The issue of the council’s travel budget took center stage during the discussions. Concerns were voiced about the appropriateness of budgeting for out-of-state travel, with suggestions to cap per-person expenses. This led to a debate on creating a resolution-approved policy for any out-of-state staff travel.

In addition to the travel budget, there was in-depth consideration of various departmental budget requests. The IT department’s budget, for instance, included an increase in software licensing costs due to a new five-year agreement for vehicle tracking software and escalating cybersecurity expenses. The council recognized the need for robust cybersecurity measures in the face of advancing technology and increasing network threats. The IT capital budget was also a matter of discussion, with proposed investments in computer replacements, video surveillance upgrades, and digital signage.

The Assessor’s Office put forward a request for advanced software to assist in finding comparable sales data and defending County tax appeals. It was noted that the new software could yield substantial time savings and more accurate assessments, which would also streamline the process of defending assessments to taxpayers. The council agreed to include the software cost in the budget.

The discussion on the Purchasing Department budget revealed a proposed increase due to rising postage rates. The council moved past this item without much debate, acknowledging that the increase was inevitable.

The Senior Transportation budget was addressed, highlighting a contract with Somerset County for bus operations and maintenance. Clarifications were provided regarding the availability of senior transportation services during weekends.

The Construction Code budget was brought up, with a proposed $1,000 increase for printing and binding costs related to construction forms, which are not covered by the state. Questions were raised about the potential for transitioning to online submissions.

The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) requested modifications to their facilities, prompted by an incident involving a suspicious package. This request was part of a broader discussion on ensuring adequate emergency resources.

Requests from the police department for an upgrade to their video surveillance system and from the fire department for additional inspection equipment were also discussed. These requests would be included in the general capital budget.

The water budget was reviewed, with a request for an additional $50,000 for cameras in parks and open spaces to enhance security, which would be monitored by the police department.

Further, the meeting touched upon the need for a portable cellular device for internet access at events and for public safety in emergencies, as well as improvements to recording solutions in the council chambers, and a request for software to improve the handling of OPRA requests by the clerk’s office.

The Township Manager’s presentation of the clerk’s office budget proposed an increase, mainly allocated to the emergency contingency budget. The contingency budget was a point of contention, as the council decided against an increase after noting that only a fraction of the previous year’s budget had been spent. The economic development budget was maintained at $15,500 with adjustments for planning needs, while the prosecutor budget increased to align with neighboring towns’ rates.

Lastly, the discussions also covered the budgets for the Municipal Court, Tax Assessor, and Water Utility, all of which showed minor adjustments or slight decreases from the previous year.