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Lebanon Committee adopts 2025 budget-cap and direct-deposit ordinances, approves major contracts and labor pact
Summary
At its March 5 meeting the Lebanon Township Committee adopted a 3.5% budget-cap ordinance for 2025 and a mandatory direct-deposit payroll ordinance, introduced a salary ordinance and a bond ordinance to fund a new pumper fire engine, approved procurement contracts including a $199,822.56 playground purchase, ratified a four-year CWA agreement and approved a slate of tax refunds and other routine measures.
Lebanon Township’s governing body adopted a 2025 budget-cap ordinance and a municipal payroll change and approved multiple contracts and refunds at its March 5, 2025 regular meeting.
The Committee voted unanimously to adopt Ordinance No. 01-2025 to exceed the municipal budget appropriation limits and establish a 3.5% cap bank for calendar year 2025, the ordinance materials state. The Committee also unanimously adopted Ordinance No. 02-2025 mandating direct deposit of net pay for all municipal employees and elected officials, effective March 14, 2025, with the Committee retaining discretion to grant exemptions.
Both ordinances were adopted after the Committee opened public hearings and received no substantive public testimony. The meeting record shows the adoption votes carried with the five-member Committee (Mayor Brian Wunder; Committee members Abe Abuchowski, Beverly Koehler, Jay Wojcik and Tom McKee) voting aye.
The Committee introduced, without adoption, Ordinance No. 03-2025, an amendment to the township’s 2024 salary ordinance that lists salary ranges for officers and municipal employees across a variety of positions (from the Mayor’s stipend through police, public works and clerical roles), and scheduled its public hearing for April 2, 2025. A member of the public asked about the new employee position referenced in Ordinance No. 03-2025 and whether Ordinances 03-2025 and 04-2025 affect Ordinance No. 01-2025; the public-comment question was recorded but the minutes do not show a substantive answer in the public record.
The Committee also introduced Bond Ordinance No. 04-2025 to appropriate $1,040,000 for the acquisition of a new pumper fire engine, including a $52,000 down payment and authorization to issue up to $988,000 in bonds or bond anticipation notes under the Local Bond Law; a hearing on that ordinance is set for April 2, 2025.
On procurement and finance matters, the Committee adopted several resolutions. Resolution No. 50-2025 awarded a five-year contract to LMR Disposal LLC to supply a 2-yard recycling dumpster with weekly pickup for the Department of Public Works, with annual amounts beginning at $900.00 in 2025 and a total five-year cost not to exceed $4,665.12. Resolution No. 51-2025 authorized the purchase, design and installation of playground equipment from Superior Recreational Products under Buy Board Contract #679-22, with Picerno-Giordano Construction, LLC confirmed as the installer; the contract amount was authorized not to exceed $199,822.56.
The Committee also approved a series of tax-related resolutions: refunds of overpayments to Daniel Mazzola and Anne Iannucci ($2,300.66), Adam and Brittany Clark ($3,682.87), and Black River Title & Settlement LLC ($2,198.53); and Resolution No. 49-2025 cancelled $1,196.00 in accrued interest on a 2024 tax delinquency for 262 Mt. Airy Road due to an entry error. The meeting record shows each resolution passed on unanimous committee votes.
On labor relations, the Committee adopted Resolution No. 52-2025 approving and ratifying a successor collective bargaining agreement with CWA Local 1040 for the period January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2027, and authorized the Mayor and municipal clerk to execute the agreement upon receipt of the union’s signed copy.
Environmental and community items included a request from EOSC Chair Sharon Petzinger to extend an agreement with NJ Audubon through the end of 2025; the Committee asked the township attorney to prepare a resolution to update that agreement. Petzinger also announced an EOSC well-testing event (testing May 3; sample collection May 5) and the Committee approved release of a Draft Forest Stewardship Plan for Anthony Preserve for public and stakeholder comment, with an opportunity for comment at the June 10 EOSC meeting.
The Committee approved a Lebanon Township Fire Department coin-toss application for April 26, 2025, authorized a $46 purchase from the Museum Trust Fund for a historical sign, and authorized the Mayor to sign a request letter for a Black Hawk helicopter appearance at the townwide picnic on May 17, 2025.
Committee members reviewed vouchers and approved the March 5, 2025 bill list in the amount of $1,657,074.86. The Committee then adopted Resolution No. 53-2025 and held an executive session (entered 8:12 p.m.; recessed 9:30 p.m.) to discuss collective bargaining, pending/anticipated litigation and personnel matters related to the zoning officer, per diem appointments, board secretary positions and officer insurance; the minutes record no public action taken during executive session. The meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m.
The Committee scheduled public hearings on the introduced ordinances (03-2025 and 04-2025) for April 2, 2025 and directed staff to prepare necessary documents and advertisements for changed meeting dates, procurement actions and the NJ Audubon extension as discussed.
