TOWNSHIP COUNCIL PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES - January 5, 2010

The Public Meeting of the Mount Olive Township Council was called to Order at 7:30 pm by Vice President Labow with the Pledge of Allegiance.
MOMENT OF REFLECTION in recognition of the men and women fighting terrorism and those who have lost their lives defending the freedom we all enjoy

OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT ANNOUNCEMENT
According to the Open Public Meetings Act, adequate notice of this meeting has been given to the Mount Olive Chronicle. Notice has been posted at the Municipal Building, 204 Flanders-Drakestown Road, Mount Olive Township, New Jersey and notices were sent to those requesting the same.

Vice President Labow: Our first order of business for this evening is the swearing in of four of our new elected officials, and because this is a very special momentous occasion, I’d like to do them individually if that’s okay with everyone. Okay, good. First in line we have Councilman Raymond Perkins and he is going to be sworn in by Senator Oroho. Senator Oroho, would you please come up here and Councilman Perkins. Also, family members please join us so we can have everybody together. If anybody has a camera and wants to take pictures please feel free to come on up.

Swearing In: Raymond Perkins – Senator Oroho

Mr. Perkins: I, Raymond Perkins, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same and to the governments established in the United States, and in this State, under the authority of the people, and I will faithfully, impartially and justly perform all of the duties of the office of Councilman of Mount Olive Township according to the best of my ability, so help me god.

Senator Oroho: Congratulations.

Vice President Labow: Congratulations, Ray.

Senator Oroho: And if I may just real quick, first of all I really want to thank you very much for such an honor to be here this evening. I wish everybody a Happy New Year and also to thank the Council to have the courage, for the four Council people that are being sworn in tonight, plus all the Council and the Mayor. It takes a lot of courage to put your name on the line to represent the people. I have served on the local Council in Franklin. I have served on the Sussex County Freeholders Board and now at the State level, and I will tell you without a doubt, and the Mayors here and the Council people will attest that every level is hard work, but the most emotional level is the local level. It is because you’re making decisions that sometimes affect neighbors, and when you go to the Shop Rite or you go to the A&P or you go to the shoe stores, there’s going to be somebody there that you probably have to talk with. So thank you very much for taking the time and doing all the hard work and as I said, I wish you a very Happy New Year, and if there’s anything that we can do on behalf of Assemblywoman Alison McHose and Assemblyman Chiusano and myself and Paul Licitra here, please ask. Thank you very much.

Swearing In: Robert Greenbaum – John Dorsey

Vice President Labow: Thank you. Thank you, Senator. Senator Oroho, I think you’re doing a wonderful job. Thank you very much. It’s greatly appreciated. Okay, next in line we have Councilman Robert Greenbaum who is being sworn in by Senator John Dorsey. Beth, Hailey, do you want to come up?

Mr. Greenbaum: What happened to the other two kids?

Vice President Labow: Anybody who would like to take any pictures come on up.

Mr. Dorsey: Alright, Rob, repeat after me if you will.

Mr. Greenbaum: I, Robert Greenbaum, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same and to the governments established in the United States, and in this State, under the authority of the people, and I will faithfully, impartially and justly perform all of the duties of the office of Councilman of Mount Olive Township according to the best of my ability.

Mr. Dorsey: Congratulations.

Mr. Greenbaum: Thank you very much.

Vice President Labow: Congratulations, Rob.

Mr. Greenbaum: Thank you.

Swearing In: John Mania – Tony Sposaro

Vice President Labow: Next in line we have Councilman John Mania and Senator Dorsey is also going to be swearing… Oh, I’m sorry. You switched it on me. Tony Sposaro is going to be swearing in John Mania. Lillian, everybody’s coming up. Sorry about that. I didn’t have the amended one here.

Mr. Sposaro: Left hand on the bible and raise your right hand. Are you ready?

Mr. Mania: I’m ready. I, John Mania, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same and to the governments established in the United States, and in this State, under the authority of the people, and I will faithfully, impartially and justly perform all of the duties of the office of Councilman of Mount Olive Township according to the best of my ability, so help me god.

Mr. Sposaro: Congratulations.

Mr. Mania: Here’s the apple of my eye, my granddaughter.

Vice President Labow: Thank you very much. Councilman Mania, congratulations.

Mr. Mania: Thank you.

Swearing In: Patrick Walsh – John Dorsey

Vice President Labow: Next in line we have Councilman Patrick Walsh and he’s going to be sworn in by Senator John Dorsey. I’d like to invite Pat’s family to come up and join us in the swearing in ceremony. If anybody, again, has a camera please feel free to come on up.

Mr. Dorsey: Where’s the bible?

Mr. Walsh: I hold that?

Mr. Dorsey: Put your hand on it. Now, Pat, repeat after me.

Mr. Walsh: I’m ready. I, Patrick Walsh, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same and to the governments established in the United States, and in this State, under the authority of the people, and I will faithfully, impartially and justly perform all of the duties of the office of Councilman of Mount Olive Township according to the best of my ability, so help me god.

Mr. Dorsey: Congratulations.

Mr. Walsh: Thank you so much.

