Township Committee — January 27, 2026
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.
- Taxes
- Environment
- Infrastructure
- Government
Meeting recording
Recording plays on the township archive
This meeting does not play on this page. The township's recording is complete and plays in full on the township's own channel.
What happened
What the record shows
All five members were present: Asay, Hodges, McNally, Tompkins and Mayor Duarte McCarthy. There was no executive session. The meeting adjourned at 7:53 p.m. Every vote below was 5-0 (aye Asay, Hodges, McNally, Tompkins, Duarte McCarthy) unless noted.
Ordinances adopted
- #2592, the 2026 appropriation limits and cap bank: it lets the 2026 budget increase up to 3.5% over the prior year’s final appropriations instead of 2%. The minutes say the additional 1.5% is $473,577.62, the total increase is “no more than $1,105,014.45”, and any unused amount is banked for either of the next two years. No one spoke at the hearing. See budget and taxes.
- #2591, accepting a wetlands conservation easement at 24 Rocky Lane (Block 3602, Lot 5). No one spoke at the hearing. See parks and open space.
Resolutions
The consent agenda included:
- #2026-0154, the Culberson Road storm sewer study by Paul W. Ferriero, PE, of Boswell, Inc., not to exceed $40,500.00, January 27 to July 27, 2026. See flooding and stormwater.
- #2026-0145, an interlocal services agreement with Somerset County for 2026 recycling pickup at $28.16 per household. See trash and recycling.
- #2026-0152, bulk rock salt from Atlantic Salt Inc., not to exceed $350,000.00 for 2026. See roads and paving.
- Fuel contracts for unleaded gasoline (not to exceed $200,000.00 from the township budget, #2026-0151) and diesel and fuel oil (not to exceed $150,000.00, #2026-0153), with reimbursements from the fire companies, the Board of Education and other interlocal partners.
- #2026-0156, the Construction Official’s 2025 annual report: 2,423 applications, 2,097 permits, one new single-family home permit, revenue of $839,367.25 and expenditures of $990,597.49.
- A Construction Code vehicle ($29,129.55), a surplus property auction, the Shade Tree Commission’s annual report and Tree City USA recertification, and a Municipal Alliance grant application.
- Personnel: a patrol officer, a groundskeeper and a deputy municipal clerk.
By separate vote, Janice M. Fields was appointed to the Sewerage Authority for a five-year term to January 31, 2031. See the Sewerage Authority. The January 13 minutes were approved 4-0, with McNally abstaining.
Public comment
No one spoke in either public comment period or at the two ordinance hearings.
Records
- Minutes (township document page)
- Agenda (township document page)
- Video on the township’s YouTube channel. This page follows the Committee’s minutes.