City Council

BOROUGH OF BARRINGTON MINUTES OF MONTHLY COUNCIL MEETING MAY 11, 2021, 6:00PM, VIRTUAL MEETING HELD VIA ZOOM A regular monthly Council Meeting of the Borough of Barrington was held with Mayor Harris presiding. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Harris called the meeting to order via Zoom at 6:00pm with the Sunshine Statement announcement and with the special notice pursuant to the Executive Orders and guidance issued by the State of New Jersey due to the Corona virus state of emergency. She explained that the public will be muted until the open public portion. At that time, the public can ask a question or make a comment by raising their virtual hand and they will be unmuted. Public comment will be limited to five minutes in the aggregate per person. Anyone being abusive or unprofessional will be removed from the meeting. Mayor Harris then led everyone on the Zoom meeting in the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL The Municipal Clerk called roll of Council with the following in attendance: Council President Beach, Councilman Cerrito, Councilman Drumm, Councilman Hanson, Councilman Ludwig and Councilman Robenolt. Mayor Harris, Municipal Clerk Terry Shannon and Timothy Higgins, Esq were also on the zoom meeting along with Department Heads and members of the public. PROCLAMATIONS: Police Appreciation Week, May 9-15; EMS Week, May 16-22; Military Appreciation Month, May thru June 14; May as Older Americans Month; May as Brain Cancer Awareness Month APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mayor Harris reported that council was provided with the minutes of the April 6, 2021, caucus meeting and the April 13, 2021 council meeting and asked if there were any corrections or abstentions. On a motion by Ludwig, second by Drumm, the minutes were approved by all members of Council present. COMMITTEE REPORTS The Municipal Clerk read a summary of the April 2021 monthly reports from the following departments: Police, Fire, EMS/Ambulance, Regional Fire Alliance, Construction, Trash and Recycling, Tax & Sewer Collector and Court Administrator report for March. On a motion by Hanson, second by Cerrito, the monthly reports were approved as submitted by all members of Council present. ORDINANCES FOR PUBLIC HEARING AND ADOPTION: Ord. 1138 Repealing Antiquated Ordinances, Chapter 5, Board of Assessors, Chapter 14, Economic Development Committee, Chapter 70, Housing and Chapter 112, Taxicabs, in the Borough Code Ord. 1139 Revising and Replacing Chapter 116, Trees, in the Borough Code On a motion by Robenolt, second by Drumm, the second reading of the ordinances were approved with the following poll vote: Beach-yes; Cerrito-yes, Drumm-yes, Hanson-yes, Ludwig-yes, Robenolt-yes. On a motion by Hanson, second by Beach, the public hearing was opened. Seeing no comments from the public, on a motion by Cerrito, second by Robenolt, the public hearing was closed. On a motion by Hanson, second by Beach, the ordinances were adopted with the following poll vote: Beach - yes; Cerrito-yes, Drumm-yes, Hanson-yes, Ludwig-yes, Robenolt-yes. ORDINANCE FOR INTRODUCTION ON FIRST READING: Ord. 1140 Amending Chapter 120, Vehicles and Traffic, to Restrict Chesterfield Road Parking Ord. 1141 Amending Chapter 59, Fire Prevention (amends fee structure) Ord. 1142 Bond Ordinance Authorizing the Completion of Various Capital Improvements and the Acquisition of Various Capital Equipment for the Borough of Barrington; Appropriating the Sum of $2,921,350 Therefor; Authorizing the Issuance of General Obligation Bonds or Bond Anticipation Notes of the Borough of Barrington in the Aggregate Principal Amount of up to $2,775,283, Making Certain Determinations and Covenants; and Authorizing Certain Related Actions in Connection with the Foregoing Ord. 1143 Refunding Bond Ordinance Providing for the Refunding of up to All of the Borough’s Outstanding Callable: (i) General Obligation Bonds, Series 2010, Dated June 7, 2010; and (ii) Taxable General obligation Bonds, Series 2014, Dated July 22, 2014, Authorizing the Issuance of up to $5,600,000 of General Obligation Refunding Bonds of the Borough of Barrington, in One or More Series on a Tax-exempt or Taxable Basis, to Finance the Costs Thereof; Making Certain Determinations and Covenants in Connection Therewith; and Authorizing Certain Related Actions in Connection with the Foregoing On a motion by Hanson, second by Drumm, the first reading of the ordinances was approved with the following poll vote: Beach-yes; Cerrito-yes, Drumm-yes, Hanson-yes, Ludwig-yes, Robenolt-yes. These ordinances will be considered for adoption following proper notice and a public hearing to held during the