Township Committee — July 27, 2026

The Township Committee’s minutes of this regular meeting, approved at its August 10 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 James Schworn called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Present were Mayor Schworn, Mr. Brendon Beatrice, Mr. Thomas Young and Mr. David Owens; Mrs. Anna Columbus was absent. Also present were Township Administrator Gregory Bonin, Township Clerk Maggie Schmitt, Certified Finance Officer Mindy D’Amico and Township Attorney William Willard. The minutes record about four members of the public. There were no public comments on agenda items.

The e-bike ordinance, first reading

The Committee introduced Ordinance No. 2026-1516, “An Ordinance Amending Chapter 3 ‘Police Regulations’, Section 3-5 ‘Public Parks, Recreation Areas and Open Space’ and Section 3-6 ‘Use and Parking of Motor Vehicles on Public Lands’ … to Address the Use of Electric Motorized Bicycles, Motorized Bicycles, Low-Speed Electric Bicycles and Low-Speed Electric Scooters within the Township.”

Mayor Schworn said the Township needs to address the use of electric motorized bicycles in accordance with new State regulations, especially the use of e-bikes or any type of motorized bike at White Oak Park. He said these bikes will be limited to the park’s parking lot and roadways and will no longer be permitted on the fields or the pedestrian walkways.

The ordinance was introduced on motion of Mr. Owens, seconded by Mr. Young, and carried unanimously, with a public hearing set for August 10, 2026.

Data centers in public comment

Jay Tilek of 514 Horizon Way said he has been a Branchburg resident for 13 years and is a candidate for a Township Committee seat at the upcoming election. He asked the Committee to consider an ordinance prohibiting the development of data centers in the Township, saying the Township should act before a data center application is submitted, to protect the community’s character and resources. He said large-scale data centers consume a significant amount of electricity and other local resources, and that some neighboring towns have adopted ordinances restricting or prohibiting them.

Mayor Schworn said Verizon has a presence in the Township, which could make an outright ban difficult, as smaller data-related facilities already exist. He said the Township had begun evaluating the potential impact of large-scale data centers and shares concerns about additional strain on local resources. Mr. Young said the Township will review measures adopted by other towns but cautioned against “creating unintended consequences through overly constricted regulations,” and said the Township must also consider preserving appropriate and legitimate uses that support existing and future businesses.

Old York School and the $2.25 million award

In his report, Administrator Bonin said the Courier News had listed the Community Project Funding grants for Central New Jersey towns submitted by Congressman Kean’s office, to be included in the U.S. House of Representatives appropriations bills, and that Branchburg is on the list for a $2.25 million award for an Emergency Operations Center. He said it “may be the highest awarded project to any single town.”

In his liaison report, Mayor Schworn said he had met with the Branchburg Board of Education’s new Superintendent, Kevin McPeek, and that the Township is working with the Board of Education “to discuss the acquisition of Old York School and to repurpose that building into a new Police Department and Office of Emergency Management Center.”

Other business

Resolutions No. 2026-145 through 2026-148 passed on motion of Mr. Beatrice, seconded by Mr. Young. Recorded vote: 4–0 (Aye: Young, Owens, Beatrice, Schworn): accepting inspection fees from L Squared Properties Development LLC, Block 58.01, Lot 4 (2026-145); purchase of a playground structure for White Oak Park from Ben Schaffer Recreation (2026-146); recreation program salaries (2026-147); and recreation refunds (2026-148).

The claims for payment passed on motion of Mr. Young, seconded by Mr. Beatrice, 4–0 (Aye: Young, Owens, Beatrice, Schworn). The attached bill list totals $848,106.59, including $515,002.65 to W.E. Timmerman Co. for a Vactor sewer jet, $99,515.70 from the open space fund to Storr Tractor Co. for a Toro Groundmaster and $52,525.89 for a 2026 Ford F150 police responder. The minutes of the July 13 executive and regular sessions were approved.

Mr. Bonin also reported that the Silver Saddle Community Pool, halfway through its season, had exceeded the Township’s financial estimate with no major incidents; that the tree program will run again in the fall, with about $80,000.00 in the fund, enough for about 200–250 trees; that the Municipal Building is being upgraded with new carpeting and workstations, the carpet being original to the 1990 building; that the renovated tennis and pickleball courts are open; and that Norfolk Southern’s maintenance work on the Quiet Zone is complete, its work has been incorporated into the Township’s updated construction plans, and those plans were submitted to Norfolk Southern for approval, after which the Township can proceed with construction of the permanent Quiet Zone.

The Committee went into executive session at 7:20 p.m. to discuss a pending contract and litigation (Resolution No. 2026-149), returned at 7:30 p.m. and adjourned.

See data centers, municipal annex, public safety and roads and traffic.

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