BOROUGH OF RAMSEY

BOROUGH OF RAMSEY
COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
June 22, 2005
Mayor Muti called the regular meeting of the Mayor and Council to order. Council President
Botta led the Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor read the Open Public Meetings Law notice.
I. ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Muti, Councilmembers Bisaillon, Botta, Heller, Nalbandian, O’Brien, Ratto,
Borough Attorney Peter Scandariato, Borough Administrator Nicholas Saros, and
Borough Clerk Meredith Bendian.
Absent: None
II.APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion by Bisaillon, seconded by Botta, to approve the minutes of May 11 (as revised) and
May 25, 2005, as submitted. Carried.
III. COMMUNICATIONS:
Motion by O’Brien, seconded by Bisaillon, to receive and file the following Communications.
Carried.
1. Anthony Iannarelli, Jr., Attorney at Law, 141 Dayton Street, Ridgewood,
NJ letter dated June 10, 2005, requesting that the Ramsey Police
Department be kept at adequate strength by hiring new officers to replace
retirees.
2. Pam and Steve Yonkers and Mary Beth and Russell Remy, Jean Street,
Ramsey, NJ. letter dated June 13, 2005 requesting permission to hold a
block party on Jean Street between Darlington and Woodland Avenues.
3. Linda C. Buffalino, 9 Tulip Street, Ramsey, NJ letter dated June 14, 2005
requesting permission to close off the intersections of Snyder Ave. and
Tulip St and Woods Road and Tulip Street for a block party.
4. Gillian Buonanno, Ramsey Library Employee, 51 Iron Forge Square,
Pompton Lakes, NJ 07442.letter dated April 21, 2005 expressing personal
dissatisfaction with the contract that was negotiated in March 2005.
5. Lucy Voorhoeve, Executive Director, Council on Affordable Housing
(COAH), 101 -South Broad Street, Trenton, NJ 08625 letter dated June
13, 2005 notifying Ramsey of the resolution granting Ramsey an
extension of substantive certification at its June 8, 2005 meeting.

6. Madeline Thumondo, Administrative Assistant, Northwest Bergen
County Utilities Authority, 30 Wyckoff Ave, Waldwick, NJ letter dated
May 13, 2005, forwarding a resolution concerning a sewer extension
permit.
7. Steven Miller, Steering Committee, Bergen Bike Tour, 64 Passaic
Street, Hackensack, NJ.letter dated June 16, 2005, regarding Bike Tour
on Sunday, September 25, 2005 from 7:30 am until 1:00 pm.
8. Madeline Thumundo, Secretary, Northwest Bergen County Utilities
Authority, 30 Wyckoff Ave, Waldwick, NJ
letter dated May 16, 2005 copy of the approved Minutes of NBCUA
Meetings.
9. Alex Stecyna, 39 Shuart Lane, Ramey, NJ
letter dated June 15, 2005, requesting to hold a block party on Sunday,
July 3, 2005 from 1:00 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.
Councilwoman O’Brien stated that she agrees with Mr. Iannarelli, in letter #1 and with regard to
letter #4, she thought that the library contract had been executed sometime ago.
Councilman Heller stated that letter #4 is a commentary on the sad status of labor and management
relations currently existing in the Borough. It expresses the frustration of the employees as being
targeted as solutions to any economic problems the Borough may have. We genuinely need to move
back to having employees treated as assets and not liabilities.
Councilman Bisaillon stated that with regard to letter #1 the Police Chief would like to add
additional officers and I think there was a questions with regard to the process in time for the July
training class. I think he is going to put together a business case that arrives at the appropriate
number of officers for this town.
Councilman Ratto stated that he is also in support of letter #1. At this point, the Police Department
is high in morale but not replacing those retired officers will affect that morale as well as future
negotiating contracts with the Police Department.
Councilman Botta stated we cannot just have a knee jerk reaction when an officer retires. We need
to do due diligence. I think Mr. Iannarelli does state the obvious but we have to look at the financial
due diligence.
Mayor Muti…With regard to letter #4, yes, there was a delay between the execution of a
memorandum of understanding with the Library Union until the final signing of the contract which
occurred today. That memorandum of understanding was executed I believe in March and there
were some questions that were put forth and an attempt was made to resolve them. We finally saw
some movement on the part of the union representative for the Library, Kathleen Hernandez,CWA
Local 1031, AFL/CIO, when our attorney, Mark Ruderman, e-mailed a letter to her on June 8.
