May 8, 2007
A Regular
Meeting was held by the Township Council of the Township of Roxbury on May 8,
2007 at 1715 Route 46, Ledgewood, New Jersey at 6:30 p.m.
OPEN PUBLIC MEETING STATEMENT
Notice
is hereby given that the Regular Meeting of the Township Council of the
Township of Roxbury scheduled for Tuesday, May 8, 2007 at 7:30 PM has been
changed to 6:30 PM. This is to allow the Township Council to discuss the 2007
defeated School 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 May 1, 2007; notice was posted
on the bulletin board in the main hallway of the Municipal Building on May 1,
2007.
ROLL CALL:
Councilwoman Kathy DeFillippo, Councilmen Fred Hall, Jim Rilee, Rich Zoschak,
Martin Schmidt, Tim Smith and Mayor John Ciaramella
ALSO PRESENT: Christopher Raths, Township Manager, Anthony
Bucco, Township Attorney, Lisa Palmieri, Chief Financial Officer, Thomas Ferry,
C.P.A. and Janet Rieth, Deputy Clerk and Mary Jane Parr, Administrative Aide,
Clerk’s Office
This
item will be discussed later in the meeting.
At this time
Council discussed the defeated Board of Education Budget with Thomas Ferry of
Ferraioli, Wielkotz, Cerullo & Cuva. Mr. Ferry presented an analysis of the
budget and stated that with $150,000 from the extraordinary aid received from
the State and $50,000 from the Enterprise fund (cafeteria) surplus, he feels
that the budget can be reduced by $200,000 without touching any programs or
curriculum.
Discussion
ensued pertaining to the potential shared services with the Board of Education
regarding the use of the Nutrition Center building in Berkshire Valley for
special education and the hiring of someone to oversee this project. Council requested that Mr. Ferry prepare a
written report showing the mechanisms the Board of Education could use to make
this occur. Mr. Ferry will obtain
figures from Mr. Mack, Superintendent of Schools, and advise Mr. Bucco so that a resolution can be prepared for
Monday night.
Council will
meet with the Board of Education on Monday, May 14th at 8:00 PM at
the Senior Center.
Mayor Ciaramella amended the Agenda to the Public Portion for any discussion regarding the Board of
Education budget.
There were no
public comments.
Mayor Ciaramella
closed the Public Portion pertaining to the Board of Education Budget.
Mayor
Ciaramella amended the Agenda to the Public Portion.
PUBLIC PORTION
Bob Jacobsen, 63
Carey Rd., Succasunna, discussed his drainage problem with Council. Mr. Raths will speak with Mr. Kobylarz and
Mr. Blood on this matter.
Ed Kirchgessner,
27Honeyman Dr., Succasunna asked when the flags will be installed on the
poles. Mr. Raths stated that they are
put up before Memorial Day and stay up through Veterans Day.
George Vessel,
504 Dell Road, Landing, spoke with Council regarding the sign on his Father’s
property which was knocked down. Mr.
Bucco updated Council on this issue. He
advised that, according to Municipal Land Use Law, if a structure is partially
destroyed, it may be re-erected in the same shape and fashion as it existed
prior to it being partially destroyed.
If it is totally destroyed, then the law states that it must be brought
into conformity with the ordinances.
The Township has an ordinance that suggests that if a structure is
damaged and the value to replace it exceeds 50%, then it is determined to be
completely destroyed and cannot be repaired or re-erected. The Courts have found that these ordinances
are invalid and cannot be enforced. A
municipality cannot expand or restrict what is allowed under the Municipal Land
Use Law by using the percentage method.
In this situation, it must be determined whether the sign was partially
or completely destroyed and whether or not the sign that was placed back up is
the same size or greater size than the one that was destroyed. Mr. Bucco will review the matter and report
back to Council.
At 8:00 PM
Council took a short break.
At 8:10 PM
Council returned to the Regular Meeting.
Mayor Ciaramella amended the Agenda to Adoption of Township Budget
07-156 A Resolution For Adoption of
the 2007 Municipal Budget
Mr. Rilee made a
motion to adopt Resolution 07-156. Mr.
Schmidt seconded the motion.
