RANDOLPH, NJ - The Randolph Town Council held a Regular Township Council meeting on Thursday, July 24, 2025.
The meeting opened with a Manager’s Report given by Township Manager Gregory V. Poff II.
Poff announced 12 residents participated in the Randolph Health Department's partnership with ScreenNJ for community cancer screenings. “The partnership has enabled the Health Department to offer quality cancer screenings, conserving township funds, staff time, and resources [...] We will continue this in the years to come”.
The Department of Public Works (DPW) is conducting its annual hazardous trees survey. Nine trees have currently been identified for removal by the DPW, and 40 trees will be contracted out for removal.
The Engineering Department has recently started milling various roads across town as part of Randolph’s annual road resurfacing program - the program is anticipated to take about three weeks.
The Water and Sewer Department, starting on July 28th, will extend an existing water main line from 92 Morris Turnpike to Dover Chester Road in order to provide a “critical loop” in the water main system, which will improve water quality, reliability, and pressure.
A public hearing was then held for the approval of a soil movement permit, submitted by Randolph Mt. Freedom LLC, for Block 224, Lot 5, at 1162 Sussex Turnpike.
The project is located along the south side of Sussex Turnpike, between Brookside Road and Musiker Avenue. The area of the lot is 7.2 acres, and the area of disturbance for the project is estimated to be 1.5 acres.
Eric Keller from Bowman Consulting Group, representing the site engineers, and Nicole Magdziak from Day Pitney LLP, were present on behalf of the soil movement permit applicant.
Regarding the concern about the imported soil contaminating the wetlands behind the property, Keller clarified: “For the main part of the wetlands, there is a 150-foot transition area [...] we are not going into any of the transition area, let alone the wetland area itself.”
Keller reported the team plans to import about 2,400 cubic yards of material to the site. “All of that material that will be coming to the site will be certified clean [...] Part of the Department of Environmental Protection’s approval, there was an environmental assessment made by our wetland scientist.”
Keller stated the project has also received an approved certification from the Morris County Soil Conservation District in regard to soil erosion.
As of now, Keller estimates the timeline for the project to take about 15 months, including about 120 trucks to move the soil.
The council was then asked to approve the soil movement proposal based on the pretense that ‘the proposed soil movement would not create conditions that are harmful to the public’s health, welfare, and safety; and will not result in the creation of any pits or depressions, soil erosion, or facility problems, depressed land values; or create any drainage, sewage problems, or any other dangerous conditions’.
The soil movement permit was approved unanimously by the council.
A second reading was held for Ordinance 16-25, which will authorize the acceptance of sewer facilities constructed by, or on behalf of, BH Brightview Randolph, LLC.
Ordinance 16-25 was approved unanimously by the council.
Ordinance 17-25 was introduced, which will appropriate $55,000 from the Open Space Capital Improvement Fund for updated fencing at Randolph Lake Park.
Poff clarified that the current fence at Randolph Lake Park has been compromised by trees - the updated fence will be moved to the woodline to improve security and to be more easily monitored for trespassers by park staff.
Ordinance 17-25 was approved unanimously by the council.
Mayor Joe Hathaway closed out the public portion of the meeting by acknowledging a new internship program the township offered this summer.
Four high school and college-aged interns worked within four different departments, including the manager’s office, the health department, the court, and IT.
“To see a number of students interested in municipal government is great,” said Hathaway, “I hope this intern class of 2025 is the first of many for the township.”
The next Regular Township Council meeting will be held on Thursday, August 21 at 6PM in the Randolph Municipal Building - it will be open to the public.