Mendham Twp. starts new year with an 'affordable' surprise

By NewJerseyHills.com

MENDHAM TWP. – Township residents wishing to preserve their bucolic way of life got good news when, during the Monday, Jan. 5 reorganization meeting, Mayor Sarah Neibart announced an affordable housing agreement that in essence gives the township a pass on future development providing sewer and water facilities aren’t upgraded.

Neibart, who was again selected by the bipartisan, five-member Township Committee to serve as mayor, with Nick Monaghan returning as Deputy Mayor, made the announcement as part of the traditional mayoral address.

Like all New Jersey towns, the state for more than 50 years has mandated it provide a certain amount of affordable housing or face “builders remedy” suits from developers.

As part of its Fourth Round of affordable suite, the state said the township was obligated to build 120 units on top of the 123 already requested under the Third Round, or a total of 243 units.

But the township pushed back, arguing it simply had no infrastructure for the units. and was located in the environmentally sensitive Highlands.

The result? According to Neibart, the township was, in the final days of December, granted a “durational adjustment” obtained through a “mediation agreement” with the Fair Share Housing Center via the state’s Affordable Housing Dispute Resolution Program.

“In plain English, that means affordable housing obligations are deferred unless and until adequate water or sewer capacity ever becomes available, which is unlikely,” she said.

She called it “a meaningful and important protection for our community.

“The agreement also makes clear that the township is not opening the door to widespread development. Instead, it prioritizes existing housing and very limited, targeted opportunities,” she said.

But there are caveats.

“If a developer were to propose a project and present a realistic, feasible plan to provide public water or sewer – while complying with environmental and land-use laws – the township would be required to engage in good faith,” she said.

“However, the township retains the right to oppose any proposal that does not comply with sound planning principles or fails to provide a feasible infrastructure plan. Any disagreement would be resolved by a court, not behind closed doors.”

‘Consequential Year’

Neibart also touched on other highlights from 2025, calling the year “consequential.”

“Despite continued state-mandated increases and unfunded mandates – many of which are entirely outside our control – Mendham Township once again showed what careful, thoughtful stewardship looks like,” she said.

The township again decreased its municipal tax rate – this time nearly 5%, and switched to a solid waste/recycling utility, which residents must sign up for and is a self-sustaining business. Similar utilities are being used by other municipalities, like Chester Township.

She also looked forward to the nation’s 250th anniversary this year, noting the important role Morris County played in the American Revolution.

“There are few places in the country, and certainly few in New Jersey, more central to that story than Morris County and Mendham Township,” she said.

“Morris County was a strategic heart of the American Revolution – serving as a military hub, a supply center, and a place where decisions were made that shaped the outcome of the war,” she said.

“Mendham Township played a meaningful role in that effort, supporting troops, providing resources, and serving as part of the network of communities that made independence possible.

“That history isn’t something we just read about. It lives in our landscape, our roads, our historic homes, and our preserved open spaces. It’s why planning matters here.

“It’s why preservation matters here, and we are very lucky to have such an active Historic Preservation Committee. We take seriously our responsibility to care for this town – not just for today, but for the generations who will come after us.”

Split Votes

Neibart was selected mayor but – again – only after a split vote poised by dais members.

The reorganizaton also saw the return of Republican Committeewoman Tracey Moreen and Democrat Lauren Spirig to the dais for their second, three-year terms, after winning in November.

After they were both sworn in, Moreen nominated Neibart to again serve as mayor for the year, while Spirig nominated Committeewoman and fellow Democrat Amalia Duarte.

Now in her final year of her third-term, Duarte had never served as mayor or deputy mayor. In the end, however, Neibart was returned to the mayoral position by a vote of 3-2, with Moreen, Neibart and Nick Monaghan favoring Neibart.

When it then came time to select a deputy mayor, Neibart nominated Monaghan and Spirig again nominated Duarte.

Monaghan won that vote, again in a 3-2 split, with Duarte and Spirig voting for Duarte, and Monaghan, Neibart and Moreen voting for Monghan.

Prior to the mayoral vote, Duarte read a statement explaining why she felt she should be chosen.

“I wasn’t going to say anything but decided to make a few brief remarks because this could be my final Township Committee reorganization meeting,” she said.

“Each January, the first order of business for the Township Committee is to vote on who gets to serve in leadership positions for the year. In our form of government, the positions are traditionally rotated.

“I am the longest serving member of the Township Committee,” she read.

“I was first elected in 2017 before anyone else sitting here. And I have a long record of community service prior to that – coaching youth basketball and soccer; serving on the board of the West Morris Soccer Club and the Mendham Patriots Basketball League. Serving on the board of the Schiff Nature Preserve, which I still do; and serving on the township Recreation Commission as chairwoman and with a group starting the Patriots Race which continues; and as the vice chairwoman of the Zoning Board of Adjustment to name just a few areas of my previous community service.

“Despite my long record, I have been bypassed to serve as either mayor or deputy mayor – but I truly hope that ends tonight.

“Sarah has already served as the mayor or deputy mayor six times – Nick has served as either mayor or deputy mayor five times,” she said.

“They’ve basically held onto it like a monopoly. And that’s not very democratic – small D.”

Like other reorganizations, this year’s garnered a standing-room only crowd of first responders and residents being appointed to various committees and commissions.

They were also joined by local political glitterati including state Sen. Tony Bucco, R-Morris, who swore in Monaghan, state Assemblywoman Aura Dunn, R-Morris, who swore in Neibart, Morris County Commissioner Deb Smith, and Randolph Township Mayor Joe Hathaway, who is also a Republican candidate for the 11th Congressional District seat vacated by Democratic Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill.

Providing the evening’s invocation was Rabbi Ari Herson of Chabad of Mendham and Chester.