August 15, 2007 Minutes

August 15, 2007

Mayor Beth Ann Haven opened the special meeting at 6:00pm with a salute to the flag and moment of silence.

Mayor stated, “Notice of this unscheduled special meeting was advertised in the legal section of the Courier Post on August 12, 2007 and also posted on our website, Channel 19 and bulletin board in the Municipal Building”.

Under Roll Call the following council members were present: Councilmen Wentz, Shopp, Ottoson and Witzig, Councilwomen Cortese and Sheilds. Solicitor John Kearney was present as was Paul Ewert from Bowman & Company.

Mayor Haven stated, “Tonight’s special meeting was scheduled for the purpose of introducing the amended 2007 Budget for the Borough of Haddon Heights. As most of you know by now, we were recently notified by the State that the Borough was awarded $325,000 in extraordinary aid, which will go entirely toward tax relief. This is the most Haddon Heights has ever received in extraordinary aid. This notification is also noteworthy in that it permits us to now adopt our local budget. After we received word on the extraordinary aid award, the Financial Committee reconvened to once again review the budget and make additional cuts in spending. As a result, tonight we are introducing our amended 2007 Budget. A public hearing and final adoption of the budget will take place at our regularly scheduled Council meeting on Tuesday.” The Mayor then asked Council President and Chair of Finance Committee to make a few remarks on the budget amendment.

Council President/Finance Committee Chair Trish Sheilds advised that the 2007 Budget was introduced with an 8.9 cent increase, meaning that the average home assessed at $290,000 would have seen a $261 increase for the year. Sheilds said after being notified of the amount of extraordinary aid, the Committee made additional cuts totaling $47,620, thereby bringing the final budget increase to 4.5 cents. The average home assessed at $290,000 would now realize an increase of $131.66.

At this point in the meeting Mayor Haven called for a motion to introduce Resolution 2007:117. She announced that a public hearing on the Resolution will be held Tuesday, August 21^st at the regularly scheduled meeting. The meeting will be held at the Atlantic Avenue School Gymnasium beginning 7:00pm.

Resolution 2007:117 – Resolution to Amend 2007 Budget.

Motion to introduce Resolution 2007:117 was made by Councilman Ottoson, seconded by Council President Sheilds. Under roll call all members voted yes.

With no further business to come before council, Mayor Haven opened the meeting to the public for comments or concerns.

Greg McAdams, South Park Avenue asked why the budget was not being discussed tonight. The Mayor said that this meeting was solely for the purpose of introducing a Resolution. However, Council President Sheilds gave him an overview of the budget.

Regarding the Police Contract, Mr. McAdams asked if it was settled. Councilman and Public Safety Director Thomas Ottoson explained arbitration is currently in process. He asked about the percent of raises in the budget, he was advised that 3.5% for the police is in the budget. Mr. McAdams was concerned about having money in the budget that may not be needed if the contract settlement is for less. Solicitor John Kearney said that any money in the budget that over what is actually needed would be put into surplus.

Hearing or seeing no further comments to be made, motion to adjourn was made by Councilwoman Cortese, seconded by Councilman Shopp. All members were in favor.

___________________________________6:15pm

Joan D. Moreland, Borough Clerk