Council Inserts Five Grant Awards Into 2022 Budget, Residents Push for Greenway Update

The council formally amended the 2022 municipal budget to insert five separate state and county grant awards as revenue and matching appropriations: a $1,335.20 Body Armor grant, a $12,720.81 Clean Communities grant, a $16,375 Essex County Municipal Alliance Committee grant, a $3,528.22 DMHAS grant, and a $9,855.11 Recycling Tonnage grant. Members also approved a budget transfer resolution shifting funds between various appropriation accounts to cover year-end needs, and a new interlocal agreement under which the borough will provide custodial services to the Glen Ridge Public Library. Approval of the November 28 meeting minutes was deferred to a later date rather than adopted that night.

Multiple residents pressed the council for updates on the long-discussed Greenway Project, with Administrator Zichelli explaining the borough is still coordinating with multiple jurisdictions to establish a single point of contact; another resident separately raised concerns about ongoing PSE&G work on Carteret Street. Robert Farina wrote in about dimly lit streets and poorly maintained gas lamps, an issue Phil Johnson also raised in person, alongside a question about whether CDBG funds could pay for crosswalk signage requested at a prior meeting.

In committee reports, Councilor Hughes said the Public Safety Committee had reviewed ongoing traffic studies, crosswalk safety surveys, and PSE&G updates, and thanked those involved in the weekend's Santa Parade, which Administrator Zichelli and Chief Quinn also praised as a success. Councilor Mans reported ongoing tree planting and graffiti removal, and Councilor Law said the field improvement committee had reviewed the year's work and begun planning 2023 improvements.

What to watch

• Greenway Project design and communication plan pending coordination among multiple jurisdictions
• Grant budget insertions (Body Armor, Clean Communities, Municipal Alliance, DMHAS, Recycling Tonnage) pending final approval from the state Division of Local Government Services
• November 28 meeting minutes still awaiting formal approval
• Borough response on gas lamp maintenance and requested crosswalk signage