Vice President Labow: Congratulations Councilman Walsh.

Mr. Dorsey: Pat, don’t go anywhere. Sign right here and give it to Lisa.

Roll Call of 2010 Council

Vice President Labow: I want to thank everyone for coming this evening. It’s always a very special occasion when we swear in new Council people. Next in line we have our Roll Call for our 2010 Council. Mrs. Lashway, would you please do the Roll Call.

ROLL CALL

Present: Mr. Tobey, Mr. Walsh, Mr. Mania, Mr. Perkins, Mr. Roman, Mr. Greenbaum, Mrs. Labow

Absent: none

Also Present: David Scapicchio, Mayor; Bill Sohl, Business Administrator; Sherry Maniscalco, CFO; John Dorsey, Township Attorney; Lisa Lashway, Township Clerk

Election of 2010 Council President

Vice President Labow: Next I need to ask for nominations for the 2010 Council President. Yes, Mr. Mania.

Mr. Mania: I place into nomination the name of Phil Tobey…

Mr. Perkins: Second.

Mr. Mania: …for Council President.

Vice President Labow: Okay, it’s been nominated, Phil Tobey, congratulations, and seconded. Do I hear any other nominations? Alright, seeing none, can we have a Roll Call, please?

ROLL CALL – Passed Unanimously

New Council President Takes Chair

Election of 2010 Council Vice-President

President Tobey: Thank you. At this time I’ll take nominations for Council Vice President and with that I’d like to nominate Mr. Greenbaum.

Mr. Roman: Second.

President Tobey: Are there any other nominations? Seeing none, Roll Call, please.

ROLL CALL – Passed Unanimously

Mr. Greenbaum: Thank you very much.

President Tobey: Congratulations.

Mr. Greenbaum: Thank you.

New Council Vice-President Takes Chair

Invocation – Reverend Stanley Barron

President Tobey: Right now we’ll have the Invocation and with us this evening is Father Stanley from St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish. Father, good evening and welcome. Father, if I may on behalf of the Township Council and the Administration, thank you for taking the time to be with us this evening.

Father Stanley Barron: It’s good to be here. Let us pray. Lord, as we gather to begin a New Year we ask your blessing on our Township of Mount Olive. Help our people to work together to serve our community. May we also be aware of the needy in our midst so that all who live here may have a decent quality of life. We pray for our Mayor and for the members of the Town Council as they gather to deal with our problems. May they always strive to work together for the good of the entire community. May this year be one of growth and prosperity for our people. May the rule of love be our guide as we go forward following your law. All praise and glory be yours now and forever. Amen.

President Tobey: Thank you, Father. We’ll now have the Mayor’s State of the Township Address.

Mayor’s State of the Township Address

Mayor Scapicchio: Good evening everybody. Mr. President, members of the Township Council, distinguished guests and residents of Mount Olive Township. It is an honor to present to you the 2010 State of the Township Address. I look forward to working with our new Council President and all Council members in Mayor Scapicchio (cont’d): what is certainly going to be a challenging year for us. Tonight we begin video taping Township Council meetings which will be broadcast on channel 32 for Verizon FIOS customers, and on channel 21 for Cablevision customers. The meetings will be taped by students enrolled in the television production program at the High School. Credit goes to Bill Sohl who took the lead on this project and made it a priority for the start of 2010. The Finance Department which includes finance, tax assessment and collection, conducted a one time reassessment to stabilize property values which will be completed early within the next few weeks. We reduced our outstanding debt by $3.4 million and our overall debt percentages from .84% to .76% of overall property worth. Property assessments increased by $5.6 million which resulted in $145,000 in additional revenue to the Township. Our collection rate was 98.54%. The annual audit and budget documents are now available to the public via our website. Our bond rating improved from AA- to AA, which translates into better debt interest rates and lower payments. The Planning Department met the requirements and submitted a petition to the Highlands Council for Plan Conformance in the preservation area which makes up 79% of Mt. Olive. We funded this effort through a $50,000 Highlands Plan Conformance grant. As part of the process the Township was successful in working with the Highlands staff to change the land use capability zone classification on Combe Fill North in order to facilitate its development. The Planning Board adopted the Third Round Housing Element and Fair Share Plan. The Township Council authorized the petition for certification to the Council on Affordable Housing and the review is now underway. In November 2009, an application for construction of 227 single family age restricted active adult dwellings and 57 affordable family units on the Marveland Farms property was submitted to the Planning Board. Upon receipt of additional plans and reports, the application will be scheduled for a public meeting. An application to construct a CVS Pharmacy consisting of approximately 12,000 square feet on Route 46 was approved by the Zoning Board of Adjustment. The store will be open 24 hours a day with a drive thru service. In November 2009 the voters approved, via referendum, the elimination of the Board of Adjustment with all land use responsibilities transferring to the Planning Board. This change will result in a savings of approximately $30,000. Negotiations are under way for two major open space acquisitions. Mt. Olive Complex, which consists of 566 acres, is a multi-million dollar acquisition that includes six partners, with Mt. Olive Township’s contribution at $2,600,000 and all of which comes from grants previously approved. Rezamir/Deerfield is 130 acres, which is also a multi-million dollar acquisition that includes four partners, with Mt. Olive Township’s contribution at $1,650,000 and all of which comes from grants previously approved. Two soccer fields and one football field have been added to Turkey Brook Park. The cost of construction of these fields was paid for by the Football and Soccer Associations. Lacrosse is planning construction of three fields at Blue Atlas with all costs of design and construction being donated by area businesses. Those businesses will be acknowledged at a later date. We received a grant of $180,000 for the development of 8’ wide paved trails that will wind around the playing fields in Turkey Brook Park. The Recreation Department continues to serve the needs of the community. The 4th Annual Mt. Olive Carnival and Community Weekend was a great success. This year about 20,000 attended over the five days with Saturday night’s fireworks attendance estimated at 12,000. Our day camp programs served over 900 children during the six weeks of summer camp. New summer camp programs included the Fun & Fit program for older students and Morning Start for children ages 4-6. This year the Municipal Beach saw 10,721 visitors with 822 family passes issued. A very generous benefactor donated funds to help cover the cost of operating the Beach, and continued to allow residents to enjoy the Beach without paying for season passes. Non-resident guests were allowed to access the Beach via guest passes, season passes and daily passes. Several special events were held including concerts, movie nights, teen events and a family camp-out. The Recreation Department has gone Green. Families can now register on-line from the Township’s Recreation web page. At my direction, the Police department has begun the process of seeking accreditation with the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, which will bring the agency better in line with the best practices and as a byproduct will lead to reduced insurance rates.

