BOROUGH OF MOUNTAIN LAKES

BOROUGH HALL, 400 BOULEVARD, MOUNTAIN LAKES

973-334-3131

www.mtnlakes.org

 

JUNE 10, 2013

7:30 p.m. EXECUTIVE SESSION

8:00 p.m. PUBLIC SESSION

MINUTES

 

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 8, 2013 and posted in the municipal building.

 

Mayor Happer called the meeting to order at 8:01 pm.

2.             ROLL CALL ATTENDANCE

 

Ms. Reilly called the roll. All Council members were present except for Councilman Bradlee, who was absent. Also in attendance were Borough Attorney Marty Murphy, Borough Manager Robert Tovo, Borough Clerk Michele Reilly, as well as Police Chief Shawn Bennett, Department of Public Works Director Mark Prusina, Acting Chief Financial Officer D. Timothy Roberts, and Borough Auditor Tim Vrabel.

3.             FLAG SALUTE

 

4.             EXECUTIVE SESSION:                                                                     None

                 

5.             COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

Mayor Happer remarked that he had just attended the Junior Fire Department’s annual awards dinner, where eight (8) graduating seniors were honored. He commended the Junior Fire Department on the success of their program.

 

Councilman Holmberg commented on the passing of Herb Kirby, a Mountain Lakes resident for thirty-seven (37) years and a former Mayor. He said that Mr. Kirby had served the community in many different capacities and many of his contributions were still relevant today.

 

Councilman Holmberg also noted that he had attended a year-end celebration for the Little League Team which is sponsored by the Mountain Lakes PBA. He mentioned that Chief Bennett had also attended the dinner and thanked the Chief for taking the time to support the organization and interact with the players.

 

Mayor Happer said that the Environmental Commission’s discussion regarding wellhead protection, originally scheduled for tonight, will take place at the June 24th Council meeting.

 

6.             PUBLIC COMMENT

 

Mayor Happer opened the public comment portion of the meeting with the consent of the Council. Mayor Happer explained the Council’s policy of limiting each speaker to five (5) minutes and no yielding of time to another person.

Fred Kanter – Hanover Road

Mr. Kanter commented on his tree issue and said he felt that a different attitude on his part had produced different results from the Borough. He also spoke about his previous summonses and arrests. He said the Borough has a current Ordinance regarding unregistered cars parked on private property and that this Ordinance has been deemed to be unconstitutional.

 

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

7.             DISCUSSION ITEM:                                                                           None

               

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8.             *RESOLUTIONS:

R111-13                Resolution Authorizing the Refund of Overpayment of Taxes – Block 78, Lot 19

R112-13                Resolution Authorizing the Refund of Overpayment of Taxes – Block 101, Lot 87

R113-13                Resolution Authorizing the Refund of Overpayment of Taxes – Block 31, Lot 27

R114-13                Resolution Authorizing the Establishment of a Communications Committee

R115-13                Resolution Certifying Annual Audit

R116-13                Resolution Authorizing An Amendment to 2013 Municipal Employees’ Salary

R117-13                Resolution Authorizing the Renewal of Liquor Licenses

R118-13                Resolution Authorizing the Payment of Bills

 

Prior to the Consent Agenda vote Mayor Happer asked that Resolution 115-13, Resolution Certifying Annual Audit be pulled from the Consent Agenda for separate consideration and vote.

 

9.             *MINUTES:                          

                May 28, 2013 (Regular)

 

10.          *DEPARTMENT REPORTS:

                Construction Department                 May 2013

                Department of Public Works             May 2013

                Fire Department                                  May 2013

                Health Department                             May 2013

                Police Department                              May 2013

                Tax Department                                   May 2013

 

11.          *COMMITTEE AND COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS:                                None

 

 

Council Member

By:

2nd:

Yes

No

Abstain

Absent

Borin

 

 

X

 

 

 

Bradlee

 

 

 

 

 

X

Bravo

 

X

X

 

 

 

Holmberg

 

 

X

 

 

 

Lester

 

 

X

 

 

 

McWilliams

X

 

X

 

 

 

Happer

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Resolution 115-13

Resolution Certifying Annual Audit

 

Mayor Happer asked for comments from Mr. Vrabel, the Borough Auditor. Mr. Vrabel stated that the Borough is in compliance and there are no issues to address. In response to queries from Council, Mr. Tovo and Mr. Roberts gave examples of how the Borough has complied with the segregation of duties issue, such as the separation of Water & Sewer Utilities and Tax collection responsibilities.

 

Council Member

By:

2nd:

Yes

No

Abstain

Absent

Borin

 

 

X

 

 

 

Bradlee

 

 

 

 

 

X

Bravo

 

 

X

 

 

 

Holmberg

 

X

X

 

 

 

Lester

X

 

X

 

 

 

McWilliams

 

 

X

 

 

 

Happer

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12.          ATTORNEY’S REPORT:

 

Mr. Murphy had nothing to report.

