City Council

THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BEVERLY MARCH 8, 2016 MINUTES CALL TO ORDER President Bancroft called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT STATEMENT In compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act, NJSA 10:4-6, this is to announce that Adequate Notice of this meeting was provided in the following manner: On January 6, 2016 advance written notice of this meeting was posted on the Official Bulletin Board in the City Hall, was emailed to THE BURLINGTON COUNTY TIMES for publication (published on January 11, 2016) and emailed to the CAMDEN COURIER POST for advise, was filed with the Municipal Clerk, and was mailed to all persons who requested and paid for such notice. The proceedings of all meetings are recorded electronically and manually, and the Minutes will be on file in the office of the Municipal Clerk. Read by President Bancroft. FLAG SALUTE President Bancroft led in the Salute to the Flag. ROLL CALL Mayor: Randy H. Miller - Absent Council President: Robert H. Bancroft Council Members: Lawrence F. Carlbon - Absent Robert E. Lowden, Jr. Mark A. Schwedes Robert D. Thibault Solicitor: Thomas J. Coleman, III – Not in Attendance (Excused) Raymond/Coleman/Heinold/Norman, LLP Engineer: William H. Kirchner (Attendance not required) Administrator/Director of Public Safety: Richard A. Wolbert Deputy Municipal Clerk: Elaine B. Kennedy, RMC/CMC APPROVAL OF MINUTES – February 23, 2016 Regular and Executive Session Minutes. MOTION – Councilman Schwedes made a motion to approve the above listed minutes, seconded by Councilman Lowden. Councilman Thibault had some concerns with the Executive Session minutes and asked that they be held. They will discuss this in Executive Session. Councilman Schwedes moved to approve the Regular minutes, seconded by Councilman Lowden. Ayes – Lowden, Schwedes, Thibault, Bancroft. Nays – None. Absent – Carlbon. Motion carried. PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS ONLY Please state your name and address clearly for the record. John Haaf, 124 River Bank, asked what Resolution 2016-69 was regarding. Mr. Wolbert explained that this was an in rem foreclosure. There is contamination on the property, which is not the city’s responsibility. Mr. Haaf asked if the City was forgiving all they are owed on the property, to which Mr. Wolbert explained that they are not. Mr. Wolbert also explained what in rem meant, being an action against the property, not an individual. RESOLUTION 2016-69 ~ IN REM FORECLOSRE BLOCK 1277, LOT 9 MOTION – Councilman Thibault made a motion to adopt Resolution 2016-69, seconded by Councilman Lowden. Mr. Thibault asked how long this process took, to which Mr. Wolbert advised him that it takes about six months. There is #6 oil and some remediation would need to be done prior to selling it. Mr. Lowden asked if the State of NJ has any liens on this property, to which Mr. Wolbert advised that they do not. Ayes – Lowden, Schwedes, Thibault, Bancroft. Nays – None. Absent – Carlbon. Motion carried. RESOLUTION 2016-70 ~ HANDICAP PARKING 529 MELBOURNE AVENUE MOTION – Councilman Thibault made a motion to adopt Resolution 2016-70, seconded by Councilman Schwedes. Ayes – Lowden, Schwedes, Thibault, Bancroft. Nays – None. Absent – Carlbon. Motion carried. OLD BUSINESS Councilman Schwedes asked if there was anything new on the logo. Councilman Thibault advised him that he had not tweaked a few things, but would be working on it. NEW BUSINESS Mr. Wolbert advised the Governing Body that the budget will be ready for the March 22nd meeting for introduction. BILL LIST Approval of the March 8, 2016 Bill List. MOTION – Councilman Lowden made a motion to approve the bills on the March 8, 2016 bill list, seconded by Councilman Thibault. Councilman questioned the Cinnaminson bill, to which Mr. Wolbert explained that this was what was due for the officer we appointed. It is an old bill waiting detail, which has been since received. Ayes – Lowden, Schwedes, Thibault, Bancroft. Nays – None. Absent – Carlbon. Motion carried. CORRESPONDENCE – (Note that all Correspondence will be handled/filed by and in the Office of the Municipal Clerk.) There was none. COMMENTS/REPORTS Mayor - Mayor Miller was not in attendance. Council Councilman Thibault reported that Community Events are moving along. They are always looking for volunteers. Councilman Schwedes reported there is a bus trip to the winery and Tropicana on June 21st. It is a fundraiser. Mr. Wolbert advised Councilman Schwedes that he would place this on the website. Councilman Lowden advised the finance committee would be having a budget