[0:00] have been satisfied with respect to this
[0:01] meeting of the Mayor and Council of the
[0:03] Borough of Glen Ridge, specifically the
[0:05] time, date, and location of this meeting
[0:08] were included in the meeting notice
[0:09] posted in the municipal building, posted
[0:12] on the Borough website, and published in
[0:14] New Jersey Legal Ads. The agenda and
[0:17] public handouts for this meeting can be
[0:18] viewed online at www.glenridgenj.org.
[0:23] Madam Clerk, please do a roll call.
[0:26] >> Councilors, Lekavich?
[0:29] >> Here.
[0:30] >> Long?
[0:30] >> Here.
[0:31] >> Semel?
[0:32] >> Here.
[0:32] >> Soriano?
[0:33] >> Here.
[0:34] >> Mayer?
[0:34] >> Here.
[0:35] >> Council President Moody?
[0:36] >> Here.
[0:37] >> Barameo, we have we have a quorum.
[0:40] >> Thank you so much. All right, so the
[0:43] first thing we're going to do is a
[0:45] proclamation for this amazing group of
[0:47] young women, and I'll read it, and then
[0:51] we can do photos and videos, and
[0:54] you can have the gavel, whatever you
[0:56] guys want to do, and then you all can
[0:58] leave and we can finish the the meeting if you want.
[1:01] >> We can stay if you like.
[1:02] >> You can stay.
[1:03] >> Learn about your government.
[1:05] >> Local government.
[1:07] All right, so here we go.
[1:09] Honoring the 2026 10U fifth grade Glen
[1:12] Ridge girls softball team.
[1:15] Whereas the 2026 10U fifth grade Glen
[1:18] Ridge girls softball team, known as the
[1:20] Ridgers, achieved a historic milestone
[1:24] as the first Glen Ridge softball team to
[1:26] win a championship in the Greater Essex
[1:28] Softball League. And whereas the Ridgers
[1:31] defeated the defending champions
[1:34] the Scandalous West Orange Wild, no,
[1:36] >> [laughter]
[1:36] >> the West Orange Wildcats by a score of
[1:38] 10 to 5 in the Greater Essex Softball
[1:41] League Championship game held at the
[1:43] Montclair State University Softball
[1:45] Stadium on June 3rd, 2026.
[1:48] And whereas throughout league play in
[1:50] the highly competitive Platinum
[1:51] Division, the Ridgers compiled an
[1:54] outstanding record of 11 wins, one loss,
[1:56] and one tie, competing against some of
[1:59] the strongest teams from Essex, Passaic,
[2:01] and Morris counties.
[2:02] And whereas the Ridgers opened their
[2:04] season with an undefeated performance at
[2:06] the Little Falls Spring Swing
[2:08] Tournament, winning all three games and
[2:11] setting the tone for a remarkable
[2:12] championship season.
[2:15] And whereas the team's success reflects
[2:17] the dedication, teamwork, perseverance,
[2:20] and contributions of every player
[2:22] throughout the season. And whereas four
[2:25] Ridgers players, Delancey De Salazar,
[2:28] Carolina Carolina Gabres,
[2:31] Did I say that right?
[2:32] >> Gabres.
[2:33] Thank you.
[2:35] Simona Gray and Dylan Siegel were
[2:37] selected to the Greater Essex Softball
[2:39] League All-Star game in recognition of
[2:42] their outstanding individual accomplish-
[2:44] accomplishments. And whereas the Borough
[2:45] of Glen Ridge probably recognizes the
[2:47] accomplishments of the entire team. When
[2:50] I say your name, just please raise your
[2:52] hand so we can recognize you. Chloe,
[2:55] Delancey,
[2:57] Lucia,
[2:59] >> Lucia.
[2:59] Samantha,
[3:03] Carolina,
[3:06] Simona,
[3:08] Megan,
[3:10] Addison,
[3:13] Dylan,
[3:15] Abby,
[3:16] and Lady.
