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TOWNSHIP
MINUTES
September
16, 2009
PDF
Version
TOWNSHIP MEETING
SEPTEMBER 16, 2009
The regular scheduled meeting of the Mayor and
Committee of the Township of Oxford
was held on September 16, 2009 in the Township
Municipal Building, 11 Green Street,
Oxford, New Jersey.
Mayor Lazorisak announced that the meeting had been
properly advertised in compliance
with the OPMA of 1975 and called the meeting to
order at 6:03 PM.
In attendance were Alex Lazorisak, Bonnie Riley,
William Bray, Michael Finelli, Michael
Lavery and Sheila L. Oberly.
Everyone stood and recited the flag salute.
Peggy Hissim of the Oxford Township Emergency Squad
attended the meeting to ask the
Committee to close the Oxford Furnace Lake beach on
June 19th (rain date June 20th),
2010 in order to hold the 3rd Annual Cardboard Boat
Regatta and Flea Market. Mr.
Lazorisak stated that the Committee would table this
request at this time and review it
again in January 2010.
On motion by Mr. Lazorisak, seconded by Mrs. Riley
and passed unanimously on roll call
vote to have the Oxford Township Emergency Squad
Tricky Tray Raffle and 50/50
drawing on October 9, 2009.
On motion by Mrs. Riley, seconded by Mr. Lazorisak
and passed unanimously on roll call
vote to approve the August 5th and 26th meeting
minutes.
Mayor Lazorisak read the following proclamation.
PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, over the past 20 years the Domestic Abuse &
Sexual
Assault Crisis Center of Warren County has sheltered
2,000 women
and children, responded to over 80,000 hotline
calls, and provided
counseling to over 20,000 survivors;
WHEREAS, the Warren County Prevention of Sexual
Assault
Coalition (POSA) has determined that Green Dot
should be the
prevention of power based personal violence
initiative for the county;
and
WHEREAS, we, as a community, wish to shift the
culture and
reduce violence, express support for survivors of
violence, and actively
contribute to a culture of safety;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Township of
Oxford urges our citizens to participate in Green
Dot training and
provide their support to help eliminate all forms of
power based
personal violence.
On motion by Mr. Lazorisak, seconded by Mrs. Riley
and passed unanimously on roll call
vote to set “Trick or Treat Night” on October 31,
2009 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
Mr. Lazorisak opened the meeting to public comment
on Ordinance 2009-05. There was
no public comment on the ordinance.
On motion by Mrs. Riley, seconded by Mr. Lazorisak
and passed unanimously on roll call
vote to adopt Ordinance 2009-05 To Amend Ordinance
2008-07- To Extend an
Exception for Water Tap Construction Related to
Arsenic Contamination on second
reading.
RESOLUTION 2009-75
REFUNDING TAX SALE CERTIFICATE #525
THAT WAS REDEEMED
WHEREAS, the property owned by Joseph & Amy Simko
known as Block 31,
Lot 21 C0005 located at 5 Cambridge East had unpaid
2008 sewer service charges and
was sold at a Tax Sale held on April 6, 2009 by the
Oxford Township Tax Collector; and
WHEREAS, Plymouth Park Tax Services, LLC of PO Box
2288, Morristown,
NJ 07962-2288 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 $382.51 and is represented by Tax Sale
Certificate #525; and
WHEREAS, GMAC paid $808.69 on September 2, 2009 to
the Oxford
Township Tax Collector to satisfy the outstanding
Tax Sale Certificate;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Mayor and
Township
Committee of the Township of Oxford on this 16th day
of September, 2009 that the Chief
Financial Officer be authorized to draw a check
payable to Plymouth Park Tax Services,
LLC in the amount of $808.69 for the redemption of
Tax Sale Certificate #525
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a premium paid at tax
sale in the amount
of $700.00 also be refunded to Plymouth Park Tax
Services, LLC at PO Box 5822, New
York, NY 10087-5822, with the check being forwarded
to the Tax Collector for further
processing.
