In 2025

  • Portland Road drainage improvements, guardrail replacement & paving.
  • Dredge Jones Creek
  • Shore Drive pedestrian safety improvements such as bump out and new sidewalks on Shore from Waterwitch to Matthews Street.
  • Washington Ave Mill & Pave

In 2024

  • Drainage improvements to Bayside Drive and Marie Ave including higher concrete curbing to address the natural flow of the water from the hillside and replacing street signs, completed 5/10.
  • Replaced the Huddy Park gazebo with a gift from one of our residents, completed 8/16.
  • Replaced sidewalks and curbs on Linden Ave for the first time in over 50 years, completed 9/24.
  • Veterans Park Improvements, included the removal of 3 planting beds at the request od the Garden Club, installed water fountain, solar picnic tables and solar lighting, added benches, completed 10/24.
  • I-Bank large sanitary sewer project for Waterwitch Area Phase 1, spanning Linden, Bay, Waterwitch, William, Ralph, Gravelly, Central, Beach Boulevard and Ocean to replace sanitary sewer mains and laterals, also including paving for all roads mentioned above, completed 10/30.
  • Veterans Park Living Shoreline design to retain the shoreline characteristics including habitat and native vegetation while implementing a new composite bulkhead to limit flooding during coastal storm events. The living shorelines would allow for natural coastal processes to take over the area and introduce additional biodiversity. These man-made shoreline areas are reliant on native plants, rock sills, offshore breakwaters, and other approaches to help reduce erosion, prevent storm surge damage, filter runoff, and increase beach wetland habitat. Received DEP approval 12/29.
  • The tax rate remained the same in 2024.

In 2023

  • Ederle Park improvements including replacing water and electric access, replaced blacktop with concrete, added an aluminum fence at the edge, completed 3/15.
  • Snug Harbor Basketball and Tennis/Pickleball courts replaced, and new playground apparatus installed, completed 4/19.
  • New Skatepark of poured concrete and steel features, completed 5/17.
  • Hitting the milestone of Substantially Complete, we had a ribbon cutting ceremony at the new Municipal Building that was attended by many residents, staff and dignitaries, 7/7.
  • The Administrative Staff and the Police department moved into the new Municipal Building completed 10/20.
  • DC Fast EV Charging Station installed at the site of old Borough Hall, 171 Bay Ave parking lot, completed 11/7.
  • Waterwitch Pump Station, elevated all electric and rebuilt portions of the chamber, installed backup natural gas generator, saved the cornerstone from 1929, completed 12/29.
  • The tax rate dropped again for the fourth consecutive year.

In 2022

  • Awarded GIS mapping of stormwater & sanitary sewer systems, stormwater outfall inspections, and bulkhead mapping for the entire town on 1/1.
  • Veteran’s Park exercise equipment and swing installation with resurfacing completed 1/27.
  • Huddy Park playground surfacing completed 2/11.
  • Started the process to update Steep Slope ordinance, completed 6/15.
  • Barberie Ave drainage [by Shore Drive] improvements to start in May. Awarded to Compass Construction $35,275 on 1/19/22; completed 5/18.
  • Matthews & King Streets improvements Awarded to James R. Ientile Inc. $349,943. Work started in April, to be finished by June. This includes $165,000 in FY2021 NJDOT Municipal Aid funding for curb & sidewalk repair, replacement of sanitary sewer system, and stormwater upgrades, completed 6/14.
  • Marine Place Wall – Inside – Awarded to Agate Construction, $637,804 on 10/10/2021. Work started in April to be completed 11/7.
  • South Bay & Hillside Ave – The improvements will include sanitary sewer, storm sewer, concrete improvements, and repaving. The project received a NJDOT Municipal Aid grant of $212,800. Awarded in April, completed 11/7.
  • North St pump upgrades Awarded to Vulcan on 11/10/21 for $199,100. New piles were driven and the bulkhead was repaired. Elevated platform and electric shed have been built. New HDPE piping, new electrical and backup generator installed, completed 12/7.
  • Revise 2013 plans for upgrades to the Waterwitch Pump including a new shed for pumps out of the flood zone and installation backup generator. Going out to bid in May, work to be done this summer.
  • Worked alongside the County Commissioner Licitra to add a Dog Park at Popamora Point.
  • I-Bank large sanitary sewer project for Waterwitch Area Phase 1 – DEP gave approval to bid on 1/27. Awarded construction on 4/6.
  • Municipal Building – Advertised for bid 1/20/22. 30 construction companies asked for bid packets and 15 submitted bids. Bid opening was 3/9. Awarded to Kappa Construction $10,599,000 on 4/6. Work to start in May.
  • Taxes – For the first time, the municipal rate has lowered for three consecutive years. Our municipal tax rate is the lowest it’s been since 2011. Also, for the first time, the year over year amount to be raised in taxes lowered by almost $200,000.

In 2021

  •  2021 was the year of the grand awards, Highlands secured $4,551,616 in grants including $2.8 million Sandy community disaster loan forgiveness.
  • Purchased and installed new apparatus in Borough parks.
  • Categorized and scanned decades of records.
  • Updated Registered Open Space Inventory [last done in 1992].
  • Cleaned up Frank Hall Park.
  • Made the first step of entering the Community Rating System [CRS] program for lower flood insurance by naming the engineer and sending to the county for approval.
  • Drafted a comprehensive flood mitigation plan and began proposals for grants to fund it.
  • Engineering and contractor awarded for North St upgrades.
  • Engineering awarded for Waterwitch Pump upgrades.
  • Engineering awarded for Overlook Park on R36.
  • Updated electric and water at Veterans and Cornwall Square parks.
  • The Municipal tax rate lowered for a second consecutive year.

