Township Committee Regular Meeting

The meeting was called to order at 7:06 p.m. Present were Committeeman McCarey, Committeeman Blick, Committeeman Croson, Deputy Mayor Kian and Mayor Fine, with Township Administrator Mark Krane and Township Attorney William Willard.

School budget presentations

Watchung Hills Regional High School Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Jewett, board members Michael Decker and Heather Trumpore, Board President Michael Birnberg, and Business Administrator William Scholts presented the 2026–2027 regional school budget. Warren Township Board of Education President Patricia Zohn, Superintendent Dr. Matthew Mingle, and Business Administrator Chris Heagele presented the 2026–2027 local school budget.

Before the hearings, Mayor Fine, Mr. Willard, and Planner Katie Sarmad spoke to a large audience. They discussed a location in the affordable housing plan. They explained the housing process and the plan. The Mayor said questions would be taken during privilege of the floor.

Public hearings: three ordinances adopted, 5–0 each

• 26-12, appropriating $900,000 from a congressional appropriation under the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriation Act, 2026 for public safety communications and related improvements. No comment. Motion by Blick, second by Croson. Roll call: McCarey yes, Blick yes, Croson yes, Kian yes, Fine yes. Mr. Croson thanked Congressman Kean for his support in obtaining the appropriation.
• 26-13, amending Bond Ordinance 25-13 to add $100,000. This includes $95,000 in bonds or notes, for the Cherry Tree Lane drainage improvements engineering feasibility study. No comment. Motion by Croson, second by Kian. Vote was 5–0 on the same roll call.
• 26-14, amending Section 16-22C, the AH-6 district, to increase units from 26 to 28. The two added units are designated affordable. Joe Faro of Sage Drive commented that the project is overdue. Motion by Kian, second by McCarey. Vote was 5–0.

The Committee approved the March 12, 2026 executive and regular minutes. Mr. Croson abstained from the vote.

Reports

Liaisons reported, as recorded in the minutes, that the 2026 overlay program had gone out to bid. King George Road Phase II, from Berkshire to Washington Valley, would begin April 20. This will be followed by Mountainview Road Phase I, from Round Top to the Federal Reserve Bank driveway. Mountainview Road Phase II, from Round Top to Mount Horeb, will be bid later, with completion expected in late summer or early fall. Hofheimer Improvements referendum language was expected to be approved the next month. Work continued on the Open Space and Recreation Plan. Mr. Croson also reported that Warren Township is featured in the Netflix series “Big Mistakes.” Other reports covered recreation events, a business milestone program, “Taste of Warren” from June 12 through June 27. An Office of Emergency Management review scored 106 out of 100.

Bills and new business

Resolution 2026-107, the bill list, was read in full and approved 5–0.

• 26-15, the Calendar Year 2026 ordinance to establish a cap bank, was introduced 5–0 on a motion by Mr. Blick, seconded by Mr. McCarey. Public hearing set for May 14, 2026.
• 26-16, authorizing release and extinguishment of an existing sanitary sewer easement and acceptance of a new one within 15 Mountain View Road, Block 8, Lot 2, was introduced 5–0 on a motion by Deputy Mayor Kian, seconded by Mr. Croson. Public hearing set for May 14, 2026.
• 2026-108, introduction of the municipal budget, was approved 5–0. Mr. Krane said the proposed budget is 6.14% over the 2025 budget and would raise the tax on an average house valued at $1,021,852 by $64; the proposed tax rate of 2.52% is a decrease from the prior year’s rate and the lowest in more than 10 years; 85% of the increase is due to health insurance, the police department budget and property and casualty insurance. He described the SHBP increase and the change to the NJ Solutions Health Insurance Fund. Mr. Croson said that historically only 16% of the tax bill is municipal taxes. Mr. Krane said the budget would be posted April 21, 2026; the public hearing is May 14, 2026.
• 2026-109, a place-to-place transfer for a plenary retail distribution license held by Wine Vault LLC, was approved 5–0. Mr. Willard explained that the licensee holds two retail distribution licenses and sought to move the inactive license into active use while placing the active one into pocket status, which he said was intended to preserve the inactive license because ABC rules now limit inactive status to two years. Mr. McCarey said the request did not violate the law but was contrary to the intent of the legislation and cautioned that a similar request in two years might not be viewed favorably. Robert Williams, representing Wine Vault, and licensee Sharon Fusco said they intended to place the license into active use as soon as possible and requested a May 15, 2026 effective date. Joe Clemente of William Penn Road expressed concern during the hearing.
• 2026-110, authorizing a police promotion to captain, 5–0; 2026-111, terminating participation under the SHBP and SEHBP including prescription drug and/or dental coverage, 5–0, with Mr. Krane asking that the title be changed as marked by strikethrough; 2026-112, awarding an emergency contract to Rapid Recovery Services and authorizing payment for remediation at Town Hall, 5–0; 2026-113, approving Rapid Recovery Services to perform restoration of Town Hall, 5–0.

