This is a meeting of the Township Committee June 24th, 2026. The notice requirements provided for in the Open Public Meetings Act have been satisfied. Notice of this meeting was properly given by transmission to the Asbury Park Press and the Two River Times and by posting at the Middletown Township Municipal Building and filing with the
Township Clerk all on January 9th, 2026. Committeeman Clark. >> Here. >> Committeewoman Klatz. >> Here. >> Committeeman Settembrino. Deputy Mayor Hibell. >> Here. >> Mayor Perry. >> Here. >> Please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> At this time, I'd like to ask for a moment of silence to honor the troops serving world-wide defending our Constitution's, freedoms, and way of
life. Thank you. Our first item on tonight's agenda, we have proclamations for the record. We have a proclamation recognizing May 2026 as Jewish American Heritage Month in the Township of Middletown. A proclamation recognizing June 2026 as
Pride Month in the Township of Middletown. And a proclamation recognizing June 6th, 2026 as Relay For Life in the Township of Middletown. At this time, we have approval of minutes for June 8th, 2026 workshop meeting. >> Motion to approve the minutes.
>> Second. >> Committeeman Clark. >> Yes. >> Committeewoman Klatz. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Hibell. >> Yes. >> Mayor Perry. >> Yes. >> Motion carries to approve minutes. Our next item on tonight's agenda, we have public hearing of proposed ordinances.
Our first ordinance 2026-3514, an ordinance accepting deed of roadway dedication block 559 lots 1.01 and 1.02. >> Any member of the public wishing to speak on public ordinance number 2026-3514? Number six on the agenda.
Seeing no member of the public stepping forward, move to close public portion and approve. >> Second. >> Committeeman Clark? >> Yes. >> Committeewoman Kradz? >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Highbaugh? >> Yes. >> Mayor Perry? >> Yes. >> Motion carries to adopt this ordinance on second and final reading.
This time we have ordinance 2026-3515, an ordinance authorizing acceptance of deed of conservation easement upon block 559 lots 1.01 and 1.02 Murphy Road. >> Any member of the public wishing to speak on public ordinance number
2026-3515? Seeing no member of the public stepping forward, move to close public portion and approve. >> Second. >> Committeeman Clark? >> Yes. >> Committeewoman Kradz? >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Highbaugh? >> Yes. >> Mayor Perry? >> Yes. >> Motion carries to pass this ordinance on
second and final reading. At this time we have 2026-3516, an ordinance authorizing acceptance of deed of public sidewalk easement upon block 559 lot 1.01 Murphy Road. >> Any member of the public wishing to speak on public ordinance number
2026-3516? If you weren't speaking on 3515, you probably weren't speaking on 3516. Seeing no member of the public stepping forward, move to close the public portion and approve. >> Second. >> Committeeman Clark? >> Yes. >> Committeewoman Kradz? >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Highbaugh? >> Yes. >> Mayor Perry?
>> Yes. >> Motion carries to pass this ordinance on second and final reading. At this time we have ordinance 2026-3517, a bond ordinance amending bond ordinance number 2025-3475 finally adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Middletown,
New Jersey on August 11th, 2025. >> Any member of the public wishing to speak on public ordinance number 2026-3517. Okay. Seeing no member of the public stepping forward, move to close the public portion and approve. >> Second. >> Committeeman Clark. >> Yes. >> Committeewoman Crats. >> Yes.
>> Deputy Mayor Highball. >> Yes. >> Mayor Perry. >> Yes. >> Motion carries to pass this ordinance on second and final reading. At this time we have introduction of proposed ordinances. Our first ordinance 2026-3507, an ordinance repealing and replacing
ordinance number 2026-3491 and establishing new RTH-10 zone governing the development standards for block 1045 lots 2, 3, and 4 on the Township's official tax map. >> Motion to introduce. >> Second.
