Peter Karcher

This document details the Borough of Netcong's Amended Fourth Round Housing Element and Fair Share Plan, outlining its strategy to fulfill affordable housing obligations from 1987 through 2035. The plan addresses present (rehabilitation) and prospective housing needs, specifically a Fourth Round obligation of 24 Present Need units and 48 Prospective Need units, alongside a Third Round Prospective Need of 36 units. Key components include a vacant land adjustment strategy, an inventory and analysis of housing stock and demographics, and a spending plan for affordable housing funds, all while ensuring compliance with state regulations and promoting multigenerational housing continuity.

The meeting involved the swearing-in of Council Members Walter Barbero and Thomas Laureys, followed by the swearing in of Fire Chief Robert Popelka and Assistant Fire Chief Jeffrey Jozowski. Key actions included the appointment of Council Committees (Finance & Insurance, Economic Development, Public Safety, Public Works & Utilities, Recreation, Public Services). Numerous mayoral appointments were approved for various municipal roles including Zoning Officer, Deputy Clerk, Tax Collector, Sewer Collector, Water Collector, Recycling Coordinator, and Fire Official positions. The council also appointed members to the Board of Health and the Planning Board. A significant portion of the meeting involved the motion to adopt twenty resolutions for 2026, covering the honoring of volunteers, awarding contracts for professional services (Borough Attorney, Tax Counsel, Auditor, Engineer, Bond Council), designating official newspapers, fixing rates for delinquent taxes, and authorizing temporary appropriations.

The agenda for the Mayor and Council Meeting included committee reports spanning Finance & Insurance, Economic Development, Public Safety, Public Works & Utilities, Recreation, and Public Services. New business focused on the introduction and first reading of several ordinances: Ordinance 2026-1, amending the Special Improvement District and adding a member to the District Management Corporation Board; Ordinance 2026-2, abolishing the Board of Recreation Commissioners and creating a Recreation Committee; Ordinance 2026-3, authorizing the Chief of Police to execute applications for charitable solicitation permits for the Volunteer Fire Company No. 1's coin drops throughout 2026; and Ordinance 2026-4, fixing salaries for certain officers and employees. Resolutions introduced included establishing a Special Projects Oversight Committee and redeeming a specific Tax Sale Certificate. The agenda also listed potential litigation regarding Fire Co #1 Firehouse for closed session discussion.

The resolution addresses the approval of the 2023 Corrective Action Plan, which is required for municipalities operating under the Local Fiscal Affairs Law as part of their annual audit process. The plan addresses findings and recommendations from the 2023 audit, specifically focusing on the segregation of duties in treasury functions due to limited staff and budget constraints.

Approval of the 2022 Corrective Action Plan, addressing findings and recommendations from the 2022 audit, particularly concerning the segregation of duties in Treasury functions. The plan acknowledges limitations due to staff and budget constraints, while ensuring duties are segregated as much as possible without additional staff.