The highlight of the meeting was Mayor Elsie Foster’s announcement of the generous bequest left by the late Leonard Kushner, a former police officer and resident of Highland Park. Kushner’s bequest, given in memory of his mother, Ida Kushner, has been distributed to various departments and organizations within the borough. The mayor expressed gratitude for Kushner’s philanthropy, noting that his gifts would positively impact the community and improve local services.

Council member Philip George shared updates on a memorial for Mary Dver, a dedicated volunteer who made significant contributions to environmental matters in Highland Park. George also elaborated on the progress made in transferring dispatch services to the Rutgers Dispatch Center, with funding being discussed for necessary building renovations. Additionally, he noted changes in parking regulations and increased patrol in the Crows Road area to address concerns about speeding.

The council meeting also saw Matthew Hersh, who oversees the Arts and Recreation committee, reveal plans for a new replacement supermarket, following the departure of Quick Check due to a shift in their business model. Hersh confirmed ongoing discussions with the owners of the supermarket space, with a press release on the new supermarket expected soon.

Council member Hersh also updated the council on the borough’s successful recreation programs, including the highly anticipated production of Matilda Jr. by the Highland Park youth theater company. He expressed excitement about this development and thanked the staff for their hard work.

In a discussion about local infrastructure, a council member noted the challenges of acquiring electric vehicles due to supply chain issues. The council member mentioned the possibility of acquiring an electric garbage truck and highlighted the importance of pre-K education, stating that ongoing discussions with school administrators were focused on making the best choices for the town’s three and four-year-olds.

The council also took note of the ongoing nurses’ strike at a local hospital. A nurse expressed gratitude to the council for their support and stressed the need for progress in negotiations over nurse-to-patient ratios. Another community ally thanked the council for passing a resolution in support of the nurses and urged them to pressure certain assembly members to co-sponsor related bills.

A resident expressed concerns about the accessibility of a building on Woodbridge Avenue, particularly the lack of wheelchair access, and the council committed to investigating the situation. Another resident raised questions about the need for professional engineering services for roadway improvements, and the council clarified that the work involves more than just resurfacing roads, including designing bid specifications and checking for ADA accessibility compliance.

The meeting concluded with the council discussing an ordinance related to the replacement of the roof and other improvements to the public library. Councilman Philip George explained that they would closely monitor the warranty for this type of roof work to address any problems promptly.