SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
NOVEMBER 2, 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 Sander Present
Mayor Myers Present
PROFESSIONALS PRESENT
Mr. Christopher Schultz, Township Manager
Mr. Christopher Noll, Township Engineer
EXECUTIVE SESSION MEETING
Mayor Myers before going into Executive Session had made a statement in regards to allegations that were made against him. He made a short statement and asked that no further questions be asked again pertaining to this matter.
Resolution 218-2011 “Authorizing Executive Session”
Medford
Village East Litigation
Mayor Myers announced that we would need to go into Executive Session for about 15-20 minutes and that no action would be taken.
Mr. Gross moved to go into Executive Session at 7:40 PM, seconded by Mr. Martin with all council in agreement.
A discussion of Medford Village East was discussed in reference to moving forward or not with the plans for Medford Village East.
Mr. Martin moved to close executive session at 7:55 PM, seconded by Mr. Grosso.
MEDFORD VILLAGE EAST DISCUSSION BY
COUNCIL
Mayor Myers asked for a motion to come out of Executive Session at 8:00 PM, Deputy Mayor Sanders motioned to come out of Executive Seeion, seconded by Mr. Brown.
Mayor Myers announced after long discussions, meetings that the parties have not come to an agreement and we will not be moving forward with Medford Crossing deal.
Mayor Myers stated that we would always give due diligent to ideas when there are approvals on the sites and budget issues in town.
Mayor Myers stated that if we could not come up with an agreeable deal for the town that we would not be able to go forward.
Mayor Myers opened it up to the Deputy Mayor for comments along with the rest of Council.
Deputy Mayor Sander stated he would like to make some points on record.
Deputy Mayor Sander stated first that the parties could not reach agreement in regards to the Medford Crossing Project and given the high degree of interest in this project and its potential we believe it was appropriate to advise the township the inability to reach this agreement and to do so in an open meeting.
Deputy Mayor Sander advised that both he and other members of council have met with each of the parties, as well as School Board representative, Blue Ribbon Committee of Medford residence.
Deputy Mayor Sander advised that they have reviewed numerous documents, held many meetings and retained experts to advise us.
Deputy Mayor Sander had stated that he had high hopes that parties could come to some kind of agreement despite great efforts could not.
Mr. Grosso stated if we could have done what we thought we could it would have been advantage to the township.
Mr. Grosso advised that the main objective was the financial strength back into the balance sheet of the town and that is what we were going for.
Mr. Grosso stated with all the hard work that had come from all of this that the due diligence has been done.
Mr. Brown advised the numbers were just not right and it was just too risky.
Mr. Brown wanted to thank the people of Medford for their comments plus the Blue Ribbon Committee for their fantastic job because we came to a good conclusion.
Mr. Martin thanked the Blue Ribbon Panel for all their hard work and had enlightened all of us on it.
Mr. Martin stated we represent all the people in town and have to look at every option which was done from the beginning.
Mr. Martin did not think it was right and that is why they went in the direction they did.
Mr. Martin wanted to thank the people of Medford and he had seen many people along the way who voiced their opinion.
Mr. Martin stated we should listen to the people and that’s what we did.
Meeting Open to the Public
George Youngkin, 13 Regent Court asked Council based on tonight’s decision
where do we go from here. Mr. Youngkin asked that it’s a 2006 agreement and it’s still open to be built on.
Deputy Mayor Sander explained that Mr. Samost to receive the funds to build would probably be unlikely.
Deputy Mayor Sander did state that if did want to develop that area he probably has the funds and approval to do so.
Mr. Youngkin inquired how the 2006 agreement stands up.
Mr. Hunt explained about the 2006 and where it is since the Bankruptcy.
Mr. Hunt stated that the 10 year planning of the property is still invested and still in effect.
Mr. Youngkin asked about the financial numbers and Council advised all was on the website.
Mayor Myers asked if he needed additional information to contact Mr. Schultz and he would be able to help him.
Andrew Beuschel, 12 Liberty Place wanted to thank Council for voting as they did about Medford Crossing and it was about time something made sense for a change.
Mr. Beuschel stated to Council when we are looking at different aspects we have to make sure the Medford is not compromised.
Mr. Beuschel advised Council that they were elected to represent the people of Medford 3 had been elected by the people and two Council people were replacements for people who stepped down.
Mr. Beuschel stated to Council that we had Vicky Fay on Council who was an elected official and then was replaced with a replacement who was not elected by the people.
Mr. Beuschel asked could have information been released because what had been going on in this town due to us pooling around 35 million dollars could someone having been blackmailing somebody.
Mr. Beuschel asked was this ever investigated and advised that there should be an investigation on what is going on in this township and need to know we are not being compromised.
