SOUTH BOUND BROOK BOROUGH COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Minutes of the Agenda/Regular Meeting of the Mayor and Borough Council held on at Council Chambers, 12 Main Street, South Bound Brook, NJ 08880. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM with a reading of the Open Public Meetings Law Statement by Mayor Caryl Chris Shoffner, the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence to remember our military members serving our Country and protecting our freedoms. Roll Call: Mayor Caryl Chris Shoffner Council President Dennis Quinlan Councilperson Bruce Blumenthal Councilperson August Carlton Councilperson Kathryn Kelly Councilperson James Murphy Councilperson Kathleen Conner Attending: Borough Administrator: Donald Kazar Chief of Police: Jeffrey Titus Borough Engineer: Thomas Herits Substitute Borough Attorney: John Kennedy Letters and Communications: - Letter from the State announcing that applications are now being accepted for the NJDOT FY 2018 State Aid programs. Programs are as follows: Municipal Aid, Transit Village, Bikeways and Safe Streets to Transit. Awards and Presentations: - Mayor deferred to Councilperson Kelly Recreation Committee will be presenting awards to residents who have been very helpful with the Recreation programs and events. Approval of the Minutes: - Motion Councilperson Blumenthal to approve the July Meeting Minutes, seconded by Page 1
Approval of the Minutes (cont d.) Councilperson Carlton, discussion. Councilperson Conner asked if she had motioned to authorize the Borough Attorney to draw up the contract for Rocky Hill. Councilperson Carlton said that Councilperson Conner had made that motion. All in favor, all ayes. Mayor s Report: - Reminded everyone about South Bound Brook Night at the Patriots Game on August 15 th. The response, so far, has been good. Finance/Historical Committee (Councilperson Quinlan): - Claims Voucher Resolution Payment of the Bills Motion by Councilperson Quinlan for approval of Claims Voucher Resolution in the amount of $1,322,445.73, seconded by Councilperson Blumenthal, discussion. No discussion. Roll call vote taken, all ayes. - Meeting on Thursday at the Staats House regarding initiation of the grants we received for appropriate design of two rooms. They are doing a study on the room known as the south parlor. - At National Night Out residents asked about having STOP signs installed on Lawrence and Catherine Streets as well as Lawrence and Stewart Streets. Chief was asked to look into this. - Mayor asked if there was anything new happening with Redevelopment? Basically, things are moving along slowly with nothing new to report. Public Works/Board of Health (Councilperson Carlton): - Bulk Pickup for August has been cancelled due to lack of manpower. - The bleachers at Memorial Park have been removed and we received a credit of $291.30 for the metal. - Maple Avenue Park is done. Water fountain and benches will be installed in September. - Mulch has been put down at Memorial Park Playground. Saved $3,500.00 by having DPW men put down the mulch. - Hiring process is being looked into. Resumes will be given to the Committee members. Hopefully by the end of August the hiring will be completed. Public Safety Police Department/Rescue Squad (Councilperson Murphy): - Motion by Councilperson Murphy to appoint Probationary Police Officer Jason Kreideweis to position of Police Officer effective August 9 th, seconded by Councilperson Blumenthal, discussion. Roll call vote taken, all ayes. - Police Department monthly report for July submitted and reviewed. Highlights are as follows: 745 dockets, 38 Squad calls (SBB Squad 33 RWJ Squad), 10 SBB Fire calls, 21 total arrests, 6 drug arrests, 4 DWI arrests. Overtime for July 2017 is Page 2
Public Safety Police Department/Rescue Squad (cont d.): - $4,371.46; Court OT for July 2017, $697.18. Total overtime for 2017 is $41,373.88 and total Court OT for 2017 is $6,403.07 (96.5 Court hours). Public Safety Fire Department (Councilperson Blumenthal): - Fire Department monthly report for July received by telephone. Total alarms, 12; total man hrs. answering alarms, 72; total man hrs. on maintenance of trucks and equipment, 40; total man hrs. for Department Training, 104; total man hrs. at Board of Engineers Meeting, 12; total man hrs. for Captain s administrative duties, 25; total man hrs. for July, 253. - Motion by Councilperson Blumenthal accepting the application of Patrick Shimalla to become a member of the SBB Fire Department, seconded by Councilperson Quinlan, discussion. No discussion, roll call vote taken, 5 ayes and 1 abstention (Councilperson Carlton). Recreation (Sports and Social) Committees (Councilperson Kelly): - Craig Konkle was presented a Service Award for his contributions to the Recreation programs. - Music In The Park August 10 th and August 24 th (Country Music). - Community Day will be October 8 th with a rain date of October 15 th. - Holiday Tree Lighting will be December 3 rd at 6:00PM at the Staats House. - Holiday House Decorating Contest will be judged from December 16 th to December 21 st and prizes will be awarded December 22 nd. - Councilperson Quinlan will be looking around town for placement of the holiday wreaths. Six of the wreaths will be placed on the poles at the Elizabeth St. parking lot. - Motion by Councilperson Kelly to appoint Jasmine Saraison to the Recreation Sports Committee, seconded by Councilperson Conner, discussion. No discussion, all in favor, all ayes. - Recreations Committees are looking for alternate members. - Mayor recognized Donna Babinsky and congratulated her on the wonderful job she is doing as President of the Recreation Committee. Ordinance Committee (Councilperson Conner): - Waiting for Borough Attorney to get back with extending 2 hour parking from Main Street to Madison Street. Chief of Police Report: - National Night Out was a very successful event. Attendance was the largest in many years. Thank you to the Mayor and Council for their support of this event. - A Citizenship Award was presented to a resident who was instrumental in helping the Police apprehend drive-way scammers. The resident wants to remain anonymous. Page 3
