Old Bridge council adopts higher recreation fees
The new fee schedule updates ice arena, field rental, building supervision, and pavilion charges after years without changes in several categories.
Two hosts walk through the week’s edition in conversation — ordinance amending chapter 160 fees, article, approval of transportation/supplies/equipment/services items 1–2 (including, and what’s coming next. Generated by Aware, from this week’s verified summaries.
The township said the changes are meant to cover costs while keeping Old Bridge below nearby towns on several recreation charges.
Weekend field use has gotten expensive to maintain.
The Township Council held a public hearing and then adopted Ordinance H1, a rewrite of parts of Chapter 160, Article One, covering recreation fees. The changes touch ice arena rates, recreation building supervision fees, athletic field rentals, and picnic pavilion charges. The recreation director told the council some of those fees had not changed since 2022, while building-related fees had not changed since 2019. No one spoke during the public hearing before the council closed it and voted to adopt the ordinance.
The township framed the update as a cost-recovery move, not a broad reset. On ice arena fees, the recreation director said the increases were minimal and said Old Bridge would still come in below nearby towns for offerings such as public skating and figure skating lessons. He gave one comparison: East Brunswick and Howell charge 200 for a six-week session, while Old Bridge's resident rate was described as 125 and the non-resident rate as 200.
The biggest explanation centered on fields. The recreation director said schools and youth sports groups would still pay field usage fees, but the ordinance is aimed at private, for-profit teams that rent fields on weekends and come from outside the township. He pointed to heavy use at Manino Park, where Saturdays and Sundays can bring 10 games and sometimes 15 games in a day, along with trash and wear on the fields. He said the ordinance covers athletic fields broadly, including cricket fields, and noted recent park and pavilion improvements as the township updates what it charges.
Approval of Transportation/Supplies/Equipment/Services items 1–2 (including nonpublic services agreement addendum)
A legal update drove a routine board vote.
The board approved items 1 and 2 in the Transportation/Supplies/Equipment/Services section after a question about item 1, a nonpublic renewal agreement involving the Educational Services Commission. A board member asked why the agreement was back before the board.
Administration said the district had worked with the Educational Services Commission of New Jersey in August to provide nonpublic Chapter 192 and Chapter 193 services, described as extra services and special education-related services for students. A change in law required a new agreement using updated legal language, they said. Since August, an addendum was needed to correct or add language.
After that explanation, the board member said they hoped there was no impact and thanked the administrator. The board then took a roll call vote on items 1 and 2. Members present voted yes, Mr. Slade was absent, and the items carried.
Board honors retirees, staff, and student
The board approved recognition items and heard remarks for retiring principal Lori Anne Kleti, teacher Mariana Dennis, student Charvani Dra, and staff member Mark Palmary. The recognitions bundled together retirement, achievement, appreciation, and donation-related items in one presentation.
These honors show which staff and students the district is elevating as examples for families and the school community.
Council comments center on schools and noise
Council comments, the mayor's report, and public comment returned to the same local concerns: school funding, 9/11 planning, and party boat noise in Lawrence Harbor. Speakers and officials also touched on township finances, events, energy assistance, splash park operations, and TNR feedback.
Residents can track advocacy, memorial events, and neighborhood complaints that may affect taxes, services, and daily quality of life.
Council backs housing plan, delays zoning hearing
The council endorsed Old Bridge's Fourth Round affordable housing obligation and Housing Element and Fair Share Plan in a 7-1 vote while litigation continues. A related ordinance creating inclusionary housing rules in the IH3 district did not move that night; its public hearing was carried to October.
Affordable housing decisions shape future development, legal exposure, and where new homes may be built in town.
Council approves tax map revision item
The council approved item C5, which members said is needed to keep the township's revaluation process moving. A council member said the revised tax map went to the state and won approval last month after a process that stretched over three years.
Tax map revisions advance the townshipwide revaluation process, which can affect property assessments and taxes.
- Old Bridge Township Council. Residents and community representatives thanked police assistance, requested extending splash park operations into September, asked for updates on school funding advocacy and a town hall, offered feedback on the township’s TNR program ordinance, raised concerns about synthetic turf, and reported recurring late-night party boat noise in Lawrence Harbor.
What we didn’t fit in this Sundays edition
Old Bridge Township had 33 more items this week. Here are sixfour — the rest are on Aware.
- GOVERNANCEC8 — Authorization for mayor to sign TWWA (Treatment Works Approval) application for Building 8 warehouse (40 Jake Brown Road). Council approved C8 authorizing the mayor to sign a Treatment Works Approval application for Building 8, a warehouse at 40 Jake Brown Road, after the township engineer explained the application process and why council authorization was requested.
- GOVERNANCESchool board reviews start-of-year priorities, events, and student updates. The superintendent, board members, student representative, and old/new business segment all highlighted the start of the school year, district achievements, funding advocacy, 9/11 remembrance, and student activities. The discussion also included chronic absenteeism work, strategic plan goals, community events, and student adjustment to the new phone policy.
- GOVERNANCEPerformance guarantee release — Oak 18 LLC (Block 19013, Lot 345; 69-20; 50-2024P). Council held a public hearing and approved release of a performance guarantee for Oak 18 LLC’s site improvements for a new approximately 9,500 sq. ft. building on Route 18, subject to addressing outstanding escrow balances.
- GOVERNANCEOrdinance amending Chapter 5 administration/government, Article 10 Department of Public Works (5-75 Public Works Director) — first reading. Council introduced Ordinance FR1 on first reading to amend the township code provisions related to the Department of Public Works and the Public Works Director, and set the public hearing for October 6, 2026.
- GOVERNANCECouncil fills recreation committee and zoning board vacancies. Council approved appointments to fill an unexpired term on the Recreation Advisory Committee and an unexpired term on the Zoning Board of Adjustment. The recreation term runs through the end of 2026, and the zoning board term runs through the end of 2029.
- GOVERNANCEPolice department adds officers and announces promotions. The township swore in Officer Julian Santo and recognized three police promotions effective September 1, 2026. The chief also introduced four lateral-transfer officers who had been sworn in on August 25.
- GOVERNANCEBill list approval (September 15, 2026) and overtime breakdown. Council approved the bill list including accounts payable and payroll items. The finance staff provided a breakdown of police overtime for August 28 and September 11 payrolls, including deductions for grants, ETO, and accreditation beach patrol.
- GOVERNANCETownship Clerk announcements and recognition of Business Administrator Anna Felts. The Township Clerk announced Election Day details and publicly recognized Business Administrator Anna Felts for a presentation on workplace culture and leadership to the Middlesex County Municipal Clerks Association, emphasizing employee communication and municipal service.
- GOVERNANCEBoard moves through procedural items with no substantive action. Several board agenda segments were procedural only, including the Code of Ethics statement, two public comment periods with no speakers, and sections for policy, board business, goals, correspondence, and committee reports with no substantive items presented. The meeting advanced without action in those areas.
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