Consent agenda 2026-114 to 2026-128, 5–0

All fifteen resolutions passed on a motion by Mr. Blick, seconded by Mr. Croson. They included certification of EEOC compliance (2026-114), joining the NJ Solutions Joint Insurance Fund (2026-115), a change of scope for Remington & Vernick Engineers on the Maxwell Court and Cherry Tree Lane drainage improvements (2026-117), a contract with Government Strategy Group (2026-118), support for funding the Dunellen Train Station modernization (2026-120), IT services (2026-123), appointment of Thomas Zahos to the police department (2026-124), designation of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as redeveloper of 15 Mountain View Road with a redevelopment agreement and stormwater facilities maintenance agreement (2026-125), a police promotion to sergeant 2nd grade (2026-126), transfer of the K-9 dog Nikita to Officer Bryan Horst (2026-127) and a contract extension for inspection services for the tax assessor’s office (2026-128).

Discussion

• Data centers. Mr. Croson raised concerns about impacts on communities including noise and energy, and said municipalities in New Jersey have passed ordinances limiting or prohibiting data centers. He asked Mr. Willard to research those actions and what Warren could do. Mr. Willard and Ms. Sarmad discussed and made recommendations and will draft an ordinance for the Committee to consider.
• Film Ready. Mr. McCarey described the Film Ready New Jersey program requirements, including ordinances and resolutions, and asked the Township to adopt an ordinance or code of conduct at the next meeting.
• Landscaping noise. Mayor Fine raised complaints of noise regarding landscaping and asked whether the noise ordinance should be reviewed. The Committee agreed to look at it but made no commitment to changes.

Public comment

During the privilege of the floor segment, residents asked about development at the Bardy property. They raised concerns about environmental conditions, traffic, flooding, the impact on schools, sewer capacity, the number of units, the impact on emergency services, and communication. The minutes list these residents: Kamari DeBarbieri, Morning Glory Road; Greg Dubas, North Road; Judy Sullivan, Lara Place; Kate Warnebold, Promenade; Terry Tomsky, North Road; Maria Rivera, North Road; Rajul Viyas, North Road; Lucy Dubas, North Road; George Palmer, Betsy Ross Drive; Rory Britt, Sneider Road; Joe Faro, Sage Drive; Babita Rathee, North Road; a resident of Quail Run; Joe Clemente, William Penn Road; Nick Malanga, Washington Valley Road; Pratik Patek, Washington Valley Road; Al Bukowsky, Avon Road; Bimal Kadikar, Jessica Lane; and Richard Lubeck, Jessica Lane.

Rezzie Jan of Darkwood Court asked about the Avalon Bay challenge, and Ms. Sarmad advised it was dismissed. Sondra Rich of Hillcrest Road commented on traffic there and asked for a response on a zoning issue. John Lindner, Planning Board chairman, addressed the audience on the Planning Board process and the community’s ability to comment at that stage.

The meeting adjourned at 10:37 p.m.

Records

• Agenda
• Minutes