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This page is a working draft of the Highlands Governing Body archive. We're actively updating the data and layout to make it accessible and accurate. Changes you see here may not reflect the final version.
Last updated: May 13, 2025
The Highlands Governing Body Archive is a historical record of the individuals who have served the Borough of Highlands as Mayor and Councilmembers from 1900 to the present. This living document is part of our ongoing effort to preserve local government history, recognize public service, and ensure transparency.
Names and terms are based on available records including resolutions, ordinances, and official meeting minutes. This list will be updated regularly as additional information is verified.
HIGHLANDS BOROUGH
Incorporated March 22, 1900 from parts of Middletown Township
1900-1901
Mayor: David M. Miller
Councilmembers: Mahlon Burdge, Thomas Hennessey, John T. Johnson, Richard Mount, Lewis F. Parker, John N. Riker
1902
Mayor: Charles T. Maison
Councilmembers: Ivy Brown, Mahlon Burdge, Thomas Hennessey, Sr., John T. Johnson, Richard Mount, John N. Riker
1903
Mayor: Charles T. Maison
Councilmembers: Ivy Brown, Mahlon Burdge, Peter N. Cornwell, Thomas Hennessey, John T. Johnson, Richard Mount, John N. Riker
1904
Mayor: Peter N. Cornwell
Councilmembers: Harry A. Brown, Mahlon Burdge, William Cottrell, Thomas Hennessey, Sr., Demerest T. Herbert, John T. Johnson, George E. Smith
1905
Mayor: Peter N. Cornwell
Councilmembers: Harry A. Brown, Mahlon Burdge, William Cottrell, Thomas Hennessey, Sr., Demerest T. Herbert, George E. Smith
1906
Mayor: Harry A. Brown
Councilmembers: Mahlon Burdge, Thomas Hennessey, Sr., Demerest T. Herbert, Everet E. Newman, George E. Smith
1907
Mayor: Harry A. Brown
Councilmembers: Mahlon Burdge, Thomas Hennessey, Sr., Demerest T. Herbert, Everet E. Newman, Allan R. Reid, George E. Smith
1908
Mayor: Harry A. Brown
Councilmembers: Mahlon Burdge, Demerest T. Herbert, C. Melvin Johnson, Everet E. Newman, Allan R. Reid, George E. Smith
1909
Mayor: Allan R. Reid
Councilmembers: Mahlon Burdge, Demerest T. Herbert, C. Melvin Johnson, Jesse Lawrence, Jr., Everet E. Newman, George E. Smith
1910
Mayor: Allan R. Reid
Councilmembers: C. Melvin Johnson, Jesse Lawrence, Jr., Charles T. Maison, Everet E. Newman, Reuben Parker, Mark A. Teaney, Sr.
1911
Mayor: Allan R. Reid
Councilmembers: C. Melvin Johnson, Charles T. Maison, Everet E. Newman, Charles T. Parker, Reuben Parker, Mark A. Teaney, Sr.
1912
Mayor: Allan R. Reid
Councilmembers: James F. Hinde, C. Melvin Johnson, Everet E. Newman, Charles T. Parker, Reuben Parker, Mark A. Teaney, Sr.
1913
Mayor: Harry N. Johnson
Councilmembers: James F. Hinde, C. Melvin Johnson, Charles T. Parker, Reuben Parker, Allan R. Reid, Mark A. Teaney, Sr.
