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Council adopts ordinance to lease Block 545, Lot 55 on James Street; public asks about eminent domain language
Summary
The council approved an ordinance to authorize a lease for property known as Block 545, Lot 55 on James Street. A member of the public asked whether the transaction used eminent domain; officials said the condemnation language is standard and does not indicate the town exercised eminent domain in this case.
The Woodbridge Township Council voted to advance and adopt an ordinance authorizing execution of a lease agreement for property identified as Block 545, Lot 55, a municipal parking parcel on James Street.
During the meeting the council moved to take the ordinance up on second and third reading and opened a public hearing on the item; no members of the public spoke at the formal hearing. Later in the public-comment period a resident asked whether the town had used eminent domain for the property and whether private property would be taken.
Town officials responded that the drafted ordinance includes standard condemnation language required by redevelopment and acquisition procedures but that language does not mean the township used eminent domain in this instance. The council president (referred to in the record as Mr. Mitchell) said the ordinance is a lease agreement with the property owner and that no takings had taken place.
A member of the public asked who the lessee would be; the council identified the individual as Vito Maslow (company name not specified in the record) and said that business or individual would lease the parking spaces from the township.
A motion to close the public hearing and adopt the ordinance passed by voice vote with the council chair declaring "Ayes have it." The record also notes that one council member stated they would abstain from a later unrelated resolution (No. 29); that abstention did not appear linked to the James Street ordinance.
No further action or expenditure tied to the lease was recorded at the meeting; the ordinance was adopted and will be submitted to the mayor for approval as required by law.
