By Stephen Appezzato
HIGHLANDS – The underlying theme of Highlands’ first town meeting of the year was positivity as two returning council members were sworn in, first responders took their oaths of office and Mayor Carolyn Broullon highlighted the borough’s 2023 achievements as well as what’s to come.
Incumbent council members Jo-Anne Olszewski and Donald Melnyk, who won re-election last November, were sworn in alongside Fire Chief William Caizza, First Aid Chief Warren “Jay” Terwilliger, and new Police Officer Yanni Gouzouassis.
Olszewski and Melnyk will rejoin fellow council members Karen Chelak, Leo Cervantes and Broullon on the dais.
Olszewski was also re-appointed to the council president role.
With the recent completion of the borough building department, the council’s first order of business was to introduce an ordinance to designate a floodplain administrator.
“We are doing this ordinance because we finally have our building department back,” Broullon explained, an announcement met with applause. The new department is up and running as of Jan. 1.
Similarly, municipal court will once again be held in Highlands with the recent completion of the new borough hall. Following 12 years of reconstruction since Super Storm Sandy walloped the previous borough hall, the new borough hall, located at 151 Navesink Ave., is now open. Until now, Highlands conducted municipal court at the Atlantic Highlands Borough Hall through a shared service agreement.
Broullon announced that long-awaited sewer renovations are underway and will continue through the spring. “We still have paving to do,” she said, “I understand it’s a thorn in everyone’s side; it will get done. When you’re replacing a 100-year-old sewer system it takes time and it takes patience.” Paving is estimated to be done in the spring.
Highlands’ 2024 reorganization meeting concluded with a review of 2023, which was a significant year for borough projects.
In reflecting on 2023, Broullon praised the Highlands community for its generosity and support for fellow residents. “Food, clothing, toy drives really showed how amazing and resilient our community is,” she said.
Broullon proudly announced that last year the municipal tax rate was lowered for the fourth consecutive year, while the combined property value in Highlands increased to $1.1 billion. “It’s just incredible growth,” Broullon said. It is the largest yearly increase in property value in Highlands’ history.
Financially, the borough also excelled by winning grants and award monies in 2023. Last year Highlands was awarded more than $15 million for major projects from different sources, the largest of which was for the Highlands and Monmouth Hills Flood Mitigation and Green Infrastructure project, which was announced in October. The borough received more than $12 million to ameliorate persistent flooding issues.
“I couldn’t even believe it when the engineers told me that we got the grant,” Broullon said.
“It’s going to fix a 127-year-old problem and it’s really something that we should be proud of,” she added.
In other news, Police Chief Robert Burton became the 84th president of the Monmouth County Chief’s Association – the first Highlands chief appointed to the role. “I think it’s really huge. Well done for him and for Highlands,” Broullon said. “It’s just yet another thing that sets us apart from any other borough.”
The year’s inaugural meeting concluded with praise and thanks from the council and the audience to Broullon, who diligently navigated major projects in 2023.
“I can’t wait to see what we do in the next three years here,” council member Melnyk said.
The article originally appeared in the January 4 – January 10, 2024 print edition of The Two River Times.
