mary would you like to proceed yes please Good evening This is the meeting of the Burough Highlands Mayor and Council regular meeting on Wednesday March 19th 2025 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 and by posting at the Burough of Highlands Municipal Building and filing with 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 and justice and justice for all Indivisible
I will now do a roll call Council member Svantes here Council member here Council Melnik here Council President here Mayor Berlin here Thank you First we have the proclamation Yes the proclamation Um this is a proclamation
for the Bureau of Highlands um celebrating and honoring the burough's 125th anniversary Uh whereas Highlands was incorporated as a burrow by an act of the New Jersey legislature on March 22nd
1900 from parts of Middletown Township Whereas the backbone of this great burrow is its history upon which all of our accomplishments are based Whereas the Algolan and Lenap Lapi tribes have
spent their summers fishing and finding clams along our waterway And whereas in 1690 Dutch explorer Henry Hudson and his crew found life saving freshwater springs now called the Henry Hudson Springs when
they shel sailed their ship the half moon into Sandy Hook Bay Whereas the hills of Highlands played an important role during the during the American Revolution And whereas the capture and eventual hanging of Captain Captain
Joshua Huie by loyalist Captain Richard Lipincot in 1782 caused an international incident involving General George Washington British Charles Cornwallis French King Louis I 14th and Marie Antonet
Whereas the historic Twin Lights Lighthouse the first glimpse of America for incoming ships was the first in the nation to use the Frennal lens in 1841 the first reading assembly of the pledge of allegiance in
1893 and the first to use the wireless telegraph in 1899 Whereas Gertude Edley was the first woman to swim the English Channel in 1926 She spent her summers uh and learned how
to swim in highlands Whereas with the efforts of the Bayman's Protective Association the Highlands Clam Dearation Plant first opened in 1974 and then with then
Mayor James T White's efforts and a grant from the Port Authority of New New York and New Jersey the Declaration Plant reopened in 1995 re revitalizing Highlands and the Beayshores clam industry Whereas uh Highlands and
its res residents demonstrated their resilience and community spirit helping each other recover after Superstorm Sandy damaged many Highlands homes and businesses Whereas the Burough of Highlands marks its 12th anniversary celebrating all
citizens volunteers businesses community organization dedicated staff and council members past and present who work so hard uh then and now to continue to enhance and exemplify the Burrow of Highlands Now therefore be it resolved on the
occasion of the burough's 125th anniversary the Highlands Council hereby proclaims the year 2025 as a year-long celebration and urges all citizens to join in this merrynt [Music]
Next we have approval of minutes March 5th 2025 meeting minutes I will offer Council member Svantes yes Council member Chuck yes Councelor Malnik yes Council President yes Mayor Bulan yes
Motion carries to approve March 5th 2025 meeting minutes Next we have March 5th 2025 executive session minutes I'll offer it I'll second it Council member Santes Yes Council yes Council Melnik yes Council President Chesky yes
Mayor Ban yes Motion carries to approve March 5th 2025 executive session minutes Next they have introduction of proposed ordinances 02503 designating restricted parking in front of residents occupied by person with disabilities A second Council member Suvantes Yes
Council Chalak Yes Councelor Melnik Yes Council President Yes May Bulan Yes Motion carries to pass 02503 on first and first reading with a public hearing to be held on April 2nd 2025 Next we have
02504 ordinance to exceed the municipal budget appropriations limit and to establish a cap bank I'll offer it I'll second Council member Svantes Yes Council Chap Yes Councelor Melik Yes Council President Chesky Yes
Mayor Bulan Yes Motion carries to pass 02504 on first reading with a public hearing to be held on April 2nd 2025 Next we have 02505 amending chapter 10 Buildings and Housing Section 10-7 signs and outdoor display structures and
chapter 21 zoning and land use regulations article 22 signs of the burough code of the burough highlands I'll offer second I'll second Okay Council member Santes Yes Council Chalac Yes Council Malik Yes
Council President yes Mayor Bulan yes Motion carries to pass 02505 on first reading with a public hearing to be held on April 16th 2025 Next we have resolution R25078 introduction of 2025 municipal
budget Um I just wanted to outline that um our tax rate for the uh just the municipal government in 2024 was.935 and in this budget uh it will
