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, July 17th, 2026. The notice requirements provided for in the open public meetings act have
been satisfied. Notice that this meeting was properly given by transmission to the Aspire Park Press and the Two River Times by posting at the Burough Highlands Municipal Building and website and filing with Bor Clark all on January 1st, 2026. Items listed on the agenda are subject to change. Please stand for
the pledge of allegiance. I aliance 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 Santes >> right here. >> Council Chalak >> here. >> C Melnik >> here. >> Council President >> here. >> Mayor Bulan >> here. >> Thank you. First, we have proclamation honoring the 100th anniversary of Gertude Edely's historic swim across
English Channel. Thank you. Um, I'm going to preface this by saying that uh, Walt Gunther has come up with a photograph that has not been seen in probably 100 years because it was
mistagged as being in a different uh, town. And um that is the picture of our mayor at the time handing her her um diamond crusted um platinum watch that
the town gave her. And um uh Gertrude Edel's niece is going to be at the tree fest and Walt wants to recreate the scene with this proclamation and a very nice frame and me giving that to her. So
it would be a nice just 100 years later type of thing. Um and so uh for the proclamation whereas Gertude Edie was born on October 23rd of 1906 in New York City to German
immigrants who owned a butcher shop. She was the third of six children. In the summer she um her parents took her to Highlands where her father taught them all how to swim in the Shbury River. Between the ages of 15 and 19, she set
29 national and world records. At the 1924 Paris Olympic Games, she won a gold medal as part of the US 400 meter relay tame and two individual bronze medals in the 100 meter and the 400 meter races.
Whereas on June 15th, 1925, she swam the 21 mile distance from the battery in New York City to Sandy Hook in 7 hours 11 minutes 30 seconds. She broke the men's record and held that time record for 81
years. Amazing. And whereas on October I'm sorry uh August 18th 2020 sorry 20 uh 1925 GU made her first
attempt to swing swim across the channel and her trainer Yabz Wolf uh believing that she was in trouble touched her and thus disqualified her after 17 miles with only six miles to go. Some
speculated that he did not want her to succeed. Uh to train for her second attempt, she began training with Bill Burgess who successfully swam the English Channel in 1911 after 19 attempts.
Whereas uh at 7:08 a.m. on August 6th, 1926, Churu began her sto his historic swim at Cap Griez in France. 14 hours and 34 minutes later, she came aboard at
King'stown Kent. Italy became not only the first woman to swim across the English Channel, but also did it faster than the five men who had done it before her. She returned home to the first New York City ticker tape parade ever held for a woman celebrating her as an
American hero. Whereas on August 31 of 1926, Highlands welcomed Gertude Etally home with a parade. She led um at the wheel of her roadster automobile. Mayor John
L. Ultraman presented her with a diamondstudded platinum wristwatch, a gift from the people of Highlands. Whereas on August 14th, 1975, Highlands dedicated the Gertude Edley Park near the bridge in her honor. After
completing some renovations, the park was rededicated to her on August 21 of 2003. She was able to attend both ceremonies. Now therefore, be it resolved that on the occasion of Gertude Etley's 100th
anniversary of her historic swim, the Highlands Council hereby proclaims August 15 of 2026 a day of celebration to honor her accomplishments and urges all citizens to join in this marriage.
Very nice. Yes. Okay, >> next we have approval of minutes June 17, 2026 meeting minutes. >> All second. >> Council member Svantes. >> Council Chellac,
>> yes. >> Council Melnik, >> yes. >> Council President Chesky, >> yes. >> Mayor Bon, >> yes. >> Motion carries to approve June 17, 2026 meeting minutes. Next, we have an introduction of proposed ordinances. O2617 bond ordinance providing for various capital improvements and the
acquisition of various capital equipment appropriating 2,513,635 therefore and authorizing the issuance of 1,920,129 bonds and notes to finance a portion of the cost thereof authorized in and by
the burough highlands in the county of Mmouth futures. Mike, before we vote on these, could you outline uh the um the improvements that we are looking to fund with this bond? Sure.
Southeast actually two grants for that part this year next year. uh new police sh for um panels for parks. So hopefully that
um store uh plan community center improvements to improve that. um also purchased the property for 179 and additional uh 400,000
500,000 last year for the fire department. >> Thank you. >> Um can I get an offer? >> I'll offer. >> I'll second. >> Council member sponsor. >> Yes. >> Council Chak. >> Yes. >> Councelor Melnik. >> Yes.