[3:19] Whereas the Borough also recognizes and
[3:21] extends its appreciation to the coaches
[3:24] whose leadership, encouragement, and
[3:26] commitment helped guide the Ridgers to
[3:28] this historic achievement. Coach Sam,
[3:33] Coach Joe,
[3:36] Okay. Coach Callie,
[3:38] and Coach Rachel.
[3:42] » [applause]
[3:48] >> Now, therefore, be it proclaimed that
[3:50] the Mayor and Borough Council of the
[3:51] borough of Glen Ridge hereby
[3:53] congratulate the 2026 10U fifth grade
[3:56] Glen Ridge girls softball team, the
[3:58] Ridgers, on becoming the first Glen
[4:00] Ridge team to win a greater Essex
[4:02] softball league championship. And be it
[4:04] further proclaimed that the borough of
[4:06] Glen Ridge commends these outstanding
[4:08] young athletes, coaches, and families
[4:11] for representing our community with
[4:13] excellent sportsmanship, teamwork, and
[4:15] determination, and celebrate this
[4:17] historic accomplishment as a proud
[4:19] moment for the entire Glen Ridge
[4:21] community. In witness thereof, I, Debbie
[4:24] Mans, mayor of the borough of Glen
[4:25] Ridge, do hereby proclaim this
[4:27] achievement and extend my sincere
[4:30] congratulations on behalf of myself and
[4:32] the entire council, and best wishes to
[4:34] the entire 2026 Glen Ridge girls
[4:37] softball championship team.
[4:39] >> [applause]
[4:43] » YOU HAVE A TROPHY.
[4:46] COME ON UP.
[4:48] PICTURES.
[4:49] Come on.
[5:27] Take a few more down.
[5:29] Someone else take a knee.
[5:38] » [laughter]
[5:49] » Yeah, get the coaches in
[5:50] >> The coaches?
[5:50] >> And the coaches
[5:51] >> Great job, Joe. Coaches.
[6:04] » All right. All right. Let's get the
[6:05] girls getting in.
[6:06] >> Yes.
[6:10] knees
[6:13] softball
[6:15] >> [laughter]
[6:21] » All right. So, one thing we do ask, do
[6:23] you guys have a cheer?
[6:25] >> We have many cheers.
[6:27] >> Okay.
[6:29] We need one of your cheers to like break
[6:31] this up.
[6:33] >> Wait. We'll do our best.
[6:34] >> What's your best?
[6:34] >> We'll do our best cheer.
[6:37] >> Okay.
[6:48] » J-O-Y-C-E. J-O-Y-C-E.
[6:50] 1 2 3 JOYCE.
[6:52] >> [applause and cheering]
[6:57] [applause]
[7:00] » GUYS
[7:00] >> ALL RIGHT.
[7:01] >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
[7:02] >> THANK YOU.
[7:07] » ALL RIGHT. Thanks for coming.
[7:35] » Way to go.
[7:38] Last one.
[7:43] See you.
[7:44] >> You too. How's everyone?
[7:52] So, I just wanted everyone to know that
[7:55] pitcher Dylan was a really good pitcher
[7:57] this season
[8:00] and I think we should all appreciate
[8:05] it. Here we go. Here we go. By Megan
[8:07] Harmon, I declare winners.
[8:53] » Mary upping the ante with the cheer.
[8:55] >> I like
[8:56] >> You got to do a cheer.
[9:00] >> Yeah.
[9:01] I'm thinking about instituting one for
[9:03] the entire council to end our meeting.
[9:05] So, just think about it. Yeah.
[9:07] >> [snorts]
[9:08] >> All right. Our next order of business is
[9:10] adoption of the minutes of the regular
[9:12] meeting of September 14th, 2026.
[9:16] Uh may I have a motion?
[9:17] >> I'll make a motion.
[9:18] >> Heard the motion by Council Meyer. May I
[9:20] have a second?
