Keansburg council adopts parking‑meter ordinance, approves budget amendment, personnel appointments and DPW vehicle purchases

Keansburg Borough Council members on Feb. 19 adopted Ordinance #1738 capping parking meter fees and approved a package of budget, personnel and procurement measures at a regularly scheduled meeting.

The council adopted Ordinance #1738, which amends Chapter VIII to set parking meter fees at no more than $0.75 per 15-minute increment in all zones and parking lots except the Raritan Avenue lot. The public comment period was opened and closed with no speakers, and the council approved the ordinance by roll call.

Council members introduced Ordinance #1739, which amends Chapter VII (Traffic) and Chapter VIII (Parking Meter Zones) to standardize penalties for parking violations — listing a $55 penalty for overnight parking and other designated offenses — and set a public hearing for Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at 7 p.m.

The council approved Resolution #25-017, an amendment to the CY2025 temporary municipal budget under N.J.S. 40A:4-19, transmitting certified copies to the chief financial officer. The temporary appropriations list included detailed general‑government and utility line items (police, public works, pensions and capital outlays) as recorded in the meeting packet.

By resolution the council appointed Paul Durnien as Construction Official and Katarzyna Burgess as both Zoning Official and Flood Plain Manager, effective Jan. 1, 2025, and directed certified copies be forwarded to borough offices. The council also rescinded a prior amusement‑game license (Resolution #25-019) and then granted a 2025 amusement‑game license to Rocky’s Great Adventure at the Jersey Shore Beach and Boardwalk (Resolution #25-020), listing municipal license numbers for multiple certified games.

The council authorized purchases for the Department of Public Works: Resolution #25-021 approved purchase of a 2025 GMC TK20903 2500 truck from Frank’s Truck Center under the ESCNJ cooperative contract for $50,571.96; Resolution #25-022 authorized equipment upfitting through A&K Equipment for $26,202.00. Two payment-of-bills resolutions (Resolutions #25-016 and #25-023) were also approved.

Department reports noted a completed water-main repair on Port Monmouth Road reported by Water Plant Superintendent Steve Ussmann, and Public Works Superintendent James DellaPietro said crews were prepared for an upcoming storm and had used roughly 120 tons of salt and 1,500 gallons of brine this winter. Borough Engineer Francis W. Mullan of T & M Associates presented a written project-status report. Mayor George Hoff said the St. Patrick’s Day Parade will occur in six weeks and a new route will be announced.

During public comment, Jennifer Perkel, a resident of 91 Maple Avenue, urged the council to consider adopting a local cottage‑food ordinance to license small food operators and noted that porch pick‑up could be prohibited through local zoning. "She urged Council to consider adopting a local ordinance to allow the licensing of local operators," Perkel said. Anthony Guzzone of Middletown raised questions about the borough's sale of undersized properties and said, "He is waiting to submit a construction plan for a vacant piece of property that he owns, but the possible addition of a lot would alter his plan." Mr. Cusick said notices on that matter would be sent in a couple of weeks.

Votes at a glance: Ordinance #1738 (adopted by roll call); Ordinance #1739 (introduced and set for public hearing on March 19, 2025); Resolution #25-016 (payment of bills — approved); Resolution #25-017 (temporary budget amendment — approved); Resolution #25-018 (appointments — approved); Resolution #25-019 (rescission — approved); Resolution #25-020 (amusement‑game license — approved); Resolution #25-021 (DPW truck purchase — approved); Resolution #25-022 (truck upfit — approved); Resolution #25-023 (payment of bills #2 — approved).

The meeting adjourned after the listed business; Jo‑Ann O’Brien, Municipal Clerk, certified the minutes.