Council Swears In Two New Police Officers, Hears Parking-Permit Plea from Carter Street Resident
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The meeting opened with a swearing-in ceremony for two new Glen Ridge police officers, Ali Ahmed and Elbert Sandoval. Officer Ahmed, a Rutgers criminal-justice graduate and 2022 graduate of the John H. Stanley Police Academy, previously served with the NJIT police department and is active in several law-enforcement affinity associations. Officer Sandoval, a 2017 graduate of the county police academy, previously worked as a field training officer with the East Orange Police Department. Both took the oath surrounded by family.
With Councilor Mans absent, another councilor moved a slate of resolutions on her behalf, including liquor license renewals for Bottle King Discount Liquors, the Glen Ridge Country Club, Fitzgerald's 1928 (Mayfield Tavern Partners) and Glen Ridge Pharmacy and Liquors; a social affairs permit for a "We've Got Friends" fundraiser supporting socialization opportunities for special-needs kids; appointment of adult school crossing guards for 2023–24; a resolution reaffirming the borough's commitment to equal, respectful and dignified treatment of all residents; a roughly $162,000 agreement with PSE&G (80% grant-funded, borough share about $34,472) to replace an air-cooled water chiller at the municipal building; and a roughly $120,000 fuel-purchase agreement with National Fuel Oil. Councilor Hughes reported the Public Safety Committee had worked with the high school to largely resolve parking congestion near Summit Street ahead of the new school year, and the council gave final adoption to the water-meter-replacement bond ordinance (No. 1785) and first reading to a capital-improvement appropriations ordinance (No. 1786).
During public comment, resident Steven Bunchrock of 148 Carter Street described a chronic on-street parking shortage for homes sharing a rear easement he called "the Batmobile driveway," and asked the council to consider a paid permit system letting a third car park on the street in hardship cases, offering to pay up to $550 a year; council members were sympathetic but made no commitment. Councilor Meyer thanked DPW and police for their work on the Memorial Day parade and the Lager Run road race (reportedly 917 five-K finishers and 138 one-mile finishers), and the Environmental Advisory Committee announced a community information session on a proposed seasonal gas-leaf-blower ban.
Councilor Lefkovits abstained on the vote approving the minutes of the May 22 meeting; all other votes that evening carried unanimously among the five councilors present.
What to watch
- Environmental Advisory Committee community session on a proposed seasonal gas-powered leaf-blower ban
- Ordinance 1786 (capital improvement appropriations) up for public hearing and final adoption
- Whether the borough considers a residential street-parking permit system for hardship cases like the one raised on Carter Street