M I N U T E S April 9, 2002
Mayor Torre stated that the meeting complied with the Sunshine Law, due notice having been made to all members by personal service on January 1, 2002 and to The Observer, The Record and the Herald News on January 1, 2002. ROLL CALL: Present: Mayor William J. Torre, Councilman Andrew Link III, Councilman Herbert D. Heeren, Councilman Justin A. DiPisa, Councilman Garrett R. Pepe, Councilwoman Verrastro, Councilman John Wassberg Absent: None
SALUTE TO THE FLAG AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Torre led in the Salute to the Flag and Pledge of Allegiance.
COMMUNICATIONS: The following correspondence was received as of this date: 1. Letter To Chief of Police Michael Colaneri with copy to Mayor William J. Torre from Carol Skiba, 191 Field Avenue, regarding the excessive speeding situation on Field/Oldfield Avenues when used as a short cut to access Route 17 North or South. 2. Letter to Supt. Of Public Works Robert Heck with copy to Mayor William J. Torre from Joseph Veri, 23 Ottawa Avenue, regarding sidewalk problem from town tree. 3. Note to Mayor Torre from Judith Callahan, 40 Jefferson Avenue, regarding an advertisement for clubs that are trying to come to "our town," and her hope that they will be turned down. It was asked if any member of the Governing Body wished to have any particular item read into the record. Mayor Torre referred Item #1 to the Police Committee and Item #2 to Supt. Heck and asked to have Item #3 read into the record. "Dear Mayor Torre, Enclosed please find an advertisement for the clubs that are trying to come to our town. I hope that they will be turned down, Hasbrouck Heights does not need it. I moved here from the Bronx in 1989, to get away from this nonsense. Continue your good work and God Bless You." A motion was made by Councilman Pepe, seconded by Councilman DiPisa, and unanimously carried, the foregoing Correspondence was accepted.
APPOINTMENTS: Gail Cardaci to Fire Department Engine Co. 2 On a motion by Councilwoman Pepe, seconded by Councilman Wassberg, and unanimously carried, the foregoing Appointments were accepted.
MINUTES: (February 26, 2002, March 12, 2002, March 19, 2002) A motion by Councilman DiPisa, seconded by Councilman Heeren, and unanimously carried, the foregoing Minutes were approved.
BILLS: BE IT RESOLVED that the claims and accounts amounting to $3,592,250.40 specified in the schedule hereto annexed, having been examined and approved by the Finance Commissioner, or his Deputy, be paid and that warrants be issued therefor. Signed Andrew Link
III On a motion by Councilwoman Verrastro, seconded by Councilman Pepe, and unanimously carried, the foregoing Resolution was adopted.
CONSENT AGENDA: None
RESOLUTIONS: 66. Dog Licenses - Payment of Fees to State 67. Marriage Licenses - Payment of Fees to State 68. Authorizing Adoption of 2002 Budget - Held 69. Asking for Cablevision to Include the Y.E.S. Network without Charges 70. Authorizing Tyree Organization on Behalf of Getty to Interconnect Existing Ground Water Monitoring Wells 71. Opposing S-1044/A1926 Which Would Legalize Use of Project Labor Agreements in New Jersey On a motion by Councilman Wassberg, seconded by Councilman DiPisa, except for Resolution No. 68 (see below), the foregoing Resolutions were approved. (Copies attached.)
BUDGET STATEMENT: "Tonight we will be having the public hearing on the 2002 Municipal Budget as introduced but we will not be adopting it tonight. "The budget as introduced calls for a 9.7 point increase and the finance committee continues to review all aspects of the budget in an effort to make any possible modifications that would result in any tax savings. "As mentioned when the budget was introduced on March 12, in light of the tax increase as proposed we have applied for Extraordinary Aid in the amount of $730,000 to offset the increase. The application must be reviewed by the Department of Community Affairs and hopefully they will make their determination and awards within the next 8-10 weeks. The reason we cannot adopt the budget tonight is that by adopting we would also be withdrawing our application for Extraordinary Aid." Mayor Torre invited anyone who wished to speak on the public hearing on the budget. There being no one coming forward, the public hearing was closed.
