Vineland City Council Meeting – June 23, 2026

The Vineland City Council met Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. with all five members present: President Paul F. Spinelli, Vice President Cruz Gomez Jr., and Councilmembers Elizabeth Arthur, Scott English, and Albert Vargas. The Council observed a moment of silence for former Councilman Michael Pantaleone, approved the amended calendar year 2026 municipal budget, adopted four ordinances after public hearings, advanced four ordinances to first reading, and heard public testimony focused largely on water utility rates, Data One, and a possible skate park.

Consent Calendar

• The Council unanimously approved the minutes of the June 9, 2026 pre-meeting conference/regular meeting and the June 16, 2026 work session.
• The Council adopted the consent agenda by one motion, covering routine resolutions such as Resolution 2026-289 supporting East Avenue pedestrian safety improvements, revolving loan fund approvals, contract change orders, emergency stormwater pipe repairs on Timberbrook Drive/Valley Avenue and Axtell Avenue/Third Street, the municipal fiber-to-home pilot project, the 2026 citywide sidewalk contract, the PBA Local 266 agreement, acceptance of a donated K-9 vest, and alcoholic beverage license renewals.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Ramon Mora Jr. asked the Council to codify a cooling standard in city ordinance, arguing landlords could remove air-conditioning units before new tenants move in and that tenants adding window units risk security-deposit deductions. He submitted a draft ordinance and also suggested a skate park near Magnolia. Council leadership said the zoning officer had advised that state statute requires A/C to be provided when a unit was built with it, and that they would review his draft.
• A speaker whose name was not captured clearly in the transcript opposed the water rate ordinance, urging Council to vote no and to create separate residential and industrial/commercial rate classes. The speaker cited average household usage of 9,000–10,000 gallons per month, a $3.16-per-thousand-gallon rate at 10,000 gallons, a $1.59 rate for high-volume consumers such as Data One’s requested 2.2 million gallons per day, and the existing 44-cent recovery cost clause. The speaker, a tenant attorney, also seconded Ramon Mora Jr.’s cooling comments.
• Helen Petroitus thanked the Vineland Police Department for handling a June 13 incident near St. Barbara’s Chapel and asked for clarification about the water rate amendment. Council members explained that the amendment codifies how cost-recovery increases are justified and is not related to Data One flow.
• Mary Gaunt, a Vineland middle school teacher, supported a skateboard/bike park, citing the city’s recreation survey in which skateboarding ranked fourth, six responses behind gardening and 24 behind pickleball. She described benefits for students, including those with ADHD.
• Ashley, who runs the Vineland Skate Park Project, said Vineland has had no skate park since 2013 and asked the city to identify a site and funding.
• Victor Faust, a Millville resident and skate brand owner, recommended a concrete park instead of a prefab metal park, saying concrete is safer, less costly to maintain, self-policing, and can be built for well under the roughly $1.5 million high-end parks cost.
• Bert Brewster questioned the placement of a Data One informational link on the city website and asked who approved it; the response identified the Business Administrator and Mayor.
• Larry, a Vineland resident, raised concerns about ICE activity near the high school, Data One’s 2.2-million-gallon-per-day water request, unanswered questions about wastewater treatment and aquifer protection, and urged a skate park as a youth program, citing Ed’s Bike Shop as a past asset.

Ordinances for Public Hearing and Final Reading

• Ordinance 2026-39, authorizing the purchase of approximately 108 acres of vacant land at 1100 College Drive from South Jersey Health Systems and replacing the Cumberland County Improvement Authority contribution with a 50% Vineland Development Corporation contribution, was adopted 5-0 after a public hearing with no comment.
• Ordinance 2026-40, releasing, vacating, and extinguishing public rights in portions of paper streets Columbia Avenue and Washington Avenue, was adopted 5-0 after a public hearing with no comment.
• Ordinance 2026-41, amending Ordinance 2026-1 to correct clerical errors in the purchase of 440 West Landis Avenue, was adopted 5-0 after a public hearing with no comment.
• Ordinance 2026-42, amending the water-sewer utility rates chapter to codify cost-recovery rates, was adopted 5-0 after a public hearing. Vineland resident Matt Williams asked how large developments’ infrastructure costs would be kept from residential ratepayers; officials said connection fees with a three-year look-back cover infrastructure and recovery costs are spread evenly, and that the data center currently takes no city water.

Municipal Budget

• The public hearing on the calendar year 2026 amended municipal budget was opened and closed with no public comment. Resolution 2026-288 adopting the amended budget passed 5-0; Council President Spinelli thanked the finance department.

Ordinances for First Reading

All four first-reading ordinances passed 5-0, with public hearings scheduled for Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at 5:30 p.m.:

• Ordinance 2026-43: authorizes a contract of sale for the acquisition of 1467 Spring Road, Block 5223, Lot 1.
• Ordinance 2026-44: amends the Fire Department ordinance (replacing a removed ordinance for acquisition of 819 N. Mill Road).
• Ordinance 2026-45: approves the purchase of 2040 Maple Avenue, Block 2502, Lot 51, for $150,000 for recreational or other public use.
• Ordinance 2026-46: amends the Center City Redevelopment Plan for 225 West Landis Avenue, Block 3802, Lot 7 (replacing a removed ordinance on undersized-lot sales).

The agenda noted that the two removed ordinances were withdrawn by the Associate Solicitor before the meeting; the transcript did not separately read those removals into the record.

Key Outcomes

• The Council unanimously adopted Ordinance Nos. 2026-39, 2026-40, 2026-41, and 2026-42 by 5-0 votes.
• The Council unanimously adopted the amended CY2026 budget (Resolution 2026-288), the consent agenda, and the prior meeting minutes.
• The Council passed Ordinance Nos. 2026-43 through 2026-46 for first reading, setting public hearings for July 14, 2026.
• Councilmembers expressed openness to exploring a skate park; Councilmember English said he would support it, and Vice President Gomez noted insurance requirements and a visit to Brigantine’s skate park as next steps.
• The Council pledged to review the draft cooling ordinance and to have the utility director examine water charges and rate-class issues raised during public comment.