|
MOUNT OLIVE TOWNSHIP COUNCIL PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES - MARCH 11,
2008
The Regular Public Meeting of the Mount
Olive Township Council was called to Order at 9:00 pm by Council
President Perkins with the Pledge of Allegiance.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE & MOMENT OF REFLECTION for all those
who have and continue to protect our freedoms and our way of
life.
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.
ROLL CALL
Present: Mr. Perkins, Mr. Roman, Mr. Tobey, Mrs. Labow,
Mr. Rattner, Mr. Greenbaum, Mr. Tepper
Absent: Mr. Rattner (Community Development meeting)
Also Present: David Scapicchio, Mayor; Bill Sohl, Business Administrator;
John Dorsey, Township Attorney; Sherry Jenkins, CFO; Gary Higgins, Auditor;
Lisa Lashway, Township Clerk
Questions on Bill List? – none
Mrs. Labow: Where did Nelson go?
Mr. Tepper: Move on.
President Perkins: Move on, Russ.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS
President Perkins: Mr. Greenbaum?
Mr. Greenbaum: I’ll move:
Feb. 19, 2008 WS, PM & CS
Absent: Mr. Tepper
Feb. 26, 2008 WS, PM & CS
All Present
Mrs. Labow: Second.
ROLL CALL – Passed with the exception Mr. Tepper abstained
from February 19th
CORRESPONDENCE
LETTERS FROM RESIDENTS/ORGANIZATIONS
1. Letter received February 19, 2008, from Alice Randall-Riley
regarding Tim Quinn, DPW Director, and his professionalism.
2. Letter received February 26, 2008, from Rene Gadelha regarding
the installment of a fence at Lou Nelson Park.
3. Letter received February 28, 2008, from Joseph & Jean Lillian
Boutilier regarding the All Veterans Memorial and their son George
Allen Barnes.
4. Letter received March 3, 2008, from Dolan and Dolan regarding
Planning Board procedures.
5. Letter received March 3, 2008, from Charlie Uhrmann regarding
George Allen Barnes and the All Veterans Memorial.
6. Letter received March 5, 2008, from Courter, Kobert & Cohen,
regarding William Osa, Block 3305 Lot 3 (27 N. Mount Olive Road.)
7. Letter received March 6, 2008, from the New Jersey Mayor’s
Association regarding Small Towns Stand to Lose State Aid.
8. E-mail received March 6, 2008, from Dianna Dorlon regarding
Homeless Solutions in the Mine Hill Road area.
RESOLUTIONS / ORDINANCES / CORRESPONDENCE OTHER TOWNS
9. Ordinance received February 27, 2008, from Washington Township
regarding Land Use.
10. Letter and resolution received March 5, 2008, from the Township
of Hanover regarding a request to amend the Police and Firefighters
Interest Arbitration Act of 1995.
11. Letter received March 6, 2008, from the Borough of Netcong
Concerning Adoption, Revision, or Amendment of the Netcong Borough
Municipal Master Plan.
MUA / MSA
12. Minutes received March 7, 2008, from the Musconetcong Sewerage
Authority regarding the Reorganization Meeting of February 6, 2008.
DCA
13. E-mail received March 7, 2008, from the Department of Community
Affairs regarding Fiscal Briefings.
DOT / DEP / LOI / HIGHLANDS
14. Letter received February 25, 2008, from Richard T. Sweeney,
LLC regarding his Highlands Council Draft Plan Comments concerning
Lot 5 Block 8200 (358 Route 46).
15. Letter received February 28, 2008, from the New Jersey Department
of Transportation regarding a fully executed Application/Agreement
for the Flanders Bartley Road 2008 Municipal Aid Program in the
amount of $200,000.
16. Letter received February 28, 2008, from Hatch, Mott and MacDonald
regarding the Hackettstown Municipal Utilities Authority, comments
upon the Highlands Regional Master Plan Final Draft.
17. Letter received March 3, 2008, from James R. Woods, P.E. regarding
an NJDEP application for Blue Vista Consulting, L.L.C. (Roxbury
Rt. 80 Business Park)
18. Letter received March 3, 2008, from the State of New Jersey
Department of Environmental Protection, regarding the Mount Olive
Greenway Acquisition.
MORRIS COUNTY
19. Letter received February 25, 2008, from Morris County Community
Development regarding a fully executed Grant Agreement and Project
Compliance Package for 2007 Budd Lake Drainage.
20. Letter received February 25, 2008, from the Morris County
Economic Development Corporation regarding the 5th Annual Morris
County Municipal Summit.
21. E-mail received February 25, 2008, from the Morris County
Department of Planning, Development & Technology regarding
the Safe Routes to School Programs.
22. Minutes received February 28, 2008, from the Morris County
Planning Board from their January 17th regular meeting.
23. Letter received March 6, 2008, from the County Board of Taxation
regarding the Final Equalization Table for the County of Morris
for the Year 2008.
