Pompton Lakes council approves consent agenda; students urge safer crossings and less litter

Pompton Lakes Mayor Eric Arcandona and the borough council on April 6 approved a consent agenda covering roadway repairs, park and recreational improvements, library access and a plan to refurbish the teen center.

The consent agenda, presented by the borough clerk, included Resolution 26-1 to repair potholes on Schuyler Avenue; Resolution 26-2 authorizing access to Pompton Lakes library cards for Pompton Lakes students and Riverdale residents; Resolution 26-3 funding improvements to wooden bleachers at Hershfield Park; Resolution 26-4 proposing a 35 mph speed limit on Colfax Avenue; Resolution 26-5 to design and install bicycle lanes on Ramapo and Lakeside Avenues; Resolution 26-6 funding planning and design to connect South Bend Trails with the Pekwannock rails-to-trail system; Resolution 26-7 to install more visible directional signage at a local bell/intersection; Resolution 26-8 to designate an entrance/exit pattern at the ice cream station access to POND Hole; and Resolution 26-9 to refurbish the teen center into a youth development and enrichment facility. The clerk stated the council did not remove any items from the consent agenda and the resolutions were approved as presented.

Why this matters: the items bundle small capital and safety investments that affect daily life in Pompton Lakes—road repairs and park upgrades can change where residents walk or gather, and proposed bike lanes and signage aim to reduce collisions. The teen-center refurbishment was framed by supporters as a post-pandemic investment in youth social and recreational opportunities.

Public comments at the meeting were led largely by students and local residents who pressed the council on pedestrian safety and litter near the high school. A speaker warned, “They’re on their phones… Somebody’s gonna get hurt,” describing students who cross streets while looking down at phones. Maria Kent, 17, said she observed “a lot of litter” near the school steps and asked what the borough would do to discourage students from throwing bottles and other trash on the ground.

Council and staff responses acknowledged the concerns. An official noted teachers and school clubs are promoting responsible device use and that environmental-club initiatives and recycling efforts are being pursued to address litter. Council and staff members also cautioned that some of the roads discussed—such as portions of Colfax Avenue—are county-owned, and that changes to speed limits or road reconfigurations would require coordination with Passaic County.

Residents who spoke in the second public-comment period praised the proposed pothole repairs and supported the trail and teen-center ideas. One resident explicitly voiced support for the suggested 35 mph limit on Colfax Avenue. Steven Biggs of Skyler Avenue thanked the council for addressing the pothole problem in his neighborhood.

The meeting concluded with recognition of student participants and distribution of certificates. Officials praised the students for their civic engagement and public speaking; the council adjourned after the recognitions.

What’s next: the consent-agenda resolutions were approved as presented; items that require county approval or intermunicipal agreements (such as speed limits and some roadwork) will require additional coordination with county authorities or partner municipalities.