PARK RIDGE, N.J.—A special mayor and council meeting is set for Tuesday, Aug. 5 at 7 p.m. at Borough Hall, 53 Park Ave., to finalize the wording of a non-binding referendum on dredging Mill Pond for the Nov. 4 ballot.
The question must be submitted to the Bergen County Clerk’s Division of Elections by Aug. 8. Officials say the referendum could offer multiple options and price ranges for the silt-clogged pond’s restoration. The results will gauge taxpayer support at various funding levels.
The need for dredging has been discussed for years due to the pond’s deteriorated condition. A recent petition by residents pushed councilors to act.
Borough Clerk Maggie Giandomenico said the meeting agenda and resolution will be posted Friday, Aug. 1. The public is welcome to attend and comment in person. While regular meetings are recorded and posted online by PKRG-TV, it’s unclear whether this special meeting will be.
“We took the extra effort to publish [notice] in The Record, although not required,” Giandomenico said. “The timing gives the mayor and council time to work collaboratively on the question and explanatory statement.”
She noted the Council can tweak the question during the meeting. “The meeting is in the evening so the public can attend,” she added.
Mayor Keith Misciagna, Council President Greg Hoffman, and Councilman Michael Mintz are leading the effort. Misciagna previously said many residents supported the 2023 referendum but were unclear on costs. This year’s version, he said, will be clear, fair, and transparent.
Officials say local funding could help Park Ridge qualify for state and federal grants to support pond cleanup.
For more background, see “Park Ridge races to finalize Mill Pond referendum question before Aug. 8 deadline” by Michael Olohan (thepressgroup.net, July 13, 2025).