decrease to.803 So it's a pretty steep decrease Uh there's only um roughly uh $200,000 in the budget more than last year We made some significant cuts
Um and uh we are trying to be uh leaner Uh so that's what this budget reflects and uh I will make an offer to introduce it I'll second Council member Bantes Yes
Council Yes Council Mel Yes Council President Yes Mayor Ban Yes Motion carries to pass R25078 on first reading with a public hearing to be held on April 16th 2025 Next we have R25079 authorizing emergency contract
for demolition of and removal of dwelling located at 36 Miller Street Uh for a little background on this one this uh former residence has been um an abandoned property for uh roughly 40 years And uh so uh we are
taking this action to remove this eyesore from our neighborhoods Um and with that I will well maybe I shouldn't I would ask for an offering and a second I'll offer You second I'll second So that's council member Chellac introduced and Cvantes
seconded Yes Council member Svantes Yes Council Chalak Yes Council Melnik Yes Council President Chesky Yes Mayor Bulan I'll abstain Thank you Resolution R25079 passed
Um next we have consent agenda Mayor would you like me to read the resolutions by title yes please R 2580 authorizing refund of tax over payment R25081 approving request for a waiver of alcohol ban for community
center rental R282 certifying and approving 2024 low contributions R25083 appointing deputy registar and alternate deputy register R25084 authorizing payment of bills
R25085 authorizing the award of a non-fair and open contract for professional services pertaining to additional environmental services in connection with improvements to Frank Hall Park R25086 self-examination of budget R 2587 authorizing shared services
agreement between the Burrow of Highlands and the Burrow of Sebrite for street sweeping services Are there any questions on the consent agenda no Okay With that I will offer it
I'll take that Council member Svante Yes Council Yes Councelor Melnik Yes Council Professor Oeski Yes Mayor Bulan Yes Motion carries to adopt resolutions R25080 through R25087 Next we have reports
Um does anyone have anything they'd like to add for reports um I'd just like to St Patrick's Yeah St Patrick's parade this uh Saturday the 22nd also It's happy birthday to
Highland 125 years Uh and the weather still looks good 58° so partly cloudy So so that would be good And also too I see the signs have been put up by the HBP for the Roar on the River in May as well
as Cinco de Mayo uh at the beginning of of May So we hope a lot of people come out and and show up on Saturday Yeah And there's floats too There there I'm going to be a uh and Joan is I think
as well We're we're judges for floats So uh have fun everybody Okay Jody if there anything you would you would like to add reporting wise of uh what's going on maybe an update on uh Portland Road Portland Road continues to
be supporting New Jersey water They should be retiring with 6 in uh service But once that's done we'll be clear finish up our range improvements We're the trenches settled restored with
pavement uh basically we will know the profile after the judges have settled or you know are established So we'll base on uh you know every 30 days but once we contractor feel comfortable have
machinery on it close out that project Okay perfect Very good Okay Um not seeing anyone with other reports Uh could we have the uh public
portion statement please public portion 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 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 appointments terminations of employment negotiations
terms and conditions of employment evaluation of or performance of promotion or discipline of any specific or perspective or current employee There's a 3minut time limit for your comments I will make a motion to go into executive
Second Um 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 coord accordance with NJSA
104-13 No formal actions 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 by because of the following not exception set forth in the act
litigation 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 for the need for privacy no longer exists And I'm I'm just going to recommend that we also amend that to add attorney client privilege as a I'm sorry One more time
If we could add attorney client privilege as another exception to be discussed And we would need an offer for that amendment I'll second All in favor i Thank you Amending with the addition of attorney
client privilege and then may I have a motion to enter into executive session [Music] well we have to read it first Oh okay I'll I'll motion Second All in favor i
thank you Um executive session end at or entered at 7:415 Yeah I'd like to make a motion uh to adjourn the public meeting I'll second All in favor i Thank you Meeting adjourned at 7:32
No she's got to go home So Oh That's