South Plainfield council approves minutes and bills, introduces ordinances; residents raise drainage and developer complaints

The South Plainfield Borough Council on April 7 approved administrative business including council minutes and payment of bills, introduced three ordinances for first reading and passed one ordinance on second reading, and heard public comments about chronic sidewalk drainage and a neighbor dispute tied to a developer whose performance bond is on the agenda.

The council voted unanimously in roll calls shown on the transcript to approve minutes for March 17 and March 25, to adopt one ordinance on its second reading, and to introduce three new ordinances for public hearing April 21. The council also approved payment of bills totaling $7,378,435.87.

Why it matters: approval of minutes, budget amendments and bills keeps borough operations on track; the Eros Development performance-bond matter drew public complaints and will be decided via resolutions the council added to tonight’s agenda. Residents raised safety and property concerns that the council and outside parties said involve separate legal and civil remedies.

Public comments and the Eros Development bond hearing

Several residents used the public-comment period to press borough officials for help with long-running problems. Paul Pine, of 725 Maple Avenue, described chronic drainage and sidewalk collapse in front of his house that he said the borough and county have not fixed. "There's 9 inches of water at the end of my driveway," Pine said, adding that the standing water makes it difficult for bus riders to board and causes icy hazards in winter.

Charles Dillon, of 2020 Linden Avenue, spoke during the public hearing on a performance bond tied to work by Eros Development. Dillon said the developer left…