TOWNSHIP MEETING

MAY 19, 2010

The regularly scheduled meeting of the Mayor and Committee of the Township of Oxford was held on May 19, 2010 in the Township Municipal Building, 11 Green Street, Oxford, New Jersey.

Mr. Niece announced that the meeting had been properly advertised in compliance with the OPMA of 1975 and called the meeting to order at 7:10 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. Niece to approve the April 7th and 21st meeting minutes.
Mr. Bray abstained.

Mr. Niece announced that there is a public hearing scheduled for tonight’s meeting on the 2010 Budget and Mr. Colantano, CMA is present to answer any questions that anyone may have. He also informed
the public that there is an amendment to the 2010 Budget.

Mr. Colantano stated that every three years the State of New Jersey is required to review the Township’s budget in detail, but this year, Oxford can do a “Local Review” which permits
municipalities in sound fiscal condition to assume the responsibility, normally granted to the Director
of the Division of Local Government Services, of conducting the annual budget examination.

Mr. Niece opened the meeting to a public hearing or comments on the 2010 Budget. Mr. Niece said
that in his opinion, this budget is very lean and the Committee was able to reduce some line items due
to the police merger and most increases are fixed costs that the Committee has little control over. In
this budget, there is a two cents tax increase built into the budget because of a decrease in state aid of
approximately $55,000.00.

There were no public comments or questions; the public hearing on the 2010 Budget was closed.

On motion by Mrs. Riley and seconded by Mr. Niece to adopt the 2010 Oxford Township Budget. Mr.
Bray voted No.




RESOLUTION 2010-48
 

2010 MUNICIPAL BUDGET AMENDMENT


WHEREAS, the local municipal budget for the year 2010 was approved on the 21st day of April,
2010 and

WHEREAS, the public hearing on said budget has been held as advertised, and


THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the Governing Body of the Township of Oxford, County
of Warren that the following amendments to the approved budget of 2010 be made:

Recorded Vote

Ayes

Nays

Abstained

Absent


Donald Niece


X


William Bray



X



Bonnie Riley


X


CURRENT FUND


From

To
GENERAL REVENUES


Surplus Anticipated






$ 459,000.00

$ 467,000.00




Public and Private Revenues Offset with Appropriations:





NJ Division of Criminal Justice-Body Armor Fund

-

597.67

Clean Communities Program


-

4,857.57
Total Public and Private Revenues Offset with Appropriations:

14,130.23

19,585.47



Total General Revenues





$ 2,339,877.64

$2,353,332.88



GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS


Public and Private Programs Offset by Revenues:


NJ Division of Criminal Justice-Body Armor Fund

-

$ 597.67

Clean Communities Program




-

4,857.57
Total Public and Private Programs Offset by Revenues:

17,330.23

22,785.47



Capital Improvements-Excluded from "CAPS":







Capital Improvement Fund




-

8,000.00
Total Capital Improvements-Excluded from "CAPS":

-

8,000.00



Total General Appropriations



$ 2,339,877.64

$ 2,353,332.88


SEWER UTILITY

DEDICATED REVENUES FROM SEWER UTILITY


Rents







$ 914,000.00

$ 966,803.00


Total Sewer Utility Revenues





$ 1,053,493.74

$ 1,106,296.74


APPROPRIATIONS FOR SEWER UTILITY
 

Sewer Treatment Costs



$ 816,475.00

$ 869,278.00


Total Sewer Utility Appropriations

$ 1,053,493.74

$ 1,106,296.74



BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that two (2) certified copies of this resolution be filed forthwith in the
Office of the Director of Local Government Services for his certification of the local municipal budget
so amended.


It is hereby certified that this is a true copy of a resolution amending the budget adopted by the
Governing Body on the 19th day of May 2010.


CERTIFIED BY ME
05/19/10
Date

Sheila L. Oberly, RMC

 

It is hereby certified that this resolution has been reviewed and the 2010 budget as amended by this
resolution has been found to be in balance.

On motion by Mrs. Riley and seconded by Mr. Niece to adopt Resolution 2010-48. Mr. Bray voted
No.

