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March 21, 2006

 

A Budget Meeting of the Township Council of the Township of Roxbury was held on March 21, 2006 at 1715 Route 46, Ledgewood, New Jersey at 7:30 p.m.                                                                    

 

OPEN PUBLIC MEETING STATEMENT

Notice is hereby given that a Special Meeting of the Township Council of the Township of Roxbury will be held on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 at 7:30 PM at 1715 Route 46, Ledgewood, New Jersey.  This meeting is being held for the purpose of discussing the 2006 Municipal Budget.

 

Adequate notice of this meeting of the Township Council of the Township of Roxbury was given as required by the Open Public Meetings Act as follows:  Notice was faxed to the Daily Record, the Newark Star Ledger and the Roxbury Register on March 15, 2006; notice was posted on the bulletin board in the main hallway of the Municipal Building on March 15, 2006.

 

ROLL CALL:  Councilwoman Kathy DeFillippo, Councilmen, Fred Hall, Jim Rilee, Richard Zoschak, Tim Smith, John Ciaramella and Mayor Martin Schmidt

 

ALSO PRESENT:  Christopher Raths, Township Manager and BettyLou DeCroce, Township Clerk; Lisa Palmieri, Chief Financial Officer.

 

REPORTS OF COUNCIL LIAISON REPRESENTATIVES, COUNCIL COMMITTEES AND NEW BUSINESS/OLD BUSINESS

 

·         2006 Budget Discussion

o        Recycling

Mr. Raths handed out a memorandum submitted by Rick Blood pertaining to the Recycling Center hours.

 

Weekends only

2-part timers ($12 & $10/hr.) or $22.00 hr

8 hrs/day or 16 hrs/wknd X 52 weeks = $18,304       Annual Savings:  $104,946

                                                                                    2006 Savings:     $  60,869

 

Weekends and 8 Holidays

2 part timers @ $22/hr X 8 hrs X 8 Days = $1,408 + $18,304 = $19,712

                                                                                   Annual Savings:  $103,538

                                                                                   2006 Savings:     $  60,052

 

Weekends and 1 day per week (Wednesday)

52 Weekdays: $12 X 8 hrs X 52 wks = $4,992 + $18,304 = $23,296

                                                                                   Annual Savings:  $ 99,954

                                                                                   2006 Savings:     $ 57,973

 

Discussion ensued with regard to calling Jefferson and Mine Hill to see if they are interested in shared services.  Mr. Blood will make those calls and advise Council.  Mr. Zoschak stated that he did not have a problem with it except if it ended up a cost for the township he would not support shared services.

 

Council agreed to the Weekends and 8 Holidays.

 

Council asked Mr. Raths to review the salaries for recycling because it seemed to be an excessive increase from last year. Mr. Raths stated that he would look into it and give an explanation to Council.

 

o        Recreation and Parks

 

Mr. Raths went over the Parks & Recreation Director Current Responsibilities

 

1.      Purchases

2.      Program Development

3.      Hiring All Employees

4.      Personnel Management & Interviews

5.      Recruiting Volunteer Coaches

6.      Park Development & Construction

7.      Grant Team

8.      Open Space Committee

9.      Recreation Committee

10.  Senior Center Schedule

11.  Schedule all Recreation Facilities

12.  Coordinate Recreation Functions for Clubs and Civic Programs

13.  Budget Preparation – Recreation, Parks, Buildings & Grounds

14.  Tournament Scheduling & Supervision

15.  Supervises the Following Employees

a.      Parks & Building Maintenance – 6

b.      Recreation – 2.5

c.      Seasonal – 90

16.  Scheduling All Recreation Leagues, Clinics and Clubs

17.  Coordinate Challenger Program

18.  Teen Center Operation

19.  Maintenance of 15 Parks

20.  Maintenance of all Township Buildings

21.  Liaison with Athletic Director, PTA’s and Principals

22.  Develop Long-Range Goals and Objectives

23.  Summer Programs

a.      Special Events

b.      Curbside Cinema

 

24.  Works all evenings weekends and attends all meetings.

 

NUMBER OF RESPONSIBILITIES EXCEEDS EFFECTIVE CONTROL

 

Needs assistance of Program Coordinator/Assistant Director

 

Assistant Help

1.      Program Development

2.      Hiring Employees

3.      Personnel Management & interviews

4.      Recruiting Volunteer Coaches

5.      Grant Team

6.      Grant Presentations

7.      Scheduling Recreation Facilities

8.      Coordinate Recreation Functions for Clubs and Civic programs

9.      Tournament Scheduling & Supervision

10.   Supervision 90 seasonal employee

11.   Scheduling All Recreation Leagues, clinics and Clubs

12.   Coordinate Challenger Program

13.  Teen Center Operation

14.  Develop Long-Range Goals and Objectives

15.  Summer Program

16.  Provide Independent decision making

17.  Acting Director

 

