Fire districts, rescue squads and the emergency radio replacement

The agenda listed hearings on the Block 520 Lot 17 quitclaim deed and the ordinance ending elected officials' eligibility for township health benefits; the township's resolutions record both adopted, 5-0. Its resolutions also record the introduction, 5-0, of the floodplain ordinance, the $65,600 Block 519 Lot 28 purchase and an amendment to the Greymark redevelopment plan, all set for hearing Nov. 5, and awards for the Country Club Road paving ($793,837.90) and more emergency radio equipment. LocalWhy has not yet reviewed minutes of this meeting.

The Council awarded the emergency radio equipment contract to Motorola Solutions, up to $2,950,000, and introduced an ordinance adding streets to the snow emergency no-parking list, all 5-0. It also approved a backhoe purchase, The Clubhouse liquor license transfer, the KM Construction final change order and a one-year extension of the police chief's contract. Ring said his ordinance ending elected officials' health benefits was drafted for October 1.

With Isla absent, the Council adopted the fire hydrant snow-clearing ordinance #26-13, 4-0, and introduced the omnibus Master Plan ordinance, 4-0, with its data center language removed for later review. A listed repeal of the 1200 Route 22 redevelopment plan was taken off the agenda. Twelve residents spoke, most on data centers. The police chief reported a Bogart Drive speed study, and Visions and Pathways presented Bridge House.

The Council certified the 2025 audit and its corrective action plan and introduced an ordinance requiring owners to clear snow around fire hydrants, all 5-0. Fifteen people spoke, many about a possible data center at the Greymark property; the attorney said there is no active site plan application. Ring proposed ending health benefits for elected officials, and Youth Council members proposed a voting age of 17 for local elections.

The Council adopted three bond ordinances, each 5-0: #26-10, $4,205,000 for the emergency radio system; #26-11, $1,900,000 for road improvements; and #26-12, $2,500,000 for drainage. It awarded $133,505.50 for the Philip and David Miller Park basketball courts. The Mayor reported the 2025 audit complete with one recommendation. Residents raised a possible data center at the Greymark property and the Melick farm stand.

The Council introduced three bond ordinances for July 9 hearings: $4,205,000 for the county-mandated emergency radio system (5-0), $1,900,000 for road improvements (5-0) and $2,500,000 for drainage (4-1, Kirsh voting no). It adopted the Starbucks traffic ordinance #26-09, renewed 2026–2027 liquor licenses and ratified the Superior Officers' Association contract for 2026–2030.

The Council introduced the 2026 municipal budget, 5-0: a Current Fund of $54,903,722.86 and a Sewer Fund of $13,924,398.82, with the municipal rate proposed to rise from 0.2440 to 0.2448. It also introduced the cap-bank and revised multifamily snow ordinances and awarded the $2,946,000 Middle Brook pump station contract. Residents raised speeding on Vosseller Avenue and Allen Road.

The Council approved a NJ Water Bank financing note of up to $4,100,000 for the Middlebrook pump station and an amended school resource officer agreement, 5-0, and split 3-1-1 on Municipal Alliance appointments. The multifamily snow-clearing ordinance was tabled again for revisions. Isla raised the accuracy of the Planning Board agenda for the Greymark subdivision; the Finance Committee reported on the budget.

The Council adopted the four Fourth Round affordable housing ordinances, #26-01 to #26-04, each 5-0, ahead of the March 15 deadline, and the housing trust fund spending plan and manuals. It added $350,000 for snow removal (season total up to $560,000) and tabled a multifamily snow-clearing ordinance. Residents asked about immigration enforcement and an emergency-response cost bill.

The Council introduced four Fourth Round affordable housing ordinances, 5-0, for a March 5 hearing, and approved 5-0 the professional appointments that had failed on February 5. It also named an Acting CFO and approved the Middlebrook pump station engineering contract, the first step toward a grant-funded Garretson Road sidewalk and the County recycling agreement.

A consent motion on eight professional-appointment resolutions failed 2-3 (Kirsh and Ring for; Bucko, Isla and Geiger against) and was carried to the next meeting. The Council backed Hudson Tunnel funding, approved the 2025 LOSAP list and a $75,000 grant application for Alfred E. Brown Park tennis courts, all 5-0, and tabled the County recycling agreement. Residents raised the Rockland APV battery application and school crosswalk safety.

The Council filled Board of Adjustment seats in a series of split votes, adopted a temporary 2026 budget of $21,736,006.64 (amended up from $20,160,000), 5-0, and approved the township's auditor, risk managers, affordable housing agent and liaison posts. Health Commission appointments were tabled after the Mayor raised a point of order.

In the outgoing Council's last meeting, with Councilman Pedroso absent, the Council adopted Ordinance 25-24, replacing the AH-3 zone at Cornell Boulevard, 4-0, after 17 people spoke at the hearing, and the $4.1 million Middle Brook sewer bond (#25-13), 4-0. It also adopted the BRCC and C-1 zone changes, certified the 2024 audit, approved 2026 employee health insurance, the 2024–2027 police contract and Sarah Housman as Director of Finance, and rejected a special tax counsel agreement, 2-2.

Meeting a day early by township notice, with Councilman Ring absent, the Council introduced Ordinance 25-24, replacing the AH-3 zone at Cornell Boulevard, 3-1 (Pedroso nay), after a Somerville resident and Council-elect Joan Geiger asked that it wait for the new Council. It adopted the massage, health-fee and towing ordinances (#25-21 and #25-22, 3-1; #25-23, 4-0), held the hearing on the $4.1 million Middle Brook sewer bond and carried its vote to December 17, and introduced the BRCC and C-1 zone ordinances.