Council meeting to swear in officer, tackle flooding, and review ordinances

Westwood Borough Hall
Westwood Borough Hall

WESTWOOD—The governing body will convene Tuesday evening, Oct. 29, at Borough Hall, 101 Washington Ave., for a work session. Key items include a swearing-in ceremony for newly appointed SLEO II Officer Silvio Piccinich, ordinance introductions and adoptions, flood mitigation strategies, and more.

According to the amended agenda, shared with Pascack Press on Monday at 12:31 p.m., the meeting begins with a closed executive session at 7 to address court employee personnel matters and professional service contracts. The public session resumes at 7:30.

Highlighted agenda items include:

  • Swearing-In Ceremony: Resolution #24-274 will formalize the appointment of Silvio Piccinich as a Westwood SLEO II, with a public swearing-in.
  • Flood Mitigation Efforts: Discussion of ongoing flood mitigation efforts.
  • Disqualification from Public Employment and Volunteer of the Year Award: Discussions will include a public employment disqualification review and the nomination of a “Volunteer of the Year.”
  • Engineer’s Biweekly Report: The borough engineer will provide updates on infrastructure projects in the area.
  • Bergen County Fiber Loop and Downtown Store Map: Updates on a Bergen County fiber loop, which aims to improve communication infrastructure, and a new downtown store map will be presented.

Ordinances for Review and Adoption:

  • Introductions:
    • Ordinance 24-35: Proposes vacating a portion of Bank Street as per specific annexed schedules.
    • Ordinance 24-36: Amends Chapter 375, addressing restricted parking.
  • Adoptions:
    • Ordinance 24-32: Allocates funds for kitchen upgrades at the Westwood Police Department.
    • Ordinance 24-33: Appropriates $9,500 from the NJ Department of Community Affairs for tandem swings at borough parks.
    • Ordinance 24-34: Amends designated employee parking zones.

Additional Resolutions in the Consent Agenda:

  1. Approval of bills, financial statements, and resolutions, including the National Opioid Settlement (Resolution #24-__) and authorization of a Municipal Housing Liaison.
  2. Road Resurfacing Costs: Establishment of preliminary costs for estimating roadway quantities for the 2025 resurfacing program.
  3. Community Center Thanksgiving Event: Approval for consuming alcoholic beverages on public property.
  4. Community Development Block Grant: Authorizing an agreement with Bergen County for senior life skills funding.

Residents are encouraged to attend and participate in the public forum, engaging with topics impacting infrastructure, public safety, and community resources.