MIDDLE TOWNSHIP FIRE DISTRICT #2

December 18, 2025

Meeting called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairman Robert W. Zimmerman. Mr. Zimmerman
stated that notice had been given to the Herald Newspapers, the official paper and is posted on
the bulletin board of the Middle Township Municipal Hall as required by P.L. 1975, c231, the
Sunshine Law.
Roll call was taken with commissioners Robert W. Zimmerman, Conrad J. Johnson, Jenifer D.
Sill, James G. Neill, and Jean M. Zimmerman present. Also present were Rio Grande Fire Chief
Jim Belles, Rio Grande Assistant Fire Chief John Kendrick, Rio Grande Fire Company Vice
President Larry Forsyth, Linda Forsyth, Howard Graham, and Bill Frank. Richard Braslow,
Attorney and Leon Costello, Ford Scott CPA were absent.
COMMUNICATION: none at this time
OLD BUSINESS: Robert Zimmerman commented that the state approved the 2026 Budget after
corrections were made by Accountant Leon Costello. He then read the 2026 Adopted Budget
Resolution which as introduced reflects Total Revenues of $1,064,725.00 which includes an
amount to be raised by taxation of $908,725.00 and Total Appropriations of $1,064,725.00. All
commissioners present voted aye to accept as read.
NEW BUSINESS: Jean Zimmerman handed election petitions to Robert Zimmerman and Conrad
Johnson to be returned by next meeting, January 15, 2026. Elections will be held Saturday,
February, 21, 2026 from 2-9pm. Jean asked whether we will be using the bingo hall or meeting
room. Robert Zimmerman said he would check with the trustees of the fire company for using
the bingo hall.
Jean Zimmerman had a membership application for the New Jersey State Firefighters
Association for Kenneth W. Gunter II. Motion Conrad Johnson, second Greg Neill to accept
Kenneth W. Gunter II application to the NJ State Firefighters Association. All commissioners
present voted aye to accept.
Jean Zimmerman read Bob Sweeten, Fire Apparatus Coordinator, report: November 24 th : Quint
72 right rear inner tire was replaced by STTC due to a small slice on the sidewall of the tire;
*December 18 th : Barry from Fire and Safety was here today to start the services on the three (3)
Pierce apparatus. He will not be finished until after the end of the year.
Robert Zimmerman has not heard anything from the Regulatory Office of Finance Ethics Board.

CHIEF’S REPORT: 428 fire calls; purchase order for six (6) APX 8000 All Band Portables 1.5 for
$55,000 needs to be signed to get the radios ordered; *five (5) pagers came in that had been
approved; *last two (2) sets of gear arrived and are in service bringing the total to 12 sets for
the year; *last couple of weeks we participated in numerous Christmas parades throughout the
county taking 1 st Place in West Cape May, 2 nd in Lower and 3 rd in Wildwood; *thank you
commissioners for all your support throughout the year – it was a pleasure working with all of
you; *Chief Belles will be having major surgery on January 7 th , 2026 with a recovery time of 4 to
6 weeks; he will be available by phone if needed. *regarding the radios, Robert Zimmerman
said there was still no word on the grant for the radios and that this money was allocated in this
year’s budget.
FIRE BUREAU: There has been a lot of discussions going on between the state, Mr. Braslow, MT
Fire District #1, Fire Official Doug and Robert Zimmerman. Robert and Doug Greenberg have
had several meetings. Doug has agreed to be Interim Fire Official at $1,000/week, starting on
December 22, 2025 and until appropriate approvals have been obtained for the transfer to Fire
District #1. He will be doing inspections, office work, paperwork and introducing himself to the
district while working. There are no set hours but doing what he can in the same time frame
while handling Fire Official, MT Fire District #1, duties. Conrad Johnson was concerned about
the hours for doing our work and making sure for $1,000/week, be sure some kind of number
of hours are dedicated to our district. Connie realizes it will take about 3-4 months for the
transfer. Connie wasn’t sure if there would be an Interlocal Agreement, understanding the legal
terms, something that says we aren’t handing everything over without some kind of
commitment to dedicate so much time to our work. Robert said he didn’t know how our office
worked or how the inspections were scheduled but felt as long as Doug does all the work on a
timely basis, he was okay. Doug will do #2 work from the office, state does not allow for him to
do #2 work from #1 office. Julio and Sue will continue to help until the merger and Julio will do
Saturday inspections. Once the districts are merged, the Fire Bureau Office will be closed and
everything will be ran out of Court House. Robert asked Doug about giving monthly reports.
Doug does monthly reports but does not give monthly reports to each individual district. Each
report is given to #1 for their files. If there are any problems, he will tell the chief who will then
tell the commissioners if necessary. Connie feels that we should have more of a say or more
involvement and not happy that we have to go to their meeting for information. Jen Sill thought
maybe he could email the reports. Robert then read the Resolution Appointment of Interim Fire
Official. All commissioners present voted aye to accept.
MT Fire District #1 Fire Official requested a raise because of the extra work he will doing and
Fire District #1 has found money in their budget to cover it. However, there is no extra money
to cover an extra full time inspector which Doug has requested. Robert Zimmerman questioned
Leon Costello, Accountant, if there was a way we could cover it. And there was. We would
cover the salary of the full time position for 2026 because it’s in our budget. Since our budget
has $107,000 allocated for fire official, inspectors and secretary, we can do a Change of Title
and Text, changing the position titles and putting in the amount that will be paid to Fire District

#1 for the full time inspector. We can then cover the extra inspector with our 2026 Budget for
one year and then MT Fire District #1 will reimburse us in 2027 from their 2027 Budget. Conrad
Johnson wanted to make sure that income collected for Fire District #2 will stay in Fire District
#2. Robert had Jen Sill check what was collected in the 1 st quarter of 2025 which was $3,000 and
it was not a substantial amount of money. Mr. Braslow talked with Kilmer about the jurisdiction
through a township ordinance. Kilmer said the township would have to amend the ordinance
that Fire District #1 covers Fire Districts #1,2,3,4 then that would avoid the state coming in and
monitoring and auditing Fire District #1. Robert talked with Kim Osmundsen, Township Clerk,
about rewriting the ordinance. She said it will take 2 or 3 meetings, so maybe by March, 2026 it
will be amended.
TREASURER’S REPORT: Robert W. Zimmerman read the bills, motion by resolution to pay the
bills by Greg Neill, second Jenifer Sill, of $27,311.75. Jen Sill said a CD matured on December 7 th
and was rolled into a 6 month CD at a higher interest. Motion carried.
Jean Zimmerman, Secretary