BOROUGH OF MOUNTAIN LAKES
BOROUGH HALL, 400 BOULEVARD, MOUNTAIN LAKES
973-334-3131
SEPTEMBER 8, 2014
7:30 PM EXECUTIVE SESSION
8:00 PM PUBLIC SESSION
MINUTES
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 8, 2014 and posted in the municipal building.
Mayor Happer called the meeting to order at 8:00 p.m. in the municipal building.
2. ROLL CALL ATTENDANCE
Ms. Reilly called the roll. All Council members were present. Also in attendance were Borough Manager Robert Tovo, Borough Attorney Robert Oostdyk, and Borough Clerk Michele Reilly.
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Happer led the salute to the flag.
4. EXECUTIVE SESSION NONE
5. COMMUNITY ANNOUNCMENTS
Mayor Happer reminded those in attendance that school was back in session and he urged all residents to pay closer attention while driving, particularly during school hours.
Mayor Happer also mentioned that the High School football team would be playing its first game under the newly installed lights on Friday at 7:00 pm.
6. PUBLIC COMMENT
Please state your name and address for the record. Each speaker is limited to one (1) comment of no more than five (5) minutes and no yielding of time to another person.
Mayor Happer opened the public comment portion of the meeting with the consent of the Council. Mayor Happer explained the Council’s policy of limiting each speaker to five (5) minutes and no yielding of time to another person.
With no one wishing to be heard, Mayor Happer closed the public comment portion of the meeting.
7. DISCUSSION ITEMS NONE
Councilwoman Bravo stated that she would be presenting a discussion item concerning volunteerism and volunteer appreciation and recognition after she has discussed the issue with the Borough Manager. She said she hoped to present her discussion item at the next Borough Council meeting
BOROUGH OF MOUNTAIN LAKES
SEPTEMBER 8, 2014
PAGE TWO
8. *RESOLUTIONS:
R116-14 Resolution Adopting the Revised Personnel Policy and Procedure Manual
R117-14 Resolution Authorizing Participation in the North Jersey Municipal Employee Benefits Fund
R118-14 Resolution Authorizing the Redemption of Tax Title Lien 2013-000, Block 47, Lot 34
R119-14 Resolution Authorizing the Payment of Bills
Prior to the Consent Agenda vote Mr. Tovo recommended that Resolution 117-14, Resolution Authorizing Participation in the North Jersey Municipal Employee Benefits Fund, be amended to include the following language in the fifth paragraph under section ii a: specifically dental insurance coverage only. Mr. Tovo said that adding this language would clarify what the vendor is providing and the Council concurred with his recommendation.
9. *MINUTES:
August 25, 2014 (Executive)
August 25, 2014 (Regular)
10. *BOARD AND COMMITTEE AND COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS NONE
|
Council Member |
By: |
2nd: |
Yes |
No |
Abstain |
Absent |
|
Albergo |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
Borin |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
Bravo |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
Lester |
|
X |
X |
|
|
|
|
McWilliams |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
Holmberg |
X |
|
X** |
|
|
|
|
Happer |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
**Deputy Mayor Holmberg recused himself from the vote on Resolution 118-14, Authorizing the Redemption of Tax Title Lien 2013-000, Block 47, Lot 34
11. ATTORNEY REPORT
Mr. Oostdyk had nothing to report.
12. MANAGER’S REPORT
Mr. Tovo said road resurfacing continues and milling will occur tomorrow on Crane Road, followed by paving and then line striping. He expects the project to be completed in four or five days.
Mr. Tovo reported that the Department of Public Works Subcommittee is reviewing the two vendor proposal submitted regarding beach renovations. The Subcommittee will recommend a vendor to the Borough Council and ultimately a resolution will be required.
Mr. Tovo said he had researched food donation programs and he thought the Interfaith Food Pantry would be a good match for the Borough since it met the Council criteria of serving Mountain Lakes and the surrounding municipalities, as well as offering the option for monetary donations via the website. Mr. Tovo said he is expecting information from the Interfaith Food Pantry shortly and the program will be broadcast to residents once set up has been completed.
Mr. Tovo gave an update on Verizon Wireless and said the company had informed him of their desire to put at least one additional antenna on the existing cell tower site and they are still expressing interest in constructing a new tower at another location within the Borough. Mr. Tovo reminded the Council that in 2009, a list of potential cell tower sites in the Borough had been developed and this information has been shared with Verizon.
