Waldwick Council Meeting Highlights COA Lawsuit Developments and Historic Site Grant Application

The recent Waldwick Borough Council meeting focused on pivotal community issues including a COA lawsuit update, a grant application for the historic Eerie Railroad Signal Tower, and new traffic ordinances. The session also included discussions on public safety, community events, and administrative updates, highlighting the council’s ongoing efforts to address local concerns and improve community infrastructure.

19:30A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the Council on Affordable Housing (COA) lawsuit. The council’s attorney updated members on the recent developments in the case. The judiciary’s communication regarding the matter had been delayed, with the attorney receiving a late call on March 31st to arrange a Zoom meeting with a judge and special adjudicator. The Department of Community Affairs had initially set the housing number at 178, while the borough recalculated it to 147. After negotiations, a tentative agreement was reached at 164, pending council approval through a future resolution. The attorney emphasized this number as a compromise, noting inconsistencies in how figures were determined by various judges across different towns. Some towns received reductions based on valid concerns, while others did not.

07:23In another significant agenda item, the council discussed the submission of a grant application to the Bergen County Historic Preservation Trust Fund. The grant, amounting to $75,000, aims to rehabilitate the Eerie Railroad Signal Tower. Renovations would focus on repairing and replacing rotten siding, repainting, and potentially replacing windows. Minor landscaping upgrades are also planned. Andrea Mashredda from the local historical society, an active participant in the project, has engaged with state officials to enhance the site’s historical significance. The council unanimously passed a resolution to endorse the grant application.

32:09Traffic safety was a key focus, with several ordinances introduced to address community concerns. Ordinance number 2025-06 proposed a no-parking zone on Zazetti Street between two driveways to improve safety in the limited space. Ordinance number 2025-07 aimed to designate Summit Avenue as a one-way street during specific hours on school days, based on assessments by the police department and traffic engineers. The council also introduced ordinance number 2025-08 to prohibit left turns from Ridge Street onto Summit Avenue during school hours, and ordinance number 2025-09 to adjust no-left-turn regulations for vehicles exiting a parking lot on WF Avenue. All traffic ordinances were unanimously approved.

22:42The council also addressed several consent resolutions, including appointments to the Waldo Volunteer Fire Department, and a townwide cleanup organized by the Environmental Committee. Rick Vanderland’s retirement from the Waldwick Library Board was noted, with Karen Sheay set to replace him. The council expressed pride in appointing Giovani Gardina and Benjamin Leonard to the fire department, both of whom had been coached in local sports.

09:33Updates from various committees included the induction of two new junior firemen and a scheduled water safety drill. The recreation and health committee reported on health initiatives such as blood pressure screenings and child health clinics, alongside youth sports registration, particularly for baseball. The Easter egg hunt was rescheduled to April 19.

13:41The administrator provided an update on the water system, with the engineering firm H2M developing a hydraulic model to optimize operations and address water quality complaints. Concerns over elevated chlorine levels were being addressed, and residents were encouraged to report water quality issues.

45:00During public comments, a resident raised concerns about speeding on Harrison Avenue. The council also addressed a complaint regarding excessive lighting from a neighboring property, planning to introduce an ordinance to establish lighting intensity limits at the next meeting.

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.

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