BOROUGH OF BERNARDSVILLE Mayor and Council Reorganization Meeting Minutes January 2, 2013

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1 BOROUGH OF BERNARDSVILLE Mayor and Council Reorganization Meeting Minutes January 2, 2013 This meeting was called to order by Mayor Lee C. Honecker at 7:00 p.m., who stated that notice of this meeting was provided to the Bernardsville News, Courier-News, Star Ledger, filed in the Office of the Borough Clerk, and posted on the Municipal Bulletin Board on November 28, OATHS OF OFFICE Jeffrey J. DeLeo and Michael depoortere, elected to Borough Council at an election held on November 6, 2012 for three year terms, took their oaths of office. CALL MEETING TO ORDER A call of the roll followed. Present at this meeting were Mayor Lee C. Honecker, Council Members Jeffrey J. DeLeo, Michael depoortere, John Farrell, Craig Lawrence, Joseph C. Rossi, Jr. and Kevin Sooy. Also present were Borough Attorney John Pidgeon, Ralph A. Maresca, Jr., Administrator/CMFO and Sandra Jones, Borough Clerk/Assistant Administrator. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE MAYOR S ANNUAL ADDRESS Mayor Honecker said, Thank you all for coming. This is the Mayor s Annual Address and I wrote it about an hour ago, as I was thinking about what to talk about...what happened in 2012 and going over my address from last year, I took a little excerpt, and I talked about Hurricane Irene and a late October snow storm, and I said from those two natural disasters some good did come. We learned. We have updated our communication system and are working with the American Red Cross to establish a regional shelter at Bernards High School. Always seeking to improve, we are looking to upgrade our equipment and be better trained to handle times of crisis. What we did learn, and we did improve, this past year brought us Hurricane Sandy and Superstorm Athena. Tree and wire damage in the borough was extensive. The power company advise me that in the area, Bernardsville and Harding were hit the hardest. For most the power went out for two weeks, some longer. Our first responders, police, public works, fire, and rescue, were immediately put into action, responding to calls and clearing roads. A four wheel drive off-road vehicle recommended and purchased as a result of last year s storms was utilized by police My thanks to the police staff, road department, fire department and the rescue squad. Once power was lost, volunteers were contacted and a warming station was immediately opened at the library. My thanks to the library staff, library board and those residents who volunteered to man the library warming station for almost two weeks. From there, the decision was made to immediately open the high school as a Red Cross sponsored shelter and that process began. The school superintendent was notified, volunteers were contacted, cots and supplies were delivered and setup, and we were ready for business. For the first week, we

2 ran our own shelter, the second week, we became a Red Cross licensed shelter. During almost all of that two week period we were the only Red Cross shelter in Somerset county. During that two week period, we had some 300 to 400 residents of the shelter, people who stayed there and slept overnight. We had a medical wing where the elderly and sick could be looked after. We had some 800 to 1000 people come through for the purpose of either showering, charging their phones or simply getting warm. All this without any real prior experience. The shelter was born, it then crawled, and got up on its own two legs and walked all at the same time. My special thanks go out to Janet Murnick and Cheryl Ferrante. Two local residents who were also Red Cross trained shelter supervisors. They, along with our police chief, took the reins, and got the shelter up on its feet and running. Thanks also to those special residents, some trained, some not, who ventured into uncharted waters and worked as shelter volunteers. At first we were all without power, and the ability to obtain gasoline or have access to cash. This lasted several days. Things could ve gotten out of hand, but did not. Gradually, finding ways to improvise, local businesses opened and tended to their customers. After five or six days, power was eventually restored to the downtown area then gradually all power was restored in the borough. My thanks to those businesses who opened as soon as they could and serviced customers in need. Residents were updated by me, using our new reverse 911 communication system, whereby residents sign up for free, and are able to receive calls to their cells and landlines as well as receive texts and . As many of you know, you heard me quite a bit during the two week period. This 911 system was another improvement we instituted as a result of the 2011 storms. Through it, I was able to advise you about food, gas, roads, and more importantly, electrical power. I was in daily contact with JCP&L participating in conference calls with its president Donald Lynch. Sometimes I got angry and loud, other times I did not. But through those conference calls I was able to bring our situation in Bernardsville to them, and let them know what was happening here. My special thanks to officers Rich McCorry and Scott Chertoff for at times impersonating me and sending out notifications. Finally, thank you to our residents for your patience and realization that we were all in it together. Be assured we learned from this experience as well, and we will improve should the future need arise. Let s hope it doesn t. With that, again, thank you for coming and I wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous 2013." MAYOR S APPOINTMENTS Mayor Honecker announced the following appointments: Designee to Library Board John McCrossan 1 year Environmental Commission Alice Rochat & Paula M. Stuart 3 years Environmental Commission Chair Sherry Frawley 1 year Historic Preservation AC Daniel Lincoln & Paula Marasco 4 years Historic Preservation AC Eileen Grippo, Alternate #2 2 years -2-

