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[1:52] » Black.
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[2:07] » 30 seconds.
[2:26] » [snorts]
[2:37] » Good mayor.
Thank you.
[2:39] Good evening and welcome everybody to
the August 17th, 2026 council meeting
[2:44] for the Township of Cedar Grove. Madam
Clerk, can you call the roll?
[2:48] » Yes, sir. Councilwoman Meega?
>> Here.
[2:51] » Councilwoman Peterson?
>> Here.
[2:53] » Councilwoman Skabich?
Absent. Deputy Mayor Zisaali?
[2:57] » Here.
>> Mayor Misseri?
[2:58] » Here.
>> Please stand for the flag.
[3:02] » I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the
[3:07] republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and
[3:12] justice for all.
[3:18] » Adequate notice of this meeting was duly
provided to the Verona Cedar Grove Times
[3:22] and the Star-Ledger by email and
published in the annual schedule of
[3:25] meetings on December 18th, 2025,
filed with the Township Clerk and posted
[3:30] in the public bulletin board in the
municipal building lobby in accordance
[3:34] with the Open Public Meetings Act.
[3:40] Going to item two on the agenda, we're
going to open this portion of the
[3:44] meeting to the public on any item on the
agenda. If anybody wants to speak on
[3:49] that, please come up.
Seeing none, we'll close that portion of
[3:53] the meeting.
Item 3A, to consider introduction of
[3:57] pending ordinance 26-978,
stormwater control ordinance.
[4:05] Mr. Kelly? Is there anything on this
>> Yes, Mr. Mayor, thank you. Uh by Mayor,
[4:09] through you, this is an introduction of
an ordinance amending our code as it
[4:13] relates to stormwater management and
stormwater controls.
[4:16] The January 2026 NJDEP stormwater rules
require municipalities update their
[4:22] local stormwater control ordinance to
comply with the new state standards.
[4:26] Some key changes include one, updated
stormwater design runoff, groundwater
[4:30] recharge calculations, and water quality
requirements. Two, expanded requirements
[4:35] for redevelopment and motor vehicle
surfaces.
[4:38] Three, climate change and flood resist
flood resilience considerations. And
[4:42] four, updated NJDEP standards and best
management practices.
[4:46] Uh this is not something that the
township is initiating on its own
[4:49] accord. This is a requirement by the
NJDEP who noted that municipalities must
[4:54] come into compliance by January 20th,
2027.
[4:58] This also requires a county review and
NJDEP approval before it becomes
[5:02] effective. And as I stated, this is a
state mandated update, not simply a
[5:07] local policy change. And we [snorts]
will be in compliance once the DEP
[5:11] certifies any comments and the governing
body adopts the new measures.
[5:16] Okay.
Any further discussion or questions?
[5:20] All right, can I get a motion for
introduction?
[5:23] » Mayor, I move for the introduction of
pending ordinance number 26-978
[5:28] to be published on the township's
official internet website as a pending
[5:31] ordinance with a public hearing
scheduled for September 14th, 2026.
[5:35] » Thank you. Is there a second?
>> Second.
[5:38] » Roll call.
>> Councilwoman Amiega?
[5:40] » Yes.
>> Councilwoman Peterson?
[5:42] » Yes.
>> Deputy Mayor Gizzi?
[5:44] » Yes.
>> Mayor Missar?
[5:45] » Yes.
Item four, 4A, to consider adoption of
[5:50] pending capital ordinance 26-975,
capital ordinance
[5:56] providing funding for Taylor's Brook
riverbank stabilization for the Township
[6:00] of Cedar Grove and appropriating
$300,000 for such purpose.
[6:07] Mr. Kelly?
>> Uh thank you, Mayor. As I indicated at
[6:10] our last meeting, this is taking
$300,000 from our capital improvement
[6:14] fund, which at the end of the year had
over a million dollars in it uh to fund
[6:18] the emergency uh bank stabilization
repair on Taylor's Brook next to the
[6:22] driveway into Town Hall off of Bowden
Road.
