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TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON, WARREN COUNTY
Regular Meeting
July 19, 2005
The regular meeting of the Township Committee was held this date at the Municipal/Police Building located on Little Philadelphia Road. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Mayor David Dempski.
SUNSHINE LAW COMPLIANCE - The Mayor noted that this meeting was being held in compliance with the Open Public Meetings 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 municipal building.
ROLL CALL: Dempski, present; Horensky, present; Kovacs, present; Mueller, present; and Strunk, present. Township Attorney Edward J Glynn, Township Clerk Mary Ann O’Neil and Cathy Gangaware, Certified Finance Officer were also present.
SALUTE TO FLAG
The Mayor said that the Committee would go into a short Executive Session after the minutes have been approved on a personnel issue and litigation.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Kovacs made a motion to approve the Executive Minutes of June 21, 2005, Strunk seconded.
ROLL CALL: Kovacs, yes; Strunk, yes; Horensky, abstain; Mueller, yes; Dempski, yes.
Strunk made a motion to approve the Regular Meeting Minutes of June 21, 2005, Mueller seconded.
ROLL CALL: Strunk, yes; Mueller, yes; Horensky, abstain; Kovacs, yes; Dempski, yes.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Kovacs made a motion to go into Executive Session at 7:35 p.m., Horensky seconded.
ROLL CALL: Kovacs, yes; Horensky, yes; Mueller, yes; Strunk, yes; Dempski, yes.
The doors were opened at 7:55 p.m. Mueller made a motion to come out of Executive Session, Strunk seconded. All were in favor.
ORDINANCES
The Mayor said, on Ordinance 05-17, there will be a public hearing and the vote will be taken after some New Business Issues. Kovacs made a motion to open Ordinance 05-17 Bond Ordinance Providing for Renovations and Improvements to Block 30, Lot 15, A.K.A. the Brown and Brown Building in the Township of Washington, County of Warren, State of New Jersey, Appropriating Funds in the amount of $375,000 and Authorizing the Issuance of Bonds and Notes in the amount of $356,250, to the public, Strunk seconded. All were in favor.
Thomas Prisk, 5 Osprey Court, asked if the elevator is included in the bond. Strunk said that the Township has approximately $100,000 outstanding that had been bonded in addition to this money to do some renovation. So whether the elevator came out of the $100,000 or the bond, it is included in what has already been encumbered. Brisk asked if there was a Project Manager on this yet. The Mayor said there is no Project Manager yet.
Frank Cregan, 62 Merlin, asked if the Mayor was saying they would not have a Project Manager or don’t have one yet or will have one. The Mayor said they want to have one to make sure the funds are being spent in an appropriate manner and it is on schedule. Cregan asked when this would be done. The Mayor said, right now nothing can be done until the bond is appropriated, which takes two readings and there is a time after the publication before anything can be done.
Kovacs made a motion to close the public hearing, Horensky seconded. All were in favor.
The Mayor said that the second hearing on this would be tabled until new business items had been done.
Mueller made a motion to introduce Bond Ordinance 05-18 for the Purchase of Public Works Equipment in the Township of Washington, County of Warren, State of New Jersey, Appropriating Funds in the amount of $266,000 and Authorizing the Issuance of Bonds and Notes in the amount of $252,700, Horensky seconded.
ROLL CALL: Mueller, yes; Horensky, yes; Kovacs, yes; Strunk, yes; Dempski, yes.
Public Hearing and Second Reading will be August 16, 2005.
RESOLUTIONS The Mayor advised that any item for discussion should be removed prior to approval. Otherwise, one motion will cover all items on Consent Agenda. The Mayor asked that Resolution 05-109 and 05-115 be removed.
Horensky made a motion that Resolution 05-110 through and including 05-114 be approved, Strunk seconded. ROLL CALL: Horensky, yes; Strunk, yes; Kovacs, yes; Mueller, yes; Dempski, yes.