3 Planning Board, Class I John Bacci (serves at pleasure of Mayor) Planning Board, Class II Alice Rochat 1 year Planning Board, Class IV Terry Thompson 4 years Shade Tree Advisory Committee Anne Peterson & Charlotte Foster 4 years Shade Tree Advisory Committee Joe Latino, unexpired term to 12/31/13 SC Community Development Paula Marasco 1 year Upper Raritan Watershed AC Sherry Frawley 1 year SC Wastewater Management Plan John Macdowall, Bob Brightly, Lee Honecker 1 year SC Solid Waste Advisory Council Robert Marasco 1 year (Nomination) Municipal Grants (Ad Hoc) Charlotte Foster, Paula Marasco, Kate Lincoln 1 year Mun. Alliance & Youth Services John Grund, Malinda Davis-Campbell, Tim 1 year (Ad Hoc) McDonald, Kevin Valentine, Alice Steinbacher, Cheryl Ferrante, Nancy Palazzolo OEM Deputy Coordinator Richard McCorry and John Orfan 1 year LEPC (Local Emergency Planning Committee) Lee Honecker, Joseph Rossi, Ralph Maresca, 1 year Demmings Hoadley, Richard McCorry, John Macdowall, Janet Murnick/OEM Shelter Officer, Randy Steinkopf/FD, John Orfan/FAS, Mary Ferrante/FA, Glenn Miller/FD, Stephen Schwed/CERT, Lucy Forgione/Health Officer, Kevin Valentine/OEM & PD Chief RESOLUTIONS #13-1 COUNCIL CONFIRMATION OF THE MAYOR S APPOINTMENTS #13-2 ORGANIZATION OF BOROUGH COUNCIL #13-3 BOROUGH COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS AND/OR NOMINATIONS TO SOMERSET COUNTY OFFICES #13-4 APPOINTMENT OF BOROUGH OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES -3-

4 #13-5 AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES APPOINTMENTS AND CONTRACTS #13-6 DESIGNATION OF OFFICIAL NEWSPAPERS #13-7 ADOPTING THE 2013 SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS #13-8 AUTHORIZING ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS FOR SUPPLIES & SERVICES #13-9 ADOPTING A CASH MANAGEMENT PLAN #13-10 AUTHORIZATION FOR INVESTMENTS #13-11 DESIGNATION OF DEPOSITORIES AND SIGNATORIES #13-12 AUTHORIZING PAYMENT OF BILLS #13-13 SETTING RATE OF INTEREST ON 2013 DELINQUENT TAXES, SERVICES CHARGES FOR CHECKS RETURNED FOR INSUFFICIENT FUNDS, AND CHARGES FOR DUPLICATE TAX SALE CERTIFICATES #13-14 TEMPORARY APPROPRIATIONS FOR OPERATING PURPOSES #13-15 APPROVING TEMPORARY BUDGET LINE ITEMS #13-16 ADOPTING POLICE DEPARTMENT RULES & REGULATIONS #13-17 DESIGNATING WRECKER SERVICES FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT #13-18 TEMPORARY CAPITAL BUDGET RESOLUTION Resolutions #13-1, #13-2, #13-4 and #13-5 were held for discussion. Mayor Honecker called for a motion to approve Resolutions #13-3 and #13-6 through # Mr. Farrell so moved. Mr. Rossi seconded the motion and a call of the roll followed. Members DeLeo, depoortere, Farrell, Lawrence, Rossi and Sooy voted yes. Mayor Honecker removed appointments to the Open Space Advisory Committee, Housing Advisory Committee and the Somerset County Cultural and Heritage Advisory Committee from Resolution #13-1. With that amendment, Mr. Rossi moved adoption of Resolution #13-1, COUNCIL -4-