The letter states: “On May 24, 2005, I e-mailed to you a typographical error on Page 16 dealing
with Retiree Health Benefits. Previous to that time, I had e-mailed you a complete draft on May 19,
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2005, as well as correspondence on May 18, May 16, and April 12, concerning the above matter. A
major component of this mediation agreement was the implementation of insurance changes by July
1, 2005. The failure of the union to sign this contract this week could very well put this changeover
in danger and jeopardize the entire settlement. Your immediate attention to this matter is sincerely
appreciated.” This letter went out on June 8, after numerous phone calls and attempts with
correspondence to get Ms. Hernandez to respond to the contract proposal that memorialized the
memorandum of understanding. She responded on June 9 and since then we have been working out
some discrepancies and details, some additional things that the library group wanted that were not
contained in the memorandum of understanding. We finally reached that resolution today. The
delay in large measure I believe is due to the procrastination of the executive vice-president of the
library union.
With regard to letter #1, from Mr. Iannarelli…Under no circumstances, will I support the replacement
of retiring police officers who are leaving the force this year or who have left the force this
year. When I became Mayor, we were down to 30 police officers. During the first 2 years of my
tenure as Mayor, I hired (with the support of the Council) seven additional police officers to build up
the staff of our department. Now, we have three officers retiring and now circumstances have
changed with regard to the finances of the State, and the events that we may be facing in our
financial future. The hiring of a police officer represents a commitment by a Borough of at least
$3.5 million dollars per officer over a 25 year career, not counting inflation. If you throw inflation
into the mix, each police officer you hire would likely cost Ramsey taxpayers in the future $5
million over the term of his or her career. Anyone who reads the newspapers knows that there is a
great deal of uncertainty with regard to the future financial health of this state. One need only look
at the Record, the Star Ledger, with regard to the deficits that the state faces. I am sure that most of
the people in this room who read the Record have seen the pension fund deficit that the state faces is
$27 billion dollars. Where do we think we are going to get the money to pay for that? They are
going to put that burden on municipalities to make up that deficit. We already are burdened with
making up short falls, immediate shortfalls, in the pension system thanks to shenanigans of both
Republican and Democratic administrations in borrowing, using the pension trust funds to borrow,
and skipping payments that were due to the pension trust fund. Just this year, we saw an increase of
our retirement costs of over $100,000.00 that we have to pay into pension systems. It likely will
increase over the next couple years. Once the need to satisfy this $27 billion shortfall hits, we could
be talking to the tune of $200,000 to $300,000 a year for additional charges that the State will
impose upon us and we will have no alternative but to pay it. It will be based on the number of
employees that we have who are members of that system. If we add employees now at a time when
there is such uncertainty, it could be horrendous for this municipality. With all of the problems that
the State faces, it would not be beyond the realm of likelihood for us to see a cut in our municipal
aid, if not next year certainly within the next couple of years, when these chickens come home to
roost. Just last month in the Star Ledger, a column by Tom Moran entitled “A Voice Crying in the
Benefits Wilderness”, stated the following; “John McCormac, the treasurer of the State of New
Jersey, sat serenely in his wood paneled office on Monday while the protesters yelled, “Hey, Hey,
Ho, Ho, John McCormac’s got to go”. Roughly, 5,000 souls had gathered and it seemed like all they
wanted McCormac to know was they thought of him as pond scum. His sin was to suggest that New
Jersey scale back the health and pension benefits of retired workers. A sober look at the numbers
shows why he’s worried.” This is the Treasurer of the State of New Jersey. In 5 years, those
benefits will devour 20% of the State budget, up from 8% now. McCormac’s conclusion is that a
brick is about to fall on our heads and it is time we stepped out of the way. An editorial in the Star
Ledger: “The budget lesson of the l990’s is clear – don’t rely on one-time revenue gimmicks. The
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eason is equally clear. Money that is available one year won’t be the next, even though government
programs requiring funding continue. The result is a shortfall that carries over from year to year
eventually becoming what economists call a structural deficit.” We are in the midst of an immense
structural deficit which will fall on our heads like a brick. I have little confidence that the State
legislators will have the political will or courage to withstand the chanters of 5,000 union members
outside their windows saying, “Hey, hey, you must go.” I will not preside over this community
during my remaining 1 ½ years as Mayor without putting us in a posture to deal with these
challenges that we face. So, while I am Mayor, I will not appoint replacement police officers for
those who leave. We got along fine with 30 officers. We are going to have to learn to get along
with 34 officers. That’s the way it is going to be.
IV. APPOINTMENTS -
Mayor Muti appointed Fred Henry to fill unexpired term as 1 st alternate to Board of Adjustment.
