEXT RECIPIENT THIS EVENING IS THE TOWNSHIP OF HILLSBOROUGH, RECEIVING, RECEIVING $402 FOR THE ONGOING RESTORATION OF THE VAN DER VEER HARRIS HOUSE. ACCEPTING THE CHECK THIS EVENING IS JOHN CECCARELLI, MAYOR CLAIR, SENIOR DIRECTOR OF BRUNO ASSOCIATES, AND GREG GILLETTE, LOCAL HISTORIAN [APPLAUSE].

[00:10:30]

THANKS TO THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR APPROVING IT AND THE SOMERSET COUNTY CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMISSION.

I'VE, THE LAST GRANT WE RECEIVED, I BELIEVE, FIXED THE OUTSIDE OF THE HOUSE.

THIS IS GOING TO BE PUT TOWARDS THE INSIDE. HAS TO BE MADE ADA COMPLIANT SO WE CAN USE IT.

IT NEEDS TO BE FIRE SAFETY AND EVERYTHING THAT GOES ON INSIDE.

WE CAN SEE THE POTENTIAL IN THE VAN DER VEER HARRIS HOUSE.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT WHAT THIS THESE FUNDS DO TO MAKE IT USABLE.

SO THANK YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

OKAY. OUR FINAL RECIPIENT THIS EVENING IS THE TOWNSHIP OF WARREN, RECEIVING A TOTAL OF $63,350 FOR AN UPDATED HISTORIC STRUCTURES REPORT FOR THE KIRCH FORD TERRILL HOUSE. ACCEPTING THE CHECK THIS EVENING IS LISA LONTAI, MAYOR OF WARREN TOWNSHIP, AND GREG FITZGERALD, CHAIR OF THE WARREN TOWNSHIP HISTORIC SITES COMMITTEE.

I'D JUST LIKE TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE CULTURE AND HERITAGE DEPARTMENT.

THIS IS REALLY GREAT TO BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY COME BACK TO THE GRANT PROGRAM FOR THE KIRCH FORD TERRILL HOUSE.

WE WERE ONE OF THE FIRST PROPERTIES TO RECEIVE A GRANT FROM THE PROGRAM IN 1999.

IN THE MID 2000, WE RECEIVED A GRANT FOR OUR ORIGINAL HISTORIC STRUCTURES REPORT, WHICH HAS GUIDED OUR STRONG PRESERVATION PROGRAM THERE FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS OR 15 YEARS. AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO NOW REVISING IT, BECAUSE PLANNING IS THE BASIS OF STRONG PRESERVATION.

AND WITH THIS UPDATED PRESERVATION PLAN, WE WILL BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN WHAT PEOPLE SAY IS ONE OF THE MOST ORIGINAL FEELING PROPERTIES WHEN THEY DO JOURNEY THROUGH THE PAST IN THE COUNTY, AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO MAINTAINING THAT WHILE INCREASING ACCESSIBILITY AND UPDATING OUR INTERPRETATION.

SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THE PLAN AND THEN THE NEXT STEPS FROM THERE.

THANK YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT. I JUST ALSO WANT TO THANK WARREN TOWNSHIP, BECAUSE YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB WITH BRINGING YOUR YOUTH INTO THIS HISTORIC PROPERTY. YOU HAVE GROOMED YOUR FOURTH GRADERS AND MIDDLE SCHOOLERS TO BE DOCENTS AT THIS HOME.

THEY COME BACK AFTER THEY GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL AND THEY WANT TO CONTINUE DOING THINGS.

SO THANK YOU FOR CULTIVATING HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND CULTURE IN THE YOUTH OF OUR COMMUNITY, OUR COUNTY. AND WE HOPEFULLY FLATTERY IS THE BEST IMITATION OR WHATEVER, IMITATION IS THE BEST FORM OF FLATTERY.

WE HOPE TO DO THAT IN OTHER COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT SOMERSET COUNTY.

