Message from Mayor Josh Losardo | November 23, 2022

At the last Council meeting, The Scotch Plains Township Council took action on the following matters that are designed to further improve the local quality of life.

• We set new procedures for our Fire Department to follow in anticipation of the arrival of a new ambulance approved earlier this year. The ambulance will improve the town’s response time during emergencies, especially during the daytime hours. 
• The township created the “Deputy Chief” position for our Police Department to provide another experienced administrative resource. This was done in conjunction with Captain Jeff Briel being named our next Chief of Police. We welcome Captain Albert Sellinger as the first-ever Deputy Chief.
• We also modified policies on the priority hiring of new police officers. Going forward, classification of qualified officer candidates shall be determined (1) if the officer is a resident of Scotch Plains; (2) resides in Union County; (3) resides in a County contiguous to Union.
• We adopted the soil percolation testing requirements that I wrote about in September in the weekly E-Messenger. This new requirement in major developments, such as subdivisions, will provide our land use boards with more information and the water tables under proposed projects, designed to reduce the likelihood of flooding stemming from new construction.
• In efforts to improve the condition of vacant and foreclosing properties, we introduced new requirements, including the mandated registration of vacant and foreclosing properties, and a fee schedule to be imposed on these parcels. These steps will ensure these properties are properly maintained.
• We introduced an ordinance memorializing that firearms are not permissible in governmental buildings or schools in Scotch Plains, stemming from a U.S. Supreme Court decision that loosens gun-carrying policies.
• An ordinance helping to attract and support new businesses, especially restaurants, was also introduced.  Currently, any new business must provide one parking spot for every 200 square feet of commercial space or seek a variance from our land use boards.  The practice is burdensome and unnecessarily expensive.  If adopted, one spot will be required for every 400 of commercial space occupied.  

Please reach out to our Town Manager, Al Mirabella, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or any of my colleagues on the Town Council if you have questions or thoughts you wish to share.

Thank you and have a wonderful Thanksgiving. There are truly plenty of blessings to count in Scotch Plains.