Baffour Asare

The meeting included several key actions taken by the Municipal Council. Three ordinances were introduced on first reading, including one to establish an Arson Investigation Unit within the Public Safety Department, one authorizing an amendment to a Financial Agreement with 61-79 Twenty Second Urban Renewal, LLC regarding property tax abatement, and one authorizing an amendment to a Tax Abatement Agreement with Irvington Seniors Urban Renewal, LLC to extend a tax exemption. The Council adopted bill lists totaling $3,542,579.62 and payrolls totaling $2,207,562.69. Resolutions were adopted to award bids for ADA Ramp Improvements to the Police and Fire Buildings ($184,579.00) and for Alteration to Grove Street Fire House and Repairs to Coit Street Firehouse ($218,657.00). A negotiated contract was authorized with Rudco Products Inc. for roll-off storage and recycling steel containers (not to exceed $84,951.00). Additional funds not to exceed $43,050.00 were approved for litigation counsel services in the matter of Masters Makit Home Realty, LLC v. Eugene Granberry. A contract with Montclair State University for Community Health Assessment and Evaluation Services totaling $42,500.00 was approved. Contracts were awarded for Labor Counsel to Ruderman & Roth (not to exceed $100,000.00) and for Tax Appeal Counsel to Florio, Kenny and Raval (not to exceed $100,000.00). Two prior contract awards to Lamb Kretzer, LLC were rescinded due to the firm's dissolution, and subsequent ratification resolutions awarded litigation/defense counsel services for those matters to Murphy Orlando LLC. The Council also authorized the issuance of duplicate tax sale certificates for several properties and approved tax overpayment refunds totaling $10,766.41 to ZMN Irvington LLC and $1,581.79 to Newark Community Health Center, in addition to refunding $14,663.27 in escrow funds to AOP Properties, LLC. Resolutions of commendation were adopted honoring Robert and Sherita Hylton of Champions In Action Martial Arts (CIAMA), U.S. Representative LaMonica McIver, and the Irvington Branch of the NAACP. Finally, the Council relaxed metered parking restrictions for the 2025 holiday season. The Alcoholic Beverage Control Board approved a Place-to-Place Transfer/Expansion of Premises for Touch Lounge & Restaurant.

The proposed agenda for the Council Meeting included appointments, administrative matters, reports from committees and officers, and several items requiring a roll call vote on the consent agenda. Key resolutions and motions included confirming the Mayor's nomination for the Director of the Department of Health, ratifying the Calendar Year 2018 Annual Audit Report, and authorizing significant expenditures for emergency equipment and vehicle purchases from a state contract vendor. Furthermore, professional service contracts were proposed for financial consulting, the renovation of the Community Training Academy, Post Employment Benefits services, and bathroom replacement at Fire Station 4. The non-consent agenda featured second readings and public hearings for ordinances amending solid waste/recycling collection and the presentation/payment of bills.

The Regular Council Meeting addressed several administrative and financial matters. Key actions included the approval of the 2023 annual schedule of Council Meetings, the authorization of a non-fair and open contract for Special Counsel services with Critchley, Kinum & Luria LLC, and the qualification of four architectural firms for professional services. The Council also approved the award of an annual contract to MVC Unlimited, LLC for Licensed Sanitary Sewer Collection Operator services. Financial actions involved the payment of bill lists totaling over $4.4 million and payrolls totaling over $2.3 million for the period ending December 2, 2022, as well as authorizing budget insertions for American Rescue Funds, the Clean Energy Fund Program, National Opioid Settlement Funds, Community Service Block Grant funds, the Childhood Lead (CLEPP) Program, the Strengthening Local Public Health Capacity Program 2023, and the COVID-19 Vaccination Supplemental Funding Grant. Additionally, resolutions were adopted to support cannabis operation applications from Organic Fusion and 662 Nye Tradings LLC, to authorize the assignment of a tax sale certificate for 187 Columbia Avenue, and to authorize execution of an agreement with Sourcewell for cooperative purchasing. A resolution of sorrow for Robert Henry Young was also adopted, and a commendation was presented to Samantha Dow-Hankerson.

The Municipal Council Meeting addressed several key items, including the presentation of the Annual Financial Audit Report for 2023 and 2022, and reports from various committees concerning licensing, parking, redevelopment, and sanitation. The council reviewed and acted upon several Requests for Proposals. Financial actions included the approval of bills and claims totaling $7,528,957.29 and payrolls totaling $2,294,788.40. Resolutions passed included awarding a contract for digital recording software as a sole source provider, approving an escrow refund, authorizing an agreement with Essex County for the Code Blue Program to provide emergency sheltering, and authorizing the submission of a Strategic Plan for the Irvington Municipal Alliance Grant. Furthermore, the council adopted resolutions to establish new handicapped parking spaces and rescind others where no longer needed. An amendment was approved for a contract with Montclair State University for Community Health Assessment and Evaluation Services. An emergency contract was awarded for sinkhole repair near 10 Bachman Place, and authorization was given to submit the "Clean Sweep Initiative" proposal for funding. Finally, the council authorized a significant transfer of funds within the CY2025 Municipal Budget, heard the second reading and adopted ordinances amending the Arson Investigation Unit code, authorizing an amendment to the Financial Agreement with 61-79 Twenty Second Urban Renewal, LLC, and authorizing an amendment to the tax abatement agreement with Irvington Seniors Urban Renewal, LLC.

The Regular Council Meeting addressed various agenda items, including the reading of the Statement of Proper Notice pursuant to the Sunshine Law. Key actions involved adopting several ordinances amending and supplementing the Revised Code of the Township of Irvington, such as amendments to the Garbage and Recycling Ordinance, Rent Control Ordinance, and those pertaining to E-Bidding and Residential Site Improvement Standards. The Council also authorized the payment of bill lists and payrolls, and adopted resolutions for several professional service contracts for the upcoming year, including Auditing Services (Samuel Klein & Co.), Bond Counsel Services (McManimon, Scotland and Baumann, LLC), IDIS Consulting Services (Ron Allen Consulting), Redevelopment Counsel Services (McManimon, Scotland and Baumann, LLC), Planning Board Attorney, and Zoning Board Attorney (Eric M. Bernstein & Associates, LLC). Furthermore, resolutions were adopted to qualify pools of contractors for residential property rehabilitation and lead hazard remediation, and to award Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to various organizations including C.O.M.B.A.T.T., FamiCare, Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSHNJ), Irvington Counseling Center, Irvington Public Library, The Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern NJ, The Arc of Essex County, The Bridge Inc., and the Urban League of Essex County. The Council ratified the 2021 Employee Handbook and authorized an emergency contract award for supplies related to the COVID-19 health pandemic. Additionally, installment payment plans for redeeming municipally held tax liens were authorized for two properties.