The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) presented the 2024 budget, highlighting the process of its preparation. According to the CFO, the surplus balance would see an increase of $108,000, reaching approximately $1.6 million. Despite this increase, the council discussed the town’s overall assessed valuation decrease and the anticipated rise in the average municipal tax. The budget, reflecting these changes, included enhanced spending in key areas, notably for senior services and the police department, as well as accounting for increased insurance costs. The mayor commented on these rising expenses, attributing them to prevailing inflation rates and their effects on various commodities, including gas and plastics. The council adopted the introduction of the budget with these points in consideration.

During the meeting, the council approved ordinances 2117 and 2118, although the latter sparked discussion regarding its alignment with the Preamble of chapter six and personal experience-related issues raised by a council member. Despite these concerns, the ordinance was ultimately passed, with some members abstaining from the vote.

The council also communicated upcoming community events and initiatives. The announcement of a paper shredding event on May 17th, a volunteer fair on April 20th, and acknowledgment of a critical shortage of volunteers in the borough were among the topics covered. The Mayor expressed gratitude to long-serving volunteers and highlighted the significance of volunteer work in the community. Additionally, preparations for the Memorial Day Parade on May 27th and Community Day on June 8th were discussed. The Department of Public Works was commended for its efforts in readying athletic fields and parks for the spring sports season. The Environmental Commission announced meeting dates and an Earth Day tree giveaway event. The borough’s recycling participation rate stood at 80%, with 96 tons of residential single stream curbside recycling collected in February, as reported by the Middlesex County Improvement Authority.

The administrative officer updated the council on various ongoing projects. These included the release of performance bonds for completed road projects, the acquisition of Swift water rescue equipment for the fire department, and the sale of surplus municipal property. The municipal engineer provided an update on the street lighting project and discussed the situation concerning Heather Lane.

During the meeting, a council member’s abrupt departure was noted, although the reasons behind this were not clear. The activities of a cannabis cultivator within the borough and whether they were open to the public were also brought up. A comparison between the budget increases of the borough council and the school board led to concerns about the disparity in the increases. Council members engaged in a debate on the appropriateness of the council’s budget increases, with concerns about the impact on taxpayers and the need to anticipate revenue shortfalls. Members discussed the challenges posed by health insurance and legal fees, acknowledging the financial strain these expenses imposed on the budget.

The council also tackled the erosion issue at Heather Lane, expressing hope for favorable weather to facilitate addressing the situation. Various resolutions were passed with little debate, including those related to road projects, tax redemptions, refunds, and approvals for equipment purchases and property sales.