The meeting also delved into financial management and transparency. Specific items on the bills list were questioned, including substantial payments to the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, legal counsel, and consultants. Concerns were raised about the language used in a resolution perceived as threatening to council members and the comparison to a model resolution. Maintenance of public facilities and payroll processing efficiency was brought up, highlighting the need for accountability and transparency in municipal fund handling.

A resident expressed frustration over a resolution’s wording and urged the council to table it, questioning its impact on property development and the lack of affordable housing requirements for certain properties. The council was urged to reassess the situation and improve transparency before approving bills. Further, public comments brought attention to the decision-making process for selling property, the bidding management, and the maintenance of an affordable housing lot.

The council discussed the future of a building on Marine Avenue, with a resident calling for a more structured community input process. Questions were raised about deed restrictions, the zoning board’s power, and the timing of executive sessions. The involvement of the former CFO in the town’s 2022 audit was inquired, and a call for transparency in the budgeting process was made. Concerns about the broken flume at Sylvan Lake and the need for urgent repairs were noted, along with the ongoing negotiations with the local union.

The council confronted financial issues, questioning a web international billing and criticizing the 2022 audit report. A council member called the report “devastatingly bad,” pointing to financial incompetence, unaddressed corrective actions, and failure to reconcile bank accounts. Despite the critiques, resolutions to apply for a grant for the Recreation Center and govern the certification of the audit were approved. Discussions arose over a shared service agreement with Neptune City for the summer and the timing and content of a tabled resolution.