[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_25":26},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5},"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","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_27":28,"_29":30},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[31,74,86],{"_32":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":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6049528,"mediaKeyId","3510274-0bbd863cabf06e7cfca0770c055febe5","parentId",3510274,"title","Madison council adopts pedestrian-safety ordinance, updates fire-department disciplinary code; approves consent agenda","audioSeconds",528,"startMs",6097000,"endMs",6625000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3510274-0bbd863cabf06e7cfca0770c055febe5&start=6097&end=6625","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3510274-0bbd863cabf06e7cfca0770c055febe5/thumbnail_6097000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6049528/Madison/Morris-County/New-Jersey/Madison-council-adopts-pedestrian-safety-ordinance-updates-fire-department-disciplinary-code-approves-consent-agenda","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6049528-e27aa3fc7f18c067c52674652bfa4cf0/orig.mp4?Expires=1769727987&Signature=jb230sNRmULg6hUpyjCw~HbnkFz5UUfA3~CdP1uUvQAp3pswJKh3~ceQHsoRHCcyE3byNhwativy9W09In25gJRlYGdVjpe8X7nTV0-OpkXZSKzNvKaBy8OlQLLG8W5-Qm1boC0R9QmCweKL3YcVTAwVjSEA24pY1jFhjWkpNAKj0rfVwkwSXogoEKoLZ2hvWRMSf9qiQzMbcaWyURRwBhrgEXjE2usiSPUcGj9DQP81yxGpgVshCJCF29pApDozksWeTxO18nD3vzvKXFJH4fZBUjhvkV539Oj5rHO8YXGWPw0CgnUp2gWC5oT3oiVi6cJWWQCTOT-ZG2lNQn-hig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","The Borough of Madison New Jersey","date","2025-02-10T00:00:00Z","article","At Wednesday's meeting the Borough of Madison Council adopted two ordinances on second reading and final passage, approved a consent agenda covering a package of resolutions, and introduced a voluntary time-of-use electric rate pilot on first reading.

The council voted unanimously to adopt Ordinance 2-2025, which appropriates $65,000 from the general capital improvement fund to purchase and install 12 solar radar signs and other pedestrian safety equipment at various locations. Mayor Robert H. Conley moved the ordinance and it passed on roll call with all members recorded as voting yes.

Council also adopted Ordinance 3-2025, amending Chapter 18 of the borough code concerning the fire department's disciplinary process. The ordinance was carried on a unanimous roll-call vote and declared \"adopted and finally passed.\" Council discussion described the measure as an update to department policies.

Separately, the council introduced Ordinance 4-2025, which would amend the borough electric department's rules regarding time-of-use rates. Council approved the ordinance on first reading and set the public hearing date; staff noted the rate structures will go into effect only after the chief financial officer confirms billing-system readiness. The pilot is voluntary, and the council emphasized that customers are not required to enroll.

The council approved a consent agenda of resolutions R69-2025 through R84-2025 in a single motion. The consent package includes appointments to the office of emergency management; shared-services and IT agreements; grant applications (including a New Jersey Historic Trust grant and a Sustainable Jersey small grants application); contract awards for engineering and sewer pump-station maintenance; multiple raffle license approvals; and personnel actions including appointment of a probationary police officer and the retirement and acting appointment in the Madison arts and events office. The clerk read voucher totals and the council approved $678,361.62 in payments.

Ending: The council moved to adjourn after approving appointments to local boards; no further substantive items were taken up at this meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","February 10, 2025 Madison, NJ Borough Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Council adopted an ordinance to fund solar radar pedestrian-safety signs, updated fire-department disciplinary rules and approved a multi-item consent agenda; the council also introduced a time-of-use electric rate pilot on first reading.","taxTitle","Madison, Morris County, New Jersey","taxId",70480,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_32":75,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":76,"_40":77,"_42":78,"_44":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6049533,"Madison seeks $400,000 for downtown gateway and wayfinding signage project",464,2641000,3105000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3510274-0bbd863cabf06e7cfca0770c055febe5&start=2641&end=3105","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3510274-0bbd863cabf06e7cfca0770c055febe5/thumbnail_2641000.jpg","/articles/6049533/Madison/Morris-County/New-Jersey/Madison-seeks-400000-for-downtown-gateway-and-wayfinding-signage-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6049533-b956b3094ed832759da396614eec9275/orig.mp4?Expires=1769727987&Signature=DDRVbxEghvUuRRR0dkhZIGJEBwP~tXNypZEQBUbiBTx4AQCR9ZnEJ-TzsIJMgrgHamOfAQ2AWPTjLxD2ZrB5iuYut1vDywkdmvuZFHpHpflwAQdBBIAkkPi6oq1B0F~x2~Ut0Y4k-hTTe90lz1gb1QqndWJveQc7a746W~R5ITy2QbPUSSd4GugfcU2nCp1t6GLNV4nc5K8jMhv4DIOK2HoL1ggjIdKSzVFKPczsK5nDb7bHp8oPAaOk-JfzkGpezVKq8fRnYwZYYGy-kXiG0CplCRLeJKyJ-v79zJ5JaqNHfZF9bI5fZS9TEhoWfctjo5H18POQd1iWJwvysKKqXw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Borough staff on Wednesday asked the Madison Council to allocate just over $400,000 in the 2025 capital budget for a phased gateway and wayfinding signage program intended to support downtown branding and make municipal parking easier to find.

The project, led by the borough's director of business development, Lisa Ellis, follows a downtown revitalization study and a multi-year local committee process that selected Merge (the consultant) to design a signage system consistent with borough brand standards. Ellis said the final plan runs nearly 200 pages and is intended to be installed in phased groups over multiple years.

