One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. In accordance with chapter 231, open public meetings act, adequate and proper notice of this meeting has been given to the public by publishing a notice in the Glenidge paper, Glenidge Voice,
Monontlair Times, and the Star Ledger and posting said notice on the bulletin board in the municipal building. The agenda and public handouts for this meeting can be viewed online at www. glenrichenj.org. A public comment period will be held as
listed on the agenda. Please state your name for the record and note that comments will be limited to three minutes per person. Um madame clerk, could we have a roll call, please? >> Leave >> here. L >> here. >> Zi here. >> Triiano
>> here. Meyer, let's ask them for the record. Moody here. >> You have a quorum. Mayor, >> uh, thanks so much. We have the minutes from our January 20th, 2026th meeting. Uh, do I have a motion to accept those
minutes? >> I will make a motion. >> Heard the motion from councelor Moody. Do I have a second? >> Second, mayor. >> Heard the, uh, second from council Tyrion. Was there any discussion on the minutes? They were >> want to compliment our new clerk.
>> By our new clerk. Congratulations on that. >> Um, all right. So, seeing that, could we have the uh roll call? >> Leave >> Long. >> Zimi. >> Hi. >> Terriiano.
>> Hi, >> Moody. >> I motion pass. Thank you. >> Thank you so much. >> Um, madam clerk, do we have any written communications for the meeting? >> Uh, no. >> No. No. Okay, confirmed. Okay, great.
Uh, I don't have any comments. Um, so I will turn it over. This is the time for public comment. If you have a comment, please come to the the mic and state your name and address. Hi, my name is Eric Goldman 25 Street.
I'm here tonight to talk about the rebound that we're experiencing right now. Um, I've got my letter from the company and it said that my taxes are going up 9%. Um, I know that a number of my neighbors
have gotten letters saying their taxes are going up 10%. 's taxes are going up 25%. There's been some online discussion, people's taxes going up $5,000 or more. So, something seems off
in in what we're doing. I know we used a new appraisal company, but I don't think that the fundamental financials of the town have switched so much that many
homes on the south end of town should bearing a tax burden of $20,000 a year. Uh, which seems to be what's going on on the rain street. Something just seems off. I
understand that when you do a reval, some people go up, some people go down. Wild swings like this are I understand logically how they can happen but this is very real pain. Two
years ago my taxes went up 4% now they go up 9%. Um it's hundreds of dollars a month. It's making it very hard to stay in town. And we're not hearing anything from our town leaders that they're even
aware that people are getting these letters that these huge I'm talking huge swings in in property taxes are happening. Um we're having a national discussion about affordability. We know that New Jersey pays the highest taxes I
think in the country. But this reval is is absolutely causing pain and I would like our elected leaders to be talking about it and and making sure that it's actually happening
the way it's supposed to. One of the issues that I've learned is that if our appraisals are more aggressive than our neighboring towns, that means our share of county taxes will be higher than that
of our neighboring towns. So, there's something. It just doesn't seem like this is how it's supposed to happen. I'm okay with a little bit of tax increase here or there, but 9% um 10% 25% 5,000 more. Something is off
and and I would like to know that my elected leaders are paying attention and engaged in dialogue and supervising and making sure that things are being handled in an equitable manner. >> Yeah. No, thanks. Um, we recognize we
have an affordability issue in in Glen Ridge and um, we work hard to try to keep those taxes low. Uh, we don't have a lot of commercial space in town, so it does the burden does fall on our residential. Um, we are well aware and we worked in conjunction with the staff
to include some additional communications um, that came out via email and on social media once those letters went out because there wasn't a an adequate time frame to talk to the assessment company. Um, and I know a number of people took uh advantage of
that and did have conversations both here at the burough hall and with the company to answer the questions. Um, and I'm sure they still could if they had specific questions on that. So, um, I just want to reassure you that we've all been paying attention to the reval. that
was ordered by the county because the price of homes was really just getting too far outside of the assessed value of the homes. Um, but I'll tell you, we are not the only town. Several towns in Essex County were ordered to do revals.
