Glen Ridge adopts borough-wide civil rights policy, finalizes CAP bank ordinance
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Mayor Patrick opened by reporting that Governor Murphy had visited the borough's train station to announce NJ Transit would not raise fares for a fifth straight year, with on-time performance running about 99.5% for trains and 90% for buses. The council then gave final adoption, after a public hearing that drew no comments, to Ordinance 1759, which allows the borough to exceed standard municipal budget appropriation limits by establishing a CAP bank, and approved a $60,000 transfer among 2021 budget line items to cover gas and electric utility costs, pulling funds from garbage/recycling, legal services, and employee health insurance accounts.
The council adopted a comprehensive resolution affirming the borough's civil rights policy, prohibiting discrimination and harassment by any official, employee, appointee, volunteer, or affiliated entity, and directing the Administrator to establish written complaint procedures, anti-retaliation protections, periodic training, and annual compliance monitoring and reporting. Ordinance 1760, designating new multi-stop intersections in the borough, was introduced on first reading. All votes at the meeting were unanimous.
The council also approved three raffle license applications for the Glen Ridge High School Home and School Association and the Ridgewood Avenue Home and School Association, and Chief Quinn announced a bicycle rodeo and safety event planned for June 4, 2022. During public comment, a resident raised questions about speeding, sign postering rules, flashing pedestrian crossing signs, and municipal chain of command, while another resident from Ridgewood Avenue raised concerns about crossing guard safety.
What to watch
- Ordinance 1760 (multi-stop intersections) due back for public hearing and final vote.
- Bicycle rodeo and safety event scheduled for June 4, 2022.
- Civil rights policy resolution requires the Administrator to establish written complaint and training procedures going forward.