Timeline

TAPinto reported that Township Planner Katherine Sarmad, the only witness, said the master plan was amended to reflect new state law and regulation of data centers. The reexamination notice says its memorializing resolution was adopted the same night. The Council’s hearing and final vote on #26-21 are set for Nov. 5, 2026, as TAPinto reported.

The township’s notice calls this the fourth hearing on Application 24-029-ZB for Block 338, Lot 9 (760 East Main Street). It was moved from Oct. 27, when the Board did not meet because of election-related activity in the meeting room. The consultant, Leonard Ganesh Deonarine, said a fire is “improbable”; Chairman Kulak said the risk “can’t be 100% eliminated.”

The title names the Affordable Housing Trust Fund as the funding source but does not state the purpose. LocalWhy has not yet reviewed the ordinance text.

LocalWhy has not yet reviewed the ordinance text or the Oct. 15 minutes. The introducing resolution describes the ordinance as repealing Article XXXIX, Specific Floodplain Requirements, and adopting a new Article XXXIX.

Administrator Michael Pappas said on Oct. 1 that the ordinance is required to release the expired deed restriction and that current residents who still meet state income limits may keep their reduced rents.

TAPinto quoted the ordinance as making members of the Council or the Mayor “elected, re-elected or appointed after November 1, 2026” ineligible for health benefits. The resolution records Ring’s motion, seconded by Bucko.

As TAPinto described a filing dated Oct. 1, 2026, the settlement resolves the residents’ claims without prejudice, keeps the Planning Board application stayed during the NJDOT appeal, and lets the residents reinstate the suit if the appeal fails. LocalWhy has not read the filing or any court order and does not know which case or cases the reported dismissal covers.

The Sept. 17 minutes refer to “the litigation concerning the removal of trees by the County near Vosler Avenue,” as printed.

At introduction Councilman Ring cited parking problems near Milltown Road during past storms and the idea of using the Park and Ride lot near Milltown Road and Route 22.

Genova said the new ordinance would replace the existing one in its entirety and incorporate the maps effective Nov. 13, and that adoption preserves access to flood insurance, federal disaster assistance and conventional mortgages in flood-prone areas. Introduction was planned for Oct. 15, with final action at a November meeting.

The applicant’s attorney said the agreement includes power, sewer and water service, a restroom and gravel parking for the stand. Its engineer said further variances would be needed, including one to permit the farm stand and one to allow two uses on the combined property, and that storage would be reached only from Route 22 and the stand only from Route 28. Public comment ran 90 minutes.

On Sept. 3 Captain Thorson (as the minutes spell it that night) estimated a permanent sign at “approximately $5,000,” subject to funding. Whether the signs have been installed is not in the record LocalWhy has reviewed.

On Oct. 1 Kirsh said targeted communication to the neighborhood was under way. The code section and its hours have not been identified in the record LocalWhy has reviewed.

The same night the Council added Safe and Secure Communities ($45,150.00), National Opioid Settlement and Bulletproof Vest Partnership ($13,643.89) grants to the 2026 budget, 5-0, and awarded the first emergency radio contract.

Administrator Pappas said the resolution was for about $3 million against the $4.2 million in the bond ordinance, covering the Police Department, volunteer fire departments, rescue squads, Public Works and the Fire Marshal’s Office. In public comment Rand Milton, a former fire commissioner, said Fire District No. 3 had already bought radios through its own taxing authority and asked for an equitable allocation of costs among the districts; Councilman Kirsh said the Township would keep reviewing such cases. On October 15 the township’s resolutions record further awards, 5-0: Motorola up to $332,000 and Wireless Electronics, Inc. up to $78,000 (#26-10-15-228 and -229).

A D(3) variance is for a conditional use that does not meet one or more of the conditions the zoning ordinance sets for it. The same night the Board granted bulk variances to Christopher and Emily Cabel for 136 Pine Street.

The minutes record no discussion of it.