     Clerical Help

1.      Recruiting Volunteer Coaches

2.      Senior Center Schedule

3.      Schedule All Recreation Facilities

4.      Coordinate Challenger Program

5.      Summer Programs

6.      Procurement

 

 

TAX DIFFERENCE ON $200,000/84 CENTS

 

Discussion ensued with regard to hiring a Program Coordinator/Assistant Director.  Council felt that Mr. Stierli is currently stretched too thin.  In order for the Township to maintain the current levels offered in our Recreational Programs and the ability to offer more to the residents it would be necessary to fill the open position in the Recreation Department.

 

Discussion took place as to the vacant position in Park Maintenance.  Mr. Stierli stated that they really need the position filled in order to keep up the park maintenance as well as all of the other buildings the Township owns.  Council asked Mr. Raths to see if any of the personnel that will not be needed with the new recycling schedule could be moved to this position.  Mr. Raths will look into the matter but pointed out that the individual would have to be physically able to perform all the required work.

 

Under Recreation 28-372 line item Leisure Activities were discussed and line item 28-375 Park Maintenance.  Council felt that it was appropriated properly.

 

o        Fire

 

Department Chief Joe Lang, Chief Bob Baker and Chief Peter Braxton were present to answer any questions pertaining to the Fire Department, EMS Department. 

 

Questions were raised pertaining to the $64,000.00 line item – Clothing etc.  Chief Lang stated that amount is budgeted for each volunteer, which equates to $165.00 per volunteer for clothing, gas, cleaning etc.

 

Council made no changes to the Fire budget at this time.

 

o        Health

 

Frank Grisi, Heath Officer was present.  Discussion took place pertaining to the Morris Regional PH Partnership and its purpose.  Mr. Smith brought up for discussion the fact that Mt. Olive, Parsippany and Randolph are not members of the Partnership.  Mr. Grisi stated that they are currently trying to sign up the remaining municipalities.  Discussion ensued and Council agreed to $1,000 for 2006 membership.  Mr. Grisi stated that on March 28, 2006, council meeting he will be giving a presentation to Council on the Partnership.

 

Mr. Smith pointed out that the proposed amount for the Golub Contract had dropped.  Mr. Grisi stated that was correct and the needed proposed amount for the 2006 budget would be $5,000.

 

 

 

MATTERS REQUESTED/REFERRED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS, MANAGER, ATTORNEY OR CLERK

 

Discussion took place pertaining to the Water/Sewer Payment.  The proposed payment for 2006 is $101,000, which equates to a 0.46 tax increase.  Mr. Smith presented the Council with a breakdown of extending the payoff as follows:

 

PROPOSED PAYOFF SCHEDULE

 

YEAR                          2006              2007             2008          2009         2010

 

Amount Paid Off            --                $25,000       $25,000    $25,000   $25,000

Interest                          --                $  3,535       $  2,660        1,785          910.

 

Mr. Smith felt that by spreading it out to 2010 would help the tax base for payout and give some relief in the budget this year with hope that our financial picture changes in the upcoming years.

There are several projects that should be completed which would create revenue in future budgets.  Mr. Smith felt that it is a quick fix for this year and will serve the people better with payments spread out.

 

Council discussed this in length and decided to bite the bullet and pay the payment as scheduled for this year (2006) in the amount of $101,000.

 

PUBLIC PORTION

 

There was no public comment at this time.

 

DRAFT ORDINANCES FOR DISCUSSION

None

 

ORDINANCES TO BE INTRODUCED                                               

None

 

HEARING AND ADOPTION OF ORDINANCES ON SECOND READING

None

 

DRAFT RESOLUTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

None

 

INTRODUCTION AND ADOPTION OF RESOLUTIONS

None

 

COMMUNICATIONS

March 17, 2006

 

Council agreed to hold the March 17, 2006 Communications to be discussed at the March 28, 2006 scheduled meeting.

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION

None

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

At 10:15 PM Mr. Smith made a motion to adjourn the Budget Meeting.  Mr. Ciaramella seconded the motion.

 

All In Favor – Yes

 

Motion Approved – 7 to 0

 

_______________________

BettyLou DeCroce

Township Clerk

 

MINUTES APPROVED BY COUNCIL:

DATE:                         April 11, 2006

ROLL CALL:              Mr. Zoschak – yes       Mr. Ciaramella – yes

                                    Mrs. DeFillippo – yes  Mr. Hall – yes

                                    Mr. Rilee – yes            Mayor Schmidt - yes