Here is the latest Take Five briefing from the July 5, 2022 meeting of the Mayor and Borough Council.
Mayor’s Proclamation: The Mayor issued a Proclamation commending and thanking Officer Sean Garley and Detective Sean McGraw for their skilled and selfless actions on June 3rd which saved the life of a distraught individual contemplating suicide. While driving home from work, Officer Garley and Detective McGraw saw a distressed individual on the Morris Goodkind Bridge. They pulled over and utilized their de-escalation training to calm the individual down and move them away from the edge of the bridge to receive further help from EMS.
Parkstock Outdoor Concert Series: The Mayor and Council invite the community to their first ever outdoor concert series known as “Parkstock.” The public is invited to join them at Donaldson Park from 6 – 8 p.m. on Thursday July 14th, July 21st, August 4th, and August 11th for a unique lineup of local musical artists and select food vendors. Click HERE for the schedule of performances.
Adopt-a-Drain Program: Sustainable Highland Park (SHP) is sponsoring a new volunteer initiative to help clear storm drains of debris, allowing them to function more efficiently during weather events. SHP is seeking volunteers to help clean 1 – 3 storm drains near their home on a regular basis which will ultimately prevent storm drain blockage which results in flooded streets. For more information and to sign-up to volunteer, click HERE.
Borough-Wide Revaluation: Borough Council authorized two resolutions related to the Borough’s upcoming revaluation, which was ordered by the Middlesex County Board of Taxation earlier this year. The first resolution appropriates over the next five years funds in the amount of $400,000 to pay for the revaluation. The second resolution awards a contract to Professional Property Appraisers, Inc. who was selected via an RFP process. Once the state gives the “green light” to the agreement, the Borough will begin communications with residents regarding the revaluation process in partnership with the newly selected firm.
Firearm Ban in Borough Buildings: Borough Council authorized a resolution banning the carrying of firearms within any Borough building. The Supreme Court recently issued a ruling that indicated that the carrying of firearms can be banned in “sensitive” areas such as government buildings. Additional action on protecting individuals in Borough buildings will be taken at the August 2nd meeting when an ordinance codifying this policy in Chapter 185 of the Borough Code, the section that regulates firearms, will be introduced.
If you’re interested in watching the July 5th Council meeting, go to HPTV’S Youtube channel where the meeting will be posted in its entirety. The next meeting of Council is scheduled for Tuesday, August 2nd.
