Historic Preservation Committee
Meeting Minutes – September 3, 2015
A meeting of the Mountain Lakes Historic Preservation Committee (“HPC” or the “Committee”) was held on September 3, 2015, in the basement meeting room of the Mountain Lakes Library. In attendance were Chair Lesley Karczewski, and Vice Chair Tom Dagger, Borough Council Liaison Dan Happer, Ginny Cassidy, Mike DeWitt, and Katy Roberts. Absent were Margaret DeWitt, Alex Gotthelf, and Pat Rusak.
Approval of Prior Meeting’s Minutes
The minutes of the July 23, 2015 meeting were approved in the form in which they were distributed to the Committee.
Treasurer’s Report
Lesley Karczewski presented the report prepared by Chris Sheasby. Lesley and Chris will work out details of the transfer of Treasurer’s responsibility.
Opening Balance as of 7/21/15
Debits:
$17.90 Peggy Bulfer for postage (mailing Centennial Books)
$17.90 Total
Credits:
$137.00 One Centennial book and historic photos
$307.00 Three Centennial books, one CD and two ML picture books
$100.00 Two Centennial books
$678.00 Total
Closing Balance as of 7/22/15: $29,898.86
Archivist’s Report
The HPC Open House is scheduled for Friday, October 16th and Saturday, October 17th from 9am - 3pm. To promote the event, Ginny Cassidy will be submitting a description that she used last year to Mountain Lakes Living magazine. In addition, Lesley Karczewski will submit an article for the Town’s website home page and get the event added to the website calendar.
Pat Rusak will be in attendance both days of the Open House. In addition, the following HPC members have volunteered (and will bring a laptop to display digital photos and Hapgood work orders):
Friday, October 16th: Saturday, October 17th:
Ginny Cassidy 9-12pm Tom Dagger 9-12pm
Katy Roberts 12-3pm Lesley Karczewski 12-3pm (no laptop)
Borough Liaison Report
Sima Chowdhury was approved by the Borough as an alternate member of the HPC. Since Margaret DeWitt has opted to continue to be an alternate member, Katy Roberts will become the regular member.
It is unclear if the “dynamite shed” had been cleared out but Borough Manager Rich Sheola indicated via email that he will follow up and ensure that a firm date is established for completion if it hasn’t been done.
Old Business
HPC Website Redesign
Mike DeWitt said that he was still awaiting word from Clive regarding the copies of the incentives ordinance house scripts and database from the Borough's website. Dan Happer is working on getting Mike DeWitt access to the HPC webpages in order to transfer the photos of the house views to the Ordinance section.
Lesley Karczewski reported that the website designer had just completed the requested modifications and additions but the Communications Committee had not yet had a chance to review and sign off.
Application for Certified Local Government Status
Barton Ross had been working on a Borough application for certified local government status. Tom Dagger distributed the Committee bylaws, which were unanimously approved by a vote of the Committee on motion duly seconded, in the form attached as Appendix A to these minutes. Not all resumes of Committee members required for the application have been received.
HPC Long Range Goals
Lesley Karczewski presented the revised draft of the Goals and Objectives, which were discussed and approved by a vote of the Committee on motion duly seconded, in the form attached as Appendix B to these minutes.
Visit/plaque request from owner of Little Theater
Lesley Karczewski will reach out to the owner of the Little Theater (Walter Aertker) to schedule a HPC Committee visit on either Saturday, September 19th at 9am or Saturday, October 24th at 9am. The Committee discussed the request of having a plaque or a sign on the sidewalk in front of the Little Theater building to commemorate its historic significance. It was agreed that the Committee supports such an idea and discussed having signs (or building plaques or embedded plaques in the sidewalk) made for other historical buildings including the stops along the walking tour. However, there still needs to be a discussion on standards, design, and funding for private versus public places.
New Business
Morris County Heritage Commission re-grant/CAPES review update
The Morris County Heritage Commission’s History Re-Grant Program application should be available within the next few weeks, with a deadline sometime in October. It was suggested last year by the Morris County Heritage Commission that the HPC have the New Jersey Historical Commission’s CAPES (Caucus Archival Projects Evaluation Service) conduct another assessment of our archival collections. However, Lesley Karczewski was told that since the New Jersey Historical Commission already conducted a review ten years ago they would not be conducting another one. They suggested instead that an outside evaluation consultant conduct the review at a cost, which does not seem like a necessity at this time.
Date for Next Meeting
October 8th at 7:30pm in the basement meeting room of the Mountain Lakes Library.
Minutes prepared by Katy Roberts, Tom Dagger, and Lesley Karczewski.
