MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE MAYOR AND COMMITTEE OF THE TOWNSHIP
OF WANTAGE, HELD AT THE WANTAGE TOWNSHIP MUNICIPAL BUILDING, 888 STATE
HIGHWAY 23, WANTAGE, N.J. ON THE DATE OF APRIL 21, 2005
Mayor Parker Space called the meeting to order, and requested the Clerk
to call the roll. Upon roll call, the following members of the governing
body were present: Mayor Space, Committee members Parrott, DeBoer. The
following members were absent: None. Also present: Township Attorney Michael
Garafalo.
Mayor Space invited the Girl Scouts to lead the assembly and the public
in the Salute to the Flag.
Mayor Space stated, “This meeting is being held in compliance with
the provisions of the Open Public Meetings Act, Public Laws 1975, Chapter
231. It has been properly noticed and posted to the public, and certified
by the Clerk."
CONSENT AGENDA
Mayor Space requested that the members of the Committee Review the Consent
Agenda.
There being no Committee member present wishing to comment on the proposed
Consent Agenda, Mayor Space requested approval of the Consent Agenda.
CORRESPONDENCE
Mr. DeBoer moved to accept the following correspondences for filing:
- Letter dated March 30, 2005 from the Manager of Sparta Township, stating that Sparta shall discontinue bidding/contracting services indefinitely with respect to the Sussex County Cooperative Pricing Council.
- Memorandum dated April 14, 2005 from Wantage Township Administrator Jim Doherty, recommending Wantage Township joins the Morris County Cooperative Pricing Council.
- April 14, 2005 from the Township of Randolph, enclosing resolutions and instructions for joining the Morris County Cooperative Pricing Council
- Letter/Petition dated 4/15/05 from various residents of Wantage, regarding school election of 4/19/05.
- Letter dated 4/18/05 from Mayor Space, offering courtesy response to the letter/petition of 4/15/05.
- Letter dated April 3, 2005 from Wantage Township Taxpayers Association, offering courtesy copy of announcement for a statewide conference dealing with review of the Open Public Meetings Act.
Mr. Parrott seconded the motion. Upon roll call, Ayes: Parrott, DeBoer,
Space. Nays: None. Absent: None. Abstain: None.
REPORTS
Mr. DeBoer moved to accept the following reports for filing:
- Municipal Clerk Report for March 2005
- Construction Department Report for March 2005
- Registrar’s Report for March 2005
- Board of Health Report for March 2005
- Tax Collector’s Report for March 2005
APPLICATIONS
Mr. DeBoer moved to approve the following actions:
∑ Raffle License RL05-11, to Beemerville Fire Department, to conduct an On Premise 50/50 Raffle on May 7, 2005 at the Beemerville Firehouse.
Mr. Parrott seconded the motion. Upon roll call,
Ayes: Parrott, DeBoer, Space Nays: None Absent: None Abstain: None
RESOLUTIONS
Mr. DeBoer moved to approve the payment of bills for the meeting of April 21, 2005.
Mr. Parrott seconded the motion. Upon roll call, Ayes: Parrott, DeBoer, Space Nays: None Absent: None Abstain: None
Mr. DeBoer moved to approving the Interlocal Services Contract with Sussex Boro to provide Animal Control services and Dog Pound facilities for calendar year 2005.
Mr. Parrott seconded the motion. Upon roll call, Ayes: Parrott, DeBoer, Space Nays: None Absent: None Abstain: None
Mr. DeBoer moved to authorize membership in the Morris County Cooperative Pricing Council for 2005; authorizing Mayor to sign the agreement with Morris County Cooperative Pricing Council.
Mr. Parrott seconded the motion. Upon roll call, Ayes: Parrott, DeBoer, Space Nays: None Absent: None Abstain: None
Mr. DeBoer moved to authorize the CFO to disburse 2004 LOSAP payments to qualified members of the Wantage Township First Aid Squad and Fire Department, totaling $29,250.
