Township Council — July 23, 2026

What was decided

All five members were present: Bucko, Isla, Kirsh, Ring and Council President Geiger. Administrator Pappas reported for the Mayor. Every vote below was 5-0 (ayes Bucko, Isla, Kirsh, Ring, Geiger).

• Ordinance introduced (became #26-13; hearing August 6): amending Chapter 182, Snow and Ice Removal, to require owners to clear snow around fire hydrants in front of their property, at the request of the volunteer fire chiefs.
• #26-07-23-173 and -174 (consent): certifying the 2025 municipal audit and approving its corrective action plan. The single recommendation concerned an over-expenditure on late-December snow removal, about $18,000 per Bucko, already funded in the 2026 budget. See budget and taxes.
• #26-07-23-175, waiving up to $3,445 in permit fees for the Somerset County 4-H Fair, North Branch Park, August 5–7.
• #26-07-23-176, discharging a property rehabilitation mortgage at 1048 Hoffman Road (Geiger noted it should have been released in 2019); -177, releasing part of a mortgaged property at 295 Yorktown Road for the NJDOT Route 28 project; -178, Chirag Mehta, Esq., as assistant municipal prosecutor through December 31.
• #26-07-23-179, extending the third-quarter tax grace period because of delayed tax rate certification; Pappas said the County had recently certified the rate, and Kirsh said the municipal portion was not the cause.
• #26-07-23-180, a closed session on public safety. The July 9 minutes were approved by voice vote.

Reports and discussion

• Note sale: Pappas reported a Bond Anticipation Note sale to JP Morgan at 2.6940% (five bidders), with estimated net savings of about $62,000 against the prior year.
• Health Commission: Health Officer Kevin Sumner presented the Middle-Brook Regional Health Commission, a shared service founded in 1970.
• Data center questions: Attorney Corsini said a data center is one potential use in the Greymark redevelopment plan but there is no active site plan application or approved data center. Kirsh and Corsini said a warehouse application remains before the Zoning Board in litigation and warehouse use is in the redevelopment plan approved last year. See data centers.
• Self-storage: Kirsh and Ring said a proposed Route 22 self-storage facility is before the Zoning Board as a variance application, not a zoning change.
• Elected officials’ health benefits: Ring proposed ending health benefits for elected officials after current terms, with current recipients keeping them through their terms. Bucko said removing benefits could discourage people without full-time outside jobs from running. The item will return for discussion. See elected officials’ health benefits.
• Public comment and handouts: Geiger raised displaying public handouts on screen and remote (Zoom) public comment for elderly and disabled residents; Kirsh noted the hybrid-meeting question; Pappas cited staffing and cost. Geiger and Kirsh formed a two-person subcommittee. Bucko suggested a policy on a minimum snow contingency and on emergency (possibly virtual) transfer meetings.
• Ring and Geiger met the committee planning a police, fire and EMS memorial.

Public comment

• Bridgewater Youth Council members Gayatri Krishnan, Anika Lal, Sohi Shah, Kimaya Chaubal, Natalie Cruz and Madison DeRosa proposed lowering the voting age to 17 for mayor, council and school board elections; Attorney Corsini said that would require state action.
• Anda Cytroen of Stangle Road asked how the Health Commission coordinates with the state and whether it works with the Municipal Alliance (Sumner: it does).
• Cathy Franco of Weemac Road asked that health presentation materials be public, when the audit and corrective action plan would be online (Pappas: the plan is online, the audit as soon as possible), the township’s position on regulating data centers, and whom to contact about flash-flood drainage (Pappas: Constituent Relations).
• Andy O’Hearn of Walters Brook Drive read a statement on behalf of Howard Teichman on a proposed data center and gave copies to the clerk.
• Sheree Rust of Somerville raised the power, water and air-quality effects of an AI data center concept and asked for added regulations. Don Cohen, a Montgomery Township resident, opposed data centers and urged an ordinance. Carolyn Gioia of Palley Court thanked the Council for starting data center discussions.
• Filipe Pedroso, a former councilman, said municipal taxes rose nearly 30% and sewer bills 33% during the Mayor’s tenure, and also put the municipal tax increase at 42%; said the Council approved this year’s budget with a 10% tax increase and has approved more than $15 million in new bonds this year; said more than 600 high-density units will strain roads and schools; and said the three-minute public comment limit is now strictly enforced.
• Curtis Kraut of Adamsville Road asked about the Greymark redevelopment plan and whether the ordinance removing warehouse use from the M1B and other zones is filed and in effect (confirmed). Jerry S of Adamsville Road asked members to consider a data center next to their own homes.

Records

• Minutes (township document page)
• Agenda (posted on the township site; LocalWhy has not yet reviewed it)
• Video on the township’s YouTube channel (3:41:36). This page follows the Clerk’s minutes.