The committee unanimously elected Lester A. Preston as mayor for 2026 and approved annual appointments, authorizations, meeting dates, and a temporary 2026 budget.
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What this means
Lester A. Preston will serve as mayor in 2026, with Alan C. Walker authorized to act as deputy mayor and sign checks when needed. The committee also approved routine staffing and board appointments, tax and cash-management actions, risk-management contracting, and the 2026 meeting schedule. The mayor reported progress on open-space acquisitions, road and bridge reconstruction planning, and the Township’s affordable-housing obligation.
Key decisions
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Elected Lester A. Preston as mayor for 2026 by a unanimous vote.
Appointed Alan C. Walker as deputy mayor and authorized him to sign checks when the mayor is absent or unable to act.
Appointed Lester A. Preston as police commissioner, Shelly Romano as deputy municipal clerk, Margaret Jahn as dog registrar, and Paul Vitale as ADA compliance officer for 2026.
Approved the mayor’s appointments and reappointments to municipal boards, commissions, committees, and other posts, including the Environmental Commission, Planning Board, Transportation Board, and Youth Guidance Council.
Adopted the temporary 2026 budget and authorized the 2026 cash-management plan.
Approved resolutions covering tax-sale certificates, delinquent-tax interest, tax assessor and tax collector actions, risk-management consultant services, state contract vendors, and the 2026 Township Committee meeting schedule.
The mayor reported that the Township has acquired or pursued more than 9,400 acres of open space and is advancing projects involving the former Berky’s Auto site, the former Quality Auto site, Pond Road, and Three Brooks Road.
The mayor reported that the Township is in the final stages of settling its Round 4 affordable-housing obligation.
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