Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Business topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Warren Committee adopts multiple ordinances, introduces 2026 budget and approves Town Hall remediation payments
Summary
At its April 16 meeting the Warren Township Committee adopted several ordinances and resolutions, introduced the 2026 municipal budget for public hearing on May 14, approved emergency remediation payments for Town Hall damage and authorized a restoration contract subject to insurance approval.
The Warren Township Committee on April 16 adopted a package of ordinances and resolutions, introduced the municipal budget for 2026 and approved payments and contracts to remediate and restore Town Hall after water damage.
Most votes were unanimous. The Committee adopted Ordinance No. 26-12, authorizing a $900,000 appropriation from a congressional grant for public safety communications upgrades, and Ordinance No. 26-13, a $100,000 supplemental appropriation for an engineering feasibility study of Cherry Tree Lane drainage improvements. The Committee also adopted Ordinance No. 26-14 to increase units in the AH-6 Affordable Housing District from 26 to 28, designating the two additional units as affordable housing.
The Committee approved Resolution No. 2026-107 to pay current bills totaling $7,899,509.50, which includes payments of $4,085,197 to the Warren Township Board of Education and $1,730,895 to Watchung Hills Regional High School. The governing body introduced the municipal budget (Resolution No. 2026-108) for public hearing on May 14; Township Administrator Mark Krane said the proposed 2026 budget is 6.14% higher than 2025, yields an average $64 increase for a home valued at $1,021,852, and lists a proposed tax rate of 2.52% with the public hearing to be held on May 14.
On emergency and recovery matters, the Committee ratified payment of $383,416.63 to Rapid Recovery Services for emergency remediation at Town Hall following a sprinkler-pipe failure on Feb. 8 and authorized a restoration contract with Rapid Recovery Services for work estimated by the insurer at up to $1,444,388.88, subject to Travelers Insurance and Garden State Municipal Joint Insurance Fund approvals.
Personnel and administrative items approved included promotions in the police department (a lieutenant to captain effective April 20 and a sergeant promotion effective April 27), appointment and reappointments to boards and committees, an award for IT services and other standard municipal contracts. The Committee also approved a place-to-place transfer of a plenary retail distribution (liquor) license for Wine Vault LLC, effective May 15, 2026, after brief public comment.
During the discussion portion of the meeting Committee members asked staff to research model ordinances and possible regulations: Committeeman Croson requested analysis of municipal limits on data centers (noise and energy impacts), and Committeeman McCarey urged adoption of a Film Ready ordinance; Mayor Fine raised the prospect of reviewing noise rules for landscaping activity.
The meeting included public comments from numerous residents focused primarily on development at the Bardy property and related concerns about environmental conditions, traffic, flooding, sewer capacity and school impacts. The Committee adjourned at 10:37 p.m.
