Mt. Olive Township Council Minutes
August 28, 2001

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

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

ROLL CALL: Present: Mr. Guenther, Mr. Spino, Mr. Scapicchio,

President Rattner.

Absent: Mr. Heymann, Mr. Sohl, and Mrs. Kelly

President Rattner: Mr. Heymann and Mr. Sohl have been excused. The have had long planned vacations, and yes we take them too. Mrs. Kelly is recovering from surgery. I would also like to acknowledge the attendance of the Mayor, Paul Licitra; the Business Administrator, Sandy Kaplan; the Township Attorney, John Dorsey; and Township Clerk, Lisa Lashway. In the audience I see Chairman of the Pride Committee, Mr. Perkins. I see the Town Librarian, Mrs. Hilbert. I see almost the entire Library Board, head by its’ President Mr. Isreal. Looks like we have the whole beach staff. And our Director of projects. Is that what they call you? Heather.

Presentation to Lois Steward – Service on Library Board – Mayor Licitra

Mayor Licitra: It is an honor to present this. I just feel bad that the recipient Lois tended her resignation to the Board. She was a great member of the Library Board. Lois along with her mother with Jeanette, were founders of the original Friends of the Library in the early 1980’s. Then in 1984 Lois became a Trustee of the Library. After the Library Municipalized, she served as Secretary and Vice President and was Chairman of the Bylaws Committee. Since then Lois has worked diligently to further Library awareness in the community and to make our Library the very best it can be. During her terms of office she also served as President, Vice President, Treasurer, Personnel Committee Chairman and member of the Building Committee for the new Library building. Her dedication and expertise will be sorely missed. It will be missed not only by the Library Board but also by the people of Mount Olive. I know Lois had a passion for the Library. I know how difficult it probably was for her to step down now that we’re looking at a new Library that she was so much apart of all these years and trying to get Mount Olive to build a new Library. So Lois, on behalf of your Township, on behalf of the Mayor and the Council, I’d like to present to you. Would you please come up here? Lois, in recognition of and appreciation of fifteen years of service to the Mount Olive Township Library Board, presented by myself, and the Mount Olive Township Council August 28. 2001. Again, the Township owes you a debt of gratitude. I hope even though you are not going to be an active member of the Board, I am positive that you will have input in the Board. Being at a couple of meetings I know you had input whether you wanted to or not. But I am positive you will find time so please stay active. You are a very active member of this Township and your opinions are well received by us so please I want to thank you very much.

Lois Steward: I don’t have anything prepared other then to say thank you very much. I’ve enjoyed the fifteen years on the Board of Trustees and the preceding several years that I sat on the original Friends of the Library Committee. I would hope that each of you, if you are not a participating member in our Library, if you don’t hold a library card, do yourself right, and come up and get a Library card. Use the Library. It holds a world of offerings and maybe along the way you could find a way to give something back to them. Thank you. Thank you very much Paul.

Presentation to Municipal Beach Staff – Ray Perkins (Pride Committee)

Ray Perkins, Pride Committee Chairman: Mr. Mayor, Council, Guests, my name is Ray Perkins, Chairperson of the Mount Olive Pride Committee. A few months back, it was Memorial Day to be exact, we opened the beach again this year at the old Municipal Building. For anybody who has been to that beach over the course so many years, I guess most of the comments we probably rather not hear. Some of the comments I’ve heard this year were how wonderful it was that their children enjoyed it. That it was a lot of fun. That there were great recreational things that were going on. To that end I had the honor of being asked to go to the Lottsa Regatta this past month as one of the judges. I think it was by default I was asked, but I was asked nonetheless and I went there. When I got there the turnout was not great. There were not a lot of people there that were participating in the event. But I must say that the beach staff exhibited such an enormous amount of enthusiasm. Not only for the project, but also for all the people that were on the beach that day. It touched me. We don’t often go down to the beach and say thank you to the people that are there as our lifeguards; watching us as well as our children. Picking up after some of us when we don’t always do the proper thing when it comes to trash. And also they’re Mr. Perkins (cont’d): there motivating, helping, nurturing and working with our youth out there teaching them numerous skills in the aquatics. For that I personally want to say thank you very much. So what I have done was asked if the Pride Committee could possibly recognize these young adults by offering them at least a meager bit of thanks and to also give them certificates so that they could take those back and hopefully remember that we here do appreciate everything that you do for us. I know that if your not thanked so often, you probably think you’re overlooked. You’re not. We do have some certificates. What I’d like to do is ask Bekki Borkowski to come up. She has some history and some statistics that I think everybody here would really appreciate hearing.

Bekki Borkowski: This summer we’ve had, so far as of today, 9,783 people come to the beach this season. We’ve only been open for 78 days. We’ve been averaging upwards to 300 people a day. I have a wonderful staff that has been outstanding this year. We have only had, with all those people, 45 first aid incidents. Only three of them have required the Rescue Squad. They have gone above and beyond as far as their training and everything that way. We had 260 kids go to swim lessons this summer. We had seven birthday parties and six special events. We brought posters so you guys can see some of the things that went on this summer. We had a water carnival. That was a huge success that we hope to bring back next year. The Lottsa Regatta that he attended the Louout that the Mayor came too. We had two concerts on the beach. And then a beach party. So definitely take time and look at those. This year we have 14 guards on our staff, and six of them are new. So were even getting more people every year. It’s been a wonderful season.

Ray Perkins: I’d like to read what’s on the Certificate and then Heather Stewart our Project Coordinator will read through these and we’ll hand them out through the individuals. This is a certificate of appreciation, in acknowledgement of the dedication, enthusiasm, professionalism, and leadership exhibited by the Budd Lake Municipal Beach Staff Summer 2001 presented by the Mount Olive Township Mayor and Council in cooperation with the Mount Olive Pride Committee. They are signed by our Mayor Paul R. Licitra and Steven W. Rattner our President of the Township Council. So with that I will please ask Heather Stewart to please read off the names and if you folks would come up to receive your certificates:

Amanda Augustine

Dana Barone
Kristin Barone

Liz Barone

Michelle Basiciano

Vin Basiciano

Bekki Borkowski

Beccy Brownlee

Tucker Brownlee

Jamie Daggon

Jennifer Daggon

Jessica Daggon

Matt Hackenburg

Erin Koehler

John Marra

Kristin Morris

Dan Priest

Erin Risko

Ryan Vill’neuve

Again, thank you very much a fabulous season once again. Becky our new beach director did a fantastic job. And thanks to our staff, we couldn’t have such a successful beach program without you all.

Mayor Licitra: You know before these young people were hired I had them all in the room over here about 78 of them, and I told them that they are about the best that Mount Olive has to offer and what I can get back from all the people that helped us in the summertime, especially the beach staff and what they didn’t tell you that they gave me a grass skirt to wear. It’s nice to have a grass skirt but don’t think I am going to be doing a hula in it that’s for sure. But at any rate, you truly are some of the best that Mount Olive has to offer. You make our job so much easier by your conduct, and your dedication. We got nothing but great compliments about the beach this year. The only thing that I could say is that Ray knows this and the Council knows this is that were going to be even better next year. We’re going to have more programs, better facilities, and were going to do better than we did this year. I want to thank you personally. You’ve made my job that much easier. Thank you very much.

President Rattner: Thank you Mayor,

ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS

Sandy Kaplan: The only thing we’re going to request tonight is the co-mingling ordinance be held until September 11, 2001. Due to the fact that the county has requested some changes in the contract

That they originally sent to us.