>> Council President. >> Yes. >> Mayor Ban. >> Yes. Motion carries to pass O2617 on first reading with a public hearing to be held on August 19th, 2026. Next, we have O2618 designating restricted parking in front of residents occupied
by person with disability. >> I'll first I'll second. >> Council member Svante, >> yes. >> Council Charter, >> yes. >> Council me, >> yes. >> Council President, >> yes. >> Mayor Bali, >> yes. Motion carries to pass 02618 on
first reading with a public hearing to be held August 19th, 2026. Next, we have O2619, removing restricted parking space in front of residents previously requested by a person with disabilities. >> I just want to clarify that this
resident um no longer uh drives a vehicle. Therefore, she alerted the police department that she no longer needs to have this uh spot restricted for her. Then I'll offer. >> I'll second. >> Council member Svantes. >> Yes. Council,
>> yes. Council, >> yes. >> Council President Chesky, >> yes. >> Mayor Bologan, >> yes. >> Motion carries to pass 02619 on first reading with a public hearing to be held on August 19th, 2026. Next, we have O2620, ordinance of the Burough
Highlands in the county of Mammoth, New Jersey, amending the amended central business district redevelopment plan. Um yes to explain this we had some uh minor changes to uh parking requirements. Um also our plan uh was
predated from the D model ordinance which does not allow any um living space on the first floor. So we redefined the first first floor in the flood zone as the floor above the first floor above
grade and that there can be uh residential as long as well as commercial on that first floor above grade. So that's no longer a prohibited use. So those are the couple of changes that we made for that just to make it make more sense.
>> Does the grade include the 11 or whatever it is 12? No, no. Great is the ground. >> Great is the ground. >> And then whatever whatever the feds and the >> DP come up with is going to be that uh that next level four floor.
>> Yeah. Um so that's why we made those changes cuz we can't control and we shouldn't have to change our ordinance every time the federal government changes what their height is going to be or the state D is going to change what theirs going to be. We can just say we defer to them and be done with it.
>> Right. Okay. >> So, uh, I'll author. >> I'll second it. >> Council me Council Member Svantes. >> Yes. >> Council member Chap. >> Yes. >> Council member Melnik. >> Yes. >> Council President Oeski. >> Yes. >> Mayor Bulan? >> Yes.
>> Motion carries to pass 02620 on first reading, but the public hearings to be held on August 19th, 2026. Next, we have resolutions. R26150, governing body certification of the annual audit. Everyone has gone through the audit and
has find through uh gone through all of the uh recommendations. >> Okay, then I will offer this >> second. >> Council member Santes, >> yes. >> Council member Chilac, >> yes. Council member, >> yes. >> Council member,
>> yes. >> Mayor Ban, >> yes. >> Motion carries to adopt resolution R26150. Next we have R26151 adopting corrective action plan for the 2025 municipal audit. >> And again these are just these are recommendations for how to do it better.
Um and I personally feel why shouldn't we always do it better? So um I'll actually offer this uh corrective action plan adopting the corrective action plan that they have outlined in the audit documents that you guys have. >> I'll second. Okay.
>> Council member Sante. >> Yes. Council member Track, >> yes. >> Council member Meling, >> yes. >> Council President Chesky, >> yes. >> Mayor Berlin, >> yes. >> Motion carries to adopt resolution R26151. Next, we have other business. FY 2027
CDBG grant application presentation. Make sure >> Mayor Council, you guys can hear me? Okay. >> Yes. So, we have the slides up on the screen. So, people right >> he's got a hand out right in front right behind you and you got
>> see this is exactly the help we need. >> Thank you, Sergeant. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> You can thank you mayor council. getting unruly too over here. Settle that right now. >> This is the uh Burough of Highlands fiscal year 2027 Mammoth County CDBG
side cyblock improvements project sponsored by Mammoth County Community Development Block Grant Program. Uh we have a brief agenda going over the overview of the program. This is a lot of required things that I need to provide at this public presentation. So I will go through each of the slides
accordingly. First off is a program overview. The Mammoth County Community Development Block Grant, otherwise known as the CDPG program, provides funding for acquisition, public facilities and improvements, clearance activities, and other projects for Mammoth County municipalities and nonprofit
organizations. The maximum grant award is $200,000, and there is no match required. All eligible projects must meet one of the national objectives as described by the US Housing and Urban Development, otherwise known as HUD office. benefit to low moderate income
residents, aid in prevention or elimination of slums or blight, or need an urgent need. For this project, we're meeting an urgent need. The project description includes sidewalk improvements, ADA accessibility improvements, guide rail replacement,
and upgrades to crosswalks, sidewalks, curves, and curb liners. Here we have a couple of slides of photo of existing conditions along Water Witch and Route 36 by the elementary school. As you can see, there's missing curb. There's trip hazards. Uh it's it's just in poor
condition uh from years of being used and it's it's met it's uh design life and it's in need of replacement. So here we have the project location that we're showing here again coming up Water Witch Avenue on the uh school side
as well as Route 36. So the project scope re reiterating that the sidewalks along Waridge Avenue 36 are cracked, uneven and deteriorating. Here at this picture here, you can see there should be a flush accurate curb ramp. We have a
raised curb. So someone in need in a wheelchair, they would struggle to get over this curb ramp. So, we're hopeful that the county will look at this and see the need um and allow us to put in ADA compliant features like curb ramps and detectable warning services which are also missing from this picture.