V. CONSENT RESOLUTION Resolution No. 74
Introduced by Nalbandian, seconded by Heller
BE IT RESOLVED that the following resolutions herewith listed having been
considered by the governing body of the Borough of Ramsey be and are hereby
passed and approved:
a. Resolution: Payment of Vouchers
a-2 Resolution: Addition to payment of vouchers
b. Resolution: Authorizing inclusion in the Bergen County Community
Development Program.
c. Resolution: Authorizing the rejection of all bids for Vaughn Drive Sanitary
Sewer, Pump Station and Force Main that were above the cost
estimates.
d. Resolution: Authorizing the appointment of Fred Henry as 1 st alternate
to Zoning Board of Adjustment to fill unexpired term.
e. Resolution: Appoint Kathy Vetter as tax search officer.
f. Resolution: Awarding the Finch Park Playground Landscaping Contract to
Andy-Matt, Inc.
g. Resolution: Waiving construction code fees for Timber Valley,
low/moderate income housing units.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following applications and/or
recommendations hereby be approved:
A. SPECIAL PERMITS:
Happy Heartbeats are requesting permission to hold a 5K Fun Run at the
Ramsey Golf and Country Club on Monday, September 5, 2005 between the
hours of 9:00 am and 11:00 am.
Factory Direct Furniture and Carpet is requesting permission to set up a 30 X 40
tent on August 3, 4, 5 and 6, 2005 between the hours of 10:00am and 9:00 pm.
Bicycle Touring Club of North Jersey is requesting permission to ride through
the Borough for their bike rally on August 21, 2005 between the hours of
7:00am and 5:30 pm.
B. BLOCK PARTY REQUESTS:
Linda Buffalino, 9 Tulip Street, Ramsey is requesting to hold a block party on
Monday, June 20, 2005 from Noon until 10:00pm.
Alex Stecyna, 39 Shuart Lane, Ramsey, is requesting to hold a block
party on Sunday, July 3, 2005 from 1:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
(rain date 7/4/05)
AYES: Bisaillon, Botta, Heller, Nalbandian, O’Brien, Ratto
NAYS: None
VII.
COMMITTEE REPORTS AND LIAISON REPORTS
A. FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION - Councilman Arthur M. Nalbandian
Welcome to our library employees who have joined us tonight. They are valued
employees and we do appreciate what they deliver to the residents and to the patrons of
the Library. They are sometimes the only Borough employees that some residents meet
in the community. All of our library employees serve us well in that regard. I appreciate
hearing from our employees regarding their concerns. I am hopeful that moving forward
will be a good thing for all. I am glad the contract is behind us. Ramsey Police
apprehended a murder suspect and Officer Matt Mistretta recognized the suspect
as a patron of Kinchley’s. They deserve a lot of credit.
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B. PUBLIC SAFETY – Councilman David J. Bisaillon
Congratulations to Fred Henry. I want to thank the Library Board for being here. I
attended the DARE graduation and the level of enthusiasm was unbelievable. I wish
DARE Officer Kane ZuHone the best of luck in his retirement. I also want to
congratulate the graduating classes from Ramsey High School and Don Bosco. The
graduation was a very moving event. I also want to compliment the Fire Department for
their quick action during a recent house fire. Sgt. Rydell was first to respond and by
using a garden hose was able to put water on a furnace fire before the Fire Department
arrived. Fire Chief Lanning stated that they were able to control the fire within a short
time, thanks to Sgt. Rydell’s quick thinking.
C. BUILDING & ZONING – Councilman Joe Ratto
I want to thank Fire Chief Lanning for showing the fire prevention movie, prior to the
showing of Shrek 2. It was very educational.
D. UTILITIES, BUILDINGS & GROUNDS – Councilman Christopher C. Botta
Two ordinances will be introduced tonight: one for Finch Park creative playground.
Even though the ordinance is for $122,000.00, we will be receiving $61,000.00 from the
Bergen County Open Space Trust Fund. We don’t get a lot from the County anymore
and I think we are very fortunate to have this grant. The second ordinance is for the
parking lot expansion at the Library. That will add about 20 spaces to the back parking
lot.
E. PUBLIC & GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS – Councilman Jeffrey C. Heller
Congratulations to Officer Mistretta and Sgt. Rydell on their fast police work.
Many of you may have seen the headline in the Record pertaining to the $8.6 billion
dollar school funding which is gone. Political corruption is bipartisan. I think that there
is now another bipartisan activity and that is fiscal mismanagement, shared by Democrats
and Republicans. The $8.6 billion was not approved by the voters. Six billion dollars
was for the alleged special needs districts to entirely provide 100% funding for those new
schools. The rest of the state’s children, 75%, only got 2.6 billion. We got 40% of a state
match for the new school next door. New Jersey now has $30 billion in debt. That
places New Jersey third among states in total debt, ahead of us is New York and
California. Five hundred million dollars was spent on promotion. That’s advertising,
events, banners, signs, etc. They did not come to the voters; it was passed in the
legislature. Everyone knew that this money was available. It was in all the papers.
It actually built 50% of the number of schools that were planned. I work for a very large
company and to get 8.6 billion dollars, you would have to go to the Board of Directors.
This was a fantastic rip-off. When they come back for more money, we should all be
smarter the second time.
