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Verona council adopts capital and water/sewer bond ordinances; residents press for tree-replanting funds after road work
Summary
The council adopted bond ordinances for general capital ($4.17M) and water/sewer improvements ($2.725M) and approved related resolutions. Residents and Councilwoman McGrath pressed administration about tree removals on Lynen Avenue and other projects, asking for a funded replanting plan; officials said final contract credits and an allowance may cover costs.
Verona Township Council on June 8 adopted multiple bond ordinances and consent resolutions to fund capital and utility projects and to advance several infrastructure items.
The council approved Ordinance 2026-23, a bond ordinance for various capital improvements and the appropriation read into the record; the roll call vote recorded the ordinance as adopted 5-0. The council likewise adopted Ordinance 2026-24, providing $2,725,000 for water and sewer utility improvements, by a 5-0 roll call.
During consent-agenda votes, members approved a change order (L1) related to Lynen Avenue resurfacing. Councilwoman McGrath pulled that item for discussion and said the project removed 44 trees where 12 removals had been anticipated and that 63 residents have requested replacement trees. She asked how replanting will be funded and whether the vegetation work would be completed before project closeout.
Town staff said final as-built measurements and contract credits (including an approximately $75,000 allowance for traffic-control directors) have yet to be finalized; they estimated replanting could cost roughly $30,000 to $40,000 and that shade-tree and public-works budgets may cover some or all of the expense. Council voted to approve the change order (resolution numbered 138) and subsequent related resolutions (L8 numbered 139) with recorded votes; one councilor abstained on L8 due to a conflict on a street included in the ordinance.
The council also approved other consent items and a separate resolution (M1 numbered 141) authorizing the removal of a dead tree on arborist recommendation (5-0).
Council members asked that future road reconstruction projects better anticipate tree impacts and consider designs that preserve mature shade trees where feasible. The administration said it will reconcile final contract credits and report back on a specific funding plan for replanting as the Lynen Avenue project closes out.
