March 17, 2026 Regular Meeting

TOWNSHIP OF STILLWATER

TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE

MARCH 3, 2026

MEETING MINUTES

A REGULAR MEETING of the Stillwater Township Committee was called to order by Mayor V. Rumsey at 6:00 p.m. Mayor V. Rumsey stated that this meeting is being held in compliance with the provisions of P.L. 1975, Ch. 231, Secs. 4 & 13 the Sunshine Law and that adequate notice of the meeting has been published in the New Jersey Herald as to the time, place, and date of meetings, and is posted in the usual location of posted notices in the municipal building as well as electronically on the township website.

ROLL CALL: Committeeman D. Manser, Deputy Mayor D. Delaney, Committeewoman L. Chammings, Committeeman G. Scott, and Mayor V. Rumsey

Also Present: Township Attorney E. Bernstein

EXECUTIVE SESSION: held in the Stillwater Township Municipal Building.

A MOTION was made by Deputy Mayor D. Delaney, seconded by Committeeman D. Manser, with all members in favor, to adopt the Resolution permitting the Committee to go into Executive Session at 6:00 p.m.

STILLWATER TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE

RESOLUTION FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION

WHEREAS, Section 8 of the Open Public Meetings Act, Chapter 231, P.L. 1975 permits the exclusion of the public from a meeting under certain circumstances; and

WHEREAS, this public body is of the opinion that such circumstances presently exist.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Township Committee of the Township of Stillwater, in the County of Sussex and State of New Jersey as follows:

1. The public shall be excluded from that portion of this meeting.

2. The general nature of the subject matter to be discussed is as follows: Attorney-Client, Litigation/Potential Litigation

3. As nearly as can now be ascertained, the matter or matters to be discussed at this time will be disclosed to the public when such matters are resolved.

A MOTION was made by Committeeman G. Scott and seconded by Deputy Mayor D. Delaney, to suspend Executive Session, and go back into Regular Session at 6:56 P.M.

ROLL CALL: Committeeman D. Manser; yes, Deputy Mayor D. Delaney; yes, Committeewoman L. Chammings; yes, Committeeman G. Scott; yes, Mayor V. Rumsey; yes. Motion carried with all in favor.

Township Attorney E. Bernstein stated that the record should reflect that all members of the governing body present, commencing from the Executive Session, are present to recommence the open session, along with the Township Attorney and the Township Clerk. He will give his recap after the continued Executive Session following the Regular Meeting.

 

FLAG SALUTE: Mayor V. Rumsey led the Flag Salute.

After the flag salute, Mayor V. Rumsey asked for a moment of silence for the Troops in Iran.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Mayor Vera Rumsey

Mayor V. Rumsey stated that she met with Zoning Officer Tom Dixon, to discuss an issue with feral cats on Aspen Drive. A Notice of Violation (NOV) has been issued. A NOV has also been issued to the old Holiday Hotel for numerous violations, and to a resident on Old Foundry Road who has been plowing the snow from their driveway into the roadway.

Mayor V. Rumsey announced that she performed her first wedding ceremony on Friday the 13^th.

Mayor V. Rumsey had a mayor’s conference call with JCP&L during the winter storms. For the most part, Stillwater fared very well. There was a mayor’s breakfast on February 21^st with Director Jill Space, Senator Parker Space, and Assemblyman Mike Ingannamort. Senator Space offered letters of support for municipalities when applying for grants. They wrote one for Stillwater’s LRIG grant, and they will write one for the Historical Society for the Grist Mill. They also discussed the 250^th Celebration and how they would like all the municipalities to be involved.

Mayor V. Rumsey and Deputy Mayor D. Delaney met with the Historical Society, Recreation Commission, and RaeAnn Gerow from the County to discuss some ideas. The Historical Society really stepped up for this event and is going to be doing a lot for the County. The 6th graders at Stillwater Elementary School will be involved in creating the 250th display, which will also be used for Stillwater’s Municipal display at the Fair this year.

The Planning Board reviewed the Ordinance for Fair Share Housing. Planning Board Attorney W. Haggerty deemed the Ordinance good and consistent with our Master Plan. Tammy Horsefield of the Sussex County Chamber offered to attend a Planning Board meeting to discuss short-term rentals.

On February 25^th, Mayor V. Rumsey and Deputy Mayor D. Delaney were invited to a presentation by Barnlight Productions at the Performing Arts Building at SCCC. It was geared mostly towards students; however, there was a lot of information about the history of Barnlight and its direction in the State of NJ. They are looking for an Ordinance to make Stillwater Film Ready. They also mentioned what happens to their sets once they’re done using them, which is that they’re just thrown out. They are offering them to any school or people who may be producing a film for free. They just need to go pick up the sets themselves in Edison & Secaucus.

Elizabethtown Gas has contacted Paulinskill Lake regarding running natural gas. They offered to come to a Township Committee meeting to discuss running lines throughout Stillwater Township.

Committeeman George Scott

Committeeman G. Scott stated that the DPW met with Committeewoman L. Chammings regarding Stormwater Management and what needs to be done. The guys have been working well. Hopefully, we’re at the end of winter weather soon.

He has not received a fire report yet.

