MINUTES – MENDHAM TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE

Morris County , New Jersey

May 19, 2006

Mayor Krieg called the meeting to order at 7:00 a.m. in Township Hall, Brookside , New Jersey

ROLL CALL                           Present:         Mayor Krieg,  Mr. Pierson, Mr. Phelan,

                                                                        Mr. Schrier, Ms. Florek

                                                 Absent:

                                       Also Present:          Stephen P. Mountain , Township Administrator

Christopher Falcon, Esq., Township Attorney

                                                                        Penny Newell, Township Clerk

SALUTE TO THE FLAG

Mayor Krieg read the following statement:

STATEMENT OF ADEQUATE NOTICE:  “Adequate notice of this meeting of the Township Committee of the Township of Mendham was given as required by the Open Public Meetings Act as follows:  Notice was given to the Observer Tribune and the Daily Record on May 17, 2006; Notice was posted on the bulletin board in Township Offices and Notice was filed with the Clerk on May 17, 2006.”

Mayor Krieg reported that representatives met with the West Morris Regional High School District Board of Education last evening and came to an agreement regarding a reduction on the tax levy.  He said their major concern was to not impact programs and the quality of education.  He said all five municipalities were represented and he believes that all will certify the budget with the reduction agreed upon which is $372,050.00.   He expressed disappointment that the Mendham Township representative to the WMRHS Board did not reach out to aide the Township in the process.

Mr. Pierson said that Mayor Krieg and Ms. Florek put in a great deal of effort and thanked them for a good job.

Ms. Florek said it was a very difficult process and they reached an agreement that she feels everyone can live with.  She also noted that if the new teachers’ salaries are negotiated properly there should be no impact.

R2005-66

RESOLUTION OF THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MENDHAM, IN THE COUNTY OF MORRIS, NEW JERSEY REPSECTING THE LOCAL TAX LEVY FOR THE WEST MORRIS REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR 2006-2007

            WHEREAS, on April 18, 2006, the annual school budget for the academic year 2006/2007 as prepared by the West Morris Regional High School District (hereinafter referred to as “BOARD”) was submitted to the voters and was defeated; and

            WHEREAS, on May 15, 2006 the Township Committee adopted Resolution R2006-65 in which they certified the Local Tax Levy for the West Morris Regional High School District in an amount $840,000 less than the $33,574,945.00 that was rejected by the voters of Mendham Township; and

            WHEREAS, upon further review and analysis, the Township Committee agrees that Resolution R2006-65 should be rescinded and R2006-66 be considered for adoption.

            NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Township Committee of the Township of Mendham , as follows:

1.      The Township Committee has reached an agreement with the Board and

hereby finds and determines that the following line items contained in the annual school budget for the school year 2006/2007 can be reduced without negative effect upon the thorough and efficient provision of public education in the West Morris Regional High School District :

Budget Appropriation Adjustments:

   Line                                                                                                                                                                                 Amount of                                           

   Item                                                        Board’s             Committee        Amount of

Series #                Description                  Proposal               Proposal          Reduction

11-140-100-101   Teacher Salaries         $13,546,020      $13,496,020         $ 50,000

11-190-100-610   General Supplies                434,982             422,982           12,000

11-190-100-640   Textbooks                         181,180              169,180           12,000

11-402-100-800   Athletics                            140,945              131,945             9,000

11-000-219-320   Special Education             120,500              105,500            15,000

11-000-221-105   Salary-Summer                    88,100                84,100            4,000

11-000-221-390   Other Purchases               198,400              186,400          12,000

11-000-223-104   Salary-Prof. Staff               140,090              125,090          15,000

11-000-230-610   General Supplies                   8,725                  7,675            1,050

11-000-270-512   Contract Services              390,444              383,444            7,000

11-000-291-270   Health Benefits               4,265,101           4,255,101          10,000

12-000-260-730   Operation/Maintenance     318,462              296,462          22,000    

12-000-400-450   Construction Services       327,940              244,940          83,000

10-604                  Increase in Cap. Res.       604,095               484,095        120,000  

The supporting reasons for the line item reductions shown above are set forth on Schedule “A” annexed hereto, which the Committee hereby adopted as its expression of reasons for the line item reductions made to the 2006/2007 annual school budget.

