The meeting’s most contentious issue revolved around the appointment of Mr. Dash as the new municipal attorney. A resident, Jerry Murphy, questioned the council about the selection process, specifically inquiring whether a request for qualifications (RFQ) or request for proposals (RFP) had been utilized. Murphy highlighted concerns about Dash’s association with the organization “Sparta for Responsible Development” (SRD). Council members acknowledged they were aware of the situation and assured the public that appropriate measures were being taken to address these concerns. The meeting also saw a proposed motion to recuse Attorney Dash from discussions related to the Planned Commercial Development (PCD) zone, given his past public statements on the matter. Though the motion failed, it underscored ongoing apprehensions about his involvement.

Additionally, the council faced pressing questions about the town’s reliance on federal agencies. A speaker raised alarms over the potential repercussions of federal agency reductions, emphasizing the need for the town to assess its federal funding and support. The speaker argued that failing to prepare would be a dereliction of duty, and called for a detailed report outlining major funding sources and any operational hindrances posed by federal issues. In response, a council member acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the town’s dependency on federal funds and conceded that an assessment could prove beneficial. They noted that while some matters, like IRS concerns, might not disrupt town operations, other issues could arise.

In other matters, the council tabled the introduction of three ordinances due to an unspecified issue requiring potential amendment, a decision that prevented any public discussion or comment on these ordinances during this session. The council also engaged in a debate over a resolution concerning professional traffic engineering services with MCD and Ray Associates. Questions were raised about the selection criteria for the firm and whether the contract’s scope should be confined to the PCD zone. The council ultimately approved an amendment specifying that a maximum of $88,500 was allocated for the contract, which passed despite mixed votes.

Tensions flared when a council member addressed a social media post by Mayor Neill Clark, which referenced the member by name and implied they were promoting dangerous driving conditions. The post, accompanied by a graphic image of a car accident, was described as being in poor taste. This exchange was part of broader discussions on transparency and accountability within council communications.

Following these discussions, the council moved to approve several resolutions. Resolution 95, concerning the traffic engineering contract, was passed with amendments. Resolution 96, which involved the transfer of grant funds from the Sustainable Jersey Small Grants Program, was approved without debate. Resolution 97, related to a zoning board appointment, was tabled to clarify the council’s role in such appointments. Finally, resolution 98, which authorized the display of various flags on township-owned flagpoles, was approved unanimously, simplifying future approvals of flag displays.

The meeting concluded with discussions about scheduling issues for the new conference room, potential overlaps with Environmental Commission meetings, and updates from various committees. Members also deliberated the appointment of a new full-time attorney for the Planning Board, highlighting the need for someone with substantial land use experience. Concerns over the frequent changes in the Planning Board’s attorney were acknowledged, with positive feedback received for Mr. Aller, the newly appointed conflict attorney.