Township Committee Regular Meeting

The Township Committee met at 7:05 p.m. in the Susie B. Boyce Meeting Room. Present were Committeeman McCarey, Committeeman Blick, Committeeman Croson, Deputy Mayor Kian and Mayor Fine, with Township Administrator Mark Krane and Township Attorney William Willard. The meeting adjourned at 9:05 p.m.

PILOT audit presentation

Mayor Fine invited HFA to present the findings of the payment in lieu of taxes audit. The minutes state that a copy of the presentation is attached to them. LocalWhy reviewed the minutes, which contained no findings from the presentation. No vote was taken after the presentation. The firm’s contract was awarded on February 19, 2026, through Resolution 2026-085. The contract amount did not exceed $49,400.00 (see February 19 minutes).

Public hearings

Ordinance 26-15, the calendar year 2026 ordinance establishing a cap bank, was read by title for adoption. Mayor Fine opened the public hearing. No one commented, and it was closed. Deputy Mayor Kian moved, and Committeeman Croson seconded. Roll call: McCarey yes, Blick yes, Croson yes, Kian yes, Fine yes. Ordinance 26-16, authorizing release and extinguishment of an existing sanitary sewer easement and acceptance of a new one at 15 Mountain View Road, Block 8 Lot 2, was read by title. With no comments, the hearing was closed. Mr. Croson moved, and Mr. McCarey seconded. Roll call: McCarey yes, Blick yes, Croson yes, Kian yes, Fine yes.

2026 budget adopted, 5–0

Mayor Fine described cost-cutting measures. These included leaving the State Health Benefits Plan, the road surfacing program, and shared services. He said he and Deputy Mayor Kian would meet with Mr. Krane and the Chief Financial Officer the next day about savings for 2027.

The committee then acted in three steps, each by a 5–0 vote.

1. Resolution 2026-130 approved the Chief Financial Officer’s certification of the local examination of the annual budget. Mr. Blick moved, and Deputy Mayor Kian seconded. Roll call: McCarey yes, Blick yes, Croson yes, Kian yes, Fine yes.
2. Resolution 2026-131 authorized reading the budget by title only before the public hearing. Mr. McCarey moved, and Mr. Croson seconded. The roll call was the same.
3. Resolution 2026-132 adopted the 2026 budget. Deputy Mayor Kian moved, and Mr. Croson seconded. The roll call was the same.

The public hearing had one speaker: Rick dePinho, of Wilshire Road. He commented on the Hofheimer referendum and the cost of maintaining the building. He suggested people use the library because it is included in the taxes.

The adopted budget included $27,058,362.93 in general appropriations. Of this, $16,545,270.77 will be raised by taxes for municipal purposes, including the reserve for uncollected taxes. The municipal purpose tax rate in the adopted budget is $0.252 per $100 of assessed valuation. This compares to $0.259 in 2025. On the township’s table, municipal taxes on an average home assessed at $1,021,852 are $2,575 for 2026, against $2,511 for 2025. The amounts appear in the budget document attached to the agenda.

The April 16, 2026 executive and regular minutes were approved. Mr. Croson moved, and Mr. Blick seconded. The vote was unanimous by voice.

Public comment on agenda items

Bill Gilbert, of Flintlock Drive, asked about paving King George Road. Mr. Krane said concrete work would be finished Monday, milling Wednesday, and paving Thursday and Friday. Rick dePinho, of Wilshire Road, asked about the Green Brook hearing concerning 88 to 90 units and about the cost of the payment in lieu of taxes audit.

Bills

Resolution 2026-133, for payment of bills, was read in full by Mr. Blick. Mr. Blick moved, and Mr. Croson seconded. Roll call: McCarey yes, Blick yes, Croson yes, Kian yes, Fine yes.

New business: ordinances introduced

• Ordinance 26-17, bonding $390,000 for Department of Public Works trucks and equipment and authorizing $370,000 in bonds or notes, was introduced on a motion by Mr. McCarey, seconded by Mr. Croson. Roll call: McCarey yes, Blick yes, Croson yes, Kian yes, Fine yes.
• Ordinance 26-18, appropriating $880,000 and authorizing $880,000 in bonds or notes for a generator for the Sewer Utility, was introduced on a motion by Deputy Mayor Kian, seconded by Mr. Croson. Same roll call.
• Ordinance 26-19, defining data centers, designating them a prohibited use in all zones and setting supplementary performance standards, was introduced on a motion by Mr. Croson, seconded by Mr. Blick. Roll call: McCarey no, Blick yes, Croson yes, Kian yes, Fine yes.