RESOLUTION 2009-76
REFUNDING TAX SALE CERTIFICATE #504
THAT WAS REDEEMED
WHEREAS, the property owned by SECY OF HUD, at 92
Mine Hill Road,
otherwise know as Block 1.01, Lot 48, owed 2008
taxes and was sold at a Tax Sale held
on April 6, 2009 by the Oxford Township Tax
Collector; and
WHEREAS, US Bank – Cust/Sass Muni V DTR of 50 S.
16th St, STE 1950.
Philadelphia, PA 19102 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 $3,152.68 and is represented by
Tax Sale Certificate #504; and
WHEREAS, Collegiate Title Corporation paid $3,267.73
on August 19, 2009 to
the Oxford Township Tax Collector to satisfy the
outstanding Tax Sale Certificate;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Mayor and
Township
Committee of the Township of Oxford on this 16th day
of September, 2009 that the Chief
Financial Officer be authorized to draw a check
payable to US Bank – Cust (TSLG) in
the amount of $3,267.73 for the redemption of Tax
Sale Certificate #504
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a premium paid at tax
sale in the amount
of $100.00 also be refunded to US Bank – Cust (TSLG)
at the same address, with the
check being forwarded to the Tax Collector for
further processing.
RESOLUTION 2009-77
REFUNDING TAX SALE CERTIFICATE #511
THAT WAS REDEEMED
WHEREAS, the property owned by Joshua A Dirkson and
Jaime M Durkin, at
62 Buckley Ave, otherwise know as Block 9, Lot 11,
owed 2008 sewer service charges
and was sold at a Tax Sale held on April 6, 2009 by
the Oxford Township Tax Collector;
and
WHEREAS, 33 Somerset St, LLC of 7 Riveredge Drive,
Fairfield, NJ 07004-
1013 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
$25.22 and is represented by Tax Sale Certificate
#511; and
WHEREAS, Bernard J Schulte, Jr., esq. paid $453.52
on September 2, 2009 to
the Oxford Township Tax Collector to satisfy the
outstanding Tax Sale Certificate;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Mayor and
Township
Committee of the Township of Oxford on this 16th day
of September, 2009 that the Chief
Financial Officer be authorized to draw a check
payable to 33 Somerset St, LLC in the
amount of $453.52 for the redemption of Tax Sale
Certificate #511; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a premium paid at tax
sale in the amount
of $200.00 also be refunded to 33 Somerset St, LLC
at the same address, with the checks
being forwarded to the Tax Collector for further
processing.
RESOLUTION NO. 2009-78
RESOLUTION REQUESTING APPROVAL OF ITEMS OF REVENUE
AND
APPROPRIATION NJS 40A:4-87
WHEREAS, NJS 40A:4-87 provides that the Director of
the Division of Local
Government Services may approve the insertion of any
special item of revenue in the
budget of any county or municipality when such item
shall have been made available by
law and the amount was not determined at the time of
the adoption of the budget; and
WHEREAS, the Director may also approve the insertion
of an item of appropriation
for equal amount,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Township
Committee of the
Township of Oxford, New Jersey, hereby requests the
Director of the Division of Local
Government Services to approve the insertion of an
item of revenue in the budget of the
year 2009 in the sum of $4,000.00, which is now
available from the State of New Jersey
in the amount of $4,000.00.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the like sum of
$4,000.00 is hereby
appropriated under the caption Click It or Ticket
Grant, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the above is the result
of funds from the State
of New Jersey in the amount of $4,000.00.
On motion by Mrs. Riley and seconded by Mr.
Lazorisak to adopt Resolution 2009-75,
Resolution 2009-76, Resolution 2009-77 and
Resolution 2009-78.
Calvin Inscho of the Oxford Township Volunteer Fire
Department asked the Committee
to close Kauffman Drive to traffic on October 17th
(rain date October 24th) in order for
the fire department to hold a haunted hayride from
3:00 PM to midnight.
On motion by Mrs. Riley and seconded by Mr.
Lazorisak to approve the Oxford Fire
company’s request.
