May 28, 2026 - Livingston Township Council Meeting

Meeting Overview

The May 28th, 2026 Livingston Township Council meeting celebrated youth achievement, community arts, and civic engagement. The council honored a high school student for his municipal leadership scholarship, heard from a hometown author and inventor about an upcoming play adaptation of his children's book, and passed several bond ordinances for infrastructure improvements. A heated public discussion unfolded over the township's acquisition of the Federated Church property, with members of the Buddhist community urging the council to reconsider.

PART I: FACTUAL SUMMARY

Opening & Announcements

• Roll call: All council members were present.
• Moment of silence and Pledge of Allegiance observed.
• Meeting live-streamed on Facebook; comments accepted via email by 4pm.

Proclamations & Presentations

Jacob Glazer — Lewis Bay Future Municipal Leadership Scholarship
Jacob Glazer, a Livingston High School student, was honored as the first-ever Livingston student to win the New Jersey State League of Municipalities Lewis Bay Second Future Municipal Leadership Scholarship. In his winning essay, Jacob wrote about how embedded government is in the Livingston community — council members, the mayor, and township staff attending events, supporting students, and engaging with committees and commissions. He proposed student membership on the Environmental Commission, authored the Skip the Stuff ordinance reducing single-use plastics, and conceived the Light the Way initiative to install in-ground LED crosswalk lighting for pedestrian safety. Council presented Jacob with a citation and a scholarship check from the NJ League of Municipalities.

Barry Farber — Author, Inventor, and LHS Alum
Barry Farber, a 1977 graduate of Livingston High School, presented on his children's book The Adventures of Little Billy in Search of the Magic Tree. The book teaches five secrets to a good life through animal characters: patience and service (Lawrence the Owl), attitude (Bosco the Bear), courage (Sheba the Wolf), empathy (Rupert the Toad), and determination (Sherman the Turtle). Livingston High School students have adapted the book into an animated YouTube series (featuring NFL Hall of Famer Ottis Anderson as Sherman the Turtle and comedian Bobby Collins as Bosco the Bear), and are now transforming it into a stage play. The play will be performed Monday, June 15th at 7pm at the Livingston Auditorium (600 seats). Proceeds from book sales benefit the Tamerlane Animal Sanctuary and Preserve. Barry also shared the story of a flat pen he co-invented — now with approximately 7 million units sold — and encouraged the audience with the message that rejection is part of the path to success: "Falling isn't failing as long as you don't fail to get back up."

Gun Violence Awareness Day Proclamation
The council read a full proclamation recognizing National Gun Violence Awareness Day on June 5th and Gun Violence Awareness Month throughout June 2026. The proclamation noted that firearms are the number one cause of death for American children and adolescents since 2020, that the U.S. has 121 firearms per 100 residents (the only country with more civilian-owned firearms than people), and that New Jersey ranks fourth lowest nationally in gun deaths — a testament to common-sense legislation. Speakers from TOVA (formerly NCJW Essex, rebranding imminent) and Moms Demand Action urged residents to contact state legislators in support of the pending safe storage bill, noting that 1.5 million New Jerseyans own guns responsibly and that safe storage protects children. TOVA and Moms Demand Action thanked the council for its annual commitment to this proclamation.

Minutes Approval

• Regular and conference meeting minutes from May 11, 2026, and closed session minutes from May 11, 2026, approved unanimously.

Budget

Municipal Budget Amendment — Public Hearing Continued
The council reopened and immediately closed the public hearing on the 2026 municipal budget amendment, noting that the State of New Jersey required some changes that needed to be addressed. The amendment was introduced via Resolution 26-186, with the full public hearing and final adoption scheduled for June 8th. CFO Ann Cucci noted the amendment was necessary in part because the PFAS loan ($1 million in forgiveness, half interest-free) did not close until May, making the final numbers unavailable for the original budget. Council members praised Ann Cucci and Barry Lewis for their meticulous work on the budget process.

Ordinances

Second Reading — Passed Unanimously:

• Ordinance 14-2026: Amending Chapter 146 (Food and Beverages) — allowing ice cream trucks in town.
• Ordinance 17-2026: $8,275,000 bond for various improvements.
• Ordinance 18-2026: $3,000,000 bond for sewer utility.
• Ordinance 19-2026: $2,950,000 bond for water utility system (PFAS Phase C — FACI of wells not currently in violation; construction likely in 2027).

Introduction — Public Hearing June 8th:

• Ordinance 21-2026: Amending Chapter 29 (Traffic and Parking) — installing a stop sign at Hillside Terrace intersection based on traffic division accident data analysis. Councilman Vieira noted this reflects the township's proactive evaluation of accident history and speed data.
• Ordinance 22-2026: Establishing requirements for project labor agreements on certain public construction projects. Councilmember Vieira and Mayor Klein praised the ordinance for helping local businesses and providing hands-on training and union career pathways for high school students.

