Bogota Borough Council

 5-March-2021

   On Thursday-4-March the the Bogota Borough Council held their first meeting for the month of March. Before the meeting started Bogota Mayor Chris Kelemen ask for a moment of silence to remember Mr. John Monaghan, the Brother of Councilwoman Mary Ellen Murphy,  who passed away earlier in the week.

    Then the Council began with a discussion of the lease for the Bogota Swim Club for the 2021 season. The Swim Club is asking for a one year extension on their lease based on the lease from 2020. This  extend was passed.  With one Council member recusing themselves. It will follow the agree  from last year which reads:  to offer the Swim Club a one year lease at their current rate. This will also include a clause  for the payment be pro-rate from the day the Swim Club opens their 2020  season (Now the 2021 Season). 

    Next  the Council voted on the items which are part of the consent agenda. This was passed with a unanimous vote. One item was to accept the resolution that an Officer of the Bogota Police Department be placed on un-paid suspension:  after notification of an Internal Affairs Investigation regarding intentional and improper violations of the Bogota Police Department Rules and Regulations during the course of his employment. a Notice of Disciplinary Action with Charges and Specifications was duly served upon the Employee, receipt of which was acknowledged by the Employee; and, Employee, with advice of Counsel, agreed to waive his right to a formal hearing on the charges and to accept the discipline. The employee, with advice of Counsel, entered a guilty plea to said charges and accepted the five (5) month suspension without pay.  The Officers name was redacted in the Publicly available agenda. The Council's attorney will inquire with the Labor Attorney  if the officers name can be released to the Public. 

   The other resolution was to approve a Deed Restriction for 2000 W. Ft. Lee rd. (The second building to open as part of the Atwater Complex.)  This is to allow designated units  that will remain subject to the affordability housing requirements for a period of at least 10 years. 

   Some items announced during the Council's reports session included that the State of New Jersey Green Acres program approved the re-design plans for the Community Center in Olsen Park.  And that the cost of the sidewalks ramp at the street corners will now not be charged to the Borough. This will allow those fund to be used for additional street re-paving. 

    The next Council meeting will be Thursday -18-March. This is scheduled to start at 7:30p. Log-in information will be posted at a later date.

    For additional information please visit their website at: https://www.bogotaonline.org/

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