The Atlantic Highlands Mayor and Council will have a busy meeting Monday evening, including the possibility of establishing a brand-new Arts and Culture Commission as well as public hearings on two ordinances which will most likely be approved regardless of any comments in the public hearings.
Council also plans to introduce ordinances to increase water rates as well as to approve a bond ordinance to make various sewer and water department improvements.
Council also plans to adopt an ordinance, following a public hearing, which would eliminate the current Design Review Committee and replace it with a newly established Arts and Culture Commission.
The new commission would be in charge of all arts and culture activities planned and coordinated by the borough except for holiday arts and cultural events which would remain with the Recreation Committee. Some residents had questioned at an earlier meeting why these matters would not come under the recreation committee. A copy of the proposed ordinance appears in full on the borough page, under the agenda for Monday’s meeting.
Councilman Brian Gorsegner published his own opinions on the proposed Commission on his Facebook page, noting one of the many factors in is decision to be a council member last year was his desire to “ get a commission passed that would help make Atlantic Highlands the artistic hub and community that I knew it could be.” That, he said, came from his “knowledge of, and excitement about the topic from knowing of all the work of the local Art Council which is headed by his wife as president, Amanda Gorsegner.
A brand new Arts and Culture Commission, Gorsegner said on Facebook, “ will be essential and vital to the blossoming of not only public art in town, but also helping to serve under served children in the community obtain art supplies, bringing more live music and cultural events to town, providing classes and seminars, and much more. “
He expressed thanks to his wife “for being at the forefront of this for years, and to Councilman Brian Dougherty for doing the heavy lifting of the writing of the ordinance (he’s been a part of many! This is the first I’ve taken part in and was awesome to watch the process in action.” He also praised “Mayor Lori Hohenleitner who has always been a huge advocate for the arts, Councilman Jon Crowley for all he’s done for the arts in town, the rest of the council for their endless support, the AH Arts Council for their tireless efforts, and the many others who have been rooting hard for this for a long time.”
The councilman said arts have been important to him since he was a children and now believes that in light of all the turmoil in the world, it is even more important “that we are providing a beautiful, vibrant, welcoming, and inclusive tapestry for Atlantic Highlands.” He urged residents to attend the meeting to show their support for the new commission.
At last week’s planning board meeting, planning board attorney Michael Steib detailed the state regulations on the Fair Housing issues and noted the planners and the council had a limited time in which to approve specific regulations in order to meet state requirements. Steib, in response to questions from the planners, also pointed out the lack of success of any of the 20 or so municipalities across the state among the 400 affected who challenged the regulations and pointed out the borough has little if any opportunity to challenge the state mandates.
The planners voted to ensure the Housing regulations remain in conformance with the Master Plan in meeting the obligations for 48 units, the same as it had been in the past. The ordinances were unanimously approved with a recommendation to the governing body to adopt both at Monday’s meeting in order to meet deadlines. Adoption of the codes protect the borough for another ten years in meeting its housing obligations.
In other business, Council, after more than four years, is expected to resolve the litigation with Kappa Construction over the failed construction of the Marine Police building at the Harbor.
The ordinances to raise water rates and a bond issue for water and sewer repairs would be introduced, but no further action taken until public hearings at next month’s meeting.
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