Hello!  

As the summer winds down and the momentum for the coming fall campaign season heats up, I am sure many of you watched the Democratic National Convention, and the historical nomination of Vice President Kamala Harris for President and Governor Tim Walz for Vice President. They bring integrity and hope for our future and our democracy, and I will join you in working toward their success and all the wonderful Democratic candidates seeking office, including our own Elizabeth Graner and Adam Subervi for Bernards Township Committee.

In the past month the township committee recognized and celebrated the retirement of Deputy Chief Eric Galeta for his 25+ years of service, as well as Administrative Assistant Vivian Fentress for her 16+ years of service to our community. I had the opportunity to attend the retirement ceremony for both individuals held at town hall, which included their families, colleagues, and friends, and a final radio call from the Somerset County dispatch.

Relative to our police department, the community National Night Out, scheduled for August 6^th, was cancelled due to weather.  Some of the activities planned for that evening by Community Police Lead Tracey Baldassare and Township departments will be offered at the upcoming Mayor’s Fall Festival on Saturday, October 5, to be held at Town Hall, 1 Collyer Lane.

Lastly, as was reported in several local publications, our police department was involved in the joint investigation and arrests of five defendants in connection with home and motor vehicle burglaries.  This provides evidence of the effectiveness of our Police Department, and of the decision of our Township to invest in new technology, including the license plate readers that have been installed around our community.

The recently adopted shade tree ordinance was a topic at this past month’s Environmental and Shade Tree Commission meetings, of which I serve for both as Township Committee liaison. The ordinance provides new requirements for residents relative to tree removal. In the past property less than three acres was excluded, now all township property generally falls within the ordinance.  There have been 46 permits requested from the time the new ordinance went live in late June through August 13.  All the trees reviewed were deemed hazardous, and did not need to be replaced.  If you have any questions or concerns relative to the ordinance, you can review the guidance document and or contact Steve Anello, Civil Engineering Technician, sanello@bernards.org.

You may have seen that Basking Ridge emerged number four in Realtor.com’s top ten zip codes. Our Republican candidates posted the news stating that a hot housing market would not be possible without our consistent Republican leadership on township committee and their continued focus to hold the line on property taxes while continuing to improve our quality of life.  Differently, I spoke with two realtors who shared that the average price of housing appreciated significantly from 2020-2023, anywhere from 44-53%. While this has slowed down in 2024, inventory remains low and sellers receive multiple offers. One realtor said that the top three aspects that buyers appreciate about Basking Ridge are the schools, the parks and services, and our diversity. I found this compelling, as its in line with the concept that a community thrives when everyone feels respected and included. The emergence of our Democratic committee has influenced and brought positive impact. To that end, I encourage you to become involved as a volunteer. Simply submit a Tap the Talent form for consideration to serve on one of the township committees. I will be involved in identifying volunteers this year and hope to make a difference in the overall representation of those involved.

Lastly, as township committee liaison to the Municipal Alliance, I was invited to visit the Lindsey Meyer Teen Institute Summer Leadership Conference, which ran August 19-23.  The Lindsey Meyer Teen Institute (LMTI) is a youth leadership program mission is to guide young people to realize their leadership potential and become empowered to create positive changes in themselves, in their schools, and in their communities.  There were 14 students from Ridge high school in attendance, along with various alumni, including Joan Bannan’s daughter Samantha!  My takeaway was a conference theme that resounded throughout the week, “I am loveable and capable”, encouraging the participants to be confident and positive in their life outlook as they help others.  Ridge student participation is funded through the support of the Somerset County Youth Services Commission (SCYSC).  

As always, I want to thank those who have been attending the Township Committee Meetings. Your presence is greatly appreciated!

You can contact me on township matters at (201) 306-0178, or via email at amccarthy@bernards.org. Please note that any correspondence sent to me will be visible to the full township committee and county clerk.