The Council agreed to allocate $225,000 from the capital improvement fund towards the purchase of an ambulance. In addition to the ambulance purchase, the Council approved the first reading of an ordinance to appropriate $250,000 from the general capital fund for improvements to various municipal roads, a step forward in addressing the borough’s infrastructure needs.

An issue arose when the topic of a parking lot on Collings Avenue was discussed. A local business owner, Robert Jordano, expressed concern over the borough’s interest in acquiring part of a parking lot associated with his property.

Moreover, the Council addressed the 2024 Municipal budget, which entails a 3-cent tax increase equating to approximately $70 per year for the average property valued at $232,000. It was highlighted that the budget would cover capital expenses, such as the aforementioned ambulance and fire truck purchases, pocket park improvements, and road and street enhancements, while maintaining essential services like trash collection and salaries for police and fire departments.

During the meeting, the Council also discussed the authorization of a contract with Taxserve Capital Service New Jersey LLC, marking a notable change enabled by a new state law that allows the borough to hire a collection agency for outstanding court fines, which are close to $500,000.

Furthermore, the Council approved several other resolutions, including the appointment of William Ortiz as a full-time police officer, the ratification of emergency contracts for wood repair and water well repairs, authorizing bids for resurfacing of various roads, and approving contracts for engineering services for upgrades to the Collings Avenue wood treatment plant.

The meeting also featured a public forum where community events were highlighted, including the upcoming Little League opening day, a Green Day Festival, and the return of the farmers market.