Berkeley Heights Township Council Meeting Recap: Honoring Heroes and Planning for the Future

BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NJ - At Tuesday’s Berkeley Heights Township Council meeting, Mayor Angie Devanney opened with a moving Purple Heart Proclamation , paying tribute to the bravery and sacrifices of Purple Heart recipients. In addition to honoring military heroes, the council addressed significant township updates, including a new appointment for Township Clerk, progress on the Nokia property redevelopment plan, and exciting upcoming community events such as Trunk or Treat and Winter Walk.

Mayor Devanney issued a heartfelt Purple Heart Proclamation . The proclamation honored the history and significance of the Purple Heart , the nation’s oldest military decoration still in use. Originally established by General George Washington in 1782 as the Badge of Military Merit , the Purple Heart was the first award made available to the common soldier. It is now awarded to members of the U.S. military who have been wounded or killed in combat against a declared enemy of the United States.

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The proclamation emphasized Berkeley Heights’ deep appreciation for the sacrifices made by Purple Heart recipients. The township expressed its gratitude to those who have given their lives or suffered injuries defending the nation’s freedom. Mayor Devanney reminded all in attendance of the importance of honoring these heroes and ensuring that their sacrifices are never forgotten.

Ana Minkoff is retiring

During Tuesday’s meeting, Resolution 2 was introduced, appointing Angela Lazzari as the new Township Clerk, effective December 2, 2024 . Mayor Angie Devanney also announced the retirement of current and longtime Township Clerk Ana Minkoff , expressing heartfelt sentiments about Minkoff’s departure. “It’s heartbreaking,” Devanney said, adding that a special meeting will likely be held on November 18 to celebrate and honor Minkoff's contributions to the township.

Lazzari, who previously served as Berkeley Heights' Deputy Clerk before taking on roles as Township Clerk and Business Administrator in Kenilworth, is highly regarded for her qualifications. Devanney praised Lazzari’s experience and professionalism, stating, “She’s coming with a broader range of experience... While we’re losing Ana and really big shoes to fill, we have someone we all feel comfortable with. It’s an important position... [Lazzari] is competent, creative, hardworking, and incredibly professional.”

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The council unanimously approved Lazzari’s appointment, with no further discussion.

Funds for Nokia Property Redevelopment Plan

Resolution nine authorizes the mayor and clerk to sign a memorandum of understanding with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to provide the township with $50,000 to be used to create a strategic development plan for the Nokia Lucent Bell Labs property.

Bid Awarded for Wastewater Treatment Plant Project

Resolution 14 was proposed to award a bid to Sovereign Consulting Inc. for a wastewater treatment plant project, with a budget cap of $986,500. The bid is for the provision of Micro C and Magnesium Hydroxide Chemical Feed Systems for the plant.

The resolution was approved without discussion.

Pending County Park Project Shown to Planning Board

Union County presented their plan to the Berkeley Heights Planning Board on Sep 18 for the Springfield Avenue Park. The work will commence in the spring of 2025. The presentation was a courtesy only, and the Planning Board did not have the ability to vote on anything. For more details, read here.

Other Township News

• Phase two of the 2024 Road Paving Program will begin this fall. A full list of roads to be paved will be published soon on the township's website .
• The popular Trunk or Treat event is set for Saturday, October 26, in the town hall parking lot. Event details can be found on the township's website, social media channels, and the Berkeley Heights Police Department’s social media.
• Winter Walk is scheduled for Saturday, December 7, with this year’s tree lighting ceremony taking place at Memorial Park.
• The township has officially received notification of a $250,000 grant from the state for the lower Columbia Field improvement project. Further discussions with the Board of Education will continue regarding the project.
• The Historic Preservation Committee announced that the Littel-Lord Fall Festival will be held on Saturday, October 19, from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. In the event of rain, the festival will be rescheduled for Sunday, October 20.

Hispanic Heritage Month

Prior to the council meeting, a flag raising ceremony was held in front of town hall to commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month. Hispanic Heritage Month is observed from September 15 to October 15 each year. This time period was chosen because it includes Independence Day celebrations from many different Hispanic countries, such as Belize, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua. Hispanic refers to people who speak Spanish or have ancestry from the Spanish-speaking country. Latino refers to people who are from Latin American countries. Read about the flag raising ceremony here.

Watch the entire meeting here.

The next scheduled Berkeley Heights Township Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, Oct 8, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. at Town Hall.

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