With a total of 430 votes cast in Saturday’s fire district voting, Greg Kane and Nick Speciale will join returning Board of Fire Commissioners member Robert Uniszkiewicz on the board.
Mr. Uniszkiewicz picked up 165 votes in his bid for re-election to the commission; Mr. Speciale received 149, and Mr. Kane received 136. Mohammed Khashab received 95 votes, while Gary Chapman received 51 votes.
Voters overwhelmingly approved the commissioners’ $1,554,890 budget, by a 351-54 margin. Board of Fire Commissioners Chairman Ron Berju said budget provides funding for such expenses as apparatus housing, insurance, uniform fire code, administrative expenses and appropriations for the three fire companies, among other needs.
The vote maintains the fire district tax rate of $0.041 per $100 of assessed property value. The owner of a property valued at the township average of $350,000 will be assessed $143.50 for the fire district.
A second question seeking voter approval for up to $500,000 for the purchase of portable radios, mobile radios and base stations was also supported by voters, with 331 yes votes and 78 votes against the plan.
”We are switching out all of our radios, portables and mobiles,” Mr. Berju said. “We are switching to the ultra high trunk radios to use the county trunk system. The county has antennas all around, so we would have better coverage and fewer places where the firefighters couldn’t communicate.”
The equipment will be purchased sometime next year, and will not affect the tax rate.
And voters approved a question authorizing $212,500 for the purchase of a new tanker truck for Neshanic Fire Company. The measure received 322 votes in support, and 86 votes against the purchase.

