A significant portion of the meeting focused on a resident, Kathy Franco, raising concerns about the adequacy of public notice for the meeting. Franco pointed out discrepancies in the timing of the notice’s creation and its posting, questioning whether the notice was compliant with the required 48-hour advance posting. A board member clarified the process, stating that the notice was sent to local newspapers, The Courier News and the Star Ledger, on August 9, 2024, and that the document creation date coincided with its dispatch. The board attorney confirmed that the timestamped emails were sufficient to establish that appropriate notice had been given, thereby addressing Franco’s concerns.

The board also approved two resolutions centered on the township’s housing plans. The first resolution involved the approval of an amended Master Housing Plan Element and Fair Share Plan, initially approved on August 6, 2024. This plan was formally adopted during the August 13 meeting. The second resolution designated Block 349 Lot 2, located on Foothill Road, as an area in need of redevelopment. Both resolutions passed without amendments or additional comments from the board members.

In other discussions, a board member suggested transitioning to electronic documents to reduce paper usage during meetings. The proposal included providing tablets to board members and requiring electronic submissions of documents from applicants. While acknowledging the potential benefits, the board highlighted logistical and budgetary challenges. The current checklist for submissions does not mandate electronic formats, and the transition would necessitate ordinance changes and infrastructure development. The board member who proposed the idea volunteered to spearhead the research and planning for this initiative.