In 2020 throughout the pandemic, I worked closely with the Administrator and Department Heads to balance the management of the health crisis and do the Borough’s business.

  • Started working with the Bayshore Family Success Center to expand our recreation and outreach services
  •  Entered the Mayors Wellness Campaign
  • Made emergency repairs to the slope above Bayside Drive
  • Streamlined the Mercantile process to make it easier for new businesses
  • Entered into an agreement with the Monmouth Affordable Housing Alliance to secure more Affordable Housing in the Borough to meet our requirement
  • Contractors finished repairs to Cornwall and John Streets
  • Entered into an agreement with JFK Meridian Health to have their rigs and staff in Highlands 7am to 7pm, the service was in place on 4/1.
  • Worked with Recreation and to make the Mayors Wellness Campaign to begins virtual programming.
  • The Atlantic Highlands Navesink United Methodist begins drive by pick up in Atlantic Highlands and Highlands.
  • Food pantries at OLPH, the Methodist Church and the business community helped Atlantic Highlands and Highlanders who need a helping hand with the Curbside Kindness food donation program organized by the Highlands Business Partnership
  • On May 23rd, we were notified that our first resident passed of COVID-19, Mille Goleman age 94 at King James on May 16th.
  • Worked directly with the restaurant owners to make outdoor dining.
    Organized Farmer’s Market to start in June to ensure Highlanders had easy access to fresh produce.
  • Continued our shared service with Seabright Ocean Rescue to guard our bay beaches.
  • September 4th indoor dining resumed. Again, OEM and I worked with the restaurants to get them up to speed. Fire Marshalls issued temporary C.O.s with their allowed number of patrons inside.
  • Construction of the Municipal Parking Lot on former Borough Hall property at 171 Bay Ave was completed.
  • The Police Department entered partnership program with RWJBH and The Phoenix for recovery called “Unhooked”.
  • Resolution to have Bay Ave studied for an Area of redevelopment was approved
  • We hired a Redevelopment Attorney to handle the three Areas of Redevelopment
  • Bonded to fix Waterwitch Sanitary Pump Station, $435,000.
  • Partnered with Bayshore Family Success Center for outdoor Baby Pop Up Pantry.
  • Locust Street improvements started using $154,000 from a State DOT Grant
  • Cedar Street and Jones Creek Bulkhead replacement started.
  • November 3rd, we signed a contract with IMM Care to test for COVID-19 in the Borough starting November 21st.
  • We signed JFK Meridian on for the year of 2021 through R-20-259.
  • The Municipal tax rate lowered for the first time since 2014.

In 2019

  • Valley Street project completed includes Sanitary & Storm sewer replacement, new sidewalks, and repave Valley St from 2nd St to 5th St, the length of 4th, 5th, and Cedar St.
  • Portland Road repaved.
  • Bonded to fix the storm sewer issues and repave in the area of John/Jay/Jackson/Cornwell.
  • Installed electric at Veteran’s Park.
  • Repave S. Peak St, Grand Tour, Chestnut St and Oak St.

In 2018

  • Re-zoned Bay Ave to one continuous business district.
  • Upon discovering the elementary school’s gutters were tied to our sanitary sewers, we had the BOE remove the ties.
  • Drainage and paving completed on Bay St/Twin Light/N Peak, Cedar & 5th St/Portland Road/Hillside/Twin Light Terrace.
  • Catch basins and paving on John/Jay/Jackson/Cornwall.
  • The gas tanks at the DPW yard that were inundated during Sandy have been mitigated and removed.
  • Expanded our social media presence to Twitter and Instagram.
  • Took advantage of a new free app Recycle Coach that tells you all recycle and trash days.
  • Potable water and sanitary sewer hooked up to PD.
  • Valley St storm, sewer, road improvements started in September.
  • Sanitary sewer repairs from Bay to Shore from Atlantic to Waterwitch.
  • Continue to meet with the Architect for new Borough Hall.

In 2017

  • Contracted as shared service with Sea Bright to have our beaches guarded.
  • Updated the recycling Ordinance to recycle more curbside.
  • Replaced Swift with Nixle Notifications for a more functional and consistent messaging to residents across multiple platforms.
  • Set up a dedicated town Facebook page that interacts with Nixle.
  • Printed & mailed the Borough Calendar to all residents that includes all town meetings and events.
  • Signed the contract for the purchase of the New Borough Hall.
  • All pods removed from old Borough Hall and all paperwork removed from Old Borough Hall.
  • Purchased modular space for Borough Offices and Police Department saving thousands as FEMA was not reimbursing us for the rentals.
  • Installed potable water and sanitary sewer to Borough Office another measure saving thousands as no longer a reimbursement.
  • Mill and pave S. 2nd street and Snug Harbor Ave to Huddy St from Marine Place to Bay Ave.

In 2016

  • Combined the Planning & Zoning boards into one Land Use Board to be more efficient and save money.
  • Revived the Green Team and got Bronze level accreditation from Sustainable Jersey for the Green Team.
  • Created the Communications Committee to help the Borough reach out to residents and allow resident input flow directly to the Borough.
  • Worked with the planners to update our COAH for housing requirements.
  • Created new website highlandsborough.org, that is updated daily.
  • Updated all emails to official highlandsborough.org.
  • Passed Resolutions to have Shadow Lawn and Captain’s Cove to be studied to be put into an Area of Redevelopment.
  • Removed most of the pods from behind the old Borough Hall.
  • Sold off unused equipment.
  • Met with the County Engineers, Freeholder as well as State DOT for the first time to try to resolve the Route 36 runoff issues.