[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6189968,"mediaKeyId","5053365-3301d14e2ffdec0f522990f96f1c80e0","parentId",5053365,"title","Seniors’ programs draw public support amid questions about space; council asks administration to explore alternatives","audioSeconds",410,"startMs",5560000,"endMs",5970000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5053365-3301d14e2ffdec0f522990f96f1c80e0&start=5560&end=5970","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5053365-3301d14e2ffdec0f522990f96f1c80e0/thumbnail_5560000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6189968/Clifton/Passaic-County/New-Jersey/Seniors-programs-draw-public-support-amid-questions-about-space-council-asks-administration-to-explore-alternatives","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6189968-3796adffaf2b8a4f124dd2c367f1a484/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174443&Signature=iY4WZ9~mPYNdZoHRq7-as1~C2SHm2XawalACeDmo~LZBHNE82a4U-qs9gzL3QveuvemkOcsui001Q04QI2KgNmNbZjEUHjvz3pNLG0YUuzXq-GJ4jNrRw1ZiSLNL0XodiK3UKNdg00tI3SL9Xwqsv8nF0NmxrZY-G0yPSB~w80wAr0ipAggI17sjAI-uhBRNrzyWJFQBPrR1Selec0JACJ7bKvd9j69pIkce3lcX0J6LMxATRBGkmElNsVEbIKTedrugBYH9Z-c3cVKw3ziQlU23AzdK0ksnfluaRk3isuoIC4EP4kdfwb2QjE1vh2rK8kM8Ia4LQJLLpMIjbPaBFw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Clifton, NJ","date","2025-06-17T00:00:00Z","article","Several seniors and nonprofit leaders urged the council on June 17 to preserve exercise, technology and meal programs organized by Power of 1 and other local nonprofits. Speakers said the programs provide services to dozens of seniors and vulnerable residents; council members and administration said they would explore alternate space and funding while declining to turn the city’s historic barns into indefinite long-term leases without further study.

What residents said: Multiple participants who attend senior-center classes said they rely on the programs for fitness, socialization and technology help. Speakers asked the council to guarantee continuity of programs and to identify a brick-and-mortar space for the organization to operate year-round.

What council and administration said: Council members expressed sympathy and said they did not intend to discontinue senior programming. Council asked administration to explore immediate options including available municipal spaces (recreation center classrooms, art center rooms and other municipal buildings) and to research grant funding and capital funding sources for rehabilitating historic city-owned barns and other facilities. Several council members cautioned against setting a precedent of allocating one historic barn to one nonprofit without a formal process.

Next steps: Administration was directed to identify temporary space options and to research grant and capital-funding routes to support needed repairs and upgrades. Administration will report back to council with availability and cost estimates before the next meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting 6.17.25","oneSentenceSummary","Multiple residents and nonprofit leaders urged the council not to displace senior-center programs. Administration and council discussed possible temporary spaces, grant funding and use of existing municipal facilities while long-term options are explored.","taxTitle","Clifton , Passaic County, New Jersey","taxId",2755,"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},6189972,"Council advances Hoffmann La Roche campus Phase 4 plan to first reading after heated debate",202,4512000,4714000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5053365-3301d14e2ffdec0f522990f96f1c80e0&start=4512&end=4714","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5053365-3301d14e2ffdec0f522990f96f1c80e0/thumbnail_4512000.jpg","/articles/6189972/Clifton/Passaic-County/New-Jersey/Council-advances-Hoffmann-La-Roche-campus-Phase-4-plan-to-first-reading-after-heated-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6189972-0b5602af54a579e5c6572283383e538e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174444&Signature=SpDn2dHEH6yN3YroXPlw4X6Mc20kUKG2R5rsgvlLe2hcb4gQIToJc2Wr5gyf2wUu9DleOU-90~p5466KZ9V7VK~lOHEQskBmHuR5VioCke1y7RfSEYs1WHeFvYz5tRRSbplCd3Di9sKZ1k2zGJtSMCg1br7HTfgxdQ8z2cNGadRGVHPVfH96wI9N~kOAC6F7qtDCILbqhpba089p0P0dk~EwCO1JUxnzGvAm-AAZJ1I8IadEkcizA5JCRvilkQC16XHbem1hL59~HlE1n3Gq-wsL-LpRIr-g6L~ebZ~JZtbU0NKKgn4FrgjifiTrIzKWQjIOxVvkdYBla5HpK4hraA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The council voted on the first reading of an ordinance to adopt Phase 4 of the HLR (Hoffman La Roche) redevelopment plan on June 17 after a lengthy debate over process and whether the redevelopment attorney and developer responses had been supplied to the planning board and to council before the meeting.

