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Mountainside council approves Municipal Alliance grant, staff appointments and summer pool hires; resident raises erosion and littering concerns
Summary
At its April 22 meeting the Mountainside council authorized a Municipal Alliance grant application with $10,160 DEDR funding, appointed Justyna Zagorska Diaz as part‑time tax collector with $20,000 compensation for added duties, approved seasonal pool and recreation hires, and heard resident concerns about creek erosion and illegal dumping.
The Mountainside Borough Council on April 22 approved a package of resolutions covering municipal grants, appointments and seasonal staffing, and heard public comment about local infrastructure and littering enforcement.
Council approved Resolution 52‑2025 authorizing submission of a Municipal Alliance strategic plan and grant application for the fiscal cycle July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026. The application lists DEDR funding of $10,160 with a required cash match of $2,540 and $7,620 in‑kind contributions. Councilman Dierkes introduced the resolution and Councilman Matejek seconded it; the roll call vote was Ayes: Dierkes, Matejek, Rinaldo, Wass; Nays: 0.
The council also approved Resolution 57‑2025 appointing Justyna Zagorska Diaz (License T‑8759) as part‑time Tax Collector to fill an unexpired term effective April 14, 2025 through December 31, 2028 and authorized $20,000 in additional annual compensation for the extra duties. The appointment was moved by Councilman Matejek and seconded by Councilman Dierkes and carried 4‑0.
In other personnel actions, the council accepted the Recreation Committee’s recommendations and approved Resolution 56‑2025 to hire seasonal pool and recreation staff for the 2025 season, listing names and wages for lifeguards, managers, instructors and support staff. The council also authorized temporary part‑time staffing hires (Resolution 58‑2025), approved gift checks to Deerfield School’s valedictorian and salutatorian (Resolution 53‑2025), authorized surplus property sales via Municibid (Resolution 54‑2025), and approved routine refunds (Resolution 59‑2025). All resolutions recorded unanimous roll call approval among the voting members present.
During public comment resident Kurt Manz of 1015 Charles Street described ongoing creek erosion on his property and the loss of curbing after recent road resurfacing; Engineer Mike Disko will inspect the site and present possible solutions at the borough’s May 6 work session. Another resident, Rob Ross of 1550 Route 22, suggested amending the municipal littering ordinance to make registered vehicle owners responsible when their vehicles are used for illegal dumping. Mayor Mirabelli closed public comment and the meeting adjourned at 8:17 p.m.
The actions taken are procedural and administrative in nature: the grant application must still be processed through county and state channels, the tax collector appointment fills an unexpired term and is effective as recorded, and the seasonal hiring will allow the Recreation Department to operate its pool and summer programs as scheduled.
