Mayor, would you like to proceed? >> Yes, please. >> Good evening. This is the meeting of the Burough Highlands Mayor and Council regular meeting on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. The notice requirements provided for in the open public meetings act have been satisfied. Notice of this meeting was properly given by tr was properly
given by transmission to the aspirate park press and the two river times by posting at the burough highlands municipal building and website and filing with the burough clerk all on January 1st 2026. Items listed on the agenda are subject to change. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance
to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> I will now do roll call. Council member Svantes >> here. >> Council member Schlack
>> here. Council Melnik >> here. >> Council President Oeski. >> Mayor Ruan >> here. >> Next we have approval of minutes April 1st, 2026 meeting minutes. >> I'll offer second.
>> Council member Svantes. >> Council member Chal. >> Yes. Mr. Mel. >> Yes. >> Mayor BL. >> Yes. >> Motion carries to approve April 1st, 2026 meeting minutes. Next, we have public hearing on proposed ordinance 02608 designating restricted parking in
front of residents occupied by persons with disability. >> Any question on this from table? No. Okay. >> Sir, do you have any questions about this ordinance? >> Okay. Seeing no questions, I will close the public portion.
>> Can I have an offer, please? >> I will offer. >> I'll second. >> Council member Santes, >> yes. >> Council Chilac, >> yes. >> Council Melnik, >> yes. >> Mayor Bulan, >> yes. >> Motion carries. O2608 pass on second and final reading. Next, we have introduction of proposed ordinance
02609, ordinance to exceed the municipal budget appropriations limit and to establish a cap tank. Mike, would you like to um go through what that entails? >> Basically, what the cat bank, it allows
you to um to bank for up to two years. You can do for anything in excess of what you could have gone up um so you can have it for the next two succeeding budgets if in case you need to use it. So, we're banking in the amount of
155,456. Um, basically your analogy of basically like a credit card in case we need it. >> Um, but that's it in a nutshell. >> Yeah. Our CFO likes to call it the credit card you you keep in the drawer and you hopefully never have to use.
>> Correct. >> Yes. >> But we have to put it out there so that just in case something falls us, you never know what's going to happen. >> Emergency. >> Exactly. >> Okay. Um, an offer. >> I'll offer. >> I'll second. >> Council member Santes.
>> Yes. >> Council member Jalac. >> Yes. >> Council member Melnik. >> Yes. >> Mayor Bulant. >> Yes. >> Motion carries to pass 02609 on first reading with a public hearing to be held on May 6th, 2026. Next we
have 02610 amending chapter 21 zoning and land use regulations section 21-65.9 grading and tutorial removal section 21-84B steep slopes and slump blocks section 21-99
enforcement and section 21-107B fees of the code of the burough highlands. This is coming from the construction official to just update uh the feed schedule and uh close a couple of um loose language uh that was in the
previous ordinance. >> Sounds good. I'll offer. >> I'll second. >> Council member Santes, >> yes. >> Council member Chelac, >> yes. >> Council member Melnik, >> yes. >> Mayor Bulant, >> yes. Motion carries to pass 02610 on
first reading with a public hearing to be held on May 20th, 2026. Next resolution R26097, introduction of 2026 municipal budget. >> Go ahead. Sure. Uh I just wanted to hit a couple of things uh on the
introduction. some of the um the biggest uh points on it projecting a 1.7 cent tax decrease um based on the current val values but that could be subject to uh tax appeals that are expected to be
heard um shortly. Um I want to hit on our valuation increased another 8.7% um from in 2025 1 billion340 380,200 thou 200 to 2026 1 million 1
billion45696,100 some of the biggest drive actually the biggest driver in the appropriation The biggest change that we had is health benefits which increased our total increase in appropriations went at $855,000.
