Susan Turner

The council agenda included a proclamation recognizing Phillipsburg as a Documented Underground Railroad Community, including the designation of 360 Chambers St. as a historic site. Legislative items included the introduction of an ordinance regarding salary reductions for Council members and the President, as well as an ordinance adopting a redevelopment plan for the South Main Street Redevelopment Zone. Additional business involved the authorization of various tax overpayment refunds due to disabled veteran exemptions and a refund for a street opening inspection fee and escrow bond.

The Town Council conducted its reorganization meeting, which included the selection of a chairperson, council president, and vice president. Mayoral appointments for various municipal positions such as attorney, auditor, bond counsel, municipal engineer, and others were confirmed. The council approved several resolutions, including temporary budgets for the town and the sewer utility fund, established meeting dates for the council and the sewer committee for the year, designated official newspapers, authorized a cash management plan, and established petty cash and change funds for various departments. Additionally, the council approved towing service providers, authorized refunds under a certain threshold, permitted the clerk to administer games of chance licenses, adopted a policy to waive claimant certifications under specific conditions, appointed pension and benefits certifying officers, and authorized entry into a cooperative pricing agreement.

The council meeting addressed several municipal matters including a bond ordinance for the Phase II reconstruction of Hudson Street and amendments to ordinances regarding salary ranges for PBA 56A and School Resource Officers, requirements and fees for street excavations, rental property registration, and certificates of habitability. Additionally, resolutions were proposed for the appointment of EB Employee Solutions for HRA services, an award of contract for off-duty police employment services, tax payment fee waivers, the purchase of turnout gear, hiring of law enforcement officers, designation of handicap parking spaces, settlement of a property matter, appointment of pensions and benefits officers, sewer connection fee waivers, and various budget and contract administrative actions.

The council meeting agenda covers a budget public hearing, habitability hearings for properties on South Main Street and Sitgreaves Street, and the first reading of an ordinance to amend the salary ordinance. Key resolutions include authorizing tax overpayment refunds, the appointment of a deputy clerk, the adoption of the 2023 municipal budget, and the approval of emergency temporary appropriations for the current fund and sewer utility. Additionally, the agenda includes discussions on a Corliss Avenue update and approval for various special event applications, including a fishing contest, Relay for Life, a park event, and a home run derby.

The council meeting addressed multiple agenda items including the approval of person-to-person and place-to-place liquor license transfers, the designation of handicap parking spaces, and the authorization of a shared services agreement for a summer youth program with the Firth Youth Center. Furthermore, the council approved tax overpayment refunds for various entities, authorized a shared services agreement with the Borough of Alpha for police coverage and protection, approved the payout of accrued leave for a retiring public works supervisor, and passed a resolution in support of Senate Bill S725 concerning the unlawful occupancy of dwellings. A special event application for an Earth Day festival was also reviewed.