While it appeared until the 11th hour that Mayor Carolyn Broullon
would be unopposed in her bid for the mayoral position in the November
election, it would not be the first time a candidate ran unopposed. It happened at least once before, in the first election after Highlands was incorporated as a
borough in 1900.
Broullon had filed her petition for election to her second three year term as
mayor several weeks ago. There was little talk of anyone opposing her for the
post until Michael Warren, who had run for council in the last election, filed his
petition before deadline Tuesday seeking to unseat Broullon. The mayor also
served three years as a councilwoman prior to becoming Mayor.
Broullon’s first term as mayor came in a tightly contested election when she
unseated incumbent Mayor Rick O’Neill and won the seat by three votes after
the close vote was challenged.
In 1900, David Miller was a member and treasurer of the Democrats of
Middletown before the first election in Highlands. He competed in a primary in
October, 1900, with Charles T. Maison and won the primary with two votes to
Maison’s 1. Maison then ran for one of the four council seats and was again
defeated. In his third attempt to get on the ballot, Maison was successful in
beating W.S.Armstrong and Robert Savage for the post of collector.
The Democrat team was unopposed the following week when Highlands held its
first election.
Blame it on miscommunication, lack of communication, School Superintendent Dr. Tara Beams or lawyers but the regionalization of Highlands, Atlantic Highlands and Sea Bright schools which last week looked like it was heading to the people for a vote in November, appears to have fallen by the wayside.
That was the message at last night’s meeting of the Atlantic Highlands Council when council members were profuse in thanks and bowed to the schedule of its attorney assigned to the regionalization question, Matt Giacobbe.
The attorney, on ZOOM then reported on the latest event in the convoluted and often confusing proposal of creating one K-12 school district for better educational values and lower costs. Borough Administrator Rob Ferragina reiterated Giacobbe was on a tight schedule due to another commitment but could explain the situation and answer some questions within a limited time period.
Giacobbe said what was conveyed to him through a series of calls at all hours because other attorneys involved were out of state or out of country, that the attorney for Highlands regionalization project, Kerry Wright, had communicated to him that Mayor Carolyn Broullon wanted to bow out of the resolution that borough council had last week unanimously agreed to accept, namely that the boroughs would share equally in cost sharing funds. Although Giacobbe said Wright’s communication was in writing, he did not read it during the standing room only council meeting.
The attorney strongly recommended the boroughs and school boards involve a mediator to help resolve the issue and offered to contact the Monmouth County Superintendent to see if he could mediate the matter. Council agreed and authorized Giacobbe to make the contact and contact Highlands to keep that borough informed.
Councilman Steve Boracchia led some questioning on how the situation got to this point, and noted “it sounds like a problem,” asking “who’s talking to who?” It was also brought up that Wright appears to be in conflict of interest in any communication inasmuch as last year she had represented Atlantic Highlands as well as Highlands. Councilwoman Lori Hohenleitner cautioned that she hoped “we aren’t creating drama,” and added that neither side should be afraid to give a little.
Several council members said more than once all should get in one room and talk, or why not just talk, or why can’t the neighboring towns resolve the issue but also acknowledged they were acting in the best interest of their borough.
Council members praised Schools Superintendent Beams and in response to questions indicated she as the prime educator concerned with the issue speaks for the boards of education but did not say why none of the three boards of education or any of its members have been vocal as the councils have been in discussing regionalization.
Nor could anyone give an absolute response on whether this latest action means the regionalization question will not be on the November ballot. Close to midnight, when the question of whether the question can be on the November ballot came up again during the public portion of the meeting, Ferragina recommended the discussion end until the mediation recommendation could be enacted and a more definite response could be given.
Neither Highlands Mayor Carolyn Broullon nor Attorney Wright has yet responded to a request for comment.
Last night’s five hour long Atlantic Highlands Council meeting, in addition to being a record for its length and possibly diverse and numerous topics to be discussed, decided and delayed, also raised more questions on so many issues.
For instance, Councilman Jon Crowley abstained from voting on the regionalization question. So why all of a sudden should he be involved in any discussion?
Why should he be making any recommendations about anything to do with it, and for that matter, why should he continue to be seated at the council table during discussions?
