2026-09-23 - City Council
Summary
Built from the official final minutes. No video is posted, so there is no transcript or timing. The minutes record motions, movers, votes and who spoke, but not what speakers said.
- Regular meeting in the Council Chamber, called to order at 6:34 PM and adjourned at 10:26 PM. Seven members were present at roll call; Silva arrived at 6:40 PM and Ramos at 6:52 PM, so all nine were present for most business.
- Hearing of citizens: 25 people were signed up and 19 appeared, including Alif Muhammad, Alston-Singleton, Debra Salters, El-Bomani and Nadirah Brown.
- The ban on charging tenants brokerage costs passed on final reading, 9-0.
- The Doremus Avenue lease assignment passed after a public hearing with five speakers, 9-0.
- The West Ward redevelopment plan amendment allowing two- to four-family homes passed 9-0.
- The historic designation streamlining ordinance was adopted on first reading, 9-0, with the public hearing set for October 7, 2026.
- Both Tethys affordable housing assignments, the ground-floor retail service charge reductions and the 2026 budget amendment were deferred, each 9-0.
- The animal impoundment contract was cut from $2,851,835 to $2,691,835 and adopted as amended, 9-0.
- Nine redevelopment land sales were adopted, six were deferred and four were returned to administration.
- Council motions on South Ward reverted properties, JFK pool roof repairs, a statewide eviction moratorium, the Camden Street structure, East Ward sinkholes and East Ward street sweepers all passed with only the members present voting.
- The meeting ended with only five members present (Bey, Crump, Kelly and Ramos had left).
Tenant Brokerage Fee Ban
- Ordinance 26-1291 prohibiting brokerage costs on residential tenants.
- Director Ladd and Business Administrator Pennington commented; Debra Salters and Nadirah Brown spoke at the public hearing.
- Kelly moved and Scott-Rountree seconded closing the hearing and adopting; passed 9-0.
Doremus Avenue Lease Assignment
- Ordinance 26-1280 approving the assignment of the City's tenant obligations to GPOP Doremus Ave Owner, LLC as landlord.
- Captain George of Public Safety commented. Five people spoke at the hearing: Alston-Singleton, Brown, Muhammad, El-Bomani and Salters.
- Council of the Whole closed the hearing and adopted, 9-0.
West Ward Redevelopment Plan Amendment
- Ordinance 26-1087, third amendment to the West Ward Model Neighborhood Initiative redevelopment plan, allowing two-, three- and four-family dwellings in the C-1 and C-2 districts and townhouses in C-1.
- Director Ladd commented; Alston-Singleton spoke. Kelly moved and Scott-Rountree seconded; passed 9-0.
Historic Designation Streamlining
- Ordinance 26-1023 replacing the National Register registration form with a City application form, setting a nominal fee and letting the Division of Planning and Zoning retain technical expertise.
- Adopted on first reading, 9-0.
Tethys Affordable Housing Financial Agreement Assignments
- Ordinance 26-0893 (82 units, Livingston Urban Renewal to Tethys Livingston Urban Renewal) and ordinance 26-0904 (38 units, Somerset Homes Urban Renewal to Tethys Somerset Urban Renewal).
- Pennington commented on the 82-unit ordinance. Jackson moved and Kelly seconded deferral of each; both passed 9-0.
Ground-Floor Retail Service Charge Reductions
- Ordinance 26-1138 on negotiated reductions in the annual service charge for projects with affordable ground-floor retail. Deferred by the Council of the Whole, 9-0.
2026 Municipal Budget Amendment
- Resolution 26-1317 amending the 2026 budget introduced June 3, 2026 (public hearing held July 15). Pennington commented. Deferred, 9-0, after an earlier deferral on September 15.
Animal Impoundment Contract
- Resolution 26-1322 with Associated Humane Societies, Inc. for impoundment and sheltering, originally not to exceed $2,851,835.
- Council moved and Ramos seconded an amendment to $2,691,835; passed 9-0, then adopted as amended, 9-0.