Mr. Parrott seconded the motion. Upon roll call, Ayes: Parrott, DeBoer, Space Nays: None Absent: None Abstain: None
OLD BUSINESS
Municipal Building Renovation/Truck Storage Facility
Mr. Doherty reviewed the bid opening results from April 4, 2005 regarding the above referenced capital projects.
Mr. Doherty called the Committee’s attention to the two lowest bidders, Zitone Construction & Supply Co., Inc. of Montague, NJ for the new truck storage facility and The Concrete Masters, Inc., of Newark, NJ for the municipal building renovation.
Mr. Doherty requested the Committee reject these two bids for the following reasons.
Zitone Construction failed to include the Business Registration forms for all subcontractors listed in their bid. The Concrete Masters failed to acknowledge receipt of Bid Addendum #1 on the form entitled “Acknowledgement of receipt of changes to bid documents form”. Both of these occurrences result in fatal defects in their bids which cannot be cured by the governing body.
At this time each contractor was given a hearing before the governing body with respect to the defects contained in their bid packages.
Mr. George Zitone came forward on behalf of Zitone Construction explaining that his interpretation of the law was that the business registration for subcontractors is not required to be submitted until signing of the contract and not to be included in the bid package.
Mr. Garofalo stated that the registration certificate is part of the bid package and failure of inclusion is a fatal defect which cannot be cured by the governing body.
Mr. Parrott made a motion to reject the bid of Zitone Construction & Supply, Co., Inc. submitted on April 4, 2005 for the project identified as “New Truck Storage Facility”.
Mr. DeBoer seconded the motion. Upon roll call, Ayes: Parrott, DeBoer, Space. Nays: None. Absent: None. Abstain: None.
A representative of The Concrete Masters, Inc. came forward and explained
that the terms of the bid package were ambiguous and believed that they
did reference the receipt of the addendum on the “Bid Form”
and thought that was all that was necessary.
Mr. Parrott made a motion to reject the bid of The Concrete Masters, Inc.,
of Newark, NJ submitted on April 4, 2005 for the project identified as
“Municipal Building Renovation”. Mr. DeBoer seconded the motion.
Upon roll call, Ayes: Parrott, DeBoer, Space. Nays: None. Absent: None.
Abstain: None.
Mr. Parrott made a motion to reject all bids based upon the fact all bids
received substantially exceeded the funds currently available for these
two projects and asked Mr. Doherty to re-bid these projects.
Mr. DeBoer seconded the motion. Upon roll call, Ayes: Parrott, DeBoer,
Space Nays: None. Absent: None. Abstain: None.
NEW BUSINESS
Final Adoption of Ordinance 2005-07: Accept Mountain View Drive
A motion was made by Mr. DeBoer to adopt on final reading, Ordinance 2005-07,
entitled “AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF WANTAGE ACCEPTING THE
STREET KNOWN AS MOUNTAIN VIEW DRIVE”. The motion was seconded by
Mayor Space.
Prior to final roll call, Mayor Space opened the meeting to the public
for any questions or comments with respect to the proposed Ordinance.
No one came forward, Mayor Space closed the meeting to the public.
Upon roll call, Ayes: DeBoer, Space Nays: None Absent: None Abstain: Parrott
Introduction of Ordinance 2005-10: Bond Ordinance for Trucks and
Roads
A motion was made by Mr. Parrott to amend the 2005 Capital Budget of Wantage
Township, as per the attached resolution. Mr. DeBoer seconded the motion.
Upon roll call, Ayes: Parrott, DeBoer, Space Nays: None Absent: None Abstain:
None.
A motion was made by Mr. Parrott to introduce on first reading, Ordinance
2005-10, entitled “BOND ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR VARIOUS CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENTS OF THE TOWNSHIP OF WANTAGE, IN THE COUNTY OF SUSSEX, NEW
JERSEY, APPROPRIATING THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF $668,000 THEREFOR AND AUTHORIZING
THE ISSUANCE OF $634,600 BONDS OR NOTES OF THE TOWNSHIP TO FINANCE PART
OF THE COST THEREOF. Final Hearing date set for May 12, 2005
Mr. DeBoer seconded the motion.