The Police department successfully managed another busy year which included, in part:

• 25,688 business, residential and vacant home checks
• 1,039 Traffic accidents
• 686 Disabled motor vehicles
• 1,124 alarms
• 206 Domestic Violence calls
• 410 noise complaints
• 85 mental health calls
• 159 welfare checks

In addition the Police made 150 arrests for driving while intoxicated and an additional 1,016 arrests for warrants or criminal charges. The department provided School Resource Officers to the High School and Middle School and conducted the D.A.R.E. Program at Sandshore, Chester M. Stevens, Tinc and Mountain View Schools. They also delivered the “Alive at 25” training to new drivers and their parents. Code Red and Code Yellow Mayor Scapicchio (cont’d): Drills were performed at each of the Township’s Schools. The Building Department issued 1,277 permits compared to 1,285 issued in 2008. There were 5,438 inspections completed in 2009 compared to 5,276 in 2008. Most permits and inspections were for renovations of existing structures. There has been an increase of renovation work in the Trade Zone, including Wal-Mart, TJ Max and Old Navy. We expect an increase in new home construction this year with Toll Brothers starting up both the Morris Chase and Morris Hunt projects. The Municipal Court saw 10,336 cases and disposed of 10,439 compared to 12,638 cases in 2008. The Department of Public Works completed storm drainage upgrades for the Country Club Estates area using a $54,000 community grant. We continued with installation of residential water meters with an additional 58 installed in 2009. In addition to our regular paving program, we also paved Manor House by the Bridge area near Route 46 to address flooding issues. The installation of the State mandated truck wash water recycling system has been completed. In our continuing effort to improve the Budd Lake Beach area we installed an 8’ high fence for both safety and privacy. This year I’d like to propose that we plant trees alongside the fence using funds already available in the Tree Bank Fund. The Goldmine and Morris Chase water system interconnect has recently been completed, and the residents in Goldmine Estates will begin to see an improvement in the delivery and quality of water. We received a recycling grant from the County in the amount of $74,500 which was second only to Rockaway which received $77,000. We received a Sustainable Jersey Certification. We were certified in the first year as one of only 34 Municipalities in the State of New Jersey. We completed the energy audit and are presently analyzing the data with recommendations for improvements due early this year. The Health Department has successfully completed its routine goals and responsibilities to assure the health and safety of Mount Olive residents and the contract communities that we serve.

The most significant accomplishments for 2009 have been the following:

• We successfully negotiated a shared services agreement with the Borough of Wharton for a 3 year period that began on January 1st and continues through December 2012.
• The contract will bring to the Township $150,000 in additional revenue.
• We applied for and received a $90,000 health services grant to plan for the H1N1 Flu Pandemic and administered to the general population the H1N1 Flu vaccine. To date, Mount Olive has vaccinated over 2,850 individuals for this virus. This has been an ongoing and continuous endeavor into 2010.

Mount Olive Social Services was able to alleviate the burden caused by a difficult economic year because of the kindness and generosity of residents, civic and religious organizations. We organized help for 51 families on Thanksgiving and distributed presents and food baskets to 78 families and individuals during the Christmas and Hanukah holidays. It’s the little everyday things we do that go unnoticed to most, but make a big difference in some individual’s lives. With that in mind I will dedicate all proceeds from all of the wedding ceremonies I perform in 2010 to the Mount Olive Township Food Pantry. I mean, Diane sits in that little closet of an office on the other side of this building. Nobody really pays attention to that department and they really do make a huge difference in the lives of a lot of people that we don’t even know here. It’s important. The current financial landscape facing not only our community, but also our nation, has brought about unforeseeable circumstances and events that we would have never anticipated a few years ago. Our future, while still holding promise, is full of challenges that will require decisions that some may not fully understand or agree with, but must be made in the best interest of the overall community at large. Now is the time for strong, non-partisan leadership. We must look to our future and prepare so that together we can meet the challenges and seize the opportunities which will appear before us. In preparation we must, as a community, examine our successes and failures and design new ways to succeed moving forward. As your Mayor, I am prepared to make the difficult decisions and lead Mount Olive in 2010 in a positive direction. Thank you and Happy New Year.