City Land Sales to Redevelopers
- Adopted (all 9-0 unless noted): Brice Holdings LLC, two two-family homes at 50 to 70 percent AMI, $105,170; Pre-appraisals Property Development LLC, a 16-unit building with 5 units at 30 percent AMI and 11 at 60 percent AMI, $83,470; 16 Highland Collective LLC, rehabilitation of a two-family home for first-time and workforce buyers, $43,160; Mind Over Matter Orientation Commission LTD, a one-family home for Section 8 voucher tenants, $70,000; South Ward Capital LLC, a mixed-use building with eight residential units, $90,742.50 (8-0, Crump abstaining); A&V Investment Group LLC, two two-family homes, $99,960; and one two-family home with an owner-occupied unit and an affordable unit, $37,725.
- A first amendment changing the entity name for the West Runyon Street sale passed 8-0 with Council abstaining.
- A subordination of the City's reverter rights for Maximum Holding Group 1, LLC passed 9-0.
- Deferred, 9-0: IBN Construction Corporation ($102,603, 13 units), 177 Scheerer Avenue LLC ($78,960), PB3 Renovations & Management LLC ($55,500), Burrowes Development Group LLC ($27,988.80), a rehabilitation sale of $71,347.84, and GT Community Development, LP ($102,000).
- Returned to administration, 9-0: Home Support Group LLC ($187,000, deferred three times earlier), GonSosa Development LLC ($220,500), Bright Night LLC ($86,530) and Crest Construction Acquisitions LLC ($125,000).
Kawaida Towers Funding
- Added starter 26-1346: resolution of support for the developer's application to the state Affordable Housing Trust Fund; total project cost $24,989,877 with no City contribution. Adopted 9-0.
Pacific Apartments Ventures Tax Credits
- Added starters 26-1358 and 26-1359: support for an NJ Aspire tax credit application and a need-for-housing determination for a project at 164-184 Pennington Street, total cost $35,471,007 with no City contribution. Both adopted 9-0.
Pequannock Water Supply Projects
- Resolution 26-1275 awarding Montana Construction Corp., Inc. a contract not to exceed $5,371,134 for emergency repair of water mains and service leaks (730 days; eight bids solicited, two received). Adopted 9-0.
South Ward Reverted Properties
- Council moved and Crump seconded a request that Economic and Housing Development list South Ward properties reverted to the City in the last three years. Passed 8-0, Ramos absent.
JFK Pool Roof Repairs
- Crump moved and Kelly seconded a request for a clear start and completion estimate for the roof repairs. Passed 8-0, Ramos absent.
Eviction Moratorium
- Jackson moved and Kelly seconded a request that state legislators enact a one-year moratorium on residential evictions. Passed 8-0, Ramos absent.
Unfinished Camden Street Structure
- Kelly moved and Scott-Rountree seconded a request that the City consider razing the partially built structure at 97-99 Camden Street. Passed 6-0 with Bey, Crump and Ramos absent.
East Ward Sinkholes
- Silva moved and Scott-Rountree seconded a request for a timeline and status report from Engineering on East Ward sinkhole repairs. Passed 5-0 with four members absent.
East Ward Street Sweepers
- Silva moved and Scott-Rountree seconded a request that Public Works ensure multiple street sweepers serve the East Ward. Passed 5-0 with four members absent.
Other business
- Grant appropriations adopted 9-0: WIC breastfeeding funding $2,000 (cumulative award $2,270,514), childhood lead exposure prevention $1,775,025, STD testing $168,851, oral health $37,500, immunization $388,000; Code Red services $113,000 passed 8-0 with Ramos abstaining. The STD grant acceptance (26-1238) also passed.
- Contracts: copier paper up to $567,000 (24 months, three bidders); heavy truck maintenance and repair raised to $2,000,000; diesel and biodiesel state contract raised by $790,000 to $1,600,000; Clearview Data Systems police software support raised by $300,000 to $361,018.79.
- Ceremonial: Adalberto Del Valle Way adopted; Bishop Frank Garris Way deferred again; fee waiver for the Better Together block party; commendations and condolence resolutions adopted; two raffle licenses approved; two mayoral board appointments deferred.
- Motions of condolence for two residents passed with Bey and Ramos absent.