1914
Mayor: Harry N. Johnson
Councilmembers: James F. Hinde, C. Melvin Johnson, Charles T. Parker, Lewis F. Parker, Allen R. Reid, Leonard W. Spitznagel
1915
Mayor: Harry N. Johnson
Councilmembers: James F. Hinde, C. Melvin Johnson, Charles T. Parker, Lewis F. Parker, Allen R. Reid, Leonard W. Spitznagel
1916
Mayor: Harry N. Johnson
Councilmembers: John P. Adair, James F. Hinde, C. Melvin Johnson, Lewis F. Parker, Allen R. Reid, Leonard W. Spitznagel
1917
Mayor: Harry A. Brown
Councilmembers: John P. Adair, William Fehlhaber, Robert Hennessey, James F. Hinde, C. Melvin Johnson, Frederick Kieferdorf
1918
Mayor: Harry A. Brown
Councilmembers: John P. Adair, William Felhaber, Robert Hennessey, James F. Hinde, Ulysses Grant Johnson, Frederick Kieferdorf, William Rowland
1919
Mayor: Frederick Kieferdorf
Councilmembers: William Ahern, William Fehlhaber, James F. Hinde, Ulysses Grant Johnson, William Rowland, Leonard Spitznagel
1920
Mayor: Frederick Kieferdorf
Councilmembers: William Ahern, Frank C. Frazer, James F. Hinde, C. Melvin Johnson, William Rowland, Leonard Spitznagel
1921
Mayor: Frederick Kieferdorf
Councilmembers: William Ahern, Edward Banhert, Frank C. Frazer, C. Melvin Johnson, Jesse Lawrence, Jr., Leonard Spitznagel
1922
Mayor: Frederick Kieferdorf
Councilmembers: William Ahern, Edward Banhert, C. Melvin Johnson, Ulysses Grant Johnson, Jesse Lawrence, Jr., Leonard Spitznagel
1923
Mayor: Frederick Kieferdorf
Councilmembers: John Ahern, Edward Banhert, — Donnelly, C. Melvin Johnson, Ulysses Grant Johnson, Jesse Lawrence, Jr.
1924
Mayor: Frederick Kieferdorf
Councilmembers: John P. Adair, John Ahern, William Ahern, Frederick P. Bedle, Jesse Lawrence, Jr., C. Melvin Johnson
1925
Mayor: John L. Opfermann, MD
Councilmembers: John Ahern, William Ahern, Frederick P. Bedle, C. Melvin Johnson, Benedict J. Neimark, Haik Kavookjian
1926
Mayor: John L. Opfermann, MD
Councilmembers: John Ahern, Frederick P. Bedle, Harry A. Brown, C. Melvin Johnson, Benedict J. Neimark, James Rowland
1927
Mayor: James J. Rowland, MD
Councilmembers: John Ahern, Frederick P. Bedle, Harry A. Brown, Benedict J. Neimark, W. Addison Romain, C. Melvin Johnson
1928
Mayor: James J. Rowland, MD
Councilmembers: John Ahern, Frederick P. Bedle, C. Melvin Johnson, Benedict J. Neimark, Conrad Pfannenschmidt, W. Addison Romain
1929
Mayor: George W. Hardy
Councilmembers: John Ahern, Frederick P. Bedle, Harry A. Brown, Benedict J. Neimark, W. Addison Romain, C. Melvin Johnson
1930
Mayor: George W. Hardy
Councilmembers: John Ahern, Frederick P. Bedle, Harry A. Brown, C. Melvin Johnson, Benedict J. Neimark, Conrad Pfannenschmidt
1931
Mayor: George W. Hardy
Councilmembers: John Ahern, Harry A. Brown, Frederick P. Bedle, Henry Felhaber, Conrad Pfannenschmidt, Lewis Smith, Jr.
1932
Mayor: George W. Hardy
Councilmembers: Frederick P. Bedle, Harry A. Brown, Henry Fehlhaber, Frederick E. Giersh, Jacob S. Hoffman, Lewis Smith, Jr.
1933
Mayor: Frederick P. Bedle
Councilmembers: Harry A. Brown, Henry Felhaber, Frederick E. Giersh, Jacob S. Hoffman, George King, Lewis Smith, Jr.
1934
Mayor: Frederick P. Bedle
Councilmembers: Harry A. Brown, Henry Fehlhaber, Jacob S. Hoffman, George King, Michael Mendes, Lewis Smith, Jr.
1935
Mayor: George W. Hardy
Councilmembers: Harry A. Brown, Henry Felhaber, Jacob S. Hoffman, George King, Michael Mendes, Lewis Smith, Jr.
