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MINUTES - January 10, 2024

MONROE TOWNSHIP AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOARD MEETING 

MINUTES 

WEDNESDAY, January 10, 2024 @ 6:30PM

The Township of Monroe Affordable Housing Board met in the Municipal Building, 1 Municipal Plaza, for a meeting.

The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Chairwoman, Miriam Cohen with a Salute to the Flag.

Chairwoman Miriam Cohen requested the Board Attorney to read the following SUNSHINE LAW:

In accordance with the Open Public Meeting 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 the Bulletin Board of the Office of the Township Clerk;
  2. Posted on the Bulletin Boards within the Municipal Complex;
  3. Printed in the Home News Tribune on December 29, 2023; and
  4. Posted on the Monroe Township website

UPON ROLL CALL by the Affordable Housing Coordinator Tanya Pannucci, the following members of the Board were present: Chairwoman Miriam Cohen, Vice-Chairman Randy Beverly, Member Kenneth Hilyard, Member Richard Lans and Member Hemant Patel. 

ALSO PRESENT: Board Attorney Jerome J. Convery, Board Planner Malvika Apte and Board Engineer Mark Rasimowicz.

ABSENT: Alternate I Board Member Andrea Pellezzi and Alternate II Board Member Arnold Riback.

Chairwoman Miriam Cohen confirmed that there is a five (5) minute standing rule that applies for the public portion of the meeting.

  • Member of the Public was in attendance.

 

Re-Appointment of Board Attorney:  Jerome J. Convery, Esq.

UPON MOTION made by Board Member Richard Lans and seconded by Board Member Hemant Patel, the Re-Appointment of Board Attorney Jerome J. Convery, Esq. was approved.

ROLL CALL:   Chairwoman, Miriam Cohen                             Aye

                        Vice-Chairman, Randy Beverly                         Aye

                        Board Member, Kenneth Hilyard                       Aye

                        Board Member, Richard Lans                            Aye

                        Board Member, Hemant Patel                           Aye

                        Alternate I Board Member, Andrea Pellezzi       Absent

                        Alternate II Board Member, Arnold Riback        Absent

Re-Appointment of Board Vice-Chairman:  Randy Beverly

UPON MOTION made by Board Member Richard Lans and seconded by Board Member Hemant Patel, the Re-Appointment of Board Vice-Chairman Randy Beverly was approved.

ROLL CALL:   Chairwoman, Miriam Cohen                             Aye

                        Vice-Chairman, Randy Beverly                         Aye

                        Board Member, Kenneth Hilyard                       Aye

                        Board Member, Richard Lans                            Aye

                        Board Member, Hemant Patel                           Aye

                        Alternate I Board Member, Andrea Pellezzi       Absent

                        Alternate II Board Member, Arnold Riback        Absent

Reorganization: Appointment of Board Planning Consultant: Robert Russo, PP, of CME Associates

UPON MOTION made by Vice-Chariman Randy Beverly and seconded by Board Member Hemant Patel, the Appointment of Board Planning Consultant Robert Russo, PP, of CME Associates was approved.

ROLL CALL:   Chairwoman, Miriam Cohen                             Aye

                        Vice-Chairman, Randy Beverly                         Aye

                        Board Member, Kenneth Hilyard                       Aye

                        Board Member, Richard Lans                            Aye

                        Board Member, Hemant Patel                           Aye

                        Alternate I Board Member, Andrea Pellezzi       Absent

                        Alternate II Board Member, Arnold Riback        Absent

 

Reorganization: Appointment of Consulting Engineer for Affordable Housing Rehabilitation: Center State Engineering, Mark Rasimowicz, PE

UPON MOTION made by vice-Chariman Randy Beverly and seconded by Board Member Richard Lans, the Appointment of Consulting Engineer for Affordable Housing Rehabilitation – Center State Engineering, Mark Rasimowicz, PE was approved.

ROLL CALL:   Chairwoman, Miriam Cohen                             Aye

                        Vice-Chairman, Randy Beverly                         Aye

                        Board Member, Kenneth Hilyard                       Aye

                        Board Member, Richard Lans                            Aye

                        Board Member, Hemant Patel                           Aye

                        Alternate I Board Member, Andrea Pellezzi       Absent

                        Alternate II Board Member, Arnold Riback        Absent

Reorganization: Appointment of Consulting Engineer for Affordable Housing Services: Center State Engineering, Mark Rasimowicz, PE

UPON MOTION made by Board Member Richard Lans and seconded by Vice-Chairman Randy Beverly, the Appointment of Consulting Engineer for Affordable Housing Services – Center State Engineering, Mark Rasimowicz, PE was approved.

ROLL CALL:   Chairwoman, Miriam Cohen                             Aye

                        Vice-Chairman, Randy Beverly                         Aye

                        Board Member, Kenneth Hilyard                       Aye

                        Board Member, Richard Lans                            Aye

                        Board Member, Hemant Patel                           Aye

                        Alternate I Board Member, Andrea Pellezzi       Absent

                        Alternate II Board Member, Arnold Riback        Absent

Reorganization: Appointment of Administrative Agent for Affordable Housing: Piazza & Associates

UPON MOTION made by Board Member Richard Lans and seconded by Board Member Hemant Patel, the Appointment of Administrative Agent for Affordable Housing – Piazza & Associates was approved.

ROLL CALL:   Chairwoman, Miriam Cohen                             Aye

                        Vice-Chairman, Randy Beverly                         Aye

                        Board Member, Kenneth Hilyard                       Aye

                        Board Member, Richard Lans                            Aye

                        Board Member, Hemant Patel                           Aye

                        Alternate I Board Member, Andrea Pellezzi       Absent

                        Alternate II Board Member, Arnold Riback        Absent

  • Engineer Rasimowicz gave a brief overview of the need for Professional Services Contract for Round 4 Affordable Housing Legal and Planning Services, stating that Round 4 is coming up in 2025 and this will give us a head start in working on it. He went on to say that Ms. Beahm has worked on the Township’s Master Plan and our Township Attorney, Louis Rainone, has worked on the Round 3 obligation so it is important for these two appointments so work can be done cooperatively.
  • Services Contract for Round 4 Affordable Housing Legal Services:

Township Attorney (Rainone, Coughlin, Minchello, LLC) - Louis N. Rainone, Esq.

UPON MOTION made by Vice-Chairman Randy Beverly and seconded by Board Member Richard Lans, the Prof. Services Contract for Round 4 Affordable Housing Legal Services - Township Attorney (Rainone, Coughlin, Minchello, LLC) - Louis N. Rainone, Esq. was approved.

ROLL CALL:   Chairwoman, Miriam Cohen                             Aye

                        Vice-Chairman, Randy Beverly                         Aye

                        Board Member, Kenneth Hilyard                       Abstain

                        Board Member, Richard Lans                            Aye

                        Board Member, Hemant Patel                           Aye

                        Alternate I Board Member, Andrea Pellezzi       Absent

                        Alternate II Board Member, Arnold Riback        Absent

  • Services Contract for Round 4 Affordable Housing Planning Services:

Planner (Leon S. Avakian) – Jennifer Beahm, P.E., P.P., C.M.E., C.P.W.M.

UPON MOTION made by Board Member Hemant Patel and seconded by Vice-Chairman Randy Beverly, the Prof. Services Contract for Round 4 Affordable Housing Planning Services: -Planner (Leon S. Avakian) – Jennifer Beahm, P.E., P.P., C.M.E., C.P.W.M. was approved.

ROLL CALL:   Chairwoman, Miriam Cohen                             Aye

                        Vice-Chairman, Randy Beverly                         Aye

                        Board Member, Kenneth Hilyard                       Aye

                        Board Member, Richard Lans                            Aye

                        Board Member, Hemant Patel                           Aye

                        Alternate I Board Member, Andrea Pellezzi       Absent

                        Alternate II Board Member, Arnold Riback        Absent

 

Approval of Minutes: MTAHB Meeting – October 11, 2023

UPON MOTION made by Board Member Richard Lans and seconded by Board Member Hemant Patel, the MINUTES of the October 11, 2023 Monroe Township Affordable Housing Board Meeting were approved.

ROLL CALL:   Chairwoman, Miriam Cohen                             Aye

                        Vice-Chairman, Randy Beverly                         Aye

                        Board Member, Kenneth Hilyard                       Aye

                        Board Member, Richard Lans                            Aye

                        Board Member, Hemant Patel                           Aye

                        Alternate I Board Member, Andrea Pellezzi       Absent

                        Alternate II Board Member, Arnold Riback        Absent

 

Board Attorney’s Report, Jerome J. Convery, Esq. – No Report.

Board Planner’s Report, Malvika Apte – No Report.

Board Engineer’s Report, Mark Rasimowicz, Centerstate Engineering – No Report.

 

New Business:

  • Affordable Housing Coordinator Tanya Pannucci shared that in the Spring of 2024 we will be working on promoting the Affordable Housing Rehabilitation Program by advertising in the Monroe News and possibly putting a flier in with the tax/sewer bill mailings.

Old Business:

  • No old business.

 

Public Comment:                                                                                                            

Michelle Arminio, Township Resident – Mrs. Arminio asked if there were any reports to which she was told there were none at this time.

Mrs. Arminio asked if there will be a Special Master appointed to Round 4 to which Board Planner Malvika Apte responded.

Mrs. Arminio asked about applications received by Piazza & Associates for the Veteran’s Housing project to which Affordable Housing Coordinator Tanya Pannucci responded that there have been no applications given out yet as the project is still being completed but an interest list is being compiled for those to receive an application once available.

 

UPON MOTION made by Vice-Chairman Randy Beverly and seconded by Board Member Hemant Patel the meeting was adjourned at 6:57 p.m.

ROLL CALL:   Chairwoman, Miriam Cohen                             Aye

                        Vice-Chairman, Randy Beverly                         Aye

                        Board Member, Kenneth Hilyard                       Aye

                        Board Member, Richard Lans                            Aye

                        Board Member, Hemant Patel                           Aye

                        Alternate I Board Member, Andrea Pellezzi       Absent

                        Alternate II Board Member, Arnold Riback        Absent

                       

Tanya Pannucci

Affordable Housing Coordinator

           

NEXT MEETING: APRIL 10, 2024