SO THANK YOU FOR SETTING A GREAT EXAMPLE WITH THAT AT THIS PARTICULAR FACILITY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF HISTORIC SITES.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. CONGRATULATIONS TO SOMERSET COUNTY'S 2025 HISTORIC PRESERVATION GRANT PROGRAM RECIPIENTS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO ANOTHER YEAR OF PRESERVING THE COUNTY'S HERITAGE THROUGH YOUR CONTINUED DEDICATION TO THE PRESERVATION OF HISTORIC RESOURCES.

THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]. AS WE CONTINUE ON WITH OUR MEETING, WE HAVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTIONS 25-2100 THROUGH 25-2106?

[CONSENT AGENDA]

YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY. YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR MARANO.

YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON. YES. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 25-2107 THROUGH 25-2114?

[AWARD OF CONTRACTS]

YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY. YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR MARANO.

YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON. YES. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTIONS 25-2115 THROUGH 25-2139.

[FINANCE]

[00:15:04]

YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY. YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR MARANO.

YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON. YES. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTIONS 25-2142 THROUGH 25- 2149.

[ITEMS ADDED FROM THE NOVEMBER 12, 2025 WORK SESSION TO BE ADOPTED TONIGHT]

YES. COMMISSIONER. SOOY. DEPUTY DIRECTOR MARANO.

YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON. YES. AND BEFORE WE GO INTO THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THIS MEETING, I SEE A FEW MORE PEOPLE FROM THE PUBLIC HAVE JOINED

[Additional Item]

AND I JUST WANT TO PREFACE IT BY SAYING AT THE PREVIOUS MEETING WE DID TALK ABOUT ALLEN ROAD.

THERE WAS A PRESENTATION BY OUR ENGINEER THAT WE DO TAKE THESE MATTERS SERIOUSLY AND WANT TO MAKE SURE OF THE SAFETY, NOT ONLY THOSE WHO ARE DRIVING ON OUR HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS AND ROADS BUT THOSE ALSO WHO ARE PEDESTRIANS.

AND THERE IS A MEETING SCHEDULE WITH OUR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT AND THE TOWNSHIP ON TOMORROW.

SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THIS MEETING.

[PUBLIC]

NO YIELDING OF TIME, NO COMING UP A SECOND TIME.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS. I'M SANJAY BERRY, A RESIDENT OF BASKING RIDGE, NEW JERSEY.

MY ADDRESS IS TWO QUEENSBURY WAY. BASKING RIDGE.

THIS IS AN ISSUE WHICH YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT.

HOPEFULLY IT WILL NOT TAKE ME MORE THAN FIVE MINUTES.

FOUR DAYS ON OCTOBER 31ST HALLOWEEN DAY AND FOUR DAYS BEFORE THE CURRENT ELECTION A WOMAN WAS CROSSING ON ALLEN ROAD.

WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT ALLEN ROAD WHILE CROSSING THE ROAD ON A CROSSWALK.

SHE WAS HIT BY A CAR. I DON'T KNOW WHOSE MISTAKE.

SHE IS ON A VENTILATOR AT THE MOMENT. ACCIDENTS ON ALLEN ROAD HAVE BEEN NOTHING NEW SINCE 2016.

TO MY KNOWLEDGE TWO PEOPLE HAVE DIED, TWO DOGS HAVE DIED, AND ONE PERSON IS ON THE VENTILATOR.

ENOUGH PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HAVE HAD ACCIDENTS THERE.

ENOUGH CARS HAVE DIED. IT'S A LIVABLE COMMUNITY AND IN MY VIEWPOINT, I COULD BE TOTALLY NAIVE.

I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS UP FROM 2023 I'VE TRAIL OF EMAILS.

NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. PRACTICALLY NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE.

I HAVE EMAILED WHERE I'VE GIVEN SUGGESTIONS. EVERY TIME I WAS GIVEN A STANDARD ANSWER, I WENT THROUGH OUR COUNTY ENGINEER WHO WENT THROUGH THE THAT SOMERSET ENGINEER.

NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. THE COUNTY HAS GALVANIZED IN A WEEK.

