Mayor and Council of Princeton

Municipality of Princeton, NJ 400 Witherspoon St Princeton, NJ 08540 Meeting Minutes - Final Monday, August 11, 2025 7:00 PM https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88907591542 Webinar ID: 889 0759 1542 Main Council Chambers Mayor and Council of Princeton Mayor and Council of Princeton Meeting Minutes - Final August 11, 2025 Page 1 of 1 Mayor and Council of Princeton Meeting Minutes - Final August 11, 2025 I. JOIN MEETING - PLEASE CLICK LINK BELOW: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88907591542 Webinar ID: 889 0759 1542 II. STATEMENT CONCERNING NOTICE OF MEETING Notice of this meeting was provided in accordance with the requirements of the Open Public Meetings Act and State regulations governing public meetings, including the time, date and location of the meeting and clear and concise instructions to the public for accessing the meeting and making comments. In addition, the agenda and all related materials were posted electronically and made available to the public on Princeton's meeting portal in advance of the meeting. III. LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT "We gather today on the land of the Lenni Lenape. As members of the Princeton community, we aspire to show appreciation, respect, and concern for all peoples and our environment. We honor the Lenape and other Indigenous caretakers of these lands and waters, the elders who lived here before, the Indigenous today, and the generations to come" Councilwoman Leticia Fraga read the Land Acknowledgement. IV. ROLL CALL Also Present: Bernard Hvozdovic, Administrator; Jeff Grosser, Deputy Administrator/Health Officer; Deanna Stockton, Deputy Administrator/Municipal Engineer; James Purcell, Assistant Municipal Engineer; and Trishka Cecil, Municipal Attorney Present: Council Member Brian McDonald, Council Member David Cohen, Council Member Mia Sacks, Council Member Leticia Fraga, Council Member Leighton Newlin, and Municipal Clerk Dawn M. Mount Absent: Council Member Michelle Pirone Lambros, and Mayor Mark Freda V. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The audience participated in the Pledge of Allegiance. VI. ANNOUNCEMENTS/REPORTS Councilman Brian McDonald had no reports or announcements. Councilman David Cohen announced the Adopt-A-Drain program went live last Thursday night at Community Night Out and he encouraged everyone to adopt a drain. Adopting a drain is important because it will help the municipality meet its storm sewer permit requirements but also preserve the water quality of our surface waters in New Jersey. Page 1 of 8 Mayor and Council of Princeton Meeting Minutes - Final August 11, 2025 Interested residents can visit the municipal website. Councilwoman Leticia Fraga had no reports or announcements. Councilman Leighton Newlin had no reports or announcements. Council President Mia Sacks had no reports or announcements. Staff Reports: There were no staff reports or announcements. VII. PROCLAMATION 1. A Proclamation Honoring Corinne Sliker-Monda on the Occasion of Her Retirement Councilman David Cohen read the proclamation in honor of Corrine Sliker-Monda's retirement. VIII. ORDINANCE PUBLIC HEARING Anyone wishing to comment on or ask a question about an ordinance(s) listed below for public hearing and adoption can do so by either in person or Zoom. In person use the sign-up sheet on the podium. To make a spoken comment, either click on "Participants" and use the "raise hand" function, or- if attending by telephone- press *9. When it is your turn to speak the meeting host will unmute you and the Mayor will recognize you. 1. Ordinance Appropriating $775,000 from the Sewer Trust Fund to Provide for Various Sewer Improvements in and by Princeton, in the County Of Mercer, New Jersey- Roll Call Councilman David Cohen noted the ordinance is not for purposes of spending more money but to use the trust fund instead of borrowing money to do the work identified in the ordinance. Council President Mia Sacks opened the public hearing and seeing no one, in person or via "Zoom", closed the public hearing. RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Brian McDonald SECONDER: David Cohen Aye: Council Member McDonald, Council Member Cohen, Council Member Fraga, and Council Member Newlin Absent: Council Member Pirone Lambros, and Mayor Freda 2. An Ordinance by the Municipality of Princeton Designating No Turn on Red Intersections and Amending Chapter 19 of the “Code of the Borough of Princeton, Page 2 of 8 Mayor and Council of Princeton Meeting Minutes - Final August 11, 2025 New Jersey, 1974”- Roll Call Councilman David Cohen commented there were two minor typos in the ordinance but they have been corrected and he made a motion to adopt the amended ordinance. The typos had to do with the intersection of Franklin and Harrison and how the streets were identified