The council debated the estimated cost of $350,000 to $400,000 for radio communication upgrades, with discussions about the urgency to ensure reliable communications for first responders. The gravity of the situation was underscored by some council members, while others called for a careful review and consideration of all capital purchase requests before proceeding. The debate also touched upon the timing and necessity of introducing a bond ordinance for the upgrades. Plans were made to schedule a finance meeting to review various capital purchase requests, including the radio communication upgrades.

In relation to the sewer system, the council addressed the need to invest in infrastructure to mitigate potential financial and infrastructural challenges. A separate flat sewer residential fee was proposed to offset rising costs and fund future repairs, alongside starting a sewer maintenance and cleaning program as part of the operating budget. Increased sewer fees were a point of contention due to the usage by Verela 1 and 2, with residents calling for transparency in presenting the impact of increased usage on sewer fees. A council member suggested the implementation of a sewer fee to help offset costs of maintenance and repairs.

The council also discussed changes to the regulations for liquor licenses in New Jersey. The proposed changes would require inactive license holders to use the license or sell it, potentially bringing more than 1300 inactive licenses back into circulation. This move could increase the state’s stock of active licenses by approximately 15%. Furthermore, the council considered a bill in the legislature aiming to eliminate the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) and replace it with two separate entities to address the need for affordable housing while considering the needs of individual municipalities.

Another prominent topic was the implementation of paid parking in the central business district and the sale of business employee parking permits. Proposed parking permit fees ranged from $60 per month to $600 per year with specific designated parking spots for permit holders. Additionally, the council considered paid parking with proposed rates of 50 cents per hour and a tiered fee structure to encourage turnover.

The meeting also included updates on various topics such as the revised landlord registration fee to incentivize timely payments, the mayor’s report which highlighted efforts to achieve certification in Sustainable Jersey for sustainability initiatives, and new legislation regarding brewery and distillery laws which would ease restrictions and introduce new provisions for licenses.

The council discussed the West Street drainage issue, where residents were experiencing water ponding despite repaving efforts by the water company. Options such as redoing a portion of the concrete apron or manipulating the street grading were proposed. The potential addition of “bump outs” at intersections to improve pedestrian safety and traffic flow was also debated, considering concerns about drainage, snow plowing, and impacts on bicycle facilities.

Public services were also a topic of discussion, with reports on the fire department’s activities, public works updates, police department reports, and community engagement initiatives. The need for volunteer recruitment for the Mustang Mentor program, the success of the MLK Day of Service event, and the necessity to upgrade dispatch computer systems were among the other subjects covered.

The council expressed excitement about establishing a regular monthly meeting schedule with the superintendent and the board president to address mutual concerns, and discussed a request for assistance in recruiting volunteers for the Mustang Mentor program. The regular January meeting was rescheduled due to inclement weather, and the senior citizen report was postponed.

In addition, the council covered updates on rental property registrations, including a discussion on implementing late fees for landlords who fail to comply with the registration requirements. The council expressed concerns about the lack of registrations and the need for landlords to submit required documents and fees in a timely manner.