Where's [Music] >> here? >> Uh, mayor, would you like to proceed? >> Yes, please. >> Good evening. This is a meeting of the Burough of Highlands Mayor and Council regular meeting on Wednesday, August 20th, 25, 2025. The notice requirements
provided for in the open public meetings act have been satisfied. Notice of this meeting was properly given by transmission to the Asbury Park Press and the Two River Times and by posting at the Burough of 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. [Music] I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the rep for 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 Shellac. Council member Melnik. Council President Ovki. >> Yes. Here. >> Mayor Brun here. First we have proclamations.
>> Uh our first proclamation tonight is for Frederick or has better well known as Fred Catz. Uh whereas on behalf of the Bureau of Highlands, we wish to extend our sincere condolences over the passing of
Frederick Fred Catz. Originally born in Pennsylvania in 1930, Fred and his family moved to Violin and then to South Anboy before settling in Highlands in 1947. The Cats family opened what would become
a Highlands landmark, Cats Confectionary, where Fred and his brothers Walter Lewis and Alvin Catz would greet customers for 60 years. And whereas Fred created many lifelong bonds with customers, some of whom he spoke to
as frequently up to the time of his passing. And whereas Fred proudly served the United States Air Force during the Korean War from 1951 to 1955. And whereas he also dedicated his time
to give back to the community, he was a 20-year member and president of the Highlands Lions Club and was a life member of the first aid squad. And whereas his family, Fred and his family both made and continue to make their
mark on Highlands. And now therefore, be it resolved that the mayor and council of the burough of Highlands do hereby declare that August 2nd, 2025 as a day of remembrance for Fred Catz. We encourage all residents to pause and
reflect on Fred's contributions to our community and to and to remember him with gratitude and affection. Highlands has lost a stalworth of our community. In witness whereof, the mayor and council of the Burough of Highlands have
here to set their hand to this on on this August 20th, 2025. And I will make sure this gets to Evelyn. Um, and our next proclamation is uh honoring Wallace Wally Hartzgrove.
And on behalf of the Burough of Highlands, we wish to extend our sincere condolences over the passing of Wally Hartzgrove where whereas Wally's death leaves our entire community with a deep feeling of loss as such an honored and respected
man. While he was born in Long Branch, he made Highlands his lifetime home. And what sorry Wall-Ally was a true friend to anyone he met. He was always fast with a smile or there to lend a hand when somebody needed help. And
whereas Wally was a member of the Highlands Fire Department since 1968 and he served as chief in 8 1986. Uh whereas Wally was also a life member and the ex- captain of the first aid
squad. Wally loved his family, friends, and the burrow of Highlands deeply. Since his passing, many people who knew Wally have memorialized his many great
contributions over the years. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the mayor and council of the Burough of Highlands do hereby declare August 9th, 2025, sorry, as a day of remembrance for Wally Hartzgrove. We encourage all residents
to pause and reflect on Wallally's contributions to the community and remember him with gratitude and affection. Highlands has lost a great man. In witness where of the mayor and council of the borrowed Highlands have
here to set their hands this August 20th, 2025. >> Next we have approval of minutes. >> Sure. [Music] [Music] Okay. I'm sorry. Proceed. >> My apologies.
>> No worries. Next, we have approval of minutes for July 16th, 2025. >> I'll second. >> Uh, Council Member Spantes, >> uh, Council Member Shark absent. Council member Melnik is absent.
>> Council member Oshepski, >> yes. And Mayor Bren, >> yes. Next, we have the July 16th, 2025 executive session minutes. I'll open them. >> I'll second.
>> Council member Cvantes. >> Council member Chowak. Council member Melnik. Council member Oeski. >> Yes. >> And Mayor Brian. >> Yes. >> Next, we have the July 23rd, 2025 special meeting minutes. I'll offer
those. >> I'll second. >> Council member Spantes. >> Council member Turk. Council member Melnik. Council President Oeski. >> Yes. >> Mayor Brian. >> Yes. >> Public hearing on proposed ordinances.
O25-15. Amending chapter 11 uniform fire code section 11-5.1 Appointment and qualifications of the fire official and section 11-5.2 appointment and qualifications of
inspectors and other employees of the code of the burough highlands. >> Um does anyone from the public have any questions regarding this ordinance? See none. Um, I will offer this ordinance.
>> I will second it. >> Okay. Council member Stantes. >> Yes. >> Council member Chilac. Council member Milnik. Council President Oski. >> Yes. >> Mayor Brian. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. Passed on second and final reading. Next
we have O-25-16 amending chapter 7A traffic schedules. Schedule 1A, no parking during certain hours of the code of the Burough of Highlands related to areas of no parking on both sides of Waterbridge Avenue.
