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Moonachie council unanimously approves package of consent resolutions, sets mileage rate and applies for recreation grant
Summary
At its Jan. 22 meeting the Moonachie Mayor and Council unanimously approved a package of consent resolutions including a $78.75 annual sewer-bill credit for qualifying seniors (retroactive to Jan. 1, 2026), set mileage reimbursement at 72.5¢/mile, confirmed several appointments, authorized a $4,600 website maintenance contract, and authorized applying for up to $75,000 in state recreation grant funds to renovate the Moonachie Civic Center.
Moonachie Mayor and Council met Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, and unanimously approved a slate of consent resolutions covering utility credits, personnel appointments, equipment purchases, budget transfers and a grant application for civic-center renovations.
The council passed Resolution #26-70 establishing a $78.75 annual credit on sewer bills for any senior citizen, disabled person or surviving spouse/civil union partner who receives the State Senior Citizen Property Tax Credit (N.J.S.A. 54:4-8.40 et seq.), and made the credit retroactive to Jan. 1, 2026. Council also approved Resolution #26-71 to set the borough mileage reimbursement rate at 72.5 cents per mile for officials and employees who do not receive a monthly car allowance, effective immediately.
Other measures approved included a $4,600 annual maintenance contract with CivicPlus for the borough website (Res. #26-72); confirmation of John Anastasio’s appointment to the Board of Health with a term through Dec. 31, 2028 (Res. #26-73); and rescission of a prior appointment followed by the appointment of Police Officer Scott Lemongello as the Municipal Humane Law Enforcement Officer (MHLEO) in accordance with P.L. 2017, c.331 (Res. #26-74 and Res. #26-75). The MHLEO appointment was made per a recommendation from Police Chief Richard Behrens and notes the officer’s role as liaison to the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and authority to enforce state and local animal-cruelty laws.
The council approved the purchase of two Charger desktop multi units for the police department from Motorola Solutions, Inc. for $2,919.00 through New Jersey State Contract #83909 (Res. #26-76), and authorized budget transfers retroactive to Dec. 31, 2025 that move $9,100 from Group Insurance into several line items including First Aid Squad Contribution and Street Lighting (Res. #26-77). The governing body also authorized settlement of multiple tax appeals brought by Panzera Investments LLC for 2020–2024 (Res. #26-78) and ordered a $4,609.70 refund to Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi based on a Tax Court judgment for 2021–2022 (Res. #26-79).
Council authorized filing an application for up to $75,000 from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Local Recreation Improvement Grant to renovate the Moonachie Civic Center and authorized execution of grant documents should an award be made (Res. #26-80). They approved several Exempt Firemen applications for Friendship Engine & Hose Company and Washington Park Hose Company (Res. #26-81 and Res. #26-82), approved membership for Victor W. Migliorino in the Moonachie Fire Department (Res. #26-83), and authorized the Borough Clerk to advertise and receive bids for the Empire Boulevard Phase II NJDOT Local Aid project (Res. #26-84).
The Municipal Court Administrator was authorized to sign a one-year agreement with Language Line Services, Inc. for interpreting services for 2026 (Res. #26-85). The council also approved Resolution #26-86 to reimburse DPW employee William D. Hunt for five unused 2025 sick days under the Teamsters Local 11 agreement. A separate motion approved payment of the borough’s bills; all roll-call votes recorded the six councilmembers voting in the affirmative.
Mayor Vaccaro used the discussion portion of the meeting to note a Fire Department dinner scheduled for Saturday at 6 p.m. at the Graycliff, report that the Teresa Court road opening "has been working well," and thank Officer Milton for assistance at the school, noting a decrease in afternoon pickup times. The public hearing on the agenda drew no speakers and the council adjourned at 8:06 p.m.
Votes at a glance: all consent resolutions and motions taken during the meeting were adopted by recorded roll-call votes (Bauer, Campbell, Cirillo, Haberlin, Surak, Wende — all ayes). Specific items included the sewer-credit policy (Res. #26-70), mileage rate (Res. #26-71), CivicPlus website maintenance ($4,600, Res. #26-72), MHLEO appointment (Res. #26-75), LRIG grant application for up to $75,000 (Res. #26-80), and refund to Panzera Investments' counsel of $4,609.70 (Res. #26-79). The settlement terms for the Panzera appeals reference an attached Schedule “A,” which was not read into the public minutes.
The council’s actions were procedural and unanimous; no substantive debate or public opposition to the items on the consent calendar was recorded.
