Woodbridge Township Council reviews rise in construction fee revenue
A 1.4 million increase in projected construction code fees prompted questions about large projects and whether last year’s revenue could be repeated.
Two hosts walk through the week’s edition in conversation — planning and development budget review (outside, tooling around town special edition, and what’s coming next. Generated by Aware, from this week’s verified summaries.
The department said scanning costs change from year to year because the records it handles must be kept indefinitely.
A year of large projects is changing the construction-code revenue picture. During its Planning and Development budget review, the Woodbridge Township Council questioned an estimate showing uniform construction code fee revenue up by 1.4 million from the prior year. The department linked the estimate to several large projects permitted in the last fiscal year. It described that year’s revenue as unusually high, giving council members a reason to examine the estimate closely.
Council members asked why the outside-services line had risen. The department said it pays to scan documents that must be kept indefinitely, and that the cost varies from year to year. The review covered planning, zoning, housing and construction code operations. Council members praised construction code staff for keeping up with changing licensing requirements, continuing education and code books. They noted that state deadlines can give the department 30 to 60 days to respond.
A question about seasonal salaries turned to internships. The department said it tries each year to offer seasonal placements, sometimes paid and sometimes unpaid for credit, though a position appeared unfilled the prior year. Council members praised staff attention to projects from the earliest stages through completion and asked that their thanks reach the full team. The Woodbridge Township Council took no vote during this discussion. The revenue estimate and document-scanning costs remained questions raised in the budget review, not spending decisions.
Tooling Around Town special edition: partnership with Habitat for Humanity and homeowner project kickoff
Home repairs are the focus of a new township partnership. In a special Tooling Around Town segment, Woodbridge Township announced it would work with Habitat for Humanity on its home preservation program. John McCormac, the mayor, introduced the partnership and a homeowner whose house was selected for the first project. He said the township wanted to get the house ready for winter and begin work on a partnership intended to last.
Habitat for Humanity’s executive director said its repair work helps people stay warm, safe and dry in homes they already own. She said Woodbridge Township had an established application process and funding for this kind of work. Habitat hopes to add volunteers and seek other funding sources as the effort continues.
The homeowner said she applied in the spring and was contacted when an opening became available. She described work on her front garden, a tree issue, an area of the basement and the front portico. A township staff member urged residents who need help to apply and said staff can assist people who cannot print an application or need copies.
Woodbridge Township Council advances an unspecified ordinance
The Woodbridge Township Council introduced an ordinance and passed it on first reading by voice vote, with no opposition indicated. The source did not identify its subject; the ordinance will be posted on the township website, and a public hearing is set for December 3, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.
Residents can check the posted ordinance before deciding whether to speak at the December 3 hearing.
Woodbridge Township Council reviews online parking permits
The Woodbridge Township Council reviewed a new train-station parking permit system intended for 2027. The system would let drivers pay online and buy quarterly permits, while controls would limit sales to account for the number of available spaces.
Quarterly online permits could change how train commuters pay, but a permit purchase must still depend on space availability.
Woodbridge Township announces parade and holiday pickups
Woodbridge Township announced a veterans parade for Sunday, with a 1:30 start and free parking in township train lots. John McCormac, the mayor, said Veterans Day would shift trash pickup to Thursday and Friday and recycling pickup to Friday and Saturday.
Residents planning to attend the parade have a parking option, and households need to adjust their pickup schedules.
Woodbridge Township Council reviews police staffing and equipment
The Woodbridge Township Council reviewed a police staffing target of 235 officers, with about 234 currently on the force. The police chief discussed replacement vehicles and body armor, newer body-worn cameras and tasers, and efforts to limit discretionary overtime; no vote occurred.
The department is close to its staffing target while continuing to budget for equipment and overtime.
What we didn’t fit in this Sundays edition
Woodbridge Township had 27 more items this week. Here are sixfour — the rest are on Aware.
- GOVERNANCEMunicipal Court Update (State Grant and Relocation/Building Project Timeline). Municipal Court leadership discussed a state grant described as about a million dollars and plans to relocate the court. The project was described as split into two phases: first the building envelope and major systems, then interior fit-out including courtrooms, with an estimated roughly two-year process.
- GOVERNANCEMayor’s Community Events and Program Announcements (Oct. 30 and upcoming dates). Mayor John McCormick delivered a public-information announcement listing upcoming Woodbridge Township events, library programs, health clinics, and performances, with dates, times, and locations. He also provided reminders about curfew rules for minors, early voting hours and location, a food collection effort at polling places, and several November community events.
- GOVERNANCECommunity Center and Utilities/Marina Budget Review (Seasonal Salaries, First Aid Supplies, and Marina Repairs/Dredging). The council reviewed Community Center budget pages and then utilities/marina pages. Discussion included a $100,000–$150,000 increase in seasonal salaries tied to aquatics and lifeguards across multiple pools, a question about first aid supplies previously budgeted at $1,000, and marina building/grounds repairs increasing from $27,000 to $103,000 for projects including dredging and dock repairs.
- GOVERNANCERecreation budget includes $200,000 sports-league appropriation. The township began its State Fiscal Year 2027 budget review with Recreation. The department’s review cited a $200,000 2026 appropriation and a higher sports-league budget line to support growing leagues and costs such as site managers.
- GOVERNANCELibrary Budget Review and Programming Updates; Library Director Retirement Announcement. Library Director Monica Eppfinger presented the library budget and programming. Council praised pop-up libraries, backpack drives, and expanded outreach. The library highlighted increased online resource use and announced a “1,000 books before kindergarten” program with a November 12 kickoff. The Business Administrator announced Eppfinger’s retirement at year-end.
- GOVERNANCEAdministration and Finance Budget Review (Security Salaries, Rent Line, Sustainability Funding, and Telecom Cost Reductions). Business Administrator Casey Wagner reviewed Administration/Finance budget sections including public building security, mayor’s office, and sustainability. Council asked about a $650,000 rent line and a sustainability line item increase to $200,000. Discussion also covered reduced telephone costs due to moving from old phone lines to VoIP and fiber, and a reduction in building security salaries.
- GOVERNANCEDepartment of Public Works Budget Review (Operations, Recycling Center Grants, Electric Vehicles, and Reuse Center). DPW Director George Brew and leadership reviewed the DPW budget. Council praised responsiveness and storm operations. Discussion covered Clean Communities grant funding for the recycling center, potential electric vehicle initiatives (including a Ford Mach-E raffle for 20 municipalities), America Recycles Day plans, foam and cardboard recycling equipment, and the Reuse Center.
- GOVERNANCEDepartment of Health Budget Review (TNR Funding, Professional Services Decrease, Senior and Mobile Health Programs). Health Director David Kolodynski presented the health budget. Council discussed adding funds for a TNR program, and asked about professional services decreases tied to reduced COVID-19-related staffing and fewer doctors. Council praised senior services, opioid/drug addiction services, animal control responsiveness, and the mobile health van.
- GOVERNANCEInformation Technology / Cybersecurity and Sewer Budget Line Questions (Credits, Maintenance, Insurance, and AI Concerns). The council reviewed IT-related budget lines within the sewer budget section and discussed cybersecurity readiness. Questions addressed a negative $73,000 entry tied to a misposted Dell contract renewal, reduced hardware maintenance costs, cyber insurance coverage through JIF/MEL, training to prevent scams, and concerns about AI “going rogue.”
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