Tag: Meeting

Even though Red Bank is more than 5,600 miles from the Middle East, the ongoing war in Gaza managed to consume part of the borough’s Jan. 25 council meeting.

Small-town politics, while contentious at times, can be as seemingly wholesome as a breath of fresh air. In large cities, the swearing-in of council members and mayors is performed under strict decorum and with the coldness of efficiency. In Atlantic Highlands, as in other boroughs and towns on the Bayshore, Reorganization Day is a day for the community to celebrate with the families of those elected and often other state and local officials.

In a nearly four-hour special meeting, the borough planning board heard detailed plans, variance requests and expert testimony about a proposed development at 160 First Ave., the current home of Mike’s Convenience Store and Scenic Liquors.

The newly elected governing body set some ground rules for governance at its first meeting July 6 since all members and the mayor were installed five days earlier.

The Colts Neck Board of Education is considering revising its transgender student policy. If approved, school staff must inform parents of a child’s wish to be addressed by a different name, pronoun or gender identity.

The Middletown Township Committee addressed a range of topics at its May 15 meeting, from acquiring new open space to budget approval to potential tobacco and smoke regulations.

The Jersey Shore is a welcoming location for film and television productions and many would like to keep Atlantic Highlands in the mix. But a proposed high-cost permit fee for filming in the borough could turn Hollywood away.

The developer made an enticing offer, but residents aren’t biting.

During its April 26 meeting, the borough council approved an ordinance requiring all volunteers, coaches, assistant coaches, board members and seasonal employees with direct and regular access to minors through Atlantic Highlands’ recreation and sports programs be fingerprinted and undergo a criminal background check. Failure to submit to the mandatory requirements would result in exclusion from the borough’s programs.

The township’s ambitious plan to revive the history and economic vitality of Route 36 has gained momentum. More than a hundred residents and business owners participated in the first community meeting organized by township officials to discuss redevelopment of Middletown’s section of the state corridor.