Port Republic council adopts ordinance to bank municipal tax cap and approves two resolutions

The Port Republic City Council voted unanimously on Feb. 10 to adopt Ordinance 01-2026 allowing the municipality to exceed appropriation limits to establish a CAP bank under N.J.S.A. 40A:4-45.14. The adoption was recorded as a 5-0 vote in favor (Crawford, Giberson, Hawn, Ropiecki, Turner).

Councilmember David Crawford moved to open the public hearing on the ordinance; no members of the public spoke. After the hearing, Councilmember Crawford moved for adoption; Jeffrey Ropiecki joined other members in the recorded yes vote. The ordinance was presented as Ordinance 01-2026: "Ordinance to Exceed the Municipal Budget Appropriation Limits and to Establish a CAP Bank (N.J.S.A. 40A:4-45.14)."

At the same meeting the council adopted Resolution 39-2026 (Change of Custodian of Petty Cash Fund) and Resolution 40-2026 (Authorizing the Transfer of 2025 Appropriation Reserves). Both resolutions passed on recorded motions with yes votes from Crawford, Giberson, Hawn, Ropiecki and Turner.

Earlier in the meeting, the council approved routine procedural items including the January 6 reorganization and council meeting minutes, the January 27 budget workshop minutes, the February 2026 bill list and a motion to pay all signed bills; those earlier votes show Councilmember Ropiecki absent for some items prior to his arrival at 6:32 p.m.

The Municipal Clerk reported fiscal receipts in the regular reports: $9,616.93 for January 2026 (Municipal Clerk) and tax collections of $122,996.87 for December 2025 and $191,776.11 for January 2026 (Tax Collector). Council President Giberson said the budget as presented would produce a 1.4-cent tax increase and that the full budget will be introduced in March.

The council adjourned at 6:46 p.m.