05-110 Salary Resolution (Summer Recreation)
05-111 Corrective Action Plan (2004 Audit)
05-112 Municipal Alliance Cash Match 2006
05-113 Resolution of Annual Report of Audit for 2004
05-114 Liquor License Renewal, Y3 Inc., t/a ALE
The Mayor said that Resolution 05-109 Resolution to Authorize and Approve Salaries and Wages for Certain Employees (Stephen O’Leary) was pulled because O’Leary was moving out of the area.
The Mayor said that Resolution 05-115 Refund Resolution (Summer Recreation Program) had not been received yet.
NEW BUSINESS
Item 1. Discussion/Selling or Leasing Administration Building - The Mayor said he had put together some facts and had additional input from Horensky and Strunk on the administration building. The building has highway frontage, as well as general commercial zoning. The information was as listed:
SELLING/POSITIVE
1) Disposing of property no longer needed.
2) Property becomes tax ratable for municipality $9,126, about 1/10 of a cent
3) Funds from sale to be used to reduce debts of new building purchase & renovations
4) COAH Housing Trust Income of $51,000
SELLING/NEGATIVE
1) Too many restrictions on development could reduce the value of property.
2) Generates one affordable housing unit obligation that may not be fully funded.
3) Selling may be difficult due to the Pohatcong Valley Superfund site designation.
4) Entrance point to the Township, currently zoning does not effectively protect against clustering of similar uses (Eckerd, Walgreens & CVS on the same corner)
5) Several organizations use the Administration Building garage for storage of equipment & uniforms. These groups would be displaced without any thought to where they would relocate.
6) Cost associated with selling the property reduce the net gain.
Kovacs felt that hard restrictions should not be put on this, because it is in the middle of an area now that has businesses all around it. On the Superfund Site, it is in a site, but not the site. It is a desirable property. On the storage of items, they could be put in a shed. Kovacs said that selling vs a long time lease, how would it be beneficial? Kovacs said he felt it should be sold, because the debt has gone up considerable. The Mayor said it is 33%. The Mayor said the long term debt, between the bond and Green Acres Loan is $4.8 million dollars. There are several BANS outstanding and $1.5 million dollars for the B&B Building purchase, $265,000 for Road Improvements, $375,000 for building improvements and $266,000 for DPW Equipment.
The Mayor said the amount right now is $7.1 million.
Horensky agreed with Kovacs comments relative to selling. On the Pohatcong Super Fund Site, this area has been designated as a Super Fund Site for almost a decade, if not more. The drugstore went in across the street under the same restrictions. Horensky felt the entrance point to the Township is the westerly border, which is near Warren County Community College and the eastern border would be the old Acme Plaza, this is not a true entrance point to the Township. The area surrounding this site is not a particularly historic or scenic site. The equipment could be stored in a shed behind Brown and Brown on a temporary basis. Horensky said that keeping a low debt is of extreme benefit to the Township any time they go out to secure funds, because there is a very low income to debt ratio.
Mueller asked if the COAH figures were from a maximum size of potential building. The Mayor said it was a single building on the property.
LEASING/POSITIVE
1) Generates no affordable unit obligations.
2) Tenants’s renovations could increase the value of the property for a future sale.
3) Control over the use of the property is maintained.
4) Property could be rented out triple net (including portions of taxes, insurance & maintenance) for up to $2500 per month or $30,000 per year. This would cover the BAN payments.
5) Government renting out property is not new.
6) Maintain a visually appealing gateway to the Township.
LEASING/NEGATIVE
1) No ability to recover significant costs of new building purchase.
2) Does little to improve revenue to municipality, i.e. no private property tax revenue to offset residential taxes.
3) Municipality has headaches of being a landlord, a business government should not be involved in.
4) No guarantee of amount in increased value of property over time, discounted dollars will not be worth as much then as today’s dollar.
5) No guarantee development market will be favorable at later date.