RESOLUTION 2010-49


WHEREAS, NJSA 40A:4-78b has authorized the Local Finance Board to adopt rules that permit
municipalities in sound fiscal condition to assume the responsibility, normally granted to the Director
of the Division of Local Government Services, of conducting the annual budget examination, and

WHEREAS, NJAC 5:30-7 was adopted by the Local Finance Board on February 11, 1997, and

WHEREAS, pursuant to NJAC 5:30-7.2 thru 7.5 the Township of Oxford has been declared eligible to
participate in the program by the Division of Local Government Services, and the Chief Financial
Officer has determined that the Township meets the necessary conditions to participate in the program
for the 2010
budget year, so now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, by the Township Committee of the Township of Oxford that the in accordance
with NJAC 5:307.6a & b and based upon the Chief Financial Officers certification. The governing
body has found the budget has met the following requirements:

1. That with reference to the following items, the amounts have been calculated pursuant to law and
appropriated as such in the budget:
a. Payment of interest and debt redemption charges
b. Deferred charges and statutory expenditures
c. Cash deficit of preceding year
d. Reserve for uncollected taxes
e. Other reserves and non-disbursement items
f. Any inclusions of amounts required for school purposes

2. That the provisions relating to limitation on increases of appropriations pursuant to NJSA 40A:4-
45.2 and appropriations for exceptions to limits on appropriations found at 40A:4-45.3 et seq. are
fully met (Complies with the "CAP" law).

3. That the budget is in such form, arrangement, and content as required by the Local Budget Law
and NJAC 5:30-4 and 5:30-5.

4. That pursuant to the Local Budget Law:
a. All estimates of revenue are reasonable, accurate, and correctly stated
b. Items of appropriation are properly set forth
c. In itemization, form, arrangement, and content the budget will permit the exercise of the
comptroller function within the municipality

5. The budget and associated amendments have been introduced, publicly advertised, and adopted in
accordance with the relevant provisions of the Local Budget Law, except that failure to meet the
deadlines of NJSA 40A:4-5 shall not prevent such certification.

6. That all other applicable statutory requirements have been fulfilled.



BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Director of the
Division of Local Government Services.

On motion by Mrs. Riley and seconded by Mr. Niece to adopt Resolution 2010-49. Mr. Bray voted No.

Adam Payne, Oxford Lake Director submitted a list of Oxford Furnace Lake employees. There are
eight lifeguards that were hired, placed on a rotation schedule, working five days and two days off.
The refreshment stand will have three employees also on a rotating schedule-five days working, two
days off.

On motion by Mr. Niece, seconded by Mr. Bray and passed unanimously on roll call vote to hire the
employees listed for 2010 to work at the Oxford Furnace Lake.

Mr. Finelli and Mrs. Riley had a meeting last week with Paul Gleitz in Mr. Finelli’s office to review
his credentials, experience and to discuss moving forward with The Highlands Center Designation
process. Mr. Gleitz is the planner for Byram Township and Pohatcong Township. After the meeting,
Mr. Finelli took Mr. Gleitz on a tour of Oxford Township-Oxford Textile, Oxwall (Kellner), Connolly
Farm, Cambridge East and West, Spring Meadows, Coachlite and pointed out the Quentzel and Hissim
properties. Mr. Gleitz will submit a proposal for the cost of working on this project that would be
totally reimbursed through the conformance program of the Highlands. Mrs. Riley sent a letter to the
Highlands Council as per their request to confirm that Oxford Township has a total pool of money of
$115,000.00. This amount consists of the original $50,000.00; the second $50,000.00 granted and the
initial assessment grant of $15,000.00. A response has not been received as of today.

Mr. Benbrook will ask Mr. Gleitz to attend the June 2, 2010 township meeting to introduce himself and
to present his proposal to the Committee.


ENGINEER REPORT

Mr. Finelli stated that he has not received a response from the Highlands Council in reference to the
letter sent to them about the Highlands Center Designation project.

Mr. Finelli said that he has received a number of proposals on the dam project but the proposals range
significantly in cost. He said that he is going to meet with the lowest bidder and the second lowest
bidder, to review their proposals since there is a wide range in the price. He will report back to the
Committee at the June 16th meeting with a recommendation and approval by the Township Committee.

