Sewer Plant, Budget, and $3.8M in Spending on the Table Tuesday in Berkeley Heights
On Tuesday, May 6, the Berkeley Heights Township Council will vote on whether to issue requests for proposals (RFPs) to explore the possible sale of the town’s wastewater treatment plant. The resolution is part of a packed agenda that also includes final adoption of the 2025 municipal budget, introduction of a $3.8 million bond ordinance, and salary range updates for...
John’s Notes on the 03/18/2025 Town Council Meeting: Affordable Housing, Fire Prevention, Storm Water on the Agenda…
Here’s a brief synopsis of each resolution on the agenda and questions resident can ask… ORDINANCE NO. 2025-144 Affordable Housing After negotiations with Fair Share Housing Center (FSHC), the township agreed to a prospective need obligation of 240 affordable housing units while maintaining a present need obligation of zero. Questions Residents can Ask: How will the township meet the...
03/15/2025 Update on Fire Prevention Bureau Petition
The Following Email was Sent to Individuals That Signed the NJ21st Fire Prevention Bureau Petition Hi Everyone, This email is going to all who signed the petition and provided an email address. Petition Update Since launching on Saturday, March 8th, the petition has gathered 286 signatures. Seven signatures were removed due to a lack of verifiable information. New Information...
A Deeper Look at BHFD Data: Efficacy & Response Time
I asked the BHFD for data spanning multiple years to provide a deeper understanding of what they do. I didn’t have to wait seven days or submit 15 iterations of my request—they simply provided the records. Maybe the BHFD could offer some training to the BHPSNJ Business Office on how to produce records efficiently. Onto the data. Efficacy scores are...
Update on The Mayor’s BHFD Controversy
Following yesterday’s front-page “The Actual Facts” Opinion Piece from the Mayor, we reached out to sources close to the BHFD, who confirmed they plan to respond. However, in the course of our discussions, a noteworthy issue emerged. It appears that BHFD members submitted OPRA requests to the township, yet their requests were delayed until Friday—well after the Mayor’s Op-Ed was...
Why Is Our Volunteer Fire Department Being Sidelined?
Arik Samson is a resident of Berkeley Heights and was a 2024 Candidate for BOE Public safety decisions should be made with transparency, accountability, and a clear focus on the well-being of the people they affect. That’s why I, like many others in our town, am deeply concerned about the recent decision to move the Fire Prevention Bureau from the...
Update on Fire Prevention Bureau Petition
The Following Email was Sent to Individuals That Signed the NJ21st Fire Prevention Bureau Petition Hi Everyone, This email is going to all who signed the petition and provided an email address. I wanted to update you on our community’s effort to encourage the Mayor and Council to reconsider their decision to move the Fire Prevention Bureau from the Fire Department...
Petition To Keep The Fire Prevention Bureau Under The Fire Department
We have created a petition encouraging Mayor Devanney and the Town Council to keep the Fire Prevention Bureau with the Fire Department. Please review the petition and consider signing if you agree. Link to Petition
Berkeley Heights Fire Chief Speaks Out Against Fire Prevention Bureau Changes
In this video, Berkeley Heights Fire Chief Jim Hopkins strongly opposes the proposed transfer of the Bureau of Fire Prevention from the Fire Department to the Building Department. He raises concerns about the potential impact on public safety and fire code enforcement. Read More on Berkeley Heights Town Council Subscribe to NJ21st For Free
Park Ave Speed Limit Lowered & Ordinance Restructuring Fire Prevention Bureau Moves Forward
Quick Post Meeting Note- 03/04/2025 Town Council Meeting The Council passed a resolution to reduce the speed limit on Park Avenue to 30 MPH. However, one resident voiced concerns that the Mayor and Council prioritized popularity over sound policy, pointing to engineering recommendations that suggested potential unintended consequences. The resident warned that a lower speed limit could increase risks, potentially...
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