At least when Councilman Brian Boms abstained on another issue, while he did not absent himself from the table, he did not get involved in any discussion.
Did the mayor and council simply let the people have their say on the cannabis issue because the meeting room was so crowded and they did not want to disappoint or anger folks on both sides of the issue?
And there were lots there on both sides to be sure. They had already announced they were withdrawing, not just tabling, but withdrawing the ordinance. So why waste time talking about it at all?
The people have been voicing their opinion on cannabis at earlier meetings, council knows how they feel, why not just work on whatever their new ordinance is going to be, hope they follow all the steps in the proper order, advertise it correctly, then let the people have their say at the public hearing?
And once they made it clear, though they had not announced it in advance, that any speaker wanting to be heard on ZOOM must put his camera on so he can be seen, it begs the question…
What happens to those who do not have a camera or are giving their opinions via a phone connection?
Will they be deprived of their right to speak?
Or does it mandate that as an equality issue, inasmuch as if they spoke at the meeting they would be seen, so why they not be seen on ZOOM?
Although announcing in advance they had intentions of voting to withdraw the cannabis ordinance, the Mayor and Council nonetheless listened to residents and out-of-towners in an approximately 90 minute long public hearing speaking both for and against having a distribution center in the borough.
In the end, the vote to withdraw the proposed ordinance before a scheduled public hearing was approved unanimously, and the idea put forth it will appear again at some time in the future with changes.
With a standing room crowd only and a heavy agenda that kept the council at the table in open meeting until a minute before midnight, including a half hour long executive session midway through the meeting, the governing body agreed that the state’s latest possible changes in regulation on cannabis, with a period for comment open until Sept. 30, is one reason why they agreed to table their ordinance last night.
Council members also conceded they had not included any recommendations made by the Planning Board when they were given the opportunity to read, review and comment after the proposed ordinance was introduced the first time in June and final action was delayed because of that failure to get board comments.
If it intends to continue to pursue an ordinance permitting cannabis, the governing body will now have to draw up a new ordinance forward it to the Planning Board for its recommendations and statement that it is in keeping with the borough’s Master Plan, wait for the planners to discus it at their meeting, then bring it back to council for an introduction, another newspaper advertisement and a public hearing and final action most likely at the meeting the following month. Conceivably, this would put any action on approval of cannabis off until after the Nov. 10 election.
With impassioned reasons both for and against the code brought up by a retired teacher, church leader, former on-line newspaper publisher, businessmen and out-of-towners aided by their use of cannabis, there were both loud moments of discussion and light-hearted moments, along with numerous comments on both sides of the issue bringing applause from the crowd.
The comment drawing the most laughter came when one advocate, after hearing comments on the availability of liquor stores in spite of alcohol causing problems commented that in his experience, “when somebody who drinks gets drunk, he generally gets into fights; when someone who spokes pot has too much, he generally starts a band.”
Another resident pointed out the decision should be made on simple basics, including “will this business be helpful to the town, to health and to the business district, or not?
Another resident from Leonardo said he has used marijuana for 25 years, is responsible, has a family and a job. “The stigma has to go away,” he told the council.
An Eatontown resident speaking on ZOOM, said if there’s room for a brewery in the borough, there’s certainly room for a small marijuana shop.
In addition to the overflowing crowd in borough hall, there were 29 people on ZOOM, three of whom spoke during the public session. And when it was all over, the vast majority left the meeting, the order of business for the rest of the meeting was somewhat modified to enable professionals to meet with council in executive session on other matters, and when the regular meeting resumed a half hour later, only a handful of residents remained to hear and see action on the rest of the agenda.
Actor writer Tom Lynskey will present the history of the SS Atlantic in a Sept. 21 presentation of the Atlantic Highlands Historical Society’s Speaker Series.
The program will be held at the Strauss Mansion Museum on Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 7:30. p.m.
Lynskey will speak on the White Star Line ship that met disaster off the coast of Nova Scotia 40 years prior to the Titanic disaster of the same ship line.
An author, actor, archeologist and game producer, Lynskey is currently developing a series of video games focusing on history and vintage eras, most notably a project about the RMS Titanic titled “Titanic: Honor and Glory”.
The historian will bring artifacts from the last voyage of the Atlantic to the Strauss museum for his presentation and discussion of the event and artifacts.