[6:25] Uh this is coming from the capital
improvement fund. There's no debt being
[6:29] cast as a result of this. In essence,
we're paying for it in cash. This is not
[6:32] going to have any impact on our tax
rate, on the average residential
[6:36] assessment, the 2026 budget, or our
available fund balance.
[6:41] » Great.
[6:44] Any questions or discussion?
[6:48] Okay, is there a motion?
>> Mayor, you have to
[6:50] » Oh, I'm sorry. I have to open this to
the public. Anybody from the public want
[6:54] to be heard on this uh ordinance?
Seeing none, I'll close that portion of
[7:01] the meeting. Is there a motion?
>> I move for the adoption of the pending
[7:05] capital ordinance 26-975
to be published on the Township's
[7:09] official internet website
as a passed capital ordinance and take
[7:13] effect as prescribed by law.
>> Is there a second?
[7:18] » Second.
>> [snorts]
[7:20] » Roll call.
>> Councilwoman Meka?
[7:22] » Yes.
>> Councilwoman Peterson?
[7:24] » Yes.
>> Deputy Mayor Ziccardi?
[7:25] » Yes.
>> Mayor Maceri?
[7:26] » Yes.
Item 4B, to consider adoption of pending
[7:30] ordinance 26-976,
[7:33] an ordinance authorizing the execution
of amended financial agreement by and
[7:37] between the Township of Cedar Grove and
36 Cliffside Drive Urban Renewal Owner
[7:42] LLC for the development of townhouses
located in the 36 Cliffside Drive
[7:49] Redevelopment Area.
I know Mr. Kelly, we also talked about
[7:53] this at the last meeting, but do you
have any questions?
[7:55] » If you'd like for me to
>> You want to do both?
[7:57] » Yeah, if you if that's okay, whatever
you prefer.
[7:59] » Yeah, if you can do both since they're
both uh
[8:01] » Sure. Through you, Mayor. Uh 4B is an
amendment uh basically to an existing
[8:05] financial agreement uh for 36 Cliffside
Drive. This is bifurcating the prior
[8:10] agreement uh to [snorts] reflect the
initial uh townhome development and the
[8:15] subsequent uh agreements for the rental
properties. May have had these flipped.
[8:20] No, I was right. The 4B is for the
townhome phase of the development for 30
[8:24] townhomes and 4C is for the [snorts] uh
317 rental units. As the council is
[8:30] aware, originally it was 347 rental
units. That number has been reduced uh
[8:34] in exchange for the 30 townhomes.
>> [snorts]
[8:37] » And just for the public and especially
people that are here tonight, this
[8:41] satisfies
um our fourth round of affordable
[8:44] housing, too. Is that correct?
>> Yes, this is a very large mechanism,
[8:47] probably the largest [snorts] that we
are able to satisfy the fourth round
[8:51] fair share obligation with.
>> Great.
[8:54] Any other questions from the dais or
discussion? Then I'm going to open this
[8:57] to the public. Anybody
wishing to be heard on this item? Seeing
[9:03] none, I'll close that portion of the
meeting.
[9:05] And do we have a motion?
>> Mayor, I move for the adoption of
[9:10] pending ordinance 26-976
to be published on the Township official
[9:15] internet website as a past ordinance or
take effect as prescribed by law.
[9:20] » Thank [snorts] you. Is there a second?
>> Second.
[9:23] » Roll call.
>> Councilwoman Eagan.
[9:25] » Yes.
>> Councilwoman Peterson.
[9:27] » Yes.
>> Deputy Mayor Zisaali.
[9:28] » Yes.
>> And Mayor.
[9:30] » Yes.
Item 4C
[9:32] to consider adoption of pending
ordinance 26-977
[9:37] an ordinance of the Township of Cedar
Grove authorizing the execution of an
[9:40] amended financial agreement by and
between the Township of Cedar Grove and
[9:45] 36 Cliffside Drive Urban Renewal Owner
LLC for the development of an
[9:50] inclusionary multi-family development
located in the 36 Cliffside Drive
[9:56] Redevelopment Area.
Um, we already heard from Mr. Ziccheli
[10:00] on this item. Any other discussion or
questions from the dais?
