A workshop meeting of the Wantage Township Committee was scheduled to be held at 7 p.m. June 12, 2003 at the Wantage Municipal Building, 888 Route 23, Wantage, N. J., prior to the business portion of the regularly scheduled meeting.
The workshop was called to order at 7:15 p.m.

Present: Mayor Jeffrey Parrott, Committee members Richard Sytsema and William DeBoer, Admin-istrator Clerk James Doherty and attorney Michael Garofalo.
Mayor Parrott announced this meeting is held in compliance with the New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act and has been properly advertised. He led those in attendance in the pledge of allegiance and salute to the flag

The topic of discussion was to be held with members of the township’s volunteer fire department and first aid squad regarding whether to pursue a Length of Service Award Program in Wantage Township. However, the chief of the fire department, Mark Blaine, was not present, and the governing body felt he should participate in the discussion.
There were questions about whether a referendum would be held, whether it would require an interlocal agreement with Sussex Borough and how a LOSAP in Wantage would affect the Sussex Fire Department.

The meeting was open to the public. There were no questions or comments. The meeting was closed to the public.

It was decided to hold a special meeting on a Thursday morning at a date to be determined in order to discuss this subject.

Mr. Sytsema made a motion, seconded by Mr. DeBoer, to adjourn the work session.
Upon roll call,
Ayes: DeBoer, Sytsema, Parrott. Nays: None. Abstain: None. Absent: None.
There was a short recess.

The business portion of the meeting was called to order at 8:00 p.m.

Present: Mayor Jeffrey Parrott, Committeemen Richard Sytsema and William DeBoer, Admin-istrator/ Clerk James Doherty and Attorney Michael Garofalo.

Mayor Parrott stated this meeting is held in compliance with regulations of the New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act and has been properly advertised. He led those in attendance in the pledge of allegiance and salute to the flag.

The mayor introduced Miss Wantage 2003, Georgeann Belcher who said she was thrilled to be chosen and wanted to do community service work for the township.
Mr. Doherty invited her to become a member of the 250th Anniversary Celebration Committee.

CONSENT AGENDA
The governing body reviewed the items on the Consent Agenda. No items were requested to be removed. Mr. DeBoer made a motion, seconded by Mr. Sytsema, to approve the Consent Agenda.
Upon roll call,
Ayes: DeBoer, Sytsema, Parrott. Nays: None. Abstain: None. Absent: None.

REPORTS
Treasurer’s Report dated June 1, 2003.
Reports of the Tax Collector, Board of Health, Registrar and Municipal Clerk dated May 2003.
Mr. DeBoer made a motion, seconded by Mr. Sytsema to accept the reports for filing.
Upon roll call,
Ayes: DeBoer, Sytsema, Parrott. Nays: None. Abstain: None. Absent: None.

APPLICATIONS
Raffle License RL03-11 for Beemerville Presbyterian Church, to conduct an On-premise merchandise raffle July 16, 2003, at the Beemerville Firehouse.

Raffle License RL03-12 for Beemerville Presbyterian Church, to conduct an On-premise 50/50 raffle July 16, 2003, at the Beemerville Firehouse.

Mr. DeBoer made a motion, seconded by Mr. Sytsema to approve the raffle applications. Upon roll call, Ayes: DeBoer, Sytsema, Parrott. Nays: None. Abstain: None. Absent: None.

RESOLUTIONS

1) Approving the Bill List for June 12, 2003.

2) Approving the renewal of Liquor Licenses in Wantage Township for the 2003-2004 licensing term.

3) Awarding the contract for purchase of a disc chipper to Pierce Equipment of Somerville, N. J. who submitted the low bid at the bid opening held June 6, 2003, in the amount of $27,757.00.

4) Awarding the contract for resurfacing of various roads at Lake Neepaulin and reconstruction of Sherman Ridge Road – Section II, to Van Wingerden Associates of Augusta, N. J., who submitted the low bid at the bid opening held May 27, 2003, in the amount of $491, 133.86.

Mr. DeBoer made a motion, seconded by Mr. Sytsema to approve the aforementioned resolutions. Upon roll call, Ayes: DeBoer, Sytsema, Parrott. Nays: None. Abstain: None. Absent: None.

ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
Mr. Doherty gave the following report:

1) Housing Rehab Loan: Sharon Curran, the owner of 37 Medaugh Road would like to subordinate her Wantage Township $15,000 housing rehabilitation loan in order to refinance her mortgage.
Mr. Sytsema made a motion, seconded by Mr. DeBoer, to approve the subordination, subject to verification by the township attorney.
Upon roll call, Ayes: DeBoer, Sytsema, Parrott. Nays: None. Abstain: None. Absent: None.

2) Mortgage Discharge: Ernest and Linda Bush have paid their $3,000 loan and it needs to be discharged.
Mr. Sytsema made a motion, seconded by Mr. DeBoer, to approve the discharge, subject to verification by the township attorney.
Upon roll call, Ayes: DeBoer, Sytsema, Parrott. Nays: None. Abstain: None. Absent: None.

3) Dump Truck: Two bids were received at the bid opening June 6th for a new dump truck. Condit Truck World bid $107, 209.00 and Brown Hunterdon Mack bid $108,645.00. The low bidders took seven exceptions from the specifications including the fact it does not have a separate cab and chassis, it has only one fuel tank holding 70 gallons instead of two tanks holding a total of 100 gallons, different horsepower and a longer delivery time. The higher bidder met all specifications. The township mechanic recommended sending Condit a letter to notify them Wantage intends to reject their bid and giving them the opportunity to address that. Mr. Garofalo said Condit could not offer a different truck but they have to prove they adhere to the bid specifications.

