Township Committee Regular Meeting

The Township Committee met at 7:02 p.m. in the Susie B. Boyce Meeting Room. Present were Committeeman McCarey, Committeeman Blick, Deputy Mayor Kian and Mayor Fine, with Township Administrator Mark Krane and Township Attorney William Willard. Committeeman Croson was absent and excused. The meeting adjourned at 7:53 p.m.

Reports

Mr. Krane reported that Town Hall restoration is scheduled to finish by November 25, 2026. Furnishings and extensions for temporary office leases will be on the August agenda. He said the courtroom audio-visual vendor would return the next week to finish programming. Additional microphones were bought to meet New Jersey court requirements.

Committeeman McCarey brought up the right-turn-only lane from southbound Mount Bethel Road onto Mountain Boulevard. The County said the Township requested this change in 2023. Mr. Krane was asked to discuss returning the lane to its previous configuration or to study it in future traffic analyses.

Committeeman Blick reported about 2,000 power outages after the July 3 storm. Power was not fully restored until July 9. He said the Committee is still talking with JCP&L. E-bike enforcement will start July 20, following State guidelines.

Deputy Mayor Kian reported that the Rescue Squad answered 32 calls in June. The bay doors at the squad’s building need replacement, costing about $15,000. The HVAC system failed, and replacement is expected to cost $20,000 to $25,000.

Environmental Resource Inventory presented

Wayne DeFeo, Chair of the Environmental Commission, presented the Environmental Resource Inventory. It was completed in under 18 months. He said it is available online. Printed copies will go to the Library and Town Hall. The Commission will encourage the Planning Board to use it as part of the Master Plan.

Public hearings and adoptions, 4–0 each

• Ordinance 26-20, adding a “Filming” section to Chapter 4 consistent with New Jersey Film Ready requirements, was read by title. No one commented at the public hearing. Committeeman McCarey moved and Committeeman Blick seconded. Roll call: McCarey yes, Blick yes, Kian yes, Fine yes.
• Ordinance 26-21, amending Chapter 10 Section 10-8.7 on additional required inspections and fees, was read by title. No one commented. Committeeman Blick moved and Committeeman McCarey seconded. Roll call: McCarey yes, Blick yes, Kian yes, Fine yes.

The June 18, 2026 executive and regular minutes were approved 4–0. Deputy Mayor Kian made the motion and Mayor Fine seconded it.

Bills

Resolution 2026-187, payment of bills, was read in full by Committeeman McCarey and approved 4–0. It authorized payment of $8,769,245.74: $4,500,000.00 to the Warren Township Board of Education, $1,200,000.00 to Watchung Hills Regional High School, $195,034.57 to the Sewer Utility and $2,874,211.17 in township expenses.

New business

• Ordinance 26-22, appropriating $1,140,160 for Dealaman Nature Trail and Pond improvements, was introduced 4–0 on a motion by Committeeman Blick, seconded by Deputy Mayor Kian. Mr. Krane said the Township received a $570,080 stewardship grant from the NJDEP, with matching funds from the Open Space Trust Fund, and that the grant is contingent on approval of legislation. The Clerk set the public hearing for August 20, 2026.
• Resolution 2026-188, certifying the 2025 annual audit, was approved 4–0 on a motion by Deputy Mayor Kian, seconded by Committeeman Blick. The resolution states that all Committee members reviewed the auditor’s findings, comments and recommendations.

Consent agenda, 2026-189 through 2026-204, 4–0

Sixteen resolutions were adopted in one motion by Committeeman McCarey, seconded by Mayor Fine, 4–0. They included a liquor license renewal for the Somerset Hills Hotel; cancellation of taxes for two totally disabled veterans, including a $2,673.22 refund on Block 198 Lot 21; police grade promotions for Cody Silverman (Grade 4, July 30), Anthony Campanelli (Grade 4, August 9) and Adam Bergman (Grade 1, August 20); an ARRIVE Together program agreement with the Police Department; a $12,100 annual stipend for Cable Station Manager Elizabeth George; budget insertions of $10,210.20 in recycling tonnage grants, $2,975.05 from the Alcohol Education, Rehabilitation and Enforcement Fund, $1,423.64 from the opioid settlement and $1,150 in Mayor’s Wellness Campaign donations; an increase from $66,000 to $100,000 for police vehicle equipment from Island Tech Services; extension of the third-quarter tax grace period to August 24, 2026; purchase of 25 Sig Sauer patrol rifles and accessories from Atlantic Tactical for not more than $71,611.00, the lower of two bids; transfer of two equivalent dwelling units from Block 86.01 Lots 31 and 32 to Block 86.01 Lot 30.01; and Change Order #1 on Mountainview Road Improvements Phase I, adding $79,690.15 (23%) to a $357,660.05 contract for a revised total of $437,350.20 for asphalt and fuel price adjustments and additional traffic officers.

Public comment

Rory Britt, Sneider Road, chair of the 250th Committee, thanked the Township for its help with the reading of the Declaration of Independence and said future events would be advertised. Joe Farro, Sage Drive, commented on debris left by power companies after the storm, thanked the Township for mowing near the arboretum, and said King George Road north of Mount Horeb Road is collapsing into the ravine; Mr. Krane said he would look into it.

An executive session resolution, 2026-186, listed land acquisition and litigation topics.

Records

• Agenda
• Minutes