[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?

Council Meeting May September 28, 2026

Transcript