MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING BOARD

OF THE BOROUGH OF MOUNTAIN LAKES

February 23, 2012

 

Chair Jim Bailey read the Open Public Meeting Advertisement Notice adopted at the annual meeting on January 26, 2012:  Adequate notice of this meeting was given to the Citizen and the Daily Record, filed with the Borough Clerk, posted on the Bulletin Board in the Borough Hall on January 30, 2012 and made available to all those requesting individual notice and paying the required fee.

 

ROLL CALL:

Members Present: Kane, Gormally, Happer, Tovo, Horan, Zamierowski, Bailey, DeVenezia

Absent: Nachshen and Dagger

Also Present: Attorney Peter Henry

Also Absent: Engineer Bill Ryden

 

REVIEW OF MINUTES: Martin Kane made a motion to adopt the minutes of the January 26th meeting.  Robert Tovo provided the second; the minutes were approved by voice vote of all eligible voters.

 

RESOLUTIONS: none

 

PUBLIC HEARING:  none

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

 

Planner

Planning Board members John Zamierowski and Jim Bailey conducted interviews on behalf of the Planning Board to replace our Planner, Susan Kimball. Mr. Zamierowski commented that all six candidates interviewed had great experience and were well qualified.  The interviews were done over the phone using a list of questions compiled by the committee and emailed to the Board for review.

John Zamierowski said the committee would like to recommend Paul Phillips, of PPG, LLC, become the Borough’s new Planner. They felt the company was a very good pick. They were impressed with Mr. Phillips ability to listen to their thoughts before commenting.  Mr. Zamierowski had personally contacted 4 of his references.  All were glowing with each person commenting what a great listener Mr. Phillips was.  The company works in a lot of towns in the area and their rates were competitive. All the candidates interviewed were about the same hourly rate.

Dan Happer commented, the list of towns PPG, LLC represented were larger communities and was wondering if any of the towns they did work for were the same size as Mountain Lakes. John Zamierowski replied yes. Jim Bailey and John Zamierowski really liked Mr. Phillips ideas for revitalizing the Midvale area and Route 46. Mr. Phillips was concerned with passing laws restricting a homeowner’s ability to renovate their historic home.  He was big on educating the public and getting them to buy into the process.

Nick DeVenezia commented the company looked like a larger firm. He asked if Mr. Phillips would be the Planner we would be working with. John Zamierowski said Mr. Phillips did not specifically say but the hourly rates discussed were for him plus he would be coming to Mountain Lakes to tour the community. Mr. Zamierowski said PPG, LLC may consider giving the Borough a flat rate to update their Master Plan. Robert Tovo liked using a larger company where the staff would have different expertise. John Horan asked how long the company had done municipal work; it was determined to be about 30 years. 

John Zamierowski made a motion to select Paul Phillips of Phillips, Preiss, Grygiel, LLC, as the Borough’s new Planner. A second was provided by Charlie Gormally. The Board voted 8 – 0 to appoint Paul Phillips with members Bailey, Kane, Gormally, Tovo, Happer, Horan, Zamierowski and DeVenezia voting in favor.

 

Other Business

Jim Bailey mentioned the need to realign the Board subcommittees at next months meeting. The Board is still in need of one alternate.

Martin Kane mentioned the Historic Preservation subcommittee was ready to present their findings. Mr. Gormally told him to make the presentation to the Council first. 

 

Jim Bailey made a motion to adjourn the meeting. The Board adjourned at 8:00 PM.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

                                                                                    Cynthia Shaw, Secretary