The next Common Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 18 at 7:30 PM. Members of Common Council, Mayor Radest, and City staff will be participating electronically in this meeting. For this meeting, members of the public will be able to comment by video or audio conference. Comments will also be accepted by email or by mail to cityclerk@cityofsummit.org. Comments must be received by noon on May 18. Those that submit written comments will have their comment read by the clerk or summarized if substantially like other comments and will not be permitted to speak on that same subject at the meeting. The rules for public comments are posted on the City website. The access code for the Zoom platform for this meeting is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86882516347?pwd=ZVR5VjBCWTBMZE9uT2xSNEZzME42dz09. 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.
Council will hold a budget hearing on the 2021 Municipal Budget, as well as budgets for the Parking Utility and Sewer Utility. The proposed Municipal Budget is a 1% increase over the 2020 budget. Once again this year, the proposed capital budget is extremely lean, which will allow us to control our debt service burden while maintaining city facilities and infrastructure. The all-in tax bill for Summit residents will decrease this year as the school debt service has decreased and the Union County budget has come in without an increase over last year.
Council will hold a public hearing and vote on an ordinance to amend the Development Regulations Ordinance to reduce the required side yard setbacks for air conditioner units in certain zones from 10 feet to five feet. This amendment will allow residents to install air conditioning units in a timely manner without the need to seek variances from the Zoning Board.
The Finance Committee will consider two resolutions. The first to authorize a schedule of school tax levy payments and the second to authorize estimated third quarter tax bills. An estimated third quarter tax bill is necessary because the tax rate has not been finalized by the state. Once the state finalizes the tax rates, a final reconciled tax bill will be issued for the fourth quarter of 2021 and the first two quarters of 2022. Council will also consider a resolution to renew the city’s membership in the Morris County Cooperative Pricing Council for a period of five years. This cooperative pricing system allows the city to save money and time in contracting for products and services. Finally, council will hear a resolution to authorize three-month contract extensions with Primepoint LLC for payroll services and human resources and time and attendance services. This extension of time will allow the city to combine these services into a single contract commencing in September.
The Capital Projects and Community Services Committee will present two resolutions for consideration. First is a resolution to authorize the submittal of the 2020 Recycling Tonnage Report to the State of New Jersey. The city will receive funding to be applied to its recycling program from the state pursuant to the Recycling Enhancement Act based on the numbers in this tonnage report. Second, council will consider a resolution to authorize a change order for 2020 Sanitary Sewer Clean and TV project. The actual cost of the project was $4,650.75 less than the contract amount.
The Community Programs and Parking Services Committee will introduce a resolution to extend the license agreement with Atlantic Health Systems for the use of the Summit Community Center for a vaccination clinic through September 30, 2021. Atlantic Health has been administering vaccines at the Community Center since February 5 and as of the end of April, there have been 31,035 vaccines administered at the site. Now that approval has been granted for people aged 12 to15 years to receive the vaccine, Atlantic Health anticipates that there will be increased demand for vaccinations. Council will also consider two resolutions to accept donations of $2000 to purchase windscreens for the Memorial Field tennis courts from both the Summit Boosters Association and Summit Tennis Association.
Finally, the Safety and Health Committee will introduce a single resolution authorizing the submission of a grant application to the Gary Sinise Foundation First Responders Grants Program for $22,800 to reimburse the police and fire departments for COVID-related equipment.
To view the complete Common Council agenda, go to https://www.cityofsummit.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/530?fileID=28336
Printable agenda preview: https://www.cityofsummit.org/DocumentCenter/View/5759/Fox-Council-President-Preview-050821
Next Common Council Meeting: Tuesday, June 1, 2021 at 7:30PM in the Common Council Chamber at City Hall.