Mannington Township Committee adopts ordinances, appoints tax assessor and approves emergency budget measures

Mannington Township’s governing body on April 3 adopted two ordinances, approved several resolutions including emergency temporary budget appropriations, accepted resignations and appointed a new tax assessor.

The committee approved Ordinance No. 25-01, to exceed municipal budget appropriation limits and establish a 2025 cap bank under N.J.S.A. 40A:4-45.14, and Ordinance No. 25-02, amending Chapter 10 ("Animals") of the township code. Both measures were adopted on second and final reading after procedural public hearings. Roll-call votes on adoption were: Ordinance 25-01 — Asay yes, Eber yes, DiGregorio yes; Ordinance 25-02 — Asay yes, Eber yes, DiGregorio no.

The committee also approved routine minutes and bill payments. A motion approving attached bills but excluding payments to the law firms Weir Greenblatt Pierce LLC and Aimino Law, LLC carried (Asay yes, Eber yes, DiGregorio yes). A separate motion to approve payment to Weir Greenblatt Pierce LLC and Aimino Law, LLC passed with Asay and Eber voting yes and DiGregorio abstaining.

On finance and personnel matters, the committee adopted an emergency temporary resolution under N.J.S.A. 40A:4-20 to make interim 2025 appropriations because the annual budget had not yet been adopted. The resolution listed specific accounts and amounts totaling $96,184.75 for the named accounts and noted that the total of emergency temporary resolutions adopted for 2025 to date is $612,981.75 for the Current Fund. The resolution directs that those appropriations be included in the 2025 budget and that certified copies be filed with the Director of Local Government Services.

The committee corrected historical term dates for the Certified Municipal Finance Officer and reappointed Diane Elwell to a second full four-year term (Jan. 1, 2024–Dec. 31, 2027) and tenure-eligible status; the reappointment passed on a unanimous roll call.

Resignations and appointments: the committee accepted the resignation of Robert Eller Jr. from his Public Works position effective April 4, 2025, and accepted the resignation of part-time Tax Assessor Roy A. Duffield effective March 31, 2025. Following a closed-session personnel discussion, the committee appointed Michael Stocklos, CTA, as Mannington Township Tax Assessor for an unexpired term effective April 1, 2025 through June 30, 2028; the appointment passed unanimously. The resolution directed that certified copies be forwarded to the NJ Division of Taxation and the Salem County Board of Taxation.

Other actions included the committee’s support for efforts to preserve a farmland parcel for Brent and Jean Myers and the reading of a Planning Board resignation from Jessica Lynne Winkers. The meeting closed after routine departmental reports and a public-comment exchange.

Votes at a glance (selected items) - Approve bills excluding Weir Greenblatt Pierce LLC & Aimino Law, LLC — motion by Eber; Asay yes, Eber yes, DiGregorio yes (adopted). - Approve payment to Weir Greenblatt Pierce LLC & Aimino Law, LLC — motion by Asay; Asay yes, Eber yes, DiGregorio abstained (adopted). - Adopt Ordinance #25-01 (cap bank/budget limit) — Asay yes, Eber yes, DiGregorio yes (adopted). - Adopt Ordinance #25-02 (Chapter 10, Animals) — Asay yes, Eber yes, DiGregorio no (adopted). - Accept FY2026 Municipal Alliance grant $1,920.67 — Asay yes, Eber yes, DiGregorio yes (adopted). - Reappoint Diane Elwell, Certified Municipal Finance Officer (term through 12/31/2027) — Asay yes, Eber yes, DiGregorio yes (adopted). - Emergency temporary appropriations (selected accounts total $96,184.75) — adopted. - Appoint Michael Stocklos as Tax Assessor (term through 6/30/2028) — Asay yes, Eber yes, DiGregorio yes (adopted).

The committee adjourned at 6:50 p.m. following routine financial and departmental reports.