Lacey committee adopts DCA 4th‑round housing numbers, approves grant, contracts and routine measures

The Lacey Township Committee on Jan. 23 adopted the Department of Community Affairs’ 4th‑round affordable‑housing figures — a present need of 52 units and a prospective need of 172 units — and approved a series of ordinances, resolutions and appointments covering salaries, grant applications, contract awards and municipal bills.

The committee voted to adopt Resolution 2025‑80 accepting the DCA numbers after members said the town moved quickly to meet a state timeline. “If we did not adopt them by this date, we’re subject to builders’ remedy lawsuits,” Deputy Mayor Kenneth said during committee comments. “They rushed the numbers along, and we had to adopt it. It was a very tight time frame.” Committeeman McDonald echoed that the town had negotiated a manageable number. Mayor Carusolo said the town had “managed our numbers well.”

Nut graf: The meeting bundled a routine but broad set of formal actions — two second‑reading salary ordinances, transfers and tax‑certificate assignments, a grant application for park improvements, a contract award for deer carcass removal and multiple appointments — while members used the floor to underscore the urgency of adopting state housing numbers to avoid legal exposure.

Among the measures the committee approved were second readings of two salary ordinances: Ordinance 2025‑01 (special law enforcement officers, 2025–2028) and Ordinance 2025‑02 (crossing guards, 2025–2029). The committee then approved Resolution 2025‑66 authorizing a transfer of appropriations “in accordance with provisions of NJSA 40A:4‑59.”

The committee approved Resolution 2025‑69 to execute a grant application for a Local Recreation Improvement Grant requesting $376,500 to continue improvements at Heber Park. The committee also awarded a contract via the Ocean County Co‑op to Kelly Winthrop LLC for roadside deer carcass removal (Resolution 2025‑70) and authorized an interlocal service agreement with the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office for the Fatal Accident Support Team program (Resolution 2025‑71).

Resolution 2025‑72 authorized an agreement with Bright Harbor Healthcare for the On Point program, described in the agenda as proactive outreach for needs and treatment. The committee approved multiple administrative items: assignment of tax sale certificates (Resolutions 2025‑67 and 2025‑68), a medical leave for Anne Marie Sherry (Resolution 2025‑73), appointments to the Lacey Municipal Utilities Authority (Resolution 2025‑74) and the Board of Health (Resolution 2025‑75), acceptance of a Department of Public Works retirement (Resolution 2025‑76), refunds of facility deposit monies (Resolution 2025‑77) and payment of township bills in the amount of $6,241,177.68 (Resolution 2025‑78). The meeting closed with a motion to convene executive session (Resolution 2025‑79).

Committee members moved and seconded the measures and recorded affirmative roll calls for the listed ordinances and resolutions. Several items drew no public comment and were approved on roll call. The committee also approved meeting minutes for Jan. 9, 2025 (caucus, township and executive session minutes).

Ending: Members highlighted that adopting the DCA numbers was intended to limit the town’s exposure to builders’ remedy lawsuits, and staff will continue related planning and budget work in the coming weeks.

Votes at a glance: (listed resolution/ordinance number — short description — outcome) - Ordinance 2025‑01 — Second reading; salaries for special law enforcement officers (2025–2028) — adopted (roll call affirmative). - Ordinance 2025‑02 — Second reading; salaries for crossing guards (2025–2029) — adopted (roll call affirmative). - Resolution 2025‑66 — Transfer of appropriations per NJSA 40A:4‑59 — adopted. - Resolution 2025‑67 — Assignment of tax sale certificate for block 2820, lot 10 — adopted. - Resolution 2025‑68 — Assignment of tax sale certificate for block 2803, lot 1 — adopted. - Resolution 2025‑69 — Authorize execution of $376,500 Local Recreation Improvement Grant application for Heber Park — adopted. - Resolution 2025‑70 — Award contract for roadside deer carcass removal to Kelly Winthrop LLC (Ocean County Co‑op) — adopted. - Resolution 2025‑71 — Interlocal agreement with Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office for Fatal Accident Support Team — adopted. - Resolution 2025‑72 — Agreement with Bright Harbor Healthcare, On Point program (proactive outreach/treatment) — adopted. - Resolution 2025‑73 — Authorize medical leave of absence for Anne Marie Sherry — adopted. - Resolution 2025‑74 — Appoint Michael Maschiali and Gary Quinn to the Lacey Municipal Utilities Authority — adopted. - Resolution 2025‑75 — Appoint Michael Troncon to the Board of Health — adopted. - Resolution 2025‑76 — Accept retirement of a Department of Public Works employee — adopted. - Resolution 2025‑77 — Authorize refund of facility deposit monies — adopted. - Resolution 2025‑78 — Authorize payment of township bills, $6,241,177.68 — adopted. - Minutes (Jan. 9, 2025 caucus/township/executive) — approved. - Resolution 2025‑79 — Convene executive session — approved. - Resolution 2025‑80 — Accept DCA 4th round affordable‑housing present and prospective need (present: 52; prospective: 172) — adopted.