MEDFORD TOWNSHIP

COUNCIL MEETING

June 6, 2011

  

The Medford Township Council Meeting of the above date was convened by

Mayor Myers followed by the salute to the flag and reading of the Open Public Meetings Act Statement.

 

 

COUNCIL ROLL CALL

 

            Mr. David J. Brown                                                      Present

            Mr. Dominic Grosso                                                     Present                                                                                   

            Mr. Robert Martin                                                        Present

            Deputy Mayor Mark Sander                                         Present

            Mayor Christopher Myers                                            Present

           

            PROFESSIONALS PRESENT

 

            Mr. Christopher J. Schultz, Township Manager

Mr. Christopher Noll, Township Engineer

            Mr. Richard Hunt, Township Solicitor

           

MINUTES

 

            Agenda Minutes and Executive Session for May 2, 2011

 

            Mr. Grosso moved for approval of the Agenda Minutes and Executive Minutes for May 2, 2011.  The motion was seconded by Mr. Martin.  The motion was approved by all Council present.

 

MANAGER’S REPORT

 

Mr. Schultz stated there were two proclamations for Eagle Scouts Michael Costello and Eric Costello, but neither were present to receive them.

 

Mr. Schultz stated Loretta Amari resigned from the Recreation Advisory Board. Ms Portocalis is asking that Bernie Mayer be reappointed to the Board

 

Mr. Schultz stated if Council did not have an issue with the appointment a resolution would be drawn up for the next council meeting.

 

Mayor Myers stated Council had no issues and to proceed with the resolution.

 

Mr. Schultz wanted to clarify about the Chief of Police position.

 

Mr. Schultz stated the prior Acting Manager did follow the process of the promotion for Chief of Police and he did make the appointment and Rich Meder is Chief of Police.

 

Mr. Schultz stated is no Council action in this form of government.

 

Mr. Schultz remarked during his transition he would have liked to have been part of the hiring process but he was not and now it’s time to move on with Chief Meder.

 

Mayor Myers and Council congratulated Chief Meder and look forward to working with him moving forward.

 

Mr. Schultz stated prior to his term Council requested that the County Health Department be designated enforcing agent for housing code.  Mr. Gogats stated that the Township Ordinance needs to be amended to add them as a designee as well ensuring them that we are following State Housing Code.

 

Mr. Schultz remarked the Township is following the State Housing Code and ask Council that we amend our Ordinance as need be.

 

Mayor Myers and Council had no objections.

 

Mr. Schultz discussed an Ordinance that was brought to Council about a year ago by Parks and Recreations in reference to smoking which Council thought was too restrictive.

 

The Recreation Board is asking for reconsideration which only includes athletic fields and playground areas.

 

Mayor Myers would like to read the proposal before going forward.

 

Mr. Schultz stated that Recreation Advisory Board would proceed with the amendment and have Council review it and discuss it further.

 

Mayor Myers asked where the original recommendation came from.

 

Mr. Schultz stated from the Recreation Board.

 

Mayor Myers thought it was very restricted even in non athletic areas.

 

Mr. Schultz advised Council that Medford Lakes would be holding a meeting in reference to Shared Services later in June if one or two Council members would like to attend.

 

Mayor Mayors asked if the discussions include the police department.

 

Mr. Schultz stated it’s just open end discussion.

 

 

Bill List

 

Mr. Schultz presented the bill list for payment.

 

Mr. Schultz had previously entertained and answered questions with regard to the payment of the bills.  There being no further questions, the bill list was approved for payment as presented.

 

Mr. Brown moved for approval of the bill list, seconded by Mr. Martin.  The motion was approved by all Council present.

 

            ENGINEER’S REPORT

 

            Mr. Noll remarked about the change order on the agenda regarding RBC Sewer Treatment Plant repairs.

 

            Mr. Noll stated the township entered in to an ACA Administrative Consent agreement with DEP to update our Waste Water Management Plan which was done 1986 and did not meet any standards of today.

 

            Mr. Noll stated the Township submitted everything to the DEP by the required dead line of July 2007.

 

            Mr. Noll remarked it had taken some time for approval and in the mean time the State decided to give t jurisdiction to the County.

 

            Mr. Noll stated the Township received response on May 13, 2011 from the July 2007 submission stating the DEP would like the township to join the County which most municipalities have done and any revision would go through the County instead of the State.

 

            Mr. Noll agrees the Township should do this and have a resolution prepared from Council so the ACA would be extinguished and we would deal directly with the County.

 

            Deputy Mayor Sander asked what would be the plus and minus.

