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 MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY May 15, 2007

 The Council of the Township of Montclair, in the County of Essex, met in the Conference Room in the Municipal Building, 205 Claremont Avenue, for a Conference Meeting at 7:05 P.M.

Present: Deputy Mayor Tobin and Councilors Freier, Lang, Michaelson and Schlager.

Absent: Mayor Remsen and Councilor Mattox

STATEMENT OF SUNSHINE NOTICE

MONTCLAIR PUBLIC LIBRARY BUDGET PRESENTATION:

 Guest: Mr. David Hinckley, Director

 Mr. Hinckley gave a brief overview of the library activities, summer programs, etc.

 He addressed the goals and achievements of the Library.

 Accessibility

 ADA accessibility

Increased hours: Main library and Bellevue Branch are open 94 hours per week.

 Web page – web accessibility – 24/7 and access to 60 databases and electronic reference services.

 Collections

 More than 20,000 residents are active library cardholders.

 Cultural Awareness and Common Meeting Space for the Community

 There are 877 library and community sponsored programs with a total attendance of 15,300 in 2006.

 Youth Services

 There were over 923 participants in the 2006 Summer Reading Club and 10,368 books read.

 Request:

 Mr. Hinckley asked for a $243,586 increase in its 2007 municipal support. The overall library operating budget is projected to increase by 3.8% to $4,253,764. Mr. Hinckley attributed the increase to personnel benefits, utilities, facility maintenance and library collections.

 The Montclair Public Library foundation raised $100,000; however, the fundraising efforts are for capital projects and not to subsidize the operating budget.

 He would like to improve facilities, emphasizing building maintenance and more efficient operations.

 * **

DISCUSSION OF 5 MINUTE GRACE PERIOD:

 Mayor Remsen joined the meeting.

 * * *

 Guests: Police Chief David Sabagh, Lt. Beyer and Mr. John Teubner, Executive Director of the Parking Authority.

 On April 23 the five-minute grace period was ended by municipal officials, based on the recommendation of the Police Department, the Parking Authority and the Parking Advisory Committee. The consensus was that the five minute grace period was ineffective.

 A discussion of the success and failures of the grace period ensued and the problems enforcing it.

 Deputy Mayor Tobin expressed his feelings on the issue and felt that the Council should continue a dialogue on it.

 * * *

 At 8:15 P.M., on motion made by Mayor Remsen and duly seconded, the Conference Meeting was adjourned by unanimous vote.

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 The Council of the Township of Montclair, in the County of Essex, met in the Council Chambers in the Municipal Building, 205 Claremont Avenue, for a Regular Meeting at 8:25 P.M.

Present: Mayor Remsen, Deputy Mayor Tobin and Councilors Freier, Lang, Michaelson and Schlager.

Absent: Councilor Mattox

STATEMENT OF SUNSHINE NOTICE

 PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BUDGET

 Councilor Schlager stated: “Mayor, I have a resolution regarding the reading of the Budget by Title Only.

 Mayor Remsen stated: “Deputy Clerk please read the resolution”

 “WHEREAS, N.J.S.A. 40A:4-8 as amended provides that the Budget shall be read in full at the public hearing, or that it may be read by its title only if

 1. At least one week prior to the date of the hearing a complete copy of the approved Budget.

 (a) shall be made available for public inspection in the free public library, if any, or the municipality and in the free county libraries or regional libraries located in the municipality or, if no county libraries or regional libraries are located in the municipality, by the county or regional library of the county in which the municipality is located, and the public officer delegated responsibility for delivering copies of the approved budget to such library shall forward to the governing body an attestation that each such delivery was made, and

 (b) is made available to each person requesting the same, during said week and during the public hearing.

 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Governing Body of the Township of Montclair that it is hereby declared that the conditions of N.J.S.A. 40A:4-8, as amended set forth in subsections 1(a) and 1(b), have been met and therefore the Budget for 2007 shall be ready by title only.

 * * *

 Councilor Schlager stated: “I offer the foregoing resolution and move its adoption.”

 Councilor Freier stated: “I second the motion.”

 On motion made by Mayor Remsen and duly seconded, the resolution was adopted by unanimous vote.

 Mayor Remsen stated: “I will entertain a motion to open the hearing on the budget.”

 On motion made by Councilor Schlager and seconded by Councilor Freier, the budget hearing was opened by unanimous vote.

 Deputy Clerk Ostella stated: “Mayor, this is the time fixed for the public hearing on the Municipal Budget and Tax Resolution for 2007. The Budget was approved by the Governing Body on March 30, 2007, was advertised as required by law, on April 26, 2007, together with notice of hearing for this time. Printed copies have been made available to the public during the past week and a supply is here for anyone desiring a copy.

 Mayor Remsen stated: “Anyone who has not secured a copy of the Budget may now do so.”

 Mayor Remsen also stated: “Before opening this hearing, I wish to outline the procedure. Each person desiring to be heard will rise and give his or her name and address before speaking. I will recognize one speaker at a time, in order of rising, as nearly as I can determine.

 Address all questions to the Chair, where necessary they will be referred to individual members of the Governing Body or Municipal Officials. Questions must be confined solely to the Municipal Budget before us; school or County matters are not proper subjects of this hearing and cannot be discussed or answered here tonight.

