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Bridgewater's Snow Removal, Explained: The 2025–26 Costs and Three New Winter Ordinances
How the 2025–26 snow contract and salt purchases grew, what the Council said about storm response, and what the new ordinances require of apartment complexes (#26-05), property owners with fire hydrants (#26-13) and drivers on snow-emergency streets (#26-16).
The short version
- The 2025–26 snow-removal contract with RJM Landscape and Design, LLC (Branchburg) ended the winter at a ceiling of $681,446.25, after three increases. Road salt from the county reached $229,605.60.
- Ordinance #26-05 requires owners of multifamily developments to clear snow and ice from their private roadways and walkways. Adopted April 23, 2026, 3-1.
- Ordinance #26-13 requires owners with a fire hydrant in front of their property to clear snow around it. Adopted Aug. 6, 2026, 4-0.
- Ordinance #26-16 adds streets to the snow-emergency no-parking schedule. Adopted Oct. 1, 2026, 5-0.
What the winter cost
| Date | Resolution | Change | New ceiling | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov. 6, 2025 | RJM snow removal for the 2025–26 winter (#25-11-06-277) | — | $60,000.00 | 4-0 (Pedroso absent) |
| Jan. 22, 2026 | Road salt, Somerset County Road & Bridge Division | — | $150,000.00 | 3-0 (Kirsh, Ring absent) |
| Jan. 22, 2026 | RJM snow removal | +$150,000.00 | $210,000.00 | 3-0 (Kirsh, Ring absent) |
| Jan. 22, 2026 | Emergency resolution (N.J.S. 40A:4-46), snow-removal salaries and wages | — | — | 3-0 |
| March 5, 2026 | RJM snow removal (#26-03-05-092) | +$350,000.00 | $560,000.00 | 5-0 |
| April 9, 2026 | Road salt (consent) | +$79,605.60 | $229,605.60 | 5-0 |
| April 9, 2026 | RJM snow removal (consent) | +$121,446.25 | $681,446.25 | 5-0 |
The Jan. 22 minutes print these resolution numbers as “#26-02-22-…”. On April 9 Administrator Michael Pappas said “the vast majority has already been used, but that a balance needs to be maintained.”
What officials said about storm response. On Jan. 22 resident Cathy Franco asked how contractors are paid; Pappas said they are “billed by vehicle, rather than by the hour or inch of snow,” and Councilman Michael Kirsh said ice and sleet cost more to clear than powder regardless of totals. On Feb. 5 Pappas reported that 42 township and contracted vehicles worked the storm, that salt “is ineffective when temperatures fall below 20 degrees,” that statewide salt supplies were limited, and that the Governor’s Executive Order lets unanticipated snow costs be excluded from budget caps.
The 2025 audit. On July 9 Mayor Matthew C. Moench said the audit’s only recommendation concerned unanticipated Public Works overtime for late-December snow removal, “which had already been addressed through the 2026 approved budget.” On July 23 Councilman Andrew Bucko described it as “approximately $18,000 over-expenditure for snow removal” after a storm when “the contingency account had been drained,” and suggested a minimum contingency balance and a policy for emergency transfers.
Ordinance #26-05: apartment complexes
Why it came up. On Jan. 22 the Council reported “numerous complaints” about uncleared sidewalks and parking lots at the Bridgewater Square apartment complex on Route 202/206; Councilman Bucko inspected the site. Bucko said Chapter 182 “appears to apply only to sidewalks abutting public streets,” and Pappas distinguished “qualified communities” (condominiums and HOAs that receive township snow-removal funding) from private apartment complexes. The administration agreed to a legal review. The minutes record that the property was cleared after outreach, and on Feb. 5 Pappas said the Mayor had hand-delivered a letter to the management company.
How it was written.
| Date | Step | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| March 5, 2026 | Introduction tabled | Voice vote |
| March 19, 2026 | Tabled again for changes: police-only enforcement (Pappas’s suggestion, supported by Chief Mitzak) and fines scaled to development size “with a maximum penalty of $5,000” | Voice vote |
| April 9, 2026 | Introduced with fines “between $1,500 and $5,000” for private-roadway violations (Section 182-1.3) and the Health Officer and Code Enforcement removed from enforcement | 5-0 |
| April 23, 2026 | Adopted after a hearing at which no one spoke | 3-1: Bucko, Isla, Kirsh aye; Ring nay; Geiger absent |
| May 7, 2026 | The Mayor reported signing it, to be implemented “for the next enforcement season” | — |
No reason for Councilman Ring’s vote is recorded. At adoption, Bucko said township removal of snow on private property is “not intended to be routine.” He reported a concern from the Loft Farm Homeowners Association that its contract allows 24 hours after a storm while the ordinance requires removal “within 12 daylight hours”; he said the two “are generally consistent” in winter.
The adopted text (effective May 13, 2026) sets fines of $1,500 to $5,000, or up to 90 days, for Section 182-1.3 private-roadway violations and up to $500, or up to 90 days, for other violations, each 24 hours a separate offense. Its new Section 182-5 says the chapter is enforced by “the Department of Public Works, the Bridgewater Township Police Department, and/or their designees,” where the March 19 minutes record Pappas suggesting police-only enforcement.
Ordinance #26-13: fire hydrants
On July 9 the Mayor said the volunteer fire chiefs had asked for help keeping hydrants clear. On July 23 Pappas described the proposal: owners “with a fire hydrant in front of their property” remove snow around it “to assist with emergency response time.” Kirsh asked how hydrants at intersections would be handled; Bucko suggested more reflector markers and asked about hydrants on private property. It was introduced 5-0.
At the Aug. 6 hearing, Robert Albano (1149 Papen Road), who said he has cleared a hydrant near his home for about 50 years, supported it. Cathy Franco supported it and asked that the fire departments consider help for senior and disabled residents. The Mayor said the goal is to encourage residents who are able, and that assistance “could be considered as needs arise.” Adopted 4-0 (Bucko, Kirsh, Ring, Geiger; Isla absent).
Ordinance #26-16: snow-emergency streets and storm parking
Ordinance #26-16 amends Section 44 of Article XIV of Chapter 206 (snow-emergency no-parking areas) “to include additional streets.” It was introduced Sept. 17 and adopted Oct. 1, both 5-0; no one spoke at the hearing. The minutes do not list the added streets; the ordinance marks two additions to the schedule, Chamberlin Way (“entire length (westerly portion)”) and Loft Drive (“entire length (outer portion only)”). It took effect Oct. 21, 2026.
Street parking during storms came up through the year:
- Feb. 5: Manjunath Rao (31 Murphy Drive) asked whether cars could be required off the street during snow events. Kirsh suggested temporarily allowing parking on lawns beside driveways in extraordinary storms and revisiting snow-emergency routes; Pappas said restrictions on certain roads or alternate- side parking would be considered.
- March 5: Manish Patel suggested policies on vehicles parked on streets during snow events.
- Aug. 6: Chief Mitzak relayed a Loft Drive request for “No Parking This Side of the Road” signs during snow events.
- Sept. 17: Councilman Ring cited parking problems near Milltown Road and Kirsh’s idea of using the Park and Ride lot near Milltown Road and Route 22 in storms; Kirsh said he would work with the administration on options before winter.
- Oct. 1: Kirsh reported that discussions with the administration “regarding snow policies are ongoing as the Township approaches the winter season.”
What is not known
- The total cost of winter 2025–26 (contractor, salt and overtime together), and what the 2026 budget carries for the coming winter.
What residents can do
- Apartment residents: report uncleared private roadways to the Police Department, which enforces Ordinance #26-05.
- Homeowners: keep the hydrant in front of your property clear after storms (Ordinance #26-13), and watch for snow-emergency declarations before parking on the street.
- Policy: speak in public comment at a Township Council meeting about storm parking or other snow rules.