>> I hang on. Does Does any member of the public have any questions regarding this ordinance? Okay, seeing none, >> I'll second it. >> Okay. Council member Svantes. >> Yes. >> Council member Turk. Council member Melnik. Council President Oshki,
>> yes. >> Mayor Bion, >> yes. >> Motion carries. 025-16 passed on second and final reading. Next, we have introduction of proposed ordinances. >> Item eight. I hate to interrupt, but uh
because we do not have uh four out of five council members, we are going to have to table that. >> So, actually, mayor, I realize because it's only on for introduction, we're okay with introduction. It's just the adoption. >> Okay. >> Even better. >> So, we can >> then please proceed.
>> All righty. Uh, introduction of proposed ordinances 025-17. Bond Ordinance amending in part Bond ordinance number 023-10 adopted on May 3rd, 2023 providing for various capital improvements and the
acquisition of various capital equipment and appropriating 3,35,000 therefore and authorizing the issuance of $2,979,000$193 $2,979,0001 193 bonds and notes to finance a portion of the costs thereof in order to amend
the purpose thereof and to amend the average period of usefulness authorized in and by the Burough of Highlands in the county of Monmouth, New Jersey. >> I offer it. >> I'll second. >> Council member Spantes, >> yes.
>> Council member Chillac, Council Member Melnik, Council President Oeski, >> yes. >> Mayor Bion, >> yes. Motion carries to pass 02517 on first reading with a public hearing to be held on September 3rd, 2025.
Next, we have 025-18 amending chapter 7A traffic schedules schedules schedule 1A, no parking during certain hours of the code of the Burough of Highlands pertaining to areas of no parking on Bay Avenue.
Um, I will offer this. >> I'll second. >> Okay. Council member Cvantes. >> Yes. >> Council member Chellac. Council member Melnik. Council President Oeski. >> Yes. >> Mayor Bon. >> Yes. >> Motion carries to pass 025-18
on first reading with a public hearing to be held on September 3rd, 2025. Next we have 025-9 amending chapter 3 general police regulations section 2A reserved of the code of the Burwick Highlands to
establish regulations for decelbased sound level standards. >> I a second. >> Council member Santis. >> Yes. >> Council member Chilac. Council member Nikki.
>> Yes. >> Mayor Brian. >> Yes. Motion carries to pass 025-9 on first reading with a public hearing to be held on September 3rd, 2025. Next, we have 025-20 amending chapter 10 buildings and
housing section 10-2 fees of the code of the burrow of highlands. Fees. I will offer that. >> I'll second. Council member Sanchez, >> yes. >> Council member Chowak, Council Member
Melnik, Council President Oeski, >> yes. >> Mayor Brian, >> yes. >> Motion carries to pass 025-20 on first reading with the public hearing to be held on September 3rd, 2025. Next, we have 025-21
amending chapter 21, zoning and land use regulations. Part six, fee schedule, article 23, fees, section 21-107, schedule established and 21108, escrow accounts and technical review
fees of the code of the burough islands. >> I'll council member Santis. >> Yes. >> Council member Schlack. Council member Melnik. Council President Osky. >> Yes. Yes. Mayor Brian. >> Yes. >> Motion carries to pass 025-21
on first reading with a public hearing to be held on September 3rd, 2025. Next, we have 025-22 opting into the Garden State CPACE program to facilitate the financing of CPACE projects. >> I will offer this.
>> I'll second. >> Council member Spontes. >> Yes. >> Council member Cher. Council member Mel. >> Council President Oski. >> Yes. >> Mayor Bion. Yes. >> Motion carries to pass 025-22 on first reading with a public hearing
to be held on September 3rd, 2025. Next, we have resolutions R25-157 permitting a one-time extension of the hours of sale for the Chubby Pickle on September 27th, 2025.
And this is due to a private uh event that um they are uh booking, but we I wanted to be on record uh to give people time to know that there's going to be, you know, you'll have you'll have some noise going on uh a little bit later
than the usual 2 a.m. >> which is like an extra hour. >> Exactly. >> Yeah. >> So, I will offer that. All second. >> Council member Sante, >> yes. >> Council member Chek, Council Member
Melnik, Council President Oski, >> yes. >> Mayor Bann, >> yes. >> Motion carries to adopt resolution R25-157. Next, we have the consent agenda. Mayor, would you like me to read the resolutions by title?
