June
8, 2010
Minutes
of a Council Meeting of the
Borough
Council held at 7:30 P.M. on
Tuesday, June 8, 2010, in the
Council
Chamber,
The
meeting was called to order by
Mayor
Arnowitz who also led the Salute
to
the Flag.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF MEETING
Borough Clerk
Sandt stated, "This is a Meeting of the Hillsdale Borough Council on this 8th
day of June 2010. Notice of the time and
place of this meeting has been provided to The Review, Pascack Press, The
Record and Community Life; a copy was posted on the bulletin board outside of
this meeting room and provided to any interested parties.
Please notify the Municipal Clerk for any disability
requirements necessary for attendance at Mayor and Council meetings. The fire exits are located through the double
doors to your left. Please silence all
cell phones and pagers.
ROLL CALL:
Borough Clerk
Sandt called the roll those present
being as follows: Councilmembers DeJoseph, Hanlon and Schiavone. Absent:
Councilmembers Giancarlo and Weinstein.
Also in attendance Borough Attorney Paul.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
On motion by Councilmember Schiavone, seconded by Councilmember Hanlon,
the minutes of the Council Meeting of May 11, 2010, Special Meeting of May 17,
2010, were approved as presented.
PRESENTATION:
Pascack Pi-oneers.
A demonstration of the robot and the main purpose of the
soccer game were also given at this time by the Pascack Pi-oneers.
CORRESPONDENCE:
1. TIM &
SANDRA PANTELLO REQUESTING PERMISSION TO LOCATE A
SHED ON
BOROUGH EASEMENT.
Received and filed on motion by Councilmember DeJoseph,
seconded by Councilmember Schiavone, and unanimously carried.
Borough Attorney Paul said the Council can discuss and give
preliminary approval but it would have to be subject to a licensed document
which would further protect the Borough.
Councilmember DeJoseph moved to approve this based on
the information provided by the Borough Attorney, seconded by Councilmember
Schiavone, and unanimously carried.
2010 MUNICIPAL BUDGET
Mayor Arnowitz stated that we have not received state
approval for our budget. We are
scheduling a meeting for June 22 to approve the budget. We will proceed with the Public Hearing as
advertised.
Mayor Arnowitz opened the public hearing on the 2010
Municipal Budget at this time and invited comment from the audience.
Alfred J. Murphy, Jr.,
He congratulated newly-appointed Mayor Arnowitz. He asked for an explanation for the Amending
Resolution for the 2010 Budget. He saw a
problem with the appropriation of surplus which is up 40% over last year and is
a significant amount of money. Next
year’s budget will have to provide funds to make this up. He said 4% is an unacceptable tax
increase. He made reference to the
unemployment rate upon community, approximately 300 to 350 residents who are
out of work and an additional 200 who are under employed. There are over 30 homes under foreclosure
procedures. The budget for both the high
school and the local district were significantly rejected by the voters. He asked if an individual retires two years
from now, will they convert their appropriate amount of money to the rate they
are being paid in 2014 or is it calculated on the basis of the money that they
were making at the time they were being accumulated. He also stated that in this budget there is
5.3% increase in salaries and wages. He
hasn’t heard of any freezes, reduction in hours, give backs or lay offs; this
is happening in the communities around us.
You should not be piling on to the taxpayers. He noted that last year for Centennial Field,
we spent over $37,000 for electricity on top of two millions dollars spent to
construct Centennial Field. Are we
getting money back from the organizations who are using the lights there? He asked why there was no money this year
from the River Vale day camp. He asked
how much it costs the community for cops in the school.
After a discussion with the Council, the public portion
of the meeting was closed.
RESOLUTION:
Resolution to Amend 2010 Budget.
Borough Clerk Sandt read the Resolution Amend the 2010
Budget, Amendment #1.
Motion by Councilmmber DeJoseph, seconded by
Councilmember Schiavone.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes:
Councilmembers DeJoseph, Hanlon and Schiavone
and Mayor Arnowitz.
Nays: None
Mayor Arnowitz said last evening Councilmembers Hanlon,
Weinstein, Schiavone and Mayor Arnowitz attended the Pascack Valley High School
Board meeting at Hills. This was in
regard to changing the formula for how the cost per student is determined.
Councilmember Schiavone said Mayor Arnowitz gave a very
good presentation and argument but the Woodcliff Lake Mayor who is for this
change presented himself. She thanked Al
Murphy for being the only one who voted no, we will have to educate everyone to
understand the ramifications.
Borough Clerk Sandt pays for the brunt of the
referendum, the Borough has some expenses also.
Councilmember Hanlon said she did not expect anything
more from the meeting other than what was said.
She complemented Mayor Arnowitz for his presentation.
