The Council passed the ordinance on first reading and scheduled a public hearing for the following two weeks, expressing unanimous support for the measure. It was emphasized that the ordinance does not target responsible breeders, but rather the practices of pet stores that may contribute to animal cruelty.

Infrastructure projects also took center stage, with discussions on the Capital budget focusing on road resurfacing, improvements to the municipal pistol range, and the acquisition of new equipment for the water utility. The 2024 Municipal budget, which was adopted during the meeting, includes a net gain in taxes of 1%, amounting to approximately $47 for the average household. The Council applauded the staff’s efforts to maintain fiscal responsibility, highlighting that the budget aimed to keep costs flat in areas within the borough’s control.

Noise pollution from the PSE&G substation was another issue. Residents of the Burough Park neighborhood reported excessive buzzing noises causing migraines and nausea. The council acknowledged the problem and stated that PSE&G is in the process of engineering a permanent sound barrier. Efforts to expedite the solution included reaching out to the Board of Public Utilities.

Parking concerns were addressed with the potential implementation of residential permit parking in the Burough Park neighborhood to mitigate overflow parking issues caused by employees of the Bergen County veterinarian center. The council received a petition signed by 53 residents and assured them that they would investigate the matter.

The council also discussed electric vehicle charging station fees, establishing charges for level three and level two chargers, including a penalty for occupying a charging spot for over 45 minutes. This aims to facilitate the growing number of electric vehicles in the borough while ensuring turnover at charging stations.

Further discussions included amending the chapter on fire department bylaws, modifying the municipal pool hours in response to public feedback, and bond ordinances for public improvements. The noise control regulations were also considered for amendment, with proposed changes to permissible hours on weeknights and weekends, eliciting mixed reactions from residents.

Residents brought up additional concerns, such as early morning truck idling by the Sewer Authority causing odors, significant erosion problems in Bur Park, a lack of sidewalks near the park entrance, and questions about paving and roadwork on East Prospect Street. The council assured that these issues were being evaluated by engineers or would be investigated further.

Positive community events were also highlighted, including a successful Easter egg hunt and an upcoming CPR class. However, there was some discrepancy reported in the statistics on ambulance calls, which the council agreed to discuss with the Ambulance Corp president.