>> Yes, please. R25-158 declaring acceptance of the contract for Bayside Drive and Marine Avenue improvements project. R25-159 authorizing the renewal of a contract with 4Erunner Industries Incorporated for a floodplane management software
license. R25-160 authorizing the award of a contract for services in connection with local government meteorological services. R25-161 authorizing the use of competitive contracting for soliciting proposals for
reassessment related home and property inspections. R25-162 authorizing the award of a non-care and open contract for professional services in connection with the improvements to Overlook Park and Frank Hall Park project.
R25-163 awarding a fair and open contract for the improvements to Overlook Park and Frank Hall Park project. R25-164 a res a a resolution of the Burough of Highlands adopting the Monmouth County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation
Plan 2026 R25-165 increasing contract amount for the municipal engineer for the calendar year 2025 R25-166 authorizing payment of bills and R25167
approving request for waiver of alcohol ban for community center center I will offer the consent agenda. >> I'll second. >> Council member Spante, >> yes. >> Council member Chak. >> Council member Melik. Council President Oeski. >> Yes.
>> Mayor Brian. >> Yes. >> Motion carries to adopt resolutions R25-158 through R251 167. Next we have reports. Get mine right here.
Okay. My report for the month of July is as follows. Um we are continuing to speak uh with the uh attorneys and um the folks in at
Shadowon to negotiate the developers agreement. Uh we've been having very productive meetings so far. So we're hopeful that we can put that along. Uh the same is happening uh with Cove where a prospective developer has expressed uh
an interest and he is working with the current owner to um to move that project forward. Um, we should for the Bay Avenue uh area of in need of redevelopment uh 289 bay.
We are finally at a spot where all parties have agreed. So, we're going to be able to hopefully get that done this month. for uh emergency services. Um incidents uh by department for state
squad was 41, fire 36 and police 984. For code enforcement um there were four summons, 12 warnings, 22 reports, six 26 inspections, 12 permits, and 23 OPRA
answered. Uh for the building department we had um 57 inspections uh of which 40 passed, 11 failed and six were not ready. Um also 19 permits were issued uh for Washington Avenue. Joe, can you
confirm that that paving happened >> and it's all >> okay. So, uh, as I said, completion by the end of August. Hooray. Uh, same with Portland. >> They are both completed. >> Yes.
>> That's outstanding. >> And they were completed today or yesterday? >> Milling was yesterday. Contractor moved to Washington. Then you operated the machinery down Washington. So the only problem that
we're releas >> right >> okay excellent >> oh absolutely so all final by the 19th very good um
marine place I see that they've been moving along at a fairly nice pace and we are supposed to be finished uh completed by Labor Day so Um hopefully this uh hurricane Aaron doesn't, you know, have any impact on that project.
Normally a couple of days of rain. Um then we're going to move over to the shore drive pedestrian safety improvements and that project was completed on J July 2nd and uh we're waiting for the fall to plant those four
trees on central app. Uh what we voted on tonight is uh our last planned project for this year and uh that is um for the update of Frank Hall Park and to the
creation of Overlook Park. So we bid them together so we can maximize cost savings and we also have um three other grants across the two parks uh that will help us with funding that upgrade. um looking to next year. Well, we we did
put these grants in in July, uh but the work wouldn't happen until next year. And so, uh for County Open Space, uh we are going to resurface the playgrounds at Veterans Huty and Wreck and also fix the courts at Snug Harbor that you may
or may not have heard. the uh support court tiles uh make the courts pretty much unusable. So that all needs to get ripped up and replaced. Um we also went for the C the community development block grant and that uh
grant is um for new sidewalks on Route 36 from Lynen to Water Witch and then from Water Witch uh to Lynen. So, it'll make the triangle of um Henry of Highlands
Elementary to have all new sidewalks now because they're in a terrible state of disrepair. Um and speaking of sidewalks, we also have uh a safe routes to transit. We did that in July as well. And that's new uh
sidewalks on 36 from the other side of Water Witch all the way to Valley A. So, we're looking to replace a lot of sidewalks. As you know, our community is very walkable. Uh but our sidewalks are in terrible shape. So, we're trying to make those uh updates.
Uh the grants that we're still looking for are um from sanitary sewer phase 2, which is the areas of um seadrift to snug harbor, from shore drive to marine. Um, and that will be pretty much the
terrible job that we had to do with phase one, but on a much smaller scale and in a much tighter area. Um, we are still looking to get a grant for a walkway over Route 36. So, we're exploring possibilities with the state
and the county. Um when we are also looking elsewhere for uh that uh brick grant that we got uh to do a lot of uh storm and water uh upgrades.
