Mayor & Council Budget Meeting

MINUTES Mayor and Council Special Meeting Saturday, March 8, 2025 8:00 A.M. CALL TO ORDER – A Special 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 March 8, 2025. The meeting was called to order at 8:00 a.m. by Mayor Thomas Papaleo. SILENT PRAYER – FLAG SALUTE Council President Montisano- Koen asked for a moment of silence to remember those who are suffering both in health and mental health as well as to commemorate International Women’s Day. Councilwoman Kinsella then led those present in a salute to the flag. STATEMENT – 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 via the February 19, 2025 and March 6, 2025Sunshine Notice containing the time, date location, and access information 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: None ALSO PRESENT: Borough Administrator Lissette Aportela Chief Financial Officer Chris Battaglia Kenneth Krautheim, Citizens Budget Committee Member Albert Ruhlmann, Citizens Budget Committee Member Donna Sanders, Citizens Budget Committee Member Jason Milito, DPW Superintendent Robert Schlossberg, Fire Chief Daragh O’Connor, Library Director Maxine Rumsby, Library Board President Michael Walker, Police Chief Joseph Ricca, Recreation Director PUBLIC COMMENT Motion by Council President Montisano-Koen, second by Councilwoman Kinsella, and all members present voting in favor, to open the floor to the public. No one came forward. Motion by Councilman Glass, second by Councilman Benson, and all members present voting in favor, to close to the public. #25-94 Payment of Bills Councilwoman Kinsella read resolution #25-94 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 March 8, 2025. BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mayor and Council of the Borough of River Edge approve the following expenditures. CURRENT FUND $ 386,277.72 GENERAL CAPITAL FUND $ 40,941.00 Motion by Councilwoman Kinsella, second by Councilman Glass, that Resolution #25-94 be approved. The vote was recorded as follows: Council President Montisano-Koen: aye Councilman Benson: aye Councilwoman Kinsella: aye Councilman Glass: aye Councilwoman Malellari: aye Councilwoman Dhariwal: aye 2025 BUDGET DISCUSSION Fire Department Robert Schlossberg, Fire Chief, detailed the new Operating Budget requests that were brought forward at last week’s meeting which included maintenance contracts for equipment, 4 uniforms which can be added to the uniform repair line, and assistance on the dinner/dance which the department hosts every two years. He advised that they are looking for $7,500 towards this event annually, noting that other municipalities make such a contribution. Current Tax Impact Chris Battaglia, CFO, reported that, based on the approved reductions to the DPW budget in the amount of $11,000, the current tax rate is 6.64% which results in an increase pf $242.70 on the average household assessed at $675,330. Recreation Department Capital Budget Joseph Ricca, Recreation Director, reviewed his Capital Budget requests. He spoke to the various improvements that are planned for KBG, noting that he worked with the Borough Engineer on pricing which has gone up significantly. He explained that there is Open Space funding from 2019 and 2020 which he commented must be used at this point or this funding will be lost. He also expressed his opinion that this project should not be done in phases. He finished by detailing the remaining capital items which included a recreational vehicle and engineering costs for Memorial Park Phase I. There were questions regarding potential revenue that can be garnered through the pickleball courts at KBG. Concerns regarding flooding at this field were raised. Recreation Director Ricca advised that he is working with both the Borough Engineer and a company to put measures in place to avoid serious damage. He further advised that drainage is part of this project and there is insurance on the entire field, noting that the pickleball courts and batting cages are not in the flood zone. Borough Administrator Aportela added that there is additional flood insurance for this location and the grant includes installation of a double gate which can be opened when a storm is coming. DPW Superintendent Milito spoke to the various measures that are being taken to mitigate flooding and commented the clay fields will most likely be the only area impacted by flooding. CFO Battaglia noted that there is grant funding in the amount of $234,524 and $100,000 of Open Space Trust funding will be utilized for this project resulting in $228,616 of debt authorized. It was questioned whether the recreational vehicle can be pushed to next year to which Recreation Director Ricca expressed that he does not have a problem with doing so. Recreation Operating Budget Recreation Director Ricca reviewed his Operating Budget, providing the reasons for any major increases or decreases. He explained that he is looking to have his part-time assistant made full-time, which he noted is the reason for the increase in the full-time line and decrease in the part-time line. He provided justification for this request and advised that he is looking for this change in status to be effective July 1st which means that benefits would not go into effective until September 1st. Although the requested amount for line item 5- 01-28-370-041 entitled “Meetings & Seminars” is $2,000, he advised that it can be reduced to $1,000. With respect to line item 5-01-28-370-177, he recommended that $15,800 from the trust be utilized, reducing the budgeted amount to $27,400. It was suggested that the charge to participate in SCORE be increased from $2 to $5. Recreation Director Ricca cautioned against doing so as he believes that participation will decrease significantly. River Edge Volunteer Ambulance Service (REVAS) Capital Budget Audrius Juskelis, REVAS Captain, explained that, due to the changeover to trunk radio, REVAS has lost the instant communication that they previously had with the Fire and Police Departments. Due to the high cost, he explained that they are looking for assistance from the Borough to purchase 4 portable and 2 console radios. He confirmed that the $25,000 request includes programming of the radios. Library Operating Budget Daragh O’Connor, Library Director, reviewed his Operating Budget requests. In terms of salary and wages, he noted that they are looking to add 3 hours to one full-time position, increasing from 32 to 35 hours per week. He explained that he is also looking to fill two vacant part-time positions effective April 1st. With respect to operating expenses, he noted that an additional $15,000 is being requested to allow increased digital content to be offered and to support tutors and the ESL program through joining the Literacy Volunteers of Pascack Valley. He further noted that there has been an increase in the cost for supplies. He finished by stating that they would like to have a Library of things not just books and offer items such as