City Council

BOROUGH OF BARRINGTON MINUTES OF MONTHLY COUNCIL MEETING April 11, 2023, 6:00PM COUNCIL ROOM AT MUNICIPAL BUILDING A regular monthly Council Meeting of the Borough of Barrington was held with Mayor Harris presiding. CALL TO ORDER The Mayor called the meeting to order with the following statement: "This meeting is held in compliance with Chapter 231 of the open public meetings act of 1975 and appropriate notice has been given. Notice of the meeting was filed with the Retrospect and Courier Post and is also posted in the main office of the Borough Clerk where notices are primarily kept. He then led everyone present in the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL The Municipal Clerk called roll of Council with the following in attendance: Councilman Beach, Councilman Drumm, Council President Hanson, Councilman Ludwig, Councilman Cerrito and Councilman Robenolt. Municipal Clerk Terry Shannon and Solicitor, Timothy Higgins, were also on the dais. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mayor Harris reported that council was provided with the minutes of the March 7, 2023, caucus and the March 14, 2023, council meetings and asked if there were any corrections or abstentions. On a motion by Hanson, second by Ludwig, the minutes were approved by all council members present with the exception of Drumm who abstained on the caucus minutes. PROCLAMATIONS The following proclamations were read by various councilmembers: April as Autism Awareness Mouth; Head & Neck Cancer Awareness Month; Supporting the UDrive. Utext. Upay. Distracted Driving Crackdown, and Child Abuse Prevention Month COMMITTEE REPORTS The Municipal Clerk read a summary of the March 2023 monthly reports from the following departments: Police, Fire, EMS/Ambulance, Regional Fire Alliance, Tax & Sewer Collector, Court Administrator for February, Construction, and Trash and Recycling. On a motion by Ludwig, second by Cerrito, the monthly reports were approved as submitted by all council members present. ORDINANCES FOR PUBLIC HEARING AND ADOPTION The Municipal Clerk read the following ordinances by title: Ord. 1169 Calendar Year 2023 Ordinance to Exceed the Municipal Budget Appropriation Limits and to Establish a CAP Bank On a motion by Ludwig, second by Beach, the ordinance was approved with the following poll vote: Beach-yes, Drumm-yes, Hanson-yes, Ludwig-yes, Robenolt-yes, Cerrito-yes On a motion by Ludwig, second by Hanson, the public hearing was opened on this ordinance. Seeing no comments from the public, on a motion by Ludwig, second by Cerrito, the public hearing was closed. On a motion by Hanson, second by Ludwig, Ordinance 1169 was adopted with the following poll vote: Beach-yes, Drumm-yes, Hanson-yes, Ludwig-yes, Robenolt-yes, Cerrito-yes ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION ON FIRST READING The Clerk read the following ordinance by title: Ord. 1170 Adding Chapter 52, Community Garden, to the Code of the Borough of Barrington Ord. 1171 Fixing the 2023 Compensation of Certain Officers and Employees of the Borough of Barrington On a motion by Ludwig, second by Hanson, the ordinances were approved on first reading with the following poll vote: Beach-yes, Drumm-yes, Hanson-yes, Ludwig-yes, Robenolt-yes, Cerrito- yes. These ordinances will be considered for adoption following proper notice and a public hearing to be held during the May 9, 2023, council meeting. RESOLUTION CONSENT AGENDA The Clerk read the following resolutions to be approved by consent agenda: 4-2023-46 Authorizing a Contract with Pyrotecnico for the 2023 Fireworks Show 4-2023-47 Supporting the UDrive. Utext. Upay. Distracted Driving Crackdown, April 1-30 4-2023-48 Authorizing the Sale of a Surplus Vehicle through Sourcewell/GovDeals 4-2023-49 Authorizing the Sale of Surplus Public Works Property through Municibid 4-2023-50 Authorizing a Shared Services Agreement with the County of Camden 4-2023-51 Authorizing Submission of an Application for Recreation Facility Enhancement Funding-Round 2023, for Lost World Park Playground Rehabilitation 4-2023-52 Resolution Recognizing Local Government Week, April 16-22 4-2023-53 Awarding a Contract with General Recreation for Playground Equipment at Lost World Park 4-2023-54 Certifying Compliance with the US EEOC “Enforcement Guidance on the Consideration of Arrest and Conviction Records in Employment Decisions Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964” 4-2023-55 Resolution to Introduce the 2023 Municipal Budget 4-2023-56 Approving the April Bill List in the Total Amount of: $858,008.05 On a motion by Ludwig, second by Beach, the resolution consent agenda was approved with the following poll vote: Beach-yes, Drumm-yes, Hanson-yes, Ludwig-yes, Robenolt-yes, Cerrito-yes PUBLIC PORTION On a motion by Ludwig, second by Hanson, the public portion of the meeting was opened. Council Mayor Harris advised that if you have comments or questions, please come forward and state your name for the record. Public comment is limited