West Milford Senior citizens, parents of special children and those involved in the township recreation programs still don’t know the status of the Hillcrest Community Center. A joint meeting between the township council and board of education on Wednesday, July 16, ended with a promise to meet again, but no set date and no extension of the lease which expires Aug. 31. Most of the hour-long discussion centered on the condition of the more than 60-year-old building. Board president Michelle Fenwick told council there are many repairs that should have been completed before the current lease expired. She said a 2,000- square-foot section of the roof must be replaced, the driveway leading to the south parking lot must be repaved and exit doors and a ramp that aren’t American’s with Disabilities Act compliant must be replaced. She also noted some of the exterior doors are wooden and not fire-rated. Board member Drew Murray called the list of needed repairs “the bare minimum,” and noted “this is a health and safety matter.” Councilman Carmine Scangarello pointed out replacing a roof could result in a need for asbestos abatement or other costly problems and the work might not be done in a year. School Business Administrator Steven Cea noted it is a section of rubberized roof that was replaced in the 1950s that needs replacing. Asbestos insulation was used at that time. Township Attorney Fred Semrau advised both boards to stop focusing on their differences and try to move forward. If the board members only want to offer a short-term lease, they should make some concessions on their requests for repairs that benefit them as landlords for many years, he noted. Board member Robert Florian, who was principal of Hillcrest School at the time it closed, said “you didn’t get this building in this condition 25 years ago. We ask you to leave the building as good as you found it.” Mayor Bettina Bieri said some problems did exist before the township rented the building. Nolan pointed out the township made a number of repairs over the years and accused the board of “assuming we did nothing.” She suggested extending the current lease and Councilman Robert Nolan asked for an extension to Oct. 31 to allow more time to negotiate, but the board disagreed. “We aren’t there yet,” Murray said. The board invited council members to its Tuesday, July 22 meeting to continue the discussion, but council persons couldn’t commit. Council continued its discussion in executive session after the regular council meeting. A provision in the state’s Open Public Meetings Act allows for exclusion of the public when leasing property is being discussed. On Thursday, July 17, the board advertised for an executive session on the same matter to be held Tuesday, July 22, at 7 p.m., before the regular board meeting.