The first municipal budget workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, February 12, 2014, at 6 p.m. in the upstairs conference room of Borough Hall.
The annual series of workshops allows the public to witness the process of how municipal funds are to be used for the current calendar year. The meetings include a review of departmental budgets submitted by the heads of each department including the clerk’s office, the Department of Public Works (DPW), the police department, fire department, First Aid Squad, the Office of Emergency Management (OEM), the municipal court, the construction office, the engineering department, the finance office, Cable Access Television (CATV), the recreation department, and the library. The library is apportioned a required minimum provided by the state but any additional budgetary funds are presented to council for review and approval. Additionally, the workshops are when discussions regarding such things as bulk pick-up, recycling, repairs/paving of municipal roads & streets, large municipal projects, and other town-wide events (parades, fireworks, picnics, etc.) occur.
Meetings are open to the public and each meeting has a public comment portion when residents can provide suggestions, input, and comments on how municipal funds could be spent. Every meeting, although not videotaped by the municipality, is recorded by The Concerned Citizens Of Roselle Park, placed on their website, and available for viewing at the convenience of those interested (link). Audio files of workshop meetings are available to members upon request free of charge.