Alan J. Kennedy

The Public Meeting agenda included a proclamation celebrating Bernd Haase turning 100 years old. An Executive Session was added to discuss Contract Negotiations and Pending Litigation. The Regular Agenda featured public hearings and final adoption for several ordinances amending the Municipal Land Use Procedures Ordinance. These ordinances primarily address maximum permitted building height requirements in R-10, R-15, and R-15A Zones, increasing the affordable housing set-aside for Downtown Zone Districts (DD and HB) rental units from fifteen percent to twenty percent, and repealing articles related to Affordable Housing Development Fees and Mandatory Set-Aside to comply with the Fair Housing Act and Uniform Housing Affordability Controls. New Business included a resolution authorizing payment of attorney's fees and costs related to John Migueis v. Township of Berkeley Heights, et al., and a Consent Agenda covering the approval of the bill list, awarding contracts for engineering services for the Hampton Drive Pumping Station Force Main project and the 2026 Residential Clean-Up Program, authorizing the release of Road Opening Bonds, authorizing tax overpayment refunds, and amending a contract for Snow Removal Services.

The reorganization meeting involved the administration of the Oath of Office and presentation of Certificates of Election to newly elected or re-elected council members. Key actions included the nomination and approval of the Council President and Vice President for the 2026 term. Discussions during the Conference Session focused on a proposal to amend Township Code Requirements for Building Elevation in certain Residential Zones. The extensive Consent Agenda covered numerous resolutions, including establishing the 2026 Council Meeting Schedule, designating legal newspapers, appointing various municipal officers and professional service providers (such as Municipal Attorney, Auditor, Engineer, and Affordable Housing professionals), authorizing appropriations, setting interest rates on delinquent accounts, and approving contracts for Wastewater Treatment Plant services and municipal projects.

The meeting included a conference session where an architect for the Berkeley Heights Board of Education provided an overview of the Board of Education Referendum, addressing public inquiries regarding budget, contingencies, and specifics of the referendum questions, including warranties. During the Citizens Hearing, public concerns were raised about agenda item procedures, the West Side Drainage project, the former Berkeley Plaza site land, the Nokia site redevelopment, and snow removal costs. The Council adopted a series of resolutions under the Consent Agenda, including approving the bill list, amending resolutions for snow removal and laboratory services, authorizing road opening bond releases, awarding a contract for tree removal services, authorizing a shared services agreement for sewer line services, authorizing an investigation into the Nokia Bell Labs site for redevelopment criteria, and approving grant application submissions.

The meeting commenced with an Executive Session to discuss Contract Negotiations regarding the Connell Zoning Ordinance. Following the Executive Session, the Citizens Hearing portion addressed resident inquiries concerning the availability of Executive Session results, the Serman Ave. project, and questions regarding specific Resolutions and Bills. The subsequent Consent Agenda included the approval of the Bill List dated January 20, 2026, amendments to the designation of official newspapers, authorization for appropriation reserve transfers, permission for the Kimberly Anne Wilson Foundation to hold a 5K Run for Mental Health, authorization for purchasing supplies for the Wastewater Treatment Plant, resolutions detailing bond details for the New Jersey Water Bank program, and multiple contract authorizations with Hanna's Mechanical Contractor's Inc. for motor replacement and HVAC maintenance, Tree King, Inc. for tree removal, and memorializing agreements for snow removal services and emergency road/drainage repairs. Resolutions were also passed to release Road Opening Bonds and performance guarantees for various site improvements, and to move several members to the inactive list of the Fire Department and Fire Junior Auxiliary. The session concluded with Council and Administration reports.

The agenda for the meeting included a proclamation celebrating Bernd Haase's 100th birthday. An Executive Session was added to discuss contract negotiations and pending litigation. The regular agenda focused on public hearings and final adoption for several ordinances: Ordinance 2026-01, which amends maximum permitted building height requirements in R-10, R-15, and R-15A zones; Ordinance 2026-03, which increases the affordable housing set-aside for rental units in Downtown Zone Districts from fifteen percent (15%) to twenty percent (20%); and Ordinance 2026-04, which repeals and amends sections related to affordable housing development fees and mandatory set-asides to comply with the Fair Housing Act and UHAC. New business involved resolutions for authorizing payment of attorney's fees and various administrative actions, including awarding contracts for engineering services and the Residential Clean-Up Program, and releasing Road Opening Bonds. An Ordinance for introduction (Ordinance 2026-02) regarding amendments to the Mixed Use (MU) Zone was also scheduled.