1936
Mayor: George W. Hardy
Councilmembers: John Ahern, Harry A. Brown, Edmund F. Duffy, Henry Fehlhaber, Jacob S. Hoffman, Michael Mendes
1937
Mayor: Harry A. Brown
Councilmembers: John Ahern, Edmund F. Duffy, Henry Fehlhaber, Jacob S. Hoffman, Michael Mendes, Charles T. Parker
1938
Mayor: Harry A. Brown
Councilmembers: John Ahern, Edmund F. Duffy, Henry Fehlhaber, Frederick Kieferdorf, William L. Parker, A. Meade Robertson
1939
Mayor: Harry N. Johnson
Councilmembers: George V. Brown, Edmund F. Duffy, Henry Fehlhaber, Frederick Kieferdorf, William L. Parker, A. Meade Robertson
1940
Mayor: Harry N. Johnson
Councilmembers: George V. Brown, George W. Hardy, Frederick Kieferdorf, William L. Parker, Richard Rast, Henry Ritterman, A. Meade Robertson
1941
Mayor: Frederick P. Bedle
Councilmembers: Dr. Thomas B. Ahern, Harry A. Brown, George V. Brown, George W. Hardy, Chris Kohlenbusch, Richard Rast, A. Meade Robertson
1942
Mayor: Frederick P. Bedle
Councilmembers: Harry A. Brown, George V. Brown, George W. Hardy, Chris Kohlenbusch, William L. Parker, A. Meade Robertson
1943
Mayor: Frederick P. Bedle
Councilmembers: Harry A. Brown, George V. Brown, Herbert Hartsgrove, Frederick Mohr, William L. Parker, A. Meade Robertson
1944
Mayor: Frederick P. Bedle
Councilmembers: George V. Brown, Herbert Hartsgrove, Frederick Mohr, William L. Parker, John Rast, A. Meade Robertson
1945
Mayor: A. Meade Robertson
Councilmembers: George V. Brown, Jack S. Giles, Herbert Hartsgrove, Frederick Mohr, Richard Parker, John Rast
1946
Mayor: A. Meade Robertson
Councilmembers: George V. Brown, Herbert Hartsgrove, Thomas J. Hogan, Thomas Lyons, Richard Parker, John Rast
1947
Mayor: A. Meade Robertson
Councilmembers: Herbert Hartsgrove, Thomas J. Hogan, Chris Kohlenbusch, Louis Loder, Thomas Lyons, John Rast
1948
Mayor: A. Meade Robertson
Councilmembers: Herbert Hartsgrove, Chris Kohlenbusch, Louis Loder, Thomas Lyons, Richard Parker, John Rast
1949
Mayor: Joseph A. Dempsey
Councilmembers: Herbert Hartsgrove, Chris Kohlenbusch, Louis Loder, John Newton, Richard Parker, John Rast
1950
Mayor: Joseph A. Dempsey
Councilmembers: Alexander F. Bahrs, John J. Flemm, Herbert Hartsgrove, Charles Hatzenbuehler, Louis Loder, John Newton
1951
Mayor: William F. Fehlhaber
Councilmembers: Alexander F. Bahrs, Herbert Hartsgrove, Charles Hatzenbuehler, Matthew Horan, John Newton, William V. Rauscher
1952
Mayor: Charles Hatzenbuehler
Councilmembers: Alexander F. Bahrs, Frank Hall, Herbert Hartsgrove, Matthew Horan, William V. Rauscher, A. Meade Robertson
1953
Mayor: Charles Hatzenbuehler
Councilmembers: Alexander F. Bahrs, Robert G. Diebold, Herbert Hartsgrove, Matthew Horan, William V. Rauscher, A. Meade Robertson
1954
Mayor: Charles Hatzenbuehler
Councilmembers: Alexander F. Bahrs, Robert G. Diebold, Cornelius J. Guiney, Jr., Herbert Hartsgrove, John Newton, A. Meade Robertson
1955
Mayor: Frank Hall
Councilmembers: Alexander F. Bahrs, Robert G. Diebold, Cornelius J. Guiney, Herbert Hartsgrove, Matthew Horan, John Newton
January 1, 1956- June 30, 1956
Mayor: Frank Hall
Councilmembers: Alexander F. Bahrs, Joseph R. Bolger, Cornelius J. Guiney, Jr., Herbert Hartsgrove, Matthew Horan, John Newton
July 1, 1956- June 30, 1959
Mayor: Cornelius J. Guiney, Jr.
