Mayor & Council Special Meeting

MINUTES Mayor and Council Special Meeting Wednesday, June 4, 2025 6:00 P.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 June 4, 2025. The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Mayor Thomas Papaleo. SILENT PRAYER – FLAG SALUTE Mayor Papaleo asked for a moment of silence for all Americans throughout country as the heat season begins, especially those who do not have proper air conditioning. Council President Montisano-Koen 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 via the May 29, 2025 Sunshine Notice containing date, time, and location 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 Borough Attorney John Shahdanian, Esq. OLD BUSINESS – Borough Hall Entrance & Police Parking Lot Improvements Project Borough Administrator Aportela explained that, at the time the Borough Engineer presented the bid results, the consensus was to award the base bid, radiant heating, and the alternates associated with the three parking spaces. She further noted that one item on which there was no consensus was additional pavers. As such, she explained that the purpose of this meeting is to obtain consensus so that the Borough Engineer can prepare a recommendation of award with the final costs which generates the resolution and certification of funds from the Chief Financial Officer. Council President Montisano-Koen commented that she is considering the long-term maintenance of the pavers as well as the DPW’s recommendation that cement be selected in place of pavers for maintenance purposes. She expressed her belief that there will be a cost savings of $60,000 if they select cement. Motion by Council President Montisano-Koen, second by Councilwoman Malellari, that cement with only accent pavers be selected. There was discussion regarding where the pavers and cement would be located. Councilman Glass pointed out $60,000 would not be the incremental cost as the cost for the cement in the base bid would offset. Borough Administrator Aportela confirmed that there would be an increase of approximately $30,000 if they selected pavers in place of cement. On a roll call, the vote was recorded as follows: Council President Montisano-Koen: aye Councilman Benson: aye Councilwoman Kinsella: aye Councilman Glass: nay Councilwoman Malellari: aye Councilwoman Dhariwal: aye PUBLIC COMMENT – Motion by Council President Montisano-Koen, second Councilwoman Kinsella, and all members present voting in favor, to open the floor to the public. No one came forward. ADJOURNMENT – There being no further business to come before the Mayor and Council, on a motion by Council President Montisano-Koen, second by Councilman Benson, and unanimously carried, to adjourn this meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 6:08 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Anne Dodd, RMC Borough Clerk