24. Letter received March 7, 2008, from the County of Morris,
Department of Planning, Development & Technology, Division
of Planning regarding the Completion of the Third State Development
and Redevelopment Plan.
LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES
25. Legislative Bulletin received March 3, 3008, from the New
Jersey State League of Municipalities regarding bills that were
enacted as the public laws of 2007.
26. E-mail received March 4, 2008, from the New Jersey Department
of Community Affairs regarding a League Meeting with State on State
Aid for Small Municipalities.
LETTERS FROM LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATIVES
27. E-mail received February 29, 2008, from Representative Rodney
P. Frelinghuysen regarding Two Weeks of vulnerability for the USA,
Frelinghuysen opposes new energy taxes, Frelinghuysen gains assurances
from National Guard Chief, Veterans award for Frelinghuysen, Town
meetings this weekend, and spread the e-news.
TORT
28. Letter received March 6, 2008, from Advokat & Rosenberg
regarding Wade v. Mount Olive and a notice of tort claim.
29. Letter received March 7, 2008, from Advokat & Rosenberg
regarding a correction to the notice of tort claim for Wade v.
Mount Olive.
President Perkins: We have 29 pieces of Correspondence. Does any
Councilmember wish to discuss any piece? Seeing none, we’ll
move on. That takes us to ordinances for public hearing.
ORDINANCES FOR PUBLIC HEARING
President Perkins: I open the hearing… What is this?
Mr. Dorsey: Ask for a motion to table Ord. #5-2008. See the “Defeat
ordinance?”
Mr. Greenbaum: It’s a motion to defeat isn’t it?
President Perkins: Can I have a motion to defeat Ord. #5-2008?
Ord. #5-2008 Ordinance Amending Ordinance Numbered 52-07 of the
Township of Mount Olive, in the County of Morris, New Jersey Finally
Adopted December 18, 2007 in its Entirety in Order to Amend the
Sources of Funding for the Acquisition of Property. – DEFEAT
(Ord. #18 replaces)
Mr. Tepper: So moved.
Mr. Greenbaum: Second.
President Perkins: Roll Call please.
ROLL CALL – Passed Unanimously
President Perkins: Okay, I open the hearing to the public on Ord.
#6-2008, entitled:
Ord. #6-2008 An Ordinance of the Township Council of the Township
of Mount Olive to Amend and Supplement Article II “Open
Public Records” Section 102 Entitled “Designation
of Custodian and Deputy Custodians of Municipal Records of the
Mount Olive Township Code.
President Perkins: Mr. Roman, would you move that please?
Mr. Roman: I move for adoption and final passage of Ord. #6-2008.
Mr. Greenbaum: Second.
President Perkins: Call the Roll please.
ROLL CALL – Passed Unanimously
President Perkins: Ord. #6-2008 has passed on second reading,
and I hereby direct the Clerk to forward a copy of same to the
Mayor and publish a notice of adoption as required by law. I open
the hearing to the public on Ord. #7-2008, entitled:
Ord. #7-2008 An Ordinance of the Township of Mount Olive to adjust
Water Rates and Services Fees.
President Perkins: Anyone from the public? I’ll close that
to the public.
Mr. Greenbaum: I’ll move it.
President Perkins: Thank you, Mr. Greenbaum. Do I have a second?
Mrs. Labow: Second.
President Perkins: Any Council comments? Roll Call, please.
ROLL CALL – Passed Unanimously
President Perkins: Ord. #7-2008 has passed on second reading,
and I hereby direct the Clerk to forward a copy of same to the
Mayor and publish a notice of adoption as required by law. I open
the hearing to the public on Ord. #8-2008, entitled:
Ord. #8-2008 An Ordinance of the Township of Mount Olive Re:
Sewer Service Charge for the Cloverhill Sanitary Sewer System.
President Perkins: Does anyone from the public want to make a
comment on this? Seeing none, I close it to the public, and I’ll
ask Mrs. Labow to move that.
Mrs. Labow: Thank you, Mr. President. I’d like to move Ord.
#8-2008.
President Perkins: Can I have a second?
Mr. Tobey: Second.
Mr. Perkins: Thank you. Any Council discussion? Roll Call, please.
ROLL CALL – Passed Unanimously
President Perkins: Ord. #8-2008 has passed on second reading,
and I hereby direct the Clerk to forward a copy of same to the
Mayor and publish a notice of adoption as required by law. I open
the hearing to the public on Ord. #9-2008, entitled:
Ord. #9-2008 An Ordinance of the Township of Mount Olive Re: Sewer
Service Charge for the Budd Lake Sanitary Sewer System.
President Perkins: Does anyone from the public wish to be heard?
Seeing none, I close it to the public. Mr. Tobey, would you move
that, please?
Mr. Tobey: I move Ord. #9-2008.
President Perkins: Do I have a second?