Consent Agenda

• Resolution 26-189: Award of contract to Downs Tree Service Company Inc. for trees.
• Resolution 26-190: Award of contract to Downs Tree Service Company Inc. for stream cleaning.
• Resolution 26-191: Award of contract to RIVAC Contracting Corp. for the municipal parking lot.
• Resolution 26-192: Ridge Drive NJDOT Local Aid Grant 2027.

All consent agenda items passed unanimously.

Public Comment

Jean's Follow-Up on Demonstrations Ordinance
Jean Stoloff (18 North Drive) returned to follow up on questions she had raised previously about the township's ordinances on protests and demonstrations. Town Attorney Jared Cantor reiterated his detailed response from February 9th, 2026: he had reviewed neighboring municipalities including West Orange, West Caldwell, Roseland, Florham Park, Springfield, and East Hanover. Some have explicit protest permit ordinances; others rely on general event or public safety frameworks — but constitutional law ultimately constrains all municipalities similarly, prohibiting fees for ordinary sidewalk-based expressive activity. Mayor Klein emphasized the council had gone above and beyond to address Jean's questions and expressed frustration that three years of discussion had not resolved her concerns.

Federated Church Property — Buddhist Community Public Comment
The most extensive public comment of the evening centered on the township's acquisition of the Federated Church property at the intersection of Mt. Pleasant Avenue and Livingston Avenue — one of the highest-profile corners in town. Multiple speakers from the Buddhist community urged the council to reconsider:

• Shi Zhongjian, a Buddhist monk with the American Association of Buddhist Education (AAB Temple), explained that the Buddhist community had been in discussions with the Federated Church about purchasing the property starting over a year ago. Both the church board and congregation voted to approve the sale to AAB Temple, and a contract was signed on October 21st, 2025. The township sent a letter via certified mail on December 23rd, 2025, expressing interest in using eminent domain proceedings to purchase the property. Shi Zhongjian noted the Buddhist community has responsibly maintained a former church property in Rancocas, NJ for years and intended to preserve the building, maintain the cemetery with respect, and serve the spiritual and community needs of the area.

• Jure (non-Livingston resident) argued that using government power to prevent the establishment of a Buddhist temple interrupts a lawful, good-faith religious transaction and raises constitutional concerns. He invoked Governor William Livingston — the town's namesake and a signer of the Constitution — as a defender of liberty of conscience.

• Myung An (non-resident Buddhist) spoke in support of the temple, drawing parallels to the council's own values around compassion and community reflected in the evening's proclamations.

• Greg Alvarez (Livingston resident, former Planning Board member) expressed strong support for the AAB Temple as neighbors, noting they have been excellent caretakers of their current property in Rancocas. He questioned why the township would assume the maintenance burden when a community ready to preserve the property with care already exists, calling it a potential win-win.

• Pui-Hsien Lee (Millburn resident) explained that her family and many others in the broader community rely on the temple, which currently requires a 90-minute drive. Her parents — both in their late 60s — volunteer there every Sunday.

Council Response on Federated Church:
Mayor Klein and council members were unambiguous: the interest in the property predates any knowledge of the Buddhist community's contract and has nothing to do with blocking any religious group. Mayor Klein said he had flagged the Federated Church as the township's most important acquisition target 12 years ago when he first joined the council. Councilman Vieira noted that a longtime resident first brought the property's availability to his attention in July 2024, and the township's interest was always tied to the corner's strategic significance. The township did not use eminent domain — it executed a private sale contract. Council members explicitly stated the township welcomes people of all faiths and expressed willingness to assist the Buddhist community in finding alternative locations in Livingston or neighboring communities.

Reports of Township Officials

Township Manager / Assistant Township Manager (Adam Lerner):

• Reminded residents of the electronics recycling event on Sunday, June 7th, 9am–2pm at the Community Center (accepting electronics, rechargeable batteries, fluorescent tubes, and confidential paper shredding). The event typically draws 700–800 cars.
• Announced the veteran banner application period is now closed for the current cycle; it will reopen at the end of 2027. All 76 banner spots have been filled.

Township Clerk (Carolyn Mazzucco):

• Reminded residents that the primary election is June 2nd. Early voting is open now at Turtle Back Zoo (described as taking about 30 seconds). Mail-in ballots can be returned via the drop box in back of the building through 8pm on Election Day.

CFO (Ann Cucci):

• Announced the PFAS Phase A loan closed with $1 million in loan forgiveness; half the loan is interest-free. This contributed to the budget amendment.

Township Attorney (Jared Cantor):

• Provided update on Express Auto Spa noise complaints. Councilman Vieira, Councilman Meinhart, the attorney, and the township manager met with Express Auto Spa principals and their counsel. A noise remediation framework was communicated to affected residents today. The township is committed to protecting residents' quiet enjoyment and will monitor implementation closely.