There is significant high foot foot traffic by students and families near the elementary school. So, there is a serious threat to pedestrian safety along this busy roadway. Uh the project concept plan is more or less showing the area of impact that we would have by
putting in curb ramps uh similar to what we did along Shore Drive in years past. Now the project schedule since this is a federally funded program is not as fast as some of our other programs we would be submitting this summer. We would hope to have word probably by this time next
year there'd be an executed agreement for the funding which would allow us to go out to bid uh and hopefully have this done probably not next spring but the following spring based on the timeline dictated by this program. As to a project budget, we're estimating
that the project budget at this time is around $329,000 with a and which is why we're requesting the full amount of $200,000 from the county to help offset that capital investment. Uh and with that, I'd open up to mayor
and council comment and then public comment. >> This uh this the project schedule, these are the outside dates, not the inside dates of things. actually I know it's it's not generally the case when things make h when things actually happen.
>> So I I've been doing CDBG now for a decade and some years it it works really good. In some years if there's issues at the federal level it gets held up. It becomes this battle at the house level and then so it's just one of those we're being very conservative with the approach. uh in all reality we could
I've had projects where we've designed it CDBG says hey here's the money and then we go out to bid right >> so we have control on our end if this becomes a capital investment that the burrow is adamant about and we would have a mindset of of ranking of where we
are from Deborah at the county and saying hey you're in the top five it's just a matter of when the money comes that would allow us to uh to allocate funding in the proper cycle with the CFO the budgetary >> and one other thing is because we are
entirely outside blocks and blocks and we're just on the right away that um we also don't need to get hung up by other things like private property >> anything like that we are just no acquisition no nothing like that
>> perfect those were all my questions so I don't know if anyone has any others >> is there any coordination that's necessary with the county for this one since it's a flooding 36 I know that right there the corner of waterway they seem Yes, I'm doing it with a with a nearby town. And basically what happens is I would give the plan specifications
to Deborah at the county uh planning department. She brings them to county engineering. They make sure we're using uh whatever county details they want as far as curve. We would send it to the state as well for concurrence. As soon as everyone agrees to it, then we would
>> just in the event that they're digging up 36. That's all I'm trying to point out. >> No, they're not digging up 36 per se. They're only digging up the sidewalks that are adjacent to 36. >> I know on the corner of that on 36 in Water Witch, it seems like they have dug
up that piece of the road recently. And so >> there was the failed um san not sanitary. >> Yeah. So So as long as that's not going to result in like, okay, we're going to fix this again. Rip up your sidewalks.