Appointments:

President Tobey: At this time we’ll have the Mayor’s appointments. Mayor, if you’d like to present those appointments.

Mayor Scapicchio: I will.

President Tobey: Thank you.

a. Mayor’s Appointments

Morris County Community Development Revenue Sharing Committee
Kathy Murphy, Member, 1 year term expires 12/31/2010
Richard Escobar, Alternate, 1 year term expires 12/31/2010

Planning Board
Joseph Fleischner, Member Class IV, 4 year term expires 12/31/2013
Scott Van Ness, Member, Class II, 1 year term expires 12/31/2010
Nelson Russell, Member Class IV (Env. Committee Liaison), 3 year term expires 12/31/2012
Rene Gadelha, Member Class IV, 4 year term expires 12/31/2013
John Cavanaugh, Alt. I Class IV, 2 year term expires 12/31/2011
Dan Nelsen, Alt. II Class IV, 2 year unexpired term expires 12/31/2010

Mayor Scapicchio: John and Dan have moved over from the Board of Adjustment.

Environmental Committee
Joe Fleischner, 3 year term expires 12/31/2012
Tracy Wadhams, (Open Space Liaison) 3 year term expires 12/31/2012
Nelson Russell (Pl. Bd. Liaison), 3 year term expires 12/31/2012
Robert Delpizzo, Alt II, 2 year term expires 12/31/2011

Open Space Committee
Tracy Wadhams, (Env. Comm. Liaison) 3 year term expires 12/31/2012
Judy Hirky, 3 year term expires 12/31/2012

b. Mayor's Appointments with Advice & Consent of Council

President Tobey: The first six of Mayor’s Appointments with Advice and Consent of Council, we’re going to do on an individual basis. For Township Attorney, Mr. John Dorsey.

Township Attorney, John Dorsey, Esq., 1 year term expires 12/31/2010

Mrs. Lashway: Is somebody going to make a motion?

President Tobey: Someone make a motion, please?

Mr. Greenbaum: It’s a Mayor’s appointment. You don’t need a motion, do you?

Mr. Mania: I make the motion.

Mrs. Lashway: You need a motion and a second.

Mr. Walsh: I second.

Mrs. Labow: Second.

President Tobey: Okay, Roll Call.

ROLL CALL – Passed with the exception of Mr. Greenbaum who abstained.

President Tobey: For Prosecutor, Mr. Brian Mason. Can I get a motion, please?

Prosecutor, Brian Mason, Esq., 1 year term expires 12/31/2010

Mrs. Labow: So moved.

Mr. Mania: Second.

President Tobey: Thank you. Roll Call, please.

ROLL CALL – Passed Unanimously

President Tobey: For Public Defender, Mr. Anthony Abore.

Public Defender, Anthony Abore, Esq., 1 year term expires 12/31/2010

Mr. Mania: So moved, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Greenbaum: Second.

President Tobey: Roll Call, please.

ROLL CALL – Passed Unanimously

President Tobey: For Municipal Court Judge, Mr. Phil Maenza.

Municipal Court Judge, Phil Maenza, 3 year term expires 12/31/2012

Mr. Roman: So moved.

Mrs. Labow: Second.

President Tobey: Roll Call, please.

ROLL CALL – Passed Unanimously

President Tobey: For Township Engineer, Mr. Eugene Buczynski.

Township Engineer, Eugene Buczynski, 2 year term expires 12/31/2011

Mr. Perkins: So moved.

Mrs. Labow: Second.

President Tobey: Roll Call, please.

ROLL CALL – Passed Unanimously

President Tobey: For Construction Code Official, Mr. Gary Lindsay.

Construction Code Official, Gary Lindsay, 4 year term (retroactive from 6/1/09) expires 12/31/2013

Mr. Mania: So moved.

Mr. Greenbaum: Second.

President Tobey: Roll Call, please.

ROLL CALL – Passed with the exception of Mrs. Labow who abstained.

President Tobey: Moving on I’ll read the following Committees with the names and we’ll take one motion, one vote.

Economic Development Committee
Don Hill, 3 year term expires 12/31/2012
Laura Rimmer, 3 year term expires 12/31/2012
John Cavanaugh, 3 year unexpired term expires 12/31/2010

Recreation Advisory Committee
Bert Barrier, 3 year term expires 12/31/2012
Jim Farley, 3 year term expires 12/31/2012
Melissa Mitchell, 3 year term expires 12/31/2012

Library Board
Steve Bedell, 5 year term expires 12/31/2014

Pride Committee
3 vacant 3 year terms expiring 12/31/2011
3 vacant 3 year terms expiring 12/31/2012

Mr. Perkins: So moved.

