Mount Olive Township Council Minutes
January 23, 2001

The Regular meeting of the Mount Olive Township Council was called to Order at 7:30 pm by Council President Rattner with the Pledge of Allegiance.

According to the Open Public Meetings Act, adequate Notice of this meeting has been given to the Mount Olive Chronicle and the Morristown Daily Record. Notice has been posted at the entrance of the Municipal Building, 204 Flanders-Drakestown Road, Mt. Olive, New Jersey, and notices were sent to those requesting the same.

ROLL CALL: Present: Mr. Heymann, Mr. Guenther, Mrs. Kelly, Mr. Spino, Mr. Scapicchio, President Rattner

Absent: Mr. Sohl

President Rattner: Mr. Sohl is away on business. I would also like to acknowledge the attendance of the Mayor, Paul Licitra; the Business Administrator, Sandy Kaplan; the Township Attorney, John Dorsey; Township Clerk, Lisa Lashway, and DPW/Special Projects Coordinator, Bob Casey. Before we get started, I want to recap our activities for tonight. We started with an Executive Session at 5:30pm to discuss ongoing litigation, and at 7:00pm, we went into Closed Session to discuss possible contract negotiations. So, that’s what was advertised, and that’s what happened as of tonight.

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS

Mayor Licitra: I just want the Council to be aware of the following Appointments that I am making:

Appointment of Robert Scholtz to Morris County Community Development Revenue Sharing Committee and Kathy Murphy as Alternate (1 year terms)

Appointment of Geri Reda to the Recreation Advisory Committee for a three year unexpired term to expire 12/31/02

President Rattner: Thank you, Mayor.

PUBLIC HEARING ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT APPLICATIONS

President Rattner: Next, we have a Public Hearing for our Community Development Block Grant Applications. Mrs. Murphy?

Flanders Fire House Expansion

Painting of Village Green Water Tank

Mrs. Murphy: Last week we discussed in the Workshop Session the Community Development Grants that we’re about to file that are due at the end of this week, on the 26th. For the Public’s information, we have two grants that will be filed. One will be towards the Flanders Fire House–Flanders Fire House is planning an expansion that will cost almost a half million dollars by the time they’re finished–including their architectural and design costs. We can apply to up to $100,000 for Community Development to help offset those costs. We’re expecting to include items such as electrical, plumbing and heating. This would help offset that cost. The Firehouse is actually in a low-income district and it also services the town-wide eligibility for low-income. That will be our first application in the facilities category. The second application will be in the improvement category, also a $100,000 request. We have need of painting the water tank at the Village Green. We expect that cost to come in at almost $250,000. We plan that for next year. If we get this Grant, then by the time we enact any contracts and everything, it will take us almost to the end of this year for the preparation work and we can start work next spring on that. We have other Community Grants that we’re finishing up this year, that would be painting of Oakwood Village and also some work at Hopkins Road. I presented this to Council last week, so they’re aware of what’s happening. I’d be happy to answer any questions from the Public.

President Rattner: Is there anyone from the Public who would like to address the application?

Mrs. Fran Licciardiello, Mt. Olive Chamber of Commerce: On the Grants, are we allotted so many per year? Is that why you’re doing Oakwood?

Mrs. Murphy: We’re going to do Oakwood this year–we already have a Grant for that, and Village Green, we’re hoping to get money because it’s been in need of painting for quite a while.

Mrs. Liccardiello: How many of these Grants do we get?

Mrs. Murphy: You’re allowed one in each category. There’s about four, we only qualified for a couple this year.

President Rattner: Anyone else? All right, I will close the Public Hearing. Thank you very much, Mrs. Murphy.

LEGAL REPORTS: NONE

APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS:

November 21, 2000: Present: Mr. Heymann, Mr. Guenther, Mr. Scapicchio, Mrs. Kelly, Mr. Spino, Mr. Rattner, President Sohl

Absent: Mr. Spino

December 19, 2000: Present: Mr. Heymann, Mr. Guenther (7:32pm), Mr. Scapicchio, Mrs. Kelly, Mr. Spino, Mr. Rattner, President Sohl (8:12pm)

January 9, 2001: Present: Mr. Heymann, Mr. Guenther (8:30), Mr. Sohl (7:50pm), Mrs. Kelly, Mr. Spino, Mr. Scapicchio, President Rattner

January 16, 2001 CS:Present: Mrs. Kelly, Mr. Spino, Mr. Rattner, Mr. Heymann, Mr. Guenther, Mr. Scapicchio, Mr. Sohl

Mr. Heymann moved for approval of the Minutes and Mr. Scapicchio seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL: Passed by the Majority, Exception: Mr. Spino ABSTAINED on November 21, 2000

CORRESPONDENCE

Resolutions, Ordinances, Correspondence from other Towns

1. Notice received January 111, 2001 from Township of Chester RE: Eliminating and Repealing in entirety Section 113-242 of the Code of the Township of Chester, Which Section is Entitled “Conditional Use: Telecommunications Facilities.”