Um, and Monontlair is pending. So, I think to the point about the county, what's interesting is actually our share for the county, if I'm wrong on this, might correct me, but actually went down 9% last year. So what we're seeing is
that values in other towns are going up and our portion of that pie that goes to the county is actually going it went down and well we'll see what happens this year but you know that's you know when everyone does well it helps us in Glennwards when it comes to our share
for the county. So there's a little bit more information on that. Um, I don't know, Mike, if we want to add any other I know you've been fielding some calls. I mean, and we've been working hard to settle some tax appeals on our commercial properties to make sure that we stay try to stay whole on those um
and that they're picking up their share of the services that they use in town and that's not shifting on to the residents. So, that's been a big focus of us as well uh from a legal perspective. But is there anything else you want to add? >> I think really the
And with revals, the pie stays the same. It's just what portion who pays what portion of that of that pie. So, it's not an increase townwide. It's uh and so what we've seen just trending wise is commercial has not increased nearly as
the rate of single family homes right now. So, Mount Side Hospital, for example, they were valued at umund something million five years ago. they didn't double, you know, they probably only went up 20%.
So, so that that commercial portion of the pie shrunk and the residential portion, the single family residential portion >> increased. And same as at the higher end of the real estate spectrum of homes, the homes on the on the higher end of
the spectrum didn't double in value. They may really only went up 70% in value. where the more affordable homes or homes you know in the 500 to 750 range they doubled in value. So proportionally all of that shifting
around in the in the overall valuation of of the town. So you have the commercial shrinking and then which segments of the real estate market moved proportionally more than other sections of the real estate but that that that pie has stayed the same. So I understand
what you're saying with the 9%. the the best course of action is make sure they have accurate data. Did they you know did they go inside? Do they look at the data they have on your property and make sure that's accurate and that's reflected appropriately. >> They did go inside my home. I was able
to set up an appointment for them and >> uh and I am hiring a company who's going to appeal it for me. But what we're experiencing on the south end on Lorraine Street, we had two houses go
for very high prices uh in the last couple years and this is something I discussed with the company they're aware of it there were two one house on for 1.2 which is
very far above the true market value of the home. And so because there were a couple of sales that were outside of the norm, it affected everybody on our street, but that's not really what our houses are worth.
>> Well, I mean, first I'll say I think look, the same thing happened to my house. I'm on the south end over by the high school. We had very high sales on our street. I don't think that's unusual anymore in Glen Ridge. I think this is a market the
market bears what the market bears and you know so I think you every street could say the same thing to be honest because what you just said I was like oh that that just happened on my street and my house doubled. >> So I just want to reflect back. I'm not saying you're wrong like it doubled.
That's a really I can't believe that. But I want you to know that that happened throughout a number of streets in town, especially on the south end is my understanding. We're going to crunch the data more, but I just want to be reflective about like it's indicative of the market um that
our houses are fetching in Glend and we'll probably continue to to to Yeah. But so if I know I we you know we if you want to have more back and forth we can set up some time separately to you know have a call and and bring in the assessor because there's probably some
details that I can't you know I'm I'm not familiar with and I don't want to say anything wrong and and you know um like that. So maybe let's you can share your information with Mike and our our burough administrator and then you can you know handle a little bit more offline. But we hear you. We understand
it's been a bit of a shock for folks for sure. And so my house went up 90% in value, my taxes went up 90%. Somebody else's house doubled in value. Their taxes went down. Uh I had a neighbor who I've done
nothing to my house in the past couple years. Uh my neighbor completely renovated his kitchen. His taxes stayed the same. So there doesn't seem to be any consistency in what's happening. If if someone's house doubles in value,
their taxes should go up proportionately the same unless they were unless there was a problem before and they were paying too much before. But something something is off. >> Well, let's Well, let's talk to the assessor because I think you're saying like
I'm saying it's more nuanced than that. I I'm like this whole idea that the whole thing's off I just don't think is is accurate. So, let's talk specifically through your case in particular and and and and work that through because there's some other things that go into