F. HEALTH, EDUCATION & SOCIAL SERVICES – Councilwoman Julie O’Brien
Saturday’s movie was a huge success. Ramsey Responds did the food concession and
Councilman Ratto went through the crowd with popcorn and I thank him for doing that.
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I want to commend Matt Mistretta for his heads up police work, as well as the other two
officers who were involved, Patrolman Jeff Kimmel and Det. Brian Huth. My neighborhood
is doing a little community project. I was doing some weeding at the little park at
the corner of Grove and Manor. The entire park is overgrown. This park is dedicated to
victims of Pan Am flight 103 and the little area where the rock with the plaque is, is
completely overgrown. We don’t have manpower to weed the park. We are pulled into
other directions. Our employees are an asset; they are not a libability. The longer we
think about employees as liabilities and that we cannot hire them because they are going
to cost us money….it just really makes me very upset. This is how we respect people?
G. MAYOR RICHARD MUTI
I too am very pleased, whether you believe it or not, to see members of our library union
and our white collar union here in attendance. We also have a member of our Water Department
union here, although he is getting paid. When Gerald Ford pardoned Richard
Nixon, one of the items from his speech was that the long national nightmare is over. I
guess one could say, now that the Library contract is signed, now that the white collar
contract is signed, that the long trail of travail and discord is over, but that is not the case.
The present contracts with both the clerical white collar union and the library union
expire in one year, six months, and eight days. First, let me talk about the library
employees. I don’t know of a finer group of employees in our Borough than the library
employees who have increased their productivity to handle all sorts of increased demand
on the library resources without a concurrent increase in manpower and they have done
so in a way that always gets plaudits and kudos from the public who use those resources.
There is no one more appreciative than I of our library employees but that does not mean
that I can abdicate my responsibility for the fiscal well being of this community in the
future. Every member of this Council just received another letter from our health
insurance provider in which they project a 15% increase in health insurance benefits for
the coming year. That means that when you negotiate your new contracts, whoever is in
charge of those negotiations, if that person in charge of negotiations has as his or her goal
the future financial health of this community, there will have to be further cuts or give
backs or sharing of the health insurance benefits cost. There is no avoiding it. These
negotiations have not been easy. They have taken their toll on the employees, they have
taken their toll on me. I take a large measure of the blame for the delay in resolving the
contracts. The delay was due in large measure because I would not give in on the health
benefits issue. I told you that at the beginning of the process and I stuck to it and I told
you that at the end of the process. That was part of the reason for the delay, but I cannot
and I will not take full blame for the delay in resolving these labor issues. Part of that
blame goes to two members of this governing body, sitting up here on the dais, Mr.
Heller who never misses an opportunity when we have employees coming into a council
meeting to get up on his grandstand and to applaud in public our employees. They
deserve those plaudits but it is hypocritical of Mr. Heller to take that stance in public and
in private to take a stand that would cut you off at the knees in what he would like to
compensate you for. It is Mr. Heller who worked behind the scenes, along with
Ms.O’Brien. Ms. O’Brien is at least consistent. She is irresponsible in public and
irresponsible in private. It is the working behind the scenes of those two individuals that
gave false hope to the employees; that prolonged these negotiations. On the eve or on the
day that we reached a settlement agreement with the white collar unit, at a mediation
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session at which Mr. Nalbandian, Mr. Botta, and I participated, on that very day, Mr.
Heller telephoned the shop steward of the white collar unit and left a phone message on
her voice mail telling her no matter what, don’t settle your contract with the Mayor.
Don’t do it. Fortunately, she didn’t listen to Mr. Heller’s instructions. Cooler heads
prevailed and at that mediation session, we worked out a settlement of the labor
negotiations. Thanks to the help of Mr. Botta and Mr. Nalbandian. These indeed were
painful negotiations. You may very well have a much easier time at the next go-around.
I won’t be here to participate. You might have a very easy time the next time, but I hope
for the sake of the taxpayers and residents of this community that whoever takes over
those negotiations, keeps in mind the big picture. I have nothing further.
H. BOROUGH ATTORNEY – Peter A. Scandariato, Esq. No comments.
I. BOROUGH ADMINISTRATOR – Nicholas C. Saros
The Borough has received a certificate of achievement from JIF for completing l00% of
the 2004 safety incentive program and maintaining an incident rate below 2.0. For the
last three years, we have achieved our goals and it is a credit to all of the employees.
J. BOROUGH CLERK – Meredith Bendian No comments.
VIII. PUBLIC COMMENT
Gillian Buonanno, representing the Library Union, stated they came here for one simple reason, to
thank Councilman Ratto, Councilman Heller, and Councilman Nalbandian and Councilwoman
O’Brien for hearing their concerns this past week. The Mayor just took the gloves off and I have to
address the issue. If you are truly concerned about the finances of this town, why did you spend
over $70,000 on a labor lawyer rather than compensating loyal employees? What is your answer?
