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Mountainside council approves refunds, bills and a legal-counsel contract increase; recognizes police awardees
Summary
Council approved department refunds, audited bills totaling $351,702.57, assigned OEM committee members, and approved an increase to the legal counsel cap; the meeting also featured a police awards ceremony honoring officers for service and specific investigations from 2025.
At its February meeting the Borough of Mountainside approved several financial and administrative items and held a police awards ceremony recognizing officers for service and investigations during 2025.
Finance and administration: The council approved Resolution 38-2026 authorizing department refunds including $135 for a soccer program refund and $100 for a smoke-detector inspection refund. The council then approved payment of audited bills and claims for February 2026 totaling $351,702.57, subject to available funds.
OEM committee: By Resolution 39-2026 the council assigned Paul Mirabelli as OEM committee chair and named Renee Dierkes and Valerie Wass as members; the motion carried on a roll-call vote.
Legal counsel contract increase: The council adopted Resolution 41-2026 to amend a prior appointment (Resolution 10-2025) of the firm "Post Pollock" as borough legal counsel. The motion approves an increase in the contract cap; the transcript records the original figure of $175,000 and references increases including a figure of $275,000 and an apparent transcription irregularity near $307,000. The council approved the amendment by roll call. (Clarifying note: the meeting transcript contains a numeric transcription anomaly for the new cap; the record indicates the council voted to increase the previously stated amount.)
Police awards: Chief Gianuzzi presented the 2025 police awards and commendations. Recognitions included Sergeant James Urban (25 years), Officer Timothy Staschen (five years), Officer Trey Melville (five years) and commendations to officers involved in life-saving actions and an investigation into stolen firearms that led to arrests and recovery of weapons. Chief Gianuzzi noted a police-involved shooting on Bridal Path remains under investigation by the Attorney General's office and could not be addressed publicly until that investigation is closed.
What happens next: Routine follow-up items include processing refunds, completing payment warrants, documenting the amended legal counsel agreement per borough rules, and scheduling any necessary contract filings or publications.