[10:04] No, then we'll open this to the public.
Anybody wishing to be heard on this
[10:07] item?
Seeing none, we'll close [snorts] that.
[10:11] And do we have a motion?
>> Mayor, I move for the adoption of the
[10:15] pending ordinance number 26-977
to be published on the Township's
[10:20] official internet website as a passed
ordinance to take effect as prescribed
[10:24] by law.
>> Thank you. Second. Thank you. Roll call.
[10:28] » Councilwoman Meka? [snorts]
>> Yes.
[10:29] » Councilwoman Peterson?
>> Yes.
[10:31] » Deputy Mayor Ziccheli?
>> Yes.
[10:32] » Mayor Ms. Serritella?
>> Yes.
[10:34] Item 5A to consider approval of regular
meeting minutes of the July 13, 2026
[10:41] meeting.
Is there a motion?
[10:44] » So moved.
>> Second. Roll call.
[10:48] » Councilwoman Meka?
>> Yes.
[10:49] » Councilwoman Peterson?
>> Yes.
[10:51] » Deputy Mayor Ziccheli?
>> Yes.
[10:52] » Mayor Ms. Serritella?
>> Yes.
[10:56] » Item 6, reports of Township officials.
Start with our manager, Mr. Ziccheli.
[11:01] » Good evening, Mayor.
>> Good evening.
[11:02] » Just a few items. Um, if I can get a
consensus from the governing body, we've
[11:06] been getting a lot of phone calls and
emails for the town-wide garage sale.
[11:10] Uh, and that's something we
traditionally do in September. I didn't
[11:14] want to put a date out until uh, the
governing body was able to opine.
[11:18] Uh,
to keep things consistent, the date this
[11:20] year would be September [snorts] 12th,
but I didn't want to uh, notify that.
[11:24] That's the Saturday after Labor Day this
year.
[11:26] Um, so if there's any feedback or just a
general consensus from the council on
[11:31] that, I'd would to get that out soon so
the residents are you know, well
[11:34] noticed.
>> Works for me.
[11:36] » Yeah, that's that's great. I know last
year we had a huge uh
[11:40] » People were asking me.
>> Yeah, so that will be um
[11:44] Did we do it the weekend following Labor
Day last year?
[11:47] » We did.
>> Yeah, I think Labor Day may have changed
[11:49] in the calendar, but
that would that's what this Saturday,
[11:52] the 12th, would be.
>> Okay.
[11:54] » Uh so if there's no objection, we'll
notice it for the 12th.
[11:57] Great. Um just a few other uh
housekeeping items.
[12:01] Um I just want to
note 370 Pompton Avenue is this former
[12:05] Cedar Grove Animal Hospital uh
that received some site plan approvals
[12:09] previously for 10 units, and the
property owners have generously decided
[12:13] to allow our fire department to train on
that building prior to its demolition.
[12:18] Um so that's something that uh the fire
department is gracious for, the
[12:21] township's gracious for, and any
opportunity our our volunteers uh can
[12:25] take to train there certainly uh
welcome to do that, and we we are
[12:29] appreciative of the
property owner nonetheless.
[12:32] I also want to thank uh Patrolman
Emmanuele Ricci and Watchung. They did a
[12:36] great job helping organize the National
Night Out on behalf of the Cedar Grove
[12:40] Police Department. As the council is
aware, we did team up with Verona this
[12:43] year.
Really great turnout, and I also want to
[12:46] thank uh one of our Cedar Grove
residents for flying the Black Hawk help
[12:50] helicopter over Panther Park. That was
really cool. It was a nice touch.
[12:54] Just a brief update on our um paving
schedule.
[12:57] Uh due to some rain this morning, the
crews were a little bit delayed and uh
[13:01] pushed the paving back. We have now
noticed the new paving, which will begin
[13:05] on Wednesday starting with uh Rose
Clara, Ira, and Lewis. That's going to
[13:10] be Wednesday. All of Vincent Road will
be Thursday, and then Briar Hill,
[13:14] George, and Adelina will be Friday. So
our goal is to get them in and out in 3
[13:17] days. We appreciate the residents'
patience. This is a pretty big uh paving
[13:22] operation, and then Park Ridge will be
completely done. Some of our bigger
[13:25] streets, as the council is aware, we had
our water main replaced [snorts] on
[13:29] Briar Hill this year. That'll be
completely done after this as well.
