The council meeting began with a moment of silence for Kevin, a recently deceased community member. As the meeting progressed, the topic of cannabis consumption came to the fore when Councilman Andrew McLoone responded to a public inquiry, revealing that a business had shown interest in opening a cannabis lounge in the borough, pending council approval. This was prompted by the Cannabis Regulatory Commission formalizing rules for obtaining a license for such establishments. Another community member voiced concerns over the legalization of cannabis and requested that meeting agendas be made available to the public 24 hours in advance.

The council moved forward with a public hearing on ordinance 2401, which sought to exceed the municipal budget appropriations limit and establish a cap bank. With no public comments, the hearing was closed, and the council promptly passed the motion. The council also approved past meeting minutes, acknowledged the engineer’s report, which included a building inspection and tree removal due to damage, and received the annual report from the joint municipal board.

Councilman Daniel Sperrazza updated the meeting on the forthcoming shade tree and green teams meetings. Councilman Sean Fitzgerald announced the resignation of a Public Works employee and discussed various maintenance activities, including snow removal, sewer call responses, and a review of abandoned properties. He also mentioned the interest of a school in acquiring a commercial property. Councilman Anthony Perno reported on police department activities, highlighting community engagement and traffic stops, as well as the unfortunate incident of squirrels causing damage to police equipment.

The finance report brought attention to the upcoming budget preparations and changes to bonding financing rules by the state, which could affect budget planning. The clerk’s report included updates on business openings, upcoming events, and preparations for the town’s 150th-anniversary celebration, with the council expressing appreciation for the community’s involvement.

a discussion ensued over the Model Stormwater Management Ordinance (MS4) when Councilman Daniel Sperrazza raised concerns about the administrative challenges of classifying and replacing trees on private properties, especially dead ones. Councilman Sean Fitzgerald suggested penalties for not replacing trees, while Councilman Andrew McLoone advocated for encouraging tree replacement without imposing financial burdens on residents. The debate delved into the specifics of the MS4 requirements and tree replacement ratios based on tree diameters.

In matters of infrastructure, the council broached the reconstruction and widening of East Park Avenue, taking care to consider the impact on trees, and discussed improvements to the West Alleyways, including better lighting and security measures. The council approved the placement of a banner for a Merville School event and passed a resolution for a tax deduction. Financial reports highlighted significant bill payments, with a substantial portion allocated to the School District.