We're looking at modular solutions and other solutions for a new aid building. Um, also looking for grants for a new pumper truck for the fire department and looking for a grant to um install a
bronze statue of Captain Huie at Huie Park. We're looking to get this done uh before the 250 anniversary celebrations happen next year. And that is my update. >> Next, we have the administrator's
report. There we go. Uh the only other updates I have is uh I met with the um with our risk managers. Uh we're completing our insurance renewals. Some of the um appraisals they had for some of our properties we thought were a little low.
So we're we're just uh exploring those to try and get those bumped up a little bit. And as part of the insurance with our cyber security, we have started the process of instituting multiffactor author authorization for all employees
that have emails and have access to it. So you'll probably get an email in the next week or so asking you to please move forward with that. Uh other than that, uh the mayor covered everything else. >> Next we have the 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 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 is a threeminut time limit for your
comments. evening. >> Just step right up to the microphone and give us your name and your address for the record. >> Good evening. My name is James Green and I live at 92 Ninkc Avenue. I've been the president of Highlands for about 10
years. So, I want to say thank you to the mayor and council for uh continually improving our town. Um we all notice it. Um part of my visit tonight obviously other than here is in town is um where I live I'm close to the municipal lot of
short drive and the concern that I have is the uh vehicle that they have tractor the John Deere tractor um it's decel backup alarm exceeds the state's recommended safety levels and I actually
recorded the video and I recorded as well going off the noise regulations for NJC 729. Basically, the standards were staying at 65 dB during the daytime and 50 at night. And when I actually
recorded them, they came back on average 74.2 with a peak of 90. So, even with my windows closed, I still hear the beeping. Um, I have noise cancelling headphones and it's off. Um, I prefer to sometimes leave my windows open.
>> Sure. And obviously the lot starts at 7:00 a.m. We started before at 6:00 in chain, but then Bill and enforcement helps move it to 7. Um, what I would ask is I had gone down to the lot a few times and talked with the workers to reduce the actual volume. They told me it's the state law. They can't do it.
Um, I reached out to John Deere. He said there's a simple knob next to the seat that has three settings, high, low, and medium. So I'd be curious to see what the knob is set at, and if it's a high, please move it to medium. It's a medium. We'll get the below and see if it meets the safety concerns. Sure. Outside of
that, I consider it kind of a quality life issue where even during construction, it's quieter than our music. And I filmed this morning a guy or a gentleman a lot backing his tractor up. And I think if you just see the volume on the phone,
sorry. Sorry. That's And so you're you're recording this not with a decibel reader, but with an app, >> correct? The app and I didn't have the microphone. When I looked at the microphone, I could actually make it more accurate, possibly louder. So based
upon my phone, uh I brought this for dramatic effect, but um there so this was going and he chooses to back up the entire length of the lock, which is several minutes. >> Instead of turning around, he's just
backing up. So, we can see that John even wearing uh ear protection for themselves. So, it's a matter of see if it has it for them. Maybe they can't hear it. I don't know. So, so if you guys are able I can show you my
>> No, no. Can I have that where you show the uh the dials to turn that? I'll see if I can >> the model because of the track number one by appearance and stuff with your logo. >> Yeah, I'll bring it to them and see if they have that if they can turn it down. There's got to be, you know, some easy fix for it
>> dec. [Music] >> Sure. Absolutely. That's why we added the decibb to our noise orders. >> So, perfect timing. >> Yes, perfect timing. Thank you very much. >> You're very welcome. >> Sorry, I expect how would that work in
terms of a resolution or would that be addressed on the next meeting or >> um after the meeting? Uh I'm giving your phone number. >> Wonderful. Thank you. >> Okay. >> Any other comments from the public? >> Seeing none, I will close public portion.
Executive session. Executive session will be held following the regular council meeting. Prior to each executive session, the burough 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 t 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 noted
exceptions set forth in the act. Attorney client privilege, sidewalk maintenance requirements, litigation. Be it further resolved that it 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.
>> Oh, sorry. I'll make the motion. I'll second. All in favor? >> I executive session entered at 7:31. >> And we just need to call a roll call and then put the recording back on
cuz we're going to adjourn twice. Once to adjourn out of exec and then another to adjurnn out of the meeting. >> Do I have a motion to adjurnn? >> Executive session. Yes. It's a motion to adjourn executive session. Okay. Yes. >> Do we have a second? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> All in favor?
>> I. >> And a motion to adjourn the regular meeting. >> Some moved. >> All in favor? Oh, second. I'm sorry. >> Leo will second it. Okay.
>> All in favor? I >> uh adjournment at 7:51. >> Thank you everyone. >> Okay.