would you please call? >> Yeah, you're >> okay. Council President Monttoano Cohen >> present. >> Councilwoman Canella >> here. >> Councilwoman Malari >> here. >> Councilman Benson >> here. >> Councilman Glass >> here. Councilman Darw >> here.
>> Very good. Uh we start with our administrator's report. If you could uh Miss Apertella, please tell us where we are with constructions and any other areas of um that uh we could update the council on. >> Sure. Uh, I want to first start off with
the fact that I was in the Bergen County Joint Insurance Fund meeting this evening, earlier this evening, and um they adopted their budget for 2026 and um our assessment increase which has
been double digits over the past three four years will only be 2.8%. >> Wow. >> Yes. So that's >> And how much of an impact does that have on the budget in general? >> Oh, I don't have the sheet with me. I think it's about a
20 $30,000 increase. It's not >> not very high at all. >> Um >> and right now we're estimating a point at around 225 to 250. >> About 250 and change. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> And for the public's benefit, a point
means a tax percentage point. So, uh, any increase from the county, from the state, uh, from health benefits, that would be something we'd have to try to, uh, incorporate into the budget and hopefully mitigate through other savings if possible. Go ahead.
>> Okay. So um before I go into the projects um the snee die which is the last meeting of this governing body and the reorganization meeting with the new governing body um that meeting needs to
be scheduled and under state law it has to be held within the first seven days of January. If you don't have a date in mind yet, just email the burrow clerk and for the next meeting, she will have
um the proposed 2026 schedule as well. Just so you have that tickler in the back of your mind and send and those dates. >> Uh towards that end, I'd like to congratulate congratulate our council president on reelection. Everyone a round of applause.
>> Thank you. >> It's not official, but uh it's it's there. The official notice will come out to November 19th, I believe. And uh Mr. Feffer, if you please stand. Uh Mr. Feffer, it appears uh though it's not official, will be our new council person, council person elect, uh when
it's when the official u certification comes out. Mr. Feffer. And we'd like to thank and congratulate uh u Sebastian, what's Sebastian's last name? >> Muscarelli. >> Muscarelli on running a good campaign.
uh we wish him well in the future. All right. Uh please continue. >> Okay. As far as projects are concerned, um I met with our project manager from Costa Engineering as well as with our DPW superintendent yesterday and these
are the latest updates with regards to Burrow Hall. It will um the exterior will be 90% complete by the end of the week. Railings for the police department side need to be installed as well as curbs, sidewalks, aprons, pads, and
streetscaping. The project um should be completed by mid December, weather permitting, including punch list items. Uh fire company 2 and sidewalks, that parking lot just uh was paved and needs to be striped. The pre-fabricated shed
is on order and is expected to be delivered between mid January and early February. The local road project is complete. The contractors finalizing the punch list items and our other road project through
the Riverside Cooperative. Final striping to complete the project needs to take place as well as finalizing the punch items. And um moving forward, we will be going out to bid ourselves for road projects rather than using the
Riverside Cooperative. We received better pricing and the work quality was better. Plus, the cooperative only requires a 15% maintenance bond of the contract whereas we require 100% of the
maintenance bond. Um, Bogurt Road section seven and eight are complete and they are waiting for the Department of Transportation to approve the design for section 9, which is the replacement of curved sidewalk and driveway aprons from Concord Drive to Adams Avenue.
And lastly, KBG, that project is on schedule. The under drains and sprinklers will be worked on in the next two weeks. The first coat for the pickle ball coat courts will be laid on Friday. The second coat um laying the second
coat is contingent upon the weather. And the remaining items thereafter will be the laying of sod, installing the turf, installing dugout covers, benches, batting cages, and scoreboards. But it is um on schedule. >> Excellent. Any questions from any member
of council in regard to the projects that we that we're doing? Oh, you need to activate your mic. You're not uh green light. There you go. >> Sorry. Uh sorry about that. Uh so KBG, when you say the sad and the the items
that you said mentioned, um is that going to be done before the new year or after the new year? >> Um they will do as much as possible before the new year and as long as weather is on their side. >> Okay. Um, but either way, even if it has
to be after the new year, it should still be ready for April. >> For April. That's great. Okay. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Okay. Are there any other questions from any member of council? All right. Uh, could I have a motion and second to open to the public on items on the agenda
only? >> All in favor, please say I. >> I. >> All right. Let's see. the uh is there anyone in uh the chambers who would like to raise their hand and ask a question about any item on the agenda? If it's off the agenda, we'll do that later in the meeting. So, this is just for the
agenda. There are no attendees virtually and I'm seeing shaking of heads. So, could I have a motion second to close to any item on the agenda for the public comments? >> So, move. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I.
