Finally the Atlantic Highlands Harbor Commission has made some headway in correcting some of the wrongs that leasee Capt. Harold Smith and his TowBoat/US has had to endure for the past two years.
Since the new $1.5 million dollar was built 22 months ago at the Harbor, and been leased to both the NJ State Police and TowBOAT/US, Capt. Smith has complained about the improper, unsafe, or inadequate construction problems that were apparently overlooked when Kappa Construction built the facility and walked away from the job as complete.
Since then, Smith has pleaded with the Harbor Commission, then when nothing was done, appealed to the governing body as the borough is building owner. He asked that he be released from his lease that he has been paying without any discounts for the incomplete or incorrect work and continued to ask that it be corrected. Council referred the matter back to the Harbor Commission saying it was their facility, and the Commission has been working with an attorney since then.
Last month, the Commission made some corrections and promised more, and Smith reported this week they have kept their promise. Borough council, however, had not yet taken any action on releasing Smith from his lease.
The businessman reported this week that the shut off valves for the gas have now been properly put in and his PTAC unit installed. He’s now waiting for a heavy rainfall to see if it’s been successful. He also indicated nobody has shared the results of the water test they conducted nor released any results of the survey they did.
But things are looking up, Smith said, as he continues operating the business he has had at the harbor for more than a decade.
Kappa Construction, meantime, is keeping on schedule at its $10-plus million dollar construction of the Highlands Borough Hall on Route 36 in Highlands. Most of the exterior initial siding and roof construction is in place and expected to be completed before colder weather sets in so work can continue inside during the winter months. A portion of the parking area on the west side of the building has been paved, and Kappa employees, after Police Chief Rob Burton reminded the firm parking on the state highway is illegal, are now parking within the property fencing and keeping both the highway lane and the sidewalk open for motorists and pedestrians.
