14 July 2008 - Regular Meeting

Agenda at Meeting

(click here for the Agenda e-mailed to Council members - 5:55 pm Wednesday, 30 July 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, Councilors Fields, Waldron, Volkert,  Perno, Brunton present. Councillor Alloway absent)

    (Mayor North presented a prepared statement to the Council and public regarding the 2008 Budget. He stated that the state aid cuts were responsible for just over $.10 increase in local taxes, and local budgeting was responsible for just over $.03.)

  4. PRIVATE SESSION-Discuss Possible Litigation (Mr. Brunton raised point of order that agenda was not in the order specified in the Bylaws for Council. Mr. Brunton then moved to suspend the normal order of business. Motion carried unanimously.)

  5. OLD BUSINESS-Ordinance for second reading, public hearing and adoption

    Adopt CAP Increase Ordinance (Ordinance 08-05. 2nd reading. No public comments made. Mr. Brunton asked the auditor and CFO (Denise Moules) if the budget increase under the cap required this ordinance - that is, if the increase is greater than 2 1/2%. The CFO and the auditor both said that it was. Auditor tried to calculate the increase in percent, but was unable to do so in a timely manner. Mr. Brunton allowed the vote to proceed without the calculation, as he believed the answer would not make a difference in the vote anyway. Ordinance was adopted 4-1, Mr. Brunton dissenting. Reason for Mr. Brunton's "NO" vote: Despite statements to the contrary by the CFO and auditor, Mr. Brunton believed the budget increase is less than maximum 2.5% increase allowed by state law. Repeating the reasons given for the 16 June Introduction "NO" vote: There is no reason to pass this ordinance. Not passing it will impose a small amount of fiscal discipline on the borough. Additionally, given the current state of the economy, large jumps in energy costs, etc., the borough should not be making it possible to impose even more financial burdens on residents at this time. After the vote, the auditor indicated the increase was 2.09%, under the 2.5% cap. Mr. Brunton commented that the ordinance had not been required after all, to which the auditor and CFO responded that the real increase was over 2.5%, despite what the arithmetic showed. Mr. Brunton will be speaking to the CFO privately to understand the mechanics of this condition. Mayor North indicated that he will be appointing a committee to look at additional shared services.)

  1. [sic] PUBLIC HEARING

2008 Budget

  1. R08-76 Read Budget By Title Only (Approved unanimously)

MS. Gail Ford:

    1.    None of the suggestions she made regarding the budget were adopted.

    2.    "Verizon" Aid [the aid directed to go to the school by the state - Item labeled "Due to Local School District" - $106,452 on Sheet 20a - MB] results in a reduction of tax payments to the school. She expects Verizon Aid to go away next year, meaning higher school taxes.

Ms. Alice Diamond

    1.    Please do not pass this budget. In town - two banks are being sold, eleven houses are in pre-foreclosure, 51 houses are for sale, five commercial properties are for sale. The resulting tax rate will not be good for the town. 6% of income of residents goes to property taxes. Asks Council to make serious cuts, and use surplus instead of making tax increases for this year.

Mr. Tom Evaul

    1.    Thanks to Council for efforts on the budget - comments are more for next year's budget.

    2.    Very concerned over the way the budget is done

            - There are big gaps in spending vs. allocations. Surplus is made up by "padding" the budget.

            - Present a budget that reflects what's actually there. Current method does not give an accurate picture.

  1. R08-77 Read Amended Budget Resolution In Full (Approved unanimously)

  2. R08-78 Adopt 2008 Budget -  (Adopted 4-1, Mr. Brunton dissenting. Reason for Mr. Brunton's "NO" vote: Not withstanding Mayor North's remarks at the opening of the meeting, Mr. Brunton feels that the Council made at best only token efforts to curb spending increases and find areas to cut. Of the over $50,000 in cuts Mr. Brunton recommended, only $10,000 were adopted. Nearly all of the cuts he recommended were in the departments he manages, and the Council still refused to allow them! Mr. Brunton feels that the residents are not well served by this overly-fat budget, as it will result in substantial increases in municipally-imposed property tax rates. Click here for the budget as adopted.)

  1. PUBLIC

    1. ENGINEER'S REPORT

        (Also discussed by the engineer was the condition of Merchantville's sewer system. Repairs can be accomplished before complete failure using a Cure-in-place liner that hardens and lines the pipes, providing a new inner surface. There is a repair program that can be reviewed at http://www.NJEIT.ORG. This is a 20 year program and a discussion will be added to the August Council agenda.)

    Mr. Bill Walker:

        1.    Borough should follow through with sewer lining. In the Master Plan, the infrastructure is a big concern.

    Mr. Tom Evaul

        1.    Has the agreement with Conifer regarding Chestnut Station Townhomes [O08-02, adopted 14 April, 2008] been executed yet?

