MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE OPEN SPACE ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF WANTAGE, HELD AT THE WANTAGE TOWNSHIP MUNICIPAL BUILDING, 888 STATE HIGHWAY 23, WANTAGE, N.J. ON THE DATE OF JANUARY 29, 2007

Mr. Jim Doherty called the roll at 7:00 p.m.

Present:Parker Space, Victoria Gill, Scott Sargent, Rudy Solar, Mike Garrett, Doug Ricker, Diane Snure, Tom Davis, Ken Nelson. Absent: Diane Mylecraine

All members present agreed to continue the practice of holding regular monthly meetings of the Open Space Advisory Committee on the last Monday of each month at 7:00 pm, with the exception of May (the last Monday in May this year is Memorial Day) and December (the last Monday in December this year is New Year’s Eve). The committee members will decide on meeting dates for May and December at future meetings.

The Committee members present agreed unanimously to recommend that the Mayor and Committee of the Township of Wantage establish the local Open Space Tax at two cents per hundred dollars of assessed valuation for calendar year 2007. Mr. Doherty said he would carry this recommendation to the attention of the governing body for action.

The Committee members present agreed unanimously to recommend that the Township of Wantage contract with the Morris Land Conservancy to help Wantage Township create a local Open Space Plan.  Mr. Doherty said he would carry this recommendation to the attention of the governing body and Land Use Board for action. Mr. Doherty also stated he would recommend that the governing body and Land Use Board allow the OSAC members to spearhead the Open Space Plan efforts, with participation from the governing body and Land Use Board members as they deem appropriate.

General review took place regarding efforts by various Committee members to reach out and maintain contact with property owners who indicated in 2006 that they would be interested in further dialogue regarding possible open space preservation on their property.

Review took place regarding on-going efforts to negotiate with developers on tracts of land located on Lower Unionville Road and on Old Clove Road. Mr. Doherty reported that while efforts were on-going, no firm decisions have yet been made or negotiated.

The Committee members present agreed to invite representatives of the Morris Land Conservancy to attend the February meeting of OSAC, to discuss strategy and action plans for the Wantage Township Open Space Plan.

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James R. Doherty, Administrator Clerk