Montclair Council revises police department ordinance
With no public comment and no recorded debate, the Township Council adopted Ordinance 0-26-36 updating the police department’s composition in Chapter 51.
Two hosts walk through the week’s edition in conversation — second reading, second reading, and what’s coming next. Generated by Aware, from this week’s verified summaries.
The ordinance changed how the police department is laid out on paper, and the vote moved quickly from public hearing to roll call.
A quiet hearing cleared the way for a police ordinance vote. The Township Council took up Ordinance 0-26-36 on second reading, an amendment to Chapter 51, Article III, covering the Police Department and its composition. Dr. Renee Baskerville, M.D. opened the public hearing. No one spoke. The council then closed the hearing, opened discussion, and moved to a roll call vote.
The record shows no substantive debate before adoption. That made this one of the cleaner pieces of business on the agenda: a formal update to township code, handled through the required second-reading process and approved after the public had a chance to weigh in. The action did not come with a long back-and-forth or competing amendments from the dais.
What happens next is administrative rather than political. With the ordinance adopted, the revised language for the police department’s composition now becomes part of township code. Residents looking for broader policy changes did not get them here; this was a code revision that advanced without public testimony, and the next step is implementation under the updated ordinance language.
Second reading: Repeal single-use food/beverage items ordinance due to state law preemption
Montclair cleared an old local rule off the books. The Township Council adopted Ordinance 0-26-35 on second reading to repeal Chapter 134, the township’s ordinance on single-use food and beverage items.
The reason was state preemption. Council said the township had passed its own ordinance last year, but a state law taking effect August 1, 2026 now covers food service businesses and bars them from automatically including items such as plastic utensils, napkins, condiment packets, and straws with takeout and delivery orders. Dr. Renee Baskerville, M.D. opened the public hearing, and no one offered comment.
Council then closed the hearing and adopted the repeal by roll call vote. The practical effect is that Montclair will no longer keep a separate local version of rules the state now controls, and businesses will look to the statewide standard once that law takes effect.
Council approves vendor spaces for school year
The Township Council approved the vendor-space item after questioning how spots were assigned when multiple vendors bid and one placement was settled by random draw. Members discussed whether to hold the item for more review, but decided against a delay because the school year starts in September.
Council approved vendor space assignments before school starts after questioning the random-draw process and openings.
Council reorganizes offices under Township Manager
The Township Council adopted Ordinance 0-26-34 reorganizing offices under the Township Manager after a brief discussion over wording and reporting lines. Susan Shin Andersen asked whether the housing specialist leads the Department of Housing Services, and staff said yes; councilmembers were also told the phrase “human resources program” did not signal new hiring.
Council reorganized offices under the Township Manager and clarified housing and human resources wording.
Council amends WebEx contract amount
The Township Council amended and approved a contract with Millennium Communications Group for conference-room technology tied to its WebEx setup. William Harrison flagged a mismatch in the paperwork, and the resolution was revised to set the amount at not to exceed 48,833.98 before the final vote.
Council corrected the amount and approved WebEx conference room hardware and licensing.
Council updates vacation rules for job titles
The Township Council adopted Ordinance 0-26-30 on second reading to amend the personnel code’s vacation section and add certain job titles. Dr. Renee Baskerville, M.D. opened the public hearing, no one commented, and the ordinance passed by roll call vote.
Council amended the personnel code on vacations to add certain job titles.
What we didn’t fit in this Sundays edition
Montclair Township had 19 more items this week. Here are sixfour — the rest are on Aware.
- GOVERNANCEProclamation: National Voter Registration Day (September 15, 2026) and recognition of voter registration organizations. The Township presented a proclamation recognizing National Voter Registration Day on September 15, 2026 and acknowledged local voter registration organizations for their work; representatives described upcoming registration events and volunteer training.
- GOVERNANCEWelcome and swearing-in of Township Attorney Shantel Borum. The Mayor welcomed Shantel Borum as the new Township Attorney, noting her municipal legal experience and significance as the first African-American female in the role, followed by the oath of office and brief remarks from Attorney Borum.
- GOVERNANCEReturn to open session and restart of regular meeting. After executive session, the Council resumed the regular meeting and proceeded with proclamations and agenda items.
- GOVERNANCETree ordinance discussion includes permit limits and recent removal activity. The Board discussed how a pending tree ordinance might limit development applications for two years after a tree removal permit, with questions about scope and enforceability. Staff also reported recent tree removal activity on Pleasant Avenue and Cedar Avenue as part of committee and staff updates.
- GOVERNANCECouncil Referral: Ordinance to Amend Chapter 202 (Land Use Procedures) Fee Schedule and Escrow Deposits. The Board reviewed a council referral for an ordinance amending Chapter 202 land use procedures to update the fee schedule and escrow deposits due to increased costs. The Board voted to find the changes not inconsistent with the master plan.
- GOVERNANCESpecial meeting set for master plan and redevelopment review. Staff said the master plan re-examination report still needed committee comments and deferred substantive discussion to a special meeting. The Board then scheduled an August 31, 2026 meeting to handle both the master plan re-examination and redevelopment plan within the referral timeline.
- GOVERNANCEZoning Board of Adjustment Annual Report: Receipt and Referral to Zoning Subcommittee. The Board noted receipt of the Zoning Board of Adjustment annual report and discussed routing recommendations through the zoning subcommittee. The zoning subcommittee had met twice, planned another meeting for September 1, and discussed efforts to clean up and potentially adopt a tabulated zoning ordinance format drafted in 2018.
- GOVERNANCECarry Application 2959-11 (611/618 Walnut Street, Grafton Inns LLC) to September 28, 2026. Under old business, the Board addressed Application 2959-11 for 611/618 Walnut Street (Grafton Inns LLC). The applicant requested a carry due to experts not being available, and the Board carried the matter to September 28, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. in the municipal chambers.
- GOVERNANCESwearing-In of Board Professionals/Witnesses. Individuals expected to provide testimony were sworn/affirmed to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
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