Medford Lakes council introduces zoning change to allow second‑floor apartments, approves temporary budget and 1033 police enrollment

The Medford Lakes Borough Council on Jan. 14 introduced a zoning amendment to allow second‑floor residential apartments above ground‑floor commercial uses, adopted a temporary 2026 municipal budget and approved authorizing the police department to enroll in the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) 1033 equipment program for the calendar year 2026.

Councilman Thomas J. Cranston introduced Ordinance 729, which revises Chapter 145‑35(B)(6) of the borough code to permit ‘‘residential dwelling units located exclusively on the second floor of a structure with a permitted ground‑floor commercial use’’ with a minimum of 850 square feet of living space, excluding common areas. Solicitor Douglas Heinold said the change corrects anachronistic language that assumed ‘‘the shop keeper lives above the shop,’’ and Clerk Mark J. McIntosh confirmed a Planning Board attorney had reviewed the draft and found it not inconsistent with the borough master plan. Council set second reading and public comment on the ordinance for the Jan. 28 council meeting.

The council also adopted Resolution 24‑26, the temporary 2026 budget required by state law. The resolution sets Current Fund temporary appropriations not to exceed 35% of the prior year and lists line‑item amounts; the resolution shows a Current Fund total of $1,488,253.03 and a Wastewater Utility temporary total of $597,362.50.

As part of the consent agenda the council approved a package of routine administrative and personnel measures, including designating the municipal clerk as the borough’s Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator for 2026, naming official depositories and newspapers for legal notices, establishing petty cash and change funds for specified departments, and authorizing the tax collector to cancel tax or sewer delinquencies under $10 where permitted by statute.

On public safety and equipment policy, the council adopted Resolution 22‑26 authorizing the Medford Lakes Police Department to enroll in the DLA 1033 Program through Dec. 31, 2026. The resolution permits requests for ‘‘DEMIL A’’ (nonmilitary) property and, if available and appropriate, ‘‘DEMIL B through Q’’ property; it requires the department to develop a training plan and a use/maintenance policy and to provide a quarterly accounting of property obtained through the program that will be available to the public on request.

The council also authorized the execution of a multi‑year collective bargaining agreement with the Medford Lakes Police Officers Association covering 2026–2029, and awarded a professional services contract NTE $2,500 to Environmental Resolutions, Inc. for Special Project Engineer services related to the Department of Public Works property. Clerk McIntosh explained the engineering work is intended to address a Department of Environmental Protection matter concerning an underground storage tank.

In communications, Clerk McIntosh said the borough received an NJDOT grant offer of $1,356,000 for McKendimen Road pedestrian improvements. Police Chief John G. McGinnis Jr. told the council his department will file a written report at the next meeting and noted a busy period that included domestic‑violence responses, a fatal motor vehicle crash and the borough’s third suicide since he became chief; he also promoted Burlington County’s mental‑health hotline.

During public comment resident Joe Aromando asked when the Planning Board review of the ordinance occurred (he said it occurred in 2025) and pressed the council for explanations about the need for certain borough vehicles, including an extended‑cab plow truck and a new Vactor truck, saying he feared ‘‘money is being needlessly spent behind closed doors.’’ Solicitor Heinold responded that long‑standing encroachments into the borough right‑of‑way exist in some locations and are handled case‑by‑case with public safety as the borough’s primary concern, and that the borough retains authority to remove items from the right‑of‑way if necessary.

The council approved the bill list dated Jan. 12, 2026 (97 line items, $1,113,948.85) and adjourned the meeting. Second reading and public comment on Ordinance 729 are scheduled for the Jan. 28, 2026 regular meeting at borough hall.