Net Effect on Tax Levy                                                                                    $372,050

            2.  The Committee hereby certifies to the Morris County Superintendent of Schools the following amount relating to the General Fund to be raised by local taxation for the West Morris Regional High School District in the 2006/2007 school year.

a.      The original tax levy for General Fund contained

on the ballot pertaining to the 2006/2007 annual school budget

of the West Morris Regional High School District was as follows:      $33,574,945.00

b.      The total amount of the net reduction in the General

Fund found by the Township Committee to be appropriate is as

follows:                                                                                                   $    372,050.00

c.      The amount of the tax levy hereby certified by the

Township Committee of the Township of Mendham to the

Morris County Superintendent of Schools for the 2006/2007

General Fund is as follows:                                                                   $33,202,895.00

            3.  The Committee hereby certifies that the revised school budget for the West Morris Regional High School District for the year 2006/2007 containing the line item reductions as noted above, in accordance with the reasons for such reductions as expressed herein, is sufficient to provide a thorough and efficient system of education in the West Morris Regional High School District for the 2006/2007 school year.

            4.  The Township Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to file a certified copy of this Resolution with the Board of Education of the West Morris Regional High School District no later than May 19, 2006

            5.  The Township Clerk is hereby further authorized and directed to file two (2) certified copies of this Resolution with the Morris County Superintendent of Schools no later than May 19, 2006.

schedule “a”

detailed explanation of reasons for reduction to line items in the 2006/2007 annual school budget for the west morris regional high school district

1.         Teacher Salaries                                $ 50,000

2.         General Supplies                                $ 12,000

3.         Textbooks                                           $ 12,000

4.         Athletics                                              $   9,000

5.         Special Education                               $ 15,000

6.         Salary-Summer Curriculum               $   4,000

7.         Other Purchase Services                   $ 12,000

8.         Salary-Other Professional Staff          $ 15,000

9.         General Supplies                                $   1,050

10.       Contract Services-Other                    $   7,000

11.       Health Benefits                                    $ 10,000

12.       Undist. Expend.-Operation/Maint.       $ 22,000

13.       Construction Services                                    $ 83,000

14.       Increase in Capital Reserve               $120,000

1.                  Teacher Salaries - $50,000

Elimination of one Art Teacher

2.                  General Supplies - $12,000

Principal Printing and Classroom Supplies

3.                  Textbooks - $12,000

Principal Textbooks

4.                  Athletics - $9,000

Cancellation of sub-varsity scrimmages and Non-conference games

5.                  Special Education - $15,000

Student Evaluations and Consultations

6.                  Salary – Summer Curriculum - $4,000

Semesterization/Curriculum Development

7.                  Other Purchase Services - $12,000

Curriculum Supplies/Teacher Training

      8.          Salary – Other Professional Staff - $15,000

Teacher Training/Staff Development

      9.          General Supplies - $1,050

             Workshop Supplies

10.         Contract Services – Other - $7,000

                    Field Trips for Students/Co-Curriculum/Music

      11.         Health Benefits - $10,000

                     Benefits for 1 Teacher

12.                     Undist. Expend.- Operation and Maintenance - $22,000

Door Replacement/Floor Tiles in Locker Rooms

13.                     Construction Services - $83,000

Roof Replacement

14.                     Increase in Capital Reserve - $120,000

Science Classroom Completion

Mr. Phelan made a motion to adopt R2006-66; Ms. Florek seconded the motion.   

ROLL CALL – All present voted YES.

Mayor Krieg said this settlement will not impact the education of the children and he appreciates the interest and concern expressed by the residents, noting he has read every e-mail received.

Upon motion duly made and seconded, the meeting was opened to the public.

Linda Alexander, 38 Devonshire Lane :  suggested that the line items being reduced should be shared with the public for comment.  She said the amount of reduction is not what she understood it to be, which was $252,000.

Unknown, Chester Township :  would like an understanding of the thought process in determining the number by hearing an articulation of the line items considered.  She said she understands that the school board does not have to follow the recommendations, but for future she would like to know how the Township representatives arrived at the number.

Mayor Krieg said there are about 20 line items many of which were supplied to him last night after midnight, but in general the greatest impact is in deferring some capital expenditures for buildings.  They felt that was a safe area that would not impact education.  The Chester resident asked which repairs.   Mayor Krieg said a roof and construction service, consultant fees and some general supplies.  He said they are taking a $434,000 item and reducing it by $12,000, they are not hitting anything for a major amount.  He said he doesn’t know if the Board of Education is going to follow the recommendation or not, but their rationale was that the voters spoke very strongly by a 15% majority they voted that they did not like the budget.  The Chester Twp. Resident said, for the record, that she did not appreciate the letter mailed three weeks earlier, and she requested that her name be taken off the mailing list.  She also emphasized that she had no problem understanding the legalese on a budget and it would be very appropriate for it to be Xeroxed so the public could read it.  Mayor Krieg responded that the other towns should have a vote and make a determination and when that becomes final then it could be a public document.

