Okay. Good evening. Welcome to the June 23rd, 2026 meeting of the Emerson Governing Body. This meeting is being videotaped and may be viewed on your local public access channel, either 36 or 77. The meetings are also available 24/7 on
YouTube. For those of you present, in case of a fire, please use the fire exit signs where they are posted above each door and exit calmly. Kat, would you please lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance? >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the
republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> This meeting is called pursuant to the provisions of the Open Public Meetings Law and adequately noticed pursuant to NJSA 10:4-10.
This meeting of June 23rd, 2026 was noticed to the record and the Ridgewood News on January 12th, 2026, published in said newspapers, posted on the borough's website, and on the bulletin board in the municipal building, and has remained continuously
posted as required under the statute. Ms. DeSimone, would you please call the roll call of the governing body? >> [clears throat] >> Mayor DePaula. >> Present. >> Councilwoman Chelina. >> Here. >> Councilwoman Argenzia. >> Here. >> Councilman Ellis. >> Here. >> Council President Rice. Um, is
running late or >> Uh, is absent. I'm sorry. >> is absent. >> Wait, she told us prior. >> Okay. Uh, Councilman Timmerman. >> Here. >> And Councilwoman Sayers. >> Here. >> Very good. May I have a motion to excuse Council President Ashley Rice from tonight's meeting? >> So moved. >> Second.
>> And a roll call, please. >> Uh, Councilwoman Chelina. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Argenzia. >> Yes. >> Councilman Ellis. >> Yes. >> Councilman Timmerman. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Sayers. >> Yes. >> Passes 5-0. >> Very good. Proclamations and citations, there are none this evening.
Appointments and resignations, there are none this evening. Minutes for approval, may I have a motion to approve the regular meeting minutes of June 9th, 2026. >> So moved. >> Second. >> And a roll call, please. >> Councilwoman Chileno? >> Yes.
>> Councilwoman Argenzia? >> Yes. >> Councilman Ellis? >> Yes. >> Councilman Zimmerman? >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Sayers? >> Yes. >> That is 5-0. >> Very good. May I have a motion to approve the closed session meeting minutes of June 9th, 2026, which are not for release to the public at this time.
>> So moved. >> Second. >> Roll call, please. >> Councilwoman Chileno? >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Argenzia? >> Yes. >> Councilman Ellis? >> Yes. >> Councilman Zimmerman? >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Sayers? >> Yes. >> That is 5-0. >> Very good. And financial business, may I
have a motion to approve resolution 183-26, approval of June 23rd, 2026 bill list. >> So moved. >> Second. >> And a roll call, please. >> Councilwoman Chileno? >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Argenzia?
>> Yes. >> Councilman Ellis? >> Yes. >> Councilman Zimmerman? >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Sayers? >> Yes. >> That is 5-0. >> Okay. Um unfinished business. At the last meeting, we discussed the liquor license renewal for a request uh from Mr.
Frickey to allow for one more year for an opportunity to activate his license and avoid permanent exploration on August 1st, 2026. Um there's an item on the consent agenda that approves the one-year extension of
Jack Frickey LLC's liquor license. Um does anyone on the council have any other comments or questions about it? And if you object, we could pull it and vote separately um from the consent agenda. Does anyone have any comment? >> No. >> I'm comfortable with voting on it.
>> You're you're comfortable? >> Yeah, and I I I did bump into him, and I do think he has some stokes in the fire right now. I think when you when you get to something that you're going to lose, people start reaching out and you start getting information so that it's not taken away. So,
however you guys vote though will be respected. Um that leads us to our winner for the patriotic home front decorating contest. Um all of the homes were lovely.
