ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS –
Mayor Loretta Gluckstein both praised borough employees and listed a series of accomplishments the governing body has made during 2022 during her Mayor’s message delivered at the reorganization meeting of the Mayor and Council at noon Jan. 1.
Council Composition
The Mayor will now preside over of council of five Democrats and one Republican, James Murphy, and under this borough’s form of government, would only vote in case of ties among council.
Praise
In praising local employees and professionals, Gluckstein highlighted the individuals who “make the day-to-day magic happen for this wonderful and historic small town.” She especially complimented Administrator Rob Ferragina, Borough Clerk Michelle Clark, Building and HR Department employee, Elizabeth Merkel, DPW Director Jim Phillips and his team, Marty Hawley and the Water Department, Harbor Master Lou Fligor and his team, and Chief of Police Scott Reinhart and the police officers that are “always keeping our small town safe.”
Achievements
In citing achievements through the past year, Gluckstein cited 31 different areas of success, from accomplishing collective bargaining agreements for employees and shared service agreements with Highlands to the purchase of illuminated holiday snowflakes for First Avenue and holiday wreaths and LED decorative lights at the Stone bridge.
Purchases
Among purchases during the year, the mayor praised the new sanitation truck, the travel lift hoist and other upgrades at the Harbor, the LED bulbs installed in the Victorian lights in front of Borough Hall, the purchase of an AM radio for emergency communications anticipated to be operational this year as well as a new borough website.
Environmental and beautification improvements during the year include the repair and working condition of JCP&L center median lights on Memorial Parkway, the removal of remnants of the Center Avenue gazebo, together with new grass seed, and plans for the installation of a new gazebo this year, painting of borough parking spaces in all borough lots and at the harbor gazebo and harbor buildings as well as the borough’s DPW garage also installed with energy efficient LED lights, and the replacement of the faded Bayshore Trail signs.
Communications
Communication improvements included with utility companies which resulted in the removal of unused and non-functioning utility polls that litter the business district, a continuing project this year, with county officials resulting in the long awaited repairs and light replacement to the MT-50 Stone Bridge, as well as wood planks replacement on the Bay Avenue and Center Avenue bridges and re-striping center lines on First Avenue and Ocean Boulevard, both county roads.
Grants
Funding and grants accomplishments include processing several federal appropriation funding request applications which has led to $ 2.1 million enabling harbor bulkhead repair to progress, with thanks to Congressman Frank Pallone, all projects which have proceeded while keeping within the budget.
Green team
Additionally, Gluckstein cited the borough Green Team’s work to accrue additional points leading to the boroughs recertification of Bronze status for several years while inching closer to Silver status, the borough’s first Wellness Fair for Borough employees, funded t through a HIF grant and the Shade Tree Commission’s replacement of several dead trees with new trees.
Looking Forward
Looking forward to 2023, the Mayor said designated streets will be paved, the Upper Prospect wall will be started and could be funded through a FEMA grant, collaboration with the county will continue to improve, maintain,and repair county assets within the borough and the relationship with JCP&L will continue to be strengthened.
County Commitment
Noting that the county has committed to repairing the concrete wall on Ocean Boulevard near Highland Avenue and reconstructing the Ocean Boulevard bridge and other upgrades, Gluckstein thanked the County Commissioners for their contributions, cited the continuing shared services with Highlands for ambulatory service daylight hours, and praised the continuing improvements to the local volunteer First Aid Squad under the leadership of Lance Hubeny.
She said the borough engineer is working on the funding for the ADA restroom facility at the Center Avenue Park and working on upgrades to other parks in the borough for 2023 completion.
An additional $219,320 in NJDOT FY23 Municipal Aid for improvements to East Garfield and Grant Avenue has also be secured, she said.
Summary
In her summary, the mayor said that even with all the cited improvements the one she values most “is having the residents living in a safe community where traditional values, respect for our fellow neighbors, and civility take center stage.” That is how she remembers the town she said, and how she wants it to continue with “neighbors helping neighbors without worrying about political affiliation or socio-economic status.”
The Holly Tree Lot gate was reconfigured after input from DPW, The Parking Committee, and Seastreak.
The Habitat for Humanity House at 21 Leonard finally closed and our new neighbors are now proud Atlantic Highlands residents.
DPW extended yard hours for leaves and brush drop-off to now include November and December weekends, as requested by residents.
