It will be a busy night for the Atlantic Highlands Mayor and Council this Wednesday, a recently advertised change of meeting date from the advertised date at the beginning of the year as police officers are promoted, the name of the new lease of the former Shore Casino recommended by the Harbor Commission at its meeting and unnamed at the time is approved, thousands of dollars will be approved for several purposes, new business hours for borough offices will be approved effective immediately and official borough meetings can continue without ZOOM should equipment fail.
The meeting, which is advertised with the full agenda on the borough’s website, is being held Wednesday rather than September 21 in observation of Yom Kippur on September 21.
The governing body is expected to promote Michel Zudonyi to Captain, replacing retired Captain Harry Murtha, and Adam Gurlan to Lieutenant, as well as promotions of both Erica Hoffman and Patrick Anderson to Sergeants on the department. Each of the officers finished first both in tests and with the recommendation of Police Chief Scott Reinert as well as review and presentations to the borough administrator and the governing body.
Captain Zudonyi started with the local department 13 years ago as a special officer, was hired full-time in 2014, promoted to sergeant in 2020 and two years later, promoted to lieutenant. He is a graduate of the Monmouth County Police Academy and holds a degree in business marketing and criminal justice from Felician University in Rutherford.
Lieutenant Gurian, who will fill the vacancy created by Zudonyi’s promotion, was hired in 2006 after graduating from the Ocean County Police Academy and holds an associate’s degree in business marketing from Brookdale. In addition to his position serving as patrol supervisor, Lieutenant Gurian has also been domestic violence supervisor, borough ordinance supervisor, ABC officers, Bias Crim reporting supervisor, Crisis Intervention Officer, Resiliency Officer and head of the annual Atlantic Highlands Bike Radio.
Sergeant Hoffman scored highest of all department members who tested for the sergeant’s position and ranks first overall on the list.
Sergeant Anderson scored second highest on the test and, similar to the other appointees, was recommended by Chief Reinert and will be nominated by Mayor Lori Hohenleitner at the meeting.
The governing body plans to enter a two-year lease agreement with Windjam Events Limited Liability Co, a Domestic Limited Liability Company formed under the Laws of the State of New Jersey on 16 September 2026, with Jim McCallion of Rumson as the Sole Principal, at rates of $240,000 for the first year starting October 1 and $249,000 for the second year ending September 30, 2028, as recommended by the Harbor Commission. That commission had approved recommending the lease , which is for the former Shore Casino, without knowing its name at its meeting earlier this month.
In other business, Council is also expected to adopt a resolution which enables them to continue official municipal meetings even if the ZOOM process fails and residents outside of the borough meeting room will neither be able to hear or speak at the public meeting. The resolution outlines attempts that would be made to correct any failure of the system as well as a public notice on the borough’s website and a 15-minute wait before resuming the meeting which the borough attorney has indicated is in keeping with the Open Public Meetings Act.
Council also intends to change the open hours and days borough will be open, with the changes scheduled to take effect from that meeting forward. If approved, the borough offices will be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Mondays, and from 8 a.m. to noon on Fridays. Tuesday through Thursday, the borough will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Notices will be posted at Borough Hall as well as on the official website.
Council also anticipates awarding a $5,000 contract to provide replanting 26 planters and a raised garden area along First Avenue for work to continue seasonal curb appeal for each season, and another $65,500 for improvements to Central Avenue, Auditorium Drive and Hooper Avenue as previously approved through a grant under last year’s Municipal Aid Grant Program for roadway improvements. Council plans to approve another resolution to finance a one-year contract for the Harbor Manager to work with a firm for the services of a diver for helix and tackle inspections at the harbor.
And another $10,000 for a specialized engineering service for various other projects t the harbor.
