Council sets Sept. 10 hearing on outdoor-lighting ordinance, approves redevelopment agreement resolution

At the meeting the council introduced an amendment to the borough code addressing outdoor-lighting trespass and acted on several consent resolutions, including a redevelopment-agreement amendment for West Main/Bound Brook.

Speaker 4 read Ordinance 2024-25, which would amend chapter 17 (property maintenance), section 17-14.101, to prohibit outdoor lighting that trespasses onto an adjoining property during night hours. The council moved to pass the ordinance on first reading and schedule a public hearing for Sept. 10. Members discussed the draft's proposed 10:00 p.m. cutoff and enforcement logistics; councilors asked staff to coordinate enforcement between code officers and police and to consider whether the hour is appropriate year-round.

The meeting also advanced a consent agenda of resolutions (items 24-207 through 24-220 were listed). Resolution 2024-210 — described in the meeting as authorizing execution of an amendment to the redevelopment agreement with West Main Bound Brook for a mixed-use project and contributions to a public parts fund — was considered as part of the consent list. A roll-call vote was held; one councilmember (identified in the roll call as Rashidak) registered an abstention during the roll-call process on a listed item, and the consent list was approved by motion. Council members commented that they wanted close attention to ongoing maintenance obligations associated with redevelopment projects.

Two other ordinances (24-23 and 24-4 as read) were adjourned until Sept. 10 for lack of a full council quorum. The council then moved to executive session and adjourned the meeting.