BOROUGH OF MOUNTAIN LAKES COUNCIL MEETING

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2009

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 January 6, 2009 and posted in the municipal building.

 

       Mayor Stephen Shaw called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.

 

2.     ATTENDANCE AND FLAG SALUTE

      All Council members were present except for Councilwoman Bravo who was expected.

      Also in attendance were Borough Attorney Marty Murphy, Borough Manager Barry Lewis and

      Borough Clerk Christina Whitaker.

                                                                       

3. EXECUTIVE SESSION

                 Resolution 123-09

                 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:

 

·        Negotiations with Denville on Shared Court

·        Litigation/William’s Stationary

 

                        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 Deputy Mayor Gormally, second by Councilman McWilliams, to enter into Executive Session, with all members in favor signifying by “Aye.”

 

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

 

3.     COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

The 47th Annual Mountain Lakes UN Weekend is scheduled for Oct. 24-25, 2009.  The Borough will host guests from the UN Missions and Fulbright and other scholars from all over the world.

 

The Medical Needs SPIRIT 5K RUN/WALK will be held on Oct 25 at 3:00 P.M., starting at St. Catherine Church.

 

The Shared Services questionnaire has been mailed and is also on the Borough’s web site.

Several grand openings will be taking place in the Borough. Two medical centers will be opening on Rt. 46. One will be an urgent care facility.

 

Weber Homes is having a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday at 3:45 p.m.

 

The Council welcomed Barry Lewis to his first Borough Council meeting.

 

Mayor Shaw administered the Oath of Office to Mr. Lewis as Borough Manager.

 

5. SPECIAL PRESENTATION/Capital Water Projects

Mark Prusina and William Ryden

       Borough Engineer Bill Ryden provided an update on proposed water system capital projects. (hereto

       attached) The first 8 projects included new and replacement of water mains. The last five projects

       included well upgrades and system improvements. He noted that none were of an emergency nature

       but should be done within the next 5-10 years.      

     

       Councilman Jackson asked Mr. Ryden and Mr. Prusina to color code the map indicating the age and

       size of the pipes.

      

       Mr. Ryden said that aside from replacing any two-inch pipes, he would not recommend replacing

      mains unless there were a problem.

      

       In addition, Mr. Ryden proposed the following project for 2010: Installing a new well pump and new

       system pump for well # 5 and a facility upgrade to well # 4.

 

      Other recommended projects included; implementing an automated control system for system

      management, a three-phrase replacement program to replace existing manual read water meters

      with radio read meters, and a fire hydrant replacement program.

 

     6. PUBLIC COMMENT

     Mayor Shaw explained the Council’s policy of limiting each speaker to five (5) minutes and no

     yielding of time to another person.

 

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

 

     Bill Bethke – Lake Drive

     After welcoming Mr. Lewis to the Borough, Mr. Bethke expressed his dissatisfaction with the

     Borough Council’s and Board of Education’s spending practices.  He suggested the Council work at

     cutting expenses rather than attempting to hold down expenses.

    

     Mayor Shaw explained that former Borough Manager Joe Tempesta cut $100,000 in salaries this

     year. He noted that staffing in the Borough had not increased since the 70’s and the Council placed

     the Borough Hall project on hold due to economic concerns.

 

     The Council is now looking forward to the results of the shared service survey from the

      Residents.

 

7. ORDINANCES

 

17-09

BOND ORDINANCE PROVIDING A SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION OF $225,000 FOR THE ACQUISITION OF A FIRE TRUCK IN AND BY THE BOROUGH OF MOUNTAIN LAKES, IN THE COUNTY OF MORRIS, NEW JERSEY AND AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF $213,750 BONDS OR NOTES OF THE BOROUGH FOR FINANCING PART OF THE APPROPRIATION.  Public Hearing

If adopted this ordinance shall take effect after publication and passage as provided by law. 

Public Hearing.

 

     Mr. Lewis explained that the Fire Department could go out for bids before the 20 days following

     publication of the above ordinance. However, the award of bid could not be made before the 20 days

     had lapsed.

 

    Mr. Lewis said that it appeared from discussion with members of the Fire Department that the truck

    they hoped to purchase was appropriate for the Borough’s needs. He noted that it was not uncommon

    for fire trucks to be replaced every 10 years.

 

    Mayor Shaw opened the public hearing.

 

    Bill Bethke said Mr. Lewis’s explanation and comments were helpful. 

 

    Deputy Mayor Gormally expressed his displeasure with the complications that had arisen over the

    failure to include the entire amount in the original bond ordinance. 

