BOROUGH
OF MOUNTAIN LAKES
COUNCIL MEETING
MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2008
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 on
January 3, 2008 and posted in the municipal
building.
Mayor
Jackson called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
2.
ATTENDANCE AND FLAG SALUTE
All Council Members were present
Also in attendance was Police Chief Robert Tovo, Attorney James Brice, and Borough Clerk Christina Whitaker.
3.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Resolution 128
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:
· PBA Negotiations
· Shared Services
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 Councilwoman Emr, to enter into Executive
Session, with
all Council members in favor signifying by “Aye”.
Motion by Councilman Shaw, second by
Councilwoman Wilson, to close the Executive Session and return to the public
portion of the meeting, with all Council members in favor signifying by “Aye”.
4. COMMUNITY
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The League of
Women Voters candidate forum is scheduled for Wednesday at
7:30 p.m.
The Medical
Needs 5K is scheduled for October 19, 2008.
The United
Nations weekend is scheduled for October 18-19, 2008.
5. PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor
Jackson explained the Council’s policy of limiting each speaker to 5 minutes
and no
yielding
of time to another person.
Mayor Jackson opened the public comment portion of the meeting with
consent of
Council.
With no one wishing to be heard, Mayor
Jackson closed the public comment portion of the meeting.
6.
PRESENTATION-BOAT INCIDENT
Stephen Castellucci said the
Police Department, Fire Department, DPW and Recreation Commission provided, an
inventory of equipment used by each department and where the equipment was
located. (See attached inventory)
Based on the information it was determined that the
available equipment for a lake rescue needed to be supplemented. The most
important equipment for such a rescue included life vests; throw rings, bolt
cutters and paddles. Mr. Castellucci said it would be advisable that Borough
police vehicles, fire vehicles, and a DPW truck have these items inside the
vehicles at all times. He noted that a rescue sled is always on truck 900.
The Council discussed locating life vests and throw
rings in lockers at strategic places along the shorelines.
Councilwoman Emr said lake residents should be
encouraged to keep life vests/throw rings at the end of their docks. Police Chief Tovo said he feared most items
would be stolen.
The purchase of a patrol boat was discussed but the
Council made no decision on the matter. Deputy Mayor Gormally said
he was not sure a patrol boat was necessary as long as the communication level
for emergency response was sufficient. A patrol boat could have some
nonemergency uses (e.g. July 4th)
Chief Tovo said he was satisfied with the
communication between dispatch and the police
and the backup response of the fire department.
Councilwoman Emr said she still supported the
purchase of a craft for rescue and patrol.
The equipment shortages will
be addressed during the budget process.
7. *RESOLUTIONS
R124-08 Payment of Bills
R125-08 Refund TIAA
R126-08 Diamond
Construction - Pulled by Councilwoman Emr
R127-08 Professional
Service Agreement - Pulled by
Councilman Shaw
8. *MINUTES
September 8, 2008 – Executive
September 22, 2008 - Regular
9. *DEPARTMENT REPORTS
A.
Construction
Official
B.
Public
Health Nurse
C.
Health
Officer
D.
Fire
Department
E.
Police
Department
F. DPW
Consent Agenda Vote R124 and R125
Council Member |
By: |
2nd: |
Yes |
No |
Abstain |
Absent |
McWilliams |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
Emr |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
Shaw |
X |
|
X |
|
|
|
Gormally |
|
X |
X |
|
|
|
Wilson |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
Happer |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
Jackson |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
R126
Council
Member |
By: |
2nd: |
Yes |
No |
Abstain |
Absent |
McWilliams |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
Emr |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
Shaw |
X |
|
X |
|
|
|
Gormally |
|
X |
X |
|
|
|
Wilson |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
Happer |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
Jackson |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
R127
Council
Member |
By: |
2nd: |
Yes |
No |
Abstain |
Absent |
McWilliams |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
Emr |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
Shaw |
X |
|
X |
|
|
|
Gormally |
|
X |
X |
|
|
|
Wilson |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
Happer |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
Jackson |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
10. ATTORNEY’S REPORT
Mayor
Jackson asked Mr. Brice to have Mr. Murphy give an update on the King of Kings
tax appeal at the next meeting.
11. MANAGER’S REPORT
Pension-IRS
Chief
Tovo explained a recent IRS regulation that changes the age criteria for
retiring police officers and fire department officers. The new regulation sets
age 50 as retirement age.
After
July 1, 2009 officers could not collect their pensions unless they had reached
the age of 50. Retirement would no longer be tied solely to years of service.
12. COUNCIL REPORTS
Appointments
Councilwoman Emr questioned the shared
service agreement with the Board of Education as it relates to using DPW
manpower at the schools.
Mayor
Jackson and Councilwoman Wilson said that usage was part of the existing
agreement.
Councilwoman
Emr disagreed.
Councilwoman
Emr suggested that there was a need for greater control of tag checking at the
tennis courts.
Councilwoman
Emr said the Recreation Director had suggested that a committee of residents
serve as “park rangers” to help prevent trespassing at the parks.
Deputy
Mayor Gormally said it was his understanding that police presence at the
beaches had resolved any problems.
The end of year report by Recreation is due.
Councilman
McWilliams said he was still looking for volunteers to sit on the Ordinance
Committee.
The
environmental summit will be held on November 15, 2008 in the school media
room. It will be a panel discussion.
The Historic Preservation
Committee has an audio walking tour now available.
The HPC has included a banner on the web site in the arts and
crafts font.
Motion by Councilman Shaw,
second by Mayor Jackson, to appoint Tom Dagger to the HPC,
with all members in favor
signifying by “Aye”.
The Facility Committee will hold a meeting this Thursday at 3 p.m.
A November 24th presentation is being considered.
The Highlands Committee will reconvene to discuss
the recent developments regarding COAH.
Councilman Shaw said the Planning Board has adopted
the reexamination report of the Master Plan.
Councilwoman Emr asked Mr. Tempesta to inform the
Environmental Commission if there is money in its budget for the Natural
Resource Inventory.
13. ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Deputy Mayor
Gormally, second by Councilman Shaw, to adjourn the meeting at 9:27 p.m., with
all members in favor signifying by “Aye”.
*Consent Agenda
Attest:
___________________________ _____________________
Christina Whitaker, Borough Clerk George B. Jackson, Mayor