A group of Ridge High School students, led by Meera Shah (2025 BTDC Civic Scholarship recipient), are connecting with young registered voters and encouraging them to vote by mail. Vote by mail (VBM) is strongly encouraged for all residents, regardless of age. It is convenient and secure! To sign up, download the application HERE.
Local voting information is available on our website.
A man of many interests, talents and achievements, David Lai-Len has focused on volunteering to help people his entire life. As a Democrat, he says he wavered only once and would have voted for a Republican — Eisenhower — but he was too young to vote!
David is a member of VFW Post 7858 in Bernardsville and served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam era. Post-Army, while living in Connecticut and working in the corporate world, his focus always included volunteer work to help others. His interests, degrees and studies in technology, law and accounting came into play as he served on zoning boards there. Later, in Berkeley Heights, N.J., he served on the board of education, and on an ad hoc computerization committee.
In 2009 David joined the Liberty Corner First Aid Squad, maintaining the rigorous emergency medical training and certification each year before he retired from corporate life in 2014. After lack of volunteers forced Liberty Corner’s closure in 2022, he joined the Long Hill First Aid Squad. Working with both squads, he has volunteered a total of 16 years of service and 22,000 duty hours.
Last month Lai-Len won the 2025 Veterans of Foreign Wars national award for his years of dedicated service as an emergency medical technician. Presenter Ken Hagemann, New Jersey’s State Jr. Vice Commander, praised David’s “extraordinary and courageous service to the community and the nation.”
Born in New York City of parents whose ancestors immigrated from China, David admires his heritage and continues to work with the Organization of Chinese Americans. He keeps abreast of other causes and institutions he supports such as the Red Cross, the American Legion, the ACLU, immigrant rights, human trafficking and Team Rubicon that provide “hands-on” disaster relief. He has volunteered at out-of-state disaster sites and doesn’t mind the heavy lifting.
Noting the critical need for dedicated volunteers to keep free fire and medical emergency squads functioning, he believes town governments should provide a good, online marketing site to recruit prospects. It would help if volunteers received real estate tax credits as they did in the past. Bernards does offer a “Length of Service Awards Program” (LOSAP) of $1,500 per year served up to retirement, he says, but it isn’t enough of a benefit to attract dedicated squad members.
“It’s easy in an affluent area to throw money at a good cause, but nearly impossible to get the same people physically engaged. It has to come from the heart,” he says. David and his wife Florence live in the Lyons area of Bernards.
July has been a fairly quiet month on the municipal government front. Noteworthy is that the Township Committee approved a new soil erosion ordinance that returns enforcement of soil erosion control regulations to the Somerset-Union soil Conservation District for projects over 5,000 square feet of land disturbance. Previously, Township staff enforced regulations for these projects. Projects less than 5,000 square feet will continue to be enforced by Engineering staff.
At our June 24th meeting, there was public comment on safety concerns over the Bernards Township Police Station Lobby not being open and staffed 24/7 in case of emergencies. As promised, the Police Subcommittee, Deputy Mayor Andrew McNally and me, have followed up. We confirmed the lobby has not been open 24/7 in at least the 25 years that Chief Tim King can recall. To staff the lobby and maintain current ratios of officers on patrol we would need to hire new officers, or without hiring, pull someone off patrol where they are needed. In the past, there was a phone outside, however servicing was unreliable, and people were using it for non-emergency reasons. Despite that, the department is looking into other potential ways to address the issue, such as a button or new type of phone.
During the July 29th Township Committee meeting, Michael Silbert, Associate from the law firm of DiFrancesco Bateman, presented a concept plan for 99 Lord Stirling Road. Real estate developer John Rocker owns the property, which was the site of the former Lord Stirling School. Mr. Silbert, representing Mr. Rocker, shared posters illustrating the existing building structures, which he characterized as dilapidated and full of offensive graffiti, and then requested that the Township Committee classify the property in need of redevelopment. He said classifying the property as such would provide a pathway for development. He also said that in light of the costs to demolish the existing structures, the area would need to be changed from R-2 or 2 acre residential to allow for more density. Mr. Silbert stated that considering the cost of demolishing the existing structures, building residential homes would not be viable, rather, the construction of multiple dwellings would be required. In addition, if this proposed plan was approved, there would be a special needs component. My understanding is that the special needs housing would not be on the property, rather there would be a separate parcel provided to accommodate four beds.
