April 4, 2006 Minutes

April 4, 2006

Mayor Susan R. Griffith opened the regularly scheduled meeting with a salute to the flag and moment of silence.

She then stated, “In accordance with Section 5 of the Open Public Meetings Act, Chapter 231, P.L. 1975, notice of this meeting was posted on the bulletin board designed for that purpose and notice was mailed to the official newspaper provided by Resolution adopted January 3, 2006”.

Under Roll Call the following council members were present: Councilwomen Haven, Cortese and Sheilds, Councilmen Shopp, Hamburger and Witzig. Borough Solicitor John B. Kearney was also present.

Motion to approve minutes from the March 21^st meeting was made by Councilman Witzig, seconded by Councilwoman Cortese. All members were in favor.

Mayor Griffith read a proclamation proclaiming April as Autism Awareness Month.

The following Committee Reports were presented:

Councilwoman Beth Ann Haven, reporting for the Construction Department explained that Resolution 2006:71 was amending 2006:62 now allowing temporary sandwich board signs to be 26” x 53”. She also reported that the Construction Department was very busy last month issuing 50 permits!

Councilman Donald Witzig, reporting for Public Safety said that contract negotiations with the Police have begun. The monthly activity reports for the Police Department are on file with the Borough Clerk.

Council President Trish Sheilds reported she received the names of 2 volunteers for the Adopt-A-Spot program. She also announced that the soccerfields would be blocked off while seeding is being done.

Councilwoman Barbara Cortese, reporting for Public Works said that 14 trees and 25 stumps have been removed. There were also 12 reported sewer blockages, with 7 being the homeowner’s line; 10 preventative maintenances were performed. Recycling figures for March were: Papers-55.65 tons collected, commingled-27.9 tons collected; Leaves-113 yards collected and brush-230 yards collected. 2.25 tons of patch were applied to potholes.

Councilwoman Cortese said that brush cleanup is being worked on and trees on the takedown list are being removed.

Mayor Griffith announced that the skate park is being closed and the equipment is being donated to Haddon Township.

Remarks from the public on agenda items:

Greg McAdams, 1006 S. Park Avenue asked about the Capital Ordinance, particularly about the $175,000 for a used fire truck. Finance Director Trish Sheilds said that we were going to purchase Haddonfield’s fire truck, but then they decided not to sell; we found another used fire truck for sale in Woodbridge that might be looked at. Mr. McAdams said that that was not what someone from the department told him and suggested that Sheilds check it out.

With no further questions or comments on the agenda items, Mayor Griffith opened the meeting to Old Business by first asking for a motion on Resolution 2006:69.

Resolution 2006:69 – Resolution Authorizing that the Municipal Budget Be Read By Title Only. The Mayor explained that we need to do this before the public hearing or read the budget line-by-line and page-by-page!

Motion to adopt Resolution 2006:69 was made by Council President Sheilds, seconded by Councilman Shopp. Upon roll call all members voted yes.

Old Business:

Public hearing on the 2006 Municipal Budget. Mayor Griffith called for comments or questions from the public on the Municipal Budget and the following resident came forward:

John Rayser, 611 W. High Street questioned the fireman’s accrued comp time. Council President and Finance Director Sheilds explained that money will be put in the budget to cover overtime from now on, instead of allowing comp days. She further said that a new line item has been added to the 2006 Budget for overtime. Mr. Rayser then asked about various items in the budget including police salaries, number of officers in the department, sellbacks and several capital items. After hearing Sheilds’ reply he said, “You are trying to squeeze blood from a stone.”

With no further comments from the public, motion to close the 2006 Municipal Budget public hearing was made by Council President Sheilds, seconded by Councilman Shopp. All members voted yes.

Resolution 2006:58 – 2006 Municipal Budget.

Motion to TABLE the adoption of Resolution 2006:98 was made by Council President Sheilds, seconded by Councilwoman Cortese. All members voted yes.

Public hearings and final adoptions of the following 4 ordinances:

Ordinance 2006:1209 – An Ordinance Authorizing a Special Emergency Appropriation to Update the Master Plan in Order to Conform to the Planning Laws of the State. ($20,000 includes finalizing the 02/03 proposed Master Plan, drafting Land Development Ordinance amendments and preparing a Housing Element and Fair Share Plan for the Borough in accordance with new COAH Rules and Regulations. Work will be completed before the end of 2006.)

