Rachel Kelly

The agenda for this meeting includes a Reorganization Meeting segment with several key appointments to be made, such as the Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, Board Attorney, Planner, and Engineer, as well as the setting of official meeting dates and appointment of official newspapers. Following the reorganization, the Regular Meeting segment lists several applications for completeness review and formal consideration, including requests for Use Variance, Bulk Area Variance, and Lot Line Adjustment for various properties.

The Reorganization Meeting included procedural items such as the Call to Order, Roll Call, Salute to the Flag, and Invocation. Key actions involved the election of the Council President and Vice President, and the presentation and subsequent action on Mayor's appointments to various boards and committees, including the Land Use Board, Recreation Advisory, and Advisory Trail Committee. A significant portion of the meeting consisted of adopting numerous resolutions via a Consent Agenda, covering the establishment of the 2026 Council meeting schedule, designation of official newspapers, procedures for public comment, certifications of compliance (e.g., EEOC), authorization for participation in the Volunteer Tuition Credit Program, appointments (Assessment Search Officer, PACO, Deputy Clerk, Municipal Court Judge), bonding for officials, authorization for cancellation of small tax/utility adjustments, establishment of interest rates on delinquent taxes and utility payments, adoption of a formal petty cash policy, establishment of municipal change funds, authorization of prior claims of payment, participation in the Morris County Adaptive Recreation Program (McARP), appointments for Deputy Emergency Management Coordinators, and appointment of Fund Commissioners for the North Jersey Municipal Employee Benefits Fund. Furthermore, professional service agreements were authorized for Appraisal Services (McNerney & Associates, Inc.), Auditing Services (Nisivoccia LLP), Bond Counsel Services (Hawkins, Delafield and Wood, LLP), and Township Labor Attorney Services (Cleary, Giacobbe, Alfieri, Jacobs, LLC). Policies were also established for Memorials, Commemorative/Organizational Displays, and Street Light Installation. Finally, resolutions were passed authorizing a temporary budget for 2026 and the payment of bills.

The Council meeting included discussions regarding the Right of Way Vacation for a portion of Edgewood Road, proposed Budget Workshop Dates, and appointments to the Library Board. Administrative reports covered the Dial A Ride Vehicle. Council business included a Cannabis Discussion, appointments to the Land Use Board, Community Development Revenue Sharing Advisory Committee, and Economic Advisory Board. Resolutions were passed authorizing fair and open contracts for Township Labor Attorney Services (Cleary, Giacobbe, Alfieri, Jacobs, LLC) and Township Attorney Services (Laddey, Clark & Ryan, LLP). A professional services agreement was authorized for the Municipal Planner (J. Caldwell & Associates, LLC). Resolutions also approved the payment of current bills, an agreement with the Police Captain, contracts for utility consulting services (De Block Environmental Services, LLC), DPW Vehicle Oil (CHEMSEARCH FE - A DIV. OF NCH CORP.), a lease agreement for the train cabin with the Berkshire Dover and West Milford Train Club, a change order for Schoolhouse Road Improvements, approval for a liquor license transfer, award of the Solid Waste and Recyclable Material Collection Service contract to Blue Diamond Disposal, authorization for a Temporary Budget Amendment to increase the temporary appropriation limit to 35%, authorization for appropriation transfers within the 2025 Current Fund budget, and introduction of an ordinance adopting Shipping Containers Standards in the Zoning Ordinance. Several consent agenda resolutions approved tax cancellation due to exemption status, release of old tax sale premiums, refund of recreation fees, a grant agreement with Preserve New Jersey Historic Preservation Historic Trust, renewal of the Dial-A-Ride Subgrant Agreement, and authorization for purchases of Diesel Fuel and Gasoline under State Cooperative Purchasing Contracts. Finally, cannabis license renewals for Greenlight Apothecary, LLC and Gas & Grass, LLC for calendar year 2026 were approved.

The meeting included a public hearing and vote for the adoption of Ordinance #25-18, which amends Chapter 490 (Zoning) to revise various sections concerning Billboard Signs and establishes definitions for several sign types. Ordinance 25-19, which adopted standards for Shipping Containers in the Zoning Ordinance, was discussed extensively. Due to requested substantive changes regarding temporary container extensions, the Council voted to defeat the ordinance as written, planning to reintroduce an amended version later. Ordinance 25-20, establishing standards for Highlands Council Regional Master Plan Conformance in the Planning Area, including specific regulations for Land Use Capability Zones, setbacks, resource protection, and septic density, was introduced for a public hearing and found consistent with the Master Plan. The Council also held a moment of silence for Courtney Sanchelli.

The Jefferson Township Council meeting addressed various topics including a cannabis discussion, payment of bills, and a temporary extension of the contract with Blue Diamond Disposal, Inc. for solid waste and recycling services. The council approved a mediation agreement with the Fair Share Housing Center, authorized shared service agreements with the Borough of Mount Arlington and the Borough of Wharton for pound/shelter services, and renewed the Statewide Insurance Fund. Additionally, the council authorized a bid award for a snow plow contract, a contract for the purchase of pipe and appurtenances, and the cancellation of various capital appropriations, grant appropriations, and receivables. An appropriation transfer was authorized, and Resolution #25-324 was clarified, authorizing emergency truck repair for Fire Engine 718. The council also discussed refunding overpayment of taxes, authorizing a disabled veterans exemption, and requesting approval of revenue and appropriation items for the Morris County Trails Construction Grant and the National Opioid Settlement Funds. Contracts with Educational Services Commission of New Jersey (ESCNJ) Co-Op Contract Vendor for Contracting Units and State Contract Vendors for Contracting Units were authorized as well.