[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6236052,"mediaKeyId","3390009-3d465e55a6405d13784610bcdfca8aed","parentId",3390009,"title","Residents urge action on school-funding reform, meeting notice and anti-bonding at Hillsborough reorg meeting","audioSeconds",464,"startMs",3676000,"endMs",4140000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3390009-3d465e55a6405d13784610bcdfca8aed&start=3676&end=4140","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3390009-3d465e55a6405d13784610bcdfca8aed/thumbnail_3676000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6236052/Hillsborough/Somerset-County/New-Jersey/Residents-urge-action-on-school-funding-reform-meeting-notice-and-anti-bonding-at-Hillsborough-reorg-meeting","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6236052-d7bc68ef1bbb51206fc6bea2904d2b52/orig.mp4?Expires=1770443017&Signature=E3VzDfTOlMN-QZiT2wDPXmDF7FyLcJ0SjoYvgHlwQLn2xiepEKHtZDIfbov26fXqekLM3InkZrfUG598J3gvTw10N2DemP9QfUMfiWLtzmr3aRwswlc1W7sF7GKt4zTTWva5r0rQW2SD9TWbIP9idQY-eaZbjapY~L9lOsy9RmdJp1X70DCy~ig1kAu1eV1HSvERctm0JWo-z7aD8HK-o-KPL-esjXmdc~dnqj1bmEGH6pIKlu8zZOvzIwQl8ek5FBS~qFJBLY53v1kIvhtBFfnLxvkyTnTBShurqNkKdTEjTYTjxyzrxWYXQPQmtNVd9pi1r8jXSUJk7MCwh62~mw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","HillsboroughTownship NJ","date","2025-01-03T13:17:55Z","article","Two residents used the township’s public-comment period at the Jan. 2 reorganization meeting to raise issues they said merit committee attention: the state’s School Funding Reform Act hearings and local government transparency and fiscal choices.

Alicia (Lisha) Gaber provided hearing dates for the state’s review of the School Funding Reform Act and urged committee members and residents to attend or submit comments. She listed regional hearings including a Jan. 8 session at the Somerset County Government Office in Somerville and later sessions in Trenton and Camden County. Gaber said local school funding could be affected by changes to the formula and encouraged coordination between the township and the school district on upcoming building and enrollment matters.

David Brook (7 Winding Way) urged the committee to publish final meeting agendas earlier than the evening of the meeting to improve public participation. He said detailed agenda materials often arrive too late—around 4:30–5 p.m. on meeting nights—making it difficult for residents to review multiple-page items before speaking. Brook also criticized the township’s use of bonding to finance projects, calling bond borrowing a long-term debt that increases overall costs for taxpayers and urged the committee to consider alternatives.

Brook asked the committee to consider a podium for public speakers so residents can set papers on a stable surface while addressing the dais; he offered to help partially fund it.

Clerk Sarah Brake read the public-comment rules and time limits before remarks. The committee did not take formal votes on these public-comment requests during the meeting; they were entered into the record for possible future action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025 January 2 - Township Committee Reorganization Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","During public comment at the Jan. 2 meeting, residents urged committee members to attend regional hearings on the state’s School Funding Reform Act, asked for earlier publication of full agendas and opposed municipal bonding as an expensive form of debt.","taxTitle","Hillsborough, Somerset County, New Jersey","taxId",70067,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6236057,"Hillsborough committee approves 2025 consent agenda; auditor appointment draws lone dissent",197,3323000,3520000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3390009-3d465e55a6405d13784610bcdfca8aed&start=3323&end=3520","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3390009-3d465e55a6405d13784610bcdfca8aed/thumbnail_3323000.jpg","/articles/6236057/Hillsborough/Somerset-County/New-Jersey/Hillsborough-committee-approves-2025-consent-agenda-auditor-appointment-draws-lone-dissent","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6236057-f6f877e927f326f62743a634cf030d88/orig.mp4?Expires=1770443017&Signature=Buf~ip-T0vIDn8bY6w8vAHu7Egi2mBQ4ufG0mVPQS88jlQNre4CqVe~VazHyG-XYVYH64wMb5uCd2uf4ufvCep-33LotS6oJFuKweZ8ghSVajygdzfazikcU7Z70J-NFuxkRywliX~D9Mv6CxvIIpR-koFQvwX89b7kGOqlYWbY~4l8cZ~qjsaUK5OKbDjjdpjAAASKnLSxLkKQSG-jVrVdSYbQQSRVPjVbBomHLB2SFPSTKQ4fNFePvGANaQY3HOlbURgeM4XvsnBdDDXn21R5yx~-DiDviS6PkUUuowQw9H6IG2bTiBJvUVYre8JBCLGKcoLD-1IK6HeZUzKNt1g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Hillsborough Township’s committee approved its reorganization consent agenda on Jan. 2, covering routine organizational resolutions including meeting dates, temporary budget authorization, professional service appointments and volunteer board appointments.

