BOROUGH OF MOUNTAIN LAKES

MORRIS COUNTY

MAY 10, 2010

8:00 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 5, 2010 and posted in the municipal building.

 

       Mayor Blair Bravo called the meeting to order at 8 p.m.

 

      2.  ATTENDANCE AND FLAG SALUTE

      All Council members were present except for Councilman Happer who was away on business. Councilman

      McWilliams arrived at 8:04 p.m.

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

      Clerk Christina Whitaker.                                                                         

    

      3.  COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mayor Bravo said the Annual Firemen’s Ball was well attended. 

She congratulated the three new Eagle Scouts, Chris Chan, Phil Hoffman and Zander Massey,recently installed at Court of Honor.

Arbor Day was celebrated in the Borough. Jay Eveleth was this year’s honoree.

 

Deputy Mayor Gormally thanked those who took part in the Eagle Scout project which involved cleaning up two pocket parks on the Boulevard and planting some trees in the area.

 

4. PUBLIC COMMENT

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

 

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

 

Tara Strauss -17 Crane Road/League of Women Voters President

Ms. Strauss told the Council that the League of Women Voters supported the Council sending a letter to the N.J. Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) asking the State to adopt a statewide deer management program. (letter hereto attached)

 

Lynn Uhrig – 1 Sunset Lane  

Ms. Uhrig asked the Council to join with other organizations in asking the NJDEP to take immediate action in implementing a statewide deer management program. She noted that the grazing of deer on Borough property has injured tree saplings from maturing and made room for invasive plants. She noted that  individual homeowners have spent large sums of money in an effort to protect their property from the deer.

 

Margaret Gossett – 24 Glen Road/Environmental Commission

Ms. Gossett said the Environmental Commission agreed with the Woodlands Committee that the Council should endorse a statewide deer management program.

 

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

 

The Mayor, with consent of the Council, moved the Woodlands Committee report up on the Agenda for discussion. 

 

Councilman Jackson explained that normally it is Council policy not get involved in statewide issues by endorsing duplicate resolutions sent to the Council by other municipalities. However, Councilman Jackson said deer management was an issue that the Borough has had to address on its own and achieved some success.

 

Councilman Shaw said he agreed with the policy of the Council. However, he felt it would be wise of the governing body to get involved in this issue SINCE THE Borough has done extension studies of its own and understands the issue.

 

Councilwoman Emr said she supported the Council signing the petition to the State. She noted that the County has tried to curtail the deer population in some areas but the problem needs to be addressed on a regional level.

 

Councilman McWilliams said he would support signing the petition as long as the Council policy was not changed.

 

Deputy Mayor Gormally said that the Borough has done a good job locally and he was open to statewide involvement.  He noted that other communities can see for themselves that the Borough’s strategy has worked in curtailing the deer population in the Borough.  However, he saw no advantage to a petition but suggested a letter with specific details of the Borough’s success.

 

Phil Notestine/Woodlands Committee Chair

Mr. Notestine explained how the Borough’s Deer Management Program is now being conducted.

He said only about 10 municipalities in the state are using culling techniques.

Because the Borough is in a specific zone, an unlimited number of deer can be culled.

He said the State needed to educate communities on the benefits of culling.

 

Motion by Councilman Jackson, second by Councilwoman Emr, to send a letter to the State regarding implementing a statewide deer management program, with all members in favor signifying by “Aye.”

 

Mayor Bravo suggested Mr. Notestine and Mr. Lewis meet and draft a letter.  

 

Councilman Shaw said he wanted the State to know the Council expected a response by the NJDEP to its letter.

 

5. ORDINANCES

ORDINANCE 04-10

       ORDINANCE TO EXCEED THE MUNICIPAL BUDGET APPROPRIATION LIMITS AND TO 

       ESTABLISH A CAP BANK  (N.J.S.A. 40A: 4-45.14)

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

      Public Hearing

 

 Mayor Bravo opened the public hearing.

 

With no one wishing to be heard, Mayor Bravo closed the public hearing.

 

 

Council Member

By:

2nd

Yes

No

Abstain

Absent

By

2nd

Yes

No

Abstain

Absent

McWilliams

 

X

X

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

Emr

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

Jackson

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

X

X

 

 

 

Gormally

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

Happer

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

Shaw

X

 

X

 

 

 

X

 

X

 

 

 

Bravo

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6. * RESOLUTIONS

      R 74 Appointment of Deputy Treasurer – Pulled from Consent Agenda by Councilman Jackson

      R 75 Appointment of CFO - Pulled from the Consent Agenda by Councilman Jackson

      R 76 Appointments of Court Personnel

      R 77 Payments of Bills

 

7. *MINUTES

      April 26, 2010 – Regular Minutes (with minor changes)   

    

      8. *DEPARTMENT REPORTS

A.     Construction Official

B.     Health Officer

C.    DPW

D.    Fire

E.     Police

 

Council Member

By:

2nd:

Yes

No

Abstain

Absent

McWilliams

 

X

X

 

 

 

Emr

 

 

X

 

 

 

Jackson

 

 

X

 

 

 

Gormally

 

 

X

 

 

 

Happer

 

 

 

 

 

X

Shaw

X

 

X

 

 

 

Bravo

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

              

                                   

       74-10

       Mr. Lewis explained Lauren Baker‘s qualifications. He said she already has completed six of the

       eight classes needed for her CFO certification.