Um there were a lot of homes that were even decorated that were that did not join the contest and I think we appreciate that everybody sort of has the patriotic spirit going into the 250th anniversary of our United States
and you can still continue to decorate. There will be a contest anymore, but we love seeing the red, white, and blue and the patriotism all around town. Um so, the committee had a little bit of a difficulty making a decision. So, we decided to give two awards
um each for $125. Um split the prize in half cuz there was a tie. There was one that looked really awesome in the evening and there was one that looked really awesome during the daytime. So, the nighttime winner is 91
Chestnut and the daytime winner is 100 Losure. So, congratulations to the residents that live at 91 Chestnut and 100 Losure Avenue and we would love to have you at
the next meeting to accept your prize and bring photos of your home that we could post onto the website and everyone else that won the honorable mentions. I know everybody worked hard. It's always difficult to choose a winner. We couldn't even choose one because of
the nighttime and the daytime differences, but that's why we're splitting it. So, um congratulations to the winner winners. The next item on the agenda is new business. There is no new business this evening. Adoption of ordinances. Um this
is the second reading and public hearing of ordinance number 1722-26. Miss DeSimone, would you please read the title of this ordinance? >> An ordinance to amend the borough code to include a new affordable housing and development fee ordinance. >> May I have a motion to open the meeting
for public comment on this and this only ordinance? >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Aye. >> Any opposed? We are open to the public. Seeing no one in the public, may I have a motion to close this portion of the meeting of public comment on this ordinance? >> So moved. >> Second.
>> All in favor? >> Aye. >> Any opposed? Okay, we're closed. May I have a motion to adopt ordinance number 1722-26 on second reading? >> So moved. >> Second. >> And a roll call, please. >> Councilwoman Chelina?
>> Yes. >> Councilwoman Argentia? >> Yes. >> Councilman Ellis? >> Yes. >> Councilman Timmerman? >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Sayers? >> Yes. >> Passes 5-0. >> Very good. The next order of business is introduction of ordinances. Miss DeSimone will announce by number and
title the following ordinances. Upon approval, these ordinances will be further considered at a public hearing to be held at our next meeting on July 14th, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the matter can be addressed in the council chambers of the
borough hall, 1 Municipal Plaza, Emerson, New Jersey. As of March 1st, 2026, all ordinances will be noticed on the borough's website on the public notice page as required by PL 2025
chapter 72, and they are on file in the office of the municipal clerk. Miss DeSimone, would you please read the title of ordinance 1723-26? >> An ordinance to amend chapter 248, streets and sidewalks, article 1, street
openings, of the code of the Borough of Emerson, County of Bergen, State of New Jersey. >> May I have a motion to introduce ordinance 1723-26 on first reading? >> So moved. >> Second. >> And a roll call, please.
>> Councilwoman Celinio? >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Argenzia? >> Yes. >> Councilman Ellis? >> Yes. >> Councilman Timmerman? >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Sayers? >> Yes. >> Passes 5-0. >> Very good. Ms. De Simone, would you please read the title of ordinance 1724-26?
>> An ordinance amending and fixing the salary ranges of the employees of the Borough of Emerson. >> May I have a motion to introduce ordinance 17 24-26 on first reading? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Roll call, please. >> Councilwoman Celinio? >> Yes.
>> Councilwoman Argenzia? >> Yes. >> Councilman Ellis? >> Yes. >> Councilman Timmerman? >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Sayers? >> Yes. >> Passes 5-0. >> Thank you. Ms. De Simone, would you please read the title of the third ordinance up for introduction, number 1725-26?
>> An ordinance authorizing a special emergency appropriation of $445,000 for the preparation and execution of a complete program of reevaluation of all real property. >> I just want to make a comment about this
um introduction in particular. Um this is not in the budget because per law uh all municipalities were given to the right to pay for it over a five-year plan, and all municipalities do it this special way as it's dictated by law in
order to do it this way. Um no municipality that we have heard of puts it in their budget, correct, Mr. Correlli? All right. May I have a motion to introduce ordinance 1725-26 on first reading? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Roll call, please.
>> Councilwoman Celina? >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Argenziano? >> Yes. >> Councilman Ellis? >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Timmerman? >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Sayers? >> Yes. >> That's a 5-0. >> Very good. That brings us to reports. Um
Councilwoman Celina, do you have a report for us this evening? >> I do from the DPW. >> Okay. >> Um nothing really too exciting. Um just that they wanted to report um the DPW had um done a lot to put in um to prepare for
the town day parade and fireworks. >> Yes, they did. >> Um and we really appreciate their effort. Um it's not a small task. Um and all hands were on deck. It was really appreciated. >> Okay. >> Anything else?