Most items (resolutions 1–8 and 10–19) passed on a single consent motion and roll-call vote. Resolution 9, which authorizes appointments for professional services and execution of professional-service contracts under the fair-and-open selection process, was taken separately at a committee member’s request because it included the auditor appointment.

The committee discussed the auditor selection. A committee member asked that the auditor appointment be reconsidered; a committee response during the discussion noted that no other firm submitted a bid, and under the fair-and-open procurement rules the sole compliant bidder is eligible for award.

On the separate roll call for resolution 9, Committeewoman Hand said she could not support that portion of the consent agenda and voted “no.” By rule and after discussion, other members voted to approve the resolution; the tally was 4–1 in favor. No amendments to the appointment were adopted at the meeting.

The resolution cited the fair-and-open selection process (NJSA 19:44A-20.4-5 as referenced during the meeting) as the procurement authority for awarding professional-service contracts.

The committee then opened the meeting to public comment on non-agenda items.

The municipal clerk recorded the votes and will include the resolutions and contracts in the meeting minutes and postings required under the Open Public Meetings Act.","The township committee approved its organizational consent agenda including professional-service contracts and a temporary budget. A separate vote on resolution 9 — appointment of the municipal auditor — passed 4–1 after debate about prior audit concerns; Committeewoman Hand voted no.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6236061,"Hillsborough Committee elects John Ciccarelli mayor, Catherine Payne deputy mayor",172,928000,1100000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3390009-3d465e55a6405d13784610bcdfca8aed&start=928&end=1100","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3390009-3d465e55a6405d13784610bcdfca8aed/thumbnail_928000.jpg","/articles/6236061/Hillsborough/Somerset-County/New-Jersey/Hillsborough-Committee-elects-John-Ciccarelli-mayor-Catherine-Payne-deputy-mayor","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6236061-50765fede84730a2829328697d9370b3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770443017&Signature=G8LsYanwUGP8kCxkuwoqJlSJDDKLgdjAQoHbTAAvVAYEGUpaQRo9mirLrFHtt7CAnl3QViCfBR-VLRszPSZLwLbm72Pmb7GCPLx56VoJyDtDbg-73cFIm0Uoauw-Vcm-7arB4vfJjVoGc3EubBJIFF8MN25p1RpDtsBdGUKVY72~n9rsn81zn2p2tdxtZcNh4X0wHZ3SfMqrH6vWadL5lB4vNnATebUil0KtI~tuxBC9G0VpQpuKpi1PENOoFhrfTU~-tgDFEz-um-Um-bzYC5QQDCb7iP6M8di~z3b7NclV~4zvbeQuqIRZVleRaz65~RnxGss2b3gPW~Tom9Lr2A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","John Ciccarelli was elected mayor of Hillsborough Township for 2025 at the township committee’s annual reorganization meeting on Jan. 2 and took the oath of office, and the committee elected Catherine Payne as deputy mayor.

The committee nominated Ciccarelli for mayor; the roll-call vote was 4–1 in his favor with Committeewoman Hand the lone “no.” Ciccarelli then recited the oath administered by Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli and pledged to “impartially and justly perform all the duties of the office of mayor.”

The nut of Ciccarelli’s remarks centered on three priorities: fiscal responsibility, infrastructure and open space. He said the township would continue a “business-like approach to governance,” maintain fiscal policies and the town’s credit rating, expand roads and other infrastructure, and preserve and buy open space through the township trust fund and coordination with Somerset County and state programs.

Catherine Payne was nominated and confirmed as deputy mayor by unanimous roll-call vote. She was administered the oath and thanked the committee for the appointment.

The committee also administered oaths to re-elected committee members and newly seated members earlier in the meeting. The reorganization meeting opened with a presentation of colors, the Pledge of Allegiance and an invocation. Municipal Clerk Sarah Brake presided over the meeting until the election of the mayor.

Mayor Ciccarelli thanked staff, volunteers and family, said he would champion a forthcoming master plan update and reiterated support for police funding and community programs. He noted recent awards for the township, including sustainability recognition and a health award, and said township staff practices and shared-service work drew statewide attention.

The committee set its meeting schedule and carried other organizational business on the consent agenda later in the meeting.","At its Jan. 2 reorganization meeting the Hillsborough Township Committee elected John Ciccarelli as mayor and Catherine Payne as deputy mayor, administered oaths of office and heard the new mayor outline priorities including fiscal responsibility, infrastructure and open space.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents urge action on school-funding reform, meeting notice and anti-bonding at Hillsborough reorg meeting

Hillsborough committee approves 2025 consent agenda; auditor appointment draws lone dissent

Hillsborough Committee elects John Ciccarelli mayor, Catherine Payne deputy mayor