24:01A focal point of the meeting was the council’s discussion on applying for a historic preservation grant aimed at stabilizing headstones in the local cemetery. This site, now fully owned by the borough and listed on county, state, and federal registries, is central to the borough’s preparations for its upcoming 250th anniversary celebration. One council member underscored the importance of this initiative, stressing, “Anything we can do in that area is worthy of this application,” highlighting the cemetery’s historical significance. The proposed budget for this project is set at $50,000, with the borough seeking a $25,000 matching grant from the county’s historic preservation trust fund. The council proposed using $10,000 from unspent donations from the 100th anniversary celebration to support the grant application, with plans to replenish this amount in the following year. The urgency of submitting a letter of intent by the week’s end was emphasized, although this step would not bind the borough to any financial commitments.

10:42In addressing the borough’s fiscal challenges, the council heard a detailed presentation from the municipal auditor, Stephen Wil, on the upcoming budget. He highlighted the difficulties faced by the council due to rising inflation, increased interest rates, and stagnant commercial development. The average residential assessment had surged from approximately $330,000 to $643,000, leading to a municipal tax increase of $199 for the average homeowner. Wil described this increase as relatively moderate compared to other municipalities. He detailed various cost increases, including salaries, pension costs, and insurance premiums, noting that while some expenses were controllable, others were not, necessitating difficult budgetary decisions. Wil commended the budget committee for their extensive efforts to navigate these financial pressures while maintaining fiscal responsibility.

19:45The council also introduced an ordinance to exceed municipal budget appropriation limits and establish a cap bank, with a public hearing scheduled for the next meeting. Additionally, a bond ordinance was introduced to amend previous funding allocations for public improvements, specifically to finance security camera installations at the Department of Public Works. Both ordinances were approved on their first reading through a roll call vote.

32:59Community safety was another priority, with the council approving a distracted driving campaign funded by a state grant. This initiative will fund 100 hours of overtime patrols to combat distracted driving, a growing issue in the community. The proposed overtime rate was set at $70 per hour. The council expressed strong support for this campaign, with one member noting, “Texting and driving has become awful…if we can put an extra 100 hours to crack down on that, I think it’s a good thing.”

01:41In other matters, the council discussed the appointment of Megan Fox as an alternate member of the Shade Tree Commission and approved a settlement on affordable housing needs. A recent meeting with a grants consultant was reported as productive, with discussions on potential projects involving various departments, including the library and environmental initiatives. The council planned to prioritize these projects, though some overlap with other towns might affect the competitiveness of grant applications.

38:36Updates on ongoing engineering projects were provided, including the French Brook restoration project, which had completed its initial permitting phase. Construction documents for road improvement projects were submitted to the Department of Transportation, and preparations for the county resurfacing of Milford Avenue were underway.

02:55The meeting also celebrated local achievements, with the New Jersey State Youth Wrestling Tournament seeing record participation from the borough’s youth, including several female wrestlers. Upcoming community events were announced, including the New Milford Education Foundation Gala, which will honor the mayor as humanitarian of the year, and various Easter-themed activities. The completion of a new sand volleyball court near Kennedy Field was also mentioned, pending the installation of padding on the poles.