BOROUGH OF MOUNTAIN LAKES
MORRIS COUNTY
August 23, 2010
8 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 Bravo called the meeting to order at 8 p.m.
2. ATTENDANCE AND FLAG SALUTE
All Council members were present.
Also in attendance were Borough Attorney Marty Murphy, Borough Manager Barry Lewis, and
Borough Clerk Christina Whitaker
3. COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Mountain Lakes Swim Team won the Hub Lakes Championship again this year.
The new fire engine is expected to arrive next week. It should be in service in two to three weeks.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Bravo opened the public comment portion of the meeting with consent of the Council.
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.
With no one wishing to be heard, Mayor Bravo closed the public comment portion of the meeting.
5. AUDIT REVIEW AND DISCUSSION/TIM VRABEL
Mr. Vrabel told the Council that there were no findings and the numbers presented were the same as when presented during the budget process.
He said the most important areas would be found in the second section which describes the Borough’s accounting policies. There was no indication of fraud in the audit.
Councilman Happer said he was concerned with the reference of significant deficiency in the segregation of duties.
Mr. Vrabel explained that this is not an uncommon statement in the audit because the Borough has a small office staff. With a limited number of people there will always be a problem with segregation of duties. The only way to mitigate this would be to hire more individuals and give each a separate responsibility.
Councilman Jackson asked if the trash bag account and petty cash account were proofed.
Mr. Vrabel said no. He explained that those accounts were not the areas with a largest amount of risk. He said the two areas of most risk were payroll and purchasing. This occurs when fictitious employees and vendors are created.
Mr. Lewis said he was aware of the payroll risk and had already taken steps to avoid the problems. Michelle Reilly inputs information into the Balance Point System which generates a payroll check report. He reviews that report. He then makes the financial transfers. Deputy Treasurer Lauren Baker does the reconciliation of the checks. She then charges each department their portion of wages distributed.
Councilman Jackson said he was concerned with any one person doing too many jobs He asked
Mr. Vrabel his opinion on the combined position of Manager and CFO.
Mr. Vrabel said he understood and agreed with Councilman Jackson’s concern. However, he noted it was not uncommon in smaller municipalities. Many of his clients have a part time CFO position but in name only, and to fulfill State requirements. He considered that scenario to be worse. Someone else in the office is actually responsible for the majority of the CFO’s duties.
Councilman Happer, Shaw and Jackson had questions regarding developer’s escrow accounts and who would be responsible for insuring these accounts.
Councilwoman Emr had questions regarding the pension and retirement plan for non-contracted employees.
R 92-10
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Council Member |
By: |
2nd: |
Yes |
No |
Abstain |
Absent |
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McWilliams |
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X |
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Emr |
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X |
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Jackson |
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X |
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Gormally |
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X |
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Happer |
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X |
X |
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Shaw |
X |
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X |
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Bravo |
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X |
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6. PUBLIC HEARING ON OPEN SPACE APPLICATION (King of Kings Property)
Resolution 103-10
Mr. Lewis explained the proposed acquisition, location, and size of the property owned by King of Kings Church. He has already met with church officials and the church is interested in selling the property.
The property had previously been approved for grant money through the Mountain Lakes Conservancy; however, the purchase was not completed.
Mayor Bravo opened the Public Hearing on the open space application with the consent of Council.
With no one wishing to be heard, Mayor Bravo closed the public hearing.
Mr. Lewis explained the next steps in the process will be a site visit by the Morris County Open Space Committee and a presentation to the Committee in October. He will continue to negotiate with the church.
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Council Member |
By: |
2nd: |
Yes |
No |
Abstain |
Absent |
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McWilliams |
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X |
X |
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Emr |
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X |
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Jackson |
X |
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X |
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Gormally |
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X |
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Happer |
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X |
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Shaw |
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X |
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Bravo |
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X |
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7. ORDINANCE
08-10
ORDINANCE TO VACATE CERTAIN PUBLIC RIGHTS IN AN UNIMPROVED RIGHT OF WAY SHOWN ON THE TAX MAP AS A PORTION OF NORTH GLEN ROAD
Following introduction, the above ordinance will be published in accordance with the law and a
public hearing will be held on September 13, 2010.
