BOROUGH OF MOUNTAIN LAKES COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2008
7:30 PM
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 in attendance.
Also in attendance were Borough Attorney Marty Murphy, Borough
Manager Joseph
Tempesta, and Borough Clerk Christina Whitaker.
3. EXECUTIVE SESSION
Resolution 135-08
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,
· Police Contract Negotiations
· Potential Litigation/Dams DEP
· Update King of Kings Tax Appeal
· Attorney – Client Privilege / Settlement – Trash Bag Agreement
· 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 Deputy Mayor Gormally, to enter into Executive Session with all
members in favor signifying by “Aye”.
Motion by Councilman Happer,
second by Councilman McWilliams, to close the Executive Session and return to
the public portion of the meeting, with all members in favor signifying by “Aye.”
4. COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Spirit 5K race was held
over the weekend.
The UN weekend was held this
past weekend
The PBA golf outing was
successful.
Election Day is November 4.
5.
BOWL PRESENTATION- RICHARD URANKAR
Mayor
Jackson presented a pewter bowl to former Mayor and Councilman Richard Urankar
who moved recently to Sugarland, Texas.
The
Council held a short ceremony, injected with plenty of humor, including a
special appearance by former Mayor and Councilman Jud Breslin dressed in regal
attire.
Council
members thanked Mr. Urankar for his years of dedication to the Borough and each
recalled memorable incidents over the years.
Mr.
Urankar thanked the citizens of Mountain Lakes for supporting him over the
years. He said he enjoyed serving with all the Council members throughout his
terms of office. Most memorable to him was the respect shown each other on the
Council even when viewpoints differed.
6. 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.
7. DISCUSSION
A.
Signs
With guidance from Marty
Murphy, the Council discussed what types of signs could be regulated and how
enforcement could be imposed.
Marty Murphy explained that
political signs were the hardest to regulated.
Councilman Shaw said he was
reluctant to prohibit signs for not-for-profit organizations.
The consensus of the Council
was to prohibit contractor signs on private property.
Real estate signs on private
property are permitted under the law. However, the size of signs could be
regulated under a local ordinance.
The Council discussed
directional signs for events, garage sales, and open houses. These signs would
fall under the definition of temporary signs.
Deputy Mayor Gormally,
Councilwoman Emr, and Marty Murphy will work together to draft an amendment to
the present sign ordinance taking into consideration Council members comments.
B.
Curb Policy
The Council differed on the use of
mountable curbing versus vertical curbing in
specific areas of the Borough.
Councilman Shaw said the reason for curbing
was directly related to stormwater
management and the material used should
only be concrete.
Councilwoman Emr, Councilman Shaw and
Councilman Happer supported vertical
curbing next to sidewalks for greater
pedestrian safety.
8. *RESOLUTIONS
R 129-08 -
Participation in Study/Animal Control
R 130-08 - Chapter
159-2008 Recycling Grant
R 131-08 - Professional Services – Pulled for separate vote
R 132-08 - Payment of Bills
R 133-08 - Salary
R 134-08 - Peddles for Progress
9. *MINUTES
October 14, 2008 - Regular
October 14, 2008 – Executive Session
Council Member |
By: |
2nd: |
Yes |
No |
Abstain |
Absent |
McWilliams |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
Emr |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
Shaw |
X |
|
X |
|
|
|
Gormally |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
Wilson |
|
X |
X |
|
|
|
Happer |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
Jackson |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
Consent Agenda Vote
10.
ATTORNEY’S REPORT (Executive Session
Discussion)
11. MANAGER’S REPORT
State of the Borough / Presentation (Hereto attached)
Bidding
Professional Contracts
The Manager
informed the Council of several positions that would be up for reappointment
January 1,
2009. He suggested the Council might want to rebid some of Borough’s
professional
services.
Mayor
Jackson said some residents have suggested the Borough have a road
patching
program in place.
Mr. Tempesta
said that the DPW is already patching when necessary.
The Manager said he was disappointed and frustrated
by the lack of interest in shared services by many of the neighboring
communities.
The Manager and Council discussed the possibility of
outsourcing basic summer maintenance services for the parks and along the Boulevard.
Mr. Tempesta explained that
any further cuts in Police Department personnel would
make it difficult maintain
the present services to the residents of the Borough.
Councilwoman Emr said she
would like to revisit the shared service agreement
with the Board of Education
and the use of DPW manpower.
Mr. Tempesta said the small
hole found in the dam at Wildwood Lake had been
repaired.
DPW Director Mark Prusina
explained the repairs done on the Wildwood Lake
spillway. He is conducting
an investigation on all the lake spillways to
determine if the same
problem may exist that occurred at Wildwood Lake.
12. COUNCIL
REPORTS
Carried to
November 10, 2008 meeting
Appointments – Finance
Committee
Membership of Facility
Committee
Motion by Councilwoman
Wilson, second by Councilwoman Emr to reenter Executive Session to discuss
unfinished matters stated in resolution 135-08, with all members in favor signifying
by “Aye”.
Motion by Councilman Shaw,
second by Councilwoman Wilson to return to the public
portion of the meeting, with
all members in favor signifying by “Aye.”
R131-08 vote / pulled earlier in the meeting
Council
Member |
By: |
2nd: |
Yes |
No |
Abstain |
Absent |
Gormally |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
Emr |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
Shaw |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
McWilliams |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
Wilson |
X |
|
X |
|
|
|
Happer |
|
X |
X |
|
|
|
Jackson |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
13. ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Councilman Shaw, second by
Deputy Mayor Gormally, to adjourn the meeting at 11:41 p.m. with all members in
favor signifying by “Aye.”
*Consent Agenda
Attest:
___________________________ _____________________
Christina Whitaker, Borough
Clerk George
B. Jackson, Mayor