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Mahwah council adopts temporary appropriations, authorizes litigation retainer and approves two disabled-veteran tax exemptions
Summary
At its Jan. 5 meeting the Mahwah Township Council approved temporary appropriations to carry operating authority into 2026, awarded a litigation contract capped at $25,000 related to a DiGeronimo dispute, and granted two 100% disabled-veteran property tax exemptions with refunds.
Mahwah Township Council voted on Jan. 5 to authorize temporary appropriations to fund municipal operations until the 2026 budget is adopted, to award a litigation retainer to Methfessel & Werbel, P.C., and to grant two 100% disabled-veteran property tax exemptions.
The council approved bills and claims previously signed, totaling $180,031.16, on a motion by Councilmember Paz, seconded by Councilmember May. A roll-call vote recorded unanimous approval by Councilmembers Ariemma, Donigian, Ervin, May, Paz, Wong and Council President Robert M. Ferguson, III.
Why it matters: The temporary-appropriations resolution provides interim spending authority for municipal departments, water and sewer operations, and the affordable-housing utility until the governing body adopts a full 2026 budget. The litigation retainer and tax-exemption refunds are immediate financial actions that affect municipal legal spending and individual property-tax liabilities.
The litigation contract, adopted as Resolution #066-26, awards professional legal services to Eric L. Harrison, Esq., of Methfessel & Werbel, P.C. for matters related to the DiGeronimo dispute, with a contract cap of $25,000. The resolution cites statutory authority for awarding professional services and includes Pay-to-Play disclosures required by N.J.S.A. 19:44A-20.4 et seq.; the Chief Municipal Finance Officer certified funds are available in the operating legal account. Councilmember Donigian asked whether discussions occurred before hiring the attorney; Township Attorney's Associate Sue Sharpe said she would need to investigate, given the Business Administrator was not present.
The council approved two 100% disabled-veteran exemptions under N.J.S.A. 54:4-3.30 et seq. Resolution #067-26 grants an exemption to Taylor Vazquez for Block 139, Lot 2920 (920 Thoreau Court), effective Feb. 28, 2025, and orders a refund of $909.29 and cancellation of future property taxes for the exempt period. Resolution #068-26 grants an exemption to Joseph W. Schnackenberg for Block 62, Lot 4 (11 Lynn Terrace), effective Aug. 6, 2025, and orders a refund of $3,366.41 and cancellation of future property taxes for the exempt period. The minutes note the municipal clerk will forward copies of the resolutions to the property owners and appropriate municipal offices.
The temporary-appropriations measure (Resolution #069-26) took effect Jan. 1, 2026; it applies a 35% partial-year appropriation rule to 2025 budget totals and enumerates department-level interim amounts for the Current Fund, Water and Sewer Utility, and Affordable Housing Utility. The minutes record the larger 2025 totals used to compute the 35% baseline (for example, Current Fund $43,761,886; Water and Sewer $14,332,542; Affordable Housing Utility $322,000) and the resulting 35% interim figures (Current $15,122,731; Water and Sewer $5,016,390; Affordable Housing $112,700).
All resolutions and supporting materials were attached to and made part of the meeting minutes; the municipal clerk certified the records. The clerk's certification and the resolutions’ files are available in the Township Clerk’s office as part of the public record.
