Mayor & Council

MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE BOROUGH OF MADISON December 2, 2024 – 6:00 p.m. CALL TO ORDER The Special Meeting of the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Madison was held on the 2nd day of December, 2024. Mayor Conley called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. via teleconference in the Borough of Madison. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all. STATEMENT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT The Borough Clerk read the statement pursuant to the Open Public Meetings Act: “In compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act, adequate notice of this meeting of the Council was provided by forwarding a copy of this Special Meeting notice to the Madison Eagle and the Daily Record on November 26, 2024, posting a copy on the bulletin board at the main entrance of the Hartley Dodge Memorial, and filing a copy in the office of the Clerk. Copies of said Notice were made available to members of the general public.” ROLL CALL The Borough Clerk called the roll and the following acknowledged their presence: Present: Mayor Robert H. Conley Council Members: Robert Landrigan Eric P. Range Thomas Haralampoudis Melissa Honohan John J. Forte Absent: Rachel F. Ehrlich, excused Also Present: Raymond M. Codey, Borough Administrator Elizabeth Osborne, Borough Clerk AGENDA REVIEW There was approval of the Special Meeting Agenda. ITEMS OF BUSINESS Mayor Conley explained the purpose of tonight’s special meeting for a hearing and to adopt a resolution authorizing purchase of a portion of Drew University property and authorizing execution of all documents necessary to effectuate this transfer in substantially the same form as described in the executed Term Sheet. The Borough Clerk made the following statement: The ordinance scheduled for hearing was introduced by title and passed on first reading at a regular meeting of the Council held on November 13, 2024; was posted and filed according to law, and copies were made available to the general public requesting same. Special Meeting Minutes – December 2, 2024 Mayor Conley called up the Ordinance for second reading and asked the Clerk to read said ordinance by title: ORDINANCE 35-2024 ORDINANCE OF THE BOROUGH OF MADISON AUTHORIZING THE ACQUISITION OF A SUBDIVIDED PORTION OF REAL PROPERTY, LOCATED AT 36 MADISON AVENUE, MADISON, N.J. AND CURRENTLY IDENTIFIED AS BLOCK 3001, LOT 1, FOR PUBLIC PURPOSES WHEREAS, pursuant to a Term Sheet dated November 5, 2024 in furtherance of an eventual settlement of litigation known as In the Matter of the Application of the Borough of Madison, Superior Court of New Jersey, docket no. MRS-L-1694-15 (the “Litigation”), Drew University has agreed in principle to sell to the Borough of Madison several discrete parcels to be subdivided from its campus located at 36 Madison Avenue, Madison, N.J. 07940, currently identified as Block 3001, Lot 1 on the Borough’s official Tax Map; and WHEREAS, Parcel A consists of approximately 39.6 acres and is also known as the Drew Forest and is bounded by Loantaka Way to the east, Glenwild Road to the south, Green Village Road to the east and the campus interior to the north; and WHEREAS, Parcel D consists of approximately 7.7 acres and is also known as Zuck Arboretum currently used by the University for passive recreational and educational uses; and WHEREAS, Parcel E consists of a parcel of land on which sits the Madison House and three (3) acres of frontage on Madison Avenue; and WHEREAS, the purchase price of Parcels A, D and E is to be funded by Borough resources together with federal, state and county grant awards, the receipt of which is a contingency to the purchase; and WHEREAS, Borough officials have determined that the purchase of Parcels A, D and E in furtherance of settlement of the Litigation and preservation of the Drew Forest and open space is advantageous to the Borough and in the public interest. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Borough Council of the Borough of Madison, in the County of Morris and State of New Jersey, as follows: SECTION 1: The Borough of Madison, pursuant to the Local Lands and Buildings Law, specifically N.J.S.A. 40A:12-5 is authorized to acquire title to a subdivided portion of the property located at 36 Madison Avenue, Madison, N.J. and currently designated as Block 3001, Lot 1 on the Tax Map of the Borough of PAGE 2 OF 4 Special Meeting Minutes – December 2, 2024 Madison for the purpose of preserving the Drew Forest, increasing open space, preserving the historic Madison House and other ancillary municipal purposes subject to (a) execution of a binding Settlement Agreement for the Litigation; (b) execution of a binding Purchase Agreement for Parcels A, D & E and (c) receipt of the above referenced federal, state and county grants. SECTION 2: The Borough Administrator, Mayor, Borough Clerk, Special Counsel and Borough Attorney be and they are authorized and directed to execute all documents necessary to effectuate this transfer in substantially the same form as described in the executed Term Sheet. SECTION 3: If any section, sentence or other part of this Ordinance is adjudged unconstitutional or invalid, such judgement shall not affect, impair or invalidate the reminder of this Ordinance, but shall be confined in its effect to the section, portion or other part of this Ordinance directly involved in the controversy in which such judgement shall be rendered. SECTION 4: All ordinances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this ordinance are hereby repealed, but only to the extent of such inconsistencies. SECTION 5: This ordinance shall take effect immediately upon final passage and publication according to law. Mr. Range moved adoption of Ordinance 35-2024. Mr. Haralampoudis seconded the motion. There was no further Council discussion and the motion passed with the following roll call vote recorded: Yeas: Mr. Landrigan, Mr. Range, Mr. Haralampoudis, Ms. Honohan, Mr. Forte Nays: None Absent: Ms. Ehrlich INVITATION FOR PUBLIC COMMENT Mayor Conley opened the meeting to the public for their opportunity to ask questions and make comments on those items listed on the Agenda. Mayor asked that, upon recognition by the Chair, the person shall give his/her name and address in an audible tone of voice, for the record. He/she shall limit his/her statement to three (3) minutes or less. Since no member of the public wished to be heard, the invitation for discussion was closed. ADJOURN There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 6:05 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Elizabeth Osborne Borough Clerk Approved December 9, 2024 (EO) PAGE 3 OF 4 Special Meeting Minutes – December 2, 2024 PAGE 4 OF 4