Council Adopts School Drop-Off Zone Ordinance Over Resident's Objection
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Glen Ridge's Mayor and Council gave final approval on August 8, 2022 to Ordinance 1766, creating a designated school drop-off and no-parking zone with time-limited parking, despite objections raised earlier in the meeting by resident Mary Ellen Cusumano of 297 Ridgewood Avenue. Cusumano read a letter asking the council to instead use the high school parking lot for student drop-off. No one spoke against the ordinance during its formal public hearing, and it passed unanimously among the four council members present.
The vote to approve the borough's July 11, 2022 meeting minutes was not unanimous: Councilors Morrow and Meyer abstained, while Councilors Law and Lefkovits voted aye. Councilors Hughes and Mans were absent for the entire meeting.
The council approved two unrelated tax and utility refunds totaling $4,852.23: $4,761.90 payable to Evident Title Agency, which had mistakenly sent the borough a duplicate property-tax payment on a Hawthorne Avenue property, and $90.33 to former resident Clair McMahon, now living in Utah, for a 2021 water-utility overpayment tied to a home sale. The council also appointed 19 adult school crossing guards for the 2022-23 school year and authorized the purchase of rapid-flashing pedestrian crossing beacons from Garden State Highway Products for $23,677.55.
Resident Randy Coyle questioned a resolution adding the Glen Ridge Diversity & Inclusion Association to the borough's insurance policy ahead of a September event; the resolution passed unanimously regardless. Coyle also presented a petition from High Street neighbors requesting speed bumps, and two other High Street residents, Jason Springer and Todd Russell, spoke about ongoing speeding and past accidents on the street. Administrator Michael Zichelli said High Street paving, expected to go out to bid in September, will include one speed bump. Lieutenant Faranda thanked everyone who participated in National Night Out.
What to watch
- High Street paving and its planned speed bump, expected to go out to bid in September
- A proposed amendment to the borough's cannabis ordinance requested by residents to allow a cannabis micro-business
Watch key moments
- 0:59 — Mary Ellen Cusumano