that. So, um that's that's I think where we're landing on this. Yeah. >> But we appreciate you you the feedback. >> Well, what I'd like to see is a town I mean it's great because I'm you know an assertive person. will come and I'll get
a better but I really think that the town needs to be engaged in dialogue because there's a there's a lot of frustration and a lot of anger and I didn't see any emails from the town about this. There were several emails from the town. Maybe let's make you know
make sure you're signed up for those emails because a lot of commun you know at least two maybe three communications went out post that letter including the information where to call and where to get additional information and I mentioned like people have been calling into the burrow. So we know people have
been taking advantage of that service to get more information. Um and it is very specific and individual. So, I'm not sure how it I just going to be really transparent with you. I'm not sure how a t town hall would help because it's more of that what's happening on here like
with my bill and some of it's confidential or private information. So, I wouldn't necessarily want to, you know, have that discussion in an open forum. But, um, yeah, but so that's that's again just a little bit more of context for you about how people have been taking advantage of that. But, again,
>> you're saying it's private information, but anybody can go on to Zillow and see anybody else's property taxes. So, it's not it's not >> I can't see the card inside. They can't see the >> No, but what I'm saying is to a certain extent we're talking about publicly available information and it may not be
publicly available today, but in a year it'll be publicly available in Zillow when it goes to the county and it gets posted to Zillow. So, it's got to be out there. And I I was shocked when I started to look at what my neighbors are paying. Like one of my neighbors, my
next door neighbor is already paying almost $20,000 before the rebound yet. I don't know what they're going to get now. Um, and then some houses on my street are paying 15 and we're our houses are all basically worth about the same,
>> but that's before the rebell. So, so I >> that's after the rebell. >> So, I can just suggest that you, you know, start with Mike and our assessor so we can talk specifically about yours. I I'm not comfortable talking about like your neighbors or anything else like
that. I just don't know their specifics. But that's my that's my suggestion. And if we get more feedback that people want to have an open forum, we can certainly look at that. But right now, because of the nature of the conversations and how nuanced they are, we're we're
recommending people call directly and people have been doing that. people have I will tell you the company if you call the company that you get a message that says we're experiencing larger than normal call volume
>> call back later you can't leave a message you just have to keep calling them and they know when the letters go out that people are going to be calling them is it so hard to get a freaking answering machine I mean >> I hear you I hear what you're saying we can take that back to the company I
understand what you're We're offering you a little bit of like one-on-one assistance. So, that's my recommendation to you. >> My I appreciate the one-on-one. I am hoping that you will reach out to people in town and ask if they would like to have some type of public discussion,
make them know that it's a possibility. That's what I came here to do to ask that you would, you know, open up the possibility of of town hall and talk about it and see if it's something that people would want because I I think that people would.
They just don't know that it's possible. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Councelor Lewitz, Finance and Administration Committee. >> Uh thank you, Madame Mayor. I have a a couple of uh resolutions this evening.
First is resolution 48-26 um in which we uh approve claims and the warrants are are drawn for the amounts shown in the resolution um and uh including some that is being
uh transferred to uh the board of education. So I move resolution 48 26. >> You've heard the motion by councelor Lewood. Do I have a second? >> I'll second.
>> You've heard the motion by councelor Lewood. Seconded by was that council minute? >> No. >> Oh, councelor Law. Okay. >> That's why I double check. What? >> Did I get it? >> Um, any discussion?
>> Any discussion on this? Uh seeing none uh madame clerk please call the role. >> Leave >> I. >> Law >> I. >> Zimmy >> I. >> Terriiano >> I. >> Murray >> I. >> Motion carry.
>> Thank you so much. >> Um and uh next and finally I I have resolution 49-26. This is a resolution determining the form and other details of uh bonds uh
issued not to exceed $1.7 million uh issued by uh Glen Ridge and providing for their sale to the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank and the state of New Jersey and uh authorizing the execution
of various agreements related to that pursuant to the New Jersey Water Bank environmental infrastruure. financing program. So, I move the resolution. >> You've heard the motion by councelor Leovitz. Do we have a second? >> I'll second.
>> I'll I'll second. >> Oh. Uh, you've heard the motion by councelor Lewit, seconded by councelor Zimman. Any discussion? >> So, this is just to u provide a long-term financing of the uh water
meter replacement project. >> Yep. which is almost uh completely completed. >> Thank you. Um madam courtz >> i. >> Law. >> Hi. >> Zimi. >> Hi. >> Terriiano.
