Mayor honors Susan E. Herby’s disability rights legacy
A council proclamation traced Susan E. Herby’s work from family caregiving to Edgemont Memorial Park, where township leaders are now discussing a permanent memorial.
Two hosts walk through the week’s edition in conversation — proclamation in memoriam for susan e, budget presentation for montclair township 2026, and what’s coming next. Generated by Aware, from this week’s verified summaries.
The proclamation tied one resident’s decades of advocacy to a playground built so children of all abilities could play together in Montclair.
A playground became the center of a life story.
Mayor Renee Baskerville read a proclamation in memoriam for Susan E. Herby, known as Sue, during the Montclair Township Council meeting. The proclamation said she died peacefully on April 21, 2026, surrounded by loved ones, after living with Parkinson’s and pancreatic cancer. The mayor described her as a mother, caregiver, advocate, community leader, and friend whose work pushed Montclair and other places toward greater disability access.
The proclamation focused on both public advocacy and private care. It said Susan E. Herby spent 40 years caring for her daughter Leslie and helped strengthen language connected to the Americans with Disabilities Act. In Montclair, the mayor pointed to the accessible playground at Edgemont Memorial Park as a project especially tied to her work. The proclamation said she kept pushing until the playground moved from idea to reality, creating a place where children of all abilities could play together.
The council heard that her life celebration was held at that playground, a detail the mayor called fitting. The proclamation listed surviving family members, including daughters Leslie and Rebecca, and said the family is working with the township on a permanent memorial there, possibly a plaque. A family member thanked the council and the community, and said the moment should remind people what the town can do when people work toward a shared goal.
Budget Presentation for Montclair Township 2026
The tax increase is small on paper and large in effect. Montclair interim chief financial officer presented a 2026 budget with a projected 2.2 cent increase in the local tax rate, from 86.8 cents to 89 cents. The biggest pressure point was a $3.1 million jump in group health insurance costs after the township left the state health benefits plan for a private carrier.
Other numbers moved in the opposite direction. Pension obligations for police and fire dropped by $435,000, and utility funds for water, sewer, and parking were described as healthy with strong surpluses. The township’s fund balance, though, fell by nearly $1 million, and the budget sets aside $1.5 million over five years for a special emergency revaluation.
Council members said they want to keep services in place while staying disciplined on spending. Public comments focused on tax collection rates, state mandates, and how clearly the township is explaining its financial choices. The budget is expected to be introduced at the first meeting in April, with adoption planned for May.
Seniors press township on program staffing
Public comment centered on the termination of the senior citizens program coordinator and what it could mean for classes, trips, and support programs. Speakers said the loss was abrupt, described scheduling problems and cancellations, and asked Township Manager Michael Lapolla and the council for answers and continuity.
leadership change
Council fails to advance valet rules
Council debated whether valet parking should be regulated or effectively barred, then failed to move the ordinance forward. William Harrison argued for abolition outside limited cases, while other council members raised traffic, safety, curb use, and litigation concerns.
litigation
Mayor calls for moment of silence
Mayor Renee Baskerville asked the council and attendees to pause for Juniper Blessing and for three victims killed at an Islamic Center in San Diego. The meeting stopped for a moment of silence, then returned to the agenda.
memorial
Council approves school tax note plan
Council approved a resolution to spread $12.6 million from the March 10 school special election across four quarters instead of two. Michael Lapolla said the approach would avoid a sharp tax spike, though borrowing would add interest costs of about 198,800 under one option.
Spread $12.6 million school referendum taxes across four quarters to avoid a sharp tax spike.
What we didn’t fit in this Sundays edition
Montclair Township had 356 more items this week. Here are sixfour — the rest are on Aware.
- GOVERNANCEAdvisory Finding on Buzz Aldrin School Capital Project Consistency with Master Plan. Following discussion of the Buzz Aldrin School HVAC/electrical project, the Board indicated it would memorialize that it did not find the project inconsistent with the Master Plan and would recommend maintaining the property’s historic integrity.
- GOVERNANCECouncil rescinds Elm-New Mission redevelopment plan. The township moved to rescind the Elm/New Street/Mission Avenue redevelopment plan and replace it with C3 zoning that lowers permitted height and density. The Planning Board approved the related referral resolution with minor changes, and Council adopted the ordinance after objections from property owners and debate over notice, neighborhood character, density, and displacement.
- GOVERNANCESecond reading: Repeal/replace traffic ordinance and establish new parking article; amendment to remove section 228-5B(7) and reintroduction required. Council held the public hearing on Ordinance 0-26-22 regarding parking and temporary parking signs. After discussion, Council voted to amend the ordinance by eliminating section 228-5B(7), noting the amended ordinance would need to be reintroduced and heard again.
- GOVERNANCETown authorizes $18.49 million bond notes. Council approved resolutions authorizing the sale and issuance of up to $18.491 million in bond anticipation notes and combining certain note issues. The actions let township officials proceed with short-term borrowing for capital financing.
- GOVERNANCEPublic comment: Union Gardens tenant conditions and municipal responsiveness. Speakers described ongoing issues at Union Gardens, including broken elevators, mold, hot water outages, security problems, and poor property management responsiveness. One speaker criticized perceived Council “boots on the ground” focus in other neighborhoods while Union Gardens concerns persist.
- GOVERNANCEPublic comment: Tree canopy, proposed tree ordinance, equity, and enforcement. Many speakers urged adoption of a stronger tree removal and replacement ordinance, emphasizing canopy loss, climate resilience goals, and the need for scaled replacement ratios and enforcement. Speakers requested equity-focused use of a tree fund and stronger developer provisions, and raised concerns about recent tree damage from root cutting.
- GOVERNANCEResolution (Amended) — Fourth Round Housing Element and Fair Share Plan (Corrections and Dates). The Board reviewed corrections to an amended fourth round Housing Element and Fair Share Plan resolution, including specific wording and dates tied to submissions and a court program, and approved the resolution with corrections including the term “Affordable Housing Dispute Resolution Program.”
- GOVERNANCEPublic comment: 260 Park Street zoning dispute and alleged erroneous zoning map reliance. Speakers criticized a zoning board decision regarding 260 Park Street, arguing the property is residential by ordinance and that reliance on an allegedly erroneous zoning map was improper. They cited legal principles that ordinances control over maps and questioned why variances were not required.
- GOVERNANCEPublic comment: Municipal accessibility and transparency concerns (including elevator outage). A speaker described difficulty accessing relocated Parks and Recreation offices due to distance and a non-working elevator, and criticized lack of transparency about changes. Another speaker raised concerns about reporting issues to emergency services and perceived lack of response.
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