Residents press Boonton council on stalled Washington Street site, snow parking and repairs at Fireman's Field

Boonton '025'0Residents used the meeting's public-comment period to press the Boonton Mayor and Town Council for updates on several neighborhood issues, including a stalled Washington Street gas-station project, overnight snow-parking guidance, proposed pickleball courts and unsafe steps at Fireman's Field.

Pan Bodka of Lincoln Street asked who would pay for the school law-enforcement officer, noting that the Board of Education would fund the position, and said the town's cable provider has had frequent outages affecting home security cameras: "we lose it almost every night" he said, asking that town oversight improve service.

A resident at 300 Reservoir Drive asked for a status update on the Washington Street site, calling it an "eyesore and a little bit of a hazard" and asked whether the town must meet its 100-unit affordable-housing obligation by the end of the 2025—2035 period. The council said the code official has repeatedly contacted the property owner and that town leadership will reach out again to move the project forward. Council members also said the planner's review reduced the town's prospective housing need from about 150 units to roughly 99.

A resident from 1216 Bir Street requested clarification on which municipal lots are available for overnight snow parking and whether the Senior Center and adjacent former bank lot are included; councilors said they will post social-media guidance naming available municipal lots. The resident also asked for a construction schedule for the Canalside Park pickleball courts; officials said engineering drawings have been approved and that the courts are expected to be scheduled next year, but final timing depends on grant funding.

At 129 South Terrace, a resident seeking to raise funds to repair steps and drainage at Fireman's Field said preliminary cost estimates total about $70,000, including roughly $60,000 for steps and $8,000 for drainage, and asked the council what guidance or support the town could provide. The council acknowledged the concern, noted grant limitations for work on property the town does not own, and suggested the private property owner (the Fireman's Home) may pursue county or state grants for recreational improvements.

What happens next: Town officials said they will follow up with the Washington Street property owner, publish clear guidance on snow-parking lots, and ask the recreation director for more precise timing on the pickleball project.

Representative quotes included public-comment lines and the resident cost estimate for repairs. Where meeting speakers were not explicitly named in the transcript for some responses, the article uses unattributed phrasing (e.g., "the council said") to avoid misattribution.