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Sustainable Jersey Certification Report

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This is the Sustainable Jersey Certification Report of Atlantic Highlands Boro, a Sustainable Jersey silver certified applicant.

Atlantic Highlands Boro was certified on September 21, 2023 with 355 points. Listed below is information regarding Atlantic Highlands Boro’s Sustainable Jersey efforts and materials associated with the applicant’s certified actions.

Contact Information

The designated Sustainable Jersey contact for Atlantic Highlands Boro is:

Name:Rob Ferragina
Title/Position:Borough Administrator / Administration
Address:100 1st Avenue
Atlantic Highlands, NJ 07716
Phone:908-902-3864

Actions Implemented

Each approved action and supporting documentation for which Atlantic Highlands Boro was approved for in 2023 appears below. Note: Standards for the actions below may have changed and the documentation listed may no longer satisfy requirements for that action.

  • Arts & Creative Culture

    Establish a Creative Team

    10 Points

    Program Summary: NEW 082822 - Our current "Creative Team" is actually the Beautification and Public Relations Committee, charged with finding ideas and implementing them to beautify the Atlantic Highlands borough. They collaborate with the Atlantic Highlands Arts Council and the Mural Committee for mural and artwork installations throughout the borough. The team has obtained permission from 2 property owners along Edward's Way, an unassuming alleyway connecting the municipal parking lot to the 1st Avenue business district to install 2 murals celebrating Atlantic Highlands and Nature.

    Municipal Commitments to Support Arts and Creative Culture

    5 Points

    Program Summary: UPDATE 082222 - We will be revising this submission with updated documentation and programs that have supported the arts in our community, to include music performances, the Atlantic Highlands Arts Council, Art in the Marina, Mural installations, Found Objects "Bear" statue in Lenape Woods Nature Preserve, interactive installations, community art completed by multiple residents together, and other creative, cultural events. The Borough supports the annual Film One Fest, a one-minute film festival, produced by the Atlantic Highlands Arts Council. 2018 marked the 10th anniversary, although it was actually the eleventh consecutive year since its founding in 2008. The event is held in the Municipal Harbor without any charge to the Arts Council. The Borough also provides police services at no charge. Approximately 3,000 people attend the evening films and music performances.

    Utilizing Your Creative Assets

    10 Points

    Program Summary: On July 16, 2022, FilmOneFest (FOF) presented the best short films from around the world against the backdrop of the Atlantic Highlands Marina, overlooking majestic New York City. FOF provides filmmakers with the opportunity to support and share their most innovative, diverse, and entertaining short-short films out there. FOF is a completely unique film festival experience. FOF offers filmmakers the opportunity to meet and make industry connections while enjoying a unique outdoor screening event that combines film, art, and music — truly separating FOF from other festivals. With Jury & Judge, Audience Choice, and Young Filmmaker Awards, we encourage, support, and reward the art of the short filmmaker. Film Categories Include Comedy, drama, sci-fi, horror, experimental, documentary, animation, student, New Jersey, female filmmakers, and urban. FilmOneFest is supported by Sony Pictures Classics, and in part by funds from Monmouth Arts, a partner of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, and the Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners. The FilmOneFest and the Atlantic Highlands Arts Council supports the Atlantic Highlands Food Pantry through food drives and donations. On July 31, 2021, the Borough of Atlantic Highlands, in partnership and sponsorship by many organizations and businesses, presented the third annual Parkfest, a day-long music festival at the Atlantic Highlands Marina. The event was free but proceeds of raffles went to the Atlantic Highlands Arts Council and EMS. *Templates are forthcoming for November deadline.

  • Community Partnership & Outreach

    Create Green Team

    10 Points
    Bronze Required Silver Required

    Program Summary: Our Green Team is active and currently working on the collaboration and integration of the environmental efforts/actions taken by our town commissions, committees, and government, including, but not limited to the Environmental Commission, Shade Tree Commission, Harbor Commission, Water Department, Mayor and Borough Council initiatives and Borough employees. In our small community, issues have been historically addressed on an ad hoc basis, and where appropriate, ratified by the Environmental Commission and/or Shade Tree Commission. Since our last recertification in 2018, the Green Team has taken a more proactive approach to identifying and addressing issues, to trouble-shooting and problem-solving them, and educating the community. The Green Team is appointed annually – most recently at the January 1, 2022 Council Reorganization Meeting. Minutes from this meeting are attached where Boards/Commissions/Committees Resolution 014-2022 is carried – see page 4. A copy of Resolution 014-202 appointing members of the Green Team is also attached (see page 2). The Green Team membership was expanded to proactively accommodate the increased needs of the Green Team in collaborating with other functional teams and the community across an expanding responsibility to a number of new and exciting green initiatives. The addition of 2 additional members through an Amendment to the above resolution was made on February 25, 2022.

