Warm welcomes from employees and volunteers for the borough, an opportunity to learn about new businesses opening and renewing acquaintances with others, plenty of gifts and a spectacular hors’d’oeuvres and charcouterie buffet for all were all part of the second annual Meet and Greet sponsored by the Highlands Mayor and Council Monday night, the first in the new Borough Hall on Navesink Avenue.
Mayor Carolyn Broullon, Council president Joan Olszewski and Councilwoman Karen Chelak welcomed the approximate 50 residents and friends who took advantage of the invitation to have guided tours of the borough hall and its police headquarters, and at the same time meet the personnel in an informal setting who respond to all their requests, needs and complaints when it comes to local government and programs.
Visitors at the event also had the opportunity to learn more about and receive applications for the Highlands Hometown Hero Banner program as well as how to become first aid members. The American Legion, Post 143, gave tee shirts to guests, the Emergency Management program had packets for all, and the Garden Club festooned the entire main hall of Borough Hall with colorful flowers.
The buffet was the culinary handiwork of two borough employees, Administrative Assistant Lisa Natala and Jacqui Kane, and included everything from handheld cups for mixed fruits and vegetables with dip, meatballs and sauce, fruits, cheeses, meats, deviled eggs, triangular cups for mixtures of vegetables, fruits and nuts, desserts and beverages. Guest marveled at the extraordinary display and taste of the offerings and joked that the employees should open their own catering business in addition to continuing their outstanding service as borough employees.
Among the many other agencies and organizations who presented information about their organizations as well as invitations to join, in addition to both the fire and first aid, were the American Legion, Post 143, the VFW, Post 6902, The Knights of Columbus Rev. Joseph Donnelly Council, the Garden Club, police and fire cadets,
Donald Krueger, a member of the transitional Henry Hudson Board of Education, and Renee DeMarco, executive director of the Housing Authority that operates Ptak tower, were also present to introduce themselves and offer assistance or information at the request of residents.
Police Chief Rob Burton and three offices from the department came off added duty in the borough as the result of a fire at Sandy Hook shortly before the start of the meeting which knocked out electricity throughout the Bayshore. Burton, after notifying other departments and personnel of the cause of the electrical blackout which lasted more than an hour, also helped direct traffic along Route 36 due to the absence of all traffic signals along the state highway.
Police also conducted tours of the police headquarters on the lower level of Borough Hall, the first headquarters the borough has ever had that meets all standards and recommendations of the Department of Corrections. In addition to offices for senior personnel in the department, the area also includes investigation rooms, evidence rooms and lockers, prison cells, and more updated equipment and rooms since the borough’s last permanent facility at the rear of borough hall when it was located on Bay Avenue.
Representing municipal officers were Mrs. Chelak is a borough’s liaison with the Highlands Business Partnership, Council president Olszewski, the boroughs liaison to the Board of Education, Borough Administrator Michael Muscillo, Borough Clerk Nancy Tran, CRS coordinator Kathy Shaw, William Kane, Office of Emergency Management, Code Enforcement Officer William Brunt, Public Words Director Spencer Carpenter, Steve Winters, building official, Paul Murphy, fire marshal, Fire Chief William Caizza, First Aid Chief Jay Terwilliger and First Aid President Rosemary Ryan, Historical Society President Sheila Weinstock, Knights of Columbus Grand Knight Michael Napolitano and Sir Knight Ian McGuiness, and business representatives from both Cuts and Catch, the newest borough restaurant and One Willow Street and Sandy Hook Marina.
The borough’s new mailing address, at Borough Hall is 151 Navesink Avenue, Highlands, NJ 07732