>> Committeeman Clark. >> Yes. >> Committeewoman Crats. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Highball. >> Yes. >> Mayor Perry. >> Yes. >> Motion carries to pass this ordinance on first reading with a public hearing to be held July 13th, 2026. We have 2026-3508,
an ordinance establishing new multi-family townhouse residential zone RTH-11 governing the development standards for block 746 lots 2.02, 2.03, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25 and block 739
lots 1, 2.01, 2.02, and 2.03 on the Township's official tax maps. >> Motion to introduce. >> Second. >> Committeeman Clark. >> Yes. >> Committeewoman Crats. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Highball. >> Yes. >> Mayor Perry. >> Yes. >> Motion carries to pass this ordinance on
first reading with a public hearing to be held July 13th, 2026. Now, at this time we have 2026-3509, an ordinance establishing new multi-family townhouse residential zone, RTH-12, governing the development standards for
block 615, lot 81 on the township's official tax maps. >> Motion to introduce. >> Second. >> Committeeman Clark. >> Yes. >> Committeewoman Kradz. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Hybel. >> Yes. >> Mayor Perry. >> Yes. >> Motion carries to pass this ordinance on first reading with a public hearing to
be held July 13th, 2026. At this time we have 2026-3519, an ordinance authorizing financial agreement upon a portion of block 306, lot 66 with Port Monmouth Urban Renewal LLC, an urban renewal entity pursuant to
the long-term tax exemption law, NJSA 40A:20-1 et seq. >> Motion to introduce. >> Second. >> Committeeman Clark. >> Yes. >> Committeewoman Kradz. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Hybel. >> Yes. >> Mayor Perry. >> Yes. >> Motion carries to pass this ordinance on
first reading with a public hearing to be held July 13th, 2026. At this time we have 2026-3520, an ordinance amending township salary ordinance setting salaries for non-contractual employees for 2026.
>> Motion to introduce. >> Second. >> Committeeman Clark. >> Yes. >> Committeewoman Kradz. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Hybel. >> Yes. >> Mayor Perry. >> Yes. >> Motion carries to pass this ordinance on first reading with a public hearing to be held 7/13/26.
At this time we have 2026-3521, an ordinance authorizing execution of the new affordable housing pilot agreement with Lincroft Senior Citizen Housing Corporation. >> Motion to introduce. >> Second. >> [clears throat] >> Committeeman Clark.
>> Yes. >> Committeewoman Klatz. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Hibell. >> Yes. >> Mayor Perry. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. Passes ordinance on first reading with a public hearing to be held July 13th, 2026. At this time we have 2026-3522, an ordinance repealing and replacing
chapter 37 of the code of the Township of Middletown governing emergency medical services. >> Motion introduce. >> Second. >> Committeeman Clark. >> Yes. >> Committeewoman Klatz. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Hibell. >> Yes. >> Mayor Perry. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. Passes ordinance on
first reading with a public hearing to be held July 13th, 2026. At this time I'd like to ask the Township Committee to adopt a consent agenda, which would include items 26-182 through 26-196.
>> Motion to approve the consent agenda. >> Second. >> Committeeman Clark. >> Yes. >> Committeewoman Klatz. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Hibell. >> Yes. >> Mayor Perry. >> Yes. >> Motion carries to adopt consent agenda. At this time we have resolution
we have the Township Committee acting as the ABC issuing authority. We have resolution 26-197, a resolution authorizing a person-to-person, place-to-place transfer for liquor license 1331-43-006. >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> Committeeman Clark.
>> Yes. >> Committeewoman Klatz. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Hibell. >> Yes. >> Mayor Perry. >> Yes. >> Motion carries to pass 26-197. At this time we have 26-198, a resolution authorizing the renewal of liquor licenses in the Township of
Middletown for the 2026-2027 license term. >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> Committeeman Clark. >> Yes. >> Committeewoman Klatz. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Hibell. >> Yes. >> Mayor Perry. >> Yes. >> Motion carries to adopt 26-198.
At this time we have Township Committee comments. >> Committeeman Clark. All right, Committeewoman Klatz. >> Uh just like to welcome uh Princeton Radiology to Middletown uh last Thursday I think it was uh Committeeman Clark and Deputy Mayor Highball and I were
um able to attend their ribbon cutting and welcome them into community. So we're we're thankful and look forward to their services in making our residents' lives just a little bit more convenient and easier for their services. So welcome to them. >> All right, DM.
>> Just real quick um heard a lot of ordinances and resolutions tonight. Um big one tonight that we're all a part of on this uh committee here our volunteer incentive program. So almost a 100 members got to participate in it this year. It's a it's a big thing for our volunteers and we're
uh with the chief being here I figured we got to once again recognize uh what you and your members are doing. So that's all I have Mayor. >> Thank you Deputy Mayor. Um I just want to remind everybody that uh this Sunday is the uh America 250 uh
parade that is going through Middletown. Uh it's the county's parade that will begin at the train station uh stepping off at 12:30. Uh it will go up Church Street, down Kings Highway, and then down New Monmouth Road all the way to Mater Dei Park.
Um uh I can't wait to hustle along that entire parade route and and have the Deputy Mayor uh hustling behind me. >> I'm going to come in first. >> Okay. All right. So um this is obviously our last uh
meeting before the 4th of July um and I just want to say that it's an honor to be an American citizen. It's an honor to have people here um ready to to discuss and and talk about things that are important to them uh in
our community Uh and there's no greater time to appreciate the fact that we are all Americans and we all have conversations and differences of opinion and and hopes and dreams for the America that we hope to create for our children and our grandchildren and appreciate number one
those taking part in in our government governmental process but I hope all of you find time to reflect and enjoy all the blessings of liberty and the people that have fought and died for that over these last 250 years. So God bless this great nation and thank
you to everyone that has defended and served it over over these many years. So with that open up for public comment. Any member of the public wishing to make a public comment may do so. We ask that you state your name for the record at we ask that you keep your comments to 5 minutes. At 4 minutes Heidi will let you
know that you have 1 minute remaining. With that being said any member of the public wishing to make a public comment. Yes sir. Come on down. How are you today? >> Very good. Thank you. My name is Joe Moreno 87 Radcliffe Drive in Lincroft. I the consent agenda number 18 for West
Front Street. Is there anybody could speak to that? What are those funds? I understand is like $218,000 that's going to be given to T&M to do some kind of work on that. Is anybody have any information regarding that? >> [clears throat] >> This is this is the West Front Street.
That's for the paving. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> What >> The township is planning on paving West Front Street. >> Right. >> Um >> I I'm working with Ted Maloney on that. I was the one that basically started everything. >> Okay. >> I saw that you know it was on the agenda I just wanted to know if anybody was what's the process because for the last
2 weeks there was surveyors out on West Front Street. >> saw that. >> So I don't know what the story was with that or >> So T&M this resolution tonight awards that contract to them to do all the required engineering work for the paving process and
>> is the engineering work? Can you explain what that is or is that the actual repaving of it? >> No, it's it's just the the design >> Okay. >> of it. >> Is there any way cuz like I said I I live right there around on Radcliffe and I know with the the church now it's like
a community center. I know they purchased the church. >> Now, I understand or I've heard that they want to put soccer fields on that side also. >> There's been no plans to do any anything yet. >> understand. What I'm saying is that with this design are they planning on putting
sidewalks? Because like I said when I live there you have people parking right on the side and walking in the on West Front Street to go to the soccer games or whatever. I was just wondering is there going to be sidewalks included in the design and that intersection where West Front and Crawford's Corner, I know
they redesigned it about a year ago, put the stop sign in there everything. I was just wondering are they going to put some kind of crosswalk say further up so people can go from the community church or community center over to the soccer fields. I was just wondering is there any way >> Yeah. >> Go on.
>> We we this project doesn't specifically include that, but we've talked to the county about a crosswalk somewhere from the what was the church property to the fields. A lot of people do that. So, we're going to work with the county on that. We should be able to get that done. At the So, this project doesn't
specifically include sidewalks, but if we ever do anything with that park that necessitates a crosswalk, that will include sidewalks. >> Oh, so right now it's just the actual just paving on the road. >> Curb curb and pavement, yeah. >> And when you say curbing, what is that? >> Curb. >> The curb. >> The curbs. If they need to be replaced, they'll replace the curb.
>> Okay. And also restriping the road once it's finished. Any timeline on when that's going to happen or >> Should be in 2027. Usually the design in one year and the construction is the following year. This is a this is these projects are funded by a DOT grant that we apply for every year.
>> Okay. >> So, they typically take one year of design and one year the next year construction. >> So, approximately a year from we'll say today, it'll be being done or >> I think it should be in under construction in the spring. >> In the spring? >> Okay.
