Berkeley Heights Council meets tomorrow- Tuesday, August 19 – starting with a session on the Connell rezoning.

Two ordinances are up for a final vote.

The council is set to vote on an ordinance that evens out the affordable housing rules for new developments. Currently, for-sale projects of five or more homes must include 20% affordable units, while rentals only had to include 15%. The change raises rentals to the same 20% requirement, bringing them in line with what was already applied to for-sale projects and certain settlement sites. This would apply only to new developments or redevelopments approved after the ordinance takes effect. Overall, it’s a net positive: it holds developers to consistent standards, protects the township against builder’s remedy lawsuits, and helps balance the housing mix — ensuring a measure of equitable access. The 20% break-out is already near the legal ceiling; anything higher would likely be challenged in court by developers.

The other ordinance authorizes the controversial $3.56 million in bonds for road work, culvert and bridge repairs, and driveway paving. The categories are still broad — there’s still no list of exactly which repairs will get the money in the ordinance itself— even if it lines up with the July 14 storm damage report.

We have been following this “emergency” bond very closely and our coverage will continue.

We encourage residents impacted by flooding to attend the meeting and ask questions about how this money is being spent and why the items in the report are not indicated directly into the ordinance. If the response is “flexibility” then you have even more reason to be concerned.

The consent agenda runs $2.08 million and includes flood repair contracts — $126,710 to Smith Sondy Asphalt and $375,000 to Montana Construction — but the resolution leaves the total “not-to-exceed” figure and CFO sign-off blank.

There’s also a $55,000 bump for aluminum sulfate, a three-year deal with the Board of Education for vehicle maintenance, and new project money for Neglia Engineering: $40,550 for Middle Way and Winchip, and $48,470 for the first phase of a Watershed Inventory. The latter has a $750 gap between the resolution and CFO numbers.

Rapid Pump & Meter’s wastewater plant work shows a similar mismatch — the resolution caps it at $94,350, but the proposals add up to $96,380. Also on the list: $300,000 for storm pipe cleaning, several grant applications, property tax redemptions, disabled veteran exemptions, bond releases, block party permits, and a change in fire department membership.

The blank totals on the emergency contracts and the mismatched figures in the Neglia and Rapid Pump & Meter approvals are likely to draw questions before the vote or another amended agenda soon before the meeting.

It does appear the township will allow for Zoom viewing this meeting but historically has only allowed comments for in-person attendees except when meetings are zoom only- which this meeting is not.  If you would like to make a comment or ask questions during the meeting, attend in person.  The township also appears to have improved the speed with which they have uploaded council meetings to YouTube the last two times – let’s hope this continues.

Source Document

As a non-commercial and ad-free, free platform, we rely on you to help us grow. If you value independent coverage of local government, please consider helping us out.

Read All Articles Connected to the 07/14/2025 Flood “Emergency” Bond

Subscribe to NJ21st For Free

Our Commitment to Ethical Journalism