Mr. Beuschel stated since we are in such a deficit why don’t we look into people who can do the work such as a solicitor or engineer at a cheaper rate as there are a lot of people who are unemployed which we could look into.
Chris Desana, 3 Great Bridge Court stated that the Abbott districts are not going to get anymore of our money so that one good thing.
Mr. Desana stated we bought property to stop building but let Mr. Samost buy what we are suppose to stop doing.
Mr. Desana remarked we just never followed the Master Plan from the beginning.
Marlene Lieber, 2 La Rue Lane stated that the North Side was not zoned for sewer permits only the south side and our solicitor at the time stated it was continuous and could transfer.
Amshu
Dev, 5 Swift Court
Mr. Dev thanked Council for not going forward with the plan and asked if it had a shelf life period.
Mr. Hunt stated 10 years for shelf life.
Mr. Hunt stated that after 2016 it would have to go back to the planning board.
Terri Palmer, Allen Avenue thanked Council and stated it was the best thing they ever done in a long time.
Mrs. Palmer asked that we know this is grandfather in and if this does come up again are we going to let it get out of control again or squash it when it gets to this point.
Mayor Myers stated that we don’t know what Samost will do next time.
Terry asked Mayor Myers if he is going to step down with all that is going on.
Mayor Myers denies the allegations at this time
Mayor Myers stated he is not making any further comments
.
Randy Pace, 26 Woodthrush Trail
Mr. Pace thanked Mr. Martin for taking a stand at the last meetings ordinances.
Mr. Pace stated if Mr. Martin had not taken a stand at that point we would not be in the position we are tonight.
Mr. Pace wanted to address the comments in reference to the project.
Mr. Pace stated that Mr. Grosso tried to follow the process by failed miserably.
Mr. Pace remarked that he disagreed with Mr. Grosso assertions that he had done a great job. Mr. Pace stated he had done a poor job and this is the result of this poor job.
Mr. Pace remarked that the objective was secret and it had been since the planning board approval.
Mr. Pace state he was not living in Medford at the time but it was his observation over the last 2 – 3 years of Council.
Mr. Pace remarked that little information was given out on where we stand and what was going on with the project. Mr. Pace stated if we had done this as we were going along we would have not gotten to this point and all would have been resolved years ago.
Mr. Pace remarked if borrowing money to pay debt was a good deal we would all be doing it.
Mr. Pace stated that $250,000 was put in a special fund to pay Mr. Hunt’s legal fees after done. Mr. Pace asked if this was correct.
Mr. Hunt stated this was incorrect that tier legal fees were established as the project moved forward.
Mr. Pace asked Mr. Hunt that Lennar did not put aside $250,000.00 to pay his legal fees.
Mr. Hunt stated that they paid a $50,000.00 installment.
Mr. Pace did ask wasn’t it true to Mr. Hunt that they would pay him $250,000 towards his legal fees?
Mr. Hunt stated that was true.
Mr. Pace asked Mr. Hunt who will pay his legal fees now.
Mr. Hunt stated the Township pays his legal fees.
Mr. Pace stated he was concerned about the Township paying five times the State average for open space and he will get to the bottom of this to see why this was done.
Mr. Hunt did explain why this was due to the high market value.
Mr. Hunt stated that the amount the township pays is 25%.
Mr. Pace stated approval permits runs out in 10 years than when does the sewer permits run out.
Mr. Noll stated there is a buy back clause pertaining to the sewer permits.
Michael
Reilly, 5 Corkery Lane
Mr. Riley commented what was going on with the Mayor was totally unacceptable to the people of Medford.
Mr. Riley stated he should step down and resign from office.
Michael Panarella, 49 Georgia Trail stated that he was happy that Council listened to the majority of the people of Medford.
Mr. Panarella stated when this was done 25 years ago they Mayor was attentive to Mr. Samost and the Solicitor was a good friend both in business and in personal.
Mr. Panarella remarked that is how we got in the position we are in now that if it was you would recued yourself from the vote.
Mr. Panarella hopes that the new Council coming on will take this in account.
Mr. Panarella hopes that integrity will be up held.
Lorretta Kamieniecki, 30 Pocahontas Trail had remarked that she had tried to get a sewer permit and the Clerk was the one that had sold them to Mr. Samost.
Mayor Myers stated a moratorium was put on after that.
Mr. Love, 8 Barberry Mews stated Council came to the right conclusion but feels it was really the people.
Mr. Love hopes the new Council coming on will be a ban on pilots so we won’t find ourselves in this process.
Mr. Love
stated we have a 5 million deficit next year and hopes that we jump on this
right away.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mr. Martin moved that the meeting be adjourned at
8:56PM seconded by Deputy Mayor Sanders with all members in agreement.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Lou Bergh
Deputy Clerk
Next meeting scheduled for: November 7, 2011