Mr. Roman: Second.

President Tobey: Roll Call, please.

ROLL CALL – Passed Unanimously

c. Council Appointments

President Tobey: Moving on we have Council Appointments. Mrs. Lashway?

All Subcommittees of the Township Council previously created are extended through 2010:

Library Board Liaison, Rob Greenbaum, 1 year term expires 12/31/2010
Recreation Board Liaison, Alex Roman, 1 year term expires 12/31/2010
Board of Education Liaison, Alex Roman, 1 year term expires 12/31/2010
Safety Committee Liaison, Ray Perkins, 1 year term expires 12/31/2010
Pride Committee Liaison, Colleen Labow, 1 year term expires 12/31/2010
Legislative Committee, Pat Walsh, 1 year term expires 12/31/2010
Committee RE: Lake/Environment Issues, Ray Perkins & Pat Walsh, 1 year term expires 12/31/2010
Community Development Revenue Sharing Committee, Pat Walsh, 1 year term expires 12/31/2010
Economic Development Committee Liaison, Pat Walsh, 1 year term expires 12/31/2010
Planning Board, John Mania, Councilmember, Class III, 1 year term expires 12/31/2010
Board of Health Chairman, Ray Perkins, 2 year term expires 12/31/2011
Senior Citizen Liaison, John Mania, 1 year term expires 12/31/2010
Auditor, Gary Higgins, 2 year term expires 12/31/2010
Deputy Clerk, Michelle Masser, 2 year term expires 12/31/2011

Board of Health
Steve Abrams, 3 year term expires 12/31/2012
Ken Ross, 3 year term expires 12/31/2013
Anthony Miccio, 3 year term expires 12/31/2013

Ethics Committee
Chris Urinyi, 5 year term expires 12/31/2014

Open Space Committee
Jill Devlin, 3 year term expires 12/31/2012
Robert Delpizzo, 3 year term expires 12/31/2012

President Tobey: Can I get a motion to approve such?

Mr. Mania: So moved.

Mr. Perkins: Second.

ROLL CALL – Passed Unanimously

RESOLUTIONS

Consent Resolutions Agenda:

Resolutions on 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 members requests, any individual resolution on the consent agenda may be removed from the Consent Agenda List and acted on separately.

1. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount Olive Designating the Official Newspapers of the Municipality for the Purpose of Publication of Legal Notices.

2. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount Olive Establishing the Annual Schedule of Meetings and Other Requirements Pursuant to the Open Public Meetings Act. (revised)

3. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount Olive Establishing a Temporary Budget for 2010 for the Current, Water, Sewer and Recreation Utility as well as the Sanitation District.

4. Resolution of the Township of Mount Olive Authorizing a Cash Management Plan for the Township of Mount Olive for the Year 2010.

5. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount Olive Retaining Professional Services Under the Non-Fair and Open Contract in Accordance with the Pay to Play Law.

6. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount Olive Appointing Steve Rattner as Council Representative to the Community Development Revenue Sharing Committee.

7. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount Olive Authorizing Participation in the State of New Jersey Cooperative Purchasing Program for the Year 2010.

8. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount Olive Fixing the Rate of Interest to be Charged on Delinquent Taxes or Assessments.

9. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount Olive Authorizing the Purchase of Necessary Goods and Services Under Any Contract Competitively Bid by the Morris County Cooperative Pricing Council.

10. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount Olive Authorizing the Tax Assessor and/or the Township Attorney to File and Tax Appeals/Rollbacks.

11. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount Olive Establishing Various Change Funds for the Year 2010.

12. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount Olive, County of Morris, State of New Jersey, Creating and Continuing the Mount Olive Municipal Alliance Committee.

13. Resolution of the Township of Mount Olive Authorizing the Cancellation of Water, Sewer, Sewer Assessment and Tax Receivable Overpayments and Balances $1.00 or Less.

14. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount Olive Establishing a Petty Cash Fund for 2010.

15. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount Olive Confirming the Appointment of Rose Barsanti as Municipal Tax Collector. (revised)

President Tobey: There are 15 resolutions listed. Does anyone on Council wish to have them moved to Non Consent? Mrs. Labow?

Mrs. Labow: Resolution number one, please.

President Tobey: Thank you. Any others? Mr. Roman, would you please move Consent Resolutions two through fifteen?

Mr. Roman: I move for approval of Consent Resolutions two through fifteen.

Mr. Perkins: Second.

President Tobey: Thank you. Does anyone from the public wish to be heard on any resolutions two through fifteen? Any Council comments? One thing I would like to point out is that one resolution, number two, which establishes the meeting dates and also establishes that our meetings will be at 7:00 p.m. moving forward in lieu of 7:30. With that, Roll Call, please.

COUNCIL COMMENTS/STATEMENTS ON CONSENT RESOLUTIONS AGENDA – none

PUBLIC PORTION ON CONSENT RESOLUTIONS – none

ROLL CALL – Passed Unanimously

NON CONSENT RESOLUTIONS

President Tobey: Mrs. Labow, would you move item number one, please?

