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Monroe Council Minutes | 1/25/2016

COUNCIL OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONROE MINUTES 

SPECIAL & REGULAR MEETING  - JANUARY 25, 2016 

 

The Council of the Township of Monroe met in the Municipal Building, 1 Municipal Plaza, for a Special and Regular Meeting.  

The Special Meeting was Called to Order at 7:00 p.m. by Council President Leslie Koppel with a Salute to the Flag. 

 

UPON ROLL CALL by the Deputy Township Clerk, Patricia Reid, the following members of Council were present: Councilman Michael Leibowitz, Councilwoman Elizabeth Schneider, Council Vice-President Stephen Dalina and Council President Leslie Koppel. 

ALSO PRESENT:  Mayor Gerald W. Tamburro, Business Administrator Wayne R. Hamilton, Township Attorney Joel L. Shain, Engineer Mark Rasimowicz and Deputy Township Clerk Christine Robbins. 

There were approximately ten (10) members of the Public present in the audience. 

 

Council President Koppel requested the Deputy Clerk to read the following SUNSHINE LAW into 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: 

1.Posted on January 5, 2016 on the Bulletin Board of the Office of the Township Clerk in the Municipal Building, 1 Municipal Plaza and remains posted at that location for public inspection; 

 

2.Printed in the HOME NEWS TRIBUNE and the CRANBURY PRESS on January 8, 2016;  

 

3.Posted on the Bulletin Boards within the Municipal Complex;  

 

4.Posted on the Monroe Township website; and 

 

5.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. 

 

UPON MOTION made by Council Vice-President Dalina and seconded by Councilman Leibowitz, the following entitled Resolution was moved for adoption:  RESOLUTION NO. R-1-2016-055 AUTHORIZING CLOSED PORTION OF PUBLIC MEETING.    

ROLL CALL:   Councilman Blaise DipierroAye 

                       Councilman Michael Leibowitz  Aye 

                       Councilwoman Elizabeth SchneiderAye 

                       Council Vice-President Stephen DalinaAye 

                       Council President Leslie Koppel                               Aye 

 

Mayor, Administrator, Attorney, Council Members, and Deputy Township Clerks left Council Chambers and convened in the Conference Room for the closed portion of the Public Meeting. 

 

The Regular Council Meeting reconvened at 8:25 p.m. 

 

 

UPON MOTION made by Councilman Leibowitz and seconded by Council Vice-President Dalina, an Ordinance of which the following is the title was moved on second reading for final passage: “AMENDING THE 2015 – 2018 SUPERVISORY PERSONNEL SALARY AND WAGE  

ORDINANCE” 

 

ORDINANCE as follows: (O-01-2016-001)  

 

BE IT ORDAINED by the Township Council of the Township of Monroe, in the County of Middlesex, State of New Jersey that the 2015 – 2018 Supervisory Personnel Salary and Wage Ordinance shall be amended, effective January 1, 2016 as follows: 

SECTION 1.  The following annual salaries, wages and fees shall be paid, retroactive to January 1, 2016, as hereinafter specified: 

 

    2016 to 2018 

POSITIONSALARY AND WAGE RANGES 

Affordable Housing Coordinator$  5,500to$11,000 

Emergency Mgmt Coordinator$15,000to$30,176 

Deputy Emergency Mgmt Coordinator$15,000to$30,176 

Assistant to Emergency Mgmt Coordinator$15,000to$19,772 

 

SECTION 2.  All Ordinances or parts of Ordinances inconsistent with the provisions of this Ordinance shall be and the same are hereby repealed. 

 

SECTION 3.  If any section, paragraph, subdivision, clause or provision of this Ordinance shall be adjudged invalid, such adjudication shall apply only to the section, paragraph, subdivision, clause or provision so adjudged and the remainder of the Ordinance shall be deemed valid and effective. 

 

SECTION 4.  This Ordinance shall take effect upon final passage and publication as provided by law. 

 

Council President Koppel opened the Public Hearing to Council and Public discussion of this Ordinance.  

There was no Public or Council discussion of this Ordinance. 

 

As Councilman Leibowitz and Council Vice-President Dalina regularly moved and seconded the 

adoption, an Ordinance of which the following is the title was passed on Second Reading and Final Adoption:  “AMENDING THE 2015 – 2018 SUPERVISORY PERSONNEL SALARY AND  

WAGE ORDINANCE” 

ROLL CALL:   Councilman Blaise DipierroAye 

                       Councilman Michael Leibowitz  Aye 

                       Councilwoman Elizabeth SchneiderAye 

                       Council Vice-President Stephen DalinaAye 

                       Council President Leslie Koppel                               Aye 

 

Copy of Ordinance Duly Filed. 

