City Council

AGENDA FOR THE COUNCIL MEETING OF THE BOROUGH OF MOUNTAIN LAKES HELD AT THE BOROUGH HALL, 400 BOULEVARD, MOUNTAIN LAKES, NJ 07046 OCTOBER 13, 2025 EXECUTIVE SESSION – BEGINS AT 6PM PUBLIC SESSION – BEGINS AT 7PM 1) CALL TO ORDER AND OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT STATEMENT – Mayor This meeting is being held in compliance with Public Law 1975, Chapter 231, Sections 4 and 13, as notice of this meeting has been reported to The Citizen, the Morris County Daily Record, and The Star Ledger on January 9, 2025 and posted in the municipal building. 2) ROLL CALL ATTENDANCE - Clerk 3) FLAG SALUTE – Mayor 4) EXECUTIVE SESSION a. R152-25, Resolution to Enter an Executive Session – Potential Litigation & Attorney - Client Privilege (Approval of Executive Minutes) 5) COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS 6) SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS 7) REPORTS OF BOROUGH ESTABLISHED BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES a. Recreation Commission Update 8) BOROUGH COUNCIL DISCUSSION ITEMS 9) PUBLIC COMMENT Please state your name for the record. Each speaker is limited to one (1) comment of no more than five (5) minutes and no yielding of time to another person. 10) ATTORNEY’S REPORT 11) MANAGER’S REPORT a. Annual Best Practices Review b. Birchwood Lake Dam Update 12) RESOLUTIONS 13) ORDINANCES TO INTRODUCE a. 15-25, Amending the Revised General Ordinances of the Borough of Mountain Lakes to Provide for the Administration of the Requirement Imposed by the State of New Jersey for Lead-Based Paint Inspections of Certain Residential Rental Dwellings b. 16-25, Amending Chapter 119, “Filming”, of the Borough Code 14) ORDINANCES TO ADOPT 15) *CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS Matters listed as Consent Agenda Items are considered routine and will be enacted by one motion of the Council and BOROUGH OF MOUNTAIN LAKES OCTOBER 13, 2025 PAGE 2 one roll call vote. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a Council member requests an item be removed for consideration. *RESOLUTIONS a. R153-25, Authorizing the Payment of Bills b. R154-25, Requesting Approval of Item of Revenue and Appropriation Under N.J.S.A. 40A: 4-87 for the FY2026 Highlands Protection Fund – Plan Conformance Funding Grants - $3,000.00 c. R155-25, Authorizing the Award of Contract for Replacement of DPW Office Split Systems and Ductwork d. R156-25, Appointing Qualified Purchasing Agent e. R157-25, Authorizing the Adoption of the 2025 Morris County, New Jersey Hazard Mitigation Plan Update f. R158-25, Establishing a Policy for Retroactive Refund of Taxes Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 54:4-3.32 g. R159-25, Authorizing the Settlement of a Tax Appeal (15 Point View Place LLC v. Borough of Mountain Lakes – Block 100.02, LOT 87) h. R160-25, Authorizing the Settlement of a Tax Appeal (Abbas, Abida Anum/Ali Babar v. Borough of Mountain Lakes – Block 78, Lot 44) i. R161-25, Cancelling Taxes for Total Disabled Veteran *APPROVAL OF MINUTES 6/23/25 (Executive) 9/24/25 (Regular) *BOARD, COMMITTEE AND COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS 16) DEPARTMENT REPORTS SUBMITTED FOR FILING Construction Department Department of Public Works Fire Department Health Department Police Department Recreation Department Code Enforcement/Property Maintenance Tax Collector 17) COUNCIL REPORTS 18) PUBLIC COMMENT Please state your name for the record. Each speaker is limited to one (1) comment of no more than five (5) minutes and no yielding of time to another person. 19) NEXT STEPS AND PRIORITIES 20) ADJOURNMENT  BOROUGH OF MOUNTAIN LAKES COUNTY OF MORRIS, NJ RESOLUTION 152-25 RESOLUTION TO ENTER INTO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION WHEREAS, the Open Public Meetings Act, N.J.S.A. 10:4-6 et seq. permits the exclusion of the public from a meeting in certain circumstances; and WHEREAS, this public body is of the opinion that such circumstances presently exist; and WHEREAS, the Governing Body wishes to discuss: ☐ Matters made confidential by state, federal law or rule by court ☐ Matters in which the release of information would impair the right to receive funds from the Government ☐ Matters involving individual privacy ☐ Collective bargaining ☐ Purchase or lease of property, setting of bank rates, investment of public funds if disclosure would harm the public interest ☐ Public safety ☒ Pending, ongoing or anticipated litigation or contract negotiation ☐ Personnel matters ☐ Civil penalty or loss of license ☒ Attorney – Client Privilege (Approval of Executive Minutes) Minutes will be kept and once the matter involving the confidentiality of the above no longer requires that confidentiality, then the minutes can be made public. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the public be excluded from this meeting.  