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