BOROUGH OF MOUNTAIN LAKES COUNCIL MEETING

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 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.

 

2.      ATTENDANCE AND FLAG SALUTE

 All Council members were in attendance.

 Also in attendance were Borough Attorney Marty Murphy, Borough Manager Joe

 Tempesta, and Borough Clerk Christina Whitaker

 

 3.   EXECUTIVE SESSION

         Resolution 138-08

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,

 

·        Attorney – Client Privilege / Settlement – Trash Bag Agreement

·        Potential Litigation/Dams DEP

 

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 Wilson, to enter into Executive Session, with all members in favor signifying by “Aye”.

 

Motion by Deputy Mayor Gormally. second by Councilman Shaw, to close the Executive Session and return to the public portion of the meeting, with all members in favor signifying by “Aye”.

 

3.      COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

       The Mayor noted that more than 700 children participated in Halloween in the village

       section of the town.  Plenty of candy was donated and distributed to homeowners in

       the area.

 

      

 

 

 

       4.    RESULT OF ELECTIONS

       Mayor Jackson congratulated the winners of the General Election.

 

      5.  OATH OF OFFICE /NEWLY ELECTED COUNCIL MEMBER

      The County has not yet certified the election results. The Borough Attorney advised the

      Council to wait until the Borough Clerk heard from the County before swearing in

      Councilman Happer.

             

      6. NOMINATION FOR COUNCIL SEAT/Replacing Councilman Happer/Richard Urankar

        The Council will hold off on its appointment until the November 24th meeting.

   

     7.  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.

 

   8. RECREATION DIRECTOR REPORT (Hereto attached)

  Celia Flynn explained the summer recreation program to the Council and the areas

  where changes might be made in the future. The number of children that attended this

  year’s program has decreased compared to other years. Among the suggestions made

  by the Recreation Commission were increasing the summer recreation program fee

  and creating three, 2 weeks programs, instead of one 6 weeks program. 

  The Council and Ms. Flynn discussed some of the difficulties that tennis checkers were

  having. In her report as Beach Director, Dede Conlin noted that she was short of

  lifeguard staff this year. The Recreation Commission will review the matter and

  determine if the rate of pay is the problem.

  Mayor Jackson asked if the Recreation Commission would consider assisting with 

  Mountain Lakes Day, Halloween activities in the Village, and the 55 Plus programs. 

  Ms. Flynn said she would bring it back to the Commission for discussion.

 

  9. *RESOLUTIONS

  R 136-08 Transfer of Funds

  R 137-08 Payment of Bills

 

10. *MINUTES

   October 27, 2008 - Regular

   October 27, 2008 – Executive Session /Pulled for next meeting

 

 11. *DEPARTMENT REPORTS

A.           Construction Official

B.           Public Health Nurse

C.          Health Officer

D.          Fire Department

E.           Beach Report discussed in Celia’s report

    

Council Member

By:

2nd:

Yes

No

Abstain

Absent

McWilliams

 

 

X

 

 

 

Emr

 

X

X

 

 

 

Shaw

X

 

X

 

 

 

Gormally

 

 

X

 

 

 

Happer

 

 

X

 

 

 

Wilson

 

 

X

 

 

 

Jackson

 

 

X

 

 

 

         *Consent Agenda Vote            

                                   

 

 

 

 

 

 

      12.  ATTORNEY’S REPORT/None

 

   13. MANAGER’S REPORT (Hereto attached)

   The Manger informed the Council that the Borough’s water meters are

    fast becoming   obsolete.   To replace these meters will be a huge

    undertaking and capital expense. The latest technology involves gun

    readers. This would allow the water reader to drive pass a home and

    not have to approach the house on foot. If upgraded to this process,

   meters would have to be phased in over several years due to the cost.    

   There are other options for upgrading that will also be reviewed.

   Mr. Tempesta said that he and the Superintendent of Schools would be

   meeting more often  in the future in regards to the Shared Services

   Agreement.

 

   Tax Reassessment

   Mr. DelGuercio has received approval from the State to begin the

   reassessment. He plans to inspect between 200-300 homes in the next

   four weeks.

 

   A letter to all residents will be going out shortly to inform them of the

   upcoming Council   meeting where the Facility Committee will give a

   presentation along with the architect hired to do the needs assessment.

 

 

  Webber homes hopes to break ground at the Fanny Road/Morris Avenue

  property in the Spring.

 

  Deputy Mayor Gormally said the DPW yard needed to be cleaned

  regularly. He suggested it be done each Friday and Monday morning.

 

    14. COUNCIL REPORTS

    Appointments – Finance Committee

    To be made at the beginning of 2009.

 

    Membership of Facility Committee

    Richard Urankar will continue to serve on the Committee but not as the

    Chair. Stephen Shaw will serve as Chair.

    Joan Nix/Planning Board

    Pat Rusak/HPC  

    Mark Cohen/Board of Education

    Ken Stokes/Fire Department

    Doug McWilliams and Ellen Emr/Council

    The Council voted unanimously to approve the above members of the  

    Facilities Committee.

 

  Highlands update (Hereto attached) 

  Councilman Shaw updated the Council on the latest position of the Highlands Committee.

 

 15. ADJOURNMENT

    Motion by Deputy Mayor Gormally, second by Councilman Shaw, to adjourn the meeting at  11:33 p.m., with all members in favor signifying by “Aye”.

 

 

*Consent Agenda

           Attest:

___________________________                             _____________________

Christina Whitaker, Borough Clerk                           George B. Jackson, Mayor