City Council Meeting: April 17, 2025
The Mayor introduced the city budget, and invited public comments.
Several representatives from the Senior Citizens of Delaware Valley pointed out that they are not a line item on the budget. They said that they’re the only senior club in Hunterdon County that doesn’t receive any money.
“If our money runs out, our group is gone,” they said.
They asked if the council could do anything to help this group of seniors.
The Mayor said it had been discussed previously, and that the senior group was not made up of Lambertville residents.
The woman said Phyllis, who is a member of their senior group, goes to county meetings every month, and “they all give money to the seniors.”
Councilwoman Kominsky said, “I think we should support this group.”
The Mayor said okay, and personally committed $500 to the group if the funds go to Lambertville residents.
Councilwoman Kominsky said she would work with group in the future.
Judy from N Union Street asked about budget increases.
“What are we spending money on this year that we didn’t spend it on before?” she asked.
The Mayor said state healthcare benefits, litigation fees of $91,000, and $50,000 for a business administrator.
Michael Drulis, from the city finance team, said salary and cost of living increases go up, plus $30,000 for accumulated absences and future retirements.
The Mayor said we are building the fund to be able to pay out for police contracts in the future.
Drulis also said they are putting almost $30k into the capital improvement fund, and they are building the balance and total savings, so the city’s credit improves. He said cannabis sales and parking fees add to the city’s revenue.
Trina and Amy, from George Street, wanted to know if the Council could budget for water testing on George Street.
The Mayor said that George Street is served by Veolia water, so it’s a public utility and the water gets tested by Veolia.
Commissioner Kominsky said that Veolia posts the results of their water tests on their website.
John from Hancock Street asked if the city has looked at diminishing the tax burden on people by making parking and speeding tickets more expensive.
The Mayor said they take an approach to do that, and they do look at construction fees, which are raising, and automatic increases in parking fees. Tonight they will look at an ordinance to let a cannabis dispensary stay open later, and they city will gain tax revenue from the those sales.
He pointed out that there are vigorous standards about how the city spends its money, and that they get audited.
“Every single penny spent on the city gets approved by the council,” Mayor Nowick said, “Nothing happens without a council vote.”
Drulis said all the money is there, and that this budget brings in almost $150k more than the previous years.
Council then closed the public comment period specific to the budget.
General Public Comments
General public comments were open, giving citizens 3 minutes each to talk about anything.
Jeff from Wilson Street asked about the budget’s line item for the hiring of experts on PFAS. He felt the hiring of an attorney and engineer was done to protect the town more than the citizens.
“If we’re going to be hiring experts to deal with PFAS, they should also help people on the hill,” he said, “There is an uncapped landfill up there, 100 feet past the landfill they found a buried car, and the PFAS are at 140 parts per trillion. Engineers shouldn’t be about defending the city, but instead working with the citizens,” he said.
“There’s a crisis up there. Children with cancer. I don’t know how you can build housing on top of a toxic chemical that can kill people. We do not put our people on top of toxic mountains.”
John from Hancock Street said that the judge was not aware of environmental concerns up on the hill.
“The PFAS are not just in the water, it’s in the ground.” he said.
He said it was the city dump.
“Why hasn’t anyone contacted the county?” he asked.
“I don’t have a warm fuzzy feeling about my city leaders,” he said.
He pointed out that after the flood of 1955, flood trash went into the dump. In the 70s, trash went up there. He wanted to know why the city isn’t investigating.
“If you want to all pitch in and buy houses on the hill, I’ll take $500(k) for mine.” he said.
“It’s on you guys. Can you please do something. Identify where that dump was and whomever owned it.”
Marcia from Douglas Street said contaminates are being found all over the hill, and that there are more kind of PFAS than just the ones they’re testing for.
“Thank you for anything you can do to clean that up,” she said.
Sarah from Ferry Street was concerned about the closure of Cavallo Park. She said it was a central place for children, and its closure impacts families. She felt that the closing of the park at the same time that the library is out of commission has a huge impact on children.
“I urge City Council to find solutions equitably,” she said.
She suggested a grant that could support the renovation of Cavallo Park, and suggested a temporary playground in a nearby parking lot as a substitute.
The Mayor said it took three years to fund and plan to remove lead from the library, and in a few months it will be great. He pointed out that there is a pop-up library operating while work happens on the current library.
In terms of the park, he said it’s a problem they’ve been trying to sort through for years. BSTI was there collecting soil samples and he will keep people updated.
“The timing is what it is. I’m doing my best to move things forward.” he said.
He believes the city has someone working on a grant for a community garden in Holcombe Park, and they are working to make it ADA accessible. He said he’ll reach out to Lambertville Station about the possibility of creating a temporary play space.
He also mentioned that the playground at Saint Andrew’s is expanding, and will be open to the public on York Street for families. He also mentioned a group called Lambertville Explorers, which has started to get kids active around town. He committed to meet with Sarah and talk with her.
