Lebanon approves three-year shared municipal court agreement with Clinton Township

The Township Committee of the Township of Lebanon on Nov. 6 approved a three-year shared municipal court services agreement with the Township of Clinton intended to create tax savings through consolidation of court services.

Under the resolution, Lebanon will pay Clinton Township $26,755 for calendar year 2024, $27,425 for 2025 and $28,100 for 2026. Payments are to be made in four equal installments on March 15, June 15, Sept. 15 and Dec. 15 of each contract year. The resolution states that all Lebanon Township court-related revenues — court costs, fines, forfeitures and other fees and interest revenues — shall be forwarded monthly as required by court rule, with one stated exception: any public defender fees assessed by the judge against defendants who request and receive public defender services will remain with Clinton Township to help offset the public defender’s salary, because Clinton is solely responsible for that position.

The shared-court arrangement is authorized by state law (cited in the resolution as N.J.S.A. 40A:65-1 et seq. and N.J.S.A. 2B:12-1c) and is subject to approval or renewal by the Administrative Office of the Courts and the Vicinage 13 Assignment Judge. The committee directed that a copy of the resolution and agreement be filed with the Division of Local Government Services as required by statute.

The motion to adopt the resolution was made by Committeeman Abe Abuchowski and seconded by Committeeman Jay Wojcik; the vote was 5-0 in favor. The resolution instructs the Clerk and Finance staff to coordinate remittance and filing requirements going forward.