Township Council — May 18, 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).

• Ordinance #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 — adopted. No one spoke at the hearing. Pappas said the entity name change to an Urban Renewal LLC is needed for state affordable housing funding and does not change the approved development.
• Ordinance #26-08, temporary parking on part of Block 222 Lot 3.01 — adopted. One speaker (below). Ring said it is a one-time six-month measure that cannot be extended; the Mayor said earlier hotel proposals fell through and the dealership owner bought the parcel, possibly to expand.
• #26-05-18-131, fireworks at Raritan Valley Country Club, 747 Route 28, on June 27 (rain date June 28).
• Developer’s agreement with M&M at Route 206, LLC for a manufacturing facility at 721 Route 202-206 (Block 476 Lot 22). Pappas said a basin was reduced to meet DEP requirements through an engineer’s design waiver; the Mayor said no tenants had been identified; Bucko flagged a negative landscape-maintenance guarantee figure, which the Mayor called a likely typo to be verified. Ring said the agreement adds enforcement authority and does not change the approvals.
• The May 7 minutes were deferred.

Reports

• Proclamation: ALS Awareness Month. Chief Mitzak presented the Citizen Police Academy graduation.
• Geiger announced Bridgewater’s participation in the Victory Towns 250th celebration on the Washington-Rochambeau Route and said she met Chief Mitzak and Captain Thorsen on township-wide speeding. Kirsh said Visions and Pathways plans Bridge House, 10 studio apartments, once funded, and that a Chick-fil-A at Bridgewater Town Center expects 85–90 jobs. Ring and the Mayor thanked police for their response to a roughly 36-hour armed barricade incident; OEM is coordinating nine large summer events and pursuing winter-storm disaster reimbursement.
• The Mayor said the Township Planner has prepared a report on residential lighting amendments implementing the Master Plan, under Administration review.

Public comment

• Mary Gallagher of Highland Avenue described all-night outdoor LED lighting from a newly developed property across the street and asked the township to strengthen its residential and commercial lighting rules. Kirsh asked staff to review state law and other towns’ practices; the Mayor said the tree removal there was permitted.
• Filipe Pedroso of Yohn Drive said the adopted budget raises municipal taxes by 10%, that municipal taxes have risen about 42% and sewer bills more than 35% since the current Mayor took office, that 2013–2019 average annual increases were under 1%, and that the Council should challenge spending.
• Cathy Franco of Weemac Road thanked responders for the 36-hour incident, asked the Council to consider an ordinance prohibiting data centers like one introduced in Warren Township, said the #26-08 agenda description did not identify the location (1260 Route 22), and asked whether the M&M agreement changed approvals. At the #26-08 hearing she said hotel or restaurant proposals would have generated more tax revenue and asked why the matter did not go to the Zoning Board. See data centers.
• Chris Drew of Dow Road described flooding on his property since 2024 involving a pipe from a neighboring lot, said conditions worsened after its removal and that he spent about $10,000 on a berm, and asked the township to help; the Mayor said the Administration would follow up.
• Hursith Adimulam of Milltown Road thanked police for the Hill Lane incident response.

Records

• Minutes (township document page)
• Agenda (posted on the township site; LocalWhy has not yet reviewed it)
• Video on the township’s YouTube channel (1:27:51). This page follows the Clerk’s minutes.