Bucko acknowledged that some materials may contain sensitive information but said many are public documents, and suggested investigating technology and procedures that could make appropriate documents available efficiently, rather than placing the work on the Township Clerk at once. No further action appears in the minutes through October 1, 2026.

Both memorializing resolutions were adopted Sept. 8, 2026, according to the notices. The notices do not describe the proposed uses; the resolutions can be inspected in the Planning Department.

Genova said 70% of the Gilbride Road station’s flow comes from Warren Township and that the station has had “five pump failures in recent years.” He said the Headgates siphon’s costs are borne by EPEC Polymers, Inc. “at no cost to the Township.” Two SRVSA commissioners and a resident spoke about stormwater entering the sanitary sewers.

Bucko reported meeting Chief Mitzak and Lieutenant Stephen Zeichner. He raised concerns about control of data shared with a third-party network, acknowledged the systems’ potential crime-prevention benefits and expressed confidence in the department’s own data practices. This is a Council member’s report; no Council vote on license-plate readers appears in the 2026 minutes.

Both votes: Bucko, Kirsh, Ring and Geiger aye; Isla absent. In public comment, the owner’s representative, Reuben Twersky, asked the Council to table Section 1 or exempt projects under redevelopment plans adopted before the ordinance, and described a “traditional collocation data center” rather than an AI or hyperscale facility. Council President Geiger and the Township Attorney said no repeal of the Greymark plan was anticipated while related litigation was pending.

This was the contract’s second-year renewal option.

On July 23 Council President Geiger had raised a way for elderly and disabled residents to speak by Zoom; Kirsh said hybrid participation raises policy questions, Administrator Pappas cited staffing and “a significant investment,” and Councilwoman Isla asked whether YouTube allows callers to speak. On August 6 Kirsh recalled the “approximately $125,000 investment made several years ago” in the meeting room’s recording, sound and video systems. Resident Anda Cytroen thanked the Council and asked it to consider Somerset County’s experience with remote participation.

Cathy Franco asked that help be considered for senior and disabled residents; Mayor Moench said assistance “could be considered as needs arise.”

Councilman Bucko said four ordinances had first been listed for introduction that week and one remained; the detention-center and data-center provisions had largely been folded into the omnibus ordinance. The motion to introduce Ordinance 26-14 removed its Section 10 and any other language on data centers. Mayor Moench said the data-center provisions would return after review with staff, the Council and the Environmental Commission. The vote: Bucko, Kirsh, Ring and Geiger aye; Isla absent.

The dockets are FEMA-B-2353 and FEMA-B-2539. Bridgewater’s map repository is the Municipal Building, 100 Commons Way. The maps can also be viewed at msc.fema.gov.

On June 25 the Chief had reported two crashes on Bogart Drive in three and a half years, neither related to speeding or stop signs, and recommended no new controls. Residents of the Bogart Drive and Purcell Road area spoke about speeding and trucks on July 9.

Mr. Deonarine said NFPA 855 “says 75 feet. What we’ve put in the emergency plan was 200 feet,” for public evacuation and keeping firefighters back, according to the Board’s transcript. The applicant’s attorney, Glenn Pantel, named fire officials who had met the consultant, among them deputy fire official Xavier Alvarado, Director of Municipal Services Tom Genova and Finderne assistant fire chief Tom Ruscetta.

The students said the change would encourage civic engagement while 17-year-olds are still connected to their schools. Council members discussed the logistical, financial and legal aspects, including election procedures and Board of Education considerations, and the Attorney encouraged the students to take the proposal to state representatives. The same night Council President Geiger raised letting elderly and disabled residents take part in public comment remotely.

Bucko said the position involves more than two meetings a month and that ending benefits could discourage people who cannot keep full-time outside jobs from seeking office. Ring suggested bringing the matter back for discussion. On September 17 he reported that an ordinance had been drafted and sent to the Township Clerk for the October 1 agenda.

