Monroe Council Minutes | 4/24/2017
TOWNSHIP OF MONROE COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
AGENDA MEETING – APRIL 24, 2017
The Council of the Township of Monroe met in the Municipal Building, 1 Municipal Plaza, for a Regular Meeting.
The Regular Meeting was Called to Order at 7:00 p.m. by Council President Stephen Dalina with a Salute to the Flag.
UPON ROLL CALLby the Township Clerk, Patricia Reid, the following members of Council were present: Councilwoman Miriam Cohen, Councilman Blaise Dipierro, Councilman Michael Leibowitz, Council Vice-President Elizabeth Schneider and Council President Stephen Dalina.
ALSO PRESENT: Mayor Gerald W. Tamburro, Business Administrator Alan M. Weinberg, Township Attorney Joel Shain, Engineer Mark Rasimowicz and Deputy Township Clerk Christine Robbins.
There were approximately eight (8) members of the Public present in the audience.
Council President Dalina requested the Township Clerk to read the following SUNSHINE LAWinto the record:
In accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act, it is hereby announced and shall be entered into the Minutes of this meeting that adequate notice of this meeting has been provided by the following:
- Posted on the Bulletin Boards within the Municipal Building on December 30, 2016 and remains posted at that location for public inspection;
- Printed in the HOME NEWS TRIBUNE and CRANBURY PRESS on January 6, 2017;
- Posted on the Monroe Township website; and
- Sent to those individuals who have requested personal notice.
In accordance with Chapter 3, Section 17 of the Monroe Township Code, Public Comment shall be limited to five (5) minutes unless further time is granted by the Council President.
Council President Dalina read the following entitled ORDINANCES for SECOND READINGat the MONDAY, MAY 1, 2017 Regular Council Meeting:
O-4-2017-009 ORDINANCE TO EXCEED THE MUNICIPAL BUDGET APPROPRIATION LIMITS AND TO ESTABLISH A CAP BANK.
O-4-2017-010 ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH A GOVERNMENT ENERGY AGGREGATION PROGRAM FOR ELECTRICITY PURSUANT TO P.L. 2003, c. 24 AND N.J.A.C. 14:4-6.
Council President Dalina read the following entitled ORDINANCES for INTRODUCTIONat
theMONDAY, MAY 1, 2017 Regular Council Meeting:
O-5-2017-011 ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 108 OF THE CODE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONROE ENTITLED “LAND DEVELOPMENT”.
O-5-2017-012 ORDINANCE APPROVING SUBDIVISION AND TRANSFER OF TOWNSHIP PROPERTY TO FIRE DISTRICT #3 AND TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR PUBLIC USE.
Council President Dalina requested the following entitled RESOLUTIONfor CONSIDERATION UNDER THE CONSENT AGENDA at the MONDAY, MAY 1, 2017 Regular Council meeting be reviewed and any questions will be addressed:
R-5-2017-132 RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE 2017 MUNICIPAL BUDGET.
Council President Dalina requested the following entitled RESOLUTIONfor CONSIDERATION UNDER THE CONSENT AGENDA at the MONDAY, MAY 1, 2017 Regular Council meeting be reviewed and any questions will be addressed:
R-5-2017-133 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN INTERLOCAL COST SHARING AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO AND TRAFFIC SIGNALIZATION AT THE COUNTY ROUTE 612 (MATCHAPONIX AVENUE) AND SPOTSWOOD-GRAVEL HILL ROAD INTERSECTION.
Council President Dalina requested the following entitled RESOLUTIONSfor CONSIDERATION UNDER THE CONSENT AGENDA at the MONDAY, MAY 1, 2017 Regular Council meeting be reviewed and any questions will be addressed:
R-5-2017-134 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING REDUCTION OF A PERFORMANCE GUARANTEE POSTED FOR GATEWAY AT MONROE – RESIDENTIAL (BA-5096-14).
R-5-2017-135 RESOLUTION GRANTING PERMISSION TO MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION TO CONDUCT A DISPLAY OF FIREWORKS.
R-5-2017-136 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE APPROVAL OF CHANGE ORDER NO. 1 AND FINAL SUBMITTED BY QUALITY 1STCONTRACTING, INC. IN CONNECTION WITH THE TOWNSHIP WIDE CONCRETE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. (Decrease of $30,815.12)
R-5-2017-137 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING RELEASE OF PERFORMANCE GUARANTEES POSTED BY QUALITY FIRST CONTRACTING, INC. IN CONNECTION WITH THE TOWNSHIP WIDE CONCRETE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.
