BOE to Vote on Moving Elections to Nov, Redevelopment 5 Meeting Monday

The will hold a special public work session Monday starting at 6:30 p.m. in the all-purpose room, and the Fort Lee Planning Board is meeting for the second of four special public meetings beginning an hour later at the on plans for the East parcel of Redevelopment Area 5.

There are just three items listed on the agenda for the school board's special meeting, the primary purpose of which is to vote on a resolution that would move school board elections from April to November pursuant to New Jersey’s new school election law before the Feb. 17 deadline.

On Feb. 6, the BOE took public comment on the issue, with some residents arguing in favor of such a move, saying it would increase voter participation and save on the costs associated with holding an election in April, and others saying that it could potentially "politicize" what is supposed to be a non-partisan election and deprive the public of the "right" to vote on the school budget.

Also on the BOE’s agenda, which can be downloaded by clicking here or visiting the school district’s website, is a resolution that would award a contract to SSP Architectural Group for “post referendum services,” including HVAC upgrades and roof replacement at School No. 1 and and HVAC upgrades and masonry repairs at .

Planning Board Meeting

At the first special meeting of the Planning Board on Feb. 6, James Demetrakis, the attorney representing East parcel developer Fort Lee Redevelopment Associates (FLRA), qualified members of the architectural firm Elkus Manfredi Architects before the board, and members of the public questioned details of the plans for the site.

Further details regarding traffic studies and the potential impact new residents of the towers could have on Fort Lee schools may be addressed at Monday’s meeting, which is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the Fort Lee Community Center on the second floor.

The Planning Board has also added two additional public meetings—one on Monday, Feb. 27, and another on Monday, March 5—both at 7:30 p.m. at the community center, the borough announced last week.