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:
| Name | Phone # | Term Exp | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor Debra Shipps | dshipps@knowlton-nj.com | (908) 217-0836 | 12/2026 |
| Deputy Mayor Matthew Baley | mbaley@knowlton-nj.com | (908) 528-0387 | 12/2027 |
| Committeeman James Mazza | jmazza@knowlton-nj.com | (570) 396-8043 | 12/2026 |
| Committeewoman Adele Starrs | astarrs@knowlton-nj.com | (908) 619-7394 | 12/2028 |
| Committeeman Ryan Lembeck | rlembeck@knowlton-nj.com | (908) 268-7635 | 12/2028 |
Meetings: 2nd Monday of the month at 7:00 PM. 4th Monday (as needed).
Meetings
The Township Committee meets at the Knowlton Township Municipal Building on the second Monday and fourth Monday (as needed) 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.
Meeting Dates:
| Township Committee Meeting |
| January 12, 2026 |
| January 26, 2026 |
| February 9, 2026 |
| February 23, 2026 |
| March 9, 2026 |
| March 23, 2026 |
| April 13, 2026 |
| April 27, 2026 |
| May 11, 2026 |
| June 8, 2026 |
| June 22, 2026 |
| July 13, 2026 |
| July 27, 2026 |
| August 10, 2026 |
| August 24, 2026 |
| September 14, 2026 |
| September 28, 2026 |
| October 26, 2026 |
| November 9, 2026 |
| November 23, 2026 |
| December 14, 2026 |
| December 28, 2026 |
| 2nd Monday. 4th Monday (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 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.