MOUNTAINSIDE — During the Tuesday night regular meeting of the Mountainside Borough Council, residents discussed a new non-profit organization for youth soccer set to begin in the fall, as well as concerns over a creek behind Charles Street.
Michaela Whelan and Roxana Becker, two Mountainside residents, shared that they have formed a New Jersey non-profit corporation: a youth soccer club in Mountainside. The two women discussed how their children enjoy playing soccer and baseball, and although there is a soccer league in Mountainside, it is not as well funded as the baseball/softball program. Since a private association funds the preexisting baseball and softball programs, they have more opportunities, such as a recreational element as well as a travelteam element. The women’s goal is to meet the growing demand for youth soccer in Mountainside. The two met withtherecreationdepartmentandspent months figuring out if they could accommodate a larger soccer program either through the recreation department or via private clubs in neighboring municipalities, and decided that the best way to accomplish this goal was to create their own non-profit organization.
“We want to have our Mountainside children playing together in Mountainside,” Ms. Whelan said. “We want the right coaching and guidance for our children, and we want a reasonable cost.”
The organization, not yet named, has securedplayingfieldsforthefallthrough the county at Nomahegan Park and Echo Lake Park. The organization would be open to the idea of fundraising to create more soccer fields in Mountainside and help find land grants, and will meet with the Mountainside Recreation Department again to come up with a more official plan for the fall.
Resident Alex Fiore expressed concerns about the creek behind Charles Street, adding that heavy rainfall has led to a great deal of erosion on his property that has already destroyed a fence.
Resident Kurt Manz, one of Mr. Fiore’s neighbors, echoed similar sentiments. He shared that when the creek gets blocked up, it begins to flood into people’s yards. Mr. Manz stated that while he is very appreciative of the council being so responsive about this issue thus far, he would like to see this creek get checked up on a more regular basis.
Both men provided the governing body with printed photos of the erosion occurring on and around their properties.
Mayor Paul Mirabelli said this issue would fall under the jurisdiction of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, but added that he would have Mountainside engineers take a look at the creek and the damage being caused by it. Although this creek is cleaned out after major storms, it has still been troublesome for nearby residents.
In other business, resident Robin Hoy revealed that her son is deployed in Syria and that she has recently learned that there are three other Mountainside residents currently deployed there as well. Her son will return home around Christmas, and the last time he returned, Ms. Hoy worked with the borough to get a “Welcome Home” banner displayed for him on Route 22 and Mountain Avenue. Ms. Hoy said that she would like to do this again, this time including the names of the other three Mountainside residents returning from Syria. Mayor Mirabelli suggested that she contact the Veterans of Foreign Wars for help with this project, adding that the council will assist in any way possible.
Deerfield School Valedictorian Connor Bailey was recognized atTuesday night’s meeting. The mayor and council will award him a $300 gift card. Deerfield School Salutatorian Julia O’Donnell also was celebrated at the meeting and will be awarded a $200 gift card.
The governing body also bid farewell to borough Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jill Goode, who has served as CFO since 2008 and as tax collector since 2011.
Building, Engineering and Tax Assessor Assistant Patricia Gilstrap also is retiring. Ms. Gilstrap has served as Department of Public Works secretary since 2006 and as tax assessing secretary since 2011. She was thanked for her efforts and unwavering devotion to her roles.
Several resolutions were passed, including the renewal of multiple liquor licenses for Mountainside restaurants and liquor stores, some tax overpayment refunds, as well an insertion of revenue of $40,000 for the 2024 Infrastructure and Municipal Aid Grant, $19,730.98 for Clean Communities and $65,000 for a Local Recreation Improvement Grant. There was a resolution for a department refund to Kenneth Lawrence of $2,000 to amend a road opening escrow balance, along with an authorization to create an application for a New Jersey Department of Transportation municipal aid grant for the resurfacing of Chapel Hill and Outlook Drive West. A capital improvement allocation for the acquisition of Our Lady of Lourdes ballfield has been in the works and the council agreed not to exceed $35,000 with this project and to set up a “reserve for preliminary expenses” out of the Capital Improvement Fund of the General Capital Fund.
A first reading ordinance amending Article 20, Chapter 2004, as well as an insertion of a new Article 20, Chapter 2005 was discussed at the meeting. These ordinances declare that the Borough of Mountainside, as mandated by the state of New Jersey, will collect a development fee that will go into Mountainside’s affordable- housing fund.
The next governing body work session will be held on Tuesday, July 2.