Councilman Bucko said the finding was an over-expenditure of about $18,000 for snow removal after an unexpected storm, when the contingency account had been drained, and suggested a policy on a minimum contingency balance. Administrator Pappas said the State extended the audit deadline to August 31 but the Township finished within the required time, and that five firms bid on the bond anticipation notes, for an estimated net saving of about $62,000 compared with the prior year. The same night the Council extended the third-quarter tax grace period “due to delayed tax rate certification” (Res. #26-07-23-179, 5-0); Councilman Kirsh said the municipal portion was not the cause of the delay.

The motion was by James Weideli, seconded by Christine Henderson-Rose. The applicant described 145 feet to the top of steel plus a 5-foot lightning rod. The memorializing resolution was adopted Aug. 25, 2026, according to the notice. TAPinto reported that American Water, which owns the site, told the wireless carriers on its nearby water tower that their leases would not be extended, and supported the monopole.

As quoted by Patch, the complaint says Bridgewater “has refused to review, analyze or consider the TWA application” for more than five months and has not signed the municipal consent form. LocalWhy has not read the complaint; no response or ruling has been found.

Mayor Moench said work would begin as soon as approvals are complete.

Councilman Kirsh spoke in support, citing the role of superior officers in the department’s leadership structure. The minutes do not state the contract’s terms or cost.

Council members asked about funding, equipment, lifecycle, maintenance, agency agreements and “equitable cost distribution among the fire districts,” and asked for more information before the hearing. Residents were told the radios would cover police, the Office of Emergency Management, the fire districts, EMS and Public Works, and be operational by January 1. Fire Commissioner Allen Kurdyla said the amount was developed over about two years with all affected agencies; Robert Albano spoke for the Martinsville Rescue Squad; Cathy Franco supported Township funding.

Superintendent of Public Works Richard Shimp described it as aimed at “improving stormwater control and expanding tree canopy coverage.” On July 9 the Mayor said about 20 trees had been planted in Bradley Gardens.

Councilman Kirsh said the Zoning Board’s review focused on traffic flow, highway safety and nearby neighborhoods, and that the design’s effectiveness will be known once the site operates. The same night the Council introduced a traffic ordinance letting police enforce traffic rules on the site.

Residents of Vosseller Avenue had raised speeding at the April 9 meeting. On April 23 Bucko said he had asked NJDOT to study the exit, which then had a yield sign. The installation date is not in the record LocalWhy has reviewed.

Resident Cathy Franco asked why the matter had not gone to the Zoning Board and said hotels or restaurants would have produced more tax revenue. Mayor Moench said earlier hotel proposals had fallen through and that the owner bought the parcel intending to expand the dealership. The same night the Council adopted Ordinance 26-07, amending the Whitney Court land sale so an urban renewal entity can receive state housing funds.

Administrator Pappas said a retention structure had been reduced to meet DEP requirements, approved by the Township Engineer as a design waiver. Councilman Ring said a developer’s agreement does not alter earlier approvals but gives the township more authority to enforce them.

Mayor Moench said the Township did not buy new police vehicles the year before and that replacements were needed because of heavy wear. Councilman Ring thanked the Chief for acting quickly after the budget was adopted, and Councilman Kirsh said timely budget approval helps the Township avoid procurement delays.

Ayes: Bongiorno, Magura, Wang, Banga, Choudhury and Chairman Vescio, on a motion by Mr. Banga seconded by Mr. Choudhury. A PSE&G witness said about two feet of water stood on Polhemus Lane during Ida and a transformer failed, and that NJDEP’s 2023 rules put almost the whole station in a floodplain. The variances cover two 150-foot front setbacks and lot coverage of 75.5% where 60% is allowed (74% existing). No members of the public spoke.

Ms. Melick, of Lebanon Township, said she is a tenth-generation farmer and runs Melick’s Town Farm, a seasonal market with a community-supported agriculture program, and urged the township to consider preserving it as part of any development approved for the site. (The minutes head her remarks “Rebecca Melich” and spell the name “Melick” in the text.)