What happened: Several council members argued the redevelopment attorney had been asked to return to answer questions and the council should not advance first reading without required responses. Others said the documents provided to council substantially matched the materials and that delaying the ordinance would stall a major development project. After debate the council approved introduction on first reading (vote recorded as 4 yes, 3 no) and directed the redevelopment attorney to appear at the next meeting with the requested materials.

Why it matters: The Phase 4 redevelopment plan covers a large site and is central to a multi-year redevelopment effort. Council members emphasized the need for transparency and asked the redevelopment attorney to present responses and to appear in person at the next meeting so council and the public can review modifications before second reading.

What developers said in public comment: An owner representative said Nutley Borough took steps that reduced pressure from a warehouse application on a nearby development parcel; he asked the council to continue cooperative negotiations and said collaborative work had already addressed several planning-board concerns.

Next steps: Council set expectations that the redevelopment attorney will attend the next meeting and that any revised documents be supplied in advance. The ordinance will return for public hearing and second reading after the planning-board comments and developer responses are presented.","After back-and-forth over scheduling and documents, the council voted to introduce (first reading) the Phase 4 redevelopment plan for the former Hoffman La Roche campus; some members had sought tabling until requested responses were provided to the planning board.",{"_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},6189977,"Council splits on outside-counsel appointment; moves to formalize municipal attorney role",134,3862000,3996000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5053365-3301d14e2ffdec0f522990f96f1c80e0&start=3862&end=3996","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5053365-3301d14e2ffdec0f522990f96f1c80e0/thumbnail_3862000.jpg","/articles/6189977/Clifton/Passaic-County/New-Jersey/Council-splits-on-outside-counsel-appointment-moves-to-formalize-municipal-attorney-role","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6189977-617444413156a933b62d52b738b7210a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174444&Signature=O7v8TmzAdF~S-aMHSJNz~33~gpD4rhJ5kawrUneDz7SdY-oearNHWNOajMBKjPcmdyQv3NOEJqOC-YtYHjBCVwtz-HQrZaOoWTc0RpeRqeOZ1m9KlrMTe9P0K-7Sdq~Mnu0kTV5MVR6zy~YsluKb0Hr7aP~Ibs6q0V8KzjQCijSgXDPQ9gWI83VbuLg4sm6xELIiGd7beqKSVloY6Kuqflc798Bsgt09X1gKksElXOQCqfCZUjN9UotEE8y9R4pg7yClyIsHY~LO0YWOPi6TFIx1PJiLsYEPD7CgnjpZuG5pnGvTuFqa0VEd~F8G3rok7noxsa5klB4HdrTMlu99RQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The council debated two separate legal staffing items on June 17: a late resolution to hire outside counsel for pending litigation and a proposal to appoint Tom Egan to a municipal attorney role with full-time hours and a discussed salary.

Outside counsel resolution fails: Administration presented a late resolution to appoint outside counsel (Mark Tabakan of the Weiner Law Group) to defend the city in a pending lawsuit. After roll-call voting the motion failed (vote recorded on the floor as 3 yes, 3 no, 1 absent). Several council members said the administration should provide more options and return with alternatives; council directed staff to pursue other counsel or to re-present the item at the next meeting.

Municipal attorney appointment discussed: Councilmembers debated a motion to appoint Tom Egan as municipal attorney on a full-time basis and discussed an employment figure (a motion on the floor proposed $190,000 annual compensation and a 35-hour week). Egan indicated his willingness to accept terms and the council indicated formal action would follow; members asked to finalize contractual details and any employment agreement in closed session or in a follow-up session and to document any MOU.

