The regular meeting of the Township Council of the Township of Lower, County of Cape May, State of New Jersey was held on March 17, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. in the meeting room of the Township Hall, 2600 Bayshore Road, Villas, New Jersey.

 

The Clerk announced that the meeting was being held in compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act and that adequate notice of the meeting had been provided according to law.

 

The following members of Council were present for roll call taken by the Clerk:

 

                                                     Councilmember Thomas Conrad

                                                     Councilmember Wayne Mazurek

                                                     Councilmember Glenn Douglass

                                                       Councilmember Robert Nolan

                                                               Mayor Walter Craig

 

Also present: Paul Baldini, Solicitor and Joseph Jackson, Manager

 

            Proclamation - Supporting the Click It or Ticket Mobilization of May 19 - June 1, 2008

 

 

                                                                 WORK SESSION

 

Mayor Craig asked Mike DeMarcantonio, the new MUA Director if he would come up and introduce himself.

Mr. DeMarcantonio said he would be starting April 7th full time.  He said he felt it necessary to attend the meeting and invited Mayor and Council to stop by the office anytime.  He stated the lines of communication and cooperation were officially opened. 

Councilmember Nolan said Council was glad to hear that and the same went for them.

Mr. DeMarcantonio said they were all there to help. 

 

Review of Consent and Regular Agenda Items

 

Mayor Craig asked if any Councilmembers had questions on the consent agenda.

 

Consent Agenda

1.                  Approval of Minutes     March 3, 2008

2.                  Resolution #2008-79,   Payment of Vouchers, $2,123,271.70

3.                  Resolution #2008-80,   A Resolution Requesting Release of Demolition Bond for Block 679, Lot 8, 713 Adriatic Avenue, N. Cape May

4.                  Resolution #2008-81,   Click It or Ticket Seat Belt Campaign

5.                  Resolution #2008-82,   Identifying Fair Housing Officer

6.                  Resolution #2008-83,   Transfer of Appropriations $113,388.96

7.                  Resolution #2008-84,   Authorizing the Clerk to Issue Raffle Licenses to Kiwanis Club of Cape May

8.                  Resolution #2008-85,   Approving Red White & Blue Freedom Riders Motorcycle Club Application to Conduct Flea Market for July 19, Rain Date July 26 at Villas Auto Parts Store

9.                  Resolution #2008-86,   Appointment of Michael Donohue, Conflict Counsel Pursuant to Non-Fair & Open Procedures

10.              Resolution #2008-87,   A Resolution Approving Michael Donohue Esquire As Conflict Counsel for Conflicts that May Arise From Time to Time

11.              Resolution #2008-88,   A Resolution to Memorialize the Existing Lease Between The Lower Township Bureau of Fire Safety and the Township of Lower

12.              Ordinance #2008-05.   An Ordinance Amending Section 400-34 (D) (2) of The Code of The of The Township Of Lower, Permitting The Design and Use of Stacked Parking For Single Unit Residential Parking Areas, 1st rdg. (2nd rdg. April 7)

13.              Ordinance #2008-06,   An Ordinance Memorializing a Cross-Easement Historically Located at Block 143, Lot 3.01 on the Portion of Pennsylvania Avenue West of Millman Lane in the Township of Lower, 1st rdg. (2nd rdg. April 7)

 

Councilmember Nolan motioned to adopt the consent agenda items #1-13, seconded by Councilmember Conrad. The consent agenda was adopted by the following roll call vote: Councilmember Conrad, “yes”, Councilmember Mazurek, “yes”, Councilmember Douglass, “yes”, Councilmember Nolan, “yes”, Mayor Craig, “yes”.

 

                                                            Administrative Reports

Personnel Action Report

February Reports for - Animal Control, Clerk, Construction, Dog Licensing, Fire Safety,  Municipal Court, Tax Collector, Vital Statistics

Zoning Board - Annual Report on Variances for 2007

 

   Council Comments

Councilmember Conrad congratulated the Teitelman Band who played in the  New York St. Patrick’s Day Parade.  He said the scout troop was having a shredding day at Township Hall on April 19th.

Councilmember Mazurek welcomed Mike DeMarcantonio aboard.

Councilmember Douglass said Happy St. Patrick’s Day to everyone and also congratulated the band for a job well done.

Councilmember Nolan thanked everyone who attended the Townbank Fire Company St. Patrick’s Party. He said the proceeds went to a great cause it was to the family of a firefighter who recently lost his wife.

Mayor Craig read a proclamation for Click it or Ticket Mobilization that  would be May 19th - June 1st.

