Glen Ridge locks in a full slate of 2022 professional contracts and a new fee schedule

The council worked through a long list of routine 2022 organizational business, adopting resolutions establishing a consent-agenda process, designating 2022 bank depositories, setting an 8%/18% interest rate on delinquent taxes and authorizing a 2021 tax lien sale, reaffirming Open Public Meetings Act compliance procedures, and setting official municipal office hours and newspapers. It also adopted an extensive, line-item 2022 fee schedule covering vital records, zoning and construction permits, health inspections, recreation programs, parking permits, and water and sewer rates. All votes were unanimous, with Councilor Meyer among those recorded as voting aye alongside Morrow, Hughes, Lefkovits, Mans, and Law.

The bulk of the meeting was devoted to awarding the borough's roster of 2022 professional service contracts following competitive solicitations: municipal attorney John Malyska of Meyner & Landis (not to exceed $240,000), bond counsel McManimon and Scotland ($30,000), labor counsel Apruzzese McDermott and Genova Burns ($180,000 combined), land use attorney Alan Trembulak ($20,000), planner H2M ($35,000), historic preservation consultant Connolly & Hickey ($26,000), affordable housing consultant Community Grants, Planning & Housing ($40,000), consulting municipal engineer Ferriero Engineering ($200,000), consulting utility engineer Suburban Consulting Engineers ($200,000), traffic engineer Bright View Engineering ($120,000), surveyor Michael Petry Engineering ($60,000), borough forester Rich View Consulting ($30,000), borough physician Dr. Michael Kelly/ProCare Medical ($20,000), auditor PKF O'Connor Davies ($48,000), financial advisors Laracy Associates and NW Financial Group ($150,000 each), tax appeal appraiser and added-assessment services provider Hendricks Appraisal ($80,000 and $40,000), IT security consultant Hacker Technology ($60,000), IT consultant Delatush Systems ($60,000), and web designer/software vendor Crusoe Communications/Universal Computer Solutions ($60,000).

The council also adopted a resolution enrolling the Police Department in the federal 1033 program to acquire surplus Department of Defense equipment (with armored vehicles and large marine vessels requiring separate governing-body approval), adopted a revised employee handbook, and approved a $6,620 change order for the police pistol range ventilation project — bringing its total cost to $136,420 after an existing steam line had to be relocated. Committee reports noted the Finance Committee was still working on the 2022 budget, Public Safety had reviewed 2022 capital requests, and Public Works had removed graffiti from Carteret Park.

What to watch

• 2022 municipal budget still being finalized by the Finance and Administration Committee.
• Police Department's 1033 program acquisitions subject to ongoing Public Safety Commission review.