[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6047120,"mediaKeyId","3537458-600ebe145172a86289f0ab463c6ecc9a","parentId",3537458,"title","Mayor says he advised borough attorney to adjourn rent-control board meeting","audioSeconds",94,"startMs",2723000,"endMs",2817000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3537458-600ebe145172a86289f0ab463c6ecc9a&start=2723&end=2817","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3537458-600ebe145172a86289f0ab463c6ecc9a/thumbnail_2723000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6047120/Highland-Park/Middlesex-County/New-Jersey/Mayor-says-he-advised-borough-attorney-to-adjourn-rent-control-board-meeting","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6047120-9b4771204dec4fec222f08e637103422/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199991&Signature=OdYjdEUgxeRvECzXHGssbQw~Ux-iOB0Z0ZzhqdCehwBRospU9KSywpu7GdtRXA5BzGThd65VLue1aQOvjNdJSkLWsFWguS8Kp1nIEtMpJdONgnHKm6wZUtSBs0BxLxPfq3vAV2p4C~963xaSHGVeQ1EBvuv7AoVGB3jkmpFiIGewtFJFg7dIVNdyUTYd19N9gY9sDPpmNbp6~26LnT75lu02H1MEA3ID3GKdGzT7W75JOMGZJTZqkT0rcj2IV2ZmyUXXhl0zgf6ObP9yHraeVlzExl4U2ORSWSzQasM9hUFjCiSXC836vbHiJBFHSpeeMKxPk6b0jt2ByR~wjy4sdw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","hptv15","date","2025-04-15T00:00:00Z","article","Mayor told a reporter at the council meeting that he had advised the borough attorney to adjourn a recent rent-control board meeting because it \"was not proceeding in accordance with the local public meeting\" requirements.

Charlie Cradaville, editor of New Brunswick Today, asked the mayor directly whether he had instructed the borough attorney to adjourn the rent-control board. The mayor answered, \"Yes, I did. The meeting was not proceeding in accordance with the local public meeting. And so I suggested that the meeting be closed.\"

The exchange occurred during the meeting’s second public-participation period; the transcript records the mayor’s answer but does not include additional detail about the rent-control board meeting’s date, the specific procedural problems observed, or how the borough attorney implemented the advice. The mayor’s remarks were recorded after Cradaville said he had not received a response to a prior inquiry about a disturbing video from a rent-control board meeting.

The transcript does not include the borough attorney’s explanation or a staff report about the circumstances that led to the advice to adjourn. Anyone seeking formal documentation—minutes, recordings, or the attorney’s file—should contact the borough clerk for the rent-control board’s records and the borough attorney’s office.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Borough Council Meeting - April 15, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","In response to a question from a reporter, Highland Park’s mayor said he asked the borough attorney to close a rent-control board meeting that was not proceeding in accordance with public-meeting requirements.","taxTitle","Highland Park, Middlesex County, New Jersey","taxId",70486,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6047124,"Residents urge council to reject two cannabis-related resolutions, cite conflicts and youth impacts",262,1682000,1944000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3537458-600ebe145172a86289f0ab463c6ecc9a&start=1682&end=1944","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3537458-600ebe145172a86289f0ab463c6ecc9a/thumbnail_1682000.jpg","/articles/6047124/Highland-Park/Middlesex-County/New-Jersey/Residents-urge-council-to-reject-two-cannabis-related-resolutions-cite-conflicts-and-youth-impacts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6047124-b488d58cade2d6a599243858ae0cf969/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199991&Signature=fhthMSkK0V5ZrwJ0qYvp5boFAPdh4gdqlNXl2ts2SD956x6~pg9vNo3oozfA3KEff~wdiU4ZjTL5w1EFcLM2jc~oitmJ5FM1LWd5~VZuYQHzjGb-y~rADRgLcHBf0UPFAToapcFcqPXOLkkzIawZVynSmGxDcGVRK6A42TnlW4PwrTHj9SgGtrjSUUERno3w-1leoxuzyZBoERjQd9iFUPgc4fWKyGBsQs4uSWK1I0rlU53TQG11ypzDp6tXXGHtJTmTom2z6Ygr~cI84I3cdHpnqjYLZip99HeGsI24r0eB5rqq7bSS24XkrwbwmHgeEr7SFyYnfiLpdgmhi2BRXg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Two residents used the meeting’s public-participation period to ask the Highland Park Borough Council to vote no on resolutions identified by commenters as Nos. 118 and 119, raising concerns about conflicts of interest and locations near youth-serving businesses.