   

    Councilwoman Bravo said she understood the Fire Department felt it could save money by going out

    to bid this year.

 

    All Council members agreed that the amount of $225,000 would have to be removed from next year’s

    capital budget.

 

Introduced:      Sept. 28, 2009                                                      Adopted: Oct. 13, 2009

Council Member

By:

2nd

Yes

No

Abstain

Absent

By

2nd

Yes

No

Abstain

Absent

McWilliams

X

 

X

 

 

 

 

X

X

 

 

 

Emr

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

Jackson

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

Gormally

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

Happer

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

Bravo

 

X

X

 

 

 

X

 

X

 

 

 

Shaw

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8. *RESOLUTIONS

      R 119-09 MC Housing Partnership/pulled by Mayor Shaw

      R 120-09 Salary Amendment

      R 121-09 Payment of Bills

      R122-09 NJ Firemen’s Association

 

  9. *MINUTES

       September 28, 2009- Regular

       September 28, 2009- Executive

 

10. *DEPARTMENT REPORTS

A.     Health Officer

B.     Construction Official

C.    Police

D.    DPW

Council Member

By:

2nd:

Yes

No

Abstain

Absent

McWilliams

 

 

X

 

 

 

Emr

 

 

X

 

 

 

Jackson

 

 

X

 

 

 

Gormally

 

 

X

 

 

 

Happer

X

 

X

 

 

 

Bravo

 

X

X

 

 

 

Shaw

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

      

     

 

     

     

                                R119-09 MC Housing Partnership

Council Member

By:

2nd:

Yes

No

Abstain

Absent

McWilliams

 

X

X

 

 

 

Emr

 

 

X

 

 

 

Jackson

 

 

X

 

 

 

Gormally

 

 

X

 

 

 

Happer

 

 

X

 

 

 

Bravo

X

 

X

 

 

 

Shaw

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

      11. ATTORNEY’S REPORT - none

 

      12. MANAGER’S REPORT

Mr. Lewis said he had met with Marty Murphy and Bob Oostdyk to discuss Borough legal matters.

 

He met briefly with department heads and planned to meet with each again.

 

He will soon be focusing much of his time on the 2010 budget. He plans to review the personnel policy as directed by Council. 

 

The cameras are working very well at the recycling area and violations are being issued when appropriate.

 

Councilman Jackson asked Mr. Lewis to check the condition of the sidewalks on Larchdell and Briarcliff before the proposed work was done. He asked that the work not begin until the Traffic and Safety Committee has had a chance to review the recommendation.

The majority of Council members agreed at the last meeting to replace the sidewalks at a cost of $28,000 rather than have them patched, which would have cost $14,000.  

Councilwoman Emr said that an incident on one of the sidewalks had brought the deteriorating sidewalks to the Council’s attention. Mayor Shaw said he also received a letter of concern from a resident. Mr. Lewis will review the sidewalk projects and the availability of grant money.

 

Deputy Mayor Gormally asked Mr. Lewis to speak with the Police Chief regarding the low revenue being generated by the number of violations issued and the increase in police overtime.

 

 

 

13. COUNCIL REPORTS

 

Councilman McWilliams said that Bonnie Rosenthall had resigned from the Shade Tree Commission.

 

Councilwoman Emr reported that the Flu Clinic had gone well.

 

Doug Morrison has resigned from the Environmental Commission.

 

Councilwoman Emr informed the Council that two members of the Environmental Commission would be meeting with a representative from the Morris County Planning Board to discuss local mapping in relation to the Environmental Resources Inventory.

 

Deputy Mayor Gormally said the MAC grant application was now overdue and no one on the Committee seemed interested in helping to complete the forms.

 

Councilman Happer asked what part the Finance Committee played in the budget process.

Mr. Lewis explained how he would proceed with the budget process.

Councilman Jackson noted that the Finance Committee functions in an advisory capacity only.

 

Councilwoman Bravo told the Council that the she and the Mayor would have something to report on the COAH/Highlands Committee at the December 14 meeting.

 

Mayor Shaw explained the Zoning Board of Adjustment had a vacancy for 2nd alternate.

 

Motion by Mayor Shaw, second by Councilman Happer, to appoint Chris Gallo as 2nd alternate to the Zoning Board, with all members in favor signifying by “Aye.”

 

14. ADJOURNMENT

Motion by Councilwoman Bravo, second by Councilman McWilliams, to adjourn the meeting at 10:05 p.m., with all members in favor signifying by “Aye.”

 

 

*Consent Agenda

                Attest:___________________________                       ________________________

                  Christina Whitaker, Clerk                                       Stephen H. Shaw, Mayor