EDISON — Residents raised concerns about parade permits and school overcrowding at the April 22 Township Council meeting.
Irene Wall inquired about the recent agreement to grant the Indian Business Association (IBA) a conditional, nonexclusive permit to hold its India Day Parade in the township for nearly 10 more years.
She said it is unfair that the association didn’t have to pay for the permit.
“I think it’s unconscionable,” Wall said. “I don’t think it’s fair to any other organization … that they need to pay and the India Day Parade does not.”
She went on to say that the parade is much larger than other township events.
“And you know what? When it says Indian ‘Business’ Association, somebody is making money; it’s not a nonprofit thing,” Wall said.
Wall said she hoped the council would reexamine the issue and determine a fee structure.
She and resident Walter Shneer also voiced concerns about the schools. Wall said she suspects overcrowding is putting students at risk in the case of a fire. She added that she wished parents were more concerned about this type of hazard.
Shneer’s concerns focused on his suspicions that students from other districts are illegally attending Edison schools. Council President Robert Diehl acknowledged the issue of parents looking to send their child to a better school district than the one they live in, and agreed that it can be a problem.
Resident Bill Bruner encouraged anyone with information on out-of-district students attending township schools to share it with the Board of Education. He added that the district handles these types of situations consistently, and that a $250 reward goes to anyone who provides information about students attending township schools illegally.
“Every single month, you see people being eliminated from our school system due to residency,” he said.
Also at the meeting, the council approved a $3.3 million bond ordinance for the paving and reconstruction of various township roads. Officials have appropriated $3.5 million for the projects.
In addition, the council approved an amended Redevelopment Plan for the Ford Assembly Plant site, also currently known as Edison Towne Square. On Jan. 28, the council sent the Planning Board the amended plan for its review; the Planning Board adopted the plan on March 16. It was then sent back to the council for its review.