[13:33] And Mayor, I don't know if you have a
time you'd prefer me to comment on some
[13:36] consent agenda items. There was a lot.
If you'd like for me to do that now as
[13:39] part of my report [snorts] or through
the consent agenda item, I'll leave it
[13:41] to you.
>> Whatever your preference.
[13:43] » Okay. If I could take them now.
>> Great.
[13:46] » Uh just briefly, consent agenda 7E.
This is an a resolution authorizing the
[13:52] execution of a temporary [snorts] access
agreement between Township of Cedar
[13:55] Grove and Transcontinental Gas Pipeline
Company for work they're performing
[13:59] around our recycling center. Uh
consistent with that work on Little
[14:02] Falls Road, they're encasing their very
large gas uh line that runs through the
[14:07] town.
This is going to require some riverbank
[14:10] stabilization in the area. And I know
the [snorts] township is very
[14:13] appreciative anytime people want to
stabilize the riverbank as we believe
[14:16] it's very important to help mitigate
flooding.
[14:18] Uh Transco has already obtained all
necessary NJDEP permits to perform this
[14:22] work.
Uh and as I mentioned, this is a
[14:24] critical bank stabilization project
which we as a township strive to
[14:28] endeavor on our own accord.
Uh we will be receiving $45,000 for
[14:32] permitting the temporary access to this
work zone. They do have an easement in
[14:36] the area, so they are lawfully allowed
to access this and perform work there.
[14:40] Uh but 7E is authorizing the execution
of that agreement and codifying the
[14:44] $45,000 that we will be receiving
in lieu of that.
[14:49] Uh 7F.
This is a resolution authorizing the
[14:53] execution of a uh contract with
Montclair Ambulance Unit for daytime EMS
[14:58] response. On July 14th, the township
[snorts] received one sealed proposal
[15:03] through competitive contracting
[clears throat] for the provisions of
[15:05] daytime EMS service to the township, its
residents, visitors, and businesses from
[15:09] 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The sole proposal
was furnished by the Montclair Ambulance
[15:13] Unit, the current provider of our
daytime EMS coverage. Uh this resolution
[15:17] authorizes the competitive contracting
award for a 5-year term in an amount not
[15:21] to exceed $318,549
in the aggregate.
[15:25] Basically, that means the first year is
going to be $60,000 and every year
[15:29] thereafter is subject to an escalation.
>> [snorts]
[15:33] » Item 7G is a resolution authorizing
change order number two for the
[15:37] community park playground in the amount
of $561.85
[15:41] or 0.081% of the total contract value
for the installation of 15 ft of curb
[15:46] wall as opposed to a flush curb.
This
[15:49] not to exceed amount is just now
$689,786.24.
[15:55] And we did receive the $750,000 grant to
offset this cost.
[15:59] Item 7H, this is a resolution
authorizing the transfer of a 2022 Ford
[16:04] Explorer police interceptor. This is
CGID 607 to the Township of West Orange.
[16:10] The Township of West Orange lawfully
sought to pass some costs onto the
[16:13] Township of Cedar Grove as a result from
our hiring of a police officer who was
[16:17] put through the academy by the Township
of West Orange. And under NJSA
[16:21] 40A:14-178,
they are allowed to seek reimbursement
[16:26] from the municipality that hires the
officer.
[16:29] And instead of us reimbursing the
Township the $27,522.96,
[16:35] I was able to speak with their business
administrator and we worked out a deal
[16:39] where we will be giving them one of our
used police interceptors in lieu of the
[16:43] cash consideration.
Regardless, this vehicle would have been
[16:47] auctioned off in a few months anyway.
So,
[16:51] it just gets it out of here a little bit
quicker and we don't have to exchange
[16:54] any any money.
