Discussions at the meeting included a potential redevelopment of a town home site, previously a nursery, with interest from a developer in constructing town homes there. Concerns were raised regarding the clarity of the borough’s resolutions and plans, particularly about whether a specific Redevelopment plan had been adopted and the language used in a resolution. The council debated the borough’s intent to provide funds necessary for affordable housing obligations, eventually clarifying that the borough was compliant with affordable housing requirements.

Ordinances on first reading addressed several issues: limiting parking time on Market Street to improve customer access, adding multiway stop intersections on Summit Avenue, and excluding larger vehicles from a narrow road due for resurfacing. These measures aimed to improve traffic flow, safety, and parking availability in response to community concerns.

The council’s consent agenda included resolutions related to payroll, bills, transfers, tax exemptions, and appointments. Departmental reports were presented, covering topics from zoning board meeting minutes to Board of Health meeting minutes.

Expressions of gratitude were abundant throughout the meeting. Acknowledgments included the successful senior’s event, the arrival of new equipment at Cherry Hill Park, and the support of Congressman Pell and Assemblyman Wimberly for the Market Street revalorization project and additional school funding. Upcoming events such as the next rabies clinics, the fourth annual Elmwood Park Celebrate Seniors event, and the Junior Police Academy were discussed, with the council expressing enthusiasm for these community initiatives.

The meeting also touched on the widening of Route 80, which will include sound barriers for Elmwood Park but will not commence until 2027. This was viewed as positive news for residents concerned about noise pollution. A Spring Festival on April 27th and a new residence assistance program were announced by the Mayor, along with the approved Board of Education budget for the 2024-2025 school year that featured no tax increase for homeowners.

Field availability, particularly for little league teams during the turf construction project at the high school, was a point of concern. The council expressed gratitude to the Board of Education for collaborating on accommodating the teams. However, concerns were raised about the potential removal of a softball field and the limited field space’s impact on sports programs. The public expressed frustration over a closed session meeting advertised as a special meeting, leading the council to apologize for the confusion and assure that they would revisit the decision regarding the softball field and address field space concerns.

In-depth discussions arose around the turf project and field use at the high school. The council debated the planning and execution of the project, with emphasis on the need for better coordination and communication. Concerns about weather delays affecting the project timeline and the management of field use by sports organizations were highlighted. Disagreements surfaced regarding the use of the fields, revealing tensions and differing perspectives on the planning and execution of the project.

The council also discussed the delays in a project at Veterans Field, including the approval process for change orders and project management. Discussions on the allocation of funds for a marina project and the need to plan for field maintenance post-renovations were also contentious. A resident expressed safety concerns about a fence in a specific area, prompting the council to address these in the future.