Danielle Bogdan

The meeting included a reorganization session where the Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, and Recording Secretary for 2026 were appointed. The Board designated the 2026 meeting schedule, confirmed the official newspapers for legal advertisements, and ratified appointments for the Board Attorney, Board Planner, Board Engineer, and Board Conflict Engineer. Committee and Liaison appointments were also made. The Board adopted the 2026 By-Laws and approved resolutions for the 2026 Spending Plan and Professional Services Agreements. Planning business included the approval of a waiver for the Bagels & Beyond Café application and the approval of a 3-lot subdivision resolution (PMN/SOIL/C25-05). Public discussion involved a property boundary/easement issue raised by a resident. An extension request for ZEXT25-19 Sterling Montville was granted, moving the approval deadline to January 13, 2027.

The meeting commenced with the required statement compliance reading and reminders regarding COVID-19 water/sewer ratepayer relief programs and the Winter Termination Program. Key discussions involved a resolution authorizing closed executive session to discuss contract negotiations, litigation, personnel matters, and attorney-client privilege issues. Following the executive session, Daria Senaldi and Payton Campbell took oaths of office. A significant portion of the public session was dedicated to the 2026 Capital Budget Discussion, detailing proposed expenditures across Engineering, Public Works, Police Department, and Recreation departments for infrastructure, building replacements, vehicle purchases, and turf projects. The Committee introduced three ordinances: one to vacate a drainage and water easement, one amending a previous bond ordinance, and one adopting NJ DEP-mandated regulations for privately owned salt storage. Public comments focused heavily on community concerns regarding ICE enforcement, local detentions, and a political social media post, alongside questions about capital budget allocations for historical buildings. Resolutions were adopted accepting resignations from various boards, authorizing an Interlocal Shared Services Agreement with the Borough of Lincoln Park for Tax Assessor Services, issuing solicitor's licenses to Green Star Exteriors and Trinity Solar, canceling a stale dated check, authorizing an affordable housing assistance loan, transferring funds within the 2025 Budget Appropriation Reserves, adopting the 2026 Recreation fee schedule, canceling a lapsed grant appropriation, approving compensation for Fire District No. 2 Fire Commissioners, authorizing the demolition of an unsafe structure at 19 Montgomery Avenue, waiving fees for the Relay for Life event, rejecting all bids for the 2025 Roadway Improvements Project, authorizing bond releases, and approving several addendums or amendments to existing contracts for engineering services (Colliers Engineering & Design, Inc. and Bright View Engineering), snowplowing services (Hoff, Inc.), and the supply of bulk rock salt (Atlantic Salt, Inc.). The Committee also accepted work and maintenance bonds and authorized final payment for the 2025 Road Restoration Project.

Key discussions during this meeting included the introduction of two new members to the Open Space Committee. The committee also discussed the layout of a new trail from Red Barn to Towaco Center, noting that the project is ready to proceed due to approved grant money. Other topics involved bringing the new members up to speed on an Eagle Scout Project and planning to send updated trail maps covering owned properties. A future meeting was scheduled with Scouts to clean a trail at Reilly Field.

The meeting began with a reorganization session where the temporary chairman, chairman, vice chairman, secretary, recording secretary, and various professional service agreements were established and approved, including the Board of Adjustment Attorney, Conflict Attorney, Engineer, Planner, and Conflict Engineer. The board adopted the 2026 meeting schedule, designated the official newspapers for legal purposes, and adopted the By-Laws and Annual Report. Subcommittees were appointed for Invoice Review and Design Review Liaison. During public comment, no items were raised. Under correspondence, a second one-year extension request for approvals related to the Diversified 55+ application was granted. In new business, application ZC07-25 was carried to a future date with required notice, and application ZC05-25 regarding additions and variance relief for property at 23 Morris Ave was approved subject to professional reports and testimony. The board also approved the minutes of the December 3, 2025 meeting, paid outstanding invoices, and adopted resolutions for Professional Services Agreements and extensions for applications ZEXT17-25 and ZMS/DC04-25, and approved ZSPP/FDC/SOIL10-25.

The agenda for the meeting included Open Public Comment for land use matters not listed on the agenda. Under Old Business, there was no new business conducted past 10:00 P.M. New Business featured two major items: an application concerning the demolition of two existing single-family dwellings to construct a new one at 10 Nowak Lane, requiring a 'd'(1) use variance for temporarily maintaining two principal buildings and 'c' variance relief for steep slope disturbance and vehicular access location; and an application for NCK Distributors, LLC for a gas station and convenience store at 858 Rt 202, requiring preliminary and final site plan approval, 'd' and 'c' variance relief, and design exceptions related to prohibited uses, impervious coverage, accessory structures, setbacks, signage, riparian zone disturbance, steep slope disturbance, and underground fuel tanks. Resolutions approved included an impervious coverage variance for a deck and patio at 22 Timber Dr., 'c' variances for a second-story addition and bay window at 22 Highland Ave., and an extension granted for approvals related to 11 Stiles Ln.