Council Regular & Budget Meeting*

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES: 1 FEBRUARY 10, 2026 MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR & BUDGET MEETING OF THE MAYOR & COUNCIL OF THE BOROUGH OF WALDWICK HELD ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2026 AT 6:30 PM Mayor Giordano called the meeting to order and read the Statement of Compliance. Mayor Giordano asked for a roll call. Present on roll call: Mayor Giordano, Mr. Brennecke, Ms. Cericola- Drake, Mr. Martinello, Ms. Smith and Ms. Wingate. Mr. Ritchie was absent. Also present: Tatiana Marquis, Borough Administrator; Kelley Halewicz, Municipal Clerk and Craig Bossong, Municipal Attorney. Mayor Giordano asked everyone to join in the Pledge of Allegiance, remain standing for a moment of silence honoring our Veterans and to remain standing for the prayer. PROCLAMATIONS & PRESENTATIONS - None. MAYOR’S REPORT AND REPORTS OF COMMITTEES Mayor’s Report. Mayor Giordano attended the Ramadan Crescent Lighting Ceremony at the Library on Sunday. The Mayor will be sending all Council Members an email next week regarding a situation going on in Waldwick, nothing serious and asking them their opinion on what we should do about it. Financial & Administrative Committee. Mr. Martinello reported that we talk about the budget in pieces. One is General budget, which covers our day-to-day operations, salaries and operational costs. Then we have the Capital budget which is our infrastructure projects, roads, buildings, vehicles and equipment, which we project out for a number of years. Third is the Water utility budget, which has its own general appropriations and capital budget, specifically separated for water purposes. Each year the Council reviews all these budgets to ensure the Borough’s needs are met and future planning is in place. To try to keep taxes as low as possible, despite the statutory costs that keep increasing those costs must get off set somewhere. 2025 Overview 2025 General Appropriations were approximately $16 million 2025 Reserve for Uncollected Taxes were $977,000 Total General Appropriations not including the schools or county. The Borough then must pay certain interests and principles on bonds that are outstanding. This year and hopefully in years to come, there is a major effort to decrease the debt burden on the Borough, so we do not put ourselves in some serious trouble downstream and reduce the amount of principal and interest we pay each year. In 2025, we paid just under $1.7 million debt interest and principal toward those infrastructure projects that have accumulated over the last roughly 20 years. Surplus used to balance the budget of $2.5 million. Total Revenues of $58.8 million, which includes $35.1million for schools and $5.2 million for the county that leaves the Borough roughly $18.5 million. Total expenditures $57.2 million. Excess in revenue of $1.6 million. REGULAR MEETING MINUTES: 2 FEBRUARY 10, 2026 In 2025, the Borough used $2.5 million from Surplus to balance the budget. We put back only $1.6 million, which means a reduction of our municipal surplus of $900,000. This continues the trend for the last three years of surplus reduction. How is surplus generated. It is created when you are able to add more excess revenue than you are using to balance the budget. In summary, you need to take in more money than you are spending just like our home budgets. In this case, our excess revenue has been fairly consistent over the past 10 years around $1.6 million. However, expenses are rising at a higher rate than our tax revenue is increasing. Some basic numbers if you went back to 2015 our appropriations were 3 about $13.7 million and our tax levy was $8.7 million. In 2025 the appropriations are $16.5 million or an increase of roughly $3 million, while tax levies in 2025 were $9.9 million and increase of $900,000. A positive is that we kept our tax rate down; the negative we are depleting our surplus to do so. Ask the basic question, how do other towns who are not lucky enough to have a surplus deal with it? Two options…reduce costs/services and raise taxes. Those are your two levers to pull as we are not the federal government that can deficit spend. The Borough will need to be fiscally responsible in all our requests on the budget as we already are, we will need to increase taxes, and we need to look for new ratables which were started with the redevelopment project on Harrison Avenue. At the last Council meeting we heard from our Police Chief on capital requests. Last week the Finance committee met with DPW Superintendent to discuss