Mrs. Labow: Yes, I’d like to move resolution number one.

1. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount Olive Designating the Official Newspapers of the Municipality for the Purpose of Publication of Legal Notices.

President Tobey: Is there a second?

Mr. Greenbaum: Second.

President Tobey: Okay, it’s been moved and seconded. Mrs. Labow?

Mrs. Labow: Yes, I just want to, I sent an email out discussing the issue of changing the paper of record. A couple of meetings back, Mr. Tobey had brought up the point which I think was extremely well taken, that one of the reasons perhaps why we don’t get a lot of, you know, when we send out a bid proposal we don’t get a lot of response, that it could be that we weren’t having a wide enough distribution. So we want to use the Daily Record. I’ve since found out that our office already uses the Daily Record for all of the bid proposals. So we do have the wide distribution. After finding that out I decided I wanted to find out the cost of advertising. Now, as an example, last year Council had 28 ordinances. Per the Open Public Records Act, we have to advertise for our introduction and the approval or denial of an ordinance. Last year that would have been 56 times that we advertised for the ordinances. The Mount Olive Chronicle charges $15 an ad. The Daily Record would charge… Oh, Lisa is saying no.

Mrs. Lashway: I sent an email today clarifying…

Mrs. Labow: I wasn’t home all day.

Mrs. Lashway: What you were referring to were the affidavits…

Mrs. Labow: The affidavits.

Mrs. Lashway: …which is just the proof. That’s not the actual advertisement. The advertisement of the ordinances is $100, $200, $300. So really it’s only the affidavits, which is a very small portion of that.

Mrs. Labow: A very small portion, so the ordinance is a lot more money?

Mrs. Lashway: The ordinances are about the same.

Mrs. Labow: Okay.

Mrs. Lashway: The actual advertisement. Probably need an increase in the budget of about $3,000.

Mrs. Labow: So we’d have to have an increase for our advertising budget to switch from the Mount Olive Chronicle to the Daily Record. What I would like to say is that in these hard economic times, to increase our budget, our advertising budget by any amount, when people know that all of the legal notices are in the Chronicle and they only have to go and buy one paper a week to find out our legal notices, I don’t understand why we would want to have it in another paper that would cost more money. People aren’t going to know which day the legal notices will be. So I would like to propose that we leave it as the Daily Record, or leave it as the Mount Olive Chronicle with the Daily Record as our backup paper and save our taxpayers some money. That’s it.

President Tobey: Thank you. Anyone else on Council? Mr. Mania?

Mr. Mania: Mr. President, what’s the circulation of the Chronicle versus the Record? Could you give me that answer?

President Tobey: The publication of the Chronicle, I believe, is approximately 1,600 and the circulation of the Daily Record is approximately 32,000 I believe.

Mrs. Labow: But that’s for the whole County. That’s not just Mount Olive.

President Tobey: Mr. Perkins? Did you…?

Mr. Perkins: Yes, thank you, Mr. President. Just a couple of comments, a few things. One is that I think that everybody should be aware that sitting in the Committee down in the Assembly is Bill A-1083 which has gone through, I guess, two iterations. That would permit the municipality to post all legal notices on the Township website, because it’s been realized throughout the State that less and less people are actually looking at the legal notices in the printed newspapers. So that will open up a much broader venue for us to be able to inform our residents. When I look at the cost issue, back in 2008 we started looking, as I was Council President, we pushed more toward a Green and paperless environment. I know that our Township Clerk will verify that we have saved quite a large sum of money because of the very fact that we are able to electronically transmit, especially to the press and other people, a lot more of our correspondence and a lot of things that come through OPRA. So we have already, I believe, offset that cost. I believe that the Township residents are better served by having a local daily paper that has a much broader circulation. Anyone of us could walk into the store and see the old paper of record. If it was there on Wednesday night and Thursday and Friday, if it was an exorbitant headline that caught your attention like a supposed one million dollar savings that was proposed during the campaign issue, then there were no newspapers left. Well, what would the rest of the residents of the Township do when there weren’t even enough papers that were left there at the stores? So I find that moving to the Daily Record, I support the Council President’s decision to do this wholeheartedly. I think it’s an offset in cost. It’s a wash and I believe that the Assembly Bill, once that passes, will permit us to utilize our website and inform the residents. Thank you, Mr. President.

President Tobey: Thank you. Mr. Walsh?

Mr. Walsh: Thank you, Mr. President. First of all I want to commend Councilwoman Labow for looking at the finances in this matter, because as anyone who knows me knows I’m extremely conservative on the fiscal end and every dime matters. That being said, when I first moved to Mount Olive, first of all we were on the television and the Mayor was there and very often it was very exciting but the Mount Olive Chronicle did not stand out to us. I just remember moving here and for years living here and talking to neighbors, getting to know everybody and I just really, it just didn’t stand out. There wasn’t enough of a presence of that paper in my mind. If you’ve lived here for years and years and years, god bless you. We’ve been here nine years and love it but I just don’t think it represents the Township as well as it should, not that it’s not a good paper. I think it’s a fine publication and I do sincerely appreciate the cost analysis that Councilwoman Labow has done. Believe me, you’re going to see me doing a lot of similar things in the next four years, but I do feel that the Daily Record represents the Township better. The extra small amount is worth it and that’s not easy for me to say as far as the money goes.

President Tobey: Thank you. Alright, does anyone from the… ? Mrs. Labow?

Mrs. Labow: Yes, just one final thought on the matter. I just wanted to point out that during election time when all of the candidates are running for office, it’s the Mount Olive Chronicle that they put their political ads in because that targets the citizens. We don’t put it in a wider distribution. So I just wanted to point that out. Thank you.

President Tobey: Alright, thank you. Does anyone from the public wish to be heard on this? Seeing none, Roll Call, please.

Mrs. Lashway: Mrs. Labow?

Mrs. Labow: We’re voting on the ordinance as it stands?

Mrs. Lashway: Resolution number one.

President Tobey: As it stands.

Mr. Perkins: Resolution.

Mrs. Labow: I mean the resolution.

Mr. Greenbaum: Your position is a no vote.

Mrs. Labow: You know, I’m glad you pointed that out to me, Rob, because I was really confused. My vote is no.

ROLL CALL – Passed with the exception of Mr. Greenbaum and Mrs. Labow who voted no.

MOTIONS

President Tobey: Moving on we have Motions. We have one item listed. Mr. Mania, will you please move that?

1. Approval of Raffle Application #2342 & #2343 for Mount Olive High School Parents Club.

Mr. Mania: I move the Motions as presented.

Mr. Perkins: Second.

President Tobey: It’s been moved and seconded. Roll Call, please.

ROLL CALL – Passed Unanimously

PUBLIC PORTION

President Tobey: At this time we’re up to the public portion. Does anyone from the public wish to be heard on any topic? Seeing none, we’re going to move on to closing Council Comments. We’ll begin. Mr. Sohl?

CLOSING COUNCIL COMMENTS

Mr. Sohl: Just Happy New Year to everybody. I look forward to working with the new Council.

President Tobey: Thank you. Mayor?

Mayor Scapicchio: No comments.

President Tobey: Mrs. Labow?

Mrs. Labow: Yes, I just want to thank the Mayor for his generous offer of donating any donations you get for the marriages to the food bank. I think it goes on pretty much what we started last year in November when the Mayor did a Proclamation for volunteerism and helping the community. Part of donating these funds to help needy families, I’m really impressed. I want to thank you very much and I think that’s just a really wonderful way to start the year. I want to welcome my new colleagues and I’m looking forward to a very productive year. I can honestly say that we have a year facing us with a lot of really tough decisions. Mr. Tobey, several times last year you said that we haven’t made any of the hard decisions yet. This is the year we’re going to have to do it. I think we’re all man enough for the job so to speak. It’s going to be rough but I think we can do it. Just so the public knows, any decisions that this governing body and the Administration makes is made with a lot of thought, a lot of research, and our decisions are not made lightly, and we do have to look out for the best interests of everybody in the community, not just one group or another. So with that said, thank you very much and congratulations to everyone.

President Tobey: Thank you, Mrs. Labow. Mr. Walsh?

Mr. Walsh: Yes, a couple of quick items. I just want to thank the citizens of Mount Olive wholeheartedly for honoring me with this position. I hope everyone knows that I am in this for the right reasons. All too often politicians are not and I’m not pointing anyone out in particular, certainly in this room, but I want to thank you very much. I really am looking forward to these four years and just thank you very much.

President Tobey: Thank you. Mr. Mania?

Mr. Mania: Thank you, Mr. President. Government at all levels faces new and difficult challenges. When economic times are good, finding the money to meet all the needs of our community was difficult. In today’s world it is nearly impossible. In the weeks and months to come, this Council will be faced with many tough decisions, more than ever before. Your elected officials need to work together and strive to make the best choices, even though some undoubtedly will be unpopular. I intend to do just that. To all of you who voted for me and to those who did not, I will work tirelessly on your behalf to make Mount Olive, which has been my home for forty plus years, a better place to live. Thank you for your support, the trust you have placed in me, and may god bless you all. Thank you.

President Tobey: Thank you, Mr. Mania. Mr. Perkins?

President Tobey: Thank you, Mr. President. First I would be remiss if I didn’t thank my wife for all of the support over the past…

Mr. Mania: What a guy.

