Residents press Colts Neck Committee on transparency, affordable housing and project bids during public comment

Several residents used the public‑comment period at the Jan. 2 reorganization meeting to press the township committee for more information about affordable housing discussions, a denied grant and recent procurement decisions.

Kevin O'Brien (AT&T Enclosure) accused the committee of failing to inform residents about a denied grant and said statements by committee members about converting Naval Weapons Station Earl housing to affordable units were inconsistent. "Transparency builds trust. Colts Neck is our town too," O'Brien said, adding that residents deserve clearer answers about an apparent grant denial and earlier public comments on housing conversions.

O'Brien also questioned discrepancies in bid amounts for the Five Points bathroom project and asked why the town administrator’s compensation had been increased. He asked the committee to move a special‑needs park closer to new bathrooms to avoid accessibility barriers; he said he had requested the change twice with no response.

Mayor Michael Viola responded that the township was recruiting a full‑time clerk and that earlier conversations about Naval Weapons Station Earl housing had been paused after a private contractor (Balfour Beatty) declined to pursue the conversion, explaining there were confidentiality limits until executive‑level decisions were finalized. "We had to get to a certain point before we can share it in public from executives," Viola said.

Alan Ryan, a volunteer firefighter and resident, used his remarks to thank first responders and recognize recent leadership changes in the fire department.