On October 31, 2017 at the Highland Park Borough Hall, residents found no tricks, but all treats in the form of Municipal ID cards, as the borough officially launched its Municipal ID program. This initiative is part of the borough’s inclusive community efforts and has been in development for the past several months.
“I’m thrilled to finally see our Municipal ID Card become a reality. Many of our seniors have already thanked me for making an ID other than a driver’s license (which can be difficult for them to attain) available to them. These new ID cards will allow all our residents, with adequate proof of residence, over the age of 14, to participate in borough programs,” said Mayor Gayle Brill Mittler.
“The Municipal ID is just one part of a multi-faceted approach to creating an even more inclusive community,” said Councilman Matthew Hersh, who worked to develop the ID program with the Borough’s Commission on Immigrant and Refugee Affairs and the NJ Alliance for Immigrant Justice, a statewide advocacy organization. “The goal here is to make sure no resident feels unsafe or uncertain when interacting with any aspect of our municipal government.”
All municipal agencies – including the public library – will accept the Highland Park municipal ID as primary proof of residency and identity. The library will accept the ID as sufficient identification to open a library account. The library will affix a barcode to the back of the ID so it can serve as a library card. The library, however, will continue to issue and accept traditional library cards for residents who lack a municipal ID.
Other agencies to accept the ID as primary proof of identity and residency include the Recreation Department, Community Food Pantry, and Highland Park Police Department. The goal is to create a safer, more inclusive environment where all residents can participate in municipal programs and interact with our local government without fear or uncertainty.
Additionally, borough officials are working with several local banks to accept the ID as a secondary form of residency and identity with the goal of allowing our residents to more easily open a checking or savings account.
Moving forward, residents can expect to see many more borough merchant and Main Street Highland Park incentives involving the Municipal ID.
Councilman Hersh added that making the ID appealing to all residents is a crucial goal of the program’s implementation.
Here are some important details:
- Applicants must be at least 14 years old and a resident of the Borough of Highland Park.
- Applicants must show proof of identity and residency (click here to review the application and application requirements).
- Office hours for applications are Tuesdays from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
- ID cards are valid for two years from date of issuance.
- The cost is $15/adults, $7/children over 14, $7/seniors, $7/veterans. Residents with financial hardship can request to have the fee waived with no questions asked.
- No personal records, forms or any other proofs of residency or identity provided by the resident are kept on file. The only list the borough maintains is the cardholder’s name and issue/expiration date.
The link to more information and the ID application: http://hpboro.com/index.aspx?nid=591