Officials Reflect on Challenging Past Year and Look Ahead Towards 2012

Reflecting on the challenges and accomplishments of the past year while taking a look at what this new year may bring was the focus of a detailed annual report presented by Mayor Rose Heck and council members during the reorganization meeting Sunday.

Looking back on 2011

Heck called 2011 “a very challenging year for every department” citing the various factors that affected borough finances from decrease in revenue to growing costs of fuel and health insurance. In addition 2011 brought an exceptionally rough winter, a and tropical storm which was almost immediately followed by the which ravaged trees and vegetation all over the borough.

Clean up took weeks and seemed “never ending,”  she said. For the better part of the first two weeks crews were out working to improve the borough almost 24 hours a day, she said. which had been put out by homeowners as they cleaned their yards of storm debris.

“The finance committee and other departments kept fingers crossed and prayed that no additional storms would send us completely into a budget meltdown. Thank God we survived the negative impacts of the 2011 budget year,” said the mayor.

In regards to the , Heck said, “the problem was publicized and the public responded in a positive manner.” She added that in regards to sump pumps or French drains which had been incorrectly connected to the borough’s sanitary sewer system by plumbers almost 20 years ago. Several homeowners had suffered raw sewerage backup in their basements due to the overflow of the sanitary sewer system during the hurricane.

Other things she cited included the survival of the and the borough will now begin the process for the Department of Public Works for 2012.

She cited major changes to the Borough Clerk’s office as longtime assistant Bernice Baker retired in August. The borough absorbed this position due to budget restrictions and went on to this past year in order to keep the municipal budget in check.

This process resulted in some staff members spreading their time out between different departments. “After some scheduling issues were worked out, it’s working quite well,” Councilwoman Pamela Link reported. 

Among the many cited accomplishments included the which was funded through grant money and many donations which came from local businesses and through borough organizations. The two steel beams which once stood at the site of the World Trade Center were put in place at the park in remembrance of 9/11.

Through the various reports from borough departments presented by the council members several accomplishments were cited such as the through funds brought in from independent contractors and another successful and active year for the recreation department programs. The library also reported the highest number of circulation to date for 2011 – 119,952 items were circulated.

Looking ahead into 2012

In the coming weeks as a result of the recent . Heck explained that it appears as though residential property owners may see a tax savings and commercial property owners a slight increase.

She also believes the borough will see more ratables in 2012 as a site on Route 17 is to be converted to a hotel, new housing will go up in the area of VFW and a lot in the area of the swim club has been sold and the borough hopes to see homes built at that location. Borough officials considering selling the empty lot next to the Central Avenue Park so that a ratable can be built there, Heck said.

She also said the borough is “studying plans to hire a part-time ambulance personnel and billing insurance companies for ambulance service. This is all part of being conscious of the lack of volunteer personnel needed for the ambulance sevice and the need to better serve our residents.”

The progress of ongoing projects cited in the annual report included the next phases of the , and a which are being funded through grants. Work will begin in the Spring for these projects.

Additional park improvements will continue this year, as the borough has received preliminary approval for $32,000 to fund , Heck said. Work would include the installation of new sidewalks and electricity and lighting for the flag pole so a flag can be flown 24 hours a day. She said the borough will learn more about this project this coming summer.

which includes upgrades to the playground and new fencing for the Franklin Avenue and Ravine areas adjacent to the field. Work will begin this spring, Mayor Heck said.