Mr. Tovo said he was happy to report that garbage bag sales at Kings are going very well, and in less than ten (10) days the store had sold seventy-three (73) rolls of large garbage bags and forty-three (43) rolls of small garbage bags. Mr. Tovo said that the store management believes they could sell $100,000 worth of garbage bags in a year. Mr. Tovo said the ability to purchase bags at Kings means more options for residents and in addition, takes some pressure off of the office staff. Mr. Tovo said the vending machine will provide yet another option for residents and offer twenty-four (24) hour availability.
In response to a question from Councilman Lester, Mr. Tovo reported that the Department of Public Works (DPW) would be constructing an access point for dogs and dog owners at Birchwood Lake in the near future.
Mr. Tovo said that he will be calling Mr. Tony Cerbo tomorrow in order to schedule an appointment to discuss the planting schedule at Cove Park, and that planting will occur in the next few weeks.
BOROUGH OF MOUNTAIN LAKES
SEPTEMBER 8, 2014
PAGE THREE
13. COUNCIL REPORTS
Environmental Commission – Councilman Albergo said the meeting had been postponed.
Lakes Management Advisory Committee – Councilman Albergo said the Committee had met last week.
Communications Advisory Committee – Councilman Lester said the questions involving the contract had been resolved and that it had been determined that four (4) gigabytes of data storage was sufficient and that there was a nominal charge if more storage was required. Councilman Lester said a letter had been sent to committee and commission chairs regarding the proposed changes to the website. Councilman Lester said he expected Phase One of the project to be completed by October 1st. Phase One would include getting all committee and commission information on the new website, and then work would begin on Phase Two, which would include enhancements to the website. Councilman Lester said there would be a training component for committee and commission c hairs.
Historic Preservation Committee – Councilman Borin said that Councilman Lester had made a presentation to the Committee regarding the new website. Councilman Borin said a new member would be presented for Council approval at the September 22nd meeting. Councilman Borin reported that the Borough and the Committee had received the first notice of intent to demolish a historic home located at 302 Boulevard. Councilman Borin said the Committee was planning to send a letter to the homeowner in order to reiterate the incentives of the zoning Ordinance for historic properties and if the homeowner was still intent on demolition, the Committee would seek to extract items of historical significance from the property.
Councilman Borin said members of the Committee were interested in removing the macadam sidewalk on Midvale and replacing the sidewalk with pavers. Councilman Borin said the Committee recommended that the Borough, the property owner and the Committee split the cost of the project, with the Committee funding its share through money that had been earmarked to fund historic projects within the Borough. Mr. Tovo said the sidewalk on Midvale is not historic, and that the property owner had just invested a substantial amount of money in renovations to the building’s interior. Mr. Tovo said the property owner was not interested in planning any additional renovations at this time and that a sidewalk replacement would require removal of the deck at the front of the property and Planning Board approval to rebuild.
Councilman Borin said the Committee did not want to use the money that had been earmarked to fund historic projects within the Borough on the replacement of windows at the Station, as had been suggested by the Borough Manager and Council at the last meeting. Councilman Borin said the Committee thought the cost of the project was too high and did not have enough public visibility. Mr. Tovo said that the historic building was the Borough’s responsibility to maintain and repair. Councilwoman Bravo asked about grant funding and Mr. Tovo said that it might be possible to apply for a grant to include other repairs as well as the window replacement.
Deputy Mayor Holmberg asked if a merge between the Planning and Zoning Boards was still being considered. Mayor Happer said the Planning Board has been very busy and Mr. Tovo said there is no movement on this issue at present.
Finance Advisory Committee - Mayor Happer said the Committee meets tomorrow night.
14. PUBLIC COMMENT
Please state your name and address for the record. Each speaker is limited to one (1) comment of no more than five (5) minutes and no yielding of time to another person.
Mayor Happer opened the public comment portion of the meeting with the consent of the Council. Mayor Happer explained the Council’s policy of limiting each speaker to five (5) minutes and no yielding of time to another person.
Mary Joelsson – Scarborough Road
Ms. Joelsson had a question regarding comments made about the sidewalk in front of Hapgoods and Mr. Tovo clarified his response for her.
With no one else wishing to be heard, Mayor Happer closed the public comment portion of the meeting.
15. ADJOURNMENT at 8:30 PM
Motion made by Deputy Mayor Holmberg, second by Councilman Lester, to adjourn the meeting at 8:30 p.m., with all members in favor signifying by “Aye”.
*Indicates Consent Agenda Item
Matters listed as Consent Agenda Items are considered routine and will be enacted by one motion of the Council and one roll call vote. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a Council member requests an item be removed for consideration.
ATTEST: SEPTEMBER 8, 2014
________________________________
Michele Reilly, RMC, Borough Clerk Daniel J. Happer, Mayor