Local
Government
In a state with 566 municipalities, Highland Park is one of 222 boroughs.
The term “borough” harks back to medieval England, when
a borough was an urban center that enjoyed rights to self-government
and, later, incorporation, granted by royal charter. Highland Park has
the mayor-council form of government, under which the mayor and borough
councilors share powers and are elected at large.
The borough serves
the community through committees of the council, viz.: Administration,
Finance, Public Works, Public Safety, Community Affairs, Public Utilities,
along with Health, Welfare and Recreation. The borough’s departments,
boards and commissions all report to the council through these committees.
The Hon. Meryl
L. Frank
Mayor
Borough Hall
221 South 5th Ave.
P.O. Box 1330
Highland Park, NJ 08904-1330
Phone: 732-777-6001
Borough
of Highland Park Boards, Commissions & Committees
Listed here are the boards, commissions and committees currently operating
in, or which have direct impact on, Highland
Park Borough.
If you would like more information about a particular board or commission,
please contact:
Joan Hullings
Borough Clerk
Highland Park Borough Hall
221 South 5th Ave.
Highland Park, NJ 08904-2608
732-572-3400 (voice)
732-777-6006 (fax)
http://www.hpboro.com/
If you are interested
in becoming more than an armchair citizen of your community, please
request a citizen volunteer form at Borough Hall.
Americans
with Disabilities Act Compliance Committee
Establishes ground rules and procedures for hearing comments and requests
regarding access and participation issues of persons with disabilities
with respect to public facilities, services, activities and functions
in the borough. Meetings called by the chair.
Board of
Health
Appoints a Registrar
of Vital Statistics, Clerk and Sanitary Inspectors as necessary. Seven
regular and two alternate members who are Highland Park residents. Meetings
take place the second Thursday of the month in Borough Hall.
Cable Television
Citizens Advisory Committee
Advises mayor and council in the awarding of a cable-television franchise.
Videotapes meetings and events and cablecasts them on the municipal
access channel. Nine members who either live or work in the borough.
Meetings are held the first Thursday of the month in Borough Hall.
Child Placement
Review Board
Monitors
the cases of children who are removed from their homes by the New Jersey
Division of Youth and Family Services. Court-appointed volunteers, who
are required to complete program-specific training, make recommendations
in the “best interest of the child.” Meets once a month
at the Middlesex County Courthouse. For more information, call 732-981-2179.
Commission
for the Disabled
Advises the
Mayor and/or Council Liaison of programs and services, grants, legislation,
policies and practices deemed to be in the best interest of fostering
full civic partnership for persons with disabilities. Five regular and
two alternate members, along with the borough’s Americans with
Disabilities Act Coordinator. Meets the third Thursday of the month
in Borough Hall.
Community
Development Block Grant Advisory Committee
Advises on grants awarded to the borough by Middlesex County. Seven
residents and the Mayor. Annual meetings called by the Chair.
Community
Response Team
Responds to, and manages, any crisis affecting children or adults who
live or work in the borough. The team devises policy and carries out
specific procedures to defuse and stabilize any potentially difficult
situations. Members receive training in crisis management techniques.
Council
on Aging
Advises the Department on Aging. Nine regular and two alternate members.
Meetings held quarterly at the Senior/Youth Center, 220 South 6th Ave.
Cultural
Arts Commission
Orchestrates cultural programs such as art exhibitions, plays, concerts
and dance recitals. Nine regular members and two alternates; all but
two must be borough residents. Meetings are held the first Monday of
each month at Borough Hall.
Emergency
Management Council
Apart from duties codified in the law, formulates an Emergency Operating
Plan based on state and federal guidelines. This plan is reviewed regularly
to ensure its currency and effectiveness. Fourteen members who are all
residents. Meetings called by the chair.
Environmental
Commission
Researches
the use of open space, catalogs public and private open areas, and may
advise the Planning Board on land use and development options. Seven
members. Meetings are held the third Wednesday of the month at Borough
Hall.
Highland
Park Clergy Council
Provides input to the Mayor on programs and services; advises on difficult
policy issues. Membership comprises clergy from the various faiths represented
in the borough. Meetings called by the chair.
Highland
Park Community Food Pantry
Serves
needy Highland Park families two mornings and two evenings every month
with non-perishable food, kosher food, and toiletries. Volunteers staff
the pantry and help coordinate donations. Open the second and fourth
Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. For more information,
call the Mayor’s secretary at 732-777-6000.
Historical
Preservation Committee (Ad Hoc)
Makes recommendations for the proposed makeup and duties of the permanent
Historical Preservation Commission and other matters that center on
the appreciation and preservation of culturally and historically significant
resources within the borough. All nine members must be Highland Park
residents interested in preservation and knowledgeable about the heritage
of the borough. Meetings called by the chair.
Housing
Authority
Provides “safe and sanitary” low-income housing to borough
residents. Membership consists of six commissioners who serve five-year
terms. Meets the third Wednesday of every other month at the Senior
Housing Building, 242 South 6th Ave.
