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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 in attendance.

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

3. EXECUTIVE SESSION - Resolution

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:

· Pending Litigation/Williams Stationery

· Police Negotiations

· 2011 Tax Appeal filings as of April 1

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 Councilwoman Bravo, second by Councilman McWilliams, to close the public portion of the meeting and enter into Executive Session, with all members in favor signifying by “Aye.”

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

4. COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Deputy Mayor Happer told the Council that the Trout Derby on Saturday was a great success and provided fun for everyone who participated.

The Deputy Mayor also had the honor of pitching the first ball for the Tri-Town Little League baseball game.

Councilman McWilliams said he attended the stocking of the lake for the derby and lots of children showed up to get their turn at throwing a trout into the lake.

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.

Joan Best – Intervale Road

Ms. Best said that signs, mostly for lawn care, were popping up all over the Borough. She

reminded the Council that the Borough has regulations prohibiting signs on public property.

However, due to the lack of enforcement, people are taking advantage of the situation. She

asked the Council to do something about the problem.

(Statement hereto attached)

Ms Best said she wished to address the issue of employee raises. She noted that over the years there has been a

reduction in staff while the workload has increased for many employees.

She said that a 2% raise for employees is a small price to pay as recognition for the good job being done by Borough

employees. As a resident and taxpayer she said she would gladly pay an extra $17 in taxes a year for the Borough

services she receives.

Mike Feigeles – Boulevard

Mr. Feigeles asked the Council to review what it cost the Borough to reimburse

employees for unused sick and vacation days.

Margaret Gossett- Cove Project Committee

Ms. Gossett provided an update on the Cove project. She said the Borough had

received three quotes for the plants and installation. The Committee was recommending

that Cerbo’s Parsippany Greenhouses, Inc. be awarded the contract.

Jennifer Smith- Briarcliff Road

On behalf the of League of Women Voters of Mountain Lakes, Ms. Smith said the League was

pleased that the Borough Council has been supportive of the Cove restoration project. It also

complimented the Cove Committee on its efforts to seek public input for the project. (letter

hereto attached)

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

the meeting.

Mr. Lewis explained to Mr. Feigeles that non-union workers’ sick days could not be carried

over. Unused vacation days could only be carried with permission from the Manager and only

for the following year.

6. ORDINANCE 01-11

AN ORDINANCE OF THE BOROUGH OF MOUNTAIN LAKES, COUNTY OF

MORRIS, STATE OF NEW JERSEY CREATING THE MUNICIPAL POSITION OF QUALIFIED PURCHASING AGENT. Public Hearing

Following adoption, this Ordinance shall take effect immediately after publication and passage as provided by law.

Mr. Lewis explained what the benefits were to having a Qualified Purchasing Agent.

Councilwoman Bravo thanked the Manager for his foresight.

Councilman Shaw noted this was another shared service with the Board of Education.

Council Member

By:

2^nd

Yes

Abstain

Absent

2nd

Yes

Abstain

Absent

McWilliams

Holmberg

Jackson

Bravo

Shaw

Happer

Gormally

7. *RESOLUTIONS

R 64 Appointment of Purchasing Agent

R 65 Award of Cove Landscaping Contract – pulled by Mayor Gormally

R 66 Establishing NJ Direct 15 as Base Health Ins. Plan - pulled by Councilman Jackson

R 67 Payment of Bills

SR 02-11 Arbor Day

8.* MINUTES

March 28, 2011 pulled by Councilman Jackson

Consent Agenda Vote

Council Member	By:	2^nd:	Yes	No	Abstain	Absent
McWilliams			X
Holmberg		X	X
Jackson			X
Bravo	X		X
Shaw			X
Happer			X
Gormally			X

R 65-11

Cove project contract award

Councilman Shaw said he would not recommend any planting be done at the cove until

the hardscape had been installed.

Mr. Lewis said the intention was to do the hardscape and then the planting. He hoped to

have the bids in for the hardscaping by the next meeting.

Councilman Shaw said he still had concerns with not having a detailed plan of the entire

area and with the scope of the project.

Council Member	By:	2^nd:	Yes	No	Abstain	Absent
McWilliams			X
Holmberg	X		X
Jackson			X
Bravo		X	X
Shaw			X
Happer			X
Gormally			X

R 66-11 NJ Direct 15

Mr. Lewis explained that as soon as the Mayor signed the resolution he would transmit it

to his contact at the State and that it likely be June 1 or July 1 at the latest before

employees could change over their health benefit coverage.