Mr. Perkins: …over the past eight years and now moving into my third term. My mother, who has supported and watched me now for the past year and a half that she’s moved in with us from sunny South Carolina. I sure hope you’re enjoying the weather here, mom. I can’t let this go past without thanking our past President, Mr. Steven Rattner, who was very instrumental in helping us over the years. Vice President Labow, who did a yeoman’s job of filling in during periods of the President’s absence. I look forward to our new President, Mr. Tobey, who actually sat as my Vice President in 2008. I have all the confidence and faith in him to help lead us as we go through this very trying time with the assistance of Mr. Greenbaum, who has sat in both of those chairs enough times. It was a great year as the Mayor had pointed out. We were one of 32 municipalities to receive Sustainable Jersey. As everyone, I believe, is aware, that is my lifeblood. My livelihood is in clean energy for the State’s Clean Energy Program, as well as LEED for homes and other Green building practices. So I was very happy to support Mr. Sohl, and then I went down with Alex Roman, Councilman, and we received the award. It was nice to actually see Mount Olive recognized for something good after all those years of having things bad. Again, I commend the Mayor and Administration for doing that. As the Mayor hit on, our energy audits have been completed on this building, the DPW building as well as, I believe, the Library has just been done. We need to move forward there with the cost saving measures. We’ll see how those pan out and how the Mayor includes the funding in the budget. The interesting thing was that we’d get 75% of it back the minute we had the budget completed. So as soon as we pay the bill we get 75% of that back. Whatever work we do, if it equals the 25% we get it back. It costs us nothing and we should save about 30% according to the representatives from Steven Winter Associates who did the audit. Again, thank you to all of the residents who voted for me and put their confidence in me. From the Health standpoint it’s been trying. We now have the TNR Project here in Mount Olive Township, the Trap Neuter Return, which is working.

Mrs. Labow: Extremely well.

Mr. Perkins: It is part of the Animal Control function which we have here in Mount Olive Township. Our H1N1, our staff did an excellent job. We have been commended by other municipalities that have observed us. You should all be very grateful and thankful to the folks in your Health department as well as your Board of Health people that are professionals here within the Township. Mr. Dorsey, thank you for all of your legal advice. Lisa Lashway, I’d like to thank you for being an excellent Clerk. God bless. Let’s move into 2010.

President Tobey: Thank you, Mr. Perkins. Mr. Roman?

Mr. Roman: Yes, thank you, Mr. President. I’d like to congratulate again Pat, John, Ray and Rob for being reelected. It’s been interesting and I look forward to the upcoming year, and I look forward to working with the Recreation Advisory Committee and the Board of Education.

President Tobey: Thank you, Mr. Roman. Mr. Greenbaum?

Mr. Greenbaum: Yes. I’d like to thank all of my colleagues up here for having the confidence in electing me to Council Vice President. I appreciate it and I will work very diligently with Mr. Tobey to represent the Council as required. I think I would be remiss at this point if I didn’t thank Dave and the Administration, especially the employees of the Township who, on a daily basis, make this Town go. Dave, I think you have taken over a Township that was in turmoil and you have brought us back to respectability. I think you have made a lot of the hard decisions and will continue to make the hard decisions as we move forward. The Township is faced with a very difficult proposition as are all Townships in New Jersey in terms of being able to provide, or attempting provide the same level of services with decreasing revenues, both on the State level and on the municipal level in terms of additional ratables coming into the Township. As a Council, we are going to be asked to make very difficult decisions. In many cases we are going to have to make decisions in terms of reducing services so that the taxes of the residents of Mount Olive remain relatively stable, or as stable as we can make them. I look forward to working with everybody this year and I wish everyone a good year.

President Tobey: Thank you, Mr. Greenbaum. Mr. Dorsey?

Mr. Dorsey: I’ll just wish everybody a Happy New Year and we look forward to working with all of the new members of the Council.

President Tobey: Thank you. I would like to wish everyone a healthy, happy and safe New Year. I look forward to working with my fellow Council members and the Administration in serving the community of Mount Olive this coming year. With 2009 behind us, let us embrace 2010 with a positive outlook and an awareness of how fortunate we truly are. Thank you. At this time we will have the Benediction. We have Rabbi Moshe Rudin from Temple Hatikvah. Rabbi, on behalf of the Township Council and the Administration once again, if I may, thank you for taking the time to be with us this evening.

Benediction – Rabbi Moshe Rudin

Rabbi Rudin: Wonderful to be here, thank you. May we always remember that the world rests on three things, on justice, on truth, on peace. With truth, justice and peace shall you judge in your gaits. There’s a saying, “The day is short, the task is great, the workers are lazy, the reward is bountiful, the Master is insistent.” You’re not obliged to finish the task, but neither as leaders are you free to desist from it. M'kor HaHayim, holy wellspring of life, whose tabernacle is in every human heart. Make us honest enough to recognize our mistakes, big enough to admit them, strong enough to forsake them, humble us by showing us what we are. Exalt us with the vision of what we may yet grow to be. Keep us ever mindful of how deeply we depend upon you. May we also understand how deeply you depend on us. United with you in holy partnership, may the members of this leadership labor for peace among all members of the community, creating joy within our homes and thus enabling us to find serenity within ourselves. Kindle within the fires of faith, set aglow their courage to live the words that we pray, and let us say amen.

President Tobey: Thank you, Rabbi. With no further business at this time, I’ll take a motion to adjourn.

Mr. Perkins: So moved.

Mr. Greenbaum: Second.

President Tobey: All in favor?

AYE

ADJOURNMENT

Motion was made and seconded, all in favor and none opposed, the meeting was adjourned at 8:17 pm.

_________________________________
Phil Tobey, 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 January 19, 2010.

_________________________________
Lisa Lashway, Township Clerk

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