M I N U T E S September 10, 2002 A Regular Meeting of the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Hasbrouck Heights was held on September 10, 2002 at 8 p.m. at the Masonic Hall, 200 Division Avenue, corner of the Boulevard, Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey. As Mayor Torre arrived late, Councilman Link began the meeting and 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 Garrett R. Pepe, Councilwoman Marlene Verrastro, Councilman John Wassberg Absent: Councilman Justin A. DiPisa
SALUTE TO THE FLAG AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Councilman Link led in the Salute to the Flag and Pledge of Allegiance.
COMMUNICATIONS: The following correspondence has been received as of this date: 1. Letter from the State of New Jersey Department of Transportation regarding the TEA 21 Grant program rejection notice. 2. Memo regarding September 11, with President Bush proclaiming this as Patriot Day, Governor McGreevey calling for flags to be flown at half staff and houses of worship to ring the church bells on that day. A motion to accept the Correspondence was made by Councilwoman Verrastro, seconded by Councilman Wassberg, and unanimously carried.
At this point Mayor Torre arrived and presided over the meeting.
MINUTES: None
BILLS: BE IT RESOLVED that the claims and accounts amounting to $1,445,053.05 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 Wassberg, and unanimously carried, the foregoing Resolution was adopted.
CONSENT AGENDA: On a motion by Councilman Pepe, seconded by Councilwoman Verrastro, and unanimously carried, the foregoing Consent Agenda Resolution was approved. (Copy attached.)
RESOLUTIONS: 156. Dog Licenses - Payment of Fees to State 157. Authorizing Municipal Snow Plowing with the County of Bergen for 2002 to 2003 158. Authorizing Participation in a Cooperative Pricing System with the County of Bergen 159. Authorizing Change Order #1 for Smith Sondy Paving Contractors Under the 2001 Road Program 160. Authorizing Endorsement in the Municipal Open Space Trust Program 161. Authorizing Mayor William J. Torre as Municipal Representative for Open Space Trust Committee 162. Authorizing Award of Emergency Contract for Removal of Butler Building at 248 Hamilton Avenue On a motion by Councilman Wassberg, seconded by Councilman Pepe, noting that with regards to Resolution 162, originally the Butler building wouldn’t impede the demolition of the existing municipal building, but the contractor felt it could be damaged and should be removed, and unanimously carried, the foregoing Resolutions were approved. (Copies attached.)
APPOINTMENTS:
None RESIGNATIONS: Lillian Dwyer as a School Crossing Guard Due to Retirement On a motion by Councilman Pepe, seconded by Councilwoman Verrastro, and unanimously carried, the foregoing Resignations was accepted with regret.
ORDINANCE (S) ON INTRODUCTION: ORDINANCE NO. 1977: 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 6:00 A.M. AND 7:30 A.M. ON THE BOULEVARD BETWEEN LASALLE AVENUE AND WILLIAMS AVENUE" was introduced this date be and the same is hereby passed on first reading and the Borough Clerk be directed to advertise notice of public hearing on said Ordinance to be held at the regular meeting of the Borough Council on September 24, 2002.
ORDINANCE NO. 1978: BE IT RESOLVED that an ordinance entitled "AN ORDINANCE PURSUANT TO N.J.S.A. 40A:12-14 AND 15 AUTHORIZING A LEASE OF PREMISES KNOWN AS LOT 20 IN BLOCK 58 BEING MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY PROPERTY AT 301 DIVISION AVENUE TO THE THIRTY SECOND DEGREE MASONIC LEARNING CENTERS FOR CHILDREN, INC., A NON-PROFIT CORPORATION OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, FOR THE SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE PURPOSE OF OPERATING THEREON A SPECIALIZED LEARNING CENTER DEVOTED TO DYSLEXIC CHILDREN" was introduced this date be and the same is hereby passed on first reading and the Borough Clerk be directed to advertise notice of public hearing on said Ordinance to be held at the regular meeting of the Borough Council on September 24, 2002. On a motion by Councilman Wassberg, seconded by Councilman Heeren, and unanimously carried, the foregoing Ordinances on Introduction were approved.
ORDINANCE(S) ON PUBLIC HEARING: Mayor Torre opened the public hearing on Ordinance No. 1976. Sonia Buckman, 239 Central Avenue, wanted to know what the purchase was for. She was advised that it would be used for additional parking to ease the burden on the surrounding homeowners and to allow for more green space on the Boulevard. She questioned the additional parking, if this property could have a more useful purpose, and was advised that this parking was replacing those spaces lost when the municipal complex was pushed back and a row of parking spaces was eliminated.
ORDINANCE NO. 1976: BE IT RESOLVED that an Ordinance entitled "AN ORDINANCE TO APPROPRIATE THE SUM OF $450,000.00 TO PROVIDE FOR THE ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY COMMONLY KNOWN AS 302 BOULEVARD FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH THE NEW MUNICIPAL BUILDING AND FURTHER TO AUTHORIZE THE FINANCING OF THE COST THEREOF IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE LOCAL BOND LAW BY THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS OR NOTES NOT TO EXCEED THE SUM OF $428,500.00" 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 Heeren, seconded by Councilman Wassberg, the foregoing Ordinance on Public Hearing was approved. Before the conclusion of this portion of the meeting, the purchase of this property was discussed further.
MISCELLANEOUS FROM PUBLIC: The Mayor opened the meeting up to the public as per the Open Public Meetings Act legislation which was signed into law recently which requires that there be an opportunity for public comment at every meeting. Sonia Buckman, 239 Central Avenue, discussed the relocation of the Fire Department to Central Avenue and requested that those answering a fire call be cautious when driving as there were children in the area. First Assistant Fire Chief Thomasey was present and noted this. She was concerned with the empty stores on the Boulevard and asked if anything was being done. She recommended a marketing program whereby merchants in other municipalities such as Ridgewood and Westwood were visited and encouraged to open businesses in Hasbrouck Heights. She was advised that a Boulevard improvement program was in the planning stages and funds were being sought for this purpose. Discussion continued regarding rents and the recent changes made in zoning to encourage new businesses. It was advised that she speak with the Chamber of Commerce. Ann McGill, 139 Field Avenue, regarding an article that appeared in the newspaper, regarding a zero percent loan Lodi was receiving for sanitary sewer rehabilitation and the borough engineer as the engineer also for Lodi, said this information was inaccurate, that a portion was zero and a portion was market rate and explained the project more fully.
RECESS FOR CAUCUS Mayor Torre announced that the meeting would be recessed 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 September 10, 2002. Rose Marie Sees, RMC |