George Friedel, of Allentown, New Jersey addressed
the Committee and residents of
Oxford in reference to 50 Wall Street. He explained
to the Committee, that he is a retired
engineer, he has had a relationship with Mr. Kellner
for over 20 years, his wife works for
him, and he has invested in several real estate
properties with Mr. Kellner in the past. At
this time, he holds a $250,000 mortgage on 50 Wall
Street that was due from Mr. Kellner
in June 2009. He said that he has not received any
money from Mr. Kellner to pay off
this mortgage. He stated that he has hired an
attorney to start foreclosure on this
property. Mr. Friedel said he wants to protect his
money; work with the Township to get
this property cleaned up and then have it developed
properly. He spoke with Mr.
Kellner about this and the best solution would be if
Mr. Kellner could find the funds and
clean up the property but Mr. Friedel didn’t think
this would happen.
Mr. Lavery, Township Attorney said that the length
of foreclosure could be from one
year to eighteen months.
Mr. Lazorisak thanked Mr. Friedel for coming to the
meeting and talking to the
Committee.
Mr. Lazorisak stated that the Committee has been
dealing with Mr. Kellner for the past
five years and it has been an absolute “circus” and
in his opinion, Mr. Kellner has zero
creditability in this Township. He explained that
the Township has paid Robert Venitelli,
of North Atlantic Services for “Phase I”,
(assessment of the property) and received the
findings report yesterday. At this time, Mr.
Lazorisak stated that “Phase II” would need
to be done.
Mr. Finelli said that Mr. Venitelli is acting as the
township consultant for this project. In
Mr. Venitelli’s report, he gave a historical summary
and the uses of the property from the
early 1900’s. In his report there are several areas
of concerns-hazardous materials, heavy
metals, and PCB, were used in the manufacturing
process. Also there are two regulated
underground storage tanks (500 and 10,000 gallons
used for heating), and the buildings
contain asbestos.
In the “Phase II” testing: obtain samples of
concrete for disposal, sample roof asbestos,
sample various areas of concrete for PCB and sample
various areas of roof for asbestos.
This phase would cost the Township from $5,490.00 to
$7,760.00.
Mr. Friedel said that the Township and Committee has
his full support on this clean up.
He will talk to Mr. Kellner and will call the Clerk
before the next meeting on October 21,
2009 to give her an up date and let her know if he
will be attending the meeting.
ENGINEER’S REPORT
Mr. Finelli discussed with Mr. Bray, the letter he
received from Joe Davignon, of NJ
American Water Company in relative to the water main
extension. Mr. Finelli suggested
a “kick off” meeting between NJAMW Company and
Township representatives to
discuss the process, schedule Township and public
involvement, etc. Mr. Finelli will call
Mr. Davignon to get additional information and a
date to hold a meeting.
Mr. Finelli said that a letter was received from
Brockhoff Environmental Services, LLC.
asking about the property where Wall Street Academy
is located, if the building was ever
used for a nail salon / dry cleaners, storage
facility, factory/industrial or high hazardous
use.
Mr. Finelli will review and send his findings to Mr.
Lavery and they will compile a letter
and submit an answer to Mr. Brockhoff.
Mr. Finelli spoke of the requirement from the State
of New Jersey for the Oxford Furnace
dam inspection, due in 2010 that will be more
involved and expensive then in the past.
Mr. Lavery will review the agreement between the
Township and the State of New Jersey
and report back to the Committee.
Mr. Lavery submitted Ordinance 2009-06 Amending and
Supplementing the Oxford
Township Code to Include a new Section 220 Entitled
Brush, Grass, and Weeds. The
Committee reviewed the ordinance and Mr. Bray asked
to table it until the October 7th
meeting.
The Committee discussed hiring two crossing guards.
On motion by Mr. Lazorisak,
seconded by Mr. Bray and passed unanimously on roll
call vote to have Mr. Bray and Lt.
Lilly review the applications and hire two crossing
guards.
Mr. Lazorisak stated Mr. Venitelli of North Atlantic
Services would be reissuing an
amended proposal-a breakdown of surface “Phase II”
and subsurface “Phase II” for 50
Wall Street.
