JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP — The Jefferson Township Public Library will host a virtual program designed to help students and families navigate the college application process.

The program, “Create a Compelling College Application,” will take place on Tuesday, April 21 at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom. The presentation is geared toward high school juniors, sophomores, freshmen, and their parents, offering guidance on how to use the upcoming summer productively to build a strong college application.

Participants will learn about key aspects of the admissions process, including current trends, writing effective personal statements and supplemental essays, and securing strong teacher recommendations. The program will also highlight how students can position themselves to improve their chances of acceptance.

A major focus of the session will be the increasing importance of storytelling, helping students effectively communicate their experiences, personal growth, and unique perspectives through their application essays.

The presentation will be led by Ron Feuchs and Jackie Tepper, partners at Stand Out For College, LLC, a college admissions consulting firm.

A Zoom link will be provided after registration. Those interested can register through the Jefferson Township Public Library website by clicking here.

This free virtual program offers a valuable opportunity for Jefferson Township families to better understand the evolving college admissions landscape and gain practical strategies for success.

JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP — Jefferson Township Council Meeting – April 8, 2026.

Click here to download the agenda.

The meeting opened with special presentations recognizing members of the Library Board of Trustees and highlighting Autism Awareness Month. Public comment followed, with residents given the opportunity to address the governing body.

Ordinances Approved and Introduced

Council held public hearings and took action on several ordinances, including:

• Road Vacation Ordinance (#26-03):
  Approved the vacation of portions of Edgewood Road and an unnamed right-of-way, allowing adjacent property owners to assume ownership and shifting maintenance responsibility to a private party.
• Cannabis Regulations (#26-06):
  Revised local rules to:
  • Limit hours of operation to 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
  • Require outdoor gathering permits
  • Prohibit cannabis consumption areas in the township
• Budget Cap Ordinance (#26-08):
  Adopted a measure allowing the Township to exceed the standard 2% budget cap and increase appropriations by up to 3.5% for 2026, citing public health, safety, and welfare needs.

Major Development and Housing Changes Proposed

Council introduced a significant ordinance to overhaul affordable housing zoning:

• Affordable Housing Overlay Changes (#26-09):
  • Eliminates the existing overlay zone
  • Establishes multiple “Inclusionary Overlay Zones” throughout the Township
  • Requires a 20% affordable housing set-aside in qualifying developments
  • Allows mixed-use and multifamily housing in designated areas

A public hearing on this ordinance is scheduled for May 20, 2026.

Capital Spending and Infrastructure Investments

Several ordinances introduced outline millions in capital improvements, including:

• $2.08 million for municipal equipment, road improvements, parks, and public safety upgrades
• $130,000 for water system improvements
• $195,000 for sewer system upgrades
• $3.07 million bond ordinance for roads, drainage, vehicles, and infrastructure projects

Projects include roadway resurfacing, stormwater system upgrades, equipment purchases for police and DPW, and improvements to parks and municipal facilities.

Resolutions and Contracts Approved

Council approved several resolutions, including:

• Payment of bills
• Increasing the bid threshold from $44,000 to $53,000, allowing more contracts to be awarded without public bidding
• Awarding contracts for:
  • Road paving projects
  • Asphalt and crushed stone (up to $175,000)
  • Vehicle parts and equipment purchases (up to $50,000)
    
    
    Eric F. Wilsusen (R) – Mayor
• Republican Party — Term expires December 31, 2026

1. Robert “Bob” Birmingham (R) – Council President
   • Republican Party — Term expires December 31, 2028
2. Josh Kalish (R) – Council Vice President
   • Republican Party — Term expires December 31, 2026
3. Melissa Senatore (R) – Councilwoman
   • Republican Party — Term expires December 31, 2026
4. Barbie Garruto (R) – Councilwoman
   • Republican Party — Term expires December 31, 2028
5. Dan Schultz (R) – Councilman
   • Republican Party — Term expires December 31, 2028

Dear Editor:

The Jefferson Township Mayor, Administration and Council have a problem with the definition of ‘transparency’. They state on their agenda that their meetings are following Robert’s Rules of Order, but they are not. According to Robert’s Rules of Order, meeting minutes are to be approved at the next regular meeting. Yet this Administration and Council seem to pick and choose which meeting minutes will appear on an agenda and when. Why?

Our Mayor and Council President, claim that they are the most transparent Administration ever! Yet my husband and I constantly, for the past few years, keep having to ask during the Public Comment section where previous meeting minutes are and why they aren’t approved for months and sometimes even until the next year. We’ve even had new Council members have to abstain from approving minutes because the meetings took place before they took office.

At the last Council meeting on April 8, 2026, the 10/15/25 and 10/29/25 meeting minutes were finally approved. However, 10/1/25, 12/3/25, 12/17/25, 2/11/26, 2/17/26, 3/25/26 meeting minutes have NOT YET been approved. This is absolutely not the definition of being transparent!

Not approving meeting minutes in a timely, transparent manner, goes against Robert’s Rules of Order and even OUR OWN Town Code § 70-12 Minutes.

Town Code § 70-12 Minutes. “Minutes of every regular or special meeting shall be kept and shall include the names of the persons appearing and addressing the Board and of the persons appearing by attorney, the action taken by the Board, the findings, if any, made by it and reasons therefor. The minutes shall thereafter be made available for public inspection during normal business hours at the office of the Township Clerk. Any interested party shall have the right to compel production of the minutes for use as evidence in any legal proceeding concerning the subject matter of such minutes. Such interested party may be charged a fee for reproduction of the minutes for his use as provided for in the rules of the Board.”

Then there is the issue of Council Executive Session meeting minutes. By State law, once the business that was the reason for the Council to enter into Executive Session is complete, the minutes of those meetings are to be made Public. After two recent OPRA requests requesting Minutes of Executive Meetings for the years of 2023 through 2025, the responses received have resulted in being told that there are no minutes. How can this be when the agendas for the last few years clearly show the Council going into Executive Session and why they did?

To me, we have an example of malfeasance.

Donna Vander Ploeg