The council approved a resolution to endorse an amended redevelopment agreement with Woodmont, focusing on affordable housing. This decision follows a previous resolution passed in September, which introduced two minor changes to the agreement. The planning board convened to amend the third-round housing plan, which was subsequently approved. The council aims to finalize all necessary paperwork before a compliance hearing with a judge scheduled for October 27. The motion to endorse the revised amendment to the third round housing element and fair share plan for 2025 was passed unanimously.

The council addressed a request from a resident on Cottage concerning the use of the right-of-way. The resident, who had been warned about personal items encroaching on public space, also maintained beehives that raised concerns among neighbors with allergies. State review confirmed the legality of the beekeeping but required adjustments to comply with regulations regarding hive placement. This issue reflects broader challenges the borough faces with residents installing personal items in public spaces, leading to enforcement challenges across the borough.

Next, the council discussed the borough’s best practices survey results, a state-mandated evaluation to ensure municipal compliance with specific standards. The borough scored 37 points, comfortably above the minimum requirement of 32 to secure state aid. The evolving nature of the survey questions was noted, and council members were invited to review the survey and seek clarifications.

Attention then turned to issues surrounding structures in the public right-of-way, specifically a wall and metal fence whose original purpose was unclear. The council expressed concern over the borough potentially bearing maintenance costs for such items without proper documentation or permissions. Past incidents, such as the removal of basketball hoops from cul-de-sacs and temporary Christmas displays, were cited, emphasizing the need for consistent ordinance enforcement.

The council also revisited trash collection logistics, particularly concerning weekend pickups. A recent analysis revealed changes to waste management contract terms, allowing the borough to renegotiate costs and potentially absorb Saturday pickup expenses, alleviating administrative burdens on downtown businesses.

Discussions also included banking arrangements, affected by a recent merger impacting local branches. The borough issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) in August to explore options, with only one of six responses from a bank with a local presence. The importance of the current bank’s armored car service was highlighted, as was the challenge of managing payroll in-house. A proposal from a bank to cover certain payroll service costs was considered, potentially alleviating IRS-related issues and transitioning to online employee pay information access.

Community event planning was also on the agenda, with resolutions for the 250th celebration of the Navy and Marines, downtown Candlelight shopping, and the Winterfest Super Bowl event. A shift from a horse-drawn to an electric carriage for events was noted, possibly influenced by cost and protests against traditional carriages. The council also discussed a lease agreement with Virtual Health for storing advanced life support equipment at the firehouse, contributing financially to the borough.