O-01-2016-001 

 

 

UPON MOTION made by Councilman Leibowitz and seconded by Council Vice-President Dalina, an Ordinance of which the following is the title was moved on second reading for final passage: “ORDINANCE NO. O-1-2016-002 AUTHORIZING THE ACQUISITION OF A CERTAIN PARCEL OF LAND FOR OPEN SPACE LOCATED AT 156 PROSPECT PLAINS  

ROAD AND APPEARING ON THE OFFICIAL MUNICIPAL TAX MAPS AT BLOCK 27.02,  

LOT 17.01. 

 

ORDINANCE as follows:(O-01-2016-002)  

 

WHEREAS, Gerald J. Noonan and Tracy A. Noonan (the “Noonan’s”) own real property commonly known as 156 Prospect Plains Road, identified on the official Tax Maps of the Township of Monroe as Block 27.02, Lot 17.01 in the County of Middlesex and State of New Jersey (“the Property”); and 

 

WHEREAS, the Township of Monroe Planning Board has included the Property in its Master Plan as property targeted for acquisition as Open Space; and  

 

WHEREAS, in or about December, 2015, the Noonan’s offered to sell the Property to the Township of Monroe; and 

 

WHEREAS, the Noonan’s have agreed to sell the Property to the Township of Monroe for consideration of Two Hundred Seventy-Five Thousand Dollars ($275,000.00); and  

 

WHEREAS, the Township’s Chief Financial Officer has verified there are sufficient funds remaining from the issuance of bonds, pursuant to the Open Space Acquisition Bond Ordinance O-8-2000-026, to pay for the aforesaid acquisition; 

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Township Council of the Township of Monroe, in the County of Middlesex, State of New Jersey as follows: 

 

Section 1.  The Mayor, Township Clerk and Township Attorney are hereby authorized and directed to execute any and all documents as are reasonably necessary to acquire title to:  

 

  1. All portions of the parcel of land identified as Lot 17.01 in Block 27.02, on the official Tax Maps of the Township of Monroe, as more particularly described on Exhibit “A”; 

 

  1. All improvements erected on, over and beneath aforesaid lands; and 

 

  1. All easements, rights-of-way or use, privileges, licenses, hereditaments, appurtenances, interests and other rights belonging to or inuring to the benefit of the lands and all right, title and interest of the owners in and to any land lying in the bed of any highway, street, road or avenue, opened or proposed, in front or abutting or adjoining aforesaid lands. 

 

Section 2.  The purchase price for the Property shall be Two Hundred Seventy Five Thousand Dollars ($275,000.00), as determined through arm’s length negotiations. 

 

Section 3.  The Mayor and Township Clerk are hereby authorized to accept the Deed transferring the Property for open space, provided the Deed is in a form satisfactory to the Township Attorney. 

 

Section 4.  All ordinances or parts of ordinances inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed. 

 

Section 5. If any section, subdivision, sentence, clause or provision of this Ordinance shall be adjudged invalid, such adjudication shall apply only to the section, paragraph, subdivision, clause or provision so adjudged and the remainder of the Ordinance shall be deemed valid and effective. 

 

Section 6. This Ordinance shall take effect upon final passage and publication as provided by law. 

 

Council President Koppel opened the Public Hearing to Council and Public discussion of this Ordinance.  

Councilman Leibowitz asked what we are buying the property for and Engineer Mark Rasimowicz answered that it is an Open Space purchase.  

There was no Public discussion of this Ordinance. 

 

 

As Councilman Leibowitz and Council Vice-President Dalina regularly moved and seconded the 

adoption, an Ordinance of which the following is the title was passed on Second Reading and  

Final Adoption:  “ORDINANCE NO. O-1-2016-002 AUTHORIZING THE ACQUISITION OF A  

CERTAIN PARCEL OF LAND FOR OPEN SPACE LOCATED AT 156 PROSPECT PLAINS  

ROAD AND APPEARING ON THE OFFICIAL MUNICIPAL TAX MAPS AT BLOCK 27.02,  

LOT 17.01”. 

ROLL CALL:   Councilman Blaise DipierroAye 

                       Councilman Michael Leibowitz  Aye 

                       Councilwoman Elizabeth SchneiderAye 

                       Council Vice-President Stephen DalinaAye 

                       Council President Leslie Koppel                               Aye 

 

Copy of Ordinance Duly Filed. 