[9:21] >> I'll second.
[9:21] >> Uh I've heard the motion by Council
[9:23] Meyer, seconded by Councilor Tirriano.
[9:25] Any discussion on the minutes?
[9:29] I see none. Uh Madam Clerk, roll call,
[9:31] please.
[9:33] >> Councilor Sleekovec?
[9:35] >> Aye.
[9:36] >> Lord?
[9:37] >> Aye.
[9:37] >> Saming?
[9:38] >> Aye.
[9:39] >> Tirriano?
[9:41] I
[9:45] think you so much madam clerk any
[9:48] written communications
[9:51] mayor we just have
[9:53] oh yeah I okay I apologize for the
[9:55] interruption I got one
[9:57] that's received we have a request from a
[10:00] resident over on Oakwood for speed house
[10:05] I will refer that to our
[10:07] public safety
[10:12] thank you one of our younger residents
[10:14] yes
[10:16] sorry for that breaking news
[10:19] I have no comments except to again thank
[10:23] counselor Summit and the entire Council
[10:26] for a great meet and greet this past
[10:28] Friday
[10:30] especially for our new residents in town
[10:32] appreciate all the work that you did to
[10:34] put that together and I'm sure you'll
[10:35] speak to it more
[10:38] you're on committee
[10:40] this is the first period for comments of
[10:42] the public
[10:44] seeing seeing none I will close that
[10:46] comment period and move over to
[10:50] our committee work so Council left with
[10:53] finance and administration committee yes
[10:56] thank you mayor
[10:58] excuse [clears throat] me I I have
[10:59] resolution number 134-26
[11:02] this evening
[11:05] be it resolved that the following claims
[11:06] [snorts] be approved and warrants be
[11:08] drawn for the same
[11:10] to relatively
[11:12] modest amount
[11:14] this time but all amounts are listed in
[11:19] the resolution itself
[11:21] so I move resolution 134-26
[11:24] you heard the motion by Council left
[11:26] with me have a second
[11:30] » Motion by Councilwoman seconded by
[11:31] Councilwoman
[11:32] any discussion?
[11:35] I see none Madam clerk please call the
[11:37] roll.
[11:38] >> Transfers
[11:39] Negivitis
[11:41] >> I
[11:41] >> No
[11:42] >> I
[11:43] >> Zimmerman
[11:44] >> I
[11:45] >> Toriano
[11:45] >> I
[11:46] >> Mayer
[11:47] >> I
[11:47] >> Council President Moody
[11:48] >> I
[11:49] >> Madam Mayor motion carried.
[11:51] >> Thank you so much.
[11:54] >> Um and next Madam Mayor I have
[11:57] resolution 135-26
[12:00] um concerning a jitney grant from a
[12:05] special legislative jitney grant.
[12:09] Whereas the Borough of Glen Ridge
[12:10] desires to apply for and obtain a grant
[12:13] from the New Jersey Department of
[12:15] Community Affairs, Transportation and
[12:18] Public Safety Modernization Program
[12:21] for approximately $50,000 to make
[12:23] capital purchases for the jitney
[12:26] program.
[12:27] Uh therefore be resolved that the
[12:29] Borough of Glen Ridge does hereby
[12:30] authorize the application for such a
[12:32] grant
[12:33] and further resolve that the Borough
[12:35] recognizes and accepts that the
[12:37] Department had offered lesser or greater
[12:39] amount and therefore upon receipt of the
[12:42] grant agreement from the New Jersey
[12:44] Department of Community Affairs
[12:46] does further authorize the execution of
[12:49] any such grant agreement. Also upon
[12:51] receipt of the fully executed agreement
[12:53] from the Department
[12:55] uh we further authorize the expenditure
[12:58] of funds pursuant to the terms of the
[12:59] agreement between the Borough and the
[13:02] New Jersey Department of Community
[13:04] Affairs.
[13:06] So I move resolution 135-26.
