One of the most notable highlights was the recognition of several students from the Academy for Health and Medical Sciences for their accomplishments in various national competitions. Kavia Sha, a senior at the academy, was commended for winning a silver medal at the SkillsUSA American Spirit national competition in Atlanta, Georgia, and for receiving the Presidential Volunteer Award. Sha expressed her gratitude to the mayor and the township, sharing her hopes of continuing to compete at Nationals in the future.

Vier Triv, a freshman at the University of Maryland and a graduate of the same academy, was honored for achieving gold medals in both the national and state SkillsUSA Quiz Bowl competitions. His family representative proudly noted that Triv had won gold in the Quiz Bowl for three consecutive years. Sheena Rori, a freshman at Seton Hall University, was also acknowledged for her participation in a community service competition, where she won bronze at Nationals in 2023 and silver in the current year. Rori, who aspires to become a lawyer, expressed her appreciation for the recognition.

The meeting also featured a guest speaker discussing the upcoming annual ceremony to honor veterans, scheduled for Friday, September 20th, at 9:00 a.m. in the Garden of Honor, with an alternative location in the senior room if needed. Mike Vuli, the superintendent of schools, addressed the council on behalf of the Board of Education, welcoming students and staff back for the new school year and encouraging students to embrace challenges and explore their passions.

Deputy Mayor Chiarelli reported on various community events, including the celebration of the 78th Indian Independence Day at Padar Grocery Store on August 18th, co-hosted with the Hillsboro Maharaja Club. He noted the impressive turnout and the performance of both national anthems. Additionally, he recounted attendance at the dog park’s “Dog Splashdown Day,” where dogs interacted positively, and a group photo was coordinated by a committee member.

The engineering department provided updates regarding tree maintenance along power lines, with PSEG announcing that vegetation maintenance would be conducted using helicopters to trim trees along electric transmission lines. The Public Works Department continued its pavement preservation program, focusing on Basin repairs and crack sealing on various roads. New technology involving stone placement and micro sealing will be implemented to extend the life of roadways by 5 to 10 years.

The health department reported on upcoming initiatives, including a well water testing event scheduled for October 5th, offering residents discounted testing kits. The recreation department announced a movie night featuring “Wonka” and a costume exchange event from September 23rd to 28th, aimed at allowing residents to swap gently used Halloween costumes. The social services department reported a successful back-to-school distribution for families using the food pantry.

A committee member highlighted that September is Hunger Action Month, emphasizing the importance of combatting poverty and inequality within the community. Information was provided on how residents could donate to the food pantry. Another committee member discussed upcoming voting procedures, noting that early voting for the 2024 general election would take place from October 26th through November 3rd, encouraging community members to utilize early voting to reduce wait times on Election Day.

The mayor’s “Ask the Mayor” video series was introduced. The mayor emphasized the importance of keeping the community informed about municipal activities and projects, urging residents to continue submitting their inquiries for further clarification on various topics.

The council also recognized the efforts of local volunteers and organizations during Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. A proclamation was issued to declare September as Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, with a call to action for citizens, healthcare providers, and research institutions to raise awareness about the disease. Volunteers from the “Turn the Town Teal” initiative shared personal stories about the impact of ovarian cancer, stressing the importance of awareness and early detection.

During the meeting, the council discussed the audit report, specifically concerning the performance of monthly bank reconciliations for the current fund and the enrollment of employees in the Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP). Questions were raised about the root cause of delays in reconciliations, which were clarified as issues stemming from the previous CFO. Corrective action was already underway to ensure compliance with DCRP enrollment.