Common Council is holding a special meeting on Tuesday, August 18 at 5PM to approve six measures to expand outdoor dining, and five upcoming Department of Community Programs events. During the meeting, Common Council, Mayor Radest, and staff will also discuss city response to Tropical Storm Isaias.
Council will consider an amendment to the resolution passed on June 23, 2020 to allow for the temporary partial closures of Maple Street for outdoor dining. The dining on Maple Street has been tremendously successful and restaurants have requested an extension through November 30. This new resolution will extend the date of partial closures through November 30. The extension of time is contingent on approval by the New Jersey Department of Transportation. Council will also consider three additional resolutions to amend the June 29 resolutions granting Fiorino Ristorante, Summit House Restaurant, Bar Bacoa, and Roots Steakhouse permission to use Maple Street for outdoor dining. The resolutions will extend the partial closures through November 30. These applications include lease agreements for the expansion of liquor licenses. A fourth restaurant, Fin Raw Bar and Kitchen, does not have a liquor license so they do not need council approval to operate outdoor dining on Maple Street.
Next, council will consider the expansion of two parklets on Union Place for Piattino and The Office Tavern and Grill. The initial parklet applications requested two parking spaces for each restaurant. Council granted each restaurant one parking space at its June 29 special meeting. The restaurant management has requested that each restaurant be granted a second space and, upon review, the Capital Projects and Community Services Committee have recommended that council amend the approvals and grant this request.
The storm response and recovery from Tropical Storm Isaias is still top of mind for the City, as well as residents and businesses. City department heads will report on the City’s storm response. Members of the public will have an opportunity to comment and ask questions via Zoom. Council invited the City’s JCP&L representative to attend this meeting, but she has declined the invitation at this time citing the need for JCP&L to conduct its own post-storm review.
The Department of Community Programs is seeking approval by resolution of additional weekly entertainment events on the Village Green from mid-August through mid-September. These events include movies and concerts and two new events – a dine-in movie and a community art class. The Department of Community Programs has done an outstanding job organizing socially-distant community events throughout the summer and will continue to do so into the fall. Details of these events will be forthcoming.
Finally, Mayor Radest, city department heads and members of the Emergency Management team will report on the city’s coordinated response to Tropical Storm Isaias. Members of the public will have an opportunity to comment and ask questions via Zoom. Council invited Summit’s JCP&L representative to attend this meeting, but the invitation was deferred until after JCP&L conducts its own post-storm review.
To view the complete Common Council special meeting agenda, go to https://www.cityofsummit.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08182020-764?html=true
For this and all future electronic meetings, members of the public will be able to comment by video or audio conference. The access codes and instructions for public comment on the Zoom platform are posted on the city website. Every Common Council meeting is broadcast live on HTTV Verizon channel 30 and Comcast channel 36 and 34. The meeting will also be broadcast live on the City of Summit YouTube Channel.
Next Common Council Meeting: Tuesday, September 1, 2020 at 7:30PM.