    Community Education & Outreach

    10 Points

    Program Summary: The majority of the items were components of the Envirossance Faire as well as other educational opportunities. They had a presence at the Faire to showcase their achievement(s) for the year or season. They were highlighted at the Faire, but the Faire was not the only time they were conducted. For example, there were multiple sessions held over the summer at the Farmers Market venue. The Historical Society partnered with Wild About Atlantic Highlands to create the garden. We advertised the Historical Society Garden at the Faire to send more people to the Historical Society to visit. In addition, Fall Seedlings were distributed before and after the Envirossance Faire, along with educational guidance (in person or via emailed instructions), as well as porch pick up and delivery of the seedlings from the Shade Tree Commission. Over-wintering in place was an educational program from the Green Team with Garden Club volunteers to show how residents can set up a winter garden that will feed, water, and shelter wildlife. This was also promoted through the local magazine, Atlantic Highlands Living. Each of these projects got “year end” recognition at the Envirossance Faire, but were not only conducted a single time at the Envirossance Faire. The Green Team, Environmental Commission, and Shade Tree Commission have been working on establishing collaborations between the municipal teams and outside organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce which runs the farmers market, and the historical society. The attached 4 events highlight some of the collaborative work we have accomplished very recently. Most of these involve educating people that we are all part of the food chain, and can play an active part in a healthy dynamic by creating native species habitat, being stewards of our land and water, and by making our own properties wildlife friendly. See attached checklists for details on each educational/outreach event.

    Green Fair

    10 Points

    Program Summary: UPDATE 051223: Removed Chalk Talk, and added example of promotional poster which was used on the borough website, social media, and the local news. UPDATE 022623: Green Fair was a successful event hosted on October 22, 2022. Updated Qualitative Assessment attached. The Atlantic Highlands Environmental Commission, Shade Tree Commission, Wild About Atlantic Highlands, Atlantic Highlands Arts Council & AH DPW set up their tables, educational materials, activities, and giveaways during Atlantic Highlands Day on October 22nd, 2022. Visitors were educated on sustainable gardening, wildlife sanctuary accreditation, rain barrels, composting, the importance of pollinators, and shared news about incoming Electric Vehicle charging stations. There were activities for children, and interactive learning events. The event was co-promoted with Atlantic Highlands Day featuring Touch a Truck, and was a follow-on the Clean Ocean Action’s Beach Sweeps, which as held earlier in the day. It drew over 1000 mostly local visitors. All events were published press releases, in local newspapers and local Atlantic Highlands Living Magazine, as well as on the municipal website, printed calendar, and social media.

  • Emergency Management & Resiliency

    Climate Adaptation: Flooding Risk

    20 Points
    Bronze Priority Silver Priority

    Program Summary: The Borough takes flooding risk seriously. Activities since the last progress update in 2018 include public outreach, planning, and mitigation measures. First, the Borough continues to inform residents of impending storms, flooded areas, road closures, and power outages, among other flood-related issues of public interest and public safety, through its Reverse 911 system and Facebook. The Borough adopted the newest model flood code from the State of New Jersey, effective April 2022. Resilience planning in the Borough has tackled emergency and long-term planning, including evacuation routes, emergency management planning, FEMA trainings, and a Resilience Plan in partnership with the Rutgers Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. Finally, flood resilience measures have progressed including those funded by FEMA from Superstorm Sandy and measures that have been spearheaded by Borough employees. In 2022, the Department of Public Works solved a resilience issue from Superstorm Sandy by installing an automatic transfer switch for a portable generator at the Borough Garage. Installed above the base flood elevation, ATS gives DPW the ability to hook up a generator at the garage to ensure that critical equipment and vehicles can be accessed after a flood event when power may be out. This is a prime example of how flood event scenario planning and resilience are permeating through Borough planning and operations and will continue to do so. Attachments: Climate Adaptation: Flooding Risk Documentation Getting to Resilience Assessment Progress Report Sandy High Water Mark Floodplain Management Ordinance Adopted Rutgers Bloustein Resilience Plan Presentation

    Coastal Vulnerability Assessment

    20 Points

    Program Summary: In the fall of 2020, the Borough of Atlantic Highlands partnered with Rutgers Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy to develop a Resilience Plan for the Borough’s Plan Endorsement. Seven students from Rutgers worked closely with the Borough Administrator, Public Works, and the Harbor to deliver reports on Flood Vulnerabilities, Nature-Based Solutions, Water Dependent Uses, and Opportunities and Constraints. The Flood Vulnerabilities report is provided as backup documentation for this Coastal Vulnerability Assessment credit. The report highlights Atlantic Highlands’s varied geography that reveals both areas that are uniquely exposed to flooding from coastal inundation and precipitation events (substantial shoreline, low-lying areas near two creeks that terminate at the Bay) and elevated areas that are exposed to erosion and steep slope hazards. Risks related to these hazards are anticipated to worsen due to sea level rise, coastal storms, and extreme precipitation from climate change. The team analyzed the impacts of nine sea level rise/coastal storm scenarios, including maps of flood inundation that reveal the most vulnerable areas to be those around Wagner Creek, Many Mind Creek, and the Harbor facilities. The report further assesses the Borough’s resilience capacity with recommendations for emergency management, education, and communication. On December 17, 2020, the Rutgers team presented by Zoom to the Mayor and Council in a special meeting preceding the bi-weekly Council meeting, after which the Borough posted the presentation slide deck to the Borough’s website landing page for several months. The Borough Administrator distributed the four reports to the Mayor/Council, Green Team, Environmental Commission, and Planning Board on May 3, 2022.

    Emergency Communications Planning

    15 Points

    Program Summary: UPDATE 5/12/23 - Requested items uploaded. The boro has a new website and we have a promotional ("proactive push") program where we use social media and the website, as well as other departments (e.g., Police) to push notices out to residents. Updated checklist attached with the edits. Atlantic Highlands Office of Emergency Management (OEM), led by the OEM Coordinator, operates out of Borough Hall with a secondary location at the Fire Station. The Emergency Communications Plan is a component of the borough’s Emergency Operations Plan, with input and coordination by the Atlantic Highlands Police Chief, Atlantic Highlands OEM Coordinator, OEM Public Information Officer (PIO), and AH Deputy Coordinators. The primary communications channels include the Atlantic Highlands Facebook page, local radio stations, public access TV if necessary, and the reverse 911 call system. Municipal staff are trained on the communications equipment and the Borough tests the plan annually through a live training exercise.

