Township of Washington council adopts stormwater rule amendment, approves softball fee change and dozens of municipal resolutions; new police promotions sworn

The Township of Washington Council adopted an amendment to the township stormwater management ordinance, approved a change to the fee for the men's softball program and completed a set of organizational actions and appointments at meetings on Jan. 6, 2025.

The council voted to adopt Ordinance 24-20, which amends Chapter 574 (Stormwater Management) to conform to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection municipal stormwater regulation program; the council opened and closed a public hearing before adopting the ordinance by roll-call vote. The council also adopted Ordinance 24-21 to change the fee for the township's men's softball program at second reading.

Those ordinance adoptions were among several formal actions handled at the council's regular meeting and the subsequent reorganization session. On the reorganization agenda the council nominated and elected Michael DeSantis as council president and Stephen Casio as vice president, swore in the newly elected officers, and the mayor administered oaths for a series of police promotions and appointments, including the promotion of Vincent Santa to sergeant and the appointment of multiple Special Law Enforcement Officers (SLEO) and SLEO-1 officers.

The council introduced Ordinance 25-01, which would appropriate $190,050 for improvements to Poolej Avenue funded by a grant from the New Jersey Department of Transportation, and scheduled a public hearing. The council also introduced Ordinance 25-03 (a correction to a 2019 master-plan reexamination implementation ordinance) at first reading. Councilmembers tabled Ordinance 25-02, a proposed amendment to regulate parking and the storage of boats, trailers, commercial vehicles and recreational vehicles in residential districts, after members said they had received resident complaints and wanted additional information (including a chief of police briefing) before moving forward.

On the consent agenda the council approved a large set of resolutions authorizing the municipal government to join a number of cooperative purchasing contracts (state and national) and to file routine administrative items such as the 2025 temporary budget appropriations, designation of official newspapers, and tonnage grant applications. The council approved an interlocal agreement to forward municipal court phone calls to the Saddle River Municipal Court office starting Jan. 1, 2025, and authorized the municipal court standard service agreement with Saddle River.

Council action also included personnel appointments and confirmations. The mayor submitted and the council confirmed Cindy Maziner as a library board trustee (term to Dec. 31, 2029) and approved a motion to appoint Michael Lagrada (name in minutes) as a full member of the zoning board. The council also confirmed the mayor's slate of department and advisory-board appointments announced at the reorganization meeting.

Financial and administrative items addressed included a cash-management plan (Resolution 25-116) and a resolution fixing the rate of interest for delinquent taxes (Resolution 25-117). The council discussed the interest-rate resolution and noted the rate reflected statutory guidance; during discussion members asked staff to confirm whether the municipality could seek higher returns on invested funds going forward.

Mayor Peter Calamari used his calendar message to recap 2024 accomplishments and preview 2025 priorities. "It is an honor and a privilege to be starting my 8th year as your mayor," Calamari said, and he highlighted completed park improvements, the police accreditation and retirement ceremonies, the new health-insurance plan savings for employees and taxpayers, and plans to begin the DPW building project and a townshipwide property reassessment.

Police leadership presented a slate of promotions and new hires. Director of Public Safety Jim Giblin (presented by the department) described newly promoted and appointed officers, their training and assignments, and swore them into office. Those personnel actions were completed as part of the reorganization ceremony; the council later recognized departmental officers and thanked volunteers and staff for 2024 work.

Several items were continued for later consideration. Ordinance 25-02 (parking/commercial vehicle/boat storage) was tabled after councilmembers said they were getting resident complaints about the proposed dimensions, exemptions and how the ordinance would treat larger vans and boats; members requested a return briefing from public safety and planning staff. The council also removed a small number of consent items for additional review before final approval.

The meeting concluded after the council moved to closed session for property-acquisition discussions; the council said it would not return to public session on remaining business that night.

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance 24-20 (Stormwater Management amendment) — motion to adopt at second reading: adopted (roll-call recorded as all present voting yes after public hearing). Referenced in meeting as Ordinance 24-20; public hearing opened and closed prior to adoption.

- Ordinance 24-21 (men's softball fee change) — motion to adopt at second reading: adopted (roll-call recorded as all present voting yes).

- Ordinance 25-01 (Poolej Avenue improvement; NJDOT grant $190,050) — introduced at first reading and scheduled for public hearing; motion to introduce: passed; public hearing date to be published.

- Ordinance 25-02 (regulate boats, trailers, commercial vehicles) — motion to table for further review; tabled by motion of the council.

- Ordinance 25-03 (correction to 2019 master plan reexamination implementation) — introduced at first reading and scheduled for public hearing; motion to introduce: passed.

- Resolution 24-387 (authorize payment of bills Dec. 13–Dec. 31, 2024) — approved as part of consent business earlier in the meeting.

- Resolution 25-116 (cash management plan) — moved, discussed, approved.

- Resolution 25-117 (fixing rate of interest for delinquent taxes) — moved and approved; council discussion noted the rate is statutory and staff will confirm options for investment returns.

- Appointments and confirmations — Mayor-submitted appointments (multiple advisory-board and department liaisons) and library board trustee Cindy Maziner: confirmed. Zoning board appointment (Michael Lagrada): confirmed.

What the council said and asked

Councilmembers repeatedly asked staff for more detail on several items before final votes: the engineering/fee breakdown on road- resurfacing projects, the bases for proposed dimensional limits in the parking/vehicle ordinance (25-02), and whether cash-management banking arrangements could be revisited to seek higher yields. Several members asked that the police chief or Director of Public Safety return to address resident complaints about commercial vehicles, large vans and overnight street parking.

Why it matters

The stormwater ordinance update implements state-mandated municipal stormwater requirements and affects how development and stormwater infrastructure are regulated in the township. The ordinances and budget and purchasing resolutions adopted or introduced set the immediate funding and contracting framework for street, public-works and recreation projects and determine where the township will seek materials and services through cooperative purchasing.

What’s next

Ordinance 25-01 and 25-03 will return for public hearings on their scheduled dates after publication. Ordinance 25-02 was tabled for additional briefings; council members requested a police/administration briefing before further action. Follow-up items include publication of hearing notices, staff responses about investment and banking options, and the scheduling of the parking/vehicle ordinance for reconsideration once the requested information is provided.