PUBLIC MEETING –Wednesday, December 27, 2006 at 4:00 p.m.
There will be a Public Meeting of the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Glen Rock on Wednesday, December 27, 2006, at 4:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building.
Agenda: (May be subject to change)
1. CALL TO ORDER /ROLL CALL
Council Member Knapp – present
Council Member Jordan – present
Council Member Moore – absent
Council Member O’Hagan - present
Council Member McCullough – present
Council Member Pazan – present
J. van Keuren, Mayor - present L. Benjamin, Borough Admin. - present
P. Fleming, Deputy Clerk - present R. Garibaldi, Borough Attorney – present
2. FLAG SALUTE/ANNOUNCEMENTS
This meeting is called pursuant to the provisions of the Open Public Meeting Law. This Meeting was included in a list of meeting notices sent to the Bergen Record and advertised in said newspaper in January, posted on the bulletin board in the Municipal Building, and has remained continuously posted as the required notices under the Statue. In addition, a copy of this notice is and has been available to the public and is on file in the office of the Municipal Clerk.
In accordance with the New Jersey State Fire & Safety Code I call your attention to the lighted exit signs. In the event the alarm sounds, move in an orderly manner toward the exit nearest you and leave the building. Do not use the lift.
Council member Jordan led the Council in the flag salute.
3. CONSENT AGENDA
All items listed are considered to be routine and non-controversial by the Borough Council and will be approved by one motion. There will be no separate discussion on these items unless a Council member(s) so request it, in which case the item(s) will be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered in its normal sequence on the agenda. The one motion signifies and adoption of all resolutions, receive and file letters, correspondence, reports and approval of applications and minutes.
Resolutions:
1. Resolution for Transfer of Funds within 2006 Budget
Resolution No.: 224-06
Offered by Council Member: Jordan
Seconded by Council Member: McCullough
____________________________________________________________________________
BE IT RESOLVED by the Mayor and Council that the following transfers be made within the 2006 Municipal Budget:
FROM
TO
AMOUNT
DPW OE
26-3302 GASOLINE
31-4460
$ 5,000.00
FINANCE S&W 20-1301
FINANCE OE
20-1302
$ 2,500.00
FINANCE S&W 20-1301
ENGINEERING OE 20-1652
$ 1,000.00
TAX COL S&W 20-1451
LEGAL OE
20-1552
$10,000.00
POLICE S & W
25-2401 LEGAL OE
20-1552
$11,000.00
RECREATION S&W 28-3701 POOL OE
28-3752
$ 3,500.00
DPW OE
26-3302 RECYCLING S&W 26-3061
$15,000.00
BD OF HEALTH OE 27-3302 RECYCLING S&W
26-3061
$ 5,000.00
DPW OE
26-3302 DPW S&W
26-3301
$ 8,000.00
SHUTTLE OE
28-3772 SHUTTLE S&W
28-3771
$ 2,600.00
BD OF HEALTH OE 27-3302 MUNIC CT S&W
43-4901
$ 1,501.00
TOTAL
$ 65,101.00
ROLL CALL:
Council Member Knapp – yes
Council Member Jordan – yes
Council Member Moore – absent
Council Member O’Hagan - yes
Council Member McCullough -yes
Council Member Pazan - yes
2. Resolution for Payment of Bills
Resolution No. 225-06
Offered by Council Member Jordan
Seconded by Council Member McCullough
BE IT RESOLVED, that the following bills of the Borough of Glen Rock be paid in the amount of $3,554,514.78
GRBOE
$ 2,529,778.00
Payroll
570,000.25
NJSHBF
122,690.86
Garibaldi & Garibaldi
14,952.25
Bergen County Health Services
13,752.60
Miscellaneous
303,340.82
______________
TOTAL
$ 3,554,514.78
ROLL CALL:
Council Member Knapp – yes
Council Member Jordan - yes
Council Member Moore – absent
Council Member O’Hagan - yes
Council Member Mc Cullough – yes
Council Member Pazan - yes
Motion to accept consent agenda by Council Member Jordan
Seconded by Council Member McCullough
ROLL CALL:
Council Member Knapp – yes
Council Member Jordan - yes
Council Member Moore – absent
Council Member O’Hagan - yes
Council Member Mc Cullough – yes
Council Member Pazan - yes
5. MEETING OPEN TO THE PUBLIC: (Before speaking at the meeting, each person must state their name and address. 5 minute limit)
Jim Seaton – Ferndale Avenue – Mr. Seaton received his reassessment and questioned how it could increase $100,000 without coming into his home. Mr. Seaton objected to the timing of the letter and the manner in which it was done. Mr. Seaton stated if the Borough wanted to be fair to the residents they would reduce the taxes of the senior citizens who have not had a child in the public schools. Mr. Seaton commented that many of the “old timers” in town are dismayed with the way the Borough is run and are being forced to leave town because of the excessive taxes. Mayor van Keuren clarified that taxes and the reassessment are two different subjects. The issue of property taxes is a state-wide problem and the root causes have nothing to do with this town. Mayor van Keuren commented he is quite proud of the municipal budget and the work that has been done to keep it minimal. Council member Knapp suggested Mr. Seaton make an appointment with the Tax
Assessor’s office to learn the process and have all his questions answered.
Harold Sylvester – 36 Mortlock Place – Mr. Sylvester read a letter which was previously sent to the Mayor. The subject of the letter intimated that the reassessment was unnecessary at this time due to the decline in real estate prices and sales. Mr. Sylvester stated his assessment is up 31% from four years ago, adding that his close proximity to Route 208 and Main Line tracks was not taken into consideration. Mr. Sylvester also questioned why there are towns in Bergen County that haven’t had a reevaluation in 15 years. Mayor van Keuren commented on the opinion that it wasn’t necessary to do a reassessment based upon the current real estate market. If the Borough had not conducted this voluntary reassessment at this time, we would have been directed by the State, within a year, to do a
reevaluation. That reevaluation would have cost the Borough four times what the reassessment cost. Council member Jordan corrected that when the Council contemplated this reassessment all 70 towns in Bergen County were analyzed and not one town has been exempt from a reevaluation or reassessment in the past eight years. It is quite possible other counties have different guidelines but Glen Rock is monitored by the Bergen County Tax Board. We were below 80% of assessed value which was a big reason Glen Rock volunteered to do this reassessment. Mrs. Benjamin commented that if Mr. Sylvester feels he could not get the assessed value for his house then he should meet with the Tax Assessor.
Robin Scheraga – 24 Rockingham Place – Mrs. Scheraga thanked the Mayor and Council for their support of the Boy Scouts. Mrs. Scheraga reminded the Council when their seats are being replaced 15, 20 years from now it will be the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts that replace them.
Mayor van Keuren announced this as the last public meeting that Council member Jordan will attend as a councilman. Each of the Council members had high words of praise and commendation for the years of service Brad has given the Borough. He will be greatly missed!
6. ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Council member Jordan
Seconded by Council member Knapp
Meeting adjourned at 4:50 p.m.
________________________________________
Paula A. Fleming, Deputy Borough Clerk