    Mayor North: No. [The ordinance doesn't specify a requirement for a written agreement - it simply specifies the terms under which a sale to under-55 purchasers can be made. However, it may be desirable to have a signed agreement just for legal "tidiness." - MB]. Mr. Evaul encouraged that the mayor execute an agreement.

        2.    Regarding PNC Bank, the mayor promised that it use no tax money, correct?

    Mayor North: No, only promised that it will not lose money. There has been no action yet.

        3.    Concerned over the real estate transactions in which the borough has been getting involved.

    Vince of Sal's Pizza

        1.    Can't park his delivery car where it's easy to get to because he keeps getting parking tickets. He needs some sort of permit.

    Councilor Volkert asked if Vince has received any more tickets since the parking meeting at which he mentioned this problem. Sal answered that he had not, but the Chief of Police has told him he can't park there.

    Mayor North said he would talk with Councilor Alooway to see what could be done.

    Robert and Clifford, two parents of Merchantville children

        1.    Extremely upset with the way teenagers are being treated by the borough. Daughters have been picked up for loitering, etc.

    Mayor North explained the issues [see here for a brief synopsis from the 12 May Council meeting report]

    Parents replied that the problem is not their kids.

    Councilor Waldron explained the rationale for the kids being watched.

    Back-and-forth discussion ensued for several minutes.

    Councilor Waldron will arrange a meeting to discuss the issues.

  2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 11.19.07 11.26.07 12.10.07 12.27.07 (Approved 3-0, with Mr. Perno and Mr. Brunton abstaining, as they were not on Council at that time)

  3. CORRESPONDENCE (NJ League of Municipalities has provided information on seminars and the 2008 convention)

  4. COUNCIL REPORTS

    5. Mr.Volkert

        Monthly Fire report - 9 calls, 76.23 manhours

        Clean Communities:

            5 trash cans and 3 cigarette urns have been installed around town

     

    Mr. Perno

        Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)

            We are fully compliant

        Buildings & Grounds:

            Grant submission for historical trust for COmmunity Center has been done. We will hear in January if we get a grant.

            Roof repairs for borough hall - minimum cost to repair is $3500. To replace is $17,000. Damage was not caused by T-Mobile.

            Apron repair (annex driveway) will cost $54,000. It is not in the capital budget.

     

    Mr. Brunton

        Highway Department (download report)

        Licenses (download report)

        Board of Health (download report)

        Office of Emergency Management (download report)

     

    Mr. Waldron:

        Public Events -

            Car Show went well

        Shade Tree Commission

            Issue with resident on Gilmore about removing a tree. Resolved today.

        Communications & Newsletter -

            Scouts distributed last newsletter

     

    Ms. Fields:

        Planning Board - One fence variance granted in June

            Abandoned Properties notifications are about to go out

        Personnel

            JoAnne will be spending an additional 14 hours per week in the borough office

            Currently working on a sick leave, vacation & Personal Days form

        Neighborhood Preservation Program

            Completing surveys - people are not cooperative

        EMS report - 37 Calls in June; 22 handled by Merchantville

        Parks & Playgrounds - 75 "campers" are enrolled.

  5. NEW BUSINESS-

    1. R08-79 Appointing Acting Borough Clerk (R08-79, 80 and 81 Approved unanimously by consent agenda)

    2. R08-80 Appointing Registrar Of Vital Statistics

    3. R08-81 Shared Service Agreement for Public Health Services

    Resolutions to be read and approved by consent agenda  (R08-82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87 Approved unanimously by consent agenda)

    1. R08-82 Camden County JIF Renewal

    2. R08-83 ABC Liquor License Renewal

    3. R08-84 NJ DOT Safe Street Grant

    4. R08-85 NJ DOT Bike Grant

    5. R08-86 NJ DOT Municipal Aid Grant

    6. R08-87 Tonnage Grant

    7. APPROVE-MEMS Member Nicholas A. Lopez (Approved unanimously)

    8. FINANCIAL REPORTS (Ms. Fields certified that all is in order. Approved unanimously)

  6. PAYMENT OF BILLS ($391,571.82. Approved unanimously)

  7. ANNOUNCEMENTS  (None)

  8. PRIVATE SESSION-R08-88 Discuss Council Assignments (Approved unanimously)
    Additional Private Session - R08-89     (Approved unanimously)

  9.  Two new shade tree signs will be installed - On Browning and Chestnut Streets

  10. Mr. Brunton proposed spending $1200 to clean up area next to borough garage and plant Leland Cypress along the fence. Approved unanimously

  11. ADJOURNMENT  (time not recorded)

AGENDA IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

ONE WEST MAPLE AVENUE, MERCHANTVILLE, NJ 08109

(856) 662-2474

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