 

12.          MANAGER’S REPORT:

 

Mr. Tovo reported that the Canal cleaning project was fifty percent (50%) complete and that he was pleased with the competency of the vendor, who has been competing with the poor weather. He said the depth of the Canal will be forty-two (42) inches, except at the mouth where it will be deeper.

 

Mr. Tovo mentioned that the boards are in place at the Wildwood Spillway, ahead of schedule. He commended Mr. Prusina and the DPW for their efforts. He also mentioned that the water level at Wildwood is very close to the target level.

 

Mr. Tovo said he had discussions with the Morris County Communications Center and the contract will be revised to reflect quarterly payments instead of a lump sum.

 

Mr. Tovo has ordered the electronic sign board and expects it to be installed by mid-July. The sign will sit upon the current base. Mr. Tovo said there will be several staff members responsible for updating the messages displayed on the sign.

 

In response to Council questions, Mr. Tovo said the owner of the restaurant at Route 46 has been contacted in reference to property maintenance and he expects the issue to be resolved quickly. Additionally, Mr. Tovo said that the Borough has no plans to remove the water restrictions which began June 1st even though the Borough is in compliance with DEP regulations regarding usage.

 

13.          COUNCIL REPORTS:

 

Recreation Committee – Councilman Holmberg announced the hiring of Audrey Lane as the new Recreation Director. Mr. Tovo said Ms. Lane will be present at a future Council meeting for an introduction.

 

Finance Advisory Committee – On behalf of the Committee, Councilman Holmberg congratulated the Borough staff on a clean audit.

 

Zoning Board of Adjustment – Councilman Borin reported that the Board needs one alternate member.

 

Environmental Commission – Councilman Borin reminded the Council that the Environmental Commission would be making a presentation regarding well-head protection at the June 24th meeting. In addition, the Commission needs one alternate member.

 

Solid Waste Advisory Committee – Deputy Mayor McWilliams said that the Committee has been able to identify a vendor who could provide vending machines for the sale of green bags. He reported that the Committee has been tracking the solid waste and recycling numbers and it was disappointing to note that there has been no real change with the implementation of the new recycling program effective January 1st. The Committee was hoping to see an increase in the amount of recycling and a decrease in the amount of solid waste. The Committee expects to see a change in the fall, when the schools begin to participate in the recycling program. Deputy Mayor McWilliams noted that the Committee has suspended meeting for the summer months. In addition, the Committee has been discussing a merge with the DPW Sub-Committee at the end of the year or shortly thereafter.

 

Communications Committee – Councilman Lester asked the other members of Council to provide him with recommendations for Committee appointments.

 

Memorial Day Committee – Mayor Happer said the Committee had met to review the recent Memorial Day event. The Committee is discussing a change to the current program, which includes the presentation of the Citizen of the Year and Janice Hunts Awards. The awards have been presented at the Memorial Day ceremonies as much of the community is gathered for the event; however, there is some sentiment that presenting the awards detracts from the solemnity of the occasion. In addition, the ceremony is longer due to the awards presentation and the speeches that accompany them. Councilwoman Bravo mentioned the possibility of a separate event specifically geared towards celebrating the Borough’s volunteers. Mayor Happer said this should be a discussion item in the fall.

 

Personnel Sub-Committee – Mayor Happer reported that the sub-committee had discussed police staffing. Earlier in the year the sub-committee and Council had confirmed the need to hire at least one (1) police officer. The sub-committee will have further discussions with Chief Bennett regarding the potential for additional staffing.

 

Deputy Mayor McWilliams asked that the record reflect that Councilwoman Blair Bravo and her husband Miguel placed the American flags along the Boulevard this year in remembrance of Memorial Day, since he was unable to do so. He also expressed thanks to Borough resident John Von Sternberg, who has donated the flags for over twenty (20) years.

 

Mayor Happer reminded the Council to prepare for a mid-year review of the Council goals on June 24th.

 

 

 

15.          PUBLIC COMMENT:

 

Mayor Happer opened the second public comment portion of the meeting with the consent of the Council. Mayor Happer explained the Council’s policy of limiting each speaker to five (5) minutes and no yielding of time to another person.

Fred Kanter – Hanover Road

Mr. Kanter asked that the Council apologize to him for his previous prosecution and for the unconstitutional Ordinance regarding unregistered parked cars on private property. He requested that the Council inform him as to how to have the Ordinance removed from the Borough Code.

 

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

 

16.          ADJOURNMENT at 8:56 p.m.

 

Motion made by Councilwoman Bravo, second by Deputy Mayor McWilliams, to adjourn the meeting at 8:56 p.m., with all members in favor signifying by “Aye”.

 

*Consent Agenda (Matters listed are considered routine and will be enacted by one motion of the Council and one roll call vote. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a Council member requests an item be removed for consideration.)

 

 

Attest: June 10, 2013

 

 

____________________________________                                            _______________________________ 

Michele Reilly, RMC, Borough Clerk                                                               Daniel J. Happer, Mayor