>> No, they didn't rip up the sidewalks at all. They worked entirely in the street. >> Cool. >> Yeah. Right. >> But they also did fix that section of um storm sewer that went from um one side to the other side of 36 across all four lanes. >> Y
>> um and the breakdown lane the shoulders. Um so that should >> should not happen again. >> Sounds great. >> Good. >> Anyone else have anything before we open it up to the public? >> I was just going to say just in that
vein is any of it coming here? It seems like there's a ton of construction equipment um on the turnaround by Care One on the left side there. They've got I don't know if it's county, I don't know, whatever, but there's all kinds of big
construction equipment that's been >> in care one itself or on the side of the road >> where the tournament is under construction. >> Kylie is probably >> Yeah, I was going to say they're doing gas work there. >> So, is that going to come up to us too? >> One never knows. one never knows because
they never alert us to these things. >> Of course, >> we are dealing with the gas company. So, if you want me to reach out, I'm happy for a different project. But, um, it is something we can ask. And if it is something where I've done in certain towns where there's concern of whether it's delivery trucks, stuff like that,
we can be up the sidewalk and make it reinforced as well. >> Thank you. Anyone else? Open it up to the public. Do either of you have any No. Okay. Then we'll close
the public um presentation and move on to the consent agenda. Mayor, would you like to me to read the resolutions by title? >> Yes, please. >> R 26152 authorizing the bureau to submit an application for and confirm endorsement of the community development projects. R
26153 authorizing award of fair and open contract for auto and truck repair services. R 26154 authorizing adoption of further amendments to the bureau's personnel policies and procedures manual and personnel policies and procedures
manual supervisory supplement and distribution of revised personnel policies and procedures manual and personnel policies and procedures manual supervisory supplements. R26155 accepting public improvements and authorizing release of performance
guarantees for 49 Miller Street block 54 lot 7.01 01 R 26156 authorizing execution of the shared services agreement with Mammoth County for the ITAX map collaboration center system R 26157
authorizing the award of a non-fair and open contract for professional services sanitary sewer map update services R 26158 authorizing the award of a non-fair and open contract for professional services storm water wershed improvement plan R 26159
authorizing the award of a non-fair and open contract for professional services stormwater MS4 map updates R26160 authorizing payment of bills R26161 authorizing an extension to pay tax per
to pay taxes to September 1st 2026 R 26162 requesting the Mammoth County Board of Taxation and or the New Jersey state legislature amend the regulations and statutes authorizing the Mammoth County assessment demonstration pro
program to permit each municipality with the option to participate or withdraw from there from. >> Does anyone have any questions or need clarification on any of the items on the consent agenda? >> Uh R26154
say personnel over 10 times. Is there anything major? I mean what what uh >> just wanted for some changes back in July.
>> All right. Um the Miller Street performance guarantees is like as it's now complete. That's just for um any public um any sort of what the only public I think uh improvements that were made
were the brand new sidewalks that they put in on Miller Street. So, uh we've reduced uh their performance guarantees. Well, their building guarantees to performance guarantees. And so now those will be in place for a few years. >> Yeah.
Um, and then that I tax map is the with the county for the new digital maps, which is great because it's going to be working through GIS and hopefully Edmunds and also um with um
I'm just spacing on the other thing that we use. So, they're all integrated together. So, regardless of which platform you enter in it, you're all going to get the same information. >> Yeah. Oh, 100%. Yes. Um I don't think there's any other um it's
the going down to 26161. Uh the county as usual and during this time uh is uh a little bit late in giving us uh what their numbers are going to be which is why we extended the
uh payment of taxes from August 1 to September 1. Um, so that'll be, I'm sure, uh, well received. Um, and the last one here, 161, is to ask the county
if we can get out of this, uh, annual, um, Mammoth County assessment demonstration program, which we've been in, and it just seems like once you're in, you can't get out. But a number of counties uh, in Mammoth County have been asking to get out of the program. So hopefully
with the as many county as many towns as possible in Monk County because we're the only county that does it. Um so with a number of towns signing these same resolutions hopefully the county will release us from its obligation
and um anyone else questions. >> Can I get an offer for the consent agenda? >> Okay. Joanna offer. I'll second council member. Yes. Council member. >> Yes. Council member Melnik, >> yes. >> Council President Oeski, >> yes.
