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Garfield council introduces several ordinances, defeats dumpster measure on second reading
Summary
The Garfield mayor and council introduced multiple ordinances on first reading and took final votes on several items on Feb. 17. Council defeated a dumpster ordinance on second reading, approved a private-property parking ordinance and a paving appropriation, and adopted a consent agenda including temporary budget amendments.
The Garfield mayor and council met Feb. 17 and moved a slate of ordinances through introduction while voting on multiple second-reading items.
At the meeting, the council introduced several ordinances for final hearings on March 10, including an ordinance formalizing a disabled veterans tax exemption (Ordinance 31-20), two ordinances addressing dumpsters and refuse placement (Ordinances 31-21 and 31-22), a metered-parking ordinance for selected corridors (Ordinance 31-23), a capital appropriation of $34,000 for Licensed Site Remediation Professional services tied to groundwater contamination near the Department of Public Works (Ordinance 31-24) and a new chapter establishing an affordable-housing fee mechanism to comply with a state deadline (Ordinance 31-25). Each of those was introduced on first reading and scheduled for final hearing on March 10 at 6 p.m.
On items at final reading, the council rejected Ordinance 31-17 (a dumpster regulation) after a roll-call vote failed. The motion to pass 31-17 was defeated; the transcript records 'No' votes from Councilmember Rigeloso, Deputy Mayor Cain, Deputy Mayor Raymond and Mayor Garnto, with Councilmember Delaney absent.
The council approved Ordinance 31-18, an amendment to the city code addressing parking on private property. The transcript records affirmative votes including Deputy Mayor Kane (Aye), Deputy Mayor Raymond (Yes) and Mayor Garnto (stated he would vote yes); the clerk announced the motion carried on roll call.
Council also approved Ordinance 31-19, a capital ordinance to appropriate $37,000 from general capital reserves for curb-to-curb paving on Northview Terrace and Joanne Terrace.
The consent agenda (Resolutions R-100-26 through R-124-26) passed on roll call. During discussion a council member asked about sources for temporary budget amendments; the manager summarized several adjustments noted on the attachment: $6,000 to finance; $5,000 each to IT, the tax collector and tax assessor; $3,000 to the planning board; $35,000 to insurance; $50,000 to the volunteer fire company; $10,000 for fire safety; $3,000 for a Bergen County history grant; and $400,000 for a lead grant. The manager said some additions reflect grants received after budget adoption and that certain adjustments would be handled as allowed by law.
Deputy Mayor Cain urged residents to use the city app for information on parking and other services, and staff said filings and notices for the March 10 hearings will be advertised as required by law.
Why it matters: the council’s actions set several items on a path to final votes on March 10 and resolved immediate questions about paving and parking rules. The first-reading ordinances include both local policy changes (metered parking, dumpster rules) and a measure to comply with a state affordable-housing deadline.
What’s next: the listed ordinances return for final hearings on March 10; staff said the municipal affordable-housing planner will attend that meeting to answer questions about fees and obligations.