I commented that the property and any considerations for classification and/or zoning were not on the agenda. In addition, what’s being presented is that it’s either classify the property as redevelopment or it won’t be demolished. It’s not an either or, rather there are different pathways for development, including building single residences as per the R-2 zoning. Moreover, I am concerned that anchoring special needs housing to development projects is less favorable than the Township pursuing special needs housing as a stand-alone priority. There was no decision made regarding the proposed plan for 99 Lord Stirling Road at the meeting, again as the request for a change of zoning and/or to classify the area as in need of redevelopment, were not on the agenda. I anticipate there will be continued discussion on this topic at future meetings.
In the meantime, we’re having a heat wave! The temperature this week has soared to 97 degrees. As the Township Committee liaison to the utility companies, a reminder that in the event outages occur due to severe weather, customers without power are encouraged to report their outage by calling 1-888-LIGHTSS (1-888-544-4877), clicking the “Report Outage” link on www.firstenergycorp.com, or by texting "out" to 544487. Customers should immediately report downed wires to 1-888-LIGHTSS (1-888-544-4877) or call the local police department. JCP&L customers can subscribe to email and text message alerts to receive weather updates in advance of major storms and updates on scheduled or extended power outages. Visit www.firstenergycorp.com/connect to enroll. During prolonged power outages we will generally have Town Hall Open as a cooling station. In addition,all residents are encouraged to sign up for our township RAVE alerts to remain abreast of timely information in the event of emergencies.
I was happy to join other TC members at the July 17th opening of the sixth Our House group home at 399 Mount Airy Road. The township provided $200,000 for the renovations from the town’s Affordable Housing Fund, which is derived from developer contributions. The new residence will provide “forever housing” to four adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities. It was wonderful to meet staff, leadership, and board members from Our House, along with the residents who will live there. Establishing a sixth home is good progress, while we recognize there is more to do.
Save the Date! September 20th for a celebration of our Township’s 265th Anniversary at the Farmstead Arts Center. The event, “Colonial Farms, The Original Work from Home” is presented by Bernards Township, Farmstead Arts & the Basking Ridge Business Alliance; 10am-2pm. The focus will be on the original work from home and pay tribute to the contributions of local businesses both past and present. During this event, attendees are invited to bring items to be appraised by antique appraiser Jon Felz of RZM Fine Art & Antiques inside the beautifully restored English Barn. Also, inside the Barn, attendees will be able to view the premiere of a new display tracing the business and economic history of Bernards Township from colonial times until today. In addition to the events in the Barn, attendees will enjoy the Fall Members Art Exhibition in the 18th century Farm House, and take self-guided tours using the maps provided. Picnicking on the Farmstead's riverside 4-acres is highly encouraged on what is sure to be a spectacular fall day. Hoping to see you there!
Our parks have been the site of fun and talent. On July 8th we brought the pups over to Family Fun Night hosted by our township Parks and Recreation department.
Lastly, I was honored tomake a cameo appearance during the July 24th performance of Titanic with our Plays in the Park. Twenty-five years ago, this summer, Trilogy Repertory Theatre Co, of Basking Ridge, presented “Titanic, The Musical!” Trilogy was the very first theater company (anywhere in the United States), to produce “Titanic!” after its closing on Broadway in New York City. If you haven’t enjoyed a Plays in the Park production, make sure to do so in 2026. Kudos to our Trilogy Repertory Community Theater cast, crew, musicians, and our Parks and Recreation department for supporting this wonderful offering in our community.
Your Voice Matters! You can contact me with township questions/thoughts/comments at (201) 306-0178, or via email at amccarthy@bernards.org. Please note that any correspondence sent to me will be visible to the full township committee and clerk.