Roll Call:
Mr. Rilee – yes Mr. Schmidt – yes
Mrs. DeFillippo
– yes Mr. Hall – yes
Mr. Smith – yes Mr. Zoschak – yes
Mayor Ciaramella
– yes
Motion carried 7
- 0
REPORTS
OF COUNCIL LIAISON REPRESENTATIVES, COUNCIL COMMITTEES AND NEW BUSINESS/OLD
BUSINESS
New Business:
Presentation
by Richard Cramond
Mr.
Cramond presented certificates to the following people in the Township who have
homes built before 1920 and have preserved and maintained the architectural
exterior character:
Reidar
& Mona Frustol, 47 Main Street
84
Main St. Rental, LLC,
Edward
Kimball & Deborah Harrison, 16 Eyland Avenue
Gerald
Riccardello, 16A Eyland Avenue
Ruth
Pracht & Lois Bredesen, 313 Center Street
REPORTS
OF COUNCIL LIAISON REPRESENTATIVES, COUNCIL COMMITTEES
Mr.
Schmidt advised that the next Neighbors helping Neighbors program will be held
Saturday at 12:00 PM.
Mr.
Schmidt advised that the Grand Opening of the Dog Park will be held in a couple
of weeks. He will advise Council of the date.
Mrs.
DeFillippo stated that the gate at the old Ledgewood Circle has been repaired. Mr. Raths thanked Senator Bucco’s office for getting this done.
Mrs.
DeFillippo reminded everyone of the Neighborhood Meeting, Tuesday, May 15th,
at the Berkshire Valley Firehouse at 7:00 PM.
Mrs.
DeFillippo stated that the Freeholders are presenting medals to Veterans
tomorrow and she will be attending.
Mrs. DeFillippo stated that the railroad ties are still lying by
the tracks. Mayor Ciaramella asked if Morris County owns the railroad
line. Mr. Raths stated the County owns
it and leases it to Morristown and Erie. Mr. Raths will schedule a meeting with
Walter Kritch, of the Morris County Department of Planning.
Mrs.
DeFillippo stated that there has been no progress in coordinating a meeting
with Mt. Olive to discuss the Route 206 corridor. Mr. Raths will send a letter addressing the issue.
Mr.
Rilee stated the Township is now scheduled to meet with the Morris County MUA
regarding the bike path on June 12th. He and Mr. Hall will attend.
Mr.
Zoschak requested an update regarding Mr. Mantone’s complaints pertaining to a
bus stop in Landing. Mr. Raths stated
that the Police cars have been at the bus stop.
Regarding
the Lake Hopatcong Commission, Mr. Zoschak advised that a check will be sent
from the DEP.
Mr.
Hall requested input on his letter to the DOT regarding the Route 10/Hillside
Avenue traffic light. Council felt it
was a good letter and it will be sent out tomorrow.
Mr. Hall requested an update on the Cablevision contract
renewal. Mr. Raths advised that
the Cable Committee needs to go over
the report, send it back to Council and a public hearing on the ascertainment
report will be scheduled.
Mr. Hall advised that he attended the Board of Education meeting
last night. The Board needs to prepare a technology plan on a three year
basis and he feels that there may be a possibility of shared services.
Mr. Hall attended a PARIS grant meeting last week. The County has
received a grant from the SMART group to consolidate records management. Mr. Hall passed out information about the
program.
Mr.
Smith advised that the Economic Development Committee held a “Taste of Roxbury”
at the Marriott Courtyard. Kuiken
Brothers received the McFlower Award.
Regarding the Open Space Committee, Mr. Smith advised that they
are talking with the Canal Society regarding a potential project.
Mayor
Ciaramella advised that the Main Street Streetscape Committee will meet
tomorrow at 7:30 PM.
Mayor
Ciaramella stated that the DPW committee will meet next week. A reminder will be sent out.
Mr. Raths stated he has hired a new Administrative Assistant ,
Valarie Wyble, who started on Monday.
Regarding the Economic Development Committee meeting, Mr. Raths
stated that the last meeting pertained to the permitting process and only the
Committee attended.
Old
Business:
Procurement
Policy – Mr. Bucco’s office is working on this.
PUBLIC
PORTION
Ed Kirchgessner,
Honeyman Drive, Succasunna stated that he had two signs made indicating the
entrance to Memory Lane and they are now gone.
Mr. Raths will look into this.
MATTERS REQUESTED/REFERRED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS, MANAGER, ATTORNEY OR CLERK
A. Proclamation – Buddy Poppies
Mayor Ciaramella
read the above proclamation regarding the VFW Buddy Poppies