Mayor Muti..My answer is this. You did get an OPRA request and you got copies of the invoices.
Not all of that money was for labor negotiations. In fact, the majority of it was for other personnel
issues which I cannot get involved with discussing, because of the confidential nature. Fifteen
thousand dollars was spent in the negotiations with the library union, but if you will recall, and if
you looked at your invoices, $500.00 of that was spent in 2003. We, Ms. Rennie (President of the
Library Board of Trustees) and I, conducted most of the early negotiations in person without benefit
of counsel. Indeed, it was our goal to put extra money in the pockets of library employees rather
than pay for legal counsel. Indeed, Emily Rennie and I met with every member of the Library
employees. We met in late 2003 and laid out a plan, a proposal, to you that would have instituted a
step system of compensation that would have made the changes in the health benefits but would
have provided you far more compensation than you finally signed for. That proposal was put to a
vote of your membership and was defeated by just one vote. I think you came back to us saying that
yes, you wanted the pay increases, that was good but you still were not going to change your health
benefits. Six months later, Ms. Rennie and I in June met with all of the employees once again and
we said, all right we are going to give you all of those pay raises that we have proposed plus we are
going to give each member of the Library Union who gets family health benefits, $2,000.00 in a
flexible spending account to cover any out of pocket costs. The change in health benefits would not
have resulted in any more than $2,000 in expenses and probably would have resulted in far less. We
offered that to you in June of 2004 before we had incurred very much in the way of legal expenses.
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We gave you a time period in which to accept that. You did not accept that and instead you decided
to change unions, which is your prerogative. That caused a delay until the new union got certified.
We began negotiations all over again with the new union. We had to start from scratch at their
insistence. We had to go through the mediation process. All of which requires legal help because of
those dealings with the state agencies and finally, after spending $15,000 in legal fees, we ended up
with a settlement today. A settlement that on average is $3,000 less per employee than what Emily
Rennie and I had offered more than a year and a half ago. I can prove it to you in the figures. If you
like, I will do so. I will respond to Gillian Buonanno’s letter in writing and I will show you the
figures that prove that outright. Again, your analysis of the legal expense attributable to
negotiations with the unions is off the mark.
Cathleen Toomey…We came here in good faith to thank the council people who helped us and you
have just put such a flaw on this whole settlement that we made. I don’t believe you have any
respect for us and I don’t believe that you care one way or another whether we are happy employees
or not. I will be very happy that you are not running for Mayor.
Mayor Muti…Thank you.
Jane Messenger, 213 East Main Street, maybe it would be a good idea to bring in an unbiased person
to look at other health plans and maybe set up a committee with people from the Council as well as
the unions to look at those plans. Maybe we could share in some substantial savings to the Borough
and maybe better benefits to the employees, as well.
Mayor Muti…Thank you. In the contract that both you and the library union signed, there is a
provision that permits the Borough to change to another health plan that provides substantially the
same benefits; the State or other health plan, if you read your contract which I know because I wrote
the language. Either the State health benefits plan or other insurance plan that provides substantially
similar benefits. Your statement is well taken and we should always periodically review the ability
to get a better deal with someone else. One of the things that we have to guard against, Jane, and
that is, not taking an offer from an insurance company that gives you a low ball figure the first year
and then blows you out of the water because they will never guarantee it over the long run. They
have to look at the risk history for the unit and things like that and they will say, let’s get a foot in
the door. Let’s low ball you the first year. We have had a long-term relationship with Blue Cross/
Blue Shield. I don’t want to go with an outfit that does not have the stability that BC/BS does. That
is one of the things we have to be sure about. Many towns are in a bind because they went with a
company or they contributed to the Bergen County Joint Insurance Fund and ended up costing a lot
more than anticipated. Your point is well taken and something that we should consider to review
periodically.
Gillian Buonanno….We came here to say thank you and you just put a bitter taste in our mouth and I
am sorry that you had to do that because we really wanted to make a fresh start. Just like your
comments tonight, it is impossible to make a fresh start. There is no respect for us. It is very
obvious and you leave us no choice. We do what we do because we are professionals but we know
that we have no support.
Cathleen Toomey….I have left messages for all the councilmembers and I did not hear back from
any of them.
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Councilman Botta…I am sorry. Did you leave messages at my house?
Ms. Toomey…At your house? No. At the Borough Hall, at your extension.
Councilman Botta…O.K. I don’t pick up that line.
Ms. Toomey…How am I supposed to know that?
Councilman Botta…I didn’t know I have a line there.
Ms.Toomey…But you had to know what was going on with our negotiations. None of you seem to
have an opinion. It seems like if the Mayor says, than that’s what it is. What is the voting? I don’t
understand how our government works here.
