SOUTH BOUND BROOK BOROUGH COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Mayor and Borough Council held on at Council Chambers, 12 Main Street, South Bound Brook, NJ. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM with a reading of the Open Public Meetings Law Statement by Mayor Caryl Shoffner, the Pledge of Alligance and a request for a moment of silence to remember our servicemen and servicewomen working overseas. Roll Call: Mayor Caryl Chris Shoffner Council President Dennis Quinlan Councilperson Bruce Blumenthal Councilperson August Carlton Councilperson Anthony Timpano Councilperson Kathryn Kelly Councilperson James Murphy (Absent) Attending: Approval of the Minutes: Borough Attorney: Frank Taddeo Borough Engineer: Thomas Herits Officer In Charge: Lt. Jeffrey Titus Borough Administrator: Donald Kazar - Motion by Councilperson Carlton for approval of the November Special Meeting, the December Meetings and the January 1 st Meeting, seconded by Councilperson Timpano, discussion. All in favor, all ayes. Mayor s Report: - Spoke about doing a Newsletter and putting it at Quick Chek. Spoke to them and they approved. Council members were asked to get information for the Newsletter from their respective Committees and Department Heads. - Mayor spent two hours at a Canal cleanup on Saturday. There will be another cleanup in April. - Also spoke about having boat rides on the Canal in the future. Page 1
Council Reports: Finance/Historical Committee (Councilperson Quinlan): - The Canal Society of NJ has been pushing for a boat ride for about 15 years. The Canal Commission will not allow a boat with a gasoline engine. Talked about removal of some trees along the Canal bank. - Spoke about terms of agreement to purchase the Research Building from GAF. Asked for Executive Session to discuss this agreement. - No Bill List this meeting. - DPW will pick up the trash from the Canal cleanup. - Six spruce trees have been donated by one of our vendors. Five of them have been planted by DPW at the Staats House. Personnel/Board of Health (Councilperson Carlton): - Attended Board of Health Meeting last week. Named the Officers and new member Kathy Bolmer. She also mentioned that Mrs. King and Mrs. Bolmer are the SBB represeatatives to the Middle Brook Regional Health Commission. Public Safety Police Department/Rescue Squad (Councilperson Timpano): - Police Department Monthly Report for December is as follows: Total Dockets 468; First Aid Squad Calls 23; Fire Dept. Calls 2; Total Arrests 28; Overtime for Dec. $14,107.39 (204 hrs.); Court Related Overtime Dec. $2,068.08 (29.5 hrs.); Total 2015 Overtime - $102,915.04; Total Court 2015 $19,050.27 (338 hrs.). Public Safety Fire Department (Councilperson Murphy): - Fire Department Monthly Report for December is as follows: Total number of alarms 10; Total man-hrs. answering alarms 57.68; Total man-hrs. on maintenance of trucks and equipment 15; Total man-hrs. on Department Training 0; Total man-hrs. at Board of Engineers Meeting 16; Captain s man-hrs. for administrative duties 30; Total man-hrs. for December 2015 118.68. - Mayor talked about the Annual Fire Department Installation Dinner. Recreation Sports/Social Committees (Councilperson Kelly): - Basketball in underway. There are two teams. Still need some uniforms. - Need to approve the change to the by-laws at the next meeting. - Tree Lighting went very well. A lot of positive feedback and some suggestions for some minor changes. - Waiting for a letter of resignation from Beth Konkle so that a replacement can be named. Page 2
Professionals Reports: Officer In Charge (Lt. Titus): - Will begin interviews for new officer next week. Only six applied. Lt. Titus doesn t know why such a small number of applicants. - Would like to hold a Community Meeting in the near future so that residents can voice their concerns and help the Police Department serve them better. Mayor thinks this is a good idea. - A Department meeting will be held on January 15, 2016 at 6:00 AM. - Spoke to OEM Coordinator Mike Allenovitch about using Nixel. - Rifles will be ordered next week. Four will be ordered. - Cameras for the cars will be installed next month. Borough Engineer Report: - Need to bond for the Franklin Street project. He will get an estimate. Four way STOP signs will be installed at certain streets. - Boat rides would be considered a concession and would need RFPs. - It was mentioned that there are 22 townhouses being constructed on Johnson St. They will be rentals. The rent for a 3 bedroom will be $2,375.00 per month and the property is appraised at $7 million. At this time the Borough Administrator explained why there is no Bill List. The CFO switched systems to 2016. Most of the bills were paid at the last meeting in December. Councilperson Quinlan commented about the trailer for the Police Department. He does not think that William Scotsman is still in business. A Motion was made by Councilperson Quinlan to open the meeting to the public for discussion of this item, seconded by Councilperson Carlton, all in favor, all ayes. Rick Fittin PBA President - Spoke about his efforts to contact a company about purchasing a trailer. After making numerous phone calls he never recevied a call back. He has contacted a company in Woodbridge and will have some information for the meeting next month. Borough Engineer will call about a State contract for a trailer. Motion by Councilperson Quinlan to open the meeting to the public, seconded by Councilperson Carlton, all in favor, all ayes. No public response. Motion by Councilperson Quinlan to close the meeting to the public, seconded by Councilperson Carlton, all in favor, all ayes. Page 3
