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Residents tell Plainfield council of cannabis odor, ice-cream-truck noise and school crossing worries
Summary
During public comment residents reported cannabis odors near Clinton Avenue, repeated ice-cream truck loitering and noise near schools, concerns about crossing-guard safety, overcrowded rental units, and asked the council to follow up on prior promises and pet‑sale ordinances.
More than a dozen residents addressed the council in the public-comment period about neighborhood quality-of-life and procedural concerns.
Multiple residents near Clinton Avenue told the council they can smell cannabis from a nearby cultivation/manufacturing facility. Nancy Pilar, who identified herself as from Plainfield, said neighborhood members "can smell marijuana" in backyards and along Clinton Avenue and urged the city to find who to contact to address it. Another commenter who asked to remain anonymous said they did not object to the smell because of medical use.
Other speakers made public-safety and quality-of-life complaints: Shawn Huggins described daily ice-cream-truck parking and loud horns near 222 Morris Street and requested enforcement; Pamela Dunn cited student-safety problems at Hubbard School and 7th & Spooner and urged more effective crossing-guard training or equipment; residents raised concerns about loud modified mufflers and overcrowded rental properties. Larry Cohen urged the council to enact a local ordinance to restrict the sale of dogs, cats and rabbits in pet stores.
City staff and police responded: the city attorney explained that Plainfield operates under a special charter and that the council sets meeting procedures for public comment in some special meetings; police staff said officers would investigate ice-cream-truck and noise complaints, that NJIT will monitor certain storm cameras and share data with the city's OEM coordinator, and that crossing-guard training and county collaboration for traffic calming are underway at problem intersections.
Next steps: staff committed to follow up on enforcement for noise and traffic safety and to share information about the NJIT monitoring and the public comment procedures where applicable.