Committeeman David Manser

Committeeman D. Manser stated that the Board of Education meetings have been rescheduled due to the snowstorms. He attended the Board of Education meeting on February 2^nd, where they discussed the broiler replacement project and the 1988 gym addition, which they are still working on. They have been fielding through architects. Last night, they awarded an architect to draw up the job, and they came with an engineer. They are also going out for bid for the broiler, which will be replaced in the summer. They are waiting to hear what their State Aid will be to discuss their budget. Kittatinny will have its roof work done, but is waiting on its budget. He discussed the school Public Relations Committee, which will consist of a couple of people from each sending district. He will attend them at least four times per year.

The Recreation Commission meeting was the same night as the school board meeting. He made it to the end of the meeting, but he will let Deputy Mayor D. Delaney discuss it, as she was there for the whole meeting.

Deputy Mayor D. Delaney

Deputy Mayor D. Delaney stated that the Planning Board was in full support of the Fair Share Housing Ordinance. Planning Board Attorney W. Haggerty explained everything to them.

The Recreation Commission has been very busy planning events. Member Heather Falotico resigned. There are 6 applications for field use, and all necessary paperwork has been filed. There is also a homeschool group that meets there weekly. It’s their 3^rd or 4^th year using Veteran’s Park. On April 11^th, there will be a Senior Disco Night at the Community Center. There will be a DJ, and all are encouraged to dress accordingly. They have a workshop meeting set for March 16^th for Stillwater Day- volunteers are invited to attend. You do not need to be on the Recreation Commission to help at their events. There will be no fireworks this year.

Committeewoman Lisa Chammings

Stormwater Management:

Committeewoman L. Chammings stated that for Stormwater Management, there were Zoom meetings on February 5^th, 12^th, and 16^th with representatives from IWorQs Management System. The purpose of each meeting was to answer specific questions about the system and narrow down what would best meet the needs of Stillwater Township. Committeewoman L. Chammings also spoke with the County, but they use a different system called Citiworks, which is intended for much larger organizations, is much more labor-intensive, and is more expensive. Other applications besides IWorQs and Citiworks were reviewed, but they were all generally like Citiworks in terms of being meant for larger organizations and being more expensive. IWorQs was reviewed with our Shared Service CPWM and our engineers, who will use it to report on Stormwater Management inspections. Ultimately, we decided to pursue using IWorQs software. The initial setup and additional questions will be handled in a virtual meeting by the end of the week.

On February 27, DPW Liaison George Scott, CFO T. Leonard, DPW employees Mark Yetter and Acting Supervisor Doug Vaughan, and Committeewoman L. Chammings met with our engineers to discuss Stormwater Management updates and deadlines. They’re moving in a good direction. They’re also planning to set aside funds from the Capital Budget to upgrade our fuel tanks at the DPW yard, as they’re old and need to be updated to meet age and Stormwater Management standards. They were provided with a draft Water Quality Inventory, and will be able to fill in the required blanks as they move forward.

Fair Share Housing:

Committeewoman L. Chammings had a brief meeting with Habitat for Humanity on February 9^th. Moving forward, the town has some vacant buildable lots that may fit their needs. She suggested they invite Habitat for Humanity to a township meeting to discuss the process with the entire committee, but this is still far into the future. She also briefly discussed this idea with Mike Vreeland, the town’s engineer at the time when COAH was not stalled. Mr. Vreeland is still one of the engineers, but now works at our current firm, VanCleef. He has a good recall of past obligations.

Historical Marker:

On February 7^th, she attended the turning over of a historical marker to the historical society. This marker had been taken many years ago and was recently found inside someone’s garage. Thank you to everyone involved in getting this historical marker back to its rightful location.

Environmental:

Committeewoman L. Chammings stated that the Environmental Commission Chair is Mandy Coriston and the Vice Chair is Dr. Mattes. The Environmental Commission met on February 9^th and had a guest, Matt Trochim from the AmeriCorps Watershed Ambassador Program, representing WMA 1, who gave a presentation and offered his assistance with any watershed-related programs or work associated with WMA 1. After the presentation, there was a discussion about other potential speakers/presentations for future meetings, especially regarding invasive species and tree/forest health. Other discussions centered on the cell tower to be located in Fredon and on future water quality testing. The TREX Program reported that in the new cycle, there were about 700lbs of plastic collected. Lastly, there were two Zoning Board Site Surveys for 932 Saddleback Road and 905 Morningside Drive.

JCP&L:

On February 10^th, Committeewoman L. Chammings attended the JCP&L Presentation at the Community Center. Amy from JCP&L gave a great presentation and answered many questions from the attendees. The meeting to discuss potential target areas of concern between OEM and JCP&L went well. Potential areas were identified with JCP&L representatives who attended, including two engineers, two foresters, two local JCP&L workers, and Amy. The meeting was informative for both sides. JCP&L representatives also provided a detailed tree trimming circuit with roads that were due to start in January. Unfortunately, the large amounts of snow have slowed that start. There was also discussion regarding an upgrade to a circuit from the Blairstown area that will bring redundancies to approximately 1,000 customers. This means they are building out a new circuit that will allow for another pathway for electricity to flow if the power goes out on the normal circuit for those about 1,000 customers. All this work is planned to be done in 2026. Committeewoman L. Chammings stated she printed public information on this, which is available for pickup at the back table inside the Stillwater Municipal Building Meeting Room. Currently, there is discussion about a new substation that could end up in our area, although many details remain to be worked out, and it is still in the works. The timeframe on that is still unknown, but not too far into the future. Once the weather is a bit nicer, JCP&L will visit one site of concern that was brought up at the February 10^th meeting, but this is unfortunately on hold due to the weather.

