Deals Light on Details- Berkeley Heights Council Set to Approve Another Round of Quiet Spending
The Berkeley Heights Township Council is expected to vote on more than $180,000 in new spending, reject a utility privatization bid, and authorize a slew of contracts and resolutions that light up more question marks on transparency, oversight and infrastructure planning.. Sewer Sale Bid Rejected — But Future Contracting Continues The Township is set to formally reject the only bid...
Sewer Sale Stalls in Berkeley Heights – Lone Bid Rejected?
Berkeley Heights appears likely to turn down the only bid it received to buy its wastewater treatment plant—and yes, it was from New Jersey American Water, just as many expected. According to a resolution up for approval at the next Township Council meeting, the bid didn’t meet the commitment to the level of capital improvements the town had asked for....
Accountability Gap? Berkeley Heights Named in Attorney General’s 2024 Discipline Report
Back in February, NJ21st published a Community Voices contribution that raised significant concerns about the Township’s oversight of the Berkeley Heights Police Department. At the time, the Township was also pressuring the school district to divert funds intended for students to cover police benefit time—under a contract with no spending caps. We further noted that two sitting council members are...
From Public Utility to Private Monopoly? Berkeley Heights Community Members Seek Answers
Since May, NJ21st has provided comprehensive, in-depth coverage of the question residents will likely be asked to answer this November: Should Berkeley Heights sell its sewage plant? The last two articles offered a deep dive into the Request for Bids and the series of addenda issued in June and July. Since their publication, we’ve received emails from Berkeley Heights community...
A Fair Price or a Hidden Tax? Residents Question Berkeley Heights Construction Fees
We’ve gotten several emails from residents about last week’s analysis of construction fees collected by the Township — all of them raising important points that add to the conversation. One resident wrote: “The fees are supposed to be reasonable and enough to cover costs. If they are generating a lot of excess money in the form of fees, then the...
Berkeley Heights Sewer Sale Deadline Nears As Worker Protections Shrink and Public Oversight Fades
With less than a week before bids are due, Berkeley Heights has issued its final update on the proposed sale of the Township’s public sewer system. Addendum #5—released just days before the July 1 deadline—confirms several long-awaited details. But instead of strengthening protections for workers and residents, the final version actually pulls some key safeguards back. At a time when...
Why Berkeley Heights Should Align Uniform Construction Code Fee Policy with State Standards
A resident asked me (a while ago) to investigate what happens to the revenue collected by the Township’s construction office. Scope and Source We honed in on 2024 as a sample and requested the following through OPRA: All records of revenue collected by the Construction Department from January 1, 2024 to 12/31/2024. Including (but not limited to): Permit fees (building,...
Terrace Two, Nokia Site, and Sidewalks- Shauna’s Notes on the June 26 Council Meeting
The June 26th Berkeley Heights Town Council meeting started with several presentations. Troop 368 Life Scout, Ian Williams, laid out a proposal to build picnic benches for the Littell Lord Homestead property. A representative from DMR architects went over the results of three Nokia Vision Sessions that were held with town residents and others. Bill Hamilton from Bowman Consulting and...
From Housing to Surveillance: What the Council Is Voting On Thursday
Laura’s Notes on the 06/26/2025 Berkeley Heights Town Council Meeting The Town Council is meeting tomorrow night at 6:30 — Thursday, not Tuesday. And if you’re thinking it’s weird they moved their meeting to the same night as the BOE, you’re not the only one. Maybe it’s a coincidence… but probably not. The BOE has a liaison to the Council....
Berkeley Heights Sewer Sale – Everything We Know So Far
The Township of Berkeley Heights is moving forward with a plan to sell its entire public sewer system to a private company—a deal that would shift ownership, operations, and long-term risk away from the municipality. But with final bids due July 1 and a fifth (and final) addendum still pending, several key terms remain unresolved. One especially glaring omission: the...
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