Present were:

Patrick Gillespie, President	Edward Testino, Councilman	Michael Spina
Mark Proudman, Treasurer	Joseph Arena	John Vincenti
Robin Rosen, Secretary	Michael Jacobs
Russell J. Azzarello, Director	Laheri Mehta

 

 

 

 

Absent were:

Mayor Jim Phillips	Peter Davis, Vice-president	Michael D'Agnes
Raj Patel	Larry Redmond	Kevin Ruffler
Nick Smolney

 

 

 

The meeting was called to order at 6:40 p.m.

Salute to the flag was followed by roll call.

Statement was made that the meeting was held in accordance with the requirements of the Open Public Meeting Act.

Mr. Gillespie started the meeting by thanking everyone for coming out to show support on the Crossroads Redevelopment Project. Mr. Gillespie stated some of the things that were said by certain council members and some members of the public were unfair to the members of the EDC.

A motion was made by Larry Mehta, seconded by Mike Spina, and unanimously agreed upon for the approval of the combined Treasurer's Report for the months of August 2004 and September 2004.

A motion was made by Mike Spina, seconded by Laheri Mehta, and unanimously agreed upon for the approval of the October 2004 Bill List.

A motion was made by Mark Proudman, seconded by Robin Rosen, and unanimously agreed upon for the approval of the September 8, 2004 Meeting Summary.

Mr. Azzarello gave his Executive Director's Report.

The Board of Education has denied the use, swapping or selling of any of their land for the BJ's Club at the Nike Base. BJ's is looking at 15 acres, which is not on the Board of Education property but they wanted access for some signage. This will be a 130,000 sq. ft. facility and a 14 million dollar ratable. They might be ready to go by the summer.

They were originally considering the old Home Depot site but it is not large enough and would require too many renovations.

The DOT is requiring Stanbury Development to widen Texas Road on both sides for the proposed Lifestyle Center.

Car Tec has been approved and is moving cars on to the Nappi site. Nappi was also helpful in the police car auction. Car Tec will put in about 25 employees.

Risco Bus was outbid by Rural Metro for the Nappi site (Route 34 front). Mr. Azzarello stated that it is a good idea to have Rural Metro in Old Bridge and not South Amboy because they are our daytime ambulance service.

Risco is looking at the former construction site of Fenwick on Route 34. The site had environmental issues but they have been cleaned up.

Raritan Bay Medical Center received magnet status, which is the highest status in nursing care. This is an achievement that only 106 hospitals have out of approximately 3,000 hospitals.

The Altobello property on Ferry Road is 10 acres. A company called Management Services wants to build a 150,000 sq. ft. facility geared towards health care. They are interested in providing either a same day Surgi Center, some sort of senior services or possibly housing the School of Nursing at this location.

Healthnet/IMET located at the Globespan building at Exit 120 have taken the entire 5th floor and have approximately 230 employees. They would like to occupy the building by December 4, 2004.

Mr. Azzarello stated that the Township received a $100,000 grant from Middlesex County for the Downtown and Business District Improvement. This will be utilized to create a safeway to get from the municipal complex to the Town Center.

Double D's application to expand was approved at the last Planning Board meeting. He will be expanding upward to create office space and an administrative area.

The Browntown shopping center facade improvement application and the Wendy's are moving forward.

Mr. Azzarello stated that Route 516 can now be considered a commerce area/zone because of all the businesses located there.

A motion was made by Joseph Arena, seconded by Laheri Mehta and unanimously agreed upon to accept the Executive Director's Report.

Mr. Gillespie opened up the meeting to the public.

Barbara Cannon, Linda Seiler and Councilman Reginald Butler were present.

Barbara Cannon inquired about the deal that DOT was going to make with Nappi for a commuter parking lot on their site.

Mr. Vincenti responded that they were not able to work out the deal because of turning constraints for the buses from Route 34 to Morristown Road. The alternative would have been to go to Lloyd Road.

Linda Seiler stated that most of the people who use the Browntown shopping area are from Old Bridge. She feels that the area slated for the Town Center is a residential area and that the Cottrell Farm is beautiful. She feels if it gets the reception of the already existing Town Center, we are going to have a wasteland.

Mr. Gillespie reminded Ms. Seiler that the Town Center in existence was the policy of the previous administration.

Mr. Gillespie closed the public portion of the meeting.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m.