Here is the latest Take Five briefing from the November 10, 2026, meeting of the Mayor and Borough Council:
1) Rent Control Ordinance Update: Borough Council introduced Ordinance No. 26-2141, amending several sections of the Borough’s rent control regulations to clarify requirements and streamline the administration of the ordinance. The amendments provide clearer definitions and procedures for rent decontrol when a unit becomes vacant, establish additional protections against coercion or harassment of tenants, and outline a process for tenants to challenge a decontrol application. The ordinance also clarifies the review and approval process for capital improvement surcharges, including requiring verification that work has been completed and paid for before a surcharge can take effect. A public hearing and vote on this Ordinance is scheduled for Tuesday, December 1st.
2) Lead Service Line Replacement Ordinance: Borough Council introduced Ordinance No. 26-2143, requiring property owners to replace lead or galvanized water service lines as a condition of receiving a Certificate of Occupancy as part of the property transfer of ownership. The ordinance is an important component of the Borough’s compliance with New Jersey state law requiring replacement of all lead or galvanized steel service lines by 2031. According to the Borough’s recently updated inventory, there are currently two (2) known lead service lines and 68 known galvanized lines. More information about the lead service line program is available on the Borough website. A public hearing for this Ordinance is scheduled for December 1st.
3) Community Forestry Management Plan Adoption: Borough Council passed a resolution authorizing the adoption of a Community Forestry Management Plan (CFMP), the culmination of a months-long effort involving the Shade Tree Advisory Committee, the Borough’s licensed tree consultant RichView, and Borough administration. The plan was funded by a Green Communities grant from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and included a full street tree inventory, which was completed earlier this year. The CFMP establishes a framework for maintaining and improving Highland Park’s urban forest and is essential to maintaining the Borough’s liability protections under state law.
4) Borough Square Updates: Borough Council approved a resolution authorizing a Legislative Aid Grant application and agreement for an additional $650,000 in funding for the construction of Borough Square. Borough Administrator Jover announced that the final portion of the water main replacement on So. Third Avenue is scheduled for completion. Connection of the new main at Raritan Avenue will require shutting down water service to most of the properties on Raritan Avenue between Second and Third Avenues, so to limit the disruption to downtown businesses, the work will be split over two to three days with the bulk of the work (and the temporary water shutoff) taking place overnight on Monday, 11/16. Once the water main work is complete, the sewer main cleaning and lining will proceed, followed by the demolition of the Borough-owned properties at 15 and 23 So. Third Avenue.
5) Borough Participation in ARRIVE Behavioral Health Program: Borough Council passed a resolution entering into a Memorandum of Understanding between the Highland Park Police Department and Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care Services to continue its participation in the ARRIVE Together program (Alternative Responses to Reduce Instances of Violence and Escalation). A statewide initiative, ARRIVE pairs law enforcement officers with trained mental health professionals to respond to certain behavioral health crisis calls, with an emphasis on de-escalation, safety, and connecting individuals with appropriate care and support. The partnership helps ensure that residents experiencing a crisis can receive assistance from professionals with specialized mental health training, while supporting safer outcomes for individuals, officers, and the community. Learn more about ARRIVE Together.
If you’re interested in watching the November 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, December 1st at 7 p.m.
