Ralph A. Cattafi

The agenda for this meeting included several communications requesting permissions for various public events. Key requests involved permission for the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade, hanging promotional banners, fundraising activities by the Kearny Crew Team, a VFW 5K Run/Walk memorial event, a food truck festival, and the Hudson Arts and Science Charter School Graduation. The Council addressed public hearings for two Resolutions (2026-79 and 2026-80) authorizing submissions for Green Acres Grants related to the Kearny Crew House Project and the Kearny Recreation Center. Business items included the introduction of an ordinance vacating handicapped parking spaces, ordinances for second reading and public hearing establishing and vacating handicapped parking spaces, and numerous resolutions in the Consent Agenda. Resolutions addressed tax overpayment refunds, road opening permits, authorizing staff attendance at a convention, accepting a retirement application for a Firefighter, renewing alcoholic beverage licenses, appointing lifeguards, and initiating an investigation into whether specific properties qualify as a Redevelopment Area or Area in Need of Rehabilitation.

The Reorganization Meeting involved several procedural and appointment actions. Key agenda items included the administration of the Oath of Office to the Mayor and Town Council members following the certification of election results. Numerous resolutions were passed concerning professional service agreements for the calendar year 2026, including appointments for Town Attorney, Labor Counsel, Town Engineer, Municipal Court Prosecutor, Public Defender, Bond Counsel, Town Auditor, and Insurance Risk Manager. Furthermore, resolutions authorized agreements for appraisal and environmental consultant services, appointed various members to committees and boards (such as the Garden State Municipal Joint Insurance Fund, Board of Health, Planning Board, and Zoning Board of Adjustment), designated official newspapers, authorized temporary appropriations, established interest rates for delinquent property taxes, and appointed Council members to various committees and liaisons for the upcoming year.

The meeting included a review of the Executive Director's report, covering KMUA Personnel, various pumping stations and collection systems, system maintenance, and KMUA vehicles/equipment. The Finance Officer reviewed the status of Budget 2026. The Engineer provided updates on Bergen Avenue Pump Station Upgrades, Koppers Koke Peninsula Sewer Service, Developer Review Projects including Popeyes and other developments, the KMUA 2025 Fixed Asset Schedule, and the KMUA 2025 User Charge Study. The Attorney reviewed the status of Kopper's Koke Redevelopment, OJ Truck Wash Grease Discharge, Kearny Chicken LLC (D/B/A Popeye's), and New Business. The board also adopted resolutions authorizing the Executive Director to extend a conditional full-time employment offer for the position of Collection System Supervisor, authorizing an application for Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Plan Certification for the Koppers Coke Redevelopment Site, and approving the 2026 budget for the Authority.

The ordinance provides for the special assessment of the cost of certain wastewater, stormwater, roadway, streetscape, utility, and other infrastructure improvements within the Koppers Koke Peninsula Redevelopment Area and establishes a mechanism for payment of the cost thereof. It includes details about the Infrastructure Improvement Costs and Special Assessment Agreement.

The meeting included a review of the Executive Director's report, which covered the status of various equipment, personnel, pumping stations, collection systems, storm systems, and KMUA vehicles. The Finance Officer's report included updates on annual sewer billing, the financial position, the budget for 2025 and 2026, and the 2024 audit. The Engineering report addressed the Hudson County Hazard Mitigation Update, Bergen Avenue Pump Station Upgrades, Koppers Koke Peninsula Sewer Service, OJ Truck Wash Oil Water Separator, Developer Review Projects, KMUA Pulaski Relocation -- Contract 6B, Portway -- Fish House Road and Pennsylvania Avenue Project, KMUA 2024 Fixed Asset Schedule, and KMUA 2025 User Charge Study. The Attorney reviewed the status of Kopper's Koke Redevelopment, OJ Truck Wash Grease Discharge, 15 N. Hackensack Avenue, Kearny Chicken LLC (D/B/A Popeye's), and New Business. The board also ratified and authorized the execution of a sanitary sewer use & operating agreement of Kearny Chicken LLC d/b/a Popeye's and authorized design, permitting and bid services for replacement of approximately 5,400 linear feet of sanitary and storm sewer by Mott MacDonald in support of New Jersey Department of Transportation for Route 1 & 9 Pulaski Skyway Rehabilitation Project-Contract 6B No. 0511232280.