2. Resolution received January 19, 2001 from the Borough of Lincoln Park RE: Support of Assembly Bill A126, allow municipalities and counties to bank surplus snow removal funds for utilization in years in which snow expenditures exceed the Budget.

Resolutions, Ordinances, Correspondence from Freeholders and County Departments

Correspondence from Legislative Representatives and State Departments

3. Letter received January 16, 2001 from NJ Division of Water Quality RE: Additional Information for Permit Renewal for MSA.

League of Municipalities

4. Notice received January 11, 2001, From New Jersey State League of Municipalities RE: Ninth Annual Mayors’ Legislative Day.

DOT/DEP/Permits/LOIs

5. Letter received January 10, 2001 from NJ DEP RE: upcoming conference “Municipal Brownfields Development, New Opportunities in New Jersey” February 20, 2001.

6. Application for LOI, Footprint of Disturbance received January 10, 2001 from Associated Consultants RE: L 2 B 2604 (Warren Drive.)

7. Notice of application for LOI received January 11, 2001 from Associated Consultants RE: L 2 B 2604 (Warren Drive.)

8. LOI received January 11, 2001 from Environmental Technology, Inc. RE: Regulatory Line Verification, Pars Development Corp, B. 7000 L 64, Shop Lane.

9. Letter received January 16, 2001 from NJ DOT RE: Municipal Aid Formula Program FY2001, Cory Road.

10. Letter received January 17, 2001 from Chester, Ploussas, Lisowsky Partnership, L.L.P. RE: Sewer Extension Application, Woodfield at Mt. Olive - Section IIC.

11. Letter received January 17, 2001 from NJ DEP RE: 1427-92-001.7 SE, 1427-98-0008.2 SE, 1427-92-0007.4 FWIP (New Jersey Foreign Trade Zone Venture Temporary Culvert Crossings.)

12. Letter received January 19, 2001 from NJ DEP RE: LOI, Line Verification, The Opper Group, Route 206 (Moony Road). Mt. Olive Twp. And Roxbury.

Correspondence from Organizations/Committees/Boards

13. Letter received January 16, 2001 from Adventist Healthcare requesting sponsorship to help support second annual “Women of the 21st Century.”

Correspondence from Cable Networks/Utilities

14. Notice of Public Hearings received January 8, 2001 from NUI Elizabethtown Gas Company.

15. Minutes received January 12, 2001 from MSA RE: Regular Meeting, December 6, 2000.

16. Letter received January 19, 2001 from MSA RE: Application filed with NJDEP for a re-rating of its existing plant to increase the present capacity.

Notices

17. Notice received January 16, 2001 from NJ Foreign Trade Zone Venture, RE: Application for development, preliminary site plan approval, with the Planning Board of the Township of Roxbury.

President Rattner stated that we had received 17 items of correspondence and asked Council if there were any comments on same.

ORDINANCES FOR PUBLIC HEARING

ORDINANCES FOR FIRST READING

Ord. #1-2001 An Ordinance of the Township of Mount Olive Establishing the Mount Olive Township Ethical Standard Board and Related Matters.

Mr. Heymann moved that Ord. #1-2001 be introduced by title and passed on First Reading and that it be scheduled for Adoption after a Public Hearing on February 13, 2001 at 7:30 p.m. Mr. Scapicchio seconded the Motion.

ROLL CALL: Passed Unanimously

President Rattner: As a related item, Councilman Sohl sent out a Press Release that we’re holding open Resumes for members of the Ethics Board till February 1.

Ord. #2-2001 Bond Ordinance Amending Bond Ordinance #24-99 of the Township of Mount Olive, in the County of Morris, New Jersey, Finally Adopted July20, 1999, in it’s Entirety. (B&H Acquisition)

Mr. Guenther moved that Ord. #2-2001 be introduced by title and passed on First Reading and that it be scheduled for Adoption after a Public Hearing on February 13, 2001 at 7:30 p.m. Mr. Heymann seconded the Motion.

ROLL CALL: Passed Unanimously

CONSENT RESOLUTIONS AGENDA:

Resolutions on the Consent Agenda List are considered to be routine and non-controversial by the Township Council and will be approved by one motion (one vote). There will be no separate discussion or debate on each of these resolutions except for the possibility of brief clarifying statements which may be offered. If one or more Council member requests, any individual resolution on the Consent Agenda may be removed from the Consent Agenda List and acted on separately.

