A few weeks ago, in an effort to tackle the 2010 budget and come up with fresh ideas, new Caldwell borough council member Rich Hauser asked his fellow members and the Mayor to brainstorm with him in a special meeting.

On Tuesday night at a specially scheduled meeting at 6 p.m., members of the borough council offered their ‘wish list’ of ideas for the upcoming year.

These ideas ran the gamut of far reaching and expansive plans that could transform the face of Caldwell far into the future as well as more immediate, fiscal ideas that would surely tackle part of the borough taxpayer’s heavy burden.

In total, 24 new ideas were proposed. Some of these concepts will surely become part of sub-groups since they overlap in concept.

Others, however, stand on their own as bracing new ideas that could benefit the community as soon as this year – and this year’s budget.

“These can be goals we are looking to achieve this year, as opposed to not having a specific direction,” said Hauser, as he handily typed up and displayed all the major points on his laptop, which was projected onto a far wall in the council chambers for everyone to see.

Council member Joe Norton agreed, adding “This is larger than the budget issue. It is a presentation and discussion to set goals and expectations for what we want to accomplish in 2010.”

Although all of the comments were fairly item specific, council member Kay Slattery offered a more general one with the very first item on the agenda – to “try to get along as a unit’.

While no one could disagree with this wonderful goal, unfortunately, Slattery seemed to fall into the very trap she wants to avoid with her fellow council members during the official regular council meeting only one hour later, as she drifted off into old and emotional territory.

Slattery rehashed old arguments – including the status of the Caldwell Downtown Committee- bringing up the resolution that was passed in the December 22 meeting where the Democrats outvoted the one present Republican, Norton (Dassing and Lawshe were not present), to approve putting on a bill list $5,000 dollars for the C.D.A. and adding a line item to the 2010 budget for the C.D.A.

And, due to the sidebar into this discussion, the ‘try to get along as a unit’ was surely thrown by the wayside at this meeting.

After determining that a line item could be removed from any budget, and that not approving a bill on a bill list is something that can occur during the course of council business, Mayor Susan Gartland asked new borough attorney Gregory Mascera to review the issue.

Since the council had voted to put the CDA money onto the bill list, is it legally required to pay them?

And, has the borough the right to stop funding the CDA or not, according to previous promises made by previous councils?

Some of the wonderful ideas put forth by the council members included ways to not only save money but raise revenues, which have been impacted negatively by the sour economy that continues to linger.

President of the council Ann Dassing’s ideas included hiring a grant writer; looking into a housing ordinances and occupancy issues; making the Caldwell Community Center much more interactive via its website presence and online technical potential; having a true simplified yet dead-on listing of how to choose goals, go after goals, and implement goals, all being “fiscally responsible to the tax payer”; working on the infrastructure of Caldwell to create a “beautiful” Caldwell; improving the quality of life for residents within budget restraints; reviewing the borough Master Plan and updating it; work on establishing new signage;create a historic commission in the borough, and implement a village speed limit of 25 miles per hour.

Norton proposed long range planning for fiscal stability; trying to get taxes down or keep as low as possible; reviewing the borough insurance policies for events on town property; other cost saving ideas and to implement an “aggressive and comprehensive plan to approach downtown revitalization via the newly reformed Downtown Committee.

“This aggressive plan would be for downtown revitalization through economic development,” said Norton.

Gartland wants to be sure the borough completes the project of developing the borough green.

“We had a presentation a couple years ago,” said Gartland. “We are all in agreement it is a worthy project.”

The Mayor also wants to be sure the borough completes the Kiwanis Oval in 2010, as the county has a “million dollars on table” for the project.

Murray offered some fresh ideas, including one that would delight residents.

“One of the things I’d like to see for the recreation department is more transparency,” he said. “In fact, $600,000 - $700,000 dollars per year goes to it.”

Other ideas put forth by Murray included something truly modern: having the borough accept credit cards for not only the Community Center but also for tax, water and sewer bills.

Other ideas offered by Murray included hiring a CFO; initiating an auxiliary police force, which cut down costs greatly for in-town events and even fires; installing time clocks for employees just for the sake of learning efficiencies; starting a central purchase ordering system; and having accountability from department managers on a weekly basis in regards to hitting their targets as per their budget.

Hauser honed in on shared services, specifically with police departments and other items as well.

Although some of the ideas, which came fast and furious during this exciting meeting, may have been missed here, surely the top ones will come to light as the council members read their long list.

But can they do it all?

“We can tally up the votes for our favorites,” said Hauser. “Whichever ideas have the most votes can become the priorities.”

Which brings us back to Slattery’s number one stated priority– by working together and brainstorming perhaps this energized team can truly bring positive change to the borough.