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TOWNSHIP
MINUTES
JULY
16, 2008
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TOWNSHIP MEETING
JULY 16, 2008
The regular scheduled meeting of the Mayor and
Committee of the Township of Oxford was held on July
16, 2008 in the Township Municipal Building, 11
Green Street, Oxford, New Jersey.
Mayor Bonnie Riley announced that the meeting had
been properly advertised in compliance with the OPMA
of 1975 and called the meeting to order at 6:05 PM.
In attendance were Bonnie Riley, William Bray,
Katrina Campbell, (attorney from Michael Lavery’s
office), Michael Finelli, and Sheila L. Oberly. N.
Angelo Accetturo was absent.
Everyone stood and recited the flag salute.
Mrs. Riley stated that the tax, and sewer reports
for June 2008 are available to the public in the
back of the room.
The Oxford Emergency Squad attended the meeting to
tell the Committee about their fundraiser, which is
called “The Cardboard Boat Regetta.” This fundraiser
will be held on August 24, 2008 at 10:00 AM at the
Oxford Furnace Lake. The rules of building a boat:
must use cardboard, nothing toxic or metal and
seamed together with duct tape. Each heat will be
approximately twenty minutes. There will be prizes
given to the winners and a trophy to the best
sinking boat-“Titanic.” For little kids, there will
be a float tube race with supervision at all times.
The charge for this fundraiser will be $5.00 to
$10.00 to enter the race. The Squad asked the
Committee members to be judges.
On motion by Mrs. Riley and seconded by Mr. Bray to
approve the fundraiser on August 24th, and to have
Lou Accetturo bring the dump truck to the Lake to
recycle the “cardboard boats.”
On motion by Mrs. Riley and seconded by Mr. Bray to
approve the June 5th and June 18th, 2008 meeting
minutes.
Ordinance 2008-07 Amend, Revise and Supplement
Chapter 53 “Excavations,” Section 14, “Exceptions”
of the Code of the Township of Oxford to Add an
Exception for Water Tap Construction Related to
Arsenic Contamination-public hearing, second reading
will be tabled until August 5th, 2008.
Ordinance 2008-08 Recycling, first reading was
tabled until August 5, 2008.
Ordinance 2008-09 To Amend, Revise and Supplement
Chapter 77A, “Sewers” Section 17, “Annual User Fee”
of the Code of the Township of Oxford to Add an
Exception from Sewer Charges for Uninhabitable
Properties, first reading was tabled until August 5,
2008.
Resolution 2008-50 To Adjust 1st and 2nd Quarter
Taxes on Properties Given Tax Exemptions Within the
Oxford Township Redevelopment Area, Block 6, Lot 4 &
4.01 was tabled until August 20, 2008.
Mr. Bray stated that he has read Brian Tipton’s
letter (attorney to Mr. Elbassionary) in regard to
Resolution 2008-50. Mr. Bray said that the cases in
the letter that Mr. Tipton is referring to were not
related to the issue before the Committee in regard
to Block 6, Lot 4 & 4.01.
Mr. Bray said that he would like to go on the record
that anybody can file a tax appeal against any
property. He said that ”If Mr. Elbassionary doesn’t
come to realize that I am holding him by his word
and by his written word by the end of this year, I
am going to file a tax appeal against him and go
after the entire abatement because the law states
that if you are delinquent on your taxes, which he
has done on two occasions, you do not qualify for
any abatement.” (This is a personal action being
taken as a citizen).
RESOLUTION 2008-64
RESOLUTION REFUNDING TAX SALE CERTIFICATE #466
THAT WAS REDEEMED
WHEREAS, the property owned by Robert J Deskowitz
known as Block 3, Lot 21 located at 69 Academy St.
had unpaid 2006 sewer service charges and was sold
at a Tax Sale held on April 16, 2007 by the Oxford
Township Tax Collector; and
WHEREAS, Park Finance, LLC of PO Box 109, Cedar
Knolls, NJ 07927 was the successful bidder of the
above stated property; and the amount of the Tax
Sale consisted of unpaid sewer service charges,
interests and other costs, and totaled $756.94 and
is represented by Tax Sale Certificate #466; and
WHEREAS, Wells Fargo paid $2,134.25 on July 2, 2008
to the Oxford Township Tax Collector to satisfy the
outstanding Tax Sale Certificate, subsequent taxes,
and delinquent taxes;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Mayor and
Township Committee of the Township of Oxford on this
16th day of July, 2008 that the Chief Financial
Officer be authorized to draw a check payable to
Park Finance, LLC in the amount of $2,134.25 for the
redemption of Tax Sale Certificate #466
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Tax Collector be
directed to return the satisfied Tax Sale
Certificate to Wells Fargo, Attn. Rhonda Sandoval,
420 Montgomery St. San Francisco, CA 94163.
On motion by Mr. Bray and seconded by Mrs. Riley to
adopt Resolution 2008-64 Tax
Sale Certificate #466 Block 3, Lot 21 in the amount
of $756.94.
