Township Committee — May 12, 2026
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.
- Taxes
- 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. Every vote below was 5-0 (aye Asay, Hodges, McNally, Tompkins, Duarte McCarthy). The meeting adjourned at 8:33 p.m.
Proclamations marked Fellowship Village’s 30th anniversary and Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Staff announced the Battle of Basking Ridge and FIFA special event.
Ordinances adopted
- #2597 appropriates $6,250,380.00 from the Capital Improvement Fund, with no bonds or notes. No one spoke at the hearing. Its purposes, as printed:
| Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|
| Engineering projects: roadway management and reconstruction, sidewalks and drainage, pedestrian bridges and paths | $2,825,000.00 |
| DPW projects and equipment: roadway repairs, guiderail, drainage retrofit, small equipment | $635,000.00 |
| Office of Emergency Management: Fire/EMS/OEM radio upgrades and maintenance | $600,000.00 |
| Motor vehicle fleet replacements | $455,000.00 |
| Facility improvements | $440,000.00 |
| Liberty Corner Fire Company: emergency equipment, radio and breathing apparatus | $299,000.00 |
| Parks and recreation facilities | $254,000.00 |
| Basking Ridge Fire Company: emergency equipment and vehicles | $252,000.00 |
| Police equipment: patrol car equipment, radar units, license plate reader cameras, body-worn cameras | $158,430.00 |
| Grounds maintenance equipment | $105,000.00 |
| Pleasant Valley Pool improvements | $85,000.00 |
| Basking Ridge First Aid Squad: emergency equipment and vehicles | $71,950.00 |
| Systems, including police mobile data terminals | $70,000.00 |
See budget and taxes, roads and paving and fire and EMS.
- #2596, accepting a detention basin, drainage and access easement at 24 Rocky Lane (Block 3602, Lot 5). No one spoke at the hearing.
Health benefits resolution
#2026-0268, by separate vote, urges state leaders to adopt reforms to curb health benefit premium increases for public employees. It states that the 2026 local government employer rate in the State Health Benefits Plan rose 36.25% and that nearly 200 local employers have left the plan since the end of 2020, and it lists reforms including eliminating costly plan designs and improving medical cost transparency. Copies go to the Governor, the State Treasurer, legislative leaders and the township’s legislators.
Police appointments
The consent agenda included a patrol officer hire (Justin Gladden) and six promotions: Mark Neri to lieutenant ($179,389.78); Christopher Albanese to sergeant on May 15, 2026 (#2026-0275, $149,789.18); Kendall Kulik, Alec McCrea and James Moore to corporal. #2026-0270 is titled “Anthony Severino – Sergeant” and names Anthony Severino in its WHEREAS clauses, while its resolved clause reads that “Christopher Albanese be appointed full-time Sergeant with a promotion date of July 1, 2026 at an annual salary of $155,031.80.” See police.
Other resolutions
- #2026-0264, in-house engineer services by Excelsior Consulting Engineers, not to exceed $107,000.00 for the rest of 2026.
- #2026-0254, tabled on April 28: the agreement for use of the parking lots at 59 South Finley Avenue and West Henry Street for Charter Day, May 16, 2026.
- An animal control officer hire, Liberty Corner Fire Company fire police appointments and the bill list.
Daniel Fortes was appointed a full member of the Liberty Corner Fire Company. The April 14 closed-session and April 28 minutes were approved.
Public comment
Two people spoke. Nancy D’Andrea of Vanderveer Drive spoke about the AANHPI Heritage Month resolution. Todd Edelstein of Riverside Drive spoke about election signs and the police lobby’s hours.
Records
- Minutes (township document page)
- Agenda (township document page)
- Video on the township’s YouTube channel. This page follows the Committee’s minutes.