6) Keep higher debt on township’s book for extended time thereby limiting our ability to bond additional issues at most favorable rates.
7) No COAH developer’s fee income for Housing Trust Fund.
Strunk said he wanted to keep the options open, one reason being that they would look into leasing, because they would not be covering the entire debt with Brown and Brown with the offset. There are two banks that are interested in potentially renting the area because it was bank prior. He said it was a significant piece of property worth saving, as opposed to having another commercial type building setting in the area. Strunk said he is not opposed to selling yet. The property is going to go up in value and if they sell later, it would be more valuable. Strunk said if someone was to lease it, it would be crafted into the contract that any renovations done would be at the expense of the renter.
Mueller asked if there was an approximate value of the property to make a decision on selling If not, then the Township should get an appraisal report to find out the market assessment of the building. Strunk said that possibly the Tax Assessor could give an approximate value as it stands. Horensky said he was not in a position to vote on the bond tonight unless there is a resolution on the issues. Kovacs said he is not convinced, unless numbers are developed, on which way to go on this. Kovacs said he came into the meeting with the thought of selling, to offset the two bond ordinances and he had planned on voting no on Ordinance 05-17.
He wants more information on this, on the leasing aspect of it as well. Mueller said he needs more information and if they are thinking of selling it, it has to be without restrictions. Horensky said its in the Township’s best interest to sell the property. Strunk said he did not have enough information to make a decision tonight, nor did he think it was critical on voting on the bond ordinance.
The Mayor asked what would be needed by the Committee to make a decision. Kovacs said come back with numbers. The Mayor said the vote would not be taken on the bond tonight, it was tabled until the next meeting of August 16th.
PUBLIC QUESTIONS/CONCERNS
Frank Cregan, 62 Merlin Drive, said on the sale or leasing of the Administration Building, he could not believe that there was discussions going on about it. It is a bad practice not to sell that building. The Committee has a fiduciary responsibility to the tax payers not to speculate on the rental market and on the real estate market pricing. You have to take a known property and sell it before things change on you You have to reduce taxes and you have to reduce debt. This is something that is known. He was a CPA and advised non-profit organizations when they receive securities or properties what to do with them - Sell - don’t ride markets, don’t try to ride markets, you guys may not be here when that real estate goes down the tubes. What are we going to do? What is the future generations going to do? Don’t speculate - period!!
Tom Prisk, 5 Osprey said, on the discussion about having two Eckerds or Walmarts together, down the road there is Smith Motors and Rossi Motors, they enhanced the properties, made it look good. The same way with Hawk Pointe, OCINO’s came in and enhanced the property. The computer store has enhanced their property, so he saw nothing wrong with the two businesses close together, as opposed to the two used car lots together, which does nothing to the gateway to the municipality. As he was going through his notes, about the effect it would have on the tax rate if you lease, it has to escalate, as opposed to selling and reducing the debt. Can the township be the landlord? It can, but he didn’t think it should be. He asked how many other buildings does the township lease and manage, Mayor said none. Prisk said it is very important to have a project manager on the new Municipal Building. Some people had mentioned to him about de Boer. The Mayor said de Boer would be involved in the day to day operations, but it has not been decided yet about a project manager.
The Mayor said, as a point to the public, it is important to have discussions when people have opposing point or view. People should have a chance to discuss what they feel and have both sides of the story presented. He said it was important to discuss things and that is why there was this discussion.
Item 2. Washington Emergency Squad - Bill Hepp introduced Jill Gonzales and Mark Van Deursen who was present with him at the meeting. Hepp said they were present to discuss daytime coverage and the problems they are having on getting volunteers during the day to answer calls. They will be going with 8 paid EMTs during the day. They will have to start billing the patients insurance company and not collecting from the patients themselves. There will be two paid individuals during the day. They were looking for support, not financial support, from the Committee, but they want their support in saying we still want you to be our squad service. de Boer, Certified Public Works Manager, said he had discussed with Sharon Cooper, Brown and Brown Insurance, regarding his releasing men if needed, who said it would be possible and the Committee agreed to it, but there was some insurance issues, which would have to be worked out with the squad and they would need training. Hepp said it would be hard to use the men unless they were fully trained. de Boer will see if any of his men would want to take courses and be fully trained, once the insurance issue is considered.