in terms of the turning movement. He also wanted to emphasize that the "no turn on red" implementations are for two reasons. The first is in places where bike lanes have been added or will be added, it is a requirement where there is a bike box. Also, in general it helps improve safety by avoiding conflicts between bicycles and turning motor vehicles. Councilman Cohen also noted there are a number of locations where there are existing "no turn on red" signs, but an ordinance was never adopted to formalize it, and that the ordinance is not meant to cover the entire town but to specifically target those specific locations. Council President Mia Sacks noted that when she voted "no" during the introduction of the ordinance it was because she was not familiar with it at the time and does not like to vote on behalf of things she is not familiar with. Since then, she has become versed on what is being proposed and feels it is essential for bike and pedestrian safety. Council President Mia Sacks opened the public hearing and seeing no one in person or via "Zoom", closed the public hearing. RESULT: ADOPTED AS AMENDED MOVER: David Cohen SECONDER: Brian McDonald Aye: Council Member McDonald, Council Member Cohen, Council Member Fraga, and Council Member Newlin Absent: Council Member Pirone Lambros, and Mayor Freda IX. RESOLUTIONS 1. Resolution of the Mayor and Council of Princeton Authorizing the Extension of the Professional Services Agreement with Michael Baker International, Inc. for Engineering and Planning Services for the Harrison Street Corridor Study with No Change to the Contract Amount RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: David Cohen SECONDER: Brian McDonald Aye: Council Member McDonald, Council Member Cohen, Council Member Fraga, and Council Member Newlin Absent: Council Member Pirone Lambros, and Mayor Freda 2. Resolution of the Mayor and Council of Princeton Authorizing the Extension of the Term of the Professional Services Agreement with Arterial, LLC for Engineering and Design Services in Connection with the Nassau Street Streetscape Project for the Page 3 of 8 Mayor and Council of Princeton Meeting Minutes - Final August 11, 2025 Length of Time Necessary for the Completion of the Actual Construction with No Change to the Contract Amount RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Leighton Newlin SECONDER: David Cohen Aye: Council Member McDonald, Council Member Cohen, Council Member Fraga, and Council Member Newlin Absent: Council Member Pirone Lambros, and Mayor Freda 3. Resolution of the Mayor and Council of Princeton Authorizing the Extension of the Professional Services Agreement with Johnson, Mirmiran & Thompson, Inc. for Documentation of Maintenance Holes in Flood Hazard Areas for the Length of Time Necessary for the Completion of the Actual Construction with No Change to the Contract Amount RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: David Cohen SECONDER: Brian McDonald Aye: Council Member McDonald, Council Member Cohen, Council Member Fraga, and Council Member Newlin Absent: Council Member Pirone Lambros, and Mayor Freda 4. Resolution of the Mayor and Council of Princeton Authorizing an Increase of $81,200.00 to the Not to Exceed Amount for the Professional Services Agreement with Greenman-Pedersen, Inc. for Engineering Services for the Grover Avenue Culvert Replacement Project for a New Not to Exceed Amount of $211,137.00 Councilman David Cohen noted the change in the contract has to do with planning for better stormwater management in Grover Park. The park floods regularly in extreme storm events and downstream neighbors, as well, suffer along that branch of Harry's Brook. RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: David Cohen SECONDER: Leighton Newlin Aye: Council Member McDonald, Council Member Cohen, Council Member Fraga, and Council Member Newlin Absent: Council Member Pirone Lambros, and Mayor Freda 5. Resolution of the Mayor and Council of Princeton Adopting the 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan and 2025 Annual Action Plan for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Leticia Fraga Page 4 of 8 Mayor and Council of Princeton Meeting Minutes - Final August 11, 2025 SECONDER: Leighton Newlin Aye: Council Member McDonald, Council Member Cohen, Council Member Fraga, and Council Member Newlin Absent: Council Member Pirone Lambros, and Mayor Freda 6. Resolution of the Mayor and Council of Princeton Authorizing the Award of a Contract to A.N.A. Painting Corp for Painting at 400 Witherspoon Street for $169,397.72 utilizing Bergen County Cooperative Contract Purchasing System Bid Contract #25-40 RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Brian McDonald SECONDER: Leighton Newlin Aye: Council Member McDonald, Council Member Cohen, Council Member Fraga, and Council Member Newlin Absent: Council