Mary Boteum, who identified her address as 709 Madison Avenue, told the council: \"I ask you to, kindly vote no on resolutions 118 and 119.\" Boteum said the location tied to Resolution 119 involved people she said were connected to former Mayor Gail Mittler, and she urged council members to decline the permit because she considered the application process to lack disclosure of personal interests.

Melissa Laduke, 13 Lewist Street, also urged the council to vote against the same resolutions. She told the council the businesses \"present continuing threats to the youth of our community and put on part in a negative light,\" and said one of the proposed locations was close to residential homes and a bubble-tea business frequented by children. Laduke said she has observed what she described as litter and packages from cannabis products near residences and that it is affecting the character of the neighborhood.

The commenters asked council members to consider perceived ties between applicants and local officials; Mary Boteum said she had prepared a chart of connections and offered it to council members. Both speakers asked the council to prioritize youth safety and neighborhood impacts.

The meeting transcript records a later adoption of a consent agenda (items listed A12 through A12I), but it does not identify within the transcript which consent resolutions correspond to the numbered resolutions mentioned by commenters, nor does the transcript show a separate roll-call vote in open session explicitly tied to resolutions 118 and 119. The transcript therefore does not record whether the council specifically voted on those two resolution numbers during the meeting.

Public comments occurred during the meeting’s general public-participation period; no council member made a substantive response on the record to the allegations of undisclosed connections to applicants during the public-comments segment captured in the transcript.

Residents and parties seeking copies of materials mentioned by commenters—such as the chart Boteum offered—should contact the borough clerk or review the borough’s filings for the formal resolution texts and applicant disclosures.","Two residents urged the Highland Park Borough Council to vote against resolutions numbered 118 and 119 concerning cannabis retail permits, citing alleged conflicts of interest and proximity to youth-oriented businesses; the transcript does not record separate roll-call votes on those two resolutions.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6047129,"Council adopts multiple ordinances on leases, street work and staffing",580,2044000,2624000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3537458-600ebe145172a86289f0ab463c6ecc9a&start=2044&end=2624","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3537458-600ebe145172a86289f0ab463c6ecc9a/thumbnail_2044000.jpg","/articles/6047129/Highland-Park/Middlesex-County/New-Jersey/Council-adopts-multiple-ordinances-on-leases-street-work-and-staffing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6047129-a74c1fe0f496a650db6cd7ba33a05f6b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199991&Signature=bZz~3wPWcuTjXsjkYjRaPJxtuXfpUp8uOZEV1GmQQXzSEgGBeh1bcXdgmrrb3kJWnq8tSuKoq~BItVmMDJtSoidtAALE0MlP~d9zG63c9-1QMYsBoO7MwZXXvCnmiSZ8pwsi2NcIwtnN0Zut~miZUO75tk2YdMFhMLq6ghf0SsPXCuuBwOQ1KXF-7ce0IJstqbojJl2nojpv~0iqN85zxYxOZLDfqSaRC-70FNBi0Em8aI1Jbif5MHqpha-o~WISihLqqutUEJw5mY1zv7WBqvvKn5Gs7APlTcQjVUozQcppRrk5PvSL3feoIIw7PqPrciOKN~0~GR0OTa0MV8p8kg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Highland Park Borough Council adopted a package of ordinances on final reading during its April meeting, approving leases of municipal buildings to local nonprofit partners, a capital project for street improvements and an administrative ordinance establishing positions and pay.

