Page 8 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • April 8, 2009 Area Council approves lease assignment in 4-1 vote by Jennifer Crusco In a 4-1 vote, the Ho-Ho-Kus Council agreed to assign the lease for the borough-owned Ho-Ho-Kus Inn building from Korbitz, Inc. to Ho-Ho-Kus Inn and Tavern, LLC. The approval came at a special meeting held late last week. Councilman Lee Flemming cast the dissenting vote, explaining that he has struggled with the issue because Councilman Gordon Hamm owns a minority share of Ho-Ho-Kus Inn and Tavern, LLC. Flemming said, “I am unable to change my opinion,” and indicated that he would vote against the resolution. Mayor Thomas Randall clarified that Flemming’s decision was based on a personal feeling. Flemming agreed with Randall’s assessment, but said he based his opinion on consultations with individuals involved with ethics. The councilman said he was concerned with the perception of an ethical issue, even if one did not exist. “I would be more comfortable if (the inn) were not operated by a public official,” Flemming said. The mayor noted that Hamm’s interest in the inn would not constitute a precedent in Ho-Ho-Kus. Randall explained that former Councilman Joseph Sanzari was a tenant at the borough’s building at 188 Franklin Turnpike while he served on the governing body. Mayor Randall noted that the possible ethical concerns had been researched. The council majority agreed with HoHo-Kus Borough Attorney David Bole’s advice that ethics would not be a consideration as long as Hamm steps down from any votes regarding the inn. Hamm was present at last week’s meeting, but sat in the audience during the discussion on the lease and did not participate in the vote on the assignment. Bole said the council had also researched the Ho-HoKus Inn and Tavern, LLC’s finances. He said insurance coverage had been a concern, and that the LLC had agreed to provide equal or better coverage. The resolution states that the LLC will secure liability insurance of at least $2 million. The borough will be named as an additional insured for liability purposes. Randall said Paul Garbarini, the borough’s auditor, checked on the financial suitability of the agreement. According to the mayor, Ho-Ho-Kus Inn and Tavern will effectively assume the same lease awarded by public bid in 1998. Any proposed renovations to the building must be approved by the borough. The lease calls for a payment of $71,410 in 2009, a bor- ough official told Villadom TIMES. Adjustments to the rental agreement will include increases of three percent or the consumer price index, whichever is lower, Bole said. The attorney also cited the Doctrine of Necessity, explaining that only the Ho-Ho-Kus Council could act on this matter, the council was permitted to act, and it was appropriate for the council to act, as there was no legal impediment to making that decision. Upper Saddle River resident Roy Hagen asked if his gift certificate from the inn would be honored by the new owners. Hamm, speaking from the audience, responded that Hagen would be able to use the certificate when the inn reopens. John Tinari, owner of Janice A Bistro in downtown Ho-Ho-Kus, asked about the future use of the site, and the theme of the new establishment. Hamm said the inn would be a casual, family restaurant that would offer “a little bit (continued on page 12) Homes of Carl Kemm Loven tour (continued from page 4) “He designed in many styles, but he often put a special stamp on his houses,” she noted. “His houses seem to capture your attention. They have an appealing warmth. If a Norman house has a charm and a special feeling, I suspect it may be one of his and that’s when I go up and knock on the door. Often a dovecote is the giveaway!” Peck’s interest in local architecture began with an investigation into the history of her own house, and then extended to her neighbor’s houses, which included Loven’s own house and another designed by him. Intrigued by Loven’s work, and finding that little had been written about him, she decided to remedy that oversight by writing the pamphlet. “It became apparent that somebody had to write this information down -- and the sooner, the better,” she said. “I wanted to make sure it was recorded before more Loven houses were torn down and before more people’s memories were lost.” Perhaps the most celebrated of Loven’s designs is that of his own house at 119 Rock Road in Glen Rock, which also served as his office and which will be featured on the AIA-NJ tour. The name of the house, which is carved on a painted sign inset over the door is “Manoir Roche Vallon” or “house in the valley of the rock.” The gabled and turreted house exhibits Loven’s talent as an artist and architect and his passion for Norman architecture, according to Peck. The house uses antique glass from � ������ BROWNSTONE MILL ��������� ���������� ��������� ��������� ����������������������������� �������������������������� ���������������������������������������� ������������ ������� Full Service Garden Center ������������ Europe in the leaded glass windows and gargoyles inspired by Loven’s visit to the Chartres Cathedral in France to ornament the exterior walls. Although best known for his Norman Revival homes, Loven did not confine himself to that style. He designed ranch houses, cottage revival houses, Williamsburg colonials, Dutch colonials, French Colonials, massive stone mansions, and modern houses with large glass walls. He also worked on hotels, country clubs, hunting lodges, churches, schools, banks, gas stations, warehouses, office buildings, and libraries. His shopping centers include the Urban Farms Shopping Center in Franklin Lakes and some of the main shopping areas in Glen Rock, Ridgewood, Wyckoff, and Saddle River, although research still needs to be done to see how closely the current retail structures resemble the original designs. Loven also worked on planned communities in Lake Hopatcong, Pines Lake in Wayne, and Smoke Rise in Kinnelon, and Sterling Forest in Orange County, New York, making the identification of Loven’s work a massive job. Peck hopes that interest in Loven will grow and that other individuals and groups will help fill in more information. Working as the Glen Rock Historian has given Peck the opportunity to record more of this talented architect’s history and expand the list of his known works. 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