Palisades Park Faces Concerns Over Lead Paint Inspections and Cost to Homeowners

At the recent Palisades Park Borough Council meeting, the introduction of an ordinance requiring lead-based paint inspections sparked extensive discussion among council members and the public. The ordinance aligns with a new state statute mandating that rental property owners ensure their buildings are certified as lead-free. Concerns were raised regarding the financial burden this requirement could place on homeowners, particularly for those with older properties. Additional topics included potential changes to a holiday event date and issues related to municipal finances.

The lead-based paint ordinance provoked significant public concern, with residents questioning the practicality and fairness of imposing such inspections on homeowners, especially those with properties built decades ago. While the ordinance primarily targets rental units, confusion arose about its application to single-family and multi-family homes not intended for rent. A resident highlighted the discrepancy of enforcing such regulations without addressing lead paint in schools. The borough is considering a shared service agreement to provide certified inspectors, but the onus remains on property owners to hire inspectors and remove lead if found, which could impose considerable costs.

Further concerns were voiced regarding the timing of the annual Christmas lighting event, which is scheduled for December 7th, a day that coincides with Pearl Harbor Day. A suggestion was made to reschedule the event to avoid conflicting with a day of remembrance, as some veterans find it inappropriate to hold festivities on this date.

Financial discussions also took center stage, particularly regarding the authorization of an investigation into potential overpayments to borough employees. This investigation will examine historical salary-related payments that may have been erroneous, and steps will be taken to determine the extent and rectify any discrepancies.

Additionally, the council discussed the need to hire a new part-time janitorial employee due to a vacancy.

The council also addressed procedural concerns, such as ensuring full transparency in capital improvement details and understanding the bond obligations of the borough. These issues highlight the ongoing need for clear communication and accountability in municipal operations.

Note: This meeting summary was generated by AI, which can occasionally misspell names, misattribute actions, and state inaccuracies. This summary is intended to be a starting point and you should review the meeting record linked above before acting on anything you read. If we got something wrong, let us know. We’re working every day to improve our process in pursuit of universal local government transparency.
Mayor:
Chong Paul Kim
City Council Officials:
CHONG PAUL KIM (Mayor), SUK “JOHN“ MIN (Councilman, Council President), SANG H. LEE (Councilwoman), YOUBONG WON-YOON (Councilwoman), STEPHANIE S. JANG (Councilwoman), MICHAEL VIETRI (Councilman), JASON KIM (Councilman)

Receive debriefs about local meetings in your inbox weekly:

Trending meetings
across the country:

Meeting Date
Filter by bodytypes
Agricultural Advisory Committee
Airport Advisory Board
Art and Culture Board
Beach Committee
Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
Board of Elections
Board of Health
Borough Council
Building Committee
Cannabis Control Board
Cemetery Commission
Charter Revision Commission
Child and Family Services Board
City Council
City Identity Committee
Code Enforcement Board
College Board of Trustees
Community Appearance Board
Community Preservation Committee
Community Redevelopment Agency
County Council
Disability Advisory Committee
Economic Development Board
Elderly Affairs Board
Electric Advisory Board
Environmental Commission
Financial Oversight Board
Historic Preservation Commission
Housing Authority
Human Relations Committee
Human Resources Committee
Insurance Fund
Land Use Board
Library Board
Licensing Board
Mental Health Commission
Municipal Alliance
Open Space Commission
Oversight and Review Committee
Parent Advisory Board
Parking Authority
Parks and Gardens Commission
Parks Commission
Pension Board
Planning Board
Police Review Board
Port Authority
Property Assessment Board
Public Safety Committee
Recreation Commission
Redevelopment Agency
Rent Control Board
Rent Leveling Board
School Board
Sewerage Authority
Shade Tree Commission
Special Magistrate
Taxation & Revenue Advisory Committee
Tourism Board
Trails Committee
Transportation Board
Utility Board
Value Adjustment Board
Veterans Committee
Water Control Board
Women's Advisory Committee
Youth Advisory Committee
Zoning Board
Filter by County
FL
Bay County
Bradford County
Brevard County
Broward County
Clay County
Duval County
Escambia County
Gulf County
Hendry County
Highlands County
Hillsborough County
Indian River County
Lake County
Lee County
Leon County
Levy County
Liberty County
Manatee County
Marion County
Martin County
Miami-Dade County
Monroe County
Okaloosa County
Orange County
Osceola County
Palm Beach County
Pasco County
Pinellas County
Polk County
Putnam County
Santa Rosa County
Sarasota County
Seminole County
St. Johns County
Taylor County
Volusia County
Walton County
MA
Barnstable County
Berkshire County
Bristol County
Essex County
Franklin County
Hampden County
Hampshire County
Middlesex County
Norfolk County
Plymouth County
Suffolk County
Worcester County
MN
Anoka County
Becker County
Beltrami County
Benton County
Blue Earth County
Brown County
Carver County
Cass County
Chippewa County
Chisago County
Clay County
Cook County
Crow Wing County
Dakota County
Freeborn County
Goodhue County
Grant County
Hennepin County
Isanti County
Itasca County
Kanabec County
Kandiyohi County
Koochiching County
Lac Qui Parle County
Lyon County
Mcleod County
Morrison County
Mower County
Nicollet County
Olmsted County
Pipestone County
Polk County
Ramsey County
Rice County
Scott County
Sherburne County
Sibley County
St Louis County
Stearns County
Steele County
Waseca County
Washington County
Wright County
NJ
Atlantic County
Bergen County
Burlington County
Camden County
Cape May County
Cumberland County
Essex County
Gloucester County
Hudson County
Hunterdon County
Mercer County
Middlesex County
Monmouth County
Morris County
Ocean County
Passaic County
Somerset County
Sussex County
Union County
Warren County
NY
Bronx County
Kings County
New York County
Queens County
Richmond County
TN
Shelby County
Filter by sourcetypes
Minutes
Recording