Summit families who drive to Wilson School could see looser parking rules on Beekman Road if the Common Council adopts two ordinances at its Tuesday, Oct. 20 meeting.

The council will hold a public hearing on the pair of ordinances, which would replace a broad no-stopping restriction with shorter no-parking windows timed to school drop-off and pick-up. The meeting agenda, posted Oct. 16, also lists a vote on the city's 2026 Municipal Best Practices Inventory, a state-required checklist that determines whether Summit receives its full share of formula aid from Trenton.

What changes on Beekman Road

Under the current rule, stopping or standing is prohibited on both sides of Beekman Road between Oak Forest Lane and Oakley Avenue from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on school days. The first ordinance repeals that restriction entirely.

The second ordinance replaces it with narrower limits. No parking would be allowed from 8 to 8:30 a.m. and 3 to 3:30 p.m. on the north side between Oak Forest Lane and Oakley Avenue. On the south side, the restriction would cover a shorter stretch, between Beekman Terrace East and Beekman Terrace West, during the same half-hour windows, nj21st reported in its review of the Oct. 6 agenda.

The change followed a neighborhood petition. Twenty-two Beekman Road residents petitioned the city for a review of the restrictions, according to nj21st's account of the Sept. 22 council meeting. A resident said she, her husband and two police officers conducted traffic observations over four days and sent the log to Police Chief Ryan Peters, the council and the Safety Committee on Sept. 20.

Peters recommended the ordinance changes in memos dated Sept. 16.

In an Aug. 31 back-to-school safety advisory, Summit Police Traffic Lieutenant Charlie Daly said, "Pedestrian safety is always a priority for Summit Police, but it's particularly important during back to school when children may be distracted by the excitement of seeing friends and meeting new teachers."

Best Practices Inventory vote

The council is also set to approve the city's 2026 Municipal Best Practices Inventory. The state Division of Local Government Services requires every municipality to complete the inventory, which contains 55 scored questions evaluating statutory compliance and fiscal management. Municipalities must submit it by Oct. 30, according to Local Finance Notice 2026-14.

The inventory carries a maximum of 48 points. A municipality that scores at least 34 receives its full final formula aid payment. Score 30 to 33, and the state withholds 25 percent. Score 27 to 29, and it withholds half. Below 27, the municipality loses the entire payment.

Other agenda items

The Oct. 20 agenda also includes quarterly updates from the police and fire chiefs and a purchase of equipment for the Division of Public Works.

The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. It will be broadcast live on the City of Summit YouTube channel, Comcast Channel 36 and Verizon Channel 30.