BOROUGH OF MOUNTAIN LAKES

MORRIS COUNTY

MAY 24, 2010

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 5, 2010 and posted in the municipal building.

 

2.     ATTENDANCE AND FLAG SALUTE

All Council members were present except for Councilman Jackson who was on vacation, Deputy

Mayor Charles Gormally, and Councilwoman Emr.

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

Borough Clerk Christina Whitaker.

 

3.     EXECUTIVE SESSION

                 Resolution 81

                 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:

 

·        Potential Litigation/Affordable Housing

 

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

 

       Deputy Mayor Gormally arrived at 7:35 p.m. and Councilwoman Emr arrived at 7:46 p.m.

 

       Motion by Councilman McWilliams, second by Councilman Happer, to return to the public portion of

       the meeting, with all members in favor signifying by “Aye.”  

 

4.     COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mayor Bravo congratulated Deputy Mayor Gormally on making “Top Attorney” in Super Lawyer Magazine.      

 

The Memorial Day Parade festivities will begin at 10 a.m. The Mayor urged everyone to come out and hear guest speaker, Vera Leckie, wife of Robert Leckie, recipient of the Purple Heart and author of “Helmet For My Pillow,” a memoir of World War II as fought in the Pacific.

 

 

Following the parade, Mountain Lakes Day will be held at the Esplanade. There will be food, music

and rides.

 

5.     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.

 

Beth Haessig 44 Rainbow Trail

Ms. Haessig complained about the influx of political signage throughout the Borough, especially along the Boulevard.

 

Councilwoman Emr said that the Borough had an ordinance prohibiting signs on public property. She agreed with Ms. Haessig that something needed to be done.

 

Deputy Mayor Gormally also agreed. He noted that the ordinance was not being enforced and that the Borough continues to allow not-for-profit organizations to put up signs.

 

6.  PUBLIC HEARING ON 2010 MUNICIPAL BUDGET

BE IT RESOLVED that the revenues and appropriation present shall constitute the Municipal 

Budget for the year 2010. Said Budget was introduced on April 26, 2010.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that said Budget was published in the Daily Record in the issue of the

May 5th, 2010 and posted on the Borough’s web site.

 

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that this is the time and place for comments to said Budget and Tax Resolution by taxpayers and other interested persons.

PUBLIC HEARING

 

Mayor Bravo opened the Budget Hearing to the public.

With no one wishing to be heard, Mayor Bravo closed the Public Hearing on the 2010 Municipal Budget.

 

Councilman Shaw complimented Mr. Lewis on the final budget noting he had to trim it following the loss of aid to the Borough. He said it was an excellent budget because he was able to maintain services for the residents.

 

Councilwoman Emr said she would be voting in favor of adoption but felt she did not receive enough information on where cuts were made.

 

Councilman Happer, Shaw, and Deputy Mayor Gormally agreed that it was a fiscally responsible budget.

 

Mayor Bravo said she believed the budget maintained services while still tightening spending.

She thanked the Manager for his efforts, noting that many other municipalities were having a much harder time bring in a balanced budget.

 

Council Member

By:

2nd:

Yes

No

Abstain

Absent

McWilliams

X

 

X

 

 

 

Emr

 

 

X

 

 

 

Jackson

 

 

 

 

 

X

Gormally

 

 

X

 

 

 

Happer

 

 

X

 

 

 

Bravo

 

 

X

 

 

 

Shaw

 

X

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governing Body of the Borough of Mountain Lakes does hereby adopt the 2010 Municipal Budget as presented. 

 

7. ORDINANCE

05-10 

       ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 71-3 OF THE BOROUGH CODE REGULATING ALCOHOLIC

       BEVERAGE LICENSES

Following introduction, the above ordinance will be published in accordance with the law and a public hearing will be held on June 14, 2010.

 

Council Member

By:

2nd

Yes

No

Abstain

Absent

By

2nd

Yes

No

Abstain

Absent

McWilliams

X

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Emr

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jackson

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gormally

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happer

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shaw

 

X

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bravo

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mr. Lewis explained why he recommended deleting the section referring to distance between alcohol licensed establishments.  He noted that the Borough ordinance would still conform to State regulations because section 71-3 is not required under State law.

 

06-10

       ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 40 OF THE REVISED GENERAL ORDINANCES OF

       THE BOROUGH OF MOUNTAIN LAKES TO ELIMINATE APPEALS OF ZONING BOARD

       OF ADJUSTMENT DECISIONS TO THE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Following introduction, the above ordinance will be published in accordance with the law and a public hearing will be held on June 14, 2010.

 

Council Member

By:

2nd

Yes

No

Abstain

Absent

By

2nd

Yes

No

Abstain

Absent

McWilliams

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Emr

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jackson

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gormally

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happer

 

X

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shaw

X

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bravo

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mr. Murphy explained that any use variance would require an attorney’s expertise. It would be unfair  

 to expect the Governing Body to make a legal determination to an appeal based on a review of

 transcripts.

 

8. * RESOLUTIONS

      R 78 Releases of Executive Session Minutes 

      R 79 Banking Authorizations

      R 80 Payment of Bills

 

9. *MINUTES

       May 10, 2010 – Regular

    

Council Member

By:

2nd:

Yes

No

Abstain

Absent

McWilliams

 

 

X

 

 

 

Emr

 

 

X

 

 

 

Jackson

 

 

 

 

 

X

Gormally

 

 

X

 

 

 

Happer

 

X

X

 

 

 

Shaw

X

 

X

 

 

 

Bravo

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

         

       

      10.  ATTORNEY’S REPORT

      Mr. Murphy had nothing to report.

 

      11.  MANAGER’S REPORT

      Mr. Lewis informed the Council that a group picture would be taken at the June 14th meeting.

 

      The Centennial Committee will be meeting to address what direction it will be taking over the next

      year, along with fund raising and a capital project.

     

      Lauren Baker is getting settled in to her new position as Deputy Treasurer.

 

      The court move to Denville is nearing one month and things seem to working out fine.

      With the move of the court the Manager said he is now able to reconfigure space hoping to free

      up space for other departments.

     

      Mr. Lewis said a street sign plan will be in place in order to comply with the State’s deadline.

 

      Once measurements are completed at the Mountain Lakes dam, Mr. Ryden will be able to finalize the

      design.

 

      Councilman Shaw noted that the shared court was beneficial in freeing up space in Borough Hall.

 

12. COUNCIL REPORTS

The following Committees still need members:

Recreation Commission – 3

Environmental Commission – 1

Historic Preservation Committee – 3

Woodlands Committee - 1

 

     Councilman Happer said the Public Safety Committee is expected to meet on June 9th. A

     representative from the Boonton Kiwanis Ambulance Squad will be attending to explain its operation.

 

Councilman Shaw said the Finance Committee is not meeting regularly. He said the Council needs to inform the Committee its role as a group.

Mayor Bravo said a closer look at its charter is called for at this time.

 

Councilman Shaw said the Recreation Commission has raised the cost of beach tags for residents.

He noted that there has been an increase of requests from larger groups asking to use the beach facilities for special events. The Commission will be discussing this and will develop a plan for dealing with the situation.

 

   13. ADJOURNMENT

   Motion by Councilman Shaw, second by Councilman Happer, to adjourn the meeting at 9:20 p.m.,     

   with all members in favor signifying by “Aye.”    

 

 

 

 

 *Consent Agenda

 

 

 

 

 Attest:___________________________                       ________________________                

 Christina Whitaker, Clerk                                                                        Blair Bravo, Mayor