>> Hi. >> Moody. >> I. >> Motion carry. >> Thank you so much. >> And that's it for finance and administration. >> Thank you. Councelor Law Public Safety Committee. Madam Mayor, we had our public safety committee meeting tonight and I I just like to acknowledge Chief
Quinn and Detective Bureau uh in conjunction with several law enforcement agencies. We're able to tie four juveniles to the uh occupied burglaries and motivated thefts in three locations in Glen Ridge and uh fascinating process
and in terms of utilizing motivated license plate readers searching social media, telephone records and other uh communication channels. And it's uh good to see some progress. The motor vehicle thefts have been a big issue in our state as well as our municipality. It's
good to see some progress in So, nice work to the chief and detective bureau. Uh, just had three resolutions uh related to two of them related to games of chance. Uh, resolution number 50-26.
Resolution authorizes the raffle license application uh 26-1 for the duck race submitted by Glenidge High School home and school association for an event to be held on May 16th at 3:30 at 200 Ridgewood Avenue
uh in Glenidge. Madame Mayor, I seek to move this resolution. >> Thanks. You've heard the motion by councelor Law. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Seconded uh by councelor Tyriono. Any discussion on this resolution?
Madame clerk, please call the role. >> Leave >> I. >> Low. >> Hi. >> Zim. >> Hi. >> Trianiano. >> I. >> Moody. >> I. >> Motion carry. >> Resolution 51-26.
Uh, this resolution authorizes the Glenidge PBA RA license application 26-02 for an event to be held on May 25th, 2026. Madame Mayor, I seek to move resolution.
>> Heard the motion by councelor Law. May I have a second? >> I'll second. >> Heard the motion by councelor Law, seconded by councelor Zimit. Uh, any discussion on this resolution? Seeing none, madam clerk, please call the role. Leave >> I
>> l >> I >> Zimi >> hi >> Trianiano >> I >> Moody >> I. >> Motion carry. >> Thank you. >> And finally resolution number uh 52-26. The resolution conditionally approves
the application submitted by the Glenidge Country Club uh to host a firework display on private property on Saturday, July 4th, 2026 between the hours to 10 p.m. This is a conditional
approval that's still subject to be reviewed by the Montlair Fire Department. Madame Mayor, I seek to move the resolution. >> You've heard the motion by council law. Do we have a second? >> I'll second the motion by councelor Law, seconded by councelor Moody. Any discussion?
>> Hide your dogs. >> It's a good job. Seeing none, um, madame clerk, please call the role. >> Leave. I >> low. >> Hi, >> Zimi. >> Hi, >> Trianiano. >> Hi, >> Moody. >> I >> motion carry.
>> Thank you so much. >> Uh, and councelor Zimmit, community affairs and public relations. >> Um, Madame Mayor, I have no resolutions to share tonight, but we do have some transit news as usual. Um, so I want to give everybody a heads up that the uh portal bridge work is commencing next
Sunday, the 15th, uh, and is expected to last about a month, which means that no, um, trains out of Glen Ridge will be going into Penn Station. Uh, there's more information on the Burough website and certainly the NJT app and NJT. So,
just check that out. We will be putting out updated Jney schedules, etc. related to that prior to Sunday. But just up for everybody who's going to be going to the city this weekend or commuting for next month. Um, and then also related to New
Jersey Transit, I just want to remind folks that we have um our transit survey up which uh in concert with Montlair and Bloomfield, we are um looking at uh we're talking to New Jersey Transit about potentially extending uh weekend
service, expanding weekend service as well as a weekday off peak service. So, if you are interested in those things, um please fill out the survey and let uh let us know when and where when you'd like to ride the train, when you ride the train now, when you'd like to ride it in the future. Uh and we will be
again sharing that uh in conjunction with Bloomfield and Montlair and look to hopefully expand service there. Uh that survey is also on the website. is closing uh in uh on the 20th and we will be sending out reminders and posting about reminders uh for those who haven't
filled. Um other than that, Madame Mayor, we did have our Jney meeting uh last Thursday. Uh it was a really good turnout. So kudos to the residents who are passionate about the Jney. Um again as we had said at the
meeting to kick off the meeting we are not looking to pull the plug in the jney and leave everyone high and dry. We are just looking at uh alternatives and there's a lot of good feedback coming out of that session. Um so there is a subcommittee that is continuing to look at options and we will obviously keep
