City Council

BOROUGH OF HIGH BRIDGE COUNCIL RE-ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING MINUTES Date: January 4, 2021 – 7:30 p.m. – Location: Zoom virtual 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 present Councilwoman Hughes present Also present were Attorney Barry Goodman, Administrator Bonnie Fleming, Clerk Adam Young, and six members of the public and press. SWEARING IN A. Councilman Alan Schwartz Term expiring 12/31/2023 – Sworn in by Mayor Lee B. Natalie Ferry Term expiring 12/31/2023 – Sworn in by Mayor Lee COMMENTS OF COUNCIL Council welcomed Alan Schwartz to the Council and welcomed back Natalie Ferry. Mayor Lee announced the hiring of two Police Officers in the Borough. NEW BUSINESS A. Resolution 001-2021 - Nomination and Election of Council President – Mayor Lee asks for nominations. Councilwoman Ferry nominated Councilwoman Hughes with Councilwoman Moore seconding. Councilman Columbus nominated Councilman Strange with Councilman Schwartz seconding. A vote was taken. Columbus votes Strange, Ferry votes Hughes, Hughes votes Hughes, Moore votes Hughes, Schwartz votes Strange, Strange votes Hughes. Hughes is nominated. Motion to approve nomination and adopt Resolution 001-2021: Strange / Moore Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Moore, yes ; Schwartz, yes ; Strange, yes ; Motion passes: 6 yes B. Resolution 002-2021 - Temporary Budget Motion to adopt the temporary budget: Moore / Hughes Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Moore, yes ; Schwartz, yes ; Strange, yes ; Motion passes: 6 yes PUBLIC COMMENTS: 5 MINUTES PER PERSON Sally Ward wished all a Happy New Year and stated she is happy about Lynn Hughes taking on Council President position. INTRODUCTION OF NEW ORDINANCES A. Ordinance 2021-001: Salary and Wage Ranges Motion to introduce Ordinance 2021-001: Hughes / Columbus Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Moore, yes ; Schwartz, yes ; Strange, yes ; Motion passes: 6 yes Mayor Lee states that the Ordinance 2021-001 shall be published in its entirety in the Express Times and/or the Hunterdon County Democrat along with the public hearing date of January 28, 2021. DISCUSSION ITEMS: NONE CONSENT AGENDA RESOLUTION # TITLE Resolution – 003 – 2021 Updated Boards and Committees Resolution – 004 – 2021 Annual 2021 Council meeting dates Resolution – 005 – 2021 Borough Newspapers Resolution – 006 – 2021 Tax and utility delinquencies Resolution – 007 – 2021 Cancel small balances Resolution – 008 – 2021 Tax appeals Resolution – 009 – 2021 Depositories and cash management plan Resolution – 010 – 2021 Non-fair and open process for professional contracts Resolution – 011 – 2021 Signatures on checks Resolution – 012 – 2021 General Borough appointments Resolution – 013 – 2021 Council Committee assignments Resolution – 014 – 2021 Adopt personnel policy, cyber security policy, and social media policy Resolution – 015 – 2021 Animal control Resolution – 016 – 2021 Borough Events Resolution – 017 – 2021 OPRA hours Resolution – 018 – 2021 Authorization to bid Resolution – 019 – 2021 Authorize purchases from memberships Resolution – 020 – 2021 Authorizing professional memberships Resolution – 021 – 2021 Adopt green purchasing policy Resolution – 022 – 2021 Dog license late date and fees Resolution – 023 – 2021 Duplicate tax certificate Resolution – 024 – 2021 Shredding Event and Litter Clean Up Day Resolution – 025 – 2021 Newsletter rates Resolution – 026 – 2021 Utility rates Resolution – 027 – 2021 Police rules and regulations Resolution – 028 – 2021 High Bridge JIF Commissioner Resolution – 029 – 2021 High Bridge Risk Manager Agreement 2021 Resolution – 030 – 2021 Join Morris County Co-op Resolution – 031 – 2021 Municipal alliance Resolution – 032 – 2021 Soil Witness Fees - PERC tests Resolution – 033 – 2021 Authorization to advertise for Police Department staff Resolution – 034 – 2021 Grant Authorization Resolution – 035 – 2021 Volunteer Tuition Credit program Resolution – 036 – 2021 Recycling grant Resolution – 037 – 2021 Annual Tree Board appointments Resolution – 038 – 2021 NJ Wildlife Resolution – 039 – 2021 Tree City re-certification Resolution – 040 – 2021 Support water conservation Resolution – 041 – 2021 Apply for wildlife habitat community re-certification Resolution – 042 – 2021 Anti-idling Resolution – 043 – 2021 Nassau Road 2021 wildlife protection Resolution – 044 – 2021 Amend Ordinance 184-10 Parking prohibited all times 184-24.2 schedule 3B Resolution – 045 – 2021 Veterans Tax Exemption Policy Resolution – 046 – 2021 Sponsorship packages Resolution – 047 – 2021 Golf rates Resolution – 048 – 2021 Authorization to advertise - Department of Public Works Resolution – 049 – 2021 Award of Contract - SeamlessDocs Resolution – 050 – 2021 Companion animals Resolution – 051 – 2021 Amend Park Hours and Closures Resolution – 052 – 2021 Planning Board and Board of Adjustment Fees Resolution – 053 – 2021 Property assessment program authorization Resolution – 054 – 2021 Resolution to Join the Statewide Insurance Fund Resolution – 055 – 2021 Shared service agreement – Zoning Officer  Resolution – 056 – 2021 Amend Continuing Certificate of Occupancy and Fire Prevention Fees Resolution – 057 – 2021 0% interest for utilities Resolution – 058 – 2021 Electronic Tax Sale Resolution – 059 – 2021 Grant Authorization Motion to remove and amend Resolution 004-2021 to correct the date of September 19 to September 9: Columbus / Strange Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Moore, yes ; Schwartz, yes ; Strange, yes ; Motion passes: 6 yes Motion to approve Resolution 004-2021 as amended: Strange / Moore Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Moore, yes ; Schwartz, yes ; Strange, yes ; Motion passes: 6 yes Councilman Strange asked about an exception for the basketball court so that it may remain in use when the lights are on rather than be closed from dusk to dawn. Council discussed. Rick Roll confirmed the lights are currently set from 5pm to 11pm to be on. Mayor Lee noted that all of Union Forge will need to be reviewed soon. Councilman Strange proposed the Resolution be amended to “excluding golf course and the Union Forge basketball court when lit by Borough lights”. Motion to remove the Resolution from the consent agenda, amend Resolution 051-2021 to include “excluding golf course and the Union Forge basketball court when lit by Borough lights” and adopt: Hughes / Moore Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Moore, yes ; Schwartz, yes ; Strange, yes ; Motion passes: 6 yes Motion to approve the consent agenda as amended: Moore / Strange Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Moore, yes ; Schwartz, yes ; Strange, yes ; Motion passes: 6 yes PUBLIC COMMENTS: NONE COMMUNICATIONS A. High Bridge Police Department Rules and Regulations B. Contract for animal control services C. Seamless Docs Proposal BILL LIST Approval of Bills as signed and listed on the Bill Payment List. Total Amount: $309,442.10 Motion to approve bill list: Moore / Ferry Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Moore, yes ; Schwartz, yes ; Strange, yes ; Motion passes: 6 yes ADJOURNMENT: PRESIDING OFFICER ASKS IF THERE IS ANY FURTHER BUSINESS Motion to adjourn: Strange / Columbus Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Moore, yes ; Schwartz, yes ; Strange, yes ; Motion passes: 6 yes Next Council Meeting: January 14, 2021 - 7:30 pm – Zoom virtual meeting ATTEST: Adam Young Michele Lee Municipal Clerk Mayor