Mr. Greenbaum: Second.
President Perkins: Thank you, Mr. Greenbaum. Any Council comments?
Seeing none, Roll Call, please.
ROLL CALL – Passed Unanimously.
President Perkins: Ord. #9-2008 has passed on second reading,
and I hereby direct the Clerk to forward a copy of same to the
Mayor and publish a notice of adoption as required by law. I open
the hearing to the public on Ord. #10-2008, entitled:
Ord.#10-2008 An Ordinance of the Township of Mount Olive Re: Sewer
Service Charge for the Wyndham Pointe Sewer System.
President Perkins: Does anyone from the public wish to be heard
on this? Seeing none, I close it to the public. Mr. Greenbaum,
would you move that please?
Mr. Greenbaum: I’ll move it.
Mrs. Labow: Second.
President Perkins: Any Council comments?
Mrs. Labow: I have a question. Some of the residents are questioning,
did they have a meeting? Did that get resolved? Do they understand
where the increase came from?
Ms. Jenkins: I can tell you that I’ve been going back and
forth with e-mails with Mr. Jara, and we got them everything that
they wanted. They had some final questions on some of the operating
costs which I sent him. I haven’t heard anything back but
they seem pleased with what we sent them, so, I’m thinking
that we’re okay. I think that they just wanted a little bit
more information.
Mrs. Labow: Yes, from what I understand, I was talking to Mr.
Rattner and some of the costs, I mean, even just the electric was
tremendously higher…
Ms. Jenkins: Well, no, the electric, they just wanted to know
if it’s a national meter rating, which we said that it was.
You know, they had a question about the fence, you know, things
like that. Really nothing we couldn’t answer.
Mr. Tepper: Just justifying costs.
Mrs. Labow: It’s just to justify it.
Ms. Jenkins: Exactly, so it was fine and I didn’t hear anything
back so I think that they’re okay with everything.
Mr. Greenbaum: The rate that we’re charging, if I understand
it, is still not self liquidating. They’re still not covering
the full cost of what the Town is actually incurring to operate
that system. So, they are still getting a bargain although their
rates went up significantly. We’re still subsidizing.
Ms. Jenkins: Yes, we are, absolutely.
Mr. Sohl: In fact, the new rate still doesn’t cover just
the expenses.
Mr. Greenbaum: Do they understand that?
Mr. Tepper: So it’s a percentage increase, not a dollar.
Ms. Jenkins: I didn’t want to get into that with them, because
I believe Mr. Rattner was going to speak to them about that. Yes,
the bottom line is that just their operating costs are about $80,000
for the last couple of years.
Mr. Greenbaum: Well, if Mr. Rattner speaks on that it ought to
confuse the issues.
Mr. Tepper: So this will basically increase year over year until
the point where we’ll be within operating costs in how many
years?
Ms. Jenkins: Well, I don’t know. There was talk when we
met within the committee group that we would
Ms. Jenkins (Cont’d): increase, look at it again next year,
and then potentially increase it again. I mean, you know, when
we initially looked at the cost to really operate that system over
the 94 users, it was about $1,500 a year if you assume that our
10% salary allocation is pretty close to what it is. Right now
they are paying about $800 with their increase.
Mayor Scapicchio: The Administration may very well look into getting
that system to the point where we can sell it so that it is somebody
else’s responsibility to maintain.
Mrs. Labow: That’s just going to increase the cost.
Mr. Tepper: We would then lose control of the rates.
Mayor Scapicchio: Well, we don’t know, we don’t know
what that would do at this point in time.
Mr. Tepper: Okay.
President Perkins: Okay, Roll Call, please.
ROLL CALL – Passed Unanimously
President Perkins: Ord. #10-2008 has passed on second reading,
and I hereby direct the Clerk to forward a copy of same to the
Mayor and publish a notice of adoption as required by law. I open
the hearing to the public on Ord. #12-2008, entitled:
Ord.#12-2008 Ordinance Amending Ordinance Numbered 16-2007 of
the Township of Mount
Olive, in the County of Morris, New Jersey Finally Adopted April 10, 2007 in
its Entirety in Order to Amend the Sources of Funding for the Acquisition of
Property.
President Perkins: Does anyone from the public wish to be heard?
Seeing none, I close it to the public. Mr. Tepper, would you move
that, please?
Mr. Tepper: Yes, I move for adoption of Ord. 12-2008 for final
passage.
Mr. Greenbaum: Second.
President Perkins: Any Council comments or discussion? Roll Call.
ROLL CALL – Passed Unanimously
President Perkins: Ord. #12-2008 has passed on second reading,
and I hereby direct the Clerk to forward a copy of same to the
Mayor and publish a notice of adoption as required by law. I open
the hearing to the public on Ord. #13-2008, entitled:
Ord.#13-2008An Ordinance of the Township Council of the Township
of Mount Olive to Amend and
Supplement Article II 400-6 “Definitions” and Article
V “Design Guidelines and Technical
Standards” of Section 400-34 Entitled “Apartments and
Townhouses” of the Code of the Township of Mount Olive Pursuant
to N.J.S.A. 13:1E-99.13A Regarding Recycling in MultiFamily Housing.
