Residents Pack Council Meeting Demanding Gas Leaf-Blower Ban, Short-Term Rental Ordinance Introduced

Fourteen residents and business owners, plus a Montclair resident describing that town's experience, urged the council during public comment to ban or restrict gas-powered leaf blowers, and a petition with supporting signatures was submitted. Councilor Morrow, chair of the Planning and Development Committee, thanked the Environmental Advisory Committee for its work on a forthcoming proposal.

Council gave first reading to Ordinance No. 1796, which would require a license for short-term rentals of housing, and gave final adoption to two ordinances (Nos. 1793 and 1794) appropriating NJDOT grant funds for road capital improvements. Council also gave first reading to Ordinance No. 1795, repealing and replacing the borough's designated stop-sign intersections.

Council adopted a formal Information Technology Practice Policy and Cyber Incident Response Plan under the NJ Municipal Excess Liability Joint Insurance Fund's cyber risk management program, and approved a resolution declaring 150 Ridgewood Avenue (Block 35/Lot 20), owned by The Voltarelli Organization LLC and vacant and overgrown with brush, weeds, trash and debris, a public health and safety hazard; the borough will formally notify the owner and property manager that if the property is not cleaned up within 10 days, the borough will do the work itself and place a lien on the property for the cost. Councilor Hughes reported the Public Safety Committee had added a dedicated traffic safety officer position and installed pedestrian-safety pylons on Ridgewood Avenue, and Councilor Lefkovits thanked the police department for hosting a September 11th memorial service that morning.

During public comment, a resident asked about the filming-permit exemption in the proposed short-term rental ordinance and for an update on the George Washington Field access dispute with Montclair; Administrator Zichelli provided an update on the status of the borough's field-use contract terms.

All votes that evening passed unanimously; all six councilors were present.

What to watch

• Ordinance 1795 (stop sign designations) up for public hearing and final adoption
• Ordinance 1796 (short-term rental licensing) up for second reading and public hearing
• 150 Ridgewood Avenue owner has 10 days to remediate the property before the borough acts and liens the lot
• George Washington Field access agreement with Montclair still being negotiated