Montgomery Committee Advances Sewer Funding, Renews Shared Services and Resets Cell Tower Bid

Nicholas Mistretta

MONTGOMERY — The Montgomery Township Committee moved through a full agenda at its Jan. 22 regular meeting, reallocating infrastructure funds, renewing several long-standing shared service agreements and taking steps to secure a better deal on a planned cell tower in the Cherry Valley section of town.

All actions on the open-session agenda were approved by unanimous roll-call vote.

$400,000 in Unused Funds Shifted to Harlingen Sewer Project
The committee introduced an ordinance that would redirect $400,000 in unused money from a prior capital ordinance to support the township’s Harlingen sewer project.

Ordinance 26-1769, which reallocates the unspent funds for sewer work and related purposes, passed on first reading. A public hearing and second-reading vote are scheduled for the Feb. 5, 2026 meeting.

The measure does not authorize new borrowing, but instead repurposes existing authorized funds that were not fully expended under an earlier ordinance.

Shared Services With Rocky Hill Renewed for Health and Animal Control
The township also renewed two long-standing shared service agreements with the Borough of Rocky Hill:

• Resolution 26-1-45 – Public health services
• Resolution 26-1-46 – Animal control services

Business Administrator Lori Savron noted that Montgomery’s health staff has provided public health services to Rocky Hill for many years and that the agreement remains “fiscally beneficial” to Montgomery.

Under the public health resolution, Rocky Hill reimburses Montgomery for its proportionate share of all costs associated with those services, ensuring the township “will not incur any financial loss or subsidy as a result of this agreement,” according to the resolution text.

A similar cost-recovery structure applies to the renewed animal control agreement.

Acrisure Retained as Health Insurance Broker and Risk Manager
After a recent bid process, the committee voted to keep Acrisure as the township’s health insurance broker and risk management consultant.

• Resolution 26-1-47 awards the contract for health insurance broker and risk management services.
• Resolution 26-1-48 formally appoints Acrisure as risk management consultant for 2026.

Savron reported that two proposals were received and that Acrisure, which has served Montgomery “for many years,” submitted the winning — and lowest — responsible bid.

Cherry Valley Cell Tower Bids Rejected; New Specs to Be Advertised
In a move aimed at improving both service and financial terms, the committee rejected all bids received for leasing township property for a wireless telecommunications facility in the Cherry Valley area.

Resolution 26-1-49 rejects the two bids submitted under Bid #13-2025 and authorizes the township to re-advertise the project with an adjusted scope.

Savron explained that, after review, officials concluded that “given market conditions,” modifying the bid specifications could “enhance our competitiveness” and likely result in “slightly more favorable financial terms” for Montgomery.

She emphasized that the rebid is not expected to cause a major delay and acknowledged prior public testimony from residents citing poor cell service and its impact on emergency situations. “We know this is a time-sensitive matter,” Savron said, adding that the township is ready to move quickly with the revised specifications.

Recycling Shared Services With Somerset County Extended
The committee also renewed its county-level recycling arrangement by adopting Resolution 26-1-50, authorizing a shared services agreement with Somerset County for 2026 recycling services.

Somerset County will continue to provide curbside recycling collection within Montgomery, as it has in prior years. Savron noted that the county “is the only game in town,” and said the township is still awaiting delivery of single-stream recycling carts, which remain on back order at the county level.

Separately, she mentioned that township administrators across Somerset County are continuing to encourage the county to consider a similar shared-services model for animal control at the countywide level

Technical Corrections to 2026 Appointments
Two resolutions approved late in the meeting cleaned up minor errors in the township’s annual appointment lists:

• Resolution 26-1-51 amends Resolution 26-1-01, which set 2026 annual appointments, to correct an error involving an open space committee member who had moved out of town and to make other housekeeping adjustments.
• Resolution 26-1-52 amends Resolution 26-1-02, covering 2026 mayoral appointments, to fix an error in the Planning Board appointments and correct a misspelled member name.

Officials characterized both measures as technical corrections rather than substantive policy changes.

Promotion of Longtime Employee Formally Recognized
The committee also adopted Resolution 26-1-53, formally authorizing the promotion of longtime township employee Deborah “Debbie” Axt to the title of executive assistant.

Savron explained that the position was created in 2024 and that the promotion had already been implemented via the salary and wage and budget processes. However, the state Division of Pensions requires a specific authorizing resolution for classification purposes, prompting the retroactive housekeeping measure.

Axtt, who has served Montgomery for decades, was also recognized separately at the same meeting for reaching a 30-year service milestone.

Executive Session: Litigation, Green Acres Agreement and Property Acquisition
Before adjourning the public portion of the meeting, the committee voted to enter executive session under Resolution 26-1-54 to discuss:

• Litigation, identified as Docket No. SOM-L-1215-24
• Contract negotiations related to a Green Acres agreement for a proposed cricket pitch at Montgomery Veterans Park
• Potential acquisition of property and the settlement of litigation

The resolution notes that any formal action on those matters can only occur at a future public meeting, once negotiations or litigation have progressed to a point where disclosure is appropriate.

Photo Credit: Nicholas Mistretta/headlinenewsmontgomery.com