M I N U T E S September 8, 1998 A Regular Meeting of the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Hasbrouck Heights was held on September 8, 1998 at 8:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building, 248 Hamilton Avenue, Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey. Mayor Torre stated that the meeting complied with the Sunshine Law, due notice having been made to all members of the Council by personal service on January 1, 1998 and transmitted to The Observer, The Record and the Herald News on January 2, 1998. ROLL CALL: Present: Mayor William J. Torre, Councilman Andrew Link III, Councilman Herbert D. Heeren, Councilman Justin A. DiPisa, Councilman Garrett R. Pepe, Councilwoman Marlene Verrastro Absent: Councilman John Wassberg
SALUTE TO FLAG: Mayor Torre led in the Salute to the Flag.
BILLS: BE IT RESOLVED that the claims and accounts amounting to $1,136,486.80 specified in the schedule, having been examined and approved by the Finance Commissioner, or his Deputy, be paid and that warrants be issued therefor. Signed Andrew Link III/Commissioner of Finance On motion by Councilwoman Verrastro, seconded by Councilman Pepe, and unanimously carried, the foregoing Resolution was adopted.
RESOLUTIONS: 126. Authorizing Acting Police Chief to Conduct Police Testing for New Officers & Awarding Contract to NJ State Assn. of Chiefs of Police, Inc. for Conducting Exams 127. Payment of Fees to State - Dog Licenses 128. Redemption of Tax Title Lien - Breen Capital Services Corp. 129. Payroll On motion by Councilwoman Verrastro, seconded by Councilman DiPisa, and unanimously carried, the foregoing Resolutions were adopted. (Resolutions attached)
ORDINANCE(S) ON INTRODUCTION: None
APPOINTMENTS: Craig & Roseanne Stewart - Ambulance Auxiliary On motion by Councilman Link, seconded by Councilman DiPisa, and unanimously carried, the foregoing appointments were made.
ORDINANCE(S) ON PUBLIC HEARING: Mayor Torre opened the meeting to the public for anyone wishing to speak on Ordinance Nos. 1828, 1833 and 1834. Rose Mulle, 321 Kipp Ave., came forward and commended the Governing Body for acting on obtaining a new library and senior citizen/civic center. She asked if there will be separate buildings for the library and senior center, how many seniors will the new center accommodate and will it have kitchen facilities. Mayor Torre said the plans are only preliminary plans at this time. They are only taking the first step which is to obtain land for the project. The architect will be putting together a feasibility study to determine how many seniors can be accommodated in the building and what will go where. The architect already met with the senior citizens organization, the Leisure Club, approximately three years ago and will most likely be meeting with them again for input. Jerry Pignata, 222 Lincoln Ave., came forward and said he was under the impression that funds were already appropriated for this project. Mayor Torre said money from the sale of Borough owned property is available for part of the project. We will be applying for Community Development grants but cannot do so until the property for the project is obtained. This is a condition for getting the grant. A steering committee will be established to develop ideas on how to obtain the necessary funding needed. Helene Searle, 51 Henry St., came forward and voiced her support for a new library which she felt was badly needed and would benefit all Borough citizens. Edna Crawford came forward and asked if there were enough funds for both a library and senior citizen center. Mayor Torre said it is more feasible to have both a library and senior center in one building. Both the library and senior center must have its own entrance to keep in compliance with Community Development and must be kept separated. Paul Mulle, 321 Kipp Ave., came forward and asked if the property the existing library is on now is Borough owned. Borough Attorney Ralph Chandless said there is a condition in the deed that requires the property be used for educational purposes, otherwise the property reverts to the beneficiary of the estate. The property cannot be sold. Paul Scudato, 259 Central Ave., came forward and gave his support for a new library. He also gave his opinion that the proposed location for the new library was ideal. Marie Vallini, 139 Charlton Ave., came forward and asked why the present library could not just be altered to make the necessary accommodations needed and just build a new senior center. Ms. Vallini was concerned with the funds needed for the project. Mayor Torre said there are not enough funds just to construct a senior citizen building. The architect will be meeting with library officials