WE HAVE DONE ABOUT 1200 PETITIONS. THREE OF YOU ON THE THING, I REACHED OUT TO YOU PERSONALLY ON TEXT MESSAGES AND ALSO SENT IT TO ALL OF YOU THERE.

WE'VE GOT 1200 PEOPLE. WITH MY CALCULATION, THERE ARE ABOUT 2600 HOMES IN ALLEN ROAD.

WE ARE 17. WE PAY 17% OF OUR TAXES. GO TO YOU, THE COUNTY, WHICH IS ABOUT 5 TO $6 MILLION OR COULD BE MORE.

SO WE HAVE THE POWER. WE HAVE THE VOTING POWER.

WE HAVE VOTED UN. WE CAN VOTE YOU OUT ALSO. WE HAVE SENT YOU MULTIPLE RECOMMENDATIONS.

THERE IS A SAFE CORRIDOR WHICH HAS BEEN INSTITUTED ON COUNTY ROADS.

WE HOPE IT WILL BE DONE HERE. WE HAVE ASKED FOR LOWER SPEED.

MOUNT CLARE HAS TAKEN A VERY BIG STEP THAT NO COUNTY, NO TOWN ROAD WILL BE MORE THAN 20 OR 20-25 MILES.

HUNTERDON COUNTY, A NEIGHBORING COUNTY, HAS MADE TREATING ARE WHAT YOU CALL SPEED TRAINING AND PEOPLE RESTRICTING AND UNDERSTANDING AS A MAJOR THING. SO SOMERSET COUNTY CAN LEARN FROM THEM.

SOMERSET COUNTY JUST WON $1,000,00 MILLION STUDY FROM THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

WE HOPE SOMETHING IS DONE ABOUT ALLEN ROAD, NOT LIP SERVICE.

I'VE BEEN THERE FOR 20 YEARS. HONESTLY, IT IS BAD.

IT IS GETTING. IT IS A LIVABLE COMMUNITY. IT SHOULD NOT BE A SPEED LIMIT OF 35 MILES.

HOPE SOMETHING SUBSTANTIAL IS DONE. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A SIMILAR PHOTO OPPORTUNITY LIKE THE PEOPLE IN THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY HAVE.

I'M A HISTORIAN, I LOVE HISTORY. BEFORE SPENDING $1.3 MILLION ON HISTORY, LET'S SPEND ON THE LIVING.

THERE ARE THREE, THREE, 2 OR 2 DEATHS, TWO DOGS AND ONE PERSON THE VENTILATOR.

HOPEFULLY SHE MAKES IT THROUGH. SOMEBODY HERE HAS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT.

NO MORE LIP SERVICE. WE WOULD WANT A SHORT TERM AND A LONG TERM PLAN TO BE INSTITUTED.

WE ARE LIVE IN LAFAYETTE WATCH, WHICH IS ONE OF THE DEVELOPMENTS.

SOME OF YOU ARE NOT FAMILIAR. IT'S THE HILLS, WHICH IS A MAJOR AREA.

IT GOES OVER BASKING RIDGE AND BEDMINSTER. IT HAS 26 COMMUNITIES AND 2600 HOMES.

I'D BEEN FOLLOWING UP WITH MY TOWNSHIP ENGINEER TO DO MULTIPLE THINGS LIKE PUTTING MULTIPLE CROSSWALKS, PUTTING TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND NOTHING. WE HAD ONE ACCIDENT, SOMEBODY WAS COMING OUT OF LAFAYETTE WATCH IF YOU.

I ACTUALLY ASKED ANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS HERE TO COME AND TURN LEFT OUT OF MY COMMUNITY IN THE EVENING OR DURING THE DAY.

YOU CANNOT SEE ANYBODY COMING UP THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD.

AND THAT DAY, WE HAD A MAJOR ACCIDENT, AND WITHIN A WEEK THEY ACTUALLY PUT UP A SIGN SAYING THERE IS AN INCOMING ROAD HERE TO OUR DEVELOPMENT,

[00:20:10]

WE HAVE SOMEBODY IN THE HOSPITAL. HOPEFULLY SHE'LL NOT DIE.

I HOPE YOU GUYS DO SOMETHING. PLEASE, PLEASE I REQUEST YOU TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

I TEXTED THREE OF YOU WITHOUT NAMING. I WAS EXPECTING A CALLBACK FROM ALL OF YOU.

I SUPPORTED YOUR CAMPAIGNS. BELIEVE ME IF I VOTED YOU IN.

WE CAN VOTE YOU OUT ALSO. THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO SAY.

THANK YOU. AND I DID NOT HEAR BACK A WORD FROM ANY OF YOU EXCEPT THANK YOU.

SO IT'S VERY, VERY FRUSTRATING FOR A PERSON WHO BELONGS TO YOUR PARTY THAT YOU DID NOT HAVE THE COURTESY TO PICK UP THE PHONE AND GIVE ME A CALL BACK.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I LIVE IN BASKING RIDGE, ONE CARNEGIE PLACE BASKING RIDGE, ONE CARNEGIE PLACE.

THANK YOU. SO, AS SANJAY SAID, AND YOU GUYS ALREADY ARE AWARE BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE EMAILED YOU ALREADY.

AND SO I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE MEETING TOMORROW WITH THE TOWNSHIP AND YOU MIGHT HAVE SOME PLANS, BUT WHAT I UNDERSTAND IS YOU MIGHT BE WAITING FOR THE POLICE REPORT TO COMPLETE, WHICH I UNDERSTAND, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR AN ACCIDENT TO HAPPEN OR WHATEVER IS THE OUTCOME OF THE REPORT.

WE CAN STILL MOVE ON WITH THE TRAFFIC STUDY AND WHATEVER MEASURES WE HAVE TO TAKE.

RIGHT. AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. RIGHT. BECAUSE THAT POLICE REPORT MIGHT TAKE A LONG TIME.

RIGHT? BECAUSE IT IS A SENSITIVE ISSUE. RIGHT.

SO AT LEAST WE CAN DO SOMETHING. WE SHOULD HAVE SOME ACTION PLAN, A LONG TERM OR SHORT TERM.

AND PLEASE RESPOND TO THE RESIDENTS WHO HAVE EMAILED YOU.

THAT'S WHAT SO AND WE ARE WILLING TO HELP IN WHICHEVER WAY WE CAN.

IT'S A MATTER OF OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR KIDS AND OUR FAMILIES.

THINGS HAVE CHANGED SINCE LAST TIME. THE TRAFFIC STUDY MIGHT HAVE BEEN DONE, OR LAST TIME YOU GUYS MIGHT HAVE DONE SOMETHING, BUT. SO PLEASE DO SOMETHING AND LET US KNOW WE ARE WILLING TO VOLUNTEER.

WE ARE. ALL THE RESIDENTS WILL STEP UP AND HELP YOU OUT.

SO LET'S WORK TOGETHER AND GET THINGS MOVING.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE AND PRAY FOR THE VICTIM.

THANK YOU. AS WE SAID BEFORE, WE DO UNDERSTAND AND WE TAKE THESE MATTERS SERIOUSLY.

AND THE FIRST STEP IN THE PROCESS IS THE AS YOU MENTIONED, NOT WAITING ON A REPORT, BUT LET'S LET THE EXPERTS HAVE THE CONVERSATION AND THEN WE'LL DISCUSS WHAT THOSE NEXT STEPS ARE TO YOUR POINT.

SO WE DO FEEL YOUR PAIN AND UNDERSTANDING THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CORRIDORS ARE SAFE FOR ALL.

SO THANK YOU. SO. WHEN WE HAVE INFORMATION AVAILABLE, WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE THAT TO YOU ALL.

AND WE WOULD APPRECIATE A SHORT AND A LONG TERM PLAN CAN BE MADE TOGETHER.

NOW PLEASE UNDERSTAND. LET'S GO WITH THE FIRST STEPS AND LET THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS COME BACK WITH WITH WHAT THEY NEED TO COME BACK WITH AND HAVE THE CONVERSATION, AND THEN WE CAN CONTINUE TO ENGAGE. [INAUDIBLE] THEM IN THE PAST, BECAUSE [INAUDIBLE] ENGINEER. IS BEING RECORDED. THEY CAN'T HEAR YOU.

