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MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE NOVEMBER 8, 2007 Mayor Florek called the
meeting to order at 5:03 p.m. in Township Hall, ROLL CALL:
Present:
Mr. Krieg
Mr. Cioppettini
Mayor Florek
Absent:
Mr. Phelan Mr.
Schrier
Also Present:
Christopher Falcon, Esq., Township Attorney
Ann Carlson, Township Clerk Mayor Florek led all in the
Pledge of Allegiance and then read the following statement: 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 January
11, 2007 and October 30, 2007; Notice was posted on the Bulletin Board in the
Township Offices and Notice was filed with the Township Clerk on January 11,
2007 and October 30, 2007. Mr.
Schrier arrived at 5:05 p.m. Christine
Johnson, Mendham Township Superintendent of Schools, gave a comprehensive
overview of the school system in the last year and a half.
Ms. Johnson reported that the district went through a strategic planning
process, speaking to over 1500 residents, and randomly selecting high school
students, to see how things could be
improved in the district. From
that information the district has selected five focus areas: 1.
Improve communications – the district has implemented a group
notification system in the event of emergencies, there is a new interactive
website, all notices are posted on the website – E-backpack , the
superintendent has an E-Update, and the Superintendent monitors student progress
personally, enabling a quick response if students need help. 2.
Improve transportation – a new Transportation Supervisor is working to
improve the bus route with a potential $50,000 savings. 3.
Improve conditions and safety at the schools – the district has
presented a long range facilities plan to the state and is awaiting approval.
In the meantime, preventative maintenance has been emphasized.
The district is also working with Township Emergency Management to update
the schools’ emergency management plan. 4.
Technology upgrades – there is now a full time technology coordinator,
there has been a server upgrade, media center upgrades.
5.
Improve nutrition and wellness for the students and staff.
In
addition to these focus areas, the district is striving for improvements in
every area possible, including the gifted and talented programs, in special ed,
in the dramatic arts, in math, science, music, library.
In addition, the district is working to improve financial areas and Ms.
Johnson stated that she believes the district is approximately one year away
from showing a significant change in the budget. The
Governing Body thanked Ms. Johnson for an excellent presentation and commended
her on the growth and improvement that has been shown in the district.
APPROVAL
OF MINUTES Mr.
Krieg moved to approve the minutes of the October 23, 2007, regular and
executive session minutes. Mr.
Cioppettini seconded and all present voted yes.
OLD
BUSINESS There
was no Old Business to discuss. HEARING
PERSONS PRESENT Upon
motion duly made and seconded, Mayor Florek opened the floor to Hearing Persons
Present. Glen
Geiger, of Day-Pitney, representing Mendham Golf and Tennis Club, asked the
Township Committee to review and amend the present ordinance on hours for use of
power equipment in the Township. Mayor
Florek noted that the Township Attorney has just been asked to review this
request and the Committee is not ready to comment at this time.
Mr. Mountain will notify Mr. Geiger when this item will be placed on the
agenda for discussion. With
no one else present to be heard, and upon motion duly made and seconded, Mayor
Florek closed this portion of the meeting. NEW
BUSINESS Mayor
Florek read Ordinance 2007-13 by title for first reading/introduction: BOND ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR VARIOUS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS OF THE
TOWNSHIP OF MENDHAM, IN THE COUNTY OF MORRIS, NEW JERSEY, APPROPRIATING THE
AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF $535,000 THEREFOR AND AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF $318,250
BONDS OR NOTES OF THE TOWNSHIP TO FINANCE PART OF THE COST THEREOF Mr. Schrier
moved to adopt upon first reading, Mr. Cioppettini seconded.
Mr. Mountain
explained that this is a multiple function capital ordinance that has various
components which have been discussed. Adoption
of this ordinance will provide for supplemental funding for the Emergency
Services Building project, will allow the
Knollwood Trail drainage project to be ready to move to the next stage by having
funds ready, provide for a cistern tank that was not designated as an original
part of the capital plan to go in at Meadowood Park property to serve the Old
Mill Road area that is presently not served by public water or a pervious
cistern, and it will provide supplemental monies for India Brook Park bridge.
The India Brook Park bridge monies will be reimbursed, but in order to
get reimbursed it has to be run through an ordinance for appropriation. Upon a roll
call vote, Ordinance 2007-13 was approved for first reading/introduction.
This ordinance is appended to the official minutes. Mayor
Florek read Resolution R2007-131 by title: RESOLUTION
OF THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE AUTHORIZING
BUDGET TRANSFERS IN THE AMOUNT OF $67,500.00 Mr.
Krieg moved to adopt Resolution R2007-131, Mr. Schrier seconded. Mr.