$540,000 of that was health benefits. Um they went up 36.5% this year. We tried multiple times last year to get out of the state health benefits. We tried to go with some of the local health insurance funds. We
couldn't go directly with say Etna or Blue Cross Blue Shield because we were too small and it would have put us in a smaller group which may have cost us more money. So this is definitely something that we're going to have to look towards again next year because
they're projecting another 20%. So in the last 3 years it's gone up 20 22 36 12 and projected for another 20 next year. Um, the other large driver were were contractual payroll increases
that went up 232,500. Um, and finally, the last thing I want to touch base on is capital improvement. Um, we have available for 2026 is 171,140.
And what that takes care of is the 5% down payment that we're required to put when we go out to bond for improvements. Um, as of now, that amount would allow us to go out to bond for 3.4 million.
Um, and I'm going to pass around the capital budget to you, the the draft that we have right now. So, we're going to have to take a pretty strong look at it because what I have now is about 3.8 million that we're going to have to
shave about 400,000 off of that. So, I will uh distribute that to everyone tomorrow and the public hearing on the budget is May 20th. That's it.
>> Any questions? So, you said how much has to be shaved off, Micah, >> for the capital as it is right now? About 400,000. >> So, that would mean across the board different departments where >> project no projects projects capital
improvements. Oh, okay. Okay. Okay. I see. All right. >> Hey, Mike, my my reading of that too is like the biggest driver there is going to be the the group insurance, but like to be extended, it's the same population. It's the same level of benefits. It's not as if we're looking to to increase anything.
>> So, it's just simply a function of >> we don't have enough people to get the better rate, >> right? >> Just want to make it sure it's clear that this is this is nothing other than status quo in terms of benefits to our existing employees. and now we are going to pay a substantial premium in excess
of last year. And so we needed at least 50 full-time employees to not be in what they call the Snowberg plan. >> Uh and I think I believe we're at like 32 somewhere around there. Low 30s. So >> yeah, >> what kind of stuff the state
>> it's across the board even in the private sector. I know with our employees it's it's gone up you know not quite as much as that by 17 18% per year for the last I don't know 5 years >> it's ridiculous how much it costs you know
>> maybe Congress could do something who knows >> well maybe we could do something with other towns >> um it would be ideal if we could hop onto the county's uh plan >> but of course they don't want any part of that
>> but they Oh. Um, but >> but then they're going to want all the towns are going to want to get in. >> Well, and and that would be ideal because then everybody go down big. >> Yes. A much bigger pool. >> Anyway, join. >> Well, I I don't know. I don't know if
the county is going to be too big of a grab. But if like something that we talk about at the Beayshores mayors a lot is um to see if we can't the 10 towns together come together to do something like this. Um, so we'll see.
>> Talks are ongoing. >> Okay. >> Thank you guys. >> You got it. Any other questions? >> No. >> Okay. Then I will uh make an offer to um
for this uh the resolution. >> I'll second. >> Council member Smatz. >> Yes. >> Council member Chap. >> Yes. >> Council me. >> Yes. >> Mayor Ban. >> Yes. Motion carries. Resolution R 260 um097.
Next we have R26098 approving an application for persontoerson transfer of liquor license 1317-33-016-00003. Um, as I discussed earlier, this is um transferring Doris and Ed's license over to their former employees, Junior and
Boys, over at um Highlands Cafe. Any questions on this one? >> Uh, I'll make an offer on this. >> I'll second. >> Council member Santis, >> Council Member Chak, >> yes. >> Councelor Melnik, >> yes. >> Mayor Bulan,
>> yes. Motion carries to adopt resolution R26098. Next we have consent agenda. Mayor, would you like me to read the resolutions by title? >> Yes, please. R26 099 self-examination of budget R26100
awarding a contract to AJ Leman appraisal LLC for an appraisal of 179 Navisync Avenue block 37 lot 10 R 26101 authorizing shared services agreement between the Burough Highlands and the
Burough Sebrite for street sweeping services R260 102 authorizing shared services agreement between the Burough Highlands and the Burough Sebrite for the provision of lifeguard operations for from the burrow of Sebrite. R26103
authorizing payment of bills. R26104 authorizing execution of chief of police employment contract. R26105 authorizing refund of certificate of inspection over payments.
Um just to explain um our 26100 uh the owners the current owners of 179 which is right next to us um the little uh red house uh they um approached
um Mr. Michelle, >> Chief Hurtton approached the burrow and uh so we decided to get this appraisal of the property which uh if that all works out, the long- aaited uh home for
the first aid squad and DPW trucks um would live up there and we could connect the parking lots, you know, and it could just be a whole municipal complex. So, that's why that's why we're asking for that appraisal. >> That's good. Is there anything else on the consent agenda that anyone has any
questions on? >> I have a point about the the payment of bills always look. The uh community center spent almost I don't know $4,900 on a new coffee machine and I just wondered how how does that process go?
does would does who decides uh where to purchase it uh is you know I'm sure they needed it but just walk me through the procedure. >> So they go look at quotes um >> that would be Jackie would do that.
>> Okay. Okay. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We the old one that we had >> for hall. >> Okay. >> It was last night. >> Yeah. No. Okay. >> And the old one from the former Earl
Hall was from from when right like right after Sandy. So it's it's it's >> it's used from the job. >> Okay. All right. That's all I have. I just I wanted to know how the process worked. Okay. So, um,
I'll offer >> Okay. For consent agenda. >> A second. >> Leo got me. >> Council member Santis. >> Yes. >> Council Matella. >> Yes. >> Money. >> Just want to say thank you to Chief Burton and looking forward to another four years with this 104. So, yes.
>> Yes. >> And yes for me. >> Uh, Mayor BL. Thank you. Motion carries to adopt resolution R2699 through R26105. Next we have other business location of Bay Avenue. A discussion.
>> Okay. So, uh, a couple of times in this past year, um, I've had, uh, uh, Joe Barers, who's the county planner, has been here for a number of meetings, uh, regarding Bay Avenue redevelopment, and he, um, inquired if the burrow would
like to have its roads back, Bay Avenue, London, and that little section of Water Witch. Um because he said the mission of Padding County roads are to connect communities together, but this one actually bisects us and none of those
roads go to another municipality. Um so what it would entail, I'm sure everyone read the bits that um uh that Brian sent over to us. It's really a lot of paperwork. They have a
meeting. We have a meeting. Then we make arrangements for uh things like dispositions of all of the county signage. Um all of the polls that they have. Um but then it would it'll cost them money
to remove them. I know it cost them money to put them in, but where's that cost benefit? So that that'll all be discussions that we would be having. The good thing, um, I also spoke with Mayor George Hoff um, in Kingsburg because they did something very similar in their
area of redevelopment because the county has particular rules about what you can do on when you're on an adjacent property to a county road. You have to do like a 30 foot right away to the count, you know, deed it over to the
county. It's all very stringent. Um, there's a lot of line of sight issues. there's how big your curb cuts can be. And so it it's just um an impediment to getting more people going on Bay Avenue because they have to before they do anything even go to the land use board,
they have to go to the county and get their plans blessed there before they can even come to us. So we talked about it a couple of times and I said, you know, let's just look into it and see um if this would be a good thing for us.
Um, the only downside that I see is if the county wants us to pay for all the signs and all that other kind of stuff, but I'm sure we could make an arrangement because then they don't have to take care of the roads anymore. So, that's me being a very positive person.
And, uh, apparently um the Joe, the planner, he um spoke with the county engineer and the county engineer is in agreement. So that's a a huge um positive in our direction. So hopefully we can continue the discussion and get
this done. It would uh it would take a uh ordinance from the county and then we would do an ordinance and then we have to file it with uh back at the county to you know make it have it all blessed. So it's a just paperwork and meetings.
There's no real crazy stuff, but we would do an agreement between us and the county of what their expectations are and what our expectations are. >> I'm thinking of how long it took. We have to keep waiting for the county to pave the roads if it's, you know, after this >> the same thing.
>> Right. >> So then we could have moved forward with that. It had not been if we had this new plan and just pay for it though. >> Right. Right. But no, we did pay. They didn't just do it for free. Um, but uh
the last time a road was vacated by the burrow was in 1982, I want to say, and that was the road that leads up to East Point >> Scic Drive. >> Yeah. >> Um, so it we've done it before, so I think there's a lot more pluses than
there are minuses in this instance. Um, and so far at this stage of discussions, but that's really what this uh I just wanted to bring everybody in at one time. So, uh, we could, you know, I could let you know exactly what that whole business is about. I think it
would be good for the town. >> All right. I do want to very briefly, I know we have the term uh vacation of the road noted on the agenda. Technically, I think it would be a discontinuence because it's not getting rid of the road
entirely. It's going from county jurisdiction to the burough jurisdiction. So just in case >> anyone who was wondering about that one sure the formal process but yes your explanation was >> spot on. >> Thank you sir.
>> Um that's all I have if anyone has any questions. Okay and Mike want to touch on a couple of things. Um, >> I uh passed around my uh my monthly report and other than the budget
explanations, I don't really have anything else to add. >> Okay. >> Nope. Okay. Anyone know anything else before we go into public portion? >> For public portion and statement, please. Individuals wishing to address the council shall be recognized by the
presiding officer and shall give their name, address, and the group of any they represent. Although the council encourages public participation, it reserves the right through its presiding officer to terminate remarks to andor by any individual not in keeping with the conduct of a proper and efficient meeting. If any individual refuses to
conduct themselves in a proper manner, they will be removed from the meeting. The council will not during the public portion of this meeting discuss matters involving employment, appointments, termination of employment, negotiations, terms and conditions of employment, evaluation of the performance of
promotion or discipline of any spec specific or prospective or current employee. There's a threeminut time limit for your comments. Would anyone like to make comments? Yes, I think you just have to press the little button. >> And if you could just give us your name
and address for the clerk, >> uh Richard Jones for Mountain Street. >> Uh I just had a I guess a question at this point about the consent agenda. So there's a shared services of the street
sweeper between Seabbrite and Highlands. I think in the last meeting there was a appropriation for purchasing a new street sweeper. It just seems to me that a street sweeper I I don't know if the sweeping
would be done by our equipment or I guess I'm just a little concerned because I would think that street sweeping and SBR would be extreme duty per street sweeper with all the sand that might accumulate on the streets there versus high. So, I don't
know if it's like a 50/50 cost sharing, but it seems to be that there might be more wear on the machine uh uh use and see right than in house. So,
that >> is there a question or >> Well, I guess the question is is a 50/50 cost sharing or how how is the cost sharing? It's broken down in the uh in the resolution, but it's um >> well, first off, we are buying a new sweet street sweeper, but our old street
sweeper is still operational. That's the one that's going to be going to Sebre. >> Okay. So, the older machine will be >> in exchange for the shared service, we do a shared service with them for lifeguards so that they train their
lifeguards, outfit them, and do all this other jazz. Um I think it's it's $18,000 was the total amount for the street sweeping. Okay. >> And that deducts from our bill for them uh giving us not giving us but for us
having uh using their uh lifeguards for the season in our Bay Beaches. >> Uh thanks for the clarification. >> Absolutely. Good evening. My name is Rosemary Vali, 321 323 Shore Drive, Highlands. I wanted
to ask a question uh because I have reached out repeatedly to the Highlands Elementary School groundskeeper and I believe the road which was just discussed is a county road on water witch. There has
been substantial erosion to the sidewalk and boulders of concrete that not only I have picked up but other um I'm going to just say residents have removed. And I reached out first
to the school which told me it was a county road. I went to the county who came back and told me it was a burrow responsibility and I spoke two weeks ago to the groundskeeper at uh who's I guess housed up at Henry Hudson and he
explained to me that right now they're doing we're working with a grant to plant the trees which look great at the at the elementary school grounds but nothing has been resolved for the erosion and the brokenness of the sidewalk. And I was just wondering, you