RESIGNATIONS: Susan Paul from the Ambulance Auxiliary On a motion by Councilman Pepe, seconded by Councilman Wassberg, and unanimously carried, the foregoing Resignation was accepted with regret.
TERMINATIONS: David Novotny from Fire Department Co. 2 for Non-performance of Duties On a motion by Councilwoman Wassberg, seconded by Councilman Pepe, and unanimously carried, the foregoing Termination was accepted.
ORDINANCE (S) ON
INTRODUCTION: None ORDINANCE(S) ON CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING: ORDINANCE NO. 1958: BE IT RESOLVED that an ordinance entitled "AN ORDINANCE TO SUPPLEMENT SECTION 261-45 ENTITLED "SCHEDULE XV: PARKING PROHIBITED CERTAIN HOURS" OF CHAPTER 261 ENTITLED "VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC" OF THE CODE OF THE BOROUGH OF HASBROUCK HEIGHTS SO AS TO INCLUDE THEREIN THE PROHIBITION OF PARKING BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 10:00 P.M. AND 2:00 A.M. ON CERTAIN PORTIONS OF CERTAIN PUBLIC STREETS IN THE VICINITY OF ROUTE 17" introduced February 26, 2002, continued on public hearing on March 12, 2002, and March 26, 2002 was withdrawn and referred back to the Police Committee. On a motion by Councilwoman Verrastro, seconded by Councilman Link, and unanimously carried, the foregoing Ordinance was withdrawn and referred back to the Police Committee. Mayor Torre opened the meeting for anyone wishing to speak on Ordinance No. 1959 and Ordinance No. 1961.
ORDINANCE NO. 1959: BE IT RESOLVED
that an ordinance entitled "AN ORDINANCE SUPPLEMENTING CHAPTER 84 ENTITLED
"ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES" OF THE CODE OF THE BOROUGH OF HASBROUCK HEIGHTS SO AS TO
INCLUDE THEREIN A NEW ARTICLE TO BE NUMBERED VIII ENTITLED "IDENTIFICATION CARDS FOR
CERTAIN PERSONS" introduced February 26, 2002, continued on public hearing on
March 12, 2002, and March 26, 2002 with notice of public hearing on said ordinance to be
held at regular meeting of Borough Council on April 9, 2002. Joseph DeVito, attorney for Houlihan’s, reported they had done some research on the identification cards and the only municipality remotely having such an ordinance was Weehawken who charged $75 which went into a fund with nothing gained. He continued that the restaurant industry was the largest growing service industry and if they were not able to hire on the spot they would be at a distinct disadvantage and hoped this would not be adopted as fashioned as well as the ordinance on hours which he referred to these ordinances not being instituted for the present businesses. It was explained that these were being looked at as this was long overdue. Mayor Torre asked for a motion to withdraw Ordinance No. 1959 which was made by Councilman Wassberg, seconded by Councilwoman Verrastro, and unanimously carried, the foregoing Ordinance was withdrawn and referred back to the Police Committee.
ORDINANCE NO. 1961: BE IT RESOLVED that an ordinance entitled "AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 84-6 ENTITLED "CLOSING HOURS" CHAPTER 84 ENTITLED "ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES" OF THE CODE OF THE BOROUGH OF HASBROUCK HEIGHTS SO AS TO CHANGE THE HOURS DURING WHICH THE SALE OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES UNDER A PLENARY RETAIL CONSUMPTION LICENSE IS PROHIBITED" introduced February 26, 2002 ,continued on public hearing on March 12, 2002 and March 26, 2002 and continued on public hearing with notice of public hearing on said ordinances to be held at regular meeting of Borough Council on April 9, 2002. On a motion by Councilman Pepe, seconded by Councilman DiPisa, and unanimously carried, the foregoing Ordinance was withdrawn, with Councilman Pepe asking that the motion include a look at the time frame for the weekend hours and that a new ordinance be drafted to change the weekend hours from three a.m. to two a.m., namely Friday and Saturday, with Councilman DiPisa seconding this part of the motion also.
