Ramsey council endorses planning board's housing element, approves Boswell watershed contract and confirms rescue squad appointees

The Ramsey Borough Mayor and Council on Wednesday night endorsed the planning board's 2025 housing element and fair-share plan, approved a professional services agreement for a watershed inventory and recorded two mayoral appointments.

Borough Administrator Bruce Jose told the council that "Resolution 120 endorses the bureau's fourth round housing element fair share plan," noting the plan had been adopted by the planning board at its June 17 meeting and must proceed under New Jersey's fourth-round affordable-housing process. He said the borough also will submit a spending plan under Resolution 121 to the affordable-housing program for court review.

On water-quality planning, Jose said the borough would award a contract to Boswell Engineering "in an amount not to exceed $23,000" to prepare a watershed inventory required by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection as part of the municipal general permit. The agreement was presented as Resolution 122 on the agenda.

Council members also recorded the mayor's appointments to the Ramsey Rescue Squad. The council announced that Mayor Dylan had appointed Joseph Rotolo and Emma Hunt to the rescue squad.

Routine consent items were approved, with the governing body passing resolutions 115 through 123 (2025) as read into the record. The council approved minutes from its June 12 work session (one member abstained, citing absence at that meeting) and accepted communications as presented.

During committee reports, council members highlighted community events and services: a summer reading kickoff and the naming of the library meeting room for longtime trustee Emily Renie; the farmers market schedule and upcoming festivals; and congratulations to Ramsey High School graduates. Public-safety remarks noted the ongoing review of the Ramsey emergency services complex design and that the project will be reviewed within the borough and submitted to the state office of the controller before going out to bid; no date was provided.

Utilities and public-works updates included discussion of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) affecting the borough's water supply and coordination with engineering firm H2M on treatment approaches at several well-treatment facilities. Councilwoman Judy Cusk said the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank was reviewing relevant environmental planning documents and that the state's lead-service-line replacement requirements remain part of the borough's planning.

Councilwoman Sarah Poppy reported on local trainings and recreation: the municipal alliance held Narcan training, pool out-of-town memberships will be frozen at the end of the week, and Independence Day events were announced. Councilman Glenn Pablo said the borough submitted the second half of a small environmental grant (about $1,500) after previously receiving $1,500 from the state.

The meeting closed after the council confirmed summer meeting dates and announced no new business. A motion to adjourn carried.

What happens next: Resolutions endorsing the housing element and the affordable-housing spending plan are administrative steps toward court review; the watershed-inventory contract will proceed according to the professional-services authorization and the project will be scheduled for subsequent presentation and bidding as described by administration staff.