WESTWOOD — The Westwood mayor and council will meet Tuesday, Jan. 20, with a proposed historic designation for the Westwood Trust Building at 1 Westwood Ave. — now home to Rosangelly’s Restaurant Café & BakeHouse on the ground floor — among the most prominent items on the agenda.
The meeting begins with a 7 p.m. closed session at the Municipal Complex, 101 Washington Ave., followed by a 7:30 public session.
Councilmembers are scheduled to introduce Ordinance 26-2, which would establish 1 Westwood Ave. (Block 907, Lot 9) as a historic site.
The ordinance follows action by the Westwood Historic Preservation Commission, which adopted a resolution of intent to nominate the property as a historic landmark under borough code. In a Nov. 19, 2025 notice, the commission described the building as a prominent structure with significant cultural value to Westwood and referenced a designation report documenting the property’s history and architectural features.
Built in 1932, according to the borough’s historic property inventory, the Westwood Trust Building is described in the commission’s downtown walking tour as a four-story Art Moderne/neo-Classical bank building that serves as a gateway to Westwood’s central business district. The tour notes the building was covered in stucco in 2003 and highlights architectural details including rosette medallions beneath the cornice.
Rosangelly’s opened over the holidays, in a plum anchor spot near the train station and Veterans Park, and joins a downtown known as a foodie destination.
What landmark designation would mean
According to the Historic Preservation Commission, a local historic landmark designation generally applies to the exterior of a property. If designated, owners typically must obtain a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) for exterior work affecting the building’s appearance — including construction, demolition, or renovation.
The commission said a COA is not typically required for interior work or routine maintenance such as painting, re-caulking windows, or landscaping. However, exterior changes involving features such as roofing, windows, and siding may require approval, and a COA is generally required before building permits can be issued for work affecting a designated historic landmark.
Grab-and-go parking also on agenda
The council is also expected to introduce ordinance 26-1, which would add a new section to the borough code establishing 15-minute “grab-and-go” business parking only spaces at designated locations.
The agenda includes a presentation by Smoke Artist and standard reports from borough officials, including the engineer, mayor, council president, council liaisons, attorney, and administrator/clerk.
Consent agenda includes road funding, events, hiring
A series of resolutions is expected to be considered as part of the consent agenda, including:
- Appointment of Amy McDevitt as tax collector and tax search officer;
- A tax refund authorized due to a New Jersey Tax Court judgment involving Block 909, Lot 11;
- Payments and a change order involving Frank Macchione Construction, Inc. tied to the Fairview Avenue, Section 3 2024 road program and 2024 CDBG program;
- Agreements with Professional Insurance Associates and West Bergen Mental Healthcare for an employee assistance program;
- An amended resolution related to borough grant writer Frederick J. Rella;
- Train station parking lot and roadway closures, plus use of Veterans’ Park, tied to Celebrate Westwood events;
- Authorization for continued use of sidewalks, busking, and temporary portable signs for calendar year 2026;
- Cancellation of general capital improvement authorization balances;
- Cancellation of property taxes for a totally disabled veteran, Block 1407, Lot 11.01;
- 2025 budget transfers;
- Preliminary costs related to DirtSculpt for a planned pump track;
- Hiring of an administrative assistant, Jo-Ann Forcellati;
- Mutual aid for Pascack Valley fire departments.
Councilmembers may approve the consent agenda in a single motion unless items are pulled for separate consideration.
Closed session, minutes, public comment
The council is scheduled to enter executive session at 7 p.m. for a professional services contract matter related to employment contracts, according to the agenda.
Minutes from the borough’s Jan. 6 sine die meeting and Jan. 6 reorganization meeting are also listed for approval.
Public comment is scheduled during the agenda/public forum portion of the meeting.
The agenda is subject to change.
Recently posted: Troop 321 scout earns mayor, council nod on vital preservation project with Heritage Society