4) Kennel License: A proposed ordinance for a kennel license for a hunt club was reviewed and the wording discussed. The matter was tabled in order for the attorney to make the language in the ordinance clearer.

5) Public Sale of Property: Philip D’Amato bid for an adjoining piece of property at the sale of publicly owned property held in December 2000. He could not get clear title to his own existing property and had to go through the courts. He paid in full for the $4,500 he bid. The matter is close to resolution and then he could close on the lot he bought from Wantage. In 2001, the Township Committee allowed for a time extension.

6) Tax Foreclosures: The attorney has prepared a resolution for In Rem Tax Foreclosure proceedings per the list given by the tax collector.
Mr. Sytsema made a motion, seconded by Mr. DeBoer, to approve the resolution. Upon roll call, Ayes: DeBoer, Sytsema, Parrott. Nays: None. Abstain: None. Absent: None.

7) Executive session: Mr. Doherty asked for a brief executive session at the conclusion of tonight’s meeting to discuss personnel.

8) Soil Logs: Mr. Doherty referred the committeemen to his letter to the Sussex County Health Dept. dated June 10, 2003, regarding soil logs.

9) Sussex Air Show: Paul Styger has filed an application for an outdoor event license this year for the Sussex Air Show. The township’s review agents are reviewing the application and if all requirements are met, action to approve the application is anticipated at the August meeting of the governing body.

10) Election Districts: Mr. Doherty had presented a memo to the governing body concerning using the new library as a polling place for District 2 and possibly adding another voting district. The governing body agreed Mr. Doherty should approach the county about using the library.

11) Truck Routes: Mr. Doherty referred the governing body to his memo dated May 29, 2003 on this subject. There was discussion about having some highways in Wantage be designated as truck routes. Mr. Garofalo is to review this issue.
Mr. Sytsema made a motion, seconded by Mr. DeBoer, to adopt the resolution prepared by Mr. Doherty on this matter and included in his memo.
Upon roll call,
Ayes: DeBoer, Sytsema, Parrott. Nays: None. Abstain: None. Absent: None.

12) Debt Obligation Analysis: Mr. Doherty presented the debt obligation analysis requested by the mayor. He stated the township has no permanent debt. There is some temporary debt that could be transferred to a permanent bond issue.

13) Sick Pay Liability of the Township: Mr. Doherty stated he would discuss this matter at the next meeting.

ATTORNEY’S REPORT

1. They are still working on the fire truck agreement. Bids are scheduled to be opened Monday morning in Sussex.

2. With regard to a pending lawsuit, Mr. Garofalo said the township insurance carrier would defend on some claims and the municipal attorneys would defend on others that are procedural in nature.

3. There are two tax appeal trials scheduled for next Tuesday.

Mr. Sytsema made a motion, seconded by Mr. DeBoer, to authorize Laddey, Clark and Ryan, the municipal attorneys, to defend the township in the lawsuit.

Regarding the fire truck agreement, Mr. DeBoer said his biggest concern is the vehicle would come back to Wantage if the Sussex Fire Department becomes defunct. Mr. Garofalo said that is one of the items under discussion with Sussex as well as being sure the truck is maintained and the insurance is paid.

TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MEMBERS REPORT

Mr. DeBoer said there are a lot of bears in the township and he wanted to remind people not to feed them.

Mayor Parrott spoke about the deteriorating condition of the High Point State Park monument. He asked that letters be sent to our state legislators urging funds be approved to complete the restoration. Mr. Sytsema made a motion, seconded by Mr. DeBoer, that a resolution be prepared to that effect and sent to the legislators.

Upon roll call,
Ayes: DeBoer, Sytsema, Parrott. Nays: None. Abstain: None. Absent: None

Mayor Parrott said he had questions about why there are no trashcans in the park. He said it keeps bears away. He asked that the bring in, take out, policy regarding the park be posted on the municipal website. <Park garbage policy>

The mayor noted there would be only one meeting of the township committee in July and again in August.

The mayor referred the administrator to a medical insurance broker who lives on Sherman Ridge Road to see if he could be helpful with the township insurance policies.
Mayor Parrott said he would invite school representatives to the governing body’s July meeting.

NEW BUSINESS

MINUTES
Mr. Sytsema made a motion, seconded by Mr. DeBoer, to approve the minutes of May 15, 2003 and May 29, 2003.
Upon roll call, Ayes: Sytsema, DeBoer, Parrott. Nays: None. Abstain: None. Absent: None.

OPEN PUBLIC SESSION
Mayor Parrott opened the meeting to the public for questions or comments involving the good and welfare of the community.

Frank Galligan of Lake Neepaulin said the township bulletin board should be used to inform people that there is a $1,000 fine for feeding bears.

Paul Lech of Route 23 asked if there was any information on the type of garbage cans. Mr. Doherty said he would check with the NJDEP website. He added the Recreation Commission chairman is painting a sign for the parks explaining the bring in, take out, policy.

Mr. Lech asked for the steps of approval of the Master Plan including the environmental impact and financial impact.

Mr. Galligan noted many people spoke against development at McCoys Corner at the public hearing.

Mr. Sytsema said many adjustments were made to the Master Plan by the Land Use Board following the hearing and people’s comments did not fall on deaf ears.

There being no one else present indicating a desire to speak, the meeting was closed to the public.

__________________________
Jeffrey Parrott, Mayor
ATTEST:____________________________
James Doherty
Administrator/Municipal Clerk