Item 5. Musconetcong Watershed Association/Beth Styler said she was asking the Committee for a letter to the North Jersey Resource Conservation and Development Council for support for a Grant Proposal to Develop a Watershed Restoration and Protection Plan for the Musconetcong Watershed between Hampton and Bloomsbury. The Committee authorized the Mayor to write a letter supporting the grant. The Mayor said the Township may have information that she needs and would be glad to share with the association.
Item 7 The Mayor said the Board of Education (BOE) was interested in using the Police/Municipal Building when it is vacated next June. The Mayor said when he and Mueller met and discussed the budgets that were defeated, there was a decision made if they were trying to cut taxes for the residents, then the Township should offer the BOE the use of the Police/Municipal. Their lease was running out on the Port Colden Manor and the cost is approximately $25,000 a year. The consensus was, would there be an interest in allowing the BOE to lease or use the building just paying the utilities once it is vacated. The Police/Municipal Building costs about $8700 a year for utilities and fuel and without the 24 hour usage this would be more around $6500. The Mayor said there are some options, either lease them the building or let them use it and pay for utilities..
The Mayor said some other issues are the large meeting room would still be used by community people and elections, who would pay for outside lighting, snow plowing, mowing, maintenance of building, community access, insurance and lease terms. The Mayor had discussed the matter with the Township Attorney and it is legal for the Township to either lease or allow the use of the building by an outside entity.
Michael Malia, 55 Partridge Run, a member of the school board said they did meet and discuss this matter. This looked like something that could be a win/win for the entire Township in terms of the type of facility and proximity of the facility and the fact they are renting an outside place. Malia was interested in exactly what the details might be, the timing was talked about, but there could be a flexibility. Malia said you are talking about the same set of tax dollars no matter how this is done. Kovacs said that the meeting room would be needed for 3 elections, there may be times that other organizations would have a need for meetings and asked if this would be a problem Malia said this could be worked out, a schedule would have to be done and this would be no problem. Horensky and Kovacs were agreeable to use the building for no rent and they would pay the utilities. The Mayor said the large room would possibly be used for senior functions.
Pete de Boer, Certified Public Works Manager, said that the downstairs garage is used heavily by the Public Works Department. Equipment is stored downstairs and there will be fumes at times. The workers are in and out of the building all day. Strunk said it is a good idea, because it is out of the same pocket. Strunk said he has a concern, the BOE has a budget they are responsible for and the Township has a budget they are responsible for in regards of maintenance of the building, so he was not sure he was in favor for doing it for nothing. This has to be analyzed and worked out. Strunk said he is in favor of keeping space downstairs for the DPW and in long term goals, they were looking for something for senior activity, so some area should be kept for them. The Mayor, Mueller, de Boer and the BOE will have a meeting to try to get some information and schedules together.
A break was taken from 9:40 p.m. to 9:50 p.m.
Item 8. Notice to Hidden Valley Bonding/Tamzen Terrace - The Mayor said the sinkhole on Tamzen Terrace would be discussed. The Township Attorney said he met with the Mayor, Harmon, Township Engineer, Inspector from Miller’s office and the developer, as well has his attorney and right hand man. There was a discussion whether or not the developer still has an obligation to remediate sinkholes while the Maintenance Bond is still in place. The Township took the position there is an ongoing obligation and they took the position that once a CO has been issued and the title is passed to the homeowner that his obligations end as far as sinkholes on private property, as opposed to the common areas. The Mayor, Engineer and Glynn left the meeting with the notion that this would be put on the agenda and ask the Committee to authorize Glynn to send a letter to the developer’s attorney basically threatening that unless he rectifies the problem to the Township Engineer’s satisfaction, legal action will be taken under the bond - or directly against him.