Chief of Police Report (cont d.): - Cops for Kids event went well. More than 50 kids participated. There will be another Cops for Kids event later this month. - School Crossing Guard hiring we need to replace one School Crossing Guard. Motion by Councilperson Murphy authorizing the Chief to advertise for a School Crossing Guard, seconded by Councilperson Conner, all in favor, all ayes. - Motion by Councilperson Murphy to authorize the Police Department to put out applications and accept resumes for the hiring of a new police officer to replace an officer who is leaving the Police Department, seconded by Councilperson Blumenthal, discussion. No discussion, roll call vote taken, all ayes. Borough Engineer Report: - TAP Program following up with design systems team. - Franklin Street project contract is on the Agenda for tonight. Borough Engineer has worked with Top Line Construction and they are a good company. - DOT Apps recommending that we apply for the same as last year (Nassau and Cedar Streets and driver feedback). - Met with Fire Department about proposal for generator. New proposal for generator for the Municipal Building. - Master Plan has been approved by the Planning Board. Need to look at the recommendations. - Discussion about process for RFPs for properties. Borough Administrator Report: - Rocky Hill proposal needs to be reviewed. - Capital Bonding still waiting. - Public Works application will be given to the Committee. - Waiting for appraisals for Borough owned properties. - Discussion about developer interest in properties on Main Street. Motion by Councilperson Quinlan to open the meeting to the public, seconded by Councilperson Conner, all in favor, all ayes. Bill Schubert Von Steuben Lane - Asked about overnight parking restrictions. Chief Titus said that it is not feasible to have Officers issuing parking tickets when they are needed to patrol Main Street. He will try to work on a plan that will reduce the overnight parking situation on certain streets. He will also address the situation on Von Steuben Lane of cars parked for days in front of neighbor s properties. Marianne Manley Prospect Street - Asked about a rumor circulating around town that a developer wants to develop the property of the former South Side Grille all the way up to the former Jimmy s deli. Is it Page 4
Public Session (cont d.): true? Councilperson Quinlan and the Borough Administrator explained that there are several developers interested in Main Street properties. We will be talking to developers but there are no proposals at this time. - Asked why Planning Board Minutes are not on the web site. Borough Administrator will ask Ryan Mack, the Planning Board Secretary to put them on the web site. - Spoke about Bound Brook s one-time free town wide trash pick up. Why can t we have that? Bound Brook residents pay an annual fee for garbage collection we don t. Maybe that is why they can afford to have a free pickup. Bill Schubert Von Steuben Lane - Explained how he used our bi-monthly bulk pickup. Bernie Babinsky - Asked for permission to work on the gazebo in Memorial Park for his Eagle Scout project. He was told to speak to Ken Pine, DPW Supervisor and see what he wants done with the gazebo. Motion by Councilperson Conner to close the meeting to the public, seconded by Councilperson Kelly, all in favor, all ayes. Agenda: Resolution 17-001 Municipal Alliance: Motion by Councilperson Quinlan for approval of Resolution 17-001 a RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING MUNICIPAL ALLIANCE GRANT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017-2018, seconded by Councilperson Kelly, discussion. No discussion, roll call vote taken, all ayes. Resolution 17-002 Escheating Tax Sale: Motion by Councilperson Quinlan for approval of Resolution 17-002 a RESOLUTION PER N.J.S.A.54:5-33 ESCHEATING TAX SALE PREMIUMS WHICH HAVE BEEN HELD IN TRUST FOR OVER FIVE YEARS FROM DATE OF SALE TO THE BOROUGH OF SOUTH BOUND BROOK, seconded by Councilperson Blumenthal, discussion. At this time the Borough Administrator explained this Resolution to the Council members. Roll call vote taken, all ayes. Resolution 17-003 Franklin Street Project: Motion by Councilperson Quinlan for approval of Resolution 17-003 a RESOLUTION AWARDING A CONTRACT FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF FRANKLIN STREET FUNDED BY THE NJ DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTAION (NJDOT) TRUST FUND, seconded by Councilperson Blumenthal, discussion. There was discussion about Capital funding for this project. Also, discussion about the apron at the firehouse and roll call vote taken, 5 ayes, 1 abstention (Councilperson Carlton). Page 5
Borough Administrator has two items to add to the Agenda. First, the 2016 Audit and Correction Plan distributed. Council members were asked to review the Audit and be able to vote in September on a Resolution that the Audit was read. The second item is Merit Raises. This was discussed in Executive Session last month and the numbers indicated are what was determined. This was already included in the 2017 Salary Ordinance and also included in the 2017 Budget. Motion by Councilperson Carlton to approve merit raises for the employees listed, seconded by Councilperson Quinlan, discussion. No discussion, roll call vote taken, all ayes. Borough Administrator distributed the resumes of individuals applying for the Public Works position. Motion by Councilperson Quinlan to open the meeting to the public, seconded by Councilperson Blumenthal, all in favor, all ayes. No public response. Motion by Councilperson Blumenthal to close the meeting to the public, seconded by Councilperson Carlton, all in favor, all ayes. Adjournment: Motion by Councilperson Quinlan to adjourn, seconded by Councilperson Blumenthal, all in favor, all ayes. Respectfully submitted, Christina Fischer, Municipal Clerk Page 6