BOROUGH OF MOUNTAIN LAKES COUNCIL MEETING

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2007

7:30 p.m.

M I N U T E S   

 

 

 

1.      CALL TO ORDER; OPENING STATEMENT:  This meeting is being held in compliance with

 Public Law 1975, Chapter 231, Sections 4 and 13, as notice of this meeting and the agenda

 thereof had been reported to The Citizen and the Morris County Daily Record on January 3, 2007

and posted in the municipal building.

 

Deputy Mayor Louise Davis opened the meeting at 7:30 p.m.

 

2.       ATTENDANCE AND FLAG SALUTE

All Council Members were present except for Councilwoman Wilson and Mayor Jackson.

Also in attendance were Attorney James Bryce, (for Marty Murphy) Borough Manager Gary Webb and Borough Clerk Christina Whitaker.

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION

                        Resolution 118-07

WHEREAS, the Borough Council of the Borough of Mountain Lakes, County of Morris, State of New Jersey finds it necessary to discuss matters relating to:

 

·         Police Contract Negotiations

·         Release of Executive Minutes

·         Heller Tax Settlement

·         Fairfield Industrial Center appeal. 

 

WHEREAS, the Borough Council believes it to be in the best interest of the public to discuss such matters in closed session.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Borough Council of the Borough of Mountain Lakes, that it shall enter Executive Session to discuss only those matters mentioned above; the results of which will be disclosed when the matters are resolved and upon vote of the Governing Body to release the minutes.

 

Motion by Councilman Shaw, second by Councilman Urankar, to enter into Executive Session with all members in favor signifying by “Aye”.

 

Motion by Councilman Gormally, second by Councilman Shaw, to close the Executive Session and return to the public portion of the meeting, with all members in favor signifying by “Aye”.

 

4. COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

 The UN weekend is scheduled for October 27th.

 Football Coach Wilkins, who has been motivating Mountain Lakes students for the last 42 years,

 is approaching his 300th win.

 The “walk to school day” event was successful.

 

5.      PUBLIC COMMENT

Deputy Mayor Davis opened the public comment portion of the meeting with  

consent of Council.

 

Deputy Mayor Davis explained the Council’s policy of limiting each speaker

 to 5 minutes and no  yielding of time to another person.

 

With no one wishing to be heard, Deputy Mayor Davis closed the public comment portion of the meeting.

 

  6. *RESOLUTIONS

R 115-07 Release of Executive Minutes as Redacted Pulled Indefinitely

R116-07  Firemen Association Membership

     R117-07 Bills List                                                                                                                                                        

7. *MINUTES

          September 24, 2007- Regular

          September 24, 2007- Executive

     

Council Member

By:

 

2nd:

Yes

No

Abstain

Absent

Gormally

 

 

X

 

 

 

Emr

 

 

X

 

 

 

Shaw

X

 

X

 

 

 

Davis

 

 

X

 

 

 

Wilson

 

 

 

 

 

X

Urankar

 

X

X

 

 

 

Jackson

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

                     

 

          

         

 

 

 

      

        8. *DEPARTMENT REPORTS

A.      Animal

B.     Health Officer

C.     Public Health Nurse

D.     Construction Official

E.     Police

 

Motion made by Councilman Shaw, second by Councilwoman Emr, to accept the recommendation of the Tax Assessor and settle the Heller tax appeal, with all members in favor signifying by “Yes” by Roll Call vote.

 

It was the consensus of the Council to continue the practice of a

yearly review of the Executive Minutes, prior to releasing any. 

 

9.  ATTORNEY’S REPORT- None

 

10. MANAGER’S REPORT   

Department Heads are preparing their budget requests. Once received Mr. Webb will prepare the 2008 Municipal Budget for Council discussion in November.

 

Concerning water usage, the months of June-September were all under the 30,000,000 gallons.

 

The restoration of the exterior of Well #4 has been completed. Bill Ryden has completed the specification for Well #3 and will be advertising for bids.

 

The Division of Dam Safety has rejected the Borough’s application for a 2% loan for Sunset Lake Dam.

 

The Wildwood Lake cleaning project has been hampered by rocks and the shallow depth of the lake in certain locations. Mr. Webb said he would update the Council when the cleaning project is completed.

 

The work on the Birchwood Lake rock wall facade is scheduled to start soon.

 

     Mr. Webb plans to report on the new street sign regulations and our

     subsequent replacement program at the end of November. He noted that

     the Borough has to be in compliance by the end of 2012.

 

 11. COUNCIL REPORTS

 Councilman Gormally reported on his attendance of a Fire Department business meeting with the junior 

 firefighters.  The Fire Department had its yearly picnic.

 

The Board of Health will be offering flu shots on November 5th between 7-

8 p.m. The Rabies Clinic is scheduled for November 17th between 10-11

a.m.

 

Ellen Emr said the 55 Plus Committee is still in need of a chair. She

recommended that the Recreation Committee should become involved

with 55 Plus. 

 

The Historic Preservation Committee has a large agenda planned for the

next 4 years.

It will be working on plans for the Borough’s 100th birthday.

The HPC is looking for two signs for the entries to Mountain Lakes noting

its historic significance. 

The Committee will be selling more house plaques.

 

The Lakes Management Committee is concerned with the condition of

 Wildwood Lake.

Mr. Webb explained that the weather generates the algae in the lake.

 

Councilman Shaw said the Planning Board will be working on the Master

Plan review, and the historic portion of the plan will be incorporated at the

same time.

Since the Board of Adjustment is looking for an amendment regarding

enclosed porches and decks, the Planning Board has suggested that the

combined ordinance committee be reinstated to review the issue.        

 

Councilman Urankar updated the Council on the progress of the Borough

Hall Study Committee. He said a November presentation is being planned.

 

Zoning Board Chair Peter Bolo is doing well in his new position.

 

Trails Committee has been inactive since completing the trails map.

 

The Woodlands Committee is hard at work removing evasive plants from  

Borough-owned land.

 

The Manager Search Committee is now scheduling preliminary interviews

for the position of Borough Manager. Frank “Bud” Luzzi is a new member

to the Committee.

 

Deputy Mayor Davis said the retirement party for Gary Webb is planned

for December 12th, at the Mountain Lakes Club.

 

12. ADJOURNMENT

On motion by Councilman Urankar, second by Councilman Shaw, with all

members in favor signifying by “Aye’, the meeting was adjourned at 8:52

p.m.

 

 

*Consent Agenda   

 

  Attest:__________________                               _____________________

   Christina Whitaker, Borough Clerk   Louise Davis, Deputy Mayor