Agenda: Advertising for Borough Administrator: The position of Borough Administrator was discussed. The position is part time (approximately 15 hrs.) with no benefits. It is a one year term. The job description is contained in the Ordinance. Motion by Councilperson Quinlan authorizing advertising for the position of Borough Administrator, seconded by Councilperson Carlton, discussion. Roll call vote taken, all ayes. Holiday Lighting: IT Propsal: Tabled. Holiday lighting be talked about it at the work session. Mayor Shoffner commented on the lack of holiday decorations at Borough Hall this past Holiday Season. Councilperson Quinlan assured her that would be different for the 2016 Holiday Season. Met with two IT companies. Zaphyr was very familiar with all of our programs. For $2,000.00 they will come in an access our equipment, give us a report and based on that they can make a proposal on how to service us. Borourgh Administrator spoke about setting up a line item in the Budget for computer services. This item was tabled until after the February budget meeting. Hiring of Admin. Assistant to the Chief of Police: Six resumes came in. Two applicants were asked to come back. Only one showed up for the second interview. The Committee did not meet. This item has to be tabled. Overnight Parking Discussion: Recevied a package containing the Overnight Parking Ordinance and amendments to that ordinance. Ordinance Committee will try to meet next Monday to discuss this issue. Councilperson Blumenthal will be contacted for this meeting. The Personnel Committee will also meet that night to discuss the hiring of the Police Chief Administrative Assistant. Chief of Police Vehicle Discussion: Councilperson Timpano would like Officer In Charge Jeff Titus use of the Chief s vehicle going to and from home. He feels that in an emergency OIC Titus would need to return to the Borough as quickly as possible and that would be possible in a police vehicle. After Council discussion a Motion was made by Councilperson Page 4
Chief of Police Vehicle Discussion (cont d.) Timpano to allow OIC Titus use of the Chief s vehicle going to and from home, seconded by Councilperson Murphy, roll call vote taken, all ayes. Motion by Councilperson Quinlan to open the meeting to the public, seconded by Councilperson Kelly, all in favor, all ayes. Ned Scannell Barber Blvd. - Spoke about the rain running off of Main St. containing a lot of mud. The culvert starts on Baldwin Ave. He feels all that mud is not good for the system. Adam Manley 143 Elizabeth St. - Asked Commissioner of the Rescue Squad to attend the meeting next Tuesday at 7:30 for the installation of officers and the new members. Councilperson Timpano is the Commissioner. Motion by Councilperson Murphy to close the meeting to the public, seconded by Councilperson Kelly, all in favor, all ayes. Executive Session Resolution: Acting Borough Clerk Christina Fischer read the the Resolution authorizing Executive Session to discuss the GAF Research Building. Motion by Councilperson Quinlan to approve the Executive Session Resolution, seconded by Councilperson Kelly, all in favor, all ayes. The session will be 30 minutes starting at 8:40 PM. A five minute break was taken. Motion by Councilperson Quinlan to come out of Executive Session and return to public session, seconded by Councilperson Timpano, all in favor, all ayes. 9:03PM Motion by Councilperson Quinlan to authorize the proposal of a term sheet to G1 Holding consistant with the discussion in Executive Session, seconded by Councilperson Carlton, all in favor, all ayes. Councilperson Quinlan was very pleased with this agreement and thanked everyone. Councilperson Timpano asked the status of the Black Belt Auto property on Edgewood Terrace. Borough Attorney Taddeo said he will check on the DEP Cleanup Order (5 pages). We many be eligible for grants to cleanup the property. Taxes have not been paid on the property in years. There are many issues involved that need to be addressed before taking over this property. Page 5
Adjournment: Motion to adjourn made by Councilperson Quinlan, seconded by Councilperson Murphy, all in favor, all ayes. Meeting adjourned at 9:12 PM. Respectfully submitted, Christina Fischer, Acting Borough Clerk Page 6