[13:11] >> You've heard the motion for Councilwoman
[13:13] may have a second?
[13:14] >> I'll second.
[13:18] » Okay we'll stay over on the side of the
[13:19] room you heard the motion by
[13:21] Councilwoman seconded by Councilman
[13:24] I just on the discussion portion want to
[13:26] say thank you again to our state
[13:28] legislative district team, Senator
[13:30] Timberlake, Assemblyman Venizia, and
[13:33] Assemblywoman Morales for
[13:36] championing this grant for us in as part of the
[13:40] state budget process. Any other
[13:42] discussion?
[13:45] Okay, seeing none, Madam Clerk, please
[13:46] call the roll.
[13:47] >> Councilwoman Lacevitz.
[13:50] >> Hi.
[13:50] >> Law.
[13:51] >> Hi.
[13:51] >> Seeman.
[13:52] >> Hi.
[13:53] >> Tirabasso.
[13:54] >> Hi.
[13:55] >> Myers.
[13:55] >> Hi.
[13:56] >> Council President Mudie.
[13:57] >> Hi.
[13:58] >> Madam Mayor, we have a
[14:01] motion carried.
[14:04] >> We have a jitney.
[14:05] >> [laughter]
[14:08] » Um anything else, Councilman Lacevitz?
[14:09] >> Uh just that with regard to the jitney,
[14:12] we received proposals from
[14:15] one bidder to run the jitney program,
[14:18] and another one to provide ticketing and
[14:22] location services for the program. We
[14:24] don't have
[14:26] >> Yeah, thank you.
[14:27] For all your work on that with the
[14:28] committee.
[14:30] Uh Councilman Law, public safety
[14:31] committee.
[14:33] >> Uh yes, I just want to acknowledge the
[14:35] successful fundraiser last Thursday
[14:37] night for the PBA union.
[14:40] Uh
[14:41] thank those who helped organize, who
[14:43] attended, and who donated to the event.
[14:45] It was
[14:46] very successful, a very fun event, and
[14:49] look forward to doing it even bigger and
[14:51] better next year, but
[14:53] very nice event.
[14:55] Uh just said a resolution number 136-26.
[15:00] It's a permit for
[15:02] social affair event at the Glen Ridge
[15:05] Women's Club. Uh the resolution approves a special permit for
[15:09] social affair for the Women's Club of
[15:11] Glen Ridge
[15:12] for a bingo fundraiser on October 15th,
[15:15] 2026
[15:17] benefiting the Women's Club and the
[15:19] Kiwanis The of Glen Ridge. Wine and beer
[15:22] will be served at the event.
[15:24] Our police chief has reviewed the
[15:26] application and endorsed the plan.
[15:28] And this resolution directs the clerk to
[15:31] endorse and forward the application to
[15:33] the Division of ABC, so uh
[15:36] Madam Mayor, I seek to move the
[15:38] resolution.
[15:39] >> You've heard the motion by Council Law.
[15:40] May I have a second?
[15:42] >> I'll second.
[15:43] >> Heard the motion by Council Law,
[15:44] seconded by Councilor Lefkowitz. Um any
[15:48] discussion?
[15:50] Seeing none, Madam Clerk, please call
[15:52] the roll.
[15:52] >> Councilors, Lebowitz
[15:55] >> Aye.
[15:56] >> Law
[15:56] >> Aye.
[15:57] >> Zimmey
[15:58] >> Aye.
[15:59] >> Touryan
[15:59] >> Abstain.
[16:01] >> Meyer
[16:01] >> Aye.
[16:02] >> Council President Moody
[16:03] >> Aye.
[16:04] >> Madam Mayor, motion carried.
[16:06] >> Thank you.
[16:08] Um anything else, Council Law? I know
[16:10] you guys are enjoying your slow cooker
[16:12] that you won at the PBA event.
[16:14] >> We won a meal.
[16:16] >> I know. You promised chili.
