Murray criticized the township’s response to inquiries and the overall lack of guidance provided to property owners. She cited multiple instances of confusion and inadequate communication from both the township and health department officials. “The biggest problem is that we called town hall on several occasions seeking guidance but received inadequate responses,” she stated, highlighting the significant gaps in support for property owners navigating the new requirements.

She further emphasized the challenges faced by her family, noting that an official had informed them that they “didn’t know anything” about the inspection process, which underscored the lack of preparedness and transparency from the township. Murray disclosed that they only received notice of the impending inspection in May 2024. After considerable effort, they finally received a crucial three-page document from Lou Environmental outlining the inspection process.

Murray also questioned the validity of the inspection criteria, pointing out that recent paintwork on their property should have precluded certain failures cited by the inspector. “How can you fail that? You can’t,” she argued, expressing frustration over what she deemed unclear and potentially biased inspection standards. Concerns over a potential conflict of interest were also raised, as the same company responsible for inspections, Lou Environmental, was also tasked with remediation efforts. Murray suggested that this dual role could lead to biased outcomes, driven by financial incentives.

The lack of responsiveness from remediation companies further compounded the issue. Murray commented, “The seven or eight people that we did get in contact with said no we don’t do that,” highlighting the limited options available to property owners. Additionally, she criticized the health department’s unprofessional communication, citing an instance where her husband was told they “didn’t need to call him every day about this,” despite the significant health implications.

Discussions on lead inspection laws extended beyond Murray’s comments, with other participants expressing similar frustrations regarding the notification timeline. One participant questioned why landlords were only informed of their obligations in May 2024, despite the law going into effect in July 2022. This delay risked noncompliance and created significant challenges for landlords attempting to meet regulatory requirements.

Additionally, the meeting addressed issues related to the accuracy of data about properties requiring lead testing. Discrepancies in the number of housing units needing inspection led to debates about the reliability of information provided by the Department of Community Affairs and the township’s interpretation of compliance requirements.

The council meeting also included discussions on unrelated but community concerns. A resident voiced complaints about the deteriorating state of local streets and the lack of maintenance over the years. This speaker, who had been a taxpayer in the area for 60 years, emphasized the safety hazards posed by cracks and holes in the roads. They urged the council to prioritize street repairs.

Another noteworthy topic was the proposal for a reservation system at Lake P to manage visitor flow and prevent congestion. This system aims to address the current limitations on park entry, which has been reduced from 3,000 to 300 vehicles, and ensure better management of the park’s capacity and safety.

The council also discussed the decommissioning of four crossing guard posts, a decision that sparked concern among parents and community members. The police chief explained that this decision was based on a thorough evaluation of the crossing guards’ effectiveness, taking into account sight distance, safe gaps, and traffic speeds. The decommissioned posts were deemed the safest, primarily located near elementary schools where children are often accompanied by parents.

Financial matters were also on the agenda, with the introduction and approval of ordinances related to infrastructure projects. These included a capital ordinance for the exterior restoration of Lafayette School and the final engineering design phase for sidewalk and bicycle facility improvements on Main Street.