Roads, paving and speeding

The agenda listed hearings on the Block 520 Lot 17 quitclaim deed and the ordinance ending elected officials' eligibility for township health benefits; the township's resolutions record both adopted, 5-0. Its resolutions also record the introduction, 5-0, of the floodplain ordinance, the $65,600 Block 519 Lot 28 purchase and an amendment to the Greymark redevelopment plan, all set for hearing Nov. 5, and awards for the Country Club Road paving ($793,837.90) and more emergency radio equipment. LocalWhy has not yet reviewed minutes of this meeting.

The Council adopted #26-16, adding snow emergency no-parking streets, and introduced ordinances releasing expired affordability controls on Block 520 Lot 17 and ending elected officials' eligibility for township health benefits, all 5-0, with hearings October 15. The Director of Municipal Services presented the required replacement floodplain ordinance ahead of FEMA's November 13 maps. A Pilot Fiber agreement was tabled.

The Council awarded the emergency radio equipment contract to Motorola Solutions, up to $2,950,000, and introduced an ordinance adding streets to the snow emergency no-parking list, all 5-0. It also approved a backhoe purchase, The Clubhouse liquor license transfer, the KM Construction final change order and a one-year extension of the police chief's contract. Ring said his ordinance ending elected officials' health benefits was drafted for October 1.

After an 11-speaker hearing, the three members present (Bucko, Kirsh and Geiger; Isla and Ring absent) adopted data center ordinance #26-15, 3-0. Planner Sarmad said it does not change where data centers are permitted but sets standards for use-variance applications. The Council also approved a $133,000 housing trust fund grant for a group home at 305 Raymond Court. Vosseller Avenue residents asked for permanent speed measures.

With Isla absent, the Council adopted the omnibus Master Plan ordinance #26-14 and introduced a data center and hyperscale data center ordinance, each 4-0. Planner Sarmad said a concept plan filed with the 1200 Route 22 subdivision application was included in error and has no legal effect. The sewer utility director presented pump station and inflow work; the Van Veghten Drive paving contract was cut to its $784,430.75 base bid.

With Isla absent, the Council adopted the fire hydrant snow-clearing ordinance #26-13, 4-0, and introduced the omnibus Master Plan ordinance, 4-0, with its data center language removed for later review. A listed repeal of the 1200 Route 22 redevelopment plan was taken off the agenda. Twelve residents spoke, most on data centers. The police chief reported a Bogart Drive speed study, and Visions and Pathways presented Bridge House.

The Council adopted three bond ordinances, each 5-0: #26-10, $4,205,000 for the emergency radio system; #26-11, $1,900,000 for road improvements; and #26-12, $2,500,000 for drainage. It awarded $133,505.50 for the Philip and David Miller Park basketball courts. The Mayor reported the 2025 audit complete with one recommendation. Residents raised a possible data center at the Greymark property and the Melick farm stand.

The Council introduced three bond ordinances for July 9 hearings: $4,205,000 for the county-mandated emergency radio system (5-0), $1,900,000 for road improvements (5-0) and $2,500,000 for drainage (4-1, Kirsh voting no). It adopted the Starbucks traffic ordinance #26-09, renewed 2026–2027 liquor licenses and ratified the Superior Officers' Association contract for 2026–2030.

Public Works presented "Trees for Tomorrow", about 120 native street trees this year from roughly $60,000 in the Shade Tree Removal Fund, and the Council awarded the planting contract, 5-0. It introduced an ordinance letting police enforce traffic rules at the Starbucks site, 1298 Route 22, and approved the Starbucks developer's agreement. Bucko reported NJDOT approval of stop signs at the Route 22 exit onto Vosseller Avenue.

The Council adopted #26-07 (the Whitney Court affordable housing sale) and #26-08 (one-time six-month temporary parking on Block 222 Lot 3.01), each 4-0 with Isla absent, and approved a developer's agreement for the M&M at Route 206 manufacturing facility. A resident asked the Council to consider an ordinance prohibiting data centers; others raised taxes, lighting and drainage.

After a public hearing and an amendment, the Council adopted the 2026 municipal budget, 4-0, with Isla absent. It introduced ordinances on the Whitney Court affordable housing sale (#26-07) and temporary dealership parking on Block 222 Lot 3.01 (#26-08), and approved an $89,430 reassessment inspection contract and a lease-purchase of eight vehicles of up to $647,401.53.

