Sussex meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Sussex County Ag Board approves farm improvements; county commissioners weigh $2.3M in contracts

The Sussex County Agriculture Development Board approved the acceptance of sand for a riding arena and shipping containers for agricultural storage at Amazing Grace Farms, resolving a conflict with Fredon Township. The board also approved the minutes of its June 15 meeting and agreed to move forward with a farmland preservation outreach plan.

Agriculture Development Board

The board voted 7-0 to accept the sand and containers, and 5-0 to approve the June 15 minutes. It also agreed to proceed with the Farmland Preservation Process Review outreach plan. The approval resolves a conflict with Fredon Township, according to the minutes.

Board of County Commissioners

The Board of County Commissioners met Aug. 19 with a consent agenda that included contract modifications for home-delivered and congregate meals with Catholic Family & Community Services, Newton Medical Center, and others, totaling over $300,000. The agenda also included purchases of two Gravely mini skid steers for $56,228.36, a John Deere tractor with boom mower for $171,466.52, and three Dodge Ram 5500 trucks for $73,057.45 each. Budget insertions for grants included $250,000 for Prosecutor's Insurance Fraud, $277,946 for Public Health Emergency Preparedness, and $278,260 for Social Services for the Homeless. The board also considered appointments to advisory committees and proclamations recognizing the 100th anniversaries of Northwood Engine Company 2, Andover Borough Fire Department, and Sussex Fire Department. Minutes have not yet been published.

Other recent meetings

Board of Elections – The board met Aug. 11 to consider the 2027 proposed budget, hiring Karen Houben as a part-time technician and office employee, and a poll book software update to version 7.2.9.0 at zero cost before the November general election. The agenda also included poll worker training sessions Aug. 24-26 at Montague Community Center and Aug. 31-Sep. 2 at Sandyston Municipal Building, saving $1,000, and grant applications for ballot box video surveillance and vote-by-mail equipment upgrades.

Development Review Committee – The committee reviewed eight applications on Aug. 17, including a 36-unit multifamily development (The Woods at Hamburg) at 98 NJ State Highway Route 23, Hamburg Boro/Hardyston Twp., with one affordable unit and 91 parking spaces; a redevelopment of a vacant nursing home into 120 age-restricted units (Live Well Senior Cottages) at 99 Mulford Road, Andover Twp.; a retail cannabis business (Curiosity Cannabis LLC) at 70-72 Mill Street, Newton Town; a 12-lot single-family subdivision at 73 Pequest Road, Green Twp.; and a new employee parking lot for First Hope Bank at 220 Woodport Rd., Sparta Twp. The committee may make recommendations or decisions.

Solid Waste Advisory Council – The Aug. 11 meeting was cancelled. The next meeting is scheduled for Sept. 8.

Board of Taxation – The board met Aug. 19 to approve minutes, receive the 2026 President's Report, and certify the 2026 tax rate. The agenda was procedural, with no specific decisions listed.

Coming up

• **Open Space Committee** – Aug. 27, remote meeting to discuss the Stewardship Grant Program and approve June 25 minutes.
• **Water Quality Management Policy Advisory Committee** – Sept. 3, to review a site-specific Water Quality Management Plan amendment for SMS Hamburg LLC, along with updates on St. Paul's Abbey and the Vernon WMP amendment.

Planning Board Approves Minutes, Memorializes Fredon Township Resolution

The Sussex County Planning Board took its only recorded actions of the past two weeks at its August 3 meeting, approving meeting minutes and a development review report, and memorializing a resolution for a property in Fredon Township. No other county board made final decisions during the period; two scheduled meetings were cancelled and one board met only to consider agenda items.

Planning Board Actions

The Planning Board voted 6-0 to approve the minutes from its June 1, 2026 meeting and the Development Review Committee reports from June 15, 2026. The board then memorialized Resolution #2026-05 for Jeffrey & Vivian Coulson, covering Block 1002 Lot 18 on CR 618 in Fredon Township. That resolution passed 4-1. The property is subject to county and township conditions, according to the official minutes.

Other Recent Meetings

Board of County Commissioners (July 29, 2026) – The board met in special session with two resolutions on its agenda. One resolution requested an independent investigation into the improper registration of approximately 6,600 non-citizens to vote in New Jersey and called for additional election safeguards. The other opposed several state laws (A4071/S3521, SCS for S3114/S3216/A1743, A4070/S3522, S-5036) that restrict law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The board also authorized an executive session for litigation, negotiations, and attorney-client privilege. No ordinances, contracts, or financial items were on the agenda. Minutes have not yet been published, so no votes or outcomes are available.

Development Review Committee (August 3, 2026) – This meeting was cancelled in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act. The next meeting is scheduled for August 17, 2026.

Water Quality Management Policy Advisory Committee (August 6, 2026) – This meeting was also cancelled. The next meeting is scheduled for September 3, 2026.

Coming Up

No upcoming meetings are listed for the next 14 days. Residents should check the county's official meeting calendar for any newly scheduled sessions.

