12 May 2008 - Regular Meeting

Agenda at Meeting

(click here for the Agenda e-mailed to Council members - 3:37 pm 9 May 2008)

(Mark's Comments / Annotations are in Red)

  1. CALL TO ORDER - PUBLIC MEETING STATEMENT (7:30 pm)

  2. PLEDGE - SILENT PRAYER

  3. ROLL CALL (Mayor North, Councillors Alloway, Fields, Waldron, Volkert,  Brunton, Perno all present)

  4. PUBLIC

Several residents rose to complain about unruly kids around the Centre Street gazebo. Names have been withheld in this report.

 

Citizen 1

    1.    Raised concern about crowd of kids at gazebo on Centre St. Noted frequent problems, including vandalism of the gazebo and concerns for Collins House patrons.

Citizen 2

    1.    Echoed Mr. McLoone's concerns. Said kids have nothing to do and no place to go, and kids are disrespectful of property. Example: 11:15 pm on the 5th of May thre were loud shouts, foul language at the gazebo. There were seven young kids present. There have been many instances of disorder, vulgarity, etc., even at 3:00 am.

Citizen 3

    1.    Repeated 3:00 am problem. People living int he area are concerned about the gazebo. Many of the kids there are being dropped off by cars.

Citizen 4

    1.    Confirmed previously stated concerns. When kids are chased off, they congregate under the train station roof.

Mr. Paul Sohler

    1.    Raised concerns regarding Council members with school ties voting on school budget. Pointed out that three Council members have ties to the school, so they should recuse themselves on grounds of conflict of interest.

Mayor North and Solicitor Higgins referred to a letter received from Division of Community Affairs which stated teachers are allowed to vote. There was back and forth discussion with Mr. Sohler.

Councilor John Alloway addressed the gazebo concerns

    1.    There are issues at other locations in town as well as at the gazebo.

Mr. Tom Evaul

    1.    Requested update on PNC Bank  and building purchase.

Mayor North indicated that PNC Bank will move to the Maple-Chapel redevelopment site. The borough is purchasing the bank building for $950,000. Method of financing is unknown as yet.

    2.    Raised questions about TCE process and reasons for changing only height limits on buildings (R08-53).

Mayor North explained that first step is a request to contractors for qualifications. Some Council members will then select contractors and issue Requests for Proposal (RFPs) to them, with recommendations by committees for what to include or not include. He does not want to actually put requirements on the contractors for what they should design. Mr. Evaul questioned whether or not it made sense to not provide specific requirements. Mr. North stated that he wanted to provide requests to contractors, not requirements. Mr. Evaul asked if the discussions with Contractors will be open to the public. Mr. North said he does not know. Mr. Evaul asked why the full Planning Board will not be involved. Mr. North replied that it will be, when making its list of "recommendations."

Mr. Bob Disch

    1.    Also questioned TCE changes and approach, and ask why 48' height.

Mayor North indicated there was no specific reason for the 48' height other than that he talked to an architect and was given that number for a three-storey building. Mr. Disch then asked about requirements for tree removal / replacement. Mr. North indicated that there will be no requirements levied on the contractors - only recommendations.

Ms. Karen Foster

    1.    Complained about speeding on Volan Street, from Chapel to Springfield. Cars are moving very fast, and there are lots of kids in that area.

Councilor Perno said that speed humps in that area may be an option.

Mr. Russ Loue

    1.    Said that speeding is also a problem in other areas. He is in favor of speed tables, and said the speed limit should be 15 mph down all side streets.

Mr. Bill Walker, speaking as Planning Board chairman

    1.    Announced parking study public meeting on 29 May to discuss parking meters.

    2.    Talked about TCE guidelines and passed out draft amendments to the redevelopment plan.

Mayor North said the TCE redevelopment plan will be revised ONLY for height.

 

  1. ENGINEER'S REPORT

  1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (No minutes were presented)

  2. CORRESPONDENCE

  1. COUNCIL REPORTS

    Ms. Fields:

        Gave Monthly EMS report

            32 calls in April

     

    Mr. Waldron:

        Public Events -

            Arts Fair:

                This weekend. Centre Street will be closed.

            Birthday Celebration coming June 7.

