Redbank preservation commission maps stepwise path toward Certified Local Government status

At a meeting April 15, 2026 the Redbank Historic Preservation Commission agreed to begin work that would clear policy and paperwork hurdles before formally pursuing Certified Local Government (CLG) certification.

Commission counsel and preservation advisers advised the commission to prioritize administrative housekeeping — confirming which properties already appear on the national and state registers and converting those resolutions into local ordinance protections — before submitting a CLG application to the State Historic Preservation Office. Michelle, the commission’s advisor, told members the state’s CLG review can be “very time consuming” and recommended the commission first ‘‘finish up with the survey, follow up with the recommendations that Steve Smolen put in about expanding your designations and … then go to CLG.’’

Why it matters: CLG certification can unlock technical assistance and grant eligibility from the state and federal historic preservation programs, but it also requires documentation, ordinance language and training commitments. Commissioners estimated there are roughly 100 survey records on file — with some lists suggesting as many as 200 — and discussed how much of that work would need formalizing.

Discussion details: Members said the immediate, manageable step is to identify national/state register properties that lack local ordinance protection and ask council to adopt them by ordinance. The commission’s adviser recommended breaking the project into ‘‘manageable bites’’: (1) compile a master list of existing surveys; (2) confirm which surveyed properties are already protected by ordinance; (3) create an ordinance package for council that converts listed sites to locally protected status; and (4) pursue a grant and the larger CLG application once local protections and a demonstrated inventory are in place.

Funding and surveys: Commissioners discussed a $38,000 proposal to create a new historic preservation element of the master plan and a companion intensive architectural survey of 60 properties (survey cost estimated at $22,000). Staff said a grant application for that scope was submitted to the Historic Trust; members flagged the prospect of prioritizing properties on Redbank’s west side to increase competitiveness by aligning the project with disadvantaged/community criteria.

Process and governance: The commission also discussed how to staff and notice smaller working committees in compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act. Michelle stressed that three‑member subcommittees can meet only if published under an annual notice (an ‘‘effective majority’’ issue) or else risk invalidation of actions. Commissioners tentatively agreed to schedule recurring committee dates and expand volunteer support to help compile survey materials.

Next steps: The commission will assemble a master inventory of surveyed properties, identify national/state register sites that need local ordinance protection, coordinate with the borough attorney to draft ordinance language, and notify council when a first‑reading ordinance is ready. The group also plans to follow up on the Historic Trust grant outcome for funding to complete a 60‑property survey.

Ending: Commissioners framed the work as procedural but consequential: completing the inventory and local protections is the foundation the commission can use to pursue CLG certification without overcommitting staff time or resources.