The meeting began with a statement of compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act and a roll call, followed by the council members expressing their appreciation for their spouses. Mayor Vieira, Councilman Edward Meinhardt, Councilwoman Rosaura Bagolie, Deputy Mayor Alfred M. Anthony, and Councilman Shawn R. Klein all highlighted the sacrifices their spouses made for their community work.

Tom Cooney delivered a presentation on the history of the Livingston Fire Department. Cooney unveiled a historical document dating back to 1938, outlining the original plan for Memorial Park and the high school, including a recessed amphitheater, police headquarters, town hall, library, post office, stores, community center, and a Boy Scout building. He explained that the document was discovered during research for a historical book celebrating the fire department’s 100th anniversary.

In the following segment, the Council discussed the Community Development Block Grant application. As explained by Russ, Livingston cannot apply directly to HUD for Community Development funds. Instead, Essex County becomes the applicant to HUD, with Livingston applying for a portion of the grant. The program is earmarked for low and moderate-income projects, such as barrier-free improvements and sensory trailers for individuals who may be overstimulated by certain activities.

One item at the meeting was the resolution approving a lease for the office of the US House representative from New Jersey, Mikey Sherrill. A query was raised by Justin Aler about the location of the leased space. Russ clarified that the representative would be leasing space on the second floor of the Municipal Hall. Mayor Vieira and Deputy Mayor Anthony expressed their support for the lease, emphasizing its potential benefits for the community.

The meeting also saw public comments on various subjects. Paul Boxer raised concerns about Mayor Vieira’s behavior during a previous meeting, to which the mayor responded, clarifying his perspective on the issue. Michelle Lemiu expressed concerns about the safety of her daughters walking to school and stressed the need for improved safety measures.

Another resident brought up the poor condition of the sidewalk from Byron Place to the school, citing safety hazards posed by potholes and unevenness. The mayor assured that the council is looking into sidewalk issues, particularly those affecting children’s routes to school, and exploring grants for safe routes to school. The suggestion for the installation of faster superchargers was also discussed.