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Council highlights millions in grant awards and local programs; raises ebike safety concerns
Summary
Council members said the borough received multiple grants — including a roughly $400,000 NJDOT award and a $500,000 DCA grant — and discussed DPW volunteer cleanups, pool and camp registration, a tree program, and possible ebike safety regulations.
Councilman Benjamine told the meeting that South Plainfield has secured multiple grants this year, including a roughly $400,000 New Jersey Department of Transportation grant for a local avenue project and a separate DOT project of about $1 million for an ‘O Road’ project. He also said the borough received an official notice of a $500,000 DCA grant for municipal building roof and window improvements and additional grants that together total more than $5 million in recent years.
Councilman Benjamine attributed those awards to coordinated work by borough engineers and administrators and said the grants represent direct savings to South Plainfield taxpayers. The transcript identifies the grant references but does not provide full grant documents or award letters in the public record.
Other council members and staff highlighted community programs tied to DPW and recreation. A council member described the borough’s Clean Communities volunteer-adopt-a-spot program and encouraged residents and businesses to contact Christina at DPW to adopt locations for litter removal. Councilwoman F announced community pool registration opening the first week of February, camp registration at the end of February, and a STEM program for grades one through five starting soon.
Resident John Maville and council members discussed an ongoing tree-planting program that would use grants and participant fees to fund water-bag maintenance; DPW was described as the department that would refill water bags during the trees’ establishment period.
Safety and code-enforcement issues also arose: a council member recapped the Lunar New Year celebration and raised concerns about ebikes traveling the wrong way on roads and performing wheelies, saying the borough may need an ordinance to address inappropriate ebike behavior.
What happens next: Council members said they will continue capital work supported by the grants and move forward with community-program registration and volunteer-opportunity outreach. Several items (grant details and specific project schedules) were referenced in summary form and may require follow-up for documentation or contract timelines.