Councilmembers: Alexander F. Bahrs, Herman Black, Robert Diebold, James H. McGough
July 1, 1959- June 30, 1962
Mayor: Cornelius J. Guiney, Jr.
Councilmembers: Herman Black, Joseph R. Bolger, Robert G. Diebold, Ernest A. Vaughan
July 1, 1962- June 30, 1965
Mayor: Cornelius J. Guiney, Jr.
Councilmembers: John A. Bahrs, Herman Black, Robert Diebold, William McGowan
July 1, 1965- June 30, 1968
Mayor: John A. Bahrs
Councilmembers: Frank Hall, Ellen Lynch, William McGowan, Ernest A. Vaughan
July 1, 1965- June 30, 1968
Mayor: John A. Bahrs
Councilmembers: Frank Hall, Ellen Lynch, William McGowan, Ernest A. Vaughan
July 1, 1968- December 31, 1970
Mayor: James T. White
Councilmembers: John Bahrs, Herman Black, Cornelius J. Guiney, Jr., Ernest F. “Sonny” Vaughan
1971 (January 1-June 30)
Mayor: James T. White
Councilmembers: Herman Black, C. Paul Case, Richard P. Gill, George V. Webb
1971 (July 1-December 31)
Mayor: James T. White
Councilmembers: C. Paul Case, Richard P. Gill, Luke Penta, Robert Waters
1972-1973
Mayor: James T. White
Councilmembers: C. Paul Case, Richard P. Gill, Luke Penta, Robert Waters
1974 (January 1-June 30)
Mayor: James T. White
Councilmembers: C. Paul Case, Richard P. Gill, Luke Penta, Robert Waters
1974 (July 1-December 31)
Mayor: Cornelius J. Guiney, Jr.
Councilmembers: Anthony W. Bucco, John P. Johnston, John H. Rodgers, Ernest A. Vaughan
January 1, 1975- June 30, 1977
Mayor: Cornelius J. Guiney, Jr.
Councilmembers: Anthony W. Bucco, John P. Johnston, John H. Rodgers, Ernest A. Vaughan
July 1, 1977- December 31, 1978
Mayor: Cornelius J. Guiney, Jr.
Councilmembers: Anthony W. Bucco, John P. Johnston, John H. Rodgers, Ernest A. Vaughan
1979
Mayor: Cornelius J. Guiney, Jr.
Councilmembers: Anthony W. Bucco, Alfred Cohen, Ernest A. Vaughan, Robert Wilson
1980-1981
Mayor: Cornelius J. Guiney, Jr.
Councilmembers: Alfred Cohen, Guy James, Katharine James, Robert Wilson
1982-1983
Mayor: Cornelius J. Guiney, Jr.
Councilmembers: Guy James, Katharine James, Rhomas P. Murphy, Robert Wilson
1984
Mayor: Robert A. Wilson
Councilmembers: C. Paul Case, Guy James, Katharine James, Thomas P. Murphy
1985
Mayor: Robert A. Wilson
Councilmembers: William Beatty, C. Paul Case, Guy James, Katharine James
1986
Mayor: Robert A. Wilson
Councilmembers: Thomas F. Balland, William Beatty, C. Paul Case, Joseph R. Valinoti
1987
Mayor: Robert A. Wilson
Councilmembers: Thomas F. Balland, William Beatty, C. Paul Case, Thomas F. Valinoti
1988
Mayor: Robert A. Wilson
Councilmembers: Thomas F. Balland, Anthony W. Bucco, Donald Manrodt, Joseph R. Valinoti
1989
Mayor: Robert A. Wilson (Deceased), James T. White (Council-appointed)
Councilmembers: Anthony W. Bucco, Donald Manrodt, Raymond Ramirez, James E. Smith, Jr.,
1990
Mayor: Raymond Ramirez
Councilmembers: Anthony W. Bucco, Donald Manrodt, James E. Smith, Jr., James T. White
1991
Mayor: Raymond Ramirez
