Council Awards Street Paving Contract, Advances Three New Ordinances
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The council awarded a paving contract to the lowest of four bidders, American Asphalt & Trucking, LLC of Newark, for $538,476.06 in base work (with supplemental bids bringing the total to $685,247.08), funded through the current fund and NJDOT and CDBG grants. Members also adopted a formal policy for administering and inspecting federally funded highway projects, required under the borough's NJDOT Transportation Alternatives Program award, and gave first reading to three ordinances: No. 1777 (appropriating capital improvement funds), No. 1778 (amending the vehicles and traffic chapter), and No. 1779 (designating stop intersections). Councilors Hughes and Lefkovits were absent for the entire meeting; all recorded votes among those present were unanimous.
The council approved tax overpayment refunds to two residents whose properties had since sold, and a social affair permit for a Studio Montclair fundraiser at the Women's Club. Chief Quinn announced a car seat installation event and a drug take-back event with Mountainside Hospital, and thanked the council for a new officer's (Perigo's) swearing-in earlier that evening.
Public comment turned pointed over the borough's relationship with the Glen Ridge Downtown Improvement Alliance (GRDIA): resident Mary Ellen Cusamano raised concerns about the borough insuring GRDIA events and about speeding on Wildwood Terrace and Ridgewood Avenue, suggesting an addition to the stop-sign ordinance, while Fran Deacon separately objected to the borough endorsing or insuring events for what she characterized as a political organization; Phil Johnson, a GRDIA member, said the group's mission was to bring people together. Other residents flagged a vacant, tree-dropping property in neighboring Bloomfield and gave updates on library pickup lockers and an upcoming town-wide yard sale.
What to watch
- Ordinances 1777, 1778, and 1779 up for final reading and adoption
- Amended resolution 111-22 (GRDIA-related) posted to the borough website amid continued resident concern over borough insurance/endorsement of GRDIA events
- 2022 street paving project to proceed under the newly awarded contract