Passaic City Council Reorganization Meeting: July 1, 2026

The Passaic City Council held its reorganization meeting on July 1, 2026, at 7:00 PM in the city council chambers. The meeting began with an invocation by the mayor, followed by the nomination and unanimous election of Councilman Gary Shear as Council President for a one-year term. The council addressed public comments, annual resolutions, ordinances, and heard from the mayor regarding city events and initiatives.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Julius Sanchez, Vice President of the Say Board of Education, congratulated Council President Shear on his reappointment, praising his vision and dedication and noting meaningful investment in the city, including new school construction.
• Joe Conasenti asked for an update on the city's 250th anniversary plans (beyond the upcoming fireworks) and requested consideration of naming a street or placing a plaque for the former city historian who served for 30 years. The mayor outlined numerous 250th anniversary activities, including banners, recognition as a Victory Town, and a July 4th event with a George Washington reenactor, and encouraged council members to independently pursue a plaque or street naming.
• Daniel Silverstein (152 Marietta Avenue) objected to the recent implementation of overnight permit parking on Brook Avenue East, stating that residents were not consulted or warned before signs were installed. He questioned the rationale—suspecting it was to prevent Clifton residents from parking in Passaic—and argued it was an inconvenience with no visible benefit for his block, which is three blocks from the Clifton border. He requested the ordinance be reconsidered or rescinded.

Discussion Items

• Permit Parking on Brook Avenue East: Business Administrator Rick Fernandez explained that the permit program was enacted after residents complained of non-resident vehicles parking overnight, a problem exacerbated by neighboring municipalities (Clifton, Wallington, Garfield) that have their own permits. He noted that this was the fourth or fifth zone in Passaic, permits are free, and no fines have been issued—only warnings. The mayor stated that the program was in response to resident requests and that a traffic study would be conducted to evaluate the impact. Council members and the mayor discussed the subjectivity of parking needs, the potential for the police to use permits as an additional patrol tool (e.g., deterring car theft), and the possibility of rescinding the ordinance if a majority of affected residents oppose it. The mayor committed to completing a traffic study by the end of July and to providing data on the number of permits issued and parking permits in neighboring Clifton (which charges $10 per two-year permit). Council President Shear noted that summer months may skew study results and emphasized the need for a fair evaluation. Silverstein reiterated that only one or a few residents may have complained, while he and other neighbors see no benefit. The mayor acknowledged the concern and reaffirmed the city's openness to reversing the ordinance if data supports it.

Annual Resolutions (Items 2-4)

• Resolution Designating Official Newspapers and Public Notice Website (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027): The council approved designating North Jersey Record, El Paisiano, and Bode Latino (by circulation) as official newspapers, along with the city's website, as permitted by new state law. Unanimously approved.
• Resolution Appointing Council Representative to Planning Board: Councilwoman Colón-Montañez was reappointed as the council's representative to the Planning Board. Unanimously approved.
• Resolution Appointing Commissioner to Passaic Redevelopment Agency: Councilman Monk was appointed as the council's representative (in addition to his appointment by the mayor). Unanimously approved.

Ordinances (Second Reading & Final Passage)

• Ordinance 2532-26: Amending the designation of restricted parking for disabled persons by New Jersey license plate number. No public comment. Unanimously passed.
• Ordinance 2533-26: Granting municipal consent to Pilot Fiber New Jersey LLC to use public streets and highways for installation and maintenance of fiber optic facilities. No public comment. Unanimously passed.

Communications & Petitions (Items 7-18)

Items 7-17 were accepted unanimously. Item 18 was subject to a separate vote and also accepted unanimously. The mayor expressed appreciation for the appointment of Councilman Monk and former Councilman Daniel Schwartz to the redevelopment agency.

Mayor's Report

• The mayor congratulated Council President Shear and thanked all appointees for their volunteer service.
• He reported on the successful graduation of the Class of 2026 at Passaic High School, with over 800 students graduating.
• He highlighted watch parties for the FIFA World Cup, noting that a recent Mexico vs. Ecuador game drew 6,000 people without incident. The city plans to hold a Mexican parade regardless of the World Cup outcome.
• Summer camps and concerts in the park have begun, all featuring 250th anniversary decorations.
• The July 4th celebration will include a concert, fireworks, and a George Washington reenactor.

Key Outcomes

• Council President Elected: Gary Shear was unanimously elected Council President for the 2026-2027 term.
• Annual Appointments Approved: Council members were reappointed to the Planning Board (Colón-Montañez) and the Passaic Redevelopment Agency (Monk).
• Permit Parking Evaluation: The city committed to a traffic study of the Brook Avenue East area by the end of July 2026, with a possibility of rescinding the permit ordinance if a majority of residents oppose it.
• Ordinances Passed: Both ordinances (disabled parking amendment and fiber optic facilities consent) were adopted unanimously.
• Communications & Petitions: All items (7-18) were accepted unanimously.
• Meeting Adjourned: Unanimously approved.