[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6066453,"mediaKeyId","3174430-f8cd508db95be0d467e24b236b775deb","parentId",3174430,"title","Council debates cutting part-time health benefits; legal counsel says Rice notices required, no final vote taken","audioSeconds",4210,"startMs",2840119,"endMs",7050635,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3174430-f8cd508db95be0d467e24b236b775deb&start=2840&end=7050","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3174430-f8cd508db95be0d467e24b236b775deb/thumbnail_2840119.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6066453/Clifton/Passaic-County/New-Jersey/Council-debates-cutting-part-time-health-benefits-legal-counsel-says-Rice-notices-required-no-final-vote-taken","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6066453-db2039422c73e94d2361c321e2582eaf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176619&Signature=CWf19V16bCAbB6viCyEoSCjYQHGazxMppahQqI8kbAULxgFRFSnGraeLYhE91QwOY0sHeVdKu78tdtRHfyOnQoZ7qNbZ~r6AzsLKNU0Hg3E4dcTnz2RYZflgQ5bPAkiX66026aQQvQdd~LUHKvOvZW2gekQkyL35-z3MQapUhL0jM7zWp85rqHNv4Q~iMKVYIatwu~0UWUUMDH3vMLmJatfGZngc~lblkNkAQB2ys1SLFvrcqcdd3yhHU1mPzVaIItNIUnnqHURBjWpo7vlCgQCj5QuY2x7ovhQVSdADU1fCYgP75~yXNL-ECI9LPluFVKXMiigTQQ~Wfn854sDUDA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Clifton City NJ","date","2025-04-08T00:00:00Z","article","A motion to eliminate health-care benefits for all part‑time city employees was made and seconded during the City of Clifton's April 8 special budget meeting; legal counsel interrupted and advised that employees whose terms and conditions might be changed must receive a RICE notice under local law and that the subject was not listed on the special-meeting notice.

The initial motion — introduced from the dais — directed removal of part-time employee health benefits. Legal counsel (Miss Wright) said the council must issue RICE notices to any employees whose health benefits might be modified: \"It's my opinion that the council has to issue a RICE notice to any employees whose health benefits may be modified by this vote.\" Council members then moved to send RICE notices, and that motion was seconded, but the audience of council comments and legal advice made clear the matter required additional process and notice.

Council discussion that followed addressed both the substance and the process. Several council members raised policy and equity questions, noted Clifton's self-insured health plan structure, and supplied figures from materials on the dais. One council member cited a city figure for the total city cost of benefits for affected officials (listed on a draft budget sheet in the meeting) as $265,169.37; another council member later clarified an emergency appropriation number for the health department as $207,000 (not $270,000, as had been misstated earlier during the meeting).

Legal counsel also advised that, because this was a special meeting and the agenda notice did not specifically include Rice notices or changes to employee terms, the council should place the Rice-notice question on a future properly noticed agenda if it wished to act. Counsel recommended adding the item to the next regular meeting so employees could receive proper notice and the council could consider the item in public session with required procedural safeguards.

No final substantive change to part-time benefits was adopted at the April 8 special meeting. Several council members criticized raising the issue without prior employee notice or an agenda item; council members also debated whether changing benefits would yield anticipated savings because the city is self‑insured and contributions vary by participant and plan use.