Councilman Anthony's Rundown:

• Kiwanis Carnival — good weather, fun for all ages.
• AAPI Picnic — third annual, growing tradition.
• ShopRite Grand Reopening — May 18th.
• LPS Art Exhibit — held at the high school gym this year (expanded from the community center last year); great turnout and impressive student artwork.
• Fire Inspection Dinner — annual recognition of Livingston's volunteer fire department (1,200+ annual responses); gratitude expressed for their service and financial savings to the township.
• Memorial Day Parade cancelled due to weather, but the indoor ceremony was well-received.
• Saint Mary Armenian Church 100-year anniversary celebrated.

Upcoming Events

• May 28 at 6pm: Essex County Commissioners meeting/presentation (honoring Jewish Heritage Month).
• May 31 at 3pm: Portuguese flag raising at Township Hall.
• June 2: Primary Election — early voting at Turtle Back Zoo; mail-in ballots accepted until 8pm.
• June 7 at 9am–2pm: Electronics recycling at Community Center (also accepts batteries, bulbs, paper shredding).
• June 7 at noon: Pride flag raising at Township Hall.
• June 7: Chinese Wellness Day at RWJBarnabas Ambulatory Care Center.
• June 8 at 7:30pm: Council meeting — municipal budget final adoption and public hearings on Ordinances 21-2026 and 22-2026.
• June 15 at 7pm: The Adventures of Little Billy in Search of the Magic Tree stage play at Livingston Auditorium (600 seats); proceeds to Tamerlane Animal Sanctuary.

PART II: ANALYSIS

The Good

• Jacob Glazer's scholarship win reflects well on Livingston's culture of youth civic engagement — he's not just observing government but actively shaping it through Skip the Stuff, Light the Way, and Environmental Commission proposals.
• The Barry Farber presentation was genuinely uplifting — a hometown kid turned author-inventor-inspirational-speaker returning to see his work brought to life by the next generation of LHS students. The June 15th play is a feel-good event the whole community can get behind.
• The council's unanimous, full-reading commitment to the Gun Violence Awareness proclamation — year after year — signals consistent values.
• The PFAS water remediation is at 95% completion with favorable loan terms ($1M forgiveness, half interest-free), putting Livingston well ahead of most municipalities on this issue.
• Project labor agreements on public construction (Ordinance 22-2026) is a forward-looking move that benefits local workers and students alike.
• The council's swift and clear response to the Buddhist community's concerns — explicitly welcoming all faiths and offering to help find alternative locations — was appropriate and necessary.

The Bad

• The Federated Church acquisition, while legally sound, created a painful outcome for a religious community that had negotiated a good-faith contract and was not given a meaningful opportunity to present its case before the sale was finalized. The optics of a municipality outbidding a religious buyer on a church property warrant ongoing scrutiny and transparent communication.
• Express Auto Spa noise remediation has been ongoing for multiple meetings; while a framework has now been communicated to residents, the delay in resolving a quality-of-life issue for neighboring residents is notable.
• The budget amendment process — driven by state-required changes and a late-closing PFAS loan — required a second public hearing, pushing final budget adoption to June 8th. This is a functional necessity but adds complexity.

PART III: LIVINGSTON-FIRST ASSESSMENT

Key Numbers

• $8,275,000: Bond ordinance for various improvements (Ordinance 17-2026).
• $3,000,000: Bond ordinance for sewer utility (Ordinance 18-2026).
• $2,950,000: Bond ordinance for water utility — PFAS Phase C, likely 2027 construction (Ordinance 19-2026).
• $1,000,000: PFAS loan forgiveness received on Phase A.
• 76: Veteran banners currently flying (period closed; reopens end of 2027).
• 95%: Water remediation completion.
• 90 minutes: One way for Millburn-area Buddhist congregants to drive to the nearest temple — illustrating the community need the AAB Temple would have served.
• 600: Seats at the Livingston Auditorium for the June 15th play.
• 7 million: Flat pens sold co-invented by Barry Farber.

Bottom Line

The May 28th meeting had something for everyone — young civic leaders, creative alumni, infrastructure investment, and a reminder that governance sometimes creates difficult tradeoffs. Jacob Glazer and Barry Farber both illustrated what makes Livingston special: people who engage, create, and give back. The bond ordinances represent significant but responsible infrastructure spending (with excellent PFAS loan terms). The Express Auto Spa situation is inching toward resolution after multiple meetings. And the Federated Church discussion was a genuine test of the council's stated values around welcome and diversity — the response was good, but the underlying outcome for the Buddhist community was painful. Residents are encouraged to attend the June 8th meeting for budget final adoption and to mark June 7th for electronics recycling and the pride flag raising.

This summary was generated from an audio transcription of the May 28th, 2026 Township Council meeting. All statements are direct quotes or close paraphrases of public meeting records.