Summit taxpayers face a potential $13 million bill if the city loses a class-action lawsuit filed by its firefighters over overtime pay.

Council President Claire Toth disclosed the liability estimate at the Common Council's Wednesday, Sept. 9 meeting, first reported by nj21st.com. The firefighters' 24-hours-on, 72-hours-off schedule can produce 48-hour workweeks in some weeks, triggering a dispute under New Jersey's wage and hour law.

The firefighters won a preliminary court decision.

The city has asked the court to reconsider. "If the firefighters ultimately prevail, our attorneys predict it will cost the city something in the neighborhood of $13 million," Toth said. The agenda listed the item as "Fire Department Litigation Update" but included no supporting documentation. The basis for the estimate was not made public.

Firehouse property stalls

The old firehouse at 180 River Road drew extended debate but no action. Under Summit's Round IV affordable housing plan, the site is slated for 30 units, including eight affordable units.

Councilmember Jaclyn Lasaracina said those affordable units would likely be lost during the current compliance period. She proposed stress-testing 30 to 35 affordable units alongside a separate market-rate component.

Councilman Jamel Boyer pushed back. He argued a new affordable housing project at the site could compete for the same funding needed to rehabilitate the city's 147 existing Housing Authority units. Councilmember Andrew Smith said he favored selling the property, citing debt concerns.

Toth and Lasaracina gave conflicting descriptions of a commercial lease on the property. Toth called it long-term; Lasaracina called it short-term. No lease document appeared in the agenda packet.

The council also approved Resolution 12737, authorizing a non-disclosure agreement with Mark McBride, a former Summit resident and Madison Housing Authority commissioner described as an affordable housing finance expert. Lasaracina disclosed that McBride had already presented to a Mount Laurel subcommittee earlier that day, before the council voted on the NDA.

Smith criticized the sequence, saying the process needed more transparency and that the council was effectively approving something after it had already taken place. Toth acknowledged the process fell short. The resolution passed by voice vote.

The council approved an additional $100,000 for its 2026 agreement with law firm Cleary Giacobbe Alfieri Jacobs, raising the authorized total to $350,000. The increase is within Summit's adopted 2026 budget. City Administrator Tammie Baldwin said Summit ended 2025 with roughly $380,000 in solicitor expenses after starting that year with a $250,000 contract.

Councilmember Chantal Landman said the Finance Committee asked for a breakdown of legal spending by matter, including litigation and public-records requests, and whether changes in city practices could reduce costs.

Four consent-agenda resolutions added $151,542.11 in national opioid settlement money to Summit's budget. Landman said more than $800,000 sits in the city's opioid fund and that Summit received close to $1 million before the current fiscal year while spending almost nothing from it. She said the city should be putting those dollars to use now.

Surveillance defended without data

Councilmember Dan Crisafulli said Summit uses automatic license plate reader (ALPR) technology, though not Flock-brand cameras. He said Police Chief Ryan Peters cited specific examples where ALPRs deterred theft or helped solve crimes. Crisafulli said he also consulted two newly elected Assembly representatives about the technology and concluded ALPRs have more benefit than risk.

The agenda included no documentation or data supporting his statements.

Other business

The council approved $5.2 million in bills and payroll and authorized up to $22.5 million in bond anticipation notes for previously approved city, sewer, parking and school projects. It also awarded a payroll and human-resources contract to Primepoint, which the city's evaluation said would save more than $80,000 per year compared with the next-lowest bid.

The next Common Council meeting is Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall, 512 Springfield Ave.