Highlands Dem takeover

After a year of down-the-aisle votes in the GOP’s favor, the Highlands Democrats took control of the Borough Council during the Nov. 4 election, according to unofficial county results.

Former Councilwoman Rebecca Kane made her way back to the dais by taking the most votes in three of the four districts with a total of 1,225 tallies, according to the county Web site.

“I am just so thrilled,” said Kane, who ran unsuccessfully for a one-year term last November. “It’s been a long time of campaigning and making sure we knocked on every door.”

Resident Chris Francy earned 1,116 ballots, according to the unofficial results, besting incumbents Nancy Burton and Frank Nolan by 60 and 127 votes, respectively.

“We are looking to work with [Mayor Anna Little] in the spirit of cooperation and good fellowship,” Francy said, regarding the lone Republican on the council. “At this point, the council has to function for the betterment of the people of Highlands.”

Incumbent Democratic councilmen John Urbanski and William Caizza agreed the switch to a Democratic majority would make a difference in borough government.

“We sat a whole lot this year and talked,” Caizza said. “With the Democratic council, we can do the things the taxpayers want us to do.”

Caizza added that the Democrats would make people responsible for their jobs and restore accountability.

Francy, who unsuccessfully ran as an Independent three years ago, has also served on the Highlands Board of Adjustment.

He said he plans to get the budget situation “resolved” and move forward with the necessary cuts. The borough’s budget runs on a fiscal year and has yet to be produced under the current Republican administration.

Francy also noted the importance of addressing the issue of flooding in the borough, which he said is currently in the study phases and could move to an action plan with some consensus.

A lifelong resident, Kane is an active member of the Highlands Fire Department, and slated to be the chief in 2009.

As active community members, Kane and Francy ran a ticket themed “For unity in the community.”

“We bridged the gap with the Independent and write-in candidates and really showed that we are willing to work with everyone in the community,” Kane said.

Highlands budget blues?

I think Highlands residents have heard a lot about how great this year's budget is going to be from Mayor Little, but I haven't seen any numbers to back this up. Have you?

During the last meeting, it seemed that CFO Stephen Pfeffer was trying to dull residents' hopes, while Little kept interjecting positive phrases such as "creative" and "proactive." She added that the council was working hard in executive session on things that could not yet be publicly discussed.

I gave Little credit earlier this year for taking on the task of paring down the budget, heck I even wrote an article about it. But all of the secrecy surrounding these "solutions" is not comforting three months into the fiscal year.

During the last meeting, Pfeffer mentioned that the $8.2 million budget would see a 4.67 cent increase on its tax rate. Since he didn't bother to return my phone call from Thursday morning, I had to work out the rest of the numbers myself.

That increase brings the tax rate to about 99.67 cents per $100 of assessed property value for just the municipal budget. A 4.67 cent rate increase translates to more than $250,000 being added to the $5.09 tax levy from last year.

Little said she wanted to stay at or below the rate of inflation, which she seems to have done if these numbers are correct. However, I cannot be sure of the numbers, since some people do not want to share.

Pfeffer did say during the meeting that he wanted to continue reworking the numbers until November in hopes of a better outcome.

Little seems to be sticking to her previous statement: "I am not going to pass an increase that I don't approve of and I am not going to give up working on the budget until it is acceptable."

I just hope these "creative" and "proactive" ideas see some public light before the budget is introduced to really give the residents a chance to know what is going on in that Borough Hall.

The next Borough Council meeting is slated for Wednesday, Oct. 15, at 8 p.m. at Borough Hall, Bay Avenue.

Mayor's blog

It seems that Highlands Mayor Anna Little has started a blog of her own. I have not confirmed with her that she in fact started the blog, but the current post about economic development in the borough sounds like her.

It could be interesting for residents to hear what she has to say. Check it out.

Highlands sheeting update

During last week's Bridge Liaison meeting, officials had discussed some of the sheeting being raised a few feet on the Route 36 Highlands bridge.

It was originally proposed that the work be done from about 6p.m. to 12 a.m. on Tuesday night. Residents and business owners in attendance complained about the timing. Residents that normally miss the work done during the day did not want to be disrupted at night. Area restaurants did not want increased traffic to affect their dinner hours.

Borough Officials agreed to bring the request to the DOT. Later that afternoon, Borough Administrator Bruce Hilling called me to let me know the work would be suspended.

