BOROUGH OF PITMAN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES DECEMBER 8, 2014 8:00 P.M. Call to Order Time: 8:12 p.m. Salute to the Flag/Invocation Councilwoman Higbee Open Public Meetings Act Statement - Pursuant to the Open Public Meetings Act, I hereby announce that adequate notice of this meeting has been provided by adopting a schedule of regular meetings for 2014, which was posted on the Borough Hall bulletin board, sent to the "South Jersey Times" and filed with the Municipal Clerk on January 5, 2014. Roll Call Councilman Austin: Present Councilwoman Higbee: Present Councilman Pierpont: Present Mayor Johnson: Present Clerk O Donnell: Present Councilwoman Kelley: Present Council President Razze: Present Borough Solicitor Duffield: Present Proclamation SGM Mark Rizzo Presentation Pitman Police Department Officer of the Year - Detective Sgt. Hunter Moore Swearing In of Pitman Police Department K9 Unit Patrolman E. J. Parker and K9 Unit Ranger Approval of Minutes Work Session, Closed Work Session, & Formal Meeting Minutes of November 10, 2014 Motion: Austin Second: Pierpont Councilwoman Higbee: Abstain Councilwoman Kelley: Abstain Councilman Austin - Councilman Austin congratulated Det. Sgt. Moore for being named Officer of the Year for the Pitman Police Department. Det. Sgt. Moore will also be the recipient of the Mason's First Responder of the Year Award. The Pitman Police Department will soon launch an anonymous email tip line for anyone who would like to report information to the department without having to give their personal information. Email tips may be sent to citizentips@pitman.org. 1
Councilman Austin reported that Fire Department activity has been minimal. There is no report from the Office of Emergency Management or the Environmental Commission. Council President Razze Council President Razze congratulated Det. Sgt. Moore and Patrolman Parker and Ranger as they start their service together. He also thanked Sgt. Major Rizzo for his service to our county. Council President Razze thanked the volunteers who came out and assisted with the Christmas Parade. It was a great success, having the most number of participants in recent memory, and one of the largest turnouts of spectators. Council President Razze also thanked the Police and Fire Department personnel for their assistance, and particularly Traffic Safety Officer Sgt. Owens for coordinating the road closures and parking restrictions. Councilman Pierpont Councilman Pierpont added his congratulations to Det. Sgt. Moore, and to Sgt. Major Rizzo, for all they have done to protect our community and our country. Councilman Pierpont also thanked Council President Razze and the Parade Committee for the hours spent volunteering their time to provide us with a fantastic parade. Councilwoman Higbee - Councilwoman Higbee congratulated everyone honored at this meeting, as well as Council President Razze for organizing a great parade. The Historic Commission will meet this Thursday night at 7:00 p.m. Councilwoman Kelley Councilwoman Kelley reported the following activity in the Construction Office during the month of November: Permits issued: 70 Certificates processed: 60 Total fees collected from permits and certificates: $12,224.00 Miscellaneous fees collected for zoning permits and vacant property registration: $1,681.00 Councilwoman Kelley reported that the Borough's Green Team held their monthly meeting on November 25. It was another very productive meeting with each member volunteering to write an action plan for activities to perform that will help in achieving certification with the Sustainable Jersey program. Each action can be worth anywhere from 5 to 20 points, and it takes 150 points to receive "Bronze" status. Everyone continues to be excited about the possibilities and opportunities that participating in Sustainable Jersey will bring to Pitman. Their next meeting will be on December 16, at 7:00 p.m. The next Combined Planning & Zoning Board meeting will be on December 15 at 7:00 p.m. The next Economic Development Commission meeting will be on December 18 at 7:00 p.m. New Business Ordinance No. 24, 2014 An Ordinance of the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Pitman, County of Gloucester, State of New Jersey, Repealing and Replacing Ordinance No. 12, 2013 and Section 19-5 Entitled Maintenance of Vacant/Abandoned Properties of the Code of the Borough of Pitman First Reading Motion: Kelley 2
Unfinished Business Ordinance No. 22, 2014 A Bond Ordinance of the Borough of Pitman, County of Gloucester, State of New Jersey, Authorizing the Acquisition of Real Property in the Borough of Pitman, County of Gloucester, New Jersey, Appropriating the Sum of $200,000 Therefor; Authorizing the Issuance of General Obligation Bonds or Bond Anticipation Notes of the Borough of Pitman, County of Gloucester, New Jersey, in the Aggregate Principal Amount of up to $190,000 Making Certain Determinations and Covenants and Authorizing Certain Related Actions in Connection With the Foregoing Second Reading - Public Hearing Motion to open to the public: Razze Time: 8:46 p.m. No public comment. Motion to close public portion: Razze Time: 8:46 p.m. Ordinance No. 23, 2014 An Ordinance of the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Pitman, County of Gloucester, State of New Jersey, Repealing Bond Ordinance No. 12, 2013 Second Reading - Public Hearing Motion to open to the public: Razze Time: 8:48 p.m. No public comment. Motion to close public portion: Razze Time: 8:48 p.m. 3
