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Southampton Committee moves March meeting, introduces affordable-housing ordinance and approves equipment, road payments
Summary
Southampton Township moved its March meeting to meet a court-ordered affordable-housing deadline, introduced an affordable-housing ordinance for first reading, and unanimously adopted a slate of resolutions including a shared-services stormwater agreement, road-project payments and purchase of an asphalt hot patcher.
The Southampton Township Committee on Feb. 17 voted to move its March meeting to March 10 to meet a court-ordered March 15 deadline tied to the township’s fourth-round affordable housing obligation and introduced an affordable-housing ordinance on first reading.
Administrator Brandon Umba told the Committee the court mandated a March 15 deadline for the municipality’s affordable-housing obligation and recommended the schedule change so an ordinance required by the court could be adopted in time. The Committee adopted a resolution amending the annual meeting schedule to reflect the March 10 date.
Township Solicitor George Morris explained that the ordinance on the agenda (Ordinance 2026-01) replaces Chapter 12-4.12 to set out affordable-housing definitions and applicability required of New Jersey municipalities; the body voted to introduce the measure on first reading. Final adoption will require a future meeting and any statutorily required public notice and hearings.
The Committee also approved several resolutions by roll call. Among them, it joined the Educational Services Commission cooperative-purchasing agreement and authorized purchase of a three-ton Falcon RME asphalt hot patcher from McGrath Municipal Equipment via ESCNJ cooperative purchasing. The Committee adopted final change order and payment measures for the NJDOT FY 2024 Municipal Aid Reconstruction of Burrs Mill Road Phase I and authorized a shared-services agreement with the Burlington County Soil Conservation District for stormwater-management facility inspections and related services.
A farmland-preservation application for Block 903, Lot 26.01 (applicant Edmund R. Gager) was reviewed and the administrator was authorized to sign the state application; the packet notes the state program requires no local cost share. The Committee approved a set of business and storage-container licenses on the consent portion of the agenda.
On finance matters, the Committee approved the bills for payment. Roll call recorded affirmative votes from Committeeman Arnold Harrison, Committeeman Ronald Heston and Deputy Mayor Elizabeth Rossell; Committeeman James Young and Mayor William Raftery abstained.
The Committee adopted Resolution 2026-31 to enter executive session for attorney-client privilege matters; the body entered executive session at 6:56 p.m. and returned at 7:51 p.m. Township Attorney George Morris reported no action was required following the session. The meeting adjourned at 7:51 p.m.
Votes at a glance: Resolution 2026-32 (amend meeting schedule): adopted (Yes: William Raftery; Elizabeth Rossell; Arnold Harrison; Ronald Heston; James Young). Ordinance 2026-01 (first reading introduction): advanced on first reading (same 5-0 vote). Resolution 2026-26 (ESC cooperative purchasing): adopted 5-0. Resolution 2026-27 (purchase of Falcon RME asphalt hot patcher): adopted 5-0. Resolution 2026-28 (Burrs Mill Rd change order): adopted 5-0. Resolution 2026-29 (Burrs Mill Rd payment): adopted 5-0. Resolution 2026-30 (shared services for stormwater inspections): adopted 5-0. Resolution 2026-31 (executive session authorization): adopted 5-0. Bills for payment: approved (Yes: Arnold Harrison; Ronald Heston; Elizabeth Rossell. Abstained: James Young; William Raftery).
Why it matters: the schedule change is intended to ensure the township meets a court deadline tied to affordable-housing obligations; the ordinance introduction starts a legally required local step that will determine how income levels and applicability are mapped for affordable units. The resolutions affect local infrastructure (Burrs Mill Road), public-works equipment capacity and stormwater oversight.
The meeting included public comments on local schools, emergency services, Pinelands Water rate concerns and Leisuretowne traffic and signage; the Committee asked public works to review storm-drain clearing and the administrator said the Leisuretowne road work and leftover funds factored into the change order discussion. The Committee expects to introduce the municipal budget at the rescheduled March meeting.
