Chainsaws, chargebacks, flush toilets, and more greet borough council

On Tuesday, October 4, the Highland Park borough council approved numerous resolutions, largely addressing grant applications and execution. Only a resolution to revise the payment agreement with municipal engineers CME Associates met with dissent.

While stating that he has known CME for many years and generally respects them, Councilmember Gary Minkoff said he was "disappointed they couldn't better estimate their costs or deal with the issues causing (increased) expense" on the repair work done on North Third Avenue at Montgomery Street.

Minkoff was explaining his vote against the construction firm at the request of a borough resident in attendance.

Future of the Redevelopment Agency on the table

Following the Regular Meeting, the council met in a scheduled conference session to consider municipal issues prior to formal action. A good deal of time was spent to discuss the future of the borough's Redevelopment Agency. The HPRA was founded in 2004, to "stimulate investment in our commercial areas and to improve the economic vitality and quality of life in Highland Park,” according to the town's web site.

Councilmember Padraic Millet noted the difficulty to develop an agency budget, as it has no income stream and is saddled with a debt of $132,000 owed to the borough. As originally designed, the agency would have drawn operating fees from approved applicants who were successfully executing profitable real estate development in the borough's designated Redevelopment Zones.

Mayor Nolan pointed out that the agency had been created in a previous decade, when “things were busy, with 5-7 projects a year."

Kathleen Kovachs, Borough Administrator, relayed feedback from state authorities who said the agency's independence from the borough is an obstacle to it receiving state funding.

According to Kovachs, “The state has issues with our budget (. . .) To the extent it relieves the state of its concerns, why not just bring the agency back under our budget? Any fees from development would directly enter the accounts of the borough.”

The council discussed the possibility of subsuming the HPRA under the umbrella of the municipality while keeping the volunteer agency board as an advisory group arose. The discussion will be brought to the agency board.

Council members praised the volunteer board for their diligence. “It’s a dedicated group of people,” Minkoff said.

Turf field may have bathrooms built

Another issue from the Regular Meeting taken up in conference related to a grant that would pay 50% of the cost of installing permanent restrooms at the municipal recreation complex, located behind Highland Park High School. It was agreed to add drinking fountains, fence repairs and additional permanent signs to the final proposal.

Storm's aftermath brings an offer of help

Repairs to another popular, if quieter, piece of public property came up next when Allen Williams, a volunteer member of the Environmental Commission, addressed the council.

According to Williams, "sixty trees came down due to recent storms" in The Meadows at the eastern end of Donaldson Park. The 18-acre Meadows is recognized as a “significant habitat” area by the federal government. Its half-mile nature trail, which begins and ends just east of South Fifth Avenue at Valentine Street, is blocked by storm-damaged trees.

Williams told council members that Atlantic Construction has offered to cut up the fallen trees for the cost of parts: saw blades and chains.

The Council members applauded the plan and agreed to proceed, once legal agreements can be drawn up and signed. Williams later told The Mirror that the same company has carried out similar volunteer work in Monmouth County.

Sidewalk safety solutions sought

Following up on a citizen comment during the regular meeting, the issue of privately owned sidewalks was further discussed in conference. A local resident had earlier complained she had "compiled a list of conditions of sidewalks three times and nothing has happened in three years."

It was resolved that the procedures for advising, and if necessary citing, property owners with unsafe sidewalks would be reviewed in the council's Economic Development committee. Subsequently, Borough Council may amend the procedures if necessary.

In their final topic before a non-public executive session, the council members agreed to continue outreach work with state and county authorities, the city of New Brunswick, and Rutgers University, to improve the public transportation options for Highland Park residents.