Vineland City Council Regular Meeting - March 24, 2026

The regular meeting of the Vineland City Council was called to order at 5:30 PM on March 24, 2026, by Council President Paul Spinelli. All five council members were present. The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance led by students from the Vineland High School 11-12 Choir. After approving the minutes of prior meetings, the council heard extensive public comment, largely opposing a proposed data center development. The council then adopted several ordinances and resolutions, all by unanimous votes.

Consent Calendar

• The consent agenda, comprising resolutions 2026-113 through 2026-144, was approved unanimously without discussion. These items included contract awards, change orders, budget adjustments, tax matters, and other routine administrative actions. (Note: The official minutes list individual roll-call votes for each resolution, while the meeting transcript reflects a single consent motion.)

Public Comments & Testimony

• Ramon Mora Jr. (lifelong Vineland resident) strongly condemned the Council for supporting the data center expansion, accusing it of prioritizing corporate interests over the community. He argued the project will increase pollution, harm public health, and fail to deliver real economic benefits for working-class residents. Mora expressed deep distrust and warned that voters will hold officials accountable.
• Kenneth James (software engineer, Cinnaminson) opposed the project due to its broader regional impact on energy costs. He stated that the data center will add demand equivalent to approximately 200,000 homes in phase one, driving up electricity prices across the PJM grid and burdening 70 million residents. He criticized subsidies and tax breaks, questioned the lack of transparency, and suggested possible conflicts of interest.
• Maryanne Laielli (Vineland resident) focused on the integrity of the environmental review. She argued that the study is compromised because it was conducted by NE Consulting LLC, a firm wholly owned by John Ruga, who has a minority stake in DataOne USA. She also noted that the NJDEP has not officially granted final air permits for the facility’s 36 natural gas generators, and as of mid-March 2026, no water allocation permit applications had been received. She questioned whether construction should proceed given these regulatory gaps.
• Jay Johnson (Vineland resident) called for clearer communication and concrete details from city officials, particularly regarding job creation and infrastructure improvements. He asked how many jobs will go to local residents and whether the city is preparing for increased energy demand. He suggested expanding solar energy policies and increasing the allowed percentage of solar panel capacity.
• Diane Garrity (Vineland resident) criticized the council for failing to represent residents’ interests and demanded a truly independent environmental study. She highlighted economic struggles in the community and argued the data center will worsen conditions by increasing costs and environmental risks. She pointed to widespread public opposition and media attention, noting that Pennsylvania has placed a moratorium on data centers.
• William Darnell White (lifelong Vineland resident) expressed deep disappointment in city leadership, accusing officials of ignoring public opposition and prioritizing corporate deals. He believed the project will harm the environment, raise costs, and damage the community. He called for greater public engagement and warned that residents are organizing politically to replace leaders who fail to represent them.
• Steve Lewis (Vineland resident) reported that he was informed by the Planning Board that the March 11, 2026 planning meeting had been canceled and rescheduled to May 28, 2026 at the request of DataOne. He encouraged others to verify this information, suggesting that last-minute changes contribute to public distrust.
• Larry Garrity (Vineland resident) voiced displeasure with the City Council and Administration for failing to address public concerns, and made critical remarks about the data center project and the influence of developer John Ruga.

Key Outcomes

• Approval of Minutes: The minutes of the March 10, 2026 Pre-Meeting Conference, Regular Meeting, and Closed Meeting, and the March 17, 2026 Work Session and Special Meeting were approved unanimously.
• Ordinances – Public Hearing and Final Reading:
  • Ordinance 2026-13 (Purchase of 4378 Juniper Street for $70,000) was adopted unanimously.
  • Ordinance 2026-14 (Amending the Center City Redevelopment Plan for Block 4001, Lot 1.01) had its public hearing continued to April 14, 2026.
• Ordinances – First Reading: Ordinances 2026-15 (Classification and Compensation Plans – IAEP R2-75), 2026-16 (Acquisition of 2040 Maple Avenue for recreational purposes), 2026-17 (Cannabis establishments amendments), 2026-18 (Fire Prevention code amendments), and 2026-19 (Bond ordinance appropriating $3,480,000 for water utility improvements, issuing $1,680,000 in bonds) were each passed for first reading. Public hearings for all are scheduled for April 14, 2026.
• Retirement Resolutions: Resolutions 2026-110, 2026-111, and 2026-112 recognizing Jacob Fransko, Luz Garcia, and Kevin Sprague upon their retirements effective April 1, 2026 were adopted individually.
• Appointments:
  • Lee Hughes, Esq., was confirmed as Alternate/Conflict Public Defender (Resolution 2026-134).
  • Jessica Lucena-Muniz was appointed to the Vineland Public Library Board of Trustees (received and filed).
• Consent Agenda Adoption: All remaining resolutions (2026-113 through 2026-144) were adopted on a single motion, covering a wide range of municipal contracts, change orders, budget appropriations, tax cancellations, cannabis license extensions, and other routine matters.
• Council Comments: Council members congratulated the retirees and thanked the high school choir. Several members acknowledged the public speakers, with Councilmember English noting that while he might disagree, he appreciated their heartfelt comments. President Spinelli thanked everyone for speaking.
• Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 6:16 PM.