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Hazlet committee names Michael C. Sachs mayor, confirms appointments and approves 2026 budgets and contracts
Summary
At its Jan. 6, 2026 reorganization meeting the Hazlet Township Committee appointed Michael C. Sachs mayor and Robert Preston deputy mayor, approved a slate of 2026 appointments and professional-service contracts, adopted temporary municipal, sewer and pool budgets and approved a cash management plan.
Hazlet Township’s Committee met Jan. 6, 2026 for its annual reorganization meeting and adopted a series of leadership appointments, administrative resolutions and budget actions to begin the calendar year.
Michael C. Sachs was selected chairman of the Township Committee and will serve as mayor for 2026, and Robert Preston was appointed deputy chairman, to be known as deputy mayor. The committee certified the Nov. 4, 2025 election results that show James A. Cavuto and Robert Preston Jr. elected to full terms; Susan M. Kiley, Monmouth County Commissioner, administered oaths to the elected members.
The committee approved reappointments and new hires across township government. Alexis Caufield was appointed township tax collector effective Jan. 1, 2026 through Dec. 31, 2029; the resolution references the statutory certification and renewal requirements in the cited New Jersey statutes. The committee confirmed fire department leadership, set standing committee assignments and named liaisons for departments including public works, public safety, finance and recreation.
On financial and governance matters, the committee adopted a Cash Management Plan for 2026 that designates depositories and permissible investment instruments and formalizes internal controls for receipts, petty cash and authorized signatories. The committee also approved temporary municipal appropriations referencing 2024 totals ($20,365,187.14) and a 26.25% fraction used to set the temporary appropriations ($5,345,861.62). The committee adopted temporary sewer and pool utility budgets referencing prior-year totals and percentage calculations as reflected in the resolutions.
The committee approved multiple professional-service appointments and fee limits, including township attorney and labor counsel appointments, an auditor and planner, and qualified consulting engineers, and authorized cooperative purchases for public works equipment. Two ESCNJ cooperative purchases were authorized contingent on Chief Financial Officer certification: a Proview 6x4 chassis (not to exceed $173,500) and a 33-yard Bridgeport automated side-load body (not to exceed $186,357.03).
Votes at a glance: • R-26-2: Appointment of Michael C. Sachs as Mayor — adopted (roll call). • R-26-3: Appointment of Robert Preston as Deputy Mayor — adopted (roll call). • R-26-4: Alexis Caufield appointed Tax Collector (term to Dec. 31, 2029) — adopted (roll call). • R-26-6: Gregory W. Vella appointed Township Attorney (fee cap $75,000) — adopted (roll call). • R-26-8: Robert W. Swisher appointed Township Auditor (fee cap $44,275) — adopted (roll call). • R-26-23: 2026 Temporary Municipal Budget (temporary appropriations) — adopted (roll call). • R-26-43 & R-26-44: ESCNJ cooperative purchases for public works equipment — adopted (roll call).
The meeting included the annual adoption of meeting dates and order of business for 2026, designation of official electronic newspapers and the township website as the primary posting mechanism after March 1, 2026. The committee adjourned following a unanimous voice vote.
