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Rockaway Township council highlights: Unico donation, life‑saving awards, audit findings and ADR approval
Summary
At the July 14 meeting the council recognized a $14,000 Unico donation to the Substance Abuse Alliance, presented police department life‑saving awards, heard the township audit with limited findings, and approved an ADR resolution in a long‑running sewer authority dispute.
Rockaway Township's July 14 council meeting combined community recognitions, budget oversight updates and legal direction on a multidecade sewer authority dispute.
Unico Chapter representatives and the mayor presented a $14,000 donation to the Rockaway Township Substance Abuse Alliance and praised the Wechsler family and Unico’s recent charitable work. The mayor invited chapter and alliance members forward for photographs.
The Police Department recognized three civilians and an off‑duty officer for life‑saving actions after a serious motorcycle crash on April 28, 2026; the chief described how bystanders and the off‑duty officer began CPR, revived the rider and remained with the injured person until emergency responders arrived.
Township auditor Ray Sarnelli presented the annual audit and said the audit contained no recommendations requiring formal remediation, though it included one comment without a recommendation and a few management suggestions. He noted two improvement authorizations in capital funds that had cash deficits as of 12/31/2025; the township has implemented a plan to include those authorizations in upcoming budgets and staff expects to correct the balances over the next two to three years.
On legal matters, the council approved resolution R26‑125, authorizing the township to participate in a binding alternate dispute resolution (ADR) process tied to long‑running litigation involving the Rockaway Valley Regional Sewerage Authority and Jersey City. Edward Buszak, the township’s counsel on the matter, said the ADR would use a qualified engineer to resolve contested engineering‑classification questions that determine whether Jersey City shares certain costs; the process is binding if the parties are able to select the engineer under the ADR rules.
Other routine business included the introduction or adoption of several ordinances (including ADA building improvements and a zoning‑map update), passage of a food‑and‑beverage code amendment, the consent agenda and council reports highlighting local events, grants and community programs. The meeting closed with announcements about an upcoming mobile MVC service and summer festivals.
The council adjourned by consensus.
