Sayreville council introduces budget ordinance after public questions about $80 million plan and land purchase

Sayreville Mayor Kennedy O'Brien and the borough council on April 2025 introduced an ordinance to exceed municipal budget appropriation limits and create a cap bank as part of the borough's 2025 budget process, and heard public questions about the timing and size of the proposed $80,000,000 budget and a possible open-space land purchase.

The ordinance (16-25) was moved for approval on first reading and scheduled for a public hearing on May 12, 2025. Councilman Malcolm moved the ordinance to be approved on first reading; council members then recorded their votes on the roll call. CFO Danielle (last name not specified) said the budget had been introduced and that staff expects to continue work to reduce it before final adoption.

The matter drew extended public comment. Jim Robinson, a Sayreville resident, told the council he was surprised by the budget’s size and asked how prior surpluses and recent one-time receipts were reflected. “I see you're introducing the budget. $80,000,000. Wow,” Robinson said, and asked whether the borough would use funds for paving, hiring or new facilities. Robinson also raised a separate, previously requested review of street lights and thanked Councilwoman Novak for pursuing withholding of JCP&L bills.

Robinson urged action on a 40-acre tract behind Kennedy Park, telling council members he had circulated an appraisal showing the parcel valued at $590,000. “We have the money,” he said, referring to the borough’s open-space reserve, and asked whether the borough would move to negotiate a purchase. Later in the meeting Borough Attorney Natasha said the borough had contacted the property owner, who responded that they were not willing to sell; the attorney said the borough “would have to have a willing seller” to move forward and that eminent domain would be an alternative only after a lengthy, expensive legal process.

Robinson also pressed for information about a multi-year settlement the transcript identifies as related to Verizon and tax appeals going back to 2015; a council member said the settlement was negotiated before a tax court judge but that the immediate fiscal impact was not available at the time of the vote.

Council members signaled they intend to seek reductions before adoption. Councilman Bellahoe said the budget was introduced “tonight, and we're hoping to reduce it before adoption.” The council set the May 12 public hearing for the ordinance that would allow the borough to exceed its appropriation limits and establish a cap bank; that step permits the budget process to continue while staff and council work on final numbers.

Votes and formal steps at the meeting included the introduction and first-reading approval of ordinance 16-25 (exceed appropriation limits and establish cap bank) and the scheduling of its public hearing. The council closed the public-comment portion and proceeded with the consent agenda later in the session.

The borough attorney’s comments make clear that acquiring the 40-acre parcel would require a willing seller or a separate eminent-domain process; no purchase agreement or formal acquisition action was taken at the meeting.

The council will return to the budget during the public hearing and subsequent adoption process, with staff and members indicating further work to reduce the proposed appropriation.