TOWNSHIP OF MIDDLE

TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE

WORKSESSION AGENDA

March 19, 2008 7:00 P.M.

(prevailing time)

 

 

CALL TO ORDER:

 

            Mayor’s announcement:  I hereby declare that notice has been given to the Herald Times, the Atlantic City Press and posted on the bulletin board of the Middle Township Municipal Building, stating the time and place of the following meeting, as required in P.L. 1975, Chapter 231 of the State of New Jersey. (Sunshine Law).

Notice of this meeting was properly given in Resolution No. 40-08 entitled “Establishing Work Session Meeting Nights” which was adopted by Township Committee of the Township of Middle on January 7, 2008

 

Members present are Mayor Doughty, Committeemember DeLanzo & Committeemember Barry.

 

Clerk/Business Administrator James Alexis, Municipal Solicitor James Pickering, Municipal Engineer Vincent Orlando.

 

FLAG SALUTE:

 

 

1.       ADMINISTRATOR  REPORT:

a.       None

 

2.       SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS OR DISCUSSIONS:

a.       Cindy Roberts, Senior Project Mngr.; Trust for Public Land

b.       Jim Cannon / James Pickering; Campgrounds

c.       Jim Pickering – Escrow Fund Release

 

3.       DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS, RECOMMENDATIONS & COMMENTS:

a.       Finance

b.       Personnel

c.       Police

d.       Zoning

e.       Construction

f.         Tax Collection

g.       Tax Assessor

h.       Grants & Economic Development

i.         Court Clerk

j.         Public Works

k.       Sewer / Water

l.         Recreation

m.     E.M.S.

 

 

4.       PENDING/ PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS:

a.       None

 

 

5.       PENDING / PROPOSED ORDINANCES:

a.       None

 

6.       EXECUTIVE SESSION:

a.       None

 

7.       PUBLIC COMMENT:

 

Committee agreed to do a Resolution for t he April 7th agenda for the Trust for Public Land regarding the Hand property off of Hand Avenue.

 

Jim Pickering discussed campground ordinance changes…..beefing up the buffers because of homes around campgrounds, etc.

 

Vince Orlando discussed final paving on subdivisions-bonding is problem-we are holding more money than what the work is left will cost-bond for 200% of cost of asphalt is what they are considering-timeline provision needed-need an ordinance amendment-Vince will work on that.

 

Chuck McDonnell announced that Opening Day for the baseball season is April 19th and the summer camp will be held from June 16th to August 15th.

 

Mayor Doughty announced that he went to Trenton on March 13th for the Budget Cut Update and Briefing for small municipality’s mayors.  Stated we lost $200,000 as did all people with populations of 15,000 to 16,000 residents.

 

Eileen Fausey questioned whether or not there was a list of employees and wages that work for the Township under a contract.

 

Tracey Taverner advised that Clerk has all of the Professional Services Contracts and they are readily available with an OPRA Request.

 

Eileen wanted to know what a Recreation Program Specialist was and do we do background checks on coaches that are hired.

 

Chuck McDonnell explained that a program specialist was someone that had training in recreation and could help run the recreational programs from beginning to end and that yes, there is a check done on coaches.

 

Eileen Faulsey wanted to know if Frank Dougherty was employed under the rec department.  She then went on to handicap parking and how that was working out since it had been 7 months since she first made the  request for more handicap parking spots around township hall.

 

Vince Orlando explained that there were going to be 4 spaces in the parking lot….1 for van the other 3 for pedestrians.

 

Peg Mathis wanted to know what was happening with the sewer on Shunpike & Shellbay.

 

Kathy Meers …..all permits submitted to DEP.

 

Peg Mathis…..what about the bike path….money has been appropriated and bid awarded.

 

Jim Pickering stated the situation is that we need to use some AC Electric land and they have been uncooperative in this matter……we must close on Raleigh and Lena properties before they will cooperate….we are ready but they are waiting for a Corporate Resolution to pass.

 

Peg Mathis…..how much property is involved?

Jim Pickering advised about 5, 000 square feet.

 

Peg Mathis …..AC Electric obtained right-of-way from Railroad Avenue, taking some of her property. ….their 2nd set of poles encroached on private property….where will bike bath be.

 

Vince Orlando…..it will be in between the 2 sets of poles.

 

Peg Mathis inquired if Township has ever considered using P-Cards……said county uses them and get back millions from credit card companies

 

Tracey Taverner stated she will speak with Ed Grant about this but it still does not alleviate finance office from normal routines on spending.

 

Peg Mathis wanted to know what the $200,000 less from state would round off to.

 

Steve Barry….another 2/3 cents.

 

Tracey Taverner explained that there was still much to go over before the real budget is struck.

 

Peg Mathis wanted to know why we cannot anticipate the recycling tonnage grant a year ahead.

 

Rick Ceglarski…..because these grants actually run a year behind.

 

Peg Mathis…..noticed transfer in and out of departments, yet they are still receiving increases….most noticeably the EMS….

 

Sean McDevitt  explained cost of repairs, supplies, etc. have increased throughout the years….EMS has received same amount for the last 25 years…..increase is greatly needed.

 

Peg Mathis…….Public Buildings and Grounds shows a $66,000 transfer out, spent $60,000 , requesting $102,000?

 

Tracey Taverner explained the increase was due to an employee that left last year, was not replaced right away, and has since been replaced accounting for the salary as  part of  the needed increase.

 

Madelyn Flipski ……there are a lot of people that are at poverty level, on fixed incomes, trying to live within a budget, but they do not see the Township as trying to live within a budget……everyone having hard times and yet budget is up $440,000 from last budget presented at the last Work Session meeting.  Is there going to be another reading of this budget?

 

Tracey Taverner…..the public hearing for the budget is still set for April 7th meeting.

 

Madelyn Flipski ……..You said no new hires for this year at January meeting…..now sees there are 3….why?

 

Tracey Taverner…..these were replacements for employees who have left.

 

Committeewoman DeLanzo advised Madelyn to speak with Frank Dougherty regarding what he does for the baseball association. 

 

Madelyn inquired as to whether or not regular inspections are done on campgrounds.

 

Jim Cannon…..no.

 

Madelyn ……..how are they overseen?

 

Jim Pickering……by the construction official.

 

Madelyn…….what directions did you give your departments to cut their budgets?

 

Mayor Doughty…….cut out what is not needed……to bare bones.

 

Committeeman Barry…….no difference.

 

Peggy Mathis…..I am not picking on the employees…..they should be happy they have jobs.  On special needs….there should be something out there for special needs people like something with the Special Olympics…..softball…..any type of grants that could help out.

 

Jill Zarharchuck……will look into it.

 

Meeting adjourned at 9:10 PM

 

 

 

MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING: