City Council

BOROUGH OF HIGH BRIDGE – COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Date: October 22, 2020 – 7:30 p.m. – Location: Online Zoom Meeting CALL TO ORDER: BY MAYOR LEE FLAG SALUTE: LEAD BY MAYOR LEE ROLL CALL Councilman Columbus present Councilwoman Moore present Mayor Lee present Councilwoman Ferry present Councilman Strange absent Councilwoman Hughes present Councilman Zappa present Also present were Attorney Barry Goodman, Administrator Bonnie Fleming, Clerk Adam Young and six members of the public and press. READING AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES: REGULAR 09/24/2020 Motion to dispense with the reading of the September 24, 2020 regular minutes: Hughes / Moore Roll call vote: Columbus, abstain ; Ferry, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Moore, yes ; Strange, absent ; Zappa, yes ;= Motion passes: 4 yes, 1 abstain, 1 absent Motion to approve the September 24, 2020 regular minutes: Hughes / Moore Roll call vote: Columbus, abstain ; Ferry, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Moore, yes ; Strange, absent ; Zappa, yes ;= Motion passes: 4 yes, 1 abstain, 1 absent PROCLAMATIONS: A. Proclamation 008-2020: Lead Poisoning Awareness read by Mayor Lee PUBLIC COMMENTS: 5 MINUTES PER PERSON: NONE PUBLIC HEARINGS: NONE DISCUSSION ITEMS: A. Best practices - Mayor and Council discussed the items on the best practices list. INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES: A. Ordinance 2020-047: Acceptance of Easement Motion to introduce Ordinance 2020-047: Moore / Ferry Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Moore, yes ; Strange, absent ; Zappa, yes ;= Motion passes: 5 yes, 1 absent Mayor Lee states that the Ordinance 2020-047 shall be published in its entirety in the Express Times and/or the Hunterdon County Democrat along with the public hearing date of November 12, 2020. CONSENT AGENDA RESOLUTION # TITLE Resolution - 217 - 2020 Apply for Covid-19 Grant - Hunterdon County Resolution - 218 - 2020 Appointment of Full Time Laborer Resolution - 219 - 2020 Approving Infiltration and Inflow Study Resolution - 220 - 2020 Approving Sanitary Sewer Pump Station Review and Analysis Reports Resolution - 221 - 2020 Authorizing Officials To Sign Memorandum Of Understanding - Department Of Veterans Affairs - Parking Of Federal Vehicle Resolution - 222 - 2020 Award of Contract - Boom mower Resolution - 223 - 2020 Award of Contract - Tilcon Resolution - 224 - 2020 Award of Contract - Tree Removal Resolution - 225 - 2020 Award of Professional Services Contract - Community Action Services Resolution - 226 - 2020 Cancellation of Taxes - Exempt Veteran Resolution - 227 - 2020 Change Order - McDonald Street  Resolution - 228 - 2020 Updated Borough Events Resolution - 229 - 2020 Refund of Taxes Resolution - 230 - 2020 Support of High-Speed Internet Accessibility Resolution - 231 - 2020 Support of Motion Picture and Television Development Act Resolution - 232 - 2020 Updated Boards and Committees Resolution - 233 - 2020 Golf rates Motion to approve the consent agenda: Zappa / Ferry Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Moore, yes ; Strange, absent ; Zappa, yes ;= Motion passes: 5 yes, 1 absent COUNCIL COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS Councilman Zappa - Department of Public Works / Engineering Spoke about StreetScape project being underway and nearly completed, bids expected in for water mains and (insert street), DPW putting down 6 tons of blacktop, working on basins, water well 8 pump has been repaired, new street fencing has been installed, meter readings are nearly completed, new water meters have been installed (approx. 185) leaves and brush pickup in process, trees being trimmed, basketball lights on from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., electronic recycling event is on for November 21st. Councilwoman Hughes - Public Health / Environmental / Solid Waste / Recycling Spoke about the electronics recycling plan hopefully picking up to a permanent receptacle, environmental grants being sought are down during Covid-19 so submissions should be done for possible Open Space projects such as a pavilion, Veteran’s Park tree needing to be removed and this has been completed, working on the new solid waste contract and some specifics including the possibility of standard containers, no longer needing garbage stickers, and a five-year contract being possible. Councilwoman Moore - Finance Spoke about having an updated bond rating of AA, added assessment bills being mailed this week, property tax reimbursement program, homestead will not be credited until a later date, the tax sale list being decreased, budget requests for 2021 are being prepared for all departments. Councilman Strange - Emergency Services / Education / Open Space / Recreation No report at this time. Councilwoman Ferry - Website / Newsletter / Historical / Special Events Spoke about the Historical Committee event as a Zoom meeting about flying saucers, a tinfoil hat contest, a socially distanced movie of Ghostbusters being presented at Union Forge Park, the coming home decorating contest all with details found on www.highbridge.org, the Historical Committee working on digital methods to present information, the Committee attending webinars to continue learning about historical topics in the area, a volunteer social distance meeting coming up in the Borough to get and maintain volunteer interest. Councilman Columbus - Golf / Economic Development Committee Spoke about four new members joining the Golf Committee, netting at hole 17 being repaired, a few areas for asphalt repair being done, a pond bubbler being installed in the spring, completing fall green aerification to promote grass growth, read the golf statistics, the Califon Fire Department completing their event at the course, the Hurricane Junior Golf Corp. is hosting their event this coming weekend, spoke about EDC event to having Music on Main with multiple locations on Main Street playing music, search criteria being measured from outside of the Borough which may assist in bringing in outside business. Administrator Bonnie Fleming - Administrator’s Report Spoke about the S&P AA rating, best practices inventory review, gathering receipts for Covid expenses, working on hazard mitigation management plan, deadline for senior freeze has been extended to December 31st. Mayor Michele Lee - Executive Services Report Spoke about Covid-19 funds being received from the State of New Jersey in the amount of about $19,000, the Covid numbers in Hunterdon moving up slowly but Hunterdon County being in a good place, thanked the Office of Emergency Management’s Joe Trilone for his work this year, Borough Hall is open to the public with a buzzer system, Veteran’s Day celebration on November 7th at C.K. Hoffman’s park, and a reminder to vote. PUBLIC COMMENTS: 5 MINUTES PER PERSON: NONE LEGAL ISSUES: NONE COMMUNICATIONS A. Zoning Report - September B. Monthly Tax and Finance Reports C. Sanitary Sewer Pump Station Review and Analysis Reports D. Infiltration and Inflow Study  BILL LIST Approval of Bills as signed and listed on the Bill Payment List. Total Amount: $2,814,033.74 Motion to approve bill list: Moore / Zappa Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Moore, yes ; Strange, absent ; Zappa, yes ;= Motion passes: 5 yes, 1 absent ADJOURNMENT: PRESIDING OFFICER ASKS IF THERE IS ANY FURTHER BUSINESS Motion to adjourn: Moore / Zappa Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Moore, yes ; Strange, absent ; Zappa, yes ;= Motion passes: 5 yes, 1 absent Next Council Meeting: November 12, 2020 - 7:30 pm – Online Zoom Meeting ATTEST: Adam Young Michele Lee Municipal Clerk Mayor