Mayor Allen Morgan declared September 2024 as Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month. The proclamation highlighted that 23% of pediatric cancer patients face chronic health conditions due to treatment toxicity, with a quarter classified as life-threatening. The financial hardships experienced by 95 families dealing with cancer were also noted, along with the limited number of FDA-approved drugs specifically for childhood cancer, totaling only six. The mayor urged the community to support initiatives aimed at raising awareness and finding cures.

A major discussion during the meeting revolved around the reactivation and activities of the New Providence Historic Preservation Commission. The commission’s president, Jeff Groe, provided an update on their efforts since reconstituting in 2022. Groe emphasized the urgency that led to the commission’s revival, particularly after the demolition of the historic New Providence florist building from the late 1700s. He noted that the commission had been inactive since 2012 due to a lack of interest and appointments, causing a significant void in the borough’s preservation efforts.

Groe outlined the commission’s mission to provide informed recommendations regarding historical structures and places, emphasizing the importance of preserving the town’s history. The commission’s initial task involved verifying existing properties on the historic list and creating an inventory of historic structures. This included reviewing a 1976 document from the state historic preservation office and dividing the town into zones for thorough evaluation. The commission also created an updated Excel spreadsheet linked to the borough’s building department database to ensure real-time tracking of historic properties.

The need to reinstitute a historic preservation element into the borough’s master plan was a point of discussion. One individual highlighted the importance of fostering a unique identity for the borough by linking the physical character of downtown to its social and historic culture. This echoed recommendations from a 2017 master plan reevaluation report. The individual requested that the council take action to reinstate this element, emphasizing that the most effective protection of historic resources is through municipal designation and regulation.

Additionally, the council addressed numerous grants and funding opportunities that the municipality has successfully acquired this year, totaling nearly $2 million. A council member commended the hard work and dedication of the borough’s employees in seeking these funding opportunities, despite the absence of a dedicated grant writer. Noteworthy grants included a $534,000 Local Recreation Improvement Grant for Oakwood Park and a $65,000 grant for senior citizens’ high-risk care program.

The meeting also covered various resolutions and projects. The council accepted a proposal from Cers Engineering and Design Inc. for construction administration services related to the New Providence pickleball courts project. Additionally, permission was sought to bid for roof replacements at both the library and municipal center, with an anticipated cost of approximately $140,000.

Other resolutions included the approval of requisitions for ceiling replacement in the municipal center lobby and for electric service and a concrete pad for a proposed electric vehicle (EV) charging station. The finance section of the meeting authorized the payment of bills totaling $13,921,192, including significant expenses such as the Board of Education’s August tax levy of approximately $8.97 million.

Public safety matters were also on the agenda, with the appointment of Thomas Esa as a crossing guard and the approval of two raffle applications from the PBA for upcoming events. The council discussed a fence issue on Commonwealth Avenue, determining that a four-foot-two-inch picket fence posed no sightline issues and suggesting conditions for a potential resolution.