Township Committee — December 8, 2025
The Committee held the public hearing on Comcast's application to renew its cable franchise; the Township Attorney said the next step is an ordinance setting the renewal terms. It authorized, 5–0 on the consent agenda, execution of the court consent order granting conditional compliance for the Fourth Round affordable-housing plan, agreed to sell Township land at 200 Harlan School Road, and introduced a $600,000 capital ordinance for Municipal Building improvements.
- Government
- Housing
- Litigation
- Infrastructure
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
The Township Committee’s minutes of this regular meeting, approved at its December 22 meeting, are on the Township’s Documents-On-Demand portal, linked from its Agendas/Minutes page, in the Township Committee and Board of Health minutes folder. Mayor Thomas Young called the meeting to order at 8:00 p.m. All five members were present: Mayor Young, Mr. Brendon Beatrice, Mr. James Schworn, Mrs. Anna Columbus and Mr. David Owens. Also present were Township Administrator Gregory Bonin, Township Clerk Maggie Schmitt and Township Attorney William Willard. The minutes record about two members of the public. No one spoke in either public comment period.
Comcast cable franchise renewal hearing
Comcast of Central New Jersey II, LLC applied in September 2025 to renew its municipal consent to operate a cable system in the Township, and a public-hearing notice signed by Clerk Maggie Schmitt set the hearing for this date at 8:00 p.m. under N.J.S.A. 48:5A-23 and N.J.A.C. 14:18-11.6.
The minutes record the public hearing on the “Application – Renewal of Comcast Cable Franchise Agreement.” Robert Clifton, Comcast’s Senior Director for Government & Regulatory Affairs, attended, gave an overview of the process and answered questions from the Committee. Mr. Willard outlined the next steps, “which would be the adoption of an ordinance defining the terms of the renewal agreement.”
Fourth Round affordable-housing consent order
On the consent agenda, the Committee adopted Resolution No. 2025-218, “Authorization to Execute Consent Order – Conditional Compliance Certification – Fourth Round Affordable Housing Compliance Plan,” with Resolutions No. 2025-215 through 2025-217, on motion of Mr. Schworn, seconded by Mrs. Columbus. Recorded vote: 5–0 (Aye: Schworn, Columbus, Owens, Beatrice, Young).
Sale of 200 Harlan School Road
Mr. Bonin said the Township-owned property at Block 17.13, Lot 12.02, 200 Harlan School Road, next to the Silver Saddle Community Pool, is no longer needed by the Township. He shared the results of an appraisal and described the process to sell it. The Committee agreed to move forward with the sale.
Municipal Building improvements
Ordinance No. 2025-1505, “Capital Ordinance to authorize facility improvements at the Municipal Building … and the expenditure of $600,000.00 from the Capital Improvement Fund for the financing thereof,” was introduced on first reading on motion of Mr. Schworn, seconded by Mrs. Columbus, with a public hearing set for December 22, 2025. Mr. Bonin said the Municipal Building is 35 years old “and is showing its age,” and that the ordinance funds updates to the carpeting, bathrooms and interior workspace.
Other business
Sitting as the Board of Health, the Committee heard Health Officer James Norgalis report on the Health Department’s October and November activities; he said a free rabies clinic would be held Saturday, January 10, 2026, 10 a.m. to noon, at the Municipal Annex Garage. Mayor Young noted a proclamation recognizing January as Radon Awareness Month.
The other consent resolutions were a police grade elevation for Coppola (2025-215), Public Works foreman promotions (2025-216) and recreation refunds (2025-217). The claims for payment passed 5–0, and the minutes of November 24 were approved.
In his report, Mr. Bonin said the tree program was complete for the year, with about 300 trees planted this time and about 1,000 in total, and that the Township would keep a list of residents still wanting trees and continue if funds are available; that leaf pickup would continue another week or two; and that “the U-turn at Route 202 & Holland Brook Road will close shortly for improvements.”
In liaison reports, Mr. Owens marked National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day; Mrs. Columbus and Mayor Young spoke about the annual Volunteer Appreciation Party, and the Mayor thanked the Stoney Brook Grille for hosting it; Mr. Beatrice listed upcoming Recreation events. The meeting adjourned at 8:31 p.m.
See the Comcast cable franchise renewal, Branchburg’s Fourth Round affordable-housing plan and Route 202 safety.
Records
- Minutes and agenda: Agendas/Minutes page of the Township’s website, which links its Documents-On-Demand portal (Township Committee and Board of Health folder)
- Meeting video on the Township’s Granicus archive
- Comcast public-hearing notice (Township PDF)