BOROUGH OF MOUNTAIN LAKES

MORRIS COUNTY

 

FEBRUARY 22, 2010

 

8 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 and The Star Ledger on January 5, 2010 and posted in the municipal building.

 

Mayor Bravo called the meeting to order at 8 P.M.

 

2.    ATTENDANCE AND FLAG SALUTE

All members were present except for Councilman Jackson and Councilman Gormally.

Councilman Jackson arrived at 8:02 p.m.

Also in attendance were Borough Attorney Marty Murphy, Borough Manager Barry Lewis and Borough Clerk Christina Whitaker

                                               

3. COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Councilman Shaw announced that the boys and girls swim team was going to the State semi-finals.

 

The Council acknowledged the death of long time Mountain Lakes’ resident Bill Harrison. Mr. Harrison and his wife Ruth were known as “Mr. and Mrs. Mountain Lakes.” The Harrisons were volunteers on numerous committees and commissions while living in Mountain Lakes and were the first to be recognized as Mountain Lakes’ Citizens of the Year.

 

Councilman McWilliams informed the Council that the Mountain Lakes Fire Department had responded to a mutual aid call from Boonton just a couple of hours before the Council meeting started.

 

3.    PUBLIC COMMENT

Mayor Bravo explained the Council’s policy of limiting each speaker to five (5) minutes and no yielding of time to another person.

 

 Mayor Bravo opened the public comment portion of the meeting with the consent of the Council.

 

      Joan Nix- Hillcrest Road

      Ms. Nix said the current ordinance protecting trees on public and private property needed to be better

      enforced. She was referring to a recent incident where public trees were removed and silt fences and

      proper protection of other trees on private property had been ignored by a contractor.

 

      Borough Manager Barry Lewis said he had inspected the property and authorized a stop order.  He is now

      reviewing the Borough’s ordinance to determine which penalty, under the ordinance, would be in the best

      interest of the Borough.

 

 

Councilman Happer said compliance with the Borough ordinance was imperative and a strong message needed to be sent to the responsible party.

 

Councilman McWilliams said he knew of several violations that took place along the Boulevard and Cobb Road. He would like to know what type of enforcement ensued.

 

Mayor Bravo said the matter appeared to be an issue that needed further debate and said she would include it as a discussion item on a future agenda.

  

With no one else wishing to be heard, Mayor Bravo closed the public comment portion of the meeting.

 

5. ORDINANCE

01-10

      ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 237 OF THE REVISED GENERAL ORDINANCES OF THE

      BOROUGH OF MOUNTAIN LAKES TO PROHIBIT PRIVATE WELLS ON PROPERTY CONNECTED

      TO THE PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM.

Following introduction, the above ordinance will be published in accordance with the law and a public

hearing will be held on March 8, 2010.

 

Following a discussion among Council members, the ordinance was defeated by a 5-1-0 vote. The Council asked the Borough Attorney and Borough Manager to do more research on specific properties.

 

Introduction: DEFEATED

Council Member

By:

2nd

Yes

No

Abstain

Absent

By

2nd

Yes

No

Abstain

Absent

McWilliams

 

X

 

X

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

Emr

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

Jackson

X

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

Gormally

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

X

 

 

 

Happer

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

X

X

 

 

 

Shaw

 

 

 

X

 

 

X

 

X

 

 

 

Bravo

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.  *RESOLUTIONS

      R 52-10 Contract Award/Tree and Stump Removal

      R 53-10 Contract Award/Tree Pruning

      R 54-10 Contract Award/Fireworks

      R 55-10 COAH Affirmative Marketing Plan - Pulled at request of Morris County Housing Partnership

            R 56-10 Payment of Bills

 

      7. *MINUTES

     February 8, 2010

     

 

Council Member

By:

2nd:

Yes

No

Abstain

Absent

McWilliams

 

 

X

 

 

 

Emr

 

X

X

 

 

 

Jackson

 

 

X

 

 

 

Gormally

 

 

 

 

 

X

Happer

 

 

X

 

 

 

Shaw

X

 

X

 

 

 

Bravo

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

        

        

 

 

 

       

 

 

         8. ATTORNEY’S REPORT - None

         Mr. Murphy requested a short Executive Session at the end of the meeting to discuss William

         Stationery litigation.

            

        9. MANAGER’S REPORT

        Capital Budget

        Mr. Lewis said he would have a list of capital projects ready by the end of the week.

        He suggested the Council hold off on introducing the budget until March 22. He noted the Governor

        would be making an announcement on the State Budget which might impact aid to municipalities on

        March 16. This will allow him an opportunity to include the information in the Mountain Lakes budget. If

        the Council introduces its budget on March 8, it might have to be amended to include any changes.

