(Fanwood, NJ) – The Borough Council on Tuesday hired a new police officer, recognized its volunteers and introduced the 2025 municipal budget. The public hearing is scheduled for Monday, May 19th.
Tim Tagaev was sworn in as a probationary police officer by Council President Patricia Walsh. Councilwoman Erin McElroy Barker noted that the borough will be hiring another officer to fill the vacancy left by the death of Officer Carlos Gonzalez, Jr.
The council recognized volunteers with 10 plus years serving on boards and commissions as part of Volunteer Recognition Week: Recognized were: Board of Health: Margaret Lewis, Kathleen Thomas, and Michael Lewis; Cultural Arts: Adele Kenny and Tom Plante; Environmental Commission: Sandra Redder, David Schwartzberg, Gary Szelc, and Phyllis Sandrock; HistoricCouncil President Patricia Walsh swears in Police Officer Tim Tagaev with his family at his side.al Preservation Commission, Joan Skubish; Library Board of Trustees: Jane Frost-Guzzo; Pat Plante, and Jenn Coppock-Huegel; Planning Board: Matthew Juckes; Recreation Commission: Neil Pierce, Mike Kelly, Eryn Sinclair, and Bruce Zakarin; Shade Tree Commission: Steve Falco and Joanne Muoio, and TV 36, Michael Lewis.
Recreation Director Bob Budiansky was recognized on receiving the Good Scout Award.
Proclamations were issued for Volunteer Appreciation Week, Autism Acceptance Week, Clean Community Day and Arbor Day.The council introduced the 2025 municipal budget of $13,582,435 with a municipal tax of $8,031,062. Borough Administrator Jesse Moehlman said the main drivers for the increase over last year are employee health insurance (up 11.17 percent) and pensions (2.55 percent), collective bargaining agreements, debt service (up 15.68 percent), general liability service (Joint Insurance Fund), up 53.35 percent, and inflation. The borough has several shared services with surrounding towns to help with saving tax dollars as well as grant funding. Moehlman said the Joint Insurance fund has billed member towns for past settled claims that they have been settled over several years resulting in this year’s large increase. The average borough taxpayer will pay a municipal tax of $2,893, an increase of $97.70 over 2024.
Capital projects planned for 2025 include La Grande Park basketball court resurfacing, road resurfacing on Waldon Road, Kyte Place, Graybar Place, and Watson Road, and a new Carriage House stage.
The council passed an ordinance, on second reading, to amend provisions of the borough’s commercial corridor district. The ordinance changes language from “lot coverage” to “impervious coverage” for improvements such as buildings and structures on a lot. The term “building coverage” was also added, which is defined as the foot print of all buildings on a lot.
The council passed a resolution in support of publishing legal notices on official government websites.