On motion by Mr. Bray, seconded by Mrs. Riley and
passed unanimously on roll call vote
to pay all bills listed on the September 16, 2009
Bill List.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mr. Bray explained that the police contract has been
finalized and the Committee is
waiting for a written contract to be submitted for
the Committee’s signatures. The
contract should be signed at the October 7, 2009
meeting.
Bruce Doyle commended the Committee for doing “Phase
I” and continuing with “Phase
II” on 50 Wall Street.
Mrs. Riley said that the Committee has not yet
received a proposal from Belvidere in
reference to merging police departments. She will
follow up with Mr. Thompson,
Councilman of Belvidere and report back at the
October 7, 2009 meeting.
End of Public Comment
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: one contractual
matter, (DPW Contract) and three litigation matters
(Tolentino Tax
Appeal; Cancio vs. Oxford; and Oxford vs. Eric
Preston).
On motion by Mr. Lazorisak, seconded by Mr. Bray and
passed unanimously on roll call
vote to enter into Executive Session at 8:35 PM.
On motion by Mrs. Riley, seconded by Mr. Lazorisak
and passed unanimously on roll call
vote to enter into Open Session at 9:20 PM. No
official action was taken.
On motion by Mr. Lazorisak, seconded by Mr. Bray and
passed unanimously on roll call
vote to authorize Mrs. Riley to sign the DPW
contract after the correct verbiage is added
and reviewed by Howard Vex, Labor Attorney.
RESOLUTION 2009-79
A RESOLUTION FIXING THE SALARIES OF CERTAIN OFFICERS
AND EMPLOYEES OF THE TOWNSHIP OF OXFORD
BE IT ORDAINED, by the Mayor and Committee of the
Township of Oxford,
County of Warren and State of New Jersey, as
follows, until a subsequent salary
resolution if adopted
Section I. The salaries for the following officers
and employees for the Township of
Oxford shall be as follows:
Title Salary
Public Works Foreman 28.83 per hour
Public Works Senior Laborer 19.10 per hour
Public Works Laborer 01/01/09 – 10/16/09 11.14 per
hour
Public Works Laborer 10/17/09-12/31/09 13.00 per
hour
Public Works Temporary Laborer 10.00 per hour
Equipment Operator 22.72 per hour
Section II All salaries above shall be retroactive
to January 1, 2009 unless otherwise noted.
Section III Any resolution or part of resolution
inconsistent herewith is hereby repealed.
On motion by Mr. Lazorisak, seconded by Mr. Bray and
passed unanimously on roll call
vote to adopt Resolution 2009-79.
Mr. Finelli stated that the Township received a
letter dated August 31, 2009 from Eileen
Swan, Executive Director of the Highlands Council in
response to our request, dated July
14, 2009 regarding the Oxford Textile Redevelopment
Area. Mr. Finelli asked her what
the Township would have to do to allow Oxford
Textile to build on the upland section of
Axford Avenue. Ms. Swan said to first send her the
wetland mapping. After receipt of
the mapping, the Highland Council would readjust the
map and sent Oxford a proposed
Regional Master Plan (RMP) update for the Oxford
Textile property for the Township to
evaluate. Mr. Finelli stated that the designation
would be changed basically to take a lot
more of the land into the existing community zone
enabling it to be developed.
After review of the RMP, Ms. Swan recommended that
Mr. Finelli meet with the
Highland’s Council staff to further explore the
options described in the Council’s letter
dated June 29, 2009, including a Map Adjustment,
Cluster Development or Highlands
Redevelopment Area.
Oxford Township received a letter from Laurel
Napolitani, Chairwoman of The Pollution
Control Financing Authority (PCFA) in regard to a
safety issue on Mt. Pisgah Avenue.
She stated that a truck driver ran the stop sign
going into the faculty and “only by the
grace of God” she was not killed. She asked that
Oxford Township have a police officer
monitor the area. Mr. Lazorisak will meet with the
Warren County Freeholders and Ms.
Napolitani on the safety issue of Mt. Pisgah/Jensen
Drive.
On motion by Mr. Lazorisak, seconded by Mr. Bray and
passed unanimously on roll call
vote to adjourn the meeting at 9:45 PM.
____________________________
Sheila L. Oberly, RMC |
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