Mayor praises Highlands Fire Department after structure fire; updates on inspections, valves, land use and grant bid

At the March 4 meeting the mayor provided February departmental updates and highlighted a recent structure fire response.

The mayor reported first-aid squad calls (25), fire calls (35) and police calls (711) for February and specifically commended the Highlands Fire Department and mutual-aid partners for limiting a fire at 129 Marina Bay Court to one building. "They kept the fire to just 1 of the buildings that are adjacent to others, which was huge," the mayor said, thanking firefighters and mutual-aid crews for their response.

The mayor also summarized code-enforcement activity (6 summons, 1 warning, 10 reports, 16 inspections, 6 permits, 6 opens) and building-department work (37 inspections: 25 passed, 8 failed, 0 not ready; 22 permits issued). He updated the council on land-use board activity, including a first hearing on zoning and parking improvements and several extensions and scheduling changes for items such as solar at 44 Miller and an extension at 17 Locust.

Infrastructure work includes replacement of two of four valves (two remain) and ongoing work at the Overlook site, which should wrap up in about a month before crews move to Frank Hall. The mayor said the borough plans to apply to the Hudson River Foundation this month for funding to replace and upgrade outfalls around town; the borough expects to hear back in summer.

The mayor noted there was no public attendance that evening and asked if anyone had additional items before adjournment.