City Council

Draft BOROUGH OF HIGH BRIDGE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA Date: March 25, 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 Schwartz present Councilwoman Hughes present Councilman Strange present Also present are Attorney Barry Goodman, Administrator Bonnie Fleming, Clerk Adam Young and seven members of the public and press. MAYOR’S COMMENTS: NONE READING AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 03/11/2021 Motion to dispense with the reading of the March 11, 2021 regular minutes: Hughes / Schwartz Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Moore, yes ; Schwartz, yes ; Strange, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Motion passes: 6 yes Motion to approve the March 11, 2021 regular minutes: Hughes / Strange Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Moore, yes ; Schwartz, yes ; Strange, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Motion passes: 6 yes PUBLIC COMMENTS: 5 MINUTES PER PERSON Karyn Gove asked if the old garbage contract is the same as the new garbage contract as it pertains to bulk item pickup. Council discussed the difference using and not using the stickers from contract to contract. Administrator Fleming stated that, while the old contract stated one bulk item that they may have taken more. The current contract is the same with this item. PUBLIC HEARINGS: A. Ordinance 2021-009: Mandatory Marketing Requirements for Affordable Housing Motion to open the public hearing for Ordinance 2021-009: Schwartz / Ferry Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Moore, yes ; Schwartz, yes ; Strange, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Motion passes: 6 yes Motion to close the public hearing for Ordinance 2021-009: Strange / Schwartz Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Moore, yes ; Schwartz, yes ; Strange, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Motion passes: 6 yes Motion to adopt Ordinance 2021-009: Strange / Schwartz Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Moore, yes ; Schwartz, yes ; Strange, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Motion passes: 6 yes B. Ordinance 2021-010: CAP Bank Motion to open the public hearing for Ordinance 2021-010: Strange / Ferry Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Moore, yes ; Schwartz, yes ; Strange, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Motion passes: 6 yes Administrator Fleming stated the intent of the Oridnance. Motion to close the public hearing for Ordinance 2021-010: Strange / Schwartz Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Moore, yes ; Schwartz, yes ; Strange, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Motion passes: 6 yes Motion to adopt Ordinance 2021-010: Strange / Ferry Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Moore, yes ; Schwartz, yes ; Strange, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Motion passes: 6 yes C. Ordinance 2021-011: Police Vehicle Motion to open the public hearing for Ordinance 2021-011: Strange / Columbus Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Moore, yes ; Schwartz, yes ; Strange, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Motion passes: 6 yes Councilman Strange stated that this is a planned replacement of a vehicle. Motion to close the public hearing for Ordinance 2021-011: Strange / Ferry Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Moore, yes ; Schwartz, yes ; Strange, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Motion passes: 6 yes Motion to adopt Ordinance 2021-011: Strange / Ferry Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Moore, yes ; Schwartz, yes ; Strange, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Motion passes: 6 yes D. Ordinance 2021-012: Amend Borough Code, Chapter 8-66 Golf Committee Financial Disclosure Motion to open the public hearing for Ordinance 2021-012: Strange / Schwartz Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Moore, yes ; Schwartz, yes ; Strange, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Motion passes: 6 yes Mayor Lee and Councilman Columbus stated the intent of the Ordinance. Motion to close the public hearing for Ordinance 2021-012: Strange / Ferry Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Moore, yes ; Schwartz, yes ; Strange, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Motion passes: 6 yes Motion to adopt Ordinance 2021-012: Strange / Ferry Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Moore, yes ; Schwartz, yes ; Strange, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Motion passes: 6 yes E. Ordinance 2021-013: Water Meter Equipment Motion to open the public hearing for Ordinance 2021-013: Schwartz / Ferry Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Moore, yes ; Schwartz, yes ; Strange, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Motion passes: 6 yes Mayor Lee stated that this is part of an ongoing project to repair water meters which are more efficient. Motion to close the public hearing for Ordinance 2021-013: Strange / Ferry Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Moore, yes ; Schwartz, yes ; Strange, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Motion passes: 6 yes Motion to adopt Ordinance 2021-013: Strange / Ferry Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Moore, yes ; Schwartz, yes ; Strange, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Motion passes: 6 yes F. Ordinance 2021-014: Capital Improvement – Municipal Complex Storage Area Motion to open the public hearing for Ordinance 2021-014: Schwartz / Ferry Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Moore, yes ; Schwartz, yes ; Strange, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Motion passes: 6 yes Administrator Fleming stated the intent of the Ordinance. Motion to close the public hearing for Ordinance 2021-014: Strange / Ferry Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Moore, yes ; Schwartz, yes ; Strange, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Motion passes: 6 yes Motion to adopt Ordinance 2021-014: Hughes / Strange Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Moore, yes ; Schwartz, yes ; Strange, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Motion passes: 6 yes PUBLIC HEARINGS: AMEND AND ADOPT BUDGET A. Motion to open public hearing on budget Resolution 092-2021: Moore / Hughes Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Moore, yes ; Schwartz, yes ; Strange, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Motion passes: 6 yes  Administrator Bonnie Fleming presented on the 