MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE MAYOR AND COMMITTEE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF WANTAGE HELD April 08, 2004

A regularly scheduled meeting of the Wantage Township Committee was called to order Thursday, April 8, 2004, at the Wantage Municipal Building, 888 Route 23, Wantage, N. J. The meeting was called to order at 8 p.m.

The meeting was called to order at 8 p.m.
Present: Mayor William DeBoer, Committee members Jeffrey Parrott and Parker Space, Administrator Clerk James Doherty and Attorney Michael Garofalo.

Mayor DeBoer announced this meeting is held in compliance with the New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act and has been properly advertised. He invited those in attendance to join in the pledge of allegiance and salute to the flag.

2004 MUNICIPAL BUDGET HEARING AND ADOPTION

Mayor DeBoer invited Administrator Clerk Jim Doherty to present an overview of the 2004 proposed municipal budget.

Mr. Doherty presented various figures with respect to the budget and stated the bottom line is the impact for the local portion would be $6 for every $50,000 of assessed value. He noted the municipality has no control over the school or county budgets.

Mayor DeBoer opened the meeting to the public for the purpose of conducting the public hearing on the 2004 municipal budget.

Dawn Heller, 81 Snover Road asked about employee raises.

Frank Galligan of Lake Neepaulin asked about deferred charges.

The meeting was closed to the public.

Mayor DeBoer requested a motion to adopt the 2004 municipal budget. Mr. Space made a motion, seconded by Mr. Parrott, to adopt the 2004 Wantage Township Municipal Budget.
Upon roll call, Ayes: Parrott, Space, DeBoer. Nays: None. Abstain: None. Absent: None.

CONSENT AGENDA

Mayor De Boer requested that the governing body Review The Consent Agenda.
The mayor asked that Item 9 under Resolutions be considered separately.

REPORTS

Board of Health, Registrar’s, Construction Department, Tax Collector’s and Municipal Clerk’s Report for March 2004.
Mr. Parrott made a motion, seconded by Mr. Space, to approve the reports for filing.
Upon roll call,
Ayes: Parrott, Space, DeBoer. Nays: None. Abstain: None. Absent: None.

RESOLUTIONS

1) Authorizing payment of bills for the meeting of April 8, 2004.

2) Authorizing the Mayor to sign the Statement of Consent By Governing Body for the WQM-003 Application Form for the project identified as Storm and Sanitary Sewer I & I Improvements, in support of a TWA Permit Application of Sussex Borough, for Block 21, Lot 7 within the Township of Wantage.

3) Approving the 2004 Salary Resolution of the Township of Wantage

4) Confirming the appointment of Dennis Negele to the position of Municipal Court Attendant, effective 3/15/04, at a salary in accordance with the 2004 salary resolution.

5) Confirming the appointment of John Abate as Constable #2 for the Township of Wantage, said duties to be performed during the regular workweek of Mr. Abate as an employee of the Wantage DPW, with federal overtime provisions as applicable.

6) Awarding Contract for Uniform Maintenance – DPW at a cost of $4.98 per employee, per week, to Empire Overall of Elmwood Park, NJ (certification of availability of funds from the CFO on file in the Clerk’s Office).

7) Awarding contract to LargeDoc Solutions of Clark, NJ, for 2004 Scanning Services, as per conditions of quotation dated 3/25/04, at $0.00 cost (certification of availability of funds from the CFO on file in the Clerk’s Office).

8) Awarding the contract for 2004 Bulky Waste Collection Services to Blue Diamond Disposal of Succasunna, NJ, in the amount of $206 per ton (certification of availability of funds from the CFO on file in the Clerk’s Office).

10) Awarding the contract for purchase of Street Sweeper to W.E. Timmerman of Whitehouse, NJ in the amount of $171,000.00 (certification of availability of funds from the CFO on file in the Clerk’s Office).

11) Awarding the contract for purchase of six bleachers to Ben Shaffer & Associates of Lake Hopatcong, NJ, at a price of $643.75 per bleacher (certification of availability of funds from the CFO on file in the Clerk’s Office).

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

9) Awarding the contract for purchase of Ambulance to Jersey Ambulance & service of Seaville, NJ in the amount of $120,117.00 (certification of availability of funds from the CFO on file in the Clerk’s Office).

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

ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

1) Mr. Doherty presented a raffle license request for the Beemerville Fire Department for a 50/50 on-premise raffle to be held May 8, 2004.

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

2) Mr. Doherty presented the bond amortization schedule as prepared by bond counsel. He stated there would be a constant debt cost of $372,000 during the next 10 years.

