A plastic bag stuck in a Monmouth Street tree last winter; a house on Washington Street that’s part of the new historic district.
Actions taken Monday night at the bimonthly meeting of the Red Bank Council.
• A ban on plastic bags that’s been fluttering around since late last year was re-introduced last night, but instantly got snagged over a question of definition.
Councilwoman Grace Cangemi said the law as worded might not have its intended effect of ending the distribution of lightweight supermarket bags. The ordinance, she says, bans non-recyclable bags, but grocery bags are recyclable. She also raised questions about a provision requiring compostable bags; neither the borough nor the county landfill, she says, has the industrial capacity needed to compost the bags.
Councilman Mike DuPont, who sponsored the ordinance, disagreed that the county doesn’t have the ability to compost the bags, and urged an end to what he called “objections and obstructionism.” A public hearing and possible adoption vote on the ordinance is expected August 25 at 7:30p.
• Approved the inclusion of 106 East Side addresses in the new Washington Street Historic District, only the second such area designated by the borough (the other is downtown along Broad Street, designated 1972).
The district includes homes on East Front Street, Mechanic Street, Mount Street, Spring Street, Wallace Street and Washington. Next up: incorporation of the district into the borough’s Master Plan.
• Approved the hiring of three police officers. One, Michael Campanella of Rumson, was an officer in that borough before joining the Monmouth County Prosecutors office 12 years ago; he’ll start work August 18.
Two current dispatchers, Heather Pubylski and Michael Zadlock (an RBG alum and former Marine) will be attending the police academy in Freehold and are expected to join the patrol force in January.
• Approved increases in water and sewer connection fees.
• Introduced a two-hour parking limit on both sides of Leighton Avenue, from Newman Springs Road to Locust Avenue, between 8a and 4p.
• Approved $545,000 in spending on road and other improvements to Spring Street. A state grant will cover $200,000 of the cost; the rest will be bonded.