Member Pirone Lambros, and Mayor Freda 7. Resolution of the Mayor and Council of Princeton Authorizing Palmer Square to Hold a Series of Downtown Events on The Green RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Leticia Fraga SECONDER: Leighton Newlin Aye: Council Member McDonald, Council Member Cohen, Council Member Fraga, and Council Member Newlin Absent: Council Member Pirone Lambros, and Mayor Freda 8. Resolution of the Mayor and Council of Princeton Supporting the Passage of the Immigrant Trust Act Councilwoman Leticia Fraga and Councilman Leighton Newlin read prepared statements regarding the passing of the resolution in support of the ITA. Members of Resistencia en Accion, residents, students from PHS and the university, and members of neighboring communities attending the meeting in person and via "Zoom" thanked Council for adopting the resolution. RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Leticia Fraga SECONDER: Leighton Newlin Aye: Council Member McDonald, Council Member Cohen, Council Member Fraga, and Council Member Newlin Absent: Council Member Pirone Lambros, and Mayor Freda Page 5 of 8 Mayor and Council of Princeton Meeting Minutes - Final August 11, 2025 X. CONSENT AGENDA 1. Resolution of the Mayor and Council of Princeton Authorizing the Payment of Bills and Claims RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Leticia Fraga SECONDER: Leighton Newlin Aye: Council Member McDonald, Council Member Cohen, Council Member Fraga, and Council Member Newlin Absent: Council Member Pirone Lambros, and Mayor Freda 2. Resolution of the Mayor and Council of Princeton Authorizing Final Closeout and Final Payment in the Amount of $25,698.60 to Maarv Waterproofing Inc. for the 2023 Spring Street Garage Repair Program RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Leticia Fraga SECONDER: Leighton Newlin Aye: Council Member McDonald, Council Member Cohen, Council Member Fraga, and Council Member Newlin Absent: Council Member Pirone Lambros, and Mayor Freda 3. Resolution of the Mayor and Council of Princeton Approving the Placement of a Banner Over Washington Road by the Princeton University Art Museum, Monday, October 27th and taken down on Monday, November 3rd, 2025 RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Leticia Fraga SECONDER: Leighton Newlin Aye: Council Member McDonald, Council Member Cohen, Council Member Fraga, and Council Member Newlin Absent: Council Member Pirone Lambros, and Mayor Freda 4. Resolution of the Mayor and Council of Princeton Authorizing Special Event for Stand With Dignity c/o Muslims4Peace Inc. to hold an Abraeen Peace Walk on Sunday, August 24, 2025 RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Leticia Fraga SECONDER: Leighton Newlin Aye: Council Member McDonald, Council Member Cohen, Council Member Fraga, and Council Member Newlin Absent: Council Member Pirone Lambros, and Mayor Freda Page 6 of 8 Mayor and Council of Princeton Meeting Minutes - Final August 11, 2025 XI. PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA The Mayor and Council will take comments first from members of the public attending the meeting in person, then from members of the public attending the meeting via Zoom. Speakers will be limited to 3 minutes. No immediate action will be taken on any public comment issue. IN-PERSON: Please use the sign-up sheet on the podium. After everyone who signed up has had the opportunity to speak, the Mayor will invite any additional comments from members of the public. Please line up at the podium if you plan to speak. ZOOM: To make a comment or ask a question during the meeting via zoom, raise your hand using one of the following alternatives: 1. Windows or Mac platform: Click on “Participants” at the bottom of the screen, then click on “raise hand” (Windows shortcut: Alt+Y; Mac shortcut: Option+Y). 2. Android or iOS device: Click on “raise hand” in the bottom left corner of your screen. 3. Telephone: Press #9 Council President opened public comments for items not on the agenda, first to those attending the meeting in person then to those via "Zoom". In Person: An unidentified resident of the Avalon at Harrison, questioned how the Avalon Company has been approved to develop three high-rise residential buildings in Princeton, all within prime walkable locations. They are price fixing the town and their buildings are inferior and dangerous. In particular the resident focused on the Avalon on Harrison (built only 5 months ago) and its many electrical issues. Via "Zoom": There were no public comments via "Zoom". XII. ADJOURNMENT Councilman David Cohen made a motion to adjourn at 8:57 p.m., seconded by Councilman Brian McDonald, and carried unanimously by all members present. Respectfully submitted, Page 7 of 8 Mayor and Council of Princeton Meeting Minutes - Final August 11, 2025 Dawn M. Mount Municipal Clerk Page 8 of 8