Appendix A
As Approved, September 3, 2015
BY-LAWS OF THE
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE
OF THE BOROUGH OF MOUNTAIN LAKES, NEW JERSEY
PART I
ADMINISTRATION
Rule 1:1. Organization, Officers, General Provisions
1:1-1. Title of the Committee.
1:1-2. Annual Meeting; Officers.
1:1-3. Chairperson.
1:1-4. Vice-Chairperson.
1:1-5. Secretary.
1:1-6. Subcommittees.
1:1-7. Training.
Rule 1:2. Meetings
1:2-1. Regular Meetings.
1:2-2. Special Meetings.
1:2-3. Meetings Open to Public.
1:2-4. Order of Business.
1:2-5. Record of Proceedings.
1:2-6. No New Business
Rule 1:3. Quorum and Voting
1:3-1. Quorum.
1:3-2. Motions.
1:3-3. Voting.
1:3-4 Exemptions to Voting.
Rule 1:4. Alternate Members
1:4-1. Designation.
1:4-2. Participation in discussions; voting.
PART II
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Rule 2:1. Relaxation of Rules
3:1-1. Where Rules may be Relaxed.
Rule 2:2. Meaning of Certain Terms
2:2-1. Gender.
Rule 2:3. Application of Certain Laws
2:3-1. Laws Applicable.
Rule 2:4. Amendments
2:4-1. Amendments.
Rule 2:5. Effective Date
2:5-1. Effective Date.
PART I
ADMINISTRATION
Rule 1:1. Organization, Officers, General Provisions
1:1-1. Title of the Committee. The Title of the Committee shall be: “The Historic Preservation Committee” of the Borough of Mountain Lakes, New Jersey.
1:1-2. Annual Meeting; Officers. The annual meeting of the Committee shall be held on the second Thursday of January of each year or at such other time as designated by the Committee, at which time the Committee shall elect, from its members, a Chairperson and a Vice-Chairperson. The Board shall also appoint a Secretary. The Board may appoint such other officers or assistants and employ such experts or staff as it may deem necessary.
1:1-3. Chairperson. The Chairperson, subject to these rules, shall decide all points of order and matters of procedure governing the meetings, unless otherwise directed by a majority of the Committee in session at the time. He shall have, subject to these rules and the governing statutes, all the powers and perform all the duties normally appertaining to this office. He or his designee shall swear all witnesses giving testimony before the Committee.
1:1-4. Vice-Chairperson. The Vice-Chairperson shall preside at all Committee meetings and hearings in the absence of the Chairperson.
1:1-5. Secretary.
Subject to these rules, and under the direction of the Chairperson, the Secretary shall conduct all official correspondence, compile the required records, maintain and keep in order the necessary files and indices, and generally perform the secretarial work of the Board.
The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Board, and shall have the care and custody of all records, documents, maps, plans and papers of the Board, for the care and custody of which no other provision is made by statute. When the “yeas” and “nays” are taken, he shall call the roll of the members and the Chairperson shall be called last.
1:1-6. Committees. Ad hoc subcommittees may be appointed and Committee members may serve on joint committees or subcommittees with other boards or committees.
1:1-7 Training. Members and Alternate Members shall attend a conference or training session in historic preservation or a related field.
Rule 1:2. Meetings
1:2-1. Regular Meetings. The regular meetings of the Board shall be held at the Mountain Lakes Public Library, 9 Elm Street, Mountain Lakes, New Jersey, at 7:30 P.M. on the 2nd Thursday of each month or at such other time as designated by the Committee. The Secretary shall annually furnish a copy of the regular meeting dates for the year to the news media designated by the municipal governing body in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Law, N.J.S. 10:4-6 et seq.
1:2-2. Special Meetings. Special meetings may be provided for at the call of the Chairperson or at the request of any two Committee members. Such meeting shall be held on notice to its members and the public in accordance with all applicable legal requirements.
1:2-3. Meetings Open to Public. All meetings shall be open to the public, except such executive sessions as authorized by N.J.S. 40:55D-9b and N.J.S. 10:4-6 et seq.
1:2-4. Order of Business. The order of business at all meetings shall be as follows:
(a) Call to order and open public meeting advertisement notice
(b) Roll Call
(c) Review of minutes
(d) Memorializing resolutions
(e) Other matters/Public comments (limited to five minutes per speaker)
(f) Adjournment
1:2-5. Record of Proceedings. The Committee shall provide for minutes of each meeting to be prepared, approved and posted on the Committee’s website.
1:2-6. No New Business. It is the custom, and applicants shall be so notified, that no new business is started after 10:30 PM so that applicants can get the best thinking of the board. Meetings end no later than 11:00 PM if possible.
