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TOWNSHIP
MINUTES
MARCH 19, 2008
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TOWNSHIP MEETING
MARCH 19, 2008
The regular scheduled meeting of the Mayor and
Committee of the Township of Oxford was held on
March 19, 2008 in the Township Municipal Building,
11 Green Street, Oxford, New Jersey.
Mayor Riley announced that the meeting had been
properly advertised in compliance with the OPMA of
1975 and called the meeting to order at 6:18 PM.
In attendance were Bonnie Riley, N. Angelo Accetturo,
William Bray, Michael Lavery, Michael Finelli and
Sheila L. Oberly.
Everyone stood and recited the flag salute.
Mrs. Riley stated that the tax, sewer, and
treasurer’s reports for February 2008 are available
to the public in the back of the room.
On motion by Mr. Accetturo and seconded by Mr. Bray
to approve the minutes from January 29th and
February 19th, 2008 meetings.
Ordinance 2008-02 Amending And Supplementing Section
36-2 Increase Liquor License Fees, first reading
will be at the special meeting held on April 1, 2008
at 6:00 PM.
RESOLUTION 2008-33
MUNICIPAL BUDGET NOTICE
The Municipal Budget of the Township of Oxford,
County of Warren for the fiscal year 2008.
BE IT RESOLVED, that the following statements of
revenue and appropriations shall constitute the
Municipal Budget for the year 2008;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that said budget be published
in the Star Gazette in the issue of April 3, 2008.
The Governing Body of the Township of Oxford does
hereby approve the following as the Budget for the
year 2008:
RECORDED VOTE:
AYES: NAYS: ABSTAINED: ABSENT:
Mr. Accetturo None None None
Mr. Bray
Mrs. Riley
Notice is hereby given that the Budget and Tax
Resolution was approved by the Governing Body of the
Township of Oxford, County of Warren on March 19,
2008.
A hearing on the Budget and Tax Resolution will be
held at the Oxford Municipal Building on April 16,
2008 at 6:00 PM at which time and place objections
to said Budget and Tax Resolution for the year 2008
may be presented by taxpayers or other interested
persons.
On motion by Mr. Accetturo, seconded by Mr. Bray and
passed unanimously on roll call vote to approve
Resolution 2008-33.
RESOLUTION 2008-34
TOWNSHIP OF OXFORD
COUNTY OF WARREN
WHEREAS, regulations of the State of New Jersey
provide for the deferral of school taxes in an
amount not to exceed fifty percent of the annual
school tax levy
when such taxes are raised on a fiscal year basis
(school year July 1 through June
30); and
WHEREAS, said taxes subject to deferral have not
been requisitioned by or
paid to the school district; and
WHEREAS, it is the desire and intent of the
governing body of the Township
of Oxford, County of Warren, to avail the Township
of the deferral as permitted
by regulations promulgated by the Local Finance
Board, Division of Local Government
Services, New Jersey Department of Community
Affairs;
WHEREAS, fifty percent of the school tax levy of the
Oxford School District
is $1,778,984.00
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor and
Committee of the
Township of Oxford, County of warren, hereby
authorize the Chief Financial Officer
of the Township to defer $1,334,238.00 of school
taxes as permitted by the aforementioned regulation;
and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that certified copies of
this resolution be forwarded to the Chief Financial
Officer of the Township and the Director of the
Division
of Local Government Services, Department of
Community Affairs.
On motion by Mr. Accetturo, seconded by Mr. Bray and
passed unanimously on roll call vote to approve
Resolution 2008-34.
RESOLUTION # 2008-40
2007 BUDGET APPROPRIATION TRANSFER
WHEREAS, it is allowable by statute to make
transfers between appropriations of the current year
municipal current fund budget between November 1st
and March 31st to prevent over expenditures in the
budget, and
WHEREAS, it has been deemed by the Chief Finance
Officer that certain transfers are necessary in the
2007 Oxford Township municipal budget;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Oxford Township
Committee, that the following transfers are deemed
necessary by the Chief Finance Officer as of March
19th, 2008 be hereby approved.
FROM Planning Board OE $ 860.70
Unemployment Compensation $ 59.69
Street Lighting $3741.36
Natural Gas $322.44
Landfill/Solid Waste $216.72
Employee Health Insurance $738.49
Fire Hydrants $1238.35
Telephone $769.27
Municipal Court SW $735.03
Recycling OE $1404.69
Revitalization Planning $4,822.97
TOTAL $14,909.71
TO Legal OE $860.70
Police OE $59.69
Vehicle Maintenance $3236.71
Streets and Roads OE $336.93
Buildings and Grounds OE $738.49
Gasoline $4943.31
Municipal Court SW $1,108.98
TOTAL $14,909.71
TRANSFER FROM:
ACCOUNT UNENCUMBERED BALANCE TRANSFER AMOUNT
3/19/2008 REMAINING BALANCE
Planning Board OE $ 994.79 $ 860.70 $ 0
Unemployment Comp $ 113.52 $ 59.69 $ 53.83
Street Lighting $ 3,741.36 $ 3,741.36 $ 0
Natural Gas $322.44 $322.44 $ 0
Landfill/Solid Waste Disp $ 216.72 $ 216.72 $ 0
Employee Health Ins $ 814.51 $ 738.49 $ 76.02
Fire Hydrants $ 1,238.35 $ 1,238.35 $ 0
Telephone $ 769.27 $ 769.27 $ 0
Municipal Court SW $ 735.03 $ 735.03 $ 0
Recycling OE $ 1752.36 $ 1,404.69 $347.67
Revitalization Planning $ 13,017.53 $4,822.97
$11,908.55
TRANSFER TO:
ACCOUNT UNENCUMBERED BALANCE TRANSFER AMOUNT
3/19/2008 REMAINING BALANCE
Legal OE $ - 860.70 $ 860.70 $ 0
Engineering Service OE $ - 3,624.90 $ 3,624.90 $ 0
Police OE $ -59.69 $ 59.69 $ 0
Vehicle Maintenance $ -3,236.71 $ 3,236.71 $ 0
Streets and Roads OE $ - 336.93 $ 336.93 $ 0
Buildings and Grounds OE $ -738.49 $ 738.49 $ 0
Gasoline $ - 4,943.31 $ 4,943.31 $ 0
Municipal Court SW $ - 1108.98 $1,108.98 $ 0
On motion by Mr. Accetturo, seconded by Mr. Bray and
passed unanimously on roll call vote to approve
Resolution 2008-40.
RESOLUTION 2008-41
A RESOLUTION APPOINTING A LIASION TO THE
WARREN-MORRRIS COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS
WHEREAS, sharing services and joint purchasing can
increase efficiency and reduce costs; and
WHEREAS, the sharing of services and joint
purchasing is becoming more needed as state mandated
costs, such as storm water management are increasing
without a corresponding increase in revenue; and
WHEREAS, a shared services workgroup including but
not limited to representatives of Allamuchy,
Bethlehem Greenwich, Independence, Knowlton,
Mansfield, Mt. Olive, Washington Township (Warren),
Washington Township (Morris) and White Township, the
Town of Belvidere, Hackettstown and the Borough of
Washington;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the governing
body of the Township of Oxford, County of Warren,
and State of New Jersey does hereby appoint Bill
Bray as liaison for the Oxford Township Committee to
the Warren-Morris Council of Governments for the
year 2008;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Municipal Clerk is
hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution
to:
Warren-Morris Council of Governments
100 Port Murray Road
Port Murray, NJ 07865
On motion by Mr. Bray, seconded by Mr. Accetturo and
passed unanimously on roll call vote to approve
Resolution 2008-41.
RESOLUTION 2008-41A
PETITION FOR A MORATORIUM ON INCREASE TO THE WARREN
COUNTY PROPERTY TAX LEVY
WHEREAS, Warren County Property Tax Levy has risen
annually for six consecutive years: and
WHEREAS, since 1999 the Warren County Tax Levy has
increased by 53 percent of $22,420,694: and
WHEREAS, the Warren County Tax Levy has increased an
average of over $4.6 million annually since 2003:
and
WHEREAS, Oxford Township’s County Tax Levy has
increased by over 80 percent over the last ten
years: and
WHEREAS, the taxpayers of Oxford Township cannot
suffer any additional burden from Warren County
Property Taxes: and
NOW THEREFORE, BE IF RESOLVED that the Oxford
Township Committee hereby petitions the Warren
County Board of Chosen Freeholders for a moratorium
on any increase to the County Property Tax Levy: and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of his resolution
will be forwarded to all the municipal and local
school district’s governing bodies within Warren
County with our respectful request that they join in
our call for moratorium on County Property Tax Levy
increases.
