The Township Council, at its meeting on Tuesday evening, May 30, introduced and passed on first hearing five new ordinances, one concerning design standards, three bond ordinances, and one adopting the redevelopment plan for the parcel at the comer of East Northfield Road and South Livingston Avenue.
Among the resolutions passed was the formal adoption of the 2023 budget.
During the Council’s conference session, councilwoman Rosy Bagolie asked township manager Barry Lewis to consider adding another code enforcement officer to the budget.
The suggestion came after a brief discussion of signs and flags posted throughout town.
“It’s about the town we want to live in,” Bagolie said.
Redevelopment Plan
An ordinance adopting a redevelopment plan for a property at the intersection of East Northfield Road and South Livingston Avenue was introduced.
The area, identified as B lock2700, Lots 50, 51 and 52 in the township tax maps, covers the areas commonly known as 531 South Livingston Avenue, 25 East Northfield Road, and 521 South Livingston Avenue, located at Northfield Center. Prior to being knocked down years ago for an approved housing complex, the site was home to the Northfield Baptist Church and other businesses, but the area has been left in disarray since those buildings were demolished. The Council authorized the preparation of a redevelopment plan for the area in November of 2022 and received it in April.
“It is exactly the same building ability that [the property owner] has today that was given to him by the Planning Board, so why are we here?” Richard Dinar, Planning Board member, said during public comment. “The only thing that the redevelopment can give him is, if the Council chooses, a tax abatement for 30 years.”
The first hearing passed in a 3-2 vote, and a second hearing is expected to follow on Monday, June 26. However, a resolution to forward the redevelopment plan to the Planning Board for review was not passed. Bagolie, who voted in favor of the plan, voted against sending it to the Planning Board.
A Planning Board review would charge Board members with the responsibility to determine whether the redevelopment plan is consistent with the township’s master plan. Both Jared Kantor, township attorney, and Lewis said a referral is not typically determined by the Council, and questioned why it was on the agenda for voting.
Kantor explained that the resolution to refer to the Planning Board came from the township’s redevelopment counsel. He suggested contacting the counsel to “get an opinion as to why he sent us that resolution, and what he believes the impact of not adopting that resolution is to the ordinance.”
Green Building
Ordinance number 14 adds provisions for “Green Building Design” into the township’s Design Standards for redevelopment. These standards include the use of energy efficient lighting, appliances, and heating and air conditioning systems; environmentally friendly landscaping; and the inclusion of EV charging stations in parking lots.
The ordinance was passed on first reading, and will be subject to a final public hearing on Monday, June 26.
Bond Ordinances
Three bond ordinances were also passed on first reading. These include authorizations of an appropriation of $2,655,000 for improvements to the township’s water utility system; of an appropriation of $4,225,000 for improvements to the sewer utility system; and an appropriation of $3,935,000 for various road improvements, with $3,389,961 in bonds or notes for financing part of that appropriation.
They will each have a second hearing on Monday, June 26.
Budget Adoption
A resolution was passed to permit the municipal budget to be read by title only, rather than in its entirety.
Township manager Lewis presented an overview of the budget, which is available on the township website.
As second, related, resolution approved the formal adoption of the budget. The 2023 budget cites $57,526,156,31 in total revenues and the municipal tax rate increase is 1.82 percent.
It maintains current levels of service and staffing levels; budgets for agreed union contracts; budgets for significantly increased pension and insurance costs; and benefits from revenue from settlement with RWJBarnabas Health and new PILOTS with a total of $2.3 million.
Other Resolutions
The Council also approved a number of other resolutions.
Among these were one concerning the method of computing the 2023 reserve for uncollected taxes. Under state law, the township is allowed, by resolution, to calculate the current year reserve for uncollected taxes by reducing the certified tax levy of the prior year by the amount of the tax levy adjustment resulting from tax appeals.
Another housekeeping resolution authorizes the township participation in the Bergen County Cooperative Pricing System for the purchase of goods and services.
Also passed was a resolution authorizing the township to enter into a contract with Bayshore Recycling, effective November 1, for the marketing of its recyclable materials.
Closed Session
During a closed executive session, the Council reportedly discussed fair share housing litigation with the Westminster Hotel, the Livingston Mall, and on South Orange Avenue.
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