Rule 1:3. Quorum and Voting
1:3-1. Quorum. A Quorum shall be four members. No meeting of the Committee may be held without a quorum being present.
1:3-2. Motions. All motions shall require a second; a motion which does not obtain a second shall be deemed to be rejected.
1:3-3. Voting. All votes shall be taken by roll call, the vote and name of the person casting the vote shall be recorded in the minutes, unless a voice vote is desired and legally adequate.
1:3-4. Exceptions to Voting. There are two cases where the Committee customarily does not require a vote:
The chairperson, after determining that there are no more additions or corrections, may declare that the minutes are accepted as written or as amended.
He or she also, after ascertaining there is no further business, may declare the meeting adjourned.
Rule 1:4. Alternate Members
1:4-1. Designation. Alternate members of the Committee appointed by the Governing Body shall be designated by the appointing authority as “Alternate No. 1”, “Alternate No. 2”, etc. as appropriate, and each alternate shall retain said designation during the term for which he was appointed.
1:4-2. Participation in discussions; voting. Alternate members may participate in discussions of the proceedings, but may not vote except in the absence or disqualification of a regular member, nor shall any vote be delayed in order that a regular member may vote instead of an alternate member. In the event that a choice must be made as to which alternate member is to vote, alternate members shall vote in the order of their numerical designations.
PART II
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Rule 2:1. Relaxation of Rules
2:1-1. Where Rules may be Relaxed. For good cause shown, or where the strict application of any rule would work surprise or injustice, the Committee may relax the requirement of such rule, except where the provisions of the rule are also statutory requirements.
Rule 2:2. Meaning of Certain Terms
2:2-1. Gender. The use of the masculine gender in these Rules shall be deemed to refer to the feminine gender and the use of the singular shall be deemed to refer to the plural, and vice versa, whenever the context so requires.
Rule 2:3. Application of Certain Laws
2:3-1. Laws Applicable. The provisions of the land use regulations of the Borough of Mountain Lakes, and the Municipal Land Use Law shall be applicable to proceedings before this Committee and the Committee may exercise all of the powers conferred by said act. These rules are adopted pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S. 40:55D-8, and subject generally to the provisions of Chapter 55D of Title 40 of the Revised Statutes of New Jersey.
Rule 2:4. Amendments
2:4-1. Amendments. Amendments to these rules may be made by the Committee at any regular meeting, provided notice of such amendment has been given in writing to each member of the Committee at least three days prior to such meeting.
Rule 2:5. Effective Date
2:5-1. Effective Date. These rules take effect upon adoption and supersede any prior rules of the Committee.
Adopted: September 3, 2015
Appendix B
As Approved, September 3, 2015
Mountain Lakes Historic Preservation Committee
Goals & Objectives
2016 – 2018
Preservation & Protection
Historic Preservation Incentives Ordinance – Assist the Borough in implementing the 2012 ordinance; educate affected stakeholders in the benefits of the ordinance; monitor the effectiveness of the ordinance; recommend changes to the ordinance or new ordinances to further the historic preservation objectives of the Borough.
Master Plan – Review and provide input on the Historic Preservation Element of the Borough’s Master Plan.
Embed the HPC in an advisory role for any Borough construction or landscaping projects that will affect the historical appearance of the town
Building Permit Integration
Opportunity to comment on all applications relating to additions and alterations to any contributing dwelling
Acquire and maintain storage facility for Hapgood and Belhall house parts and encourage donations
Reach 100% on Hapgood and Belhall plaques
Develop new historical structure plaque for significant historical buildings
Funding & Grants
Gain acceptance into Certified Local Government Program
Morris County Heritage Commission
Make newspapers & photos available on-line
Digitize items
CAPES Review of archive (necessary for Morris County Heritage Commission grants)
Establish the HPC as grant resource for the town
Education & Outreach
Website
Interactive map of town showing locations of contributing dwellings and places included on website
Conduct and post new oral histories to the HPC web pages, considering brief audio clips in addition to photos
Continue to make available ML historical facts, items & images that can be used to promote/facilitate activities that benefit the town
Re-establish and strengthen ties with schools through Frank Sanchez
Work with schools to integrate history of ML into lesson plans
Revive 3rd grade field trips to archive
Enlist HS students for work on various projects
Hold annual Open House or other educational forum for residents
Enlist historically significant properties or property owners with unique historical features to host open houses
Greater participation in Local, State, Regional and or Federal preservation conferences to keep current on trends, available funds, successes and failures of other towns
Connect to larger historical and cultural trails in the County and State
Education for local realtors, builders & architects
Education for other Borough boards, committees & Council
Establish sub-committee (non-voting members) of interested residents to work with HPC on educational initiatives