Resolution 2008-41A did not pass on Committee’s
vote. Mr. Bray introduced the resolution and it died
for lack of a second.
Michael Selvaggi, attorney for Oxford Textile stated
that last week on March 13, 2008, he sent a letter
to the Committee for consideration on amending the
redevelopment plan. The current proposal allows for
a project of up to 325 residential units on two lots
and a third lot to be created, would be a wetlands
mitigation bank. The proposal that was previously
agreed upon was 265 age-restricted units that are
referred as the factory piece and upwards of 60
units on the clean undeveloped lot presently. At
this time as a marketing and environmental
standpoint, a better mix would be to allow up to 285
units of age restricted and no more than 40 units of
single family, non-restricted. Mr. Selvaggi stated
that he has done a concept plan, which would be
labeled Exhibit “C” to the redeveloper’s agreement
and has forwarded this proposal to Dave Roberts of
CMX. Mr. Roberts responded he has no objections and
ultimately stated that the decision would be up to
the Committee. Mr. Selvaggi said that the
redeveloper’s agreement calls for submission of a
concept plan to the Land Use Board. The timeline for
this submission is six months. In November 2008,
this was agreement was extended for six months to
May 2008. and Mr. Selvaggi asked for an additional
six-month extension.
On motion by Mr. Bray, seconded by Mrs. Riley and
passed unanimously on roll call vote to authorize
Dave Roberts to draft a resolution amending the
redeveloper agreement including a six-month
extension.
On motion by Mr. Bray, seconded by Mr. Accetturo and
passed unanimously on roll call vote to change the
date of the PTO Bingo night from February 1, 2008 to
May 2, 2008.
On motion by Mr. Bray, seconded by Mr. Accetturo and
passed unanimously on roll call vote to donate a
family pass to the PTO Tricky Tray to be held on
April 12, 2008.
On motion by Mr. Bray, seconded by Mr. Accetturo and
passed unanimously on roll call vote to deny the
solicitation permit given to the Committee by Edward
Jones Investment until the Oxford police conduct a
background check and fingerprints.
ENGINEER’S REPORT
Mr. Finelli stated that he has submitted the
inspection report on the Oxford Furnace Dam to the
DEP and has received a response that was very
positive. He also received another letter talking
about the updates to the emergency action plan and
the inundation maps. The information has been
submitted in reference to the emergency action plan.
Mr. Finelli said that his office has received the
old inundation maps but it has to be updated and
transposed to the new base map. He talked to the
state and was told to submit the old maps but in a
new format-no further action is needed but to update
current maps to be in compliance.
On motion by Mrs. Riley, seconded by Mr. Accetturo
and passed unanimously on roll call vote to
authorize Finelli Consulting to update the
inundation maps for an amount not to exceed a
$1,000.00.
Mr. Finelli gave an update on the Mt. Pisgah
project. He stated that the project is going out to
bid to the Morris County Co-op, which has been
completed.
Mr. Finelli presented an up to date map of the
arsenic results with all the data received to date.
Mrs. Riley stated there are 226 residents that have
picked up sample kits and 131 have returned them
with the results shown on the spreadsheet. An ad has
been placed in the “Riverbend”, a free paper that is
mailed to every Oxford resident stating that all
test kits must be picked up and returned by April 4,
2008.
ATTORNEY’S REPORT
Mrs. Docker presented to the Committee a survey
showing the property that she would like to purchase
from the Township. This survey shows the Township
owns land that surrounds her lot and a gravel
driveway that is on the Township’s property and has
been utilized since the 1950’s. Mr. Lavery discussed
a lot line adjustment with a swap with the unnamed
alley in the back of the property. He said he could
write a letter to Mrs. Docker’s attorney that stated
that Mrs. Docker would have to pay whatever fees
incurred by the Township and agree to the assessment
adjustment on the tax bill.
On motion by Mrs. Riley, seconded by Mr. Bray to
authorize Mr. Lavery to write as letter to Mrs.
Docker’s attorney.
