Vaccines, Leaf Blowers, More: What's On Tap For Summit Council

SUMMIT, NJ — The Summit Common Council has a full plate of items to consider when it meets virtually Tuesday, including the city budget and a resolution to continue using the Summit Community Center as a vaccination site.

With a pilot program to ban gas-powered leaf blowers set to go into effect on June 1, some residents say they intend to speak on that matter too.

Resident Anna Fredette, who spoke out in March against the leaf blower ban, said residents opposed to the ban intend to speak at the meeting. While Summit had responded to resident feedback by modifying its ordinance to make exceptions (read more here), opponents have started a new petition.

Meanwhile, Council President Marjorie Fox submitted a rundown of some of the matters on the agenda to be formally discussed Tuesday:

• The council will hold a hearing on the 2021 Municipal Budget, as well as budgets for the Parking Utility and Sewer Utility. The proposed budget is a 1 percent increase over the 2020 budget, Fox said. "Once again this year, the proposed capital budget is extremely lean, which will allow us to control our debt service burden while maintaining city facilities and infrastructure," she said. Overall property taxes for Summit residents — which include municipal taxes, school, and county taxes — will decrease as school debt service has decreased and the Union County budget will remain flat, she said.
• The council will vote on an amendment to allow residents to install air conditioners outside without needing to seek variances from the Zoning Board. The amendment to the Development Regulations Ordinance would reduce the required side yard setbacks for air conditioner units in certain zones from 10 feet to five feet.
• The Community Programs and Parking Services Committee will introduce a resolution to extend the license agreement with Atlantic Health Systems for the use of the Summit Community Center for its vaccination clinic through Sept. 30. Atlantic Health has administered 31,035 vaccines there since Feb. 5. "Now that approval has been granted for people aged 12 to15 years to receive the vaccine, Atlantic Health anticipates that there will be increased demand for vaccinations," Fox says.
• The council will consider two resolutions to accept donations of $2,000 to purchase windscreens for the Memorial Field tennis courts from the Summit Boosters Association and Summit Tennis Association.
• The Safety and Health Committee will introduce a single resolution authorizing the submission of a grant application to the Gary Sinise Foundation First Responders Grants Program for $22,800 to reimburse the police and fire departments for COVID-related equipment.

To view the packet for items on the agenda, click here.

To join or speak out

Comments for the meeting can be submitted by email or by mail to cityclerk@cityofsummit.org. Comments must be received by noon on Tuesday for the city clerk to read them.

The access code for the Zoom platform for the meeting is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86882516347?pwd=ZVR5VjBCWTBMZE9uT2xSNEZzME42dz09.

Every Common Council meeting is broadcast live on HTTV Verizon channel 30 and Comcast channel 36 and 34. The meeting will also be broadcast live on the City of Summit YouTube Channel.

Find out more about the council and how to join the meetings here by clicking on the agenda.

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