[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6049592,"mediaKeyId","3510117-eb14b73ac187026d69ce534c5f87a239","parentId",3510117,"title","Rutherford council passes first reading to remove one handicap space on Darwin Avenue; approves consent agenda including four personnel actions","audioSeconds",31,"startMs",3376000,"endMs",3407000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3510117-eb14b73ac187026d69ce534c5f87a239&start=3376&end=3407","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3510117-eb14b73ac187026d69ce534c5f87a239/thumbnail_3376000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6049592/Rutherford/Bergen-County/New-Jersey/Rutherford-council-passes-first-reading-to-remove-one-handicap-space-on-Darwin-Avenue-approves-consent-agenda-including-four-personnel-actions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6049592-6b07ad9e26ef22a8ab85fa2747555a15/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163392&Signature=UFxNiJrRAPyCGF9LnhlJowqvxFR2Ns1vPgo1gXbUTHAOV0dJcKM-bW-sZEYTonzF6HFO8zAjf5l5bPHNWq6ceQuvjpMQ4DtZEL3Ea-lkEc-KY-tGcu7BMO9z6JJV2niBBNfa-amYGh1ckFeTNHXaS6xNLlybjjYRUYTvLe7y9k~XlqlEHEAt8YwIIhlMfMIV--zadiQFtckWTun7UWvBmPWpaKLqjiCvD1TMTijVkfZYBkpqRk0-U6XUSoXSACji2O6IybHekwkjEXzEF4so3dhOjsQN9fQghZ9jE5BYi52b-arQ16faIr1rPjZvzxSpnhjFUvL1vQdEp4tzBpqJ9Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","RutherfordNJ","date","2025-02-24T00:00:00Z","article","The Borough of Rutherford council moved and approved an ordinance on first reading on Feb. 24 to repeal a handicap parking space on Darwin Avenue and ordered it be advertised according to law.

Councilman Guzman moved the ordinance; Council President McGowan seconded. A roll-call vote recorded unanimous support from the council members present, and the measure will proceed through the required advertising and second-reading steps.

In the consent agenda, the council approved multiple personnel actions, all effective Feb. 25, 2025, and enacted by single motion and roll call. The items the council approved included:

• Ryan Arnold — maintenance worker to grounds (permanent status), effective 02/25/2025.
• Michael Pechota — laborer 2 grounds (permanent status), effective 02/25/2025.
• Michael Walker — traffic guard, effective 02/25/2025.
• Matthew Van Dyke — reemployment as a police officer (reemployment appointment), effective 02/25/2025.

Each appointment was moved and seconded as part of the consent agenda; roll-call votes were taken and recorded as “yes” for council members present.

Why it matters: The ordinance affects local on-street parking regulations on Darwin Avenue and will return for a second reading and public notice as required by borough code. The personnel actions update staffing across borough maintenance and public safety roles and were handled through a standard consent procedure.

Votes at a glance: Ordinance (first reading) — motion by Councilman Guzman; second by Council President McGowan; roll-call — unanimous yes; outcome — passed on first reading and to be advertised. Consent agenda — motion by Council President McGowan; second by Councilman Guzman; roll-call — unanimous yes; outcome — approved (listed appointments effective 02/25/2025).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Mayor/Council Meeting - February 24, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The borough council passed an ordinance on first reading to repeal a handicap parking space on Darwin Avenue and, by consent, approved several personnel appointments and permanent status actions effective Feb. 25, 2025. Roll-call votes were unanimous.","taxTitle","Rutherford, Bergen County, New Jersey","taxId",70404,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6049597,"Residents urge enforcement after town installs speed signs; traffic light at Jackson and Erie remains delayed",2792,536000,3328000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3510117-eb14b73ac187026d69ce534c5f87a239&start=536&end=3328","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3510117-eb14b73ac187026d69ce534c5f87a239/thumbnail_536000.jpg","/articles/6049597/Rutherford/Bergen-County/New-Jersey/Residents-urge-enforcement-after-town-installs-speed-signs-traffic-light-at-Jackson-and-Erie-remains-delayed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6049597-8855983e77dd6b995291698e6722d1d7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163392&Signature=Qf5EVoNINZhBNPSV2RmjBTy0LUMsCrAV3PoAo2UptcHTTFPEubHViZaRcqNYw75AnRXC41IY0-eAl~QOkEaV4Wu7uo3ihSygkNOOHEWOECtlAH5re2FoMmhIQwO-yone6X0NCvgEX3pLEEe0nbIwC38~Kp2qorfz41BBo8xMSb1Nq4lzcaht0vFrRNsLY49Iivt-n98QwffKjy~CiHFaQlBv1yDDzqzO0Rhxv9~awkB7Qegri2tVWBKBdVSfvL5nIq0bF6yQS3uN1mxpSILywLHaPIobL-lcmgZXD2hbNc~J9uQq-LlwAUwVNpQhJQiKaup2gTALsLPlrOW3AlRCTg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Residents told the Borough of Rutherford mayor and council on Feb. 24 that new solar speed-feedback signs are visible and helpful, but they want follow-through on enforcement and long-standing safety fixes at Jackson and Erie.

Frank Wilson of Montrose Avenue commended the newly installed speed signs and asked, “Are we gonna then issue tickets? … Are we planning on doing any enforcement?” He also described near-misses at a crosswalk near the park and urged more protection for pedestrians.

Pete Shiro of Hobart Avenue said he had been told the traffic light at Jackson and Erie would not be installed for another year and asked whether the borough could push to speed up the timeline: “We had 50 plus accidents on that corner. Luckily, nobody got killed.”