            Car show is planned and in work

            Recreation Committee held a dance April 26 - 20 kids showed up

        Shade Tree Commission

            Reported Arbor Day activities

            Some concrete contractors are cutting tree roots and damaging trees. One has died from the damage

        Communications & Newsletter -

            Councilors Waldron & Brunton put together several articles for the most recent newsletter

     

    Mr. Brunton

        Highway Department (report to be added)

        Licenses (download report)

        Board of Health - No activity

        Office of Emergency Management -  - No activity

     

    Mr. Perno

        Buildings & Grounds:

            Bids coming in on repair of Borough Hall roof

        Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)

            Cleaning up Paperwork

            Received grant for ADA items

     

    Mr.Volkert

        Monthly Fire report - 6 calls for 85 manhours

        Clean Community program obtaining new trash cans and new cigarette urns

     

    Mr. Alloway

         Police (download summary)

            Click-it or Ticket campaign will run May 19-30

        Municipal Court

            $23,171.11 received

            628 cases disposed

            472 cases added

  2. ADMINISTRATOR REPORT

  3. OLD BUSINESS

    Mr. Brunton asked if there was a time critical element to the passage of R08-53 (the TCE resolution which received no advance notice to either the public OR the Council). Mr. North replied that there was none. Note that this resolution was first made available to the Council roughly 1/2 hour before the Council meeting, when the packets were distributed. It was not published on any agenda available to the public OR Council until just prior to the meeting. As there was no urgency to its immediate passage, it stands in clear violation of the intent and spirit, if not the letter, of the New Jersey State Sunshine Law. - M. Brunton

  4. NEW BUSINESS

  1. FINANCIAL REPORTS      

  2. APPOINTMENT - Richard Buckwalter to Shade Tree Commission

  3. APPOINTMENT - James Urecchio to Planning-zoning Board

  4. PROCLAMATION: National Public Works Week

  5. DISCUSSION - Free Van for Public Works (The Public Works Supervisor - Dan Beckett - has obtained a van from Collingswood for free. This van will be used only for the storage and transport of street barricades that are used for special events like the Arts Festival and the Car Show. There will be no major maintenance done, as the vehicle is not worth the cost. Only routine maintenance such as oil changes and tune-ups will be done. Mr. Higgins reported that a resolution must be prepared which will purchase the van for $1, as we must purchase the vehicle for a nominal fee. We cannot accept a "gift" vehicle.)

  6. DISCUSSION - Basketball Courts (This was a discussion of general parks usage and hours, including the bike path. Current ordinances do not specify specific hours of operation. After sonme discussion, the COuncil agreed that summer hours at all parks will be 7:00 am to 8:00 pm, and winter hours to be 7:00 am to 5:00 pm.)

  7. RESOLUTION R08-54 SCUCS Service Agreement - Senior Transportation (Approved unanimously after discussion)

  8. RESOLUTION R08-55 - Award of Bid A-1 Deer Carcass Removal (Approved unanimously)

  9. DISCUSSION - Air Conditioning Equipment at Community Center (A leak in the A/C system, which origin had been undiscovered for some time, was finally tracked down and repaired. It was caused during installation by the vendor. Question arose as to whether the borough would have to pay for the repairs. Administrator Fry will talk with the vendor to see what accommodation may be reached.)

  10. DISCUSSION - NaturaI Gas Co-op Bid (Brought to Council for information only - No action)

  11. RESOLUTION - R08-56 School Budget Review (Approved 5-0, Mr. Perno recused)

  12. RESOLUTION - R08-57 Approval of NPP Balanced Housing Manual and Plan (Approved unanimously with corrections offered by Councilor Brunton, which were provided to Assistant Clerk Denise Brouse)

  13. DISCUSSION - Left turn at School on Centre Street during off hours (There was a suggestion to limit the hours of the no left turn sign at the CVS/Church parking lot onto Centre Street at the school. After some discussion, during which Police Chief Bauer indicated his preference to make no change, it was determined that Councilors Alloway and Waldron will meet with Chief Bauer and the school board to discuss the matter further.)

  1. PAYMENT OF BILLS (Payments totaling $2,019,699.90 were approved unanimously)

  2. ANNOUNCEMENTS

    Summer hours are in effect for all borough employees. This does not impact any hours of operation.

    Memorial Day activities at Wellwood Park will commence at 10:00 am.

  3. PRIVATE SESSION (None)

  4. ADJOURNMENT (10:02 pm)

 

AGENDA IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

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