>> All right. Great. Could I could I have a motion from the council president and second from um uh councilwoman Canella uh both who are on the personnel committee to the following uh items once I finish reading them into record.
Approve the appointment of Carolyn Smith uh Bruce Feffer and Tina Mi Rios to the River Edge atUSA 20ou uh two uh 250th committee. Um, effective
November 13, 2025. Approve the resignation of Jeff Delitri uh, school crossing guard effective November 1st, 2025. Approve the appointment of Lisa Monsano Cohen to the finance committee as alternate one effective November 13,
2025. Approve the resignation of Edwin Alter, land use clerk, tax uh, assessor uh, assessor clerk effective November 19th, 2025. So moved. >> All in favor, please say I. >> I'd like to at this moment take a moment
of personal privilege and commend Edwin Alter for seven years of outstanding service. There have been many letters of commendation that were sent uh to the council from people who were interacting with him in the land use board capacity.
uh he always went above and beyond, always uh used the community model as uh is the model and direction for himself. Uh we we will be sad to see him go. Um but uh for for personal reasons, he uh
he will be um he will be stepping away and we will miss him. uh month of reports are available through the clerk's office, the October library board of trustees, the October tax collector, and the November fire prevention reports. Okay, this brings us
to resolutions. Uh we have resolutions 25-283 through 25-289, which includes payment of bills. I'll ask for that one to be read into the record, but we're going to be moving all of them. Before we do that, does any member of council have a
question or a comment about and of course after that if any member needs to recuse themselves or ask for a separate vote, they can do that once we move to uh move the mo uh the resolutions. Any questions from the council? Any comments?
>> I do have a question. >> Sure, Dr. President. on resolution 25283. What what is the purpose of those grants and in and if you if the BA could elaborate just for our education? >> Um the municipal alliance grant is a
community group within the burrow. All municipalities have it. And this grant helps foster um the community alliance to have educational materials to help um spread the word about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse. So it it helps
these volunteers whether through educational components um pamphlets and other materials to hand out to students and work in conjunction with the police department. used to be there, now they're called the lead. And um it's
just drug awareness, the the perils of of addiction and recognizing that addiction is a disease. >> And I believe that um um Lieutenant um >> Zes is in charge of he does a great job. But it's not just him. Our our our
patrol officers, our other sergeants, uh our chief, they get involved. There's an event at the uh junior high uh which is every year which is a marvelous event and parents and students are there. It's it's a great experience.
Um and there's also uh I think some of them uh some of the officers also go into the schools or um classrooms. >> Any other questions? >> I sorry I do have another question. >> No, these are good. These are good. That's
>> uh 25 to8 285 um the total cost of 55,000 and change for >> finishing the chamber where we are sitting today. Does that include soft cost in in installation etc. It includes the installation, the
training and the um partial uh maintenance agreement and then the m the maintenance of the software would just be in the operating budget as it has been in prior years. >> Okay, >> President, anything else? >> No, no, thank you. Also,
>> Councilman Glass, >> just press the center button and look for the green. >> Okay, >> you might want to just turn it down a little bit. >> Oh, thank you. >> Right now, it's Yeah. How did the other bids come in for that >> for this software? This um did not go
out to bid. This was purchased through a national cooperative uh business information systems purchased. Um there were two companies in the state, office Business Systems and Grahamco Business Systems um had the
FTR product. Granco had the Liberty product, business information systems purchased it. They um the state did not go out to bid again for this service, this contract. And um so this is this is
a company all municipalities or the vast majority of municipalities use. So we had to go through the national co-op until the state starts um putting this out for bid again. >> Thank you. >> All right. Anything else, Councilman Glass?
>> No. Anyone else? Okay, great. Uh so could um I have a motion and second to move 25 um 283 through 25 289. >> So moved.
>> Second. >> All right. And could I ask the finance chair for the sake of transparency to read 25289 and then we'll vote on the entire list. >> At a regular meeting of the mayor and council of the burrow of river edge
county of Bergen, state of New Jersey held on November 13, 2025. Be it resolved that the mayor and council of the burrow of river edge approve the following expenditures. Current fund 9,548,91.15. General capital fund $240,394.34.
Grant fund $18,734.36. Animal control $443.60. Trust other $22,461.3. Payroll $48,481.64. developers escrow $6,487.50 recreation trust $13,52 and 64 cent.
>> Okay. And that's now read into the record for transparency sake. Uh I now call for a uh roll call. >> Council President Monttoan Cohen. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Canella? >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Malari? >> Yes. >> Councilman Benson? >> Yes.