Item 7I, this is a resolution
[16:58] authorizing the award of a resurfacing
contract for the upper playground at
[17:02] Community Park to Rubber Recycle LLC of
Lakewood, New Jersey in an amount not to
[17:07] exceed $65,000.
This is awarded through state contract
[17:10] number 23 food 1181
118185
[17:15] price line 40.
The Township budgeted for this in its
[17:18] capital budget this year. And we're now
completing the second playground project
[17:24] at uh Community Park. This surface has
been destroyed and the playground has
[17:29] been closed for a little while. So, it's
nice to finally get this done. My goal
[17:32] is before next council meeting to have
this completed.
[17:35] Item 7J is inserting $5,246.13
into the municipal budget from the
[17:41] National Opioid Settlement Fund.
Item 7K is a resolution authorizing the
[17:46] installation of a supplemental fuel tank
at our DPW to Independence Constructors
[17:51] Inc. of Bernardsville, New Jersey in an
amount not to exceed $169,300.
[17:57] This is awarded through state contract
T0849 above ground storage tank
[18:01] installation, removal, repair, and
related equipment contract 42270.
[18:06] The council bonded for this in this
year's capital budget as well. We are
[18:10] going to be doubling the capacity of our
fuel.
[18:13] Uh benefit of this is as fuel prices go
up, you will be able to buy more at a
[18:17] lower rate. And also in the event there
is some type of emergency, power outage,
[18:21] Hurricane Sandy type of situation, we'll
have double the amount of fuel that we
[18:25] previously had.
Um
[18:28] which is, you know, important during
snowstorms and other
[18:31] emergencies.
The final comment I have is item 7I,
[18:36] which is a resolution accepting the
planning board's designation of 370 Pump
[18:39] and Avenue, lot 62, lot 11 as an area in
need of non-condemnation redevelopment
[18:45] pursuant to NJSA 40A:12A-1.
Uh the two criteria that this site met
[18:51] were one, the generality
of buildings are substandard, unsafe,
[18:55] unsanitary, dilapidated, or otherwise
obsolete, or possess any such
[18:59] characteristics and are lacking in
light, air, or open space as to be
[19:02] conducive to unwholesome living or
working conditions. And two, buildings
[19:06] with improvements which by reason of
dilapidated, obsolete,
[19:10] overcrowding, faulty arrangement, or
design,
[19:15] Motion by police.
Lack ventilation, light, or sanitary
[19:19] facilities, excessive land coverage,
deleterious land use, or obsolete
[19:23] layout, or any combination of these or
other factors are detrimental to the
[19:26] safety, health, morals, and welfare of
the community. This is a resolution
[19:30] authorizing the preparation of a
redevelopment plan.
[19:33] And that ends my report and my comments
on the consent agenda.
[19:37] » Just had one question on F.
Um, did that contract Is that contract
[19:41] expiring now? That is the
>> Yeah, August.
[19:43] » August.
>> we had that expire.
[19:45] » Oh, okay. Okay.
>> The prior contract with MAU was
[19:48] August to August 23 to 26, so it's
expiring now.
[19:52] » Great. Thank you.
Any other questions or
[19:56] » Yeah, just one question. The
playgrounds, do we have cameras in
[19:58] there?
>> We will be installing cameras there.
[20:01] » I was asked, that's why I'm asking.
>> We will be installing cameras to
[20:04] hopefully deter some of the vandals and
graffiti there. Yes.
[20:07] » Thank you.
>> Okay.
[20:11] Madam Clerk, good evening.
>> Good evening, Mayor, members of Council,
[20:14] those in attendance.
I have no report this evening.
[20:16] » Thank you.
>> Thank you.
[20:18] » Mr. Lagana.
>> Good evening, Mayor, members of Council.
[20:21] I do not have a formal report this
evening. I would just make a comment as
[20:25] to
consent agenda item 7H to the transfer
[20:28] of the police vehicle to the Catholic
War Veterans. Um, Joe, we should have uh
[20:33] the title signed over to them so they
can get the registration and insurance
[20:36] before the vehicle leaves our lot.
>> We will do it tomorrow.
[20:40] » Thank you.
>> [snorts]
[20:41] » Great. Thanks. All right, Council
reports. We'll start on my right.
