South River council introduces 2025 budget, passes ordinances on first reading and adopts consent agenda

The Borough of South River council on April 7 approved a resolution to publish the municipal budget notice for fiscal year 2025 and scheduled a public hearing on the budget for May 5 at 7 p.m. The council also passed several ordinances on first reading and adopted a consent agenda containing routine appointments and contracts.

Councilwoman (full name not specified in the transcript) moved to approve Resolution 2025-123, the municipal budget notice, with Council President Cielo seconding the motion. The council approved the resolution and set a May 5 public hearing at 7:00 p.m. at the Criminal Justice Building; the resolution directs publication of the budget notice in the Home News Tribune on April 24, 2025.

The council moved several ordinances on first reading by title only and authorized publication and second-reading public hearings in May. Ordinance 2025-9 amends chapter 350 of the borough zoning code to remove a section concerning preexisting uses; Ordinance 2025-10 adds a handicap parking marking for Catherine Street; Ordinance 2025-11 amends chapter 155 (fees); and Ordinance 2025-12 amends chapter 193 (vehicles and traffic). Each ordinance was introduced on first reading and will return for public hearing and final action in May.

The council adopted a multi-item consent resolution that covered routine and noncontroversial matters. The consent list included, among other items, the following (as read into the record): an emergency temporary municipal budget (20 25-1204), construction department permit refund (20 25-1205), award of a professional-services contract to CME Associates related to Petoskey Park (20 25-1207), shared-service agreements with Milltown (20 25-1208) and East Brunswick (20 25-1209), appointment of a part-time dispatcher and a special law enforcement officer class 3, support-of-suitability resolutions for two proposed cannabis businesses, the hiring of a firefighter (Jason Farina), spring recreation employee appointments, authorization to submit a grant application to the Firehouse Public Safety Foundation (resolution 1 42), and a number of utility and payroll-related authorizations.

A motion to approve the full consent agenda carried on a roll call with affirmative votes recorded; the clerk read the roll. Later in the meeting the council approved a resolution (20 25-147) to enter executive session to discuss litigation and property acquisition and stated it would take no formal action after that closed session.

No ordinance final adoptions or budget appropriations were completed at this meeting; the budget resolution set the statutory public hearing for May 5.

Votes at a glance: - Resolution 2025-123 (Municipal budget notice): Mover: Councilwoman Manvelas; Second: Council President Cielo; Outcome: Approved; Public hearing scheduled for 2025-05-05 at 7:00 p.m. - Ordinance 2025-9 (Zoning code amendment, chapter 350): Introduced on first reading; Clerk authorized to publish; Second reading/public hearing scheduled for May 2025. - Ordinance 2025-10 (Handicap parking marking, Catherine Street): Introduced on first reading; Second reading/public hearing scheduled for May 2025. - Ordinance 2025-11 (Fees, chapter 155): Introduced on first reading; Second reading/public hearing scheduled for May 2025. - Ordinance 2025-12 (Vehicles and traffic, chapter 193): Introduced on first reading; Second reading/public hearing scheduled for May 2025. - Consent agenda (Resolutions 20 25-1204 through 20 25-1409, selected items listed above): Mover: Clerk read and council voted; Outcome: Adopted.

Clerk and staff will carry forward the publication, public-notice and second-reading steps for the ordinances and the May 5 budget hearing.