Parks, the pool and the golf course

With Hodges absent, the Committee adopted Ordinances #2604 and #2605, accepting two riparian conservation easements, tabled the introduction of a filming ordinance (#2602) to September 29, and approved an opioid-settlement-funded agreement with Community in Crisis, Inc., all 4-0. Four people spoke, one about historic preservation of the former Lord Stirling School.

With McNally absent, the Committee adopted Ordinance #2603, a property maintenance ordinance for non-residential properties, 4-0 after a hearing at which five speakers supported it and one did not. It rejected all seven bids for the 2026 road program as over budget, ordered Motorola radios for the fire companies and emergency management (not to exceed $536,023.28) and met in closed session on Toll/Tavistock v. BTSA. Ten people spoke in all.

The Committee introduced Ordinance #2603, a property maintenance ordinance for non-residential properties, appointed seven Class III special officers for school security under agreements with the Board of Education and Saint James School, and awarded crossing guard services for 2026-2027 (not to exceed $201,000.00), all 5-0. Five people spoke.

With McNally absent, the Committee adopted Ordinance #2599, as amended with the Planning Board's recommendations, prohibiting data centers in all zones, and #2598, a new construction fee schedule, both 4-0. It certified the 2025 audit, extended Ridge Oak's tax abatement 40 years, awarded Pleasant Valley Park court improvements and introduced salary Ordinance #2601. Thirteen entries naming 15 people commented on the former Lord Stirling School property.

The Committee introduced the construction fee ordinance (#2598) and a salary ordinance (#2600), accepted two Somerset County FIFA World Cup grants ($164,100.00 and $50,000.00) and extended the Kennedy-Martin-Stelle Farmstead lease to December 31, 2060, all 5-0. Three people spoke.

The Committee introduced Ordinance #2599, amending the uses permitted in the E-1 to E-5 office zones, and referred it to the Planning Board, with a hearing set for June 23; it became the township's data center ban. It tabled the construction fee ordinance (#2598) to fix a typographical error, accepted a $72,394.53 Clean Communities grant and let the Farmstead's Friends apply for a county preservation grant, all 5-0. Two people spoke.

The Committee adopted capital Ordinance #2597, $6,250,380.00 from the Capital Improvement Fund for roads, drainage, fire and EMS equipment, radios, parks and police equipment, and easement Ordinance #2596. It urged state leaders to curb public employee health premium increases after a 36.25% State Health Benefits Plan rise, and made seven police appointments and promotions, all 5-0. Two people spoke.

After a public hearing with one speaker, the Committee adopted the 2026 municipal and golf utility budgets 5-0: $49,773,967.75 in appropriations and a municipal tax rate of $0.246. It authorized estimated third-quarter tax bills, adopted Ordinance #2595, and introduced capital Ordinance #2597 ($6,250,380.00) and easement Ordinance #2596. Four people spoke in all.

After a closed session on potential litigation over the Reivax road improvements contract, the Committee awarded Renda Roads up to $1,025,000.00 for road repairs, hired Boswell for MS4 stormwater mapping ($94,000.00), approved a Speed Sentry radar display loan from RideWise and two police vehicles, and introduced Ordinance #2595, all 4-0 with Asay absent. Two people spoke.

The Committee introduced the 2026 municipal budget ($49,773,967.75 in appropriations, $24,315,594.30 to be raised by taxes plus a $3,261,768.00 library levy) and the golf utility budget, 4-0 with McNally absent, and set the hearing for April 28. It also asked for $1,840,125.00 in federal funds for the Pleasant Valley Park culvert and paths, awarded a cricket pitch and accepted the 2025 LOSAP volunteer lists. Two people spoke.

With Tompkins absent, the Committee adopted Ordinance #2593, the Fourth Round affordable housing compliance rules, and capital Ordinance #2594 ($1,449,000.00), and awarded synthetic turf replacement at Mountain Park ($960,826.00), a pavement condition assessment and a $250,000.00 federal funding request for stormwater planning, all 4-0. One person spoke.

The Committee adopted the 2026 Fourth Round Spending Plan for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and an agreement extending affordability controls on Ridge Oak's 247 age-restricted units for 40 years to 2072, introduced capital Ordinance #2594 ($1,449,000.00) and received the Tax Collector's 2025 report, all 5-0. Two people spoke.

The Committee recognized the Police Department's reaccreditation, adopted an Affirmative Marketing Plan for affordable housing required by the court's conditional compliance order, and introduced Ordinance #2593, which incorporates the state's Fourth Round housing rules into the land development ordinance, all 5-0. One person spoke, about snow on sidewalks.

The Committee adopted Ordinance #2592, letting the 2026 budget rise up to 3.5% instead of 2% and banking any unused amount, and #2591, a wetlands easement. It hired Boswell for a Culberson Road storm sewer study ($40,500.00), joined the county recycling program at $28.16 per household and appointed Janice Fields to the Sewerage Authority, all 5-0. No members of the public spoke.

With McNally absent, the Committee introduced Ordinance #2591, a wetlands easement on Rocky Lane, and #2592, the 2026 appropriation cap bank, approved a second change order on the 2025 road program and appointed three Pool Commission members, all 4-0. All three public speakers commented on Allen Road.

A 23-minute afternoon meeting, with two members joining by phone. The Committee adopted Ordinance #2590, a riparian conservation easement on Briar Lane, cancelled $4,000,000.00 of unspent 2025 appropriations to fund balance, set the 2026 parks and recreation fees and renewed the shared municipal court for 2026-2028, all 5-0. One person spoke.

With Mayor Fields absent, the Committee bought Motorola radios for both fire companies (not to exceed $500,058.05) and police video and body cameras ($73,372.00), set the 2026 Pleasant Valley Pool fees, ratified a 2025-2029 Teamsters Local 469 contract, reappointed the Tax Collector with tenure and introduced Ordinance #2590, all 4-0. Five people spoke, two on Allen Road.

The Committee recognized the service of Mayor Janice Fields and Committeeman David Tancredi, set the 2026 Coakley-Russo Memorial Golf Course fees and closed out the Municipal Building elevator project at $1,598,026.00, all on a 5-0 consent agenda. Four of the five public speakers commented on the Allen Road incident.

The Committee voted 3-2 (Resolution #2025-0395) to have the Planning Board investigate the former Lord Stirling School property, 99 Lord Stirling Road and 25 Sherwood Drive, as a possible non-condemnation area in need of redevelopment. It adopted two wetlands conservation easement ordinances and rescinded the Aqualis award for MS4 stormwater mapping. Eight of the ten public speakers commented on the Allen Road incident.