During the meeting, the Borough Engineer provided an extensive report on the Municipal Aid 2023 Grant project, which is set to resurface sections of Beach Avenue, Hemlock Avenue, and Myrtle Avenue. This project, backed by a $463,000 grant against a total bid price of $591,000, includes the installation of new granite block curbs. The contractor selected for the project is Riverview, which has not previously worked in the Garwood area. The engineer expressed optimism for a timely commencement.

Further discussions included the Municipal Aid 2024 Grant project, targeting East Street, New Street, and Walnut Street, with an estimated cost of $376,000 and a grant request of $350,000. The council also addressed a resident’s request for improvements at the intersection of Locust and East Street, authorizing the engineer to conduct fieldwork and include it as an alternate in the design, with an estimated additional cost of $10,000 to $20,000.

A change order was presented for drainage work on West Street and Center Street, totaling approximately $122,000, exceeding the initial contract amount of $97,000 due to unforeseen drainage issues requiring additional catch basins and retrofitting work. The engineer also noted the completion of paving work by Elizabeth Town Gas related to gas main replacements.

Questions were raised about ADA curb cuts at the intersection of South Avenue and West Street for an upcoming pedestrian signal. The engineer confirmed ongoing discussions with Harbor Consultants to clarify the necessary work, with plans for curb ramps and advanced warning light systems in progress. Costs for these improvements will be shared between the developer and the borough.

The council also discussed changes regarding the municipal clerk position due to a pending retirement. The search for a full-time replacement had not yielded suitable candidates, prompting the appointment of Administrative Assistant Patricia Vasquez as Deputy Clerk on a full-time basis. However, the borough still required a municipal clerk, necessitating outreach to nearby municipalities to find a part-time clerk to fulfill the statutory requirement.

During public comments, Mr. Pritchard emphasized the importance of supporting local police officers, firefighters, and rescue squad personnel. He urged the council to ensure the ladder truck’s return to service and opposed any efforts to abolish public safety departments. He also advocated for reopening closed hospitals to better prepare for emergencies.

Ms. Jill Paul expressed gratitude for the council’s initiative to hold remembrance events for September 11 and praised the quick response of emergency services to a gas smell incident at Stephanie Gardens. She highlighted the first aid squad’s ongoing CPR and AED usage classes and their equipment lending program for residents in need of medical supplies. Ms. Paul also discussed the Aliva Foundation’s efforts to enhance community safety through AED training and installations.

Another resident, Colleen, raised concerns about the hiring process for the position of Certified Municipal Registrar (CMR). She inquired about the new hire’s qualifications and questioned whether the Personnel Committee on Council had access to all applicants’ information. Colleen expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of communication regarding her application and the overall hiring process.

Michelle Capabiano addressed issues related to the borough’s office hours and the formal process for changing them. She pointed out inconsistencies with the borough code and questioned why an ordinance was never brought forward to formalize these changes. Capabiano emphasized the need for better communication from the borough on matters and criticized the practice of charging residents for accessing documents that should be freely available.

The council acknowledged these concerns. They confirmed that summer hours were posted physically and on the website and emphasized that staff schedules are adjusted accordingly without impacting their total hours worked. The council also mentioned ongoing efforts to redesign the borough website to enhance public access to ordinances and other important documents.