Mayor & Council

MINUTES Mayor and Council Regular Meeting September 4, 2025 7:00 P.M. CALL TO ORDER – A Regular Meeting of the Mayor and Council of the Borough of River Edge was held in person at the River Edge Public Library located at 685 Elm Avenue, River Edge, NJ 07661 and virtually via Zoom on September 4, 2025. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Thomas Papaleo. SILENT PRAYER – FLAG SALUTE Mayor Papaleo asked for a moment of silence for the children who were injured in the school shooting in Minnesota as well as all students who started school this week and their families who may be anxious. Councilwoman Malellari then led those present in a salute to the flag. STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE - Mayor Papaleo read the Statement of Compliance into the record as follows: Statement of Compliance with Open Public Meeting Act: This meeting complies with the Open Public Meeting Act by notification on August 20, 2025, via Resolution 25-228, of this location, date and time to the Town News and the Record and by posting of same on the municipal bulletin board and Borough Web Site and filing a notice of the same with the Municipal Clerk. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Council President Montisano-Koen, Councilwoman Kinsella, Councilwoman Malellari, Councilman Benson, Councilman Glass, Councilwoman Dhariwal, and Mayor Papaleo. ABSENT: Councilwoman Kinsella ALSO PRESENT: Borough Administrator Lissette Aportela Borough Attorney John Shahdanian, Esq. PRESENTATIONS – Verizon Wireless Kevin Jones, attorney for Verizon Wireless, Alexander Madjeska, Senior Lead Construction Manager of Network Building & Consulting, Samantha Erickson, Verizon Wireless Radio Frequency Engineer, and Nate Slack , Project Manager for Scherer Design Group, LLC, were present for this discussion. Mr. Jones explained that they are looking place within the Borough right-of-way on Willow Avenue close to 921 Willow a new, 38 ½ ft pole that will carry both 4G and 5G. He noted that doing so is permitted under the FCC 5G order. He further noted that the Borough will benefit from this pole as it utilizes the OneTalk feature which allows first responders to operate in emergencies where real-time communication is paramount. He added that they are looking to obtain municipal consent by way of a resolution. Mr. Slack provided further details on the placement of the pole as well what will be placed on the pole. Ms. Erickson explained the reason that this location has been chosen as well as why there is a need for this additional pole, noting that the purpose is to add capacity for users in the high school and middle school. It was questioned whether the recently adopted policy to prevent cell phone usage in schools would eliminate the need to add capacity, whether the pole will be placed in such a way as to not impact any trees in the right-of-way and whether the Police Department has been consulted for a traffic assessment. It was suggested that this pole be placed in a more industrial or commercial area or that a discussion be had with the River Dell Board of Education to see if there is a location on school property where this pole can placed. It was also suggested that the pole be placed in the right-of- way in front of Grace Lutheran Church or a lease agreement be entered into to place the pole on church property. Mr. Madjeska responded that they have attempted to get in touch with representatives from the middle and high school but did not hear back. It was recommended that they attempt again in a few weeks since the school year has just started. Verizon Wireless is to come back to the governing body with the requested information and after they have investigated the sites that were suggested. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ANY ITEM ON THIS AGENDA – As there was no members of the public present, no motion was made to open the meeting for public comment on agenda items. MONTHLY REPORTS – Mayor Papaleo advised that the following reports are on file in the Office of the Borough Clerk and available for review: Land Use Board - August 13, 2025 RESOLUTIONS - By Consent Council President Montisano-Koen asked for an explanation of Resolution #25-240. Borough Administrator Aportela advised that Sweetspot River Edge, LLC submitted the full 2025 license fee in November 2024 in anticipation that they would receive their State license in January. She explained that the State license was not approved until July which prevented the municipal license from being issued, and as per the Borough Code, the license fee is to be prorated if the license is issued after June 1st. As such, this resolution authorizes a refund for the balance after the fee has been prorated. a. #25-235 Resolution Permitting the Possession and Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages at a Block Party on Madison Avenue b. #25-236 A Resolution Approving the Issuance of an Annual License to Sweetspot River Edge LLC to Operate a Cannabis Retail Facility in the Borough of River Edge c. #25-237 Authorize Execution of Indemnity Agreement with Veolia Water New Jersey, Inc. d. #25-238 Authorize Tax Collector to Refund 2025 3rd Quarter Tax Overpayment  e. #25-239 Approval of Veteran 100% Tax Exemption f. #25-240 Authorize Refund – Sweetspot River Edge, LLC g. #25-241 Form of Resolution Requesting Approval of Items of Revenue and Appropriation NJS 40A:4-87 h. #25-242 Authorize Tax Collector to Adjust 2025 Final Tax Bills Due to County Board Judgments Motion by Council President Montisano-Koen, second by Councilman Benson, that the Consent Agenda be approved. On a roll call, the vote was recorded as follows: Council President Montisano-Koen: aye Councilman Benson: aye Councilwoman Kinsella: absent Councilman Glass: aye Councilwoman Malellari: aye Councilwoman Dhariwal: aye ******** #25-243 Payment of Bills Councilwoman Malellari read resolution #25-243 into the record: At a Regular Meeting of the Mayor and Council of the Borough of River Edge, County of Bergen, State of New Jersey, held on September 4, 2025. BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mayor and Council of the Borough of River Edge approve the following expenditures. CURRENT FUND $ 522,989.59 GENERAL CAPITAL FUND $ 100,385.75 GRANT FUND $ 72,118.33 TRUST OTHER $ 7,061.67 DEVELOPER’S ESCROW $ 4,460.00 RECREATION TRUST $ 10,807.45 Motion by Council President Montisano-Koen, second by Councilman Benson, to approve Resolution #25-243. On a roll call, the vote was recorded as follows: Council President Montisano-Koen: aye Councilman Benson: aye Councilwoman Kinsella: absent Councilman Glass: aye Councilwoman Malellari: aye Councilwoman Dhariwal: aye* *Councilwoman Dhariwal recused from checks #66910, #66920, #66921, #66934, #66938, #66944, #66945, and #6113 through #6119. ******** NEW BUSINESS – There was no New Business. OLD BUSINESS – There was no Old Business. PUBLIC COMMENTS – As there were no members of the public present, there was no motion to open the meeting for public comment. COUNCIL COMMENTS – Councilwoman Malellari advised that the Library Board met this past Tuesday and the placement of the Buster Box containing Narcan was approved. Councilman Benson added that, in speaking with his son who attends Rutgers University, he learned that these boxes are on campus and there is no abuse of the fact that this medication is readily available. Councilwoman Malellari advised that one of the board members commented that when students go to First Aid, they are trained on use of this product. Mayor Papaleo announced that the September 25th meeting will be held in Borough Hall. Borough Administrator Aportela confirmed that the Borough Engineer previously advised that he will be working with the Construction Official by mid-September to obtain a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy. Mayor Papaleo reported that River Edge Day will take place on October 5th. The September 11th Ceremony will be held at the memorial site adjacent to the Library at 6 p.m. at which time the River Edge Farmer’s Market will stop playing music and encourage participants to attend the ceremony. He thanked Lt. Zemaites and the Police Department for organizing this event in conjunction with the River Edge Fire Department and River Edge Ambulance Service. ADJOURNMENT – There being no further business to come before the Mayor and Council, on a motion by Councilman Benson, second by Council President Montisano-Koen, and unanimously carried, to adjourn this meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 7:44 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Anne Dodd, RMC Borough Clerk