Mrs. Riley asked Mr. Finelli about the Center of
Place grant that was denied in 2008 and he stated he
would submit another application in 2009.
The Committee and Mr. Lavery discussed the speed
bumps on Pequest Road. The statute states that you
can have speed bumps but they must be on a municipal
road, but cannot terminate on county road or state
road.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Diane Hooper stated that there is a problem on
Pequest Road with vehicles going fast and driving
around the speed bumps.
On motion by Mr. Accetturo, seconded by Mr. Bray and
passed unanimously on roll call vote to have Mr.
Finelli get prices to remove the speed bumps on
Pequest Road.
Mr. Lavery stated that he has reviewed the 2008
professional contracts and the following contracts
are ready for the Committee’s signature.
Finelli Consulting
Connell Foley LLP (Mike Shadiack)
Michael B. Lavery
The following contracts need additional paperwork:
William Colantano
Access 24
Gibbons, LLC.
On motion by Mr. Accetturo, seconded by Mrs. Riley
and passed unanimously on roll call vote, to have
the Mayor sign the 2008 contract for Finelli
Consulting, Connell Foley, LLC. and Michael Lavery.
The Committee received a letter today via fax that
Stuart Kellner would not be attending tonight’s
meeting. Mr. Bray stated that he has had a
discussion with Stuart Kellner in reference to the
clean-up timeline of the Oxwall building. Mrs. Riley
will write a letter to Mr. Kellner asking him to
attend the Township meeting to be held on April 16,
2008 at 6:00 PM.
Mr. Accetturo stated that he had a conversation with
Chris Guida, from PRMUA in regard to the
infiltration issues. He will work with Lou Accetturo,
pulling up manholes that on the county sewer lines.
Mr. Bray distributed copies of documents to the
Committee recommending that Oxford Township court
leave White Township and enter into a three-year
agreement with Mansfield-Washington court. He said
that by joining, in 2008, Oxford would save
$18, 790.56 per year with a profit of $12,672.20. He
said last year Oxford lost $3,117.36 operating court
with White Township. The O/E costs would be 18.48%
of the joint court O/E costs. Te Cap amount for the
year 2008 would be $3,983.00 and 2009 CAP amount
would be $3,166.00. He stated that for a savings of
$20,000, it is time to bid White Township adieu. In
the Mansfield, Oxford, and Washington Township
proposal of joint courts, the cost to Oxford would
be in the year 2008-$46,417, 2009-$47,085, and
2010-$48,733. After three years, the Township would
have to renegotiate the costs.
Mr. Accetturo suggested waiting to make a decision
on the court until the Township receives a proposal
from White Township, Belvidere and Knowlton joint
courts. Mrs. Riley said she would like to discuss
this further with all the figures from the entire
Townships interested in joining.
On motion by Mr. Bray, seconded by Mr. Accetturo and
passed unanimously on roll call vote to pay the
following bill-NJ Economic Development
Authority-$960.75.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mr. Bray and Mrs. Riley had a heated discussion
about how the meetings were conducted. Loraine May
had questions for Mr. Bray in reference to the
compost on Oram’s Lane. Mr. Bray got very aggravated
and stated that she should ask the Committee and the
Engineer’s these questions.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
WHEREAS, Section 8 of the Open Public Meeting Act,
Chapter 231, P.L. 1975, permits the exclusion of the
public from a meeting in certain circumstances, and
WHEREAS, this public body is of the opinion that
such circumstances presently exist.
1. The public shall be excluded from the discussion
of any action upon the hereinafter-specific subject
matter.
2. The general nature of the subject matter to be
discussed is: four contractual matters, (2008-2010
PBA Contract, Covanta Agreement, Oxford School
Agreement, Joint Municipal Court), two pending
litigation matter (Scott Pohl & Corson Tax Appeal)
and personnel (Court Officer).
3. It is anticipated at this time that the above
stated subject matter will be made public at the
conclusion of the litigation. The motion carried
with the following roll call vote.
On motion by Mr. Accetturo, seconded by Mrs. Riley
and passed unanimously to enter into Executive
Session at 9:45 PM.
Enter into Open Session 10:50 PM.
On motion by Mr. Accetturo, seconded by Mr. Bray and
passed unanimously on roll call vote to adjourn the
meeting at 10:55 PM.
_____________________________
Sheila L. Oberly, RMC
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