ROSELAND — The town of Roseland is still basically broke, but its government is figuring out ways to pay past and current bills.

The Roseland Town Council approved claims Thursday night that included almost $44,000 in back wages to current and former town police officers, as well as small sums for two people owed money for work on the town park.

The officers are owed back pay from when the town ran out of funds last summer and could only make partial payments until the end of 2007.

Those owed wages from 2007 are: Marshal Craig Toner, $15,513; officer Aaron Catanzarite, $12,661; officer Grant Jones, $3,308; longtime Capt. Larry Miller, who left in December after 23 years, $7,033; and former Marshal Jack Tiller, $5,027. Tiller previously was paid nearly $2,400.

Miller and Tiller both left for other jobs because of the pay situation.

Also, park officer Don Sporleder is to be paid $360, and $75 is owed to Glen Klopfenstein for park maintenance work in 2007, Council President Liz McCombs said.

The money will be paid as soon as the town gets the funds, McCombs said. But she was unsure when that will be since the town has been using all of its available cash in 2008 to pay bills, some overdue from 2006 and 2007.

Deputy Clerk-Treasurer Mike Eby is exploring the possibility of the town issuing a bond to raise needed funds while the town waits on an audit report from the State Board of Accounts, McCombs said.

After three months of working together, the current town officials and Town Council members feel like they are really making progress in getting the town back to a place people want to live McCombs said.

There is still a long ways to go, she acknowledged after Thursday’s council meeting.

The session had no resemblance to the many cantankerous, stormy meetings of the last few years that caused much upset and resentment for town residents.

Instead, the 20 spectators felt free to ask questions and enter into discussions with the council.

During the meeting, the council heard about volunteers who plowed the park paths, others who mowed the park or took care of park playground and of other offers to help from town residents.

Once the weather stays warm, a couple with a business in town, Phil and Janet Stephens have volunteered to repair the many potholes in town streets, McCombs announced to applause.

“We appreciate all the people donating their time and money,” McCombs said. “It’s just incredible how the community is pulling together in this time of need. Roseland is going on. We’re going to prosper. Just give us the time to do it”

In other business, the council: