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Highlands mayor reports January emergency-service statistics, project delays and a clam-plant grant
Summary
Mayor Bulan reported January emergency-service activity (first-aid 27, fire 17, police 853), building and code-enforcement figures, a delayed Overlook project due to frozen ground, scheduled tide-valve replacements and a grant to stream JT White Clam Depuration Plant footage to municipal displays.
Mayor Bulan delivered the borough's January report at the Feb. 4 meeting, giving residents and council members an overview of public-safety activity, building and code-enforcement actions, and several local infrastructure and grant projects.
Public-safety figures reported for January included 27 first-aid squad responses, 17 fire incidents and 853 police department incidents as recorded in the meeting minutes. Code-enforcement activity logged three summonses, three warnings, 22 reports, six inspections, 18 permits and nine OPRA requests. The building department reported 47 inspections, of which 35 passed, five failed and six were not ready; the transcript contains a garbled reference to the number of permits issued and the exact permit count was not specified in the record.
On land use, the mayor said the Land Use Board held a first hearing on 326 Shore Drive on Dec. 18 to consider zoning and parking improvements; a second hearing date has not been scheduled. The mayor also said the borough's Overlook project has been slowed by frozen ground about 18 inches deep; crews completed above-ground work, added drainage at the cliff edge and are regrading to prevent water runoff over the cliff.
Infrastructure work includes replacement of tide valves at three outfalls: the Jackson outfall was completed Jan. 21, the Cove outfall is weather- and tide-dependent, and two other valves are awaiting delivery from the manufacturer.
The mayor described a New Jersey agritourism grant to connect existing video feeds at the JT White Clam Depuration Plant to televisions in borough facilities so residents can observe the plant's operations.
Council members asked follow-up questions. When a council member asked whether contractors were available for the open-space work tied to the grant, staff said the borough expects to use a cooperative purchasing vehicle (a co-op) and anticipated going out to bid in March so vendors can mobilize in spring. A separate exchange clarified that a Verizon bill line item for $2,248.60 likely relates to police phone or vehicle lines; staff said they would locate the specific line item in the bill packet and report back.
The report items were entered on the record without public comment.
