Long Hill Committee adopts several ordinances, reestablishes Open Space panel and approves $19.15M 2026 budget

The Long Hill Township Committee adopted multiple ordinances and approved its 2026 municipal budget at a meeting on June 17, 2026.

Megan Phillips, the township clerk, opened the meeting by reading the required Open Public Meetings Act notice: "In compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act of New Jersey, adequate notice of this meeting ... was included in the meeting that was electronically sent to the Echoes Sentinel, Morris Daily Record and posted on the Township Website." After a brief executive-session vote on personnel matters, the committee convened its regular session at 7:30 p.m.

The committee adopted Capital Ordinance 588-26, which appropriates $1,403,800 from the township's capital improvement fund for road and equipment projects, and approved Ordinance 590-26 amending the township's fire-prevention fees. The members also adopted Ordinance 591-26, which relocates regulations on keeping chickens on residential properties from the land-use chapter into the township's police regulations and establishes specific limits (for example, a four-chicken maximum and a ban on roosters) and enforcement provisions for coops and setbacks. All adoptions were approved by roll call with Committeewoman Fettes recorded as absent and the four attending members voting yes.

The committee readopted former Section 2-37 of the township code by passing Ordinance 589-26 to reestablish the Open Space Advisory Committee. During that item, the committee approved a motion to increase the committee's "members at large" from six to eight; the motion, made by Committeeman Verlezza and seconded by Deputy Mayor Dorsi, passed unanimously among members present.

On first reading the committee introduced two Land Use Ordinance amendments: Ordinance 592-26, a broad cleanup and update of definitions and terms in the land-use code, and Ordinance 593-26, which updates land-use rules for places of assembly, places of worship and public and private schools. Those ordinances were introduced on first reading and scheduled for final passage at a public hearing on July 15, 2026.

Budget: public hearing and adoption The committee opened a public hearing on the 2026 municipal budget (Resolution 26-158). Administrator Bahr and Auditor Andrew Kucinski presented budget details. Resident Charles Arentowicz asked whether the township had explored alternatives to the State Health Benefits Plan in light of rising employee-benefit costs; Auditor Kucinski addressed the budget during the presentation. After closing the public hearing, the committee adopted the 2026 budget, which authorized $19,148,569.29 for municipal purposes. The adoption carried on a roll-call vote with Committeewoman Fettes absent and the four attending members voting yes.

Consent agenda and other business The committee approved the consent agenda (Resolutions 26-159 through 26-185) in a single motion; Deputy Mayor Dorsi recorded an abstention on Resolution 26-166 (renewal of liquor licenses). The consent items included personnel actions, appointment of police trainees, contract awards, change orders and administrative authorizations listed in the meeting packet.

During reports, committee members updated one another on fire-company and historic-preservation activities, recreation programming and recycling initiatives. Mayor Piserchia reported on road paving projects and noted the township received no bids for cell-tower leases at the Millington train-station lot.

On discussion items the committee asked the Planning Board's Ordinance Review Subcommittee to review data-center regulations and report back by August. The proposed trash-can ordinance was discussed and carried to the July 15 meeting for possible introduction. The Traffic Advisory Committee recommended a weight restriction on part of Long Hill Road; the committee directed that corresponding ordinance be introduced at the July 15 meeting.

Public comment and adjournment During the general public-comment period additional residents spoke about Ordinance 591-26. The meeting adjourned at 9:40 p.m.

Votes at a glance - Ordinance 592-26 (Land Use definitions update): introduced on first reading; roll-call vote to introduce — Liberato, Verlezza, Dorsi, Piserchia: yes; Fettes: absent. - Ordinance 593-26 (Places of assembly/worship/school rules): introduced on first reading; roll-call vote to introduce — Liberato, Verlezza, Dorsi, Piserchia: yes; Fettes: absent. - Ordinance 588-26 (Capital appropriation $1,403,800): adopted on second reading — Liberato, Verlezza, Dorsi, Piserchia: yes; Fettes: absent. - Ordinance 589-26 (reestablish Open Space Advisory Committee): adopted on second reading; motion to increase at-large members from 6 to 8 passed unanimously among members present. - Ordinance 590-26 (amend fire prevention fees): adopted on second reading — Liberato, Verlezza, Dorsi, Piserchia: yes; Fettes: absent. - Ordinance 591-26 (move chicken regulations into Police Regulations and related code changes): adopted on second reading — Liberato, Verlezza, Dorsi, Piserchia: yes; Fettes: absent. - Resolution 26-157: budget read by title (required procedural resolution) — adopted. - Resolution 26-158: adoption of 2026 municipal budget ($19,148,569.29) — adopted. - Resolutions 26-159 through 26-185 (consent agenda): approved in one motion; Deputy Mayor Dorsi abstained on 26-166 (liquor-license renewals).

What's next - Ordinances 592-26 and 593-26 return for final public hearing and potential adoption on July 15, 2026. The trash-can ordinance and the proposed weight-restriction ordinance for Long Hill Road were carried/ordered for introduction at the July 15 meeting. The Planning Board subcommittee will review the suggested data-center zoning changes and report back to the Township Committee by August.

(Reporting note: quotes and attributions in this item come from the meeting transcript. Where the transcript records a question or comment without a verbatim quote the article paraphrases the speaker; attributions are limited to names and roles explicitly stated in the transcript.)