 I now declare open the public hearing on the Municipal Budget and Tax Resolution for 2007.

 There being no one wishing to be heard, on motion made by Mayor Remsen and seconded by Councilor Schlager, the hearing was closed by unanimous vote.

 Councilor Schlager stated: “Mayor, I move that the adoption of this Budget be postponed pending review of the Extraordinary Aid Application by the Division of Local Government Services.

 Councilor Freier seconded the motion and the motion was adopted by unanimous vote.

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 Township Manager Joseph Hartnett updated the Council on several projects and initiatives. He stated that his office is working on a comprehensive tracking system for all capital projects. He hoped that this would bring clarity for what a project actually is, compared to an idea or initiative. He stated that it also becomes a project when the money is behind it.

 BURNSIDE STREET:

 The neighbors were given a report by Councilor Schlager. A plan of action was developed with the Township Engineer, based on a review of the report entitled “Drainage Study for Burnside Street” prepared by Keller & Kirkpatrick.

 WARREN PLACE:

 An engineering firm completed a report regarding storm sewer issues. The plan is to get in touch by email with the neighbors.

 ESSEX AVENUE – WOODMAN FIELD:

 The traffic flow issue on this street could be potentially improved by a time-sensitive parking ordinance.

Especially because of events taking place at Woodman Field.

 EDGEMONT PARK:

 Replanting and landscaping have begun in Edgemont Park.

 UPDATE ON VARIOUS PROJECTS:

 Mr. Hartnett stated that the work on the tennis courts is proceeding.

·         Mountainside-Kaveny Project

Is going out for bid soon.

·         South Park Street

The proposed upgrades to this street may be divided into two phases, as the nearby Siena project is nearing completion.

·         Bloomfield Avenue Lighting Project

This project is 90% complete

·         Grove/Walnut Project

New sidewalks almost complete and should be done this summer.

·         Lorraine Avenue and Northview Avenue

This project is 75% complete and should be done this fall.

·         Nishuane Brook Improvements

The Township received a $150,000 grant from the DEP to do bank stabilization at Llewellyn and High Streets.

·         Russell Terrace/Wilde Place

The design is 75% complete and should be completed this fall. They are getting new curbs.

·         The Crescent

Bids are being received and a resolution to award the bid should be very soon.

·         Traffic Calming

Franklin Avenue

Engineers have come up with new ideas and a meeting with residents is being set up by Councilor Lang.

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Harrison Avenue Lane Striping

Out to bid right now.

·         Llewellyn Road/Orange Road

This project is 75% complete and plans are for construction in the fall.

·         Upper Mountain:

The design is done and waiting for Freeholder approval.

·         Upper Montclair Parking Lot by Charlie Brown’s

The design is 50% complete and scheduled to be complete by next spring.

·         Duryea to Valley

Paving and curbing

A tracking system will be created and placed on the website so all these projects and their progress will be readily available.

Staff is working on a balance from last year’s capital fund and a small bond ordinance will be forthcoming for some minor projects: Watchung Plaza monument, front of the Municipal Building, walkways, smaller beautification projects, sidewalks and township owned properties in need of minor repairs.

Mr. Hartnett also reported on working with Councilor Tobin on the Bonsal Preserve. He met with neighbors, representatives of the Environmental Commission, Grey Russell and Clifton

officials regarding an easement for repairs to a leak in the sewer line.

Clary Anderson Arena

Mr. Hartnett met with people involved with this project which is a complete modernization of the arena which could be $5 million project. He met with architects and Pat Brechka and discussed the possible closing of the Essex Pool. Discussion ensued regarding usage numbers of the Essex Pool. Deputy Mayor Tobin stated that camps also use that pool. Construction might be able to start April 1, 2008, which is the best case scenario. Councilor Lang asked how much parking would be gained by closing the Essex pool. Mayor Remsen stated that the Arena definitely needs to be updated.

 * * *

 PUBLIC HEARING

Mayor Remsen stated that the meeting is now open to the public and asked if anyone present wished to be heard concerning any matters of interest or importance.

Mr. Mike Villella, 41 Brunswick Road, spoke regarding the Essex Pool and stated that it is the only pool with off-street parking. He felt that if that pool is closed, then people are forced to go to the other pools and parking is a real problem at those pools.

There being no one else present wishing to be heard, Mayor Remsen closed the hearing.

 * **

At 9:15 P.M., on motion made by Mayor Remsen and duly seconded, the following resolution was adopted by unanimous vote:

 WHEREAS, Section 8 of the Open Public Meetings Act, Chapter 231, P.L. 1975, 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 Council of the Township of Montclair, in the County of Essex, as follows:

1. The public shall be excluded from discussion of and action upon the hereinafter specified subject matters.

2. The general nature of the subject matters to be discussed are as follows: PAWS and litigation

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3. We do not anticipate that the matters discussed will be made public.

4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.

 At 10:01 P.M., on motion made by Mayor Remsen and duly seconded, the executive session was adjourned by unanimous vote.

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 At 10:02 P.M., on motion made by Mayor Remsen and duly seconded, the meeting was adjourned

by unanimous vote.

 ___________________________________________

 EDWARD REMSEN MAYOR

ATTEST:

_________________________________________________

EVELYN A. OSTELLA DEPUTY MUNICIPAL CLERK