Glen Ridge Council Awards Road Repair Contract, Moves Forward on Union Pay Raises and Street Basketball Rules
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At the October 26, 2026 meeting of the Glen Ridge Mayor & Council, members awarded a road improvement contract for the Maolis Avenue, Hamilton Road, and Spencer Road/Avenue project to Selian Sunset General Construction of Nutley, NJ, the lowest of five bidders, at a cost of $413,764.25. The award still needs sign-off from the New Jersey Department of Transportation before work can begin.
The council also introduced a new labor contract ordinance covering borough employees represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) union local 1040. The measure sets maximum salaries through 2029, with raises of 3% in 2027, 3.5% in 2028, and 3% in 2029, caps comp time at 150 hours, adds a $500 yearly stipend for crossing guards who take on extended duties outside their normal role, and requires new hires to join the Horizon NJ Direct 2035 health plan or pay extra toward premiums if they choose otherwise. A public hearing and final vote are set for November 23rd.
Two other ordinances were introduced dealing with borough streets. One would restrict basketball hoops and similar recreational equipment from public streets between November 15 and March 31; the change follows an incident in which a snowplow truck struck a basketball setup left in the road, damaging both the plow and a private vehicle. The other rewrites the borough's rules on street excavation, aiming to clarify who is responsible for repaving after utility or construction digging; a council member pointed to the rough pavement on Grove Street as an example of the kind of problem the update is meant to prevent.
In other business, the council designated Carney Bank as an official place for the borough to keep its funds, citing a favorable interest rate. Members opened the first of two required public hearings on applying for 2027 federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding, which typically brings Glen Ridge about $30,000 annually; a second hearing is scheduled for November 9, 2026. The council also approved routine payment of current bills and authorized payroll for the November 1st pay date, and approved raffle licenses for the Kiwanis Club of Glen Ridge to hold three raffles in 2026 and early 2027 benefiting scholarships and community programs.
The borough administrator reported that Glen Ridge scored 41.5 out of 55 points on the state's 2026 Municipal Best Practices Inventory, well above the 34-point minimum, which allows the borough to self-certify its own budgets rather than undergo additional state review. Councilor Lewitz said several providers have expressed interest in operating the Disney recreation program or supplying new booking software, with a public meeting planned once a specific proposal is ready. Councilor Turiano reported that public works crews have planted 35 of 50 newly delivered little-leaf linden trees, noting the trees are larger than expected and take more effort to plant. Public works also repaired a water line at 70 Essex Street, and a solar-powered radar stop sign was installed at Osborne and Essex.
Residents were also reminded of two community events: a Repair Cafe hosted by the Environmental Advisory Committee on Sunday, November 1st, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the train station, offering free fixes like knife sharpening and lamp repair; and a "pumpkin smash" composting event on November 8th at Benson Street Green, with goggles and mallets provided. The borough clerk and mayor noted that early voting, running October 24 through November 1, saw higher first-day turnout than in 2024. Police said no block parties have been approved for Halloween but extra patrols will be posted in areas with heavy foot traffic, and drivers were urged to use caution.
What to watch
- Public hearing and final adoption of the new CWA union contract ordinance, set for November 23rd.
- Second public hearing and ranking resolution for 2027 CDBG grant applications, scheduled for November 9, 2026.
- Future public meeting on a Disney program provider proposal, once one is ready.