Edison Township Council Update: Decisions on Pay Raises and Property Rights
Work Session Preview: Will Controversial Ordinances Move to a Final Vote?
Chris Howell | February 9, 2026
Edison residents will get a closer look at big changes tonight. The Edison Township Council is holding a work session to talk about important new laws. The council uses the meeting to fix any problems with a law before holding a final vote at a regular meeting.
If the council makes a big change to a law tonight—like lowering how much money they plan to make—they can’t pass it right away. By law, they would have to tell the public about the change and wait at least a week before voting. This gives residents more time to share their thoughts on the Edison municipal budget.
Update on Edison Council Pay Raises
One law people are watching closely is Ordinance O.2275-2026. This law would more than double the pay for council members. It has already been introduced, so residents are now waiting for the final decision.
If it passes, regular Edison council members would go from making $17,500 to a limit of $38,500 a year. The council president would go from $18,500 to $39,500.
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Council President Joseph Coyle says the raise is needed to help “young and middle-class” people serve in government. He noted that in 1966, the pay was only $1,200. However, when you look at how much things cost today, that $1,200 is like having $11,600 now. The new pay would be more than three times that amount. While some leaders say the job is hard work, many residents think the raise is too high.
Proposed Changes to Edison Military Pay
The council is also talking about Ordinance O.2273-2026. This would change how the town pays workers who are in the military.
Right now, these workers often get their full town paycheck while they are away for military duty. The new law would only pay them the “difference” (differential pay) between their town pay and their military pay.
Some people worry this will mean less money for soldiers who are away for a long time. Councilman Richard Brescher said he would “never take a nickel” from military members. The council must also follow a state law that states National Guard members must receive 90 days of full pay.
The Calvert Avenue Drainage Project and Eminent Domain
The town is also working on a plan to fix flooding near Calvert Avenue and Abbott Court. To do this, they need to use a power called eminent domain. This lets the government take private land for a public project, like fixing roads or pipes.
Tonight, the council will talk about a law to take the final pieces of land needed for this project. They are looking at 40 different properties in the Calvert Avenue, Abbott Court, Wayne, and Huntington Road area. Because this is for a “public use” (fixing flooding), the town doesn’t have to prove the area is run-down. Instead, they can use the Eminent Domain Act of 1971. They must still pay the owners a fair price for the land.
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