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Highlands council advances two ordinances, adopts consent agenda including engineering and grant awards
Summary
The Highlands mayor and council introduced two ordinances for first reading and approved a multi-item consent agenda on Nov. 6, 2024, covering grant-funded transportation planning, sanitary-sewer engineering, park improvements and hiring a redevelopment financial consultant; public hearings on the ordinances are set for Dec. 4.
The Borough of Highlands on Wednesday introduced two ordinances on first reading and approved a slate of resolutions authorizing contracts and grant-related actions.
At the meeting, the council introduced Ordinance O24-18 to designate restricted parking in front of residences occupied by people with disabilities and scheduled a public hearing on the ordinance for Dec. 4, 2024. The council also introduced Ordinance O24-19, amending Chapter 21 (zoning and land-use regulations) to require utilities be shown and located on the parcel being subdivided; that ordinance likewise will have a Dec. 4 public hearing.
Mayor (speaker 3) described a federal Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program supporting a comprehensive transportation safety action plan for the borough. "The total grant is... $1,475,000 and that is, most of that comes from the federal government," the mayor said, adding that about $200,000 of the local allocation comes from the county to cover administrative and engineering soft costs. He said the planning effort will span roughly two-and-a-half years and will study the borough's roads and streets for safety improvements.
Councilors approved a consent agenda that the clerk read by title and which included, among others, authorization for document-scanning services (R24-191), contracts for grant-writing and grant-management services (R24-192, R24-193), an increase to a contract for professional engineering for Phase 1 sanitary-sewer improvements (R24-194), a contract for professional services related to improvements to Bridal Park (R24-195), the reappointment of the superintendent of public works (R24-196), acceptance of a contract for the Waterwitch Waste Water Pump Station project (R24-198), and a professional-services agreement with NW Financial Group LLC for redevelopment financial-consultant services (R24-200). The clerk announced the motion to adopt resolutions R24-191 through R24-203 carried.
On sanitary-sewer work, the mayor said Phase 1 engineering is being closed out and additional engineering was required after oversights in the original designs. He said Phase 2 remains in environmental review and that the borough expects engineering estimates for remaining streets between Snug Harbor and Seadrift before year-end, when it could pursue additional financing.
Officials also said they authorized professional engineering for Frank Hall Park and said engineering will be done in fall and winter with bidding and awards anticipated in spring 2025; leaders said the borough hopes to coordinate work at Frank Hall Park and Overlook Park to reduce costs.
The meeting record shows no final legislation adopted on the ordinances; both moved forward on first reading with public hearings on Dec. 4. The consent agenda resolutions were adopted as read.
The meeting moved next to reports and public comment before the council entered executive session.
