M I N U T E S August 22, 2000 A Regular Meeting of the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Hasbrouck Heights was held on Tuesday, August 22, 2000 at 8:00 p.m. at the Masonic Lodge, 200 Division Avenue, corner of the Boulevard, Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey. Mayor Torre stated that the meeting complied with the Sunshine Law, adequate notice of this meeting having been made to all members of the Council by personal service on December 28, 1999 and transmitted to The Observer, The Record and The Herald News on December 28, 1999. ROLL CALL: Present: Mayor William J. Torre, Councilman Andrew Link, Councilman Herbert D. Heeren, Councilman Justin DiPisa, Councilman Garrett R. Pepe, Councilwoman Marlene Verrastro Absent: Councilman John Wassberg
SALUTE TO THE FLAG AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Torre led in the Salute to the Flag and the Pledge of Allegiance
COMMUNICATIONS: None
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: (August 8, 2000) On a motion by Councilwoman Verrastro, seconded by Councilman Pepe, and unanimously carried, the foregoing Minutes were approved.
PETITIONS: None
BILLS: BE IT RESOLVED that the claims and accounts amounting to $665,254.75 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 therefore. Signed Andrew Link III On motion by Councilman DiPisa, seconded by Councilwoman Verrastro, and unanimously carried, the foregoing Resolution was adopted.
FINANCE , STREETS and TRANSPORTATION: Under Trees, Councilman Link announced that the DPW has applied for the 2001 Green Communities Challenge Grant funded through the U.S. Forest Service and administrated by the N.J. Forest Services Community Forestry Program which assists municipalities in developing a comprehensive local tree management plan. The maximum grant award is $2,000, which is done by random drawing. Under Streets he reported that the Boulevard is swept and the litter receptacles emptied twice a week. To cope with the increase of litter the receptacles on the Boulevard would be emptied four times a week, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, with the Boulevard being swept three times a week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The DPW took title to two new vehicles, a Dodge Mason Dump Truck with a plow and the second, a 773-Bobcat Loader that will be used at the Recycling Center and snow removal. Under Finance, due to a number of areas not being ready, a comprehensive report would be given in September.
POLICE: Councilman Heeren reported that the Police Department conducted a unique program during the month of July: a Junior Police Academy for 8th graders, boys and girls, who spent a week of training with the police. It included training similar to that done at the Police Academy, guest speakers from the FBI, County Police, Sheriff’s Department and local Police. This was done in conjunction with the Board of Education. During the month of July there were 976 requests for service to the police desk, 113 were 9-1-1, 176 were relative to Rt. 17 and Rt. 46 incidents, 6 calls from Holiday Inn and 14 call from the Hasbrouck Heights Hilton, 12 from Shop-Rite, and 74 from other communities including Teterboro. There were 76 requests for medical emergencies, 24 for fire alarms, of which 18 were for false alarms. There were 226 parking summonses, of which 199 were for overnight parking, a drop of 60 from last year. Total police car mileage was 3,500 miles.
PARKS: Commissioner of Parks, John Wassberg, was absent, and as Deputy Commissioner Mr. Heeren, gave his report by reminding residents that Town Day will be held Saturday, Sept. 23 at Woodland Park from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be rides and games for children and hot dogs and soda for all. A raffle at 1 p.m. for three Toro recycling lawnmowers would be held.
