Redbank adopts bond ordinance to expand lead service line replacements after program overview

A majority of Redbank’s council voted unanimously to adopt Ordinance 2026-15 on final reading, authorizing funding to continue the borough’s multi-phase lead service line replacement program.

The action followed a detailed presentation by a borough consultant, identified during the meeting as Jackie, who summarized the borough’s progress and remaining work. “As of today, you still have 445 unknowns,” Jackie told the council, and described the borough’s inventory as including 3,764 total services, 2,910 identified as non-lead, and 409 known lead services — of which 205 are full replacements and 204 are partials. Jackie said the borough has secured approximately $1 million in federal grant funding for phase four and plans to bond additional funds; the ordinance text read at the meeting references a $1 million federal grant and authorizes the issuance of roughly $1.3 million in bonds.

Why it matters: Replacing lead service lines is required under the lead and copper rule revisions and subsequent improvements; Redbank’s presenters said the borough began inventory and test-pitting in 2022 and is aiming to finish replacements by a locally set target consistent with New Jersey law. Jackie told the council the borough expects some unknown service lines to be copper and that, for budgeting, staff is planning for a cautious 40% lead rate among the remaining unknowns but hopes the actual rate will be lower.

Program details and outreach: Jackie described test-pitting, use of metal detectors and wire tracing to find hard-to-locate private-side lines, and the need for residents to sign right-of-entry (ROE) forms to allow work on private property. “We have 11 ROEs for full services and six for partials” already obtained since outreach began, Jackie said, adding the borough will continue calling, emailing and knocking on doors to secure roughly 150 more ROEs needed for a substantial phase-four program. The presenter described funding from IBank loans, earlier principal forgiveness programs, and federal congressional awards that helped prior phases.

Council response and vote: Council members questioned the consultant about the likely composition of remaining unknowns; Jackie reiterated that the 40% figure is a conservative planning assumption. Following the presentation and a short public hearing on the ordinance, the council moved and seconded adoption on final reading; roll-call votes recorded all present council members voting yes, and the ordinance was adopted.

Next steps: The ordinance establishes the funding framework for phase four work, including replacement of previously unlocated lines that staff will try to identify before paving moratoria would complicate future digs. Staff indicated outreach and ROE collection will continue as the borough schedules replacements and coordinates required inventory updates with state regulators.

A note on recorded figures: Portions of the ordinance reading and the presentation contained garbled numerals in the meeting audio; the consultant and the ordinance text consistently referenced a $1 million federal grant and additional bonding (about $1.3 million) to finance part of the program. The total appropriation figure read aloud in the record was unclear; budget documents or the finalized ordinance text should be consulted for the exact appropriation amount and bond terms.