Sussex County Roundup: Commissioners Weigh $1.2M in Road Contracts; Development Review Eyes 41-Lot Subdivision

Sussex County boards met over the past two weeks to weigh infrastructure contracts, residential subdivisions, and resolutions on state election and law enforcement policy. Minutes have not yet been published for any of the recent meetings, so outcomes of votes and discussions are not yet confirmed in the public record.

Board of County Commissioners

The Board of County Commissioners met July 22 to consider several infrastructure contracts. The agenda listed on-call engineering services from Greenman-Pedersen, Inc. in the amount of $489,912.00 and traffic striping and pavement markings from Denville Line Painting, Inc. for $711,481.41. The board was also scheduled to review FY2026 Trails Grant applications for 11 municipalities: Byram, Frankford, Franklin, Fredon, Green, Hopatcong, Lafayette, Stillwater, Newton, Vernon, and Wantage.

Additional items on the July 22 agenda included contracts for fire suppression and fire alarm services not to exceed $250,000.00 each, and temporary traffic control measures for gas main installation on CR 611 and sewer upgrades on CR 621.

The commissioners held a special meeting July 29 to consider two resolutions. The first called for a full investigation into the improper registration of approximately 6,600 non-citizens to vote in New Jersey and requested additional election safeguards. The second opposed state laws — identified as A4071/S3521, SCS for S3114/S3216/A1743, A4070/S3522, and S-5036 — that restrict law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The board also authorized an executive session for matters relating to litigation, negotiations, and attorney-client privilege. No ordinances, contracts, or financial items were on the special meeting agenda.

Development Review Committee

The Development Review Committee met July 20 to review five preliminary site plans and one major subdivision. The largest item was a preliminary major subdivision for 41 new residential lots in Andover Township, identified as the Tranquility Ridge proposal.

Other items included an 8,877 sq. ft. Franklin Mutual Insurance Co. office with a 60-car lot in Sparta Township; a 13,000 sq. ft. Hammer & Steel Global, LLC office/maintenance building in Lafayette Township; three solar canopy arrays at Vernon Township High School; and a diesel repair business addition with a rental unit in Sandyston Township.

Agriculture Development Board

The Agriculture Development Board met July 20 to discuss Right to Farm matters, including commercial farm certification, the SSAMP program, and a conflict resolution case involving Amazing Grace Farms. The agenda also included a farmland preservation process review under new business and an update on the Four Seasons of Agriculture program under old business. The board planned to review June 15 minutes and receive a report from Rutgers Cooperative Extension.

Open Space Committee

The Sussex County Open Space Committee meeting scheduled for July 23 was cancelled. No agenda items were considered. The committee will reconvene on August 27, 2026.

Coming Up

• **Planning Board — Aug. 3:** Routine meeting including a waiver request for 35(PSP)24-25 American Red Crescent at 402 River Styx Rd., Hopatcong Borough, in the Highlands Planning Area.
• **Development Review Committee — Aug. 3:** Cancelled. Next meeting Aug. 17.
• **Water Quality Management Policy Advisory Committee — Aug. 6:** Cancelled. Next meeting Sept. 3.

Note: All recent meetings listed above are reflected by agenda only; minutes have not yet been published. Vote tallies and final outcomes are not available in the current record.

Sussex County commissioners authorize $260,625 wheel loader; Planning Board approves Farmland Preservation Plan update

The Sussex County Board of Commissioners authorized a $260,625.14 purchase of a wheel loader for the Office of Fleet Management at its July 8 meeting, the largest of several spending approvals that included radio equipment, a treatment contract, and a grant application for a crisis-intervention program.

Board of Commissioners — July 8

The board adopted resolutions authorizing five purchases and contracts:

• Wheel loader for Fleet Management — $260,625.14 (JESCO INC.)
• Radio communication equipment for the Sheriff's Office — $94,639.60 (Atlantic Communications)
• FY27 Medication-Assisted Treatment contract for the Sheriff's Office — $145,627.00
• Grant application to the NJ Department of Law & Public Safety for SCIP — $104,097.00
• Single-axle dump body, snow plow, and salt spreader for Fleet Management — $126,000.00

Minutes for this meeting have not yet been published; the items above are drawn from the agenda.

Planning Board — July 6

The Sussex County Planning Board approved the updated Sussex County Farmland Preservation Plan by a unanimous vote. The board also approved the May 4, 2026 meeting minutes and the Development Review Committee reports, both unanimously.

The board memorialized three resolutions by unanimous vote: Resolution 2026‑102 for John & Helen Kuperus, Resolution 2026‑104 for 150 Hampton Twp., LLC, and Resolution 2026‑106 for Allgau Investments, LLC. Resolution 2026‑1010 for John & Vivian Coulson was tabled. The meeting adjourned at 4:55 p.m. by unanimous vote.

