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Fair Lawn council introduces $8.6 million water-improvements ordinance, tightens rules on massage parlors and advances traffic change; multiple consent items OK
Summary
The Borough of Fair Lawn Mayor and Council on Aug. 12 introduced several ordinances and adopted a consent agenda; the council advanced a water‑improvements appropriation of $8,595,000 (with $7,144,000 in proposed bonds) and moved to tighten rules and zoning on massage parlors, among other actions.
The Borough of Fair Lawn Mayor and Council on Aug. 12 introduced several ordinances and approved a package of consent resolutions.
Ordinances introduced on first reading and advanced to public hearing included:
- Ordinance 27-53-2025: Amends a prior ordinance to provide for various water supply and distribution system improvements and appropriates $8,595,000, with proposed issuance of $7,144,000 in bonds or notes to finance the work. A public hearing was set for Sept. 9, 2025. The motion to introduce passed by roll call (Salinas: yes; Krauss: yes; Deputy Mayor Rottenstryke: yes; Deputy Mayor Reinec: yes; Mayor Cottone: yes).
- Ordinance 27-54-2025: Amends Chapter 144 (massage, bodywork and somatic therapy establishments) of the borough code; introduced on first reading and scheduled for public hearing on Sept. 30, 2025. The motion to introduce passed by the same unanimous roll call.
- Ordinance 27-55-2025: Amends Chapter 125 (land development) to prohibit massage parlors in all zoning districts; introduced on first reading and scheduled for public hearing on Sept. 30, 2025. The motion to introduce passed (roll call: Salinas: yes; Krauss: yes; Deputy Mayor Rottenstryke: yes; Deputy Mayor Reinec: yes; Mayor Cottone: yes).
- Ordinance 27-56-2025: Amends section 230-212 of the borough code to remove the prohibition against stopping or standing on Phillips Street from Morlot Avenue to Van Doren Avenue; introduced on first reading and scheduled for public hearing on Sept. 9, 2025. The motion to introduce passed by roll call.
The council also adopted a consent agenda covering a number of resolutions (numbered in the record roughly 256–276 in sequence). Select items discussed publicly during the meeting included:
- A resolution rescinding a prior resolution that had awarded a professional services agreement to First Environment, Inc. (item listed by a public commenter as 261-2025). Borough staff explained First Environment has been conducting testing and remediation planning at the borough recycling/leaf compost area and that initial tests were more favorable than expected; remediation work is ongoing.
- Resolution authorizing the purchase of a flatbed/utility trailer (referred to in the record as a "felling trailer") through the Sourcewell cooperative contract (listed in the consent agenda as 265-2025); staff said the borough expects the Department of Public Works to use the unit.
- Resolution authorizing painting of end zones at Vander Platt Field with FieldTurf USA under a cooperative purchasing contract (listed as 270-2025).
- Resolutions authorizing SCADA system maintenance and improvements, liquor license renewals and firefighting equipment purchases were also included on consent and were adopted by roll call. The full consent agenda was adopted by unanimous roll call vote.
The motions to introduce the ordinances were procedural votes to set public hearings; no ordinance was finally adopted or made effective at this meeting. The council scheduled public hearings for the water improvements and the Phillips Street change on Sept. 9 and for the massage‑parlor items on Sept. 30.
Votes at a glance (selected items):
- Ordinance 27-53-2025 (water improvements appropriation $8,595,000; bonds $7,144,000): Introduced; roll call: Salinas, Krauss, Rottenstryke, Reinec, Cottone — all yes.
- Ordinance 27-54-2025 (amend Chapter 144 — massage/bodywork): Introduced; roll call — all yes. Public hearing set for Sept. 30, 2025.
- Ordinance 27-55-2025 (prohibit massage parlors in all zoning districts): Introduced; roll call — all yes. Public hearing set for Sept. 30, 2025.
- Ordinance 27-56-2025 (Phillips Street stopping/standing): Introduced; roll call — all yes. Public hearing set for Sept. 9, 2025.
- Consent agenda (resolutions 256–276, selected): Adopted by unanimous roll call. Items discussed included rescinding the First Environment contract award (environmental testing/remediation), purchase of a trailer through Sourcewell, SCADA maintenance, painting end zones at Vander Platt Field, liquor license renewals and firefighting equipment procurement.
No votes in the meeting minutes showed abstentions or no votes on the items listed; roll calls recorded unanimous "yes" responses from the five council members present. Public hearings were scheduled where statutorily required; final adoption of the ordinances will occur after those hearings.