The developer will not take any action to remediate the sinkholes. The Mayor said the next step is to send a letter to the bonding company, First Indemnity of American Insurance Company, saying the Committee wants immediate action on the sink hole remediation or they shall start efforts to call the bond. After discussion, the deadline would be September 1st.
Item 4 Releasing remaining PIG payment to Marra - The Mayor said when this property was preserved in 2001 Marra gave up his development rights. It was structured in 10 year payments. The CFO said she has encumbered the full $14,000 from when it was first done and would like the money released as a housekeeping item. Kovacs made a motion that $14,000 be released to Marra, Horensky seconded. All were in favor.
Item 6 Selling Township Property - The Mayor said there was an area that could be sold that would not be used for the Township. This is the property referred to as Block 65, Lot 3.03 approximately 3.48 acres, near New Hampton Road on East Asbury Anderson Road right next to Hawk Pointe Golf Barn. The Recreation Commission and Fire Department are not interested in using this land. The Mayor would like to dispose of this land by auction or selling it. Strunk said at some point an emergency service may have a need for this lot. The Mayor said there are two 3 acre lots at the new municipal building that could be used for emergency services. Strunk said if it is sold now and 10 years from now it is needed it would cost $1.2 million for land. Horensky said during his conversations with the fire department, they indicated that piece of property was not suited for the kind of building they would be looking to build and the road configuration, it would be a dangerous place to put a building because of pulling out into traffic, the sight distance is bad. Strunk said he felt it would be good to hold on to the land, then in years if the fire department needs land, then sell it, it would be worth more money, its money in the bank. Kovacs said you could only build one house on it. Kovacs said he would like to see what a real estate agent would value this property at and what the Township could sell it for. The Mayor will check with the Tax Assessor on this.
Item 3 Review of Central Warren Shared Court Agreement - The Mayor received a call from the Franklin Mayor and they met on July 15th to go over some issues with the shared court. One of the issues was the court clerk base salary increase and the other was the new sign they are going to install. A draft Inter Municipal Agreement was distributed to the Committee. The Mayor agreed to visit one court night session to get a feel for what is happening at the court. It was agreed that Washington and Franklin Township should form a subcommittee to review the court agreement by September 1st. To that end, Franklin Township has appointed Mark Blaszka and Bonnie Butler. Larry Adams has agreed to get a case load and ticket processing break down, year to date, for Washington Township and Franklin Township.
On the first issue, the court clerk was given a base salary increase of $2385.80, due to increased duties and new salary would have been $30,000, plus the 4.5% increase, or a total share for Washington Township of $23,512.50 for a monthly increase of $155.82. When the proposal from them was received, they were told no and they had been given notice that the Township did not agree to this increase. Franklin Township claims that they never got any written notice on this matter and the clerk is upset she did not get the monies coming to her. The Mayor said the Salary Resolution was updated and the CFO was to give them written notice that the salary would not be what the clerk thought it would be. The Mayor agreed to bring the case to the Committee and let them decide what to do. Horensky asked if Adams gave a detailed explanation as to why they were increasing her rate. Kovacs said it was because they made her full time two years ago and the Committee was stuck with that, without an agreement, they just came and told the Committee this is what you must pay. Kovacs said, until there is an agreement the Committee will have nothing to say on matters. The Mayor said the Clerk had been given a significant increase in 2002 (over 25%), which was when she went full time. Kovacs asked what the salary would be compared to the Administrative Secretary. The Mayor said she would be making more than the secretary if this was granted. The Mayor said this was not a cost of living increase, it was the base salary which was increased, which would be a 8.6% raise, which is greater than was given to the Township Employees. Strunk said if the Township was talking about giving an 8% increase, he cannot justify this with the Township Employees. Kovacs agreed with this. The Mayor had a problem with the way it was done. Kovacs said the entire problem goes back to the verbal communication, everything must be backed up with written communication. Kovacs asked what justification had been presented by the Court Clerk, there was none. Chief Mc Donald had given some violation data from 2002 until 2004, there has not been a 50% crime spike, it has been in consistent in terms of criminal cases from 2002 and 2005. There is no spike, it is relatively very flat. The Mayor and Horensky have asked for court data, but it has never been sent. It was the consensus of the committee that justification should be given on what her specific reasons are for the increase, court load, etc and the Mayor will write a letter requesting same. Kovacs said the revenue, at one time, was $120,000 and last year it was $60,000+. The Mayor said if they do not make $120,000 this year, then there will be an $8000 loss in the court this year. Kovacs said the revenue has gone down almost half, what has happened. Horensky said there have been increase in cases, but they are not necessarily cases that generate revenue. Kovacs said this is a drastic change in revenue.
