ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS
Calling for a concentration on traditional values, respect for fellow neighbors and civility on center stage, Atlantic Highlands Mayor Loretta Gluckstein told borough council members “we do not need to always agree, however, an open heart and an open mind can achieve a lot.” The mayor made the statement when the borough council reorganized at noon yesterday with the Democrats taking control of a council that had been evenly divided until November’s election.
Incumbents
With GOP incumbents Brian Boms and Steve Boracchia defeated by newcomers Democrats Eileen Cusack and Vito Colasurdo, Councilman James Murphy remains the only Republican on the borough council along with Mayor Gluckstein. Under the borough’s form of government, the mayor only votes when there is a tie among council members. Councilwoman Lori Hohenleitner was unanimously named council president, so would preside at any meetings in which the mayor is absent.
Gluckstein Comments
In a prepared statement that itemized a number of achievements the mayor said the borough has accomplished in the past year, she also called on the council to “drop the importance of labels in Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey (including the rest of the nation)” and encouraged all “to open our hearts and minds and start to listen to all ideas and opinions.”
Labels
Gluckstein explained the difference between her teen years when “we didn’t care what brand of jeans, shirts, or shoes we had on or what label was on those items.” It has changed, she said so that we now live in an economic climate “where advertising and branding take center stage.” The result she believes, is that young adults in earlier decades felt equal,” but the influx of branding and marketing now has people knowing “some people had more and some had less and once again this is occurring in our nation and our community” along with the addition of political labels.
Reflection
The mayor also urged “the council and myself “ to change their ways, noting “the way we conduct ourselves on the dais reflects on how the public will respond, the public will mirror our actions. If we display anger, irrationality, and mudslinging at each other we will have to accept the same from the public.” She reminded the council that “we are elected officials and we all at the dais need to be an example to our fellow citizens, ” before expressing the hope that “ this may be the start of something that has been lacking in parts of our nation, falling short of saying whether it also reflects Atlantic Highlands now.
Positive Example
Let’s have the Borough of Atlantic Highlands be the positive example where people can come together block by block.” She admitted that while the elected officials might not agree on some areas, “we can open a dialogue and know that we are all still residents of Atlantic Highlands, a beautiful small, quaint town that is the Jewel of the Jersey Shore.”
Votes Unanimous
Votes for every appointment and commission member named at the reorganization meeting were all unanimous, with Murphy approving each and only questioning one. He requested to be named to the finance committee, which council also agreed to. Hohenleitner is chairman of finance, personnel and insurance committees, with Murphy and Councilman Brian Dougherty also serving on all three.
The mayor was named council representative to the Senior Citizens Recreation Board, Emergency management and the Senior Citizens Committees.