 

            Mr. Noll stated a quicker response time and save money.

 

            Mr. Noll gave an update on the Hartford/Rt 70 project. The critical part is the moving of the poles by PSE & G which should be two to four weeks, but usually takes double what they say in time.

 

            Mr. Noll stated if everything goes well the project should be done sometime in July, depending upon the poles.

           

SOLICITOR’S REPORT

 

Mr. Hunt believes the Mayor and Council were copied by Mend in reference to the Senior Project that is being done next door.

 

Mr. Hunt stated MEND is one of finalists for the Affordable Finance Magazine that deals with affordable housing projects. Typically there is 3 – 5 finalists for thet award.

 

Mr. Hunt remarked the project provided 36 C.O.A.H. units and helps seniors and people with disabilities who are in need of assistant living.

 

            Mr. Hunt asked that the Executive Session be amended to add Land Acquisition.

 

            Mr. Hunt also pointed out that Resolution 138-2011 needs four votes to be passed.

 

            Mr. Martin moved for approval of modification of the Executive Session Resolution, seconded by Mr. Brown.  The motion was approved by all Council present.

 

PUBLIC

 

Marlene Lieber, 2 LaRue Lane wanted to commend Mr. Schultz, new Township Manager on his courage and wish him all the luck in the world. 

 

Mrs. Lieber remarked that all they expect of him is transparency and integrity which has been lacking in this town.

 

Mrs. Lieber questioned why we are spending money on Otteau when there are so many local real estate appraisal groups.

 

Mayor Mayors explained to Mrs. Lieber why Otteau was picked plus being a reputable group.

 

Mrs. Lieber feels the Township should have an unbiased person and she had found errors in the report.

 

Mrs. Lieber stated in the Burlington County Times if the present Council votes on Medford Crossing she advised that Council better move now.

 

Christine Balentine, 5 LaRue Lane stated she would like more public comments on the agenda and hopes Mr. Schultz will help her with this.

 

Ms. Balentine asked what the RBC Improvement is.

 

Mr. Noll stated RBC stands for Relocating Biological Contact for the Sewage Treatment plant.

 

Ms. Balentine questioned the address for Freedman Cohen liquor licenses.

 

Mayor Myers stated it goes with the property.

 

Ms. Balentine wanted to know if there was going to be action after the Executive Session.

 

Mr. Hunt stated no action will be taken.

 

Ms. Balentine wanted to know how much it cost for the removal of Victoria Fay.

 

Mr. Schultz stated as of Friday, June 3, 2011 the amount was $34,406.00.

 

Mayor Myers called a frivolous lawsuit and if she continues and the Township wins the Township we will get the money back.

 

Ms. Balentine called it a witch hunt.

 

Ms. Balentine advised that she had read the Otteau Study and she agrees with Ms. Lieber that we do need someone else to give us an unbiased opinion for the worth of that land.

 

Laura Saunder, Taunton Blvd asked for a synopsis of the school budget outcome.

 

Mayor Myers tried to explain it to Ms. Saunder.

 

Chris Buoni, 20 Woodthrush Trail asked about the emergency spending bill on the agenda tonight.

 

Mr. Buoni asked how far the temporary budget carries us.

 

Mr. Schultz stated it should carry us until the end of the month.

 

Mr. Buoni stated if the budget so far is 10.4 million dollars to date it would only leave 6 million until the end of the year.

 

Mayor Myers stated we are waiting to see the outcome of Medford Crossing.

 

Mr. Schultz advised that the staff is working off of a temporary at last year’s level.

 

Deputy Mayor Sander stated there have been spending cuts.

 

Mayor Myers stated until the budget is passed and we see what happens to Medford Crossing and still hold the line on taxes we will work off of a temporary budget.

 

Mr. Buoni asked what the findings on the Ad-Hoc Committee were pertaining to Otteau.

 

Mayor Myers stated the study was positive and very impressive.

 

Deputy Mayor Sander stated that the Blue Ribbon Committee found Otteau to be very comprehensive with their analysis.

 

Jeffrey Daniels, 3 Greenbrier Lane remarked that he was under the impression that the Eni Property was preserved as open space and he now hears that Bob Myers is going to build two houses on a piece of the property.

 

Mr. Hunt stated that the land was preserved except for the two lots that Bob Myers has.

 

Donna Symons, 6 Ashley Court had inquired at the meeting of May 16th why the Police Chief was taken off the agenda and Mayor Myer had indicated that it was a premature press release.

