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In HILLSDALE, late 2023 saw the downtown revitalization efforts begin to move forward as a large portion of the downtown was designated as a future area in need of rehabilitation. Should the town develop a rehabilitation plan, that could include new design standards that would only affect new commercial tenants and developers. Current businesses and enterprises do not need to make any changes as a result of their designation.
At last count, the Township of Washington had conducted a drone study of Musquapsink Brook, and Westwood and Hillsdale planned to undertake drone winter flyovers to identify potential problems.
Hillsdale’s Council also recently voted not to move forward with a second community center nor the long-discussed upgrades at Centennial FIeld. A recent engineering report found that due to a landfill beneath Centennial and complex drainage issues, installation of artificial turf there would be much more costly than expected due to disturbing the landfill’s cap.
Instead, in 2024, the Field Committee will likely consider further upgrades to Memorial Field and other recreation areas.
Also, after a Council majority pushed for a second community center to provide more community space (about 10,000 square feet), a unanimous council opposed a second community center at Stonybrook Swim Club. It’s likely that the proposed community center (approximately 5,000 square feet) to be built at the upcoming 256-unit Patterson Street Redevelopment will get the council’s full attention this year.
Another move was hiring Montvale Mayor Michael Ghassali as Hillsdale’s administrator in February, following David Troast’s brief tenure and critical departing remarks about the mayor and council. Ghassali was hired for three years, starting at $140,000 annually and increasing to $150,000 by year three of his contract.
Moreover, following a resounding school referendum defeat of an $82.7 million bond referendum in March 2023, the school district will decide by February 2024 what question (or questions) to place on a September 2024 referendum to help fund long-needed renovations at century-old George White Middle School.
Current estimates for three renovation options range from $45 to $55 million and annual taxpayer costs need to be recalculated after officials were told that renovations require a 20-year bond term, and not a 30-year bond term as previously thought.
On an upbeat community note, a yearlong calendar of activities celebrating Hillsdale’s 125th Anniversary culminated in a well-attended gala dinner celebration and a time capsule burial in front of Borough Hall.