Council Adopts Cap Bank Ordinance, Accepts $500,000 Watershed Study Grant
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At its April 27 meeting, the Glen Ridge council gave final approval to an ordinance allowing the borough to exceed standard municipal budget appropriation limits and establish a "cap bank" for future flexibility, and separately adopted an ordinance clarifying stop-sign rules on Linden and Laurel and creating a new multiway stop at Washington Street and Hillside Avenue. On first reading, the council introduced an ordinance to accept and appropriate a $500,000 New Jersey Special Legislative Grant that will fund a multi-town watershed and stormwater-management analysis; council members thanked Assemblyman DeAngelo for helping secure the funding.
The council also proclaimed April 24, 2026 as Arbor Day, marking the planting of a sapling grown from the historic Salem Oak -- a more-than-500-year-old white oak that stood in Salem, NJ until it toppled in 2019 -- distributed to municipalities statewide by the state Department of Environmental Protection. Separately, the council authorized a grant application to the New Jersey Historic Trust for an ADA ramp and basement waterproofing at the municipal building's public safety entrance, a 50/50 matching grant with an award decision expected in September. Administrator Kelly and Captain Nardellis were thanked for completing the borough's roughly year-long process of renewing its Emergency Operations Plan a year ahead of schedule, work officials linked to preparations for "the big international event coming to the region" -- a reference to the 2026 World Cup.
In other business, the council approved a routine bills list including just under $172,000 from the current fund, and heard public works reports on sewer main jetting, spring tree planting, and Earth Week activities including a "bike bus" that brought roughly 100 to 200 children biking to Ridgewood Avenue School.
What to watch
- May 12, 2026 is the deadline to register to vote in person for the June election; the mail-in registration deadline is May 26, with early voting running May 26 through May 31.
- The borough expects to hear back on its New Jersey Historic Trust grant application in September 2026.
- A budget presentation is planned for the council's May 11 meeting.
Watch key moments
- 11:19 — Salem Oak