City Council

BOROUGH OF HIGH BRIDGE – COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Date: December 10, 2020 – 7:30 p.m. – Location: Online Zoom Meeting CALL TO ORDER: BY MAYOR LEE FLAG SALUTE: LEAD BY MAYOR ROLL CALL Councilman Columbus present Councilwoman Moore absent Mayor Lee present Councilwoman Ferry present Councilman Strange present Councilwoman Hughes present Councilman Zappa present Also present were Attorney Barry Goodman, Administrator Bonnie Fleming, Clerk Adam Young and sixteen members of the public and press. READING AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES: REGULAR 11/12/2020 Motion to dispense with the reading of the November 12, 2020 regular minutes: Hughes / Strange Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Moore, absent ; Strange, yes ; Zappa, yes ; Motion passes: 5 yes, 1 absent Motion to approve the November 12, 2020 regular minutes: Hughes / Strange Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Moore, absent ; Strange, yes ; Zappa, yes ; Motion passes: 5 yes, 1 absent AWARDS: A. Awards of Recognition – Mayor Lee presented the 2020 Green Award to Mr. George Mehaffey. B. Mayor Lee presented Proclamation 009-2020 recognizing Councilman Christopher Zappa for his dedication to the Borough of High Bridge. Councilman Zappa thanked everyone for their support and encouraged others to get involved to make a difference. PUBLIC COMMENTS: 5 MINUTES PER PERSON Sally Ward wished everyone well in the Holiday Season. Director of the Department of Public Works, Police Chief Brett Bartman, Barbara Kinsky, Coleen Conoy, the Sharkey family, Mayor Lee, Administrator Bonnie Fleming all thanked Councilman Zappa for his service and time on Council. George Mehaffey thanked Lynn Hughes and the Committees for his award. PUBLIC HEARINGS: A. Ordinance 2020-036: Lease Agreement - EMS Building Motion to re-open the public hearing for Ordinance 2020-036: Strange / Ferry Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Moore, absent ; Strange, yes ; Zappa, yes ; Motion passes: 5 yes, 1 absent Mayor Lee spoke about the intent to have shared services with the new South Branch Emergency Services and the lease agreement in the Ordinance. Councilwoman Lynn and Councilman Strange spoke about these steps to formalize this service agreement. Motion to close the public hearing for Ordinance 2020-036: Hughes / Strange Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Moore, absent ; Strange, yes ; Zappa, yes ; Motion passes: 5 yes, 1 absent Motion to adopt Ordinance 2020-036: Hughes / Strange Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Moore, absent ; Strange, yes ; Zappa, yes ; Motion passes: 5 yes, 1 absent B. Ordinance 2020-037: Shared Service Agreement between Town of Clinton, High Bridge, and South Branch Emergency Services Motion to re-open the public hearing for Ordinance 2020-037: Strange / Ferry  Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Moore, absent ; Strange, yes ; Zappa, yes ; Motion passes: 5 yes, 1 absent Mayor Lee and Councilman Strange gave an overview of the Ordinance which contains the LOSAP agreement. Motion to close the public hearing for Ordinance 2020-037: Strange / Columbus Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Moore, absent ; Strange, yes ; Zappa, yes ; Motion passes: 5 yes, 1 absent Motion to adopt Ordinance 2020-037: Strange / Hughes Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Moore, absent ; Strange, yes ; Zappa, yes ; Motion passes: 5 yes, 1 absent C. Ordinance 2020-038: Agreement with South Branch EMS to provide services for High Bridge Motion to re-open the public hearing for Ordinance 2020-038: Strange / Zappa Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Moore, absent ; Strange, yes ; Zappa, yes ; Motion passes: 5 yes, 1 absent Mayor Lee gave an overview of the Ordinance proposed. Motion to close the public hearing for Ordinance 2020-038: Strange / Ferry Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Moore, absent ; Strange, yes ; Zappa, yes ; Motion passes: 5 yes, 1 absent Motion to adopt Ordinance 2020-038: Strange / Hughes Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Moore, absent ; Strange, yes ; Zappa, yes ; Motion passes: 5 yes, 1 absent DISCUSSION ITEMS: A. Street Sweeper – Department of Public Works Director Rick Roll was asked to join the discussion. Councilman Zappa spoke about the street sweeper being an expensive piece of equipment to run, that there should be more street sweeping done in the Borough, that there are rental services to have someone sweep, the sweeper the Borough owns has broken down again, the annual running cost is high and that it may be worth looking into estimates for replacement or a rental option. Director Rick Roll expressed that there is a need to find a new option, a need to find pricing, and that there are very few other local sweepers around. Mayor Lee asked if perhaps another municipality which is local may want to share the service. Discussion of logistics, department use, how other municipalities sweep roads, and current value of the sweeper ensued. INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES: NONE CONSENT AGENDA RESOLUTION # TITLE Resolution - 251 - 2020 Amend Professional Services Contract Resolution - 252 - 2020 Appointment of Police Officer 1 Resolution - 253 - 2020 Appointment of Police Officer 2 Resolution - 254 - 2020 Authorize Application for a 2021 Native Plant Society of NJ Grant Resolution - 255 - 2020 Award of Bid – West Main Street water main replacement project Resolution - 256 - 2020 Cancel Capital Balances Resolution - 257 - 2020 Council meeting dates - 2021 Resolution - 258 - 2020 End of Year Transfers Resolution - 259 - 2020 Final Payment – Black Rock – McDonald Street Resolution - 260 - 2020 Final Payment - Tilcon Resolution - 261 - 2020 Refund – Huskies Electric Resolution - 262 - 2020 Refund – Tax Overpayments Resolution - 263 - 2020 Revert LOSAP funds to High Bridge Motion to approve the consent agenda: Zappa / Strange Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Moore, absent ; Strange, yes ; Zappa, yes ; Motion passes: 5 yes, 1 absent PUBLIC COMMENTS: 5 MINUTES PER PERSON: NONE  LEGAL ISSUES: NONE COMMUNICATIONS A. Zoning Report - November B. Tax and Finance Monthly Reports C. Lease Agreement – EMS Building D. Shared Service Agreement – South Branch Emergency Services E. Service Agreement – South Branch Emergency Services BILL LIST Approval of Bills as signed and listed on the Bill Payment List. Total Amount: $1,313,547.33 Motion to approve bill list: Zappa / Strange Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Moore, absent ; Strange, yes ; Zappa, yes ; Motion passes: 5 yes, 1 absent ADJOURNMENT: PRESIDING OFFICER ASKS IF THERE IS ANY FURTHER BUSINESS Councilman Strange thanked Councilman Zappa for his guidance on Council and thanked him for his hard work. Councilwoman Hughes thanked Councilman Zappa for this help on so many projects, his integrity, and states he will be greatly missed. Councilwoman Ferry thanked Councilman Zappa for his friendship, help with Events, and stated that he will be missed. A video montage was shown of Councilman Zappa. Councilman Columbus thanked Councilman Zappa for his work and dedication. Attorney Goodman and Clerk Adam Young thanked Councilman Zappa for his hard work and efforts in the Borough. Motion to adjourn: Zappa / Strange Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Moore, absent ; Strange, yes ; Zappa, yes ; Motion passes: 5 yes, 1 absent Next Council Meeting: January 4, 2021 – Reorganization Meeting – Zoom Online Meeting ATTEST: Adam Young Michele Lee Municipal Clerk Mayor