    Vulnerable Populations Identification for Emergencies

    10 Points

    Program Summary: In addition to asking residents to sign up on “Register Ready”, the Borough works with local stakeholders (e.g., senior housing facilities, local senior social clubs, and churches) to identify vulnerable populations. The local police department works with Monmouth County to maintain and promote the Special Needs Registry for town residents. New residents are given a Borough Calendar (also available electronically on www.ahnj.com), which is an excellent reference to keep at home about who, what, when, where, why, and how to access Borough and Emergency services, and how to help the community with its recycling/reuse/sustainability efforts. The borough posts announcements and the Register Ready brochure on the boro website and on social media as reminders for people to register or to let the borough know of any special needs that must be met during an emergency. The Borough Calendar is mailed to every household at the beginning of each calendar year. Most recently, we hosted a presentation/event with the Atlantic Highlands Seniors group, where they were given “Go Bags” and had them fill out the Monmouth County Evacuation/Vital Documents Form and “Refrigerator Card” with current Medications patients are taking. In the event of an emergency, the patient is prepared with the latest information that medical providers will need to know in managing their healthcare.

  • Energy

    Fleet Inventory

    10 Points
    Bronze Priority Silver Priority

    Program Summary: Fleet inventory with one year of data has finally been captured in Excel. Our DPW lead and Boro Administrator continue tracking and monitoring this document. The boro is in the process of funding and installing EV chargers for future EVs in the fleet to replace some ICE vehicles. In the Spring of 2022, the Atlantic Highlands DPW inventoried all gasoline-powered passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and heavy-duty trucks, and all diesel heavy-duty vehicles. This included the collection of odometer readings, fuel usage, and fuel costs, and consideration of whether the vehicle could be replaced by an alternative form of transportation (walking/biking) or whether the function could be accomplished using a smaller, more efficient vehicle. In total, 77 vehicles were inventoried from Fire, Police, First Aid, Emergency Management, Sanitation, Streets, Water, Borough Administration, and the Harbor. Eighteen vehicles were identified as possibly being able to be replaced by lighter, smaller, or otherwise more fuel efficient vehicles. These identified vehicles serve a variety of functions (Fire, EMS, Harbor, Vehicle Maintenance, Administration) but have in common that they are used daily or weekly. These include three sanitation trucks that are used very consistently but which have very low fuel efficiency. The Borough implements training to its employees on fuel saving techniques including tire pressure management and the impacts of idling. All employees are made aware of NJ’s state law that prohibits idling for more than 3 minutes with exceptions, such as to power warning lights, scene lights, inverters, and certain vehicle systems, though this practice will be less polluting as vehicles become more fuel efficient and as the industry brings medium- and heavy-duty vehicles to market. Warning lights, for instance, have been replaced with more efficient LED lights. According to the Borough Administrator, all new light-duty vehicles are selected with fuel efficiency as one consideration and newer vehicles are more fuel efficient with fuel efficiency features such as automatic shutoff for idling and econo mode. Once the Borough has installed EV chargers at Borough Hall, light-duty vehicles that reach the end of their maximum lifespans will be replaced by electric vehicles. Emissions CO2e (Metric Tons) ICE CO2 197.6175641 197.62 ICE CH4 0.0037473 0.0786941 ICE N2O 0.0035316 1.0948033 Electric CO2e 0.8330000 0.83 Total CO2e 199.62 # Passenger Cars 3 # Light Duty Trucks 12 # Heavy Duty Vehicles 38 # Electric Vehicles 1 Total Fleet Size: 54 Total Mileage 249,623 Total Fuel Costs $91,150.38

  • Food

    Community Food Pantry/Bank & Soup Kitchen

    10 Points

    Program Summary: The Atlantic Highlands Food Pantry is based out of the United Methodist Church located at 96 Third Avenue in Atlantic Highlands. They currently assist families residing in Atlantic Highlands as well as neighboring communities. There is a Facebook page “Atlantic Highlands Food Pantry” which is frequently updated to generate awareness of those in need within our own community so they can make donations of food, supplies, pet food, or monetary donations which go towards purchasing fresh produce or items in short supply like infant formula, paper products, toiletries, and much more. The municipality advertises for the food bank on the boro website and on Facebook, and may directly become involved in a particular drive coinciding with an event. For example, “Bring a Canned Item” when you visit the summer movie night at the harbor. The municipality will also support other Community Food Resources through food drives, or directing those in need to organizations that can help. There are drop off locations at several locations throughout the borough to include local small businesses, and residents will patronize the businesses, and drop off donations. The Food Bank can deliver with volunteers, but most often, people will come to the church on Thursdays to obtain items they need. Since the pantry has grown with the generous donations it has received, the church has recently organized a large “store” in the lower level of the building where recipients may “shop” for whatever they need. The number of families helped each week varies, but in spring 2022, is averaging 30-55 per week, from a height of 100-150 in the summer of 2020.