AND THE RULE IS NOT COMING UP A SECOND TIME AND NOT YIELDING TIME.

BUT NO, BUT WE WE DO UNDERSTAND. AND WE HEAR YOU EMPATHIZE AND SYMPATHIZE WITH ALL THAT YOU HAVE GONE THROUGH.

YES. AND THEN I WANT TO SAY COMMENT. AND WITH REGARDS TO THE MONEY THAT WAS GIVEN THIS, THAT COMES FROM A TRUST FUND OR I UNDERSTAND, I JUST WANTED TO. [INAUDIBLE] MONEY BEING GIVEN. I'M JUST SAYING, LET'S. I UNDERSTAND. WE HAVE HAD A PERSON DIE IN 2016.

TWO DOGS. PEOPLE IN TV LAND. UNDERSTAND SANJAY.

BUT I'LL YIELD TO DEPUTY DIRECTOR. JUST A QUICK QUESTION, MATT.

IS LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM THE TOWNSHIP GOING TO BE AT THAT MEETING AT ALL, OR CAN YOU CONNECT WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AFTERWARDS? BECAUSE LAW ENFORCEMENT WOULD BE THE ONES THAT, YOU KNOW, CAN ENFORCE CROSSWALKS AND SPEEDING AND ALL THAT? ARE THEY GOING TO BE CONNECTED AT ALL IN THESE DISCUSSIONS? OKAY, THAT'D BE GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND OBVIOUSLY THAT'S BERNARDS TOWNSHIP.

IS THE LAW ENFORCEMENT HERE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

WE NEED MORE LIGHTS. WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

AND WE HAVE SOMEBODY IN THE HOSPITAL BECAUSE OF LACK OF ACTION.

[00:25:04]

I TOO, LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY. SO YOU HAVE AN ADVOCATE RIGHT HERE FROM YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

I WALK ACROSS THE SAME CROSSWALKS AND I LOOK AN EXTRA TIME.

BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY SOME PEOPLE SPEED AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE SAFE.

WE DON'T WANT THAT TO EVER HAPPEN. NOBODY SHOULD BE HURT.

NO DOG SHOULD BE HURT. NO PERSON SHOULD BE HURT.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT SOMERSET COUNTY IS SAFE ACROSS THE BOARD IN TERMS OF JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE DO SO IN THE RIGHT FASHION.

IT'S JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE COORDINATE WITH THE RIGHT PARTIES FOR A PROPER PLAN, BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES WITH THESE SITUATIONS, PEOPLE JUST REACT, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE TO DO IT IN A SMART WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE PROPER INFORMATION IS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT THIS TO HAPPEN.

SO LET US GATHER OUR INFORMATION. WE DID NOT, IN TERMS OF OUR SIDE, AS SOON AS WE DID RECEIVE THOSE MESSAGES, ALL OF US HAVE RESPONDED. AND, YOU KNOW, ADMINISTRATOR MAHR AND OUR COUNTY COUNCIL, THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE PROTECTING, YOU KNOW, SOMERSET COUNTY. SO WE ARE FOLLOWING THOSE CHANNELS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE AWARE THAT YOU'RE COMING TO THE MEETING TONIGHT FOR A PROPER RESPONSE AND GIVING THIS MORE DIGNITY TO IT.

[INAUDIBLE] I HAVE FOR THE I MEAN, I WAS NOT INVOLVED WITH THE COUNTY ISSUES BEFORE GIVING UP WORK, BUT I'VE BEEN RAISING THIS ISSUE.

I HAVE LITERALLY ABOUT 20 EMAILS. SANJAY. I'M SORRY.

THAT'S OKAY. YOU SAID THAT YOU LOOK INTO IT. NOBODY HAS LOOKED INTO IT IN THE PAST.

GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY. WE'VE ONLY BEEN HERE SIX YEARS.

BUT. AND I'VE KNOWN YOU FOR YEARS AS YOUR NEIGHBOR.

I LIVE IN THE SAME TOWN AS YOU. I'M PRAYING FOR HER.