And and two things on that. Number one, obviously, just timing when and when we can and cannot pave, right? Uh due to weather conditions. And two, um doing them separately for the crosswalk, I agree with you 100%. Uh but
doing them separate is is often better because then you're not slowing down one process to allow for another process that's going to need the the first the paving to to be done anyway. >> And we recommend like the second half of it of sidewalks and the crosswalk, you know, can I can I be added on to the
second phase of the project or >> Sure. We we can we can discuss adding adding anything on to the on to the project um cuz it's not finalized. >> Uh let me see. And lastly, like I said with the that intersection between Corliss Corner and West Front Street. You're talking about you're talking
about Everett. Well, Corliss Corner Road and West Front Street where the soccer fields are. >> Yeah, where the flashing stop sign is? >> Right. >> Yeah, okay. >> Is has they ever given a thought of putting because I mean, it's very active putting may maybe like a regular stop stop light there rather
than just this rather than just a stop sign. >> have looked at that. That's county road there. Um >> Right, Corliss Corner. >> Uh Everett >> Corliss Corner Everett is county. >> Right. >> I think the county have looked at that. I think this flashing stop sign was maybe a interim step, but I know they're they're looking at that. I don't know if
they've finished their their They have to do traffic counts um >> Right. >> determine if a you have to meet certain uh volume in order to justify a traffic signal. So, I don't know where that stands with the county, but we can find out. >> But now again, just getting back with the >> You just have a little less than a minute left. I'm sorry.
>> I'll be quick. Uh with the 218,000, that's just to start the project rolling, get it >> Yeah, so we usually do design. >> Design, I'm sorry, design. >> design work. The the construction work is usually well over a million dollars. >> Okay. Okay. Thank you very much. Thank you, sir. Any other member of the public? Yes,
sir. How are you today? >> I'm terrific. So is everybody tonight. >> Doing good. >> Good. My name is George Reay, 68 Devonshire Court in Middletown. I have a question and a comment. It's 2026-3508. Uh
number 11 on the agenda. Uh the question is that that is that the AT&T site? >> No. >> Okay. Then I don't have a comment. >> Okay. >> Okay, I was to I was told that Is there anything then let me go further. Is there anything on here?
>> nothing on the agenda about the AT&T site. >> Okay. All right. Then I'll save it for when it's introduced. >> Okay. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you, sir. Any other member? Yes. How are you? Good to see you. >> Good to see you. >> [laughter] >> Maureen Kramer, 630 Road, Belford. Um I
have a picture here that I'd like to share with everyone. I I actually had a packet prepared, but the person who prepared them didn't have it ready. >> give it to Laura. She'll she'll give it to us. >> Um this is in regard to the sidewalks in Belford. >> Yep. >> Um I'm a retired teacher. I taught
special ed. I'm certified in special ed. I'm pretty well schooled, I think, in um ADA law. And um Jersey Central Power & Light has left quite a mess in the Belford section of Middletown. That right there is an even by East Road where Mr. Mercandante told
the paper it was the county's issue, when not the Jersey Central Power & Light. That fence that's there, that's the corner house on Hopping Road. That where that broken up sidewalk is is where Jersey Central Power & Light's right-of-way is between
Hopping Road and Roxbury. They just left it like that. Um that's against the ADA laws. I didn't find that until I went to walk to my friend's house the other day that lives on Kelly Court next to Bayview. I had been to the Township three times.
I also called the county because of an incident where a woman walked out between two cars when Bayview school was getting out with a baby carriage in front of my car >> Mhm. >> and I couldn't understand why she was in the street. She went into the parking lot and when I was coming home from in the other direction from
um Atlantic Highlands, I was stuck in traffic at East Road. I'm glad they're going to be fixing the light there. And I see the telephone poles that are plopped in the middle of the sidewalk. Where that pole was, there was concrete on either side of the pole and and there was nowhere to go cuz there was a car
right next to that and a hedge. So she had no other alternative but to walk out into the street. So I called the county. I talked to a gentleman named Mr. Torres and the way that Jersey he said he was going to call Jersey Central right after he got off the phone with me. He was going to also contact um
somebody in the county to go and look at it. The very next day, I guess Jersey Central's way of fixing it was to put these white poles up with tape that said caution uh shock potential shock whatever the words were on it. And they had taken the concrete away but
there was old dirt there. >> Mhm. >> So I came to the Township again and I believe I spoke to you Heidi tonight. >> Yeah. >> And this all started back in April. >> Mhm. >> I'm sorry, March because when I took the pictures of after the county supposedly took care of it
when I took those pictures, my timestamp is in April. So this has been going on for a while. The other day I was walking to my friend's house. I came upon that. Took walked out of Hopping Road to go to Kelly Court next to Bayview school. I couldn't get past her. I was afraid I
was going to fall. I didn't really know where to walk, okay? So, I decided to take a walk, not to my friend's house. I walked 7/10 of a mile almost to the overpass where the Earl overpass is that separates Belford from
Middletown. And I took pictures of 43 ADA violations according to the ADA law on the sidewalks. When you get past the the overpass, and then you get to what we all call what
grow up around here, the wood streets. Um I wrote them down. That's Elmwood. They're in Leonardo cuz that separates the uh I get it. It's Elmwood, I think Briarwood, uh Greenwood, Elmwood, and
Birchwood. They don't even have a ramp. It's just a solid high curb. Um I think it was Garrett Boulevard. It's this wide because it's all overgrown with grass. There are
I guess water company, why they would have it in the middle of a sidewalk, I don't know. Everywhere where you see the caps for the water company, it the cement is all broken up. So, I took pictures and I made packets of 24 of them. Um I was planning on after conversation
I had with the certain somebody up there, um I had been planning to make a formal complaint with the Justice Department because the attorney here probably knows better than I, that if you're going to report an ADA non-compliance for a municipality,
you're supposed to go to the Justice Department because it's federal. I don't want to do that. I don't want to waste the taxpayers' money, unlike the SOS people with their blue shirts that caused my taxes to go up 10.2% for their self-serving nonsense.
