Minutes of Mayor & Council Meeting Feb.12, 2004

February 12 Meeting of the Wantage Township Committee

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE MAYOR AND COMMITTEE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF WANTAGE HELD FEBRUARY 12, 2004

A regularly scheduled meeting of the Wantage Township Committee was called to order Thursday, February 12, 2004, at the Wantage Municipal Building, 888 Route 23, Wantage, N. J.

The workshop portion of the meeting began at 7 p.m.
Present: Mayor DeBoer, Committee member Parker Space and Administrator Clerk James Doherty.
Absent: Committee member Jeffrey Parrott

Mayor DeBoer 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.

Mr. Doherty stated employees have asked for a 36 cent per mile travel allowance. Following discussion, Mr. Space made a motion, seconded by Mayor DeBoer, to increase the amount of reimbursement for work related mileage from 34 cents to 36 cents per mile. A voice vote was unanimously in favor.

Mr. Doherty said he heard from FEMA that the agency is giving serious consideration to approving a grant that was applied for in 2003 to install automotive exhaust systems in both firehouses. They have asked for more information. Wantage would pay 10% or $6,800.

Mr. Doherty presented plans he amended for improvements to the municipal building which would entail building a new 4-bay garage and using the space presently occupied for that use for increased office space. The amount of $260,000 in the 2001 bond ordinance could be used to fix the HVAC system. Mr. Space indicated he would like to come to the building during the daytime to look at the garage area proposed. There was discussion regarding financing these improvements. The mayor and Mr. Space also talked about road improvements at Lake Neepaulin and funds for drainage on Courtland Road.

Mr. Doherty presented a chart showing the amount of surplus available and the amount used to offset taxes during the past 10 years. Expected revenues were explained. The bottom line is a five percent increase in spending, he said. Mr. Doherty noted the tax collection rate was above 96% last year.

The meeting was open to the public.

A member of the press asked further questions about the proposed budget.

The meeting was closed to the public

The Township Committee took a recess.

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

Present: Mayor DeBoer, Committee member Parker Space, Administrator Clerk James Doherty and Attorney Richard Clark.
Mr. Parrott arrived at 8:28 p.m.

Mayor DeBoer 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.

CONSENT AGENDA

Administrator Doherty presented the Consent Agenda for approval. Mr. Space made a motion, seconded by Mayor DeBoer, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Upon roll call, Ayes: Space, Parrott, DeBoer Nays: None Abstain: None Absent: None

REPORTS

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

RESOLUTIONS

1) Authorizing payment of bills for the meeting of February 12, 2004.

2) Authorizing the Mayor to sign the renewal interlocal services contract for Wantage to provide animal control services and Dog Pound services to Franklin Borough in 2004.
Mr. Space made a motion, seconded by Mayor DeBoer, to approve the Resolutions. Upon roll call,
Ayes: Space, Parrott, DeBoer Nays: None Abstain: None Absent: None

ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

1) Wantage 250 Celebration: The governing body decided to wait until Mr. Parrott arrived before deciding on the winning Township Motto. With regard to the logo, Mr. Doherty only two entries were received. The Wantage 250 Committee liked parts of each and decided to combine them. There would be a barn with a silo with Wantage in an arc with 250 at the base and then a cannon, cow, and plow with the numbers 1754-2004. Bumper stickers with the motto and logo are to be ordered.

2) Request for Executive Session: Mr. Doherty asked for an executive session at the end of the meeting to discuss the status of negotiations regarding the health benefits issue as well as a personnel issue involving the DPW.

3) Further Review: Revaluation Program.
The County Tax Board has invited Wantage to a meeting with them on February 17th at 11:15 a.m. The Tax Assessor, Municipal Attorney, Administrator and Deputy Mayor will attend.

4) Proposed Payment Plan: Roadhouse Restaurant
The Roadhouse Restaurant and Wantage Tax Collector have entered into an installment payment plan for outstanding taxes due. The Roadhouse requests release of its food-handling license for 2004. The Board of Health will comply if the governing body concurs, being that the ordinance requiring “payment of taxes before release of license” is a municipal ordinance enacted by the governing body. Following discussion, Mayor DeBoer and Mr. Space agreed with this plan.

5) Proposed General Management Plan by NJDEP for Lusscroft Farms:
This is the site of the former 4-H Camp. There is a proposed meeting with Donna Traylor, the County Agriculture Representative at the Township Committee workshop meeting March 11th at 7 p.m. Mr. Doherty stated there are three options:

1. Rehabilitate the site and renovate it as a working dairy from for educational purposes.
2. Overhaul the site and add it to the State parklands.
3. Do nothing.

6) Lowe Road Speed Limit: Mr. Doherty referred the governing body to a letter from the NJDOT dated 2/5/04 which stated an ordinance is not needed to have the speed limit set at 35 m.p.h.
Request for creation of new Subcode. Mr. Frasche has suggested the creation of a Mechanical Subcode within the Construction Department. He might be at the meeting to discuss the merits of this suggestion.

ATTORNEY’S REPORT

Mr. Clark stated a suit was recently filed against the Land Use Board regarding commercial site plan approval.
In bankruptcy court, there are some matters that might implicate the township.

The LOSAP resolution was authorized in Sussex Borough.

The municipal prosecutor asked his office to look at the land use ordinance. He is preparing corrective language so that violators could be fined.