capital requests including road paving, which the Administrator will present tonight. The Fire department has submitted their capital requests. In order to keep our capital expenditure in line with last year, we will look to cap the expenditure at around $1.9 million. Tough choices will need to be made and obviously not all the requests can be met. The remaining schedule will be as follows: • Next week Colleen, Tatiana and Kelley will complete our initial draft of operating budget, which will be shared with our audit team to calculate tax and expenditure caps that need to be applied to the budget. • At our 2/24 Council meeting we will present the full capital expenditure requests and recommendations for what will be included for this year. • At our 3/10 council meeting we will present to the Council the initial operating budget and fingers crossed water budget, which will include its own set of capital improvements that are needed. We may look at other financing opportunities with the IBank to cover that expense. Fire & Police Protection Committee. Mr. Brennecke reported that the Department received a letter of resignation from Joseph Trotta. There was a house fire in Waldwick with damage to the home, no injuries reported. Mr. Brennecke thanked Joe for the good explanation of what needs to be done as it is an extensive process. Public Safety Committee. Ms. Wingate reported that she will attend the WALVAC meeting next week. Loucas reported that he attended the Fire Department meeting looking for drivers to join WALVAC. Loucas is looking to on-board five firefighters as drivers for WALVAC. WALVAC has 28 calls to date. Recreational & Health Committee. Ms. Smith attended the Ramadan Ceremony as well and thanked Lori Quinn and the Youth Services Coordinator for providing a welcome space for all attendees. Also in attendance were the Mayor, Police Chief Seifert, four County Commissioners and the County Administrator. A resident spoke about his experience after 9-11 and how the Borough has always been so welcoming to him and his family. REGULAR MEETING MINUTES: 3 FEBRUARY 10, 2026 Public Works Committee. Mr. Ritchie was absent and will provide report at the next meeting. Buildings & Grounds Committee. Ms. Cericola-Drake reported that at Borough Hall there has been a leak in the kitchen for two weeks so there is a tarp and garbage can in there right now. This is happening because of the way the building was designed with ice dams on the roof. Mike LaTorre said it has always been an issue when it snows a lot. This should not cause extensive damage but potentially a few ceiling tiles may need to be replaced. Also, at the last quarterly inspection of the elevator, preventative issue was identified so that fix has been approved and will be done. At the Police Department there are a bunch of light fixtures out, so they have been approved to be repaired this weekend. At WALVAC, the DPW will install an interior door. Finally, the contractor should be installing the equipment we have been waiting for this week at the Pistol range and there is an on-site meeting scheduled for next week to catch up on status. DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS Administrator. Mrs. Marquis will save her comments for the Budget discussion. Municipal Clerk. Mrs. Halewicz reported that the Borough Offices, Recycling Center and Library are CLOSED on Monday, February 16 in observance of Presidents’ Day. There will be normal Monday garbage collection on Monday, February 16. Mrs. Halewicz provided the election memo to the party leaders earlier this month. April 8 is the deadline for Change of Party Affiliation Declaration forms. The forms are available on the Election page of our website. Mrs. Halewicz reported that Melissa continues to do an excellent job of keeping up with the licenses and cleaning up the rolls. We have issued 649 licenses to date. The Ho-Ho-Kus FREE Rabies Clinic is on February 11, from 6:00-7:00 pm at St. Luke’s Church parking lot. Mrs. Halewicz reported that alarm registrations are coming in now. We have collected $1,200.00 thus far in fees. Attorney. Mr. Bossong reported that the Borough is working on its COLA obligations regarding the settlement fair share housing with just a couple of items to address. The deadline is March 15. We have the Ordinance on for introduction which amends the Borough’s affordable housing ordinance. This is one step that takes the longest, the Planning Board will review it, and then adoption will take place. We should have no problem meeting the March 15 deadline. There is one item for Closed Session under litigation