Edison Council Approves Emergency Funds, Ending Employee Furloughs

EDISON, NJ — The Edison Township Council approved emergency temporary appropriations at a Special Meeting Thursday, funding township operations and clearing the way for furloughed employees, including police officers, to return to work.

The council passed Resolution R.401-072026, authorizing $11,597,102.80 in temporary emergency appropriations for the Current Fund, $452,239.13 for the Water Utility Fund and $1,204,424.33 for the Sewer Utility Fund.

The council also passed Resolution R.402-072026, authorizing $1,265,368.55 in temporary emergency appropriations for the Sanitation Fund. Both resolutions cite N.J.S.A. 40A:4-20, which requires a governing body to authorize appropriations by resolution for any contracts, commitments or payments made before adoption of the annual budget.

The vote followed a Monday budget hearing that ended without action after the council lost its quorum. Three of the township's seven council members — Vice President Robert Kentos, Councilman Ajay Patil and Councilman Biral Patel — did not attend that meeting, and Councilman Richard Brescher left partway through, leaving only three members present. Brescher told Patch he left after the administration failed to provide documentation he had requested showing where the budget reduced spending on take-home vehicles.

Township employees, including police officers, began to be furloughed after Monday's meeting, according to the Edison Policemen's Benevolent Association, NJSPBA Local No. 75. The union warned furloughs could increase if the council did not act at Thursday's special meeting, which Mayor Sam Joshi called.

Joshi signed Executive Order No. 1-2026 the same day as the vote, restoring pay and benefits to township employees who were furloughed July 22 and 23. The order directs the restoration of wages, leave accruals, pensionable earnings and service credit, seniority, health insurance eligibility and other employment rights affected by the furlough, and directs the business administrator, chief financial officer, director of human resources and payroll division to take the administrative actions needed to implement it.

"WHEREAS, it is in the best interests of the Township, its workforce, and the residents it serves to restore affected employees to the financial position they would have occupied had the furlough not occurred," the order states.

New Jersey State PBA President Peter Andreyev addressed the council during public comment, speaking on behalf of PBA Local 75.

"Ten Edison police officers have been furloughed," Andreyev said. "We are now being told that the number could grow substantially if this budget is not passed. These are not unnecessary positions or expendable employees. They are police officers hired and trained and assigned to protect the residents of Edison."

"A police department cannot be turned on and off like a light switch," Andreyev said. "Calls for service will continue, emergencies will continue, crime will not wait for the council to resolve its differences."

Andreyev said the State PBA asked the council to approve funding to return all furloughed officers to duty, provide the local union with complete information on any proposed additional furloughs, and meet promptly with the local to negotiate the effects of any staffing actions.

"No family should be left wondering whether a paycheck is coming, and no Edison resident should have to wonder whether enough officers will be available to answer their 911 emergency call," Andreyev said.

The Edison Firefighters Association, IAFF Local 1197, and the Edison Fire Officers, IAFF Local 2883, issued a statement Friday morning thanking the council for taking action at the meeting.

"The passage of these appropriations will allow furloughed employees to return to work and enable Township departments to resume normal operations and continue providing essential services to our residents," the unions said in the statement. "While we appreciate the Council's action, this is only a temporary solution."

The unions urged the council to adopt a final municipal budget at its Aug. 3 special meeting.

"A permanent budget is critical to ensuring the continued funding of public safety services and maintaining the staffing, training, equipment, and resources necessary to protect the residents of Edison," the statement said.

Former Councilwoman Margot Harris also addressed the council, calling a series of missteps surrounding this week's meetings, including the loss of quorum Monday and council members' absences.

"So, but then we had three council members ... who don't didn't show up for one of the most important meetings that goes on during the council year, and that is a disgrace," Harris said. "You do a disservice to the public. You do a disservice to the township ... and you do a disservice to the employees."

Another resident who spoke during public comment, also criticized the absent council members.

"To have three council members not show up for their job, on one of the most important meetings of the year, not only disgraceful, it's disgusting," the resident said. "What we're asking for, the police department — do your job. Get the budget passed."

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