>> Councilman Glass? >> Yes. from Indar wall. Yes, >> I did. Yes, >> you recuse from all >> I recuse myself from all >> I recuse myself from all um things
pertaining to recreation. >> Good. Very good. All right. Great. Okay. Is there any new business before this body? Old business proposed short-term rental ordinance. >> Mr. Shidane, would you be speaking to
that? >> I certainly can, mayor. Thank you. This is >> You could just activate your mic and pull it down. >> To the green light. >> Thank you, mayor. Um, this uh is a proposed ordinance with respect to um
colloquially what we call Airbnb. Yeah. >> Uh and uh short-term rentals is the legal term. Uh this ordinance as we have uh previously discussed is based on the Jersey City model ordinance which is the
only one that has to date been upheld although it was upheld in federal court not in state court. So, uh, I I I I've raised that because that this is an area that has been hotly contested over the
last 5 to seven years. uh in terms of what limitations municipalities can put on the usage of your own personal property as an Airbnb uh and whether or not individuals are allowed to use something other than their own personal residence as an Airbnb if they own it
like a rental property and use it for short term meaning less than 30 or less than 28 days I believe is the is the number that's in the ordinance. Um, but the federal court's decision that upheld this was pretty strong and I think that the New Jersey courts are likely to adopt it if it ever gets that far. Um,
so I'm comfortable recommending this to the council. >> So could you just do if you could an overview of what the restrictions uh would be if it's approved? >> Okay. So there are a whole number of restrictions. >> All right. It you have to it has to has to be your own home. Yes. Um, you know,
it can't be it can't be like you can't have you can have more than one. You can have two, but one of them has to be owner occupied. Um the the other the other issues are you can't uh have more than 28 days. Uh it can't be something
that's otherwise subject to um uh normal rentals if you would like an apartment complex. That's not included. They're not allowed to condo complexes. They're not allowed to use them uh for Airbnbs. Um there are there's a permitting process. you have to get a permit um
which will then go through a whole series of checks and that you have to pass including having insurance etc. So that we know that the person who's using their premises as an Airbnb is the individuals who are renting are protected as well as the burrow being protected. >> What would be some of the consequences
if someone did not follow uh the ordinance? There are fines and penalties that are contained within the ordinance. Um, which are consistent with our schedule of fines and penalties in the bureau. Uh, and they, you know, they get progressively uh, stricter as you, as you, if you commit more than one
violation. And I can say from having seen this in other municipalities, it's not usually a one violation kind of situation. When it happens, it's usually a multiple violation type of situation. >> Um, and um, who would be enforcing this?
would be our zoning officer, our code enforcer officer, the police department, or would they all have some jurisdiction depending on the circumstances? >> All of the above. I mean, the initial permitting process would go, I believe, through um the uh code enforcement, zoning, and then um the police
department would obviously be on site if there's a if there's an issue. That report would then probably go back to zoning, code enforcement, they would issue the violation notice. >> Okay. And you're proposing this right now for discussion with the council. If the council uh is comfortable with it,
it would be on for first draft at the next meeting. And if there isn't time to do to complete that, then it would be on draft for the second meeting of January. Correct. >> Correct. >> All right. Members of the council, uh questions or concerns? Councilman Glass? >> Just one question.
>> Councilman Glass Green Line. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. Um I'm just you asked a great question, mayor. Um but I'm wondering how a little more on how it's going to be enforced and this is just for
thought. I don't expect an answer to this, but like um how are how are we as a burrow going to become aware of uh someone soliciting renters for their property? Will we have someone like checking
websites? Okay, >> that I'm I'm nodding my head because in the other municipalities where that I know that have done this >> the code and for the zoning and code officials, they do check the Airbnb site every so often because it's easy to have like a alert that there's one for rent
and river edge. >> So then they can if it's not permitted then they know that that one you know they just cross reference it with a permit. it doesn't have a permit then they go and you know usually they advise them nicely take it down go apply for the permit and you know if they don't then we take further action
>> thank you I I just want to make it clear we have no bias against Airbnb we're just using that like we do Kleenex for tissues right >> oh you mean in terms of the company itself yeah this is that's why it's a short term >> there's other companies that
>> yes or generic name just like you might say Xerox But Xerox is only one company that makes copers >> or Kleenex as Kleenex for tissues. >> Okay. >> I Yeah, absolutely. >> Thank you. >> Um, now there would be no one who would be grandfathered. Correct.
