Policy Development

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The Mayor and Council are tasked with developing policy solutions to address quality of life issues for Borough residents. Use the navigation below to learn about some of the problems Council is currently addressing and what resources they are tapping into in order to make informed policy decisions.

2023

Renewable Government Energy Aggregation Update

On June 23, 2020, Council adopted an ordinance establishing a Renewable Government Energy Aggregation (RGEA) program. The goals of an RGEA program are to achieve cost savings while increasing the percentage of renewable energy in every resident's electric bill. The Borough selected Gabel Associates to serve as our energy consultant to analyze residential energy bills for cost and usage. Highland Park released an RFQ in 2020 for a third party supplier for the Borough's residential utility accounts. We were unsuccessful in obtaining favorable pricing at that time and subsequently in 2021 and 2022 energy market prices skyrocketed. Gabel has been monitoring market conditions on our behalf and a relatively mild winter has resulted in some improvement in energy market conditions. In spring 2023 PSE&G will announce the retail tariff prices for the coming year for their Basic Generation Service (BGS) customers. At that time, if energy market conditions look to have improved, steps will be taken to begin a new competitive bidding process. In the event that competitive pricing is received the new contract could start in mid-to-late 2023.

2021

Community Solar

The Borough submitted an application to the NJBPU on 2/5/21for the second phase of its Community Solar Pilot Program. Through a competitive RFP process, the Borough selected Hartz Solar LLC to be its co-applicant. The Borough was not selected to participate in the pilot program, but will continue to explore ways to participate in upcoming community solar pilot projects to provide the financial and environmental benefits of solar energy to nearly 300 low or moderate income households in Highland Park.

Deer Management

After numerous complaints from residents about health concerns, driver safety, and animal welfare, Borough Council began to seek options for managing the Borough's growing deer population. Click here for a list of resources on the topic including a deer population survey conducted in December 2019 and the recordings from 2020 public forums on the topic. During the 7/6/21 work session Council decided not to move forward with adopting a deer management plan at this time.