How council framed it: Supporters said a stable in-house municipal attorney would save money versus recurring outside counsel and provide faster turnaround for city needs. Critics urged detailed terms and asked that any change be accompanied by a formal employment contract and clarity on hours, benefits and transitional arrangements.

Next steps: Council directed administration and legal staff to draft a formal employment agreement and to present it for ratification; administration to return with alternatives for outside litigation counsel that got a failed vote on the late resolution.","A late request to appoint outside counsel in litigation failed; the council debated and moved to formalize Tom Egan’s role as municipal attorney and discussed terms for that appointment.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6189983,"Clifton council adopts estimated 2025 tax levy, schedules July 7 budget introduction",2256,255000,2511000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5053365-3301d14e2ffdec0f522990f96f1c80e0&start=255&end=2511","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5053365-3301d14e2ffdec0f522990f96f1c80e0/thumbnail_255000.jpg","/articles/6189983/Clifton/Passaic-County/New-Jersey/Clifton-council-adopts-estimated-2025-tax-levy-schedules-July-7-budget-introduction","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6189983-339ff0c2a271b7407d5b00c9d97cb7ee/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174444&Signature=D1dc7RYlwcBeWeXfHRcag9yIOf-2w4kk9jH~NBeCMDgCsE2apAXTIU2qtBq2d~zsDI4Y1AyNThncGXvKANxI4O5g98O6mek~PoeDmdZBAPo-GFSFPkcfx09sYICMrAZI9PLnHOGO~54RaVmavOghYlKNNKEjK~BRp2C0nv5KPbkByaD-1YD-7ISZ-vFLyeqQMV7YLfeIhkYiUGgYN6K2HhfaZCAvm75Yyxe6tbXmjsidfvDoxtzq3fqJ1sealLYe210Zj74DSh8Ggy2KXoJ6NiL3rX7wdk3Khx45vNFnwvICAfMELRQ3~yoox5hPPAj5Hpvkcu4j3boLoYPdzt7ODw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Clifton Municipal Council on June 17 adopted the city’s estimated tax levy for 2025 and set a special meeting the week of July 7 to introduce the municipal budget, an action municipal officials said was necessary to meet the Department of Community Affairs deadline and avoid state sanctions.

Why it mattered: Council members and administration agreed introducing an estimated levy was required to avoid cash-flow problems and the possibility of DCA fines. Several council members said they expect a revised budget document that reduces reliance on fund balance and shows additional cuts or new revenue options.

What council did: The Tax Collector and Chief Financial Officer presented the estimated levy figure; council discussion focused on whether the 3.77% total levy figure represented the city’s portion and how many tax points underpinned the estimate. The council recorded a roll-call vote on the levy (vote recorded on the floor as 5 yes, 1 no, 1 absent). Members directed administration to present a more detailed budget packet before the July 7 introduction meeting.

What council members said: Several members said the town must stop relying on pandemic-era monies and one-time sources to mask structural shortfalls. Council members requested the finance team provide a clearer accounting of cuts, hiring freezes and one-time revenue so the public and the council can see options for long-term stabilization.

Next steps: Administration will reissue the revised budget materials and attend a special July 7 meeting (time discussed for early morning). The council asked for options to reduce the use of fund balance, and for proposals that could increase recurring revenue or reduce recurring expenses.","Council adopted an estimated tax levy and set a July 7 special meeting to formally introduce the municipal budget; members pressed administration for a smaller draw on reserves and clearer budget materials.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6189986,"Votes at a glance: Clifton Council takes actions on tax estimate, multiple contracts and ordinances",6534,254000,6788000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5053365-3301d14e2ffdec0f522990f96f1c80e0&start=254&end=6788","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5053365-3301d14e2ffdec0f522990f96f1c80e0/thumbnail_254000.jpg","/articles/6189986/Clifton/Passaic-County/New-Jersey/Votes-at-a-glance-Clifton-Council-takes-actions-on-tax-estimate-multiple-contracts-and-ordinances","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6189986-4ca177df872eb3ed967e2c43cbcaa0dd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174444&Signature=Sfp9axHux4BGqKN4n2cZVIR-XP-Jt~Py~NV-~Mr~6AvWSRPWlooW9cNOYau11jNgSYw4qpDHFZkIm5VGn9~wiJMpiXU2KmbO9nzhZN5SdOZXwS0735TiTEFlJQyV8hj3EVomqSSHMa1vcrYc00Xu0MRd5Q7PqGUeeQMb5508hMBlNwDmrC69-fzNhOeEkZFLgRj~~n9UCaEl1k3JZ3ArDTOpUib6DT5kRI8JdN5-WPDj54ev9DxiYG9r62pJCI2OgVtEGm-r7nA~kGqR0RsBY5wKyGi65ugEbblBuRqu6DHJIAVPZsIba-ydzFDYQTBbDQnTC4uhhygIC8VdELalcw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Clifton Municipal Council on June 17 approved a slate of routine and contested items, including an adopted estimated tax levy for 2025, multiple contract awards and several traffic and parking ordinances on second reading. The council also considered, and failed to approve, a late appointment of outside counsel requested by the administration.

