Green Township Committee adopts county hazard plan, introduces EverGreen Park walking-path ordinance and approves appointments

The Green Township Committee on May 19, 2025, adopted the 2025 Sussex County Hazard Mitigation Plan, introduced a capital ordinance for walking-path improvements at EverGreen Park and approved a slate of personnel appointments and routine financial resolutions.

The Committee, chaired by Mayor Virginia "Ginnie" Raffay, voted unanimously to adopt Resolution 2025-88, formally taking on the countywide mitigation goals and actions in the 2025 Sussex County Hazard Mitigation Plan. The adoption signals the township's commitment to hazard mitigation planning required under the Disaster Mitigation Act framework.

The meeting's nut graff: adoption of the hazard plan and the introduction of Ordinance 2025-05 were the most consequential items for municipal policy and capital investment. Ordinance 2025-05, introduced for first reading and scheduled for public hearing June 2, 2025, appropriates $103,575 for improvements to the walking path in EverGreen Park, including $22,575 from General Capital and an $81,000 Local Recreation Improvement Grant from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Township Clerk Mark Zschack explained the project includes a six-foot-wide asphalt path around the tennis courts connecting to the County Connector Trail.

On personnel matters the Committee approved Resolution 2025-90 to appoint William Mayhan as a Department of Public Works laborer effective June 3, 2025, at $25.00 per hour; the personnel subcommittee provided background on the hire at Phillips' request. The consent agenda included Resolution 2025-89 appointing Justin Evanski and Mackenzie Greenhalgh as junior members of the Green Township Volunteer Fire Department.

Financial and administrative actions were routine. The Committee approved Resolution 2025-91 amending the township's Model Cash Management Plan to add bank information required by auditors and adopted the bills list (Resolution 2025-92) covering May 1–15, 2025. The bills-list report attached to the meeting shows current payments of $116,596.14 and prior disbursements including school taxes and other items; the combined total movement shown in the report is $2,057,157.89. Resolution 2025-93 approved Developers Escrow Trust payments totaling $2,887.50 for the period April 16–May 13, 2025.

The Committee approved Resolution 2025-94 permitting the Green Township Volunteer Fire Department and the Sussex County Fire Police Association to conduct a roadway collection at the intersection of Decker Pond Road (County Route 517) and Airport Road (County Route 603) on Saturday, June 21, 2025 (rain date July 12), but conditioned the permit on signed hold-harmless agreements, review and approval by the township's insurance advisers, and Sussex County approval. Michael Rose voted against that resolution, citing concerns about insurance coverage for the event; the minutes record his dissent.

In executive session (Resolution ES2025-09) the Committee discussed potential litigation and municipal-court insurance counsel; after returning to open session the body approved Resolution 2025-95 to retain Kenneth S. Thyne, Esq., of Simon Law Group, LLC, as special litigation counsel by a non-fair-and-open appointment.

Other items: Clerk Zschack reported receipt of appraisal reports for Block 107, Lot 6 (fair market value $28,000) and Block 76, Lot 5 ($90,000) to be shared with interested residents; he also summarized a gas-installation issue in Forest Knolls (an unannounced contractor visit followed by an apology), presented an electric-vehicle charging-station grant option (the Committee declined to pursue it at this time), and circulated a prioritized list of proposed EverGreen Park improvements for future quotes. The DPW submitted a written report covering sweeping, mowing, storm-response work, parks maintenance and upcoming brush and tree work with a vendor named Tree King.

Votes at a glance

- Res. 2025-88 (Adopt 2025 Sussex County Hazard Mitigation Plan): Passed (Ayes: DeYoung, Phillips, Qarmout, Rose, Mayor Raffay) - Res. 2025-89 (Appoint junior fire fighters Justin Evanski and Mackenzie Greenhalgh): Passed (Ayes: DeYoung, Phillips, Qarmout, Rose, Mayor Raffay) - Res. 2025-90 (Appoint DPW laborer William Mayhan): Passed (Ayes: DeYoung, Phillips, Qarmout, Rose, Mayor Raffay) - Res. 2025-91 (Amend Model Cash Management Plan): Passed (Ayes: DeYoung, Phillips, Qarmout, Rose, Mayor Raffay) - Res. 2025-92 (Bills list 05/01/2025–05/15/2025): Passed (Ayes: DeYoung, Phillips, Qarmout, Rose, Mayor Raffay) - Res. 2025-93 (Developers Escrow Trust payments 04/16/2025–05/13/2025): Passed (Ayes: DeYoung, Phillips, Qarmout, Rose, Mayor Raffay) - Res. 2025-94 (Authorize roadway collection for fire-department restoration): Passed (Ayes: DeYoung, Phillips, Qarmout, Mayor Raffay; Nay: Rose) — approval conditioned on hold-harmless agreements, insurance-advisor review and County approval - Ord. 2025-05 (Introduce Capital Ordinance — EverGreen Park walking path): Introduced for first reading; public hearing set for June 2, 2025 - ES2025-09 (Executive session — potential litigation/insurance counsel): Discussed in closed session; subsequent public action included Res. 2025-95 - Res. 2025-95 (Appointment of professional services provider — Simon Law Group, LLC): Passed (Ayes: DeYoung, Phillips, Qarmout, Rose, Mayor Raffay)

What to watch next: Ordinance 2025-05 returns for a public hearing on June 2, 2025; the Township Clerk will circulate additional quotes and cost estimates for prioritized EverGreen Park improvements; the roadway-collection permit requires insurance-advisor sign-off and Sussex County approval before the event date.

Meeting notes and clarifications

- Appraisal values received: Block 107, Lot 6 — $28,000; Block 76, Lot 5 — $90,000 (to be forwarded to potentially interested residents). - EverGreen Park path: the proposed work includes a six-foot-wide asphalt extension around the tennis courts connecting to the County Connector Trail; grant funding of $81,000 was identified from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Local Recreation Improvement Grant; local match $22,575 from General Capital. - Bills list: current payments $116,596.14; report shows prior disbursements including school taxes and other large items for a combined total listed of $2,057,157.89 in the meeting report.

The Committee adjourned at 8:16 p.m.