ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, NJ —  The Borough Council had a busy session last night.  They appointed Michael Lee as Police Lieutenant and introduced several new ordinances including: licensing massage therapy businesses and therapists, increasing fees for construction and code enforcement departments, and two bond ordinances for improvements to roads and sewer lines.  They also approved the acquisition of about an acre of land in the steep slope region of the borough.

Mayor Michael A. Harmon paused at the beginning of last night's Borough Council meeting to remember two individuals who died recently. 

Genevieve Hawley, 69,  Highlands resident and Henry Hudson Regional School Board member died Sunday after a tragic accident. She was visiting an animal farm with her family and fell down a stairway. Her face was impaled by a short iron fence post near the foot of the stairs. She was taken by helicopter to the hospital and died en route when swelling around her face and neck blocked her airway.  Mrs. Hawley had a long career of public service on the school board. She had previously served as Atlantic Highlands' representative on the Hudson Regional School Board. 

Jonathan Duchatellier, 19, an Atlantic Highlands resident and student at College of the Holy Cross died Wednesday at a Worchester, MA hospital after suffering severe head injuries from a fist fight early Sunday.

"Tragic events like these remind us how precious and fragile life really is," said the Mayor.

The council approved several ordinances last night, after public hearings, and introduced several other ordinances.

The council approved the creation of the position of Police Lieutenant. They also amended the salary ordinance to reflect the new position and appointed Michael E. Lee to fill the job in the 14-member department. The new salary ranges are: Chief of Police  $75,000-$95,000; Police Captain $72,000-$84,500; Police Lieutenant $70,696-$77,200.

Lt. Lee, a Middletown resident, has been a member of the Atlantic Highlands Police Department since 1977, and has served the last 16 years as Police Sergeant.  He serves as Training Officer, he manages and maintains the department's computer network, and heads the traffic patrol division.  He has also been a member of the Middletown Fire Department since 1977, serving as Fire Chief from 1993 through 1997.  He has held numerous positions with the Old Village Fire Company, Middletown.

Councilman Steve O'Brien, noted that Lt. Lee has earned a number of awards including Police Officer of the Year, Medal of Honor, 200 Club Award, 2 life saving awards and the Valor Award from the Monmouth County Fire Marshall's Office.

Mayor Michael Harmon administered the Oath while Lt. Lee's wife, Patricia held the Bible.  Also present for the ceremony were his sister, Diane Thorne, and his mother- and father-in-law.

The council last night appointed Doreen Silakowski to the Environmental Commission and appointed Justin Noll, Associate Member of the Environmental Commission.

The council also approved the acquisition of vacant parcels on Hillside Road totaling just slightly more than an acre for $88,000.  The property, totaling 44,400 square feet owned by William Iler is located in the steep slope area of the borough.  The land, together with adjoining parcels, had been the subject of Planning Board meetings for the last several months.  Mr. Iler had sought to subdivide the property.  The council decided to acquire the property to protect this steep slope area from further development.

The Council introduced a new ordinance last night to license massage therapy establishments and therapists.  Mary Hayden, Atlantic Highlands and Seegal Anselmo, Red Bank, sought the ordinance because the Planning Board recently upheld the Zoning Code Enforcement Officer's decision that their business, Gemini Touch was not a permitted use in the borough.  Current borough ordinance prohibits "massage parlors" 

The new therapist license will require the applicant to have a diploma or certificate of graduation from an approved school and to obtain certification by the State of New Jersey.  The hours of operation of a massage therapy business would be limited from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Mrs. Hayden and Mrs. Anselmo have both completed 550 hours of training at The Institute for Therapeutic Massage, Inc. and are certified by Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals.  Although the Legislature two years ago provided for the Certification of Massage Therapists, the State has not yet promulgated the rules to provide State Certification.

The Council introduced two bond ordinances last night. One bond ordinance would appropriate $325,000 for various Road Improvement projects and authorize the issuance of $308,750 bonds or notes for financing part of the appropriation.  Improvements on Mount Avenue between First and Third avenues, East Avenue between Garfield and Washington avenues, Many Mind Avenue between Navesink and East avenues, East Lincoln Avenue between East and Hudson avenues, Sears Landing Road, Bayside Drive, Hill Road, and Hook Harbor Road.

The Council also introduced a bond ordinance appropriating $300,000 for various water/sewer capital improvements by the issuance of $285,000 bonds or notes for  financing part of the appropriation.  Infrastructure improvements to the sewer system including renovations to various sewer lines including Memorial Parkway and First Avenue Underdrain improvements.

The Council also introduce an ordinance last night to establish a new fee structure for the construction department and code enforcement department.  The fees are being raised by about 25% across the board to bring them in line with current rates and to provide adequate funding for the departments.