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