During the council meeting, the topic of short-term rentals took center stage as council members deliberated over the implications of the newly adopted ordinance. In recent times, the proliferation of short-term rentals has posed challenges to local communities, often leading to issues related to noise, parking, and the displacement of long-term residents. By establishing a minimum rental period of 30 days, the council sought to curtail the negative impacts associated with transient housing and maintain the quality of life for New Milford’s citizens.

In addition to housing regulations, the council introduced a new ordinance to govern the use of tennis and pickleball courts at Kenedy Fields courts complex and Bailey Park.

The meeting also saw the review of a joint solid waste bid with the Borough of River Edge, which resulted in only one bid from the current hauler. The council engaged in a discussion before agreeing to award a 5-year contract to the hauler, citing the reasonable rate offered as a factor in their decision.

Updates on various projects and community events were provided, highlighting the Borough’s engagement with residents. Upcoming events such as National Night Out, the Northern New Jersey Walk for Priya, Clean Communities Day, and the Elks Carnival were mentioned, along with administrative reports on key engineering projects. These projects include the installation of a traffic signal on Graphic Boulevard, Main Street streetscape plans, and improvements to Hard Castle Pond, among others. Additionally, the council announced the closure of the Borough Hall on July 4th and 5th for Independence Day celebrations and scheduled a single meeting for July 22nd.

The council meeting also addressed the aftermath of a fire at the Bookchester, which damaged four apartments but fortunately resulted in no injuries. The fire department’s Mutual Aid agreement with neighboring towns was recognized as instrumental in responding to the incident. The fire highlighted the importance of emergency services collaboration and the necessity of mutual support among communities.

The council president commended the Arts committee and municipal EVS for their roles in organizing successful events, such as a mental health awareness day and a singing and dancing event at Nights Field. The positive impact of these initiatives on community spirit and wellness was noted.

Furthermore, the Shade Tree Commission’s development of a five-year plan for trees was discussed, along with the Board of Health’s efforts to manage an expected increase in mosquitoes. The Board of Health inspector’s attendance at a course on noise control ordinance was mentioned, as was the need for the Board of Health to consider a recommended model ordinance.

The Mayor’s Wellness campaign’s plans for neighborhood walks, potentially in collaboration with the historic commission, were also a topic of discussion. Additionally, the council deliberated on the Sustainable Jersey certification process, emphasizing the need to accumulate additional points for bronze certification. The idea of creating a subcommittee to focus on Fleet inventory was suggested.

The meeting concluded with a motion to enter a closed session to discuss contract negotiations related to the Das and Sarah Crossroad development.