The council voted to: adopt Ordinance 25-2106 authorizing the lease of a building at 20-40 River Road to Raices Cultural Center; adopt Ordinance 25-2107 authorizing the lease of 101 Raritan Avenue to the Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership; adopt Ordinance 25-2108 authorizing Main Street Highland Park to occupy the first floor at 212 Raritan Avenue; adopt Ordinance 25-2109 authorizing the second floor at 212 Raritan Avenue to be used by the Reformed Church of Highland Park Affordable Housing Corporation for an emergency shelter; and adopt Ordinance 25-2110 authorizing use of 120 (733) Raritan Avenue for storage/repairs and affordable housing units. The council also approved Ordinance 25-2111, a capital ordinance providing for improvements to North Tenth Avenue and Volker Street, and Ordinance 25-2112, amending administrative chapter 72 to establish positions and compensation for specified borough employees.

Council members gave roll-call assent for each ordinance. For Ordinance 25-2106 the roll call recorded in the meeting transcript shows affirmative votes from: Council member George; Council member Hale; Council member Matthew Hirsch; Council President Stephanie Kim Chohan; Council member Pisonic (as recorded in the transcript); and Council member Tomaides Vargas. Similar roll-call responses recorded in the transcript accompanied subsequent ordinance adoptions. Affidavits of publication are on file for each ordinance as required for final reading.

Several lease ordinances were presented for facilities the borough is making available to nonprofit organizations. The transcript shows staff and council described these items as a way to provide office or program space for charitable organizations that the borough does not otherwise have room to house. The capital ordinance for North Tenth Avenue and Volker Street was presented as a public-works project; no public speakers appeared during the individual public hearings for these ordinances.

The transcript records a consent agenda vote later in the meeting adopting a group of consent items listed as A12 through A12I; the meeting transcript does not disaggregate which consent items correspond to specific resolutions referenced by public commenters earlier in the meeting.

Votes at a glance
- Ordinance 25-2106 (lease, 20-40 River Road to Raices Cultural Center): adopted (roll-call yes votes recorded in transcript by Council members George, Hale, Hirsch, Kim Chohan, Pisonic, Vargas).
- Ordinance 25-2107 (lease, 101 Raritan Ave to Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership): adopted (roll-call recorded).
- Ordinance 25-2108 (lease, 1st floor 212 Raritan Ave to Main Street Highland Park): adopted (roll-call recorded).
- Ordinance 25-2109 (lease, 2nd floor 212 Raritan Ave to Reformed Church of Highland Park Affordable Housing Corporation for emergency shelter): adopted (roll-call recorded).
- Ordinance 25-2110 (lease, 120/733 Raritan Ave for storage/repairs and affordable housing unit): adopted (roll-call recorded).
- Ordinance 25-2111 (capital improvements to North Tenth Avenue and Volker Street): adopted (roll-call recorded).
- Ordinance 25-2112 (amend chapter 72: positions and compensation): adopted (roll-call recorded).

The meeting record shows each ordinance had been advertised for final reading and that affidavits of publication were on file. The transcript does not show any recorded amendments to these ordinances during the meeting, and no member of the public who rose to speak during the ordinance hearings offered substantive objections or questions for the listed items.

Clerks and staff identified the ordinances on the agenda and called for public hearings; where no one spoke, the council closed the hearing and proceeded to a roll-call vote. The meeting record indicates unanimous or near-unanimous affirmation in the roll calls as captured in the transcript; the transcript lists affirmative verbal responses by council members at each roll call.

The council also approved a consent agenda of several items (listed as A12 through A12I in the meeting record). The transcript does not break out the individual consent resolutions by number during the public roll call beyond that group adoption.

Background: The borough presents second-reading ordinances in public hearing with affidavits of publication on file. Lease ordinances allow the borough to grant nonprofit organizations use of municipal space under negotiated terms; capital ordinances fund specific public-works projects; administrative/salary ordinances create or adjust compensation and positions in the borough’s staffing table.

Clerk and staff materials filed with the borough will contain the full text of each ordinance and the affidavits of publication noted in the record. The council’s next meeting is scheduled for May 6 (as stated at the meeting end).","Highland Park Borough Council on final reading approved several ordinances including leases of municipal space to community organizations, funding for street improvements on North Tenth Avenue and Volker Street, and an ordinance updating borough positions and salaries.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Mayor says he advised borough attorney to adjourn rent-control board meeting

Residents urge council to reject two cannabis-related resolutions, cite conflicts and youth impacts

Council adopts multiple ordinances on leases, street work and staffing