Wednesday, June 9, 2021, council meeting. RESOLUTION CONSENT AGENDA The Clerk read the following resolutions to be approved by consent agenda: 5-2021-60 Authorizing Submission & Execution of an Application for Drug Alliance Funding 5-2021-61 Authorizing the 2021 Municipal Budget to be Read by Title at the Public Hearing 5-2021-62 Adding 2021 Tax Exemptions 5-2021-63 Authorizing the Execution and Submission of an Application for a Local Recreation Improvement Grant, FY2021 for the Lost World Park Playground Rehabilitation 5-2021-64 Approving the May Bill List for a Total of: $5,078,413.06. On a motion by Cerrito and Robenolt, the consent agenda was approved with the following poll vote: Beach-yes; Cerrito-yes, Drumm-yes, Hanson-yes, Ludwig-yes, Robenolt-yes. PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 2021 MUNICIPAL BUDGET: Mayor Harris asked that you please state name for the record. Public comment is limited to five aggregate minutes per person. On a motion by Drumm, second by Hanson, the public hearing was opened. With no comments from the public, on a motion by Hanson, second by Cerrito, the public hearing was closed, On a motion by Beach, second by Drumm, the Municipal Budget was adopted with the following Poll vote: Beach - yes; Cerrito-yes, Drumm-yes, Hanson-yes, Ludwig-yes, Robenolt-yes. Mayor Harris said to please note that the 2021 Budget was adopted with a zero Municipal tax increase PUBLIC PORTION: On a motion by Hanson, second by Drumm, the public portion of the meeting was opened. Mayor Harris advised that if you have comments or questions to raise your hand and you will be unmuted. Please state your name for the record. Public comment is limited to five minutes in the aggregate per person. Jennifer Milligan, 102 Lawrence Ave – thanked Mayor and Council who attended the Covid tree dedication in April, appreciate your support especially Councilman Drumm for helping me have it come to fruition. When will the bike rack at the Wish Upon a Star Park be installed? Councilman Hanson said he will check with Public Works and email an answer to Jennifer. Patti Pawling, 122 Lawrence Ave – thank you for fixing the sunken section of the street by our house and asked if there is a regular scheduling for fixing those areas as 109 Moore Ave has the same problem and areas on Austin Ave. These are not potholes but areas fixed before and starting to sink. Councilman Beach said we usually get a phone call, and he speaks with DPW Superintendent Mike Ciocco to schedule repair. Ms. Pawling should call 547-2486 for these repairs. Clerk Shannon asked the Engineer, Greg Evans, if Austin Ave is scheduled to be repaved and he advised that the 200 block is scheduled. Mike Ciocco advised that the repair at Lawrence and 4 th was completed but he will schedule repair between 107 & 109 on Moore. Seeing no further comments from the public, on a motion by Hanson, second by Drumm, the public portion of the meeting was closed. COMMENTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNING BODY COUNCILMAN ROBENOLT – the Fire Company has been progressing with the roof as well as the Ambulance. The Councilman spoke with the roofer this morning and they will come out to do the preliminary pre-construction pictures tomorrow, the project is moving along and slated to be completed mid-July pending any back-order situations or problems as some construction materials are not available at this time. The Fire Company has put out their annual fund drive including a flyer looking for volunteers to help the organization. Volunteerism across the state is down considerably and all are hurting for volunteers. Anyone interested in volunteering we would be happy to speak with you, please reach out to the Councilman or to the email address on the flyer. Also, we have information that someone is calling to solicit funds, the Fire Company does not solicit over the phone. This is a company misrepresenting themselves and is of no benefit to our Fire Company, so please report any call you receive to us. COUNCILMAN HANSON – thanks Police for taking part in National Take Back Drugs day, we had a lot of residents come out and dispose of their unused prescription medicine. No Barrington Day this month, it was not planned due to Covid restrictions. We will have the town wide yard sale this Saturday, May 15, with funds to benefit the 911 Memorial; Fire Company is having a hoagie sale this Saturday so while attending the yard sale stop by and get a hoagie. Memorial Day will be hosted by the Fire Company this year, information to follow on the Fire Company page and the borough Facebook page and website. There is a movie night behind Woodland School on Saturday, June 19, more