Residents press council on speeding, dangerous intersections and police treatment during public comment

Residents used the Jan. 20 public comment period to press the council on street safety and policing. Ben Vel, who identified himself as a resident of the Jefferson, described repeated instances of speeding on Main, Davis and Kinder streets — including buses passing "four, five feet" from pedestrians — and said the problem has made walking dangerous. "There’s a tragedy waiting to happen," Vel said, and offered to buy signage to highlight a dangerous crossing; the mayor asked him to submit a list to the clerk and city manager for follow-up.

Another speaker addressed the left-hand turn at Stanley Place and First, saying the corner remains dangerous despite prior signage and asking the city manager to inspect it and consider traffic control changes.

Richard Serbo raised concerns about meeting scheduling and public notice, asking the council to be clearer about start times and whether recent local news matters (including a property at the former Sears site and a reported school-system fraud matter) would be addressed.

Jason Walker played portions of an audio recording and alleged he had been treated "very inappropriate[ly], unprofessional[ly]" by officers during an incident that led to an involuntary commitment to Bergen Newbridge Hospital. In the excerpt the speaker identified as Sergeant Briggs and other officers discuss an involuntary commitment and the resident asserts the officers detained him while his therapist was on the phone. Walker said he no longer felt safe and asked the council to address what he described as "corruptness" in local policing. Mayor Cassin Gaines and the city manager offered to set up a meeting with Walker and staff to review the complaints and follow up.

Council and staff responses recorded in the meeting: the city manager said the police department had run speed studies and would conduct additional targeted enforcement and crosswalk reviews on Summit Avenue; Deputy Mayor Tumi reminded residents about Code Blue warming-center resources during freezing weather; council members noted DPW responses to garbage complaints and described funds available in a municipal trust for snow and debris equipment purchases.

The meeting record shows the council did not take formal policy action on the policing allegations at the meeting; the mayor and city manager asked for a follow-up meeting with the complainant.