Ramsey council adopts 3.9% water-rate increase, OKs $165,000 for police vehicles and passes affordable-housing resolution

The Ramsey mayor and council on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, adopted a final ordinance increasing water usage rates by about 3.9%, approved a capital appropriation of $165,000 to replace two police vehicles and upfit equipment, and passed a package of consent resolutions that included participation in the federal 1033 equipment program and a resolution addressing the borough’s fourth-round affordable housing obligations.

The council’s actions affect Ramsey water customers, the Ramsey Police Department and borough park planning. The water-rate ordinance implements rates recommended by the Board of Public Works for 2025; the vehicle appropriation uses budgeted funds rather than new borrowing; and the consent resolutions include grant application authorizations and administrative transfers the borough described as net-neutral for the tax levy.

Ordinance O1-2025 (water rates): The council passed Ordinance O1-2025, “an ordinance amending chapter 19 of the code of the borough of Ramsey…subsection 19-2.1 entitled fees for water usage,” to set water rates for calendar year 2025. The ordinance was presented by Councilwoman Cusick as having been approved and recommended to the governing body by the Board of Public Works in December. The administration said the new rates reflect increased operating and capital costs and amount to approximately a 3.9% increase from prior rates. No public comments were offered during the hearing; the council adopted the ordinance by roll call.

Ordinance O2-2025 (police vehicles): The council adopted Ordinance O2-2025, a capital-improvement ordinance that appropriates $165,000 to acquire two replacement vehicles for the Ramsey Police Department and to purchase and install radios, light bars and other upfitting equipment. Borough staff clarified this was a capital-improvement appropriation (funds already budgeted) rather than a bond ordinance, meaning no new borrowing was required. The ordinance passed after a public hearing with no speakers.

Consent resolutions and other approvals: The governing body approved consent resolutions numbered 033-040. The package included: - Authorization to participate in the federal Department of Defense 1033 program for 2025, which the borough said allows acquisition of excess DoD equipment at no charge (the administration cited examples such as portable generators and non-military items used by emergency management). - An appropriation reserve transfer described as net-neutral (shifting unspent funds from prior budget lines to cover invoices received after year-end; no change to the overall budget or tax levy). - A binding governing-body resolution related to Ramsey’s fourth-round affordable housing obligations under the amended New Jersey Fair Housing Act; the administration explained the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) reported a fourth-round present rehabilitation need of 51 units and a prospective new-construction need of 503 units for Ramsey, and the borough submitted the required resolution by the Jan. 30, 2025 deadline while preserving rights to seek later adjustments under applicable regulations and legal review. - Authorization to submit a Local Recreation Facility Improvement Grant application to the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs for Finch Park improvements, with the borough indicating a focus on upgraded electrical service and new court lighting; the borough also noted previously awarded open-space grants would cover surface replacement on basketball and pickleball courts if the grant is successful. - A special-events permit item (the Manetti Dentist Group’s annual townwide garage sale, scheduled for May 3, 2025) and other routine municipal items.

Votes at a glance: - Ordinance O1-2025 (water usage fees): Adopted by roll call (Councilwoman Cusick; Councilman Gutwetter; Councilman Kilman; Councilman Popolo; Councilwoman Poppe; Councilwoman Woods — recorded votes: all “yes”). - Ordinance O2-2025 (capital appropriation $165,000 for police vehicles and equipment): Adopted by roll call (same yes votes recorded). - Resolutions 033-040 (consent package including 1033 participation, appropriation transfer, affordable-housing resolution, Finch Park grant application, Manetti townwide garage sale permit): Adopted by roll call as a block (recorded votes: all “yes”).

Procedure and public comment: Each ordinance was opened for public hearing; no members of the public spoke on either ordinance at the hearings and the mayor closed each public hearing before the roll-call votes. A short public-comment period earlier in the meeting included remarks from a Bergen Community College professor thanking the council and students for participation in a downtown marketing project; that comment was not tied to any formal agenda action.

What the borough said about next steps: The borough clerk was directed to publish the ordinance titles as required by law. For the Finch Park grant, borough staff indicated the application—if funded—would be used to upgrade electrical service and park lighting; existing open-space grant funds would be applied to court surface replacement. On affordable housing, the administration said the adopted resolution preserves the borough’s ability to seek adjustments under the implementing regulations or via legal challenge to the amended Fair Housing Act.

(Administrative note: the council handled other routine procedural motions—approval of minutes, receiving communications, and consent items—by roll call earlier in the meeting.)

Ending: The meeting adjourned after the council completed its agenda; the borough’s actions will be reflected in published ordinance and resolution notices as required by state law.