East Rutherford council approves consent agenda, appoints new officials and authorizes $3.48M tax-lien redemption

The Borough of East Rutherford Mayor and Council met in a Sine Die session on Jan. 1, 2026, and unanimously approved a consent agenda that included permitting amusement games at the American Dream complex, appointing municipal officials and issuing a $3,482,008.55 redemption payment tied to a tax certificate for 2 Meadowlands Plaza.

Mayor Lahullier called the meeting to order at 11:35 a.m. and the council approved the open and executive session minutes from Dec. 16, 2025 (moved by Councilman Lorusso; seconded by Councilman Bulger; roll call: all present aye). The council then approved the consent agenda (moved by Councilman Lorusso; seconded by Councilman Segalini; roll call: all present aye), which encompassed Resolutions #173 through #183.

Among the items the council adopted, Resolution No. 173 authorized FEG American Dream LLC to operate amusement games on the American Dream premises for the period Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2026. The resolution conditions local licensing on individual-game approvals by the New Jersey Office of Amusement Games Control and requires that operators submit police criminal-history background checks as required by state rules.

Resolution No. 174 appoints John Podesta as Assistant Chief Financial Officer, effective Jan. 26, 2026, at an annual salary of $105,000. The appointment provides a transition and training period ahead of the CFO’s retirement. Resolution No. 182 appoints Keith Matino as part-time Construction Official, effective Jan. 1, 2026, at an annual salary of $50,000; Resolution No. 183 appoints William Steenstra as part-time Plumbing Sub-Code Official effective Jan. 1, 2026, at a starting salary of $25,000.

The council also authorized a shared-services agreement with the Borough of Wood-Ridge for use of pistol-range facilities (Resolution No. 175), and directed the Borough Clerk to issue Requests for Qualifications for a Borough Prosecutor under the State "pay-to-play" process (Resolution No. 176), with RFQs to be advertised on or before Jan. 12, 2026 and responses due by 10:00 a.m. on Feb. 3, 2026.

A major financial item, Resolution No. 181, ratified the redemption of Tax Certificate No. 25-00006 sold on Oct. 23, 2025, for Block 108.03 Lot 1.02 (2 Meadowlands Plaza). The lienholder, ATCF II New Jersey LLC, is to receive $3,482,008.55 ($1,781,008.55 for redemption plus $1,701,000.00 premium) upon adoption of the resolution.

Councilors also approved limited 2025 budget transfers to cover unforeseen demands (including a $30,000 transfer to cover police and streets expenses and a separate $1,000 transfer within Emergency Management) and authorized the Tax Collector to cancel property-tax overpayments or delinquencies under $10 (Resolution No. 179). The meeting included ratification of December wire transfers and payments as presented by the Chief Financial Officer.

Engineer Glenn Beckmeyer Jr., in his report, said work on the Central Avenue project is progressing toward the railroad tracks and that unmarked utilities were found; he added the firehouse project is near completion with punch-list items remaining and that door installation is a separate scope. Committee reports were otherwise brief and the citizen hearing produced no public comments.

The meeting concluded with the attorney’s remarks, the formal close of the citizen hearing and an adjournment at 11:45 a.m. (moved by Councilman Bulger; seconded by Councilman Alvarez; roll call: all present aye).