Mayor Muti…Let me try to explain. The Council has nothing to do with the library contract. It is
the Library Board of Trustees that approves and signs the library contract, not the Mayor and
Council. I must tell you that the Library Board of Trustees whom I appointed, some of whom were
originally appointed by my predecessor, were with me unanimously, 100%, in the contract
negotiations that took place with the library union. The library was briefed on those contract
negotiations and at every library board meeting they were fully apprised of everything that took
place and they gave me their 100% support. With regard to the other union, I had the support of
4 councilmembers and as I mentioned earlier, two councilmembers refused to give any support
while at the same time refused to make any suggestions of viable alternatives to deal with the
problem. That’s how our government works.
Ms.Toomey…If something comes up for a vote, such as hiring additional police officers, you are
stating that while you are Mayor, that is never going to happen. What do we have a Council for if
they are not allowed to vote on it? My understanding is that you only have one vote and so do the
other councilmembers.
Mayor..No, your understanding is wrong. In many cases, I have no vote. I only vote to break a tie.
It is the Mayor who appoints police officers, subject to the confirmation of the council. While I am
Mayor, I shall not appoint any new police officers to take the place of those who have retired.
Ms.Toomey…So basically, you are as you have stated, the CEO of this town.
Mayor…Yes, I am.
Ms. Toomey…But you know, there is no statute and we looked it up. There is nothing that says you
as a Mayor are the CEO of this Borough.
Mayor…You didn’t look in the right place.
Ms.Toomey….Yes, I did. I had an attorney who helped me on this. The bottom line is we did come
here with respect and you haven’t given us one ounce of respect. You didn’t have to follow up with
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your comments at all. You still have no respect for the women who work at the Library. That’s all I
have to say.
Mayor…Thank you. Anyone else?
Michael Shasho, 442 Elbert Street, spoke about spending over $500,000 at Finch Park to move a
baseball field a few degrees and get a few more parking spots. I fail to see how this Council could
even consider spending over $2million for pavers and lights on Main Street which will only increase
the value of the property owners there. It will not bring anymore business. The sidewalks are just
fine the way they are. Mr. Shasho spoke about the Borough’s website and suggested that the
Technology Committee be dissolved because it has done almost nothing with Mr. Bisaillon being the
liaison. The website has basically not changed after a year and a half of meetings and discussions.
There are some minutes and some agendas. The calendar looks different but it is the same calendar.
The earliest minutes that are up there are over one year ago. You should stop wasting the people’s
time on that committee and dissolve the committee.
Doug Rennie, 30 Rose Avenue, spoke about the parking at the train station. The current lots are not
being fully utilized and I recommend that we remove the off-street parking so the students can use
those parking spots. I don’t think we need any more space. I would suggest that we permit those
who are using NJ Transit lot and get the money ourselves instead of having an empty lot. I think it is
about time we did something about the sump pump ordinance, now that it is in place.
Not seeing anyone else who wished to speak, Mayor closed the Public Comment.
IX.
ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARING FOR FINAL CONSIDERATION OF
ORDINANCES:
Bond Ordinance No. 14-2005 – Authorizing Main Street Improvements (Phase I)
Resolution No. 75 – Introduced by Botta, seconded by Bisaillon
BE IT RESOLVED that an ordinance entitled: BOND ORDINANCE TO AUTHORIZE
MAIN STREET IMPROVEMENTS (PHASE I) IN THE BOROUGH OF RAMSEY, IN THE
COUNTY OF BERGEN AND STATE OF NEW JERSEY, TO APPROPRIATE THE SUM OF
$480,000.00 TO PAY THE COST THEREOF, TO MAKE A DOWNPAYMENT, TO
AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS TO FINANCE IN PART SUCH APPROPRIATION,
AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE ISSUANCE OF BOND ANTICIPATION NOTES IN
ANTICIPATION OF THE ISSUANCE OF SUCH BONDS having been brought up for public
hearing and all persons interested having been given an opportunity to be heard, pass final reading
by title, and that said ordinance be adopted as an ordinance of the Borough of Ramsey, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Borough Clerk be, and she hereby is, directed to
cause a copy of the title of said ordinance to be published in an official newspaper of the Borough in
the manner provided by law, together with a notice of the date of introduction and adoption of said
Ordinance.
Not seeing anyone who wished speak, Mayor closed the public hearing for ordinance no. 14-2005.
