0:05A key highlight of the meeting was the council’s enthusiastic endorsement of two Eagle Scout projects. The first, presented by a scout named Joshua, is a fire safety awareness campaign scheduled for April at the community center. The project aims to educate the public on home fire prevention and the importance of equipment like extinguishers and smoke detectors. Joshua plans to tailor part of the event specifically for the special needs community. The council suggested confirming the center’s availability due to a tight schedule following a recent ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Another scout, Jacob, proposed constructing an informational wall behind a new fire pit at Crestwood Lake. This wall will honor military service by displaying the logos of the six branches and will include a bench dedicated to veterans and older visitors. The council showed interest in the wall’s design and unanimously approved both projects following a straw poll vote.

The council meeting also addressed several ordinances, notably Ordinance 25-01, a bond ordinance for various public improvements. This ordinance involves a $995,000 appropriation for projects including a new concession stand and updates to the dispatching system. After a motion and second, the ordinance was approved for first reading and will be published in the local newspaper for further consideration.

Ordinance 25-02 and 25-03, focusing on amendments to the borough’s traffic code, were introduced to monitor and enforce parking regulations at the new community center. Both ordinances were approved for first reading following the standard procedure of motion and approval.

18:36The Public Safety Committee reported on its engagement with the ambulance corps and the police department. Discussions included potential new hires and plans to address downtown parking issues with new signage. Additionally, a new police pickup truck was deployed, and negotiations with the police department’s union are in progress regarding contract renewals.

Council discussions also centered around infrastructure and environmental concerns. Talks with Veolia regarding the installation of permanent posos treatment at New Street continued. The borough is also reviewing its sewer system in response to a developer’s motion concerning wastewater disposal.

Council members discussed fiscal plans during the Finance, HR, Administration, and IT committee’s initial budget meeting of the year. The Land Use Committee met to address residents’ responsibilities, such as snow removal, and reminded restaurants to submit outdoor dining plans. New businesses are encouraged to register with the borough clerk annually and introduce themselves to the Land Use Board.

32:05The meeting also featured an update from the Green Team on sustainability efforts. The team is focused on recycling initiatives, including collecting non-mandated materials like EPS styrofoam. The Green Team has collected nearly 20,000 pounds of materials and plans to continue awareness campaigns with events like an Earth Day initiative scheduled for April.

47:12During the public comment section, residents expressed support for the Green Team’s efforts. Walter Woodmer praised the team’s dedication, while Ahmed Salah proposed a Crescent lighting ceremony for Ramadan, which the council agreed to consider for a future resolution.