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Anna Dwarte McCarthy sworn in as Bernards Township mayor, outlines public safety and housing priorities
Summary
Anna Dwarte McCarthy was sworn in as Bernards Township mayor on Jan. 6, 2026 and used her inaugural remarks to prioritize public safety, affordable‑housing compliance and community programs, and to thank long‑serving township staff and volunteers.
Anna Dwarte McCarthy was sworn in as mayor of Bernards Township (Basking Ridge) during the township’s Jan. 6, 2026 reorganization meeting and delivered an inaugural address that emphasized public safety, affordable housing and support for local services.
In remarks after taking the oath, Dwarte McCarthy said the township will continue to prioritize traffic and pedestrian safety following the October death of resident Pavani Mani on Allen Road. "We are in communication with residents, county, and staff alike," she said, adding that the county and township are pursuing engineering studies and are exploring partnerships with Ridewise, Inc. to provide pedestrian‑safety education.
The mayor also addressed the township’s affordable‑housing obligations, saying officials expect "shortly an order of conditional compliance from Judge Menon that approves our affordable housing obligations for the next 10 years through July 2035 and protects us from builder's remedy lawsuits." She noted prior local investments, including a $200,000 contribution from the township’s affordable‑housing fund to help renovate six homes operated by Our House Foundation.
"We're not a red town or a blue town. We're a purple town," Dwarte McCarthy said, and asked the committee to focus on practical local issues rather than partisan divisions. She thanked municipal staff by name — including Ryan Wallace (public works), Tom Timco (engineering), Jennifer Gander (parks and recreation), Sean McCarthy (CFO) and Emily Feifenberger (HR) — and praised Chief Administrative Officer Pat Monaco for his long service.
Dwarte McCarthy framed three top priorities for the coming year: public safety, the township’s future development and addressing residents’ diverse needs through programs and services. She highlighted recent programs for residents with disabilities (an adaptive golf clinic) and a $70,000 age‑friendly planning grant awarded to the Somerset County YMCA in partnership with the township through the New Jersey Department of Human Services.
The mayor also previewed plans to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary with local historical programs and reenactments, and invited the public to a post‑meeting reception at the Liberty Corner Firehouse.
The reorganization meeting included the swearing‑in of township committee members Brett Hodes and John Tomkins; both were administered the oath by Somerset County Commissioner Director Chanel Robinson and offered brief remarks of thanks. The meeting concluded after routine consent items and appointment confirmations were approved by unanimous vote.
