Long Hill Committee introduces 2026 budget, approves self‑examination and advances ordinances to May 27 hearing

The Long Hill Township Committee on May 13 introduced the municipality's 2026 budget and approved a self‑examination resolution to allow local review of the document before the public hearing.

At the start of the public session Mayor Piserchia and the clerk confirmed attendance and the Committee approved Resolution 26‑124 certifying the township's chief financial officer's self‑examination of the budget. The Committee then introduced Resolution 26‑125, formally placing the 2026 municipal budget on file; the meeting packet includes a summary showing total general revenues and appropriations of $19,148,569.29. The budget calendar calls for a public hearing on the budget and tax resolution at a meeting scheduled for June 17, 2026.

Committeeman Liberato moved the self‑examination and budget introduction motions; Deputy Mayor Dorsi and the mayor joined the votes. On the roll call for the budget resolutions Committeeman Liberato voted yes, Committeeman Verlezza recorded an abstention, Deputy Mayor Dorsi voted yes, Mayor Piserchia voted yes, and Committeewoman Fettes was absent.

The Committee also introduced two ordinances on first reading and set public hearings for May 27: Ordinance 586‑26, a comprehensive salaries and wages ordinance listing position titles and proposed salary ranges for municipal employees, and Ordinance 587‑26, a model ordinance authorizing the township to exceed the Local Government Cap Law to the 3.5% cap‑bank level for the 2026 budget year (N.J.S.A. 40A:4‑45.14). Deputy Mayor Dorsi moved introduction of Ordinance 586‑26; the motions to introduce both ordinances passed by roll call with the same attendance pattern described above.

The meeting minutes record the full salary schedules and the text of the cap‑bank ordinance in the meeting packet. Clerk Megan Phillips told the public the full budget packet is available online and by request via municipalclerk@longhillnj.gov. Resident Dennis Sandow told the Committee he had only received the budget summary and asked when the full budget would be available; Sandow said he looks forward to seeing the full document. The clerk indicated the full budget is being prepared for public posting and distribution ahead of the June 17 hearing.

The Committee approved a consent agenda (Resolutions 26‑126 through 26‑141) consolidating routine items — minutes, bills, escrow releases, appointments, permit approvals and event licenses — in a single roll‑call vote. That motion passed with Committeeman Verlezza recorded as an abstention and Committeewoman Fettes absent.

The Committee recessed to executive session earlier in the evening to discuss personnel (municipal judge), property acquisition and attorney‑client matters; no further public action was taken after the session ended. The public hearing dates for the introduced ordinances and the budget were announced in the meeting minutes.