[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6057447,"mediaKeyId","3306619-9fc95bb20ee5cba24533d1da279eb965","parentId",3306619,"title","Edison council amends invasive-species ordinance to clarify enforcement; councilors press grandfathering, then approve amendment","audioSeconds",1032,"startMs",747000,"endMs",1779000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3306619-9fc95bb20ee5cba24533d1da279eb965&start=747&end=1779","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3306619-9fc95bb20ee5cba24533d1da279eb965/thumbnail_747000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6057447/Edison/Middlesex-County/New-Jersey/Edison-council-amends-invasive-species-ordinance-to-clarify-enforcement-councilors-press-grandfathering-then-approve-amendment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6057447-be377498d84462f82e975f29b99a4bce/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136977&Signature=eEDhYbTFkpMC9-ZDxxD66fkz1WzJdr5rCkvJSK18YbfWpxc7YNzLw2ElROncaG1pmcitYPuGCfyA1inlPVwWZv1Z6-teQMD~OJn31PXVLff4IUVvytfQ4BMAEUqslKrJ5euA0Xxl8bYcpwqu8C-93nLyL-N3U-klGee3v-YmyvCBoJinHgTVljqALLIKmuTlt1dtdkNh1dO7LWslOHwVD1AhvjAEpwV8odYhsEJVpWIaZEEHCPR0zczpWzXd~Zl~Rq8bjalnvScF221QcLeUiCdPScIm1~qzZ~Zsl2kHgG-cmw7sjKaxaiLPdVk-X0qv-Av~Xwv1INM3lQG-6u5CZg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town Council of Edison NJ","date","2025-03-10T00:00:00Z","article","Edison Township Council on March 10 amended proposed changes to the township's invasive-species ordinance to clarify who may enforce violations and to reflect existing practice.

The amendment revises enforcement language so that the health department and the zoning officer, or their designees, may oversee and enforce the article's health provisions; councilors asked for consistent phrasing across the ordinance to avoid ambiguity. \"The proposed changes expand the enforcement authority to either or of the health department or the zoning officer,\" the township attorney said, calling the edit non-substantive and reflective of current practice.

Several council members raised enforcement and equity concerns, especially for properties with existing bamboo stands. One council member asked whether owners of older, established bamboo plantings — \"grandfathered\" plantings — would be required to remove or to undertake costly measures such as root removal. Counsel replied that prior invasive-species rules already grandfather prior plantings but that property owners remain responsible to prevent spread beyond their property lines. \"If it's contained on your own individual properties, there are no issues and no ordinance violation,\" counsel said.

Members recounted a recent neighborhood case in which the health department issued a warning and a zoning officer later prepared a violation notice that was subsequently retracted. Councilors asked staff to bring that zoning officer to the next meeting to clarify chronology. One member said he would gather video evidence of the sequence.

After a motion to amend the ordinance language and a second, the council took a roll-call vote and approved the amendment. The clerk recorded affirmative votes from Council Members Brasher, Coyle, Patel, Patil, an item listed as \"Council Member Appointer\" in the roll call, and Council President Harris. The amendment changes the enforcement phrasing to be consistent in all ordinance sections; counsel said the revision is not a substantive change but reflects how enforcement has operated.

Councilors asked administration to provide data on invasive-species enforcement for the past three years and to return with clarifying language around grandfathering and enforcement practice at the next meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Edison Township Council Meeting 2025-03-10","oneSentenceSummary","Council amended language to let either the health department or the zoning officer (or their designees) enforce rules targeting invasive species such as bamboo. Councilors debated whether long-standing plantings would be grandfathered and asked staff to track prior warnings and violations; the motion to amend passed on a roll call vote.","taxTitle","Edison, Middlesex County, New Jersey","taxId",57164,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6057452,"Edison council debates liability safeguards for ‘adopt-a-spot’ program",474,110000,584000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3306619-9fc95bb20ee5cba24533d1da279eb965&start=110&end=584","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3306619-9fc95bb20ee5cba24533d1da279eb965/thumbnail_110000.jpg","/articles/6057452/Edison/Middlesex-County/New-Jersey/Edison-council-debates-liability-safeguards-for-adopt-a-spot-program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6057452-6527bc72641109a197cfe7ea101272e6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136977&Signature=hLt5KepKN2DGDsruHhsyJ57Fxc~WU5ZEZETfYBiVAjXXvqzncZTntPLwXiFGMMmc~AtCy2X5wBxLPdY2KFTtSlcJ5s-A6zkfVGPaCgfb25pfn4fhKwjWaxmXeza3UZ~6I~pFP2KdrpNpUVsvuZVLdjSoP5iIXYaSm9oeJHHIxdMf00daiNKFTPtpeg2Fktq3URDbOAGdB6X513lEnY~fYVkDO6ZpIOj4g8HFMgrwG5MzAIzpnNZTOII3YOvVpZHXugsH82pIoeCMSj7pztPusb~KiCraHuxe2d-ThDhMC9Kn1Wqy3wLNsKZoRVcfHgLfH-4JQwRLk8wHjW3LtHB-1w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Edison Township Council members spent part of their March 10 work session pressing administration and counsel for details on how the proposed \"adopt-a-spot\" program would manage insurance, cancellation notices and worker coverage.

Council members said they support the program in principle but raised practical concerns about how the township would verify that an adopting individual or company keeps required policies in force. \"It would require a copy of the declaration sheet, to make sure that insurance covers was in place,\" the township attorney said, adding the declaration (declarations) page shows limits and named additional insured endorsements.

The attorney and administration said the township's master policy also provides a layer of coverage for occurrences on township-owned property. \"Regardless whether the work is covered, and that's really what the insurance from their perspective holds,\" one administrator said, adding the township's general policy will respond to occurrences affecting township property.

Council members pressed whether the township would be notified if an adopting party cancelled or materially changed their policy. Counsel said it is standard for an additional-insured endorsement to include a notice of cancellation provision; a council member with insurance-industry experience said not every carrier reliably provides that notice and described ways coverage could change without the township immediately learning of it. The council asked counsel to provide written confirmation of how cancellation notice is handled.

Members also noted the difference between single-day event insurance and continuous, site-adoption coverage. One council member pointed to the existing Clean Communities program, which provides event insurance for one-day cleanups, but said that does not substitute for a long-term adoption arrangement.

The administration agreed to provide follow-up documentation to the full council: a sample declarations page or endorsement language the township will require, and a description of how the township's master policy and workers' compensation requirements interact with volunteer or contractor labor. Several members asked specifically for language that clarifies whether work-comp coverage will be required for individuals who do regular maintenance under the program.","Council members questioned how the township will confirm long-term insurance and worker coverage for residents or companies adopting public sites, with administration and counsel noting declaration pages, event insurance and the township's master policy provide protections.","actionData","errors"]

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Edison council amends invasive-species ordinance to clarify enforcement; councilors press grandfathering, then approve amendment

Edison council debates liability safeguards for ‘adopt-a-spot’ program