Council Member	By:	2^nd:	Yes	No	Abstain	Absent
McWilliams			X
Holmberg			X
Jackson	X		X
Bravo			X
Shaw			X
Happer		X	X
Gormally			X

9. DEPARTMENT REPORTS

A. Construction Official

B. Health Officer

C. DPW

D. Fire

E. Police

10. ATTORNEY REPORT

Mr. Murphy informed the Council that he would be providing members with a list of

the State tax appeals at the next meeting.

11. MANAGER REPORT

A. Borough Vehicle Inventory

Mayor Gormally said he was concerned with the vehicles being used on an as needed

basis.

Mr. Lewis said as long as the vehicles are running it makes sense to keep them in use.

Mr. Prusina said that the vehicles would bring little trade-in value to the Borough.

Councilman Jackson said it might be more cost efficient to outsource some work rather

than keeping certain vehicles.

He was also concerned with having eight police vehicles and only thirteen police personnel.

Mr. Lewis said that the actual number was seven and that based on his experience the

number of vehicles was not excessive for the Borough’s police department.

Mr. Lewis will provide a replacement plan for the present police vehicles.

B. Capital Budget Preliminary Information see memo

Deputy Mayor Happer said the information provided was missing specifics for a 5 year plan.

The Council discussed whether some of the department head requests should be included

this year.

Mr. Lewis explained what roads were to be repaired. The larger projects would include

Intervale Road and the northern end of Morris Avenue.

The Council discussed pothole repairs with DPW Director Mark Prusina.

C. Budget Status and Information

Mr. Lewis presented a budget that was below the 0% requested by the Council at the last

meeting. It did include funds for raises for employees.

Councilman McWilliams, Holmberg and Shaw, along with Councilwoman Bravo said they

were satisfied with the budget as presented.

Councilman Jackson said he was interested in knowing what happened to the 1% salary pool

that was discussed at a Personnel Committee meeting.

Councilman Holmberg said the Manager had done what the Council instructed in terms of the

overall increase in taxes to the residents of Mountain Lakes. He further added it was now the

Manager’s responsibility to allocate raises according to his own judgment.

Councilman Jackson said he still wanted more information.

Deputy Mayor Happer said his job was to represent the taxpayers, and while he was not

looking to micro-manage; he still wanted more information so he could “delve a little deeper.”

He wanted to know where services or operations were cut in order to bring in the 0%.

Councilman Holmberg said it was the Council’s goal to keep our services at the same level

without costing the taxpayers any additional money. He said that the goal had been achieved.

D. Status of Revision of Personnel Policy and Procedure Manual

The Revision of the manual was discussed at a Personnel Committee meeting.

Mr. Lewis said he had begun making changes in chapter three since that had the biggest impact on the Borough.

12. COUNCIL REPORTS

Councilman McWilliams said the Environmental Commission is working on the overlay plan map and hopes to have it posted soon.

Councilman Shaw said the Shared Service Committee will be meeting on April 20 at 4:30 p.m.

Councilman Shaw informed the Council that he attended the NJ Builders Association Convention last week. There is nothing new going on with COAH.

Motion by Councilwoman Bravo, second by Councilman McWilliams, to appoint Cindy Lessick to the Centennial Committee with all members in favor signifying by “Aye.”

Motion by Councilwoman Bravo, second by Councilman McWilliams, to appoint Denise Brennan to the Woodlands Committee, with all members in favor signifying by “Aye.”

The HPC now has an audio walking tour available for rent at the library.

The Committee is continuing to work on a draft of the historic preservation element of the Master Plan.

Councilman Holmberg said the Web Site Committee is working on getting the ERI on the website.

He said he would be working with the Committee to put something on the web site that would attract volunteers for Borough Committees. He noted that the Fire Department is in need of volunteers now.

Mayor Gormally reminded the members of Council that a decision had to be made in regard to the recipients of this year’s Citizen of the Year and Janice Hunts award.

13. PUBLIC COMMENT

Mayor Gormally opened the second public comment portion of the meeting with consent of

the Council.

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

14. ADJOURNMENT

Motion by Councilwoman Bravo, second by Deputy Mayor Happer, to adjourn the meeting at 10:15 p.m., with all members in favor signifying by “Aye.”

*Consent Agenda

Attest: April 11, 2011

________________________________ _______________________________

Christina Whitaker, Clerk Charles Gormally, Mayor