The meeting began with a land acknowledgment recognizing the Lenny Lenape. Following this, the Council honored Anastasia Ryan on her retirement after over 20 years of service as Secretary of the Recreation Department. The proclamation highlighted her contributions, including the transition to an online registration system and her work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Applause followed as the council expressed their gratitude for her dedication.

The Council then moved to noteworthy discussions, including updates from the executive director of Experience Princeton. The director provided an update on the organization’s outreach efforts, thanking the Department of Public Works for their assistance with local banners and announcing a grant from Mercer County for the 250th anniversary celebration of the Declaration of Independence. This grant will facilitate the creation of a dedicated event calendar.

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to Ordinance 2024, which focuses on affordable housing and social equity. The Council decided to send the ordinance to the newly renamed CARE Advisory Committee. One council member commented on the effectiveness of the new name, which was the result of months of deliberation, while another expressed gratitude for the committee’s engagement and highlighted the vice chair’s role in the renaming process.

The meeting also included reports on community events and initiatives. One council member spoke about an upcoming community yard sale organized by the YWCA in partnership with local human services and sustainable initiatives. The event, featuring over 30 vendors, aims to support underserved community members by offering items at affordable prices. Another council member reported on a visit to Centurion Ministries, an organization dedicated to proving the innocence of wrongfully imprisoned individuals. The visit was described as impactful, with personal stories of unjust incarceration emphasized.

The council then addressed several resolutions. Resolution 24236 authorized an amendment to a professional services agreement with Arcadis US Inc. for construction engineering services related to a sewer rehabilitation project, extending the contract term without changes to the total amount. Resolution 24237 awarded a professional services agreement to LRK Inc. for planning services focused on signage ordinances and design guidelines, with a budget cap of $55,000. A council member remarked that this project was long overdue, and a public participant expressed satisfaction that the town was updating these regulations to better reflect the current landscape.

Resolution authorized a professional services agreement with PSNS LLC for engineering services related to pedestrian improvements on Trune Road, with an allocated sum of $143,000, noting the project received state aid. Resolution 24239 allowed Princeton to enter into a cooperative pricing agreement with the Monmouth Ocean Educational Services Commission, praised for its cost-saving opportunities. Resolution 24240 involved releasing a performance guarantee to the Ivy Club for a minor subdivision and site plan.

Resolution 24241 saw a decrease of $1,000 in funding for the Healthy Child/Well-Baby Clinic due to changes in eligibility criteria for a health program now inclusive of individuals irrespective of immigration status. This adjustment was presented as an example of accountability and resource management within the council. Additionally, resolutions 24242 and 24243 dealt with extending and increasing funding for professional services agreements related to inspection services for the gas modernization program and public health nursing services, respectively.

The Council then appointed Adam Coker as the new chief of the Princeton Fire Department and Dan Tagle as the full-time construction official and building subcode official for a four-year term starting August 1, 2024. A council member congratulated Tagle and acknowledged the depth of talent within the building department.