President Perkins: Anyone from the public? Mr. Russell, please
state your name and address.
Nelson Russell, Budd Lake: My only question is why it only pertains
to new multifamily housing and not existing?
Mr. Dorsey: Well, the answer to that is that this is a format
that was sent to us by the County Recycling Department and that
is the only area that they addressed in the ordinance.
Mr. Russell: But wouldn’t it make more sense, in terms of
recycling which we’re trying to promote to…
Mr. Dorsey: It may but I think the answer to that lies with the
County Recycling Program. We’re required to comply with their
pro forma ordinances, so that’s why our ordinance is limited
to that which they forwarded to us.
Mr. Russell: So it’s possible to have a subsequent ordinance
that would apply this to all existing family, multifamily housing?
President Perkins: Right.
Mr. Russell: I’d like the Council to consider that.
Mrs. Labow: Is there anything that keeps us from doing that?
Mr. Dorsey: Yes.
Mrs. Labow: Yes? That was a short answer.
Mr. Dorsey: Well, I knew you’d understand it.
Mrs. Labow: Yes, are you making fun of my height again?
Mr. Dorsey: No.
Mr. Roman: Hey, I’m vertically challenged also.
Mrs. Labow: So we should bring this up at our SWAC meeting then,
Mr. Tobey? We’ll discuss this.
Mr. Dorsey: Yes.
Mr. Tobey: Yes.
Mr. Dorsey: …going to have to be resolved. Alright, I think
we want a motion to continue the hearing on this for technical
reasons until March 25th.
Mr. Greenbaum: So Moved.
Mr. Tepper: Second.
President Perkins: Roll Call.
ROLL CALL – Passed Unanimously
President Perkins: I open the hearing to the public on Ord. #14-2008,
entitled:
Ord.#14-2008An Ordinance of the Township of Mount Olive to Amend
and Supplement Various Portions of
the Mount Olive Township Code Dealing with Solid Waste and Recycling.
President Perkins: Mr. Russell?
Nelson Russell, Budd Lake: Section 6, Paragraph D, the last two
lines appear to have a transposition, as written they don’t
make sense, the last two lines.
Mrs. Labow: Section six?
Mr. Tepper: Yes, he’s right.
Mr. Russell: I think it should be “transportation from the
site will be the resident’s responsibility…”
Mr. Tepper: It should start out saying “this compost is
located at…”
Mr. Russell: …“and this compost is located at the
recycling center on Wolfe Road.”
Mrs. Lashway: Section six, did you say?
Mr. Tepper: Last two sentences of Section 6.
Mr. Russell: Section 6, the last two lines. They’re not
really sentences.
Mr. Tepper: “This compost is located at,” and “transportation
from.”
Mr. Dorsey: Alright, this is a technical, this should not hold
up the change to the adoption of the ordinance.
Mr. Tepper: Adopted as amended.
Mr. Dorsey: Yes, well no…
Mr. Greenbaum: It’s not even an amendment. It’s just
a verbiage fix, so you’ll make the correction and it’s
been moved as is, correct? Or we move it as is, as changed.
Mr. Dorsey: That’ll be changed in the final.
Mrs. Lashway: How do you want it to read?
Mr. Dorsey: I think “transportation of compost would be
the resident’s responsibility to the Recycling Center on
Wolfe Road.”
Mr. Russell: Not transportation to the Recycling Center.
President Perkins: From.
Mr. Roman: Transportation to the Recycling Center located at…
Mr. Tepper: No, shouldn’t it just read, “This compost
is located at the Recycling Center on Wolfe Road. Transportation
from the site will be the resident’s responsibility.”
Mr. Dorsey: Yes.
President Perkins: Yes, that makes sense. Did you get that?
Mrs. Lashway: Yes, okay, motion as amended?
Mr. Greenbaum: It’s not really an amendment.
Mrs. Lashway: Clarification? Okay.
Mr. Greenbaum: It’s just corrected.
President Perkins: Mrs. Labow, would you move that, please?
Mrs. Labow: Number 14?
President Perkins: Yes, ma’am.
Mrs. Labow: I move Ord. #14-2008.
Mr. Greenbaum: Second.
President Perkins: Second, thank you. Roll Call. Council discussion
first. Any more discussion other than what we’ve just done.
Seeing none, Roll Call.
ROLL CALL – Passed Unanimously
President Perkins: Ord. #14-2008 has passed on second reading,
and I hereby direct the Clerk to forward a copy of same to the
Mayor and publish a notice of adoption as required by law. I open
the hearing to the public on Ord. #15-2008, entitled:
Ord.#15-2008An Ordinance of the Township of Mount Olive to be
Known as the Construction,
Renovation and Demolition Debris Recovery Plan Ordinance.
President Perkins: Anyone from the public wish to be heard on
this? Seeing none, I’ll close it to the public. Mr. Tobey,
would you move that please?
Mr. Tobey: I move Ord. #15-2008.
Mr. Roman: Second.
President Perkins: Any Council comments or discussion? Seeing
none, Roll Call.
ROLL CALL – Passed Unanimously
President Perkins: Ord. #15-2008 has passed on second reading,
and I hereby direct the Clerk to forward a copy of same to the
Mayor and publish a notice of adoption as required by law. That
moves us on to ordinances for first reading with a public hearing
scheduled for March 25th, 2008.
ORDINANCES FOR FIRST READING – (Public Hearing March 25,
2008)
President Perkins: The next item on the Agenda for first reading
is entitled:
Ord.#17-2008 An Ordinance of the Township Council of the Township
of Mount Olive Vacating a Portion of Gervic Street.
President Perkins: Mr. Greenbaum, would you move that?
Mr. Greenbaum: I move that Ord. #17-2008 be introduced by title
and passed on first reading and that a meeting be held on March
25th, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. at the Municipal Building, 204 Flanders-Drakestown
Road, Mount Olive, NJ for a public hearing consideration of said
reading and passage of said ordinance and that the Clerk be directed
to publish, post and make available such ordinance in accordance
with the requirements of law.
Mrs. Labow: Second.
President Perkins: Any Council discussion? Roll Call.
ROLL CALL – Passed Unanimously
President Perkins: The next item on the Agenda for first reading
is entitled:
Ord.#18-2008 An Ordinance of the Township Council of the Township
of Mount Olive Authorizing the Acquisition of Lots 51 and 52, Block
2700 and Lot 1, Block 3204
President Perkins: Mr. Tepper, would you move that, please?
Mr. Tepper: Yes, Mr. President, I move that Ord. #18-2008 be introduced
by title and passed on first reading and that a meeting be held
on March 25th, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. at the Municipal Building, 204
Flanders-Drakestown Road, Mount Olive, NJ for a public hearing
consideration of said reading and passage of said ordinance and
that the Clerk be directed to publish, post and make available
such ordinance in accordance with the requirements of law.
Mrs. Labow: Second.
President Perkins: Second, any Council discussion? Roll Call,
please.
ROLL CALL - Defeated - Mr. Greenbaum, Mr. Tepper, Mr. Roman, and
Mrs. Labow voting no.
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 that 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.
CONSENT RESOLUTIONS
1. Resolution to RE: Temporary Capital Budget – Blue Atlas.
2. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount
Olive Amending the 2008 Temporary Budget for the Current Fund.
3. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount
Olive Increasing the Fleet Maintenance
Contract to Penske Group for the Year 2008.
4. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount
Olive Amending the List of Eligible LOSAP Emergency Service Volunteers.
5. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount
Olive Authorizing a Reduction in Performance Guarantees Relative
to Woodfield 3C.
6. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount
Olive Authorizing Application for and
Authorizing the Mayor to Execute a “Click-It or Ticket” Grant
for 2008.
7. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount
Olive Canceling Ordinance 52-2007.
President Perkins: Does any Council member wish to have any item
moved from Consent to Non Consent?
Mr. Tepper: Yes, the LOSAP, number four.
President Perkins: Anyone else? Mr. Roman, would you move Consent
Resolutions one through three and five through seven, please?
Mr. Roman: I’d like to move Consent Resolutions one through
three and five through seven.
President Perkins: Can I have a second?
Mr. Tobey: Second.
Mr. Russell: Can we have a public portion on that?
President Perkins: Sure enough, open to the public.
PUBLIC PORTION ON CONSENT RESOLUTIONS
Mr. Russell: A minor technical point, but in resolution #6 having
to do with the Click-It or Ticket, I see that Robert J. Greenbaum
is now Council President.
COUNCIL COMMENTS ON CONSENT RESOLUTIONS
Mr. Greenbaum: I am in my own mind. I’m the Mayor, too.
Mayor Scapicchio: He keeps telling me that everyday.
President Perkins: And he’s a good friend of Governor Spitzer’s
too.
Mr. Greenbaum: It didn’t go that far. It’s didn’t
go that far, Ray.
President Perkins: Hey, listen, I like Bill Clinton, you know.
Mr. Greenbaum: I’m not even going to touch that one.
Mr. Tepper: No.
Mr. Greenbaum: I’m not going to touch it.
President Perkins: Okay, thank you.
Mrs. Labow: I wonder if they’re going out for cigars later.
Mr. Tepper: Sometimes a cigar is not a cigar.
Mrs. Labow: Oh god, I knew that was coming.
President Perkins: Any other, no? Roll Call, please?