Councilmembers: Joseph Branin, Anthony W. Bucco, Donald Manrodt, James E. Smith, Jr., James T. White
1992
Mayor: Raymond Ramirez
Councilmembers: Anthony W. Bucco, Dolores Howard, Steven London, Donald Manrodt
1993
Mayor: Richard Schwartz
Councilmembers: Anthony W. Bucco, Dolores Howard, Steven London, Donald Manrodt
1994
Mayor: Richard Schwartz
Councilmembers: Robert Cosgrove, Shawn G. Fitzgerald, Dolores Howard, Robert Rauen
1995
Mayor: Richard Schwartz (Resigned); Ernest F. Vaughan (Council-appointed)
Councilmembers: Robert Cosgrove, Shawn G. Fitzgerald, Dolores Howard, Robert Rauen
1996
Mayor: Joseph M. Branin
Councilmembers: Robert Cosgrove, Shawn G. Fitzgerald, Dolores Howard, Robert Rauen
1997-1998
Mayor: Joseph M. Branin
Councilmembers: John Bentham, Dolores Howard, Richard O’Neil, Robert Rauen
1999
Mayor: Richard O’Neil
Councilmembers: John Bentham, Dolores Howard, Robert Rauen, Sherry Ruby
2000
Mayor: Richard O’Neil
Councilmembers: John Bentham, Joseph Gallagher, Dolores Howard, Robert Rauen, Sherry Ruby
2001-2002
Mayor: Richard O’Neil
Councilmembers: William Caizza, Robert Rauen, Sherry Ruby, John Urbanski
2003
Mayor: Richard O’Neil
Councilmembers: William Caizza, John Urbanski
2004-2005
Mayor: Richard O’Neil
Councilmembers: Currently, no record of members during this time is available.
2006
Mayor: Richard O’Neil
Councilmembers: William Caizza, Frank Nolan, Nancy Thomas, John Urbanski
2007
Mayor: Richard O’Neil
Councilmembers: William Caizza, Christopher Francy, Rebecca Kane, John Urbanski
2008
Mayor: Anna Little
Councilmembers: Nancy Burton, William Caizza, Frank Nolan, John Urbanski
2009
Mayor: Anna Little
Councilmembers: William Caizza, Christopher Francy, Rebecca Kane, John Urbanski
2010
Mayor: Anna Little
Councilmembers: Christopher Francy, Rebecca Kane, Frank Nolan, Richard O’Neil
2011
Mayor: Frank Nolan
Councilmembers: Kevin Connelly, Christopher Francy, Rebecca Kane, Richard O’Neil
2012
Mayor: Frank Nolan
Councilmembers: Christopher Francy, Rebecca Kane, Richard O’Neil, Kevin Redmond
2013
Mayor: Frank Nolan
Councilmembers: Christopher Francy, Rebecca Kane, Kevin Redmond, Tara Ryan
2014-2015
Mayor: Frank Nolan
Councilmembers: Doug Card, Rebecca Kane, Kevin Redmond, Tara Ryan
2016
Mayor: Frank Nolan
Councilmembers: Doug Card, Carolyn Broullon, Rebecca Kane, Claudette D’Arrigo
2017
Mayor: Richard O’Neil
Councilmembers: Doug Card, Carolyn Broullon, Rebecca Kane, Claudette D’Arrigo
2018
Mayor: Richard O’Neil
Councilmembers: Ken Braswell, Carolyn Broullon, Rosemary Ryan, Claudette D’Arrigo
2019
Mayor: Richard O’Neil
Councilmembers: Ken Braswell, Carolyn Broullon, Rosemary Ryan, Linda Mazzola
2020
Mayor: Carolyn Broullon
Councilmembers: Ken Braswell, Linda Mazzola, Rosemary Ryan, Cody Valkos
2021
Mayor: Carolyn Broullon
Councilmembers: Kevin Martin, Linda Mazzola, Donald Melnyk, Jo-Anne Olszewski
2022-2025
Mayor: Carolyn Broullon
Councilmembers: Jo-Anne Olszewski, Leo Cervantes, Karen Chelak, Donald Melnyk