Rockaway Borough Historical Committee Regular Meeting Minutes

Meeting Minutes January 27, 2024

Location: Community Center, Union St.

10:00 a.m. - D. Conville called meeting to order with flag salute and a moment of silence for departed past members

He turned the meeting over to Mayor Mulligan, assisted by Councilman Haynes, to swear in the new officers:

• President: Jim Hurley
• Vice President: Kate Lynch
• Treasurer: Barb Koch
• Corresponding Secretary: Melissa Okerblom

J. Hurley opened the meeting up for anyone who wanted to ask Mayor Mulligan and Councilman Haynes any questions. Topics asked about were:

• Main St. Bridge project
• Vanderhoof Avenue area that Denville sold to warehouse developer
• Redevelopment of town center
• Senior housing building on Main Street
• Stacking issue in town

T. Slockbower made motion to approve minutes from the December meeting, B. Koch seconded, all in favor

Treasurer (B. Koch):

• Advised bank balance as of December 31, 2023 is $ 6,129.34
• All checks written in 2023, were cleared in 2023
• All documentation requested by TD Bank to open an account there has been submitted. B. Koch awaiting a response. As previously discussed, there is no minimum balance for a 501©3
• Pellagio cashed the check for the two brick requests but have not responded or done the engraving.

Corresponding Secretary (B. Koch):

• Nothing to report

Museum Curator/Museum Facilities and Maintenance

• T. Slockbower created a checklist for opening and closing the museum
• T. Slockbower created a Donation Form; record donation and complete form before bringing artifact to committee to vote on whether to accept artifact into inventory.
• D. Conville made MOTION to accept checklist for museum open/close and donation form. D. Tanzola seconded, all in favor.
• J. Hurley advised he was at the museum checking on the heat and noticed a leak in the bathroom again.
• Museum volunteers: 1/28 - B. Nickoley, T. Slockbower (J. Hurley open/B. Koch close)
• Museum volunteers: 2/25 - K. Lynch, J. Schuring, B. Koch
• K. Lynch will update museum inventory and photos onto USB drive.

Fundraising Committee (A. Bernard)

• A. Bernard not in attendance.

Tails & Tales Program (B. Nickoley / M. Okerblom)

• B. Nickoley advised Lucy Chipko did an interview that is on the RBPL website
• B. Koch advised that Jack Phillips would like to do an interview

New Business

• J. Hurley advised that it will be Smith’s Tavern 85th Anniversary. They opened in 1939 continually operated post prohibition.
• B. Koch purchased 30 wood slice pieces with the thought of using them for some kind of museum sale piece
• J. Hurley wants us to brainstorm next meeting with community events; possible walking tour, plan artifact night, etc
• Discussion ensued regarding making a tarp to hang at Fireman’s Field for the car show
• J. Hurley discussed Morris County Heritage Review – funds are/were available for projects and we need to establish projects/budgets to apply. Brainstorm ideas for this grant for next meeting.
• B. Koch to bring copy of lease to next meeting
• M. Okerblom showed photocopy of the book titled “Rockaway and the McKinnon Axe”. There are only 14 copies in existence

Adjourn

11:25 a.m. T. Slockbower made motion to adjourn, M. Auriemma seconded, all in favor

Next Meeting

NOTE TIME CHANGE:
February 24, 2024, 1 p.m. at Community Center

In Attendance

J. Hurley
B. Koch
D. Conville
C. Conville
D. Tanzola
J. Schuring
B Nickoley
T. Slockbower
T. Hiler
B. Edwards
M. Okerblom
K. Lynch
M. Auriemma