Borough Council

BOROUGH OF WESTWOOD WORK MEETING OF THE MAYOR & COUNCIL MARCH 2, 2021 MINUTES Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82651499085?pwd=M1I1RmN0V3prejJScE1rQlZYR0NpUT09 Meeting ID: 826 5149 9085 Passcode: 790282 By phone: +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) 7:30 Closed Session/8:00 pm Public Session 1. Opening of the Meeting: This meeting which conforms with the Open Public Meetings law, Chapter 231, Public Laws of 1975, is a regularly scheduled remote Borough Council meeting. The Annual Schedule of meetings was published in the Record on January 14, 2021, posted on the Borough website and on the door of the Borough Hall in conformance with N.J.A.C. 5:39-1 et seq. 2. Roll Call: Committee Assignments: Mayor Arroyo – Present Councilmember Bicocchi – Present Land Use Councilmember Collins – Present Police & Emergency Management Councilmember– Montana Present Recreation & Public Properties Councilmember Hodges – Present Health & Hospital Councilmember Murphy – Present Fire & Ambulance Council President Dell - Present Finance, Administration & Capital Projects; Shared Services Borough Attorney Huntington – Present Interim Administrator Elenio - Present Borough Clerk Hughes – Present 3. Resolution #21 - 79: Executive Closed Session Motion to Approve Resolution #21-79: Councilmember Murphy Second: Council President Dell Roll Call: Councilmember Bicocchi - Yes Councilmember Collins – Yes Councilmember Hodges – Yes Councilmember Montana - Yes Councilmember Murphy – Yes Council President Dell – Yes 4. Reopen the Meeting: Councilmember Montana Second: Council President Dell Voice Vote: A voice vote was taken with all present voting in the affirmative. The time was 8:02 pm. 5. Roll Call II: Mayor Arroyo – Present / Councilmember Bicocchi – Present / Councilmember Collins – Present / Councilmember Hodges - Present / Councilmember Montana – Present / Councilmember Murphy - Present / Council President Dell - Present / Interim Administrator Elenio - Present / Borough Attorney Huntington – Present / Borough Engineer Boswell – Present / Borough Clerk Hughes – Present 6. Flag Salute Mayor Arroyo led those present in the salute to the flag. 7. Reports by Borough Professionals: A. Engineer’s Biweekly Report 1) Biweekly Report Dr. Boswell reviewed the biweekly report, a copy of which is attached. Minutes Page 2 Work Meeting of the Mayor and Council March 2, 2021 2) Westvale Fitness Playground Dr. Boswell pointed out that putting the fitness playground at Westvale would require piercing the cap. Councilmember Montana said the penetration would be for a sun shade. He understands that might accelerate the conversations with the DEP regarding the cap. He asked if there is anything else we would want to include in a disruption permit. Dr. Boswell recommended including the methane system installation. B. Administrator’s Report 1) Employee Handbook Mr. Elenio advised that the updated employee handbook still needs a few adjustments. It will be more comprehensive than in the past. The timetable is to review in April and approve by May. 8. Items for Discussion: Mayor Arroyo wished Councilmember Murphy a Happy Birthday. a) Healthy Workplace Step Challenge – JM Councilmember Murphy explained the healthy workplace step challenge program, which would be a team and morale booster. It would not be limited to activity during the work day. She would like to get proposals for pedometers for all the employees. The consensus was for her to explore the matter further and bring it back to the Council. b) Shared Service – CM Councilmember Montana gave an update regarding a listening session with Emerson to determine their needs for sharing a senior van. The next step is to look at hard and soft costs in anticipation of drafting a proposal. c) Vaccination Program - CH Mayor Arroyo asked Councilmember Hodges to give an update on the vaccination efforts for senior citizens. Councilmember Hodges reviewed the efforts of the volunteers to register the Borough’s seniors and get them scheduled for vaccines through the hospital. There are 120 people scheduled next week, with discussions for another date at the hospital in the near future. An additional 17 seniors are being vaccinated tomorrow at a County site in Mahwah. She thanked Deputy Clerk Jean-Marie Vadovic for her work spreadsheeting the names and information. Mayor Arroyo thanked Lisa McCoy and Dee Kalman for their efforts in scheduling and communicating information. He noted this collaboration is a testament to those who worked so hard to get the hospital reopened. Councilmember Montana thanked the Clergy Council for reaching out with information on seniors in their flocks. d) Parking Authority Agreement – CH Councilmember Hodges explained the resolution on the Consent Agenda that will temporarily expand the employee hang tag parking program to include the Borough Hall lot while commuter use is down. Once commuter use increases the expansion would be terminated. 