 

  Public Comments

 

                                                                           MUA

Ed Butler said he attended the MUA meeting when they appointed  the new MUA Director, Solicitor and Engineer.  He said more was done at that meeting than many meeting in the past.  He said the MUA passed a resolution saying they would not sell.  He said he had asked the Township do the same and hadn’t heard anything.

Mr. Butler said in order for the MUA to move forward they needed the Township to pass a mandatory hook up ordinance.

Councilmember Nolan thought it was clear the Township wanted to wait until the new Director was on board so he could assess the situation.  He said it should be a matter of a short time until all can move forward.  He said they wanted to move ahead with the water lines and agreed with the mandatory hook up.  He also said that anything new should definitely be mandatory.

Mr. Butler said the Taxpayer’s Association were willing to help and do whatever they could.

Councilmember Douglass said he was not sure an ordinance would be appropriate for the Township to adopt and said the Township really had no say unless the MUA was dissolved.  He said he had no problem with mandatory hook up.

Mayor Craig said the Township Manager, Council and MUA Board Members would be communicating and working together.  He stated the new Engineer was looking into grants and alternative energy sources.

Mr. Butler thanked everyone and said he was sure it would get done.  He congratulated Solicitor Baldini on his office in Wildwood, but said he should have one in Lower Township.

 

                                                   Villas Fishing Club - Beach Access

Bill Greenfield of the Villas, said the ordinance regarding the Fishing Club looked alright but would like to see the public rights in perpetuity. 

Solicitor Baldini said he would make sure it was in there and in the deed.

Mr. Greenfield thanked everyone for their help with that endeavor.

 

                                                                         Budget

Janet Pitts the President of the Lower Township Taxpayers Association said she realized the budget hearings were on April 7th, but wanted to mention some concerns now to the Manager and Council.  She gave Council a list of the concerns and said they were upset that some of the ideas suggest last year weren’t shown.    She said they compared Lower Township to Middle Township and mentioned some of the disparities. 

Ms. Pitts stated she didn’t understand why the O. E.’s were increased if the money wasn’t spent last year.

 

                                                         Bennett’s Recreation Field

Joe Winters said he noticed the sod was put down on the Bennett’s Recreation Field and questioned if it was being watered.

Manager Jackson said the irrigation system was scheduled to be checked that day or the following day.  He said he would follow up on it.

Mr. Winters asked if the crossbar would be raised up.

Manager Jackson said it would be the last thing to be fixed.

Mayor Craig said most of the people were saying how nice the field was.

Mr. Winters asked Solicitor Baldini if he had the answers to his questions from the previous Council Meeting.  He asked to have Rick Andrien present to answer the questions.

Solicitor Baldini said Mr. Winters did asked about beach access and the Conifer project.  He said Rick had other project going on and didn’t get to it yet. 

Solicitor Baldini said he did speak to Rick about it and said he would take full responsibility for the delay and would have the answers next meeting.

Frank Saracco asked how many full time and part time employees there were and did the part time people get benefits.

Mayor Craig said about 150 full time and 30 part time and the part timers didn’t get benefits.

 

Public portion closed at 7:30 p.m.

 

Resolution #2008- 88,       A Resolution Providing for a Meeting Not Open to the Public in Accordance with the Provisions of the New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act, N.J.S.A.  10:4-12.”

Councilmember Nolan motioned to adopt the resolution, seconded by Councilmember Douglass.  The resolution was adopted by the following roll call vote: Councilmember Conrad, “yes”, Councilmember Mazurek, “yes”, Councilmember Douglass, “yes”, Councilmember Nolan, “yes”, Mayor Craig, “yes”.

 

                                                      CLOSED SESSION SEPARATE

 

Return to Open Session at 8:00 p.m.

 

Resolution #2008-89, Resolution Authorizing Increases for Non-Union Employees

Councilmember Conrad motioned to adopt the resolution, seconded by Councilmember Nolan.  The resolution was adopted by the following roll call vote: Councilmember Conrad, “yes”, Councilmember Mazurek, “yes”, Councilmember Douglass, “yes”, Councilmember Nolan, “yes”, Mayor Craig, “yes”.

 

 

Resolution #2008-90,      Ratification of Contract Between Lower Township and AFSCME Council 71, Local #3779 for the Years 2006 through 2010

Councilmember Nolan motioned to adopt the resolution, seconded by Councilmember Douglass.  The resolution was adopted by the following roll call vote: Councilmember Conrad, “yes”, Councilmember Mazurek, “yes”, Councilmember Douglass, “yes”, Councilmember Nolan, “yes”, Mayor Craig, “yes”

 

 

Councilmember Nolan motioned to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Councilmember Douglass the meeting unanimously adjourned by verbal “ayes” at  8:02 p.m.

 

 

__________________________                                                 __________________________

           Mayor                                                                           Township Clerk

 

 

 

 

Approved: