Township Council — December 3, 2025

What was decided

The township’s notice moved this regular meeting from Thursday, December 4 to Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. Present: Councilmen Kirsh, Kurdyla and Pedroso and Council President Norgalis, with Mayor Moench, Administrator Michael Pappas, Township Attorney Christopher Corsini and Clerk Grace Njuguna. Councilman Ring was absent. Unless noted, votes below were 4-0 (ayes Kirsh, Kurdyla, Pedroso, Norgalis; Ring absent).

Cornell Boulevard: Ordinance 25-24 introduced, 3-1

The Council introduced the ordinance repealing and replacing §126-321.10, the AH-3 Affordable Housing Zone on Block 406, Lot 2.01, for eleven 100% affordable multifamily units and four disabled veterans’ housing units (#25-12-03-288), 3-1: Kirsh, Kurdyla and Norgalis aye; Pedroso nay; Ring absent. It was sent to the Planning Board for its December 16 meeting, with the hearing set for December 17.

• Mayor Moench said the 15-unit, fully affordable project earns bonus credits, so completing it avoids the need to replace roughly 150 units elsewhere, and that it had recently received $3 million in state funding.
• Pedroso said he would not support the project and suggested a cost analysis of the township building affordable housing itself. Kirsh said self-funding would have required a substantial investment.
• In public comment, Maureen Dwyer of West Summit Street, Somerville, raised traffic at the highway entrance, the natural buffer and how the site was chosen, and asked the Council to table the matter until January. Joan Geiger, Council-elect, asked that the Cornell discussion be tabled until the new Council takes office so its members could review residents’ concerns.

See Cornell Boulevard housing.

Middle Brook sewer bond: hearing held, vote carried

The public hearing on the $4,100,000 bond ordinance for Middle Brook Sanitary Sewer Pumping Station Improvements, Phase 2, was held, and on Kurdyla’s motion the ordinance, with no vote proposed, was carried to December 17. Pedroso said recent budget transfers suggested the sewer utility was in a strong financial position and that the incoming Council should take up the vote in January. Kirsh said the sewer rate had stayed unchanged for many years, leaving the utility in poor fiscal and physical condition by 2020. At the hearing, Cathy Franco asked how the work would affect sewer rates; the Mayor said cost information would be provided before the next meeting and that the bond goes through the State I-Bank program for better rates. Joan Geiger said she recognized the need to replace the 50-year-old system. See water and sewer.

Ordinances adopted

• #25-21, amending Chapter 138 (massage and bodywork therapy), 3-1: Kirsh, Kurdyla, Norgalis aye; Pedroso nay (#25-12-03-285). Norgalis said the Health and Police Departments had raised concerns about monitoring these businesses; Kurdyla said, after reviewing police reports, that it targets inappropriate activity at a small number of establishments. Pedroso asked for a clearer definition of “suggestive clothing” in Section 9, paragraph Q. No one spoke at the hearing.
• #25-22, amending the Chapter 94 health fees, 3-1: Kirsh, Kurdyla, Norgalis aye; Pedroso nay (#25-12-03-286). At the hearing Andrew Bucko discussed the lower reinspection fees; the Mayor said the old high fees were rarely charged and offered to work with him on further changes in January.
• #25-23, amending Chapter 216 to add a suspension provision for the wrecker roster, 4-0 (#25-12-03-287). Norgalis said the Police Department had provided insight on a long-running problem. See police.

Ordinances introduced (hearing December 17)

• Chapter 26 compensation standards for non-union employees, 4-0 (#25-12-03-289); Pappas said the three bargaining units are covered by their contracts.
• BRCC zone amendments to conform to the 2025 Master Plan Re-examination Report, 4-0 (#25-12-03-290), and C-1 Neighborhood Business Zone conditional uses, 3-0 with Pedroso abstaining (#25-12-03-291), both referred to the Planning Board for December 16. The Mayor said these began implementing the recently adopted Master Plan, giving more flexibility in the BRCC zone and modernizing C-1 areas such as Martinsville. See land use applications.

Resolutions

• #25-12-03-292, the township’s employee handbook. The Mayor said a question raised by an employee in public comment involved a section that applies only to part-time employees.
• #25-12-03-294, inserting a $356,411 NJDOT grant for Country Club Road, Ardsley Lane and Goldfinch Drive into the budget; -296, Pave-Rite, Inc. (Bridgewater), up to $68,746.40 for Ash Street road repairs, which the Mayor said answered residents’ concerns about pipes there; -297, the final change order and acceptance of the Foxcroft Road and Spring Valley Drive project (Top Line Construction), down $625.58 to $651,052.35. See roads and traffic.
• #25-12-03-295, two 2026 Ford F-350 trucks from Ciocca Ford, up to $144,231, paid from Clean Communities grants.
• #25-12-03-298, ratifying a memorandum of agreement with Teamsters Local No. 11; Pappas said it is a four-year contract.
• #25-12-03-293, release of premium bid money from tax sales.
• The November 6 minutes were approved by voice vote, Pedroso abstaining as he had been absent.

Reports

• Kirsh reported that the Zoning Board on November 25 approved a D1 variance for an expanded JCC use but that three use variances for age-restricted townhouses failed for lack of the required supermajority, and that the Planning Board on December 2 continued its Master Plan review. He said he had met individually with Council members-elect Geiger, Isla and Bucko, and that complete applications are entitled to a hearing, with no pre-screening.
• Norgalis congratulated Sergeants Anthony Mendoza and Adam Alosi, Lieutenants Michael Ziarnowski and Robert Reilly, and Captains Joseph Dolinski and Douglas Thorsen on their promotions, and credited Sgt. James Edwards with completing the revised emergency management (OEM) plan accepted by the county and State Police. He announced the January 5 reorganization meeting. The Mayor thanked retiring Captains Tennant and Severe.
• Pedroso, leaving the Council after 14 years, gave a farewell statement. He said he had voted against tax increases, sewer fee increases and bonding, and urged the Council to stop raising taxes, reduce bonding and lower the sewer bill. Kurdyla added remarks on Veterans Day with the former Martinsville VFW post.

Public comment

Eight people spoke in the general public comment period (Dwyer and Geiger on Cornell Boulevard, above).

• John Arcoleo of Washington Valley Road, Cathy Franco of Weemac Road and Bob Albano of Papen Road thanked the departing members. Franco asked how the health fee updates relate to costs; Norgalis and the Mayor said they are set to match comparable towns and cover inspection costs. Albano, a trustee of the Martinsville Rescue Squad, asked the Council to consider Assembly Bill 675, which would recognize emergency medical services as an essential service. See fire and emergency services.
• Tim Kenny of Short Hills Drive thanked the township for plans to repave Short Hills Drive and nearby streets and suggested municipal solar to manage electric costs; the Mayor said larger community solar projects are being explored. Norgalis said American Water serves the township and repaired recent main breaks on the street.
• Andrew Bucko supported updating health fees after 16 years.
• Mr. Boehme (listed as “Kyle B”), a township employee, said the employee handbook update would cost employees time off.

The meeting adjourned at about 8:59 p.m.

Records

• Minutes (township document page)
• Rescheduling notice (township notice)
• Agenda: LocalWhy has not yet reviewed the agenda for this meeting.
• Video on the township’s YouTube channel (1:29:31). This page follows the Clerk’s minutes.