3) Mr. Doherty said a letter was received from the State of New Jersey regarding a possible conflict of interest by construction official Nicholas Frasche. He is recusing himself from inspecting any work at the property in question.

4) A letter was received from the municipal auditor asking the municipal attorney to provide an annual letter for pending and existing litigation.

5) A local businessman working for Green Earth Recycling would like to put used clothing bins in Wantage. Mayor DeBoer suggested he speak with the owners of Ames Plaza. All members of the governing body expressed concern about a possible garbage mess.

6) As an update on the revaluation program, Mr. Doherty stated the tax assessor is asking the State for approval of the tax maps.

7) Mr. Doherty said he met with Thomas Zummo regarding property he owns at Lake Neepaulin. Mr. Zummo was in the audience and asked if the township would be interested in purchasing the swimming pool there. Mayor DeBoer said he did not feel it would be in the best interests of the taxpayers. Mr. Space agreed, saying there would be liability issues as well as maintenance. Mr. Zummo asked that a long-range recreation plan be put together for the community.

ATTORNEY’S REPORT

Mr. Garofalo stated the township sold land to adjoining property owners and he has deeds that have to be signed. He asked for an executive session under the attorney/client privilege section of the N. J. Open Public Meetings Act.

TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MEMBERS REPORT

Mr. Space said he went to the former 4-H Camp and did a walk through with state officials. A grass roots committee is to work on efforts to preserve it.
Mr. Space asked the status of election redistricting. Mr. Doherty explained the situation and said the matter is on his desk to complete. He noted the new branch library is being used as a polling place.
Mr. Parrott asked about any results from a letter Mr. Doherty sent to the DPW union. Mr. Doherty said he had not received a reply.

Mr. Parrott referred to letters criticizing the joint purchase of a ladder truck with Sussex Borough. He said enough letters had been exchanged on the subject and advised Mr. Doherty to not send any more.

Mr. Parrott said potholes at the Lott Road field are very bad, similar to craters. Mr. Doherty is to talk to the DPW supervisor about their repair.

Mr. Parrott thanked the administrator for posting the hours of building department employees.

Mayor DeBoer said there is a large pile of dried tar on Unionville Road not far from Route 23. He asked that the county be notified to remove it.

Regarding the municipal budget, the mayor said a substantial amount of money was saved by changing medical plans. There were some questions and concerns by employees that are being addressed by Aetna.

OLD BUSINESS

Dump Truck Bid: Status Update Report
Mr. Doherty said Condit took some exceptions to the bid specifications. If the township chooses to award the contract to the second lowest bidder, they want a public hearing. Following discussion, it was decided to invite Condit to a hearing on April 29, 2004.

NEW BUSINESS

1) Final Adoption of Ordinance 2004-08: Sherman Ridge Road Through Street
Mr. Parrott made a motion, seconded by Mr. Space, to adopt on final reading, Ordinance 2004-08, entitled “AN ORDINANCE DESIGNATING SHERMAN RIDGE ROAD AS A THROUGH STREET”.

Mayor DeBoer opened the meeting to the public for any questions or comments. No one came forward. The meeting was closed to the public.
Upon roll call,
Ayes: Parrott, Space, DeBoer. Nays: None. Abstain: None. Absent: None.

2) Approval of Minutes
Mr. Parrott made a motion, seconded by Mr. Space, to approve the minutes of March 25, 2004. A voice vote was unanimously in favor.

OPEN PUBLIC SESSION

Mayor DeBoer opened the meeting to the public for any questions or comments involving the good and welfare of the community.

Mr. Galligan asked about the large pile of dirt at the foot of Smith Road and felt it should be removed. Joseph Konopinski said the dirt has been there for 20 years and is used as a stopping device in case someone loses control of their vehicle coming down the hill.

Mr. Galligan said he has problems with people riding four-wheel bikes on his property. He asked if the bikes could be confiscated. Mr. Doherty said police officers have that discretion.

Mr. Parrott asked the administrator to have State Police attend a meeting to discuss this. He said he would contact officials at the Middle School and High School again.

The meeting was closed to the public.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Mr. Space made a motion, seconded by Mr. Parrott, to enter executive session to discuss matters under attorney/ client privilege. A voice vote was unanimously in favor.
The executive session lasted approximately 15 minutes. Following that, Mr. Parrott made a motion, seconded by Mr. Space, to come out of executive session.

There being no further business to come before the governing body, Mr. Space made a motion, seconded by Mr. Parrott, to adjourn. A voice vote was unanimously in favor.

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William DeBoer, Mayor
ATTEST:

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James Doherty
Administrator Clerk