Official Site of The State of New Jersey

Council gains representatives from Warren, Somerset, Morris

CHESTER, N.J. — At the December 18 and December 22, 2025 sessions of the State Senate, four new members of the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council were approved. The new members are: Joseph Basralian, Special Project Manager, New Jersey Conservation Foundation (NJCF); Tammy Koop, Council Member, Town of Belvidere; Melonie Marano, Commissioner Deputy Director, Somerset County; and Matthew Oswald, Council Member, Riverdale Borough.

“We are delighted to have these nominees confirmed and look forward to them all joining the Council in January,” said Carl Richko, Highlands Council Chairman. “Our sincere thanks to Governor Murphy and the legislature for taking these actions.” 

The Highlands Act sets specific requirements for Highlands Council membership. The 15 members must include eight elected officials – 5 municipal and 3 county – and seven public members. Among the elected officials, there must be one representative from each of the seven counties in the Highlands region and two from the most populus county, which is Morris. These four new members were appointed by Governor Murphy to fill two municipal and one county elected official seats and one public member seat. 

• Joseph Basralian of Chatham Township is filling a public member vacancy on the Highlands Council. Prior to his role with NJCF, Mr. Basralian held positions with Farmstead Capital Management, the Nature Conservancy, and the New Jersey Audubon. 
• Tammy Koop of Belvidere is filling a municipal elected official vacancy on the Highlands Council, becoming the representative for Warren County. As a member of the Belvidere Town Council, Ms. Koop serves as liaison to the Recreation and Education committees. She is also the Chair of the town’s Environmental Commission, Vice President of the Heritage/Victorian Day Committee, and a member of the Shade Tree Commission. 
• Melonie Marano of Green Brook is filling a county elected official vacancy on the Highlands Council, becoming the representative for Somerset County. In addition to her role as a Deputy Director Commissioner of Somerset County, Ms. Marano is also Vice President of Business Development at Universal Vending Management. She is a former Council Member and Mayor of Green Brook Township and serves on the Green Brook Flood Control Commission, Environmental Commission, and Green Team Advisory Committee.
• Matthew Oswald of Riverdale is filling a municipal elected official vacancy on the Highlands Council, becoming one of two representatives for Morris County. In addition to his role on the Borough of Riverdale Council, Mr. Oswald is a Union Electrician, Instructor and Vice President of IBEW Local 102. He also serves as liaison to the Sustainable Riverdale Green Team, is a member of the Shade Tree Commission, and Chairperson of the Utilities Committee.

“Having elected official representation from each of the seven counties that have lands in the Highlands region is extremely important,” explained Ben Spinelli, Highlands Council Executive Director. “While most New Jersey residents benefit from the resources of the Highlands and enjoy visiting the region for all it has to offer, the work of protecting the region occurs largely at the municipal and county levels. We’re particularly pleased to finally have a representative from Warren County which has been missing on the Council for several years.”

New Highlands Council members are expected to be sworn in at the next Highlands Council public meeting scheduled for Thursday, January 15, 2026. Additional nominations are pending. Information about Council makeup and current status is available on the Highlands Council website.

The New Jersey Highlands region is a scenic and diverse area, encompassing 88 municipalities in parts of seven counties in northern New Jersey. More than 70% of New Jersey residents get some or all of their drinking water from the Highlands, including 8 out of every 10 people living in a designated Overburdened Community. The Highlands Council is a regional planning agency established in 2004 with the passage of the New Jersey Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act and charged with protection of the region. More information is available at www.nj.gov/njhighlands.