ROLL CALL – Passed Unanimously.
RESOLUTIONS NON CONSENT
President Perkins: That brings us to # 4. Mr. Tepper?
4. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount
Olive Amending the List of Eligible LOSAP Emergency Service Volunteers.
Mr. Tepper: I will move Resolution #4 of the Non Consent.
Mrs. Labow: Second.
Mr. Tepper: I have a question. I’m trying to understand
what, we have the list of the people that have been marked as eligible
for 2007, and then there’s several individuals listed as
eligible in 2008. Does that mean that they were or were not eligible
for 2007?
Ms. Jenkins: What happened was when we got the original list we
assumed that everybody was eligible, and in fact when my staff
along with Administration went through the paperwork, they found
out that some of these people would not be eligible until 2008.
There were six of them, Russ, which is why we had to amend it by
the six.
Mr. Tepper: So they will not be eligible under this one that we’re
approving?
Ms. Jenkins: You got it.
President Perkins: Any other discussion on that? Roll Call, please?
ROLL CALL – Passed Unanimously
President Perkins: We have two resolutions. Number 8, Mr. Roman,
would you move that, please?
8. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount
Olive Authorizing the Execution of a Release in Connection with
the Matter of Michael Foote v. Budd Lake Volunteer Fire Department.
Mr. Roman: I’d like to move Non Consent Resolution #8.
Mrs. Labow: Second.
President Perkins: Any comments from the public? Seeing none,
Roll Call.
ROLL CALL – Passed Unanimously
President Perkins: That brings us to Non Consent Resolution #9.
Mrs. Labow, would you move that?
9. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount
Olive Opposing the State’s Reduction in State Aid to Municipalities.
Mrs. Labow: Yes, I’d like to move Non Consent Resolution
#9, please.
President Perkins: Any public comments? Second, first.
Mr. Roman: Second.
President Perkins: Public? Seeing none, Roll Call.
PUBLIC PORTION ON INDIVIDUAL RESOLUTIONS - none
COUNCIL COMMENTS ON INDIVIDUAL RESOLUTIONS
Mrs. Labow: Oh, you asked for Council comments? I just want to
thank Mr. Dorsey for writing this resolution for us tonight. I
just want to say that just about every taxpayer in the State of
New Jersey is getting really fed up with all of the cuts and funding
from the State, not only in the Board of Education. Our Board of
Education budget is a mess primarily because of the funding we’re
not getting, and now we’re faced with a ½ tax point
we have to figure out what to do with. It’s money we’re
not getting this year. It’s got to stop.
President Perkins: Thank you, Mrs. Labow.
Mr. Roman: If I may add a comment on that, I think the source
of all of our problems starts with spending. So, it starts here.
It’s rippled its way up and down, so, just to piggy back
on her comments, it’s spending that’s the real problem.
Mrs. Labow: Instead of them cutting the spending, they’re
cutting the funding for us.
President Perkins: Thank you, any other comments? Seeing none,
Roll Call.
ROLL CALL – Passed Unanimously
MOTIONS
President Perkins: Mr. Tobey, would you move the first motion,
please?
Mr. Tobey: I move motion #1:
1. Approval of Raffle Application #2243 & #2244 for the Lenape
Valley Lacrosse Club; Raffle Application #2245 for the Deer Path
Montessori School and Raffle Application #2246 & #2247 for
PTA Mt. Olive.
Mr. Roman: Second.
President Perkins: Roll Call.
ROLL CALL – Passed Unanimously
President Perkins: That brings us to the Bill List. Mrs. Labow,
would you move that?
Ms. Jenkins: Ray, can I just say something beforehand? I just
want to let everybody know that we were going to do a confirmed
check for the Blue Atlas purchase, and we were requested to do
a wire, so we put that wire transfer on the Bill List just because
we wanted to make sure that everybody was aware of it and that
it got approved.
President Perkins: Okay, good.
Ms. Jenkins: So it is part of what you are approving tonight.
President Perkins: Thank you for that clarification.
Mrs. Labow: I move… You want me to move it now, Mr. Perkins?
President Perkins: Yes.
Mrs. Labow: I would like to move the Bill List for approval.
2. Bill List.
President Perkins: Do I have a second?
Mr. Roman: Second.
President Perkins: Any other questions or comments on the Bill
List before we go? Seeing none, go, Roll Call.
Mrs. Lashway: Mr. Greenbaum?
Mr. Greenbaum: No, I’m not approving any more spending based
upon Alex and Colleen’s comments.
Mrs. Labow: There you go.
ROLL CALL – Passed with the exception Mr. Greenbaum and
Mrs. Labow voted no.
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
Mr. Sohl: Well, as you already know Blue Atlas did in fact close
yesterday.
Mr. Tepper: Yes, Mrs. Murphy.
Mr. Sohl: Congratulations, an acquisition that was covered 95%
or more by grant money.
President Perkins: That’s it?
Mr. Sohl: That’s it.
Ms. Jenkins: Did the Bill List pass? I just wanted to be clear.
President Perkins: Yes.
Ms. Jenkins: It did, right? Okay, thank you. I was worried there.
President Perkins: Just barely.
Ms. Jenkins: Thank you.
OLD BUSINESS - none
NEW BUSINESS - none
LEGAL MATTERS - none
COUNCIL REPORTS
Recreation Liaison Report
Mr. Roman: Unfortunately there’s really nothing new to report.
Board of Health Report
Mrs. Labow: We meet next week.
Planning Board Report
Mr. Tepper: Meets Thursday.
Board of Adjustment Liaison Report
Mr. Roman: Meets next week.
Open Space Committee Report
Mrs. Labow: Open Space met last night. Of course we talked about
Blue Atlas, and I wish that the Blue Atlas payment was on a separate
thing. I would have voted yes for that and no for the rest of the
Bill List. We did Mrs. Labow (Cont’d): extensively talk about
Blue Atlas, and congratulations to Mrs. Murphy and everyone involved.
Also, we wanted to point out that on Blue Atlas we did purchase
an acre of it. It was purchased with our land sales money so that
it is not restricted by Green Acres regulations. Also, Charters
Farm is going up for sale very shortly, and we have the NRCS, came
back with their, well, preliminary, from the walk that we did.
Laura Szwack and I went with them a week ago Monday, the 25th,
and they are going to be making a plan to try and help with the
soil erosion problem that we have at Turkey Brook Park. So we’re
looking forward to working with them on that. We did have a possible
land purchase that was reviewed by the Committee, and we decided
it was not something the Township, we would recommend going through
with right now. That’s it.
Legislative Committee Report
Pride Committee Liaison Report
Mrs. Labow: I gave that last time, and Pride Committee is looking
to, this is in the preliminary stage right now, we’re going
to have an Earth Day celebration possibly on Sunday, April 27th.
Earth day is April 22nd. Last night at the Open Space Committee
also, we discussed an Earth Day celebration meeting up at the head
for the trail system at Turkey Brook Park that leads down into
the Meier’s Pond area, and having some little tours going
down through the trails. We’ll have to kind of skip around
the gullies that we have in there from the water, the soil erosion.
I think it might be a good idea to introduce the public to the
beautiful trail system that we do have.
President Perkins: Wonderful. Thank you, Mrs. Labow.
Board of Education Liaison Report
Mr. Tobey: I attended the Board of Education meeting last week
and the week before. Cuts, cuts, cuts were basically the message
across the board. The last meeting was well attended although I
think two thirds of the people there were employees of the Board
of Education. The second question that is being posed has to do
with activities, personnel, programs, so forth and so on, and as
everybody probably knows by now, Dr. Lamonte gave her notice to
retire and that’s about it.
Lake/Environment Issues Committee
Safety Committee Liaison
Mr. Greenbaum: Nothing to report.
Finance Committee Report
Economic Development Committee Report
Solid Waste Advisory Committee Report
Mrs. Labow: We would have been meeting tomorrow except that we’re
basically on an every other month schedule. So our next meeting
will be April, the second Wednesday in April.
Library Board Liaison
Mr. Tepper: Nothing to report.
PUBLIC PORTION
Nelson Russell, Budd Lake: A couple of questions on the Bill List.
The first one, at the bottom of page 1, hand written $1.9 million…
Mrs. Lashway: That’s the wire transfer that Sherry referred
to.
Mr. Russell: That’s the wire transfer for what, because
I think the acquisition cost of the property is $1,878.
Mrs. Labow: Blue Atlas.
Mrs. Lashway: Purchase of the Blue Atlas, it’s the wire
transfer that Sherry just mentioned.
Ms. Jenkins: Yes, we had two ordinances. The total was $1,925,000
and then we had $6,000 in closing costs.
Mr. Russell: Okay.
Ms. Jenkins: Okay, and they were fully funded by grants.
Mr. Russell: Okay.
Ms. Jenkins: Fully funded.
Mr. Russell: Okay, thank you.
Ms. Jenkins: You’re welcome.
Mr. Russell: On page 6, toward the bottom I am seeing the survey
to the Baum property and the acquisition of the Baum property.
The survey was $7,750 and the acquisition was only $5,500.
Mrs. Labow: That’s a…
Mr. Sohl: Potential land donation.
Mrs. Labow: From the Open Space Committee that we’re working
on.
Mr. Sohl: This is due diligence that we…
Mr. Russell: So if it’s a donation, what’s the acquisition
cost?
Mrs. Labow: You still have to…
Mr. Sohl: The acquisition cost is zero, right Kathy?
Ms. Jenkins: Kathy, one bill is a survey and the other is Norton
Conservation for the Baum property. What is the Norton Conservation
portion?