Bridgewater Self Storage's application at Routes 22 and 28 had its fourth hearing, with the applicant's engineer, architect and planner, Paul Ricci. Twelve members of the public questioned witnesses or commented, including on traffic and safety at the Route 22 driveway; the hearing was carried to July 14. The 1200 Route 22 warehouse application was carried to Sept. 22 with new notice.

With Geiger absent and Bucko presiding, the Council adopted the 2026 cap-bank ordinance #26-06, 4-0, and the multifamily snow-clearing ordinance #26-05, 3-1 with Ring voting no. The police chief reported directed patrols on Vosseller Avenue, and Bucko asked NJDOT to study a stop sign at the Route 22 exit there. Rebecca Melick asked that the farm market at 351 Route 28 be preserved.

The Council introduced the 2026 municipal budget, 5-0: a Current Fund of $54,903,722.86 and a Sewer Fund of $13,924,398.82, with the municipal rate proposed to rise from 0.2440 to 0.2448. It also introduced the cap-bank and revised multifamily snow ordinances and awarded the $2,946,000 Middle Brook pump station contract. Residents raised speeding on Vosseller Avenue and Allen Road.

The Board opened the hearing on Nan Realty Holdings' application for an 85,140-square-foot, four-story self-storage building on a 2.11-acre part of 360 Milltown Road, in the C-3 zone, which needs a D(1) use variance. The engineer and traffic engineer testified; one resident asked about traffic at a one-lane underpass. The hearing was carried to June 9.

The Council introduced four Fourth Round affordable housing ordinances, 5-0, for a March 5 hearing, and approved 5-0 the professional appointments that had failed on February 5. It also named an Acting CFO and approved the Middlebrook pump station engineering contract, the first step toward a grant-funded Garretson Road sidewalk and the County recycling agreement.

A consent motion on eight professional-appointment resolutions failed 2-3 (Kirsh and Ring for; Bucko, Isla and Geiger against) and was carried to the next meeting. The Council backed Hudson Tunnel funding, approved the 2025 LOSAP list and a $75,000 grant application for Alfred E. Brown Park tennis courts, all 5-0, and tabled the County recycling agreement. Residents raised the Rockland APV battery application and school crosswalk safety.

Joan Geiger, Andrew Bucko and Ridwana Isla took their oaths for four-year Council terms. The Council elected Geiger president and Bucko vice president, 5-0, and adopted the 2026 business, meeting-schedule, cash-management and permit resolutions, 5-0. Mayor Moench gave his State of the Township; nine members of the public spoke.

In the outgoing Council's last meeting, with Councilman Pedroso absent, the Council adopted Ordinance 25-24, replacing the AH-3 zone at Cornell Boulevard, 4-0, after 17 people spoke at the hearing, and the $4.1 million Middle Brook sewer bond (#25-13), 4-0. It also adopted the BRCC and C-1 zone changes, certified the 2024 audit, approved 2026 employee health insurance, the 2024–2027 police contract and Sarah Housman as Director of Finance, and rejected a special tax counsel agreement, 2-2.

Meeting a day early by township notice, with Councilman Ring absent, the Council introduced Ordinance 25-24, replacing the AH-3 zone at Cornell Boulevard, 3-1 (Pedroso nay), after a Somerville resident and Council-elect Joan Geiger asked that it wait for the new Council. It adopted the massage, health-fee and towing ordinances (#25-21 and #25-22, 3-1; #25-23, 4-0), held the hearing on the $4.1 million Middle Brook sewer bond and carried its vote to December 17, and introduced the BRCC and C-1 zone ordinances.

With Councilman Pedroso absent, the Council introduced, 4-0, a $4,100,000 bond ordinance for Phase 2 of the Middle Brook sewer pumping station and ordinances on massage businesses, the towing roster and health fees. It renewed Stavola's 2026 quarry license, awarded a snow-removal contract of up to $60,000 to RJM Landscape and Design, and approved a $642,997.23 paving contract for Plymouth Road, Ryan Way and Jeffrey Lane. The Planner reported medical-office interest at the Somerset Corporate Center.