Mayor & Council Special Meeting

MINUTES Mayor and Council Special Meeting Monday, December 4, 2023 7:00 P.M. CALL TO ORDER – A Special Meeting of the Mayor and Council of the Borough of River Edge was held virtually via Zoom. The meeting was called to order at 7:02 p.m. by Mayor Thomas Papaleo. SILENT PRAYER – FLAG SALUTE Mayor Papaleo asked for a moment of silence for all the hot spots in the world as well as for all military involved in peacekeeping and security concerns. He then led those present in a salute to the flag. STATEMENT – Mayor Papaleo read the Statement of Compliance into the record as follows: Statement of Compliance with Open Public Meeting Act: This meeting complies with the Open Public Meeting Act via the November 28, 2023 Sunshine Notice containing date, time, and access information to the Town News and the Record and by posting of same on the municipal bulletin board and Borough Website and filing a notice of the same with the Municipal Clerk. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Councilman Chinigo (arrived at 7:10 p.m.), Council President Kaufman, Councilwoman Montisano-Koen, Councilwoman Kinsella, Councilwoman Malellari, Councilman Benson and Mayor Papaleo. ABSENT: None ALSO PRESENT: Borough Administrator Lissette Aportela Borough Attorney Thomas Sarlo, Esq. PUBLIC COMMENT Motion by Council President Kaufman, second Councilman Benson, and all members present voting in favor, to open the floor to the public. No one came forward. On a motion by Councilwoman Montisano-Koen, second by Councilwoman Kinsella, to close to the public. CLOSED SESSION – On a motion from Councilwoman Malellari, seconded by Councilwoman Montisano-Koen, and all present voting in favor, the meeting was adjourned to the Closed Executive Session via Resolution #23- 325 at 7:05 p.m. #23-325 Resolution to Go Into Closed Session and Exclude Public WHEREAS, the Open Public Meetings Act, NJSA 10:4-12 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. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of River Edge, County of Bergen, State of New Jersey, as follows: 1. That the public shall be excluded from the February 6, 2023, special meeting and discussion of the hereinafter specified subject matter: A. Attorney-Client Privilege – N.J.S.A. 10:4-12(b)(7) 1. Contracts & Change Orders 2. Formal action may/may not be taken. 3. 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. The meeting resumed at 8:11 p.m. OLD BUSINESS – Resolution #23-315 Approve Change Order #2 – Borough Hall Addition & Alterations – Tabled on November 27, 2023 Motion by Councilwoman Malellari, second by Councilwoman Kinsella, to remove Resolution #23- 315 from the table. The vote was recorded as follows: Councilman Chinigo: aye Councilwoman Kinsella: aye Council President Kaufman: aye Councilwoman Malellari aye Councilwoman Montisano-Koen: aye Councilman Benson: aye Borough Administrator Aportela advised that the amount in the third “whereas” clause needs to be amended from $12,000 to $12,978. Motion by Council President Kaufman, second by Councilman Chinigo, that Resolution #23-315 be approved as amended. The vote was recorded as follows: Councilman Chinigo: aye Councilwoman Kinsella: aye Council President Kaufman: aye Councilwoman Malellari aye Councilwoman Montisano-Koen: aye Councilman Benson: aye Annual Holiday Lighting Councilwoman Kinsella announced that the Annual Holiday Lighting will take place on December 9th from 4 to 6:30 in Memorial Park. ADJOURNMENT – There being no further business to come before the Mayor and Council, on a motion by lmk, second by bb, and unanimously carried, to adjourn this meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Anne Dodd, RMC Borough Clerk