 

Mayor Myers stated that is why he had Mr. Schultz check into the process so that we followed the proper procedure for the Police Chief position.

 

Mr. Schultz did advise Council that it was done correctly.

 

Ms. Symons brought up about the trash situation and the e-mail that she sent to Council about saving a lot of money with different services.

 

Terri Palmer, Allen Avenue remarked to Mayor Myers that he is very rude to Mr. Buoni in reference to campaigning. 

 

Ms. Palmer stated he has been coming to meetings for years and he does not need to be spoken to like he is.

 

Ms. Palmer asked why she cannot get into the Taunton Tennis Courts.

 

Council said they would have to check on this as it should be open to everyone.

 

Ms. Palmer stated the Medford Village Crossing Project should just be dropped.

 

 

 

Laura Sauder, Taunton Blvd asked quick question concerning Medford Crossing and the Bonding.

 

Marlene Lieber, 2 La Rue Lane remarked that we do not need a police officer at meetings.       

 

ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION

 

            NONE

 

ORDINANCES FOR PUBLIC HEARING

 

            NONE

 

RESOLUTIONS

 

Resolution 134-2011 “approving change order number 4, pact two, llc, rbc improvement project”

           

Mr. Brown moved for approval of the resolution, seconded by Deputy Mayor Sander.

           

            The motion for approval was duly made, seconded and affirmatively voted upon by all Council present. 

 

   Resolution 135-2011 “approving renewal of liquor licenses 2011-2012”

 

Deputy Mayor Sander moved for approval of the resolution, seconded by Mr. Martin

           

            The motion for approval was duly made, seconded and affirmatively voted upon by all Council present.

 

Resolution 136-2011 “authorizing Cancellation of 2010 and 2011 Property tax on township owned property block 709, lot 3”

 

   Mr. Martin moved for approval of the resolution, seconded by Mr. Grosso

 

            The motion for approval was duly made, seconded and affirmatively voted upon by all Council present.

 

 

 

Resolution 137-2011 “approving request for performance guarantee reduction no. 1 medford dental real eState holdings, llc. spr-5563f”

Mr. Grosso moved for approval of the resolution, seconded by Mr. Brown.

 

            The motion for approval was duly made, seconded and affirmatively voted upon by all Council present.

 

Resolution 138-2011 “Approve 2011 emergency temporary budget”

 

Mr. Grosso moved for approval of the resolution, seconded by Mr. Martin.

 

The motion for a roll call was duly made, Mr. Brown, aye, Mr. Grosso, aye, Mr. Martin, aye, Deputy Mayor Sander, aye and Mayor Myers, aye.

 

Resolution 139-2011 “authorizing the cancellation of outstanding checks”

 

Mr. Brown moved for approval of the resolution, seconded by Mr. Grosso.

 

            The motion for approval was duly made, seconded and affirmatively voted upon by all Council present.

 

Resolution 140-2011 “authorizing the Cancellation of Outstanding Checks”

 

Deputy Mayor Sander moved for approval of the resolution, seconded by Mr. Martin.

 

            The motion for approval was duly made, seconded and affirmatively voted upon by all Council present.

 

Resolution 142-2011 “authorizing the performance of additional work associated with the market study analysis”

 

Mr. Brown moved for approval of the resolution, seconded by Deputy Mayor Sander.

 

            The motion for approval was duly made, seconded and affirmatively voted upon by all Council present.

 

 

 

COMMUNICATION

 

            NONE

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

            NONE

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

            Mr. Brown moved for approval of Gems & Precious Metal Dealer License for Peter G. Davidson of Davidson Jewelers, seconded by Deputy Mayor Sander.

 

            The motion for approval was duly made, seconded and affirmatively voted upon by all Council present.

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION MEETING

 

            Mayor Myers advised the purpose of the Executive Session is to discuss Medford Village East Litigation and Land Acquisition.

 

Resolution 141-2011 “Authorizing Executive Session”

 

            Deputy Mayor Sander moved for approval of the resolution, seconded by Mr. Grosso.

 

            The motion for approval to adjourn to Executive Session at 8:30 PM was duly made, seconded and affirmatively voted upon by all Council present.

 

            Mayor Myers stated no action will be taken in Executive Session.

           

ADJOURNMENT

 

            There being no further business, Mr. Martin moved that the meeting be adjourned at 9:15P.M., seconded by Mr. Brown with all members in agreement.

 

Respectfully submitted,

                                                 

 

Mary Lou Bergh

Deputy Township Clerk

 

Next meeting scheduled for: June 20, 2011