Pleasantville council adopts bond ordinance, multiple resolutions including change order and project notices

Pleasantville City Council on June 16, 2025 approved an ordinance authorizing the issuance of $708,333 to finance a portion of the Bayview Avenue waterfront project and adopted a slate of resolutions ranging from a mutual services agreement for a construction official to personnel transactions and event permits.

The council voted to adopt Ordinance No. 10, authorizing issuance of $708,333 (bond ordinance) to fund part of the Bayview Avenue waterfront work (agenda item number 0199-12-027). The ordinance passed on a roll-call vote during the meeting's business session.

Councilmembers also approved Resolution 118, authorizing a mutual services agreement with Harbor Township to receive services of a construction official; Resolution 119 to cancel or refund property taxes; Resolution 120 and a separate license-renewal resolution extending retail distribution and consumption liquor licenses for the 2025–2026 term; and Resolution 121 (renewal of consumption licenses) as presented.

Resolution 122, a change order for Lexa Concrete Inc. that increases the contract from $1,099,315.62 to $1,126,571.56 (an increase of 2.5% or $27,265.62) for Phase 1 (Gowdy Down the Road phase 1), was discussed at length and approved. Council members pressed staff and the engineer for a clearer justification and asked for more complete backup materials to be attached to future change‑order resolutions (see separate article on change orders for details).

Resolution 123, a notice to proceed directing the city engineer to begin construction on the bike-path/lighting project (DOT-funded) and to execute the contract, was approved. Council members asked staff for more specifics about the $156,000 budget line (how many fixtures, whether they will be solar, and which department will maintain them). Staff said the project is funded through a DOT grant and associated financing (NJ Infrastructure Bank and bond anticipation notes) and that they would provide additional detail via the engineer.

The council approved event permits including Resolution 124 (Colombian holiday event at Duke Avenue Ballpark), Resolution 125 (Our Lady Star of the East church cultural festival), and Resolution 126/127 (Mexican Independence Day festival by Aztika) as consent items. Resolution 127 (personnel transactions for June 2025) was moved and approved; council discussed personnel procedure and chose to address particular personnel matters in executive session. Resolution 128, adopting an arbitration award regarding Wendy Himes, was approved; council members noted a related arbitration exhibit that had not been distributed in some packet copies and said the award and prior opinions would be circulated for review.

Other routine motions approved included bingo/raffle licensing and approvals to pay previously incurred invoices shown on the bill list (the council amended the bill list total downward by $3,454.50 during review).

Votes at a glance (outcome: approved unless noted): - Ordinance No. 10 — Bond appropriation $708,333 for Bayview Avenue waterfront project — adopted (roll call recorded). - Resolution 118 — Mutual services agreement with Harbor Township (construction official) — approved (roll call recorded). - Resolution 119 — Authorize tax collector to cancel/refund property tax — approved. - Resolution 120 — Renewal: plenary retail distribution liquor licenses (2025–2026) — approved. - Resolution 121 — Renewal: retail consumption liquor licenses (2025–2026) — approved. - Resolution 122 — Change order #1 to Lexa Concrete Inc., contract increase to $1,126,571.56 (2.5%/$27,265.62) — approved (discussion; council asked for engineer backup). - Resolution 123 — Notice to proceed: bike-path/lighting project (DOT-funded) and contract execution — approved (council asked for details on fixture count and maintenance responsibility). - Resolutions 124–126 — Permits for cultural festivals and events (various dates and locations) — approved. - Resolution 127 — Personnel transactions (June 2025) — approved (council moved to executive session for personnel matters). - Resolution 128 — Adopt arbitration award (Wendy Himes) — approved (some councilmembers abstained on procedural grounds; award and supporting documents to be circulated).

Several approvals were routine and passed on voice or roll‑call votes. Councilmembers recorded concerns during the meeting about contract change orders, the need for clearer supporting exhibits in the packet, and the municipal capacity to maintain newly installed infrastructure (lighting). Staff and counsel committed to providing supporting documents and follow-up answers to questions raised during the session.

The council moved several items as a consent agenda; members were reminded that individual consent items can be pulled for separate consideration.

Ending: Staff said they will distribute the engineer's change‑order backup and additional information about the bike-path lighting (fixture count, ownership, energy source and maintenance responsibility). Several councilmembers requested written follow-up ahead of the next regular meeting.