Councilwoman Argenziano, do you have a report for us this evening? >> Um the only thing I just wanted to say was that I also really did enjoy Emerson Town Day um and was grateful that a lot of people got involved and were really excited about doing the parade and being you know being a part of the parade. Um
and the town day itself I thought was fantastic. Everybody who did cooking and beer wenching and whatever else you want to call it. [laughter] Um and the fireworks were amazing as well. >> Thank you. Councilman Ellis?
>> Yes, uh the shade tree committee uh listed a couple >> Commission. >> Commission, sorry. >> They got a lot of power there. >> Yes, yes, commission. My apologies. The meeting is tomorrow, so don't beat me up. No, I'm just kidding. Um DPW, they had listed the help of two cut down um a large
about six tree branches in the branches for trees in six locations throughout town on that storm June 6th and 7th. And um one of them even crashed on a car on Lozier. So uh DPW had the wood chipper out and chipped wood that whole week as
well. So, I just want to say thank you to them and the Shade Tree Commission as well. >> Good. You don't want to take that away from Um and they're always doing hard work like that. We love when they're proactive also because we are in storm season. So, if you do see something that's a town tree that looks
precarious, um please give a call to Perry Salamando at our DPW or call our clerk and give them the address and the Perry who's our Shade Tree Inspector will take a swing by if it's a town tree and check it out. Um Councilman Timmerman, do you have a report this evening?
>> Yeah, sure. From Rec, um just all fall sports uh registrations have opened for any fall sports within the town or that we play with Park Ridge. Um information is on the Emerson Recreation Facebook page or there's always a contact on the borough website
for any sports you're interested in. And um also just like to thank the Rec Commission, DPW, Fire Department, EVAC, everybody else who volunteered uh to make Town Day such a success this year. The parade for America's 250 was really
an added bonus and the participation from all the residents was really amazing. Um there's always an energy around town that day and this year there was a little bit more. So, it was great to see uh a buzz around town and uh everything everybody being very
patriotic. So, good to see. >> giant flag on the library, I think that everyone just saw it and their heart beat a little harder that day. >> So, the Rec Commission, yeah, I know they all worked hard on that and they are already planning uh the Fall Harvest Festival and the rest of the year activities. So,
thanks again to them. >> Good job. Councilwoman Sayers? >> I don't have anything. Thanks. >> Okay. Um I guess that brings me to my report if I could find it. As to add on to what Councilman Timmerman
said, the summer kickoff was on Saturday, June 13th. The day began with the parade up Main Street celebrating the 250th anniversary of our United States. The parade included many borough residents with their classic cars, children with their sports teams and their coaches, as well as children on
decorated bikes and scooters. The parade also included borough employees in borough vehicles, and it included the majority of our volunteers of our Emerson boards and commissions on floats. The finale of the parade showcased all of our emergency services,
including our police, auxiliary police, fire department, and ambulance corps. After the parade, the kids had a great time on the inflatables, and the fire department kept everyone cool spraying water from the engine over the crowd. Food was prepared by our volunteers
through the afternoon, and the day ended with our fireworks extravaganza that was truly spectacular. A special thank you to all the volunteers, especially our recreation commission volunteers headed up by uh chair uh Andrea Lauterback and vice
chair Chris Buffa. Um and a special thank you also um to all of our sponsors, of which they should be listed on the recreation page and maybe on the borough website. We listed on the website, if not, we could do that. Just share their page. Okay, um because of
all of the sponsors and all of our generous donations that they're that they give um donations to the rec, this is a free event to the residents, and no tax dollars go towards it. Um and it's such a special day where neighbors do get to see each other after a long
winter, and all those strong bonds of the Emersonians in this family town are displayed. And I think there isn't anyone that didn't have a great time that attended. So, thank you to everyone that participated. Um the mayor and council presents summer concert series sponsored by the mayor's
wellness campaign is back for this summer. I'm excited to announce the lineup. July 8th, the Hazmats. July 15th is to be determined. July 22nd, Beauty and the Grease. July 29th, The Emerson Project. August 5th, The Edge. August
12th, Stephen Connolly. The concerts feature Emerson and local talent with and they will be held each Wednesday from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. on the steps of Borough Hall. Rain dates, if necessary, will be the following Thursday evening.