Mountain explained that approval of this resolution will allow funds to be moved
from areas where there are unexpended funds and move the funds to areas where
line items were higher than anticipated. Upon
a call of the roll, resolution R2007-131 was approved unanimously
This resolution is appended to the official minutes. Mayor
Florek read Resolution R2007-132 by title: RESOLUTION
OF THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MENDHAM, IN THE COUNTY OF MORRIS,
NEW JERSEY AUTHORIZING SIGNATURES ON TOWNSHIP CHECKS Mr. Krieg moved to adopt,
Mr. Schrier seconded, all in favor. Resolution
R2007-132 is appended to the official minutes. Mayor
Florek read Resolution R2007-133 by title: RESOLUTION
OF THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE AUTHORIZING
EXECUTION OF A GRANT AGREEMENT WITH NJ
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS – SHARE GRANT AGREEMENT Mr. Cioppettini moved to
adopt , Mr. Krieg seconded, all in favor. Resolution
R2007-133 is appended to the
official minutes. Mayor
Florek read Resolution R2007-134 by title: RESOLUTION
OF THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE AUTHORIZING
APPOINTMENT OF INTEGRA REALTY FOR APPRAISAL SERVICES Mr. Cioppettini moved to
adopt , Mr. Krieg seconded, all in favor. Resolution
R2007-134 is appended to the
official minutes. Mayor
Florek read Resolution R2007-135 by title: RESOLUTION
OF THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE AUTHORIZING
EXECUTION OF A DEED OF MERGER TO MERGE BLOCK 137 LOTS 15, 16 AND 17 INTO ONE Mr. Krieg moved to adopt ,
Mr. Cioppettini seconded, all in favor. Resolution
R2007-135 is appended to the
official minutes. Mayor
Florek read Resolution R2007-136 by title: RESOLUTION
OF THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE AUTHORIZING
DISCUSSIONWITHOUT THE PRESENCE OF THE PUBLIC Mr. Schrier moved to adopt
, Mr. Cioppettini seconded, all in favor. Resolution
R2007-136 is appended to the
official minutes. Discussion on Mendham Golf
and Tennis, 2008 Animal Control Services and Emergency Repair Invoices was
postponed to the next meeting. Mayor Florek announced that
Permission was given to
Joanne Montilus to tie purple ribbons on trees in the Township for Awareness of
Pancreatic Cancer. Mrs. Carlson will
notify Ms. Montilus. Mr. Krieg asked Mr.
Mountain to check on billing for flu shots. ADMINISTRATOR’S
REPORT Mayor
Florek noted that the Open Items list would now be incorporated into the
Administrator’s Report. Mr.
Mountain reported that he has prepared a draft letter notifying residents in
Drakewick/Mendham East Sewer Utility of rate increases and would like input from
the Governing body. This
notification makes residents feel comfortable to come out and ask questions on
the rate increases. Verizon
has expressed interest in leasing former Seeing Eye property.
Mr. Mountain stated that he was careful to tell Verizon that the property
is under green acres restrictions and any request would have to go through a
statehouse submission evaluation.
Mr. Krieg questioned the status of the tower on Conifer, and whether the
Township was not able to receive taxes on the property.
Mayor Florek requested a status on this for the next meeting. Len
Jacob, Vice President of Construction Technology, was present to give an update
on the status of the The
Governing Body members questioned why these revisions
are taking so long to be resolved. Mr.
Schrier and Mr. Krieg questioned why CTC was not on top of these problems
sooner. Mr. Jacob explained that
those are not areas that are the responsibility of CTC., but rather the
responsibility of the contractor. Much
discussion followed concerning responsibility and accountability, with a
consensus following that the contractor be made to provide a schedule for
completion. Mr. Cioppettini strongly
advised Mr. Jacob to insure that the contractor is made aware of the
dissatisfaction of the Governing Body and that there will be contractual
consequences should the delays continue. Mayor
Florek noted that the Governing Body will not tolerate any more excuses. CORRESPONDENCE There
was no correspondence to discuss. LEGISLATIVE
REPORT Mr.
Schrier had nothing to report from the Legislature. HEARING
PERSONS PRESENT Upon
motion made and seconded, Mayor Florek opened this portion of the meeting.
No one was present to be heard and Mayor Florek closed the Hearing
Persons Present portion of the meeting. At
this time, retired Township Clerk Penny
Newell was present to accept the gift of the Township of a watercolor
representation of various scenes of At
7:10 p.m. Mr. Krieg moved to adjourn to closed session, Mr. Cioppettini seconded
and the meeting moved into closed session. At
7:40 p.m. the Governing Body returned to open session.
Mayor
Florek called for approval of a resolution to appoint CMX to provide engineering
services for the concrete floor at the Mr.
Schrier so moved, Mr. Krieg seconded and all present were in favor.
Resolution R2007-137 is appended to the official minutes. Mayor
Florek reported that the Planning Board is currently working on proposed uses
for the Sisters property and she wants to make sure that the Township Committee
agrees with the uses. Mr. Falcon
stated that as members of the Planning Board, Mr. Krieg and Mayor Florek are
able to see that any governing body concerns are met. Mayor
Florek called for a motion to adjourn. Upon
motion duly made and seconded, the meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Ann L. Carlson, RMC
Township Clerk Check
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