Administrator Pappas said many New Jersey towns adopt such an ordinance each year, and that it lets the Township bank the allowable increase under the State cap laws for use in a later budget year. Ayes: Bucko, Isla, Kirsh and Ring (Res. #26-04-23-112). The percentage and amount are in the ordinance text, which LocalWhy has not yet reviewed.

Administrator Michael Pappas said “the vast majority has already been used, but that a balance needs to be maintained” in case it was needed.

Administrator Michael Pappas said the sewer bond ordinance the Council approved the previous year lets the township issue the debt; Councilman Kirsh called it “extremely attractive financing.”

Council President Geiger cited an earlier appointment of a non-resident representing a private organization as a precedent. Administrator Pappas said the relevant code had been sent to the Township Attorney for review; his conclusion is not in the minutes LocalWhy reviewed. The same night, Pappas said Planning Board agendas will list the applicant, location and relief sought “without including any editorial commentary.”

The memorializing resolution passed on a motion by Ms. Chartowich, seconded by Mr. Bongiorno: ayes Bongiorno, Magura, Wang, Councilwoman Isla, Choudhury and Chairman Vescio; Mr. Atkins, Mr. Banga, Ms. Sikora and Mayor Moench not eligible; Mr. Pappas absent. LocalWhy has not yet reviewed the March 17 minutes. The Council’s Aug. 20, 2026 minutes refer to the application as “25-02-PB,” and Planner Sarmad told the Council that a concept plan filed with it had been “inadvertently included.”

Manish Patel also asked what Bridgewater might do about a detention facility proposed in another municipality. Council President Geiger said Councilman Bucko was working on a potential ordinance and that the Chief had issued guidance based on existing state policy. On August 6 Bucko said a detention-center ordinance had largely been folded into the omnibus land-use ordinance, and Councilman Ring said detention centers are already prohibited under Township Code 126-324A, which bars uses not listed as permitted.

Pedroso said the provision allows “up to six months in a jail cell” for failing to pay within 45 days. Councilman Ring said the matter “is not a jailable offense”; Councilman Kirsh said the ordinance recovers costs from the responsible party that taxpayers would otherwise bear; Council President Geiger said incarceration is not typical for such matters. On March 17 Patch reported a Township statement that it was seeking reimbursement primarily from the driver’s insurer, and quoted the ordinance as allowing a fine, imprisonment of up to six months, or both, for failure to reimburse. No Council action on Section 40-6 appears in the minutes through October 1, 2026.

As reported: District 1 budget 228-48 and engine question (up to $1.4 million) 219-57; District 2 budget 69-22 and LOSAP question 79-12; District 3 budget 482-177, with Kevin Driscoll and Edward Daly elected over incumbents Teresa Avin and Carol Holzer; District 4 budget 105-37. Incumbents were re-elected in Districts 1, 2 and 4. On February 19 Councilman Ring told the Council the polls would be open from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m.; TAPinto’s February 16 preview gave 2 to 9 p.m. LocalWhy has not reviewed the certified results.

Geiger said the Presiding Judge of Somerset County had advised there was no issue with holdover prosecutor and public defender appointments, though a vacancy beyond six months could become a concern. On labor counsel she said she had suggested other firms, which did not submit proposals, and thanked the Mayor for his cooperation. After a closed session on special tax counsel litigation, the special tax counsel appointment was amended to cover the 2025 tax year, 5-0. Sarah Housman, Director of Finance, was appointed Acting CFO the same night.

The 2025 agreement, as titled in the township’s resolutions folder, was up to $467,958 at $27.60 per household for up to 16,955 households. Acting CFO Sarah Housman said leftover recycling tonnage grants would offset this year’s cost; Administrator Pappas said a past survey found no financially viable private alternative.

