BOROUGH OF MOUNTAIN LAKES
JANUARY 24, 2011
7:30 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 4, 2011 and posted in the municipal building.
Mayor Charles Gormally called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
2. ATTENDANCE AND FLAG SALUTE
All Council members were present except for Councilman Holmberg and Councilwoman Bravo.
Also in attendance were Borough Attorney Marty Murphy, Borough Manager Barry Lewis, and Borough Clerk Christina Whitaker.
3. EXECUTIVE SESSION
Resolution 41-11
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:
· Negotiations Borough Employees
· Update on Litigation
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.”
Councilwoman Bravo arrived at 7:32 p.m.
Motion by Councilman Shaw, second by Deputy Mayor Happer, to close Executive Session
and return to the public portion of the meeting at 8 p.m., with all members in favor signifying
by “Aye.”
4. COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Gormally said that the Centennial kick-off event was well attended. He thanked the
Police Department and Department of Public Works for the good job they did with traffic control
and preparations for the event.
Councilwoman Bravo reminded everyone to get their jubilee tickets for the upcoming March 12th event.
5. PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Gormally opened the public comment portion of the meeting with consent of the Council.
Mayor Gormally explained the Council’s policy of limiting each speaker to five (5) minutes and no yielding of time to another person.
With no one wishing to be heard, Mayor Gormally closed the public comment portion of the meeting.
6. *RESOLUTIONS
R 27-11 Refund/Schuckman
R 28-11 Appointment of Auditor/ pulled and carried to next meeting
R 29-11 Appointment/Attorney
R 30-11 Sewer Connection Waiver for Affordable Housing/pulled and carried to next meeting
R 31-11 Health Services
R 32-11 Appointment/Engineer/ pulled and carried to next meeting
R 33-11 Appointment/Bond Counsel
R 34-11 MDT/NCIC
R 35-11 Appointment/Town Planner
R 36-11 Refund/Munday
R 37-11 Petty Cash Authorization
R 38-11 Payment of Bills
R 39-11 Transfer of Funds
R 40-11 EECDG & NJ Direct Install Agreements/ pulled for discussion
7.* MINUTES
December 13, 2010
January 3, 2011
Approved as part of the Consent Agenda, with minor corrections
Consent Agenda Vote
Council Member |
By: |
2nd: |
Yes |
No |
Abstain |
Absent |
McWilliams |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
Holmberg |
|
|
|
|
|
X |
Jackson |
|
X |
X |
|
|
|
Bravo |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
Shaw |
X |
|
X |
|
|
|
Happer |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
Gormally |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
Before voting on Resolution 40-11, Mr. Lewis explained what work was eligible under the EECBG. Most of the work to be completed would involve the DPW building, along with the boiler at Borough Hall and the gas heaters in the Fire Department. As proposed, the Borough would receive $105,000 worth of energy efficiency improvements and only have to pay $22,000, with $83,000 covered by grants.
R40-11 Vote
Council Member |
By: |
2nd: |
Yes |
No |
Abstain |
Absent |
McWilliams |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
Holmberg |
|
|
|
|
|
X |
Jackson |
X |
|
X |
|
|
|
Bravo |
|
X |
X |
|
|
|
Shaw |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
Happer |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
Gormally |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
R28-11 and R32-11
It was the consensus of the majority of Council members that the 2011 professional contracts should reflect no increase to the Borough.
8. DEPARTMENT REPORTS
A. Construction Official
B. Health Officer
C. DPW
D. Fire
E. Police – court overtime reduced from $10,000 to $3, 000
F. Tax Collector
9. ATTORNEY REPORT
10. MANAGER REPORT (hereto attached)
The Manager said the recent snow storms have resulted in overtime for the DPW workers. He
is gathering data on the cost to date.
He updated the Council on the water main break at the Boulevard, near Saint Catherine’s,
which created additional overtime hours in the DPW.
The Borough Council received a request from the Morris County Freeholders to hold their
August 24th meeting in Borough Hall at 7:30 p.m. Mrs. Whitaker will send a letter to the Board
Secretary informing the Freeholders that the Council would be honored to be the host town for
the meeting.
Mr. Lewis is working on the 2011 budget. He said he believed that no increase in utilities
rates will be necessary due to the increased revenues in 2010. He explained how the 12%
increase in health care would be reduced to less than 3% or about $11,000 once the 1.5%
employee contributions were included. This will be offset further by the transition to
NJDirect 15. He is not anticipating any problems with the tax levy cap of 2% recently enacted.
He will present his budget for review to the Finance Committee next month and then bring it
back to the Council.
The Council discussed the refurbishing of Well # 5.
The Cove project committee is waiting for the conceptual plan from Greentree.
11. COUNCIL REPORTS
It was the consensus of the Council that the Borough’s Corporate Seal could be used by the
Centennial Committee to authenticate artwork sold by the Committee.
Councilman McWilliams said the work done by volunteers to date has been tremendous but many
more volunteers will be needed over the next few months.
Councilman Shaw said the Shared Service Committee has been informed by Boonton Township that it has formed a
Shared Services Committee. The two Committees will meet on Feb 2 to discuss shared services.
The Briarcliff School will hold its annual Government Day on May 25th. A number of Council members
will plan to attending the meeting.
The Council discussed having a special meeting on a Saturday for committee chairs to discuss
goals and priorities. No more than three Council members will be attending.
Motion by Deputy Mayor Happer, second by Councilman Shaw, to appoint Miguel Bravo to the
Memorial Day Parade Committee, with all members in favor signifying by “Aye, with Councilwoman
Bravo abstaining.
Motion by Councilwoman Bravo, second by Councilman McWilliams, to appoint Beth Suereth to the
HPC as 1st Alternate, with all members in favor signifying by “Aye”.
The HPC is developing an audio walking tour of the Borough.
Board of Adjustment Annual Report/Request
The Council received a memo from Zoning Board Chairman Peter Bolo which stated that the Board had received a number
of applications for variances after work had already commenced on residential home improvement projects. The Board
thinks the community needs to familiarize itself with the fact that the Zoning Officer or the Construction Department should
be contacted before beginning any work on their property. The Board recommended the matter be addressed in the
Mayor’s letter in the Bulletin.
12. ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Councilman Shaw, second by Councilman Happer, to adjourn the meeting at
9:18 p.m., with all members in favor signifying by “Aye.”
*Consent Agenda
Attest: January 24, 2011
_________________________________ _______________________________
Christina Whitaker, Clerk Charles Gormally, Mayor