BOROUGH OF MOUNTAIN LAKES COUNCIL MEETING

MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2008

8:00 PM

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, 2008 and posted in the municipal building.

 

Deputy Mayor Davis called the meeting to order at 8:00pm

 

2.  ATTENDANCE AND FLAG SALUTE

All Council members were present. Mayor Jackson arrived at 8:02 and  Councilwoman Wilson at 8:04 pm.

Also in attendance were Borough Manager Joe Tempesta, Borough Attorney Marty Murphy, and Clerk’s Assistant Diane Hertzig.

 

 3. COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mayor Jackson said the Borough’s annual Easter egg hunt was a success.

He also said that Christopher Stitt was finally home after a long rehabilitation period following his car accident last year. The Mayor thanked a variety of groups for their support of the family. 

 

4. PUBLIC COMMENT

Mayor Jackson explained the Council’s policy of limiting each speaker to 5 minutes and no yielding of time to another person.

 

Mayor Jackson opened the public comment portion of the meeting with consent of Council.

 

Fred Kanter – Hanover Road

Mr. Kanter said he disagreed with Marty Murphy’s summation of Judge Bozononelis’ decision in regards to the lawsuit filed by him against the Borough. He reminded the Council that the Judge had not yet signed the order finalizing his decision.

 

With no one else wishing to be heard, Mayor Jackson closed the public portion of the meeting.

Mayor Jackson suggested that any response to Mr. Kanter wait until the order had been signed.

 

5. SPECIAL PRESENTATION Historic Preservation/100th Anniversary Book

Andy Bulfer, Co-chair of the Historic Preservation Committee told the Council that the Committee would like to prepare a coffee table type hard bound book consisting of 200-250 pages with a mixture of text and photos.  The Committee members agreed to hire Patricia Herold to author the book.  The next step would be to hire a publisher.  Mr. Bulfer reviewed the timeline that would make the book available for sale by December of 2010.  At this time the HPC would like to prepare a contract for the author so Ms. Herold can proceed with the book.  The attorney will prepare a resolution for adoption.

 

Council members said they were pleased with the progress being made on the 100th Anniversary Book by the HPC. 

 

6. DISCUSSION

    A.  Recreation/Beach and Tennis Tags

Councilwoman Emr spoke on behalf of the Recreation Committee on the issue

of identifying non-residents from residents on the beaches.  She explained the

current situation after the lifeguards leave at 6:00pm.

 

    Denise Brennan, Recreation Director, explained there are no special tags worn

  off hours and that the Commission believed enforcement by the police

  department was the best solution.

 

   Following a discussion by Council, motion was made by Councilman   

Gormally, second by Councilwoman Wilson, to amend chapter 173 of the revised general ordinances of the Borough to read, “special use facilities are for use of Mountain Lakes residents with proof of residency and, during certain hours, from Memorial day to Labor day, with beach and tennis tags”, with all members in favor signifying by “Aye”.

 

  Attorney Marty Murphy will prepare the amendment for the next meeting.

 

7. INTRODUCTION OF 2008 MUNICIPAL BUDGET /Resolution

Mr. Tempesta explained the proposed budget which included some changes, including reducing capital spending, cutting some expenses in recreation

and decreasing the reserve for uncollected taxes by raising the percentage from 94% to 94.75%.

 

Members of the Finance Advisory Committee Paul Ferguson and Rich Grebe, objected to the decrease in the reserve for uncollected taxes. Mr. Ferguson said it was not the right mechanism for this budget. However, Mr. Tempesta explained that if the changes were not made the Council would have to consider cutting services or laying off personnel.

 

Following a discussion by members of the Council a vote was taken to introduce the 2008 budget as presented with the $50,000 of revenue from capital surplus deleted.     

 

Vote to introduce 2008 Budget

Council Member

By:

2nd:

Yes

No

Abstain

Absent

Gormally

 

 

 

X

 

 

Emr

 

 

X

 

 

 

Shaw

X

 

X

 

 

 

Davis

 

 

X

 

 

 

Wilson

 

 

X

 

 

 

Urankar

 

 

X

 

 

 

Jackson

 

X

X

 

 

 

                       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8. *RESOLUTIONS

     R 59-08 - Award of Borough Hall Architectural Contract

     Pulled from Consent Agenda for discussion.