[16:18] >> we haven't tried it yet.
[16:19] >> [laughter]
[16:23] » Um Council Zimmey, Community Affairs and
[16:26] Public Relations Committee.
[16:27] [clears throat]
[16:28] >> Uh no resolutions this evening, Madam
[16:29] Mayor. I just want to echo your
[16:31] sentiments and thank um
[16:33] not only Mayor and Council and
[16:36] uh every- everyone in the room, the
[16:37] borough administrator, our town
[16:38] attorney, certainly uh Jenny as our
[16:41] amazing clerk, as well as the PD, DPW,
[16:43] and everybody who helped make uh Friday
[16:45] night our first ever meet and greet a
[16:47] huge success.
[16:48] The other folks to thank are all the
[16:49] organizations that turned out. Um
[16:52] I've got a lot of really good feedback
[16:53] about just not only community bonding,
[16:55] but just learning about organizations,
[16:56] which was really the intent of get
[16:58] everybody together and then just have a
[17:00] uh great community social event. Um
[17:03] and we were really happy with the
[17:04] turnout, um including a thanks to uh you
[17:07] mentioned Assemblywoman Mejia before, as
[17:09] well as uh our own Congresswoman and
[17:13] Glen Ridge residents, uh Congresswoman
[17:15] Mejia, and it was nice of them show up
[17:17] as well. Um yeah, and uh just thanks to
[17:20] everybody for making it a huge success
[17:22] and then for the community for coming
[17:23] out. I think it was really a
[17:24] fun night for many people.
[17:26] Um
[17:28] other than that, I also just want to
[17:29] give people a heads-up. As we speak
[17:31] about great organizations,
[17:34] Kiwanis, the folks at Kiwanis have are
[17:37] undertaking putting together a community
[17:39] calendar for the town, and so this will
[17:41] be a one-stop shop where you can kind of
[17:44] see everything that's going on among the
[17:46] organizations in Glen Ridge. So if
[17:47] there's an event at the Women's Club on
[17:48] Saturday or there's a gas lamp show on
[17:50] Friday, you'll be able to see that in
[17:51] one place. So stay tuned for more
[17:53] information on that, but I appreciate
[17:55] them making the effort to host that and kind of
[17:59] doing the behind-the-scenes work to make
[18:00] that possible for everyone.
[18:02] Um additionally,
[18:04] the party continues at Freeman Gardens
[18:06] on on Sunday. Last unfortunately this
[18:08] past Sunday, our pumpkin event was sold
[18:11] out, so we have 300 pumpkins waiting to
[18:13] be purchased by residents. So
[18:16] this Sunday, with the weather not
[18:18] looking so good right now, um
[18:20] it's supposed to be take two. So stay
[18:21] tuned for that, but hopefully we will
[18:23] have the fall festival at Freeman
[18:25] Gardens.
[18:26] Um
[18:27] and then just one other thing of note
[18:30] for all the commuters out there, and
[18:31] we'll be sending out more information
[18:32] about this, but a reminder that as of
[18:34] October 11th, there will be a Portal
[18:37] Bridge crossover and New Jersey Transit
[18:40] schedules will be changing and you'll be
[18:42] going to Hoboken basically if you're
[18:43] commuting to Penn Station now. So stay
[18:45] tuned for more on that.
[18:46] >> Can't wait.
[18:47] >> Um
[18:48] and that is all I have this evening.
[18:51] >> All right, great.
[18:52] Uh Councilwoman Tierney,
[18:54] Public Works Utility Committee.
