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Mountainside council approves routine contracts, appointments, fees and refunds
Summary
At its Feb. 18, 2025 meeting Mountainside’s council unanimously approved a new animal control contract, appointed a tax-appeals firm on contingency, extended a pool concession, authorized tax refunds, and passed two fee-related ordinances; bills totaling $460,142.71 were also approved.
Mountainside’s Mayor and Council approved several routine resolutions and ordinances at the Feb. 18, 2025 meeting, recording unanimous council votes on each item.
Contracts and appointments: The council authorized a three-year contract for animal control services with Animal Control Solutions, LLC (349 State Route 31 #B9, Flemington, NJ) covering March 1, 2025 to Feb. 29, 2028 at a cost of $15,792 (year one), $16,116 (year two) and $16,440 (year three), with two optional one-year extensions at $16,764 and $17,100. The motion (Resolution 35-2025) was introduced by Councilwoman Pacifico and seconded by Councilman Matejek and passed on roll call.
The council also appointed the law firm Blau and Blau as reverse tax appeal attorney under a contingent-fee arrangement (Resolution 36-2025). Under the arrangement the borough will not incur legal expense unless the firm is successful; the firm’s work may exceed $17,500 and award is subject to negotiated terms and the Borough Attorney’s approval.
Pool contract and tax refunds: Resolution 37-2025 extends the pool concession contract with Clark Concession Operations LLC for the 2025 season in the amount of $5,100, with a payment schedule of $2,550 due June 1, 2025 and $2,550 due July 15, 2025, plus a $500 refundable security deposit and a $300 refundable cleaning fee. Resolution 38-2025 directs processing of State Tax Court refunds to property owners Xie, Yuxin and Wang, Mingli totaling $2,732.14, to be forwarded to Jacobus & Associates, LLC.
Ordinances and fees: The council passed Ordinance 1338-2025 to amend municipal parking permit language (designating spaces #43–#64 and deferring fee amounts to Chapter XXIII) and to add a $10 daily parking fee and a $50 application fee for tree removal. The council also passed Ordinance 1339-2025 amending tree protection rules to require a $50 permit fee for tree-removal applications, require replacement proposals (minimum 1.5" caliper per removed tree) or, if replacement is infeasible, a $100 payment per removed tree to the Borough Tree Fund.
Finance: The council approved payment of bills in the amount of $460,142.71 after audit and review (motion by Councilman Dierkes, seconded by Councilman Matejek). All roll-call votes on the listed items were unanimous in favor (Ayes: Dierkes, Matejek, Pacifico, Rinaldo, Van Deusen, Wass; Nays: 0).
Public comment: Michaela Whelan of 293 New Providence Road asked the council for field space for soccer at Beechwood School; the mayor responded that the borough must seek Board of Education approval because earlier renovation plans were not completed by the school.
Next steps: Contract documents, fee schedules and deed-notice requirements referenced in ordinance 1337-2025 should be reviewed by affected departments and posted where applicable.
