Passaic City Council Meeting - July 21, 2026
Passaic City Council Meeting - July 21, 2026
The Passaic City Council met on July 21, 2026, at 7:30 PM. Roll call was conducted, minutes were approved, and a series of resolutions, ordinances, and a public hearing were addressed. The meeting included routine approvals, discussion of a grant-funded license plate reader purchase, and a contested appeal of a Rent Leveling Board decision.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of minutes from previous meeting (unanimous).
- Payment of bills as presented (unanimous).
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were received.
Discussion Items
- Resolutions 17–36: Approved as a block after discussion. Resolution 17 (purchase of automated license plate readers with extended warranty) drew questions from Councilman Monk about warranty cost versus additional cameras. The Deputy Chief and Business Administrator explained the burn grant covered the cost and the warranty protects against damage. The council approved the resolution. Resolutions 24 and 25 prompted discussion on vendor selection criteria, including minority-owned business preferences. All resolutions passed unanimously.
- Resolution 37: Approved unanimously.
- Resolution 38: Approved unanimously.
- Ordinance 39: An ordinance designating restricted parking for disabled persons by license plate number was introduced and set down for final reading on August 4, 2026.
- Ordinance 41: A request to postpone a hearing due to attorney hospitalization was granted; the hearing was rescheduled from August 4 to September 1, 2026.
- Administrator's Report: None.
- Mayor's Report: The Mayor provided updates on street paving, community events (FIFA watch parties, Lucha Libre, park activities), storm response, and thanked emergency services. He also acknowledged challenges faced by residents during recent power outages and heatwaves.
- Public Hearing – Rent Leveling Board Appeal: The council heard an appeal by Donovan Henderson regarding a Rent Leveling Board decision on his rent increase. Mr. Henderson argued the Board failed to address retaliation and fraudulent documentation. The landlord's attorney stated no new evidence was presented and the Board's decision should stand. Council members questioned the scope of their authority. After extensive discussion, no action was taken on the appeal; it was left pending.
Key Outcomes
- Resolutions 17–36, 37, and 38 were approved.
- Ordinance 39 was introduced and set for final reading.
- Ordinance 41 hearing rescheduled to September 1, 2026.
- Payment of bills approved.
- The rent leveling board appeal was heard without a decision; the matter remains open.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. On behalf of the governing body of the city of Basake, we welcome you to the July 21st, 2026 City Council meeting. In accordance 231, public laws of 1975, adequate notice of this meeting was provided by resolution of the municipal council adopted on June 16th, 2026, setting forth the schedule of meetings for the year 2026-2027. Said notice was published and posted on the City Hall Bulletin Board by the Office of the City Clerk. Please be further advised that this meeting will be conducted in person. The Zoom stream provided is for viewing only and is offered to the public as a convenience on July 6, 2026. Public notice and Zoom instructions for this meeting were posted on the City of Passaic website at WWW City of Persake.com council agendas. Instructions are also available on the last page of this agenda. Please be guided accordingly. Roll call, please, ma'am. Councilman Monk? Councilman Love? Councilwoman Mellow. Councilman Mayer. Councilman Garcia. Councilwoman Colombant? And Council President Shear. President Ship is Ron. Please take place this evening. Can you believe it in there? I'd like to agents to apply of the United States of America. For which stands under God. December 2nd, 2025, December 16, 2025, January 8, 2026, January 2026. Are there any changes or corrections to the minutes which are presented to us by the clerk? Seeing none, is there motion, please to accept the minutes as presented? So move, Council President. Motion and second roll call, please. Councilman Monk? Yes. Councilman Love? Yes. Councilwoman Mellow? Yes. Councilman Mayer? Yes. Councilman Garcia? Yes. Councilwoman Colombatanian? Yes. And Council President Shear. Yes, thank you. Members are aware, I hope. Um immediately at the end of the meeting tonight, not at the end, but rather pro immediately prior to the end of the council meeting. The council will continue its function as council, acting as on behalf of the uh what appellate body uh to be uh to be not the same as appellate body, and we have before us two rent leveling board cases, one of which which we are asking for it to be postponed, the other of which we ask that the council act in its uh judicial uh basis. We're up to hearing of citizens Roman number five on our agenda. In accordance with the open public meetings act and JSA 10 colon 4-1 at sec, the council opens every public meeting for comments of the public. However, in accordance with NJSA 10 colon 4-12, nothing in this act shall be construed to limit the discretion of a public body to permit, prohibit, or regulate the act of participation at any meeting. Therefore, please be advised that the council will not entertain any comments from persons who communicate obscene material, make statements which are considered bias intimidation, in which a person intends to intimidate any individual or group because of race, color, religion, gender, handicap, sexual orientation, or ethnicity, or makes comments intending to harass or speak any offensive language. The person who makes these statements will relinquish their allotted five minutes for public discussion. Is there anyone who would like to adjust the council, please?
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