R-5-2017-138 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND TOWNSHIP CLERK TO EXECUTE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH INTERNATIONAL FIREWORKS MANUFACTURING COMPANY. (Contract Price Not to Exceed: $17,200.00)
R-5-2017-139 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING MODIFICATION #2 TO A PROFESSIONAL SERVICE CONTRACT AWARDED TO DM MEDICAL BILLINGS, LLC IN CONNECTION WITH THIRD PARTY BILLING. (Modification Amount: $20,000.00)
R-5-2017-140 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE RELEASE OF A PERFORMANCE GUARANTEE UPON THE ACCEPTANCE OF A MAINTENANCE GUARANTEE POSTED FOR PRIMROSE ACRES, SECTION 1 PHASE 1 AND SECTION 1 PHASE 2 (PB-744-01).
R-5-2017-141 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE RELEASE OF A PERFORMANCE GUARANTEE UPON THE ACCEPTANCE OF A MAINTENANCE GUARANTEE POSTED FOR PRIMROSE ACRES SECTION 2 (PB-768-01).
R-5-2017-142 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE RELEASE OF A PERFORMANCE GUARANTEE UPON THE ACCEPTANCE OF A MAINTENANCE GUARANTEE POSTED FOR LAYFAYETTE KNOLLS (PB-812-02).
R-5-2017-143 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE TOWNSHIP BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR TO PREPARE SPECIFICATIONS AND ADVERTISE FOR RECEIPT OF BIDS FOR VARIOUS GOODS AND SERVICES (shirts and hats, printing, shade tree removal and pruning).
R-5-2017-144 RESOLUTION REFUNDING THIRD PARTY TAX LIEN PREMIUM PAYMENT.
R-5-2017-145 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING ADDITIONAL 90-DAYS OF EXTENDED SICK LEAVE.
R-5-2017-146 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING SHAIN, SCHAFFER & RAFANELLO, P.C. TO HANDLE THE MATTER OF WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. v. ROBERT F. STYLES, ET AL. AS EXTRAORDINARY LITIGATION. (Final Payment: $3,200.00)
R-5-2017-147 RESOLUTION REFUNDING TAX OVERPAYMENTS.
R-5-2017-148 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TOWNSHIP OF MONROE AND THE COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX PROVIDING FOR EMERGENCY PRE-EMPTION EQUIPMENT AT THE INTERSECTION OF SPOTSWOOD-ENGLISHTOWN ROAD AND OLD TEXAS ROAD, MONROE, NEW JERSEY.
R-5-2017-149 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MONROE TOWNSHIP UTILITY DEPARTMENT (“MTUD”) TO PREPARE SPECIFICATIONS AND ADVERTISE FOR RECEIPT OF BIDS FOR VARIOUS GOODS AND SERVICES FOR 2017. (Replacement of Well 17/19 Filter Media)
R-5-2017-150 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AWARD OF A CONTRACT TO WESTON & SAMPSON ENGINEERS FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR DEVELOPMENT OF A WASTEWATER SYSTEM CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT MASTERPLAN FOR THE MONROE TOWNSHIP UTILITY DEPARTMENT (“MTUD”). (Contract Amount: $305,100.00)
R-5-2017-151 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXTENSION OF CONTRACT NO. 431 “WELL MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR” WITH A.C. SCHULTES, INC. FOR THE MONROE TOWNSHIP UTILITY DEPARTMENT (“M.T.U.D.”)
R-5-2017-152 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SETTLEMENT OF A CLAIM BY THE MONROE TOWNSHIP UTILITY DEPARTMENT AGAINST AMERICAN PLUMBER, INC. (“M.T.U.D.”)
Mayor’s Report – Mayor Tamburro reported that Saturday was opening day for baseball,
as well as, softball, with 300-400 children in attendance; thankfully the rain held out.
Very impressed that there is a pre-k softball league as well. Then attended Carmela Epifano 100thBirthday celebration. He commented he had a full day with children in the morning and Seniors in afternoon.
Administrator’s Report – Administrator Weinberg reported that he was pleased to join
Council Vice-President Schneider on their trip to Trenton to speak on Monroe’s fair share
of school funding. He feels there will be real progress this year and will report to the public
the status as the fight continues.
Engineer’s Report – No Report.
Council’s Reports:
Council Vice-President Schneider–
- Attended Monroe Webelo’s Pack #3’s Cub Scout meeting to help them earn their government badge.
- Attended baseball and softball opening day.
- Went to Trenton, along with nine other school districts, who stood with us in the fight for fair school funding. Hopefully they were listening.
- This Sunday, April 30this the Multicultural Festival at the high school.
Councilman Dipierro– No Report.
Councilman Leibowitz–
- Reported that the Library, Senior Center and Recreation Center all helped get the petitions signed for our fight for fair share funding for the school districts and there was a lot of resident support.
Councilwoman Cohen –
- Reported that the Middlesex County Health Department reached out to her to participate in a “Green Project” which she is very excited to participate in.
Council President Dalina –
- Reported that the mock crash was held at the high school today with the Police Department, Fire Districts, EMS and local businesses in attendance. It was a very good presentation that the Youth Advisory Committee put together.
PUBLIC:
George Gunkelman. 5 Kelly Ct. – Mr. Gunkelman asked what the amount of the contract
extension on an annual basis is in reference to R-5-2017-151; Mike Barnes answered that there is
no set amount, it is only done on an as needed basis therefore they are only paid when work needs
to be done. Mr. Gunkelman asked if there is a cap on the amount; Mike Barnes responded that
there is a cap on it but does not have the exact figure tonight. Council President Dalina responded
that the amount will be noted for the May 1, 2017 Regular Meeting.
Mr. Gunkelman asked if we are undertaking anything that M.T.U.D., as agents of the Township, can use to train local staff or are we going to continue indefinitely to contract these technical services for people with permits and licenses; Mike Barnes explained that this in particular is for well drilling and we could not afford the equipment it takes to do this work.
Mr. Gunkelman referenced R-5-2017-150 which is for professional services; Mike Barnes
explained that this is for the Master Plan, specifically Pump Station #2, which have tanks that need
to be rehabbed.
Mr. Gunkelman clarified his question, asking if we are contracting for services for engineering
services that require different levels of certifications that we do not have in house; Mike Barnes
explained further that we pick and choose dependent upon what the need is for the work that has
to be done.
John Elbasan, 8 Belmont Ct. – Mr. Elbasan asked if a copy of O-5-2017-012 can be provided;
Administrator Weinberg answered that copy will be made available tomorrow.
Mr. Elbasan asked if that Ordinance is related to the parcel of land on Old Church Rd. as it relates
to the developer, Toll Brothers; Mayor Tamburro answered no. Mr. Elbasan asked if the land on
Old Church Rd. is being considered as a land grant to the Board of Education; Mayor Tamburro
answered that the Board of Education is now considering purchasing other land. This has nothing
to do with the land on Old Church Rd. The other piece of land will come to the Township once all
the work has been completed. Mr. Elbasan would like to make sure the builder fulfills all
requirements. The builder is required to put a nature trail on the property which was not done yet.
Township Engineer Rasimowicz responded that the builder has not requested release but all will
be considered before any bonds are released. The punch list items, the nature trail being one of
them, must be completed.
Steven Manfre, 12 Belmont Ct. – Mr. Manfre thanked the Mayor and Council for attending the
opening day ceremonies, he stated that for the children “the greatest gift is a gift of confidence”, it meant a lot and lifted everyone’s spirits. He encouraged everyone to continue to attend the games this season.
He asked for an elaboration as to what happened in Trenton; Administrator Weinberg explained
that the School Funding Reform Act was introduced back in 2009, explaining that each
municipality is eligible for a percentage of a State share and a percentage of a local share of
funding. Unfortunately, when that law was passed back in 2009 they did two things that have been
difficult for Monroe and is what we are trying to fix; firstly, they did something called Hold
Harmless, in which they did not want to hurt municipalities so they allowed them to keep the
funding that they already had even if the new formula meant that they should be receiving
less. There are over $600,000,000 in districts that are receiving over 100% of their State share and
they still may be under adequacy that they are low funding their local share that together they are
not at their 100%. More importantly they froze the formula in regard to growth caps and township’s
like Monroe that are growing get hurt tremendously. We are working with the legislature to get
our fair share of state funding. Mr. Manfre asked what we are doing differently; Administrator
Weinberg responded that we are making a collective effort to evoke change; there is a lot of
pressure to make change in Trenton. Mr. Manfre asked what the foresight to get ahead was so we
make sure we are not in a similar situation; Council President Dalina answered that we have a
Master Plan in place and many of the developments that have been planned over the many years
that the Master Plan has been in place do take a long time to finish. There will be a cap at some
point on buildout. Mr. Manfre added that he looks forward to continuing the discussion as he feels
it appears that the Township does not have control of this particular issue.
Michele Arminio, 9 Nathaniel St. – Mrs. Arminio commented that in 2010-2011, Council with
the recommendation of the Planning Board, did change the Master Plan to create overlay zones,
which put a lot of commercial zones into high density residential zones. We are experiencing the
results of that now as an effect of what has been done internally over the last ten years by the
Council and the Planning Board. The citizens have come to the meetings for years and voiced
their concern, asking for reduction and relief, as we cannot expect the State to give us relief when
it is the responsibility of our leaders in this community to care for the needs of the students and
the residents of the Township.
UPON MOTIONmade by Councilman Leibowitz and seconded by Councilwoman Cohen, the Agenda Meeting of April 24, 2017 Adjourned at 7:35PM.
ROLL CALL: Councilwoman Miriam Cohen Aye
Councilman Blaise Dipierro Aye
Councilman Michael Leibowitz Aye
Council Vice-President Elizabeth Schneider Aye
Council President Stephen Dalina Aye
Patricia Reid
PATRICIA REID, Township Clerk
Stephen Dalina
STEPHEN DALINA, Council President
Minutes were adopted on: June 7, 2017