Board of Elections — July 7

The Sussex County Board of Elections met to review a post-election summary analysis and handle operational matters. The agenda included approval of minutes from the June 12, 2026 meeting and approval of invoices #2485–2487 totaling $907.50 to Gary Kraemer, Attorney at Law. Members discussed a timeline for a new machine warehouse, new back-office computers, and a poll worker training schedule for late August at Sussex County Community College. An executive session was scheduled for personnel, legal, and security matters. Minutes have not yet been published.

Board of Taxation — July 15

The Board of Taxation was scheduled to review and potentially approve 2026 municipal tax rates and correct a judgment for the Township of Montague, Block 17, Lot 7.03. The agenda also listed approval of minutes from previous meetings. Minutes have not yet been published.

Meetings cancelled

The Development Review Committee meeting scheduled for July 6 was cancelled; the next meeting is July 20. The Solid Waste Advisory Council meeting scheduled for July 14 was cancelled; the next meeting is August 11.

Coming up

• **July 20 — Development Review Committee:** Review of a 41-lot residential subdivision in Andover Twp. (Tranquility Ridge), plus site plans for a Franklin Mutual Insurance Co. office in Sparta Twp., a Hammer & Steel Global, LLC building in Lafayette Twp., solar canopy arrays at Vernon Township High School, and a diesel repair addition in Sandyston Twp.
• **July 20 — Agriculture Development Board:** Right to Farm matters including commercial farm certification, the SSAMP program, and a conflict resolution case involving Amazing Grace Farms.
• **July 22 — Board of County Commissioners:** Votes on on-call engineering services ($489,912.00), traffic striping ($711,481.41), FY2026 trail grant applications for 11 municipalities, and fire suppression contracts up to $250,000.00 each.
• **July 23 — Open Space Committee:** Meeting cancelled; next meeting August 27.

Sussex County Planning Board approves Farmland Preservation Plan update; commissioners authorize equipment purchases

The Sussex County Planning Board unanimously approved an updated Farmland Preservation Plan at its July 6 meeting, the most consequential decision among recent county government actions. Two other scheduled meetings were cancelled, and the Board of County Commissioners moved forward on several equipment and contract authorizations pending published minutes.

Planning Board — Farmland Preservation Plan Update approved

The Planning Board met July 6 and took action on several items, all by unanimous vote according to official minutes.

Decisions:

• Approved the Sussex County Farmland Preservation Plan Update (unanimous).
• Approved May 4, 2026 meeting minutes (unanimous).
• Approved Development Review Committee reports (unanimous).
• Memorialized Resolution 2026‑102 for John & Helen Kuperus (unanimous).
• Memorialized Resolution 2026‑104 for 150 Hampton Twp., LLC (unanimous).
• Memorialized Resolution 2026‑106 for Allgau Investments, LLC (unanimous).
• Tabled Resolution 2026‑1010 for John & Vivian Coulson (postponed).
• Adjourned at 4:55 p.m. (unanimous).

The farmland preservation plan update guides county policy on which agricultural lands are prioritized for preservation — a matter of direct interest to farming communities and rural landowners in Sussex County.

Board of County Commissioners — equipment and contract authorizations

At its July 8 meeting, the Board of County Commissioners adopted resolutions authorizing multiple purchases and contracts. Minutes have not yet been published, so these actions are reported from the meeting agenda and summary.

Items authorized:

• Wheel loader for the Office of Fleet Management — $260,625.14, from JESCO INC.
• Radio communication equipment for the Sheriff's Office — $94,639.60, from Atlantic Communications.
• FY27 Medication‑Assisted Treatment contract for the Sheriff's Office — $145,627.00.
• Grant application to the NJ Department of Law & Public Safety for a crisis‑intervention program (SCIP) — $104,097.00.
• Single‑axle dump body, snow plow, and salt spreader for Fleet Management — $126,000.00.

The wheel loader is the largest single purchase. The medication‑assisted treatment contract and crisis‑intervention grant relate to Sheriff's Office operations and public safety programming.

Board of Elections — agenda items, no published minutes

The Sussex County Board of Elections held a regular meeting July 7. Minutes have not been published, so the following items were listed on the agenda for discussion or action:

• Approval of minutes from the June 12, 2026 meeting.
• Approval of invoices #2485–2487 totaling $907.50 to Gary Kraemer, Attorney at Law.
• Discussion of a timeline for a new machine warehouse (county decision pending).
• Discussion of new computers for the back office.
• Discussion of a poll worker training schedule for late August at Sussex County Community College.

An executive session was scheduled for personnel, legal, and security matters. Public comment was permitted on agenda items.

Meetings cancelled

Two county meetings were cancelled in the past two weeks with no business conducted:

• Sussex County Water Quality Management Policy Advisory Committee — July 2, 2026. Next meeting scheduled August 6, 2026.
• Sussex County Development Review Committee — July 6, 2026. Next meeting scheduled July 20, 2026.

Coming up

• July 14: Sussex County Solid Waste Advisory Council — this meeting has been cancelled. The next meeting is scheduled for August 11, 2026.
• July 20: Sussex County Development Review Committee — next scheduled meeting.