The Feb. 17 motion was by Ms. Sikora, seconded by Mr. Choudhury: ayes Sikora, Pappas, Magura, Choudhury, Chartowich, Banga, Bongiorno, Councilwoman Isla and Chairman Vescio; Mayor Moench, Mr. Wang and Mr. Atkins absent. Board Attorney Peck described the matter as “litigation brought by Somerset Corporate Center against the Township.”

John Seker of the applicant described “a 20 megawatts, 80-megawatt hour Battery Energy Storage System,” and Joseph Brown of Trina Solar also testified. Chairman John Kulak asked whether the township would get any ratable benefit from a facility on tax-exempt county land and who would be responsible for environmental harm next to the American Cyanamid site. The attorney agreed to provide lease terms at a later hearing. The hearing was continued to April 14 (Board minutes and transcript; TAPinto).

Council President Geiger said the program is required by state law and described “the town’s contribution of just over $40,000” as a small price for the volunteers’ work; the minutes do not reconcile that figure with the $1,557.38 in the resolution. Councilman Ring said the award rises each year by state formula, and Councilman Kirsh said the Township should actively encourage volunteer participation in CERT, EMS and fire services.

Mr. Pappas called it “a notable and unique case.” Councilman Ring said the application could come before the Council on appeal, so the Council should not discuss its merits, and encouraged Ms. Alley to raise her concerns at the Board; Councilman Kirsh said Zoning Board members are residents appointed by the Council and that the public may question witnesses and comment there.

Administrator Michael Pappas said it would be the township’s third such park grant, after Kids Street Park and Miller Park. Whether the grant was awarded is not in the record LocalWhy has reviewed.

The township told Patch it does not comment on ongoing litigation. LocalWhy has not read the complaint and has not confirmed the case’s current status.

Attorney Matthew Capizzi said the application had been before the Board “on two prior occasions, March 25th and July 8th of 2025,” and that an October 17, 2025 submittal updated the plans. The project would merge the two lots and remove the existing buildings, which he called “the Tetonic building and the Kiser Farm property,” according to the Board’s transcript. A lawyer for Arthur’s Self Storage cross-examined, and three residents questioned the witnesses.

Ayes: Bucko, Isla and Geiger; Kirsh and Ring absent. Geiger called the slate “a successful collaboration and compromise between the Administration and the Township Council,” following a recommendation from Township Attorney Corsini. The same night the Council approved the Township Engineer, Planner, Affordable Housing Planner and bond counsel, 3-0, and tabled the remaining professional appointments.

Vice-President Bucko proposed $20,160,000, calculated to cover fixed costs due early in the year and five payroll cycles, to about March 15; he said the state limit on temporary budgets had risen from 26.25% to 32.5% of the prior year’s total. Mayor Moench said the Finance Director calculated the Township would be about $144,000 short by March 15, with no buffer for emergencies such as snow removal or overtime. Councilman Kirsh moved the higher figure, to fund the government through March 31; Ayes: Bucko, Isla, Kirsh, Ring and Geiger. A sewer utility temporary budget of $4,957,755.83 also passed 5-0. Earlier, resident Cathy Franco had asked why the proposed figure exceeded a standard quarterly allocation.

The Council is Geiger, Bucko and Isla with returning members Michael Kirsh and Timothy Ring; Mayor Matthew C. Moench continues in office. Grace Njuguna was chosen Clerk of the Council, 5-0. In his remarks Bucko said residents should expect the administration to deliver the budget on time, as state law requires, and the Council to hold its scheduled meetings when it says it will.

As TAPinto reported: yes, Pushpavati Amin, John Gayeski, Bruce Bongiorno and Chairman Jeffrey Foose; no, Andrew Fresco, Donald Sweeney and James Weideli. The senior community sought D(1), D(5) density (64 units, 13 affordable) and D(4) floor-area variances; TAPinto placed the site on Talamini Road. On Jan. 13, 2026 the Board adopted two resolutions: “JCC Decision – Approval (Use [D1] Variance Only)” (ayes Weideli, Amin, Fresco, Gayeski; Kulak and Vescio abstained) and “821 Bridgewater – Denial” (ayes Weideli, Fresco; Kulak, Amin, Vescio and Gayeski abstained). LocalWhy has not yet reviewed the Board’s Nov. 25, 2025 minutes.

