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Residents press council on wetlands sculpture, park safety, proposed helipad and 5G consulting conflicts
Summary
Multiple public commenters raised concerns about a proposed 16‑20 foot sculpture in a Wetlands area, misbehavior by groups of children in the covered‑bridge park and the borough's use of Hoplight as a 5G consultant; officials answered questions about helipad safety and federal aviation limits and said police would address park behavior.
Several members of the public used the council's open‑comment period on April 20 to press officials on a range of local issues.
A resident said an artist's proposed sculpture for the wetlands would be roughly 16 feet tall on its base and about 20 feet in total, exceeding the 14‑foot height previously approved and potentially dominating the bridge approach. The commenter called the proposed location inappropriate for a wildlife sanctuary and asked the borough to relocate the work where it would be less disruptive. A proponent said the sculpture is intended to create a dramatic entrance effect.
Other residents described persistent youth misbehavior at the covered‑bridge park — throwing rocks in the pond, obscene gestures and damage from electric bicycles — and urged a police presence or regular patrols, arguing cameras alone were insufficient. Council members acknowledged the concerns and said the police chief was taking notes and the department would address enforcement.
One commenter asked the council to consider hiring a different drafter or independent reviewer for the borough’s 5G ordinance rather than relying on Hoplight, a consultant the town has previously used and that is paid from carrier escrows; the speaker said reusing the same consultant across neighboring boroughs could create uniform rules that favor installations. Separately, the planning board recorded discussion of an emergency helipad at the Saddle River Day School athletic field; the mayor and staff explained that federal aviation restrictions and safety considerations made the soccer field location inappropriate and that the school would seek another enclosed site for emergency medical use only.
Council and staff said they would follow up on enforcement in the park and consider concerns about the sculpture location and environmental disturbance as the planning and permitting process proceeds.
