The meeting kicked off with a commendation of the past year’s accomplishments, such as road milling and paving, zoning and planning activities, and the successful job fair, before delving into the more issues of the DPW’s budget. The DPW’s broad spectrum of responsibilities includes maintaining roadways, managing the township-wide fleet of 356 over-the-road vehicles and approximately 150 pieces of equipment, and operating the Harry Benac Ecological Facility, all with a staff of 17 people.

The council members displayed particular interest in the fleet management, discussing the potential replacement of two maintenance trucks, 430 and 406, considering factors such as power, mileage, and maintenance costs.

The budget discussions extended to the Solid Waste Ecological budget, which, despite other Solid Waste costs skyrocketing, remained flat—an effort by the DPW that the council appreciated for holding the line. The council also tackled the substantial increase in solid waste recycling costs, which they attributed to the county’s difficulties in selling recyclable materials and the limited number of companies willing to undertake the collection work.

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussing the DPW’s operational aspects. The council acknowledged the work of the garage and the Division of Buildings and Grounds, which oversees the maintenance of 38 properties, 157 individual structures, 35 OCC structures, public parks, recreation centers, open space, and stormwater basins, totaling approximately 2,634 acres of land. The DPW also oversees solid waste collection services, contracted through Interstate Waste Services.

The debate also touched on specific budgetary items such as elevator maintenance, with the council questioning the proposed budget of $51,000, which was half of the amount spent in the past couple of years. They debated whether this was sufficient based on historical spending. Additionally, the council discussed the allocation of overtime budgets for different departments within the DPW. Concerns were raised about potential shortages in funds, particularly the reduction in overtime budget for the Division of Buildings and Grounds, emphasizing the need to ensure resources for emergency maintenance and repair work.

Moreover, the council scrutinized specific line items in the budget, such as maintenance of other equipment, seeking clarifications on cost increases and the inclusion of certain expenses in the budget. Queries were also made about the significant increase in differential out-of-title expenses within the DPW, with explanations provided about the utilization of entry-level staff for maintenance and repair tasks.

The council considered the potential grant for lighting at the skate park, with concerns about light pollution from LED lights and the need for playground equipment replacement. They emphasized using pour-in-place surfacing to replace wood fiber mulch. Additionally, the replacement of a John Deere utility tractor and prioritizing the police station roof project were discussed.

The discussion extended to the consideration of hybrid or electric vehicles for future replacements, acknowledging the ongoing shift towards more sustainable options. The council also briefly mentioned the in-house paving budget and the utilization of leftover millings for repairs.

Towards the end of the meeting, there was a moment of recognition for a retiring staff member and a discussion about the transition within the department. The council also reviewed other budget items, such as election expenses, court settlements, and capital items for records management and tech investments. They reflected on the adequacy of budget allocations and the necessity of certain expenditures, such as the number of microphones requested, and commended the thorough preparation of budget materials and the efforts of the staff.