One notable issue discussed was the proposal to create a memorial for those affected by the pandemic. The idea behind the memorial is to acknowledge the lives lost and the impact the pandemic has had on the community. The Mayor expressed support for the initiative and discussed working with the office to finalize the details. The health department offered to assist with this initiative, emphasizing the importance of remembering those who passed away during the pandemic.

In addition to the memorial, the meeting’s discussions revolved around the Clifton Health Department’s annual report and initiatives for 2024, which included achieving national accreditation. The department has become the sixth local Health Department in New Jersey and the first in Passaic County to receive this designation. The department also introduced a social services division to address the mental health crisis exacerbated by the global pandemic. Services provided by this new division include working with the youth group at United Methodist Church on mental health awareness and implementing mindfulness programs in Little Falls Elementary Schools.

The environmental health division’s activities were also discussed, highlighting their work on animal control, food handling classes for restaurants, and public pool inspections. The health education programs, targeting various age groups, screenings, and tobacco age of sale enforcement, were also covered. The nursing division’s responsibilities, including communicable disease investigations, immunization audits, and COVID-19 case investigations, were described. The department mentioned plans to bring back a vaccine clinic for children and distributed flyers for upcoming events and screenings.

A resident with experience in public health raised concerns about the state of public health infrastructure, specifically addressing the impact of federal funding cuts. He suggested that there needs to be improved communication, website enhancements, and a focus on airborne illnesses and air filtration in public buildings and schools. These concerns were acknowledged by the council, and there was discussion about plans to enhance communication and bring health department representatives to future meetings.

The topic of revamping the town’s website was also discussed to improve accessibility for residents and to include more information from the Clifton Health Department. Updates from the council members included reports on initiatives such as the Domestic Violence Prevention Committee, Mental Health Awareness Month, Memorial Day Weekend activities, and the Farmers Market. The Mayor discussed a bridge project over the Peckman River and the possibility of installing warning lights on Cedar Grove Road.

During the public comments section, residents discussed community events like a lightsaber craft event at the library, a meet and greet with Produce Pete, and a Bike Rodeo event with activities for children. The Mayor also introduced the proposed GPS Hometown Heroes program, which would allow people to locate veterans’ banners and potentially listen to recordings of veterans’ voices.

The council approved the consent agenda unanimously and moved on to the second reading and public hearings of several ordinances. Ordinance 1480, regarding Mutual Aid, was adopted with no speakers during the public comment. Ordinances 1481 through 1491, which included various bond ordinances for improvements and acquisitions, were also adopted without public comment. Additionally, the introduction of three new ordinances, 1493, 1494, and 1495, was announced, with the second reading and public hearing scheduled for a later date.