>> Correct. >> So uh we would uh of course need to inform those who are currently uh acting uh when it gets passed that they need to start coming in for permits and things like that. >> Correct. And I just I I found the specific violation of penalty code
section uh which I want to to check. It's the fine is up to $2,000 per violation, but not less than 100 for and it's for each summon. So, you'll get at least a $100 fine. Could go up to 2,000 depending how bad the situation is. >> And they would still have um due process
because it would go before the burough uh municipal judge. >> Absolutely. >> And so then if there were extenduating circumstances, they could uh present that to the judge. And if they had recurring violations, the judge can also make a decision about where in that $100
to $2,000 uh per violation. >> Absolutely. >> Good. So, uh we're treating our public well. We're treating our renters well and we're also protecting our neighbors because um we've already had several uh
incidences of um short-term rentals that have gotten out of control and that they have become almost riotous in the the number of individuals at the location and um and
their behavior. So, um, we are responding appropriately to the needs of the residents, the needs of the potential, uh, short-term renter as well as the individuals who are renting. Are uh, any questions or comments from
council? >> Just go ahead. >> Go ahead, counciloman. >> Just a quick one. Uh, do you know what the duration of the permit's going to be? >> Uh, uh, well, they can't do it for more than 28 days, right? >> They can't rent, but the permit is good for one year. >> Got it. Thanks. >> Oh, yes. That would be a distinction.
Yes. Anything else? Councilwoman >> Darl, >> do the uh short-term rentals, if you think, do they affect affordable housing? >> No, they do not. But I should really a lawyer to do that. >> It it it doesn't it doesn't count
towards our uh affordable housing uh numbers. >> Afford affordable housing is permanent housing, >> but it does not affect I mean as real estate. No, I the mayor's correct. The affordable housing regulations that are
uh uh now statutory used to be what we would call the council, you know, COA, that's gone now. Um but those requirements are those numbers are uh for permanent housing that's available to uh you know the the three levels that they have. >> Yes.
>> The very low, low, and and uh >> moderate >> moderate. Sorry. Next was that. And this is all due to state statute and the municipality cannot supersede the state >> but the rental the rentals don't count. >> And is there also like the number of
short-term rentals in a in a burrow in a town or is it there is no limit? >> I think what she's asking is do can we put a limit on the number of short-term rentals? I think the answer is no. >> I I wouldn't recommend it. I think I think that's that's that you're sort of treading on dangerous ground there. with
the way it's been limited in this ordinance, which is again I think is appropriate and has been previously upheld is that you're as the individual owner, you're allowed to have your own home and you can have one other one and there but there are special there are
specific requirements if you have the second one um that are in the ordinance. So it's it's somewhat strict in terms of how many you can have but I don't think there is a limitation other than by the permits. So, at certain point, if the burrow got thousands of permit applications, that might become an
issue, but I don't think we're there yet. No, it's just a monitor. >> Um, but the all the other, correct me if I'm wrong, all the other attempts at writing uh an ordinance uh to uh to address this concern have failed and that's why we modeled ours after Jersey
cities. Um it is as stringent and as reasonable uh the two ends of the spectrum that uh the courts the federal courts have recognized as uh as acceptable. >> That's correct. And the way just I'm sure everyone here can understand this
when I when I say it. uh the all of the short-term rental cases come out of the shore because of the the summer rentals that people uh you know there's a there's a legion of cases that talk about how you can't limit that. So it's gone up to the Supreme Court of New
Jersey multiple times. So, it's you know when when this the concept of air what like what Airbnb is and I'm not again citing to the company but to the concept of those kind of short-term rentals when that became the a thing they uh that created a whole new series of of
decisions um in other places or there were challenges they were all shot down because of the decisions from the shore that said you can't limit people from renting their own personal property u so Jersey City found a way to make it work and and like I said so far it's been upheld only because I asked only because
uh river is mostly residential and seeing these um different I mean like strangers and so many influx of people coming I mean what you know that's why I asked >> I don't understand >> uh so that's why I asked if there is a
limit to the number of rentals or if we are having like anybody >> we have correct me if I'm wrong but all municipal government has limited authority over private property property. Our authority emanates from the state and the state grants uh local
municipalities certain ranges of uh of authority uh which we which our laws are called ordinances not statutes. Uh statutes create uh ranges for us to act within. But um there have been some
abuses of this and that's and we have also we have FIFA. FIFA is it called? >> Yes. Yes. What does FIFA stand for? >> Football International Football Association. >> Yeah. So, there's a there's that which
is a major soccer um tournament that's coming to New Jersey. A good port good portion of going to be done in New Jersey. And given our past um bad actors, not all, but we've had some bad actors, uh it was it's appropriate for
this body to create uh reasonable and defendable um restrictions and protections. If >> I could say this is a way uh um councilwoman of monitoring and having
your your um the people that protect the burrow, the police department, fire department, the code enforcement to let them monitor because the permit then you know once the person applies for the permit, it's known that that location is someplace where there may be an event.