    Farmers Markets

    10 Points

    Program Summary: UPDATE: New Word document showing various forms of advertising of the Farmers Market and Special Events/Programs hosted by the municipality. Memo of Support between the Atlantic Highlands Chamber of Commerce and the Municipality. The Atlantic Highlands Farmers Market provides fresh local produce and locally sourced products every Friday afternoon from the beginning of June until the end of October. The market is advertised on the Town’s website, electronic sign, and Facebook pages, as well as local newspapers such as the Monmouth Journal. The borough supports the Farmers’ Market through advertisement, as well as the Market's use of town property and electricity, at no charge. In order to facilitate better access for visitors, the borough relocated the market from the marina to a central location downtown, adjacent to a bus stop and across from the municipal building. This central location offers access via car, walking, biking, and bus, and also offers access to public restrooms. Handicapped parking spaces and sidewalk access are directly adjacent to the Market, with an additional sidewalk through the center of the market so that all booths are wheelchair accessible. The town works with the market vendors on creating a setup and cleanup plan which ensures the property is well maintained and the grass and plantings remain attractive. Some monetary benefit is received by the Chamber of Commerce, which manages the market. A weekly vendor fee is collected from the vendors with a discount to any Chamber members that are vendors. Any funds remaining after expenses at the end of the season are used by the Chamber to support other town events, thus driving the local economy. The town and particularly, Mayor Loretta Gluckstein have continued to provide the support and maintenance needed to create a thriving market. This year, the Market is welcoming the addition of a municipal table where other commissions/committees and volunteer organizations may, free of charge, offer educational materials, giveaways, and volunteer opportunities supporting our various green initiatives throughout the town.

  • Innovative Projects

    Innovative Community Project 1

    10 Points

    Program Summary: Throughout history, Atlantic Highlands has experienced and continues to experience Slumping (or Slump Blocking), where large chunks of land will slide down our slopes. In some cases, slumping has undermined house foundations and caused their condemnation. In other places, it has caused debris to fall or flow into thoroughfares. One major protection we have from this occurrence is our trees and their root systems which hold and enforce the soil along steep hills and slopes. Our tree protection ordinance provides a significant benefit to the environment and society. Our steep slope ordinance and enforcement of it protects our trees, which in turn protect our slopes. The ordinance requires a permit be issued to cut down any trees that are in our designated slope zone. The permit requires an engineer’s report stating that the removal of the tree(s) would not adversely affect the land and structures (mostly residential homes) surrounding and below the tree. In addition, all tree trimming in the steep slope zone is subject to pre-approval under the ordinance. All zoning applications are reviewed for steep slope and stormwater runoff implications, and the practice of "tree-topping" or heavy pruning of the uppermost branches and growth (usually to keep one's view of the bay), which leads to early failure and death of trees, is not permitted. In active slump block locations, we have installed slump block monitoring systems to measure movement in those locations. https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/6047b722d34eb120311a5d73

    Innovative Community Project 2

    10 Points

    Program Summary: Atlantic Highlands is proud to have been the first community to adopt a ban on plastic straws and bags. While the new law effective May 2022 essentially supersedes our original ordinance, we have since taken further steps in managing the amount of plastic going into landfills. We are working to build solutions with local companies that will provide biodegradable packaging solutions that even small communities like ours can use. This will FURTHER the success of the ban, especially for the many exempted single use plastics (e.g., garbage bags, food containers) that are not included in the ban. In collaboration with a local company, Patriot Bioenvironmental, Atlantic Highlands passed a resolution urging the EPA and NJ state to consider incorporating the innovation of biodegradable plastics as one solution in line with the new ban. The new law DOES NOT meet the needs of certain communities whose merchants may still use plastic bags for customers, based on their location’s square footage. Atlantic Highlands took the initiative to draft this resolution for other municipalities to follow. In essence, it advocates for better plastic SOLUTIONS, rather than "just" limiting the usage of a small percentage of consumer utilized plastics. The better plastic solutions are created by adding an organic compound in existing manufacturing processes that cause the plastic product to biodegrade in a landfill environment without creating microplastics. This biodegradation occurs in a few years rather than hundreds of years, and represents a huge innovation. Further, the municipality looks forward to sourcing biodegradable and compostable products that are already being manufactured. These will include everyday items such as garbage bags, dog refuse bags, cups, straws, and of course, grocery/takeout bags and containers.

    Innovative Community Project 3

    10 Points

    Program Summary: UPDATE 02/26/23 - NEW SUBMISSION A lively Community Pollinator Garden is playing an important role in our local ecosystem and food chain by attracting pollinators (beneficial insects, birds, and mammals) native to our area by offering food, nectar, and habitat. It features over 15 species of perennial plants, shrubs, and grasses bloom from early spring when the first pollinators emerge, into late fall as the endangered Monarch butterflies migrate south, and throughout winter to protect eggs and chrysalises until spring. Consisting mostly of native species, the plants are disease and deer resistant, and require little or no maintenance. This model of sustainable gardening can be adopted elsewhere, no matter how large or small or inhospitable the available space. The garden was designed and installed by volunteers of the municipal teams, local Garden Club, and the municipality and harbor crewmen. We will continue to advocate for this kind of sustainable garden design, utilizing native species and pollinator attracting plants to create "no-mow" areas that encourage pollinators in hellstrips, parking lot islands, and other municipal and public spaces. The garden was widely publicized on social media, in several newspapers and the local magazine, and the boro website, and was funded by a grant from Sustainable Jersey and the PSEG Foundation. All publicity noted the sponsors. A final report submitted to close out the grant is attached, which provides additional details on the project.

