MINUTES OF THE 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 5, 2007

Public Hearing and Adoption of 2007 Wantage Township Municipal Budget

Mayor DeBoer invited members of the Township Committee, CFO Michelle La Starza, and Township Auditor Tom Ferry to offer information on the proposed 2007 municipal budget.

Mr. Ferry and Mr. Parrott gave an outline of the proposed budget, which would require an increase in the municipal tax rate of 1.5 cents per hundred dollars of assessed value. Mr. Parrott explained that the Wantage Township Governing Body maintains the smallest increases possible each year to meet the Township’s needs while covering rising costs. Mr. Parrott indicated that some municipalities artificially keep the rate flat for several years but then are obligated to impose a large increase all in one year, which causes financial hardship to many residents. Mr. Ferry confirmed that the 2007 tax increase in Wantage Township was one of the lower increases he has seen among the many municipalities he serves.

Mayor DeBoer opened the meeting to the public for any questions or comments concerning the 2007 Wantage Township Municipal Budget as introduced.

Mr. William Gettler, Gemmer Road, voiced unhappiness with the percentage of increase in the tax rate, specifically the open space tax rate. As there was no one else from the public who wished to come forward, Mayor DeBoer closed the meeting to the public.

Mr. Space made a motion to introduce an amendment to the 2007 Wantage Township Municipal Budget, as per the attached resolution. Mr. Parrott seconded the motion. Upon Roll Call: Ayes: DeBoer, Parrott, Space Nays: None Absent: None Abstain: None

Mr. Space made a motion to adopt the 2007 Wantage Township Municipal Budget as amended, as per the attached resolution. Mr. Parrott seconded the motion. Upon Roll Call: Ayes: DeBoer, Parrott, Space Nays: None Absent: None Abstain: None

CONSENT AGENDA

Mayor DeBoer 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 DeBoer requested approval of the Consent Agenda.

REPORTS

Report of the Tax Collector for the month of March 2007
Report of the Construction Office for the month of March 2007
Report of the Board of Health for the month of March 2007
Report of the Registrar of Vital Statistics for the month of March 2007
Report of the Municipal Clerk for the month of March 2007

Mr. Space seconded the motion. Upon roll call,
Ayes: DeBoer, Parrott, Space Nays: None Absent: None Abstain: None

APPLICATIONS
Mr. Parrott moved to approve Application for Raffle License RA07-14, to the High Point Football Club to conduct an On Premise 50/50 Raffle on May 5, 2007

Mr. Space seconded the motion. Upon roll call, Ayes: DeBoer, Parrott, Space Nays: None Absent: None Abstain: None

RESOLUTIONS

Mr. Parrott moved to approve Payment of Bill for the meeting of April 5, 2007.
Mr. Space seconded the motion. Upon roll call, Ayes: DeBoer, Parrott, Space Nays: None Absent: None Abstain: None

Mr. Parrott moved to authorize appointing Eric Samek as the Electric Inspector for Wantage Township, in accordance with Civil Service rules and requirements, at a rate of $30 per hour for 2007. Mr. Space seconded the motion. Upon roll call, Ayes: DeBoer, Parrott, Space Nays: None Absent: None Abstain: None

Mr. Parrott moved to authorize refund of $10,000 Growth Share Payment to Barbara Rudolph for property at 38 Old Clove Road due to owner abandoning improvement project and closing out the building permit file. Mr. Space seconded the motion. Upon roll call, Ayes: DeBoer, Parrott, Space Nays: None Absent: None Abstain: None

Mr. Parrott moved to authorize refund of various escrow deposits to Daschiesen, Helmrich, SBA Inc., Weibel and Omnipoint. Mr. Space seconded the motion. Upon roll call, Ayes: DeBoer, Parrott, Space Nays: None Absent: None Abstain: None

Mr. Parrott moved to authorize refund $1,800 duplicate road trust fund payment to Michelle Downtain. Mr. Space seconded the motion. Upon roll call, Ayes: DeBoer, Parrott, Space Nays: None Absent: None Abstain: None

Mr. Parrott moved to authorize refund $529.74 tax appeal to Frank & Susan Del Sardo.
Mr. Space seconded the motion. Upon roll call, Ayes: DeBoer, Parrott, Space Nays: None Absent: None Abstain: None

MAYOR’S PROCLAMATION

Mayor DeBoer offered a Mayor’s Proclamation for National Kids Safety week April 28, 2007 to May 6, 2007, as follows:

WHEREAS, unintentional injury is the number one killer of children 14 and under; and
WHEREAS, each year, more than 5,000 children 14 and under die from unintentional injuries:, and
WHEREAS, emergency rooms experience nearly 2.4 million visits from children 14 and under each summer; and
WHEREAS, 90 percent of these injuries and deaths are preventable; and
WHEREAS, 41 percent of these deaths occur during the months of May, June, July and August; and
WHEREAS, the risk areas that show the greatest seasonal surge in deaths and injuries between May and August compared to the rest of the year are biking, drowning, pedestrian, motor vehicle occupants and falls; and
WHEREAS, Safe Kids Worldwide and Safe Kids New Jersey, led by the New Jersey State Safety Council promote childhood injury prevention by uniting diverse groups into local and state coalitions, developing innovative educational tools and strategies, initiating public policy changes, promoting new technology and raising awareness through the media; and
WHEREAS, Safe Kids Worldwide, with the support of founding sponsor Johnson & Johnson, launches Safe Kids Week 2007, “Make it a Safe Kids Summer,” which focuses on five of the deadliest warm-weather risk areas of motor vehicles, drownings, pedestrian, biking and falls; and
WHEREAS, Safe Kids New Jersey has planned special childhood injury prevention activities and community-based events for Safe Kids Week 2007 in an effort to educate families about summer safety.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, William DeBoer, Mayor of the Township of Wantage, New Jersey, do hereby proclaim April 28 — May 6, 2007, NATIONAL SAFE KIDS WEEK in Wantage, New Jersey and call upon all the residents of this township to join with me in supporting the efforts and activities of Safe Kids New Jersey to prevent childhood injury.

 ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

Mayor DeBoer requested Ms. VonOesen to give the Administrator’s report in Mr. Doherty’s absence.

Discharge of Mortgage:
Michelle La Starza confirmed that $12,313 has been paid to the Township of Wantage by Irvin Smilowitz via law offices of Eric Wood.
Mr. Parrott moved to authorize the Discharge of Mortgage for the Mortgage dated April 19, 1990 made by Irvin Smilowitz in the amount of $12,313.
Mr. Space seconded the motion. Upon roll call, Ayes: DeBoer, Parrott, Space Nays: None Absent: None Abstain: None

University Lane:
Harold Pellow confirms that 1200 linear feet of University Lane may be vacated as “no longer needed for public use”, consistent with his recommendation from September 8, 2000. Harold is willing to meet to review details; Mike Garofalo should be present to organize legal descriptions; Governing Body needs to decide if the Township will be paying fees of Pellow and Garofalo or if Mr. DeGroat will need to pay these costs; if DeGroat, will we require a deposit before meeting with attorney and engineer.

Mr. Garofalo informed the Committee that it is lawful to ask a citizen to foot the bill for an action taken based upon a request of them. It is a government action and recommends it should be at the taxpayers’ expense only if it benefits only that taxpayer, otherwise it is a Township expense.

ATTORNEY’S REPORT

Mayor DeBoer requested Mr. Garofalo to give the Attorney’s report.

Mr. Garofalo informed the Committee that Franklin Sussex Auto Mall has applied for an on-site promotions and outdoor entertainment permit for a truck crushing event. Mr. Kervatt, Wantage Township Zoning Officer and the County Planning Department believe this proposed event in this proposed location should be denied for public safety reasons. A hearing shall be scheduled.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Mr. Parrott wished to inform the Committee and the public that he would welcome an opportunity to debate issues with Mr. Gettler, but would expect the debate to be based upon facts. Mr. Parrott stands by his previous opinion that Mr. Gettler does not state facts, but opinions.

Mayor DeBoer informed the Committee that he has received many comments from the public regarding last week’s meeting with CJS. He also informed the Committee that Jennifer Cost, a member of the fire department who was in a serious car injury is doing well.

OLD BUSINESS
None

NEW BUSINESS
None

OPEN PUBLIC SESSION

Mayor DeBoer opened the meeting to the public for any questions or comments.

Joe Maggio, asked that Spreen Road be fixed. Mr. Maggio stated his belief that the road is getting dangerous for school buses and that he has been waiting three years for the repairs.

Mr. Garofalo stated that Township Engineer Harold Pellow has gone out to perform a written report opinion as to why the road is in the condition it is in and DPW supervisor Bob Wagner has been asked to do the same. Once these reports have been received, the matter will be looked into further.

There being no one else from the public wishing to address the Committee, Mayor DeBoer closed the meeting to the public.

There being no other items for consideration at this time, Mr. Parrott moved to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Space seconded the motion. Upon roll call, Ayes: DeBoer, Space Nays: None Absent: Parrott Abstain: None

Mayor DeBoer declared this meeting to be adjourned.

________________________________
James R. Doherty, Administrator/Clerk