[20:45] Councilwoman Peterson. Good evening.
>> Good evening, Mayor. Um, I just wanted
[20:49] to thank everyone who came out for
National Night Out. It was a great
[20:53] event. Um, it was nice to partner with
Verona and see everybody come together.
[20:57] Um, we had a great outpouring of the
community. We had a lot of um
[21:03] organizations from town, UNICO, the
Elks, uh the library was there. I'm
[21:09] probably missing people, but it was just
nice to see everybody come out and kids
[21:14] had a great time and it was a lovely
night. So, um thanks to everyone who
[21:18] made that happen, our DPW, our town
manager, emergency services, fire
[21:22] department, everybody was there. So, I
just want to say thank you.
[21:25] » And to some of the local businesses that
donated, I know Aqua Falls donated their
[21:29] water and
>> Yeah.
[21:30] » a bunch of others.
>> [snorts]
[21:31] » Yeah. Yeah, everybody who made it
happen. So, I just wanted to say thank
[21:34] you and that's all I have.
>> Great. Thanks.
[21:37] » [snorts]
>> Councilwoman?
[21:39] » You good?
>> How are you?
[21:39] » I'm good. How are you, Mayor?
>> Good.
[21:41] » Um
I will just say ditto to Councilwoman
[21:45] Peterson's comments. Thank you so much
to everyone.
[21:48] I also have an update for the Cedar
Grove Historical Society.
[21:52] They're going to bring you some more
exciting programs.
[21:54] So, last week they had a sold-out cut
flower workshop. People loved the class,
[22:00] but what they also loved, we had the
class on the farm down by the gardens.
[22:05] So many people have never seen it
before. They didn't even know it
[22:07] existed. So, it was a nice exposure
um and we're trying to get another one
[22:12] if we can get the weather to cooperate
along with some schedules. So,
[22:17] August 28th, Mayor, you'll really love
this. The line dancing class is back if
[22:22] you're um if you're around. So, we're
going to try to pull uh that off. As it
[22:27] is right now, tickets are
selling a little slower than we would
[22:30] like. So, maybe you want to bring all
your friends.
[22:33] » [snorts]
>> Um and if it doesn't work with the end
[22:34] of summer, beginning of school, we're
going to just reschedule it.
[22:38] September 19th is appraisal day coming
back and of course in the fall we'll
[22:41] have the pumpkin and apple sale.
I just wanted to wish good luck to all
[22:45] the students and the staff returning to
school in September. I wish everybody a
[22:49] wonderful year and today, thank you to
the Cedar Grove Police Department and
[22:53] the Verona Police Department, there was
a very informative New Jersey e-bike
[22:58] presentation. You all know my
my my situation with e-bikes and helmets
[23:03] and whatnot. So, [snorts] I hope that
everybody out there, parents, children,
[23:08] you take a look at what's out there for
the changing of the law. The law has
[23:11] changed. I'm looking at you, Mr. Mr.
Lawyer over there.
[23:15] » [laughter]
>> Um and there's there's some things
[23:18] parents really need to know about
potential consequences if your children
[23:24] don't have the proper paperwork and
whatnot to be riding these these
[23:27] different types of uh
vehicles.
[23:30] And that's it for me. I just hope
everyone enjoys the rest of the summer.
[23:34] And remember to sign up for the fall rec
programs.
[23:37] » Great.
>> And that's it.
[23:38] » Thank you, Councilwoman.
>> You're welcome.
[23:40] » Good evening, Councilwoman Zisa. Um
Deputy Mayor, I'm sorry. That's okay.
[23:44] » Good evening, Mayor.
>> Uh good evening, everyone. Uh
[23:48] I also attended uh National Night Out
and just to reiterate um
[23:53] what Councilwoman Peterson and
Councilwoman
[23:56] Meegan [snorts] uh said. It was It was a
great event, and we appreciate everyone
[24:00] who participated and made that event
happen. It was It was very nice. Um and
[24:06] Mayor, if I may, I just wanted to ask
Mr. Ziccheli a question.
