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Administrator: state law to move legal notices online, $550,000 health-premium hit and pending DPW grant
Summary
Borough Administrator Michael Ferrelli briefed the council on new state law S4654 requiring public legal notices be posted on municipal websites starting March 1, 2026; he also said state budget did not include the DPW garage request and warned of a projected $550,000 hit from a 37% rise in state health premiums next year.
Borough Administrator Michael Ferrelli told the Pompton Lakes Borough Council on July 16 that several administrative items will have near-term budget and operational implications.
Ferrelli summarized new state statute S4654, which requires public entities to publish legally required public notices on official government websites beginning March 1, 2026; the law also requires a one-year newspaper notice to inform residents of the change. "The public entity shall advertise the public notice on our official government website as opposed to publishing it in a newspaper," Ferrelli said, noting the borough will add a portal/button to its homepage. He estimated the shift could save about $20,000 annually in newspaper publication costs but said it will require additional staff time and technical work.
On capital funding, Ferrelli said the state budget signed June 30 did not include the borough's requested funding for a Department of Public Works garage. He noted three federal grant applications remain pending and that one submission to the Senate Appropriations Committee seeks $3,000,000 for the DPW garage; that request is an early step in a longer process.
Ferrelli also warned of a significant increase in employee benefits costs: the State Health Benefits Plan is expected to raise premiums by about 37%, which he projected would add roughly $550,000 to the borough's budget next year. To respond, he said officials are seeking proposals from health-benefit brokers, considering alternative carriers and exploring a joint insurance fund, subject to union-contract constraints that require maintaining equal or better benefits.
The council asked for follow-up information on technical implementation for the new public-notice portal, and Ferrelli said staff will return with details and cost estimates.
