Old Bridge council clears path for new internet provider
A unanimous vote gave a new high-speed internet provider municipal consent to use existing poles, a first step toward more choices beyond Comcast and Optimum.
Two hosts walk through the week’s edition in conversation — separated consent item c13, approval of finance items 1–12, and what’s coming next. Generated by Aware, from this week’s verified summaries.
Council members said residents have been asking for another internet option for years, but the company still must strike deals with the utilities that own the poles.
One vote opened a small lane for more internet choice.
Old Bridge Township Council pulled consent item C13 off the routine list and discussed it on its own before approving it by unanimous roll call vote of the members present. Council members described the measure as a long-overdue statutory step: municipal consent for a new high-speed internet provider to use existing telephone poles in the public right-of-way. They tied the vote to a familiar complaint from residents who want alternatives to Comcast and Optimum.
Members said more competition could help on both price and service quality. But they were clear about what this vote does not do. Municipal consent does not give the provider automatic access to the poles. The company still has to negotiate with the utilities and telecom companies that own them, including Jersey Central Power & Light and Verizon. As council members put it, pole owners will not be offering free space.
The discussion stayed practical. A representative in the audience was acknowledged for sticking with the effort as it worked its way to this point. What comes next will happen outside the council chamber: the provider now has local consent, but it still needs agreements with the pole owners before residents see any new service option on the street.
Approval of finance items 1–12; shared services agreement for school security (item 9)
The school board approved finance items 1 through 12, including a shared services agreement with the township for school security coverage. During discussion, a board member corrected the record on item 9, saying it was the sixth extension of the agreement, not the fifth as previously listed.
The member said the arrangement is essential because it provides SROs and security coverage across school locations. They drew a distinction between a shared services agreement and a standard bid contract, saying bid contracts come with fixed terms while a shared services agreement with the township can keep being renewed unless one side ends it.
The board member thanked the township for continuing the partnership and for providing security measures across the district. The finance package then passed on roll call. The transcript indicates some members were absent, including Mr. Dunn and Mr. Vanitation.
School board weighs soda sales and menus
A Food Service Committee report said the district is considering featured meals at the high school and middle schools, with possible expansion to elementary schools later. The committee is also weighing whether to remove soda at the high school, where those sales brought in $27,000 last year.
Food Service Committee discussed featured meals and possible high-school soda removal affecting $27,000 in revenue.
Council revisits speed bumps on local streets
Old Bridge Township Council returned to the question of speed bumps, with members citing state rules that limit them to certain lower-speed residential roads. Fire and EMS concerns, snow plowing, truck traffic on streets like Phillips Drive, and fire code approval all remain unresolved, and no vote was taken.
Council debated speed humps, legal limits, emergency-response concerns, and possible targeted streets like Phillips Drive.
Council targets school aid formula pressure
Old Bridge Township Council discussed sending a resolution to Governor Murphy about school funding and the effect of the S2 formula on local taxes. Members urged residents to write letters, and Assemblyman Alex Sauickie used the meeting to argue for changes he said would make aid levels fairer.
School aid formulas directly affect local property taxes, making this a pocketbook issue for township homeowners.
Administrator lists aid events, rating, retirements
Himanshu Shah used his report to flag upcoming JCP&L assistance appointments, a PAS-1 filing event at Silver Linings Old Bridge, and an extended third-quarter tax grace period through August 21, 2026. He also said Moody’s reaffirmed the township’s A1 bond rating and announced the retirements of two police employees effective July 31, 2026.
Administrator announced assistance appointments, PAS-1 filing event, and tax-bill grace period extension to August 21, 2026.
- Old Bridge Township Zoning Board of Adjustment. One resident spoke during the public portion on Application 12-206Z, stating water had entered their yard during rainy periods and raising concerns about privacy due to the height and proximity of the deck near the property line. The resident requested township engineering review of grading/drainage if approval were granted.
What we didn’t fit in this Sundays edition
Old Bridge Township had 38 more items this week. Here are sixfour — the rest are on Aware.
- GOVERNANCEApproval of curriculum and professional development items 1–4. The board approved curriculum and professional development items 1 through 4. A board member thanked teachers and Dr. Tui for completing elementary science curriculum work referenced as a prior concern.
- GOVERNANCEApproval of bill list and payroll, including overtime breakdown. The council approved accounts payable and payroll items, including July 31 and August 14, 2026 payroll and overtime. Staff provided an overtime breakdown citing 250th celebration events at Mannino Park, public works building improvements, and a “swarm” as drivers of overtime, with deductions for grants, ETO, and accreditation/beach patrol.
- GOVERNANCEApproval of certificated personnel items 1–24 with administrative corrections (including removals and renumbering). The board approved certificated personnel items 1–24 after multiple administrative corrections, including moving and renumbering items, correcting names/positions, and removing an item. Several staff names were read into the record as part of the corrected lists.
- GOVERNANCEPolice department swears in new lieutenant and sergeant. The police chief recognized two promotions in the department: Michael Machan to lieutenant and Brian Brady to sergeant. Both officers took the oath of office during the meeting.
- GOVERNANCEFirst responder certificates: April 22, 2026 brush fire medical emergency and life-saving response. Mayor Walker described an April 22, 2026 brush fire response at 512 Marbar Road where a firefighter suffered a medical emergency. Police, EMS, dispatch, firefighters, and RWJ medics provided CPR and life-saving interventions. Certificates were presented to key responders.
- GOVERNANCEGovernance committee advances board goals for September presentation. A governance committee report covered a board self-evaluation, mission statement discussion, committee minutes expectations, orientation for future members, and work on measurable district and board goals with quarterly updates. The board later said the 2025-2026 goals discussed at that meeting will be presented on September 8, which is also the next meeting date.
- GOVERNANCERecognition: Staff retirements (combined 128 years). The board approved recognition of multiple staff retirements and expressed appreciation for a combined 128 years of service. Several board members spoke about the retirees’ impact, including specific remarks about Karen Karns.
- GOVERNANCEOld Bridge Police Department awards recognition (officers listed) and remarks by Police Chief. The council held a special segment recognizing Old Bridge Police Department personnel with awards and certificates. A list of officers was read, and the Police Chief praised officers for courage, professionalism, compassion, and commitment, highlighting that officers step forward in dangerous situations to help others.
- GOVERNANCEOld business and new business discussion (fall athletics; fundraiser; vending machines; back-to-school wishes). In old/new business, members wished fall athletes luck, mentioned a football mattress fundraiser, raised a question about soda in vending machines after cafeteria soda removal, and offered well-wishes for students and staff for the first day of school.
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