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Byram Council approves consent agenda, adopts SCBA funding and appoints Planning Board members
Summary
Byram Township Council on Oct. 1 approved a multi-item consent agenda (including park reconstruction and equipment purchases), adopted an ordinance to fund up to $25,000 for fire-department breathing apparatus, and appointed two Planning Board members; council also authorized architectural design work for a proposed police facility and added a $2.25 million project-cost clause to that authorization.
The Byram Township Council approved a bundled consent agenda and several individual actions at its Oct. 1 meeting, taking roll-call votes on routine resolutions, appointments and an adopted ordinance for fire-department equipment.
By a single motion, the council approved a multi-item consent agenda that included extending the 2019 joint municipal court agreement with neighboring municipalities through Dec. 31, 2028; several tax-sale certificate remissions; disabled-veteran tax refunds; authorization to execute Change Order No. 1 for resurfacing various streets (net increase $590); award of a bid for CO Johnson Park Field 8 reconstruction not to exceed $566,805.21; and the purchase of one skid cutter under Sourcewell for up to $8,223.75. The consent agenda and the bill list were approved by recorded roll call: four yes votes, Councilman Gallagher absent.
The council adopted Ordinance No. 016-2024 on final reading to authorize a capital expenditure not to exceed $25,000 for self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) for the Byram Township Fire Department; the ordinance will be published as required by law.
Appointments: Mayor Rubenstein appointed Jeanine Colligan as a Planning Board alternate and Anneliese DeMagistris as Planning Board Class II member; both appointments were approved by roll call.
Professional services and police facility: The council adopted Resolution No. 167 authorizing appointment of a township architect under a professional services contract. Councilman Roseff questioned whether a small DPW project required an architect, saying DPW staff could handle it; Township Manager Joseph Sabatini said formal authorization simply permits use of the professional when needed and the council added a clause to the police-facility authorization to reflect a desired project cost. Separately, Resolution No. 168 authorizes Fox Architectural Design P.C. to provide architectural design for a concept presentation for a proposed new police department facility; Councilman Roseff asked for—and the council added—a "whereas" specifying a desired project cost of $2.25 million. Resident Scott Yappen later asked why the township had not issued an RFP for the architect and queried the difference between a previously defeated $9.6 million proposal and the current project figures; the council did not take a procurement vote at this meeting.
Other actions: Resolution No. 154-2024 authorized support for a gypsy moth/LDD control program by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture. Several introduced ordinances—including a driveway easement and a new Flood Damage Prevention chapter with updated flood-hazard maps and a floodplain administrator—were scheduled for final consideration at the Oct. 15 meeting.
Vote tally and next steps: Most motions and resolutions were adopted by roll call with four yes votes and one absence recorded (Councilman Gallagher). The council scheduled further action and public hearings for Oct. 15, 2024.
