Lebanon Committee adopts 2025 salary schedule, introduces $875,000 capital plan and approves contracts and grants

The Township Committee of the Township of Lebanon on June 4 adopted new 2025 pay rules for elected officials and staff, introduced a capital-improvement ordinance, and approved a string of contracts, grants and refunds.

Mayor Brian Wunder opened the meeting and said, "Official action will be taken at this meeting," as the body moved through an agenda that included personnel pay ranges, procurement and budget items. The committee unanimously adopted Ordinance No. 05-2025, which establishes salary pay ranges for 2025 (examples in the ordinance include Mayor $4,000–$6,000 and Police Chief $86,000–$175,000), and then adopted Resolution No. 84-2025 fixing the actual 2025 salaries (the resolution lists line-by-line amounts, including Mayor $5,000). Committee members voted aye: Abe Abuchowski, Beverly Koehler, Jay Wojcik, Tom McKee and Mayor Wunder.

During discussion Ms. Beverly Koehler questioned why two Library Assistant positions showed slightly different hourly rates; Township Clerk Carolynn Budd confirmed the listed rates were correct as presented.

The committee introduced Ordinance No. 06-2025, a capital-appropriation ordinance authorizing $875,000 from the 2025 Capital Improvement Fund for a package of public improvements including road resurfacing and chip-seal programs, Department of Public Works equipment and vehicles, two SUVs for the police department, an electric message board for the police department, school safety lights, and various building improvements. Mayor Wunder said the public hearing on Ordinance No. 06-2025 is scheduled for July 9, 2025. The motion to introduce passed unanimously (mover: Jay Wojcik; second: Tom McKee).

On procurement and equipment, the committee: - authorized purchase of a double-wall calcium storage tank from Reed Systems, LTD under the ESCNJ cooperative pricing contract for $38,093.95 (Resolution No. 98-2025); - awarded an IT management services contract to Quikteks, LLC at $1,100 per month for July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026 (Resolution No. 103-2025); - authorized purchase, implementation and maintenance of tax-collection software from Edmunds GovTech with first-year costs of $14,700 (including implementation and conversion) and annual subscription of $3,950 thereafter (Resolution No. 106-2025); - authorized the sale of designated surplus township property (including a 5,000-gallon calcium poly tank) through GovDeals (Resolution No. 99-2025).

On grants and county funding, the committee: - authorized application to the Hunterdon County Local Law Enforcement Grant Program for up to $50,000 to upgrade security cameras at the police department and municipal building (Resolution No. 104-2025); and - accepted an $83,000 Recreational Improvement Grant from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs for recreation improvements (Resolution No. 105-2025).

The committee also addressed tax-accounting errors and veteran exemptions: it approved cancellation of $1,603.92 in accrued interest for George Parsons (106 Mt. Grove Road) due to an entry error and authorized refunds and cancellations tied to a tax-collection software error that had generated 6% year-end penalties for two properties; it approved partial tax cancellations and refunds arising from newly granted fully disabled veteran exemptions for two homeowners (Resolutions Nos. 91–96). The meeting record shows motions passed unanimously on these items.

Library staffing actions included hiring Linda Patterson as a per-diem employee at the Bunnvale Library at $15.49 an hour (not to exceed 20 hours per week, initial 90-day term) and authorizing continued per-diem appointments for Mary Louise Codoyannis and Frances Suchovic at the same hourly rate (Resolutions Nos. 100–101-2025).

The committee approved a partial payment of $48,750 from the 2025 budget to the Lebanon Township Volunteer Fire Department to support operations (Resolution No. 102-2025). It also agreed to stop reading vouchers aloud and approved the June 4 bill list totaling $296,460.03.

After an executive session held to discuss contract negotiations and employee health insurance matters, the committee reconvened and adopted Resolution No. 108-2025 authorizing reimbursement to Police Officer Matthew Kelly of $5,631.99 for employee health-insurance contributions that were deducted while he had not been enrolled in the State Health Benefits Program. The resolution states the action shall not be considered "prior practice" or a precedent for other municipal employees.

Public comments during the meeting raised local concerns about the library sign, stones encroaching on Pt. Mountain Road, speed limits on Pt. Mountain Road and zoning fines; the committee noted the library sign topic will be revisited during fall budget meetings.

Votes at a glance - Approval of May 7, 2025 minutes: approved (Ayes: Abuchowski, Koehler, Wojcik, McKee, Wunder). - Ordinance No. 05-2025 (2025 salary ordinance): adopted (unanimous). - Ordinance No. 06-2025 (capital improvements, $875,000): introduced; public hearing scheduled July 9, 2025 (introduced unanimously). - Resolutions Nos. 84–106, 108-2025 (salary resolution, budget insertions, procurement, refunds, grants, contracts, hires, reimbursement): adopted (motions passed unanimously where recorded).

What happens next The public hearing for Ordinance No. 06-2025 is set for July 9, 2025; the committee will address the capital-appropriation ordinance then. Several vendor contracts will proceed to finalized contract documents and purchase orders as authorized, and grant agreements will be executed if awards are finalized.