Thursday, November 8, 2012
Local election winners offered words of thanks to their constituencies in East Windsor, Hightstown, and Cranbury
David Cook, Cranbury Township Mayor I would like to thank all the residents of Cranbury for their generosity and support. It would be impossible to be a competent steward of Cranbury without the input from its residents. By being elected for another three years we, the current Township Committee, will be able to see through a number of large projects and capital improvements. These projects include the Dam and Bridge revitalization, Downtown Beautification Program and new infrastructure such as sanitary services. Thank you again Cranbury for putting your trust in Jay and myself for another three years. James (Jay) M. Taylor, Cranbury Township Committeeman I want to express my dear thanks and appreciation to the voters in Cranbury for their…
Friday, June 22, 2012
Serrano ran for council in 2011.
- ELECTIONS
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Friday, June 22, 2012
Name: Mr. George Serrano Date of birth: 22 February 1961 Place of residence: Hightstown Attended college: Yes College: North Carolina Degree: No Year of graduation: No Has served in the military: Yes Rank: E5 Party affiliation: Republican Running for a: Local office Running for position: Boro Council Incumbent: No
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
The borough anticipates more funds to come.
Hightstown received nearly $190,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the largest payout the borough has received for Hurricane Irene expense reimbursement from the agency. The borough is still determining what the reimbursement exactly applies to and expects additional funds from the agency, said Borough Administrator Michael Theokas. Earlier this year the borough received nearly $50,000 from FEMA, primarily for immediate remediation and removal of branches and trees following the storm, Theokas said. Unlike the insurance company, which reimburses Hightstown dollar for dollar, FEMA only pays 75 percent. Following the storm, the council passed $1.6 million in emergency appropriations and used about $1.3 million of the total. …
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Loss of state revenue is a problem the Borough is facing, according to the mayor.
Hightstown residents will be seeing a $72 tax increase on the average assessed house in the Borough after the 2012 budget was passed unanimously Monday night. The average residential property is assessed at $266,798 and Mayor Steven Kirson said the hardest part for the town is finding revenue to replace what they have lost from the state. “The issue here for the municipality is not so much on the expense side, its producing revenue. We are 1.2 square miles and built out with the lack of ability to attract substantial rateables,” Kirson said. In 2007 the borough received more than $900,000 from the state, and that has decreased to around $500,000 in 2011 and 2012. “The biggest deal for us is how do we replace the $400,000 that we had just a…
Thursday, April 26, 2012
The primary election will be held June 5.
Former candidate George Serrano and newcomer Denny Hansen are running for Hightstown council in the primary elections, according to a news release. The Hightstown Republicans endorsed the candidates at an April 23 meeting, and said they will run a write-in campaign. Serrano, who is the property manager of the Deerfield/Westerlea Arms apartments and an officer at the Hightstown Engine Company, said he has an understanding of code enforcement and would manage taxpayer’s money as if it were his own. “As a Property Manager, I deal with keeping housing code up to date,” Serrano said in the release. “As a Fireman, I deal with the devastation and the threat to Public Safety that results when our codes are not enforced. The residents of …
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Two seats are open on the council and the deadline to run is April 2.
Hightstown Borough council incumbents Gail Doran and Lawrence Quattrone are seeking re-election. Quattrone, who has lived in town for more than 50 years, is serving his thirteenth year on council and sat on the zoning board for eight years. “This years council is young and ambitious and I would like to work with them, as well as our mayor,” Quattrone said. He said rebuilding the police department is important to him and is committed to getting it done. Doran, who was elected in November to fill the remaining year of an unexpired term, said the future of Borough Hall will need to be determined soon and she wants residents to be involved. “I would like this to be done with the knowledge and consent of as many residents as care to be …
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
The ordinance was tabled until next council meeting.
The Hightstown Engine Company said they are in need of a boat and has asked the Borough to purchase one since the fire company's is no longer operable. “When you’re talking about someone drowning you only have minutes,” said Deputy Fire Chief Scott Jenkins. Jenkins answered questions about the need for the boat at Monday’s council meeting, and stressed the importance of it should there be a water rescue. “We are the least expensive emergency service in this town and we do not ask for much, we raise a lot of money on our own,” Jenkins said, noting they have been asking for a boat since November 2010. “This is something that we need their help with and they’re going to have to get on the ball.” The fire department wants a boat called a …
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Borough Council approved the position at Tuesday’s meeting.
The Hightstown Police Department’s former acting police director was named acting lieutenant Tuesday night. The Borough Council approved police officer Frank Gendron’s temporary promotion from sergeant in a 5-0-1 vote, with an abstention from Rob Thibault. The new position also comes with a raise, increasing his salary from $99,529 to $103,211.57, according to Borough Administrator Michael Theokas. When Gendron served as acting police director from Sept. 1 through February he did not receive an increase in pay. Police liaison and council president Lawrence Quattrone said Police Director James Le Tellier made his own assessment of the department and chose Gendron for the acting position. “He is definitely doing what we expected him to do…
Friday, January 20, 2012
$1.3 million has been spent in emergency expenses to date.
Hightstown received the first check from their insurance company reimbursing in full $226,393.41 spent to help get the Borough’s water flowing after Hurricane Irene struck in late August, according to officials Thursday. “That enabled us to get our water plant repaired and back online, and serving clean water to our residents,” said Borough Administrator Michael Theokas. “After so many months of promises of reimbursement, and handwringing, and negotiations and so on, we finally have a tangible result of the hard work that we’ve all put in for this. We really think it’s a sign of what’s to come.” Following the storm, the Borough Council passed two $800,000 emergency appropriations, one in September and one in October. To date, the Borough …
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
U.S. Rep. Rush Holt (D-Mercer) was among elected officials who attended the meeting.
State Sen. Linda Greenstein (D-Mercer) swore in Hightstown Borough council members Susan Bluth and Robert Thibault at Monday’s reorganization meeting, and Larry Quattrone was re-elected as council president. Both Bluth and Thibault said they wanted to tackle transparency and shared services in 2012. “Any services that can be shared, that’s what has to be done,” Bluth said. The two new members said they will hold monthly meetings at the Hightstown library open to anyone to come and talk to them. Bluth said the first meeting is scheduled for Jan. 21 from 10 a.m. to noon. Thibault also said he plans to introduce resolutions that will help improve accessibility and transparency, starting with moving public meeting times later in the evening. “…
Robert J. Smentkowski
2:49 am on Saturday, November 10, 2012
Due to the downed trees fron Hurricane Sandy,anyone with a wood splitter should take a trip through Clinton St. in Hightstown. FYI more ›