What Will Summit Council Tackle Monday Night? Here's A Preview

SUMMIT, NJ — The Summit Common Council has finally begun meeting in person this month after a year of virtual meetings due to the coronavirus pandemic. The next meeting will be held on Monday at 7:30 p.m. See the end of the story for how to join.

According to Council President Marjorie Fox, here are some main issues the body will tackle Monday night:

• Carol Bianchi, Summit’s representative from JCP&L Regional External Affairs, will provide an update about improvements being made to JCP&L’s infrastructure and measures being taken to improve reliability. Ms. Bianchi will answer questions from members of council and the public.
• At the May 18 meeting, council held a budget hearing on the 2021 Municipal Budget, as well as budgets for the Parking Utility and Sewer Utility. The council delayed the vote to allow time for the state budget reviewer to approve the budget; it is likely that the vote on the 2021 Municipal, Sewer, and Operating Budgets will happen at this meeting. Prior to voting on the budget, council will hear a resolution to amend the budget to reflect a revision to the state aid for school debt service.
• The council will consider a resolution authorizing expenditure from the Affordable Housing Trust fund to Morris Habitat for Humanity for the purchase of property and construction of 12 units of affordable housing at 146 Morris Ave.

The Common Council will hold hearings and vote on several ordinances:

• The first is an ordinance to vacate a portion of the right of way on Ashwood Court on the western end of the cul-de-sac as part of a settlement of litigation concerning the Morris Habitat for Humanity project. This ordinance will prevent the city from using this right of way for a public street.
• The second is an ordinance that is passed annually to establish salary ranges for all city employees. An accompanying resolution concerning salary increases for employees who qualify for step or longevity increases will also be considered.
• Community Programs and Parking Services will introduce two ordinances with hearings scheduled for July 6. The first is to provide for a maximum of one hour of free parking within a 24-hour time period in all three Deforest Avenue lots and prohibits overnight parking in Deforest Lot 1. The second ordinance will provide for six metered parking spots for employees on Park Avenue.

The Finance Committee will introduce one additional resolution to declare a vacancy in the Finance Department based on discussion at closed session.

The Capital Projects and Community Services Committee will introduce five resolutions. The first resolution will approve a temporary parklet for Boxwood Coffee on Bank Street. Another resolution would award the bid for the 2021 road micro-surfacing program. Micro-surfacing is done annually and extends the life of city streets, saving money for taxpayers.

The council will also consider a resolution to authorize submission of a stewardship grant to the New Jersey Urban & Community Forestry Program to update the city’s tree inventory.

The council will hear a resolution to rescind the contract award for the Transfer Station compost building shell because of significant cost increases as a result of the material and labor shortage in the construction industry.

At the June 1 meeting, council discussed plans to replace the gated system in the Deforest parking lots with digital kiosks. The kiosks will be a substantial cost savings over replacing the existing system — that has reached the end of its useful life — with more gates. The council will consider a resolution from the Community Programs and Parking Services Committee to authorize the purchase of digital kiosks. A second resolution will declare a vacancy for a parking enforcement officer pending discussion at closed session.

The council will also consider resolutions from the Law and Labor Committee to: (1) renew a 2021-2022 liquor license for Marco Polo Restaurant; (2) authorize a stipend for a member of the Police Department; and (3) extend sick leave with pay for a fire department employee and a parking services employee.

To view the complete Common Council agenda, go to
https://www.cityofsummit.org/A...

The next Common Council meeting after this one will be July 6 at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall.

How To Join

Members of the public will be able to attend in person. However, masks are required in the Council Chamber and extra seating will be available in the lobby to allow for social distancing, the city said Friday.

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.

Earlier this week, it was announced that Summit Mayor Nora Radest will resume in-person office hours at City Hall beginning this Monday. She also has in-person office hours and two "Meet the Mayor" events coming up. Find out the dates and times here.

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