Bellmawr council adopts water-rate amendment and approves tax-abatement agreements on second reading

The Bellmawr Borough Council on Nov. 29 held public hearings and adopted three ordinances on second reading: an amendment to Chapter 95 addressing water rates and fire protection, and two ordinances authorizing long-term tax-exemption financial agreements for redevelopment projects pursuant to the long-term tax abatement law, NJSA 48:20-1.

The second-reading items were announced by staff; the council opened each ordinance to public comment and heard no speakers. The first ordinance amended the borough code on water rates and fire protection. The second and third ordinances authorize tax-exemption and financial agreements for redevelopment projects described in the record as "ETJ Phase 1" (property identified as Block 79.01, Lot 9.01) and "BTJ Phase 3" (Block 78, Lot 2). The ordinance presentations cited NJSA 48:20-1 as the statutory authority for long-term tax abatements.

For each ordinance the council moved, seconded and conducted a roll-call vote that was recorded as 'yes' by council members in attendance. No public testimony was offered on these items during the public hearings. Council members did not elaborate further on the individual projects during the meeting record presented.

The council’s recorded actions close the local legislative step; any implementation details, financial agreements and effective dates will be handled through the borough’s administration and the redevelopment authority or developer teams as required by the agreements.