Borough of Paulsboro

The agenda outlines proceedings for both a Caucus meeting and a Regular Meeting. Key discussion points include a proclamation recognizing March as Women's History Month and the approval of minutes from the February 2026 Caucus Council Meeting, alongside various reports. The meeting addresses the introduction and first reading of ordinances O.26.05 (prohibiting cannabis operations at a specific location) and O.26.06 (amending one-way streets). Second readings and public hearings are scheduled for Ordinances O.26.02 (Affordable Housing), O.26.03 (Municipal Budget Appropriation Limits), and O.26.04 (Bond Ordinance for Capital Improvements). Numerous resolutions are scheduled for consent and non-consent agendas, covering check approvals, tax adjustments, budget transfers, and the adoption of housing-related plans and manuals. Further discussions involve the Administrator's Report covering flood updates, road repairs, and updates on Fort Billings Park, as well as the Engineer's Report dealing with Treatment Works Approval forms and payments for emergency water main repairs. The Police Chief's Report notes two resignations.

The agenda for this special meeting included an introduction of Ordinance O.26.01, which amends portions of Chapter 61 (Sewers) and Chapter 78 (Water) of the Borough Code concerning water and sewer rates and billing, proposing an increase of $26.00 per quarter for both services. The council was set to vote on adopting this ordinance on introduction with the public hearing scheduled for February 10, 2026. Consent resolutions included R. 26.43 for the payment of January 2026 bills and R. 26.44 authorizing budget appropriation transfers for the first three months of the year. Additionally, Resolution R.26.45 addressed the conditional removal of certain property from the Municipal Abandoned Property List.

The agenda covered the annual reorganization of the governing body, including the calling to order, opening statement regarding the Open Public Meetings Act, the swearing in of new council members (Kyana Evans and Larry Haynes), and the election of the President of Council. Key actions included the announcement and confirmation of Mayor Giovannitti's Councilmanic Committee Appointments for 2026 across six committees (Finance, Public Safety, Public Works, Public Property, Community Betterment, and Construction and Code Office). A substantial portion of the meeting involved the adoption of numerous resolutions on a consent agenda (R. #26.01 through R. #26.42) pertaining to the 2026 temporary budget, bill payment procedures, appointment of officials (Treasurer, Purchasing Agent, Court Administrator, etc.), tax overpayment cancellation, interest/grace periods for taxes, setting meeting schedules, establishing rules of order, designating depositories, adopting a cash management plan, designating official newspapers, establishing petty cash funds, appointing various fund commissioners and coordinators for insurance and benefits funds, affirming the Civil Rights Policy, and authorizing the award of contracts for professional services for 2026, including Borough Attorney, Labor Relations Counsel, Auditing Services, Engineering Services, and Grant Consultant Services. The meeting concluded with appointments to the Land Use Board by the Mayor and confirmation by motion if necessary, followed by the Mayor's Annual Statement.

The meeting agenda included standard opening procedures, such as a call to order, an opening statement regarding the Open Public Meetings Act, and a salute to the flag. Key business items involved the consideration of reports and minutes from previous meetings, including a Special Council Meeting from November 2025 and Caucus/Regular Council Meetings from December 2025. The agenda featured two ordinances (O.25.31 and O.25.32) on second reading and public hearing, both authorizing the sale of properties on West Washington Street to Gray Rock Development, LLC for $12,000 each. A significant portion of the agenda addressed multiple resolutions on the consent agenda concerning the payment of December 2025 bills, cancellation of taxes and municipal liens on borough-owned properties, transfers of payments between tax and water/sewer accounts, and the redemption of third-party tax liens. Resolutions not on consent included the appointment of a conditional redeveloper for Billingsport Road properties, the authorization to refund a deposit for a land sale (14 Capitol Street), and budget appropriation transfers for the end of the year. Reports were also expected from the Administrator and Engineer, with a resolution concerning partial payment for the West Buck Street Roadway Improvement Project presented under the Engineer's Report.

The meeting agenda focused heavily on procedural and administrative matters for the upcoming year. Key activities included the swearing in of newly elected Council members and the election of the President of Council. The Mayor announced the Council Committee Appointments for 2026 across various committees, including Finance, Public Safety, Public Works, Public Property, Community Betterment, and the Construction and Code Office, which were subsequently confirmed. A significant portion of the agenda consisted of adopting numerous resolutions on the consent agenda (R. #26.01 through R. #26.42). These resolutions addressed critical administrative functions for 2026, such as adopting a temporary budget, processing bill payments, appointing necessary borough officials (Treasurer, Purchasing Agent, Court Administrator, etc.), setting meeting schedules, establishing rules of order, designating official depositories and newspapers, approving professional service contracts for legal, auditing, engineering, and consulting services, and affirming the Civil Rights Policy. Finally, there were appointments made to the Land Use Board by the Mayor and subsequent confirmation.