Votes at a glance: Pompton Lakes council appoints new member, adopts ordinances and accepts grants; several consent items pulled or tabled

Pompton Lakes, N.J. — The Pompton Lakes Borough Council recorded a number of routine and contested actions at its May 28 meeting: it appointed a new council member, adopted two final-reading ordinances, accepted grant payments and handled several consent-agenda items, while tabling and pulling others for more information.

The council voted to appoint Patrick Quinn to fill a council vacancy under a resolution appearing as item 25‑2011 on the agenda; he was sworn in at the meeting. The consent agenda was approved with exceptions: the shared-service agreement with Oakland (Resolution 25‑204) was tabled for additional review (see separate coverage), and a separate tree-removal fee refund and related application (Resolution 25‑202) was pulled and scheduled for an on-site measurement before further action.

The governing body adopted two ordinances on final reading: Ordinance 25‑19 (amending chapter 14, regulations related to refuse and signage) and Ordinance 25‑20 (amending chapter 11 on insurance requirements for certain operations). Both ordinances passed final adoption; the newly seated councilor, Patrick Quinn, recorded an abstention on the final roll call for each ordinance as noted in the meeting record.

The council also approved resolutions accepting grant or settlement funds under Chapter 159 insertions to the 2025 municipal budget: a National Opioid Settlement payment from Janssen for $3,510.67 (identified as payment year 4 of the municipal allotment) and a Clean Communities (New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection) award (other-expense line shown in the agenda as approximately $25,007.11) to fund litter-abatement and related DPW activities. Officials said the opioid-settlement funds will be used to support municipal prevention and coalition programs and that Clean Communities funds reimburse DPW expenses tied to litter abatement.

Other consent items approved included a set of routine minutes, bills and claims and professional-services payments for planning and engineering invoices. A tree-removal refund (202 Lakeside Avenue) was pulled so council members, the forester and the complaining council member could re-measure the site before resolving whether the tree sits in the borough right-of-way; the council directed an on-site meeting with involved parties.

Summary of actions

- Appointment: Resolution 25‑2011 — Appointment of Patrick Quinn to council; outcome: approved and Quinn sworn in.
- Consent agenda: Most consent items approved; Resolution 25‑204 (Oakland shared-service contract) tabled; Resolution 25‑202 (tree-removal refund) pulled for on-site re-measurement.
- Grants/resolutions: Chapter 159 insertions accepted — National Opioid Settlement (Janssen) payment year 4, $3,510.67; Clean Communities grant (DEP) ~ $25,007.11 — both added to the 2025 budget.
- Ordinances: Ordinance 25‑19 and Ordinance 25‑20 adopted on final reading; Councilor Patrick Quinn abstained on final roll calls for both ordinances.

The council also recognized several police officers with lifesaving awards and heard public comments on parking enforcement, tree stewardship and local projects. The shared-service contract will return on June 11 with the superintendent of public works scheduled to be available to answer technical and financial questions.