The council opened the meeting by taking action on an estimated tax levy and then moved through numbered action items that included contract awards, professional services authorizations, and ordinance votes. Several contested procurements and professional-service items were discussed in detail; some were approved, some were tabled for follow-up and at least one late legal appointment failed on the floor.

Key outcomes (as recorded in the meeting):
- Action item 1 — Estimated tax levy for 2025: the council approved the adoption of the estimated tax levy (vote recorded as 5 yes, 1 no, 1 absent). The council also set a special budget meeting to introduce the municipal budget during the week of July 7 to meet the state deadline.

- Contract awards and professional services: the council considered a series of contract awards and authorizations (multiple items read as separate action items). Several were approved by roll call after discussion (individual roll-call tallies were recorded on the floor for specific items); a number of other professional-service authorizations were tabled for further review, including items the council asked administration to re-negotiate or re-bid.

- Ordinances on second reading: the council adopted multiple traffic- and parking-related ordinances on second reading with unanimous recorded votes (examples called on the floor with roll calls recorded as 7 yes, 0 no). Those ordinances amend Chapter 4-39 (Vehicles and Traffic) and related sections to add or remove specific restricted parking and handicap parking spaces and to amend bond ordinance language (ordinance numbers cited on the floor included 07-9997-25, 07-998-25, 08-2025 series shown on the agenda; each was taken on second reading and passed as announced).

- Late outside-counsel appointment (resolution R0328 / appointment of outside counsel in Milano/Filano matter): council considered a late resolution to appoint outside counsel (Mark Tabakan of the Weiner Law Group) to represent the city in a lawsuit. That appointment failed on the floor (vote recorded: 3 yes, 3 no, 1 absent — recorded as failed). Council members directed administration to return with alternatives.

- Tabling and follow-up: several items (noted on the agenda as authorizations for professional services, redevelopment counsel items and related contract amendments) were specifically tabled for re-negotiation, review of invoices or to obtain additional documentation. Council members repeatedly asked administration to provide supplemental invoice detail, clearer scopes of work, and to reach out to all proposers for better pricing prior to final award.

What the council asked for next: administration was directed to provide more documentation for several professional-service contracts, to re-contact RFP proposers to attempt to reduce hourly rates where appropriate, and to ensure needed documents are provided to the council ahead of meetings. The council also set a follow-up budget meeting for July 7 to introduce the municipal budget, and asked for the redevelopment attorney and other presenters to appear at the next meeting with requested materials in hand.

Ending: Several adopted ordinances and contract awards will be posted in the official minutes; tabling and failed appointments mean additional votes are likely at the next meeting once staff returns requested documents and revised proposals.","At its June 17 meeting the Clifton Municipal Council approved an estimated 2025 tax levy, passed several ordinances on second reading and voted on multiple contract awards; a late appointment of outside counsel failed. Several items were tabled for more information.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Seniors’ programs draw public support amid questions about space; council asks administration to explore alternatives

Council advances Hoffmann La Roche campus Phase 4 plan to first reading after heated debate

Council splits on outside-counsel appointment; moves to formalize municipal attorney role

Clifton council adopts estimated 2025 tax levy, schedules July 7 budget introduction

Votes at a glance: Clifton Council takes actions on tax estimate, multiple contracts and ordinances