Here is the latest Take Five briefing from the December 6, 2022 meeting of the Mayor and Borough Council.
1) Poetry Reading by Austin Morreale – Mayor Brill Mittler invited Austin Morreale, co-chair of the Human Relations Commission, to recite a poem he wrote titled To Die on a Saturday Night. The poem is a moving reflection on the senseless killings that took place at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando and more recently at Club Q in Colorado Springs, which targeted the LGBTQ+ community.
2) Holiday Happenings Downtown - Residents are encouraged to take advantage of our local downtown merchants when shopping for the holidays. Be sure to check out the Friday Farmers Market, which runs through December 16th, as well as one of the upcoming Night Owl Holiday Markets at the Welkovits Pavilion on December 17th (4-8 PM) and 18th (1-5 PM). While you are downtown, be sure to attend the annual Menorah Lighting ceremony at 4 PM on Sunday, December 18th.
3) Road Project Delay – The road improvements on So. 1st Ave (Johnson to Valentine Sts), So. 10th Ave (Raritan to Woodbridge Aves), No. 10th Ave (Abbot St to Raritan Ave), Alcazar Ave (Central Ave to Cherry St) and Lexington Ave (Borough limit to Raritan Ave) is on hold until Spring 2023 due to various contractor issues. Residents in those areas will receive notice in the New Year, once the new construction schedule is settled. We apologize for the delay and look forward to getting these roads completed as soon as possible.
4) Passage of Ordinance to Establish a Public Plaza on So. 3rd Avenue: Council once-again voted in favor of the ordinance to establish a Pedestrian Mall, or public plaza, on So. 3rd Avenue at Raritan Avenue. The passage of the ordinance is one of the steps required by the NJ Department of Transportation (NJDOT) along with an approved Street Intersection Permit. Once the Borough has the necessary approvals from the NJDOT, we will engage with a landscape architectural firm to help us design the public plaza so that it meets the needs of the general public as well as key stakeholders such as the residents and businesses in the immediate areas and Main Street Highland Park. The final design plan will addresses important concerns such as waste management, emergency access and accommodating public programs and events.
5) Introduction of Lead-Based Paint Inspection and Rent Control Ordinances – The first introduction was an ordinance pertaining to state-mandated lead-based paint inspections for all rental housing in the Borough. Personnel within the Borough’s Department of Code Enforcement will conduct the inspections. The second introduction was a fully updated rent control ordinance, also applicable to all rental housing in town. The ordinance establishes an annual allowable rent increase as well as a Rent Control Board that will work with Borough Administration on implementation of the ordinance. The public hearing and vote for both ordinances will take place at the Tuesday, December 20, 2022 Council meeting at 7 PM.
If you’re interested in watching the December 6th 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, December 20, 2022.