  • Land Use & Transportation

    Effective Parking Management

    10 Points

    Program Summary: Atlantic Highlands was part of the Bayshore Regional Strategic Plan (now replaced by the Monmouth County Master Plan) which was an effort by 9 municipalities in northern Monmouth County to reinvigorate the area's economy by emphasizing the traditional downtowns, dense residential neighborhoods, maritime history, and the natural beauty of the Raritan Bayshore coastline, especially along the Route 36 corridor along the Sandy Hook Bay. The participating municipalities were: Aberdeen, Atlantic Highlands, Hazlet, Highlands, Keansburg, Keyport, Matawan, Middletown and Union Beach. In Atlantic Highlands, residential roadways are mostly narrow, allowing for street parking only on 1 side. Ocean Blvd is only 2 lanes, and winds along the side of the hill, with virtually no parking along its entirety from 1st Avenue to Route 36. Similarly situated along different elevations of the hill, Bayside Drive and East Highland Ave. also do not offer streetside parking. Most commercial or business traffic centers around 1st Avenue and West Ave/Hennessy Blvd, all with limited parking curbside. There is a municipal parking lot between these 2 streets, and additional commuter parking near Seastreak Ferry. The Atlantic Highlands Parking Committee was formed in 2020 to actively seek solutions to parking, and has creatively found new parking spaces where none existed before. Armed with an older DOT Traffic Study (2005), they researched on their own the need for parking based on input from residents and businesses. They updated 2 ordinances, researched a potential mixed-use parking structure, and otherwise sought to create or maximize available parking and alternative solutions to vehicle parking. With a town only 4.56 square miles, of which only 1.2 square miles are on land, and consisting of 22+ miles of municipally maintained roadways, it is a challenge to find new parking spaces to accommodate the current traffic needs. The Parking Committee evaluated the parking demand throughout the borough, including the business district along 1st Ave and Hennessy Blvd, and the main thoroughfares, particularly Ocean Blvd and E. Highland Ave. Both of these roadways take travelers to the East and to Highlands and Sandy Hook. The Parking Committee most recently requested a new Traffic Study to assist in understanding the demand trends and future needs of the community. It is likely they will investigate the mixed use parking structure again, but with improvements that will encourage green practices such as EV chargers, green infrastructure, bike and scooter parking, and a rooftop public park. Barring the need for a multi-level parking structure, the committee sought to evaluate and implement various parking strategies through amendments to ordinances or parking provisions and the adoption of other appropriate parking policies to accommodate the demand. In so doing, they endeavored to find parking spaces by adjusting boundaries, repainting parking spots, evaluating angled parking, one way streets, and adjusting permissible time periods so that on-street parking for residents was not displaced by visitors. Considering the size of the borough, even an additional 1 or 2 parking spots in any location is a sign of success. By avoiding the parking garage solution and making existing space more efficient, the Committee was able to encourage walkability and preserve the quaint character of the town. The Borough has several transit bus stops and a ferry terminal. Most commuters walk to the bus stops, and while some will walk to the ferry, the large Seastreak parking lot accommodates their customers. By redrawing lines and boundaries, the AH Parking Committee was able to find spots for several more cars that could be dedicated as non-commuter spots that Seastreak commuters were previously taking. There are 2 new ordinance amendments that are examples of small, but successful increases in vehicular parking, either in number of spots, or availability of the spots for public use over time. Ordinance 03-2022 created residential Permit Only parking for AH residents in designated areas. Looking forward, the borough requests new development to consider smaller parking spaces, more EV chargers, and parking underneath high density housing to accommodate their own residents without resorting to limited street parking. I have attached a list of the activities of the Parking Committees efforts in the past few years, all in the effort to maintain the small town charm of Atlantic Highlands without having to build a parking deck. As the parking demand may grow, the committee will research a green parking structure to meet the needs of the community and its visitors.

  • Natural Resources

    Environmental Commission

    10 Points

    Program Summary: UPDATE 082822: Uploaded 2021 EC Report as requested. The Atlantic Highlands Environmental Commission is an active entity which meets monthly. Meeting minutes can be found on the borough website. A roster of 2022 members is attached. A summary of recent activities is attached, as well as the 1998 ordinance creating the commission. In addition to the annual report, the bi-monthly Mayor & Council meeting agenda calls for reports from the Council EC liaison and the EC chair. The Atlantic Highlands EC is a very active organization that has expanded its programs for outreach, education, and volunteer activities, and advocates for green planning (i.e., infrastructure, conservation, stormwater management, and pest control) solutions for land and property improvements, and overall community well being.

    Community Forestry Management Plan & NJUCF Accreditation

    20 Points

    Program Summary: The Borough's Shade Tree Commission is active in the planting and protection of our trees, as more thoroughly detailed in the attached Forestry Plan. Their goal is to maintain a sustainable canopy. The STC is a very active commission, with all members participating in "hands-on" and "on-site" activities such as tree planting, inventories, tree evaluations, and advocacy to plant and maintain a tree canopy with diversity of native species. The Borough has earned the Arbor Day Foundation’s "Tree City USA" status for 41 consecutive years.