                       

       Councilman Jackson said he wanted the Borough to be protected. If Ms. Baker left within two years of

       completing her CFO classes, he would expect her to pay back the Borough for the two classes.

                                                 

 

 

            Vote on R 74-10 – Appointment of Deputy Treasurer

                                   

Council Member

By:

2nd:

Yes

No

Abstain

Absent

McWilliams

 

 

X

 

 

 

Emr

 

 

 

X

 

 

Jackson

 

 

X

 

 

 

Gormally

X

 

X

 

 

 

Happer

 

 

 

 

 

X

Shaw

 

X

X

 

 

 

Bravo

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

        R 75-10

        Councilman Jackson said he viewed Mr. Lewis’s appointment as CFO as an interim position and 

        he would be paid a stipend.

 

Councilman Emr said she did not like the combined position of CFO and Manager for legal purposes.  She was concerned with one person having a dual role. She noted she was not aware of any municipality that has such a combined position. She felt it gave too much power to one person and put the Borough at risk. (statement hereto attached)

 

        Mr. Lewis explained that it would probably be a couple years before Ms. Baker would be able to

        finish her courses and take the State Exam.  In the meantime, he already has his certification.

 

Council Member

By:

2nd:

Yes

No

Abstain

Absent

McWilliams

 

 

X

 

 

 

Emr

 

 

 

X

 

 

Jackson

 

 

X

 

 

 

Gormally

X

 

X

 

 

 

Happer

 

 

 

 

 

X

Shaw

 

X

X

 

 

 

Bravo

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                   

       

        9. ATTORNEY’S REPORT

        Mr. Murphy had nothing to report.

             

       10. MANAGER’S REPORT

        Mr. Lewis reported that the municipal court had been completely moved to Denville. Tim Vrabel was

        coordinating the close out audit with Joan Egan. So far he had not heard of any real issues with the

        move.

        

        The removal of the Court has freed up space. At present he plans to move the Construction and Zoning

        Office downstairs into the vacated office and put Finance in the old Construction Office.

             

        The Department of Transportation (DOT) has revised its schedule for replacing street signs with  

        retro reflective ones. Instead of requiring them to be replaced by the end of 2011, the municipality only

        needs to have a replacement plan in place by that time.

 

        The Council informed Mr. Lewis that the now disbanded Borough Appearance Committee had

        recommended black signs with white lettering.

       

        Mr. Lewis noted that the standard color is green and white and the Borough would have to get approval

        from the Federal Division of Highway Safety to put up the black and white signs. However, he did not

        foresee any problem.

 

        Mayor Bravo urged the Manager to have a written plan in place by the end of the year.

       

        Mr. Lewis will be meeting with Converse Consultants and Bill Ryden in the near future regarding the

        dams.

 

        The Manager has sent a letter to members of the Boonton Township Council with a cost analysis

        regarding combining police services.

 

       The Mayor will send a congratulation letter to Glen Dagger when he reaches Eagle Scout status.

 

Councilwoman Emr asked for an update on the Wildwood dam repairs. She noted that some Wildwood Lake residents had expressed their concerns.

 

        Mr. Lewis explained what has already been done and what is planned, including new boards and a new

        valve.

 

       Councilman Jackson said he thought the Council should discuss how to better control the lake

       levels.

             

  11. COUNCIL REPORTS

       Appointment – Centennial

       Motion by Councilman McWilliams, second by Councilwoman Emr to appoint Maria Accardi to the

       Centennial Committee, with four members voting “yes” and two members voting “no” by voice vote.

 

      Councilman McWilliams informed that Council that pre-sales of the Centennial commemorative book are

      doing well.  He provided the Council with sample stationery letterhead and a picture of the logo that will be 

      used on the banners and other Centennial items.

 

      Councilman Jackson reported that the Personnel Committee met with Mr. Lewis for his first evaluation.

 

      Councilman Shaw said the Finance Committee would like to know what its role is in the Borough.

 

      Woodlands Committee – moved up on agenda

 

      12. ADJOURNMENT

      Motion by Councilman Jackson, second by Deputy Mayor Gormally, to adjourn at 9:46 p.m., with all

      members in favor signifying by “Aye.”

 

 

 

 

  Attest:___________________________                              _______________________    

                 Christina Whitaker, Clerk                                             Blair Bravo, Mayor