NJDEP sent a letter to the Township Committee
requesting to take soil samples and possibly install
a well on the Hissim field. Mrs. Riley said that she
had a concern about the placement of the well. She
did not want them to dig a well in the center of a
possible ball field. Mr. Bray stated that would not
be the case, DEP wants to put the well where the
highest level of contaminants were found which is
not the area where the ball field work was done, it
is further into the property.
On motion by Mrs. Riley and seconded by Mr. Bray to
allow the NJDEP to do soil samples and well
construction on the Hissim property.
Mrs. Riley stated that Ordinance 2008-10 the
property maintenance ordinance already exists in the
Code Book so no additional action is needed.
Mr. Bray stated that he would like to begin
proceedings on Oxwall, since this building certainly
meets and exceeds the standards set forth in Chapter
139, Section 42. The Township Attorney, Township
Engineer, Fire Chief, and Regional Manager of DCA
will discuss a date to have a meeting to start the
clean-up process on Oxwall.
On motion by Mr. Bray and seconded by Mrs. Riley for
our Township Engineer, Fire Official, Township
Attorney, and Construction Official to begin
proceedings under this ordinance and to serve notice
on Mr. Keller and John Delaney, Jr. his attorney for
a hearing to be held within 10 days of this meeting.
On motion by Mr. Bray and seconded by Mrs. Riley,
the Committee passed the 2007 Audit Corrective
Action Plan and signed the 2007 Audit Group
Affidavit.
Mr. Bray stated that he has had a complaint that
there is soil being brought in to Popinko’s property
on East Quarry Road and most likely he is bringing
contaminated soil in and mixing with metal life and
sludge. A complaint has been put into the NJDEP.
There have been trucks seen coming into the Township
going to East Quarry Road from North Jersey. Mr.
Bray would like to know the procedure to have this
soil tested. Mr. Finelli will investigate this
complaint.
ENGINEER’S REPORT
Mr. Finelli said that the Mt. Pisgah project is
coming along, the Department of Public Works this
week is doing the prep work-the storm drains.
Mr. Finelli stated that the Township has received a
(Letter of Interpretation) LOI letter from NJDEP
relative to the wetlands on the Hissim property. In
this letter there was a notice from DEP of a
potential violation. A few months ago, the Township
authorized Steve Glasson of Glasson Environmental to
do the LOI and the permit application to address the
suspected violation. This would be the first step;
Mr. Glasson is moving forward to the permanent
application to address the suspected violation.
Mr. Finelli said he received a copy of a letter from
Dave Dech, Planning Director sent to the Mayor in
regard to the Waster Water Management Plan. Number
of months ago, the Township was asked to comment to
the County on the Township’s position on the Waster
Water Management Planning-authorize the County to
take over or have the Township maintain
jurisdiction. Ms. Riley, Mayor wrote a letter on
behalf of the Township stating that Oxford would
prefer to continue to be the wastewater planning
agency. The majorities of Municipalities in Warren
County wrote letters to the Warren County
Freeholders stating that they would also prefer to
take care of their own Township plans. The
Freeholders refused the wastewater planning
responsibility and deferred it to the
municipalities. Now Oxford Township must submit a
wastewater management plan to the NJDEP a year after
the new rules are adopted which would be
approximately July 2009. Mr. Finelli will call Chris
Guida, Director of PRMUA if he will be assembling
plans for other Townships involved. He will report
back to the Committee next month.
ATTORNEY REPORTS
Katrina Campbell stated that she did not have
anything that has not been discussed earlier in the
meeting.
On motion by Mr. Bray and seconded by Mrs. Riley to
have Michael Lavery investigate employment issues
regarding the Municipal Courts position as it
relates to share court.
PUBLIC COMMENT
No updates on Cambridge or shared court services.
There were questions about Oram’s Lane and what
activity is happening on Township property. Mr. Bray
stated that the Oxford Police Department is using
the property as firing range qualifications for
their weapons. The police must be qualified four
times a year in all weapons they are authorized to
carry.
On motion by Mr. Bray and seconded by Mrs. Riley to
approve the bills on the June, 2009 bills with the
exception of the following bills:
White Township $7,200.00
Edna Pene 644.90
On motion by Mr. Bray and seconded by Mrs. Riley to
adjourn the meeting at 9:20 PM.
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Sheila L. Oberly, RMC |
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