TOWNSHIP MEETING

FEBRUARY 17, 2010

The regular scheduled meeting of the Mayor and Committee of the Township of Oxford was held on February 17, 2010 in the Township Municipal Building, 11 Green Street,
Oxford, New Jersey.

Mayor Niece announced that the meeting had been properly advertised in compliance with the OPMA of 1975 and called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.

In attendance were Donald Niece, Bonnie Riley, William Bray, Michael
Finelli, Kevin Benbrook and Sheila L. Oberly.

Everyone stood and recited the flag salute.

On motion by Mrs. Riley and seconded by Mr. Bray to approve the December 2nd , 8th , 16th and 22nd, 2009 meeting minutes. Mr. Niece Abstained.

On motion by Mrs. Riley, seconded by Mr. Bray and passed unanimously on roll call vote to approve the January 6, 2010 meeting minutes.

Ordinance 2010-01 To Increase the Local Government CAP Law was read by title on second reading and opened for public comments. There being no public comments, the comment period was closed.

On motion by Mrs. Riley, seconded by Mr. Bray and passed unanimously on roll call vote to adopt Ordinance 2010-01.

Ordinance 2010-02 Dumpsters, Roll-offs and Drop boxes, was read by title on second reading and opened for public comments. There being no public comments, the comment period was closed.

On motion by Mr. Bray, seconded by Mr. Niece and passed unanimously on roll call vote to adopt Ordinance 2010-02.



RESOLUTION 2010-26

WHEREAS, the Multi-Jurisdictional Flood Mitigation Plan for
Municipalities in the Non-tidal, New Jersey portion of the Delaware River Basin has been prepared in accordance with FEMA requirements at 44 C.F.R. 201.6; and,

WHEREAS, Oxford Township, has participated in the preparation of the
multi-jurisdictional Plan; and,

WHEREAS, Oxford Township is a local unit of government that has
afforded thecitizens an opportunity to comment and provide input in the Plan and the actions in the Plan; and

WHEREAS, Oxford Township, has reviewed the Plan and affirms that the
Plan should be updated no less than every five years.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Oxford Township Committee, that Oxford Township adopts the Multi-Jurisdictional Flood Mitigation Plan for Municipalities in the Non-tidal, New Jersey portion of the Delaware River Basin and resolves to execute the actions in the Plan.

On motion by Mr. Bray, seconded by Mrs. Riley and passed unanimously on roll call vote, to adopt Resolution 2010-26.

The Committee tabled the discussion on Oxford’s Personnel Policies and
Procedures
until all the members have an opportunity to review.

On the agenda scheduled for tonight’s meeting was the public hearing on Comcast. Mayor Niece opened the meeting and asked if anyone was here representing Comcast or if any of the public had any questions on the Comcast franchise.

The Committee decided to postpone the public hearing for a later date
because of lack of information. Kevin Benbrook, Township Attorney will research the requirements of renewing the Township’s franchise and follow up with the Committee at a later date.

Officer Thomas Cicerelle, of Washington Township, attended the meeting to answer any questions that the Committee or the residents may have. He stated that the merger went smoothly and if anyone has questions in the future, to please contact him or Chief James
McDonald.

ENGINEER’S REPORT

Mr. Finelli stated that he received a letter, dated January 22, 2010,
from Eileen Swan, Executive Director of the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council, stating that Oxford’s Petition for Plan Conformance, is administratively complete and has been
prioritized for review as the Township had requested.

Mr. Finelli reminded the Committee that the State of New Jersey requires
a dam inspection at Oxford Furnace Lake. He will obtain proposals and figures to be submitted to the Committee by March 3, 2010. He estimated the cost would
be around
$20,000.00. This amount would be for a full inspection that occurs every
five years, not
for the interim inspection that must be performed on a yearly basis.

The Committee discussed the New Jersey State League of Municipalities
Mayor’s letter
dated February 16, 2010, Governor Christie signed Executive Order Number
12
suspending COAH from acting on its “3rd round regulations” and creating a
Task Force
to advise the Governor on COAH and statewide planning issues.

Gov. Christie is freezing all activities of a state board that regulates
affordable housing
in New Jersey until a new commission completes a 90-day review. The task
force will
be led by former state Sen. Marcia Karrow

The June 8 deadline is after the 90-day window of the Executive Order, so
it is not
certain what the requirement will be at the end of this window.


