Committee approves municipal court change, signs and staffing moves; overtime policy passes 2–1 amid public questions on cell tower and Green Township Day

The Green Township Committee at its regular meeting on March 2, 2026, approved a series of administrative measures and heard public comment about a recent cell-tower bid and plans for Green Township Day.

Ordinance 2026-05 (amending Chapter 2, "Administration of Government," Article XII "Municipal Court") was adopted to reflect the township’s participation in the Andover Joint Municipal Court (Andover, Byram and Green Townships and the Boroughs of Andover, Hopatcong and Stanhope). The ordinance text presented the membership, committee structure, and financial/remittance responsibilities of the joint court; the adoption vote was recorded as unanimous among the three members present.

Among the resolutions passed were: Resolution 2026-76 authorizing R&L Data Centers to process payroll tax payments and file required payroll tax returns beginning in the second quarter of 2026; Resolution 2026-77 approving spring/summer recreational activities including Green Township Day (listed as June 20, 2026 at EverGreen Park, costs and registration/fees noted); Resolution 2026-78 approving the bills list for Feb. 14–26, 2026; Resolution 2026-80 allowing advertising signs on the Wesley Field outfield fence under specific conditions and limits; Resolution 2026-81 revising the Employee Handbook "Breaks" section to set DPW hours and a paid 30-minute lunch; and Resolution 2026-82 authorizing a temporary change in Zoning Officer Craig Bollmann’s hours while the township seeks a replacement.

A notable personnel-related item occurred in executive session (Resolution ES2026-06) concerning the Zoning Official; following the closed session the Committee adopted Resolution 2026-82 to adjust Craig Bollmann’s hours with flex scheduling approved by the Administrator.

The Committee also adopted Resolution 2026-79 to clarify and adjust the overtime policy (Employee Handbook, page 3.2). The revised policy specifies overtime pay rates (1.5× regular rate for Monday–Friday over 40 hours; 2× for Saturday; 3× for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day; other holiday rules noted), allows employees to elect compensatory time (with caps and use-by timelines), and sets emergency-return-to-work minimum compensation. The overtime resolution passed on a 2–1 roll call: Qarmout and Mayor Raffay voted aye; Phillips voted no, citing concern that the changes reduced employee benefits under certain interpretations. The Township Clerk stated the earlier interpretation error had been corrected.

Public comment focused on the recent cell-tower bid awarded at a prior meeting and on Green Township Day arrangements. David (Dave) Silverthorne, identified as Mayor of Frankfort and a Commissioner, introduced himself and offered assistance; several residents (George, Nicole and Donna Grafanakas) and Josephine Fracasso raised questions about the health effects of cell towers and asked about whether alcohol could be restricted or, if allowed, be confined to a designated area at Green Township Day. Fracasso also asked whether the township could adopt an ordinance prohibiting an ICE facility; no action on that question occurred at the meeting.

Minutes contain an inconsistency: during the March 2 meeting the roll call recorded on the agenda item list for the "Request for Green Township Day" (Resolution 2026-73) shows the three members voting "Nay" (Ayes: None; Nays: Phillips, Qarmout, Mayor Raffay), indicating the special-permit request failed in that vote. However, the packet of resolutions attached to the minutes includes a separate Resolution 2026-73 that grants a special permit to allow alcohol at Green Township Day. The minutes do not explain this discrepancy; the Clerk’s office would need to be consulted for clarification on whether the permit was ultimately authorized administratively or by separate action after the roll call recorded on the agenda.

What to watch: implementation of the overtime policy for DPW employees and the clerk’s follow-up on the apparent discrepancy regarding the alcohol permit for Green Township Day. The zoning-office staffing change will be implemented on a temporary flex-hours basis while the township begins recruitment.

Procedural notes: most votes were taken by roll call and recorded in the minutes; two members (DeYoung and Rose) were absent for the meeting.