O-01-2016-002 

 

 

 

UPON MOTION made by Council Vice-President Dalina and seconded by Councilwoman Schneider, the following entitled Resolutions were moved for adoption under the CONSENT AGENDA, as hereinbelow set forth:   

ROLL CALL:   Councilman Blaise DipierroAye 

                       Councilman Michael Leibowitz  Aye 

                       Councilwoman Elizabeth SchneiderAye 

                       Council Vice-President Stephen DalinaAye 

                       Council President Leslie Koppel                               Aye 

 

RESOLUTIONS adopted under CONSENT AGENDA are as follows: 

 

 

R-1-2016-056RESOLUTION AMENDING RESOLUTION NO. R-11-2014-305 AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF A CONTRACT WITH DELTA DENTAL OF NEW JERSEY FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2015 TO INCLUDE CALENDAR YEAR 2016. 

 

R-1-2016-057RESOLUTION APPROVING THE EXTENSION OF THE INTRODUCTION AND APPROVAL OF THE MONROE TOWNSHIP 2016 ANNUAL BUDGET TO MARCH 7, 2016. 

 

R-1-2016-058RESOLUTION REFUNDING THIRD PARTY TAX LIEN PREMIUM PAYMENTS. 

 

R-1-2016-059RESOLUTION GRANTING ADVICE AND CONSENT TO THE APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOARD FOR THE TOWNSHIP OF MONROE. 

 

R-1-2016-060RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SUBORDINATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNIT.(Block 14.10, Lot 1) 

 

R-1-2016-061RESOLUTION APPOINTING MEMBERS TO THE MONROE TOWNSHIP ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT. 

 

 

Council President Koppel advised the Council that Nominations are in order for the appointment of Council Representative to the Middlesex County Housing and Community Development Committee for a term of one (1) year.  

 

Council Vice-President nominated Councilman Michael Leibowitz, seconded by Councilman Dipierro.  

 

 

UPON MOTION made by Council Vice-President Dalina and seconded by Councilwoman Schneider, a Nomination for the appointment of Council Representative to the Middlesex County Housing and Community Development Committee were Closed. 

ROLL CALL: Councilman Blaise DipierroAye   

Councilman Michael Leibowitz  Aye 

Councilwoman Elizabeth SchneiderAye 

Council Vice-President Stephen DalinaAye 

Council President Leslie KoppelAye 

 

 

UPON MOTION made by Councilwoman Schneider and seconded by Councilman Dipierro, the following entitled RESOLUTION was moved for adoption, as hereinbelow set forth: RESOLUTION NO. R-1-2016-062 APPOINTING COUNCIL MEMBER TO THE MIDDLESEX COUNTY HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE FOR THE YEAR 2016. 

 

 

UPON MOTION made by Councilman Leibowitz and seconded by Council Vice-President Dalina, the Special Meeting was Adjourned at 7:32pm and the regularly scheduled Agenda Meeting was Called to Order. 

 

 

Council President Koppel read the following entitled ORDINANCES for INTRODUCTION at the MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2016 Regular Council Meeting: 

O-2-2016-003ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 39 OF THE CODE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONROE ENTITLED, “FEES” 

 

O-2-2016-004ORDINANCE ACCEPTING THE DEDICATION OF LAND APPEARING ON THE OFFICIAL TAX MAP AS BLOCK 52, LOT 2.03, BLOCK 62, LOT 7.01 AND BLOCK 106.07, LOTS 9-24 & 30-45. 

 

 

Council   President   Koppel   requested   the   following entitled RESOLUTIONS for CONSIDERATION at the MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2016 Regular Council meeting be reviewed and any questions will be addressed: 

 

R-2-2016-064RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING HOMEOWNERSHIP ASSISTANCE LOAN REPAYMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE OWNER OF AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNIT (Block 14 Lot 12.51). 

 

R-2-2016-065RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF MUNICIPAL RECYCLING TONNAGE GRANT APPLICATION FOR YEAR 2015. 

 

R-2-2016-066RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND TOWNSHIP CLERK TO EXECUTE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT WITH CENTER STATE ENGINEERING FOR THE COMMUNITY CENTER EMERGENCY GENERATOR. 

 

R-2-2016-067RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING MODIFICATION OF A CONTRACT TO  

SUBURBAN CONSULTING ENGINEERS, INC. FOR VARIOUS PIPELINE GENERAL ENGINEERING FOR THE MONROE TOWNSHIP UTILITY DEPARTMENT (“M.T.U.D.”). 

