Roseland Council Advances Public Safety with Police Promotions

Overview: In a move to bolster public safety, the Roseland Borough Council conducted promotional ceremonies for two police officers at their January 16, 2024 meeting. The officers, soon-to-be Sergeants Williams and Anthony McDavid, took their oaths.

Millburn Board Debates Extension and Transformer Relocation for Development Project

Overview: In a recent session, the Millburn Town Planning Board deliberated on a development project on Woodland Road, which has been the subject of local attention due to its proposed amendments and extension requests. The meeting centered around application 237, which sought to address the relocation of transformers outside of the building and to extend the protection period for the approvals by one year.

Maplewood Council Responds to Security Breach at Elementary School, Advances Homelessness Strategy and Storm Preparedness

Overview: The Maplewood Town Council’s recent meeting tackled community concerns, including homelessness, children’s safety in schools, storm preparedness, and public safety. The council discussed initiatives to combat homelessness through a dedicated Street Outreach and Support Homelessness Intervention provider, emphasizing a housing-first model. School safety was brought to the forefront by a resident’s report of an unauthorized individual on elementary school grounds, prompting the council to consider increased patrols and safety education. The council also reviewed storm readiness and pedestrian safety, including traffic studies and potential traffic light installations.

Newark City Council Debates Lowering Voting Age to 16 for School Board Elections

Overview: In a notable move, the Newark City Council recently engaged in a debate on the proposal to lower the voting age to 16 for school board elections. The meeting brought forth a myriad of perspectives, with compelling arguments from educators, students, civil rights advocates, and concerned citizens. Amidst the discussions, several other topics were addressed, including the development of affordable housing, workforce training, and traffic safety measures.

Nutley Rent Leveling Board Caps Increase on Garage Rent

Overview: In a recent Nutley Rent Leveling Board meeting, a motion was carried to limit the rent increase for a garage on Warren Street to 5%, including it under the rent control ordinance. This decision followed a dispute between a tenant, who argued that the garage had always been part of her rent, and the landlord, who claimed the garage was not a living space and thus not covered by rent control. The board referenced a 2011 memo by former attorney Mr. Gizzo, stating all rent is subject to the code, but also acknowledged that the definition of a dwelling unit could be open to interpretation. Despite the landlord’s attorney presenting three main points to exclude the garage from the rent control, the board ultimately decided in favor of the tenant, recognizing a clerical error omitted the garage from the 2020 lease but did not change the terms of occupancy.