Juvenile
Conference Committee
Serves under the authority of the Family Division of the Superior Court.
Hears and decides matters involving alleged juvenile offenders, and
makes recommendations to the judge for resolution. All proceedings are
confidential. Six to nine citizens are needed at any given time. Meetings
take place the second Tuesday of the month in Borough Hall.
Library
Board of Trustees
Sets policy for, and manages operations of, the Highland Park Public
Library. Nine members, each appointed to a five-year term, along with
the Mayor and Superintendent of Schools. Meetings are held the fourth
Monday of the month at the Highland Park Public Library, 31 North 5th
Ave.
Local Commission
on Human Rights
Charged with fostering good will, cooperation and conciliation among
the residents of Highland Park through broad-based community efforts
and educational programs. Eleven regular members, two alternates and
two students, all of whom must be borough residents. Meetings are held
the third Wednesday of the month at Borough Hall.
Municipal
Alliance Committee
In consultation with the Local Advisory Committee on Alcoholism and
Drug Abuse, identifies community needs for education on alcoholism and
drug prevention. Eighteen members. Meetings called by the chair.
Neighborhood
Preservation Program Planning Committee
Plans the
administration of the Neighborhood Preservation Program Grant. Nine
to 11 members who represent the NPP area, which encompasses the Orchard
Heights neighborhood. Meetings called by the chair.
Planning
Board
Makes, adopts and periodically amends the Master Plan for the physical
development of the borough. Construction applications are referred to
the board for approval or denial of changes to the property. Six regular
members, two alternates, and the Mayor’s designee-all of whom
must be residents-along with one Council member and one borough official.
Meets the fourth Thursday of the month at Borough Hall.
Recreation
Advisory Committee
Advises the Recreation Director regarding recreation matters within
the borough; facilitates communication between residents and the Recreation
Department staff; assists with fundraising and sponsorship as necessary.
Thirteen members, two of whom may be non-residents. Meets quarterly
at Borough Hall.
Rent Leveling
Board
Monitors rent increases for rent-controlled apartments; determines the
disposition of tax refunds to rental-property tenants; supplies information
and assistance to landlords and tenants; and holds and adjudicates applications
by landlords and tenants. Seven regular members, three alternates. Meets
at the call of the chair.
Shade Tree
Advisory Committee
Advises the borough on street trees and on plantings for parks and public
open spaces. Manages the Native Plant Reserve on River Road, which consistently
requires volunteer support. Fifteen resident members. Meets second Wednesday
of the month at Borough Hall or an alternate site.
Zoning Board
of Adjustment
Hears applications
and decides appeals to the Zoning Ordinance, as well as responding to
requests for interpretations of the Zoning Map or Zoning Ordinance.
Seven regular members and two alternates who are borough residents.
Meets fourth Monday of the month at Borough Hall.
Middlesex County Government
Middlesex County
Board of Chosen Freeholders
Administration Building
JFK Square
P.O. Box 871
New Brunswick, NJ 08903-0871
Phone: 732-745-3080
Fax: 732-745-3110
Web Site: http://co.middlesex.nj.us
For Middlesex County news, including
freeholder press releases and statements, log on to:
http://co.middlesex.nj.us/news/index.asp
State Government
Highland Park is
situated in State Legislative District 17, which is represented by:
Senator
Bob Smith <http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/Members/smithr.asp>,
a Democrat. District Office: 216 Stelton Rd., Suite E-5, Piscataway,
NJ 08854. Phone: 732-752-0770.
Assemblyman
Joseph V. Egan <http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/Members/egan.asp>,
a Democrat. District Office: 100 Bayard St., New Brunswick, NJ 08901.
E-mail: AsmEgan@njleg.org. Phone:
732-249-4550.
Assemblyman
Upendra J. Chivukula <http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/Members/chivukula.asp>,
a Democrat. District Office: 888 Easton Ave., Somerset, NJ 08873. E-mail:
AsmChivukula@njleg.org.
Phone: 732-247-3999.
Governor’s
Office
Gov. Jon Corzine (D)
West State Street
Trenton, NJ 08625
E-mail submission form: http://www.state.nj.us/governor/govmail.html
Web site: www.state.nj.us/governor/
Phone: 609-292-6000
Federal Government
United States
Senators
Sen. Robert Menendez
(D)
502 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-4744
E-mail: robertmenendez@menendez.senate.gov
Sen. Frank Lautenberg
(D)
825A Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-3224
Web Site: http://www.senate.gov/~lautenberg/about.html
Member of
Congress
Highland Park is
situated in New Jersey’s 6th Congressional District, which is
represented by:
Rep. Frank Pallone
(D)
420 Cannon Building
Washington, DC 20515-3006
Phone: 202-225-4671
E-mail: Frank.Pallone@mail.house.gov
District Office:
67/69 Church St.
Kilmer Square
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Phone: 732-249-8892