AYES: Bisaillon, Botta, Nalbandian, O’Brien, Ratto
NAYS: Heller ABSENT: None
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Ordinance No. 15-2005 – Site improvements for parking lot expansion at the Library
Resolution No. 76 – Introduced Botta, seconded by Nalbandian
BE IT RESOLVED that an ordinance entitled; AN ORDINANCE TO AUTHORIZE SITE
IMPROVEMENTS FOR REAR PARKING LOT EXPANSION AT THE RAMSEY PUBLIC
LIBRARY IN THE BOROUGH OF RAMSEY, AND TO APPROPRIATE THE SUM OF
$30,000.00 TO PAY THE COST THEREOF having been brought up for public hearing and all
persons interested having been given an opportunity to be heard, pass final reading by title, and that
said ordinance be adopted as an ordinance of the Borough of Ramsey; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Borough Clerk be and she hereby is, directed to
cause a copy of the title of said ordinance to be published in an official newspaper of the Borough in
the manner provided by law; together with a notice of the date of introduction and adoption of said
ordinance.
Not seeing anyone who wished to speak, Mayor closed the public hearing for ordinance no. 15-2005.
Councilwoman O’Brien stated that we seem to do a whole lot of appropriating money and having to
go back and appropriate more because we didn’t do it right the first time. I think it is really time that
we start holding ourselves to the money that we appropriated.
AYES: Bisaillon, Botta, Heller, Nalbandian, O’Brien, Ratto NAYS: None
X. INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES:
Ordinance No.16-2005 – Amending Chapter VIII entitled Municipal Parking lots and
off street parking areas
Resolution No. 77 – Introduced by Nalbandian, seconded by Ratto
BE IT RESOLVED that an ordinance entitled; AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER
VIII OF THE CODE OF THE BOROUGH OF RAMSEY, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY
ENTITLED MUNICIPAL PARKING LOTS AND OFF STREET PARKING AREAS AND MORE
SPECIFICALLY SECTION 8-3.1 PARKING RESTRICTS AND LIMITATIONS MUNICIPAL
PARKING LOTS pass the first reading by title, and that said ordinance be further considered for
final passage and adoption at a regular meeting of the Mayor and Council to be held on the l3th day
of July, 2005, at 8:45 p.m. prevailing time or as soon after as the matter can be reached, at the
Municipal Building in said Borough, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Borough Clerk be, and she hereby is, instructed to
Publish in an official newspaper of the Borough in the manner provided by law a copy of said
ordinance, together with notice of introduction thereof and notice when the same will be considered
for final passage and adoption.
Councilman Nalbandian stated that this is the parking lot across the street which we acquired.
One of the reasons why we are passing this ordinance and designating up to 87 spaces for employees
and persons conducting Borough business is that we will not have some of the parking spaces we
currently have behind the Borough Hall. This is imperative from a standpoint of having adequate
parking for employees and members of the public, as well as our volunteers of boards and
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commissions. The other reason is that we have the ability to designate the spaces across the street as
Ramsey resident parking. The fee is $15.00 for residents. There is no cost to the Borough involved
in this ordinance.
Councilwoman O’Brien stated that a number of out of town people come to Ramsey because this is
their downtown. They use Ramsey and to alienate them, we will not be their downtown anymore.
I think we need to take into consideration the number of people who do use our downtown. We
should consider them if we do have extra spaces.
AYES: Bisaillon, Botta, Heller, Nalbandian, O’Brien, Ratto
NAYS: None
Ordinance No. 17-2005 - Various improvements at Ramsey Finch Park
Resolution No. 78 – Introduced by Botta, seconded by Ratto
BE IT RESOLVED that an ordinance entitled; AN ORDINANCE TO AUTHORIZE THE
VARIOUS IMPROVEMENTS AT THE BOROUGH OF RAMSEY FINCH PARK AND TO
APPROPRIATE THE SUM OF $122,000.00 TO PAY THE COST THEREOF, IN THE
BOROUGH OF RAMSEY, COUNTY OF BERGEN AND STATE OF NEW JERSEY pass the first
reading by title, and that said ordinance be further considered for final passage and adoption at a
regular meeting of the Mayor and Council to be held on the 13th day of July, 2005, at 8:45 p.m.
prevailing time or as soon after as the matter can be reached, at the Municipal Building in said
Borough, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Borough Clerk be and she hereby is, instructed to
publish in an official newspaper of the Borough in the manner provided by law a copy of said
ordinance, together with notice of introduction thereof and notice when the same will be considered
for final passage and adoption.