There is no charge for the program, and all are invited to attend.
Care One at King James Administrator Jimmie King and resident John look over some of the numerous gifts residents, friends and relatives of residents at the Route 36 facility collected as one of several outgoing and generous projects the residents conduct throughout the year.
John was one of the residents who spearheaded this event, said Activities Director Karen Cohen, in appreciation for the kindness and warmth all visiting pets bring to residents at the Care Center.
Among the frequent canine visitors is Reese, who comes with Social Services Director Christian Ingegnere to visits the rooms of residents. Other employees also bring their pets for visits with residents, as do volunteers who come in with their own pets to bring joy and lower blood pressure to residents.
“All these pet food items are being delivered to Lunch Break in Red Bank and Open Door in Freehold,” Cohen said. “When our residents heard how Covid has seriously impacted some people financially and they either had to give up their pets or seek help from others in order to continue to afford to purchase pet food, they asked if they could donate and take up a collection so food can be delivered to places where others get food for themselves, so they could also get supplies for their pets.” The Director said the residents quickly joined the cause, asking friends and relatives, as well as making their own financial donations so the director could make purchases to be presented to the food banks.
Marge and Paul Edelson are the winners of the 2022 Jane G. Clayton Award for their outstanding work in the formation of the Township of Ocean Historical Museum.
The announcement was made by County Clerk Christine Hanlon, and the couple will be honored at the 26th Annual Archives and History Day on Saturday, Oct. 1 at the Robert J. Collins Arena at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft.
The Edelsons have been active in promoting Ocean Township’s history since the 1970 when Mrs. Edelson was a charter member of the Ocean Township Historical Society and co-authored two books on the Township. She then co-founded the Township of Ocean Historical Museum in 1984 and has served as president. She has also spearheaded the annual quilt raffle, the Spring and Doll Teas, and other successful fundraisers.
Edelson played an important role in securing the museum’s first home at the Oakhurst School. Since 2001, he has he worked to preserve the Woolley house and oversee its move to its current location where it opened in 2009. He served as president for nearly a decade and has helped raise funds and oversee the restoration of the historic Tower and Cow Barn near the museum.
“The efforts of Marge and Paul Edelson have made a significant impact on the preservation of the history of Ocean Township and beyond,” said Hanlon. ““They are well-deserved winners of this year’s Clayton Award.”
Named for the former County Clerk who established the Monmouth County Archives, the Jane G. Clayton Award has been given annually since 1997 to an individual who has made a major contribution to the preservation and knowledge of Monmouth County history.
This year’s Archives and History Day will be begin at 9 a.m. and is organized by the Monmouth County Clerk’s Archives Division. The 2022 Archives exhibit, which will be on display at Archives and History Day, is titled “Monuments and Markers of Monmouth County.”
The Edelsons will be presented with the Jane G. Clayton Award during the awards presentation of the Archives Day event beginning around noon.
In addition to awards presentations, more than 50 expected local and state historical societies, museums, and will set up tables relating to the mission and activities of their organizations. All who are interested in history are urged to attend this free event.
“Archives and History Day is a key opportunity for history-related organizations to connect with the public and with each other,” said Monmouth County Archivist Julia Telonidis. “Those with an interest in Monmouth County history will enjoy this year’s exhibit and the keynote speech presented by Professor Richard Veit of Monmouth University.”
For more information about Archives and History Day, including the preliminary program for the event, visit the Monmouth County Clerk’s Archives Division website at MonmouthCountyClerk.com/Archives or contact the Monmouth County Archives at 732-308-3771, ext. 3772 or ArchivesResearch@co.monmouth.nj.us.
Commission Chairman Joseph Dender and members of the Atlantic Highlands Harbor Commission were not shy in promoting the Atlantic Highlands Yacht Harbor as the best asset the borough had to offer when submitting their annual report in November 1955.
“It is with justifiable pride,” the official report began, in announcing that the local Yacht Harbor “is one of the finest yachting marinas along the East Coast from Maine to Florida.”
As evidence of their conviction, the Commission report said it was the harbor that brought so many new home buyers and business interests to the borough, boaters, sailors, and non-boaters alike who heard about the excellence of the harbor, visited and decided to invest in the community and settle their roots here.
