Highlands adopts $125,000 ordinance to repair South Peak drainage and failing retaining wall

The Borough of Highlands mayor and council on Wednesday adopted ordinance O2525 on its second and final reading to appropriate $125,000 for construction costs to repair a failing retaining wall and extend a drainage system at South Peak, near Twin Lakes Terrace. Mayor Maya Berlin offered the ordinance and the motion carried.

The measure funds work the borough said is needed after an exposed drainage pipe and runoff had been undermining a wall that ‘‘eventually failed,’’ according to Joe, who gave the council a brief overview of the project: “This is a drainage improvement project, at Twin Lakes Terrace.” Joe said the work will tie a new retaining wall into existing structures and extend the drainage system to the higher reach of the existing system at South Beach, and he emphasized efforts to limit disturbance: “No digging along the slope.”

During the public portion a nearby resident, Stacy Pickering, identified herself and thanked the council while noting that the pipe ‘‘is not the highest point on the hill,’’ reinforcing the need for the repair. After the brief public comment period the mayor offered the ordinance and a second was recorded; the council carried the ordinance on second and final reading. The transcript records the outcome as “Motion carries O 25, 25 pass on second and final reading.” The transcript does not specify a roll-call tally for the adoption.

By approving the funding, the borough moves to repair the wall and extend drainage to reduce ongoing erosion and runoff that has affected neighboring properties. The council did not specify a project start date in the meeting record.

The council moved on to other agenda items after the ordinance vote.