One of the primary matters addressed was the resolution for the award of a professional service agreement for an attorney. The mayor nominated Kevin Kelly for the municipal attorney position, but a council member proposed that an interview should be conducted before proceeding with the approval. Consequently, the resolution was tabled until the next meeting, where an interview will be conducted in a closed session.

During the public comment period, community members voiced their concerns and frustrations. The potential bias of the town lawyer was called into question by an attendee, prompting a discussion about the need for impartial legal representation. Another issue raised was the non-reappointment of a long-serving land use board member who felt disrespected for not being informed about the reappointment process after dedicating 15 years of service. The mayor responded to this by acknowledging the service of the individual and explaining that changes in board composition were a normal process, assuring that it did not equate to exclusion and indicating potential vacancies in the following year.

The discussion extended to the appointment process for the land use board, with a particular focus on the position of an environmental member and the importance of memorializing decisions promptly. A community member supported the concerns raised by the non-reappointed board member, emphasizing the need for proper follow-up on decisions made by the board.

Aside from these concerns, the meeting covered several administrative updates and announcements. The Public Works activities were updated, including details about recent snow events and road paving projects. Furthermore, an update on the ongoing revaluation process was provided, which included information on proposed assessments and the opportunity for property owners to schedule appointments to discuss these assessments with ASI, the company contracted to carry out the revaluation.

The council also tackled the complaint of a community member regarding zoning violations, and there was an acknowledgment of the need for better tracking and enforcement of such violations. Another community issue that was revisited during the public comments was the chicken ordinance, which has been a subject of extended discussion, and members of the public expressed frustration over the delay in resolving the issue.

On a different note, the council discussed financial matters such as the tax collector’s year-end report, revenue from the recycling center, and the cash management plan. The bill list was approved, including an additional requisition for a Stepping Hills Land and Homeowners Association application refund.

The council approved several professional service agreements for a municipal engineer, water sewer engineer, and municipal planner, as well as a shared service agreement with the county of Sussex for the congregate nutrition program. However, discussions around the appointments of alternates to the land use board and Recreation Commission, as well as to the Environmental Commission and Open Space Committee, were tabled for further review.

Additionally, there was concern about the use of the borough hall as a satellite office for Congressman Thomas Kean, with specific attention given to the confidentiality issues due to the presence of cameras in the meeting room. Nevertheless, the authorization to hire a licensed water operator was granted.

The council also debated the appropriate roles and prerogatives of the mayor and council concerning the appointment of committee members. There was a call for further research to clarify which committees should be under council jurisdiction and which are mayor appointments. This discussion pointed to a larger issue of confusion and frustration regarding the process of council committee appointments.

Lastly, the council touched upon the importance of visible house numbers for emergency services and discussed the potential for a grant to provide these numbers to residents. They also made announcements about upcoming community events, including street hockey sign-ups and Chamber of Commerce events, inviting residents to participate and stay engaged with local initiatives.