The council’s discussion on deer management took center stage, sparked by updates on a pending grant application with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The borough is seeking support for a Forest Health Study, a critical step in understanding the impact of deer on public lands and the local ecosystem. The study is essential to identifying the scope of the deer problem before considering control measures such as hunting. Residents expressed urgent concerns about the deer population, noting its detrimental effects on natural areas and raising issues of wasted tax resources if the problem remains unaddressed. A resident emphasized the need for immediate action by stating, “It’s an asset to the town and when you don’t enjoy an asset you’re wasting my tax money.”

During the public comment period, the council heard from several residents who underscored the ecological impact of deer overpopulation. They pointed out that the health of the natural area was in decline, stressing the necessity of the Forest Health Study to expedite further actions. Concerns about deer migrating from neighboring municipalities were also raised. The council acknowledged these challenges and reiterated the importance of conducting a comprehensive deer population assessment, which would include analyzing traffic accident data related to deer to inform the management plan.

Another issue discussed was a cost-saving initiative regarding police vehicle maintenance. The council reviewed a resolution that highlighted significant savings by hiring Jeff Jarvis to set up police vehicles. His lower rate of $23.50 per hour, compared to the $95 per hour charged by an outside contractor, Hennessy, would save the borough over $7,000. The decision to hire Jarvis was driven by increased vehicle maintenance costs due to the absence of a full-time mechanic. Additionally, the council deliberated on employing Scott Castro, a marine mechanic with a CDL, on a part-time basis to fill labor gaps, reflecting ongoing personnel challenges within the Department of Public Works (DPW).

The meeting also touched upon the restoration of a rain garden at Borough Hall, initiated in 2016 as part of a state stormwater management initiative. A resident, Rob, raised concerns about the presence of non-native plants in the garden, which he felt compromised its integrity as a demonstration site. The council maintained that only native plants were added during recent restoration efforts and proposed using upcoming rain gardens at the new police department as demonstration sites for native plant education. The council agreed on the importance of maintaining the garden’s integrity and discussed involving knowledgeable volunteers and local environmental organizations in future restoration efforts.

Traffic safety, particularly near school crosswalks, was another area of concern for residents. Laura C. highlighted the dangers posed by distracted drivers and advocated for grants to fund flashing lights at critical crosswalks. The council acknowledged the need for improved pedestrian safety measures and mentioned ongoing research by the police department into potential solutions. However, implementing changes on roads under county jurisdiction would require coordination with county officials.

Finally, the meeting addressed resident complaints about early morning operations by the DPW, specifically a 7:00 AM cardboard collection on a Sunday that disturbed the neighborhood. The council clarified that this was a one-time event due to unexpected volumes of cardboard and ongoing leaf collection efforts. Concerns about excessive lighting from a nearby construction zone were also noted, with residents expressing frustration over the constant illumination.