WANTAGE TOWNSHIP BOARD OF HEALTH — MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING — July 06, 2006

The Wantage Township Board of Health held a Special Meeting, July 06, 2006 at the Wantage Township Municipal Building, 888 State Route 23 South, Wantage, New Jersey at 7:30 p.m.

Members present: Dr. A. Braunwell Jr., Mrs. Susan Floyd, Mrs. Gloria Li Trenta, Mr. Dan Pelt, and Mr. Joseph Greenaway. Also present was Mr. Michael Plaza, Sussex County Sanitarian, Jim McDonald, Principal Sanitary Inspector, Edward Vander Berg Construction Official, Fire Prevention Official, Kevin Kervatt, Code Enforcement Official, Zoning Official, Fire Inspector, Paul Helmrich and his Attorney James D. Opfer Jr. and Mrs. Jeanne McBride, Secretary.

Mr. Greenaway made the following statement. “This meeting is being held in compliance with the provisions of the Open Public Meetings Act, Public Laws of 1975 Chapter 231. It has been properly advertised and certified”.

PURPOSE OF MEETING
The purpose of the meeting shall be to conduct a hearing at the request of resident Paul Helmrich.

Mr. Opfer stated Mr. Helmrich purchased property located at 23 Glen Road, Block 148 Lot 15 on August 17, 2004. The property has two small homes a one bedroom and a two bedroom. Mr. Helmrich’s original intent was to demolish both buildings and construct a new building.

Installation of a new septic system under current codes would be very difficult. He then decided to demolish the red house and fix the white house. Mr. Helmrich received approval for a septic permit from Sussex County subject to NJ DEP approval. The application was withdrawn because Andrew Gail from NJ DEP said that a cesspool is not a system. Upon further investigation, a cesspool is considered a system.

Mr. Helmrich requests permission to demolish the red house, fix the white house and repair the septic system with the addition of a tank.

Mr. Vander Berg spoke and requested that the Board of Health not grant relief. Mr. Vander Berg stated that the inspectors would have had the estate take down the buildings but the estate found a buyer and the buyer agreed to take down the buildings. The understanding was the property would have a new septic, well and building to meet current code. On August 13, 2004 Mr. Kervatt met with Mr. Helmrich at the property Mr. Kervatt stated Mr. Helmrich advised that the buildings were not safe to enter. Mr. Kervatt stated THE CERTIFICATE OF INSPECTION PERMITTING OCCUPANCY states “title transfer only, building to be razed”. Mr. Helmrich states he did not receive THE CERTIFICATE OF INSPECTION PERMITTING OCCUPANCY with the CONDITIONAL AGREEMENT FOR CERTIFICATE OF HABITABILITY on August 13th. Mr. Helmrich said he received THE CERTIFICATE OF INSPECTION PERMITTING OCCUPANCY via mail on August 24th.

Mr. McDonald spoke and stated the Sussex County Health Department did approve the permit, after it was approved they found out the buildings were to be razed. Mr. McDonald also stated that Mr. Helmrich checked the wrong box on the new permit application, he checked malfunction not alteration. It is Mr. McDonald’s understanding the cesspool is underneath the structure. The Health Department cannot issue a permit for a tank underneath a structure. Mr. Helmrich said he has an engineer’s report that states the cesspool is next to the white structure.

Mr. Pelt made a motion to have the applicant resubmit the application for the alteration to the septic system of the white house only, with County and DEP approval. Dr. Braunwell seconded the motion.

At this time Mr. Greenaway opened the meeting to the public.

Dennis Negele of 21 Glen Road stated the white house was built in 1936 and the red house after WWII. The white house was last occupied for one week in 1990 or 1991 by Mrs. Pfeiffer. Mr. Negele has been in the houses and claims there is no cesspool only a chemical toilet in the white house. He also claims there is a fifty five gallon drum adjacent to the red house not underneath.

Mrs. Negele of 21 Glen Road than spoke claims there is no cesspool just a chemical toilet and requests that this be checked.

Mr. Greenaway stated the County would have to check what is there with a backhoe, Mr. McDonald agreed.

Mr. Helmrich stated he wants to fix the house, make it beautiful and make it right.

Mr. Greenaway closed the meeting to the public.

Mrs. McBride read Mr. Pelts motion that the applicant will resubmit the application for an alteration to the septic system of the white house with County and DEP approval. Dr. Braunwell seconded the motion. Ayes: Dr. Braunwell, Mrs. Floyd, Mrs. LiTrenta, Mr. Pelt. Nays: None. Abstain: Mr. Greenaway.

Respectfully submitted,
Jeanne M. McBride,
Secretary, Board of Health