South Brunswick To Establish Youth Advisory Committee

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — The Town Council recently supported the formation of the South Brunswick Youth Advisory Committee.

During the June 8 council meeting, student Kaushik Rathuryan presented a plan for the formation of the committee. Rathuryan created the proposal back in April 2021.

According to the plan, eight civically oriented high schoolers will meet once a month to discuss issues affecting youth in the township. They will focus on issues like substance abuse, mental health, bullying, pollution, etc.

The Youth Advisory Committee will meet with council members when required to get their agendas approved.

“Unfortunately, our community here are South Brunswick is plagued by issues that affect our youth,” said Rathuryan.

“This board will create events that will help address the issues that are deemed the most important. With the township’s help, we can employ this constructive idea more efficiently.”

Since the committee will consist of volunteers it will not require any funding from the township, Rathuryan said. Expenses if any, may be met through donations and fundraising.

Rathuryan cited the Princeton Youth Advisory Board example and said that problems faced by young people were “efficiently and effectively solved by the youth.”

The Princeton Youth Advisory Committee (PYAC) advises Mayor Mark Freda and the council on issues of interest to youth in the community and is now an integral part of the township.

Rathuryan said committee members will be elected in early September and proposed that the Board be initiated between late September to early October.

“I personally support this because it is unusual in 2021 to see young people actively wanting to be involved in civic issues,” said Mayor Charlie Carly.

“If we are going to serve young people, we should serve them from their perspective.”

Councilman Ken Bierman advised Rathuryan to speak with the Municipal Alliance as they deal with a lot of mental health and substance abuse issues in the community.

“It will be wise to talk to these people also to get their input on what you really need to do for this advisory group,” Bierman said. “I support this.”

Deputy Mayor Joe Camarota said the Youth Advisory Committee will provide a platform and voice to the youth of the community and that having an advisory board “is a wonderful idea.”

“I echo my colleagues and think it’s a great idea,” councilmember Ann Grover said. Grover then offered to be the council liaison because she wanted to “learn a lot for them.”

Township attorney Don Sears will now craft an ordinance establishing the committee.

Rathuryan will be approaching the South Brunswick High School to find students interested in being part of the advisory committee.

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