Township Council

Rejecting repeated calls for his resignation, Township Councilman Rajiv Prasad on Feb. 12 vowed to fill out his term, and accused those who oppose him with “political grandstanding.” Prasad (D-At Large) has been enmeshed in controversy at various times over the last three years, most recently over his handling of the approval process for the now-defunct plan for a “Peace …

Township Democrats tapped some home-grown talent in picking the newest member of the Township Council on Jan. 22. Township native Crystal Pruitt was unanimously picked by the council to fill in the one-year unexpired term of former Councilwoman Shanel Robinson.

The Township Council picked a Deputy Mayor for 2019 at its Jan. 7 reorganization meeting, but did not choose to fill the seat vacated by the person who held the position last year. The Council also filled a number of positions on the various township boards and commissions, named a municipal court judge, prosecutors and public defenders, and the other …

Despite a last-minute attempt to water it down, a resolution censuring Township Councilman Rajiv Prasad was unanimously passed at the Dec. 11 Council meeting. The resolution expresses the Council’s sense that Prasad (D-At Large) has “engaged in multiple actions in his official capacity as an elected official that are improper for a person in his position,” and that the actions …

A vote to censure Township Councilman Rajiv Prasad is scheduled for the council’s Dec. 11 meeting. The agenda item, called an “add-on,” was added to the agenda on Dec. 10. Township Democrats regularly caucus on the Sunday before a council meeting.

Township Councilman Rajiv Prasad in September appeared to ask for the township manager’s help in fixing several parking tickets issued to parishioners of an East Millstone church. In a response email, Township Manager Robert Vornlocker blasted Prasad, telling him it was “inappropriate” for Prasad to be involved in the matter.

Ordinances establishing a “Do Not Knock” list for door-to-door vendors and creating four-way stops on Pierce Street were introduced at the Nov. 27 Township Council meeting. Township Councilman James Vassanella (D-Ward 5) said the “Do Not Knock” ordinance would create a master list of residents who do not wish to be solicited by door-to-door vendors. The list would be given …

Township Councilman Rajiv Prasad has ended his self-imposed exile from council business, attending the Nov. 27 meeting and facing his supporters and detractors. The embattled Prasad (D-At Large) came under fire in recent months for the way in which he handled the approval process for a proposed “Peace and Non-Violence” monument park on some township open space, and for a …

A newly instituted ban on left turns from three streets onto Easton Avenue was roundly criticized by area residents at the Nov. 27 Township Council meeting. The council at its Nov. 8 meeting approved the ordinance, which bans left turns from Walnut Avenue, Culver Street and Lakeside Avenue onto Easton Avenue.

Angry residents forced the Township Council to remove from its Nov. 8 agenda a resolution that would have excused Councilman Rajiv Prasad’s four-week absence from his official duties. The excused absence would have taken away the threat of the council declaring Prasad’s seat vacant in December.