Township Committee

Knowlton is organized under the township form of government with a five-member Township Committee. The Township Committee is the oldest form of municipal government in New Jersey, and it was designed to imitate the legislative bodies that first arose in New England in the colonial period. Vo ters directly choose Committee members in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one or two seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election. At an annual reorganization meeting held in January, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as mayor and another as deputy mayor for that year. At this meeting, the members further divide into subcommittees to supervise the town’s administrative activities.

The Township Committee represents the residents of Knowlton, and its primary responsibility is to develop policy and resolve issues that arise through motions, resolutions, and ordinances that reflect the needs of the public. Behind the scenes, Committee members often work to understand state and county intragovernmental policies and how they will affect Knowlton. They work to incorporate this knowledge, along with the counsel of seven separate advisory boards and committees, into policy formulation for the township.

The Township Committee is assisted regularly by the township attorney, who prepares ordinances and advises on legal issues, the township engineer, who provides professional advice on construction and engineering projects, and the township clerk, who prepares resolutions, records minutes of Township Committee meetings, and acts as the daily liaison between the public and the township.

Current Members

The current members of the Knowlton Township Committee are:

NameEMAILPhone #Term Exp
Mayor Frank Van Hornfmvanhorn@earthlink.net908-217-083612/2025
Deputy Mayor James Mazzajmazza@knowlton-nj.com570-396-804312/2026
Committeewoman Debra Shippsdshipps@knowlton-nj.com908-496-419312/2026
Committeeman Michael Batesmbates@knowlton-nj.com201-951-344312/2025
Committeeman Matthew Baleymbaley@knowlton-nj.com908-475-566412/2027

Meeting: 2nd Monday at 7pm and 4th Thursday. The Thursday’s are as needed.

Meetings

The Township Committee meets at the Knowlton Township Municipal Building on the second Monday and fourth Thursday of every month at 7:00 p.m.  The first half hour may be reserved for executive session, in which case the public will be asked to wait outside.  New Jersey’s “Sunshine” Laws require decision-making bodies to conduct business in public except in specific circumstances where exclusion of the public is needed to protect safety or the privacy of individuals.  Thus for the first half hour, the Township Committee may choose to meet in executive session to discuss topics such as contract negotiations or employee performance.  

Meetings are now held one time a month

Township Committee Meeting
January 6, 2025 Reorganization
January 13, 2025**
February 10, 2025
February 27, 2025
March 10, 2025
March 27, 2025
April 14, 2025
April 24, 2025
May 12, 2025
May 22, 2025
June 2, 2025
June 26, 2025
July 14, 2025
July 24, 2025
August 11, 2025
August 28, 2025
September 8, 2025
September 25, 2025
October 23., 2025
November 10, 2025
December 8, 2025
2nd Monday and 4th Thursday. The Thursdays are as needed**

Click for Agendas and Minutes

Please note that residents are always encouraged to attend Township Committee meetings. There is a public comment period at the end of every meeting and the Committee members welcome residents’ thoughts and opinions, no matter what the subject. It is sometimes difficult to gauge public sentiment when residents don’t speak up, so communication is essential. Every resident should recognize and exercise their right to address the Committee.