Livingston Township Council Meeting Newsletter
January 12, 2026 Meeting Summary
Meeting Overview
The Livingston Township Council meeting held on January 12, 2026, began with a moment of silence in honor of former Governor Richard Cody's passing. The mayor and council members recognized the Livingston Lancer girls soccer team's first-ever NJ Group Four State champions title and swore in new council members, Mayor Shawn R. Klein and Deputy Mayor Ketan K. Bhuptani. The meeting covered various topics including proclamations, presentations, ordinances, resolutions, and public comments.
PART I: FACTUAL SUMMARY
Opening
- Moment of silence for Governor Richard Cody (former NJ Governor)
- Girls Soccer State Championship recognized
- New council members sworn in (Mayor Shawn R. Klein, Deputy Mayor Ketan K. Bhuptani)
Proclamations & Presentations
- Girls Soccer State Champions - Livingston LHS won first-ever NJ Group Four State title. Won SEC Conference American Division and North One Group Four Sectional. Team recognized with certificates.
- National Charity League - Student Dista presented on holiday basket drive: $3,000 raised, 100+ families supported in Newark and Clifton.
Ordinances Introduced (Public Hearing: January 27, 2026)
| Ordinance | Description | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| 01-2026 | Electric Bicycles and Electric Scooters - helmet requirements, 20mph limit, no sidewalk riding, age restrictions | Unanimous |
Key Details:
Ordinance 01-2026 (E-Bikes/E-Scooters)
- Classifies devices: Low-speed electric bicycles (≤20 mph), Low-speed scooters (≤19 mph), Motorized electric bicycles (21-28 mph)
- Helmet required for all riders
- Age restrictions: Under 15 cannot operate electric bikes
- No sidewalk riding - must dismount and walk
- Fines: $100 first offense, $250 second, $500+ for adults; parents liable for minors
Resolutions Approved
Consent Agenda (22 resolutions):
Key items:
- 26-060: Affordable Housing Counsel (Antonelli Kantor Rivera) - $50,000
- 26-061: Tax Appeal Counsel (Antonelli Kantor Rivera) - $110,000
- 26-062: Special Counsel I-Bank (McManimon) - $50,000
- 26-063: Redevelopment Counsel (McManimon) - $75,000
- 26-064: Bond Counsel (Gibbons) - $30,000
- 26-065: Auditor (Samuel Klein) - $114,500
- 26-066: Planning Services (Topology NJ) - $90,000
- 26-067: Affordable Housing Admin Agent (Acuity) - $25,000
- 26-068: Governor's Council on Alcohol/Drug Abuse grant
- 26-069: Alcohol license transfer (Blu Liv)
- 26-070: Rio Supply (water meters) - $42,352
- 26-071: Fairview Insurance - Risk manager
- 26-072-074: Cooperative purchasing (Morris County, ESCNJ, State)
- 26-075: Edmunds GovTech - $43,000
- 26-076: PrimePoint payroll - $76,600
- 26-077-078: Competitive contracting (EV charging, maintenance)
- 26-079: Social Entrepreneurship Certificate (Young Minds Big Ideas)
- 26-080: NJ Insurance Fund commissioners
- 26-081: Budget transfer - $336,400
Pulled for Discussion:
26-060 & 26-066 (Affordable Housing & Planning): Council highlighted victory in Fourth Round - zero additional units required. Renewed contracts with Antonelli Kantor Rivera and Topology NJ.
26-079 (Social Entrepreneurship): Young Minds Big Ideas - students Ruhan and Jack presented. First in NJ - certificate for student entrepreneurs.
Public Comment
- Jean Stooff - Complaint about demonstration ordinance; questioned town's handling of protests. Council said current code adequate.
- Joyce Armando - Car wash noise violation issue at Express Auto Spa. Essex County issued violation. Complained about township inaction, alleged conflict of interest with former Mayor Edward Meinhardt. Township manager Barry Lewis explained enforcement limitations.
- Anthony Armando - Also spoke on car wash issue. Questioned how car wash got approved with 17 vacuum stations when only 15 approved.
Council Reports
- DPW: Bus shelter on East Mt. Pleasant hit by car - being replaced
- CFO: $2.9M interest income in 2025
- Events: MLK Day (Jan 20), Township Reorganization meeting praised
- PSEG: Chestnut Hill streets in "atrocious condition" after gas line work - council pushing for repair plan
PART II: ANALYSIS
E-Bike Ordinance: Good Start, But Questions Remain
The introduction of Ordinance 01-2026 regulating electric bicycles and scooters represents a proactive safety measure, and it's worth noting the council explicitly chose to lead rather than react after seeing neighboring towns experience fatalities. However, several questions remain unanswered: Will the township actually enforce these rules, or will this become another ordinance that sits on the books? The fine structure ($100-$500) seems reasonable, but enforcement requires police resources that may not exist. Parents should note: they are now financially liable for their children's e-bike violations.
The Car Wash Controversy: A Transparency Failure
The most troubling issue at this meeting was the Express Auto Spa situation. Residents have been complaining about noise from the car wash since September 2024—four months—and only now, after Essex County issued a violation, is the township taking action. The key questions:
- How did 17 vacuum stations get installed when only 15 were approved?
- Why did it take a county violation to prompt township action?
- The Planning Board approved this—what's their oversight role?
Council Member Alfred M. Anthony asked the critical question: "How did this get by the planning board and building department?" The answer matters because residents are living with the consequences. Barry Lewis acknowledged the township lacks a noise ordinance with decibel limits, meaning they're reliant on county enforcement—which apparently wasn't happening for months.
Conflict of interest allegation: Resident Joyce Armando raised that former Mayor Edward Meinhardt allegedly has a personal friendship with the car wash owner. While Meinhardt denied this ("met twice on Zoom"), the perception matters. When residents perceive conflicts, trust erodes—even if technically no violation occurred.
Professional Services: Who's Watching the Checkbook?
The consent agenda included $606,000+ in professional service contracts:
- $110,000 for Tax Appeal Counsel
- $90,000 for Planning Services
- $114,500 for Auditor
- $76,600 for Payroll software
These contracts were approved with minimal discussion. While the Fourth Round affordable housing victory is legitimate (congratulations are due to the legal team), residents should ask: What specific deliverables are we getting for $606,000 annually? Are these fees competitive? The council praised the lawyers extensively but the public has no performance metrics.
PSEG: Another Utility, Another Mess
Deputy Mayor Ketan K. Bhuptani noted that Chestnut Hill streets are in "atrocious condition" after PSEG gas line work. This follows a familiar pattern: utilities tear up roads, do poor repairs, then disappear until spring when asphalt plants reopen. The council is "pressing" PSEG—but residents are living with damaged roads now. This is a recurring issue with no permanent solution in sight.
Interest Income: One Bright Spot
CFO reported $2.9 million in interest income for 2025. With rates declining, this number may decrease in 2026. Residents should watch whether this revenue shift gets offset by increased taxes or service cuts.
What Didn't Get Discussed
Notably absent from this meeting:
- Any discussion of school population/capacity issues
- Development projects beyond the routine approvals
- Infrastructure maintenance backlog (beyond PSEG streets)
- Tax rate implications of any of these contracts
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