A central issue that dominated the council meeting was the discussion surrounding the funding for the School Resource Officer. The current agreement with the Board of Education stipulates a contribution of $40,000 towards the SRO’s salary, which was argued to be insufficient considering the overall compensation package could reach up to $110,000. As the SRO’s salary is set to increase to $54,000 next year, council members expressed frustration over the Board’s limited financial commitment. It was highlighted that the salary of the current SRO stands at $74,000, rising to $91,000 after five years of service. Given this context, the council is pushing for a more equitable cost-sharing arrangement among the four towns benefiting from the SRO’s presence.

The conversation also revealed a proposal for one council member to recuse themselves from discussions, due to a perceived conflict of interest as their town benefits from the agreement. This brought to light the lack of involvement from the other towns in the financial negotiations, prompting calls for future arrangements to ensure a fair distribution of costs.

In addition to SRO discussions, the council introduced ordinance 24:15, which involves an amendment to the Hillsdale Patterson Street Redevelopment plan. The ordinance passed its first reading, with a final passage hearing set for November 12th. This move is part of ongoing efforts to address redevelopment in the borough, with the council authorizing the publication of the ordinance in the Ridgewood News to inform residents ahead of the hearing.

The Board of Health update brought attention to the departure of the Town nurse and the ensuing discussions with Northwest Bergen Regional officials to explore alternative health service options. The county currently provides health services to approximately 35 towns, and there is optimism that they can adequately serve Hillsdale. Additionally, there are senior events slated for October 10th and 16th, aimed at fostering community engagement among older residents.

The council also discussed plans for a town hall meeting to gather community feedback on the Memorial Field redevelopment. This meeting is tentatively scheduled for the week of November 12th and will be broadcast live on YouTube to ensure broad public access. The redevelopment’s projected costs range between $4 million and $6 million, and the meeting aims to address public concerns and provide clarity on the project’s scope.

Community events were highlighted, including a poker tournament organized by the fire department to raise funds for their facilities and a recreation commission meeting where a second concept plan was proposed.

During individual commentaries, there was a shared sentiment regarding the departure of a principal from George White school and the broader implications for the school district. The impending retirement of Principal Donald Bergamini on January 31st was noted, alongside ongoing discussions with bond council to strategize funding for the school’s construction. The council acknowledged a regional focus on improving school rankings and supporting incoming high school students.

A council member paid tribute to Robert Sant Senior, a respected community figure and veteran, whose recent passing elicited a significant response from residents. His contributions to the community were fondly remembered.