TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON, WARREN COUNTY
Budget Meeting
February 3, 2007

TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON, WARREN COUNTY

Budget Meeting
February 3, 2007

The budget meeting of the Washington Township Committee was held this date in the Municipal/Police Building located at 33 Little Philadelphia Road. The meeting was called to order at 10:05 a.m. by Mayor John A Horensky.

SUNSHINE LAW COMPLIANCE - The Mayor noted that this meeting was being held in compliance with the Open Public Meeting Law of 1975 in as much as a notice had been published in the Star Gazette and transmitted to the Express Times and posted at the Administration Building.

ROLL CALL: Dempski, present; Elbassiouny, present; Kovacs, present; Mueller, present; Horensky, present.
Dawn Stanchina, CFO; Dave Evans and John Mooney, Township Auditors and Betty Wysocki, Animal Control Officer  were also present.

The Mayor said that all public comments will be held until the period of time listed on the agenda, which is after department heads.

RESOLUTION
Kovacs made a motion that Resolution 07-30 Budget Appropriation Transfer be approved, Dempski seconded.
ROLL CALL: Kovacs, yes; Dempski, yes; Elbassiouny, yes; Mueller, yes; Horensky, yes.

BUDGET DISCUSSION
Evans distributed the expenditures and estimated revenue reports to the Committee. The expenditure report incorporates all the change made at the last meeting, plus an adjustment to the Assessors Budget, plus an adjustment to Animal Control   The revenues are still in estimate form and will be until such time as they are able to close out the finances for the Township.   Evans also distributed a funding summary and what a bond sale would look like with debt that is currently outstanding.  Evans said the Township has about $7 million dollars of unfunded debt, debt that is not permanently financed. Considering the funds that will be coming in for the Administration Building, the Township is looking at a $6 million dollars of debt that needs to be addressed. Evans suggested, if the Township is looking to do this, that it not be done until after July1, so no interest payments will impact on 2007. Bond Counsel would have to review all ordinances to see status and useful life of items in bonds.

Evans said, as far as the budget, they are still looking at 2.3 cent increase on the tax rate. He cannot refine the revenues further until such time as the books are closed and Annual Financial Statement completed. It must be filed February 10, but there is a five day grace period.  Evans will have someone there Tuesday to work on AFS. 

The Mayor said an issue has come up regarding paying former Township Attorney and former Township Engineer. The Mayor said, on Ed Glynn, the Committee was in the process of closing on the AJR Farm and the new Township Attorney felt it was in the best interest to let Ed Glynn to finish it and close on it. This process came to a half, because Glynn was entering a three week trial process and would not be available.  Glynn sat down Michael  Lavery, new Township Attorney,  and went over the entire file and Lavery agreed to pick it up. This represents the charges for Ed Glynn for 2007, which are legitimate charges to be paid. On the Township Engineer, there may be a similar situation with former Township Engineer in transferring all the files and open files to new Township Engineer, which is a common practice.   The Mayor said the Township should also be prepared to pay the Township Engineer for attending a meeting and transferring the files. Elbassiouny said on the Township Engineer, it would be based on last years rate and should take about two hours and suggested putting $260 in the budget.  There was no objection to Ed Glynn being paid the amount submitted.

Elbassiouny said something has to be done, whether by resolution or policy, on having  a preliminary report given by the December meeting by all professionals, where  they are at and where any projects stand at that point. There are many problems now with the escrow accounts and this problem could be avoided. If this was being done.   The Mayor said this is a direction that could be given to all the professionals now as a line item in their contract and should be a policy from now on. Dempski said the same thing should apply to Department Heads in the Police Department and Department of Public Works.   Dempski said a Crime Statistic Report and Overtime Report should be submitted monthly by the Police Department and the DPW should also provide a Monthly Report.
 
The Mayor said that Betty Wysocki was present to answer any questions regarding her budget.  Wysocki explained how she does the census and explained her budget request in detail.  She explained that she posts signs around for the rabies clinic, it is put in the newspaper, on Comcast and in Treasure Hunt. Dempski said that another good spot would be the PTA Newsletter. Elbassiouny said by doing this, it would save on putting it in the paper. Wysocki said no matter what you do, people will claim they didn’t know.  Dempski said the Committee could ad an e-mail address to the forum, through the website, an e-mail list could be created.  Then, reminders could be sent about licenses and rabies clinic.  The Clerk said a notice is put on the website already.  Wysocki said she sends out between 200 and 300 hand written notices each year to dog owners.

The Mayor called de Boer, Public Works Manager, regarding the $100,000 in the budget. who said it must be in the budget to do anything on roads, patch pot holes, oil and chip, etc Dempski said there was $132.000 in the budget for road and miscellaneous expenses. Stanhina said she did not put the $100,000 in as it was part of Capital, which must be discussed.  de Boer said he would need the same amount of $100,000   for 2007 that he has always had in the past.  It was decided to put the $100,000 back into the budget.

Kovacs asked how much surplus could be used. Evans said he will not know until they close the books.  Evans said they added $958,000 to surplus and took $900,000 out.   Evans said they would have to defer any discussions of tax rate until they have definitive answers on revenue surplus.  Evans said they will be going into township  offices next week to do the close out.

It was determined that another budget meeting would be needed. Kovacs made a motion that a budget meeting be held Saturday, February 24, 2007 at 10:00 a.m., Elbassiouny seconded.
ROLL CALL: Kovacs, yes; Elbassiouny, yes; Mueller, yes; Dempski, yes; Horensky,  yes.

Stanchina left the meeting at 11:50 a.m.

PUBLIC QUESTIONS & COMMENTS
Frank Cregan, 62 Merlin Drive, asked, if there is a line item under O&E Budget for street repairs for $132,000, how does it dove tail with the $100,000 just put back in budget. Evans said the $132,000 is for the entire road department budget and pot hole repairs are charged to that.  He also said the chipping and stone and road reclamation is charged to the $100,000 which is in CAP. 

 Dempski left the meeting at 12:10 p.m.

de Boar had submitted a memo of recommendations to Committee.  Elbassiouny said the first recommendation was that the Township Committee approves to go out for bid on the Phase I Interior Demolition of the Brown and Brown Building/New Administration Building.  The second recommendation was the Township Committee approve, not to exceed, seven hours per week as Township Project Manager time for the demolition/renovation of the new Administration/Police Station (as has been done with other projects) for Peter de Boer.  This is to be taken out of the Public Works S/W Budget and third, the Committee was to clarify what projects (if any) they would want Bob Miller to finish as there is a transition meeting scheduled for February 7th.  Elbassiouny said that he did not think the Township should be using Miller for any Township problems any longer.  This should be handled by the new firm because they have the contract and would be representing the best interests of Washington Township.

Elbassiouny opened the discussion on Item one, the demolition. Elbassiouny said it is to prepare for what needs to be done. Kovacs said in order to keep the project on schedule and finish this year the demolition work needs to be done.  It is the interior that needs to be done, unless they don’t do anything with the building.   Elbassiouny said the point is, if you go out right now for demolition work, the Township would get a better rate, because this is considered indoor work.  The Mayor said that if something is found during demolition, it could be addressed. Mueller said his concern was, what if the demolition bids come over 20% or 30% over what is expected and then nothing can be done.   Kovacs said, at that point, they either go ahead with it or sell the building.  Elbassiouny agreed with Kovacs.

Evans and Mooney left the meeting at 12:15 p.m.

Executive Session
Kovacs made a motion to go into Executive Session at 12:25 p.m., Elbassiouny seconded. All were in favor.
 
The doors were opened. Kovacs made a motion to come out of Executive Session at 1:45 p.;m., Mueller seconded.  All were in favor.

The Mayor said there was discussion in Executive Session on Contract Negotiations, Contract with regards to new Administration/Police Building and personnel issues.

OTHER
Kovacs made a motion to direct Bond Council to prepare an alternate Bond Ordinance for the Brown & Brown Building consistent with the figure discussed in Executive Session, Elbassiouny seconded.
ROLL CALL: Kovacs, yes; Elbassiouny, yes; Mueller, yes: Horensky, yes.

Kovacs made a motion that Peter de Boer, Public Works Manager, be approved to act as Project Manager and assisting in project managing, for approximately 7 hours a week of his normal work day, and salary and wages to come out of the Salary and Wages, Elbassiouny seconded
ROLL CALL: Kovacs, yes: Elbassiouny, yes; Mueller, yes; Horensky, yes.

Kovacs made a motion to instruct the architect to prepare the demolition bid and go out for bid on the Brown and Brown Building as soon as he is prepared to do so, Elbassiouny seconded.
ROLL CALL: Kovacs, yes; Elbassiouny, yes; Mueller, yes; Horensky, yes.

Elbassiouny  made a motion to have an amendment to the 2007 Salary Ordinance be prepared for the titles of Code and Construction Official, Building Sub Code Official, Electrical Sub Code Official, Plumbing Sub Code Official, Fire Sub Code Official and secretary, amounts to be furnished prior to the introduction of the ordinance, Kovacs seconded.
ROLL CALL: Elbassiouny, yes; Kovacs, yes; Mueller, yes; Horensky, yes.

Kovacs made a motion to adjourn at 1:53 p.m, Mueller seconded. All were in favor.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Ann O’Neil RMC/CMC
Township Clerk