Varnerin No Longer Chair of Recreation Commission, Residents Press Council on Sewage Billing and Infrastructure

John’s Notes on the 11/05/2025 Town Council Meeting

During the 11/05/2025 Berkeley Heights Town Council Meeting, Councilwoman Illis confirmed that Deb Varnerin is no longer Chair of the Recreation Commission and that Vice-Chair Sean McDonnell will assume her duties. It is not clear as to how or why Varnerin stepped down from the role.

The Recreation Commission has been at the center of controversy over an aggressive turf field campaign fraught with legal questions, secrecy and tactics that included GL students being locked out of tennis courts over a manufactured insurance issue.

Earlier today we received an email from a resident who attended both the Recreation Commission meeting on 10/27/2025 and the Town Council meeting on 11/05/2025.

John,
On Monday October 27, 2025 the recreation commission had a meeting that was open to the public, which I attended. One of the topics covered was who would assume leadership on the recreation commission. That position is too filled by Sean McDonnell the current vice chairman. Also was discussed Snyder Ave Park, specifically the area owned by Berkeley Heights.

At the town council meeting of November 5, 2015 I reviewed with the council, (Devanney and Poage were absent) that I had attended the commission meeting and asked that since Debra Varnerin had resigned did she have another position in the Berkeley Heights government. I was told that Debra  does not have a position with Berkeley Heights  at this time. 
I asked a number of questions at that meeting.

During the meeting a resident asked whether residents will see a separate sewage line on their tax bills next year. The administration said they are still evaluating options, explaining that Berkeley Heights is one of the few towns that includes sewer costs within property taxes and that separating them would create added cost and administrative work.

The discussion closed with a series of questions about local pathways, stream access and bridge maintenance. The resident described several paved right-of-way paths that lead to nearby rivers and asked whether they are maintained by the township. Responses were uncertain and he was asked to submit a list of locations so the engineer could verify ownership. He also asked about a metal bridge near Trap Rock and Main Street, which officials believe sits partly on private property. The Township Administrator reported that the township is in the process of mapping all waterways and property boundaries to clarify responsibility for maintenance and future flood mitigation.

You can see the exchange here:

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