Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Actions topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
New Milford council adopts three ordinances, accepts SAFER grant and approves litigation resolution
Summary
At the meeting the council adopted ordinances regulating running bamboo, appropriating $10,200 for fire equipment and updating streets/sidewalks rules; accepted a $549,000 SAFER grant for the fire department; and voted to join litigation challenging New Jersey affordable‑housing mandates (resolution 2025 COL225).
The Borough of New Milford took several formal actions at the public meeting, including ordinance adoptions, a federal grant acceptance and a vote to join litigation over the state affordable‑housing formula.
Ordinances adopted
- Ordinance 2025 COL26: Amends Chapter 12 (property maintenance) to add section 12-6 regulating running bamboo to prevent invasive spread onto neighboring private and public property. The council opened the public hearing, heard no substantive public comment and adopted the ordinance on final reading by roll call.
- Ordinance 2025 COL27: Capital appropriation of $10,200 from the borough capital improvement fund to purchase equipment for the New Milford Fire Department. Public hearing closed with no comment; ordinance adopted by roll call.
- Ordinance 2025 COL28: Amendments to Chapter 18 (streets and sidewalks) updating position titles, contractor registration language, curb/driveway/apron standards and permitting for portable storage containers; adopted on final reading following the public hearing.
Grant acceptance
The council accepted a FEMA SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) grant totaling $549,000 to be distributed over a five‑year plan for recruitment, training, retention and fire‑safety gear. Council President Duffy congratulated Chief Leonardi and Lieutenant Sharon Bernbomb for preparing the application.
Litigation resolution
By roll-call vote the council approved Resolution 2025 COL225 to join Local Leaders for Responsible Planning and participate in litigation challenging New Jersey's affordable‑housing mandates and methodology. The resolution carries a $20,000 entrance fee payable over two years ($10,000 in 2025 and $10,000 in 2026), according to the resolution text read to the council. Supporters said the state formula unfairly shifts obligations to some municipalities, excludes many pre‑1980 units from credit and fails to account for Blue Acres flood buyouts.
Why it matters: The adopted ordinances affect property maintenance, public‑works permitting and fire‑department equipment procurement. The SAFER grant acceptance provides a material infusion for recruitment and equipment. Joining the litigation signals the borough's effort to contest how affordable‑housing obligations are calculated at the state level and could affect long‑term housing and planning responsibilities.
Next steps: The borough will implement ordinance changes per code updates, begin administration of the SAFER grant according to federal timelines, and remit the $10,000 initial payment to the coalition as required by the resolution.
