January 20, 2026 Council Meeting
Below you will find a summary of the main points from the January 2026 Council Meeting. The full meeting is available to watch by clicking here.
Proclamations
The Council issued several proclamations, including recognition of the Lakeland Junior Soccer program. Proclamations were also adopted declaring January 19, 2026, as Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Ringwood, and declaring January as Human Trafficking Prevention Month in the borough.
Community Acknowledgement
Council members acknowledged a recent house fire in the community that resulted in a loss of life. Thanks were extended to local first responders as well as neighboring towns that provided mutual aid during the incident.
Ringwood Downtown Presentation
Kristen Holten, representing Ringwood Downtown, presented a video from Jeff Buehler, the borough’s downtown consultant. The presentation highlighted an online survey currently being conducted to gather community feedback on the future of Ringwood’s shopping areas, including how residents use them and what they would like to see in the downtown district.
Manager’s Report
The Borough Manager reported that there have been 21 snow events so far during the current budget year.
Final approvals have been received to install equipment to enhance police radio communications. The Council voted to authorize payment of $121,531 to Goosetown Communications for the installation work.
The Finance Committee of the Council is currently meeting to discuss the upcoming municipal budget. The budget is anticipated to be ready for introduction in April 2026.
The borough will explore and negotiate a shared services agreement with the county for Health Department services. The proposed agreement would be a ten-year arrangement beginning April 1.
Ordinances and Council Business
Councilman Kiraly’s proposed e-bike ordinance was tabled. This decision followed the Governor’s signing of a statewide e-bike ordinance on January 19, 2026, which contains inconsistencies with the proposed Ringwood ordinance. Additional time is needed to ensure any local ordinance aligns with state law.
The Council discussed an ordinance to increase water rates by 3% annually from 2026 through 2030, replacing the current structure of a 4% increase every other year. The change is attributed to rate increases by the Passaic Valley Water Commission, which supplies additional water to Ringwood during periods of high demand.
Public Comment
Resident Dan Daily asked how the borough would respond if Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were to come to Ringwood and questioned why a police officer was present at the council meeting.
The Mayor and Borough Manager responded that they have met with the Chief of Police to discuss protocols related to ICE, and that planning and discussions are ongoing. It was also explained that an officer was asked to be present due to recent aggressive meetings and concerns from council members related to online comments.
Additional Information
The Council announced that Linda Somwaru has recently retired from the CFA.
Winter is in full swing in Ringwood, with another storm expected this weekend. Stay safe, prepare by stocking up on essential items, and take time to enjoy the snow!
Thanks for staying informed!
2026 Executive Board:
Breeze Sando, President
Dan Daily, Vice President
Erika Travan, Vice President
Laurie Renton, Secretary
Sunny Jean, Treasurer