President Rattner: Is anything really major.

Mr. Kaplan: It’s only been telephone conversations so far. I haven’t seen the actual changes. So Mark DiGennaro and I are waiting to get them.

President Rattner: I am sure the people are waiting for that day to come. Ok. Thank you very much.

LEGAL MATTERS

APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS:

August 14, 2001 CS

Present: Mr. Guenther, Mr. Sohl, Mr.Scapicchio, Mr. Rattner, Mr. Heymann, and Mr. Spino

Absent: Mrs. Kelly

August 14, 2001 PM

Present: Mr. Guenther, Mr. Sohl, Mr. Heymann, Mr. Spino, Mr. Scapicchio, President Rattner

Absent: Mrs. Kelly

Mr.Spino moved for Approval of the minutes and Mr. Scapicchio seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL: Passed Unanimously

CORRESPONDENCE

Letters from Residents

1. Letter received August 11, 2001, from Charlene Samanich regarding Flanders Swim and Tennis Club.

2. Letter received August 11, 2001, from Charlene Samanich regarding Noise in Flanders-Netcong Road Residential Zone.

3. Letter received July 26, 2001, from Dan and Kay Serebrakian regarding the Township’s water supply.

4. Letter received August 13, 2001, from Donna Spraque regarding a proposal of making Linwood a one-way street.

5. Letter received August 13, 2001, from Anne Paul regarding the removal of dead trees.

School Correspondence

6. Letter received August 14, 2001, from Lawrence Schwartz, Esq. regarding previous information requested by Mr. Scapicchio from the School Board.

Correspondence from Legislative Representatives

Resolutions, Ordinances, Correspondence from Other Municipalities

7. Three Ordinances received July 25, 2001, from Washington Township regarding Land Use.

8. Resolution received August 1, 2001, from the Borough of Mt. Arlington regarding support of Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 147 authorizing $150.00 property tax credit for the primary residence of volunteer firefighters and first aid squad members.

9. Two Resolutions received August 10, 2001, from the Borough of Mount Arlington regarding Authorization requiring nonprofit Corporations to use Tax Exempt Historic Designated properties for Public Purposes and Authorizing a temporary License Agreement with AT&T Wireless Services.

10. Resolution received August 16, 2001, from the Borough of Madison endorsing the Location of the New Jersey State Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum at the Madison Train Station.

11. Resolution received August 17, 2001, from the Township of Montclair stating intent to become a regional contribution agreement-receiving Municipality.

12. Resolution received August 23, 2001, from the Borough of Lincoln Park opposing A-3714, which extends the hours of voting.

13. Ordinance received August 24, 2001, from Washington Township regarding Land Use.

League of Municipalities

14. Legislative Bulletin received July 30, 2001, from the New Jersey State League of Municipalities regarding Bills that were enacted as the Public Laws of 2001.

15. Letter received July 31, 2001, from the New Jersey State league of Municipalities regarding a League Seminar on Retirement Planning – Pension and IRS Update.

16. Letter received August 7, 2001, from the New Jersey State league of Municipalities regarding League Seminar for New Electronic Procurement procedures for municipalities.

17. Letter received August 13, 2001, from the Morris County League of Municipalities regarding the Morris County Heath Officers Association Program.

18. Letter received August 22, 2001, from the New Jersey State League Municipalities regarding resolutions for Consideration by the League Resolutions Committee.

19. Letter received August 22, 2001, from the New Jersey State league of Municipalities regarding League Seminar on “Winning Interest Arbitration Strategies”

DOT/DEP/Permits – LOI’s

20. Letter received July 20, 2001, from the State of New Jersey, Department of Environmental Protection regarding a Letter of Interpretation – Line Verification. Applicant: Pars Development Corporation / Block: 7000; Lot: 64 (Drakestown Road)

21. Letter received July 26, 2001, from Civil Engineering regarding application for Letter of Interpretation for Block 2602, Lot 4 (287 Sandshore Road) Applicant: Joseph Piergies.

22. Letter received July 30, 2001, from the State of New Jersey, Department of Environmental Protection regarding a Permit to Construct and Operate Treatment Works for Hackettstown MUA.

23. Letter received July 30, 2001, from the State of New Jersey, Department of Environmental Protection Re: Stream Encroachment Application No. 1407-01-0003.1 (NJ American 12” water main under Drakesbrook)

24. Letter received August 16, 2001, from Glasson Environmental Services regarding Notification of application for Letter of Interpretation – Regulatory line delineation GE file #1127 / Block 3305, Lot 28 (51 Center Street) Applicant: Mr. Gary Forgey.

25. Letter received August 20, 2001, from Glasson Environmental Services regarding Notification of application for Letter of Interpretation – Regulatory line delineation GE file #1127, Block 3305, Lot 28 (51 Center Street) Applicant: Mr. Gary Forgey.

26. Letter received August 20, 2001, from the State of New Jersey, Department of Environmental Protection regarding Copper Analysis of the Blend Tank Musconetcong Sewerage Authority NJPDES Permit No. NJ0122840.

27. Letter received August 21, 2001, from the State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection regarding Stream Encroachment Application No. 1407-01-0003.1 (NJ American 12” water main under Drakesbrook)

28. Letter received August 24, 2001, from the State of New Jersey, Department of Transportation regarding Authorization to design Traffic Signals International Drive North and South Site Main Driveway.

Correspondence from Cable Networks / Utilities

29. Comcast FAX received August 10, 2001, regarding Industry Awards and Payment terms.

Correspondence from Organizations, Committee’s, Boards

30. Membership Renewal Application Received July 20, 2001, from the National Association of Cities regarding Membership Dues for August 2001 through August 2002.

31. Letter received July 25, 2001, from the State of New Jersey Department of Agriculture regarding Gypsy moth egg masses.

32. Letter received July 27, 2001, from the State of New Jersey, Department of Community Affairs regarding the Executive Summary of the New Jersey State Development and Redevelopment Plan.

33. Letter received August 24, 2001, from Mt. Olive Parade Committee, Historical Society and Pride Committee regarding donation of flags for the Memorial Day Parade.

34. Letter received August 24, 2001, from Morris County Solid Waste Advisory Council Re: Morris County Solid Waste Management Plan Amendment request.

Land Use, Development Matters

COAH

35. Newsletter received August 2, 2001, from Council on Affordable Housing.

MSA

36. Minutes received August 3, 2001, from the Musconetcong Sewerage Authority regarding the July 11, 2001 meeting.

ABC

37. Letter received August 13, 2001, from the State of New Jersey, Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control regarding Clover May Inc. License # 1427-33-016-003.

President Rattner stated that we had received 37 items of correspondence and asked Council if there were any comments on same.

Mr. Spino: I do but I’ll address them to Mr. Kaplan later.

Mr. Guenther: Just a comment, I made it to the Mayor before. Item #11. This is something I was aware of even before they sent us this letter. The Township of Montclair. I know we’ve completed our COAH Obligations. But I know the State. I don’t now what the rules are. But I guess every once in a while, the State reviews each town and additional requirements could be not imposed or whatever terms they use. I’ll let John put the terms on it. I’d just like to put on the record that we should keep in mind, there are towns in the State of NJ that are willing to acquire the COAH Obligations and Montclair is one of them. Very actively. In fact the planner had mentioned that to me personally at one time. Then I saw this letter that came and I think that we should keep this on file sort of in the back of our memory, when this does come down, that we should sort of file away. And there might be other towns volunteering the same thing, that this is a good way to satisfy those obligations, any additional obligations that might come down.