Ms. Florek said when they looked at the budget there was $205,000 for three new teachers and the custodial staff looked very high and those were two of the suggestions made for reduction.  She said they were comfortable with the reduction number that the Board of Education was comfortable with even though the categories were not what they had proposed.

Julia Obenauer, 44 Devonshire Lane : recognized that there has been a tremendous amount of work that has gone into this and she appreciates that but she would prefer not to see the cuts made.  She is pleased to see a reduction in the cuts, but would prefer no cuts.

Linda Baldwin, 6 Shelton Road :  thanked the Committee for having this meeting and recognizing that there is sentiment out here and letting the public express their concern.  She said she had gotten information from the meeting last night….Mayor Krieg commented that he is disappointed because he believed that meeting was confidential and until all the other communities have had a chance to examine the budget the information should not have been released……Ms. Baldwin asked if there were any big chunks that could be shared. Mayor Krieg said more than $200,000 is in capital construction items, so of the $370,000, $220,000 is coming from areas that have no impact on quality of education.  Ms. Baldwin asked about any impact on the new construction at Mendham.  Mayor Krieg said that is not impacted.  Ms. Baldwin said that she is disturbed when she hears that their representative to the Board of Education has been criticized publicly and she believes that there are two sides to the story and maybe not everything has been done as it should be on both sides, but she feels it does not help the cause for anyone to go back and forth about phone calls, etc.  Mayor Krieg said he has responded to every phone call received.  Mrs. Baldwin said that kind of thing gets in the way of business that has to be conducted.  She said the public is not trying to be adversarial.  Mayor Krieg said he had a phone call from a member of the Board of Education that he had had words with previously and they agreed to work together to facilitate this settlement. 

Mr. Pierson noted the unusual situation of having both the local and regional budgets being defeated, so the Township Committee broke up into two teams:  Ms. Florek and Mayor Krieg negotiated with the regional board and he and Mr. Schrier met with the local board.  He said he and Mr. Schrier had the same concerns with mis-information, etc. and he said governing bodies have a responsibility to review school budgets when they fail and they do not have to make cuts but make judgments amongst themselves whether to cut the budget or not and it is not something they look forward to.  He asked for a show of hands of those who spent one hour or more going through the details of the whole budget for the high school.   Mr. Pierson said it was good to see approximately 40% of those present raise their hands. 

Sam Blood, 2 Carroll Drive :  asked what, if any, extracurricular activities were going to be cut.  Mayor Krieg replied some varsity scrimmaging, non-conference games, and some field trips.  He said the reductions in these areas are minor adjustments of larger numbers for those categories. 

Janet Kovin, President of the Chester Board of Education:  recognized that this is difficult process and she pointed out that their board reduced the Chester BE budget by $25,000.  She said the suggestion of cutting a capital expense makes her nervous because at some point, the items cut have to be done, it will cost more at a later time and the dollars not being spent now will be greater dollars in two or three years.  She continued, with the State putting limits on how much the budgets can be raised, it would put pressure on more programs because the $372,000 will never be made up.  She asked the Committee to reflect on that point.  Mayor Krieg said they had suggested other areas, but this is what the Board put on the table, and he said there is a  very significant number in there for negotiations and he is hoping they can hold the line on negotiations.  He said the NJEA has a rule that they don’t want to accept less than 4.5% a year which is ludicrous when you have a salary of $100,000 a year.   He said there was a line in the budget for high school administration to receive bonuses  for attending events in the evenings.  He said he doesn’t understand why they are paid a bonus to go to a school play or concert, but he is told it’s in their contracts.  Mrs. Kovin noted that things in their budget, for example, health care, where they are being forced by the state to change and which would cost more money.

Bernadette Koenig, North Gate Road :  said there are two programs, science and art, that are expensive and most people don’t understand how expensive they are and she wonders if the art department is not going to get improvements to their department that they need.  She said the art department does such a good job and they don’t get the acknowledgement they should.

Mr. Pierson said the people in attendance today have demonstrated by being here their interest and he hopes they put as much effort into supporting the schools boards that have union contracts coming up this year.  He noted that Mendham Township has the PBA for police officers and the Teamsters for the DPW and they have been able to negotiate contracts with them that are at the inflation rate and for the last several years everyone is required to contribute towards the cost of health insurance.

Upon motion duly made and seconded the meeting was closed to the public.

Upon motion duly made and seconded the meeting adjourned at 7:40 a.m.

Respectfully submitted:

Penny Newell, Township Clerk