A point of discussion during the meeting was the establishment of a shade tree commission. The council weighed the benefits of forming a commission against those of a committee. Advocates for the commission cited the potential to access more grants and the preference for a resident-driven initiative. Concerns were raised about the town’s liability and the necessity of a cost analysis to understand the financial implications of both options. The debate also covered the need for education and training in the first year, alongside the discussion of potential budget and funding sources for the commission.

Another topic was the shared service agreement with Hackensack University Medical Center concerning EMS services. The council considered the integration of EMS services with Maywood and the possibility of housing the BLS unit in Rochelle Park. This collaboration aimed to enhance emergency medical response capabilities within the community.

The denial of the grant for the Green Street project was also addressed. The grant, which would have supported environmentally friendly infrastructure, was not awarded due to the project not scoring high enough. The council discussed the reasons behind the denial and strategies to improve their chances of securing similar grants in the future.

Infrastructure updates presented by Bruce Boswell from Boswell Engineering were a focal point of the meeting. Updates included various projects such as the Railroad and Rell Avenues project, the Pump Station project, Howard Avenue’s construction, the Digital Tax Map project, road programs for Dorothy Avenue, Gerud, and Pleasant Avenue, and the Open Space grant for Carlock and Matthew Fields. The council also discussed the application for Lincoln Drive and Chestnut Avenue.

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP), offered through a shared service agreement with Bergen County Health Services, was put on the agenda for the next meeting. The program, at a cost of $890 for the year, provides various services to employees. Additionally, changes to the Length of Service Award Program (LOSAP) for active military members in the fire department were proposed. The amendment aimed to reflect current contribution caps and to extend full credit to active and reserve military members.

The meeting also touched upon the need for a capital improvement project to address a deteriorating roof at the Department of Public Works (DPW). Furthermore, the council reviewed a shared service agreement for Rochelle Avenue Carter.

Community engagement was not overlooked, with updates on upcoming events such as a spring cleanup and a communication strategies event for individuals with autism. The progress of a four-story storage facility and the need for updates to the township’s coer reports were also noted.