know, I've sent emails. Um, mayor, as you know, I I walk and I've reached out to JCPNL about lamp lights on the highway. Still to no avail. They've not been fixed. I And the the one street lamp that I'm going totally off subject
doesn't even have a a plaque on it. >> So, there's no number. So, we >> don't know if it's Verizon or JCPO. >> Spoke to the guys who were digging. I I mean, I've been all over New Jersey trying to get a lamp changed or a light put up. But to go back to your original
question, the you're not talking about Lyndon. You're talking about the portion of Water Witch >> heading east from 36 to the ends of London where they intersect. That is a border road. >> That is >> and we have put in for a grant to do that work uh for to replace those
sidewalks. >> Okay. So, that's great. So, now I have clarity on that. I could take it off my radar. So that will be done because the the trees have gone in in the last 24 hours. So I thought that there were things happening there but what I had presented was kind of like just
dismissed. So that's great. Um the other item that I wanted to just ask about was based on code enforcement for my fellow neighbors and residents here. I have uh noticed that a number of homes have
debris uh still down tree branches that weren't uh collected because I guess they weren't curbside for our brush collection which took place last week. How do we have our code enforcer go around to I don't want to say give fines
but how do we clean up certain areas where I find people are just not not I don't want to say taking care of it but just dumping garbage and I I don't want to sound like someone who is looking at it from a personal value or
from you know like having our home values uh compromised. We know that's not the case. Highlands is like off the charts right now with anybody coming to buy or live or sell here. So, how do we get our code enforcer or is it Spencer
and the DPW team that goes around? Because I pick up garbage, I move things. I try to help, but I just feel like now it's been years. It just there's there's just seems to be no consistency with our um burrow group
that do things. So, >> okay, that's a lot, but I'm going to take them one at a time. Um, and that is, uh, first off, DPW cannot go onto private property to remove anything. >> Okay. >> Um, uh, people should be bringing their
stuff to the curb as it's outlined in our ordinance. Um, and the code enforcer generally does not give out tickets on the fly. He generally comes to a property once he's made aware of where it is and what the problem is and he issues them a warning and then he says,
"Okay, clean it up in a week. I'll be back to inspect and if they still don't do it, that's when they get a ticket." >> Okay. So, >> you always give somebody a chance to rectify the situation. >> I would assume that that would be the case because that's how it's handled. But uh just from my own experience with
what's you know a couple of the places that I I would like to point out but won't at this time uh nothing it's been years nothing has uh actually been cleaned up or done. So that's why I was questioning the code enforcer. >> Are these abandoned properties or they
>> No, they're not. Uh actually one is a couple of houses down from me. they seem to be um people who just collect things on the front porch and and stuff like that and and it's just now it's uh it's a little out of control. It just kind of
makes you know it'll uncomfortable for everybody. And I'm not looking I'm not a picky person. I just believe in this town. I'm in this town. I just started a business here and I'm very excited about everything and the growth. Sometimes if you don't say it, if you don't bring it
to anyone's attention, it could be missed. Um, we just adopted the highway on Miller uh from our small business point of view. We're going to be cleaning up a specific area and planting there, you know, and not just for uh I'm
going to say marketing, but just because it's such a traveled miller, like thousands of cars go up and down, so why not make it look pretty, you know, to show people that, you know, we do care. So that's that's what I'm all about. That's what I'm trying to teach my
children, you know, to make a place better or leave it better than you found it. But I just find that, you know, in these instances with these homes in certain areas that it's been years and um I gave it the benefit of the doubt for the last 6 months because of two
major storms and things that have happened with the weather and I'm just saying now I have to bring it to somebody's attention because I could send you pictures. I have emails. I, as you know, I kind of like take pictures, walk around, but I I just don't want to
point anybody out from either the burrow's responsibility or from, you know, myself as a neighbor or a resident's responsibility. So, that's why I wanted to just let everybody know what I was thinking. >> Okay, not a problem.
Thank you. Does anyone have anything else? Before I move to uh Okay, I will close public portion and I will make a motion to adjurnn. >> I will second. All
>> in favor? I I >> thank you. Meeting adjourned at 7:30.