>> Mayor Balain, >> yes. >> Motion carries to adopt resolutions R26152 through R26162. Next, we have mayor's report. Okay. Um
the report for um June. So for emergency services um incidents first aid squad had 16 uh fire 17 police41 code enforcement had 10 summons 10 warnings 22 reports 18 inspections 18
permits and six open requests. Building department had 67 inspections of which 58 passed, eight failed and one was not ready. 26 total um construction permits and seven zoning permits uh were
processed. Um people are still asking about regionalization with Sebrite. There are no more legal issues. Sebrite um as directed by the board of education in the state um needs to work with the HHRS
board to be included. So everybody else is out of it at Sebrite and the board and our board of education. So, we're just waiting to get an update from them. Um, for our latest uh land use happenings in June in uh on June 11th,
uh resolutions were approved for um an ordinance to be deemed consistent with the match master plan. uh the Matina application at 149. Uh Portland Road had some um legal issues with one
of their neighbors and so asked for an extension which we gave them. Uh solar powered which is that building on 44 Miller. Um we approve or the land use board approved them uh with some restrictions. So they uh have a clear
path now to finish that project. Uh and then KI at 212 uh Lynen Avenue uh they have not um been in contact with the board. So we
dis the application was dismissed. Um then the C setory application for zoning and parking improvements. The second hearing was on 6:25 and they still have more evidence to um
to present. So we are looking for dates in both August and September in which to finally get this uh done. For the Shadow Lawn area of redevelopment, it is a five-story
building, 292 units with 44 affordable. There will be a scenic overlook open to the public and installations of curbs and sidewalks um along uh Ocean from uh Lynon to Scenic Drive. There will be uh
geotechnical, environmental and traffic studies all done before any constructions occurs for Cove's area of redevelopment and a redeveloper has expressed interest but has not yet submitted any plans. Hopefully, we'll be able to meet with
them in the next couple of weeks. Um, and for the Bay Avenue area of redevelopment, we have a number of people interested. Uh, they know that all new construction must have a commercial component and we encourage them to meet with county planning before they meet with us because, uh, Bay
Avenue is a county road. Moving on to current projects, uh, overlook is nearly there. uh shrubs, solar tables, the binoculars are all installed. If you haven't been up there to take a look, it really looks great. >> Beautiful. >> Um I like the idea that we've got a
binoculars for adults and then one for children next to it. Is really very nice. Uh we're going to get the sod is being put in I believe tomorrow uh for Frank Hall. It's being graded. Um footings have been poured. The drain has
been in. We're hoping to wrap that up also uh by the end of the week. Um and the South Peak work on South Peaktor, depending on where you are, you have a different address. Uh we've got that DOT local aid grant that uh Michael
was talking about when he was talking about the uh the bonds. So that survey work uh started on June 22nd. So we should be uh ready to get some stuff done with that. If not over the summer, then definitely
in the fall. Um, I'm trying to think whatever I've got some updates on, which is not a whole lot. Those folks at uh T-Mobile did not give us that grant for the bronze hoodie
statue, but we continue to look for uh other ways that we can get that done. uh the new pumper truck for the fire department. That was part, as Michael said, that was part of um our bond ordinance. And we also submitted um a
grant for the community walkway um for New Jersey DOT uh municipal aid as well as the bikeways safe routes to school for that walkway over 36. So, we're hoping to get that uh moving and shaken. Usually if we submit June, July,
we hear back in October, November. So hopefully we'll hear back from them soon. Um we also did the uh North Street and Shore Drive uh drainage that was uh sent
out on July 1, the Water Witch A. Uh Mr. Raffidity already gave his public hearing at this meeting. And uh we also did a uh a grant for Kujan, new bleachers, retaining walls, drainage,
fencing, and uh that application went in on July 9th. Um, and we are looking for confirmation of a new uh home for the first aid squad, which we hope to have that uh approved
shortly. Uh, what is coming up? A lot of these things already happened. Well, I guess we have that. Take it away, Karen. The one of the biggest uh weekends of the year in Highlands is the Clam Fest,
which uh begins on July 31st through Friday and runs through Sunday. Lots of music, live music, lots of good food, lots of good fun. Uh beer tent and clams. >> Lots of clams. That's right. They have lots of clams. It's always a fun fun uh
fun time. Let's just hope the weather colder. >> Yes, absolutely. Um, and that's all I have to report. Is there anything else uh anyone from the table wants to chime in on of things
happening and then with that uh we can open up to the public. Okay. 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 and or 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, appointment, termination of employment, negotiations, terms and conditions of employment, the 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. Do you have any comment comment or question or all good? Okay. So then with no uh public comments, I'm going to motion so that we can adjourn to
executive session. >> Executive session. Executive session will be held following the regular council meeting prior to each executive session. >> Thanks, Bill. >> Borrow council will convene an 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 consideration is deemed required and is permitted because of the following
notary exceptions set forth in the act. Real property. Be it further resolved that is anticipate that matters to be considered in private may be disclosed to the public at a later date when the need for privacy no longer exists. >> And I offer that. Can I get a second, please?
>> I'll second. >> All in favor? I >> executive entered in at 7:35. Please hold on. >> No, make a motion to adjourn. >> Yes. >> Thank you.
>> Second. >> I'll second. >> Thank you. All in favor? >> Meeting adjourned at 7:46. Thank you, everyone. forget