Hearing or seeing no comments from the public, motion to close the public hearing was made by Councilwoman Cortese, seconded by Councilman Witzig. All members voted yes. Motion adopt Ordinance 2006:1209 was made by Councilwoman Haven, seconded by Councilman Shopp. Under roll call all members voted yes.

Ordinance 2006:1210 – An Ordinance Authorizing a Special Emergency Appropriation for the Preparation and Execution of a Complete Program of Revaluation of Real Property for the Use of the Local Assessor. (We have been ordered to perform a revaluation by the State. The cost to comply with State requirements will be $229,200.)

Hearing or seeing no comments from the public, motion to close the public hearing was made by Councilwoman Cortese, seconded by Councilwoman Haven. All were in favor. Motion to adopt Ordinance 2006:1210 was made by Councilwoman Cortese, seconded by Councilman Shopp. Under roll call all members voted yes.

Ordinance 2006:1211 – An Ordinance Authorizing a Special Emergency Appropriation for the Preparation of an Approved Tax Map for the Use of the Local Assessor. (This is being done by the Borough Engineer at the cost of $20,000.)

Hearing or seeing no comments from the public, motion to close the public hearing was made by Councilwoman Cortese, seconded by Councilman Witzig. All were in favor. Motion to adopt Ordinance 2006:1211 was made by Councilman Hamburger, seconded by Councilman Shopp. Under roll call all members voted yes.

Ordinance 2006:1212 – 2006 Capital Ordinance. (Includes the purchase of vehicles for the Police, Fire and DPW Departments, computer upgrades, Municipal Building roof repair, tables for the auditorium, Law Enforcement Equipment, surveillance System and records management program for the Police Department, upgrades to fire truck, purchase of water filled barriers for Emergency Management. Improvements to West Atlantic Avenue and improvements to Devon Avenue soccerfields. Total estimated cost is $990,323.)

Hearing or seeing no comments from the public, motion to close the public hearing was made by Council President Sheilds, seconded by Councilman Hamburger. All members were in favor. Motion to adopt Ordinance 2006:1212 was made by Councilwoman Cortese, seconded by Councilwoman Haven. Under roll call all members voted yes.

New Business:

Introduction of Ordinance 2006:1213. Mayor Griffith announced that the public hearing and final adoption will be held on April 18, 2006, 8:00pm.

Ordinance 2006:1213 – Ordinance of the Borough of Haddon Heights, County of Camden, New Jersey Canceling Certain Unfunded Appropriation Balances Heretofore Provided for Capital Improvements and Reappropriating Such Unfunded Appropriations Balances for Other Capital Projects. (Funds from a completed project are being used by the Fire Department for the purchase of computer equipment ($5,775) and SCBA Fit Test Machine in the amount of $8,085).

Motion to introduce Ordinance 2006:1213 was made by Councilwoman Haven, seconded by Councilman Shopp. Under roll call all members voted yes.

Resolution 2006:67a – Resolution Approving Public Display of Fireworks.

Motion to adopt Resolution 2006:67a was made by Councilwoman Haven, seconded by Councilman Hamburger. All members were in favor.

Resolution 2006:68 – Resolution Authorizing the Payment of Bills and Claims for 1^st Half of April.

Motion to adopt Resolution 2006:68 was made by Councilwoman Cortese, seconded by Council President Sheilds. Under roll call all members voted yes.

Resolution 2006:70 – Resolution Approving the Closure of the Haddon Heights Skate Park and Donating the Equipment to Haddon Township.

Motion to adopt Resolution 2006:70 was made by Council President Sheilds, seconded by Councilman Shopp. Under roll call all members voted yes.

Resolution 2006:71 – Resolution Amending Resolution 2006:62 Regarding Temporary Sandwich Board Signs.

Motion to adopt Resolution 2006:71 was made by Councilwoman Haven, seconded by Councilman Shopp. All members voted yes.

With no further business to be conducted, Mayor Griffith called for remarks from the public.

John Rayser, 611 W. High Street asked, “What was the cost of the equipment at the skate park”?He was told $75,000 and that money from the County was used and that is why the decision to donate it to another Camden County town rather than sell it for financial gain for us.

With no further comments to come before Council, motion to adjourn was made by Councilman Shopp, seconded by Councilwoman Cortese. All members voted yes.

__________________________________ 8:50PM

Joan D. Moreland, Borough Clerk