Livingston Township Council Meeting Newsletter
January 27, 2026 Meeting Summary
Meeting Overview
The Livingston Township Council meeting on January 27, 2026 was held at the Community Center for the first time. The evening honored multiple national champions, celebrated community diversity, and addressed infrastructure regulations. Here's what residents need to know.
PART I: FACTUAL SUMMARY
Opening
- Moment of silence for Governor Richard Cody (former NJ Governor, died Feb 15) and Ira Coleman (longtime resident, Coleman's Tuxedos)
- Meeting held at Community Center - first time in that venue
- DPW and Andy Muns thanked for setting up the room
Proclamations & Presentations
Academic Bowl Champions - Livingston High School won the 2025 NAQT National Championship, defeating 336 teams from the US and Guatemala. Team: Robert Wang (now at Columbia), Arav Caoic (senior), Kevin Zang (Yale), Ben Lasco (senior), advisors Bren Smith & Guy Rabner.
History Bowl Champions - LHS won the 2025 National History Bowl, defeating 96 teams. Team: Robert Wang, Arav Caoic, Ethan Lou, Jack Lou.
Muslim Heritage Month - Proclamation for January. Ramadan starts Feb 17. New Muslim Community Center introduced. MSA students presented community service: 300+ bags food drive, 150 winter accessory kits.
League of Women Voters - Youth letters to mayor (ages 8-18). Special election Feb 5 for Mikey Cheryl vacancy noted.
Ordinances Introduced (Public Hearing: February 9, 2026)
| Ordinance | Description | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| 01-2026 | Electric Bicycles and Electric Scooters - helmet requirements, 20mph limit, no sidewalk riding, age restrictions | Unanimous |
| 02-2026 | Street Openings - Chapter 274 amendments, extended moratorium, increased fees | Unanimous |
| 03-2026 | Verizon Rights-of-Way Use Agreement - 20-year agreement | 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
Note: State passed similar legislation; Livingston had been working on this before state mandate.
Ordinance 02-2026 (Street Openings)
Major amendments in response to PSE&G complaints in Chestnut Hill:
- Extended moratorium: No street opening within 2 years of resurfacing (increased from 1 year)
- Application fee: $75 non-refundable
- Permit fees: $1,500 for streets resurfaced within 1 year; tiered based on street age
- Compaction testing required with certified laboratory
- Notification: Adjacent property owners must be notified 3 days before construction
- Winter moratorium: December 1 - March 15 no excavation
- 7-day deadline for permanent pavement restoration
- 2-year warranty on all repairs
Ordinance 03-2026 (Verizon Agreement)
- 20-year agreement for small cell equipment on utility poles
- Location: 53 Berkeley Place
- Annual fee: $270 per site
- One-time fees: $500 for up to 5 sites, $100 per additional site
Resolutions Approved
Consent Agenda (14 resolutions):
Key items approved:
- 26-083: Affordable Housing Mediation Agreement - defeats 4 developer challenges, avoids 600 additional units
- 26-084: Local Recreational Improvement Grant - preschool library at Community Center - $80,000 + $20,000 match
- 26-085: Official Publications for 2026
- 26-086: Pedestrian Signage - Winchester Road & West Northfield Road
- 26-087: Rio Supply - Water meters - $36,643
- 26-088: Morton Salt - Road salt - $300,000 max ($63.80/ton)
- 26-089: Union County Cooperative purchasing
- 26-090: National Fuel Oil - Diesel - $200,000 max
- 26-091: SJ Fuel South - Gasoline - $165,000 max
- 26-092: NV5 Pedestrian Bridge Change Order - +$21,600 (new total $69,800)
- 26-093: Gold Type Business Machines - E-tickets - $19,000
- 26-094: Cecere Mechanical - Emergency boiler rental - $91,100
- 26-095: Alcoholic beverages at public events
- 26-096: Budget transfer - $151,000
- 26-097: NJ Intergovernmental Insurance Fund commissioners
- 26-098: 2026 Temporary Emergency Appropriations - $7,095,491.65
- 26-099: Fairview Insurance - Risk manager
Pulled for Discussion:
26-083 (Affordable Housing): Deputy Mayor Ketan K. Bhuptani highlighted victory - defeated 4 challenges totaling 600+ units. Thanks to Jared Caner, Topology, Barry Lewis.
