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Vernon council approves consent agenda including liquor-license renewals, flags inactive licenses under new state law
Summary
Council approved multiple consent resolutions — including annual liquor-license renewals and refunds for totally disabled veterans — and introduced three ordinances; staff explained a new state law that lets municipalities act on long-held inactive liquor licenses after a waiting window.
The Vernon Township Council approved a package of routine resolutions on the consent agenda, including annual renewals of active liquor licenses, a separate resolution addressing inactive/pocket licenses, multiple refunds for totally disabled veterans, and a Chapter 159 budget amendment.
Council President Rudo read the consent items into the record. The resolution list included Res. 24-1164 (renewal of liquor licenses for 2024–25), Res. 24-1165 (renewal/handling of inactive liquor licenses), Res. 24-1166 (authorization to hire certain police officers), and a series of resolutions authorizing refunds for totally disabled veterans (by block and lot numbers as listed on the agenda). The minutes and consent agenda items were approved by roll call vote (D. benedetto, Higgins, Sparta, Council President Rudo — all yes).
Council and staff discussed one pocket/inactive license tied to Legends and another tied to Heaven Hill Farm. Staff advised the council about a new New Jersey statute aimed at discouraging license holders from indefinitely "sitting on" licenses.
"The short version is...to discourage people from sitting on licenses indefinitely right," said Matt, a staff member advising the council, explaining municipal options under the law. He added that municipalities can, depending on the situation, void an old inactive license and issue a new one, or allow exchanges of pocket licenses between contiguous towns; the law provides a discretionary remedy that will become operational after the statutory timing window (roughly eight months from passage) rather than an immediate automatic action.
Council members noted the value of certain licenses and the need to balance municipal discretion, revenue considerations and fairness to existing holders. Staff clarified that licenses on tonight’s active-renewal resolution were not yet eligible for action under the new law, and that Legends and TNZ Holding were the principal inactive licenses of concern for future discussion in August.
The council also introduced three ordinances for later consideration: Ordinance 24-7 (amending Chapter 5 Article 16), Ordinance 24-11 (limousine licensing), and Ordinance 24-12 (amending Chapter 374 on nuisances/public health to address exterior lighting standards). Each ordinance was moved, seconded and received a roll call vote to be placed on the next agenda for second reading.
The council requested additional detail from staff about the timing and procedural steps the municipality would use should it choose to act on inactive licenses once the statutory window opens.