Ending: Council members directed that the Rice‑notice and any vote on part‑time employee benefits be placed on a future, properly noticed agenda, and legal counsel and staff were asked to prepare the required notices and benefit-cost breakdowns for that meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Budget Meeting 4 8 25","oneSentenceSummary","Council members proposed eliminating health insurance for part-time city employees and later moved to issue RICE notices; legal counsel advised that employees must be Rice-noticed and that the issue was not properly noticed for a special meeting, so the council deferred final action to a later agenda.","taxTitle","Clifton , Passaic County, New Jersey","taxId",2755,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6066459,"Clifton council directs staff to identify unused vehicles for return; motion set goal of 20 vehicles",288,2525195,2813375,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3174430-f8cd508db95be0d467e24b236b775deb&start=2525&end=2813","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3174430-f8cd508db95be0d467e24b236b775deb/thumbnail_2525195.jpg","/articles/6066459/Clifton/Passaic-County/New-Jersey/Clifton-council-directs-staff-to-identify-unused-vehicles-for-return-motion-set-goal-of-20-vehicles","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6066459-159617d673462cf757f59376b2621de7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176619&Signature=kAwvtqcN4MwwL6m45OUqaQx8jC7aaACxexYd-lzd8EH9r39~0~oIygIu--NvDgXd4cE6SXJXOo9-EvyH3T51j4NLa36D9bYg5ivvG5VFmbZgQDeALRlcKyE4FT0aO0g3GfQ-AcPyCpJ~xmqkqKgfjOu4SJSQO2LG68C3BcN8cdf~D69UDXwDIndIjw-qYanyDVgPpmkz8Hfm7aH3~1TWP3d7kdg6PKVpu-L6d04l7FGSAUS0NR5opgH2T3UAna1DuP09Suwjm6ZtkCLCmYDLj3JHsTuoftAdl-ZIzzKOp9~o0O2avKkG4iq6tiKETwHsk~0Istg4PXAeQmbWE0W5~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Clifton Municipal Council voted April 8 to direct department heads and city administration to identify underused vehicles for return, with a working target of 20 vehicles to be removed from the city's leased fleet.

The motion — put on the floor and seconded during the budget discussion — instructed department heads to catalog vehicles not in active use and forward recommendations to the acting city manager for action. Council members repeatedly referenced vehicle counts and leasing expenses during the meeting and offered preliminary savings estimates tied to reducing leases.

Speakers cited preliminary figures and internal reports while debating the motion. One council member estimated that returning 20 leased vehicles could save roughly $250,000 a year; another council member suggested that postponing purchases of new police vehicles might reduce costs by roughly $550,000 in a given year. \"If we turned in 20 vehicles, that ... would be about $250,000 a year,\" a council member said during the discussion. Advocates said identifying unnecessary vehicles offered immediate, low‑contestation savings compared with service cuts or layoffs.

Council members expressed caution about forcing a specific number if department heads judged fewer vehicles could be returned without harming services; several motions and clarifying exchanges made clear the council wanted a staff-driven inventory and economic assessment, not an immediate forced removal without departmental review.

A roll-call was taken on the motion directing departments to identify vehicles and return those not needed; the mayor announced the result as \"6 yes, 1 no. Motion carried.\" One council member voted against the motion, saying they supported removing unused vehicles but opposed forcing reductions in leasing that could affect revenue or operations.

Staff were directed to compile a department-by-department list of leased and owned vehicles, identify candidates for return, and present potential annual savings and operational impacts at the next budget meeting. Council members said they would monitor progress and reserves to avoid short-term service disruptions.

Ending: Administration will return to the council with a fleet inventory, an assessment of which vehicles can be returned, and projected savings; council asked for a timetable to complete the review promptly so any lease reductions can be reflected in the budget.","Council members directed administration to have department heads identify and return unneeded lease and purchased vehicles, with an initial target of 20 vehicles; council recorded the motion as carried, 6–1.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6066463,"Clifton council approves tapping larger fund balance, authorizes up-to-$15,000 budget analysis amid $7–8M shortfall",340,313360,654000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3174430-f8cd508db95be0d467e24b236b775deb&start=313&end=654","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3174430-f8cd508db95be0d467e24b236b775deb/thumbnail_313360.jpg","/articles/6066463/Clifton/Passaic-County/New-Jersey/Clifton-council-approves-tapping-larger-fund-balance-authorizes-up-to-15000-budget-analysis-amid-78M-shortfall","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6066463-8fda9c46e65e6f055c877ab970b1b621/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176619&Signature=BIusPevDGg09k1ufy89JOaalB1Sjc35C99VxZT6xzDZHl6IvXM6722xDe9xybqp~Cgvgq9XKLcMehuyykGYHHfLJGWM0eioIJqwqibfv~Wwi-GZdE0GNLG6puOIjK8BdyGYLaFuxX409q-2OlTMO~p73TRWsKHHXEwxWlcv0dGFxLDiVTK72GsTGUfHTUnCcIvpvaSAF81sHpzEMiHtLFEbWSNpTBBR9n1g-0z3ojLXEJJp1SKJVl0vTPL522yMsLNIkXHMMqwpLi9HbN-HOv1wkk276GwjjpMFLlkNxVBI6yakhd7ZAFqTpRXxS~aWwyCQl6WCzdlj3bIp2hnPMQQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Clifton Municipal Council on April 8 voted to draw a larger portion of its reserve funds to help close a growing budget shortfall and authorized staff to seek a professional budget and financial analysis for up to $15,000.

