Residents used the May 20 public-comment period at the Borough of Fair Lawn mayor and council meeting to press for updates on work to historic properties, ask how opioid-settlement money will be spent and request accessibility improvements to the municipal broadcast service.

What residents asked and what council said

- Cadmus House: Resident Pamela Coles asked whether the Cadmus House project was moving forward. Borough staff responded that a structural evaluation was scheduled for the week following the meeting and that the project is moving forward with engineering review.

- Norville House and preservation funding: Council and staff reported the borough has a $131,000 county matching award committed for work at the Norville House and that the borough was awarded $750,000 by the state; staff said the state funds will be available after the state budget is passed (the borough is awaiting final state budget action expected in June/early July). Council described a three-phase approach: exterior stabilization and site work already underway, interior work to follow, and then landscaping and ancillary site improvements. Council said possible future uses under discussion include limited meeting or performance uses that would not overburden the historic structure.

- Smokehouse at Saddle River Road: A resident asked whether the old smokehouse on Saddle River Road, part of local historic maps, was included in preservation plans. Staff said the structure was in good condition and that recent discussions with a local bank tenant (the building’s commercial occupant) included commitments not to remove the smokehouse.

- Opioid settlement funds: Coles asked about $2,287.78 received from the National Opioid Settlement Fund referenced in the borough’s consent agenda. Borough staff said the borough has accepted the funds and that the local substance-use-disorder prevention alliance is scheduled to discuss use of settlement dollars at an upcoming meeting; staff invited residents to participate and offer recommendations.

- Closed-captioning for Fairlawn TV: A resident had emailed noting the municipal broadcast lacks closed-captioning. Council asked the borough manager to investigate cost estimates and potential grant funding (including ADA-related sources) to add closed captions to Fairlawn TV.

Why it matters: The Cadmus and Norville houses are borough historic assets. The availability of a $131,000 county match and a $750,000 state award (the latter contingent on the state budget) would materially affect how quickly exterior and interior stabilization, code work and adaptive reuse planning can proceed. The small opioid-settlement payment is intended for local substance-abuse prevention work, and the council’s substance-abuse prevention alliance meeting will consider recommendations for spending.

Details and clarifications from the meeting

- The structural evaluation of the Cadmus House was described as scheduled for the week following the May 20 meeting.

- The Norville House funding plan was described as three phases: (1) outside stabilization (some work already completed, including basement stabilization and new windows), (2) interior work, and (3) site and garden improvements; use options under discussion include community meetings and small performances.

- The $750,000 state award is contingent on final state budget approval; staff said funds will be available once the state budget is enacted.

- The opioid-settlement amount on the consent agenda was $2,287.78; staff said that money is being accepted and will be considered by the borough’s substance-use-disorder prevention alliance.

- Council asked the borough manager to research closed-captioning options and possible grant dollars for Fairlawn TV.

What’s next

The borough manager and relevant staff were asked to follow up: provide the structural-evaluation results for Cadmus House, proceed with access to the approved county match for Norville House work and process state grant funds when the budget is enacted, and provide cost estimates and grant options for closed captioning of Fairlawn TV. The borough’s substance-use-disorder prevention alliance will meet soon to discuss opioid-settlement funds; the council invited resident participation.