5 CONFIRMATION OF THE MAYOR S APPOINTMENTS. Mr. Sooy seconded the motion and a call of the roll followed. Members DeLeo, depoortere, Farrell, Lawrence, Rossi and Sooy voted yes. Resolution #13-2 was discussed. Mr. Rossi nominated Kevin Sooy to serve as Council President. Hearing no further nominations, the Mayor called for a vote. Members DeLeo, depoortere, Farrell, Lawrence, Rossi and Sooy voted yes on Mr. Sooy s nomination as Council President. Resolution #13-2 was supplemented with the names of Council Members who will serve on standing committees for With those additions, Mr. Rossi moved adoption of Resolution #13-2, ORGANIZATION OF BOROUGH COUNCIL. Mr. DeLeo seconded the motion and Members DeLeo, depoortere, Farrell, Lawrence, Rossi and Sooy voted yes. Resolution #13-4, APPOINTMENT OF BOROUGH OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES, was discussed. Mayor Honecker asked for a show of hands for candidates for Prosecutor. Three Council Members favored Davis/Bateman. Three were in favor of James Porfido. Mayor Honecker broke the tie with a vote for Davis/Bateman. The Resolution was supplemented, adding Davis/Bateman, Prosecutor and Scott Mitzner, Public Defender, and Mr. Rossi moved adoption. Mr. Sooy seconded the motion and Members DeLeo, depoortere, Farrell, Lawrence, Rossi and Sooy voted yes. The firm names for Davis/Bateman, and Scott Mitzner were added to Resolution #13-5, AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES APPOINTMENTS/CONTRACTS, AND Mr. Farrell moved adoption. Mr. depoortere seconded the motion and Members DeLeo, depoortere, Farrell, Lawrence, Rossi and Sooy voted yes. ORDINANCES Mr. Rossi moved that # , BOND ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE SANITARY SEWERAGE SYSTEM IN AND BY THE BOROUGH OF BERNARDSVILLE, IN THE COUNTY OF SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY, APPROPRIATING $700,000 THEREFOR AND AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF $665,000 BONDS OR NOTES OF THE BOROUGH FOR FINANCING SUCH APPROPRIATION, be introduced by title, passed on first reading, published according to law, and that a public hearing be scheduled for a meeting beginning at 7:00 p.m., January 14, Mr. depoortere seconded the motion and a call of the roll followed. Members DeLeo, depoortere, Farrell, Lawrence, Rossi and Sooy voted yes. Mr. Rossi moved that # , BOND ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $1,200,000, AND AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF $1,142,000 BONDS OR NOTES OF THE BOROUGH, FOR VARIOUS IMPROVEMENTS OR PURPOSES AUTHORIZED TO BE UNDERTAKEN BY THE BOROUGH OF BERNARDSVILLE, IN THE COUNTY OF SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY, be introduced by title, passed on first reading, published according to law, and that a public -5-

6 hearing be scheduled for a meeting beginning at 7:00 p.m., January 14, Mr. depoortere seconded the motion and a call of the roll followed. Members DeLeo, depoortere, Farrell, Lawrence, and Rossi voted yes. Mr. Sooy abstained. TIME CAPSULE Mayor Honecker read the following letter, dated July 18, 1977, passed on in the public record, as requested by the Bernardsville Shade Tree Commission (now Shade Tree Committee): To the Mayor of Bernardsville and Members of the Borough Council: With the recent restoration of the borough pond, it has been possible to complete the Time Capsule Project by imbedding the capsule in concrete at the base of the Bicentennial Liberty Tree. This tree, a red oak, was planted on April 17, 1976, at a point about 108 feet from the northeast corner of the Borough Hall Building. A plaque is affixed to the top of the concrete marker which reads: Bicentennial Liberty Tree Bernardsville Shade Tree Commission April 17, 1976 Information concerning the Time Capsule and its contents are contained in the accompanying envelope addressed to the residents of Bernardsville in the year Another copy, the original, has been placed in the Time Capsule itself. It is the wish of the members of the Shade Tree Commission ( ) that this letter be passed on from year to year on January 1 during the swearing in ceremonies of each new council through the year At that time, during the Tricentennial Celebration of our country, the Time Capsule (see attached plans) is to be broken open for the residents to examine the items we have assembled which reflect the life and times of the Bicentennial Year. The Bernardsville Shade Tree Commission John Edmonds, Chairman of the Commission Members: Victoria D. Schmidt,John Croot Marty Craig and Barbara Heckman Mayor Honecker read the following statement: OPEN SESSION At this point in the meeting, the Borough Council welcomes comments from any member of the public. Please begin by coming to the microphone and state your name and address into the record. To help facilitate an orderly meeting and to permit the opportunity for anyone who wishes to be -6-

7 heard, speakers shall limit their comments to 5 minutes. If reading from a prepared statement, please provide a copy and a copy to the Clerk s Office after making your comments so it may be properly reflected in the minutes. If you would like to make a presentation to the governing body with supporting documentation, we will not hear your presentation tonight, but we will schedule your presentation for a future meeting so that the members of the governing body have the opportunity to review your materials prior to the presentation. Hearing no comments, Mayor Honecker closed the public portion. MEETING ADJOURNMENT & RECEPTION Mayor Honecker adjourned the meeting at 7:35 p.m. A brief reception followed. Borough Clerk BC MIN keywords: reorganization-appointments -7-