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Brielle council rescinds bond ordinance, approves $3.5M in bills and introduces 2026 budget; backs shared sweeper grant and $600,000 HOME support
Summary
At its April 13 meeting the Brielle Mayor & Council passed a consent agenda that included payment of $3,507,159.23 in bills, rescission of Bond Ordinance No. 1168 (avoiding an automatic referendum), approval to pursue a $380,785.94 LEAP shared‑sweeper grant with Spring Lake Heights and formal support for a $600,000 Monmouth County HOME application to build five affordable units at 601 Union Lane.
Mayor Garruzzo and the Brielle Mayor & Council on April 13 approved several routine and substantive measures, rescinded a contested bond ordinance and introduced the borough’s 2026 budget.
The council voted to accept and file minutes from March 23, 2026 (motion by Councilman Shaak, seconded by Councilman Nolan; Councilmembers Colon and Gianforte abstained). Later the council passed the consent agenda and separately adopted Resolution 26-80 authorizing payment of bills totaling $3,507,159.23 and Resolution 26-81 rescinding Bond Ordinance No. 1168. The council also voted to introduce the 2026 municipal budget under Resolution 26-82 and set public notice for a May 11 hearing.
Why it matters: rescinding Bond Ordinance No. 1168 removes the automatic trigger for a referendum and allows the council to reconsider and reintroduce a revised funding ordinance that could combine 2026 capital improvements with previously earmarked infrastructure dollars.
Key votes and actions • Acceptance of minutes — Moved: Councilman Shaak; Second: Councilman Nolan. Result: Passed; Colon and Gianforte abstained. • Resolution 26-79 (consent agenda) — introduced by Councilman Gianforte, seconded by Councilman Nolan; passed (all ayes). • Resolution 26-80 — Payment of bills in the amount of $3,507,159.23; passed (all ayes). • Resolution 26-81 — Rescind Bond Ordinance No. 1168; passed (all ayes). • Resolution 26-82 — Introduction of the 2026 municipal budget and publication notice; passed (all ayes). The budget hearing was set for May 11, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. at the Municipal Building.
Shared‑services street sweeper and grant application The council backed a LEAP Implementation Grant application (Resolution 26-79-B) to partner with Spring Lake Heights on a shared Ravo R5 street sweeper. The resolution states Brielle will join Spring Lake Heights in applying for $380,785.94 to support implementation costs, with Spring Lake Heights acting as lead agency. During public comment resident George Mervine asked whether Resolution B was necessary and raised concerns about battery disposal, maintenance and operator costs; Councilman Nolan responded that the purchase is contingent on grant funding and that the borough would reassess if the grant were denied or insufficient.
Affordable housing: HOME funding support By Resolution 26-79-D the council recorded support for applying to the Monmouth County HOME program for up to $600,000 to construct five family rental units at Block 66.03, Lot 20 (601 Union Lane). The resolution names the Affordable Housing Alliance (or an affiliate) as the borough’s designated developer and direct recipient and specifies the borough expects credit for at least five affordable units.
Budget introduction and next steps Resolution 26-82 formally introduced the borough’s 2026 budget, authorized publication in the Coast Star on April 23, 2026, and scheduled a public hearing on May 11, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. Taxpayers and interested persons may present objections at that hearing.
What’s next The council rescinded the bond ordinance to avoid an automatic referendum and signaled it will consider revised funding language at a future meeting. The LEAP grant application, the HOME funding support and the municipal budget proceed to the next procedural steps: application, public input and the scheduled budget hearing.
