In the September 10 town council meeting, a contentious vote resulted in the hiring of the accounting firm Dee Maria and Dee Maria to conduct an audit of the Board of Education, passing with a narrow margin of 3 to 2. The decision has raised numerous questions regarding the audit's current status, including whether an engagement letter has been signed, the specifics of the audit's scope, and whether the public can access this information.

Concerns were voiced about the implications of the audit, with some council members suggesting that it insinuated wrongdoing despite an analytical review showing no evidence of misconduct. The Board of Education had met its filing deadline of December 12, 2023, with an unqualified opinion on its audit, indicating no internal control weaknesses. However, this deadline has since been extended to January due to widespread challenges faced by 75% of towns in the state.

Additionally, the meeting touched on the topic of tax abatements, with state senator Pinacchio criticizing the current pilot payment system. He referenced a 2010 report by New Jersey state controller Matthew Boxer, which highlighted issues such as a lack of transparency in abatement agreements and inadequate stakeholder involvement in decision-making processes. The report recommended that county school districts and the public play a more significant role in the abatement process, emphasizing the need for thorough cost-benefit analyses before granting tax exemptions.

The mayor responded to concerns about the audit and the broader implications of tax abatements, clarifying that changes to pilot programs must come from state legislators rather than the township. The discussion underscored ongoing frustrations with the lack of reforms in the tax abatement system over the past 14 years, despite evolving economic conditions and the impact of the pandemic on corporate needs. The meeting concluded with an invitation for further discussion on potential reforms that may not yet be public knowledge.