Borough administration to repurpose boards and commissions; Economic Development Commission to help define new priorities
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Summary
Borough administration told the Economic Development Commission it will work with boards and department directors to refocus the work of numerous borough commissions, asking the commission to provide input ahead of an October meeting and surveys.
At the July 22, 2025 Economic Development Commission meeting, a borough administration representative said the borough intends to reinvigorate and repurpose many of its advisory boards and commissions.
The administration said there are roughly "21 or 24" boards and commissions and that several — including the planning commission, the historical preservation commission, the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Trails Advisory Commission — have struggled with a clear purpose since completing major projects. The administration said its office will work with commission members, directors and the clerk's office to draft questions and surveys to gather input on what each commission should do next.
The administration noted that some commissions moved from monthly to quarterly meetings and that change has made it harder to keep up momentum and agendas. The representative told commissioners the borough will not redesign code-driven bodies such as the planning board but intends to work on the roughly 11 to 12 other advisory groups that need new direction.
The administration said the Economic Development Commission will receive those survey questions ahead of the Oct. 28 meeting and should prepare to recommend actions or projects the commission can pursue — for example, implementing elements of the downtown plan, the comprehensive plan, the trails plan or the community economic development survey (SEDS).
No formal action was taken by the commission at the July 22 meeting on repurposing commissions; the item was presented as an administrative notice and a request for future engagement.
The administration closed by thanking commissioners for their service and noting it will return with specific materials and questions for the October meeting.