MAY 29, 2008
NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING
Pledge of Allegiance
Open Public Meeting Statement
Notice is hereby given that a Special Neighborhood Meeting
of the Township Council of the Township
of Roxbury will be held
on Thursday, May 29, 2008 at 7:00 PM at Company No. 3 Fire House, Berkshire Valley Road
and Gordon Road. This meeting is being held for the purpose of
general discussion with Township residents.
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 12, 2008;
notice was posted on the bulletin board in the main hallway of the Municipal
Building on May 12, 2008.
Roll Call: Councilman
Fred Hall, Jim Rilee, Martin Schmidt, Richard Zoschak and Mayor Tim Smith.
Absent: Deputy Mayor
Kathy DeFillippo & Councilman Gary Behrens
Also Present:
Christopher Raths, Township Manager; BettyLou DeCroce, Township Clerk;
Lauren Hepplewhite, Recreation; Rick Blood, Assistant DPW Director.
Mayor Smith gave an introduction to the public as to the
format of the meeting.
Mr. Raths Township Manager went over the current “To Do
List” in the township of projects already completed for 2008 and projects
anticipated for 2008.
Rick Blood, Assistant DPW Director went over the paving
projects that are on the schedule for completion this year.
Lauren Hepplewhite, Recreation gave a presentation about the
improvement upgrades at the Berkshire
Valley Park
and stated that the work will start in June and be completed by the end of
July.
Public Portion
Howard Dalrymple
Kenvil
Mr. Dalrymple was upset over the fact that the flags on Main Street were
not all up for the Memorial Day Parade.
Mr. Blood stated that there were brackets missing and on order for
replacement.
Mr. Dalyrmple also stated that the wetlands area at Horseshoe Lake in the waterway is dirty with
debris. Mr. Raths will look into.
Bill Harman
Berkshire
Valley
Mr. Harman stated that he felt further developing in the
township should be curtailed. He further
voiced his displeasure with the truck traffic in Berkshire Valley.
Council stated that the Highlands
and COAH has minimized future developing and zoning changes the township has
adopted. Also, Council did state that Berkshire Valley Road
is scheduled for paving in 2011.
Patricia Johnson
Gordon Road
Berkshire
Valley
Ms. Johnson stated that there are bears in the area of the
bus stop. Mr. Raths will notify the
Health Department.
Barbara Stopa
Berkshire
Valley
Ms. Stopa felt that there should be crosswalk markings on Wills Lane.
Ed Cardinale
Berkshire
Valley
Mr. Cardinale discussed the fact that the township cleaned
the drains but there still needs to be additional work. Mr. Raths will follow up.
Doris McCroy
Little Lane
Ms. McCroy stated that there is still a mess on the right
side of the road with debris. Mr. Raths
will follow up. Also Ms. McCroy stated
that Little Lane is a mess because of the ATV’s. Mr. Blood stated that they would try to level
the road to help the potholes.
Andrew Schlam
8 McCroy Drive
There is still dumping and cars illegally parked. The police will be asked for a stronger
presence in the evening hours.
Gary Zeek
Berkshire
Valley
Mr. Zeek stated that the new house next store to him has
created a drainage problem. Mr. Kobylarz
will look into.
Carol Little
Mill Road
Ms. Little stated that Mill Road is used as a pass through road
from Rt. #15 and could the township put up a sign stating local traffic
only. Mr. Raths will look into.
Dan Skarbnik
Berkshire
Valley Road
Mr. Skarbnik discussed the
impervious coverage on his property and his inability to obtain a permit.
Betty Langankemp
29 Gordon Road
Berkshire
Valley
Ms. Langankemp stated that there are potholes on Gordon Road that
need to be filled. Also, she questioned
the paving of Berkshire Valley
Road and the fact that it needs to be wider.
Adrian Simons
233 Berkshire
Valley Road
Ms. Simons discussed the new park at Berkshire Valley
and stated that the knot wood plants needs to be removed. Mr. Blood asked her to show him on the
drawing of the park where they are located.
Robert Kocoski
45 Ferro Monte
Road
Mr. Kocoski questioned how you qualify to serve on the Board
of Adjustment. He further went on to
state that he feels the Board goes beyond the law and their own experts.
Georgie Skeparski
Berkshire
Valley Road
Mr. Skeparski stated that he agrees with Mr. Kocoski and he
himself has had problems with the ruling of the Zoning Officer pertaining to
the replacement of his driveway. Mr.
