The meeting began with the appointment of Lee King and Peter Torpy to New Milford’s Resiliency Task Force, a move that stemmed from discussions in the previous council meeting. This task force is integral in addressing the community’s resilience to environmental challenges and ensuring preparedness for various potential threats.

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the introduction of an ordinance aimed at amending existing parking restrictions. The proposed ordinance seeks to lift the 2:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. parking ban on all streets within New Milford. This change prompted a discussion where one council member expressed concerns about the potential negative implications for snow removal and street cleaning, and the risk of compromising the town’s character by allowing unrestricted street parking. Despite these concerns, the ordinance introduction passed with a majority vote, with a public hearing scheduled for November 10.

Additionally, the council reviewed the “Best Practices” inventory, a state-mandated checklist that ensures municipal compliance with various operational standards. The borough scored highly, securing all necessary points to receive full state aid. Notably, points were gained for the installation of electric vehicle charging stations, highlighting ongoing environmental sustainability efforts.

The council also discussed the possibility of extending a property tax grace period for federal employees furloughed due to a government shutdown, should such a situation extend beyond 21 days. A resolution for this measure is to be prepared for the next council meeting.