John Dorsey: It is a good way, but you know it costs you at least $20,000 a unit.

Mr. Guenther: I know. I understand there is a cost involved, but I am saying it is always a contentious issue here with that whole issue. I don’t want to get into it now.

Mr. Dorsey: Just so you know where we stand. We got our Substantive Certification July 1, 1999. So that means we have four more years to go on the Substantive Certification. But this is the year that COAH as a matter of fact they’re behind schedule is supposed to issue new requirements. What those requirements are of course nobody knows whether it will be less than we’ve already satisfied or more. We simply have to wait.

President Rattner: If there are no other comments on Correspondence we’ll move right to the Ordinances. If we could get a motion to continue to the public hearing, to the next meeting.

ORDINANCES FOR PUBLIC HEARING

Ord. #20-2001 An Ordinance of the Township of Mount Olive to Amend and Supplement Section 2-11-2 Entitled “Separation and Collection” of the Mount Olive Code. (Co-mingled recycling)

Mr. Scapicchio moved Ord # 20-2001 to carry until the September 11th meeting and Mr. Guenther seconded the motion.

President Rattner: So what that means is that this ordinance, we’ll have a public hearing and we’ll probably take a vote as long as we get a final agreement from the County, to sign on the 11th. This is the ordinance that will allow the co-mingling of certain of our recyclables.

ROLL CALL: Passed Unanimously.

ORDINANCES FOR FIRST READING

Ord. #22-2001 An Ordinance of the Township of Mount Olive Designating Fern Avenue as a One Way Street.

Mr.Spino Moved that Ord. # 2001 be introduced by title and passed on First Reading and that it be scheduled for Adoption after a Public Hearing on September 25, 2001 at 7:30pm. Mr. Guenther Seconded the Motion.

President Rattner: Just remember there is no public discussion on this one, because it is not the public hearing. It is just to get it on the agenda. This is September 25, 2001. So the other one we said was going to be September 11, 2001. This gives you roughly thirty days until the next meeting.

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 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.

Motion to approve Consent Resolutions

CONSENT RESOLUTIONS

1. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount Olive Authorizing and Adopting 2001 Merit Awards to Various Administrative Personnel.
2. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount Olive Accepting Certain Deeds from Pinnacle Mount Olive Developers, LLC.

Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount Olive RE: Paragon Village, LLC. (COAH fees)

Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount Olive Authorizing a Settlement of Tax Appeals Brought by Benjamin Moore Co. for the Years 2000 and 2001.

Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount Olive Authorizing an Interlocal Services Agreement Between the Township and the County of Morris for Police Services Vehicular Homicide Unit.

Resolution of the Township of Mount Olive Authorizing the Cancellation of Old Outstanding Checks.

Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount Olive Permitting the Steve Freeman Owner of Lot 77, Block 3700 to do Work within the Township Right of Way.

Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount Olive Authorizing a Scholarship Fund and Program by the Township Finance Department.

A Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount Olive Supporting Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 147 Proposing a Constitutional Amendment Requiring the Legislature to Enact a Statute Authorizing a $150.00 property Tax Credit for the Primary Residence of Volunteer Fire Fighters and First Aid Squad Members.

A Resolution to Cancel a Contract for the Supply of a Precast Concrete Box Culvert. (ITC South Road Project)

Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount Olive Authorizing a Contract with Building Inspection Underwriters, Inc. (Electrical Inspections)

Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount Olive Prohibiting Parking on Certain Streets from 12:00 P.M. (Noon) on September 14, 2001 Through 12:00 A.M. on September 16, 2001. (St. Elizabeth’s Carnival)

Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount Olive Authorizing a Contract with Schoor DePalma for Construction Administration and Observation Services for the Turkey Brook Park Project.

Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount Olive Authorizing the Acceptance of a Deed from Jack Dean.

Resolution of the Township of Mount Olive Authorizing the Cancellation of Capital Ordinance Balances.

17. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount Olive Authorizing a Contract with Morris Land Conservancy. (Professional Services for Open Space Purposes)

18. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount Olive Authorizing a Contract with Barry J. Krauser, MAI, CRE for Appraising the Church of Illumination Property, Charter Farms Tract and Silver Spring Manor.

19. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount Olive Authorizing a Contract with Certified Valuations, Inc. for Appraising the Church of Illumination Property, Charter Farms Tract and Silver Spring Manor.

20. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount Olive Authorizing the Execution of a Developer’s Agreement Between the Township and Glenn and Wayne Ehrgott. (Performance Trailers) Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount Olive Authorizing the Execution of a Developer’s Agreement Between the Township and Westminster Realty Corp. (Dara Estates)

21. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount Olive Authorizing the Execution of a Developer’s Agreement Between the Township and DE 149 Corp. (expansion at Parkade)

22. Resolution of the Township of Mount Olive, Morris County, New Jersey, Endorsing Acquisition of Development Rights for Muriel Ashley Trust. (farmland preservation)

23. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount Olive Providing for a Refund of $45.00 to Country Oaks Homeowner’s Association. (payment of taxes on Township property)

24. A Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount Olive Extending the Current Contract with Jersey Professional Management for the Month of September. (Turkey Brook oversite)

25. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount Olive Authorizing the Execution of a Developer’s Agreement Between the Township and Fieldview Associates, LLC, Final Subdivision Approval.

26. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount Olive Authorizing the Execution of a Developer’s Agreement Between the Township and Westminster Realty Corp.

27. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount Olive Authorizing the Business Administrator to Execute a Water Main Extension Permit Application to NJDEP for Rachel Manor Estates.

PUBLIC PORTION ON CONSENT RESOLUTIONS

Mr. Guenther requested that 16 be removed to Non-Consent.

Mr. Scapicchio moved for approval of Consent Resolutions1 through 15 and 17 through 27 and Mr. Guenther seconded the motion.

President Rattner opened the Consent Resolutions to the Public, with the exception of 16, which will be done separately. No one wished to be heard and asked Council if anyone wished to discuss this Resolution.

Roll Call: Passed Unanimously with the exception of Mr. Spino who voted no on #27, and Mr. Scapicchio who voted no on Resolution 25.

RESOLUTIONS - NON CONSENT

16. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount Olive Requesting Approval from the Director of the Division of Local Government Services for Insertion of a Specific Item of Revenue into the 2001 Municipal Budget. ($1,400.00 for a Grant to Local Registrars to Facilitate Participation in the Electronic Death Registration System).

Mr. Spino moved for Final Adoption of Resolution No. 16. and Mr. Guenther seconded the motion

PUBLIC PORTION ON INDIVIDUAL RESOLUTIONS

President Rattner opened the public portion. No one wished to be heard and asked Council if anyone wished to discuss this Resolution.

COUNCIL COMMENTS ON INDIVIDUAL RESOLUTIONS

Mr. Guenther: I’d like an explanation on what this is. I don’t understand this. What is the Electronic Death Registration System.

President Rattner: Sandy, could you answer that question.

Mr. Kaplan: Basically the State has done is that they have computerized it and they’re providing us with monies to assist us to participate in the program.

Mr. Guenther: In the course of every death?

President Rattner: I know from sitting on the board, Mr. Scapicchio does currently, when it was a manual system we would get a copy. The Township Health Department would get a copy of every Death Certificate if a resident of Mount Olive or if somebody died in town. And that way you could do statistics looking at different types of deaths, cancer, heart attack, that type of thing. So you could look for hot spots in problem areas. When the State took it over and started computerizing it, we could not get that information. I know that the position that the Board of Health would always ask was could we get it. Cause he was always looking to see if there’s a pattern of certain types. If there was an increase in a certain type of cancer, that type of thing. What this is going to do is take the States computerized system and give each town access to it. Cause most people don’t happen to die in the hospital, and we were not getting those death certificates cause it was happening in Dover. This will give us access to the database. So it’s mainly for statistics. Is that the way you understand it Mr. Kaplan?

Mr. Kaplan: Yes.

President Rattner: Is there any further discussion?

ROLL CALL: Passed Unanimously

MOTIONS

Bill List. – B. Guenther

Mr. Guenther moved the acceptance of the Bill List as presented by the Finance Department to be approved and Mr. Scapicchio seconded that motion.

President Rattner: Is there any comment? I have two things. One comment, and one I’d like removed for discussion at a further workshop. One, if you could please look at page nine. This is always a question coming up about the inspections and oversight that the town has to do with different construction projects, and different developments. This past month. The amount of money coming out of the Escrow Accounts. That is not Taxpayer money. That is the Builder. The Developer of ITC South, or any of the other developments have to put up to cover all the costs involved. Legal, Engineering, any type of oversight. Plumbing, you know all the different inspections. In the month of August it totaled $383,000. So when you see a lot of work and a lot of people working in town, but that is not the Taxpayer. The person doing the project ends up paying it. Anybody who has done even a small addition to their house knows when they have gone to the Planning Board; they’ve had to put up an Escrow Account to pay for those reviews and inspections.

Mr. Spino: I would say most of that money is for things that are before the Planning Board, and then a portion of it for those that are before the Board of Adjustment. If you look at the list, and you go down, it’s for engineering, inspection fees and most of it has the Developer’s name there. Most of it is for the Planning Board.

President Rattner: The other item I’d like removed is on page 11. We have checks to Odyssey Automotive Specialty. This had to do with modifications to the rescue truck that was just purchased for the Budd Lake Rescue Squad. I’d like to have that taken off and discussed at the next workshop meeting to find out why the modifications had to be done, how it was authorized and such.

Mr. Spino: Will we have someone from the Squad?

President Rattner: I think we have the information here. If we have to we’ll have somebody from the Squad. That will be up to Administration. Whether they think they can get somebody for that.

Mr. Scapicchio: Page 11. Sandy. The three monthly draws for Olympus International. Just given your memo of August 15th, is it your recommendation that we pay that?

Mr. Kaplan: Yes

Mr. Scapicchio: Ok

Mr. Spino: I thought you wanted to take it off.

Mr. Scapicchio: I wanted to ask Sandy’s recommendation because I saw a memo here that voiced some displeasure with some time frames not being met.

President Rattner: Your being kind.

Mr. Scapicchio: I am trying to be kind.

Mr. Kaplan: We’re working them out. I think they have been worked out. Adjustments have been made and we will be back in some form of time frame very shortly.

President Rattner: I guess when the question comes up do we want to hold their checks and say that you get your checks when you get back on schedule.

Mr. Dorsey: Why don’t you approve the checks and then let the Administration disperse them at such time as they are satisfied the schedules have been met.

President Rattner: I thought it would be easier if we turned on that, we said we can work with them, and say it was the Council that was unhappy.

Mayor Licitra: I don’t mind. I have absolutely no problem making sure that this comes in on time and so. As you know I have been very adamant about that and on their back, all the time. So yes. When something comes before you for approval as far as payment. That means they have earned it. I am not about ready to lay out any of our money until I am positive that they are on track. Of which they are. I am not saying they’re not.

Mayor Licitra: (cont’d): I am pleased up until this date. Other than god issues, rocks, and stones and things like that that we can’t control. They are making a concentrated effort to be on time. If people want to take that off, I’ll support that.

Mr. Spino: If you people want to take it off I’ll support that. You know me.

Mayor Licitra: My recommendation is not to take it off. I’ve slapped their hands enough already.

President Rattner: I think we have to go with the Administration because they’re working with them on a daily basis.

Mr. Guenther: I just have a procedural question. I am assuming or am I wrong to assume that whatever is presented here has the approval that somebody signed off on the Administration that the requisite work has been done and they are satisfied with the work. Is it reasonable to assume that?

President Rattner: Right, but the checks and balances are that we review it because if we’re not happy then we stop until we get…..

Mr. Guenther: I understand that. Although David was asking if Sandy…. I would assume it wouldn’t get to us if Sandy had a problem.

President Rattner: For the most part but when you have thousands of checks, one could slip through. I think that Dave got his question answered. So were okay on that one. Could I just get a motion to remove check 398 from the current list?

Mr. Scapicchio moved check # 398 made out to Odyssey Automotive Specialty in the amount of $9,365 be removed and Mr. Spino seconded that motion.

ROLL CALL: Passed Unanimously

ROLL CALL: Passed Unanimously for remaining Bill List.

2. Approval of Bingo Application #1002 for Saint Judes Church.

Mr. Spino moved for approval of the motion and Mr. Scapicchio Seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL: Passed Unanimously

COUNCIL REPORTS

Library Board Liaison Report - W. Sohl

Recreation Report - R. Heymann

President Rattner: Mr. Sohl is not here for the Library report, but we just gave the presentation,

I think that was enough of a report for the Library. Mr. Heymann for the recreation report but we

Heard about the beach, so I believe we covered that tonight.

Board of Health Report
Mr. Scapicchio: have no report this evening. I was on vacation and did not attend the last meeting.

Planning Board Report
Mr. Spino: We did have a meeting with some smaller items. We have what should be the last

Meeting for Crown Towers this Thursday at 7:00. That’s all.

Open Space Committee Report - C. Kelly

Legislative Committee Report

Mr. Guenther: Nothing to report, although what I am going to have to do since the meeting that we did have several months ago which included Richard Kamin as a representative the department of transportation since he has resigned from that Department, I want to get in touch with Assemblyman Guy Gregg to find out who will pick up the loose ends as to what our requests were. Maybe with the end of the Administration coming, he’ll tell me the time is not appropriate. I do want to get in touch with him so as to not let some of those initiatives that we started that time lapse.

President Rattner: I believe Betty Cutter who is the Secretarial Assistant to Dick Kamin, still in the job in that position. Maybe that would be too. To go there and find out who is taking the place. So we could keep going. We got a response to the first request we had and we just want to make sure they move on it.

Master Plan Report

Mr. Scapicchio: Nothing further to report

Pride Committee Report

Mr. Guenther: The Pride Committee is off for the summer. It resumes meetings September 18, There a

couple of things that it’s working on. Were working on eight welcome signs, at the entrance

and exit to the town on routes 46 and route 206. We have preliminary designs on those and are

getting quotations. They will be very attractive, and will be larger than the signs we have. That is

Number 1. Number 2, we are working on a program for holiday decorations where companies are

going to make a proposal to us where they will actually… It’s sort of a lease/purchase type of agreement with the decorations. They actually install them and take them away. Which will solve several problems. The storage problem. They take care of the storage. It also does not put an additional burden on our fire department, and other personnel because there is always a liability

issue. They’re essentially volunteers. Were kind of imposing on them to do that. So we are waiting for a proposal on that to see what the cost will be. It sounds very promising. It is something that we will always be assured of having decoration up for Christmas in a timely fashion, and taking down in a timely fashion.

