Edison Council Elects New Leadership at Reorganization Meeting
Joseph Coyle was elected council president, Robert Kentos vice president, as residents pressed officials with questions during a wide-ranging public comment session.
Joseph Coyle (left) and Robert Kentos (right) were elected council president and vice president, respectively, during Edison’s Township Council reorganization meeting. (Image created by The Central Jerseyan)
Chris Howell | Jannuary 7, 2026
The Edison Township Council opened its 2026 reorganization meeting Monday night by selecting new leadership, approving a slate of routine but consequential resolutions, and spending nearly half the meeting fielding detailed questions and commentary from residents.
Councilmember Joseph Coyle was elected council president for the year, while newly elected councilmember Robert Kentos was chosen as vice president. Both were sworn in without opposition and delivered extended remarks outlining their priorities and approach to governance.
Councilmember Biral Patel, who is also president of the Edison Board of Education, nominated Coyle for council president, describing him as someone who would “serve as a very good leader for this council.” With no other nominations offered, the council voted unanimously to elevate Coyle to the position.
In his first remarks as president, Coyle, who is also the executive director of the Edison Chamber of Commerce, emphasized public participation and accessibility, encouraging residents to stay engaged beyond council chambers.
“Who comes to these meetings matters, and what they say matters,” Coyle said. “However, if you have an opinion — the same or indifferent — it matters.”
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Coyle also acknowledged the township’s size and influence, noting Edison is the sixth-largest municipality in the state, and thanked outgoing council members for their work in recent years.
Shortly after, Councilmember Ajay Patil nominated Kentos for vice president, calling him “the historian” and “the voice of South Edison.” The nomination was seconded and approved unanimously.
Kentos used his remarks to thank family, supporters, and political allies, including Mayor Sam Joshi, while stressing accountability to residents.
“As many of you know, my family has been in Edison since the beginning,” Kentos said, “and I remain dedicated and steadfast to serving you and carrying on the legacy, and making the town thrive.”
Following the leadership elections, the council moved through its consent agenda, approving routine resolutions that set the administrative framework for the year.
Those resolutions included the adoption of a 2026 cash management plan, the designation of official newspapers, the authorization of temporary municipal and sanitation budgets, the establishment of tax interest and penalty rates, and approval of an accelerated tax sale process. The council also approved several reappointments to the Zoning Board of Adjustment that had been added to the agenda during the meeting.
No council members requested a separate discussion of any items, and the consent agenda passed unanimously.
The meeting’s longest and most substantive portion came during public comment, where residents raised questions about township finances, infrastructure, transparency, committee appointments, traffic safety, utilities, and civic engagement.
Resident Joel Bassoff questioned the structure of the temporary budget, asking how allocations aligned with statutory limits. Business Administrator Sonia Alves-Viveiros responded that the temporary budget represents 26.25 percent of the prior year’s total municipal budget and covers the full scope of township operations.
Other residents asked about the township’s cash management plan, utility costs, snow plowing operations, traffic enforcement, and the process for assigning council liaisons to boards and committees.
Coyle frequently paused proceedings to ensure residents had time to finish questions and directed administrative staff or the township attorney to respond where appropriate. On committee assignments, council leadership explained that councilmembers typically express preferences, with final assignments made by the council president.
Former Council President Margot Harris also addressed the council, offering congratulations to the new leadership and reflecting on the importance of public engagement.
“It sounds like you get it now,” Harris said to Coyle. “And that you have respect for the people who do attend these meetings or who do watch on YouTube.”
Several residents used public comment to thank former council members for their service and to welcome the newly seated council. Speakers highlighted past advocacy on issues ranging from bicycle infrastructure to animal welfare and arts programming.
Coyle closed the meeting by reiterating that resident feedback — whether delivered in person, by email, or through the clerk’s office — would continue to be reviewed and considered.
“There are a lot of people who are working and can’t be here,” Coyle said. “And we are listening.”
The meeting adjourned without further action, setting the stage for committee assignments, policy discussions, and a full legislative agenda as Edison moves into 2026.
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