Upon roll call, Ayes: Parrott, DeBoer, Space. Nays: None. Absent: None.
Abstain: None.
A Supplemental Debt Statement is on file in the Clerk’s office for
this Bond Ordinance.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made by Mr. Parrott to approve the minutes of meetings of
the Wantage Township governing body held on March 31, 2005. Mr. DeBoer
seconded the motion.
Upon roll call, Ayes: Parrott, DeBoer, Space. Nays: None. Absent: None.
Abstain: None.
ADMINSTRATOR’S REPORT
Mr. Doherty informed the Committee that due to an oversight, the proposed
Tax Exemption Agreement with Conforth followed an outdated format, and
included a fee for which there is currently no fee schedule adopted.
Mr. Parrott made a motion authorizing the Administrator to send Mr. Conforth
an amended Tax Exemption Agreement, which eliminates the requirement for
payment of a $500 fee to cover expenses of the process.
Mr. DeBoer seconded the motion. Upon roll call, Ayes: Parrott, DeBoer,
Space. Nays: None. Absent: None. Abstain: None.
Mr. Doherty reported that Craig Dana submitted a sample ordinance that
would prohibit a parent or other person from enrolling a non-resident
student in the Sussex-Wantage School District. Input from our Attorney
suggests possible difficulty defending this ordinance against a legal
challenge. Supt. George Papp and Supt. John Hannam both confirm in writing
that this issue does not currently appear to be a problem in the school
systems that would need to be addressed with an ordinance. Mr. Parrott
requested Jim Doherty to send a letter to each Superintendent thanking
them for their continued efforts to assure this situation is not a problem
within our Township and to Judge Dana thanking him for his input.
Mr. Doherty discussed a proposed ordinance regarding the Site Plan Chapter
of the General Ordinance of the Township.
Mr. Doherty reported that Mayor Space obtained info regarding availability
of grants for towns implementing Transfer of Development Rights. The grant
application does not seem to involve TDC, which is the avenue Wantage
Township is currently pursuing. The Committee asked that Mr. Doherty set
up a workshop meeting regarding other available options.
Mr. Doherty requested the Committee advise him if and when they are ready
to address the following tabled items:
- Aquifer Protection and Well Testing Ordinance. The Committee requested this item be put on an upcoming agenda.
- Donation of Old Ambulance
- Feral Cat Ordinance
- Sussex County Water Quality PAC Representative
Mr. Doherty informed the Committee of a proposed NJDOT meeting on May 6 at 1:30 p.m. Mr. Doherty, Harold Pellow, and Mayor Space will attend.
ATTORNEY’S REPORT
Mayor Space requested Mr. Garofalo to give the Attorney’s Report.
Mr. Garofalo suggested that it may be possible to set up a trust fund to reserve monies for police protection. Mr. Doherty stated that this was contrary to what his understanding is regarding this subject. If a statutory reference can be obtained for inclusion in a dedication by rider resolution, one will be sent to the State for approval.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Mr. Parrott asked that the reserve for future police protection be looked into further for inclusion in next year’s budget.
Mr. Parrott also asked Mr. Doherty to follow up on the URS System.
Mr. Parrott reported a concern from Mr. Bina regarding his property on Lott Road which is under farm land preservation and questioned the correct right-of-way for this property. Mr. Doherty advised that this issue has already been addressed.
Mayor Space reported on his attendance at the Mayor’s Conference this month. Two bills are currently pending regarding impact fees.
OPEN PUBLIC SESSION
Mayor Space opened the meeting to the public at this time, for any questions or comments involving the good and welfare of the community.
No one came forward.
Mayor Space closed the meeting to the public and the governing body will return to the regular order of business.
There being no other items for the consideration of the governing body at this time, Mr. DeBoer moved to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Parrott seconded the motion. Upon roll call, Ayes: Parrott, DeBoer, Space. Nays: None. Absent: None. Abstain: None.
________________________________
James R. Doherty, Administrator Clerk