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Residents press borough on building safety, traffic and open-space tax options
Summary
Public commenters raised safety and code‑enforcement concerns about an unfinished building at River & Arnold, sight‑line and traffic issues, and the council discussed the open-space tax rate and potential referendum to reduce the open-space charge after revaluation increased property values.
Several residents used public participation to press the council on local safety, code enforcement and traffic-planning issues.
A resident who identified himself as Grant Kitchenman said the vacant McLaughlin building at River and Arnold is an eyesore and a safety hazard because materials and scaffolding are being stored against the structure. Borough leaders said code enforcement has issued summonses and litigation is underway; officials agreed to follow up with daily-code checks.
Councilmembers also discussed traffic and a planned traffic light installation at New Jersey Avenue and Route 35 to address a high-accident intersection, and Councilman Gantt explained the borough is evaluating a referendum to lower an open-space tax rate from 1¢ to 0.5¢ to offset revaluation-driven increases in property tax bills; the state asked whether a referendum might be required and the borough said the state would not certify the budget until the open-space issue is resolved. The council scheduled continued attention to these planning and enforcement items.