Mr. Scapicchio: I would just like to make one brief comment. On #3, I would like to give the Administration, and Sandy Kaplan, especially, some credit for doing what seems to be an excellent job in reviewing and coming up with a new Health package that benefits both the employees and the Township in a financial way, and I just want to make the recommendation as I did in workshop that he follows this same procedure next year prior to this Contract being renewed so that we can then be in a position to also come up with the best possible deal for both the employees and the Township.

President Rattner: Thank you. Any other comments? Public Comments?

Mr. Bonte: I would like to echo first of all Mr. Scapicchio’s statement regarding–looking at this (INAUDIBLE) commend the Administration and Mr. Kaplan for the exemplary job. (INAUDIBLE) I am extremely pleased that this was done in a timely manner (INAUDIBLE). I did have a couple of questions. On #10, the property that was donated to the Town–is that a vacant lot?

Mr. Dorsey: It’s 16 acres.

Mr. Spino: 16 acres.

Mr. Bonte: Okay–because the map looked like--

Mr. Dorsey: Accesses through, I think, a lot that the Township owns, but it’s 16 acres.

Mr. Bonte: On the map, it’s a just a little tiny lot colored.

Mr. Dorsey: Well, I haven’t seen it, but I know that the Deed covered 16 acres.

Mr. Spino: That’ not the Lot. The Welpe property is on the Chester Line–down at the end of Downstream, or Hermanne Drive–down that way.

Mr. Bonte: Well, this map has nothing to do–

Mr. Spino: That’s a different piece of property.

M. Bonte: Well it says it’s the Welpe property–

Mr. Spino: Not as far as I know.

Mrs. Lashway: I attached that map because of the Block and Lot. There was nothing attached, so I just attached Block 6300 Lot 3 that was referred to in the Resolution.

Mr. Bonte: Well, is it the wrong Lot Number referred to?

Mr. Dorsey: I don’t know. The Welpe Tract included 16 acres because I recorded the Deed a couple of weeks ago and did descriptions.

Mr. Bonte: I’m assuming referred to canceling the tax on Block 6300 Lot 3, and by the Welpe’s it shows the map–and that looks like Lot 3–a small–

Mr. Dorsey: I don’t know why–it should be the right Lot and Block because it came from the Tax Collector. I didn’t draw that Resolution.

(INAUDIBLE)

Mr. Spino: But that’s Route 206, that’s not the property.

Mrs. Kelly: No, it isn’t.

Mr. Bonte: Does that mean we have the wrong Block and Lot?

Mr. Spino: That I don’t remember what the Block and Lot is for the Welpe property. I’m sorry.

Mr. Dorsey: You could be right. I don’t remember.

Mr. Bonte: The other question is pertaining to #7. I’m curious why this happened.

Mr. Dorsey: International South is being built and financed by–we’ll call it the International Trade Center. They obtained a $3 million grant through the EDA. That grant money, in order for them to receive it has to come through the Township. There is a separate Agreement with the International Trade Zone that those monies will be utilized along with other monies that they have to supply to purchase all of the materials for that, and, indeed, we are to be reimbursed–I think it’s $60 an hour for the time that either Mr. Buczynski, or Mr. Casey spends on that project. But it’s like money in and money out. They have to underwrite whatever the costs are.

President Rattner: Any other comments from the Public? I will close the Public Session. We will remove Resolution #10. Mr. Dorsey advises me that it’s not a big deal. We’ll get the Block and Lot numbers corrected.

1. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount Olive Authorizing an Award of Contract for Health Management Services (Risk Manager) to Summit Insurance Advisors.

2. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount Olive Terminating the Township’s Membership in the Bergen Municipal Employees Benefits Fund Effective February 28, 2001.

3. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount Olive Awarding a Contract to Horizon Blue Cross/Blue Shield of New Jersey Effective March 1, 2001, for Health Insurance Coverage for the Township’s Employees.

4. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount Olive Authorizing the Township Attorney to File Administrative Charges Against Rocklim, Inc. d/b/a Limerick’s, Holding Plenary License No. 1427-33-017-010. (Establishing date of Hearing)

5. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount Olive to Foreclose In Rem Certificates Held by the Township of Mount Olive.

6. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount Olive Authorizing GPU Energy to Install Overhead Lines Along the North Side of Goldmine Road.

7. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount Olive Rejecting all Bids for Retaining Walls Along International Drive South.

8. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount Olive Approving Professional Service Contracts for the Township Attorney, Municipal Engineer, Real Estate Consultant, Labor Counsel, Municipal Environmental Consultant and Accounting, Auditing and Financial Consultant for the Year 2001.

9. A Resolution to Award a Contract for the Purchase of Refuse Trucks.

Mrs. Kelly moved for approval of the Consent Resolutions and Mr. Heymann seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL: Passed by the majority, Exception: Mr. Spino voted NO on #9.

President Rattner: We have a resolution that was added tonight:

11. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mt. Olive Awarding a Contract for the Purchase of various supplies and materials for the ITC South Connector Road.

Mr. Scapicchio moved for approval of the Resolution and Mr. Heymann seconded the motion.

President Rattner: Any discussion? Public Comment?

ROLL CALL: Passed unanimously

MOTIONS

1. Bill List.

Mr. Spino moved for approval of the Bills and Mr. Heymann seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL: Passed unanimously

2. Approval of Bingo Application #970 and Raffle Application #971 for Budd Lake Volunteer Fire Department #1.

Mr. Scapicchio moved for approval of the Motion and Mr. Heymann seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL: Passed unanimously

COUNCIL REPORTS

Mr. Heymann: The only report I have is a memo from Mr. Casey regarding a meeting regarding Turkeybrook at Turkeybrook--about the Turkeybrook project which I will be attending on February 7th–and I guess I told you I could go to the one on the 11th, I guess I can.

Mrs. Kelly: I have a question about that–the February 11th meeting–I’d like to also attend except that February 11th is on a Sunday and in the memo it said Monday morning. So, I think we have the wrong date, I think it must be February 12th.

Mr. Heymann: Casey can straighten that out–it hasn’t been finalized with the time, it says 9:00am or 10:00am. So I guess he’ll get back to us on that.

Mr. Scapicchio: I just want to acknowledge that I’ve taken over for Mr. Rattner as Chairman for the Board of Health. I attended my first meeting two weeks ago. I actually find it very interesting and I look forward to spending my 12 months on the Board of Health. They do a lot more and are involved in a lot of areas that I never thought that they were. Presently they are bringing in a restaurant to the Township that has failed numerous inspections for certain violations, and I look forward to the next 12 months on that Board.

President Rattner: Thank you, Mr. Scapicchio. I have no reports at this time. I now open the meeting to the Public. Is there anyone who would like to address the Council on any matter? Seeing no one, I close the Public Session. I’ll still take Council Comments.

Mr. Heymann: My only comment–I guess Administration is working on this letter that we received from Mr. Powers, regarding health coverage. That’s my only comment.

Mr. Guenther: I think we decided at the workshop session that I would take over the direction of the Legislative Committee.

President Rattner: Right.

Mr. Guenther: I’m looking forward to sinking my teeth into that, Mr. Rattner. At your convenience, maybe you and I should get together and start the ball rolling again.

President Rattner: As I said, we’ve already contacted all our legislative offices. I saw that the Clerk actually put in–after she called, she confirmed explaining why we wanted the meeting and what we wanted to accomplish. We’ll go from there.

Mrs. Lashway: Senator Littel’s Office requested it be put in writing, and what the purpose of the meeting will be, and then they will respond.

President Rattner: And as I said before, Guy Gregg has already agreed, and Assemblyman DeCroce who is Chairman of Transportation said if we can schedule, set the meeting, and he’ll try to attend.

Mr. Heymann: John, we got a memo here from the Chief about a Senate Bill–Public Access to Government Records. Can you do a Resolution in favor of what the Chief wants–to oppose that. My opinion is, it should be opposed.

President Rattner: I want to put it on our next Workshop. There are pros and cons on it. The only thing I wanted to say–we’ve been talking about how good the snow removal was and has been, and then I look at the snow that we had this weekend, and I couldn’t believe that on my little road that I woke up in the morning and the road was plowed, plowed wide, and I looked around most of the other roads in Town, and I just think they’re getting better every time it snows. But I shudder to think what it’s costing us, but I think you should tell the men they’re doing one heck of a job, and they’re constantly improving.

Mr. Guenther: Here, here.

Motion made for adjournment. All in Favor, None Opposed. The Meeting was adjourned at 8:00pm.

______________________

Steven W. Rattner

Council President

I, LISA M. LASHWAY, Township Clerk of the Township of Mount Olive do hereby certify that the foregoing Minutes is a true and correct copy of the Minutes approved at a legally convened meeting of the Mount Olive Township Council duly held on February 13, 2001.

________________________

LISA M. LASHWAY

Mount Olive Township Clerk