Mr. Croson said there are currently no applications or plans for a data center and described concerns about them. Mr. McCarey said some wording is counterintuitive, specifically why performance standards are set if data centers are prohibited. Mr. Willard explained that the standards set guidelines if a variance application comes before the Board of Adjustment.

Consent agenda, 2026-134 through 2026-150

Resolutions 2026-134 through 2026-150 were adopted in one motion by Mr. McCarey, seconded by Deputy Mayor Kian, 5–0. They included fund commissioners for the NJ Solutions Joint Health Insurance Fund (2026-134), police grade promotions (2026-135), a performance bond release (2026-136), cancellation of taxes for a totally disabled veteran (2026-137), a Lions Club Expo fireworks permit (2026-138), a 2026 Chevrolet Colorado purchase (2026-139), plumbing service contracts (2026-140), a Colliers construction management contract for Town Hall restoration (2026-141), a farm license for Block 76 Lot 2 (2026-142), a resolution calling for restoration of energy tax receipts (2026-143), opposition to S-1836 (2026-144), Rolf’s Inc. liquor license actions (2026-145 through 2026-149), and designation of Warren as a Stigma Free Community (2026-150).

Hofheimer House question, 5–0

Resolution 2026-151 requests the Somerset County Clerk to place a non-binding referendum question on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot regarding preservation of the Hofheimer House. The resolution describes an estimated $7,500,000 to preserve and renovate the house at 46 Mountain Boulevard for community meeting space. It was moved by Mr. Blick, seconded by Mr. Croson. Roll call: McCarey yes, Blick yes, Croson yes, Kian yes, Fine yes.

Street overlay contract, 5–0

Resolution 2026-152 awarded the 2026 streets overlay contract. It was moved by Mr. Croson, seconded by Mr. McCarey. Roll call: McCarey yes, Blick yes, Croson yes, Kian yes, Fine yes. Mr. Croson thanked DPW Superintendent Doug Buro, Mr. Krane and Township Engineer Chris Kastrud for preparing the street list.

Discussion

• Fire prevention fees. Mr. Krane said the Fire Marshal’s fees have not been increased for about 15 years and that recommendations cover increases and category changes for residential and commercial properties. He said life hazard use inspections are annual and non-life hazard use inspections every other year. The committee will review the recommendations.
• Tree ordinance. Mr. Krane said the NJDEP model ordinance was used and that Environmental Commission Chairman Wayne DeFeo submitted comments. Tree removal is currently approved by the Planning Board or Board of Adjustment with site plans, and about 150 applications a year come from residents; a question has been raised whether the Zoning Official alone should approve those, or whether the Environmental Commission or another board should participate. He asked the committee to review the recommendations for possible introduction in June. Mr. Blick discussed inspecting sites to confirm replanting.
• Property maintenance code. At a resident’s request, Mayor Fine asked Mr. Krane to share the property maintenance code with the committee.

Privilege of the floor

• Bill Gilbert, Flintlock Drive, thanked Chief Ferreiro for an e-bike safety presentation to AARP driver safety instructors and offered a driver safety class for local businesses.
• Greg Dubas, North Road, discussed concerns about development at the Bardy and Paul’s Firewood sites.
• Chris Tiero, Climate Revolution Action Network, thanked the committee for introducing the data center ordinance.
• Terry Tomsky, North Road, discussed density concerns about development near North Road and suggested a township mission statement.
• Kate Warnebold, Betsy Ross Drive, discussed property maintenance on Morning Glory Road and asked about the status of the Coptic Church application.
• Ken Montagna, Morning Glory Road, discussed traffic on Morning Glory Road.
• Mark Baldwin, Hidden Hollow Way, thanked the committee for its affordable housing work and asked about the tree ordinance, citing a complaint filed with the Zoning Officer.
• Joe Faro, Sage Drive, discussed paving of King George Road and the overlay program.
• Rick de Pinho, Wilshire Road, discussed the Film Ready ordinance and asked the committee to consider its effect on residents.

Mayor Fine moved to adjourn. Mr. Croson seconded the motion. The motion was approved by a unanimous voice vote.

Records

• Agenda
• Minutes