 

Councilman Urankar provided the Council with background on how the Borough Hall Committee came to choose the architectural services of AIA.

 

Mayor Jackson shared his concerns about the project and the potential for shared services with other municipalities.

 

Councilman Shaw said the mission of the Committee was to identify an architect that would take into consideration the Council’s concern. He added that a great deal of time had been spent going through the process and it was time to move forward with the Committee’s recommendation.

 

Councilwoman Wilson agreed with Councilman Shaw.

 

Councilman Gormally said he was concerned that the architects would only consider building a new facility addition and not consider renovations to the existing building.

 

Councilwoman Emr said the recommendation to hire AIA was partly due to the company’s willingness to be flexible.

 

Councilman Urankar assured Council members that all their concerns would be presented to the architectural firm for consideration before it begins the needs assessment.

 

 

Council Member

By:

2nd:

Yes

No

Abstain

Absent

Gormally

 

 

 

X

 

 

Emr

 

 

X

 

 

 

Shaw

 

X

X

 

 

 

Davis

 

 

X

 

 

 

Wilson

 

 

X

 

 

 

Urankar

X

 

X

 

 

 

Jackson

 

 

X

 

 

 

                        Vote on R58-08          

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

      *R 60-08 - Payment of Bills

 

  9.*MINUTES

       March 10, 2008 – Regular

       March 10, 2008– Executive (as redacted)

 

Consent agenda Vote

Council Member

By:

2nd:

Yes

No

Abstain

Absent

Gormally

 

 

X

 

 

 

Emr

 

 

X

 

 

 

Shaw

X

 

X

 

 

 

Davis

 

 

X

 

 

 

Wilson

 

X

X

 

 

 

Urankar

 

 

X

 

 

 

Jackson

 

 

X

 

 

 

                         

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

   10.  ATTORNEY’S REPORT - None

 

   11. MANAGER’S REPORT

   Mr. Tempesta reported to the Council that their comments, and those of Susan

   Kimball, regarding the latest COAH regulations, had been sent to the Council

   on Affordable Housing (COAH).  

He also told the Council that he would recommend placing $1,500 back in the

library budget to help off-set the increase in energy costs.

 

 Mayor Jackson told the Council he had received a copy of a letter that the  

 Morris County League of Municipalities planned to send to COAH regarding the

 growth share concept and its negative impact on municipalities.  He told the

Council he supported the letter and asked if the Council had any objections to

him signing it.

 

 

Motions by Councilwoman Wilson, second by Councilman Urankar, to have Mayor Jackson sign the letter, with all members in favor signifying by “Aye”.

 

Councilman Urankar asked the attorney when redacted executive minutes, dealing with personnel, could be released.

 

Mr. Murphy said some may never be released.

       

   12. COUNCIL REPORTS

   Appointments

Motion by Councilwoman Emr, second by Councilman Shaw, to appoint Susan  

Ragland to the Municipal Alliance Committee, with all members in favor

signifying by “Aye”.

 

Motion by Deputy Mayor Davis, second by Councilwoman Wilson, to appoint   

Laurel Durenberger to the Traffic and Safety Committee, with all members in

favor signifying by “Aye”.

 

Councilman Urankar said the Shade Tree Commission had received a “draft” copy of the policy on memorials and he believed there was a final version on record.  The Clerk will provide the correct copy.

The Shade tree Commission is concerned with decorations being placed on memorials and would like the policy to be amended to reflect its concern. Councilman Urankar will bring the Commission’s suggestion to the next meeting for consideration by Council.

 

Councilman Urankar shared the Environmental Commission’s concerns with the proposed ordinance for riparian buffers.  The Commission would like the Council to review the ordinance at the next meeting.

 

Councilman Shaw said the historic designation signs for the entrances to Mountain Lakes had been received and are being prepared for installation.

 

 13. ADJOURNMENT

 Motion by Councilman Gormally, second by Councilwoman Wilson, to adjourn at

 10:53 pm with all members in favor signifying by “Aye”

 

*Consent Agenda

          

Attest:

___________________________                              _____________________

Christina Whitaker, Borough Clerk                                George B. Jackson, Mayor