information to follow. We announced yesterday the July parade and fireworks will be held this year; the parade July 2nd at 6 pm and the fireworks at dusk. There will be no viewing area in front of or behind Woodland School, more safety protocols will be posted when the date gets closer. The parks are all open, you are encouraged to go outside and enjoy the fresh air. Litle League is having a family day on May 22nd, check their Facebook for more information. Mayor Harris added that she appreciates how hard the Councilman and Public Safety have worked on getting the parade set-up, hard decision since we didn’t know what was happening with Covid, thank you. People don’t realize planning starts way in advance and when it was time to plan, we had high numbers of Covid, and the Governor was not allowing anything. This was a real challenge and we appreciate how hard all worked to get his done for the residents. COUNCILMAN DRUMM - Camden County’s Project Save, for people with addiction problems that come in contact with the Police or courts, is a chance for them to get help. From January to April 2021, there have been 34 municipal referrals and 21 of those came from the Police Department. This is outstanding and gives people a chance to get help. The Councilman commends our Police and stated that from January 2019 through April 2021, Barrington had 236 referrals, great work by our Police. As mentioned, the tree dedication was great, and the Borough was well represented by all the Borough Departments. It was a great day, two trees were planted, and plaques will be cemented into the ground, thanks to all who were available to come out. New green recycling buckets will be given out to all residents, no more plastic bags for brush beginning June 1, we are attempting to always go green. From a recycling grant we purchased a green recycling bucket for every residential household, they will be delivered by DPW. This is a great initiative, please feel free to use the blue bucket too and thanks Council President Beach and Supt. of DPW Mike Ciocco for your help. With reference to Police Week thank you to our Police Department for their hard work and dedication to our residents. You see them out with the kids, patrolling and doing their job. We have a great department and thank you for all your hard work. COUNCILMAN LUDWIG - nothing to report thank you. COUNCILMAN CERRITO - the 9/11 Memorial on its way, our next committee meeting is May 20. Donations are starting to roll in from the yard sale and some businesses in town. Thank you for the donations, it really helps since the project is fully funded by donations at this time. We are trying to integrate a wheelchair accessible ramp in the Memorial location to make it ADA accessible. COUNCIL PRESIDENT BEACH – reminding everyone that weather is breaking, and restrictions are being lifted but as stated in our proclamation, our seniors are extremely vulnerable for Covid. We all want to get back to normal, especially our seniors, but please take precautions and remember it is still our there. Please wear your mask and be aware of your fellow residents MAYOR HARRIS – thanked the Fire Department for taking control of the Memorial Day services. We have had two separate services for years and the Fire Department does such a beautiful service. They will be collaborating to hold one service and recognize our Fire Department and the great service they provide; information will be out soon. Barrington on Track recognized Hometown Hero’s, Aiden Ebner, Vincent Teti, Jett (John) McCormick, Jake McCormick and Robert Daley, Jr. This is a new feature and if you have anyone you want to recognize please submit to Councilman Hanson. The paper comes out twice a year and we welcome your ideas. This idea came about by a resident, Jenn Moyer, and we are excited to keep this going. We are opening July 1 for public meetings. We do ask that you wear a mask and social distance, seats will be marked where you can sit. We will ask our employees to refrain from attending so more of the public can attend. We will limit the meeting to just our council room, so we don’t disturb the sanitized Pre-K area. We will be in person, there will be no option for virtual meetings. Mayor and Council are all vaccinated along with our Clerk and Solicitor; we will spread out in the council room. Covid still exists, we have several large families in town who have tested positive so be careful and protect our most vulnerable population. Thank you again for all the proclamations tonight. With no further business to be transacted, on a motion by Ludwig, second by Hanson, the meeting was adjourned at 6:42 pm. APPROVED: Terry Shannon Terry Shannon, Municipal Clerk