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Residents press council on taxes, property sales and Safe Routes signage during High Bridge meeting
Summary
Residents at the May 8 meeting raised questions about online calendar postings, gazebo replacements, police benefits, gas-line costs, the intent of a Safe Routes resolution, support for a 1 Main Street easement, and concerns that high taxes and varying assessments impede property sales; officials said tax assessments are outside council control and that staff would contact the Tax Assessor or County for more information.
Several residents used the public-comment periods at the May 8 High Bridge council meeting to press officials on municipal services and tax concerns.
Mary Murdock asked several operational questions — about the borough website calendar, estimates for a replacement gazebo, police officer benefits and whether gas line installation would impose any cost on the Borough. Administrator Brett Bartman said the borough is researching gazebo replacements, that the benefit amount is currently unknown, and that the gas-line work was expected to be at no cost to the Borough. Clerk Adam Young explained that Borough events are posted on the municipal calendar.
Jonathan Duff asked for clarification on the intent of Resolution 147-2025 (Safe Routes to School FY24 design assistance); Administrator Bartman described the resolution’s purpose. Sally Ward expressed support for executing the easement agreement for 1 Main Street. Resident Ildiko Meijer said high taxes and inconsistent assessments are making property sales difficult; Mayor Michele Lee and Councilwoman Hamlin said the Governing Body does not control tax assessments, and Administrator Bartman and Attorney Wendy Quiroga said they would reach out to the Tax Assessor or the County for further information. In the second public-comment period Mary Murdock asked about Safe Routes signage; Mayor Lee and Administrator Bartman said signage work is being handled under a separate grant and clarified the current Safe Routes resolution’s scope.
Why it matters: residents raised issues that affect daily life and property transactions in High Bridge, and asked the council to seek additional information from the Tax Assessor and County. The meeting record shows officials acknowledging the concerns and identifying follow-up steps rather than making immediate policy changes at the meeting.