Zoning:

The Zoning Board held its Reorganization meeting on February 23^rd. The Chairperson is George Lippencott, and the Vice Chair is Kathy Draghi. An application regarding 932 Saddleback Road was heard. There was some confusion on the applicant’s part, who was redirected by his attorney and had some challenges with his presentation, as his office was closed that day due to receiving about 25 inches of snow in his area. Regardless, the Zoning Board chose to go ahead with the application as some of the aspects were time-sensitive. Two portions of the application were conditionally approved. Regarding the third part, the attorney directed the applicant to properly apply for a driveway permit, which he was also instructed to do by the Zoning Officer in November, but the permit had not been applied for. Committeewoman L. Chammings did check the next day, and the applicant did come in to apply for the permit as advised. Another application, 905 Morningside Drive, was up for completeness but was held in part due to the weather. A discussion also took place on a variety of topics like the Fair Share Housing Plan, AirBnB, and application reviews. The attorney will prepare the 2025 End of Year Report, where suggestions can be made on potential ordinances that could go into examination. Once reviewed and approved, the report will be presented to the governing body.

Barnlight:

Committeewoman L. Chammings attended a presentation at the Sussex County Community College on February 25^th. She has been waiting for the workshop for Film Ready, but there is still one yet to be scheduled. Fortunately, one of the speakers mentioned visiting the NJ Film Commission website for more information on this, and the document is very helpful. However, the first step is to attend a workshop, so we hope to have a date for one soon.

CERT:

CERT has been very active with training and information sessions. One has completed CPR certification, and some will be attending a Mass Evacuation Drill at Stockton College around mid-March. The Polar Plunge has been rescheduled, during which CERT coordinator Maureen will be plunging. Also, the CERT meetings will be back at the Community Center starting in March due to some conflicts at the Stillwater Collective building.

OEM:

OEM has been busy with some Red Cross needs for displaced residents due to fires and needs due to storms. Hazmat will be readdressed on Possum Hill Road as the snow and ice clear. One piece of good news is that our DPW truck number 7 is coming home tomorrow! It’s been almost 3 months without this truck in our fleet, and another one was removed due to excessive repair costs, given its age. As the OEM, Committeewoman L. Chammings would like to commend our DPW for working so hard to keep roads clear, especially with vehicle shortages during some pretty intense storms. The County OEM/EOC was activated three times this winter due to various storms.

 

Committeewoman L. Chammings shared that she was so excited to have been able to work with the County and organize the Dot Bookmobile to come to the Stillwater Community Center! Like old times! It will be there on March 10^th. Also, on the same day, she will be doing a safety presentation at the Community Center before the bookmobile arrives. The topic of the presentation is how to be prepared for outages in ways other than whole-house generators, as not everyone can afford one of them. The presentation starts at 1 pm and the Bookmobile comes at 2:30 pm.

AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA: Add Resolution 2026-059 and Resolution 2026-060

PUBLIC SESSION (Agenda Items Only – 5 Minute Time Limit)

Public Session Open.

Township Resident A. Klein asked for clarification on a not-for-profit organization and why there’s a $100 fee to fill out an application. Mayor V. Rumsey replied that non-profit organizations such as the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Mahjong, etc. She stated that the $100 fee isn’t just to fill out an application; it’s paid to a person who oversees the events that happen. She checks the Community Center prior to the party to make sure that everything is set up, paper products stocked, etc. She’s available during the duration of the party for any questions or issues and available to run to the Community Center if needed and inspects the Community Center at the end of the party to ensure that it is properly cleaned, nothing is broken or missing, etc.

A. Kline stated that it costs more than $25 for just the post for a mailbox; They’re all at least $75 at Home Depot. The Clerk explained that the breakdown from the DPW on what they spend for the mailbox, 4×4 cut lumber, and bucket is approximately $25. They do not replace the posts with a prefab mailbox post; it’s just a cut piece of a 4 x 4 piece of lumber. Mayor V. Rumsey noted that a lot of the posts that “get broken” are already rotted as well.

Township Resident K. Draghi asked about the architect that the school hired and how much. Committeeman D. Manser replied that no dollar figures were discussed. They interviewed someone last year, but they wanted way too much money.

K. Draghi also asked if CERT is able to use the Community Center as a warming center? Committeewoman L. Chammings stated that as OEM, the County opens warming centers and residents are encouraged to visit those locations. If it doesn’t work to go there, they have at times opened up the Town Hall as a warming center. The closest county warming center would be the Main Library.

No further public comment.

Public Session Closed.

OLD BUSINESS:

ORDINANCE 2026-02

AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND, REVISE, AND SUPPLEMENT CHAPTER 240, ENTITLED “LAND DEVELOPMENT”, MOST NOTABLY SECTION 240-118, ENTITLED “FAIR SHARE PLAN”

A MOTION was made by Committeewoman L. Chammings and seconded by Committeeman G. Scott, to open the discussion on Ordinance 2026-02 to the public.

