Township Council — March 5, 2026

What was decided

All five members were present: Bucko, Isla, Kirsh, Ring and Council President Geiger. Administrator Pappas reported for the Mayor.

Affordable housing ordinances adopted

All four passed 5-0 (ayes Bucko, Isla, Kirsh, Ring, Geiger). See Fourth Round housing.

• #26-01, affordable housing ordinance and development fee ordinance (Fair Housing Act, UHAC, N.J.A.C. 5:99-1 et seq.), Ring/Bucko. No hearing speakers.
• #26-02, amending the RMDU-26 Multi-Family Residential Zone, Block 400 Lot 7.06, 520 Route 22 East, Ring/Kirsh. One speaker.
• #26-03, adding the AH-2 Affordable Housing Zone, Block 711 Lot 7, 1400 Frontier Road, Ring/Kirsh. One speaker.
• #26-04, adding the AH-1 Affordable Housing Zone, Block 170 Lot 4.02, 250 Route 28, which repurposes an existing office building, Ring/Isla. No hearing speakers.

A letter from the affordable housing attorney, read by Geiger, said missing the March 15, 2026 deadline could cost the township its protection from exclusionary-zoning challenges and builder’s remedy suits. Township Planner Katherine Sarmad said Bridgewater entered the round with about 200 credits, nearly half its obligation; that township-built housing was studied, with a 60-unit fully affordable project estimated at $20–30 million that could require bonding the full cost without a committed developer; that nine property owners offered sites; and that several chosen sites redevelop existing office buildings rather than open land. Kirsh estimated that township-built units for the roughly 400-unit obligation could exceed $100 million before land and utilities. Bucko said he would like affordable ownership as well as rentals; Ring said the plan’s mix of housing types was viewed favorably.

Resolutions (5-0 unless noted)

• #26-03-05-081 to -085 (consent): the 2026 Affordable Housing Trust Fund spending plan, affirmative marketing plan, affordable housing operating manual, Housing Rehabilitation Program operating manual and affordability assistance manual.
• #26-03-05-080, a tax refund after approved state tax appeals, 2145 Gilbride Road.
• #26-03-05-086, release of a $77,700.00 performance guarantee, LCS Development, LLC (Delaney Assisted Living), 901 Frontier Road.
• #26-03-05-087, notice of 2026 County CDBG applications by six nonprofits (Adult Day Center of Somerset County, CASA Shaw, HomeSharing, Inc., the Shimon and Sara Birnbaum JCC, Visions and Pathways, Youth Consultation Services) — 4-0-1, Kirsh abstaining as vice chair of HomeSharing; Geiger disclosed that she serves on a board that contributes to CASA Shaw.
• #26-03-05-088, 2025 appropriation reserve transfers (no change in the total budget).
• #26-03-05-089, second-year renewal of Active Disposal, Inc. for dumpster rental and municipal refuse, up to $34,160.00.
• #26-03-05-090, ARAE, LLC, interim IT services through April 30, up to $56,400.00.
• #26-03-05-091, Somerset Hills Tennis Association, tennis and pickleball instruction, up to $60,000.00 from Recreation Trust Fund fees.
• #26-03-05-092, an additional $350,000.00 to RJM Landscape and Design, LLC for snow removal, for a 2025-26 total of up to $560,000.00. See snow removal.
• Tabled by unanimous voice vote (Bucko/Ring): introduction of a Chapter 182 amendment defining responsibility for clearing snow and ice from parking lots and sidewalks at multifamily apartment complexes.

Reports and discussion

• Budget: Bucko reported that the Council received the Administration’s draft 2026 municipal budget on February 27 and that the Finance Committee had begun its review.
• The Mayor is considering a fire hydrant ordinance after talks with volunteer fire chiefs. The Environmental Commission chose Jeffrey Foose as chair. Geiger said the Police Department was reaccredited for the fourth time.
• Immigration enforcement: in reply to public comment, Pappas and Geiger said the Police Chief has issued written guidance, consistent with Attorney General direction, on handling federal immigration enforcement; Bucko is working on a possible related ordinance.
• Emergency-response cost recovery (Chapter 40): Police Chief Mitzak said the ordinance recovers costs when a driver found responsible for a crash needs significant fire or EMS response, that it involves no jail time, and that costs are often covered by auto insurance. Kirsh said taxpayers would otherwise bear the costs; Ring said similar cost recovery exists elsewhere.

Public comment

• Manish Patel of Schaffer Road asked for town halls with federal representatives, raised immigration enforcement and its effect on Bridgewater’s population and a detention facility proposed in another municipality, and suggested street-parking rules for snow events.
• Richard Aboujaoude of East Main Street asked for help on a zoning matter over his pigeon coop, kept since 2011; Pappas will review.
• Angela Della Ventura of Watchung, for her son, asked the Council to reconsider, or allow a payment plan for, an Office of Emergency Management request for about $15,025 in emergency-response costs from a March 5, 2025 crash. Corsini and Pappas said the matter is under internal review and court proceedings are separate.
• Filipe Pedroso of Yohn Drive asked the Council to revoke the enforcement provisions of Code §40-6, which he said the Council amended 4-1 on May 23, 2024 to allow up to six months in jail for failing to pay a cleanup bill within 45 days, and said the bill above includes volunteer responders’ time. Chief Mitzak and Council members said the violation is not jailable. At the #26-02 hearing he suggested the township study building affordable units itself to limit total units.
• Jeff Foose of Forest View Drive thanked land-use staff, urged measured development and said the Environmental Commission meets the first Thursday of each month at 6:00 p.m.
• Bruce Bongiorno of Arrowsmith Drive, at the #26-03 hearing, asked how residents apply for affordable units and whether they get priority. Sarmad said an administrative agent runs applications and waiting lists, units are publicly marketed, and local-resident preference is no longer allowed; the preference is regional (Somerset, Middlesex, Hunterdon).

Records

• Minutes (township document page)
• Agenda (posted on the township site; LocalWhy has not yet reviewed it)
• Video on the township’s YouTube channel (1:44:11). This page follows the Clerk’s minutes.