2021 budget. Councilman Strange asked about the predicted debt decrease and if the listed amount is assuming no more loans are taken out. Administrator Bonnie Fleming stated that this considers anticipated loans. Mayor Lee stated that $340,000 is also coming from the American Rescue Plan and that High Bridge did very well considering the pandemic. Motion to close the public hearing on budget Resolution 092-2021: Moore / Strange Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Moore, yes ; Schwartz, yes ; Strange, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Motion passes: 6 yes Motion to adopt Resolution 113-2021 amending the budget: Strange / Hughes Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Moore, yes ; Schwartz, yes ; Strange, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Motion passes: 6 yes Motion to adopt budget Resolution 092-2021: Moore / Hughes Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Moore, yes ; Schwartz, yes ; Strange, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Motion passes: 6 yes DISCUSSION ITEMS: NONE INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES: NONE CONSENT AGENDA RESOLUTION # TITLE Resolution - 114 - 2021 Application for Hunterdon County Historical Preservation Grant Resolution - 115 - 2021 Approval of Fireman – Anthony C. Frezza Resolution - 116 - 2021 Approval of Forms For Use Resolution - 117 - 2021 Authorization to apply for 2021 sustainable NJ PSE&G grant Resolution - 118 - 2021 Award of Contract – Washington Section III and River Road Section I Resolution - 119 - 2021 Shared Service Agreement - High Bridge Board of Education Resolution - 120 - 2021 Main Street Banners Resolution - 121 - 2021 LOSAP Award Motion to approve the consent agenda: Hughes / Strange Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Moore, yes ; Schwartz, yes ; Strange, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Motion passes: 6 yes COUNCIL REPORTS Councilman Columbus – Golf Spoke about the golf Committee meeting, work beginning on the control panel, front welcome shed has arrived, State Golf Association has completed rankings of the new red and white hybrid tee, the scorecards have been ordered, path repair is scheduled to begin, golf statistics, upcoming events at the course including the Openers Scramble, High Bridge Hills Classic, and a Comcast announcement that gigabit speeds will be coming to the area. Councilwoman Ferry - Website / Newsletter / Historical / Events Spoke about the Historical Committee adding two members, High Bridge History Facebook page, read Facebook page increase statistics, the oral history project beginning, donations accepted into new archival space, renovations into interior décor at the Solitude House, Women’s History Month was honored on the Facebook page with an interview by Mayor Michele Lee, Annex guards were donated, landscape cleanup at the Solitude House was done. Events Committee planned the Easter Bunny Procession, the Easter Basket Contest with a deadline of April 2nd, the new Borough of High Bridge Facebook page, and the Springside Action Committee is doing a second cleanup of brush. Councilwoman Moore – Finance Spoke about the homestead benefit credit and the moratorium on fees and interest which was by Executive Order. Councilman Schwartz - Department of Public Works / Engineering Brush pickup and leaf pickup dates and details announced, the Commons natural recycling dates and times, water meter replacements are ongoing, street sweeping will begin in the next few weeks, the golf cart paths will be repaired, pothole repairs are ongoing, worked on watermain breaks, ordered supplies for patching the Cregar Road bridge this coming week weather pending, West Main watermain work has been completed, the Washington Ave water main installation is nearing completion, meeting with Borough Engineers about the sanitary pump house renovations and getting funding from Highlands for this work, the County bid opening for the paving of 513/Main happened today. Councilman Strange asked about a fire hydrant repair which was pending. Councilman Schwartz noted that it is being reviewed and that the repair is in queue. Councilman Strange - Emergency Services Spoke about the Fire report and read the statistics for January and February, the new Chief Sean Smith taking over for Jeff Smith, read the Police Department statistics, spoke about reviewing the goal of contacting businesses in town to liaise about ideas, QR code ideas around town which can be used to link to maps, menus, additional parking, bike trails, etc. A meeting about trails with the Mayor was held earlier in the day about getting information out about utilization of the trails. Councilwoman Hughes - Public Health / Environmental / Solid Waste / Recycling / Open Space / Recreation Spoke about Raritan Headwaters stream cleanup activity on April 17 meeting at the Union Forge Park from 9 am to 11 am. Please stay with the group you have come with and pre-register. April 24th electronics recycling. Freon items are $10.00. Pedals for Progress would like to attend the electronics event to gather donations. Administrator Bonnie Fleming - Administrator’s Report Spoke about the passage of the budget and starting new projects, working on historic preservation grants, application for a County grant, apply to the Historic Trust for a grant, coordinating water main projects with road projects. Mayor Michele Lee - Executive Services Spoke about the Hunterdon County Governing Members Committee, which was formed to handle local issues, Mayor’s Walks each Sunday with Mayor Kovach, the flat tax introduced with the budget, preparing for the spring and summer due to Spruce Run algae, handling parking in the Borough, and a parking kiosk in the Commons Park is proposed. PUBLIC COMMENTS: 5 MINUTES PER PERSON: NONE COMMUNICATIONS A. Monthly Tax and Finance Reports B. Annual landlord registration relief letter BILL LIST Approval of Bills as signed and listed on the Bill Payment List. Total Amount: $923,141.56 Motion to approve bill list: Strange / Moore Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Moore, yes ; Schwartz, yes ; Strange, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Motion passes: 6 yes ADJOURNMENT: PRESIDING OFFICER ASKS IF THERE IS ANY FURTHER BUSINESS Motion to adjourn: Moore / Strange Roll call vote: Columbus, yes ; Ferry, yes ; Moore, yes ; Schwartz, yes ; Strange, yes ; Hughes, yes ; Motion passes: 6 yes Next Council Meeting: April 8, 2021 - 7:30 pm – Zoom virtual meeting ATTEST: Adam Young Michele Lee Municipal Clerk Mayor