Caldwell council approves consent agenda, hires community development director and OKs $17,500 contract

The Borough of Caldwell Council met April 21, 2026, at Saint Aloysius Church Gymnasium and approved an amended consent agenda that included license approvals, municipal service agreements and personnel actions. The council also approved a professional services contract with the Otteau Group not to exceed $17,500 and confirmed the hire of a Director of Community Development.

The meeting was called to order by Mayor Jones at 7:00 p.m. A motion by Councilman Brown, seconded by Council President Buechner, approved the amended consent agenda by roll call; all members present voted in the affirmative. The consent agenda included multiple raffle and peddler licenses, a taxicab license for Sezai Gurses of Metropolitan Limousine, LLC, a renewal with GoGov for citizen notifications (Resolution 4-117), municipal services agreements with Magnolia Lane, Oak Grove and Park Glen condominium associations, a shared-services agreement with Essex Fells for seasonal street sweeping, and authorization to pay borough bills for the period April 2–17, 2026 totaling $4,908,367.17.

Administrator Alex Palumbo explained Resolution 4-126, a professional services contract with the Otteau Group for an amount not to exceed $17,500. Councilman Daniolowicz moved to approve 4-126; Councilman Brown seconded and the resolution passed on a unanimous roll-call vote of members present.

Personnel matters approved as part of the consent agenda included authorizing employment of Ariyanna Calderone through the Caldwell University internship program and hiring Emanuel Vasilesq as Director of Community Development (Resolution 4-127).

A separately listed cybersecurity incident response plan (Resolution 4-118) was pulled from the agenda and no public vote on that plan was recorded.

During committee reports Councilman Daniolowicz said DPW hydrant flushing was postponed to avoid overlapping neighboring towns’ schedules; recycling drop-off will be available at the borough’s paper-shredding event. Council President Buechner reviewed Senior Center programming and upcoming Grover Cleveland Birthplace events, including a 250th-anniversary celebration scheduled for July 4.

Mayor Jones reported that a new EV charging station at 80 Bloomfield Avenue is operational and that an ordinance to set fees for the station will appear on a future agenda. He said parking meter revenue has increased from $33,000 in 2022 to $76,000 in 2025 and that a shared fuel service with West Caldwell has saved the borough about $6,500 per month. He also noted progress on the new borough hall and said fireworks will return to Bonnel Field for the July 4 celebration; planning for the Caldwell Volunteer Fire Department’s 125th anniversary is underway.

Borough Administrator Alex Palumbo reported a new hire and said planned work on Chestnut Street is delayed while PSE&G completes its work. Borough Attorney Craig Bossong reported that litigation with 80 Roseland LLC related to a sewer-plant scarcity order has been resolved and that Fairshare Housing requested a courtesy extension to May 15 for a filing.

Public comment included remarks from Ann Marchioni, co-chair of the Environmental Commission, who promoted Earth Day events and the borough’s April 29 Zoom presentation on native plants; Aziza Kibibi, founder of the nonprofit Precious Little Ladies, invited Mayor Jones to an April 25 event and the mayor accepted. The council entered closed session later in the meeting and adjourned at 7:56 p.m.

Votes at a glance: the amended consent agenda was approved by roll call (all present in favor); Resolution 4-126 (Otteau Group contract, up to $17,500) was approved by roll call (unanimous among members present). Resolution 4-118 (Cyber Security Incident Response Plan) was pulled and received no public vote.