And to the mayor's point, where these where the problems happen is when people exceed the occupancy, they exceed the the allowable number of of persons on a particular piece of property because it becomes unsafe. So this way at least the police aren't going to be overwhelmed if they're like like especially during like
FIFA or during a big event where a lot of people may be renting places that you have a lot of these big parties going on and they don't, you know, the police don't know where to go. Yeah. >> They have to get called. They're sort of have advanced warning of it. >> Thank you. Good. >> Thank you. Yes. >> Excellent. Wonderful. Great questions.
Great questions all. All right. Is there any other old business? Hearing none. Could I have a motion and second to open to the public public for any comment whatsoever? >> So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor, please say I. >> I.
>> Do we uh anyone in the chambers? >> Sure. >> Okay. Good. All right. And there's no one remotely. Okay. Okay. So, can I have a motion and second to close to the public on uh public comments? >> So, moved. >> All in favor, please say I.
>> I. I. >> Okay. Are there any council comments? Anything that's happening with your liaison chips? >> Well, we have the Christmas tree lighting, right? >> Just something that I I missed. Uh uh um
there is um the DPW is started a annual planting across town. >> Yes. Um I believe the schedule and the roads and streets are available with the municipal clerk if the residents are are uh desire to know where they are.
>> Contact DPW >> or contact DBW. Um but that's ongoing as we do every other year and the planting is started >> and it's very important because uh curb appeal creates uh generates higher
property values. So, as we restore our canopy, as uh because trees get old and die and and they're they're affected by disease, we had the spotted something >> lantern fly. >> What was that? >> Lantern fly. >> The lantern fly and everything else. As
we replace uh the shrubbery um it it it has a positive impact impact on property values and curve appeal. So, we want to do it for that reason. It has a positive impact on the environment. Uh it lowers the temperature of the town. The canopy
lowers the temperature of the town in the summertime. Um and uh it also adds to the environment uh uh oxygen and it recycles uh many of our pollutants. So uh this is one of many many benefits and
we're doing this with money that we're collecting from uh fees >> and bonds. And so this is dedicated trust fund money >> and from grants and um so in in every way it's it has a positive impact on the
town as a whole and costs almost nothing >> and in addition to that there are D regulations that require the towns now to replenish and replace trees >> which was not of our uh our desire to
regulate uh plantings on private property but The state uh again the state grants municipalities a certain leeway to create our ordinances and they also create um expectations and demands on us. So uh this ordinance that uh
regarding trees on private property uh came from the state and um and we have to enforce it as it is written in the statute is a good point council president. Anything else? Uh so we want to talk about the Christmas uh the holiday tree
and that's Saturday December >> 6 December 6. It's from >> 4 to six right >> four to six >> four to six >> six >> and it's going to be right here. I've already talked to uh our our wreck um
director uh Joe Rica and uh hopefully uh we'll be able to have the podium right on the front steps which we did a long time ago before the construction and the tree of course will be the tree off on between Tenny and Kendrick. uh but be
able to use our little itty bitty town square here uh our gathering place uh by our 911 memorial which will be wonderful and I believe the fire department is doing hosting Santa and we hope uh Santa arrives on time though we know that the
fire department will be bringing Santa in with the antique fire truck and uh so hopefully Santa will will will grace that and then there'll be time with Santa and Coco and other sugar items to help parents have long nights.
All right. Uh, anything else from any of the liaison? No. All right. Great. Um, good. Um so um could I have a motion and second uh from any member of council once I read into the record uh the close
session resolution 25-290 resolution to go into close session exclude the public attorney client privilege NJSA 10 col4-12B7 proposed uh RFQ solicitation item number one item number two burough hall
construction update item three chapter 384 item four potential litigation unauthorized street opening. >> Item five. >> And on item five, 2026 paid time off usage. Okay. Uh >> could I have a motion and second for
that? >> So moved. >> Second. >> It's been moved and seconded. All in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Now, um madame business administrator, uh we will not be coming back into open session to make any to take any action. Correct.
>> Correct. So when we adjourn, we'll be adjourning for the evening until our next meeting which is 24th Monday. Monday >> Monday the 24th. We want to make note of that because we normally have our meetings on uh Thursday.
We moved it to Thursday because it's the one day that has one of the least uh holidays but doesn't affect other things like Friday is just not not feasible for the public. Uh but Thanksgiving does is the one time a year when we do have to
move it to a Monday. Okay. Um so could I have a motion and second to adjourn the public meeting? Second. >> All in favor please say I. I. >> We are adjourned. And if we could Yes.