Montgomery Township Committee Meeting Recap
By Nicholas Mistretta
Montgomery, NJ – The Montgomery Township Committee convened for its scheduled meeting on February 20, opening with a solemn moment of silence requested by Mayor Singh to honor a town resident who tragically passed away earlier in the week.
New Committee Member Appointed
The mayor then called for nominations to fill the unexpired term of Devra Keenan, who recently resigned from the committee. Deputy Mayor Vincent Barrigan nominated Mike Martin, a nomination seconded by Patricia Taylor-Todd. The motion carried unanimously, and township attorney Wendy Rubenstein-Quiroga administered the oath of office to Mr. Martin, who then took his seat at the dais.
Eagle Scout Recognitions
The committee recognized four members of Boy Scout Troop 46—Frederick Allen, Akarsh Gokina, Jensen Lin, and Ethan Shlossberg—for achieving the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout. Each scout’s individual project was highlighted as the township formally congratulated them on their dedication and accomplishments, wishing them continued success.
Additionally, Eagle Scout Daniel Leopold presented a proposal to renovate a section of the Montgomery Arboretum. He noted that both the Parks and Recreation Department and the Shade Tree Committee had already approved the project and requested formal approval from the township committee.
Public Health Accreditation
Health Officer Devangi Patel provided an update on Montgomery’s national public health accreditation. She noted that Montgomery is one of only six out of 104 local boards of health in the state to receive national accreditation. Patel emphasized that accreditation enables the township to secure grants and funding opportunities that would otherwise be unavailable. The Board of Health has already passed a resolution endorsing the initiative, and the committee agreed to place a resolution on next month’s agenda for final approval.
Finance Update
Township Chief Financial Officer Michael Pitts provided a detailed finance update.
Public Comment Session
During the public comment portion of the meeting, a community member raised concerns about the committee’s executive sessions occurring mid-meeting. The resident explained that many members of the public leave when the committee enters a closed session because they do not know how long it will last, which can vary between five and thirty minutes.
Routine Business and Approvals
The committee proceeded to approve a series of resolutions, meeting minutes from the previous session, and various correspondence, concluding the meeting in an orderly manner.
The next township committee meeting is scheduled for March 6, where further discussions on the health accreditation resolution and other township matters will take place.