10 November 2008 - Regular Meeting

10 November 2008 - Regular Meeting

Agenda at Meeting

(click here for the Agenda e-mailed to Council members - 9:45 am, Friday, November 7, 2008)

(Mark's Comments / Annotations are in Red)

CALL TO ORDER - PUBLIC MEETING STATEMENT (7:30 pm)
PLEDGE - SILENT PRAYER
ROLL CALL

Alloway Fields Volkert Waldron Perno Brunton North

X X X X X X

(Councilor Perno absent)
PUBLIC PORTION

A. ENGINEER'S REPORT

There was some discussion of the sewer main repair on Cove Rd. The pipe will be lined with a cure-in-place felt/resin liner. Should take one day maximum.

B. PUBLIC

Mr. Nick Gaudio:

    1.    Had questions relating to Cove Rd. sewer repair - parking for residents along the street, etc.

Mr. William Walker (Planning Board Chairman)

    1.    Briefly discussed re-working of Chapter 20 of the Borough Code - Demolitions. Would like to re-establish link to Historical Planning Commission's Certificate of Appropriateness requirement. Planning Board is looking at this.

    2.    Thanks for doing the cure-in-place sewer main repairs - appears to save the borough a lot of money.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES 5.27.08 6.9.08 6.16.08 (Approved by all members present - 5-0)
CORRESPONDENCE (None)
COUNCIL REPORTS

Ms. Fields:

    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

    Planning Board - Meets tomorrow (11 November)

    Code Enforcement

        Four properties on Abandoned Properties List

            - One is sold and is being rehabbed

            - One homeowner has come in and applied for permits to do required repairs

            - One the owning bank has cleaned up and placed for sale

            - One has not responded

    EMS report - 28 Calls in October; 16 handled by Merchantville, 11 by Pennsauken, 1 by Maple Shade

    Neighborhood Preservation Program

        Surveys complete & submitted

        $100,000 available from basic balance fund

            - 3 homeowners have submitted applications for funding

    Ways & Means - requests all Councilors look at department budgets prior to end of year.

Mr. Waldron:

    Public Events -

        Tree lighting December 5 at 7:00 pm at Borough Hall

        Christmas Parade December 6

    Shade Tree Commission

        Six members went to a recent Shade Tree conference.

    Communications & Newsletter -

            Newsletter will be printed next week

    Historical Planning Commission -

        Approved window lettering for hairdresser

        Approved Borough Hall signs

Mr. Brunton

    Highway Department

        Leaf pickup has begun

        Trash pickup problem on Lexington has been resolved

        New Employee is working out well

    Licenses

        No report available for October

    Board of Health

        No Activity

    Office of Emergency Management

        Meeting each month for the foreseeable future to plan OEM exercise for 2009

Mr.Volkert

    Fire Department

        Monthly Fire report - 18 calls, 98.47 manhours

        Year-to-date - 99 calls, 789.36 manhours

Mr. Alloway

    Police (download summary)

    Municipal Court

        $21,563.40 received

        468 cases disposed

        423 cases added

        Credit Card payment system is working out well
ADMINISTRATOR REPORT

    Preconstruction meeting was held for replacement of Borough Hall windows.

        Work will start in a few weeks

    A tax sale was held on 29 October

        63 properties were involved

    The recent election went smoothly Final tally expected 17-18 November [Note: this has since changed to 26 November - MB]

    COAH is being reviewed with MAra of Ragan Design Group

    Bids have been received on the Borough Hall Annex roof.

        [contact me if you would like additional information. MB]
OLD BUSINESS (None)
NEW BUSINESS
1. INTRODUCE ORDINANCE - 08-10 Cancel and Re appropriate $88,467.50 (First reading - This Ordinance cancels residual appropriations for many past-year projects and re-appropriates the freed funds to installation of speed humps and replacement of the driveway at the back of Borough Hall. Approved unanimously by those present - 5-0)
2. RESOLUTION - R08-121 Chapter 159 approve items of revenue (This adds items of revenue to the budget)
3. RESOLUTION R08-122 Above Net fiber optic cable (This is a "pro forma" resolution. Mr. Laskey, an attorney for Above Net, explained the basis of the resolution - federally controlled, if I understood correctly - and described the installation of their fiber-optic cables on Verizon cableways through the borough. They have no plans to access backyard easements. The exact route of the cable is not set yet.)
4. RESOLUTION R08-123 Fair open appointment resolution (This resolution defines the basic process under NJ law which is used to contract for such positions as Borough Solicitor, Engineer, etc. The included Schedule A defines the criteria for each position.)
(R08-121, 122, 123 Approved by all present - 5-0 - via consent agenda)
1. APPROVAL-Firefighter application for Joshua Norcross (Approved by all present - 5-0)
2. FINANCIAL REPORTS (Ms. Fields certified that all is in order. Approved by all present - 5-0)
PAYMENT OF BILLS (Resolution R08-124. Approved by all present - 5-0)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. CCMUA Public meeting notice for budget approval
Monday, 17 November CCMUA Building on Ferry Avenue in Camden
1. MPWC Public hearing for rate increase
  
  Thursday, 13 November 6:00 pm. 8790 Park Avenue Pennsauken
2. Borough Ofices closed November 11 for Veteran's Day
PRIVATE SESSION (None)
ADJOURNMENT (8:35 pm)

AGENDA IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

ONE WEST MAPLE AVENUE, MERCHANTVILLE, NJ 08109

(856) 662-2474

WWWMERCHANTVILLENJ.COM

Alloway	Fields	Volkert	Waldron	Perno	Brunton	North
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