[24:09] » [clears throat]
>> Uh Mr. Ziccheli, is there an uh could
[24:12] you give us kind of an update on the
work that's being done in town that's
[24:14] not being done by the township,
specifically like Ridge Road, uh the gas
[24:19] main, and the uh what's going on in
Little Falls Road?
[24:21] » Sure. For you, Mayor, there's a lot.
There's a lot of work. Um
[24:26] and um so,
taking each in stride, PSE&G is uh
[24:32] very, very close to, if not complete
[snorts] with the gas main replacement
[24:36] on Ridge Road. Uh that was a very long
project. We were able to keep at least
[24:41] one lane of alternating traffic open
throughout the majority of that work.
[24:44] That was a replacement of a
>> [snorts]
[24:46] » stainless steel gas main. It was, from
what I was told from PSE&G, the number
[24:50] one priority replacement in the state.
And it was crucial that we were able to
[24:54] get that work done before school uh
reopened with the high school and the
[24:57] middle school on Ridge Road. So, uh that
work should be complete. Um I saw Mr.
[25:01] Hardrick step out, but I will get from
them the timing when the county [snorts]
[25:05] expects to be resurfacing Ridge Road,
and we will be pushing for a
[25:09] curb-to-curb restoration because that's
what we like to see here in Cedar Grove.
[25:13] Uh secondly, uh PSE&G is also performing
uh electrical work at their Little Falls
[25:18] substation. Um I'm sorry, the substation
on Little Falls Road in Cedar Grove.
[25:23] That electrical work involves running a
lot of conduit underground um on Little
[25:28] Falls Road, over Lindsley, uh into uh
Little Falls and Coleman and ending in
[25:32] Totowa.
Uh that's a lot of work uh that's taking
[25:35] place as well, but I believe the
majority of that work is off to the the
[25:38] shoulder, and there shouldn't be too
much of a traffic disruption in that
[25:42] portion of Little Falls Road.
Uh Transco is currently working on the
[25:46] corner of Bowden and
Little Falls Road. That work is uh
[25:53] putting a casing around their existing
uh very large gas pipeline that's
[25:57] running through um the power line
easements uh you may recall on the
[26:01] corner of Bowden, uh and runs through
the township's property by the recycling
[26:04] center, which we will uh maintain open.
We were alternating traffic in that
[26:09] area, and given the size of the
excavation, the county just approved a
[26:13] plan to close Little Falls Road uh to
expedite that excavation and hopefully
[26:17] get that done before school starts, too.
With Ridge Road being back open now,
[26:21] that should alleviate a lot of the
traffic coming off of Little Falls Road.
[26:25] And then, another work uh phase of that
work that Transco is going to be doing
[26:29] once they complete the work in the
roadway, they're going to be moving
[26:32] towards the back of the tennis courts,
which is the matter concerning the
[26:36] agenda item today, uh 7
E for that access agreement. They're
[26:42] going to be stabilizing the riverbank
where their pipe is running through and
[26:45] is now exposed, and that's part of their
uh bank stabilization project. So, there
[26:50] is a lot of work. We know it. We We
compound it with the townships
[26:55] paving initiatives, with PSE&G's regular
work on 23, shutting down a lot of the
[27:00] old abandoned gas mains.
This is the time of year to do it,
[27:04] unfortunately, but we're you know,
committed to getting it done and trying
[27:07] to notify the residents as best we can.
>> Thank you. Just one follow-up. I know uh
[27:12] Ms. Hartwick stepped out. Uh any idea
when they're going to pave Ridge?
[27:16] » I'm going to push for it to be done as
part of the county cooperative, which
[27:18] usually happens uh in the fall.
Um
[27:22] I believe Stevens and part of Lindsley,
at least up to the front of the
[27:26] firehouse, was on that list, but I'll
confirm with Ms. Hartwick or uh Sanjeev,
[27:30] the county engineer, this week, and then
as soon as we know, we'll we'll notify.
[27:33] We want to get it done before winter,
obviously, but it's also important that
[27:37] the trench has enough time to settle so
that there's no, you know, divots or or
[27:41] sinking.