Mayor Arnowitz said hosting a school in Hillsdale is a
large expense and we lose the ratable that would be there. He used the example that if the high school
were not there, we could potentially have the Woodcliff Lake BMW there. We would spend more money on taxes for the
school, but it would cost us less money because we would have a huge ratable. They have to take this into consideration if
they want to change the formula. The
resource officer, all the expenses we incur, from fire, police, ambulance;
Montvale presented the School Board a bill for sewers. Having 600 plus students plus the faculty is
a large expense that the taxpayers of Hillsdale incur for sewer costs. Why should we incur this while
If this fails, this Council should pursue the
reimbursement of expenses for the loss of the ratable. He then would not have a problem with the per
student basis because we would be paid in that fashion. He encouraged everyone to get the vote out
against this referendum. Assemblywoman
Vandervalk will assist us and we found it amusing that the Governor is saying
we should be researching and looking at merging and sharing of services. How can they talk about changing the formula,
it is not sensible in today’s economy.
Councilmember DeJoseph said if something happens, we
should look at some sort of pilot payment from the school.
Councilmember Hanlon said everyone needs to vote, this
is very important to everyone who lives in Hillsdale.
GENERAL PUBLIC HEARING:
Mayor Arnowitz opened the meeting to the public and
invited comment from the audience.
Marisa Cefali,
She lives adjacent to the
Mayor Arnowitz responded a four story building is
against our Code, they need a variance.
He needs the Council approval; he needs Planning/Zoning Board
approval. Last time this took place, the
Council denied any changes. We don’t
want any changes in the wetlands.
Councilmember Schiavone said first our Borough Engineer
responds and when he does, we are provided with the application and his
letter.
Mayor Arnowitz said he did not believe all that property
is industrial, that would have to be changed.
After a discussion with the Council, the public portion
of the meeting was closed.
ORDINANCES:
Ord. No. 10-07 At
the Mayor’s request, CFO Henderson (Adoption) To Exceed
read
by title only proposed Ordinance
Municipal
Budget No.
10-07 as follows:
Appropriation
Limits & to ORDINANCE
TO EXCEED MUNICIPAL BUDGET
Establish APPROPRIATION
LIMITS AND TO ESTABLISH
Cap Bank A
CAP BANK.
Mayor Arnowitz confirmed that copies of the ordinance
have been posted in the Municipal building and that no written objections to
the ordinance had been received.
Mayor Arnowitz then opened the public hearing on the
proposed ordinance and asked if anyone in the audience cared to discuss
it.
Alfred J. Murphy, Jr.,
He said this is either the third or fourth time he has
objected to this ordinance. Council
should be bound by state limitations on what you can appropriate. Giving you this flexibility takes away from
trying to run a tight ship.
Motion by Councilmember Hanlon, seconded by Councilmember
DeJoseph.
Following is the result of the roll call vote on the
foregoing Ordinance No. 10-07:
Ayes:
Councilmembers DeJoseph, Hanlon and Schiavone
Nays: None
Absent: Councilmembers Giancarlo and Weinstein
(SEE COPY OF THE AFORESAID ORIGINAL RESOLUTION AFFIXED
HERETO)
Ord. No. 10-08 At
the Mayor’s request, CFO Henderson
(Introduction) read
the title only on proposed Ordinance
Amending the No.
10-08 as follows:
Land Use Code
Definitions AMENDING
THE LAND USE CODE, DEFINITIONS
Section SECTION, FLOOR AREA RATIO (F.A.R.)
Mayor Arnowitz asked the Council if there was any
discussion on the proposed ordinance.
Councilmember Schiavone said the ordinance has not been
changed, it is just further definition.
The Borough Engineer presented this to the Council last week which is
clarifying the Ordinance.
Motion by Councilmember Schiavone, seconded by
Councilmember Hanlon.
Following is the result of the roll call vote on the
foregoing Ordinance No. 10-08:
Ayes:
Councilmembers DeJoseph, Hanlon and Schiavone
Nays: None
Absent:
Councilmembers Giancarlo and Weinstein
(SEE COPY OF THE AFORESAID ORIGINAL RESOLUTION AFFIXED
HERETO)
RESOLUTIONS: (Consent
Agenda)
10080 Liquor License Plenary Retail Consumption
Renewal was introduced by Councilmember Hanlon, seconded by Councilmember
DeJoseph.
10081 Liquor
License Plenary Retail Distribution Renewal was introduced by Councilmember
Hanlon, seconded by Councilmember DeJoseph.
10082 Authorizing
Settlement of Tax Appeal for Block 1603, Lots 1, 2&3; Block 1007, Lots 14
& 15 was introduced by Councilmember Hanlon, seconded by Councilmember
DeJoseph.
10083 Authorizing
Settlement of Tax appeal for Block 504,
10084 Authorizing
Tax Collector to Issue Estimated Tax Bills was introduced by Councilmember
Hanlon, seconded by Councilmember DeJoseph.
