Edison Begins Free Leaf Bag Pickup, Prepares for Diwali Celebration

The council postponed votes on two public-participation ordinances until its Oct. 20 and Oct. 22 meetings due to limited attendance. The first proposal would extend the time limit for public comments from four minutes to six minutes at council meetings. The second would allow one three-minute rebuttal per speaker, giving residents the ability to respond directly to other public comments.

“We only have a basic quorum tonight, and I want the full council here,” Harris said.

The council did, however, approve an amendment to the township code on police extra-duty employment, raising the hourly rate from $50 to $80 for off-duty traffic and security work. The update also modernizes management procedures for scheduling and billing, aligning Edison’s policy with neighboring towns.

During public comment, residents raised a range of concerns.

• Town council candidate Elizabeth Conway thanked the township for sidewalk improvements and asked whether the long-standing guardrail inside the council chamber could be removed. She also questioned how groups are approved to use Edison TV to record community events. Officials urged anyone interested in working with Edison TV to put in a request with the township administration well in advance of events to allow for proper coordination with staff.

• Thomas Lucky criticized the customer service at the tax office and urged council members to restore six-minute speaking periods during meetings, saying, “Let’s do what’s right for the community.”

• A pair of Rutgers students asked how the township verifies and maintains tree-replacement requirements before refunding developer bonds. Alves-Viveiros responded that engineering inspectors confirm replacements are planted and alive before any refund, with a two-year maintenance window.

• A resident sought clarification on funding for recent cultural events. Alves-Viveiros explained that the Dushahra festival was privately organized, while the upcoming Diwali celebration is a township-sponsored event supported through the Recreation Trust Fund.

Councilman John Poyner praised the township’s grant consultant, Millennium Strategies, which he said has secured roughly $26 million in outside funding since 2015. Councilman Joseph Coyle echoed the support, calling the partnership “a great return on investment.”

Later discussion touched on neighborhood issues and infrastructure updates. Poyner relayed constituent feedback on Broward Avenue paving work. Harris provided updates on environmental cleanup at 110 Clive Street, where dredging has begun to remove weeds and pollutants from a pond as part of a wetlands preservation project.

She also said the township is conducting an appraisal as part of eminent domain proceedings at 401 Division Street, a property adjacent to Thomas Jefferson Middle School that the Board of Education has supported being condemned to convert into a parking lot. The township reaffirmed that new homes built within two miles of a school must include sidewalks unless a waiver is granted by the planning board.

The meeting closed with committee reports and a brief “Points of Light” segment. Harris cited recent animal shelter activity—six dog and 37 cat adoptions—and noted that early voting will begin Oct. 25 at Minnie B. Veal Recreation Center.