a metal detector and pickleball paddles for checkout. It was noted that the Friends of the Library does fundraising which is used for programs mainly as well as items such as the television which is being utilized to hold this remote meeting. It was questioned how much funding the Borough is required to provide to the Library, and of this amount, how much is used for operating expenses. CFO Battaglia advised that the minimum required funding is $821,235.10, and of that $712,039 is the total amount for full time and part time employees as well as the other expenses that are being requested. He noted that the balance as well as additional funding is used for liability insurance, workers compensation, health benefits, pension, utilities, social security, payroll taxes, and all ancillary items that are required to pay employees and operate the building. He advised that, currently, the requested budget is approximately $950,000. Councilwoman Kinsella noted that the Borough has consistently provided funding above the minimum requirement. Library Director O’Connor advised that, in addition to the minimum funding requirement, there is also a maximum funding limitation which limits funding to not more than 15% over the previous year’s amount. He asked that the governing body fund the Library at the level that the residents want and expect. Maxine Rumsby, Library Board President, detailed the reduction in hours that took place last year due to budgeting issues. She stated that they would like to reinstate the two positions that were eliminated last year due to budgeting which would allow the Library to be open additional hours. She commented on how much the Library is loved by the residents and how much the Library is utilized. She detailed the other impacts that the budget reduction last year has caused. Administration Capital Budget Borough Administrator Aportela reviewed her Capital Budget requests which included computers and IT equipment, updating the Borough’s tax maps, legal/financing which pertains to bonding requirements, Bogert Road Section 9. With respect to the tax maps, she explained that they have not been updated in 24 to 25 years and spoke to the amount of work that will be required on the part of the Borough Engineer to complete these updates. She also detailed the reasons that the maps are required to be updated. Administration Operating Budget Borough Administrator Aportela reviewed her Operating Budget requests and noted reasons for any significant increases or decreases. The meeting recessed at 9:25 a.m. and resumed at 9:35 a.m. In response to a question regarding the Land Use part-time salary line, CFO Battaglia explained that a budget transfer was made to this line due to the fluctuating hours of two part-time employees. He noted that the reason for this fluctuation is due to the demands of the office. Before making decisions regarding the budget requests, Mayor Papaleo opened the floor to members of the Citizen Budget Committee for questions and comments. Gregg Cariddi expressed his opinion that this budget needs to be about needs and not wants. Ken Krautheim expressed his belief that the Police Department will need a larger patrol SUV the near future and inquired why the Outside Duty Trust is only be applied for the small traffic utility vehicles. He further questioned the reason that this trust is not permitted to be used for the camera system. CFO Battaglia detailed the various items for which this trust can be utilized, noting that the account cannot be charged directly for an item that is not outside duty-related. He noted that there is the ability to take more revenue into the budget and add an appropriation to the budget to utilize the funds in one of the ways described. He cautioned that there is a risk of depleting this reserve by doing so. Al Ruhlman asked that the governing body to only consider items that are necessary to protect the town and Borough employees. Recreation Capital Budget It was the consensus of the governing body to move the purchase of the recreational vehicle to next year. The remaining items were approved to be included in the Capital Budget. Recreation Operating Budget It was agreed that the request to move the part-time employee to full-time status will be denied. As such, line item 5-01-28-370-011 is to be reduced from $134,872 to $84,872 and line item 5-01-28-370-012 is to be increased from $12,360 to $52,360. As recommended by the Recreation Director, it was also agreed that line item 5-01-28-370-041 be reduced from $2,000 to $1,000 and that $15,800 from line item 5-01-28-370-177 be removed and charged to the trust account, reducing this line to $27,400. REVAS Capital Budget It was the consensus of the governing body to approve REVAS’ request in the amount of $25,000 for the purchase and programming of radios. Administration Capital Budget It was agreed that the Administration Capital Budget requests be approved in the amounts requested. Library Operating Budget It was the consensus of the governing body to appropriate $657,539.08 to cover the other general expense of $138,610 and $518,929.08 for total salaries and wages. It was further agreed to keep the maintenance line at the requested amount of $5,850, resulting in an overall budget amount of $892,483.08 which was noted to exceed the minimum requirement by $71,247.98. Fire Department Operating Budget In addition to the original budget requests, it was agreed to include $3,000 for maintenance contracts to service Fire Department tools. Police Operating Budget It was the consensus of the governing body to remove $12,000 from the salary and wage line to eliminate the additional Sergeant position due to hiring and promotional freezes. All other budget requests were approved in the amounts requested. Police Capital Budget It was agreed that the $170,000 request for the ALPRs and cameras be removed from the Capital Budget. At the recommendation of the Finance Committee, Chief Walker was requested to bring this request forward next year as separate requests. CFO Battaglia reported that the tax rate has been reduced to 5.8% or $218.31 on the average household based upon the decisions made today. He advised that, in order to reduce the tax rate to 4.5%, an additional reduction in the amount of $224,000 would need to be made and $305,000 to reach a 4% tax rate. After some discussion, it was agreed to utilize an additional $305,000 from surplus in order to reduce the tax rate to 4%. The efforts of the Finance Committee, Borough Administrator, CFO, Citizen Budget Committee, Department Heads as well as volunteers and Borough employees were recognized. ADJOURNMENT – There being no further business to come before the Mayor and Council, on a motion by Councilwoman Dhariwal, second by Council President Montisano-Koen, and unanimously carried, to adjourn this meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 10:32 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Anne Dodd, RMC Borough Clerk