The meeting’s most contentious issue arose when Councilwoman Jane DeNoble voiced her dissatisfaction with Mayor Fox’s decision to deny her the role of tourism liaison, a position she had previously held. This matter was further complicated by an existing complaint against Mayor Fox, initiated by tourism director Amy Hall, alleging harassment and retaliation. DeNoble, with Hall’s consent, brought the issue to the council’s attention, citing concerns over potential litigation against the borough.

The debate intensified as Councilwoman Bom Lis highlighted DeNoble’s role in revitalizing the tourism commission. Mayor Fox defended his position, emphasizing the need for legislative progress, and asserted his readiness to assume the responsibilities of the role.

Amidst these discussions, the council also tackled routine business, including the confirmation of Jane DeNoble as the 2024 Council President and the assignment of council members to various commissions and boards. These included the Fletch Lake Commission, Recreation Commission, Library Board of Trustees, Environmental Commission, and Arts Council.

The council’s agenda continued with the consideration of a 90-day appointment memo for Meredi DeMarco, with Council member Al Gubitosi seeking clarification on the motive for revisiting the appointment. Greg Cannon clarified that the decision was subject to a pending judgment by Judge English and that any changes to DeMarco’s role would require consensus between the mayor and council. Council member Kristen Mahoney expressed her doubts about the necessity of the memo, while Mayor Fox reassured that the memo would not impact DeMarco’s current position.

Further, the council addressed the consent agenda, which sparked some confusion among the members. Mayor Fox listed the resolutions due for consent, prompting Councilwoman DeNoble to call for clarity on which specific resolutions were to be included. The consent agenda ultimately encompassed resolutions for designating depositories, selecting newspapers and websites for public notices, authorizing contracts with state contractors, donating surplus police gear to local charities, and approving tax-related matters.

During the deliberation of the consent agenda, Council members raised several procedural questions. John Weber inquired about the necessity of a resolution to distribute badges to eighth-grade students, and Jane DeNoble sought further details on the choice of newspapers for publishing borough notices. Additionally, the New Jersey League of Municipalities’ involvement in certain borough affairs was brought to the table for discussion.