Prior to the vote, Mr. Murphy explained that the property owner already owned half the road and that the Borough was not conveying any land, only releasing the right-of-way.
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Council Member |
By: |
2nd |
Yes |
No |
Abstain |
Absent |
By |
2nd |
Yes |
No |
Abstain |
Absent |
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McWilliams |
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X |
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X |
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Emr |
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X |
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X |
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Jackson |
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X |
X |
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X |
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Gormally |
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X |
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X |
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Happer |
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X |
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X |
X |
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Shaw |
X |
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X |
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X |
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X |
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Bravo |
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X |
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X |
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8. *RESOLUTIONS
R 102 Payment of Bills
9. *MINUTES
July 26, 2010 Executive
July 26, 2010 Regular
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Council Member |
By: |
2nd: |
Yes |
No |
Abstain |
Absent |
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McWilliams |
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X |
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Emr |
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X |
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Jackson |
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X |
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Gormally |
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X |
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Happer |
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X |
X |
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Shaw |
X |
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X |
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Min only |
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Bravo |
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X |
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10. DEPARTMENT REPORTS (hereto attached)
A. Construction Official
B. Health Officer
C. DPW
D. Fire
E. Police
11. ATTORNEY’S REPORT
Mr. Murphy explained where the property mentioned in R98-10 adopted at the last meeting was
located and why the taxes were reduced. He noted it was not the result of a tax appeal but from
the reevaluation.
12. MANAGER’S REPORT (hereto attached)
Energy Audit Report
Traffic and Safety (memo attached)
Any dangerous conditions will be addressed immediately. The majority of crosswalk and striping will be completed under our current funding program. The remainder will wait to be completed with grant money or other municipal funding.
Councilman McWilliams said he still felt a crosswalk was needed on Beech Way and the Boulevard.
Mr. Lewis explained that he was in the process of reviewing and updating the Borough’s
personnel policy manual to ensure compliance with current law. As to actual “time” benefits, the Borough is fairly standard and in some cases lower than other towns. The benefits that come with a specific cost to the Borough, such as medical and dental insurance have been reviewed and the Borough has limited options in respect to this coverage. Pensions are governed by State statutes and regulations. Mr. Lewis said once he was completed with his review, he would submit his recommendations to the Personnel Committee.
Councilman Jackson said he would like an analysis based on a comparison of the public and private sector. However, Mr. Lewis pointed out that there is no single or uniform model of the private sector and that benefits varied greatly by industry.
Deputy Mayor Gormally said he did not know of any public sector that has shifted to a private sector compensation package for its employees.
Mr. Lewis updated the Council on the work being done on the dam at Mountain Lake.
Mr. Lewis updated the Council on the Borough’s water consumption since the beginning of June when the water conservation measures went into effect. He noted that while water usage is under control, water revenue is also down.
The Sustainable New Jersey Committee continues to work on points for Mountain Lakes certification.
13. COUNCIL REPORTS
Councilwoman Emr said the Shade Tree Commission has been very busy.
The Board of Adjustment will be reviewing issues on procedures.
Councilman Jackson said he had attended the Morris County Housing Partnership seminar for Park Place and found it very informative.
Deputy Mayor Gormally said the Environmental Commission needed new members.
He said there is a great deal of overlap between the Lakes Management Committee and the Commission and it would be prudent to schedule a joint meeting.
Councilman Happer said the Finance Committee reviewed the audit.
Councilman Shaw said the Recreation Director and he were the only two people who attended the scheduled Recreation Commission meeting. The Commission needs additional members.
The summer recreation program was very successful.
Councilman Shaw said the 55 Plus Committee is functioning well. It has decided to hold only two programs a month beginning in the fall.
The Shared Services Committee plans to meet on Wednesday this week.
14. ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn at 9:44 p.m. by Councilman Shaw, second by Deputy Mayor Gormally, with all
members in favor signifying by “Aye.”
*Consent Agenda
Attest:__________________________ ________________________
Christina Whitaker, Clerk Blair S. Bravo, Mayor