Township Council — May 7, 2026

What was decided

Present: Bucko, Kirsh, Ring and Council President Geiger, with Mayor Moench. Councilwoman Isla was absent. Every vote below was 4-0 (ayes Bucko, Kirsh, Ring, Geiger; Isla absent).

2026 budget adopted

• #26-05-07-119, reading the budget by title only; -120, amending it; -121, a resolution voted after the public hearing; and -122, adopting the 2026 municipal budget.
• The Mayor said the amendment made three corrections with no overall effect on the budget: aligning township and school fiscal-cycle timing to reduce “true-ups”, removing a duplicated shared-services line, and a $100 correction to sewer utility debt service principal.
• The Mayor said increases were driven largely by healthcare, pensions, insurance, utilities, fuel and snow removal. Council President Geiger cited an estimated increase of about $13 a month for a typical home. The Mayor said it was the first budget in several years to pass without opposing votes.
• On debt, the Mayor said bond-rating concerns were tied mainly to low surplus, that debt could be fully retired around 2040 if no new borrowing occurred, and that smaller capital items are moving to cash. Bucko estimated debt service at about 15% of total appropriations and said he would monitor it. See budget and taxes.

Ordinances introduced (hearing May 18)

• #26-07, amending Ordinance 25-04 on the sale of Block 511 Lot 3 (Whitney Court) to Triple C Housing, Inc. for $100 for affordable housing; Ring described it as a technical cleanup of the business-entity language.
• #26-08, temporary use of part of Block 222 Lot 3.01 for parking, subject to conditions (dealership inventory storage).

Resolutions

• #26-05-07-125, fee waivers ($530) and fireworks for the Somerset County Park Commission at 355 Milltown Road on July 3.
• #26-05-07-126, $37,227.25 from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund for repairs to two low- and moderate-income homes under the Housing Rehabilitation Program. Pappas said the fund comes from developer fees and the lien runs about 25 years, with prorated repayment on an early sale.
• #26-05-07-127, Appraisal Systems, Inc. (Morristown), reassessment inspections, up to $89,430 for 2026. The Mayor said about 20% of properties are inspected each year, for a full reassessment over five years; Pappas said refusing entry can cost an owner the ability to appeal.
• #26-05-07-128, a three-year lease purchase of eight vehicles through Nielsen Fleet on an ESCNJ cooperative contract, up to $647,401.53.
• The April 23 minutes were approved by voice vote, Geiger abstaining.

Reports

The Mayor said he signed the snow-removal ordinance adopted April 23, effective next enforcement season, and wrote to County Administrator Colleen Maher about a resident petition to lower the East Main Street speed limit between Finderne Avenue and the Somerville border, which Bucko also raised.

Public comment

• Susan Dorward of Waldron Drive said the fence at the township detention basin and culvert on Waldron Drive has deteriorated into a safety hazard, and asked that its roughly $20,000 replacement, in Public Works budget requests for three years, be prioritized. The Mayor said projects are prioritized after budget adoption and it could be done this year or next.
• At the budget hearing, Manish Patel of Shaffer Road asked about township debt, which he said discussions put at $85–90 million, how it is allocated across infrastructure, sewer and facilities, the bond rating and repayment through 2040, and asked for clearer communication of long-term obligations.

Records

• Minutes (township document page)
• Agenda (posted on the township site; LocalWhy has not yet reviewed it)
• Video on the township’s YouTube channel (1:28:51). This page follows the Clerk’s minutes.