BOROUGH OF MOUNTAIN LAKES
MARCH 14, 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 Deputy Mayor Happer and Councilman Jackson.
Also in attendance were Borough Attorney Marty Murphy, Borough Manager Barry Lewis, and Borough Clerk Christina Whitaker.
3. EXECUTIVE SESSION
Resolution 57-11
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:
· Contract negotiations/Personnel
WHEREAS, the Borough Council believes it to be in the best interest of the public to discuss such matter 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 Councilwoman Bravo, second by Councilman Shaw, to enter into Executive Session with all members in favor signifying by “Aye.”
Deputy Mayor Happer arrived at 7:40 p.m.
Motion by Councilman Shaw, second by Councilwoman Bravo, to closed the Executive Session and return to the public portion of the meeting, with all members in favor signifying by “Aye.”
4. COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Councilman Shaw said that Deputy Mayor Happer, Councilman Holmberg and he attended the Town Club’s Gala event and all had a wonderful time.
Mayor Gormally reminded the public that the Council was still taking nominations for Citizen of the Year and the Janice Hunts Lifelong Service Award. Applications need to be in by March 25.
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 58 – Payment of Bills – pulled by Mayor Gormally
7.* MINUTES
February 28, 2011
Minutes Vote
|
Council Member |
By: |
2nd: |
Yes |
No |
Abstain |
Absent |
|
McWilliams |
X |
|
X |
|
|
|
|
Holmberg |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
Jackson |
|
|
|
|
|
X |
|
Bravo |
|
X |
|
|
X |
|
|
Shaw |
|
|
|
|
X |
|
|
Happer |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
Gormally |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
Mayor Gormally pulled the bills list because it was missing from the packets delivered on Friday. The bills list was completed but was inadvertently left out of the packet by the Clerk. The list was e-mailed to Council on the day of the meeting, contrary to Council policy.
Councilman Shaw said he reviewed the e-mailed list and was prepared to vote.
R58
|
Council Member |
By: |
2nd: |
Yes |
No |
Abstain |
Absent |
|
McWilliams |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
Holmberg |
|
|
|
X |
|
|
|
Jackson |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bravo |
|
X |
X |
|
|
|
|
Shaw |
X |
|
X |
|
|
|
|
Happer |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
Gormally |
|
|
|
X |
|
|
8. DEPARTMENT REPORTS
A. Construction Official
B. Health Officer
C. DPW
D. Fire
E. Police
9. ATTORNEY REPORT
Mr. Murphy had nothing new to report.
10. MANAGER REPORT
Capital Project Budget
Mr. Lewis said he had met with DPW Director Mark Prusina and Borough Engineer Bill Ryden. However, he was still
waiting for Mr. Ryden to get back to him with some cost figures. He would expect to have the information by the next
meeting.
Mr. Lewis explained his budget recommendation as presented in documents he e-mailed the Council.
Mayor Gormally said the Manager’s recommendations deviated from the Council’s recommendations. He noted that in
November the Council voted to deduct 1.5% of employees’ salary or 10% of the cost of health premiums, whichever was
greater. In addition, the employees would be required to participate in NJ Direct 15 or pay the additional amount if
they chose a different health care provider. He said the Manager’s budget figures did not reflect the direction the Council
gave him.
Councilman Shaw said that at the time of the November vote it was not the consensus of the full Council and that the
Personnel Committee had not provided a written recommendation.
Mayor Gormally said it had been the consensus of the majority of the Council.
Mr. Lewis explained that in November, when the vote was taken, he had not yet provided the Council with his analysis
and recommendation. He was not expecting a vote at that time and was not given the opportunity to provide the detailed
information and how it would impact personnel. He said the recent information sent to them should have been reviewed
by Council before the November vote was taken.
Deputy Mayor Happer said the Council needed to look at the long term impact on the Borough by making changes in past
policies.
Councilman McWilliams said he was concerned with how the decision in November impacted some of the lower salaried
employees. He said he wanted to know the best way to mitigate the impact.
Mayor Gormally said the Council agreed to start moving the Borough’s benefit package closer to the public sector’s.
Deputy Mayor Happer said he agreed with Mayor Gormally, but thought phasing in some of the changes should be
considered.
Councilman Shaw agreed that a transition period was necessary.
Councilman Holmberg said the Borough’s employees should not think that the changes being made were a reflection of their performance, but rather of the economic times.
Councilman Shaw said the budget preparation was the Manager’s responsibility and was a reflection of his recommendations. The Council had the right to emphasize what it was looking to achieve, but it was the Manager’s job to present what he felt was in the best interest of the Borough as a whole.
Mr. Lewis said he had spent a great deal of time working on the budget and regardless of what had been said about Council’s decisions not being a reflection of employees performance, a 0% increase in municipal taxes would directly impact Borough employees. “It is what it is,” he said. No increase in taxes would require no raises, drastic health care changes, and cutting positions or services. He explained that there simply were no other areas of the budget to cut.
Councilwoman Bravo said it was the employees that provided the services residents were expecting.
Deputy Mayor Happer said he would still like a market value comparison of services of the private sector versus municipal. He also asked how the Borough compared with other municipalities.
Councilman Shaw said he relied on the Manager to keep up with wage comparisons.
Councilman McWilliams and Shaw said that if the only way to get to a 0% tax increase was at the employees’ expense, they could not support the budget. Both agreed that the Manager had made a sincere effort in trying to reach that goal considering the loss in State aid.
Mayor Gormally said he disagreed with what other Council members were saying and that the Governing Body should be trying to get to a negative figure. He said that the private sector had taken decreases in every area.
Deputy Mayor Happer asked Mr. Lewis to provide alternate scenarios in regard to raises, and health benefits before the next Council meeting.
11. COUNCIL REPORTS
Planning Board Appointment/Tom Dagger
Motion by Councilman Holmberg, second by Councilwoman Bravo, to appointment Tom Dagger to the Planning Board, with all members in favor signifying by “Aye.”
Motion by Councilwoman Bravo, second by Councilman McWilliams to appoint Bridget Walsh to the HPC, as 2nd Alternate, with all members in favor signifying by “Aye.”
Councilwoman Bravo said the Cove Committee was ready to go out for bids. She noted that the Committee recommended budgeting funds to hire someone to maintain the new plantings.
Mayor Gormally said that there was a concern expressed regarding the continued maintenance of the plantings at the cove.
Councilman Shaw said the focus of the project has moved from recreation to landscape which was not the original intent.
Councilwoman Bravo disagreed that the focus had changed. She explained the project’s focus was a balance between protecting the lake, removing the invasive plants, and creating a legacy for the future.
12. PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Gormally opened the second public comment portion of the meeting with consent of the Council.
Ken Stokes - 155 Boulevard
Mr. Stokes asked if it was necessary and cost efficient to have the Borough Attorney at every meeting. He noted that the School Board does not have its attorney present at every meeting.
Mayor Gormally explained that it was customary for governing bodies to have an attorney present at all meetings.
With no one else wishing to be heard, Mayor Gormally closed the public comment portion of the meeting.
13. ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Councilman Shaw, second by Councilman Holmberg, to adjourn the meeting at 9:40 p.m., with all members in favor signifying by “Aye.”
*Consent Agenda
Attest: March 14, 2011
_________________________________ _______________________________
Christina Whitaker, Clerk Charles X. Gormally, Mayor