The council’s decision to file a prerogative writ complaint against the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) took center stage. This legal action challenges the DCA’s demand for the borough to develop 300 affordable housing units, a figure the council believes is inflated due to errors in the DCA’s calculations. The borough planner suggested that a more accurate target would be 186 units, based on updated data and maps. The mayor noted that the DCA had acknowledged the issues in their methodology, admitting to using outdated maps to determine the initial requirement.

This housing issue intersects with concerns about the borough’s projected population decline of 500 to 600 residents. Council members expressed apprehension about the potential impacts of these projections on community planning and resource allocation.

The council also scrutinized the town’s ambulance services, with a meeting scheduled with Valley Hospital and key officials to address ongoing issues. Concerns were raised about the current bidding process and service reliability, prompting calls for a comprehensive evaluation of available service options. A council member emphasized the need to consider all potential service providers to improve emergency response times and ensure resident safety.

In matters related to public services, the finance committee’s role in fiscal management was a focal point. The committee’s influence on budget allocations for public works projects was discussed, with concerns that budget constraints might necessitate tax increases or reduced allocations for road programs. The practice of special assessments for sidewalk repairs was debated, with questions about whether costs should fall on individual property owners or be distributed across the community. It was noted that only a small percentage of towns implement such assessments, prompting a broader discussion on equitable responsibility for infrastructure upkeep.

The meeting also addressed public safety equipment needs, approving a bond ordinance for $1,700,000 to upgrade the fire department’s capital equipment. Council members discussed the necessity of modernizing firefighting tools, noting the outdated nature of current equipment and the extended wait times for new apparatus due to production backlogs.

In a lighter segment, the council reviewed updates from the band show committee and infrastructure projects, including progress on the galvanized water service line replacement on Third Avenue and upcoming improvements to Franklin Field bleachers and the Lafayette Avenue streetscape. These projects aim to enhance community facilities and public spaces, contributing to the borough’s overall quality of life.

Property issues were also a topic of concern, with reports of a resident’s cluttered property receiving daily citations without visible improvement. The council expressed frustration over the effectiveness of enforcement measures and the impact on neighborhood aesthetics. Additionally, the SL Maer property was cited for ongoing litter and debris, highlighting the need for timely municipal action.

A contentious public comment session featured residents raising issues about unclaimed borough funds and building permit violations affecting property drainage. One resident shared frustrations over a neighbor’s construction activities impacting their property, questioning the council’s enforcement and accountability measures. The mayor clarified that a notice of violation had been issued, but the resident remained dissatisfied with the council’s response.