Lacey Township Committee approves routine resolutions, hears public worries about Holtec plans and Sunrise Boulevard safety

The Lacey Township Committee adopted a series of routine resolutions and grant applications on a mostly unanimous roll call and heard extended public comment on proposed development at the former Oyster Creek plant and local traffic enforcement.

At the start of the meeting the committee read a proclamation honoring the Lacey branch of the Ocean County Library on the 50th anniversary of its joining the county library system; a library representative accepted the recognition. The committee then approved a special-use permit allowing teal ribbons to be displayed across public property during September to mark Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.

In its business agenda the committee read Ordinance 2026-13 for first reading, which would set a 3% salary increase for nonbargaining township employees for 2026. The committee also approved multiple resolutions by roll call, including personnel promotions and transfers, appointments to municipal court and public defender roles, contracts for dispatch-room furnishings and a police-policy review with Lexipol LLC, a police employee assistance program contract, and NJDOT municipal-aid grant applications for road projects (Cranberry Hill Phase 2B and Southwest Barnabas Pines Phase 2). The meeting record shows approval of budget insertions related to shared-service revenues, a recycling tonnage grant ($58,601.08) and a CDBG change order ($7,589). The committee authorized payment of township bills totaling $8,929,276.90; the minutes record one abstention noted on an item recorded as “T0035.”

Public commenters raised several substantive concerns. Taylor Riley, director of public courts, praised newly promoted municipal employees and urged support for hiring from local summer programs. Lisa Waller asked for clarity about state legislation referenced in a committee resolution and confirmed the bills cited remain pending in the legislature. Tony Rizzoli urged more signage and enforcement on Sunrise Boulevard and suggested placing an additional posted speed sign at the road’s entrance to help drivers recognize the 35 mph limit.

Local residents also pressed the committee on Holtec’s work at the Oyster Creek site and possible plans for small modular reactors (SMRs). Allison Lemke warned that the site’s high water table and the legacy of tritium in groundwater create risks if dewatering and heavy construction were to occur. “Holtec...falsely told the NRC that they had property rights to that and got in big trouble,” Lemke said, urging the township to scrutinize any proposals closely. No Holtec representative responded at the meeting; the committee did not take a formal vote or issue a position on any Holtec project during the session.

On the YMCA planning work, resident Barry Bender questioned why the township had incurred $164,000 in related expenses. Township staff said the costs were paid from opioid-abatement funds and land-sale reserves used for preplanning, market studies and conceptual work, not from the general taxpayer-funded operating budget. Officials said additional details and follow-up would be provided at a future meeting.

The committee closed public comment and moved to member remarks, where members highlighted upcoming paving projects (Haines Street, Penn Avenue north, Cranberry Hill phase work) and congratulated local volunteers and graduates. The committee recorded a motion to convene an executive session to discuss personnel, contracts, potential litigation and real estate matters and adjourned following that authorization.

Votes at a glance - Ordinance 2026-13 (first reading) — sets a 3% increase for nonbargaining employees: introduced for first reading (no final adoption vote at this meeting). - Resolution supporting S1616/A2845 (pay-to-play threshold alignment) — adopted by roll call. - Promotion/appointment resolutions (various) — adopted by roll call (promotions, transfers, court appointments, prosecutor and public defender appointments listed in the minutes). - Contract awards: dispatch furniture; Lexipol LLC policy review; employee assistance program — approved by roll call. - NJDOT municipal-aid grant applications: Cranberry Hill Phase 2B ($486,000 request) and Southwest Barnabas Pines Phase 2 ($800,000 request) — authorized for submission. - Budget insertions and grants: recycling tonnage grant ($58,601.08), CDBG change order ($7,589) — approved. - Payment of bills: $8,929,276.90 — approved; one abstention recorded on an item noted as “T0035.”

Why it matters The evening’s approvals move several capital and personnel items forward, including requests for state road-improvement aid and policy-review contracts for the police department. Public questions about Holtec’s proposed use of the Oyster Creek site and clarity about local spending on YMCA planning signal community interest in environmental safety and fiscal transparency; committee members pledged follow-up. The Sunrise Boulevard speed discussion underscored ongoing community concerns about roadway signage and enforcement.

The committee added two environmental companion resolutions to the next meeting agenda (Mullica River designation) and authorized an executive session to address personnel and legal matters; no final action on Holtec or data-center proposals was taken at this meeting.