New Business *Resolution No. 169, 2014 Resolution of the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Pitman, County of Gloucester, State of New Jersey Authorizing the Transfer of Ownership of a 2002 Horton Ambulance to the County of Gloucester Pursuant to an Interlocal Services Agreement *Action was taken on this resolution in the Work Session meeting, held prior to this meeting. Roll call: Yes: Higbee, Kelley, Johnson No: Austin, Razze Resolution No. 170, 2014 Resolution of the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Pitman, County of Gloucester, State of New Jersey Authorizing the Execution of an Agreement with the County of Gloucester for the 2014-2015 Municipal Alliance Grant Resolution No. 171, 2014 Resolution of the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Pitman, County of Gloucester, State of New Jersey Providing for the Insertion of a Special Item of Revenue in the Budget Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:4-87 Governor s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Gloucester County Municipal Alliance Resolution No. 172, 2014 Resolution of the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Pitman, County of Gloucester, State of New Jersey Designating Signers on the Borough of Pitman s Theater Avenue Revitalization Project Trust Account Resolution No. 173, 2014 Resolution of the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Pitman, County of Gloucester, State of New Jersey Awarding the Reconstruction of Highland Terrace Project to Asphalt Paving Corporation in the Amount of $123,779.50 Motion: Pierpont Resolution No. 174, 2014 Resolution of the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Pitman, County of Gloucester, State of New Jersey Authorizing a Closed Meeting 4
The general nature of the subject to be discussed at said meeting shall be: Contract Negotiations PBA Local 122 and the Borough of Pitman Action may be taken upon returning to an open meeting. Motion: Austin Second: Razze Payment of Bills Councilman Austin: Abstains to ck. # 29645; approves all other expenditures. Event Permit Applications (Razze) *Event: The Light Run Applicant: Good Day for a Run, LLC Date: December 18, 2014; 6:00 p.m. December 22, 2014; 6:00 p.m. Location: Pitman Sidewalks Contact Person: Ken Culbertson Motion: Razze * Event Permit Application approved contingent upon the submission of a Certificate of Liability Insurance naming the Borough of Pitman as Additional Insured. Discussion At this time, Mayor Johnson congratulated former Pitman Mayor Michael D. Batten, Jr., who was in attendance at this meeting, for the honor of being selected by the Greater Pitman Chamber of Commerce to receive their 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award. Public Portion Motion to open to the public: Razze Time: 9:00 p.m. No public comment. Motion to close the public portion: Razze Time: 9:00 p.m. 5
Closed Meeting Motion to enter into a closed meeting: Austin Time: 9:02 p.m. Motion to return to an open meeting: Razze Time: 9:55 p.m. Second: Razze No action was taken as a result of discussion in the closed meeting. Miscellaneous Borough Clerk O'Donnell presented a proposal submitted by the Borough's health insurance broker for consideration in planning for the 2015 municipal budget. At this time the Borough obtains prescription medication coverage for its' eligible employees through Benecard, which requires the Borough to pay a monthly bill based upon the previous months prescriptions obtained by employees. This is a system that results in fluctuating monthly bills that prohibits the Borough from predicting the actual annual budgetary impact. At this time the bills range between $3,000.00 and $4,000.00 per month. The insurance broker proposes that the Borough move the prescription coverage from Benecard to Aetna, which is the provider for the employee health care coverage. The proposed annual amount to be added to the Borough's health care premium is $190,000.00. Should Council decide to make this change for 2015, it would require a significant increase to the healthcare budget line item for 2015. Also discussed at this time are the changes that are pending within the Mantua Joint Municipal Court. In 2015, Wenonah and Woodbury Heights will be joining the Mantua Joint Court. This will require a new joint court to be formed, with revised financial obligations from each of the four participating municipalities. Pitman received a worksheet from the Mantua Township Administrator outlining the proposed budget and the amount each municipality will be responsible for 2015. The proposed budget for the Borough of Pitman is approximately $132,000.00, a $4,000.00 reduction from the 2014 budget. Members of Council felt that the savings to the Borough should be greater based on the addition of two towns contributing to the overall operating budget. It was agreed that the Borough Clerk would contact Mantua's Administrator to obtain a more detailed analysis of how the cost per municipality was determined. The final subject for discussion was the submission of a single resume for the position of Planning and Zoning Board Attorney under the Request for Qualifications for Professional Services solicitation that was done by the Borough for its' 2015 appointments. The resume that was submitted was determined to be incomplete in that it did not contain some of the information that was requested in the advertisement. Adjournment Motion: Kelley Time: 10:10 p.m. Motion to re-open the Formal Meeting: Razze Time: 10:12 p.m. 6
Motion was made by Council President Razze authorizing the Borough Clerk to re-advertise for qualifications for the position of Planning & Zoning Board Attorney for 2015. Adjournment Time: 10:16 p.m. Second: Razze Respectfully Submitted, Judith O'Donnell Borough Clerk/Administrator 7