Township Committee Regular Meeting

The Township Committee met at 7:08 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 Michael DeFazio. The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

The Committee presented a proclamation to Kaylie Gao, first place winner of the 2026 Congressional Art Award, with Senator Jon Bramnick; heard a Board of Adjustment proclamation for retiring member John Villani; and presented certificates to the Angelo L. Tomaso Archery Club.

Reports

Committeeman Croson reported that the 2026 Road Overlay Program contract had been awarded, with work beginning in the coming weeks, and that the Committee has allocated nearly $5 million to the overlay program since 2022, paving 23 miles of local roads with 5 more miles scheduled in 2026. He said NJDOT-funded paving was underway on phases of Mountainview Road and King George Road and that grant applications had been submitted for Reinman Road and Mountain Avenue. He also reported a $570,080 matching grant from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the Garden State Preservation Trust for Dealaman Trail and Pond improvements, contingent on legislative appropriation.

Committeeman McCarey reported that the Fire Chief was directed to explore automatic aid agreements with neighboring fire companies. This is due to challenges responding to daytime emergency calls.

Public hearings and adoptions, 5–0 each

• Ordinance 26-17, appropriating $390,000 and authorizing $370,000 in bonds or notes for Department of Public Works trucks and equipment, was read by title. No one commented at the public hearing. Committeeman McCarey moved and Committeeman Blick seconded. Roll call: McCarey yes, Blick yes, Croson yes, Kian yes, Fine yes. Mr. Krane explained that bond ordinances carry a down payment requirement.
• Ordinance 26-18, appropriating $880,000 and authorizing $880,000 in bonds or notes for a generator for the Sewer Utility, was read by title. No one commented. Committeeman Blick moved and Committeeman Croson seconded. Roll call: McCarey yes, Blick yes, Croson yes, Kian yes, Fine yes. Mr. Krane said the sewer utility is self-liquidating, so no down payment is required.
• Ordinance 26-19, defining data centers, designating them a prohibited use in all zones and setting supplementary performance standards, was read by title. Two speakers from out of town, Tim of Springfield and Renee of Union, supported the prohibition and described environmental concerns. Committeeman McCarey said he agreed with prohibiting data centers but had concerns about the ordinance’s wording and asked the Committee to consider revising the criteria language. Committeeman Croson said the Township Planner and attorney suggested including supplementary standards in case a use variance were granted. Committeeman Croson moved and Deputy Mayor Kian seconded. Roll call: McCarey yes, Blick yes, Croson yes, Kian yes, Fine yes.

The May 14, 2026 executive and regular minutes were approved by unanimous voice vote on a motion by Deputy Mayor Kian, seconded by Committeeman Croson.

Public comment on agenda items

Bill Gilbert, Flintlock Drive, asked about the timing of Mountainview Road Phase II improvements from Round Top to King George Road and was told the Township anticipates this fall; he also commented on the recent paving of King George Road. Joe Farro, Sage Drive, said he was pleased with the adoption of Ordinance 26-19.

Bills

Resolution 2026-154, payment of bills, was read in full by Committeeman Blick and approved 5–0 (McCarey, Blick, Croson, Kian, Fine). It authorized payment of $7,412,796.61: $1,500,000.00 to the Warren Township Board of Education, $1,910,529.00 to Watchung Hills Regional High School, $716,988.23 to the Sewer Utility and $3,285,279.38 in township expenses.

New business

• Ordinance 26-20, adding a “Filming” section to Chapter 4 consistent with New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission Film Ready requirements, was introduced 5–0 on a motion by Committeeman McCarey, seconded by Deputy Mayor Kian. The Clerk announced the public hearing for July 16, 2026.
• Ordinance 26-21, amending Chapter 10 Section 10-8.7 on additional required inspections and fees, was introduced 5–0 on a motion by Committeeman Croson, seconded by Committeeman McCarey. The hearing was set for July 16, 2026.
• Resolution 2026-155 awarded the Mountainview Road Improvements Phase II contract to Riverview Paving, Inc. at an amount not to exceed $509,422.55, the lowest of 11 bids received May 21, 2026. Approved 5–0 on a motion by Deputy Mayor Kian, seconded by Committeeman Croson.
• Resolution 2026-156 authorized purchase of road micro surfacing and installation from Asphalt Paving Systems under a state contract, not to exceed $100,000.00. Approved 5–0 on a motion by Committeeman McCarey, seconded by Committeeman Croson.

Consent agenda, 2026-157 through 2026-185, 5–0

The 29 resolutions were adopted in one motion by Committeeman Blick, seconded by Deputy Mayor Kian, 5–0. They included budget insertions of $51,467.45 for the Clean Communities program, $10,000 from the Garden State Municipal Joint Insurance Fund, $8,550 in Mayor’s Wellness Campaign donations, $4,000 in police donations, $2,362.46 from the opioid settlement and $4,093 from the Morris County Board of County Commissioners; renewal of liquor licenses for 2026–2027 (2026-162) and of inactive licenses (2026-163); an extension of the USALCO sewer chemical contract at $5.346 per gallon through May 31, 2027; appointments to the Board of Adjustment, the Somerset Raritan Valley Sewerage Authority and the Youth Services Commission; police vehicle and equipment purchases; a professional services contract to RSC Architects; cancellation of unexpended balances on ten capital ordinances; and approval to submit NJDOT grant applications for Reinman Road and Mountain Avenue (2026-184).

Discussion

• Short-term rentals. Mr. Krane said the Township Planner prepared a memo for the Committee; there is currently no restriction on short-term rentals.
• Sewer EDU transfer, CRC Communities. Sewer Director Christian Kastrud said there are no rules on transferring equivalent dwelling units between properties. One owner of adjacent properties asked to move two EDUs not needed for development on one parcel to the adjacent parcel.
• Sewer EDU reduction, 513 Warrenville Road. The owner asked to reduce four allocated EDUs to one, the amount the office building uses; additional EDUs would have to be bought back if tenancy grew.

Mayor Fine asked Mr. Kastrud for a written summary on both EDU items. An executive session resolution, 2026-153, listed litigation and land-acquisition topics.

Records

• Agenda
• Minutes