But, No Cars is pretty good contractor,
[27:44] so they they should be uh the trenches
should be in good shape.
[27:47] » Great. Thank you.
>> Thank you.
[27:49] » Anything else, sir?
>> Deputy Mayor?
[27:50] » That's it, Mayor. Thank you.
>> All right.
[27:54] I'm just going to add we had a very
[snorts] important birthday in August,
[27:58] so happy birthday to our clerk, who was
last week.
[28:02] » [laughter]
>> So, uh
[28:04] Happy birthday, Dana.
>> Thank you very much.
[28:07] » Yes. And uh
you know, ditto with all the comments
[28:11] about um our National Night Out. It was
well attended. Um
[28:16] and uh you know, we want to thank our
police. Obviously, they did a tremendous
[28:20] job organizing uh as long as
along with OEM and everybody else that
[28:24] was involved. So, thank you to that.
That's all I have.
[28:29] So, we're going to move on to seven,
consent agenda.
[28:34] Consent agenda A through L. Do I have a
motion?
[28:39] » So moved.
>> Is there a second?
[28:41] » Second.
>> Roll call.
[28:44] » Councilwoman Amigo?
>> Yes.
[28:46] » Councilwoman Peterson? [snorts]
>> Yes.
[28:48] » Deputy Mayor Zisa Ali?
>> Yes.
[28:49] » Mayor Macer?
>> Yes.
[28:52] Item eight, approval of bills.
[28:57] » [snorts]
>> Shall I begin, sir?
[28:58] » Yes, ma'am.
>> Thank you.
[28:59] Be it resolved for the Township of Cedar
Grove, County of Essex, New Jersey, that
[29:03] the summary of bills having been duly
audited and found to be correct are
[29:07] hereby ordered paid in the aggregated
amount of $1,659,137.19
[29:15] cents.
>> Thank you. Is there a motion?
[29:19] » So moved.
>> [snorts]
[29:21] » Second.
Roll call.
[29:24] » Councilwoman Amigo?
>> Yes.
[29:25] » Councilwoman Peterson? [snorts]
>> Yes.
[29:27] » Deputy Mayor Zisa Ali?
>> Yes.
[29:29] » Mayor Macer?
>> Yes.
[29:30] » Thank you.
>> Item nine, new business. Do we have any
[29:32] new business? No? All right.
Item 10, public comment.
[29:37] Anybody from the public? You can speak
on anything on or off the agenda.
[29:42] Anything?
No? All right.
[29:46] We'll close that portion of the meeting.
Our next meeting, our public council
[29:50] meeting, is scheduled for September
14th, 2026, 7:00 p.m. in Council
[29:55] Chambers.
Item 12, we have two items for executive
[30:00] session.
Whereas Section 8 of the Open Public
[30:04] Meetings Act permits the exclusion of
the public from a meeting of the Mayor
[30:08] and the Council in certain
circumstances, and whereas the Mayor and
[30:11] the Council of the Township of Cedar
Grove are of the opinion that such
[30:15] circumstances exist. Now, therefore, be
it resolved by the Mayor and the Council
[30:19] of the Township of Cedar Grove, County
of Essex, State of New Jersey, that the
[30:23] public shall be excluded from discussion
of any action in executive session of
[30:28] the of the meeting of the Mayor and the
Council of August 17th, 2026.
[30:33] The general nature and subject matters
to be discussed are personnel matters,
[30:38] and also land acquisition
pursuant to NJSA 10:4-12
[30:45] B5.
It is anticipated at this time that the
[30:49] above stated subject matter will be made
public as soon thereafter as it may be
[30:53] deemed in the public interest to do so.
No further action will be taken. This
[30:58] resolution shall take effect
immediately.
[31:01] Do I have a motion to go into executive
session?
[31:03] » So moved, Mayor. Second.
>> Roll call.
[31:07] » Councilwoman Mika?
>> Yes.
[31:08] » Councilwoman Peterson?
Deputy Mayor Zisavali?
[31:11] » Yes.
>> Mayor Mascia?
[31:12] » Yes.
>> Thank you.
[34:21] » Mhm.