to discuss what is needed. He said it is not feasible to construct two separate buildings. Vera Lasch, 226 Myers Ave., came forward and gave her support for a new bigger library. She said the existing library is inadequate for the Borough. Michele Maiullo, 247 Walter Ave., (Library Director), came forward and said the existing library has been outgrown for many, many years. She said they have explored the idea of expanding the existing library by adding a third floor or expanding out the side of the building, and it was determined that it would not be cost effective. Rooms are not being used for their original purpose because of the lack of space. There is not even enough room to accommodate the number of employees they have. She said this library has a larger circulation than many other libraries which are larger. She said there is a disservice being done to Borough residents because they cannot be accommodated with more resources. She said they will work towards a cost efficient facility and commented that they have kept the cost of running the library well below the County and State average and are only 1% of the municipal budget. Tom Verrastro, 117 Oldfield Ave., (President of Library Board), came forward and reiterated Ms. Maiullo comments. He thanked those present for their support. Katherine Ellison, 51 Oak Grove Ave., came forward and commended the library staff for the outstanding job they do under the difficult conditions they must do it in and she felt they were very deserving of a new facility. Jerry Pignata again came forward and said he felt the combination of a library and senior citizen center is ideal and would allow the seniors to use the library facilities more than they have in the past. Amy Nodroff, 145 Harrison Ave., came forward and said the existing library is not handicapped accessible and there are residents of this Borough who cannot use the library and it is not feasible to make it handicapped accessible. She said the existing library building is in violation and a new building would not. Rose Mulle again came forward and spoke on a topic other than the Ordinances on public hearing. She said that when seniors attend Leisure Club meetings at the senior citizen housing facility, they must park on Franklin Ave. on a hill where there are blind spots. She said the facility will now also be used to receive flu shots and health care. She requested a crosswalk be placed and "slow" signs be erected to alert drivers to be more careful. Mayor Torre directed the matter to the Borough Administrator and Acting Chief of Police to come up with solutions.
MISCELLANEOUS FROM PUBLIC: At this point, Mayor Torre opened the meeting to the public for anyone else wishing to speak on any other matters. There being no one wishing to speak, Mayor Torre closed the meeting to the public.
ORDINANCE NO. 1828: BE IT RESOLVED that an Ordinance entitled "AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING THE SUM OF $500,000.00 TO PROVIDE FOR THE ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSTRUCTING THEREON A NEW FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY AND SENIOR CITIZEN CIVIC CENTER AND 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 $475,000.00" 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 Borough of Hasbrouck Heights.
ORDINANCE NO. 1833: BE IT RESOLVED that an Ordinance entitled
"AN ORDINANCE SUPPLEMENTING SECTION 119-3 OF THE CODE OF THE BOROUGH OF HASBROUCK
HEIGHTS SO AS TO EXEMPT FROM THE IMPOSITION OF CONSTRUCTION PERMIT FEES ANY CONSTRUCTION,
RECONSTRUCTION, ALTERATION OR IMPROVEMENT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING ACCESSIBILITY BY
DISABLED PERSONS" 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 Borough of Hasbrouck Heights. ORDINANCE NO. 1834: BE IT RESOLVED that an Ordinance entitled "AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND AND SUPPLEMENT PARAGRAPH B ENTITLED "PROCEDURE FOR ISSUANCE AND FEES REQUIRED" OF SECTION 275-39 ENTITLED "ZONING CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE" OF CHAPTER 275 ENTITLED "ZONING" OF THE BOROUGH OF HASBROUCK HEIGHTS" 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 Borough of Hasbrouck Heights. On motion by Councilman Link, seconded by Councilwoman Verrastro, and unanimously carried, the foregoing Ordinances for Public Hearing were adopted.
RECESS FOR CAUCUS: The Governing Body recessed for Caucus.
ADJOURN: There being no further business to come before the Mayor and Council, the meeting was adjourned. I, BARBARA MALDONADO, 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 Regular Meeting held on September 8, 1998.
Barbara Maldonado, RMC Borough Clerk
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