EMERSON—Borough officials said Feb. 17 that they would like to continue making improvements at Ackerman Park by applying for a county Open Space grant for a gazebo to create a shaded area for park picnics and children’s birthday parties.
Local officials asked new administrator Michael Carelli to check into it and apply for the funding. Carelli was appointed as part-time administrator at the Jan. 20 meeting, effective Feb. 1, as part of a shared-services agreement with Pompton Lakes running through Dec. 31, 2026. [More details on page 3]
Mayor Danielle DiPaola said other likely Ackerman Park improvements planned include a mister for keeping children cool during hot summer days, new playground equipment, and a basketball court. “We’re trying to make that into a user-friendly park for small children,” said the mayor.
Councilor Nicole Argenzia noted children’s birthday parties could be conducted with a permit from the borough.
Council approved a $75,000 grant application for 2026 state Department of Community Affairs Local Recreation Improvement Grant funds for Ackerman Park upgrades. That would leave only $4,500 left on a prior county matching grant, officials noted.
“Start on one park at a time and make one perfect and then move onto the next one,” DiPaola said.
Carelli said he met with DPW Supt. Perry Solimando and he recommended that they apply for a state DCA Local Efficiency Achievement Program (LEAP) grant to replace the existing fuel tank station used by DPW and local school district vehicles. LEAP grants are often used for shared service capital improvements, Carelli noted.
Originally, officials were asking school officials to pay half the cost of replacing the fuel tank. Carelli said the grant offered possible funding up to $350,000. DiPaola agreed with Solimando’s grant recommendation to replace the fuel tank.
Carelli also sought possible grant ideas to provide to the borough’s state and congressional representatives for future funding earmarks and grants. He said last year the borough submitted funding applications for borough hall reconstruction, fire department elevator project, and West End drainage project.
He said 39th District State Sen. Holly Schepisi also accepts appropriation requests to possibly be included in the state budget. DiPaola suggested councilors provide Carelli with possible grant ideas that might be funded via federal and state representatives.
Carelli said the borough’s DPW road salt storage bin was in “bad shape” and he would be working with Solimando on possible future repairs. He said he had an upcoming meeting with KC Sign & Awnings to discuss the progress of a new digital sign, He said the preliminary 2026-2027 municipal budget would be introduced at the March 3 meeting.
Council also introduced three ordinances to “effectuate” the borough’s fourth round affordable housing plan, which covers 2025 through 2035, DiPaola said.
These included:
- 1712-26: An Ordinance Amending Borough Code to Include a New Zone District, the RC Overlay Zone;
- 1713-26: An Ordinance Amending Borough Code to Include a New Affordable Housing and Development Fee Ordinance; and
- 1714-26: An Ordinance to revise the required affordable set-aside in the Multifamily Residential Affordable Housing Overlay Zone.
Public hearings on the ordinances are at the March 3 meeting. No details on the ordinances were immediately available. Most towns in New Jersey are required to submit revised affordable housing plans and implementing ordinances to the state by a March 15 deadline.