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, May 7th, 2025. The notice requirements provided for in the open public's meeting act public meetings act have been satisfied. Notice of this meeting was properly given by
transmission to the Aspberry Park Press and the Two River Times and by posting at the Burough Highlands Municipal Building and filing with the Burough Clerk all on January 1st, 2025. Items listed on the agenda are subject to change. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance 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 Chak here. Council
me here. Council President here. Mayor Brulan here. First, we have approval of minutes. April 16, 2025 meeting minutes. I'll offer second. Council member Svantes. Yes. Council Chap. Yes. Councelor Melik. Yes. Council President
Chesky. Yes. Mayor Bulan. Yes. Next we have I'm sorry. Motion carries to approve April 16th, 2025 meeting minutes. Next we have April 16th, 2025 executive session minutes. I'll offer second. Council member
Svantes, yes. Council Chak, yes. Council Melnik, yes. Council President Oeski, yes. Mayor Ban, yes. Motion carries to approve April 16, 2025 executive session minutes. Next, we have public hearing on proposed ordinance 02506 bond ordinance providing for sewer
utility improvements and the acquisition of sewer utility equipment appropriating 86,250. Therefore, and authorizing the issuance of 86,250 bonds and notes to finance a portion of the cost thereof authorized in and by the Burough Highlands in the
county of Mammoth, New Jersey. Does anyone have any questions before I open up the public hearing? No. Okay. And I will open this to the public. Does anyone have any questions regarding this bond ordinance uh to help
us uh upgrading our uh sanitary sewer? Seeing uh no comments from the public, I will close the public portion and I will offer this ordinance. I'll second. Council member Santes, yes. Council me, yes. Council President,
yes. Mayor Bular, yes. Motion carries. 02506 pass on second and final reading. Next we have 02507 bond ordinance providing for capital improvements and the acquisition of various capital equipment appropriating 1,44,150 therefore and authorizing the
issuance of 1,333,942 bonds and notes to finance a portion of the cost thereof authorized in and by the burough highlands in the county of Monmouth, New Jersey. Okay. Um this is just to read off what the
actual things that we're looking to purchase here. Various equipment for the police department. Um also uh new radios for the fire department and computers, acquisition of um various equipment to the fire department limited but not
included to a new uh pumper fire truck and a new F250 pickup truck. Also, this includes improvements to uh marine place uh incidental and that's what this is all
going to pay for. So, any questions? Then I'll open up the public portion. Any questions? Seeing none, I will close the public portion and offer this ordinance. Council member Spantes. Yes. We need a
second. Sorry. I'll second. Council member Svantes. Yes. Council member. Yes. Council. Yes. Council President Shepsky. Yes. Mayor Bulan. Yes. Motion carries. 02507 pass on second and final reading. Next we have introduction of proposed ordinance 02508
designating restricted parking in front of residents occupied by persons with disability. And this is Valley Street, correct? Yes. 36 Valley Street. Okay. Um I will offer this ordinance. I'll second.
Council member Santes. Yes. Council me. Yes. Councelor Melnik. Yes. Council passes. Yes. Mayor Bulan? Yes. Motion carries to pass 02408 on first reading with a public hearing to be held on May 21st, 2025. Next we have 02509 amending
chapter 3 general police regulations of the bureau of code of the bureau of violence to establish se section 3-27 sale of unregulated substances regulating the sale of phantom products. I will offer you one second. Can can we
just talk through this? We could talk through it. Sure. Just what what we are and aren't prohibiting now at this point just for the benefit of the public. So we we obviously know we have a dispensary that's opening up in town. talking about a prohibi prohibition on something that's similar to not equal to the same substance. So just can we just
talk about why? This substance uh is not regulated by the FDA. Uh it is currently in the state house where it has stalled from being um a banned substance in uh by the state of New Jersey. Um it is um
a again it's a it's a unregulated substance but it does have um psychotropic uh results. Um the cannabis is um highly regulated in fact regulated
more so than um alcohol. um and they need to have a license and this other product because it does not it's not regulated in any manner whatsoever. It can be sold anywhere unless it is specifically um forbidden
for sale or forbidden for sale within I believe we have the stipulations here inside of the ordinance. Um yes, 1,000 ft from a school or playground or park a park. Um so that um
right now it's being sold within 1,000 ft of our grammar school which uh many people find highly offensive. Um so a number of people have come to me and asked for this and um I worked with Andy
to get this together. So it is it cannot be sold or dispute or uh yeah it's within 1,000 ft yeah 1,000 ft of any school playground park or daycare facility in the burrow and then it also restricts um the sale in those areas
where it is permitted uh so that it's inside and not um on outside vendors or carts. It has to be sold inside the storefront. So it's not a complete prohibition on the substance but it it does impose those restrictions. Awesome. Right. Thanks. And I'm definitely supportive. Just wanted to make sure
that there was a clear distinction. We're not, you know, in conflict with what we're approving on. Exactly. It's it's serious stuff. I mean, all the research, it's been called it's like almost like heroin. So, well, and it also it interacts with other
drugs. So there's been instances where um people on other uh prescription drugs that because it's an unregulated substance, they don't know that it it interacts counterintuitively and some people have died from it. So we just
want to stop that. Stop that from happening. Absolutely. Absolutely. Thank you, ma'am. You got All right. So, uh roll call, please. Right. Council member Santes, yes. Council member Chil, yes. Council Melnik, yes. Council President, yes.
Mayor Bulan, yes. Motion carries to pass 0259 on first and first reading with the public hearing to be held on May 21st, 2025. Next we have 02510 amending chapter 21 zoning and land use regulations part one general
provisions article 2 definitions section 21-8 definitions and chapter 21 zoning and land use regulations part 4 zoning article 14 establishment of districts section 21-84B steep slopes and slump blocks of
the burough code of the burough highlands Okay, we went through this to uh clean up some inconsistencies that it was referring to subsections that no longer existed um and the original ordinances.
So, it didn't really deal with um proposed tree removal. So, we included a section in here. Um I'm just looking to get all the strikeouts. made it a little bit easier um to understand about and it it had like the sliding
scale of uh how great the um the slope was and then it had different percentages between each of each of the percentages of the slope. So it was really um ambiguous. it was ambiguous and we
clarified it and we made it easier to understand and easier for the tree commissioner uh to be able to do his job. So that is why we made these changes to this ordinance. Do I have an offer? I will. I'll second. Council
member Svante. Yes. Council. Yes. Council me. Yes. Council President Jesse? Yes. Mayor Bulard? Yes. Motion carries to pass 02510 on first reading with the public hearings be held on May 21st, 2025. Next we have resolution
before we move on tomorrow. Does that so enough time for the board to Thank you. Resolution 25- 110 awarding a fair and open contract for the pedestrian improvements to Marine Park Place Marine
Place East project. Before we vote on that, if uh Joe, if you could just uh explain a little bit about what we're doing. I know we're going to mirror uh some of what we did uh for the other side of Marine Place, but if you could just say what we're doing in this one. So yes, we
are hearing near the other side. So we're going to have a nice walkway, but in addition to that, they are going to put in a concrete that will go along the walkway. Uh so that will be something
that will be pleasing uh to cover up some of the issues of having as long and then Uh nice here stairwells and ramps will be built
along the new complex. Uh and we anticipate the project taking about 60 days. Uh and we are have a lot of work done in the factory uh on
nice construction activity right away. Nice. So that's going to speed up the process. It'll be in the process of an activity. Okay, perfect. Anyone else have any questions? I'll offer it. I'll second it. Council
member Vuvantes, yes. Council Chilac, abstain. Council Melnik, yes. Council President, yes. Mayor Bulan, yes. Motion carries to adopt resolution R2510. Next we have R25 111 authorizing the award of a non-fair and open contract for
professional construction administration and inspection services in connection with the Marine Place East pedestrian improvements project. I'll second council member. Yes. Council Chain. Council Melik. Yes. Council President. Yes. May everyone yes. Motion
carries to adopt resolution R2511. Next we have consent agenda. Mayor, would you like me to read the resolutions by title? Yes, please. R2112 authorizing the award of a contract for landscape services at Snug Harbor Skate Park.
R2113 calling for the restoration of energy taxes to municipalities. R2114 authorizing the award of a non-fair and open contract for professional services for wireless communications consulting services to FSD Enterprises LLC.
R25115 authorizing the payments of bills. R2116 authorizing the award of a non-fair and open contract for professional services for expert witness services on behalf of the Burough Highlands in a matter pending before the American Arbitration Association.
Um before um anyone acts on this one, I just want to point out two things and that's R2112 uh for the landscaping at the skate park and that is for um when we first built the skatepark, we said that we were going to plant some arborite to make a
separation between the park and the residents. So that'll absorb any you know a lot of the noise that's there. Right now we just have those little um lines as you were that go through the um the chain link fence. That's been good, but this will be a lot better and it'll
be a a natural way that we will control for noise. Um and privacy too, right? And privacy. Absolutely. Um and also uh the professional contract for wireless uh telecommunications. Uh, as everyone
in Highlands knows, one up on the hill, especially up by the high school, um, it's very hard to get any salt service at all. So, we're contracting with this service to, uh, put in a cell tower and, uh, we gave him a bunch of properties
that are burough owned that that he could look to, uh, see what's going to work the best. And, uh, so that's what those ones are about. And then the other one, the payment of bills. The payment of bills. Um, and that's it. Does anyone have anything else they want to say? Yep. I
wanted to ask about the uh 25-113. Are a lot of municipalities doing this or did we just um No, there's been a call through the um through the League of Municipalities to back this measure. And so, um, I
mean, anything to, um, to lower taxes is something we should be looking at and supporting at the state level. Good. So, that's what that one is about. And as I end up there, I'm very happy. Thank you. We have a cell tower.
Absolutely. Um, and that is Do I have an offer for the consent agenda? I'll offer. Thank you. I'll second. Council member Fantes. Yes. Council Sw. Yes. Council memban yes. Motion carries to adopt resolutions R2512 through
R25116. Next we have mayor support. Okay. Um okay. So, my report from April, um, I'm going to go right to emergency services and calls answers where first aid squad had 19, fire department 17,
and the police department 697. For code enforcement, there were 15 summons, four warnings, 22 reports, 21 inspections, 21 permits, and six uh, OPRAS went through code enforcement. For
the building department, we had 45 inspections, of which 31 passed, nine failed, five were not ready, and the building department issued 25 permits for our current projects. Uh, Portland Road uh that is wrapping up
with the uh pipe and uh spot repairs are ongoing. Uh the contractor is very um very hopeful that all of the work will be done including mil and pave before Memorial Day. So that'll be off the
uh off the the list of things to do. Um the asset uh activation grants that we uh got from the EDA for looking at the uh James T. White Clan plant improvements over there. Um, all of those reports were submitted on April
15th and we're just waiting for the last uh ch uh invoice from the planner and then we will get the full reimbursement of that $50,000. Um, the Jones Creek dredging that uh we dredged a portion on the
18th. Um, I am going to say here that the new test results on the spoils placed on the beach showed no exceedences of the New Jersey D soil rem remediation standards. Um, I don't know if you would like to add to that at all
about the testing from those beach spoils. Uh, yeah. So, we tested the spoils about six or seven days ago. We got the lab to get results like pretty much daily. So we got the first initial batch results earlier in the week and
today we got the trial batch. Uh but it's come back the same similar results to what we have about 2 years ago. Uh so it's been steady. Um so shift and uh yeah.
Okay. Excellent. Good to hear. Y good to confirm I should say. Um, okay. Going over to planned projects uh for this year, we have Washington Avenue paving and that will be from Marine Place to Cheryl that's been
awarded and we're looking to start that sometime this month. You'll see a lot of markings on the street in that area. Um, the Shore Drive pedestrian improvements that is also been awarded already and that is also looking to start in May. Uh
the engineer already gave us a little briefing on the uh Marine Place elevated walkway. Uh so we awarded that today. So most likely that would be for uh end of maybe a June start. Yeah, we
got probably June. Okay, we'll see. Black Rock is already that one we have to work on. I'm sorry. My practitioner sign. Okay. Excellent. And you said 60 days for that one, right? Yeah.
Ah, makes sense. Yeah. Okay. Um, Frank Hall Park update. Uh we had environmental review on April looking to go out to bid this month or next month. So first last week so that we environmental
act no further action there's no remediation needed. Um so that we have for slow response but we'll have no duration. Okay. Okay.
Um and then the last one is uh Overlook Park creation and uh that is in we're going to be doing that with Frank Hall. So those two will uh get bid together and likely awarded together as well.
Um, no other movement on these other uh projects that have been they just have to be permitted and awarded. We're in a waiting game with D and GRTOR um improvements. We're going
to move that over into 2026 projects uh because it's we've have enough projects to do in this year to get completed and done well. Uh we are waiting to hear back from our um that hometown grant for the
um Captain Joshua Huie statue in bronze. So hopefully we're going to be hearing about that before the end of May. Um and we're also looking to move forward with an imple implementation grant after the Army Corps um approves
our rep ship living shoreline over at Rep's Park. That's part where we'll do some plantings and um rip wrap and other beach restoration there. Um for the overpass walkway on
Route 36 um to link uh Kujan Field with the other side of 36 through an overpass that would go over the highway. Um we did not get the United States Department of Transportation grants um on the
federal level. So, now we're looking to um other options for both federal, state, and county governments to see if uh they can't help us with that grant funding. And that's what I have. Next, we have administrators report.
We should stagger ours, too. You should make yours on the Anything you'd like to add, though. I have something else. Okay. I can throw a couple out there. All righty. Oh, that's right. You're 250. Yes. Two things. Um the uh last
Wednesday the uh school board had their budget meeting and uh while their um budgets are taxes are are going up minimally um high Atlantic Highlands
taxes will go down uh $260,328 and Highland taxes will go up 385,700. How do you say? Um, it's kind of simple. The formula that's in place right now for the two towns is based
solely on property values, unequalized property valuations with no consideration of enrollment. Um, just to give you a an idea, uh, Atlantic Highlands Elementary has 300 students, Highlands has 150. When you go to high
school, Highlands has about 125 and Atlantic Islands has about 140. So in total, Highlands has 275 students and Atlantic Highlands has 471. Um if you do the math, you'll cry
in terms of the taxes paid by the town divided by the number of students. So it just gives us all a really good reason to hope for and and do what we can to move to regionalization with SEI. On the one hand, who are they going to bring?
they're going to bring maybe 40 kids and that'll take a couple of years to get all 40 because they have the right to finish the school that they're in. Uh but what it will toll for is a brand new formula that will include enrollment. Um
so God will yes in the near future um the Supreme Court the state supreme court will rule on whether CBrite indeed has the right to leave and if they say yes then Ocean Court and Shore region will have no other reason nothing else to keep suing for so we can hopefully
push ahead. When when do you when will that ruling come down like you know they've had it since December. Yeah. So, you'd want to hope that they'd look at it and say, "The last court that had it, that this has been denied in its
original filing and then appealed twice and denied." And the last denial came from a three judge panel that said, "No, there's no rationale for moving this forward." and the state attorney general
wrote a letter um indicating that there was no no grounds to stand on. So, God willing, it will go and then we can move forward. Um so, that's one thing. And the other I was to a meeting again uh
last week that the county has every few months to talk about um Mammoth 250 which next year will be the 250th anniversary of the revolution and the county is doing all sorts of things. um all sorts of contests if there's any
artists particularly they have several divisions for art and they the part I like is they've picked 10 10 events that they would like our artists um to to uh do something with and two of them are in
highlands one will be the uh battle of Davis which probably 80% of the town had no clue it happened um but there was a a skirmish on on Navy kind of between
Rogers and Wadell Street. And um we are actually moving forward with the Daughters of the American Revolution to do a a wonderful um signage and whatever to commemorate that and that signage will be on the grounds of the elementary
school close to Wateridge. And another that they want paintings about this kind of horses, but the hanging of Joshua Hetty, I don't know how you paint that. That's for the artists to figure out. The artist to figure out, but they've picked 10 items that they think are are
key for mamas to celebrate. And here's two of them right in high. So, I think that's great. Oh, and the home sale is going to be right off Sandy Hook and in the river. Yes, the upsale is coming through and I believe they're staying uh by Sandy Hook for two nights. So, it could be very cool. Oh, that's great.
So, um, Mammoth250, um, Mammoth Mammoth NJ250.org is their website and there's all sorts of stuff on there. They have all sorts of contests and things to look into. So, that's pretty cool.
You want to talk about Cinco de Highlands? I can remember. Cinco de Highlands was great. Yeah, over 225 people came. I think it's getting better and better as we go. Very very positive people, you know.
Yeah. Yeah. Even getting back and the weather was good and everything worked out really well. That's very good. Even Monday, you know, that was raining face, but people came in also from all over the place. Oh, that's great. So, very positive. Very good. But we also have
coming up on the 17th and 18th the uh Roar on the River boat races. And on the 17th on Saturday uh at the Veterans Park there will be um well like a festival. It's going to be somewhat like the uh uh October Fest.
They'll be selling beer and wine, selling food, and you will watch the the skips the smaller boats from from that area. They don't they don't have that large of a course. So that runs from, I believe, 1 to 5:00 pm on Saturday. Then
on Sunday is the uh the big boat races starting at 1:00 with the large uh cigarette boats. Cigarette. Well, no, they don't. That's the cigarette. It's different than I mean, they go just as fast, I suppose. Yeah, power boats. Really, really fast. So, that will be on
Sunday. So, that will be uh uh really exciting. Was very exciting last year. So, uh we look forward to that. What did you do with the plan results? Did that happen? It never happened. No, we it it was actually an insurance
issue. You know, it was mentioned to the uh OPA. They're they're the ones that belong to the organization that all the boat boat racers and it it was just too too much to uh to ask for it. They're on
the water all the time, but they're not a professional racer. So, that's the difference. Yeah. I was thinking maybe the JP thing we should we have a reserve. Yeah. When we have Yeah. When that before that.
Yeah. That would that would be very nice. Very very nice. And uh what else? I guess that's it for now I can think of. Okay. Anyone else with any updates? No.
Okay. Um, can we have the public portion statement? Public portion. Individuals wishing to address the council shall be recognized by the presiding officer and shall give their name, address, and the group if any they represent. Although the council encourages public participation, it reserves the right through its presiding officer to
terminate remarks to andor by any individuals not in keeping with the conduct of a proper and efficient meeting. If any individuals 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, appointment,
termination of employment, negotiations, terms and conditions of employment, evaluation of the performance of, promotion or discipline of any specific or prospective or current employee. There's a 3minut time limit for your comments. Please start us off. Good evening everyone. My name is
Susan Mckitis and while I live at 63 Pate Drive in Atlantic Highlands, I lived in Highlands for many years. On behalf of Food and Water Watch, which I'm here to represent, I'm here to ask for your support. Food and Water Watch has brought together thousands of
volunteers and more than 2 million supporters to fight for sustainable food, clean water, and a livable climate for all of us. The New Jersey legislature will be considering the Super Fund Act S3545
A4696, a bill that would force polluters to pay for the damage they cause to our environment. The bill has already been passed by the New Jersey State Environmental Committee and the New Jersey Assembly Environmental Committee.
It is similar to bills passed by New York and Vermont. As a coastal community, you know better than most that Highlands is vulnerable to the effects of climate change. If the Super Fund Act is passed, any municipality in
need of climate adaptation and resilience projects would be able to apply for funds raised by the act. This is a great opportunity for Highlands to support a bill that could provide funding at no cost to taxpayers.
Now more than ever, municipalities are struggling to offset the loss of federal funding for projects that would help make towns more resilient against climate change disasters. I'm sure Highlands is no stranger to that. Otherwise county municipalities
include Esport, Atlantic Highlands, Red Bay, and War. They have already signed on with their support. Will you kindly support this bill by resolution at your next council meeting? I have provided a summary document and a
sample resolution for your consideration and I will leave this as all of you. Many thanks in advance for your anticipated support and I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you. Any questions? Thank you for championing this issue. Very important. Hope that's
something that can Absolutely. Where will the money come from? I'm sorry. Where will the money come from? If if there's a a situation in say highlands, we need help. It will be based on grants that will be applied. The New Jersey
Department of Environmental Protection will be charged with holding on to the funds and is actually backward for the pollution that large polluters have provided in the last 20 years. And so it has been scientifically measured. These
are the big Oh, sure. No, no, I Yeah, but it it is expected to raise billions of dollars if we look at New York and I see. Very good. Thank you again. Thank
you. Thank you very much for your time. Okay. Hi, my name is 34. I just wanted to circle back of those on behalf of the beach association. We would like to have the results of the test of the soil if
that's okay. Y document report and I'll much appreciate. Thanks. Absolutely. Central Avenue thing. Um, you sent the board
sent an email to the mayor and council on April 25th. You've not received any response yet and I'm wondering you're planning on responding to it. Go ahead. Actually, I um I did receive another uh email about um documents for an over request from
Marino, and I supplied all that information today. So, I guess it's probably just going to have to go through um so you'll get the um the permit, the original reports, uh and then when the new report is available,
um the letter we received from D. Uh and everything. The big concern for us as I'm sure it is for everybody is because we are owners of the beach and we are ultimately reliable. We just want to make sure that it is safe for people to be on especially with coming in the next couple weeks. So thank you very much.
Absolutely. Lassios, would you like to have anything to say? No, you're good. Eileen. No. Do you have any questions or comments? Yes. No.
No. You're good. Okay. All right. Then I'm going to close the public comment. Executive session. Executive session will be held following the regular council meeting. Prior to each executive session, the burough council will convene in open session at which time a resolution will be adopted in accordance
with NJSA 104-13. No formal action will be taken during executive session. Resolution to enter executive session. Be it resolved that the following portion of this meeting shall not be open to the public. Be it further resolved that private private consideration is deemed required and is permitted because of the
following not exceptions set forth in the act. litigation, attorney client privilege, rent leveling, board. Be it further resolved that is anticipated that the matters to be considered in private may be disclosed to the public at a later date when the need for privacy no longer exists.
I will make that offer. I'll second. All in favor? I. Thank you. Um, executive session entered in at 7:37. Please everybody exit. Go. I'd like to make a motion to end the
public meeting. I'll second. All in favor? Thank you. Meeting adjourned at 801. I have