to five minutes per person. Maureen Bergeron from the Camden County Health Department will be present to talk about the services they offer. She spoke as follows: as a former Councilwoman its great to be back home. She spoke about all the services that are provided through the Camden County Health Department and advised that the Camden County Health Department is the only health Department in New Jersey that is accredited. She advised that a grant was received to provide mental health and addiction services, which is great because Covid isolation has affected mental health. The grant also provides Narcan to all schools. Information classes are also being held for Alzheimer’s education to police departments to teach them how to handle those afflicted with this mental health disease. She urged all to let their relatives and friends know that the county is ready to assist them however they can. The county also has food inspectors, housing department (for property maintenance issues). Eileen Holcombe, Barrington Senior Coordinator, thanked Maureen and the county for all the services they provide to seniors including the free programs. Maureen said the county also has adult pads and pullups for those who do not have insurance. She also thanked Mayor and Council and 5th Grade Students from Woodland School who helped with the Senior Ice Cream Social. And also for all who helped with the Easter dinner with food and delivery. Eileen advised that food left over from the easter dinner was put in containers by herself and Cody Brunner. Meg O’Donnell and Council President Hanson delivered these containers to homeless persons in Camden. Maureen said she appreciates the borough appointing Eileen with the seniors and she is thankful for use of the VFW/Memorial Senior Center where the county holds their monthly senior coordinator meetings with representatives from all the towns in our county. Seeing no further comments from the public, on a motion by Ludwig, second by Hanson, the public portion of the meeting was closed. COMMENTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNING BODY COUNCIL PRESIDENT HANSON – Softball opening day is this Saturday, Little League’s opening day was rained out and rescheduled for April 22nd which is also the town wide yard sale, Wednesday April 19th is Government Day with the 8th Grade Students from Woodland School; they will spend the day in various departments throughout the borough to learn about services we offer in town. Barrington Day is behind Woodland School on April 29th from 11am to 3pm; this event is free for Barrington residents. Summer Rec is back; information is on the Barrington fakebook page and the borough website. COUNCILMAN DRUMM – Chief Kate Bowen from the EMS/Ambulance Department has three new stair chairs which she purchased with grant money; they still need EMS certified employees. If you know anyone who is interested, please contact Chief Bowen. Fire Alliance is doing well, they are about to hit their busy season. They also need a fire inspector, contact Jim Arpino in his office. It’s light later outside and the kids will be out more and later into the evening so please look out for the children. COUNCILMAN BEACH – the senior center is open Tuesday and Thursday from noon to 4pm, if anyone is interested or for more information contact Eileen or Meg and the borough hall, they do a lot of good things with the seniors. Kids are out more walking and riding their bikes around town, we have crosswalks throughout town and our roads are 25mph so be cautious and aware of the children. COUNCILMAN LUDWIG – nothing to report at this time. COUNCILMAN CERRITO – Earth Day Cleanup Weekend is April 21-22-23. We have supplies of bags and rakes which will be given out at the borough hall in the morning, call Eileen to sign up for a spot to clean. The Community Garden is coming along nicely; will open in May. Call the Tax Office to purchase a lot. Thanks to Public Works for their hard work in helping us prepare the garden. In June, again this year, we would like to appreciate and recognize our graduating seniors who are going into the Military Service, watch for a flyer to go out soon. If you have a son or daughter entering the service please let us know. COUNCILMAN ROBENOLT – nothing to report at this time. MAYOR HARRIS - we have donated prom dresses for anyone needing a dress so please come and see them. Camden County driving range has free events for seniors and our Barrington seniors are coming in June. If you have any issues with problems at the park with the kids please contact the Police not us, it is their job to handle those issues. It is not a government issue; it is a Police issue. Thanks to Denise Moules, our CFO, and all department heads and directors for their hard work on the budget. The borough has a zero (0) tax increase for 2023. Seeing no further business to be transacted, on a motion by Ludwig, second by Cerrito, the meeting was adjourned at 6:32 PM APPROVED: Terry Shannon Terry Shannon, Borough Clerk