    Tree Maintenance Programs

    10 Points

    Program Summary: The Atlantic Highlands Shade Tree Commission’s new "Community Forestry Management Plan" provides much detail on all of our programs relating to trees, to include: Tree Maintenance and Tree Planting. Excerpts for Tree Maintenance are attached. Over the past 2 years, we have been fortunate to have utility companies remove and replace or plant new trees due to road construction and repaving of their utility lines. In addition, JCP&L pruned trees in the area as they typically do approximately every 3 years. The attached files detail our Tree Maintenance Program and a detailed project report including budget for our recent activities. The memo describes the maintenance program. We have a new ordinance, passed in 2021 requiring a licensed arborist to evaluate trees slated for removal for any street or sidewalk project calling for the removal of more than 10% of the total number of trees located within the project area. If the tree(s) are otherwise healthy and pose no safety concerns, the arborist will suggest possible means of conservation.

    Tree Planting Programs

    10 Points

    Program Summary: Our town, through the Shade Tree Commission, has an active annual tree planting program. Every year we determine locations to be planted, provide funding and resources to accomplish the plantings. In addition, we generally perform at least one ceremonial planting a year. Usually this occurs on Arbor Day. We have a seedling giveaway for local residents to plant a native species shade tree in the Atlantic Highlands area. Most recipients plant their seedlings on their own property, but we have also had other organizations in town plant some in public spaces and nature preserves for which they have stewardship. The attached files detail our process and gives the specifics of our recent plantings. For 2022, we have expanded the program to 2 plantings - spring and summer and have included a number of Tribute Trees - dedicated in the memory of individuals who have contributed significantly to the Atlantic Highlands community.

  • Operations & Maintenance

    Recycled Copy Paper

    10 Points

    Program Summary: The Borough has made it a practice to only purchase copier paper containing recycled paper (100% of all copy paper purchases). However, invoices show that a new person had inadvertently purchased some other paper, so that the 100% has fallen to 75%. We are back on track to ensure 100% use of recycled copy paper, and have purchased other paper products (e.g., paper towels) that contain recycled paper. A supply room inventory was taken at the time of this submission, and all copy paper supplies are of the 30% recycled content type. Overall, the municipality endeavors to reduce the need for paper copies when electronic versions can be distributed. Mayor and Council meeting agendas and minutes are available online, as are Planning Board documents, and other documents that had previously been distributed as hard copy.

  • Public Information & Engagement

    Municipal Communications Strategy

    10 Points

    Program Summary: Atlantic Highlands utilizes several means of communications, which were expanded during the pandemic to accommodate social distancing, closures, and public health mandates. The primary means of communication include: - Atlantic Highlands Borough website: https://www.ahnj.com/ahnj/ - Atlantic Highlands Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BoroughOfAtlanticHighlands/ - Municipal mailing list - Swift 911 (link on main Borough website page to sign up): https://swiftreach.com/ All public notices, including of Council meetings, are published in the Asbury Park Press and the Two River Times, and posted on the Borough Hall bulletin board. Additional Facebook pages are dedicated to and updated by the Atlantic Highlands Police Department (https://www.facebook.com/ahnjpd) and Atlantic Highlands Fire Department (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064841042352). Council members, the Mayor, and the DPW Superintendent also frequently post critical information to the private group for residents (https://www.facebook.com/groups/AtlanticHighlands) to engage a larger audience. Not only is the website maintained regularly, the main page contains links to the most often requested information, including contact information at the top, upcoming meetings, zoom links for public meetings, a link to the Facebook page, sign up for Swift 911, news and announcements, and recent meeting recordings. Digital accessibility was expanded during the pandemic. All meetings were held over zoom with links provided to the public on the Borough website. As meetings have resumed in person, a groundswell of public requests for meetings to be held in a hybrid fashion – in person and on zoom – has spurred the Borough to procure new audio visual equipment for the Council chambers that will enable participation by the public from any locations using their computers or mobile phones. Furthermore, Atlantic Highlands is in the process of overhauling the website to make it more user-friendly and informative.

    Online Municipal Public Service Systems

    10 Points

    Program Summary: Atlantic Highlands has made great strides in moving its applications to an online format to improve speed of service, efficiency of record-keeping, access by the public, and reduction of paper use. The following services have been moved fully online. - OPRA Request: - Report a Concern - GIS Map - Government Alert App - Swift 911 - Pay Tax or Water Bill - Dog Licensing - Street Opening, Curb, Sidewalk Application - Business Registration - Landlord Registration Statement - Citizen Leadership Volunteer Application - Dumpster Application - Application for Installation of a Swimming Pool - Commercial Landscaper and Commercial Tree Service Provider - Permission to Plant a Tree - Shade Tree Complaint Form Atlantic Highlands also provides easy access to a number of other service applications via the Borough website (https://www.ahnj.com/ahnj/Forms/), though they are not currently available as fillable online forms that can be submitted online.

    Digitizing Public Information

    10 Points

    Program Summary: Atlantic Highlands has an extensive municipal website due to substantial and consistent efforts by Borough employees to keep information available and up to date. Despite the depth of information available, the Borough, Mayor, and Council have recognized that the website could be modernized to be more user-friendly. A key objective is to maintain the availability of information, but make it more intuitive to find. To that end, a new revamped website will be launched in 2022 or 2023.

