Lebanon Township Committee approves salt contract, ratifies police CBA and authorizes Alcotest purchase; accepts patrolman resignation

Lebanon Township Committee members on Aug. 2 approved several routine but consequential measures, including a contract for rock salt, ratification of a police collective bargaining agreement and purchase of an Alcotest breath-testing system. The Committee also accepted the resignation of a patrolman and authorized advertisement to fill the resulting vacancy.

Mayor Beverly Koehler called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and led the flag salute and a moment of silence for Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver and first responders. Present were Committee members Mike Schmidt, Thomas McKee and Brian Wunder; Abe Abuchowski was absent. Attorney Mark Roselli and Deputy Clerk Kimberly Jacobus were also in attendance.

Minutes and procedural actions Committee members approved the minutes of the July 19 regular and executive session meetings following a motion by Mike Schmidt and a second by Thomas McKee; the roll call vote was recorded as favorable. The Committee opened and closed a public-comment period on agenda items with no speakers.

Contracts and procurement The Committee adopted Resolution No. 92-2023 to participate in the Hunterdon County Cooperative Pricing System and award a contract to Morton Salt, Inc. The Township anticipates purchasing up to 2,000 tons of rock salt for the 2023–24 season at $72.84 per ton. Adoption was carried by unanimous favorable roll call vote.

Labor agreement By unanimous roll call vote the Committee adopted Resolution No. 93-2023, approving and ratifying a successor collective bargaining agreement between Hunterdon County P.B.A. Local No. 386, Lebanon Township Unit and the Township for the period Jan. 1, 2022–Dec. 31, 2025. The resolution authorizes the mayor and deputy clerk to execute the contract on the Township's behalf.

Equipment purchase for police The Committee adopted Resolution No. 94-2023 authorizing purchase of an Alcotest 9510 system from Drager, Inc., under State Contract T-3031, with a 10-year service agreement for $19,350. The Chief Financial Officer's certification of available funds was noted in the record.

Personnel and shared services The Committee accepted Patrolman Chris Bourque's resignation and directed Attorney Roselli to prepare a resolution for the next meeting. The Committee also approved Police Chief Cronce's request to advertise for the vacant officer position. Members discussed several Department of Public Works equipment requests — a Hunter wheel balance and a 2023 Case boom mower — and instructed staff to prepare separate resolutions for the Aug. 16 meeting if formal approval is required. The Committee approved sending a proposed shared-services agreement for a school law-enforcement officer (SLEO) to the North Hunterdon-Voorhees Board of Education for its Aug. 15 meeting.

Finance and correspondence Committee members reviewed vouchers exceeding $1,000 and approved the Aug. 2 bill list totaling $44,589.06 by unanimous favorable roll call vote. Committee member Mike Schmidt briefed the public on the county-certified 2023 tax rate and the township tax rate during the correspondence portion of the meeting.

Public comment, executive session and adjournment During general public comment a resident asked whether a Christmas tree would be provided for decoration by Dec. 3 and complimented the new police sign. The Committee later approved Resolution No. 91-2023 and entered executive session at 7:40 p.m. to discuss litigation (Township of Lebanon v. Yuhas), personnel and contract negotiations; the public meeting reconvened at 7:55 p.m., and the Committee adjourned at 7:55 p.m.

Votes at a glance - Resolution No. 92-2023 (Morton Salt contract): adopted; vote recorded as unanimous favorable roll call vote. - Resolution No. 93-2023 (P.B.A. collective bargaining agreement, Jan. 1, 2022–Dec. 31, 2025): adopted; unanimous favorable roll call vote. - Resolution No. 94-2023 (Alcotest 9510 purchase, $19,350, State Contract T-3031): adopted; unanimous favorable roll call vote. - Acceptance of Patrolman Chris Bourque's resignation: adopted; unanimous favorable roll call vote. - Approval to advertise to fill vacant police position: adopted; unanimous favorable roll call vote.

The Committee scheduled the public hearing for Ordinance No. 2023-06 for Aug. 16, 2023, and asked staff to prepare resolutions on outstanding DPW purchases for that meeting. The meeting closed after the executive-session reconvening and adjournment.