Mr. Finelli said last month, he distributed to the Committee, the wastewater management plan with
maps and asked if the Committee had any thoughts or comments. Mr. Niece said he did not review it.
Mr. Finelli suggested sending the plan to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to
see what response or comments, NJDEP might have for the Township.

On motion by Mr. Niece, seconded by Mrs. Riley and passed unanimously on roll call vote, to submit
the Wastewater Management Plan to NJDEP for their review.



ATTORNEY’S REPORT



Mr. Benbrook said that he took the personnel policy and modified it to a smaller municipality and put
the responsibilities previous designated to the Township Clerk, to the Committee. He will submit the
completed copy to the Clerk when completed.

Mr. Benbrook stated that since the 2010 budget has passed, Oxford Township would be able to fund the
$35,000.00 settlement to Cambridge East, through an emergency appropriation sometime in the next
month or two. The attorney for the association, Judith Fallat stated that she wants a partial settlement
agreement. Mr. Benbrook drafted a stipulation of settlement agreement and suggested that the
Township adopt an ordinance to codify how the Township is going to measure the reimbursement for
the electric and snowplowing in the future.

Mr. Niece and Mr. Finelli will meet at the municipal building on June 2nd at 4:00 PM, to count the
number of streetlights in existence at Cambridge East and then come up with a reasonable number of
streetlights that is absolutely needed. They will also look at the area that needs to be snowplowed.
Mr. Finelli will report back to the Committee at the June 16th meeting.


Mrs. Riley said that she received an e-mail from a realtor asking the price to purchase Block 26, Lot 83
(Cambridge West.) Mrs. Riley stated that she talked to the realtor and that her client did know that
this is a big piece of property, which is assessed at $262,000.00. He is buying the house that is
adjacent to this property and was interested in purchasing this property. Mrs. Riley said that she has
not heard anything more from the realtor.

The Committee received a letter from Fred Melberger asking for a reduction in the sewer bill for 100
Belvidere Avenue, which he is listing as a one family house. Mr. Niece said that the apartment is still
in place and it is really a two-family house.

The Committee stated that the kitchen and bathroom facilities have not been removed from the
apartment and can be rented out, thus making this dwelling a two-family house. Mr. Niece asked the
Clerk to draft a letter to Mr. Melberger stating that since it is listed as a two-family house, the sewer
bill cannot be reduced.

Mr. Niece informed everyone that the Oxford Furnace Lake is preparing to open; the bathrooms have
been repaired and painted. Mr. Niece said that the pavilion needs a paint job and the Township will
receive estimates to have this completed before the 2011 season.


PUBLIC COMMENT

John Ronkowitz asked about the shooting range. Mr. Niece said that this has been officially killed,
there is no shooting range planned.

Mrs. Hissim asked about a noise ordinance and if anything has been done about the geese at the Oxford
Lake. Mr. Niece said there is a noise ordinance and if there is a problem, call the Washington
Township Police Department. Mrs. Riley said that the in order for the State of New Jersey to do
anything at the lake in regard to the geese, it would cost the Township $10,000.00.

Mrs. Hissim stated that there are quite a few potholes on Buckley Avenue. Mr. Niece said that this
road needs to be repaved but the State of New Jersey has not approved any grant money to pave this road. Mr. Finelli said that he has not heard officially about this program not being funded, but it is now the middle of May and he has not received notification of the applications being available, which in the past, were always available in April and due by the end of June.

Lorainne May asked about an update of Oxwall. Mr. Niece said that there is nothing new, he would call Chuck Herring, DCA to ask if there has been any response from his letter to Mr., Kellner, the Township has not borrowed any money for the clean-up and Kevin is doing an investigation concerning the tax lien certificate which the Township would like to obtain in order to foreclosure on
the property.

Mrs. Riley asked what properties officially show that they are COAH units and if the group home (ARC) is one, and if not how the Township can take that credit for a COAH unit. Mr. Finelli said that the group home is not one and will call Mrs. Riley tomorrow with a list of all the COAH units.

On motion by Mrs. Riley, seconded by Mr. Bray and passed unanimously on roll call vote to approve all the bills listed on the May 19, 2010 Bill List.

On motion by Mrs. Riley, seconded by Mr. Niece and passed unanimously on roll call vote to adjourn
the meeting at 8:30 PM.

__________________________
Sheila L. Oberly, RMC