ROLL CALL: Committeeman D. Manser; yes, Deputy Mayor D. Delaney; yes, Committeewoman L. Chammings; yes, Committeeman G. Scott; yes, Mayor V. Rumsey; yes. Motion carried with all in favor.

Township Resident K. Draghi asked if a single-family home is built, does it only count as one unit? Township Attorney E. Bernstein replied that it depends. If they are seeking supportive needs housing, it may be more than one unit. If it’s a traditional family unit, then it most likely counts as one unit. Committeewoman L. Chammings stated that they need to do 64 units total, but at least 11 within 10 years.

Township Resident P. Tigue asked if the housing would be built on township-owned property? The Township Attorney responded that that’s yet to be determined. It could be township property, another entity, or a private party’s.

A MOTION was made by Committeeman G. Scott and seconded by Deputy Mayor D. Delaney to close to the public.

ROLL CALL: Committeeman D. Manser; yes, Deputy Mayor D. Delaney; yes, Committeewoman L. Chammings; yes, Committeeman G. Scott; yes, Mayor V. Rumsey; yes. Motion carried with all in favor.

A MOTION was made by Committeeman G. Scott and seconded by Committeeman D. Manser to adopt Ordinance 2026-02.

ROLL CALL: Committeeman D. Manser; yes, Deputy Mayor D. Delaney; yes, Committeewoman L. Chammings; yes, Committeeman G. Scott; yes, Mayor V. Rumsey; yes. Motion carried with all in favor.

ORDINANCE 2026-03

AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF STILLWATER

COUNTY OF SUSSEX, NEW JERSEY AMENDING ORDINANCE 2021-15

ENTITLED “ORDINANCE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF STILLWATER ESTABLISHING FEES FOR THE USE OF THE COMMUNITY CENTER”

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Township Committee of the Township of Stillwater, Sussex County, New Jersey that Ordinance 2025-12 and Township Code Chapter 182-1, entitled “Use of Community Center” is amended, revised and supplemented as follows:

SECTION 1.

The Community Center deposit and fees are set as follows:

Refundable Deposit Fee

Cleaning & Key Deposit

Not-For-Profit Organization None $150

(1 Time Event Use)

Civil Organization Annual User Fee None $100

For one (1) meeting per week

 

Resident Users $150 $350

Non-Resident Users $150 $450

Non-Refundable Administration Fee – $100

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED as follows:

1. All ordinances or parts of ordinances which are inconsistent with this Ordinance shall be repealed as to the inconsistencies only.
2. This Ordinance shall take effect immediately after passage and publication of this Ordinance in accordance with the law.

A MOTION was made by Deputy Mayor D. Delaney and seconded by Committeeman G. Scott, to open the discussion on Ordinance 2026-03 to the public.

ROLL CALL: Committeeman D. Manser; yes, Deputy Mayor D. Delaney; yes, Committeewoman L. Chammings; yes, Committeeman G. Scott; yes, Mayor V. Rumsey; yes. Motion carried with all in favor.

Township Resident K. Draghi stated that she felt that the out-of-town rate could be increased further. Mayor V. Rumsey responded that with hiring the facilities manager to oversee the events, they hope that the issues with the out-of-town renters will not happen again. If there continue to be issues after this, they can re-evaluate and make changes again.

Township Resident D. Drumm asked if, in case someone cancels their party, the $100 fee would be refunded. Mayor V. Rumsey responded that it could not be refunded as the person that over sees the party will have already been on call for the event.

Township Resident S. Michaelman suggested changing the word “Application” as it can be confusing. Committeewoman L. Chammings suggested changing it to an “Administration Fee”.

Township Resident A. Kline stated that the firehouse doesn’t charge an application fee to rent it. Mayor V. Rumsey stated that the firehouse fees are higher and that they have a $150 fee to have someone at the firehouse for the whole event.

A MOTION was made by Committeeman G. Scott and seconded by Committeeman D. Manser to close to the public.

ROLL CALL: Committeeman D. Manser; yes, Deputy Mayor D. Delaney; yes, Committeewoman L. Chammings; yes, Committeeman G. Scott; yes, Mayor V. Rumsey; yes. Motion carried with all in favor.

A MOTION was made by Committeeman G. Scott and seconded by Mayor V. Rumsey to adopt Ordinance 2026-03, with the minor change of the word “Application” to “Administration”.

Committeewoman L. Chammings asked what happened to the employee rate, which was on the Ordinance during introduction. Mayor V. Rumsey explained that there was feedback that it wasn’t fair that township employees received a discounted rate to use the Community Center, and they agreed, so it was removed.

ROLL CALL: Committeeman D. Manser; yes, Deputy Mayor D. Delaney; yes, Committeewoman L. Chammings; no, Committeeman G. Scott; yes, Mayor V. Rumsey; yes. Motion carried with four in favor and one opposed.

ORDINANCE 2026-04

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING AND SUPPLEMENTING CHAPTER 350 OF THE REVISED GENERAL ORDINANCES OF THE TOWNSHIP OF STILLWATER ENTITLED “STREETS & SIDEWALKS”

TO INCLUDE SECTION 350-6 ENTITLED “MAILBOX DAMAGE DUE TO SNOW PLOWING REINBURSEMENT.”

