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

TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON, WARREN COUNTY

Budget Meeting
March 3, 2007

The Budget 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 10:05 a.m. by Mayor John Horensky.

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: Elbassiouny, present; Kovacs, present; Mueller, present; Horensky, present  Dempski was absent.  Anna C Godfrey, Deputy Clerk, Dawn Stanchina, CFO and Dave Evans and John Mooney, Auditors were also present.

ORDINANCE
Kovacs made a motion to open Ordinance 07-05 - Ordinance to Amend an Ordinance Fixing the Salaries of the Officers and Employees of the Township of Washington, County of Warren and State of New Jersey - #2007-01 (Code & Construction) to the public, Mueller seconded.  All were in favor.  Nobody from the audience wished to be heard. Elbassiouny made a motion to close the public hearing, Kovacs seconded.  All were in favor. Kovacs made a motion to adopt Ordinance 07-05, after public hearing and second reading, Mueller seconded.
ROLL CALL: Kovacs, yes; Mueller, yes; Elbassiouney, yes; Horensky, yes.

RESOLUTIONS
Elbassiouny made a motion to approve Resolution 7-42 to Authorize and Approve Salaries and Wages for Certain Employees (Code and Construction), Kovacs seconded
ROLL CALL: Elbassiouny, yes; Kovacs, yes; Mueller, yes; Horensky, yes.
Elbassiouny said that the Township cannot act as hiring agent now, as the Township has not gotten final approval from the State, although all the paperwork is in and he has spoke to several people from DCA. He asked Chuck Herring what the plan of action was going to be for the Township. Elbassiouny asked if the Township could start accepting new applications, because, statute wise, there are 30 days to review any plans. Herring saw no problems with this and would get back to him next week.  The employees are all working, but they are getting paid by Mansfield Township. 

Stanchina questioned where the money was coming from to set up the office.  Elbassiouny said there has to be a budget to start the office, because they have to wait to collect money.  They will be paid out of the budget set up.  Stanchina asked the amount being set aside for the trust that was set up. Elbassiouny said he thought it was $25,000 before any applications were approved.  Evans said this amount is being done by Dedication by Rider, because they don’t know how much will be collected, but they feel that what is being collected will be sufficient to offset the expenses.  At the end of 2007, should this trust fund have a deficit, it will be raised in 2008 by taxation. 

NEW BUSINESS
Stanchina said the way the Dedication by Rider is set up, so that everybody is aware of it, any expenses to that office will go to  that office.  A memo from Finance had been included in packet detailing expenses. Horensky said the Township is not subsidizing the office at all for any tax dollars.

Letter from Kerry Pflugh, Chairwoman of the Land Use Board, sent a letter regarding the salary of the Land Use Board Secretary.  The Mayor said this should be an executive item because it has to do with salaries.  Action may be taken later on this issue.
 
OTHER
The Mayor said he had another item for Executive Session regarding the PBA Contract and conversations that have occurred since the last meeting.   No action will be taken on contract, but if required, the Township Attorney will be authorized to prepare a  resolution on accepting the PBA Contract. 

BUDGET DISCUSSION
The Mayor asked that any questions from the public be held until after budget discussion was finished. Evans said changes have been made through February, plus realized revenue, plus latest adjustments.  Evans said the Township is currently right at CAP and tax rate would be 1.5 cent increase.   This increase on a $100,000 house would be $60.00.   Evans said, in 2008 there will be a Budget Cap on Expenditures and a Rate Cap on Tax Rate.  There are two issues with Rate Cap that have not been resolved, is it a cap on the levy or is it a cap on the rate, he doesn’t know which is true. Also, is it a soft cap or a hard cap.  A soft cap is a 4% increase, with adjustments. A hard cap would be 4% .   Those issues have not yet been resolved.

The budget will be introduced at the March 20, 2007 meeting and the public hearing and approval of the budget will be on Monday, April 16, 2007.
 
Evans said, on Open Space, there is $50,000 of the 2007 levy coming into the 2007 budget for debt obligations. There is money left for the playground equipment.

OTHER
There was discussion on grants for Municipalities. Elbassiouny asked, who applies for the grants, who fills out the paperwork, who is responsible to go after it and how does the Township get it? Evans said the Committee might think about creating the position of a part time grant writer. Evans suggested that the township get a list of grant writers from the League of Municipalities.  The Deputy Clerk will compile a list from the League.   Evans said the Committee could advertise for this position.  It has to be someone that understand the intricacies of tracking, knows who to call, who to talk to and can seek out grants. Evans said it is very difficult to get money at this time from Trenton, but it has to be someone with a lot of grant experience in writing grants and inter workings of state government.   Elbassiouny said maybe the Township should consider putting a $5000 stipend in place and have someone come in a few days a week to do the grant writing.  The Mayor will contact the County Administrator for more information who write grants for County and the township could use them to assist in grant writing.  Evans will not be at the introduction of the budget in  March , but will be at the April  meeting.

PUBLIC COMMENTS
Nobody from the audience wished to be heard.

Dempski came into the meeting at 11:00 a.m.
Dempski asked Evans for an analysis on the Open Space Trust Fund balance.  Evans had his staff prepare an analysis from inception to 12/31/06 and the Township has been anticipating revenue from that, just to pay off debt service in current funds since 2001. 

EXECUTIVE SESSION
Elbassiouny made a motion to go into Executive Session at 11:05 a.m., for the purpose of personnel and contract matters, Mueller seconded.  All were in favor.

The doors were opened. Elbassiouny made a motion to come out of Executive Session at 12:07 p.m., seconded by Dempski. All were in favor.

The Mayor said, after discussion in Executive Session on the PBA Contract, he asked for a motion to authorize the Township Attorney to draft a contract based upon the discussion in Executive Session.  Elbassiouny made a motion to have the Township Attorney draft up the PBA Contract, Dempski seconded.
ROLL CALL: Elbassiouny, yes; Dempski, yes; Kovacs, yes; Mueller, Horensky, yes.  Kovacs said this is being done with the understanding that the Deputy Clerk will do it, because the information is already in the computer.  The Mayor said that she should type it and send it to the Township Attorney to review.

Elbassiouny made a motion to introduce, by title only, an addition to the salary ordinance for the secretary of the Land Use Board, that the range be $15,000 to $20,000, Dempski seconded.
ROLL CALL: Elbassiouny, yes; Dempski, yes; Kovacs, abstain; Mueller, yes; Horensky, yes.

Kovacs made a motion to adjourn at 12:20 p.m., Elbassiouny, seconded.  All were in favor.

There was discussion on the new Code and Construction Office, how it would be run, facilities being set up, purchasing procedure and putting form and a newsletter on the website.

Respectfully,

Mary Ann O’Neil RMC/CMC
Township Clerk

The minutes were typed from a recording.