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Cranford committee introduces 2025 municipal budget and several fee and ordinance changes; consent resolutions approved
Summary
The township committee introduced the $48 million 2025 municipal budget, passed first-reading ordinances to establish a cap bank, update stop intersections and raise various fees, and approved several consent resolutions including a Community Food Bank support resolution and a FEMA project closeout.
The Township Committee of the Township of Cranford on March 25 introduced the 2025 municipal budget and approved a package of first-reading ordinances and consent resolutions.
The committee voted unanimously to introduce the 2025 municipal budget and the Downtown District Management Corporation budget; the municipal operating budget was described by committee members as "very lean." Commissioners said the total budget is about $48 million, with the operating budget increase at roughly 0.15% and salary increases about 2.8%. The public hearing for the municipal budget and the DMC budget was set for April 22, 2025.
On ordinances, the committee approved introduction (first reading) of the following measures by roll call vote: O-2025-03 to establish a cap bank under NJSA 48:4-45.14; O-2025-04 to designate a stop intersection at Pacific Avenue and Locust Drive; O-2025-06 to amend municipal code provisions and update fees for health inspections and marriage licenses; O-2025-07 to amend fees for fire inspections; and O-2025-08 to amend fees for alcoholic beverage control registrations. The committee noted some of these fee schedules had not been updated since the 2000s.
Township Administrator Lavona Patterson explained the cap bank ordinance allows the municipality to bank unused appropriations so the township can use up to 3.5% of appropriations in future years if needed; she said the township currently has about $344,000 in appropriations available to bank. Patterson also told the committee the town did not receive municipal relief this year (about $303,000 removed from expected revenue), and that health insurance costs had increased by about 12%.
The committee approved payment of bills and minutes from recent meetings by roll call vote. A package of consent resolutions (Resolutions 2025-157 through 2025-165) was approved unanimously; these included a resolution supporting the Community Food Bank of New Jersey and an administrator report noting the closeout of a FEMA project for three properties where repairs were completed and residents were returned to their homes.
Action (selected items at a glance): - Resolution 2025-155 — Introduction of the 2025 municipal budget: approved on roll call (all five members voted yes). Public hearing scheduled April 22, 2025. - Ordinance 2025-03 — Cap bank (NJSA 48:4-45.14): introduced on first reading; motion and second recorded and roll call yes. - Ordinance 2025-04 — Stop intersection at Pacific Ave & Locust Dr: introduced on first reading; roll call yes. - Ordinance 2025-06 — Health inspection/marriage license fee updates: introduced on first reading; roll call yes. - Ordinance 2025-07 — Fire inspection fee updates: introduced on first reading; roll call yes. - Ordinance 2025-08 — Alcoholic beverage control registration fee updates: introduced on first reading; roll call yes. - Resolutions 2025-157 through 2025-165 (consent agenda): approved on roll call; included Community Food Bank resolution and FEMA closeout.
Ending: Committee members credited the finance team, department heads and township administrator for producing a budget they described as fiscally cautious while continuing planned investments in street paving, drainage, river maintenance and pedestrian safety projects.
