BOROUGH OF MOUNTAIN LAKES COUNCIL MEETING

MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2007

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 on January 3, 2007 and posted in the municipal building.

 

            Mayor George Jackson called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.

     

2.       ATTENDANCE AND FLAG SALUTE

All Council members were present except for Councilman Gormally.

Councilwoman Wilson arrived at 7:33 p.m.

 Also in attendance were Borough Manager Gary Webb, Borough Attorney Marty Murphy  

and Borough Clerk Christina Whitaker.

 

3.  EXECUTIVE SESSION     

         Resolution 53-07

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,

 

·         Rensselaer Grads Contract Negotiations

 

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.

 

Dated:  April 9, 2007

 

_____________________                                          _____________________

Christina Whitaker, R.M.C.                                         George B. Jackson, Mayor

 

Motion by Councilman Shaw, second by Deputy Mayor Davis, to go into Executive Session

with all members in favor signifying by “Aye” with no one opposed.

 

Motion by Deputy Mayor Davis, second by Councilwoman Emr, to close the Executive Session and go back into open session at 8:04 p.m. with all members in favor signifying by “Aye” with no one opposed.

 

4. COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mayor Jackson told the Council and public that he had received calls regarding the March  31st collapsed deck incident on Lake Drive in which several people were injured. The calls complimented the quick action of the Police Department and rescue squads. He asked Mr. Webb to convey that sentiment to the Chief of Police and his Department.

 

 Mr. Webb gave the Council of few more details of the incident and the procedure used by  the  Borough’s Police Department.

 

 Mountain Lakes has been named Tree City USA again this year.

 

5. PUBLIC COMMENT

 Mayor Jackson explained the Council’s policy of limiting each speaker to 5 minutes and no  yielding of time to another person.

 

 Mayor Jackson read the following statement before opening the public comment portion of  the meeting:

 

 “Mr. Kanter has served a written notice of his intent to make a tort claim against the Borough of  Mountain Lakes claiming that the Borough, its employees,

 and elected officials are engaged in  conduct that he alleges is harassing.  On the advice of counsel any questions directed to us at  this meeting by Mr.

Kanter will be reviewed by our legal counsel; and if appropriate, will be  responded to in writing. It is our considered judgment this procedure will minimize

disruption and protect the interest of the public.”

 

 Mayor Jackson opened the public comment portion of the meeting with consent of Council.

 

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

meeting.

 

6. PUBLIC HEARING 2007 BUDGET

Mr. Webb summarized the 2007 Budget.

Total appropriations - $7,139, 299.92

Amount to be raised by local taxes - $4,137,233.67

Tax rate - $0.280 , % Increase -10%

Net Valuation Taxable - $1,475,160,245

 

On an average house appraised at $1,006,558 there will be an increase in local taxes of

$258.73 a year.

 

Motion by Councilman Shaw, second by Deputy Mayor Davis, to adopt the budget.

 

Mayor Jackson opened the Public Hearing on the Budget

With no one wishing to be heard, Mayor Jackson closed the Public Hearing.

 

Mayor Jackson called for a discussion on the budget from Council members.

 

Mayor Jackson suggested removing tree limb pickup from the budget. He also said the amount directed for plans to design a beach house at Birchwood Lake could be put to better use for improvements to be made to the Borough Hall.

Councilman Urankar said the combined amount for local and school taxes was too high and he was concerned that it would result in keeping people from moving to Mountain Lakes. He suggested the Council and School Board have a joint meeting to discuss their vision for the

future of Mountain Lakes. He said State, County and local taxes have created a crisis in New Jersey.

 

Councilman Shaw said he did not think the Borough was in a crisis at this time, but instead had found a balance while giving the residents what they expect.

 

Borough Clerk Christina Whitaker read into the record the resolution for adoption of the 2007 Budget.

 

Councilwoman Emr, Councilman Shaw, Deputy Mayor Davis, Councilwoman Wilson voted “Yes”

Councilman Urankar and Mayor Jackson voted “No”.

Councilman Gormally was absent.

 

       R52-07 – Annual Budget Self Examination Resolution

            

Council Member

By:

 

2nd:

Yes

No

Abstain

Absent

Gormally

 

 

 

 

 

X

Emr

 

X

X

 

 

 

Shaw

X

 

X

 

 

 

Davis

 

 

X

 

 

 

Wilson

 

 

X

 

 

 

Urankar

 

 

X

 

 

 

Jackson

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.   ORDINANCES

               05-07

              AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 111 OF THE CODE OF THE BOROUGH

  OF MOUNTAIN LAKES MODIFYING THE DEVELOPMENT FEE ORDINANCE, 

  ORDINANCE 3-07, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF

        THE NJ COUNCIL ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING

              Following introduction, the above ordinance will be published in accordance with the

              law and a public hearing will be held on May 14, 2007.

       

     Mayor Jackson told the Council that Denville had just passed a similar ordinance that excluded house replacement and home improvements from any fee

    requirement. He would have preferred that the Borough’s ordinance had stipulated the same.

 

Introduced: April 9, 2007                                                      Adopted:

Council Member

By:

2nd

Yes

No

Abstain

Absent

By

2nd

Yes

No

Abstain

Absent

Gormally

 

 

 

 

 

X