meeting next week. Councilman Lowden expressed congratulations to Mac Corrinetti on his wrestling matches. Mr. Wolbert advised that the Land Use Board met with Ed Fox concerning Green Buildings and Environmental Sustainability. They would like to form a committee for the sustainability element. It will take about six months. If the City moves forward with this, Mr. Carlbon is a Land Use Board member and a councilman; so he can serve on the subcommittee. The City has reached out to other municipalities asking for their input for Sustainable Jersey, i.e. who they have for members and how it was formed. Administrator/Public Safety Director Mr. Wolbert advised the Committee that Fire Company #1 told the fire police they no longer had a room in their building for them. This has nothing to do with the City. There was some confusion when the Tax Assessor sent out the forms to all non-profits. The issue of removing the fire police is the fire company’s decision, not the City’s. Mr. Bancroft added that the same letter came to the church. Mr. Bancroft thanked all the Council for attending the JIF meeting. It was informative and gave the City credits toward the cost of the insurance. Mr. Bancroft advised the Council that on Friday he spoke with Mr. Wolbert about the ditch on Wheatley Avenue. The Mosquito Commission used to clean it; however, it is owned by the State and they advised that they are responsible. Mr. Thibault asked if the State had title to it, to which Mr. Wolbert advised that they did. Mr. Bancroft added that they had prisoners clean out the ditch in the past. Senator Allen and Assemblymen Conaway and Singleton were sent a packet concerning the ditch from the City. Senator Allen’s office sent back a response. Mr. Lowden asked who was the person from the State who was responsible for the dunes, to which Mr. Wolbert responded that it was Susanne Dietrick. Mr. Lowden said that they were told to leave it alone. He believes it is the County who put stone in it , which holds silt. Mr. Wolbert advised Council that Delanco is also having trouble with flooding. Professionals - None. Municipal Clerk - None. PUBLIC COMMENT Please state you name and address clearly for the record. Paula Tiexiera of the Emergency Squad will be having the Easter Bunny March 26th @ 11:00 a.m. Reverend Joyner of the Beverly Sports Association asked who decided where things that are submitted are placed in the Beverly Bee. Mr. Wolbert responded that the City discussed with the Editor what can be placed on the municipal pages. Anything else will go on the Community pages. Mr. Thibault asked to discuss this issue now. Mr. Wolbert explained that the school pays for pages and the City does also. This is not a City sport. Mr. Thibault was concerned there were other things on the City’s pages. He is a member of the Beverly Youth Sports Association. Mr. Wolbert explained that he is a member as a resident not a Councilman. Mr. Thibault explained that this is a success story and the program does promote something for the kids. He felt it is a Beverly thing and he thought it should be on the Beverly pages. This is a small town and this is for the kids, yet it got pushed to the back of the newspaper. Mr. Wolbert had nothing to do with the placing of the ad. Mr. Schwedes said there are a lot of issues; however, the editor is the deciding factor. Mr. Haaf was concerned that it is not right. Mr. Lowden asked if the ad was paid for. He suggested this should go out through the schools and they would get more responses. Mr. Thibault advised they do have flyers through the school. EXECUTIVE SESSION - RESOLUTION 2016-71 A Resolution of the Common Council of the City of Beverly to hold Executive Session in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act, P.L. 1975, Chapter 231, permitting the exclusion of the Public from a meeting in certain circumstances which the Governing Body deem now exist: _____ Attorney Client Privilege _____Contractual Matters __ Current and/or Possible Litigation _____Personnel Matters ___X_Review of Executive Session Minutes MOTION – Mr. Schwedes made a motion to adopt Resolution 2016-71, seconded by Mr. Thibault, and unanimously carried. The Council entered executive session at 7:44 p.m. President Bancroft reconvened the meeting to public session at 7:50 p.m. ACTION TAKEN AFTER EXECUTIVE: Yes _____ No __X__ N/A_____ ADJOURNMENT MOTION – Councilman Thibault made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Council Schwedes, and unanimously carried. The meeting was adjourned at 7:50 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Elaine B. Kennedy, RMC/CMC Deputy Municipal Clerk