AYES: Bisaillon, Botta, Heller, Nalbandian, O’Brien, Ratto NAYS: None
Bond Ordinance No. 18-2005 – Various improvements to the water system ($1,050,000.00)
Resolution No. 79 – Introduced by Bisaillon, seconded by Heller
BE IT RESOLVED that an ordinance entitled; BOND ORDINANCE AMENDING
ORDINANCE NO. 15-2004 ENTITLED BOND ORDINANCE TO AUTHORIZE THE
CONSTRUCTION OF VARIOUS IMPROVEMENTS TO THE WATER SYSTEM OF THE
BOROUGH OF RAMSEY, IN THE COUNTY OF BERGEN, AND STATE OF NEW JERSEY,
TO APPROPRIATE THE SUM OF $850,000.00 TO PAY THE COST THEREOF, TO MAKE A
DOWNPAYMENT, TO AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS TO FINANCE IN PART
SUCH APPROPRIATION, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE ISSUANCE OF BOND
ANTICIPATION NOTES IN ANTICIPATION OF THE ISSUANCE OF SUCH BONDS SO AS
TO INCREASE THE SUM APPROPRIATED TO $1,050,000.00 pass the first reading by title and
that said ordinance be further considered for final passage and adoption at a regular meeting of the
Mayor and Council to be held on the l3th day of July, 2005, at 8:45 p.m. prevailing time or as soon
after as the matter can be reached, at the Municipal Building in said Borough, and
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Borough Clerk be, and she hereby is, instructed to
publish in an official newspaper of the Borough in the manner provided by law a copy of said
ordinance, together with notice of introduction thereof and notice when the same will be considered
for final passage and adoption.
Councilman Heller stated that this is another example of what Councilwoman O’Brien pointed out.
We are increasing our current appropriations for capital items above what we previously estimated.
Mayor…Thank you for pointing out the obvious.
Councilman Nalbandian stated that the numbers are not just plucked out of the air. They are based
on estimates provided to us by professionals. When things go out to bid or as time goes on,
numbers can change. Hopefully, the numbers are less when they come in. It is not a haphazard
guess.
Mayor Muti…It also should be put into perspective that with the hundreds of authorizations that we
make for expenditures of funds during the year, to have some tweaking because of low estimates is
not unusual. I would not say it is out of the ordinary. There are probably an equal number ….If you
look at the bond ordinances on the books that have to be canceled because there is still money left
over in the bond ordinance that was not spent because we were able to come in under the
anticipation. There are an equal number of those. So, to take some posture that for some reason we
are not doing the work properly because of the need to conform bond ordinances with higher bids
than anticipated, is strictly grandstanding and should not be well received by the public.
AYES: Bisaillon, Botta, Heller, Nalbandian, O’Brien, Ratto
NAYS: None
Ordinance No. 19-2005 – Amending the code of the Borough of Ramsey and more
specifically Chapter XIII therefore entitled Building and
Housing Section 13-14 Fair Share
Resolution No. 80 – Introduced by Botta, seconded by Heller
BE IT RESOLVED that an ordinance entitled; AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE
CODE OF THE BOROUGH OF RAMSEY AND MORE SPECIFICALLY CHAPTER XIII
THEREOF ENTITLED BUILDING AND HOUSING SECTION 13-14 FAIR SHARE PLAN
Pass the first reading by title and that said ordinance be further considered for final passage and
adoption at a regular meeting of the Mayor and Council to be held on the 13 th day of July, 2005, at
8:45 p.m. prevailing time or as soon after as the matter can be reached, at the Municipal Building in
said borough, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Borough Clerk be, and she hereby is, instructed to
publish in an official newspaper of the Borough in the manner provided by law, a copy of said
ordinance, together with notice of introduction thereof and notice when the same will be considered
for final passage and adoption.
Councilman Botta stated that this a tweaking of our Fair Share Housing Plan in order to more closely
conform with our substantive certification by COAH and the State of New Jersey.
AYES: Bisaillon, Botta, Heller, Nalbandian, O’Brien, Ratto NAYS: None
14

Ordinance No. 20-2005 – Amending the code of the Borough of Ramsey Chapter VII
Traffic Section 7-31 SPEED LIMITS
Resolution No. 81 – Introduced by Bisaillon, seconded by O’Brien
BE IT RESOLVED that an ordinance entitled; AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE
CODE OF THE BOROUGH OF RAMSEY, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY AND MORE
SPECIFICALLY CHAPTER VII TRAFFIC SECTION 7-31 SPEED LIMITS pass the first reading
by title and that said ordinance be further considered for final passage and adoption at a regular
meeting of the Mayor and Council to be held on the 13 th day of July, 2005, at 8:45 p.m. prevailing
time or as soon after as the matter can be reached, at the Municipal Building in said Borough, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Borough Clerk be and she hereby is, instructed to
publish in an official newspaper of the Borough in the manner provided by law a copy of said
ordinance, together with notice of introduction thereof and notice when the same will be considered
for final passage and adoption.
Councilman Bisaillon stated that we have a number of side streets which are pretty busy. We have
had an ongoing history of requests from residents and people passing through to pull the speed
limits down. This ordinance will do that for these three streets.
AYES: Bisaillon, Botta, Heller, Nalbandian, O’Brien, Ratto NAYS: None
XI. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None
XII.
NEW BUSINESS - None
XIII. ADJOURNMENT -
Motion by Ratto, seconded by Heller, to return to work session and executive session. Carried.
/ad
Meredith Bendian
Borough Clerk
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