The outcome of the motion to dismiss has not been found in any record LocalWhy has reviewed.

TAPinto reported that the Council President said the renewal covered mining only, not materials reclamation, and that Councilman Ring said the quarry had conducted 40 blasts so far that year. In October 2025 the Planning Board had asked the operator for updated documentation of its reclamation work. The minutes record Mr. Branch saying the renewal application was administratively complete, that a flood control study had begun at the DEP’s suggestion and that the year’s blasts were within Department of Labor limits; Councilman Ring said blasting is regulated by the Department of Labor.

TAPinto reported that Ms. Sarmad said the BRCC zone permits office, professional, fitness, health and wellness uses, hotels and restaurants. The Council’s minutes record Ms. Sarmad as saying the center had about one million square feet of vacant space and that the township was not seeking to rezone but was considering additional uses, such as laboratory and ancillary medical uses, within the existing facility. Ordinance 25-25, amending the BRCC zone to conform to the 2025 Master Plan Re-examination Report, was introduced Dec. 3 and adopted Dec. 17, 2025, each 4-0.

The county engineer said the drive disturbs 2.14 acres of the 719-acre park. Sources differ on how many trees the contract documents listed: 34 (township statement; county counsel, per TAPinto) and 37 (Patch, Nov. 14, 2025). The Mayor said he did not object to the road itself.

TAPinto reported on Oct. 22, 2025 that the petition had more than 700 signatures.

The plaintiffs are Jennifer Fleischer, Jason Rodker and Brian Reilly of Somerville and Richard Cash, George Cook and Barbara Cook of Bridgewater. TAPinto reported that the suit also named the property owners and Nouvelle, LLC, the identified developer. Patch reported that they refiled on Jan. 30, 2026 naming only the township. LocalWhy has not read the complaint. At the Dec. 17, 2025 Council meeting the residents’ attorney, Amanda Kronemeyer, gave the docket as SOM-L-1455-25 (Council minutes).

The township’s 2025 ordinance list includes “25-16 - Pilot Agreement with AR BWT Urban Renewal, LLC.” At the hearing, resident Dan Zelinsky said the agreement would give the developer a tax break of about $104 million over 30 years, TAPinto reported. LocalWhy has not reviewed the ordinance or the Council’s 2025 minutes.

The Council’s 2025 minutes are on the township’s site and have not yet been reviewed by LocalWhy, so the roll call is not given here. Residents of Somerville and Bridgewater sued over the ordinance in October 2025.

The resolution’s recitals record the state’s estimate (130 and 474), the township’s January 2025 figures and the court’s April 23, 2025 decision setting 130 and 421. One recital says the planner “arrived at” 474 and the next says the January resolution established 417; the January resolution says 417.

The township filed the plan with the court on June 26, 2025, according to Res. 25-07-10-182 and the court’s stamp; the April 15, 2026 consent order gives June 25, 2025. The Planning Board’s minutes and resolution for this meeting have not yet been reviewed by LocalWhy.

The resolution rests on a Jan. 24, 2025 report by Graham Petto, P.P., AICP, of Topology, and directs the township’s affordable housing counsel to file it with the court’s dispute resolution program. The township filed its declaratory-judgment action, SOM-L-186-25, the next day.

At the July 23, 2026 Council meeting, a resident asked whether the ordinance removing warehouse use from the M-1B and other zones was in effect for future projects, which was confirmed. Councilman Kirsh and the Township Attorney said a warehouse application for the site was still before the Zoning Board, subject to the litigation, and that warehouse use is included in the redevelopment plan the Council approved in 2025. In October 2026 Mayor Moench wrote that he had told township attorneys to return this case to active litigation. LocalWhy has not read the court filings.