Here is the latest Take Five briefing from the March 10, 2026, Meeting of the Mayor and Borough Council:
1) Report-a-Concern Portal: Council Members Hale and Hersh reminded residents that the best way to let the Borough know of non-emergency items that need to be addressed is the Report a Concern portal on the Borough’s website. You can find the link on the homepage in the round yellow button in the middle of the screen or under the “I Want To…” in the navigation bar at the top. Each time a resident uses this tool, the concern is forwarded to the relevant department, at which time they will investigate and determine what, if anything, needs to be done to address the concern. Submitting a report online helps the Borough to track and respond more efficiently.
2) Revenue Sharing with the Highland Park Public Schools: The Borough Council approved a resolution to appropriate once again a portion of the annual service charge collected from the 31 River Road redevelopment project, otherwise known as “The Fredrick”, to the Highland Park Board of Education. Because the property is subject to a financial agreement that provides payments in lieu of traditional property taxes, the Borough receives an annual service charge from the developer. Under an agreement with the Board of Education, the Borough will share 60% of that service charge to support school services. The agreement must be renewed annually.
3) Annual Distracted Driving Awareness Campaign: The Borough Council adopted a resolution supporting the statewide “UDrive. UText. UPay.” distracted driving crackdown taking place throughout the month of April. The campaign combines public education and increased traffic enforcement to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving, which continues to be a leading cause of crashes, injuries, and fatalities nationwide. Through the program, the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety provides a reimbursement to the Borough to offset the costs of the distracted driving enforcement efforts. Highland Park’s participation in this program reminds drivers of a simple message: when you’re behind the wheel, the road requires your full attention.
4) Redevelopment Plans for Cleveland Avenue and the Former Sunoco and Adjacent Sites: The Borough Council approved two resolutions authorizing agreements with the planning firm LRK, Inc., the Borough Planner, to prepare redevelopment plans for key sites in Highland Park. One plan will focus on Cleveland Avenue near the intersection with Madison Avenue. The other will cover the former Sunoco site and nearby properties on Raritan and South Second Avenues. The scope of work for both plans includes community outreach and opportunities for public input and feedback. This redevelopment planning process is an early, but important, step in shaping future investment and revitalization in the Borough.
5) Master Plan for Molimock-Graff Park: The Borough Council approved a resolution authorizing a professional services agreement with Clarke Caton Hintz to develop a master plan for Molimock-Graff Park (also known as Karsey Street Park). The master planning process will establish a vision for the space and identify potential improvements that enhance recreation opportunities and community use of the park. The Borough has secured several funding sources to implement the plan, including a Legislative Aid Grant, a Local Recreation Improvement Grant, and previously allocated Community Development Block Grant funds.
If you’re interested in watching the March 10th 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, March 24th at 7 p.m.