I don't want the township to be fined. I just don't think it's right that people with disabilities are and they have this blatant disregard for the law and there's all these sidewalks in a 7/10 of a mile area.
Okay, and I would like I'm going to drop the packets off but I would like somebody to get back to me when they see the pictures, tell me how they're going to solve this problem and I would like to welcome you to walk the same path I walked to see everything that I'm talking about because until you see it
in pictures, you won't believe it because that right there is a perfect example. That has nothing to do with the East Road new construction and the county did not put those telephone poles in the center of a sidewalk where children have to walk to and from school
forcing women with baby carriages out into the middle of a 40 lane road. Um, I take it very seriously and I'm so disappointed in the Township because I don't understand especially those streets in Leonardo. I mean this law was passed in 1990 to still have curbs there
without a ramp for somebody to that's walking or somebody with a disability. Um, I think it's a pretty serious issue and apparently just one of those fines could cost the Township up to $75,000. I think it needs to be addressed and I think it needs to be addressed
immediately. Mr. Mercantante told me it was a temporary thing. I don't know how something like that is temporary with telephone poles blocking the right-of-way in a sidewalk but um, somebody might also want to check out across the street from where I took that picture uh, from the baby school uh, the
preschool on the corner of East Road um, to the next block somebody made a path. I saw the guys doing it um, before the snowstorm snap. So it was several months and now there's I thought they were putting sidewalks and I said this is great and then what they did was they
They put gravel there. And would the Township do that? Like or can somebody just come and just do something like that? >> Go ahead. Go ahead. I'm just familiar with that that that issue there. That was a part of a zoning requirement that they had to
put a sidewalk in there when the new lessee came in the old JCP&L building. So that will be done. Okay, it's on a list and I guess there were some issues with that, but I do call about that very often. >> Okay, because there's a dangerous issue there cuz I saw an old man walking on that gravel a couple weeks ago and it
didn't look safe. >> and I appreciate it. >> So hopefully somebody will get back to me. >> I'm happy to if you bring that packet in, I'm happy to take a look at it. >> Okay, thank you, Mayor. >> Thank you. Any other member of the public wish to make a public comment? Tara?
>> Hello everyone. Please excuse my dress. I'm coming directly from another thing. So I'm sorry to be dressed like this, but thank you to the members of the committee for your service to the public. I'm just here following up on the issue
I raised a few a few times about the fluoride in the water with New Jersey American Water. They said that's up to the Township to have it removed. >> Yeah, there's some disagreements about that between the Township and and but we've had
conversations and questions that we wanted answered, but um really haven't received any. >> Okay, cuz I did send you guys the studies. I mean I could send it again. It was a while ago about the danger fluoride um
you know, medicating the public without without our consent. I mean people can add their own fluoride if they want it or get their own fluoride. There's no reason to mass medicate you know, the public and it is actually a health issue. And it all all that has to be done is tell the and the company to take it out
of our water. This just doesn't need to be there. >> to send that to me again, I'll take it. >> Yes, I will. I'll I'll find it. Thank you. >> Thanks, Tara. Any other member of the public? Seeing no other member of the public stepping forward, move to close the public portion and adjourn. >> Second.
>> Councilmember >> Yes. >> Councilmember Crats? >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Hybell? >> Yes. >> Mayor Perry? >> Yes. >> Motion carries to adjourn. >> Have a good night, everybody. Thank you all.