Ellis told council the committee prioritized gateway and parking signs in the first phase so residents and visitors can more easily identify town entrances and locate commuter and municipal lots. She said the design and technical specifications are complete but the borough must appropriate funds before moving to bid and installation.

Council members broadly supported starting with gateways and parking; several members noted that Madison currently has almost no remaining gateway signs and that other nearby towns have more extensive wayfinding. Council member Eric Range, who previously chaired the Downtown Development Commission working group, praised the long committee effort and asked the council to accelerate the two priority groups so the project does not take multiple council terms.

Ellis said the committee expects to seek cost savings by using borough Department of Public Works labor where appropriate, but said much of the work will require competitive bids. No formal vote to appropriate funds occurred at the meeting; council directed staff to include the request in the borough's upcoming capital budget process.

Ending: Staff will return with final bid documents and cost breakdowns after council acts on capital budget allocations in a future meeting.","The Borough of Madison presented a capital request to fund a phased, branded gateway and wayfinding signage system for downtown and parking areas; staff asked council to include roughly $400,000 in next year's capital budget to begin the first phase.",{"_32":87,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":88,"_40":89,"_42":90,"_44":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6049538,"Madison presents draft 2025 municipal budget; EMS transport service largely funded but expects small net cost",3660,1395000,5055000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3510274-0bbd863cabf06e7cfca0770c055febe5&start=1395&end=5055","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3510274-0bbd863cabf06e7cfca0770c055febe5/thumbnail_1395000.jpg","/articles/6049538/Madison/Morris-County/New-Jersey/Madison-presents-draft-2025-municipal-budget-EMS-transport-service-largely-funded-but-expects-small-net-cost","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6049538-5fc7d33b5918db0b607d56fc4fc8d7af/orig.mp4?Expires=1769727987&Signature=hIZCBj1DUDHVeedELB3Q7BXCn9owoP8awG2sqoDxVMJDqU5SDd3qb9g6WlvKUZqbsVIKOjk0vRC98IpJDYw1FqcpPz~fnevOFfQhlM2YleFh2UqPlA62WlhsEJs7xSXyGb2Cm1ZaIN7Aqaoj5ZcK2hcOBkqRWtxkiP9dWVGs61VkRrBp3Srp9kCthojdTpQrfWc1Szbrlsljg3nco3sesdDhV6fm7Ss--1I~LA5v-lM4j1XIAxWmWal6hEXy0GcQc9ZovPBdO-xGff2Ja1QgHDPbsR0ZbRoaDT7-GVFxeFvd7m4IP98x9Q-WJQzF7H9XEAxCqNNV15a4jLOz-1TEWg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Madison officials on Wednesday presented a draft 2025 municipal budget and an update on the borough's newly expanded emergency medical services (EMS), saying they expect EMS billing to cover most costs though the borough will likely absorb a modest net expense.

The draft budget, presented to the Borough of Madison Council as a work-in-progress, shows municipal revenues returning to pre-pandemic levels and identifies a preliminary funding gap of roughly $345,000 that council and administration will close before the final adoption date. The council's budget schedule calls for more departmental presentations, a public review period and an April 28 hearing and vote to adopt the budget.

The draft matters because it frames tax and service decisions for the year ahead: the administration reported higher projected revenues from interest, parking and court fees, offset by expected decreases in state aid and rising salary and health-insurance costs. The draft also flagged several capital pressures, including long-term concerns in the electric utility fund and a future need to replace a 2008 ladder truck.

Chief financial officer Jim (identified in the meeting as the borough finance staff member handling the presentation) told council that municipal revenues are up and that the borough is maintaining a healthy fund balance. On ambulance billing he said the town has recorded seven months of EMS revenue against nine months of operating expenses in the period since the service began and said, “it's gonna be in line with our estimates of it costing net from an operating standpoint, about a 75,000 to the borough to offer that service.” That figure, he said, represents the net operating cost after billed reimbursements.

Fire Chief Whitman said Madison's EMS program moved in April of the prior year from first-response support to transporting patients and that ambulances and the service are now state licensed. Whitman described the department as a combination career-and-volunteer force and said the borough has seen a large increase in calls: the department reported 2,164 responses last year, including a rise in EMS and fire-related calls. He highlighted steps to strengthen response capacity, including per-diem EMT hires, promotion of internal supervisors, confined-space and mutual-aid agreements and a pilot residential Knox Box program to provide secure access for emergency entry.

Council members and the mayor praised the department's work and urged continued attention to training and apparatus maintenance. Council and staff discussed capital timing and the possibility of phasing or postponing nonessential capital purchases if outside grant or federal funding is reduced. The administration noted one longer-term relief point: a major borough bond will be retired in 2028, which will free up roughly $1.5 million in future years.

The budget discussion identified several items that will require further work: a potential 8% cost rise in joint sewer service charges shared with Chatham, higher police salary costs tied to collective bargaining, and ongoing uncertainty in electric utility revenues. Administration recommended conservative assumptions and keeping options open to curtail capital appropriations if external grant funding is delayed.

The council did not take a final vote on the municipal budget at this meeting; the presentation was explicitly labeled a draft and subject to revision.

Ending: Council members scheduled additional budget and department head hearings in coming meetings and reiterated a commitment to finalize a balanced municipal budget at the April hearing.","Borough officials presented a draft municipal budget and a status update on the fire department's emergency medical services, saying ambulance transports are now state-licensed and that fee billing should cover most costs but leave a modest net expense to the borough.","actionData","errors"]

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Madison council adopts pedestrian-safety ordinance, updates fire-department disciplinary code; approves consent agenda

Madison seeks $400,000 for downtown gateway and wayfinding signage project

Madison presents draft 2025 municipal budget; EMS transport service largely funded but expects small net cost