The report also cited the number of capital improvements that were made during 1954 and 1955, the two years covered by the report, including construction of the harbormasters office along with rest rooms, a plaza with benches, a storage and lighting building, pier lighting on every pier as well as water to every berth, and paving of both roads and the parking area.
The report also showed the funds the harbor success has meant in donations from the Commission to the borough to offset taxes and how the amount rose each year. In 1953, the report said the harbor gave $2500 to the borough $5600 the following year and $7500 in 1955. The $7500 donation, the report said, represented a $2 per $1,000 tax deduction for borough taxpayers.
The Commissioners are prudent with their expenses, the report continued, highlighting the entire facility is maintained and operated by a harbormaster, two part time seasonal men on the gas pier and one part time handyman. Any damages from high seas or storm damage have been covered by insurance because of the excellence of their policies, and the sea wall built by the US government in 1941 is in excellent shape, and would cost $2 million in this market to repair.
Members of the 1955 Harbor Commission in addition to Dender were Everett Curry, Dominick Caruso, Jack Gawler, Harry Murtha, Harvey Bowtell and Andrew Lynch.
What a difference a century makes… Or almost a century.
In 1930, 92 years ago, Mayor John Snedeker and the governing body of Atlantic Highlands approved the zoning ordinance…singular…for the borough and Borough Clerk Ruby Hartcorn attested to its accuracy and completeness.
Compiled in a booklet available to the public at the time, the entire zoning code for the borough in 1930 was included in 16 pages in a booklet that measures 3 inches by four inches in size, scarcely the front and back of two standard size pieces of typing paper.
Today’s zoning ordinance for the borough is included in a code book as well. But this one is roughly an inch in thickness made up of those same size typewriter pages, written on both sides. And that’s only half of it … The other half is yet another book of roughly the same size, which includes the zoning development regulations.
While this week the borough is conducting a public hearing with the possibility of amending the zoning ordinance to allow for certain cannabis businesses in specific places in town, it is fascinating reading about what was important in 1930 for zoning in Atlantic Highlands.
The first two pages give all the definitions for words used in the ordinance; things like lot depth, front and rear yards, corner and interior lots, and lots in general A lot is described as “a parcel of land, the location, dimensions, and boundaries of which are determined by the latest official record.” It also describes a family as “any number of individuals living together as a single housekeeping unit and using certain rooms and housekeeping facilities in common.”
The ordinance then spells out its purpose in establishing zones: for the purpose of lessening congestion in the streets; of securing safety from fire, panic and other dangers; for promoting health, morals and the general welfare, for preventing the overcrowding of land and buildings, and for the purpose of conserving the value of property and encouraging the most appropriate use of land throughout the municipality, all of which, the officials said, could be accomplished by establishing two zones … a residential zone and a business zone.
Each of these Zones was delineated carefully in the code, and had its own restrictions. For example, while hotels, boarding and rooming houses were permitted in the residential zone, together with churches, schools, some clubs and libraries, doctors, dentists artists, musicians, engineers, dressmakers, surveyors or lawyers could only have their business in the residential zone if it were part of their private dwelling. Parks and playgrounds were allowed, but clubs whose primary activity was conducting a business were not allowed.
Neither were correctional institutions or asylums for the insane.
The business zone specifically would not accept specific types of business; in fact, no fewer than 58 different types of business, each spelled out in detail, was not permitted within the confines of the borough of Atlantic Highlands. There would be no automobile junk yard or carousel anyplace in town, the ordinance said. Nor would there be any merry-go-rounds, whirligigs, Ferris wheels roller coasters “or similar devices.”
And nothing with less than perfect aromas would ever be allowed. These included plants for the rendering or refining of grease, lard, fat or tallow, fertilizer, pains, oil, varnish, turpentine or enamel manufacturing, or coke ovens. Neither creosote treatment nor its manufacture would be allowed.
Nor should the residents of the borough ever have a business here that created a dangerous situation, things like disinfectant, insecticide or poison manufacturing, distillation of any coal petroleum, grain, wood or bones, except in the manufacture of gas. There would be no petroleum manufacturing or storage here of more than 10,000 gallons. Even printers ink could not be manufactured in Atlantic Highlands.
