The council faced a barrage of questions regarding a proposed building project for the town. Council members found themselves at the center of a controversy over the opaque processes surrounding the hiring of an architect and the establishment of a trust fund to finance the development.
One public speaker took issue with the transparency of the project, asking, “Who does this architect represent?… when you plan on sharing any of this information with the public?”

A member of the public, Joe Scarborough, echoed this sentiment, questioning the council’s knowledge of the project’s funding sources and the process through which the architect was hired. “How did you hire this person, this architect? Did you vote on it and who put the money in the trust fund?” asked Scarborough, highlighting the persistent skepticism within the community.

Despite assurances from Rebecca Mariano of the Dakota Development Council, who clarified that a court order was mandating the town to provide affordable housing units fully funded by the developer, Topher, through an escrow agreement, doubts persisted over the handling of the easement across the street. The council’s assurance that no township funds were involved failed to alleviate these concerns, with some suspecting a lack of transparency in the handling of funds.

Further points of contention included the proposed redevelopment of specific areas, the lack of discussion on plans before decisions were made, the size of the police force relative to the town’s size, and the perceived neglect of areas with outdated buildings and vacant offices. The overarching theme, however, remained the need for increased transparency and communication from the council to its constituents.

Adding to the turmoil, concerns were raised over the enforcement of building regulations. Several instances of non-compliance were cited, with attendees calling for a more proactive approach from the council. Criticism was also leveled at the technical quality of meeting recordings, with complaints about poor audio quality undermining remote participation.

In a further twist, questions surfaced about personnel changes in local government following the removal of the previous mayor. Attendees questioned the council’s plan for the open Planning Board seat and the election of a new deputy mayor.

To add fuel to the fire, the council was scrutinized for the state of the town, specifically the issue of car stacking and the lack of restrictions on the number of vehicles that could be parked. The controversy further deepened with a resident voicing concern about granting property tax relief to developers constructing in flood zones, accusing the council of neglecting longtime residents.