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Hillsborough Planning Board reelects John Chikarelli as chair, approves slate of professional appointments
Summary
At its Jan. 8 reorganization meeting, the Hillsborough Township Planning Board swore in members, elected John Chikarelli chair, named board counsel and engineers, approved procedural resolutions and granted continuances on two subdivision applications. A resident raised questions about procurement transparency.
Hillsborough Township — The Hillsborough Township Planning Board held its reorganization meeting on Jan. 8, 2026, swearing in newly appointed members and electing John Chikarelli as chair for the calendar year.
Committeewoman Samantha Hand administered the oath of office to members named on the agenda, and the board then opened nominations for chair. Eric M. Bernstein nominated John Chikarelli, who accepted the nomination. The board approved the nomination by roll call.
The board next elected a vice chair and a secretary; roll calls for both offices produced affirmative votes and the appointments were confirmed. The chair then appointed a master plan subcommittee composed primarily of members who served the prior year, with one alternate named to replace a resigned member.
On a slate of procedural items, the board adopted its 2026 meeting schedule, approved rules of order, designated official newspapers for notices (Tap Into and the Beacon), adopted an open-meetings policy and approved administrative procedures. Each resolution was moved, seconded and approved on unanimous roll call votes.
The board also ratified that the hiring processes it used were "fair and open" and approved several professional appointments and contract actions. By roll call, the board appointed Eric M. Bernstein and Associates LLC as planning board attorney, named Penoni Associates as board engineer and approved Center State Engineering (Robert Russo) as alternate board engineer. The board approved an extension of a 2020 professional-services engagement with TNM Associates to continue work on an existing compliance matter; the board said the engagement covers only that pending matter and will be paid from escrow where applicable.
During the public-comment period, resident Maria Janusk (720 East Frick Ave., Manville) asked whether the lists of applicants and proposals for the professional appointments were available to the public and how long the planning board attorney had served. Janusk asked, "Are there any... who applied for that or submitted their qualifications for that position?" The board replied that proposal lists and the names of respondents are public and are included in the meeting materials; they also confirmed that Bernstein had served previously and that a contract would be signed in the coming days.
The board considered two development applications seeking adjournments without further notice. The application for Dukes Parkway East LLC (file 24-PB-11-SP) was continued to March 12, 2026 without further notice and the time of decision was extended as allowed. The application for Sukdev and Ruchica Angress (file 21-PB-13-MSV) was continued to March 5, 2026 without further notice, and the time of decision was extended to March 31, 2026; staff and counsel explained the Angress applicants need time to address stormwater and related compliance items and to perfect subdivision conditions.
The board also reviewed the 2025 annual planning-board report, thanked staff for the work on lengthy applications, and approved the report by roll call. The reorganization meeting adjourned and the board called to order its regular public meeting at 7:32 p.m.
The board recorded its roll calls on each resolution; minutes and application files are available on the township website and in the planning and zoning department for public inspection.