There could be no business of slaughtering animals or stock yards, or even a livery or a stable. And anything to do with the manufacture of tobacco, tar, vinegar or yeast were definite no-no’s in Atlantic Highlands business districts.
The zoning ordinance also established a zoning board of adjustment, with all five members being appointed by the Mayor and council. Their duties were spelled out in the state law of 1928. A Certificate of Occupancy would be required for all uses, additions to residential buildings and it had to be obtained within 10 days after the building inspector found the building or alterations to it were to his standard.
In the end it was the borough’s building inspector who was “empowered to order the remedying of any situation that failed to meet the standards of the code. Failure to follow his edicts could result in jail time of up to 30 days as well as a fine of $200, not once, but “for every day that a violation is permitted to exist.”
It looks like it will be a long and exciting meeting Thursday night beginning at 7 when the Atlantic Highlands Mayor and Council meets in front of what is expected to be a standing room only crowd.
With a public hearing on Ordinance 09-2022, Cannabis Facilities, licensing and taxation scheduled for a public hearing, the meeting hall and ZOOM are expected to be crowded with those outspoken proponents of allowing cannabis facilities in some sections of the borough as well as the dozens of property owners who first posted lawn signs when the ordinance was first up for a public hearing, but postponed, opposing it. Those anti-cannabis residents then splashed the Sept. 8 date on their lawn signs advising passersby that the public hearing is still on.
The ordinance appears in full on the borough’s official page but residents have long since made up their minds on how they feel and plan on having their say on it during the public hearing set for the ninth item on the agenda, under “unfinished business.”
When it was introduced at the June meeting, Councilman Brian Boms recused himself because of a possible conflict, and Councilman James Murphy voted against it and has since been an outspoken opponent of cannabis businesses in the borough. Councilmembers Steve Baracchia, Lori Hohenleitner, Brian Dougherty and Jon Crowley all voted to introduce the ordinance.
Prior to that piece of business at he coming meeting, those in attendance and on ZOOM will be able to welcome Sean McDonald as the 15th member of the local police department, enabling the department to reach its full complement of officers. A Keansburg native who grew up in Middletown and graduated from Middletown High School North, McDonald, whose father was a police officer in Asbury Park, has completed training as a Class A officer, earned a degree from Jersey City University and was employed by the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office. If approved as expected at the meeting, is appointment becomes effective immediately and he will start one year as a probationary officer.
Attendees will also hear the discussion by borough engineer Doug Rohmeyer on the Monmouth County Open Space application as well as the 2022 road program for the borough.
Then the scheduled hearing and vote on the cannabis ordinance.
But that will be far from the end of the meeting. Council can also anticipate a considerable number of questions from members of the public first during the public comment period which immediately follows the cannabis activity, then again at the end of the meeting before the governing body goes into executive session to discuss the Mother Theresa School property as well as a possible addition to the Bed and Breakfast ordinance. The council may or may not come back after the executive session to take action on the executive session matters.
In between council also anticipates adopting eight resolutions and introducing one ordinance , Ordinance 11-2022, the No Knock Ordinance.
Among the eight resolutions is one required by the federal government and Monmouth County before the borough can participate in the Community Development grant funds issued through the County that would assure in the contract that the local police department would not use excessive force against anyone engaged in non-violent civil rights demonstrations. The agenda gives no indication on why the federal government is requiring this from all municipalities eligible for this grant.
Following the reports of each of the council members for all of their committees, and the reports from the administrator and other professionals, the meeting is once again open to the public.
And more questions may be asked at this time in anticipation of the governing body responding.
The question of the delays in the regionalization question and another on how the borough’s regionalization attorney called into a special meeting before council took action on yet another resolution could make specific remarks are also bound to be raised questions. The attorney’s statements to Atlantic Highlands officials that both Highlands and Sea Bright were aware of the new agreement and were in agreement with it was refuted hours later by the Highlands mayor, Carolyn Broullon who expressed shock at the news and indicated not only did the Highlands council not know about the change which decreased the amount of funding Highlands would receive while increasing Atlantic Highlands portion but they certainly had not given any opinion in favor of it, statements that left both government officials and the public in surprise and with questions.