 

       Dam Repairs    

 Mr. Lewis reported that the Sunset Dam rehabilitation plan was under review by the DEP.

 The materials to repair Mountain Lake are ready, but the weather plays a role in when to proceed with the

 repairs. A coffer dam must be installed. However, in order to do so, the lake will need to be lowered.

Converse is reviewing how to proceed with the repairs to Wildwood dam.

 

Councilman Jackson requested more information be provided by Borough Engineer Bill Ryden and DPW Director Mark Prusina explaining what has been done and what still needs to be done on the dams.

 

Councilwoman Emr said the spillways and sand bagging the canals were to be done last fall. That opportunity was missed. She wanted to know when the work will now be done.

Mr. Lewis said he needs to assess when would be the best time to lower the lake in order to do the repairs.

 

Councilwoman Emr said she would prefer more budget details than had been provided by the Borough Manager. Mr. Lewis said he would be happy to answer any questions Council members may have and suggested they call him, e-mail him or stop by his office. However, he explained that he did not feel it was necessary or productive to include that much detail in his budget spread-sheets.

 

Councilman Jackson said the Council should still be focusing on a 0% tax increase. He also added that it was time that employees shared in the cost of their health benefits. He requested the Manager provide him a copy of all the employees’ salaries and the cost of health benefit for those employees.

 

Mayor Bravo agreed that the employees should be sharing the cost of health benefits just as other employees do in the private sector.

 

Councilman Happer said it was unrealistic to expect a budget with a 0% tax increase but the council should

Look at employees salaries.

 

Mr. Lewis’s proposed budget would result in a tax rate increase of 1.35%.

Councilman Shaw said he agreed with the Finance Committee that Mr. Lewis had done a good job balancing spending while still providing valuable services to the residents. He said he was satisfied with the budget format that was presented.

 

10. COUNCIL REPORTS

        2010 Awards/Discussion (Hereto attached)

·         Citizen of the Year

·         Janice Hunts

          

       Mayor Bravo explained that the Council has no formal policy when choosing a candidate for Citizen of the

       Year and the Janice Hunts Lifelong Service Award. She said the process can become time consuming

       when done during Council meetings. The Mayor suggested the Council establish a formal criteria and

       description for both awards and then initiate a formal application process to solicit potential honorees

       from the residents. A small committee, made up of a couple of Council members, would then review

       applications and submit recommendations to the Council. Selecting honorees through an application

       process would give residents a chance to nominate individuals who may be greatly contributing to the

       community but outside the realm of knowledge of Council members.

 

       Council members will review the criteria for each award and the draft copies of applications provided by

       the Mayor, and then give her their suggestions.

  

              Appointments     

·         Zoning Board of Adjustment

·         Environmental Commission

·         Recreation Commission

·         Shade Tree Commission

·         Woodlands

 

      Councilwoman Emr said the Shade Tree Commission has decided to use grant money to help the 

      Woodlands Committee in removing invasive trees from pocket parks. She said the Woodlands

      Committee needs to be informed of the decision.

 

      Councilman McWilliams said the Garden Club plans to plant some flowers along the left side of the

      Library. The Centennial Committee thought that it might be able to add to the Club’s plan by hanging name

      plates on the left side of the building and create an area similar to a “reflective garden.”

     

      Councilman Shaw reported that the Recreation Commission has three vacancies, including the seniors’

      representative.

 

      Motion made by Councilman Jackson, second by Mayor Bravo, to appoint Richard “Rick” Porzig to the
      Memorial Day Committee, with all members in favor signifying by “Aye.”

 

      Motion by Councilwoman Emr, second by Councilman McWilliams, to appoint Laura Connor to 2nd 

      Alternate to the Shade Tree Commission, with all members in favor signifying by “Aye.”

     

      Ms. Connor submitted her resignation as a full member but agreed to serve as an alternate.

      Councilwoman Emr reported that another member is needed on the Commission.

 

     

 

 

      11. EXECUTIVE SESSION

Resolution 57-10

                 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:

 

·         Litigation/Williams Stationery

 

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

 

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

 

      12. ADJOURNMENT at 9:45 p.m.

      Motion by Councilman Shaw, second by Councilman Jackson, to adjourn the meeting at 9:45 p.m. with all  

      members in favor signifying by “Aye.”

 

*Consent Agenda

 

 

                Attest:___________________________                       ________________________

                  Christina Whitaker, Clerk                                       Blair Bravo, Mayor