WHEREAS, it has come to the attention of the Mayor and Council that residents’ mailboxes are inadvertently damaged due to snow plowing; and

WHEREAS, the Mayor and Council have determined that it would be in the best interest of the citizens of the Township of Stillwater to amend the Ordinance to include a remedy to the citizens.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Mayor and Council of the Township of Stillwater as follows:

SECTION I

1. Chapter 350, Section 6 – Mailbox Damage Due to Snow Plowing.

350-6.1 Intent; Rationale.

It is the intent of this article to establish uniform procedures to reimburse residents for damage to mailboxes due to snow removal operations. The Township of Stillwater’s primary obligation is to ensure that its roadways are as clear as possible of snow and ice. It is also understood that most mailboxes are located within the public right-of-way and, therefore, while fulfilling the primary objective, mailboxes may be unintentionally and unavoidably damaged. This policy assumes there is a shared responsibility between the Township of Stillwater and the homeowner when mailboxes located in the public right-of-way are damaged during snow removal operations.

 

350-6.2 Resident Responsibility.

Snowplow operators make every effort to remove snow as close to the curbline as practical and to provide access to mailboxes for the Postal Service. However, it is not possible to provide perfect conditions and minimize the damage to mailboxes with the size and type of equipment the Township operates. Therefore, the final cleaning adjacent to mailboxes is the responsibility of each resident.

350-6.3 Landscaping; Hardscape.

Property owners should assume all risk of damage for landscaping/hardscape, including nursery and inanimate materials that are installed within or encroach on the Township’s right-of-way. The Township assumes no responsibility for damage incurred to these nonpermitted elements as a result of snow plowing and ice control activities with the exception that lawns that are scraped or gouged by Township equipment will be repaired by top dressing and seeding the following spring. In addition, inanimate materials such as boulders, timbers, etc., are a hazard and can cause damage to plow equipment.

350-6.4 Reimbursement Policy.

While there is no legal requirement, it is the policy of the Township of Stillwater to reimburse residents up to $25 for eligible mailbox damage caused by direct plow contact or thrown snow coming off the plow on the part of the Township’s Department of Public Works or Township private contractors. Residents seeking reimbursement greater than $25 for mailbox damage caused by Township operators may file a tort claim under Title 59 of New Jersey Statutes Annotated. Nothing in this article shall be construed to entitle any resident to reimbursement prior to an investigation and determination by the Director of Public Works or designee that the claimed damage is eligible for reimbursement pursuant to this section.

350-6.5 Eligibility; Procedure; Investigation.

For the purpose of this article, boxes used for receipt of United States mail and placed outside of residences and established for such purposes shall be referred to herein as “mailboxes”. All mailboxes must be installed in accordance with the United States Postal Service Mailbox Guidelines.

A. Eligibility; mailbox damage claim. The reimbursement provisions shall only apply to those homeowners who satisfy the following criteria:

(1) The mailbox is securely fastened to a sturdy post, which is sufficiently anchored in the ground to resist the impact of plowed snow.

(2) The damaged mailbox and/or post must meet the requirements of the United States Postal Service Mailbox Guidelines, as well as all other requirements in regard to construction and location. Mailboxes that do not meet the requirements of the United States Postal Service and/or any other applicable regulations are not eligible for reimbursement.

(3) The damage must have been caused by direct contact with or thrown snow from Borough Department of Public Works or Township private contractor plows or snow removal equipment.

(4) The homeowner must notify the Township within seven (7) calendar days of the date the damage occurred. Damage reported outside of this time frame will not be eligible for reimbursement.

(5) The homeowner must sign a general release discharging the Township from all debts, claims, demands, damages, actions or further tort claims under Title 59.

B. Claim procedure.

 

(1) Within the time period above, a homeowner making a claim for reimbursement shall contact the Department of Public Works and file a mailbox damage claim.

(2) The mailbox damage claim shall be accompanied with the following:

(a) Name, address, phone number and email address of claimant.

(b) Date and time of damage.

(c) Exact location of damage.

(d) Explanation of what happened/description of damage.

(e) Photographs of damage.

(f) Itemized receipt for the cost of the new mailbox and/or post.

(3) After submission of the claim, the Supervisor of Public Works or designee shall investigate the alleged damage to determine if the damage was caused by the plow blade, vehicle and/or thrown snow coming off the plow. A written response on the findings of the investigation will be mailed to the resident.

(4) If it is determined that the mailbox was damaged by the plow blade, vehicle and/or thrown snow coming off the plow, the homeowner will be reimbursed for the cost of the mailbox and/or post in an amount not to exceed $25 upon the submission of an itemized receipt for the cost of the new mailbox and/or post. If it is determined that the damage was not caused by the plow blade, vehicle and/or thrown snow coming off the plow, no reimbursement will be given. All actual repairs and/or replacements shall be the responsibility of the homeowner.

SECTION II

All other parts, portions and provisions of Chapter 350 of the Code of the Township of Stillwater are hereby ratified and confirmed, except in the event of an inconsistency with the foregoing.

In the event of any such inconsistency, the terms and provisions of Section I hereof shall be deemed to govern.

SECTION III

Should any part, portion or provision of this Ordinance be held unconstitutional or invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of this Ordinance as a whole, or any other part thereof.

SECTION IV

This Ordinance shall take effect immediately upon publication and final passage according to law.

A MOTION was made by Deputy Mayor D. Delaney and seconded by Committeeman D. Manser, to open the discussion on Ordinance 2026-04 to the public.

ROLL CALL: Committeeman D. Manser; yes, Deputy Mayor D. Delaney; yes, Committeewoman L. Chammings; yes, Committeeman G. Scott; yes, Mayor V. Rumsey; yes. Motion carried with all in favor.

Township Resident K. Draghi stated that she doesn’t understand why the town must do this. She stated that if someone puts their mailbox up wrong or it was installed 30 years ago and falls to the ground, it’s not up to the town to have to replace it. She said they’ve had their mailbox knocked down, they’ve fixed it or replaced it themselves, and it’s no big deal. The Clerk explained that Statewide Insurance had reached out to municipalities that don’t have an Ordinance set for mailbox replacement and recommended that they do so.

A MOTION was made by Committeeman D. Manser and seconded by Deputy Mayor D. Delaney to close to the public.

ROLL CALL: Committeeman D. Manser; yes, Deputy Mayor D. Delaney; yes, Committeewoman L. Chammings; yes, Committeeman G. Scott; yes, Mayor V. Rumsey; yes. Motion carried with all in favor.

A MOTION was made by Mayor V. Rumsey and seconded by Committeeman D. Manser to adopt Ordinance 2026-04.

Committeeman G. Scott stated that he feels the Ordinance is ridiculous; if someone’s mailbox falls, they should fix it themselves, not go to the town to get a new one.

Mayor V. Rumsey stated that they’ve received some requests for expensive mailboxes, and they would be able to say that they’ll be getting a $25 credit to replace them if the township is found at fault.

Committeewoman L. Chammings stated that she felt that the Ordinance should be looked over by Statewide Insurance and the DPW Supervisor. She stated that winter is almost over. She would like a report of mailbox damage: locations, what storm, and the driver to see where it seems to be happening the most. Maybe it can be revisited before next season.

Deputy Mayor D. Delaney asked what the current policy is. The Clerk responded that there is no policy. If someone claims that their mailbox was knocked over, the DPW replaces it.

Committeewoman L. Chammings stated that she doesn’t agree with replacing the sod that gets torn up as well.

A MOTION was made by Mayor V. Rumsey and seconded by Committeeman D. Manser, to adopt Ordinance 2026-04

ROLL CALL: Committeeman D. Manser; no, Deputy Mayor D. Delaney; no, Committeewoman L. Chammings; no, Committeeman G. Scott; no, Mayor V. Rumsey; no. Motion failed.

NEW BUSINESS: None

CONSENT AGENDA – All items with an Asterisk (*) are considered to be routine

and non-controversial in nature. All such items will be handled by one (1) motion, one (1) second, and one (1) vote. There will be no separate discussion of any of these items unless a Committee member requests the same, in which case the item(s) will be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered in its normal sequence on the Agenda.

*MINUTES: February 10, 2026 Special Budget Meeting Minutes

February 17, 2026 Regular & Executive Meeting Minutes

 

*CORRESPONDENCE

1. Letter from Planning Board Attorney, William Haggerty, Esq, Consistency Review of Ordinance 2026-02

 

*RESOLUTIONS:

RESOLUTION 2026-052 MAYOR’S APPOINTMENT OF ROBERT WOLFF DEPUTY OEM COORDINATOR WITH COMMITTEE CONCURRENCE

RESOLUTION 2026-053 RESOLUTION FROM THE GOVERNOR’S COUNCIL ON SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER (GCSUD) ALLIANCE TO PREVENT SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER

RESOLUTION 2026-054 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING SHARED SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH SUSSEX COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITIES AUTHORITY FOR THE PROVISION OF CERTIFIED RECYCLING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES TO CERTIFY AND SUBMIT THE 2025 RECYCLING TONNAGE REPORT TO NJDEP

RESOLUTION 2026-055 MAYOR’S ACCEPTANCE OF THE RESIGNATION OF HEATHER FALOTICO AS A MEMBER OF THE RECREATION COMMISSION WITH COMMITTEE CONCURRENCE

RESOLUTION 2026-056 RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE PAYMENT OF A MUNICIPAL LIEN REDEMPTION FOR TSC # 25-00005 FOR PROPERTY AT 997 MT BENEVOLENCE ROAD, STILLWATER, NJ

RESOLUTION 2026-057 AUTHORIZING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW CASH PAYMENT ROUNDING POLICY FOR “PENNIES”

APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA

Committeeman G. Scott asked that all of the resolutions be removed from the Consent Agenda for separate votes.

A MOTION was made by G. Scott and seconded by Deputy Mayor D. Delaney, to accept the meeting minutes & correspondence.

ROLL CALL: Committeeman D. Manser; yes, Deputy Mayor D. Delaney; yes, Committeewoman L. Chammings; yes, Committeeman G. Scott; yes, Mayor V. Rumsey; yes. Motion carried with all in favor.

A MOTION was made by Committeeman G. Scott and seconded by Committeewoman L. Chammings to adopt Resolution 2026-052.

ROLL CALL: Committeeman D. Manser; yes, Deputy Mayor D. Delaney; yes, Committeewoman L. Chammings; yes, Committeeman G. Scott; yes, Mayor V. Rumsey; yes. Motion carried with all in favor.