The second issue was the sign, which must be replaced. The cost for the Township would be $3,600. Horensky said the issue they want to replace with say Franklin Township, Central Warren Court on it. Adams said he wanted to split the cost of the sign with the Township. Horensky said it would say Franklin Township and Central Warren Court on it. Adams wants the Township to split the cost of the sign, but Municipal Court is just a small portion of the building. Horensky said there is some obligation, but didn’t think it should be half. It was the consensus of the Committee to pay 1/3 of the sign. Mueller asked how this would be paid. The Mayor said they would take a reduction in the Township Revenue for miscellaneous court costs, interest and other payments.
The Mayor said that there are two types of revenue received from the Court, fine revenue which is by State Statute, miscellaneous revenue, which includes court costs, interest and miscellaneous revenue. Right now it is 50-50, because Franklin thought they were paying the health insurance for the two employees. It turns out, the Township is contributing $17,324.40 for those two employees in the O&E expense, so the 50-50 does not hold up, because the Township is paying all of their health care, which includes medical and prescription. The Mayor sent a note to Finance to find out if the Township’s plan would be cheaper, because if so, they should be on the Township plan, without dental if it is cheaper. The Mayor agreed with Horensky, there should be two types of percentages, one for salary and operating expenses and a fixed rate for the full year of the revenue
Adams did have a good point on that they do charge for salary wages and operating expense, they do not pay for any building utilities. When people come to court, there are times when they do go into the restroom and do damage and wreck the carpet and chairs as well. The Mayor did put something in the agreement on page 3 that the Township would be willing to reduce the other by a fixed percent to make up for utilities and other miscellaneous expense which might not be covered. Horensky said he would be reluctant to put in actual percentages in an agreement, because if they change, you have to redo the entire agreement. Horensky said a mechanism should be put in on which it is determined, this would remain consistent and percentages would be up and down.
It was determined that the court liaison should be on the sub committee and the lead person, which is Horensky this year and the Mayor or committee appointment. Kovacs said right now Horensky and Dempski will be the subcommittee. Strunk said if Horensky is unable to attend that he would attend.
Item 9. Kovacs made a motion to authorize Nancy Godfrey to attend the Registrar’s Seminar on Corrections on 9/14/05, Horensky seconded. All were in favor.
OTHER
The Clerk explained to the Committee in that she and Nancy, Deputy Registrar, must have 6 credits before December 2005. Nancy will be attending a class in September, which give her 3 credits, the Clerk will be going to a seminar in October. However, to get the rest of their credits, it will be necessary for both of them to attend a class in November in Atlantic City on a Monday and attend an all day class on Tuesday. This will be a Township Committee meeting night. The Clerk said she has arranged for Jo Ann Fascenelli, Deputy Treasurer, to handle the meeting as Deputy Clerk and Ed Glynn will be designated Township Clerk for the evening. These credits are necessary for them to continue doing marriages and handling birth and death certificates. Both will be out of the office in November and she has made arrangements for other office staff to cover for them. The Committee approved of the plan of action on this.