10085 Emergency
Temporary Budget (2) was introduced by Councilmember Hanlon, seconded by
Councilmember DeJoseph.
Councilmember DeJoseph requested that Resolution 10083
Authorizing Settlement of Tax Appeal for Block 504,
Motion to approve all Resolutions with the exception of
10083 was made by Councilmember Hanlon, seconded by Councilmember DeJoseph.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes:
Councilmembers DeJoseph, Hanlon, and Schiavone
Nays: None
Absent: Councilmembers Giancarlo and Weinstein
Councilmember Arnowitz referred to 10083. He said this Resolution will be on the Agenda
for the Special Meeting to be held on June 22, 2010.
(SEE COPIES OF THE AFORESAID ORIGINAL RESOLUTIONS
AFFIXED HERETO)
LAST GO ROUND
Councilmember DeJoseph said he spoke to Kevin Glynn from
Community Life to hopefully put “My Hillsdale” either hyperlink or direct
download going forward. He does so with
other communities and it would be beneficial.
Certain residents have a problem getting “My Hillsdale” so it will be
put on the website for residents to review.
It would be an additional way for residents to view it to keep for
recycling schedules, etc.
Councilmember Hanlon said we do get extra copies at the
borough hall and she brings the extras to the senior lunches because a lot of
the seniors do not receive “My Hillsdale.”
Mayor Arnowitz said this is a free of charge
publication, something that we paid for years ago.
Councilmember DeJoseph congratulated the Pascack
Pi-oneers for their hard work and accomplishments. He asked for a Resolution to be placed on the
Agenda for July for a grant for the Green Team.
We are applying for a $25,000 grant.
He wants a cell tower discussion in July; vendors are
interested on going on town property in one or two locations. This will also be placed on the Agenda for
discussion so the public could provide their comments.
Mayor Arnowitz said a cell tower will go before the
Planning Board so we can get their opinion and the public would have an
opportunity to speak also.
Councilmember DeJoseph said it is a large source of
revenue for Hillsdale. It can go on
Mayor Arnowitz said it is possible that it could go on
private property; the ordinance we have has not been challenged.
Councilmember DeJoseph said all spending for 2010 needs
to be thoroughly evaluated. The budget
will hopefully be passed if the state approves it, but during the year we are
going to look for savings. He would like
the Citizens Advisory Committee come back and present their plan to the Finance
Committee and to the Mayor.
Mayor Arnowitz said that was done about four years ago
and he would like to review it and incorporate a lot of it into the coming
years.
Councilmember Schiavone congratulated Mayor
Arnowitz. She was unable to attend the
meeting when he was sworn in and offered her congratulations. Councilmembers Giancarlo and Weinstein were
unable to attend the meeting this evening due to medical reasons.
Councilmember Hanlon said the Pascack Pi-oneers were a
welcome addition to our Parade two years in a row. The senior picnic today is the last until
September. On behalf of the seniors, she
thanked the Mayor and Council to continue having our senior lunches.
Mayor Arnowitz said the seniors do pay for that, they
either donate food or they pay $2.00 which is given to the food pantry. That was a decision made by prior Councils
and it is a nice thing to do.
Councilmember Hanlon said she and Lois Kohan placed
several buckets downtown for Hillsdale Helping Hillsdale and she has collected
food from them. We have received between
$40.00 to $70.00 mostly from the Iscreamery patrons. She thanked people for their generosity.
CFO Henderson said she was happy to see what can be done
with fixing some of the problems we have in purchasing, realign it and this
will also help with the reduction of expenditures.
Mayor Arnowitz said our Finance Chairman will start
working immediately on the new budget.
We need to move in a very fast, efficient manner and late August he
wants a list of recommendations for everything to be presented to the
Council.
A presentation was made at the high school on music and
how the music department uses the computer program and if the students did not
have the laptops it would impossible to do this. He was so impressed to see students performing
at that rate; one person played the trumpet and another, through computer
enhancement, his arrangements and music that he wrote himself. Teenage children are so advanced in our
society and without the laptop program and he hoped the message would get,
possibly by televising their meetings.
Councilmember Hanlon wanted more awareness on the part
of the school board to televise. They
have the technology and all these good things; it was amazing, not just the
music but the awards these students received.
It was only shared by fellow students and their parents and not the
public. There is more to the high school
than laptops and sports.
ADJOURNMENT:
A motion to adjourn was made by Councilmember Hanlon, seconded
by Councilmember Schiavone, and unanimously carried.
6-8-10
________________________
Robert P. Sandt,
RMC
Borough Clerk
APPROVED AS
PRESENTED
________________________
Robert P. Sandt,
RMC
Borough Clerk