A MOTION was made by Committeeman G. Scott and seconded by Deputy Mayor D. Delaney to adopt Resolution 2026-053.

ROLL CALL: Committeeman D. Manser; yes, Deputy Mayor D. Delaney; yes, Committeewoman L. Chammings; yes, Committeeman G. Scott; yes, Mayor V. Rumsey; yes. Motion carried with all in favor.

A MOTION was made by Mayor V. Rumsey and seconded by Committeewoman L. Chammings to adopt Resolution 2026-054.

ROLL CALL: Committeeman D. Manser; yes, Deputy Mayor D. Delaney; yes, Committeewoman L. Chammings; yes, Committeeman G. Scott; yes, Mayor V. Rumsey; yes. Motion carried with all in favor.

A MOTION was made by Committeeman G. Scott and seconded by Mayor V. Rumsey to adopt Resolution 2026-055.

Committeeman G. Scott asked that a letter of thanks be sent to H. Falotico for her service on the Recreation Commission.

ROLL CALL: Committeeman D. Manser; yes, Deputy Mayor D. Delaney; yes, Committeewoman L. Chammings; yes, Committeeman G. Scott; yes, Mayor V. Rumsey; yes. Motion carried with all in favor.

A MOTION was made by Committeeman G. Scott and seconded by Committeeman D. Manser to adopt Resolution 2026-056.

ROLL CALL: Committeeman D. Manser; yes, Deputy Mayor D. Delaney; yes, Committeewoman L. Chammings; yes, Committeeman G. Scott; yes, Mayor V. Rumsey; yes. Motion carried with all in favor.

A MOTION was made by Committeeman G. Scott and seconded by Mayor V. Rumsey to adopt Resolution 2026-057.

ROLL CALL: Committeeman D. Manser; yes, Deputy Mayor D. Delaney; no, Committeewoman L. Chammings; no, Committeeman G. Scott; abstain, Mayor V. Rumsey; yes. Motion fails with two in favor, two against, and one abstention.

ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA

RESOLUTION 2026-059

RESOLUTION SUPPORTING HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF STILLWATER TOWNSHIP IN APPLYING TO THE NEW JERSEY HISTORIC TRUST FOR A GRANT TO FUND AN ENGINEERING ASSESSMENT OF THE GRIST MILL

WHEREAS, the Casper & Abraham Shafer Grist Mill in Stillwater, New Jersey, is listed on the National Register and State Register of Historic Places and is a centerpiece of the historic fabric of Stillwater Township; and,

WHEREAS, the Historical Society of Stillwater Township is applying to the New Jersey Historic Trust for a grant to fund an engineering assessment of the Casper & Abraham Shafer Grist Mill in Stillwater, New Jersey, to better understand the structural issues; and,

WHEREAS, with the information in hand from the engineer, future grants will focus on the rehabilitation of specific problems with the Grist Mill; and,

WHEREAS, they are requesting a letter of support from Stillwater Township; and,

WHEREAS, the Stillwater Township Committee acts in full support of the proposed program; and,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Township Committee of the Township of Stillwater, County of Sussex, New Jersey hereby supports the Historical Society of Stillwater Township in applying for the grant application. A copy of this Resolution shall be sent to the New Jersey Historic Trust and provided to the Historical Society of Stillwater Township.

A MOTION was made by Committeewoman L. Chammings and seconded by Committeeman G. Scott, to adopt Resolution 2026-059.

ROLL CALL: Committeeman D. Manser; yes, Deputy Mayor D. Delaney; yes, Committeewoman L. Chammings; yes, Committeeman G. Scott; yes, Mayor V. Rumsey; yes. Motion carried with all in favor.

RESOLUTION 2026-060

RESOLUTION ENDORSING THE HOUSING ELEMENT AND FAIR SHARE PLAN TO THE TOWNSHIP OF STILLWATER’S MASTER PLAN PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED BY THE TOWNSHIP PLANNING BOARD

WHEREAS, by a Resolution dated May 21, 2025, the Planning Board of the Township of Stillwater (“Board”) adopted a Housing Element and Fair Share Plan to the Township’s Master Plan prepared by Jessica C. Caldwell, PP, AICP, LEED-GA of J Caldwell & Associates, LLC; and,

WHEREAS, the Township Committee agrees with the Board’s finding that the Housing Element and Fair Share Plan complies with N.J.S.A. 40:55D-28b(3) and N.J.S.A. 52:27D-310 in that it is designed to achieve the goal of providing the realistic development of affordable housing to meet present and prospective housing needs, with particular attention to low and moderate-income housing; and,

WHEREAS, the Township Committee further agrees with the Board’s determination that the Housing Element and Fair Share Plan is consistent with the goals and objectives of the Township of Stillwater’s Master Plan and that adoption and implementation of the Housing Element and Fair Share Plan is in the public interest and will protect public health and safety and promote the general welfare.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Township Committee of the Township of Stillwater, County of Sussex, State of New Jersey that the Township hereby approves and endorses the Housing Element and Fair Share Plan that has been adopted by the Board.

A MOTION was made by Committeewoman L. Chammings and seconded by Mayor V. Rumsey to adopt Resolution 2026-060.

ROLL CALL: Committeeman D. Manser; yes, Deputy Mayor D. Delaney; yes, Committeewoman L. Chammings; yes, Committeeman G. Scott; yes, Mayor V. Rumsey; yes. Motion carried with all in favor.