Storm water management plan regulations as of February 2nd are in place. It is now mandatory that no construction be allowed within 300’ of a Category 1 stream. The municipality has two years to come up with a plan and pass the appropriate ordinances.

TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MEMBER’S REPORTS

Mr. Space said he spoke with the Beemerville Fire Company about delaying purchase of a new truck from 2006 to 2007 and they approved.

Mayor DeBoer said he attended a recent Sussex-Wantage school board meeting to plan for future needs of the schools. He said there is a lot of planning in process. He urged residents to take an interest and learn as much as they could about it because it could be costly.

Mr. Parrott arrived at this time. He stated he has spoken to people regarding the school plans and is willing to be a liaison and report on progress. Mayor DeBoer stated he would be at meetings, also.

NEW BUSINESS

Final Hearing of Ordinance 2004-01

Mr. Parrott made a motion, seconded by Mr. Space to adopt on final reading, Ordinance 2004-01, entitled “AN ORDINANCE TO EXCEED THE INDEX RATE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH N.J.S. 40A:4-45.14”.

The meeting was open to the public. Diane Schnurr asked about the index rate and this ordinance was explained. The meeting was closed to the public. Upon roll call,
Ayes: Space, Parrott, DeBoer Nays: None Abstain: None Absent: None

Final Hearing of Ordinance 2004-02

Mr. Space made a motion, seconded by Mr. Parrott, to adopt on final reading, Ordinance 2004-02, entitled AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING STOP INTERSECTIONS ON VARIOUS STREETS OF THE TOWNSHIP OF WANTAGE”.
The meeting was open to the public. There were no questions or comments. The meeting was closed to the public.
A voice vote was unanimously in favor.

Final Hearing of Ordinance 2004-03

Mr. Space made a motion, seconded by Mr. Parrott, to adopt on final reading, Ordinance 2004-03, entitled AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF CERTAIN LANDS AND PREMISES IN THE TOWNSHIP OF WANTAGE TO BE SOLD AT PRIVATE SALE IN ACCORDANCE WITH N.J.S.A. 40A:12-13(b)(5).
The meeting was open to the public. There were no questions or comments. The meeting was closed to the public.
A voice vote was unanimously in favor.

Final Hearing of Ordinance 2004-04

Mr. Parrott made a motion, seconded by Mr. Space, to adopt on final reading, Ordinance 2004-04, entitled “AN ORDINANCE FIXING THE SALARIES OF OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE TOWNSHIP OF WANTAGE, COUNTY OF SUSSEX AND STATE OF NEW JERSEY FOR THE YEAR 2004”.
The meeting was open to the public. There were no questions or comments. The meeting was closed to the public.
A voice vote was unanimously in favor

Final Hearing of Ordinance 2004-05

Mr. Space made a motion, seconded by Mr. Parrott, to adopt on final reading, Ordinance 2004-05, entitled “AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER XXI, FEES, OF THE REVISED GENERAL ORDINANCES OF THE TOWNSHIP OF WANTAGE”.
The meeting was open to the public. There were no questions or comments. The meeting was closed to the public. Upon roll call, Ayes: Space, Parrott, DeBoer Nays: None Abstain: None Absent: None

Introduction of Ordinance 2004-06

Mr. Doherty showed Mr. Parrott the plans he had discussed with the mayor and Mr. Space during the workshop portion of the meeting and explained the funding plans. There was discussion about the building plans and the proposed budget. Following discussion, Mr. Parrott made a motion, seconded by Mr. Space, to introduce on first reading, Ordinance 2004-06, 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 $1,207,500 THEREFOR AND AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF $1,147,125 BONDS OR NOTES OF THE TOWNSHIP TO FIINANCE PART OF THE COST THEREOF.” Final hearing to be held on February 26, 2004. Upon roll call, Ayes: Space, Parrott, DeBoer Nays: None Abstain: None Absent: None

MINUTES

Mr. Parrott made a motion, seconded by Mayor DeBoer, to approve the special and executive session minutes of November 3, 2003; the special and executive session minutes of November 14, 2003; the regular meeting minutes of December 11 and December 29, 2003.
Upon roll call,
Ayes: Parrott, DeBoer. Nays: None. Abstain: Space. Absent: None.
Mr. Parrott made a motion, seconded by Mr. Space, to approve the minutes of January 6, 2004.
Ayes: Space, Parrott, DeBoer. Nays: None. Abstain: None. Absent: None.

OPEN PUBLIC SESSION

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

Mrs. Schnurr asked that the proposed plans for repairs to the municipal building be enumerated.
Mr. Doherty presented that information.

Joseph Szylosi of Northfield Drive asked about the HVAC and said he felt a larger garage should be built.

Mrs. Schnurr expressed thanks for guardrails that were removed in her area.

Another community resident expressed thanks for the fire department having Santa Claus and his elves go through the community.

There being no others present wishing to address the governing body at this time, the meeting was closed to the public.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Mr. Space made a motion, seconded by Mr. Parrott, to enter executive session to discuss personnel.
A voice vote was unanimously in favor.
The executive session lasted approximately 20 minutes.
Mr. Space made a motion, seconded by Mr. Parrott to come out of executive session. A voice vote was unanimously in favor.

There being no further business to come before the governing body, Mr. Space made a motion, seconded by Mr. Parrott, to adjourn at 10 p.m. A voice vote was unanimously in favor.

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James Doherty
Administrator Clerk