Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Local Government Legislation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Middletown Committee adopts salary, property-sale and bamboo ordinances and advances fee measures; consent agenda passes
Summary
On Oct. 20 the Middletown Township Committee adopted multiple ordinances on second reading (salary schedule 2025-3473, sale of block 2025-3484 and a bamboo nuisance ordinance 2025-3485), introduced two fee ordinances for first reading, and approved a consent agenda, including a playground surfacing contract (recusal recorded).
Middletown’s Township Committee on Oct. 20 adopted several ordinances and passed a consent agenda that included procurement and policy resolutions.
The committee approved ordinance 2025-3473, a salary schedule setting noncontract full-time employee salaries for 2025–26, on second and final reading after closing the public hearing with no speakers. The committee also adopted ordinance 2025-3484 authorizing sale of a municipal lot (block 84, lot 6) — the ordinance text was read and the committee voted to pass it on second and final reading.
A public hearing on ordinance 2025-3485, a nuisance ordinance addressing the planning, growing, maintenance and cultivation of bamboo, produced extended public comment. Several residents sought clarifications about responsibility for preexisting bamboo, required buffer distances from property lines and the street, and the mechanics of enforcement when rhizomes cross multiple properties. Township officials said the measure does not ban bamboo but creates a complaint-driven enforcement pathway; the ordinance requires owners to maintain bamboo so it does not interfere with adjacent property or infrastructure. After the public discussion the committee moved to adopt the ordinance on second and final reading.
Council members introduced two fee ordinances on first reading — 2025-3486 (amending passport/registrar fee schedules) and 2025-3487 (establishing amusement game licensing fees) — and set public hearings for Nov. 10, 2025.
On the consent agenda, the committee approved multiple resolutions (2025-5305 through 2025-5316 with exceptions). Resolution 25-308, a contract via the New Jersey Co-Op for playground and recreational surfacing, was adopted and the record noted a recusal by Deputy Mayor Hybel/Highbell.
Votes at a glance: - Ordinance 2025-3473 (salary ordinance) — adopted on 2nd & final reading (public hearing closed; roll-call vote recorded). - Ordinance 2025-3484 (sale of block 84, lot 6 pursuant to NJSA 48:12-1) — adopted on 2nd & final reading. - Ordinance 2025-3485 (bamboo nuisance regulations) — public hearing held; adopted on 2nd & final reading after resident questions and official clarifications. - Ordinance 2025-3486 (passport/registrar fees) — introduced on 1st reading; public hearing scheduled 11/10/2025. - Ordinance 2025-3487 (amusement game licensing fees) — introduced on 1st reading; public hearing scheduled 11/10/2025. - Resolution 25-308 (playground surfacing contract) — approved; Deputy Mayor recused. - Resolution 25-312 (supporting state legislation on kratom) — approved (see separate story).
What officials said: During bamboo discussion, a resident asked whether the ordinance would fault homeowners whose bamboo predated the ordinance; officials repeatedly said the ordinance is complaint-driven, requires maintenance to prevent interference, and that enforcement would only follow neighbor complaints. On property-sale and salary ordinances, the committee closed hearings with no public speakers and adopted the measures by roll call.
Next steps: Public hearings for 2025-3486 and 2025-3487 are scheduled for Nov. 10, 2025. Staff agreed to provide residents with additional clarification materials about the bamboo ordinance’s enforcement and buffer requirements.