ORDINANCE(S) ON PUBLIC HEARING: Mayor Torre opened the meeting for anyone wishing to speak on Ordinance No. 1963 and Ordinance No. 1964. There being no one wishing to speak on these Ordinances, the public hearing was closed.
ORDINANCE NO. 1963: BE IT RESOLVED that an ordinance entitled "AN ORDINANCE TO STABILIZE AND REGULATE RENTS WITHIN THE BOROUGH OF HASBROUCK HEIGHTS AND TO ESTABLISH A RENT BOARD, WHICH ORDINANCE IS TO BE COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE "2002" RENT LEVELING ORDINANCE"be now passed on second and final reading and the Borough Clerk be and is hereby authorized and directed to publish said Ordinance, same to be published in The Observer, a newspaper circulating and published in the Borough of Hasbrouck Heights.
ORDINANCE NO. 1964: BE IT RESOLVED that an ordinance entitled "AN ORDINANCE SUPPLEMENTING THE CODE OF THE BOROUGH OF HASBROUCK HEIGHTS SO AS TO INCLUDE THEREIN A NEW CHAPTER ENTITLED "CHAPTER 62, RECREATION DEPARTMENT" ESTABLISHING SUCH A DEPARTMENT, CREATING THE OFFICE OF RECREATION DIRECTOR AND PROVIDING FOR HIS OR HER AUTHORITY AND DUTIES AND PROVIDING FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF ASSISTANTS TO THE SAID DIRECTOR AS MAY BE REQUIRED FROM TIME TO TIME"be now passed on second and final reading and the Borough Clerk be and is hereby authorized and directed to publish said Ordinance, same to be published in The Observer, a newspaper circulating and published in the Borough of Hasbrouck Heights. On a motion by Councilman DiPisa, seconded by Councilman Pepe, and unanimously carried, the foregoing Ordinances on Public Hearing were approved.
MISCELLANEOUS FROM PUBLIC: Although this was the first meeting of the month, Mayor Torre opened the meeting to the public and asked that each comment be limited to two minutes. Joseph DeVito, attorney, thanked the mayor and council for their reception, sensitivity, willingness and understanding to the needs of his client. He was most impressed that good government exists. Applause followed. Ann McGill, 139 Field Avenue, asked if the ordinance on parking include an amendment that if standing is allowed in an establishment, that the standee be included in the allotment of parking spaces that they would still be coming by car most likely. Carol Skiba, referred to the ordinance preventing sexually oriented entertainment as a secondary occurrence to a primary one, but asked for a specific definition for go go dancing, performance dancing, table dancing be added as an amendment. She also asked that family oriented restaurants be stated for all areas of the town, not only on the Boulevard. Mayor Torre remarked that the Terrace Avenue restaurants were zoned residential but referred the question to Borough Attorney Chandless. She was told that this would be discussed in closed session. She asked if a piece of property could be designated near the DPW. She was told that a so-called area was considered carefully and was voted down so as to not condone it any place in the borough. The restaurants on Terrace Avenue were non-conforming uses and that could never be changed. She was assured that the entire corridor would be looked at.
RECESS FOR CAUCUS
ADJOURN: There being no further business to be conducted by the Mayor and Council, the meeting was adjourned. I, ROSE MARIE SEES, Borough Clerk of the Borough of Hasbrouck Heights, do hereby certify that the foregoing Minutes are to the best of my knowledge a true account of the Mayor and Council Meeting held on April 9, 2002. Rose Marie Sees |