BOROUGH OF MOUNTAIN LAKES

COUNCIL MEETING

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2008

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 and The Star Ledger on September 15 and 16, 2008 and posted in the municipal building.

Deputy Mayor Charles Gormally called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.

2. ATTENDANCE AND FLAG SALUTE

All Council members were present except for Mayor Jackson who was out of the Country. Councilman McWilliams arrived at 7:40 p.m.

Also in attendance were Borough Attorney Marty Murphy, Borough Manager Joseph

Tempesta, and Borough Clerk Christina Whitaker.

3. COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Medical Needs Foundation is hosting its annual SPIRIT 5K race on Sun, Oct 19

at St. Catherine Church to benefit those battling serious illness and injury. 

4. NOMINATION FOR COUNCIL SEAT

Deputy Mayor Gormally read a letter of resignation from Councilman Richard Urankar

into the record. He and his family have moved to Texas.

Deputy Mayor Gormally said Councilman Urankar, who is a member of the Borough Facility

Committee, expects to be back for some meetings and would like to see the project

through to completion.

Deputy Mayor Gormally read the names of the nominees provided by the Mountain

Lakes Republican Committee. The nominees for the open seat were: Dan Happer,

Glenn Tippy, and John Pendleton.

Motion by Councilman Shaw, second by Councilwoman Wilson, to nominate Dan Happer to fill the vacancy left by Councilman Urankar.

Motion by Councilman Shaw, second by Councilwoman Wilson to close the

nominations.

All Council members voted “Yes” to appoint Dan Happer to the vacant seat of

Councilman Urankar.

Deputy Mayor Gormally administered the Oath of Office to Dan Happer.

5. PUBLIC COMMENT

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

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

consent of Council.

Fred Kanter – Hanover Road

Mr. Kanter said he noticed that there was a new Police Department sign and that it was retro-reflective.

He complained about trees obstructing the view at the corners of Hanover Road and Glen Road. In addition, he noted that the Borough has not had a surplus auction in about five years and questioned why.

Peter Bolo- Glen Road

Dr. Bolo informed the Council that Margaret Gossett had heard water exiting the dam below the boards at Wildwood Lake. The Manager said he would address that later in the meeting.

Dr. Bolo told the Council he was attempting to find members for the Joint Ordinance Committee but was finding it difficult.

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

6. *RESOLUTIONS

R122 – Refund/Pagorzelski and Wilke

R123 – Payment of Bills

7. *MINUTES

September 8, 2008 - Regular

September 8, 2008 - Executive – Pulled – Will be placed on next agenda

Consent Agenda Vote

Council Member	By:	2^nd:	Yes	No	Abstain	Absent
McWilliams			X
Emr		X	X
Shaw	X		X
Gormally			X
Wilson			X
Happer			X
Jackson						X

8. ATTORNEY’S REPORT - None

9. MANAGER’S REPORT

Mr. Tempesta told the Council that a marble size hole was found at the dam on Wildwood and the problem had been addressed.

The Manager informed the Council that Rick DelGurcio had submitted all pertinent

data to the County regarding a town-wide tax readjustment, Once he hears from the

County he can proceed to the State level for approval. If approved, the work will be

completed by December and the rates effective January 2009.

In response to Mr. Kanter’s question regarding surplus inventory, Mr. Tempesta explained that a couple non-profit organizations have asked to have the property donated to them. Borough Attorney Robert Oostdyk has said the municipality could donate property rather than sell it. In addition, the State now allows property to be sold on the internet.

Susan Kimball has reviewed the latest information from COAH and it was suggested that a meeting of the sub-committee should be scheduled.

10. COUNCIL REPORTS

Appointments

Councilwoman Emr said Acting Chair Cathy Harvey had given out assignments to the members of the Environmental Commission.

Councilman Shaw said that the Highlands Regional Master Plan Committee had been

reactivated.

Councilman Shaw announced that there had been a resignation on the Traffic & Safety Committee.

Councilwoman Wilson said the Web Site Committee would like a list of all employees’ names, positions, and e-mail addresses to place on the Mountain Lakes website.

The Committee continues to work on push mail.

Councilman Shaw said the architect made a presentation at the last Facility Committee meeting. The Committee had additional comments that the architect was asked to consider.

Deputy Mayor Gormally reopened the public comment portion of the meeting with consent of Council.

Jeff Orbach – White Meadow Lake, Rockaway Township

Mr. Orbach informed the Council that there is a proposal to build a 30-megawatt

biomass power plant in Mount Hope. He said the benefits of the plant are few compared to the negative impact on the community and surrounding area. Most biomass plants burn agricultural, forestry residues and municipal wastes.

Mr. Orbach said a letter signed by residents was being sent to Rebecca Hill from the NJ

DEP Watershed Regulation asking that a public hearing on the proposal be held

before the project moved forward. (Hereto attached) He said the applicant is trying to

get a Highlands waiver now that the application is before the DEP. He asked the Council to consider the possible impact on Mountain Lakes and send a letter to Ms. Hill and its legislators.

Fred Kanter- Hanover

Mr. Kanter informed the Council that he had requested all notices sent to property owners on

Hanover and Glen Road that dealt with the obstruction of view from trees.

Mr. Kanter questioned why some members of our Police Department had received SWAT

training.

Councilman Shaw noted that Central Command was through the County. If needed, trained

personnel are pulled from municipal law enforcement officers as a shared service.

11. ADJOURNMENT

Motion by Councilman Shaw, second by Councilwoman Wilson, to adjourn at 8:13 p.m. with all members in favor signifying by “Aye.”

*Consent Agenda

Attest:___________________________ _________________________

Christina Whitaker, Borough Clerk Charles Gormally, Deputy Mayor