FIRE AND RECREATION: Councilman DiPisa gave the Fire Report for July: Hasbrouck Heights, 38 calls, year to date 309; Teterboro 4, year to date 80; mutual aid 2, year to date 14; total for the month 44, year to date 403. Ambulance calls for July: Hasbrouck Heights, 55, year to date 412; paramedic assisted calls 21, year to date 217; Teterboro, 6, year to date 51; paramedic assisted 8, year to date 50; mutual aid, 9, year to date 39; paramedic assisted 4, year to date 18; total 103, year to date 787. He reported the site work has been completed on Hamilton Avenue for the Temporary Fire Headquarters. Additional concrete pads will be added to support some of the heavy equipment. The buildings should be erected in the next 10 days to 2 weeks. He congratulated Chiefs Monahan, Knobloch and Thomasey for their support and flexibility with all the changes. Under Recreation, Commissioner DiPisa reported that Recreation Director Danielle Scipioni has completed her first summer as director and was pleased to confirm that Hasbrouck Heights had another very successful summer. All 13 trips were well attended and included the Bronx Zoo, Gingerbread Castle, Fun Station, Space Farms, Funtime Junction, Van Saun Park, IMAX Theatre and Rainforest Café, Bowcraft Amusement Park, the Ice House Skating Rink, a NJ Jackal Baseball game, Spirit of New Jersey Cruise Lines, Medieval Times and Wild West City. Planning for next summer has already begun with new ideas. The fall programs will include Arts and Crafts in Lincoln School on Thursday nights from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. starting approximately Oct. 26 for children between the ages of 5 and 12. It will run for six weeks and a different project will be completed each week. Registration is Sept. 28 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Municipal Building and cost is $25. Registration for Biddy Basketball will be held Sept. 14 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Municipal Building for children grades 3 through 8 and the cost is $35. Plans for Halloween in the Park were underway and volunteers were requested. Two aerobics programs were planned, the first, a low impact program for senior citizens aged 60, cost $10; the second, a teenage and adult program for those 13 and over, cost $30. Registration will be held Thursday, Sept. 17 in the Municipal Building. An invitation to head a team, make a donation or walk in the American Heart Association Walk in honor of Andy Feintuch to be held in Ridgewood on Oct. 15 was introduced, and those interested should contact the Recreation Department. The Mayor said he would be walking and encouraged everyone to participate.
SANITATION AND PUBLIC FACILITIES: Under Recycling, Councilman Pepe reported that the DPW constructed a new road and entrance way for the Recycling Center on the Plant Road Extension for residents only. DPW trucks will not use this road and this was instituted for safety. New hours for the Recycling Center are 7 a.m. to 12 noon Monday through Saturday, and closed on Sunday. The next Hazardous Household Waste Collection Event would be held Sept. 17 at Bergen Community College. Under Sanitation, he reported that on July 19, the State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Northern Bureau of Water Compliance and Enforcement conducted an unannounced inspeciton of the Borough’s Waste Water Collection System including the Pump Stations and all areas were rated Satisfactory with the exception of an overabundance of grease being discharged from business on Route 17. Necessary steps have been taken regarding the grease traps on Route 17 by the borough. Hurricane Floyd created tremendous sewage flows and the first overflow at the BCUA, when grit and sediment flushed out of municipal sewers and into the BCUA trunk, with over 200 tons of grit captured and removed as a result of the hurricane. As a result, the BCUA has started and will clean all 115 miles leading to its treatment plant in Little Ferry. Turner Construction, manager for the schools construction, sent a letter thanking the DPW for their quick response when called on. The mayor pleaded with anyone who has a sump pump infiltrated into the sewer system, to please take it out, as it is costly to the borough.
LAND USE AND WELFARE: Under Welfare, Councilwoman Verrastro reported for the month of July; cases pending, 9; referrals, 3; 2 families received food from the pantry; certificates granted, 2; money expended $772. Lee Kulakowski is still waiting for word on computer classes. Under Building and Land Use for Aug. 1 to 18, 20 certificates were given out for different projects, for a total value of construction of $156,750. Glenn Paxton, Zoning enforcement officer, sent letters to different residents regarding parking on the grass, and overgrown lawns, with residents given 7 days notice to cut grass, summonses were given out for not getting a permit for construction.
BOARD OF HEALTH: Under the Board of Health, Councilman Wassberg reported on the statistics for the month of July: births recorded 5, 3 male, 2 female; burial permits, 27; deaths recorded, 37; in town, 3; food licenses, 17; milk licenses, 2; marriage licenses,; dog licenses, 139; and 148 calls to the Board of Health office.
REPORT OF MAYOR: APPOINTMENTS: Steven Soares to Fire Department On a motion by Councilman DiPisa, seconded by Councilman Pepe, and unanimously accepted, the foregoing Appointment was approved. Mayor Torre began his report by welcoming Steven Soares to the Fire Department and commended the Fire Chiefs for keeping up the morale and thanked the men and women of the department as well. He continued that plans were to set up a meeting sometime during the last two weeks of September to invite public comment, that there would be a townwide mailing presenting the facts, and that was the purpose of the meeting in which the Central Avenue residents were invited and the plan presented that evening was the most efficient for the moment. Everyone would be given an opportunity to speak and view the plans at the public meetings. He also welcomed comments from the public during the public portion of this meeting. He was pleased to announce that there was a verbal settlement with the insurance company in excess of $4.5 million. Originally the settlement was around $3 million. He thanked Michael Kronyak, Ralph Chandless and along with Councilman DiPisa, Councilman Pepe and said they had worked very hard meeting with himself on a weekly basis. This figure does not include the temporary Fire Department garages which will be paid for by the insurance company. These buildings will be used by the DPW when no longer needed as temporary headquarters.
NEW BUSINESS:
CONSENT AGENDA: RESOLUTIONS: 127. Accepting Maintenance Security of Heights Car Wash 128. Opposing Legislation for Expansion of Public Use Airports 129. Award Contract for Barrier
Free Curb Program to Covino & Sons Construction Inc. ORDINANCES ON INTRODUCTION: ORDINANCE NO. 1910: BE IT RESOLVED that an Ordinance entitled "AN ORDINANCE TO SUPPLEMENT CHAPTER 261 ENTITLED "VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC" OF THE CODE OF THE BOROUGH OF HASBROUCK HEIGHTS SO AS TO INCLUDE THEREIN A PROHIBITION AGAINST THE PARKING OF ANY MOTOR VEHICLES OF A GROSS WIDTH IN EXCESS OF 8 FEET OR A GROSS LENGTH IN EXCESS OF 19 FEET UPON ANY PUBLIC STREET WITHIN THIS BOROUGH EXCEPT FOR THE PURPOSE OF LOADING OR UNLOADING PASSEMBERS, GOODS OR MATERIALS OR RENDERING OF SERVICES 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 12, 2000. On a motion by Councilwoman Verrastro, seconded by Councilman Pepe, and unanimously carried, the foregoing Ordinance on Introduction was approved.
MISCELLANEOUS FROM PUBLIC: Mayor Torre opened the meeting for anyone wishing to speak. Frank Meo, 44 Washington Place, said he and Mr. Albunia had been talking with residents of the town, if there would be a nonpartisan advisory committee for the new proposals of Borough Hall. He was told that due to the nature of the fire, this was done on an emergency basis, utilizing the knowledge of professionals of architecture, traffic, to give the best plan for the taxpayers. Councilman Pepe said that anything with pending litigation may not be discussed with the general public, which prevented an inclusion of an advisory committee. Meo asked if there would be an advisory committee now that the insurance settlement is done. He was told that the public at large would be aware and could offer input. Angie Scribano, 255 Central Avenue, wanted to know why she wasn’t notified of the meeting of Aug. 8. She was told that only those within 200 feet of the proposed complex was invited. She said she had to read it in The Observer. Phil Scribano, 255 Central Avenue, felt it was a done deal, and was told it was not. The Mayor said that other sites were investigated throughout town, and that this plan was felt to give the most option for the tax dollar, and that the purpose of that meeting was to show the plan to those who had the most impact. Scribano wanted to see what other alternatives there were and he offered some suggestions. Mary Clare Walsh, 241 Madison Avenue, wanted to know what the perimeters for the 200 feet were, property owned by the Borough or property proposed. She was told property proposed. Donna Wipper, 231 Madison, asked that when considering the meetings in September that the last week in September, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday would be ribbon cutting for the new school additions. Richard Ortiz, 234 Central Avenue, asked the Council when looking at other alternatives to please look at space requirements for various departments as to size and alternatives to downscale the project. The public portion of the meeting was closed at 8:55 p.m. for litigation and personnel.
ADJOURN: There being no further business to come before the Mayor and Council, the public portion of 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 Regular Meeting held on August 22, 2000. Rose Marie Sees
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