City Council

Borough Council Mid-Year Review July 28, 2025 1 Fiscal Strength ✓ Unanimous adoption of fiscally responsible 2025 budget ✓ Healthy fund balance and cash reserves ✓ Maintenance of Bond Rating of AAA – only 5% of NJ municipalities have a AAA rating ✓ State, County and Highlands Council grants providing taxpayer relief: ➢ $542,000 County & State grants for Station property renovation ➢ $170,000 NJ DOT grant for Briarcliff Road Paving ➢ $79,000 grant for Phase 2 of Trolley Path improvements ➢ $18,000 Highlands Council grant for Fair Share Plan Ordinances (Task 1) ✓ Successful audit of 2024 finances ✓ Settlement of multi-year Verizon NJ tax appeal, protecting Borough finances ✓ Ratification and Execution of a three-year Collective Negotiations Agreement with Teamsters Local 125 2 Operational Effectiveness ✓ Sunset Dam final project completion (dock installation) ✓ Prep work for paving projects ✓ Engineering for Phase 2 of Trolley Path improvement project ✓ Robust Library programming for Lakers of all ages ✓ Enhanced Recreation programming, including extended Day Program for Summer Recreation Camp provided by USA Sports, Movie Nights at Island Beach, Morris County Clerk Senior & Veterans ID Event, Mobile MVC at Borough Hall this fall ✓ Support for traditional and new community events, including Diwali, Lunar New Year, Memorial Day Parade, Juneteenth, PBA Block Party, Volunteer Fire Department Fun Run, July Fireworks, & Swim/Boat Races, and Summer Concert Series o Engineering and Design for state-mandated Water Remediation project, including evaluation of potential funding sources o Multi-Year Solid Waste Contract to go out to bid this Fall 3 Community Stewardship & Development ✓ Adoption of updated land use ordinances for consistency, clarity and efficiency ✓ Adoption of Pre-Qualification Regulations in Connection with Bids for Exterior Restoration of the Station property ✓ Adoption of ordinance amending the Rules Governing Lakes, Parks, and Special Use Facilities allowing for re-design of Red Trail ✓ Adoption of Ordinance establishing Highlands Council Regional Master Plan Conformance ✓ Endorsement of Fair Share Housing Plan for 2025 through 2035 as Adopted by the Mountain Lakes Planning Board o Implementation of Fair Share Housing Plan ordinances, including new overlay zoning to support affordable housing o Determination of whether Birchwood Lake dam repairs are needed 4 Openness, Responsiveness & Engagement ✓ Approval of conveyance of Borough-owned property to the Mountain Lakes Board of Education for their turf field project in response to the School District’s request o Outreach to Federal, State & County levels of government on issues of importance, including securing grants to support Borough priorities and provide taxpayer relief o 150+ residents serving as Borough volunteers, including over 40 young people serving as Student Committee Members and Junior Volunteer Firefighters o Transparent budget process and quarterly review of financials – all information shared with the public and reviewed at public meetings 5  Council Discussion 6  THANK YOU to our Borough volunteers, employees, and professionals for your contributions to our community! 7  B9R9UGt=I 9F MC?UNTAIN LAKtS LISTtD IN NJ\Tl'?NJ\L J\ND 5TJ\Tt RtCil5TtR5 '?t MIST'?RIC PLJ\Ct5 Mitchell Stern 400 Boulevard Borough Manager Mountain Lakes, NJ 07046 mstern@mtnlakes.org P-973-334-3131 ext. 2006 TO: Honorable Mayor and Borough Council SUBJ: Manager's Report for the Borough Council meeting of July 28, 2025 CC: Robert Oostdyk, Borough Attorney Annual Road Paving - Paving is scheduled to begin second week of August on the below listed roads. Prior to work starting, we will broadcast information via e-blast and Nixie, as appropriate. • Baldwin - Pollard to Romaine • Beechway Road - Hanover to MLHS • Crystal Road - N. Crane to Overlook • Fernwood Trail - Rainbow to Lakewood • Fox Hill Lane - Rt. 46 to Brook Lane • Hanover Road - Oakland to Fanny • Laurelwood Drive - Pinewood to Denville border • Midvale Road - Romaine to Woodland • Oakland Road - Boulevard to Melrose • Yorke Road - Intervale to Warwick Sunset Lake Dam Project -The owners of 71 East Shore Road have communicated their desire to replace the hatch on top of the new spillway with one that is more visually appealing and also perform some regrading of the slope near their home. The owners have been in contact with NJ DEP regarding this work and it was recommended that they utilize Boswell Engineering because of their familiarity with the project. Boswell Engineering has agreed to perform the work pending an acknowledgement by all parties of a potential conflict of interest. After discussion with the Borough Attorney, we have determined that we are comfortable with Boswell contracting with the property owner (see attached document). NJ DCA Local Recreation Grant Award - Based on a grant submission previously submitted, the Borough has been notified of its award of $79,000 towards improvements to the Boulevard Trolley Path. Once we receive bids back for the work, we will award a contract. NJ DOT Road Improvement Grant Submission - After consultation with our Borough Engineer and DPW leadership, Midvale Road, from Intervale to Woodland Road and the entire length of Woodland Road has been selected as the submission for this round of grants. The total funding request is $396,990. On the agenda for this meeting, you will find a resolution that is required as part of the grant submission process.  B9R9UGM 9F M9UNT/\IN L f\KtS Ll5TtD IN NI\Tl'?NI\L /\ND 5TI\Tt RtGl5HR5 9r Ml5T'?RIC PLl\ct5 Mitchell Stern 400 Boulevard Borough Manager Mountain Lakes, NJ 07046 mstern@mtnlakes.org P-973-334-3131 ext. 2006 TO: Honorable Mayor and Borough Council SUBJ: Manager's Report for the Borough Council meeting of July 28, 2025 Page: 2 of 2 Cell Tower Consultant - In June 2000, the borough entered into a long-term lease that allowed for the construction of a communications tower on borough land behind borough hall. The lease, which had a base period of 10 years with three five-year renewals, has now come to an end, with the borough now taking ownership of the communications tower. Since the time of the initial lease agreement, advances in the communications industry have changed the way tower owners control their towers. After speaking with several municipal managers about how best to move forward, all have recommended engaging with Hoplite Communications to review the now expiring lease and determine the path forward that is in the best interest of the municipality. All of these municipal officials reported that Hoplite successfully handled all legal issues related to their tower and in the end, brought in higher revenues for the municipality then they were previously receiving. On the agenda for this meeting, you will find a proposal from Hoplite Communications with a resolution allowing for their engagement with a not to exceed of $7,500. A copy of the agreement is attached. Train Station Improvement Project - Bids for the project were received on July 2nd and included three proposals. After reviewing the submitted proposals, our project architect, Connelly & Hickey, recommends the contract be awarded to Alden-Bailey Restoration. The contract and related documents will be on the agenda for the August 25th council meeting. See letter from Connolly & Hickey. Automated Bill Payments - Similar to paying our employees electronically, we are beginning to pay vendors in this fashion. On the current bills list, you may notice the replacement of check numbers with the letters ACH (Automated Clearing House) for some of the payments. Paying electronically reduces costs (check printing, mailing, labor), but more importantly, reduces the opportunity for check fraud and cases of checks lost in the mail. As always, feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns. Respectfully, Mitchell