26-086 (Pedestrian Signage): Mayor thanked Michelle Lemieux for bringing safety concern to council.
26-092 (Pedestrian Bridge): Town Hall pedestrian bridge behind council chambers. NV5 change order for redesign - will use fiber-reinforced materials instead of wood to prevent rusting.
Public Comment
- Norin (resident): Requested traffic signage at Bernett Street & East Harrison Street intersection due to speeding concerns and children playing in area
Council Reports
- DPW: Thanked for excellent snow removal during recent storm
- Community Center: Cell service now working (lower level upgrade)
- Veterans Banners: Info on township website; reopens Feb 2-13 for new orders
- Recycling: Pushed back one day due to holiday
- Upcoming Events: Telugu Sanskriti event (Jan 31), Chinese Association event (Jan 31), Black History Month banner raising (Feb 1), LCDI Saison fundraiser (Feb 7), Yom Ha'atzmaut (April 22)
PART II: ANALYSIS
Affordable Housing Victory - But At What Cost?
The council's biggest win was defeating four developer challenges that would have added 600+ units to Livingston. This is objectively good - avoiding unwanted development protects neighborhood character and prevents strain on schools. Kudos to the legal team.
But let's look closer: this mediation keeps existing credit mechanisms in place. The township retains a "91-unit surplus." Meanwhile, developers like the ones behind 290 West Mount Pleasant Avenue (Eastman Developers) are negotiating to remove their properties from RDP calculations. These are the same properties that could have generated affordable housing. When developers successfully argue their land shouldn't count toward housing obligations, who picks up the slack? Likely future development or existing residents through other means.
Street Opening Ordinance - Taxpayers Should Watch
The new street opening regulations (Ordinance 02-2026) were prompted by PSE&G's poor work in Chestnut Hill. The extended 2-year moratorium and increased fees are reasonable protections. But here's what worries us: utility companies can still apply for exemptions. And who pays for the additional enforcement, compaction testing, and inspections? Ultimately, these costs filter down to residents through utility rates or township taxes.
The ordinance requires a 2-year warranty on repairs - that's good. But we're entering a period where aging infrastructure (see: the pedestrian bridge) needs significant investment. The NV5 change order for the bridge is already +$21,600. How many more infrastructure surprises are lurking?
Verizon Agreement - Who's Getting What?
The 20-year Verizon agreement grants cellular infrastructure access for what amounts to $270/year per site. This seems light - municipal infrastructure being used to generate revenue for a Fortune 50 company. Meanwhile, residents deal with spotty coverage in some areas. Is this agreement ensuring adequate service for Livingston, or just giving away public right-of-way?
Emergency Spending Continues
The $7.1 million in temporary emergency appropriations is notable. That's a lot of taxpayer money being spent before a formal budget is even adopted. The emergency boiler rental ($91,100) was necessary, but it's part of a pattern: this meeting also included a $535,600 boiler REPLACEMENT. Are our municipal buildings aging faster than anticipated? This bears watching come budget season.
What's Missing
No discussion of:
- School capacity impacts from any development
- Tax revenue implications of the affordable housing agreements
- Long-term capital planning for infrastructure
- Developer contribution agreements for road/school improvements
The Takeaway
This council does a good job defending against unwanted development. But the real test is what happens when WANTS come - when developers offer to pay for improvements in exchange for approvals. Residents should demand transparency on how these deals affect their taxes and schools.
This newsletter is prepared for informational purposes and represents independent analysis.
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