On Tuesday, May 13, the Borough Board of Burgesses held a vote for the proposed 2025-2026 budget. The proposed budget was $299,620, a $40,090 increase from last year’s budget. The proposed mil rate was .83, a .17 increase from last year’s rate.

During the budget deliberations, the burgesses discussed legal fees at length. Due to the proposed development at Castle Hill, and now the appeals from both sides, the Borough has thousands of dollars in legal fees each month, something all the burgesses know is not going to end soon.

The meeting started and Jay Maher, the Warden, addressed the crowd, “It is an honor and a pleasure to serve with like-minded people who strive to keep our immediate community the special place that it is.”

He asked the crowd to take a moment of silence with him in remembrance of “a good friend, a great friend to the Borough,” Jean St Jean.

“Jean set the standard in her several roles in borough zoning. As Borough Zoning Enforcer, she was fair, tough, and consistent, and those who challenged her resolve did so at their own peril,” Maher said.

Following the moment of silence, Maher told a story about a Borough resident that stood up at a meeting six years ago when he first became the warden. She said that she hoped that Maher, and the Board of Burgesses, “would exercise good governance.”

“I took this to mean to be prudent, to exercise good judgment, and be wise with taxpayer dollars … This year, good governance means something different to me. It’s recognizing the need to come to taxpayers to increase revenue,” Maher said.

He told the crowd that legal expenses this year are $51,000 to date, “almost three times what we had budgeted.”

“There is no doubt that this year’s budget is a big ask, and we need your support,” Maher said.

The motion to accept the budget as presented was opened and the vote was taken. There were exactly 20 people in attendance to vote, the amount stated in the Borough’s charter. Out of the 20 voters, 19 people voted to accept the budget, and only one was opposed.

The same votes carried for the mil rate.

After the votes were counted, the budget meeting was closed and the regular meeting began.

Board Of Burgesses Meeting

The regular meeting of the Board of Burgesses was short. Maher did not have a Warden’s Report, and the board moved right along to discuss trees. Though the trees & maintenance line item from the budget is exhausted for this year, there was much discussion of the trees at Burgess John Madzula’s house on Main Street.

Madzula explained that the issue is a civil matter between him and his neighbor, and he is waiting for his property to be properly surveyed to determine if the trees fall on his property, his neighbor’s property, or are the state’s responsibility.

Following the Tree Warden’s report, the burgesses briefly discussed the Zoning Officer’s report. Edmond Town Hall is querying the possibility of a “permanent, prefab gazebo structure” to sell concessions during the drive-in movies it hosts over the summer. Burgess Sarah Phillips explained that the Borough Historic District needs to approve the gazebo, and is still waiting for a rendering, map, and evaluation of sight lines from the road. Due to Edmond Town Hall falling in the Historic District limits, it needs to ensure the structure will not be seen from the road and follows the guidelines.

Phillips also discussed an issue with 69 Main Street not having any Borough Zoning permits or applications. This property also falls within Historic District limits and therefore needs Historic District approval to do any building.

Burgess Jim Gaston said that Joe Chapman, the Borough Zoning Officer, needs to go to the property and issue a cease and desist. It is a “tagged historic house,” as Maher and Phillips noted.

Maher said, “Jean St Jean would have been knocking on that door before they even swung one hammer.”

Following the discussion of zoning, Maher informed the board and public that he does not have an official start date on the Church Hill Road and Queen Street sidewalk project, but hopes to find out a “timeline on that project” soon.

Senior Burgess Chris Gardner updated the burgesses on the changing of the flag. The larger, summer flag was raised on Saturday, May 10. He informed the burgesses that the summer flag from last year is what is flying now, as Peggy Fillion mended the tattered edges.

At the end of the meeting, Maher talked once more about the budget. “Thank you for your support. It’s a big ask, and I don’t take it lightly.”

He added, “I really meant it when I said it’s a pleasure to serve with these people at this table to help our community stay the way it is to the best we can do. It’s a fight, we’re under assault.”

Gaston added, “Historic preservation is an everyday [battle].”

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Reporter Sam Cross can be reached at sam@thebee.com.