Historic Preservation Committee

Meeting Minutes – May 7, 2015

A meeting of the Mountain Lakes Historic Preservation Committee (“HPC” or the “Committee”) was held on May 7, 2015, in the basement meeting room of the Mountain Lakes Library. In attendance were Chairman John Grossmann and Vice Chair Tom Dagger, Pat Rusak, Mike DeWitt, Lesley Karczewski, Katy Roberts, Alex Gotthelf, and Ginny Cassidy. Absent were Margaret DeWitt and Borough Council Liaison Dan Happer.

Approval of Prior Meeting’s Minutes

The minutes of the April 2, 2015 meeting were approved in the form in which they were distributed to the Committee, with minor corrections.

Treasurer’s Report

John Grossmann presented the report prepared by Chris Sheasby:


Opening Balance as of 3/31/15: $29,882.95


Debits:

$314.00 Tom Dagger, reimbursement for the Obeo documentation of 203 Blvd


Credits:

$25.00 Salvage Donation


Closing Balance as of 5/5/15: $29,593.95


Archivist’s Report

Pat Rusak reported that the archive collection of Hapgood house photos were in the process of being scanned and next up for conversion to digital images would be Belhall photos and various other key historic photos.

Mike DeWitt said that he had replaced the broken router and that the HPC Wi-Fi network, Dr. Memory, was again up and running.

Borough Liaison Report

Dan Happer was absent, but had indicated by email to John Grossmann that the big issue facing the Borough Council was the proposed development of the King of Kings property. The Committee agreed that the situation is of major significance to the town, but did not perceive how this might represent an HPC matter.



Old Business

HPC Website Redesign Problems

Mike DeWitt reported that he and John Grossmann had met with Bob Karczewski and Clive Knowles to discuss the second phase of the HPC website redesign, eager that “missing” portions of previously available content could again be accessed and that the Committee would be soon be able to add to and edit existing content on its own, without having to request such changes of the Borough webmaster. To achieve this, they were told that the contractor the Web Committee was prepared to task with the job would do so for $1,800 and the HPC was asked to pay half that amount.

The Committee voted unanimously to approve payment of its share of the expenditure ($900), provided the funds be taken from the surplus Centennial Committee money in the dedicated Borough account for Historic Preservation projects -- noting that the funds would be earmarked for an important part of the HPC mission, namely education. John said he would share this decision with Borough liaison Dan Happer for Council consideration.

HPC Event Banner

Pat Rusak said the banner would be ordered in time for use at Mountain Lakes Day.

HPC Long Range Goals

The Committee approved the following mission statement:

To serve the Borough and its residents by promoting the preservation of the buildings and public spaces essential to its historic design as a planned residential community and recognition in the National and State Registers of Historic Places while acting as gatherers, stewards, and disseminators of the town’s history.


Lesley Karczewski charged all, by next meeting, to come up with three HPC goals to spark next meeting’s progression from mission statement to long range planning.


Park Lakes Club and Trolley Path 2.0

Tom Dagger and John Grossmann discussed the recent Planning Board meeting at which a new site plan was approved for the Park Lakes Tennis Club. John appeared at the hearing to provide comment on the historical value of the remaining stretch of the old Morris County Trolley Company right of way located on the Club’s property, between its parking lot and St. Catherine’s, and to request that conditions be included in the site plan approval to help preserve the historic trolley line path. As part of the site plan approval, the Club had agreed to permit the Borough to have access to the property for purposes of repairs and maintenance of the trolley path. The Committee discussed the possibility of pursuing funding for improvements, such as installation of a catch basin, to help limit future erosion of the path.

Hapgood’s Dynamite Shed

John Grossmann said he would brief Dan Happer on the Committee’s tour and assessment of the dynamite shed as a very viable replacement for the currently deteriorating and inefficient salvage trailer.

Application for Certified Local Government Status

The Committee discussed the proposal from Barton Ross to assist with preparation of an application to the State of New Jersey. The Committee voted unanimously to move forward with the agreement, and to seek funding for the $325 contract amount from the surplus Centennial Committee money in the dedicated Borough account for Historic Preservation projects. Tom Dagger agreed to forward the proposed contract to the Borough for review and approval.

New Business

Mountain Lakes Day

John Grossmann said that he had paid the $25 booth fee, and that if enough Committee members would be in town on Memorial Day, the HPC would have a table displaying merchandise, house plaques, and have representatives ready and able to describe the Committee’s mission and services to new residents who stop by.

New Member Recommendations

Explaining his plans to move from Mountain Lakes in a few months, John Grossmann noted the upcoming need for a new Committee member. He said he would post a notice on the Borough homepage, but said that generally the best new members come via current members encouraging friends and neighbors to volunteer and asked everyone to think of possible candidates.

Date for Next Meeting

Thursday, June 11, 2015, at the downstairs meeting room in the Library at 7:30 p.m.



Minutes prepared by John Grossmann and Tom Dagger.

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