[18:56] >> Sure, no resolutions this evening, but
[18:58] Mayor, I wanted to share a little bit
[18:59] about what the Department of Public
[19:01] Works did in support of the storm
[19:02] preparation. Let me just run through the
[19:04] list real quickly. They first sandbagged
[19:06] the Royal Field House and basement
[19:08] stairwells. They checked all the sump
[19:10] pumps and at the in the municipal
[19:12] building at Royal Field. They got their
[19:14] chainsaws ready and I'll tell you that
[19:16] they needed them. They set up chip
[19:18] trucks, big truck
[19:21] and small ones. They topped up all their
[19:23] fuel cans. They vacuumed leaves at the
[19:25] different drainage spots and then
[19:28] responded to a significantly large down
[19:30] tree and Douglas Road which we've seen
[19:34] video and pictures of. In addition to
[19:36] that, I want to commend that their good
[19:38] work against this storm. During the
[19:41] weeks prior to that, they
[19:43] completed preparation for the ground
[19:45] snow equipment. They started sanitary
[19:47] sewer flushing. They measured it and
[19:50] marked and painted the GRA soccer field.
[19:52] They vacuumed leaves and cleared at
[19:54] Midland and they checked PSE&G milling
[19:57] and paving areas throughout the borough.
[20:00] There's a lot of work that goes on
[20:01] behind the scenes. I just wanted to
[20:02] recognize all that good work. Yeah.
[20:04] >> Yeah, thank you.
[20:07] Uh Counselor Meyer, Parks and Recreation
[20:10] >> Uh no formal report this evening, Madam
[20:13] Mayor.
[20:15] >> Council President Moody, Planning and
[20:17] Development Committee?
[20:18] >> Uh no resolutions, no formal report.
[20:20] >> Okay.
[20:22] All right.
[20:25] Borough Administrator Kelly, any
[20:27] news?
[20:28] >> Uh Mayor, just the meet and greet was
[20:31] really a great event and I'm not sure
[20:33] how people are screened to live in this
[20:35] town, but really it was just so
[20:37] wonderful. Just random people were
[20:38] coming up and just introducing
[20:39] themselves and saying, "I moved in a
[20:41] year ago. I live on this street. Who are
[20:43] you?" And you know, we just started It
[20:45] was really really a great event and
[20:50] congratulations to everybody that helped
[20:51] put that together. It was really
[20:52] wonderful. And then I just in the world
[20:54] of congratulations, our clerk has made
[20:56] it a year with us.
[20:59] >> [applause]
[21:00] >> And
[21:01] as a special treat, she gets one more
[21:03] election.
[21:04] >> [laughter]
[21:07] » There's been four this year the fourth
[21:09] is coming up, so
[21:11] uh really great and
[21:13] so so happy to have her as part of our
[21:15] team.
[21:16] Thank you, Mayor.
[21:17] >> Here, here.
[21:18] Um anything of note?
[21:20] >> Mayor, I have no report.
[21:21] >> And our police department?
[21:22] >> Uh thank you, Madam Mayor.
[21:24] October 9th is the Rhino Romp,
[21:27] our elementary school's race.
[21:29] Silvermine Avenue North will be closed
[21:31] for the afternoon, will be shut down
[21:33] 9:30 to 11:30, roughly. Uh that's the
[21:36] only anticipated road closure outside of
[21:37] all the milling and paving, which is
[21:39] daily currently [laughter] and actually
[21:40] the next two weeks, hopefully.
[21:42] Which I can't keep up with.
[21:44] >> [laughter]
[21:45] >> None of us can.
[21:48] Just [snorts] look for the orange signs.
[21:49] Um okay, Madam Clerk?
[21:51] >> Happy to be here and running another
[21:53] election.
[21:54] >> [laughter]
[21:55] >> It's good to hear it. We do get our
[21:57] mail-in ballots today.
[22:00] Uh receive those at home.
[22:03] Okay. Um we have no new or unfinished
[22:07] business. Um this is the second period
[22:09] for comments from the public and uh we
[22:12] still don't have any public, so I will
[22:14] close that uh comment period.
[22:17] And know people are always welcome to
[22:18] email us offline. Uh Counselor Law?
[22:22] >> I'd also like to make a motion to
[22:23] adjourn the meeting.
[22:24] >> All those in favor?