Councilman Guzman said the solar speed-feedback signs were purchased with police forfeiture funds and praised their effectiveness: “They do make me slow down when I see those lights going off.” Chief Russo told the council that targeted enforcement activity has been discussed with the traffic department and that the presence of the signs has produced measurable driver slowing.

Council President McGowan and other members said more signs are on order (eight additional units expected in about six weeks) and that residents should also obey traffic rules. Council members said that some streets are county-owned and require county approval; McGowan said she will attend a Bergen County public meeting March 4 to press for progress on the Jackson–Erie signal.

Administrator-level comments noted that the Jackson–Erie light is coordinated with an engineering design for the Carlton Greenway rails‑to‑trails project and that the county’s queue and interdepartmental design work are delaying the project. The borough said it had advocated for the light but that external approvals and design coordination affect timing.

Why it matters: Residents raised pedestrian-safety and traffic-enforcement concerns for widely used routes. Council reported concrete steps — additional speed signs, targeted enforcement discussions with the police, and county-level advocacy — but acknowledged longer-term fixes such as signal installation will rely on county engineering and interagency coordination.","Public commenters praised new speed-feedback signs but asked about enforcement; council said the signs were paid from police seized funds, more signs are on order, targeted enforcement will be used, and the Jackson–Erie traffic light remains delayed by county scheduling and coordination with a rails-to-trails engineering project.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6049602,"Rutherford residents call policy discriminatory as council defends new rule limiting fixed park displays",2661,721000,3382000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3510117-eb14b73ac187026d69ce534c5f87a239&start=721&end=3382","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3510117-eb14b73ac187026d69ce534c5f87a239/thumbnail_721000.jpg","/articles/6049602/Rutherford/Bergen-County/New-Jersey/Rutherford-residents-call-policy-discriminatory-as-council-defends-new-rule-limiting-fixed-park-displays","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6049602-d007730f84a7866dfa08b2462706f91b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163392&Signature=bFp07H9ZOYmF3dbH-g2f084ENsDnvcwHNM7EUNcQl-cWaA0codgWJqmmRoVagdNmxBdwoZJGNsXoBtj-xonoksvMhb9-cYu2y59bSiS~bt8rBG~e3qtoLRnVEI3qd-TiQaJNnJ9m6ir2X3vzdpJbFruqbRKHvmZtMqZ5-bi2717GTj6RJdDZbQqzQD25GDI~-i-VLJFmGIBrxiDF98q-FcIKWU5ve6g8RqLOEcn~xqnrQCsSjZDVSI4iwepyJHmVZYTYlEFp~iOJriaeegkBCrsRwiqYNGApZa6iYXcZ61hcYpcZOhO1OzyE34oKlpkYCEITQZCtsGaV4RMMfHz48g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Residents and community organizers told the Rutherford mayor and council on Feb. 24 that a December policy barring fixed displays in Borough Park effectively barred a planned Ramadan crescent lighting and left many feeling excluded.

The dispute began during public comment when Jenna Makkaoui, identified herself as representing the Eid/Crescent Lighting organizers, and said the community “feels discriminated against since the council has not provided any solutions” after a request for a second annual crescent lighting was denied under the new December policy.

The subject drew multiple speakers. Saheb Khan, a Rutherford High School freshman, recalled attendance of more than 100 people at the 2024 crescent lighting and described the event as promoting “inclusivity.” Pernas Tajuddin and other residents said dozens of neighboring Bergen County towns were permitting crescent lighting this year. Shanaaz Arjumand, who said she coordinates many New Jersey events, said more than 60 towns planned Ramadan observances in 2025.

Borough Attorney Beau said the action taken by the council in December was to “restrict the use of the park for fixed displays” and that it was applied to all groups, not targeted at any single religion or culture. He told the meeting the council acted because the park had begun to be “overused” by requests for fixed displays.

Councilman Cokley said the council’s decision followed safety concerns after a later request for an unsafe, large structure; he said the council had to adopt a single policy for all groups and described a short-term alternative: a Ramadan flag-raising that could be coordinated with other scheduled observances. “There was a group that came through and wanted to put up a really large 9‑foot structure without really a good base or way to install it,” Cokley said, arguing the new rule was about safety rather than religion.

Council members acknowledged the emotional impact. A councilwoman who identified her background in employment law and anti-discrimination work said she had personally tried to help organizers and repeated that the governing body’s policy applies to all fixed displays and was not intended as discrimination. Several council members said they would discuss clearer public messaging and potential accommodations, and one council member said she would attend county and community discussions to seek a workable approach.

No vote was taken at the Feb. 24 meeting to change the borough’s December policy. Council members said they were open to further conversation and logistics work, and discussed a possible March 18 flag raising timed within the Ramadan observance window as a near-term accommodation, but emphasized details would need to be worked out by borough staff and legal counsel.

Why it matters: The policy affects how public space is used for cultural and religious events in Rutherford and prompted residents to ask for clearer rules and equitable treatment of different faith and cultural celebrations. The council’s next steps, as described at the meeting, were to pursue clearer public guidance, consider short-term accommodations such as a flag raising, and continue talks with organizers and the borough attorney about safety and logistics.","Residents urged the borough to allow a Ramadan crescent lighting after a December policy limiting fixed displays in Borough Park took effect; council members said the rule applies to all outside groups for safety and capacity reasons and proposed alternatives, including a flag-raising and further discussion.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Rutherford council passes first reading to remove one handicap space on Darwin Avenue; approves consent agenda including four personnel actions

Residents urge enforcement after town installs speed signs; traffic light at Jackson and Erie remains delayed

Rutherford residents call policy discriminatory as council defends new rule limiting fixed park displays