I HOPE SHE PULLS OUT OF THIS. WELL, AND I KNOW THAT PEOPLE SPEED ON ALLEN ROAD, BECAUSE WHEN I GO UP THERE, YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S ASTOUNDING HOW FAST PEOPLE GO.

THERE ARE ALL THOSE THINGS, BUT OUR COMMUNITY DOESN'T.

WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN. SANJAY, I KNOW YOU'RE PASSIONATE, BUT PEOPLE AT.

SORRY FOR NOT GETTING PASSIONATE. NO. DON'T APOLOGIZE.

NO. NO APOLOGIES NEEDED. I'M SORRY. WE'RE CONDUCTING OUR MEETING.

PEOPLE IN TV LAND CANNOT HEAR YOU FROM THE AUDIENCE AND JUST FOLLOWING PROTOCOL.

WE UNDERSTAND. WE'RE. WE'RE JUST AS PASSIONATE AS YOU ARE.

I JUST WANT TO BE FAIR TO THE PROCESS BECAUSE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE COME UP TO PUBLIC COMMENT.

AND I JUST WANT TO CONTINUE IN THAT VEIN AND MAKE SURE THAT WE GIVE PEOPLE THE SAME RESPECT AND OPPORTUNITY AS FOLLOWING THE PROCESS.

BUT WE HEAR YOU. [INAUDIBLE] AND I PERSONALLY DO NOT EVEN KNOW THIS PERSON.

I'M JUST LETTING YOU KNOW. SO THANK YOU. MICHELLE PETERSON, 66 WILSON ROAD, SOMERSET.

AND JUST TO CONTINUE THE THEME, I'M HERE TONIGHT ON BEHALF OF FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS WHO ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE ONGOING DANGERS OF EASTON AVENUE.

I'M SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, DIRECTOR ROBINSON, HOW HOW BAD THAT ROAD IS.

I THINK IT'S, IF NOT THE WORST. ONE OF THE WORST ROADS IN SOMERSET COUNTY.

SO FOR YEARS RESIDENTS HAVE WATCHED ACCIDENT AFTER ACCIDENT, INJURY AFTER INJURY AND TOO MANY LIVES LOST.

WE'VE LOST QUITE A FEW LIVES ON EASTON AVENUE.

AND WHILE STUDIES CONTINUE AND PLANS ARE DISCUSSED, THE DANGER OF EASTERN AVENUE HAS ONLY INCREASED.

JUST LAST WEEK, WE LOST A MOM MY AGE ON EASTON AVENUE.

SO FRANKLIN RESIDENTS HAVE SPENT YEARS URGING OUR MAYOR AND COUNCIL TO TAKE ACTION ON EASTON AVE BUT WE ARE CONTINUALLY TOLD THAT BECAUSE IT'S A COUNTY ROAD, THERE'S NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO. AND MEANWHILE, THE DANGERS JUST KEEP GROWING.

WE APPRECIATE THAT THE COUNTY IS CONDUCTING. I THINK YOU GUYS CALL IT AN LCD STUDY FOR EASTON AVENUE.

AND WE GET THAT THE GOAL IS TO CREATE A SAFER CORRIDOR THAT SERVES DRIVERS, PEDESTRIANS, AND, GOD BLESS THEM, CYCLISTS. BUT THE REALITY IS THAT THIS STUDY HAS BEEN UNDERWAY FOR A REALLY, REALLY LONG TIME. AND IT DRAGS ON AND ON. PEOPLE ARE DYING IN THE MEANTIME.

FRANKLIN CAN'T WAIT MORE YEARS FOR RELIEF. WE NEED IMMEDIATE, TANGIBLE ACTION WHILE THE LONG TERM SOLUTIONS ARE BEING DEVELOPED.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST SAFETY ISSUES ALONG EASTON AVE IS THE LEFT TURNS.

YOU'RE PROBABLY MOST FAMILIAR OUT OF EVERYBODY WITH ALL OF THOSE AREAS THAT YOU CAN TURN LEFT ON.

DRIVERS TRY TO TURN LEFT ACROSS FAST MOVING TRAFFIC.

