The regular scheduled workshop meeting of the Mayor and Committee of the Township of Oxford was held on February 19, 2008 in the Township Municipal Building, 11 Green Street, Oxford, New Jersey.

Mrs. 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, N. Angelo Accetturo, William Bray and Sheila L. Oberly.  Dave Roberts arrived at 7:00 PM.  

The Committee reviewed the February 2008 Bill List.  The Committee withheld the following bills for payment: 

B&R Uniforms                            169.90

B&R Uniforms                              89.95

B&R Uniforms                            540.90

Postmaster                                204.00

On motion by Mrs. Riley and seconded by Mr. Accetturo to pay the remainder of the bills listed on the February 2008 Bill List.

Dave Roberts of CMX (Schoor DePalma) explained the ten steps of the Plan Endorsement Process Outline.

Step 1. Pre-Petition

Petitioner submits letter and planning documents for pre-petition meeting-OSG and state agencies review documents and conduct pre-petition meeting scheduled within 30 days of submission.

Step 2. Plan Endorsement Citizens’ Advisory Committee

Mayor appoints Advisory Committee by resolution at a Public Meeting*

*For public meetings and hearings, petitioner must submit proof of notice, meeting minutes, summary of public comments and as required, copy of certified resolution.

Step 3. Municipal Self Assessment

Petitioner conducts self-assessment report and presents findings and conclusions a a public meeting and adopts a resolution to pursue Plan Endorsement. 

Step 4. State Opportunities & Constraints Assessment

OSG, NJDEP, NJDOT, NJ Transit and NJDA conduct opportunities and constraints analysis.  OSG produces an Assessment Report within 45 days of petition submission.

Step 5. Community Visioning**

Petitioner conducts community visioning, adopts Vision; submits it to OSG to complete Petition submission.  Visioning must include at least three workshops and at least two public hearings-one before the planning board and one before the governing body before submission to of the final Vision to OSG.

**OSG may waive Step 5 if it determines that a previously held visioning process and an existing Community Vision meet Plan Endorsement requirements.

Step 6.  Consistency Review***

OSG provides notice of commencement of consistency review of petition with State Plan and provides interested parties an opportunity to request that OSG conduct a public hearing.  Public may request a public hearing within 10 days of OSG providing notice.

State conducts consistency review, OSG develops draft MOU and Action Plan with municipality if consistencies exist.   Action Plan outlines the necessary steps for petitioner to achieve Plan Endorsement, assistance from state agencies and the benefits available to the municipality upon endorsement.  Draft MOU and Action Plan finalized within 90 days of submission of Vision.

***OSG may move the petition directly to Step 8 if the review shows that the petition is consistent with the State Plan.  In such a case, OSG will produce the recommendation report in place of draft MOU and Action Plan.

Step 7.  Action Plan Implementation

SPC considers draft MOU and Action Plan. 

Consideration at next regularly scheduled SPC meeting with at least 10 days notice.  Petitioner conducts one public hearing before the Planning Board for recommendation and one public hearing before the governing body to authorize MOU and Action Plan.  Action Plan and MOU may be considered at one joint public meeting by both governing body and Planning Board. 

Public hearing to take place within 60 days following notice to SPC approval of MOU and Action Plan. 

OSG issues Certificate of Eligibility-Issuance within 10 days of receipt of signed MOU and resolution from petitioner.

Petitioner works with State, County and Regional agencies to complete Action Plan.

Step 8. Recommendation Report & Draft Planning & Implementation Agreement (PIA)

OSG produces recommendation report and finalizes PIA within 45 days of completion of Action Plan.

Step 9. State Planning Commission Endorsement

OSG presents Recommendation Report and draft PIA to the PIC at a public hearing.

Consideration at next scheduled PIC meeting after posting of OSG Report with minimum of 10 days’ notice.

SPC considers petition, recommendation report, PIA and proposed mapping changes at public meeting(s).  PIC shall make a recommendation within 45 days at the next scheduled meeting of the SPC.

Step 10 Monitoring and Benefits

Municipality, State and regional agencies (as applicable) follow through on PIA including delivery of benefits to municipality.  Endorsement lasts 10 years.

Mr. Roberts stated that the Oxford Master Plan was completed in the year 2000 and is now due to be reexamined.  The self-assessment report can do double duty; can also be used as the reexamination report for the Master Plan.  He said Oxford Township is unique because Oxford is partly in the Highlands jurisdiction and if the Township chooses to be, the Plan Endorsement is only for the planning portion of the Township since Office of Smart Growth doesn’t have jurisdiction over the preservation portion of the Township.

Mr. Roberts said that the time between from the Center Designation expiration date to adoption could take up to a year.  Also Step 6 of the outline is a critical step, the state does an evaluation to see if everything is consistent with the state plan, if you are considered to be consistent, skip ahead to Step 9.  If you are not consistent then the state develops an action plan.

Mr. Accetturo stated that the whole process is frustrating-the state requires the Township to reprove the Center Designation again and again and in two years there will be new rules and another $25,000.00 required to be paid to do new paperwork.

Mrs. Riley stated that she does not feel comfortable assigning people to a Plan Endorsement Citizens’ Advisory Committee not knowing what the requirements would be for this Committee to accomplish.

Mr. Roberts stated that he has made amendments to the Oxford Textile Mill Redevelopment Plan to be consistent with the agreement.  The units in the concept plan are for a total of 325 total –263 Active Adult and 62 Single Homes.  The Land Use Board comments on this plan before it is adopted, render a report back to the Township Committee-the Committee can agree or override them with a majority vote. The Land Use Board is just an advisory committee to the Township Committee.  The Township Committee would execute the agreement.    The Township Committee will review the Oxford Textile Mill Redevelopment Plan and get back to Dave Roberts with comments.

On motion by Mr. Accetturo, seconded by Mrs. Riley to enter into Executive Session to discuss the Kellner litigation matter. 

The Committee entered into Open Session at 10:35 PM.

On motion by Mrs. Riley, seconded by Mr. Accetturo and passed unanimously on roll call vote to adjourn at 10:45 PM.

_________________________

Sheila L. Oberly, RMC