During the Bridge Liaison meeting this morning, Hilling announced that he work would commence for Tuesday, Aug. 5 at about 6p.m. The work that causes noise or vibrations would be over by 10 p.m., Hilling said, but workers would be finishing up work until midnight.

The work will cause one of the two lanes on the bridge to be closed, so there will be one alternating lane of traffic that night.

Mayor Anna Little said she made the request on the residents' and businesses' behalf, but that the person in charge of traffic for the DOT felt the traffic would be too much during the day and that the road could not handle it.

Little noted that the work should not be as intense as when the sheets were driven in to the ground. Officials said there would be vibrations to raise the sheeting though.

Days of our lives: Highlands edition

Anyone who stayed late at the Highlands Borough Council meeting last night was, should I say, rewarded with a blow out between current Mayor Anna C. Little and her predecessor Richard O'Neil.

O'Neil, who I have not heard say a positive thing since Little took office, harped on the council for not getting things done in town. O'Neil's comment was following an argument between Councilman Bill Caizza and Highlands Business Partnership President Carla Ceffalo-Braswell over a 50/50 raffle at the ClamFest.

"It's sad, it's really sad to watch you. And I sat through a lot of shit in 12 years, but to see you guys like this, man, it's unbelievable," O'Neil said. "Nothing's getting done in this town."

O'Neil proceeded to insist that Highlands would miss the boat on a recent proposal for clam distribution in town and repeat that nothing is getting done.

Well, Little let him have it.

She called him out on not returning phone calls for weeks and his lack of support, regardless of her support during his term. Little also made comments regarding how the town is run out of Councilman John Urbanski's garage and that O'Neil was undermining her through Urbanski and Caizza.

Now, these things may have not been a secret, but they were surely not discussed at a public meeting, to my knowledge.

"I am not sitting in a garage with a nude pin up and a six pack of beer. I'm not doing it," Little exclaimed.

Little said he started the fight in public, labeled it completely uncalled for and said she was owed an apology. She then exited the meeting "God Blessing" O'Neil for not appreciating her support.

Initially, I just labeled this 4 minute outburst as drama that is irrelevant to the meeting. But, you know what, it is very relevant. The fact that an old mayor is meddling enough in town that it warranted an explosion from the dais is significant.

Personally, I am not sure O'Neil has any business telling someone else how to run that town. He may have been on council for more than a decade, but look at the recent happenings from his administration. I was only there the last year, but what I saw from him was poor public communication, attitude and a disregard for rules. Notably, the previous administration has recently been questioned by the county prosecutor's office.

There is a clear divide in the Republican party in that town. However, I think the town's divide goes further than party lines. It seems to be a pro-Little v. anti-Little battle at the moment. Some of the town may not like Little or how she runs things, but I am not so sure she could be deemed inefficient. Little has presented ideas for the town and been cooperative with the public, specifically about the bridge issues. Little is typically well composed at meetings and her emotional reaction last night was telling of what is going on behind the scenes in that town. The reactions of her council are, I think, just as telling. Urbanski was snickering and Councilman Nancy Burton told O'Neil the town was no different when he ran it.

I do not like to put my nose too far into the inner politics of a town, I'd rather see what you all think. But, I think in this case, something had to be said. Feel free to comment on this post; I would like to hear the residents' view. I have allowed anonymous commenting for this post.

Caption: (top) Courier file photo of Anna Little and Rick O'Neil together a few years ago.

Highlands bridge update

During the Highlands Bridge Liaison meeting this morning Mayor Anna Little updated the public on some upcoming traffic/construction concerns.

This next week the DOT contractors will start working at 4 a.m. to pour concrete around 5:30 a.m., since it is too hot to do so later in the day. However, no milling or paving will begin before 7 a.m., she said.

Around June 23 the contractors will be shifting traffic lanes and driving a test pile. The workers assured Little the work would only be a few hours and be during the day.

The lane shift is expected to the the Northbound side of the bridge, which is slated to last a year, should take place on Tuesday, June 24. I imagine demolition will take place around that time, but not date was specified.

This Saturday the contractors are to work from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the sidewalk, but are not allowed to close any other lanes during their course of work on weekends.

Hillside Avenue will also be shut down for the next 3 weeks to complete road work from JCP&L. The borough had been looking for a time to have the work completed without interfering with any work or traffic from the bridge replacement.

Borough Administrator Bruce Hilling said there would be a Sea Bright police officer working on the weekends from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. to avoid the 2-3 hour backups from Sandy Hook that occurred this past weekend.