Council members approved increasing the available fund balance from 50% to 60% during a special meeting that focused largely on the municipal budget. The council also voted 5–2 to request a written proposal — to be sought first from Phoenix Advisors — for a budget analysis and financial review capped at $15,000.

The move comes after repeated discussion that the city is roughly $7 million to $8 million short for the current budget year. \"We are $8,000,000 short,\" Councilman Latona said during the meeting, pressing colleagues to put \"everything on the table\" to avoid layoffs. City staff and council members traced the shortfall to rising costs and one-time money used in recent years, including American Rescue Plan funds and other temporary sources.

Council members urged a mix of short-term and structural steps. Several members said the goal of the consultant engagement would be to identify efficiencies and potential revenue sources without immediately cutting services. Councilman Gibson, who pushed for outside help, argued the council needed a professional, independent review: \"If we're going to spend a hundred and fifty thousand on a forensic audit ... a study like this for a budget planning and financial analysis probably costs us somewhere around $15,000.\" He added that the review should produce concrete, implementable recommendations.

City staff reported a range of estimates for the gap during discussions: council comments and staff remarks put the shortfall between about $6.8 million (an earlier figure) and as high as $8 million after accounting for the fire department contract and other items that have not been fully quantified in the draft. Council members also discussed one-time revenue and programmatic ideas raised in the meeting, including parking meters, rental of city equipment, and tightened fleet management, as ways to narrow the gap for 2025 and beyond.

Legal counsel and staff also cautioned that special-meeting notice requirements limit what the council may act on at a special meeting; council members accepted that counsel's advice and chose to seek the consultant proposal now so the information would be available for future agenda action. Council members said they expect to interview candidates for an interim city manager soon and that the interim would assist in implementing any recommendations from the analysis.

The council's roll-call vote to increase fund-balance use to 60% passed on a voice/roll call with the result announced as \"Motion carried.\" The request to seek a budget analysis proposal up to $15,000 passed 5 yes, 2 no. Council members described the actions as short-term steps to buy time while the city pursues longer-term structural changes to its revenues and spending.

City staff were directed to contact Phoenix Advisors for a proposal and to return findings and options to council at subsequent meetings. The council scheduled further budget work sessions and said it would consider the consultant's proposal alongside recommendations from an incoming interim city manager.

Although council members differed on specifics and several warned that drawing additional fund balance is not a sustainable long-term solution, multiple members said the immediate motions were necessary to avoid more severe measures this year, such as deep service cuts or layoffs.

Ending: The council left open multiple follow-up items: staff will return with the Phoenix Advisors proposal (or similar estimate) and a detailed accounting of unfunded obligations; the administration will continue work on revenue options (including parking meters and equipment rental); interviews for an interim city manager are scheduled; and further budget sessions are planned before the introduction and final adoption deadlines.","Facing an estimated $7–8 million gap in the 2025 budget, the Clifton Municipal Council voted to increase use of fund balance to 60% and authorized staff to seek a budget/financial analysis proposal not to exceed $15,000.","actionData","errors"]

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Council debates cutting part-time health benefits; legal counsel says Rice notices required, no final vote taken

Clifton council directs staff to identify unused vehicles for return; motion set goal of 20 vehicles

Clifton council approves tapping larger fund balance, authorizes up-to-$15,000 budget analysis amid $7–8M shortfall