  • Waste Management

    Prescription Drug Safety & Disposal

    10 Points
    Bronze Priority Silver Priority

    Program Summary: Atlantic Highlands has a permanent drop-off location, and also holds two collection days per year coinciding with the US Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, which took place most recently on April 30, 2022. The April 30, 2022 National Prescription Drug Takeback Day was advertised to residents on the Atlantic Highlands Facebook page and announced at the April 28, 2022 Council Meeting. Atlantic Highlands also held a Takeback Day on October 23, 2021. The permanent location is located at Bayshore Pharmacy, located at 2 Bayshore Plaza, Atlantic Highlands, NJ 07716, and is open 7 days per week. The Atlantic Highlands Police Department site provides a direct link to the DEA “take back” program, where information is provided both on the annual event and permanent drop-off locations, where Bayshore Pharmacy is listed. Bayshore Pharmacy’s website provides further instructions to customers seeking safe disposal of prescription drugs, with two options: 1. free home drug disposal kits, and 2. the DEA Registered Collection site. The Bayshore Pharmacy location is administered by Sharp Compliance, Inc., who picks up the box periodically and the drugs are incinerated. According to the head pharmacist who reports quarterly to the DEA, the drop-off location averages 80-100 customers who drop off approximately 40 pounds of drugs per quarter.

    Recycling & Waste Reduction Education & Compliance

    20 Points
    Bronze Priority Silver Priority

    Program Summary: We have extensive tonnage reports. The accepted materials flyer is on the boro website but also listed in the middle of the calendar which is attached (black and white pages in the middle). The new borough website is complete. There is a recycling focused page on www.ahnj.com Departments Recycling (ahnj.com) where links are available to various documents and other information relating to recycling/reuse/disposal by material type. The Recycle Coach app is also featured here. The Borough has taken a multi-pronged approach to education and compliance around recycling and waste reduction. First, all residents look forward to their annual calendars that are delivered to every household and available for free in the Borough Hall main hallway all year long as well as online. Each month shows recycling pickup days by zone and a banner with key info on materials that can be recycled by pickup and others that can be arranged for special pickup upon request or dropped off at the Borough yard. The calendar’s centerfold insert also includes a section on “Why Recycle” that reminds residents that it has economic and environmental benefit, it costs residents nothing, and it’s the law. This is the only printed information provided to residents annually, but because the recycling information appears every month, it is the most conveniently consulted by residents. In addition, the Borough is trying not to send more paper goods than absolutely necessary, always aiming to reduce volume. In addition, we utilize Dual Stream recycling where most neighboring communities are Single Stream. Second, for more tech savvy residents, the Borough offers a free recycling education and notification app called Recycle Coach, available for Apple and Google customers. The Borough website’s Recycling page also offers a search function whereby a resident can search for their pickup schedule, search “what goes where” for how to recycle or properly dispose of many materials, and other resources on local, County, and State recycling. For residents who fail to comply with curbside recycling guidelines, they are likely to receive a written warning from the Borough. The curbside recycling collectors fill out a violation sticker with the date and address, stick it to the prohibited material, take a photo of the prohibited item and violation sticker, and text it to the DPW Superintendent. They are also forwarded to the Utility Collector and Code Enforcement Officer. Atlantic Highlands has experienced an influx of new residents to the town and the number of warnings had spiked to five per week, but have since subsided to just one every couple of weeks. The DPW Superintendent attends every Mayor/Council meeting and reminds attendees of curbside pickup guidelines and items that are accepted at the Borough yard. The Green Team provides updates at these meetings as well, and provides public reminders and facts to educate on the importance of diligence in separating materials, keeping plastic bags out of mixed recycling, and promoting home composting and multiple re-use of items, particularly plastics before finally recycling them. Finally, the Clean Marina Program requires that any cooperating facility implement certain practices in order to reduce pollution of the waterways to result in a cleaner environment. Accomplishment of the goals of the program requires promoting conscious understanding of these environmentally sensitive practices and encouraging voluntary compliance by all public users of the harbor facilities.

    Community Paper Shredding Day

    5 Points

    Program Summary: UPDATE 5/12/23 - Our March 25, 2023 Paper Shredding Date held on-site in Atlantic Highlands Municipal Marina was a huge success! We had over 350 vehicles bringing in an average of 75 lbs of paper per vehicle (with a maximum of 100 lbs per vehicle). We estimate approximately 13 tons of paper were shredded. Photo shows police and safety patrols managing the huge queues of vehicles. In addition to having a cardboard/paper recycling drop off at the DPW yard, the borough holds a community shredding day about once a year. The event is promoted by e-mail, electronic signs and posted on the Borough Website Calendar, as well as social media (Facebook, Instagram). Monmouth County also promotes the event. The most recently held Paper Shredding Day in Atlantic Highlands was during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. A socially-distanced, contact-less drop off station was set up in the municipal marina, and residents could drive their vehicles up and remain inside while crew would remove bags and boxes of paper to be shredded. Several hundred residents were able to participate in this “drive-through” setup. Monmouth County organizes the calendar, and had Sea Bright, a neighboring town on the calendar for October 22, 2022 as the closest location for Atlantic Highlands residents to drop off. The Borough advertised this event and the Green Team liaison and Councilwoman, Lori Hohenleitner was on scene as a borough representative at the event in Sea Bright. Atlantic Highlands will host the next location for this program, at has scheduled it for March 25, 2023. It is currently being promoted on the borough website, is on the printed and digital calendar, in the local magazine and in social media.