DISCUSSION ITEMS:

1. Senator Parker Space, letter of support for grants

Mayor V. Rumsey stated that Senator Parker Space’s office has offered to write letters of support for any grants that townships are applying for. They wrote a letter of support for the LRIG grant that Stillwater Township recently applied for and will write one for the Historical Society.

2. Letter of Support for the Rehabilitation of the Casper & Abraham Shafer Grist Mill, Stillwater, New Jersey

The Township Committee just adopted a Resolution in support of this.

3. Film Ready New Jersey Requirements

Mayor V. Rumsey noted some of the requirements for becoming Film Ready, which are included in the committee’s packets. Committeewoman L. Chammings noted that the first step is to do a workshop; however, there are no dates yet. She stated that the meeting that they attended at the college was more geared towards students. It would be great if they could do a presentation for municipalities. It would bring in some revenue to the township as well, with application fees and permits.

4. In Service Purge Day- March 20, 2026

The Township Committee agreed to close the Municipal Office to the public for an in-office purge day on March 20, 2026.

5. America’s 250^th Anniversary Celebration

Mayor V. Rumsey stated that there was a good discussion regarding America’s 250^th celebration at the Mayor’s breakfast. It will be on Sunday, June 7^th, at the fairgrounds. All towns will hopefully be participating. They are looking for vendors and sponsors. The Mayor of Green is working on making a quilt; the Stillwater Historical Society has begun making a square to add to represent Stillwater Township. There will be fireworks!

Mayor V. Rumsey also stated that Lou Sylvester distributed the flyers for the Memorial Day presentation. She read the flyer aloud and asked everyone to please attend.

OPEN PUBLIC SESSION

Township Resident P. Tigue thanked Committeewoman L. Chammings and everyone else who has reached out. He stated that his son is an airman in Iraq. He stated that it is a very emotional time for him and his family. He distributed yellow ribbon pins to everyone at the meeting.

No further public comment.

PUBLIC SESSION CLOSED.

ATTORNEY’S REPORT

The Township Attorney will continue his report during the second executive session.

BILLS LIST #4 $ 1,952,007.10

RESOLUTION 2026-058 AUTHORIZING PAYMENT OF BILLS

WHEREAS, the Chief Financial Officer has certified that funds are available in the proper account; and

WHEREAS, the Chief Financial Officer has approved payment upon certification from

the Township Department Heads that the goods and/or services have been rendered to the

Township;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Mayor and Committee of the Township of Stillwater that the current bill lists, dated March 3, 2026, are on file and available for public inspection in the Office of the Chief Financial Officer and approved by the Chief Financial Officer for payment, be paid.

A MOTION was made by Committeeman G. Scott and seconded by Committeewoman L. Chammings to adopt Resolution 2026-058, funds permitting.

Committeewoman L. Chammings noted that $958,000 is going to the schools. $23,000 was for salt for the past storms.

ROLL CALL: Committeeman D. Manser; yes, Deputy Mayor D. Delaney; yes, Mayor V. Rumsey; yes, Committeeman G. Scott; yes, Committeewoman L. Chammings; yes. Motion carried with all in favor.

RETURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION

A MOTION was made by Committeeman G. Scott and seconded by Deputy Mayor D. Delaney, to go back into Executive Session for Attorney-Client Privilege at 8:22 p.m.

ROLL CALL: Committeeman D. Manser; yes, Deputy Mayor D. Delaney; yes, Committeewoman L. Chammings; yes, Committeeman G. Scott; yes, Mayor V. Rumsey; yes. Motion carried with all in favor.

A MOTION was made by Committeeman G. Scott and seconded by Committeewoman L. Chammings, to go back into Regular Session at 9:05 p.m.

ROLL CALL: Committeeman D. Manser; yes, Deputy Mayor D. Delaney; yes, Committeewoman L. Chammings; yes, Committeeman G. Scott; yes, Mayor V. Rumsey; yes. Motion carried with all in favor.

Township Attorney E. Bernstein stated that the record should reflect that all members of the governing body present, commencing from the Executive Session at 6:00 pm and at 8:20 pm, are present to recommencement of both open sessions, along with the Township Attorney, the Township Clerk, and, for a short period of time at the first executive session, the CFO. The CFO was asking for some advice from the Township Attorney; advice was given. No formal action needs to be taken. There was a discussion regarding Teamsters Local 125 grievances; they have been invited to come to the Executive Session at the next meeting on March 17th. There was a further discussion regarding the ongoing litigation relative to a former employee. No formal action needs to be taken. He asked for a motion to authorize the Mayor to execute certain documents relative to employment issues through the attorney-client privilege.

A MOTION was made by Committeeman D. Manser and seconded by Committeeman G. Scott, to authorize the Mayor to execute certain documents relative to employment issues.

ROLL CALL: Committeeman D. Manser; yes, Deputy Mayor D. Delaney; yes, Committeewoman L. Chammings; yes, Committeeman G. Scott; yes, Mayor V. Rumsey; yes. Motion carried with all in favor.

ADJOURNMENT

A MOTION was made by Committeeman G. Scott and seconded by Mayor V. Rumsey with all in favor, to adjourn the meeting at 9:06 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Valerie Ingles, RMC

Township Clerk