Raths took specific questions from Mr. Skeparski and stated that he will get
back to him on this issue.
Dan Skeparski, Sr.
Berkshire
Valley Road
Mr. Skeparski, Sr. stated that he has experience
difficulties with the Board of Adjustment and stated that he is a contractor in
town and other contractors as well have problems to the point that they do not
want to work within the township.
Council explained to the public that the Board of Adjustment
is a quasi-judicial board and they cannot interfere with their rulings. Mr. Kocoski pointed out that the Council
should look deeper at their appointments to make sure that an individual has
qualifications to be on a board.
Joyce Dargel
Carey Road
Succasunna
Ms. Dargel spoke up and stated that she is a member of the
Board of Adjustment and the board volunteers their time and is always cognitive
of their responsibilities and the requests of the applicants. Further, the board is very aware of Land Use
laws and basis their rulings on the law.
Kimberly Brown
Sunnyside Drive
Ms. Brown stated that she felt the complaints by the
residents with regard to the Board of Adjustment is that many of the issues are
minor and repetitive and that possibly every zoning request does not need to go
before the Board if there is a gray area.
Ms. Brown further stated that possibly some of these issues could be
dealt with administratively.
Russ Brown
Sunnyside Drive
Mr. Brown stated that the pond by his property has debris in
it that needs to be removed. Mr. Brown
further went on to state that it’s an on going problem and he would like the
township to give direction on cleaning up the pond. Mr. Raths stated that there are always issues
with the DEP on cleanup. Mr. Brown
stated that he is willing to work with the township in aiding with the cleanup
if he is given direction. Mr. Raths will
contact Mr. Brown and work with him.
Cindy Shaab
Mill Road
Ms. Shaab discussed the parking on Mill Road by the field. Ms. Shaab went on to state that the residents
who attend the games at the field should be parking at the Nutrition Center. Mr. Raths will send a request on Mill Road to the
Police Department to give input.
Betty Langenkamp
29 Gordon Road
Ms. Langenkamp thanked the Council for the Recycling Center
being open on Monday’s. Mr. Raths stated
that the reason the Recycling Center is open is because the township entered into a
shared service with Netcong, which now affords us to keep the center, open an
extra day without any cost to the residents of Roxbury Township.
Jim Stopa
Berkshire
Valley
Mr. Stopa felt that a guardrail should be continued further
then where it is now at the ball field.
Mr. Raths and Mr. Blood will take a look at that request and if
necessary have it extended.
Charles Alpaugh
Eyland Avenue
Succasunna
Mr. Alpaugh questioned the funding for Commerce Boulevard. Mr. Rilee stated that the funds for
engineering have been restored by the state.
Patricia Boyd
Cornell Drive
Ms. Boyd stated that the bike path at Horseshoe Lake
in the back by the railroad tracks needs to have the bike area painted with the
symbol for biking so the cyclist and motorist can easily identify the area and
driving would be made easier. Mr. Raths
will have that done.
Several residents did complain about the Roxbury Water
Company’s lack of notification with the recent scare of possible
contamination. Council stated that this
is being worked on for a better communication between Roxbury Water Company,
the township and residents.
Bill Egbert
Little Lane
Mr. Egbert wanted the residents attending the meeting and
the Council to know
that the 50th Anniversary of the Berkshire Valley
Firehouse will be celebrated on August 9, 2008 and it will be a family day.
Anthony Romano
James Street
Mr. Romano questioned if there is any recourse against
Roxbury Water Company. Mr. Raths stated
that it is under control of the DEP.
Ed Kirchgessner
Honeyman Drive
Succasunna
Mr. Kirchgessner stated that he would like signs installed
at Memory Lane
that there should be no bike riding on that part of the lake. Ms. Hepplewhite, Recreation, was present and stated that she would
advise Mr. Stierli as to the request.
At 9:20 PM Mr. Hall made a motion to adjourn the
Neighborhood Meeting. Mr. Zoschak
seconded the motion.
Roll Call: All In
Favor – Yes
Motion Carried 4 to 0
Submitted By:
BettyLou DeCroce
Township Clerk
MINUTES APPROVED BY
COUNCIL
DATE: June 11, 2008
ROLL CALL: Mr. Rilee – yes Mr. Schmidt – yes
Mr.
Behrens – abstain Mrs.
DeFillippo – abstain
Mr.
Hall – yes Mr. Zoschak – yes
Mayor
Smith - yes