you posted. That's all. >> That's great. Thank you. Councelor Tyiano public works utility. Yes, madam mayor, I want to formally recognize the excellent work done by our public works on the 25th. It seems like such a long time ago, but the snow is evidence that
it was a big event. Um, with Mike Seageli's assistance, I was able to ride with Bill Bartlett and the team spent about 90 minutes and I was really amazed at how they choreographed the work that they do, the communication, the the the
way they just wanted to make sure they did the best possible job for our residents. Um, and I was also noteworthy that Not having cars parked on the street made their jobs easier because we wanted the streets that were shared with other towns like um Essex Street that's shared with Blue and cars on the street
make it difficult. Um obviously it's not you know I know neighbors are concerned when stuff gets into their driveway. We'll talk about how to support them but they did it excellent work and they were committed all weekend to get >> Did they make it do any work or >> um I was volunteering to drive the plow
but I didn't have the proper training. Maybe next time. >> Good news. Yeah. Don't tell her insurance. >> Okay. Councelor Meyer is absent this evening for parks and recreation. So, Councelor Moody, Planning and Development Committee.
>> Uh, thank you, Madame Mayor. I actually have three ordinances in one resolution today uh tonight and they are all of a piece. that all relate to our affordable housing plan and the state process uh
for this round of the affordable housing submissions that we've been doing to the state. Um just for context, all of these ordinances are required uh and they're required to be adopted on a pretty fast timeline, which is by March 16th to meet
the state's affordable housing law. So, uh, I want to give a lot of special thanks to Eric Deline, our town planner. Uh, Graham Pedo, who is our, uh, planning consultant, John Melissa, who is not here tonight, our attorney, and
also to an ad hoc working group of our planning board, who is helping to ensure that we're working swiftly uh, and thoroughly to be compliant with this rather rapid deadline. Um, and for the public who I know a lot of people listen
online, I want to call people's attention to the fact that there is a very informative section of our website. Now, there is a page dedicated to the housing element of our master plan and lays out this entire process. So, um,
thanks also to the bureau for helping be transparent and get all of that information up. Context out of the way. Madame Mayor, I have ordinance number 1831, affordable housing overlay zone. Uh,
this amends, this is a first reading introduction. Uh, uh, to amend the burough zoning ordinance to create an affordable housing overlay zones. It amends the R5 zone to permit two family and multif
family homes for the purpose of promoting affordable housing consistent with the adopted housing element and fair share and settlement agreement that we passed at the end of December. This >> um may I have a motion to second the
introduction of ordinance number 1831? >> Second. >> Thank you Lwood. Is there any other uh further discussion amongst the council members um on this ordinance? >> Seeing uh no further comments, madame clerk, please call the role.
>> Leave >> I >> Zimmy >> I Tiano >> I >> Moody >> I. >> Mayor motion pass. >> Thank you. >> First reading of the ordinance. Oh,
sorry. Um, I refer ordinance 1831 to the municipal clerk for the purpose of statutory publication and posting. Thank you, Madame Mayor. Uh, I now have resolution 53-26
and this is actually a planning board referral. So this resolution refers ordinance 1831 to the planning board to ensure consistency with the bureau's housing element and the fair share plan
originally adopted in June of 2025. This HFSP will be readdopted by the planning board at its February 18th meeting or it is anticipated to do so. Once it is reviewed, its recommendations will then
come back to this council prior to the public hearing for adoption of the ordinance that we just passed 1831. >> Would you like to move the uh resolution? >> Yes, madame mayor. I'd like to move the resolution. Sorry, so many words.
>> Just the magic ones. The motion by councelor Moody. Do we have a second? >> I'll second. You hear the motion by councelor Moody, seconded by councelor Teriano. Any uh discussion? Seeing none, madame clerk, could you please call the role? >> Leave
>> I. >> Law. >> Zimi. >> Hi. >> Triiano. >> I. >> Moody. >> I. >> May your ordinate pass on the first reading >> the resolution. >> We're going to put you through it tonight. Y.