REPORTS FROM OFFICIALS
John A Horensky had no report.
Michael A Kovacs said that he had talked with de Boer on the sign on Mine Hill and Kinnaman Avenue that is leaning over and so rusted you cannot read the name on it. de Boer said it is a County road and they are responsible for the sign. Kovacs authorized de Boer to put up a sign that is consistent with the other signs in the Township.
Kovacs said the tax rate this year is going to be 2.62 and it was 2.55, so it went up .07/$100 evaluation. The rate this year is $2.62/$100. The County went up 2 cents, County Library went up 3 mills and County Open Space went up 4 mills, local school went up 0 and regional school went up 2 cents and the Township went up 1.5 cents and open space was basically 0. The fire district was not included in this figure. The tax bills will take another week or two weeks before they will all be out. They will be given an additional 25 days from receipt of the bill, so it will probably be mid or late August when they are due.
Kovacs said the trees along Meadow Breeze are all brown, due to the destruction by the Japanese Beetles.
On recreation, they did form a subcommittee to look at the tennis court project
The DEP telephoned Robert Miller, Township Engineer, to inform him that they will not review the Walking Path/Horseshoe Court Lighting project without having a Letter of Interpretation submitted to them. Miller will provide it and all of the backup documentation at a cost of $2200. After discussion, the Mayor advised that the Recreation Commission had budgeted $20,000 from the Park Bond on the horseshoe court expense. On the Port Colden Field, the Mayor advised that it would come out of the Open Space Tax Fund, but the money would not be available until September.
Mayor David Dempski said he wrote a letter to NJDEP, which is still being reviewed. They did acknowledge getting it on the issues of Meadow Breeze Park, so it is still under review.
The digital camera is in from the Comcast Grant and a small printer to go with it. The camera will be kept by the Clerks Office with a log for employees to sign out to use.
The Open Space Committee is meeting this Thursday. It is a big kick off for the Open Space and Recreation Planning. They will have ANJEC there, NJ Conservation and Development and Warren County will provide guest speakers to go over the plans for the Open Space and Recreation Plan. The goal of the plan will enable the Township to get more state funding for active and passive recreation projects.
The Mayor had a request regarding the web site. Currently it is registered with a company called Net Work Solutions at $35 a year or $100 for 5 years to reserve the name. He would like to switch it to another company called Dotster for $15 a year or $68 for 5 years. It would cost $8.95 to switch it over to a new company for a better price. They only accept credit card payments. The Mayor asked permission from the Committee to put this on his credit card. Kovacs said he should discuss this with the CFO to see if it could be done, which the Mayor will do. If the CFO has no problem with this, then the Mayor will switch it.
RJ Strunk said on the Brown and Brown Building, he has met with Chuck Herring from the State Code and Construction Office. He looked at the overview of plans. He had some comments, biggest one being, if the meeting room is being moved there, those walls have to go from floor to roof ceiling. Also, the air conditioning has to have dampers on it to be shut if there is a fire. Gagne, Architect, said the stairwell, according to Herring has to be fire rated also from floor to ceiling. The problems will be solved before the plans are finalized. Next week, Miller will be submitting the Soil Plan to Soil Conservation for the Brown and Brown Building.
Robert Miller, Township Engineer, has the plans done for the Cemetery Hill Road Project and will be ready to go out to bid on August 12th. Strunk will also request, with the Committee’s approval, that he give the Committee prices on Pohatcong Engineering Project and Bowerstown Road.
Strunk said, regarding Finance, he has asked Evan Howell, Tax Collector, to give the Committee a procedure so it can become a policy on transferring monies from the Tax Collector to the CFO. Strunk received a draft, which he will forward to the Committee to review so there is a procedure on how and when the monies should be transferred.