THE SPEED LIMIT IS PRETTY HIGH ON EASTON AVENUE, AND THEY HAVE TO CROSS MULTIPLE LANES.

THESE TURNS ARE AMONG THE MOST DANGEROUS MANEUVERS ON ANY ROAD AND ON EASTON AVENUE.

THEY ARE PARTICULARLY RISKY BECAUSE OF THE SPEED, THE VOLUME, AND THE LINE OF SIGHT.

CHALLENGES. PRIOR TRAFFIC STUDIES CONDUCTED BY YOU GUYS HAVE ALREADY IDENTIFIED THIS AS A PROBLEM,

[00:30:04]

AND UNFORTUNATELY, THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE NOT BEEN ACTED ON YET.

THIS IS JUST AN ONGOING AND ONGOING AND ONGOING THING.

SO WE'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, SENIORS, WE'VE GOT TEENAGERS WITH ZERO DEFENSIVE DRIVING SKILLS.

WE HAVE DISTRACTED DRIVERS THESE DAYS. AND I DON'T KNOW IF, YOU KNOW, NOKIA IS BUILDING THEIR HEADQUARTERS AT THE OTHER END OF EASTERN AVENUE, SO YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A TON MORE TRAFFIC COMING THROUGH THERE.

SO THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TONIGHT. I WAS GOING TO ASK OR PROPOSE A SIMPLE AND HOPEFULLY AFFORDABLE AND IMMEDIATE COMPROMISE THAT INCLUDES JUST THE INSTALLATION OF NO LEFT TURN SIGNS AT KEY SPOTS ALONG EASTERN AVENUE.

THESE SIGNS WOULD REDUCE THE NUMBER OF RISKY TURNING MOVEMENTS AND THE NUMBER OF POTENTIAL COLLISION POINTS.

WHILE THE LARGER CORRIDOR STUDY THAT YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN ONGOING AND ONGOING CONTINUES.

SO IT'S NOT A PERMANENT FIX, BUT IT'S DEFINITELY A MEANINGFUL STEP THAT CAN PROBABLY SAVE LIVES RIGHT NOW.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW HOW DANGEROUS THIS ROAD IS. THIS SIMPLE PROPOSAL IS BOTH PRACTICAL AND HOPEFULLY FEASIBLE.

INSTALLING NO LEFT TURN SIGNAGE REQUIRES MINIMAL COSTS.

IT CAN BE DONE WITHOUT ANY MAJOR CONSTRUCTION OR ROAD CLOSURES.

IT'S REALLY JUST A SHORT TERM HIGH IMPACT MEASURE THAT DEMONSTRATES A COMMITMENT TO SAFETY AND RESPONSIVENESS OF OUR OF OUR LOCAL AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT. IT SHOWS THAT IT SHOWS THE FRANKLIN RESIDENTS, REALLY, THAT YOU GUYS AREN'T JUST WAITING FOR THE COMPLETION OF THIS STUDY THAT YOU'RE WILLING TO TAKE LIFE LITERALLY, LIFE SAVING ACTION IN THE MEANTIME.

SO WE'RE ASKING YOU GUYS TO APPROVE THE INSTALLATION OF MAYBE UP TO TEN NO LEFT TURN SIGNS.

I KNOW THINGS COST A LOT MORE MONEY IN THE GOVERNMENT WORLD, BUT, YOU KNOW, EVEN IF IT'S $1,000 A SIGN, IT'S, YOU KNOW, FOR $10,000, WE COULD BE SAVING LIVES.

SO THE EASTERN AVENUE CORRIDOR PLAN WAS DESIGNED TO IMPROVE SAFETY.

AND THAT MISSION STARTS WITH THESE SMALL, LITTLE IMMEDIATE ACTIONS THAT PREVENT THE NEXT TRAGEDY FROM HAPPENING.

NO LEFT TURN SIGNS ARE A MODEST REQUEST THAT ALIGN REALLY PERFECTLY WITH YOUR STUDIES LONG TERM GOALS, AND HOPEFULLY COULD BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE SHORT TERM.