9. Agenda/Public Forum: Motion to open Agenda/Public Forum: Council President Dell Second: Councilmember Murphy Voice Vote: A voice vote was taken with all present voting in the Affirmative. Minutes Page 3 Work Meeting of the Mayor and Council March 2, 2021 Rudy Yeager, 48 James Street – asked for information on who to contact regarding the vaccine program. Jeffrey King, 24 Elizabeth Parkway, Eatontown – voiced his opinion on cannabis and medical marijuana. He believes allowing medical use in the hospital zone would be a compassionate and wise choice. Lefty Grimes, 84 Hanover Road, East Hanover – advocated for cannabis patient rights and respectfully requested the Governing Body consider medical use when discussing cannabis. Jaime Van Sciver, Paulsboro – as a medical cannabis patient believes the ordinance is disheartening and asked that medical marijuana not be made inaccessible to the community. Marina Revman, Sayreville – as a medical cannabis patient asked the Governing Body to reconsider allowing medical cannabis use. Motion to close Agenda/Public Forum: Council President Dell Second: Councilmember Montana Voice Vote: A voice vote was taken with all present voting in the affirmative. Councilmember Bicocchi advised that the Planning Board met last week to review the zoning ordinances and found them consistent with the Master Plan. 10. Ordinances for Introduction/Adoption Ordinances for Adoption 21-1 An Ordinance To Amend Chapter 195, Zoning, Article XIV, Zone Districts and Permitted Uses BE IT RESOLVED that Ordinance #21-1 entitled “An Ordinance To Amend Chapter 195, Zoning, Article XIV, Zone Districts and Permitted Uses” having hereby been read by title, shall have a hearing held on this date. Motion to open the public hearing: Councilmember Bicocchi Second: Council President Dell Voice Vote: A voice vote was taken with all present voting in the affirmative. Public Comments: No comments. Motion to close the public hearing: Councilmember Bicocchi Second: Councilmember Montana Voice Vote: A voice vote was taken with all present voting in the affirmative. BE IT RESOLVED that an Ordinance known as #21-1 be passed on final reading and that a Notice of Adoption of said Ordinance be published in the official newspaper according to law. Motion for final adoption: Councilmember Bicocchi Second: Councilmember Montana Roll Call: Councilmember Bicocchi - Yes Councilmember Collins – Yes Councilmember Hodges – Yes Councilmember Montana - Yes Councilmember Murphy – Yes Council President Dell – Yes _____ 21-2 An Ordinance To Amend Chapter 195, Zoning, Article XIX, Sign Regulations BE IT RESOLVED that Ordinance #21-2 entitled “An Ordinance To Amend Chapter 195, Zoning, Article XIX, Sign Regulations” having hereby been read by title, shall have a hearing held on this date. Motion to open the public hearing: Councilmember Bicocchi Second: Councilmember Collins Minutes Page 4 Work Meeting of the Mayor and Council March 2, 2021 Voice Vote: A voice vote was taken with all present voting in the affirmative. Public Comments: No comments. Motion to close the public hearing: Councilmember Bicocchi Second: Councilmember Murphy Voice Vote: A voice vote was taken with all present voting in the affirmative. BE IT RESOLVED that an Ordinance known as #21-2 be passed on final reading and that a Notice of Adoption of said Ordinance be published in the official newspaper according to law. Motion for final adoption: Councilmember Bicocchi Second: Councilmember Murphy Roll Call: Councilmember Bicocchi - Yes Councilmember Collins – Yes Councilmember Hodges – Yes Councilmember Montana - Yes Councilmember Murphy – Yes Council President Dell – Yes 11. Presentation of Bills, Financial Reports and Resolutions: Councilmember Dell asked if there were any resolutions to add to the Consent Agenda. She stated that any Councilmembers who wished to remove any Resolution(s) to be voted upon separately could do so at this time, otherwise the Consent Agenda would be enacted in one motion. Resolution f was added at this time. Resolutions as Consent Agenda: a) Resolution #21 - : Bill List & Statement of Cash b) Resolution #21 - 80: Authorizing Refund of Taxes – 529 Lafayette Ave B 215 L3 c) Resolution #21 - 81: Authorizing Lease of Police Vehicle d) Resolution #21 - 82: Authorizing Employee Parking in Commuter Lot e) Resolution #21 - 83: 2021 Budget Reserve Transfer f) Resolution #21 - 84: Appointment of Payroll Clerk Motion to Approve Resolutions #21-80 through #21-84: Councilmember Dell Second: Councilmember Murphy Roll Call: Councilmember Bicocchi - Yes Councilmember Collins – Yes Councilmember Hodges – Yes Councilmember Montana – Yes Councilmember Murphy – Yes Council President Dell – Yes Mayor Arroyo thanked the members of the public for coming forward to be heard. 12. Adjournment: Motion to Adjourn: Councilmember Bicocchi Second: Councilmember Hodges Voice Vote: Voice Vote: A voice vote was taken with all present voting in the affirmative. The time was 9:05 pm. Attest: Karen Hughes, RMC, Borough Clerk Proofed by: Jean-Marie Vadovic, Deputy Clerk