>> Okay. >> We're doing that again. In fact, we're doing it right now. Uh, Madame Mayor, I now have ordinance 1832. This is the affordable housing standards for first reading introduction. This
ordinance repeals and replaces chapter 17.40, which administers and creates the standards for affordable housing. This ordinance is consistent with the settlement agreement with the Fair Share Housing Center.
>> Thank you. Um, may I have a second on the introduction of ordinance number 1832? >> You've heard the um seconded by councelor Zimit. Any discussion amongst the council members on this ordinance? >> Okay, seeing none, madame clerk, please
call the role. >> Leave >> I. >> Long. >> Zimi. >> Terriiano. >> I. >> Moody. >> I. >> Mayor pass on the first reading. I refer ordinance 1832 to the municipal clerk
for the purpose of statutory publication and posting. Uh and lastly, madame mayor, I have ordinance number 1833 uh for first reading. Uh this is development fees. This ordinance repeals
and replaces chapter 16-16-40 which establishes and regulates development fees for affordable housing. And again, this ordinance is consistent with our settlement agreement with the fair share housing center. >> Thank you. May I have a second for the
introduction of ordinance 1833? >> I'll second. >> Thank you. Uh seconded by councelor Lecoitz. Uh any discussion amongst the council members? >> Seeing none, madam clerk, please call the role.
>> Leave >> I. >> Low. >> Hi. >> Zimi. >> Hi. >> Terriiano. >> I. >> Mooney. >> I. >> Mayor. Order passes on the first reading. >> I refer ordinance 1833 to the municipal clerk for the purpose of statutory
publication and posting. Was that all Council Moody? >> That is all I have this evening. I think it's quite enough. >> Thank you for all your work on that. I appreciate it. >> Sounds good stuff. >> Mr. Kelly, any comments on behalf of the
Burough Administration? >> Again, I'd just like to echo the comments regarding public works and the work they've done in just constant chasing game right now and keeping up with the cold weather and the snow. And I'd like to congratulate our clerk on her first uh election.
>> Exactly. uh special election under her belt >> and uh that's it. Mayor, thank you. >> That's exactly right. It's a very important election and a very off time. So, all the work on that we appreciate. Um Madam Clerk, did you have any uh
comments for the meeting? >> Um I just wanted to say um what just might uh mention before I had the first election which was hosted on February 5th. Um we see don't have the official resort of the elections. Um it was
great. I have great participation and great support of our administrator. Our second election which is um the general election is also part of the special election is April 16. Early voting is
going to be between April 6 and the 14 uh of the month. Um just recently a new legislation by the state of New Jersey have passed that actually municipal clerk can perform weddings just to accommodate any residents and if the
mayor is not available >> trying to cut in on your action. >> That's my favorite part of the job. >> Trust me in case of an emergency. >> We did have a translator at the last one of the last ones so I could use your
help. Okay. Uh you we'd be happy to do so. Um as of March 1st, we have notification that on public notice should be advertised in our uh website. We already started just to get used to
it. That should save the municipality some uh funds when it comes to what we spend uh monthly when um we advertise uh notices in the newspaper. However, when it comes to the ordinate, we will still
have to advertise u the complete ordinance um in the newspaper and that's all I have. Mayor, thank you. >> Thank you. Great information. Um appreciate it. Uh Chief Quinn, >> no question. >> Really? Okay. It's fine.
>> We're just running on generator now. >> That's what that noise is. >> Yeah, it is a little noisy. Yeah. >> And does that have to do with what's happening >> that's in the road underground transformer blue? >> Okay. >> That's why the lights keep flickering and >> Okay.
>> So, PSEG is working on it right now. >> Okay. I think we're we're good to wrap up around here. Um I don't believe we have any new or unfinished business. Uh this is the second opportunity for comments of the public. Uh if you wish
to come up to the mic. You're good. Okay, no worries. Uh, councelor Law. >> Yes, I make a motion to adjourn the meeting. >> Adjourn. >> Thank you.