CERTIFICATION: I hereby certify the foregoing to be a true and correct copy of a resolution duly adopted by the Borough Council of Mountain Lakes, New Jersey, at a meeting held on October 13, 2025. ____________________________ Cara Fox, Borough Clerk Name Motion Second Aye Nay Absent Abstain Cannon Howley Menard Sheikh Tsai Muilenburg Barnett Recreation Department October 2024- September 2025  Recreation Director Responsibilities Beaches Sailing Program Support Staff Administrative -Beach Director (1) -Sailing Directors (1) to Recreation Assistant to the -Head Lifeguard (1) -Asst Sailing Director (3) Commission Borough Manager -Lifeguards (48) -Counselors (12) -CITs (5) Oversee Room Reservations and Community Events Teen Adventure Door Access for and Recreation -Director (1) Summer Recreation Sports for Youth Borough Hall -Supervisors (6) Program and Adults -Program Director (1) -Lead Counselors (6) Oversee Facility -Specialists (2) Safety Coordinator Communications Reservations, -Health Staff (2) Oversee the safety -Borough website including Rack -Counselors (28) efforts and act as a -Electronic Sign and Ring -CITs (12) liaison between the -Social Media - Borough and Joint Facebook & Instagram Insurance Fund (JIF) -Weekly Borough Blast  Recreation Commission MISSION: To offer quality, affordable, and diverse recreational and cultural programs and facilities to the residents of Mountain Lakes of all ages and abilities. By providing these services to meet the recreational and leisure needs of the community, we will strive to enrich and to improve well-being and quality of life. MEMBERS: There shall be a Recreation Commission consisting of nine members, who shall be appointed by the council. Each member shall serve for three years. Sports Youth Sports Adult Sports - Basketball - Basketball - Cross Country and Track - Soccer - 40+ and 50+ teams - Flag Football - HUB Lakes - Field Hockey - Darts - Lacrosse - Golf - Men’s and Women’s - Multi-Sport Program - Softball - Men’s and Women’s - Rugby - Volleyball - Men’s and Women’s - Ski Club - Soccer Things to note: Volleyball – offered a Spring and Fall outdoor volleyball clinic at - Swim and Dive Birchwood Lake; a gym is not available for winter 2026. - Tennis HUB Lakes: - Tri-Town Little League Baseball Mountain Lakes WON the following categories this year… - Volleyball Women’s Golf, Tennis, Youth Dive, and Youth Swim - Wrestling Currently ML doesn’t participate in Bowling, Horseshoes, Table Tennis, or Track (adult and youth). Programs and Events Fall - Fall Fest - NEW October 2024 – over 300 people attended; 30 volunteers - Halloween Porch/Door Decoration Contest – 11 entries - Holiday Porch/Door Decoration Contest – 11 entries - Mobile MVC Event – NEW September 2025 Winter - Gingerbread Wonderland - NEW December 2024 – 14 displays submitted; over 200 people viewed the displays - Menorah Lighting – over 60 people attended - New Resident Welcome Kit – 30 kits have been distributed as of 9.15.25 - Tree Lighting – over 250 people attended - Woodburning Class – NEW December 2025 Programs and Events continued Spring - Astronomy Event – NEW planned for March 2026 - Egg Hunt – over 300 people attended - Rack and Ring Program - Summer Recreation Programs open for registration - Trout Derby – over 60 people attended in the snowy/rainy conditions Summer - Family Boat and Swim Races – 40 youth and adults raced; over 70 attended - Fireworks - Movie Night – rescheduled to October 10, 2025, due to rain - Sand Sculpting Class – NEW July 2025 – 15 people attended - Summer Concert Series at Island Beach - Summer Yoga provided by Lakeland Hills Family YMCA Laker 55+ Club Revitalized October 2024 - Initial interest meeting with 32 participants - Over 85 residents on the email distribution list - Events - Tour of MacCulloch Hall and Morristown - Trivia Night at Fort Nonsense Brewing Company - NORWESCAP Presentation on NJ Save Program - Viewing of the tv series “The Pacific” - Chair Yoga series - Fly Fishing for Beginners in partnership with Hacklebarney Trout Unlimited - Senior and Veteran ID Event provided by Morris County Clerk - Brooklyn Bridge and Lower Manhattan - Morristown Historical Tour – Revolutionary War - Glass Blowing Class at Morris County School of Glass – October 2025 Summertime Fun Summer Recreation Mountain Lakes Teen Adventure Program at Briarcliff Sailing Association Program Middle School Program - Serves kids going into 6th-9th grade - Serves kids going into K- - Serves kids 8 years and 5th grade older - Trips include, Point Pleasant Beach, Dorney - Sports Specialist and Arts - Adult lessons available Park, Camelbeach (Music and Art) Specialist Waterpark, Branchburg Sports Complex, bowling, Island Beach & and roller skating. Birchwood Lake - Play, swim, dive - Lifeguard supervision Achievements Created and Implemented: Commemorative Bench Program Financial Assistance Program Sponsorship Program New Resident Welcome Kit Teen Adventure Increased Teen Adventure Week 2 capacity from 60 to 100 kids to accommodate a lengthy waitlist. Extended Day Summer Recreation Program Offered Extended Day Summer Recreation Program from 12-2:30pm, provided by USA Sports Group – 22-45 kids participated each week. Facility Use Report 126 permits issued Oct 1, 2024, thru Sept 15, 2025, with 702 individual events using a Borough facility. Recommendations Rack and Ring Program Occupy Policy - Residents must show signs of occupying rack/ring by July 4th; after a 1-week grace period rack/ring will be made available to waitlist; no refund will be issued. Renovation of Taft Field for Multi-Sport Use, Including a Softball Field Lack of Local Facilities: Our community currently does not have a dedicated softball field for recreation use. With nearby towns limiting access to their own fields, it is increasingly difficult to secure space for local baseball and softball programs. Overuse of BOE Fields: HUB Lakes softball and Tri-Town Little League is currently dependent on Board of Education (BOE) fields, which presents logistical challenges, scheduling conflicts, and maintenance concerns. Solution: Renovating Taft Field into a multi-sport facility—with a dedicated softball field—would not only address these issues but also promote local sports participation, reduce scheduling conflicts, and support both youth and adult recreational programs.