with no decisions to be made. Mrs. Marquis thanked Mr. Bossong for all his efforts on COAH as it is a tedious long process and has many components to it. He has helped the administration office get through with the least amount of worry as possible. REGULAR MEETING MINUTES: 4 FEBRUARY 10, 2026 CONSENT AGENDA RESOLUTIONS RESOLUTION NO. 2026-64 Approval of Consent Agenda BE IT RESOLVED that the following resolutions herewith listed by consent having been considered by the Governing Body of the Borough of Waldwick are hereby passed and approved: 2026-64 Approval of Consent Agenda Policy Vote(s) a. Jen and Paul Reimels requests to use Pavilion A on May 2 from 11:00 am - dusk for a birthday party with alcoholic beverages being served b. Kayla Piccinich requests to use Pavilion A on May 30 from 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm for a birthday party with alcoholic beverages being served c. Angela Scrivanich requests to use Pavilion B on June 6 from 9:00 am - dusk for an end of year soccer party with alcoholic beverages being served 2026-65 Authorization for the Execution of an Application for New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Treatment Works Approval - 6 Monroe Waldwick, LLC - Everson Street, Block 134.02, Lot 15 2026-66 Appointment of Clean Communities Coordinator - Lindsay Rulli 2026-67 Appointment of the Municipal Recycling Coordinator - Lindsay Rulli 2026-68 Approval of Appropriation Transfers 2026-69 Payment of Vouchers Council Member Motion Second Ayes Nays Abstain Absent Brennecke X X Cericola-Drake X Martinello X X Ritchie X Smith X Wingate X Mayor Giordano PUBLIC HEARING & ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE(S) Mayor Giordano asked the Clerk to read Ordinance No. 2026-#01 by title. Ordinance No. 2026-#01 - AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 91 VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC, SECTION 91- 12 PARKING TIME LIMITS ON CERTAIN STREETS, SUBSECTION A FOR WEST PROSPECT STREET TO CHANGE TIME LIMITS AND HOURS Council comments. Mrs. Marquis commented that these recommendations were received by the Chief of Police as the area is tight and will allow people to park and support our small businesses. Public comment. None Mayor Giordano closed the Public comment. Ordinance No. 2026-#01 was advertised and on second reading is adopted. This ordinance will go into effect immediately after approval and publication according to law. REGULAR MEETING MINUTES: 5 FEBRUARY 10, 2026 Council Member Motion Second Ayes Nays Abstain Absent Brennecke X Cericola-Drake X Martinello X Ritchie X Smith X X Wingate X X Mayor Giordano INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCE(S) Mayor Giordano asked the Clerk to read Ordinance No. 2026-#02 by title. Ordinance No. 2026-#02 - AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 97 - ZONING TO AMEND AHO-1 AFFORDABLE HOUSING OVERLAY ZONE-1; AHO-2 AFFORDABLE HOUSING OVERLAY ZONE-2; AFFORDABLE HOUSING CONTROLS, AND DEVELOPMENT FEES Council Comments. Mr. Bossong commented that these are the revisions to the affordable housing ordinance and development fees ordinance to comply with the recently amended fair housing act passed by the state legislature. Mayor Giordano stated that a motion is in order to move and pass the ordinance on first reading and that it be advertised in the official newspaper of the municipality as required by law, setting a public hearing for Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at 7:30 pm or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard. Council Member Motion Second Ayes Nays Abstain Absent Brennecke X X Cericola-Drake X Martinello X X Ritchie X Smith X Wingate X Mayor Giordano UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. 2026 Municipal Budget discussion Mrs. Marquis discussed the proposed 2026 road program. The DPW Superintendent monitors and evaluates the streets and receives feedback. He puts it together for Administration for suggestions on where to pave. It is a tough decision as every street is a priority need. Hudson Avenue has been on Borough’s radar for many years. The Council made a commitment to make sure this is addressed moving forward. This is not a small project as the costs are significant. The Borough applied for some grants through NJDOT to allocate Hudson Avenue Sections 2 & 3. REGULAR MEETING MINUTES: 6 FEBRUARY 10, 2026 In 2025, the Borough was awarded a grant for $171,045 and again in 2026 we received notice that we will be awarded $151,154.00. We did some preliminary prep work on Hudson Avenue in 2025, which was part of a CDBG grant