MAYBE, I MEAN, LIKE TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION IF POSSIBLE WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY.

SO EVERY WEEK THAT PASSES WITHOUT ACTION, ESPECIALLY WITH THE HOLIDAYS COMING UP, WE HAVE BAD WEATHER.

YOU'VE GOT THAT INCREASED TRUCK TRAFFIC WITH ALL THE WAREHOUSES.

AND LIKE I MENTIONED, NOKIA'S HEADQUARTERS AT THE NEW BRUNSWICK END OF EASTON AVE, THEY PUT MORE DRIVERS, MORE PEDESTRIANS AND MORE FAMILIES AT RISK. SO ASKING YOU TONIGHT TO SHOW SOME EXCELLENT LEADERSHIP AND DEMONSTRATE THAT PUBLIC SAFETY ISN'T JUST A LINE ITEM IN THE STUDY THAT'S BEEN ONGOING, BUT A LIVING AND URGENT PRIORITY.

SO THANK YOU. SO A FEW YEARS AGO, NO LEFT TURN SIGNS AND ENFORCEMENT WERE IN PLACE, WERE PUT IN PLACE AND THEY ARE IN PLACE EXCEPT FOR AT THE LIGHTS. SO THERE ARE NO LEFT HAND TURNS.

I THINK WE CAN WORK WITH SOME OF FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP POLICE WHO DOES THE ENFORCEMENT TO TALK TO THEM, TO MAYBE DOING A LITTLE BIT MORE MONITORING. BUT THE SIGNS ARE THERE EXCEPT FOR AT THE TURNS AND THE THE LIGHTS AND THE JUGHANDLES.

HOW MANY? I CANNOT. MATT, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY, BUT THIS WAS DONE THREE YEARS AGO.

MAYBE FOUR. OKAY. RIGHT. OKAY. BUT THE NO LEFT TURN SIGNAL SIGNS ARE IN PLACE.

WE JUST PROBABLY NEED TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT ENFORCEMENT.

AND IT'S ALONG THE CORRIDOR BETWEEN JFK AND GETTING ON TO 287.

YES. OKAY.

THEN REPORT IT TO THE PROPER CHANNELS. LET US KNOW.

AND THEN WE'LL GO BACK AND PUT SIGNS UP IF THEY'VE BEEN KNOCKED DOWN.

BUT THIS WAS SEVERAL YEARS AGO THAT THIS WAS ALREADY DONE.

BUT THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE FROM THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK? DAWN COWAN, 85 MRS GROVE ROAD IN BELLMEAD. I'M JUST HERE TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS FOR TAKING ACTION ON THE IMMIGRANT TRUST ACT.

IT'S A SUPER IMPORTANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT HAS YET TO GAIN TRACTION IN THE NEW JERSEY LEGISLATURE, AND I'M HOPING THAT YOUR VOICES WILL HELP PUSH THEM OVER THE EDGE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. PHONE CALLS OR EMAILS? THERE IS NONE. ALL RIGHT. IF NOTHING FURTHER, IS THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THIS MEETING?

[00:35:01]

THAT IS COUNCIL. THERE IS A NEED FOR A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

THAT THE BOARD WILL GO INTO CLOSED SESSION AT THIS MEETING FOR THE PURPOSES OF DISCUSSING MATTERS WITHIN THE PROVISION OF CHAPTER 10:4-12.

SPECIFICALLY POTENTIAL PENDING LITIGATION. WITH REGARDS TO 911 LAWSUIT BY WARREN COUNTY AND OTHER COUNTIES VARIOUS LITIGATION MATTERS INVOLVING THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND WITH REGARD TO CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS RELATED TO THE 2026 RECYCLING RATES BY THE COUNTY WITH REGARDS TO VARIOUS MUNICIPALITIES.

SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYES HAVE IT.

SO NO DECISION. CORRECT. WE WILL ADJOURN DIRECTLY THERE FROM.

THERE WILL BE NO FURTHER ACTION TAKEN AS A RESULT OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.

ALL RIGHT. GOOD NIGHT. BE WELL. THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.