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