 

R-2-2016-068RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING RELEASE OF PERFORMANCE GUARANTEE POSTED FOR ROAD OPENING PERMIT NO. 14-21.  

 

R-2-2016-069RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE  FOR THE MONROE TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT UNDER THE CRANFORD POLICE COOPERATIVE PURCHASING PROGRAM. 

 

R-2-2016-070RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE ACCESSORIES UNDER THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY COOPERATIVE PURCHASING PROGRAM FOR THE MONROE TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT. 

 

R-2-2016-071RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE TOWNSHIP TO REDUCE THE DEDICATED OPEN SPACE PRESERVATION TAX RATE FROM 2.5 CENTS PER $100 OF ASSESSED VALUE TO 1.5 CENTS PER $100 OF ASSESSED VALUE. 

 

R-2-2016-072RESOLUTION PROVIDING ADVICE AND CONSENT TO THE APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO THE CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION. 

 

R-2-2016-073RESOLUTION PROVIDING ADVICE AND CONSENT TO THE APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO THE OPEN SPACE AND FARMLAND PRESERVATION COMMISSION. 

 

R-2-2016-074RESOLUTION PROVIDING ADVICE AND CONSENT TO THE APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO THE PUBLIC OFFICERS BOARD. 

 

R-2-2016-075    RESOLUTION GRANTING AUTHORITY TO FILE LIEN FOR                                                TOWNSHIP’S ABATEMENT OF PUBLIC NUISANCE ON CERTAIN                                                PROPERTIES. 

 

R-2-2016-076   RESOLUTION PROVIDING ADVICE AND CONSENT TO THE APPOINTMENT OF A MEMBER TO THE LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES. 

 

 

 

 

REPORTS:  

 

Mayor’s Report –  

  • Reported that the past storm was one of the worst storms we have had in years. There was great cooperation from the DPW, EMS, Police and Utility Department. Our Police Department received approximately 80 routine calls and we had no power outages in town.   Stated that each Department should be commended for their efforts.  

 

 

Administrator’s Report –  

  • Commented that in the past 14 years of working for the Township this had been one of the worst storms experienced with over 23” of snow. Received cooperation from the residents by staying home, because it is very hard for the Road Department to work efficiently when people are out and about on the roads.  Added that they will be working on clearing out the bus stop areas for the children going to school.  That will be the first priority tomorrow after they receive some rest.  Outside contractors were brought in due to the nature of the storm. 

 

  • Credit rating has improved since our last Council Meeting – now at 1.78%. 

 

 

Engineer’s Report –  

  • The Perrineville Road project is now complete and the road is now open.  

 

 

COUNCIL REPORTS:  

 

Councilman Michael Leibowitz –  

  • No Report. 

 

Councilwoman Schneider – 

  • Invited Quentin, an Eagle Scout and his family, to attend our next meeting on February 8th to discuss his project.  

 

Councilman Dipierro –  

  • Attended a mock trial and was very impressed with the presentation given by the children involved. 

 

Council Vice-President Stephen Dalina –  

  • Congratulated our Business Administrator Wayne Hamilton on a positive credit rating. 

 

  • Having surgery and will miss one or two meetings.  

 

Council President Koppel – 

  • Reported that the swearing-in ceremony for Councilman Dipierro will be at our next meeting.  

  

 

PUBLIC: 

 

Michele Arminio, 9 Nathaniel Street – Ms. Arminio asked for clarification on Ordinance #O-2-2016-004; Administrator Hamilton responded that this is a density transfer for the Hidden Pond Development; two are Open Space lots and one is for municipal purposes.  

 

Questioned Resolution #R-2-2016-066; Administrator Hamilton responded that this is to design and institute a generator for the Community Center. He added that we have received an OEM Grant in the amount of $284,000 for the project.  

 

 

 

 

 

UPON MOTION made by Council Vice-President Dalina and seconded by Councilwoman Schneider, the Regular Meeting was Adjourned at 8:50pm. 

ROLL CALL:  Councilman Blaise DipierroAye  

Councilman Michael Leibowitz  Aye 

Councilwoman Elizabeth SchneiderAye 

Council Vice-President Stephen DalinaAye 

Council President Leslie Koppel                                Aye 

 

 

 

 

Sharon Doerfler 

SHARON DOERFLER, Township Clerk 

 

Leslie Koppel 

LESLIE KOPPEL, Council President 

 

 

 

 

 

Minutes were adopted on March 7, 2016