Strunk said that the police have a request, they will be moving their gym from the top floor of the Wachovia Bank and they want to put it in the storage building that is behind the Brown and Brown Building. Chief Mc Donald said that the Department Policy requires that officers maintain good physical condition. Constructionally, they have tried several times to get the Committee to pay part of their membership to a gym. The Chief said, what they have done over the course of the last few years was to accumulate many thousands of dollars worth of equipment. Wachovia had given them the top floor of the building about three years ago, but the building has been sold and they must vacate the building. The officers work there approximately five times a week. The Chief said they were looking into the possibility of using the building in back of the Brown and Brown Building, garage area, to store the equipment until they figure out what to do with it. The Chief would like to see it set up as a gym for the officers and he will continue to ask for the small meeting room downstairs for his use.
Strunk had told the Chief that there is furniture in the building and when they start renovations, it will be stored in the building. The Chief had talked with the people that run the storage buildings down on Route 31 who said they would let the township use a 10'x20' shed for storage for free as long as they needed it, which was also an option for the furniture. The Chief said the officers said they would move the furniture down on their own time, because they want to maintain the gym. Kovacs said, since this is only a temporary thing, he personally does not see any reason why the equipment couldn’t be stored there. The problem is, when they need to get in to do something with the building, then they could go to self-storage. Strunk said their request was to put in a “set-up” in the building to continue working out for now. Strunk said he has no problem with letting them set up something temporarily in half the garage to be able to work out. There must be something put in writing that the police department knows that it is a temporary set up, there may be future renovations to that garage and they may have to make changes to it. There is no heat or insulation in the building. The Chief said they could put a space heater in the building when they work out. Strunk is in favor on letting them using half of the building, temporarily, at this time. Kovacs said they don’t know the full use of the building yet, so anything done is temporary. Strunk said he had talked with Rob at Brown and Brown and would send him a letter of understanding. He did not have a problem that they would be issuing keys and things would be stored in the building.
Strunk said that on July 21st at 2:00 p.m. there will be another medical and dental insurance meeting at the Police/Municipal Building to make sure the employees have all their questions answered.
Barry Mueller said the Economic Development Commission will organize next Thursday evening.
Mueller said the Historical Commission is looking into the possibility of lettering the Giro-Port Hanger as it used to be, the one facing the road. The Committee had no problem with this being done.
Mueller had put in new pictures in the Historic Picture Holder in the Meeting Room.
Mayor David Dempski said that he noticed that de Boer is running low on his O&E for the year and asked him if he was comfortable with it. de Boer said that salt has gone up over the last two years to $32/ton. This year it will be around $58/ton. This year, he spent $43,000 just for salt. There was discussion about taking this out of de Boer’s budget and making it a separate line item next year.
PAYMENT OF BILLS
Strunk made a motion to pay the bills, Horensky seconded.
ROLL CALL: Strunk, yes; Horensky, yes; Kovacs, abstain; Mueller, abstain; Dempski, yes.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Strunk made a motion to go into Executive Session at 11:15 p.m., for the purpose of litigation Mueller seconded. All were in favor.
The doors were opened. Horensky made a motion to come out of Executive Session at 11:47 p.m., Mueller seconded. All were in favor.
Glynn asked that the record reflect that the Township Committee went into Executive Session and discussed
AJR Investment Group Law Suit, there is a proposed consent order and an agreement of sale that have been forwarded by Attorney Broscious. On the Apgar Matter, Glynn is going to contact Judge Coyle and Engineer John Cilo about the sketch that was attached to the consent order and voice the Committee’s concerns on that and on Baker Residential, there is a case conference scheduled for next Monday and there is a new law suit that has been instituted by Robert Benbrook on behalf of his client Jeff Hackett with regard to a denial of the Zoning Officer of a permit to store trucks at the old 7 Up Building.
There being no other business to come before the Committee, Horensky made a motion to adjourn at 11:55 p.m. Strunk seconded. All were in favor.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Ann O’Neil RMC/CMC
Township Clerk
