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