PUBLIC PORTION

Bob Elms, Budd Lake, NJ: I believe this was asked before, when we were reviewing a Bill List

Theory. It would be nice if we had a Bill List to review in the Audience. We were promised to have that.

Mr. Guenther: Maybe we should put one list out there.

Mr. Elms: Well it should be a Bill List that everybody could get a copy of if they want to review it.

President Rattner: Well at fifty pages, you start killing too many trees. The Bill List now is not what it used to be, where we used to just give a summary. What they give us now is every Bill Registered for the entire month. Categorized, but it is every check So it is not just the big checks which it used to be, this is every expense with the person’s name and everything on it. It is in great detail.

Mr. Guenther: Isn’t it here for review by anybody that wants to see it in the few days leading up to the council meeting.

Lisa Lashway: I get it Friday afternoon.

Mr. Elms: Is it public information, why can’t we have it then?

President Rattner: Yes, absolutely.

Mr. Spino: Nobody said you couldn’t have it. But does it make sense to print up 100 of these.

Mr. Elms: It makes sense that the people want to see what is being approved.

Mr. Spino: What I would recommend is that we have a couple out there with a note saying please do not remove. If they want a copy, they could ask for a copy, and we’ll make a copy. To me it doesn’t make any sense. If were talking about the environment and saving things, and ecologically sound, to print 100 of these things because someone has a question. Fine. If they have a question, they can get a copy.

Mr. Elms: Earl, there are not 100 of any of those things out there. That is number one. And if you’re trying to save the environment, that eleven pages is not going to do it.

Mr. Spino: What I am saying is I don’t think it is cost effective to print them unless somebody really wants one.

Mr. Elms: Well I would like one for each meeting.

Mr. Spino: You got it.

Mr. Guenther: It is available on Friday. What we’ll do is put at least two or three copies out there. If it is not enough, we could make additional copies for people that are interested.

Mr. Spino: It is public record. People can have them. To print them just because one person wants one. To print 50 of them does not make any sense.

President Rattner: I think what needs to be said is almost all information is public information. But we don’t make copies of everything to lie out there. If there is a request, we’ll make a copy.

Toni Ayers, Budd Lake, NJ: The first thing is the letter from the State Department of Agriculture regarding the gypsy moth egg masses. What was the letter about? Letter # 31 in the correspondence section.

Mr. Kaplan: Every year the State surveys, asks, each Municipality whether or not they want them to conduct a gypsy moth survey within their boundaries. They then go ahead and do the survey and then they report back to the Municipality what their findings are and then the governing body has a decision to make on whether they want the State to spray or not to spray. All we have exceeded to at this point in time is to let them go ahead and do this survey.

Ms. Ayers: And no conclusions of whether there be a spray. Because every year I pay to have my place sprayed. The town used to do it, along time ago.

Mr. Kaplan: All we have allowed them at this point in time is to do the survey. When they come back with the results then we’ll bring it to the governing body and see if they want to have them sprayed. We don’t know the results yet.

President Rattner: The State has certain criteria. If they say there are certain hot spots, then you could be considered and you could apply for them to spray.

Mrs. Ayers: On June 2, 2000 I had about $6,000 worth of trees destroyed on my place by a freak storm that came by that day. A couple weeks ago I was riding by the Turkey Brook Project. I was shocked to see several acres more of trees that were removed. I haven’t been up on things, because over the past fifteen months coincidentally I have had five surgeries. So I have not been out, but not…I am just coming back. Anyhow, I stopped at the planning board office and saw the plans. Nine soccer fields, five baseball fields, and whatever else. No Municipal pool. I heard the alkaloids about the Lake tonight

and the staff, but the Lake is the Lake, and a pool is a pool. And I feel that…. What about the adults. Everything is for the kids. The organized sports. That is the most organized park I have ever seen. Even Central Park in NYC does not look like that. But to cut down all those trees, would seem to me that there would be a better plan somewhere. We’re fighting the other end of town to keep the trees, with the Crown Tower Development. On our own property, we cut trees down. This was, I almost went off the road. I can’t believe that you guys did that. I just can’t believe it. I think this plan recreation has just gotten out of hand. Everything is for the kids. How bout the grown ups. I thought the walking paths, and contemplative areas were supposed to go in first. It’s the other way around. I mean everything seems to get barreled through like the Trade Zone so called wall. What I have seen of it looks like an industrial park. I see these boxes that to me do not present or are not going to present a nice looking mall at all. I don’t know. Slow down and smell the roses. Everything doesn’t have to go barreling through. Terrible. I was devastated when I lost all my trees. Only I had no control, speaking of God. I don’t know why he picked my big oak trees, but he did. I was thinking another thing we could all use which would be very nice. I don’t know what corner of the world you would find space for this. But a few weeks ago there was a very nice article in one of the papers. Some young mothers, with their children they did several people who were growing vegetable and flower gardens on their property. The lessons to be learned are endless. I’d rather see a kid digging in a garden, frankly, than playing soccer. I think they would learn much more. They would get more out of it. You know I think it is a craze. An absolute craze. The money that is being spent , to me that is unconscionable. That is about all. It seems as though common sense is just gone. You know. One wonders, why these certain things get pushed through. Is there corruption in town, or is it just stupidity.

Mayor Licitra: I am not gonna take….

Ms. Ayers: That was a question.

Mayor Licitra: No, that was a Rhetorical question.

Ms. Ayers: Rhetorical question, right.

Mayor Licitra: If you can find any let me know.

Ms. Ayers: No, I can’t. That’s why it is facetious also because I said it’s stupidity.

President Rattner: You talk about Turkey Brook. Everybody has his or her idea of what Turkey Brook will look like. And I think what we got is a good plan that we’ve all agreed on.

Mr. Spino: The plan has changed from time to time from what it was in the beginning.

President Rattner: Lets just say that we looked at it and there were a lot of different compromises. What we have to look at is how many children and then the related families are involved in the soccer program. Remember we lost the soccer fields that we had, that the school board had for all the year sentential field. We have just as many kids. There has got to be 800 kids in that program. We got close to that in the baseball program. When you realize the percentage of the population that is involved. Those are the things, and that’s how you set priorities. When it comes to that. I don’t have any problem saying about the priorities of Turkey Brook. Two-thirds of that area is going to be left in a natural state or passive. In fact, the amount of trees that are cut down, I know when you see it happen, especially when it is right by the road, all of the sudden you start seeing the clearing. But we had to make modifications and we’ve cut down some signs, we’ve moved things to leave as many of the natural tree lines as possible. The State looked at that. They were concerned. They agreed it was the best plan. We need the fields. They’re not going to just be used there. Part of the center is going to be a pavilion with picnic areas and places to eat. There is going to be the walking paths. We’re going to have the fishing. You’re still going to need parking. For all the different activities, have centralized parking not parking all over. So you keep the cars in one area. Mr. Heymann convinced me, a tree on second base doesn’t make sense, even if you touch it. He said cut down, put in a bag. It makes a lot more sense.

Mrs. Ayers: So many fields? Again, yea. So many fields

President Rattner: It is really not that many for the population we have.

Mr. Guenther: Toni, it is unfortunate; I know you had your health problems. You weren’t able to be here. But the public hearing we had. There were a lot of citizens that came up and had concerns about the trees being cut down. Especially at the front of the road. We had a lengthy discussion about it. Part of it was for safety concerns that we needed a site clearance, needed to widen the road at Flanders Road to have an ingress and egress lane to create proper site clearance for safety sake of people coming in to the park. It is required of all that those trees have to go. I don’t know. I’d like to maybe can get from Sandy an idea of how many trees were knocked down. I mean I live right around the corner Toni, so I am concerned too. But from what I could see most of the trees seem to be as part of that particular aspect of the project, in other words. We did the park. We need the entrance and we need to get that clearance, and most of the trees seem to have come from that. There are some on the interior that were knocked down. I think that was do to the way the entrances were coming in and again, you needed to create a drive, you needed to create certain areas in accordance with a plan that was approved. Maybe we could get an idea from Sandy, somebody from Olympus could give us an idea of how many of the mature trees were actually knocked down. Personally, I don’t think it is that many, but quite frankly I don’t know.

Mrs. Ayers: I looked like a lot.

President Rattner: The road. One of the things the site distance. I have had conversations with the Mayor and Bob Casey. The County has certain site standards. We were concerned about some of the mature trees that were coming down. Even though they haven’t done it in other towns. They are willing to look at what were doing and say something that makes sense. Especially for a field that only occasionally has crowds. If we can convince and they have designed, some of the driveways to stack the cars on the part so that they don’t get caught on the road for safety reasons that we are looking. There have been a lot of revisions; there have been a lot of different meetings. Input from so many different groups. From every activity in town. From the Environmental groups and everything else. They have all had their input. We have made some compromises. There has been a give and take and I think overall. I think everybody is reasonably happy. Nobody got everything they wanted but I think most of the people understand what we’re doing, and they are happy with the outcome.

Mr. Spino: One of the plans from the beginning. Actually there were three separate plans to use. One over in Budd Lake. B & H property, which is across the street from this property and this property

Mr. Spino (cont’d): for fields. It was felt by the majority of the people involved and the athletic programs and the Council, that maybe one location would be better. The less and not disturb the others at all. So that is a compromise. It is better having fields throughout the town, we’re going to have them there, but we are not going to disturb other property. Sometimes you have to make a decision. Know body likes to cut trees down, any less than I do. I hope you know that. You have to be able to get in to the property. We have a couple thousand kids at play every day. Where are they going to play? We’re using property now that is not ours.

Mrs. Ayers: It’s not all year round too.

Mr. Spino: It’s most of the year. Soccer and baseball. The land will be there for anybody else to use.

President Rattner: Mayor, your involved with Turkey Brook just about on a daily basis with the professionals, with every one of the groups, with just about every that God put in this area. Do you have something to say about the project in the way that it was a compromise with buy inns from all the different organizations.

Mayor Licitra: You have to understand that was not part of our original project. The project only became the way it is now that we had to move some fields around for the simple reason that green acres came back to us and said you couldn’t use the great lawn. That’s why I move some fields up and around when they came back and they told us they couldn’t use the down portion of it to keep it passive. This is only a compromise not only of Green Acres. But with everybody. All the groups in town, even the environmental modifications we took into consideration.

President Rattner: Green Acres suggested which trees to cut, and which trees not too. They said because of the type of tree in where they were located. They didn’t want them touching other ones. It made sense to something with them. There is a lot of thought, and it is a big project. It’s going to cause a disturbance there is no doubt about it.

Mr. Guenther: I wanted to address Toni’s point about the facilities for other people. It has been a concern of mine right from the beginning. I stated so. In the present the first phase that is being completed now. Are there any walking trails? Is there anything for passive recreation at all?

Mayor Licitra: You know Bernie. When we went for the phase 1B we wanted to put in the picnic areas and everything else. Green Acres said don’t touch that. No. There is not anything as far as walking trails are concerned. We don’t know what is coming back. But as far as walking trails. No. But we don’t know if were going to be putting in other things. The pavilion, the volleyball pit. It depends on when the proposals/quotes come back.

Toni Ayers: The Parking lots. Are they going to be gravel?

Mayor Licitra: I think we decided we’re going to do mostly stone at first.

Mr. Kaplan: The parking lots will be gravel and only the roadway coming in will be I believe asphalt.

The circular roadway.

President Rattner: And were going to have paths for the handicapped so people could get out of their cars in they are in special equipment.

Mayor Licitra: The plans have been before the ADA committee.

Toni Ayers: I just want to get my licks in one final time before the Thursday night about Crown Towers. If you people have any influence. That is one project that should be denied.

President Rattner: Other than Earl, I think that would be considered.

Mr. Guenther: That Toni, I think is improper. That’s why we have a Planning Board.

President Rattner: We’ve also spoken out and said what we feel on it but we had to hope for the best on the Planning Board.

Daniel Amianda: The concept from the School Board. I just wanted to inform the Mayor, the Council, and the Public that the last time, the Board Meeting was yesterday August 27, 2001. I am glad to report to the Mayor to the Council and the Public that the 43 Million dollar construction projects are almost complete. The costs of the construction was within the budget. The last construction building is also complete and the students are read to move in when the schools open September 1, 2001. Over the concern to the board, the children and the people minority is the safety of the children. We’re talking about especially where the sidewalks where the students are using sidewalks from Kings Apartments down there using the sidewalk. We are concerned about snow removal during winter. I hope that the Council will look into that and see that who is responsible for moving the snow on those sidewalks.

Mr. Guenther: Which sidewalks? Where?

Mr. Amianda: The sidewalks when students are tempted to walk from the apartments to the Middle School. The other concern is about crossings where students are also subject because of the traffic. Where sometimes they have crossing guards in some towns. The Council should also look into that.

That’s it for my report. Thank you.

Mr. Spino: I have a question for you. One of our pieces of correspondence was a letter from Laura Schwartz Exsquire. Attorney for the Board of Education. One of our members, Mr. Scapicchio asked for some information, that I believe is Public information. He was being denied those requests. I was wondering if you could as a liaison between the School Board and us look into that and get him the information. If it is public information that is available for him to get it.

Mr. Amianda: I will definitely do that and discuss it with the Board President.

Mr. Spino: Thank you.

Mr. Amianda: Thank you.

President Rattner: Thank you very much. Anybody else.

David Yourish, Budd Lake, NJ: I don’t want to go into a big dissertation, tell everybody this tax, and that tax. All I just want to do is convey the opinions and the feelings of a lot of the taxpayers in Mount Olive. Specifically I have talked to 100 parents. Our school taxes have increased 10.5%. That is this year. We have gotten these increases, we have gotten sewer increases and we don’t want them anymore.

So I just wanted to make it clear, that for the next three years this is what we want as an increase. Zero across the board. Zero increase. That’s all we want. Or we want a decrease. We don’t want anymore increases because that is a lot of money. I understand we opened up a $40 Million school system. But there are people on fixed incomes. Everybody here says we try to keep the line on taxes. We try to lower taxes. But there is a lot of waste in government and we would like to keep those taxes a slow as possible.

Mr. Guenther: Mr. Yourish. I wish you would take your concerns regarding your increase in taxes to the school board. Because as you rightly pointed out, a 10.5% increase came because of the increase in the school budget. If you had been following our proceedings here, we have made a very special point of holding the line on taxes. There has been no increase in our portion of the budget. But our portion of the budget only represents some where around 25%-30% of the total. There is a portion that is uncontrolled by us. It is the County that I believe is about 5% or 8% and the rest is the school. The voters turned down the School Budget. We made a recommendation with the committee that negotiated with them about a $775,000 decrease. By law they do not have to accept our recommendation. They will take it on advisement. That’s exactly what they did. When they originally told us that the budget was that her budget was so tight that they could not reduce anything we came up with $75,000 that would not affect any of the education programs. They did not accept I don’t think one nickel or only a part of the $775,000 that we recommended. They came up with another $775,000. Meaning that there is a million and a half dollars that the School Board. That there was a cushion that they could reduce. And they refuse to cooperate. So please take your concerns regarding that to the School Board, because we by State Law cannot/do not have any say over what happens with the School Budget. Only if the voters turn it down. Only then can we make a recommendation. And that recommendation they do not have to accept. That ties our hands. So you’re preaching to the choir here. Mr. Scapicchio has asked certain information, we got an arrogant letter. I am sorry. I am getting heated up. We got an arrogant letter back from their attorney accusing us of an agenda over which hem, or whatever. I forget which terminology they used. That’s where the problem lies. You have the school who do not want to cooperate with us. So please I suggest go to the school board meeting and issue your concerns with them.

Mr. Yourish: I do not have a problem with anything that you said. Thank you for what you said. That’s excellent. Here’s how you can help me with that situation, and you too. When you ask for information. The first thing they do is they send it to their layers. They’re going to send it to their layers to delay it. They have a certain amount of time, we all know this to give you the information if Mr. Yourish(cont’d): it’s public. If he wants he can go he can go the Attorney General’s Office and File a Freedom of Information Complaint. That’s the first thing he can do. My suggestion on what we should do here is we should really nail down the school expenses. For example; we have somebody in the audience. Daniel Amianda who went to California on the School System. Now that was over a $1000 expense. If you want to read it, it is in the expense report. Plus there was a $6.80 surcharge in May for electricity at that time. Now when you tell me that they don’t have room to cut the Budget, they have plenty of room to cut the Budget for expenses like that. Can somebody tell me how a kindergarten student benefited from that trip? Now

Mr. Guenther: But Dave. Why are you bringing this to us?

Mr. Yourish: Here is the point. There are plenty of things you can do to help get this resolved. You could put pressure on our local legislators, Guy Gregg and also Scott Garett for help. And for help in a particular Bill to move school elections to the General Election, so we save money that way. That’s what I am saying is what we need to do. I would love to be their liaison with you to do these things on the School System. So if you want to work together on this, that’s why I brought it up here, and that’s why I brought it up for Public Comment.

Mr. Guenther: I believe that Guy Gregg, I won’t speak for him but I believe he favors that. I might call you on that Dave.

Mr. Yourish: I could tell you right now, there is a lot of work that needs to be done on that because that is only the Board members. That is not the Budget process. Just for your information. That is $252,000 for Morris County alone. I am in the process of getting the other Counties. It’s up to about $400,000 with two other Counties included in that. So that’s a lot of money for the School Elections. To run the School Elections and the Special Elections and you have friends in Government who want to move that as well.

Mr. Guenther: You and I should have a separate discussion. Maybe not at this session, but there a lot of other forces at wok here.

Mr. Yourish: I am open to your suggestions. That’s why I came here and that’s why I said it. Thank you.

Colleen LaBow, Budd Lake, NJ: I just want to ask a question on the letters, the correspondence #31. When they do the survey for the egg masses, they don’t charge us for that right? They just do that for free.

President Rattner: It comes out of your State Taxes.

Mrs. LaBow: So they charge us, but not on a local level.

President Rattner: It is out of the State Budget.

Mrs. LaBow: The other question I wanted to ask. Is someone supposed to have a street turned to a one way street. What are the criteria for that? How would you look at that?

Mr. Dorsey: Probably you have to begin with the traffic department in the Police Department to see if they would make such a recommendation. I don’t know that there is a precise criteria.

President Rattner: Probably the same criteria we use for speed limits and everything else. Stop signs, yield signs.

Mr. Kaplan: Initially the letter of request was sent to my office. I forwarded it to the Chief of Police for his comments and recommendations. I also got input from Public Works, from the Planning Department and several other department heads and once I got that information back, I forwarded it to the governing body.

Mr. Spino: It also takes a move on people that live on that particular street. I mean we’ve had others in the past where we have not done so because there were more people that were against it than were for it.

I mean it does take a move on the people who live there. First, among these things.

Mrs. LaBow: What about, on a lot of the residential streets, there is obviously I think we all have experienced that they just don’t follow the speed limit at 25mph. Is there anything we can do?

Mr. Guenther: Citizens arrest. You want a suggestion, I am giving it to you. Get the license plate, and report it to the Police. It is an enforcement issue.

President Rattner: Just so you know. We get a lot of requests. It helps if you call the Police Department. We’ve got it on Sunset, we got it on Clover Hill Drive, and River Road. What’s happened almost every time. If they get more than a few calls cause they realize the problem, they’ll put down an extra patrol, they’ll ask you what time. Then the next time, the people come down to the meeting and half of them are the residents. On one road which I won’t mention. Two residents actually came up and asked us to give them special stickers since they live on the street so police would not slow them down. I think someone must remember that one. Because they were getting complaints that then there is harassment. Why do you have Radar on certain streets. Because really what you don’t realize, I know on my street too. That yes, you put radar and some of your neighbors are going to get caught. You think they are there, and they are the ones that are going to complain. If you really think it’s a problem you call the Police Department. One call it gets written down. But two or three and they start looking at it and they’ll put a car there. They’ll ask you for a rough time, and they’ll put a car there. Sometimes they do ask if there is no place to park in your driveway or something like that. And that is what you usually have to do. The squeaky wheel usually gets the grease, really is something that will get with the Police, because they don’t know. If you don’t complain they don’t know there is a problem area.

Colleen LaBow: Right. Because they are not there all the time.

President Rattner: But if a few people call they do take requests

Mrs. Labow: So if someone is requesting his or her street be turned into a one-way street, it’s not necessarily a traffic problem, is it like a convenience, or every situation is different?

President Rattner: I know the Police Department and Administration get requests. Raise the speed limit on the streets, reduce it. Put 4-way stops. Put 2-way stops. Do this. Eliminate parking. Any request comes in. The only way that it comes to the Council is that we have a special safety officer in the Police Department. It is passed on to them. He puts up a report. He just looks at it from a strict safety traffic flow. Saying that he doesn’t see a problem, or this is the way it could be corrected or this could improve something. Then from there it moves forward. A lot of times it takes State or providing times. Even a sign takes State Approval.

Mrs. Labow: The other question is for a lot of the bus stops, bus stop areas where my street is and where the bus stop has been for years, I have been requesting watch children signs. How do you go about getting that because I would think that everywhere where there is a bus stop there should be those signs in place and perhaps even yellow painting on the…. I would think that where the bus stops are there should be signs. I know in the morning, the bus stop where my son is at, the cars just come flying down the street.

Mr. Spino: The only problem with that as far as I know is that the bus stops don’t always stay the same. They might in certain places, but they don’t stay the same throughout the town. They differ because of where the kids are. I would think that if you think that there should be one there that you should contact the sign making department in administration, if they feel it is worth it then they’ll put one up there. I think that’s probably one of the reasons.

Mrs. Labow: Is there something available because the bus stop on my street, 3rd and woodland has been the same for twenty something years.

Mr. Spino: In some places it’s not. In some places it moves.

Mrs. Labow: Yes, in some places it is not. But if we put up a sign that said BUS STOP for the safety of the children because it’s really……I have been at the bus stop for years and the cars come flying down the street.

Mr. Guenther: Have you mad this request before?

Mrs. LaBow: No. I am just wondering if there is something like that available. Can we do something like that?

Mr. Guenther: There are scattered signs. My impression is it is done in response to citizen request because if it is a particular dangerous intersection or something. So I think it is a reasonable thing. If you feel that is what you need to do, Sandy, why don’t you make note of it, and see what the procedure is for getting a sign.

Mrs. Labow: And if it’s a type of sign, you know it’s a sign. How hard is it if the bus stop changes to remove the sign.

President Rattner: But the council can’t put up the sign. There is a process that you have to go through.

Mr. Kaplan: What’s the location

Mrs. Labow: Specifically for my street, it’s 3rd and Woodland.

Mr. Guenther: And you said most of the people go by it so fast. People that live on the street.

Mrs. LaBow: They go flying by.

Mr. Guenther: People that live on the street.

Mrs. LaBow: No actually where it is this one they are coming from further up and they’re going to work.

President Rattner: We can’t do anything else with the signs right now.

Mrs. Labow: No, I know. I just want to know what the procedure is.

Mr. Guenther: Contact Mr. Kaplan.

Mrs. Labow: Okay, one last question. The other lady mentioned about a Community Pool. Do we ever have any plans of having a pool type thing like they have in Hackettstown?

Mr. Spino: Years ago they did some studies.

Mr. Guenther: In fact it was put to the voters, the voters turned it down. I remember this because at the time I opposed it. My wife, it was at a time of rapidly rising taxes. There are a lot of people very much in open arms about putting in a Pool that was going to be used … It was going to be an indoor pool I believe connected with the High School. In the High School. I think a lot of people again, thought it was more youth oriented. It might not be available for everybody at all times and it just was considered a luxury. I think resoundingly defeated if I am not mistaking.

Mrs. LaBow: I knew I heard something years ago, but I wasn’t sure.

President Rattner: The true answer to that. As of now there is no plans.

Mrs. LaBow: Thank you.

Clarence Brickman, Budd Lake, NJ: I am concerned about this $70.00 that was raised for the sewer usage. I just can’t figure out why Budd Lake Sewer got stuck with an extra $70.00. Which amounts to almost $300.00 a year extra, for the usage. It certainly did not go up over the Musconetcong Sewer that much. Flanders went up $30.00. But they say for the maintenance. I’d like to find out why. Does anybody know why it went up $70.00?

President Rattner: The cost went up, but I think one of the things that happened. And this is something that was discussed when we set the sewer rate. I guess four years ago when it was set. We had a problem. It was to low. Remember we even told people it was going to be over $500.00 and a First and Former Administration came up and said they could do it for $335.00 or $340.00. We just basically blew them away. Said it’s so much below our cost. They finally came up and gave us documentation at 4:20 or something like that, whatever the original was, the $100 and something dollars. We said at that time it seemed much to low. And what we did at the time is we approved that one. It was a little bit higher because it wasn’t my intent to charge the residents even a dollar more than what we needed. So if were going to error, lets not collect the money and have to worry about giving it back. Well within two years, we end up with a deficit in the maintenance area of a couple hundred thousand dollars, which we had to make up. Part of the increase we had to bring up was because we were to short to begin with and the other was a normal increase because we found out what it would cost to maintain the system. How many people we had to have on. Well it was a combination. But the original amount and in fact I can refer you back. I often refer back to that blue book that we wrote around 1993, where we estimated the costs. If you look in there, what we estimated. We said those President Rattner (cont’d): were the current costs for operation was considerably more than what we set in 1998. I believe is when we set it. That was one of the issues. We tried. I remember looking at that. Because when we were first were talking about the rates. I kept saying it was to low. Not that I wanted the rates higher. But we knew what the costs were. What I could suggest is that we’ll be looking at the sewer rates probably around October, because we have an Ordinance that we review it in that time frame, for next year. We will be going over the Budget, both water and sewer. Being a separate utility. What is it that we have to fund? How much does each part of the service cost. So we can look at what the rates are going to be for the next year. Now were not looking, were not expecting, and I have not heard anything about any increases. But we’ll be looking at what is actually running, and where the money is being spent. That will be at a regular public workshop.

Mr. Brickman: See because, about two years ago I was at a meeting here and you said that the Sewer Rates were stable and they were going to stay that way. And all of the sudden we get this $71.00.

President Rattner: I think two years ago when I was trying to justify the $420.00, I said it is still a lot less than what we originally estimated and we didn’t know why. But anyway, what we’ll be looking at, I think that will be the best time is when we have it. Because were going to have a couple of years worth of experience. We are now a running utility. There is no more learning curve. There have been a lot of improvements made in the sewer utility. We have a more professional staff. We have more experienced people and we have experienced on the equipment. We can look at what the costs should be and we could look at whether it is appropriate or not.

Mr. Brickman: I could see if you had to increase it a little bit. But almost 80% is a little ridiculous I think. There has got to be a better way to do it than to keep taxing the people that are paying for the whole thing anyway. You know this sewer is going to be worth a lot of money in 20 years, to the town. Am I right?

President Rattner: What do you mean?

Mr. Brickman: If they ever sold it.

Mr. Guenther: Who is going to sell it? I think there is also a value to the individual homeowner. Being in Real Estate, I can also attest to that. That a home that has a sewer vs. a septic system definitely has an increased value. So there is an increased value to you.

Mr. Brickman: Oh yes. Right. But I just feel that $70.00 was way out of line to give the people from Budd Lake.

Mr. Spino: You said sell it. We can’t sell it. We don’t own here it goes. That is the Musconetcong Sewer Authority. All we own is what we built.

Mr. Guenther: Why would se sell it. What….

Mr. Brickman: Well I don’t know. People sell. The town sells.

Mr. Spino: Your right. If we owned it, we could sell it to someone who wanted to run it, and be out of it. We could sell the water system. First of all it would be on a referendum. I don’t think we could just do it by being voted on by the public. I don’t think we could. We don’t own where it goes.

Mr. Brickman: All I am saying is I think charging the people $70.00 was ridiculous.

President Rattner: Ok. That will probably be scheduled in October and we will be looking at that, and we could talk about it backwards and forwards. I have just been advised by the Clerk that the Administrator found a Resolution that we had discussed at the workshop on the 14th, that did not get on the agenda for tonight. Even though we discussed it, and we didn’t have a problem with it.

President Rattner: This is a Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mount Olive authorizing a water extension permit application to Rachael Manor’s Estates. Resolution #28

Mr. Dorsey: It is a typical format where we authorize the application to the DEP.

President Rattner: This is no expense to us. If we don’t have a problem I ask that we move it.

Mr. Scapicchio made the motion that we move Resolution # 28 and Mr. Guenther seconded the motion.

President Rattner: Anyone from the public like to address this? Anyone from the council?

ROLL CALL: Passed Unanimously

COUNCIL COMMENTS

President Rattner: The only thing I want to say is that we had the people here that worked on the beach. I want to congratulate the Administration that the Beach was a real big success. That the staff was clean. I know that a lot of times, every morning that I came by, I’d see that staff raking it up. It was always in top shape. I heard no complaints at all. That’s strange to anything in Government for people who used the beach over the summer. I think with the increase in volume of people. That shows that is was a success. So Mayor, congratulations, job well done on the beach.

Mayor Licitra: I had very little to do with it. But I’ll pass it on.

President Rattner: If it went wrong, you know we were going to hammer you on it. So when it goes good. Take it…

Motion made for adjournment. All in Favor, none Opposed. The Meeting was adjourned at 8:50 PM.

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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

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Lisa M. Lashway

Mount Olive Township Clerk