Highlands conducted its first town meeting of the year to promote positivism. Re-elected council members Jo-Anne Olszewski, Donald Melnyk, First Aid Chief Warren Terwilliger, and Police Officer Yanni Gouzouassis took their oaths. Olszewski became council president again.
Borough Achievements: New Hall, Lower Taxes, and Community Resilience in Highlands
The borough introduced a floodplain administrator ordinance to mark the building department’s completion. The municipal court will move to the new borough hall.
After 12 years of restoration after Super Storm Sandy, Mayor Carolyn Broullon announced the town’s 2023 accomplishments, starting with the new borough hall. Spring paving is expected after sewer upgrades.
The mayor commended the community’s resiliency after successful food, clothes, and toy drives. For the fourth year in a row, the municipal tax rate was dropped, while property values rose to $1.1 billion, Highlands’ greatest annual increase.
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Highlands’ Remarkable Year: Grants, Flood Mitigation, and Police Chief’s Historic Role
Highlands earned almost $15 million in grants and awards in 2023. Over $12 million went to the Highlands and Monmouth Hills Flood Mitigation and Green Infrastructure initiative to address chronic floods. Highlands police chief Robert Burton became the 84th Monmouth County Chief’s Association president, a first. Mayor Broullon prided the town’s achievements and emphasized the grant and Police Chief Burton’s appointment.
The year’s first meeting thanked Mayor Broullon for overseeing big initiatives in 2023. Council member Melnyk predicted three-year success. Highlands’ perseverance and pleasant atmosphere made it stand out as a distinct borough with great achievements.
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