Newark council approves university tax ordinance, speed-camera rules and contract change; denies Chabad House reimbursement

Newark City Council on July 28 approved a set of ordinances and contractual actions and rejected a reimbursement request from the Chabad House.

The council voted 5-0 to approve a $53,091.05 change order to a contract with BSS Contractors LLC for the Field Operations Complex warehouse expansion, to adopt an ordinance establishing an electronic speed monitoring program for residential streets and to pass an ordinance establishing authority to levy a per‑student tax on colleges and universities (Bill 25‑19), as amended to allow the initial per‑student rate to be set by council resolution this fall and future rates during the city budget process. The council also approved the consent agenda by a 5-0 vote and rejected a motion to reimburse the Chabad House $6,950 for removal of three American holly trees.

The city manager told council the speed‑camera ordinance (Bill 25‑18) is the final legislative step required to implement the residential program, with a tentative go‑live date of Oct. 13 for residential streets. "We have a tentative go live date for the residential street program of October 13, assuming all goes as planned from here forward," the city manager said during the meeting. The ordinance does not authorize a Main Street camera; the manager said a separate agenda item will address Main Street if council wants to pursue…