A public hearing was held regarding the Green Acres Park development application for Amity Park, a central topic of the meeting. Residents were invited to share their perspectives on the proposed improvements. Nancy Friedrich, a longtime resident and member of the Open Space Committee, expressed her appreciation for the council’s consideration of funding for Amity Park. She highlighted the park’s increased usage over the years, especially the basketball courts, which are a popular spot when weather permits. Councilwoman Christine Hablitz supported the development application, emphasizing the benefits to residents, particularly the need for resurfacing the basketball courts. She outlined the first phase of improvements, including upgrading the playground and transforming the existing tennis courts into an all-purpose surface. This new surface would accommodate a variety of activities such as floor hockey, soccer, kickball, four square, and volleyball.

Following the hearing, the council transitioned to a regular workshop meeting. Mayor James Damiano presented two proclamations. The first recognized February 2025 as Black History Month, focusing on the contributions of Black individuals to the country, emphasizing African-Americans in labor, and urging the community to acknowledge issues of representation. The second proclamation declared March as National Nutrition Month.

The meeting then opened for public comments on general matters and agenda items, but no comments were received during this segment. Mayor Damiano addressed the council about the resolution to authorize the submission of a grant application to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Green Acres Program for playground updates at Amity Park. The mayor reiterated the positive feedback from the public hearing and noted that no negative comments were raised. He explained the grant application process. The mayor acknowledged that grants often do not cover the full amount requested due to budget constraints and the volume of applications received, with some covering 100% of project costs and others only partially.

The discussion also focused on the municipality’s financial commitment to the projects, with funding potentially coming from open space dollars derived from residents’ taxes. Although these grants substantially benefit the community, taxpayers are still financially involved, though sometimes without a direct impact on immediate costs. The timeline for project implementation was outlined, suggesting that ground-breaking would likely not occur until 2026, despite the grant application being submitted in early 2025.

The council proceeded to approve resolutions A and B, which received unanimous support. Further updates were provided during council reports. A domestic violence awareness committee meeting was scheduled for the following day, with its start time adjusted and the meeting set to occur via Zoom. An update was given on the community calendar distribution, set to begin the week of the 17th, while residents were directed to the town’s website for the February recycling schedule.

Additional updates included the Ramadan lighting ceremony scheduled for February 23rd, with plans being finalized and coordinated with relevant departments. There was also mention of an upcoming Irish Day luncheon on March 12th, featuring traditional dishes, with a new flyer feature, a QR code, to facilitate responses from seniors, streamlining data collection for future event planning.

The meeting transitioned to another public comment portion for agenda items, but again, no comments were received. The council expressed gratitude to the two residents who attended the meeting and acknowledged staff assistance in organizing the session. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn, which was unanimously approved, signaling the end of the proceedings.