A flyer with all the details will be posted on social media and the borough's website. We look forward to enjoying these with everyone, so please come on out. The next senior meeting is July 9th. All Emerson residents 55 and over should join this lovely bunch. They have
a weekly activities, take day trips, and offer in-house programs at their monthly meetings. Please uh call the clerk for information or stop down at their next meeting. You're always welcome to come in and sit in on a meeting. Uh in the interest of taxpayers and saving additional associated expenses,
the borough will not be issuing estimated tax bills. We will instead wait for the County of Bergen to strike a tax rate in uh sometime in July. If anyone has questions, please contact Lauren Aurora, our tax collector.
A reminder that borough offices will be closed on July 3rd in observance of the July 4th holiday. And the next meeting of the governing body will take place July 14th at 7:30 p.m. I want to draw attention to a letter that we posted on
uh the borough website. And uh you'll have Um and there's been a lot of talk on Facebook about uh a pending Senate bill uh S1836, known as the Yes in God's Backyard Act. Um this bill
takes away uh a municipality's uh ability to zone. And myself, the council, as well as many of the mayors and councils on both sides of the aisle in the Pascack Valley find this egregious.
Um, the Pascack Valley Mayors Association, which I'm a part of, um, has written letters down to Trenton opposing it. Um, the council uh, approved uh, two resolutions or one
resolution, 146-26, back in April opposing this. And if you want to read my letter, it is on the website. This letter was sent um, to the residents informing them. And uh, similar letter opposing it was sent down to Trenton.
Um, I just wanted to bring that to everyone's attention. Uh, Catherine, do you have a, uh, report for us this evening? >> Yeah. And I just wanted to thank you. I was at the senior center and they did all of those, um, punch list items. Do you have that Yeah, yeah, no, but I didn't put it in this
first paragraph. Uh, >> The recessed >> the recessed mat, which is not a mat. It's literally something where the water drains. And it's it's very nice. >> [laughter] >> So, yeah, I'm glad that they weren't Once they saw it installed, they >> Yes, very nice addition to the senior center.
>> So, yeah. So, the first item, uh, leading up into that is the CDBG, um, grant for the senior center doors. Contractors completed all the punch list items and we have submitted all documents to CDBG ahead of the grant extension deadline. So, right now we're just waiting on receipt of the
maintenance bond for final closeout. So, pretty much all wrapped up. >> It looked real good. They they fixed every issue that I kind of saw with it. The The, um, what's the stuff called that >> Um, >> the buffering stuff that when you slide the doors the stripping. There was like little
holes. They fixed all of that. They put in the recessed really, really nice job. >> Yeah. I'm glad that all the >> And the seniors I know were very happy and I'm sure they're even happier with the recessed. They were afraid about the mats, but I think now that they're they saw what it is they're going to be very happy.