Mrs. Murphy: The property itself is the donation. The Town is
picking up all of the related closing costs, which will include
the survey, the environmental study and the title.
Mr. Russell: Okay, thank you.
Mr. Sohl: Thank you, Kathy.
Mr. Russell: Just below that I see $7,846 in boom rental. What
are we renting booms for?
Ms. Jenkins: Kathy, that’s the Seward house, correct?
Mrs. Labow: That’s for Mr. Greenbaum’s house when
he has the big booms on New Year’s Eve.
Mrs. Murphy: We had the articulated boom. They were doing some
masonry work and work on the roof. It’s actually a holdover
for some work that we had earlier, late last year and early this
year.
Mr. Russell: So there are two booms, right?
Mrs. Murphy: Yes, we had…
Ms. Jenkins: They cover different weeks.
Mrs. Murphy: Yes, but they were also different heights. We had
one that was an 80 foot boom and then that went back and we got
a shorter boom which we rented at a lesser rate so they could do
some other work.
Mr. Greenbaum: Yes, my boom only cost me $150.
Mr. Russell: On page 12, second from the bottom, I see one of
several charges for Lerch, Vinci, & Higgins, CPA for the preparation
of audit AFS, whatever that is.
Ms. Jenkins: They actually didn’t prepare. They reviewed.
I did correct that on the bill.
Mr. Russell: Okay, so, what is AFS?
Ms. Jenkins: Because they do work related to the annual financial
statement that we prepare, and because, you know, it encompasses
not only our current fund but also Water, Sewer and Sanitation,
we charge a portion out to those respective budgets. So you see
it in a different…
Mr. Greenbaum: Totally overpaid and I think that we should have
an auditing firm audit their bills.
Mr. Russell: Yes, I see it again on page 16.
Ms. Jenkins: Yes, you will because as I said, they do work, the
financial statement encompasses all of the utilities plus our main
operating budget. We charge a portion of their review to that.
Mrs. Labow: He’s got a slingshot down there, Rob.
Mr. Russell: Minor point, on page 13 I see $120 for e-mail services
for 2008. Doesn’t that run off of our own server?
Ms. Jenkins: We actually have to pay to have our tax bills uploaded,
so that’s what that cost was for.
Mr. Russell: Oh, for tax bills.
Ms. Jenkins: Yes, to have our preliminary tax bills uploaded.
Mr. Russell: Okay, so it’s not internal e-mail.
Ms. Jenkins: No, it’s not. It has nothing to do with anything
internal.
Mr. Russell: Okay, I think that’s it. Thank you.
President Perkins: Thank you, anyone else from the public? Seeing
none, we’ll go into Council comments.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Mrs. Labow: Just really quick, I forgot to mention this under
Old Business. I wanted to thank Jill Daggon and the rest of the
Administration for working on the Mount Olive Recreation insert
that goes into Our Town magazine. I don’t know if anybody
has had a chance to pick it up. A phenomenal job, we never could
have produced these ourselves. It would have been cost prohibitive.
It was very informative and we’re also looking forward to,
Jill did tell me a couple of pages were not included in the Mount
Olive Recreation insert part because we have to get a few more
ads. If anybody knows any companies that want to place and ad then
let us know. If we build up the advertisement then we get more
space and we get to promote more activities.
Mr. Roman: My ad is in there.
Mrs. Labow: Yes, Mr. Alex Roman has a lovely ad in the paper,
what is it, the third page?
President Perkins: And they still kept all the jokes in the regular
one too, so that’s good.
Mrs. Labow: Yes, on the third page in, nice job. Very good, Alex.
President Perkins: Anything else, Mrs. Labow?
Mrs. Labow: That’s all, I just wanted to compliment…
President Perkins: Mr. Tobey?
Mr. Tobey: Yes, with regards to the All Veterans Memorial, I met
with Charlie Uhrmann about two weeks ago. I took my surety cap
off and put my accounting cap on. I took a look at tax returns,
bank statements, corporate records, 501 (c) 3 documents, a list
of expenses. We’re not talking big dollars here, and nothing
stood out to me as being questionable. I fully support the project
for the record.
President Perkins: That it, Mr. Tobey?
Mr. Tobey: That’s it, thank you.
President Perkins: No comment from me. I will ask that Mrs. Labow
move us into executive session for the discussion of personnel,
and when we reconvene here there will be no further Township business
covered.
Mrs. Labow: In accordance with Sections 7 & 8 of the Open
Public Meetings Act, I would like to move us into executive session
to discuss personnel matters.
Motion was made, all in favor and none opposed, the meeting was
moved into executive session at 9:34 pm.
Executive Session –Personnel
ADJOURNMENT
Motion was made and seconded, all in favor and none opposed, the
meeting was adjourned at 9:53 pm.
_________________________________
Raymond T. Perkins, Council President
I, LISA 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 March 25, 2008.
______________________________________
Lisa Lashway, Township Clerk
jr
|