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Spring Lake Heights council adopts 2025 budget, approves parks accessibility project
Summary
The Spring Lake Heights Borough Council on June 16 adopted the 2025 municipal budget, confirmed appointments including a new licensed water operator, and approved a Community Development Block Grant application to add accessible park paths and a kayak ramp. Residents raised parking and traffic concerns during public comment.
SPRING LAKE HEIGHTS, N.J. — The Borough Council adopted its 2025 municipal budget and approved a slate of ordinances and resolutions at the June 16 meeting, and voted to pursue a Monmouth County Community Development Block Grant to expand and make park pathways more accessible, officials said.
Councilwoman Michele Degnan-Spang said Connor Kessler has completed required training and state tests. “He now is a licensed water operator and will be appointed our water operator,” Degnan-Spang said, a personnel move reflected on the consent agenda. The council approved appointments and routine items by a single consent motion, including confirmations for administrative positions and several budget amendments tied to outside grants.
The budget hearing drew no public speakers and Resolution R2025-123 to adopt the 2025 municipal budget passed on a recorded vote of Ayes: John Casagrande, Michele Degnan-Spang, William Graetz and Sara King; Absent: Leonard Capristo and Christopher Willms.
Joseph May, borough engineer, outlined planned Community Development Block Grant improvements the borough has discussed with county officials. May said the project would focus on extending and connecting paths in Joseph E. Robertson Park, adding a walkway to connect Robertson Park with Veterans Tribute Park, and installing a sidewalk on Allaire Road; he also said the borough is proceeding with a handicap-accessible kayak ramp at Shore Road. “The borough would be getting started shortly with a kayak ramp at Shore Road which is handicap accessible,” May said. He told residents that driveway aprons, existing trees, hydrants and utility poles would be reviewed with property owners during design.
Public commenters raised traffic and parking concerns. Jessie Novak, a resident of 907 Keith Ave, said overweight commercial vehicles park overnight on Greve Avenue and create hazards for pedestrians and children. “Parking on both sides makes the travel lane like a single lane,” Novak said. Mayor Christopher Campion said he has requested police enforce speed limits “no matter who the violator is,” and council members said a traffic engineering review of problem streets is under consideration; Councilman Graetz added the police department will begin a stricter speeding enforcement detail on June 20.
Ordinances adopted without substantive public opposition included Ordinance 2025-12 (establishing salaries and wages for 2025), Ordinance 2025-13 (allowing residents to petition for temporary street closures) and Ordinance 2025-14 (amending performance guaranties, inspections and maintenance guaranties). The council also approved Resolution R2025-134 endorsing the borough’s fourth-round housing element and fair-share plan, a planning step the borough said will cover obligations through 2035.
Votes at a glance - R2025-123, Adopt 2025 municipal budget — Ayes: Casagrande, Degnan-Spang, Graetz, King; Absent: Capristo, Willms — Outcome: approved. - Ordinance 2025-12, Salaries & Wages 2025 — Ayes: Casagrande, Degnan-Spang, Graetz, King; Outcome: adopted. - Ordinance 2025-13, Temporary street closures petition process — Ayes: Casagrande, Degnan-Spang, Graetz, King; Outcome: adopted. - Ordinance 2025-14, Performance guaranties/inspections amendments — Ayes: Casagrande, Degnan-Spang, Graetz, King; Outcome: adopted. - Consent agenda (R2025-124–R2025-133) — included appointments (e.g., Connor Kessler, licensed water operator), permit approvals and budget grant amendments — Outcome: approved. - R2025-134, Endorse 4th round housing element/fair-share plan — Outcome: approved.
What’s next The council approved moving forward on design and grant applications for the CDBG park improvements; Mr. May said property-level impacts will be reviewed with owners and county officials before construction. Several budget and appointment items will appear in formal minutes and administrative records; the minutes were noted as approved on July 21, 2025.
(Reporting by the Borough Council meeting minutes and statements made at the June 16, 2025 meeting.)
