Berkeley Heights Council Tables Police Expansion, Adopts Sewer Bond Amid Rec Director Dispute

The Berkeley Heights Township Council tabled a proposed police department expansion and adopted a $2.5 million sewer bond ordinance during a meeting this week that also drew extensive public comment regarding the recreation department director's status and housing concerns in the township.

Union County Life covers Berkeley Heights municipal government, council decisions, and civic proceedings across all 21 Union County municipalities.

Police Expansion Ordinance Tabled

The council tabled Ordinance 2026-19, which would have added one deputy chief, one additional lieutenant, and four additional patrol officers to the Berkeley Heights Police Department. The measure was removed from immediate consideration because the police chief and two council members were absent from the meeting.

Mayor Angie Devanney announced that a vote on the police expansion ordinance is scheduled for September 15, allowing time for the absent officials to participate in the decision.

The police department expansion represents a significant operational and budget commitment that council leadership determined required full attendance and input before proceeding to a vote.

Sewer Bond Ordinance Adopted

The council adopted Ordinance 2026-18, authorizing a $2,505,000 appropriation and $2,399,000 in bonds for sewer pump station improvements. The bond ordinance passed, signaling council commitment to infrastructure maintenance and upgrading of the township's wastewater system.

Sewer Project Details and Odor Concerns

Resident Tom Maciejewski raised concerns about ongoing odor complaints originating from areas near residential neighborhoods. He asked whether a previously discussed sound and odor wall was included in the current bond ordinance and sewer project scope.

Business Administrator Liza Viana explained that an outside engineer had determined that a wall would not necessarily stop odors but might redirect them toward different areas—reducing effectiveness and raising questions about solution efficacy.

Viana noted that the estimated $700,000 cost for the sound and odor wall had become prohibitive as part of the overall project. Instead, the township has pursued alternative approaches, including chemical treatments and more frequent cleaning of pump stations, to mitigate odor complaints.

Recreation Director Status Dispute

Lengthy public comment centered on the employment status of Carolyn George, who was voted "director" by the Recreation Commission but has not been formally added to the township code or granted a corresponding salary adjustment by the council.

Mayor Devanney stated that George is the director under state law and local code, with authority for the director position resting with the Recreation Commission under the township's "bifurcated" governance structure—a system that divides authority between council and commission.

Recreation Commission Chairman Sean McDonnell confirmed that the commission voted unanimously in May 2026 to grant George the director title. McDonnell noted that the commission discussed a salary increase during an executive session in late July, with compensation to be formally addressed in the township's 2027 budget.

The discussion reflects a structural question about how the township's recreation governance functions and how salary and title changes are coordinated between the commission and the municipal government budget.

Rent Stabilization Concerns at Woodcrest

Resident Denise Bogle, who lives at Woodcrest on Locust Avenue—a 55-and-over housing community that opened in 2022—urged township officials to explore a rent stabilization ordinance. Bogle reported that Woodcrest residents have faced rent increases ranging from 3 percent to 10 percent.

Councilman Alvaro Medeiros noted that state law prohibits rent control on buildings less than 30 years old, complicating potential efforts by the township to stabilize rents at Woodcrest, which opened recently.

The rent increase concerns raise questions about housing affordability for seniors in the township and the limitations of local government authority in addressing housing cost increases within the state regulatory framework.

Next Steps

The council scheduled the police expansion ordinance vote for September 15, 2026. The recreation director compensation matter will be addressed in the 2027 budget cycle. The sewer bond has been approved and infrastructure work is expected to proceed.

Find more Berkeley Heights municipal news, council decisions, and civic governance on Union County Life.

FAQ

Q: What did the Berkeley Heights Council do at its recent meeting?
A: The council tabled a police expansion ordinance (vote scheduled September 15), adopted a $2.5 million sewer bond ordinance, and addressed public concerns about the recreation director's status and housing affordability.

Q: What does the police expansion ordinance include?
A: It proposes adding one deputy chief, one lieutenant, and four patrol officers to the police department.

Q: When will the council vote on the police expansion?
A: September 15, 2026. The vote was tabled because the police chief and two council members were absent.

Q: What is the sewer bond ordinance for?
A: The $2.5 million bond will fund pump station improvements in the township's wastewater system.

Q: Was a sound and odor wall included in the sewer project?
A: No. An engineer determined the wall would be ineffective (estimated cost $700,000). The township uses chemical treatments and frequent cleaning instead.

Q: Who is the recreation director?
A: Carolyn George was voted director by the Recreation Commission in May 2026, though she has not yet been formally added to township code or given a salary adjustment.

Q: When will the director salary be addressed?
A: The Recreation Commission plans to address compensation in the township's 2027 budget.

Q: What is Woodcrest?
A: A 55-and-over housing community that opened in 2022 on Locust Avenue in Berkeley Heights.

Q: Are rent increases being controlled at Woodcrest?
A: Residents have faced 3-10% rent increases. State law prevents rent control on buildings less than 30 years old, limiting township options.