And I told them we couldn't put in a tripping hazard because it has to be compliant and engineered. So >> Absolutely. Absolutely. So then the other point was Westside Drainage Phase 1 project is finally out to bid. We received approval from DCA on
our specification and plans earlier this month, which was holding us up a little bit on that and it's out to bid as of Monday. So we're looking to receive bids for that on July 9th, intent to award at the July 14th meeting and hold a pre-con quickly after and mobilize shortly
thereafter. So >> Excellent. And that's the project that's on Jordan. Yeah, I know that those residents have been reaching out and that they're anxious to have some kind of relief there. So we're looking forward to awarding that and getting it started. >> Absolutely. And the last item that I have here is the
MA-27 NJDOT local aid grant application with the assistance of DPW. The determination for the grant was to submit for Main Street from Glenwood Avenue all the way to Old Hook Road. So Neglia is currently finalizing the grant submission
documents for that including the estimate, photo booklet and everything else. Should have that submitted to the grant writer by Friday, June 26th July June 26th ahead of the July 1st deadline. >> Okay. Thank you. Anything else? >> Nope. >> Thank you for joining us, Katherine. Nice to see you. Mr. Carelli, do you
have anything to wrap up? >> [clears throat] >> Thank you, Mayor. Uh yes. So please note that the borough is moving forward with the replacement of the Department of Public Works salt storage facility. The borough has worked closely with the DPW superintendent and
our architectural and engineering consultants to develop a cost-effective approach for this project. The recommended plan includes the installation of a prefabricated salt dome structure along with repairs and improvements to the existing garage building. As
proposed, the project can be completed within the amount of available funding, and we are anticipating a proposal for engineering services, including final design, bid specs, construction management, and inspection services at our July 14th council meeting. So, we
are moving forward with that. So, thank you for your support on that project. Um As Catherine mentioned, our FY 2027 NJ DOT Municipal Aid application is in the process of being submitted. We also
are considering, and it's on tonight's agenda, an FY 2027 lathe grant, which is the local aid infrastructure fund for the Kinderkamack Road phase two streetscape improvements project, which consists of
streetscape improvements on Kinderkamack Road from Jefferson Ave to the Borough of Westwood border. So, we are going in for phase two. As the governing body may know, we were in for what we were calling phase three at the time with the
NJ DOT TAP grant, but we were denied that funding. So, we're going back in for additional funding with the DOT. Um and then lastly, our digital sign installation is ongoing. The borough's contractor is expected to
return sometime this week to install a prefabricated sign to the footings, followed by brick facade and donated landscaping from a local business. So, we're looking forward for that project to be completed. The sign should be up
by July 4th, if not thereafter. So, we'll keep everyone updated on that. And lastly, we do have our bond rating call scheduled for tomorrow with our auditor and CFO. So, I know the CFO put a lot of work into that. So, we're hoping for the best.
>> Um and thank you. >> Very good. >> [clears throat] >> That brings us to the next subject on our agenda, which is public comment. Members of the public are welcome to speak on any topic by coming to the podium and stating your name for the record in the interest of time.
Speakers are limited to 3 minutes in consideration of all who may wish to speak. Please keep your comments brief and concise. May I have a motion to open the meeting to public comment? >> So moved. >> Second. All in favor? >> Aye. >> Okay, we're open to the public. Seeing no one in the gallery, may I have a motion to close the meeting to general
comments from the public? >> So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Aye. >> Any opposed? We are closed. Resolutions on consent agenda is our next item. These are considered routine and will be enacted by one motion of the council and one roll call vote. There
will be no separate discussion of these items unless a council member requests that an item be removed for consideration. May I have a motion to approve consent agenda resolutions 128-26 through 133-26.
>> So moved. >> Second. >> And a roll call, please. >> Councilwoman Michelinas? >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Argenzia? >> Yes. >> Councilman Ellis? >> Yes. >> Councilman Timmerman? >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Sayre?
>> Yes. >> That is done. Zero. >> Okay. Um that brings us to closed executive session. May I have a motion to go into closed to discuss matters exempt from the public pursuant to NJSA 10:4-1 at second adequately noticed by
resolution 204-26. >> So moved. >> Wait, can we slow down? Mayor, can we just correct? I think we said the resolution number is wrong. >> Thank you. I thank you. Where? >> You said 12 something. >> Correct for the record, the numbers. >> It was 84 to 203. >> Is that a typo?
>> Yes. >> Oh, that did look wrong when I was reading that. So what should it be? 184 Thank you for catching that. Now I know what you guys were talking about when we were voting. Good catch.
All right, so did we have get a motion to go into closed? >> Councilwoman Argenzia. >> And a second? >> Second. >> And a roll call. >> Councilwoman Chileno? >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Argenzia? >> Yes. >> Councilman Ellis? >> Yes. >> Councilman Timmerman?
>> Yes. >> Councilwoman Sayre? >> Yes. >> Yeses five. >> Okay, um we are now going into closed session. Members of the public may remain on YouTube until we return. I have a motion to reconvene. >> I motion. >> Second. >> All in favor?
>> All in favor. >> Okay, we are back in open. Is there any more business to discuss? No, hearing no more business to discuss, may I have a motion to adjourn at 8:00 15 p.m. >> So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor? Any opposed? We are
adjourned. Thank you for joining us this evening.