that we received from Bergen County. The prep work has been completed and now we are looking to include the paving of Hudson Avenue in the Capital Budget for 2026. The quote for construction of that roadway came in at $690,000. We have $322,199 in grants to be applied to that project which leaves us at a total of $367,801. There are cross streets in the immediate area off Hudson Avenue that we would like to propose as part of the Hudson Avenue Road Paving program including Dora Avenue, Grove Street, Manhattan Avenue, Lincoln Place and Bergen Avenue. Malcolm Street and Duncan Street have also been on the radar for the Borough. The biggest component in holding off in that area is due to the Malcolm Street Pump Station currently being repaired and in its final stages of the project. The recommendation is a total of $286,076. The nice thing about the Road Program is that we usually go into a Co-Op with our surrounding communities, which help drives down the price of the paving. This has worked well in the past and will be the intention for this year as well. The Hudson Avenue project is a larger project and so that does require a soft cost from Boswell to monitor that project as they will be responsible for a-z of that portion while the paving will be done at the same time. That additional cost is $134,800. One of the things Colleen and I do is review previous capital accounts to see what is available and estimate as best as we can on capital. We have been able to identify for 2023 we have $73,081; for 2024 we have $33,814 and 2025 we have $121,000 allocated and available which brings us to a total of $227,908 to apply for this project. In looking at doing Hudson, all the cross streets, Malcolm and Duncan with grants and additional funds from previous years, that would bring us to a grand total of $560,769. That is the proposal for the Road Resurfacing for this year. Although we will not be paying for this, I did want to mention that the County is slated in 2026 and 2027 to do a good amount of paving on the main county roads in town. We will wind up seeing a lot of paving around town. Mrs. Cericola-Drake recommended removing Malcolm and Duncan from the project considering that we have been taking from our surplus and trying to cut funds this year. Mrs. Marquis clarified that we did over allocate last year and we do have $121,000 leftover that can be applied for this year. NEW BUSINESS - None. REGULAR MEETING MINUTES: 7 FEBRUARY 10, 2026 PUBLIC COMMENT Mayor Giordano asked if any member of the public wished to come forward and to discuss anything and if so, please state your name only for the record. Online Ted Sanzo spoke to the issue of the road paving program. He inquired if the grand total of $560,769 will come down from the allocations from previous years. Mr. Martinello clarified that the credits from previous years are included to bring the total down to $560, 769. CLOSED SESSION - Any matter permitted to be discussed in Closed Session pursuant N.J.S.A. 10:4-12 RESOLUTION NO. 2026-70 Authorize Closed Session WHEREAS, Section 8 of the Open Public Meetings Act (N.J.S.A. 10:4-12(b)(1-9) permits the exclusion of the public from a meeting in certain circumstances; and, WHEREAS, the Mayor and Council is of the opinion that such circumstances exist. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Waldwick, County of Bergen, State of New Jersey, as follows: The public shall be excluded from discussions of the Closed Session. The general nature of the subject matter to be discussed is as follows: Litigation Contract Negotiations It is anticipated at this time that the above-mentioned subject matter will be made public within 60 days or as soon thereafter as it is deemed to be in the public interest to do so based on the conclusion of the matter. This resolution shall take effect immediately. Council Member Motion Second Ayes Nays Abstain Absent Brennecke X Cericola-Drake X Martinello X X Ritchie X Smith X X Wingate X Mayor Giordano The Council convened into Closed Session at 7:10 pm. At 7:54 pm the Mayor and Council came back on the record of the Regular Meeting. Present on roll call: Mayor Giordano, Mr. Brennecke, Ms. Cericola- Drake, Mr. Martinello, Ms. Smith and Ms. Wingate. Mr. Ritchie was absent. REGULAR MEETING MINUTES: 8 FEBRUARY 10, 2026 ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Mayor and Council at its Regular Meeting on MOTION by Mr. Martinello, seconded by Ms. Wingate and on roll call carried the meeting adjourned at 7:55 pm. Adopted: February 24, 2026 __________________________________ KELLEY HALEWICZ, RMC/CMC MUNICIPAL CLERK