The council introduced a proposed ordinance amending the borough’s salary structure to align with inflation adjustments. A council member emphasized that inflation has increased over the past four years, necessitating adjustments to employee salaries. They highlighted the need for the ordinance to correspond with existing staff contracts. The ordinance received unanimous support from those present, passing on the first reading with a public hearing slated for March 5, 2025.

In other business, the council discussed the T-Mobile Hometown Grant, which aims to fund the sculpting and installation of a statue honoring Captain Joshua Huddy, a local hero from the American Revolutionary War. The proposed location for the statue is in Huddy Park, approximately 150 feet from where Captain Huddy was historically hanged in 1782. The council anticipates hearing back about the grant by the end of May.

The meeting also covered various redevelopment updates within the borough. For instance, the Bay Avenue area, which consists of 151 properties, saw the appointment of a conditional redeveloper for one property. Additionally, the council noted that upcoming bid openings for projects such as Marine Place and Washington Avenue paving will take place soon, with Shore Drive sidewalk improvements also entering the bidding phase.

Finally, the council reviewed emergency services statistics and ongoing infrastructure projects. The mayor urged community members to participate in surveys regarding the James T. White Clam Plant project, seeking public input for future developments.