Cynthia Ege said Parks and Recreation is looking at Ely Field as a temporary alternative to Cavallo Park. The Mayor said they need to get permissions, and nothing ever happens as fast as they’d like.
Councilwoman Lambert suggested that perhaps the city can offer something behind Fisherman’s Mark.
Dave from Brunswick Avenue asked if LPS has been contacted to see if the kindergarten playground could be made available to residents in off hours. It was just a suggestion.
He also wanted to know if it was possible to detail the purpose and expected outcomes of the various increases.
Councilwoman Kominsky said she hears people about having a robust defense for housing. If they need an additional consultant to prepare, then that should be part of their ongoing activity. She said the contamination has mushroomed into one home after another, and she thinks it’s incumbent on Council to present a more clarified picture.
“Everybody deserves the answers and information,” she said.
Councilwoman Lambert said they have to make sure the Fair Share attorney makes contamination a critical issue in the case, and presents that issue forcefully.
She went from somewhat supportive [of development] to not supportive, because of the contamination issue.
The Mayor said Councilwoman Kominsky will serve as liaison to work with the Mayor and DEP to improve timelines and clarifications. He also said that DEP will be testing 20 more wells on Connaught and Cottage Hill.
Proclamations
They adopted a proclamation for Arbor Day.
They did a Youth Week proclamation, which shows students how the police department works. The Mayor thanked Jenna.
There was a consent agenda for the resolution appointments for technical assessment for PFAS reports initial phase of understanding.
The Mayor said the city has more than 31 Tort claims filed against it, and so this law firm will be representing the city for when things come for the city. The motion Carried.
They had made vending fees more accessible due to the arcade. Councilwoman Lambert said it helps the city a little to raise fees a little bit.
Councilman Stegman said they could build in an increase over several years.
The Mayor suggested that they could increase parking meter fees since Lambertville currently charges less than in New Hope.
08-2025 HPC ordinance allows possible the expansion of the Central Business District, but the Mayor pointed out that doing so would be very complicated, and so it may not happen easily.
Councilwoman Kominsky said since the CBD is a historic preservation area, it might be good get photos of how it’s grown and changed because along Coryell Street there may be a lot of activity soon.
“When you look at a building now, it’s not what it looked like in 1910,” she said, “It would help us appreciate the historic value of these buildings.”
The Mayor mentioned that Hunterdon County is doing inventory of the buildings, and that they are conducting training that is open to public.
The Mayor added that is happy with the conversation about preservation, but he also wants to be mindful that things evolve in a historic town.
They were are in favor of the new ordinance.
10-2025. Any cannabis retailer in CBD with a good record of 12 months or longer can stay open later. This means that Baked by the River could expand their hours.
Councilwoman Lambert asked if there is anything in the modification that gives the City the ability to refine it.
Cindy Ege said it goes through review first, and the license has to be renewed every year.
The Mayor said that in small town, the city has a great relationship with the business and could just reach out.
“The ordinance lays it out, and can take it out,” Councilman Stegman said.
He said they knew they would amend this ordinance over time, and it is worded in such a way that if it acts negatively on the community then it will be addressed so it doesn’t leave a negative taste with the surrounding area.
Councilwoman Kominsky recused herself from voting.
The Council voted it in.
04-2025 They amended the Lambertville city code to install two handicapped parking spaces, one on Main and one on York. This was the second reading. They opened up for public comments, but nobody had any. They passed and adopted the ordinance.
O5-2025 was an ordinance for city wage that removed wages for jobs that no longer exists. The Mayor said they were moving to review city employees every year. They opened for public comments, but there were none. They passed it and the motion carried.
They created a deed restriction for an affordable housing apartment at 6 Lilly Street, lasting 30 years. Cindy Ege didn’t have record of a vote from the last meeting, so they revoted just in case. They opened for public, but there were none.
Councilman Stegman asked about the rent, and it was said it costs $700 per month to rent the unit. They adopted the ordinance with final approval.
“That’s great. One more affordable housing unit in Lamberville,” said the Mayor.
He also said that the library’s brick siding is being repointed, and it is coming along really, really well.
The Council pulled the farm market project until next year.
“Given the late way we started, we’re having trouble getting farmers committed,” said the Mayor.
They will return to organizing the farmer’s market in October.
The Mayor said that Ron Gorodesky, from Refined Hospitality, is planning to hold an informal meeting at the Phillip L. Pittore Justice Center on Thursday, May 8 at 7pm so residents and the developer can communicate.
They mentioned that Sparkle Week starts on April 28, and the information is on the city’s website.
The Pride Parade is Saturday, May 17th, and there will be a Memorial Day parade on May 26th.
They opened for public comments, but nobody had anything to say so they ended the meeting.
Hope you enjoyed reading. Please donate today.