The Livingston Township Council held its first regular meeting of the new year on Monday, January 13. During the meeting, the first ordinances of 2025 were introduced, and several resolutions were passed.
The conference meeting began earlier, at 6 p.m., and the Council immediately went into a one-hour closed session to discuss the fourth round of Fair Share Housing. The township must submit its number for the round of housing by the end of January, which is expected to be below the state-recommended number. The number of affordable units Livingston files for is expected to be passed via resolution at the next meeting on January 27.
The conference meeting reopened to the public at about 7 p.m., and the regular meeting began a half hour later than usual, at 8 p.m.
Chinese Cultural Day
At the start of the meeting, the Livingston Chinese Association gave a presentation about Livingston Chinese Culture Day, celebrating the Lunar New Year. The event will be held on Saturday, February 1, at the Livingston High School Fitness and Wellness Center.
There aremore than 1,500 Chinese families or families with Chinese heritage in Livingston, according to LCA president Xiaoshan He and chairperson Hong Yuan. This year, however, the whole Livingston community is invited to attend the event and celebrate the Year of the Snake. Chinese Culture Day will include entertainment, activity, food, andmore.
Ordinances Introduced
Two ordinances were introduced (Continued on Page A-6) during the meeting.
The first ordinance would amend chapter 162 of the township code, which covers lead testing inspections for rental dwellings. Once it passes, a township inspector would be required to check every rental unit in Livingston for lead-based paint hazards.
The final hearing for this ordinance will be held during the Monday, January 27, meeting.
The second ordinance introduced would amend the town’s zoning map concerning conditional uses within the township code. Specifically, this ordinance would seek to permit a unit for the superintendent to live on-site above the maintenance building at ParkVue at Livingston.
The final hearing for this ordinance will be held during the Monday, February 10, meeting, giving it time for a Planning Board review.
Funding Agreement
The Council passed a resolution approving and authorizing the execution of a funding agreement with Friedman Route 10 LLC. The agreement provides for the funding of redevelopment activities on block 101, lots 3 and 4 of the township’s tax maps. The nearly four acres of property are located along Route 10 between Regent Street and Miracle Way. It was formerly the site of a Lexus dealership.
Years ago, the township engineer previously prepared and submitted a report on the age and condition of the water and sewer infrastructure in the proposed rehabilitation area, which included the property. The report noted that the infrastructure was at least 50 years old and was in need of repair or substantial maintenance, satisfying criteria in the redevelopment law for designation as an area in need of rehabilitation.
On December 16, 2019, the Council referred a copy of the designation resolution and the report to the Planning Board for review and comment pursuant to the redevelopment law. On January 7, 2020, the Planning Board reviewed the proposed designation resolution and the report and reported back to the Council that the Planning Board found that the eligibility criteria for designation of the proposed rehabilitation area was met. On January 27, 2020, the Council designated the area in need of redevelopment.
The developer, Friedman Route 10 LLC, is interested in rehabilitating the property and has agreed to fund certain township costs, including but not limited to those relating to the adoption of a redevelopment plan for the property. After approval, Friedman will put $10,000 into an escrow account to cover any interim costs. Should those funds be depleted to under $5,000, the developer will replenish them back to $10,000.
Deputy mayor Shawn Klein recused himself from this vote due to a conflict of interest. The other four Council members approved the resolution unanimously.
Technical Review Fees
The Council established technical review fees for commercial applicants, minor and major residential subdivisions, and site plan applicants for the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment.
Among these fees, applicants will be charged $185 per hour for work done by the Boards’ attorneys. 200 percent of hourly salaries will also be assessed for work done by township personnel.
Appointments
Two new members were appointed to the Planning Board. Jill Wishnew was named alternate number 1 for a two-year term ending on December 31, 2026. Vineeta Khanna was appointed alternate number 2, fulfilling an unexpired term of two years that is set to end on December 31, 2025. She is filling that term halfway through, after a Board member stepped down.
Scott Foster and Mark Jacques were appointed to the Fourth of July Committee through the end of the year.
Contracts
A $50,000 contract was awarded to McManimon, Scotland and Baumann for special counsel for I-Bank funding.
The Council awarded a $110,175 contract to Samuel Klein and Company for auditing and arbitrage compliance services.
A change order increased a contract with Christopher P. Statile by $7,500, for a total sum of $109,500. The contract is for professional engineering services related to the town’s Water Pollution Control Facility.
Other Resolutions
The Council requested a supplemental Green Acres funding request of $1,602,000. The town previously received a Green Acres grant of $4,450,000 for assistance in the acquisition and development of lands for outdoor recreation and conservation.
The township applied for an Essex County community block grant that, if approved, would fund new accessible doors at the Senior/Community Center.
The Council approved the consumption of beer and wine at the Oval in a designated area on both Summerfest on June 8 (and a rain date September 14) and the Fourth of July celebration on July 4.
Purchases were also authorized to be made under both the Morris County and Somerset County cooperative pricing systems.
The Council also approved policies and procedures for procurement cards, which allow employees to purchase business-related goods and services. The resolution was passed to allow for more purchases to be used with the card.
Dog Friendly Oval
Declaring it was “in the best interest of the Township of Livingston and its residents to expand the public areas in which residents may walk their dogs to include the walkway and park grounds surrounding the Oval,” the Council will soon approve new areas for dogs to be permitted in the area.
The exterior of the Oval will become a “dog friendly space,” while the grass on the interior of the Oval remains prohibited for dogs.
The resolution was set to pass Monday, but was pushed to the next meeting, on January 27, when the resolution will include a map of the approved areas for reference.
Public Comment
Starting this year, people will not be asked to give their addresses when making a public comment; they will just need to state if they are a resident or non-resident. This is being done to streamline Open Public Records Act requests, according to township attorney Jarrid Kantor.
Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Township Council is scheduled to be held on Monday, January 27. The conference meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m., with the regular meeting following at 7:30 p.m.
