Frustrated by not being able to attend, see on ZOOM and not being able to clear everything a day or two later on the recording of the meeting of the Mayor and Council, I’m grateful for a copy of the Mayor’s monthly report which is always read at the meeting and explained in detail to anyone who is able to attend a Council meeting and asks for more information.
But every month the list seems almost endless with everything that’s going on in town and how well the Mayor stays connected and up with it all. September’s statement, read at the October 6 meeting is as comprehensive and full as every other one.
For instance, the Mayor reminded everyone that while a lot of construction is going on, and proceeding timely, nonetheless, she told resident:. All constructions dates are weather and supply-chain permitting, just a reminded of how so many projects and plans have been thwarted in every business because of not always being able to get the supplies needed to proceed.
How much new construction is going on and how is it proceeding? Well, for a starter, at the North St pump , a new breaker panel is completed but they’re waiting for First Energy to connect new electric. At the new municipal building, steel installation is continuing, and it’s fascinating to see it rise and even more fascinating to see those workers walk across those beams. At South Bay and Hillside Ave, the storm and sanitary work is completed, next it’s concrete and paving. By the bank there is a large sanitary sewer project for Waterwitch Area in Phase 1 and they’re waiting on materials.
At Snug Harbor Park, Work was scheduled to start Sept. 12 on the playground area, basketball and tennis courts. The Mayor probably updated whether it did start Sept. 12, but couldn’t hear that on the meeting recording.
Work is supposed to start this month on the Twin Lights Terrace Gabion and it’s also supposed to start at Ederle Park since the Pre-construction meeting which was held in August.
The Marine Place Elevated Walkway West at Snug Harbor started this month and they were actively working on it the week of the meeting.
With the electrical work at the Waterwitch Pump Station done in September, the prefab structure is due to start this month as well
Concerning the Skate Park , the mayor said the application review has been submitted to CARFA, and the borough is waiting for their ok to proceed, expected by Oct. 17.
Monmouth County will do the easterly portion of Jones Creek once again after the borough gets its CAFRA permit from DEP.
The borough was going out for bid this month for an EV Charging Station at 171 Bay Avenue, the parking lot where the borough hall used to be, a bit of irony in itself since it certainly wouldn’t work if the parking lot is under water, the reason Borough Hall isn’t there now.
And the borough is waiting on the County to repair the guard rail along Portland Road
With all these projects in various stages of completion, there are still more projects planned. Including an upgrade to Frank Hall Park which will be a joint venture with the Open Space/Lions Club/Green Team looking for grants.
Plans for the Veterans Park improvements are with Engineering along with a Local Recreation grant from DCA $75,000 for funding it.
There’s another plan to create an Overlook Park on the empty lot on the highway and more plans for an elevated walkway East at Sea Drift Ave, a Monmouth County Open Space grant, ,another grant for design and engineering for a living shoreline and bulkhead at Veteran’s Park., seeking funding for the Snug Harbor pump and surrounding area.
On the all-important topic of School Regionalization, the Mayor pointed out again Highlands has agreed to go to mediation on the cost haring. But now has to wait while the attorneys are negotiating who will be the mediator.
Good news in the report is the fact the borough has received $771,518 so far this year and is working on the FEMA BRIC [Building Resilient Infrastructure & Communities] grant funding for the Snug Harbor Pump station and to mitigate the runoff from Monmouth Hills. The public meeting on this project will be at the next meeting Oct. 19 r, in the meantime there are on-going discussions with Monmouth Hills HOA, State, County and Middletown officials and the promise , according to the mayor that “we look forward to working on a solution together. The borough will enter the Community Rating System [CRS] program for lower flood insurance.
Gregory Valesi, Pe, PP, CME will be named CRS Coordinator on Nov. 11 and the next step is for FEMA to conduct a visit or contact the Borough to review National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requirements.
That ‘s one heck of a comprehensive report. Too bad Highlands residents are not interested in knowing not only the bad things, but also the good things that are happening in their town