ATTORNEY’S REPORT

Mr. Benbrook stated that in order to clean-up 50 Wall Street, the
Township must pay
prevailing wage and go out to bid on the project.

Mr. Benbrook said he received a letter from Stuart Ours, attorney for Deb
Docker in
reference to the boundary line adjustment and paperwork needed to be
signed to close
the agreement.

On motion by Mr. Bray, seconded by Mr. Niece and passed unanimously on
roll call
vote to execute the agreement with Deb Docker.

Mr. Benbrook stated that he has talked to Michael Lavery, 2009 Township
Attorney in
regard to the Cambridge files, and Mr. Lavery will send the paperwork to
him.

The Committee discussed the shared service agreement forwarded to Oxford
from the
Warren County in regard to using county equipment and manpower.

The Clerk will put the resolution and the agreement on next month’s
agenda.

The Committee discussed writing a letter to PRMUA about PRMUA billing
directly to
Covanta and PCFA. In the past and per Oxford Township has billed them
per the
ordinance, which states Oxford Township, will bill Covanta and PCFA and
forward the
money to PRMUA.

The Committee authorized Mrs. Riley to request all bills from PRMUA
showing the
amount they billed PCFA and Covanta, in form of an OPRA request.

Mr. Benbrook will coordinate with Mrs. Riley, to write a letter to PRMUA
in regard to
the change in billing procedures and asking for the Township’s twenty
percent for using
Oxford’s sewer lines.

Mrs. Riley read a letter from a company requesting a clothing bin be
placed somewhere
in the Township. The Committee discussed the option and declined the
request stating
it would take away money from the DARE bin at the Oxford Township School.
Mrs.
Riley will write a letter declining the request.


PUBLIC COMMENT

Mrs. Hissim stated that she felt it is feasible to rent equipment and
workers from
Warren County as the Township may need in the future.

Peggy Hissim said that at the last snowstorm, the Oxford Emergency Squad
parking lot
was not plowed out. She stated that all the neighbors and volunteers
helped shovel the
lot out. Mr. Niece asked if she called the road department and reported
the problem.
She said she did not, but this should be a priority, which the Committee
agreed. She
stated that in prior snowstorms, there has never been a problem in
removing the snow or
ice in front of the squad building by the DPW department.

Mr. Bray said that he felt this last storm; there didn’t seem the same
level of service in
terms of snowplowing that he has seen in other storms. He said that the
plows did not
come though as many times as they did in the past. He inquired if
anything was
changed in regard to how the storm was addressed or any mechanical
malfunctions that
reduced the DPW responseness. Mr. Niece answered, none that he was aware
of but
stated that in his opinion, the plows did run a little less. He also
said that he noticed
that the County did not provide the same service as normal. Mr. Niece
will ask Lou
Accetturo if there was a reason or a problem.

Mr. Bray said that in the future if there is a problem or question, to
call him or the
Mayor to solve the discrepancies.

Asia Calabrese asked the Committee what the township was going to do with
the patrol
car parked in the municipal parking lot. Mr. Niece answered that since
the merger is
complete with Washington Township Police Department, he will be doing an
inventory
of any equipment left from the merger and any equipment not used by the
Department
of Public Works Department, or the Township and have an auction.

Mr. Benbrook will look at the state statues, and report back to the
Committee of the
requirements of township and school owned property and the proper
procedure to
dispose of it.

On motion by Mr. Bray, seconded by Mrs. Riley and passed unanimously on
roll call
vote to authorize Mr. Benbrook to start proceedings to foreclose on the
Jonestown Road
and Mine Hill Road property. (The former mine property.)

On motion by Mr. Bray, seconded by Mr. Niece and passed unanimously on
roll call
vote to approve all the bills listed on the February 17, 2010 Bill List.

End of Public Session



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.
The public shall be excluded from the discussion of any action upon the
hereinafter-
specific subject matter.

The general nature of the subject matter to be discussed is: one
personnel matter.
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. Bray, seconded by Mrs. Riley and passed unanimously on
roll call
vote to enter into Executive Session at 8:45 PM.

On motion by Mr. Bray, seconded by Mrs. Riley and passed unanimously on
roll call
vote to enter into open session at 9:00 PM.

On motion by Mr. Bray, seconded by Mrs. Riley and passed unanimously on
roll call
vote to adjourn the meeting at 9:10 PM.

____________________________
Sheila L. Oberly, RMC