    Non-Mandated Materials Recycling

    10 Points

    Program Summary: In the lead up to Halloween 2021, the Atlantic Highlands Environmental Commission placed a Candy and Snack Wrappers Zero Waste Box and poster in Borough Hall, prominently displayed outside of the library entrance and across from Council chambers. The cardboard box was ordered from Terracycle of Trenton, NJ, which is a local company that recycles many non-mandated materials, and is meant for any brand and size of flexible plastic-based candy and snack packaging and wrappers, including candy wrappers, cookie wrappers, family size snack bags, multi-pack snack bags, and snack bag (https://zerowasteboxes.terracycle.ca/products/snack-wrapper-zero-waste-boxes?variant=776424779). The 15”x15”x42” box, once full, will be sent back to Terracycle, where the wrappers will be sorted and processed into raw materials that can be reused instead of being sent to landfill. As of May 2022, the box is not yet full and therefore has not been sent back yet to Terracycle. However, Terracycle estimates that a full large Candy and Snack Wrappers Zero Waste Box will divert 48.3 lbs from the landfill. The intention is for this collection box to be a permanent collection site in Borough Hall. The Environmental Commission advertised the candy wrapper recycling initiative on Facebook and also distributed a flier to students at Atlantic Highlands Elementary School. Atlantic Highlands also has a permanent drop off location for American flags to ensure that the flags are disposed of in accordance with U.S. Flag Code. This collection is extremely important to our veterans and the American Legion partners we collaborate with. The drop box is at the Borough Yard, open to the public Monday through Friday 8:30-4:00 and Saturday until 11:00am.

    Recycling Depot

    10 Points

    Program Summary: Atlantic Highlands has a comprehensive recycling program which includes a recycling ordinance, recycling information sheet, and a borough yard accessible to residents to supplement their regularly scheduled twice a month recycling pick-ups. The recycling yard is open Mon-Fri 8:30 AM to 4 PM, and Sat 6-11 AM. The "All That Stuff" page from the Borough Calendar gives the address of the yard as well as all the information residents need to recycle including the types of materials to recycle, and the hours for drop off, and days for pick up. Curbside pickup of all mandatory recycling materials is available to 100% of our residents and businesses. We estimate that 50% of our residents use, in some way, the drop off center. Photos are attached. Recently our town has gone a step further in recycling efforts, as we have a 20 yard container for recycling of computers, TVs, and other electronics. As well as a dumpster for metal recycling and a clothing box, flag box, compactor for recycling paper and cardboard. In addition, button batteries and tool rechargeable batteries have drop off locations at boro hall and garage. Throughout the boro and in all public areas are separate containers or dumpsters for recycled vs. trash. Since late 2019, the Borough partners with neighboring Middletown Township, the first town in NJ to purchase a Styrofoam recycling machine. All Monmouth County residents may recycle Styrofoam at 1 of 2 drop off locations in Middletown.

    Grass - Cut It and Leave It Program

    5 Points

    Program Summary: Atlantic Highlands began its “Grass – Cut It and Leave It Program” in 2010, with the Borough-published quarterly newsletter to all residents making the announcement. The program was developed with the help of NJ DEP’s Clean Water New Jersey and the Rutgers Extension. The program remains updated with educational materials posted on the borough website from NJDEP, Bureau of Energy and Sustainability. Reminders are posted on the Borough Calendar which is mailed to every household in the town as well as social media seasonally. The borough leads by example, by not accepting grass clippings in the recycling yard, requiring the use of only mulching mowers on municipal properties, and encouraging residents and their landscapers to mulch. The Borough’s Master Plan (2019) also suggests “to return grass clippings and its nutrients in-situ to the lawn being mowed”. These direct links will bring the visitor to the Atlantic Highlands website home page, and the Grass Cut It and Leave It Program is listed on the bottom right. The 2nd link brings the visitor to the Recycling page with more information about the program: • https://www.ahnj.com/ahnj/#gsc.tab=0 - this leads to the Atlantic Highland website home page and the Grass Cut it and Leave it program is listed at the bottom. • https://www.ahnj.com/ahnj/Departments/Recycling/#gsc.tab=0 - this is a great resource because if you search grass it leads you to information about the Grass Cut it and Leave It program.

    Materials Reuse Program

    10 Points

    Program Summary: Atlantic Highlands has an annual Town Wide garage sale, which provides a way for residents to sell their unwanted items to other residents, promoting reuse. This year’s event happens on May 13, 2023, with nearly 100 residents prepared to participate. A map of participating residences is available through a QR code on the borough website, and has also been widely advertised with flyers, and local media and social media as well as through calendar and school postings. Buyers may also pick up a map of participating homes if they can not use a QR code on a smartphone. Any remaining items that are not sold are collected by the elementary school PTO and donated to charity. It is estimated that the town diverts 3.5-4 tons of waste through the garage sale. The sale also provides a sense of community connectivity, and residents enjoy the event.

    Reusable Bag Education Program

    5 Points

    Program Summary: Concurrent to the "Last Straw" program and ensuing ordinance regarding reusable bags instead of plastic, the Environmental Commission has been educating the public on ways to reduce plastic pollution by way of decreasing plastic consumption. The EC has been distributing different forms of reusable bags for free, to expand awareness and encourage usage. The initial reusable bag handout occurred on April 23, 2022, to bring attention to the new ban. Often, the EC will set up a table at a beach cleanup, at the supermarket, and at the summer Fridays farmers markets, where the bags can be readily used. The EC continued the handout at summer community events like the Film One Fest. Part of the education program involved Covid concerns that reusable bags might get contaminated, and other safety concerns which were debunked about using reusable bags vs. single-use plastic bags. So as not to create more waste with paper handouts, the EC helped visitors to use the QR code printed in large size at the table, which brought users to the NJDEP website for "Get Past Plastic" (www.nj.gov/dep/get-past-plastic/).