The meeting took a moment to honor the heroic actions of five local lifeguards who made life-saving rescues during the summer swim season. Mayor Thomas A. Giordano publicly commended lifeguards Melanie, Joseph, Isabella, Jessica, and Haley for their quick and effective responses. Melanie’s swift action on July 4, 2025, involved diving into the pool after a girl failed to surface, though the girl’s mother ultimately intervened before her. Joseph performed a submerged victim rescue a few days later. Isabella and Jessica collaborated on August 3, 2025, to rescue a boy who had gone underwater, while Haley was noted for her consistent vigilance, including three separate rescues, one of which occurred on June 13, 2025. Mayor Giordano highlighted the vital role of lifeguards in community safety, encouraging them to take pride in their responsibilities.

Following the recognition of the lifeguards, attention turned to a presentation by Peter Lup, the borough’s telecommunications consultant, regarding a potential revenue opportunity. Lup outlined a proposal for the borough to take ownership of a monopole currently owned by Crown Castle International. The structure, hosting three carriers, could generate initial revenue of $77,000, with potential increases if additional tenants like Dish and high-frequency traders (HFTs) were secured. Lup suggested terminating the current lease with Crown Castle and opening the tower to bids from existing tenants. Council members showed interest, particularly in the financial implications, and Lup assured them that maintenance would be the carriers’ responsibility, while the borough would handle insurance costs, estimated between $3,000 and $5,000 annually. Lup also noted his established contacts for attracting HFTs and committed to keeping communication open with borough officials.

In response to school-related safety concerns, Mayor Giordano referenced ongoing discussions with Dan Maro, the Board of Education president. Previous meetings with parents highlighted issues regarding student transportation and busing costs, prompting plans for a parent poll in September. Traffic safety measures on Summit Avenue were also addressed, with signage expected to be operational by the school year’s start and police monitoring planned for early September. A request was made for an additional crossing guard at the HCA section overpass to improve pedestrian safety.

The meeting also featured updates on financial matters. The Financial and Administrative Committee reported on two resolutions concerning the annual audit. The audit revealed no issues, but minor findings prompted a corrective action plan. The committee noted a decrease in surplus funds from $7.5 million to approximately $7.15 million over two years, primarily due to reliance on surplus to balance the budget and a borrowing of around $2.1 million for the 2024 budget. A resolution advocating for the restoration of energy taxes to municipalities was also introduced, addressing the loss of state aid and the borough’s reliance on energy tax receipts amounting to $2.3 million annually.

Personnel updates included the appointment of a new police officer, Jake Putterman, and two special law enforcement officers, Mario Cartas and Michael Christensen. Additionally, a part-time clerk position was created to manage records requests, easing the workload for police officers.

A water quality meeting with H2M consultants received positive feedback from residents, and plans were made to continue discussions about water issues in future meetings. The meeting also addressed the success of a recent styrofoam collection event, which filled three-quarters of a dumpster, and the introduction of a resolution to amend fees related to police officers’ off-duty employment, increasing the administrative fee from 6% to 8%.

Public comments included a proposal to expand composting services in Waldwick, potentially creating revenue through hosting fees. The council expressed interest in exploring this idea further in future meetings. In closing, council members emphasized the importance of transparent communication about budget allocations and clarified that hiring a new attorney for redevelopment involved reallocating existing funds rather than incurring additional costs.