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Elmwood Park consent agenda approved despite objections over building inspector hire and dental plan
Summary
Council approved the consent agenda (resolutions R‑196‑25 through R‑216‑25), but two council members objected to appointing a full‑time building inspector and renewed a 5% dental plan increase; several recusals were recorded before the motion carried.
The Elmwood Park Mayor and Council approved a multi‑item consent agenda on June 12 that included payroll, bills, contract awards, final payments, license renewals and several personnel actions. The motion to approve the consent agenda passed, but the meeting featured explicit objections from multiple council members to specific items.
Clerk Dean Shea read the consent agenda (R‑196‑25 through R‑216‑25). Several council members spoke against parts of the slate before the vote. Councilman Golubec said he would vote no on Resolution R‑207‑25 (appointment of a full‑time building inspector) and on R‑215‑25 (renewal of the group dental benefits program through Delta Dental of New Jersey), citing that the dental renewal represented a 5% increase and that the building inspector hire had not been included in the budget process. Councilman Fasolo said he would vote no on R‑207‑25 and recuse himself from R‑208‑25. Councilman Samson said he would vote yes on all items. Another council member announced recusals from several items and otherwise voted yes.
At roll call the clerk recorded a mix of yes votes, two explicit no votes and a number of recusals; the motion to approve the consent agenda carried. The transcript records the roll‑call sequence and individual statements explaining the no votes and recusals.
Mayor Coleti and borough staff defended the scheduling and explained that some time‑sensitive items (the dental renewal, for example) arrived close to the expiration date and required action. Administrator Foligno said he had forwarded the broker’s message and clarified timing; he told the council he had discussed the matter with the broker the previous day.
The council approved the consent agenda; the meeting record shows follow‑up actions associated with specific resolutions (for example, appointment paperwork and contract final payments). Council members who voted no or recused themselves explained their positions during the public meeting.
The council moved on to departmental reports and the public portion after the consent agenda vote.
